bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Poor Survival of Acoustically‐Tagged Juvenile Chinook Salmon in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia, Canada
Authors: Neville Chrys M. , Beamish Richard J. , Chittenden Cedar M.
Published: December 2014

The collapse of the commercial fishery and the major decline in catches in the recreational fishery for Chinook Salmon Oncorhynchus tshawytscha in the Strait of Georgia since the mid‐1990s represents a major economic loss to British Columbia. Early marine residence is critical for survival of Chinook Salmon, but measuring the amount of mortality has been difficult. Acoustic tags can be used to measure marine mortality and study migratory behavior. We surgically implanted 278 juvenile Chinook Salmon with acoustic tags to monitor when and how many tagged fish moved out of the Strait of Georgia. Only eight tagged fish were detected leaving the Strait of Georgia, indicating that there could have been substantial mortality of the tagged juvenile Chinook Salmon within the strait. Tagging mortality was minimal, and the detection of tags was shown not to be a major source of error in this study. A major change in population structure between the spring and fall tagging periods meant that it was unlikely that most of the fish tagged in June and July remained within the Strait of Georgia. The decline in abundance of juvenile Chinook Salmon in November 2008 also indicates that the lack of detections of all tagged fish is unlikely a consequence of fish remaining in the Strait of Georgia. This information and the low catches in winter surveys indicated that most juvenile Chinook salmon were no longer in the strait in the late fall and winter. If the tagged fish were representative of the untagged fish, the current brood‐year strength probably is largely determined within the Strait of Georgia.

Received January 31, 2014; accepted July 31, 2014
Otolith Chemistry to Determine Within‐River Origins of Alabama Shad in the Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint River Basin
Authors: Schaffler Jason J. , Young Shawn P. , Herrington Steve , Ingram Travis , Tannehill Josh
Published: December 2014

Recent fish passage work in the Apalachicola–Chattahoochee–Flint (ACF) river system has coincided with an increase in the abundance and population estimates of adult Alabama ShadAlosa alabamae. Juvenile Alabama Shad are now common in the Flint River and Lake Seminole above Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam where they have historically been absent. Fish passage work has successfully restored spawning adults to these habitats; however, whether these juveniles are contributing to the observed population increases is unknown. Our objective was to determine the natal origins of adult Alabama Shad returning to spawn in the ACF river system, specifically whether fish passage efforts at the dam were contributing recruits to the adult population. Juvenile otolith chemistry profiles were significantly different between nursery locations above and below the dam but were complicated by temporal variation. However, including short term temporal variation in a discriminant function analysis (DFA) resulted in 88% correct classification, indicating that for the ACF river basin, short‐term temporal variability in otolith chemistry does not pose a significant problem for predicting natal origins from cohorts that were not sampled. This finding relied most heavily on strontium, which did not exhibit temporal variation. Our data show that juvenile Alabama Shad produced upstream and downstream of the dam in the ACF can be reliably discriminated with an otolith chemistry approach. This discriminant function was applied to 140 adult Alabama Shad collected during 2010 and 2011 from below the dam and indicated that 86% of adults returning to spawn in the ACF system recruited from the Flint River above the dam. Neither collection year, sex, nor age affected the shad origins. These data indicate that juvenile Alabama Shad are able to emigrate successfully downstream through at least one lock and dam and contribute to the adult stock.

Received April 12, 2014; accepted August 5, 2014
Predicting Brook Trout Occurrence in Stream Reaches throughout their Native Range in the Eastern United States
Authors: DeWeber Jefferson T. , Wagner Tyler
Published: December 2014

The Brook Trout Salvelinus fontinalis is an important species of conservation concern in the eastern USA. We developed a model to predict Brook Trout population status within individual stream reaches throughout the species’ native range in the eastern USA. We utilized hierarchical logistic regression with Bayesian estimation to predict Brook Trout occurrence probability, and we allowed slopes and intercepts to vary among ecological drainage units (EDUs). Model performance was similar for 7,327 training samples and 1,832 validation samples based on the area under the receiver operating curve (∼0.78) and Cohen's kappa statistic (0.44). Predicted water temperature had a strong negative effect on Brook Trout occurrence probability at the stream reach scale and was also negatively associated with the EDU average probability of Brook Trout occurrence (i.e., EDU‐specific intercepts). The effect of soil permeability was positive but decreased as EDU mean soil permeability increased. Brook Trout were less likely to occur in stream reaches surrounded by agricultural or developed land cover, and an interaction suggested that agricultural land cover also resulted in an increased sensitivity to water temperature. Our model provides a further understanding of how Brook Trout are shaped by habitat characteristics in the region and yields maps of stream‐reach‐scale predictions, which together can be used to support ongoing conservation and management efforts. These decision support tools can be used to identify the extent of potentially suitable habitat, estimate historic habitat losses, and prioritize conservation efforts by selecting suitable stream reaches for a given action. Future work could extend the model to account for additional landscape or habitat characteristics, include biotic interactions, or estimate potential Brook Trout responses to climate and land use changes.

Received May 9, 2014; accepted August 26, 2014
The localized single-valued extension property and Riesz operators
Authors: Aiena Pietro , Muller Vladimir
Published: December 2014

The localized single-valued extension property is stable under commuting Riesz perturbations.
Conditional Knockout Mouse Models of Cancer
Authors: Deng Chu-Xia
Published: December 2014

In 2007, three scientists, Drs. Mario R. Capecchi, Martin J. Evans, and Oliver Smithies, received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their contributions of introducing specific gene modifications into mice. This technology, commonly referred to as gene targeting or knockout, has proven to be a powerful means for precisely manipulating the mammalian genome and has generated great impacts on virtually all phases of mammalian biology and basic biomedical research. Of note, germline mutations of many genes, especially tumor suppressors, often result in lethality during embryonic development or at developmental stages before tumor formation. This obstacle has been effectively overcome by the use of conditional knockout technology in conjunction with Cre-LoxP- or Flp-Frt-mediated temporal and/or spatial systems to generate genetic switches for precise DNA recombination. Currently, numerous conditional knockout mouse models have been successfully generated and applied in studying tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. This review summarizes some conditional mutant mouse models that are widely used in cancer research and our understanding of the possible mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis.
Isomorphism and solid solution as shown by an accurate high-resolution diffraction experiment
Authors: Poulain Agnieszka , Kubicki Maciej , Lecomte Claude
Published: December 2014

High-resolution crystal structure determination and spherical and multipolar refinement enabled an organic solid solution of 1-(4′-chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-4-nitro-1H-imidazole-5-carbonitrile and 5-bromo-1-(4′-chlorophenyl)-2-methyl-4-nitro-1H-imidazole to be found, which would not normally be revealed using only standard resolution data (ca0.8 Å), as the disordered part is only visible at high resolution. Therefore, this new structure would have been reported as just another polymorphic form, even more reasonably as isostructural with other derivatives. To the best of our knowledge this is the first example of organic solid solution modelledviacharge density Hansen–Coppens formalism and analysed by means of quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) theory.
Spatio‐phylogenetic multispecies distribution models
Authors: Kaldhusdal Arne , Brandl Roland , Müller Jörg , Möst Lisa , Hothorn Torsten
Published: December 2014

Ecologists increasingly consider phylogenetic relatedness in both community composition and spatial arrangements in communities. Here we considered both the phylogenetic correlation between multiple species and the spatial correlation induced by unobserved spatial heterogeneity on multiple plots. For this analysis, we introduced phylogenetic spatial generalised linear mixed models (PSGLMMs), which are an extension of phylogenetic generalised linear mixed models (PGLMMs).

We used the framework of generalised linear array models to simultaneously model species and plot dimension. Such models have the potential to explain the correlation of the phylogenetic relationship of the observed species and of the spatial proximity of the plots, or both. We proposed model selection strategies based on proper scores and empirically evaluated them in a case study using bird count data. In our analysis, we focused on two special cases: the community composition model and the environmental sensitivity model.

Our simulation study indicated that it might be difficult to correctly identify phylogenetic signals when the phylogenetic correlation is rather low and when studying presence‐absence or count data of rare or pervasive species.
Using multiple imputation to estimate missing data in meta‐regression
Authors: Ellington E. Hance , Bastille‐Rousseau Guillaume , Austin Cayla , Landolt Kristen N. , Pond Bruce A. , Rees Erin E. , Robar Nicholas , Murray Dennis L.
Published: December 2014

There is a growing need for scientific synthesis in ecology and evolution. In many cases, meta‐analytic techniques can be used to complement such synthesis. However, missing data are a serious problem for any synthetic efforts and can compromise the integrity of meta‐analyses in these and other disciplines. Currently, the prevalence of missing data in meta‐analytic data sets in ecology and the efficacy of different remedies for this problem have not been adequately quantified.

We generated meta‐analytic data sets based on literature reviews of experimental and observational data and found that missing data were prevalent in meta‐analytic ecological data sets. We then tested the performance of complete case removal (a widely used method when data are missing) and multiple imputation (an alternative method for data recovery) and assessed model bias, precision and multimodel rankings under a variety of simulated conditions using published meta‐regression data sets.

We found that complete case removal led to biased and imprecise coefficient estimates and yielded poorly specified models. In contrast, multiple imputation provided unbiased parameter estimates with only a small loss in precision. The performance of multiple imputation, however, was dependent on the type of data missing. It performed best when missing values were weighting variables, but performance was mixed when missing values were predictor variables. Multiple imputation performed poorly when imputing raw data which were then used to calculate effect size and the weighting variable.

We conclude that complete case removal should not be used in meta‐regression and that multiple imputation has the potential to be an indispensable tool for meta‐regression in ecology and evolution. However, we recommend that users assess the performance of multiple imputation by simulating missing data on a subset of their data before implementing it to recover actual missing data.
Decomposing phylodiversity
Authors: Marcon Eric , Hérault Bruno
Published: December 2014

Measuring functional or phylogenetic diversity is the object of an active literature. The main issues to address are relating measures to a clear conceptual framework, allowing unavoidable estimation‐bias correction and decomposing diversity along spatial scales.

We provide a general mathematical framework to decompose measures of species‐neutral, phylogenetic or functional diversity into α and β components. We first unify the definitions of phylogenetic and functional entropy and diversity as a generalization of HCDT entropy and Hill numbers when an ultrametric tree is considered. We then derive the decomposition of diversity. We propose a bias correction of the estimates allowing meaningful computation from real, often undersampled communities. Entropy can be transformed into true diversity, that is an effective number of species or communities.

Estimators of α‐ and β‐entropy, phylogenetic and functional entropy are provided.

Proper definition and estimation of diversity is the first step towards better understanding its underlying ecological and evolutionary mechanisms.
Liver surgery in the multidisciplinary management of gastrointestinal stromal tumour
Authors: Cananzi Ferdinando C. M. , Belgaumkar Ajay , Lorenzi Bruno , Mudan Satvinder
Published: December 2014

Background

After the introduction of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), the role of surgical resection in treating liver metastasis from gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) is unclear. In this study, we evaluated the outcome of patients treated with TKIs followed by surgery for metastatic GIST.

Methods

Eleven patients who underwent liver resection after downsizing TKIs therapy for metastatic GIST from 2006 until 2010 were reviewed.

Results

One and 2‐year overall survival (OS) rates were 80.8% and 70.7%. All patients with an initially resectable tumour were still alive without recurrence. Patients operated on clinical response had a better outcome (1‐year and 2‐year OS rate of 100%) than those operated on disease progression (1‐year and 2‐year OS rates of 60% and 40%; P = 0.043). No deaths were observed among patients who achieved an R0 resection (R0 versus R1/R2, P = 0.001).

Conclusion

R0 resection and clinical response to TKI are predictors of survival. Surgical resection should be performed as soon as feasible in responder patients. In poor responders, surgery may not add any survival benefit, except in localized progressive disease. In resectable metastatic liver disease, preoperative TKIs or upfront surgery followed by adjuvant therapy could be considered. Larger studies are needed to determine the optimum approach in patients with metastatic GIST.
Childhood mycosis fungoides with a CD8+ CD56+ cytotoxic immunophenotype
Authors: Poppe Heiko , Kerstan Andreas , Böckers Martin , Goebeler Matthias , Geissinger Eva , Rosenwald Andreas , Hamm Henning
Published: December 2014

Primary cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas mostly occur in patients of middle and higher age. Their rarity and an oftentimes atypical clinical presentation in childhood as well as the reluctance of taking biopsies in children are reasons for a delayed diagnosis. We report the case of an 11‐year‐old boy with a 7‐year history of slowly progressive CD8+CD56+ mycosis fungoides of the cytotoxic immunophenotype. His trunk and extremities were affected by extensive pale‐erythematous patches and plaques with fine scaling. In addition, several poikilodermatous lesions were present on his thighs. Improvement was achieved by topical mometasone furoate treatment. On the basis of our observation, a brief review on cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas in childhood and on CD8+ subtypes in particular is given. Clinicopathological correlation is crucial for establishing the correct diagnosis and for estimation of the prognosis.
Measures of precision for dissimilarity‐based multivariate analysis of ecological communities
Authors: Anderson Marti J. , Santana‐Garcon Julia
Published: December 2014

Ecological studies require key decisions regarding the appropriate size and number of sampling units. No methods currently exist to measure precision for multivariate assemblage data when dissimilarity‐based analyses are intended to follow. Here, we propose a pseudo multivariate dissimilarity‐based standard error (MultSE) as a useful quantity for assessing sample‐size adequacy in studies of ecological communities. Based on sums of squared dissimilarities, MultSE measures variability in the position of the centroid in the space of a chosen dissimilarity measure under repeated sampling for a given sample size. We describe a novel double resampling method to quantify uncertainty in MultSE values with increasing sample size. For more complex designs, values of MultSE can be calculated from the pseudo residual mean square of a permanova model, with the double resampling done within appropriate cells in the design. R code functions for implementing these techniques, along with ecological examples, are provided.
Intrafollicular treatment with prostaglandins PGE2 and PGF2α inhibits the formation of luteinised unruptured follicles and restores normal ovulation in mares treated with flunixin‐meglumine
Authors: Martínez‐Boví R. , Cuervo‐Arango J.
Published: December 2014

Reasons for performing study

Haemorrhagic anovulatory follicle is the most common pathological anovulatory condition in the mare, but its cause remains unknown. An experimental model to induce luteinised unruptured follicles (LUF) with flunixin‐meglumine (FM) has been developed. Luteinised unruptured follicles share similar morphological and hormonal characteristics with haemorrhagic anovulatory follicles.

Objectives

To test the effect of intrafollicular administration of prostaglandins PGE2 and PGF2α during the periovulatory period on ovulation and pregnancy in FM‐treated mares.

Study design

In vivo experiment in a crossover design.

Methods

Five mares were followed during 2 oestrous cycles each. All mares were given FM at 1.7 mg/kg bwt i.v. every 12 h from Hour 0 (Hour 0 = human chorionic gonadotrophin treatment) to Hour 36. In treatment cycles (n = 5), at Hour 32 the preovulatory follicle was punctured and 0.5 ml of a solution containing 500 μg of PGE2 and 125 μg of PGF2α was deposited within the follicle. In control cycles, water for injection was administered into the follicle at the same time. In 3 control and 3 treatment cycles, mares were also inseminated at Hour 24. Diagnosis of ovulation/LUF formation and pregnancy was performed by ultrasound examination between Hours 36 and 72 and 14 days after ovulation/LUF formation, respectively.

Results

During the treatment cycles, all mares ovulated normally (100% ovulation rate) 36–48 h after human chorionic gonadotrophin, while in 4 of 5 control cycles the mares developed an LUF (80%, P<0.05). All 3 inseminated mares became pregnant in the treatment cycles, but not in the control cycles.

Conclusions

Intrafollicular treatment with PGE2 and PGF2α overcame the anovulatory effect of FM. This sheds new insights into the knowledge on the possible therapeutic options for ovulatory failure in the mare.
Melioidosis in a patient on monoclonal antibody therapy for psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Commons R. J. , Grivas R. , Currie B. J.
Published: December 2014

Melioidosis is caused by the environmental bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei and can present with severe sepsis. Predisposing risk factors are present in 80% of cases. Monoclonal antibodies are increasingly prescribed for varied medical conditions. This report describes the first known case of melioidosis in a patient whose only risk factor for disease is treatment with a monoclonal antibody. Prescribers of monoclonal antibodies and other immunosuppressants should ensure that their patients are aware of the potential risk of melioidosis prior to travel and the precautions that should be taken.
The human microbiome: opportunities and challenges for clinical care
Authors: Rogers G. B.
Published: December 2014

There is a growing appreciation of the importance of the human microbiome to our normal physiology. This complex microbial ecosystem plays a range of roles, including influencing the development and function of our immune systems, providing essential nutrients, regulating metabolism and protecting us from opportunistic infections. Our increasing understanding of these processes is due, to a large extent, to the development of high‐throughput sequencing technologies, providing for the first time a means by which complex microbial dynamics can be detailed. There is also a growing recognition that disruption of commensal microbiota, a phenomenon known as dysbiosis, is associated with several common disorders, including inflammatory bowel disease, type 2 diabetes and oncogenesis. Further, where innate immunity fails to protect us, the microbial communities that colonise the external surfaces of our bodies represent a ready source of infection. This review discusses the mechanisms that govern our interaction with our resident microbiota, both in health and disease, the technological advances that allow us to gain insight into these relationships, and the way in which our growing understanding can inform clinical practice.
Effects of viewing 9/11 footage on distress andIslamophobia: a temporally expanded approach
Authors: Choma Becky L. , Charlesford Jaysan J. , Dalling Leah , Smith Kirsty
Published: December 2014

We investigated whether viewing September 11 footage affected peoples’ perceived distress spanning past, present, and anticipated future. Participants (n= 174) were randomly assigned to a 9/11, fear, or neutral condition and completed measures of temporal perceived distress, distress of future terrorism, Islamophobia, and restriction of civil liberties attitudes. Participants in the neutral and fear conditions perceived their 9/11‐related distress as declining over time. Those in the 9/11 condition perceived their distress as higher at present and declining from present (vs. past ratings). Those viewing 9/11 (vs. neutral or fear) footage reported greater future terrorism distress, more prejudice, and greater restriction of civil liberties. These differences were explained by higher 9/11‐related distress ratings for past 5 years, present, and future.
The Influence of Sexual Orientation and Sexual Role on Male Grooming-Related Injuries and Infections
Authors: Gaither Thomas W. , Truesdale Matthew , Harris Catherine R. , Alwaal Amjad , Shindel Alan W. , Allen Isabel E. , Breyer Benjamin N.
Published: December 2014

Aim

Pubic hair grooming is a common practice in the United States and coincides with prevalence of grooming-related injuries. Men who have sex with men (MSM) groom more frequently than men who have sex with women (MSW). We aim to characterize the influence of sexual orientation and sexual role on grooming behavior, injuries, and infections in men in the United States.

Methods

We conducted a nationally representative survey of noninstitutionalized adults aged 18–65 residing in the United States. We examined the prevalence and risk factors of injuries and infections that occur as a result of personal grooming.

Results

Of the 4,062 men who completed the survey, 3,176 (78.2%) report having sex with only women (MSW), 198 (4.9%) report sex with men (MSM), and 688 (16.9%) report not being sexually active. MSM are more likely to groom (42.5% vs. 29.0%, P < 0.001) and groom more around the anus, scrotum, and penile shaft compared with MSW. MSM receptive partners groom more often (50.9% vs. 26.9%, P = 0.005) and groom more for sex (85.3% vs. 51.9%, P < 0.001) compared with MSM insertive partners. MSM report more injuries to the anus (7.0% vs. 1.0%, P < 0.001), more grooming-related infections (7.0% vs. 1.0%, P < 0.001) and abscesses (8.8% vs. 2.5%, P = 0.010), as well as lifetime sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (1.65 vs. 1.45, P = 0.038) compared with MSW. More receptive partners report grooming at the time of their STI infection (52.2% vs. 14.3%, P < 0.001) compared with insertive partners.

Conclusions

Sexual orientation, and in particular sexual role, may influence male grooming behavior and impact grooming-related injuries and infections. Anogenital grooming may put one at risk for an STI. Healthcare providers should be aware of different grooming practices in order to better educate safe depilatory practices (i.e., the use of electric razors for anogenital grooming) in patients of all sexual orientations.
Elevation of 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine in the cerebrospinal fluid of three patients with superficial siderosis
Authors: Ozaki Kokoro , Sanjo Nobuo , Ishikawa Kinya , Higashi Miwa , Hattori Takaaki , Tanuma Naoyuki , Miyata Rie , Hayashi Masaharu , Yokota Takanori , Okawa Atsushi , Mizusawa Hidehiro
Published: December 2014

Superficial siderosis is a progressive disorder of the central nervous system in which chronic intrathecal bleeding leads to hemosiderin deposition in the brain and spinal cord. Although it is hypothesized that oxidative stress caused by deposited iron contributes to the pathomechanism of superficial siderosis, there is a paucity of research supporting this hypothesis. We examined the cerebrospinal fluid of three patients with superficial siderosis for the oxidative stress marker 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine. The origin of bleeding was identified in two of the three patients, who subsequently underwent surgical treatment. We detected elevated 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine levels in the cerebrospinal fluid of all three patients that remained high in two patients, even after surgical treatment. Elevated 8‐hydroxy‐2′‐deoxyguanosine levels suggest that oxidative stress is involved in the pathomechanism of superficial siderosis.
BURSTING POLLEN is required to organize the pollen germination plaque and pollen tube tip in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Hoedemaekers Karin , Derksen Jan , Hoogstrate Suzanne W. , Wolters‐Arts Mieke , Oh Sung‐Aeong , Twell David , Mariani Celestina , Rieu Ivo
Published: December 2014

Pollen germination may occur via the so‐called germination pores or directly through the pollen wall at the site of contact with the stigma. In this study, we addressed what processes take place during pollen hydration (i.e. before tube emergence), in a species with extra‐poral pollen germination, Arabidopsis thaliana.

A T‐DNA mutant population was screened by segregation distortion analysis. Histological and electron microscopy techniques were applied to examine the wild‐type and mutant phenotypes.

Within 1 h of the start of pollen hydration, an intine‐like structure consisting of cellulose, callose and at least partly de‐esterified pectin was formed at the pollen wall. Subsequently, this ‘germination plaque’ gradually extended and opened up to provide passage for the cytoplasm into the emerging pollen tube. BURSTING POLLEN (BUP) was identified as a gene essential for the correct organization of this plaque and the tip of the pollen tube. BUP encodes a novel Golgi‐located glycosyltransferase related to the glycosyltransferase 4 (GT4) subfamily which is conserved throughout the plant kingdom.

Extra‐poral pollen germination involves the development of a germination plaque and BUP defines the correct plastic‐elastic properties of this plaque and the pollen tube tip by affecting pectin synthesis or delivery.
Leaf morphology of 40 evergreen and deciduous broadleaved subtropical tree species and relationships to functional ecophysiological traits
Authors: Kröber W. , Heklau H. , Bruelheide H.
Published: December 2014

We explored potential of morphological and anatomical leaf traits for predicting ecophysiological key functions in subtropical trees. We asked whether the ecophysiological parameters stomatal conductance and xylem cavitation vulnerability could be predicted from microscopy leaf traits. We investigated 21 deciduous and 19 evergreen subtropical tree species, using individuals of the same age and from the same environment in the Biodiversity‐Ecosystem Functioning experiment at Jiangxi (BEF‐China). Information‐theoretic linear model selection was used to identify the best combination of morphological and anatomical predictors for ecophysiological functions. Leaf anatomy and morphology strongly depended on leaf habit. Evergreen species tended to have thicker leaves, thicker spongy and palisade mesophyll, more palisade mesophyll layers and a thicker subepidermis. Over 50% of all evergreen species had leaves with multi‐layered palisade parenchyma, while only one deciduous species (Koelreuteria bipinnata) had this. Interactions with leaf habit were also included in best multi‐predictor models for stomatal conductance (gs) and xylem cavitation vulnerability. In addition, maximum gs was positively related to log ratio of palisade to spongy mesophyll thickness. Vapour pressure deficit (vpd) for maximum gs increased with the log ratio of palisade to spongy mesophyll thickness in species having leaves with papillae. In contrast, maximum specific hydraulic conductivity and xylem pressure at which 50% loss of maximum specific xylem hydraulic conductivity occurred (Ψ50) were best predicted by leaf habit and density of spongy parenchyma. Evergreen species had lower Ψ50 values and lower maximum xylem hydraulic conductivities. As hydraulic leaf and wood characteristics were reflected in structural leaf traits, there is high potential for identifying further linkages between morphological and anatomical leaf traits and ecophysiological responses.
Dynamic Pricing of New Services in Subscription Markets
Authors: Penmetsa Nabita , Gal‐Or Esther , May Jerrold
Published: December 2014

We analyze the dynamic price discrimination strategies of a monopolist who offers new services on a subscription basis. Access to customers' subscription histories permits the monopolist to design pricing policies that can be based on customers' past purchase behavior, and on the time period in which they made their purchases. Uncertainty regarding the value of new features, and heterogeneity in consumers' valuation for existing features, creates inter‐temporal incentives that influence both profits and the rate of adoption of new technology. We find that the comparison of pricing regimes critically depends on whether the monopolist finds it optimal to encourage all consumers to adopt the new technology early. The pricing regimes differ only when the prior heterogeneity in consumer valuation for the existing features is relatively large, in which case the monopolist finds it optimal to serve only the part of the population of consumers that has a relatively high valuation. The monopolist can improve his profits by committing to ignore consumer past behavior, and to vary prices based only on the time period. If a stronger commitment to never utilize any price discrimination is feasible, the profits of the monopolist are even higher. However, the “First Best” outcome cannot be achieved, because it requires the monopolist to discriminate in favor of returning customers, by offering them lower prices than it offers to new customers. We also investigate the effect of positive correlation between the consumer valuations for the existing and the new features of the technology. We find that, as the correlation increases, the gap in profits among the various regimes narrows, while the ranking of the regimes remains the same. In particular, with perfect correlation, time inconsistency issues that arise due to lack of commitment disappear completely for all regimes, and the “First Best” outcome is attainable.
Increasing substrate heterogeneity as a bet‐hedging strategy for restoring wetland vegetation
Authors: Doherty James M. , Zedler Joy B.
Published: December 2014

Mimicking the natural heterogeneity of wetland substrates, e.g. by roughening surface soil or constructing hummocks, has been shown to facilitate wetland plant establishment. We asked if incorporating substrate heterogeneity could also help plants withstand variation in moisture levels. In a wetland with Carex stricta (tussock sedge) as the main restoration target, we manipulated substrates to create different soil moisture environments for planted C. stricta plugs. Our artificial mounds mimicked tussocks formed by C. stricta in natural meadows (circa 10–40 cm in height); we also varied mound compositions and created shallow depressions. Monitoring demonstrated variation in soil moisture among our treatments and natural differences in soil moisture between experimental blocks. Additionally, rainfall varied from severe drought in year 1 to extreme rainfall in year 2. Plug survival, flowering, cover, biomass, leaf length, and growth rate all varied with treatment, block, and/or year. Interactions among those factors were common. Planting plugs in shallow depressions exacerbated stress in a wet block during a wet year, causing low survival. Planting plugs in moisture‐retaining peat pots allowed them to survive and sustain growth even in a dry block during a dry year. We conclude that heterogeneous substrates can be used to hedge against environmental variability by widening the range of microsites available within a restoration site and thereby moderating stressful conditions in some areas.
Mapping Invisible Work: Conceptual Tools for Social Justice Projects
Authors: DeVault Marjorie L.
Published: December 2014

Feminist scholars developed the concept of “invisible work” in the 1980s to bring sociological attention to work that was unpaid, unrecognized, or undervalued. Since then, it has become clear that the “generous” concept of work can be applied more broadly and that bringing invisible work into view may help to advance projects of social justice and inclusion. Drawing on the example of healthcare access for deaf patients, this article explores strategies for deploying the generous concept of work in institutional analysis.
Deliberation and Ethnicity
Authors: Schneiderhan Erik , Khan Shamus , Elrick Jennifer
Published: December 2014

Scholars typically suggest that deliberation, defined as communication guided by reason‐giving and inclusion, works best behind a veil of ignorance or when personal differences are bracketed. In this article we explore deliberation within ethnically diverse groups. We operationalize ethnicity in three ways: as an aspect of individual identity, as an identity that is made salient through priming, and as an enactment relative to interactions in particular situations. In this way, we can explore the applicability of our previous experimental results to ethnically diverse groups. We find similar results: within ethnically diverse groups, deliberation matters; participants are more likely to reconsider their positions when deliberating than when simply talking about politics. Ethnicity has no adverse effects on the quality of deliberation, indicating that bracketing has no significant impact. On the contrary, when conceptualized as a relational enactment, ethnicity is correlated with increased levels of reason‐giving and inclusion, and hence higher quality deliberation. This suggests deliberation works in multiethnic groups in much the same way as—if not better than—it does in homogeneous groups. Deliberation is a robust form of political communication that not only helps manage, but also embraces diverse subjective experiences as a part of the political process.
Need for certification of household water treatment products: examples from Haiti
Authors: Murray Anna , Pierre‐Louis Jocelyne , Joseph Flaurine , Sylvain Ginelove , Patrick Molly , Lantagne Daniele
Published: December 2014

Objective

To evaluate four household water treatment (HWT) products currently seeking approval for distribution in Haiti, through the application of a recently‐developed national HWT product certification process.

Methods

Four chemical treatment products were evaluated against the certification process validation stage by verifying international product certifications confirming treatment efficacy and reviewing laboratory efficacy data against WHO HWT microbiological performance targets; and against the approval stage by confirming product composition, evaluating treated water chemical content against national and international drinking water quality guidelines and reviewing packaging for dosing ability and usage directions in Creole.

Results

None of the four evaluated products fulfilled validation or approval stage requirements. None was certified by an international agency as efficacious for drinking water treatment, and none had data demonstrating its ability to meet WHO HWT performance targets. All product sample compositions differed from labelled composition by >20%, and no packaging included complete usage directions in Creole.

Conclusions

Product manufacturers provided information that was inapplicable, did not demonstrate product efficacy, and was insufficient to ensure safe product use. Capacity building is needed with country regulatory agencies to objectively evaluate HWT products. Products should be internationally assessed against WHO performance targets and also locally approved, considering language, culture and usability, to ensure effective HWT.
Plastid proteome prediction for diatoms and other algae with secondary plastids of the red lineage
Authors: Gruber Ansgar , Rocap Gabrielle , Kroth Peter G. , Armbrust E. Virginia , Mock Thomas
Published: December 2014

The plastids of ecologically and economically important algae from phyla such as stramenopiles, dinoflagellates and cryptophytes were acquired via a secondary endosymbiosis and are surrounded by three or four membranes. Nuclear‐encoded plastid‐localized proteins contain N‐terminal bipartite targeting peptides with the conserved amino acid sequence motif ‘ASAFAP’. Here we identify the plastid proteomes of two diatoms, Thalassiosira pseudonana and Phaeodactylum tricornutum, using a customized prediction tool (ASAFind) that identifies nuclear‐encoded plastid proteins in algae with secondary plastids of the red lineage based on the output of SignalP and the identification of conserved ‘ASAFAP’ motifs and transit peptides. We tested ASAFind against a large reference dataset of diatom proteins with experimentally confirmed subcellular localization and found that the tool accurately identified plastid‐localized proteins with both high sensitivity and high specificity. To identify nucleus‐encoded plastid proteins of T. pseudonana and P. tricornutum we generated optimized sets of gene models for both whole genomes, to increase the percentage of full‐length proteins compared with previous assembly model sets. ASAFind applied to these optimized sets revealed that about 8% of the proteins encoded in their nuclear genomes were predicted to be plastid localized and therefore represent the putative plastid proteomes of these algae.
Meat Juice Serology and Improved Food Chain Information as Control Tools for Pork‐Related Public Health Hazards
Authors: Felin E. , Jukola E. , Raulo S. , Fredriksson‐Ahomaa M.
Published: December 2014

The seroprevalence of Salmonella spp., pathogenic Yersinia spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Trichinella spp. was studied in 1353 finishing pigs from 259 farms that were allocated according to farm types: large fattening farms (≥1000 pig places), small fattening farms (< 1000 pig places) and farrow‐to‐finish farms. The antibodies were analysed with commercial ELISA kits in meat juice samples that were collected at Finnish slaughterhouses. Salmonella antibodies were rare (3% of pigs, 14% of farms) when the cut‐off optical density (OD) value 0.2 was used. Antibodies to pathogenic Yersinia spp. and T. gondii were detected in 57% of pigs and 85% of farms (OD ≥0.3) and in 3% of pigs and 9% of farms (OD ≥0.15), respectively. No antibodies to Trichinella spp. were detected (OD ≥0.3). The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) considers Salmonella spp., Yersinia enterocolitica, T. gondii and Trichinella spp. as the most relevant biological hazards in the context of meat inspection of pigs. The seroprevalence of these important zoonotic pathogens was low in Finland, except that of Yersinia. The seroprevalence of Toxoplasma was significantly higher in pigs originating from small‐scale fattening farms (P < 0.05). Strong positive correlation was observed at the animal level between Salmonella and Yersinia seropositivity and between Salmonella and Toxoplasma seropositivity (P < 0.05). We suggest that these results reflect the level and importance of biosecurity measures applied on the farms. Meat juice serology at slaughter is a useful tool for targeting measures to control these pathogens. The information obtained from analyses should be used as part of the food chain information (FCI).
Image reconstructions from super‐sampled data sets with resolution modeling in PET imaging
Authors: Li Yusheng , Matej Samuel , Metzler Scott D.
Published: December 2014

Purpose:

Spatial resolution in positron emission tomography (PET) is still a limiting factor in many imaging applications. To improve the spatial resolution for an existing scanner with fixed crystal sizes, mechanical movements such as scanner wobbling and object shifting have been considered for PET systems. Multiple acquisitions from different positions can provide complementary information and increased spatial sampling. The objective of this paper is to explore an efficient and useful reconstruction framework to reconstruct super‐resolution images from super‐sampled low‐resolution data sets.

Methods:

The authors introduce a super‐sampling data acquisition model based on the physical processes with tomographic, downsampling, and shifting matrices as its building blocks. Based on the model, we extend the MLEM and Landweber algorithms to reconstruct images from super‐sampled data sets. The authors also derive a backprojection‐filtration‐like (BPF‐like) method for the super‐sampling reconstruction. Furthermore, they explore variant methods for super‐sampling reconstructions: the separate super‐sampling resolution‐modeling reconstruction and the reconstruction without downsampling to further improve image quality at the cost of more computation. The authors use simulated reconstruction of a resolution phantom to evaluate the three types of algorithms with different super‐samplings at different count levels.

Results:

Contrast recovery coefficient (CRC) versus background variability, as an image‐quality metric, is calculated at each iteration for all reconstructions. The authors observe that all three algorithms can significantly and consistently achieve increased CRCs at fixed background variability and reduce background artifacts with super‐sampled data sets at the same count levels. For the same super‐sampled data sets, the MLEM method achieves better image quality than the Landweber method, which in turn achieves better image quality than the BPF‐like method. The authors also demonstrate that the reconstructions from super‐sampled data sets using a fine system matrix yield improved image quality compared to the reconstructions using a coarse system matrix. Super‐sampling reconstructions with different count levels showed that the more spatial‐resolution improvement can be obtained with higher count at a larger iteration number.

Conclusions:

The authors developed a super‐sampling reconstruction framework that can reconstruct super‐resolution images using the super‐sampling data sets simultaneously with known acquisition motion. The super‐sampling PET acquisition using the proposed algorithms provides an effective and economic way to improve image quality for PET imaging, which has an important implication in preclinical and clinical region‐of‐interest PET imaging applications.
Pensions for the under‐30s
Authors: Gripper Peter
Published: December 2014

Mention the word ‘pension’ and the response you get varies with the age group of the company you keep. Retirement may seem a long way off, but with the basic state pension standing at around £97 a week, Peter Gripper asks, can you afford not to do something about it?
Ten‐minute chat
Authors: Killick Anne
Published: December 2014

Anne Killick spends most of her year in practice at Meadowbank Veterinary Surgery, Selston, Nottinghamshire, but whenever she can she escapes to the mountainous Hunza Nagar region of Pakistan, close to the Chinese border, where she helps local farmers.
Ten‐minute chat
Authors: Frances Brown Harcourt
Published: December 2014

In the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, Frances Harcourt‐Brown shares her route to being the first (and only) RCVS Recognised Specialist in rabbit medicine and surgery, and a European specialist in small mammals. She owns and works in a small animal practice with her husband, Nigel.
Ten‐minute chat
Authors: Trawford Andrew
Published: December 2014

Andrew Trawford has worked for the Donkey Sanctuary for 17 years, and is its director of veterinary services. As a champion of animal welfare, he has spent considerable periods abroad as an ambassador for working animals.
Ten‐minute chat
Authors: Boydell Pip
Published: December 2014

Pip Boydell is the founder and director of Animal Medical Centre Referral Services (AMCRS) in Manchester; he is a vet with many interests, from music to kickboxing.
Communication matters
Authors: Mossop Liz , Belshaw Zoe
Published: December 2014

Communication is more than just saying the right thing. No matter how long you have been in practice, refining your communication skills will have positive effects, as Liz Mossop and Zoe Belshaw explain
From four legs to two: a journey from animal health to human health
Authors: McDonnell Aoibhinn
Published: December 2014

After qualifying, Aoibhinn McDonnell gained a Masters and a PhD. She has worked in research, small animal practice and industry. She now works in early stage drug development
Veterinary care 24/7
Authors: Dawson Robert
Published: December 2014

Last year, Highcroft Veterinary Group decided that it was time to employ dedicated overnight vets to provide out‐of‐hours cover to its clients. Robert Dawson, a partner in the group, explains more
Ten‐minute chat
Authors: Paull Nicky
Published: December 2014

Nicky Paull is the senior partner of a 13‐vet mixed practice in Cornwall, the practice she joined after qualifying. She married one of the dairy farming clients, had two children and bought the then three‐and‐a‐half‐vet practice from her boss. She went on to be president of the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS) and President of the BVA. She has been a non‐executive director of Centaur Services, is a director on the board of the Veterinary Benevolent Fund, and was recently appointed as an RCVS postgraduate dean.
Helping keep pet chickens healthy
Authors: Sampson Sandra
Published: December 2014

Responding to chicken owners pleas for advice on caring for their pet birds, St David's veterinary practice in Exeter set up ‘The Chicken Vet’. The poultry team's marketing manager, Sandra Sampson, explains
Why physiotherapy?
Authors: Fentem‐Jones Helen
Published: December 2014

Helen Fentem‐Jones is a physiotherapist working within the veterinary team at Dick White Referrals. Here, she explains why she finds the career so rewarding
New graduate's diary
Authors: Hall Jen
Published: December 2014

Constant press coverage about the lack of job opportunities for young people makes depressing reading, but last week Jen Hall met a young farmer whose commitment to pursuing his dream left her in awe.
Job satisfaction, step by step
Authors: Wilson Sally
Published: December 2014

Sally Wilson is a DairyCo trained mobility mentor who helps dairy farmers tackle welfare issues and promote a positive and professional image by being ‘proud of dairy’. She finds the work tremendously satisfying
Ten‐minute chat
Authors: Batt Roy
Published: December 2014

Roy Batt is a retired vet, teacher, researcher and lecturer in animal anatomy. He is also a poet, and is currently collecting poems written by members of the veterinary profession.