bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Moral panic, reflexive embodiment and teen obesity in the USA: a case study of the impact of ‘weight bias’
Authors: Kline Stephen
Published: November 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to draw together research which links the moral panic about the “adipose” body during the first five years of the millennium to the worsening mental health of US teens. Noting the way medical advocacy biased the news coverage in the quality press in the UK, the USA and Canada through its emphasis on weight gain in child and youth populations, it reviews evidence of a relationship between eating disorders, body dissatisfaction and the mental health of teens.

Design/methodology/approach

– Building on research which suggests that teens
'
misperception of their body can impact their mental health, the paper proposes reflexive embodiment, defined as the way an individual interprets and evaluates their own body morphology in relationship to the medical profession’s articulation of norms for weight classes, as a new construct for exploring the impact of the medical debates about obesity.

Findings

– Using data sets from the US Youth Risk Behavior Survey gathered in 2001 and 2007 to compare both weight status and weight class accuracy, the study finds evidence that teens
'
perceptions of their bodies have changed more than their actual weight. Noting a complex relationship between teens
'
misperception of their weight status and mental health risks associated with depression and suicide, the paper explores ways that the medical stigmatization of the adipose body, and the ensuing consequences of gendered weight bias, have consequences for teen well-being.

Research limitations/implications

– This case study only provides an exploratory analysis of an hypothesis suggested by the theory of reflexive embodiment.

Practical implications

– Refocus health professions on the mental health of teens.

Social implications

– Evidence of health implications of reflexive embodiment adds to a growing critique of medicalization of adipose body morphology.

Originality/value

– The analysis of data contributes to a growing concern about medical stigmatization of “fat” bodies as unhealthy.
Evolution alters ecological mechanisms of coexistence in experimental microcosms
Authors: Zhao Lin , Zhang Quan‐Guo , Zhang Da‐Yong
Published: November 2015

Species coexistence can be promoted by both equalizing mechanisms that increase fitness equivalence among species and stabilizing mechanisms that decrease niche overlap among species. Strength of the coexistence mechanisms can be altered by evolution. In particular, populations evolved in sympatry may show niche divergence due to competition‐mediated selection, whereas populations evolved in allopatry have a chance to become ecologically equivalent competitors which, on secondary contacts, may form ‘neutral communities’.

We addressed how evolution may change ecological mechanisms of coexistence with experimental microcosms of Escherichia coli strains that reproduce asexually and can be considered as analogues of species. We obtained five pairs of bacterial strains, within each of which the two strains could coexist stably. We then allowed the bacterial strains to evolve in a chemically defined nutrient medium for ˜1100 generations, under sympatric (in two‐strain mixtures) or allopatric scenarios (in monocultures). The strength of coexistence mechanisms was assessed based on reciprocal invasion assays and measurements of environmental carrying capacity.

Our data confirmed that coexistence could be weaken by either fitness difference or niche overlap among competitors. In allopatrically evolved strain pairs, fitness difference among competitors became larger or unchanged; and the magnitude of niche overlap often showed an increase rather than a decline. Sympatrically evolved competitors showed no consistent changing trend in the strength of the coexistence mechanisms. Overall, sympatrically evolved competitor pairs did not differ from allopatrically evolved ones in the magnitude of fitness difference, but had lower levels of niche overlap.

The results are consistent with the ‘character displacement’ view that allopatric populations of competing species occupy more similar niche space compared with sympatric populations. However, the pattern observed here resulted from allopatrically evolved competitors showing niche convergence, but not sympatrically evolved competitors consistently showing further niche divergence. The results also suggest that convergent evolution in allopatry followed by secondary contacts is an unlikely mechanism for the origin of ‘neutral communities’.
Life‐history evolution in response to changes in metapopulation structure in an arthropod herbivore
Authors: De Roissart Annelies , Wybouw Nicky , Renault David , Van Leeuwen Thomas , Bonte Dries
Published: November 2015

The persistence and dynamics of populations largely depend on the way they are configured and integrated into space and the ensuing eco‐evolutionary dynamics.

We manipulated spatial and temporal variation in patch size in replicated experimental metapopulations of the herbivore mite Tetranychus urticae and followed evolutionary dynamics over approximately 30 generations.

A significant divergence in life‐history traits, physiological endpoints and gene expression was recorded in the spatially and spatiotemporally variable metapopulation, but also a remarkable convergence relative to the stable reference metapopulation in traits related to size and fecundity and in its transcriptional regulation.

The observed evolutionary dynamics are tightly linked to demographic changes, more specifically frequent episodes of resource shortage that increased the reproductive performance of mites on tomato, a challenging host plant. This points towards a general, adaptive stress response in stable spatial variable and spatiotemporal variable metapopulations that pre‐adapts a herbivore arthropod to novel environmental stressors.
3D surface‐wave estimation and separation using a closed‐loop approach
Authors: Ishiyama T. , Blacquière G. , Verschuur D.J. , Mulder W.
Published: November 2015

Surface waves in seismic data are often dominant in a land or shallow‐water environment. Separating them from primaries is of great importance either for removing them as noise for reservoir imaging and characterization or for extracting them as signal for near‐surface characterization. However, their complex properties make the surface‐wave separation significantly challenging in seismic processing. To address the challenges, we propose a method of three‐dimensional surface‐wave estimation and separation using an iterative closed‐loop approach. The closed loop contains a relatively simple forward model of surface waves and adaptive subtraction of the forward‐modelled surface waves from the observed surface waves, making it possible to evaluate the residual between them. In this approach, the surface‐wave model is parameterized by the frequency‐dependent slowness and source properties for each surface‐wave mode. The optimal parameters are estimated in such a way that the residual is minimized and, consequently, this approach solves the inverse problem. Through real data examples, we demonstrate that the proposed method successfully estimates the surface waves and separates them out from the seismic data. In addition, it is demonstrated that our method can also be applied to undersampled, irregularly sampled, and blended seismic data.
The Effect of Time on Bone Fluorescence: Implications for Using Alternate Light Sources to Search for Skeletal Remains
Authors: Swaraldahab Mohamed A. H. , Christensen Angi M.
Published: November 2015

Bones fluoresce when exposed to certain wavelengths of shortwave light, and this property can be useful in locating and sorting skeletal remains in forensic contexts. The proteins in bone collagen are largely responsible for its fluorescent properties, but these proteins degrade and denature over time. This study examined the fluorescence of bones from four temporal groups (recent, semi‐recent, ancient, and historic) ranging from 0 to 1064 years before present. Specimens were photographed under 490 nm wavelength light, and fluorescence was quantified by converting intensity to a gray scale value based on the RGB color model using ImageJ® software. Significant (p < 0.05) differences were found in mean fluorescence between all four temporal groups, and a 0.324 coefficient of correlation indicates a significant (inverse) relationship between fluorescence and time. Bone fluorescence decreases with time, but some fluorescence is retained even in older samples. Fluorescence can therefore be reliably used in many modern skeletal remains searches.
Following the Money: Corruption, Conflict, and the Winners and Losers of Suburban Land Acquisition in China
Authors: Song Yanan , Wang Mark Yaolin , Lei Xiaoting
Published: November 2015

Land acquisition in suburban China is not merely the administrative means through which land is transferred from collectively owned rural land to state‐owned urban land; it is also a process of unlawful profit grabbing by rent‐seeking stakeholders. This licentiousness has been the source of intense controversy in recent years, becoming a major source of social unrest in contemporary China. Although standards of compensation are legally governed by strict policies, these standards are rarely followed as prescribed. As a result, we know very little about how revenue from land acquisition is shared in practice. This is because, as a contentious political issue rife with corrupt practices, accurate data are extremely difficult to obtain. This paper aims to address this vast empirical gap by tracing the flow of profit proliferation and distribution in a land acquisition case, using a suburban village in Shandong province, China, as an example. To expedite the drawn‐out acquisition process, the local government permits the corrupt behaviour of the village party secretary, who exploits his position to amass a great personal fortune. In contrast to previous research, which emphasises low compensation standards or excessive profit grabbing by local government, we find that villagers' protests are triggered by the corrupt practices of the village party secretary.
Evidence for the effect of serotonin receptor 1A gene (HTR1A) polymorphism on tractability in Thoroughbred horses
Authors: Hori Y. , Tozaki T. , Nambo Y. , Sato F. , Ishimaru M. , Inoue‐Murayama M. , Fujita K.
Published: November 2015

Tractability, or how easily animals can be trained and controlled, is an important behavioural trait for the management and training of domestic animals, but its genetic basis remains unclear. Polymorphisms in the serotonin receptor 1A gene (HTR1A) have been associated with individual variability in anxiety‐related traits in several species. In this study, we examined the association between HTR1A polymorphisms and tractability in Thoroughbred horses. We assessed the tractability of 167 one‐year‐old horses reared at a training centre for racehorses using a questionnaire consisting of 17 items. A principal components analysis of answers contracted the data to five principal component (PC) scores. We genotyped two non‐synonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the horse HTR1A coding region. We found that one of the two SNPs, c.709G>A, which causes an amino acid change at the intracellular region of the receptor, was significantly associated with scores of four of five PCs in fillies (all Ps < 0.05) and one PC in colts (P < 0.01). Horses carrying an A allele at c.709G>A showed lower tractability. This result provides the first evidence that a polymorphism in a serotonin‐related gene may affect tractability in horses with the effect partially different depending on sex.
The Effect of Diode Laser With Different Parameters on Root Fracture During Irrigation Procedure
Authors: Karataş Ertuğrul , Arslan Hakan , Topçuoğlu Hüseyin Sinan , Yılmaz Cenk Burak , Yeter Kübra Yesildal , Ayrancı Leyla Benan
Published: November 2015

The aim of this study is to compare the effect of a single diode laser application and agitation of EDTA with diode laser with different parameters at different time intervals on root fracture. Ninety mandibular incisors were instrumented except the negative control group. The specimens were divided randomly into 10 groups according to final irrigation procedure: (G1) non‐instrumented; (G2) distilled water; (G3) 15% EDTA; (G4) ultrasonically agitated EDTA; (G5) single 1.5W/100 Hz Diode laser; (G6) single 3W/100 Hz Diode laser; (G7) 1.5W/100 Hz Diode laser agitation of EDTA for 20 s; (G8) 1.5W/100 Hz Diode laser agitation of EDTA for 40 s; (G9) 3W/100 Hz Diode laser agitation of EDTA for 20 s; and (G10) 3W/100 Hz Diode laser agitation of EDTA for 40 s. The specimens were filled, mounted in acrylic resin, and compression strength test was performed on each specimen. Statistical analysis was carried out using one way ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc tests (P = 0.05). The statistical analysis revealed that there were statistically significant differences among the groups (P < 0.05). Laser‐agitated irrigation with a 3W/100 Hz Diode laser for both 20 s and 40 s decreased the fracture resistance of teeth.
Continuous Metabolic Monitoring in Infant Cardiac Surgery: Toward an Individualized Cardiopulmonary Bypass Strategy
Authors: Torre Salvatore , Biondani Elisa , Menon Tiziano , Marchi Diego , Franzoi Mauro , Ferrarini Daniele , Tabbì Rocco , Hoxha Stiljan , Barozzi Luca , Faggian Giuseppe , Luciani Giovanni Battista
Published: November 2015

Cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in infants is associated with morbidity due to systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS). Strategies to mitigate SIRS include management of perfusion temperature, hemodilution, circuit miniaturization, and biocompatibility. Traditionally, perfusion parameters have been based on body weight. However, intraoperative monitoring of systemic and cerebral metabolic parameters suggest that often, nominal CPB flows may be overestimated. The aim of the study was to assess the safety and efficacy of continuous metabolic monitoring to manage CPB in infants during open‐heart repair. Between December 2013 and October 2014, 31 consecutive neonates, infants, and young children undergoing surgery using normothermic CPB were enrolled. There were 18 male and 13 female infants, aged 1.4 ± 1.7 years, with a mean body weight of 7.8 ± 3.8 kg and body surface area of 0.39 m2. The study was divided into two phases: (i) safety assessment; the first 20 patients were managed according to conventional CPB flows (150 mL/min/kg), except for a 20‐min test during which CPB was adjusted to the minimum flow to maintain MVO2 >70% and rSO2 >45% (group A); (ii) efficacy assessment; the following 11 patients were exclusively managed adjusting flows to maintain MVO2 >70% and rSO2 >45% for the entire duration of CPB (group B). Hemodynamic, metabolic, and clinical variables were compared within and between patient groups. Demographic variables were comparable in the two groups. In group A, the 20‐min test allowed reduction of CPB flows greater than 10%, with no impact on pH, blood gas exchange, and lactate. In group B, metabolic monitoring resulted in no significant variation of endpoint parameters, when compared with group A patients (standard CPB), except for a 10% reduction of nominal flows. There was no mortality and no neurologic morbidity in either group. Morbidity was comparable in the two groups, including: inotropic and/or mechanical circulatory support (8 vs. 1, group A vs. B, P = 0.07), reexploration for bleeding (1 vs. none, P = not significant [NS]), renal failure requiring dialysis (none vs. 1, P = NS), prolonged ventilation (9 vs. 4, P = NS), and sepsis (2 vs. 1, P = NS). The present study shows that normothermic CPB in neonates, infants, and young children can be safely managed exclusively by systemic and cerebral metabolic monitoring. This strategy allows reduction of at least 10% of predicted CPB flows under normothermia and may lay the ground for further tailoring of CPB parameters to individual patient needs.
Hemodynamic Response to Hemodialysis With Ultrafiltration Rate Profiles Either Gradually Decreasing or Gradually Increasing
Authors: Morales‐Alvarez Ricardo , Martínez‐Memije Raúl , Becerra‐Luna Brayans , García‐Paz Paola , Infante Oscar , Palma‐Ramírez Alfredo , Caviedes‐Aramburu Amaya , Vargas‐Barrón Jesús , Lerma Claudia , Pérez‐Grovas Héctor
Published: November 2015

Hemodialysis (HD) is usually performed with the gradually decreasing ultrafiltration rate (UFR) profile (dUFR). The aim of the present study was to compare the hemodynamic response to HD with the dUFR to that of HD with the gradually increasing UFR profile (iUFR). The study population included 10 patients (three women, mean age: 28 ± 8 years) undergoing maintenance HD who had reached dry weight without taking antihypertensive medications. Each patient received (in random order) one HD session with the dUFR and another with the iUFR (both with 3 h total UFR = 2200 mL). Hemodynamic response was evaluated with a brachial blood pressure (BP) monitor, echocardiogram and Portapres to measure digital BP, heart rate, cardiac output, stroke volume, and peripheral resistance. Mean values were compared at each HD hour during the first 3 h of a 4‐h HD session. The HD characteristics, including Kt/V, were similar for both UFR profiles. Relative blood volume decreased more gradually and linearly with the iUFR. Hemodynamic variables were not significantly different between the two profiles, but brachial BP was more stable with the iUFR. Digital diastolic BP increased with both profiles. Peripheral resistance increased with both profiles, and tended to increase more with the iUFR. Echocardiographic variables changed similarly during the HD session with both profiles. In conclusion, these two UFR profiles are similar in most hemodynamic variables. The statistical equivalence of both profiles suggests that either could be prescribed based on the clinical characteristics of the patient.
Effects of Interaction Between Ventricular Assist Device Assistance and Autoregulated Mock Circulation Including Frank–Starling Mechanism and Baroreflex
Authors: Jansen‐Park So‐Hyun , Mahmood Mohammad Nauzef , Müller Indra , Turnhoff Lisa Kathrin , Schmitz‐Rode Thomas , Steinseifer Ulrich , Sonntag Simon Johannes
Published: November 2015

A mock heart circulation loop (MHCL) is a hydraulic model simulating the human circulatory system. It allows in vitro investigations of the interaction between cardiac assist devices and the human circulatory system. In this study, a preload sensitive MHCL, the MHCLAUTO, was developed to investigate the interaction between the left ventricle and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). The Frank–Starling mechanism was modeled by regulating the stroke volume (SV) based on the measured mean diastolic left atrial pressure (MLAPdiast). The baroreflex autoregulation mechanism was implemented to maintain a constant mean aortic pressure (MAP) by varying ventricular contractility (Emax), heart rate (HR), afterload/systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and unstressed venous volume (UVV). The DP3 blood pump (Medos Medizintechnik GmbH) was used to simulate the LVAD. Characteristic parameters were measured in pathological conditions both with and without LVAD to assess the hemodynamic effect of LVAD on the MHCLAUTO. The results obtained from the MHCLAUTO show a high correlation to literature data. The study demonstrates the possibility of using the MHCLAUTO as a research tool to better understand the physiological interactions between cardiac implants and human circulation.
Non‐organic visual loss in children: prospective and retrospective analysis of associated psychosocial problems and stress factors
Authors: Somers Alix , Casteels Kristina , Van Roie Elke , Spileers Werner , Casteels Ingele
Published: November 2015

Purpose

To report on the prevalence of non‐organic visual loss (NOVL) and its associated psychopathology and psychosocial stress factors on children presenting with visual problems without an obvious cause at a routine ophthalmological examination.

Methods

One hundred and seventy children presented at our paediatric ophthalmology department between 2007 and 2014 with visual loss. Routine examination showed no obvious underlying cause. Pattern‐onset visual‐evoked potentials (pVEPs) were performed to obtain an objective visual assessment. Selected patients underwent more investigations, and follow‐up was organized in every child to differentiate organic visual loss (OVL) from NOVL. In the NOVL group, we retrospectively analysed the medical file data and prospectively the questionnaires completed by patients and their parents.

Results

Eighty‐five children (50%) were diagnosed with OVL, the other 50% of children were diagnosed with NOVL. In the latter, girls predominated and the mean age was 11.0 years. The most common presenting symptom was binocular reduced visual acuity. pVEPs were normal in all patients.

We categorized associated comorbidity in the NOVL group in three subgroups: malingering, psychosocial stressors and child psychiatric disorders.

Conclusion

Non‐organic visual loss in children is a common diagnosis in clinical practice. The diagnosis is made by recognition of characteristic features and by exclusion of organic disease. pVEP is a useful tool to obtain an objective visual acuity and to differentiate functional from organic vision loss. The prognosis in NOVL is good with a spontaneous recovery in the majority of patients. Ophthalmologists should be aware of possible underlying psychosocial and psychiatric disorders; referral can be necessary.
Health‐related quality of life in patients with primary open‐angle glaucoma. An Italian multicentre observational study
Authors: Floriani Irene , Quaranta Luciano , Rulli Eliana , Katsanos Andreas , Varano Luigi , Frezzotti Paolo , Rossi Gemma C. M. , Carmassi Luciana , Rolle Teresa , Ratiglia Roberto , Gandolfi Stefano , Fossarello Maurizio , Uva Maurizio , Hollander Lital , Poli Davide , Grignolo Federico ,   the Italian Study Group on QoL in glaucoma
Published: November 2015

Purpose

As a progressive condition, glaucoma may impair health‐related quality of life (HRQoL), due to vision loss and other factors. This study evaluated HRQoL in a cohort of patients treated for primary open‐angle glaucoma (POAG) and assessed its association with clinical features.

Methods

This was an Italian, multicentre, cross‐sectional, observational study with the subgroup of newly diagnosed patients with POAG prospectively followed up for one year. Patients with previous or new diagnosis (or strong clinical suspicion) of POAG aged >18 years were considered eligible. Information was collected on demographic characteristics, medical history, clinical presentation and POAG treatments. HRQoL was measured using the 25‐item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI‐VFQ‐25) and Glaucoma Symptom Scale (GSS). Subscale and total scores were obtained and a Pearson correlation coefficient between instruments’ scores calculated.

Results

A total of 3227 patients were enrolled from 2012 to 2013 and 3169 were analysed. Mean age was 66.9 years. A total of 93.8% had a previous diagnosis (median duration: 8.0 years). Median values for mean deviation and pattern standard deviation were 3.9 and 3.6 dB, respectively. Mean scores on most subscales of the NEI‐VFQ‐25 exceeded 75.0 and mean GSS subscale scores ranged between 70.8 and 79.7 (with a total mean score of 74.8). HRQoL scores on both scales were significantly inversely associated with POAG severity.

Conclusion

In this large sample of Italians treated for POAG, disease severity was limited and HRQoL scores were high. QoL decreased with advancing disease severity. These findings confirm the role of vision loss in impairing QoL in POAG, underlying the importance of timely detection and appropriate treatment.
Anterior lens epithelial cells attachment to the basal lamina
Authors: Andjelic Sofija , Drašlar Kazimir , Hvala Anastazija , Lopic Nina , Strancar Janes , Hawlina Marko
Published: November 2015

Purpose

To study the structure of the anterior lens epithelial cells (aLECs) and the contacts of the aLECs with the basal lamina (BL) in order to understand their role in the lens epithelium's function.

Methods

The aLCs (BL and associated aLECs) were obtained from routine uneventful cataract surgery, prepared for and studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and confocal microscopy.

Results

SEM shows that the basal surface of the aLECs (~10–15 μm) is with aLECs foldings (~1–3 μm) and extensions (~0.5–3 μm) attached to the BL. Confocal microscopy images of the basal sections of the aLECs after membrane staining also suggest that the basal part of aLECs has foldings (~1–3 μm). TEM shows in the aLECs basal parts, towards BL, the structures that look like entanglement (~1–4 μm). In cases where there is a swelling of the cytoplasm and offset of the aLECs from the BL, individual extensions (~0.5–2 μm) that extend to the BL are visible by TEM.

Conclusions

We provide detail evidence about the structural organization of the aLECs, in particular about their basal side which is in contact with the BL. This is supported by the complementary use of three techniques, SEM, TEM and confocal microscopy, each of them showing the same morphological features, the extensions and the entanglements of the aLECs cytoplasmic membrane at the border with the BL. The basal surface of the aLECs is increased. It suggests the functional importance of the contact between aLECs and BL.
Aberrant NEAT1 expression is associated with clinical outcome in high grade glioma patients
Authors: He Chengbiao , Jiang Bing , Ma Jianrong , Li Qiaoyu
Published: November 2015

Long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) NEAT1 has been reported to play critical roles in various human tumor entities and related to the survival of patients with malignancies. However, little is known about the role of lncRNA NEAT1 in glioma patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of NEAT1 in human glioma and its correlation with clinicopathological features and prognosis in human glioma; we analyzed the relationship of lncRNA NEAT1 expression with clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis in glioma patients. In our results, the relative level of NEAT1 expression was higher in cancer tissues compared with adjacent noncancerous tissues (p < 0.001). High NEAT1 expression was observed to be closely correlated with larger tumor size (p = 0.023), higher WHO grade (p = 0.005), and recurrence (p = 0.011). Kaplan–Meier curves showed that patients with high NEAT1 expression showed unfavorable overall survival (OS) than the low NEAT1 expression group (p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis results revealed that NEAT1 overexpression was an independent prognostic factor for OS in addition to postoperative chemoradiotherapy and WHO grade. Moreover, high NEAT1 expression in patients with stage III~IV disease and postoperative chemoradiotherapy conferred unfavorable OS (stage III~IV p = 0.002, postoperative chemoradiotherapy p = 0.000). This study supports NEAT1 as a potential prognostic predictor with its high expression in cancer tissues and its association with carcinogenesis and progression in glioma.
A pecking device as an environmental enrichment for caged laying hens
Authors: Moroki Yuko , Tanaka Toshio
Published: November 2015

To improve the welfare of caged laying hens, a pecking device made of stones was introduced on the cage floor. Twenty‐four White Leghorn hens aged 15 months were divided into four groups: single‐housed hens with device, single‐housed control hens, pair‐housed hens with device and pair‐housed control hens. Hens housed with the device pecked at various pecking objects less often than control hens. Agonistic behavior was also lower in hens with the device than in hens without the device, implied a possibility of improvement in quality of pecking stimuli with the device. Not only time spent pecking, but also quality of pecking might be important to fill their need for stimulation. Both single‐ and pair‐housed hens more often pecked at the device in the evening. Response to various pecking objects also showed that pecking behaviors were most frequently expressed in the evening. Increased foraging at dusk is a well‐known habit; therefore, the increase in pecking behavior in the evening might reflect the hens' general circadian rhythm. These results indicate that the device made of stones could promote some instinctive behavior. Enhancement of behavioral repertories and reduced agonistic behavior with the pecking device might improve the welfare of caged laying hens.
Semi-Markov Arnason–Schwarz Models
Authors: King Ruth , Langrock Roland
Published: November 2015

We consider multi-state capture–recapture–recovery data where observed individuals are recorded in a set of possible discrete states. Traditionally, the Arnason–Schwarz model has been fitted to such data where the state process is modeled as a first-order Markov chain, though second-order models have also been proposed and fitted to data. However, low-order Markov models may not accurately represent the underlying biology. For example, specifying a (time-independent) first-order Markov process involves the assumption that the dwell time in each state (i.e., the duration of a stay in a given state) has a geometric distribution, and hence that the modal dwell time is one. Specifying time-dependent or higher-order processes provides additional flexibility, but at the expense of a potentially significant number of additional model parameters. We extend the Arnason–Schwarz model by specifying a semi-Markov model for the state process, where the dwell-time distribution is specified more generally, using, for example, a shifted Poisson or negative binomial distribution. A state expansion technique is applied in order to represent the resulting semi-Markov Arnason–Schwarz model in terms of a simpler and computationally tractable hidden Markov model. Semi-Markov Arnason–Schwarz models come with only a very modest increase in the number of parameters, yet permit a significantly more flexible state process. Model selection can be performed using standard procedures, and in particular via the use of information criteria. The semi-Markov approach allows for important biological inference to be drawn on the underlying state process, for example, on the times spent in the different states. The feasibility of the approach is demonstrated in a simulation study, before being applied to real data corresponding to house finches where the states correspond to the presence or absence of conjunctivitis.
Differing effects of two synthetic phonics programmes on early reading development
Authors: Shapiro Laura R. , Solity Jonathan
Published: November 2015

Background

Synthetic phonics is the widely accepted approach for teaching reading in English: Children are taught to sound out the letters in a word then blend these sounds together.

Aims

We compared the impact of two synthetic phonics programmes on early reading.

Sample

Children received Letters and Sounds (L&S; 7 schools) which teaches multiple letter–sound mappings or Early Reading Research (ERR; 10 schools) which teaches only the most consistent mappings plus frequent words by sight.

Method

We measured phonological awareness (PA) and reading from school entry to the end of the second (all schools) or third school year (4 ERR, 3 L&S schools).

Results

Phonological awareness was significantly related to all reading measures for the whole sample. However, there was a closer relationship between PA and exception word reading for children receiving the L&S programme. The programmes were equally effective overall, but their impact on reading significantly interacted with school‐entry PA: Children with poor PA at school entry achieved higher reading attainments under ERR (significant group difference on exception word reading at the end of the first year), whereas children with good PA performed equally well under either programme.

Conclusions

The more intensive phonics programme (L&S) heightened the association between PA and exception word reading. Although the programmes were equally effective for most children, results indicate potential benefits of ERR for children with poor PA. We suggest that phonics programmes could be simplified to teach only the most consistent mappings plus frequent words by sight.
Theory of Mind in Children With Specific Language Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Nilsson Kristine Kahr , de López Kristine Jensen
Published: November 2015

The relation between language and theory of mind (ToM) has been debated for more than two decades. In a similar vein, ToM has been examined in children with specific language impairment (SLI), albeit with inconsistent results. This meta‐analysis of 17 studies with 745 children between the ages of 4 and 12 found that children withSLIhad substantially lower ToM performance compared to age‐matched typically developing children (d = .98). This effect size was not moderated by age and gender. By revealing that children withSLIhave ToM impairments, this finding emphasizes the need for further investigation into the developmental interface between language and ToM as well as the extended consequences of atypical language development.
Peri‐implant soft tissue analyses comparing Ti and ZrO2abutments: an animal study on beagle dogs
Authors: Blanco Juan , Caneiro Leticia , Liñares Antonio , Batalla Pilar , Muñoz Fernando , Ramos Isabel
Published: November 2015

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the soft tissue histomorphometric composition around implant abutments comparing two different materials, titanium (Ti) and zirconia (ZrO2).

Material and methods

Twelve implants were placed at bone level in the mandible of six beagle dogs (one in each side). At the same day of surgery one titanium abutment was screwed to the implant in one side (control group) and a zirconia abutment was screwed in the contralateral side. Nine months after implant/abutments placement, animals were sacrificed for histological analysis. Descriptive analysis was calculated for each variable and Wilcoxon test was applied to evaluate histomorphometric variables.

Results

At the end of the study the soft tissue dimension at Ti and ZrO2were similar in all counterparts: biological width, the length of the barrier epithelium, length of the connective tissue, and the percentage of collagen fibers density. However, the percentage of blood vessels was higher for the Ti in comparison to ZrO2(5.11% ± 1.70 and 2.23% ± 0.98, respectively [P = 0.016]).

Conclusions

Peri‐implant soft tissue histomorphology composition was similar in implant abutments made of ZrO2and titanium after 9 months of healing.
Paradoxical increase in nasal airway resistance after topical nasal decongestion – does it really exist? A retro‐ and prospective study
Authors: Swoboda S. , Thulesius H.L. , Jessen M.
Published: November 2015

Objective

To explore the prevalence and reproducibility of paradoxically increased nasal airway resistance after decongestion of the nasal mucosa as well as to identify patient‐related factors associated with it.

Design

Retrospective analysis of all rhinomanometric measurements carried out at one ENT department in Sweden in the time between 1990 and 2010. In the baseline material, 207 of 4435 patients (4.7%) showed a paradoxically increased nasal airway resistance >20%. A follow‐up rhinomanometry was performed in patients eligible for the study.

Setting

Secondary care centre.

Participants

Patients with paradoxically increased nasal airway resistance >20% who returned a complete questionnaire and had not undergone any nasal‐ or sinus surgery. Thirty‐six patients (33–72 years) were eligible for the study.

Main outcome measures

All patients answered a questionnaire and underwent rhinoscopy. Nasal airway resistance before and after decongestion with 0.1% xylometazoline hydrochloride was assessed by active anterior rhinomanometry.

Results

Twelve of thirty‐six patients (33%) showed a paradoxically increased nasal airway resistance in the follow‐up rhinomanometry. No patient‐related factors were identified.

Conclusion

The results indicate the existence and reproducibility of paradoxically increased nasal airway resistance.
Deconstructing Darwin's Naturalization Conundrum in the San Juan Islands using community phylogenetics and functional traits
Authors: Marx Hannah E. , Giblin David E. , Dunwiddie Peter W. , Tank David C.
Published: November 2015

Aim

Darwin posed a conundrum about species invasions, postulating the importance of functional distinctiveness from the receiving native community to avoid competition, and, at the same time, the importance of shared similarity to pass environmental filters and successfully establish. Using phylogenetic distances and functional traits, we assessed this conundrum in the flora of 80 mostly uninhabited islands, where over 30% of the species are invasive. We highlight the importance of publicly available datasets to disentangle ecological processes that may drive invasion.

Location

San Juan Islands archipelago, Pacific Northwest of North America.

Methods

Using a supermatrix approach, we inferred a maximum‐likelihood estimate of the mega‐phylogeny for the vascular plants on the San Juan Islands. We gathered measurements for five ecologically relevant functional traits – seed mass, maximum height, specific leaf area, leaf size and leaf nitrogen content. We assessed phylogenetic and functional trait similarity between invasive species and the receiving native community, and tested the significance of the observed patterns against a randomly generated invading community.

Results

Invasive species were more closely related (phylogenetically clustered) to their nearest native than natives were on 40 of the islands and were more clustered than any random invasive in the species pool on 22 islands. Despite phylogenetic similarity, functional traits differed between the two status groups, at least for maximum height and specific leaf area. When comparing functional differences between phylogenetically close relatives, more complex patterns emerge.

Main conclusion

Only with the combination of both evolutionary history and phenotypic traits were we able to discover support for both sides of Darwin's conundrum – although invasive species have phylogenetically close native relatives, functional traits differ between the two status groups. This implies that both environmental filtering and competitive interactions may be important for invasion success in this archipelago.
Double‐Chambered Right Ventricle with Ventricular Septal Defect and Subaortic Membrane— Three‐Dimensional Echocardiographic Evaluation
Authors: Kharwar Rajiv Bharat , Dwivedi Sudhanshu Kumar , Sharma Akhil
Published: November 2015

Double‐chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is a rare congenital anomaly in which the right ventricle is divided into two compartments with varying pressures due to an anomalous muscle bundle. Here, we describe a case of an adolescent male with DCRV with associated ventricular septal defect and subaortic membrane. Two‐dimensional and three‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography with color flow clearly outlined all the three cardiac anomalies as well as their relationship with each other. The diagnosis was confirmed by cardiac catheterization. The patient underwent successful surgical resection of the anomalous muscle bundle along with repair of the associated anomalies.
Sitagliptin and pancreatic cancer risk in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Tseng Chin‐Hsiao
Published: November 2015

Background

The risk of pancreatic cancer associated with incretin‐based therapies is controversial.

Methods

This study retrospectively analysed the National Health Insurance database including patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus at an age ≥ 25 years between 1999 and 2010. A total of 71 137 ever users of sitagliptin and 933 046 never users were followed for pancreatic cancer until 31 December 2011. A time‐dependent approach was used to calculate incidence and estimate hazard ratios adjusted for propensity score using Cox regression.

Results

During follow‐up, 83 ever users and 3658 never users developed pancreatic cancer, representing an incidence of 73·6 and 55·0 per 100 000 person‐years, respectively. The adjusted hazard ratio (95% confidence intervals) for ever versus never users was 1·40 (1·13–1·75). The respective adjusted hazard ratio for the first, second and third tertile of cumulative dose < 14 700, 14 700–33 700 and > 33 700 mg was 1·83 (1·28–2·62), 1·97 (1·41–2·76) and 0·72 (0·45–1·15). For average daily dose of < 50, 50–99·9 and ≥ 100 mg, the respective hazard ratio was 3·10 (1·17–8·26), 1·01 (0·63–1·61) and 1·53 (1·18–1·97).

Conclusions

Sitagliptin is significantly associated with a higher risk of pancreatic cancer, especially when the cumulative dose is < 33 700 mg. The risk diminished in users with a higher cumulative dose. The daily dose of sitagliptin should better be kept < 100 mg, and its use should be reconsidered in patients who suffer from severe renal impairment and thus a daily dose of < 50 mg is always recommended. Future studies are required to confirm the findings with more appropriate adjustment for smoking.
Hypertension subtypes modify metabolic response to thiazide diuretics
Authors: Huang Chin‐Chou , Leu Hsin‐Bang , Huang Po‐Hsun , Lin Liang‐Yu , Wu Tao‐Cheng , Lin Shing‐Jong , Chen Jaw‐Wen
Published: November 2015

Background

Blood pressure (BP) and metabolic response to thiazide diuretics might be varied in patients with different hypertension subtypes and ethnicities. This study aimed to investigate the response of BP and metabolic profiles to short‐term thiazide treatment in an Asian cohort with different hypertension subtypes.

Design

Serial ethnic Chinese nondiabetic subjects with hypertension were evaluated. After diet instruction and lifestyle modification for 2 weeks, patients who still had elevated systolic BP (SBP≥140 mmHg) and/or diastolic BP (DBP≥90 mmHg) were given 50 mg of hydrochlorothiazide daily for 2 weeks. The responses of BP and metabolic profiles were evaluated before and after treatment according to the patient's baseline BP subtype – isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), systo‐diastolic hypertension (SDH) and isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH).

Results

Hydrochlorothiazide treatment significantly reduced the BP in all 92 patients (62 males, aged 45·7 ± 9·6 years), irrespective of their baseline BP subtypes. In patients with SDH (n = 39) or IDH (n = 40), hydrochlorothiazide treatment significantly increased serum adiponectin (P = 0·001 and 0·007, respectively) and reduced asymmetric dimethylarginine levels (P < 0·001, in both groups). Serum cholesterol (P = 0·027) and fasting blood sugar levels (P = 0·044) were significantly improved only in the IDH patients. Furthermore, IDH was independently associated with changes in fasting blood sugar (β = −11·178, P = 0·022) and cholesterol (β = −22·654, P = 0·027).

Conclusions

The characteristics of the Asian hypertensive patients with diastolic hypertension can present a favourable metabolic response to the short‐term hydrochlorothiazide treatment. The potential positive effect on cardiovascular risk should be validated in long‐term studies in this diastolic type of hypertension.
Influence of tree shape and evolutionary time‐scale on phylogenetic diversity metrics
Authors: Mazel Florent , Davies T. Jonathan , Gallien Laure , Renaud Julien , Groussin Mathieu , Münkemüller Tamara , Thuiller Wilfried
Published: November 2015

During the last decades, describing, analysing and understanding the phylogenetic structure of species assemblages has been a central theme in both community ecology and macro‐ecology. Among the wide variety of phylogenetic structure metrics, three have been predominant in the literature: Faith's phylogenetic diversity (PDFaith), which represents the sum of the branch lengths of the phylogenetic tree linking all species of a particular assemblage, the mean pairwise distance between all species in an assemblage (MPD) and the pairwise distance between the closest relatives in an assemblage (MNTD). Comparisons between studies using one or several of these metrics are difficult because there has been no comprehensive evaluation of the phylogenetic properties each metric captures. In particular it is unknown how PDFaith relates to MDP and MNTD. Consequently, it is possible that apparently opposing patterns in different studies might simply reflect differences in metric properties. Here, we aim to fill this gap by comparing these metrics using simulations and empirical data. We first used simulation experiments to test the influence of community structure and size on the mismatch between metrics whilst varying the shape and size of the phylogenetic tree of the species pool. Second we investigated the mismatch between metrics for two empirical datasets (gut microbes and global carnivoran assemblages). We show that MNTD and PDFaith provide similar information on phylogenetic structure, and respond similarly to variation in species richness and assemblage structure. However, MPD demonstrate a very different behaviour, and is highly sensitive to deep branching structure. We suggest that by combining complementary metrics that are sensitive to processes operating at different phylogenetic depths (i.e. MPD and MNTD or PDFaith) we can obtain a better understanding of assemblage structure.
Climate interacts with anthropogenic drivers to determine extirpation dynamics
Authors: Comte Lise , Hugueny Bernard , Grenouillet Gaël
Published: November 2015

Theoretical studies suggest that the dynamics of a species’ range during a period of climate change depends upon the existence and interplay of various ecological and evolutionary processes. Here we tested how anthropogenic pressures contribute to climate‐mediated extirpation patterns of 32 freshwater fish species over the last 20 yr. We contrasted two extreme cases to determine whether extirpations were governed by patterns of climate exposure, assuming full adaptation of species to local climate, or instead by the interplay between climate exposure and the distance from the centroid of species’ climatic niches, assuming a fixed niche, and asked whether anthropogenic disturbances interact with these climatic drivers. We found strong support for the fixed niche hypothesis, but showed that species‐specific local adaptation to climate may also be important in determining extirpation dynamics. We also demonstrated that anthropogenic disturbance acted in concert with climate, ultimately determining population changes. Our results add novel evidence that unravelling the direct links between range dynamics and climate requires a multifaceted treatment, and that accounting for the cumulative effects of anthropogenic pressures deserves special attention in the context of climate change.