bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial patterns of extra‐pair paternity: beyond paternity gains and losses
Authors: Schlicht Lotte , Valcu Mihai , Kempenaers Bart
Published: September 2014

Most studies on extra‐pair paternity (EPP) focus either on a specific male's extra‐pair gains or his extra‐pair losses. For an individual bird however, mate choice or mate availability may underlie strong spatial restrictions. Disregarding this spatial aspect may underestimate or mask effects of parameters influencing observed EPP patterns.

Here, we propose a spatially explicit model for investigating the probability of having extra‐pair offspring (EPO) within local networks of breeding pairs. The data set includes all realized and unrealized potential extra‐pair matings. This method is biologically meaningful because it allows (a) considering both members of an extra‐pair mating and their social mates, and (b) direct modelling of the spatial context in which extra‐pair behaviour occurs. The method has the advantage that it can provide inference about the relative contribution of spatial and non‐spatial parameters, and about the relative importance of male and female neighbourhoods.

We apply this method to parentage data from 1025 broods collected over 12 breeding seasons in two independent study populations of blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus). We investigate a set of predictions based on the EPP literature, namely that EPP depends on male age and body size, breeding density and breeding synchrony. In all analyses, we control for breeding distance, a parameter that is expected to influence EPP even under random mating.

The results show that older and larger males were more likely to sire EPO, but both effects decreased with increasing breeding distance. Local breeding density but not synchrony predicted whether a particular male–female combination had EPO, at least in one of the study areas. Apart from breeding distance, male age had the strongest effect on EPP, followed by a measure of breeding density. The method thus allows a comprehensive assessment of the relative importance of different types of spatial and non‐spatial parameters to explain variation in the occurrence of EPP, while controlling for the fact that individuals that breed further apart are less likely to have EPO.

The proposed approach is not limited to investigate EPP, but can be applied to other behavioural interactions between two individuals, such as dominance, competition and (social) mating.
Spatially explicit bioeconomic model for weed management in cereals: validation and evaluation of management strategies
Authors: González‐Díaz Lucía , Blanco‐Moreno José Manuel , González‐Andújar José Luis
Published: September 2014

Spatially explicit weed population models are very useful to explore long‐term weed management scenarios. The economic implications of the management practices have been rarely considered in those models. Their inclusion could enhance weed management decisions.

A bioeconomic spatially explicit model was developed and validated using field data. The model integrated a weed population submodel, a weed–crop competition submodel and an economic analysis. It was employed to evaluate long‐term management strategies to control Lolium rigidum Gaudin, a troublesome weed infesting cereals in Mediterranean climates. A total of eleven individual and integrated management strategies, including cultural and chemical control, were evaluated.

The predicted and observed distributions of population growth rates were similar for the four experimental plots used in the validation. One plot was fully validated with most proposed validation methods, while in the remaining plots, the predicted growth rates, in general, underestimated the observed growth rates.

Our results showed that most individual management programmes were worse at controlling L. rigidum populations than integrated management ones. The programmes integrating cultural control strategies and herbicide at its full rate achieved the best long‐term control. However, other strategies that were not as efficient at decreasing weed densities were more profitable economically, such as herbicide application at full rate. Economic returns were negative in all the strategies simulated. A sensitivity analysis showed that the seed bank and the economic outcomes were especially sensitive to fecundity and to the control exerted by management.

Synthesis and applications. Our results suggest that the use of herbicide and low‐input cultural control methods or full‐dose herbicide applications are the most economically efficient strategies controlling L. rigidum populations. However, cultural control methods are not recommended as the only management strategies. Herbicide applications at full doses are preferable to applications at low doses, producing more successful weed control and, generally, less economic losses. The spatially explicit bioeconomic model developed has proved to be useful evaluating long‐term weed management strategies in dry land cereal agrosystems. This kind of model would enhance weed management decisions for farmers based on an economic as well as an agronomic point of view.
Dynamics of epiphytic macrolichen abundance, diversity and composition in boreal forest
Authors: Bartels Samuel F. , Chen Han Y.H.
Published: September 2014

Epiphytic macrolichen lichens are important components of forest ecosystems, but their responses to stand‐replacing fire and multiple successional pathways of the canopy tree layer are poorly understood.

We examined the dynamics of epiphytic macrolichens following wildfire and tested the independent and interactive effects of time since fire and overstorey composition on epiphytic macrolichen abundance, diversity and composition in boreal forests of Canada. Epiphytic macrolichens were sampled in 51 stands of conifer, mixed‐wood and broadleaf overstorey types ranging from 7 to 209 years since fire.

Macrolichen abundance estimated as percentage cover continuously increased with stand age with highest cover in 209‐year‐old stands for all overstorey types. Mixed‐wood and conifer stands had higher macrolichen abundance than broadleaf stands in all age classes except similarly low abundances in stands ≤15 years old for all overstorey types. Species richness of epiphytic macrolichens reached peaks in 98‐ or 146‐year‐old stands. Mixed‐wood stands had higher macrolichen species richness than broadleaf and conifer stands at 98 years old, but not at other age classes. Multivariate analysis indicated that the macrolichen communities were compositionally distinct for all age classes and overstorey types.

Synthesis and applications. Epiphytic macrolichen abundance continuously increases with time since fire. Our results also show that macrolichen diversity peaks at intermediate stand ages with highest diversity in mixed‐wood stands. Our findings of distinct macrolichen communities supported by each age class and overstorey compositional type suggest that conservation of epiphytic macrolichen diversity would require forest managers to maintain a diverse age structure and overstorey composition in forest landscapes.
Differential responses to artificial selection on oviposition site preferences in Drosophila melanogaster and D. simulans
Authors: Soto Eduardo M. , Betti María I. L. , Hurtado Juan , Hasson Esteban
Published: September 2014

The preference–performance relationship in plant–insect interactions is a central theme in evolutionary ecology. Among many insects, eggs are vulnerable and larvae have limited mobility, making the choice of an appropriate oviposition site one of the most important decisions for a female. We investigated the evolution of oviposition preferences in Drosophila melanogaster Meigen and Drosophila simulans Sturtevant by artificially selecting for the preference for 2 natural resources, grape and quince. The main finding of our study is the differential responses of D. melanogaster and D. simulans. Although preferences evolved in the experimental populations of D. melanogaster, responses were not consistent with the selection regimes applied. In contrast, responses in D. simulans were consistent with expectations, demonstrating that this species has selectable genetic variation for the trait. Furthermore, crosses between D. simulans divergent lines showed that the genetic factors involved in grape preference appear to be largely recessive. In summary, our artificial selection study suggests that D. melanogaster and D. simulans possess different genetic architectures for this trait.
Mathematical modelling of patient flows to predict critical care capacity required following the merger of two district general hospitals into one
Authors: Williams J. , Dumont S. , Parry‐Jones J. , Komenda I. , Griffiths J. , Knight V.
Published: September 2014

There is both medical and political drive to centralise secondary services in larger hospitals throughout the National Health Service. High‐volume services in some areas of care have been shown to achieve better outcomes and efficiencies arising from economies of scale. We sought to produce a mathematical model using the historical critical care demand in two District General Hospitals to determine objectively the requisite critical care capacity in a newly built hospital. We also sought to determine how well the new single unit would be able to meet changes in demand. The intention is that the model should be generic and transferable for those looking to merge and rationalise services on to one site. One of the advantages of mathematical modelling is the ability to interrogate the model to investigate any number of different scenarios; some of these are presented.
Metabolic activation and analgesic effect of flupirtine in healthy subjects, influence of the polymorphic NAT2, UGT1A1 and GSTP1
Authors: Siegmund Werner , Modess Christiane , Scheuch Eberhard , Methling Karen , Keiser Markus , Nassif Ali , Rosskopf Dieter , Bednarski Patrick J. , Borlak Jürgen , Terhaag Bernd
Published: September 2014

Aims

The rare association of flupirtine with liver injury is most likely caused by reactive quinone diimines and their oxidative formation may be influenced by the activities of N‐acetyltransferases (NAT) that conjugate the less toxic metabolite D13223, and by glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) and glutathione S‐transferases (GST) that generate stable terminal glucuronides and mercapturic acid derivatives, respectively. The influence of genetic polymorphisms of NAT2, UGT1A1 and GSTP1 on generation of the terminal mercapturic acid derivatives and analgesic effects was evaluated to identify potential genetic risk factors for hepatotoxicity of flupirtine.

Methods

Metabolic disposition of flupirtine was measured after intravenous administration (100 mg), after swallowing an immediate‐release (IR) tablet (100 mg) and after repeated administration of modified release (MR) tablets (400 mg once daily 8 days) in 36 selected healthy subjects. Analgesic effects were measured using pain models (delayed onset of muscle soreness, electric pain).

Results

Flupirtine IR was rapidly but incompletely absorbed (∼72%). Repeated administration of flupirtine MR showed lower bioavailability (∼60%). Approximately 12% of bioavailable flupirtine IR and 8% of bioavailable flupiritine MR was eliminated as mercapturic acid derivatives into the urine independent of the UGT1A1, NAT2 and GSTP1 genotype. Carriers of variant GSTP1 alleles showed lower bioavailability but increased intestinal secretion of flupirtine and increased efficiency in experimental pain. Flupirtine was not a substrate for ABCB1 and ABCC2.

Conclusions

Formation of mercapturic acid derivatives is a major elimination route for flupirtine in man. However, the theoretically toxic pathway is not influenced by the frequent polymorphisms of UGT1A1, NAT2 and GSTP1.
Anemia as a useful biomarker in patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma treated with R‐CHOP immunochemotherapy
Authors: Hong Junshik , Woo Hyun Seon , Kim Hyunchul , Ahn Hee Kyung , Sym Sun Jin , Park Jinny , Ahn Jeong Yeal , Cho Eun Kyung , Shin Dong Bok , Lee Jae Hoon
Published: September 2014

The aim of the current study is to evaluate the prognostic value of anemia, an easily estimable parameter in patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma treated with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R‐CHOP) immunochemotherapy. A total of 157 patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma treated with ≥1 cycle of R‐CHOP were included. Hemoglobin level without red cell transfusion within 7 days of initiation of treatment was chosen as a parameter of baseline cancer‐induced anemia. To investigate the clinical significance of chemotherapy‐induced anemia and its recovery after completion of treatment, 87 patients in complete remission for ≥6 months from the time of the last cycle of R‐CHOP were grouped and analyzed separately. Patients with a cancer‐induced anemia of hemoglobin <10 g/dL showed inferior event‐free and disease‐free survival compared to those with hemoglobin ≥10 g/dL. This finding was observed irrespective of the status of pre‐treatment bone marrow involvement. In multivariate analysis, hemoglobin <10 g/dL was found to be an international prognostic index‐independent prognostic factor. Risk of relapse was significantly higher for patients who were still anemic at 6 months after R‐CHOP, compared to those who achieved complete recovery from chemotherapy‐induced anemia within 6 months.
Social functioning and mental health among children who have been living in kinship and non‐kinship foster care: results from an 8‐year follow‐up with a Norwegian sample
Authors: Vis Svein Arild , Handegård Bjørn Helge , Holtan Amy , Fossum Sturla , Thørnblad Renee
Published: September 2014

Studies have shown relatively high rates of emotional and behavioural problems among children living in out‐of‐home care. This study reports the prevalence of social problems at an 8‐year follow‐up for a group of children/young adults. Predictors for prevalence and change in emotional and behavioural problems at the follow‐up are examined. A prospective cohort design with 233 children who had been living in foster care was used. Forty‐eight per cent (n = 111) of those interviewed at baseline were located and interviewed at follow‐up. Mean age was 17.4 (standard deviation = 2.9) years. Mental health symptomatology was measured with Child Behaviour Checklist and Adult Self‐Report. Linear and generalized mixed model analyses were used. Changes in internalizing and externalizing problems from baseline to follow‐up was associated with gender. Boys showed more problems at a young age, whereas girls developed more problems later. Predictors for social problems at follow‐up were mental health at baseline, kinship care and care placement away from the local community.
Home sweet home? Professionals' understanding of ‘home’ within residential care for unaccompanied youths in Sweden
Authors: Söderqvist Åsa , Sjöblom Yvonne , Bülow Pia
Published: September 2014

The number of unaccompanied minors arriving in Sweden continues to rise. The majority are placed in residential care units. This qualitative study aims to increase the understanding given by the professionals to the concept of ‘home’ within the framework of residential care for unaccompanied young people. Data are based on participatory observations at two residential care units, followed up by individual interviews with staff. The findings confirm that the concept of home has a complex meaning involving both objective aspects such as physical buildings, and more subjective components that can be seen as state of mind. The staff's desire to offer an ‘ordinary home’ fails because of the surveillance, their dominant positions and especially due to the legal restrictions that were not initially meant for this target group. Unaccompanied young people have to be considered based on their own specific needs in order to make it possible for society to offer the most suitable care.
‘It had to be done’: genetic testing decisions for arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy
Authors: Etchegary H. , Pullman D. , Simmonds C. , Young T.‐L. , Hodgkinson K.
Published: September 2014

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a heritable disease of the heart muscle, causing life‐threatening ventricular arrhythmias, sudden cardiac death and/or biventricular heart failure. Little research examines ARVC genetic test decisions, despite the gravity of the condition. This qualitative study used semi‐structured interviews to explore the testing decisions of 21 individuals across 15 families segregating a well‐studied, particularly lethal form of ARVC caused by a p.S358L TMEM43 mutation. Genetic testing decisions were rarely described as ‘decisions’ per se, but rather ‘something that had to be done’. This perception was attributed to personality type or personal suspicion of carrying the TMEM43 mutation, but most often was described in the context of testing for other family members, usually children. Participants related a strong need to rule out risk, more for children than for themselves, but lingering doubts remained about personal and children's risk for ARVC, even when gene test results were negative. Study findings highlight the interdependent nature of genetic test decisions and suggest that an individualistic conception of autonomy in genetic services may not meet the needs of affected families. Findings also suggest the need for follow‐up support of families affected by ARVC, including for those individuals testing negative for the family mutation.
Gross Motor Function Measure‐66 trajectories in children recovering after severe acquired brain injury
Authors: Kelly Gemma , Mobbs Sue , Pritkin Joshua N , Mayston Margaret , Mather Michael , Rosenbaum Peter , Henderson Robin , Forsyth Rob
Published: September 2014

Aim

To explore the appropriateness of using the interval‐scale version of the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM‐66) in paediatric acquired brain injury (ABI), and to characterizeGMFM‐66 recovery trajectories and factors that affect them.

Method

An observational study of gross motor recovery trajectories during rehabilitation at a single specialist paediatric in‐patient rehabilitation centre using repeatedGMFM‐66 observations. The cohort comprised children rehabilitating after severeABIof various causes.

Results

A total of 287GMFMobservations were made on 74 children (45 males, 29 females; age‐at‐injury range 0.3–17.3y, median age 11.3y, interquartile range 6.6–15.0y). Differences in item‐difficulty estimates between this sample and the cerebral palsy population in which theGMFM‐66 was initially developed are not detectable at this sample size. Changes inGMFMover time show lag‐exponential forms. Children sustaining hypoxic–ischaemic injuries made the slowest and least complete recoveries. Older children made faster gross motor recoveries after controlling for aetiology. The time at which gross motor ability began to rise coincided approximately with admission to the rehabilitation facility.

Interpretation

Aetiology is strongly associated with gross motor recovery afterABI. Younger age at injury was associated with slower recovery. Comparable item‐difficulty scores in this sample and in the cerebral palsy population suggest comparable sequences of gross motor ability reacquisition.
Reforming Land‐Tenure Systems in South Africa: Routes to Socio‐Economic and Agricultural Sustainability
Authors: Hoeks Céline , Azadi Hossein , Khachak Parisa Rafiaani , Troyo‐Dieguez Enrique , Van Passel Steven , Witlox Frank
Published: September 2014

Given the historical development of land tenure in South Africa, the aim of this article is to examine the best routes to alleviate poverty and retain sustainable agriculture in the country. First, a theoretical framework is presented that relates land tenure to sustainability, and three historical periods (pre‐colonial, colonial, and apartheid) are then considered to explain the changes in land tenure and their consequences. The progress and main limitations of post‐apartheid land reform to approach agricultural sustainability and alleviate poverty are discussed. Based on the analysis, different possibilities for future land reform are elaborated, followed by some recommendations for future land‐reform policies in South Africa.
Remittances for Financial Access: Lessons from Latin American Microfinance
Authors: Ambrosius Christian , Fritz Barbara , Stiegler Ursula
Published: September 2014

The potential of migrant remittances to foster access to financial services for low‐income households has been largely unexplored. Comparing three Latin American countries – the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Mexico – this inter‐disciplinary study links research on remittances and microfinance with multi‐actor governance approaches. While the context of high remittance‐dependence provides similar challenges in all cases, it finds remarkable variety both in the structure of the remittances market and the actors involved in microfinance and in the role governments play. It explains the diverging success of MFIs in remittance markets by pointing to the interplay of for‐profit, non‐profit and state actors embedded within the specific market structures of each country.
Tonic glutamate in CA1 of aging rats correlates with phasic glutamate dysregulation during seizure
Authors: Stephens Michelle L. , Williamson Anne , Deel Megan E. , Bensalem‐Owen Meriem , Davis Verda A. , Slevin John , Pomerleau Francois , Huettl Peter , Gerhardt Greg A.
Published: September 2014

Objective

Characterize glutamate neurotransmission in the hippocampus of awake‐behaving rodents during focal seizures in a model of aging.

Methods

We used enzyme‐based ceramic microelectrode array technology to measure in vivo extracellular tonic glutamate levels and real‐time phasic glutamate release and clearance events in the hippocampus of awake Fischer 344 rats. Local application of 4‐aminopyridine (4‐AP) into the CA1 region was used to induce focal motor seizures in different animal age groups representing young, late‐middle aged and elderly humans.

Results

Rats with the highest preseizure tonic glutamate levels (all in late‐middle aged or elderly groups) experienced the most persistent 4‐AP‐induced focal seizure motor activity (wet dog shakes) and greatest degree of acute seizure‐associated disruption of glutamate neurotransmission measured as rapid transient changes in extracellular glutamate levels.

Significance

Increased seizure susceptibility was demonstrated in the rats with the highest baseline hippocampal extracellular glutamate levels, all of which were late‐middle aged or aged animals. The manifestation of seizures behaviorally was associated with dynamic changes in glutamate neurotransmission. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a relationship between seizure susceptibility and alterations in both baseline tonic and phasic glutamate neurotransmission.
Continuous EEG monitoring: A survey of neurophysiologists and neurointensivists
Authors: Gavvala Jay , Abend Nicholas , LaRoche Suzette , Hahn Cecil , Herman Susan T. , Claassen Jan , Macken Mícheál , Schuele Stephan , Gerard Elizabeth ,   the Critical Care EEG Monitoring Research Consortium (CCEMRC)
Published: September 2014

Objective

Continuous EEG monitoring (cEEG) of critically ill adults is being used with increasing frequency, and practice guidelines on indications for cEEG monitoring have recently been published. However, data describing the current practice of cEEG in critically ill adults is limited. We aimed to describe the current practice of cEEG monitoring in adults in the United States.

Methods

A survey assessing cEEG indications and procedures was sent to one intensivist and one neurophysiologist responsible for intensive care unit (ICU) cEEG at 151 institutions in the United States. At some institutions only one physician could be identified.

Results

One hundred thirty‐seven physicians from 97 institutions completed the survey. Continuous EEG is utilized by nearly all respondents to detect nonconvulsive seizures (NCS) in patients with altered mental status following clinical seizures, intra cerebral hemorrhage (ICH), traumatic brain injury, and cardiac arrest, as well as to characterize abnormal movements suspected to be seizures. The majority of physicians monitor comatose patients for 24–48 h. In an ideal situation with unlimited resources, 18% of respondents would increase cEEG duration. Eighty‐six percent of institutions have an on‐call EEG technologist available 24/7 for new patient hookups, but only 26% have technologists available 24/7 in‐house. There is substantial variability in who reviews EEG and how frequently it is reviewed as well as use of quantitative EEG.

Significance

Although there is general agreement regarding the indications for ICU cEEG, there is substantial interinstitutional variability in how the procedure is performed.
VHCF properties of nitrided 18Ni maraging steel thin sheets with different Co and Ti content
Authors: Schuller R. , Fitzka M. , Irrasch D. , Tran D. , Pennings B. , Mayer H.
Published: September 2014

High cycle fatigue (HCF) and very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) properties of two 18Ni maraging steels with different cobalt and titanium content and similar static strength are investigated. Ultrasonic fatigue tests are performed with thin sheets with nitrided surfaces at load ratio R = 0.1. The specimens are mounted on a carrier and are forced to joint vibrations at approximately 20 kHz. The increase of Co content and the elimination of Ti improved the HCF and VHCF strength of 18Ni maraging steel. TiN inclusions if Ti is present and Al2O3 inclusions in the Ti free material with sizes (areaINC)1/2 smaller than 10 µm were preferential crack initiation locations. Considering inclusions as initial cracks, the minimum stress intensity range for VHCF failure is 1.2 MPam1/2 for TiN inclusions and 1.8 MPam1/2 for Al2O3 inclusions. Data scatter may be slightly reduced if lifetimes are presented versus stress amplitudes multiplied by (areaINC)1/12 rather than in an S–N diagram.
Relationships between lotic macroinvertebrate traits and responses to extreme drought
Authors: Chessman Bruce C.
Published: September 2014

The prospect of increasing drought intensity in many river basins under climate change threatens the persistence of vulnerable freshwater species. Understanding how the traits of each species affect its resistance and resilience to drought may help to identify those species at most risk and elucidate the mechanisms by which impacts occur.

I analysed macroinvertebrate monitoring data collected from rivers across Australia's Murray–Darling Basin (>106 km2) during the middle and later stages of the recent decade‐long Millennium Drought and the initial post‐drought period. I tested the ability of eight traits, expressing aspects of life history, diet and environmental tolerance, to explain changes in the broad‐scale prevalence (the proportion of sites with observed presence) of macroinvertebrate families during and after the drought.

The rate of basin‐scale change in the riverine macroinvertebrate assemblage was least in the final stages of the drought. Immediately after the drought, the assemblage did not shift back towards its mid‐drought state but instead moved further away. Eleven families that had a statistically significant fall in prevalence during the drought did not increase afterwards.

Negative responses to drought were associated with slower maturation, absence of atmospheric respiration, high rheophily and low thermophily. Positive responses to cessation of drought were associated with having a holometabolous life cycle, greater requirements for dissolved oxygen, high rheophily and low thermophily.

Because several traits were related to drought vulnerability, management to mitigate the adverse ecological effects of future droughts should consider a number of mechanisms by which drought has an effect. These include a loss of flowing water that supports rheophilous species, inadequate duration of wetting for species with a long aquatic phase, and effects of high temperature and hypoxia on species requiring cool conditions and well‐aerated water.

A revival of research on the life histories of freshwater invertebrate species and more information on oxygen requirements and temperature and desiccation tolerance are needed to improve our ability to predict the effects of drought.
TPX2 as a novel prognostic biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Liu Qingquan , Tu Kangsheng , Zhang Hongyong , Zheng Xin , Yao Yingmin , Liu Qingguang
Published: September 2014

Aim

Targeting protein for Xenopus kinesin‐like protein 2 (TPX2) is a microtubule‐associated protein that impacts spindle assembly in human cells. Several studies have shown that the overexpression of TPX2 is correlated with multiple tumor types. However, the role of TPX2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains undetermined.

Methods

TPX2 expression was detected by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting in six cell lines and 130 pairs of HCC and adjacent non‐cancerous liver tissues. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)2 and MMP9 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry to evaluate their correlations with TXP2. TPX2 siRNA was used to knock down TPX2 expression, and cell migration and invasion were determined. Moreover, clinical significance of TPX2 in HCC was analyzed.

Results

TPX2 expression was found to be obviously higher in HCC tissues than that in non‐tumor tissues. Elevated TPX2 expression was observed in HCC cell lines as compared with that in a non‐transformed hepatic cell line. Clinical analysis indicated that TPX2 expression in the HCC tissues was evidently correlated with the tumor–node–metastasis stage, tumor number and tumor differentiation. TPX2 is a novel prognostic marker for predicting 5‐year overall survival and disease‐free survival of HCC patients. TPX2 expression was positively correlated with MMP2 and MMP9. In vitro studies found that TPX2 knockdown prominently reduced cell invasion and migration and decreased phosphorylated AKT, MMP2 and MMP9 expression in MHCC‐97H cells.

Conclusion

Overexpression of TPX2 was associated with clinicopathological characteristics and poor patient outcomes. TPX2 may serve as a novel prognostic marker for HCC.
An exploratory mixed‐methods crossover study comparing DVD‐ vs. Web‐based patient decision support in three conditions: The importance of patient perspectives
Authors: Halley Meghan C. , Rendle Katharine A.S. , Gillespie Katherine A. , Stanley Katherine M. , Frosch Dominick L.
Published: September 2014

Background

The last 15 years have witnessed considerable progress in the development of decision support interventions (DESIs). However, fundamental questions about design and format of delivery remain.

Methods

An exploratory, randomized mixed‐method crossover study was conducted to compare a DVD‐ and Web‐based DESI. Randomized participants used either the Web or the DVD first, followed by the alternative format. Participants completed a questionnaire to assess decision‐specific knowledge at baseline and a questionnaire and structured qualitative interview after viewing each format. Tracking software was used to capture Web utilization. Transcripts were analyzed using integrated inductive and deductive approaches. Quantitative data were analyzed using exploratory bivariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Exploratory knowledge analyses suggest that both formats increased knowledge, with limited evidence that the DVD increased knowledge more than the Web. Format preference varied across participants: 44% preferred the Web, 32% preferred the DVD and 24% preferred ‘both’. Patient discussions of preferences for DESI information structure and the importance of a patients’ stage of a given decision suggest these characteristics may be important factors underlying variation in utilization, format preferences and knowledge outcomes.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that both DESI formats effectively increase knowledge. Patients’ perceptions of these two formats further suggest that there may be no single ‘best’ format for all patients. These results have important implications for understanding why different DESI formats might be preferable to and more effective for different patients. Further research is needed to explore the relationship between these factors and DESI utilization outcomes across diverse patient populations.
Pre‐clinical endodontic training with artificial instead of extracted human teeth: does the type of exercise have an influence on clinical endodontic outcomes?
Authors: Tchorz J. P. , Brandl M. , Ganter P. A. , Karygianni L. , Polydorou O. , Vach K. , Hellwig E. , Altenburger M. J.
Published: September 2014

Aim

To evaluate whether artificial resin teeth could replace extracted human teeth in pre‐clinical endodontic training and if this teaching approach influences the outcome of root canal treatment on patients.

Methodology

In a pre‐clinical training course, students of group 1 (n = 44) performed simulated endodontic exercises on four plastic blocks and three extracted human teeth. Students of group 2 (n = 45) performed their exercises on plastic blocks and artificial resin teeth (Real‐T Endo, Acadental, Lenexa, KS, USA). Both groups performed their first root canal treatments on patients in the following term. Radiographs taken during root canal treatment were used for the evaluation of treatment outcome. Distances between the master cone or the root filling and the radiographic apex as well as iatrogenic errors were assessed, and comparisons were made using Fischer's exact test.

Results

In the pre‐clinical course root canal treatments performed by students of group 2 were more often classified as acceptable and a higher number of iatrogenic errors were observed in group 1. When root canal treatments were performed on patients for the first time, no significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of radiographic technical quality of root fillings.

Conclusions

The application of artificial teeth instead of extracted human teeth had no effect on the technical quality of root fillings in terms of position in relation to the root apex or the creation of aberrations.
Immunological mechanisms contributing to the double burden of diabetes and intracellular bacterial infections
Authors: Hodgson Kelly , Morris Jodie , Bridson Tahnee , Govan Brenda , Rush Catherine , Ketheesan Natkunam
Published: September 2014

Diabetes has been recognized as an important risk factor for a variety of intracellular bacterial infections, but research into the dysregulated immune mechanisms contributing to the impaired host–pathogen interactions is in its infancy. Diabetes is characterized by a chronic state of low‐grade inflammation due to activation of pro‐inflammatory mediators and increased formation of advanced glycation end products. Increased oxidative stress also exacerbates the chronic inflammatory processes observed in diabetes. The reduced phagocytic and antibacterial activity of neutrophils and macrophages provides an intracellular niche for the pathogen to replicate. Phagocytic and antibacterial dysfunction may be mediated directly through altered glucose metabolism and oxidative stress. Furthermore, impaired activation of natural killer cells contributes to decreased levels of interferon‐γ, required for promoting macrophage antibacterial mechanisms. Together with impaired dendritic cell function, this impedes timely activation of adaptive immune responses. Increased intracellular oxidation of antigen‐presenting cells in individuals with diabetes alters the cytokine profile generated and the subsequent balance of T‐cell immunity. The establishment of acute intracellular bacterial infections in the diabetic host is associated with impaired T‐cell‐mediated immune responses. Concomitant to the greater intracellular bacterial burden and potential cumulative effect of chronic inflammatory processes, late hyper‐inflammatory cytokine responses are often observed in individuals with diabetes, contributing to systemic pathology. The convergence of intracellular bacterial infections and diabetes poses new challenges for immunologists, providing the impetus for multidisciplinary research.
Interleukin‐17 regulates the expressions of RANKL and OPG in human periodontal ligament cells via TRAF6/TBK1‐JNK/NF‐κB pathways
Authors: Lin Danping , Li Lu , Sun Ying , Wang Weidong , Wang Xiaoqian , Ye Yu , Chen Xu , Xu Yan
Published: September 2014

Interleukin‐17 (IL‐17 or IL‐17A), a pleiotropic cytokine produced by T helper type 17 cells, is involved in the pathogenesis of various autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, including periodontitis. Although the ability of pro‐inflammation in periodontitis has been widely investigated, the other biological functions of IL‐17, including its role in bone remodelling and the underlying molecular mechanisms, have not been well clarified. In the present study, IL‐17 could significantly enhance the expression of receptor activator for nuclear factor‐κB ligand (RANKL) and inhibit the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in human periodontal ligament cells, the two critical indicators for osteoclastogenesis, suggesting that IL‐17 may play a destructive role in the pathogenesis of periodontal bone remodelling. Pharmaceutical signal inhibitors targeted at mitogen‐activated protein kinases, Akt or nuclear factor‐κB signals, inhibited IL‐17‐induced RANKL and OPG regulation. Notably, the enhancement of RANKL was significantly blocked by the inhibitors of c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase and nuclear factor‐κB signals. The upstream signals were further investigated with the small interfering RNA. Both tumour necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor 6 and TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF) family member‐associated nuclear factor κ‐light‐chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF‐κB) activator (TANK)‐ binding kinase 1 were found to be the critical signal molecules for IL‐17‐dependent RANKL regulation in human periodontal ligament cells. These findings may provide comprehensive understanding of the role of IL‐17 in the pathogenesis of periodontitis and might also provide a reasonable route for periodontitis therapy.
Does Cultural Diversity of Migrant Employees Affect Innovation?
Authors: Ozgen Ceren , Peters Cornelius , Niebuhr Annekatrin , Nijkamp Peter , Poot Jacques
Published: September 2014

Increasing international labor migration has important effects on the workforce composition of firms in all migrant-receiving countries. The consequences of these changes for firm performance have attracted growing attention in recent years. In this paper, we focus explicitly on the impact of cultural diversity among migrant employees on the innovativeness of firms. We briefly synthesize empirical evidence from a range of contexts across Europe, North America, and New Zealand. We then utilize two unique and harmonized linked employer–employee datasets to provide comparative microeconometric evidence for Germany and the Netherlands. Our panel datasets contain detailed information on the generation of new products and services, determinants of innovation success, and the composition of employment in establishments of firms over the period 1999 to 2006. We find that innovation in both countries is predominantly determined by establishment size and industry. Moreover, obstacles encountered and organizational changes faced by firms drive innovation too. With respect to the composition of employment, the presence of high-skilled staff is most important. Cultural diversity of employees has a positive partial correlation with product innovation. The size and statistical significance of this effect depends on the econometric model specification and the country considered. We conclude from the literature synthesis and the new comparative evidence that cultural diversity of employees can make a positive, but modest and context dependent, contribution to innovation.
The Double Disadvantage Reconsidered: Gender, Immigration, Marital Status, and Global Labor Force Participation in the 21st Century
Authors: Donato Katharine M. , Piya Bhumika , Jacobs Anna
Published: September 2014

Although women's representation among international migrants in many countries has risen over the last 100 years, we know far less about gender gaps in the labor force participation of immigrants across a wide span of host societies. Prior studies have established that immigrant women are doubly disadvantaged in terms of labor market outcomes in the U.S., Canada, and Israel. These studies suggest an intriguing question: Are there gender gaps in immigrant labor force participation across destinations countries? In this paper, we investigate the extent to which the double disadvantage exists for immigrant women in a variety of host countries. We also examine how marriage moderates this double disadvantage. For the U.S., although we find that immigrant women have had the lowest labor force participation rates compared to natives and immigrant men since 1960, marital status is an important stratifying attribute that helps explain nativity differences. Extending the analysis to eight other countries reveals strong gender differences in labor force participation and shows how marriage differentiates immigrant women's labor force entry more so than men's.
Scripting Remittances: Making Sense of Money Transfers in Transnational Relationships
Authors: Carling Jørgen
Published: September 2014

This article proposes a conceptual framework for studying remittances as social transactions that can take a number of different forms. For the past three decades, the dominant framework for understanding remittance relationships has been the continuum of senders’ motives from altruism to self-interest. This approach has its roots in economics and has shaped much of the quantitative research on remittances. In parallel, a growing body of ethnographic research has examined transnational money transfers with perspectives and data that differ from those of economists. The insights from these ethnographic studies are valuable, but remain fragmented and marginal in research on remittances. Two key points emerge from the ethnographic literature: Remittances are at the core of composite transactions with material, emotional, and relational elements, and there is great variation in the nature and logic of these transactions. The framework proposed here is designed to engage with both complexity and variation. It systematically draws upon a large body of ethnographic literature and introduces remittance scripts as an analytical tool.
The quantitative genetics of sexually selected traits, preferred traits and preference: a review and analysis of the data
Authors: Prokuda A. Y. , Roff D. A.
Published: September 2014

The maintenance of variation in sexually selected traits is a puzzle that has received increasing attention in the past several decades. Traits that are related to fitness, such as life‐history or sexually selected traits, are expected to have low additive genetic variance (and hence, heritability) due to the rapid fixation of advantageous alleles. However, previous analyses have suggested that the heritabilities of sexually selected traits are on average higher than nonsexually selected traits. We show that the heritabilities of sexually selected traits are not significantly different from those of nonsexually selected traits overall or when separated into the three trait categories: behavioural, morphological and physiological. In contrast with previous findings, the heritability of preference is quite low (h2 = 0.25 ± 0.06) and is in the same range as life‐history traits. We distinguish preferred traits as a category of sexually selected traits and find that the heritability of the former is not significantly different than sexually selected traits overall (0.48 ± 0.04 vs. 0.46 ± 0.03). We test the hypothesis that the heritability of sexually selected traits is negatively correlated with the strength of sexual selection. As predicted, there is a significant negative correlation between the heritabilities of sexually selected traits and the strength of selection. This suggests that heritabilities do indeed decrease as sexual selection increases but sexual selection is not strong enough to cause heritabilities of sexually selected traits to deviate from the same type of nonsexually selected traits.
Individual genetic diversity and probability of infection by avian malaria parasites in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus)
Authors: Ferrer E. S. , García‐Navas V. , Sanz J. J. , Ortego J.
Published: September 2014

Understanding the importance of host genetic diversity for coping with parasites and infectious diseases is a long‐standing goal in evolutionary biology. Here, we study the association between probability of infection by avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) and individual genetic diversity in three blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) populations that strongly differ in prevalence of this parasite. For this purpose, we screened avian malaria infections and genotyped 789 blue tits across 26 microsatellite markers. We used two different arrays of markers: 14 loci classified as neutral and 12 loci classified as putatively functional. We found a significant relationship between probability of infection and host genetic diversity estimated at the subset of neutral markers that was not explained by strong local effects and did not differ among the studied populations. This relationship was not linear, and probability of infection increased up to values of homozygosity by locus (HL) around 0.15, reached a plateau at values of HL from 0.15 to 0.40 and finally declined among a small proportion of highly homozygous individuals (HL > 0.4). We did not find evidence for significant identity disequilibrium, which may have resulted from a low variance of inbreeding in the study populations and/or the small power of our set of markers to detect it. A combination of subtle positive and negative local effects and/or a saturation threshold in the association between probability of infection and host genetic diversity in combination with increased resistance to parasites in highly homozygous individuals may explain the observed negative quadratic relationship. Overall, our study highlights that parasites play an important role in shaping host genetic variation and suggests that the use of large sets of neutral markers may be more appropriate for the study of heterozygosity–fitness correlations.
The effect of hybrid transgression on environmental tolerance in experimental yeast crosses
Authors: Stelkens R. B. , Brockhurst M. A. , Hurst G. D. D. , Miller E. L. , Greig D.
Published: September 2014

Evidence is rapidly accumulating that hybridization generates adaptive variation. Transgressive segregation in hybrids could promote the colonization of new environments. Here, we use an assay to select hybrid genotypes that can proliferate in environmental conditions beyond the conditions tolerated by their parents, and we directly compete them against parental genotypes in habitats across environmental clines. We made 45 different hybrid swarms by crossing yeast strains (both Saccharomyces cerevisiae and S. paradoxus) with different genetic and phenotypic divergence. We compared the ability of hybrids and parents to colonize seven types of increasingly extreme environmental clines, representing both natural and novel challenges (mimicking pollution events). We found that a significant majority of hybrids had greater environmental ranges compared to the average of both their parents’ ranges (mid‐parent transgression), but only a minority of hybrids had ranges exceeding their best parent (best‐parent transgression). Transgression was affected by the specific strains involved in the cross and by the test environment. Genetic and phenotypic crossing distance predicted the extent of transgression in only two of the seven environments. We isolated a set of potentially transgressive hybrids selected at the extreme ends of the clines and found that many could directly outcompete their parents across whole clines and were between 1.5‐ and 3‐fold fitter on average. Saccharomyces yeast is a good model for quantitative and replicable experimental speciation studies, which may be useful in a world where hybridization is becoming increasingly common due to the relocation of plants and animals by humans.