bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Postharvest Strategies for Managing Phytophthora Brown Rot of Citrus using Potassium Phosphite in Combination with Heat Treatments
Authors: Adaskaveg J. E. , Hao W. , Förster H.
Published: September 2015

Phytophthora brown rot, caused by several species of Phytophthora, is an economically important disease of citrus in areas with rainfall during the late stages of fruit development. Recent export restrictions of California orange fruit to China due to the presence of brown rot caused by the quarantine pathogen Phytophthora syringae have mandated more rigorous disease management. We evaluated postharvest applications with the phosphonate fungicide potassium phosphite in combination with heat treatments. In timing studies, potassium phosphite at 1,500 μg/ml was most effective when applied within 18 h after inoculation of orange fruit with P. citrophthora, reducing the incidence of decay by >96% as compared with the control. Potassium phosphite was also highly effective in inoculations with P. syringae. Heated water treatments at 60°C were consistently and highly effective in reducing the incidence of brown rot after inoculation with P. citrophthora, whereas treatments at 55 or 50°C were more variable and generally less effective. Two-stage treatments of fruit were conducted in the laboratory to simulate current packinghouse practices and to evaluate any interaction of the efficacy of potassium phosphite with treatments of two commonly used postharvest fungicides (i.e., imazalil and thiabendazole [TBZ]) or a postharvest carnauba-based fruit coating. In these studies, an aqueous imazalil-potassium phosphite (2,000 μg/ml) dip at ambient temperature that was followed by a spray treatment of imazalil and TBZ prepared in fruit coating significantly reduced the incidence of brown rot from the control. When the aqueous dip was applied at 54°C, brown rot developed in only 1% of the fruit as compared with 76% in the water control. The efficacy of potassium phosphite was also demonstrated in commercial packinghouse treatments. Based on our research, this fungicide was registered for postharvest use against brown rot of citrus and is exempt from tolerance in the United States and many other countries.
Pyracantha‘Mohave’ Fruit Infection byPhytophthora ramorumand Transmission of the Pathogen from Infected Fruit to Roots ofViburnum tinus
Authors: Tooley Paul W. , Browning Marsha , Shishkoff Nina
Published: September 2015

Colonization of the fleshy fruit of Cornus florida, C. kousa, Laurus nobilis, Malus hupehensis, and Pyracantha ‘Mohave’ was observed following inoculation with sporangia of Phytophthora ramorum. However, abundant production of chlamydospores was only observed in the fruit of Pyracantha ‘Mohave’. Pyracantha ‘Mohave’ fruit that had been inoculated with a P. ramorum sporangia suspension were placed in pots containing rooted cuttings of Viburnum tinus in a misting tent or in water-filled trays in a climate-controlled greenhouse. Runoff was collected for 24 to 30 days, and roots were plated after the final collection. Mean percent recovery from infected roots was not significantly different (P = 0.05, Tukey’s test) between bottom-watered treatments in trays and misted treatments, averaging 58% for bottom-watered and 54% for mist treatments. The number of CFU collected in runoff from bottom-watered plants was consistently lower than that obtained from plants held under mist, likely due to desiccation of the fruit. The results show that root infection of V. tinus can occur by P. ramorum via infected fruit of Pyracantha ‘Mohave’. This phenomenon represents a pathway of infection for P. ramorum not previously reported, which may play a role in disease epidemiology.
Sphaceloma coryli: A Reemerging Pathogen Causing Heavy Losses on Hazelnut in Southern Italy
Authors: Minutolo M. , Nanni B. , Scala F. , Alioto D.
Published: September 2015

In 2013 to 2014, a disease causing severe crop losses was observed in several growing areas of the Campania region in southern Italy. Disease symptoms consisted of necrotic spots on leaves, bracts, and shells along with vein necrosis. Nuts were necrotic or aborted and symptomatic fruit dropped prematurely. A fungus was consistently isolated from symptomatic tissues and morphologically identified as Sphaceloma coryli. The fungus was first reported in France and Italy (Campania) over 30 years ago and was not subsequently documented until 2006 in the Latium region of Italy. When artificially inoculated on healthy hazelnut plants, disease symptoms were reproduced. The teleomorph of S. coryli was recorded for the first time on overwintering tissues of hazelnut trees. It was also induced in vitro. The morphology of asci and ascospores together with phylogenetic analysis based on internal transcribed spacer sequences indicated that the teleomorph is an undescribed species within the genus Elsinoë for which the name of Elsinoë coryli is proposed. Optimum temperatures for ascospore and conidium germination and mycelium growth were determined in vitro. The inhibition effect of some commercial fungicides on S. coryli was also evaluated in vitro.
Identification of Tobacco streak virus in Cranberry and the Association of TSV with Berry Scarring
Authors: Wells-Hansen L. D. , Polashock J. J. , Vorsa N. , Lockhart B. E. L. , McManus P. S.
Published: September 2015

Cranberry plants bearing disfigured, scarred fruit were reported by growers in the major cranberry-growing region of central Wisconsin in July 2012. Plants bearing scarred fruit have since been observed in Massachusetts and New Jersey. Three complementary methods provided evidence of Tobacco streak virus (TSV) in symptomatic plants: (i) leaves and scarred berries tested positive for TSV by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; (ii) quasi-isometric particles approximately 33 nm in diameter were extracted from leaves of symptomatic plants and visualized using transmission electron microscopy; and (iii) coat protein gene sequence analysis revealed 94 to 99% nucleotide similarity with reference TSV sequences. In newer cultivars, 99% of uprights with scarred berries tested positive for TSV. In older cultivars, 31% of uprights with scarred berries tested positive for TSV and the remaining 69% of uprights with scarred berries tested positive for Blueberry shock virus. TSV overwintered in cranberry plants, and leaves, pollen, and fruit tested positive for TSV the year following symptom occurrence. Attempts to inoculate cranberry using infected pollen or sap as inoculum failed, but several herbaceous hosts tested TSV positive following mechanical inoculation. Phylogenetic analysis of the coat protein gene of 26 TSV isolates from various cultivars of cranberry in Wisconsin, New Jersey, and Massachusetts revealed diversity. This work provides information that will be useful in understanding the epidemiology of TSV in cranberry and in the development of management strategies.
Cultural adaptation in cross-national buyer-seller relationships
Authors: Voldnes Gøril , Grønhaug Kjell
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how buyers and sellers in cross-cultural business relationships manage cultural differences to ensure functional, successful business relationships. Failure to consider specific cultural issues may lead to the failure of business ventures crossing national borders. To succeed in today’s global business market, it is critically important to understand and manage cultural differences. Adapting to each other’s cultures is one way of managing cultural differences between business actors.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative, explorative approach examining both sides of the exchange dyad was adopted to obtain insight into adaptation as perceived by both buyer and seller.

Findings

– The results of this study indicate that mainly Norwegian sellers adapt to the Russian culture and way of conducting business. This is explained by power asymmetry between partners, as well as cultural barriers and lack of cultural sensitivity from the Norwegian partners. Still, the business relationships function well.

Practical implications

– Knowledge of and applying strategies for managing cultural differences should be helpful for business managers engaged or planning to engage in business ventures with Russia and Norway – especially those doing so for the first time.

Originality/value

– The study provides new and important information about West-East business relationships and how to manage cultural differences in cross-cultural business relationships. The study shows that business relationships can function well in spite of the absence of some factors previously found to have detrimental effects on these relationships. In addition, the study investigates both sides of the buyer-seller dyad, which is a limitation in previous studies of adaptation.
Use of e-government services: the role of trust
Authors: Mpinganjira Mercy
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of trust in understanding usage of e-government services in South Africa. Of interest are services that involve two way interactions between citizens and government.

Design/methodology/approach

– Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from members of the public using in-depth interviews and a structured questionnaire, respectively.

Findings

– The findings show that trust in internet and in government as a provider of e-services are important factors that differentiates users and non-users of e-government services. The two factors are also significantly related to willingness to start using e-government services. Trust in e-service provider unlike trust in internet was however found to be a stronger differentiator of users and non-users and to have a stronger relationship with willingness to start using e-government services.

Practical implications

– Efforts aimed at promoting use of e-government services need to be based on a good understanding of factors that impact on citizens’ decisions in this regard. Such efforts need to include activities targeted at improving people’s trust in government’s ability to provide reliable and secure e-services.

Originality/value

– While provision of government services using the online channel is a growing phenomenon in most African countries, not much research has been done into what governments should focus on in order to entice more citizens to take up this channel. This study contributes to addressing this gap.
A classificatory scheme for antecedents of the sources of “online brand equity”
Authors: Rana Arunima , Bhat Anil , Rani Leela
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to systematically review and summarize the literature addressing various sources of online brand equity. The evolution of social media, online forums and virtual communities drive the diversity in nomenclature of online marketing variables. Different researchers have used different marketing variables to indicate the same source of online brand equity. The definitions of the marketing variables change with the change in context, due to the complex e-commerce environment. The marketing variables used in different studies have lead to a conceptual overlap and repetitiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

– This confusion is sought to be classified by the proposed classificatory scheme that used content analysis of 42 previous studies. The definitions of the antecedents of sources of the online brand equity used by the authors are analyzed with the help of content analysis to summarize the marketing variables in a meaningful way.

Findings

– The paper identifies 15 major marketing variables by authors in their studies related to various sources of online brand equity. The final list contains 13 frequently used variables which also comprises variables which are evolving due to the dynamic e-commerce environment like the feeling of “virtual-real”.

Practical implications

– The variables identified can be used by the businesses as a check list to their marketing activities.

Originality/value

– This is the first paper which identifies and clarifies the ambiguity present in the application of the various online marketing variables.
Distributed leadership, team working and service improvement in healthcare
Authors: Boak George , Dickens Victoria , Newson Annalisa , Brown Louise
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to analyse the introduction of distributed leadership and team working in a therapy department in a healthcare organisation and to explore the factors that enabled the introduction to be successful.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper used a case study methodology. Qualitative and quantitative information was gathered from one physiotherapy department over a period of 24 months.

Findings

– Distributed leadership and team working were central to a number of system changes that were initiated by the department, which led to improvements in patient waiting times for therapy. The paper identifies six factors that appear to have influenced the successful introduction of distributed learning and team working in this case.

Research limitations/implications

– This is a single case study. It would be interesting to explore whether these factors are found in other cases where distributed leadership is introduced in healthcare organisations.

Practical implications

– The paper provides an example of successful introduction of distributed leadership, which has had a positive impact on services to patients. Other therapy teams may consider how the approach may be adopted or adapted to their own circumstances.

Originality/value

– Although distributed leadership is thought to be important in healthcare, particularly when organisational change is needed, there are very few studies of the practicalities of how it can be introduced.
Preparing academic medical department physicians to successfully lead
Authors: Revere Lee , Robinson Arlin , Schroth Lynn , Mikhail Osama
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present a case study which details the successful development, design and deployment of a leadership course for academic medical department chairs. The course provides a needed local and contextual alternative to the lengthy and often theoretical MBA/MHA.

Design/methodology/approach

– Faculty developers used a multi-tiered methodology for developing the physician leadership course. The methodology consisted of literature findings, needs assessment, stakeholder input and structured interviews with administrative leaders.

Findings

– The research, stakeholder input and interviews revealed an increasing number of physician leaders with a general lack of fundamental administrative leadership skills. These shortfalls are largely because of underexposure to core management competencies during medical school and limited contextual knowledge outside their organization. There is an urgent need for leadership development opportunities aimed at current and future academic medical department chairs.

Research limitations/implications

– This research is limited by the assumptions that the curriculum meets the ever-changing needs of health-care leaders, the course’s focus on academic medical department chairs within the Texas Medical Center and the lack of long range follow-up data to substantiate the effectiveness of the curriculum content and course structure.

Practical implications

– The Academic Medical Department Leadership course offers valuable management skills training which complements standard medical training. Much of the course structure and content is adaptable to physician administrative and leadership positions in all settings.

Originality/value

– Although the Academic Medical Department Leadership course is a response to a local concern, the study offers a generalizable approach to addressing the demand for skilled physician leaders.
Disability and Multi‐State Labour Force Choices with State Dependence
Authors: Oguzoglu Umut
Published: September 2015

Using the first 12 waves of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, the impact of work‐limiting disabilities on disaggregated labour force choices is investigated. Findings from a dynamic mixed multinomial logit model point to a significant decline in the likelihood of full‐time and part‐time work due to disability. Combined with strong state dependence in employment choices, this suggests a slow recovery from a disability shock. Model simulations suggest that high cross‐ and own‐state dependence can amplify a one‐off disability shock to alter the probability of full‐time employment and non‐participation over a long period, especially for low‐skilled individuals.
An Update on the Hazards and Risks of Forensic Anthropology, Part I: Human Remains
Authors: Roberts Lindsey G. , Dabbs Gretchen R. , Spencer Jessica R.
Published: September 2015

This work reviews the hazards and risks of practicing forensic anthropology in North America, with a focus on pathogens encountered through contact with unpreserved human remains. Since the publication of Galloway and Snodgrass' seminal paper concerning the hazards of forensic anthropology, research has provided new information about known pathogen hazards, and regulating authorities have updated recommendations for the recognition and treatment of several infections. Additionally, forensic anthropology has gained popularity, exposing an increased number of students and practitioners to these hazards. Current data suggest many occupational exposures to blood or body fluids go unreported, especially among students, highlighting the need for this discussion. For each pathogen and associated disease, this work addresses important history, reviews routes of exposure, provides an overview of symptoms and treatments, lists decontamination procedures, and presents data on postmortem viability. Personal protection and laboratory guidelines should be established and enforced in conjunction with the consideration of these data.
A Resource‐based View of the EU's Regional and International Leadership
Authors: Héritier Adrienne , Prakash Aseem
Published: September 2015

How does one explain the variation in the EU's success in enacting and enforcing policies that lead to the supply of regional or global public goods? We examine how the EU deploys its positional resources to enact laws that compel governments or firms to contribute to the provision of public goods. We suggest that leaders such as the EU are able to compel public goods contributions if they have the legal authority to do so, and are able to deploy their positional resources to build effective coalitions or reduce the leverage of potential veto players. We look at two issue areas empirically: banking and the environment. In the banking cases, the EU sought to provide regional public goods; in the environmental cases, it sought to provide regional and global public goods. We examine instances of leadership success as well as failure. In the banking cases, we examine Outright Monetary Transactions (success) and banking single resolution mechanism (less successful); the environmental cases pertain to chemical regulation (success) and airline emissions (failure). These cases reveal the EU's skill and limitations in deploying its positional authority to induce contributions for public goods provision from EU member governments, EU firms and nonEU firms.
Modification of aquaporin expression in response to fenretinide‐induced transdifferentiation of ARPE‐19 cells into neuronal‐like cells
Authors: Salik Dany , Motulsky Elie , Gregoire Françoise , Delforge Valérie , Bolaky Nargis , Caspers Laure , Perret Jason , Willermain François , Delporte Christine
Published: September 2015

Purpose

The goal of this study was to investigate the modifications of aquaporin (AQP) expression in ARPE‐19 cells in response to fenretinide‐induced transdifferentiation into neuronal‐like cells

Methods

ARPE‐19 cells were treated daily for 7 days with 3 μm fenretinide or dimethyl sulphoxide as control. mRNA and protein expression were evaluated by real‐time quantitative PCR, Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence.

Results

Control ARPE‐19 cells expressed AQP1, AQP4, AQP6 and AQP11 at the mRNA level, but only AQP4, AQP6 and AQP11 at the protein level. Fenretinide induced the transdifferentiation of ARPE‐19 cells into neuronal‐like cells. Indeed, fenretinide induced morphological changes similar to neurons characterized by elongated cell body and the formation of neurite branching. Moreover, ARPE‐19 cells transdifferentiated to neuron‐like cells were characterized by significant decrease in retinal pigmented epithelium markers, for example cytokeratin 8 and cellular retinaldehyde‐binding protein, as well as an increase in neuronal markers such as synaptophysin and calretinin. AQP4 expression, at both mRNA and protein levels, and AQP6 expression, only at protein level, were significantly decreased in ARPE‐19 cells transdifferentiated into neuronal‐like cells.

Conclusions

The expression of AQP4 and AQP6 is downregulated during fenretinide‐induced transdifferentiation.
Long‐term impact of puerperal metritis on the profiles of peripheral blood leukocytes in peripartum dairy cows
Authors: Magata Fumie , Kitaoka Ryuji , Morino Ikumi , Teramura Makoto , Kawashima Chiho , Haneda Shingo , Shimizu Takashi
Published: September 2015

To determine the effects of puerperal metritis on the immune response, changes in the differential peripheral blood leukocyte counts were analyzed during the peripartum period in cows with or without metritis. Multiparous Holstein cows were examined for uterine health disorders and classified into two groups: healthy (n = 11) or metritis (n = 5) cows. The lymphocyte and monocyte counts and the proportion of CD8+lymphocytes were higher in cows with metritis compared to healthy cows. Moreover, the effects of puerperal metritis on the lymphocyte counts and CD4+/CD8+ratio persisted weeks after the uterine inflammation had self‐resolved. Taken together, the findings of the present study indicate the possible long‐term alterations of systemic immune responses in cows with puerperal uterine inflammation. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science
Computational Technique for an Efficient Classification of Protein Sequences With Distance‐Based Sequence Encoding Algorithm
Authors: Iqbal Muhammad Javed , Faye Ibrahima , Said Abas MD , Samir Brahim Belhaouari
Published: September 2015

Machine learning is being implemented in bioinformatics and computational biology to solve challenging problems emerged in the analysis and modeling of biological data such as DNA, RNA, and protein. The major problems in classifying protein sequences into existing families/superfamilies are the following: the selection of a suitable sequence encoding method, the extraction of an optimized subset of features that possesses significant discriminatory information, and the adaptation of an appropriate learning algorithm that classifies protein sequences with higher classification accuracy. The accurate classification of protein sequence would be helpful in determining the structure and function of novel protein sequences. In this article, we have proposed a distance‐based sequence encoding algorithm that captures the sequence's statistical characteristics along with amino acids sequence order information. A statistical metric‐based feature selection algorithm is then adopted to identify the reduced set of features to represent the original feature space. The performance of the proposed technique is validated using some of the best performing classifiers implemented previously for protein sequence classification. An average classification accuracy of 92% was achieved on the yeast protein sequence data set downloaded from the benchmark UniProtKB database.
Polychlorinated biphenyls in pigments: inadvertent production and environmental significance
Authors: Rodenburg Lisa , Guo Jia , Christie Robert
Published: September 2015

Polychlorobiphenyls are toxic, bioaccumulative, and persistent chemicals whose intentional manufacture has been banned throughout the developed world. Polychlorobiphenyls may be generated inadvertently during the production of certain pigments, including diarylides. This inadvertent production is allowed under various regulatory schemes, such as the Toxic Substances Control Act in the United States and the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants. Generally, these regulations require polychlorobiphenyl levels in batches of pigment to be less than certain regulatory limits, usually 50 ppm. A growing body of evidence suggests that the use of pigments is dispersing polychlorobiphenyls throughout the environment. Polychlorobiphenyl congeners associated with pigments have been found throughout the United States in sediments and in surface waters at levels exceeding the prevailing water quality standards. A recent Japanese government study reported measured polychlorobiphenyl concentrations well above 50 ppm in several commercial batches of azo pigments. A strong case may thus be argued that pigment manufacturers should modify existing production processes to reduce, ideally prevent, the formation of polychlorobiphenyls, or develop new pigments that do not have the potential to form polychlorobiphenyls. This paper, the result of a collaboration involving environmental scientists (LR and JG) and a pigment chemist (RC), reviews the evidence for environmental contamination from inadvertent polychlorobiphenyl production in specific pigments, together with a rationalisation of the conclusions based on the reaction mechanisms involved in their manufacture. Broad measures are proposed that might address these issues, both from environmental and from chemical perspectives.
Establishing conservation baselines with dynamic distribution models for bat populations facing imminent decline
Authors: Rodhouse Thomas J. , Ormsbee Patricia C. , Irvine Kathryn M. , Vierling Lee A. , Szewczak Joseph M. , Vierling Kerri T.
Published: September 2015

Aim

Bat mortality rates from white‐nose syndrome and wind power development are unprecedented. Cryptic and wide‐ranging behaviours of bats make them difficult to survey, and population estimation is often intractable. We advance a model‐based framework for making spatially explicit predictions about summertime distributions of bats from capture and acoustic surveys. Motivated by species‐energy and life‐history theory, our models describe hypotheses about spatio‐temporal variation in bat distributions along environmental gradients and life‐history attributes, providing a statistical basis for conservation decision‐making.

Location

Oregon and Washington, USA.

Methods

We developed Bayesian hierarchical models for 14 bat species from an 8‐year monitoring dataset across a ~430,000 km2 study area. Models accounted for imperfect detection and were temporally dynamic. We mapped predicted occurrence probabilities and prediction uncertainties as baselines for assessing future declines.

Results

Forest cover, snag abundance and cliffs were important predictors for most species. Species occurrence patterns varied along elevation and precipitation gradients, suggesting a potential hump‐shaped diversity–productivity relationship. Annual turnover in occurrence was generally low, and occurrence probabilities were stable among most species. We found modest evidence that turnover covaried with the relative riskiness of bat roosting and migration. The fringed myotis (Myotis thysanodes), canyon bat (Parastrellus hesperus) and pallid bat (Antrozous pallidus) were rare; fringed myotis occurrence probabilities declined over the study period. We simulated anticipated declines to demonstrate that mapped occurrence probabilities, updated over time, provide an intuitive way to assess bat conservation status for a broad audience.

Main conclusions

Landscape keystone structures associated with roosting habitat emerged as regionally important predictors of bat distributions. The challenges of bat monitoring have constrained previous species distribution modelling efforts to temporally static presence‐only approaches. Our approach extends to broader spatial and temporal scales than has been possible in the past for bats, making a substantial increase in capacity for bat conservation.
Integrating multiple species connectivity and habitat quality into conservation planning for coral reefs
Authors: Magris Rafael A. , Treml Eric A. , Pressey Robert L. , Weeks Rebecca
Published: September 2015

Incorporating connectivity into the design of marine protected areas (MPAs) has met with conceptual, theoretical, and practical challenges, which include: 1) the need to consider connectivity for multiple species with different dispersal abilities, and 2) the role played by variable habitat quality in determining the spatial patterns of connectivity. We propose an innovative approach, combining biophysical modeling with a routinely‐used tool for marine‐reserve design (Marxan), to address both challenges by using ecologically‐informed connectivity parameters. We showed how functional demographic connectivity for four candidate reef‐associated species with varying dispersal abilities and a suite of connectivity metrics weighted by habitat quality can be used to set conservation objectives and inform MPA placement. Overall, the strength of dispersal barriers varied across modeled species and, also across species, we found a lack of spatial concordance of reefs that were high‐quality sources, self‐persistent, and stepping‐stones. Including spatially‐heterogeneous habitat quality made a considerable difference to connectivity patterns, significantly reducing the potential reproductive output from many reefs. We also found that caution is needed in combining connectivity data from modeled species into multi‐species matrices, which do not perform reliably as surrogates for all connectivity metrics of individual species. We then showed that restricting the habitat available for conservation has an inequitable impact on different connectivity objectives and species, with greatest impact on betweenness centrality and long‐distance dispersers. We used Brazilian coral reefs as a case study but our approach is applicable to both marine and terrestrial conservation planning, and offers a holistic way to design functionally‐connected reserves to tackle the complex issues relevant to planning for persistence.
Cheaters must prosper: reconciling theoretical and empirical perspectives on cheating in mutualism
Authors: Jones Emily I. , Afkhami Michelle E. , Akçay Erol , Bronstein Judith L. , Bshary Redouan , Frederickson Megan E. , Heath Katy D. , Hoeksema Jason D. , Ness Joshua H. , Pankey M. Sabrina , Porter Stephanie S. , Sachs Joel L. , Scharnagl Klara , Friesen Maren L.
Published: September 2015

Cheating is a focal concept in the study of mutualism, with the majority of researchers considering cheating to be both prevalent and highly damaging. However, current definitions of cheating do not reliably capture the evolutionary threat that has been a central motivation for the study of cheating. We describe the development of the cheating concept and distill a relative‐fitness‐based definition of cheating that encapsulates the evolutionary threat posed by cheating, i.e. that cheaters will spread and erode the benefits of mutualism. We then describe experiments required to conclude that cheating is occurring and to quantify fitness conflict more generally. Next, we discuss how our definition and methods can generate comparability and integration of theory and experiments, which are currently divided by their respective prioritisations of fitness consequences and traits. To evaluate the current empirical evidence for cheating, we review the literature on several of the best‐studied mutualisms. We find that although there are numerous observations of low‐quality partners, there is currently very little support from fitness data that any of these meet our criteria to be considered cheaters. Finally, we highlight future directions for research on conflict in mutualisms, including novel research avenues opened by a relative‐fitness‐based definition of cheating.
End‐user involvement in a systematic review of quantitative and qualitative research of non‐pharmacological interventions for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder delivered in school settings: reflections on the impacts and challenges
Authors: Coon Jo Thompson , Gwernan‐Jones Ruth , Moore Darren , Richardson Michelle , Shotton Catherine , Pritchard Will , Morris Christopher , Stein Ken , Ford Tamsin
Published: September 2015

Background

The benefits of end‐user involvement in health‐care research are widely recognized by research agencies. There are few published evaluations of end‐user involvement in systematic reviews.

Objectives

(i) Describe end‐user involvement in a complex mixed‐methods systematic review of ADHD in schools, (ii) reflect on the impact of end‐user involvement, (iii) highlight challenges and benefits experienced and (iv) provide suggestions to inform future involvement.

Methods

End‐users were involved in all stages of the project, both as authors and as members of an advisory group. In addition, several events were held with groups of relevant end‐users during the project.

Results

End‐user input (i) guided the direction of the research, (ii) contributed to a typology of interventions and outcomes, (iii) contributed to the direction of data analysis and (iv) contributed to the robustness of the syntheses by demonstrating the alignment of interim findings with lived experiences. Challenges included (i) managing expectations, (ii) managing the intensity of emotion, (iii) ensuring that involvement was fruitful for all not just the researcher, (iv) our capacity to communicate and manage the process and (v) engendering a sense of involvement amongst end‐users.

Conclusions

End‐user involvement was an important aspect of this project. To minimize challenges in future projects, a recognition by the project management team and the funding provider that end‐user involvement even in evidence synthesis projects is resource intensive is essential to allow appropriate allocation of time and resources for meaningful engagement.
Extraction, optimisation and characterisation of phenolics from Thymus vulgaris L.: phenolic content and profiles in relation to antioxidant, antidiabetic and antihypertensive properties
Authors: Alu'datt Muhammad H. , Rababah Taha , Johargy Ayman , Gammoh Sana , Ereifej Khalil , Alhamad Mohammad N. , Brewer Mary Susan , Saati Abdullah A. , Kubow Stan , Rawshdeh Mervat
Published: September 2015

The objectives of this study were to examine varying extraction conditions of Thymus vulgaris L. as related to phenolic content and profiles of the extracts and their antioxidant, antihypertensive and antidiabetic properties. Phenolics were extracted under various conditions pertaining to free and bound phenolics, solvent type and combination of extraction time and temperature, and these extracts were evaluated in terms of their antioxidant activities and inhibitory activities of angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE), α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase. The acetone–water solvent mixture (1:1; v/v) produced the extract with the greatest phenolic content, antioxidant activity and inhibitory activities of ACE and α‐glucosidase. The optimal extraction temperature for maximum phenolic content and antioxidant activity associated with methanol extraction was 60 °C, whereas a lower temperature at 40 °C was required to maximise inhibitory activities for ACE, α‐glucosidase and α‐amylase. An inverse relationship was seen between antioxidant and glucosidase inhibitory activities vs. the ACE and α‐amylase inhibitory activities, which suggests the need for extractions to be directed to specific bioactivities of thyme extracts. Generally, the results indicate major differences in phenolic profiles among the tested extraction conditions with thymol as the predominant phenolic seen in most extractions, while gallic acid, rosmarinic acid or diosmin also predominated in other extracts. Extracts with the same predominant phenolic compound and similar phenolic content showed major disparities in their ACE, glucosidase and α‐amylase inhibitory activities, indicating that the major phenolic profiles of thyme extracts may not be necessarily related to the degree of inhibition of ACE, glucosidase and α‐amylase enzymes.
Relationship between lysyl oxidase activity, pyridinoline content and muscle texture during ice storage of jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas)
Authors: Ramirez‐Guerra Hugo E. , Fimbres‐Romero Manuel de J. , Tapia‐Vazquez Angel E. , Ezquerra‐Brauer Josafat M. , Márquez‐Ríos Enrique , Suarez‐Jimenez Guadalupe M. , Torres‐Arreola Wilfrido
Published: September 2015

Collagen fibres, stabilised by lysyl oxidase (LOX), play an important role in jumbo squid because they are responsible for the union between various cells; therefore, a close interdependence between their functions and muscle firmness during ice storage has been suggested. In this study, the relationship between LOX activity, pyridinoline (Pyr) content and muscle texture (SF) during ice storage of jumbo squid mantle was evaluated. LOX activity was confirmed within the range of 4.1–7.1 × 10−3 U g−1 of protein, leading to an increase in Pyr content, detected in the range of 0.85–1.32 mmol mol−1 of collagen after 5–20 days. The SF of the muscle became harder during the ice storage time, increasing from 21.08 to 37.95 N. It was therefore possible to establish the relationship between LOX activity, collagen cross‐links (Pyr content) and texture patterns during ice storage of jumbo squid muscle, which increased after 20 days.
Current advances in the novel functions of hypoxia‐inducible factor and prolyl hydroxylase in invertebrates
Authors: Wang L. , Cui S. , Ma L. , Kong L. , Geng X.
Published: September 2015

Oxygen is essential for aerobic life, and hypoxia has very severe consequences. Organisms need to overcome low oxygen levels to maintain biological functions during normal development and in disease states. The mechanism underlying the hypoxic response has been widely investigated in model animals such as Drosophila melanogaster and Caenorhabditis elegans. Hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF), a key gene product in the response to oxygen deprivation, is primarily regulated by prolyl hydroxylase domain enzymes (PHDs). However, recent findings have uncovered novel HIF‐independent functions of PHDs. This review provides an overview of how invertebrates are able to sustain hypoxic damages, and highlights some recent discoveries in the regulation of cellular signalling by PHDs. Given that some core genes and major pathways are evolutionarily conserved, these research findings could provide insight into oxygen‐sensitive signalling in mammals, and have biomedical implications for human diseases.
Attitudes of the general public towards the disclosure of individual research results and incidental findings from biobank genomic research in Australia
Authors: Fleming J. , Critchley C. , Otlowski M. , Stewart C. , Kerridge I.
Published: September 2015

Background

Over the past decade, managing the disclosure of findings of genomic research has been the subject of extensive scientific, ethical and legal commentary and is a major challenge for biobanks.

Aims

To examine views of the general Australian public about the disclosure of individual research results (IRR) and incidental findings (IF) from biobank genomic research.

Methods

A national computer assisted telephone interview was conducted amongst a representative sample of (n = 800) adult residents across each Australian State and Territory.

Results

The majority of the Australian general public would be interested in receiving IRR and IF if they allowed their blood/tissue to be used in research; 94.4% (n = 800) reported that they would like to receive ‘specific information obtained from your sample that may be important to your health or treatment’, and 83.4% their ‘potential genetic risk of an inherited disease’. Although fewer desired to receive ‘any IF that were not directly related to your (potential) diagnosed condition’ (70.0%), most would still like to receive IF. A latent class analysis on the desire to receive (or not) all types of results revealed differences in preferences in the information they wished to receive.

Conclusion

The majority of Australians desire to receive most information arising from research involving their tissue, including IRR and IF. Differences in the extent and type of information they desire to receive are noted. Biobanks must establish strategies to identify information needs of donors, assess research data and communicate with donors and donor families. Processes need to take account of differences in donor preferences and in the clinical or research context(s).
Atrial fibrillation in older inpatients: are there any differences in clinical characteristics and pharmacological treatment between the frail and the non‐frail?
Authors: Nguyen T. N. , Cumming R. G. , Hilmer S. N.
Published: September 2015

Background

Frailty is common in patients with atrial fibrillation and may impact on antithrombotic and anti‐arrhythmic treatment.

Aim

To describe differences in clinical characteristics, prescription of antithrombotic and anti‐arrhythmic medications and incidence of haemorrhage and stroke, between frail and non‐frail older inpatients.

Methods

Prospective observational study in patients aged ≥65 years with atrial fibrillation admitted to a teaching hospital in Sydney, Australia. Frailty was assessed using the Reported Edmonton Frail Scale, stroke risk with CHA2DS2‐VASc score and bleeding risk with HAS‐BLED score. Participants were followed after 6 months for haemorrhages and strokes.

Results

We recruited 302 patients (mean age 84.7 ± 7.1 years, 53.3% frail, 50% female, mean CHA2DS2‐VASc 4.61 ± 1.44, mean HAS‐BLED 2.97 ± 1.04). Frail participants were older and had more co‐morbidities and higher risk of stroke but not haemorrhage. Upon discharge, 55.7% participants were prescribed with anticoagulants (49.3% frail, 62.6% non‐frail, P = 0.02). Thirty‐three per cent received antiplatelets only and 11.1% no antithrombotics, with no difference by frailty status. For anti‐arrhythmics, 52.6% received rate‐control drugs only, 11.8% rhythm‐control drugs only and 13.5% both and 22.1% were not prescribed either, with no difference by frailty status. On univariate logistic regression, frailty decreased the likelihood of anticoagulant prescription (odds ratio (OR) 0.58, 95%CI 0.36–0.93), but this was not significant on multivariate analysis (OR 0.66, 95%CI 0.40–1.11). After 6 months, overall incidence of ischaemic stroke was 2.1%, and in patients taking anticoagulants, incidence of major/severe bleeding was 6.3%, with no significant difference between frailty groups.

Conclusions

Frailty status had little impact on antithrombotic prescription and no impact on anti‐arrhythmic prescription.
Dense Iodoapatite Ceramics Consolidated by Low‐Temperature Spark Plasma Sintering
Authors: Yao Tiankai , Scott Spencer , Xin Guoqing , Lu Fengyuan , Lian Jie
Published: September 2015

Pb9.85(VO4)6I1.7, a potential waste form for long‐lived I‐129 immobilization, experiences phase decomposition and thus iodine loss at an elevated temperature above 400°C, presenting a significant challenge for effective management of radioactive iodine. In this work, we report low‐temperature consolidation of dense iodoapatite pellets with above 95% theoretical density by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at temperatures as low as 350°C for 20 min without iodine loss. Microstructure analysis indicates a nanocrystalline ceramic with an average grain size less than 100 nm. Grain growth dominates the sintered microstructure at higher temperatures and longer durations. The dense nanoceramics have significantly‐improved fracture toughness as compared with bulk coarsened grain structures. The effects of sintering temperatures (350°C, 400°C, 500°C, and 700°C) and durations (0–20 min) on microstructure, density, fracture morphology, and mechanical properties including Young's modulus and hardness of bulk samples were investigated. Low temperature densified iodoapatites suggest immense potential of SPS as an advanced materials fabrication technology for the development of waste forms for immobilization of volatile radionuclides including radioactive iodine.
Trends of periodontal conditions in two different randomly selected Swiss (Bernese) cohorts 25 years apart
Authors: Schürch Ernst , Dulla Joëlle A. , Bürgin Walter , Lussi Adrian , Lang Niklaus P.
Published: September 2015

Aim

To assess the periodontal conditions of two randomly selected Swiss cohorts 25 years apart.

Material and Methods

Standardized examinations were performed to assess the periodontal conditions of two randomly selected populations of the Canton of Bern; oral cleanliness was evaluated using the plaque index (PlI) and the retention index (RI). Gingival health was scored according to the gingival index (GI). Periodontal conditions were evaluated by pocket probing depth (PPD) and loss of attachment (LA).

Results

At the first examination in 1985, 206 out of 350 subjects were evaluated, while in the second examination in 2010, 134 out of 490 subjects attended the examinations. In 1985, subjects showed a mean PlI of 1.16, and 0.77 in 2010. RI was 0.81 and 0.36 in 1985 and 2010 respectively. Mean GI was 1.34 and 0.6. The mean proportion of PPD ≤3 mm was 72% in 1985 and 97.3% in 2010. PPD ≥ 6 mm affected 2.0% in 1985 and 0.3% in 2010. In 1985, subjects had an average of 20.7 teeth, while in 2010, the average was 24.6. In 1985, 7.3% of the subjects were edentulous, while in 2010, 4.5% had no teeth.

Conclusions

Trends to improvements resulting in more teeth in function and better periodontal conditions were recognized.
The Effect of Solution‐Focused Versus Problem‐Focused Questions: A Replication
Authors: Neipp Marie‐Carmen , Beyebach Mark , Nuñez Rosa M. , Martínez‐González Marie‐Carmen
Published: September 2015

In therapeutic conversations, questions can be considered as interventions in their own right. This study is a cross‐cultural replication of Grant (Journal of Systemic Therapies, 2012, 31, 2, 21) study on the effects of different types of questions on various clinically relevant variables. A total of 204 students of a Spanish university described a real‐life problem that they wanted to solve and were then randomly assigned to either a solution‐focused or a problem‐focused questions condition. Before and after answering the questions, they completed a set of measures that assessed positive and negative affect, self‐efficacy, and goal attainment. Solution‐focused questions produced a significantly greater increase in self‐efficacy, goal approach, and action steps than problem‐focused questions, and a significantly greater decrease in negative affect, providing further empirical support to solution‐focused practices.