bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of complications on quality of life following colorectal surgery: a prospective cohort study to evaluate the Clavien–Dindo classification system
Authors: Bosma E. , Pullens M. J. J. , de Vries J. , Roukema J. A.
Published: December 2015

Aim

This prospective cohort study was performed to evaluate the impact of complications on quality of life (QOL) in colorectal surgery. The Clavien–Dindo complication classification (CDCC) is promising, but has not been evaluated by relating the classification to patient‐reported outcome measures.

Method

Patients undergoing colorectal surgery were evaluated prospectively 12 months postoperatively using the WHOQOL‐BREF questionnaire. Patient data were prospectively recorded and complications were classified using the CDCC. Postoperative QOL in patients with minor and severe complications and patients without complications was compared using a general linear model. Relationships between CDCC and QOL were examined using correlations and multivariate regression.

Results

Of 218 patients, 130 (59.6%) had complications. In patients with severe complications there was a greater decrease in overall QOL (P = 0.043), QOL‐physical (P < 0.001) and QOL‐psychological (P = 0.013) domains in the first six postoperative weeks, whereas patients with minor complications had QOL scores comparable to those of patients without complications. QOL recovered to preoperative levels in all groups at 12 months. Change in QOL at 6 weeks was significantly correlated with CDCC grade, especially in the physical domain (Spearman's rho −0.287, P < 0.001). The presence of severe complications was an independent predictor of overall QOL, QOL‐physical and QOL‐psychological at 6 weeks.

Conclusion

Severe complications are associated with reduced postoperative QOL at 6 weeks, but QOL recovers after 12 months. CDCC grade negatively correlates with change in QOL in the early postoperative period. These findings support the theoretical framework of the CDCC.
Patient experiences of perioperative nutrition within an Enhanced Recovery After Surgery programme for colorectal surgery: a qualitative study
Authors: Short V. , Atkinson C. , Ness A. R. , Thomas S. , Burden S. , Sutton E.
Published: December 2015

Aim

Nutrition is an important element of the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) programme. Patients have previously indicated that nutrition is a key component of ERAS that requires improvement. Our aim was to explore the perioperative nutrition experiences of colorectal surgical patients to identify barriers and facilitators to the integration of nutrition within ERAS.

Method

Sixteen individuals undergoing colorectal surgery participated in a semi‐structured interview between postoperative day three and hospital discharge. The topic guide was developed iteratively throughout the study; topics included preoperative counselling, carbohydrate loading, fasting and postoperative nutrition. A constant comparison technique was employed during coding, and an inductive thematic analysis was used. Validity was ensured by double coding a sample of transcripts.

Results

Findings are presented in the context of the following clinical themes: preoperative information, preoperative fasting, carbohydrate loading and nutritional drinks, postoperative diet and discharge. Individuals received too much general information which was repetitive, contradictory and not disease specific; this formed a key barrier affecting nutrition. Other barriers were negative experiences of nutritional drinks, stoma management, nausea and vomiting, and challenges from the hospital environment. Facilitators included interactions with staff, food accessibility and choice, and motivation for discharge.

Conclusion

The key barrier to adherence of perioperative nutrition protocols was poor provision of information. Targeted information regarding postoperative diet, stoma management and coping with nausea and vomiting would be beneficial for colorectal surgical patients. Easily accessible food provided by ward staff was considered a facilitator.
The successful treatment of refractory respiratory failure due to miliary tuberculosis: survival after prolonged extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support
Authors: Nam Sung‐Jin , Cho Young‐Jae
Published: December 2015

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) has high morbidity and mortality. Although uncommon, pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) can cause ARDS in patients with extensive pulmonary parenchymal involvement. Veno‐venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VV‐ECMO) is an accepted alternative option in refractory hypoxemic respiratory failure. It may normalize gas exchange and allow lung rest, avoiding ventilator induced lung injury. We report the case of a 44‐year‐old woman who developed ARDS secondary to pulmonary TB. Despite anti‐TB treatment and mechanical ventilation, patient had persistent refractory hypoxemia. In order to prevent further lung injury, VV‐ECMO support was performed for 73 days. Although the patient experienced several complications, patient was successfully managed on VV‐ECMO. VV‐ECMO support, in combination with anti‐TB drugs, is a useful tool in the treatment of ARDS with refractory hypoxemia caused by miliary TB.
Current situation of endoscopic biliary cannulation and salvage techniques for difficult cases: Current strategies in Japan
Authors: Yasuda Ichiro , Isayama Hiroyuki , Bhatia Vikram
Published: December 2015

In the pancreatobiliary session at Endoscopic Forum Japan (EFJ) 2015, current trends of routine biliary cannulation techniques and salvage techniques for difficult biliary cannulation cases were discussed. Endoscopists from nine Japanese high‐volume centers along with two overseas centers participated in the questionnaires and discussion. It was concluded that, currently, in Western countries, the wire‐guided cannulation (WGC) technique is favored during initial cannulation attempts. However, the conventional technique using an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography catheter with contrast medium injection is still used as first choice at most Japanese high‐volume centers. The WGC technique is used as the second choice at some institutions only. After failed biliary cannulation attempts, the initial salvage option preferred in most centers includes pancreatic guidewire placement, followed by precut techniques as the second salvage choice. Among several precut techniques, the free‐hand needle knife sphincterotomy with cutting upwards from the pancreatic duct is most popular. Endoscopic ultrasonography‐guided rendezvous technique is also carried out as a final salvage option at select institutions.
A modern approach to ERCP: maintaining efficacy while optimising safety
Authors: Nalankilli Kumanan , Kannuthurai Sutharshan , Moss Alan
Published: December 2015

Background and Aim

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is technically challenging and complications such as post‐ERCP pancreatitis (PEP) remain a concern. Modern ERCP techniques aim to maintain efficacy and improve safety. There are limited data regarding efficacy and safety of ERCP carried out by a newly qualified practitioner using modern techniques. The aim of the present study was to conduct an ERCP practice audit and compare it with an Australian national survey in order to review the evidence base underlying modern ERCP practice.

Methods

All ERCP carried out by a newly qualified practitioner, using prospectively collected data, from September 2011 to May 2015, were audited. Outcomes were compared to an Australia‐wide survey of ERCP practice. A literature review was carried out regarding recent developments in ERCP practice.

Results

Audit results correlated well with national data. All 478 ERCP were therapeutic and had pre‐procedure imaging. Wire‐guided biliary cannulation was used. Success rate was 97%. Overall adverse‐event rate was 0.8%. Choledocholithiasis was the predominant indication (72%). Biliary cannulation was successful in 338 of 348 naiive papillae. Of these, there were 53 (16%) difficult cannulations but the needle‐knife sphincterotomy (NKS) rate was low compared to national data (13% vs 33%). Rate of dual‐wire cannulation technique was higher (87% vs 30%). Pancreatic duct stenting (done in 32 cases [70% of dual‐wire cannulation cases]) and rectal indomethacin (25%) were used to reduce PEP risk.

Conclusions

A newly qualified ERCP proceduralist achieved high success rates with minimal adverse events using modern techniques. Practice was consistent with national data, although dual‐wire cannulation technique was preferred to NKS. Evidence base for modern ERCP techniques was reviewed. ERCP efficacy and safety should be monitored by practice audit.
HbA1c measurement and relationship to incident stroke
Authors: Robson R. , Lacey A. S. , Luzio S. D. , Van Woerden H. , Heaven M. L. , Wani M. , Halcox J. P. J. , Castilla‐Guerra L. , Dawson J. , Hewitt J.
Published: December 2015

Aims

To determine the proportion of people with diabetes who have HbA1c measured, what proportion achieve an HbA1c level of < 58 mmol/mol (7.5%), the frequency of testing and if there was any change in HbA1c level in the year before and the year after an incident stroke.

Methods

This study used the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) databank, which stores hospital data for the whole of Wales and ~ 65% of Welsh general practice records, to identify cases of stroke in patients with diabetes between 2000 and 2010. These were matched against patients with diabetes but without stroke disease. We assessed the frequency of HbA1c testing and change in HbA1c in the first year after stroke. Estimation was made of the proportion of patients achieving an HbA1c measurement ≤ 58 mmol/mol (7.5%).

Results

There were 1741 patients with diabetes and stroke. Of these, 1173 (67.4%) had their HbA1c checked before their stroke and 1137 (65.3%) after their stroke. In the control group of 16 838 patients with diabetes but no stroke, 8413 (49.9%) and 9288 (55.1%) had their HbA1c checked before and after the case‐matched stroke date, respectively. In patients with diabetes and stroke, HbA1c fell from 61–56 mmol/mol (7.7–7.3%) after their stroke (P < 0.001). Before the study, 55.0% of patients with stroke had an HbA1c ≥ 58 mmol/mol compared with 65.2% of control patients, these figures were 62.5% and 65.3% after the stroke.

Conclusions

The frequency of diabetes testing was higher in patients who had experienced a stroke before and after their incident stroke compared with control patients but did not increase after their stroke. Glucose control improved significantly in the year after a stroke.
The cholecystokinin‐1 receptor antagonist devazepide increases cholesterol cholelithogenesis in mice
Authors: Wang Helen H. , Portincasa Piero , Wang David Q.‐H.
Published: December 2015

Background

A defect in gallbladder contraction function plays a key role in the pathogenesis of gallstones. The cholecystokinin‐1 receptor (CCK‐1R) antagonists have been extensively investigated for their therapeutic effects on gastrointestinal and metabolic diseases in animal studies and clinical trials. However, it is still unknown whether they have a potential effect on gallstone formation.

Design

To study whether the CCK‐1R antagonists enhance cholelithogenesis, we investigated cholesterol crystallization, gallstone formation, hepatic lipid secretion, gallbladder emptying function and intestinal cholesterol absorption in male C57BL/6J mice treated by gavage with devazepide (4 mg/day/kg) or vehicle (as controls) twice per day and fed the lithogenic diet for 21 days.

Results

During 21 days of feeding, oral administration of devazepide significantly accelerated cholesterol crystallization and crystal growth to microlithiasis, with 40% of mice forming gallstones, whereas only agglomerated cholesterol monohydrate crystals were found in mice receiving vehicle. Compared to the vehicle group, fasting and postprandial residual gallbladder volumes in response to the high‐fat meal were significantly larger in the devazepide group during cholelithogenesis, showing reduced gallbladder emptying and bile stasis. Moreover, devazepide significantly increased hepatic secretion of biliary cholesterol, but not phospholipids or bile salts. The percentage of intestinal cholesterol absorption was higher in devazepide‐treated mice, increasing the bioavailability of chylomicron‐derived cholesterol in the liver for biliary hypersecretion into bile. These abnormalities induced supersaturated bile and rapid cholesterol crystallization.

Conclusions

The potent CCK‐1R antagonist devazepide increases susceptibility to gallstone formation by impairing gallbladder emptying function, disrupting biliary cholesterol metabolism and enhancing intestinal cholesterol absorption in mice.
THE IMPACT OF PRIVATE AND PUBLIC FEEDBACK ON WORKER PERFORMANCE—EVIDENCE FROM THE LAB
Authors: Gerhards Leonie , Siemer Neele
Published: December 2015

Previous empirical studies have demonstrated the positive incentive effects of private performance feedback as well as public recognition on work performance. In our laboratory experiments, we directly compare these two feedback schemes. Moreover, we compare their incentive effects across two real‐effort tasks that differ in regard to how interesting the subjects perceive working on them. We find that both feedback schemes lead to performance increases compared to the tasks' respective control treatments. In particular subjects' ability and a positive interim feedback enhance performance. Competitive preferences significantly affect performance only in the less enjoyable and challenging task. (JEL C9, J3, M1)
Serum high‐molecular‐weight adiponectin level and incident dementia in patients with vascular risk factors
Authors: Kitagawa K. , Miwa K. , Okazaki S. , Sakaguchi M. , Mochizuki H.
Published: December 2015

Background and purpose

The involvement of metabolic factors in the development of dementia has received much attention. However, previous studies have yielded conflicting results regarding how blood adipocytokine level impacts cognitive decline and dementia. This study aimed to clarify whether serum high‐molecular‐weight (HMW) adiponectin level is related to incident dementia.

Methods

Data were from 466 patients (mean age 67.8 years, male 57%) – who had normal cognitive function and received brain magnetic resonance imaging – from amongst the 1106 patients in the Osaka Follow‐up Study for Carotid Atherosclerosis, Part 2, a prospective cohort study of cardiovascular events and dementia amongst patients with vascular risk factors enrolled between 2001 and 2009. Baseline HMW adiponectin levels were measured using frozen serum. Dementia occurrence was examined in June 2013.

Results

Serum HMW adiponectin level was 4.33 ± 2.95 μg/ml; the levels were lower in men than in women and negatively correlated with body mass index. During the follow‐up period (median 6.9 years), 47 patients had incident dementia including Alzheimer's disease dementia (27), vascular dementia (13), mixed dementia (four), other dementia (three). Risks of dementia in patients with high versus low HMW adiponectin levels were almost identical (P = 0.689). No association was found between adiponectin levels and Alzheimer's disease dementia or vascular dementia in the whole group or amongst men and women separately.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that serum HMW adiponectin level has little association with future dementia. Determination of metabolic factors involved in dementia requires evaluation of other biomarkers or parameters.
Epilepsy with temporal encephalocele: Characteristics of electrocorticography and surgical outcome
Authors: Panov Fedor , Li Yi , Chang Edward F. , Knowlton Robert , Cornes Susannah B.
Published: December 2015

Temporal lobe encephaloceles (TEs) are increasingly identified in patients with epilepsy due to advances in neuroimaging. Select patients become seizure‐free with lesionectomy. In practice, however, many of these patients will undergo standard anterior temporal lobectomy. Herein we report on the first series of patients with refractory temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) with encephalocele to undergo chronic or intraoperative electrocorticography (ECoG) in order to characterize the putative epileptogenic nature of these lesions and help guide surgical planning. This retrospective study includes nine adult patients with magnetic resonance imaging/computed tomography (MRI/CT)–defined temporal encephalocele treated between 2007 and 2014 at University of California San Francisco (UCSF). Clinical features, ECoG, imaging, and surgical outcomes are reviewed. Six patients underwent resective epilepsy surgery. Each case demonstrated abnormal epileptiform discharges around the cortical area of the encephalocele. Two underwent tailored lesionectomy and four underwent lesionectomy plus anterior medial temporal resection. Postoperatively, five patients, including both with lesionectomy only, had Engel class Ia surgical outcome, and one had a class IIb surgical outcome. The role of TE in the pathogenesis of epilepsy is uncertain. ECoG can confirm the presence of interictal epileptiform discharges and seizures arising from these lesions. Patients overall had a very good surgical prognosis, even with selective surgical approaches.
Cortical interneuron dysfunction in epilepsy associated with autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Jacob John
Published: December 2015

Autism and epilepsy are two associated disorders that are highly prevalent, share common developmental origins, and demonstrate substantial heritability. In this review, cross‐disciplinary data in a rapidly evolving field that bridges neurology and psychiatry are synthesized to identify shared biologic mechanisms. The relationship between these debilitating, lifelong conditions is examined at the clinical, genetic, and neurophysiologic levels in humans and in animal models. Scopus and PubMed searches were used to identify relevant literature. Clinical observations have prompted speculation about the interdependence of autism and epilepsy, but causal relationships have proved difficult to determine. Despite their heritability, the genetic basis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and epilepsy has remained largely elusive until the advent of next‐generation sequencing. This approach has revealed that mutations that are either causal or confer an increased disease risk are found in numerous different genes, any one of which accounts for only a small percentage of cases. Conversely, even cases with identical clinical phenotypes can be genetically heterogeneous. Candidate gene identification has facilitated the development of mouse genetic models, which in parallel with human studies have implicated shared brain regions and circuits that mediate disease expression. Diverse genetic causes of ASD and epilepsy converge on cortical interneuron circuits as one important mediator of both disorders. Cortical interneurons are among the most diverse cell types in the brain and their unique chemical and electrical coupling exert a powerful inhibitory influence on excitatory neurons via the release of the neurotransmitter, γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA). These multifaceted approaches have validated theories derived from the field of developmental neurobiology, which propose that the neurologic and neuropsychiatric manifestations are caused by an altered ratio of excitation to inhibition in the cortex.
Septic tendonitis of the deep digital flexor tendon in a Thoroughbred horse referred for weight loss and intermittent fever
Authors: Santinelli I. , Beccati F. , Passamonti F. , Pepe M.
Published: December 2015

This case report describes the history, clinical and diagnostic findings, treatment and outcome of a 3‐year‐old Thoroughbred gelding. The horse was examined for chronic weight loss, intermittent fever of 4 months' duration and acute lameness of 2 weeks' duration, and was finally diagnosed with septic tendonitis of the deep digital flexor tendon and digital flexor tendon sheath caused byStreptococcus equissp.zooepidemicus. Investigation of the lower respiratory tract also allowed isolation ofS. equissp.zooepidemicus. Although surgical treatment was recommended, because of the severity of the lesion and the guarded prognosis for a return to full athletic function, the owner declined surgery. The horse was therefore treated aggressively with antimicrobials using systemic, local and regional approaches, and with anti‐inflammatory drugs. At 20 months after discharge, the horse was able to race, and he is now in full work with 20 races finished successfully.
Ordinal regression by a gravitational model in the field of educational data mining
Authors: Gómez‐Rey Pilar , Fernández‐Navarro Francisco , Barberà Elena
Published: December 2015

Educational data mining (EDM) is a research area where the goal is to develop data mining methods to examine data critically from educational environments. Traditionally, EDM has addressed the following problems: clustering, classification, regression, anomaly detection and association rule mining. In this paper, the ordinal regression (OR) paradigm, is introduced in the field of EDM. The goal of OR problems is the classification of items in an ordinal scale. For instance, the prediction of students' performance in categories (where the different grades could be ordered according to A ≻ B ≻ C ≻ D) is a classical example of an OR problem. The EDM community has not yet explored this paradigm (despite the importance of these problems in the field of EDM). Furthermore, an amenable and interpretable OR model based on the concept of gravitation is proposed. The model is an extension of a recently proposed gravitational model that tackles imbalanced nominal classification problems. The model is carefully adapted to the ordinal scenario and validated with four EDM datasets. The results obtained were compared with state‐of‐the‐art OR algorithms and nominal classification ones. The proposed models can be used to better understand the learning–teaching process in higher education environments.
Predicting performance in ASEAN banks: an integrated fuzzy MCDM–neural network approach
Authors: Wanke Peter , Kalam Azad Md. Abul , Barros C. P. , Hadi‐Vencheh Abdollah
Published: December 2015

This paper presents a performance assessment of 88 Association of Southeast Asian Nations banks from 2010 to 2013, using an integrated three‐stage approach on financial criteria that emulates the CAMELS rating system. More precisely, fuzzy analytic hierarchy process is used first to assess the relative weights of a number of criteria related to capital adequacy (C), asset quality (A), management quality (M), earnings (E), liquidity (L), and sensitivity to market risk (S) based on the opinion of 88 Association of Southeast Asian Nations experts. Then, these weights are used as technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution inputs to assess their relative efficiency. Lastly, neural networks are combined with technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution results to produce a model for banking performance with effective predictive ability. The results reveal that contextual variables have a prominent impact on efficiency. Specifically, parsimony in equity leveraging derived from Islamic finance principles may be the underlying cause in explaining higher efficiency levels.
MAPKs and Hsc70 are critical to the protective effect of molecular hydrogen during the early phase of acute pancreatitis
Authors: Han Bing , Zhou Haoxin , Jia Guang , Wang Yongwei , Song Zengfu , Wang Gang , Pan Shangha , Bai Xuewei , Lv Jiachen , Sun Bei
Published: December 2015

Molecular hydrogen (H2) has been proven to be an effective agent that can cure multiple organ diseases by reducing oxidative stress. Although the protective effect of hydrogen on acute pancreatitis (AP) has been confirmed, its molecular mechanism is still unclear. In this article, we aimed to investigate the changes in pancreatic cell protein expression associated with the protective effect of H2 against AP and attempted to uncover the molecular mechanism underlying this process. A proteomic analysis identified 73 differentially expressed proteins and generated the protein–protein interaction networks of these proteins. The results triggered our interest in mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) and heat shock cognate 71 kDa protein (Hsc70). The subsequent in vitro experiments showed that H2 treatment inhibited the phosphorylation of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK), c‐jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 MAPK, and activated NF‐κB and the expression of tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin‐1β, while simultaneously preventing the translocation of phospho‐ERK, phospho‐JNK, and phospho‐p38 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. Furthermore, Hsc70 expression was upregulated by H2 administration. The animal experimental results were consistent with those of the in vitro experiments. In conclusion, H2 treatment can ameliorate the inflammatory response and reduce the expression of inflammatory mediators during the early phase of AP by inhibiting the MAPK pathways and increasing Hsc70 expression.
A‐kinase anchoring protein AKAP95 is a novel regulator of ribosomal RNA synthesis
Authors: Marstad Anne , Landsverk Ole Jørgen B. , Strømme Olaf , Otterlei Marit , Collas Philippe , Sundan Anders , Brede Gaute
Published: December 2015

The RNA polymerase I transcription apparatus acquires and integrates the combined information from multiple cellular signalling cascades to regulate ribosome production essential for cell growth and proliferation. In the present study, we show that a subpopulation of A‐kinase anchoring protein 95 (AKAP95) targets the nucleolus during interphase and is involved in regulating rRNA production. We show that AKAP95 co‐localizes with the nucleolar upstream binding factor, an essential rRNA transcription factor. Similar to other members of the C2H2‐zinc finger family, we show, using systematic selection and evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment and in vitro binding analysis, that AKAP95 has a preference for GC‐rich DNA in vitro, whereas fluorescence recovery after photobleaching analysis reveals AKAP95 to be a highly mobile protein that exhibits RNA polymerase I and II dependent nucleolar trafficking. In line with its GC‐binding features, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed AKAP95 to be associated with ribosomal chromatin in vivo. Manipulation of AKAP95‐expression in U2OS cells revealed a reciprocal relationship between the expression of AKAP95 and 47S rRNA. Taken together, our data indicate that AKAP95 is a novel nucleolus‐associated protein with a regulatory role on rRNA production.
Why is the South Orkney Island shelf (the world's first high seas marine protected area) a carbon immobilization hotspot?
Authors: Barnes David K. A. , Ireland Louise , Hogg Oliver T. , Morley Simon , Enderlein Peter , Sands Chester J.
Published: December 2015

The Southern Ocean archipelago, the South Orkney Islands (SOI), became the world's first entirely high seas marine protected area (MPA) in 2010. The SOI continental shelf (~44 000 km2), was less than half covered by grounded ice sheet during glaciations, is biologically rich and a key area of both sea surface warming and sea‐ice losses. Little was known of the carbon cycle there, but recent work showed it was a very important site of carbon immobilization (net annual carbon accumulation) by benthos, one of the few demonstrable negative feedbacks to climate change. Carbon immobilization by SOI bryozoans was higher, per species, unit area and ice‐free day, than anywhere‐else polar. Here, we investigate why carbon immobilization has been so high at SOI, and whether this is due to high density, longevity or high annual production in six study species of bryozoans (benthic suspension feeders). We compared benthic carbon immobilization across major regions around West Antarctica with sea‐ice and primary production, from remotely sensed and directly sampled sources. Lowest carbon immobilization was at the northernmost study regions (South Georgia) and southernmost Amundsen Sea. However, data standardized for age and density showed that only SOI was anomalous (high). High immobilization at SOI was due to very high annual production of bryozoans (rather than high densities or longevity), which were 2x, 3x and 5x higher than on the Bellingshausen, South Georgia and Amundsen shelves, respectively. We found that carbon immobilization correlated to the duration (but not peak or integrated biomass) of phytoplankton blooms, both in directly sampled, local scale data and across regions using remote‐sensed data. The long bloom at SOI seems to drive considerable carbon immobilization, but sea‐ice losses across West Antarctica mean that significant carbon sinks and negative feedbacks to climate change could also develop in the Bellingshausen and Amundsen seas.
Testing the generality of above‐ground biomass allometry across plant functional types at the continent scale
Authors: Paul Keryn I. , Roxburgh Stephen H. , Chave Jerome , England Jacqueline R. , Zerihun Ayalsew , Specht Alison , Lewis Tom , Bennett Lauren T. , Baker Thomas G. , Adams Mark A. , Huxtable Dan , Montagu Kelvin D. , Falster Daniel S. , Feller Mike , Sochacki Stan , Ritson Peter , Bastin Gary , Bartle John , Wildy Dan , Hobbs Trevor , Larmour John , Waterworth Rob , Stewart Hugh T.L. , Jonson Justin , Forrester David I. , Applegate Grahame , Mendham Daniel , Bradford Matt , O'Grady Anthony , Green Daryl , Sudmeyer Rob , Rance Stan J. , Turner John , Barton Craig , Wenk Elizabeth H. , Grove Tim , Attiwill Peter M. , Pinkard Elizabeth , Butler Don , Brooksbank Kim , Spencer Beren , Snowdon Peter , O'Brien Nick , Battaglia Michael , Cameron David M , Hamilton Steve , McAuthur Geoff , Sinclair Jenny
Published: December 2015

Accurate ground‐based estimation of the carbon stored in terrestrial ecosystems is critical to quantifying the global carbon budget. Allometric models provide cost‐effective methods for biomass prediction. But do such models vary with ecoregion or plant functional type? We compiled 15 054 measurements of individual tree or shrub biomass from across Australia to examine the generality of allometric models for above‐ground biomass prediction. This provided a robust case study because Australia includes ecoregions ranging from arid shrublands to tropical rainforests, and has a rich history of biomass research, particularly in planted forests. Regardless of ecoregion, for five broad categories of plant functional type (shrubs; multistemmed trees; trees of the genusEucalyptusand closely related genera; other trees of high wood density; and other trees of low wood density), relationships between biomass and stem diameter were generic. Simple power‐law models explained 84–95% of the variation in biomass, with little improvement in model performance when other plant variables (height, bole wood density), or site characteristics (climate, age, management) were included. Predictions of stand‐based biomass from allometric models of varying levels of generalization (species‐specific, plant functional type) were validated using whole‐plot harvest data from 17 contrasting stands (range: 9–356 Mg ha−1). Losses in efficiency of prediction were <1% if generalized models were used in place of species‐specific models. Furthermore, application of generalized multispecies models did not introduce significant bias in biomass prediction in 92% of the 53 species tested. Further, overall efficiency ofstand‐level biomass prediction was 99%, with a mean absolute prediction error of only 13%. Hence, for cost‐effective prediction of biomass across a wide range of stands, we recommend use of generic allometric models based on plant functional types. Development of new species‐specific models is only warranted when gains in accuracy of stand‐based predictions are relatively high (e.g. high‐value monocultures).
Range and uncertainties in estimating delays in greenhouse gas mitigation potential of forest bioenergy sourced from Canadian forests
Authors: Laganière Jérôme , Paré David , Thiffault Evelyne , Bernier Pierre Y.
Published: December 2015

Accurately assessing the delay before the substitution of fossil fuel by forest bioenergy starts having a net beneficial impact on atmospheric CO2 is becoming important as the cost of delaying GHG emission reductions is increasingly being recognized. We documented the time to carbon (C) parity of forest bioenergy sourced from different feedstocks (harvest residues, salvaged trees, and green trees), typical of forest biomass production in Canada, used to replace three fossil fuel types (coal, oil, and natural gas) in heating or power generation. The time to C parity is defined as the time needed for the newly established bioenergy system to reach the cumulative C emissions of a fossil fuel, counterfactual system. Furthermore, we estimated an uncertainty period derived from the difference in C parity time between predefined best‐ and worst‐case scenarios, in which parameter values related to the supply chain and forest dynamics varied. The results indicate short‐to‐long ranking of C parity times for residues < salvaged trees < green trees and for substituting the less energy‐dense fossil fuels (coal < oil < natural gas). A sensitivity analysis indicated that silviculture and enhanced conversion efficiency, when occurring only in the bioenergy system, help reduce time to C parity. The uncertainty around the estimate of C parity time is generally small and inconsequential in the case of harvest residues but is generally large for the other feedstocks, indicating that meeting specific C parity time using feedstock other than residues is possible, but would require very specific conditions. Overall, the use of single parity time values to evaluate the performance of a particular feedstock in mitigating GHG emissions should be questioned given the importance of uncertainty as an inherent component of any bioenergy project.
A Tube Seepage Meter for In Situ Measurement of Seepage Rate and Groundwater Sampling
Authors: Solder John E. , Gilmore Troy E. , Genereux David P. , Solomon D. Kip
Published: December 2015

We designed and evaluated a “tube seepage meter” for point measurements of vertical seepage rates (q), collecting groundwater samples, and estimating vertical hydraulic conductivity (K) in streambeds. Laboratory testing in artificial streambeds show that seepage rates from the tube seepage meter agreed well with expected values. Results of field testing of the tube seepage meter in a sandy‐bottom stream with a mean seepage rate of about 0.5 m/day agreed well with Darcian estimates (vertical hydraulic conductivity times head gradient) when averaged over multiple measurements. The uncertainties in q and K were evaluated with a Monte Carlo method and are typically 20% and 60%, respectively, for field data, and depend on the magnitude of the hydraulic gradient and the uncertainty in head measurements. The primary advantages of the tube seepage meter are its small footprint, concurrent and colocated assessments of q and K, and that it can also be configured as a self‐purging groundwater‐sampling device.
Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. extracts: evaluation of antioxidant and antiproliferative activity and their ability to reduce microbial growth on fresh‐cut salad
Authors: Boffa Luisa , Binello Arianna , Boscaro Valentina , Gallicchio Margherita , Amisano Gabriella , Fornasero Stefania , Cravotto Giancarlo
Published: December 2015

With the aim to develop natural preservatives displaying also chemopreventive activity, different Commiphora myrrha (Nees) Engl. extracts were studied. Myrrh essential oils, obtained by steam distillation and microwave‐assisted hydrodistillation, and several other extracts, obtained by sequential procedures with petroleum ether (PE), ethanol, ethyl acetate and butanol, have been screened for their antioxidant (DPPH· scavenging assay) and antiproliferative activity (on both nontumour and colon cancer cell lines) without previous purification. Considering that the colon cancer cell lines were more sensitive to PE and ethanol extracts, the latter of which showed the highest antioxidant activity (EC50 = 0.160 ± 0.008 mg mL−1), both have been selected for further antibacterial/antifungal activity tests using an antimicrobial diffusion test and a growth inhibition test on salads. Results showed that the ethanol extract possessed the higher antibacterial and antifungal activity. Compared to untreated product, fresh‐cut salads treated with these two myrrh extracts displayed a significant lower bacterial growth. Although further investigation is required, these promising results offer hints as how to improve the shelf life of fresh‐cut salad.
Enzymatic synthesis of mannitol dioctanoate and its utilisation in the preparation of structured edible oil
Authors: Zhang Xiaohui , Yang Cheng , Li Jing , Meng Qingran , Raza Husnain , Zhang Lianfu
Published: December 2015

The medium‐chain dialkanoate of low‐calorie sugar and fatty acids which can be easily released is normally regarded as a potential candidate of gelator in structured edible oil preparation. This study focused on the synthesis, purification of mannitol dioctanoate and its utilisation in the preparation of structured edible oil. The mixture of acetone and n‐hexane with a ratio of 7:3 (v/v) was used as the media of the reaction, and the ratio of octanoic acid to mannitol was 3:1 with Novozyme 435 as catalyst. Then, the mixture was fractionated via water/n‐hexane extraction, and the purity reached 90%. HPLC‐MS, 1H and 13C NMR analysis showed it was 1, 6‐di‐O‐octanomannitol, which is our target product. In structured vegetable oil preparation, 0.8–1.8% (w/w) addition of product can form gelation. The rheological measurements of the organogels showed G′, G″ increased during the first 2 weeks and then tended to be stable.
Health‐related physical fitness is associated with total and central body fat in preschool children aged 3 to 5 years
Authors: Martinez‐Tellez B. , Sanchez‐Delgado G. , Cadenas‐Sanchez C. , Mora‐Gonzalez J. , Martín‐Matillas M. , Löf M. , Ortega F. B. , Ruiz J. R.
Published: December 2015

Objectives

To investigate whether health‐related physical fitness is associated with total and central body fat in preschool children.

Methods

A total of 403 Spanish children aged 3–5 years (57.8% boys) participated in the study. Health‐related physical fitness was measured by the PREFIT battery: the handgrip strength and the standing long‐jump tests (muscular strength), the 4 × 10 m shuttle run (speed–agility), the one‐leg stance tests (balance) and the PREFIT‐20 m shuttle run test (cardiorespiratory fitness). Body mass index and waist circumference were used as markers of total and central body fat, respectively.

Results

There were significant associations between all health‐related physical fitness tests and body mass index (β = 0.280 ± 0.054, β = −0.020 ± 0.006, β = 0.154 ± 0.065 and β = −0.034 ± 0.011 for the handgrip strength, standing long jump, 4 × 10 m shuttle run and PREFIT‐20 m shuttle run tests, respectively, all P ≤ 0.019) after adjusting for sex and age. Similarly, there was significant associations of standing long jump (β = −0.072 ± 0.014), 4 × 10 m shuttle run (β = 0.652 ± 0.150) and PREFIT‐20 m shuttle run tests (β = −0.102 ± 0.025) with waist circumference (all P ≤ 0.001), except for handgrip strength (β = 0.254 ± 0.145, P = 0.081) and one‐leg stance (β = −0.012 ± 0.009, P = 0.156).

Conclusions

The present study extends previous findings in older youth. Fitness assessment should be introduced in future epidemiological and intervention studies in preschool children because it seems to be an important factor determining health.
Dynamics and regulation of glycolysis‐tricarboxylic acid metabolism in the midgut of Spodoptera litura during metamorphosis
Authors: Hu D. , Luo W. , Fan L.F. , Liu F.L. , Gu J. , Deng H.M. , Zhang C. , Huang L.H. , Feng Q.L.
Published: December 2015

Significant changes usually take place in the internal metabolism of insects during metamorphosis. The glycolysis‐tricarboxylic acid (glycolysis‐TCA) pathway is important for energy metabolism. To elucidate its dynamics, the mRNA levels of genes involved in this pathway were examined in the midgut of Spodoptera litura during metamorphosis, and the pyruvate content was quantified. The expression patterns of these genes in response to starvation were examined, and the interaction between protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and phosphofructokinase (PFK) was studied. The results revealed that the expression or activities of most glycolytic enzymes was down‐regulated in prepupae and then recovered in some degree in pupae, and all TCA‐related genes were remarkably suppressed in both the prepupae and pupae. Pyruvate was enriched in the pupal midgut. Taken together, these results suggest that insects decrease both glycolysis and TCA in prepupae to save energy and then up‐regulate glycolysis but down‐regulate TCA in pupae to increase the supply of intermediates for construction of new organs. The expression of all these genes were down‐regulated by starvation, indicating that non‐feeding during metamorphosis may be a regulator of glycolysis‐TCA pathway in the midgut. Importantly, interaction between PP1 and PFK was identified and is suggested to be involved in the regulation of glycolysis.
Sialic acids and autoimmune disease
Authors: Mahajan Vinay S. , Pillai Shiv
Published: December 2015

An important underlying mechanism that contributes to autoimmunity is the loss of inhibitory signaling in the immune system. Sialic acid‐recognizing Ig superfamily lectins or Siglecs are a family of cell surface proteins largely expressed in hematopoietic cells. The majority of Siglecs are inhibitory receptors expressed in immune cells that bind to sialic acid‐containing ligands and recruit SH2‐domain‐containing tyrosine phosphatases to their cytoplasmic tails. They deliver inhibitory signals that can contribute to the constraining of immune cells, and thus protect the host from autoimmunity. The inhibitory functions of CD22/Siglec‐2 and Siglec‐G and their contributions to tolerance and autoimmunity, primarily in the B lymphocyte context, are considered in some detail in this review. The relevance to autoimmunity and unregulated inflammation of modified sialic acids, enzymes that modify sialic acid, and other sialic acid‐binding proteins are also reviewed.
SLE‐associated risk factors affect DC function
Authors: Son Myoungsun , Kim Sun Jung , Diamond Betty
Published: December 2015

Numerous risk alleles for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have now been identified. Analysis of the expression of genes with risk alleles in cells of hematopoietic origin demonstrates them to be most abundantly expressed in B cells and dendritic cells (DCs), suggesting that these cell types may be the drivers of the inflammatory changes seen in SLE. DCs are of particular interest as they act to connect the innate and the adaptive immune response. Thus, DCs can transform inflammation into autoimmunity, and autoantibodies are the hallmark of SLE. In this review, we focus on mechanisms of tolerance that maintain DCs in a non‐activated, non‐immunogenic state. We demonstrate, using examples from our own studies, how alterations in DC function stemming from either DC‐intrinsic abnormalities or DC‐extrinsic regulators of function can predispose to autoimmunity.
FcγRIIB and autoimmunity
Authors: Espéli Marion , Smith Kenneth G. C. , Clatworthy Menna R.
Published: December 2015

Autoimmune diseases are characterized by adaptive immune responses against self‐antigens, including humoral responses resulting in the production of autoantibodies. Autoantibodies generate inflammation by activating complement and engaging Fcγ receptors (FcγRs). The inhibitory receptor FcγRIIB plays a central role in regulating the generation of autoantibodies and their effector functions, which include activation of innate immune cells and the cellular arm of the adaptive immune system, via effects on antigen presentation to CD4 T cells. Polymorphisms in FcγRIIB have been associated with susceptibility to autoimmunity but protection against infections in humans and mice. In the last few years, new mechanisms by which FcγRIIB controls the adaptive immune response have been described. Notably, FcγRIIB has been shown to regulate germinal center B cells and dendritic cell migration, with potential impact on the development of autoimmune diseases. Recent work has also highlighted the implication of FcγRIIB on the regulation of the innate immune system, via inhibition of Toll‐like receptor‐ and complement receptor‐mediated activation. This review will provide an update on the role of FcγRIIB in adaptive immune responses in autoimmunity, and then focus on their emerging function in innate immunity.
Cellular stress and innate inflammation in organ‐specific autoimmunity: lessons learned from vitiligo
Authors: Harris John E.
Published: December 2015

For decades, research in autoimmunity has focused primarily on immune contributions to disease. Yet recent studies report elevated levels of reactive oxygen species and abnormal activation of the unfolded protein response in cells targeted by autoimmunity, implicating cellular stress originating from the target tissue as a contributing factor. A better understanding of this contribution may help to answer important lingering questions in organ‐specific autoimmunity, as to what factors initiate disease and what directs its tissue specificity. Vitiligo, an autoimmune disease of the skin, has been the focus of translational research for over 30 years, and both melanocyte stress and immune mechanisms have been thought to be mutually exclusive explanations for pathogenesis. Chemical‐induced vitiligo is a unique clinical presentation that reflects the importance of environmental influences on autoimmunity, provides insight into a new paradigm linking cell stress to the immune response, and serves as a template for other autoimmune diseases. In this review, I will discuss the evidence for cell stress contributions to a number of autoimmune diseases, the questions that remain, and how vitiligo, an underappreciated example of organ‐specific autoimmunity, helps to answer them.
The many faces of Mac‐1 in autoimmune disease
Authors: Rosetti Florencia , Mayadas Tanya N.
Published: December 2015

Mac‐1 (CD11b/CD18) is a β2 integrin classically regarded as a pro‐inflammatory molecule because of its ability to promote phagocyte cytotoxic functions and enhance the function of several effector molecules such as FcγR, uPAR, and CD14. Nevertheless, recent reports have revealed that Mac‐1 also plays significant immunoregulatory roles, and genetic variants in ITGAM, the gene that encodes CD11b, confer risk for the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This has renewed interest in the physiological roles of this integrin and raised new questions on how its seemingly opposing biological functions may be regulated. Here, we provide an overview of the CD18 integrins and how their activation may be regulated as this may shed light on how the opposing roles of Mac‐1 may be elicited. We then discuss studies that exemplify Mac‐1's pro‐inflammatory versus regulatory roles particularly in the context of IgG immune complex‐mediated inflammation. This includes a detailed examination of molecular mechanisms that could explain the risk‐conferring effect of rs1143679, a single nucleotide non‐synonymous Mac‐1 polymorphism associated with SLE.