bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Good science for improving policy: greenhouse gas emissions from agricultural manures
Authors: Pratt Chris , Redding Matthew , Hill Jaye , Shilton Andrew , Chung Matthew , Guieysse Benoit
Published: September 2014

Australia’s and New Zealand’s major agricultural manure management emission sources are reported to be, in descending order of magnitude: (1) methane (CH4) from dairy farms in both countries; (2) CH4 from pig farms in Australia; and nitrous oxide (N2O) from (3) beef feedlots and (4) poultry sheds in Australia. We used literature to critically review these inventory estimates. Alarmingly for dairy farm CH4 (1), our review revealed assumptions and omissions that when addressed could dramatically increase this emission estimate. The estimate of CH4 from Australian pig farms (2) appears to be accurate, according to industry data and field measurements. The N2O emission estimates for beef feedlots (3) and poultry sheds (4) are based on northern hemisphere default factors whose appropriateness for Australia is questionable and unverified. Therefore, most of Australasia’s key livestock manure management greenhouse gas (GHG) emission profiles are either questionable or are unsubstantiated by region-specific research. Encouragingly, GHG from dairy shed manure are relatively easy to mitigate because they are a point source which can be managed by several ‘close-to-market’ abatement solutions. Reducing these manure emissions therefore constitutes an opportunity for meaningful action sooner compared with the more difficult-to-implement and long-term strategies that currently dominate agricultural GHG mitigation research. At an international level, our review highlights the critical need to carefully reassess GHG emission profiles, particularly if such assessments have not been made since the compilation of original inventories. Failure to act in this regard presents the very real risk of missing the ‘low hanging fruit’ in the rush towards a meaningful response to climate change.
Brief history and future of animal simulation models for science and application
Authors: Black J. L.
Published: September 2014

Mathematical equations have been used to add quantitative rigour to the description of animal systems for the last 100 years. Initially, simple equations were used to describe the growth of animals or their parts and to predict nutrient requirements for different livestock species. The advent of computers led to development of complex multi-equation, dynamic models of animal metabolism and of the interaction between animals and their environment. An understanding was developed about how animal systems could be integrated in models to obtain the most realistic prediction of observations and allow accurate predictions of as yet unobserved events. Animal models have been used to illustrate how well animal systems are understood and to identify areas requiring further research. Many animal models have been developed with the aim of evaluating alternative management strategies within animal enterprises. Several important gaps in current animal models requiring further development are identified: including a more mechanistic representation of the control of feed intake; inclusion of methyl-donor requirements and simulation of the methionine cycle; plus a more mechanistic representation of disease and the impact of microbial loads under production environments. Reasons are identified why few animal models have been used for day-to-day decision making on farm. In the future, animal simulation models are envisaged to function as real-time control of systems within animal enterprises to optimise animal productivity, carcass quality, health, welfare and to maximise profit. Further development will be required for the integration of models that run real time in enterprise management systems adopting precision livestock farming technologies.
Plasma-Fabricated Surface Plasmon Resonance Chip for Biosensing
Authors: Gandhiraman Ram P. , Manickam Gowri , Kerr Laura , Dixit Chandra K. , Doyle Colin , Williams David E. , Daniels Stephen
Published: September 2014

This work reports the fabrication of a biosensing chip surface designed for plasmonic detection, and features a layer of noble metal nanoparticles encapsulated as a sandwich within amine-functionalized polysiloxane layers formed by plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition. The collective surface plasmon resonance (CSPR) phenomenon characteristic of a dense particle layer is demonstrated for encapsulated gold nanoparticles of different diameters. Biomolecular immobilization is carried out through the amine functional groups that are part of the encapsulating layer. The detection of biomolecular binding events at the sensor surface is demonstrated both by a shift in resonance wavelength at constant angle of incidence using SPR-enhanced spectroscopic ellipsometry and by detecting the angular shift in resonance in a commercial SPR instrument (Biacore®). Taken with other results, this work shows how a complete SPR chip can be assembled by a rapid sequence of operations in a single plasma chamber.
Frequency effects and second language lexical acquisition
Authors: Crossley Scott , Salsbury Tom , Titak Ashley , McNamara Danielle
Published: September 2014

Frequency effects in an L1 and L2 longitudinal corpus were investigated using Zipfian distribution analyses and linear curve estimations. The results demonstrated that the NS lexical input exhibited Zipfian distributions, but that the L2 lexical output did not match the NS Zipfian patterns. Word frequency analyses indicated that NS interlocutors modify their lexicon such that frequency scores decrease as a function of time that L2 learners have studied English. In contrast, the word frequency scores for the L2 output increased as a function of time. Post-hoc analyses indicated that differences in frequency scores between NS input and L2 output were best explained by the repetition of infrequent words, but not frequent words by L2 learners in the early stages of language acquisition. The results question absolute frequency interpretations of lexical acquisition for L2 learners and provide evidence for usage-based approaches for language learning.
Text Variation Explorer
Authors: Siirtola Harri , Säily Tanja , Nevalainen Terttu , Räihä Kari-Jouko
Published: September 2014

This paper reviews the gap between current methods of text visualization and the needs of corpus-linguistic research, and introduces a tool that takes a step towards bridging that gap. Current text visualization methods tend to treat the problem as a data-encoding issue only, and do not strive for interactive, tightly coupled representations of text that would foster discovery. The paper argues that such visualizations should always belinkedfor effortless movement between the text and its visualization, and that the visualization controls should providecontinuousandimmediate feedbackto facilitate exploration. We introduce a tool,Text Variation Explorer(TVE), to demonstrate the aforementioned requirements. TVE allows visual and interactive examining of the behaviour of linguistic parameters affected by text window size and overlap, and in addition, performs interactive principal component analysis based on a user-given set of words.
Biodegradation characterization and immobilized strains’ potential for quinoline degradation by Brevundimonas sp. K4 isolated from activated sludge of coking wastewater
Authors: Wang Chunrong , Zhang Mengru , Cheng Fanglin , Geng Qi
Published: September 2014

A novel quinoline-degrading strain, named K4, was isolated from activated sludge of a coking wastewater treatment plant and identified as Brevundimonas sp. on the basis of its 16s rDNA gene sequence analysis. Its optimum temperature and pH for quinoline degradation were 30 °C and pH 9.0, respectively, and during the biodegradation process, at 100 mg/L initial quinoline concentration, an inoculation amount of 8% (OD600 of 0.23) was the optimal strain concentration. In addition, the kinetics of free K4 strains for quinoline degradation showed that it followed a zero-order equation. Furthermore, compared with free K4 strains, immobilized K4 strains’ potential for quinoline degradation was investigated by adding both of them into SBR reactors for actual coking wastewater treatment on operation over 15 days. The results showed that bioaugmentation by both free and immobilized K4 strains enhanced quinoline removal efficiency, and especially, the latter could reach its stable removal after a shorter accommodation period, with 94.8% of mean quinoline removal efficiency.
Cofilin recruits F-actin to SPCA1 and promotes Ca2+-mediated secretory cargo sorting
Authors: Kienzle Christine , Basnet Nirakar , Crevenna Alvaro H. , Beck Gisela , Habermann Bianca , Mizuno Naoko , von Blume Julia
Published: September 2014

The actin filament severing protein cofilin-1 (CFL-1) is required for actin and P-type ATPase secretory pathway calcium ATPase (SPCA)-dependent sorting of secretory proteins at the trans-Golgi network (TGN). How these proteins interact and activate the pump to facilitate cargo sorting, however, is not known. We used purified proteins to assess interaction of the cytoplasmic domains of SPCA1 with actin and CFL-1. A 132–amino acid portion of the SPCA1 phosphorylation domain (P-domain) interacted with actin in a CFL-1–dependent manner. This domain, coupled to nickel nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA) agarose beads, specifically recruited F-actin in the presence of CFL-1 and, when expressed in HeLa cells, inhibited Ca2+ entry into the TGN and secretory cargo sorting. Mutagenesis of four amino acids in SPCA1 that represent the CFL-1 binding site also affected Ca2+ import into the TGN and secretory cargo sorting. Altogether, our findings reveal the mechanism of CFL-1–dependent recruitment of actin to SPCA1 and the significance of this interaction for Ca2+ influx and secretory cargo sorting.
Assemblages: Functional units formed by cellular phase separation
Authors: Toretsky Jeffrey A. , Wright Peter E.
Published: September 2014

The partitioning of intracellular space beyond membrane-bound organelles can be achieved with collections of proteins that are multivalent or contain low-complexity, intrinsically disordered regions. These proteins can undergo a physical phase change to form functional granules or other entities within the cytoplasm or nucleoplasm that collectively we term “assemblage.” Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) play an important role in forming a subset of cellular assemblages by promoting phase separation. Recent work points to an involvement of assemblages in disease states, indicating that intrinsic disorder and phase transitions should be considered in the development of therapeutics.
Cis-acting DNA sequence at a replication origin promotes repeat expansion to fragile X full mutation
Authors: Gerhardt Jeannine , Zaninovic Nikica , Zhan Qiansheng , Madireddy Advaitha , Nolin Sarah L. , Ersalesi Nicole , Yan Zi , Rosenwaks Zev , Schildkraut Carl L.
Published: September 2014

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is caused by CGG repeat expansion that leads to FMR1 silencing. Women with a premutation allele are at risk of having a full mutation child with FXS. To investigate the mechanism of repeat expansion, we examined the relationship between a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variant that is linked to repeat expansion in haplogroup D and a replication origin located ∼53 kb upstream of the repeats. This origin is absent in FXS human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), which have the SNP variant C, but present in the nonaffected hESCs, which have a T variant. The SNP maps directly within the replication origin. Interestingly, premutation hESCs have a replication origin and the T variant similar to nonaffected hESCs. These results suggest that a T/C SNP located at a replication origin could contribute to the inactivation of this replication origin in FXS hESCs, leading to altered replication fork progression through the repeats, which could result in repeat expansion to the FXS full mutation.
Elizabeth Chen: Fusing cells press closer
Authors: Sedwick Caitlin
Published: September 2014

Chen studies cell–cell fusion in Drosophila myoblasts.
Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction
Authors: Gardner Daniel K.
Published: September 2014

To understand China, it is essential to understand Confucianism. First formulated in the sixth century bce, the teachings of Confucius would come to dominate Chinese society, politics, economics, and ethics. Confucianism: A Very Short Introduction explores the major philosophical ideas of the Confucian tradition, showing their profound impact on state ideology, imperial government, the civil service examination system, domestic life, and social relations over the course of twenty-six centuries. It focuses on two of the Sage's most crucial philosophical problems—what makes for a good person, and what constitutes good government—and demonstrates the enduring significance of these questions today and how the Confucian tradition sits alongside Western ideas and technology.
Evaluation of Shiga toxin 2e‐specific chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin: Production and neutralization activity
Authors: Arimitsu Hideyuki , Sasaki Keiko , Kohda Tomoko , Shimizu Toshiyasu , Tsuji Takao
Published: September 2014

Chicken egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) against Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e), a major cause of swine edema disease, was prepared to evaluate its possible clinical applications. The titer of Stx2e‐specific IgY in egg yolk derived from three chickens that had been immunized with an Stx2e toxoid increased 2 weeks after primary immunization and remained high until 90 days after this immunization. Anti‐Stx2e IgY was found to neutralize the toxicity of Stx2e by reacting with its A and B subunits, indicating that IgY is a cost‐effective agent to develop for prophylactic foods or diagnosis kits for edema disease.
EDITOR'S CHOICE: REVIEW: Effects of land use on plant diversity – A global meta‐analysis
Authors: Gerstner Katharina , Dormann Carsten F. , Stein Anke , Manceur Ameur M. , Seppelt Ralf
Published: September 2014

Plant diversity is globally threatened by anthropogenic land use including management and modification of the natural environment. At regional and local scales, numerous studies world‐wide have examined land use and its effects on plant diversity, but evidence for declining species diversity is mixed. This is because, first, land use comes in many variations, hampering comparisons of studies. Second, land use directly affects the environment, but indirect effects extend beyond the boundaries of the land in use. Third, land‐use effects greatly depend on the environmental, historical and socio‐economic context.

To evaluate the generality and variation of studies’ findings about land‐use effects, we undertook a quantitative synthesis using meta‐analytic techniques.

Using 572 effect sizes from 375 studies distributed globally relating to 11 classes of land use, we found that direct and indirect effects of land use on plant diversity (measured as species richness) are variable and can lead to both local decreases and increases. Further, we found evidence (best AIC model) that land‐use‐specific covariables mostly determine effect‐size variation and that in general land‐use effects differ between biomes.

Synthesis and applications. This extensive synthesis provides the most comprehensive and quantitative overview to date about the effects of the most widespread and relevant land‐use options on plant diversity and their covariables. We found important covariables of specific land‐use classes but little evidence that land‐use effects can be generally explained by their environmental and socio‐economic context. We also found a strong regional bias in the number of studies (i.e. more studies from Europe and North America) and highlight the need for an overarching and consistent land‐use classification scheme. Thereby, our study provides a new vantage point for future research directions.
Effects of riparian forest harvest on streams: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Richardson John S. , Béraud Salomé
Published: September 2014

Riparian forest harvesting impacts streams in many ways, from altering temperature regimes, shifting geomorphic structure, increasing sediment fluxes and affecting fish populations. However, we have noted considerable variation in the results between studies that led us to ask whether the effects of forest harvesting on streams were consistent between studies. We used meta‐analysis of 34 replicated studies to address the effects of riparian logging on biological and chemical components of streams in contrast to control sites.

We found that the overall effect sizes of several response variables in replicated studies were significantly higher than zero, especially benthic invertebrates, and nitrogen and potassium concentrations. However, there was a very large amount of variation in the effect sizes between studies, and for many measures, the effect sizes from different studies were positive or negative, indicating site‐specific responses.

We explored whether stream size, stream gradient and regional potential evapotranspiration could explain some of the effect size variation between studies. Relations with these environmental variables were weak, but suggestive that some of the context‐specific, individual outcomes might be due to underlying environmental differences between sites.

Synthesis and applications. Despite relatively low numbers of replicated studies, we found significant overall effects of riparian forest harvesting although the magnitude and direction of responses within individual studies were site specific. This lack of consistency in the direction of effect sizes suggests we need a more context‐dependent approach to the protection of freshwaters from forest management.
FORUM: Do green roofs help urban biodiversity conservation?
Authors: Williams Nicholas S. G. , Lundholm Jeremy , Scott MacIvor J.
Published: September 2014

Green roofs are novel ecosystems that are increasingly common in cities. While their hydrologic and energy saving benefits are well‐established, green roofs have also been proposed as having significant value for conserving biodiversity.

We evaluate six hypotheses that describe the purported biodiversity conservation benefits of green roofs. Green roofs largely support generalist species particularly insects, but their conservation value for rare taxa, and other taxonomic groups especially vertebrates, is poorly documented. Further, their ability to replicate biotic communities in the context of ecological restoration is largely untested, as is their potential to connect ground‐level habitats.

Synthesis and applications. Given the evidence, green roof proponents should use restraint in claiming conservation benefits and it is premature for policymakers to consider green roofs equivalent to ground‐level urban habitats. Ecologists need to work with the industry to evaluate green roof biodiversity and help design green roofs based on ecological principles to maximize biodiversity gains.
REVIEW: Do polycultures promote win‐wins or trade‐offs in agricultural ecosystem services? A meta‐analysis
Authors: Iverson Aaron L. , Marín Linda E. , Ennis Katherine K. , Gonthier David J. , Connor‐Barrie Benjamin T. , Remfert Jane L. , Cardinale Bradley J. , Perfecto Ivette
Published: September 2014

Agriculture comprises the largest global land use, makes it a leading cause of habitat loss. It is therefore critical to identify how to best construct agricultural systems that can simultaneously provide food and other ecosystem services. This challenge requires that we determine how to maximize win‐win relationships and minimize trade‐offs between services.

Through meta‐analysis, we tested whether within‐field crop diversification (polyculture) can lead to win‐win relationships between two ecosystem services: yield of a focal crop species and biocontrol of crop pests. We selected only studies that recorded both services (N = 26 studies; 301 observations), allowing us to better determine the underlying mechanisms of our principal findings. We calculated log‐response ratios for both ecosystem services in mono‐ and polycultures.

We found win‐win relationships between per‐plant yield of the primary crop and biocontrol in polyculture systems that minimized intraspecific competition via substitutive planting. Additionally, we found beneficial effects on biocontrol with no difference in per‐unit area yield of the primary crop in polyculture fields at high cropping densities (additive planting) where legumes were used as the secondary crop. These results suggest that there is a strong potential for win‐win relationships between biocontrol and per‐unit area yield under certain scenarios. Our findings were consistent across geographical regions and by type of primary crop. We did not find evidence that biocontrol had an effect on yield, but rather, both were independently affected by polycultural cropping.

Synthesis and applications. We show that well‐designed polycultures can produce win‐win outcomes between per‐plant, and potentially per‐unit area, primary crop yield and biocontrol. Biocontrol services are consistently enhanced in polycultures, so polyculture management that focuses on yield optimization is likely to be the best strategy for maximizing both services. In doing so, we suggest that practitioners utilize polycultures that decrease plant–plant competition through a substitution of relatively large quantities of the primary crop for compatibly harvestable secondary crops. Additionally, if planting at high cropping densities, it is important that legumes be the secondary crop.
Tropical rabbitfish and the deforestation of a warming temperate sea
Authors: Vergés Adriana , Tomas Fiona , Cebrian Emma , Ballesteros Enric , Kizilkaya Zafer , Dendrinos Panagiotis , Karamanlidis Alexandros A. , Spiegel David , Sala Enric
Published: September 2014

A striking example of climate‐mediated range shifts in marine systems is the intrusion of tropical species into temperate areas world‐wide, but we know very little about the ecological consequences of these range expansions.

In the Mediterranean Sea, the range expansion of tropical rabbitfishes that first entered the basin via the Suez Canal provides a good example of how tropical herbivorous fish can impact the structure of rocky bottoms in temperate seas. Two species of rabbitfishes have now become a dominant component of total fish biomass in the southernmost part of the eastern Mediterranean. Experimental evidence shows these species can profoundly transform benthic communities, turning algal forests into ‘barrens’, but the specific mechanisms that facilitate this shift have not been established.

We surveyed ˜1000 km of coastline in the eastern Mediterranean and identified two clearly distinct areas, a warmer group of regions with abundant tropical rabbitfish and a colder group of regions where these consumers were absent/ extremely rare. In regions with abundant rabbitfish, canopy algae were 65% less abundant, and there was a 60% reduction of overall benthic biomass (algae and invertebrates) and a 40% decrease in total species richness.

Video‐recorded feeding experiments showed that the extensive barrens characteristic of regions with abundant rabbitfish were not due to greater rates of herbivory by these tropical consumers, but rather by functional differences among the herbivores. Temperate herbivorous fish displayed the greatest macroalgae consumption rates overall, but they fed exclusively on established adult macroalgae. In contrast, in regions with abundant rabbitfishes, these consumers fed complementarily on both established macroalgae and on the epilithic algal matrix, which typically contains macroalgal recruits.

Synthesis. Range‐shifting tropical rabbitfish can severely reduce the biomass and biodiversity of temperate reefs at a scale of hundreds of kilometres. A shift from macroalgal dominance to barrens is mediated by the addition of functionally diverse herbivores that characterize tropical reefs. This work highlights the importance of assessing the functional traits of range‐shifting species to determine potential mechanisms of impact on ecological communities.
Working in a family therapy setting with families where a parent has a mental illness: practice dilemmas and strategies
Authors: Power Jennifer , Cuff Rose , Jewell Hanna , McIlwaine Fiona , O'Neill Imogen , U'Ren Greg
Published: September 2014

There is strong evidence supporting the benefits of family work, for both parents and children, in the treatment of parental mental illness. However, there has been only limited research on the implementation of family work in settings outside the mental health sector, such as family therapy or family counselling services, where mental illness may not be the primary presenting issue for a family. This article reports on a qualitative study that explored the experiences of family therapists working with families affected by parental mental illness. The article focuses on dilemmas clinicians faced integrating discussions about parental mental illness into family sessions. The findings support the need for clinicians to have appropriate training in family work related to mental health issues and also to develop the skill set needed to actively introduce, negotiate and explore the topic of mental illness with families.

Practitioners points

Developing knowledge, language and confidence in talking about mental illness may assist clinicians to raise discussions about parental mental illness in family sessions.

Training in evidence‐based interventions for working with children of parents with a mental illness may provide a tool for clinicians in family sessions.

Clinicians must be attuned to the ‘emotional readiness’ of parents and children to discuss parental mental illness. Developing readiness may take time.
Couple therapy for gay men: exploring sexually open and closed relationships through the lenses of hetero‐normative masculinity and attachment style
Authors: Brown Jac
Published: September 2014

A frequently identified difference in research on western gay male couples compared with heterosexual and lesbian couples is that they report higher rates of sexually open relationships than their counterparts, who tend to have more sexually closed relationships. This issue is explored and critiqued through the dominant discourse of hetero‐normative masculinity, relying upon the interpretation of previous research. This article identified three issues that therapists should consider when dealing with gay men in couple therapy: (i) the effects of homophobia on gay men, (ii) the decision on whether or not to form intimate relationships, and (iii) the decision on how to manage their masculine sexuality if they form relationships. These three issues were further examined from the perspective of attachment style and its impact on gay male couple's relationships, which included a systemic critique of attachment style. The therapeutic implications for couple therapy with gay men are explored.

Practitioner points

Therapists' beliefs and values about open relationships should be examined to ensure that they are not conveyed to clients when exploring views about relationships.

Sexually open relationships can function smoothly for some clients when both partners are in agreement.

When both partners do not have the same commitment to having an open relationship, careful exploration of these differing views may be necessary.
Agency Theory and Financial Planning Practice
Authors: Kingston Geoffrey , Weng Haijie
Published: September 2014

We extend an influential contribution to the literature on agency theory and then use this extension, along with other theoretical contributions, to shed light on agency problems affecting funds management and financial planning in Australia. The case for pure fee‐for‐service in actively managed funds and plans turns out to be weak. The amount of money exposed to risk by an active manager should be less than the entire investible wealth of the client, especially in the case of investors on the cusp of retirement. Asset‐based fees on actively managed funds should include a fulcrum component.
An Introduction to the Patstat Database with Example Queries
Authors: de Rassenfosse Gaétan , Dernis Hélène , Boedt Geert
Published: September 2014

This article provides an introduction to the Patstat patent database. It offers guided examples of 10 popular queries that are relevant for research purposes and that cover the most important data tables. It is targeted at academic researchers and practitioners who are willing to learn the basics of the database.
Unprecedented Urbanisation in Asia and Its Impacts on the Environment
Authors: Wan Guanghu , Wang Chen
Published: September 2014

Asia is home to almost half of the global urban population and is urbanising at a pace faster than any other region, leading to greater environmental challenges that are already serious. This article offers a balanced assessment on the relationship between urbanisation and the environment from the Asian perspective. It concludes that urbanisation is a cause of, but more importantly, a solution to environmental degradation. Policy‐makers should take an optimistic and proactive, rather than conservative, approach to unprecedented urbanisation in Asia.
Australia after the Asian Century White Paper
Authors: Reece Nicholas
Published: September 2014

Prime Minister Julia Gillard released the ‘Australia in the Asian Century’ White Paper in October 2012, describing it as ‘a roadmap showing how Australia can be a winner in the Asian Century’. This article provides a review of Australia's progress on engagement with Asia 2 years after the White Paper. It covers the political and performance status of key Asia‐related initiatives following the election of the Abbott government. It finds a high level of continuity and support for individual policies and objectives in the White Paper. However, there have been some significant changes in policy, emphasis and approach and emerging areas of underperformance.
Efficacy of routine screening of urine culture before transurethral prostatectomy on the improvement of the postoperative outcome: A single‐centre experience
Authors: Cheng Kwun‐Chung , Lee Lee‐Fung , Chan Hoi‐Chak , Cho Chak‐Lam , Chau Hin , Lam Kin‐Man , So Hing‐Sing
Published: September 2014

Aim

The aim of the present study was to reduce the complication rate and postoperative morbidity after transurethral prostatectomy by routine urine culture before surgery.

Patients and Methods

Urine culture was saved 2 weeks prior to surgery for all patients undergoing transurethral prostatectomy at the United Christian Hospital from May 2013 to October 2013. The urine culture result was screened before surgery. Antibiotic treatment was given according to the bacteria‐sensitivity profile if the culture was positive. Urine culture was repeated 1 h before surgery to review the efficacy of antibiotic treatment. Postoperative outcome measures included urinary tract infection (UTI) rate, postoperative fever rate, hospital stay and 30‐day readmission rate. A retrospective comparison was made with patients undergoing surgery from November 2012 to April 2013.

Results

A total of 247 cases were included in the study, with 97 cases (39.3 per cent) in the study group and 150 (60.7 per cent) in the control group. Overall, 8.5 per cent of patients had postoperative UTI. Episodes of postoperative fever (11.3 per cent vs 22 per cent, P = 0.032) were lower and postoperative hospital stay was shorter for the study group. The 30‐day unplanned readmission rate (8 per cent vs 19.3 per cent, P = 0.017) was also significantly lower in the study group. Multivariate analysis showed that the treatment of preoperative bacteriuria was the only significant variable determining the length of hospital stay (P = 0.001). Total resection time (P = 0.017), days of postoperative bladder irrigation (P = 0.007) and the presence of postoperative fever (P = 0.035) were significant variables with a positive correlation for 30‐day readmission.

Conclusion

Routine reviews of urine culture and treatment of bacteriuria before transurethral prostatectomy can reduce episodes of postoperative fever, hospital stay and the 30‐day unplanned readmission rate after surgery.
Can spatial and temporal food variability explain the winter foraging movements of a threatened saltmarsh insectivore?
Authors: Lindsay Kurtis J. , Allen Andrew P. , Major Richard E.
Published: September 2014

The white‐fronted chat (Epthianura albifrons) is a small, insectivorous passerine that is threatened with extinction in the north‐eastern part of its range, partially due to loss and degradation of its saltmarsh habitat. Food availability is a potential limiting factor for the disjunct populations that survive in saltmarsh refugia, surrounded by urbanized land, because the anthropogenic matrix reduces the capacity of birds to commute to alternative grassland habitat to exploit temporary insect outbreaks. This limitation is likely to be exacerbated during the winter months when local arthropod abundance in saltmarsh is reduced. This study measured temporal and spatial variation in the abundance of saltmarsh arthropods to determine whether patch switching by foraging flocks can be explained by variation in food availability. Arthropods in the size range known to be important in the diet of white‐fronted chats were vacuum‐sampled from six patches within a continuous area of Sarcocornia‐dominated saltmarsh over a four‐month period. The location of foraging birds was recorded during the same period. Despite superficial similarity in vegetation composition and structure, there was significant variation in arthropod biomass among sites through time, such that the patches with the highest food abundance changed from month to month. There was little evidence, however, to suggest that white‐fronted chats foraged in saltmarsh patches with the highest overall food abundance. During the course of the study, birds were discovered flying 2 km from the saltmarsh to a development site where they foraged in weedy grassland. Arthropod samples collected from this site contained an extremely high abundance of Hemiptera and Neuroptera larvae, supporting previous research indicating that white‐fronted chats forage on irruptions of particular arthropod taxa. These findings indicate that food abundance is unlikely to be the main determinant of foraging site selection within saltmarsh, but highlights the potential importance of alternative foraging habitat types for this species.
Basal cell carcinoma in Singapore: A prospective study on epidemiology and clinicopathological characteristics with a secondary comparative analysis between Singaporean Chinese and Caucasian patients
Authors: Tan Eugene ST , Ee Melvin , Shen Liang , Chua Hilary , Chan Yiong‐Huak , Tan Suat‐Hoon
Published: September 2014

Background/Objectives

Susceptibility to and clinical presentation of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) differ in Asian and Caucasian populations. This study aims to evaluate the epidemiological and clinicopathological characteristics of BCC in a multiracial Singaporean population, with a secondary comparative analysis between Chinese and Caucasian patients.

Methods

We prospectively studied patients with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed BCC at the National Skin Centre, Singapore from 2004 to 2008.

Results

In total, 274 BCC from 260 patients were studied, with 19 patients having two or more tumours. Their mean age was 67.5 years and 54% were male. Chinese comprised 80% and Caucasians 14%. The Chinese were 1.8‐fold as likely as Caucasians to be older than 60 years, and experienced itch thrice more frequently. Caucasians developed multiple BCC threefold and truncal or upper limb BCC 2.9‐fold more frequently than the Chinese. In terms of tumour subtype, morphoeic BCC was 2.7‐fold more common in Caucasians. Pigmented BCC occurred 2.7‐fold more often in the Chinese, most frequently on the head and neck of elderly Chinese.

Conclusions

Compared to the Chinese, BCC occurred more often in younger Caucasians, with a predilection for the trunk and upper limb, suggesting a greater role for recreational sun exposure as a risk factor. Pigmented BCC more commonly occurred on the head and neck of elderly Chinese and may be reflective of cumulative sun exposure as a risk factor. Aggressive morphoeic BCC was more common in Caucasians than in Singaporean Chinese patients.
Clinical observations in alopecia areata: Implications and hypotheses
Authors: Li Jane , Sinclair Rod
Published: September 2014

Alopecia areata (AA) is a T‐cell‐mediated hair loss disorder but the exact cause is unknown. In this report we describe patterns of onset, regrowth and relapse in AA and propose potential underlying mechanisms. We believe that these aspects of AA require integration into modern theories of AA pathogenesis.
Queer Indigenous Entropy: Sexual Circulation and the Conquest Narrative
Authors: Gilley Brian Joseph
Published: September 2014

Two‐Spirit men's sexual conquest stories—or what I am calling sexual coup stories—narrated more than just the sexual encounter. In fact, actual sexual acts are often secondary to the circumstances producing the sexual encounter. In this study, coup stories serve as a form of data revealing the ways in which sexual conquest is a sociosexual practice thoroughly embedded in broader Native community values and cultural patterns for the movement of bodily desire across landscapes predating humanist intellectual and moral intervention. Thus, the intra‐acting agencies of Native sexual circulation provide the opportunity to enact a culturally specific form of material‐discursive order that when viewed from the epistemological metropole look highly entropic (chaotic). Yet, Native sexual ontology realizes itself in the phenomena of a sexual circulation whose material‐discursive practices appear to be disordered from the highly ordered humanistic center.
Irish SMEs and e‐learning implementation: The strategic innovative approach
Authors: Mellett Sinead , O'Brien Emma
Published: September 2014

Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Ireland are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up to date with technological, environmental and market changes; this, coupled with the expanding EU and increased rivalry, leaves Irish SMEs struggling to remain competitive. SME survival depends on the SME constantly innovating and reinventing itself. SMEs must be proactive, learn from their peers, have a flexible approach, and continuously network and learn as an organization while being respectful and responsive to their employee needs. Many researchers have emphasized the importance of organizational learning and the importance of such continuous learning to companies that want to compete successfully in the global marketplace. Although continuous staff training is vital to the success of any company, many SMEs have limited resources and find it difficult to send staff on training courses and continuous competency development initiatives. e‐Learning has the ability to provide SMEs with a cost‐effective, flexible and convenient solution to many of these dilemmas. However, with such companies coming from diverse backgrounds, a “one‐size‐fits‐all” approach is often not suitable. This research looks at a best practice e‐learning approach used in Canada and adapts it to develop models that are best suited to Irish SMEs.
Facebook and classroom group work: A trial study involving University of Botswana Advanced Oral Presentation students
Authors: Magogwe Joel M. , Ntereke Beauty , Phetlhe Keith R.
Published: September 2014

In the 21st century, the use of information technology in the classroom is advancing rapidly, especially in higher education. The Internet, through social networking, has made it possible for students to learn and teachers to teach outside the classroom walls. Facebook in particular has made it possible for students to interact and communicate with their teachers and among themselves about their progress and about the problems they encounter in learning. Yet, limited research exists on the use of Facebook in education in Sub‐Saharan Africa more especially in Botswana. This is in spite of the observation that Sub‐Saharan Africa is the fastest growing Internet population with a growth of more than 2500% between 2000 and 2011. This study therefore set out to examine (1) the students' interest in using Facebook to facilitate group work activities in the Advanced Oral Presentation Skills course; (2) whether the students interact and communicate using Facebook on matters relating to the Advanced Oral Presentations course; (3) whether the students benefitted from using Facebook for learning advanced oral presentation skills; and (4) what challenges the students encountered when using Facebook in the Advanced Oral Presentations course. In this trial study, students were allocated groups and assigned to conduct their group activities via Facebook. Although this was optional, more than 80% of the groups opted for Facebook and less than 20% chose to do their group work traditionally. A follow‐up evaluation of the experiment was done through a questionnaire and interviews. The findings suggest that Facebook could facilitate student communication and interaction about group assignments.
Oligodendrocyte Lineage Cells in Chronic Demyelination of Multiple Sclerosis Optic Nerve
Authors: Jennings Alison Ruth , Carroll William M.
Published: September 2014

Reports that chronically demyelinated multiple sclerosis brain and spinal cord lesions contained immature oligodendrocyte lineage cells have generated major interest aimed at the potential for promotion of endogenous repair. Despite the prominence of the optic nerve as a lesion site and its importance in clinical disease assessment, no detailed studies of multiple sclerosis‐affected optic nerve exist. This study aims to provide insight into the cellular pathology of chronic demyelination in multiple sclerosis through direct morphological and immunohistochemical analysis of optic nerve in conjunction with observations from an experimental cat optic nerve model of successful remyelination. Myelin staining was followed by immunohistochemistry to differentially label neuroglia. Digitally immortalized sections were then analyzed to generate quantification data and antigenic phenotypes including maturational stages within the oligodendrocyte lineage. It was found that some chronically demyelinated multiple sclerosis optic nerve lesions contained oligodendroglial cells and that heterogeneity existed in the presence of myelin sheaths, oligodendrocyte maturational stages and extent of axonal investment. The findings advance our understanding of oligodendrocyte activity in chronically demyelinated human optic nerve and may have implications for studies aimed at enhancement of endogenous repair in multiple sclerosis.
MIF Receptor CD74 is Restricted to Microglia/Macrophages, Associated with a M1‐Polarized Immune Milieu and Prolonged Patient Survival in Gliomas
Authors: Zeiner Pia S. , Preusse Corinna , Blank Anna‐Eva , Zachskorn Cornelia , Baumgarten Peter , Caspary Lixi , Braczynski Anne K. , Weissenberger Jakob , Bratzke Hansjürgen , Reiß Sandy , Pennartz Sandra , Winkelmann Ria , Senft Christian , Plate Karl H. , Wischhusen Jörg , Stenzel Werner , Harter Patrick N. , Mittelbronn Michel
Published: September 2014

The macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) receptor CD74 is overexpressed in various neoplasms, mainly in hematologic tumors, and currently investigated in clinical studies. CD74 is quickly internalized and recycles after antibody binding, therefore it constitutes an attractive target for antibody‐based treatment strategies. CD74 has been further described as one of the most up‐regulated molecules in human glioblastomas. To assess the potential relevance for anti‐CD74 treatment, we determined the cellular source and clinicopathologic relevance of CD74 expression in human gliomas by immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, cell sorting analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Furthermore, we fractionated glioblastoma cells and glioma‐associated microglia/macrophages (GAMs) from primary tumors and compared CD74 expression in cellular fractions with whole tumor lysates. Our results show that CD74 is restricted to GAMs in vivo, while being absent in tumor cells, the latter strongly expressing its ligand MIF. Most interestingly, a higher amount of CD74‐positive GAMs was associated with beneficial patient survival constituting an independent prognostic parameter and with an anti‐tumoral M1 polarization. In summary, CD74 expression in human gliomas is restricted to GAMs and positively associated with patient survival. In conclusion, CD74 represents a positive prognostic marker most probably because of its association with an M1‐polarized immune milieu in high‐grade gliomas.
Oxidized LDL‐induced angiogenesis involves sphingosine 1‐phosphate: prevention by anti‐S1P antibody
Authors: Camaré Caroline , Trayssac Magali , Garmy‐Susini Barbara , Mucher Elodie , Sabbadini Roger , Salvayre Robert , Negre‐Salvayre Anne
Published: September 2014

Background and Purpose

Neovascularization occurring in atherosclerotic lesions may promote plaque expansion, intraplaque haemorrhage and rupture. Oxidized LDL (oxLDL) are atherogenic, but their angiogenic effect is controversial; both angiogenic and anti‐angiogenic effects have been reported. The angiogenic mechanism of oxLDL is partly understood, but the role of the angiogenic sphingolipid, sphingosine 1‐phosphate (S1P), in this process is not known. Thus, we investigated whether S1P is involved in the oxLDL‐induced angiogenesis and whether an anti‐S1P monoclonal antibody can prevent this effect.

Experimental Approach

Angiogenesis was assessed by capillary tube formation by human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC‐1) cultured on Matrigel and in vivo by the Matrigel plug assay in C57BL/6 mice.

Key Results

Human oxLDL exhibited a biphasic angiogenic effect on HMEC‐1; low concentrations were angiogenic, higher concentrations were cytotoxic. The angiogenic response to oxLDL was blocked by the sphingosine kinase (SPHK) inhibitor, dimethylsphingosine, by SPHK1‐siRNA and by an anti‐S1P monoclonal antibody. Moreover, inhibition of oxLDL uptake and subsequent redox signalling by anti‐CD36 and anti‐LOX‐1 receptor antibodies and by N‐acetylcysteine, respectively, blocked SPHK1 activation and tube formation. In vivo, in the Matrigel plug assay, low concentrations of human oxLDL or murine oxVLDL also triggered angiogenesis, which was prevented by i.p. injection of the anti‐S1P antibody.

Conclusion and Implications

These data highlight the role of S1P in angiogenesis induced by oxLDL both in HMEC‐1 cultured on Matrigel and in vivo in the Matrigel plug model in mice, and demonstrate that the anti‐S1P antibody effectively blocks the angiogenic effect of oxLDL.
Structure–function analysis of apical membrane‐associated molecules of the tegument of schistosome parasites of humans: prospects for identification of novel targets for parasite control
Authors: Leow Chiuan Yee , Willis Charlene , Hofmann Andreas , Jones Malcolm K
Published: September 2014

Neglected tropical diseases are a group of some 17 diseases that afflict poor and predominantly rural people in developing nations. One significant disease that contributes to substantial morbidity in endemic areas is schistosomiasis, caused by infection with one of five species of blood fluke belonging to the trematode genus Schistosoma. Although there is one drug available for treatment of affected individuals in clinics, or for mass administration in endemic regions, there is a need for new therapies. A prominent target organ of schistosomes, either for drug or vaccine development, is the peculiar epithelial syncytium that forms the body wall (tegument) of this parasite. This dynamic layer is maintained and organized by concerted activity of a range of proteins, among which are the abundant tegumentary annexins. In this review, we will outline advances in structure–function analyses of these annexins, as a means to understanding tegument cell biology in host–parasite interaction and their potential exploitation as targets for anti‐schistosomiasis therapies.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Annexins VII Programme. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2015.172.issue‐7