Showing papers by "Memorial University of Newfoundland published in 2010"
TL;DR: The genome-wide characteristics of rare (<1% frequency) copy number variation in ASD are analysed using dense genotyping arrays to reveal many new genetic and functional targets in ASD that may lead to final connected pathways.
Abstract: The autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a group of conditions characterized by impairments in reciprocal social interaction and communication, and the presence of restricted and repetitive behaviours. Individuals with an ASD vary greatly in cognitive development, which can range from above average to intellectual disability. Although ASDs are known to be highly heritable ( approximately 90%), the underlying genetic determinants are still largely unknown. Here we analysed the genome-wide characteristics of rare (<1% frequency) copy number variation in ASD using dense genotyping arrays. When comparing 996 ASD individuals of European ancestry to 1,287 matched controls, cases were found to carry a higher global burden of rare, genic copy number variants (CNVs) (1.19 fold, P = 0.012), especially so for loci previously implicated in either ASD and/or intellectual disability (1.69 fold, P = 3.4 x 10(-4)). Among the CNVs there were numerous de novo and inherited events, sometimes in combination in a given family, implicating many novel ASD genes such as SHANK2, SYNGAP1, DLGAP2 and the X-linked DDX53-PTCHD1 locus. We also discovered an enrichment of CNVs disrupting functional gene sets involved in cellular proliferation, projection and motility, and GTPase/Ras signalling. Our results reveal many new genetic and functional targets in ASD that may lead to final connected pathways.
1,919 citations
TL;DR: In both adults and children with inadequately controlled type 1 diabetes, sensor-augmented pump therapy resulted in significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin levels, as compared with injection therapy.
Abstract: At 1 year, the baseline mean glycated hemoglobin level (8.3% in the two study groups) had decreased to 7.5% in the pump-therapy group, as compared with 8.1% in the injection-therapy group (P<0.001). The proportion of patients who reached the glycated hemoglobin target (<7%) was greater in the pump-therapy group than in the injection-therapy group. The rate of severe hypoglycemia in the pump-therapy group (13.31 cases per 100 person-years) did not differ significantly from that in the injection-therapy group (13.48 per 100 person-years, P = 0.58). There was no significant weight gain in either group. Conclusions In both adults and children with inadequately controlled type 1 diabetes, sensoraugmented pump therapy resulted in significant improvement in glycated hemoglobin levels, as compared with injection therapy. A significantly greater proportion of both adults and children in the pump-therapy group than in the injection-therapy group reached the target glycated hemoglobin level. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00417989.)
806 citations
01 Jan 2010
TL;DR: An overview of the research progress in applying CI methods to the problem of intrusion detection is provided, including core methods of CI, including artificial neural networks, fuzzy systems, evolutionary computation, artificial immune systems, swarm intelligence, and soft computing.
Abstract: Intrusion detection based upon computational intelligence is currently attracting considerable interest from the research community. Characteristics of computational intelligence (CI) systems, such as adaptation, fault tolerance, high computational speed and error resilience in the face of noisy information, fit the requirements of building a good intrusion detection model. Here we want to provide an overview of the research progress in applying CI methods to the problem of intrusion detection. The scope of this review will encompass core methods of CI, including artificial neural networks, fuzzy systems, evolutionary computation, artificial immune systems, swarm intelligence, and soft computing. The research contributions in each field are systematically summarized and compared, allowing us to clearly define existing research challenges, and to highlight promising new research directions. The findings of this review should provide useful insights into the current IDS literature and be a good source for anyone who is interested in the application of CI approaches to IDSs or related fields.
700 citations
TL;DR: This tutorial review will provide important knowledge about lipid oxidation, including the mechanism and factors involved in oxidation, as well as strategies for improving oxidative stability of lipids.
Abstract: Lipids are a major component of food and important structural and functional constituents of cells in biological systems. However, this diverse group of substances is prone to oxidation through various pathways. Their oxidative stability depends on a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors, including the unsaturation of their fatty acids, composition of minor components, environment conditions, delivery techniques and use of antioxidants, among others. Lipid oxidation has detrimental effects on both food quality and human health, and efforts must be made to minimize oxidation and improve oxidative stability of lipid products. Antioxidant strategy has been successfully employed in the food industry for quality preservation of the food products and in the medicinal industry for risk reduction of numerous oxidative stress-mediated diseases. This tutorial review will provide important knowledge about lipid oxidation, including the mechanism and factors involved in oxidation, as well as strategies for improving oxidative stability of lipids.
692 citations
TL;DR: In this article, a review summarizes the present status of knowledge on the isolation, composition, molecular structure, properties and modification of pulse starches and future research needs in the area of pulse stars are outlined.
591 citations
TL;DR: In one of four primary association analyses, the association signal for marker rs4141463, located within MACROD2, crossed the genome-wide association significance threshold of P < 5 × 10−8 and, consistent with the winner's curse, its effect size in the replication sample was much smaller.
Abstract: Although autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) have a substantial genetic basis, most of the known genetic risk has been traced to rare variants, principally copy number variants (CNVs). To identify common risk variation, the Autism Genome Project (AGP) Consortium genotyped 1558 rigorously defined ASD families for 1 million single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and analyzed these SNP genotypes for association with ASD. In one of four primary association analyses, the association signal for marker rs4141463, located within MACROD2, crossed the genome-wide association significance threshold of P < 5 × 10(-8). When a smaller replication sample was analyzed, the risk allele at rs4141463 was again over-transmitted; yet, consistent with the winner's curse, its effect size in the replication sample was much smaller; and, for the combined samples, the association signal barely fell below the P < 5 × 10(-8) threshold. Exploratory analyses of phenotypic subtypes yielded no significant associations after correction for multiple testing. They did, however, yield strong signals within several genes, KIAA0564, PLD5, POU6F2, ST8SIA2 and TAF1C.
554 citations
Vanderbilt University1, Texas A&M University2, National Institute of Standards and Technology3, Memorial University of Newfoundland4, University of Arizona5, Broad Institute6, New York University7, Merck & Co.8, Purdue University9, Buck Institute for Research on Aging10, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center11, University of California, San Francisco12, National Institutes of Health13, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center14
TL;DR: The most repeatable peptides were those corresponding to conventional tryptic cleavage sites, those that produced intense MS signals, and those that resulted from proteins generating many distinct peptides.
Abstract: The complexity of proteomic instrumentation for LC-MS/MS introduces many possible sources of variability. Data-dependent sampling of peptides constitutes a stochastic element at the heart of discovery proteomics. Although this variation impacts the identification of peptides, proteomic identifications are far from completely random. In this study, we analyzed interlaboratory data sets from the NCI Clinical Proteomic Technology Assessment for Cancer to examine repeatability and reproducibility in peptide and protein identifications. Included data spanned 144 LC-MS/MS experiments on four Thermo LTQ and four Orbitrap instruments. Samples included yeast lysate, the NCI-20 defined dynamic range protein mix, and the Sigma UPS 1 defined equimolar protein mix. Some of our findings reinforced conventional wisdom, such as repeatability and reproducibility being higher for proteins than for peptides. Most lessons from the data, however, were more subtle. Orbitraps proved capable of higher repeatability and reproduci...
504 citations
TL;DR: The results of this study showed that soluble as well as bound fractions of millet grains are rich sources of phenolic compounds with antioxidant, metal chelating, and reducing power.
Abstract: Soluble and insoluble-bound phenolic extracts of several varieties of millet (kodo, finger, foxtail, proso, pearl, and little millets) whole grains were evaluated for their phenolic contents and antioxidative efficacy using trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), reducing power (RP), and beta-carotene-linoleate model system as well as ferrous chelating activity. In addition, ferulic and p-coumaric acids were present in soluble and bound phenolic fractions of millets, and their contents were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and HPLC-mass spectrometry (MS). Kodo millet had the highest total phenolic content, whereas proso millet possessed the least. All millet varieties showed high antioxidant activities, although the order of their efficacy was assay dependent. HPLC analysis of millet phenolic extracts demonstrated that the bound fractions contained more ferulic and p-coumaric acids compared to their soluble counterparts. The results of this study showed that soluble as well as bound fractions of millet grains are rich sources of phenolic compounds with antioxidant, metal chelating, and reducing power. The potential of whole millets as natural sources of antioxidants depends on the variety used. The importance of the insoluble bound fraction of millet as a source of ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid was established, and their contribution to the total phenolic content must be taken into account in the assessment of the antioxidant activity of millets.
422 citations
TL;DR: This overview provides the latest developments about novel antioxidants, particularly phenolic derivatives, peptides/protein hydrolysates, phospholipids and polysaccharides, and their role in food quality preservation and human health promotion.
Abstract: Autoxidation in food and biological systems is responsible for a multitude of adverse effects and implications in human health as well as in food stability and preservation. Antioxidants play a major role in preventing or delaying autoxidation and have attracted much attention as food stabilizers, dietary supplements and natural health products. Both synthetic and natural antioxidants are widely used in food products and an ever increasing number of research papers have appeared in the recent literature on the discovery and application of natural antioxidants and their therapeutic use in inhibiting a myriad of diseases. However, some common synthetic antioxidants have also become controversial due to their potential adverse effects on health. This overview provides the latest developments about novel antioxidants, particularly phenolic derivatives, peptides/protein hydrolysates, phospholipids and polysaccharides, and their role in food quality preservation and human health promotion.
368 citations
TL;DR: Using a recently developed database of fisheries subsidies for 148 mari- timecountriesspanning 1989 to 2003, the authors in this article estimated that global fisheries subsidies for 2003 were between US$25 and 29 billion.
Abstract: Using a recently developed database of fisheries subsidies for 148 mari- timecountriesspanning1989tothepresent,totalfisheriessubsidiesfortheyear2003is computed.Akeyfeatureofourestimationapproachisthatitexplicitlydealswithmiss- ing data from official sources, and includes estimates of subsidies to developing coun- tryfisheries.Our analysis suggests that globalfisheries subsidies for 2003 are between US$25and29billion,whichishigherthananearlierWorldBankestimateofbetween US$ 14-20 billion. This new estimate is lower than our 2000 global subsidies esti- mateofUS$30-34 billion.Wefindthatfuelsubsidiescompose about 15-30% oftotal global fishing subsidies, and that capacity enhancing subsidies sum to US$ 16 billion or about 60% of the total. These results imply that the global community is paying
294 citations
TL;DR: In this article, the authors compared the minimal important difference (MID) with the minimal detectable change (MDC) generated by distribution-based methods and found that the 95% limits of agreement and the reliable change index yielded the largest estimates.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors analyze audit firm supervision since the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB) began conducting inspections and find that audit clients do not perceive that the PCAOB's inspection reports are valuable for signaling audit quality.
TL;DR: In this article, the theory of spreading speeds and traveling waves for abstract monostable evolution systems with spatial structure was developed, and it was shown that the spreading speeds coincide with the minimal wave speeds for monotone traveling waves in the positive and negative directions.
TL;DR: While unstable devices have been shown to be effective in decreasing the incidence of low back pain and increasing the sensory efficiency of soft tissues, they are not recommended as the primary exercises for hypertrophy, absolute strength, or power, especially in trained athletes.
Abstract: Training of the trunk or core muscles for enhanced health, rehabilitation, and athletic performance has received renewed emphasis. Instability resistance exercises have become a popular means of training the core and improving bal- ance. Whether instability resistance training is as, more, or less effective than traditional ground-based resistance training is not fully resolved. The purpose of this review is to address the effectiveness of instability resistance training for athletic, nonathletic, and rehabilitation conditioning. The anatomical core is defined as the axial skeleton and all soft tissues with a proximal attachment on the axial skeleton. Spinal stability is an interaction of passive and active muscle and neural sub- systems. Training programs must prepare athletes for a wide variety of postures and external forces, and should include exercises with a destabilizing component. While unstable devices have been shown to be effective in decreasing the inci- dence of low back pain and increasing the sensory efficiency of soft tissues, they are not recommended as the primary ex- ercises for hypertrophy, absolute strength, or power, especially in trained athletes. For athletes, ground-based free-weight exercises with moderate levels of instability should form the foundation of exercises to train the core musculature. Instabil- ity resistance exercises can play an important role in periodization and rehabilitation, and as alternative exercises for the recreationally active individual with less interest or access to ground-based free-weight exercises. Based on the relatively high proportion of type I fibers, the core musculature might respond well to multiple sets with high repetitions (e.g., >15 per set); however, a particular sport may necessitate fewer repetitions.
TL;DR: This review summarizes the current knowledge on the impact of heat-moisture treatment on the composition, granule morphology, crystallinity, X-ray pattern, granular swelling, amylose leaching, pasting properties, gelatinization and retrogradation parameters, and susceptibility towards α-amylase and acid hydrolysis.
Abstract: Heat-moisture treatment is a hydrothermal treatment that changes the physicochemical properties of starches by facilitating starch chain interactions within the amorphous and crystalline domains and/or by disrupting starch crystallites. The extent of these changes is influenced by starch composition, moisture content and temperature during treatment, and by the organization of amylose and amylopectin chains within native starch granules. During heat-moisture treatment starch granules at low moisture levels [(<35% water (w/w)] are heated at a temperature above the glass transition temperature (T(g)) but below the gelatinization temperature for a fixed period of time. Significant progress in heat-moisture treatment has been made during the last 15 years, as reflected by numerous publications on this subject. Therefore, this review summarizes the current knowledge on the impact of heat-moisture treatment on the composition, granule morphology, crystallinity, X-ray pattern, granular swelling, amylose leaching, pasting properties, gelatinization and retrogradation parameters, and susceptibility towards α-amylase and acid hydrolysis. The application of heat-moisture treatment in the food industry is also reviewed. Recommendations for future research are outlined.
TL;DR: In this article, genomic evidence of range-wide adaptive differentiation in a broadcast spawning marine fish, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), using a genome survey of single nucleotide polymorphisms.
Abstract: Despite the enormous economic and ecological importance of marine organisms, the spatial scales of adaptation and biocomplexity remain largely unknown. Yet, the preservation of local stocks that possess adaptive diversity is critical to the long-term maintenance of productive stable fisheries and ecosystems. Here, we document genomic evidence of range-wide adaptive differentiation in a broadcast spawning marine fish, Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua), using a genome survey of single nucleotide polymorphisms. Of 1641 gene-associated polymorphisms examined, 70 (4.2%) tested positive for signatures of selection using a Bayesian approach. We identify a subset of these loci (n = 40) for which allele frequencies show parallel temperature-associated clines (p < 0.001, r2 = 0.89) in the eastern and western north Atlantic. Temperature associations were robust to the statistical removal of geographic distance or latitude effects, and contrasted ‘neutral’ loci, which displayed no temperature association. Allele frequencies at temperature-associated loci were significantly correlated, spanned three linkage groups and several were successfully annotated supporting the involvement of multiple independent genes. Our results are consistent with the evolution and/or selective sweep of multiple genes in response to ocean temperature, and support the possibility of a new conservation paradigm for non-model marine organisms based on genomic approaches to resolving functional and adaptive diversity.
TL;DR: End-to-end modeling is in its early developmental stages and thus presents an opportunity to establish an open-access, community-based approach supported by a suite of true interdisciplinary efforts.
Abstract: There is growing interest in models of marine ecosystems that deal with the effects of climate change through the higher trophic levels. Such end-to-end models combine physicochemical oceanographic descriptors and organisms ranging from microbes to higher-trophic-level (HTL) organisms, including humans, in a single modeling framework. The demand for such approaches arises from the need for quantitative tools for ecosystem-based management, particularly models that can deal with bottom-up and top-down controls that operate simultaneously and vary in time and space and that are capable of handling the multiple impacts expected under climate change. End-to-end models are now feasible because of improvements in the component submodels and the availability of sufficient computing power. We discuss nine issues related to the development of end-to-end models. These issues relate to formulation of the zooplankton submodel, melding of multiple temporal and spatial scales, acclimation and adaptation, behav...
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focus on the occurrence, in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of ferulic, coumaric, caffeic and sinapic acids and their derivatives.
Abstract: Hydroxycinnamates are among the most widely distributed plant phenylpropanoids present in the free, conjugated-soluble and insoluble-bound forms. This review will focus on the occurrence, in vitro and in vivo antioxidant activities of ferulic, coumaric, caffeic and sinapic acids and their derivatives. Hydroxycinnamates are found in almost all food groups though they are abundant in cereals, legumes, oilseeds, fruits, vegetables and beverages and render antioxidant activity by scavenging hydroxyl radical, superoxide radical anion, several organic radicals, peroxyl radical, peroxinitrite and singlet oxygen, among others. Further, their antioxidant activity as chain breaking antioxidants and reducing agents is also notable. Ferulic acid and its derivatives such as ferulic acid ethyl ester, ferulic acid dehydrodimers, feruloyl glycosides and curcumin have demonstrated potent antioxidant activity in both in vitro and in vivo systems. Similarly, caffeic acid and some of its derivatives such as caffeic acid phenethyl ester, rosmarinic acid, and chlorogenic acid exhibit antioxidant activity. The highest antioxidant activity was observed for caffeic acid whereas p-coumaric acid had the least effect among major hydroxycinnamic acids. The importance of structural effects on the potency of antioxidant activity of hydroxycinnamates is discussed. While this review also shows the existence of substantial body of evidences for in vitro antioxidant activity of hydroxycinnamates, there is a clear gap for in vivo information, particularly for sinapic and p-coumaric acids and their derivatives. The role of grains, fruits, vegetables and red wine in disease risk reduction and health promotion could partly be attributed to their constituent hydroxycinnamates.
TL;DR: Using existing flow models, the authors predict that such flows in mud-dominated sediments will develop a three-part microstratigraphy produced by changing flow conditions, beginning with wave-induced turbulent resuspension, then development of a wave-enhanced sediment-gravity flow, prior to lutocline collapse and suspension settling.
Abstract: Recent studies of marine shelf sediment dispersal show that wave-enhanced sediment-gravity flows are widespread phenomena and can transport large volumes of fluid mud rapidly across low-gradient shelves. Flow evolution is controlled by sediment supply, seabed gradient, and spatial distribution of wave energy at the seabed. Using existing flow models, we predict that such flows in mud-dominated sediments will develop a three-part microstratigraphy produced by changing flow conditions, beginning with wave-induced turbulent resuspension, then development of a wave-enhanced sediment-gravity flow, prior to lutocline collapse and suspension settling. Petrographic examination of modern flow deposits collected from the Eel Shelf reveals that resultant beds possess a microstratigraphy consistent with our hypothesis: a silt-rich basal subunit with curved ripple laminae, abruptly overlain by a subunit composed of continuous intercalated silt/clay laminae, and an upper clay-rich drape. Analyses of beds from ancient mud-rich outer-shelf and basinal successions (Cleveland Ironstone, Jurassic, UK, and Mowry Shale, Cretaceous, United States) show that they too contain beds with this three-part organization, suggesting that such flows were active in these ancient settings too. Recognition of these microstructures in these ancient mud-dominated successions demonstrates that sediment in these settings was commonly reworked and transported advectively downslope by high-energy events, contrasting with previous interpretations of these units that deposition was dominated by quiescent suspension settling. Identification of these recognition criteria now allows the products of this newly recognized sediment dispersal mechanism to be identified in other shale-dominated successions.
TL;DR: Some of the challenges and open issues that face researchers and practitioners of GP are outlined and it is hoped this overview will stimulate debate, focus the direction of future research to deepen the understanding of GP, and further the development of more powerful problem solving algorithms.
Abstract: It is approximately 50 years since the first computational experiments were conducted in what has become known today as the field of Genetic Programming (GP), twenty years since John Koza named and popularised the method, and ten years since the first issue appeared of the Genetic Programming & Evolvable Machines journal. In particular, during the past two decades there has been a significant range and volume of development in the theory and application of GP, and in recent years the field has become increasingly applied. There remain a number of significant open issues despite the successful application of GP to a number of challenging real-world problem domains and progress in the development of a theory explaining the behavior and dynamics of GP. These issues must be addressed for GP to realise its full potential and to become a trusted mainstream member of the computational problem solving toolkit. In this paper we outline some of the challenges and open issues that face researchers and practitioners of GP. We hope this overview will stimulate debate, focus the direction of future research to deepen our understanding of GP, and further the development of more powerful problem solving algorithms.
TL;DR: In this paper, Brazil nuts were shelled and separated as kernel and brown skin; whole and whole nuts were also used to extract the phenolic content of each portion as well as the whole nut under reflux conditions.
TL;DR: In this article, a combination of annealing (ANN) and heat-moisture treatment (HMT) was applied to pea, lentil and navy bean starches to investigate the impact of single and dual modifications (ANN-HMT and HMT-ANN) on the crystalline structure, thermal properties, and the amounts of resistant starch (RS) were investigated.
TL;DR: The fly-in/fly-out model has both beneficial and adverse implications for the sustainability of both existing communities near new resource developments and for the more distant communities from which workers are drawn.
Abstract: “Fly-in/fly-out” is a form of work organization that has become the standard model for new mining, petroleum and other types of resource development in remote areas. In many places this “no town” model has replaced that of the “new town.” The work system has both beneficial and adverse implications for the sustainability of both existing communities near new resource developments and for the more distant communities from which workers are drawn. This paper explores these outcomes drawing upon examples from North America and Australia.
American Cancer Society1, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center2, University of Arizona3, German Cancer Research Center4, University of Southern California5, Cancer Care Ontario6, University of Hawaii at Manoa7, Memorial University of Newfoundland8, University of Melbourne9, Dartmouth College10, Mayo Clinic11
TL;DR: The increased risk of colorectal cancer associated with a high BMI might be largely restricted to tumors that display the more common MS-stable phenotype, suggesting further that coloreCTal cancer etiology differs by tumor MSI status.
Abstract: status. Methods The study included 1794 case subjects with incident colorectal cancer who were identified through populationbased cancer registries and 2684 of their unaffected sex-matched siblings as control subjects. Recent body mass index (BMI), BMI at age 20 years, and adult weight change were derived from self-reports of height and weight. Tumor MSI status, assessed at as many as 10 markers, was obtained for 69.7% of the case subjects and classified as microsatellite (MS)-stable (0% of markers unstable; n = 913), MSI-low (>0% but <30% of markers unstable; n = 149), or MSI-high (≥30% of markers unstable; n = 188). Multivariable conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). All statistical tests were two-sided. Results Recent BMI, modeled in 5 kg/m 2 increments, was positively associated with risk of colorectal cancer for men and women combined (OR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.15 to 1.34), for women only (OR = 1.20; 95% CI = 1.10 to 1.32), and for men only (OR = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.15 to 1.47). There was no interaction with sex (P = .22). Recent BMI, per 5 kg/m 2 , was positively associated with the risk of MS-stable (OR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.24 to 1.54) and MSI-low (OR = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.04 to 1.72) colorectal tumors, but not with the risk of MSI-high tumors (OR = 1.05; 95% CI = 0.84 to 1.31). Conclusion The increased risk of colorectal cancer associated with a high BMI might be largely restricted to tumors that display the more common MS-stable phenotype, suggesting further that colorectal cancer etiology differs by tumor MSI status.
TL;DR: The existence of two separate, but temporally connected processes that contribute to dormancy development in some deciduous woody plant: one driven byPhotoperiod and influenced by moderate temperatures; the other driven by abiotic stresses, such as low temperature in combination with long photoperiods is proposed.
Abstract: The role of temperature during dormancy development is being reconsidered as more research emerges demonstrating that temperature can significantly influence growth cessation and dormancy development in woody plants. However, there are seemingly contradictory responses to warm and low temperature in the literature. This research/review paper aims to address this contradiction. The impact of temperature was examined in four poplar clones and two dogwood ecotypes with contrasting dormancy induction patterns. Under short day (SD) conditions, warm night temperature (WT) strongly accelerated timing of growth cessation leading to greater dormancy development and cold hardiness in poplar hybrids. In contrast, under long day (LD) conditions, low night temperature (LT) can completely bypass the short photoperiod requirement in northern but not southern dogwood ecotypes. These findings are in fact consistent with the literature in which both coniferous and deciduous woody plant species’ growth cessation, bud set or dormancy induction are accelerated by temperature. The contradictions are addressed when photoperiod and ecotypes are taken into account in which the combination of either SD/WT (northern and southern ecotypes) or LD/LT (northern ecotypes only) are separated. Photoperiod insensitive types are driven to growth cessation by LT. Also consistent is the importance of night temperature in regulating these warm and cool temperature responses. However, the physiological basis for these temperature effects remain unclear. Changes in water content, binding and mobility are factors known to be associated with dormancy induction in woody plants. These were measured using non-destructive magnetic resonance micro-imaging (MRMI) in specific regions within lateral buds of poplar under SD/WT dormancing inducing conditions. Under SD/WT, dormancy was associated with restrictions in inter- or intracellular water movement between plant cells that reduces water mobility during dormancy development. Northern ecotypes of dogwood may be more tolerant to photoinhibition under the dormancy inducing LD/LT conditions compared to southern ecotypes. In this paper, we propose the existence of two separate, but temporally connected processes that contribute to dormancy development in some deciduous woody plant: one driven by photoperiod and influenced by moderate temperatures; the other driven by abiotic stresses, such as low temperature in combination with long photoperiods. The molecular changes corresponding to these two related but distinct responses to temperature during dormancy development in woody plants remains an investigative challenge.
TL;DR: In this paper, a brownbanded bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum) skin was isolated and characterised based on protein patterns and TOYOPEARL® CM-650M column chromatography.
TL;DR: In this article, the authors exploit differences in the infrared spectra of geogenic, biogenic and pyrogenic calcites for the identification of each calcite type, which can assist in distinguishing between the various calcites, and provide insights into homogeneity and preservation state of the calcitic materials in question.
TL;DR: The Grenville Orogen in North America is interpreted to have resulted from collision between Laurentia and another continent, probably Amazonia, at ca. 1100 Ma as mentioned in this paper, and the exposed segment of the orogen wa...
Abstract: The Grenville Orogen in North America is interpreted to have resulted from collision between Laurentia and another continent, probably Amazonia, at ca. 1100 Ma. The exposed segment of the orogen wa...
TL;DR: This institution was a high outlier in superficial SSI in colorectal patients during the first NSQIP evaluations, and SCIP guidelines were instituted and a statistically significant reduction in the authors' rates of SSI was realized.
Abstract: Background The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) began with the Veterans Affairs system to reduce morbidity and mortality by evaluating preoperative risk factors, postoperative occurrences, mortality reports, surgical site infections, and patient variable statistics. Our institution enrolled in NSQIP July 2006. The Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP) was developed to reduce surgical complications, including surgical infections. We began instituting SCIP protocols in July 2007. Study Design This is a retrospective review of the NSQIP data collected by our NSQIP nurse. The colorectal surgical site infection (SSI) data pre- and post-institution of SCIP guidelines are analyzed. Data from the July 2006 to June 2007 and July 2007 to June 2008 reports are compared. Rates of SCIP compliance are analyzed. Results There were 113 colorectal cases in the July 2006 to June 2007 NSQIP report. The rate of superficial SSI was 13.3%, with an expected rate of 9.7% (p = 0.041). The observed-to-expected ratio was 1.39. Compliance with SCIP was 38%. There were 84 colorectal cases in the July 2007 to June 2008 NSQIP report. The rate of superficial SSI was 8.3%, with an expected rate of 10.25% (p = 0.351). The observed-to-expected ratio was 0.81. Compliance with SCIP measures was 92%. Conclusions Participation in NSQIP can identify areas of increased morbidity and mortality. Our institution was a high outlier in superficial SSI in colorectal patients during the first NSQIP evaluations. SCIP guidelines were instituted and a statistically significant reduction in our rates of SSI was realized. As our compliance with SCIP improved, our rates of superficial SSI decreased. Reduction in superficial SSI decreases cost to the patient and decreases length of stay.
TL;DR: In this paper, an assemblage of macroscopic locomotory traces from deep-water environments at Mistaken Point, southeastern Newfoundland, Canada, dated to ca. 565 Ma are presented.
Abstract: Evidence for locomotion in the Precambrian fossil record is scant. Reliable Ediacaran trace fossils are all younger than 560 Ma, and consist of relatively simple horizontal burrows and trails from shallow-water deposits. Here we describe an assemblage of macroscopic locomotory traces from deep-water environments at Mistaken Point, southeastern Newfoundland, Canada, dated to ca. 565 Ma. These trails extend the record of complex trace fossils back into the earliest Avalonian biota. Our new evidence for large motile organisms on the seafloor at this time suggests that at least some of these early Ediacaran organisms, whose biological affinities are widely debated, could have been muscular and of metazoan grade.