bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
China’s economic interests in the North Caucasus
Authors: Babayan David
Published: January 2016

This research report provides a detailed overview of Chinese economic interests in the North Caucasus. While China has not shown interest in the Northern Caucasus in the past, the situation is now changing as Beijing actively develops cooperation with this region. China’s comparatively low level of historical experience in the region, as well as its resultant lack of responsibility for the region’s conflicts and problems, create favourable conditions for developing and deepening its relations in the Northern Caucasus. Chinese policy style is very calm, avoiding pomp and superfluous political and informational aspects. The Chinese presence in the North Caucasus is also in Russia’s interest, as the latter sees it as a counter to Islamic radicalism and pan-Turkism, as well as a deterrent against further Western penetration into this strategic space, especially against the background of recent events in Ukraine. These realities may further boost Chinese interests in the region and give new impetus to its activities.
Global reorganization of budding yeast chromosome conformation in different physiological conditions
Authors: Dultz Elisa , Tjong Harianto , Weider Elodie , Herzog Mareike , Young Barry , Brune Christiane , Müllner Daniel , Loewen Christopher , Alber Frank , Weis Karsten
Published: January 2016

The organization of the genome is nonrandom and important for correct function. Specifically, the nuclear envelope plays a critical role in gene regulation. It generally constitutes a repressive environment, but several genes, including the GAL locus in budding yeast, are recruited to the nuclear periphery on activation. Here, we combine imaging and computational modeling to ask how the association of a single gene locus with the nuclear envelope influences the surrounding chromosome architecture. Systematic analysis of an entire yeast chromosome establishes that peripheral recruitment of the GAL locus is part of a large-scale rearrangement that shifts many chromosomal regions closer to the nuclear envelope. This process is likely caused by the presence of several independent anchoring points. To identify novel factors required for peripheral anchoring, we performed a genome-wide screen and demonstrated that the histone acetyltransferase SAGA and the activity of histone deacetylases are needed for this extensive gene recruitment to the nuclear periphery.
Orai1 pore residues control CRAC channel inactivation independently of calmodulin
Authors: Mullins Franklin M. , Yen Michelle , Lewis Richard S.
Published: January 2016

Ca2+ entry through CRAC channels causes fast Ca2+-dependent inactivation (CDI). Previous mutagenesis studies have implicated Orai1 residues W76 and Y80 in CDI through their role in binding calmodulin (CaM), in agreement with the crystal structure of Ca2+–CaM bound to an Orai1 N-terminal peptide. However, a subsequent Drosophila melanogaster Orai crystal structure raises concerns about this model, as the side chains of W76 and Y80 are predicted to face the pore lumen and create a steric clash between bound CaM and other Orai1 pore helices. We further tested the functional role of CaM using several dominant-negative CaM mutants, none of which affected CDI. Given this evidence against a role for pretethered CaM, we altered side-chain volume and charge at the Y80 and W76 positions to better understand their roles in CDI. Small side chain volume had different effects at the two positions: it accelerated CDI at position Y80 but reduced the extent of CDI at position W76. Positive charges at Y80 and W76 permitted partial CDI with accelerated kinetics, whereas introducing negative charge at any of five consecutive pore-lining residues (W76, Y80, R83, K87, or R91) completely eliminated CDI. Noise analysis of Orai1 Y80E and Y80K currents indicated that reductions in CDI for these mutations could not be accounted for by changes in unitary current or open probability. The sensitivity of CDI to negative charge introduced into the pore suggested a possible role for anion binding in the pore. However, although Cl− modulated the kinetics and extent of CDI, we found no evidence that CDI requires any single diffusible cytosolic anion. Together, our results argue against a CDI mechanism involving CaM binding to W76 and Y80, and instead support a model in which Orai1 residues Y80 and W76 enable conformational changes within the pore, leading to CRAC channel inactivation.
The perilous state of seagrass in the British Isles
Authors: Jones Benjamin L. , Unsworth Richard K. F.
Published: January 2016

Seagrass ecosystems face widespread threat from reduced water quality, coastal development and poor land use. In recent decades, their distribution has declined rapidly, and in the British Isles, this loss is thought to have been extensive. Given increasing knowledge of how these ecosystems support fisheries production, the understanding of their potential rapid loss, and the difficulty in restoring them, it is vital we develop an understanding of the risks they are under, so that management actions can be developed accordingly. Developing an understanding of their environmental status and condition is therefore critical to their long-term management. This study provided, to our knowledge, the first examination of the environmental health of seagrass meadows around the British Isles. This study used a bioindicator approach and involved collecting data on seagrass density and morphology alongside analysis of leaf biochemistry. Our study provides, to the best of our knowledge, the first strong quantitative evidence that seagrass meadows of the British Isles are mostly in poor condition in comparison with global averages, with tissue nitrogen levels 75% higher than global values. Such poor status places their long-term resilience in doubt. Elemental nutrient concentrations and morphological change suggest conditions of excess nitrogen and probable low light, placing many of the meadows sampled in a perilous state, although others, situated away from human populations were perceived to be healthy. Although some sites were of a high environmental health, all sites were considered at risk from anthropogenic impacts, particularly poor water quality and boating-based disturbances. The findings of this study provide a warning of the need to take action, with respect to water quality and disturbance, to prevent the further loss and degradation of these systems across the British Isles.
5G: rethink mobile communications for 2020+
Authors: Chih-Lin I. , Han Shuangfeng , Xu Zhikun , Sun Qi , Pan Zhengang
Published: January 2016

The 5G network is anticipated to meet the challenging requirements of mobile traffic in the 2020s, which are characterized by super high data rate, low latency, high mobility, high energy efficiency and high traffic density. This paper provides an overview of China Mobile’s 5G vision and potential solutions. Three key characteristics of 5G are analysed, i.e. super fast, soft and green. The main 5G R&D themes are further elaborated, which include five fundamental rethinkings of the traditional design methodologies. The 5G network design considerations are also discussed, with cloud radio access network, ultra-dense network, software defined network and network function virtualization examined as key potential solutions towards a green and soft 5G network. The paradigm shift to user-centric network operation from the traditional cell-centric operation is also investigated, where the decoupled downlink and uplink, control and data, and adaptive multiple connections provide sufficient means to achieve a user-centric 5G network with ‘no more cells’. The software defined air interface is investigated under a uniform framework and can adaptively adapt the parameters to well satisfy various requirements in different 5G scenarios.
Energy challenges in optical access and aggregation networks
Authors: Kilper Daniel C. , Rastegarfar Houman
Published: January 2016

Scalability is a critical issue for access and aggregation networks as they must support the growth in both the size of data capacity demands and the multiplicity of access points. The number of connected devices, the Internet of Things, is growing to the tens of billions. Prevailing communication paradigms are reaching physical limitations that make continued growth problematic. Challenges are emerging in electronic and optical systems and energy increasingly plays a central role. With the spectral efficiency of optical systems approaching the Shannon limit, increasing parallelism is required to support higher capacities. For electronic systems, as the density and speed increases, the total system energy, thermal density and energy per bit are moving into regimes that become impractical to support—for example requiring single-chip processor powers above the 100 W limit common today. We examine communication network scaling and energy use from the Internet core down to the computer processor core and consider implications for optical networks. Optical switching in data centres is identified as a potential model from which scalable access and aggregation networks for the future Internet, with the application of integrated photonic devices and intelligent hybrid networking, will emerge.
The benefits of convergence
Authors: Chang Gee-Kung , Cheng Lin
Published: January 2016

A multi-tier radio access network (RAN) combining the strength of fibre-optic and radio access technologies employing adaptive microwave photonics interfaces and radio-over-fibre (RoF) techniques is envisioned for future heterogeneous wireless communications. All-band radio spectrum from 0.1 to 100 GHz will be used to deliver wireless services with high capacity, high link speed and low latency. The multi-tier RAN will improve the cell-edge performance in an integrated heterogeneous environment enabled by fibre–wireless integration and networking for mobile fronthaul/backhaul, resource sharing and all-layer centralization of multiple standards with different frequency bands and modulation formats. In essence, this is a ‘no-more-cells’ architecture in which carrier aggregation among multiple frequency bands can be easily achieved with seamless handover between cells. In this way, current and future mobile network standards such as 4G and 5G can coexist with optimized and continuous cell coverage using multi-tier RoF regardless of the underlying network topology or protocol. In terms of users’ experience, the future-proof approach achieves the goals of system capacity, link speed, latency and continuous heterogeneous cell coverage while overcoming the bandwidth crunch in next-generation communication networks.
Optical network democratization
Authors: Nejabati Reza , Peng Shuping , Simeonidou Dimitra
Published: January 2016

The current Internet infrastructure is not able to support independent evolution and innovation at physical and network layer functionalities, protocols and services, while at same time supporting the increasing bandwidth demands of evolving and heterogeneous applications. This paper addresses this problem by proposing a completely democratized optical network infrastructure. It introduces the novel concepts of the optical white box and bare metal optical switch as key technology enablers for democratizing optical networks. These are programmable optical switches whose hardware is loosely connected internally and is completely separated from their control software. To alleviate their complexity, a multi-dimensional abstraction mechanism using software-defined network technology is proposed. It creates a universal model of the proposed switches without exposing their technological details. It also enables a conventional network programmer to develop network applications for control of the optical network without specific technical knowledge of the physical layer. Furthermore, a novel optical network virtualization mechanism is proposed, enabling the composition and operation of multiple coexisting and application-specific virtual optical networks sharing the same physical infrastructure. Finally, the optical white box and the abstraction mechanism are experimentally evaluated, while the virtualization mechanism is evaluated with simulation.
From photons to big-data applications: terminating terabits
Authors: Zilberman Noa , Moore Andrew W. , Crowcroft Jon A.
Published: January 2016

Computer architectures have entered a watershed as the quantity of network data generated by user applications exceeds the data-processing capacity of any individual computer end-system. It will become impossible to scale existing computer systems while a gap grows between the quantity of networked data and the capacity for per system data processing. Despite this, the growth in demand in both task variety and task complexity continues unabated. Networked computer systems provide a fertile environment in which new applications develop. As networked computer systems become akin to infrastructure, any limitation upon the growth in capacity and capabilities becomes an important constraint of concern to all computer users. Considering a networked computer system capable of processing terabits per second, as a benchmark for scalability, we critique the state of the art in commodity computing, and propose a wholesale reconsideration in the design of computer architectures and their attendant ecosystem. Our proposal seeks to reduce costs, save power and increase performance in a multi-scale approach that has potential application from nanoscale to data-centre-scale computers.
Crystal structure of diethyl 2-acetoxy-2-[3-(4-nitrophenyl)-3-oxo-1-phenylpropyl]malonate
Authors: May Nóra Veronika , Gál Gyula Tamás , Rapi Zsolt , Bakó Péter
Published: January 2016

In the racemic title compound, C24H25NO9, the dihedral angle between the planes of the two benzene-ring systems is 80.16 (6)°, while the side-chain conformation is stabilized by a methylene–carboxyl C—H...O hydrogen bond. Weak intermolecular C—H...O hydrogen bonds form inversion dimers [graph setR22(16)] which are linked into chains extending alonga. Further C—H...O hydrogen bonding extends the structure alongbthrough cyclicR22(10) motifs. Although no π–π aromatic ring interactions are present in the structure, C—H...π ring interactions acrosscgenerate an overall three-dimensional supramolecular structure.
Are adults in need of support and protection being identified in emergency departments?
Authors: Jarvis Alison , Fennell Kate , Cosgrove Annette
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– Frequent attendance at emergency departments (ED) has been identified in adult protection reviews as a potential warning sign of the escalation of someone’s vulnerability. Concern has been expressed about the engagement of the National Health Service (NHS) in adult protection and the small number of NHS adult protection referrals. More specifically ED departments have been identified as an area of high patient through put where there has been little evidence around how well adult support and protection (ASP) was being delivered. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– A series of audits were undertaken in three different hospitals across a large Scottish Health Board accessing ED at different times of day on different days of the week to test out whether NHS staff working in EDs are identifying adults who meet the criteria of “an adult at risk”.

Findings

– The audits identified a total of 11 patients from a total sample of 552 records examined who may have met the criteria to be considered an adult at risk, although further information would have been required to make a fully informed decision.

Research limitations/implications

– The main study limitation is that the hospitals are all within a single Health Board. The EDs have a large number of admissions and it is possible that a less pressurised area, might have a lower threshold of “risk” than the practitioners involved in the audits. The decision as to whether an adult was considered to meet the three-point test by the three people undertaking the audit was dependent on the quality of information recorded on the patients’ electronic hospital record.

Practical implications

– It is essential that NHS Boards proactively support practice in ED settings so staff are able to identify adults at risk of harm under the ASP legislation so that ED staff are responsive to ASP needs.

Originality/value

– The research evidence around adult protection in the UK is still emerging. The development of good practice based on the Scottish Government’s ASP legislation is still being shaped. In England and Wales, the principles of identification and multi-agency working underpinning the safeguarding of vulnerable individuals are broadly similar to Scotland. These audits add to the literature by challenging the assumption that patients who would benefit from local authority investigation and possible support are not being identified within EDs.
Emerging climate changes and the risks to the operation of building assets in the UK
Authors: Alzahrani Abdullah , Boussabaine Halim , Alzaed Ali Nasser
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to report results from a survey on emerging climate changes and the risks to the operation of building assets in the UK. The property sector is facing major challenges as a result of projected climate change scenarios. Predictions concerning future climate change and the subsequent impact on building operations are still subject to a high degree of uncertainty. However, it is important that building stockholders consider a range of possible future risks that may influence the operation of their assets.

Design/methodology/approach

– The literature review and questionnaire are used to elicit and assess the likelihood of occurrence of climate change risks impacting building operations. The survey was carried out among building stockowners and professionals in the UK. Statistical methods were used to rank and compare the findings.

Findings

– The majority of the respondents strongly agreed that the list of risks that were elicited from the literature will have an impact on their building assets within a 0-5 years’ time horizon. It was found that the professionals were most concerned about higher energy prices and an increase in operation costs in general; they were least concerned about an electricity blackout.

Research limitations/implications

– This paper is limited to the UK, and regional variations are not explored. Nevertheless, the buildings’ operation risk study provides a starting point for further investigations into the emerging risks from climate change, and their impact on the operation of building stock. Future work could investigate direct mapping between climate risks and the financial value of properties.

Originality/value

– Findings of this paper can help professionals and building stockowners improve their understanding of climate change risks and the impact on their assets. This paper could also help these individuals to formulate appropriate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
The role of corporate reputation on co-operants behavior and organizational performance
Authors: Graca Casimiro Almeida M , Arnaldo Coelho
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– Corporate reputation (CR) is an important intangible asset of a company. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of CR on co-operants behavior and on organizational performance in co-operative organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– This investigation proposes an investigation model and tests the framework using structural equation modeling. For this purpose, 263 valid questionnaires were collected from a research sample comprised of co-operants of the biggest dairy union of co-operatives in Iberia.

Findings

– CR has a significant impact on co-operatives members’ loyalty and on co-operatives’ performance. The model provides a wider comprehension of the CR concept and introduces both the drivers and consequences.

Research limitation

– This investigation is based on a sample of members of one union of co-operatives in the specific dairy milk industry.

Practical implication

– The results give new guidelines to redress the co-operatives traditional management, namely the management of intangible assets like reputation. Internal culture, satisfaction with management, image and communication can boost reputation and thus organizational performance and members’ loyalty.

Social implication

– This paper aims to contribute to the competitiveness of a type of organization closed to the social structure of the rural population.

Originality value

– The results bring the management challenges of the twenty-first century to the traditional principles underlying co-operatives management helping them to reinforce competitiveness.
Coaching executives as tacit performance evaluation: a multiple case study
Authors: Ben-Hador Batia
Published: January 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine organizational perceptions regarding the coaching process as an evaluation tool.

Methodology

– The research method used is a multiple case study based on the author’s work with coached executives in eight organizations in Israel. Texts of 79 coaching encounters with executives, their directors and human resource personnel, were analyzed. Text analysis was performed through a qualitative method.

Findings

– The research findings provide evidence of the intensity of the coaching practice as a tacit evaluating tool for organizational functioning, in relation to five focusses: the selection of executives for the coaching meetings, the participants’ perception of their participation in the coaching process, the organizational control wishes, how participants deal with organizational supervision and confidentiality.

Research limitation

– Research findings are discussed from a perspective of power relations in the organization, and their significance is presented.

Practical implication

– The usage of the coaching tool, not only for its original purpose, but also for evaluating and controlling executives tacitly, can hurt the coaching process, and its authenticity.

Originality value

– The concept of “tacit evaluation” was developed for this research, and the concept of the coaching process as a tacit tool of control and supervision can help us to better understand the coaching process, and its covert and overt components.
Corporate Social Responsibility Spillover and Competition Effects on the Food Industry
Authors: Chen You‐Hua , Wen Xiao‐Wei , Luo Ming‐Zhong
Published: January 2016

This paper examines the spillover and competition effects of corporate social responsibility (CSR) with duopoly competition. In employing the assumption that firm CSR increases consumer willingness to pay for the firm's products while consumer willingness to pay decreases for non‐CSR firm products, some interesting conclusions are achieved. First, CSR spillover effects increase CSR firm outputs and prices, while CSR spillover has the opposite effect on competitors. Second, CSR spillover decreases total outputs and total social welfare levels. Third, competition effects increase CSR expenditures, and CSR firms' CSR policies are the most robust when non‐CSR firms assume a leading position. It is found that total outputs and consumer utilities are highest when CSR firm acts as leader, while the relationships of social welfare among different cases are ambiguous depending on product substitution and spillover effects.
Fasting glycaemia to simplify screening for gestational diabetes
Authors: Ryser Rüetschi J , Jornayvaz FR , Rivest R , Huhn EA , Irion O , Boulvain M
Published: January 2016

Objective

Recommendations in Switzerland on screening for gestational diabetes endorse the International Association of Diabetes in Pregnancy Study Group consensus. As universal testing is time consuming and glucose loading is unpleasant, the recommendations include a simplification, not performing the glucose loading in women with fasting glycaemia <4.4 mmol/l. Our objective was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of this simplified strategy, compared with the complete test, in our population with a low prevalence of gestational diabetes.

Design

We collected 2298 complete 75‐g glucose tolerance tests. We simulated stopping the test, so avoiding the glucose loading and further glycaemia, if fasting glycaemia was <4.4 or ≥5.1 mmol/l.

Setting and population

Unselected pregnant women from Geneva and Basel, at 24–28 weeks of gestation.

Methods

We calculated the sensitivity, and the percentage of women who would avoid the complete test with the strategy based on fasting glycaemia.

Results

The prevalence of gestational diabetes was 10.9% in our population. Among 251 women with gestational diabetes, fasting glycaemia was ≥5.1 mmol/l in 119 women (47.4%), between 4.4 and <5.1 mmol/l in 78 women (31.1%) and <4.4 mmol/l in 54 women (21.5%). Proceeding with the complete test only in women with fasting glycaemia between 4.4 and <5.1 mmol/l will result in a sensitivity of 78.5%. This strategy would avoid glucose loading in 63.8% of women.

Conclusions

Screening with fasting glycaemia is an attractive alternative to universal screening with the complete 75‐g glucose tolerance test. This strategy is, however, slightly less sensitive than previously reported in higher‐risk populations.

Tweetable abstract

Fasting glycaemia can be considered as an alternative to the complete test for gestational diabetes screening.
Lung cancer burden has increased during the last 40 years in Hebei Province, China
Authors: He Yutong , Li Daojuan , Song Guohui , Li Yongwei , Liang Di , Jin Jing , Wen Denggui , Shan Baoen
Published: January 2016

Background

In 2011, Hebei Province, located in North China with a population of 71 794 239, accounted for approximately 6% of the national population. It is well known as a heavily air polluted area. This study reports the lung cancer burden and mortality trend in Hebei Province from 1973 to 2011.

Methods

Eight cancer registries in Hebei Province submitted data to the Hebei Provincial Cancer Registry Center. Pooled data were stratified by area (urban/rural), gender, and age group. The proportions, cumulative incidence/mortality rates, and median age at death of lung cancer were calculated. Lung cancer mortality data of 1973–1975, 1990–1992, and 2004–2005 were extracted from national death surveys. Data of lung cancer from Cixian and Shexian were obtained from population‐based cancer registries in each county.

Results

The estimated numbers of newly diagnosed lung cancer cases and deaths in 2011 in Hebei Province were 32 623 and 27 612, respectively. The crude incidence rate of lung cancer was 45.44/100 000. The age‐standardized incidence rate by world standard population was 39.01/100 000, ranking second among all cancers. The lung cancer mortality rate was 38.46/100 000, ranking first among all cancer deaths, with a significantly increasing trend in Hebei Province from 1973–1975 to 2010–2011, with an increased rate of 189.15%.

Conclusion

Hebei Province suffers a heavy disease burden of lung cancer and an obvious increasing trend has been observed over the past 40 years. Preventive and control strategies should be encouraged.
Birding trip reports as a data source for monitoring rare species
Authors: Camacho C.
Published: January 2016

Monitoring long‐term trends in population size is important for species’ conservation assessments. However, it may be unfeasible for rare species, for which past records are typically sparse. Here, I investigate the potential of birding trip reports as an underappreciated source of biological information to monitor rare species. For this purpose, I used an uncommon species – the Peruvian thick‐knee Burhinus superciliaris – as an example to assess population trends over 2000–2010, using flock size dynamics as a proxy. I collected all observations of thick‐knees that could be accessed from birding trip reports across the entire geographic range of the species. In total, I compiled 218 records of 2403 individuals, of which 73.9% were fully useable for this study. Mean flock size declined slightly over the study period in Central Peru, whereas in North Chile it increased at the beginning of the decade and then decreased nearly 90% until the end of the study period. This suggests that, at least at the southernmost part of the distribution range of the thick‐knee, the magnitude and speed of the change in population size could be sufficient to qualify for a threatened category. The use of birding trip reports as a data source for monitoring trends of rare species seems promising compared to other sources, since sightings of sought‐after species are increasingly posted online as a form of tourist attraction and so made publicly accessible for researchers and managers. This study highlights the great utility that birding trip reports freely available online may have to provide retrospective data on rare species that would otherwise be impossible to collect. Nonetheless, they might not be universally valid due to species‐specific differences and possible lack of non‐detection records. Potential biases due to varying sampling effort or detectability should also be carefully considered.
Remotely sensed temperature and precipitation data improve species distribution modelling in the tropics
Authors: Deblauwe V. , Droissart V. , Bose R. , Sonké B. , Blach‐Overgaard A. , Svenning J.‐C. , Wieringa J. J. , Ramesh B. R. , Stévart T. , Couvreur T. L. P.
Published: January 2016

Aim

Species distribution modelling typically relies completely or partially on climatic variables as predictors, overlooking the fact that these are themselves predictions with associated uncertainties. This is particularly critical when such predictors are interpolated between sparse station data, such as in the tropics. The goal of this study is to provide a new set of satellite‐based climatic predictor data and to evaluate its potential to improve modelled species–climate associations and transferability to novel geographical regions.

Location

Rain forests areas of Central Africa, the Western Ghats of India and South America.

Methods

We compared models calibrated on the widely used WorldClim station‐interpolated climatic data with models where either temperature or precipitation data from WorldClim were replaced by data from CRU, MODIS, TRMM and CHIRPS. Each predictor set was used to model 451 plant species distributions. To test for chance associations, we devised a null model with which to compare the accuracy metric obtained for every species.

Results

Fewer than half of the studied rain forest species distributions matched the climatic pattern better than did random distributions. The inclusion of MODIS temperature and CHIRPS precipitation estimates derived from remote sensing each allowed for a better than random fit for respectively 40% and 22% more species than models calibrated on WorldClim. Furthermore, their inclusion was positively related to a better transferability of models to novel regions.

Main conclusions

We provide a newly assembled dataset of ecologically meaningful variables derived from MODIS and CHIRPS for download, and provide a basis for choosing among the plethora of available climate datasets. We emphasize the need to consider the method used in the production of climate data when working on a region with sparse meteorological station data. In this context, remote sensing data should be the preferred choice, particularly when model transferability to novel climates or inferences on causality are invoked.
Long‐term shifts in the patterns and underlying processes of plant associations in Wisconsin forests
Authors: Li Daijiang , Waller Donald
Published: January 2016

Aim

Plant species co‐occur within communities in response to variation in environmental conditions, limited species dispersal and biotic interactions. We used surveys and resurveys of the same sites of three temperate forest plant communities to study patterns of association between co‐occurring species pairs and to infer how these mechanisms contribute to community assembly. Our goal was to compare these forces among communities occupying more and less disturbed landscapes and examine how these have changed over the last 50 years.

Location

Wisconsin, USA.

Methods

We resurveyed 266 sites first surveyed in the 1950s to assess the patterns and dynamics of co‐occurrence among understorey plant species in three community types. We then used checkerboard scores, null models and a newly developed framework to infer the mechanisms likely to have driven community assembly. Finally, we compared these across the three communities and two time periods.

Results

Species co‐occur less often than expected in all three vegetation types and both periods. We detected high fractions of aggregated and segregated species pairs (up to 14% and 17%, respectively). In the fragmented southern upland forests and central sand plains, both biotic interactions and dispersal limitation may play important roles in community assembly with inferred dispersal limitation becoming more important since the 1950s. In the more continuous and intact northern upland forests, environmental filtering and biotic interactions appear to dominate community dynamics with little change over time. Aggregated and segregated species pairs made a similar contribution to our ability to infer these mechanisms.

Main conclusions

Environmental filtering, biotic interactions and dispersal limitation all appear to affect plant community structure in both time periods. However, the influence of dispersal limitation seems to be increasing in more fragmented forest landscapes, portending shifts in community composition and dynamics. Because aggregated and segregated species pairs may be shaped by similar processes both can be used to infer processes of community assembly.
Timing Matters ‐ Influenza Vaccination to HIV‐Infected Patients
Authors: Glinka ER , Smith DM , Johns ST
Published: January 2016

Objectives

Patients with HIV infection vaccinated early in the flu season are more likely to contract influenza or influenza‐like illness (ILI) compared with those receiving late vaccination. It is known that antibody titres wane over time, particularly among individuals with HIV infection. It is unclear if the timing of influenza vaccination within the flu season affects the probability of an influenza infection later during the flu season. The aim of this study is to evaluate if there is a relationship between the timing of influenza vaccination and incidence of influenza or ILI in patients with HIV infection.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study of HIV‐infected patients in care at the Department of Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System was conducted from 1 September 2005 to 31 May 2013. Among these patients, we evaluated whether there was a relationship between the timing of influenza vaccination and the incidence of laboratory‐confirmed influenza, influenza diagnosed by a physician, or ILI.

Results

Patients who received influenza vaccine early in the season were more likely to contract influenza or ILI than patients who were vaccinated late (P < 0.01). Vaccinated patients who developed influenza or ILI were more likely to do so later in the season (P < 0.01).

Conclusions

HIV‐infected patients vaccinated early in the flu season were more likely to contract influenza or ILI than those vaccinated later in the season.
Development and Validation of a Modified Multiple Errands Test for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
Authors: Steverson Tom , Adlam Anna‐Lynne R. , Langdon Peter E.
Published: January 2016

Background

The aims of the current study were to adapt a version of the MET for people with intellectual disabilities and assess its ecological and construct validity.

Material and Methods

Using a correlational design, 40 participants with intellectual disabilities were invited to complete a battery of neuropsychological assessments and the modified Multiple Errands Test for Intellectual Disabilities (mMET‐IDs).

Results

The ability to successfully complete tasks on the mMET‐IDs correlated significantly with measures of the Supervisory Attentional System, namely, the Tower of London Test and the Six Parts Test. However, performance on the mMET‐IDs and the Six Parts Test could be accounted for by Verbal IQ and receptive vocabulary. The mMET‐IDs failed to correlate with the DEX‐IR.

Conclusions

The mMET‐IDs can be successfully used to assess some aspects of the Supervisory Attentional System in people with intellectual disabilities. Further development is needed, however, to improve the ecological validity of the mMET‐IDs.
Oxaloacetate enhances neuronal cell bioenergetic fluxes and infrastructure
Authors: Wilkins Heather M. , Koppel Scott , Carl Steven M. , Ramanujan Suruchi , Weidling Ian , Michaelis Mary L. , Michaelis Elias K. , Swerdlow Russell H.
Published: January 2016

We tested how the addition of oxaloacetate (OAA) to SH‐SY5Y cells affected bioenergetic fluxes and infrastructure, and compared the effects of OAA to malate, pyruvate, and glucose deprivation. OAA displayed pro‐glycolysis and pro‐respiration effects. OAA pro‐glycolysis effects were not a consequence of decarboxylation to pyruvate because unlike OAA, pyruvate lowered the glycolysis flux. Malate did not alter glycolysis flux and reduced mitochondrial respiration. Glucose deprivation essentially eliminated glycolysis and increased mitochondrial respiration. OAA increased, while malate decreased, the cell NAD+/NADH ratio. Cytosolic malate dehydrogenase 1 protein increased with OAA treatment, but not with malate or glucose deprivation. Glucose deprivation increased protein levels of ATP citrate lyase, an enzyme which produces cytosolic OAA, whereas OAA altered neither ATP citrate lyase mRNA nor protein levels. OAA, but not glucose deprivation, increased cytochrome oxidase subunit 2, PGC1α, PGC1β, and PGC1 related co‐activator protein levels. OAA increased total and phosphorylated SIRT1 protein. We conclude that adding OAA to SH‐SY5Y cells can support or enhance both glycolysis and respiration fluxes. These effects appear to depend, at least partly, on OAA causing a shift in the cell redox balance to a more oxidized state, that it is not a glycolysis pathway intermediate, and possibly its ability to act in an anaplerotic fashion.

image

We examined how oxaloacetate (OAA) affects bioenergetic fluxes. To advance the understanding of how OAA mediates these changes, we compared the effects of OAA to malate, pyruvate, and glucose deprivation. We further examined how OAA affects levels of enzymes that facilitate its cytosolic metabolism, and found OAA increased the expression of malate dehydrogenase 1 (MDH1‐cytosolic). We propose the following: OAA supports both glycolysis and respiration fluxes, shifts the cell redox balance toward a more oxidized state, and acts in an anaplerotic fashion. Abbreviations not defined in the text: MDH2, malate dehydrogenase 2 (mitochondrial).
Assessment of brain metabolite correlates of adeno‐associated virus‐mediated over‐expression of human alpha‐synuclein in cortical neurons by in vivo1H‐MR spectroscopy at 9.4 T
Authors: Cuellar‐Baena Sandra , Landeck Natalie , Sonnay Sarah , Buck Kerstin , Mlynarik Vladimir , in ‘t Zandt René , Kirik Deniz
Published: January 2016

In this study, we used proton‐localized spectroscopy (1H‐MRS) for the acquisition of the neurochemical profile longitudinally in a novel rat model of human wild‐type alpha‐synuclein (α‐syn) over‐expression. Our goal was to find out if the increased α‐syn load in this model could be linked to changes in metabolites in the frontal cortex. Animals injected with AAV vectors encoding for human α‐syn formed the experimental group, whereas green fluorescent protein expressing animals were used as the vector‐treated control group and a third group of uninjected animals were used as naïve controls. Data were acquired at 2, 4, and 8 month time points. Nineteen metabolites were quantified in the MR spectra using LCModel software. On the basis of 92 spectra, we evaluated any potential gender effect and found that lactate (Lac) levels were lower in males compared to females, while the opposite was observed for ascorbate (Asc). Next, we assessed the effect of age and found increased levels of GABA, Tau, and GPC+PCho. Finally, we analyzed the effect of treatment and found that Lac levels (p = 0.005) were specifically lower in the α‐syn group compared to the green fluorescent protein and control groups. In addition, Asc levels (p = 0.05) were increased in the vector‐injected groups, whereas glucose levels remained unchanged. This study indicates that the metabolic switch between glucose‐lactate could be detectable in vivo and might be modulated by Asc. No concomitant changes were found in markers of neuronal integrity (e.g., N‐acetylaspartate) consistent with the fact that α‐syn over‐expression in cortical neurons did not result in neurodegeneration in this model.

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We acquired the neurochemical profile longitudinally in a rat model of human wild‐type alpha‐synuclein (α‐syn) over‐expression in cortical neurons. We found that Lactate levels were reduced in the α‐syn group compared to the control groups and Ascorbate levels were increased in the vector‐injected groups. No changes were found in markers of neuronal integrity consistent with the fact that α‐syn over‐expression did not result in frank neurodegeneration.
Neuronal filopodium formation induced by the membrane glycoprotein M6a (Gpm6a) is facilitated by coronin‐1a, Rac1, and p21‐activated kinase 1 (Pak1)
Authors: Alvarez Juliá Anabel , Frasch Alberto C. , Fuchsova Beata
Published: January 2016

Stress‐responsive neuronal membrane glycoprotein M6a (Gpm6a) functions in neurite extension, filopodium and spine formation and synaptogenesis. The mechanisms of Gpm6a action in these processes are incompletely understood. Previously, we identified the actin regulator coronin‐1a (Coro1a) as a putative Gpm6a interacting partner. Here, we used co‐immunoprecipitation assays with the anti‐Coro1a antibody to show that Coro1a associates with Gpm6a in rat hippocampal neurons. By immunofluorescence microscopy, we demonstrated that in hippocampal neurons Coro1a localizes in F‐actin‐enriched regions and some of Coro1a spots co‐localize with Gpm6a labeling. Notably, the over‐expression of a dominant‐negative form of Coro1a as well as its down‐regulation by siRNA interfered with Gpm6a‐induced filopodium formation. Coro1a is known to regulate the plasma membrane translocation and activation of small GTPase Rac1. We show that Coro1a co‐immunoprecipitates with Rac1 together with Gpm6a. Pharmacological inhibition of Rac1 resulted in a significant decrease in filopodium formation by Gpm6a. The same was observed upon the co‐expression of Gpm6a with the inactive GDP‐bound form of Rac1. In this case, the elevated membrane recruitment of GDP‐bound Rac1 was detected as well. Moreover, the kinase activity of the p21‐activated kinase 1 (Pak1), a main downstream effector of Rac1 that acts downstream of Coro1a, was required for Gpm6a‐induced filopodium formation. Taken together, our results provide evidence that a signaling pathway including Coro1a, Rac1, and Pak1 facilitates Gpm6a‐induced filopodium formation.

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Formation of filopodia by membrane glycoprotein M6a (Gpm6a) requires actin regulator coronin‐1a (Coro1a), known to regulate plasma membrane localization and activation of Rac1 and its downstream effector Pak1. Coro1a associates with Gpm6a. Blockage of Coro1a, Rac1, or Pak1 interferes with Gpm6a‐induced filopodium formation. Moreover, Gpm6a facilitates Rac1 membrane recruitment. Altogether, a mechanistic insight into the process of Gpm6a‐induced neuronal filopodium formation is provided.
BMPR2 gene therapy for PAH acts via Smad and non‐Smad signalling
Authors: Harper Rebecca L. , Reynolds Ann M. , Bonder Claudine S. , Reynolds Paul N.
Published: January 2016

Background and objective

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) continues to be a fatal disease and is associated with downregulation of bone morphogenetic protein receptor type‐2 (BMPR2). Our approach is to upregulate BMPR2 in the pulmonary vasculature allowing us to examine the changes in endothelial cell signalling and better understand what pathways are altered when disease is attenuated using this treatment approach.

Methods

We used gene delivery of BMPR2 to human pulmonary endothelial cells to investigate downstream signalling, then assessed the impact of this approach on downstream signalling in vivo in rats with PAH using the monocrotaline (MCT) model.

Results

Gene delivery of BMPR2 leads to an increase in BMPR2 protein expression, and this is associated with increased Smad1/5/8 and reduced Smad2/3 signalling. Additionally, we have found that BMPR2 modulation has effects on non‐Smad signalling with increases found in phosphoinositide‐3 kinase (PI3K) and a decrease in phosphorylated‐p38‐mitogen activated protein kinase (p38‐MAPK) in vivo. These findings are associated with amelioration of PAH (reduced right ventricular, mean pulmonary artery pressures and Fulton Index).

Conclusion

These results indicate that the therapeutic effect of BMPR2 gene delivery on PAH is associated with a switch between TGF‐β‐Smad2/3 signalling to BMPR2‐Smad1/5/8 signalling. This supports the further development of this treatment approach.
Retracted: Development and Validation of the Mathematics Teachers' Beliefs About English Language Learners Survey (MTBELL)
Authors: Gann Linda , Bonner Emily P. , Moseley Christine
Published: January 2016

Given the increasing number of English Language Learners (ELLs) in secondary mathematics classrooms, it is imperative that mathematics teacher educators develop measures for determining how and why secondary mathematics teachers (SMTs) understand and respond instructionally to these students. This paper reports on the initial development and validation of the Mathematics Teachers' Beliefs about English Language Learners survey, an instrument that measures SMTs beliefs, attitudes, knowledge base, and instructional practices in relation to meeting the academic and language needs of ELLs. Through piloting processes, the instrument was refined for a research study through which reliability and validity were established. The five constructs identified from exploratory factor analysis illustrate perceived opportunities and barriers in meeting ELLs' academic and language needs among SMTs.

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