bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Chinese‐Speaking Adults' Understanding of Argument Structure
Authors: Jiang Lu , Haryu Etsuko 
Published: February 2016

AbstractSyntactic constructions roughly correspond to sentence meanings. Jiang and Haryu (2014) found that Chinese children can associate subject‐verb‐object (SVO) constructions with causative events at age 2, but do not always map subject‐verb (SV) constructions to noncausative events, even after reaching 5 years of age. The latter results may be attributed to the fact that Chinese allows argument‐dropping. That is, an SV sentence in Chinese sometimes includes an intransitive verb, but other times includes a transitive verb with the object dropped. This paper investigated Chinese adults' knowledge of syntax‐semantics correspondence. Experiment 1 found that Chinese adults did not always map SV sentences to noncausative events, while they almost always mapped SVO sentences to causative events. Experiment 2 found that they preferred to use SV and SVO constructions to describe noncausative and causative events, respectively. Chinese adults understand that causative and noncausative events should typically be described using transitive and intransitive constructions, respectively. However, when inferring to which event (causative or noncausative) the given sentence should be mapped, their performance seems to be regulated by actual SV sentence usage in Chinese.
A National Survey of Psychology Education Programs and Their Content in Japan
Authors: Kusumi Takashi , Yama Hiroshi , Okada Kensuke , Kikuchi Satoru , Hoshino Takahiro 
Published: February 2016

AbstractThis study reports the results of a national survey of psychology programs in Japan, conducted by the Committee on the Education and Research of the Japanese Psychological Association, based on 443 responses from program heads of 378 colleges, universities, and graduate schools. We analyzed the data by institution and type of degree program. The results indicated that: (a) undergraduate‐level psychological education in Japan is mainly provided by private universities (which account for 71% of all psychology graduates at this level), while Master's (60%) and Ph.D. (83%) programs are mainly provided by national and public universities; (b) the largest groups of faculty members by specialization are in clinical psychology and in developmental and educational psychology; (c) the dominant forms of teaching are lectures and seminars; and (d) most psychology major programs in Japan aim to improve students' academic and generic skills. Finally, we suggest how psychology programs in Japan can reform curriculum and better improve students' academic skills on the basis of their generic skills.
Sexual and parent–offspring dietary segregation in a colonial raptor as revealed by stable isotopes
Authors: Catry I. , Catry T. , Alho M. , Franco A. M. A. , Moreira F. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractDiet composition and foraging behaviour may show considerable variation among population groups (such as sex and age classes), with potentially important consequences for population dynamics. Thus, failure to account for intra‐specific differences in trophic ecology can bias our understanding of different aspects of population ecology and limit the implementation of effective management and conservation strategies. Although countless studies have investigated the diet of birds, comparatively few have tried to describe intra‐specific sources of dietary variation. Here, we used stable isotope analysis (SIA) to investigate sex‐ and age‐related dietary segregation in the lesser kestrel Falco naumanni breeding in South Iberia and to discuss potential mechanisms involved in such segregation. Females had a narrower isotopic niche width and significantly more depleted δ13C signatures than males during the courtship period, likely due to a higher consumption of energetically rich mole crickets. Our results suggest that sex‐specific differences in the diet of lesser kestrels do not result from intra‐specific competition and are unlikely to be explained by sexual size dimorphism alone. Instead, the main driving force of observed sexual segregation appears to be the different energetic requirements of males and females before laying, when females need a higher allocation of resources to egg production. δ15N isotopic signatures differed significantly between adults and chicks and niche overlap between these age classes was low. Stable isotopic mixing models showed that, compared to adults, the diet of chicks was less diverse and mainly dominated by grasshoppers. Different resource allocation between chicks and adults might also result from different energy requirements, as rapidly growing chicks require more energy than adults, ultimately leading to a parent–offspring dietary segregation. Finally, overall agreement between pellet analysis and SIA methods highlight the potential of SIA for assessing intra‐specific variation in dietary regimes which is often unfeasible through conventional approaches of diet assessment.
Chromosome pairing and fertility of interspecific hybrids between Trifolium repens L. and T. occidentale Coombe
Authors: Hussain Syed Wajid , Williams Warren Mervyn 
Published: February 2016

AbstractTrifolium occidentale is a diploid wild relative with the potential to improve the drought and salt tolerances of white clover (Trifolium repens). Previous work has shown that it is possible to efficiently produce large T. repens × T. occidentale breeding populations using colchicine‐doubled (4×) T. occidentale. For effective introgression (backcross) breeding, it is also essential that interspecific chromosome pairing and recombination occur. In this study, it was apparent that chromosome pairing was occurring not only between T. occidentale and T. repens subgenomes, but also between the ancestral subgenomes of T. repens. Thus, interspecific hybridization has the potential for major genome recombination and opens the way for introgression of traits from T. occidentale into white clover.
Leaf gas films, underwater photosynthesis and plant species distributions in a flood gradient
Authors: Winkel Anders , Visser Eric J. W. , Colmer Timothy D. , Brodersen Klaus P. , Voesenek Laurentius A. C. J. , Sand‐Jensen Kaj , Pedersen Ole 
Published: February 2016

AbstractTraits for survival during flooding of terrestrial plants include stimulation or inhibition of shoot elongation, aerenchyma formation and efficient gas exchange. Leaf gas films form on superhydrophobic cuticles during submergence and enhance underwater gas exchange. The main hypothesis tested was that the presence of leaf gas films influences the distribution of plant species along a natural flood gradient. We conducted laboratory experiments and field observations on species distributed along a natural flood gradient. We measured presence or absence of leaf gas films and specific leaf area of 95 species. We also measured, gas film retention time during submergence and underwater net photosynthesis and dark respiration of 25 target species. The presence of a leaf gas film was inversely correlated to flood frequency and duration and reached a maximum value of 80% of the species in the rarely flooded locations. This relationship was primarily driven by grasses that all, independently of their field location along the flood gradient, possess gas films when submerged. Although the present study and earlier experiments have shown that leaf gas films enhance gas exchange of submerged plants, the ability of species to form leaf gas films did not show the hypothesized relationship with species composition along the flood gradient.
Same sibling marrow following cord allogeneic transplantation as therapy for second relapse acute promyelocytic leukemia in a pediatric patient
Authors: De Oliveira Satiro N. , Kao Roy L. , Pham Andrew , Smith LaMarr Taylor , Kempert Pamela , Moore Theodore B. 
Published: February 2016

AbstractOptimal therapy for relapsed APL in pediatric patients is controversial. Allogeneic HSCT is an alternative, with event‐free survival of 70–75%. We report a pediatric patient with APL who relapsed 28 months after CBT from her sibling and then was treated with BMT from the same donor. Bone marrow was selected for higher cell dose, donor availability, and partial donor chimerism. Persistent molecular remission was achieved, currently at 65 months after BMT. This case suggests the potential role of GVL activity in APL and illustrates the use of different cell sources from the same donor in allogeneic transplantation for pediatric patients.
Vitamin D Status and Gestational Diabetes: Effect of Smoking Status during Pregnancy
Authors: Dodds Linda , Woolcott Christy G. , Weiler Hope , Spencer Anne , Forest Jean‐Claude , Armson B. Anthony , Giguère Yves 
Published: February 2016

AbstractBackgroundVitamin D status, as measured by serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), has been shown in some studies to be inversely associated with gestational diabetes risk. Recently, it has been suggested that maternal smoking status may modify this relationship. We explored the association between 25(OH)D concentration and gestational diabetes and determined if there was an interaction between smoking and 25(OH)D.MethodsA nested case–control study was conducted in Halifax, Nova Scotia and Quebec City, Quebec. Women were recruited before 20 weeks gestation and 25(OH)D was measured. Cases were women who developed gestational diabetes and controls were frequency matched to cases on study site, gestational age at blood draw, and season and year of blood draw. Logistic regression models estimated adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Models were tested for multiplicative and additive interaction, which was estimated by relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI).ResultsThe study included 395 gestational diabetes cases and 1925 controls. Women who smoked during pregnancy and had 25(OH)D concentrations <30 nmol/L had an aOR = 3.73 [95% CI 1.95, 7.14] compared to non‐smokers with 25(OH)D concentrations ≥50 nmol/L. Additive interaction was detected between smoking status and 25(OH)D [RERI = 2.44, 95% CI 0.03, 4.85].ConclusionOur study supports the inverse association of vitamin D status with gestational diabetes risk, particularly among women who smoke during pregnancy. More research is needed to confirm this finding and, if confirmed, to determine the mechanism by which the combined effect of smoking and low vitamin D status increases the risk of developing gestational diabetes.
Seminal Plasma Characteristics and Expression of ATP‐binding Cassette Transporter A1 (ABCA1) in Canine Spermatozoa from Ejaculates with Good and Bad Freezability
Authors: Schäfer‐Somi S , Palme N 
Published: February 2016

ContentsThe composition of seminal plasma and the localization of the ATP‐binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) in spermatozoa from good and bad freezers were compared to frozen–thawed spermatozoa from the same dog. Ejaculates were obtained from 31 stud dogs, and the sperm‐rich fraction (SRF) was kept for analysis. One aliquot was used for the analysis of concentration, progressive motility (P; CASA), viability (V; CASA) and leucocyte count, and the analysis was performed by flow cytometry (FITC‐PNA/PI), SCSA and HOST. In seminal plasma, concentration of albumin, cholesterol, calcium, inorganic phosphate, sodium, potassium, zinc and copper was measured. Semen smears were prepared and evaluated for the expression of ABCA1. The remainder of each ejaculate was frozen. After thawing, the quality assessment was repeated and further smears were prepared. According to post‐thaw semen quality, dogs were assigned to good freezers (n = 20) or bad freezers (n = 11), the latter were defined as < 50% progressive motility and/or > 40% morphologically abnormal sperm and/or < 50% viability. Bad freezers were older than good freezers (5.3 vs 3.4 years, p < 0.05). In bad freezers, the percentage of sperm with ABCA1 signal in the acrosome was lower (26.3% vs 35.7%, p < 0.01) and the percentage of sperm with complete loss of ABCA1 signal higher (46.7% vs 30%, p < 0.01); the percentage of dead spermatozoa was higher (36.1% vs 25.5%, p < 0.05), and the concentration of cholesterol and sodium in seminal plasma was lower than in good freezers (p < 0.05). We conclude that in thawed bad freezer sperm, an increase in acrosome damages coincided with an increased loss of cholesterol transporters and cell death, and a lower cholesterol concentration in seminal plasma. Follow‐up studies revealed whether a relation exists between these findings.
The S1–S2 linker determines the distinct pH sensitivity between ZmK2.1 and KAT1
Authors: Wang Li , Yang Shun–Ying , Guo Man–Yuan , Huang Ya–Nan , Sentenac Hervé , Véry Anne–Aliénor , Su Yan–Hua 
Published: February 2016

SummaryEfficient stomatal opening requires activation of KAT‐type K+ channels, which mediate K+ influx into guard cells. Most KAT‐type channels are functionally facilitated by extracellular acidification. However, despite sequence and structural homologies, the maize counterpart of Arabidopsis KAT1 (ZmK2.1) is resistant to pH activation. To understand the structural determinant that results in the differential pH activation of these counterparts, we analysed chimeric channels and channels with point mutations for ZmK2.1 and its closest Arabidopsis homologue KAT1. Exchange of the S1–S2 linkers altered the pH sensitivity between the two channels, suggesting that the S1–S2 linker is essentially involved in the pH sensitivity. The effects of D92 mutation within the linker motif together with substitution of the first half of the linker largely resemble the effects of substitution of the complete linker. Topological modelling predicts that one of the two cysteines located on the outer face section of the S5 domain may serve as a potential titratable group that interacts with the S1–S2 linker. The difference between ZmK2.1 and KAT1 is predicted to be the result of the distance of the stabilized linkers from the titratable group. In KAT1, residue K85 within the linker forms a hydrogen bond with C211 that enables the pH activation; conversely, the linker of ZmK2.1 is distantly located and thus does not interact with the equivalent titration group (C208). Thus, in addition to the known structural contributors to the proton activation of KAT channels, we have uncovered a previously unidentified component that is strongly involved in this complex proton activation network.
Establishment of a proficiency panel for an external quality assessment programme for the detection of bacterial contamination in platelet concentrates using rapid and cultural detection methods
Authors: Vollmer T. , Schmidt M. , Hourfar K. , Schottstedt V. , Pichl L. , Gubbe K. , Knabbe C. , Dreier J. 
Published: February 2016

BackgroundPlatelet concentrates (PCs) are the main focus regarding the residual risk of transfusion‐transmitted bacterial infections. Rapid screening methods for bacterial detection in platelets have been optimized over the last decade, but their external evaluation represents a complicated process. We developed a new type of proficiency panel for bacterial detection in PCs using currently available screening methods (especially rapid methods) suitable for external quality assessment programmes (EQAP).MethodsPC samples were inoculated with different bacteria at two concentrations (10E+03 CFU/ml, 10E+05 CFU/ml) and stored under temperature‐controlled conditions (1–5 days). Bacterial growth was further prevented by the addition of 0–20 μg/ml cotrimoxazole. Samples were analysed prior to and after storage using rapid detection methods (Bactiflow (BF), bacteria‐generic NAT) and cultural methods to determine the influence of storage and antibiotic treatment on bacterial counts and the result outcome. A pilot EQAP was performed with four participants.ResultsTesting under the evaluated conditions demonstrated that bacterial counts remained constant prior to and after storage. The supplementation of 10 μg/ml cotrimoxazole did not influence bacterial detection using the two rapid detection methods BF and NAT. Furthermore, the detection of bacteria using cultural methods is still possible despite of antibiotic supplementation. The pilot EQAP confirmed these results. A storage time of up to 3 days proved practicable, showing no considerable influence on bacterial count and outcome of test results.ConclusionThe established proficiency panel provided PC matrix‐conform samples with stabilized bacterial counts which can be analysed in parallel by rapid and cultural detection methods.
Physiological signalling to myosin phosphatase targeting subunit‐1 phosphorylation in ileal smooth muscle
Authors: Gao Ning , Chang Audrey N. , He Weiqi , Chen Cai‐Ping , Qiao Yan‐Ning , Zhu Minsheng , Kamm Kristine E. , Stull James T. 
Published: February 2016

Key points
The extent of myosin regulatory light chain phosphorylation (RLC) necessary for smooth muscle contraction depends on the respective activities of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent myosin light chain kinase and myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP), which contains a regulatory subunit MYPT1 bound to the phosphatase catalytic subunit and myosin.
MYPT1 showed significant constitutive T696 and T853 phosphorylation, which is predicted to inhibit MLCP activity in isolated ileal smooth muscle tissues, with additional phosphorylation upon pharmacological treatment with the muscarinic agonist carbachol.
Electrical field stimulation (EFS), which releases ACh from nerves, increased force and RLC phosphorylation but not MYPT1 T696 or T853 phosphorylation.
The conditional knockout of MYPT1 or the knockin mutation T853A in mice had no effect on the frequency‐maximal force responses to EFS in isolated ileal tissues.
Physiological RLC phosphorylation and force development in ileal smooth muscle depend on myosin light chain kinase and MLCP activities without changes in constitutive MYPT1 phosphorylation.
AbstractSmooth muscle contraction initiated by myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) phosphorylation is dependent on the relative activities of Ca2+/calmodulin‐dependent myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) and myosin light chain phosphatase (MLCP). We have investigated the physiological role of the MLCP regulatory subunit MYPT1 in ileal smooth muscle in adult mice with (1) smooth muscle‐specific deletion of MYPT1; (2) non‐phosphorylatable MYPT1 containing a T853A knockin mutation; and (3) measurements of force and protein phosphorylation responses to cholinergic neurostimulation initiated by electric field stimulation. Isolated MYPT1‐deficient tissues from MYPT1SM−/− mice contracted and relaxed rapidly with moderate differences in sustained responses to KCl and carbachol treatments and washouts, respectively. Similarly, measurements of regulatory proteins responsible for RLC phosphorylation during contractions also revealed moderate changes. There were no differences in contractile or RLC phosphorylation responses to carbachol between tissues from normal mice vs. MYPT1 T853A knockin mice. Quantitatively, there was substantial MYPT1 T696 and T853 phosphorylation in wild‐type tissues under resting conditions, predicting a high extent of MLCP phosphatase inhibition. Reduced PP1cδ activity in MYPT1‐deficient tissues may be similar to attenuated MLCP activity in wild‐type tissues resulting from constitutively phosphorylated MYPT1. Electric field stimulation increased RLC phosphorylation and force development in tissues from wild‐type mice without an increase in MYPT1 phosphorylation. Thus, physiological RLC phosphorylation and force development in ileal smooth muscle appear to be dependent on MLCK and MLCP activities without changes in constitutive MYPT1 phosphorylation.
On the mechanism of gating defects caused by the R117H mutation in cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator
Authors: Yu Ying‐Chun , Sohma Yoshiro , Hwang Tzyh‐Chang 
Published: February 2016

Key points
Two functional abnormalities of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR), a 25% reduction of the single‐channel conductance (g) and a ∼13‐fold lower open probability (Po), were found with the R117H mutation that is associated with mild forms of cystic fibrosis.
Characterizations of the gating defects of R117H‐CFTR led to the conclusion that the mutation decreases Po by perturbing the gating conformational changes in CFTR's transmembrane domains (TMDs) without altering the function of the nucleotide binding domains (NBDs).
Nonetheless, gating of the R117H‐CFTR can be improved by a variety of pharmacological reagents supposedly acting on NBDs such as ATP analogues, or TMDs (e.g. VX‐770 or nitrate). These reagents potentiate synergistically R117H‐CFTR gating to a level that allows accurate assessments of its gating deficits.
Our studies not only elucidate the mechanism underpinning gating dysfunction of R117H‐CFTR, but also provide a mechanistic understanding of how VX‐770 ameliorates the gating defects in the R117H mutant.
AbstractCystic fibrosis (CF) is caused by loss‐of‐function mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene encoding a phosphorylation‐activated, but ATP‐gated chloride channel. In the current study, we investigated the mechanism responsible for the gating defects manifested in R117H‐CFTR, an arginine‐to‐histidine substitution at position 117 of CFTR that is associated with mild forms of CF. We confirmed previous findings of a 25% decrease of the single‐channel conductance (g) in R117H‐CFTR, but found a ∼13‐fold lower open probability (Po). This dramatic gating deficit is not due to dysfunctional nucleotide binding domains (NBDs) as the mutation does not alter the apparent affinity for ATP, and the mutant channels respond to ATP analogues in a similar manner as wild‐type CFTR. Furthermore, once ATP hydrolysis is abolished, the R117H mutant can be trapped in a prolonged ‘burst opening’ conformation that is proposed to be equipped with a stable NBD dimer. On the other hand, our results support the conclusion that the R117H mutation decreases Po by perturbing the gating conformational changes in CFTR's transmembrane domains as even when NBDs are kept at a dimerized configuration, Po is reduced by ∼10‐fold. Moreover, our data demonstrate that a synergistic improvement of R117H‐CFTR function can be accomplished with a combined regiment of VX‐770 (Ivacaftor), nitrate ion (NO3−) and N6‐(2‐phenylethyl)‐2′‐deoxy‐ATP (d‐PATP), which almost completely rectifies the gating defect of R117H‐CFTR. Clinical implications of our results are discussed.
CAE—The Spanish Emergency Support Center: A Centralized and Shared Emergency Support Service for Beyond Design Basis Events
Authors: Caro Rafael J. 
Published: February 2016

The Spanish nuclear power generation industry proposed the development of an external Emergency Support Center as one of the measures to strengthen the nuclear safety and Emergency Preparedness and Response, as a consequence of the stress test developed after the Fukushima accident. The CAE project was carried out to define and establish a centralized service composed of intervention equipment and specialized personnel in the framework of an Emergency Support Center shared among all the Spanish nuclear power plants (NPPs). The emergency support service aims to strengthen the NPP emergency capabilities, by integrating with the Emergency Response Organization (ERO) of plants. This service successfully developed preoperational tests at each one of the Spanish NPPs in 2014. With these tests, the development of the different aspects that make up the Emergency Support Center service, at every Spanish NPP, was validated in four stages: (1) CAE mobilization in less than 24 hrs, (2) equipment deployment to its final location in the plant, (3) checking the connections with NPP’s interfaces, and (4) functionality of the equipment. The CAE proved in this way its capability to provide support to the Spanish NPPs, to strengthen their already strong characteristics in EP&R, to face these new extended damage/beyond design basis scenarios.