bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Population structure and residency patterns of the blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus melanopterus in turbid coastal environments
Authors: Chin A. , Tobin A. J. , Heupel M. R. , Simpfendorfer C. A.
Published: March 2013

This study examined the characteristics of a blacktip reef shark Carcharhinus melanopterus population in turbid coastal habitats through a multi‐year fishery‐independent sampling and tag–recapture programme. Results revealed a highly structured population comprised almost entirely of juveniles and adult females with individuals between 850 and 1050 mm total length effectively absent. Mature males were also rarely encountered with adult sex ratio highly biased towards females (female:male = 7:1). Mating scars were observed on adult females between December and April, and parturition was observed from December to March. Regression analysis showed that catch rates were significantly higher during the summer wet season between November and May. Recapture data suggested a highly resident population with a recapture rate of 21% and a mean recapture distance of 0·8 km. In addition, 33% of recaptured animals were captured multiple times, indicating long‐term residency. Most recaptures were, however, of adults with few juveniles recaptured. Widespread sampling at the study site and in adjacent areas suggested that the population was highly localized to a specific bay. The bimodal and sex‐segregated population structure observed here differs from previous reports for this species, and in combination with reproductive observations, suggests population structuring to facilitate reproductive and recruitment success. These data also highlight the potential ecosystem functions performed by coastal habitats in sustaining C. melanopterus populations.
The effect of ploidy and incubation temperature on survival and the prevalence of aplasia of the septum transversum in Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L
Authors: Fraser T W K , Fleming M S , Poppe T T , Hansen T , Fjelldal P G
Published: March 2013

Heart deformities are a concern in aquaculture and are linked to egg incubation temperature. Diploid and triploid Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., were incubated at 6, 8 and 10 °C and analysed for aplasia of the septum transversum (n = 150 ploidy−1 incubation temperature−1). Heart morphology (size and shape) was assessed in fish incubated at 6 °C and in fish with and without aplasia of the septum transversum (n = 9 group−1) incubated at 10 °C. Egg mortality was significantly higher in triploids than in diploids at all incubation temperatures, and increased egg incubation temperatures increased mortality in both ploidy. Triploids grew quicker than diploids after egg incubation at 10 °C, but not at 6 °C. Aplasia of the septum transversum occurred only in triploid fish after incubation at 6 °C and 8 °C (0.7% and 3.3%, respectively) and was significantly greater (P ≤ 0.05) in triploids after incubation at 10 °C compared with diploids (30% and 18%, respectively). Aplasia of the septum transversum significantly increased heart mass and resulted in a long flat ventricle compared with fish displaying a septum transversum. The results suggest triploid salmon should be incubated below 8 °C.
Detection of Brucella spp. in Stretched Curd Cheese as Assessed by Molecular Assays
Authors: Capuano Federico , Capparelli Rosanna , Mancusi Andrea , Esposito Salvatore , Corrado Federica , Guarino Achille
Published: March 2013

The study concerns the presence of Brucella spp. in the stretched curd cheese produced in an area characterized by the presence of a relevant number of herds infected with Brucella spp. One hundred ninety‐one cheese samples made with milk from different species were tested by two molecular assays. Positive samples were further submitted to sequence analysis of the IS711 gene. Eleven out of 98 of the samples made with buffalo milk alone resulted contaminated. The prevalence in cheese samples from cow milk alone and milk from cow and buffalo was 2.7% and 10.5%, respectively. No sample was positive to the microbiological Office International des Epizooties detection tests of Brucella spp.

Practical Application

The aim of the study is to evaluate the use of molecular assays as a tool to support microbiological and immunological tests carried out to eradicate brucellosis. Molecular assays shows to be a useful aid for the monitoring of herds health and the safety of dairy products evaluation; furthermore, their application to dairy products allows the implementation of the procedures to trace those infected farms that supply milk to dairies.
Marital Functioning From Middle to Later Years: A Life Course–Stress Process Framework
Authors: Wickrama K. A. S. , O'Neal Catherine Walker , Lorenz Fred O.
Published: March 2013

Little research has examined continuity and change in marital functioning from the middle to later years. We draw on a life course perspective and examine the influences of cumulative life experiences, personal characteristics, genetic markers, and stressful life events during the mid‐later transition on later‐life marital functioning. Although this theoretical framework is applicable to other types of close relationships and stressful life events in various domains, as mediators of these influences, we examine retirement as one important stressful life events in the mid‐later transition and marital functioning because of its centrality for most individuals. We review research supporting this theoretical framework and provide implications for future research on continuity and change in marital functioning over later adulthood.
Toward a Theory of Health‐Related Family Quality of Life
Authors: Radina M. Elise
Published: March 2013

This article presents a theory of health‐related family quality of life (HR‐FQoL) for families coping with illnesses that may result in long‐term survivorship (e.g., breast cancer). This theory draws on existing theoretical and empirical work to synthesize diverse literatures. Specifically, the theory of HR‐FQoL is intended to elucidate the overlap between 2 approaches to understanding quality of life as it relates to illness: family quality of life and health‐related quality of life The results is a synthesized conceptualization of health‐related family quality of life. The conclusion offers possible applications of the HR‐FQoL theory to families experiencing breast cancer and other illness and chronic conditions.
Gender and the Culture of Heterosexual Marriage in the United States
Authors: Loscocco Karyn , Walzer Susan
Published: March 2013

This theoretical narrative extends Andrew Cherlin's argument about the role of clashing values in high rates of marital disruption in the United States. Cherlin explains challenges to American marriages as deriving from tension between cultural ideals of marriage and individualism. Drawing on social construction and gender theory, we contend that gender differentiation affects both the institution of marriage and married people's personal dissatisfactions. We further suggest that racial/ethnic and class positions are likely to influence how people enact marriage and that accountability to gendered norms intersects with these positions. Unlike dominant cultural messages that signal that wives should accept the negative influence of gender differentiation, we argue that prevention of marital disruption requires critique of socially constructed “his and hers” marriages.
Merging dietary assessment with the adolescent lifestyle
Authors: Schap T. E. , Zhu F. , Delp E. J. , Boushey C. J.
Published: March 2013

The use of image‐based dietary assessment methods shows promise for improving dietary self‐report among children. The Technology Assisted Dietary Assessment (TADA) food record application is a self‐administered food record specifically designed to address the burden and human error associated with conventional methods of dietary assessment. Users would take images of foods and beverages at all eating occasions using a mobile telephone or mobile device with an integrated camera [e.g. Apple iPhone, Apple iPod Touch (Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA, USA); Nexus One (Google, Mountain View, CA, USA)]. Once the images are taken, the images are transferred to a back‐end server for automated analysis. The first step in this process is image analysis (i.e. segmentation, feature extraction and classification), which allows for automated food identification. Portion size estimation is also automated via segmentation and geometric shape template modeling. The results of the automated food identification and volume estimation can be indexed with the Food and Nutrient Database for Dietary Studies to provide a detailed diet analysis for use in epidemiological or intervention studies. Data collected during controlled feeding studies in a camp‐like setting have allowed for formative evaluation and validation of the TADA food record application. This review summarises the system design and the evidence‐based development of image‐based methods for dietary assessment among children.
Nutrient intakes, major food sources and dietary inadequacies of Inuit adults living in three remote communities in Nunavut, Canada
Authors: Sharma S. , Hopping B. N. , Roache C. , Sheehy T.
Published: March 2013

Background

Inuit in Nunavut, Canada, are currently undergoing a nutritional transition that may contribute to an increased prevalence of chronic disease. Information is lacking about the extent to which contemporary Inuit diets are meeting current dietary recommendations.

Methods

A culturally appropriate quantitative food frequency questionnaire (QFFQ) developed and validated for Inuit in Nunavut, Canada, was used to assess food and nutrient intake in a cross‐sectional sample of adults.

Results

Participants included 175 women and 36 men with mean (SD) ages of 42.4 (13.2) and 42.1 (15.0) years, respectively. The response rate for those who completed the study was 79% with 208 QFFQs included for analysis. Reported mean daily energy intakes were: men 15 171 kJ (3626 kcal); women 11 593 kJ (2771 kcal). Dietary inadequacy was expressed as the percentage of participants reporting intakes below the sex‐ and age‐specific estimated average requirements (EARs). For nutrients without EARs, adequate intakes were used. Energy and sodium intakes exceeded the recommendations. Less than 10% of participants met recommendations for dietary fibre intake. Vitamin E intakes were below EARs for ≥97% of participants, whereas >20% reported inadequate vitamin A, folate and magnesium intakes. Among women, >50% reported inadequate calcium and vitamin D intakes. Non‐nutrient‐dense foods contributed 30% of energy, 73% of sugars and 22% of fat. Traditional foods contributed 56% of protein and 49% of iron.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrates a relatively high prevalence of inadequate nutrient intakes among Inuit. The results may be used to monitor the nutrition transition among Inuit, evaluate nutritional interventions, and inform public health policy decision‐making.
Assisted‐living elderly and the mealtime experience
Authors: Mahadevan M. , Hartwell H. J. , Feldman C. H. , Ruzsilla J. A. , Raines E. R.
Published: March 2013

Background

Although there is increasing evidence of barriers to nutritional health among elderly assisted‐living residents, there has not been the same emphasis when examining the ways in which these individuals experience their mealtimes, as well as the factors that they perceive as contributing to their overall sense of health and well‐being. Mealtimes may be disregarded as being particularly unimportant or hurried and overlooked, especially for those residents who may be lonely and have feelings of isolation, ultimately leading to a reduced food intake and poor nutrition.

Methods

A convenience sample of 38 men and women, aged ≥65 years, were selected from four assisted‐living facilities in and around Montclair, NJ, USA, to participate in focus group discussions. Data were analysed using content analysis procedures.

Results

Participants described their experiences of mealtimes, and the factors contributing to an overall sense of well‐being during these occasions. The ability to make healthy food choices, socialise, interact with staff, friends and family members, and enjoy a tasty meal in a warm and inviting dining environment, may provide a dignity that is unmatched by other services.

Conclusions

The findings of the present study highlight the importance of maintaining the health of elderly assisted‐living residents through strategies that enhance their mealtime experiences. Listening to the food voice of elderly through research such as that carried out in the present study will help policy makers develop a plan that will effectively deal with systemic barriers prevalent in these facilities, and incorporate strategies to motivate and encourage their residents to increase their food intake and improve their health and well‐being.
From Legal Transplants to Sustainable Transition
Authors: Tong Xin , Yan Lin
Published: March 2013

Extended producer responsibility (EPR), which assigns significant responsibility to producers to take back their end‐of‐life products to create incentives for redesign of products with lower life cycle environmental impacts, has come to a crossroad facing a trade‐off between the original innovation‐oriented regime design and the cost‐efficiency challenges in practice. This is particularly true in its implementation in non‐Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD) countries as they are trying to transplant the “best practices” from OECD countries, for there is increasing skepticism as to whether EPR is suitable for developing countries at all. As an important producer of electronic products and destination of electronic waste (e‐waste) flows in the world, China has been expected to play a vital role in the evolution of global governance based on the idea of EPR, either to create new ways for producers to perform their end‐of‐life strategies, or to reshape the mode of production and consumption with its fast‐growing market. However, the establishment of EPR in China has been long and full of difficulties. This article reviews the status and trends in the establishment of an EPR system for waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) management in China. We use the framework of a multilevel perspective of transition theory in our analysis to characterize the complex interactions among various agents in the evolution of the Chinese system from initial innovation‐oriented design to the current efficiency‐oriented version. An ongoing research framework for evaluation of the EPR program in China is outlined as the research agenda in coming years.
Psychometric comparison of theMotivationAssessmentScale (MAS) and theQuestionsAboutBehavioralFunction (QABF)
Authors: Koritsas S. , Iacono T.
Published: March 2013

Background

TheMotivationAssessmentScale (MAS) and theQuestionsAboutBehavioralFunction (QABF) are frequently used to assess the learned function of challenging behaviour in people with intellectual disability (ID). The aim was to explore and compare the psychometric properties of theMASand theQABF.

Method

Seventy adults withIDand challenging behaviour and their disability support workers participated in the study. Support workers completed theMASandQABFregarding a challenging behaviour that they identified as causing most concern.

Results

Both measures demonstrated good internal consistency. Based on the intra‐class correlation coefficient, inter‐rater reliability of theMASandQABFwas acceptable for sub‐scale scores, but not for individual items. Convergent validity, as reflected by correlations between functionally analogous scales, was satisfactory, but there was low agreement between theMASandQABFon the function of challenging behaviour. Factor analysis of theQABFrevealed factors that clearly corresponded to the five factors reported by the developers, four of which were well determined. Similar analyses of theMASyielded a four‐factor solution, however, only one factor was well determined.

Conclusion

The psychometric properties of theMASandQABFwere similar, and item‐by‐item reliability was problematic. The results suggest that both measures may prove unreliable for assessing the function of challenging behaviour among adults withID. In developing interventions to address challenging behaviour, other techniques (e.g. observations) should be used to supplement information from these measures.
Endoscopic focal modulation microscopy
Authors: AHN J. , YOO H. , GWEON D.‐G.
Published: March 2013

We present endoscopic focal modulation microscopy (FMM) for minimally invasive imaging of deep tissue with high contrast, and then compare the results using endoscopic confocal microscopy (CM). Deep tissue imaging is achieved using a needle‐like endoscopic probe based on gradient‐index (GRIN) lenses. A tissue‐like phantom with fluorescent micro‐beads and rat kidney tubules were imaged through the endoscopic probe with FMM. FMM effectively rejected the background signals from the out‐of‐focus plane, thereby enhancing the image contrast and the optical sectioning ability. The combination of the GRIN endoscopic probe and FMM provides deep tissue imaging with better contrast than endoscopic CM.
Light at Night Alters Daily Patterns of Cortisol and Clock Proteins in Female Siberian Hamsters
Authors: Bedrosian T. A. , Galan A. , Vaughn C. A. , Weil Z. M. , Nelson R. J.
Published: March 2013

Humans and other organisms have adapted to a 24‐h solar cycle in response to life on Earth. The rotation of the planet on its axis and its revolution around the sun cause predictable daily and seasonal patterns in day length. To successfully anticipate and adapt to these patterns in the environment, a variety of biological processes oscillate with a daily rhythm of approximately 24 h in length. These rhythms arise from hierarchally‐coupled cellular clocks generated by positive and negative transcription factors of core circadian clock gene expression. From these endogenous cellular clocks, overt rhythms in activity and patterns in hormone secretion and other homeostatic processes emerge. These circadian rhythms in physiology and behaviour can be organised by a variety of cues, although they are most potently entrained by light. In recent history, there has been a major change from naturally‐occurring light cycles set by the sun, to artificial and sometimes erratic light cycles determined by the use of electric lighting. Virtually every individual living in an industrialised country experiences light at night (LAN) but, despite its prevalence, the biological effects of such unnatural lighting have not been fully considered. Using female Siberian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus), we investigated the effects of chronic nightly exposure to dim light on daily rhythms in locomotor activity, serum cortisol concentrations and brain expression of circadian clock proteins (i.e. PER1, PER2, BMAL1). Although locomotor activity remained entrained to the light cycle, the diurnal fluctuation of cortisol concentrations was blunted and the expression patterns of clock proteins in the suprachiasmatic nucleus and hippocampus were altered. These results demonstrate that chronic exposure to dim LAN can dramatically affect fundamental cellular function and emergent physiology.
PATENT ENFORCEMENT: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Authors: Weatherall Kimberlee , Webster Elizabeth
Published: March 2013

Without the confidence that patent rights can be enforced quickly and efficiently, when needed, the patent system will not stimulate innovation. For this reason, governments, academics, international institutions and the private sector have poured significant resources into gathering and analysing statistics on patent enforcement over the last two decades. This paper reviews these studies and finds that while infringement is relatively common, much enforcement occurs informally and less than 1–2% of patents incur litigation. New strategic uses of the enforcement system, especially by nonpracticing entities, are the major emerging enforcement issue, especially in the United States. While the old problem of litigation costs attracts the lion's share of empirical attention, it has produced remarkably few solutions to date.
Direct composite restorations for the worn mandibular anterior dentition: a 7‐year follow‐up of a prospective randomised controlled split‐mouth clinical trial
Authors: Al‐Khayatt A. S. , Ray‐Chaudhuri A. , Poyser N. J. , Briggs P. F. A. , Porter R. W. J. , Kelleher M. G. D. , Eliyas S.
Published: March 2013

The purpose of this study was to report on the 7‐year follow‐up of 15 patients who took part in a prospective randomised controlled split‐mouth trial to evaluate the performance and patient satisfaction of 107 direct composite restorations bonded to their worn anterior mandibular dentition. This is the continuation of a study by Poyser et al., which investigated the performance of the same direct composite restorations on this cohort of patients at 2·5 years. The results of the present study suggest that direct composite restorations bonded to the worn anterior mandibular dentition to have an approximate survival of 85% at the 7‐year follow‐up. Approximately 53% of patients experienced survival of all of their restorations. Pre‐operative circumferential preparation did not influence restoration survival, patient satisfaction or other clinical variables (restoration staining, marginal discolouration, shade match, surface roughness and marginal adaptation). The time taken to initially build‐up the restorations was shown to be statistically significant with a longer procedural time meaning less chance of the restoration being present at 7 years. This treatment modality exhibited no biological complications for the teeth, supporting periodontium or TMJ apparatus. The placement of these restorations provided an improvement in the aesthetics of the teeth, a reduction in the concern over the longevity of the worn lower anterior teeth, and improvements with regard to sensitivity experienced with hot or cold foods or drinks. Marginal breakdown was the most frequently recorded clinical complication. Thus, for the majority of patients, the restorations offered a high degree of patient satisfaction and required an acceptable level of maintenance in the 7‐year follow‐up period.
A National Evaluation of the Impact of State Policies on Competitive Foods in Schools
Authors: Fernandes Meenakshi M.
Published: March 2013

BACKGROUND

Since 2003, many states have introduced policies to improve the nutritional content and restrict the availability of competitive foods, which are foods offered outside of the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs. This article evaluates the impact of 2 types of state‐level policies on the availability of competitive foods in a national sample of schools.

METHODS

Annual state‐level data on limits, which restrict the time or venue of competitive foods sales, and standards, which regulate the nutrient content of competitive foods, was obtained from the Trust for America's Health and mapped to a national sample from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study who were in fifth grade in 2004 and eighth grade in 2007. A logistic regression model with child fixed effects tested the association between policy enactments and changes in reported availability of competitive foods in schools. The analyses controlled for child and school characteristics.

RESULTS

Nineteen states introduced a standard or a limit between 2004 and 2007. After adjusting for child and school characteristics, standards were associated with lower child‐reported availability of soft drinks (16.5%, p < .001), low‐nutrient snacks (22.0%, p < .05), and sweets (18.1%, p < .001). The impact of limits was not statistically significant.

CONCLUSION

Standards introduced between 2004 and 2007 were associated with a decline in the availability of soft drinks, low‐nutrient snacks, and sweets as reported by a national sample of children. School compliance with state competitive food policies may increase over time. Research on the impact of existing state policies could inform the development of a national policy to regulate competitive foods in schools.
Relationships Among Subjective Social Status, Weight Perception, Weight Control Behaviors, and Weight Status in Adolescents: Findings From the 2009 Korea Youth Risk Behaviors Web‐Based Survey
Authors: Ha Yeongmi , Choi Eunsook , Seo Yeongmi , Kim Tae‐gu
Published: March 2013

BACKGROUND

This study identified relationships among subjective social status (SSS), weight perception, weight control behaviors, and weight status in Korean adolescents using nationally representative data collected from the 2009 Korea Youth Risk Behaviors Web‐Based Survey.

METHODS

Data from 67,185 students aged 12‐18 years were analyzed. Relationships among SSS, weight perception, and weight control behaviors in boys and girls were examined using chi‐square. Logistic regression analysis was performed with adjusting school grade and place of residence to assess potential associations between multiple variables and overweight students.

RESULTS

Lower SSS was associated with a significant risk of being overweight in girls, but not in boys. Of particular interest, overestimation and underestimation coexist within boys, whereas girls predominantly tended to overestimate their weight status. Inaccurate weight perception and unhealthy weight control behaviors were significantly associated with the risk of being overweight in both boys and girls.

CONCLUSIONS

Considering the results of this study showing sex differences in weight perception and weight control behaviors, sex‐specific overweight prevention programs are needed to achieve accurate weight perception and healthy weight control behaviors.
Distribution, Disease Level and Virulence Variation of Bremia lactucae on Lactuca sativa in the Czech Republic in the Period 1999–2011
Authors: Petrželová Irena , Lebeda Aleš , Kosman Evsey
Published: March 2013

We report the distribution and disease level of downy mildew on lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and virulence variation in populations of its causal agent (Bremia lactucae) in the Czech Republic during the period 1999–2011. Disease incidence was not high; among a total of 92 different localities surveyed, 43.4% of them were infected by lettuce downy mildew at least once during the whole period. However, among individual years, differences were found in disease incidence that ranged from 4.8% (2009) to 66.7% (2004). A total of 128 isolates of B. lactucae collected from infected leaf samples in 35 different localities during the surveying period were included in the virulence analysis. Virulence was examined on a set of 19 differential genotypes of Lactuca sativa and Lactuca serriola (EU‐A test set). Isolates exhibited quite a broad variation in virulence to individual Lactuca differential genotypes. Eighteen of 19 virulence factors (v‐factors) tested were present in the samples. The most frequently detected factors were v1–4, v5/8, v6, v7, v10–14, v16, v36 and v38; factor v17 was not found. The most pronounced temporal shift was recorded for factors v36 and v38 whose frequency increased during the studied period. V‐factors 15, 17, 18 and 37 were present in low frequencies in a pathogen population, and their corresponding gene (Dm15) or resistance factors (R17, R18 and R37) may have the best potential for resistance breeding in the Czech Republic. Broad diversity of v‐phenotypes (63 different ones) was identified during the study period. The numbers of v‐factors per v‐phenotype (resp. isolate) varied within a range of 5–15. Within the 128 analysed isolates, only 9 v‐phenotypes were recorded repeatedly (three or more times). Possible reasons of recorded virulence variation are discussed.
Autecology and phylogeny of Coolia tropicalis and Coolia malayensis (Dinophyceae), with emphasis on taxonomy of C. tropicalis based on light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and LSU rDNA1
Authors: Mohammad‐Noor Normawaty , Moestrup Øjvind , Lundholm Nina , Fraga Santiago , Adam Aimimualiani , Holmes Michael J. , Saleh Ejria
Published: March 2013

Coolia is a widespread and ecologically important genus of benthic marine dinoflagellates found in tropical regions. Historically, there has been taxonomic confusion about the taxonomy and toxicity of this group. The goal of this study was to resolve morphological questions concerning Coolia tropicalis and determine the taxonomic identity of the Australian Coolia isolate which has been reported to produce cooliatoxins. To accomplish this, the morphology of tropical strains from Belize (the type locality of C. tropicalis), Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia were examined and compared to published reports. The morphological analysis showed that C. tropicalis differs from the original description in that it has a slightly larger size (35–47 μm long by 30–45 μm wide versus 23–40 μm long by 25–39 μm wide), and the shape of fourth apical plate, and the length of Po plate (7.4–12 μm versus 7 μm). Based on both morphology and phylogenetic analysis using LSU D1‐ D3 rDNA sequences, the clones of C. tropicalis from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Belize were found to form a monophyletic clade within the genus. The strain producing cooliatoxin was found to be C. tropicalis, not Coolia monotis as originally assumed. To explore the factors influencing the growth of Coolia species, the growth rates of C. tropicalis and Coolia malayensis were determined at different temperatures and salinities. Both species tolerated a wide range of temperatures, but cannot survive at temperatures <20°C or >35°C. C. monotis, the dominant species reported in the literature, probably does not produce toxins.
Mechanism of the dependence of hepatitis B virus genotype G on co‐infection with other genotypes for viral replication
Authors: Sakamoto T. , Tanaka Y. , Watanabe T. , Iijima S. , Kani S. , Sugiyama M. , Murakami S. , Matsuura K. , Kusakabe A. , Shinkai N. , Sugauchi F. , Mizokami M.
Published: March 2013

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is classified into several genotypes. Genotype G (HBV/G) is characterised by worldwide dispersion, low intragenotypic diversity and a peculiar sequence of the precore and core region (stop codon and 36‐nucleotide insertion). As a rule, HBV/G is detected in co‐infection with another genotype, most frequently HBV/A2. In a previous in vivo study, viral replication of HBV/G was significantly enhanced by co‐infection with HBV/A2. However, the mechanism by which co‐infection with HBV/A2 enhances HBV/G replication is not fully understood. In this study, we employed 1.24‐fold HBV/A2 clones that selectively expressed each viral protein and revealed that the core protein expressing construct significantly enhanced the replication of HBV/G in Huh7 cells. The introduction of the HBV/A2 core promoter or core protein or both genomic regions into the HBV/G genome showed that both the core promoter and core protein are required for efficient HBV/G replication. The effect of genotype on the interaction between foreign core protein and HBV/G showed that HBV/A2 was the strongest enhancer of HBV/G replication. Furthermore, Western blot analysis of Dane particles isolated from cultures of Huh7 cells co‐transfected by HBV/G and a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter–driven HBV/A2 core protein expression construct indicated that HBV/G employed HBV/A2 core protein during particle assembly. In conclusion, HBV/G could take advantage of core proteins from other genotypes during co‐infection to replicate efficiently and to effectively package HBV DNA into virions.
Northern range expansion of European populations of the wasp spider Argiope bruennichi is associated with global warming–correlated genetic admixture and population‐specific temperature adaptations
Authors: Krehenwinkel Henrik , Tautz Diethard
Published: March 2013

Poleward range expansions are observed for an increasing number of species, which may be an effect of global warming during the past decades. However, it is still not clear in how far these expansions reflect simple geographical shifts of species ranges, or whether new genetic adaptations play a role as well. Here, we analyse the expansion of the wasp spider Argiope bruennichi into Northern Europe during the last century. We have used a range‐wide sampling of contemporary populations and historical specimens from museums to trace the phylogeography and genetic changes associated with the range shift. Based on the analysis of mitochondrial, microsatellite and SNP markers, we observe a higher level of genetic diversity in the expanding populations, apparently due to admixture of formerly isolated lineages. Using reciprocal transplant experiments for testing overwintering tolerance, as well as temperature preference and tolerance tests in the laboratory, we find that the invading spiders have possibly shifted their temperature niche. This may be a key adaptation for survival in Northern latitudes. The museum samples allow a reconstruction of the invasion's genetic history. A first, small‐scale range shift started around 1930, in parallel with the onset of global warming. A more massive invasion of Northern Europe associated with genetic admixture and morphological changes occurred in later decades. We suggest that the latter range expansion into far Northern latitudes may be a consequence of the admixture that provided the genetic material for adaptations to new environmental regimes. Hence, global warming could have facilitated the initial admixture of populations and this resulted in genetic lineages with new habitat preferences.
Climate change and the spread of vector‐borne diseases: using approximate Bayesian computation to compare invasion scenarios for the bluetongue virus vector Culicoides imicola in Italy
Authors: Mardulyn Patrick , Goffredo Maria , Conte Annamaria , Hendrickx Guy , Meiswinkel Rudolf , Balenghien Thomas , Sghaier Soufien , Lohr Youssef , Gilbert Marius
Published: March 2013

Bluetongue (BT) is a commonly cited example of a disease with a distribution believed to have recently expanded in response to global warming. The BT virus is transmitted to ruminants by biting midges of the genus Culicoides, and it has been hypothesized that the emergence of BT in Mediterranean Europe during the last two decades is a consequence of the recent colonization of the region by Culicoides imicola and linked to climate change. To better understand the mechanism responsible for the northward spread of BT, we tested the hypothesis of a recent colonization of Italy by C. imicola, by obtaining samples from more than 60 localities across Italy, Corsica, Southern France, and Northern Africa (the hypothesized source point for the recent invasion of C. imicola), and by genotyping them with 10 newly identified microsatellite loci. The patterns of genetic variation within and among the sampled populations were characterized and used in a rigorous approximate Bayesian computation framework to compare three competing historical hypotheses related to the arrival and establishment of C. imicola in Italy. The hypothesis of an ancient presence of the insect vector was strongly favoured by this analysis, with an associated P ≥ 99%, suggesting that causes other than the northward range expansion of C. imicola may have supported the emergence of BT in southern Europe. Overall, this study illustrates the potential of molecular genetic markers for exploring the assumed link between climate change and the spread of diseases.
New Evidence on the Allocation of NIH Funds across Diseases
Authors: SAMPAT BHAVEN N. , BUTERBAUGH KRISTIN , PERL MARCEL
Published: March 2013

Context

The responsiveness of NIH (National Institutes of Health) funding to disease burden is a long‐standing issue of policy interest. Previous analyses of this issue have been hindered by data constraints, have not specified channels through which the NIH funding process could be responsive to disease considerations, and have not examined differences across NIH institutes and centers.

Methods

We collected data from the NIH's new RCDC (Research, Condition, and Disease Categorization) database on funding for 107 diseases in 2008 and linked these to data on deaths and hospitalizations for these diseases. We used RCDC data and information from another NIH database—RePORTER—to determine institute‐specific funding for these diseases and also funding by award type. We used these data to examine the overall responsiveness of NIH funding to disease burden, within‐institute responsiveness, and the responsiveness of different types of NIH awards.

Findings

Overall, we found a strong and statistically significant relationship between NIH funding and deaths and hospitalizations associated with a disease. We detected some evidence that more “applied” grant mechanisms—in particular, funding for clinical trials—are more responsive than other types of funding. We also found evidence of differences across institutes in their extent of responsiveness.

Conclusions

Overall, the data suggest that NIH funding is responsive to the two measures of disease burden. More applied grant mechanisms also may serve as “safety valves” in the allocation process, allowing Congress, disease advocacy groups, and others to apply pressure to address particular health priorities in a more fine‐grained way than is possible through investigator‐initiated “basic” research grants alone.
The bacterial effector DspA/E is toxic in Arabidopsis thaliana and is required for multiplication and survival of fire blight pathogen
Authors: Degrave Alexandre , Moreau Manon , Launay Alban , Barny Marie‐Anne , Brisset Marie‐Noëlle , Patrit Oriane , Taconnat Ludivine , Vedel Regine , Fagard Mathilde
Published: March 2013

The type III effector DspA/E is an essential pathogenicity factor of the phytopathogenic bacterium Erwinia amylovora. We showed that DspA/E was required for transient bacterial growth in nonhost Arabidopsis thaliana leaves, as an E. amylovora dspA/E mutant was unable to grow. We expressed DspA/E in A. thaliana transgenic plants under the control of an oestradiol‐inducible promoter, and found that DspA/E expressed in planta restored the growth of a dspA/E mutant. DspA/E expression in these transgenic plants led to the modulation by at least two‐fold of the expression of 384 genes, mostly induced (324 genes). Both induced and repressed genes contained high proportions of defence genes. DspA/E expression ultimately resulted in plant cell death without requiring a functional salicylic acid signalling pathway. Analysis of A. thaliana transgenic seedlings expressing a green fluorescent protein (GFP):DspA/E fusion indicated that the fusion protein could only be detected in a few cells per seedling, suggesting the degradation or absence of accumulation of DspA/E in plant cells. Consistently, we found that DspA/E repressed plant protein synthesis when injected by E. amylovora or when expressed in transgenic plants. Thus, we conclude that DspA/E is toxic to A. thaliana: it promotes modifications, among which the repression of protein synthesis could be determinant in the facilitation of necrosis and bacterial growth.
The role of the potato (Solanum tuberosum) CCD8 gene in stolon and tuber development
Authors: Pasare Stefania A. , Ducreux Laurence J. M. , Morris Wayne L. , Campbell Raymond , Sharma Sanjeev K. , Roumeliotis Efstathios , Kohlen Wouter , van der Krol Sander , Bramley Peter M. , Roberts Alison G. , Fraser Paul D. , Taylor Mark A.
Published: March 2013

Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of phytohormones controlling shoot branching. In potato (Solanum tuberosum), tubers develop from underground stolons, diageotropic stems which originate from basal stem nodes. As the degree of stolon branching influences the number and size distribution of tubers, it was considered timely to investigate the effects of SL production on potato development and tuber life cycle.

Transgenic potato plants were generated in which the CAROTENOID CLEAVAGE DIOXYGENASE8 (CCD8) gene, key in the SL biosynthetic pathway, was silenced by RNA interference (RNAi).

The resulting CCD8‐RNAi potato plants showed significantly more lateral and main branches than control plants, reduced stolon formation, together with a dwarfing phenotype and a lack of flowering in the most severely affected lines. New tubers were formed from sessile buds of the mother tubers. The apical buds of newly formed transgenic tubers grew out as shoots when exposed to light. In addition, we found that CCD8 transcript levels were rapidly downregulated in tuber buds by the application of sprout‐inducing treatments.

These results suggest that SLs could have an effect, solely or in combination with other phytohormones, in the morphology of potato plants and also in controlling stolon development and maintaining tuber dormancy.
Urban legends series: oral manifestations of HIV infection
Authors: Patton LL , Ramirez‐Amador V , Anaya‐Saavedra G , Nittayananta W , Carrozzo M , Ranganathan K
Published: March 2013

Human immunodeficiency virus‐related oral lesions (HIV‐OLs), such as oral candidiasis (OC) and oral hairy leukoplakia (OHL), have been recognized as indicators of immune suppression since the beginning of the global HIV epidemic. The diagnosis and management of HIV disease and spectrum of opportunistic infection has changed over the past 30 years as our understanding of the infection has evolved. We investigated the following controversial topics: (i) Are oral manifestations of HIV still relevant after the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)? (ii) Can we nowadays still diagnose HIV infection through oral lesions? (iii) Is the actual classification of oral manifestations of HIV adequate or does it need to be reviewed and updated? (iv) Is there any novelty in the treatment of oral manifestations of HIV infection? Results from extensive literature review suggested the following: (i) While HAART has resulted in significant reductions in HIV‐OLs, many are still seen in patients with HIV infection, with OC remaining the most common lesion. While the relationship between oral warts and the immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome is less clear, the malignant potential of oral human papillomavirus infection is gaining increasing attention. (ii) Effective antiretroviral therapy has transformed HIV from a fatal illness to a chronic manageable condition and as a result expanded screening policies for HIV are being advocated both in developed and in developing countries. Affordable, reliable, and easy‐to‐use diagnostic techniques have been recently introduced likely restricting the importance of HIV‐OLs in diagnosis. (iii) The 1993 EC‐Clearinghouse classification of HIV‐OLs is still globally used despite controversy on the relevance of periodontal diseases today. HIV‐OL case definitions were updated in 2009 to facilitate the accuracy of HIV‐OL diagnoses by non‐dental healthcare workers in large‐scale epidemiologic studies and clinical trials. (iv) Research over the last 6 years on novel modalities for the treatment of HIV‐OLs has been reported for OC and OHL.
Aging effects on oropharyngeal swallow and the role of dental care in oropharyngeal dysphagia
Authors: Logemann JA , Curro FA , Pauloski B , Gensler G
Published: March 2013

Difficulty with oropharyngeal swallow requires careful diagnosis and treatment from a team of professionals including the patients' physicians and the speech‐language pathologist specializing in dysphagia. The dentist can be a critical team member in prevention, early identification, and management of oropharyngeal dysphagia. This manuscript reviews the physiology of normal oropharyngeal swallow and the effects of normal aging on this physiology. Typical etiologies for oropharyngeal dysphagia are defined as is the most commonly used physiologic diagnostic procedure, the modified barium swallow (MBS). The critical role of the dentist in identifying risk of oropharyngeal dysphagia, making appropriate referrals, and improving oral hygiene to prevent aspiration pneumonia in the elderly is discussed.
Genetic improvement of grain protein content and other health‐related constituents of wheat grain
Authors: Balyan Harindra S. , Gupta Pushpendra K. , Kumar Sachin , Dhariwal Raman , Jaiswal Vandana , Tyagi Sandhya , Agarwal Priyanka , Gahlaut Vijay , Kumari Supriya
Published: March 2013

It is known that nearly one‐third of the world population currently suffers from malnutrition due to lack of availability of adequate quantity of protein, vitamins and a number of micronutrients includingFe andZn in their diet. A lack of other desirable bioactive compounds and dietary fibres (DF) in the diet also causes a variety of diseases. In some regions of the world, occurrence ofCd andAs in wheat grain in excess of tolerance limits also adversely affects human health. In this short review, we summarize the current status of knowledge about the genetic control of the accumulation of a variety of nutritional constituents in wheat grain and then describe examples where noticeable improvements have been made using breeding approaches. We also describe the gaps that need to be bridged for better understanding of the genetic architecture of these important traits. The development and use of molecular markers in marker‐assisted selection (MAS) for developing wheat varieties with improved grain quality has also been discussed.
What does optimization theory actually predict about crown profiles of photosynthetic capacity when models incorporate greater realism?
Authors: BUCKLEY THOMAS N. , CESCATTI ALESSANDRO , FARQUHAR GRAHAM D.
Published: March 2013

Measured profiles of photosynthetic capacity in plant crowns typically do not match those of average irradiance: the ratio of capacity to irradiance decreases as irradiance increases. This differs from optimal profiles inferred from simple models. To determine whether this could be explained by omission of physiological or physical details from such models, we performed a series of thought experiments using a new model that included more realism than previous models. We used ray‐tracing to simulate irradiance for 8000 leaves in a horizontally uniform canopy. For a subsample of 500 leaves, we simultaneously optimized both nitrogen allocation (among pools representing carboxylation, electron transport and light capture) and stomatal conductance using a transdermally explicit photosynthesis model. Few model features caused the capacity/irradiance ratio to vary systematically with irradiance. However, when leaf absorptance varied as needed to optimize distribution of light‐captureN, the capacity/irradiance ratio increased up through the crown – that is, opposite to the observed pattern. This tendency was counteracted by constraints on stomatal or mesophyll conductance, which caused chloroplasticCO2concentration to decline systematically with increasing irradiance. Our results suggest that height‐related constraints on stomatal conductance can help to reconcile observations with the hypothesis that photosyntheticNis allocated optimally.
Pediatric Primary Follicular Mucinosis: Further Evidence of its Relationship with Mycosis Fungoides
Authors: Santos‐Briz Angel , Cañueto Javier , García‐Dorado Jesus , Teresa Alonso M. , Balanzategui Ana , González‐Díaz Marcos
Published: March 2013

Follicular mucinosis (FM) is an uncommon reaction pattern in which the accumulation of mucin in the follicular epithelium is the main pathologic finding. FM may be idiopathic (primary follicular mucinosis [PFM]), in association with mycosis fungoides or cutaneous T‐cell lymphoma, or in association with other neoplastic and inflammatory conditions. Herein we report a case of PFM with identical T‐cell clone rearrangement at anatomically distinct sites, supporting the idea that some authors have proposed, that FM may represent a low‐grade lymphoproliferative disease related to mycoses fungoides with favorable prognosis.