bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biogeographic consequences of nutrient enrichment for plant–herbivore interactions in coastal wetlands
Authors: He Qiang , Silliman Brian R.
Published: April 2015

A major challenge in ecology is to understand broadscale trends in the impact of environmental change. We provide the first integrative analysis of the effects of eutrophication on plants, herbivores, and their interactions in coastal wetlands across latitudes. We show that fertilisation strongly increases herbivory in salt marshes, but not in mangroves, and that this effect increases with increasing latitude in salt marshes. We further show that stronger nutrient effects on plant nitrogen concentration at higher latitudes is the mechanism likely underlying this pattern. This biogeographic variation in nutrient effects on plant–herbivore interactions has consequences for vegetation, with those at higher latitudes being more vulnerable to consumer pressure fuelled by eutrophication. Our work provides a novel, mechanistic understanding of how eutrophication affects plant–herbivore systems predictably across broad latitudinal gradients, and highlights the power of incorporating biogeography into understanding large‐scale variability in the impacts of environmental change.
The Carolingian afterlife of the Damasan inscriptions
Authors: Maskarinec Maya
Published: April 2015

This paper investigates the multiple impulses that contributed to the early medieval interest in Pope Damasus's inscriptions. In part, Damasus's verses were read as guides to Rome's martyrial topography; in part, they served as models of a classicizing Christian style. Above all, the appeal of these verses derived from their association with Damasus himself, who came to be seen as a secure mediator of the early Christian past. Concurrently, the figure of Damasus grew in stature, as a saint marked by his solicitude for the Christian community, whether living or dead.
Patently Wrong? Firm Strategy and the Decision to Disband Technological Assets
Authors: Lowe Robert A. , Veloso Francisco M.
Published: April 2015

Considerable research in strategy and innovation has been devoted to examining when and how firms accumulate resources. Yet, little empirical work has focused on when firms disband resources and how this decision to disband resources is affected by firm strategy. This oversight is surprising since theoretical work has highlighted the importance of knowing which assets to grow and which assets to trim. This paper shows that firms' decisions to disband assets are significantly influenced by earlier strategic choices, and the effects are distributed non‐uniformly across firms in the industry. We study these issues by examining how the R&D strategy that a pharmaceutical firm chooses – exploratory versus exploitative – influences the likelihood that firms disband their patents: specifically, decide not to renew the patent and allow the intellectual property right to expire before the end of the patent term.
Validation of 1‐year predictive score of long‐term response to interferon‐β in everyday clinical practice multiple sclerosis patients
Authors: Romeo M. , Martinelli V. , Rodegher M. , Perego E. , Maida S. , Sormani M. P. , Comi G. ,   San Raffaele Multiple Sclerosis Clinical Group
Published: April 2015

Background and purpose

The Rio score (RS) and the modified Rio score (MRS) are two scoring systems that can identify the early predictive factors of disability progression in relapsing−remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) patients treated with interferon‐β (IFN‐β). The objective of the study was to validate the usefulness of the RS and MRS in a large cohort of multiple sclerosis patients treated with IFN‐β in daily clinical practice.

Methods

The analysis included a cohort of RRMS patients treated with different formulations of IFN‐β for at least 1 year. The RS and MRS were used to classify the patients after 1 year of treatment. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictive variables of suboptimal response at 5 years, defined as Expanded Disability Status Scale confirmed progression or switching to a second‐line therapy.

Results

Sixty‐nine of 416 included patients were considered as suboptimal responders at 5‐year evaluation. The possible score range was 0–3. A higher risk of suboptimal response was found for RS and MRS in the presence of ≥2 scores (hazard ratio 3.0, P = 0.002, and hazard ratio 5.0, P < 0.0001, respectively).

Conclusions

Our study confirmed, in a daily clinical setting, that MRS had a better specificity and accuracy than RS in identifying the patients who will have a poor response to long‐term IFN‐β treatment.
Do Pied Flycatchers Use Personal or Social Information for Replacement Clutch Decisions? A Field Experiment
Authors: Schuett Wiebke , Koegl Bianca B. , Dall Sasha R. X. , Laaksonen Toni
Published: April 2015

Life is a continuous stream of decisions: organisms are repeatedly confronted with multiple options from which to choose. To make the best decisions and maximise their fitness, individuals need to collect information: from direct interactions with the environment (personal information) or from observing other individuals interacting with the environment (social information). Yet, very little is known about the details of decision‐making by animals in their natural environments, including the sources of information they use in the process. We set out to determine the relative importance of social and personal information in breeding habitat decisions in the migratory pied flycatcher, Ficedula hypoleuca. In a field experiment in Finland, we manipulated flycatcher breeding success and then allowed individuals to choose among breeding sites labelled with artificial cues (arbitrary symbols) associated with their own (manipulated) and neighbour's reproductive success, respectively, for laying a replacement clutch. Birds did not appear to distinguish among the symbols representing their own, their neighbour's or a neutral symbol, indicating that they did not use either information source when deciding about a replacement clutch. Also, the choice did not influence subsequent investment into breeding (clutch size). This may suggest that pied flycatchers utilise other cues (e.g. breeding success or predation risk on larger scales) when having to make a decision about replacement clutches. We discuss our results in light of constraints imposed by a short breeding season of migratory birds.
Geographic Variation in Social Parasite Pressure Predicts Intraspecific but not Interspecific Aggressive Responses in Hosts of a Slavemaking Ant
Authors: Kleeberg Isabelle , Jongepier Evelien , Job Sylwester , Foitzik Susanne
Published: April 2015

Variation in community composition over a species' geographic range leads to divergent selection pressures, resulting in interpopulation variation in trait expression. One of the most pervasive selective forces stems from antagonists such as parasites. Whereas hosts of microparasites developed sophisticated immune systems, social parasites select for behavioural host defences. Here, we investigated the link between parasite pressure exerted by the socially parasitic slavemaking antProtomognathus americanusand colony‐level aggression inTemnothoraxants from 17 populations. We studied almost the entire geographic range of two host species, including unparasitized populations. As previous studies have demonstrated that host colonies responding highly aggressively towards conspecifics fare better during slavemaker attacks, we predicted higher aggression levels in severely parasitized populations. Indeed, we demonstrate an increase in aggression towards conspecifics with parasite pressure, a pattern that was consistent over the two host species. In contrast to other studies, aggression against the parasite itself did not shift with parasite pressure. This may be explained by an absence of costs of parasite‐specific aggression in parasite‐free populations. The preferred host speciesT. longispinosuswas generally more aggressive; however, the association between parasite pressure and aggression was found for both species, suggesting convergent co‐adaptation. Two potentially confounding factors, colony density and the co‐occurrence of a competingTemnothoraxspecies in the community, could not explain the level of colony aggression in intra‐ and interspecific interactions. Instead, our study points to social parasite pressure as the determining factor shaping antagonistic interactions within, but not between, host species.
Single active‐site mutants are sufficient to enhance serine:pyruvate α‐transaminase activity in an ω‐transaminase
Authors: Deszcz Dawid , Affaticati Pierre , Ladkau Nadine , Gegel Alex , Ward John M. , Hailes Helen C. , Dalby Paul A.
Published: April 2015

We have analyzed the natural evolution of transaminase structure and sequence between an α‐transaminase serine‐pyruvate aminotransferase and an ω‐transaminase from Chromobacterium violaceum with < 20% sequence identity, and identified the active‐site regions that are least conserved structurally. We also show that these structural changes correlate strongly with transaminase substrate specificity during evolution and therefore might normally be presumed to be essential determinants of substrate specificity. However, key residues are often conserved spatially during evolution and yet originate from within a different region of the sequence via structural reorganizations. In the present study, we also show that α‐transaminase‐type serine‐pyruvate aminotransferase activity can be engineered into the CV2025 ω‐transaminase scaffold with any one of many possible single‐point mutations at three key positions, without the requirement for significant backbone remodeling, or repositioning of the residue from a different region of sequence. This finding has significant implications for enzyme redesign in which solutions to substrate specificity changes may be found more efficiently than is achieved by engineering in all sequence and structure determinants identified by correlation to substrate specificity.
Failures to Deliver, Short Sale Constraints, and Stock Overvaluation
Authors: Autore Don M. , Boulton Thomas J. , Braga‐Alves Marcus V.
Published: April 2015

Studying a large sample of publicly available data on failures to deliver, we find that stocks reaching threshold levels of failures become significantly overvalued. Where short sale constraints are especially binding, we report extreme overpricing and subsequent reversals. These findings support the overvaluation hypothesis, although the mispricing is likely to be difficult to arbitrage because of extreme shorting costs. In addition, threshold stocks with low short interest become more overvalued than threshold stocks with high short interest. This suggests that the level of short interest reflects supply‐side effects when the examination conditions on the difficulty of borrowing shares.
On Regulatory Responses to the Recent Crisis: An Assessment of the Basel Market Risk Framework and the Volcker Rule
Authors: Alexander Gordon J. , Baptista Alexandre M. , Yan Shu
Published: April 2015

Banks around the world suffered huge trading losses in the recent crisis. In response, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision () provides a revised framework to determine the minimum capital requirements for their trading portfolios. Moreover, the Dodd‐Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act () imposes certain restrictions on the composition of the trading portfolios of U.S. banks through the ‘Volcker Rule.’ Our paper assesses the effectiveness of the Basel framework and the Volcker Rule in preventing banks from taking substantive tail risk in their trading portfolios without capital requirement penalties. We find that the Basel framework is ineffective in preventing banks from doing so, but that the Volcker Rule is beneficial in that it partially mitigates this ineffectiveness. We also suggest two alternatives to the Basel framework and discuss the impact of the Volcker Rule if either one of them is adopted.
The Signaling Effect of Durations between Equity and Debt Issues
Authors: Bilinski Pawel , Mohamed Abdulkadir
Published: April 2015

This study examines whether durations between equity and debt offerings allow investors to identify firms that are more likely to time issues of overvalued securities. We show that firms with higher stock overpricing are more likely to quickly issue both seasoned equity and debt following the previous capital acquisition. Investors understand issuers’ incentives to quickly return to the capital market and react less favorably to equity and debt issues that follow shortly after the previous offering. Together, the results show that durations between equity and debt issues provide valuable signals to investors on whether the issuer is likely to be timing the market.
The Effect of Corporate Governance on the Performance of US Investment Banks
Authors: Mamatzakis Emmanuel , Bermpei Theodora
Published: April 2015

This paper focuses on the impact of the corporate governance, using a plethora of measures, on the performance of the US investment banks over the 2000–2012 period. This time period offers a unique set of information, related to the credit crunch, that we model using a dynamic panel threshold analysis to reveal new insights into the relationship between corporate governance and bank performance. Results show that the board size asserts a negative effect on performance consistent with the ‘agency cost’ hypothesis, particularly for banks with board size higher than ten members. Threshold analysis reveals that in the post‐crisis period most of investment banks opt for boards with less than ten members, aiming to decrease agency conflicts that large boards suffer from. We also find a negative association between the operational complexity and performance. Moreover, the CEO power asserts a positive effect on performance consistent with the ‘stewardship’ hypothesis. In addition, an increase in the bank ownership held by the board has a negative impact on performance for banks below a certain threshold. On the other hand, for banks with board ownership above the threshold value this effect turns positive, indicating an alignment between shareholders’ and managers’ incentives.
Norwegian Working Fathers in Global Working Life
Authors: Børve Hege Eggen , Bungum Brita
Published: April 2015

This article examines the impact that global working life has on working fathers’ practices and family life. The internationalization of working life implies that different traditions and practices encounter and challenge each other. The focus is on mothers’ and children's experiences with work–family life and their perceptions of fathers working in global companies. Using a case study approach, we explore how working conditions in global knowledge work organizations affect fathers’ work practices and family life. The findings indicate that working conditions in global working life are gendered and not conducive to the development of the Norwegian fatherhood ideal of the working father. This is due to global and flexible working conditions, which imply long working hours, extensive travel and jetlag‐related problems. Global working conditions produce a traditional masculinity practice, what Connell terms ‘transnational masculinity’, which infringes upon fathers’ practice of being present.
Young Finnish and German consumers’ furniture acquisition – wooden, inherited or just low price?
Authors: Hakala Inkeri , Autio Minna , Toppinen Anne
Published: April 2015

Home decorating is an arena to build up identity and reflect individual taste. Home also represents people's lifestyles and culturally defined aesthetic values and norms. In our study, we focus on the procurement of furniture amongst young Finnish and German consumers who are in the life phase of building up their homes. We study more specifically which aspects of furniture are meaningful for them, and what kind of furniture they consider most valuable for them. Our study shows that for consumers in both countries, visual appearance, price and quality are the most important aspects in furniture acquisition, followed by functionality and ecological aspects. They picture wooden furniture as aesthetic, ecological, durable and expensive. To express their stance towards environmental and ethical values, and because of budgetary reasons, young consumers favour second‐hand, inherited and recycled furniture instead of eco‐labelled furniture. Consumers also stress the productivity in the process of creating something new. It seems that recycled or inherited furniture appears as a safe ground for young adults struggling to meet their contradictory economic and environmentally sound ideals. A global retailer Ikea represents for young people convenience, availability, low price and youthful design as well as globally shared metaphor for discussing furniture choices and values in live.
Understanding younger older consumers' needs in a changing healthcare market—supporting and developing the consumer market for electronic assisted living technologies
Authors: Holliday Nikki , Ward Gillian , Fielden Simon
Published: April 2015

The ageing population is presenting an economic challenge in the United Kingdom (UK). Electronic Assisted Living Technology (eALT) is purported to be one potential solution to this problem, as it offers an opportunity to help people remain independent and age in place. The provision of eALT within the UK has traditionally been dominated by statutory provision, leading to a lack of choice of commercial products and services for those whom it might benefit. With increased need for support for the ageing population, and rationalisation of statutory service provision, older people will increasingly be looking toward privately purchased eALT to support their health and independence. However, previous work has identified that there are numerous barriers to the development of a consumer eALT market. This paper describes a series of cocreation workshops which were held to explore solutions to these barriers with younger older people, aged 50–70 years old, which sought to explore the development of a consumer eALT market. A number of solutions were found for all stages of the eALT consumer journey, including how to help people recognise they have a need, how to find eALT information, how to help consumers make the decision to purchase, where to place eALT for consumer access and purchase, and how to encourage continued use of the product or service and repeat sales. The results of this study will be of interest to the UK, European and worldwide consumer eALT markets, to encourage older consumers to maintain their independence and lifestyle and offers insights for the eALT industry in how to reach these consumers.
The four or more medicines (FOMM) support service: results from an evaluation of a new community pharmacy service aimed at over-65s
Authors: Twigg Michael J , Wright David , Barton Garry R , Thornley Tracey , Kerr Clare
Published: April 2015

Objective

Inappropriate prescribing and nonadherence have a significant impact on hospital admissions and patient quality of life. The English government has identified that community pharmacy could make a significant contribution to reducing nonadherence and improving the quality of prescribing, reducing both hospital admissions and medicines wastage. The objective of this study is to evaluate a community pharmacy service aimed at patients over the age of 65 years prescribed four or more medicines.

Methods

Patients were invited to participate in the service by the community pharmacy team. The pharmacist held regular consultations with the patient and discussed risk of falls, pain management, adherence and general health. They also reviewed the patient’s medication using STOPP/START criteria. Data were analysed for the first 6 months of participation in the service.

Key findings

Six hundred twenty patients were recruited with 441 (71.1%) completing the 6-month study period. Pharmacists made 142 recommendations to prescribers in 110 patients largely centred on potentially inappropriate prescribing of NSAIDs, PPIs or duplication of therapy. At follow-up, there was a significant decrease in the total number of falls (mean −0.116 (−0.217–−0.014)) experienced and a significant increase in medicine adherence (mean difference in Morisky Measure of Adherence Scale-8: 0.513 (0.337–0.689)) and quality of life. Cost per quality-adjusted life year estimates ranged from £11 885 to £32 466 depending on the assumptions made.

Conclusion

By focussing on patients over the age of 65 years with four or more medicines, community pharmacists can improve medicine adherence and patient quality of life.
National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale Score is an Unreliable Predictor of Perfusion Deficits in Acute Stroke
Authors: Choi Victor , Kate Mahesh , Kosior Jayme C. , Buck Brian , Steve Trevor , McCourt Rebecca , Jeerakathil Thomas , Shuaib Ashfaq , Emery Derek , Butcher Ken
Published: April 2015

Background

Perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging is not routinely used to investigate stroke/transient ischemic attack. Many clinicians use perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging selectively in patients with more severe neurological deficits, but optimal selection criteria have never been identified.

Aims and/or Hypothesis

We tested the hypothesis that a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score threshold can be used to predict the presence of perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging deficits in patients with acute ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack.

Methods

National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores were prospectively assessed in 131 acute stroke/transient ischemic attack patients followed by magnetic resonance imaging, including perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging within 72 h of symptom onset. Patients were dichotomized based on the presence or absence of perfusion deficits using a threshold of Tmax (time to peak maps after the impulse response) delay ≥four-seconds and a hypoperfused tissue volume of ≥1 ml.

Results

Patients with perfusion deficits (77/131, 59%) had higher median (interquartile range) National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores (8 [12]) than those without perfusion deficits (3 [4], P < 0·001). A receiver operator characteristic analysis indicated poor to moderate sensitivity of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores for predicting perfusion deficits (area under the curve = 0·787). A National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score of ≥6 was associated with specificity of 85%, but sensitivity of only 69%. No National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score threshold identified all cases of perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging deficits with sensitivity >94%.

Conclusions

Although higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores are predictive of perfusion deficits, many patients with no clinically detectable signs have persisting cerebral blood flow changes. A National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score threshold should therefore not be used to select patients for perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging. Perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging should be considered in all patients presenting with acute focal neurological deficits, even if these deficits are transient.
The Shape of Middle Cerebral Artery and Plaque Location: High-Resolution MRI Finding
Authors: Kim Bum Joon , Yoon Youngshin , Lee Deok-Hee , Kang Dong-Wha , Kwon Sun U. , Kim Jong S.
Published: April 2015

Background

The location of plaque may be associated with the vascular geometry.

Aim

We aimed to examine the relationship between the geometry of middle cerebral artery and the plaque location detected by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging.

Methods

Among patients with a single subcortical infarction without a significant middle cerebral artery stenosis on magnetic resonance angiography, those with a plaque detected from high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging were prospectively enrolled. The shape of middle cerebral artery was measured from the coronal view, and was classified as straight, U-shaped, inverted U-shaped, and S-shaped. The location of the plaque was divided into superior and inferior, and analyzed according to the shape of middle cerebral artery.

Results

Among the 40 patients, the shape of middle cerebral artery was straight in 7 (17·5%), U-shaped in 10 (15·0%), inverted U-shaped in 11 (27·5%), and S-shaped in 12 patients (30·0%). The superior plaque was more closely associated with straight (85·7%) or U-shaped middle cerebral arteries (90·0%), whereas inverted U-shaped (81·8%) and S-shaped middle cerebral arteries (75·0%) were more often associated with inferior plaque. The prevalence of symptomatic plaque was higher in superior than inferior plaques (70·0% vs. 25·0%, P = 0·004). Multivariate analysis showed that straight and U-shaped middle cerebral artery was the only significant factor associated with the superior plaque.

Conclusion

The shape of middle cerebral artery may be a factor determining the location of early atherosclerotic plaque.
The effectiveness of three strategies to reduce the influence of bias in evaluations of female leaders
Authors: Anderson Amanda J. , Ahmad Afra S. , King Eden B. , Lindsey Alex P. , Feyre Rachel P. , Ragone Sara , Kim Sooyeol
Published: April 2015

This study tests the effectiveness of three strategies [structured free recall (SFR), source monitoring, and error management] to reduce the impact of raters' stereotypes on evaluations of female leaders. Results reveal several three‐way interactions indicating that that the strategies became more effective as raters' implicit bias decreased. Findings show that the source monitoring and SFR methods were more effective than the error management strategy. The results have implications for improving opportunities for women to advance through the leadership ranks. This study adds to the literature by comparing multiple strategies to reduce the influence of individuals' biases in evaluations of women in leadership positions and revealing the importance of considering raters' implicit gender biases in evaluations.
A biogeographical regionalization of coastal Mediterranean fishes
Authors: Hattab Tarek , Albouy Camille , Ben Rais Lasram Frida , Le Loc'h François , Guilhaumon François , Leprieur Fabien
Published: April 2015

Aim

To delineate the biogeographical regions of the continental shelf of the Mediterranean Sea based on the spatial distributions of coastal marine fishes and their evolutionary relationships, with a view to furthering our capacity to answer basic and applied biogeographical, ecological and evolutionary questions.

Location

Mediterranean Sea.

Methods

We used a dataset summarizing the occurrences of 203 coastal Mediterranean fishes (0.1° resolution grid system) and a molecular phylogenetic tree to quantify both compositional and phylogenetic dissimilarity (or beta diversity) between cells. We then applied multivariate analyses to delineate biogeographical regions and to evaluate how they related to broad‐scale environmental gradients. We also assessed the differences between the biogeographical regions identified using phylogenetic beta diversity versus those obtained using compositional beta diversity.

Results

The bioregionalization schemes based on phylogenetic and compositional beta diversity identified broadly similar regions, each consisting of six distinct pools of coastal fishes. Clear separations between northern and southern regions were observed, as well as a disjunct between inshore and offshore areas. These beta diversity patterns were mainly related to a north–south gradient in sea‐surface temperature and bathymetric constraints.

Main conclusions

Incorporating phylogenetic information into the measurement of beta diversity did not offer further insights to the bioregionalization scheme based solely on compositional beta diversity. This suggests that evolutionary and historical processes played only a minor role in shaping the contemporary patterns of beta diversity in the Mediterranean coastal fish fauna. However, our results support the view that contemporary environmental conditions play a major role in determining the distribution of these species.
Adolescent girls’ neural response to reward mediates the relation between childhood financial disadvantage and depression
Authors: Romens Sarah E. , Casement Melynda D. , McAloon Rose , Keenan Kate , Hipwell Alison E. , Guyer Amanda E. , Forbes Erika E.
Published: April 2015

Background

Children who experience socioeconomic disadvantage are at heightened risk for developing depression; however, little is known about neurobiological mechanisms underlying this association. Low socioeconomic status (SES) during childhood may confer risk for depression through its stress‐related effects on the neural circuitry associated with processing monetary rewards.

Methods

In a prospective study, we examined the relationships among the number of years of household receipt of public assistance from age 5–16 years, neural activation during monetary reward anticipation and receipt at age 16, and depression symptoms at age 16 in 123 girls.

Results

Number of years of household receipt of public assistance was positively associated with heightened response in the medial prefrontal cortex during reward anticipation, and this heightened neural response mediated the relationship between socioeconomic disadvantage and current depression symptoms, controlling for past depression.

Conclusions

Chronic exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage in childhood may alter neural circuitry involved in reward anticipation in adolescence, which in turn may confer risk for depression.
1064 nm Q‐switched Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of Argyria: a systematic review
Authors: Griffith R.D. , Simmons B.J. , Bray F.N. , Falto‐Aizpurua L.A. , Yazdani Abyaneh M.‐A. , Nouri K.
Published: April 2015

Argyria is a benign skin disease characterized by blue to slate‐grey discoloration that is caused by deposition of silver granules in the skin and/or mucus membranes as a result of long‐term ingestion of ionized silver solutions or exposure to airborne silver particles. The skin discoloration can be generalized or localized and is exacerbated by sunlight. The skin discoloration is usually permanent, and until recently, there has been no effective treatment for argyria. Over the past 6 years, a number of case reports and one case series have described cases of argyria that were successfully treated with a 1064 nm Q‐switched (QS) neodymium‐doped yttrium aluminium garnet (Nd:YAG) laser; however, a review of these studies has never been reported in the dermatologic literature. To review the use of the 1064 nm QS Nd:YAG laser for the treatment of argyria. A search of the National Library of Medicine's PubMed Database and the SCOPUS Database was performed to find articles that detailed the treatment of argyria with 1064 nm QS Nd:YAG laser. Six articles were selected for inclusion in this review. Each article was reviewed and summarized in a table. A 1064 nm QS Nd:YAG laser offers a novel and effective treatment for argyria. A systematic review of the dermatologic literature revealed a limited number of case reports and case series using this treatment. However, the results gleaned by the authors from the literature review provide important information to the clinician. For patients with argyria, a single pass of the 1064 nm QS Nd:YAG laser offers immediate, effective and sustained pigment clearing without any long‐term adverse effects.
Do experimental units of different scale affect the biological performance of European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax larvae?
Authors: Lika K. , Pavlidis M. , Mitrizakis N. , Samaras A. , Papandroulakis N.
Published: April 2015

The effects of different tank volumes (2000, 500 and 40 l) on European sea bass Dicentrarchus labrax larval rearing, relating to growth, survival, quality and stress variables, were investigated. A dynamic energy budget (DEB) model was used to analyse the results. The hydrodynamics of the tanks exhibited differences, with the water currents in the 2000 l tanks to be almost one order of magnitude stronger than those in the 40 l ones. Important differences in fish growth were observed between small and large tank‐rearing volumes, with the smallest tank resulting in the slowest growth. Based on the DEB model analysis, growth differences were related to feeding rates, with growth in the smaller tank limited by food availability. Differences in survival rates were not statistically significant among the tank‐rearing volumes. The quality evaluation of the fry (in terms of swimbladder, jaw and skeletal abnormalities) showed differences, with the smallest tank having the highest percentage of deformed individuals. This could be attributed to both the feeding variances and the hydrodynamics in the tanks. No differences were observed in terms of whole‐body cortisol at the two developmental stages; flexion, and when the larvae body was fully covered by melanophores; when analysis was performed. This indicates that the allostatic load exerted on fish of different groups was similar and inside the fish‐coping abilities range, in terms of the cortisol response axis. The selection of the experimental scale is of importance, especially when the results are to be transferred and applied on an industrial scale.
Growth and mortality of larval Myctophum affine (Myctophidae, Teleostei)
Authors: Namiki C. , Katsuragawa M. , Zani‐Teixeira M. L.
Published: April 2015

The growth and mortality rates of Myctophum affine larvae were analysed based on samples collected during the austral summer and winter of 2002 from south‐eastern Brazilian waters. The larvae ranged in size from 2·75 to 14·00 mm standard length (LS). Daily increment counts from 82 sagittal otoliths showed that the age of M. affine ranged from 2 to 28 days. Three models were applied to estimate the growth rate: linear regression, exponential model and Laird–Gompertz model. The exponential model best fitted the data, and L0 values from exponential and Laird–Gompertz models were close to the smallest larva reported in the literature (c. 2·5 mm LS). The average growth rate (0·33 mm day−1) was intermediate among lanternfishes. The mortality rate (12%) during the larval period was below average compared with other marine fish species but similar to some epipelagic fishes that occur in the area.
Otolith shape: a population marker for Atlantic herring Clupea harengus
Authors: Libungan L. A. , Óskarsson G. J. , Slotte A. , Jacobsen J. A. , Pálsson S.
Published: April 2015

Otolith shape variation of seven Atlantic herring Clupea harengus populations from Canada, the Faroe Islands, Iceland, Ireland, Norway and Scotland, U.K., covering a large area of the species' distribution, was studied in order to see if otolith shape can be used to discriminate between populations. The otolith shape was obtained using quantitative shape analysis, transformed with Wavelet and analysed with multivariate methods. Significant differences were detected among the seven populations, which could be traced to three morphological structures in the otoliths. The differentiation in otolith shape between populations was not only correlated with their spawning time, indicating a strong environmental effect, but could also be due to differing life‐history strategies. A model based on the shape differences discriminates with 94% accuracy between Icelandic summer spawners and Norwegian spring spawners, which are known to mix at feeding grounds. This study shows that otolith shape could become an accurate marker for C. harengus population discrimination.
Homogeneity of parasite assemblages of Dules auriga (Serranidae) in hydrographically heterogeneous sites
Authors: Braicovich P. E. , Timi J. T.
Published: April 2015

Parasite assemblages of Dules auriga are described for the first time from samples caught during research cruises in two localities of the Argentine–Uruguayan Common Fishing Zone (AUCFZ) and are compared with four additional samples collected by commercial catches from the same region. A total of 178 fish were examined and 13 parasite species were found. This showed low species richness, a condition observed in some other small benthic species at a low trophic level. The composition of the parasite fauna was similar to those found on other host species in the region, sharing the same set of dominant species with other sympatric fishes, which have been identified as both typical and as indicators of this ecoregion: Grillotia carvajalregorum, Corynosoma australe and Hysterothylacium sp. Multivariate similarity analyses at the infracommunity and the component community levels indicated that the two samples caught at different latitudes in the AUCFZ display almost identical parasite assemblages. This repeatability in assemblage structure was also observed across samples from commercial catches. The homogeneity of the parasite assemblages is considered to be an intrinsic property of fish inhabiting the AUCFZ, independent of their ecology and trophic level.
Diet and cannibalism in plainfin midshipmanPorichthys notatus
Authors: Cogliati K. M. , Danukarjanto C. , Pereira A. C. , Lau M. J. , Hassan A. , Mistakidis A. F. , Bolker B. M. , Neff B. D. , Balshine S.
Published: April 2015

The macroscopic and microscopic diversity of potential food items available in the nests of plainfin midshipmanPorichthys notatuswere quantified and compared with items that were found in the stomach and intestine (digestive tract) of the guarding males. In this species, males occur as one of two possible reproductive morphs: guarder males that care for young and sneaker males that parasitize the courtship and care of guarder males. Although it was predicted that guarder males would have fewer feeding opportunities due to their confinement to the nest, they in fact had more food items in their digestive tracts than did sneaker males and females. Date in the breeding season (a proxy of care duration) and body condition were not correlated with the amount of food consumed by guarder males. The main type of food consumed wasP. notatusembryos; 69% of all guarder males sampled had cannibalized offspring. By comparing the diet of both sexes and tactics, this study sheds light on some of the strategies designed to cope with the costs of providing parental care.
Spatio‐temporal isotopic signatures (δ13C and δ15N) reveal that two sympatric West African mullet species do not feed on the same basal production sources
Authors: Le Loc'h F. , Durand J. ‐D. , Diop K. , Panfili J.
Published: April 2015

Potential trophic competition between two sympatric mullet species, Mugil cephalus and Mugil curema, was explored in the hypersaline estuary of the Saloum Delta (Senegal) using δ13C and δ15N composition of muscle tissues. Between species, δ15N compositions were similar, suggesting a similar trophic level, while the difference in δ13C compositions indicated that these species did not feed from exactly the same basal production sources or at least not in the same proportions. This result provides the first evidence of isotopic niche segregation between two limno‐benthophageous species belonging to the geographically widespread, and often locally abundant, Mugilidae family.
Effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on the Biofilm Formation of Cronobacter Sakazakii Strains from Powdered Infant Formula
Authors: Ye Yingwang , Ling Na , Jiao Rui , Wu Qingping , Han Yongjia , Gao Jina
Published: April 2015

Biofilm of Cronobacter sakazakii on food contact surfaces is the important source of persistent contamination in powdered infant formula. This study aimed to assess the effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on biofilm formation. Results indicated that the biofilm‐forming ability was strain specific and divalent cation concentrations dependent. Most of C. sakazakii formed the highest amount of biomass at 1.50% MgCl2 (17 strains, 74%) and 0.25% CaCl2 (10 strains, 43.4%). Finally, confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) further indicated that effects of divalent cation were attributable to changing properties of extracellular matrix. The findings presented here provide new insights for control of biofilm formation in dairy products.

Practical Applications

C. sakazakii is an important foodborne pathogen involved in infections of infant. Control of C. sakazakii contamination in powdered infant formula is an intractable problem in production of powdered infant formula. In this study, effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on the biofilm formation were performed. Furthermore, the changes of extracellular matrix in biofilm were revealed by CLSM. The results contribute to useful information for development of essential measures for precaution and control of biofilm of C. sakazakii.
Managing Older Adults with Ground‐Level Falls Admitted to a Trauma Service: The Effect of Frailty
Authors: Joseph Bellal , Pandit Viraj , Khalil Mazhar , Kulvatunyou Narong , Zangbar Bardiya , Friese Randall S. , Mohler M. Jane , Fain Mindy J. , Rhee Peter
Published: April 2015

Objectives

To determine whether frail elderly adults are at greater risk of fracture after a ground‐level fall (GLF) than those who are not frail.

Design

Prospective observational study.

Setting

Level 1 trauma center.

Participants

All elderly (≥65) adults presenting after a GLF over 1 year (N = 110; mean age ± SD 79.5 ± 8.3, 54% male).

Measurement

A Frailty Index (FI) was calculated using 50 preadmission frailty variables. Participants with a FI of 0.25 or greater were considered to be frail. The primary outcome measure was a new fracture; 40.1% (n = 45) of participants presented with a new fracture. The secondary outcome was discharge to an institutional facility (rehabilitation center or skilled nursing facility). Multivariate logistic regression was performed.

Results

Forty‐three (38.2%) participants were frail. The median Injury Severity Score was 14 (range 9–17), and the mean FI was 0.20 ± 0.12. Frail participants were more likely than those who were not frail to have fractures (odds ratio (OR) = 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2–2.3, P = .01). Thirty‐six (32.7%) participants were discharged to an institutional facility. Frail participants were more likely to be discharged to an institutional facility (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.08–3.09, P = .03) after a GLF.

Conclusion

Frail individuals have a higher likelihood of fractures and discharge to an institutional facility after a GLF than those who are not frail. The FI may be used as an adjunct for decision‐making when developing a discharge plan for an elderly adult after a GLF.
Sustainability of Rooftop Technologies in Cold Climates: Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of White Roofs, Green Roofs, and Photovoltaic Panels
Authors: Cubi Eduard , Zibin Nicholas F. , Thompson Sarah J. , Bergerson Joule
Published: April 2015

Sustainable building rooftop technologies, such as white roofs, green roofs, and photovoltaic(s) (PV) panels, are becoming increasingly implemented as a result of their associated environmental benefits. Studies of these rooftop technologies are often located in hot climates and do not assess their full environmental consequences. Further, current studies tend to focus on one technology and often do not evaluate the full range of technology options using a systematic framework with common assumptions and boundaries. This article evaluates the environmental performance on a life cycle basis of white roofs, green roofs, and roof‐mounted PV in the cold Canadian climate. Solar PV demonstrates the highest environmental performance in all impact categories considered (see complete list in Results section) and is the preferred option from an environmental perspective. Green roofs result in beneficial environmental impacts, although much less significant than those obtained with PV, and are the only rooftop technology that reduces both heating and cooling energy use. The environmental performance of white roofs in cold climates is strongly affected by the heating penalty (i.e., the increase in heating energy use resulting from the high solar reflectance). Although white roofs have been proven an outstanding option in warmer climates, in cold climates, net negative environmental impacts lead to white roof technology not being recommended for general applications in cold climates. A sensitivity analysis shows that the conclusions in this study provide robust insights across Canada and cold climates in general.
Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of combinations of hydroquinone, glycolic acid, and hyaluronic acid in the treatment of melasma
Authors: Ibrahim Zeinab A , Gheida Shereen F , El Maghraby Gamal M , Farag Zeinab E
Published: April 2015

Background

Various treatments are currently available for melasma. However, results are often disappointing.

Objectives

1 To assess the efficacy and safety of combinations of hydroquinone, glycolic acid, and hyaluronic acid in the treatment of melasma after topical application. 2 To evaluate the dermoscopy as a tool in diagnosis and follow‐up of melasma treatment.

Patients and Methods

One hundred patients with mild, moderate‐to‐severe melasma were divided into five groups. Group I (twenty patients were treated with cream formula containing 4% hydroquinone), group II (twenty patients were treated with cream formula containing 4% hydroquinone + 10% glycolic acid), group III (twenty patients were treated with cream formula containing 4% hydroquinone + 0.01% hyaluronic acid), group IV (twenty patients were treated with cream formula containing 4% hydroquinone + 10% glycolic acid + 0.01% hyaluronic acid), and group V (twenty patients were treated with placebo cream). All patients were subjected to dermoscopic examination and digital photographs before and after treatment. The response and side effects were evaluated.

Results

Groups I, III, and IV showed highly significant changes in modified Melasma Area and Severity Index (mMASI) score after using the treatment. Group II showed significant change in mMASI score after using the treatment. The side effects were more reported in group II, followed by group IV, followed by group I, followed by group III. There was highly significant difference between the dermoscopic color findings before and after treatment. Vascularization was another dermoscopic finding.

Conclusion

A cream formula containing 4% hydroquinone + 10% glycolic acid + 0.01% hyaluronic acid was very effective in treatment of melasma with tolerable side effects. Dermoscope is a valuable noninvasive tool in the diagnosis and follow‐up of melasma treatment.
Microtensile Bond Strength of Lithium Disilicate to Zirconia with the CAD‐on Technique
Authors: Renda James J. , Harding Aaron B. , Bailey Clifton W. , Guillory Villa L. , Vandewalle Kraig S.
Published: April 2015

Purpose

Recently, a novel technique was introduced to combine lithium disilicate and zirconia into one restoration. The purpose of this study was to compare the microtensile bond strength of veneering ceramic to a zirconia core in two techniques: the e.max® CAD‐on technique and the Press‐on technique.

Materials and Methods

Group A was prepared by veneering sintered zirconia blocks (e.max® ZirCAD) with lithium disilicate blocks (e.max® CAD) using the CAD‐on technique according to manufacturer's instructions. Group B was prepared by taking sintered e.max® ZirCAD blocks and veneering them with fluorapatite glass‐ceramic (e.max® ZirPress) using the Press‐on technique according to manufacturer's instructions. Each block was loaded in a dynamic cyclic loading machine. The blocks were then sectioned into 1 × 1 mm2 beams (n = 43) using a precision saw, thermocycled, and loaded in tension until failure on a universal testing machine. A mean and standard deviation were determined per group. Data were analyzed using an unpaired t‐test (α = 0.05).

Results

The mean microtensile bond strengths were 44.0 ± 13.8 MPa for the CAD‐on technique and 14.9 ± 8.8 MPa for the Press‐on technique. Significant differences were found between the two groups (p = 2.7E−19).

Conclusions

The CAD‐on technique (lithium disilicate/zirconia) resulted in greater microtensile bond strength than the Press‐on technique (fluorapatite glass‐ceramic/zirconia).