bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Components of Mortality within a Black Bass High‐Release Recreational Fishery
Authors: Kerns Janice A. , Allen Micheal S. , Hightower Joseph E.
Published: April 2016

Mortality after release can have a substantial impact on high‐release recreational sport fishes, such as Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides. However, little work has explored the cumulative impact of catch‐and‐release mortality at the population level. We used a combined telemetry–tag return approach to estimate all components of total mortality, including instantaneous natural mortality (M) and instantaneous fishing mortality (F), for Florida Largemouth Bass M. salmoides floridanus (hereafter, Florida Bass) within a popular fishing lake in northern Florida. Fishing mortality was subdivided into harvest (FH), recreational catch‐and‐release (FR), and tournament catch‐and‐release (FT) components. Over 2 years, we monitored the fates of 181 Florida Bass that were tagged with high‐reward external dart tags and internal radio transmitters. An additional 345 fish were tagged with variable‐reward external tags. Annual FH values were seasonal, with an increase in FH occurring in the spring of both years; FH ranged from 0.17 (SD = 0.04) in the first year to 0.60 (SD = 0.09) in the second year. Estimated mean FT ranged from 0.04 to 0.07, and mean FR ranged from 0.03 to 0.05. Estimates of M were also seasonal, with annual M ranging from 0.29 (SD = 0.06) to 0.46 (SD = 0.09), and were within the expected range relative to other published estimates. Our results showed that although the total catch‐and‐release mortality (FR plus FT) was low in comparison with the high rates of harvest (FH) for this Florida Bass fishery, it still made up 21% of total F. Our method combining passive tagging and telemetry tagging allowed for the estimation of all mortality sources, which can be important for high‐release recreational fisheries in which harvest is not the only source of mortality.

Received July 14, 2015; accepted December 7, 2015 Published online April 25, 2016
Surface Lipids Play a Role in the Interaction of Puroindolines with Wheat Starch and Kernel Hardness
Authors: Ma Dongyun , Qin Haixia , Ding Huina , Zhang Jian , Wang Chenyang , Guo Tiancai
Published: April 2016

Kernel hardness is an important quality characteristic of common wheat. In this study, we investigated the role of starch surface lipids on the interaction of puroindoline proteins and starch granules through in vitro starch–protein binding experiments and flour reconstitution. SDS‐PAGE showed that there were no puroindoline proteins on the starch granule surface when surface lipids were removed or when defatted starch was incubated with puroindoline proteins. However, the puroindoline protein bands were present when defatted starch was incubated with lipids followed by purified puroindoline proteins, which indicated that starch surface lipids play a role in the binding of puroindolines to starch granules. The hardness of flour tablets and dough sheets made from reconstituted flour, which combined defatted starch incubated with lipids and puroindolines with gluten, was lower than for the control reconstituted flour, which was made from defatted starch and gluten. The results of scanning electron microscopy also showed that starch granules were embedded in the gluten in the gluten + defatted starch + lipids + puroindolines treatment. These results confirmed that starch surface lipids are involved in the interaction of puroindolines with wheat starch and kernel hardness.
The Putative Protein Phosphatase MoYvh1 Functions Upstream of MoPdeH to Regulate the Development and Pathogenicity inMagnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Liu Xinyu , Qian Bin , Gao Chuyun , Huang Shuohan , Cai Yongchao , Zhang Haifeng , Zheng Xiaobo , Wang Ping , Zhang Zhengguang
Published: April 2016

Protein phosphatases are critical regulators in eukaryotic cells. For example, the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae dual specificity protein phosphatase (DSP) ScYvh1 regulates growth, sporulation, and glycogen accumulation. Despite such importance, functions of Yvh1 proteins in filamentous fungi are not well understood. In this study, we characterized putative protein phosphatase MoYvh1, an Yvh1 homolog in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. Deletion of the MoYVH1 gene resulted in significant reductions in vegetative growth, conidial production, and virulence. The ΔMoyvh1 mutant also displayed defects in cell-wall integrity and was hyposensitive to the exogenous osmotic stress. Further examination revealed that the ΔMoyvh1 mutant had defects in appressorium function and invasive hyphae growth, resulting attenuated pathogenicity. Interestingly, we found that MoYvh1 affects the scavenging of host-derived reactive oxygen species that promotes M. oryzae infection. Finally, overexpression of the phosphodiesterase MoPDEH suppressed the defects in conidia formation and pathogenicity of the ΔMoyvh1 mutant, suggesting MoYvh1 could regulate MoPDEH for its function. Our study reveals not only the importance of MoYvh1 proteins in growth, differentiation, and virulence of the rice blast fungus but, also, a genetic link between MoYvh1 and MoPDEH-cAMP signaling in this fungus.
Profitability of Integrated Management of Fusarium Head Blight in North Carolina Winter Wheat
Authors: Cowger Christina , Weisz Randy , Arellano Consuelo , Murphy Paul
Published: April 2016

Fusarium head blight (FHB) is one of the most difficult small-grain diseases to manage, due to the partial effectiveness of management techniques and the narrow window of time in which to apply fungicides profitably. The most effective management approach is to integrate cultivar resistance with FHB-specific fungicide applications; yet, when forecasted risk is intermediate, it is often unclear whether such an application will be profitable. To model the profitability of FHB management under varying conditions, we conducted a 2-year split-plot field experiment having as main plots high-yielding soft red winter wheat cultivars, four moderately resistant (MR) and three susceptible (S) to FHB. Subplots were sprayed at flowering with Prosaro or Caramba, or left untreated. The experiment was planted in seven North Carolina environments (location–year combinations); three were irrigated to promote FHB development and four were not irrigated. Response variables were yield, test weight, disease incidence, disease severity, deoxynivalenol (DON), Fusarium-damaged kernels, and percent infected kernels. Partial profits were compared in two ways: first, across low-, medium-, or high-DON environments; and second, across environment–cultivar combinations divided by risk forecast into “do spray” and “do not spray” categories. After surveying DON and test weight dockage among 21 North Carolina wheat purchasers, three typical market scenarios were used for modeling profitability: feed-wheat, flexible (feed or flour), and the flour market. A major finding was that, on average, MR cultivars were at least as profitable as S cultivars, regardless of epidemic severity or market. Fungicides were profitable in the feed-grain and flexible markets when DON was high, with MR cultivars in the flexible or flour markets when DON was intermediate, and on S cultivars aimed at the flexible market. The flour market was only profitable when FHB was present if DON levels were intermediate and cultivar resistance was combined with a fungicide. It proved impossible to use the risk forecast to predict profitability of fungicide application. Overall, the results indicated that cultivar resistance to FHB was important for profitability, an FHB-targeted fungicide expanded market options when risk was moderate or high, and the efficacy of fungicide decision-making is reduced by factors that limit the accuracy of risk forecasts.
Isolate Specificity and Polygenic Inheritance of Resistance in Barley to the Heterologous Rust Pathogen Puccinia graminis f. sp. avenae
Authors: Dracatos P. M. , Nansamba M. , Berlin A. , Park R. F. , Niks R. E.
Published: April 2016

Barley is a near-nonhost to numerous heterologous (nonadapted) rust pathogens because a small proportion of genotypes are somewhat susceptible. We assessed 66 barley accessions and three mapping populations (Vada × SusPtrit, Cebada Capa × SusPtrit, and SusPtrit × Golden Promise) for response to three Swedish oat stem rust (Puccinia graminis f. sp. avenae) fungal isolates and determined that barley is a near-nonhost to P. graminis f. sp. avenae and that resistance was polygenically inherited. The parental genotypes Vada and Golden Promise were immune to all three isolates, whereas Cebada Capa was immune to two isolates and moderately resistant to the third. Phenotypic data from the Vada × SusPtrit mapping population and the barley accessions tested also demonstrated isolate-specific resistance. In particular, the SusPtrit parent and several other accessions allowed sporulation by isolate Ingeberga but were resistant to isolate Evertsholm. Nine chromosomal regions carried quantitative trait loci (QTL) (Rpgaq1 to Rpgaq9) of varying effect, most of which colocated to previously identified QTL for resistance to other heterologous rust pathogens. Rpgaq1 on chromosome 1H (Vada and Golden Promise) was effective toward all isolates tested. Microscopic examination indicated that resistance was prehaustorial in Vada whereas, in SusPtrit, both pre- and posthaustorial mechanisms play a role.
Statistical Models and Methods for Network Meta-Analysis
Authors: Madden L. V. , Piepho H.-P. , Paul P. A.
Published: April 2016

Meta-analysis, the methodology for analyzing the results from multiple independent studies, has grown tremendously in popularity over the last four decades. Although most meta-analyses involve a single effect size (summary result, such as a treatment difference) from each study, there are often multiple treatments of interest across the network of studies in the analysis. Multi-treatment (or network) meta-analysis can be used for simultaneously analyzing the results from all the treatments. However, the methodology is considerably more complicated than for the analysis of a single effect size, and there have not been adequate explanations of the approach for agricultural investigations. We review the methods and models for conducting a network meta-analysis based on frequentist statistical principles, and demonstrate the procedures using a published multi-treatment plant pathology data set. A major advantage of network meta-analysis is that correlations of estimated treatment effects are automatically taken into account when an appropriate model is used. Moreover, treatment comparisons may be possible in a network meta-analysis that are not possible in a single study because all treatments of interest may not be included in any given study. We review several models that consider the study effect as either fixed or random, and show how to interpret model-fitting output. We further show how to model the effect of moderator variables (study-level characteristics) on treatment effects, and present one approach to test for the consistency of treatment effects across the network. Online supplemental files give explanations on fitting the network meta-analytical models using SAS.
Corporate social responsibility in construction industry
Authors: Ulutaş Duman Dilek , Giritli Heyecan , McDermott Peter
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has evolved to an important agenda for many industries and its scope has been widened from the responsible business to strategic decisions. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the concept of CSR from the perspective of construction industry by questioning CSR awareness, CSR activities and CSR integration with a comparative case study between UK and Turkey.

Design/methodology/approach

– Conducting comparative and qualitative research using a case study methodology, this study sets the context for understanding differences in these two countries as to how CSR is perceived and put into practice by selected case firms.

Findings

– The results revealed that construction companies are aware of the increasing importance of the CSR; however, company scale and the characteristics of the country have great impact on CSR preferences. Despite the differences in the approaches all firms take with regard to CSR domains and CSR types, ethical domain and the social orientation have become prominent for CSR initiatives in both the UK and Turkey.

Originality/value

– This study provides the empirical evidence for the understanding and integration of the CSR concept in the construction industry; shed light on missing knowledge about CSR integration and serves as a source for further in-depth researches on CSR.
Designing a whole-life building cost index in Singapore
Authors: Goh Bee Hua
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the whole-life costs of non-residential green-rated building developments in Singapore to derive useful information for research and practice. When industry stakeholders like building owners, architects, engineers, quantity surveyors, builders and facility managers have detailed information about the initial and operating costs of different types of buildings, they will be able to apply whole-life costing to their existing or new projects with the intention of achieving value for money, as well as environmental sustainability. The developed index is useful to green policymakers and building owners.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data are collected from building projects certified by the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) of Singapore under the Green Mark scheme, starting from 2005. Statistical analysis is performed on the collected data to generate the information required to build the index as well as cost database. The Paasche price index method is used to produce a weighted composite index for Singapore’s non-residential building sector.

Findings

– The results show the classification of whole-life costs components by two main groups – “development and construction costs”, and “operating and maintenance costs”. There are a total of 68 cost significant items selected from 13 construction work categories. Comparing the weights for three non-residential building types, the highest is obtained for industrial building, which is followed by institutional and commercial buildings.

Research limitations/implications

– Without data, the description of the research has primarily dealt with the formulation of the proposed index because designing an appropriate methodology is key to ensure widespread acceptance and use.

Practical implications

– Prospective users have to be aware that the index cannot provide information about change in absolute terms and is not very accurate as such in reflecting the actual level of costs or prices of the variable of interest. However, it is a good indicator of the relative change over time in the level of costs or prices.

Originality/value

– It is expected that this method contributes additional information to BCA’s existing tender price index about a building’s operating costs as well since the proposed index is a measure of change in the average whole life-cycle costs of buildings over time.
Adaptable buildings for sustainable built environment
Authors: Manewa Anupa , Siriwardena Mohan , Ross Andrew , Madanayake Upeksha
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the ability of “adaptable buildings” to respond to future potential built environment changes in sustainable way.

Design/methodology/approach

– A detailed literature review and a case study were undertaken to identify the life cycle changes of typical buildings over a period of more than 100 years. In total, 12 semi-structured interviews were conducted among construction industry professionals to identify how adaptable buildings enhance sustainability within the built environment. Case study data were analysed through a Morphological Analysis, and the interview data were analysed through discourse analysis.

Findings

– Out of the many adaptable features, the results revealed “change of use” as the dominant trend within the buildings of the selected urban cluster. More than 60 per cent of buildings have changed their original use during their life cycle. Around 10 per cent of them have changed their use frequently (every six year) during the last 20 years thereby signalling an increase in the rate of change. The positive contribution of adaptable buildings in achieving sustainability in terms of economic, social and environmental considerations, were confirmed through the analysis of semi-structured interviews.

Originality/value

– This paper reports a longitudinal study spanning over 100 years, exploring the extent of building adaptation within a selected cluster of Liverpool city centre, UK. The study further confirms the need to incorporate adaptability as a key criterion when designing buildings. The increased rate at which “change of use” has occurred further reinforces the need. Lack of a track record of designing for reuse makes this an interesting challenge for the construction industry, hence likely to have significant implications for policy/strategy formulation.
A critical analysis of the use of fair value by Islamic Financial Institutions
Authors: Gharbi Leila
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to address a specific question over the compatibility of International Financial Reporting Standards with Islamic finance regarding the use of interest rate as discounting rate in impairment testing and valuation techniques.

Design/methodology/approach

Inductive methodology and qualitative-narrative methods are used to explore the available texts and literature.

Findings

There are two main findings: first, the use of reference rate obtained in non-Islamic financial system is inappropriate from the Islamic perspective. Interest-based valuation techniques have not been adopted by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions in its adaptation of conventional accounting practices, and the majority of Islamic scholars argue against Interest rate benchmarking. Second, the authors suggest nominal gross domestic product (NGDP) growth rate as an alternative benchmark because Islamic finance, in its ideal sense, is based on and closely linked to the real sector. Moreover, recent studies show that there are no statistical differences between NGDP growth rate and nominal interest rate for most of the countries studied.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the accounting implications of the prohibition of interest for valuation techniques and raises the need of acceptable alternative pricing benchmark.
Ownership structure, deposits structure, income structure and insolvency risk in GCC Islamic banks
Authors: Grassa Rihab
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the effect of the concentration of ownership concentration and the deposits structure on the link between income structure and insolvency risk in Islamic banks operating in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data for 43 GCC Islamic banks over the period from 2005 to 2012, this paper specifies a three-stage least-squares model in which the impact of the concentration of ownership concentration and the deposits structure on income diversification and insolvency risk is jointly analyzed to address the problem of endogeneity.

Findings

The findings show that the income structure influences the insolvency risk in Islamic banks with a concentrated ownership structure. This is because the deposits structure and large shareholders influence strategic decisions.

Research limitations/implications

This paper is, also, subject to a number of limitations. First, this study focuses exclusively on the GCC context and excludes the other Middle East and Far East countries. Second, the paper does not take into consideration banking regulation.

Practical implications

The paper findings shed light on the ongoing debate about the benefits of revenue diversification and also provide valuable insights for market participants, regulators and supervisors about what drives performance in Islamic banks.

Originality/value

The paper fills the gap in the existing literature on insolvency risk in Islamic banks. It is expected to provide useful information for policy makers and Islamic bankers to develop a sound Islamic banking industry in the GCC region. In addition, the link identified between ownership concentration, deposits structure and revenue diversification is a novel way of analyzing the impact of the latter on insolvency risk in Islamic banks.
Gender differences in reactions to injustice
Authors: Khoreva Violetta , Tenhiälä Aino
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine gender differences in reactions to pay inequity and procedural justice. Specifically, the study seeks to reveal whether these gender differences can be explained by pay comparisons and knowledge of pay.

Design/methodology/approach

– Structural equation modeling was utilized to analyze survey data that were combined with archival pay data representing a sample of 416 employees of two universities in Finland.

Findings

– Male employees were found to be more sensitive toward pay inequity than female employees. In contrast, procedural justice was more strongly related to the organizational commitment of female than that of male employees. These effects were partly explained by pay comparisons and knowledge of pay. While male employees were more likely to compare their pay with some external referents, female employees were more likely to compare their pay internally. Male employees were somewhat more familiar with the pay system. Differences in these variables relate to organizational commitment.

Research limitations/implications

– Given the cross-sectional nature of the study, we encourage future research to look into how gender differences in reactions to injustice evolve over time.

Originality/value

– The study provides evidence that female employees react to a lesser extent to pay disparities by continuing to show high commitment toward their organizations. This paradox could be diminished by ensuring that all employees have the same amount of information regarding pay, such as how their pay compares to other referent groups.
Gender bias in communal leadership: examining servant leadership
Authors: Hogue Mary
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– Theory suggests gender bias in leadership occurs through a cognitive mismatch between thoughts of women and leaders. As leadership incorporates more feminine qualities, gender bias disadvantaging women should be reduced. The purpose of this paper is to present an empirical investigation of that argument by examining gender bias in servant leadership. Predictions made by role congruity theory were investigated with principles from leader categorization theory.

Design/methodology/approach

– In a survey design, 201 working college students from the Midwest USA were presented with either a female or male leader, each with identical servant leader attributes. Participants reported their expectations for the leader’s future behavior.

Findings

– Expectations for servant leader behavior were greater for the woman than man leader, and expectations for authoritarian behavior were greater for the man than woman leader. Expectations for servant leader behavior were greater from the woman than man participants, and expectations for authoritarian behavior were greater from the man than woman participants, a difference that was enhanced by men’s hostile sexism.

Research limitations/implications

– Although limited by the sample of working students, important implications are the importance of using theoretical integration to examine contemporary forms of leadership for changing gender bias, considerations of self-concept in bias and examining perceiver characteristics when investigating gender bias.

Practical implications

– Awareness of the reduction of gender bias in communal leadership may allow an increase of leadership opportunities for women and leadership attempts by women.

Originality/value

– This is the first empirical examination of gender bias in communal leadership through theoretical integration.
Towards increased BIM usage for existing building interventions
Authors: Barbosa Margarida Jerónimo , Pauwels Pieter , Ferreira Victor , Mateus Luís
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– Building information modeling (BIM) is most often used for the construction of new buildings. By using BIM in such projects, collaboration among stakeholders in an architecture, engineering and construction project is improved. To even further improve collaboration, there is a move toward the production and usage of BIM standards in various countries. These are typically national documents, including guides, protocols, and mandatory regulations, that introduce guidelines about what information should be exchanged at what time between which partners and in what formats. If a nation or a construction team agrees on these guidelines, improved collaboration can come about on top of the collaboration benefits induced by the mere usage of BIM. This scenario might also be targeted for interventions in existing buildings. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, the authors investigate the general content and usage of existing BIM standards for new constructions, describing specifications about BIM deliverable documents, modeling, and collaboration procedures. The authors suggest to what extent the content in the BIM standards can also be used for interventions in existing buildings. These suggestions rely heavily on literature study, supported by on-site use case experiences.

Findings

– From this research, the authors can conclude that the existing standards give a solid basis for BIM collaboration in existing building interventions, but that they need to be extended in order to be of better use in any intervention project in an existing building. This extension should happen at: data modeling level: other kinds of data formats need to be considered, coming from terrestrial laser scanning and automatic digital photogrammetry tools; at data exchange level: exchange requirements should take explicit statements about modeling tolerances and levels of (un)certainty; and at process modeling level: business process models should include information exchange processes from the very start of the building survey (BIM→facility management→BIM or regular audit).

Originality/value

– BIM environments are not often used to document existing buildings or interventions in existing buildings. The authors propose to improve the situation by using BIM standards and/or guidelines, and the authors give an initial overview of components that should be included in such a standard and/or guideline.
Potential threat to Eurasian griffon vultures in Spain from veterinary use of the drug diclofenac
Authors: Green Rhys E. , Donázar José A. , Sánchez‐Zapata José A. , Margalida Antoni
Published: April 2016

Spain holds > 95% of the European breeding population of the Eurasian griffon vulture Gyps fulvus. Vultures provide important ecosystem services in carcass removal and influence emissions of greenhouse gases. Despite the known toxicity of the non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug diclofenac to this species and other Gyps vultures, in March 2013 the Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios (AEMPS) approved the use of two medicines containing diclofenac for veterinary use in horses, pigs and cattle in Spain.

To assess the potential impact of medicated ungulate carcasses on Eurasian griffon vulture populations in Spain, we first used information on the metabolism and elimination of diclofenac from medicated cattle and pigs to calculate residue levels in relation to time elapsed between dosing and death. Secondly, probabilities of the death of a vulture per meal were calculated based upon experimental studies of diclofenac toxicity. Finally, annual numbers of vulture deaths expected to be caused by diclofenac were obtained by multiplying the death rates per meal by the estimated numbers of vulture meals taken from expected numbers of medicated carcasses suggested by AEMPS.

Assuming that vultures feed on carcasses that were treated with diclofenac 8 h before the animal's death, the annual number of vulture deaths caused by diclofenac was estimated at 715–6389, depending upon the estimate of numbers of medicated carcasses assumed and the version of the dose–response model used. Using a density‐independent simulation model of a vulture population, the expected rate of decline of the Spanish population of Eurasian griffon vultures caused by these deaths is 0·9–7·7% per year. A density‐dependent simulation model also indicated substantial population‐level effects. Formal estimates of precision and sensitivity analyses of effects of unmeasured variables highlight the uncertainty of estimates using currently available data.

Synthesis and applications. Due to the possibility of causing an important impact on vulture populations, our findings justify a precautionary ban on the veterinary use of diclofenac in Spain and encourage the use of meloxicam, a vulture‐safe alternative drug. A programme of monitoring of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug contamination of ungulate carcasses available to vultures and of moribund and dead obligate and facultative avian scavengers would be needed to be confident that a damaging level of contamination is not present.
Brave New Brains: Sociology, Family and the Politics of Knowledge
Authors: Gillies Val , Edwards Rosalind , Horsley Nicola
Published: April 2016

This article critically explores sociological arguments for greater biosocial synthesis, centring contemporary developments in public policy to demonstrate how such a reframing of humanity tends to reinforce existing political orders and socially patterned normativities. The case for further amalgamation of the social and life sciences is examined to suggest that production of somatic markers of truth from relational encounters largely relies upon an anaemic and politically contained version of the social as acquired in early childhood. More specifically, the gendered, classed and culturally specific practice of parenting children has come to occupy a new significance in accounts of social brains and environmentally reactive genomes. This is highlighted through a discussion of ‘early intervention’ as a heavily biologized policy rationale framing opportunities for biosocial collaboration. It is argued that late capitalist objectives of personal investment and optimization are driving this assimilation of the social and life sciences, pursuing an agenda that traces and rescores long-standing social divisions in the name of progress.
Anatomy by whole body dissection: a new Masters of Surgery course
Authors: Burgess Annette , Ramsey‐Stewart George , Mellis Craig
Published: April 2016

Background

In 2012, a new anatomy by whole body dissection‐Masters of Surgery (WBD‐MS) course was introduced as a subject within the MS degree at Sydney Medical School. The purpose of this study, based on two iterations of the course, implemented in 2012 and 2013, was to investigate the participants’ knowledge acquisition of clinical topographical anatomy and perceptions of the course.

Methods

During 2012 and 2013, a total of 26 postgraduate surgical trainees enrolled in the WBD‐MS course. Each cohort participated in a 34‐day dissection course over 12 weeks. Within each course, two groups of six to seven students were allocated to two cadaver subjects. A rigid teaching, assessment and dissection schedule was followed. Supervision was by nine specialist surgeons, who were present for their areas of expertise. The effectiveness of the course was assessed by knowledge acquisition and retention. Students' perception of the course was assessed by questionnaire and focus groups.

Results

The course produced a marked increase in participants’ topographical anatomical knowledge. Results of assessments of participants in a standardized practical examination were 8/20 median pre‐course, and 19/20 median at the end of the course. These results were statistically significant. Participants identified three outstanding features of the course: (i) the presence of surgeons as supervisors; (ii) the course structure and design; and (iii) the small class size and team learning methods.

Conclusion

The dissection course provided a significant increase in the acquisition of three‐dimensional regional relational topographical anatomical knowledge. The presence of surgical specialists as supervisors, and the course design prompted effective student engagement in learning and understanding.
Isolated gestational proteinuria preceding the diagnosis of preeclampsia – an observational study
Authors: Yamada Takahiro , Obata‐Yasuoka Mana , Hamada Hiromi , Baba Yosuke , Ohkuchi Akihide , Yasuda Shun , Kawabata Kosuke , Minakawa Shiori , Hirai Chihiro , Kusaka Hideto , Murabayashi Nao , Inde Yusuke , Nagura Michikazu , Umazume Takeshi , Itakura Atsuo , Maeda Makoto , Sagawa Norimasa , Ohno Yasumasa , Kataoka Soromon , Fujimori Keiya , Kudo Yoshiki , Ikeda Tomoaki , Nakai Akihito , Minakami Hisanori
Published: April 2016

Introduction

Some pregnant women develop significant proteinuria in the absence of hypertension. However, clinical significance of isolated gestational proteinuria (IGP) is not well understood. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of IGP in singleton pregnancies and the proportion of women with IGP who subsequently developed preeclampsia (IGP‐PE) among all PE cases.

Material and methods

This was an observational study of 6819 women with singleton pregnancies at 12 centers, including 938 women with at least once determination of protein‐to‐creatinine ratio (P/Cr). Significant proteinuria in pregnancy (SPIP) was defined as P/Cr (mg/mg) level >0.27. IGP was defined as SPIP in the absence of hypertension. Gestational hypertension (GH) preceding preeclampsia (GH‐PE) was defined as preeclampsia (PE) in which GH preceded SPIP. Simultaneous PE (S‐PE) was defined as PE in which both SPIP and hypertension occurred simultaneously.

Results

IGP and PE were diagnosed in 130 (1.9%) and 158 (2.3%) of 6819 women, respectively. Of 130 women with IGP, 32 (25%) progressed to PE and accounted for 20% of all women with PE. Hence, women with IGP had a relative risk of 13.1 (95% CI; 9.2–18.5) for developing PE compared with those without IGP [25% (32/130) vs. 1.9% (126/6689)]. At diagnosis of SPIP, P/Cr levels already exceeded 1.0 more often in women with S‐PE than in those with IGP‐PE [67% (33/49) vs. 44% (14/32), respectively, p = 0.031].

Conclusions

IGP is a risk factor for PE, and IGP‐PE accounts for a considerable proportion (20%) of all PE.
Use of effective contraception 6 months after emergency contraception with a copper intrauterine device or ulipristal acetate – a prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Envall Niklas , Groes Kofoed Nina , Kopp‐Kallner Helena
Published: April 2016

Introduction

Emergency contraception must be followed by the use of an effective method of contraception in order to reduce future risk of unintended pregnancies. Provision of long‐acting reversible contraception (LARC) is highly effective in this regard. The aim of our study was to compare use of an effective method of contraception 6 months following insertion of a copper intrauterine device (Cu‐IUD) or intake of ulipristal acetate (UPA) for emergency contraception (EC).

Material and methods

Women (n = 79) presenting with need for EC at an outpatient midwifery clinic chose either Cu‐IUD or UPA according to preference. Follow up was 3 and 6 months later through telephone interviews. Primary outcome was use of an effective contraceptive method at the 6‐month follow up. Secondary outcomes included use of an effective contraceptive method at 3 months follow up and acceptability of Cu‐IUD.

Results

A total of 30/36 (83.3%) women who opted for Cu‐IUD for EC used an effective contraceptive method 6 months after their first visit compared with 18/31 (58.1%) women who opted for UPA (p = 0.03). In the Cu‐IUD group 28/36 (77.8%) were still using Cu‐IUD at 6 months and 31/36 (86%) stated that they would recommend the Cu‐IUD to others as an EC method.

Conclusion

Significantly more women who chose Cu‐IUD for EC used an effective method for contraception at the 6‐month follow up. The results of this study support increased use of Cu‐IUDs for EC.
Therapeutic nucleic acids: current clinical status
Authors: Sridharan Kannan , Gogtay Nithya Jaideep
Published: April 2016

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and ribonucleic acid (RNA) are simple linear polymers that have been the subject of considerable research in the last two decades and have now moved into the realm of being stand‐alone therapeutic agents. Much of this has stemmed from the appreciation that they carry out myriad functions that go beyond mere storage of genetic information and protein synthesis. Therapy with nucleic acids either uses unmodified DNA or RNA or closely related compounds. From both a development and regulatory perspective, they fall somewhere between small molecules and biologics. Several of these compounds are in clinical development and many have received regulatory approval for human use. This review addresses therapeutic uses of DNA based on antisense oligonucleotides, DNA aptamers and gene therapy; and therapeutic uses of RNA including micro RNAs, short interfering RNAs, ribozymes, RNA decoys and circular RNAs. With their specificity, functional diversity and limited toxicity, therapeutic nucleic acids hold enormous promise. However, challenges that need to be addressed include targeted delivery, mass production at low cost, sustaining efficacy and minimizing off‐target toxicity. Technological developments will hold the key to this and help accelerate drug approvals in the years to come.
The efficacy of remote screening for dental caries by mid‐level dental providers using a mobile teledentistry model
Authors: Estai Mohamed , Kanagasingam Yogesan , Huang Boyen , Checker Hellen , Steele Lesley , Kruger Estie , Tennant Marc
Published: April 2016

Objectives

This study aimed to determine whether intraoral photographic assessment by mid‐level dental providers (MLDPs) offers a valid and reliable means of dental caries screening.

Methods

A mobile teledentistry model was developed to facilitate the acquisition of dental images, and transmission and reviewing of data. One hundred regularly attending patients at a dental clinic participated in the study. Following an on‐site clinical examination by a senior dentist, photographs of participants' teeth were taken by a teledental assistant, using a smartphone camera. These intraoral photographs were directly uploaded from an Android App to a cloud‐based server, ‘Remote‐i’, using an encrypted store‐and‐forward telemedicine technology. The photographic assessment carried out by two independent screeners (MLDPs), was compared to the visual oral examination scores of a benchmark examiner.

Results

The sensitivity and specificity values for the photographic assessment method (assessed by screeners) as compared to the direct visual examination ranged from 60% to 68%, and 97% to 98%, respectively. The intra‐rater reliability for the photographic assessment was almost perfect, with a kappa score of 0.89. The inter‐rater reliability between the photographic and visual oral assessments ranged from moderate to substantial agreement, with kappa scores ranging from 0.57 to 0.61.

Conclusion

A new smartphone‐based mobile teledentistry model used by mid‐level dental providers shows potential for remote screening of dental caries.
TNT version 1.5, including a full implementation of phylogenetic morphometrics
Authors: Goloboff Pablo A. , Catalano Santiago A.
Published: April 2016

Version 1.5 of the computer program TNT completely integrates landmark data into phylogenetic analysis. Landmark data consist of coordinates (in two or three dimensions) for the terminal taxa; TNT reconstructs shapes for the internal nodes such that the difference between ancestor and descendant shapes for all tree branches sums up to a minimum; this sum is used as tree score. Landmark data can be analysed alone or in combination with standard characters; all the applicable commands and options in TNT can be used transparently after reading a landmark data set. The program continues implementing all the types of analyses in former versions, including discrete and continuous characters (which can now be read at any scale, and automatically rescaled by TNT). Using algorithms described in this paper, searches for landmark data can be made tens to hundreds of times faster than it was possible before (from T to 3T times faster, where T is the number of taxa), thus making phylogenetic analysis of landmarks feasible even on standard personal computers.
Giant taxon‐character matrices: quality of character constructions remains critical regardless of size
Authors: Simões Tiago R. , Caldwell Michael W. , Palci Alessandro , Nydam Randall L.
Published: April 2016

Giant morphological data matrices are increasingly common in cladistic analyses of vertebrate phylogeny, reporting numbers of characters never seen or expected before. However, the concern for size is usually not followed by an equivalent, if any, concern for character construction/selection criteria. Therefore, the question of whether quantity parallels quality for such influential works remains open. Here, we provide the largest compilation known to us of character construction methods and criteria, as derived from previous studies, and from our own de novo conceptualizations. Problematic character constructions inhibit the capacity of phylogenetic analyses to recover meaningful homology hypotheses and thus accurate clade structures. Upon a revision of two of the currently largest morphological datasets used to test squamate phylogeny, more than one‐third of the almost 1000 characters analysed were classified within at least one of our categories of “types” of characters that should be avoided in cladistic investigations. These characters were removed or recoded, and the data matrices re‐analysed, resulting in substantial changes in the sister group relationships for squamates, as compared to the original studies. Our results urge caution against certain types of character choices and constructions, also providing a methodological basis upon which problematic characters might be avoided.
Mitoxantrone‐Induced Cardiotoxicity in Acute Myeloid Leukemia—A Velocity Vector Imaging Analysis
Authors: Shaikh Amir Y. , Suryadevara Sourabh , Tripathi Abhishek , Ahmed Mohamed , Kane Jennifer L. , Escobar Jorge , Cerny Jan , Nath Rajneesh , McManus David D. , Shih Jeffrey , McGuiness Matthew E. , Tighe Dennis A. , Meyer Theo E. , Ramanathan Muthalagu , Aurigemma Gerard P.
Published: April 2016

Background

The purpose of this investigation was to: (1) determine incidence and predictors of mitoxantrone‐induced early cardiotoxicity and (2) study left ventricular mechanics before and after receiving mitoxantrone.

Method and Results

We retrospectively analyzed 80 subjects diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who underwent chemotherapy with bolus high‐dose mitoxantrone. Echocardiographic measurements were taken at baseline and at a median interval of 55 days after receiving mitoxantrone. Thirty‐five (44%) of the patients developed clinically defined early cardiotoxicity, 29 (36%) of which developed heart failure. There was a significant decrease in the ejection fraction (EF) not only in the cardiotoxicity group (17.6 ± 14.8%, P < 0.001) but also in the noncardiotoxicity group (5.3 ± 8.4%, P < 0.001). Decrease in global longitudinal strain (GLS) (−3.7 ± 4.5, P < 0.001 vs. −2.4 ± 4.3, P = 0.01) and global circumferential strain (GCS) (−5.6 ± 9, P = 0.003 vs. −5.3 ± 8.7, P < 0.001) was significant in both the cardiotoxicity and noncardiotoxicity group, respectively. A multivariate model including baseline left ventricular end‐systolic diameter, baseline pre‐E/A ratio, and baseline pre‐E/e′ ratio was found to be the best‐fitted model for prediction of mitoxantrone‐induced early clinical cardiotoxicity.

Conclusion

High‐dose mitoxantrone therapy is associated with an excellent remission rate but with a significantly increased risk of clinical and subclinical early cardiotoxicity and heart failure. Mitoxantrone‐induced systolic dysfunction is evident from reduction in EF, increase in Tei index, and significant reduction in GLS and GCS. Baseline impaired ventricular relaxation evident from higher E/e′ ratio and lower E/A ratio independently predicts increased risk of mitoxantrone‐induced early cardiotoxicity.
Transgenerational plasticity of reproduction depends on rate of warming across generations
Authors: Donelson Jennifer M. , Wong Marian , Booth David J. , Munday Philip L.
Published: April 2016

Predicting the impacts of climate change to biological systems requires an understanding of the ability for species to acclimate to the projected environmental change through phenotypic plasticity. Determining the effects of higher temperatures on individual performance is made more complex by the potential for environmental conditions experienced in previous and current generations to independently affect phenotypic responses to high temperatures. We used a model coral reef fish (Acanthochromis polyacanthus) to investigate the influence of thermal conditions experienced by two generations on reproductive output and the quality of offspring produced by adults. We found that more gradual warming over two generations, +1.5°C in the first generation and then +3.0°C in the second generation, resulted in greater plasticity of reproductive attributes, compared to fish that experienced the same increase in one generation. Reproduction ceased at the projected future summer temperature (31.5°C) when fish experienced +3.0°C for two generations. Additionally, we found that transgenerational plasticity to +1.5°C induced full restoration of thermally affected reproductive and offspring attributes, which was not possible with developmental plasticity alone. Our results suggest that transgenerational effects differ depending on the absolute thermal change and in which life stage the thermal change is experienced.
Effects of land use on the structure and function of leaf‐litter microbial communities in boreal streams
Authors: Emilson Caroline E. , Kreutzweiser David P. , Gunn John M. , Mykytczuk Nadia C. S.
Published: April 2016

Microbial communities associated with leaf litter in streams provide key ecosystem services through the cycling of energy and nutrients that can be influenced by environmental factors.

We examined the effects of land use on leaf‐litter microbial communities in boreal streams by comparing the structural (i.e. fungal and bacterial biomass and community composition by next generation sequencing) and functional (i.e. decomposition, and extracellular enzyme activities) characteristics of the microbial communities. Streams draining watersheds with histories of fire, logging, industrial‐mining and urban watershed activity were compared to reference streams.

The most severely disturbed industrial and industrial‐urban streams had the lowest rates of microbial litter decomposition, greatly decreased fungal biomass and lacked the ubiquitous bacterial genera Pseudomonas, and Amantichitinum. Hydrolase activity was lowered in all streams with a history of disturbance, with potential adverse effects on energy and nutrient cycling.

Our findings demonstrate that the microbial cycling of energy and nutrients in the boreal aquatic ecosystem is affected by land‐use disturbance and illustrate the excellent potential of using microbial communities to track the effects of watershed disturbance and restoration efforts on boreal shield aquatic ecosystems.