bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Case Report
Authors: Austin Andrea L. , Magana Julia N. , Rudinsky Sherri L. , Portouw Steven J.
Published: June 2016

Background

The most common cause of genital lesions is herpes simplex virus (HSV) (Pediatr Dermatol. 2012;29:147–153). However, in children and adolescents who are not sexually active, several other causes need to be considered.

Case

A 13-year-old adolescent girl presented to the emergency department with genital lesions. A gynecologist was consulted at time of presentation for concerns of a primary HSV infection and concurred. Final HSV and sexually transmitted infection testing were subsequently negative. At outpatient follow-up, a child abuse pediatrician made the diagnosis of aphthous genital ulcers (AGUs). Awareness of the diagnosis of AGUs is important because alternate diagnoses such as HSV could imply child abuse. It is critical to include AGUs in the differential diagnosis and to provide the appropriate referrals.
Men's Understanding of and Experiences During the Postcircumcision Abstinence Period: Results From a Field Study of ShangRing Circumcision During Routine Clinical Services in Kenya and Zambia
Authors: Barone Mark A. , Li Philip S. , Zulu Robert , Awori Quentin D. , Agot Kawango , Combes Stephanie , Simba Raymond O. , Lee Richard K. , Hart Catherine , Lai Jaim Jou , Zyambo Zude , Goldstein Marc , Feldblum Paul J. , Sokal David C.
Published: June 2016

Background:

Men's understanding of counseling messages after voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) plays an important role in whether they follow them. Data on triggers for early resumption of sex may be useful as scale-up of VMMC for HIV prevention continues in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods:

Data on understanding of post-VMMC abstinence recommendations, resumption of sex, condom use, and triggers for resuming sex were collected from participants during a follow-up interview 35–42 days after ShangRing circumcision in Kenya and Zambia.

Results:

Of 1149 men who had ShangRing circumcision, 1096 (95.4%) completed follow-up. Nearly all (99.2%) reported being counseled to abstain from sex post-VMMC; among those, most (92.2%) recalled the recommended abstinence period was 6 weeks. Most men (94.1%) reported that the counselor gave reasons for post-VMMC abstinence and recalled appropriate reasons. Few (13.4%) men reported resuming sex at 35–42 days' follow-up. Among those, 54.8% reported never using a condom post-VMMC. Younger participants (odds ratio 0.3, 95% confidence interval: 0.2 to 0.5, P < 0.0001) and those reporting at least some condom use at baseline (odds ratio 0.5, 95% confidence interval: 0.3 to 0.7, P = 0.0003) were less likely to report resuming sex. Among men who reported some condom use, most (71.5%) said condoms were much easier or easier to use after circumcision. Men reported various reasons for early resumption of sex, primarily strong sexual desire (76.4%).

Conclusions:

Most men reported awareness of and adherence to the counseling recommendations for post-VMMC abstinence. A minority reported early resumption of sex, and, among those, condom use was low. Results could be used to improve post-VMMC counseling.
Safety, Feasibility, and Acceptability of the PrePex Device for Adult Male Circumcision in Malawi
Authors: Kohler Pamela K. , Tippett Barr Beth A. , Kang'ombe Anderson , Hofstee Carola , Kilembe Franklin , Galagan Sean , Chilongozi David , Namate Dorothy , Machaya Medson , Kabwere Khuliena , Mwale Mwawi , Msunguma Wezi , Reed Jason , Chimbwandira Frank
Published: June 2016

Introduction:

Nonsurgical adult male circumcision devices present an alternative to surgery where health resources are limited. This study aimed to assess the safety, feasibility, and acceptability of the PrePex device for adult male circumcision in Malawi.

Methods:

A prospective single-arm cohort study was conducted at 3 sites (1 urban static, 1 rural static, 1 rural tent) in Malawi. Adverse event (AE) outcomes were stratified to include/exclude pain, and confidence intervals (CIs) were corrected for clinic-level clustering.

Results:

Among 935 men screened, 131 (14.0%) were not eligible, 13 (1.4%) withdrew before placement, and 791 (84.6%) received the device. Moderate and severe AEs totaled 7.1% including pain [95% CI: 3.4–14.7] and 4.0% excluding pain (95% CI: 2.6 to 6.4). Severe AEs included pain (n = 3), insufficient skin removal (n = 4), and early removal (n = 4). Among early removals, 1 had immediate surgical circumcision, 1 had surgery after 48 hours of observation, 1 declined surgery, and 1 did not return to our site although presented at a nearby clinic. More than half of men (51.9%) reported odor; however, few (2.2%) stated they would not recommend the device to others because of odor. Median levels of reported pain (scale, 1–10) were 2 (interquartile range, 2–4) during application and removal, and 0 (interquartile range, 0–2) at all other time points.

Conclusions:

Severe AEs were rare and similar to other programs. Immediate provision of surgical services after displacement or early removal proved a challenge. Cases of insufficient skin removal were linked to poor technique, suggesting provider training requires reinforcement and supervision.
Comparative Cost Analysis of Surgical and PrePex Device Male Circumcision in Zimbabwe and Mozambique
Authors: Schutte Carl , Tshimanga M , Mugurungi Owen , Come Iotamo , Necochea Edgar , Mahomed Mehebub , Xaba Sinokuthemba , Bossemeyer Debora , Ferreira Thais , Macaringue Lucinda , Chatikobo Pessanai , Gundididza Patricia , Hatzold Karin
Published: June 2016

Background:

The PrePex device has proven to be safe for voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) in adults in several African countries. Costing studies were conducted as part of a PrePex/Surgery comparison study in Zimbabwe and a pilot implementation study in Mozambique.

Methods:

The studies calculated per male circumcision unit costs using a cost–analysis approach. Both direct costs (consumable and nonconsumable supplies, device, personnel, associated staff training) and selected indirect costs (capital and support personnel costs) were calculated.

Results:

The cost comparison in Zimbabwe showed a unit cost per VMMC of $45.50 for PrePex and $53.08 for surgery. The unit cost difference was based on higher personnel and consumable supplies costs for the surgical procedure, which used disposable instrument kits. In Mozambique, the costing analysis estimated a higher unit cost for PrePex circumcision ($40.66) than for surgery ($20.85) because of higher consumable costs, particularly the PrePex device and lower consumable supplies costs for the surgical procedure using reusable instruments. Supplies and direct staff costs contributed 87.2% for PrePex and 65.8% for surgical unit costs in Mozambique.

Discussion:

PrePex device male circumcision could potentially be cheaper than surgery in Zimbabwe, especially in settings that lack the infrastructure and personnel required for surgical VMMC, and this might result in programmatic cost savings. In Mozambique, the surgical procedure seems to be less costly compared with PrePex mainly because of higher consumable supplies costs. With reduced device unit costs, PrePex VMMC could become more cost-efficient and considered as complementary for Mozambique's VMMC scale-up program.
The Zürich Maxi Mental Status Inventory (ZüMAX): Test-Retest Reliability and Discriminant Validity in Stroke Survivors
Authors: Tobler-Ammann Bernadette C. , de Bruin Eling D. , Brugger Peter , de Bie Rob A. , Knols Ruud H.
Published: June 2016

Objective:

To examine discriminant validity and test-retest reliability of the Zürich maxi mental status inventory (ZüMAX) in patients with stroke.

Background:

The ZüMAX is a novel domain-specific cognitive assessment tool to screen for disturbances in neuropsychological function. The test can be used in stroke rehabilitation to estimate severity of cognitive impairment. Because evidence for validity and reliability is lacking, the tool’s clinical use is limited.

Methods:

We administered the ZüMAX in a test-retest design to 33 community-dwelling stroke survivors, and once to 35 healthy controls matched for age and sex.

Results:

We found significant group differences in subscores for the cognitive domains of executive functions and language as well as total score (P=0.001 to 0.004); we did not find group differences for the domains of praxia (defined as the ability to perform purposeful actions), visual perception and construction, or learning and memory. Test-retest reliability of the total score was good (intraclass correlation coefficient=0.81), with the individual domain subscores ranging from poor to fair (0.59 to 0.79). The ZüMAX could detect changes in patients with low smallest detectable differences in executive functions, language, and praxia (0.05 to 1.49) and total score (0.09).

Conclusion:

The ZüMAX has moderate to good test-retest reliability. Furthermore, the tool might discriminate between healthy persons and chronic stroke survivors on three of five subscales. The ZüMAX shows promise in measuring neuropsychological disturbances in stroke survivors; however, further trials are required with larger samples.
Structural and biochemical analyses of monoubiquitinated human histones H2B and H4
Authors: Machida Shinichi , Sekine Satoshi , Nishiyama Yuuki , Horikoshi Naoki , Kurumizaka Hitoshi
Published: June 2016

Monoubiquitination is a major histone post-translational modification. In humans, the histone H2B K120 and histone H4 K31 residues are monoubiquitinated and may form transcriptionally active chromatin. In this study, we reconstituted nucleosomes containing H2B monoubiquitinated at position 120 (H2Bub
120
) and/or H4 monoubiquitinated at position 31 (H4ub
31
). We found that the H2Bub
120
and H4ub
31
monoubiquitinations differently affect nucleosome stability: the H2Bub
120
monoubiquitination enhances the H2A–H2B association with the nucleosome, while the H4ub
31
monoubiquitination decreases the H3–H4 stability in the nucleosome, when compared with the unmodified nucleosome. The H2Bub
120
and H4ub
31
monoubiquitinations both antagonize the Mg
2+
-dependent compaction of a poly-nucleosome, suggesting that these monoubiquitinations maintain more relaxed conformations of chromatin. In the crystal structure, the H2Bub
120
and H4ub
31
monoubiquitinations do not change the structure of the nucleosome core particle and the ubiquitin molecules were flexibly disordered in the H2Bub
120
/H4ub
31
nucleosome structure. These results revealed the differences and similarities of the H2Bub
120
and H4ub
31
monoubiquitinations at the mono- and poly-nucleosome levels and provide novel information to clarify the roles of monoubiquitination in chromatin.
CCL5 activation of CCR5 regulates cell metabolism to enhance proliferation of breast cancer cells
Authors: Gao Darrin , Rahbar Ramtin , Fish Eleanor N.
Published: June 2016

In earlier studies, we showed that CCL5 enhances proliferation and survival of MCF-7 breast cancer cells in an mTOR-dependent manner and we provided evidence that, for T cells, CCL5 activation of CCR5 results in increased glycolysis and enhanced ATP production. Increases in metabolic activity of cancer cells, specifically increased glycolytic activity and increased expression of glucose transporters, are associated with tumour progression. In this report, we provide evidence that CCL5 enhances the proliferation of human breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7) and mouse mammary tumour cells (MMTV-PyMT), mediated by CCR5 activation. Concomitant with enhanced proliferation we show that CCL5 increases cell surface expression of the glucose transporter GLUT1, and increases glucose uptake and ATP production by these cells. Blocking CCL5-inducible glucose uptake abrogates the enhanced proliferation induced by CCL5. We provide evidence that increased glucose uptake is associated with enhanced glycolysis, as measured by extracellular acidification. Moreover, CCL5 enhances the invasive capacity of these breast cancer cells. Using metabolomics, we demonstrate that the metabolic signature of CCL5-treated primary mouse mammary tumour cells reflects increased anabolic metabolism. The implications are that CCL5–CCR5 interactions in the tumour microenvironment regulate metabolic events, specifically glycolysis, to promote tumour proliferation and invasion.
Temporal patterns of damage and decay kinetics of DNA retrieved from plant herbarium specimens
Authors: Weiß Clemens L. , Schuenemann Verena J. , Devos Jane , Shirsekar Gautam , Reiter Ella , Gould Billie A. , Stinchcombe John R. , Krause Johannes , Burbano Hernán A.
Published: June 2016

Herbaria archive a record of changes of worldwide plant biodiversity harbouring millions of specimens that contain DNA suitable for genome sequencing. To profit from this resource, it is fundamental to understand in detail the process of DNA degradation in herbarium specimens. We investigated patterns of DNA fragmentation and nucleotide misincorporation by analysing 86 herbarium samples spanning the last 300 years using Illumina shotgun sequencing. We found an exponential decay relationship between DNA fragmentation and time, and estimated a per nucleotide fragmentation rate of 1.66 × 10
−4
per year, which is six times faster than the rate estimated for ancient bones. Additionally, we found that strand breaks occur specially before purines, and that depurination-driven DNA breakage occurs constantly through time and can to a great extent explain decreasing fragment length over time. Similar to what has been found analysing ancient DNA from bones, we found a strong correlation between the deamination-driven accumulation of cytosine to thymine substitutions and time, which reinforces the importance of substitution patterns to authenticate the ancient/historical nature of DNA fragments. Accurate estimations of DNA degradation through time will allow informed decisions about laboratory and computational procedures to take advantage of the vast collection of worldwide herbarium specimens.
Interplay of symmetries and other integrability quantifiers in finite-dimensional integrable nonlinear dynamical systems
Authors: Mohanasubha R. , Chandrasekar V. K. , Senthilvelan M. , Lakshmanan M.
Published: June 2016

In this work, we establish a connection between the extended Prelle–Singer procedure and other widely used analytical methods to identify integrable systems in the case of
n
th-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). By synthesizing these methods, we bring out the interlink between Lie point symmetries, contact symmetries, λ-symmetries, adjoint symmetries, null forms, Darboux polynomials, integrating factors, the Jacobi last multiplier and generalized λ-symmetries corresponding to the
n
th-order ODEs. We also prove these interlinks with suitable examples. By exploiting these interconnections, the characteristic quantities associated with different methods can be deduced without solving the associated determining equations.
A framework for studying dynamics and stability of diffusive–reactive interfaces with application to Cu
6
Sn
5
intermetallic compound growth
Authors: Udupa Anirudh , Sadasiva Subramanya , Subbarayan Ganesh
Published: June 2016

Often during phase growth, the rate of accretion, on the one hand, is determined by a competition between bulk diffusion and surface reaction rate. The morphology of the phase interface, on the other hand, is determined by an interplay between surface diffusivity and surface reaction rate. In this study, a framework to predict the growth and the morphology of an interface by modelling the interplay between bulk diffusion, surface reaction rate and surface diffusion is developed. The framework is demonstrated using the example of Cu–Sn intermetallic compound growth that is of significance to modern microelectronic assemblies. In particular, the dynamics and stability of the interface created when Cu and Sn react to form the compound Cu
6
Sn
5
is explored. Prior experimental observations of the Cu
6
Sn
5
–Sn interface have shown it to possess either a scalloped, flat or needle-shaped morphology. Diffuse interface simulations are carried out to elucidate the mechanism behind the interface formation. The computational model accounts for the bulk diffusion of Cu through the intermetallic compound, reaction at the interface to form Cu
6
Sn
5
, surface diffusion of Cu
6
Sn
5
along the interface and the influence of the electric current density in accelerating the bulk diffusion of Cu. A stability analysis is performed to identify the conditions under which the interface evolves into a flat, scalloped or needle-shaped structure.
On the experimental identification of unstable static equilibria
Authors: Wiebe R. , Virgin L. N.
Published: June 2016

This paper shows how the presence of unstable equilibrium configurations of elastic continua is reflected in the behaviour of transients induced by large perturbations. A beam that is axially loaded beyond its critical state typically exhibits two buckled stable equilibrium configurations, separated by one or more unstable equilibria. If the beam is then loaded laterally (effectively like a shallow arch) it may snap-through between these states, including the case in which the loading is applied dynamically and of short duration, i.e. an impact. Such impacts, if applied at random locations and of random strength, will generate an ensemble of transient trajectories that explore the phase space. Given sufficient variety, some of these trajectories will possess initial energy that is close to (just less than or just greater than) the energy required to cause snap-through and will have a tendency to slowdown as they pass close to an unstable configuration: a saddle point in a potential energy surface, for example. Although this close-encounter is relatively straightforward in a system characterized by a single degree of freedom, it is more challenging to identify in a higher order or continuous system, especially in a (necessarily) noisy experimental system. This paper will show how the identification of unstable equilibrium configurations can be achieved using transient dynamics.
Phylogenetic context determines the role of competition in adaptive radiation
Authors: Tan Jiaqi , Slattery Matthew R. , Yang Xian , Jiang Lin
Published: June 2016

Understanding ecological mechanisms regulating the evolution of biodiversity is of much interest to ecologists and evolutionary biologists. Adaptive radiation constitutes an important evolutionary process that generates biodiversity. Competition has long been thought to influence adaptive radiation, but the directionality of its effect and associated mechanisms remain ambiguous. Here, we report a rigorous experimental test of the role of competition on adaptive radiation using the rapidly evolving bacteriumPseudomonas fluorescensSBW25 interacting with multiple bacterial species that differed in their phylogenetic distance to the diversifying bacterium. We showed that the inhibitive effect of competitors on the adaptive radiation ofP. fluorescensdecreased as their phylogenetic distance increased. To explain this phylogenetic dependency of adaptive radiation, we linked the phylogenetic distance betweenP. fluorescensand its competitors to their niche and competitive fitness differences. Competitive fitness differences, which showed weak phylogenetic signal, reducedP. fluorescensabundance and thus diversification, whereas phylogenetically conserved niche differences promoted diversification. These results demonstrate the context dependency of competitive effects on adaptive radiation, and highlight the importance of past evolutionary history for ongoing evolutionary processes.
Body size distributions signal a regime shift in a lake ecosystem
Authors: Spanbauer Trisha L. , Allen Craig R. , Angeler David G. , Eason Tarsha , Fritz Sherilyn C. , Garmestani Ahjond S. , Nash Kirsty L. , Stone Jeffery R. , Stow Craig A. , Sundstrom Shana M.
Published: June 2016

Communities of organisms, from mammals to microorganisms, have discontinuous distributions of body size. This pattern of size structuring is a conservative trait of community organization and is a product of processes that occur at multiple spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we assessed whether body size patterns serve as an indicator of a threshold between alternative regimes. Over the past 7000 years, the biological communities of Foy Lake (Montana, USA) have undergone a major regime shift owing to climate change. We used a palaeoecological record of diatom communities to estimate diatom sizes, and then analysed the discontinuous distribution of organism sizes over time. We used Bayesian classification and regression tree models to determine that all time intervals exhibited aggregations of sizes separated by gaps in the distribution and found a significant change in diatom body size distributions approximately 150 years before the identified ecosystem regime shift. We suggest that discontinuity analysis is a useful addition to the suite of tools for the detection of early warning signals of regime shifts.
Crop domestication facilitated rapid geographical expansion of a specialist pollinator, the squash beePeponapis pruinosa
Authors: López-Uribe Margarita M. , Cane James H. , Minckley Robert L. , Danforth Bryan N.
Published: June 2016

Squash was first domesticated in Mexico and is now found throughout North America (NA) along withPeponapis pruinosa, a pollen specialist bee species of the squash genusCucurbita. The origin and spread of squash cultivation is well-studied archaeologically and phylogenetically; however, no study has documented how cultivation of this or any other crop has influenced species in mutualistic interactions. We used molecular markers to reconstruct the demographic range expansion and colonization routes ofP. pruinosafrom its native range into temperate NA. Populations east of the Rocky Mountains expanded from the wild host plant's range in Mexico and were established by a series of founder events. Eastern North America was most likely colonized from squash bee populations in the present-day continental Midwest USA and not from routes that followed the Gulf and Atlantic coasts from Mexico. Populations ofP. pruinosawest of the Rockies spread north from the warm deserts much more recently, showing two genetically differentiated populations with no admixture: one in California and the other one in eastern Great Basin. These bees have repeatedly endured severe bottlenecks as they colonized NA, following human spread of theirCucurbitapollen hosts during the Holocene.
Large herbivores surf waves of green-up during spring
Authors: Merkle Jerod A. , Monteith Kevin L. , Aikens Ellen O. , Hayes Matthew M. , Hersey Kent R. , Middleton Arthur D. , Oates Brendan A. , Sawyer Hall , Scurlock Brandon M. , Kauffman Matthew J.
Published: June 2016

The green wave hypothesis (GWH) states that migrating animals should track or ‘surf’ high-quality forage at the leading edge of spring green-up. To index such high-quality forage, recent work proposed the instantaneous rate of green-up (IRG), i.e. rate of change in the normalized difference vegetation index over time. Despite this important advancement, no study has tested the assumption that herbivores select habitat patches at peak IRG. We evaluated this assumption using step selection functions parametrized with movement data during the green-up period from two populations each of bighorn sheep, mule deer, elk, moose and bison, totalling 463 individuals monitored 1–3 years from 2004 to 2014. Accounting for variables that typically influence habitat selection for each species, we found seven of 10 populations selected patches exhibiting high IRG—supporting the GWH. Nonetheless, large herbivores selected for the leading edge, trailing edge and crest of the IRG wave, indicating that other mechanisms (e.g. ruminant physiology) or measurement error inherent with satellite data affect selection for IRG. Our evaluation indicates that IRG is a useful tool for linking herbivore movement with plant phenology, paving the way for significant advancements in understanding how animals track resource quality that varies both spatially and temporally.
Pollination services enhanced with urbanization despite increasing pollinator parasitism
Authors: Theodorou Panagiotis , Radzevičiūtė Rita , Settele Josef , Schweiger Oliver , Murray Tomás E. , Paxton Robert J.
Published: June 2016

Animal-mediated pollination is required for the reproduction of the majority of angiosperms, and pollinators are therefore essential for ecosystem functioning and the economy. Two major threats to insect pollinators are anthropogenic land-use change and the spread of pathogens, whose effects may interact to impact pollination. Here, we investigated the relative effects on the ecosystem service of pollination of (i) land-use change brought on by agriculture and urbanization as well as (ii) the prevalence of pollinator parasites, using experimental insect pollinator-dependent plant species in natural pollinator communities. We found that pollinator habitat (i.e. availability of nesting resources for ground-nesting bees and local flower richness) was strongly related to flower visitation rates at the local scale and indirectly influenced plant pollination success. At the landscape scale, pollination was positively related to urbanization, both directly and indirectly via elevated visitation rates. Bumblebees were the most abundant pollinator group visiting experimental flowers. Prevalence of trypanosomatids, such as the common bumblebee parasiteCrithidia bombi,was higher in urban compared with agricultural areas, a relationship which was mediated through higherBombusabundance. Yet, we did not find any top-down, negative effects of bumblebee parasitism on pollination. We conclude that urban areas can be places of high transmission of both pollen and pathogens.
The cutaneous lipid composition of bat wing and tail membranes: a case of convergent evolution with birds
Authors: Ben-Hamo Miriam , Muñoz-Garcia Agustí , Larrain Paloma , Pinshow Berry , Korine Carmi , Williams Joseph B.
Published: June 2016

The water vapour permeability barrier of mammals and birds resides in the stratum corneum (SC), the outermost layer of the epidermis. The molar ratio and molecular arrangement of lipid classes in the SC determine the integrity of this barrier. Increased chain length and polarity of ceramides, the most abundant lipid class in mammalian SC, contribute to tighter packing and thus to reduced cutaneous evaporative water loss (CEWL). However, tighter lipid packing also causes low SC hydration, making it brittle, whereas high hydration softens the skin at the cost of increasing CEWL. Cerebrosides are not present in the mammalian SC; their pathological accumulation occurs in Gaucher's disease, which leads to a dramatic increase in CEWL. However, cerebrosides occur normally in the SC of birds. We tested the hypothesis that cerebrosides are also present in the SC of bats, because they are probably necessary to confer pliability to the skin, a quality needed for flight. We examined the SC lipid composition of four sympatric bat species and found that, as in birds, their SC has substantial cerebroside contents, not associated with a pathological state, indicating convergent evolution between bats and birds.
The paradox of inverted biomass pyramids in kelp forest fish communities
Authors: Trebilco Rowan , Dulvy Nicholas K. , Anderson Sean C. , Salomon Anne K.
Published: June 2016

Theory predicts that bottom-heavy biomass pyramids or ‘stacks’ should predominate in real-world communities if trophic-level increases with body size (mean predator-to-prey mass ratio (PPMR) more than 1). However, recent research suggests that inverted biomass pyramids (IBPs) characterize relatively pristine reef fish communities. Here, we estimated the slope of a kelp forest fish community biomass spectrum from underwater visual surveys. The observed biomass spectrum slope is strongly positive, reflecting an IBP. This is incongruous with theory because this steep positive slope would only be expected if trophic position decreased with increasing body size (consumer-to-resource mass ratio, less than 1). We then used δ15N signatures of fish muscle tissue to quantify the relationship between trophic position and body size and instead detected strong evidence for the opposite, with PPMR ≈ 1650 (50% credible interval 280–12 000). The natural history of kelp forest reef fishes suggests that this paradox could arise from energetic subsidies in the form of movement of mobile consumers across habitats, and from seasonally pulsed production inputs at small body sizes. There were four to five times more biomass at large body sizes (1–2 kg) than would be expected in a closed steady-state community providing a measure of the magnitude of subsidies.
Factors affecting genetic connectivity and diversity of the island night lizard
Authors: Rice Stephen E. , Clark Rulon W.
Published: June 2016

Habitat loss and fragmentation is one of the most severe threats to global biodiversity. Because human development often fragments natural areas into habitat “islands”, studies which characterize the genetic structure of species isolated on oceanic islands may provide insight into the management of anthropogenic habitat islands. The San Clemente Island night lizard,Xantusia riversiana reticulata, is endemic to two California Channel Islands, each with a history of anthropogenic disturbance. We genotyped 917 individuals from San Clemente Island and Santa Barbara Island at 23 microsatellite loci to quantify population structure and identify natural and anthropogenic landscape features affecting intra-island connectivity. We found significant, but shallow, population structure on each island with sites < 400 m apart identified as distinct genepools. Landscape genetic analyses identified conductive habitat as California boxthorn and prickly pear cactus on both islands. Landscape features which decreased connectivity were unique to each island and included natural and human-mediated features. These results can inform management plans on each island by identifying habitat targets for mitigation and restoration efforts designed to improve connectivity. Our results highlight the need for considering fine-scale features correlated with contemporary and historical patterns of fragmentation, especially in small and isolated habitats on the mainland that may be analogous to oceanic islands.
Structural insights into the catalytic reaction trigger and inhibition ofD-3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase
Authors: Kanazawa Hiroki , Hoque Md. Mominul , Tsunoda Masaru , Suzuki Kaoru , Yamamoto Tamotsu , Kawai Gota , Kondo Jiro , Takénaka Akio
Published: June 2016

D-3-Hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase catalyzes the reversible conversion of acetoacetate and D-3-hydroxybutyrate. These ketone bodies are both energy-storage forms of acetyl-CoA. In order to clarify the structural mechanisms of the catalytic reaction with the cognate substrate D-3-hydroxybutyrate and of the inhibition of the reaction by inhibitors, the enzyme fromAlcaligenes faecalishas been analyzed by X-ray crystallography in liganded states with the substrate and with two types of inhibitor: malonate and methylmalonate. In each subunit of the tetrameric enzyme, the substrate is trapped on the nicotinamide plane of the bound NAD+. An OMIT map definitively shows that the bound ligand is D-3-hydroxybutyrate and not acetoacetate. The two carboxylate O atoms form four hydrogen bonds to four conserved amino-acid residues. The methyl group is accommodated in the nearby hydrophobic pocket so that the formation of a hydrogen bond from the OH group of the substrate to the hydroxy group of Tyr155 at the active centre is facilitated. In this geometry, the H atom attached to the C3atom of the substrate in thesp3configuration is positioned at a distance of 3.1 Å from the nicotinamide C4atom in the direction normal to the plane. In addition, the donor–acceptor relationship of the hydrogen bonds suggests that the Tyr155 OH group is allowed to ionize by the two donations from the Ser142 OH group and the ribose OH group. A comparison of the protein structures with and without ligands indicates that the Gln196 residue of the small movable domain participates in the formation of additional hydrogen bonds. It is likely that this situation can facilitate H-atom movements as the trigger of the catalytic reaction. In the complexes with inhibitors, however, their principal carboxylate groups interact with the enzyme in a similar way, while the interactions of other groups are changed. The crucial determinant for inhibition is that the inhibitors have no active H atom at C3. A second determinant is the Tyr155 OH group, which is perturbed by the inhibitors to donate its H atom for hydrogen-bond formation, losing its nucleophilicity.
Structure of a double hexamer of thePyrococcus furiosusminichromosome maintenance protein N-terminal domain
Authors: Meagher Martin , Enemark Eric J.
Published: June 2016

The crystal structure of the N-terminal domain of thePyrococcus furiosusminichromosome maintenance (MCM) protein as a double hexamer is described. The MCM complex is a ring-shaped helicase that unwinds DNA at the replication fork of eukaryotes and archaea. Prior to replication initiation, the MCM complex assembles as an inactive double hexamer at specific sites of DNA. The presented structure is highly consistent with previous MCM double-hexamer structures and shows two MCM hexamers with a head-to-head interaction mediated by the N-terminal domain. Minor differences include a diminished head-to-head interaction and a slightly reduced inter-hexamer rotation.
Merkel cell carcinoma associated with stable chronic hemodialysis: A report of two cases
Authors: Nagase Kotaro , Kimura Hiromi , Ogawa Shizuka , Tara‐Hashimoto Akiko , Koba Shinichi , Inoue Takuya , Narisawa Yutaka
Published: June 2016

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare but aggressive cutaneous malignancy associated with the Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV). Multiple studies have shown that the incidence of MCC is higher among immunocompromised individuals than among the general population. In fact, immunosuppressed individuals account for approximately 10% of the MCC patient population. In this report, we describe two cases of MCPyV‐related MCC in Japanese patients on hemodialysis. In both the cases, MCC was present on the face. Both cellular and humoral immunities have been shown to be decreased in uremic patients, and dialysis patients have a high risk of viral‐mediated cancers, including human papillomavirus‐associated cancers. Immune dysfunction related to uremia and dialysis may be associated with a high risk of developing MCC.
Allometric and temporal scaling of movement characteristics in Galapagos tortoises
Authors: Bastille‐Rousseau Guillaume , Yackulic Charles B. , Frair Jacqueline L. , Cabrera Freddy , Blake Stephen
Published: June 2016

Understanding how individual movement scales with body size is of fundamental importance in predicting ecological relationships for diverse species. One‐dimensional movement metrics scale consistently with body size yet vary over different temporal scales. Knowing how temporal scale influences the relationship between animal body size and movement would better inform hypotheses about the efficiency of foraging behaviour, the ontogeny of energy budgets, and numerous life‐history trade‐offs.

We investigated how the temporal scaling of allometric patterns in movement varies over the course of a year, specifically during periods of motivated (directional and fast movement) and unmotivated (stationary and tortuous movement) behaviour. We focused on a recently diverged group of species that displays wide variation in movement behaviour – giant Galapagos tortoises (Chelonoidisspp.) – to test how movement metrics estimated on a monthly basis scaled with body size.

We used state‐space modelling to estimate seven different movement metrics of Galapagos tortoises. We used log‐log regression of the power law to evaluate allometric scaling for these movement metrics and contrasted relationships by species and sex.

Allometric scaling of movement was more apparent during motivated periods of movement. During this period, allometry was revealed at multiple temporal intervals (hourly, daily and monthly), with values observed at daily and monthly intervals corresponding most closely to the expected one‐fourth scaling coefficient, albeit with wide credible intervals. We further detected differences in the magnitude of scaling among taxa uncoupled from observed differences in the temporal structuring of their movement rates.

Our results indicate that the definition of temporal scales is fundamental to the detection of allometry of movement and should be given more attention in movement studies. Our approach not only provides new conceptual insights into temporal attributes in one‐dimensional scaling of movement, but also generates valuable insights into the movement ecology of iconic yet poorly understood Galapagos giant tortoises.
Single‐ and Multiple‐Informant Research Designs to Examine the Human Resource Management−Performance Relationship
Authors: Bou‐Llusar Juan Carlos , Beltrán‐Martín Inmaculada , Roca‐Puig Vicente , Escrig‐Tena Ana Belén
Published: June 2016

During the last decades, many empirical studies have analysed the relationship between human resource management and firm performance. Despite the call for multiple‐rater designs, a relatively large number of researchers still rely on survey responses provided by a single informant in each organization. Single‐informant designs suffer from a number of problems, especially when the responses provided by different types of raters across firms are pooled into a single dataset prior to assessing their equivalence across raters. Using an illustration of the relationship between high performance work systems and firm performance, in this paper we observe that responses provided by managers holding different positions (human resource managers and sales managers) differ significantly and therefore pooling their responses into a single dataset may result in confusing conclusions. Furthermore, we demonstrate that differences arise in the estimated parameters when a multiple‐key‐informant approach, compared to a single‐informant design, is adopted. For these reasons, data collection using multiple key informants is recommended, based on the assumption that some raters in the firm will be more knowledgeable about the variables of interest than others.
US Interstate Risk Sharing: A Post‐Crisis Examination
Authors: Duwicquet Vincent , Farvaque Etienne
Published: June 2016

This paper examines the modalities of risk sharing in the United States, and their evolution between the pre‐financial crisis period and the post‐crisis one. Reassessing the mechanisms at play in the US economy, we document a lower share of adjustment coming from capital markets, in comparison to previous estimates. The measures taken during the crisis have not impacted the absolute degree of risk sharing, although the relative size of its components has changed, with a stronger role for the federal government.
Paediatric acute care: Highlights from the PAC‐APLS conference, Sydney, 2015
Authors: Teo Stephen , Stanford Jane , Rao Arjun , Babl Franz E
Published: June 2016

The Paediatric Acute Care Conference (PACC) is an annual conference organised by Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS) Australia to advance paediatric acute care topics for clinicians in pre‐hospital medicine, EDs, acute paediatrics, intensive care and anaesthesia. All PACC content is made available free online (https://vimeo.com/aplsaustralia). The PAC conference 2015 was held at Coogee, Sydney. We provide a summary of some of the presentations.
Time‐Independent and Time‐Dependent Rheological Characterization of Dispersions with Varying Contents of Chickpea Flour and Gum Arabic Employing the Multiple Loop Experiments
Authors:  J. Shanthilal , Bhattacharya Suvendu
Published: June 2016

The chickpea (Cicer arietinum) flour dispersions as the model system with different contents of flour (37% to 43%) and gum arabic (0% to 5%) were subjected to multiple loop experiments for simultaneous determination of the time‐independent and time‐dependent rheological characteristics. The Herschel–Bulkley model was suitable (0.993 ≤ r ≤ 0.999) to relate the time‐independent characteristics linking shear stress and shear rate data for the individual upward and downward curves. The yield stress, consistency index, and apparent viscosity increased with the increasing flour and/or gum contents while flow behavior index (n) decreased. The yield stress generally decreased with the number of loops but n increased. In the individual loop tests, the n values for the decreasing shear stress/shear rate curves were always higher than corresponding increasing curves meaning a shift toward Newtonian characteristics. The time‐independent properties (yield stress, apparent viscosity, consistency index, and n), the time‐dependent characteristics like the area of the loop, and liquid characteristics like pourability and the nonoral sensory attributes (viscosity, spreadability, and tackiness) were individually predicted by artificial neural networks wherein the root mean square errors were between 3.6% and 17.2%. The sensory assessment indicated that the desirable parameters for a free‐flowing and easily pourable spherical chickpea batter droplets occurred when the average pourability and spreadability values were 6.9 and 5.9, respectively. The normalized indices for these 2 parameters indicated that the batter having 40% flour and 2% gum contents was most suitable exhibiting a deviation of only 10% from the ideal sensory scores; these values were 40% and 0% to 3%, and 43% and 0%, respectively exhibiting up to 20% deviation.
Allelopathic interactions involving benthic phototrophic microorganisms
Authors: Allen Joey L. , Ten‐Hage Loïc , Leflaive Joséphine
Published: June 2016

As a way to prevent resource depletion by other species, many phototrophic aquatic microorganisms produce inhibitory compounds. This process, known as allelopathy, has been widely studied in planktonic environments, where it is recognized as being a driving force of planktonic communities. However, in benthic environments, biofilms provide very particular micro‐environments. The present review focuses on allelopathic interactions involving benthic phototrophic prokaryotes and micro‐eukaryotes (‘microalgae’), which generally form biofilms, and includes any interaction involving benthic microalgae either as the emitter or as the target in both marine and freshwater habitats.

To support our hypothesis on the importance of allelopathy in biofilms due to the particularities of biofilms, we show that (i) reported allelopathic species and compounds are diverse and numerous in the three major groups of benthic phototrophic microorganisms, (ii) allelopathic benthic species could affect community composition, (iii) allelopathy in biofilms is currently underestimated because of the lack of suitable methods.

As benthic primary producers represent an important source of organic carbon in some streams and littoral areas, these interactions could impact the whole ecosystem in these areas, probably more than in areas dominated by planktonic communities.
Prevalence of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases and clinical significance of ANA profile: data from a tertiary hospital in Shanghai, China
Authors: Yang Zaixing , Ren Yingpeng , Liu Donghong , Lin Feng , Liang Yan
Published: June 2016

It is necessary and useful to explore prevalence of various systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) in patients with suspicion of having SARDs and to characterize antinuclear antibodies (ANA) profile for identifying different populations (SARDs and non‐SARDs). A total of 5024 consecutive patients with available medical records were investigated, whose sera had been tested for ANA profile, including ANA, anti‐dsDNA and anti‐extractable nuclear antigen (ENA) antibodies, between 31 January 2012 and 26 March 2014. Only 594 (11.8%) patients were diagnosed with SARDs of those suspected with SARDs. The prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was highest (3.2%), followed by rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (2.5%), primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) (1.7%), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) (1.5%), etc. Of females, SLE also showed the highest prevalence (6%), while of males, AS showed the highest prevalence (1.9%). The prevalence of most SARDs was closely associated with age, except mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), and the variation characteristics among different age groups were different among various SARDs. The prevalence of ANA was significantly increased in most SARD patients [especially in SLE, systemic sclerosis (SSc) and MCTD]. For anti‐ENA antibodies, in contrast to some autoantibodies associated with multiple SARDs (e.g. anti‐SSA, SSB, nRNP), others were relatively specific for certain diseases, such as anti‐dsDNA, Sm, histone, nucleosome and Rib‐P for SLE, anti‐SCL‐70 for SSc and anti‐Jo‐1 for polymyositis/dermatomyositis (PM/DM). Of note, ANA profile appeared to be of little significance for AS, ANCA‐associated vasculitis (AAV), polymyalgia rheumatic (PMR), adult‐onset Still's disease (ASD) and Behcet's disease (BD). The younger were more likely to have the presence of anti‐dsDNA, Sm, histone or Rib‐P for SLE, and anti‐SSA for RA or MCTD. No significant differences for frequencies of ANA and anti‐ENA autoantibodies were found between sexes in most SARDs, with the exception of RA and AS. The present study suggests that, of patients with SARDs‐like clinical manifestations, the proportion of those with true SARDS is small, for most of whom tests for autoantibodies are necessary and useful to help make a prompt and precise diagnosis.
Genetic relationships between length of productive life and lifetime production efficiency in a commercial swine herd in Northern Thailand
Authors: Noppibool Udomsak , Elzo Mauricio A. , Koonawootrittriron Skorn , Suwanasopee Thanathip
Published: June 2016

Genetic parameters and trends for length of productive life (LPL), lifetime number of piglets born alive per year (LBAY), lifetime number of piglets weaned per year (LPWY), lifetime litter birth weight per year (LBWY) and lifetime litter weaning weight per year (LWWY) were estimated using phenotypic records of 3085 sows collected from 1989 to 2013 in a commercial swine farm in Northern Thailand. The five‐trait animal model included the fixed effects of first farrowing year‐season, breed group and age at first farrowing. Random effects were animal and residual. Heritability estimates ranged from 0.04 ± 0.02 for LBWY to 0.17 ± 0.04 for LPL. Genetic correlations ranged from 0.66 ± 0.14 between LPL and LBAY to 0.95 ± 0.02 between LPWY and LWWY. Spearman rank correlations among estimated breeding values for LPL and lifetime production efficiency traits tended to be higher for boars than for sows. Sire genetic trends were negative and significant for all traits, except for LPWY. Dam genetic trends were positive and significant for all traits. Sow genetic trends were mostly positive and significant only for LPWY and LBWY. Improvement of LPL and lifetime production efficiency traits will require these traits to be included in the selection indexes used to choose replacement boars and gilts in this population.