bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bacillus mojavensis RRC101 Lipopeptides Provoke Physiological and Metabolic Changes During Antagonism Against Fusarium verticillioides
Authors: Blacutt A. A. , Mitchell T. R. , Bacon C. W. , Gold S. E.
Published: August 2016

The mycotoxigenic pathogen Fusarium verticillioides threatens the quality and utility of maize across industrial and agricultural purposes. Chemical control is complicated by the intimate endophytic lifestyle of the pathogen with its host. Bacillus mojavensis RRC101, a maize-endophytic bacterium, has been observed to reduce F. verticillioides disease severity and fumonisin accumulation when coinoculated to maize. Genome sequencing and annotation identified a number of biocontrol-relevant pathways in RRC101. Biochemical assays confirmed the presence and activity of surfactin- and fengycin-type lipopeptides, with fengycins responsible for antifungal activity against F. verticillioides. This antagonism manifests as inhibition of filamentous growth, with microscopy revealing hyphal distortions, vacuolization, and lysis. F. verticillioides secondary metabolism also responds to antagonism, with lipopeptide challenge inducing greater fumonisin production and, in the case of fengycins, eliciting pigment accumulation at sites of inhibition. Together, these data suggest that antibiotic and toxin production are components of a complex biochemical interaction among maize endophytes, one pathogenic and one beneficial.
Glutathione S-transferase M1 null genotype, household pesticides exposure and cutaneous melanoma
Authors: Fortes Cristina , Mastroeni Simona , Bottà Giordano , Boffetta Paolo , Antonelli Gianluca , Venanzetti Federica
Published: August 2016

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity is believed to play a critical role in cellular protection against toxic chemicals. We evaluated the role of GSTM1 polymorphisms in modifying the association between indoor pesticide exposure and cutaneous melanoma. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 325 individuals (177 patients with cutaneous melanoma and 148 controls). Genotyping was performed using the PCR method. Participants were interviewed to collect data on pesticides used indoors, sociodemographic characteristics, medical history, sun exposure and pigmented characteristics. Odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by unconditional logistic regression. After adjustment for sex, age, education, hair colour, skin photo-type, solar lentigines, number of nevi and sunburns episodes in childhood, a 2.76-fold (95% CI: 1.08–7.08) increase in the risk of cutaneous melanoma was observed for GSTM1 null individuals highly exposed to indoor pesticides (≥2 times/year) in comparison with GSTM1 active individuals who received low exposure (<2 times/year). Participants exposed to these products for 10 years or more and with GSTM1 null genotype also had an increased risk of cutaneous melanoma (odds ratio: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.01–7.66) in comparison with participants with a low duration of exposure (<10 years) and active GSTM1. These findings suggest that the GSTM1 null genotype is a risk modifier for cutaneous melanoma.
Consistency of Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity in Middle School Physical Education
Authors: Gill Monique , Chan-Golston Alec M. , Rice Lindsay N. , Cole Brian L. , Koniak-Griffin Deborah , Prelip Michael L.
Published: August 2016

This study assessed the consistency of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) in a sample of middle school physical education lessons. Random intercept hierarchical linear regressions were employed to model the relationship between consistency of MVPA and independent variables, including lesson and teacher characteristics. Larger classes spent significantly more time in consistent MVPA in the absence of controlling for teacher characteristics. A significant interaction between class size and teacher experience suggests that experience may play a beneficial role in larger classes, and overall class size does not have to be a barrier to achieving high levels of MVPA.
Predicting functional neuroanatomical maps from fusing brain networks with genetic information
Authors: Ganglberger Florian , Kaczanowska Joanna , Penninger Josef M. , Hess Andreas , Bühler Katja , Haubensak Wulf
Published: August 2016

A central aim, from basic neuroscience to psychiatry, is to resolve how genes control brain circuitry and behavior. This is experimentally hard, since most brain functions and behaviors are controlled by multiple genes. In low throughput, one gene at a time, experiments, it is therefore difficult to delineate the neural circuitry through which these sets of genes express their behavioral effects. The increasing amount of publicly available brain and genetic data offers a rich source that could be mined to address this problem computationally. However, most computational approaches are not tailored to reflect functional synergies in brain circuitry accumulating within sets of genes. Here, we developed an algorithm that fuses gene expression and connectivity data with functional genetic meta data and exploits such cumulative effects to predict neuroanatomical maps for multigenic functions. These maps recapture known functional anatomical annotations from literature and functional MRI data. When applied to meta data from mouse QTLs and human neuropsychiatric databases, our method predicts functional maps underlying behavioral or psychiatric traits. We show that it is possible to predict functional neuroanatomy from mouse and human genetic meta data and provide a discovery tool for high throughput functional exploration of brain anatomyin silico.
A novel quantile regression approach for eQTL discovery
Authors: Song Xiaoyu , Li Gen , Ionita-Laza Iuliana , Wei Ying
Published: August 2016

Over the past decade, there has been a remarkable improvement in our understanding of the role of genetic variation in complex human diseases, especially via genome-wide association studies. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still poorly characterized, impending the development of therapeutic interventions. Identifying genetic variants that influence the expression level of a gene, i.e. expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs), can help us understand how genetic variants influence traits at the molecular level. While most eQTL studies focus on identifying mean effects on gene expression using linear regression, evidence suggests that genetic variation can impact the entire distribution of the expression level. Indeed, several studies have already investigated higher order associations with a special focus on detecting heteroskedasticity. In this paper, we develop a Quantile Rank-score Based Test (QRBT) to identify eQTLs that are associated with the conditional quantile functions of gene expression. We have applied the proposed QRBT to the Genotype-Tissue Expression project, an international tissue bank for studying the relationship between genetic variation and gene expression in human tissues, and found that the proposed QRBT complements the existing methods, and identifies new eQTLs with heterogeneous effects genome-wideacross different quantile levels. Notably, we show that the eQTLs identified by QRBT but missed by linear regression are more likely to be tissue specific, and also associated with greater enrichment in genome-wide significant SNPs from the GWAS catalog. An R package implementing QRBT is available on our website.
Pervasive correlated evolution in gene expression shapes cell type transcriptomes
Authors: Liang Cong , Musser Jacob M. , Cloutier Alison , Prum Richard O. , Wagner Günter P.
Published: August 2016

The evolution and diversification of cell types is a key means by which animal complexity evolves. Recently, hierarchical clustering and phylogenetic methods have been applied to RNA-seq data to infer cell type evolutionary history and homology. A major challenge for interpreting this data is that cell type transcriptomes may not evolve independently due to correlated changes in gene expression. This non-independence can arise for several reasons, such as when different tissues share common regulatory sequences for regulating genes expressed in multiple tissues, i.e. pleiotropic effects of mutations. We develop a model to estimate the level of correlated transcriptome evolution (LCE) and apply it to different datasets. The results reveal pervasive correlated transcriptome evolution among different cell and tissue types. In general, tissues related by morphology or developmental lineage exhibit higher LCE than more distantly related tissues. Analyzing new data collected from bird skin appendages suggests that LCE decreases with the phylogenetic age of tissues compared, with recently evolved tissues exhibiting the highest LCE. Furthermore, we show correlated evolution can alter patterns of hierarchical clustering, causing different tissue types from the same species to cluster together. Using a dataset with sufficient taxon sampling, we performed a gene-wise estimation of LCE, identifying genes that most strongly contribute to the correlated evolution signal. Removing genes with high LCE allows for accurate reconstruction of evolutionary relationships among tissue types. Our study provides a statistical method to measure and account for correlated gene expression evolution when interpreting comparative transcriptome data.
Internal states drive nutrient homeostasis by modulating exploration-exploitation trade-off
Authors: Corrales-Carvajal Verónica María , Faisal Aldo A , Ribeiro Carlos
Published: August 2016

Internal states can deeply alter the behavior of animals. Which aspects of behavior change upon metabolic challenges and how these allow the animal to achieve nutrient homeostasis is poorly understood. We used an automated video tracking setup to characterize how amino acid and reproductive states interact to shape exploitation and exploration decisions taken by adultDrosophila melanogaster, to achieve nutritional homeostasis. We find that these two states have specific effects on the decisions to engage and leave proteinaceous food patches. Furthermore, the internal nutrient state defines the exploration-exploitation trade-off: nutrient deprived flies focus on specific patches while satiated flies explore more globally. Finally, we show that olfaction mediates the efficient recognition of yeast as an appropriate protein source and that octopamine is specifically required to mediate homeostatic postmating responses without affecting internal nutrient sensing. Internal states therefore modulate specific aspects of exploitation and exploration to change nutrient selection.
Dairy production diagnosis in Santa Catarina, Brazil, from the perspective of business ecosystem
Authors: Bonamigo Andrei , Ferenhof Helio Aisenberg , Forcellini Fernando Antonio
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to diagnose the barriers of dairy production system of Santa Catarina from the perspective of the business ecosystem concept.

Design/methodology/approach

The study consists of a bibliographic systematic review of the dairy production from the perspective of the business ecosystem. To analyze the resulting portfolio, the authors used the content analysis proposed by Bardin (2011), which served as the basis for analysis and discussion of the barriers of dairy production.

Findings

The authors identified a total of 19 barriers related with dairy production activity in Santa Catarina, they are properly presented and discussed. In addition, some ways to mitigate these barriers.

Research limitations/implications

This study may not have enabled a complete coverage of all existing peer-reviewed articles in the field of dairy production. Yet, it seems reasonable to assume that the review process covered a large proportion of studies available.

Originality/value

It is the first study that identifies barriers to the development of dairy production in Santa Catarina using as an analytical lens the business ecosystem. And once identified these barriers, it is possible to devise strategies to eliminate or mitigate these barriers.
Reducing waste of food left on plates
Authors: Mirosa Miranda , Munro Harriet , Mangan-Walker Ella , Pearson David
Published: August 2016

Purpose

Social marketing and other types of targeted behaviour change interventions should appeal to an individual’s personal values in order to improve their effectiveness. However, there is currently little understanding of what these values are in relation to food waste. The purpose of this paper is to identify the values underpinning the specific behaviour of plate waste created in a residential foodservice setting.

Design/methodology/approach

In semi-structured interviews (n=50) laddering techniques were used to identify links from behaviours through individual’s rationalisation for that behaviour to their personal values. The aim of the questioning was to uncover underlying drivers that lead to plate waste as well as those barriers to reducing it.

Findings

The values identified as being most important are hedonism and self-direction. The specific aspects of these values for plate waste reduction interventions are not compromising on the individual’s enjoyment of the meal and meeting their health goals. Effective interventions include pre-ordering meals, reducing food options provided, reducing plate size, removing food tray and finally, information campaigns to raise awareness.

Originality/value

The study provides insights into the personal values that influence behaviours resulting in plate waste. The study is the first to determine the links between this behaviour, rationalisations for that behaviour and personal values.
Consumer preference and demand for traceable food attributes
Authors: Lu Jiao , Wu Linhai , Wang Shuxian , Xu Lingling
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper with pork as a case is to analyze Chinese consumer preference and demand for traceable food attributes, in order to provide a useful reference for Chinese Government in developing the safe food market and preventing food safety risks.

Design/methodology/approach

This research surveyed 1,380 consumers in seven pilot cities that designated by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce for the construction of a meat and vegetable circulation traceability system. A choice-based conjoint analysis and multinomial logit model were used to study consumer preferences and demand for traceable pork attributes.

Findings

The results demonstrated that certification of traceable information was the most important characteristic, followed by appearance and traceable information. Significant heterogeneity was obtained in consumer preferences for the attributes of traceable pork. Also, consumers’ preferences for traceable attributes were memorably influenced by age, education level, and income level.

Social implications

Based on these results, the government should encourage and support the production of traceable food with different certification types and different traceability levels. Meanwhile, the development of food traceability systems should be combined with a quality certification labeling system.

Originality/value

This study extends the applicability of the setting of traceable food attributes and levels in China, and it will improve Chinese food traceability systems through multilateral cooperation.
Fats in ready-to-eat foods sold at Korean major amusement parks
Authors: Lee Yu-Mi , Lee Na-Young , Chung Myung-Sub , Ha Sang-Do , Bae Dong-Ho
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the fat, saturated fatty acid and trans fatty acid contents in ready-to-eat foods distributed at amusement parks to develop an appropriate food safety management system for children.

Design/methodology/approach

In all, 322 ready-to-eat food samples categorized into 17 types were collected from nine Korean amusement parks and their fat, saturated fatty acid and trans fatty acid contents were assessed.

Findings

Fat, saturated fatty acid and trans fatty acid contents were relatively high in flour-based products. On the basis of the Korea Food and Drug Administration classification, the samples in 12 categories were classified as high-fat foods. The samples in nine categories were classified as high-saturated fatty acid foods. Most samples also contained non-negligible levels of trans fatty acids. The fat, saturated fatty acid and trans fatty acid contents of samples even in the same category varied markedly.

Social implications

This research will inform the necessity of an appropriate safety management system for ready-to-eat foods distributed at amusement.

Originality/value

Although the fat contents of foods distributed around school area were often observed, the potential risk of those in ready-to-eat foods distributed at amusement parks have rarely been assessed. As patterns of food intakes vary world-widely, a periodic monitoring data like this study may be useful for international organizations and researchers.
Role of trusting beliefs in predicting purchase intentions
Authors: Sahi Gurjeet Kaur , Sekhon Harjit Singh , Quareshi Tahira Khanam
Published: August 2016

Purpose

India’s retail sector is going through a significant transitional period with the internet as a new distribution channel becoming more common. Given the barriers to adoption, the purpose of this paper is to understand the role played by trusting beliefs when engaging with an online retailer. In the Indian market, online vending is expected to increase at a rate of 35 per cent per annum, and by understanding trusting beliefs retailers will be able to develop their market share by developing appropriate and/or innovative strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The work is based on a sample of more than 200 internet customers in India. In understanding the data and the relationships that emerged from the modelling, the authors used a range of tools to analyse the data, including CFA and structural equation modelling. The authors also used descriptive statistics to provide a holistic overview of response profiles.

Findings

The study reveals that trusting beliefs are negatively influenced by an uncertainty avoidance culture and positively influenced by a firm’s image and a customer’s price awareness. Moreover, purchase intentions (PIs) are significantly enhanced by trusting beliefs in an online environment. Hence, it leads us to conclude that PIs can be augmented by facilitating and ensuring good quality service by placing special emphasis on timeliness, accuracy and conditions of the order, security and privacy paradigms, aftersales services, etc.

Research limitations/implications

As can be seen, the internet is an emergent tool for retailers in India. By understanding trusting beliefs, retailers will be able to better understand customers’ behaviour and thus design management strategies accordingly. Although this is likely to take more than a decade, as internet retailing becomes embedded it may have a detrimental effect on the historical channel to market, thus altering the country’s retail landscape which is currently dominated by small retailers.

Practical implications

The work’s findings are insightful for those seeking to maximize the opportunities presented by the internet as a channel to market. The works shows how the channel is influenced and thus how it can be managed. In making the contribution the authors provide guidance in terms of operational activity to engage with potential customers.

Originality/value

This paper examines trusting beliefs when using the internet as a channel to market and in doing so it makes a new contribution because it establishes links with culture and other factors. For the research venue the authors use a developing market and therefore the findings are applicable to markets with similar characteristics.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: the gastrointestinal benefits of COX‐2 selective inhibitors with concomitant use of low‐dose aspirin
Authors: Yuan J. Q. , Yang M. , Threapleton D. E. , Qi X. S. , Ye D. Q. , Mao C. , Tang J. L. , Higgins J. P. T.
Published: August 2016

Background

It is uncertain whether concurrent use of low‐dose aspirin removes the gastrointestinal benefit displayed by COX‐2 selective inhibitors (coxibs) when compared to traditional nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Aim

To evaluate the gastrointestinal risks associated with coxibs and traditional NSAIDs and the interaction with concurrent use of low‐dose aspirin.

Methods

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library through April 2016 to identify randomised trials comparing the gastrointestinal risk between coxibs and traditional NSAIDs in patients taking or not taking low‐dose aspirin. Results were combined using random effects meta‐analysis. Subgroup analyses by concurrent use of aspirin were undertaken.

Results

Eleven trials (84 150 participants) were included. The overall relative risk (RR) of coxibs vs. traditional NSAIDs for complicated gastrointestinal events was 0.54 (95% CI, confidence interval 0.32–0.92), with a significant subgroup difference (P = 0.04) according to concurrent use of aspirin (used: RR = 0.96, 95% CI 0.66–1.24; not used: RR = 0.33, 95% CI 0.14–0.83). The overall RR for clinical gastrointestinal events was 0.59 (95% CI 0.47–0.75), with a significant subgroup difference according to aspirin usage (P = 0.008; used: RR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.62–0.95; not used: RR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.39–0.64). Overall coxibs were associated with significantly lower risk of symptomatic ulcers (RR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.50–0.72) and endoscopic ulcers (RR = 0.29, 95% CI 0.16–0.53) than traditional NSAIDs; a significant subgroup difference was shown for endoscopic ulcers (P = 0.05) but not for symptomatic ulcers (P = 0.27).

Conclusion

Concomitant use of low‐dose aspirin reduces but does not completely eliminate the gastrointestinal benefit of coxibs over traditional NSAIDs.
Mitochondrial uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m‐chlorophenylhydrazone induces vasorelaxation without involving KATP channel activation in smooth muscle cells of arteries
Authors: Zhang Yan‐Qiu , Shen Xin , Xiao Xiao‐Lin , Liu Ming‐Yu , Li Shan‐Liang , Yan Jie , Jin Jing , Gao Jin‐Lai , Zhen Chang‐Lin , Hu Nan , Zhang Xin‐Zi , Tai Yu , Zhang Liang‐Shuan , Bai Yun‐Long , Dong De‐Li
Published: August 2016

Background and Purpose

The effects and mechanisms of chemical mitochondrial uncouplers on vascular function have never been identified. Here, we characterized the effects of the typical mitochondrial uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m‐chlorophenylhydrazone (CCCP) on vascular function in rat mesenteric arteries and aorta and elucidated the potential mechanisms.

Experimental Approach

Isometric tension of mesenteric artery and thoracic aorta was recorded by using a multiwire myograph system. Protein levels were measured by western blot analyses. Cytosolic [Ca2+]i, mitochondrial ROS (mitoROS) and mitochondrial membrane potential of smooth muscle cells (A10) were measured by laser scanning confocal microscopy.

Key Results

Acute treatment with CCCP relaxed phenylephrine (PE)‐ and high K+ (KPSS)‐induced constriction of rat mesenteric arteries with intact and denuded endothelium. Pretreatment with CCCP prevented PE‐ and KPSS‐induced constriction of rat mesenteric arteries with intact and denuded endothelium. Similarly, CCCP prevented PE‐ and KPSS‐induced constriction of rat thoracic aorta. CCCP increased the cellular ADP/ATP ratio in vascular smooth muscle cells (A10) and activated AMPK in A10 cells and rat thoracic aorta tissues. CCCP‐induced aorta relaxation was attenuated in AMPK α1 knockout (−/−) mice. SERCA inhibitors thapsigargin and cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) but not the KATP channel blocker glibenclamide partially inhibited CCCP‐induced vasorelaxation in endothelium‐denuded rat mesenteric arteries. CCCP increased cytosolic [Ca2+]i, mitoROS production and depolarized mitochondrial membrane potential in A10 cells. FCCP, the analogue of CCCP, had similar vasoactivity as CCCP in rat mesenteric arteries.

Conclusions and Implications

CCCP induces vasorelaxation by a mechanism that does not involve KATP channel activation in smooth muscle cells of arteries.
Early childhood development: impact of national human development, family poverty, parenting practices and access to early childhood education
Authors: Tran T. D. , Luchters S. , Fisher J.
Published: August 2016

Background

This study was to describe and quantify the relationships among family poverty, parents' caregiving practices, access to education and the development of children living in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LAMIC).

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of data collected in UNICEF's Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). Early childhood development was assessed in four domains: language‐cognitive, physical, socio‐emotional and approaches to learning. Countries were classified into three groups on the basis of the Human Development Index (HDI).

Results

Overall, data from 97 731 children aged 36 to 59 months from 35 LAMIC were included in the after analyses. The mean child development scale score was 4.93 out of a maximum score of 10 (95%CI 4.90 to 4.97) in low‐HDI countries and 7.08 (95%CI 7.05 to 7.12) in high‐HDI countries. Family poverty was associated with lower child development scores in all countries. The total indirect effect of family poverty on child development score via attending early childhood education, care for the child at home and use of harsh punishments at home was −0.13 SD (77.8% of the total effect) in low‐HDI countries, −0.09 SD (23.8% of the total effect) in medium‐HDI countries and −0.02 SD (6.9% of the total effect) in high‐HDI countries.

Conclusions

Children in the most disadvantaged position in their societies and children living in low‐HDI countries are at the greatest risk of failing to reach their developmental potential. Optimizing care for child development at home is essential to reduce the adverse effects of poverty on children's early development and subsequent life.
Evaluation of the maxillofacial morphological characteristics of Apert syndrome infants
Authors: Kakutani Hitomi , Sato Yoshiaki , Tsukamoto‐Takakusagi Yuri , Saito Fumio , Oyama Akihiko , Iida Junichiro
Published: August 2016

Apert syndrome is a rare craniosynostosis syndrome characterized by irregular craniosynostosis, midface hypoplasia, and syndactyly of the hands and feet. Previous studies analyzed individuals with Apert syndrome and reported some facial and intraoral features caused by severe maxillary hypoplasia. However, these studies were performed by analyzing both individuals who had and those had not received a palate repair surgery, which had a high impact on the maxillary growth and occlusion. To highlight the intrinsic facial and intraoral features of Apert syndrome, five Japanese individuals with Apert syndrome from 5 years and 2 months to 9 years and 10 months without cleft palate were analyzed in this study. A concave profile and a skeletal Class III jaw‐base relationship caused by severe maxillary hypoplasia were seen in all patients. The patients exhibited anterior and posterior crossbites possibly due to a small dental arch of Maxilla.
Sevoflurane represses the self‐renewal ability by regulating miR‐7a,7b/Klf4 signalling pathway in mouse embryonic stem cells
Authors: Wang Qimin , Li Guifeng , Li Baolin , Chen Qiu , Lv Dongdong , Liu Jiaying , Ma Jieyu , Sun Nai , Yang Longqiu , Fei Xuejie , Song Qiong
Published: August 2016

Sevoflurane is a frequently‐used clinical inhalational anaesthetic and can cause toxicity to embryos during foetal development. Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass of blastospheres and can be used as a useful model of early development. Here, we found that sevoflurane significantly influenced self‐renewal ability of mESCs on stemness maintenance and cell proliferation. The cell cycle was arrested via G1 phase delay. We further found that sevoflurane upregulated expression of miR‐7a,7b to repress self‐renewal. Next we performed rescue experiments and found that after adding miR‐7a,7b inhibitor into mESCs treated with sevoflurane, its influence on self‐renewal could be blocked. Further we identified stemness factor Klf4 as the direct target of miR‐7a,7b. Overexpression of Klf4 restored self‐renewal ability repressed by miR‐7a,7b or sevoflurane. In this work, we determined that sevoflurane repressed self‐renewal ability by regulating the miR‐7a,7b/Klf4 signalling pathway in mESCs. Our study demonstrated molecular mechanism underlying the side effects of sevoflurane during early development, laying the foundation for studies on safe usage of inhalational anaesthetic during non‐obstetric surgery.
Rapid responses to a strong experimental selection for heat hardening in the invasive whitefly Bemisia tabaciMEAM 1
Authors: Muñoz‐Valencia Vanessa , González‐Obando Ranulfo , Díaz Fernando
Published: August 2016

Adaptation to new environments is an important issue for invasive species as colonization depends on evolvability in their new distribution range. Here, we considered the case of the whitefly Bemisia tabaci MEAM 1 (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), a pest that has recently invaded Colombia and where thermal adaptation has been proposed to explain its colonizing ability. An experimental evolution study was conducted to assess the evolutionary potential of B. tabaci in relation to its upper thermal limits, to explain its rapid adaptation during post‐invasion periods. Selection for hardening capacity was conducted in four whitefly populations. We measured thermal responses in relation to fitness components (survival, fecundity, and viability) for 5–7 generations under a strong selection regime. Heat hardening responded rapidly in both sexes. This was expressed as an increase in survival, but not in fecundity or viability. These results suggest that thermal responses for heat hardening are not correlated and evolve independently. Increased survival after few generations of selection points to high adaptive potential in this insect, which leads to rapid post‐invasion adaptation. Our study can help to predict population responses to environmental change and explain the colonizing ability of this pest.
Thermoregulation in gregarious dipteran larvae: evidence of species‐specific temperature selection
Authors: Aubernon Cindy , Boulay Julien , Hédouin Valéry , Charabidzé Damien
Published: August 2016

Due to the ephemeral nature of carcasses they grow on, necrophagous blowfly larvae should minimize the time spent on the cadaver. This could be achieved by moving to high‐temperature areas. On that basis, we theorized that larvae placed in a heterogeneous thermal environment would move to the higher temperature that speed up their development. This study was designed to (1) test the ability of necrophagous larvae to orientate in a heterogeneous thermal environment, and (2) compare the temperatures selected by the larvae of three common blowfly species: Lucilia sericata (Meigen), Calliphora vomitoria (L.) and Calliphora vicina (Robineau‐Desvoidy). For this purpose, we designed a setup we named Thermograde. It consists of a food‐supplied linear thermal gradient that allows larvae to move, feed, and grow in close‐to‐real conditions, and to choose to stay at a given temperature. For each species and replication, 80 young third instars were placed on the thermal gradient. The location of larvae was observed after 19 h, with fifteen replications per species. The larvae of each species formed aggregations that were always located at the same temperatures, which were highly species‐specific: 33.3 ± 1.52 °C for L. sericata, 29.6 ± 1.63 °C for C. vomitoria, and 22.4 ± 1.55 °C for C. vicina. According to the literature, these value allows a fast development of the larvae, but not to reach the maximum development rate. As control experiments clearly demonstrate that larval distribution was not due to differences in food quality, we hypothesized that the local temperature selection by larvae may result from a trade‐off between development quality and duration. Indeed, temperature controls not only the development rate of the larvae, but also the quality of their growth and survival rate. Finally, results raise questions regarding the way larvae moved on the gradient and located their preferential temperature.
Cadmium adsorption on bacteria–mineral mixtures: effect of naturally occurring ligands
Authors: Du H. H. , Chen W. L. , Cai P. , Rong X. M. , Chen C. R. , Huang Q. Y.
Published: August 2016

The mobility and fate of heavy metals in soil depend strongly on their interactions with naturally occurring ligands and sorbents such as bacteria–mineral complexes, which are among the most important bioactive components in soil. However, the mechanism through which the various ligands affect heavy metal adsorption on bacteria–mineral complexes remains unclear. In this study, the effects of several inorganic and organic ligands on Cd adsorption on Pseudomonas putida–montmorillonite (Mont) and Pseudomonas putida–goethite mixtures were examined with measurements of macroscopic sorption. The results showed that citrate and humic acid enhanced Cd adsorption on P. putida–Mont and P. putida–goethite. Conversely, oxalate suppressed Cd adsorption. Phosphate showed both limited and increased Cd adsorption, depending on the types of mixture. Cadmium adsorption was increased on P. putida–goethite, but was reduced on P. putida–Mont. This study provided the first compelling evidence that the effects of ligands on bacteria–mineral mixtures cannot simply be inferred from the effects on the individual components of such mixtures. The positive, neutral or negative effects also depend on the types and concentrations of ligands as well as the mineral species that form the bacteria–mineral mixtures.

Highlights

Little information is available on metal adsorption at organo–mineral interfaces affected by ligands.

Effect of ligands on metal adsorption to bacteria–mineral complexes is elucidated.

Ligands can form surface Cd complexes on the mineral component of the bacteria–mineral mixture.

The effects of ligands on the mixture depend on the interactions between individual components.
Younger black patients have a higher risk of infection mortality that is mostly non‐dialysis related: A national study of cause‐specific mortality among U.S. maintenance dialysis patients
Authors: Yu Alison J. , Norris Keith C. , Cheung Alfred K. , Yan Guofen
Published: August 2016

Introduction: While it has been well documented that in the U.S., black and Hispanic dialysis patients have overall lower risks of death than white dialysis patients, little is known whether their lower risks are observed in cause‐specific deaths. Additionally, recent research reported that younger black patients have a higher risk of death, but the source is unclear. Therefore, this study examined cause‐specific deaths among US dialysis patients by race/ethnicity and age.

Methods: This national study included 1,255,640 incident dialysis patients between 1995 and 2010 in the United States Renal Data System. Five cause‐specific mortality rates, including cardiovascular (CVD), infection, malignancy, other known causes (miscellaneous), and unknown, were compared across blacks, Hispanics, and whites overall and stratified by age groups.

Findings: After multiple adjustments, Hispanic patients had the lowest risk of mortality for every major cause in almost all ages. Compared with whites, blacks had a lower risk of death from CVD, malignancy and miscellaneous causes in most age groups, but not from infection. In fact, blacks had a higher risk of infection death than whites in ages 18–30 years (HR [95% CI] 1.94 [1.69–2.23]; P < 0.001), 31–40 years (HR 1.51 [1.40–1.63]; P < 0.001) and 41–50 years (HR 1.07 [1.02–1.12]; P = 0.009), which were partially attributed to their higher prevalence of AIDS nephropathy. For each race/ethnicity, more than two‐thirds of infection deaths were due to non‐dialysis related infections.

Discussion: Hispanics had the lowest risk for each major cause of death. Blacks were less likely to die than whites from most causes, except infection. The previously reported higher overall mortality rate for younger blacks is attributed to their two‐fold higher infection mortality, which is mostly non‐dialysis related, suggesting a new direction to improve their overall health status. Research is greatly needed to determine social and biological factors that account for the survival gap in dialysis among different racial/ethnic groups.
A comparative study of the spatial distribution of HIV prevalence in the metropolis of Kermanshah, Iran, in 1996−2014 using geographical information systems
Authors: Khademi N , Reshadat S , Zangeneh A , Saeidi S , Ghasemi SR , Rajabi‐Gilan N , Zakiei A
Published: August 2016

Objectives

Geographical information systems (GISs) have made spatiotemporal understanding of geographical patterns possible and have contributed to the identification and analysis of factors relating to health care behaviours and outcomes. The present study is the first to examine the spatial distribution of HIV prevalence in the metropolis of Kermanshah, Iran, using GISs.

Methods

The research methods were descriptive, analytical and comparative. Additionally, data recorded for HIV‐infected patients in 1996–2014 were used and then the loci of HIV infection in the metropolis of Kermanshah were identified and analysed spatially using ArcGIS (Esri, New York, NY, USA).

Results

HIV prevalence in the metropolis of Kermanshah increased from 1996 to 2014. Analysis of the spatial distribution of the prevalence of HIV using ArcGIS indicated the presence of clusters of HIV infection. The findings demonstrate that there were many clusters of high HIV prevalence throughout the city of Kermanshah and that these clusters increased in size during the study period. Furthermore, the statistics are indicative of a growing number of HIV‐infected women as well as a significant reduction in the mean age of the HIV‐infected female population.

Conclusions

The spatial differences in HIV prevalence across the city of Kermanshah, as well as the identification of the resulting spatial clusters in different parts of the city, suggest that measures should be put in place to prevent the growth of these clusters and to reduce the number of women being infected with HIV.
Commentary: Are alpha‐2 agonist really effective in children with tics with comorbid ADHD? A commentary on Whittington et al. (2016)
Authors: Bloch Michael H.
Published: August 2016

In this issue, Whittington et al. (2016) present a systematic review that reports the efficacy of three primary treatments for children with Tourette syndrome (TS) – (a) α2‐adrenergic receptor agonists; (b) antipsychotic medications; and (c) habit reversal training/comprehensive behavioral intervention. In this commentary, we highlight the large degree of heterogeneity observed in the meta‐analysis of trials involving alpha‐2 agonist medications and present possible explanations for the observed heterogeneity. Among these possible explanations is the possibility that presence of comorbid ADHD may moderate the efficacy of alpha‐2 agonists in the treatment of tic disorder with the medications being more effective in patients with both conditions. The commentary reviews the evidence supporting this possible moderating effect of ADHD and discusses the implications for such a relationship.
Registered nurses’ experiences of caring for pregnant and postpartum women in general hospital settings: a systematic review and meta‐synthesis of qualitative data
Authors: Bayes Sara , Ewens Beverley
Published: August 2016

Aims and objectives

To understand how nurses view and experience caring for pregnant and postpartum women in nonmaternity care settings.

Background

A degree of apprehension is perceived to exist among nurses in relation to caring for pregnant or postpartum women in nonmaternity care settings. The nature of nonmidwife nurses’ concerns about caring for this group of women in these contexts, however, is not known.

Design

A six‐step systematic approach was employed for this review.

Methods

In Step 1, the research question was developed; Step 2 involved developing the inclusion criteria for articles; the literature search strategy was devised in Step 3; Step 4 comprised the conduct of the literature search and selection of articles for review; in Step 5, the critical appraisal of selected studies and synthesis of data was undertaken; interpretation of the findings occurred in Step 6.

Results

Following a process of elimination, the final number of articles retained for this review was three. Fifty‐four Level 1 findings were extracted from these three articles which were subsequently collapsed into four Level 2 categories. Two Level 3 synthesised findings that characterise what is known about the topic of interest were then derived from these four Level two categories.

Conclusions

Nurses are reportedly ill prepared for the experience of caring for pregnant and postpartum women in general care settings. A combination of a lack of education and a need to ‘learn on the job’ reportedly evokes stress, trauma and a sense of professional inadequacy.

Relevance to clinical practice

This review identifies lack of knowledge and of adequate supervision for nurses in this context, which in turn poses a clinical risk to pregnant and postpartum women in their care. Effective strategies to establish initial and ongoing collaborative education and clinical practice guidelines are required.
Microhabitat selection for caching and use of potential landmarks for seed recovery by a neotropical rodent
Authors: Ribeiro J. F. , Vieira E. M.
Published: August 2016

Scatter‐hoarding rodents may interact with the structural characteristics of their environment in several ways: by seeking dense areas inside the forest for protection during seed handling, by caching seeds close to objects that might be used as visual cues for seed recovery or by hiding themselves inside refuges such as burrows. We investigated the use of structural characteristics of the forest by a scatter‐hoarder rodent (the Azara's agouti, Dasyprocta azarae) in the Brazilian Araucaria Forest. We evaluated the selection of microhabitat characteristics for feeding or caching seeds, and the selection of potential landmarks for increasing seed recovery rates. For that, we followed threaded seeds of Araucaria angustifolia (Araucariaceae) and also placed artificial caches in the forest. We predicted that agoutis (1) select feeding and caching sites whose microhabitat characteristics potentially enhance protection against predators, (2) hoard seeds preferentially near potential landmarks and (3) find artificial caches placed near potential landmarks more frequently than caches placed away (<0.5 m) from any landmark. As expected, agoutis significantly selected feeding and caching sites with greater herbaceous cover, closer to tree trunks, and with higher tree density compared to randomly selected sites. Considering potential landmarks, agoutis not only selected sites near to fallen logs and treelets for caching but also preferred the latter for immediate seed consumption. Moreover, seeds buried near treelets were recovered more frequently than seeds cached near fallen logs, tree trunks or exposed rocks. The proximity of potential landmarks, however, did not influence seed removal from artificial caches, suggesting that visual cues do not enhance seed location by naive foragers. Our conclusions are: (1) agoutis transport seeds to potentially safer places for immediately consuming or burying them; (2) fallen logs and treelets are potential visual cues for seed recovery; and (3) naive foragers seem to use mainly olfactory cues for seed detection.
The Wage‐Share in an Open Economy. Discussing Mexico's Experience
Authors: López G Julio , Malagamba‐Morán Ana Sofía
Published: August 2016

Mexico's wage share in manufacturing has shown a downward trend. We discuss the main factors that have shaped this evolution during the period of 1994 to 2009 and we analyze this issue on the basis of Kalecki's theory of income distribution, but adapting to an open economy. We show that, changes in the degree of monopoly and in the composition of prime costs have had a great impact on income distribution. Further, trade opening has contributed to magnify the effect on manufacturing wage share of changes in the exchange rate.
Role of vascular reactive oxygen species in regulating cytochrome P450‐4A enzyme expression in Dahl salt‐sensitive rats
Authors: Lukaszewicz Kathleen M. , Paudyal Mahesh P. , Falck John R. , Lombard Julian H.
Published: August 2016

Objective

The potential contribution of CYP4A enzymes to endothelial dysfunction in Dahl salt‐sensitive rats was determined by comparison to SS‐5BN consomic rats having chromosome 5 carrying CYP4A alleles from the BN rat introgressed into the SS genetic background.

Methods

The following experiments were performed in cerebral arteries from HS‐fed SS and SS‐5BN rats ± the SOD inhibitor DETC and/or the superoxide scavenger Tempol: (i) endothelial function was determined via video microscopy ± acute addition of the CYP4A inhibitor DDMS or Tempol; (ii) vascular oxidative stress was assessed with DHE fluorescence ± acute addition of DDMS, l‐NAME, or PEG‐SOD; and (iii) CYP4A protein levels were compared by western blotting.

Results

In DETC‐treated SS‐5BN and HS‐fed SS rats, (i) DDMS or Tempol ameliorated vascular dysfunction, (ii) DDMS reduced vascular oxidative stress to control levels, (iii) chronic Tempol treatment reduced vascular CYP4A protein expression, and (iv) combined treatment with Tempol and l‐NAME prevented the reduction in CYP4A protein expression in MCA of HS‐fed SS rats.

Conclusion

The CYP4A pathway plays a role in vascular dysfunction in SS rats and there appears to be a direct role of reduced NO availability due to salt‐induced oxidant stress in upregulating CYP4A enzyme expression.
An overview of the progress and challenges of peatland restoration in Western Europe
Authors: Andersen Roxane , Farrell Catherine , Graf Martha , Muller Francis , Calvar Emilie , Frankard Philippe , Caporn Simon , Anderson Penny
Published: August 2016

Peatlands are the most efficient terrestrial carbon store on Earth, and deliver multiple other ecosystem services including climate regulation, water purification, preservation of ecological and archaeological records, etc. Disturbed and degraded peatlands do not provide the same ecological services and thus bear a significant cost to society. Because this cost may be alleviated by appropriate restoration measures, money is being invested in peatland restoration projects around the world. Here, we review over 25 years of restoration in Western Europe. First, we provide an overview of techniques used in different contexts and evaluate the status of the evidence base for restoration outcomes. Between 1993 and 2015, the EU‐LIFE nature programme alone invested 167.6M € in 80 projects, which aim to restore over 913 km2 of peatland habitats in Western European countries, mostly in protected sites part of the Natura 2000 EU network. This represents less than 2% of the total remaining area of peatlands in these countries, most of which have been impacted to some degree by anthropogenic disturbances. Potential for restoration should be considered in nondesignated sites. We reviewed a number of case studies covering a range of restoration approaches used in different parts of Western Europe. We found that published evidence of restoration progress was limited to specific sites/areas, and in many cases lacked baseline measurements and clear goals, that is, measurable target or contemporary reference(s). We discuss barriers and opportunities to turn the tide for peatland restoration in Western Europe and promote the establishment of robust, standardized monitoring schemes.