bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Co‐treatment with the non‐steroidal anti‐androgen drug, flutamide and the natural estrogen, 17β‐estradiol does not lead to additive reproductive impairment in juvenile Murray rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis)
Authors: Bhatia Harpreet , Kumar Anupama , Du Jun , Chapman John C. , McLaughlin Mike J.
Published: April 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate if the anti‐androgen, flutamide, and the estrogen, 17β‐estradiol work together to feminize juvenile Murray rainbowfish (Melanotaenia fluviatilis). Fish (60 days post‐hatch) were exposed to 25 ng/L 17β‐estradiol (E2), 25 µg/L flutamide (Flu low), 250 µg/L flutamide (Flu high), E2 + Flu low and E2 + Flu high. After 35 days of exposure, concentrations of sex steroid hormones, 17β‐estradiol and 11‐keto testosterone (11‐KT), were determined in the head; and vitellogenin (VTG) concentration was measured in the tail. The abdomens were used for histological investigation of the gonads. Treatment with E2 + Flu high resulted in reduction in body weights and lengths in males and condition factor in females. Intersex was noted in Flu high and E2 + Flu high treatments. Exposures to E2 and/or Flu (low and high) resulted in precocious oocyte development but inhibited sperm development. The 17β‐estradiol levels decreased significantly in the heads of both sexes after exposures to E2 and/or Flu (high and low). Flu high and E2 alone increased the 11‐KT levels in both sexes. However, E2 + Flu low decreased 11‐KT levels in males and increased them in females. Flutamide (low and high) induced VTG protein in the tails of both sexes. In males, VTG was not induced in the tail after exposure to E2. No significant effect of flutamide on E2‐induced VTG concentration was noted. We conclude that co‐treatment with flutamide and 17β‐estradiol does not lead to additive reproductive impairment in juvenile Murray rainbowfish. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability of pradigastat, a novel diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 inhibitor in overweight or obese, but otherwise healthy human subjects
Authors: Meyers Charles D. , Amer Ahmed , Majumdar Tapan , Chen Jin
Published: April 2015

Pradigastat is a potent and selective inhibitor of diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1, an enzyme highly expressed in the small intestine that plays a key role in postprandial triglyceride synthesis. This first‐in‐human study evaluated the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and tolerability of pradigastat administered at single and multiple doses in overweight or obese healthy subjects. In single‐dose cohorts (n = 72), subjects were randomized sequentially to receive single doses of pradigastat (1, 3, 10, 30, 100, or 300 mg) or placebo under fasted condition and prior to breakfast. In multiple‐dose cohorts (n = 106), subjects were randomized to receive pradigastat (1, 5, 10, or 25 mg) or placebo prior to breakfast for 14 days. Following a single oral dosing, pradigastat was absorbed slowly, with a median tmax of ∼10 hours and eliminated slowly with a long half‐life. With multiple oral doses, a 10‐ to17‐fold higher systemic exposure was observed. Pradigastat treatment (single and multiple doses) led to dose‐dependent suppression of postprandial triglyceride excursions over 9 hours following a high‐fat meal test. In addition, pradigastat suppressed postprandial glucose and insulin and increased plasma glucagon‐like peptide‐1 levels. Overall, pradigastat was safe and tolerated at single and multiple doses in healthy subjects.
Effect of ceralifimod (ONO‐4641) on lymphocytes and cardiac function: Randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial with an open‐label fingolimod arm
Authors: Krösser Sonja , Wolna Peter , Fischer Tanya Z. , Boschert Ursula , Stoltz Randall , Zhou Meijian , Darpo Borje
Published: April 2015

This randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, 6‐arm, parallel‐design study investigated cardiac and hematological pharmacodynamic effects of ceralifimod (ONO‐4641), a selective sphingosine‐1‐phosphate (S1P) receptor modulator, over a broad dose range in direct comparison with the nonselective S1P modulator fingolimod. Healthy subjects were assigned to ceralifimod (0.01, 0.025, 0.05, or 0.10 mg), fingolimod (0.5 mg), or placebo once daily for 14 days (n = 24 per group). After 14 days of treatment, mean absolute lymphocyte count percentage change from baseline was greatest in the fingolimod (‐62%) and ceralifimod 0.10 mg (‐56%) groups. On treatment cessation, lymphocyte recovery was faster in the ceralifimod versus the fingolimod group. Ceralifimod showed dose‐ and concentration‐dependent chronotropic effect. Cardiac effects in the fingolimod group were dependent on fingolimod‐P concentrations. Maximum mean heart rate (HR) effect on day 1 was larger with fingolimod (placebo‐adjusted change from time‐matched baseline HR [ΔΔHR], −14.9 beats per minute [bpm]) versus ceralifimod (ΔΔHR, −6.2 and −12.0 bpm for the 0.05‐ and 0.10‐mg doses, respectively). Ceralifimod's effect on the PR interval was minor. Safety biomarker results suggest that potential therapeutic doses of ceralifimod, in particular the 0.05‐mg dose, might result in reduced occurrence of bradycardia, atrioventricular block absolute lymphocyte count and grade 3/4 lymphopenia compared with fingolimod 0.5 mg.
Synthesis and Biological Activity of Novel Ethyl Esters of 4‐R‐6,8‐Dimethyl‐1‐oxo‐1,2‐dyhidropyrrolo[1,2‐d][1,2,4]triazine‐7‐carboxylic Acids
Authors: Astakhina Valeriia , Voievudskyi Maxim , Kharchenko Olexander , Novikov Vladimir , Komarovska‐Porohnyavets Elena , Petukhova Olena
Published: April 2015

The novel heterocyclizations of ethyl 5‐(hydrazinocarbonyl)‐2,4‐dimethyl‐1H‐pyrrole‐3‐carboxylate are developed. New derivatives of ethyl esters of 4‐R‐6,8‐dimethyl‐1‐oxo‐1,2‐dyhidropyrrolo[1,2‐d][1,2,4]triazine‐7‐carboxylic acids were obtained. The in vitro anticancer and antibacterial activities of the synthesized compounds were revealed. The most potent antibacterial compound appeared to be 1.3 inhibiting Staphylococcus aureus. Pyrrolo[1,2‐d][1,2,4]triazine 2.15 showed significant antifungal activity against Candida tenuis. The anticancer activity of the synthesized compounds was determined.
Regional cancer centre demonstrates voluntary conformity with the national Radiation Oncology Practice Standards
Authors: Manley Stephen , Last Andrew , Fu Kenneth , Greenham Stuart , Kovendy Andrew , Shakespeare Thomas P.
Published: April 2015

Radiation Oncology Practice Standards have been developed over the last 10 years and were published for use in Australia in 2011. Although the majority of the radiation oncology community supports the implementation of the standards, there has been no mechanism for uniform assessment or governance. North Coast Cancer Institute's public radiation oncology service is provided across three main service centres on the north coast of NSW. With a strong focus on quality management, we embraced the opportunity to demonstrate conformity with the Radiation Oncology Practice Standards. The Local Health District's Clinical Governance units were engaged to perform assessments of our conformity with the standards and this was signed off as complete on 16 December 2013. The process of demonstrating conformity with the Radiation Oncology Practice Standards has enhanced the culture of quality in our centres. We have demonstrated that self‐assessment utilising trained auditors is a viable method for centres to demonstrate conformity. National implementation of the Radiation Oncology Practice Standards will benefit individual centres and the broader radiation oncology community to improve the service delivered to our patients.
Observed trends in the timing of wet and dry season in China and the associated changes in frequency and duration of daily precipitation
Authors: Ma Shuangmei , Zhou Tianjun
Published: April 2015

An understanding of the changes in precipitation timing, wet days (WD) and duration of extreme wet (dry) spells (WS/DS) is of great significant merit in the management of water resources and agricultural activities. In this study, the spatial features of trends in these precipitation characteristics over China during 1960–2013 were investigated. The timing of wet‐/dry‐season exhibited significant shift across the whole China. The timings of wet season showed significant delaying trends over the middle and lower Yangtze River basins and earlier onset trends over northern China, with the rate up to 1 month per 50‐years, which is partly due to the changes in East Asian summer monsoon circulation. Meanwhile, the timings of dry season over the middle and lower Yangtze River basins exhibited prominent earlier trends, combined with the delayed trends of wet season occurrence, resulted in a reduced transition period from wet season to dry season. Accompanying the pronounced shift of the occurrence time of wet‐/dry‐seasons, WD and duration of extreme WS/DS in wet‐/dry‐seasons also showed significant change. Predominantly negative trends of wet‐season WD largely contributed to the deceasing annual WD in the regions east of 100°E. The shortening of extreme dry‐season DS was evident over Northeast China and lower Yangtze River; while the decrease of extreme wet‐season WS was observed over the southern China, and these changes may help to reduce the corresponding risk of drought and flood, respectively. Southwest China showed robust less WD and prolonging DS on both annual and seasonal basis, and thus may enhance the risk of drought in this region.
Impact of revised cloud microphysical scheme in CFSv2 on the simulation of the Indian summer monsoon
Authors: Hazra Anupam , Chaudhari H. S. , Rao S. A. , Goswami B. N. , Dhakate A. , Pokhrel S. , Saha S. K.
Published: April 2015

Role of the cloud parameterization scheme and critical relative humidity (RHcrit) for large‐scale precipitation is examined for simulating Indian summer monsoon (ISM) by the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) climate forecast system version 2 (CFSv2). The major biases of the model simulations namely dry bias over the major continents, cold tropospheric temperature (TT) bias and cold sea surface temperature (SST) bias are related to biases in distribution of clouds. This study evaluates the role of variable RHcrit to get better simulation of high level clouds and reduce TT bias and cloud microphysical parameterization to improve the meridional gradient of TT towards achieving better simulation of south Asian monsoon precipitation. Sensitivity experiments of CFSv2 with the modified RHcrit and cloud microphysical scheme compared to the control simulation show that while the RHcrit leads to some development of the cloud distribution and contributes to some progress of the dry bias over India, the cloud microphysics changes lead to a significant improvement of the cloud simulations. Particularly, revised cloud microphysics scheme coupled with modified RHcrit results in a much improved global distribution of cloud fraction with zonal mean cloud fraction being close to observation. This leads to significant improvement in the meridional gradient of TT leading to rainfall over south Asian monsoon region. The dry bias is not only reduced over the Indian subcontinent but also over other regions of global tropics such as the central Africa and the northern South America. The annual cycle of all India rainfall is in good agreement with observation not only in amount but also in the onset and withdrawal phases. Thus, modifications in the cloud microphysical parameterization scheme in CFSv2 have played a vital role in simulation of the ISM in particular. The sensitivity experiments demonstrate the betterment of the mean monsoon and may lead to help improve monsoon forecasts.
Soil redistribution in abandoned raised fields in French Guiana assessed by radionuclides
Authors: Pfahler Verena , Glaser Bruno , McKey Doyle , Klemt Eckehard
Published: April 2015

Pre‐Columbian agricultural raised fields are widespread in Neotropical wetlands. Many seasonally flooded coastal savannahs of French Guiana are dotted with thousands of small, round mounds, which current research indicates are vestiges of raised fields. It is surprising that these elevated structures persist under the erosive force of heavy tropical rainfall. One hypothesis for this stability is that “engineer” organisms such as plants, earthworms, termites and ants colonize abandoned raised fields and maintain the raised structures against erosion. This “erosion/deposition balance” hypothesis assumes that the landscape is subject to non‐negligible rates of erosion, but that actions of engineer organisms reduce the erodibility of mounds, compensate for erosion by transporting materials to mounds, or both. The hypothesis also predicts greater bioturbation on mounds than in other parts of the landscape. To test these assumptions and predictions, we estimated soil erosion and bioturbation rates in abandoned raised fields in a seasonally flooded savannah in French Guiana by using two radionuclides (137Cs and unsupported 210Pb) as tracers for soil redistribution. Analysis of the vertical and horizontal distribution of radionuclides at the study site showed that soil erosion in the mounds either occurs at a rather low rate or that organisms counteract erosion, or both. We also showed that mounds were heavily influenced by bioturbation. These results validate the fundamental assumptions of the erosion/deposition balance hypothesis.
Soil pH is a good predictor of the dominating N2O production processes under aerobic conditions
Authors: Cheng Yi , Zhang Jin‐Bo , Wang Jing , Cai Zu‐Cong , Wang Shen‐Qiang
Published: April 2015

It is commonly believed that nitrification is the dominant process for N2O production under aerobic conditions. However, this has been challenged by recent studies on acidic soils, where denitrification has been found to dominate N2O production. Analyzing the data collected from peer‐reviewed literature, we found that pH was a critical factor regulating N2O production pathways under aerobic conditions. There is a pH threshold of approx. 4.4, below which denitrification dominated N2O production and vice versa. A decrease in soil pH can significantly increase the contribution of denitrification to N2O production. Overall, this mini‐review increases our understanding of N2O sources in soils under aerobic conditions.
Evaluation of Surface Runoff Prediction by AnnAGNPS Model in a Large Mediterranean Watershed Covered by Olive Groves
Authors: Zema Demetrio Antonio , Denisi Pietro , Taguas Ruiz Encarnación V. , Gómez José Alfonso , Bombino Giuseppe , Fortugno Diego
Published: April 2015

The distributed parameter and continuous simulation Annualized Agricultural Non‐Point Source (AnnAGNPS) model was implemented in the watershed Anzur (Spain) covered by olive groves, to assess its prediction capability of surface runoff at the large watershed scale in semi‐arid conditions. A 5‐year database reporting hydrological, geomorphological and land use characteristics of the watershed allowed model implementation. Almost 180 surface runoff events were modelled by AnnAGNPS and compared with the corresponding observations through statistical indexes and grouping the runoff events in order to evaluate the model at different temporal scales (event, monthly and seasonal). AnnAGNPS evaluation showed that, in general, runoff was estimated by the default model with low accuracy at all the investigated time scales, likely, as a result of a simple representation of spatial variability. Calibration (by reducing initial curve numbers (CN) of the olive groves) provided more accurate and satisfactory predictions of event, monthly and seasonal runoff volumes with a low effort in the parameterisation approach. The best model performance was achieved at the event scale. The runoff prediction reliability may be attributable to the AnnAGNPS inaccuracy in adjusting CN values during the continuous simulation of the soil moisture conditions, because estimations of daily evapotranspiration values are quite realistic. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Photosensitive Functionalized Surface‐Modified Quantum Dots for Polymeric Structures via Two‐Photon‐Initiated Polymerization Technique
Authors: Krini Redouane , Ha Cheol Woo , Prabhakaran Prem , Mard Hicham El , Yang Dong‐Yol , Zentel Rudolf , Lee Kwang‐Sup
Published: April 2015

In this paper, the surface modification of CdSe‐ and CdZnS‐based quantum dots (QDs) with a functional silica shell is reported. Functionalized silica shells are prepared by two routes: either by ligand exchange and a modified Stöber process or by a miniemulsion process with amphiphilic poly(oxyethylene) nonylphenylether also know as Igepal CO‐520 (IG) as oligomeric amphiphile and modified silica precursors. The polymerizable groups on the functionalized silica shell allow covalent bonding to a polymer matrix and prevent demixing during polymerization and crosslinking. This allows the homogeneous incorporation of QDs in a crosslinked polymer matrix. This paper furthermore demonstrates that the resulting QDs, which are i) shielded with a proper silica shell and ii) functionalized with crosslinkable groups, can be used in two‐photon‐initiated polymerization processes in combination with different photoresists to obtain highly luminescent 3D structures. The resulting luminescent structures are attractive candidates for photonics and metamaterials research.

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Minimal change multiple system atrophy: An aggressive variant?
Authors: Ling Helen , Asi Yasmine T. , Petrovic Igor N. , Ahmed Zeshan , Prashanth L. K. , Hazrati Lili‐Naz , Nishizawa Masatoyo , Ozawa Tetsutaro , Lang Anthony , Lees Andrew J. , Revesz Tamas , Holton Janice L.
Published: April 2015

Background

Glial cytoplasmic inclusions containing α‐synuclein are the pathological hallmark of multiple system atrophy (MSA). Minimal change (MC‐MSA) is an unusual MSA subtype with neuronal loss largely restricted to the substantia nigra and locus coeruleus.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry on selected brain regions and semiquantitative assessment were performed on six MC‐MSA and eight MSA control cases.

Results

More neuronal cytoplasmic inclusions were seen in the caudate and substantia nigra in MC‐MSA than in MSA controls (P = 0.002), without any statistical difference in glial cytoplasmic inclusion load in any region. Severe glial cytoplasmic inclusion load was found in the ventrolateral medulla (P = 1.0) and nucleus raphe obscurus (P = 0.4) in both groups. When compared with MSA controls, the three MC‐MSA cases who had died of sudden unexpected death had an earlier age of onset (mean: 38 vs. 57.6 y, P = 0.02), a numerically shorter disease duration (mean: 5.3 vs. 8 y, P = 0.2) and a more rapid clinical progression with most of the clinical milestones reached within 3 y of presentation, suggesting an aggressive variant of MSA. Another three MC‐MSA cases, who had died of unrelated concurrent diseases, had an age of onset (mean: 57.7 y) and temporal course similar to controls, had less severe neuronal loss and gliosis in the medial and dorsolateral substantia nigra subregions (P < 0.05) than in MSA controls, and could be considered as a unique group with interrupted pathological progression. Significant respiratory dysfunction and early orthostatic hypotension were observed in all MC‐MSA cases.

Conclusions

Our findings could suggest that α‐synuclein–associated oligodendroglial pathology may lead to neuronal dysfunction sufficient to cause clinical symptoms before overt neuronal loss in MSA. © 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Conservative treatment for incontinence in women in rest home care in Christchurch: Outcomes and cost
Authors: Arnold Edwin Paterson , Milne Dorothy Joan , English Sharon
Published: April 2015

Aims

To assess if conservative therapy can reduce urinary leakage and pad usage and improve quality of life in elderly incontinent women living in a rest home setting; and if so at what additional cost.

Methods

Sixty‐eight elderly women with urinary incontinence, and preserved cognitive ability, living in 26 rest homes were identified. Clinical evaluation, included bladder diary, pad weigh tests, pad usage, and quality of life and activities questionnaires (FIM: Functional Impairment Measure; EQ‐5D: Euroquol 5 dimension score; ICIQ‐SF: International Consultation on Incontinence‐Short Form). A specialist Continence Advisor Nurse provided conservative treatment according to the needs of each participant. Outcomes were recorded after 12 weeks of treatment by repeating above evaluations, and the costs involved were measured.

Results

Leakage was reduced by a mean of 60 ml per 24 hr, and four fewer pads were required per week. The ICIQ‐SF improved significantly. The EQ‐5D did not demonstrate significant improvement, so a cost‐utility analysis was not possible. The mean cost of the Advisor's time and mileage in providing the 12 week course was $247.75 per participant.

Conclusion

Conservative therapies tailored to each individual, can improve the severity of leakage in the short term, even in this elderly group of women with preserved cognitive function, at modest additional cost. Measuring quality of life and the impact of incontinence, has challenges in this age group. Neurourol. Urodynam. 35:636–641, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Generation Y New Zealand Registered Nurses’ views about nursing work: a survey of motivation and maintenance factors
Authors: Jamieson Isabel , Kirk Ray , Wright Sarah , Andrew Cathy
Published: April 2015

Aim

The aim of this article was to report on the analysis of qualitative, open text data, received from a national on‐line survey of what factors Generation Y New Zealand Registered Nurses wish to change about nursing and consideration of the potential policy and practice impacts of these requests on their retention.

Background

Prior to the economic recession of 2007–2010, the growing shortage of nurses in New Zealand presented a serious concern for the healthcare workforce. Given the ageing New Zealand nursing workforce, an ageing population and the increasing demands for health care, it is imperative that issues of retention of Generation Y nurses are resolved prior to the imminent retirement of more experienced nurses.

Design

A descriptive exploratory approach using a national wide, on‐line survey, eliciting both quantitative and qualitative data was used.

Method

The survey, conducted from August 2009–January 2010, collected data from Generation Y New Zealand Registered Nurses (n = 358) about their views about nursing, work and career. Herzberg's Motivation‐Hygiene theory was used as the framework for the analysis of the open text data.

Results

The factors that nurses wanted changed were skewed towards Herzberg's hygiene‐maintenance factors rather than motivating factors. This is of concern because hygiene‐maintenance factors are considered to be dissatisfiers that are likely to push workers to another employment option.
The impact of age and race on longevity in pediatric astrocytic tumors: A population‐based study
Authors: Samaan M. Constantine , Akhtar‐Danesh Noori
Published: April 2015

Objective

Despite improvements in pediatric brain tumor outcomes, the survivors of childhood brain tumor are burdened by multiple comorbidities. This work reports on the relative survival ratios and excess mortality rate in children with astrocytic tumors over the past four decades.

Methods

Survival analysis was conducted using flexible parametric model to estimate relative survival and excess mortality rate for non‐white and white children (0–19 years old) using the Surveillance, Epidemiology & End Results (SEER) database. We incorporated age group and year of diagnosis into the model to estimate these indices for the period of 1973–2010.

Results

Progressive decline in relative survival ratios was noted over time. Non‐white children had lower survival rates than white children, and these survival patterns persisted over the four‐decade span of the study. Fifty percent of non‐white survivors were deceased 30 years post diagnosis, compared to 35 years in white survivors.

Conclusions

Survivors of childhood brain tumors have progressively lower survival rates as they get older, and this is higher in non‐white when compared to white children. Future research efforts need to focus on understanding the factors mediating the effect of the tumor or its treatment on survival in these patients, and the ethnic variations that derive these survival trends. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2015;62:1567–1571. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Thermoreversible crosslinked thermoplastic starch
Authors: Nossa Tamires S , Belgacem Naceur M , Gandini Alessandro , Carvalho Antonio JF
Published: April 2015

A novel furan‐modified thermoreversible crosslinked thermoplastic starch was synthesized. The crosslinking mechanism was based on a thermoreversible furan/maleimide adduct formed by the Diels − Alder reaction. Thermoplastic starch (TPS) was first modified by forming a urethane linkage between the product of the reaction of furfuryl alcohol with 4,4‐methylene diphenyldiisocyanate and a starch hydroxyl group. Crosslinking was then achieved by the addition of 1,1′‐(methylene‐di‐4,1‐phenylene) bismaleimide to the furan‐grafted starch in solution (dimethylsulfoxide) and in the molten state during conventional extrusion. The materials were characterized by Fourier transform infrared and 1H NMR spectroscopy. The thermoreversible reaction was assessed by viscosity measurement and 1H NMR, for the system in dimethylsulfoxide, and by solubility tests, hot‐pressing experiments and dynamic mechanical analysis measurements for the extruded product. The crosslinked product showed a higher storage modulus and water resistance than its non‐crosslinked counterpart, opening novel opportunities to widen the range of TPS applications. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry
FGF19 promotes progression of prostate cancer
Authors: Nagamatsu Hirotaka , Teishima Jun , Goto Keisuke , Shikuma Hiroyuki , Kitano Hiroyuki , Shoji Koichi , Inoue Shogo , Matsubara Akio
Published: April 2015

BACKGROUND

Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathways have been reported to play important roles in prostate cancer (PCa) progression. FGF19 is one of a subfamily of FGFs that circulate in serum and act in an endocrine manner. Our objective was to investigate its role in the progression of PCa.

METHODS

The effect of FGF19 on the proliferation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition of LNCaP and PC3 cells was examined using MTT assay and Western blotting. Serum concentration of FGF19 was measured by ELISA in 209 patients with PCa, and the association between clinicopathological features and the presence of FGF19‐positive cells in tissues derived from 155 patients who undergone radical prostatectomy was investigated.

RESULTS

Under androgen‐deprived conditions achieved by incubation in medium with FGF19, the expression of N‐cadherin in LNCaP cells was enhanced, that of E‐cadherin and caspase 3 was suppressed, and the viability of LNCaP and PC3 cells was significantly enhanced. Significantly higher levels of PSA were recorded in the group determined by immunohistochemistry staining to be FGF19‐positive (P = 0.0046). The 5‐year biochemical recurrence‐free survival rate after radical prostatectomy was 46.4% in the FGF19‐positive group and 70.0% in the FGF19‐negative group (P = 0.0027). In multivariate analysis, the presence of FGF19‐positive tissues was an independent factor for worse prognosis after radical prostatectomy (P = 0.0052). Serum FGF19 levels in high Gleason grade group were higher than that in low Gleason grade group (P = 0.0009).

CONCLUSIONS

FGF19 might be associated with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy by promoting cell proliferation and epithelial–mesenchymal transition of PCa. Prostate 75:1092–1101, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Regional effects of federal tax shocks
Authors: Hayo Bernd , Uhl Matthias
Published: April 2015

This article studies the effects of federal tax changes on U.S.‐state‐level income. Utilizing an exogenous tax shock series recently proposed in the literature, we find considerable variation in how federal tax changes affect regional income: estimated state income multipliers range between –0.2 in Utah and –3.7 in Hawaii. Analyzing the determinants of differences in regional tax multipliers suggests that size and composition of the state tax base help explain the observed heterogeneity in the transmission of federal tax policy.
Separation of powers and the tax level in the U.S. states
Authors: De Magalhães Leandro , Ferrero Lucas
Published: April 2015

We estimate a nonlinear and discontinuous relationship between the tax level and the degree of alignment between the legislature and the governor, measured as the number of seats in the legislature that belong to the governor's party. In the states with the line‐item veto, the tax level jumps at the point where the government switches from divided to unified. With a regression discontinuity design, we show that this jump can be interpreted as a causal effect. We propose a simple model to account for this nonlinear relationship. The sequential nature of the budget bargaining game, that is, the legislature proposes and the governor cuts with the line‐item veto, implies that the tax level is determined by the overlap between the supporters of the governor and the supporters of the legislative majority. Changes in the size of the overlap determine the tax level.
Health insurance generosity and conditional coverage: Evidence from medicaid managed care in Kentucky
Authors: Marton James , Yelowitz Aaron
Published: April 2015

This article estimates the impact of the introduction of Medicaid managed care (MMC) on the formal Medicaid participation of children. We employ a quasi‐experimental approach exploiting the location‐specific timing of MMC implementation in Kentucky. Using data from the March Current Population Survey from 1995 to 2003, our findings suggest that the introduction of MMC increases the likelihood of being uninsured and decreases formal Medicaid participation. This finding is consistent with an increase in “conditional coverage,” waiting until medical care is needed to sign up or re‐enroll in Medicaid. These effects are concentrated among low‐income children and absent for high‐income children. We find no evidence of “crowd‐in,” substituting private coverage for Medicaid. These results are robust to multiple placebo tests and imply the potential for less formal participation (i.e., more conditional coverage) among the Affordable Care Act‐Medicaid expansion population (which is likely to be primarily covered under MMC) than is typically predicted.
Gyrogonite polymorphism in twoEuropean charophyte biozone index species
Authors: Sanjuan Josep , Martín‐Closas Carles
Published: April 2015

The intraspecific gyrogonite polymorphism of twoLatePalaeogene index species of theEuropean charophyte biozonation scheme (Lychnothamnus vectensis(Groves, 1926)Soulié‐Märsche, 1989, andLychnothamnus pinguis(Grambast, 1958)Soulié‐Märsche, 1989) was studied, based on their type populations from theIsle ofWight,UK. Both species display remarkable variation in the size, apical ornamentation and basal pore morphology of their calcified fructifications depending on the extent of calcification. This intrapopulational gyrogonite polymorphism is consistent with the general tendency observed in the only extant representative of the same genus,L. barbatus, which produces gyrogonites differing by up to 250 μm in height and 225 μm in width. On the other hand, the morphometric analysis performed on three populations ofL. vectensisfrom differentEuropean basins (Hampshire,Paris andEbro basins) indicates that the size variation of gyrogonites had a latitudinal polarity. The mean gyrogonite size of the type population from theHampshire basin is about ~220 μm higher and ~125 μm wider than the mean value of the population from theEbro basin, while intermediate gyrogonite sizes occur in theParis basin. Furthermore, the morphometric characterization of the speciesL. pinguissupports its synonymy with the coeval speciesLychnothamnus major(Grambast andPaul, 1965)Soulié‐Märsche, 1989, the former having nomenclatural priority. The synonymy between these two biostratigraphic index species allows the merging of the two corresponding and successive biozones,L. pinguis andL. major. The new comprehensiveLychnothamnus pinguis partial range zone is defined as an interval between the first occurrence ofL. pinguisand the first occurrence ofChara microceraGrambast andPaul, 1965. This biozone is correlated with theMP22 andMP23EuropeanMammalReferenceLevels and calibrated in theEbro basin with chronsC13r andC12n, providing an absolute age ranging between ~34 and ~31.1 Ma.
Freedom Works! The Vision and Broken Heart of Jack D. Douglas
Authors: Johnson John M.
Published: April 2015

Editor's Introduction

It gives me particular pleasure to publish this review of a major but neglected figure in the recent history of symbolic interactionism. I only heard Jack Douglas speak once, when he gave a plenary address to the British Sociological Association annual conference in Lancaster in the mid‐1980s. The audience treated him quite disgracefully on that occasion. Douglas made two subtle points about the need for sociologists to take contemporary research in primate ethology more seriously and to reconsider spontaneous order theories in social science. His listeners assumed that he was talking about the crasser forms of sociobiology and praising the laissez‐faire ideologies of Thatcherism, and booed him off the stage. I declined to renew my membership to the BSA for about ten years after this episode. I only rejoined when I became a department chair and it was important to be engaged with the professional association, whatever my personal views. John Johnson's paper reminds us of Douglas's important and challenging legacy of ideas, and of the support and inspiration that he gave to a whole generation of outstanding scholars.

Robert Dingwall

Jack Douglas published 26 books and many articles between 1967 and 1989, and by his intellectual charisma influenced a productive cohort of young scholars who have produced over 70 books and 700 articles and chapters since the 1970s. He combined phenomenology, existentialism, and naturalistic field work to create an approach he termed Existential Sociology, also the title of a 1977 anthology. His thinking has undergone significant changes during the course of a long intellectual career. Following his 1992 retirement, the development of the internet and new technologies of communication afforded Jack a “second life” with a transdisciplinary intellectual community outside of the university environment. This paper briefly summarizes a small part of his life and intellectual project.
Repeating a Monologue Under Increasing Time Pressure: Effects on Fluency, Complexity, and Accuracy
Authors: Thai Chau , Boers Frank
Published: April 2015

Studies have shown that learners' task performance improves when they have the opportunity to repeat the task. Conditions for task repetition vary, however. In the 4/3/2 activity, learners repeat a monologue under increasing time pressure. The purpose is to foster fluency, but it has been suggested in the literature that it also benefits other performance aspects, such as syntactic complexity and accuracy. The present study examines the plausibility of that suggestion. Twenty Vietnamese EFL students were asked to give the same talk three times, with or without increasing time pressure. Fluency was enhanced most markedly in the shrinking‐time condition, but no significant changes regarding complexity or accuracy were attested in that condition. Although the increase in fluency was less pronounced in the constant‐time condition, this increase coincided with modest gains in complexity and accuracy. The learners, especially those in the time‐pressured condition, resorted to a high amount of verbatim duplication from one delivery of their narratives to the next, which explains why relatively few changes were attested in performance aspects other than fluency. The findings suggest that, if teachers wish to implement repeated‐narrative activities in order to enhance output qualities beyond fluency, the 4/3/2 implementation is not the most judicious choice, and opportunities for language adjustment need to be incorporated early in the task sequence.
Transcriptional selectors, masters, and combinatorial codes: regulatory principles of neural subtype specification
Authors: Allan Douglas W. , Thor Stefan
Published: April 2015

The broad range of tissue and cellular diversity of animals is generated to a large extent by the hierarchical deployment of sequence‐specific transcription factors and co‐factors (collectively referred to as TF's herein) during development. Our understanding of these developmental processes has been facilitated by the recognition that the activities of many TF's can be meaningfully described by a few functional categories that usefully convey a sense for how the TF's function, and also provides a sense for the regulatory organization of the developmental processes in which they participate. Here, we draw on examples from studies in Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and vertebrates to discuss how the terms spatial selector, temporal selector, tissue/cell type selector, terminal selector and combinatorial code may be usefully applied to categorize the activities of TF's at critical steps of nervous system construction. While we believe that these functional categories are useful for understanding the organizational principles by which TF's direct nervous system construction, we however caution against the assumption that a TF's function can be solely or fully defined by any single functional category. Indeed, most TF's play diverse roles within different functional categories, and their roles can blur the lines we draw between these categories. Regardless, it is our belief that the concepts discussed here are helpful in clarifying the regulatory complexities of nervous system development, and hope they prove useful when interpreting mutant phenotypes, designing future experiments, and programming specific neuronal cell types for use in therapies. WIREs Dev Biol 2015, 4:505–528. doi: 10.1002/wdev.191

This article is categorized under:

Nervous System Development > Worms

Nervous System Development > Flies

Nervous System Development > Vertebrates: General Principles
Quasi‐least squares fitting
Authors: Shults Justine
Published: April 2015

Quasi‐least squares (QLS) is a computational method for estimation of the correlation parameters in the framework of generalized estimating equations (GEE) [Liang and Zeger. Biometrika 1986, 73:13–22]. QLS is a complementary approach to GEE, that might be considered if convergence is an issue, or if the implementation of a plausible model for the correlations is not straightforward for GEE. Software for QLS is available in SAS, Stata, MATLAB, and R. In addition, a comprehensive review of the approach [Shults and Hilbe. Quasi‐Least Squares Regression. Boca Raton, FL: Chapman & Hall/CRC; 2014] was recently published in the highly regarded Chapman & Hall/CRC Statistical Monograph & Applied Probability Monograph Series. WIREs Comput Stat 2015, 7:194–204. doi: 10.1002/wics.1349

This article is categorized under:

Statistical Models > Fitting Models

Algorithms and Computational Methods > Least Squares
Potential role of pemetrexed in metastatic breast cancer patients pre‐treated with anthracycline or taxane
Authors: Zhou Li‐Yan , Shi Ye‐Hui , Jia Yong‐Sheng , Tong Zhong‐Sheng
Published: April 2015

Objectives

This article reviews pharmacology, pharmacokinetic properties, clinical efficacy, and safety in metastatic breast cancer patients, as well as the predictive biomarkers for outcome of treatment with pemetrexed‐based regimens.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, OVID, and the Cochrane Library databases were searched from the beginning of each database without any limitations to the date of publication. Search terms were ‘‘pemetrexed’’ or ‘‘LY231514’’ or “Alimta”, “metastatic breast cancer”, and “advanced breast cancer”.

Results

There were 15 studies (n = 1002) meeting our criteria for evaluation. Eight single‐agent trials (n = 551) and seven using combinations with other agents (n = 451) were identified that evaluated pemetrexed for use in patients with metastatic breast cancer. Response rates to pemetrexed as a single agent varied from 8% to 31%, and with combination therapy have been reported to be between 15.8% and 55.7%. With routine supplementation of patients with folic acid, dexamethasone, and vitamin B12, the toxicity profile of these patients was mild, including dose‐limiting neutropenia and thrombocytopenia, as well as lower grades of reversible hepatotoxicity and gastrointestinal toxicity. Expression of thymidylate synthase (TS) and other biomarkers are associated with the prognosis and sensitivity for pemetrexed in breast cancer.

Conclusion

Pemetrexed has shown remarkable activity with acceptable toxicities for treatment of metastatic breast cancer patients. Translational research on pemetrexed in breast cancer identified biomarkers as well as additional genes important to its clinical activity and toxicity. Further research is needed to clarify the role of pemetrexed in breast cancer treatment in order to guide oncologists.
Femoral Traction Splints in Mountain Rescue Prehospital Care: To Use or Not to Use? That Is the Question
Authors: Runcie Harriet , Greene Mike
Published: April 2015

Objectives

To determine the incidence of femur fractures in mountain rescue in England and Wales. To investigate the attitudes of rescuers toward the use of femoral traction splints. To review the literature for evidence on the use of traction splints in prehospital medicine and test the hypothesis that femoral traction splints reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with a fractured femur.

Methods

The Mountain Rescue England and Wales database was searched for cases of suspected fractured femur occurring between 2002 and 2012, a questionnaire was sent to all mountain rescue teams in England and Wales, and a literature review was performed. Relevant articles were critically reviewed to identify the evidence base for the use of femoral traction splints.

Results

Femur fractures are uncommon in mountain rescue, with an incidence of suspected femur fractures on scene at 9.3 a year. Traction splints are used infrequently; 13% of the suspected femur fractures were treated with traction. However, rescuers have a positive attitude toward traction splints and perceive few disadvantages to their use. No trials demonstrate that traction splints reduce morbidity or mortality, but a number describe complications resulting from their use.

Conclusions

Femur fractures are rare within mountain rescue. Traction splints may be no more effective than other methods of splinting in prehospital care. We failed to identify evidence that supports the hypothesis that traction splints reduce morbidity or mortality. We advocate the use of a femoral traction splints but recognize that other splints may also be appropriate in this environment.
Reconstruction of late Quaternary paleohydrologic Conditions in southeastern British Columbia using visible derivative spectroscopy of Cleland Lake Sediment
Authors: Mihindukulasooriya Lorita N. , Ortiz Joseph D. , Pompeani David P. , Steinman Byron A. , Abbott Mark B.
Published: April 2015

Visible derivative spectroscopy (VDS) analysis of sediment from Cleland Lake, Southeastern British Columbia provides a reconstruction of paleolimnological productivity and hydrologic change during the past 14,000 calibrated 14C years before present (cal yr BP). The first five principal components (PC) of the VDS data explain 97% of the variance in the VDS data set. Four PCs correlate with standard reflectance derivative spectra for diatom, dinoflagellate algae, and cyanophyte pigments that record ecological change, while two PCs are paleohydrologic indicators. Dinoflagellate algae are predominant from 11,600 to 8600 cal yr BP then decrease to low levels after ~ 8500 cal yr BP. PCs 3–5 represent variations in cyanophyte abundance and exhibit peaks from 14,000 to 11,600, 14,000 to 9500, and 6100 to 5400 cal yr BP, respectively. Conditions shifted toward favoring diatoms around 9400 and lasted until 170 cal yr BP. Higher dinoflagellate-related pigment concentrations suggest a lower lake level from 11,600 to 8600 cal yr BP, followed by higher water levels and wetter conditions after 8500 cal yr BP. We propose that drier conditions transitioning from the late glacial into the Holocene were caused by summer insolation-driven, non-linear feedbacks between the northern hemisphere subtropical high-pressure systems, vegetation, and soil moisture.
A double-blind randomised controlled trial testing the effect of a barley product containing varying amounts and types of fibre on the postprandial glucose response of healthy volunteers
Authors: Ames Nancy , Blewett Heather , Storsley Joanne , Thandapilly Sijo J. , Zahradka Peter , Taylor Carla
Published: April 2015

The aim of the present study was to determine if the consumption of barley tortillas varying in fibre and/or starch composition affected postprandial glucose, insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) or peptide YY concentrations. A double-blind, randomised, controlled trial was performed with twelve healthy adults. They each consumed one of five barley tortillas or a glucose drink on six individual visits separated by at least 1 week. Tortillas were made from 100 % barley flour blends using five different milling fractions to achieve the desired compositions. All treatments provided 50 g of available carbohydrate and were designed to make the following comparisons: (1) low-starch amylose (0 %) v. high-starch amylose (42 %) with similar β-glucan and insoluble fibre content; (2) low β-glucan (4·5 g) v. medium β-glucan (7·8 g) v. high β-glucan (11·6 g) with similar starch amylose and insoluble fibre content; and (3) low insoluble fibre (7·4 g) v. high insoluble fibre (19·6 g) with similar starch amylose and β-glucan content. Blood was collected at fasting and at multiple intervals until 180 min after the first bite/sip of the test product. Amylose and insoluble fibre content did not alter postprandial glucose and insulin, but high-β-glucan tortillas elicited a lower glucose and insulin response as compared to the low-β-glucan tortillas. The tortillas with high insoluble fibre had a higher AUC for GLP-1 as compared to the tortillas with low insoluble fibre, whereas amylose and β-glucan content had no effect. Results show that processing methods can be used to optimise barley foods to reduce postprandial blood glucose responses and factors that may influence satiety.