bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biological responses to environmental heterogeneity under future ocean conditions
Authors: Boyd Philip W. , Cornwall Christopher E. , Davison Andrew , Doney Scott C. , Fourquez Marion , Hurd Catriona L. , Lima Ivan D. , McMinn Andrew
Published: April 2016

Organisms are projected to face unprecedented rates of change in future ocean conditions due to anthropogenic climate‐change. At present, marine life encounters a wide range of environmental heterogeneity from natural fluctuations to mean climate change. Manipulation studies suggest that biota from more variable marine environments have more phenotypic plasticity to tolerate environmental heterogeneity. Here, we consider current strategies employed by a range of representative organisms across various habitats – from short‐lived phytoplankton to long‐lived corals – in response to environmental heterogeneity. We then discuss how, if and when organismal responses (acclimate/migrate/adapt) may be altered by shifts in the magnitude of the mean climate‐change signal relative to that for natural fluctuations projected for coming decades. The findings from both novel climate‐change modelling simulations and prior biological manipulation studies, in which natural fluctuations are superimposed on those of mean change, provide valuable insights into organismal responses to environmental heterogeneity. Manipulations reveal that different experimental outcomes are evident between climate‐change treatments which include natural fluctuations vs. those which do not. Modelling simulations project that the magnitude of climate variability, along with mean climate change, will increase in coming decades, and hence environmental heterogeneity will increase, illustrating the need for more realistic biological manipulation experiments that include natural fluctuations. However, simulations also strongly suggest that the timescales over which the mean climate‐change signature will become dominant, relative to natural fluctuations, will vary for individual properties, being most rapid for CO2 (~10 years from present day) to 4 decades for nutrients. We conclude that the strategies used by biota to respond to shifts in environmental heterogeneity may be complex, as they will have to physiologically straddle wide‐ranging timescales in the alteration of ocean conditions, including the need to adapt to rapidly rising CO2 and also acclimate to environmental heterogeneity in more slowly changing properties such as warming.
A replicated climate change field experiment reveals rapid evolutionary response in an ecologically important soil invertebrate
Authors: Bataillon Thomas , Galtier Nicolas , Bernard Aurelien , Cryer Nicolai , Faivre Nicolas , Santoni Sylvain , Severac Dany , Mikkelsen Teis N. , Larsen Klaus S. , Beier Claus , Sørensen Jesper G. , Holmstrup Martin , Ehlers Bodil K.
Published: April 2016

Whether species can respond evolutionarily to current climate change is crucial for the persistence of many species. Yet, very few studies have examined genetic responses to climate change in manipulated experiments carried out in natural field conditions. We examined the evolutionary response to climate change in a common annelid worm using a controlled replicated experiment where climatic conditions were manipulated in a natural setting. Analyzing the transcribed genome of 15 local populations, we found that about 12% of the genetic polymorphisms exhibit differences in allele frequencies associated to changes in soil temperature and soil moisture. This shows an evolutionary response to realistic climate change happening over short‐time scale, and calls for incorporating evolution into models predicting future response of species to climate change. It also shows that designed climate change experiments coupled with genome sequencing offer great potential to test for the occurrence (or lack) of an evolutionary response.
Glass and Medicine: The Larry Hench Story
Authors: Greenspan David C.
Published: April 2016

The terms “bioactive glass,” “bioactive ceramic,” “bioactive polymer,” and “bioactive metal” are common in the lexicon of the biomaterials scientist today. Each term is inherently understood by the biomaterials and medical device industry. Those terms and their definitions are utilized as positive selling points for very many medical devices. However, merely forty years ago, the term “bioactive” as applied to any material to be implanted in the human body was still something of a laboratory curiosity. It was the invention of one particular glass composition and the discovery over time of how that material behaved that created an entirely new approach with respect to how any material could and should interact with the human body. The invention, of course, by Larry L. Hench helped to revolutionize the field of implantable biomaterials and created the branch of materials known as bioactive materials. This is the brief story of Larry Hench and Bioglass®.
Penile erection induces angiogenic, survival, and antifibrotic signals: molecular events associated with penile erection induced by cavernous nerve stimulation in mice
Authors: Kwon Mi‐Hye , Park Soo‐Hwan , Song Kang‐Moon , Ghatak Kalyan , Limanjaya Anita , Ryu Dong‐Soo , Ock Jiyeon , Hong Soon‐Sun , Ryu Ji‐Kan , Suh Jun‐Kyu
Published: April 2016

Objectives

To determine the molecular events related to penile erection in the corpus cavernosum tissue of mice after electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve.

Methods

Twelve‐week‐old male C57BL/6 mice were used in this study. Electrical stimulation of the cavernous nerve was carried out to induce penile erection. Corpus cavernosum tissues were then harvested to determine the effect of nerve‐induced penile erection on signaling pathway involved in angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, angiopoietin‐1, matrix metalloproteinase 2, and matrix metalloproteinase 9), cell survival and proliferation (phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase, phospho‐Akt/Akt, and phospho‐ERK/ERK), and tissue fibrosis (phospho‐Smad2/Smad2, phospho‐Smad3/Smad3, and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1).

Results

Cavernous nerve stimulation enhanced the expression of factors involved in angiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, angiopoietin‐1, matrix metalloproteinase 2, and metalloproteinase 9), and activated intracellular signaling mediators related to cell survival and proliferation (phosphatidylinositol 3‐kinase, phospho‐Akt/Akt, and phospho‐ERK/ERK), while suppressing the pathways involved in tissue fibrosis (phospho‐Smad2/Smad2, phospho‐Smad3/Smad3, and plasminogen activator inhibitor‐1).

Conclusions

Penile erection in mice is accompanied by the activation of a cascade of signaling pathways involved in angiogenesis, cell survival and proliferation, and antifibrosis. The present results might provide a theoretical and molecular basis for understanding the importance of penile rehabilitation and subsequent restoration of nocturnal or sexually‐mediated penile erections.
Effects of stress, dyadic communication and adaptation on prostatectomy patients' quality of life
Authors: Kim Hae Sook , Ahn Han Jong
Published: April 2016

This study investigates the effects of stress, dyadic communication and dyadic adaptation of patients who received prostatectomy and their spouses on the quality of life (QOL) of patients. A descriptive design was used with 113 prostatectomy couples. Data were collected from December 2012 to February 2014 at a prostate cancer centre in Korea. Stress, dyadic communication, dyadic adaptation and patient QOL were measured with the perceived stress scale, communication pattern questionnaire, Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale and Functional Assessment of Cancer Treatment‐Prostate, respectively. Emotional QOL of patients was negatively affected by stress (β = −0·624, p < 0·001) and mutual avoidance communication (β = −0·050, p = 0·001) of the patients as well as couple cohesion (β = −0·113, p = 0·015). The predictive power (F = 25·895, p < 0·001) was 41·6%. Social QOL of patients was negatively affected by patient stress (β = −0·331, p = 0·010) and positively affected by the constructive communication of the patients (β = 0·034, p = 0·006) and spouses (β = 0·029, p = 0·014) and withdrawal communication of the spouses (β = 0·035, p < 0·001), and the predictive power (F = 11·391, p < 0·001) was 29·7%. Functional QOL of patients was negatively affected by patient stress (β = −0·680, p < 0·001) and positively affected by the patients' assessment of couple cohesion n (β = 0·173, p = 0·007). The predictive power (F = 18·491, p < 0·001) was 25·2%. To improve the QOL of patients who received prostatectomy, a programme needs to be developed to reduce patient stress and improve constructive communication and couple cohesion.
Multiprotein bridging factor 2 regulates the expression of the fibroin heavy chain gene by interacting with Bmdimmed in the silkworm Bombyx mori
Authors: Zhou C. , Zha X. , Shi P. , Wei S. , Wang H. , Zheng R. , Xia Q.
Published: April 2016

Multiprotein bridging factor 2 (MBF2) was first isolated from the posterior silk gland of Bombyx mori. However, its function in B. mori is still unknown. Herein, MBF2 transcripts were detected mainly in the posterior silk gland and Malpighian tubules of B. mori larvae via a quantitative PCR analysis. An analysis of temporal expression patterns showed that the expression pattern of MBF2 was the opposite of that of the fibroin heavy chain (fibH) gene, as its expression was high during the fourth‐instar moulting stage, decreased gradually during the fifth‐instar feeding stage and disappeared at the end of the fifth‐instar phase. Furthermore, bimolecular fluorescent complementation and Far‐Western blot assays showed that MBF2 interacted with the basic helix‐loop‐helix transcription factor Bmdimmed. Dual luciferase reporter assays showed that MBF2 down‐regulated the promoter activity of fibH and inhibited the effect of Bmdimmed (Bmdimm) on fibH expression. MBF2 expression was induced in silk glands after treatment with 20‐hydroxyecdysone in vivo and in vitro. These findings suggest that MBF2 is a transcriptional repressor that is involved in controlling the regulation of the fibH gene in the posterior silk gland by interacting with Bmdimm.
The International Monetary Fund, Party System Institutionalization, and Protest in Latin America
Authors: Béjar Sergio , Moraes Juan Andrés
Published: April 2016

Extant studies have documented a positive correlation between country participation in International Monetary Fund–sponsored programs and collective protests in Latin America. However, anecdotal evidence indicates that there is a great deal of variation in the number of protests in recipient countries across the region. This article provides a theoretical argument that explains how the fund interacts with the level of party system institutionalization to affect the level of protest. The main prediction is that the level of protest decreases in recipient countries when the level of party system institutionalization is high. Empirical results from a sample of 16 Latin American democracies observed from 1982 to 2007 provide strong statistical and substantive support for the main hypothesis.
Conditional Cash Transfer Programs and Electoral Accountability: Evidence from Latin America
Authors: Pavão Nara
Published: April 2016

Do conditional cash transfer programs reduce voters' incentives to hold their government accountable for its performance? Studies show that these programs generate considerable electoral returns for the governments responsible for them. One important and unexplored question is whether these popular programs have also changed the landscape of accountability in Latin America. Survey data from 16 Latin American countries that have adopted CCT programs do not offer support for the claim that such programs have a detrimental effect on electoral accountability for corruption and for the economy. Only in countries where CCT programs do not follow strict rules do beneficiaries attribute relatively less weight to the government's economic performance, but this effect is marginal. These findings fill an important gap in the literature and offer reassuring evidence that cash transfers can alleviate poverty while preserving voters' incentives to exercise electoral accountability in crucial areas of government performance.
Al5BO9: A Wide Band Gap, Damage‐Tolerant, and Thermal Insulating Lightweight Material for High‐Temperature Applications
Authors: Zhou Yanchun , Xiang Huimin
Published: April 2016

The electronic structure, chemical bonding, mechanical, and thermal properties of a B‐containing mullite Al5BO9 were investigated using a combination of first‐principles calculations, Debye model, Clack model, and Slack's equation. The results show that Al5BO9 has a wide band gap of 6.4 eV. The bonding in BO3 triangle and AlO4 tetrahedron is covalent‐ionic, whereas that in AlO6 octahedra and AlO5 bipyramids is ionic‐covalent. The maximum (245 GPa) and minimum Young's modulus (161 GPa) are along [100] and [010] direction, respectively. Based on the low shear modulus (78 GPa) and low Pugh's ratio (G/B = 0.497), Al5BO9 is predicted as a damage‐tolerant ceramic. The most likely slip systems are [010](100) and [100](010). The high Debye temperature (956 K) indicates good high‐temperature stability. The minimum thermal conductivity is estimated to be 1.59 W·(m·K)−1, and the thermal conductivity decreases with temperature as 2071.9/T.
Fabrication and Microwave Dielectric Properties of Mg2SiO4‐LiMgPO4‐TiO2 Composite Ceramics
Authors: Cheng ZiFan , Hu Xing , Li Yi , Ling ZhiYuan
Published: April 2016

Complete solid solutions between Mg2SiO4 and LiMgPO4 are confirmed by the XRD results. The phase constitution of 0.5Mg2SiO4‐0.5LiMgPO4 is found to be dependent on firing temperature. The chemical compatibility between Mg2SiO4 and rutile phase at sintering temperature is modified by incorporating LiMgPO4. The microwave dielectric properties of (1−y)(0.5Mg2SiO4‐0.5LiMgPO4)‐yTiO2 (y = 0–0.3) composite ceramics have been investigated. The optimized microwave dielectric properties for 0.35Mg2SiO4‐0.35LiMgPO4‐0.3TiO2 ceramics sintered at 1050°C show low dielectric constant (11.4), high‐quality factor (31 800 GHz), and low‐temperature coefficient of resonant frequency (−4 ppm/°C).
The role of submerged trees in the early development of fishes in a Neotropical reservoir
Authors: Gogola T. M. , Daga P. S. , Gubiani É. A. , da Silva P. L. R. , Sanches P. V.
Published: April 2016

It was hypothesized that the structural heterogeneity provided by submerged trees positively favours the spatial distribution of fish abundance at early stages of development in an area under the influence of a Neotropical reservoir in the Paraná River basin. The distribution at early stages of development of the most abundant species was evaluated. To remove any possible confounding effect related to local environmental variables, changes in these were also evaluated. Sampling was carried out at sites with and without submerged trees. Among all individuals sampled, 96·1% were classified as larvae and 3·9% as juveniles. The area without submerged trees showed higher total abundance, but there were spatial differences in the distribution of early stage fishes. From the moment the larvae are able to swim actively, they search for sites with a complex structure. The results show that reaches with submerged trees play an important role in the early development of fishes in reservoirs, and, hence, the preservation of those trees is essential to maintain biodiversity in reservoirs.
An integrative review of the factors related to building age‐friendly rural communities
Authors: Neville Stephen , Napier Sara , Adams Jeffery , Wham Carol , Jackson Debra
Published: April 2016

Aim and objectives

To identify the theories and concepts related to building age‐friendly rural communities.

Background

Global population is rapidly ageing. Creating environments that support active ageing was a catalyst for the World Health Organization to develop Global Age‐Friendly Cities guidelines. Although the age‐friendly movement has captured the attention of some countries, little is known about the participation of older people in rural settings.

Method

An integrative review approach was employed to summarise the research literature on this topic. Using a systematic search strategy, databases including Discover (EBSCO's electronic database system), Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Medline and Google Scholar were searched. Primary, peer‐reviewed studies were included if published during 2007–2014 in the English language.

Results

Nine studies were eligible for inclusion. The studies were set predominantly in Canada, with the exception of one from Ireland. The findings were summarised and clustered into main topics which included: theoretical perspectives; geographic and demographic characteristics; collaboration and partnerships; sustainability and capacity; and finally, future research agendas.

Conclusions

Rural communities are changing rapidly and are becoming increasingly diverse environments. Community characteristics can help or hinder age‐friendliness. Importantly, the fundamental starting point for age‐friendly initiatives is establishing older peoples’ perceptions of their own communities.

Relevance to clinical practice

It is important for nurses, working in primary health care settings, to understand the needs of older people in the communities in which they practice. This includes the community characteristics that can be enablers and barriers to older people being able to remain and age within their own communities.
Standardized method to assess medicines’ acceptability: focus on paediatric population
Authors: Ruiz Fabrice , Vallet Thibault , Pensé-Lhéritier Anne-Marie , Aoussat Ameziane
Published: April 2016

Objectives

The purpose of this article was to present an original standardized tool assessing the medicine's acceptability whichever their characteristics and the patient features.

Methods

An acceptability map was built with objective measures from medicine use assessments collected in real-life conditions. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) was used for the mapping process. Hierarchical classification on the principal components (HCPC) of the MCA was performed for the clustering process corresponding to distinct acceptability profiles.

Key findings

The results presented here focus on 234 evaluations issued from the paediatric population and gathered in four clusters: ‘well-accepted’ (50%), ‘accepted’ (19%), ‘poorly accepted’ (25%) and ‘not accepted’ medicines (6%). The first one was characterized by a dose fully taken, in a short time, with a patient's positive reaction; the second by a longer administration time, a neutral reaction and the use of methods to achieve administration (reward, divided dose). Differentiation between the two last clusters was, respectively, originated by a required dose partially taken or not taken.

Conclusions

The acceptability profile of each medicine can be evaluated with the map position of the related patient's assessments barycentre. This tool should satisfy expectations in terms of methods for appropriate acceptability evaluation and standardized comparison among medicines.
Hierarchical, Decentralized, or Something Else? Opposition Networks in the German Bundestag
Authors: Metz Thomas , Jäckle Sebastian
Published: April 2016

Members of the German parliament may force government to publicly answer questions by issuing minor interpellations (kleine Anfragen). We use 3,608 interpellations from the session 2009–13 that have been signed by authoring and supporting members to construct the social network of support relations among members within the three opposition parties. We find that parties differ markedly in terms of internal structure. While social democrats organize hierarchically, Greens cooperate horizontally. The network for socialist Linke in contrast shows signs of homophily and social segregation. Our approach yields a novel perspective on intraparty politics in parliamentary systems which are notoriously difficult to analyze.
Use of time‐at‐temperature data to describe dive behavior in five species of sympatric deep‐diving toothed whales
Authors: Joyce Trevor W. , Durban John W. , Fearnbach Holly , Claridge Diane , Ballance Lisa T.
Published: April 2016

This paper develops and validates a method of using time‐at‐temperature (TAT) histograms from satellite transmitter tags to describe the dive activity patterns and approximate depth distributions of five deep‐diving toothed whale species in the northern Bahamas. TAT histograms represent a bandwidth‐conserving method of recovering a long‐term proxy record of dive activity. However, using temperature to interpret TAT on a scale of approximate depths required the complex estimation of TAT histogram bin boundary depths in a dynamic oceanographic region. Here we evaluated the relative performance of four interpolation methods and a global reanalysis data assimilation model in estimating climatological isotherm depth surfaces within our study area. TAT‐derived approximate time‐at‐depth (TAD) distributions aligned closely with directly observed TAD distributions from a smaller sample of depth‐recording satellite tags deployed on separate individuals of each species. TAT‐derived approximate depth distributions were also consistent with various published accounts for this suite of species. Estimating dive ranges and time budgets are important components of (1) understanding habitat overlap between species, (2) evaluating the potential role of these predators in meso‐ and bathypelagic ecosystems, and (3) assessing vulnerability and exposure to anthropogenic impacts.
Immature teratoma of the tectum mesencephali with histopathological detection of rudimentary eye anlage in a 3‐year‐old boy: Report of a rare case
Authors: Dubinski Daniel , Mittelbronn Michel , Marquardt Gerhard , Tews Dominique S. , Noack Anika , Behmanesh Bedjan , Seifert Volker , Freiman Thomas M.
Published: April 2016

Intracranial teratoma is a rare neoplasm derived from omnipotent germinal cells that can contain mesoderm, endoderm and/or ectoderm layer tissue. Histologically teratomas are characterized by abnormal structures like teeth or bone that can be further subdivided into mature and immature according to the presence of incompletely differentiated tissue. Characteristic intracranial teratomas are space‐occupying lesions in the pineal region and often present with hydrocephalic symptoms due to aqueduct stenosis. A 3‐year‐old boy presented with a peracute hemiparesis, fatigue and speech deficit. MRI diagnostics showed a cystic, partially solid, inhomogeneous contrast‐enhancing formation at the top of the tectum mesencephali with consecutive aqueduct compression. The patient underwent a sub‐occipital craniotomy via a supracerebellar approach and complete resection was achieved. The histopathological examination mainly showed mature tissue of ectodermal, mesodermal and endodermal origin. However, small areas of undifferentiated neuroectodermal tissue within an optic vesicle formation were detected, leading to the diagnosis of an immature teratoma. In due course, the patient was discharged in good health without neurological deficits. To our knowledge, optic vesicle‐containing intracranial germ cell tumors are extremely rare. Here we report a unique case with immature neuroectodermal tissue within an optic vesicle formation in an otherwise mature teratoma.
Predictors of quality of life among Chinese people with schizophrenia
Authors: Wang Xiao Qin , Petrini Marcia A. , Morisky Donald E.
Published: April 2016

This study was designed to investigate the association of quality of life, perceived stigma, and medication adherence among Chinese patients with schizophrenia, and to ascertain the predictors of quality of life. A cross‐sectional correlation study was conducted with 146 participants. All participants completed self‐report scales: the Schizophrenia Quality of Life Scale, Link's Stigma Scale, and the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale. Pearson parametric correlations and stepwise multiple regressions were performed. The total quality of life score and psychosocial subscale was significantly positively correlated with perceived stigma, coping orientation of withdrawal, and feelings of stigma, and negatively correlated with age and medication adherence. The means of all subscale scores except perceived devaluation‐discrimination and different/guilty feelings were significantly higher than the midpoint of 2.5. The best predictors of quality of life and psychosocial domains were stigma‐related feelings: feeling misunderstood, feeling different/shame, and age. Our findings suggest that an individual's negative emotional response may strengthen internalized stigma and decrease quality of life. As the best predictor, age indicated that adaptation to mental illness may relieve perceived stigma and achieve favorable quality of life.
Modulation of the orodigestive tract microbiome in HIV‐infected patients
Authors: Saxena D , Li Y , Devota A , Pushalkar S , Abrams W , Barber C , Corby P , Poles M , Phelan J , Malamud D
Published: April 2016

More than 37 million people are living with human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV), and more people than ever received lifesaving antiretroviral therapy worldwide. HIV‐1 infection disrupts the intestinal immune system, leading to microbial translocation and systemic immune activation. We investigated the impact of HIV‐1 infection on the GI microbiome and its association with host immune activation. The data indicated that the microbiome was different in HIV‐positive and HIV‐negative individuals. The initial sequence analysis of saliva indicated that there were major differences in the phyla of Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and TM7. Phylum Tenericutes was only seen in HIV‐positive saliva. At the family level, we identified differences in Streptococcacea, Prevotellaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, and Neisseriaceae, whereas data from various sites in GI tract indicated that Prevotella melaninigencia, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Burkholderia, Bradyrhizobium, Ralstonia, and Eubacterium biforme were predominant but differentially present at various sites. Furthermore, there was a decrease in seven proteins associated with the alternative complement pathway and an increase in 6 proteins associated with the lectin and classical complement pathways. The correlation with a shift in complement pathways suggests that compromised immunity could be responsible for the observed dysbiosis in the GI microbiome.
Oral fungi inHIV: challenges in antifungal therapies
Authors: Nittayananta W
Published: April 2016

Oral candidiasis (OC) caused byCandidaspecies is a common fungal infection amongHIV‐infected individuals. Despite the wide use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) resulting in a declined prevalence,OCremains the most common oral lesions seen in those living withHIV/AIDS. Various topical and systemic antifungal drugs are available to treatOC. However, due to the patients’ immunodeficiency and the nature ofOCas biofilm‐associated infection, relapse is frequently observed after cessation of antifungal therapy. In addition, long‐term antifungal therapy may lead to drug resistance. This review article addressed three major challenges in the treatment ofOCinHIVinfection including antifungal drug resistance, biofilm‐associated infection ofOC, and the host underlying immunodeficiency. To reduce the risks of antifungal drug resistance, the author recommends that future studies should focus on herbal plant‐derived compounds with antifungal activity that may be used in combination with the drugs. Also, it is recommended that more research should be carried out to explore how to enhance the host innate immunity against oralCandida.
Global oral inequalities inHIVinfection
Authors: Challacombe SJ
Published: April 2016

Analysis of the prevalence and incidence ofHIVinfection globally reveal striking variances with regard to continent, country, region and gender. Of the global total of 33 million people infected withHIV, approximately 65% are in sub‐Saharan African countries and 15% in South and South‐East Asia with the remaining 20% spread over the rest of the world. As a percentage of the population, the Caribbean at 1.1% is second only to sub‐Saharan Africa (5.5%). The majority of the world'sHIVis in women. Deaths fromHIVare twenty‐fold greater in Africa than in Europe or theUSA. Individual countries in sub‐Saharan Africa show huge variances in theHIV+ prevalence with most West African countries having a rate of less than 2% whilst southern African countries including Swaziland and Botswana have rates of around 25%. Environment, education and social habits all contribute to theHIVinfection rates. Similar variations between countries are seen inSEAsia with Cambodia and Papua New Guinea having rates three times greater than Pakistan. One of the most striking examples of inequality is in life years added toHIVpopulations as a result of antiretroviral therapy.UN AIDSfigures over 1996–2008 suggest an average of 2.88 added years in theUSAand Europe, but only 0.1 in sub‐Saharan Africa, a thirty‐fold difference largely due to accessibility toART.ARTleads to a reduction in oral lesions but it is estimated that some 10 millionHIV+ subjects do not have access to oral care. Thus, inequalities exist both forHIVinfectionand for the associated oral lesions, mainly related toARTaccess.HIVinfection and oral mucosal lesions both appear to be related to general social determinants of health. OralHCWmust be part of mainstream healthcare teams to address these inequalities.
HIV/AIDS in India: an overview of the Indian epidemic
Authors: Paranjape RS , Challacombe SJ
Published: April 2016

The first cases of HIV infection in India were detected in 1986 among female sex workers in Chennai. A rapid increase followed in many states. The current national prevalence is about 0.26% compared with a global average of 0.2%, but the figure in most high‐risk groups including female sex workers is much higher (up to 7%). New HIV infections reached a peak in 1998 and have since declined by 60%, although the total number of HIV‐positive persons remains stable at 2.1 million, largely probably due to the increased life expectancy following antiretroviral therapy. The Indian epidemic is characterized by low levels in the general population and elevated concentrations among high‐risk groups. Transmission is mainly heterosexually driven, with differential burdens across the states. The four main drivers of HIV infection in India differ in order from those elsewhere in the world and are commercial sex work, general heterosexual intercourse, injecting drug use and unprotected anal sex between men who have sex with men. There are distinct differences from state to state in the prevalence of HIV, with some around the national norm of 0.21% but others with over 1% infected. India has embarked on a targeted HIV prevention strategy in recent years which is strongly associated with a fall in infection rate in both low‐ and high‐risk groups.
Overview and research agenda arising from the 7th World Workshop on Oral Health and Disease in AIDS
Authors: Tappuni AR , Shiboski C
Published: April 2016

The Research Agenda generated by the 7th World Workshop on Oral Health and Disease in AIDS (WW7) is delivered in this paper. Panels of international experts presided over nine workshops that constituted the conference held in November 2014 in Hyderabad, India. The main goal of the Workshop was to bring together clinician and scientists interested in the subject to debate with world‐wide perspectives current issues related to the oral manifestations in HIV/AIDS. The workshops were structured around three themes; basic science, clinical/translational science and social science and were attended by 135 participants from 31 countries. The research questions debated at the workshops are presented in nine consensus papers published in this issue and are summarised in this paper along with an outline of the identified research needs in the field.
Anesthetic management of 877 pediatric patients undergoing muscle biopsy for neuromuscular disorders: a 20‐year review
Authors: Shapiro Frederic , Athiraman Umeshkumar , Clendenin David J. , Hoagland Monica , Sethna Navil F.
Published: April 2016

Background

The objectives are to review the anesthetic management and anesthetic‐related adverse events in patients undergoing muscle biopsy for a broad spectrum of neuromuscular disorders (NMD).

Aim

The study aims to assess the hypothesis that perceived awareness of potential anesthesia‐induced hyperkalemia and MH in patients with NMD reduces the frequency of such events.

Methods

A 20‐year retrospective review of 877 consecutive patients undergoing muscle biopsy to establish diagnoses of NMD has been performed. Patients were categorized prebiopsy into six groups: M (myopathy and muscular dystrophy), MM (mitochondrial or metabolic myopathy), N (neurodegenerative, peripheral neuropathy or spinal muscular atrophy disorder), D (dermatomyositis), C (cardiomyopathy), or S (seizure disorder). Data were collected for demographics, anesthetic management, pre‐ and postoperative anesthesia‐induced muscle injury, postbiopsy histopathologic diagnosis, and concordance comparisons between pre‐ and postbiopsy diagnoses.

Results

There were 513 males (58.5%) and 364 females (41.5%) (1.4:1) with 137 individuals (15.6%) operated on under 1 year of age and two‐thirds by 6 years of age. NMD diagnosis was reached in 409 (46.6%) while 468 (53.4%) had no specific pathology. No patients exhibited signs of anesthesia‐induced muscle injury (malignant hyperthermia, rhabdomyolysis, cardiac arrest, or postoperative deterioration of weakness). MM was the largest group pre biopsy (367, 41.8%). Anesthetic agents were: nitrous oxide in 657 (74.9%); volatile agents in 139 (15.8%); intravenous agents in 836 (95.3%) (primarily propofol, midazolam, and fentanyl); nondepolarizing muscle relaxants in 404 (46.1%); and regional anesthesia in 112 (12.8%) [most commonly spinal anesthesia in 80 (71.4%)]. Comparing preoperative diagnostic category with postoperative diagnosis, there was a concordance of 78% (319/409) between the two for cases with a definitive diagnosis and 89.7% (787/877) for all cases.

Conclusions

In this retrospective study, no patient exhibited signs or symptoms of hyperkalemia or MH probably because the incidence is very low and becomes even less likely due to the selection of the various anesthetic agents and strategies administered.
Application of marker‐assisted backcross to introgress Bph3, Bph14 and Bph15 into an elite indica rice variety for improving its resistance to brown planthopper
Authors: Hu Wei , Xiao Hanxiang , Hu Kan , Jiang Yijun , Zhang Yang
Published: April 2016

To improve brown planthopper (Nilaparvata lugens Stål; BPH) resistance of an elite indica cultivar of South China, Hemeizhan (HMZ), we applied marker‐assisted backcross (MABC) to incorporate three BPH‐resistance genes (Bph3, Bph14 and Bph15) into the genetic background of HMZ. In the third backcross (BC3) generation, we obtained near‐isogenic lines (Bph3‐NIL, Bph14‐NIL, Bph15‐NIL and Bph14 + Bph15‐NIL) with more than 96% recovery of recurrent parent genome, and pyramided lines (Bph3 + Bph14‐PYL, Bph3 + Bph15‐PYL and Bph3 + Bph14 + Bph15‐PYL) with more than 89% recovery of recurrent parent genome. These lines showed stronger resistance against BPH than HMZ at seedling and booting stages. The rank of resistance gene effect was Bph3 + Bph14 + Bph15 ≥ Bph3 + Bph15 ≥ Bph3 +Bph14 ≥ Bph14 + Bph15 ≥ Bph3 ≥ Bph15 ≥ Bph14 > none. Compared with HMZ, only Bph3 + Bph14 + Bph15‐PYL had a significant difference in yield per plant, and the lines carrying Bph3 had higher amylose contents, indicating that Bph3 was tightly linked to Wxa allele. These improved lines are good intermediate sources of broad‐spectrum and durable BPH resistance to improve other indica cultivars. Our results demonstrate that MABC is a very efficient approach to improve BPH resistance of elite rice cultivar.
Association mapping of leaf traits in spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.)
Authors: Ma Jianbing , Shi Ainong , Mou Beiquan , Evans Michael , Clark John R. , Motes Dennis , Correll Jim C. , Xiong Haizheng , Qin Jun , Chitwood Jessica , Weng Yuejin
Published: April 2016

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is an important leafy vegetable crop grown worldwide. Leaf traits, surface texture (smooth, savoy or semi‐savoy), petiole colour (different shades of green vs. purple) and edge shape (serrate vs. entire), are important commercial traits of spinach. Association mapping for the three traits was conducted on 323 USDA spinach germplasm accessions, originally collected from 33 countries and representing the entire USDA spinach germplasm collection. The majority of accessions were from Europe (36.3%), Asia (25.3%) and North America (15.8%). The majority of the spinach accessions (82.0%) were smooth (unwrinkled types), whereas the savoy and semi‐savoy types (wrinkled types) accounted for 18.0%. The collection contained 74.9% green petiole types, while the purple petioles consisted of 25.1%. The collection consisted of 27.2% serrated leaf types and 72.8% entire leaf edge types. Genotyping‐by‐sequencing (GBS) was used for single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) discovery, and SNPs were used as genotypic data to conduct genetic diversity and association mapping of the three leaf traits. Five genetic subpopulations and principal components (PCs) were postulated by structure 2 and JMP Genomics 7 for this association panel. Five, seven and 14 SNPs were identified to be associated with surface texture, edge shape and petiole colour, respectively. This study provides us an approach to identify SNP markers through association analysis in spinach and thus leads to select these three leaf traits through marker‐assisted selection in spinach breeding programme.
Poplar plantations along regulated rivers may resemble riparian forests after abandonment: a comparison of passive restoration approaches
Authors: González Eduardo , Masip Adrià , Tabacchi Eric
Published: April 2016

Abandoning hybrid poplar plantations may be an alternative strategy for enlarging natural riparian corridors along regulated rivers where forest regeneration no longer takes place. Despite the generally high local diversity of plants in poplar plantations, their capacity to converge towards riparian forests following abandonment remains largely untested and uncertain, because maintenance‐related disturbance of plantations favors ruderal, not strictly riparian specialists. We assessed the spontaneous recolonization of vegetation in abandoned hybrid poplar plantations following two management strategies: harvesting or simple abandonment of standing trees. The floristic composition in four chronosequences of 10 active (1–15 years), 17 harvested (1–15 years), and 10 abandoned (8–20 years) hybrid poplar plantations, as well as 10 riparian sites established at gravel bars that appeared following the cessation of in‐channel gravel mining (8–25 years) along the highly regulated Garonne River (SW France) was assessed in the framework of ecological disturbance theory. Both harvested and abandoned sites still resembled active plantations more than riparian forests. When poplar resprouting was low after harvesting, sites were dominated by light‐demanding, nitrophilous herbs, sub‐shrubs, and vines showing both competitive and ruderal traits, and vegetation composition remained stable over time. Abandoned and harvested sites with high poplar resprouting developed forest communities in which competitive species that tolerate and generate shade dominated, and tree species recruitment was higher. Riparian sites hosted the highest number of indicator species, mainly wetland and exotic. Simple passive restoration strategies like abandonment of plantations can help create valuable ecosystems, although ones that diverge from riparian forests colonizing new fluvial landforms.
A closer look at the discrimination outcomes in the IAT literature
Authors: Carlsson Rickard , Agerström Jens
Published: April 2016

To what extent the IAT (Implicit Association Test, Greenwald et al., 1998) predicts racial and ethnic discrimination is a heavily debated issue. The latest meta‐analysis by Oswald et al. (2013) suggests a very weak association. In the present meta‐analysis, we switched the focus from the predictor to the criterion, by taking a closer look at the discrimination outcomes. We discovered that many of these outcomes were not actually operationalizations of discrimination, but rather of other related, but distinct, concepts, such as brain activity and voting preferences. When we meta‐analyzed the main effects of discrimination among the remaining discrimination outcomes, the overall effect was close to zero and highly inconsistent across studies. Taken together, it is doubtful whether the amalgamation of these outcomes is relevant criteria for assessing the IAT's predictive validity of discrimination. Accordingly, there is also little evidence that the IAT can meaningfully predict discrimination, and we thus strongly caution against any practical applications of the IAT that rest on this assumption. However, provided that the application is thoroughly informed by the current state of the literature, we believe the IAT can still be a useful tool for researchers, educators, managers, and students who are interested in attitudes, prejudices, stereotypes, and discrimination.
Examining Intent to Die and Methods for Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury and Suicide Attempts
Authors: Brausch Amy M. , Williams Amanda G. , Cox Emily M.
Published: April 2016

Nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) is linked to suicidal behavior and future suicide attempts, but the process of NSSI‐to‐suicide attempts remains unclear. Additionally, little is known about how having a history of NSSI may relate to reports of intent to die during a suicide attempt. The current study examined methods of NSSI and suicide attempts, as well as intent to die, in a sample of 1,232 young adults, 54 of whom reported at least one suicide attempt. Cutting and overdose were the predominant methods of NSSI and suicide attempts, respectively, with the two often co‐occurring. Individuals with both NSSI and suicide attempt history were significantly more likely to report an intent to die than those with suicide attempt history only.
RHCE variants inherited with altered RHD alleles in Brazilian blood donors
Authors: Prisco Arnoni C. , Guilhem Muniz J. , de Paula Vendrame T. A. , de Medeiros Person R. , Roche Moreira Latini F. , Castilho L.
Published: April 2016

BACKGROUND

The high homology and opposite orientation of RH genes promote rearrangements between them and generate a large number of RHD and RHCE variants which can be inherited together. Searching of RHD‐CE genotypes predicting partial antigens in donors is of interest in order to find more closely matched donors for African descent patients. This study aimed to evaluate a molecular approach to search for RhCE variants in a cohort of individuals with altered expression of D antigen and determine the association of RH variant alleles in Brazilian blood donors.

METHODS

From 80,961 blood samples tested, 421 with atypical D typing results were studied. The samples were phenotyped for C, c, E, e antigens. Rh variants were identified using molecular techniques.

RESULTS

All 421 samples had altered RHD alleles, being 56·3% of them partial D. Among them, 94·9% presented variant RHCE*ce and the most common associations were: RHD*weak D type 4.2.2 with RHCE*ceAR; RHD*DAR linked to RHCE*ceVS.02; RHD*weak D type 4.0 linked to RHCE*ceVS.02 and RHCE*ce (c.48C, c.105T, c.733G, c.744C, c.1025T). Among the samples with RhCE variants, 10·6% predict partial c, partial e, hrB‐ and/or hrS‐ and 100% express low prevalence antigens.

CONCLUSION

Targeting individuals with altered expression of D antigen can be a good strategy for finding donors with RhCE variants. In our study 94·9% of the partial D samples revealed altered RHCE variant alleles and 5·7% of the samples with altered RHD allele predicted partial c, partial e and the lack of the high prevalence hrB and hrS antigens.
A pilot study comparingin vitroefficacy of topical preparations against veterinary pathogens
Authors: Uri Maarja , Buckley Laura M. , Marriage Louise , McEwan Neil , Schmidt Vanessa M.
Published: April 2016

Background

Topical antimicrobial agents are important for the management of cutaneous infections. For topical antimicrobial agents,in vitroefficacy data are limited.

Objectives

To determine and compare the minimum bactericidal/fungicidal concentrations (MBCs/MFCs) of several topical antimicrobial agents against veterinary pathogens.

Materials and methods

Two chlorhexidine, two oxychlorine based products (NaOCl & HOCl) lime sulfur (LS), manuka honey (MH) and hydrocortisone aceponate (HCA) were tested against American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) and clinical isolates: meticillin susceptible and resistantStaphylococcus pseudintermedius(MSSP),qac A/BcarryingMSSP, antimicrobial susceptible and extended spectrum beta‐lactamase producingEscherichia coli, multidrug‐resistantPseudomonas aeruginosaandMalassezia pachydermatis. TheMBCs/MFCs were measured, where available, using a broth microdilution method; isolates were incubated for 3 and 10 min.

Results

Chlorhexidine and isopropyl alcohol (Chl1) showed significantly lowerMBCs (0.46 mg/L –937.50 mg/L,P= 0.027) compared to chlorhexidine and climbazole (Chl², 58.59 mg/L–1875 mg/L). NaOCl andHOCl showed excellent antimicrobial activity withHOCl having significantly lowerMBCs compared to NaOCl (0.03 mg/L–1.72 mg/L and 0.03 mg/L–1.95 mg/L, respectively,P =0.042). The detectableMBCs forLSandHCAwere high, being close to the starting concentration (5,000 mg/L and 146 mg/L, respectively). TheMBC/MFCforMHwas not detectable. Amongst all test products there was no significant effect of contact time or isolate resistance status.

Conclusions and clinical importance

Chlorhexidine, NaOCl andHOCl demonstrated lowMBCs against tested organisms, suggesting potentialin vivoefficacy. The selection of an appropriate antimicrobial agent, however, cannot be based exclusively uponMBC/MFCdata; other factors should be considered.
Rapid and early changes in morphology and gene expression in soya bean seedlings emerging in the presence of neighbouring weeds
Authors: Mckenzie‐Gopsill A G , Lee E , Lukens L , Swanton C J
Published: April 2016

Light signalling is an important mechanism of plant competition during the early stages of seedling development. Far‐red‐enriched (FR‐E) light reflected from neighbouring weeds has been shown to induce the shade avoidance response leading to changes in plant morphology and increased variability in yields. In this study, the morphological and molecular changes occurring at the hypocotyl arch and primary leaf stage of soya bean development were investigated in response toFR‐E light reflected from neighbouring weeds. A reduction in the root/shoot was identified at the hypocotyl arch stage, and an increase in height was detected at the unifoliate stage of soya bean seedlings. In addition,FR‐E light induced a change in the expression profile of reactive oxygen species (ROS)‐scavenging genes. Early in seedling development,ROS‐scavenging genes were upregulated. However, this trend was reversed at later stages of development with downregulation of severalROS‐scavenging genes. These results demonstrated the rapidity of induction of the shade avoidance response and that gene expression in soya bean seedlings was dependent upon developmental stage and tissue type sampled.