bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Contrasting synchrony in root and leaf phenology across multiple sub‐Arctic plant communities
Authors: Sloan Victoria L. , Fletcher Benjamin J. , Phoenix Gareth K.
Published: November 2015

Roots account for > 50% of net primary production in many ecosystems and are widely accepted as playing a fundamental role in ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycling. Despite this, the timing and controls of root production and the relationships between root and leaf phenology are still poorly understood in many plant communities, making it challenging to elucidate broad scale patterns and to predict ecosystem responses to a changing climate. Here, we investigate and compare the extent of synchrony of community‐level fine root and leaf production in 10 widespread sub‐Arctic plant communities, including deciduous forest, evergreen shrub, deciduous shrub and sedge‐dominated communities.

We show that across contrasting plant communities, timing of leaf production does not vary substantially, but there are considerable differences in timing of root production between woody plant‐ and sedge‐dominated vegetation. In sedge communities, root production occurs early in the growing season, soon after the peak of leaf production, whereas in woody plant communities, leaf and root production are highly asynchronous, with the majority of root production occurring late in the growing season.

Seasonal dynamics of root growth were not consistently correlated with soil temperature, suggesting that differences in timing of production relate to inherent differences between plant functional types. This raises important questions as to the drivers of root production, the functional reasons underlying these contrasting plant strategies, as well as the consequences for microbial communities and nutrient cycling of such contrasting timing of carbon inputs to soil.

Synthesis. We demonstrate that major differences exist in the synchrony of temporal dynamics of leaf and root production between woody plant and sedge‐dominated sub‐Arctic vegetation. The substantially greater asynchrony in root and leaf production in woody plants compared with sedges suggests that vegetation change associated with climate warming will result in significant shifts in timing of carbon fluxes to soil, and highlights the need for separate leaf and root components in ecosystem carbon and nutrient cycle models.
A dynamin‐like protein involved in bacterial cell membrane surveillance under environmental stress
Authors: Sawant Prachi , Eissenberger Kristina , Karier Laurence , Mascher Thorsten , Bramkamp Marc
Published: November 2015

In ever‐changing natural environments, bacteria are continuously challenged with numerous biotic and abiotic stresses. Accordingly, they have evolved both specific and more general mechanisms to counteract stress‐induced damage and ensure survival. In the soil habitat of Bacillus subtilis, peptide antibiotics and bacteriophages are among the primary stressors that affect the integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane. Dynamin‐like proteins (DLPs) play a major role in eukaryotic membrane re‐modelling processes, including antiviral activities, but the function of the corresponding bacterial homologues was so far poorly understood. Here, we report on the protective function of a bacterial DLP, DynA from B. subtilis. We provide evidence that DynA plays an important role in a membrane surveillance system that counteracts membrane pore formation provoked by antibiotics and phages. In unstressed cells, DynA is a highly dynamic membrane‐associated protein. Upon membrane damage, DynA localizes into large and static assemblies, where DynA acts locally to counteract stress‐induced pores, presumably by inducing lipid bilayer fusion and sealing membrane gaps. Thus, lack of DynA increases the sensitivity to antibiotic exposure and phage infection. Taken together, our work suggests that DynA, and potentially other bacterial DLPs, contribute to the innate immunity of bacteria against membrane stress.
Bacterial responses to environmental change on the Tibetan Plateau over the past half century
Authors: Liu Yongqin , Priscu John C. , Yao Tandong , Vick‐Majors Trista J. , Xu Baiqing , Jiao Nianzhi , Santibáñez Pamela , Huang Sijun , Wang Ninglian , Greenwood Mark , Michaud Alexander B. , Kang Shichang , Wang Jianjun , Gao Qun , Yang Yunfeng
Published: November 2015

Climate change and anthropogenic factors can alter biodiversity and can lead to changes in community structure and function. Despite the potential impacts, no long‐term records of climatic influences on microbial communities exist. The Tibetan Plateau is a highly sensitive region that is currently undergoing significant alteration resulting from both climate change and increased human activity. Ice cores from glaciers in this region serve as unique natural archives of bacterial abundance and community composition, and contain concomitant records of climate and environmental change. We report high‐resolution profiles of bacterial density and community composition over the past half century in ice cores from three glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau. Statistical analysis showed that the bacterial community composition in the three ice cores converged starting in the 1990s. Changes in bacterial community composition were related to changing precipitation, increasing air temperature and anthropogenic activities in the vicinity of the plateau. Collectively, our ice core data on bacteria in concert with environmental and anthropogenic proxies indicate that the convergence of bacterial communities deposited on glaciers across a wide geographical area and situated in diverse habitat types was likely induced by climatic and anthropogenic drivers.
The Meaning of Intimacy: Post Obergefell Implications
Authors: Wood Claire A. , Perlman Daniel
Published: November 2015

This commentary on Frost and Gola's (2015) article expands on the discussion of the policy and practical implications of their findings. Specifically, we highlight the potential impact of the Supreme Court's decision from the positive response hypothesis and the more probable structural response hypothesis (i.e., that the decision will serve to polarize attitudes).
Lithium and renal and upper urinary tract tumors – results from a nationwide population‐based study
Authors: Kessing Lars Vedel , Gerds Thomas Alexander , Feldt‐Rasmussen Bo , Andersen Per Kragh , Licht Rasmus W
Published: November 2015

Objectives

A recent alarming finding suggested an increased risk of renal tumors among long‐term lithium users. The objectives of the present study were to estimate rates of renal and upper urinary tract tumors (RUT), malignant and benign, among individuals exposed to successive prescriptions for lithium, anticonvulsants, and other psychotropic agents used for bipolar disorder, and among unexposed individuals.

Methods

This was a nationwide, population‐based longitudinal study including time‐specific data from all individuals exposed to lithium (n = 24,272) or anticonvulsants (n = 386,255), all individuals with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder (n = 9,651), and a randomly selected sample of 1,500,000 from the Danish population. The study period was from 1995 to 2012, inclusive. Outcomes were hazard rate ratios (HR) for RUT in three groups: (i) combined malignant and benign, (ii) malignant, and (iii) benign. Analyses were adjusted for the number of prescriptions for lithium/anticonvulsants, antipsychotic agents, antidepressants, and use of all other types of medication; age; gender; employment status; calendar year; and a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Results

Continued treatment with lithium was not associated with increased rates of RUT [adjusted HR malignant or benign: 0.67–1.18, p (trend) = 0.70; adjusted HR malignant: 0.61–1.34, p (trend) = 0.90; adjusted HR benign: 0.74–1.18, p (trend) = 0.70]. Similarly, continued treatment with anticonvulsants was not associated with increased rates of RUT [adjusted HR malignant or benign: 0.97–1.18, p (trend) = 0.10; adjusted HR malignant: 0.82–1.15, p (trend) = 0.80; adjusted HR benign: 0.94–1.36, p (trend) = 0.20]. The associations were confirmed among the 9,651 patients with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Conclusions

Treatment with lithium is not associated with increased rates of RUT.
Testing Multiple Hypotheses with Skewed Alternatives
Authors: Bansal Naveen K. , Hamedani Gholamhossein G. , Maadooliat Mehdi
Published: November 2015

In many practical cases of multiple hypothesis problems, it can be expected that the alternatives are not symmetrically distributed. If it is known a priori that the distributions of the alternatives are skewed, we show that this information yields high power procedures as compared to the procedures based on symmetric alternatives when testing multiple hypotheses. We propose a Bayesian decision theoretic rule for multiple directional hypothesis testing, when the alternatives are distributed as skewed, under a constraint on a mixed directional false discovery rate. We compare the proposed rule with a frequentist's rule of Benjamini and Yekutieli (2005) using simulations. We apply our method to a well-studied HIV dataset.
Prevalence and clinical significance of cellular and acellular mucin in patients with locally advanced mucinous rectal cancer who underwent preoperative chemoradiotherapy followed by radical surgery
Authors: Kang C. M. , Lim S.‐B. , Hong S.‐M. , Yu C. S. , Hong Y. S. , Kim T. W. , Park J.‐H. , Kim J. H. , Kim J. C.
Published: November 2015

Aim

The frequent presence of acellular mucin in specimens showing pathological complete response to preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) and the poor response to preoperative CRT in mucinous rectal cancer have been reported. However, the prevalence and prognostic significance of cellular and acellular mucin have not been evaluated in resected specimens from patients with mucinous rectal cancer who undergo preoperative CRT.

Method

We retrospectively evaluated the clinicopathological features and prognostic significance of mucin in resected specimens from 59 consecutive patients with mucinous rectal cancer who underwent long‐course CRT followed by resection between January 2000 and December 2009. Patients were categorized according to the presence of mucin, as identified by pathological analysis. The clinicopathological findings and oncological results were compared.

Results

Mucin was identified in 25 of 59 patients with mucinous rectal cancer (42.4%). Mucin was more frequent in men (hazard ratio = 23.94, 95% confidence interval = 1.875–305.504, P = 0.015) and in specimens showing a good tumour response grade (hazard ratio = 64.26, 95% confidence interval = 6.940–595.045, P < 0.001). With a median follow‐up of 67.7 (range 8.6–133.2) months, the 5‐year overall survival (60.7% without mucin vs 51.4% with mucin, P = 0.898) and disease‐free survival (59.9% without mucin vs 56.9% with mucin, P = 0.813) did not differ between the groups.

Conclusion

The presence of mucin in rectal cancer with mucinous differentiation after preoperative CRT and resection is associated with male gender and a good tumour response grade, without significant impact on oncological outcome.
Developmental Changes in Cross‐Situational Word Learning: The Inverse Effect of Initial Accuracy
Authors: Fitneva Stanka A. , Christiansen Morten H.
Published: November 2015

Intuitively, the accuracy of initial word‐referent mappings should be positively correlated with the outcome of learning. Yet recent evidence suggests an inverse effect of initial accuracy in adults, whereby greater accuracy of initial mappings is associated with poorer outcomes in a cross‐situational learning task. Here, we examine the impact of initial accuracy on 4‐year‐olds, 10‐year‐olds, and adults. For half of the participants most word‐referent mappings were initially correct and for the other half most mappings were initially incorrect. Initial accuracy was positively related to learning outcomes in 4‐year‐olds, had no effect on 10‐year‐olds' learning, and was inversely related to learning outcomes in adults. Examination of item learning patterns revealed item interdependence for adults and 4‐year‐olds but not 10‐year‐olds. These findings point to a qualitative change in language learning processes over development.
Mentoring in Clinical‐Translational Research: A Study of Participants in Master's Degree Programs
Authors: McGinn Aileen P. , Lee Linda S. , Baez Adriana , Zwanziger Jack , Anderson Karl E. , Seely Ellen W. , Schoenbaum Ellie
Published: November 2015

Research projects in translational science are increasingly complex and require interdisciplinary collaborations. In the context of training translational researchers, this suggests that multiple mentors may be needed in different content areas. This study explored mentoring structure as it relates to perceived mentoring effectiveness and other characteristics of master's‐level trainees in clinical‐translational research training programs. A cross‐sectional online survey of recent graduates of clinical research master's program was conducted. Of 73 surveys distributed, 56.2% (n = 41) complete responses were analyzed. Trainees were overwhelmingly positive about participation in their master's programs and the impact it had on their professional development. Overall the majority (≥75%) of trainees perceived they had effective mentoring in terms of developing skills needed for conducting clinical‐translational research. Fewer trainees perceived effective mentoring in career development and work‐life balance. In all 15 areas of mentoring effectiveness assessed, higher rates of perceived mentor effectiveness was seen among trainees with ≥2 mentors compared to those with solo mentoring (SM). In addition, trainees with ≥2 mentors perceived having effective mentoring in more mentoring aspects (median: 14.0; IQR: 12.0–15.0) than trainees with SM (median: 10.5; IQR: 8.0–14.5). Results from this survey suggest having ≥2 mentors may be beneficial in fulfilling trainee expectations for mentoring in clinical‐translational training.
Pricing of alcohol inCanada: A comparison of provincial policies and harm‐reduction opportunities
Authors: Giesbrecht Norman , Wettlaufer Ashley , Thomas Gerald , Stockwell Tim , Thompson Kara , April Nicole , Asbridge Mark , Cukier Samantha , Mann Robert , McAllister Janet , Murie Andrew , Pauley Chris , Plamondon Laurie , Vallance Kate
Published: November 2015

Introduction and Aims

Alcohol pricing is an effective prevention policy. This paper compares the 10Canadian provinces on three research‐based alcohol pricing policies—minimum pricing, pricing by alcohol content and maintaining prices relative to inflation.

Design and Methods

The selection of these three policies was based on systematic reviews and seminal research papers. Provincial data for 2012 were obtained fromStatisticsCanada and relevant provincial ministries, subsequently sent to provincial authorities for verification, and then scored by team members.

Results

All provinces, except forAlberta, have minimum prices for at least one beverage type sold in off‐premise outlets. All provinces, except forBritishColumbia andQuebec, have separate (and higher) minimum pricing for on‐premise establishments. Regarding pricing on alcohol content, western and central provinces typically scored higher than provinces inEasternCanada. Generally, minimum prices were lower than the recommended $1.50 per standard drink for off‐premise outlets and $3.00 per standard drink in on‐premise venues. Seven of 10 provinces scored 60% or higher compared to the ideal on indexing prices to inflation. Prices for a representative basket of alcohol products inOntario andQuebec have lagged significantly behind inflation since 2006.

Discussion and Conclusions

While examples of evidence‐based alcohol pricing policies can be found in every jurisdiction inCanada, significant inter‐provincial variation leaves substantial unrealised potential for further reducing alcohol‐related harm and costs. This comparative assessment of alcohol price policies provides clear indications of how individual provinces could adjust their pricing policies and practices to improve public health and safety.[Giesbrecht N, Wettlaufer A, Thomas G, Stockwell T, Thompson K, April N, Asbridge M, Cukier S, Mann R, McAllister J, Murie A, Pauley C, Plamondon L, Vallance K. Pricing of alcohol in Canada: A comparison of provincial policies and harm‐reduction opportunities.Drug Alcohol Rev2016;35:289–297]
Health knowledge and smokeless tobacco quit attempts and intentions among married women in ruralBangladesh: Cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Hossain Mohammad Shakhawat , Kypri Kypros , Rahman Bayzidur , Akter Shahnaz , Milton Abul Hasnat
Published: November 2015

Introduction and Aims

The aim of this study was to investigate health knowledge, attitudes and smokeless tobacco quit attempts and intentions among married women in ruralBangladesh.

Design and Methods

A cross‐sectional survey was conducted using an interviewer administered, pretested, semistructured questionnaire. All 8082 women living in theJhaudi andGhotmajhee local government areas, aged ≥18 years with at least one pregnancy in their lifetime, were invited to participate. Questions covered smokeless tobacco consumption (STC), knowledge regarding its health effects, users' quit attempts and intentions and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results

Eight thousand seventy‐four women completed the survey (response rate 99.9%). Almost half (45%) of current consumers thoughtSTCwas good for their health and many ascribed medicinal values to it, for example 25% thoughtSTCreduced stomach aches. A quarter had previously tried to quit and 10% intended to quit. After adjusting for potential confounders, inaccurate knowledge ofSTChealth consequences was associated with being older [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 2.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.99–3.50], less educated (aOR = 2.18, 95%CI1.66–2.85), Muslim (aOR = 17.0, 95%CI12.0–23.9) and unemployed (aOR = 29.7, 95%CI: 25.2–35.1). Having less education (aOR = 2.52, 95%CI0.98–6.45) and being unemployed (aOR = 1.52, 95%CI1.03–2.23) were associated with the intention to quit.

Discussion and Conclusions

Large gaps exist in ruralBangladeshi women's understanding of the adverse health effects ofSTC. Health awareness campaigns should highlight the consequences ofSTC. Routine screening and cessation advice should be provided in primary healthcare and smokeless tobacco control strategies should be implemented. [Hossain MS, Kypri K, Rahman B, Akter S, Milton AH. Health knowledge and smokeless tobacco quit attempts and intentions among married women in rural Bangladesh: Cross‐sectional survey.Drug Alcohol Rev2016;35:514–522]
Contentious and Prefigurative Politics: Vigilante Groups’ Struggle against Sexual Violence in Egypt (2011–2013)
Authors: Tadros Mariz
Published: November 2015

This article analyses the drivers, mobilizational tactics and manoeuvrings of informal, youth‐led initiatives that emerged in post‐Mubarak Egypt to counter the growing threat of sexual violence against women in public spaces. The findings are based on empirical research into youth‐led activism against gender‐based violence during 2011‒2013. The approach adopted is a case study of three initiatives, Bassma (Imprint), Shoft Taharosh (Harassment Seen) and Opantish (Operation Anti Sexual Harassment). Informal youth‐based initiatives in the context of the post‐January 2011 uprising have generally been criticized for their lack of sustainability, organizationally and politically. However, the examination of activism against gender‐based vio‐lence through the lens of prefigurative politics shows the inherent value of experimentation and its contribution to innovations in public outreach. The value of the initiatives studied in this article also lies in their mobilizational power which inadvertently produces ‘repertoires’ of knowledge, skills and resources to engage the citizenry and capture their imagination. In the long run, such repertoires may allow for the emergence of organized and sustained forms of political agency. The article suggests that a cross‐fertilization of prefigurative and contentious politics offers a framework for understanding temporally‐ and spatially‐bound forms of collective political agency.
Quality of life in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: the disability paradox
Authors: Pangalila Robert
Published: November 2015

This commentary is on the original article by Landfeldt et al. on pages 508–515 of this issue.
Congenital and childhood‐onset myotonic dystrophy: importance of long‐term data in natural history
Authors: Schara Ulrike
Published: November 2015

This commentary is on the original article by Johnson et al. on pages 698–705 of this issue.
YOUTH, REVOLUTION, AND REPRESSION
Authors: Shadmehr Mehdi , Haschke Peter
Published: November 2015

We develop a simple model to study the effect of age structure on the interactions between the state and dissidents. Younger populations are more prone to protest. As the population grows younger, states that can discriminately target repression to different groups, but cannot concede discriminately, decrease repression. In contrast, states that can target concession, but not repression, increase repression. We test these results in nonmilitary single‐party regimes and military regimes without political parties. Moreover, we study state response to dissent in East European communist regimes in the late 1980s, showing that state response was more repressive in countries with younger populations. (JEL D74)
Temperature‐dependent mutational robustness can explain faster molecular evolution at warm temperatures, affecting speciation rate and global patterns of species diversity
Authors: Puurtinen Mikael , Elo Merja , Jalasvuori Matti , Kahilainen Aapo , Ketola Tarmo , Kotiaho Janne S. , Mönkkönen Mikko , Pentikäinen Olli T.
Published: November 2015

Distribution of species across the Earth shows strong latitudinal and altitudinal gradients with the number of species decreasing with declining temperatures. While these patterns have been recognized for well over a century, the mechanisms generating and maintaining them have remained elusive. Here, we propose a mechanistic explanation for temperature‐dependent rates of molecular evolution that can influence speciation rates and global biodiversity gradients. Our hypothesis is based on the effects of temperature and temperature‐adaptation on stability of proteins and other catalytic biomolecules. First, due to the nature of physical forces between biomolecules and water, stability of biomolecules is maximal around + 20°C and decreases as temperature either decreases or increases. Second, organisms that have adapted to cold temperatures have evolved especially flexible (but unstable) proteins to facilitate catalytic reactions in cold, where molecular movements slow down. Both these effects should result in mutations being on average more detrimental at cold temperatures (i.e. lower mutational robustness in cold). At high temperatures, destabilizing water–biomolecule interactions, and the need to maintain structures that withstand heat denaturation, should decrease mutational robustness similarly. Decreased mutational robustness at extreme temperatures will slow down molecular evolution, as a larger fraction of new mutations will be removed by selection. Lower mutational robustness may also select for reduced mutation rates, further slowing down the rate of molecular evolution. As speciation requires the evolution of epistatic incompatibilities that prevent gene flow among incipient species, slow rate of molecular evolution at extreme temperatures will directly slow down the rate at which new species arise. The proposed mechanism can thus explain why molecular evolution is faster at warm temperatures, contributing to higher speciation rate and elevated species richness in environments characterized by stable and warm temperatures.
Effects of predicted milk yields sustained by grazed grass on dairy cow performance and concentrate requirements throughout the grazing season
Authors: Purcell P. J. , Dale A. J. , Gordon A. W. , Barley J. , Ferris C. P.
Published: November 2015

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of predicted milk yields sustained by grazed grass (‘Milk‐from‐Grass’: LOW, MED or HIGH) and Parity (primiparous or multiparous) on the performance and concentrate requirements of grazed Holstein‐Friesian dairy cows offered concentrates on a ‘feed‐to‐yield’ basis during the grazing season. The mean Milk‐from‐Grass values assigned to cows in the LOW, MED and HIGH treatment groups (sixteen multiparous and eight primiparous cows per group) during the experiment (24 May to 2 October; 131 d) were 12·7, 15·4 and 18·1 kg cow−1 d−1, respectively. Concentrate allocations were adjusted every two weeks (approximately) based on individual cows’ milk yields, and concentrate was offered at a rate of 0·45 kg for each kg of milk produced above the assigned Milk‐from‐Grass value at that time. Increasing Milk‐from‐Grass from LOW to MED to HIGH decreased both the mean daily concentrate allocations (4·90, 3·17 and 1·79 kg cow−1 d−1, respectively) and milk yields (23·8, 21·8 and 19·0 kg cow−1 d−1) of the cows. Cows in the LOW treatment group had lower mean and final (i.e. at the end of the study) BCS and LW than those in the MED or HIGH groups. The effects of Milk‐from‐Grass were similar for both primiparous and multiparous cows.
Long‐term care planning and preferences among Japanese American baby boomers: Comparison with non‐Japanese Americans
Authors: Iwasaki Michiko , Pierson Mark E , Madison Devon , McCurry Susan M
Published: November 2015

Aims

Nikkei (Japanese American) communities are known to be forerunners for building culturally sensitive long‐term care (LTC) services and programs. Existing literature highlights evolving cultural shifts among Nikkei communities as well as the baby boomers from the previous aging cohort. The present study's primary purpose was to examine Japanese American (JA) boomers' perceptions about their LTC planning compared with their non‐JA counterparts. JA's residential and care preferences were also examined.

Methods

The study applied survey methodology with a total of 499 “boomers” (age 51–71 years) in the state of Washington. Data obtained from JA (n = 264) were compared with the data from non‐JA Washingtonians (non‐JA, n = 235). Data from an additional subset of questions asking JA's preferences for retirement/LTC facilities were also analyzed.

Results

The findings showed similarities and differences between the two groups. No group differences were found with regard to caregiving experiences, exposure to LTC, expectation of requiring future LTC or physical proximity to their adult children. JA boomers, however, showed more knowledge about LTC‐related facts, stronger preference to avoid becoming dependent on their families and a higher rate of LTC insurance purchases. JA boomers ranked higher preferences on culturally universal elements (e.g. transportation services, Internet access) for their retirement and LTC facilities over Japanese cultural‐specific elements. JA boomers also preferred to reside with a mixture of racial/ethnic residents.

Conclusions

The present study suggests that the LTC industry including JA communities should accommodate boomers' retirement plans and preferences with a multicultural selection of services and settings. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 1074–1084.
Characteristics of colonoscopic findings in the very elderly
Authors: Tanaka Yasuo , Arai Tomio , Uegaki Satoko , Sasaki Mina , Kanazawa Nobuo , Inamatsu Takashi
Published: November 2015

Aim

To determine the incidence and endoscopic types of colorectal lesions diagnosed with colonoscopy in elderly patients.

Methods

Consecutive Japanese patients who underwent colonic endoscopy between 1994 and 2007 (n = 5145; 2245 men and 2900 women, age 20–101 years) were examined retrospectively. Correlations between age, sex and number of lesions were analyzed.

Results

The incidence of advanced tumors was significantly correlated with increasing age in men (P = 0.02), and tumors were detected mainly in the sigmoid colon and rectum in both sexes. Right‐sided colon cancer was significantly more common in women compared with men (P < 0.001). Polyps were detected throughout the colon, and their incidence was correlated significantly with increasing age in women (P = 0.01). Diverticula were frequently detected in the ascending and sigmoid colon in both sexes. Left‐sided diverticula were significantly more common in women compared with men (P < 0.001). Lateral spreading tumors were detected mainly in the cecum in both sexes. Though the number of cases with angioectasia was small, angioectasia was slightly more common in the cecum and the ascending colon in women.

Conclusions

In the present study, the incidence of advanced tumors correlated with increasing age in men, and right‐sided cases were significantly more common in women than in men. The incidence of polyps correlated with increasing age in women. Left‐sided diverticula were significantly more common in women than in men. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 1319–1323.
Comparison of quality of sleep, depression, and life satisfaction between older adults in nursing homes and long‐term care hospitals in Korea
Authors: Kim Kon Hee , Hwang Eun Hee
Published: November 2015

Aim

The purpose of the present study was to identify the sleep quality, depression, and life satisfaction between nursing home and long‐term care hospital residents.

Methods

Data was collected through a structured questionnaire survey of 61 nursing home residents and 74 long‐term care hospital residents. Descriptive statistics, t‐test, χ2‐test, anova, Pearson's correlation were used to analyze the data.

Results

The residents living in a nursing home showed higher subjective health status and sleep quality than long‐term care hospital residents. Depression did not show a significant difference between them. However, there was a significant difference in depression score by subjective health status. Sleep quality and depression showed a significant negative correlation for both residents. In terms of depression and life satisfaction, nursing home residents showed a significant negative correlation, and long‐term care hospital residents showed a significant positive correlation.

Conclusions

These results show that environmental management is essential to enhance sleep quality, thus depression and subjective health status will be improved. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 142–149.
Comparison of the prevalence of sarcopenia using skeletal muscle mass index and calf circumference applying the European consensus definition in elderly Mexican women
Authors: Velazquez‐Alva Maria Consuelo , Irigoyen Camacho Maria Esther , Lazarevich Irina , Delgadillo Velazquez Jaime , Acosta Dominguez Patricia , Zepeda Zepeda Marco A
Published: November 2015

Aim

To compare the prevalence of sarcopenia using two indicators: skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and calf circumference (CC) used in the algorithm proposed by the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Mexican elderly women.

Methods

This was a cross‐sectional study. Lean body mass was determined by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. To define sarcopenia, the SMI was obtained using a cut‐off value of 5.5 kg/m2, and the CC cut‐off was 31 cm. For gait speed and handgrip strength, the cut‐off values were 0.8 m/s and 20 kg, respectively.

Results

A total of 137 women (mean age 73.8 ± 6.7 years) participated in the study. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 14.6% using SMI and 11.0% using CC (P = 0.009). Body mass index was associated with a lower probability of sarcopenia applying SMI or CC (OR 0.75, P = 0.002 for SMI and OR 0.71, P = 0.004 for CC). Sarcopenia evaluated either with dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry or CC was not associated with physical performance, such as five times chair stand test, timed up and go test and short physical performance battery. Additionally, SMI was not associated with physical performance, five times chair stand test (P = 0.775) and timed up‐and‐go test (P = 0.341).

Conclusions

The prevalence of sarcopenia in active elderly women was low. A higher prevalence of sarcopenia was detected using SMI compared with CC. It is important to identify the best methods to assess skeletal muscle mass to obtain a reliable diagnosis of sarcopenia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 161–170.
Healthcare providers' experiences screening for intimate partner violence among migrant and seasonal farmworking women: A phenomenological study
Authors: Wilson Jonathan B. , Rappleyea Damon L. , Hodgson Jennifer L. , Brimhall Andrew S. , Hall Tana L. , Thompson Alyssa P.
Published: November 2015

Background

Migrant and seasonal farmworking (MSFW) women patients experience substantially more intimate partner violence (IPV) than the general population, but few health‐care providers screen patients for IPV. While researchers have examined screening practices in health‐care settings, none have exclusively focused on MSFW women.

Objective

The aim of this phenomenological study was to explore the experiences of health‐care providers who have screened for and/or addressed IPV with MSFW women patients.

Design

Researchers utilized descriptive phenomenology to capture the lived experiences of these health‐care providers. Data were analysed using Colaizzi's seven‐stage framework.

Setting and participants

Interviews were conducted with nine female participants – all of whom: (i) were clinically active health‐care providers within the MSFW community, (ii) were bilingual in English and Spanish or had access to a translator, (iii) had treated MSFW patients who had experienced IPV and (iv) were at least 18 years of age.

Results

Participants' experiences were reflected in four emergent themes: (i) provider‐centered factors, (ii) patient‐centered factors, (iii) clinic‐centered factors and (iv) community‐centered factors. Participants described barriers to establish routine IPV assessment, decrease patient ambivalence and increase on‐site support and community resources.

Discussion and conclusions

This study aimed to generate a greater understanding of the experiences of health‐care providers with screening for and addressing IPV with MSFW patients. Implications and recommendations for research, clinical practice and policy are provided.
A male preponderance in patients with Indian post kala‐azar dermal leishmaniasis is associated with increased circulating levels of testosterone
Authors: Mukhopadhyay Debanjan , Mukherjee Shibabrata , Ghosh Susmita , Roy Susmita , Saha Bibhuti , Das Nilay Kanti , Chatterjee Mitali
Published: November 2015

Background

Post kala‐azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL) is a neglected parasitic disease that occurs after apparent cure from visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and poses a challenge for elimination of VL, being its proposed reservoir. Several epidemiological studies have proposed that sex hormones may account for the increased susceptibility of males towards infectious diseases, including leishmaniasis; however, the role of testosterone and sex bias, if any, in PKDL has not been evaluated.

Methods

The study population included 87 patients with PKDL and 39 with VL; levels of testosterone were measured by competitive enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay along with their levels of antileishmanial immunoglobulin and IgG. The association of testosterone, if any, was then correlated with age, gender, humoral response, lesional profile, disease duration, and lag period.

Results

A male predominance was evident in PKDL, not in VL; importantly, this male bias was predominant postpubertal, strongly indicative of an association between sex hormone and disease progression. Male patients with PKDL had significantly higher levels of testosterone, which regressed significantly with miltefosine, not with sodium antimony gluconate. Additionally, a significant correlation was found between plasma testosterone and antileishmanial IgG.

Conclusion

Taken together, our study has established a male dominance in PKDL, which showed a strong association with testosterone. This information should be taken into consideration for disease monitoring and control.
Seascape and its effect on migratory life‐history strategy influences gene flow among coastal brown trout (Salmo trutta) populations in the English Channel
Authors: Quéméré Erwan , Baglinière Jean‐Luc , Roussel Jean‐Marc , Evanno Guillaume , McGinnity Philip , Launey Sophie
Published: November 2015

Aim

Most animal species live in spatially and temporally heterogeneous landscapes where resources are unevenly distributed. Consequently, individuals must adapt their migratory behaviour to optimize feeding and breeding opportunities. Here, we assess the role of life‐history (anadromy) and seascape (a derivation of the concept of landscape) heterogeneity on the genetic connectivity of coastal brown trout populations (Salmo trutta L., 1758).

Location

English Channel.

Methods

A causal modelling approach, combining geographical data with inferences on gene flow among 20 populations, deploying neutral microsatellite markers, was used to identify environmental factors influencing brown trout genetic dispersal between rivers. Alternative models of landscape permeability combining least‐cost path and transect analysis were employed. The model selection procedure was based on a multiple regression analysis on distance matrices analysis (MRDM) and a linear mixed modelling approach using maximum likelihood population effects (MLPE).

Results

Landscape genetic analyses showed a hierarchical genetic structure with two main genetic units corresponding to the eastern and western marine ecoregions of the English Channel delineated by the Cotentin peninsula. Within these two regions, a model, which included parameters for depth and seabed substrate habitat features, explained significantly more variance in genetic differentiation than simple isolation‐by‐distance models alone.

Main conclusions

The genetic structure of brown trout populations within the English Channel appears to be shaped by the spatial arrangement and quality (with respect to feeding opportunities) of marine habitats, which promotes a clinal variation in migratory behaviour, which in turn determines the level of gene flow among neighbouring streams. Genetic structure thus partly reflects microgeographical responses to spatial variation in foraging conditions at sea. These results show that the marine environment, rarely considered previously, has an important role in combination with variation in freshwater environments in the evolution of life history in migratory aquatic animals.
Fever and infections in pregnancy and risk of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the offspring
Authors: Werenberg Dreier Julie , Nybo Andersen Anne‐Marie , Hvolby Allan , Garne Ester , Kragh Andersen Per , Berg‐Beckhoff Gabriele
Published: November 2015

Background

Fever and infections are common events during pregnancy, and have been shown to be associated with neurodevelopmental impairment in the offspring. The evidence in relation to attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is, however, nonexistent for fever and limited for infections. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the impact of these exposures on the occurrence of ADHD in the offspring, considering gestational timing as well as intensity of exposure.

Methods

The study was conducted within the Danish National Birth Cohort, using data on 89,146 pregnancies enrolled during 1996–2002. Exposure to fever and infections were assessed prospectively in two computer‐assisted telephone interviews during pregnancy and ADHD status in the child was determined using registry information from three nation‐wide patient and prescription registers. Stratified Cox regressions were used to calculate adjusted hazard ratios of ADHD occurrence.

Results

The analyses revealed no overall association between maternal exposure to fever or infections and ADHD in the offspring [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.03, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.93–1.13 and aHR: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.92–1.11]. When the exposures were considered during specific gestational periods, increased rates of ADHD were observed following fever in gestational weeks 9–12 (aHR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.12–1.58), and genitourinary infections in weeks 33–36 (aHR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.13–2.26).

Conclusions

Although no overall adverse association between fever and infections in pregnancy and ADHD in the offspring was found, the analyses indicated that exposures during specific time windows of the pregnancy could be associated with increased ADHD occurrence.
Risk and Protective Factors for Early Substance Use Initiation: A Longitudinal Study of Mexican‐Origin Youth
Authors: Atherton Olivia E. , Conger Rand D. , Ferrer Emilio , Robins Richard W.
Published: November 2015

Substance use initiation in adolescence is a critical issue, given its association with substance dependency and associated problems in adulthood. However, due to the dearth of fine‐grained longitudinal studies, the factors associated with early initiation are poorly understood, especially in minority youth. The present study examined substance use initiation in a sample ofMexican‐origin youth (n = 674) assessed annually from age 10 to 16. Using discrete‐time survival analyses, we found that initiation escalated rapidly from late childhood to adolescence, and we identified a wide range of factors, from the individual to the cultural level of analysis, that significantly increased or decreased risk for early initiation. These findings have important implications for programs aimed at preventing early substance use by Mexican‐origin youth.
Development of A Consumer‐Relevant Lexicon for Testing Kitchen Cleansers Considering Different Product Usage Stages
Authors: Kim In‐Ah , Van Hout Danielle , Lee Hye‐Seong
Published: November 2015

Determining critical attributes associated with consumer perceived benefit and choice is essential for the fast moving consumer goods industry. The goals of the present study were to develop a lexicon specific to usage process for kitchen cleansers using a novel consumer test and to test usage stage‐dependency of the lexicon. Holistic usage process of kitchen cleansers was classified into purchase moment, during use and completion point. For a series of projective interviews, a semantic/language library, a collection of attributes relevant to kitchen cleansers was used as response options. Ethnographic observations/interviews were also incorporated into the consumer test to evoke consumers’ natural usage process. Comparisons of the developed lexicon revealed differences of consumers’ evaluation processes across different usage stages. At the purchase moment, attributes associated with Convenience and Functionality categories were found to be more important, whereas at completion point, attributes associated with Sensory Quality and Sentimental Consequence were more important.

Practical Applications

In sensory science literature, lexicon development for use in descriptive analysis of sensory characterization has been focused on the sensory attributes of various food products including appearance, taste, aroma, flavor, texture and aftertaste of foods. These are important not only for sensory characterization but also for communication between consumers and the people in industry, who are in charge of product development, quality control, marketing, etc. To improve communication with consumers on household cleaning products, the development of a lexicon describing consumers’ holistic product experiences, as well as investigation of the usage stage‐dependency of the developed consumer attributes is required. This article introduces a new method to develop a lexicon representing consumer‐relevant product attributes across different product usage stages for commercial kitchen cleanser trigger spray products and provides the lexicon associated with the product benefits of such products.
Poisson QMLE of Count Time Series Models
Authors: Ahmad Ali , Francq Christian
Published: November 2015

Regularity conditions are given for the consistency of the Poisson quasi‐maximum likelihood estimator of the conditional mean parameter of a count time series model. The asymptotic distribution of the estimator is studied when the parameter belongs to the interior of the parameter space and when it lies at the boundary. Tests for the significance of the parameters and for constant conditional mean are deduced. Applications to specific integer‐valued autoregressive (INAR) and integer‐valued generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity (INGARCH) models are considered. Numerical illustrations, Monte Carlo simulations and real data series are provided.
Determinants of dry season habitat use by Asian elephants in the Western Ghats of India
Authors: Lakshminarayanan N. , Karanth K. K. , Goswami V. R. , Vaidyanathan S. , Karanth K. Ullas
Published: November 2015

Large herbivores respond to seasonal changes in resource availability through habitat selection. Understanding variations in habitat choice is crucial for targeting conservation efforts, particularly for endangered, wide‐ranging species, such as the Asian elephant. We assessed patterns and determinants of elephant habitat use during the dry season, a period of resource limitation in tropical deciduous forests, in the Western Ghats of Karnataka, India. We collected detection/non‐detection data on elephant signs under an occupancy sampling framework, using spatially replicated surveys on foot along forest trails to estimate probabilities of habitat use by elephants. Each of our 97 sites (sampling units) was a grid cell of 11.75 km2area. Data were analysed using an occupancy model, which estimated detection probabilities for signs, while explicitly addressing the potential spatial dependence between sign detections on adjacent replicates. Using covariates that are likely to influence resource use, we made ecological predictions about dry season habitat use by elephants across the study area of 1850 km2. The site‐level probabilities of habitat use by elephants ranged fromThe estimated replicate level detection probability wasWe found that distance to rivers was the best predictor of elephant habitat use, in dry season, demonstrating the overarching importance of riparian habitats in the landscape for the species. Artificial water holes established by wildlife managers do not appear to influence elephant habitat use, which is likely a result of abundant and near‐uniform distribution of such water holes across the study area. The sign survey‐based occupancy modelling approach provides a basis for reliable cost‐effective assessment of spatial distribution and habitat use by elephants and other large herbivores. Such assessments are essential for effective conservation management of large herbivores.
Population structure of edible dormouse in Poland: the role of habitat fragmentation and implications for conservation
Authors: Herdegen M. , Radwan J. , Sobczynska U. , Dabert M. , Konjević D. , Schlichter J. , Jurczyszyn M.
Published: November 2015

The effects of habitat fragmentation and the resulting decreases in effective population sizes are not easy to document because they take place over many generations and may be affected by factors other than demographic ones. Here, we used 22 microsatellite loci to investigate genetic structure and diversity in populations of edible dormice Glis glis from habitats that varied widely in area and in the degree of connectivity to other populations. We found that populations from the most fragmented north‐western region of Poland were characterized by extremely limited gene flow and low genetic diversity compared to less fragmented populations from southern Poland. STRUCTURE analysis revealed three genetic groups in Poland, which might reflect adaptation to environmental conditions across south‐north and east‐west gradients, but could also be due to historical patterns of post‐glacial colonization. The latter hypothesis is suggested by the observation that southern populations from Poland grouped with those from the Balkans based on microsatellite data; however, the fact that all Polish populations shared western mtDNA cytochrome b haplotypes is inconsistent with this scenario. We discuss the consequences of our findings for the conservation of the edible dormouse in Poland.