bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Association between serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D and serum sex steroid hormones among men in NHANES
Authors: Anic Gabriella M. , Albanes Demetrius , Rohrmann Sabine , Kanarek Norma , Nelson William G. , Bradwin Gary , Rifai Nader , McGlynn Katherine A. , Platz Elizabeth A. , Mondul Alison M.
Published: March 2016

Background

Recent literature suggests that high circulating vitamin D may increase prostate cancer risk. Although the mechanism through which vitamin D may increase risk is unknown, vitamin D concentration could influence circulating sex steroid hormones that may be associated with prostate cancer; an alternate explanation is that it could be associated with prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) concentration causing detection bias.

Objective

We examined whether serum vitamin D concentration was associated with sex steroid hormone and PSA concentrations in a cross‐sectional analysis of men in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES).

Design

Testosterone, oestradiol, sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG), androstanediol glucuronide, and 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) were measured in serum from men aged 20 and older participating in NHANES III (n = 1315) and NHANES 2001–2004 (n = 318). Hormone concentrations were compared across 25(OH)D quintiles, adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, body fat percentage, and smoking. PSA concentration was estimated by 25(OH)D quintile in 4013 men from NHANES 2001–2006.

Results

In NHANES III, higher testosterone (quintile (Q) 1 = 17·2, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 16·1–18·6; Q5 = 19·6, 95% CI = 18·7–20·6 nmol/l, P‐trend = 0·0002) and SHBG (Q1 = 33·8, 95% CI = 30·8–37·0; Q5 = 38·4, 95% CI = 35·8–41·2 nmol/l, P‐trend = 0·0005) were observed with increasing 25(OH)D. Similar results were observed in NHANES 2001–2004. PSA concentration was not associated with serum 25(OH)D (P‐trend = 0·34).

Conclusion

Results from these nationally representative studies support a positive association between serum 25(OH)D and testosterone and SHBG. The findings support an indirect mechanism through which vitamin D may increase prostate cancer risk, and suggest the link to prostate cancer is not due to PSA‐detection bias.
Molecular systematics of teioid lizards (Teioidea/Gymnophthalmoidea: Squamata) based on the analysis of 48 loci under tree‐alignment and similarity‐alignment
Authors: Goicoechea Noemí , Frost Darrel R. , De la Riva Ignacio , Pellegrino Katia C. M. , Sites Jack , Rodrigues Miguel T. , Padial José M.
Published: March 2016

We infer phylogenetic relationships within Teioidea, a superfamily of Nearctic and Neotropical lizards, using nucleotide sequences. Phylogenetic analyses relied on parsimony under tree‐alignment and similarity‐alignment, with length variation (i.e. gaps) treated as evidence and as absence of evidence, and maximum‐likelihood under similarity‐alignment with gaps as absence of evidence. All analyses produced almost completely resolved trees despite 86% of missing data. Tree‐alignment produced the shortest trees, the strict consensus of which is more similar to the maximum‐likelihood tree than to any of the other parsimony trees, in terms of both number of clades shared, parsimony cost and likelihood scores. Comparisons of tree costs suggest that the pattern of indels inferred by similarity‐alignment drove parsimony analyses on similarity‐aligned sequences away from more optimal solutions. All analyses agree in a majority of clades, although they differ from each other in unique ways, suggesting that neither the criterion of optimality, alignment nor treatment of indels alone can explain all differences. Parsimony rejects the monophyly of Gymnophthalmidae due to the position of Alopoglossinae relative to Teiidae, whereas support of Gymnophthalmidae by maximum‐likelihood was low. We address various nomenclatural issues, including Gymnophthalmidae Fitzinger, 1826 being an older name than Teiidae Gray, 1827. We recognize three families in the arrangement Alopoglossidae + (Teiidae + Gymnophthalmidae). Within Gymnophthalmidae we recognize Cercosaurinae, Gymnophthalminae, Rhachisaurinae and Riolaminae in the relationship Cercosaurinae + (Rhachisaurinae + (Riolaminae + Gymnophthalminae)). Cercosaurinae is composed of three tribes—Bachiini, Cercosaurini and Ecpleopodini—and Gymnophthalminae is composed of three—Gymnophthalmini, Heterodactylini and Iphisini. Within Teiidae we retain the currently recognized three subfamilies in the arrangement: Callopistinae + (Tupinambinae + Teiinae). We also propose several genus‐level changes to restore the monophyly of taxa.
Patient‐reported outcome and its association with attachment type and bone volume in mandibular implant overdenture
Authors: Khalid Taimur , Yunus Norsiah , Ibrahim Norliza , Elkezza Aeman , Masood Mohd
Published: March 2016

Objective

To determine oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL) and denture satisfaction (DS) in patients provided with mandibular implant‐supported overdentures (ISOD) retained by two different attachment types, and the association of mandibular bone volume with the change in patient‐reported outcome, before and after implant treatment.

Material and methods

Thirty‐four patients (mean age 60.70  ±  8.7 years) received telescopic crown or locator attachments for ISOD and completed OHIP‐14 (Malaysian version) and DS questionnaires, at baseline (T0) with new conventional complete dentures (CCD) and 3 months (T1) and 3 years (T2) after ISOD conversion. Mandibular bone volume was calculated from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) datasets using Mimics software. Mean changes (MC) in OHIP‐14 and DS at intervals were analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed‐rank test and effect size (ES). The association of bone volume, implant attachment type, and other patient variables with the change in OHIP‐14 and DS were determined using multivariate linear regression analysis.

Results

The MC in OHIP‐14 and DS scores from T0 to T1 and T2 showed significant improvement with moderate and large ES, respectively. Regression analyses for the change in OHIP‐14 score from T0 to T2 showed significant association with implant attachment type (P = 0.043), bone volume (P = 0.004), and baseline OHIP‐14 (P = 0.001), while for DS, the association was only significant with baseline DS score (P = 0.001).

Conclusion

Improvement in patients' OHRQoL and satisfaction with ISOD was associated with their baseline ratings. Mandibular bone volume had a stronger association for improvement in OHRQoL compared to type of attachment.
Comparison of growth & function of endothelial progenitor cells cultured on deproteinized bovine bone modified with covalently bound fibronectin and bound vascular endothelial growth factor
Authors: Kumar Vinay V. , Heller Martin , Götz Hermann , Schiegnitz Eik , Al‐Nawas Bilal , Kämmerer Peer W.
Published: March 2016

Objectives

The objective of this study was to assess and compare the growth and function of Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) cultured on covalently bonded Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and covalently bonded Fibronectin (FN) coating on deproteinized bovine bone (DBB) (test samples), compared to non‐modified DBB blocks (control sample).

Materials and methods

The test samples were prepared by plasma polymerization of allylamine onto DBB blocks. Group1 of test samples were prepared with VEGF coating (VEGF‐DBB) where as the Group2 test samples were coated with FN (FN‐DBB). Non‐modified DBB blocks served as a Control. EPCs were isolated and cultivated from buffy coats of peripheral blood of healthy volunteers and cultivated in the different samples and examined at time intervals of 24 h, 3 days, and 7 days. Evaluation of growth by cell count and cell morphology was done using Confocal Laser Scanning Electron Microscopy; vitality and function of cells was assessed using MTT assay and RT‐PCR and ELISA for eNOS and iNOS respectively.

Results

The results of the study show that both VEGF and FN could be successfully immobilized by plasma polymerization onto a complex, porous, three‐dimensional structure of DBB. When comparing vital cell coverage, proliferation and function of EPCs, FN‐DBB provided more positive values followed by VEGF‐DBB as compared to DBB samples. eNOS level were significant higher in VEGF‐DBB and FN‐DBB when compared to DBB (P = 0.019 and P = 0.002). The difference between VEGF‐DBB and FN‐DBB was not significant.

Conclusions

Biomimetic coatings of Fibronectin may clinically relate to faster angiogenesis and earlier healing potential.
Toward quantification of the impact of 21st‐century deforestation on the extinction risk of terrestrial vertebrates
Authors: Tracewski Łukasz , Butchart Stuart H.M. , Di Marco Moreno , Ficetola Gentile F. , Rondinini Carlo , Symes Andy , Wheatley Hannah , Beresford Alison E. , Buchanan Graeme M.
Published: March 2016

Conservation actions need to be prioritized, often taking into account species’ extinction risk. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List provides an accepted, objective framework for the assessment of extinction risk. Assessments based on data collected in the field are the best option, but the field data to base these on are often limited. Information collected through remote sensing can be used in place of field data to inform assessments. Forests are perhaps the best‐studied land‐cover type for use of remote‐sensing data. Using an open‐access 30‐m resolution map of tree cover and its change between 2000 and 2012, we assessed the extent of forest cover and loss within the distributions of 11,186 forest‐dependent amphibians, birds, and mammals worldwide. For 16 species, forest loss resulted in an elevated extinction risk under red‐list criterion A, owing to inferred rapid population declines. This number increased to 23 when data‐deficient species (i.e., those with insufficient information for evaluation) were included. Under red‐list criterion B2, 484 species (855 when data‐deficient species were included) were considered at elevated extinction risk, owing to restricted areas of occupancy resulting from little forest cover remaining within their ranges. The proportion of species of conservation concern would increase by 32.8% for amphibians, 15.1% for birds, and 24.7% for mammals if our suggested uplistings are accepted. Central America, the Northern Andes, Madagascar, the Eastern Arc forests in Africa, and the islands of Southeast Asia are hotspots for these species. Our results illustrate the utility of satellite imagery for global extinction‐risk assessment and measurement of progress toward international environmental agreement targets.
Estimating the extent and structure of trade in horticultural orchids via social media
Authors: Hinsley Amy , Lee Tamsin E. , Harrison Joseph R. , Roberts David L.
Published: March 2016

The wildlife trade is a lucrative industry involving thousands of animal and plant species. The increasing use of the internet for both legal and illegal wildlife trade is well documented, but there is evidence that trade may be emerging on new online technologies such as social media. Using the orchid trade as a case study, we conducted the first systematic survey of wildlife trade on an international social‐media website. We focused on themed forums (groups), where people with similar interests can interact by uploading images or text (posts) that are visible to other group members. We used social‐network analysis to examine the ties between 150 of these orchid‐themed groups to determine the structure of the network. We found 4 communities of closely linked groups based around shared language. Most trade occurred in a community that consisted of English‐speaking and Southeast Asian groups. In addition to the network analysis, we randomly sampled 30 groups from the whole network to assess the prevalence of trade in cultivated and wild plants. Of 55,805 posts recorded over 12 weeks, 8.9% contained plants for sale, and 22–46% of these posts pertained to wild‐collected orchids. Although total numbers of posts about trade were relatively small, the large proportion of posts advertising wild orchids for sale supports calls for better monitoring of social media for trade in wild‐collected plants.
Spicy Adjectives and Nominal Donkeys: Capturing Semantic Deviance Using Compositionality in Distributional Spaces
Authors: Vecchi Eva M. , Marelli Marco , Zamparelli Roberto , Baroni Marco
Published: March 2016

Sophisticated senator and legislative onion. Whether or not you have ever heard of these things, we all have some intuition that one of them makes much less sense than the other. In this paper, we introduce a large dataset of human judgments about novel adjective‐noun phrases. We use these data to test an approach to semantic deviance based on phrase representations derived with compositional distributional semantic methods, that is, methods that derive word meanings from contextual information, and approximate phrase meanings by combining word meanings. We present several simple measures extracted from distributional representations of words and phrases, and we show that they have a significant impact on predicting the acceptability of novel adjective‐noun phrases even when a number of alternative measures classically employed in studies of compound processing and bigram plausibility are taken into account. Our results show that the extent to which an attributive adjective alters the distributional representation of the noun is the most significant factor in modeling the distinction between acceptable and deviant phrases. Our study extends current applications of compositional distributional semantic methods to linguistically and cognitively interesting problems, and it offers a new, quantitatively precise approach to the challenge of predicting when humans will find novel linguistic expressions acceptable and when they will not.
Obstetric and long‐term kidney outcomes in renal transplant recipients: a 40‐yr single‐center study
Authors: Stoumpos Sokratis , McNeill Susan H. , Gorrie Morag , Mark Patrick B. , Brennand Janet E. , Geddes Colin C. , Deighan Christopher J.
Published: March 2016

Female renal transplant recipients of childbearing age may ask what the outcomes are for pregnancy and whether pregnancy will affect graft function. We analyzed obstetric and transplant outcomes among renal transplant recipients in our center who have been pregnant between 1973 and 2013. A case−cohort study was performed identifying 83 pairs of pregnant and non‐pregnant controls matched for sex, age, transplant vintage, and creatinine. There were 138 pregnancies reported from 89 renal transplant recipients. There were live births in 74% of pregnancies with high prevalence of prematurity (61%), low birth weight (52%), and pre‐eclampsia (14%). Lower eGFR (OR 0.98; p = 0.05) and higher uPCR (OR 1.86; p = 0.02) at conception were independent predictors for poor composite obstetric outcome. Lower eGFR (OR 0.98; p = 0.04), higher uPCR (OR 1.50; p = 0.04), and live organ donation (OR 0.35; p = 0.02) were predictors of ≥20% loss of eGFR between immediately pre‐pregnancy and one yr after delivery. There was no difference in eGFR at one, five, and 10 yr in pregnant women compared with non‐pregnant controls and a pregnancy was not associated with poorer 10‐yr transplant or 20‐yr patient survival. Despite high rates of obstetric complications, most women had successful pregnancies with good long‐term transplant function.
The effectiveness of bowel and bladder interventions in children with spina bifida
Authors: Smith Kathryn , Neville‐Jan Ann , Freeman Kurt A , Adams Elizabeth , Mizokawa Stacey , Dudgeon Brian J , Merkens Mark J , Walker William O
Published: March 2016

Aim

Using the World Health Organization International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF), the aim of this study was to identify effective strategies for managing urinary and bowel complications resulting from spina bifida.

Method

Charts of 210 children between 4‐ and 13‐years‐old with spina bifida were reviewed to quantify medical interventions and continence status. Standardized quality of life (QOL) questionnaires were administered to a subset of participants; child and parent interviews were carried out to examine the experience of living with bowel and bladder incontinence. Practitioners were also interviewed to understand their perspectives of intervention effectiveness.

Results

Chart review indicated less than half of children were continent for bowel and bladder. More variability existed in bowel continence programs, and practitioners considered bowel continence more difficult to achieve than bladder continence. No significant associations were found between continence status and QOL measures. Interviews, however, reflected how managing continence at home and school more broadly affects QOL. Among practitioners, some focused primarily on optimizing physical health while others focused on activity and participation.

Interpretation

While continence is a goal, programs used to achieve this are individualized and outcomes may be affected by differential treatment effects, environmental factors, and/or stigma experienced by children.
Effect of adding insulin degludec to treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes inadequately controlled with metformin and liraglutide: a double‐blind randomized controlled trial (BEGIN: ADD TO GLP‐1 Study)
Authors: Aroda V. R. , Bailey T. S. , Cariou B. , Kumar S. , Leiter L. A. , Raskin P. , Zacho J. , Andersen T. H. , Philis‐Tsimikas A.
Published: March 2016

Aim

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of adding insulin degludec (IDeg) to treatment in patients with type 2 diabetes receiving liraglutide and metformin and qualifying for treatment intensification because of inadequate glycaemic control.

Methods

In this 26‐week, double‐blind trial, patients who still had inadequate glycaemic control after a 15‐week run‐in period with initiation and dose escalation of liraglutide to 1.8 mg in combination with metformin (≥1500 mg) were randomized to addition of once‐daily IDeg (‘IDeg add‐on to liraglutide’ arm; n = 174) or placebo (‘placebo add‐on to liraglutide’ arm; n = 172), with dosing of both IDeg and placebo based on titration guidelines.

Results

At 26 weeks, the mean change in glycated haemoglobin level was greater in the IDeg add‐on to liraglutide arm (−1.04%) than in the placebo add‐on to liraglutide arm (−0.16%; p < 0.0001). Similarly, the mean fasting plasma glucose reduction was greater, and self‐measured plasma glucose values were lower at all eight time points, with IDeg add‐on versus placebo add‐on (both p < 0.0001). At 26 weeks, the IDeg dose was 51 U (0.54 U/kg). During the run‐in period with liraglutide, body weight decreased by ∼3 kg in both groups. After 26 weeks, the mean change was +2.0 kg (IDeg add‐on to liraglutide) and −1.3 kg (placebo add‐on to liraglutide). Confirmed hypoglycaemia rates were low in both groups, although higher with IDeg than with placebo (0.57 vs. 0.12 episodes/patient‐years of exposure; p = 0.0002). Nocturnal confirmed hypoglycaemia was infrequent in both groups, with no episodes of severe hypoglycaemia, and no marked differences in adverse events with either treatment approach.

Conclusion

The addition of liraglutide and IDeg to patients sub‐optimally treated with metformin and liraglutide and requiring treatment intensification was found to be effective and well‐tolerated.
Left Ventricular Global Longitudinal Strain in HER‐2 + Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Anthracyclines and Trastuzumab Who Develop Cardiotoxicity Is Associated with Subsequent Recovery of Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
Authors: Fei Hong‐wen , Ali Mohammed T. , Tan Timothy C. , Cheng Kai‐Hung , Salama Laura , Hua Lanqi , Zeng Xin , Halpern Elkan F. , Taghian Alphonse , MacDonald Shannon M. , Scherrer‐Crosbie Marielle
Published: March 2016

Aim

The combination of anthracyclines (AC) and trastuzumab (TRZ) is highly effective in patients with aggressive HER‐2 + breast cancer, but has a significant risk of cardiotoxicity (CT). Trastuzumab‐induced CT may be reversible. The aim of this study was to identify echocardiographic parameters associated with recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in patients who developed CT after AC and TRZ treatment.

Methods and Results

Women with newly diagnosed breast cancer treated with AC followed by TRZ and monitored with serial echocardiograms were retrospectively studied. Left ventricular end‐diastolic and systolic volumes, LVEF, and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were examined. Development and reversibility of CT were defined based on changes in LVEF according to the 2014 ASE/EACVI recommendations. Cox analysis was used to determine the association of echocardiographic variables with the subsequent development and reversibility of CT. Ninety‐five patients underwent 5 echocardiograms or more in a 17‐month (13–28 months) follow‐up period. Nineteen patients (20%) developed CT. Left ventricular volumes, LVEF, and GLS measured after AC completion identified the subsequent development of CT. Of the 19 patients with CT, the LVEF partially or fully recovered in 13 (68%). GLS at the time of CT diagnosis was associated with subsequent recovery of LVEF (P = 0.004).

Conclusion

In patients with breast cancer treated with AC and TRZ who develop CT, GLS at the time of CT diagnosis is associated with subsequent recovery of LVEF and may be useful for risk stratification and to guide treatment.
The controversy over the use of cholesteryl ester transfer protein inhibitors: is there some light at the end of the tunnel?
Authors: Quintão Eder C. R.
Published: March 2016

Background

According to epidemiological studies, there is no clear relationship between the plasma cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) concentration and the development of atherosclerosis in human populations. Although some studies suggest that increased CETP activity relates to undesirable profiles of plasma lipoproteins, promoting an anti‐atherogenic plasma lipoprotein profile by drugs that inhibit CETP has not succeeded in preventing atherosclerosis in humans.

Materials and Methods

This review describes 28 investigations in human populations dealing with plasma CETP, 11 in mice that express human CETP and seven in animals (six in rabbits and one in mice) in which plasma CETP activity was inhibited by drugs.

Results

Present review shows that models in mice expressing human CETP are not illuminating because they report increase as well reduction of atherosclerosis. However, investigations in rabbits and mice that develop severe hypercholesterolaemia clearly indicate that impairment of the plasma CETP activity elicits protection against the development of atherosclerosis; in all of these experiments are attained substantial reductions of the atherogenic lipoproteins, namely, plasma apoB containing lipoproteins.

Conclusion

These models are strong indicators that the benefit in preventing atherosclerosis should be earned in cases of hyperlipidemia by CETP inhibitors.
Exploiting Poisson additivity to predict fire frequency from maps of fire weather and land cover in boreal forests of Québec, Canada
Authors: Marchal Jean , Cumming Steve G. , McIntire Eliot J. B.
Published: March 2016

Predictive models of fire frequency conditional on weather and land cover are essential to assess how future cover‐type distributions and weather conditions may influence fire regimes. We modelled the effects of bottom‐up variables (e.g. land cover) and top‐down variables (e.g. fire weather) simultaneously with data aggregated or interpolated to spatial and temporal units of 100 km2 and 1 yr in the boreal forest of Québec, Canada. For models of human‐caused fires, we used road density as a surrogate for human access and behaviour. We exploited the additive property of Poisson distributions to estimate cover‐type specific fire count rates, which would normally not be possible with data of this spatial resolution. We used piecewise linear functions to model nonlinear relations between fire weather and fire frequency for each cover‐type simultaneously. The estimated conditional rates may be considered as expected mean counts per unit area and time. It follows that these rates can be rescaled to arbitrary spatial and temporal extents. Our results showed fire frequency increased nonlinearly as aridity increased and more quickly in disturbed areas than other types. Road density exerted the strongest influence on the frequency of human‐caused fires, which were positively correlated with road density. The estimates may be used to parameterize the fire ignition component of spatial simulation models, which often have a resolution different from that at which the data were collected. This is an essential step in incorporating biotic and abiotic feedbacks, land‐cover dynamics, and climate projections into ecological forecasting. The insight into the power of Poisson additivity to reveal high‐resolution ecological processes from low‐resolution data could have applications in other areas of ecology.
Effects of larval dietary restriction on adult morphology, with implications for flight and life history
Authors: Boggs Carol L. , Niitepõld Kristjan
Published: March 2016

Many morphological traits of adult insects show a plastic response to larval environmental conditions. Past studies of Lepidoptera, other than on irruptive species, focused on species with specific ecologies or life histories. These studies must be interpreted in the context of past selection associated with those specializations. Here, we examined the effects on adult morphology of quantitative dietary restriction in the late last instar of Speyeria mormonia Edwards (Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae: Heliconiini). This univoltine species lives in open populations in montane meadows. Adults fed ad libitum as larvae on Viola sororia Willd. (Violaceae) were larger than those fed a restricted diet, for wet and dry body mass, dry mass of head, thorax, or abdomen, and forewing length. Females were larger than males for all but head mass. However, both males and individuals fed a restricted diet had a heavier head and thorax as a proportion of total mass, indicating conservation of visual or other sensory functions and flight. Females maintained a higher relative investment of mass in abdomens, indicating conservation of mass allocation to reproduction. Wing loading was greater in females and for individuals fed ad libitum. The sex*treatment interaction was also significant. The difference in wing loading between individuals fed ad libitum and those on a restricted diet were greater for females than for males. The allometric relationship between dry mass and wing area in both sexes was significantly less than isometric. Thus, allometry did not explain the effect of dietary restriction on wing loading. In contrast, wing aspect ratio was invariant. In combination with earlier studies, these results suggest that mass allocation in support of flight occurs generally under larval nutritional stress. Flight supports both reproduction and feeding. Our work thus highlights the need to include resource acquisition in studies of life history and fitness under nutritional stress.
Occupation and first episode psychosis in Northern Italy: better outcomes for migrants
Authors: Tarricone Ilaria , Morgan Craig , Boydell Jane , Panigada Serena , Morigi Raffaele , Braca Mauro , Sutti Enrico , Boldri Pierluigi , Di Forti Marta , Murray Robin M , Berardi Domenico
Published: March 2016

Aims

Many studies show that migrants have a higher incidence of psychosis compared to natives, but the influence of migration on psychosis outcomes is little investigated. We aimed to evaluate the occupational outcomes of a first episode psychosis (FEP) sample in Bologna (Northern Italy).

Methods

An incidence cohort of FEP patients presenting at the Bologna West Community Mental Health Centers between 2002 and 2009 was assessed at the baseline and at 12th month follow‐up. Return to school or work was used as occupational outcome.

Results

Most of the patients (82.8%) were still in contact at 12 months. Migrants showed significantly higher rate of return to work compared to natives (adjusted OR 4.45, 95% CI 1.55‐12.76).

Conclusions

First generation migrants had better occupational outcomes. Further cross‐cultural studies are needed to further explain these findings.
The transition to self‐regulated learning for first‐year dental students: threshold concepts
Authors: Bowman M.
Published: March 2016

Research shows that when students arrive at university they are often not prepared for independent learning. New students enter a period of transition during their first year, which is often characterised by emotional destabilisation, as they move towards becoming more self‐regulating in their new learning environment. In this small‐scale qualitative study, data from an in‐depth pair interview were triangulated with data from a questionnaire, to explore participants' experiences of self‐regulated learning in the first year of a Dental Surgery course. Five threshold concepts relating to learning in transition emerged from the analysis of the data. These concepts were as follows: learning how to learn using a range of self‐chosen sources instead of a single textbook, learning how to organise incoming information without guidance, distinguishing between main ideas and detail during revision, coping with a heavy workload, and knowing what to expect from examinations and coursework. Strong emotions (feeling confused, overwhelmed and scared) were associated with negotiating these threshold concepts. However, the study illustrates how the participants adopted new cognitive and metacognitive strategies to become more self‐regulating over time. The findings of the study suggest that lecturers, tutors, study advisers and peers all have an important role to play in explicitly guiding first‐year students as they grapple with troublesome threshold concepts relating to self‐regulated learning. Furthermore, structural changes to the content‐heavy, lecture‐based curricula often associated with first‐year Medical and Dental courses would help ease students’ transition to independent learning, which may make an impact on student attainment.
Biogeographic bases for a shift in crop C : N : P stoichiometries during domestication
Authors: Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel , Reich Peter B. , García‐Palacios Pablo , Milla Rubén
Published: March 2016

We lack both a theoretical framework and solid empirical data to understand domestication impacts on plant chemistry. We hypothesised that domestication increased leaf N and P to support high plant production rates, but biogeographic and climate patterns further influenced the magnitude and direction of changes in specific aspects of chemistry and stoichiometry. To test these hypotheses, we used a data set of leaf C, N and P from 21 herbaceous crops and their wild progenitors. Domestication increased leaf N and/or P for 57% of the crops. Moreover, the latitude of the domestication sites (negatively related to temperature) modulated the domestication effects on P (+), C (−), N : P (−) and C : P (−) ratios. Further results from a litter decomposition assay showed that domestication effects on litter chemistry affected the availability of soil N and P. Our findings draw attention to evolutionary effects of domestication legacies on plant and soil stoichiometry and related ecosystem services (e.g. plant yield and soil fertility).
Brain derived neurotrophic factor in multiple sclerosis: effect of 24 weeks endurance and resistance training
Authors: Wens I. , Keytsman C. , Deckx N. , Cools N. , Dalgas U. , Eijnde B. O.
Published: March 2016

Background and purpose

Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is suggested to play a neuroprotective role in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, the BDNF response to long‐term exercise in MS remains unknown. Our objective was to compare resting BDNF profiles of healthy controls (HCs) and persons with relapsing−remitting MS (RRMS) and to investigate the impact of a 24‐week exercise intervention on serum BDNF release in MS.

Methods

At baseline, blood BDNF levels were assessed in MS (n = 22, mean Expanded Disability Status Scale 2.6 ± 0.2, mean age 43 ± 2 years) and HCs (n = 19, mean age 47 ± 1 year). Next, persons with MS were randomized to an exercise intervention group (EX, n = 15) or a sedentary control group (SED, n = 7) completing a 24‐week randomized controlled trial. In persons with MS, muscle strength, exercise tolerance and body composition were assessed, as compliance measures, at baseline and after 24 weeks.

Results

At baseline, the BDNF concentration of persons with RRMS was 21% lower than HCs. Following 24 weeks of intervention, changes in BDNF concentrations differed significantly between EX and SED. In particular, within EX BDNF concentrations increased 13.9% ± 8.8%, whereas it decreased 10.5% ± 4.1% within SED. Furthermore, 24 weeks of exercise induced changes in the compliance measures between EX and SED. In addition, within EX muscle strength, exercise tolerance and lean tissue mass improved, whereas these remained stable within SED.

Conclusion

In conclusion, BDNF concentration of persons with RRMS was lower compared to HCs and increased after 24 weeks of exercise in persons with MS, compared to the non‐exercise MS control group.
A population‐based study comparing multiple sclerosis clinic users and non‐users in British Columbia, Canada
Authors: McKay K. A. , Tremlett H. , Zhu F. , Kastrukoff L. , Marrie R. A. , Kingwell E.
Published: March 2016

Background and purpose

Much clinical knowledge about multiple sclerosis (MS) has been gained from patients who attend MS specialty clinics. However, there is limited information about whether these patients are representative of the wider MS population. The objective of this study was to compare incident MS cases who were MS clinic users to non‐users of the specialty MS clinics in British Columbia, Canada.

Methods

This was a retrospective record‐linkage cohort study using prospectively collected data from the British Columbia Multiple Sclerosis database and province‐wide health administrative databases.

Results

There were 2841 incident MS cases between 1996 and 2004 including 1648 (58%) that had registered at an MS clinic (‘clinic cases’) and 1193 (42%) that had not (‘non‐clinic cases’). Gender and socioeconomic status distributions were similar; however, non‐clinic cases were older, accessed health services more frequently and had a higher burden of comorbidity than clinic cases. Only 1% of the non‐clinic cases had filled a prescription for an MS‐specific disease‐modifying therapy, compared to 51% of the clinic cases.

Conclusions

Our findings have several important implications: even within a publicly funded healthcare system, a high proportion of individuals with MS may not access a specialty MS clinic; the needs of MS patients managed in the community may differ from those referred to an MS clinic; findings from studies involving clinic‐based MS cohorts may not always be generalizable to the wider MS population; and access to population‐based health administrative data offers the opportunity to gain a broader understanding of MS.
The Association Between Personality Traits, Morphological Traits and Alternative Mating Behaviour in Male Endler's Guppies, Poecilia wingei
Authors: Řežucha Radomil , Reichard Martin
Published: March 2016

Alternative mating behaviour, personality traits and morphological characters are predicted to be correlated. Bolder, larger and more colourful males are expected to preferentially court females, while shy, small and drab‐coloured individuals are predicted to sneak copulations. We used males of Endler's guppy, Poecilia wingei, to test this association over a long temporal period (hence including ontogenetic changes) and under two social environments (male‐biased and female‐biased). We found that personality traits (exploration, boldness, activity) of P. wingei males were highly repeatable across long time spans, but they were not correlated (formed no behavioural syndrome). Male age and social environment had no effect on any personality trait, despite their effects on alternative mating behaviour. Young males with higher activity levels were more likely to attempt sneaking. In older fish, there was an association between orange coloration, courtship and boldness, but this was not observed in young males. Our results suggest that alternative mating behaviour is more flexible than personality traits and is independent of them. Non‐colour‐based morphological traits (gonopodium length, body length, caudal straps length, dorsal fin length) were not correlated with any particular mating behaviour.
Female Attraction to Higher Pitched Male Enticement Calls in Barn Swallows
Authors: Hasegawa Masaru , Arai Emi
Published: March 2016

Current sexual selection studies demonstrate that female mate preference almost always favors exaggerated male traits, such as colorful plumage and elongated tails. However, such studies focused mainly on secondary sexual characteristics, i.e., traits that are fully developed at maturation, while ignoring others, which precludes generalization of the findings. We studied the expression of the male enticement call, a nestling‐like courtship trait, in relation to female attraction and to the expression of secondary sexual ornaments in the Japanese barn swallowHirundo rustica gutturalis. First, we showed that the peak amplitude frequency of male enticement calls was, on average, lower than that of nestling food‐begging calls, indicating that higher pitched calls are more similar to nestling food‐begging calls than are lower pitched calls. Second, we conducted an experimental playback of male enticement calls during the courtship period with the female's mate removed, and found that females were more attracted to heightened‐pitch calls than to control calls. Lastly, the peak amplitude frequency of male enticement calls was negatively related to the ornamentation, as measured by throat coloration. Taken together, these findings suggest the following: (1) females are attracted to a more nestling‐like trait, and (2) similarity to nestling food‐begging calls increases with decreasing secondary sexual ornaments. Nestling‐like male traits that are not secondary sexual characteristics should be considered when studying the general pattern of female attraction to male traits.
What, if anything, are hybrids: enduring truths and challenges associated with population structure and gene flow
Authors: Gompert Zachariah , Buerkle C. Alex
Published: March 2016

Hybridization is a potent evolutionary process that can affect the origin, maintenance, and loss of biodiversity. Because of its ecological and evolutionary consequences, an understanding of hybridization is important for basic and applied sciences, including conservation biology and agriculture. Herein, we review and discuss ideas that are relevant to the recognition of hybrids and hybridization. We supplement this discussion with simulations. The ideas we present have a long history, particularly in botany, and clarifying them should have practical consequences for managing hybridization and gene flow in plants. One of our primary goals is to illustrate what we can and cannot infer about hybrids and hybridization from molecular data; in other words, we ask when genetic analyses commonly used to study hybridization might mislead us about the history or nature of gene flow and selection. We focus on patterns of variation when hybridization is recent and populations are polymorphic, which are particularly informative for applied issues, such as contemporary hybridization following recent ecological change. We show that hybridization is not a singular process, but instead a collection of related processes with variable outcomes and consequences. Thus, it will often be inappropriate to generalize about the threats or benefits of hybridization from individual studies, and at minimum, it will be important to avoid categorical thinking about what hybridization and hybrids are. We recommend potential sampling and analytical approaches that should help us confront these complexities of hybridization.
Are hand preference and sexual orientation possible predicting factors for finasteride adverse effects in male androgenic alopecia?
Authors: Motofei Ion G. , Rowland David L. , Georgescu Simona R. , Tampa Mircea , Baleanu Bogdan C. , Paunica Stana
Published: March 2016

Sexual side effects of finasteride seem to be redoubtable, being encountered not only during therapy but also after treatment cessation. Consequently, any possible clinical/paraclinical elements that might predict these adverse effects would be useful in the selection of a therapeutic strategy for male androgenic alopecia. Previous published studies show that some compounds that interfere with sexual hormones can decrease sexual activation and response, according to hand preference (as reported for finasteride and tamoxifen) and according to sexual orientation (as noted for bicalutamide). Our preliminary published data and the arguments presented here suggest that these two individual parameters might be used by dermatologists in the therapeutic approach of male androgenic alopecia, so as to alert specific subsets of men, prior to treatment, of the potential increased risk for developing adverse effects to finasteride.
Comparison between IV immune globulin (IVIG) and anti‐D globulin for treatment of immune thrombocytopenia: a randomized open‐label study
Authors: Eghbali Aziz , Azadmanesh Peyman , Bagheri Bahador , Taherahmadi Hasan , Sadeghi Sedeh Bahman
Published: March 2016

To compare the effect of IV immune globulin (IVIG) and anti‐D globulin (anti‐D) for treatment of immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) in children. A randomized, open‐label, single‐center clinical trial was carried out in Amir‐Kabir Hospital (Arak, Iran). The study was performed on 60 children with acute and chronic ITP, aged from 1 to 15 years. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to 50 μg/kg anti‐D or 1 g/kg IVIG. Platelet counting was performed at baseline and at 3, 7, and 14 days after treatment termination. Safety assessment was performed in all patients. Anti‐D caused a quicker response on the 3rd day of treatment (P < 0.001). Both drugs caused a significant rise in number of platelets on the 7th and the 14th day of treatment. Compared to IVIG, except a significant drop in hemoglobin concentration (P < 0.001), anti‐D had lower rate of side effects including fever (P < 0.05), allergy (P < 0.01), and headache (P < 0.001). Our results showed that anti‐D was associated with rapid rise of platelets compared to IVIG. In addition, anti‐D treatment had acceptable safety profile.
Genome‐wide association mapping of heritable temperament variation in the Tennessee Walking Horse
Authors: Staiger E. A. , Albright J. D. , Brooks S. A.
Published: March 2016

Temperament is a key criterion in the selection of horses for both leisure and competitive riding to ensure optimal performance and safety. The Tennessee Walking Horse (TWH) is described as a calm, docile breed and is often used as a trail, show and pleasure horse. However, among horse owners and caretakers, there are anecdotes supporting familial and disciplinal typical behaviors and personalities. To investigate the contribution of genetics to temperament, we collected a behavior questionnaire, brief training history and identifying information for 276 TWH, as well as blood or hair samples for DNA. Factor analysis was conducted on the 20‐item questionnaire for the set of 216 horses that met inclusion thresholds. Factor analysis identified four temperament factors in TWH: ‘anxious’, ‘tractable’, ‘agonistic’ and ‘gregarious’. These four factors account for 64% of the total trait variance. DNA from 113 TWHs were selected and genotyped using the Equine SNP70 bead chip for three separate genome‐wide association studies (GWAs) using the factor 1‐anxious, factor 2‐tractable and factor 3‐agonistic scores as the phenotype. Quantitative association analysis identified significant candidate loci for each factor that warrant further investigation.
Debt Brakes in the German States: Governments’ Rhetoric and Actions
Authors: Potrafke Niklas , Riem Marina , Schinke Christoph
Published: March 2016

In 2009, a new law on German debt brakes was passed: state governments are not allowed to run structural deficits after 2020. Consolidation strategies initiated between 2009 and 2020 influence if a state can comply with the debt brake in 2020. We describe to what extent government ideology predicts if state governments consolidate budgets and which fiscal adjustment path they choose. Attitudes toward budget consolidation, as expressed by politicians’ rhetoric in the public debate, differed among parties. Anecdotal evidence and descriptive statistics indicate that leftwing governments ran on average higher structural deficits than rightwing governments between 2010 and 2014. Primary deficits, however, hardly differed under leftwing and rightwing governments. Revenues of federal taxes were much higher than expected and facilitated budget consolidation. Leftwing governments did not need to run deficits to design generous budgets. It is conceivable that parties confirmed their identity by using expressive rhetoric, but responded to shifts in public opinion after the financial crisis and pursued more sustainable fiscal policies when in office.
Solute Migration from the Aquifer Matrix into a Solution Conduit and the Reverse
Authors: Li Guangquan , Field Malcolm S.
Published: March 2016

A solution conduit has a permeable wall allowing for water exchange and solute transfer between the conduit and its surrounding aquifer matrix. In this paper, we use Laplace Transform to solve a one‐dimensional equation constructed using the Euler approach to describe advective transport of solute in a conduit, a production‐value problem. Both nonuniform cross‐section of the conduit and nonuniform seepage at the conduit wall are considered in the solution. Physical analysis using the Lagrangian approach and a lumping method is performed to verify the solution. Two‐way transfer between conduit water and matrix water is also investigated by using the solution for the production‐value problem as a first‐order approximation. The approximate solution agrees well with the exact solution if dimensionless travel time in the conduit is an order of magnitude smaller than unity. Our analytical solution is based on the assumption that the spatial and/or temporal heterogeneity in the wall solute flux is the dominant factor in the spreading of spring‐breakthrough curves, and conduit dispersion is only a secondary mechanism. Such an approach can lead to the better understanding of water exchange and solute transfer between conduits and aquifer matrix.

Highlights:

Euler and Lagrangian approaches are used to solve transport in conduit.

Two‐way transfer between conduit and matrix is investigated.

The solution is applicable to transport in conduit of persisting solute from matrix.