bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in thyroid cancer incidence and mortality in Portugal
Authors: Raposo Luís , Morais Samantha , Oliveira Maria J. , Marques Ana P. , José Bento Maria , Lunet Nuno
Published: February 2016

The objective was to quantify thyroid cancer incidence and mortality trends in Portugal. The number of thyroid cancer cases and incidence rates were retrieved from the Regional Cancer Registries for the period 1989–2011. The number of deaths and mortality rates were obtained from the WHO cancer mortality database (1988–2003 and 2007–2012) and Statistics Portugal (2004–2006; 1988–2012 by region). Joinpoint regression of the standardized incidence and mortality rates was performed. A significant, rapid and continued increase in incidence was observed for both sexes in each of the Regional Cancer Registries, with annual per cent changes (APCs) ranging between 2 and 9. Incidence in Portuguese women is higher than estimates for the world and Europe. Mortality decreased for women (APC: −1.5), with the greatest decrease in the North, and increased marginally for men (APC: +0.2), with a greater increase in the South. The significant increases in incidence in Portugal are predominantly because of the increase in incidence among women from the North. These trends, combined with an overall low mortality and high 5-year relative survival, raise concerns on the extent to which overdiagnosis may be taking place. Further research is needed, quantifying the importance of the most likely determinants of these trends as well as the extent and potentially deleterious effects of overdiagnosis and overtreatment in the Portuguese setting.
Cost Averted With Timely Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in the Management of Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Waye Arianna , Atkins Kerry , Kao Dina
Published: February 2016

Background:

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is highly effective in treating recurrent Clostridium difficile infection (RCDI). However, the ideal timing for offering FMT remains to be determined. Furthermore, the direct medical costs averted with timely FMT have not been examined.

Methods:

A retrospective review of the Edmonton FMT program database included patients who received FMT for RCDI (October 2012 to September 2014). They were divided into 2 groups: those who received FMT after 2 recurrences (the timely FMT group) and those who received FMT after at least 3 recurrences (the delayed FMT group). The primary outcome was the difference in direct medical costs related to hospital admissions and emergency room visits due to CDI between the 2 groups. The secondary outcomes were RCDI cure rate and duration of RCDI in each group.

Results:

A total of 75 patients were included: 30 received timely FMT, whereas 45 received delayed FMT. The mean difference in hospital length of stay and emergency room visits related to CDI were 13.8 days shorter and 1.3 visits fewer with timely FMT, associated with a mean cost saving of $29,842 per patient. Sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the effect of outliers and comorbities on the differential costs, and it was found that the differences in average cost per patient were more pronounced in those with Charlson comorbidity index ≥3 compared with those with scores of 0 to 2. The cure rate was 94% (timely FMT group) and 93% (delayed FMT group). The mean duration of RCDI was 109 days (timely FMT group) and 281 days (delayed FMT group).

Conclusions:

Timely FMT can provide significant cost savings to health-care systems, especially for patients with multiple comorbidities.
Obstructive sleep apnea is associated with fatty liver index, the index of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Chen Xiao , Lin Xian , Chen Li-Da , Lin Qi-Chang , Chen Gong-Ping , Yu Yao-Hua , Huang Jian-Chai , Zhao Jian-Ming
Published: February 2016

Background and objectives

The relationship between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is gaining increased attention. The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship of OSA with NAFLD defined by an elevated fatty liver index (FLI).

Materials and methods

A total of 319 consecutive patients who underwent standard polysomnography were enrolled. Fasting blood samples were obtained from all patients for biological profile measurements, and demographic data were collected. Values of FLI were determined and assessed as predictors of the presence of NAFLD, as measured by ultrasound. The discriminative ability of FLI was estimated on the basis of the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve.

Results

An FLI of 60 achieved the highest diagnostic accuracy and yielded an area under the receiver operator characteristic curve of 0.822 (95% confidence interval: 0.729–0.916) in the detection of NAFLD. Patients with an FLI of 60 or higher had a significantly lower lowest O2 saturation (73 vs. 83%, P<0.001), a lower mean nocturnal oxygen saturation (93 vs. 95%, P<0.001), a higher apnea–hypopnea index (39.7 vs. 18.4, P<0.001), a higher oxygen desaturation index (39 vs. 10.6, P<0.001), and a higher percentage of sleep time spent with SpO2 less than 90% (4.63 vs. 0.92%, P<0.001) compared with those with FLI less than 60. In multivariate analysis, the presence of OSA was independently associated with elevated FLI after adjusting for confounding factors (odds ratio: 5.141, 95% confidence interval: 1.414–18.696, P=0.013).

Conclusion

Our results suggest a positive association between the severity of OSA and NAFLD defined by an elevated FLI, which may serve as a good biomarker for detecting NAFLD in OSA patients.
Tetraeffective causes, mortacauses, and vitacauses of mortality and survivorship
Authors: Epelbaum Michael
Published: February 2016

Every tetraeffective cause of mortality and survivorship negatively and positively affects mortality and negatively and positively affects survivorship. There is previous evidence of tetraeffective causes of mortality and survivorship, and strong rationales suggest that every cause of mortality and survivorship is tetraeffective. Here I elucidate and explain that every tetraeffective cause of mortality and survivorship combines corresponding at least one cause-specific mortacause and at least one cause-specific vitacause; “mortacause” refers here to a cause-specific component that positively affects mortality and negatively affects survivorship, and “vitacause” refers to a cause-specific component that positively affects survivorship and negatively affects mortality. I show tetraeffective causes, mortacauses, and vitacauses in results of multivariable regression analyses of effects of age, lifespan, contemporary aggregate size, lifespan aggregate size, and historical time humans’ and medflies’ mortality and survivorship. In these analyses I specify tetraeffective causes, mortacauses, and vitacauses withsign(β1)= -sign(β2), where respective correspondingβ1andβ2denote respective first and second variable-specific regression coefficients. Thus tetraeffective causes, mortacauses, and vitacauses of mortality and survivorship are hereby defined, identified, named, recognized, elucidated, conceptualized, specified, explained, and demonstrated.
DNA Methylation profiles of diverseBrachypodium distachyonaligns with underlying genetic diversity
Authors: Eichten SR , Stuart T , Srivastava A , Lister R , Borevitz JO
Published: February 2016

DNA methylation, a common modification of genomic DNA, is known to influence the expression of transposable elements as well as some genes. Although commonly viewed as an epigenetic mark, evidence has shown that underlying genetic variation, such as transposable element polymorphisms, often associate with differential DNA methylation states. To investigate the role of DNA methylation variation, transposable element polymorphism, and genomic diversity, whole genome bisulfite sequencing was performed on genetically diverse lines of the model cerealBrachypodium distachyon. Although DNA methylation profiles are broadly similar, thousands of differentially methylated regions are observed between lines. An analysis of novel transposable element indel variation highlighted hundreds of new polymorphisms not seen in the reference sequence. DNA methylation and transposable element variation is correlated with the genome-wide amount of genetic variation present between samples. However, there was minimal evidence that novel transposon insertion or deletions are associated with nearby differential methylation. This study highlights the importance of genetic variation when assessing DNA methylation variation between samples and provides a valuable map of DNA methylation across diverse re-sequenced accessions of this model cereal species.

Reviewer Link to deposited data

All data is publicly available in the NCBI short read archive under BioProject PRJNA281014. Data tables are available for download athttps://drive.google.com/file/d/0BzBxfoxlBCneNkY1TFJDU29iSUU/view?usp=sharing
Assessing the relationship between height growth and molecular genetic variation in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) provenances
Authors: Neophytou Charalambos , Weisser Anna-Maria , Landwehr Daniel , Šeho Muhidin , Kohnle Ulrich , Ensminger Ingo , Wildhagen Henning
Published: February 2016

Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) is a conifer tree native to western North America. In central Europe, it shows superior growth performance and is considered a suitable substitute for tree species impaired in vitality due to climate change. Maintenance and improvement of growth performance in a changing environment is a main challenge for forest tree breeders. In this context, genetic variation as a factor underlying phenotypic variation, but also as the basis for future adaptation, is of particular interest. The aims of this study were to analyse (i) genetic diversity of selected Douglas-fir provenances, (ii) variation in height growth among provenances, and (iii) to assess the link between genetic and phenotypic variation height growth. Genotyping was done on microsatellite loci. Effects of ‘provenance’, ‘genotype’, and ‘site’ on height growth were assessed by fitting mixed linear models. The most significant genetic differentiation was observed between provenances of the coastal variety, versus a provenance of the interior variety originating from British Columbia. Although genetic differentiation among provenances of the coastal variety was lower, genetic structures within this variety were identified. Moreover, genetic diversity showed a latitudinal gradient with the southernmost provenances being more diverse, probably reflecting the species' evolutionary history. The modelling approach revealed that height growth differed significantly by provenance, site, and the interaction between site and provenance, demonstrating that height growth is under strong genetic control. Additionally, this analysis showed that genetic variation captured by the genotyped microsatellite loci was significantly related to variation in height growth, providing statistical evidence for a genetic component in the observed phenotypic variation.
Model-based analyses of whole-genome data reveal a complex evolutionary history involving archaic introgression in Central African Pygmies
Authors: Hsieh PingHsun , Woerner August E. , Wall Jeffrey D. , Lachance Joseph , Tishkoff Sarah A. , Gutenkunst Ryan N. , Hammer Michael F.
Published: February 2016

Comparisons of whole-genome sequences from ancient and contemporary samples have pointed to several instances of archaic admixture through interbreeding between the ancestors of modern non-Africans and now extinct hominids such as Neanderthals and Denisovans. One implication of these findings is that some adaptive features in contemporary humans may have entered the population via gene flow with archaic forms in Eurasia. Within Africa, fossil evidence suggests that anatomically modern humans (AMH) and various archaic forms coexisted for much of the last 200,000 yr; however, the absence of ancient DNA in Africa has limited our ability to make a direct comparison between archaic and modern human genomes. Here, we use statistical inference based on high coverage whole-genome data (greater than 60×) from contemporary African Pygmy hunter-gatherers as an alternative means to study the evolutionary history of the genus Homo. Using whole-genome simulations that consider demographic histories that include both isolation and gene flow with neighboring farming populations, our inference method rejects the hypothesis that the ancestors of AMH were genetically isolated in Africa, thus providing model-based whole genome-level evidence of African archaic admixture. Our inferences also suggest a complex human evolutionary history in Africa, which involves at least a single admixture event from an unknown archaic population into the ancestors of AMH, likely within the last 30,000 yr.
Determinants of quality and efficiency performance in service operations
Authors: Jayaram Jayanth , Xu Kefeng
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– Using arguments from the knowledge-based view and resource-based view of the firm, the purpose of this paper is to propose that external knowledge (as measured by a firm’s customer orientation) and internal knowledge management (through human capital development techniques of job-related training and enhancing employee capability) together contribute to successful service delivery systems.

Design/methodology/approach

– The hypothesized model is tested on a large sample of 249 Chinese service firms using structural equation modeling and hierarchical regression analyses.

Findings

– The results indicate that the knowledge management factors of customer orientation, employee capability and job-related training had a varying influence on quality and efficiency dimensions of service system performance. Also, internal knowledge facets of employee capability and job-related training had complementary effects in inducing improved performance on both quality and efficiency.

Research limitations/implications

– The focus on the key enablers of customer orientation, employee capability and job-related training does not represent a comprehensive set of enablers of service system performance outcomes. Also, a longitudinal examination of capabilities that influence service system performance can also be explored.

Originality/value

– The context of service firms in multiple sectors serves as an important contribution to the emerging literature that bridges human resource management and customer orientation in service settings. Implications of the results for practice and theory development are discussed.
Benchmarking strategic resources and business performance via an open framework
Authors: Battagello Franco Maria , Cricelli Livio , Grimaldi Michele
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to test a way to overcome specific issues related to the assessment of the strategic capital and to propose a viable solution for its benchmarking. In order to fully appreciate this type of entity an audit on the strategic alignment of the resources involved and of the dynamics of value creation is required. This study tested a procedure to make such findings comparable with other organizations in terms of business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The 7SF is proposed as an alternative method for effective gauging and benchmarking. It is based on an open framework which embraces procedural flexibility, so that different organizations can be processed an compared. A multiple case study (ceramic industry) is provided, where performances driven by strategic resources were detected. Eventually, conducting a comparative analysis of their scores.

Findings

– The results unveiled some undisclosed knowledge about the value-creation mechanism and potential/actual performance gaps of each tested organization and confirmed the capability of this framework of being used as a benchmark tool.

Practical implications

– Performance gaps can be correctly located and directly related to the resource type that caused them, therefore promptly managed and strategy can be re-aligned accordingly. The flexibility features of the seven-step framework allowed to utilize it as an effective gauge for entities that generally can hardly be measured and compared.

Originality/value

– This study proposes an assessment solution which can achieve two objectives at the same time: rating the strategic capital and making such results comparable between other organizations, for a consistent benchmarking.
The impacts of Chinese direct investment in Thailand on the Sino-Thai bilateral trade
Authors: Keorite Mathavee , Pan Huang
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impacts of Chinese direct investment in Thailand on the Sino-Thai bilateral trade. The economic relationship between Thailand and China has been strengthened through both trade and Chinese direct investment in Thailand for past decades.

Design/methodology/approach

– AR(p) model was used to examine the effects of Chinese direct investment on both Thailand exports and Thailand imports.

Findings

– This paper shows that Chinese direct investment in Thailand has contributed to the decrease of intermediate goods of Thailand exports to China. On the other hand, Chinese direct investment has contributed to the increase of finished products of Thailand exports to China. In addition, Chinese direct investment in Thailand has contributed to increase of Thailand imports from China. This suggests that strengthening cooperation for economic growth in either of the two countries can generate mutual benefits through trade.

Research limitations/implications

– The studies focus only on the effects of foreign direct investment (FDI) on trade, while the effects of trade on FDI are neglected.

Practical implications

– Policies should be devised to reduce reliance on exports of raw and semi-raw materials by turning on to final products with more value-added products and should improve the equality of infrastructure in the country to attract more FDI into the economy.

Originality/value

– This paper provides evidence that Chinese direct investment in Thailand is an important determinant factor of the rapid growth of the bilateral trade. It also shows that the appreciation of Thai Baht against Chinese RMB is associated with a decrease in Thailand trade surplus in the bilateral trade.
The impact of trading with China on Botswana’s economy
Authors: Sekakela Kedibonye
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of trading with China on Botswana’s domestic and third markets. The paper also assesses the structure and magnitude of Botswana–China bilateral trade.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper used descriptive statistics such as graphic analysis to describe and summarize the basic features of the data. To reach conclusions that extend beyond the immediate data alone, the study applied Chenery Decomposition Approach and also applied the extension of Constant Market Share (CMS) analysis.

Findings

– Botswana mainly exports primary products to China and imports intermediate and capital goods, which are mainly used as inputs in the development of infrastructure in the country. Increased imports from China into Botswana’s domestic market has mainly replaced imports from other countries, and China’s textile, clothing and footwear (TCF) exports gained market share from Botswana’s TCF exports in the third markets, i.e. South Africa. Unlike Lesotho, the loss of market share by Botswana’s TCF exports in the South African market increased over the period under study. The Botswana Government needs to consider ways of enhancing Botswana’s TCF export competitiveness and learn lessons from China in relation to enhancing productivity in the TCF and other exporting industries.

Research limitations/implications

– Because of lack of data, this paper failed to estimate the impact of import penetration in the manufacturing subsectors and analyze the rapidly growing Botswana–China bilateral trade in services. There has been no estimate of the impact of intermediate and capital goods on production costs of Botswana’s productive sectors. Lastly, because of lack of data, there have been no estimates of Botswana’s consumer surplus generated from consuming relatively low-priced goods from China.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to carry out an empirical analysis of the Botswana–China trade relation. The study will be of value to academia and to policymakers who are interested in studying the China–Africa relation.
Analysis of implementation of China
'
s 12th Five Year Plan and prospects of its next five years
Authors: Li Shantong , Wang Huijiong , He JianWu
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore achievements and issues in the implementation of China
'
s 12th Five-Year Plan to provide input for the preparation of the coming 13th Five-Year Plan, and also to provide some messages for the understanding of the Party
'
s documents of suggestions for the preparation of China
'
s 13th Five-Year Plan.

Design/methodology/approach

– Eight essential aspects related to economy, society and ecological environment of the implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan are analyzed both for the achievements and issues. Comparative analyses are done through historical data and international comparison.

Findings

– It is hoped that the achievements found in the implementation of the 12th Five-Year Plan will consolidate the confidence for establishing an all-round well-off society of China by the year 2020 and issues discovered will be overcome through appropriate measures.

Originality/value

– This paper will contribute to the understanding of “Suggestions for the preparation of National Economic and Social Development 13th Five-Year Plan” by the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China on 29 October 2015, and also the coming 13th Five-Year Plan, which will be announced in March 2016.
Seed size predicts community composition and carbon storage potential of tree communities in rain forest fragments in India's Western Ghats
Authors: Osuri Anand M. , Sankaran Mahesh
Published: February 2016

Fragmentation is ubiquitous across tropical forests and drives marked shifts in tree community composition by differentially affecting species' dispersal, establishment and survival. Such compositional shifts can potentially alter ecosystem‐level properties such as above‐ground carbon storage, but our understanding of the factors linking compositional shifts to carbon storage is limited.

We compared tree communities of contiguous and fragmented tropical rain forests in the Western Ghats (India) and assessed the ability of various plant functional traits associated with seed dispersal, establishment and survival processes to predict species' responses to fragmentation.

Further, we assessed relationships between functional traits that predict tree community turnover and those that govern carbon storage to examine how fragmentation effects on species' composition can alter the ability of tree communities to store carbon.

Seed size, as indexed by seed length, was the best predictor of species' responses, with larger‐seeded species declining in fragments. Across species, seed length was positively correlated with maximum attainable height, which decreased by 10% on average at the community level in fragments. Such shifts towards smaller‐seeded communities could decrease forest stature and reduce above‐ground carbon stocks by 8%.

Synthesis and applications. Our study highlights a previously undescribed mechanism by which fragmentation‐driven declines of large‐seeded tree species can reduce above‐ground carbon stocks by promoting shorter‐statured forests. These results imply that strict protection alone might be insufficient and that a multipronged conservation strategy would be required to sustain carbon stocks in tropical forest fragments. Such interventions will need to combine restoration programmes for large‐seeded tree species in fragments with broader‐scale efforts to maintain hospitable and well‐connected landscapes for their seed dispersers.
Pregnancy outcomes in women with endometriosis: a national record linkage study
Authors: Saraswat L , Ayansina DT , Cooper KG , Bhattacharya S , Miligkos D , Horne AW , Bhattacharya S
Published: February 2016

Objective

To determine pregnancy outcomes in women with endometriosis.

Design

A national population based cohort study using record linkage.

Setting

Scotland.

Participants

A cohort of 14 655 women followed up over a 30‐year period (1981–2010).

Methods

In a nationwide Scottish study, we compared pregnancy outcomes in 5375 women with surgically confirmed endometriosis with outcomes in 8710 women without endometriosis who were pregnant during the same time period. Data were analysed using univariable and multivariable logistic regression after adjusting for confounding factors.

Main outcome measures

Outcome measures evaluated included miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, stillbirths and other pregnancy complications such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, antepartum and postpartum haemorrhage, operative delivery and preterm births. The outcomes were presented as adjusted odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

On multivariable analysis, after adjusting for age, parity, socio‐economic status and year of delivery, women with endometriosis when compared to women without endometriosis, had a significantly higher risk of early pregnancy complications with adjusted OR (95% CI) of 1.76 (1.44, 2.15) and 2.70 (1.09, 6.72) for miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, respectively. A previous diagnosis of endometriosis was associated with a significantly increased risk of [adjusted OR (95% CI)] placenta praevia [2.24 (1.52, 3.31)], unexplained antepartum haemorrhage [1.67 (1.39, 2.00)], postpartum haemorrhage [1.30 (1.61, 1.46)] and preterm births [1.26 (1.07, 1.49)] in pregnancies progressing beyond 24 weeks.

Conclusion

Endometriosis predisposes women to an increased risk of early pregnancy loss and later pregnancy complications.

Tweetable abstract

Endometriosis predisposes women to an increased risk of early pregnancy loss and later pregnancy complications.
Why Mortgage Borrowers Persevere: An Explanation of First and Second Lien Performance Mismatch
Authors: Calem Paul S. , Sarama Robert F.
Published: February 2016

Borrowers with a pair of mortgages collateralized by the same property sometimes continue to make payments on one while defaulting on the other. We articulate a framework for understanding this performance mismatch that emphasizes two types of borrowers: those with stable equity positions who perceive they are facing moderate or temporary liquidity shocks, and those facing severe financial stress in combination with negative equity. The former have an incentive to enter mismatch and subsequently cure, while the latter would default on both contracts. Our empirical analysis using newly available, national samples of matched first‐ and second‐lien mortgages supports this view.
Folates in Fruits and Vegetables: Contents, Processing, and Stability
Authors: Delchier Nicolas , Herbig Anna‐Lena , Rychlik Michael , Renard Catherine M.G.C.
Published: February 2016

Folates play a key role in human one‐carbon metabolism and are provided by food. It is well established that folates are beneficial in the prevention of neural tube defects and cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. Fruits and vegetables, and especially green vegetables, are the main sources of folates. In parallel, fruits and vegetables, with high contents of folates, are mostly consumed after processing, such as, canning, freezing, or home‐cooking, which involve folate losses during their preparation. Hence, it is important to know the percentage of folate losses during processing and, moreover, the mechanisms underlying those losses. The current knowledge on folate losses from fruit and vegetables are presented in this review. They depend on the nature of the respective fruit or vegetable and the respective treatment. For example, steaming involves almost no folate losses in contrast to boiling. Two main mechanisms are involved in folate losses: (i) leaching into the surrounding liquid and (ii) oxidation during heat treatment, the latter of which depending on the nature of the vitamer considered. In this respect, a vitamer stability decreases in the order starting from folic acid followed by 5‐HCO‐H4folate, 5‐CH3‐H4folate, and, finally, H4folate. Further studies are required, especially on the diffusion of the vitamers in real foods and on the determination of folate degradation products.
Skull and Encephalic Injuries Caused by Beach Umbrellas: Case Reports and Review of Literature
Authors: Ventura Spagnolo Elvira , Mondello Cristina , Cardia Luigi , Cannavò Giuseppe , Cardia Giulio
Published: February 2016

This study reports two unusual cases of skull‐encephalic injuries in bathers that were caused by violent impacts with beach umbrellas. The first case concerned a 36‐year‐old man who, while lying on a sun bed, was struck on his left temple by a beach umbrella, which had been blown away by a gust of wind. The second case concerned a six‐year‐old child who was struck on the right temporal region while he was playing on the sand. Both subjects died. A review of the literature was carried out. Various skull and brain injuries caused by several objects were found, but no injuries caused by beach umbrellas were detected. There were only cases of injuries caused by normal umbrellas. These cases showed that several objects can be responsible for traumas causing skull and brain injuries, therefore forensic investigation must be supplemented by circumstantial data.
Associations between Exposure to Alienating Behaviors, Anxiety, and Depression in an Italian Sample of Adults
Authors: Verrocchio Maria Cristina , Baker Amy J. L. , Bernet William
Published: February 2016

The aim of this study was to examine associations between exposure to alienating behaviors (ABs) and anxiety and depression as mediated through psychological maltreatment and parental bonding in a sample of Italian adults in the community. Five hundred and nine adults were given a measure of exposure to ABs, the Baker Strategy Questionnaire; the Psychological Maltreatment Measure; the Parental Bonding Instrument; the State‐Trait Anxiety Inventory‐Y; and the Beck Depression Inventory‐II. Exposure to ABs was associated with psychological maltreatment, which was associated with parental bonding, which was associated with each of the three mental health outcomes: depression, state anxiety, and trait anxiety. The authors conclude that exposure to ABs in childhood represents a risk factor for subsequent poor mental health.
RNA sequencing, de novo assembly, and functional annotation of an endangered Nymphalid butterfly, Fabriciana nerippe Felder, 1862
Authors: Hwang Hee‐Ju , Patnaik Bharat Bhusan , Kang Se Won , Park So Young , Wang Tae Hun , Park Eun Bi , Chung Jong Min , Song Dae Kwon , Patnaik Hongray Howrelia , Kim Changmu , Kim Soonok , Lee Jae Bong , Jeong Heon Cheon , Park Hong Seog , Han Yeon Soo , Lee Yong Seok
Published: February 2016

Grassland butterflies are considered representative indicators of biodiversity and ecosystem health. Their dramatic decline caused by habitat destruction, intensifying agriculture and global warming has prompted concern for conservation. While ecological indices of butterflies have been documented, there is a lack of genomic resources relative to the biological importance of this group. Here, we report, first whole‐transcriptomic resource for Fabriciana nerippe, a brush‐footed butterfly member that is endangered in Korea. Approximately, 241.3 million clean reads were obtained from paired‐end Illumina sequencing of adult whole‐body RNA. The de novo assembly resulted in 114 405 unigenes with length ranging from 133 to 33 218 bp. We found 41 868 assembled unigenes homologous to sequences in locally curated PANM‐DB (Protostome DB). We assigned gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) orthology terms to 18 085 and 5779 unigenes, respectively. InterProScan predicted 6691 protein domains for the assembled unigene sequences, with the reverse transcriptase and zinc finger domains found to be the most predominant. A total of 315 282 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified from the assembled unigenes, when considering dinucleotide to octanucleotide repeats with a minimum of three repeat units. AT/AT, AAT/ATT, and AAAT/ATTT represented the most prominent SSR repeat types in the transcriptome. The unigene annotation profile and microsatellites generated in the study can serve as a reference resource for closely related species and gene functional analysis studies. Our data can be utilized to study ecological drift and loss of the species, consequently leading to better protection of the population.
Analysts’ stock recommendations, earnings growth and risk
Authors: Peasnell Kenneth , Yin Yuan , Lubberink Martien
Published: February 2016

A key output of sell‐side analysts is their recommendations to investors as to whether they should, buy, hold or sell a company's shares. However, relatively little is known regarding the determinants of those recommendations. This study considers this question, presenting results that suggest that recommendations are dependent on analysts’ short‐term and long‐term earnings growth forecasts, as well as on proxies for the analysts’ unobservable views on earnings growth in the more distant future and risk. Furthermore, analysts who appear to incorporate earnings growth beyond the long‐term growth forecast horizons and risk into their recommendation decisions make more profitable stock recommendations.
Depression motivates quit attempts but predicts relapse: differential findings for gender from the International Tobacco Control Study
Authors: Cooper Jae , Borland Ron , McKee Sherry A. , Yong Hua‐Hie , Dugué Pierre‐Antoine
Published: February 2016

Aims

To determine whether signs of current depression predict attempts to quit smoking, and short‐term abstinence among those who try, and to test moderating effects of gender and cessation support (pharmacological and behavioural).

Design

Prospective cohort with approximately annual waves. Among smokers at one wave we assessed outcomes at the next wave using mixed‐effects logistic regressions.

Setting

Waves 5–8 of the Four Country International Tobacco Control Study: a quasi‐experimental cohort study of smokers from Canada, USA, UK and Australia.

Participants

A total of 6811 tobacco smokers who participated in telephone surveys.

Measurements

Three‐level depression index: (1) neither low positive affect (LPA) nor negative affect (NA) in the last 4 weeks; (2) LPA and/or NA but not diagnosed with depression in the last 12 months; and (3) diagnosed with depression. Outcomes were quit attempts and 1‐month abstinence among attempters.

Findings

Depression positively predicted quit attempts, but not after controlling for quitting history and motivational variables. Controlling for all covariates, depression consistently negatively predicted abstinence. Cessation support did not moderate this effect. There was a significant interaction with gender for quit attempts (P = 0.018) and abstinence (P = 0.049) after controlling for demographics, but not after all covariates. Depression did not predict abstinence among men. Among women, depressive symptoms [odds ratio (OR) = 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.49–0.81] and diagnosis (OR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.34–0.63) negatively predicted abstinence.

Conclusions

Smokers with depressive symptoms or diagnosis make more quit attempts than their non‐depressed counterparts, which may be explained by higher motivation to quit, but they are also more likely to relapse in the first month. These findings are stronger in women than men.
Clinical outcomes of patients infected with HIV through use of injected drugs compared to patients infected through sexual transmission: late presentation, delayed anti‐retroviral treatment and higher mortality
Authors: Suárez‐García Inés , Sobrino‐Vegas Paz , Dalmau David , Rubio Rafael , Iribarren José Antonio , Blanco José Ramón , Gutierrez Félix , Montero Alonso Marta , Bernal Enrique , Vinuesa García David , del Amo Julia ,   Cohort of the Spanish HIV Research Network (CoRIS)
Published: February 2016

Aims

To compare patients who acquired HIV infection through use of injected drugs (HIV‐IDU) with patients who acquired HIV by sexual transmission (HIV‐ST) in terms of late presentation (LP), delay in anti‐retroviral treatment (ART) initiation, virological and immunological response to ART, mortality and progression to AIDS.

Design

Prospective multi‐centre cohort study of HIV‐infected subjects naive to ART at entry (Cohort of the Spanish HIV Research Network: CoRIS).

Setting

Thirty‐one centres from the Spanish public health‐care system.

Participants

A total of 9355 patients were included (1064 HIV‐IDU and 8291 HIV‐ST) during 2004–13.

Measurements

We compared LP (defined as presentation for care with a CD4 cell count < 350/μl and/or AIDS‐defining illness), delayed ART initiation (defined as initiating treatment more than 6 months after the date when treatment was indicated by the guidelines, or not initiating treatment at all when it was indicated), virological and immunological response to ART (defined as viral load < 50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/ml and a CD4 count increase of at least 100 cells/μl, respectively, after 1 year of treatment), mortality and progression to AIDS in HIV‐IDU and HIV‐ST.

Findings

Compared with HIV‐ST, HIV‐IDU had higher risk of LP [odds ratio (OR) = 1.76; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.41–2.18], delayed ART initiation (OR 1.87; 95% CI = 1.46–2.40) and higher mortality [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.43; 95% CI = 1.03–2.01] and risk of progression to AIDS [subhazard ratio (SHR) = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.29–2.18]. Virological suppression due to ART was lower in HIV‐IDU than in patients with HIV‐ST only among patients without hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection [adjusted OR (aOR) = 0.59; 95% CI = 0.36–0.95]; among patients with HCV infection, virological suppression due to ART did not show significant differences between HIV‐IDU and HIV‐ST. There were no significant differences in immunological response after adjusting by HCV (aOR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.52–1.06).

Conclusions

In Spain, patients who acquire HIV infection through use of injected drugs appear to have a higher risk of late presentation, delayed initiation of anti‐retroviral treatment and progression to AIDS and death than patients who acquire HIV by sexual transmission.
Long‐term outcomes of hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases at a New Zealand tertiary level public hospital
Authors: Foo Elizabeth W. , Moore Tom , Harris Dean , Yi Ma , Connor Saxon
Published: February 2016

Background

Colorectal cancer is common with half of all patients developing metastases to the liver. The aim of this study was to document the survival for patients undergoing liver resection for colorectal cancer metastases.

Method

A review of all patients undergoing hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases at a New Zealand tertiary level public hospital over a 9‐year period was performed.

Results

Primary survival outcomes assessed were overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS). Of the 116 patients followed‐up with a median (range) of 53 (10–116) months, the OS at 5 years was 53%. Median survival was 6.5 years. At end of follow‐up, 57% of patients were alive and 49% were alive without recurrence. The overall rate of recurrence was 39%.

Conclusion

This study confirms that excellent long term survival can be achieved with hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases.
Iterative parallelism as research praxis: embracing the discursive incommensurability of scholarship and everyday politics
Authors: Williams Olivia R , Pierce Joseph
Published: February 2016

Discussions of geography's role outside the academy have tended toward arguments for greater public relevance, either by revising the discipline's empirical foci, or by adopting more public‐oriented or activist approaches to research. While we are sympathetic to these ideas, we see an inherent tension between the discursive goals of academic scholarship and the everyday political world beyond it. Political discourse makes productive use of signifiers for which multiple meanings already exist, and gains power by exploiting their ambiguity. Academic discourse, on the other hand, seeks to clarify meanings through definitions and carefully delimited empirics in order to elucidate new ideas. We argue that the recognition and appreciation of these divergent discursive goals can serve efforts to make geographic scholarship more widely relevant if scholars make academic contributions iteratively parallel to political ones, rather than attempting to blend the two as a simultaneous practice. Scholarship that works to produce and utilise analytical terms of art within scholarly discourses to more accurately describe political processes can enable new critiques and the imagination of new political possibilities that are difficult to conceptualise from within everyday political discourses. The most strategic way for a scholar to make a political intervention, however, is to frame the suggestion within existing political discourses. Therefore, contributions in each discourse serve specific, unique purposes. The two discourses can also usefully play off of each other. When new political practices arise in the everyday political realm, new research projects can usefully evaluate their impacts to inform further suggestions for political interventions. We elucidate these ideas in three principles to guide an academic praxis of iterative parallelism for scholars interested in making political impacts alongside their scholarship.
Genetic differences between paediatric and adult Burkitt lymphomas
Authors: Havelange Violaine , Pepermans Xavier , Ameye Geneviève , Théate Ivan , Callet‐Bauchu Evelyne , Barin Carole , Penther Dominique , Lippert Eric , Michaux Lucienne , Mugneret Francine , Dastugue Nicole , Raphaël Martine , Vikkula Miikka , Poirel Hélène A.
Published: February 2016

Dysregulation of MYC is the genetic hallmark of Burkitt lymphoma (BL) but it is encountered in other aggressive mature B‐cell lymphomas. MYC dysregulation needs other cooperating events for BL development. We aimed to characterize these events and assess the differences between adult and paediatric BLs that may explain the different outcomes in these two populations. We analysed patterns of genetic aberrations in a series of 24 BLs: 11 adults and 13 children. We looked for genomic imbalances (copy number variations), copy‐neutral loss of heterozygosity (CN‐LOH) and mutations in TP53, CDKN2A, ID3 (exon 1), TCF3 (exon17) and CCND3 (exon 6). Young patients displayed more frequent 13q31.3q32.1 amplification, 7q32q36 gain and 5q23.3 CN‐LOH, while 17p13 and 18q21.3 CN‐LOH were only detected in adult BLs. ID3 mutations were present in all adult samples, but only in 42% of childhood cases. CCND3 and ID3 double‐hit mutations, as well as 18q21 CN‐LOH, seemed to be associated with poorer outcome. For the first time, we report different genetic anomalies between adult and paediatric BLs, suggesting age‐related heterogeneity in Burkitt lymphomagenesis. This may explain the poorer prognosis of adult BLs. Additional studies are needed to confirm these results in the setting of clinical trials.
Reduced rate of sickle‐related complications in Brazilian patients carrying HbF‐promoting alleles at the BCL11A and HMIP‐2 loci
Authors: Leonardo Flávia C. , Brugnerotto Ana F. , Domingos Igor F. , Fertrin Kleber Y. , de Albuquerque Dulcinéia M. , Bezerra Marcos A. C. , Araújo Aderson S. , Saad Sara T. O. , Costa Fernando F. , Menzel Stephan , Conran Nicola , Thein Swee Lay
Published: February 2016

The presence of high levels of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) provides well‐validated clinical benefits to patients with sickle cell anaemia (SCA). Nevertheless it has been difficult to show clear direct effects of the known genetic HbF modifiers, such as the enhancer polymorphisms for haematopoietic transcription factors BCL11A and MYB, on SCA severity. Investigating SCA patients from Brazil, with a high degree of European genetic admixture, we have detected strong effects of these variants on HbF levels. Critically, we have shown, for the first time, that the presence of such HbF‐promoting variants leads to a reduced rate of SCA complications, especially stroke.
Using GIS and streamlined landforms to interpret palaeo‐ice flow in northern Iceland
Authors: Principato Sarah M. , Moyer Alexis N. , Hampsch Alyson G. , Ipsen Heather A.
Published: February 2016

The properties of streamlined glacial landforms and palaeo‐flow indicators in the valleys of Viðidalur, Vatnsdalur and Svínadalur in northern Iceland were quantified using spatial analyses. Drumlins and mega‐scale glacial lineations (MSGL) were visually identified using satellite imagery from Google Earth, the National Land Survey of Iceland (NLSI) Map Viewer and Landsat satellites, and using aerial photographs from the NLSI. A semi‐automated technique was developed using ENVI to determine regions in northern Iceland likely to contain streamlined landforms. The outlines of the identified landforms were manually delineated in Google Earth, and all analyses were conducted in ArcGIS using a 20 m digital elevation model (DEM) of Iceland from the NLSI. Smaller features such as flutes, grooves and striations were measured in the field. At least 543 drumlins and 90 MSGL were identified in the three valleys. Average elongation ratios for Viðidalur, Vatnsdalur and Svínadalur are 4.3:1, 5.2:1 and 6.7:1, respectively. The average density of streamlined landforms is 2.34 landforms per 1 km2. Striations and orientation data of the drumlins and MSGL demonstrate ice flow to the northwest into Húnaflói. Parallel conformity is higher in the valley of Svínadalur (9° standard deviation) than in Viðidalur (12°) and Vatnsdalur (16°). Packing values are generally higher in the centre of each valley. The properties of streamlined landforms in the valleys of Viðidalur, Vatnsdalur and Svínadalur support the presence of palaeo‐ice stream activity on northern Iceland. Palaeo‐ice streams flowed from these regions into Húnaflói, supplying ice to the margin of the Iceland Ice Sheet during the Last Glacial Maximum. These palaeo‐ice streams provide a mechanism for ice centres from the mainland of Iceland to reach the shelf‐slope break.
Identification of sirtuin 1 as a promising therapeutic target for hypertrophic scars
Authors: Bai Xiao‐Zhi , Liu Jia‐Qi , Yang Long‐Long , Fan Lei , He Ting , Su Lin‐Lin , Shi Ji‐Hong , Tang Chao‐Wu , Zheng Zhao , Hu Da‐Hai
Published: February 2016

Background and Purpose

Sirtuin1 (SIRT1), the founding member of mammalian class III histone deacetylases, is reported to be a drug target involved in fibrotic diseases. However, whether it is an effective drug target in hypertrophic scar treatment is still not known.

Experimental Approach

In the present study, we observed that SIRT1 localized to both the epidermis and the dermis of skin tissues by immunohistochemistry. After knock‐down of SIRT1 by shRNA or up‐regulating SIRT1 by resveratrol, the expression of α‐SMA, Col1 and Col3 in fibroblasts were detected by western blots. A mouse excision wound healing model was used to observe the changes in collagen fibre associated with the different expression levels of SIRT1.

Key Results

SIRT1 expression was inhibited in hypertrophic scar tissue. The down‐regulation of SIRT1 resulted in an increased expression of α‐SMA, Col1 and Col3 in hypertrophic scar‐derived fibroblasts. In contrast, the up‐regulation of SIRT1 not only inhibited the expression of α‐SMA, Col1 and Col3 in hypertrophic scar‐derived fibroblasts but also blocked the activation of TGFβ1‐induced normal skin‐derived fibroblasts. In the mouse model of wound healing, the deletion of SIRT1 resulted in denser collagen fibres and a more disordered structure, whereas resveratrol treatment led to a more organized and thinner collagen fibre, which was similar to that observed during normal wound healing.

Conclusions and Implications

The results revealed that SIRT1 negatively regulates TGFβ1‐induced fibroblast activation and inhibits excessive scar formation and is, therefore, a promising drug target for hypertrophic scar formation.