bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing sustainable development of a historic district using an ecological footprint model: a case study of Nanluoguxiang in Beijing, China
Authors: Dai Linlin , Xu Bixia , Wu Bihu
Published: October 2016

Historic districts constitute a major part of urban space and serve as essential carriers of urban historical and cultural heritage. Quantitative assessment for the sustainable development capacity of a historic district is an important part of research on sustainable urban development. In the present study, we modified the existing ecological footprint (EF) model by using component analysis and considering the main features of a historic district. The EF model of historic districts was constructed in two dimensions: residents and tourists. A case study was performed in Nanluoguxiang in Beijing, China, to estimate the total EF and ecological carrying capacity (EC). The results showed that the EF was substantially higher than the EC, whereas the EF of tourists was higher than the EF of residents in Nanluoguxiang. Finally, we analysed the structural composition of the EF and proposed an effective way for implementing sustainable development in historic districts by EF reduction. We also put forward strategies for the targeted control of ecological needs and EF reduction from the perspectives of residents and tourists.
Study on differentiation during embryonic development across selective and ancestral breeds
Authors: An Fengli , Wang Jianlin
Published: October 2016

In order to explore the effect of strain on diverging post‐hatch muscle properties, muscle regulation during embryo development was investigated in selected and unselected breeds. Four broiler strains were used: JingNing (JN) chicken (a Chinese native chicken), HuangYu (HY) broiler, BaiYu (BY) broiler and Hyline layer (commercial crossbred chickens). Results showed that the four breeds had almost the same characteristic during different incubation periods. BY broilers moved more than JN and Hyline layers from Hamburger & Hamilton stage (HH)24 to HH31 (P < 0.05). HY broilers moved more than JN and Hyline layers from HH27 to HH31 (P < 0.01). All the embryos were heavier daily from HH24 to ED18 (P < 0.05); broilers presented greater body weights than JN and hyline layers (P > 0.05); broilers presented smaller fiber diameter than JN chickens before HH31 (P > 0.05). From then on, JN chicken exhibited smaller fiber diameter compared to the broilers (P > 0.05). Western blotting indicated all the breeds had continuous insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) expression, with the highest expression level in broilers from HH19 to HH24 and highest expression level in JN chicks from HH27 to HH31. The results indicated that the diverging growth among breeds was already shown in embryonic stages; the different expression patterns of IGF‐I may be involved in cell proliferation and differentiation.
Restoration over time: is it possible to restore trees and non‐trees in high‐diversity forests?
Authors: Garcia Letícia C. , Hobbs Richard J. , Ribeiro Danilo B. , Tamashiro Jorge Y. , Santos Flavio A.M. , Rodrigues Ricardo R.
Published: October 2016

Questions

Do different growth forms have distinct temporal patterns of recovery of their structure, diversity, and composition in restored Atlantic Rain forest? Are tree and non‐tree assemblages structured by the same factors?

Location

Atlantic Rain Forest, restored by planting an assemblage of high‐diversity tree species, Brazil.

Methods

We measured plant colonization of restoration sites of different ages to evaluate restoration success in terms of species diversity, colonization by non‐tree species and structure measures among stands. We used Procrustes analysis to test whether the same conditions that influence tree composition influence non‐tree composition (congruence between non‐trees and trees present on the same sites).

Results

Many structural aspects of recovering forests, e.g. tree basal area, canopy cover, height, tree richness, and non‐tree floristic composition resembled a mature forest within five decades. Although tree species diversity increased according to restoration age of sites, planted sites did not recover the richness of all growth forms even after five decades of restoration, and particularly lacked climbers and epiphytes. We detected significant similarity between corresponding points (tree and non‐tree composition) from separate ordinations only in the reference forest. Therefore, naturally assembled communities are more concordant than those originating from active restoration.

Conclusion

Non‐tree assemblages respond to different factors than the tree assemblages in restoration sites. Hence, non‐tree recovery may not result as a natural consequence of tree recovery, and specific restoration strategies for non‐tree species must be applied. Tree richness recovered after two decades. Only half of the non‐tree species richness was recovered in old restoration sites, but their composition similarity reached expected levels of reference values. Further studies will investigate if low richness of non‐tree species is a consequence of low input of allochthonous propagules (landscape filter) or whether they are arriving but not establishing (environmental filter). Enrichment planting of non‐tree species may be required if the problem is propagule input. We recommend enrichment planting should be implemented within 10 yrs after initial restoration planting because of the need for trees as supporting structures. However, if propagules are arriving but not establishing, the solution is to detect which environmental filters are important and to manipulate them through forest management.
Differential organization of taxonomic and functional diversity in an urban woody plant metacommunity
Authors: Swan Christopher M. , Johnson Anna , Nowak David J.
Published: October 2016

Questions

Urban ecosystems present an opportunity to study ecological communities in the context of unprecedented environmental change. In the face of urban land conversion, ecologists observe new patterns of species composition, dominance, behaviour and dispersal. We propose a hypothetical socioeconomic template that describes a gradient in human investment in community composition to aid in organizing the human role in shaping urban biodiversity. We asked: (1) what is the relative magnitude of taxonomic and functional turnover of urban woody plant communities across different land‐use types; and (2) do land uses exhibiting higher intensity of human management of biodiversity support higher turnover over those with less human influence?

Location

Baltimore, MD, USA (39°17′ N, 76°38′ W).

Methods

We examined patterns in woody plant biodiversity across 209 plots of different urban land uses. Six land‐use types were arranged along a gradient in the intensity through which humans are hypothesized to manage species composition at the plot scale. We calculated local, or α‐diversity, and compositional turnover, or β‐diversity, of taxonomic and functional diversity across plots within each land‐use type. We compared the magnitude of these biodiversity measures between land uses to test our conceptual template for how the intensity of human management can predict urban woody plant biodiversity.

Results

We observed high taxonomic turnover in residential and commercial plots compared with vacant or open space land‐use areas. This was associated with a weaker, but similar, pattern in functional diversity. This was associated with low total abundance in residential and commercial plots. Furthermore, the number of unique species was extremely high in the same land‐use types.

Conclusions

Our observations help explain why turnover can be high in heavily managed plots relative to vacant land. In patches without heavy human management, we found low levels of turnover. This highlights the importance of assessing diversity both locally and at the level of turnover between patches. Management and policy can benefit from the perspective embodied in the conceptual approach tested here.
A Joint Modeling Approach for Multivariate Survival Data with Random Length
Authors: Liu Shuling , Manatunga Amita K. , Peng Limin , Marcus Michele
Published: October 2016

In many biomedical studies that involve correlated data, an outcome is often repeatedly measured for each individual subject along with the number of these measurements, which is also treated as an observed outcome. This type of data has been referred as multivariate random length data by Barnhart and Sampson (1995). A common approach to handling such type of data is to jointly model the multiple measurements and the random length. In previous literature, a key assumption is the multivariate normality for the multiple measurements. Motivated by a reproductive study, we propose a new copula-based joint model which relaxes the normality assumption. Specifically, we adopt the Clayton–Oakes model for multiple measurements with flexible marginal distributions specified as semi-parametric transformation models. The random length is modeled via a generalized linear model. We develop an approximate EM algorithm to derive parameter estimators and standard errors of the estimators are obtained through bootstrapping procedures and the finite-sample performance of the proposed method is investigated using simulation studies. We apply our method to the Mount Sinai Study of Women Office Workers (MSSWOW), where women were prospectively followed for 1 year for studying fertility.
An Adaptive Mantel–Haenszel Test for Sensitivity Analysis in Observational Studies
Authors: Rosenbaum Paul R. , Small Dylan S.
Published: October 2016

In a sensitivity analysis in an observational study with a binary outcome, is it better to use all of the data or to focus on subgroups that are expected to experience the largest treatment effects? The answer depends on features of the data that may be difficult to anticipate, a trade-off between unknown effect-sizes and known sample sizes. We propose a sensitivity analysis for an adaptive test similar to the Mantel–Haenszel test. The adaptive test performs two highly correlated analyses, one focused analysis using a subgroup, one combined analysis using all of the data, correcting for multiple testing using the joint distribution of the two test statistics. Because the two component tests are highly correlated, this correction for multiple testing is small compared with, for instance, the Bonferroni inequality. The test has the maximum design sensitivity of two component tests. A simulation evaluates the power of a sensitivity analysis using the adaptive test. Two examples are presented. An R package, sensitivity2x2xk, implements the procedure.
Greedy Outcome Weighted Tree Learning of Optimal Personalized Treatment Rules
Authors: Zhu Ruoqing , Zhao Ying-Qi , Chen Guanhua , Ma Shuangge , Zhao Hongyu
Published: October 2016

We propose a subgroup identification approach for inferring optimal and interpretable personalized treatment rules with high-dimensional covariates. Our approach is based on a two-step greedy tree algorithm to pursue signals in a high-dimensional space. In the first step, we transform the treatment selection problem into a weighted classification problem that can utilize tree-based methods. In the second step, we adopt a newly proposed tree-based method, known as reinforcement learning trees, to detect features involved in the optimal treatment rules and to construct binary splitting rules. The method is further extended to right censored survival data by using the accelerated failure time model and introducing double weighting to the classification trees. The performance of the proposed method is demonstrated via simulation studies, as well as analyses of the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) data and the Tamoxifen breast cancer data.
Survival Model Construction Guided by Fit and Predictive Strength
Authors: Chauvel Cécile , O'Quigley John
Published: October 2016

Survival model construction can be guided by goodness-of-fit techniques as well as measures of predictive strength. Here, we aim to bring together these distinct techniques within the context of a single framework. The goal is how to best characterize and code the effects of the variables, in particular time dependencies, when taken either singly or in combination with other related covariates. Simple graphical techniques can provide an immediate visual indication as to the goodness-of-fit but, in cases of departure from model assumptions, will point in the direction of a more involved and richer alternative model. These techniques appear to be intuitive. This intuition is backed up by formal theorems that underlie the process of building richer models from simpler ones. Measures of predictive strength are used in conjunction with these goodness-of-fit techniques and, again, formal theorems show that these measures can be used to help identify models closest to the unknown non-proportional hazards mechanism that we can suppose generates the observations. Illustrations from studies in breast cancer show how these tools can be of help in guiding the practical problem of efficient model construction for survival data.
Synaptic pathology in the cerebellar dentate nucleus in chronic multiple sclerosis
Authors: Albert Monika , Barrantes‐Freer Alonso , Lohrberg Melanie , Antel Jack P. , Prineas John W. , Palkovits Miklós , Wolff Joachim R. , Brück Wolfgang , Stadelmann Christine
Published: October 2016

In multiple sclerosis, cerebellar symptoms are associated with clinical impairment and an increased likelihood of progressive course. Cortical atrophy and synaptic dysfunction play a prominent role in cerebellar pathology and although the dentate nucleus is a predilection site for lesion development, structural synaptic changes in this region remain largely unexplored. Moreover, the mechanisms leading to synaptic dysfunction have not yet been investigated at an ultrastructural level in multiple sclerosis. Here, we report on synaptic changes of dentate nuclei in post‐mortem cerebella of 16 multiple sclerosis patients and eight controls at the histological level as well as an electron microscopy evaluation of afferent synapses of the cerebellar dentate and pontine nuclei of one multiple sclerosis patient and one control. We found a significant reduction of afferent dentate synapses in multiple sclerosis, irrespective of the presence of demyelination, and a close relationship between glial processes and dentate synapses. Ultrastructurally, we show autophagosomes containing degradation products of synaptic vesicles within dendrites, residual bodies within intact‐appearing axons and free postsynaptic densities opposed to astrocytic appendages. Our study demonstrates loss of dentate afferent synapses and provides, for the first time, ultrastructural evidence pointing towards neuron‐autonomous and neuroglia‐mediated mechanisms of synaptic degradation in chronic multiple sclerosis.
A vocational rehabilitation intervention for young adults with physical disabilities: participants' perception of beneficial attributes
Authors: Bal M. I. , Sattoe J. N. T. , van Schaardenburgh N. R. , Floothuis M. C. S. G. , Roebroeck M. E. , Miedema H. S.
Published: October 2016

Background

Finding and maintaining employment is a major challenge for young adults with physical disabilities and their work participation rate is lower than that of healthy peers. This paper is about a program that supports work participation amongst young adults with chronic physical disabilities. The study aims to explore their experienced barriers and facilitators for finding and maintaining employment after starting this program, the participant‐perceived beneficial attributes of the program and participants' recommendations for additional intervention components.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews (n = 19) were held with former intervention participations. Interviews were recorded and transcribed ad verbatim. Themes were derived using the phenomenological approach.

Results

Physical functions and capacities, supervisor's attitude, self‐esteem and self‐efficacy and openness and assertiveness were experienced barriers and facilitators for finding and maintaining employment. Improvement of self‐promoting skills and disclosure skills through job interview‐training, increased self‐esteem or self‐efficacy through peer‐support, a suitable job through job placement, improvement of work ability through arrangement of adjusted work conditions and change of supervisor's attitude through education provided to the supervisor were perceived as beneficial attributes of the intervention. Respondents recommended to incorporate assertiveness and openness skills training into future intervention programs.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that programs supporting work participation should be designed to provide challenging, real‐world experiential opportunities that provide young adults with physical disabilities with new insights, self‐efficacy and life skills. Also, such programs should facilitate context centered learning. Former intervention participants, therefore, evaluated job‐interview training, sharing learning and social experiences with peers, job placement, arrangement of adjusted work conditions and education as beneficial attributes of the ‘At Work’ program. In addition, they recommended, to incorporate more training on assertiveness and disclosure. We advise professionals to include these beneficial attributes in similar interventions in other contexts.
Use of the ages and stages questionnaire adapted for South Africa and Zambia
Authors: Hsiao C. , Richter L. , Makusha T. , Matafwali B. , van Heerden A. , Mabaso M.
Published: October 2016

Background

There are few readily available, relatively easy to use and culturally adaptable developmental assessment tools for young children in southern Africa.

The overarching aim of this study is to test the psychometric properties, contextual appropriateness and cut‐off scores across 21 age groups of the Ages and Stages Questionnaire Third Edition (Squires & Bricker, ) among a group of typically developing children in South Africa and Zambia through a combination of both caregiver‐report and direct observations, and to compare children's performance across sociodemographic variables.

Methods

The sample consisted of 853 children (50.5% Zambia, with 50.1% girls for Zambia and 50% girls for South Africa) aged 2 months to 60 months. Information on caregiver employment, education and household assets were also obtained.

Results

The psychometric properties of the ASQ‐3 in southern Africa are consistent with those found in the extant literature. Analysis of item difficulty at each age reveals adequate levels of difficulty for majority of the items, with exception of the problem solving domain where half of the items at 54 and 60 months have poor pass rates. Sociodemographic variables were significantly associated with children's performance: higher caregiver levels of education are associated with higher toddler scores on the personal–social domain and higher preschooler scores on the problem solving domain; children whose caregivers earn a salary have higher fine motor scores during toddlerhood and higher problem solving scores during preschool and children who attend preschools have higher gross motor scores during toddlerhood and higher fine motor scores during the preschool years.

Conclusions

Findings provide evidence to support the psychometric properties and feasibility of using the ASQ‐3 in both South Africa and Zambia through a combination of caregiver‐report and direct observations.
Evaluating the Incredible Years Toddler Parenting Programme with parents of toddlers in disadvantaged (Flying Start) areas of Wales
Authors: Hutchings J. , Griffith N. , Bywater T. , Williams M. E.
Published: October 2016

Background

Early risk factors for poor child outcomes are well established, and some group parenting programmes have demonstrated good outcomes for children under 3 years of age. This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of the Incredible Years® Toddler Parenting Programme with parents of 1‐year‐old and 2‐year‐old children recruited by staff in disadvantaged Flying Start areas across Wales.

Methods

Eighty‐nine families with a child aged between 12 and 36 months at baseline participated in a pragmatic community‐based trial of the programme in eight Flying Start areas. Outcomes were measured at baseline, 6 months and 12 months using measures of parental mental health, competence, child behaviour, child development, home environment and blinded‐observation of parent–child interactions.

Results

Significant intervention group improvements were found in parental mental well‐being and observed praise at 6 months. Significant improvements for the intervention group at 12 months included child development, home environment and parental depression.

Conclusion

The study provides preliminary evidence for programme attendance.
Responses to Interpersonal Stress: Normative Changes Across Childhood and the Impact of Peer Victimization
Authors: Troop‐Gordon Wendy , Sugimura Niwako , Rudolph Karen D.
Published: October 2016

This research examined the development of stress responses across second to sixth grades and whether exposure to peer victimization alters stress response trajectories. Youth (338 girls; 298 boys; Mage = 7.97 years, SD = .37) reported on stress responses; teachers and youth reported on peer victimization. Latent growth curve modeling revealed an increase in effortful engagement responses and a decrease in disengagement and involuntary engagement responses during this period. Peer victimization disrupted these normative trajectories, resulting in less effortful engagement and more effortful disengagement and involuntary stress responses in early adolescence. These findings suggest that early peer victimization sensitizes youth to stress by interfering with the development of effective coping and fostering maladaptive stress responses.
The Impact of Brand and Attention on Consumers’ Willingness to Pay: Evidence from an Eye Tracking Experiment
Authors: Lewis Karen E. , Grebitus Carola , Nayga Rodolfo M.
Published: October 2016

In the field of agricultural economics, willingness to pay (WTP) studies often do not include information regarding the brand of the product. Therefore, we conducted an auction examining consumer WTP for branded and unbranded energy drinks containing different sweeteners. Eye tracking was used to capture the magnitude of attention spent by participants on specific areas of interest regarding the energy drinks in the auction (e.g., brand). Results indicate that attention to brand, package attributes, and product information had a varying impact on WTP depending on the brand examined. Results show that the presence of brand had an impact on WTP for certain brands. Also, as more attention was paid to particular stimuli regarding the energy drinks, individuals were more likely to either increase or decrease their WTP. These results have implications for both marketers of branded food products as well as researchers eliciting consumers’ preferences and WTP values for products that can be branded in the marketplace.

Les impacts des marques de commerce et de l'attention du consommateur sur la volonté de payer: les résultats d'une expérience de suivi oculaire. Au sein de l'économie agricole, les études concernant la volonté de payer ne comprennent souvent pas les informations concernant les marques de commerce des produits. Nous avons donc mené une vente aux enchères pour examiner la volonté de payer des consommateurs pour des boissons énergisantes de marque et sans marque. Le suivi oculaire a été utilisé afin de mesurer l'intensité de l'attention des participants sur certains centres d'intérêt concernant les boissons énergisantes disponibles aux enchères (comme la marque). Les résultats démontrent que : l'attention portée à la marque de commerce, aux attributs de l'emballage et aux informations concernant le produit a un impact sur la volonté de payer pour certaines marques. De plus, une augmentation de l'attention pour un stimulus en particulier des boissons énergisantes rendait l'individu plus apte à augmenter ou diminuer sa volonté de payer. Ces résultats ont des répercussions autant pour les spécialistes du marketing des produits alimentaires de marque que pour les chercheurs voulant recueillir les préférences et la volonté de payer des consommateurs pour la commercialisation de produits destinés au marché.
The Effects of NAFTA/CUSFTA on Agricultural Trade Flows: An Empirical Investigation
Authors: Ghazalian Pascal L.
Published: October 2016

This paper examines the effects of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and its predecessor, the Canada‐United States Free Trade Agreement (CUSFTA), on agricultural trade flows at disaggregated product categories. The empirical analysis is implemented through gravity models using different econometric methods. It accounts for the baseline NAFTA/CUSFTA‐unrelated magnitudes of trade between member countries throughout the assessment of the NAFTA/CUSFTA trade effects. The benchmark estimates show considerable differences across agricultural product categories. The net post‐NAFTA/CUSFTA magnitudes of trade between member countries are found to be markedly low in some cases, underlining missed regional trade opportunities. The empirical analysis proceeds to estimate the NAFTA/CUSFTA trade effects by time period and by bilateral trading partnership, revealing important variations.

Cet article examine les effets de l'Accord de Libre‐Échange Nord‐Américain (ALÉNA) et de son prédécesseur, l'Accord de Libre‐Échange entre le Canada et les États‐Unis (ALÉCÉU), sur les flux commerciaux agricoles au niveau des catégories ventilées. L'analyse empirique est mise en œuvre grâce à des modèles de gravité en utilisant une variété de méthodes économétriques. Elle compte pour la ligne de base des magnitudes non‐reliées à l'ALÉNA/ALÉCÉU du commerce entre les pays membres à travers l′évaluation des effets de l'ALÉNA/ALÉCÉU sur le commerce. Les estimations de référence montrent des différences considérables entre les catégories de produits agricoles. Les magnitudes post‐ALÉNA/ALÉCÉU nettes du commerce entre les pays membres se trouvent d′être considérablement faibles dans certains cas. Ces résultats soulignent des opportunités commerciales régionales manquées. L'analyse empirique procède à estimer les effets de l'ALÉNA/ALÉCÉU sur le commerce par période et par partenariat commercial bilatéral, et elle montre des variations importantes.
Quality of life following fistulotomy – short term follow‐up
Authors: Owen H. A. , Buchanan G. N. , Schizas A. , Emmanuel A. , Cohen R. , Williams A. B.
Published: October 2016

Aim

Anal fistula causes pain and discharge of pus and blood. Treatment by fistulotomy has the highest success, but can risk continence; treatment needs to balance cure with continence. This study assessed the impact of fistulotomy on quality of life (QOL) and continence.

Method

Patients selected for fistulotomy prospectively completed the St Mark's Continence Score (full incontinence = 24) and Short Form‐36 questionnaires preoperatively at two institutions with an interest in anal fistula. Patients were reassessed 3 months’ postoperatively.

Results

There were 52 patients with a median age of 44 (range 19–82) years; 10 were women. Preoperative continence scores were median 0 (range 0–23) and there was no significant difference compared with postoperative scores (median 1, range 0–24). Following fistulotomy QOL was significantly improved in four of eight domains – Bodily Pain (P < 0.001), Vitality (P < 0.01), Social Functioning (P < 0.05) and Mental Health (P < 0.001) – and returned to that of the general population. QOL for patients with intersphincteric fistula improved postfistulotomy, and for those with trans‐sphincteric fistula it remained the same. Data were further examined in two groups, with and without deterioration in continence score. Where continence improved postoperatively, QOL improved in three domains; where continence deteriorated QOL improved in two domains (P < 0.05). Patients with postoperative continence scores of < 5 had worse QOL than those scoring 4 or less.

Conclusion

QOL significantly improved at 3 months’ follow‐up after fistulotomy where continence was maintained or a small reduction occurred.
Improving the dyeability of polyimide by pretreatment with alkali
Authors: Wang Zehong , Rao Zhujun , Zhan Yizhen , Hao Tianqi , Wang Wei , Yu Dan
Published: October 2016

Polyimide fabric, as a high‐performance fabric, possesses advantageous properties, such as outstanding thermal stability and chemical resistance, but has poor dyeability. In this paper, polyimide fabric was dyed successfully with disperse dyes by high‐temperature and high‐pressure dyeing in the presence of a swelling agent and auxiliaries. Under optimal dyeing conditions, it is pretreated with NaOH 6 g l−1 and dyed with disperse dyes 5% o.w.f., NaCl 1 m, benzyl alcohol 60 ml l−1 at 135 °C for 45 min to obtain a satisfactory colour yield with good washing fastness and dry rubbing fastness with 93.3% strength retention. The experimental results demonstrate that the Nernst adsorption isotherm is a favourable model for polyimide fabric dyeing with disperse dyes.
Colour stripping of reactive‐dyed cotton by ozone treatment
Authors: Eren Semiha , Gümüs Buse , Eren Hüseyin Aksel
Published: October 2016

Trials have been carried out to investigate the efficiency of ozone treatment in the colour stripping of reactive‐dyed cotton fabrics. The trials were performed on a specially designed apparatus to inject ozone gas into the liquor passing through a perforated beam with fabric rolls on it, just like a beam dyeing machine with ozone venturi injection. Conventional reductive colour stripping was applied as the control treatment, and ozone treatment was applied for three different application times (15, 30, and 45 min). Trials were performed with seven selected reactive dyes having various chromophores and reactive groups. The results indicate that 45 min ozone treatment yielded the best colour stripping results among the three application times. Furthermore, the colour stripping percentages of the 45 min ozone treatment were higher for four of the tested dyes, the same for one of the tested dyes, and lower for two of the tested dyes compared with the control treatment, which consisted of conventional reductive colour stripping. Colour stripping of 90% and above was achieved for all samples of the 45 min ozone treatment. The chemical oxygen demand values of the colour stripping baths were compared: the average value of the 45 min ozone application baths was 105 mg l−1, and it was 1993 mg l−1 for the conventional reductive treatment baths. Consequently, a reduction in chemical oxygen demand of almost 94% was achieved by ozone treatment compared with conventional reductive treatment. The strength values of the fabrics after the respective treatments were similar, with a difference of only 3%.
Up‐regulation of microRNA‐491‐5p suppresses cell proliferation and promotes apoptosis by targeting FOXP4 in human osteosarcoma
Authors: Yin Zhixun , Ding Hongmei , He Erxing , Chen Jingchen , Li Ming
Published: October 2016

Background and objectives

MicroRNAs are small non‐coding RNAs involved in pathogenesis and progression of human malignancies. MicroRNA‐491‐5p (miR‐491‐5p) is down‐regulated in many human cancers where it would serve as a tumour suppressor. However, the role played by miR‐491‐5p in pathogenesis of human osteosarcoma has remained largely unknown. This study has been conducted to examine effects of miR‐491‐5p on migration and proliferation of cells of the SAOS‐2 and MG63 osteosarcoma lines, and mechanisms of those effects.

Materials and methods

Levels of miR‐491‐5p expression in osteosarcoma tissues and in human osteosarcoma cell lines were studied using qualitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) methods. Cell viability was detected using the CCK‐8 and EdU assays, while the transwell assay was used to evaluate migration and invasion. Apoptosis was analysed uing flow cytometry and the Hoechst 33342 nuclear staining method. A dual‐luciferase reporter system was used to confirm the target gene of miR‐491‐5p. The electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) with DIG‐labelled double‐stranded FOXP4 oligonucleotides was used to confirm whether or not miR‐491‐5p suppressed FOXP4 activation.

Results

Cells of osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines had low levels of miR‐491‐5p expression, but high levels of forkhead‐box P4 (FOXP4) expression. Transfection of SAOS‐2 and MG63 cells with miR‐491‐5p mimics inhibited expression of FOXP4 protein, which suppressed cell growth and migration, but induced apoptosis. Dual‐luciferase reporter assays confirmed FOXP4 as the target gene for miR‐491‐5p. Overexpression of miR‐491‐5p suppressed FOXP4 activity in SAOS‐2 and MG63 cells. Knockdown of FOXP4 in SAOS‐2 and MG63 cells using an RNAi strategy resulted in reduced levels of cell proliferation and migration, but increased levels of apoptosis.

Conclusion

Our in vitro studies showed that up‐regulation of miR‐491‐5p suppressed proliferation of the human osteosarcoma cells and induced apoptosis by targeting FOXP4. These findings suggest that miR‐491‐5p could be further studied as a potential clinical diagnostic or predictive biomarker for human osteosarcoma.
Ecological niche and species distribution modelling of sea stars along the Pacific Northwest continental shelf
Authors: Hemery Lenaïg G. , Marion Scott R. , Romsos Chris G. , Kurapov Alexander L. , Henkel Sarah K.
Published: October 2016

Aim

Populations of several sea star species were devastated by a disease in 2013–2014 from Alaska to Baja California. However, their exact distributions and ecological requirements are unknown and better knowledge could help identify populations that are at risk. This study aimed to assess patterns of distribution and determine ecological requirements of several sea star species affected by the disease.

Location

Continental shelf from southern Washington State to northern California, USA.

Methods

A large occurrence dataset (5385 data points) of 11 taxa was gathered from bottom trawl surveys and underwater video footage, along with data for 13 oceanographic and seafloor environmental parameters. Species distribution modelling (Maxent) and ecological niche (outlying mean index) analyses were applied to these biotic and abiotic datasets.

Results

Each species showed contrasting ecological niches and modelled distributions, the main explanatory factors being depth, temperature, salinity, sediment mean grain size and the presence of rocky outcrops. Despite these species being recorded from Alaska to California, some sea stars showed very narrow distributions, whereas other taxa were widely distributed in the whole area.

Main conclusions

The modelled ecological niches and distributions of these 11 sea star taxa showed a high degree of differentiation. Because intertidal and shallow subtidal populations were drastically affected by the 2013–2014 disease, recovery will depend on health of subtidal populations and the ability of the species to disperse and recolonize shallower areas. Our study will serve as a useful reference of the species distributions before the disease started. This distributional data and assessment of influential environmental factors will be valuable for future predictions or studies of the effects of bottom‐contact ocean‐use activities on sea star species as well as the effects of climate change. Understanding habitat conditions favourable for these species may be helpful in managing population recovery following disease outbreaks or other catastrophic events.
Space invaders; biological invasions in marine conservation planning
Authors: Giakoumi Sylvaine , Guilhaumon François , Kark Salit , Terlizzi Antonio , Claudet Joachim , Felline Serena , Cerrano Carlo , Coll Marta , Danovaro Roberto , Fraschetti Simonetta , Koutsoubas Drosos , Ledoux Jean‐Batiste , Mazor Tessa , Mérigot Bastien , Micheli Fiorenza , Katsanevakis Stelios
Published: October 2016

Aim

Biological invasions are major contributors to global change and native biodiversity decline. However, they are overlooked in marine conservation plans. Here, we examine for the first time the extent to which marine conservation planning research has addressed (or ignored) biological invasions. Furthermore, we explore the change of spatial priorities in conservation plans when different approaches are used to incorporate the presence and impacts of invasive species.

Location

Global analysis with a focus on the Mediterranean Sea region.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review consisting of three steps: (1) article selection using a search engine, (2) abstract screening and (3) review of pertinent articles, which were identified in the second step. The information extracted included the scale and geographical location of each case study as well as the approach followed regarding invasive species. We also applied the softwareMarxanto produce and compare conservation plans for the Mediterranean Sea that either protect, or avoid areas impacted by invasives, or ignore the issue. One case study focused on the protection of critical habitats, and the other on endemic fish species.

Results

We found that of 119 papers on marine spatial plans in specific biogeographic regions, only three (2.5%) explicitly took into account invasive species. When comparing the different conservation plans for each case study, we found that the majority of selected sites for protection (ca. 80%) changed in the critical habitat case study, while this proportion was lower but substantial (27%) in the endemic fish species case study.

Main conclusions

Biological invasions are being widely disregarded when planning for conservation in the marine environment across local to global scales. More explicit consideration of biological invasions can significantly alter spatial conservation priorities. Future conservation plans should explicitly account for biological invasions to optimize the selection of marine protected areas.
Combined effects of urbanization and connectivity on iconic coastal fishes
Authors: Vargas‐Fonseca Elena , Olds Andrew D. , Gilby Ben L. , Connolly Rod M. , Schoeman David S. , Huijbers Chantal M. , Hyndes Glenn A. , Schlacher Thomas A.
Published: October 2016

Aim

Disturbance and connectivity shape the structure and spatial distribution of animal populations in all ecosystems, but the combined effects of these factors are rarely measured in coastal seascapes. We used surf zones of exposed sandy beaches in eastern Australia as a model seascape to test for combined effects of coastal urbanization and seascape connectivity (i.e. spatial links between surf zones, estuaries and rocky headlands) on fish assemblages.

Location

Four hundred kilometres of exposed surf beaches along the eastern coastline of Australia.

Methods

Fish assemblages were surveyed from surf zones of 14 ocean‐exposed sandy beaches using purpose‐built surf baited remote underwater video stations.

Results

The degree of coastal urbanization and connectivity were strongly correlated with the spatial distribution of fish species richness and abundance and were of greater importance to surf fishes than local surf conditions. Urbanization was associated with reductions in the abundance of harvested piscivores and fish species richness. Piscivore abundance and species richness were lowest on highly urbanized coastlines, and adjacent to beaches in wilderness areas where recreational fishing is intense. By contrast, seascape connectivity was correlated with the spatial distribution of omnivore and planktivore abundance. Spatial linkages between surf zones and estuaries were also important to two globally threatened guitarfish that are of international conservation significance.

Main conclusions

We show for the first time how vulnerable and iconic fish species in surf zones are affected by the presence of coastal cities and the attributes of seascapes in which these cities are embedded. It is possible that greater connectivity may lessen ‘urbanization’ impacts for species with broad diets and strong ecological links to other ecosystems – this offers new perspectives in coastal conservation, for fishes and beyond.
The Plight of Modern Markets: How Universal Banking Undermines Capital Markets
Authors: Sissoko Carolyn
Published: October 2016

This paper explains the process of competitive deregulation that led both the US and the UK to embrace universal banking and to abandon the functional separation of financial activities that had long characterized their financial systems. The paper argues that some of the consequences of favouring universal banking over functional separation that were understood in the 1930s were rarely voiced in years preceding deregulation. The principal argument offered in favour of separation was that the commercial banking system, which is supported by a government ‘safety net’, needs to be protected from the risks inherent in investment banking. By contrast, this paper argues that functional separation played an important role in protecting capital markets from the banking system.

Universal banking is associated historically with thinly traded stock markets, and this paper argues that universal banking promotes the formation of a small group of large dealer‐banks which dominate the financial system and whose interests are best served by trading on nonpublic over‐the‐counter (OTC) markets. The paper finds that just such a group played a key role in the growing importance of such OTC markets in the US over the past few decades.

The paper then argues that the benefits of the greater liquidity that large universal banks can provide to capital markets are offset by the dangers they create when they err. Because mistakes at these large banks are often allowed to grow in size to match the size of the banks, they distort prices on financial markets and sometimes create systemic risk. Two recent examples are given: J.P. Morgan Chase Bank's ‘London whale’ fiasco and UBS, Merrill Lynch and Citibank's exposures to subprime mortgages.

Finally, the paper explains that the Senate Report on the Glass–Steagall Act indicates that the Act was designed in part to limit commercial bank participation in the margin loan market, as this activity makes possible a feedback loop between increases in the money supply and increases in asset prices, which in turn can generate an asset price bubble in capital markets. The recent crisis has led modern researchers to rediscover the relationship between margin lending, feedback loops, and asset price bubbles that was well understood by at least some legislators in the 1930s. The paper argues that the recent crisis demonstrates that modern banking regulation needs to be informed by an understanding of the consequences that may arise when a financial system is dominated by universal banks.
Herbivore species identity rather than diversity of the non‐host community determines foraging behaviour of the parasitoid wasp Cotesia glomerata
Authors: de Rijk Marjolein , Wang Qianjue , Papagiannaki Evangelia , Dicke Marcel , Poelman Erik H.
Published: October 2016

Extensive research has been conducted to reveal how species diversity affects ecosystem functions and services. Yet, consequences of diversity loss for ecosystems as a whole as well as for single community members are still difficult to predict. Arthropod communities typically are species‐rich, and their species interactions, such as those between herbivores and their predators or parasitoids, may be particularly sensitive to changes in community composition. Parasitoids forage for herbivorous hosts by using herbivore‐induced plant volatiles (indirect cues) and cues produced by their host (direct cues). However, in addition to hosts, non‐suitable herbivores are present in a parasitoid's environment which may complicate the foraging process for the parasitoid. Therefore, ecosystem changes in the diversity of herbivores may affect the foraging efficiency of parasitoids. The effect of herbivore diversity may be mediated by either species numbers per se, by specific species traits, or by both. To investigate how diversity and identity of non‐host herbivores influence the behaviour of parasitoids, we created environments with different levels of non‐host diversity. On individual plants in these environments, we complemented host herbivores with 1–4 non‐host herbivore species. We subsequently studied the behaviour of the gregarious endoparasitoid Cotesia glomerata L. (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) while foraging for its gregarious host Pieris brassicae L. (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). Neither non‐host species diversity nor non‐host identity influenced the preference of the parasitoid for herbivore‐infested plants. However, after landing on the plant, non‐host species identity did affect parasitoid behaviour, whereas non‐host diversity did not. One of the non‐host species, Trichoplusia ni Hübner (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), reduced the time the parasitoid spent on the plant as well as the number of hosts it parasitized. We conclude that non‐host herbivore species identity has a larger influence on C. glomerata foraging behaviour than non‐host species diversity. Our study shows the importance of species identity over species diversity in a multitrophic interaction of plants, herbivores, and parasitoids.
Seasonal variations of host resources influence foraging strategy in parasitoids
Authors: Eoche‐Bosy Delphine , Outreman Yannick , Oliveira Andrade Thiago , Krespi Liliane , van Baaren Joan
Published: October 2016

Many species have to cope with decreased resource availability and life expectancy during winter. The optimal foraging theory predicts that under these conditions, generalist foraging strategies should be favoured, via the acceptance of suboptimal resources. In contrast, during favourable seasons, specialist foraging strategies, i.e., a preferential consumption of the most profitable resources, should be favoured instead. Although spatial and fine‐scale temporal dimensions of the influence of resource distribution on foraging strategies have long been studied in individual species, guild‐level, large‐scale temporal approaches (over multiple seasons) have rarely been considered. Parasitoids that can remain active during winter are an interesting model system which allows direct testing of resource profitability and reaching conclusions about foraging strategies from an evolutionary point of view. Here, we analysed how temporal variations of host resource availability in northwestern France impact the foraging strategies of parasitoid wasps. The foraging behaviours of dominant cereal aphid parasitoid species in relation to the two most abundant aphid host species were observed in winter and in spring. Because of a seasonal change in the host–parasitoid community and of a few species present in the fields each season, we were unable to confirm our hypothesis at the species level for all the studied species. Nevertheless, this study brought results consistent with our assumptions at the guild level, indicating that different species of a guild favour similar foraging strategies. In winter, female parasitoids generally adopted an opportunistic strategy, accepting all aphid hosts encountered, even if they were suboptimal. In spring, parasitoids displayed a specialist strategy by selecting preferentially a host species, but the better quality of preferentially selected species remains to be fully demonstrated.