bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing demographic effects of dams on diadromous fish: a case study for Atlantic salmon in the Penobscot River, Maine
Authors: Nieland Julie L. , Sheehan Timothy F. , Saunders Rory
Published: May 2015

Dams are a major contributor to the historic decline and current low abundance of diadromous fish. We developed a population viability analysis to assess demographic effects of dams on diadromous fish within a river system and demonstrated an application of the model with Atlantic salmon in the Penobscot River, Maine. We used abundance and distribution of wild- and hatchery-origin adult salmon throughout the watershed as performance metrics. Salmon abundance, distribution to upper reaches of the Penobscot watershed, and the number and proportion of wild-origin fish in the upper reaches of the Penobscot watershed increased when dams, particularly mainstem dams, were removed or passage efficiency was increased. Salmon abundance decreased as indirect latent mortality per dam was increased. Salmon abundance increased as marine or freshwater survival rates were increased, but the increase in abundance was larger when marine survival was increased than when freshwater survival was increased. Without hatchery supplementation, salmon abundance equalled zero with low marine and freshwater survival but increased when marine and freshwater survival rates were increased. Models, such as this one, that incorporate biological, environmental, and functional parameters can be used to predict ecological responses of fish populations and can help evaluate and prioritize management and restoration actions for diadromous fish.
Evaluating energy flows through jellyfish and gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) and the effects of fishing on the northern Gulf of Mexico ecosystem
Authors: Robinson Kelly L. , Ruzicka James J. , Hernandez Frank J. , Graham William M. , Decker Mary Beth , Brodeur Richard D. , Sutor Malinda
Published: May 2015

Fishery management production models tend to stress only the elements directly linked to fish (i.e. fish, fish food, and fish predators). Large coastal jellyfish are major consumers of plankton in heavily fished ecosystems; yet, they are frequently not included as model components. We explore the relationship between gulf menhaden (Brevoortia patronus) and the large scyphozoan jellyfish (Aurelia spp. and Chrysaora sp.), and provide an examination of trophic energy transfer pathways to higher trophic levels in the northern Gulf of Mexico. A trophic network model developed within the ECOPATH framework was transformed to an end-to-end model to map foodweb energy flows. Relative changes in functional group productivity to varying gulf menhaden consumption rates, jellyfish consumption rates, and forage fish (i.e. gulf menhaden, anchovies, and herrings) harvest rates were evaluated within a suite of static, alternative energy-demand scenarios using ECOTRAN techniques. Scenario analyses revealed forage fish harvest enhanced jellyfish productivity, which, in turn, depressed menhaden productivity. Modelled increases in forage fish harvest caused pronounced changes in ecosystem structure, affecting jellyfish, marine birds, piscivorous fish, and apex predators. Menhaden were found to be a more efficient and important energy transfer pathway to higher trophic levels compared with jellyfish. A simulated increase in jellyfish abundance caused the relative production of all model groups to decline. These outcomes suggest that jellyfish blooms and forage fish harvest have demonstrable effects on the structure of the northern Gulf of Mexico ecosystem.
The Work of Creation: Image, Idolatry, and Jewish Discourse in Theology and the Arts
Authors: Vincent Alana M.
Published: May 2015

The Second Commandment, prohibiting both the worship and manufacture of graven images, is often employed as a mechanism for explaining a perceived absence of Jewish participation in the visual arts, in spite of a well recorded history of Jewish participation in the manufacture of graven images which are typically classed as craft objects. This article aims to introduce to theology the scepticism towards hierarchical distinctions between art and craft which is already familiar in the world of art theory, and by so doing prompt a dislocation of theological reflection on works of art from the point of visual engagement to the point of manufacture. It suggests that attentiveness to Jewish discourses about material production opens up interesting and potentially generative possibilities for work in theology and the arts beyond the consideration of specifically Jewish art.
Success of Standard Dose Vitamin D Supplementation in Treated Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection
Authors: Lake Jordan E. , Hoffman Risa M. , Tseng Chi-Hong , Wilhalme Holly M. , Adams John S. , Currier Judith S.
Published: May 2015

Background.  Vitamin D insufficiency is prevalent in human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) persons. Human immunodeficiency virus and antiretroviral therapy (ART) may create unique risk factors, and the optimal vitamin D repletion and maintenance regimen in HIV+ persons remains unclear.

Methods.  Human immunodeficiency virus-positive adults on suppressive ART underwent routine serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) screening. Persons with vitamin D insufficiency (25OHD <30 ng/mL) received open-label, oral vitamin D3 50 000 international units (IU) twice weekly for 5 weeks, then 2000 IU daily to complete 12 weeks. We predicted 70% (95% confidence interval, 60%–80%) repletion to 25OHD ≥30 ng/mL compared with 85% among historical HIV-negative controls. Eighty participants provided 91% power to detect this difference. Ability to maintain 25OHD ≥30 ng/mL after 24 weeks was also assessed.

Results.  Baseline characteristics were similar between the 82 vitamin D insufficient and 40 sufficient persons enrolled: 95% male, 60% white, 88% nonsmokers, median age 49 years, body mass index 26 kg/m2, and CD4+ T lymphocyte count 520 cells/mm3. After 12 weeks, 81% (66 of 82) of insufficient persons achieved 25OHD ≥30 ng/mL (P = .32 vs historical controls), with only older age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.06; P = .06), higher baseline 25OHD (OR = 1.14; P < .01), white race (OR = 3.39; P = .04), and current smoking (OR = 0.25; P = .06) associated with successful repletion. After 24 weeks, 73% (48 of 66) maintained 25OHD ≥30 ng/mL, with tenofovir (OR = 5.00; P = .01) and abacavir use (OR = 0.23; P = .02) associated with success and failure, respectively, to maintain 25OHD levels.

Conclusions.  The 25OHD repletion rates were comparable between HIV+ adults on suppressive ART and historical HIV-negative controls, indicating that successful oral repletion can be achieved in this population.
A new ray-tracing scheme for 3D diffuse radiation transfer on highly parallel architectures
Authors: Tanaka Satoshi , Yoshikawa Kohji , Okamoto Takashi , Hasegawa Kenji
Published: May 2015

We present a new numerical scheme to solve the transfer of diffuse radiation on three-dimensional mesh grids which is efficient on processors with highly parallel architecture such as recently popular GPUs and CPUs with multi- and many-core architectures. The scheme is based on the ray-tracing method and the computational cost is proportional to $N_{\rm m}^{\,5/3}$, where Nm is the number of mesh grids, and is devised to compute the radiation transfer along each light-ray completely in parallel, with appropriate grouping of the light-rays. We find that the performance of our scheme scales well with the number of adopted CPU cores and GPUs, and also that our scheme is nicely parallelized on a multi-node system by adopting the multiple wave front scheme, and the performance scales well with the amount of computational resources. As numerical tests to validate our scheme and to give a physical criterion for the angular resolution of our ray-tracing scheme, we perform several numerical simulations of the photoionization of neutral hydrogen gas by ionizing radiation sources without the “on-the-spot” approximation, in which the transfer of diffuse radiation by radiative recombination is incorporated in a self-consistent manner.
Trends in Pediatric and Adolescent Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury and Reconstruction
Authors: Werner Brian C. , Yang Scott , Looney Austin M. , Gwathmey Frank Winston
Published: May 2015

Background:

With the increasing involvement in organized athletics among children and adolescents, more anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are being recognized in the skeletally immature population. The goal of the present study is to utilize a national database to characterize the recent epidemiologic trends of ACL injuries, ACL reconstruction, and treatment of associated meniscal and chondral pathology in the pediatric and adolescent populations.

Methods:

A national database was queried for ACL tear (ICD-9 844.2) and arthroscopic reconstruction of an ACL tear (CPT 29888) from 2007 to 2011. Searches were limited by age group to identify pediatric and adolescent cohorts: (1) ages 5 to 9 years old, (2) ages 10 to 14 years old, and (3) ages 15 to 19 years old. A comparative cohort of adult patients from ages 20 to 45 was also created. The database was also queried for concomitant procedures at the same time as ACL reconstruction for each age group, including partial meniscectomy, meniscus repair, microfracture, osteochondral autograft or allograft transfer, and shaving chondroplasty. The χ2 analysis was used to determine statistical significance.

Results:

A total of 44,815 unique pediatric or adolescent patients with a diagnosis of an ACL tear and 19,053 pediatric or adolescent patients who underwent arthroscopic ACL reconstruction were identified. Significant increases in pediatric and adolescent ACL tear diagnosis and reconstruction compared with adult patients were noted. Significant increases in many concomitant meniscus and cartilage procedures in pediatric and adolescent patients compared with adult patients were also noted.

Conclusions:

The present study demonstrates a significant increase in the overall diagnosis of ACL injury and ACL reconstruction in both pediatric and adolescent patients, rising at a rate significantly higher than adults. In addition, pediatric and adolescent patients who undergo ACL reconstruction had significant increases in incidences of concomitant meniscal and cartilage procedures.

Level of Evidence:

Level III—retrospective cohort study.
Winogradskyella eckloniae sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from the brown alga Ecklonia cava
Authors: Kim Ji-Young , Park So-Hyun , Seo Ga-Young , Kim Young-Ju , Oh Duck-Chul
Published: May 2015

A novel bacterial strain, designated EC29T, was isolated from the brown alga Ecklonia cava collected on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain EC29T were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and motile by gliding. Growth was observed at 10–30 °C (optimum, 20–25 °C), at pH 6.0–9.5 (optimum, pH 7.5) and in the presence of 1–5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the strain belonged to the genus Winogradskyella. Strain EC29T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, of 96.5–97.8 %, to the type strains of Winogradskyella pulchriflava EM106T, Winogradskyella echinorum KMM 6211T and Winogradskyella ulvae KMM 6390T. Strain EC29T exhibited < 27 % DNA–DNA relatedness with Winogradskyella pulchriflava EM106T and Winogradskyella echinorum KMM 6211T. The predominant fatty acids of strain EC29T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and anteiso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 31.1 mol% and the major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). Based on a polyphasic study, strain EC29T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Winogradskyella, for which the name Winogradskyella eckloniae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EC29T ( = KCTC 32172T = JCM 18703T).
Streaming algorithms for identification of pathogens and antibiotic resistance potential from real-time MinIONTMsequencing
Authors: Cao Minh Duc , Ganesamoorthy Devika , Elliott Alysha G. , Zhang Huihui , Cooper Matthew A. , Coin Lachlan
Published: May 2015

The recently introduced Oxford Nanopore MinION platform generates DNA sequence data in real-time. This opens immense potential to shorten the sample-to-results time and is likely to lead to enormous benefits in rapid diagnosis of bacterial infection and identification of drug resistance. However, there are very few tools available for streaming analysis of real-time sequencing data. Here, we present a framework for streaming analysis of MinION real-time sequence data, together with probabilistic streaming algorithms for species typing, multi-locus strain typing, gene presence strain-typing and antibiotic resistance profile identification. Using three culture isolate samples as well as a mixed-species sample, we demonstrate that bacterial species and strain information can be obtained within 30 minutes of sequencing and using about 500 reads, initial drug-resistance profiles within two hours, and complete resistance profiles within 10 hours. Multi-locus strain typing required more than 15x coverage to generate confident assignments, whereas gene-presence typing could detect the presence of a known strain with 0.5x coverage. We also show that our pipeline can process over 100 times more data than the current throughput of the MinION on a desktop computer.
svclassify: a method to establish benchmark structural variant calls
Authors: Parikh Hemang , Mohiyuddin Marghoob , Lam Hugo Y. K. , Iyer Hariharan , Chen Desu , Pratt Mark , Bartha Gabor , Spies Noah , Losert Wolfgang , Zook Justin M. , Salit Marc
Published: May 2015

Background:The human genome contains variants ranging in size from small single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to large structural variants (SVs). High-quality benchmark small variant calls for the pilot National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Reference Material (NA12878) have been developed by the Genome in a Bottle Consortium, but no similar high-quality benchmark SV calls exist for this genome. Since SV callers output highly discordant results, we developed methods to combine multiple forms of evidence from multiple sequencing technologies to classify candidate SVs into likely true or false positives. Our method (svclassify) calculates annotations from one or more aligned bam files from many high-throughput sequencing technologies, and then builds a one-class model using these annotations to classify candidate SVs as likely true or false positives.

Results:We first used pedigree analysis to develop a set of high-confidence breakpoint-resolved large deletions. We then used svclassify to cluster and classify these deletions as well as a set of high-confidence deletions from the 1000 Genomes Project and a set of breakpoint-resolved complex insertions from Spiral Genetics. We find that likely SVs cluster separately from likely non-SVs based on our annotations, and that the SVs cluster into different types of deletions. We then developed a supervised one-class classification method that uses a training set of random non-SV regions to determine whether candidate SVs have abnormal annotations different from most of the genome. To test this classification method, we use our pedigree-based breakpoint-resolved SVs, SVs validated by the 1000 Genomes Project, and assembly-based breakpoint-resolved insertions, along with semi-automated visualization using svviz.

Conclusions:We find that candidate SVs with high scores from multiple technologies have high concordance with PCR validation and an orthogonal consensus method MetaSV (99.7% concordant), and candidate SVs with low scores are questionable. We distribute a set of 2676 high-confidence deletions and 68 high-confidence insertions with high svclassify scores from these call sets for benchmarking SV callers. We expect these methods to be particularly useful for establishing high-confidence SV calls for benchmark samples that have been characterized by multiple technologies.
Character trees from transcriptome data: origin and individuation of morphological characters and the so-called “species signal”
Authors: Musser Jacob M. , Wagner Günter P.
Published: May 2015

We elaborate a framework for investigating the evolutionary history of morphological characters. We argue that morphological character trees generated by phylogenetic analysis of transcriptomes provide a useful tool for identifying causal gene expression differences underlying the development and evolution of morphological characters. They also enable rigorous testing of different models of morphological character evolution and origination, including the hypothesis that characters originate via divergence of repeated ancestral characters. Finally, morphological character trees provide evidence that character transcriptomes undergo concerted evolution. We argue that concerted evolution of transcriptomes can explain the so-called “species-specific clustering” found in several recent comparative transcriptome studies. The species signal is the phenomenon that transcriptomes cluster by species rather than character type, even though the characters are older than the respective species. We suggest that concerted gene expression evolution results from mutations that alter gene regulatory network interactions shared by the characters under comparison. Thus, character trees generated from transcriptomes allow us to investigate the variational independence, or individuation, of morphological characters at the level of genetic programs.
Stochastic models of evidence accumulation in changing environments
Authors: Veliz-Cuba Alan , Kilpatrick Zachary P. , Josić Krešimir
Published: May 2015

Organisms and ecological groups accumulate evidence to make decisions. Classic experiments and theoretical studies have explored this process when the correct choice is fixed during each trial. However, the natural world constantly changes. Using sequential analysis we derive a tractable model of evidence accumulation when the correct option changes in time. Our analysis shows that ideal observers discount prior evidence at a rate determined by the volatility of the environment, and that the dynamics of evidence accumulation is governed by the information gained over an average environmental epoch. A plausible neural implementation of an optimal observer in a changing environment shows that, in contrast to previous models, neural populations representing alternate choices are coupled through excitation.
miR-551a and miR-551b-3p target GLIPR2 and promote tumor growth in High-Risk Head and Neck Cancer by modulating autophagy
Authors: Karanam Narasimha Kumar , Ding Liang-Hao , Hwang Tae Hyun , Tang Hao , Story Michael D.
Published: May 2015

Distant metastasis (DM) and local-regional recurrence (LR) after radiation and chemo therapy are major cause of treatment failure for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. However, detailed underlying mechanisms leading to DM and LR in patients are not fully understood yet. MiRNA have been proposed as biomarkers in a variety of biological and medical conditions such as cancer and stress response. The advantages of miRNA as a biomarker lies in its stability in tissues as well as body fluids, hence the potential for non-invasive diagnosis and prognosis. In this study, towards understanding the molecular mechanism causing DM and LR in HN cancer patients we performed miRNA expression profiling using tumor samples from 118 head and neck cancer patients treated by post-operative radiotherapy (PORT) at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center from 1992 to 1999. All patients were considered to be at high-risk for recurrence having histologically proven advanced squamous cell carcinoma. Amongst these samples, 41 found to have distant metastasis (DM), 53 responded without relapse (no evidence of disease (NED)) to PORT. Comparison of miRNA expression between DM and NED specimens using two-way ANOVA identified 28 miRNAs that were differentially expressed with statistical significance (FDR < 0.2 and fold change > 1.5). Amongst these 28 miRNAs seen in the DM and NED outcome groups, miRNAs 551a and 551b are significantly associated with the DM group. Interestingly these two miRNAs share same seed sequence. Moreover Kaplan-Meir survival analysis in our data set and two other data sets suggested that miR-551a and miR-551b expressions are associated with poor survival in patients. We further performed cell proliferation, migration and invasion assays using the HN5 and UMSCC-17B head and neck cancer cell lines by transfection of either mimic or an inhibitor of miR-551a and miR-551b. The results suggested that miR-551a and miR-551b mimics promote proliferation, migration and invasion whereas the inhibitor decreased. Further studies indicated that these miRNAs target GLIPR2 expression and miR-551a, miR-551b and GLIPR2 axis at least in part plays an important role in tumor progression. Hence we need to further explore miR-551a and miR-551b-3p role in HN cancer progression in detail in in-vivo models to use them as therapeutic targets in future.
Outcome learning, outcome expectations, and intentionality inDrosophila
Authors: Heisenberg Martin
Published: May 2015

An animal generates behavioral actions because of the effects of these actions in the future. Occasionally, the animal may generate an action in response to a certain event or situation. If the outcome of the action is adaptive, the animal may keep this stimulus–response link in its behavioral repertoire, in case the event or situation occurs again. If a responsive action is innate but the outcome happens to be less adaptive than it had been before, the link may be loosened. This adjustment of outcome expectations involves a particular kind of learning, which will be called “outcome learning.” The present article discusses several examples of outcome learning inDrosophila. Learning and memory are intensely studied in flies, but the focus is on classical conditioning. Outcome learning, a particular form of operant learning, is of special significance, because it modulates outcome expectations that are operational components of action selection and intentionality.
Phase matters: responding to and learning about peripheral stimuli depends on hippocampal θ phase at stimulus onset
Authors: Nokia Miriam S. , Waselius Tomi , Mikkonen Jarno E. , Wikgren Jan , Penttonen Markku
Published: May 2015

Hippocampal θ (3–12 Hz) oscillations are implicated in learning and memory, but their functional role remains unclear. We studied the effect of the phase of local θ oscillation on hippocampal responses to a neutral conditioned stimulus (CS) and subsequent learning of classical trace eyeblink conditioning in adult rabbits. High-amplitude, regular hippocampal θ-band responses (that predict good learning) were elicited by the CS when it was timed to commence at the fissure θ trough (Trough group). Regardless, learning in this group was not enhanced compared with a yoked control group, possibly due to a ceiling effect. However, when the CS was consistently presented to the peak of θ (Peak group), hippocampal θ-band responding was less organized and learning was retarded. In well-trained animals, the hippocampal θ phase at CS onset no longer affected performance of the learned response, suggesting a time-limited role for hippocampal processing in learning. To our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that timing a peripheral stimulus to a specific phase of the hippocampal θ cycle produces robust effects on the synchronization of neural responses and affects learning at the behavioral level. Our results support the notion that the phase of spontaneous hippocampal θ oscillation is a means of regulating the processing of information in the brain to a behaviorally relevant degree.
The prelimbic cortex directs attention toward predictive cues during fear learning
Authors: Sharpe Melissa J. , Killcross Simon
Published: May 2015

The prelimbic cortex is argued to promote conditioned fear expression, at odds with appetitive research implicating this region in attentional processing. Consistent with an attentional account, we report that the effect of prelimbic lesions on fear expression depends on the degree of competition between contextual and discrete cues. Further, when competition from contextual cues is low, we found that PL inactivation resulted in animals expressing fear toward irrelevant discrete cues; an effect selective to inactivation during the learning phase and not during retrieval. These data demonstrate that the prelimbic cortex modulates attention toward cues to preferentially direct fear responding on the basis of their predictive value.
Document delivery demand and service review at the University of Kent
Authors: Werner Matthias
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the document delivery demand at the University of Kent and describes the recent changes to the document delivery service and their impact.

Design/methodology/approach

– Statistical data from 2007 to 2015 and user feedback have been examined.

Findings

– There is a combination of reasons behind the high level of demand for interlibrary loan (ILL) material at the University of Kent, most notably the specific needs of users and library policy regarding document delivery.

Originality/value

– A study of one of the very few UK universities to experience an increase in ILL in the past few years.
The emasculation of frogs
Authors: Hirsch Peter Buell
Published: May 2015

Purpose

– This article aims to suggest some ways in which the effectiveness of critical scientific communication might be improved. The persistence of anti-vaccine rhetoric, disputes about climate change and other scientific controversies have shone a light on the difficulty of communicating scientific information effectively to the public.

Design/methodology/approach

– The article looks at some recent research into neuroscience and human decision-making to suggest some best practices in communicating about science to the public.

Findings

– This literature review suggests that if we can embed rational arguments into a rich emotional narrative, we are more likely to overcome public skepticism and suspicion.

Originality/value

– While there has been much focus on human decision-making and cognitive bias, the relevant research has not often been related to the effectiveness of scientific communication.
Tracheal intubation in patients with anticipated difficult airway using Boedeker intubation forceps and McGrath videolaryngoscope
Authors: Strøm C. , Barnung S. , Kristensen M. S. , Bøttger M. , Tvede M. F. , Rasmussen L. S.
Published: May 2015

Background

Videolaryngoscopes with sharp angulated blades improve the view of the vocal cords but this does not necessarily result in higher success rates of intubation The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using Boedeker intubation forceps in conjunction with McGrath Series 5 Videolaryngoscope (MVL) in patients with predictors for difficult intubation.

Methods

The study was conducted at the Department of Anaesthesia, Copenhagen University Hospital from September to December 2013. Patients with one or more predictors of difficult intubation scheduled for general anaesthesia were assessed for eligibility. Patients were intubated using Boedeker intubation forceps and MVL. The primary endpoint was time to intubation. The secondary endpoints were intubation success rate, number of intubation attempts, intubation conditions and post‐operative hoarseness.

Results

Thirty‐three patients were assessed for eligibility, and 25 patients were included in the study with a median SARI score of 3 (IQR 3–4). Twenty‐two (88%, 95% confidence interval [74–100%]) of the patients were successfully intubated by the method with a median time to intubation of 115 s (IQR 78–247). Steering and advancement of the tube were reported as acceptable in 21 (84%) and 22 cases (88%), respectively, and excellent in 10 cases (45%) for both measures. Ten cases (40%) were intubated on the first attempt. There were three cases (12%) of failed intubation; in these cases, successful intubation was obtained by using a styletted tube.

Conclusion(s)

Most patients with anticipated difficult intubation can be successfully intubated with Boedeker intubation forceps and MVL. However, endotracheal tube placement failed in 3/25 patients despite a good laryngeal view.
A guideline for the use of variable rate intravenous insulin infusion in medical inpatients
Authors: George S. , Dale J. , Stanisstreet D. ,   the Joint British Diabetes Societies (JBDS) for Inpatient Care,   the JBDS Medical VRIII Writing Group
Published: May 2015

The present paper summarizes the key recommendations in a recent publication produced by the Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care on the use of variable rate i.v. insulin infusion in ‘medical’ inpatients. The full guideline is available at http://www.diabetologists-abcd.org.uk/JBDS/JBDS_IP_VRIII.pdf and is designed to be a practical guide that can used by any healthcare professional who manages medical inpatients with hyperglycaemia. Its main aim is to allow variable rate i.v. insulin infusion to be used safely, effectively and efficiently for this specific group of inpatients.
Early specialist care for diabetes: who benefits most? A propensity score‐matched cohort study
Authors: Booth G. L. , Shah B. R. , Austin P. C. , Hux J. E. , Luo J. , Lok C. E.
Published: May 2015

Aims

To examine whether early endocrinologist care reduces the risk of cardiovascular complications among newly diagnosed patients with diabetes of differing complexity.

Methods

We conducted a population‐based propensity score‐matched cohort study using provincial health data from Ontario, Canada. Adults (≥ 30 years) diagnosed with diabetes between 1 April 1998 and 31 March 2006 who received endocrinologist care in the first year of diagnosis were matched to a comparison group receiving primary care alone (N = 79 020) based on propensity scores and medical complexity (assigned using information on chronic conditions). Individuals were followed for 3‐ and 5‐year outcomes, including non‐fatal acute myocardial infarction or coronary heart disease death (primary endpoint), major cardiovascular events (acute myocardial infarction, stroke) or all‐cause death, amputation and end‐stage renal disease.

Results

Among medically complex patients, early endocrinologist care was associated with a lower 3‐year incidence of the primary endpoint (hazard ratio 0.89, 95% CI 0.78–1.01) and major cardiovascular events or all‐cause death (hazard ratio 0.91, 95% CI 0.85–0.97). These effects persisted after accounting for a higher incidence of end‐stage renal disease on follow‐up and were greatest in those with ≥ 3 visits to an endocrinologist (primary endpoint: hazard ratio 0.69, 95% CI 0.56–0.86 and 0.61, 95% CI 0.45–0.82, for unadjusted and end‐stage renal disease adjusted analyses, respectively). In contrast, no benefit was observed in the non‐medically complex subgroup. Overall effects were similar at 5 years.

Conclusions

Early endocrinologist care is associated with a lower incidence of cardiovascular events and death among newly diagnosed patients with diabetes who have comorbid medical conditions.
Twice‐ rather than once‐daily basal insulin is associated with better glycaemic control in Type 1 diabetes mellitus 12 months after skills‐based structured education in insulin self‐management
Authors: Hopkinson H. E. , Jacques R. M. , Gardner K. J. , Amiel S. A. , Mansell P.
Published: May 2015

Aim

This study investigates the relationship between basal insulin regimen and glycaemic outcomes 12 months after skills‐based structured education in the UK Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE) programme for Type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Method

Retrospective analysis of data from 892 DAFNE participants from 11 UK centres.

Results

Mean HbA1c 12 months after DAFNE was lower in those using twice‐ rather than once‐daily basal insulin after correcting for differences in baseline HbA1c, age and duration of diabetes; difference –2 (95% CI –3 to –1) mmol/mol [–0.2 (–0.3 to –0.1)%], P = 0.009. The greatest fall in HbA1c of –5 (–7 to –3) mmol/mol [–0.4 (–0.6 to –0.3)%], P < 0.001 occurred in those with less good baseline control, HbA1c ≥ 58 mmol/mol, who switched from once‐ to twice‐daily basal insulin. There was no difference in the 12‐month HbA1c between users of glargine, detemir and NPH insulin after correcting for other variables. Relative risk of severe hypoglycaemia fell by 76% and ketoacidosis by 63% 12 months after DAFNE. The rate of severe hypoglycaemia fell from 0.82 to 0.23 events/patient year in twice‐daily basal insulin users. In the group with greatest fall in HbA1c, the estimated relative risk for severe hypoglycaemia in twice‐daily basal insulin users versus once daily at 12 months was 1.72 (0.88–3.36, P = 0.110).

Conclusion

After structured education in adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus, use of basal insulin twice rather than once daily was associated with lower HbA1c, independent of insulin type, with significant reductions in severe hypoglycaemia and ketoacidosis in all groups.
Electrical penetration graphs indicate that tricin is a key secondary metabolite of rice, inhibiting phloem feeding of brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens
Authors: Zhang Zhenfei , Cui Baiyuan , Zhang Yang
Published: May 2015

Tricin (5,7,4′‐trihydroxy‐3′,5′‐dimethoxyflavone) is a valuable secondary metabolite which is widely present in gramineous plants, including cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.) (Poaceae). It can defend the rice plant against damage by the brown planthopper (BPH), Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) (Hemiptera: Delphacidae), one of the most important pests of rice. This study was conducted to elucidate the mechanisms of action of tricin on BPH feeding behavior. BPH feeding behavior in resistant (Rathu Heenati, RHT) and susceptible (Taichuang native 1, TN1) rice varieties and artificial diets was monitored using the electrical penetration graph (EPG) technique. Tricin concentrations in leaves of varieties RHT and TN1 were quantitatively analyzed by liquid chromatography, coupled to tandem mass spectrometric techniques. Six (NP and N1‐5) and four (NP, N1, N2, and N4) types of waveforms occurred during feeding on rice plants and artificial diets, respectively. The tricin concentration of rice varieties was correlated with total and average durations of N4. Moreover, EPG data indicated that tricin significantly increased the duration of non‐probing and pathway periods and strongly inhibited phloem ingestion (N4). The inhibition was strongly dose dependent, resulting in complete suppression of activity in the phloem region when the tricin concentration was increased to 1 g l−1. This study revealed that tricin disturbed the feeding behavior of BPH mainly by increasing the non‐probe period and inhibiting phloem ingestion. We confirmed the hypothesis that tricin is a ‘stylet probing stimulant’ of rice planthoppers as proposed in previous studies. The information on the ecological effect of tricin from this study may be useful to clarify the resistance mechanism against BPH of RHT and other tricin‐containing rice varieties.
Bioequivalence of oral and intravenous carbamazepine formulations in adult patients with epilepsy
Authors: Tolbert Dwain , Cloyd James , Biton Victor , Bekersky Ihor , Walzer Mark , Wesche David , Drummond Rebecca , Lee Deborah
Published: May 2015

Objective

To evaluate the safety, tolerability, and comparative pharmacokinetics (PK) of intravenous and oral carbamazepine.

Methods

In this phase 1, open‐label study, adult patients with epilepsy on a stable oral carbamazepine dosage (400–2,000 mg/day) were converted to intravenous carbamazepine (administered at 70% of the oral dosage). A 28‐day outpatient period preceded an up to 10‐day inpatient period and a 30‐day follow‐up period. Intravenous carbamazepine was administered over 15 or 30 min every 6 h on days 1–7; some patients in the 15‐min group were eligible to receive four 2‐ to 5‐min (rapid) infusions on day 8. Patients underwent blood sampling to determine the area under the concentration–time curve (AUC) for carbamazepine and metabolite carbamazepine‐10,11‐epoxide following oral (day 0) and intravenous carbamazepine administration (days 1, 7, and 8). Bioequivalence was evaluated in patients with normal renal function (creatinine clearance >80 ml/min). Safety assessments were conducted through day 38.

Results

Ninety‐eight patients enrolled and 77 completed the PK component. The mean daily oral and intravenous carbamazepine dosage for 64 PK‐evaluable patients with normal renal function was 962.5 and 675.1 mg (70% of oral dosage), respectively. Steady‐state minimum concentration (Cmin) and overall exposure (AUC0–24) for intravenous carbamazepine infused over 30, 15, or 2–5 min were similar to oral carbamazepine. The 90% confidence intervals (CIs) for the ratios of the adjusted means for AUC0–24, maximum concentration (Cmax), and Cmin were within the 80%–125% bioequivalence range for 30‐min intravenous infusions versus oral administration, but exceeded the upper limit for Cmax for the 15‐min and rapid infusions. All intravenous carbamazepine infusions were well tolerated.

Significance

Intravenous carbamazepine infusions (70% of oral daily dose) of 30‐, 15‐, and 2‐ to 5‐min duration, given every 6 h, maintained patients’ plasma carbamazepine concentrations. Intravenous carbamazepine 30‐min infusions were bioequivalent to oral carbamazepine in patients with normal renal function; rapid infusions were well‐tolerated in this study.
Ecosystem‐scale volatile organic compound fluxes during an extreme drought in a broadleaf temperate forest of the Missouri Ozarks (central USA)
Authors: Seco Roger , Karl Thomas , Guenther Alex , Hosman Kevin P. , Pallardy Stephen G. , Gu Lianhong , Geron Chris , Harley Peter , Kim Saewung
Published: May 2015

Considerable amounts and varieties of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) are exchanged between vegetation and the surrounding air. These BVOCs play key ecological and atmospheric roles that must be adequately represented for accurately modeling the coupled biosphere–atmosphere–climate earth system. One key uncertainty in existing models is the response of BVOC fluxes to an important global change process: drought. We describe the diurnal and seasonal variation in isoprene, monoterpene, and methanol fluxes from a temperate forest ecosystem before, during, and after an extreme 2012 drought event in the Ozark region of the central USA. BVOC fluxes were dominated by isoprene, which attained high emission rates of up to 35.4 mg m−2 h−1 at midday. Methanol fluxes were characterized by net deposition in the morning, changing to a net emission flux through the rest of the daylight hours. Net flux of CO2 reached its seasonal maximum approximately a month earlier than isoprenoid fluxes, which highlights the differential response of photosynthesis and isoprenoid emissions to progressing drought conditions. Nevertheless, both processes were strongly suppressed under extreme drought, although isoprene fluxes remained relatively high compared to reported fluxes from other ecosystems. Methanol exchange was less affected by drought throughout the season, confirming the complex processes driving biogenic methanol fluxes. The fraction of daytime (7–17 h) assimilated carbon released back to the atmosphere combining the three BVOCs measured was 2% of gross primary productivity (GPP) and 4.9% of net ecosystem exchange (NEE) on average for our whole measurement campaign, while exceeding 5% of GPP and 10% of NEE just before the strongest drought phase. The meganv2.1 model correctly predicted diurnal variations in fluxes driven mainly by light and temperature, although further research is needed to address model BVOC fluxes during drought events.
Genetic variation and bidirectional gene flow in the riparian plant Miscanthus lutarioriparius, across its endemic range: implications for adaptive potential
Authors: Yan Juan , Zhu Mingdong , Liu Wei , Xu Qin , Zhu Caiyun , Li Jianqiang , Sang Tao
Published: May 2015

Miscanthus lutarioriparius is an endemic species that grows along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and is a valuable source of germplasm for the development of second‐generation energy crops. The plant that propagates via seeds, stem nodes, and rhizomes shows high phenotypic variation and strong local adaptation. Here, we examined the magnitude and spatial distribution of genetic variation in M. lutarioriparius across its entire distributional range and tested underlying factors that shaped its genetic variation. Population genetic analyses were conducted on 644 individuals from 25 populations using 16 microsatellite markers. M. lutarioriparius exhibited a high level of genetic variation (HE = 0.682–0.786; Ar = 4.74–8.06) and a low differentiation (FST = 0.063; Dest = 0.153). Of the total genetic variation, 10% was attributed to the differences among populations (df = 24, P < 0.0001), whereas 90% was attributed to the differences among individuals (df = 619, P ≤ 0.0001). Genetic diversity did not differ significantly across longitudes and did not increase in the populations growing downstream of the Yangtze River. However, significant associations were found between genetic differentiation and spatial distance. Six genetic discontinuities were identified, which mostly distributed among downstream populations. We conclude that anthropogenic factors and landscape features both contributed to shaping the pattern of gene flow in M. lutarioriparius, including long‐distance bidirectional dispersal. Our results explain the genetic basis of the high degree of adaptability in M. lutarioriparius and identify potential sources of new germplasm for the domestication of this potential second‐generation energy crop.
Who prefers to age in place? Cross‐sectional survey of middle‐aged people in Japan
Authors: Matsumoto Hiroshige , Naruse Takashi , Sakai Mahiro , Nagata Satoko
Published: May 2015

Aim

Preference for aging in place among middle‐aged people is an important element in estimating the future needs for community services of disabled older adults. Drawing on Litwak and Longino's typologies of relocation, the present study investigated the characteristics of middle‐aged adults who prefer to age in place and those who prefer to move, at two levels of disability: being unable to walk alone and being bedridden.

Methods

In the present cross‐sectional study, an anonymous, self‐administered questionnaire was sent to 2500 community‐dwelling adults aged 40–64 years.

Results

If unable to walk outside alone, 43.0% of respondents would prefer to move from their own homes. If bedridden, 29.5% preferred to move. After age and sex had been adjusted for, house size, length of time living at that house, the number of people living together, and attachment to home and neighborhood were independently related to moving preferences if unable to walk outside alone. Accessibility of hospitals and supermarkets, community participation, and use of the Internet were related to moving preferences if bedridden.

Conclusions

Sex, current living arrangement and geographic properties are correlated with changes in community‐dwelling adults' preferences for residential relocation as physical function declines. It is necessary for municipal policymakers to understand these correlations in order to plan and develop effective community care systems. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 631–637.
Comorbidity as a predictor of mortality and mobility after hip fracture
Authors: González‐Zabaleta Jorge , Pita‐Fernandez Salvador , Seoane‐Pillado Teresa , López‐Calviño Beatriz , Gonzalez‐Zabaleta Jose Luis
Published: May 2015

Aim

To determine mortality and mobility rates after hip fracture.

Methods

A prospective study (n = 199 patients) was carried out in the Health Care Center of A Coruña (Spain) during the period between January 2009 and December 2011. A descriptive study, and Cox and logistic regression analysis were carried out. Informed consent and ethical review board approval were obtained (code 2010/120 CEIC Galicia).

Results

The patients' mean age was 82.5 ± 8.4 years and 76% were female. The average Charlson Comorbidity Index score was 6.1 ± 2.1. Creatinine clearance <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 was 44%. The probability of survival 6 months after hip fracture was 89.2% and the survival rate at 12 months was 81.4%. Cox regression analysis showed that the indicator that most influenced mortality rate was comorbidity (HR = 1.133; P = 0.020) and age approaching borderline statistical significance (HR = 1.034; P = 0.064). The Parker Mobility Score decreased significantly (P < 0.001) after hip fracture. Before fracture, 19% of the patients were able to get about the house, 26% were able to get out of the house and 55% were able to go shopping. After hip fracture (90 days), the percentages changed to 56.2%, 19.1% and 24.7%, respectively (P < 0.001). After taking into account age, sex, type of fracture, surgical delay, previous fracture and comorbidity, the only indicator capable of predicting incapacity to walk was comorbidity.

Conclusions

Comorbidity is the best predictor of mortality and mobility after hip fracture. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 561–569.
Utility of a Paediatric Bleeding Questionnaire as a screening tool for von Willebrand disease in apparently healthy children
Authors: Mittal N. , Naridze R. , James P. , Shott S. , Valentino L. A.
Published: May 2015

von Willebrand disease (VWD), an inherited bleeding disorder caused by deficiency or dysfunction of von Willebrand factor (VWF) is diagnosed when a personal and often a family history of excessive mucocutaneous bleeding is present along with abnormal laboratory studies. An accurate assessment of haemorrhagic symptoms is key in suspecting VWD but presents a challenge especially in children due to overlap between normal and abnormal bleeding. Bleeding questionnaire (BQ) scores have been validated in adults and have recently been validated in children with VWD for assessing bleeding severity. However, there are limited data supporting their use prospectively in healthy children with bleeding complaints.

Aim

The objectives of this study were to obtain normative data from children and validate a paediatric BQ (PBQ) to determine the discriminative ability of its total score and its individual components for identifying children likely to have VWD.

Methods

The PBQ was administered to 1281 multiethnic, healthy children between 30 days and 18 years of age presenting to a general paediatric office and to 35 children with VWD based on VWF antigen, activity and multimer pattern.

Results

When children with total BQ scores of 3 or more were predicted to have VWD, the sensitivity was 97.2%, the specificity was 97.1%, the positive predictive value was 48.6% and the negative predictive value was 99.9%.

Conclusions

The PBQ may help discriminate a significant bleeding history from trivial bleeding, may be integrated into the primary care algorithm for evaluating children suspected with VWD.