bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Citation classics in the nutrition and dietetics literature: 50 frequently cited articles
Authors: Lo Kenneth K.H. , Wong April H.C. , Tam Wilson W.S. , Ho Suzanne C.
Published: March 2015

Aim

To identify the most cited articles under the category of ‘Nutrition and Dietetics’ and the reasons behind high citation rates; and to investigate reasons for journals having high impact factors (IFs).

Methods

The 50 most cited articles were selected in August 2013 after sourcing all journals published from 1956 to 2013 under the category ‘Nutrition and Dietetics’ in the Institute for Scientific Information Journal Citation Reports: Science Edition 2012 database. Journals were categorised by country, number of top cited papers published in particular journal, language, year of publication of the first volume and IF. Articles were classified based on country location of the study design, research area, first author's institution and organisation. Relationship between country of origin and high IF was determined.

Results

Twenty‐seven of 76 journals originated from USA, and the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published 17 of the 50 most cited articles. The most common study designs of the most cited articles ranged from ‘basic science’ and ‘development and validation of tools’ (1960–1979) to ‘literature and systematic reviews’ (after 2000). The most frequently studied fields shifted from ‘nutritional status, dietary intake, and body composition’ and ‘obesity and eating disorder’ (1960–1979) to ‘vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals’ (after 2000).

Conclusions

The majority of top cited articles and journals originate from the USA. The common study designs and research topics in ‘Nutrition and Dietetics’ have changed over the years. An evolution from basic science to translational research and changing awareness from nutrition deficiency to disease prevention were observed.
Predictors of breastfeeding duration for rural women in a high‐income country: evidence from a cohort study
Authors: Cox Kylee , Binns Colin W. , Giglia Roslyn
Published: March 2015

Aim

To determine the prevalence of exclusive and ‘any breastfeeding’ at six months in rural Western Australia and to identify the predictors of exclusive and ‘any breastfeeding’ duration up to 12 months.

Methods

A total of 427 mothers (52% of those contacted) were recruited from maternity services in rural WA and asked to complete a baseline questionnaire. Mothers were recontacted at 4, 6, 10, 16, 26, 32, 40 and 52 weeks to determine factors associated with feeding practices.

Results

Smoking during pregnancy was the strongest predictor of exclusive breastfeeding cessation before six months (aHR 3.21, 95% CI 1.89, 5.46). A favourable attitude towards breastfeeding, a body mass index of <30 and a return to work after six months were associated with reduced risk of breastfeeding cessation before both six and 12 months.

Conclusion

Breastfeeding duration in rural Western Australia is influenced by modifiable factors such as smoking during pregnancy and prepregnancy obesity, therefore strategies to address these risk factors in rural women prior to delivery may contribute to improved breastfeeding rates.
Incorporating Founder Virus Information in Vaccine Field Trials
Authors: Follmann Dean , Huang Chiung-Yu
Published: March 2015

Vaccine clinical trials with active surveillance for infection often use the time to infection as the primary endpoint. A common method of analysis for such trials is to compare the times to infection between the vaccine and placebo groups using a Cox regression model. With new technology, we can sometimes additionally record the precise number of virions that cause infection rather than just the indicator that infection occurred. In this article, we develop a unified approach for vaccine trials that couples the time to infection with the number of infecting or founder viruses. We assume that the instantaneous risk of a potentially infectious exposure for individuals in the placebo and vaccine groups follows the same proportional intensity model. Following exposure, the number of founder viruses is assumed to be generated from some distribution on , which is allowed to be different for the two groups. Exposures that result in are unobservable. We denote the placebo and vaccine means of by and so that measures the proportion reduction in the mean number of infecting virions due to vaccination per exposure. We develop different semi-parametric methods of estimating . We allow the distribution of to be Poisson or unspecified, and discuss how to incorporate covariates that impact the time to exposure and/or . Interestingly , which is a ratio of untruncated means, can be reliably estimated using truncated data (), even if the placebo and vaccine distributions of are completely unspecified. Simulations of vaccine clinical trials show that the method can reliably recover in realistic settings. We apply our methods to an HIV vaccine trial conducted in injecting drug users.
Penalized regression for interval‐censored times of disease progression: Selection of HLA markers in psoriatic arthritis
Authors: Wu Ying , Cook Richard J.
Published: March 2015

Times of disease progression are interval‐censored when progression status is only known at a series of assessment times. This situation arises routinely in clinical trials and cohort studies when events of interest are only detectable upon imaging, based on blood tests, or upon careful clinical examination. We consider the problem of selecting important prognostic biomarkers from a large set of candidates when disease progression status is only known at irregularly spaced and individual‐specific assessment times. Penalized regression techniques (e.g., LASSO, adaptive LASSO, and SCAD) are adapted to handle interval‐censored time of disease progression. An expectation–maximization algorithm is described which is empirically shown to perform well. Application to the motivating study of the development of arthritis mutilans in patients with psoriatic arthritis is given and several important human leukocyte antigen (HLA) variables are identified for further investigation.
A Bayesian model for the identification of differentially expressed genes in Daphnia magna exposed to munition pollutants
Authors: Cassese Alberto , Guindani Michele , Antczak Philipp , Falciani Francesco , Vannucci Marina
Published: March 2015

In this article we propose a Bayesian hierarchical model for the identification of differentially expressed genes in Daphnia magna organisms exposed to chemical compounds, specifically munition pollutants in water. The model we propose constitutes one of the very first attempts at a rigorous modeling of the biological effects of water purification. We have data acquired from a purification system that comprises four consecutive purification stages, which we refer to as “ponds,” of progressively more contaminated water. We model the expected expression of a gene in a pond as the sum of the mean of the same gene in the previous pond plus a gene‐pond specific difference. We incorporate a variable selection mechanism for the identification of the differential expressions, with a prior distribution on the probability of a change that accounts for the available information on the concentration of chemical compounds present in the water. We carry out posterior inference via MCMC stochastic search techniques. In the application, we reduce the complexity of the data by grouping genes according to their functional characteristics, based on the KEGG pathway database. This also increases the biological interpretability of the results. Our model successfully identifies a number of pathways that show differential expression between consecutive purification stages. We also find that changes in the transcriptional response are more strongly associated to the presence of certain compounds, with the remaining contributing to a lesser extent. We discuss the sensitivity of these results to the model parameters that measure the influence of the prior information on the posterior inference.
Culture, types of social withdrawal, and children's beliefs: An integrative perspective
Authors: Chen Xinyin
Published: March 2015

Cultural norms and values provide guidance for children to judge and evaluate specific behavioural characteristics including shyness, unsociability, and social avoidance. The perceptions and attitudes of children, in turn, determine how they exhibit and regulate their behaviours and how they respond to peers' behaviours in social interactions. Investigation of children's beliefs across societies may shed some light on the processes in which culture is involved in shaping the display and developmental significance of different types of social withdrawal. To achieve a better understanding of the role of children's beliefs in mediating cultural influence on development, it will be important to examine how children's beliefs about withdrawn behaviours are associated with patterns of social interactions and relationships in various circumstances.
Modelling partially cross‐classified multilevel data
Authors: Luo Wen , Cappaert Kevin J. , Ning Ling
Published: March 2015

This article proposes an approach to modelling partially cross‐classified multilevel data where some of the level‐1 observations are nested in one random factor and some are cross‐classified by two random factors. Comparisons between a proposed approach to two other commonly used approaches which treat the partially cross‐classified data as either fully nested or fully cross‐classified are completed with a simulation study. Results show that the proposed approach demonstrates desirable performance in terms of parameter estimates and statistical inferences. Both the fully nested model and the fully cross‐classified model suffer from biased estimates of some variance components and statistical inferences of some fixed effects. Results also indicate that the proposed model is robust against cluster size imbalance.
Prediction of true test scores from observed item scores and ancillary data
Authors: Haberman Shelby J. , Yao Lili , Sinharay Sandip
Published: March 2015

In many educational tests which involve constructed responses, a traditional test score is obtained by adding together item scores obtained through holistic scoring by trained human raters. For example, this practice was used until 2008 in the case of GRE®General Analytical Writing and until 2009 in the case of TOEFL® iBT Writing. With use of natural language processing, it is possible to obtain additional information concerning item responses from computer programs such as e‐rater®. In addition, available information relevant to examinee performance may include scores on related tests. We suggest application of standard results from classical test theory to the available data to obtain best linear predictors of true traditional test scores. In performing such analysis, we require estimation of variances and covariances of measurement errors, a task which can be quite difficult in the case of tests with limited numbers of items and with multiple measurements per item. As a consequence, a new estimation method is suggested based on samples of examinees who have taken an assessment more than once. Such samples are typically not random samples of the general population of examinees, so that we apply statistical adjustment methods to obtain the needed estimated variances and covariances of measurement errors. To examine practical implications of the suggested methods of analysis, applications are made to GRE General Analytical Writing and TOEFL iBT Writing. Results obtained indicate that substantial improvements are possible both in terms of reliability of scoring and in terms of assessment reliability.
Pharmacological profile of novel psychoactive benzofurans
Authors: Rickli Anna , Kopf Simone , Hoener Marius C , Liechti Matthias E
Published: March 2015

Background and Purpose

Benzofurans are newly used psychoactive substances, but their pharmacology is unknown. The aim of the present study was to pharmacologically characterize benzofurans in vitro.

Experimental Approach

We assessed the effects of the benzofurans 5‐APB, 5‐APDB, 6‐APB, 6‐APDB, 4‐APB, 7‐APB, 5‐EAPB and 5‐MAPDB and benzodifuran 2C‐B‐FLY on the human noradrenaline (NA), dopamine and 5‐HT uptake transporters using HEK 293 cells that express the respective transporters. We also investigated the release of NA, dopamine and 5‐HT from monoamine‐preloaded cells, monoamine receptor‐binding affinity and 5‐HT2A and 5‐HT2B receptor activation.

Key Results

All of the benzofurans inhibited NA and 5‐HT uptake more than dopamine uptake, similar to methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and unlike methamphetamine. All of the benzofurans also released monoamines and interacted with trace amine‐associated receptor 1 (TA1 receptor), similar to classic amphetamines. Most benzofurans were partial 5‐HT2A receptor agonists similar to MDMA, but also 5‐HT2B receptor agonists, unlike MDMA and methamphetamine. The benzodifuran 2C‐B‐FLY very potently interacted with 5‐HT2 receptors and also bound to TA1 receptors.

Conclusions and Implications

Despite very similar structures, differences were found in the pharmacological profiles of different benzofurans and compared with their amphetamine analogues. Benzofurans acted as indirect monoamine agonists that interact with transporters similarly to MDMA. The benzofurans also interacted with 5‐HT receptors. This pharmacological profile probably results in MDMA‐like entactogenic psychoactive properties. However, benzofurans induce 5‐HT2B receptor activation associated with heart valve fibrosis. The pharmacology of 2C‐B‐FLY indicates predominant hallucinogenic properties and a risk for vasoconstriction.
Patterns and drivers of intraspecific variation in avian life history along elevational gradients: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Alice Boyle W. , Sandercock Brett K. , Martin Kathy
Published: March 2015

Elevational gradients provide powerful natural systems for testing hypotheses regarding the role of environmental variation in the evolution of life‐history strategies. Case studies have revealed shifts towards slower life histories in organisms living at high elevations yet no synthetic analyses exist of elevational variation in life‐history traits for major vertebrate clades. We examined (i) how life‐history traits change with elevation in paired populations of bird species worldwide, and (ii) which biotic and abiotic factors drive elevational shifts in life history. Using three analytical methods, we found that fecundity declined at higher elevations due to smaller clutches and fewer reproductive attempts per year. By contrast, elevational differences in traits associated with parental investment or survival varied among studies. High‐elevation populations had shorter and later breeding seasons, but longer developmental periods implying that temporal constraints contribute to reduced fecundity. Analyses of clutch size data, the trait for which we had the largest number of population comparisons, indicated no evidence that phylogenetic history constrained species‐level plasticity in trait variation associated with elevational gradients. The magnitude of elevational shifts in life‐history traits were largely unrelated to geographic (altitude, latitude), intrinsic (body mass, migratory status), or habitat covariates. Meta‐population structure, methodological issues associated with estimating survival, or processes shaping range boundaries could potentially explain the nature of elevational shifts in life‐history traits evident in this data set. We identify a new risk factor for montane populations in changing climates: low fecundity will result in lower reproductive potential to recover from perturbations, especially as fewer than half of the species experienced higher survival at higher elevations.
Belowground infections of the invasive Phytophthora plurivora pathogen enhance the suitability of red oak leaves to the generalist herbivore Lymantria dispar
Authors: MILANOVIĆ SLOBODAN , LAZAREVIĆ JELICA , KARADŽIĆ DRAGAN , MILENKOVIĆ IVAN , JANKOVSKÝ LIBOR , VULETA ANA , SOLLA ALEJANDRO
Published: March 2015

1. Globally, vast areas of forest are currently threatened by Lymantria dispar L. and Phytophthora species, which cause widespread declines and cascading ecological impacts. One important aim of evolutionary and ecological studies is to understand their interactions.

2. The present study tests whether Quercus rubra L. trees naturally infected with P. plurivora T. Jung & T.I. Burgess or free of infection are more suitable for L. dispar herbivory, and if relationships between L. dispar performance and herbivory may vary depending on whether trees are infected or free of infection.

3. In choice tests, the consumed area of leaves from trees infected by P. plurivora was four times larger than that from non‐infected trees, probably because the increased values of N, soluble protein, and water content observed in the leaves of infected trees enhanced acceptability. Although larval performance was better in Phytophthora‐infected trees, relationships between larval performance and defoliation did not significantly interact with the health status of trees.

4. The present results suggest that the impact of P. plurivora on natural and managed ecosystems may generate a positive feedback loop for oak decline. The link between the behavioural and physiological responses of L. dispar to infected trees and the population growth in nature deserves further investigation.
Strategy and Action: Assessing Student‐Led Culture Workshops Within the Professions
Authors: King de Ramírez Carmen
Published: March 2015

In order to prepare students to successfully engage with native speakers and members of heritage language communities both at home and abroad, educators must develop course curricula that emphasize cultural practices, products, perspectives, and comparisons as well as provide students with opportunities to directly apply the skills that they have acquired in the classroom across a range of other settings. This article describes a Culture for the Professions course whose curriculum was based on the four steps of the cultural intelligence model (Earley & Ang, 2003): drive, knowledge, strategy, and action. The study focuses in particular on how students implemented the last two components of the model (strategy and action) by collaborating with local organizations to design and present culture workshops that were specifically tailored to each organization's needs and mission. In addition to benefiting the organizations themselves, data obtained from evaluation rubrics and postworkshop reflections suggest that community culture workshops allow students to become more aware of how culture influences the work of an organization and to develop strategies to bridge cultural differences in the workplace.
Fluid inclusion and isotopic constraints on the origin of ore‐forming fluid of the Jinman–Liancheng vein Cu deposit in the Lanping Basin, western Yunnan, China
Authors: Song Y. , Hou Z. , Cheng Y. , Yang T. , Xue C.
Published: March 2015

Extensive quartz–carbonate–Cu sulfide veins occur in clastic rocks and are spatially related to Paleocene granites in the western border of the Lanping Basin, western Yunnan, China. Abundant aqueous‐carbonic fluid inclusions occur in these veins but their origin is debated. In the Jinman–Liancheng deposit, individual primary inclusion groups contain either exclusively liquid‐rich inclusions (Gl), or coexisting liquid‐rich and vapor‐rich inclusions (Glv). Microthermometry and estimate of CO2 content indicate that type Gl inclusions either have homogenization temperatures (Th) 238–263°C and contain c. 3.9–5.5 mole % CO2, or have Th 178–222°C and contain c. 1.6–3.2 mole % CO2. Type Glv inclusions are thought to represent samples of fluid unmixing that occurred at 183–218°C. At that time, the liquid phase in the unmixing fluid may contain c. 2.0–3.3 mole % CO2. As such, the correlation of CO2 content with Th for type Gl inclusions is thought to be caused by fluid unmixing with decreasing temperature and subsequent CO2 escape. δ18O and δD values of the parent water mainly fall in the field below that of primary magmatic water, indicative of fluid derivation from degassed (in open system) magmatic water, with no contributions from basinal or meteoric water. Initial Sr isotopic compositions of hydrothermal carbonates suggest that the fluid was magmatic, probably derived from the Paleogene granites. δ13CPDB values (−4‰ to −7‰) of the hydrothermal carbonates and δ34SV‐CDT values of sulfides (mainly −11‰ to +5‰) indicate that the carbon and sulfur can be derived from (degassed) magma and/or nonmagmatic sources. The CO2‐rich and magmatic‐water‐derived fluid at Jinman–Liancheng differs from the CO2‐poor and basinally derived fluid in sediment‐hosted stratiform Cu (SSC) deposits, which suggests that there are no genetic linkages between the vein Cu and SSC deposits in the Lanping Basin.
Can size 20, .04 taper rotary files reproducibly create a glide path for the self‐adjusting file? An ex vivo study in MB canals of mandibular molars
Authors: Kfir A. , Goldberger T. , Koren T. , Pawar A. M. , Abramovitz I.
Published: March 2015

Aim

To test and compare the effectiveness and safety of two size 20, .04 taper rotary files that were used to create a glide path for the self‐adjusting file (SAF) in curved canals of mandibular molars.

Methodology

Forty mandibular molars with curved mesial roots and narrow MB root canals were selected based on a passage of size 15 K‐files to WL; size 20 K‐files could not reach WL. Only roots with no visible microcracks were included. Two types of size 20 rotary files were used for glide path preparation, the new Pre‐SAF size 20, .04 taper file and the ProFile size 20, .04 taper, which served as the reference and control. Both files were used with 3–4 pecking strokes, which brought them to WL. Two parameters were tested whether the glide path allowed manual insertion of a 1.5‐mm SAF file to WL and whether the procedure caused microcracks in the root dentine. Paired t‐tests were used to compare the groups.

Results

Glide path preparation with both files allowed the manual insertion of the SAF file to WL in all 20 root canals, with no difference between the two groups. No cracks were detected after the procedure in any of the roots in either group.

Conclusions

Both types of size 20, .04 taper rotary files were effective for glide path preparation for the SAF file in curved canals. Neither file type caused microcracks in root dentine.
Teachers’ Unions, Compensation, and Tenure
Authors: West Kristine L.
Published: March 2015

In this paper I show that school districts in which teachers negotiate via collective bargaining have greater returns to experience and grant tenure earlier than districts without collective bargaining. Districts that are unionized, either with or without legal collective bargaining protections, have higher returns to degrees and higher starting salaries than districts without a union. Unionization is not strongly correlated with the existence of output‐based pay for performance but is correlated with the use of output‐based measures in tenure decisions. Unionization is positively correlated with the number of junior teachers dismissed for poor performance but not strongly correlated with the number of senior teachers dismissed for poor performance.
Changing an unfavorable employer reputation: the roles of recruitment message‐type and familiarity with employer
Authors: Kanar Adam M. , Collins Christopher J. , Bell Bradford S.
Published: March 2015

An unfavorable employer reputation can impair an organization's ability to recruit job seekers. The present research used a 4 week longitudinal experimental design to investigate whether recruitment messages can positively change an existing unfavorable employer reputation. Two hundred and twenty‐two job seekers rated their perceptions of an organization before and after being randomly assigned to receive a series of high‐ or low‐information recruitment messages. As expected, job seekers receiving high‐information messages changed their perceptions more than job seekers who were exposed to low‐information messages. In addition, job seekers' initial familiarity with the employer was negatively related to change in their perceptions of employer reputation. Finally, there was some evidence that job seekers' familiarity with the employer influenced the impact of different recruitment messages. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Effects of Different Classes of Antihypertensive Agents on the Outcome of Acute Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Tziomalos Konstantinos , Giampatzis Vasilios , Bouziana Stella D. , Spanou Marianna , Papadopoulou Maria , Kazantzidou Pavlina , Kostaki Stavroula , Kouparanis Antonios , Savopoulos Christos , Hatzitolios Apostolos I.
Published: March 2015

It is unclear whether antihypertensive treatment before stroke affects acute ischemic stroke severity and outcome. To evaluate this association, the authors studied 482 consecutive patients (age 78.8±6.7 years) admitted with acute ischemic stroke. Stroke severity was assessed at admission with the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The outcome was assessed with rates of adverse outcome (modified Rankin scale at discharge ≥2). Independent predictors of severe stroke (NIHSS ≥16) were female sex and atrial fibrillation. Treatment with diuretics before stroke was associated with nonsevere stroke. At discharge, patients with adverse outcome were less likely to be treated before stroke with β‐blockers or with diuretics. Independent predictors of adverse outcome were older age, higher NIHSS at admission, and history of ischemic stroke. Treatment with diuretics before stroke appears to be associated with less severe neurologic deficit in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
Fluorescence Intensity of Composite Layering Combined with Surface Sealant Submitted to Staining Solutions
Authors: Catelan Anderson , Guedes Ana Paula Albuquerque , Suzuki Thaís Yumi Umeda , Takahashi Marcos Kenzo , de Souza Evelise Machado , Briso André Luiz Fraga , dos Santos Paulo Henrique
Published: March 2015

Purpose

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fluorescence intensity of a composite in different layering techniques combined to a surface sealant submitted to staining solutions.

Methods and Materials

One surface sealant and one composite resin (shades A2‐0, A2, and YE) were tested. Specimens were carried out using layering with different shades of composite, and dental blocks (dentin/enamel) were obtained of human molars. Fluorescence intensity measurement performed using a spectrofluorophotometer, before and after storage in cola, orange juice, red wine, and distilled water. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and Fisher's test (α = 0.05).

Results

Initially, only A2‐O + A2 layering showed fluorescence intensity statistically similar to the natural tooth. Overall, groups sealed showed the highest fluorescence intensity compared with unsealed groups. The aging decreased the fluorescence intensity compared with initial values. Red wine showed the highest decrease on the fluorescence intensity.

Conclusion

The fluorescence of composite restorations is dependent of the layering technique and is affected by the diet.

Clinical Significance

The staining solutions decreased the fluorescence intensity, even when the composite resins were sealed. Different shades of the same composite showed distinct fluorescence values, so there should be greater standardization of this property for tooth reconstruction success by the layering technique with large tissue loss.
Macrophage activation marker soluble CD163 and non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in morbidly obese patients undergoing bariatric surgery
Authors: Kazankov Konstantin , Tordjman Joan , Møller Holger Jon , Vilstrup Hendrik , Poitou Christine , Bedossa Pierre , Bouillot Jean‐Luc , Clement Karine , Grønbæk Henning
Published: March 2015

Background and Aims

Macrophages play an important role in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Soluble CD163 (sCD163) is a specific marker of macrophage activation. We aimed to measure sCD163 in morbidly obese patients with varying degrees of NAFLD before and after bariatric surgery (BS).

Methods

Demographic, clinical, and biochemical data, and plasma sCD163 measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay, of 196 patients were collected preoperatively and 3, 6, and 12 months after BS leading to significant weight loss. Peroperative liver biopsies were assessed for the NAFLD Activity Score (NAS), Kleiner fibrosis score, and the fatty liver inhibition of progression (FLIP) algorithm. In a subset, CD163 immunohistochemistry and real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for CD163 mRNA were performed.

Results

sCD163 was higher in patients with NAS ≥ 5 compared with those with NAS < 5 (2.4(2.0–3.1) vs 1.9(1.5–2.3) mg/L, P < 0.001) and in patients with bridging fibrosis (F ≥ 3) compared with lower fibrosis stages (2.6(2.0–4.9) vs 2.0(1.5–2.4) mg/L, P = 0.001). Preoperative sCD163 was independently associated with both the NAS (P = 0.002) and the fibrosis score (P = 0.024). sCD163 decreased after BS and was greatly reduced after 12 months, more rapidly so in patients with NAS ≥ 5 (P < 0.001) and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) according to the FLIP algorithm (P = 0.03). Immunohistochemistry showed CD163‐positive macrophages aligning fat‐laden hepatocytes and forming microgranulomas in patients with NASH. CD163 mRNA expression did not vary with NAS.

Conclusion

sCD163 increased in parallel with the severity of NAFLD in morbid obesity, indicating macrophage activation. BS reduced sCD163 even in patients with severe liver injury and fibrosis, suggesting full reversibility of macrophage activation associated with improved insulin sensitivity.
Impact of epidermal growth factor receptor protein and gene alteration on Taiwanese hepatocellular carcinomas
Authors: Su Yu‐Hung , Ng Kwai‐Fong , Yu Ming‐Chin , Wu Ting‐Jung , Yeh Ta‐Sen , Lee Wei‐Chen , Lin Yong‐Shiang , Hsieh Tsung‐Han , Lin Chun‐Yen , Yeh Chau‐Ting , Chen Tse‐Ching
Published: March 2015

Background and Aim

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression is associated with disease progression and poor survival in a variety of solid tumors. The role of EGFR in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains controversial.

Methods

One hundred thirty‐eight HCCs were analyzed for total EGFR (t‐EGFR) and phospho‐EGFR (p‐EGFR) expression and gene amplification using immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The role of EGFR was analyzed in relation to the clinicopathological features.

Results

Weak to strong p‐EGFR immunostaining was noted in 42 of the 138 HCCs. p‐EGFR expression correlated with alcoholism (P = 0.03) and chronic hepatitis B infection (P = 0.041). There was no correlation between t‐EGFR expression and any of the clinicopathological features. Amplification of the EGFR gene was not identified in the 138 HCCs, but 39.1% of the HCCs showed balanced polysomy of both the EGFR gene and centromere 7. Moreover, 65 tumors showed > 2.2 copies per tumor cell. EGFR copy number gain (CNG) was significantly correlated with gender (P = 0.0491), tumor grade (P = 0.006), and vascular invasion (P = 0.005). HCCs with EGFR CNG also had a poor recurrence‐free survival (RFS), as compared with HCCs without EGFR CNG (P = 0.031). When exploring the impact of gender, a significant association of EGFR CNG was found with tumor grade (P = 0.044) and cirrhosis (P = 0.015) exclusively in the male group only; however, the OS and RFS analysis show no significant difference between male and female groups.

Conclusions

EGFR CNG was related to crucial clinicopathological features and early recurrence, indicating that EGFR CNG might be a poor prognosis factor for Taiwanese HCC.
Choledochoscopic high‐frequency needle‐knife electrotomy as an effective treatment for intrahepatic biliary strictures
Authors: Yang Yu‐Long , Zhang Cheng , Zhao Gang , Wu Ping , Ma Yue‐Feng , Zhang Hong‐Wei , Shi Li‐Jun , Li Jing‐Yi , Lin Mei‐Ju , Yang Shi‐Ming , Lv Yi
Published: March 2015

Background and Aim

Hepatolithiasis is associated with the presence of intrahepatic biliary strictures, and balloon dilatation is the main approach. However, this method is difficult to implement if the bile duct distal to the stricture is blocked by stones. Therefore, alternative methods need to be explored to effectively treat hepatolithiasis. The aim of this study is to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of choledochoscopic high‐frequency needle‐knife electrotomy for the treatment of intrahepatic biliary strictures.

Methods

Clinical data of 58 patients suffering from intrahepatic bile
duct strictures from January 2011 to January 2013 were retrospectively analyzed. Choledochoscopic electrotomy was used to resolve the strictures.

Results

One hundred thirty‐four sites of intrahepatic bile duct strictures were discovered. The average operating time of electrotomy is 5.6 min (range, 1 ∼ 15 min). Structured bile duct tissue bleeding occurred in eight sites (8/134, 6.0%) but were resolved by endoscopic high‐frequency electric cautery. After the operations, 14 cases of cholangitis (14/58, 24.1%), three cases of delayed hemobilia, one case of liver abscess (1/58, 1.7%), and seven cases of stenting exodus (7/58, 12.1%) were observed despite conservative treatment and stenting reset. The average supporting time was 7.0 months (6 ∼ 9 months). No abnormal bile duct structure or presence of stone was found according to choledochoscopy. The follow‐up period ranged from 12 to 48 months. Hepatolithiasis recurred in five (5/58, 8.6%) patients, and the cumulative recurrent probability of intrahepatic bile duct stricture was 5.2% (7/134).

Conclusions

Choledochoscopic high‐frequency needle‐knife electrotomy could be considered as a simple, safe, and effective complementary approach for treating intrahepatic biliary strictures.
The Resilience of Interdependent Industrial Symbiosis Networks: A Case of Yixing Economic and Technological Development Zone
Authors: Li Yang , Shi Lei
Published: March 2015

An industrial symbiosis (IS) network (ISN) is a typical complex system, and resilience is one of its core features. In this article, we investigated the relationship between resilience and interdependency within and between various IS systems. An interdependent network model was proposed based on complex network theory, which preserved the heterogeneity of exchange content and the diversity of symbiosis relationships. We used Yixing Economic and Technological Development Zone (YETDZ) in Jiangsu, China, as the case to construct a material exchange network and three infrastructure‐sharing networks. The result implied that increased interdependency contributed to the vulnerability of the system, but it did not necessarily contribute to its resilience. In our model, we identified the significant companies, materials, and infrastructure pipes in YETDZ through centrality metrics and proved the fragility of the system when deliberate changes took place in these components. We also showed the consequence of cascading failures in a single network and distinguished the most vulnerable companies exposed to failures by simulations. The interdependency between material exchange and infrastructure systems were analyzed in two scenarios, and the results implied that more attention should be placed on the key components between different IS systems. In such cases, both managers and planners of ISNs should take proper actions to enhance the adaptability of ISNs, protect significant components, and control cascading failures. The awareness of interdependency should be an indispensable part in future planning and management.
Short‐term post‐operative pain and discomfort following insertion of mini‐implants for retaining mandibular overdentures: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ribeiro A. B. , Della Vecchia M. P. , Cunha T. R. , Sorgini D. B. , dos Reis A. C. , Muglia V. A. , de Albuquerque R. F. , de Souza R. F.
Published: March 2015

The retention of removable dentures by mini‐implants is a relatively recent treatment modality and may lead to minimal post‐operative trauma. This study compared post‐operative pain and discomfort following the insertion of mini‐implants (two or four) or two standard‐size implants for the retention of mandibular overdentures. One hundred and twenty edentulous participants (mean age 59·5 ± 8·5 years) were randomly allocated into three groups according to received treatment: (GI) four mini‐implants, (GII) two mini‐implants or (GIII) two standard implants. Seven days after implant insertion, patients answered questions (100‐mm VAS) relating to pain, swelling, and discomfort with chewing, speech and hygiene, considering their experiences during the 1st and 6th day. Groups were compared by two‐way anova (α = 0·05). All participants (GI: 38; GII: 42; GIII: 40) were analysed after 7 days. At the 6th day, GI felt significantly higher pain than GII and GIII. GI also reported more difficulty in performing oral hygiene practices than GIII during the 1st day. There was no significant difference between groups for the other questions and periods. No participant suffered unexpected side effects. The use of four mini‐implants induces more intense post‐operative pain at the 6th day than the insertion of two mini‐ or conventional fixtures, as well as more difficult oral hygiene on the 1st day. Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01411683; FAPESP, 2011/00688‐7 and 2011/23347‐0.
Depressive Symptoms and Their Association With Adverse Environmental Factors and Substance Use in Runaway and Homeless Youths
Authors: Lim Caroline , Rice Eric , Rhoades Harmony
Published: March 2015

We used diathesis‐stress and stress‐sensitization models to determine whether family maltreatment, street‐related traumatic events, stressful life events, and substance use were associated with depressive symptoms in runaway and homeless youths (RHY) in Los Angeles. Greater severity of depressive symptoms was significantly related to family maltreatment, being exposed to more traumatic stressors during homelessness, and current substance use compared to no substance use. Family maltreatment was also found to moderate the relationship between traumatic stressors and depressive symptoms. Importantly, cumulative exposure to the investigated risk factors at varying levels was associated with more severe depressive symptoms. Using a trauma‐informed approach to screen for RHY at risk of depression may pave the way for secondary prevention of major depression in RHY.
Why the Media's Role in Issues of Race and Ethnicity Should be in the Spotlight
Authors: Mastro Dana
Published: March 2015

In everything from the policies that regulate media industries to the practices of the organizations that produce the messages to the usage patterns of the consumers that choose them, mass media are implicated in real‐world interracial/ethnic dynamics. Yet, despite the obvious associations between media and issues of race and ethnicity, a comprehensive effort aimed at documenting and addressing these links has not been undertaken. The current issue, Media Representations of Race and Ethnicity: Implications for Identity, Intergroup Relations, and Public Policy, endeavors to do just that. The merits of such an effort are articulated in this introduction to the volume alongside a review of the current state of the research in this domain.
Needs of Chinese Families With Children With Developmental Disabilities: A Qualitative Inquiry
Authors: Hu Xiaoyi , Turnbull Ann , Summers Jean Ann , Wang Mian
Published: March 2015

This qualitative inquiry focused on the perceptions that Chinese families of children with developmental disabilities have pertaining to their needs. Data were collected through focus group discussions and in‐depth interviews; transcript analysis relied on the constant comparative method. We identified seven categories of needs, subsumed under the following three thematic areas: survival needs, sufficiency needs, and enhancement needs. Survival needs refer to maintaining basic family existence and include (1) financial needs and (2) physical health needs. Sufficiency needs refer to families' needs for social inclusion, educational support, and relationships with others, and include the categories of (3) higher quality education and therapy for the child; (4) home‐based education and information for parents; and (5) social inclusion for both parents and the child. Finally, the third theme relates to enhancement needs, defined as families' needs to realize family growth and development for a better family life; this includes the categories of (6) emotional health and (7) future planning. The authors found sufficiency needs were more child focused among respondents and that survival and enhancement needs for families in this study were directly linked to the whole family unit in promoting the family's overall functioning. The dynamic nature of needs suggests that more than one need may motivate families’ desires for enhanced family quality of life.
The August θ‐Aquillid fireballs and possible relationship with the asteroid 2004MB6
Authors: Kokhirova Gulchekhra I. , Babadzhanov Pulat B.
Published: March 2015

Three bright fireballs belonging to the August θ‐Aquillid (ATA) meteor shower were photographed by the Tajikistan fireball network in 2009. Two of them are classified as the meteorite‐dropping fireballs according to the determined parameters of the atmospheric trajectories, velocities, masses, and densities. Detection of the more dense bodies among cometary meteoroids points to a heterogeneous composition of the parent comet, and supports the suggestion that some meteorites might originate in the outer solar system, in the given case from the Jupiter‐family comet reservoir. A search for the stream's parent was undertaken among the near‐Earth asteroids (NEAs); as a result, the asteroid 2004MB6 was identified as a possible progenitor of the ATA meteoroid stream. Investigation of the orbital evolution of the 2004MB6 and the fireball‐producing meteoroid TN170809A showed that both objects have similar secular variations in the orbital elements during 7 kyr. The comet‐like orbit of the 2004MB6 and its association with the ATA shower suppose a cometary origin of the asteroid.
Spatial heterogeneity in landscape structure influences dispersal and genetic structure: empirical evidence from a grasshopper in an agricultural landscape
Authors: Gauffre Bertrand , Mallez Sophie , Chapuis Marie‐Pierre , Leblois Raphael , Litrico Isabelle , Delaunay Sabrina , Badenhausser Isabelle
Published: March 2015

Dispersal may be strongly influenced by landscape and habitat characteristics that could either enhance or restrict movements of organisms. Therefore, spatial heterogeneity in landscape structure could influence gene flow and the spatial structure of populations. In the past decades, agricultural intensification has led to the reduction in grassland surfaces, their fragmentation and intensification. As these changes are not homogeneously distributed in landscapes, they have resulted in spatial heterogeneity with generally less intensified hedged farmland areas remaining alongside streams and rivers. In this study, we assessed spatial pattern of abundance and population genetic structure of a flightless grasshopper species,Pezotettix giornae, based on the surveys of 363 grasslands in a 430‐km² agricultural landscape of western France. Data were analysed using geostatistics and landscape genetics based on microsatellites markers and computer simulations. Results suggested that small‐scale intense dispersal allows this species to survive in intensive agricultural landscapes. A complex spatial genetic structure related to landscape and habitat characteristics was also detected. TwoP. giornaegenetic clusters bisected by a linear hedged farmland were inferred from clustering analyses. This linear hedged farmland was characterized by high hedgerow and grassland density as well as higher grassland temporal stability that were suspected to slow down dispersal. Computer simulations demonstrated that a linear‐shaped landscape feature limiting dispersal could be detected as a barrier to gene flow and generate the observed genetic pattern. This study illustrates the relevance of using computer simulations to test hypotheses in landscape genetics studies.
Tetranychus urticae‐triggered responses promote genotype‐dependent conspecific repellence or attractiveness in citrus
Authors: Agut Blas , Gamir Jordi , Jaques Josep A. , Flors Victor
Published: March 2015

The citrus rootstocks sour orange and Cleopatra mandarin display differential resistance againstTetranychus urticae. Sour orange plants support reduced oviposition, growth rates and damage compared with Cleopatra mandarin plants. Jasmonic acid signalling and flavonoid accumulation have been revealed as key mechanisms for the enhanced resistance of sour orange plants.

In this study, we observed that the release ofT. urticaeherbivore‐induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) from sour orange plants has a marked repellent effect on conspecific mites associated with the production of the terpenes α‐ocimene, α‐farnesene, pinene andd‐limonene, and the green leaf volatile 4‐hydroxy‐4‐methyl‐2‐pentanone. By contrast,T. urticaeHIPVs from Cleopatra mandarin plants promote conspecific mite attraction associated with an increase in (2‐butoxyethoxy) ethanol,benzaldehyde and methyl salicylate levels.

HIPVs released from sour orange plants followingT. urticaeinfestation induce resistance in Cleopatra mandarin plants, thereby reducing oviposition rates and stimulating the oxylipin biosynthetic genelipoxygenase2(LOX2). CleopatraHIPVs do not affect the response toT. urticaeof these rootstocks.

We conclude that sour orange plants promote herbivore‐induced resistance in Cleopatra mandarin plants and, despite the weak basal resistance of these rootstocks, herbivore resistance can be induced through the combination ofHIPVs, such as α‐ocimene andd‐limonene.
Plant herbivory responses through changes in leaf quality have no effect on subsequent leaf‐litter decomposition in a neotropical rain forest tree community
Authors: Cárdenas Rafael E. , Hättenschwiler Stephan , Valencia Renato , Argoti Adriana , Dangles Olivier
Published: March 2015

It is commonly accepted that plant responses to foliar herbivory (e.g. plant defenses) can influence subsequent leaf‐litter decomposability in soil. While several studies have assessed the herbivory–decomposability relationship among different plant species, experimental tests at the intra‐specific level are rare, although critical for a mechanistic understanding of how herbivores affect decomposition and its consequences at the ecosystem scale.

Using 17 tree species from the Yasuní National Park, Ecuadorian Amazonia, and applying three different herbivore damage treatments, we experimentally tested whether the plant intra‐specific responses to herbivory, through changes in leaf quality, affect subsequent leaf‐litter decomposition in soil.

We found no effects of herbivore damage on the subsequent decomposition of leaf litter within any of the species tested. Our results suggest that leaf traits affecting herbivory are different from those influencing decomposition. Herbivore damage showed much higher intra‐specific than inter‐specific variability, while we observed the opposite for decomposition.

Our findings support the idea that interactions between consumers and their resources are controlled by different factors for the green and the brown food‐webs in tropical forests, where herbivory may not necessarily generate any direct positive or negative feedbacks for nutrient cycling.