bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitochondrial dysfunction and mitophagy: the beginning and end to diabetic nephropathy?
Authors: Higgins G C , Coughlan M T
Published: November 2013

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a progressive microvascular complication arising from diabetes. Within the kidney, the glomeruli, tubules, vessels and interstitium are disrupted, ultimately impairing renal function and leading to end‐stage renal disease (ESRD). Current pharmacological therapies used in individuals with DN do not prevent the inevitable progression to ESRD; therefore, new targets of therapy are urgently required. Studies from animal models indicate that disturbances in mitochondrial homeostasis are central to the pathogenesis of DN. Since renal proximal tubule cells rely on oxidative phosphorylation to provide adequate ATP for tubular reabsorption, an impairment of mitochondrial bioenergetics can result in renal functional decline. Defects at the level of the electron transport chain have long been established in DN, promoting electron leakage and formation of superoxide radicals, mediating microinflammation and contributing to the renal lesion. More recent studies suggest that mitochondrial‐associated proteins may be directly involved in the pathogenesis of tubulointerstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis. An accumulation of fragmented mitochondria are found in the renal cortex in both humans and animals with DN, suggesting that in tandem with a shift in dynamics, mitochondrial clearance mechanisms may be impaired. The process of mitophagy is the selective targeting of damaged or dysfunctional mitochondria to autophagosomes for degradation through the autophagy pathway. The current review explores the concept that an impairment in the mitophagy system leads to the accelerated progression of renal pathology. A better understanding of the cellular and molecular events that govern mitophagy and dynamics in DN may lead to improved therapeutic strategies.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed issue on Mitochondrial Pharmacology: Energy, Injury & Beyond. To view the other articles in this issue visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2014.171.issue‐8
Unexpectedly high affinity of a novel histamine H3 receptor antagonist, GSK239512, in vivo in human brain, determined using PET
Authors: Ashworth S , Berges A , Rabiner E A , Wilson A A , Comley R A , Lai R Y K , Boardley R , Searle G , Gunn R N , Laruelle M , Cunningham V J
Published: November 2013

Background and Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the plasma concentration (PK) of the novel histamine H3 receptor antagonist, GSK239512, and the brain occupancy of H3 receptors (RO) in healthy human volunteers.

Experimental Approach

PET scans were obtained after i.v. administration of the H3‐specific radioligand [11C]GSK189254. Each subject was scanned before and after single oral doses of GSK239512, at 4 and 24 h after dose. PET data were analysed by compartmental analysis, and regional RO estimates were obtained by graphical analysis of changes in the total volumes of distribution of the radioligand, followed by a correction for occupancy by the high affinity radioligand. The PK/RO relationship was analysed by a population‐modelling approach, using the average PK of GSK239512 during each scan.

Key Results

Following administration of GSK239512, there was a reduction in the brain uptake of [11C]GSK189254 in all regions, including cerebellum. RO at 4 h was higher than at 24 h, and the PK/RO model estimated a PK associated with 50% of RO of 0.0068 ng·mL−1. This corresponds to a free concentration of 4.50 × 10−12 M (pK = 11.3).

Conclusions and Implications

The affinity of GSK239512 for brain H3 receptors in humans in vivo is much higher than that expected from studies in vitro, and higher than that observed in PET studies in pigs. The study illustrates the utility of carrying out PET studies in humans early in drug development, providing accurate quantification of GSK239512 RO in vivo as a function of time and dose.
Functional Morphemes and Early Language Acquisition
Authors: Shi Rushen
Published: November 2013

In this article, I discuss the acquisition of functional morphemes during the first years of life. Infants begin to process functional items at birth. They start encoding functional elements and their structural relations in phrases and sentences long before they can produce these items. Functional items also assist various language acquisition tasks. These findings demonstrate the initial acquisition of functional morphemes and early grammatical knowledge, challenging the view that no syntactic structures are represented before the end of the toddler years. The findings have important implications for theories of language acquisition and for the debate concerning nature versus nurture in development.
Social Integration and the Mental Health of Black Adolescents
Authors: Rose Theda , Joe Sean , Shields Joseph , Caldwell Cleopatra H.
Published: November 2013

The influence of family, school, and religious social contexts on the mental health of Black adolescents has been understudied. This study used Durkheim's social integration theory to examine these associations in a nationally representative sample of 1,170 Black adolescents, ages 13–17. Mental health was represented by positive and negative psychosocial well‐being indicators. Results showed that adolescents' integration into family and school were related to better mental health. In addition, commitment to religious involvement positively influenced mental health. Although the direct effect of religious involvement was inversely related to mental health, mediation analyses revealed a positive influence through religious commitment. Findings suggest a greater emphasis on all three social contexts when designing strategies to improve the mental health of Black adolescents.
Referential Labeling Can Facilitate Phonetic Learning in Infancy
Authors: Yeung H. Henny , Chen Lawrence M. , Werker Janet F.
Published: November 2013

All languages employ certain phonetic contrasts when distinguishing words. Infant speech perception is rapidly attuned to these contrasts before many words are learned, thus phonetic attunement is thought to proceed independently of lexical and referential knowledge. Here, evidence to the contrary is provided. Ninety‐eight 9‐month‐old English‐learning infants were trained to perceive a non‐native Cantonese tone contrast. Two object–tone audiovisual pairings were consistently presented, which highlighted the target contrast (Object A with Tone X; Object B with Tone Y). Tone discrimination was then assessed. Results showed improved tone discrimination if object–tone pairings were perceived as being referential word labels, although this effect was modulated by vocabulary size. Results suggest how lexical and referential knowledge could play a role in phonetic attunement.
Guillain–Barré syndrome and influenza A (H1N1) 2009 monovalent inactivated vaccines: The risks and benefits
Authors: Kuwabara Satoshi , Misawa Sonoko , Mori Masahiro
Published: November 2013

The influenza A (H1N1) 2009 vaccination program was the largest mass vaccination initiative in the USA, including 23 million people. A report published in The Lancet shows that the vaccination was associated with a very small increased risk of Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), and suggests that the benefits of influenza A (H1N1) vaccines outweighed the risks. Another recent large study has shown that none of the 550 people with a history of GBS had its recurrence after vaccination. At present, there is no evidence that modern vaccination is associated with recurrent GBS.
Revisiting the role of B cells in multiple sclerosis: Regulatory B cell function and defects in peripheral B cell tolerance
Authors: Ochi Hirofumi
Published: November 2013

The role of B cells in multiple sclerosis pathogenesis is being increasingly recognized. Although B cells certainly play a critical role in adaptive immunity through antibody secretion, what has received a lot of attention in multiple sclerosis is the antibody‐independent B cell functions.
Impact of plasma of argon cleaning treatment on implant abutments in patients with a history of periodontal disease and thin biotype: radiographic results at 24‐month follow‐up of a RCT
Authors: Canullo Luigi , Peñarrocha David , Clementini Marco , Iannello Giuliano , Micarelli Costanza
Published: November 2013

Background

A lack of evidence is present in literature regarding the clinical relevance of micropollution and bacterial contamination present on customized titanium abutments following laboratory stages and steaming cleaning procedures. To preserve abutments from such pollutants, plasma of argon cleaning of customized abutments was advocated.

Aim

The aim of this prospective, randomized, match‐paired, triple‐blinded, controlled, clinical trial is to longitudinally assess radiographical marginal bone‐level changes around implants restored according to the platform switching and “one‐abutment‐one‐time” concepts, using commercially available abutments, with and without plasma of argon cleaning treatment after customization.

Materials and methods

Thirty patients with thin gingival biotype, a history of periodontal disease, and in general good health received one implant in the anterior maxilla or premolar region. Patients were randomly assigned to control (abutment subjected only to usually adopted cleaning protocol by steam) and test group (abutment subjected to plasma of argon treatment). Periapical standardized digital radiographs were taken at the time of crown connection (T0), 6 (T1) and 24 months after the final restoration (T2). Average mesial–distal bone‐level changes mean values with standard deviations (SD) were calculated. The Mann–Whitney U‐test was selected to identify differences in bone‐level changes between test and control groups.

Results

An average interproximal bone loss of 0.16 mm (SD: 0.17) and 0.07 mm (SD: 0.34) was revealed in the control and test group at 6 months (T1), respectively, while after 24 months, groups showed a mean bone‐level changes of 0.38 mm (SD: 0.44) and 0.11 mm (SD: 0.14), respectively. Statistically significant differences among control and test groups were found at both time points. Intergroup comparison relived absence of statistically significant difference.

Conclusion

Plasma‐cleaning treatment of implant titanium abutments, together with platform switching and one‐abutment‐one‐time concepts, could be favorable in terms of hard‐tissue‐level changes, also in critical conditions such as in patients with a history of periodontal disease, presenting thin gingival biotype.
Automatic Extraction of Property Norm‐Like Data From Large Text Corpora
Authors: Kelly Colin , Devereux Barry , Korhonen Anna
Published: November 2013

Traditional methods for deriving property‐based representations of concepts from text have focused on either extracting only a subset of possible relation types, such as hyponymy/hypernymy (e.g., car is‐a vehicle) or meronymy/metonymy (e.g., car has wheels), or unspecified relations (e.g., car—petrol). We propose a system for the challenging task of automatic, large‐scale acquisition of unconstrained, human‐like property norms from large text corpora, and discuss the theoretical implications of such a system. We employ syntactic, semantic, and encyclopedic information to guide our extraction, yielding concept‐relation‐feature triples (e.g., car be fast, car require petrol, car cause pollution), which approximate property‐based conceptual representations. Our novel method extracts candidate triples from parsed corpora (Wikipedia and the British National Corpus) using syntactically and grammatically motivated rules, then reweights triples with a linear combination of their frequency and four statistical metrics. We assess our system output in three ways: lexical comparison with norms derived from human‐generated property norm data, direct evaluation by four human judges, and a semantic distance comparison with both WordNet similarity data and human‐judged concept similarity ratings. Our system offers a viable and performant method of plausible triple extraction: Our lexical comparison shows comparable performance to the current state‐of‐the‐art, while subsequent evaluations exhibit the human‐like character of our generated properties.
Which Types of Institutional Investors Constrain Abnormal Accruals?
Authors: Wang Mingzhu
Published: November 2013

Manuscript Type

Empirical

Research Question/Issue

This study analyses which type of institutional investors constrains accruals management using a sample ofUKlisted firms in the period of 1997–2010.

Research Findings/Results

Empirical results show that block‐holding levels, investment strategies, and investment durations influence institutional investors' role in constraining accruals management of the investee firms. Institutional investors with 10–20 percent ownership, adopting an active investment strategy, and having moderate investment duration significantly decrease the probability of income‐inflating abnormal accruals but increase the probability of income‐deflating abnormal accruals. In addition, these three aspects have a significant joint impact on accruals management. Even after considering the interaction among the three aspects of institutional investors, 10–20 percent block‐holding and moderate investment duration remain as significant driving forces on the constraint of accruals management by institutional investors. Further tests are conducted for sub‐sample periods of 2001–2005 and 2007–2009. Institutional investors with an active investment strategy and moderate investment duration are better motivated to constrain accruals management ofUKfirms during 2001–2005 when there were vigorous regulatory changes in corporate governance. Institutional investors with a passive investment strategy and short investment duration encouraged accruals management during the recent financial crisis (2007–2009).

Theoretic/Academic Implications

The findings of the paper provide some much needed clarity to the mixed evidence in the extant literature on the role of institutional investors in constraining accruals management. Block‐shareholding level, investment strategies, and the actual investment duration are valid dimensions to reflect their heterogeneous incentives in monitoring managerial discretions in accruals management. Institutional investors are a complex group of diverse types of financial institutions and would be more appropriately analyzed with multiple dimensions in future research on their monitoring of managerial discretion.

Practitioner/Policy Implications

This study underpins the concern ofUKpolicymakers over the short‐term investment orientation of institutional investment by showing that institutional investors with less than one year investment duration significantly encourage accruals manipulations. Policymakers may pay attention to the three aspects, as identified in the present paper, of institutional investors in terms of enhancing shareholder engagement with their investee firms.
Community Engagement Strategies in the Original and Renewal Applications for CTSA Grant Funding
Authors: Holzer Jessica , Kass Nancy
Published: November 2013

Purpose

The Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program has highlighted community engagement in research by requiring institutions to develop bidirectional relationships with communities to obtain funding. Little is known about how institutions have operationalized that requirement. This study aimed to describe the strategies proposed by the first institutions to receive CTSA funding and to undergo the CTSA renewal process.

Methods

The authors conducted a qualitative document analysis of the community engagement section of 12 original and 10 renewal grant applications of the 12 institutions awarded CTSA funding in 2006 and renewed in 2010.

Results

Institutions employed ‐ and research engagement strategies. Capacity‐building strategies included education, pilot grants, connecting potential partners, and community research centers. Research engagement strategies ranged from those that allowed for very little input from communities, such as announcements, to those that allowed for a high amount of input from communities, such as community‐researcher teams.

Conclusion

CTSA funding has supported capacity‐building for institutions and communities to partner. Engagement strategies employed by the institutions are largely known from prior community‐engaged research. Based on the grants from these institutions, the CTSA funding has largely enabled institutions to develop capacity to engage.
Adolescent mice, unlike adults, consume more alcohol in the presence of peers than alone
Authors: Logue Sheree , Chein Jason , Gould Thomas , Holliday Erica , Steinberg Laurence
Published: November 2013

One hallmark of adolescent risk‐taking is that it typically occurs when adolescents are with peers. It has been hypothesized that the presence of peers primes a reward‐sensitive motivational state that overwhelms adolescents' immature capacity for inhibitory control. We examined this hypothesis using a rodent model. A sample of mice were raised in same‐sex triads and were tested for alcohol consumption either as juveniles or as adults, with half in each age group tested alone and half tested with their cagemates. The presence of ‘peers’ increased alcohol consumption among adolescent mice, but not adults. The peer effect on human adolescent reward‐seeking may reflect a hard‐wired, evolutionarily conserved process through which the presence of agemates increases individuals' sensitivity to potential rewards in their immediate environment.
Pity or peanuts? Oxytocin induces different neural responses to the same infant crying labeled as sick or bored
Authors: Riem Madelon M.E. , Voorthuis Alexandra , Bakermans‐Kranenburg Marian J. , van Ijzendoorn Marinus H.
Published: November 2013

The neuropeptide oxytocin plays an important role in mother–infant bonding. However, recent studies indicate that the effects of oxytocin on prosociality are dependent on perceived social context. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we examined differential effects of intranasally administered oxytocin on neural responding to 500 and 700 Hz crying that was indicated as emanating from a sick infant and 500 and 700 Hz crying emanating from a bored infant. We found that oxytocin significantly increased insula and inferior frontal gyrus responding to sick infant crying, but decreased activation in these brain regions during exposure to crying of an infant that was labeled as bored. In addition, oxytocin decreased amygdala responding to 500 Hz crying, but increased amygdala responding to 700 Hz crying. These findings indicate that labeling the same infant crying as ‘sick’ or as ‘bored’ drastically changes neural activity in response to intranasal oxytocin administration. Oxytocin increases empathic reactions to sick infants' crying, but lowers the perceived urgency of crying of an infant perceived as bored, thus flexibly adapting adult responses to infant crying labeled in various ways.
Transcriptional regulation in the early ectodermal lineage of ascidian embryos
Authors: Horikawa Yosuke , Matsumoto Haruka , Yamaguchi Fumika , Ishida Satomi , Fujiwara Shigeki
Published: November 2013

In ascidian embryos, ectodermal tissues derive from blastomeres in the animal hemisphere. The animal hemisphere‐specific gene expression is observed as early as the 16‐cell stage. Here, we characterized animal hemisphere‐specific enhancers of three genes, Ci‐ephrin‐Ad, Ci‐TGFβ‐NA1 and Ci‐Fz4. Deletion analyses identified minimal essential elements. Although these elements contained multiple GATA sequences, electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that only some of them were strong binding sites for the transcription factor Ci‐GATAa. On the other hand, the motif‐searching software MEME identified an octamer, GA (T/G) AAGGG, shared by these enhancers. In Ci‐ephrin‐Ad and Ci‐TGFβ‐NA1, the octamer was GATAAGGG, which strongly bound Ci‐GATAa. The 397‐bp upstream region of Ci‐ephrin‐Ad contained two strong Ci‐GATAa‐binding sites, one of which was the octamer motif. Mutation in the octamer motif, but not the other Ci‐GATAa‐binding site, severely affected the enhancer activity. The 204‐bp upstream region of Ci‐TGFβ‐NA1 contained four strong Ci‐GATAa‐binding sites, including the octamer motif. Mutation only in the octamer motif, leaving the other three Ci‐GATAa‐binding sites intact, abolished the enhancer activity. These results suggest a crucial role for the octamer motif.
Endogenous Market Structures and Innovation by Leaders: An Empirical Test
Authors: Czarnitzki Dirk , Etro Federico , Kraft Kornelius
Published: November 2013

Models of competition for the market with endogenous market structures show that, contrary to the Arrow view, an endogenous entry threat induces the average firm to invest less in R&D and the incumbent leader to invest more. We test these predictions using a unique dataset for the German manufacturing sector (the Mannheim Innovation Panel). In line with our predictions, endogenous entry threats as perceived by the firms (in survey data) reduce R&D intensity for an average firm, but they increase it for an incumbent leader. These results hold after a number of robustness tests with instrumental variable regressions.
Spontaneous Bacterial Coronary Sinus Septic Thrombophlebitis Treated Successfully Medically
Authors: Fournet Maxime , Behaghel Albin , Pavy Carine , Flecher Erwan , Thebault Christophe
Published: November 2013

Mini‐Abstract

A 38‐year‐old farmer was hospitalized for fever, chills, cough, and chest pain lasting for 7 days. Due to persistent symptoms, patient was referred to hospital. Blood cultures identified oxacillin‐sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (OSSA). Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed large pericardial effusion, a mobile heterogeneous mass originating from the coronary sinus ostium, no sign of valvular endocarditis. Pericardiocentesis was done carrying out purulent fluid, microbiological culture isolating an OSSA. Parenteral penicillin M was administered for 6 weeks. At the end of this antibiotherapy regimen, TTE showed no coronary sinus mass with complete vacuity of the coronary sinus vein and no pericardial effusion.
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework: what's academic practice got to do with it?
Authors: Fernie Scott , Pilcher Nick , Smith Karen L.
Published: November 2013

National Qualifications Frameworks (NQF) are a globally established and expanding phenomenon. They are increasingly merging and being mapped onto meta‐qualifications frameworks. One key NQF in both these roles is the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF). Much research categorises the different types of NQF, details their success and failure, and there is a steadily expanding body of critical research into NQF. Despite this, little research has focused on how NQF are used in day to day academic practice in the very institutions whose qualifications they frame. This article begins to redress this by focusing on the SCQF as an exemplar. It presents a synthesis between contemporary literature, a documentary analysis of SCQF literature and the data from interviews with 15 stakeholders in different educational roles. The findings show that, despite the claims of the SCQF literature and contemporary literature regarding the success of the SCQF, its diffusion and the extent of its use amongst these stakeholders are limited. Instead, it is used more as a symbolic tick box exercise and largely ignored. We discuss the implications of this and posit questions that challenge the focus of existing research into NQF and argue for a shift in the criteria by which they are judged from educational to market based ones.
University Rankings and Social Science
Authors: Marginson Simon
Published: November 2013

University rankings widely affect the behaviours of prospective students and their families, university executive leaders, academic faculty, governments and investors in higher education. Yet the social science foundations of global rankings receive little scrutiny. Rankings that simply recycle reputation without any necessary connection to real outputs are of no common value. It is necessary that rankings be soundly based in scientific terms if a virtuous relationship between performance and ranking is to be established, the worst potentials of rankings are to be constrained, and rankings are optimised as a source of comparative information. This article evaluates six ranking systems, Shanghai ARWU, Leiden University, QS, Scopus, Times Higher Education and U‐Multirank, according to six social science criteria and two behavioural criteria. The social science criteria are materiality (rankings must be grounded in the observable higher education world), objectivity (opinion surveys should not be used), externality (ranked universities should not be a source of data about themselves), comprehensiveness (rankings should cover the broadest possible range of functions), particularity (ranking systems should eschew multi‐indicators with weights, or proxy measures) and ordinal proportionality (vertical distinctions between universities should not be exaggerated). The behavioural criteria are the alignment of the ranking with tendencies to improved performance of all institutions and countries, and transparency, meaning accessibility to strategy making designed to maximize institutional position. The pure research rankings rate well overall but lack comprehensiveness. U‐Multirank is also strong under most criteria but stymied by its 100 per cent reliance on subjective data collected via survey.
Timing of early and late seizure recurrence after temporal lobe epilepsy surgery
Authors: Goellner Eduardo , Bianchin Marino M. , Burneo Jorge G. , Parrent Andrew G. , Steven David A.
Published: November 2013

Purpose

Seizure recurrence after epilepsy surgery has been classified as either early or late depending on the recurrence time after operation. However, time of recurrence is variable and has been arbitrarily defined in the literature. We established a mathematical model for discriminating patients with early or late seizure recurrence, and examined differences between these two groups.

Methods

A historical cohort of 247 consecutive patients treated surgically for temporal lobe epilepsy was identified. In patients who recurred, postoperative time until seizure recurrence was examined using an receiver‐operating characteristic (ROC) curve to determine the best cutoff for predicting long‐term prognosis, dividing patients in those with early and those with late seizure recurrence. We then compared the groups in terms of a number of clinical, electrophysiologic, and radiologic variables.

Key Findings

Seizures recurred in 107 patients (48.9%). The ROC curve demonstrated that 6 months was the ideal time for predicting long‐term surgical outcome with best accuracy, (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.761; sensitivity = 78.8%; specificity = 72.1%). We observed that patients with seizure recurrence during the first 6 months started having seizures at younger age (odds ratio [OR] = 6.03; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06–11.01; p = 0.018), had a worse outcome (OR = 6.85; 95% CI = 2.54–18.52; p = 0.001), needed a higher number of antiepileptic medications (OR = 2.07; 95% CI = 1.16–9.34; p = 0.013), and more frequently had repeat surgery (OR = 9.59; 95% CI = 1.18–77.88; p = 0.021). Patients with late relapse more frequently had seizures associated with trigger events (OR = 9.61; 95% CI = 3.52–26.31; p < 0.01).

Significance

Patients with early or late recurrence of seizures have different characteristics that might reflect diversity in the epileptogenic zone and epileptogenicity itself. These disparities might help explain variable patterns of seizure recurrence after epilepsy surgery.
Controls on water balance of shallow thermokarst lakes and their relations with catchment characteristics: a multi‐year, landscape‐scale assessment based on water isotope tracers and remote sensing in Old Crow Flats, Yukon (Canada)
Authors: Turner Kevin W. , Wolfe Brent B. , Edwards Thomas W. D. , Lantz Trevor C. , Hall Roland I. , Larocque Guillaume
Published: November 2013

Many northern lake‐rich regions are undergoing pronounced hydrological change, yet inadequate knowledge of the drivers of these landscape‐scale responses hampers our ability to predict future conditions. We address this challenge in the thermokarst landscape of Old Crow Flats (OCF) using a combination of remote sensing imagery and monitoring of stable isotope compositions of lake waters over three thaw seasons (2007–2009). Quantitative analysis confirmed that the hydrological behavior of lakes is strongly influenced by catchment vegetation and physiography. Catchments of snowmelt‐dominated lakes, typically located in southern peripheral areas of OCF, encompass high proportions of woodland/forest and tall shrub vegetation (mean percent land cover = ca. 60%). These land cover types effectively capture snow and generate abundant snowmelt runoff that offsets lake water evaporation. Rainfall‐dominated lakes that are not strongly influenced by evaporation are typically located in eastern and northern OCF where their catchments have higher proportions of dwarf shrub/herbaceous and sparse vegetation (ca. 45%), as well as surface water (ca. 20%). Evaporation‐dominated lakes, are located in the OCF interior where their catchments are distinguished by substantially higher lake area to catchment area ratios (LA/CA = ca. 29%) compared to low evaporation‐influenced rainfall‐dominated (ca. 10%) and snowmelt‐dominated (ca. 4%) lakes. Lakes whose catchments contain >75% combined dwarf shrub/herbaceous vegetation and surface water are most susceptible to evaporative lake‐level drawdown, especially following periods of low precipitation. Findings indicate that multiple hydrological trajectories are probable in response to climate‐driven changes in precipitation amount and seasonality, vegetation composition, and thermokarst processes. These will likely include a shift to greater snowmelt influence in catchments experiencing expansion of tall shrubs, greater influence from evaporation in catchments having higher proportions of surface water, and an increase in the rate of thermokarst lake expansion and probability of drainage. Local observations suggest that some of these changes are already underway.
The association of CXCR4 expression with prognosis and clinicopathological indicators in colorectal carcinoma patients: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Lv Shunzeng , Yang Yakun , Kwon Sera , Han Mingzhi , Zhao Fangfang , Kang Huihui , Dai Congxin , Wang Renzhi
Published: November 2013

Aims

The clinical relevance of expression of chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) remains controversial; our aim was to identify the precise relationship of CXCR4 to prognosis and clinicopathological features.

Methods and results

A meta‐analysis was performed. Original data included the hazard ratios (HRs) of recurrence‐free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS) and odds ratio (OR) in CRC patients. We pooled HR/OR with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to estimate the hazard. A total of 20 published studies (including 2253 patients) were eligible. RFS and OS were related significantly to CXCR4 expression, with HRs 1.62 (95% CI 1.24–2.11; P < 0.0001) and 1.68 (95% CI 1.31–2.14; P < 0.0001), respectively. In addition, a significant association was revealed between positive CXCR4 expression and age (less than median age: OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.62–0.98; P = 0.03), stage (I and II: OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.32–0.66; P < 0.0001), grade (well/moderately differentiated: OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.56–0.98; P = 0.04), location (colon: OR: 0.73, 95% CI 0.57–0.95; P = 0.02), lymph node invasion (present: OR2.14, 95% CI 1.36–3.37; P = 0.001),and distant metastasis (present: OR 2.40; 95% CI 1.36–4.23; P = 0.003). Heterogeneity was observed among the included studies with regard to stage (I2 = 58 %), lymph node invasiveness (I2 = 74%) and distant metastasis (I2 = 56%). No publication bias was observed.

Conclusions

Chemokine receptor 4 expression indicates poorer prognosis in older patients and advanced stage or poor differentiation in CRC, and also serves as an indicator of lymph node and distal organ metastasis. Surprisingly, high CXCR4 expression may indicate that the location of the tumour is the rectum. Thus, CXCR4 could help to predict outcome and guide clinical therapy.
Researching multilingually: New theoretical and methodological directions
Authors: Holmes Prue , Fay Richard , Andrews Jane , Attia Mariam
Published: November 2013

This paper reports findings from an AHRC‐funded project into the use of more than one language in research projects. Using 35 seminar presentations and 25 researcher profiles, we investigated how researchers from differing disciplines became aware of the possibilities, complexities, and emerging practices of researching where more than one language is used: for example, in initial research design, literature reviews, consent procedures, data generation and analysis, and reporting. Our analysis also revealed some of the challenges that researchers face regarding institutional policies, language choices, interpretation and translation practices, and the language politics of representation and dissemination. Based on this analysis, we argue that researchers need to account for the research spaces and the relationships these spaces engender, and recognise developing researcher awareness when researching multilingually.
Reflections on translating qualitative research data: Experiences from Pakistan
Authors: Bashiruddin Ayesha
Published: November 2013

This paper grows out of my reflections on conducting narrative inquiry for over a decade in the context of Pakistan. It addresses the question: What have I lost in translation? The question is complex and multidimensional since it includes translation of various kinds: that is translation (i) from one language to another; (ii) of representation of data and (iii) of situating narratives in a social context. The analysis of my reflection demonstrates three important lessons for a qualitative researcher who is involved in researching multilingually: converting data from one language to another requires accuracy and proficiency in both the languages; meaning making and representing involves negotiation with the participants; and situating the stories in social context requires knowledge of the context.
Linguistic incompetence: Giving an account of researching multilingually
Authors: Phipps Alison
Published: November 2013

This paper considers the place of linguistic competence and incompetence in the context of researching multilingually. It offers a critique of the concept of competence and explores the performative dimensions of multilingual research and its narration, through the philosophy of Judith Butler, and in particular her study Giving an account of oneself. It explores aspects of risk, justice, narrative limit and a morality of multilingualism in emergent multilingual research frameworks. These theoretical dimensions are explored through consideration of ‘linguistically incompetent’ ethnographic work with refugees and asylum seekers, in contexts of hospitality and in life long learning research in the Gaza Strip, and of early attempts to learn new languages. The paper offers a prospect of a relational approach to researching multilingually and affirms the vulnerability at the heart of linguistic hospitality.
Habitat preferences of some red‐listed alpine plants in Scandinavia
Authors: Odland Arvid
Published: November 2013

Scandinavian alpine vascular plants are red‐listed (R‐L) according to criteria defined by IUCN. These are based on an evaluation of their risk for extinction in the future, which for most alpine plants have been related to possible effects of climate change. In the present study, ecological characteristics of R‐L alpine plants are inferred from their occurrence in previously studied alpine plant communities. In total, data on 231 communities were compiled from studies in Norway and Sweden, and a total of 39 red‐listed vascular plants were found in 142 of them. The data were analysed by numerical analyses in order to assess if and how communities with and without R‐L species differ in terms of floristic composition and environmental conditions. The analysies show that most of the R‐L plants are situated at the ends of the main floristic gradients extracted by Detrended Correspondense Analysis (DCA). These extremes are interpreted to represent high‐altitudinal communities with long‐lasting snow cover. In productive communities dominated with herbs and ferns, R‐L plants are few or missing. A Principal Components Analysis (PCA) indicated that the R‐L species form a heterogeneous group both in terms of ecology, abundance, and geographic distribution. Some of the communities were considered to be especially valuable because they included several (up to eight) R‐L plants. Such communities are found in the upper part of the middle alpine or high alpine zone (460–675 m above the forest limit) and on calcareous substrate. It may generally be assumed that alpine plants with optima at the edges of the floristic gradients may be especially vulnerable to climate changes.
Outcome of microdissection TESE compared with conventional TESE in non‐obstructive azoospermia: a systematic review
Authors: Deruyver Y. , Vanderschueren D. , Van der Aa F.
Published: November 2013

Retrieval of spermatozoa is unfortunately still only successful in a subset of patients suffering from non‐obstructive azoospermia (NOA) by conventional testicular sperm extraction (TESE). Microdissection TESE may have some theoretical benefits over conventional TESE, but uncertainty exists about its superiority. The objective of this systematic review was therefore to compare the efficacy and safety of microTESE with conventional TESE in men with NOA. The systematic review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis statement. Literature was searched for studies comparing outcome of conventional TESE with microdissection TESE. Primary outcome was sperm retrieval rate (SRR). Secondary outcomes were clinical predictors of sperm retrieval as well as complication rate. Of 62 articles, a total of seven studies were included in the final analysis. Overall SRR was significantly higher in the microTESE group in comparison with conventional TESE in five of these studies. Overall sperm retrieval ranged from 16.7 to 45% in the conventional TESE vs. 42.9 to 63% in the microTESE group. A sub‐analysis of the SRR according to testicular histology was available in four of the selected articles. MicroTESE in men with Sertoli cell only syndrome and hypospermatogenesis carried a small but significant more favourable outcome according to, respectively, two and one of the studies. Correlation of serum follicle stimulating hormone and testicular volume with positive outcome was variable. Fewer complications were observed on ultrasound examination after microTESE procedure. Clinical randomized studies comparing microTESE with conventional TESE in NOA are still lacking to date. Pseudo‐randomized prospective data, however, show more favourable sperm retrieval in NOA for microTESE, especially in histological patterns of patchy spermatogenesis such as Sertoli cell only syndrome. However, in patients with uniform histological patterns such as maturation arrest outcome of microTESE seems less favourable.
Vertical Scanning Interferometry: A New Method to Measure the Dissolution Dynamics of Cementitious Minerals
Authors: Kumar Aditya , Reed Jason , Sant Gaurav
Published: November 2013

The aqueous dissolution rate is a key indicator of a portland cement's reactivity, and is relevant in predicting the progress of reactions and property development in cementitious materials. Though a valuable material property, the dissolution rates of the individual cement phases and their mixtures have been seldom determined. This work for the very first time applies vertical scanning interferometry (VSI) as a new method, aptly suited to measure dissolution dynamics of cement relevant minerals. Special emphasis is placed on measuring the first dissolution rate (DRF), i.e., when water initially and for a short duration (i.e., on the order of tens of seconds) contacts the mineral surface.DRF, mol·m−2·s−1) are measured for a variety of fast and slower dissolving minerals including (1a) natural limestone (CaCO3), (1b) reagent‐grade gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O); (2) alite (impure,MIII‐Ca3SiO5); and (3) anASTMC150, Type I/II ordinary portland cement across a range of solutionpHs. Detailed aspects of image acquisition, processing and interpretation are presented to emphasize the methodological and statistical treatment of the results. The outcomes develop quantifications of aqueous dissolution rates—inputs valuable in simulating cement hydration, and forward a new means to study correlations between chemical composition, crystallography, and the reactivity of cementitious materials.
Family caregiver challenges in dementia care in a country with undeveloped dementia services
Authors: Wang Jing , Xiao Lily Dongxia , He Guo‐Ping , De Bellis Anita
Published: November 2013

Aims

To examine socially, culturally and politically constructed factors affecting family caregiver practice in dementia care, and to identify possible changes in a country with undeveloped dementia services.

Background

In China and many other low‐ and middle‐income countries, social transformations are weakening the family care model, which has an impact on the population with dementia. Exploring the challenges that caregivers face may help the international healthcare community to improve dementia services.

Design

A double hermeneutic approach informed by Giddens' Structuration Theory was used.

Methods

In‐depth semi‐structured interviews with 23 family caregivers of people with dementia were conducted in 2012. The interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and analysed.

Findings

Analyses revealed three consequences of socially constructed factors in dementia care, which constrained caregiver practice. First, caregivers were unable to manage behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia. Untreated aggressive behaviours caused harm to the person with dementia and endangered the caregiver and the public. Second, the burden on the primary caregiver was evident and caregivers received limited support. Third, there was little coordination between primary and specialist care services for people with dementia. On critical reflection of potential changes that could improve dementia services, caregivers suggested that community nurses have a leading role in coordinating dementia services and supporting caregivers.

Conclusion

Relying on family caregivers to care for people with dementia without the prevision of dementia services by the public healthcare system generates negative health outcomes for both care recipients and caregivers. The nursing workforce should be developed to support dementia services.
Mediterranean origin and Miocene–Holocene Old World diversification of meadow fescues and ryegrasses (Festuca subgenus Schedonorus and Lolium)
Authors: Inda Luis A. , Sanmartín Isabel , Buerki Sven , Catalán Pilar
Published: November 2013

Aim

The biogeography of the grass genera Festuca (subgenus Schedonorus) and Lolium, which form one of the world main forage groups, is here reconstructed for the first time using nuclear and plastid DNA data. We aimed to test previous hypotheses on the origin of the group ancestor and on the Holocene versus pre‐Holocene dispersals of the most recent fodder grasses.

Location

The Mediterranean Basin and neighbouring regions: North Africa, Southwest Asia, East and West Africa, and Eurasia.

Methods

Sampling included nearly all representatives from the native Old World distribution of this group. We used maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships. Divergence times were estimated with a Bayesian relaxed clock and secondary calibrations derived from a fossil‐dated phylogeny of grasses. Biogeographical scenarios were reconstructed with Bayesian‐averaged dispersal–vicariance analysis (Bayes‐DIVA) and dispersal–extinction–cladogenesis (DEC), using a stratified palaeogeographical model spanning the last 12 million years.

Results

Meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) originated in Eurosiberia, Southwest Asia, 2 million years ago (Ma), whereas ryegrasses (Lolium) first diversified in the eastern Mediterranean region around 4.1 Ma, splitting into two autogamous versus allogamous lineages, with Macaronesian Lolium embedded within the latter. An alternative scenario suggests, however, an early split of the Macaronesian ryegrasses. Our results support the hybrid origin of the tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea).

Main conclusions

The ancestor of the fescues and ryegrasses originated in the western Mediterranean in the mid‐Miocene. The sister relationship of the tropical African Festuca simensis to Lolium is a novel finding, suggesting a dispersal of the ancestor of the ryegrasses from Asia to East Africa in the early Pliocene. Our reconstruction rejects the hypothesis of a single Neolithic human‐mediated dispersal of Lolium species from eastern to western Mediterranean areas, suggesting instead a pre‐agricultural distribution of Lolium ancestors along the Mediterranean Basin since the Pliocene.
Differences in bacterial saliva profile between periodontitis patients and a control cohort
Authors: Belstrøm Daniel , Fiehn Nils‐Erik , Nielsen Claus H. , Kirkby Nikolai , Twetman Svante , Klepac‐Ceraj Vanja , Paster Bruce J. , Holmstrup Palle
Published: November 2013

Aim

Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease in which subgingival bacteria play an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease. The objective of this study was to determine if periodontitis is associated with a characteristic salivary bacterial profile. This was accomplished by comparing the bacterial profile of saliva from subjects with chronic periodontitis with that of saliva from a control cohort.

Materials and methods

Stimulated saliva samples from 139 chronic periodontitis patients and 447 samples from a control cohort were analysed using the Human Oral Microbe Identification Microarray (HOMIM). Frequency and levels (mean HOMIM‐value) of around 300 bacterial taxa/clusters in samples were used as parameters for investigation. Differences at taxon/cluster values between groups were analysed using Mann–Whitney U‐test with Benjamini–Hochberg correction for multiple comparisons. Principal component analysis was used to visualize bacterial community profiles obtained by the HOMIM.

Results

Eight bacterial taxa, including putative periodontal pathogens as Parvimonas micra and Filifactor alocis, and four bacterial clusters were identified statistically more frequently and at higher levels in samples from periodontitis patients than in samples from the control cohort. These differences were independent of the individuals' smoking status.

Conclusions

Periodontitis is associated with a characteristic bacterial profile of saliva different from that of a control cohort.