bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mannose-Binding Lectin Gene, MBL2, Polymorphisms Do Not Increase Susceptibility to Invasive Meningococcal Disease in a Population of Danish Children
Authors: Lundbo Lene F. , Sørensen Henrik T. , Clausen Louise N. , Hollegaard Mads V. , Hougaard David M. , Konradsen Helle B. , Harboe Zitta Barrella , Nørgaard Mette , Benfield Thomas
Published: September 2015

Background.  Neisseria meningitidis is the cause of meningococcal bacteremia and meningitis, and nasopharyngeal colonization with this pathogen is common. The incidence of invasive disease is highest in infants, whereas adolescents more often are carriers. Altered regulation or dysfunction of the innate immune system may predispose to invasive meningococcal disease (IMD). In this study, we investigated the effect of genetic variation in the mannose-binding lectin gene, MBL2, and its promoter on susceptibility to IMD and IMD-associated mortality among children.

Methods.  Children (<5 years) diagnosed during 1982–2007 with IMD and controls were identified through Danish national registries. DNA was obtained from the Danish Neonatal Screening Biobank. The associations between MBL2 diplotypes and IMD susceptibility and 30- and 90-day mortality were investigated using logistic regression analysis.

Results.  We included 1351 children: 406 with meningitis, 272 with bacteremia, and 673 age- and sex-matched controls. Of the children studied, 1292 (96%) were successfully genotyped and assigned MBL2 diplotypes. The median age in IMD cases was 19.1 months (interquartile range [IQR], 8.8–32.2 months). Children with defective MBL2 diplotypes were not at higher risk for meningococcal meningitis than children with intermediate and normal diplotypes (odds ratio [OR] = 0.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], .47–1.02). Similar results were found for children with bacteremia and defective diplotypes (OR = 0.84; 95% CI, .53–1.32) as well as for all cases (OR = 0.75; 95% CI, .56–1.01). There was no association between MBL2 diplotypes and mortality.

Conclusions.  Defective MBL2 diplotypes did not predict either an increased IMD susceptibility or mortality in a Danish population of children.
Temporal Association Between Reflux‐like Behaviors and Gastroesophageal Reflux in Preterm and Term Infants
Authors: Funderburk Apryle , Nawab Ursula , Abraham Sheeja , DiPalma Joan , Epstein Michele , Aldridge Heather , Aghai Zubair H.
Published: September 2015

Objectives:

Multichannel intraluminal impedance studies (MII‐pH) have become the criterion standard for the diagnosis of gastroesophageal reflux (GER). Several clinical signs and symptoms that are attributed to GER during infancy may not be related to true reflux. Our objective was to correlate the observed reflux‐like behaviors to reflux events on MII‐pH studies.

Methods:

This is a retrospective study on infants being evaluated for GER with MII. During the MII‐pH study, the infants were observed for clinical behaviors. Symptom Index (SI), symptom sensitivity index (SSI), and symptom association probability were used to correlate symptoms with reflux events.

Results:

Of 58 infants (40 preterm, 18 term) included in the study, only 6 infants (10%) had an abnormal MII‐pH study. Irritability (32 infants), bradycardia (20), and desaturation (18) were the common signs and symptoms. A total of 2142 (755 acidic and 1386 nonacidic) reflux episodes and 953 clinical reflux behaviors were recorded. The incidence and pattern of GER was similar in preterm and term infants. There was no significant difference in GER episodes and acid exposure in preterm infants fed orally or via nasogastric tube. The symptom association probability was abnormal in only 6 (19%), 1 (5%), and 5 (28%) infants with irritability, bradycardia, and desaturation, respectively.

Conclusions:

The prevalence of GER as detected by MII‐pH was low (10%) in symptomatic preterm and term infants. The incidence and pattern of GER was similar in preterm and term infants. The majority of suspected clinical reflux behaviors did not correlate with reflux events.
Design of three-dimensional origami structures based on a vertex approach
Authors: Zhou Xiang , Wang Hai , You Zhong
Published: September 2015

Origami geometric design is fundamental to many engineering applications of origami structures. This paper presents a new method for the design of three-dimensional (3D) origami structures suitable for engineering use. Using input point sets specified, respectively, in the
x
−
z
and
y
−
z
planes of a Cartesian coordinate system, the proposed method generates the coordinates of the vertices of a folded origami structure, whose fold lines are then defined by straight line segments each connecting two adjacent vertices. It is mathematically guaranteed that the origami structures obtained by this method are developable. Moreover, an algorithm to simulate the unfolding process from designed 3D configurations to planar crease patterns is provided. The validity and versatility of the proposed method are demonstrated through several numerical examples ranging from Miura-Ori to cylinder and curved-crease designs. Furthermore, it is shown that the proposed method can be used to design origami structures to support two given surfaces.
Lysinibacillus cresolivorans sp. nov., an m-cresol-degrading bacterium isolated from coking wastewater treatment aerobic sludge
Authors: Ren Yuan , Chen Shao-yi , Yao Hai-yan , Deng Liu-jie
Published: September 2015

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming bacterium (designated strain SC03T) was isolated from the aerobic treatment sludge of a coking plant (Shaoguan City, China). The optimal pH and temperature for growth were pH 7.0 and 35 °C. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain SC03T was related to the genus Lysinibacillus and the similarity between strain SC03T and the most closely related type strain, Lysinibacillus macroides LMG 18474T, was 94.4 %. The genomic G+C content of the DNA of strain SC03T was 41.2 mol%. Chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain SC03T to the genus Lysinibacillus. These properties include MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone; iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as major fatty acids; A4α (l-Lys–d-Asp) as the cell-wall peptidoglycan type; and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine plus three unknown phospholipids as polar lipids. The phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characters enable the differentiation of strain SC03T from recognized Lysinibacillus species. Thus, strain SC03T represents a novel species of the genus Lysinibacillus, for which the name Lysinibacillus cresolivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SC03T ( = NRRL B-59352T = CCTCC M 208210T).
Lysinibacillus louembei sp. nov., a spore-forming bacterium isolated from Ntoba Mbodi, alkaline fermented leaves of cassava from the Republic of the Congo
Authors: Ouoba Labia Irène I. , Vouidibio Mbozo Alain B. , Thorsen Line , Anyogu Amarachukwu , Nielsen Dennis S. , Kobawila Simon C. , Sutherland Jane P.
Published: September 2015

Investigation of the microbial diversity of Ntoba Mbodi, an African food made from the alkaline fermentation of cassava leaves, revealed the presence of a Gram-positive, catalase-positive, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped endospore-forming bacterium (NM73) with unusual phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the isolate was most closely related to Lysinibacillus meyeri WS 4626T (98.93 %), Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus XDB9T (96.95 %) and Lysinibacillus odysseyi 34hs-1T (96.94 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness of the isolate with L. meyeri LMG 26643T, L. xylanilyticus DSM 23493T and L. odysseyi DSM 18869T was 41 %, 16 % and 15 %, respectively. The internal transcribed spacer-PCR profile of the isolate was different from those of closely related bacteria. The cell-wall peptidoglycan type was A4α, l-Lys-d-Asp and the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω10c. The polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphoaminolipid, aminolipid, two phospholipids and two unknown lipids. The predominant menaquinones were MK-7 and MK-6. Ribose was the only whole-cell sugar detected. The DNA G+C content was 38 mol%. Based on the results of the phenotypic and genotypic characterization, it was concluded that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Lysinibacillus, for which the name of Lysinibacillus louembei sp. nov. is proposed. NM73T ( = DSM 25583T = LMG 26837T) represents the type strain.
Mycobacterium abscessus prosthetic valve endocarditis in a patient with Marfan syndrome
Authors: Tennant Sarah J. , Forster Derek W. , Burgess Donna R. , Huaman Moises A.
Published: September 2015

Introduction:

Mycobacterium abscessus is a non-tuberculous mycobacterium ubiquitous in the environment, which rarely causes endovascular infections. We report the first published case, to the best of our knowledge, of M. abscessus endocarditis in a patient with Marfan syndrome.

Case presentation:

A female in her 40s with a history of Marfan syndrome status-post mechanical aortic valve replacement and a chronic indwelling venous access port presented with a 2-day history of confusion and 3-month history of intermittent fevers. Her blood cultures grew M. abscessus. An echocardiogram revealed a 1 cm vegetation attached to the prosthetic aortic valve and a perivalvular abscess. The patient was started on imipenem/cilastatin, amikacin and linezolid. Her course was complicated by septic emboli to the brain and subarachnoid haemorrhage. She was deemed a poor surgical candidate. The patient ultimately developed cardiac arrest and died.

Conclusion:

M. abscessus endocarditis is rare and is associated with high mortality. Late recognition of M. abscessus as a causative pathogen of endovascular infection, extensive antimicrobial resistance and limited surgical options at the time of diagnosis make the management of M. abscessus endocarditis very challenging.
Involvement of Campylobacter jejuni in septic arthritis: a case report
Authors: Colosimo Manuela , Grancini Anna , Daprai Laura , Giovanni Cimminiello Aldo , Castelli Cristina , Restelli Antonella , Gallelli Luca , Torresani Erminio
Published: September 2015

Introduction:

Campylobacter jejuni is the most common cause of human bacterial enteritis in developed countries and is a rare cause of extra-intestinal infections.

Case presentation:

In this paper, we report a case of septic arthritis related to C. jejuni infection in an immunocompetent 53-year-old man with prosthetic devices who presented to us with enteritis. Following treatment with ciprofloxacin, loperamide hydrochloride and acetaminophen, he developed articular pain with painful swelling and redness in the region of the outer side of the left thigh. A diagnosis of a monoarticular non-migratory manifestation was postulated and vancomycin was started but was stopped 1 day later due to the development of skin erythema, and levofloxacin, teicoplanin and rifampicin treatment was started. An X-ray of the hip excluded dislocation of the prosthesis, while ultrasound showed an abscess in the soft tissue, confirmed by a triphasic bone scan. Aspiration of the joint fluid revealed the presence of moving, curved, Gram-negative bacilli 72 h after incubation, while growth on agar plates and tryptose broth remained negative after 5 days. Reactions for Campylobacter diagnosis were positive, and the micro-organism was identified as C. jejuni. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests revealed a sensitivity for ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, imipenem, tetracycline, erythromycin and gentamicin. Antimicrobial treatment was continued for a further 10 days with complete resolution of symptoms.

Conclusion:

Clinicians should consider Campylobacter in infections without a history of a travel in the tropics. Antibiotic treatment must be carefully evaluated to take into account the local resistance to avoid clinical failure.
How can we study the evolution of animal minds?
Authors: Cauchoix Maxime , Chaine Alexis
Published: September 2015

Abstract

During the last 50 years, comparative cognition and neurosciences have improved our understanding of animal minds while evolutionary ecology has revealed how selection acts on traits through evolutionary time. We describe how this evolutionary approach can be used to understand the evolution of animal cognition. We recount howcomparativeandfitness methodshave been used to understand the evolution of cognition and outline how these methods could be extended to gain new insights into cognitive evolution. The fitness approach, in particular, offers unprecedented opportunities to study the evolutionary mechanisms responsible for variation in cognition within species and could allow us to investigate both proximate (ie: neural and developmental) and ultimate (ie: ecological and evolutionary) underpinnings of animal cognition together. Our goal in this review is to build a bridge between cognitive neuroscientist and evolutionary biologists, illustrate how their research could be complementary, and encourage evolutionary ecologists to include explicit attention to cognitive processes in their studies of behaviour. We believe that in doing so, we can break new ground in our understanding of the evolution of cognition as well as gain a much better understanding of animal behaviour.
A simple approach for maximizing the overlap of phylogenetic and comparative data
Authors: Pennell Matthew W. , FitzJohn Richard G. , Cornwell William K.
Published: September 2015

Biologists are increasingly using curated, public data sets to conduct phylogenetic comparative analyses. Unfortunately, there is often a mismatch between species for which there is phylogenetic data and those for which other data is available. As a result, researchers are commonly forced to either drop species from analyses entirely or else impute the missing data.

Here we outline a simple solution to increase the overlap while avoiding potential the biases introduced by imputing data. If some external topological or taxonomic information is available, this can be used to maximize the overlap between the data and the phylogeny. We develop an algorithm that replaces a species lacking data with a species that has data. This swap can be made because for those two species, all phylogenetic relationships are exactly equivalent.

We have implemented our method in a new R package phyndr, which will allow researchers to apply our algorithm to empirical data sets. It is relatively efficient such that taxon swaps can be quickly computed, even for large trees. To facilitate the use of taxonomic knowledge we created a separate data packagetaxonlookup;it contains a curated, versioned taxonomic lookup for land plants and is interoperable with phyndr.

Emerging online databases and statistical advances are making it possible for researchers to investigate evolutionary questions at unprecedented scales. However, in this effort species mismatch among data sources will increasingly be a problem; evolutionary informatics tools, such as phyndr and taxonlookup, can help alleviate this issue.
Efficient Disruption and Replacement of an Effector Gene in the OomycetePhytophthora sojae using CRISPR/Cas9
Authors: Fang Yufeng , Tyler Brett M
Published: September 2015

Phytophthora sojaeis a pathogenic oomycete that infects soybean seedlings as well as stems and roots of established plants, costing growers $1–2 billion per year. Due to its economic importance,P. sojaehas become a model for the study of oomycete genetics, physiology and pathology. Despite the availability of several genome sequences, the lack of efficient techniques for targeted mutagenesis and gene replacement have long hampered genetic studies of pathogenicity inPhytophthoraspecies. Here, we describe a CRISPR/Cas9 system enabling rapid and efficient genome editing inP. sojae. Using the RXLR effector geneAvr4/6as target, we observed that in the absence of a homologous template, the repair of Cas9-induced double-strand breaks (DSBs) inP. sojaewas mediated by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), primarily resulting in short indels. Most mutants were homozygous, presumably due to gene conversion triggered by Cas9-mediated cleavage of non-mutant alleles. When donor DNA was present, homology directed repair (HDR) was observed, which resulted in the replacement of the target gene with the donor DNA. By testing the specific virulence of several NHEJ mutants and HDR -mediated gene replacements on soybeans, we have validated the contribution of Avr4/6 to recognition by soybean R gene loci,Rps4 andRps6, but also uncovered additional contributions to resistance by these two loci. Our results establish a powerful tool for studying functional genomics inPhytophthora, which provides new avenues for better control of this pathogen.
Teaser: Individualized benchmarking and optimization of read mapping results for NGS data
Authors: Smolka Moritz , Rescheneder Philipp , Schatz Michael C. , Haeseler Arndt von , Sedlazeck Fritz J.
Published: September 2015

Mapping reads to a genome remains challenging, especially for non-model organisms with poorer quality assemblies, or for organisms with higher rates of mutations. While most research has focused on speeding up the mapping process, little attention has been paid to optimize the choice of mapper and parameters for a user’s dataset. Here we present Teaser, which assists in these choices through rapid automated benchmarking of different mappers and parameter settings for individualized data. Within minutes, Teaser completes a quantitative evaluation of an ensemble of mapping algorithms and parameters. Using Teaser, we demonstrate how Bowtie2 can be optimized for different data.
DNA-guided establishment of nucleosome patterns within coding regions of a eukaryotic genome
Authors: Beh Leslie Y. , Müller Manuel M. , Muir Tom W. , Kaplan Noam , Landweber Laura F.
Published: September 2015

A conserved hallmark of eukaryotic chromatin architecture is the distinctive array of well-positioned nucleosomes downstream from transcription start sites (TSS). Recent studies indicate that trans-acting factors establish this stereotypical array. Here, we present the first genome-wide in vitro and in vivo nucleosome maps for the ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila. In contrast with previous studies in yeast, we find that the stereotypical nucleosome array is preserved in the in vitro reconstituted map, which is governed only by the DNA sequence preferences of nucleosomes. Remarkably, this average in vitro pattern arises from the presence of subsets of nucleosomes, rather than the whole array, in individual Tetrahymena genes. Variation in GC content contributes to the positioning of these sequence-directed nucleosomes and affects codon usage and amino acid composition in genes. Given that the AT-rich Tetrahymena genome is intrinsically unfavorable for nucleosome formation, we propose that these “seed” nucleosomes—together with trans-acting factors—may facilitate the establishment of nucleosome arrays within genes in vivo, while minimizing changes to the underlying coding sequences.
Projection specificity in heterogeneous locus coeruleus cell populations: implications for learning and memory
Authors: Uematsu Akira , Tan Bao Zhen , Johansen Joshua P.
Published: September 2015

Noradrenergic neurons in the locus coeruleus (LC) play a critical role in many functions including learning and memory. This relatively small population of cells sends widespread projections throughout the brain including to a number of regions such as the amygdala which is involved in emotional associative learning and the medial prefrontal cortex which is important for facilitating flexibility when learning rules change. LC noradrenergic cells participate in both of these functions, but it is not clear how this small population of neurons modulates these partially distinct processes. Here we review anatomical, behavioral, and electrophysiological studies to assess how LC noradrenergic neurons regulate these different aspects of learning and memory. Previous work has demonstrated that subpopulations of LC noradrenergic cells innervate specific brain regions suggesting heterogeneity of function in LC neurons. Furthermore, noradrenaline in mPFC and amygdala has distinct effects on emotional learning and cognitive flexibility. Finally, neural recording data show that LC neurons respond during associative learning and when previously learned task contingencies change. Together, these studies suggest a working model in which distinct and potentially opposing subsets of LC neurons modulate particular learning functions through restricted efferent connectivity with amygdala or mPFC. This type of model may provide a general framework for understanding other neuromodulatory systems, which also exhibit cell type heterogeneity and projection specificity.
The impact of motivations, personal values and management skills on the performance of SMEs in South Africa
Authors: Asah Francis , Fatoki Olawale Olufunso , Rungani Ellen
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to empirically investigate the impact of motivation, personal values and managerial skills of managers on the performance of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected through the use of self-administered questionnaire in a survey. Data analysis included factor analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and regression analysis.

Findings

– The findings revealed significant positive relationships between motivations, personal values and managerial skills of SME owners on performance.

Research limitations/implications

– Access to external finance (debt or equity) is one of the factors that can impact on the performance of growing SMEs. The non-accessibility of debt finance from commercial banks and trade creditors is seen as one of the major contributing factors to the failure of SMEs in South Africa. This study did not link access to finance to performance.

Practical implications

– The failure rate of SMEs is very high in South Africa. The study suggests that SME owners should incorporate values and improve management skills. In addition, SMEs that are motivated by opportunity have a better chance of survival.

Social implications

– To reduce unemployment and poverty in South Africa.

Originality/value

– This study adds to the understanding of the relationship between of personal values, motivations and management skills of managers and the performance of SMEs from a developing country perspective.
Long-term effects of population growth on aggregate investment dynamics
Authors: Asongu Simplice A.
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The generation is witnessing the greatest demographic transition and Africa is at the heart of it. There is mounting concern over corresponding rising unemployment and depleting per capita income. The purpose of this paper is to examine the issues from a long-run perspective by assessing the relationships between population growth and a plethora of investment dynamics: public, private, foreign and domestic investments.

Design/methodology/approach

– Vector autoregressive models in the perspectives of vector error correction and short-run Granger causality are used.

Findings

– In the long-run population growth will: first, decrease foreign and public investments in Ivory Coast; second, increase public and private investments in Swaziland; three, deplete public investment but augment domestic investment in Zambia; fourth diminish private investment and improve domestic investment in the Congo Republic and Sudan, respectively.

Practical implications

– Mainstream positive linkage of population growth to investment growth in the long-term should be treated with extreme caution. Policy orientation should not be blanket, but contingent on country-specific trends and tailored differently across countries. The findings stress the need for the creation of a conducive investment climate (and ease of doing business) for private and foreign investments. Family planning and birth control policies could also be considered in countries with little future investment avenues.

Originality/value

– The objective of this study is to provide policy makers with some insights on how future investment opportunities could help manage rising population growth and corresponding unemployment.
The importance of social media on holiday visitors’ choices – the case of Athens, Greece
Authors: Kavoura Androniki , Stavrianeas Aikaterini
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine visitors’ perceptions and relevant importance of social media when choosing a Mediterranean destination and also to explore the extent in which they believe it is important for them to belong to an online community with shared characteristics among its members.

Design/methodology/approach

– A stratified, based on nationality and gender, sample of 301 respondents of foreign arrivals of visitors in the Athens airport, Greece was collected in June and July 2014 based on the official Athens Airport Authorities Arrival Research. This is a partially exploratory research.

Findings

– Differences between age groups as far as the importance attributed to social media as sources of information about a tourism destination were found. The respondents, when using the internet for gathering information about a tourism Mediterranean destination, consider different online channels. Facebook is among the most important sources of information for them associated with the tourism destinations. Official web sites/blogs of the destination are the first source and photo sharing sites are the second most preferred source; sharing aesthetics of photos was found to contribute to the feeling of belonging to an on line travel community.

Research limitations/implications

– Further research will contribute to the development of greater understanding of the strategic approaches to social media and their use to promote a destination. Greek diaspora would be interesting to examine and geographical differences among groups.

Practical implications

– The paper denotes the importance for destination management organizations and companies, to fully employ the social media in their marketing efforts.

Originality/value

– The present study increases our understanding of the adoption of online and traditional communications in the visitor’s process for Athens, Greece, shedding light to the literature existing on the significance attributed to the online travel community belonging from visitors through sharing aesthetics of photos and associations of ideas based on age differences.
Content analysis in social and environmental reporting research: trends and challenges
Authors: Vourvachis Petros , Woodward Thérèse
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to review the use of content analysis in social and environmental reporting (SER) research. It explores how the relevant literature has evolved over time and particularly how recent developments have affected the validity and reliability challenges that researchers face when executing the method.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper combines a quasi-systematic review of the literature employing content analysis (examining a sample of 251 studies published over the last 40 years in a wide array of journals with interest in the field), with a largely interpretive meta-analysis, using an index, considering the research questions asked and frameworks used as well as the specific content analysis decisions.

Findings

– A number of issues of concern in the use of the method are identified, mainly over comparability and reliability of coding schemes. Potential explanations are developed and methodological refinements that could enhance the usefulness of content analysis methods in SER research are subsequently proposed.

Research limitations/implications

– It should be acknowledged that, as 251 SER studies have been reviewed, there is always the possibility that some unique studies that could have contributed in the discussion have been ignored.

Practical implications

– By reviewing the use of the method in a comprehensive sample of 251 SER studies published over the last 40 years in a wide array of journals with interest in the field, the paper also offers a guide for researchers (particularly in the SER field) wishing to employ content analysis in the future.

Originality/value

– The paper contributes to the literature by offering a critical and comprehensive review of the method’s theoretical underpinnings and application in SER research, and by describing changing patterns in content analysis, in order to help build a more secure foundation for future work.
The Information Seeking and Communication Model
Authors: Robson Andrew , Robinson Lyn
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This study investigated the application in the field of healthcare of a recently developed model of information seeking and communication. The purpose of this paper is to test the model’s validity and to identify insights that it may provide.

Design/methodology/approach

– To investigate the model’s application to information users, the findings from published literature on physicians’ information behaviour were studied. To investigate its application to information providers, interviews were carried out with staff working for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence and with employees of pharmaceutical companies. The findings were examined using deductive content analysis.

Findings

– The findings endorse the validity of the model, with minor modifications. The model provides practical insights into the behaviour of both users and providers of information and the factors that influence them. It can be used to identify ways in which information behaviour may be positively modified in both finding and communicating healthcare information.

Originality/value

– This research demonstrates the practical value of a new model of information behaviour which was developed using insights from earlier models. In doing so it answers criticisms that research in library and information science often fails to build on previous research and that it has little practical usefulness.
“No safe haven”: denying entry to the corrupt as a new anti-corruption policy
Authors: Moiseienko Anton
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to provide an overview of the “no safe haven” anti-corruption commitment recently announced by the G20. The essence of this approach lies in denying entry to individuals reasonably believed to be complicit in massive corruption.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper is based on the analysis of international legal instruments and relevant domestic legislation (US statutes, in particular the Magnitsky Act 2012), as well as on scholarly discussions.

Findings

– Proceeding from the analysis of deficiencies in the current anti-money laundering regime, this paper makes an argument in favour of adoption of the “no safe haven” policy as a legal standard in anti-corruption cooperation, rather than a voluntary initiative.

Practical implications

– The adoption by states of the approach advocated in this paper will strengthen, or so it is submitted, the international anti-corruption regime. Importantly, it will help curb impunity of those who are shielded from investigation and prosecution in their home countries.

Originality/value

– This paper considers basic legal and policy arguments that support the “no safe haven” anti-corruption policy. Due to the novelty of this approach and the dearth of academic literature on this topic, this may be a valuable contribution to the current anti-corruption discussions.
Trade based money laundering: towards a working definition for the banking sector
Authors: Naheem Mohammed Ahmad
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore in depth some of the main criminal elements involved in trade-based money laundering (TBML) and outlines the gaps in banking risk assessment as a result of this. The focus is on new and emerging risks due to criminal manipulation of the anti-money laundering (AML) risk assessment processes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper uses secondary data to provide the current context in which TBML risk assessment is being carried out and how criminals have responded to this; it concludes the empirical section by surmising the emerging risks that AML risk assessment need to consider. The paper then introduces the basic components that future theoretical frameworks looking at banking AML risk assessment would need to consider. This includes a more in-depth understanding of how criminals are bypassing AML risk assessment so that countermeasures can be put in place and AML frameworks strengthened and updated.

Findings

– The main findings are that sophisticated criminal processes exist that can be used to bypass and divert current banking risk assessment techniques. An overdependence on traditional customer due diligence and transaction monitoring can easily be thwarted, and banks need to develop a stronger AML assessment framework.

Research limitations/implications

– The research focused primarily on client documentation; however, another area of research would be needed to cover criminal manipulation of trade documents and other components of TBML transactions.

Practical implications

– The implications from the research affect any financial organization undertaking AML risk analysis or compliance. It applies to the banking, insurance and auditing professions, as well as is of interest to academics working on TBML projects.

Social implications

– The social implications are that non-criminal clients within banks could be faced with tougher requirements for documentation and ID proof, which could reduce efficiency and, if not handled properly, even alienate further some sectors of society who are already struggling to access the main banking and financial services sectors.

Originality/value

– The originality of this paper is the inclusion of criminal responses to TBML risk assessment and a review of flaws and gaps in AML risk assessment procedures. Dynamic risk assessment needs to be continuously updated and new emerging market risks appropriately addressed. This paper highlights some of the current and emerging AML risks for the banking and financial services sector.
Yearly reduction of glucocorticoid dose by 50% as tapering schedule achieves complete remission for 124 pemphigus vulgaris patients
Authors: Wang Mingyue , Gao Yu , Peng Yang , Zhao Junyu , Chen Xixue , Zhu Xuejun
Published: September 2015

Glucocorticoids are the first‐line treatment for pemphigus vulgaris. Among 140 patients receiving systemic glucocorticoids, 124 patients achieved complete remission off or on a prednisone dose of ≤10 mg/day or less for 6 months or more. The mean average steroid controlling doses were 0.65, 0.62, 0.80, 1.08 and 1.38 mg/kg per day for the mucosal‐dominant patients and the mild, moderate, severe and extensive cutaneous‐involved patients, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean durations of the initial tapering after controlling doses started were 77.98, 48.78, 31.74 and 28.83 days when the disease was controlled with doses of 40 mg/day or less, 45–60 mg/day, 65–80 mg/day and more than 80 mg/day for the cutaneous‐involved types, respectively (P < 0.005). Of the patients, 79.51% achieved complete remission within 3 years, 98.36% within 5 years and all within 6 years, which corresponded to a 50% yearly reduction of glucocorticoid dose. These successfully treated patients indicate that a severity‐tailored initial dose of glucocorticoids, an initial tapering duration based on the initial dose and a subsequent 50% yearly tapering regimen may cure pemphigus vulgaris within 3–6 years.
Eccrine porocarcinoma shares dermoscopic characteristics with eccrine poroma: A report of three cases and review of the published work
Authors: Edamitsu Tomohiro , Minagawa Akane , Koga Hiroshi , Uhara Hisashi , Okuyama Ryuhei
Published: September 2015

Eccrine porocarcinoma (EPC) is a rare malignant skin tumor presumably arising from the intraepidermal ductal portion of the sweat gland. EPC occasionally mimics eccrine poroma (EP), seborrhea keratosis (SK), basal cell carcinoma (BCC), pyogenic granuloma (PG) and amelanotic melanoma with its clinical appearance as a pink nodule. Dermoscopy is an invaluable technique in diagnosing skin tumors. However, few cases of EPC have been reported using dermoscopic images, and their details were not well examined. Here, we present three histopathologically proven cases of EPC and summarize their dermoscopic findings together with five previously reported cases. None of the eight cases showed dermoscopic evidence indicative of SK (comedo‐like openings, milia‐like cysts, fissures and ridges, and hairpin vessels with white halo), BCC (blue‐gray ovoid nests, multiple blue‐gray globules, wheel‐like structures, shiny white areas, leaf‐like areas and arborizing vessels) or PG (reddish homogeneous area with collarette and white rail lines). A milky red area, which was suggestive of amelanotic melanoma, was not detectable in any cases. Seven cases exhibited a polymorphous vascular pattern mainly consisting of hairpin, linear‐irregular and dotted vessels. A combination of round‐to‐oval pink‐white structureless areas and white‐to‐pink halo was observed in five of eight cases, with one case showing the white‐to‐pink halo alone. Our investigation revealed that the dermoscopic characteristic of EP was also observed in discrete areas of EPC lesions. Thus, it is possible that the histopathological architecture of EPC contains portions of benign EP‐like components. Awareness of this dermoscopic aspect of EPC may be helpful when diagnosing pink nodules.
Functional correlations between specific leaf area and specific root length along a regional environmental gradient in Inner Mongolia grasslands
Authors: Cheng Junhui , Chu Pengfei , Chen Dima , Bai Yongfei
Published: September 2015

Among above‐ and below‐ground traits, specific leaf area (SLA, cm2 g−1) and specific root length (SRL, m g−1) are the two key traits reflecting species resource acquisition strategies. However, patterns of variation in SLA and SRL have rarely been examined simultaneously across evolutionary history and environmental gradients, and the SLA–SRL relationship is still controversial on several grounds.

We examined the inter‐ and intraspecific variations in SLA and SRL of different root branching orders and the SLA–SRL relationship across 55 species and 21 plant communities of four vegetation types along a 2000‐km transect in the Inner Mongolia grassland.

With increasing root branching order, the interspecific variation in SRL increased, but the intraspecific variation in SRL decreased considerably, and the form of SLA–SRL relationship shifted from positive to negative. This indicates that acquisition of soil resources (e.g. water and nutrients) is a fundamental strategy for plant investment to root length. When inter‐ and intraspecific variations in SLA and SRLs were partitioned into alpha (within‐community) and beta (among‐community) components, the alpha component exhibited substantially greater inter‐ and intraspecific variations than the beta component.

Across the transect, the evolutionarily late diverged species in phylogenetic tree evolved towards low SLA and SRL‐1 (SRL for first‐order roots) and tended to distribute in resource‐poor conditions along the environmental gradient. The early diverged species, in contrast, had high SLA and SRL‐1 and mostly distributed in resource‐rich conditions.

Our findings suggest that patterns of inter‐ and intraspecific variations in SLA and SRL of different root branching orders and the form of SLA–SRL relationship could be well explained by within‐ and among‐community filtering processes and species divergence time. Coordination and trade‐offs between leaves and roots do not mutually exclude but operate simultaneously at different scales and among different root branching orders in arid and semi‐arid grasslands.
Reefscapes of fear: predation risk and reef hetero‐geneity interact to shape herbivore foraging behaviour
Authors: Catano Laura B. , Rojas Maria C. , Malossi Ryan J. , Peters Joseph R. , Heithaus Michael R. , Fourqurean James W. , Burkepile Deron E.
Published: September 2015

Predators can exert strong direct and indirect effects on ecological communities by intimidating their prey. The nature of predation risk effects is often context dependent, but in some ecosystems these contingencies are often overlooked.

Risk effects are often not uniform across landscapes or among species. Indeed, they can vary widely across gradients of habitat complexity and with different prey escape tactics. These context dependencies may be especially important for ecosystems such as coral reefs that vary widely in habitat complexity and have species‐rich predator and prey communities.

With field experiments using predator decoys of the black grouper (Mycteroperca bonaci), we investigated how reef complexity interacts with predation risk to affect the foraging behaviour and herbivory rates of large herbivorous fishes (e.g. parrotfishes and surgeonfishes) across four coral reefs in the Florida Keys (USA). In both high and low complexity areas of the reef, we measured how herbivory changed with increasing distance from the predator decoy to examine how herbivorous fishes reconcile the conflicting demands of avoiding predation vs. foraging within a reefscape context.

We show that with increasing risk, herbivorous fishes consumed dramatically less food (ca. 90%) but fed at a faster rate when they did feed (ca. 26%). Furthermore, we show that fishes foraging closest to the predator decoy were 40% smaller than those that foraged at further distances. Thus, smaller individuals showed muted response to predation risk compared to their larger counterparts, potentially due to their decreased risk to predation or lower reproductive value (i.e. the asset protection principle). Habitat heterogeneity mediated risk effects differently for different species of herbivores, with predation risk more strongly suppressing herbivore feeding in more complex areas and for individuals at higher risk of predation.

Predators appear to create a reefscape of fear that changes the size structure of herbivores towards smaller individuals, increases individual feeding rates, but suppresses overall amounts of primary producers consumed, potentially altering patterns of herbivory, an ecosystem process critical for healthy coral reefs.
Do early warning indicators consistently predict nonlinear change in long‐term ecological data?
Authors: Burthe Sarah J. , Henrys Peter A. , Mackay Eleanor B. , Spears Bryan M. , Campbell Ronald , Carvalho Laurence , Dudley Bernard , Gunn Iain D. M. , Johns David G. , Maberly Stephen C. , May Linda , Newell Mark A. , Wanless Sarah , Winfield Ian J. , Thackeray Stephen J. , Daunt Francis
Published: September 2015

Anthropogenic pressures, including climate change, are causing nonlinear changes in ecosystems globally. The development of reliable early warning indicators (EWIs) to predict these changes is vital for the adaptive management of ecosystems and the protection of biodiversity, natural capital and ecosystem services. Increased variance and autocorrelation are potential early warning indicators and can be readily estimated from ecological time series. Here, we undertook a comprehensive test of the consistency between early warning indicators and nonlinear abundance change across species, trophic levels and ecosystem types.

We tested whether long‐term abundance time series of 55 taxa (126 data sets) across multiple trophic levels in marine and freshwater ecosystems showed (i) significant nonlinear change in abundance ‘turning points’ and (ii) significant increases in variance and autocorrelation (‘early warning indicators’). For each data set, we then quantified the prevalence of three cases: true positives (early warning indicators and associated turning point), false negatives (turning point but no associated early warning indicators) and false positives (early warning indicators but no turning point).

True positives were rare, representing only 9% (16 of 170) of cases using variance, and 13% (19 of 152) of cases using autocorrelation. False positives were more prevalent than false negatives (53% vs. 38% for variance; 47% vs. 40% for autocorrelation). False results were found in every decade and across all trophic levels and ecosystems.

Time series that contained true positives were uncommon (8% for variance; 6% for autocorrelation), with all but one time series also containing false classifications. Coherence between the types of early warning indicators was generally low with 43% of time series categorized differently based on variance compared to autocorrelation.

Synthesis and applications. Conservation management requires effective early warnings of ecosystem change using readily available data, and variance and autocorrelation in abundance data have been suggested as candidates. However, our study shows that they consistently fail to predict nonlinear change. For early warning indicators to be effective tools for preventative management of ecosystem change, we recommend that multivariate approaches of a suite of potential indicators are adopted, incorporating analyses of anthropogenic drivers and process‐based understanding.
The overlooked role of biotic factors in controlling the ecological performance of artificial marine habitats
Authors: Ferrario Filippo , Iveša Ljiljana , Jaklin Andrej , Perkol‐Finkel Shimrit , Airoldi Laura
Published: September 2015

Artificial structures are sprawling in marine seascapes as a result of burgeoning coastal populations, increasing development and energy demand, and greater risks from climate change, storm surges and sea level rise. Interest in designing marine developments that maintain vital ecosystems and critical services is growing, but progress requires understanding the factors that influence the ecological performance of these novel artificial habitats.

We combined field observations and experiments along 500 km of the North Adriatic coastline to analyse the performance of artificial substrata as habitats to support canopy‐forming algae belonging to the genus Cystoseira, among the most ecologically relevant foundation species along rocky Mediterranean coastlines. We aimed to: clarify the underlying factors controlling the growth of Cystoseira in the artificial habitat; contrast the relative importance of these factors between artificial and natural habitats; and test the generality of the results across different sites and species of Cystoseira.

We found that: (i) the growth of canopy algae was significantly lower on artificial structures compared to rocky reefs; (ii) such lower growth of canopy algae was not related to less favourable abiotic conditions but to higher biotic disturbance from both consumptive and nonconsumptive interactions on the artificial structures compared to the natural reef; and iii) this was consistent across different study sites and canopy‐forming species.

We conclude that biological factors influencing the growth of canopy algae, such as herbivory or other nonconsumptive disturbances, can differ substantially between artificial and natural habitats. The unusually large and previously unreported biotic pressure characterizing many artificial structures can negatively affect their performance as habitats to support ecologically relevant, foundation species.

Synthesis and applications. While nearly all considerations to improve the ecological performance of hard marine infrastructures focus on abiotic factors (e.g. construction materials, surface texture, habitat complexity or water quality), careful consideration of critical biotic factors is also needed to further progress the green engineering of sprawling marine infrastructures.