bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fast Inference of Individual Admixture Coefficients Using Geographic Data
Authors: Caye Kevin , Jay Flora , Michel Olivier , François Olivier
Published: October 2016

Accurately evaluating the distribution of genetic ancestry across geographic space is one of the main questions addressed by evolutionary biologists. This question has been commonly addressed through the application of Bayesian estimation programs allowing their users to estimate individual admixture proportions and allele frequencies among putative ancestral populations. Following the explosion of high-throughput sequencing technologies, several algorithms have been proposed to cope with computational burden generated by the massive data in those studies. In this context, incorporating geographic proximity in ancestry estimation algorithms is an open statistical and computational challenge. In this study, we introduce new algorithms that use geographic information to estimate ancestry proportions and ancestral genotype frequencies from population genetic data. Our algorithms combine matrix factorization methods and spatial statistics to provide estimates of ancestry matrices based on least-squares approximation. We demonstrate the benefit of using spatial algorithms through extensive computer simulations, and we provide an example of application of our new algorithms to a set of spatially referenced samples for the plant speciesArabidopsis thaliana. Without loss of statistical accuracy, the new algorithms exhibit runtimes that are much shorter than those observed for previously developed spatial methods. Our algorithms are implemented in theR package,tess3r.
Functional MRI in awake dogs predicts suitability for assistance work
Authors: Berns Gregory S. , Brooks Andrew M. , Spivak Mark , Levy Kerinne
Published: October 2016

The overall goal of this work was to measure the efficacy of fMRI for predicting whether a dog would be a successful service dog. The training and imaging were performed in 50 dogs entering advanced training at 17-21 months of age. FMRI responses were measured while each dog observed hand signals indicating either reward or no reward and given by both a familiar handler and a stranger. 49 dogs successfully completed fMRI training and scanning. Of these, 33 eventually completed service training and were matched with a person, while 10 were released for behavioral reasons. Using anatomically defined regions-of-interest in the ventral caudate, amygdala, and visual cortex, we developed a classifier based on the dogs' outcomes. We found that responses in the stranger condition were sufficient to develop an accurate brain-based classifier. On all data, the classifier had a positive predictive value of 96% with 10% false positives. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.90 (0.79 with 4-fold cross-validation, P=0.02), indicating a significant diagnostic capability. Within the stranger condition, the differential response to [reward – no reward] in ventral caudate was positively correlated with a successful outcome, while the differential response in the amygdala was negatively correlated to outcome. These results show that successful service dogs transfer knowledge to strangers as indexed by ventral caudate activity without excessive arousal as measured in the amygdala.
PfClpC Is An Essential Clp Chaperone Required For Plastid Integrity And Clp Protease Stability InPlasmodium falciparum
Authors: Florentin Anat , Cobb David W , Fishburn Jillian D , Cipriano Michael J , Kim Paul S , Fierro Manuel A , Striepen Boris , Muralidharan Vasant
Published: October 2016

The deadly malaria parasite,Plasmodium falciparum, contains a non-photosynthetic plastid known as the apicoplast, that functions to produce essential metabolites. Little is known about its biology or regulation, but drugs that target the apicoplast are clinically effective. Using phylogenetic analysis, we identified a putative complex of clp (caseinolytic protease) genes. We genetically targeted members of this complex and generated conditional mutants of the PfClpC chaperone and PfClpP protease and found that they co-localize in the apicoplast. Conditional inhibition of the PfClpC chaperone resulted in growth arrest and apicoplast loss, and was rescued by addition of the essential apicoplast-derived metabolite, IPP. Using a double conditional-mutant parasite line, we discovered that the chaperone activity is required to stabilize the active protease, revealing functional interactions. These data demonstrate the essential function of PfClpC in maintaining apicoplast integrity and its role in regulating the proteolytic activity of the Clp complex.
MaxEnt’s parameter configuration and small samples: Are we paying attention to recommendations?
Authors: Morales Narkis S. , Fernándezb Ignacio C. , Baca-Gonzálezd Victoria
Published: October 2016

Environmental niche modeling (ENM) is commonly used to develop probabilistic maps of species distribution. Among available ENM techniques, MaxEnt has become one of the most popular tools for modeling species distribution, with hundreds of peer-reviewed articles published each year. MaxEnt’s popularity is mainly due to the use of a graphical interface and automatic parameter configuration capabilities. However, recent studies have shown that using the default automatic configuration may not be always appropriate because it can produce non-optimal models; particularly when dealing with a small number of species presence points. Thus, the recommendation is to evaluate the best potential combination of parameters (feature classes and regularization multiplier) to select the most appropriate model. In this work we reviewed 244 articles from 142 journals between 2013 and 2015 to assess whether researchers are following recommendations to avoid using the default parameter configuration when dealing with small sample sizes, or if they are using MaxEnt as a “black box tool”. Our results show that in only 16% of analyzed articles authors evaluated best feature classes, in 6.9% evaluated best regularization multipliers, and in a meager 3.7% evaluated simultaneously both parameters before producing the definitive distribution model. These results are worrying, because publications are potentially reporting over-complex or over-simplistic models that can undermine the applicability of their results. Of particular importance are studies used to inform policy making. Therefore, researchers, practitioners, reviewers and editors need to be very judicious when dealing with MaxEnt, particularly when the modelling process is based on small sample sizes.
Microtubule stabilization drives 3D centrosome migration to initiate primary ciliogenesis
Authors: Pitaval Amandine , Senger Fabrice , Letort Gaëlle , Gidrol Xavier , Guyon Laurent , Sillibourne James , Théry Manuel
Published: October 2016

Primary cilia are sensory organelles located at the cell surface. Their assembly is primed by centrosome migration to the apical surface. Yet surprisingly little is known about this initiating step. To gain insight into the mechanisms driving centrosome migration, we exploited the reproducibility of cell architecture on adhesive micropatterns to investigate the cytoskeletal remodeling supporting it. Microtubule network densification and bundling, with the transient formation of an array of cold-stable microtubules, and actin cytoskeleton asymmetric contraction participated in concert to destabilize basal centrosome position and drive apical centrosome migration. The distal appendage protein Cep164 appeared to be a key actor involved in the cytoskeleton remodeling and centrosome migration, whereas IFT88's role seemed to be restricted to axoneme elongation. Together our data elucidate the hitherto unexplored mechanism of centrosome migration and show that it is driven by the increase and clustering of mechanical forces to push the centrosome toward the cell apical pole.
Inferring exemplar discriminability in brain representations
Authors: Nili Hamed , Walther Alexander , Alink Arjen , Kriegeskorte Nikolaus
Published: October 2016

Representational distinctions within categories are important in all perceptual modalities and also in cognitive and motor representations. Recent pattern-information studies of brain activity have used condition-rich designs to sample the stimulus space more densely. To test whether brain response patterns discriminate among a set of stimuli (e.g. exemplars within a category) with good sensitivity, we can pool statistical evidence over all pairwise comparisons. A popular test statistic reflecting exemplar information is theexemplar discriminability index (EDI), which is defined as the average of the pattern dissimilarity estimates between different exemplars minus the average of the pattern dissimilarity estimates between repetitions of identical exemplars. The EDI is commonly tested with attest (H0: population mean EDI = 0) across subjects (subject as random effect). However, it is unclear whether this approach is either valid or optimal. Here we describe a wide range of statistical tests of exemplar discriminability and assess the validity (specificity) and power (sensitivity) of each test. The tests include previously used and novel, parametric and nonparametric tests, which treat subject as a random or fixed effect, and are based on different dissimilarity measures, different test statistics, and different inference procedures. We use simulated and real data to determine which tests are valid and which are most sensitive. The popular across-subjectttest of the EDI (typically using correlation distance as the pattern dissimilarity measure) requires the assumption that the EDI is 0-mean normal under H0, which is not strictly true. Reassuringly, our simulations suggest that the test controls the false-positives rate at the nominal level and is thus valid in practice. However, test statistics based on average Mahalanobis distances or average linear-discriminanttvalues (both accounting for the multivariate error covariance among responses) are substantially more powerful for both random- and fixed-effects inference. We suggest preferred procedures for safely and sensitively detecting subtle pattern differences between exemplars.
The duration of mitosis and daughter cell size are modulated by nutrients in budding yeast
Authors: Leitao Ricardo M. , Kellogg Douglas R.
Published: October 2016

The size of nearly all cells is modulated by nutrients. Thus, cells growing in poor nutrients can be nearly half the size of cells in rich nutrients. In budding yeast, cell size is thought to be controlled almost entirely by a mechanism that delays cell cycle entry until sufficient growth has occurred in G1 phase. Here, we show that most growth of a new daughter cell occurs in mitosis. When the rate of growth is slowed by poor nutrients, the duration of mitosis is increased, which suggests that cells compensate for slow growth in mitosis by increasing the duration of growth. The amount of growth required to complete mitosis is reduced in poor nutrients, leading to a large reduction in cell size. Together, these observations suggest that mechanisms that control the extent of growth in mitosis play a major role in cell size control in budding yeast.
Genome-wide dynamics of alternative polyadenylation in rice
Authors: Fu Haihui , Yang Dewei , Su Wenyue , Ma Liuyin , Shen Yingjia , Ji Guoli , Ye Xinfu , Wu Xiaohui , Li Qingshun Q.
Published: October 2016

Alternative polyadenylation (APA), in which a transcript uses one of the poly(A) sites to define its 3′-end, is a common regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic gene expression. However, the potential of APA in determining crop agronomic traits remains elusive. This study systematically tallied poly(A) sites of 14 different rice tissues and developmental stages using the poly(A) tag sequencing (PAT-seq) approach. The results indicate significant involvement of APA in developmental and quantitative trait loci (QTL) gene expression. About 48% of all expressed genes use APA to generate transcriptomic and proteomic diversity. Some genes switch APA sites, allowing differentially expressed genes to use alternate 3′ UTRs. Interestingly, APA in mature pollen is distinct where differential expression levels of a set of poly(A) factors and different distributions of APA sites are found, indicating a unique mRNA 3′-end formation regulation during gametophyte development. Equally interesting, statistical analyses showed that QTL tends to use APA for regulation of gene expression of many agronomic traits, suggesting a potential important role of APA in rice production. These results provide thus far the most comprehensive and high-resolution resource for advanced analysis of APA in crops and shed light on how APA is associated with trait formation in eukaryotes.
The effect of internal factors and family influence on firms’ adoption of green product innovation
Authors: Huang Yi-Chun , Yang Min-Li , Wong Ying-Jiuan
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Little research has been conducted on the internal factors that drive green product (GP) innovation and how family influence affects firm adoption of GP innovation. This study aims to apply multiple perspectives to bridge this research gap, adopting the resource-based view (RBV) to examine what and how internal factors affect firm adoption of GP innovation, and using the behavioral theory of family firms to investigate whether family influence fosters or hinders firm adoption of GP innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used a multichannel approach and adopted content analysis to collect and evaluate data on listed Taiwanese firms and used cross-sectional regression analysis to examine the effect of internal factors and family influence on firm adoption of GP innovation.

Findings

The results showed that the internal factors of green capabilities, R&D intensity and firm size significantly and positively affected firm adoption of GP innovation separately. Furthermore, the study found that family influence (ownership and control) significantly and negatively affects firm adoption of GP innovation separately.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the academic research of innovation management, green management and family firms in several aspects, but also has some limitations. This study examined only the relationship between a firm’s internal factors and GP innovation. Future research might test the relationship between a firm’s internal factors and adoption of green process innovation. In addition, such research can explore how integrated internal and external factors influence firm adoption of GP innovation.

Practical implications

From the RBV, the internal factors of green capabilities, R&D intensity and firm size that can exert crucial effects on firm engage in firm’s adoption of GP innovation. This study suggests that top managers in family-influenced businesses should maintain appropriate commitment and support for fostering and facilitating firm GP innovation.

Social implications

From the RBV, this study examined how internal factors affect firm adoption of GP innovation. Moreover, based on the behavioral theory of family firms, this study further examined how family influence (ownership and control) affects firm adoption of GP innovation. This paper extended both perspectives to examine green issues.

Originality/value

From the RBV, this study examined how internal factors affect firms’ GP innovation. Moreover, based on institutional theory, this study further examines how a family firm moderates the relationship between a firm’s internal factors and GP innovation. The paper extended both perspectives to probe further the green issues.
Natural resource-seeking intent and regulatory forces
Authors: Kang Yuanfei , Liu Yulong
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This study aims to investigate how natural resource-seeking as a type of strategic intent influences foreign direct investment (FDI) location choice. Grounded in the strategic intent approach and institution theory, the authors developed an interactive conceptual framework by integrating natural resource-seeking intent (NRI) with regulatory institutional factors.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed an interactive conceptual framework by integrating NRI at a firm level with regulatory factors of governmental support, political risk and economic freedom at country level. Using empirical data from a sample of 137 Chinese outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) projects in 19 Asian countries, statistical analysis was conducted using a conditional logistic regression technique.

Findings

Empirical findings from our study suggest that NRI has a strong influence on OFDI location choice of the Chinese firms. More importantly, the results demonstrate that influence of NRI on location choice is contingent on the regulatory forces both in the home and host countries settings. NRI is more likely to influence FDI location choice when government support from the home country is stronger and/or when political risk in a host country FDI is higher.

Originality/value

This is an empirical-based original study, and it contributes to the literature in several ways. First, the study enriches the strategic intent approach by demonstrating the contingency conditions from regulatory factors, especially home government support on a firm’s pursuit of NRI. Second, the study provides an explanation for the behaviour pattern of Chinese OFDI regarding their response to political risk in a host country. Third, the study demonstrates the influence of “institutional embededness” on the firm’s strategic intent. Managerial and policy implications are also discussed.
Determinants of knowledge management systems success in the banking industry
Authors: Cham Tat Huei , Lim Yet Mee , Cheng Boon Liat , Lee Teck Heang
Published: October 2016

Purpose

– This study aims to examine the impact from technical and social aspects on knowledge management system (KMS) success. Moreover, this study also attempts to examine the interrelationships between KMS success and user satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

– A questionnaire survey was used to collect data from the commercial bank officers to test the proposed KMS success model. All the measurement scales adopted in this study were adopted from the existing literature. The data collected in this study were analysed using both SPSS and structural equation modelling approach via AMOS.

Findings

– The research results indicate that both technical (knowledge quality, system quality and service quality) and social factors (user trust and management support) play a significant and positive role in system user satisfaction. The results also show that user satisfaction have a direct influence on the success of KMS and vice versa.

Originality/value

– This study is one of the few studies on KMS which include both the technical and social perspectives in examining KMS success. This research study raises the importance of social factors, which have been earlier neglected by many studies on KMS success models. Moreover, the interrelationships relationship between KMS success and user satisfaction also been examined in this study.
Highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 virus induces cytokine dysregulation with suppressed maturation of chicken monocyte‐derived dendritic cells
Authors: Kalaiyarasu Semmannan , Kumar Manoj , Senthil Kumar Dhanapal , Bhatia Sandeep , Dash Sandeep Kumar , Bhat Sushant , Khetan Rohit K. , Nagarajan Shanmugasundaram
Published: October 2016

One of the major causes of death in highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) infection in chickens is acute induction of pro‐inflammatory cytokines (cytokine storm), which leads to severe pathology and acute mortality. DCs and respiratory tract macrophages are the major antigen presenting cells that are exposed to mucosal pathogens. We hypothesized that chicken DCs are a major target for induction of cytokine dysregulation by H5N1 HPAIV. It was found that infection of chicken peripheral blood monocyte‐derived dendritic cells (chMoDCs) with H5N1 HPAIV produces high titers of progeny virus with more rounding and cytotoxicity than with H9N2 LPAIV. Expression of maturation markers (CD40, CD80 and CD83) was weaker in both H5N1 and H9N2 groups than in a LPS control group. INF‐α, ‐β and ‐γ were significantly upregulated in the H5N1 group. Pro‐inflammatory cytokines (IL‐1β, TNF‐α and IL‐18) were highly upregulated in early mid (IL‐1), and late (IL‐6) phases of H5N1 virus infection. IL‐8 (CXCLi2) mRNA expression was significantly stronger in the H5N1 group from 6 hr of infection. TLR3, 7, 15 and 21 were upregulated 24 hr after infection by H5N1 virus compared with H9N2 virus, with maximum expression of TLR 3 mRNA. Similarly, greater H5N1 virus‐induced apoptotic cell death and cytotoxicity, as measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated dUTP nick end labeling and lactate dehydrogenase assays, respectively, were found. Thus, both H5N1 and H9N2 viruses evade the host immune system by inducing impairment of chMoDCs maturation and enhancing cytokine dysregulation in H5N1 HPAIV‐infected cells.
Genetic Allee effects and their interaction with ecological Allee effects
Authors: Wittmann Meike J. , Stuis Hanna , Metzler Dirk
Published: October 2016

It is now widely accepted that genetic processes such as inbreeding depression and loss of genetic variation can increase the extinction risk of small populations. However, it is generally unclear whether extinction risk from genetic causes gradually increases with decreasing population size or whether there is a sharp transition around a specific threshold population size. In the ecological literature, such threshold phenomena are called ‘strong Allee effects’ and they can arise for example from mate limitation in small populations.

In this study, we aim to (i) develop a meaningful notion of a ‘strong genetic Allee effect’, (ii) explore whether and under what conditions such an effect can arise from inbreeding depression due to recessive deleterious mutations, and (iii) quantify the interaction of potential genetic Allee effects with the well‐known mate‐finding Allee effect.

We define a strong genetic Allee effect as a genetic process that causes a population's survival probability to be a sigmoid function of its initial size. The inflection point of this function defines the critical population size. To characterize survival‐probability curves, we develop and analyse simple stochastic models for the ecology and genetics of small populations.

Our results indicate that inbreeding depression can indeed cause a strong genetic Allee effect, but only if individuals carry sufficiently many deleterious mutations (lethal equivalents). Populations suffering from a genetic Allee effect often first grow, then decline as inbreeding depression sets in and then potentially recover as deleterious mutations are purged. Critical population sizes of ecological and genetic Allee effects appear to be often additive, but even superadditive interactions are possible.

Many published estimates for the number of lethal equivalents in birds and mammals fall in the parameter range where strong genetic Allee effects are expected. Unfortunately, extinction risk due to genetic Allee effects can easily be underestimated as populations with genetic problems often grow initially, but then crash later. Also interactions between ecological and genetic Allee effects can be strong and should not be neglected when assessing the viability of endangered or introduced populations.
Morphological variations of the Solidago virgaurea L. complex along an elevational gradient on Mt Norikura, central Japan
Authors: Takahashi Koichi , Matsuki Satomi
Published: October 2016

Morphological variations in vegetative and reproductive organs in the Solidago virgaurea complex were examined for eight elevations between 1600 and 2400 m a.s.l. in Japan. The rosette diameter and stem height were lower at higher elevations. The stem diameter at any stem height was greater at higher elevations, suggesting that the S. virgaurea complex increases mechanical stiffness against strong wind at high elevations. The number of flower heads at any stem height was less at high elevations (2000–2400 m a.s.l.) than at low elevations (1600–1900 m a.s.l.). Leaf nitrogen concentration did not change along the elevational gradient. Leaf mass per area (LMA) tended to decrease with increasing elevation, except for 2400 m a.s.l. The decrease of LMA would contribute to maintaining a positive carbon balance at high elevations. The number of involucral rays of flower heads was mostly four at low elevations (1600–1900 m a.s.l.) and three at high elevations (2000–2400 m a.s.l.). The number of involucral scales and diameter of flower heads were greater at high elevations (2000–2400 m a.s.l.) than at low elevations (1600–1900 m a.s.l.). Therefore, the
S

. virgaurea complex is suggested to adapt to high elevations that have cool temperature, a short growing season and strong wind conditions by changing its vegetative and reproductive traits.
Global expression analysis of the response to microaerobiosis reveals an important cue for endophytic establishment of Azoarcus sp. BH72
Authors: Sarkar Abhijit , Marszalkowska Marta , Schäfer Martin , Pees Tobias , Klingenberg Hannah , Macht Franziska , Reinhold‐Hurek Barbara
Published: October 2016

The endophyte Azoarcus sp. BH72, fixing nitrogen microaerobically, encounters low O2 tensions in flooded roots. Therefore, its transcriptome upon shift to microaerobiosis was analyzed using oligonucleotide microarrays. A total of 8.7% of the protein‐coding genes were significantly modulated. Aerobic conditions induced expression of genes involved in oxidative stress protection, while under microaerobiosis, 233 genes were upregulated, encoding hypothetical proteins, transcriptional regulators, and proteins involved in energy metabolism, among them a cbb3‐type terminal oxidase contributing to but not essential for N2 fixation. A newly established sensitive transcriptional reporter system using tdTomato allowed to visualize even relatively low bacterial gene expression in association with roots. Beyond metabolic changes, low oxygen concentrations seemed to prime transcription for plant colonization: Several genes known to be required for endophytic rice interaction were induced, and novel bacterial colonization factors were identified, such as azo1653. The cargo of the type V autotransporter Azo1653 had similarities to the attachment factor pertactin. Although for short term swarming‐dependent colonization, it conferred a competitive disadvantage, it contributed to endophytic long‐term establishment inside roots. Proteins sharing such opposing roles in the colonization process appear to occur more generally, as we demonstrated a very similar phenotype for another attachment protein, Azo1684. This suggests distinct cellular strategies for endophyte establishment.
Predictors of word‐reading ability in 7‐year‐olds: analysis of data from a U.K. cohort study
Authors: Russell Ginny , Ukoumunne Obioha C. , Ryder Denise , Golding Jean , Norwich Brahm
Published: October 2016

Previous U.K. population‐based studies have found associations amongst early speech and language difficulties, socioeconomic disadvantage and children's word‐reading ability later on. We examine the strength of these associations in a recent U.K. population‐based birth cohort. Analyses were based on 13,680 participants. Linear regression models were fitted to identify factors that were associated with word‐reading score at the age of 7 years. Path analysis models were fitted to examine phonological skills as a mediator of the relationships. We found that male gender, preterm birth, naming vocabulary at age five, concerns about speech and language, maternal education, type of housing tenure, lone parenting, parent attachment and frequency of reading to the child were all independently associated with word reading. For each of these predictors, there was evidence suggesting that a substantial proportion of the effect may be mediated by phonological skills (ranging from 52 to 89%). Despite policy intervention, many of the same risk factors identified in previous studies still predict children's word‐reading ability in the United Kingdom. Results support the phonological model, with phonological skills on the pathway to word reading.

What is already known about this topic?

A range of studies has implicated poor socioeconomic background and disadvantaged family circumstances as risks for children's poor word reading.

Good early development of language skills is firmly established as a pathway to promoting reading ability.

Not all poor readers show deficits in phonological skills, although such deficits correlate highly with reading difficulties.

What this paper adds

This is an original analysis of factors in a recent cohort of U.K. children, using stratified sampling to be representative of the U.K. population as a whole.

A range of child‐specific, family socioeconomic and family relationship factors were independently associated with word‐reading ability when children were age seven.

For each of the predictors, there was evidence suggesting that a substantial proportion of the effect, if causal, may be mediated by phonological skills (ranging from 52 to 89%).

Implications for theory, policy or practice

Despite policy intervention, many of the same risk factors identified in older studies still predict children's word‐reading ability in the United Kingdom.

Results lend weight to the phonological model, where deficits in phonological skills are on the pathway to word reading.
Pricing‐To‐Market Analysis: The Case of EU Wheat Exports
Authors: Dawson Philip , Gorton Matthew , Hubbard Carmen , Hubbard Lionel
Published: October 2016

The EU is a major player in the global wheat market. This paper examines the pricing behaviour of EU wheat exporters using a pricing‐to‐market (PTM) analysis. Wheat is an exemplary product for testing PTM theories as it is widely and frequently traded, and largely unbranded. We estimate the relationship between export unit values and exchange rates using quarterly panel data for 11 EU export destinations for 2000–2013. Results show that there is a meaningful long‐run relationship between export unit values and exchange rates, but there is little evidence of differential mark‐ups between EU export markets. Belarus and Iceland are exceptions where exporters from the EU appear to exercise local currency price stabilisation.
Food‐Grade Covalent Complexes and Their Application as Nutraceutical Delivery Systems: A Review
Authors: Liu Fuguo , Ma Cuicui , Gao Yanxiang , McClements David Julian
Published: October 2016

Food proteins, polysaccharides, and polyphenols are 3 major food constituents with distinctly different functional attributes. Many proteins and polysaccharides are capable of stabilizing emulsions and foams, thickening solutions, and forming gels, although they differ considerably in their abilities to provide these functional attributes. Many plant polyphenols exhibit beneficial physiological functions, such as antitumor, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. Proteins, polysaccharides, and polyphenols can form complexes with each other, which leads to changes in the functional and nutritional properties of the combined systems. Recently, there has been considerable interest in understanding and utilizing covalent interactions between polyphenols and biopolymers (proteins and polysaccharides). The binary or tertiary conjugates formed may be designed to have physicochemical properties and functional attributes that cannot be achieved using the individual components. This article provides a review of the formation, characterization, and utilization of conjugates prepared using proteins, polysaccharides, and polyphenols. It also discusses the relationship between the structural properties and functionality of the conjugates, and it highlights the bioavailability of bioactive compounds loaded in conjugate‐based delivery systems. In addition, it highlights the main challenges to be considered when preparing and analyzing conjugates. This article provides an improved understanding of the chemical reactions that occur between major food ingredients and how they can be utilized to develop biopolymer‐based delivery systems with enhanced functional attributes.
The Effect of Extensive Feeding Systems on Growth Rate, Carcass Traits, and Meat Quality of Finishing Lambs
Authors: De Brito Gerlane F. , Ponnampalam Eric N. , Hopkins David L.
Published: October 2016

This review aims to summarize the relevant published information about the effects of extensive feeding systems on the carcass and meat quality characteristics of lambs. Lambs finished in a feedlot or with supplementation under extensive systems exhibit faster growth rates, achieve target weights quicker, and produce heavier carcass weights when compared to grazing lambs. However, the literature also shows that finishing lambs on high‐quality pasture can produce satisfactory growth rates without compromising carcass and meat quality traits. Lately, the consumer demand for products perceived as “healthy” and that are produced where animal welfare is optimal under systems which do not impact negatively on the environment, has heightened the interest in lamb production under extensive systems. Lambs raised on pasture can meet many of these specifications. Also, lambs fed higher quality green pasture can produce meat with greater amounts of health‐claimable omega‐3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic acid plus docosahexaenoic acid than feeding systems based on feedlot pellets, grain, or dry pasture/straw. It is apparent that in some previous published research, the number of animals allocated for each treatment, and the lack of replicates, makes it difficult to formulate a correct understanding of the effect of forages on lamb carcass and meat quality. Future research should concentrate on the effect of legume, improved pasture, and specialized forage finishing systems on growth rate, carcass traits, and nutritional value of meat using well‐designed experiments with an adequate number of lambs and appropriate paddock replicates per treatment.
Description of the ambulance services participating in the Aus‐ROC Australian and New Zealand out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest Epistry
Authors: Beck Ben , Bray Janet E , Smith Karen , Walker Tony , Grantham Hugh , Hein Cindy , Thorrowgood Melanie , Smith Anthony , Inoue Madoka , Smith Tony , Dicker Bridget , Swain Andy , Bosley Emma , Pemberton Katherine , McKay Michael , Johnston‐Leek Malcolm , Cameron Peter , Perkins Gavin D , Finn Judith ,   on behalf of the Aus‐ROC Steering Committee
Published: October 2016

Objective

The present study aimed to describe and examine similarities and differences in the current service provision and resuscitation protocols of the ambulance services participating in the Aus‐ROC Australian and New Zealand out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) Epistry. Understanding these similarities and differences is important in identifying ambulance service factors that might explain regional variation in survival of OHCA in the Aus‐ROC Epistry.

Methods

A structured questionnaire was completed by each of the ambulance services participating in the Aus‐ROC Epistry. These ambulance services were SA Ambulance Service, Ambulance Victoria, St John Ambulance Western Australia, Queensland Ambulance Service, St John Ambulance NT, St John New Zealand and Wellington Free Ambulance. The survey aimed to describe ambulance service and dispatch characteristics, resuscitation protocols and details of cardiac arrest registries.

Results

We observed similarities between services with respect to the treatment of OHCA and dispatch systems. Differences between services were observed in the serviced population; the proportion of paramedics with basic life support, advanced life support or intensive care training skills; the number of OHCA cases attended; guidelines related to withholding or terminating resuscitation attempts; and the variables that might be used to define ‘attempted resuscitation’. All seven participating ambulance services were noted to have existing OHCA registries.

Conclusion

There is marked variation between ambulance services currently participating in the Aus‐ROC Australian and New Zealand OHCA Epistry with respect to workforce characteristics and key variable definitions. This variation between ambulance services might account for a proportion of the regional variation in survival of OHCA.
Survey of Molds in California Processing Tomatoes
Authors: Doan Hung K. , Perez Karina , Davis Richard M. , Slaughter David C.
Published: October 2016

From 2009 to 2011, freshly harvested processing tomatoes from California commercial fields were surveyed for mold species present in the mature fruit. Molds were recovered from the majority of fruit that had visual symptoms of black mold and other decays and from about a quarter of randomly sampled, asymptomatic fruit. Alternaria, Fusarium, and Geotrichum spp. were the most commonly recovered fungi in both symptomatic and random samples. Based on pairwise statistical analysis, the frequencies of 2 different fungal genera in a composite 11 kg‐sample were, in general, statistically independent events, with the exception of a weak association between the incidence of Geotrichum with Alternaria, Cladosporium, or Stemphylium. The mold genera distribution data in this study provide the processing tomato industry with a valuable informational resource that can be used in the management of fungal infection in both the crop and in the final thermally processed finished product. Because of the relative abundance of these fungi, this survey supported the development of genera‐specific immunochromatographic diagnostic assays to detect and quantify mold occurrence in Californian processing tomatoes as a potential alternative to the current subjective visual methods, which are characterized by imprecision and nonuniform species sensitivity. A simulation of 1 million 11 kg‐composite samples based upon the distributional survey data projected that a multiantibody immunochromatographic assay using monoclonal antibodies for Alternaria, Cladosporium, Fusarium, and Geotrichum could successfully detect the presence of mold in 94% of moldy processing tomato samples collected randomly at harvest.
Reasons and risk factors for irregular‐interval endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy in patients with esophageal variceal bleeding
Authors: Shi Yi Chao , Ma Xin , Guo Zhi Yuan , Luo Xi , Sun Guo Hui , Jiang Hua , Wang Wei Feng , Sun Gang , Yang Yun Sheng
Published: October 2016

Objective

Endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy (EVS) is usually carried out at weekly intervals in patients with esophageal variceal bleeding (EVB). However, some patients receive sclerotherapy at irregular intervals. In this study we aimed to elucidate the reasons and risk factors for irregular‐interval sclerotherapy in patients with EVB, and to evaluate the safety and efficacy of interrupted irregular intervals in these patients.

Methods

Medical records of patients who were admitted to the Chinese PLA General Hospital from December 2013 to June 2015 for EVS were retrospectively analyzed. EVS sessions were scheduled to be repeated at regular weekly intervals. However, some of these patients received at least one treatment session at irregular intervals (mainly <7 days). This irregular‐interval group was further divided into those whose treatment was rescheduled for emergency and elective reasons.

Results

Irregular treatment intervals were mainly caused by early rebleeding, initial emergency treatment, and holidays. However, there were no differences in the rates of complication and variceal eradication between patients treated at weekly and irregular intervals. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified ascites (P = 0.0009), variceal erosion (P = 0.0003), and maximum injected volume of sclerosing agent per session (P = 0.0008) to be associated with emergency irregular‐interval treatment. Only age differed between the elective irregular‐treatment and weekly treatment groups.

Conclusions

Early rebleeding, initial emergency treatment, and treatment over holidays may necessitate irregular sclerotherapy intervals in patients with EVB. Moreover, ascites, variceal erosion, and maximum injected volume of sclerosing agent per session are risk factors for emergency sclerotherapy, whereas elective adjustments to treatment schedules as a result of holidays do not affect the outcomes of patients undergoing EVS for EVB.
Stable isotope‐based location in a shelf sea setting: accuracy and precision are comparable to light‐based location methods
Authors: Trueman Clive N. , MacKenzie Kirsteen M. , St John Glew Katie
Published: October 2016

Retrospective determination of location for marine animals would facilitate investigations of migration, connectivity and food provenance. Predictable spatial variations in carbon and nitrogen isotopes in primary production across shelf seas provide a basis for stable isotope‐based location.

Here, we assess the accuracy and precision that can be obtained through dietary‐isotope‐based location methods. We build isoscapes from jellyfish tissues and use these to assign scallops of fixed and known individual location, and herring with well‐understood population‐level distributions in the North Sea.

Accuracy and precision for retrospective isotope‐based location in the North Sea were of a similar order to light‐based location devices, with 75% of individual scallops assigned correctly to areas representing c. 30% of the North Sea, with a mean linear error on the order of 102 km. Applying assignment methods to an alternative migratory species (herring) resulted in ecologically realistic assignments consistent with fisheries survey data.

Location methods based on dietary isotopes such as carbon and nitrogen recover the spatial origin of nutrients assimilated into tissues, and this may not correspond directly to the physical location if either the test animal or its prey is highly migratory. Stable isotope‐based location can be applied to any marine‐feeding organism or derived food product, but the ecological meaning of any assigned area will be more difficult to interpret for large, high trophic level, migratory animals with relatively slow isotopic assimilation rates.
How many more? Sample size determination in studies of morphological integration and evolvability
Authors: Grabowski Mark , Porto Arthur
Published: October 2016

The variational properties of living organisms are an important component of current evolutionary theory. As a consequence, researchers working on the field of multivariate evolution have increasingly used integration and evolvability statistics as a way of capturing the potentially complex patterns of trait association and their effects over evolutionary trajectories. Little attention has been paid, however, to the cascading effects that inaccurate estimates of trait covariance have on these widely used evolutionary statistics.

Here, we analyse the relationship between sampling effort and inaccuracy in evolvability and integration statistics calculated from 10‐trait matrices with varying patterns of covariation and magnitudes of integration. We then extrapolate our initial approach to different numbers of traits and different magnitudes of integration and estimate general equations relating the inaccuracy of the statistics of interest to sampling effort. We validate our equations using a data set of cranial traits and use them to make sample size recommendations.

Our results suggest that highly inaccurate estimates of evolvability and integration statistics resulting from small sample sizes are likely common in the literature, given the sampling effort necessary to properly estimate them. We also show that patterns of covariation have no effect on the sampling properties of these statistics, but overall magnitudes of integration interact with sample size and lead to varying degrees of bias, imprecision and inaccuracy.

Finally, we provide r functions that can be used to calculate recommended sample sizes or to simply estimate the level of inaccuracy that should be expected in these statistics, given a sampling design.
Effects of Age and Acute Moderate Alcohol Administration on Neurophysiology During Simulated Driving
Authors: Lewis Ben , Boissoneault Jeff , Frazier Ian , Nixon Sara Jo
Published: October 2016

Background

Driver age and blood alcohol concentration are both important factors in predicting driving risk; however, little is known regarding the joint import of these factors on neural activity following socially relevant alcohol doses. We examined age and alcohol effects on brain oscillations during simulated driving, focusing on 2 region‐specific frequency bands implicated in task performance and attention: parietal alpha power (PAP; 8 to 12 Hz) and frontal theta power (FTP; 4 to 7 Hz).

Methods

Participants included 80 younger (aged 25 to 35 years) and 40 older (aged 55 to 70 years) community‐dwelling, moderate drinkers. Participants consumed placebo, low, or moderate doses of alcohol designed to achieve target peak breath alcohol concentrations of 0, 0.04, or 0.065 g/dl, respectively. Electrophysiological measures were recorded during engagement in a simulated driving task involving 4 scenarios of varied environmental complexity.

Results

A main effect of age was detected in FTP, but neither an alcohol effect nor interactions were observed. For PAP, an age‐by‐alcohol interaction was detected. Relative to placebo controls, older and younger participants receiving low‐dose (0.04 g/dl) alcohol evinced divergent PAP alterations, with a pattern of higher power among older participants and lower power among younger participants. This interaction was noted across the varied environmental contexts.

Conclusions

These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that compared with younger individuals, older drivers may be differentially susceptible to alcohol effects. While these age‐by‐alcohol interactions in neural activity are provocative, further investigation exploring the mechanisms and behavioral correlates of these effects will be crucial in determining their behavioral impact.
Estimating the environmental effects and recreational benefits of cultivated flower land for environmental quality improvement in Taiwan
Authors: Huang Chin‐Huang
Published: October 2016

The main purpose of this study is to measure environmental effects and recreational benefits under different hypothetical scenarios program, involving quality improvement in Tien‐Wei Highway Garden, which is the biggest cultivated flower land in Taiwan. The contingent behavior model was adopted. The data combined actual number of trips under current quality of environment combined and the intended number of trips for expected scenarios of environmental quality improvement and congestion mitigation. For the empirical model, on‐site Poisson model was performed to correct truncated and endogenous stratification issues from on‐site surveys. The results show that the estimated average consumer surplus is greater in contingent behavior method than the one in the traditional travel cost model. Also, the estimated recreational benefits in contingent behavior method are more precise than those in the traditional travel cost method. The environment benefits to consumers are communicated with the programs that changes in environment quality. Meanwhile, the incremental economic benefits comprise the gain associated with the improvement of environmental quality.