bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
No influence of water limitation on the outcome of competition between diploid and tetraploidChamerion angustifolium(Onagraceae)
Authors: Thompson Ken A. , Husband Brian C. , Maherali Hafiz 
Published: February 2015

SummaryPolyploid plants often occupy different geographic ranges than their diploid progenitors, but the causes of this segregation are poorly understood. Differential competitive abilities of cytotypes across an environmental gradient could be responsible for these observed geographic range differences.Cytotypes ofChamerion angustifolium(Onagraceae) are mostly allopatric, and prior research indicates that tetraploids are more physiologically tolerant of water limitation and occupy drier habitats than diploids. We hypothesized that tetraploids are stronger competitors than diploids in soils where water is limited, which allows them to persist in dry habitats while diploids cannot.We grew both cytotypes together in competition under water‐limited and well‐watered conditions. We varied both total plant density and the relative frequency of cytotypes among pots, which allowed us to separate the effects of intra‐cytotypic and inter‐cytotypic competition.Both diploid and tetraploid plants were smaller in the water‐limited treatment than in the well‐watered treatment. Nevertheless, there were no differences in the relative strength of intra‐cytotypic and inter‐cytotypic competition experienced by either cytotype across the watering treatments, indicating that diploids and tetraploids had equal competitive abilities in both treatments.Synthesis. Competition for limiting resources is often proposed as a mechanism causing ecological and geographic segregation between diploid and polyploid cytotypes. Our results do not support the hypothesis that tetraploidChamerion angustifoliumplants are stronger competitors than diploids when water is limited. A differential ability to compete for water is likely not responsible for the observed ecological and geographic segregation between cytotypes in this species. Competition may not be a general mechanism that causes segregation between diploid and polyploid cytotypes in nature.
Family and systemic psychotherapists' experiences of personal therapeutic consultations as a tool for personal and professional development in training
Authors: Williams Bob , Carpenter John , Timms Jo 
Published: February 2015

This study investigated family therapists' experiences of personal therapeutic consultations during their training and how this related to personal and professional development (PPD). Interpretive phenomenological analysis was used to analyse one semi‐structured interview with each of four participants. Results: The personal consultations provided a unique and powerful learning opportunity, including learning about the interactional elements of family therapy, therapeutic relationship factors and relational roles. The personal consultations also affected the lives of family members who attended, and in some cases, those who did not. The results raise several ethical considerations including, confusion about the boundary between the personal therapeutic consultations and family therapy, preparedness, and considerations about what we are asking of our families. It is argued that this is a valuable learning, training and PPD opportunity and should be repeated as long as attention is paid to the ethical points highlighted.Practitioner points
Trainees' participation in personal therapeutic consultations with members of their own family may have a powerful effect on their learning and subsequent practice. Training institutions and future trainees should be aware of the affect that personal therapeutic consultations can have on relationships.
Training institutions should consider personal therapeutic consultations as a tool for PPD as long as attention is paid to the ethical implications highlighted in this study.
Integrating Geomorphological Assessments and Oral Histories in Catchment Management: Implications for the Mulgrave River, Northeastern Australia
Authors: LEONARD SONIA , NOTT JONATHAN 
Published: February 2015

AbstractThe dramatic decline in the integrity of Australian river systems in recent decades has seen the development of landcare and catchment management groups across the continent as the main facilitators of river rehabilitation works. There is growing concern for the need to develop adaptive management frameworks that assist informed decision making through the integration of social and geomorphological knowledge into catchment planning. In the Mulgrave River Catchment of northeastern Queensland, difficult management decisions have to be made with limited access to knowledge of natural processes and baseline geomorphological data. To date management decisions have been based almost exclusively on oral histories that state that point bars are accreting and the river is becoming shallower due to bank erosion. As a result bank stabilisation and removal of sand from within the channel have been recommended in the absence of any geomorphological assessments. This study compares oral histories of river bank erosion in the Mulgrave River with geomorphic evidence to highlight the need for integrated landscape scenario planning. The results of grain size analysis of bank and bed material from 27 locations, involving 47 samples, suggest that bank erosion cannot be delivering sediments to point bars. Furthermore, qualitative analysis of historic parish maps and aerial photographs shows that there has only been moderate bank erosion at three locations along the Mulgrave River since European settlement. The study demonstrates the important role that geomorphological investigations have for catchment management and the need for management frameworks that integrate geomorphological processes and landholder priorities for sustainable river management.
Multiple diguanylate cyclase‐coordinated regulation of pyoverdine synthesis in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Chen Yicai , Yuan Mingjun , Mohanty Anee , Yam Joey Kuok Hoong , Liu Yang , Chua Song Lin , Nielsen Thomas E. , Tolker‐Nielsen Tim , Givskov Michael , Cao Bin , Yang Liang 
Published: February 2015

SummaryThe nucleotide signalling molecule bis‐(3'‐5’)‐cyclic dimeric guanosine monophosphate (c‐di‐GMP) plays an essential role in regulating microbial virulence and biofilm formation. C‐di‐GMP is synthesized by diguanylate cyclase (DGC) enzymes and degraded by phosphodiesterase (PDE) enzymes. One intrinsic feature of c‐di‐GMP signalling is the abundance of DGCs and PDEs encoded by many bacterial species. It is unclear whether the different DGCs or PDEs coordinately establish the c‐di‐GMP regulation or function independently of each other. Here, we provide evidence that multiple DGCs are involved in regulation of c‐di‐GMP on synthesis of the major iron siderophore pyoverdine in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Constitutive expression of the WspG or YedQ DGC in P. aeruginosa is able to induce its pyoverdine synthesis. Induction of pyoverdine synthesis by high intracellular c‐di‐GMP depends on the synthesis of exopolysaccharides and another two DGCs, SiaD and SadC. SiaD was found to boost the c‐di‐GMP synthesis together with constitutively expressing YedQ. The exopolysaccharides and the SiaD DGC were found to modulate the expression of the RsmY/RsmZ ncRNAs. Induction of the RsmY/RsmZ ncRNAs might enhance the pyoverdine synthesis through SadC. Our study sheds light on a novel multiple DGC‐coordinated c‐di‐GMP regulatory mechanism of bacteria.
Low Apgar score, neonatal encephalopathy and epidural analgesia during labour: a Swedish registry‐based study
Authors: TÖRNELL S. , EKÉUS C. , HULTIN M. , HÅKANSSON S. , THUNBERG J. , HÖGBERG U. 
Published: February 2015

BackgroundMaternal intrapartum fever (MF) is associated with neonatal sequelae, and women in labour who receive epidural analgesia (EA) are more likely to develop hyperthermia. The aims of this study were to investigate if EA and/or a diagnosis of MF were associated to adverse neonatal outcomes at a population level.MethodsPopulation‐based register study with data from the Swedish Birth Register and the Swedish National Patient Register, including all nulliparae (n = 294,329) with singleton pregnancies who gave birth at term in Sweden 1999–2008. Neonatal outcomes analysed were Apgar score (AS) < 7 at 5 min and ICD‐10 diagnosis of neonatal encephalopathy (e.g. convulsions or neonatal cerebral ischaemia). Multivariate logistic regression was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).ResultsEA was used in 44% of the deliveries. Low AS or encephalopathy was found in 1.26% and 0.39% of the children in the EA group compared with 0.80% and 0.29% in the control group. In multivariate analysis, EA was associated with increased risk with low AS, AOR 1.27 (95% CI 1.16–1.39), but not with diagnosis of encephalopathy, 1.11 (0.96–1.29). A diagnosis of MF was associated with increased risk for both low AS, 2.27 (1.71–3.02), and of neonatal encephalopathy, 1.97 (1.19–3.26).ConclusionDiagnosis of MF was associated with low AS and neonatal encephalopathy, whereas EA was only associated with low AS and not with neonatal encephalopathy. The found associations might be a result of confounding by indication, which is difficult to assess in a registry‐based population study.
Bupivacaine inhibits endothelin‐1‐evoked increases in intracellular calcium in model sensory neurons
Authors: Makdessi M. J. , Barr T. P. , Xue W. , Strichartz G. R. 
Published: February 2015

BackgroundEndothelin‐1 (ET‐1) induces pain‐like behavior in animals and man by activating the Gq protein‐coupled receptor endothelin‐A (ETA). Activation of ETA receptors on nociceptor membranes evokes intracellular calcium transients and alters membrane Na+ and K+ channel and TRPV1 currents, leading to neuronal hyper‐excitability manifested by spontaneous and evoked pain behaviors in vivo. In addition to blocking sodium channels, local anesthetics inhibit the Gq protein‐coupled signaling of several inflammatory and pro‐algesic mediators. In this study, we aimed to investigate the actions of local anesthetics on ETA‐mediated increases in intracellular calcium in ND7/104 model sensory neurons.MethodsIncreases in intracellular calcium were measured by the fluorescent indicator fura‐2 in a sensory neuron‐derived cell line (ND7/104), which endogenously expresses ETA receptors. Effects of lidocaine and bupivacaine, along with their respective membrane‐impermeant derivatives QX‐314, LEA‐123 and LEA‐124, on peak calcium responses to ET‐1 were measured.ResultsBupivacaine suppressed ET‐1 responses in a concentration‐dependent and non‐competitive manner with an IC50 of 3.79 ± 1.63 mM. Bupivacaine (6 mM) reduced the Emax for ET‐1 from 50.07 ± 1.91 mM to 27.30 ± 2.92 mM. The actions of bupivacaine occurred quickly and were rapidly reversible. Membrane‐impermeant analogs of bupivacaine (LEA‐123 and LEA‐124, 6 mM) were without effect, as was lidocaine (10 mM) and its quaternary derivative QX‐314 (10 mM).ConclusionBupivacaine inhibits ETA‐mediated calcium transients at clinically relevant concentrations through an intracellular target. The anti‐inflammatory and analgesic actions of bupivacaine may be at least partially due to its inhibitory action on Gq‐coupled receptors, including ETA.
Stn1 is critical for telomere maintenance and long‐term viability of somatic human cells
Authors: Boccardi Virginia , Razdan Neetu , Kaplunov Jessica , Mundra Jyoti J. , Kimura Masayuki , Aviv Abraham , Herbig Utz 
Published: February 2015

SummaryDisruption of telomere maintenance pathways leads to accelerated entry into cellular senescence, a stable proliferative arrest that promotes aging‐associated disorders in some mammals. The budding yeast CST complex, comprising Cdc13, Stn1, and Ctc1, is critical for telomere replication, length regulation, and end protection. Although mammalian homologues of CST have been identified recently, their role and function for telomere maintenance in normal somatic human cells are still incompletely understood. Here, we characterize the function of human Stn1 in cultured human fibroblasts and demonstrate its critical role in telomere replication, length regulation, and function. In the absence of high telomerase activity, shRNA‐mediated knockdown of hStn1 resulted in aberrant and fragile telomeric structures, stochastic telomere attrition, increased telomere erosion rates, telomere dysfunction, and consequently accelerated entry into cellular senescence. Oxidative stress augmented the defects caused by Stn1 knockdown leading to almost immediate cessation of cell proliferation. In contrast, overexpression of hTERT suppressed some of the defects caused by hStn1 knockdown suggesting that telomerase can partially compensate for hStn1 loss. Our findings reveal a critical role for human Stn1 in telomere length maintenance and function, supporting the model that efficient replication of telomeric repeats is critical for long‐term viability of normal somatic mammalian cells.
Acute Ethanol Withdrawal Impairs Contextual Learning and Enhances Cued Learning
Authors: Tipps Megan E. , Raybuck Jonathan D. , Buck Kari J. , Lattal K. Matthew 
Published: February 2015

BackgroundAlcohol affects many of the brain regions and neural processes that support learning and memory, and these effects are thought to underlie, at least in part, the development of addiction. Although much work has been done regarding the effects of alcohol intoxication on learning and memory, little is known about the effects of acute withdrawal from a single alcohol exposure.MethodsWe assess the effects of acute ethanol withdrawal (6 hours postinjection with 4 g/kg ethanol) on 2 forms of fear conditioning (delay and trace fear conditioning) in C57BL/6J and DBA/2J mice. The influence of a number of experimental parameters (pre‐ and post training withdrawal exposure; foreground/background processing; training strength; and nonassociative effects) is also investigated.ResultsAcute ethanol withdrawal during training had a bidirectional effect on fear‐conditioned responses, decreasing contextual responses and increasing cued responses. These effects were apparent for both trace and delay conditioning in DBA/2J mice and for trace conditioning in C57BL/6J mice; however, C57BL/6J mice were selectively resistant to the effects of acute withdrawal on delay cued responses.ConclusionsOur results show that acute withdrawal from a single, initial ethanol exposure is sufficient to alter long‐term learning in mice. In addition, the differences between the strains and conditioning paradigms used suggest that specific learning processes can be differentially affected by acute withdrawal in a manner that is distinct from the reported effects of both alcohol intoxication and withdrawal following chronic alcohol exposure. Thus, our results suggest a unique effect of acute alcohol withdrawal on learning and memory processes.
Chronic Intermittent Ethanol Exposure Produces Persistent Anxiety in Adolescent and Adult Rats
Authors: Van Skike Candice E. , Diaz‐Granados Jaime L. , Matthews Douglas B. 
Published: February 2015

BackgroundEthanol (EtOH) dependence and tolerance in the adult are marked by increased function of NMDA receptors and decreased function of GABAA receptors, which coincide with altered receptor subunit expression in specific brain regions. Adolescents often use EtOH at levels greater than adults, yet the receptor subunit expression profiles following chronic intermittent EtOH (CIE) exposure in adolescents are not known. Persistent age‐dependent changes in receptor subunit alterations coupled with withdrawal‐related anxiety may help explain the increase in alcohol abuse following adolescent experimentation with the drug.MethodsAdolescent and adult rats received 10 intraperitoneal administrations of 4.0 g/kg EtOH or saline every 48 hours. At either 24 hours or 12 days after the final exposure, anxiety‐like behavior was assessed on the elevated plus maze and tissue was collected. Western blotting was used to assess changes in selected NMDA and GABAA receptor subunits in whole cortex and bilateral hippocampus.ResultsCIE exposure yields a persistent increase in anxiety‐like behavior in both age groups. However, selected NMDA and GABAA receptor subunits were not differentially altered by this CIE exposure paradigm in adolescents or adults.ConclusionsCIE exposure produced persistent anxiety‐like behavior, which has important implications for alcohol cessation. Given the reported behavioral and neuropeptide expression changes in response to this dose of EtOH, it is important for future work to consider the circumstances under which these measures are altered by EtOH exposure.
Is there a link between per capita alcohol consumption and youth drinking? A time–series analysis for Sweden in 1972–2012
Authors: Norström Thor , Raninen Jonas 
Published: February 2015

AbstractAimsTo estimate the relationship between per capita alcohol consumption and youth drinking in Sweden during the last 40 years and to estimate the relationship between female and male youth drinking during the 40‐year study period.Design, setting, participants and measurementsPer capita alcohol consumption was proxied by official sales data, supplemented by data on unrecorded consumption. Youth consumption was measured by a question on heavy episodic drinking (HED) included in an annual school survey of alcohol and drug habits among Swedish 9th ‐grade students (15–16 years of age). The annual samples comprise approximately 5000 individuals (with roughly equal numbers of boys and girls) with response rates in the range 80–93%. The study spans the period 1972–2012. Autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) time–series analysis was used to estimate the relation between per‐capita alcohol consumption and youth drinking. Ocular inspection of the time–series data suggested a stronger synchronization between the two series in the early period, before the mid‐1990s, than in the later period, indicating a structural shift in the relation at issue. We therefore conducted period specific time–series analyses with 1995 as the year of division.ResultsThere was a statistically significant relation between per capita alcohol consumption and HED among youth for 1972–94. A 1% increase in per capita alcohol consumption was associated with an increase in HED of 1.52% (P = 0.008). The estimate for 1995–2012 (0.12) was well below statistical significance (P = 0.580). The estimated elasticity of the association between boys’ and girls’ HED during 1972–94 was close to unity (0.98, P < 0.001), suggesting proportional changes in boys’ and girls’ drinking. When controlling for per capita consumption, the association was halved (to 0.55) but still significant in table 3 (P = 0.045).ConclusionsAdult and youth drinking in Sweden were synchronized closely during the two last decades of the 20th century, but youth drinking developed an independent trajectory shortly before 2000.
The impact of extended closing times of alcohol outlets on alcohol‐related injuries in the nightlife areas of Amsterdam: a controlled before‐and‐after evaluation
Authors: de Goeij Moniek C.M. , Veldhuizen Eleonore M. , Buster Marcel C.A. , Kunst Anton E. 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackground and aimsThe municipality of Amsterdam implemented a new alcohol policy allowing alcohol outlets in two of the five nightlife areas to extend their closing times from 1 April 2009 onwards. We investigated how levels and trends of alcohol‐related injuries changed after implementation of this alcohol policy, by comparing areas with extended closing times to those without.DesignA controlled before‐and‐after evaluation to compare changes in alcohol‐related injuries between intervention and control areas.SettingCentral district of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ParticipantsAlcohol‐related ambulance attendances for control and intervention areas between 1 April 2006 and 1 April 2009 (respectively, n = 544 and n = 499) and between 1 April 2009 and 1 April 2011 (respectively, n = 357 and n = 480).MeasurementsAlcohol‐related injuries were defined as ambulance attendances for people who suffered from direct or indirect consequences of alcohol consumption. Injuries were counted per month in two intervention and three control nightlife areas. We used Poisson regression to assess changes in injuries.FindingsAfter 1 April 2009, intervention areas showed a larger change in the level of alcohol‐related injuries than control areas [incidence rate ratio 1.34, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.12, 1.61], but trends remained stable in all areas. This increase was only statistically significant for the following subgroups: 2.00–5.59 a.m., weekend days, men, individuals aged 25–34 years, and people transported to a hospital. However, the increase did not differ between subgroups with statistical significance.ConclusionsA 1‐hour extension of alcohol outlet closing times in some of Amsterdam's nightlife areas was associated with 34% more alcohol‐related injuries.
Heterogeneous dose–response and college student drinking: examining problem risks related to low drinking levels
Authors: Gruenewald Paul J. , Mair Christina 
Published: February 2015

AbstractBackground and aimsPrevious research demonstrates that the number of problems related to each additional drink consumed on any drinking occasion, dose–response, varies non‐linearly across average drinking quantities. We test predictions from a dynamic model of drinking behavior that locates this heterogeneity in drinkers’ efforts to equilibrate between costs and benefits of use.DesignEquations derived from the theoretical model are used to assess dose–response across drinking quantity subgroups using censored regressions.SettingFourteen California, USA, college campuses surveyed from 2003 to 2011.ParticipantsA total of 37 762 undergraduate college students 18 years of age and older.MeasurementsDrinking patterns, five physiological problems related to alcohol use (hangover, memory loss, medical treatment for overdose, nausea/vomiting, passing out) and student demographics.FindingsThe number of physiological problems related to each additional drink consumed was an inverse function of average drinking quantities (b = 0.2947, Z = 21.92, P<0.001), differed by drinker age (of‐age drinker b = –0.1144, Z = –3.95, P < 0.001) and gender (male b = –0.3379, Z = –18.56, P<0.001) and, at the population level, drinking three drinks per occasion was associated with the greatest number of problems.ConclusionsAmong US college students, all drinkers exhibit greater risks for physiological problems related to alcohol use (hangover, memory loss, medical treatment for overdose, nausea/vomiting, passing out) when drinking greater amounts of alcohol, but heavier drinkers (those who consume more on average) exhibit fewer problems for each additional drink consumed (less dose–response) than light and moderate drinkers. Light and moderate drinkers exhibit greater dose–response, with three drinks per occasion associated with the greatest number of problems.