bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The moral reasoning abilities of men and women with intellectual disabilities who have a history of criminal offending behaviour
Authors: McDermott Emily , Langdon Peter E. 
Published: March 2014

PurposeThis study had the following two aims (1) to examine the moral reasoning abilities of four groups of people: (i) men and women with intellectual disabilities (IDs) who had a documented history of criminal offending and (ii) men and women with IDs with no known history of criminal offending, and (2) to examine the relationship between emotional and behavioural problems and moral reasoning. It was predicted that (1) there would be no significant difference between the moral reasoning of men and women with IDs, (2) men and women with IDs who are not offenders will have ‘developmentally immature’ moral reasoning in comparison to offenders, and (3) moral reasoning will significantly predict emotional and behavioural problems.MethodsSixty‐eight people with IDs were invited to take part in this study and spread across four groups: (1) men with IDs who had committed criminal offences, (2) women with IDs who had committed criminal offences, (3) men with IDs who had no known history of criminal offending, and (4) women with IDs who had no known history of criminal offending. Participants were asked to complete measures of intelligence, moral reasoning, and emotional/behavioural problems.ResultsAs predicted, men and women did not have different moral reasoning, but offenders did have ‘developmentally more mature’ moral reasoning than non‐offenders. Women had higher levels of physical and verbal aggression, while offenders, generally, had higher levels of psychopathology. Women with a history of criminal offending had higher levels of sexually inappropriate behaviour compared to men and women in the community. Moral reasoning significantly predicted emotional and behavioural problems.ConclusionsFurther work in this area is needed, and interventions that aim to address a moral developmental ‘delay’ may be beneficial in reducing recidivism among this population.
“Maybe he's on the toy train”: empathising and systemising in an encounter with David Macaulay's Black and White
Authors: Hardstaff Sarah 
Published: March 2014

AbstractThis study explores the responses of Abby, a young person with autism, to David Macaulay's 1990 picturebook Black and White. Although both picturebook researchers and autism practitioners focus on the importance of encouraging empathetic responses to fictional characters, I build on Louise Collins' argument that Macaulay's work offers an opportunity to develop a different kind of " moral literacy" (2002, p.31). Different ways of practising and understanding perspective‐taking in relation to fiction are considered in light of Abby's responses to Black and White and to fiction more generally. This study, in considering its own weaknesses, also offers a critique of the typical approaches to picturebook research whereby taking the perspective of fictional characters is sometimes seen as indicative of reading competence.
Adipocytokine expression associated with miRNA regulation and diagnosis of NASH in obese patients with NAFLD
Authors: Estep J. Michael , Goodman Zachary , Sharma Haveesh , Younossi Elana , Elarainy Hazem , Baranova Ancha , Younossi Zobair 
Published: March 2014

AbstractBackground & AimsNon‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is strongly associated with visceral adiposity. The secretion of adipocytokines from white adipose tissue (WAT) promoting necroinflammation, and/or fibrosis may play important roles in the pathogenesis of non‐alcoholic steatohepatits (NASH). In a previous study, reduced expression of a number of miRNA species in WAT concomitant with histological diagnosis of NASH was successfully demonstrated. In this study, we measure the expression of several predicted miRNA regulatory targets relevant to NAFLD and NASH including mTOR, FAS, IL20, SEMA4C, ADAMTS6 and IL13RA. We then examine hepatic receptor expression by immunohistochemical staining and qPCR.MethodsWhite adipose tissue was collected from 24 obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery with biopsy‐proven NAFLD. Extracted total RNAs from the adipose tissue were reverse transcribed and profiled for gene expression by qPCR for specific individual mRNA targets defined after identification by any two of three of the major prediction services: miRanda, TarBase or PicTar. All liver biopsies were read by a singly hepatopathologist. The same liver tissue was used to stain for hepatic receptor expression for FASLG and IL20. Additionally, the same tissue was used for qPCR for FASLG and IL20.ResultsIncreases in the expression of IL13RA, mTOR, IL20, SEMA4C and FAS were detected and negatively correlated with putative regulatory miRNA. Hepatic receptor expression for FAS and IL20 was noted to correlate with markers of inflammation and severity of NAFLD.ConclusionThese data are consistent with the hypothesis that specific adipocytokines secreted by WAT will impact hepatic tissue and participate in the pathogenesis of NASH.
A barleyPHDfinger transcription factor that confers male sterility by affecting tapetal development
Authors: Fernández Gómez José , Wilson Zoe A. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryControlling pollen development is of major commercial importance in generating hybrid crops and selective breeding, but characterized genes for male sterility in crops are rare, with no current examples in barley. However, translation of knowledge from model species is now providing opportunities to understand and manipulate such processes in economically important crops. We have used information from regulatory networks inArabidopsisto identify and functionally characterize a barley PHD transcription factorMALE STERTILITY1(MS1), which expresses in the anther tapetum and plays a critical role during pollen development. Comparative analysis ofArabidopsis, rice andBrachypodiumgenomes was used to identify conserved regions inMS1for primer design to amplify the barleyMS1gene; RACE‐PCR was subsequently used to generate the full‐length sequence. This gene shows anther‐specific tapetal expression, between late tetrad stage and early microspore release.HvMS1silencing and overexpression in barley resulted in male sterility. Additionally,HvMS1 cDNA, controlled by the nativeArabidopsis MS1promoter, successfully complemented the homozygousms1 Arabidopsismutant. These results confirm the conservation ofMS1function in higher plants and in particular in temperate cereals. This has provided the first example of a characterized male sterility gene in barley, which presents a valuable tool for the future control of male fertility in barley for hybrid development.
The Dark Side of the Loon. Explaining the Temptations of Obscurantism
Authors: Buekens Filip , Boudry Maarten 
Published: March 2014

AbstractAfter contrasting obscurantism with bullshit, we explore some ways in which obscurantism is typically justified by investigating a notorious test‐case: defences of Lacanian psychoanalysis. Obscurantism abuses the reader's natural sense of curiosity and interpretive charity with the promise of deep and profound insights about a designated subject matter that is often vague or elusive. When the attempt to understand what the speaker means requires excessive hermeneutic efforts, interpreters are reluctant to halt their quest for meaning. We diagnose this as a case of psychological loss aversion, in particular, the aversion to acknowledging that there was no hidden meaning after all, or that whatever meaning found was projected onto the text by the reader herself.
Detection of lipoarabinomannan in urine for identification of active tuberculosis among HIV‐positive adults in Ethiopian health centres
Authors: Balcha Taye T. , Winqvist Niclas , Sturegård Erik , Skogmar Sten , Reepalu Anton , Jemal Zelalem H. , Tibesso Gudeta , Schön Thomas , Björkman Per 
Published: March 2014

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the diagnostic performance of urine lipoarabinomannan (LAM) detection for TB screening in HIV‐positive adults in Ethiopia.MethodsTesting for LAM was performed using the Determine TB‐LAM lateral flow assay on urine samples from participants in a prospective cohort with baseline bacteriological categorisation for active TB in sputum. Characteristics of TB patients with regard to LAM status were determined. Participants were followed for 6 months to evaluate survival, retention in care and incident TB.ResultsPositive LAM results were found in 78/757 participants. Among 128 subjects with definite (confirmed by culture and/or Xpert MTB/RIF) TB, 33 were LAM‐positive (25.8%); the respective figure for clinically diagnosed cases was 2/20 (10%). Five of the remaining 43 LAM‐positive individuals had died during the 6‐month follow‐up period, whereas 38 remained in care without clinical signs of TB. The overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 25.8%, 92.9%, 42.3% and 86.0%, respectively. Among TB patients, LAM positivity was associated with higher WHO clinical stage, lower body mass index (BMI), CD4 cell and haemoglobin levels, and with increased mortality. A combination algorithm of urine LAM testing and sputum smear microscopy detected 49 (38.2%) of definite TB cases; among those with CD4 count ≤100 cells/mm3, this proportion was 66.7%.ConclusionsThe performance of urine LAM testing for TB detection was poor in this population. However, this was improved among subjects with CD4 count ≤100 cells/mm3. In combination with sputum microscopy urine, LAM could be considered for targeted TB screening in this subgroup.
A robust, simple, high‐throughput technique for time‐resolved plant volatile analysis in field experiments
Authors: Kallenbach Mario , Oh Youngjoo , Eilers Elisabeth J. , Veit Daniel , Baldwin Ian T. , Schuman Meredith C. 
Published: March 2014

SummaryPlant volatiles (PVs) mediate interactions between plants and arthropods, microbes and other plants, and are involved in responses to abiotic stress. PV emissions are therefore influenced by many environmental factors, including herbivore damage, microbial invasion, and cues from neighboring plants, and also light regime, temperature, humidity and nutrient availability. Thus, an understanding of the physiological and ecological functions of PVs must be based on measurements reflecting PV emissions under natural conditions. However, PVs are usually sampled in the artificial environments of laboratories or climate chambers. Sampling of PVs in natural environments is difficult, being limited by the need to transport, maintain and provide power to instruments, or use expensive sorbent devices in replicate. Ideally, PVs should be measured in natural settings with high replication, spatio‐temporal resolution and sensitivity, and modest costs. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), a sorbent commonly used for PV sampling, is available as silicone tubing for as little as 0.60 € m−1 (versus 100–550 € each for standard PDMS sorbent devices). Small pieces of silicone tubing (STs) of various lengths from millimeters to centimeters may be added to any experimental setting and used for headspace sampling, with little manipulation of the organism or headspace. STs have sufficiently fast absorption kinetics and large capacity to sample plant headspaces over a timescale of minutes to hours, and thus can produce biologically meaningful ‘snapshots’ of PV blends. When combined with thermal desorption coupled to GC–MS (a 40‐year‐old widely available technology), use of STs yields reproducible, sensitive, spatio‐temporally resolved quantitative data from headspace samples taken in natural environments.
Knockdown of the Arabidopsis thaliana chloroplast protein disulfide isomerase 6 results in reduced levels of photoinhibition and increased D1 synthesis in high light
Authors: Wittenberg Gal , Levitan Alexander , Klein Tamir , Dangoor Inbal , Keren Nir , Danon Avihai 
Published: March 2014

SummaryA chloroplast protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) was previously proposed to regulate translation of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplast psbA mRNA, encoding the D1 protein, in response to light. Here we show that AtPDI6, one of 13 Arabidopsis thaliana PDI genes, also plays a role in the chloroplast. We found that AtPDI6 is targeted and localized to the chloroplast. Interestingly, AtPDI6 knockdown plants displayed higher resistance to photoinhibition than wild‐type plants when exposed to a tenfold increase in light intensity. The AtPDI6 knockdown plants also displayed a higher rate of D1 synthesis under a similar light intensity. The increased resistance to photoinhibition may not be rationalized by changes in antenna or non‐photochemical quenching. Thus, the increased D1 synthesis rate, which may result in a larger proportion of active D1 under light stress, may led to the decrease in photoinhibition. These results suggest that, although the D1 synthesis rates observed in wild‐type plants under high light intensities are elevated, repair can potentially occur faster. The findings implicate AtPDI6 as an attenuator of D1 synthesis, modulating photoinhibition in a light‐regulated manner.
Partitioned edge‐function‐scaled region‐based active contour (p‐ESRAC): Automated liver segmentation in multiphase contrast‐enhanced MRI
Authors: Oh Jihun , Martin Diego R. , Hu Xiaoping 
Published: March 2014

Purpose:In multiphase contrast‐enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE‐MRI), liver segmentation is an important preprocessing step for the computer‐aided evaluation of liver disease. However, because of the liverˈs irregular shape, proximity to surrounding organs, and large intensity variation, and peripheral contrast enhancement in the kidney, liver segmentation has been very challenging. This paper presents a novel hybrid active contour model and overall procedures that are specific to liver segmentation.Methods:The authors introduced an edge‐function‐scaled (weighted) region‐based active contour model (ESRAC) and utilization of registered, multiphase sequences to address leakage‐to‐kidney and oversegmentation problems. The model incorporated weighted regional information with a compactly supported edge map, computed from a combination of images obtained during arterial and delayed phases, and it was coupled with a geodesic edge term. To cope with signal‐inhomogeneity on MRI, all of the axial slices were partitioned into eight sectors with an angular span of 45°, centered on the inferior vena cava, each in the superior and inferior regions and the regional information regarding ESRAC was computed for each partition, henceforth the so‐called partitioned ESRAC (p‐ESRAC). Initialization of the active contour was performed by thresholding with a range of [200, +∞) and simple morphological operation during the delayed phase. At the end, to fill the holes in the segmented images caused by high gradients around the vasculature, noise, or outstanding texture features, iterative morphological operations were performed until convergence. The authors compared the segmentation accuracy of p‐ESRAC to that with geodesic active contour, region‐based active contour, geodesic active region, and localized region‐based active contour using quantitative and visual assessments.Results:In three‐dimensional experimental studies conducted on 30 subjects (14 normal or benign cases and 16 malignant cases), compared with other active contours, p‐ESRAC achieved the highest dice similarity coefficients of 93.9 ± 1.6% (normal) and 91.6 ± 2.2% (malignant), respectively. In addition, p‐ESRAC resulted in the lowest false positive rates of 4.5 ± 3.2% (normal) and 7.9 ± 3.0% (malignant), demonstrating it to be the most effective in reducing oversegmentation. The partition scheme improved segmentation accuracy by 5.4 ± 9.2% (normal) and 22.2 ± 27.6% (malignant) of the true segmentation that was missed by ESRAC. Visual assessment confirmed that p‐ESRAC prevented leakage of the segmentation results of the liver into the kidney.Conclusions:A novel active‐contour model was developed, allowing for accurate liver segmentation on multiphase CE‐MRI, with conditions that include signal inhomogeneity and weak boundary conditions. Such a technique could be useful for applications that involve computer‐aided diagnosis of liver disease.
Microbial Metabolic Potential for Carbon Degradation and Nutrient (Nitrogen and Phosphorus) Acquisition in an Ombrotrophic Peatland
Authors: Lin Xueju , Tfaily Malak M. , Green Stefan J. , Steinweg J. Megan , Chanton Patrick , Imvittaya Aopeau , Chanton Jeffrey P. , Cooper William , Schadt Christopher , Kostka Joel E. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

This study integrated metagenomic and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic approaches to investigate microbial metabolic potential for organic matter decomposition and nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) acquisition in soils of an ombrotrophic peatland in the Marcell Experimental Forest (MEF), Minnesota, USA. This analysis revealed vertical stratification in key enzymatic pathways and taxa containing these pathways. Metagenomic analyses revealed that genes encoding laccases and dioxygenases, involved in aromatic compound degradation, declined in relative abundance with depth, while the relative abundance of genes encoding metabolism of amino sugars and all four saccharide groups increased with depth in parallel with a 50% reduction in carbohydrate content. Most Cu-oxidases were closely related to genes from
Proteobacteria
and
Acidobacteria
, and type 4 laccase-like Cu-oxidase genes were >8 times more abundant than type 3 genes, suggesting an important and overlooked role for type 4 Cu-oxidase in phenolic compound degradation. Genes associated with sulfate reduction and methanogenesis were the most abundant anaerobic respiration genes in these systems, with low levels of detection observed for genes of denitrification and Fe(III) reduction. Fermentation genes increased in relative abundance with depth and were largely affiliated with
Syntrophobacter
.
Methylocystaceae
-like small-subunit (SSU) rRNA genes,
pmoA
, and
mmoX
genes were more abundant among methanotrophs. Genes encoding N
2
fixation, P uptake, and P regulons were significantly enriched in the surface peat and in comparison to other ecosystems, indicating N and P limitation. Persistence of inorganic orthophosphate throughout the peat profile in this P-limiting environment indicates that P may be bound to recalcitrant organic compounds, thus limiting P bioavailability in the subsurface. Comparative metagenomic analysis revealed a high metabolic potential for P transport and starvation, N
2
fixation, and oligosaccharide degradation at MEF relative to other wetland and soil environments, consistent with the nutrient-poor and carbohydrate-rich conditions found in this
Sphagnum
-dominated boreal peatland.
Resilience of the Natural Phyllosphere Microbiota of the Grapevine to Chemical and Biological Pesticides
Authors: Perazzolli Michele , Antonielli Livio , Storari Michelangelo , Puopolo Gerardo , Pancher Michael , Giovannini Oscar , Pindo Massimo , Pertot Ilaria 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

The phyllosphere is colonized by complex microbial communities, which are adapted to the harsh habitat. Although the role and ecology of nonpathogenic microorganisms of the phyllosphere are only partially understood, leaf microbiota could have a beneficial role in plant growth and health. Pesticides and biocontrol agents are frequently applied to grapevines, but the impact on nontarget microorganisms of the phyllosphere has been marginally considered. In this study, we investigated the effect of a chemical fungicide (penconazole) and a biological control agent (
Lysobacter capsici
AZ78) on the leaf microbiota of the grapevine at three locations. Amplicons of the 16S rRNA gene and of the internal transcribed spacer were sequenced for bacterial and fungal identification, respectively. Pyrosequencing analysis revealed that the richness and diversity of bacterial and fungal populations were only minimally affected by the chemical and biological treatments tested, and they mainly differed according to grapevine locations. Indigenous microbial communities of the phyllosphere are adapted to environmental and biotic factors in the areas where the grapevines are grown, and they are resilient to the treatments tested. The biocontrol properties of phyllosphere communities against downy mildew differed among grapevine locations and were not affected by treatments, suggesting that biocontrol communities could be improved with agronomic practices to enrich beneficial populations in vineyards.
Development of an Unmarked Gene Deletion System for the Filamentous Fungi Aspergillus niger and Talaromyces versatilis
Authors: Delmas Stéphane , Llanos Agustina , Parrou Jean-Luc , Kokolski Matthew , Pullan Steven T. , Shunburne Lee , Archer David B. 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

In this article, we present a method to delete genes in filamentous fungi that allows recycling of the selection marker and is efficient in a nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ)-proficient strain. We exemplify the approach by deletion of the gene encoding the transcriptional regulator XlnR in the fungus
Aspergillus niger
. To show the efficiency and advantages of the method, we deleted 8 other genes and constructed a double mutant in this species. Moreover, we showed that the same principle also functions in a different genus of filamentous fungus (
Talaromyces versatilis
, basionym
Penicillium funiculosum
). This technique will increase the versatility of the toolboxes for genome manipulation of model and industrially relevant fungi.
Nuclear Localization of Haa1, Which Is Linked to Its Phosphorylation Status, Mediates Lactic Acid Tolerance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Sugiyama Minetaka , Akase Shin-Pei , Nakanishi Ryota , Horie Hitoshi , Kaneko Yoshinobu , Harashima Satoshi 
Published: March 2014

ABSTRACT

Improvement of the lactic acid resistance of the yeast
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
is important for the application of the yeast in industrial production of lactic acid from renewable resources. However, we still do not know the precise mechanisms of the lactic acid adaptation response in yeast and, consequently, lack effective approaches for improving its lactic acid tolerance. To enhance our understanding of the adaptation response, we screened for
S. cerevisiae
genes that confer enhanced lactic acid resistance when present in multiple copies and identified the transcriptional factor Haa1 as conferring resistance to toxic levels of lactic acid when overexpressed. The enhanced tolerance probably results from increased expression of its target genes. When cells that expressed Haa1 only from the endogenous promoter were exposed to lactic acid stress, the main subcellular localization of Haa1 changed from the cytoplasm to the nucleus within 5 min. This nuclear accumulation induced upregulation of the Haa1 target genes
YGP1
,
GPG1
, and
SPI1
, while the degree of Haa1 phosphorylation observed under lactic acid-free conditions decreased. Disruption of the exportin gene
MSN5
led to accumulation of Haa1 in the nucleus even when no lactic acid was present. Since Msn5 was reported to interact with Haa1 and preferentially exports phosphorylated cargo proteins, our results suggest that regulation of the subcellular localization of Haa1, together with alteration of its phosphorylation status, mediates the adaptation to lactic acid stress in yeast.