bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic diversity is maintained despite richness losses over time in restored tallgrass prairie plant communities
Authors: Barber Nicholas A. , Jones Holly P. , Duvall Melvin R. , Wysocki William P. , Hansen Michael J. , Gibson David J.
Published: March 2016

Ecosystem restoration is an important tool for mitigating biodiversity loss and recovering critical ecosystem services to humanity, but restoration rarely takes into account the evolutionary attributes of the community being restored. Phylogenetic diversity (PD) represents a potentially valuable measure of restoration success because it can correlate with functional trait diversity that drives ecosystem function. However, PD patterns in restored communities are rarely assessed.

We surveyed plant communities in restored tallgrass prairies 2–19 years old and calculated two PD measures, SESMNTD and SESMPD, of the communities and seed mixture applied to sites. We also identified high‐threat exotic species present in each site to determine whether PD of the seed mixture applied was related to resistance against invasion.

We show that PD in North American tallgrass prairie restorations, as measured by both SESMNTD and SESMPD, is maintained over time even as richness declines. Neither the resulting community PD nor invasion by high‐threat exotic species was affected by PD of the seed mixture used in site restoration. Thus, simply maximizing PD of seed mixtures without considering the particular component species is unlikely to help achieve restoration goals.

Synthesis and applications. These results suggest that species losses over time are not biased towards species with or without close relatives in the community. If phylogenetic diversity (PD) reflects functional trait diversity in communities, then local declines in species richness may not necessarily mean the loss of ecosystem function in restoration projects. However, PD of restored communities may be limited by low establishment rates for most species. Conservation practitioners should consider PD with careful planning to maintain overall community diversity and potentially maximize ecosystem function and services in restorations. This perspective will require a deeper understanding of the relationships between phylogenetic relatedness and traits associated with competition and fitness.
Popliteal Vein Blood Sampling and the Postmortem Redistribution of Diazepam, Methadone, and Morphine
Authors: Lemaire Eric , Schmidt Carl , Denooz Raphael , Charlier Corinne , Boxho Philippe
Published: March 2016

Postmortem redistribution (PMR) refers to the site‐ and time‐related blood drug concentration variations after death. We compared central blood (cardiac and subclavian) with peripheral blood (femoral and popliteal) concentrations of diazepam, methadone, and morphine. To our knowledge, popliteal blood has never been compared with other sites. Intracardiac blood (ICB), subclavian blood (SB), femoral blood (FB), and popliteal blood (PB) were sampled in 30 cases. To assess PMR, mean concentrations and ratios were compared. Influence of postmortem interval on mean ratios was also assessed. Results show that popliteal mean concentrations were lower than those for other sites for all three drugs, even lower than femoral blood; mean ratios suggested that the popliteal site was less subject to PMR, and estimated postmortem interval did not influence ratios except for diazepam and methadone FB/PB. In conclusion, our study is the first to explore the popliteal site and suggests that popliteal blood is less prone to postmortem redistribution.
Investigating Residential History Using Stable Hydrogen and Oxygen Isotopes of Human Hair and Drinking Water
Authors: Mant Madeleine , Nagel Ashley , Prowse Tracy
Published: March 2016

The relationship between isotopic signals in human hair and geographic region has potential forensic applications for identifying unknown individuals' place of recent residence. This study analyzes δ2H and δ18O isotopes in residential tap water and bulk hair samples from 17 volunteers representing 12 locations in Ontario, Canada. There is a strong correlation (R2 = 0.9) between δ2H and δ18O values of the water samples. In contrast, the δ2H and δ18O values of the hair samples are weakly correlated (R2 = 0.3), and the greater variability in the data is linked to dietary factors. This study demonstrates that the δ2H and δ18O values of hair and drinking water can be used to help identify potential place of residence in forensic cases, particularly in relation to proximity to large bodies of water such as the Great Lakes, but interpretations are complicated by the contribution of both water and diet to δ2H and δ18O values in hair.
Reasons for Frequent Emergency Department Use by Medicaid Enrollees: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Capp Roberta , Kelley Lauren , Ellis Peter , Carmona Juan , Lofton Adrienne , Cobbs‐Lomax Darcey , D'Onofrio Gail
Published: March 2016

Background

The Affordable Care Act initiated several care coordination programs tailored to reduce emergency department (ED) use for Medicaid‐enrolled frequent ED users. It is important to clarify from the patient's perspective why Medicaid enrollees who want to receive care coordination services to improve primary care utilization frequently use the ED.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative data analysis of patient summary reports obtained from Medicaid enrolled frequent ED users who agreed to participate in a randomized control trial (RCT) evaluating the impact of patient navigation intervention compared with standard of care on ED use and hospital admissions. We defined frequent ED users as those who used the ED four to 18 times in the past year. The study was conducted at an urban, teaching hospital ED with approximately 90,000 visits per year. The research staff conducted interviews (~30–40 minutes), regarding the patient's medical history, reasons for ED visits, health care access issues, and social distresses. The aforementioned findings were summarized in a 1‐ to 2‐page report and presented to the RCT's project team (social worker, emergency medicine physician, primary care physician, and patient navigators) on a weekly basis to further understand the needs of this patient population. A diverse team of researchers (program staff and physicians) coded all reports and reached consensus using reflexive team analysis. We reconciled differences in code interpretations and generated themes.

Results

One‐hundred patients enrolled in the RCT from March 2013 to February 2014, and all 100 patient summary reports were evaluated. We identified three key themes associated with Medicaid enrollee frequent ED use: 1) negative personal experiences with the healthcare system, 2) challenges associated with having low socioeconomic status, and 3) significant chronic mental and physical disease burden.

Conclusions

Medicaid frequent ED users engaged in receiving patient navigation services with the goal to reduce ED use and hospital admissions describe barriers that go beyond timely primary care access issues. These include sociodeterminants of health, lack of trust in primary care providers, and healthcare system.
Circulating melanoma cells as a potential biomarker to detect metastasis and evaluate prognosis
Authors: Hida Tokimasa , Yoneta Akihiro , Wakamatsu Kazumasa , Yanagisawa Kenji , Ishii‐Osai Yasue , Kan Yuji , Kato Junji , Yamashita Toshiharu
Published: March 2016

TNM staging is mainly used to evaluate the prognosis of melanoma patients. Serum biomarkers such as 5‐S‐cysteinyldopa (5‐S‐CD) have occasionally been used but most do not respond until the tumour burden becomes high. Recently, circulating melanoma cells (CMC) have been reported as a possible new biomarker to detect metastasis, monitor treatment response and predict prognosis. The object of this exploratory study was to evaluate the efficacy of CMC to detect metastasis and predict prognosis by cross‐sectional and prospective observational analyses, respectively. Altogether 15 patients with stages II–IV melanoma were enrolled and CMC were enumerated by CellSearch system with cut‐off values of two cells/7.5 mL. Serum 5‐S‐CD and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were also measured. The sensitivity of CMC and 5‐S‐CD for the detection of metastasis was 33 and 50%, respectively. The combination of CMC and 5‐S‐CD showed a sensitivity of 67%, the best performance among CMC, 5‐S‐CD, LDH and any combination of two of the markers. Additionally, a 30‐month prospective observation showed that CMC could segregate patients with poorer prognosis. The median survival time for the patients with <2 CMC and those with ≥2 CMC was 19.5 and 4.5 months, respectively. The limitation of this study is the small sample size. These preliminary results indicate CMC may complement the efficacy of 5‐S‐CD to detect metastasis and can be a prognostic marker. Although there is still room for improvement to maximise the sensitivity, the CellSearch system is reproducible, standardised and suitable for multi‐centre studies.
An observational case series on dermatoscopic patterns of fading melanocytic naevi
Authors: Vyas Ritva , Rademaker Marius , Oakley Amanda
Published: March 2016

Background/Objectives

The prevalence of melanocytic naevi falls with age. It has been postulated that this could be due to spontaneous involution (fading). Our objective was to provide dermatoscopic evidence of fading naevi and to describe the patterns of fading observed.

Methods

Serial dermatoscopic images of naevi demonstrating fading were collected from a set of 25 000 images. Any naevi that showed significant fading, as compared to previous imaging of the same lesion, were included in the analysis.

Results

A total of 47 naevi in 21 patients were found to have significantly faded over a span of 2–11 years. The dermatoscopic fading was observed to occur in two patterns. The most common pattern observed was generalised fading (n = 45), where fading was present over all the naevus. There were two cases of focal fading (n = 2) where fading was present only over one area of the naevus.

Conclusions

Fading melanocytic naevi are uncommon. Melanocytic naevi fade in recognisable patterns, with generalised fading most commonly observed in our series.
Drugged Subjectivity, Intoxicating Alterity
Authors: Pollock Donald
Published: March 2016

This article explores the use of intoxicants by a community of Kulina Indians in western Brazil. I suggest that Kulina intoxication through alcohol, tobacco, and ayahuasca is best understood as a form of semiotic appropriation of the identity of cosmological “others,” including animal spirits, creator beings, other Indian groups, and Brazilians. I consider how embodying practices, such as song and physical movement, enhance the experience of being an “alter,” facilitated by the alterations in consciousness produced by intoxicants.
The Affective Scope: Entering China's Urban Moral and Economic World Through Its Emotional Disturbances
Authors: Pettier Jean‐Baptiste
Published: March 2016

From an outsider's perspective, today's Popular China might appear as a self‐confident and triumphant country. However, a large‐scale examination of the country's recent moral controversies reveals a very different picture, one that has much to do with the widespread local public perception of an ongoing “moral crisis” (Kleinman et al., 2011), whose examination requires careful attention placed on the ethical and affective aspects of the everyday lives of today's Chinese people. In this article, I propose to examine the anguish that Chinese bachelor youths and their concerned parents undergo and express, as they are confronted with the difficult process of finding a suitable mate for marriage. I examine the fears their celibacy generates, the mutual distrust that participants taking part in bachelors’ parents gatherings demonstrate, and the disputes these encounters engage. I analyze the moral world of today's urban China from the perspective of the very feelings and affects that pervade it. Highlighting the ways in which my interlocutors shared their emotions with me along the course of my fieldwork, carried out in the cities of Beijing and Chengdu, I will insist on the importance of these affects within an anthropological approach. The moral sensitivities contained in the maintenance of the economic and social situations of one's family reveal themselves as an exceptional resource for knowledge. By examining the political economy of sentiments within which parents and their children find themselves entrapped, I argue that we can gain a deeper understanding of the concrete consequences of today's societal transformations.
Direct and indirect resource use, healthcare costs and work force absence in patients with non‐infectious intermediate, posterior or panuveitis
Authors: Thorne Jennifer E. , Skup Martha , Tundia Namita , Macaulay Dendy , Revol Cindy , Chao Jingdong , Joshi Avani , Dick Andrew D.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

To ascertain resource use, costs and risk of workforce absence in non‐infectious uveitis cases versus matched controls.

Methods

In a retrospective claims analysis of employees in the United States, prevalent (N = 705) and incident (N = 776) cases 18–64 years old with ≥2 diagnoses of non‐infectious intermediate, posterior or panuveitis were matched 1:1 to controls without uveitis. Persistent prevalent cases (treated for ≥90 days, N = 112) also were analysed. Outcomes were annual direct resource use and costs associated with inpatient stays; emergency department, outpatient and ophthalmologist/optometrist visits; and prescription drugs. Indirect resource use and costs associated with work loss from disability and medically related absenteeism also were compared. Multivariate regression assessed cost differences between cases and controls.

Results

Cases had significantly (p < 0.05) more medical resource use versus controls including 0.4 versus 0.2 emergency visits and 16.5 versus 7.6 outpatient/other visits. Cases used more prescription drugs (7.8 versus 4.1) and had more disability days (10.3 versus 4.6), medically related absenteeism days (8.5 versus 3.8), and work loss days (18.7 versus 8.4) than controls (all p < 0.05). Total direct ($12 940 versus $3730) and indirect ($3144 versus $1378) costs were higher in cases than controls (all p < 0.05). Results for persistent cases suggested greater utilization and associated cost and work loss burden. Compared with controls, cases had significantly greater risks of workforce absence, leave of absence and long‐term disability (all p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Non‐infectious intermediate, posterior or panuveitis, particularly persistent disease, is associated with substantial medical and work loss costs suggesting an unmet need for more effective treatments.
Effects of the “Happy Together” integrated cognitive behavior program on elderly people with dementia being cared for at home in rural areas
Authors: Jo Hae Kyung , Song Mi Ryeong
Published: March 2016

Introduction

The purpose of this research was to apply the “Happy Together” integrated cognitive behavior program for elderly people with dementia who are living at home.

Methods

This research applied the non‐equivalent control group pretest–posttest design. Research participants included 46 pairs of elderly individuals and their caregivers.

Results

The program brought about positive changes in the instrumental activities of daily living of elderly people with dementia and alleviated the burden felt by family caregivers.

Conclusions

Both elderly people with dementia and their family caregivers will be able to benefit from the “Happy Together” program.
Exponential state transition dynamics in the rest–activity architecture of patients with bipolar disorder
Authors: Ortiz Abigail , Bradler Kamil , Radu Luiza , Alda Martin , Rusak Benjamin
Published: March 2016

Objective

Our goal was to model the temporal dynamics of sleep–wake transitions, represented by transitions between rest and activity obtained from actigraphic data, in patients with bipolar disorder using a probabilistic state transition approach.

Methods

We collected actigraphic data for 14 days from 20 euthymic patients with bipolar disorder, who had been characterized clinically, demographically, and with respect to their circadian preferences (chronotype). We processed each activity record to generate a series of transitions in both directions between the states of rest (R) and activity (A) and plotted the estimated transition probabilities (pRA and pAR). Each 24‐hour period was also divided into a rest phase consisting of the eight consecutive least active hours in each day and an active phase consisting of the 16 consecutive most active hours in each day. We then calculated separate transition probabilities for each of these phases for each participant. We subsequently modeled the rest phase data to find the best fit for rest–activity transitions using maximum likelihood estimation. We also examined the association of transition probabilities with clinical and demographic variables.

Results

The best‐fit model for rest–activity transitions during the rest phase was a mixture (bimodal) of exponential functions. Of those patients with rapid cycling, 75% had an evening‐type chronotype. Patients with bipolar II disorder taking antidepressants had a lower probability of transitioning back to rest than those not on antidepressants [mean ± SD = 0.050 ± 0.006 versus 0.141 ± 0.058, F(1,15) = 3.40, p < 0.05].

Conclusions

The dynamics of transitions between rest and activity in bipolar disorder can be accounted for by a mixture (bimodal) of exponential functions. Patients taking antidepressants had a reduced probability of sustaining and returning to sleep.
The Synthesis of 1,3,5‐triazine Derivatives and JNJ7777120 Analogues with Histamine H4 Receptor Affinity and Their Interaction with PTEN Promoter
Authors: Latacz Gniewomir , Kechagioglou Petros , Papi Rigini , Łażewska Dorota , Więcek Małgorzata , Kamińska Katarzyna , Wencel Przemysław , Karcz Tadeusz , Schwed Johannes S. , Stark Holger , Kyriakidis Dimitrios A. , Kieć‐Kononowicz Katarzyna
Published: March 2016

The involvement of histamine and H4 receptor (H4R) in cancer has been investigated recently using the H4R agonists and antagonists. The scope of the research project was synthesis and exploration of the consequences of a group of compounds with histamine H4 receptor (H4R) affinity on the promoter of PTEN gene encoding the antitumor PTEN protein. The series of novel compounds based either on H4R antagonists JNJ7777120 structure or 1,3,5‐triazine scaffold were synthesized, evaluated for histamine H4R affinity and used in this study. Compounds 5 and 7 belonging to the group of JNJ7777120 analogues showed the highest interaction with the promoter of PTEN gene and weak affinity against H4R with Ki value >100 μm. These compounds showed no significant effect on neuroblastoma IMR‐32 cells viability indicating no correlation between PTEN gene promoter affinity and antitumor activity. Compound 6, another JNJ7777120 analogue, showed the highest effect on IMR‐32 viability with calculated IC50 = 23.27 μm. The 1,3,5‐triazine derivatives exhibited generally low or medium interaction with PTEN gene promoter. However, the 1,3,5‐triazine derivative 11 with the para‐bromo substituent showed the highest affinity against H4R with Ki value of 520 nm and may be considered as a new lead structure.
Increased expression of bitter taste receptors in human allergic nasal mucosa and their contribution to the shrinkage of human nasal mucosa
Authors: Kook J. H. , Kim H. K. , Kim H. J. , Kim K. W. , Kim T. H. , Kang K. R. , Oh D. J. , Lee S. H.
Published: March 2016

Objective

Bitter taste receptors (TAS2Rs) are expressed in the extraoral tissues, where they possess various physiological functions. This study is to characterize TAS2Rs expression in normal and allergic nasal mucosa and analyse nasal symptom after challenge with bitter tastes to evaluate their pathophysiological function in normal and allergic nasal mucosa.

Methods

The expression levels of TAS2Rs (TAS2R4, 5, 7, 10, 14, 39, and 43) in nasal mucosa were investigated by real‐time PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The expression levels of TAS2Rs and Ca2+ imaging in cultured epithelial cells were measured after stimulation with type 2 cytokines (IL‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13) or bitter tastes. Nasal symptoms in control subjects and allergic rhinitis patients using visual analogue score and acoustic rhinometry were evaluated before and after stimulation with bitter tastes. Vascular diameter of rat nasal septum was measured before and after treatment with bitter tastes.

Results

TAS2Rs tested here were expressed in nasal mucosa where they were commonly distributed in superficial epithelium, submucosal glands, and endothelium. Their expression levels are increased in allergic nasal mucosa and up‐regulated in cultured epithelial cells simulated with type 2 cytokines. After treatment with bitter tastes, intracellular Ca2+ signalling was increased in cultured epithelial cells, and vascular constriction was found in rat nasal septum. Increased nasal patency was observed in human nasal mucosa without pain or sneezing.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

TAS2Rs are constitutively expressed in human nasal mucosa and their expression levels are increased in allergic nasal mucosa, where they could potentially contribute to shrinkage of normal and allergic nasal mucosa.
Cyproterone acetate vs leuprolide acetate in combination with transdermal oestradiol in transwomen: a comparison of safety and effectiveness
Authors: Gava Giulia , Cerpolini Silvia , Martelli Valentina , Battista Giuseppe , Seracchioli Renato , Meriggiola Maria Cristina
Published: March 2016

Objective

To retrospectively compare the effectiveness and safety of 1‐year administration of transdermal oestradiol (TE) with cyproterone acetate (CPA) or leuprolide acetate (Leu) in transwomen.

Design, patients and measurements

Forty transwomen received 50 mg of CPA daily orally (n = 20; CPA+E group) or Leu at a dose of 3·75 mg i.m. monthly (n = 20; Leu+E group) in combination with TE at a dose of 1 or 2 mg daily for 1 year. Reproductive hormones, biochemical parameters, body composition and bone mineral density were assessed.

Results

LH, FSH and total testosterone levels were significantly decreased by month three of hormone administration in both groups and continued to decrease until month 12; the decrease in LH levels in the first 12 months was significantly faster in the Leu+E group. Prolactin was significantly increased at month 12 in the CPA+E group only. Bone metabolism parameters and bone mineral density as detected at DEXA did not significantly change in either group, apart from a statistically significant increase in parathyroid hormone after 52 weeks of Leu administration. Total cholesterol and HDL‐cholesterol were significantly increased in the Leu+E group and reduced in the CPA+E group. No major adverse effects were registered in either group. Psychological well‐being parameters did not differ between the two groups.

Conclusions

Preliminary results from this retrospective observational pilot study suggest that CPA and Leu in combination with TE are equally effective in the suppression of gonadotrophins and testosterone levels over 1 year. Whether the different effects on HDL‐cholesterol may lead to long‐term different cardiovascular safety profiles remains to be defined.
ESTIMATING THE EFFECTS OF BROWNFIELDS AND BROWNFIELD REMEDIATION ON PROPERTY VALUES IN A NEW SOUTH CITY
Authors: Schwarz Peter M. , Gill Gwendolyn L. , Hanning Alex , Cox Caleb A.
Published: March 2016

Using data from Charlotte, NC, a New South city without a legacy of heavily contaminated properties, we find the distance from unremediated brownfields—typically former industrial properties believed to have modest contamination—to have no effect on residential sales values, but proposed cleanup and actual remediation have positive, substantial, and significant effects especially within 0.5 miles of the brownfield. Our results are consistent whether we examine all property values within a given distance, such as 0.5 miles, or examine discrete distances, such as 0.3–0.5 miles. An estimate of the benefits is on the order of $4 million. (JEL Q51, Q24, Q28, R52)
Unintended Feedbacks: Challenges and Opportunities for Improving Conservation Effectiveness
Authors: Larrosa Cecilia , Carrasco Luis R. , Milner‐Gulland E. J.
Published: March 2016

Human reactions to conservation interventions can trigger unintended feedbacks resulting in poor conservation outcomes. Understanding unintended feedbacks is a necessary first step toward the diagnosis and solution of environmental problems, but existing anecdotal evidence cannot support decision‐making. Using conservation examples, we present a conceptual framework and typology of unintended feedbacks based on a social‐ecological systems (SES) approach. Three types of causal mechanisms for unintended feedbacks are distinguished: (1) flow unintended feedbacks when pre‐existing feedbacks are enhanced or dampened; (2) deletion unintended feedbacks; and (3) addition unintended feedbacks when interventions, respectively, remove or add actors or links to the SES structure. Application of this typology can improve conservation outcomes by enabling the inclusion of complex relationships into planning and evaluation. We show how widely used tools for conservation planning could produce misleading recommendations, and discuss future work to mitigate the effect of unintended feedbacks in conservation practice. There is an urgent need to collect evidence in a structured way in order to understand the mechanisms by which human decision‐making feeds through to conservation outcomes at different scales, thereby minimizing negative unintended feedbacks. The framework presented in this article can support the development of this evidence‐base.
Managing Natural Capital Stocks for the Provision of Ecosystem Services
Authors: Maseyk Fleur J.F. , Mackay Alec D. , Possingham Hugh P. , Dominati Estelle J. , Buckley Yvonne M.
Published: March 2016

Decision makers and land managers are increasingly required to manage landscapes for multiple purposes and benefits. However, despite progress in the development of frameworks linking natural capital to the provision of ecosystem services and human benefits there remains little guidance for how management interventions can improve ecosystem service provision. As ecosystem services cannot be directly influenced, interventions need to be directed toward natural capital stocks. We provide a framework that explicitly links natural capital stocks to ecosystem service provision and identify manageable attributes of natural capital stocks as the critical intervention point. A structured decision making process based on our framing of the ecosystem services concept can facilitate its application on the ground.
Heart rate, blood pressure and repolarization effects of an energy drink as compared to coffee
Authors: Brothers R. Matthew , Christmas Kevin M. , Patik Jordan C. , Bhella Paul S.
Published: March 2016

The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of energy drinks on haemodynamic and cardiac physiology. Comparisons were made to coffee as well as water consumption. In Protocol #1 the caffeine content was normalized to body weight to represent a controlled environment. Heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac QTc interval were assessed in 15 participants, on 4 days, prior to and for 6·5 h postconsumption of (i) energy drink (2 mg caffeine per kg body weight; low dose), (ii) energy drink (3 mg caffeine per kg body weight; medium dose), (iii) coffee (2 mg caffeine per kg body weight) and (iv) 250 ml water. In Protocol #2, the beverages were consumed in volumes that they are purchased to represent real‐life conditions. The aforementioned measurements were repeated in 15 participants following (i) 1 16 oz can of energy drink (16 oz Monster), (ii) 1 24 oz can of energy drink (24 oz Monster), (iii) 1 packet of Keurig K‐Cup Starbucks coffee (coffee) and (iv) 250 ml water. The order of the beverages was performed in a randomized double‐blinded fashion. For both protocols, QTc interval, heart rate and systolic blood pressure were unchanged in any condition (P>0·05). Diastolic blood pressure and mean blood pressure were slightly elevated in Protocol #1 (P<0·05, main effect of time) with no difference between beverages (P<0·05, interaction of beverage × time); however, they were unaffected in Protocol #2 (P>0·05). These findings suggest that acute consumption of these commonly consumed beverages has no negative effect on cardiac QTc interval.
Cytomorphology of ovarian clear cell carcinomas in peritoneal effusions
Authors: Damiani D. , Suciu V. , Genestie C. , Vielh P.
Published: March 2016

Objective

To investigate and describe the cytomorphology of malignant effusions from ovarian clear cell carcinomas (OCCC).

Methods

Five cases of malignant peritoneal effusions from OCCC histologically confirmed were analysed and compared.

Results

Among the malignant peritoneal effusions exhibiting clear cell features, a characteristic feature of OCCC was the presence of large deposits of a hyaline matrix. This matrix may be typically arranged either in ‘raspberry bodies’ or ‘globule‐like’ structures. Other rare neoplasms composed of clear cells must be considered in the differential diagnosis such as yolk sac tumour of the ovary, clear cell subtype of endometrial carcinoma and, less frequently, malignant peritoneal mesothelioma as well as metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Conclusions

Ovarian clear cell carcinomas have distinct morphological features that are helpful in making a cytological diagnosis of this entity. The role of cytological examination in ovarian neoplasms is of paramount importance, as stated by The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) recommendations.
Comparison of Hyperemic Impedance Echocardiography with Dobutamine Stress Echocardiography to Detect Inducible Myocardial Ischemia: A Pilot Study
Authors: Patel Jijibhoy J. , Gupta Ankur , Nanda Navin C.
Published: March 2016

Background

Stress echocardiography using exercise or pharmacological stressors is either contraindicated or associated with significant side effects in some patients. This pilot study was designed to evaluate a new technique, hyperemic impedance echocardiography (HIE). It is based on reactive coronary hyperemia when transient limb ischemia is induced by tourniquet inflation. We hypothesized that this physiologic coronary hyperemia can identify inducible myocardial ischemia by assessment of regional wall motion abnormalities on echocardiography when compared with dobutamine stress echocardiography (DSE).

Methods

Twenty consecutive outpatients with suspected stable coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent clinically indicated DSE were recruited for performance of HIE after informed consent was obtained. Standard graded dobutamine infusion protocol from 5 to 40 μg/kg per min was used for DSE. HIE was performed by inflating tourniquets at a pressure of 10 mmHg below the systolic blood pressure for 1 minute in three of four extremities at a time for total of four cycles. Echocardiography was performed immediately after the last rotating tourniquet deflation. DSE and HIE were classified as abnormal for development of new or worsening wall motion abnormality in at least one myocardial segment. Test characteristics were also determined for a subset of these patients (n = 12) who underwent clinically indicated coronary angiography.

Results

Hyperemic impedance echocardiography showed 86% sensitivity, 67% specificity, 86% positive predictive value, and 67% negative predictive value with a test accuracy of 80% to detect inducible myocardial wall motion abnormalities when compared with DSE. HIE also showed 83% sensitivity, 75% negative predictive value with a test accuracy of 66.7% for detection of significant (≥50% diameter stenosis) CAD on coronary angiography.

Conclusion

In this pilot study, HIE was a feasible, safe, and promising method for detection of inducible myocardial ischemia by assessment of regional wall motion abnormalities when compared to DSE and coronary angiography. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Substituting Distribution for Growth: The Political Logic of Intergovernmental Transfers in the Russian Federation
Authors: Marques II Israel , Nazrullaeva Eugenia , Yakovlev Andrei
Published: March 2016

Given limited resources and economic realities, how do politicians distribute monetary transfers in order to retain office? Previous work has largely focused on two models – a core model of rewarding loyal supporters and a swing model of purchasing the support of easily swayed voters. Empirical results have proven mixed, however. In this article, we argue that these mixed results are due to economic factors, which condition politicians' distributive strategies. In our model, we consider that politician and voters are involved in a repeated game, where past expectations condition future strategy. Current (core) supporters who receive few benefits and perceive themselves worse off than other, less loyal, groups are likely to be less loyal themselves tomorrow. In our model, politicians avoid this by providing their supporters consumption benefits directly, in the form of transfers, or indirectly, via strong economic growth. Where economic growth is good, politicians can distribute less to core supporters, who benefit from the rising economy. Where economic growth is weak, however, politicians make transfers to their core supporters to ensure future loyalty. We test our theory using data on federal transfers from the Russian Federal government to 78 Russian Regions from 2000–2008.
Not poles apart: Antarctic soil fungal communities show similarities to those of the distant Arctic
Authors: Cox Filipa , Newsham Kevin K. , Bol Roland , Dungait Jennifer A. J. , Robinson Clare H.
Published: March 2016

Antarctica's extreme environment and geographical isolation offers a useful platform for testing the relative roles of environmental selection and dispersal barriers influencing fungal communities. The former process should lead to convergence in community composition with other cold environments, such as those in the Arctic. Alternatively, dispersal limitations should minimise similarity between Antarctica and distant northern landmasses. Using high‐throughput sequencing, we show that Antarctica shares significantly more fungi with the Arctic, and more fungi display a bipolar distribution, than would be expected in the absence of environmental filtering. In contrast to temperate and tropical regions, there is relatively little endemism, and a strongly bimodal distribution of range sizes. Increasing southerly latitude is associated with lower endemism and communities increasingly dominated by fungi with widespread ranges. These results suggest that micro‐organisms with well‐developed dispersal capabilities can inhabit opposite poles of the Earth, and dominate extreme environments over specialised local species.
Worldwide patterns of bird colouration on islands
Authors: Doutrelant Claire , Paquet Matthieu , Renoult Julien P. , Grégoire Arnaud , Crochet Pierre‐André , Covas Rita
Published: March 2016

Island environments share distinctive characteristics that offer unique opportunities to investigate parallel evolution. Previous research has produced evidence of an island syndrome for morphological traits, life‐history strategies and ecological niches, but little is known about the response to insularity of other important traits such as animal signals. Here, we tested whether birds' plumage colouration is part of the island syndrome. We analysed with spectrophotometry the colouration of 116 species endemic to islands and their 116 closest mainland relatives. We found a pattern of reduced brightness and colour intensity for both sexes on islands. In addition, we found a decrease in the number of colour patches on islands that, in males, was associated with a decrease in the number of same‐family sympatric species. These results demonstrate a worldwide pattern of parallel colour changes on islands and suggest that a relaxation of selection on species recognition may be one of the mechanisms involved.
No Evidence for Enforced Alloparental Care in a Cooperatively Breeding Parrot
Authors: Kramer Jos , Klauke Nadine , Bauer Michael , Martin Schaefer H.
Published: March 2016

In cooperatively breeding species, in which non‐breeding helpers assist in rearing the offspring of breeding individuals, conflicts of interest commonly occur between breeders and helpers over their respective contributions to offspring care. During such conflicts, breeders might use aggressive behavior to enforce contributions of helpers to offspring care, especially if helpers are not related to the breeders and their offspring and thus do not stand to gain indirect fitness benefits by helping. Using a combination of behavioral and genetic data, we investigated in the cooperatively breeding El Oro parakeetPyrrhura orcesi(i) whether breeders are commonly dominant over helpers, (ii) whether they use aggressive behavior toward helpers to enforce offspring provisioning, and (iii) whether the relatedness of helpers to the nestlings affects the frequency of—or the reaction of helpers to—such aggressions. Even though breeders were generally dominant over helpers, we found no evidence for the enforcement of alloparental care. This finding was independent of the relatedness between helpers and nestlings, even though distantly related helpers overall contributed little to offspring care. We suggest that the inability of breeders to properly assess the work rates of their helpers at least partly explains the absence of enforcement. More generally, our results add to a body of evidence suggesting that enforcement might be an exceptional rather than a general mechanism underlying the expression of alloparental care in cooperatively breeding species.
Harvest‐induced evolution and effective population size
Authors: Kuparinen Anna , Hutchings Jeffrey A. , Waples Robin S.
Published: March 2016

Much has been written about fishery‐induced evolution (FIE) in exploited species, but relatively little attention has been paid to the consequences for one of the most important parameters in evolutionary biology—effective population size (Ne). We use a combination of simulations of Atlantic cod populations experiencing harvest, artificial manipulation of cod life tables, and analytical methods to explore how adding harvest to natural mortality affectsNe, census size (N), and the ratioNe/N. We show that harvest‐mediated reductions inNeare due entirely to reductions in recruitment, because increasing adult mortality actually increases theNe/Nratio. This means that proportional reductions in abundance caused by harvest represent an upper limit to the proportional reductions inNe, and that in some casesNecan even increase with increased harvest. This result is a quite general consequence of increased adult mortality and does not depend on harvest selectivity orFIE, although both of these influence the results in a quantitative way. In scenarios that allowed evolution,Nerecovered quickly after harvest ended and remained higher than in the preharvest population for well over a century, which indicates that evolution can help provide a long‐term buffer against loss of genetic variability.
AMP‐activated protein kinase: a cellular energy sensor that comes in 12 flavours
Authors: Ross Fiona A. , MacKintosh Carol , Hardie D. Grahame
Published: March 2016

The AMP‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a sensor of cellular energy status that is expressed in essentially all eukaryotic cells, suggesting that it arose during early eukaryotic evolution. It occurs universally as heterotrimeric complexes containing catalytic α subunits and regulatory β and γ subunits. Although Drosophila melanogaster contains single genes encoding each subunit, in mammals, each subunit exists as multiple isoforms encoded by distinct genes, giving rise to up to 12 heterotrimeric combinations. The multiple isoforms of each subunit are 2R‐ohnologues generated by the two rounds of whole genome duplication that occurred at the evolutionary origin of the vertebrates. Although the differential roles of these isoform combinations remain only partly understood, there are indications that they may have different subcellular locations, different inputs and outputs, and different functions. The multiple isoforms are of particular interest with respect to the roles of AMPK in cancer because the genes encoding some isoforms, such as PRKAA1 and PRKAB2 (encoding α1 and β2), are quite frequently amplified in tumour cells, whereas the genes encoding others, such as PRKAA2 (encoding α2), tend to be mutated, which, in some but not all cases, may result in a loss of function. Thus, although AMPK acts downstream of the tumour suppressor liver kinase B1, and some of its isoform combinations may act as tumour suppressors that restrain the growth and proliferation of tumour cells, other isoform combinations may paradoxically act as oncogenes, perhaps by aiding the survival of tumour cells undergoing environmental stresses such as hypoxia or nutrient deprivation.
Dieback of riparian alder caused by thePhytophthora alnicomplex: projected consequences for stream ecosystems
Authors: Bjelke Ulf , Boberg Johanna , Oliva Jonàs , Tattersdill Kristina , McKie Brendan G.
Published: March 2016

Alder trees (Alnusspp.) are key nitrogen‐fixing riparian species in the northern hemisphere. Inputs of nitrogen‐rich leaf litter from alder into stream food webs can contribute significantly to nitrogen dynamics at local and landscape scales. Alder trees also provide habitats for terrestrial and aquatic organisms, and help stabilize river banks.

Recently, substantial declines in alder stands have occurred along streams in Europe, with damages observed in some parts of North America also. A major driver has been the invasive oomycete pathogenPhytophthora alnispecies complex,which can spread rapidly along stream networks.

This review synthesises information on the pathogen, processes of spread and infection, and its impacts on alder. We further address the potential ecosystem‐level and management consequences of the decline of alder, and highlight research needs.

The alder dieback caused byP. alniis associated with reductions in shade and quality and quantity of leaf litter. A decline in the structural integrity of branches and roots further threatens bank stability. Stream banks dominated by other tree species or no trees at all will result in ecosystem‐level changes both above and below the waterline.

TheP. alnitaxonomic complex includes different species with varying phenotypes. An improved understanding of their environmental tolerances, virulence and evolution, along with the processes regulating the spread and impacts of the pathogen, would assist in identification of the riparian and stream systems most vulnerable not only to invasion but also to the heaviest disease outbreaks and ecosystem‐level impacts.

Within theP. alnicomplex, the highly pathogenic hybrid speciesP. x alniis favoured by mild winters and warm, but not excessively hot summer temperatures suggesting possible changes in distribution and level of impact under future global climate change.
Introduction to the special issue on transnational lived citizenship
Authors: KALLIO KIRSI PAULIINA , MITCHELL KATHARYNE
Published: March 2016

Thinking about citizenship in the context of transnational flows and global actors gives us opportunities to consider new possibilities for politics and human agency in the contemporary era. By joining the interdisciplinary discussions that adopt these approaches, in this special issue on ‘transnational lived citizenship’ we set out to challenge fixed notions of citizenship and to call for its respatialization and repoliticization. Specifically, we stress the importance of the non‐state based material and locatable situated practices, memories and imaginings of particular actors. Importantly, we do not limit the forms of political agency associated with citizenship to individuals, or to the positions, practices and acts related to polity memberships. Rather, we identify how the actors collectively construct and act out citizenship in various socio‐spatial contexts. Moreover, the authors of the individual articles propose new ways of understanding how people, as political subjects, are positioned differently in their communities and societies and how they pursue new political stances and actions in their transnationalizing worlds. Centring ‘the geographical’ as the basis of enquiry, the issue as a whole seeks to provide spatial–theoretical contributions to the interdisciplinary debates on relational and contested citizenship.
Both pelvic radiography and lateral abdominal radiography correlate well with coronary artery calcification measured by computed tomography in hemodialysis patients: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Hong Daqing , Ruan Yizhe , Pu Lei , Zhong Xiang , Zhang Yuan , Zhang Yue , Deng Fei , Yang Hongling , Li Guisen , Wang Li
Published: March 2016

Introduction Lateral abdominal radiograph is suggested as an alternative to coronary artery computed tomography (CT) in evaluating vascular calcification. Simple scoring systems including pelvic radiograph scoring and abdominal scoring system were utilized to study their correlation with coronary artery calcification. Methods In 106 MHD patients, coronary artery CT, lateral abdominal, and pelvic radiograph were taken. The Agatston scoring system was applied to evaluate the degree of coronary artery calcification which was categorized according to Agatston coronary artery calcification score (CACS) ≥ 30, ≥100, ≥400, and ≥1000. Abdominal aortic calcification was scored by 4‐scored and 24‐scored systems. Pelvic artery calcification was scored by a 4‐scored system. Sensitivities and specificities of abdominal aortic calcification scores and pelvic artery calcification scores to predict different categories of coronary artery calcification were analyzed. We studied the diagnostic capability of abdominal aorta calcification and pelvic artery calcification to predict different CACS categories by calculating likelihood ratios. Receiver operator characteristic curves were used to determine the area under the curve for each of these testing procedures. Findings The prevalence was 48(45.3%), 15 (14.2%), 11 (10.4%), 11 (10.4%), and 11 (10.4%) for CACs > 0, ≥30, ≥100, ≥400, and ≥1000, respectively. The degree of CACs was positively correlated with patient age, prevalence of diabetes, abdominal aorta scores, and pelvic calcification scores. The areas under the curves for different CACS by all X‐ray scoring systems were above 0.70 except pelvic 4‐scored system for diagnosing CACS ≥30, without significant difference (P > 0.05). Discussion Both lateral abdominal and pelvic plain radiographs were demonstrated as acceptable alternatives to CT in evaluating vascular calcification.