bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification and functional characterization of a sulfate transporter induced by both sulfur starvation and mycorrhiza formation in Lotus japonicus
Authors: Giovannetti Marco , Tolosano Matteo , Volpe Veronica , Kopriva Stanislav , Bonfante Paola
Published: July 2014

Arbuscular mycorrhizas (AMs) are one of the most widespread symbioses in the world. They allow plants to receive mineral nutrients from the symbiotic fungus which in turn gets back up to 20% of plant carbon and completes its life cycle. Especially in low‐nutrient conditions, AM fungi are capable of significantly improving plant phosphate and nitrogen acquisition, but fewer data are available about sulfur (S) nutrition.

We focused on S metabolism in Lotus japonicus upon mycorrhizal colonization under sulfur starvation or repletion. We investigated both tissue sulfate concentrations and S‐related gene expression, at cell‐type or whole‐organ level.

Gene expression and sulfate tissue concentration showed that Rhizophagus irregularis colonization can improve plant S nutritional status under S starvation. A group 1 sulfate transporter, LjSultr1;2, induced by both S starvation and mycorrhiza formation, was identified. Its transcript was localized in arbuscule‐containing cells, which was confirmed with a promoter‐GUS assay, and its function was verified through phenotyping of TILLING mutants in nonmycorrhizal seedlings.

LjSultr1;2 thus appears to encode a key protein involved in plant sulfate uptake. In contrast to phosphate transporters, a single gene, LjSultr1;2, seems to mediate both direct and symbiotic pathways of S uptake in L. japonicus.
Oregon's experience with aid in dying: findings from the death with dignity laboratory
Authors: Coombs Lee Barbara
Published: July 2014

With passage of the Death with Dignity Act in 1994, Oregon became the first jurisdiction to authorize and regulate aid in dying. Data from that experience are comprehensive and bountiful, and answer a multitude of questions and concerns about whether the benefits of recognizing the medical practice of aid in dying justify the risks. An exhaustive description of findings from Oregon's aid‐in‐dying experience is beyond the scope of this or any single article on the subject. This article provides a summary of data highlights, gleaned from scientific investigations and governmental reporting. It organizes highlighted reports along subjects so that readers may see what various sources have to teach on a number of questions important to policy makers.
Parasitic scabies mites and associated bacteria joining forces against host complement defence
Authors: Swe P. M. , Reynolds S. L. , Fischer K.
Published: July 2014

Scabies is a ubiquitous and contagious skin disease caused by the parasitic mite Sarcoptes scabiei Epidemiological studies have identified scabies as a causative agent for secondary skin infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. This is an important notion, as such bacterial infections can lead to serious downstream life‐threatening complications. As the complement system is the first line of host defence that confronts invading pathogens, both the mite and bacteria produce a large array of molecules that inhibit the complement cascades. It is hypothesised that scabies mite complement inhibitors may play an important role in providing a favourable micro‐environment for the establishment of secondary bacterial infections. This review aims to bring together the current literature on complement inhibition by scabies mites and bacteria associated with scabies and to discuss the proposed molecular link between scabies and bacterial co‐infections.
Do the Rich Save More? Evidence from Canada
Authors: Alan Sule , Atalay Kadir , Crossley Thomas F.
Published: July 2014

This paper provides new evidence on the long‐standing question of whether more affluent households save a larger fraction of their income. The major difficulty in empirically assessing the relationship between incomes and saving rates is to construct a credible proxy for long‐run income—purged of transitory fluctuations and measurement error. The Canadian Family Expenditure Survey provides us with both unusually good data on savings rates and potential predictors with which we can construct reliable long‐run income proxies. Our empirical analysis suggests that the estimated relationship between saving rates and long‐run incomes is sensitive to the predictor used to proxy long‐run income. Nevertheless, our preferred estimates indicate that, except for poorest households (who simply do not save), saving rates do not differ substantially across predicted long‐run income groups.
Nationalist Reframing of theFinnish andSwedish Welfare States – The Nexus of Nationalism and Social Policy in Far‐right Populist Parties
Authors: Nordensvard Johan , Ketola Markus
Published: July 2014

The rise of right‐wing populist parties in theNordic countries is slowly redefining theNordic social democratic discourse of the universal and egalitarian welfare state. The nexus of nationalism and social policy has been explored in regions and countries such asQuebec,Scotland,Belgium and theUK, but the change of discourse in theNordic countries has received less attention. Taking the case ofSweden andFinland, this article argues thatNordic populism does not question the redistributive welfare state per se as many otherEuropean neo‐liberal far‐right parties have done. Instead, it reframes the welfare state as being linked to a sovereign and exclusiveSwedish andFinnish political community with distinct national boundaries. AlthoughSweden andFinland largely share a common welfare nation state discourse, the article also points to important differences in the way this discourse is able to frame the welfare nation state where access to, and the design of, social services are no longer universal and egalitarian but based around ethnicity. The article aims to demonstrate this through an analysis of the welfare discourses of two populist parties:SwedenDemocrats andTrueFinns.
Associations Between Physical Activity Parenting Practices and Adolescent Girls’ Self-Perceptions and Physical Activity Intentions
Authors: Sebire Simon J. , Haase Anne M. , Montgomery Alan A. , McNeill Jade , Jago Russ
Published: July 2014

Background:

The current study investigated cross-sectional associations between maternal and paternal logistic and modeling physical activity support and the self-efficacy, self-esteem, and physical activity intentions of 11- to 12-year-old girls.

Methods:

210 girls reported perceptions of maternal and paternal logistic and modeling support and their self-efficacy, self-esteem and intention to be physically active. Data were analyzed using multivariable regression models.

Results:

Maternal logistic support was positively associated with participants’ self-esteem, physical activity self-efficacy, and intention to be active. Maternal modeling was positively associated with self-efficacy. Paternal modeling was positively associated with self-esteem and selfefficacy but there was no evidence that paternal logistic support was associated with the psychosocial variables.

Conclusions:

Activity-related parenting practices were associated with psychosocial correlates of physical activity among adolescent girls. Logistic support from mothers, rather than modeling support or paternal support may be a particularly important target when designing interventions aimed at preventing the age-related decline in physical activity among girls.
Associations Between Perceived Health Benefits and Barriers to Strength Training, and Stages of Change for Strength-Training Behavior Among Older Japanese Adults
Authors: Harada Kazuhiro , Shibata Ai , Lee Euna , Oka Koichiro , Nakamura Yoshio
Published: July 2014

Background:

Although several studies have examined associations of perceived benefits and barriers with physical activity, no studies have focused on them corresponding to strength-training recommendations for older adults. This study examined the associations among the perceived health benefits of strength training, perceived barriers to strength straining, and stages of change for strength-training behavior in older Japanese adults.

Methods:

This cross-sectional survey included a random sample of 1144 adults (60–74 years) from the city of Tokorozawa. Stage of change was the independent variable, with perceived health benefits (eg, strength training can reduce body pain) and perceived barriers (eg, facilities are needed for strength training) as dependent variables. Data were analyzed by analysis of covariance and Bonferroni’s multiple comparison.

Results:

After adjusting for demographic variables, the perceived health-benefit score for precontemplation was significantly lower than for the other four stages. The perceived barrier scores in the precontemplation and contemplation stages were significantly higher than those in the preparation and maintenance stages.

Conclusions:

These results suggest that information about the health benefits for older adults and about the recommended type of strength training might be useful for the development of strategies to promote strength training among older adults.
Psychosocial Determinants and Perceived Environmental Barriers as Mediators of the Effectiveness of a Web-Based Tailored Intervention Promoting Physical Activity in Adolescents: The HELENA Activ-O-Meter
Authors: Cook Tina Louisa , De Bourdeaudhuij Ilse , Maes Lea , Haerens Leen , Grammatikaki Evangelia , Widhalm Kurt , Kwak Lydia , Plada Maria , Moreno Luis Alberto , Tountas Yannis , Zampelas Antonis , Manios Yannis , _ _
Published: July 2014

Background:

The aim was to examine if psychosocial determinants (attitudes, self-efficacy, social support from a sports partner) and perceived environmental barriers (PEB) of physical activity (PA) mediated the effect of a 3-month Internet-based intervention on PA in European adolescents.

Methods:

A sample of 536 adolescents (51% boys) aged 12–17 years were randomly assigned to intervention or control condition. Questionnaires were used to assess different PA behaviors, psychosocial determinants and PEB at baseline and at 3-month follow-up. Mediating effects were assessed with the bootstrapping method.

Results:

PEB regarding neighborhood safety mediated the effect of the intervention on all PA indices. PEB regarding sports facilities availability at neighborhood and PEB regarding sport-related facilities availability at school mediated the effect of the intervention on moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and moderate PA (in leisure time and at school, respectively). Social support from a sports partner suppressed the effect of the intervention on vigorous PA and MVPA. No other factor had a mediation effect.

Conclusions:

All PEB measures appear to mediate PA behaviors of different intensities and in different contexts. Interventions promoting PA in adolescents should also focus on improving the targeted PEB as mediators of engagement in PA to bring the desired effects in actual behaviors.
Validity and Reliability of the Self-Reported Physical Fitness (SRFit) Survey
Authors: Keith NiCole R. , Clark Daniel O. , Stump Timothy E. , Miller Douglas K. , Callahan Christopher M.
Published: July 2014

Background:

An accurate physical fitness survey could be useful in research and clinical care.

Purpose:

To estimate the validity and reliability of a Self-Reported Fitness (SRFit) survey; an instrument that estimates muscular fitness, flexibility, cardiovascular endurance, BMI, and body composition (BC) in adults ≥ 40 years of age.

Methods:

201 participants completed the SF-36 Physical Function Subscale, International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Older Adults’ Desire for Physical Competence Scale (Rejeski), the SRFit survey, and the Rikli and Jones Senior Fitness Test. BC, height and weight were measured. SRFit survey items described BC, BMI, and Senior Fitness Test movements. Correlations between the Senior Fitness Test and the SRFit survey assessed concurrent validity. Cronbach’s Alpha measured internal consistency within each SRFit domain. SRFit domain scores were compared with SF-36, IPAQ, and Rejeski survey scores to assess construct validity. Intraclass correlations evaluated test-retest reliability.

Results:

Correlations between SRFit and the Senior Fitness Test domains ranged from 0.35 to 0.79. Cronbach’s Alpha scores were .75 to .85. Correlations between SRFit and other survey scores were –0.23 to 0.72 and in the expected direction. Intraclass correlation coefficients were 0.79 to 0.93. All P-values were 0.001.

Conclusion:

Initial evaluation supports the SRFit survey’s validity and reliability.
Recent Physical Activity in Relation to DNA Damage and Repair Using the Comet Assay
Authors: Cash Stephanie Whisnant , Beresford Shirley A.A. , Vaughan Thomas L. , Heagerty Patrick J. , Bernstein Leslie , White Emily , Neuhouser Marian L.
Published: July 2014

Background:

Limited evidence suggests that very high-intensity exercise is positively associated with DNA damage but moderate exercise may be associated with DNA repair.

Methods:

Participants were 220 healthy, Washington State 50- to 76-year-olds in the validity/biomarker substudy of the VITamins And Lifestyle (VITAL) cohort, who provided blood samples and completed questionnaires assessing recent physical activity and demographic and health factors. Measures included nested activity subsets: total activity, moderate- plus high-intensity activity, and high-intensity activity. DNA damage (n = 122) and repair (n = 99) were measured using the comet assay. Multivariate linear regression was used to estimate regression coefficients and associated 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for relationships between MET-hours per week of activity and each DNA outcome (damage, and 15- and 60-minute repair capacities).

Results:

DNA damage was not associated with any measure of activity. However, 60-minute DNA repair was positively associated with both total activity (β = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.0057–0.412; P = .044) and high-intensity activity (β = 0.31, 95% CI: 0.20–0.60; P = .036), adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and current multivitamin use.

Conclusions:

This study is the first to assess broad ranges of activity intensity levels related to DNA damage and repair. Physical activity was unrelated to DNA damage but was associated with increased repair.
The Challenges of Models-Based Practice in Physical Education Teacher Education: A Collaborative Self-Study
Authors: Fletcher Tim , Casey Ashley
Published: July 2014

There are two purposes of this study. The first is to examine our experiences as beginning teacher educators who taught using models-based practice (using the example of Cooperative Learning). The second is to consider the benefits of using collaborative self-study to foster deep understandings of teacher education practice. The findings highlight the challenges in adapting school teaching practices to the university setting, and the different types of knowledge required to teach about the “hows” and “whys” of a models-based approach. We conclude by acknowledging the benefits of systematic study of practice in helping to unpack the complexities and challenges of teaching about teaching. Our collaborative self-study enabled us to develop insights into the intertwined nature of self and practice, and the personal and professional value of our research leads us to encourage teacher educators to examine and share their challenges and understandings of teaching practice.
A network framework of cultural history
Authors: Schich Maximilian , Song Chaoming , Ahn Yong-Yeol , Mirsky Alexander , Martino Mauro , Barabási Albert-László , Helbing Dirk
Published: July 2014

A macroscopic view of cultural history

Sociologists and anthropologists study the growth and evolution of human culture, but it is hard to measure cultural interactions on a historical time scale. Schich
et al.
developed a tool for extracting information about cultural history from simple but large sets of birth and death records. A network of cultural centers connected via the birth and death of more than 150,000 notable individuals revealed human mobility patterns and cultural attraction dynamics. Patterns of city growth over a period of 2000 years differed between countries, but the distribution of birth-to-death distances remained unchanged over more than eight centuries.

Science
, this issue p.
558
Sustained miniaturization and anatomical innovation in the dinosaurian ancestors of birds
Authors: Lee Michael S. Y. , Cau Andrea , Naish Darren , Dyke Gareth J.
Published: July 2014

Turning large dinosaurs into small birds

Most paleontologists agree that birds are descended from dinosaurs. How did such large terrestrial or aquatic animals evolve into small feathered fliers? Lee
et al.
used two large databases of theropod morphology to explore possible evolutionary patterns that may have driven this dramatic transformation (see the Perspective by Benton). They found no clear pattern of miniaturization across the entire clade of Theropoda. However, several lines of evidence suggested that the lineage leading to birds underwent sustained miniaturization. Within that lineage, body sizes decreased and species evolved faster. They also developed ecological and morphological innovations linked to smaller body sizes.

Science
, this issue p.
562
; see also p.
508
Comment on “Mechanism of eukaryotic RNA polymerase III transcription termination”
Authors: Arimbasseri Aneeshkumar G. , Kassavetis George A. , Maraia Richard J.
Published: July 2014

Nielsen
et al
. (Reports, 28 June 2013, p. 1577) characterized their RNA polymerase III (Pol III) preparation and concluded that it requires an RNA hairpin/duplex structure for terminating transcription. We could not corroborate their findings using bona fide Pol III from two laboratory sources. We show that Pol III efficiently terminates transcription in the absence of a hairpin/duplex in vitro and in vivo.
Whole-Genome Sequencing of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Manila Sublineage Results in Less Clustering and Better Resolution than Mycobacterial Interspersed Repetitive-Unit–Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat (MIRU-VNTR) Typing and Spoligotyping
Authors: Jamieson F. B. , Teatero S. , Guthrie J. L. , Neemuchwala A. , Fittipaldi N. , Mehaffy C.
Published: July 2014

Mycobacterium tuberculosis
isolates of the Manila sublineage are genetically homogeneous. In this study, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to type a collection of 36
M. tuberculosis
isolates of the Manila family. WGS enabled the subtyping of these 36 isolates into at least 10 distinct clusters. Our results indicate that WGS is a powerful approach to determining the relatedness of Manila family
M. tuberculosis
isolates.
Human Herpesvirus 8 Viral Interleukin-6 Signaling through gp130 Promotes Virus Replication in Primary Effusion Lymphoma and Endothelial Cells
Authors: Cousins Emily , Gao Yang , Sandford Gordon , Nicholas John
Published: July 2014

The contributions of human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8) viral interleukin-6 (vIL-6) to virus biology remain unclear. Here we examined the role of vIL-6/gp130 signaling in HHV-8 productive replication in primary effusion lymphoma and endothelial cells. Depletion and depletion-complementation experiments revealed that endoplasmic reticulum-localized vIL-6 activity via gp130 and gp130-activated signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation, was critical for vIL-6 proreplication activity. Our data significantly extend current understanding of vIL-6 function and associated mechanisms in HHV-8 biology.
Dynamic and Nucleolin-Dependent Localization of Human Cytomegalovirus UL84 to the Periphery of Viral Replication Compartments and Nucleoli
Authors: Bender Brian J. , Coen Donald M. , Strang Blair L.
Published: July 2014

Protein-protein and protein-nucleic acid interactions within subcellular compartments are required for viral genome replication. To understand the localization of the human cytomegalovirus viral replication factor UL84 relative to other proteins involved in viral DNA synthesis and to replicating viral DNA in infected cells, we created a recombinant virus expressing a FLAG-tagged version of UL84 (UL84FLAG) and used this virus in immunofluorescence assays. UL84FLAG localization differed at early and late times of infection, transitioning from diffuse distribution throughout the nucleus to exclusion from the interior of replication compartments, with some concentration at the periphery of replication compartments with newly labeled DNA and the viral DNA polymerase subunit UL44. Early in infection, UL84FLAG colocalized with the viral single-stranded DNA binding protein UL57, but colocalization became less prominent as infection progressed. A portion of UL84FLAG also colocalized with the host nucleolar protein nucleolin at the peripheries of both replication compartments and nucleoli. Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated knockdown of nucleolin resulted in a dramatic elimination of UL84FLAG from replication compartments and other parts of the nucleus and its accumulation in the cytoplasm. Reciprocal coimmunoprecipitation of viral proteins from infected cell lysates revealed association of UL84, UL44, and nucleolin. These results indicate that UL84 localization during infection is dynamic, which is likely relevant to its functions, and suggest that its nuclear and subnuclear localization is highly dependent on direct or indirect interactions with nucleolin.

IMPORTANCE
The protein-protein interactions among viral and cellular proteins required for replication of the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) DNA genome are poorly understood. We sought to understand how an enigmatic HCMV protein critical for virus replication, UL84, localizes relative to other viral and cellular proteins required for HCMV genome replication and replicating viral DNA. We found that UL84 localizes with viral proteins, viral DNA, and the cellular nucleolar protein nucleolin in the subnuclear replication compartments in which viral DNA replication occurs. Unexpectedly, we also found localization of UL84 with nucleolin in nucleoli and showed that the presence of nucleolin is involved in localization of UL84 to the nucleus. These results add to previous work showing the importance of nucleolin in replication compartment architecture and viral DNA synthesis and are relevant to understanding UL84 function.
Association between district-level perceived safety and self-rated health: a multilevel study in Seoul, South Korea
Authors: Kim Seung-Sup , Choi Jaesung , Park Kisoo , Chung Yeonseung , Park Sangjo , Heo Jongho
Published: July 2014

Objectives

Several studies have reported the relationship between residents’ perceived neighbourhood safety and their health outcomes. However, those studies suffered from unreliability of neighbourhood safety measure and potential residual confounding related to crime rates. In this study, using multilevel analysis to account for the hierarchical structure of the data, we examined associations between district-level perceived safety and self-rated health after adjusting for potential confounders including the district-level crime rate.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

We used the first wave of Seoul Welfare Panel Study, which has 7761 individuals from 3665 households in 25 administrative districts in Seoul, South Korea. District-level perceived safety was obtained by aggregating responses from the residents that are representative samples for each administrative district in Seoul. To examine an association between district-level safety and residents’ self-rated health, we used mixed effect logistic regression.

Results

Our results showed that higher district-level perceived safety, an aggregated measure of district residents’ responses towards neighbourhood safety, was significantly associated with poor self-rated health after controlling for sex, age, education level, job status, marital status and household income (OR=0.87, 95% CI 0.78 to 0.97). Furthermore, this association was still robust when we additionally adjusted for the district-level crime rate (OR=0.86, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.95).

Conclusions

Our study highlights the importance of improving neighbourhood perceived safety to enhance residents’ health.
A systematic review and meta-analysis assessing adverse event profile and tolerability of nicergoline
Authors: Fioravanti Mario , Nakashima Taku , Xu Jun , Garg Amit
Published: July 2014

Objective

To evaluate the safety profile of nicergoline compared with placebo and other active agents from published randomised controlled trials.

Design

Systematic review and meta-analysis of nicergoline compared with placebo and other active agents across various indications.

Data sources

MEDLINE, Medline-in-process, Cochrane, EMBASE, EMBASE alerts, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) and Cochrane Methodology Register (CMR) for all the randomised controlled trials, open-label or blinded, in adults treated with nicergoline. Studies published until August 2013 were included.

Review method

29 studies were included for data extraction. The studies included in this review were majorly from European countries and mostly in cerebrovascular disease (n=15) and dementia (n=8).

Results

The treatment withdrawals were comparatively lower in the nicergoline group as compared with the placebo group (RR=0.92; 95% CI 0.7 to 1.21) and other active comparators (RR=0.45; 95% CI 0.10 to 1.95), but the difference was non-significant. Incidence of any adverse events (AEs) was slightly higher (RR=1.05; 95% CI 0.93 to 1.2) while incidence of serious AEs was lower (RR=0.85; 95% CI 0.50 to 1.45) in the nicergoline compared with placebo group. Frequency of anxiety was significantly lower in nicergoline as compared with placebo (p=0.01). Other AEs including diarrhoea, gastric upset, dizziness and drowsiness were less frequent in the nicergoline group when compared with placebo/active drugs, but the difference was non-significant. Frequency of hypotension and hot flushes was slightly higher in the nicergoline group but the difference was non-significant. None of the studies reported any incidence of fibrosis or ergotism with nicergoline treatment.

Conclusions

Nicergoline is an ergot derivative, but its safety profile is better than other ergot derivatives like ergotamine and ergotoxine. This systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that nicergoline has a good safety profile. None of the studies included in this systematic review reported any incidence of fibrosis or ergotism with nicergoline.
Outcomes in patients with heart failure treated in hospitals with varying admission rates: population-based cohort study
Authors: Bhatia R Sacha , Austin Peter C , Stukel Therese A , Schull Michael J , Chong Alice , Tu Jack V , Lee Douglas S
Published: July 2014

Study objectives

Hospital admission rates for patients with heart failure (HF) presenting for emergency department (ED) care vary, and the implications of direct discharge home from the ED are unknown. We examined whether patients treated in hospitals with low admission rates exhibit higher rates of repeat ED visits, hospital readmissions and death.

Methods

We divided EDs into low-, medium- and high-admission-rate tertiles by their standardised HF admission rate in Ontario, Canada. Among adults (≥18 years) with HF discharged from an ED between April 2004 and March 2010, we evaluated the primary outcomes of repeat ED visits or hospitalisations for HF, and secondary outcomes, which included death, within 30 days stratified by HF admission-rate tertile.

Results

89 878 patients with HF presented to low- (n=29 929), medium- (n=30 900) or high- (n=29 049) admission-rate institutions, with hospitalisation rates of <67%, 67–75% and >75%, respectively. Among 28 175 ED-discharged patients, the multivariable-adjusted HR for repeat ED visit or hospitalisation for HF at low-admission-rate institutions was 1.18 (95% CI 1.07 to 1.29, p<0.001) compared with high-admission institutions. Similarly, the HR for repeat ED visits for HF was 1.28 (95% CI 1.14 to 1.44, p<0.001) at low-admission hospitals. Compared with discharged patients in the high-admission-rate tertile, adjusted HR for 30-day mortality was 1.19 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.47) at low-admission-rate hospitals. The HRs for all of the above outcomes were not significantly increased at medium-admission-rate hospitals.

Discussion

Patients seeking care at institutions with lower rates of HF admission showed higher rates of repeat ED visits or hospitalisations after previous ED discharge.
An evaluation ofNeisseria gonorrhoeaeantimicrobial susceptibility testing in the UK
Authors: Jain Anu , Cole Michelle J , Planche Tim , Ison Catherine A
Published: July 2014

The only method currently available to performNeisseria gonorrhoeaeantimicrobial susceptibility testing (Ng-AST) requires a viable organism obtained by culture. Reports of in vitro resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins, the treatment of choice for gonorrhoea, coupled with increasing gonorrhoea diagnoses is worrying. The aim of this study was to identify various methodologies employed by the UK microbiology laboratories to perform Ng-AST. Of the 118 laboratories that responded, 114 offered Ng-AST; the majority (82.5%, 94/114) of the laboratories used British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy methodology for Ng-AST. The other main findings were infrequent use of quality control procedures and inconsistent susceptibility testing of the antibiotics used routinely for treatment.
Alpha-lipoic acid improves acute deltamethrin-induced toxicity in rats
Authors: Abdou Rania H. , Abdel-Daim Mohamed M.
Published: July 2014

Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a natural dithiol compound, with a free radical scavenger and biological antioxidant properties. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the protective effects of ALA on biochemical alteration and oxidative stress induced by acute deltamethrin intoxication in rats. Markers of liver and kidney injuries in serum of deltamethrin-intoxicated as well as ALA-pretreated rats were analyzed. Moreover, serum and (or) tissue lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde and antioxidant markers, reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase activity, and total antioxidant capacity were evaluated. The results showed that all parameters were altered in the intoxicated group, indicating hepatorenal oxidative damage of deltamethrin. Pre-treatment with ALA reversed the changes in most of the studied parameters in a dose-dependent manner. Histopathological and biochemical findings were parallel. It can be concluded that ALA may be a promising therapeutic option for prevention and (or) treatment of deltamethin toxicity.
Schrödinger operators with δ- and δ′-interactions on Lipschitz surfaces and chromatic numbers of associated partitions
Authors: Behrndt Jussi , Exner Pavel , Lotoreichik Vladimir
Published: July 2014

We investigate Schrödinger operators with δ- and δ′-interactions supported on hypersurfaces, which separate the Euclidean space into finitely many bounded and unbounded Lipschitz domains. It turns out that the combinatorial properties of the partition and the spectral properties of the corresponding operators are related. As the main result, we prove an operator inequality for the Schrödinger operators with δ- and δ′-interactions which is based on an optimal coloring and involves the chromatic number of the partition. This inequality implies various relations for the spectra of the Schrödinger operators and, in particular, it allows to transform known results for Schrödinger operators with δ-interactions to Schrödinger operators with δ′-interactions.
New class of biological detectors for WIMPs
Authors: Drukier A. K. , Cantor Ch. , Chonofsky M. , Church G. M. , Fagaly R. L. , Freese K. , Lopez A. , Sano T. , Savage C. , Wong W. P.
Published: July 2014

Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs) may constitute a large fraction of the matter in the Universe. There are excess events in the data of DAMA/LIBRA, CoGeNT, CRESST-II, and recently CDMS-Si, which could be consistent with WIMP masses of approximately 10 GeV /c2. However, for M DM > 10 GeV /c2 null results of the CDMS-Ge, XENON, and LUX detectors may be in tension with the potential detections for certain dark matter scenarios and assuming a certain light response. We propose the use of a new class of biological dark matter (DM) detectors to further examine this light dark matter hypothesis, taking advantage of new signatures with low atomic number targets. Two types of biological DM detectors are discussed here: DNA-based detectors and enzymatic reactions (ER) based detectors. In the case of DNA-based detectors, we discuss a new implementation. In the case of ER detectors, there are four crucial phases of the detection process: (a) change of state due to energy deposited by a particle; (b) amplification due to the release of energy derived from the action of an enzyme on its substrate; (c) sustainable but nonexplosive enzymatic reaction; (d) self-termination due to the denaturation of the enzyme, when the temperature is raised. This paper provides information of how to design as well as optimize these four processes.
SPATIAL MOTION PATTERNS: ACTION MODELS FROM SEMI-DENSE TRAJECTORIES
Authors: NGUYEN THANH PHUONG , MANZANERA ANTOINE , GARRIGUES MATTHIEU , VU NGOC-SON
Published: July 2014

A new action model is proposed, by revisiting local binary patterns (LBP) for dynamic texture models, applied on trajectory beams calculated on the video. The use of semi-dense trajectory field allows to dramatically reduce the computation support to essential motion information, while maintaining a large amount of data to ensure robustness of statistical bag of features action models. A new binary pattern, called Spatial Motion Pattern (SMP) is proposed, which captures self-similarity of velocity around each tracked point (particle), along its trajectory. This operator highlights the geometric shape of rigid parts of moving objects in a video sequence. SMPs are combined with basic velocity information to form the local action primitives. Then, a global representation of a space × time video block is provided by using hierarchical blockwise histograms, which allows to efficiently represent the action as a whole, while preserving a certain level of spatiotemporal relation between the action primitives. Inheriting from the efficiency and the invariance properties of both the semi-dense tracker Video extruder and the LBP-based representations, the method is designed for the fast computation of action descriptors in unconstrained videos. For improving both robustness and computation time in the case of high definition video, we also present an enhanced version of the semi-dense tracker based on the so-called super particles, which reduces the number of trajectories while improving their length, reliability and spatial distribution.
Invariants for everywhere wild knots
Authors: Nanyes Ollie
Published: July 2014

Bing, Bothe and Shilepsky studied knots that were wild at every point, and Bothe developed an invariant for a certain subclass of these knots. This paper develops invariants which distinguish ambient isotopy equivalence classes of these knots (which include the "Bing sling") and shows that there is an uncountable number of inequivalent of Bing sling type knots. As an aside, it is also shown that it is possible for inequivalent wild knots to have homeomorphic complements.
A DISTRIBUTION OF CHARGERS USED BY ELECTRIC VEHICLES ON AN EXPRESSWAY WITH VARIOUS TYPES OF CHARGING PLACES
Authors: KOYANAGI JUNJI
Published: July 2014

In Japan, electric vehicle (EV) is spreading, because EV has several advantages compared with gasoline car. However, EV has two main disadvantages, shorter cruising range and longer charging time. These disadvantages may cause a serious problem on an expressway, because the queue of EV waiting for charge may be long, if enough chargers are not placed at charging places. It is important to estimate the number of chargers in a charging place to avoid the long queue. This paper proposes a model to estimate the number of chargers used by EV. In this model, it is assumed that the driver knows the charge level of EV and decides to charge at charging places according to the type of charging place and charge level.
Carbon Nanomaterial-Based Composites in Wastewater Purification
Authors: Huang Yongshun , Chen Xiaoping
Published: July 2014

New techniques and materials are called for wastewater treatment due to the shortage of worldwide fresh water and the increasing water demand. As a simple and efficient method, adsorption technique has been extensively applied to remove organic and inorganic pollutants from contaminated water. The application of carbon nanomaterials, such as activated carbon, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphenes and their derivatives/analogues, in wastewater treatment has also been investigated due to their unique properties, such as wide availability, porous structure, large surface area, tunable morphology and nontoxicity. This review highlights the recent advances of wastewater treatment utilizing carbon nanomaterial modified composites as adsorbents. The adsorption phenomenon and its mechanism are briefly discussed. Detailed discussions are focused on the selective adsorption of carbon nanomaterial composites to unique pollutants. The remaining challenges are also mentioned.
HIGH-FREQUENCY MAGNETOCAPACITANCE EFFECT IN ORGANIC SPIN VALVE WITH A 3,4,9,10-PERYLENE-TERACARBOXYLIC-DIANHYDRIDE SPACER
Authors: HONG JHEN-YONG , CHEN SHENG-HONG , CHIANG WEN-CHUNG , LIN MINN-TSONG
Published: July 2014

The frequency-dependent impedance of a series of ferromagnet (FM)/organic semiconductor (OSC)/FM tri-layered organic spin valves (OSV) is investigated in the frequency range of 10 Hz–1 MHz. An equivalent resistor–capacitor (RC) parallel network model is employed to analyze the magnetoresistance (MR) and magnetocapacitance (MC) effects. Fitting with the model yields field-dependent parameters and the resistive parameters agree with the experimental results. The analysis of the impedance spectra indicates an effective magnetotransport mechanism dominated by the charge accumulation at the organic–FM interfaces.
Endocytosis of collagen by hepatic stellate cells regulates extracellular matrix dynamics
Authors: Bi Yan , Mukhopadhyay Dhriti , Drinane Mary , Ji Baoan , Li Xing , Cao Sheng , Shah Vijay H.
Published: July 2014

Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) generate matrix, which in turn may also regulate HSCs function during liver fibrosis. We hypothesized that HSCs may endocytose matrix proteins to sense and respond to changes in microenvironment. Primary human HSCs, LX2, or mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) [wild-type; c-abl−/−; or Yes, Src, and Fyn knockout mice (YSF−/−)] were incubated with fluorescent-labeled collagen or gelatin. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis and confocal microscopy were used for measuring cellular internalization of matrix proteins. Targeted PCR array and quantitative real-time PCR were used to evaluate gene expression changes. HSCs and LX2 cells endocytose collagens in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. Endocytosed collagen colocalized with Dextran 10K, a marker of macropinocytosis, and 5-ethylisopropyl amiloride, an inhibitor of macropinocytosis, reduced collagen internalization by 46%. Cytochalasin D and ML7 blocked collagen internalization by 47% and 45%, respectively, indicating that actin and myosin are critical for collagen endocytosis. Wortmannin and AKT inhibitor blocked collagen internalization by 70% and 89%, respectively, indicating that matrix macropinocytosis requires phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling. Overexpression of dominant-negative dynamin-2 K44A blocked matrix internalization by 77%, indicating a role for dynamin-2 in matrix macropinocytosis. Whereas c-abl−/− MEF showed impaired matrix endocytosis, YSF−/− MEF surprisingly showed increased matrix endocytosis. It was also associated with complex gene regulations that related with matrix dynamics, including increased matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) mRNA levels and zymographic activity. HSCs endocytose matrix proteins through macropinocytosis that requires a signaling network composed of PI3K/AKT, dynamin-2, and c-abl. Interaction with extracellular matrix regulates matrix dynamics through modulating multiple gene expressions including MMP-9.
Changes in gap junction expression and function following ischemic injury of spinal cord white matter
Authors: Goncharenko Karina , Eftekharpour Eftekhar , Velumian Alexander A. , Carlen Peter L. , Fehlings Michael G.
Published: July 2014

Gap junctions are widely present in spinal cord white matter; however, their role in modulating the dynamics of axonal dysfunction remains largely unexplored. We hypothesized that inhibition of gap junctions reduces the loss of axonal function during oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). The functional role of gap junctions was assessed by electrophysiological recordings of compound action potentials (CAPs) in Wistar rat spinal cord slices with the sucrose gap technique. The in vitro slices were subjected to 30-min OGD. Gap junction connexin (Cx) mRNA expression was determined by qPCR and normalized to β-actin. A 30-min OGD resulted in reduction of CAPs to 14.8 ± 4.6% of their pre-OGD amplitude ( n = 5). In the presence of gap junction blockers carbenoxolone (Cbx; 100 μM) and 1-octanol (Oct; 300 μM), the CAP reduction in OGD was to only 35.7 ± 5.7% of pre-OGD amplitude in Cbx ( n = 9) and to 37.4 ± 8.9% of pre-OGD amplitude in Oct ( n = 10). Both drugs also noticeably prolonged the half-decline time of CAP amplitudes in OGD from 6.0 min in no-drug conditions to 9.6 min in the presence of Cbx and to 7.7 min in the presence of Oct, suggesting that blocking gap junctions reduces conduction loss during OGD. With application of Cbx and Oct in the setting of OGD, expression of Cx30 and Cx43 mRNA was downregulated. Our data provide new insights into the role of gap junctions in white matter ischemia and reveal the necessity of a cautious approach in determining detrimental or beneficial effects of gap junction blockade in white matter ischemia.
Behavioral demand modulates object category representation in the inferior temporal cortex
Authors: Emadi Nazli , Esteky Hossein
Published: July 2014

Visual object categorization is a critical task in our daily life. Many studies have explored category representation in the inferior temporal (IT) cortex at the level of single neurons and population. However, it is not clear how behavioral demands modulate this category representation. Here, we recorded from the IT single neurons in monkeys performing two different tasks with identical visual stimuli: passive fixation and body/object categorization. We found that category selectivity of the IT neurons was improved in the categorization compared with the passive task where reward was not contingent on image category. The category improvement was the result of larger rate enhancement for the preferred category and smaller response variability for both preferred and nonpreferred categories. These specific modulations in the responses of IT category neurons enhanced signal-to-noise ratio of the neural responses to discriminate better between the preferred and nonpreferred categories. Our results provide new insight into the adaptable category representation in the IT cortex, which depends on behavioral demands.
Altered Endosome Biogenesis in Prostate Cancer Has Biomarker Potential
Authors: Johnson Ian R.D. , Parkinson-Lawrence Emma J. , Shandala Tetyana , Weigert Roberto , Butler Lisa M. , Brooks Doug A.
Published: July 2014

Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer in males, affecting one in eight men by the time they reach the age of 70 years. Current diagnostic tests for prostate cancer have significant problems with both false negatives and false positives, necessitating the search for new molecular markers. A recent investigation of endosomal and lysosomal proteins revealed that the critical process of endosomal biogenesis might be altered in prostate cancer. Here, a panel of endosomal markers was evaluated in prostate cancer and nonmalignant cells and a significant increase in gene and protein expression was found for early, but not late endosomal proteins. There was also a differential distribution of early endosomes, and altered endosomal traffic and signaling of the transferrin receptors (TFRC and TFR2) in prostate cancer cells. These findings support the concept that endosome biogenesis and function are altered in prostate cancer. Microarray analysis of a clinical cohort confirmed the altered endosomal gene expression observed in cultured prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, in prostate cancer patient tissue specimens, the early endosomal marker and adaptor protein APPL1 showed consistently altered basement membrane histology in the vicinity of tumors and concentrated staining within tumor masses. These novel observations on altered early endosome biogenesis provide a new avenue for prostate cancer biomarker investigation and suggest new methods for the early diagnosis and accurate prognosis of prostate cancer.

Implications: This discovery of altered endosome biogenesis in prostate cancer may lead to novel biomarkers for more precise cancer detection and patient prognosis. Mol Cancer Res; 12(12); 1851–62. ©2014 AACR.
Porcine Ear Skin as a Biological Substrate for in vitro Testing of Sunscreen Performance
Authors: Sohn Myriam , Korn Verena , Imanidis Georgios
Published: July 2014

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the use of skin from porcine ears as a biological substrate for in vitro testing of sunscreens in order to overcome the shortcomings of the presently used polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) plates that generally fail to yield a satisfactory correlation between sun protection factors (SPF) in vitro and in vivo. Procedures: Trypsin-separated stratum corneum and heat-separated epidermis provided UV-transparent substrates that were laid on quartz or on PMMA plates. These were used to determine surface roughness by chromatic confocal imaging and to measure SPF in vitro of 2 sunscreens by diffuse transmission spectroscopy. Results: The recovered skin layers showed a lower roughness than full-thickness skin but yielded SPF in vitro values that more accurately reflected the SPF determined in vivo by a validated procedure than PMMA plates, although the latter had in part roughness values identical to those of intact skin. Combination of skin tissue with a high roughness PMMA plate also provided accurate SPF in vitro. Conclusions: Besides roughness, the improved affinity of the sunscreen to the skin substrate compared to PMMA plates may explain the better in vitro prediction of SPF achieved with the use of a biological substrate. i 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel