Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resident-Invader Phylogenetic Relatedness, Not Resident Phylogenetic Diversity, Controls Community Invasibility

A central goal of invasion biology is to elucidate mechanisms regulating community invasibility. Darwin’s naturalization hypothesis, one of the oldest hypotheses in invasion biology, emphasizes the importance of phylogenetic relatedness (PR) between resident and invader species for predicting invasibility. Alternatively, a recent extension of the diversity-invasibility hypothesis predicts that phylogenetic diversity (PD) of resident communities influences invasibility. Neither of these hypotheses has undergone rigorous experimental testing, and the relative contributions of PR and PD to community invasibility are unknown, in part because their effects tend to be confounded with each other. Here we consider both perspectives together by independently manipulating PR and PD in laboratory bacterial assemblages. We found that, although invader abundance decreased significantly as PR increased, it was unaffected by PD. Likewise, we found that resident-invader functional similarity, not functional diversity of resident communities, was a significant predictor of invader abundance. Nevertheless, invader abundance was better predicted by PR than by functional similarity. These results highlight the importance of considering species evolutionary relationships, especially the PR between resident and invader species, for the prediction, prevention, and management of biological invasions.
Ecological Character Displacement between the Sexes

Theory suggests that the evolution of sexual dimorphism in ecologically relevant traits can evolve purely through competition between the sexes for a shared resource. Although more parsimonious hypotheses exist for the evolution of ecological sexual dimorphisms, there are some underappreciated reasons to expect that competition may often play some role in the evolution of sexual dimorphism. Here, we build on past work to outline a set of sufficient criteria to demonstrate a role for resource competition in the evolution of sexual dimorphism, the most critical of which is that resource competition can be directly linked to sexual divergence along the axis of ecologically relevant dimorphism. We then compare the geometry of fitness surfaces across experimental manipulations of density and sex ratio in a semiaquatic salamander (Notophthalmus viridescens). We find consistent disruptive selection on multivariate sexual dimorphism in feeding morphology, which increases in strength with density. Fitness and the strength of divergent selection are negative-frequency dependent in the manner expected under competition-driven divergence between the sexes. Our results constitute direct evidence of resource competition as a driver of sexually antagonist selection and consequently the evolution of sexual dimorphism, providing an illustration of how cause and effect can be separated in studies of sexual divergence in morphology and ecology. We suggest that resource competition may often contribute to sexual divergence jointly with other sources of sex-biased selection, especially when ecological opportunity is sex specific.
Efficacy of continued alendronate for fractures in women with and without prevalent vertebral fracture: The FLEX Trial

In the Fracture Intervention Trial (FIT) Long Term Extension (FLEX) Trial, 10 years of alendronate (ALN) did not significantly reduce the risk of nonvertebral fractures (NVFs) compared with 5 years of ALN. Continuing ALN reduced the risk of clinical but not morphometric vertebral fractures regardless of baseline vertebral fracture status. In previous studies, ALN efficacy for NVF prevention in women without prevalent vertebral fracture was limited to those with femoral neck (FN) T‐scores of −2.5 or less. To determine whether the effect of long‐term ALN on fracture differs by vertebral fracture status and femoral neck (FN) T‐score, we performed a post hoc analysis using FLEX data, a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial among 1099 postmenopausal women originally randomized to ALN in the FIT with mean ALN use of 5 years. In the FLEX Trial, women were randomized to placebo (40%) or ALN 5 mg/day (30%) or ALN 10 mg/day (30%) for an additional 5 years. Among women without vertebral fracture at FLEX baseline (n = 720), continuation of ALN reduced NVF in women with FLEX baseline FN T‐scores of −2.5 or less [relative risk (RR) = 0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.26–0.96] but not with T‐scores of greater than −2.5 and −2 or less (RR 0.79, 95% CI 0.37–1.66) or with T‐scores of greater than −2 (RR 1.41, 95% CI 0.75–2.66; p for interaction = .019). Continuing ALN for 10 years instead of stopping after 5 years reduces NVF risk in women without prevalent vertebral fracture whose FN T‐scores, achieved after 5 years of ALN, are −2.5 or less but does not reduce risk of NVF in women whose T‐scores are greater than −2. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Synthesis, characterization and in‐vitro antitubercular activity of isoniazid‐gelatin conjugate

Objectives A novel and simple method to synthesize antitubercular‐protein conjugate by solid phase synthesis was developed employing a carboxypolystyrene resin. The aim was to covalently bind a drug with antitubercular activity, isoniazid, to a biomacromolecule, gelatin, widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industry.
Identification of a gene module associated with BMD through the integration of network analysis and genome‐wide association data

Bone mineral density (BMD) is influenced by a complex network of gene interactions; therefore, elucidating the relationships between genes and how those genes, in turn, influence BMD is critical for developing a comprehensive understanding of osteoporosis. To investigate the role of transcriptional networks in the regulation of BMD, we performed a weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) using microarray expression data on monocytes from young individuals with low or high BMD. WGCNA groups genes into modules based on patterns of gene coexpression. and our analysis identified 11 gene modules. We observed that the overall expression of one module (referred to as module 9) was significantly higher in the low‐BMD group (p = .03). Module 9 was highly enriched for genes belonging to the immune system–related gene ontology (GO) category “response to virus” (p = 7.6 × 10−11). Using publically available genome‐wide association study data, we independently validated the importance of module 9 by demonstrating that highly connected module 9 hubs were more likely, relative to less highly connected genes, to be genetically associated with BMD. This study highlights the advantages of systems‐level analyses to uncover coexpression modules associated with bone mass and suggests that particular monocyte expression patterns may mediate differences in BMD. © 2010 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Associations between Resting, Activity, and Daily Metabolic Rate in Free-Living Endotherms: No Universal Rule in Birds and Mammals

Energy management models provide theories and predictions for how animals manage their energy budgets within their energetic constraints, in terms of their resting metabolic rate (RMR) and daily energy expenditure (DEE). Thus, uncovering what associations exist between DEE and RMR is key to testing these models. Accordingly, there is considerable interest in the relationship between DEE and RMR at both inter- and intraspecific levels. Interpretation of the evidence for particular energy management models is enhanced by also considering the energy spent specifically on costly activities (activity energy expenditure [AEE] = DEE − RMR). However, to date there have been few intraspecific studies investigating such patterns. Our aim was to determine whether there is a generality of intraspecific relationships among RMR, DEE, and AEE using long-term data sets for bird and mammal species. For mammals, we use minimum heart rate (fH), mean fH, and activity fH as qualitative proxies for RMR, DEE, and AEE, respectively. For the birds, we take advantage of calibration equations to convert fH into rate of oxygen consumption in order to provide quantitative proxies for RMR, DEE, and AEE. For all 11 species, the DEE proxy was significantly positively correlated with the RMR proxy. There was also evidence of a significant positive correlation between AEE and RMR in all four mammal species but only in some of the bird species. Our results indicate there is no universal rule for birds and mammals governing the relationships among RMR, AEE, and DEE. Furthermore, they suggest that birds tend to have a different strategy for managing their energy budgets from those of mammals and that there are also differences in strategy between bird species. Future work in laboratory settings or highly controlled field settings can tease out the environmental and physiological processes contributing to variation in energy management strategies exhibited by different species.
Examination of nuclear receptor expression in osteoblasts reveals rorβ as an important regulator of osteogenesis

A complex network of transcription factors contributes to the establishment and maintenance of the osteoblastic phenotype. Although relatively few transcription factors, such as Runx2 and osterix, are essential to the process of osteoblastic differentiation, others serve the purpose of fine‐tuning in response to various environmental and hormonal cues. The nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily of transcription factors are involved in numerous aspects of bone biology. In this study, we characterized the expression pattern of the entire NR superfamily in differentiating primary murine calvarial cells in order to identify novel NR regulatory patterns. Dynamic patterns of NR expression were observed throughout the differentiation process. Interestingly, retinoic acid receptor‐related orphan receptor β (Rorβ) expression was markedly suppressed at later stages of differentiation. To gain further insight into the function of NRs in bone biology, the NR superfamily was also profiled in mouse bone marrow precursor cells isolated from either young (6‐month) or aging, osteoporotic (18–22‐month) mice. Of interest, Rorβ was potently overexpressed in the aged cohort. Collectively, these data provided evidence that Rorβ expression is inversely correlated with osteogenic potential, suggesting Rorβ may be an important and unexplored regulator of osteogenesis. To validate this hypothesis, a cell model stably expressing Rorβ in mouse osteoblastic MC3T3‐E1 cells was produced (MC3T3‐Rorβ). These cells displayed markedly suppressed bone nodule formation as well as reduced osteocalcin and osterix gene expression. Because these genes are Runx2 targets, we reasoned that Rorβ may interfere with Runx2 activity. Consistent with this, transient transfection analysis demonstrated that Rorβ inhibited Runx2‐dependent activation of a Runx2‐reporter construct. In summary, our data provide a comprehensive profile of NR expression during osteoblast differentiation and identify Rorβ as a novel regulator of osteogenesis and potentially of age‐related bone loss through antagonism of Runx2 activity. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Role of sunitinib for the management of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors

Well differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (NETs) can be subdivided into carcinoid and pancreatic NETs. Sunitinib is an orally administered multitargeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor now multinationally approved for progressive pancreatic NETs but not for carcinoid tumors. The recommended dose as per the Phase III trial is 37.5 mg daily. In a Phase III trial, sunitinib demonstrated superior efficacy to best supportive care. As a result, sunitinib is now considered a standard treatment option for patients with progressive pancreatic NETs. Sunitinib has a distinct profile of adverse events, which will be discussed in this review. In addition, an in-depth critical review of sunitinib, with particular focus on the Phase III data, is discussed.
Contemporary conflict resolution

This reviewer makes no claims to any academic expertise in this increasingly vital field, and at first struggled with some of the diagrammatic representations and terminology used in this new edition (particularly Figure 14.1, page 320, although the accompanying text came to my rescue). But by the end I felt well rewarded by the opportunity to study the range and depth of its coverage. The topics include aspects of anthropology, ecology, economics, history (not least of the conflict-resolution field itself), political theory and sociology. But such is the pace of events in this second decade of the twenty-first century (CE) that even this ‘fully revised and expanded edition’ (double the size of the first edition of 1999) does not include references to the Arab Spring, or to the anti-capitalist Occupy Wall Street movement of late 2011 and its progeny. Nor does it fully recognize the power – as demonstrated by these movements – of the ‘twitter-sphere’ as although the section on modern media and cyber technology (including cyber-warfare and cyber-peacemaking) draws attention to the need for responsible journalism, the very speed and ill-disciplined nature of the public ‘bloggosphere’ and mobile ‘photophones’, reaching as they can into the most remote societies, may have been understated. Nevertheless this third edition advances the book’s definitive status in the academic literature of conflict resolution, with 12 more chapters than the first edition, mostly in Part II (‘Cosmopolitan conflict resolution’, pp. 265–423). These new chapters include conflict resolution in a changing international order; environmental conflict resolution (very important); conflict resolution in the arts and popular culture; in the media (including cyberspace); managing intractable conflict; and upcoming challenges. Questions of gender, of culture and religion are addressed, and references made to the work of many people among whom are some of this reviewer’s personal heroes such as Elise and Kenneth Boulding and Adam Curle. The early chapters outline the concepts and definitions in conflict resolution, including the place of ‘Track III diplomacy’ (by peace constituencies within the conflict, building social cohesion, etc) and the need to locate contemporary armed conflicts within a framework that Medicine, Conflict and Survival Vol. 27, No. 4, October–December 2011, 247–252
Occupational therapists’ perception of usage of information and communication technology (ICT) in Western Australia and the association of availability of ICT on recruitment and retention of therapists working in rural areas

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate occupational therapists’ usage of information and communication technology (ICT) in Western Australia and the association of availability of ICT on recruitment and retention of rural therapists. Methods: One thousand, one hundred and thirty-eight surveys were sent to all occupational therapists registered with the Western Australian Occupational Therapy Registration Board in January 2003. The survey was used to identify ICT access, support and literacy. The attitude of therapists towards using ICT as a communication tool and therapists’ usage patterns of ICT in metropolitan and rural localities were analysed by using the Chi-squared test. Results: Email and the personal computer were used most frequently. On ICT global competency, 58% of therapists rated their competency level as good or better. Competence was rated lower for web searching (48.5%) and searching for electronic articles (29.8%). Approximately one-third of respondents were dissatisfied with the level of technical support available and only 38.4% of therapists had participated in basic computer training provided by their current employer. Rural therapists had less access to a computer in their work environments in comparison to their metropolitan peers (P < 0.05). Nevertheless, rural therapists were using email, teleconferencing and videoconferencing more frequently than their metropolitan counterparts. A proportion of rural therapists (45.5%) felt that ICT influenced their decision to continue working in rural areas. Discussion and Conclusion: Professional isolation has been cited as an inhibitor to recruit and retain health-care workers in rural areas. The higher ICT usage by rural therapists may represent the utility of ICT as a means of circumventing professional isolation that is inherent in rural and remote areas.
Skeletal muscle mass is associated with bone geometry and microstructure and serum insulin‐like growth factor binding protein‐2 levels in adult women and men

Skeletal muscle and bone form highly‐integrated systems that undergo significant age‐related changes, but the relationships between muscle mass and trabecular versus cortical bone or trabecular microarchitecture have not been systematically investigated. Thus, we examined the association between appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) relative to height squared (relative ASM) and bone parameters at several sites assessed by conventional as well as high‐resolution peripheral QCT in a cohort of 272 women and 317 men aged 20 to 97 years. In women, relative ASM was associated with cortical thickness (CtTh) at the femoral neck, lumbar spine, radius, and tibia (age‐and physical activity adjusted r = 0.19–0.32; all p < 0.01). Relative ASM was also associated with trabecular volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD) at the femoral neck and spine (all p < 0.05), and trabecular bone volume to tissue volume (BV/TV), number (TbN), thickness (TbTh), and separation (TbSp) at the radius (all p ≤ 0.05). In all men, relative ASM was associated with CtTh at all sites (age‐ and physical activity–adjusted r = 0.17–0.28; all p < 0.01). Associations between relative ASM and trabecular vBMD at the spine in men were lost after adjusting for age; however, relative ASM was associated with trabecular vBMD at the femoral neck and TbN and TbSp at the radius (all p < 0.01). We also investigated circulating factors associated with bone health that may be indicative of relative ASM and found that serum insulin‐like growth factor (IGF) binding protein‐2 (IGFBP‐2) levels were the most robust negative predictors of relative ASM in both sexes. Collectively, these data add to the growing body of evidence supporting the highly‐integrated nature of skeletal muscle and bone, and provide new insights into potential biomarkers that reflect the health of the musculoskeletal system. © 2012 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Catastrophic worries in mothers of adolescents with internalizing disorders.

OBJECTIVES This study investigates worrying in mothers of adolescents with internalizing disorders, and tests the hypothesis that these mothers will produce a greater number of worries with higher catastrophic content compared to control groups. DESIGN Differences in worry steps and in catastrophic content of worries were investigated in a cross-sectional, between groups design, employing a clinical internalizing group, a clinical control, and a non-referred control group. METHODS Twenty-five mothers of adolescents with internalizing disorders, 24 mothers of adolescents with externalizing disorders, and 28 mothers with non-referred adolescents participated in two interviews about their 'real' pre-existing worries and their worries in response to a hypothetical situation. RESULTS The internalizing group produced both a greater number of worry steps and a higher catastrophic content when they talked about their 'real' worries, compared to both control groups. They also produced a greater number of worry steps in response to a hypothetical situation compared to the other two groups. The number of worry steps and the level of catastrophic content of 'real' worries were associated with adolescent depression and anxiety. Additionally, the number of worry steps and the level of catastrophic content of worries in response to a hypothetical situation were related to adolescent depression. The number of worry steps in 'real' worries and the level of catastrophic content in hypothetical worries were also associated with maternal depressive symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Mothers of adolescents with internalizing disorders may worry more catastrophically about their children than other mothers.
Cost‐effectiveness of alendronate for the treatment of osteopenic postmenopausal women in Japan

Many postmenopausal women have osteopenia, a condition characterized by loss of bone mineral density (BMD) that is not as severe as in osteoporosis. The objective of this study was to estimate the cost‐effectiveness of alendronate to prevent fractures in osteopenic postmenopausal women without a history of fracture in Japan. An individual simulation model was developed to predict lifetime costs and quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs) of 5 years of preventive alendronate therapy versus no preventive therapy. The risk of hip and vertebral fracture associated with age and BMD was derived from epidemiologic studies in Japan. We ran the model with different combinations of age (65, 70, and 75 years), BMD (70%, 75%, and 80% of young adult mean [YAM]), and additional clinical risk factors. For 70‐year‐old women with a BMD of 70% of the YAM having one of the following risk factors: a family history of hip fracture, high alcohol intake, or current smoking, the incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) of alendronate was $92,937, $126,251, and $129,067 per QALY, respectively. These results were sensitive to age, BMD, and number of clinical risk factors. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis for the base case showed that in the presence of one, two, and three risk factors, alendronate was cost‐effective in 0.2% to 2.6%, 13.1% to 56.1%, and 99.1% of the simulations, respectively, if society is willing to pay $50,000 per QALY. Additional analysis indicated that alendronate can be a good value in osteopenic women if the 10‐year probability for a osteoporotic hip or vertebral fracture is more than 26.2%. Our results indicate that whether to treat osteopenia with alendronate should be determined on the basis of age, BMD, and number of clinical risk factors in terms of cost‐effectiveness. © 2013 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Factors Affecting Hand Function Following Reconstructive Thumb Operation (RTO): A Report of Eight Cases

Eight cases that had a reconstructive thumb operation (RTO) and were able to return to work were presented. In the present study, the functions of RT, the influence of the thumb on return to work, and how the recovered hands were used at work were investigated. The reconstructed thumb was evaluated based on the following 6 functions: aspects of full return to work (3 items), thumb motion (5 items), sensibility (3 items), wrist range of motion (ROM) (4 items), strength (3 items) and dexterity (3 items). Subsequently, the relation between the frequency of hand use based on subjective evaluation and each function was investigated. We observed significant correlations of the frequency of hand use with thumb opposition, thumb angle, pinch strength, 2-point discrimination (2PD), and the result of the Moberg picking up test (p<0.05). It was thought that the improvement of pinch strength and dexterity of the thumb as well as that of sensory function was the factor to increase the frequency of hand use based on subjective evaluation, and the active hand therapy was necessary even before the operation.