Cultural Experience as a (Critical) Factor in Crisis Communication Planning

A key issue in crisis communication is the way people process crisis‐relevant information to minimize danger. This paper discusses the impact of previously experienced crises on the public's interpretation of warning messages. People may not have direct experience of a crisis, but they still have acquired mediated experiences of a variety of crises. The present study introduces the term cultural experience of crisis to label the synthesis of mediated crisis experiences, media and fictional narratives, collective memories of societal disasters, conversations, and immediate crisis experiences of witnesses and victims. The proposed model of cultural experience of crisis is elaborated on the basis of a qualitative text analysis derived from four qualitative interviews 16 focus groups interviews carried out in Estonia from 2008 to 2009.     

Alternative Promoter Use Governs the Expression of IgLON Cell Adhesion Molecules in Histogenetic Fields of the Embryonic Mouse Brain

The members of the IgLON superfamily of cell adhesion molecules facilitate fundamental cellular communication during brain development, maintain functional brain circuitry, and are associated with several neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression, autism, schizophrenia, and intellectual disabilities. Usage of alternative promoter-specific 1a and 1b mRNA isoforms in Lsamp, Opcml, Ntm, and the single promoter of Negr1 in the mouse and human brain has been previously described. To determine the precise spatiotemporal expression dynamics of Lsamp, Opcml, Ntm isoforms, and Negr1, in the developing brain, we generated isoform-specific RNA probes and carried out in situ hybridization in the developing (embryonic, E10.5, E11.5, 13.5, 17; postnatal, P0) and adult mouse brains. We show that promoter-specific expression of IgLONs is established early during pallial development (at E10.5), where it remains throughout its differentiation through adulthood. In the diencephalon, midbrain, and hindbrain, strong expression patterns are initiated a few days later and begin fading after birth, being only faintly expressed during adulthood. Thus, the expression of specific IgLONs in the developing brain may provide the means for regionally specific functionality as well as for specific regional vulnerabilities. The current study will therefore improve the understanding of how IgLON genes are implicated in the development of neuropsychiatric disorders.     

Fibroblast growth on micro- and nanopatterned surfaces prepared by a novel sol–gel phase separation method

Physical characteristics of the growth substrate including nano- and microstructure play crucial role in determining the behaviour of the cells in a given biological context. To test the effect of varying the supporting surface structure on cell growth we applied a novel sol–gel phase separation-based method to prepare micro- and nanopatterned surfaces with round surface structure features. Variation in the size of structural elements was achieved by solvent variation and adjustment of sol concentration. Growth characteristics and morphology of primary human dermal fibroblasts were found to be significantly modulated by the microstructure of the substrate. The increase in the size of the structural elements, lead to increased inhibition of cell growth, altered morphology (increased cytoplasmic volume), enlarged cell shape, decrease in the number of filopodia) and enhancement of cell senescence. These effects are likely mediated by the decreased contact between the cell membrane and the growth substrate. However, in the case of large surface structural elements other factors like changes in the 3D topology of the cell’s cytoplasm might also play a role.     

Citizens' Response Patterns to Warning Messages

This paper elaborates the concept of citizens' crisis‐coping strategies, using data from a qualitative study of people who have experienced a real crisis plus discussions of simulated warning messages. The analysis results suggest that, to emotionally cope with a crisis, citizens may need more than institutionally framed warnings. They may either seek information from informal information networks or simply take their own response action. The paper concludes that the use of alternative sources and channels of warning messages would help people to cope, emotionally and cognitively, with crises. These alternatives would increase the efficacy of institutional crisis communication plans and consequently the public's response to crisis messages.     

Semi-natural grassland continuity, long-term land-use change and plant species richness in an agricultural landscape on Öland, Sweden

The study characterizes historical land-use change and the development of semi-natural grassland habitats, over 274 years, within a mosaic agricultural landscape (22 km²) on the island of Öland (Sweden). We also explore the relationship between previous land-use, habitat continuity and present-day vascular plant species richness in grassland patches. Land-cover maps, based on cadastral maps and aerial photographs, were produced for six time-periods between 1723/1733 and 1994/1997. In 1723/1733, the landscape was dominated by grasslands, with arable land surrounding the villages. The grassland area decreased throughout the study period and grassland patches became progressively more fragmented. Present-day grasslands represent 18% of the grassland area in 1723/1733. The land-use structure of the early 18th century is still evident in the modern landscape. The majority of the present-day grasslands are situated on former common grazing land and have had a continuity of at least 274 years: the remaining grasslands are younger and developed during the 20th century on arable or forested land. The proportion of plant species that depend on grazing and are characteristic of semi-natural grasslands significantly reflects the continuity and previous land-use of grassland sites. The study illustrates the way in which information on historical land-use and habitat continuity can help to explain the structuring of plant assemblages in semi-natural grasslands within the modern landscape.     

Two antioxidative lactobacilli strains as promising probiotics

Two antioxidative strains tentatively identified as Lactobacillus fermentum, E-3 and E-18, were isolated from intestinal microflora of a healthy child. Survival time of these strains in the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS), like hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anions and hydroxyl radicals, was significantly increased compared with a non-antioxidative strain, and also was quite similar to a highly ROS resistant strain of Salmonella typhimurium. E-3 and E-8 contain a remarkable level of glutathione, express Mn-SOD, which is important for the prevention of lipid peroxidation, and secrete hydrogen peroxide. Their significant antimicrobial activity combined with antioxidative properties may serve as defensive principles in the intestinal microbial ecosystem and overcome exo- and endogenous oxidative stress.