bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
EDITOR'S CHOICE: Safeguarding Sumatran tigers: evaluating effectiveness of law enforcement patrols and local informant networks
Authors: Linkie Matthew , Martyr Deborah J. , Harihar Abishek , Risdianto Dian , Nugraha Rudijanta T. , Maryati  , Leader‐Williams Nigel , Wong Wai‐Ming
Published: May 2015

The United Nations recently listed illegal wildlife trade as a serious crime because of the escalating demand for highly prized species, such as tiger and rhinoceros, and the failure to effectively control the trade. In turn, this places greater urgency on reducing supply by securing source populations of these species. Yet, whether law enforcement strategies designed to mitigate poaching are succeeding remains poorly understood, despite the millions of dollars invested annually in this mainstay conservation strategy.

Here, we assess the performance of one of Asia's longest running law enforcement programmes, from Kerinci Seblat National Park in Sumatra, by investigating whether forest ranger patrols reduced the occurrence of snare traps set for tiger and its ungulate prey base; local informant reports on poaching influenced ranger patrol success; and the resulting population trends of target species changed in response to these conservation actions.

A total of 4433 snare traps were removed during 642 foot patrols conducted from 2000 to 2010. Controlling for the influence of varying detection probabilities, as well as accessibility and other possible determinants of illegal hunting, revealed that sites with a greater frequency of patrols, rather than the combined distance walked, had a lower occurrence of snare traps in succeeding years.

Patrols conducted on the basis of local informant ‘tip‐offs’ were significantly more likely to detect snare traps than routine patrols, with reports increasing detections by over 40%.

There were no significant changes in the occupancy status of the tiger prey base from 2004 to 2011, suggesting that it remained stable during this period. The relatively good condition of prey and predator populations in Kerinci Seblat National Park was further supported by the results of an independent survey conducted in 2008–2009 which revealed a widespread tiger occurrence.

Synthesis and applications. Our results not only demonstrate the effectiveness of the Kerinci Seblat law enforcement strategy in protecting wildlife, but highlight the benefits from cultivating a network of reliable informants. The study also represents a critical step in helping these urgently needed conservation assessments to become common place in the fight to save flagship species.
‘Keep the Citizens Poor’: Machiavelli’s Prescription for Republican Poverty
Authors: Rose Julie L.
Published: May 2015

Machiavelli consistently advises that well-ordered republics must ‘keep their citizens poor’. Although this maxim recurs throughout the Discourses, Machiavelli never directly elaborates on what this prescription for civic poverty requires. To the limited extent that this maxim has received critical examination, it is commonly regarded as contending that citizens must live in a condition of material austerity. Through an analysis of Machiavelli’s writings on the German free cities, this article challenges this interpretation and argues that rather than requiring that citizens live at some particular level of poverty, the maxim instead requires only that citizens maintain certain attitudes towards poverty and wealth.
The Role of Ideas in Policy and Institutional Change: A Comparison of the Open Functional Approach, Constructivism and Discourse Theory
Authors: Eleveld Anja
Published: May 2015

Most scholars engaged in ideational analysis agree that the availability of new ideas may cause existing welfare state policies and institutions to alter. This article considers the extent to which the open functional approach and constructivist approaches are able to explain the role of ideas in policy and institutional change. Notwithstanding their contribution to the study of the role of ideas in policy and institutional change, these approaches suffer from some shortcomings as they fail to view ideas as non-stable entities. In order to address these shortcomings, an alternative poststructuralist discourse theoretical explanatory model is presented. Applying this model to the case of the rise and fall of Dutch life course policy, the article shows how a discourse theoretical view of ideas as ﬂoating signiﬁers contributes to the study of the role of ideas in welfare state change.
Reward or Punish? Understanding Preferences toward Economic or Regulatory Instruments in a Cross-National Perspective
Authors: Harring Niklas
Published: May 2015

This study is interested in cross-national differences in public preferences toward different forms of political steering. Using data from the International Social Survey Programme it was found that there is quite substantial variation between countries in policy preferences. It is suggested that this variation can be explained by the variation in the quality of public institutions (i.e. Quality of Government, QoG). Low QoG is associated with a preference for coercive regulatory instruments and an aversion toward reward-based instruments. The explanation provided is that low QoG is correlated with low social trust, which produces suspicion of defection and an urge to punish free-riders with strong or coercive instruments. Meanwhile, the aversion toward reward-based instruments decreases as the level of QoG increases. The public administration then has the bureaucratic capacity to deal with policies that demand bureaucratic discretion and actors are less likely to free-ride, generating a preference for reward-based incentives and less need for regulation.
The Politics of Participatory Art
Authors: Bell David M.
Published: May 2015

The two books reviewed in this article engage with ‘participatory art’, in which artists mobilise people as the central medium of their work. Grant Kester argues that such works have the potential to generate new communal forms that challenge neoliberal hegemony, while Claire Bishop argues that in dispensing with the negating praxis of the avant-garde they all too frequently end up reproducing its logics. The article suggests that if the binary that structures both their arguments is overcome, a productive synthesis of their arguments can be made – although this still leaves unanswered a number of questions about the role that art might play in social change.

Bishop, C. (2012) Artiﬁcial Hells: Participatory Art and the Politics of Spectatorship. London: Verso.

Kester, G. H. (2011) The One and the Many: Contemporary Collaborative Art in a Global Context. Durham, NC: Duke University Press.
The Evaluation of Antioxidant Interactions among 4 Common Vegetables using Isobolographic Analysis
Authors: Jiang Hai‐wei , Li* Hong‐yan , Yu Cheng‐wei , Yang Ting‐ting , Hu Jiang‐ning , Liu Rong , Deng* Ze‐Yuan
Published: May 2015

Isobolographic analysis was used to assess the antioxidant interactions (synergism, addition, and antagonism) of 4 common vegetables (tomato [T], carrot [C], eggplant [E], and purple potato [P]). The lipophilic (L) extracts of T and C (main carotenoids), the hydrophilic (H) extracts of E and P (main phenolics) were mixed by the certain ratios (1:9, 3:7, 1:1, 7:3, 9:1, w/w) and their antioxidant activities were investigated by 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’‐Azinobis‐(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulphonate) (ABTS) radical scavenging assays, respectively. Most of the binary mixtures (LC‐HE, LC‐HP, HE‐HP, LT‐HE, and LT‐HP combinations) showed the synergistic antioxidant effects. In DPPH assay, the greatest antioxidant activity of vegetable combinations was 1:9 LT‐HP (EC50: 2.45 ± 0.13 mg/mL), followed by 9:1 HE‐HP (EC50: 3.62 ± 0.12 mg/mL) and 1:9 LC‐HE (EC50: 3.74 ± 0.47 mg/mL). In ABTS assay, the greatest antioxidant activity of vegetable combinations was 9:1 HE‐HP (EC50: 4.20 ± 0.10 mg/mL), followed by 7:3 HE‐HP (EC50: 4.41 ± 0.63 mg/mL) and 1:1 HE‐HP (EC50: 5.35 ± 0.85 mg/mL). Among these combinations, 1:1 LC‐HE combination showed the highest synergistic antioxidant effects in DPPH assay (synergistic rate: 87.4%), and 7:3 LC‐HE combination showed the highest synergistic antioxidant effects in ABTS assay (synergistic rate: 87.0%). The mixtures of phenolics and carotenoids with suitable ratios in vegetables effectively enhanced the synergistic antioxidant effects.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Postmenopausal Women's Health
Authors: Kim Jun Ho , Kim Young Jun , Park Yeonhwa
Published: May 2015

Declined estrogen levels in women after menopause can cause a number of significant health issues, and various estrogen receptor ligands have been clinically evaluated for postmenopausal treatment. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has been shown to display protective effects against menopausal symptoms such as bone loss and metabolic dysfunctions in both animals and humans. In particular, it inhibits the proliferations of breast and endometrial cancer cells through estrogen receptor α‐mediated mechanism(s). These findings suggest that CLA may provide beneficial effects on menopausal symptoms, while protecting the endometrium and breast from estrogen stimulation. Thus, understanding the effects of CLA on menopausal disorders and ER metabolism is important in development of novel therapeutic options for use in postmenopausal women with or without conventional estrogen therapy. In this report, we review literature regarding the impact of CLA on menopausal symptoms in cell lines, rodents, and humans, along with potential mechanism(s). We also discuss safety consideration for CLA use in humans.
The impacts of information on returns from farming: evidence from a nationally representative farm survey in India
Authors: Birthal Pratap S. , Kumar Shiv , Negi Digvijay S. , Roy Devesh
Published: May 2015

Using a nationally representative sample of farm households from India, this paper examines the impact of use of information on net farm incomes. Employing methodologies that mitigate potential biases in the estimation of the impact, the empirical results show that farmers who use information realize over 12% higher net returns per hectare. The paper also establishes a pecking order in access to information. Small farmers and those at the bottom of social hierarchy (based on caste) have access to fewer information sources, and they depend more on informal social networks and input dealers for their information needs. The larger farmers and those from upper caste rely relatively more on sources such as radio, television and newspaper.
Preeclampsia is Characterized by Fetal NK Cell Activation and a Reduction in Regulatory T Cells
Authors: Loewendorf Andrea I. , Nguyen Tina A. , Yesayan Maria N. , Kahn Daniel A.
Published: May 2015

Problem

Preeclampsia affects 3–17% of pregnancies worldwide and has serious consequences for both the mother and the fetus. As maternal–fetal immune tolerance is bidirectional, fetal immunopathology may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of pregnancy disorders. Nevertheless, the impact of preeclampsia on the fetal immune system is unclear.

Method of study

In this case–control study, we examined the phenotype of innate and adaptive immune cells from the cord blood of 3rd trimester babies born to healthy mothers and compared them to cord blood from 3rd trimester babies born to mothers with symptomatic preeclampsia.

Results

The ratio of CD56hi CD16− non‐activated/regulatory NK cells to CD56lo CD16+ activated/effector NK cells as well as the proportion of CD4+ T cells was significantly decreased in the cord blood of babies born to preeclamptic mothers. The percentage of FoxP3+ Treg, especially the FoxP3lo populations (resting Treg and cytokine Treg), were significantly reduced. Importantly, this reduction in FoxP3+ Treg affected the ratio of CD8+ effector T cells per FoxP3+ Treg in the cord blood of babies born to preeclamptic mothers.

Conclusion

These observations indicate that there are significant fetal immune system derangements during preeclampsia.
Simulations of the effects of scheduled abdominal aortic aneurysm repair on survival
Authors: Carlisle J. B.
Published: May 2015

I simulated survival with and without scheduled repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms with different diameters in different populations. The results imply that scheduled repair should be determined by the combination of a patient's monthly mortality hazard and aneurysm diameter. The median survival of some patients will be extended by the scheduled repair of aneurysms smaller than 55 mm, whereas the median survival of other patients will be curtailed by repair of any aneurysm. The results also suggest that, on average, surveillance is futile: the effect of scheduled aneurysm repair on an individual's median survival did not change but the cohort effect diminished as patients died during surveillance. The results of the UK Small Aneurysm Study were reproduced in simulation and are compatible with the repair of aneurysms smaller than 55 mm diameter. Epidemiological simulations suggest that past randomised controlled trials underestimate the effect of aneurysm repair today.
Adjusting for population shifts and covariates in space–time interaction tests
Authors: Schmertmann Carl P.
Published: May 2015

Statistical tests for epidemic patterns use measures of space–time event clustering, and look for high levels of clustering that are unlikely to appear randomly if events are independent. Standard approaches, such as Knox's (1964, Applied Statistics 13, 25–29) test, are biased when the spatial distribution of population changes over time, or when there is space–time interaction in important background variables. In particular, the Knox test is too sensitive to coincidental event clusters in such circumstances, and too likely to raise false alarms. Kulldorff and Hjalmars (1999, Biometrics 55, 544–552) proposed a variant of Knox's test to control for bias caused by population shifts. In this article, I demonstrate that their test is also generally biased, in an unknown direction. I suggest an alternative approach that accounts for exposure shifts while also conditioning on the observed spatial and temporal margins of event counts, as in the original Knox test. The new approach uses Metropolis sampling of permutations, and is unbiased under more general conditions. I demonstrate how the new method can also include controls for the clustering effects of covariates.
An atypical addition to the chemokine receptor nomenclature: IUPHAR Review 15
Authors: Bachelerie Françoise , Graham Gerard J , Locati Massimo , Mantovani Alberto , Murphy Philip M , Nibbs Robert , Rot Antal , Sozzani Silvano , Thelen Marcus
Published: May 2015

Chemokines and their receptors are essential regulators of in vivo leukocyte migration and, some years ago, a systematic nomenclature system was developed for the chemokine receptor family. Chemokine receptor biology and biochemistry was recently extensively reviewed. In this review, we also highlighted a new component to the nomenclature system that incorporates receptors previously known as ‘scavenging’, or ‘decoy’, chemokine receptors on the basis of their lack of classical signalling responses to ligand binding and their general ability to scavenge, or sequester, their cognate chemokine ligands. These molecules are now collectively referred to as ‘atypical chemokine receptors’, or ACKRs, and play fundamental roles in regulating in vivo responses to chemokines. This commentary highlights this new addition to the chemokine receptor nomenclature system and provides brief information on the four receptors currently covered by this nomenclature.
EVI1, a target gene for amplification at 3q26, antagonizes transforming growth factor‐β‐mediated growth inhibition in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Yasui Kohichiroh , Konishi Chika , Gen Yasuyuki , Endo Mio , Dohi Osamu , Tomie Akira , Kitaichi Tomoko , Yamada Nobuhisa , Iwai Naoto , Nishikawa Taichiro , Yamaguchi Kanji , Moriguchi Michihisa , Sumida Yoshio , Mitsuyoshi Hironori , Tanaka Shinji , Arii Shigeki , Itoh Yoshito
Published: May 2015

EVI1 (ecotropic viral integration site 1) is one of the most aggressive oncogenes associated with myeloid leukemia. We investigated DNA copy number aberrations in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines using a high‐density oligonucleotide microarray. We found that a novel amplification at the chromosomal region 3q26 occurs in the HCC cell line JHH‐1, and that MECOM (MDS1 and EVI1 complex locus), which lies within the 3q26 region, was amplified. Quantitative PCR analysis of the three transcripts transcribed from MECOM indicated that only EVI1, but not the fusion transcript MDS1–EVI1 or MDS1, was overexpressed in JHH‐1 cells and was significantly upregulated in 22 (61%) of 36 primary HCC tumors when compared with their non‐tumorous counterparts. A copy number gain of EVI1 was observed in 24 (36%) of 66 primary HCC tumors. High EVI1 expression was significantly associated with larger tumor size and higher level of des‐γ‐carboxy prothrombin, a tumor marker for HCC. Knockdown of EVI1 resulted in increased induction of the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitor p15INK4B by transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β and decreased expression of c‐Myc, cyclin D1, and phosphorylated Rb in TGF‐β‐treated cells. Consequently, knockdown of EVI1 led to reduced DNA synthesis and cell viability. Collectively, our results suggest that EVI1 is a probable target gene that acts as a driving force for the amplification at 3q26 in HCC and that the oncoprotein EVI1 antagonizes TGF‐β‐mediated growth inhibition of HCC cells.
Follicular necrotic keratinocytes – a helpful clue to the diagnosis of measles
Authors: Tirado Mariantonieta , Adamzik Karoline , Böer‐Auer Almut
Published: May 2015

A skin specimen taken from the exanthem of a 22‐year‐old man with measles infection was examined by light microscopy. The most characteristic changes were foci of multiple necrotic keratinocytes, partially confluent and partially isolated, strictly within follicles and sebaceous glands. Serial sections revealed occasional necrotic and none‐necrotic syncytial‐type multinucleated epithelial cells in some infundibula. Neither nuclear nor cytoplasmic viral inclusions were present.
Rosiglitazone treatment and cardiovascular disease in the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial
Authors: Florez H. , Reaven P. D. , Bahn G. , Moritz T. , Warren S. , Marks J. , Reda D. , Duckworth W. , Abraira C. , Hayward R. , Emanuele N. ,   from the VADT Research Group
Published: May 2015

Aims

To evaluate the relationship between patterns of rosiglitazone use and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in the Veterans Affairs Diabetes Trial (VADT).

Methods

Time‐dependent survival analyses, case–control and 1 : 1 propensity matching approaches were used to examine the relationship between patterns of rosiglitazone use and CV outcomes in the VADT, a randomized controlled study that assessed the effect of intensive glycaemic control on CV outcomes in 1791 patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) whose mean age was 60.4 ± 9 years. Participants were recruited between 1 December 2000 and 31 May 2003, and were followed for 5–7.5 years (median 5.6) with a final visit by 31 May 2008. Rosiglitazone (4 mg and 8 mg daily) was initiated per protocol in both the intensive‐therapy and standard‐therapy groups. Main outcomes included a composite CV outcome, CV death and myocardial infarction (MI).

Results

Both daily doses of rosiglitazone were associated with lower risk for the primary composite CV outcome [4 mg: hazard ratio (HR) 0.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.49–0.81 and 8 mg: HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.49–0.75] after adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates. A reduction in CV death was also observed (HR 0.25, p < 0.001, for both 4 and 8 mg/day rosiglitazone); however, the effect on MI was less evident for 8 mg/day and not significant for 4 mg/day.

Conclusions

In older patients with T2D the use of rosiglitazone was associated with decreased risk of the primary CV composite outcome and CV death. Rosiglitazone use did not lead to a higher risk of MI.
Progression to insulin therapy among patients with type 2 diabetes treated with sitagliptin or sulphonylurea plus metformin dual therapy
Authors: Inzucchi S. E. , Tunceli K. , Qiu Y. , Rajpathak S. , Brodovicz K. G. , Engel S. S. , Mavros P. , Radican L. , Brudi P. , Li Z. , Fan C. P. S. , Hanna B. , Tang J. , Blonde L.
Published: May 2015

Aim

To assess time to insulin initiation among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) treated with sitagliptin versus sulphonylurea as add‐on to metformin.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study used GE Centricity electronic medical records and included patients aged ≥18 years with continuous medical records and an initial prescription of sitagliptin or sulphonylurea (index date) with metformin for ≥90 days during 2006–2013. Sitagliptin and sulphonylurea users were matched 1 : 1 using propensity score matching, and differences in insulin initiation were assessed using Kaplan–Meier curves and Cox regression. We used conditional logistic regression to examine the likelihood of insulin use 1–6 years after the index date for each year.

Results

Propensity score matching produced 3864 matched pairs. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that sitagliptin users had a lower risk of insulin initiation compared with sulphonylurea users (p = 0.003), with 26.6% of sitagliptin users initiating insulin versus 34.1% of sulphonylurea users over 6 years. This finding remained significant after adjusting for baseline characteristics (hazard ratio 0.76, 95% confidence interval 0.65–0.90). Conditional logistic regression analyses confirmed that sitagliptin users were less likely to initiate insulin compared with sulphonylurea users [odds ratios for years 1–6: 0.77, 0.79, 0.81, 0.57, 0.29 and 0.75, respectively (p < 0.05 for years 4 and 5)].

Conclusions

In this real‐world matched cohort study, patients with T2DM treated with sitagliptin had a significantly lower risk of insulin initiation compared with patients treated with sulphonylurea, both as add‐on to metformin.
Explaining the Intensity of the Arab Spring
Authors: Byun Chonghyun Christie , Hollander Ethan J.
Published: May 2015

Politicians and pundits are quick to say that the Arab Spring has been caused by everything from an ominous “youth bulge” in the region's population to the spread of social media like Facebook and Twitter. Other observers blame the recent unrest on high levels of unemployment or on the government corruption endemic to the region. While there is a certain logic or intuitive sense to any or all these explanations, they have yet to be rigorously tested. Moreover, we do not know if these same factors explain intraregional variation in levels of unrest, or if, instead, factors specific to each particular country have caused some regimes to succumb to the violence while others have emerged unscathed. This article tests the conventional wisdom of the Arab Spring. We find some support for the notion that perceptions of government corruption and sudden price increases correlate with higher levels of unrest, although our confidence in these findings is limited by the small number of countries in our sample. Meanwhile, we find almost no evidence that population pressure or other forms of economic hardship are significant causes of intraregional variation in the intensity of unrest. Most strikingly, despite being touted as the “Twitter Revolution,” we find no evidence that unrest correlates with Internet access, cell phone use, or the use of social media such as Facebook and Twitter. These findings, such as they are, invite political observers and social scientists to search for other, case‐specific causes of civil unrest and regime instability.
Inside Hezbollah: The al‐Mahdi Scouts, Education, and Resistance
Authors: Tagliabue Sofia Maria
Published: May 2015

This article analyzes the al‐Mahdi Scouts, a Lebanese scout group affiliated with Hezbollah. After introducing Hezbollah's social services in Lebanon, the al‐Mahdi Scouts' multifaceted identity and main activities are illustrated. The role in Lebanese society is investigated, along with its cooperation with other scout groups in Lebanon, which takes place mostly within the framework of the Lebanese Scout Federation. I also highlight two controversial issues that emerged in the research. First, it is shown how blurred the distinction is between education and indoctrination. Second, the accusations of terrorism are considered, with two possible approaches identified. The first one looks at Hezbollah as a homogeneous organization, while the second one distinguishes between its military, political, and social wings. While the first approach can legitimately accuse the al‐Mahdi Scouts of terrorism, I argue that the second one is more appropriate because it judges them for their own actions. We cannot just look at this group as Hezbollah's recruitment tool, because its role is more complex and significant. This group provides a portion of Lebanese youth with skills to improve their future and succeed in life, even if it does so by propagating Hezbollah's ideals and beliefs.
Predicting global population connectivity and targeting conservation action for snow leopard across its range
Authors: Riordan Philip , Cushman Samuel A. , Mallon David , Shi Kun , Hughes Joelene
Published: May 2015

Movements of individuals within and among populations help to maintain genetic variability and population viability. Therefore, understanding landscape connectivity is vital for effective species conservation. The snow leopard is endemic to mountainous areas of central Asia and occurs within 12 countries. We assess potential connectivity across the species’ range to highlight corridors for dispersal and genetic flow between populations, prioritizing research and conservation action for this wide‐ranging, endangered top‐predator.

We used resistant kernel modeling to assess snow leopard population connectivity across its global range. We developed an expert‐based resistance surface that predicted cost of movement as functions of topographical complexity and land cover. The distribution of individuals was simulated as a uniform density of points throughout the currently accepted global range. We modeled population connectivity from these source points across the resistance surface using three different dispersal scenarios that likely bracket the lifetime movements of individual snow leopard: 100 km, 500 km and 1000 km.

The resistant kernel models produced predictive surfaces of dispersal frequency across the snow leopard range for each distance scenario. We evaluated the pattern of connectivity in each of these scenarios and identified potentially important movement corridors and areas where connectivity might be impeded. The models predicted two regional populations, in the north and south of the species range respectively, and revealed a number of potentially important connecting areas. Discrepancies between model outputs and observations highlight unsurveyed areas of connected habitat that urgently require surveying to improve understanding of the global distribution and ecology of snow leopard, and target land management actions to prevent population isolation. The connectivity maps provide a strong basis for directed research and conservation action, and usefully direct the attention of policy makers.
European Monetary Integration and Aggregate Relative Deprivation: The Dull Side of the Shiny Euro
Authors: Stark Oded , Wlodarczyk Julia
Published: May 2015

Drawing on the premise that the integration of economies revises people's social space and their comparators, we quantify social stress by aggregate relative deprivation, ARD; we calculate the effect of monetary mergers on ARD; and we document the validity of the superadditivity property of ARD for successive adoptions of a common currency by European countries. One feature of monetary unification, which replaces diverse currencies with a common currency, is that it brings about a change in the comparison environment, expanding the reference space of individuals in a given country to encompass individuals from the joining countries. Overall, calculations regarding six enlargements of the Economic and Monetary Union between 1999 and 2011 reveal an increase of ARD on six occasions when we hold incomes constant, and on five when we take into consideration changes in incomes. In addition, we observe an uneven distribution of the costs and benefits from monetary integration among the participating countries when these costs and benefits are measured in terms of ARD.
Laser surgery as a treatment for histologically confirmed sarcoids in the horse
Authors: Compston P. C. , Turner T. , Wylie C. E. , Payne R. J.
Published: May 2015

Reasons for performing study

Laser resection for the treatment of sarcoids is an established part of equine practice; however, few studies have provided long‐term follow‐up results. Additionally, many previous reports have evaluated several treatments concurrently or have not been able to provide a definitive histological diagnosis of sarcoid.

Objectives

To establish the success rate following laser resection as a sole treatment for histologically confirmed sarcoids and evaluate risk factors for recurrence.

Study design

Retrospective time‐to‐event analysis.

Methods

Horses included had laser surgery to remove at least one sarcoid between 1 July 2005 and 1 September 2012. No previous known/concurrent veterinary treatment was administered. Diagnosis was confirmed by histology in all cases. Clinical data were retrieved from the hospital database. Follow‐up information was obtained by telephone questionnaire.

Results

Ninety‐nine horses, with a total of 235 sarcoids, were included in the analysis; 82 (83%) had no recurrence of the sarcoid removed and 71 (72%) had no occurrence of any sarcoids following surgery. Horses with sarcoids on the head and neck and those with verrucose sarcoids were at increased risk of recurrence (hazard ratios of 1.61 and 4.03, and 95% confidence intervals of 1.02–2.56 and 1.11–14.7, respectively).

Conclusions

Laser resection of sarcoids in the horse has a positive post operative prognosis. Further work is required to fully evaluate risk factors for recurrence fully.
Bar shoes and ambient temperature are risk factors for exercise‐induced pulmonary haemorrhage in Thoroughbred racehorses
Authors: Crispe E. J. , Lester G. D. , Robertson I. D. , Secombe C. J.
Published: May 2015

Reasons for performing study

Ambient temperature has been identified as a risk factor for exercise‐induced pulmonary haemorrhage (EIPH) in racing Thoroughbreds. This warranted a more expansive investigation of climatic conditions on the incidence and severity ofEIPH. The impact of other variables such as the type of bit used, tongue ties and nonstandard shoes has not been reported and also warrant investigation.

Objectives

To examine the effect of various climatic variables as contributing risk factors forEIPH. Other previously uninvestigated variables as well as standard track and population factors will also be examined.

Study design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

Thoroughbred racehorses competing at metropolitan racetracks in Perth, Western Australia were examined 30–200 min post race with tracheobronchoscopy. Examination took place at 48 race meetings over a 12 month period. Examinations were graded (0–4), independently by two experienced veterinarians. Univariable analyses were performed and variables with a P<0.25 were entered into a multivariable logistic regression analysis. The analysis was performed twice using the presence of blood (EIPHgrade 0vs. grades ≥1) andEIPHgrades ≤1 vs.EIPHgrades ≥2 as dependent variables.

Results

Exercise‐induced pulmonary haemorrhage was diagnosed in 56.6% of observations. Lower ambient temperature was significantly associated withEIPHgrades ≥1 (OR0.95; 95%CI0.93–0.98) andEIPHgrades ≥2 (OR0.97; 95%CI0.94–1.0). Bar shoes were significantly associated withEIPHgrades ≥1 (OR6.35; 95%CI2.17–18.54) andEIPHgrades ≥2 (OR2.72; 95%CI1.3–5.68). Increasing race distance was significantly associated withEIPHgrade ≥1 and increasing lifetime starts was significantly associated withEIPHgrade ≥2.

Conclusions

Ambient temperature is a risk factor forEIPHin Thoroughbred racehorses, with lower temperatures associated with increased risk. Bar shoes are a novel risk factor forEIPHin this population.
The unfulfilled potential of fisheries selectivity to promote sustainability
Authors: Vasilakopoulos Paraskevas , O'Neill Finbarr G , Marshall C Tara
Published: May 2015

The recent reform of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) in Europe highlights the need for improvements in both species and size selectivity. Regarding size selectivity, shifting selectivity towards older/larger fish avoids both growth and recruitment overfishing and reduces unwanted catches. However, the benefits to fish stocks and fishery yields from increasing age/size‐at‐selection are still being challenged and the relative importance of selectivity compared to that of exploitation rate remains unclear. Consequently, exploitation rate regulations continue to dominate management. Here, an age‐structured population model parameterized for a wide range of stocks is used to investigate the effects of selectivity on spawning stock biomass (SSB) and yield. The generic effect of selectivity onSSBand yield over a wide range of stocks is compared to the respective relative effects of exploitation rate and several biological parameters. We show that yield is mainly driven by biological parameters, whileSSBis mostly affected by the exploitation regime (i.e. exploitation rate and selectivity). Our analysis highlights the importance of selectivity for fisheries sustainability. Catching fish a year or more after they mature combined with an intermediate exploitation rate (F ≈ 0.3) promotes high sustainable yields at low levels of stock depletion. Examination of the empirical exploitation regimes of 31NEAtlantic stocks illustrates the unfulfilled potential of most stocks for higher sustainable yields due to high juvenile selection, thus underscoring the importance of protecting juveniles. Explicitly incorporating selectivity scenarios in fisheries advice would allow the identification of optimal exploitation regimes and benefit results‐based management.
Perceptions of fishing access restrictions and the disparity of benefits among stakeholder communities and nations of south‐eastern Africa
Authors: McClanahan Tim R , Abunge Caroline A
Published: May 2015

Achieving high compliance with resource‐use management policies is a critical concern to achieving sustainability, particularly in poor countries. Willingness to comply may depend on the values and perceptions of benefits and legitimacy of the restrictions. Consequently, we interviewed and evaluated the perceptions of fishing restrictions among ~2100 marine fisheries stakeholders (resource users and managers) in 102 fishing villages in Kenya, Madagascar, Mozambique and Tanzania. We hypothesized that perceived benefits would decline and social inequity increase along a hypothesized gradient of increasing access restriction – ranging from minimum size of fish to fisheries closures. Managers did not recognize the hypothesized access restriction gradient, seeing most restrictions as beneficial, but with some nation‐specific distinctions. Village‐level responses of resource users varied by country, and overall perceived benefits of access restrictions increased with the wealth, education and membership in fishing organizations. In Kenya and Tanzania, some communities with views that differed greatly from managers were, in places, found near marine protected areas and they perceived more benefits accruing to the government than resource users for the strongest access restrictions. Madagascar and Mozambique fishing villages had low between‐community variability, and their responses did not reflect the hypothesized restriction gradient or strong social disparity, which may reflect limited practical experience with restrictions. These results suggest that countries with stronger central governments contained villages with more between‐community variability and perceived social disparity than weaker governments. We argue that transparent negotiations with stakeholders about the scales of costs and benefits should increase compliance with selected fisheries regulations.
Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Theses and Dissertations, 1913–2013
Authors: Scholl Jan
Published: May 2015

This article includes titles of theses and dissertations completed by master's and doctoral students in Extension family and consumer sciences between the years 1913 and 2013. A total of 486 studies in Extension family and consumer sciences from the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Extension in 34 countries during the last 100 years are listed. The titles were not included in the annual list of graduate research productivity published in the December 2014 issue of the Family and Consumer Sciences Journal (or in earlier annual lists) probably because these studies were conducted in agriculture, history, education, and other academic departments.
Family Educators’ Technology Use and Factors Influencing Technology Acceptance Attitudes
Authors: Walker Susan K. , Kim Heeran
Published: May 2015

The purpose of the study was to examine family educators’ use of information and communication technology and factors that predict attitudes favorable to the adoption of technology in practice. Data were obtained from 210 family educators in the United States. Structural equation modeling tested the validity of an adapted Technology Acceptance Model to predict influences on attitudes. Descriptive statistics showed that Internet searching and cell phones were predominantly used both at work and for personal use while social media such as Facebook was used far less for work. Family educators’ attitudes toward technology use were directly related to perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness of technology, and subjective norms. Perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness mediated the influence of facilitating conditions (availability of training and assistance) and subjective norms, respectively, on attitudes. Suggestions for research and to support technology integration for family educators are offered.
Linking vertebrate species richness to tree canopy height on a global scale
Authors: Roll Uri , Geffen Eli , Yom‐Tov Yoram
Published: May 2015

Aim

In this paper we explore global links between tree canopy height and species richness of amphibians, birds and mammals. We follow the ideas first laid out by MacArthur and MacArthur in 1961 who found that in the eastern USA higher tree canopies supported more bird species, which they attributed to an increase of available niches as forests grow taller. We test if their findings can be generalized over large regions and other taxa by employing novel methods and using current datasets.

Location

Global

Methods

We used the global distribution maps of the three above taxa to infer species richness. Our tree canopy height information was derived from remotely sensed LiDAR data. The analysis was conducted globally and within biogeographical realms. We modeled richness, using tree canopy height and other environmental correlates, with generalized additive models and geographically weighted regressions.

Results

Globally, tree canopy height proved to be of lesser importance in explaining species richness patterns compared to other environmental drivers. Within biogeographical realms, tree canopy height was found to be a more important predictor of diversity in the Neotropic and Australian realms. Regional patterns show that tree canopy height has an important effect on diversity of amphibians throughout the world and in several tropical regions across taxa. Net Primary Productivity (NPP) explains more of the variation in richness both globally and within most regions.

Main Conclusions

Overall, tree canopy height is not an important predictor of diversity. However we highlight its relative importance in particular locations and settings.
Wavelet and Gaussian Approaches for Estimation of Groundwater Variations UsingGRACEData
Authors: Fatolazadeh Farzam , Voosoghi Behzad , Naeeni Mehdi Raoofian
Published: May 2015

In this study, a scheme is presented to estimate groundwater storage variations in Iran. The variations are estimated using 11 years of Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiments (GRACE) observations from period of 2003 to April 2014 in combination with the outputs of Global Land Data Assimilation Systems (GLDAS) model including soil moisture, snow water equivalent, and total canopy water storage. To do so, the sums ofGLDASoutputs are subtracted from terrestrial water storage variations determined byGRACEobservations. Because of stripping errors in theGRACEdata, two methodologies based on wavelet analysis and Gaussian filtering are applied to refine theGRACEdata. It is shown that the wavelet approach could better localize the desired signal and increase the signal‐to‐noise ratio and thus results in more accurate estimation of groundwater storage variations. To validate the results of our procedure in estimation of ground water storage variations, they are compared with the measurements of pisometric wells data near the Urmia Lake which shows favorable agreements with our results.
Tandem inversion duplication within F8 Intron 1 associated with mild haemophilia A
Authors: Lannoy N. , Bandelier C. , Grisart B. , Reginster M. , Ronge‐Collard E. , Vikkula M. , Hermans C.
Published: May 2015

In approximately 90% of mild haemophilia A (HA) patients, a missense mutation can be identified using complete gene sequencing. In this study, multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification analysis was performed as a second step in 10 French‐speaking Belgian with mild HA presenting no detectable causal mutation by complete sequencing of the factor VIII (FVIII) (F8) gene's 26 exons and its 1.2 kb of contiguous promoter sequence. This gene dosage technique enabled the detection of exon 1 duplications of F8 in three apparently unrelated subjects. Using array‐comparative genomic hybridization, breakpoint analysis delimited the duplication extent to 210 kb in the F8 intron 1 and VBP1 gene intragenic position. We postulated that the rearrangement responsible for this duplication, never before reported, could be attributed to a symmetrical tandem inversion duplication, resulting in a large 233 kb rearrangement of F8 intron 1. This rearranged intron should lead to the production of a small number of normal mRNA transcripts in relation to the mild HA phenotype. Our analysis of the entire F8 mRNA from index case 1, particularly the segment containing exons 1–9, revealed normal amplification and sequencing. Reduced plasma FVIII antigen levels caused by cross‐reacting material is associated with a quantitative deficiency of plasma FVIII. Male patients were unresponsive to desmopressin (1‐deamino‐8‐D‐arginine vasopressin). All patients displayed identical F8 haplotypes, despite not being related, which suggests a possible founder effect caused by a 210 kb duplication involving F8 exon 1.
Incidence and factors associated with the risk of sexually transmitted diseases in HIV‐infected people seen for care in Italy: data from the Icona Foundation cohort
Authors: Cingolani A , Zona S , Girardi E , Cozzi‐Lepri A , Monno L , Quiros Roldan E , Guaraldi G , Antinori A , D'Arminio Monforte A , Marcotullio S ,   Community‐Oriented Study Group of the Icona Foundation Study Group
Published: May 2015

Objectives

The aims of this study were to identify temporal trends in the incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in a cohort of HIV‐infected people and to evaluate factors associated with the risk of a new STD diagnosis.

Methods

All HIV‐infected patients in the Icona Foundation Study cohort enrolled after 1998 were included in this study. STD incidence rates (IRs) were calculated and stratified by calendar period. Predictors of STDs were identified using a Poisson regression model with sandwich estimates for standard errors.

Results

Data for 9168 participants were analysed [median age 37.3 (range 18–81) years; 74% male; 30% men who have sex with men (MSM)]. Over 46 736 person‐years of follow‐up (PYFU), 996 episodes of STDs were observed [crude IR 21.3/1000 PYFU; 95% confidence interval (CI) 20.0–22.6/1000 PYFU]. In multivariable Poisson regression analysis, MSM [rate ratio (RR) 3.03; 95% CI 2.52–3.64 versus heterosexuals], calendar period (RR 1.67; 95% CI 1.42–1.97 for 2008–2012 versus 1998–2002), HIV RNA > 50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL (RR 1.44; 95% CI 1.19–1.74 versus HIV RNA ≤ 50 copies/mL) and a current CD4 count < 100 cells/μL (RR 4.66; 95% CI 3.69–5.89; P < 0.001 versus CD4 count > 500 cells/μL) were associated with an increased risk of STDs. In contrast, older age (RR 0.82 per 10 years older; 95% CI 0.77–0.89) and being currently on ART (RR 0.38; 95% CI 0.33–0.45) compared with being ART‐naïve or on a treatment interruption were associated with a lower risk of developing STDs.

Conclusions

An increase in the incidence of STDs was observed in more recent years. Interventions to prevent STDs and potential spread of HIV should target the younger population, MSM and people currently not receiving ART.
Pre‐therapy inflammation and coagulation activation and long‐term CD4 count responses to the initiation of antiretroviral therapy
Authors: Achhra AC , Phillips A , Emery S , MacArthur RD , Furrer H , De Wit S , Losso M , Law MG ,   International Network for Strategic Initiatives in Global HIV Trials (INSIGHT) Strategic Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (SMART) and Flexible Initial Retrovirus Suppressive Therapies (FIRST) study groups
Published: May 2015

Objectives

Pre‐antiretroviral therapy (ART) inflammation and coagulation activation predict clinical outcomes in HIV‐positive individuals. We assessed whether pre‐ART inflammatory marker levels predicted the CD4 count response to ART.

Methods

Analyses were based on data from the Strategic Management of Antiretroviral Therapy (SMART) trial, an international trial evaluating continuous vs. interrupted ART, and the Flexible Initial Retrovirus Suppressive Therapies (FIRST) trial, evaluating three first‐line ART regimens with at least two drug classes. For this analysis, participants had to be ART‐naïve or off ART at randomization and (re)starting ART and have C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and D‐dimer measured pre‐ART. Using random effects linear models, we assessed the association between each of the biomarker levels, categorized as quartiles, and change in CD4 count from ART initiation to 24 months post‐ART. Analyses adjusted for CD4 count at ART initiation (baseline), study arm, follow‐up time and other known confounders.

Results

Overall, 1084 individuals [659 from SMART (26% ART naïve) and 425 from FIRST] met the eligibility criteria, providing 8264 CD4 count measurements. Seventy‐five per cent of individuals were male with the mean age of 42 years. The median (interquartile range) baseline CD4 counts were 416 (350–530) and 100 (22–300) cells/μL in SMART and FIRST, respectively. All of the biomarkers were inversely associated with baseline CD4 count in FIRST but not in SMART. In adjusted models, there was no clear relationship between changing biomarker levels and mean change in CD4 count post‐ART (P for trend: CRP, P = 0.97; IL‐6, P = 0.25; and D‐dimer, P = 0.29).

Conclusions

Pre‐ART inflammation and coagulation activation do not predict CD4 count response to ART and appear to influence the risk of clinical outcomes through other mechanisms than blunting long‐term CD4 count gain.