bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A dietary polyphenol resveratrol acts to provide neuroprotection in recurrent stroke models by regulating AMPK and SIRT1 signaling, thereby reducing energy requirements during ischemia
Authors: Wang L.‐M. , Wang Y.‐J. , Cui M. , Luo W.‐J. , Wang X.‐J. , Barber P.A. , Chen Z.‐Y.
Published: April 2016

The above article from European Journal of Neuroscience, published online on 5 March 2013 in Wiley Online Library (http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ejn.12162/full), has been retracted by agreement between the Editors‐in‐Chief, Paul Bolam and John Foxe, the authors and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. The retraction has been agreed as Dr Phillip Barber has informed the publisher that he had seen neither the original data nor any version of the manuscript, and had not been involved in the work reported. A subsequent Institutional investigation found evidence of misconduct on the part of the submitting author.

Reference

Wang, L.‐M., Wang, Y.‐J., Cui, M., Luo, W.‐J., Wang, X.‐J., Barber, P.A. & Chen, Z.‐Y. (2013) A dietary polyphenol resveratrol acts to provide neuroprotection in recurrent stroke models by regulating AMPK and SIRT1 signaling, thereby reducing energy requirements during ischemia. Eur. J. Neurosci., 37, 1669–1681. doi: 10.1111/ejn.12162
Virtual car accidents of epilepsy patients, interictal epileptic activity, and medication
Authors: Nirkko Arto C. , Bernasconi Corrado , von Allmen Andreas , Liechti Christian , Mathis Johannes , Krestel Heinz
Published: April 2016

Objective

To investigate effects of interictal epileptic activity (IEA) and antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) on reactivity and aspects of the fitness to drive for epilepsy patients.

Methods

Forty‐six adult patients with demonstration of focal or generalized bursts of IEA in electroencephalography (EEG) readings within 1 year prior to inclusion irrespective of medication performed a car driving computer test or a single light flash test (39 patients performed both). Reaction times (RTs), virtual crashes, or lapses (RT ≥ 1 s in the car or flash test) were measured in an IEA burst–triggered fashion during IEA and compared with RT‐measurements during unremarkable EEG findings in the same session.

Results

IEA prolonged RTs both in the flash and car test (p < 0.001) in individual patients up to 200 ms. Generalized IEA with spike/waves (s/w) had the largest effect on RT prolongation (p < 0.001, both tests), whereas mean RT during normal EEG, age, gender, and number of AEDs had no effect. The car test was better than the flash test in detecting RT prolongations (p = 0.030). IEA increased crashes/lapses >26% in sessions with generalized IEA with s/w. The frequency of IEA‐associated RT >1 s exceeded predictions (p < 0.001) based on simple RT shift, suggesting functional impairment beyond progressive RT prolongation by IEA. The number of AEDs correlated with prolonged RTs during normal EEG (p < 0.021) but not with IEA‐associated RT prolongation or crashes/lapses.

Significance

IEA prolonged RTs to varying extents, dependent on IEA type. IEA‐associated RTs >1 s were more frequent than predicted, suggesting beginning cerebral decompensation of visual stimulus processing. AEDs somewhat reduced psychomotor speed, but it was mainly the IEA that contributed to an excess of virtual accidents.
Seasonal forecasting for decision support in marine fisheries and aquaculture
Authors: Hobday Alistair J. , Spillman Claire M. , Paige Eveson J. , Hartog Jason R.
Published: April 2016

The production of marine protein from fishing and aquaculture is influenced by environmental conditions. Ocean temperature, for example, can change the growth rate of cultured animals, or the distribution of wild stocks. In turn these impacts may require changes in fishing or farming practices. In addition to short‐term environmental fluctuations, long‐term climate‐related trends are also resulting in new conditions, necessitating adjustment in fishing, farming and management approaches. Longer‐term climate forecasts, however, are seen as less relevant by many in the seafood sector owing to more immediate concerns. Seasonal forecasts provide insight into upcoming environmental conditions, and thus allow improved decision making. Forecasts based on dynamic ocean models are now possible and offer improved performance relative to statistical forecasts, particularly given baseline shifts in the environment as a result of climate change. Seasonal forecasting is being used in marine farming and fishing operations in Australia, including wild tuna and farmed salmon and prawns, to reduce uncertainty and manage business risks. Forecast variables include water temperature, rainfall and air temperature, and are considered useful up to approximately 4 months into the future, depending on the region and season of interest. Species‐specific habitat forecasts can also be made by combining these environment forecasts with biological habitat preference data. Seasonal forecasts are useful when a range of options are available for implementation in response to the forecasts. The use of seasonal forecasts in supporting effective marine management may also represent a useful stepping stone to improved decision making and industry resilience at longer timescales.
Convergence among global biogeographical realms in the physiological niche of evergreen and deciduous vegetation
Authors: Buitenwerf Robert , Higgins Steven I.
Published: April 2016

Aim

The seasonal timing and duration of leaf deployment has major implications for earth–atmosphere interactions and biotic processes. While evidence for impacts of global change on the timing of leaf deployment (leaf phenology) is accumulating, knowledge of the mechanisms that determine the duration of leaf deployment (leaf habit) and its geographical distribution remains incomplete. Theoretical models of leaf habit assume that a selective environment leads to convergence to an optimal leaf habit. Here we examine convergence in the physiological niche of different leaf habits.

Location

South American, African, Indo‐Pacific and Australian biogeographical realms.

Methods

We delineated the distribution of three phenomes: high leaf area evergreen vegetation, low leaf area evergreen vegetation and deciduous vegetation, using a 1981–2012 time series of normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) data from the advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR). For each phenome in each of the four biogeographical realms we quantified the physiological niche using a process‐based model of plant growth. The derived physiological niche dimensions of each phenome in each realm were used to project its potential distribution into other, non‐native, realms. Convergence in leaf habit was quantified as the level of consistency among the projections from all realms.

Results

The overall agreement between observed and predicted phenomes in the native realm was high (80%), suggesting that the model adequately describes the physiological niches of phenomes. Projections from each phenome into non‐native realms coincided in 89% of the study area, implying widespread convergence of the physiological niches of phenomes. For the remaining 11% of the study area projections of all realms did not coincide, implying that the predicted phenome type is uncertain.

Main conclusions

Modelled physiological niches of the same phenome in different biogeographical realms largely overlap. This implies a dominant role for evolutionary convergence in the biogeography of leaf habit. Overall, our analysis therefore suggests that the impact of global change on the geographical distribution of leaf habit can be predicted by relatively simple physiological models. Potential explanations for non‐convergence on 11% of the study area include historical contingencies and alternative stable states.
Worlds of Work: Changing Landscapes of Production and the New Geographies of Opportunity
Authors: Theodore Nik
Published: April 2016

This paper provides a critical overview of major trends impacting labor standards in the global economy. On the production side, these include the increasing financialization of capital, internationalization of production networks, and informalization of employment. These processes interact with changes within labor markets resulting from a doubling of the number of workers who comprise the labor pool available within the capitalist system as well as increases in international migration. The paper concludes by considering emerging approaches that are being developed by workers' rights organizations, labor unions, and advocacy organizations to organize workers' and improve labor protections.
Perspectives on the Synoptic Climate Classification and its Role in Interdisciplinary Research
Authors: Dixon P. Grady , Allen Michael , Gosling Simon N. , Hondula David M. , Ingole Vijendra , Lucas Rebekah , Vanos Jennifer
Published: April 2016

Synoptic climatology has a long history of research where weather data are aggregated and composited to gain a better understanding of atmospheric effects on non‐atmospheric variables. This has resulted in an applied scientific discipline that yields methods and tools designed for applications across disciplinary boundaries. The spatial synoptic classification (SSC) is an example of such a tool that helps researchers bridge methodological gaps between disciplines, especially those studying weather effects on human health. The SSC has been applied in several multi‐discipline projects, and it appears that there is ample opportunity for growth into new topical areas. Likewise, there is opportunity for the SSC network to be expanded across the globe, especially into mid‐latitude locations in the Southern Hemisphere. There is some question of the utility of the SSC in tropical locations, but such decisions must be based on the actual weather data from individual locations. Despite all of the strengths and potential uses of the SSC, there are some research problems, some locations, and some datasets for which it is not suitable. Nevertheless, the success of the SSC as a cross‐disciplinary method is noteworthy because it has become a catalyst for collaboration.
Screening of Two ADH4 Variations in a Swedish Cluster Headache Case–Control Material
Authors: Fourier Carmen , Ran Caroline , Steinberg Anna , Sjöstrand Christina , Waldenlind Elisabet , Carmine Belin Andrea
Published: April 2016

Background

Cluster headache (CH) is a severe neurovascular disorder and an increasing amount of evidence points to a genetic contribution to this disease. When CH was first described, it was observed that alcohol may precipitate an attack during the active phase of the disease. The alcohol dehydrogenase 4 (ADH4) gene encodes an enzyme which contributes to the metabolization of alcohol and is, therefore, an interesting candidate gene for CH. Two Italian groups have reported association of the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1126671 located in the ADH4 gene with an increased risk of CH in Italy. In addition, one of the groups found an association between the ADH4 SNP rs1800759 and CH.

Objective

To perform a replication study on the ADH4 SNPs rs1126671 and rs1800759 in a large homogeneous Swedish case–control cohort in order to further investigate the possible contribution of ADH4 to CH.

Methods

A total of 390 unrelated patients diagnosed with CH and 389 controls representing a general Swedish population were recruited to the study. DNA samples from patients and controls were genotyped for the two ADH4 SNPs rs1126671 and rs1800759 using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analyses of genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies for the two SNPs were performed and compared between patients and controls.

Results

For rs1126671, the minor allele frequency (A allele) was 32.8% (n = 254) in controls compared with 31.9% (n = 249) in CH patients. The minor allele frequency (A allele) of rs1800759 was 42.3% (n = 324) in controls and 41.9% (n = 327) in CH patients. Statistical analysis showed no significant differences in allele as well as in genotype or haplotype frequencies between the patient and control group for either SNP. This was also seen after stratifying the patient group for experiencing alcohol as a trigger factor.

Conclusions

The data did not support an association of the ADH4 SNPs rs1126671 and rs1800759 with CH. A comparison with previous studies revealed variance in genotype, allele, and haplotype frequencies among the different populations which might contribute to the contradictory results. Although a significant association with CH in Swedish case–control group was not found, ADH4 as a candidate gene for CH could not be excluded.
Reintegration as an Emerging Vision of Justice for Victims of Human Trafficking
Authors: Bearup Luke S
Published: April 2016

This article examines the discoursal shift to “reintegration” within trafficking protection programmes and policy, with emphasis upon Cambodia. The evidence indicates that non‐governmental organizations (NGOs) are progressively making “reintegration” their primary protective objective. Yet a lack of conceptual clarity prevails and is being exacerbated by models and forms of guidance which position NGOs as directly undertaking or providing for the achievement of reintegration. This article argues that NGOs and their practitioners cannot “reintegrate” anyone – at least not in any substantive sense. Drawing upon the discourse within the field of protection practice, a dualist conception of reintegration is proposed as comprised of “procedural” and “substantive” elements. Accordingly, the procedural delivery of assistance may or may not support the substantive attainment of reintegration. It is argued that the emerging focus upon reintegration reflects a broadened vision of justice which warrants further research into the social and cultural foundations necessary for its achievement.
Current patient and healthcare worker attitudes to eHealth and the personally controlled electronic health record in major hospitals
Authors: Armani R. , Mitchell L. E. , Allen‐Graham J. , Heriot N. R. , Kotsimbos T. , Wilson J. W.
Published: April 2016

Background

The current health system in Australia is comprised of both electronic‐ and paper‐based medical records. The Federal Government has approved funding for the development of an individual health identifier and a universally adopted online health repository.

Aims

To determine attitudes and beliefs of patients and healthcare workers regarding the use of stored medical information and the personally controlled electronic health record (PCEHR) in selected major hospitals in Victoria.

Methods

Qualitative survey of patients and healthcare workers (n = 600 each group) conducted during 2014 across five major hospitals in Melbourne to measure the awareness, attitudes and barriers to electronic health and the PCEHR.

Results

Of the patients, 93.3% support the concept of a shared electronic healthcare record, 33.7% were aware of the PCEHR and only 11% had registered. The majority of healthcare workers believed that the presence of a shared health record would result in an increased appropriateness of care and patient safety by reducing adverse drug events and improving the timeliness of care provided. However, only 46% of healthcare workers were aware of the PCEHR.

Conclusions

This study provides a baseline evaluation of perceptions surrounding eHealth and PCHER in acute health services in five metropolitan centres. While there appears to be a readiness for adoption of these strategies for healthcare documentation, patients require motivation to register for the PCEHR, and healthcare workers require more information on the potential benefits to them to achieve more timely and efficient care.
Pleural infection in a New Zealand centre: high incidence in Pacific people and RAPID score as a prognostic tool
Authors: Wong D. , Yap E.
Published: April 2016

Background

Whilst there is an increase in incidence of pleural infection worldwide, there is a paucity of New Zealand data.

Aims

This study looked at the epidemiology of pleural infection in a single New Zealand institution and evaluated the RAPID score as a prognostic tool.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed on patients with pleural infection over a 3‐year period. Pleural infection was defined as having clinical evidence of infection and fulfilling one of the following: (i) positive pleural fluid Gram stain or culture, (ii) frank pus, (iii) pH <7.2 or (iv) radiological evidence of complex effusion.

Results

There were 108 patients; 76% were male, and mean age was 54 years. Two thirds of patients came from the most deprived areas. The dominant ethnic group was Pacific people (42%), which was twice as high as the Pacific population in the area (19%), P < 0.0001. After adjusting for deprivation, Pacific people were still over‐represented, P = 0.0002. There were 14 deaths (13%), and these were associated with increasing age (P = 0.001) and urea (P = 0.007) but not ethnicity or socioeconomic deprivation. The RAPID score found that those in the high‐risk (P = 0.026) and moderate‐risk (P = 0.036) groups had significantly higher mortality compared with the low‐risk group.

Conclusion

The over‐representation of Pacific people with pleural infection is not fully explained by socioeconomic deprivation, highlighting other factors at play, such as genetic susceptibility. The RAPID score was of clinical utility in predicting mortality in our population.
Vitamin D immunoregulation through dendritic cells
Authors: Bscheider Michael , Butcher Eugene C.
Published: April 2016

Vitamin D (VD3) has been linked to immunological processes, and its supplementation may have a role in treatment or prevention of diseases with underlying autoimmune or pro‐inflammatory states. As initiators of the immune responses, dendritic cells (DC) are a potential target of VD3 to dampen autoimmunity and inflammation, but the role of DC in VD3‐mediated immunomodulation in vivo is not understood. In addition to being targets of VD3, DC can provide a local source of bioactive VD3 for regulation of T‐cell responses. Here we review existing studies that describe the tolerogenic potential of VD3 on DC, and discuss them in the context of current understanding of DC development and function. We speculate on mechanisms that might account for the potent but poorly understood tolerogenic activities of VD3 and the role of DC as both targets and sources of this hormone.
Relationship Between Blood Pressure Values, Depressive Symptoms, and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Patients With Cardiometabolic Disease
Authors: Jani Bhautesh Dinesh , Cavanagh Jonathan , Barry Sarah J.E. , Der Geoff , Sattar Naveed , Mair Frances S.
Published: April 2016

The authors studied the joint effect of blood pressure (BP) and depression on the risk of major adverse cardiovascular outcome in patients with existing cardiometabolic disease. A cohort of 35,537 patients with coronary heart disease, diabetes, or stroke underwent depression screening and BP measurement recorded concurrently. The authors used Cox's proportional hazards to calculate risk of major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE; myocardial infarction/heart failure/stroke or cardiovascular death) over 4 years associated with baseline BP and depression. A total of 11% (3939) had experienced a MACE within 4 years. Patients with very high systolic BP (160–240 mm Hg; hazard ratio, 1.28) and depression (hazard ratio, 1.22) at baseline had significantly higher adjusted risk. Depression had a significant interaction with systolic BP in risk prediction (P=.03). Patients with a combination of high systolic BP and depression at baseline had 83% higher adjusted risk of MACE, as compared with patients with reference systolic BP without depression. Patients with cardiometabolic disease and comorbid depression may benefit from closer monitoring of systolic BP.
Preparation of Fish Oil Microcapsules by Complex Coacervation of Gelatin–Gum Arabic and their Utilization for Fortification of Pomegranate Juice
Authors: Habibi Asieh , Keramat Javad , Hojjatoleslamy Mohammad , Tamjidi Fardin
Published: April 2016

This work aimed to microencapsulate fish oil within the complex coacervates of gelatin–gum Arabic (ratio 1:1) and then to fortify pomegranate juice with the microcapsules. The maximum values of encapsulation efficiency and oil percent of microcapsules were found for the formulation containing 1.5% encapsulants and 3% fish oil. Optical microscopy revealed that the microcapsules have a round shape and multinucleated structure. The freeze‐dried microcapsules were added to pomegranate juice before pasteurization, and some physicochemical and sensory properties of the fortified juice were investigated during 42 days storage at 4°C. Addition of microcapsules into juice led to an increase in its turbidity and lightness. Sensory evaluation showed that it is possible to fortify pomegranate juice with fish oil microcapsules up to 100 mg long‐chain n‐3 PUFAs per liter. GC–MS analysis revealed that ≈14% of fish oil was released from the added microcapsules to pomegranate juice on the day 42.

Practical Applications

Encapsulation of omega‐3 rich oil by complex coacervation technique is an effective approach to delay its oxidation in enriched food products. Therefore, fish oil containing long‐chain n‐3 PUFAs was microencapsulated in complex coacervates of gelatin–gum Arabic and then added to pomegranate juice. Subsequently, quality characteristics of the fortified juice were investigated during storage. This study provides useful information about fortification of aqueous‐based food products with microcapsules containing omega‐3 rich oil or other lipophilic nutraceuticals.
Development of a flood forecasting system on the upper Indus catchment using IFAS
Authors: Sugiura A. , Fujioka S. , Nabesaka S. , Tsuda M. , Iwami Y.
Published: April 2016

Flow forecast in the Upper Indus catchment in Pakistan is based on average peak flow travel time between key dams and barrages. There was also no flow forecasting system for the Kabul river sub‐basin where most of the 2010 floods victims were reported. A 5‐km spatially distributed tank model using Integrated Flood Analysis System (IFAS) was developed from the Indus upstream reach until the Taunsa barrage. A preliminary model parameterisation, which relied on global data, was updated with newly surveyed soil hydraulic data. The model calibration was performed with Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) rain gauge data. Nash‐Sutcliffe efficiencies
ENS

were calculated for simulated discharges at key gauges.
ENS

were very low or negative for past flood simulations. One of the reasons for these low efficiencies was the scarcity of local hydro‐meteorological data, including rainfall. Therefore, corrected JAXA satellite‐based rainfall estimates GSMaP‐NRT were considered input data. GSMaP‐NRT self‐correction method coefficients were calibrated for Upper Indus, but the results only improved slightly. However, upstream discharges as boundary conditions resulted in
ENS

reaching satisfactory averages over 0.7. Simulated hydrographs were then acceptable in terms of peak timing and/or height. Therefore, the conclusion was to recommend relying on upstream discharges as boundary conditions for operational use of the model.
Control of Alternaria Rot of Cherry Tomatoes by Food‐Grade Laurus Nobilis Essential Oil Microemulsion
Authors: Xu Shixiang , Ni Zhendan , Ma Luyao , Zheng Xiaodong
Published: April 2016

Essential oils were widely reported to control the postharvest diseases of fruits. However, the stability and solubility limited the application of essential oils. The microemulsion loaded with Laurus nobilis oil was prepared with the optimal formula: oil/Tween 20/ethanol: 3/8/9, which was food‐grade with the ability to be unlimitedly diluted with water and stable under high speed centrifugation and longtime storage. The in vitro test indicated that microemulsion showed great antifungal activity with the minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal fungicide concentration 500 μg mL−1 and 1000 μg mL−1. The in vivo test showed that 500 μg mL−1 microemulsion efficiently protected cherry tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum) from decaying. Microemulsion controlled the postharvest disease via damaging the cell membrane of pathogen and increasing resistance related enzymes activity. This work suggested that the oil/Tween 20/ethanol microemulsion could be used as a carrier to load L. nobilis oil, which had efficient antifungal activity in vitro and in vivo.

Practical Applications

The formula of the microemulsion developed in this study solved the problem of solubility and stability of Laurus nobilis essential oil, which enhanced the antifungal activity of essential oil. The microemulsion could be used as a fungicide to control the Alternaria rot of cherry tomatoes.
Nationwide survey of specialist knowledge on current standard of care (Peg‐IFN/RBV) and barriers of care in chronic hepatitis C patients in China
Authors: Wei Lai , Li Jie , Yang Xizhong , Wang Guiqiang , Feng Bo , Hou Jinlin , Duan Zhongping , Jia Jidong , Ren Hong , Niu Junqi , Chen Xinyue , Wang Fu‐Sheng , Shang Jia , Bo Qingyan , Li Runqin , Liu Yang , Zhuang Hui
Published: April 2016

Background and Aim

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of liver diseases including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In China, it is a major national health problem that demands nationwide coordinated emphasis on prevention and treatment. To inform these initiatives, a nationwide survey was conducted from January to April 2015 to evaluate the knowledge, awareness, and perceived obstacles to HCV care.

Methods

A sample of 1000 HCV specialists across mainland China were recruited. Respondents were asked a series of 30 open‐ended single or multiple response and Likert‐scale questions about their HCV treatment knowledge, experience, assessment of HCV care status in China, and perceptions about treatment barriers.

Results

Sixty percent of the respondents answered incorrectly to more than half of the questions on basic HCV treatment principles. Over half of them incorrectly believed that maintenance therapy should be prescribed for non‐responders (72%) and longer treatment duration improved sustained viral response rates (62%), regardless of HCV RNA level changes. Sixty‐six percent of them believed that HCV treatment would still be interferon‐based therapy in the next 5 years in China. Patient‐related barriers, in particular lack of disease awareness, were considered to be the most significant barriers to HCV care. Payer and medical‐provider barriers included affordability issues, lack of reimbursement coverage for testing and treatments, and lack of referral to HCV specialists.

Conclusions

Focused and intense patient and provider education should be carried out to increase awareness. More effective direct‐acting antivirals should be made available and affordable in China.
Constraints on the timing and conditions of high‐grade metamorphism, charnockite formation and fluid–rock interaction in the Trivandrum Block, southern India
Authors: Blereau E. , Clark C. , Taylor R. J. M. , Johnson T. E. , Fitzsimons I. C. W. , Santosh M.
Published: April 2016

Incipient charnockites have been widely used as evidence for the infiltration of CO2‐rich fluids driving dehydration of the lower crust. Rocks exposed at Kakkod quarry in the Trivandrum Block of southern India allow for a thorough investigation of the metamorphic evolution by preserving not only orthopyroxene‐bearing charnockite patches in a host garnet–biotite felsic gneiss, but also layers of garnet–sillimanite metapelite gneiss. Thermodynamic phase equilibria modelling of all three bulk compositions indicates consistent peak‐metamorphic conditions of 830–925 °C and 6–9 kbar with retrograde evolution involving suprasolidus decompression at high temperature. These models suggest that orthopyroxene was most likely stabilized close to the metamorphic peak as a result of small compositional heterogeneities in the host garnet–biotite gneiss. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether the heterogeneities were inherited from the protolith or introduced during syn‐metamorphic fluid flow. U–Pb geochronology of monazite and zircon from all three rock types constrains the peak of metamorphism and orthopyroxene growth to have occurred between the onset of high‐grade metamorphism at c. 590 Ma and the onset of melt crystallization at c. 540 Ma. The majority of metamorphic zircon growth occurred during protracted melt crystallization between c. 540 and 510 Ma. Melt crystallization was followed by the influx of aqueous, alkali‐rich fluids likely derived from melts crystallizing at depth. This late fluid flow led to retrogression of orthopyroxene, the observed outcrop pattern and to the textural and isotopic modification of monazite grains at c. 525–490 Ma.
Reduced dietary protein level influences the free amino acid and gene expression profiles of selected amino acid transceptors in skeletal muscle of growing pigs
Authors: Li Y. H. , Li F. N. , Wu L. , Liu Y. Y. , Wei H. K. , Li T. J. , Tan B. E. , Kong X. F. , Wu F. , Duan Y. H. , Oladele O. A. , Yin Y. L.
Published: April 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of reduced dietary protein level on growth performance, muscle mass weight, free amino acids (FAA) and gene expression profile of selected amino acid transceptors in different fibre type of skeletal muscle tissues (longissimus dorsi, psoas major, biceps femoris) of growing pigs. A total of 18 cross‐bred growing pigs (Large White × Landrace × Duroc) with initial body weight (9.57 ± 0.67 kg) were assigned into three dietary treatments: 20% crude protein (CP) diet (normal recommended, NP), 17% CP diet (low protein, LP) and 14% CP diet (very low protein, VLP). The results indicated improved feed‐to‐gain ratio was obtained for pigs fed LP and NP diets (p < 0.01), while the pigs fed VLP diet showed the worst growth performance (p < 0.01). There was no significant difference in the weights of longissimus dorsi and psoas major muscle between LP and NP groups (p > 0.05). Majority of the determined FAA concentration of LP group were greater than or equal to those of NP group in both longissimus dorsi and psoas major muscle (p < 0.01). Further, the mRNA expression levels of sodium‐coupled neutral amino acid transceptor 2, L‐type amino acid transceptor 1 and proton‐assisted amino acid transceptors 2 were higher in skeletal muscle tissue in LP group compared to those of the pigs fed NP or VLP diet. These results suggested that reduced dietary protein level (3 points of percentage less than recommended level) would upregulate the mRNA expression of amino acid transceptors to enhance the absorption of FAA in skeletal muscle of growing pigs. There seems to be a relationship between response of AA transceptors to the dietary protein level in skeletal muscle tissue of different fibre type. To illustrate the underlying mechanisms will be beneficial to animal nutrition.
Effect of soya bean and fish oil inclusion in diets on milk and plasma enzymes from sheep and goat related to oxidation
Authors: Tsiplakou E. , Chatzikonstantinou M. , Mitsiopoulou C. , Karaiskou C. , Mavrommatis A. , Sotirakoglou K. , Labrou N. , Zervas G.
Published: April 2016

This study investigated the effects of dietary inclusion of soya bean oil combined with fish oil (SFO) on the activities of a) superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GR), catalase (CAT) and glutathione transferase (GST) in blood plasma and b) SOD, GR, CAT and lactoperoxidase (LPO) in the milk of sheep and goats. Furthermore, the oxidative stress indicators for measuring total antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging activity [ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and 2,2′‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzothiazoline‐6‐sulphonic acid) (ABTS) assays] and oxidative stress biomarkers [malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyl (PC)] were also determined in the blood plasma and milk of the animals. For this purpose, twelve dairy sheep and twelve dairy goats were assigned each to two homogenous subgroups. Treatments in both animal species involved a control diet without added oil and a diet supplemented with 5% soya bean oil and 1% fish oil. The results showed that the inclusion of SFO in the diets of sheep and goats increased significantly the activities of CAT and GR in their blood plasma. The same effect was observed for the activities of GST and FRAP in the blood plasma of goats. Moreover, the fact that the goats had significantly higher average daily PUFA intake (3.62 g/kg BW0.75) compared to sheep (2.51 g/kg BW0.75) resulted in an enhancement in the MDA content in their plasma. A significant increase in CAT activity in the milk in both animal species fed with SFO diets was also found. Finally, due to the higher apparent transfer rate of n‐3 FA from the diet to the milk in sheep, the PC concentrations were found to be enhanced in their plasma and milk. In conclusion, the impact of dietary SFO supplementation on the oxidative status of body and/or on the milk of small ruminants depends not only on the daily PUFA intake, but also on the amount of n‐3 FA that reach their milk.
Congregational Diversity and Attendance in a Mainline Protestant Denomination
Authors: Dougherty Kevin D. , Martinez Brandon C. , Martí Gerardo
Published: April 2016

One of the surprising oversights of existing research on racially/ethnically diverse congregations is the inattention to how racial composition relates to patterns of attendance. Is diversity associated with attendance growth, stability, or decline? A popular assumption from the Church Growth Movement is that cultural homogeneity is a foundation for growth, but recent research challenges this long‐standing belief. We test these competing views with longitudinal data from over 10,000 congregations in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). We examine the relationship between changes in racial/ethnic diversity and changes in average weekly attendance over a 19‐year time period (1993–2012). In spite of the ELCA's denominational push for racial diversity in its local churches, our analysis finds increasing racial diversity associated with decreasing average attendance, most notably during the 1990s. To conclude, we discuss the implications of our findings for congregations and denominations.
Prevalence, Predictors, and Implications of Religious/Spiritual Struggles Among Muslims
Authors: Abu‐Raiya Hisham , Exline Julie J. , Pargament Kenneth I. , Agbaria Qutaiba
Published: April 2016

The current investigation explored prevalence, predictors, and psychological implications of religious and spiritual (r/s) struggles among an Israeli‐Palestinian, Muslim sample. R/s struggle was assessed by the Religious and Spiritual Struggles Scale (Exline et al. 2014), a newly developed scale that assesses a wide array of r/s struggles. Factor analysis of the scale in this study revealed five factors of struggle: Divine and Doubt, Punitive Entities, Interpersonal, Moral, and Ultimate Meaning. Of the 139 Muslim participants, between 1.4 percent and 40.2 percent experienced various r/s struggles. Positive God image and fundamentalism predicted lower levels of struggle, whereas negative God image and universality predicted higher levels of struggle. After controlling for religious variables, we found that both depressive symptoms and generalized anxiety were predicted by Punitive Entities and Ultimate Meaning struggles, while satisfaction with life was predicted by Interpersonal struggle. Possible explanations and implications of the findings are offered, and the limitations of the study are discussed.
The Generality of Theory and the Specificity of Social Behavior: Contrasting Experimental and Hermeneutic Social Science
Authors: Gantt Edwin E. , Lindstrom Jeffrey P. , Williams Richard N.
Published: April 2016

Since its inception, experimental social psychology has arguably been of two minds about the nature and role of theory. Contemporary social psychology's experimental approach has been strongly informed by the “nomological‐deductive” approach of Carl Hempel in tandem with the “hypothetico‐deducive” approach of Karl Popper. Social psychology's commitment to this hybrid model of science has produced at least two serious obstacles to more fruitful theorizing about human experience: (1) the problem of situational specificity, and (2) the manifest impossibility of formulating meaningful general laws of human social behavior. It is argued that a social psychology based on the search for this kind of lawfulness, under the auspices of either a strict or loose interpretation of the largely Hempelian model, is ultimately unworkable. An alternative approach to social psychology that is attentive both to the need for understanding individual situations and behaviors and to the need for generalized understanding of actual human behaviors is offered. This approach is grounded in the hermeneutic tradition.
Salivary Flow Decreases in Healthy Elderly People Independently of Dental Status and Drug Intake
Authors: Vandenberghe‐Descamps Mathilde , Labouré Hélène , Prot Aurélie , Septier Chantal , Tournier Carole , Feron Gilles , Sulmont‐Rossé Claire
Published: April 2016

In humans, oral food consumption is by far the most important point where food's organoleptic properties can be perceived and can elicit sensory pleasure. It is also the ultimate stage of the food supply chain and the beginning of the food disintegration and digestion process. However, in regard to the influence of ageing on food oral processing, this topic has been mainly investigating through mastication, whereas salivation remains largely unexplored. The present experiment aimed at studying the impact of normal ageing on salivary flow taking into account the dental status and the number of drugs taken by the elderly people. This was achieved by comparing resting and stimulated salivary flows of young versus healthy elderly adults (i.e., autonomous elderly people without acute pathology). Ninety‐three young adults (22–55 years old) and 84 elderly people (70–92 years old) underwent a measurement of resting and stimulated salivary flows and an oral examination (teeth counting; functional unit counting i.e., counting occluding tooth pairs). The present study showed an average 38.5% reduction of resting salivary flow and 38.0% reduction of stimulated salivary flow in healthy elderly people compared to young adults. This reduction was observed independently of the dental status and drug intake: elderly people presented reduced salivary flow even if they did not take any drugs or if their dental status was similar to the one of the young adults. The results also highlight a large inter‐individual variability both in young and elderly adults.

Practical Applications

During oral food consumption, saliva plays a key role in the acceptance of food and beverage by modulating the perception of texture, taste and aroma, as well as providing eating comfort by assisting the food breakdown process into a bolus that can be safely swallowed. However, in regard to the influence of ageing on food oral processing, the present results demonstrate a reduced salivary flow in healthy elderly people. Consequently, there is a need for developing foods tailored to the salivary capacities of elderly people aside from the efforts put into the development of foods tailored to the mastication and swallowing abilities of this population. In fact, in the context of an ageing population, the development of products meeting an elderly person's functional capacities becomes a major challenge for the food industry as well as for society.
Epidemiology and outcomes of hepatitis C infection in elderly US Veterans
Authors: El‐Serag H. B. , Kramer J. , Duan Z. , Kanwal F.
Published: April 2016

The chronic hepatitis C (CHC) cohort in the United States is getting older. Elderly patients with CHC may be at a high risk of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but also other nonhepatic comorbidities that negatively impact their likelihood of receiving or responding to antiviral treatment. There is little information on the clinical epidemiology or outcomes of CHC and its treatment in the elderly. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 1 61 744 patients with a positive Hepatitis C virus RNA in the Veterans Health Administration Hepatitis C Clinical Case Registry to examine the association between age subgroups (20–49, 50–64, 65–85 years) and risk of cirrhosis, HCC or death using Cox proportional hazards models. We also examined the effect of treatment with a sustained viral response (SVR) on these outcomes in each age subgroup. The age distribution was 36.8% 20‐ to 49‐year‐olds, 57.6% 50‐ to 64‐year‐olds and 5.6% 65‐ to 85‐year‐olds (i.e. elderly). Risk of cirrhosis, HCC and death was significantly elevated in elderly patients [HR cirrhosis = 1.14 (1.00–1.29), HR HCC = 2.44 (1.99–2.99); HR death 2.09 (1.98–2.22)] compared with younger patients. The incidence of HCC was than 8.4 per 1000 PY in the elderly compared with 2.6 per 1000 PY and 5.7 per 1000 PY, among the 20–49 and 50–64 age groups, respectively. Elderly patients were significantly less likely to receive antiviral treatment (3.8% vs 14.8% and 19.1%, P < 0.0001), but among those who received treatment SVR was not different among the age groups (33.5% vs 33.2% and 32.1%). In an analysis limited to those who received treatment, SVR compared to treatment receipt with no SVR was associated with a reduction in risk of developing cirrhosis (HR = 0.34; 0.18–0.66) and HCC (HR = 0.60; 0.22–1.61) and all‐cause mortality risk (HR = 0.52, 0.33–0.82). Elderly patients with CHC are more likely to develop HCC than younger patients but have traditionally received less antiviral treatment than younger patients. However, receipt of curative treatment is associated with a benefit in reducing cirrhosis, HCC and overall mortality, irrespective of age.
Trophic ecology shapes gastrointestinal helminth communities of two sympatric mesopredatory sharks in the Adriatic Sea
Authors: Gračan R. , Čulinović M. , Mladineo I. , Lacković G. , Lazar B.
Published: April 2016

We investigated and compared the structure of parasite communities in two sympatric, commercially exploited sharks. We analysed 188 gastrointestinal tracts from a crustacean feeder Mustelus punctulatus and 157 gastrointestinal tracts from a piscivorous Squalus acanthias. The overall prevalence of helminth parasites was very high (84.0%) for M. punctulatus with nematode Cucullanus micropapillatus as the most abundant species (mean abundance 13.96) and Anisakis spp. larvae as the most prevalent taxa (47.9%). In contrast, only 21.7% of S. acanthias specimens were infected, showing Anisakis spp. larvae as the most prevalent (17.8%) and abundant taxa (mean abundance 0.39). The subsample of Anisakis spp. larvae, isolated from both hosts, was molecularly identified at ITS locus as A. pegreffii. Significant variations among size classes were recorded for M. punctulatus, mainly as a consequence of higher C. micropapillatus loads in larger sharks. Seasonal patterns in prevalence and abundance of C. micropapillatus were recorded for M. punctulatus, with peaks in autumn, whereas Anisakis spp. larvae prevailed during spring, for both sharks. Sex contributed little to the observed parasite abundances, although female spiny dogfish were more prone to infections than males, and higher helminth diversity was recorded in females in both shark species. The differences in infection parameters between the two shark species likely reflect the variations in foraging strategies and availability of intermediate hosts. Our findings suggest that crustacean feeder M. punctulatus is more susceptible to helminth infections in the Adriatic Sea, which may affect the health status of local shark populations.
2014 French guidelines for hepatitis B and C screening: a combined targeted and mass testing strategy of chronic viruses namely HBV, HCV and HIV
Authors: Bottero Julie , Brouard Cécile , Roudot‐Thoraval Françoise , Deuffic‐Burban Sylvie , Hofliger Philippe , Abergel Armand , Volant Johann , Dhumeaux Daniel , Yazdanpanah Yazdan ,   the Viral Hepatitis Testing Experts group
Published: April 2016

Background & Aims

Worldwide and, to a lesser extent, in France, a minority of individuals infected with hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) is aware of its status. Given the current availability of highly effective anti‐HBV and anti‐HCV agents, the high rate of undiagnosed people, associated with individual and community prejudices (liver disease worsening, persistence of a hidden transmission reservoir and medicoeconomic burden of delayed care), is unacceptable.

Methods

On the occasion of the first French general report on viral hepatitis, new recommendations for HBV and HCV testing were issued. We aim to introduce the new French strategy for HBV and HCV screening, and to describe the underlying epidemiological data.

Results

These recommendations comprise various items. First, the screening of chronic viruses, namely HBV, HCV and HIV, should be quasi‐systematically combined. Second, the targeted screening of groups at risk of viral exposure must be strengthened. Third, routine testing for each of these three viruses should be offered at least once to men of 18–60 years old who had never been tested. In parallel, in pregnant women, in addition to HIV–HBV screening, currently recommended HCV testing should be routinely performed during the first trimester of pregnancy. In order to best achieve the target populations, community initiatives that propose testing actions should be encouraged, particularly those including rapid point‐of‐care tests.

Conclusions

Overall, these recommendations aim to define a comprehensive testing strategy for chronic viral infections, emphasizing both targeted screening and mass screening and considering jointly HBV, HCV and HIV.
A New Angle on the Knobe Effect: Intentionality Correlates with Blame, not with Praise
Authors: Hindriks Frank , Douven Igor , Singmann Henrik
Published: April 2016

In a celebrated experiment, Joshua Knobe showed that people are much more prone to attribute intentionality to an agent for a side effect of a given act when that side effect is harmful than when it is beneficial. This asymmetry has become known as ‘the Knobe Effect’. According to Knobe's Moral Valence Explanation (as we call it), bad effects trigger the attributions of intentionality, whereas good effects do not. Many others believe that the Knobe Effect is best explained in terms of the high amount of blame attributed in the harm condition, and the low amount of praise attributed in the help condition. This Blame Hypothesis (as we call it) explains the high number of intentionality attributions in the harm condition in terms of the high degree of blame people ascribe, and the low number of intentionality attributions in the help conditions in terms of the low degree of praise people attribute. We replicated Knobe's original experiment and conducted a logistic regression on the results to probe more deeply into the relationship between attributions of intentionality and responsibility. The statistical analysis revealed a hitherto unknown interaction effect: intentionality correlates with blame, but not with praise. This interaction effect is consistent with the Moral Valence Hypothesis, but inconsistent with the Blame Hypothesis, as well as with two of the three other hypotheses discussed here.