bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An experimental test of the habitat‐amount hypothesis for saproxylic beetles in a forested region
Authors: Seibold Sebastian , Bässler Claus , Brandl Roland , Fahrig Lenore , Förster Bernhard , Heurich Marco , Hothorn Torsten , Scheipl Fabian , Thorn Simon , Müller Jörg
Published: March 2017

The habitat‐amount hypothesis challenges traditional concepts that explain species richness within habitats, such as the habitat‐patch hypothesis, where species number is a function of patch size and patch isolation. It posits that effects of patch size and patch isolation are driven by effects of sample area, and thus that the number of species at a site is basically a function of the total habitat amount surrounding this site. We tested the habitat‐amount hypothesis for saproxylic beetles and their habitat of dead wood by using an experiment comprising 190 plots with manipulated patch sizes situated in a forested region with a high variation in habitat amount (i.e., density of dead trees in the surrounding landscape). Although dead wood is a spatio‐temporally dynamic habitat, saproxylic insects have life cycles shorter than the time needed for habitat turnover and they closely track their resource. Patch size was manipulated by adding various amounts of downed dead wood to the plots (~800 m³ in total); dead trees in the surrounding landscape (~240 km2) were identified using airborne laser scanning (light detection and ranging). Over 3 yr, 477 saproxylic species (101,416 individuals) were recorded. Considering 20–1,000 m radii around the patches, local landscapes were identified as having a radius of 40–120 m. Both patch size and habitat amount in the local landscapes independently affected species numbers without a significant interaction effect, hence refuting the island effect. Species accumulation curves relative to cumulative patch size were not consistent with either the habitat‐patch hypothesis or the habitat‐amount hypothesis: several small dead‐wood patches held more species than a single large patch with an amount of dead wood equal to the sum of that of the small patches. Our results indicate that conservation of saproxylic beetles in forested regions should primarily focus on increasing the overall amount of dead wood without considering its spatial arrangement. This means dead wood should be added wherever possible including in local landscapes with low or high dead‐wood amounts. For species that have disappeared from most forests owing to anthropogenic habitat degradation, this should, however, be complemented by specific conservation measures pursued within their extant distributional ranges.
Discourses, Narratives and Purposeful Action – Unraveling the Social–Ecological Complexity within the Brahmaputra Basin in India
Authors: Varma Navarun , Mishra Arabinda
Published: March 2017

Issues of disaster and governance in the Brahmaputra Basin of India have been part of different debates within the epistemic boundaries. This study of a social–ecological regime shift, from a prosperous paddy cultivated region within the north bank of the Upper Brahmaputra Valley to a sediment deposited wasteland, unravels the complex relations between narratives of a problem and purposeful action. It is found that policy and practice solutions may not always be grounded in the problem situation but can be shaped by wider discourses and social learning. The study illustrates the continuation of engineering solutions without deeper understanding of their influence on social dynamics, the typification of community behaviour with an ignorance of cultural legacies, and a lack of prioritization of adaptation needs in the novel social–ecological conditions of the region. The conceptual frameworks of flood control debates contribute to distinct discourses influencing policy and praxis, while the discontented riparian community is motivated, by actors influenced by identity and space politics, towards political autonomy. Such influences of opposing discourses may reinforce the narrative of a trust gap between the Indian polity and its Northeast Region. The study further identifies a latent capacity for flexibility in the community, which requires more attention from policy and praxis to explore management solutions in such a complex social–ecological system. The paper argues for science, policy and practice engagements in such contexts and the use of transdisciplinary heuristics for their design to facilitate shared understanding. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Sustainability and the Governance of the Financial System: What role for full reserve banking?
Authors: Røpke Inge
Published: March 2017

The financial crisis demonstrated the importance of money and finance for the key concerns of ecological economics: inequality, wellbeing and the conditions for sustainability transitions. To cope with the combined challenge of economic and environmental crises, one of the most popular governance proposals within the ecological economics community is to introduce full reserve banking, where retail banks are required to fully back demand deposits with reserves of government‐issued money. Banks can have separate investment activities where they lend funds from time deposits and equity capital, but they are no longer allowed to create new money. In principle, money creation is left to the state and the central bank. Proponents argue that such a system would increase economic stability, remove the undue profits that banks earn due to money creation and make this money available for social purposes instead. However, the idea has met substantial criticism from Post‐Keynesians, who are seen as natural allies of ecological economics. The purpose of this paper is to explore the usefulness of the proposal as a response to the combined challenge of governing economic and environmental crises. First, the roots of the present economic crisis are sketched out, and the key ecological economic concerns related to the crisis are outlined. Then, the main arguments in the debate on full reserve banking are explored, concluding that an intermediate position that combines tough restrictions on finance with increased public money creation is a better option. Finally, the discussion is put into a broader perspective. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment
Asymmetric Hydrogenation of Cyclic Imines of Benzoazepines and Benzodiazepines with Chiral, Cationic Ruthenium–Diamine Catalysts
Authors: Yang Zhusheng , Ding Ziyuan , Chen Fei , He Yan‐Mei , Yang Nianfa , Fan Qing‐Hua
Published: March 2017

A method for the highly enantioselective hydrogenation of diverse seven‐membered N‐containing heterocycles, including 2,4‐diaryl‐3H‐benzo[b]azepines, racemic 2,2,4‐trisubstituted 2,3‐dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]diazepines, and 4‐substituted 1H‐benzo[b][1,4]diazepin‐2(3H)‐ones by using chiral, cationic ruthenium–diamine catalysts was developed. Reversal of enantioselectivity was observed for all of these substrates simply by changing the achiral counteranion of the catalyst. This method thus provided facile access to both enantiomers of these optically pure seven‐membered heterocycles.
Phase‐Transfer‐Catalyzed Asymmetric Michael Addition of (Iminomethyl)phosphonates to α,β‐Unsaturated Ketones: Access to α‐Aminophosphonic Acid Derivatives
Authors: Li Jin‐Shan , Cui Han‐Feng , Zhang Ke‐Feng , Nie Jing , Ma Jun‐An
Published: March 2017

A phase‐transfer‐catalyzed asymmetric Michael addition of (iminomethyl)phosphonates to α,β‐unsaturated ketones is described. In the presence of 1 mol‐% of a chiral dinuclear N‐spiro ammonium salt, the addition reaction proceeded smoothly to afford the adducts in up to 97 % yield with up to 99:1 dr and 78 % ee. One of the products was readily converted into a cyclic α‐aminophosphonic acid derivative without any erosion of the enantiopurity.
Copper‐Catalyzed Carbonylative Cross‐Coupling of Arylboronic Acids with N‐Chloroamines for the Synthesis of Aryl Amides
Authors: Yin Zhiping , Wang Zechao , Li Wanfang , Wu Xiao‐Feng
Published: March 2017

A novel copper‐catalyzed carbonylative cross‐coupling between N‐chloroamines and arylboronics acids has been developed. With copper(I) oxide as the catalyst, various desired amide compounds were produced in moderate to good yields. Functional groups such as iodide and alkene are tolerated. Notably, this is the first example of a copper‐catalyzed aminocarbonylation with N‐chloroamines.
Examining the relationship between intellectual capital and performance of listed environmental protection companies
Authors: Xu Xin‐long , Yang Xiao‐nan , Zhan Liang , Liu Cheng Kun , Zhou Ni‐di , Hu Meimei
Published: March 2017

Environmental deterioration from industrial development in mainland China has become a focus for public concern. The emerging environmental protection (EP) industry has become prominent recently because it has set high standards for technology and equipment, and has been tasked to provide solutions to difficult environmental problems. In this paper we looked at the performance of the EP industry using econometric software, intellectual capital architecture and data collected from 35 Chinese enterprises for 2010 through 2014. Intellectual capital (IC) is subdivided into human capital (HC), innovation capital (INC) and structure capital (SC). Using the Value Added Intellectual Capital coefficient (VAIC), we have built a multiple regression model to explore the relationship between the performance of IC and EP. We found that while the human and structural components of IC exert a significant positive influence on enterprise performance, innovation capital does not. We have offered suggestions for performance improvements to the EP industry through IC management. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 1056–1066, 2017
Speed distribution analysis based on maximum entropy principle and Weibull distribution function
Authors: Shoaib Muhammad , Siddiqui Imran , Rehman Shafiqur , ur Rehman Saif , Khan Shamim
Published: March 2017

Present study is aimed at constructing a probability distribution function using Maximum Entropy Principle and Weibull distribution function. A comparison between the two modeled function is given and error analysis is performed. For the purpose of study, 10 min averaged wind data measured at Keti Bandar, Pakistan for 21 months is used. Among many nonlinear equations as probability distribution functions with (N + 1) Lagrange multipliers and subject to moment constraints of the given set of wind speed data, a distribution function is selected for which entropy is maximized. Lagrange multipliers are determined for 5, 6, and 7 low order moments and corresponding entropies and probability distribution function are also determined. Goodness‐of‐fit is assured Kolmogorov–Smirnov (KS) test between the calculated cdfs of the theoretically function based on MaxEnt and recorded wind speed data. At 60 m, the monthly mean wind speed was varied between 5.18 and 8.15 m/s corresponding to the months of October and May with an overall mean of 6.6 m/s. On the other hand, the wind power density varied between a minimum of 82.8 W/m2 and a maximum 334 W/m2 for the months of October and May with an overall annual mean of 176.06 W/m2. Test results indicate a good fit of the modeled function based on MaxEnt as KS test statistic, Q < critical value, Q95 (∼10−2). R2, RMSE, and χ2 tests are also performed for testing goodness‐of‐fit of Weibull function. The study concluded that the MaxEnt based function is an alternative to Weibull based function. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 1480–1489, 2017
The role of low light intensity: A cheap, stable, and solidly efficient amorphous Sb2S3 powder/hypericin composite/PVA matrix loaded with electrolyte solar cell
Authors: Lojpur Vesna , Mitrić Miodrag , Kačarević‐Popović Zorica , Radosavljević Aleksandra , Rakočević Zlatko , Lj Validžić Ivana
Published: March 2017

We report here on an inexpensive, solid and stable solar cell designed and made entirely of synthesized materials, Sb2S3/hypericin (dye) thin film on ITO‐coated glass (working electrode), aluminum (counter electrode), and PVA matrix (solid carrier) loaded with electrolyte (0.5M KI + 0.05M I2). The fact that the cell is inexpensive but also stable and solid, with efficiency of around 1.3%/cm2 at a very low light intensity of only 5% sun, makes it particularly suitable for indoor applications. At higher light intensities of 25 and 55% sun, however, the cell exhibits lower efficiency, around 0.3 and 0.07%/cm2, respectively. Development of low‐cost cell technology combined with understanding of low light utilization and setting of standard conditions should be some of the future directions the research in this area should follow. Therefore, in this work, we tried to give sufficient reasons for establishing standard conditions related to low light intensity. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 36: 1507–1516, 2017
Sediment detachment and transport processes associated with internal erosion of soil pipes
Authors: Wilson Glenn V. , Wells Robert , Kuhnle Roger , Fox Garey , Nieber John
Published: March 2017

Subsurface flow can be an important process in gully erosion through its impact on decreasing soil cohesion and erosion resistance as soil water content or pressure increases and more directly by the effects of seepage forces on particle detachment and piping. The development of perched water tables fosters lateral flow that can result in seepage at the surface and/or formation of soil pipes by internal erosion of preferential flow paths. Continued internal erosion of soil pipes can lead to gullies, dam and levee failures. However, the processes involved in particle and aggregate detachment from soil pipe walls and transport processes within soil pipes have not been well studied or documented. This paper reviews the limited research on sediment detachment and transport in macropores and soil pipes and applies the knowledge learned from the much more extensive studies conducted on streams and industrial pipes to hydrogeologic conditions of soil pipes. Knowledge gaps are identified and recommendations are made for future research on sediment detachment and transport in soil pipes. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
An Investigation of the e‐rater® Automated Scoring Engine's Grammar, Usage, Mechanics, and Style Microfeatures and Their Aggregation Model
Authors: Chen Jing , Zhang Mo , Bejar Isaac I.
Published: March 2017

Automated essay scoring (AES) generally computes essay scores as a function of macrofeatures derived from a set of microfeatures extracted from the text using natural language processing (NLP). In the e‐rater® automated scoring engine, developed at Educational Testing Service (ETS) for the automated scoring of essays, each of four macrofeatures (grammar, usage, mechanics, and style [GUMS]) is computed from a set of microfeatures. Statistical analyses reveal that some of these microfeatures might not explain much of the variance in human scores regardless of the writing tasks. Currently, the microfeatures in the same macrofeature group are equally weighted to produce the macrofeature score. We propose an alternative weighting scheme that gives higher weights to the microfeatures that are more predictive of human scores in each macrofeature group. Our results suggest that even though there is negligible difference between the proposed and the current equal weighting schemes and the current model in terms of the prediction of human scores and the correlation with external measures, our scheme improves the consistency of the resultant macrofeature scores across writing tasks to a considerable extent.
Continuing a Culture of Evidence: Assessment for Improvement
Authors: Russell Javarro , Markle Ross
Published: March 2017

From 2006 to 2008, Educational Testing Service (ETS) produced a series of reports titled A Culture of Evidence, designed to capture a changing climate in higher education assessment. A decade later, colleges and universities already face new and different challenges resulting from societal, technological, and scientific influences. This new series of reports describes current issues and trends in assessment and how they relate to the needs of higher education institutions. In this report, we discuss the shift from accountability‐based assessment to improvement‐based assessment. When conducted for improvement, assessment is more inclusive of institutional faculty and staff, more informative to colleges and universities, and—it is hoped—focused on enhancing instruction and learning. However, these positive outcomes do not come without challenges. Ultimately, assessment‐for‐improvement has implications for many of the people, processes, and tools used to measure student learning.
Coiled Plant Tendril Bioinspired Fabrication of Helical Porous Microfibers for Crude Oil Cleanup
Authors: Zhao Yueyue , Miao Xiaran , Lin Jinyou , Li Xiuhong , Bian Fenggang , Wang Jie , Zhang Xiangzhi , Yue Baohua
Published: March 2017

Fabrication of the helical fibers with sheath/core structure comprising 3D interconnected porous polystyrene (PS) and ductile polyvinylidene fluoride is inspired by coiled plant tendril. The key innovation point applied in this study is to produce a helical porous system based on sheath/core structure that can come into being a huge storage space in the sorption process for crude oil. More importantly, the mechanical properties confirm to have a more excellent improvement than that of the initial PS fibers, which make it become a possible candidate for the large‐area sorption and reuse of crude oil from the ocean or industry. The bioinspired fabricating strategy opens a significant avenue between the coaxial electrospinning and crude oil contamination cleanup. It is also expected that the unique structure can make it a promising candidate for applications in energy conversion, tissue engineering, and intelligent devices.
On the association analysis of genome‐sequencing data: A spatial clustering approach for partitioning the entire genome into nonoverlapping windows
Authors: Loehlein Fier Heide , Prokopenko Dmitry , Hecker Julian , Cho Michael H. , Silverman Edwin K. , Weiss Scott T. , Tanzi Rudolph E. , Lange Christoph
Published: March 2017

For the association analysis of whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) studies, we propose an efficient and fast spatial‐clustering algorithm. Compared to existing analysis approaches for WGS data, that define the tested regions either by sliding or consecutive windows of fixed sizes along variants, a meaningful grouping of nearby variants into consecutive regions has the advantage that, compared to sliding window approaches, the number of tested regions is likely to be smaller. In comparison to consecutive, fixed‐window approaches, our approach is likely to group nearby variants together. Given existing biological evidence that disease‐associated mutations tend to physically cluster in specific regions along the chromosome, the identification of meaningful groups of nearby located variants could thus lead to a potential power gain for association analysis. Our algorithm defines consecutive genomic regions based on the physical positions of the variants, assuming an inhomogeneous Poisson process and groups together nearby variants. As parameters are estimated locally, the algorithm takes the differing variant density along the chromosome into account and provides locally optimal partitioning of variants into consecutive regions. An R‐implementation of the algorithm is provided. We discuss the theoretical advances of our algorithm compared to existing, window‐based approaches and show the performance and advantage of our introduced algorithm in a simulation study and by an application to Alzheimer's disease WGS data. Our analysis identifies a region in the ITGB3 gene that potentially harbors disease susceptibility loci for Alzheimer's disease. The region‐based association signal of ITGB3 replicates in an independent data set and achieves formally genome‐wide significance.

Software Implementation: An implementation of the algorithm in R is available at: https://github.com/heidefier/cluster_wgs_data.
An astroglial basis of major depressive disorder? An overview
Authors: Wang Qian , Jie Wei , Liu Ji‐Hong , Yang Jian‐Ming , Gao Tian‐Ming
Published: March 2017

Depression is a chronic, recurring, and serious mood disorder that afflicts up to 20% of the global population. The monoamine hypothesis has dominated our understanding of the pharmacotherapy of depression for more than half a century; however, our understanding of the pathophysiology and pathogenesis of major depression has lagged far behind. Astrocytes are the most abundant and versatile cells in the brain, participating in most, if not all, of brain functions as both a passive housekeeper and an active player. Mounting evidence from clinical, preclinical and post‐mortem studies has revealed a decrease in the number or density of astrocytes and morphological and functional astroglial atrophy in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and in animal models of depression. Furthermore, currently available antidepressant treatments at least partially exert their therapeutic effects on astrocytes. More importantly, dysfunctional astrocytes lead to depressive‐like phenotypes in animals. Together, current studies point to astroglial pathology as the potential root cause of MDD. Thus, a shift from a neuron‐centric to an astrocyte‐centric cause of MDD has gained increasing attention during the past two decades. Here we will summarize the current evidence supporting the hypothesis that MDD is a disease of astrocyte pathology and highlight previous studies on promising strategies that directly target astrocytes for the development of novel antidepressant treatments.
The relationship of specific items on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory to caregiver burden in dementia: a systematic review
Authors: Terum Toril Marie , Andersen John Roger , Rongve Arvid , Aarsland Dag , Svendsboe Ellen J. , Testad Ingelin
Published: March 2017

Objective

Neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSs) are common in dementia, and they have been identified as important care‐recipient variables in terms of their impact on caregiver burden. The aim of this review was to describe how individual NPSs in dementia, assessed using the Neuropsychiatric Inventory, are associated with caregiver burden.

Methods

We performed a systematic review of English language, peer‐reviewed articles retrieved from MEDLINE, PSYCINFO, and EMBASE.

Results

A total of 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Four studies examined the association between individual NPSs and caregiver burden using the Spearman rank correlation test, while three used Pearson's correlation test. Of the remaining studies, five used multiple regression analyses and one the chi‐squared test. The majority of included studies did not differentiate between dementia subtypes in the analysis or mainly included only caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease. The Clinical Dementia Rating score and mean Mini‐Mental State Examination score indicate mild to moderate dementia. The majority of caregivers were women, most of whom were children (53.8%) or spouses (36%). The data indicated that irritability, followed by agitation, sleep disturbances, anxiety, apathy, and delusion seem to impact caregiver burden the most.

Conclusion

Our principal finding is that irritability, agitation, sleep disturbances, anxiety, apathy, and delusion seem to exert the most impact on caregiver burden. Heterogeneity in the measures and statistical analyses used, however, makes it difficult to make conclusive interpretations. Future research in this field would benefit from standardization of the scientific methodology in use. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Performance Impact of Temporal Strategic Fit:Entrainment of Internationalization with Pro‐Market Reforms
Authors: Popli Manish , Akbar Mohammad , Kumar Vikas , Gaur Ajai
Published: March 2017

Research summary

Pro‐market reforms in emerging markets evolve in a temporal pattern, however extant studies examining the impact of pro‐market reforms have eschewed temporality. We propose that the net impact of reforms on firm performance is contingent on the temporal strategic fit of the firm's strategic choice with the external environment. Using internationalization as the strategic choice, we posit that a positive impact of internationalization is contingent on whether or not firms entrain (synchronize) the temporal parameters of their internationalization activities with those of pro‐market reforms. Robust empirical support for these arguments comes from longitudinal panel data related toIndian automotive firms from 2001 to 2010, contributing to our understanding of the role of the temporal strategic fit of firms’ strategic choices during institutional transitions.

Managerial summary

Managers of emerging market (EM) firms have faced pro‐market reforms in their home markets, leading to a high degree of competition. Hence, it is pertinent forEMfirms to know the intricacies of their response during such changes. We suggest that managers should frame their strategic responses by considering not only the role of “what” and “how,” but also the impact of “when” and “at what rate.” We find firms that shape their responses in synchronization with the changes in the external environment are in the best position to mitigate the erosion of their profitability. As such, this study focuses on the impact of temporal fit of internationalization activities with pro‐market reforms byEMfirms and has implication for managers of economies in transition.
Cortical surface‐based threshold‐free cluster enhancement and cortexwise mediation
Authors: Lett Tristram A. , Waller Lea , Tost Heike , Veer Ilya M. , Nazeri Arash , Erk Susanne , Brandl Eva J. , Charlet Katrin , Beck Anne , Vollstädt‐Klein Sabine , Jorde Anne , Kiefer Falk , Heinz Andreas , Meyer‐Lindenberg Andreas , Chakravarty M. Mallar , Walter Henrik
Published: March 2017

Threshold‐free cluster enhancement (TFCE) is a sensitive means to incorporate spatial neighborhood information in neuroimaging studies without using arbitrary thresholds. The majority of methods have applied TFCE to voxelwise data. The need to understand the relationship among multiple variables and imaging modalities has become critical. We propose a new method of applying TFCE to vertexwise statistical images as well as cortexwise (either voxel‐ or vertexwise) mediation analysis. Here we present TFCE_mediation, a toolbox that can be used for cortexwise multiple regression analysis with TFCE, and additionally cortexwise mediation using TFCE. The toolbox is open source and publicly available (https://github.com/trislett/TFCE_mediation). We validated TFCE_mediation in healthy controls from two independent multimodal neuroimaging samples (N = 199 andN = 183). We found a consistent structure–function relationship between surface area and the first independent component (IC1) of the N‐back task, that white matter fractional anisotropy is strongly associated with IC1 N‐back, and that our voxel‐based results are essentially identical to FSL randomise using TFCE (allPFWE<0.05). Using cortexwise mediation, we showed that the relationship between white matter FA and IC1 N‐back is mediated by surface area in the right superior frontal cortex (PFWE < 0.05). We also demonstrated that the same mediation model is present using vertexwise mediation (PFWE < 0.05). In conclusion, cortexwise analysis with TFCE provides an effective analysis of multimodal neuroimaging data. Furthermore, cortexwise mediation analysis may identify or explain a mechanism that underlies an observed relationship among a predictor, intermediary, and dependent variables in which one of these variables is assessed at a whole‐brain scale.Hum Brain Mapp 38:2795–2807, 2017. ©2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Autophagy determines efficiency of liver‐directed gene therapy with adeno‐associated viral vectors
Authors: Hösel Marianna , Huber Anke , Bohlen Susanne , Lucifora Julie , Ronzitti Giuseppe , Puzzo Francesco , Boisgerault Florence , Hacker Ulrich T. , Kwanten Wilhelmus J. , Klöting Nora , Blüher Matthias , Gluschko Alexander , Schramm Michael , Utermöhlen Olaf , Bloch Wilhelm , Mingozzi Federico , Krut Oleg , Büning Hildegard
Published: March 2017

Use of adeno‐associated viral (AAV) vectors for liver‐directed gene therapy has shown considerable success, particularly in patients with severe hemophilia B. However, the high vector doses required to reach therapeutic levels of transgene expression caused liver inflammation in some patients that selectively destroyed transduced hepatocytes. We hypothesized that such detrimental immune responses can be avoided by enhancing the efficacy of AAV vectors in hepatocytes. Because autophagy is a key liver response to environmental stresses, we characterized the impact of hepatic autophagy on AAV infection. We found that AAV induced mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)–dependent autophagy in human hepatocytes. This cell response was critically required for efficient transduction because under conditions of impaired autophagy (pharmacological inhibition, small interfering RNA knockdown of autophagic proteins, or suppression by food intake), recombinant AAV‐mediated transgene expression was markedly reduced, both in vitro and in vivo. Taking advantage of this dependence, we employed pharmacological inducers of autophagy to increase the level of autophagy. This resulted in greatly improved transduction efficiency of AAV vectors in human and mouse hepatocytes independent of the transgene, driving promoter, or AAV serotype and was subsequently confirmed in vivo. Specifically, short‐term treatment with a single dose of torin 1 significantly increased vector‐mediated hepatic expression of erythropoietin in C57BL/6 mice. Similarly, coadministration of rapamycin with AAV vectors resulted in markedly enhanced expression of human acid‐α‐glucosidase in nonhuman primates. Conclusion: We identified autophagy as a pivotal cell response determining the efficiency of AAVs intracellular processing in hepatocytes and thus the outcome of liver‐directed gene therapy using AAV vectors and showed in a proof‐of‐principle study how this virus–host interaction can be employed to enhance efficacy of this vector system. (Hepatology 2017;66:252–265).
The health policy pendulum: Cost control vs activity growth
Authors: Tjerbo Trond , Hagen Terje P.
Published: March 2017

Background

Cost containment is a major policy challenge and one of the key drivers of health care reform. In this article, we focus on the role cost control has played as a reform driver in the Norwegian hospital sector between 1980 and 2014.

Methods

We use data on aggregate expenditure as well as on activity changes from year to year. We also use qualitative data for illustrative purposes.

Results

We identify 4 phases in the period 1980 to 2014: two where activity increases have dominated the agenda and 2 where cost control has been emphasized. The desire to either increase activity or improve cost control has been important reform drivers.

Conclusion

Cost control has been a major reform motivator in the period, and some of the policies aimed towards achieving cost control have been successful. But as cost control is achieved, waiting lists and popular dissatisfaction increase and new policies are implemented to increase activity.
Gluteal abscess and fistula after release of sacrospinous fixation sutures
Authors: Salimans Simone , Speksnijder Leonie , Vos Louwerens , Shekary‐Moonen Mariska , van Bavel Jeroen
Published: March 2017

Gluteal abscesses and fistula are rare complications after release of sacrospinous fixation sutures. The entire suture should be removed to prevent complications.
Molecular characteristics of ofloxacin mono‐resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from new and previously treated tuberculosis patients
Authors: Wang Zhirui , Xie Tong , Mu Cheng , Wang Chunhua , Ju Hanfang , Zhao Hui , Sun Rui
Published: March 2017

Background

Ofloxacin (OFX) resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) isolates have been increasingly observed and are a major concern in recent years. This study investigated the genetic mutations associated with OFX resistance among clinical OFX mono‐resistant MTB isolates from new and previously treated tuberculosis patients.

Methods

A total of 50 unrelated OFX mono‐resistant MTB isolates were analyzed. For all isolates, the quinolone resistance determining regions of gyrA and gyrB were PCR amplified and sequenced.

Results

Single mutations in the quinolone resistance determining regions of gyrA (positions D94A, G, N, and Y; A90V; and S91P) and gyrB (positions T539A and E540D) were observed in 62% (31/50) and 4% (2/50) of all OFX mono‐resistant isolates, respectively. No differences were detected between the proportions of isolates with mutations in gyrA/gyrB from new and previously treated tuberculosis patients (P=.820).

Conclusions

Although mutations in gyrB were rare, they were as important as mutations in gyrA in predicting OFX resistance in MTB in Tianjin, China.
Insect Immunity Varies Idiosyncratically During Overwintering
Authors: Ferguson Laura V. , Sinclair Brent J.
Published: March 2017

Overwintering insects face multiple stressors, including pathogen and parasite pressures that shift with seasons. However, we know little of how the insect immune system fluctuates with season, particularly in the overwintering period. To understand how immune activity changes across autumn, winter, and spring, we tracked immune activity of three temperate insects that overwinter as larvae: a weevil (Curculio sp., Coleoptera), gallfly (Eurosta solidaginis, Diptera), and larvae of the lepidopteran Pyrrharctia isabella. We measured baseline circulating hemocyte numbers, phenoloxidase activity, and humoral antimicrobial activity, as well as survival of fungal infection and melanization response at 12°C and 25°C to capture any potential plasticity in thermal performance. In Curculio sp. and E. solidaginis, hemocyte concentrations remained unchanged across seasons and antimicrobial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria was lowest in autumn; however, Curculio sp. were less likely to survive fungal infection in autumn, whereas E. solidaginis were less likely to survive infection during the winter. Furthermore, hemocyte concentrations and antimicrobial activity decreased in P. isabella overwintering beneath snow cover. Overall, seasonal changes in activity were largely species dependent, thus it may be difficult to create generalizable predictions about the effects of a changing climate on seasonal immune activity in insects. However, we suggest that the relationship between the response to multiple stressors (e.g., cold and pathogens) drives changes in immune activity, and that understanding the physiology underlying these relationships will inform our predictions of the effects of environmental change on insect overwintering success.
Development of a novel, fibrin‐specific PET tracer
Authors: van Mourik Tiemen R. , Claesener Michael , Nicolay Klaas , Grüll Holger
Published: March 2017

Fibrin deposition is observed in several diseases such as atherosclerosis, deep vein thrombosis, and also tumors, where it contributes to the formation of mature tumor stroma. The aim of this study was to develop a gallium‐labeled peptide tracer on the basis of the fibrin‐targeting peptide Epep for PET imaging of fibrin deposition. For this purpose, the peptide Epep was modified with a NOTA moiety for radiolabeling with 67Ga and 68Ga and compared with the earlier validated 111In‐DOTA‐Epep tracer. In vitro binding assays of 67Ga‐NOTA‐Epep displayed an enhanced retention as compared to previously published data showing binding of 111In‐DOTA‐Epep to human (84.0 ± 0.6 vs 66.6 ± 1.4 %Dose) and mouse derived fibrin clots (83.5 ± 1.7 vs 74.2 ± 2.4% Dose). In vivo blood kinetics displayed a bi‐phasic elimination profile (t1/2,α = 2.6 ± 1.0 minutes and t1/2,β = 15.8 ± 1.3 minutes) and ex vivo biodistribution showed low blood values at 4 hours post injection and a low uptake in nontarget tissue (<0.2 %ID/g; kidneys, 1.9%ID/g). In conclusion, taking into account the ease of radiolabeling and the promising in vitro and in vivo studies, gallium‐labeled Epep displays the potential for further development towards a PET tracer for fibrin deposition.
Influence of different processing times on the quality of Polygoni Multiflora Radix by metabolomics based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Yu Xie‐an , Ge Ai‐hua , Zhang Lu , Li Jin , An Mingrui , Cao Jun , He Jun , Gao Xiu‐mei , Chang Yan‐xu
Published: March 2017

A metabolomics method based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry was developed to evaluate the influence of processing times on the quality of raw and processed Polygoni Multiflora Radix. Principal component analysis and partial least‐squares discriminant analysis was used to screen the potential maker metabolites that were contributed to the quality changes. Then these marker metabolites were selected as variables in Fisher's discriminant analysis to establish the models that were used to distinguish the raw and processed Polygoni Multiflora Radix in the markets. Additionally, 36 compounds were identified. Twelve raw Polygoni Multiflora Radix samples and 23 processed Polygoni Multiflora Radix samples were distinguished. The results showed that the 12 raw Polygoni Multiflora Radix samples belonged to the group of processing time of 0 h, and two processed Polygoni Multiflora Radix samples were part of the group of processing times of 4 h, 12 samples belonged to group of processing times of 8 to 16 h, and nine samples were the group of processing times of 24 to 48 h. The results demonstrated that the method could provide scientific support for the processing standardization of Polygoni Multiflora Radix.
Simultaneous determination of eight alkaloids and oleandrin in herbal cosmetics by dispersive solid‐phase extraction coupled with ultra high performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry
Authors: Xun Zhiqing , Liu Donghong , Huang Rongrong , He Shuang , Hu Du , Guo Xindong , Xian Yanping
Published: March 2017

We utilized ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and dispersive solid‐phase extraction to develop a new method for the detection of nine analytes (scopolamine, cephaeline, strychnine, hyoscyamine, brucine, hydrastine, ajmalicine, colchicine, and oleandrin) in herbal cosmetics. Acetonitrile/water and 2‐propylaminoethylamine were used to disperse and purify during the dispersive solid‐phase extraction step. The analytes were separated by a Waters UPLC HSS T3 column and detected through electrospray ionization source in the positive mode with multi‐reaction monitoring conditions. Under the optimal conditions, the calibration curves were linear in the range of 0.2–100.0 μg/L with the correlation coefficients higher than 0.995. The method limit of quantitation (S/N = 10) were 5.0 μg/kg for oleandrin and 1.0 μg/kg for the other eight alkaloids. The mean recoveries at three spiked concentration levels of 1.0–10.0 μg/kg were in the range of 86.9–116.5% with the intra‐day relative standard deviations (n = 6) ranging from 2.4 to 8.8%, and inter‐day relative standard deviations ranging from 2.7 to 5.7%. This method is accurate, simple and rapid, and has been applied to the quality supervision of herbal cosmetics in Guangzhou.
High‐throughput gas chromatography for volatile compounds analysis by fast temperature programming and adsorption chromatography
Authors: Gras Ronda , Hua Yujuan , Luong Jim
Published: March 2017

The synergy of combining fast temperature programming capability and adsorption chromatography using fused silica based porous layer open tubular columns to achieve high throughput chromatography for the separation of volatile compounds is presented. A gas chromatograph with built‐in fast temperature programming capability and having a fast cool down rate was used as a platform. When these performance features were combined with the high degree of selectivity and strong retention characteristic of porous layer open tubular column technology, volatile compounds such as light hydrocarbons of up to C7, primary alcohols, and mercaptans can be well separated and analyzed in a matter of minutes. This analytical approach substantially improves sample throughput by at least a factor of ten times when compared to published methodologies. In addition, the use of porous layer open tubular columns advantageously eliminates the need for costly and time‐consuming cryogenic gas chromatography required for the separation of highly volatile compounds by partition chromatography with wall coated open tubular column technology. Relative standard deviations of retention time for model compounds such as alkanes from methane to hexane were found to be less than 0.3% (n = 10) and less than 0.5% for area counts for the compounds tested at two levels of concentration by manual injection, namely, 10 and 1000 ppm v/v (n = 10). Difficult separations were accomplished in one single analysis in less than 2 min such as the characterization of 17 components in cracked gas containing alkanes, alkenes, dienes, branched hydrocarbons, and cyclic hydrocarbons.
Effect of environmental factors (wave exposure and depth) and anthropogenic pressure in the C sink capacity of Posidonia oceanica meadows
Authors: Mazarrasa Inés , Marbà Núria , Garcia‐Orellana Jordi , Masqué Pere , Arias‐Ortiz Ariane , Duarte Carlos M.
Published: March 2017

Seagrass are among the most important natural carbon sinks on Earth with Posidonia oceanica (Mediterranean Sea) considered as the most relevant species. Yet, the number of direct measurements of organic carbon burial rates in P. oceanica is still scarce and the effect of local environmental factors remains largely unexplored. In addition, P. oceanica meadows are declining due to the increase in anthropogenic pressure in coastal areas during the last century. The aim of this study is to assess the recent carbon sink capacity of P. oceanica and particularly the effect of human pressure and two environmental factors, water depth and exposure to wave energy (based on a fetch index), on the carbon burial rate since 1900. We conducted an extensive survey of sediment cores in meadows distributed across a gradient of depth, fetch, and human pressure around The Balearic Islands. Sediment and carbon accumulation rates were obtained from 210Pb concentrations profiles. Top‐30 centimeters carbon stocks (6.1 ± 1.4 kg C m−2) and burial rates (26 ± 6 g C m−2 yr1) varied up to fivefold across meadows. No significant effect of water depth in carbon burial rates was observed. Although fetch was significantly correlated with sediment mean grain size, confirming the effect of wave exposure in the patterns of sedimentation, fetch alone could not explain the differences in carbon burial rates among the meadows examined. Human pressure affected carbon burial rates, leading to increased rates since the onset of the rise in anthropogenic pressure, particularly so in sheltered meadows supporting high human pressure.
Intraoperative optical coherence tomography for soft tissue sarcoma differentiation and margin identification
Authors: Mesa Kelly J. , Selmic Laura E. , Pande Paritosh , Monroy Guillermo L. , Reagan Jennifer , Samuelson Jonathan , Driskell Elizabeth , Li Joanne , Marjanovic Marina , Chaney Eric J. , Boppart Stephen A.
Published: March 2017

Background and Objective

Sarcomas are rare but highly aggressive tumors, and local recurrence after surgical excision can occur in up to 50% cases. Therefore, there is a strong clinical need for accurate tissue differentiation and margin assessment to reduce incomplete resection and local recurrence. The purpose of this study was to investigate the use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) and a novel image texture‐based processing algorithm to differentiate sarcoma from muscle and adipose tissue.

Study Design and Methods

In this study, tumor margin delineation in 19 feline and canine veterinary patients was achieved with intraoperative OCT to help validate tumor resection. While differentiation of lower‐scattering adipose tissue from higher‐scattering muscle and tumor tissue was relatively straightforward, it was more challenging to distinguish between dense highly scattering muscle and tumor tissue types based on scattering intensity and microstructural features alone. To improve tissue‐type differentiation in a more objective and automated manner, three descriptive statistical metrics, namely the coefficient of variation (CV), standard deviation (STD), and Range, were implemented in a custom algorithm applied to the OCT images.

Results

Over 22,800 OCT images were collected intraoperatively from over 38 sites on 19 ex vivo tissue specimens removed during sarcoma surgeries. Following the generation of an initial set of OCT images correlated with standard hematoxylin and eosin‐stained histopathology, over 760 images were subsequently used for automated analysis. Using texture‐based image processing metrics, OCT images of sarcoma, muscle, and adipose tissue were all found to be statistically different from one another (P ≤ 0.001).

Conclusion

These results demonstrate the potential of using intraoperative OCT, along with an automated tissue differentiation algorithm, as a guidance tool for soft tissue sarcoma margin delineation in the operating room. Lasers Surg. Med. 49:240–248, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Effects of alfapump™ system on kidney and circulatory function in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites
Authors: Solà Elsa , Sanchez‐Cabús Santiago , Rodriguez Ezequiel , Elia Chiara , Cela Raquel , Moreira Rebeca , Pose Elisa , Sánchez‐Delgado Jordi , Cañete Nuria , Morales‐Ruiz Manuel , Campos Francisco , Balust Jaume , Guevara Mónica , García‐Valdecasas Juan Carlos , Ginès Pere
Published: March 2017

The alfapump system has been proposed as a new treatment for the management of refractory ascites. The system removes ascites from the peritoneal cavity to urinary bladder, producing a continuous low‐volume paracentesis. The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of treatment with the alfapump™ system on kidney and circulatory function in patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites. This was a prospective study including 10 patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites. Primary outcomes were changes in glomerular filtration rate (GFR), as assessed by isotopic techniques, and changes in circulatory function assessed by arterial pressure, cardiac output, and activity of vasoconstrictor systems. Secondary outcomes were the need for large‐volume paracentesis and adverse events. Follow‐up was 1 year. GFR decreased significantly from 67 mL/minute/1.73 m2 (41‐90 mL/minute/1.73 m2) at baseline to 45 mL/minute/1.73 m2 (36‐74 mL/minute/1.73 m2) at month 6 (P = 0.04). Mean arterial pressure and cardiac output did not change significantly; however, there was a marked increase in plasma renin activity and norepinephrine concentration (median percent increase with respect to baseline +191% and 59%, respectively). There were 68 episodes of complications of cirrhosis in 8 patients during follow‐up, the most frequent being acute kidney injury. In conclusion, treatment with alfapump™ system was associated with marked activation of endogenous vasoconstrictor systems and impairment of kidney function. The chronological relationship observed between kidney impairment and vasoconstrictor systems activation after device insertion suggests a cause‐effect relationship, raising the possibility that treatment with alfapump impairs effective arterial blood volume mimicking a postparacentesis circulatory dysfunction syndrome. In this context, the potential role of albumin in counteracting these effects should be investigated in future studies. Liver Transplantation 23 583–593 2017 AASLD.