bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phylogeographic Analysis Reveals Multiple International transmission Events Have Driven the Global Emergence of Escherichia coli O157:H7
Authors: Franz Eelco , Rotariu Ovidiu , Lopes Bruno S , MacRae Marion , Bono James L , Laing Chad , Gannon Victor , Söderlund Robert , van Hoek Angela H A M , Friesema Ingrid , French Nigel P , George Tessy , Biggs Patrick J , Jaros Patricia , Rivas Marta , Chinen Isabel , Campos Josefina , Jernberg Cecilia , Gobius Kari , Mellor Glen E , Chandry P Scott , Perez-Reche Francisco , Forbes Ken J , Strachan Norval J C
Published: October 2018

Background

Shiga toxin–producing Escherchia coli (STEC) O157:H7 is a zoonotic pathogen that causes numerous food and waterborne disease outbreaks. It is globally distributed, but its origin and the temporal sequence of its geographical spread are unknown.

Methods

We analyzed whole-genome sequencing data of 757 isolates from 4 continents, and performed a pan-genome analysis to identify the core genome and, from this, extracted single-nucleotide polymorphisms. A timed phylogeographic analysis was performed on a subset of the isolates to investigate its worldwide spread.

Results

The common ancestor of this set of isolates occurred around 1890 (1845–1925) and originated from the Netherlands. Phylogeographic analysis identified 34 major transmission events. The earliest were predominantly intercontinental, moving from Europe to Australia around 1937 (1909–1958), to the United States in 1941 (1921–1962), to Canada in 1960 (1943–1979), and from Australia to New Zealand in 1966 (1943–1982). This pre-dates the first reported human case of E. coli O157:H7, which was in 1975 from the United States.

Conclusions

Inter- and intra-continental transmission events have resulted in the current international distribution of E. coli O157:H7, and it is likely that these events were facilitated by animal movements (eg, Holstein Friesian cattle). These findings will inform policy on action that is crucial to reduce the further spread of E. coli O157:H7 and other (emerging) STEC strains globally.
Mucosal microbiota and metabolome along the intestinal tracts reveals location specific relationship
Authors: Yuan Ce , Graham Melanie , Staley Christopher , Subramanian Subbaya
Published: October 2018

Background

The intestinal microbiota has been recognized as an important component for maintaining human health. The perturbation to its structure has been implicated in many diseases, such as obesity and cancers. The microbiota is highly metabolically active and plays a role in many metabolic pathways absent from the human host. Altered microbiota metabolism has also been linked to obesity, cardiovascular disease, and colorectal cancer. However, there is a gap in the current knowledge of how the microbiota interacts with its host. Here we performed an integrated analysis between the mucosal-associated microbiota and the mucosal tissue metabolomics in healthy non-human primates (NHPs) to investigate these relationships.

Results

We found that the overall microbiota composition is influenced by both the tissue location as well as the host individual. The NHPs intestinal microbiota predominantly comprised of members of the phyla Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria. The large intestines contain more Spirochaetes, Tenericutes, and Lentisphaera phyla members. The small intestinal tissues have no significantly different microbiota compositions, while the cecum and distal colon differ greatly in the microbiota compositions. The metabolomics profile reveals a total of 140 metabolites with different concentration between the small and large intestines. The correlations between microbiota and tissue metabolites showed a dense and interconnected network in the small intestines while a sparse network in the large intestines.

Conclusions

Our analysis revealed an intricate global relationship between the microbiota and the host tissue metabolome that is mainly driven by the distal colon. Most importantly, we found location specific microbiota-metabolite correlations that have potential implications for studying host-microbiota metabolic interactions.
Convergent eusocial evolution is based on a shared reproductive groundplan plus lineage-specific plastic genes
Authors: Warner Michael R. , Qiu Lijun , Holmes Michael J. , Mikheyev Alexander S. , Linksvayer Timothy A.
Published: October 2018

Eusociality has convergently evolved multiple times, but the genomic basis of caste-based division of labor and degree to which independent origins of eusociality have utilized common genes remain largely unknown. Here we characterize caste-specific transcriptomic profiles across development and adult body segments from pharaoh ants (Monomorium pharaonis) and honey bees (Apis mellifera), representing two independent origins of eusociality. We identify a substantial shared core of genes upregulated in the abdomens of queen ants and honey bees that also tends to be upregulated in mated female flies, suggesting that these genes are part of a conserved insect reproductive groundplan. Outside of this shared groundplan, few genes are differentially expressed in common. Instead, the majority of the thousands of caste-associated genes are plastically-expressed, rapidly evolving, and relatively evolutionarily young. These results emphasize that the recruitment of both highly conserved and lineage-specific genes underlie the convergent evolution of novel traits such as eusociality.
Suppressor of Fused controls perinatal expansion and quiescence of future dentate adult neural stem cells
Authors: Noguchi Hirofumi , Castillo Jesse Garcia , Nakashima Kinichi , Pleasure Samuel J.
Published: October 2018

Adult hippocampal neurogenesis requires the quiescent neural stem cell (NSC) pool to persist lifelong. The establishment and maintenance of quiescent NSC pools during development is not understood. Here we show that Suppressor of Fused (Sufu) controls establishment of the quiescent NSC pool during mouse dentate gyrus (DG) development through regulation of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling. Deletion ofSufuin NSCs at the beginning of DG development decreases Shh signaling leading to reduced proliferation of NSCs, resulting in a small quiescent NSC pool in adult mice. We found that putative adult NSCs proliferate and increase their numbers in the first postnatal week and subsequently become quiescent towards the end of the first postnatal week. In the absence of Sufu, postnatal expansion of NSCs is compromised, and NSCs prematurely become quiescent. Thus, Sufu is required for Shh signaling activity ensuring the expansion and proper transition of NSC pools to quiescence during DG development.
Quantifying motor protein copy number in super-resolution using an imaging invariant calibration
Authors: Zanacchi Francesca Cella , Manzo Carlo , Magrassi Raffaella , Derr Nathan D. , Lakadamyali Melike
Published: October 2018

Motor proteins are nanoscale machines that convert the energy of ATP hydrolysis into the mechanical motion of walking along cytoskeletal filaments. In doing so, they transport organelles and help maintain sub-cellular organization. We previously developed a DNA origami-based calibration approach to extract protein copy number from super-resolution images. Using this approach, we show here that the retrograde motor protein dynein is mostly present as a single motor in the cytosol, whereas a small population of dynein along the microtubule cytoskeleton forms higher-order multimers organized into nano-sized domains. We further demonstrate, using dynein as a test sample, that the DNA origami-based calibration data we previously generated can be extended to super-resolution images taken under different experimental conditions, enabling the quantification of any GFP-fused protein of interest. Our results have implications for motor coordination during intracellular trafficking as well as for using super-resolution as a quantitative method to determine protein copy number at the nanoscale level.
An ancient role for Collier/Olf/Ebf (COE)-type transcription factors in axial motor neuron development
Authors: Catela Catarina , Correa Edgar , Aburas Jihad , Croci Laura , Giacomo Consalez G. , Kratsios Paschalis
Published: October 2018

Background

Mammalian motor circuits display remarkable cellular diversity with hundreds of motor neuron (MN) subtypes innervating hundreds of different muscles. Extensive research on limb muscle-innervating MNs has begun to elucidate the genetic programs that control animal locomotion. In striking contrast, the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of axial muscle-innervating MNs, which control breathing and spinal alignment, are poorly studied.

Methods

Our previous studies indicated that the function of the Collier/Olf/Ebf (COE) family of transcription factors (TFs) in axial MN development may be conserved from nematodes to simple chordates. Here, we examine the expression pattern of all four mouse COE family members (mEbf1-mEbf4) in spinal MNs and employ genetic approaches in both nematodes and mice to investigate their function in axial MN development.

Results

We report that mEbf1 and mEbf2 are expressed in distinct MN clusters (termed “columns”) that innervate different axial muscles. Mouse Ebf1 is expressed in MNs of the hypaxial motor column (HMC), which is necessary for breathing, while mEbf2 is expressed in MNs of the medial motor column (MMC) that control spinal alignment. Our characterization of Ebf2 knock-out mice revealed a requirement for Ebf2 in the differentiation of a subset of MMC MNs, indicating molecular diversity within MMC neurons. Intriguingly, transgenic expression of mEbf1 or mEbf2 can rescue axial MN differentiation and locomotory defects in nematodes (Caenorhabditis elegans) lackingunc-3, the soleC. elegansortholog of the COE family, suggesting functional conservation among mEbf1, mEbf2 and nematode UNC-3.

Conclusions

These findings support the hypothesis that the genetic programs controlling axial MN development are deeply conserved across species, and further advance our understanding of such programs by revealing an essential role for Ebf2 in mouse axial MNs. Because human mutations in COE ortholgs lead to neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by motor developmental delay, our findings may advance our understanding of these human conditions.
Visualization of axonal protein allocation inDrosophilawith whole-brain localization microscopy
Authors: Chu Li-An , Lu Chieh-Han , Yang Shun-Min , Feng Kuan-Lin , Liu Yen-Ting , Chen Chun-Chao , Tsai Yun-Chi , Chen Peilin , Lee Ting-Kuo , Hwu Yeu-Kuang , Chen BiChang , Chiang Ann-Shyn
Published: October 2018

Long-term memory (LTM) formation requires learning-induced protein synthesis in specific neurons and synapses within a neural circuit. Precisely how neural activity allocates new proteins to specific synaptic ensembles, however, remains unknown. We developed a deep-tissue super-resolution imaging tool suitable for single-molecule localization in intact adultDrosophilabrain, and focused on the axonal protein allocation in mushroom body (MB), a central neuronal structure involved in olfactory memory formation. We found that insufficient training suppresses LTM formation by inducing the synthesis of vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) proteins within a dorsal paired medial (DPM) neuron, which innervates all axonal lobes of the MB. Surprisingly, using our localization microscopy, we found that these learning-induced proteins are distributed only in a subset of DPM axons in specific sectors along the MB lobes. This neural architecture suggests that sector-specific modulation of neural activity from MB neurons gates consolidation of early transient memory into LTM.
AMPK regulates germline stem cell quiescence and integrity through an endogenous small RNA pathway
Authors: Kadekar Pratik , Roy Richard
Published: October 2018

C. elegans larvae can undergo a global developmental arrest following the execution of a diapause-like state called ‘dauer’ in response to unfavourable growth conditions. Survival in this stage surpasses the normal lifespan of reproductive animals quite dramatically, and without any apparent negative impact on their reproductive fitness. During this period, the germ cells become quiescent and must retain their reproductive integrity so the animal can reproduce following recovery. This germline stem cell (GSC) arrest requires the activity of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and in its absence the germ line undergoes hyperplasia. We show here that AMPK mutant animals exhibit complete sterility after recovery from dauer, suggesting that germ cell integrity is compromised during this stage in the absence of AMPK. These defects correlate with altered abundance and distribution of a number of chromatin modifications that affect gene expression. These aberrant chromatin modifications, along with the supernumerary germ cell divisions and the observed post-dauer sterility, were all corrected by disabling key effectors of the small interfering RNA pathway (dcr-1 and rde-4) and the primary Argonaute protein ergo-1, suggesting that AMPK regulates the function of these small RNA pathway components, and in its absence, the pathways become abnormally active. The aberrant regulation of the small RNA pathway components releases the germ cells from quiescence to proliferative state thereby compromising germ cell integrity. Curiously, AMPK expression in either the neurons or the excretory system is sufficient to restore the GSC quiescence and the fertility in the AMPK mutant post-dauer adults, while the fertility of these animals is also partially restored by disabling the dsRNA importer SID-1. Our data suggest that AMPK regulates a small RNA pathway in the soma to establish and/or maintain GSC quiescence and integrity cell non-autonomously in response to the energy stress associated with the dauer stage. Our findings therefore provide a unique model to better understand how the soma communicates with the germ line to establish the appropriate epigenetic modifications required to adapt to acute environmental challenges.
The multi PAM2 protein Upa2 functions as novel core component of endosomal mRNA transport
Authors: Jankowski Silke , Pohlmann Thomas , Baumann Sebastian , Müntjes Kira , Devan Senthil Kumar , Zander Sabrina , Feldbrügge Michael
Published: October 2018

mRNA transport determines spatiotemporal protein expression. Transport units are higher-order ribonucleoprotein complexes containing cargo mRNAs, RNA-binding proteins and accessory proteins. Endosomal mRNA transport in fungal hyphae belongs to the best-studied translocation mechanisms. Although several factors are known, additional core components are missing. Here, we describe the 232 kDa protein Upa2 containing multiple PAM2 motifs (poly[A]-binding protein [Pab1] associated motif 2) as a novel core component. Loss of Upa2 disturbs transport of cargo mRNAs and associated Pab1. Upa2 is present on almost all transport endosomes in an mRNA dependent-manner. Surprisingly, all four PAM2 motifs are dispensable for function during unipolar hyphal growth. Instead, Upa2 harbours a novel N-terminal effector domain as important functional determinant as well as a C-terminal GWW motif for specific endosomal localisation. In essence, Upa2 meets all the criteria of a novel core component of endosomal mRNA transport and appears to carry out crucial scaffolding functions.
Impact of chronic urticaria on systemic lupus erythematosus: A nationwide population‐based study in Taiwan
Authors: Yong Su‐Boon , Su Kuan‐Wen , Chen Huang‐Hsi , Huang Jing‐Yang , Wu Hsing‐Ju , Wei James Cheng‐Chung
Published: October 2018

Chronic urticaria (CU) may be closely pathogenically related to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study aims to investigate the association between CU and SLE patients in Taiwan. A nationwide population‐based cohort study from 1997 to 2013 was conducted. Investigated subjects were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database using the International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision code. Participants consisted of 13 845 subjects newly diagnosed with CU from 2003 to 2013. We estimated the incidence risk of SLE among patients with CU by time‐to‐event analysis. Patients with CU were more likely to be female, and had a significant difference in urbanization and length of hospital stays (P < 0.0001). The incidence rates of SLE for the CU and control groups were 3.55 and 1.68, respectively. The crude hazard ratio of SLE among subjects with CU was 2.113 compared with the non‐urticarial control group. After adjusting the demographic, length of hospital stay and comorbidity, the adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of SLE was still significantly higher in the CU group (aHR = 2.113) compared with the control group. The use of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs or corticosteroids may decrease the risk of SLE in patients with CU (P = 0.0216 and 0.0120, respectively). In conclusion, CU is associated with a higher risk of incidental SLE in this population‐based, nationwide, cohort study. Inflammation and immune dysregulation are considered two potential mechanisms. Clinically, patients with urticaria should be carefully evaluated for risk of future SLE.
Cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 expressed by melanoma cells does not affect melanoma‐specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes in the effector phase
Authors: Inozume Takashi , Hanada Ken‐ichi , Takeda Kazuyo , Maeda Tatsuo , Harada Kazutoshi , Kawamura Tatsuyoshi
Published: October 2018

Cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte‐associated protein 4 (CTLA‐4) is one of the important molecules that regulate the anti‐melanoma T‐cell response. Currently, there are some reports showing that CTLA‐4 is expressed not only by T cells but also by various kinds of tumor cells, including melanoma cells. However, there is no report that shows the role of CTLA‐4 expressed by melanoma cells in melanoma‐specific cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte (CTL) response. In this report, we confirmed substantial CTLA‐4 expression and the localization of CTLA‐4 in melanoma cell lines and tissues. Also, we examined its impact on melanoma‐specific CTL in vitro, and found that CTLA‐4 expressed by melanoma cells does not affect melanoma‐specific CTL in the effector phase. Our findings suggest the importance of elucidating the role of CTLA‐4 expressed by melanoma cells, particularly in anti‐CTLA‐4 antibody therapy.
Integrated, Regional‐Scale Hydrologic Modeling of Inland Lakes
Authors: Hanson Zachary J. , Zwart Jacob A. , Vanderwall Joseph , Solomon Christopher T. , Jones Stuart E. , Hamlet Alan F. , Bolster Diogo
Published: October 2018

Inland lakes constitute an important global freshwater resource and are often defining features of local and regional landscapes. While coupled surface water (SW) and groundwater (GW) models are increasingly available, there is a clear need for spatially explicit yet computationally parsimonious modeling frameworks to explore the impacts of climate, land use, and other drivers on lake hydrologic and biogeochemical processes. To address this need, we developed a new method to simulate daily water budgets for many individual lakes at large spatial scales. By integrating SW, GW, and lake water budget models in a simple manner, we created a modeling framework capable of simulating the historical and future hydrologic dynamics of lakes with varying hydrologic characteristics. By extension, the model output enables ecological modeling in response to hydrologic drivers. As a case study, we applied the model to a large, lake‐rich region in northern Wisconsin and Michigan, simulating daily water budgets for nearly 4,000 lakes over a 36‐year period. Despite minimal calibration efforts, our simulated results compared reasonably well with observations and more sophisticated modeling approaches. Our integrated modeling requires very limited information, can be run on readily available computer resources, such as a desktop PC, and can be applied at regional, continental, or global scales, where necessary model setup and forcing data are available.
How Hydrologic Connectivity Regulates Water Quality in River Corridors
Authors: Harvey Jud , Gomez‐Velez Jesus , Schmadel Noah , Scott Durelle , Boyer Elizabeth , Alexander Richard , Eng Ken , Golden Heather , Kettner Albert , Konrad Chris , Moore Richard , Pizzuto Jim , Schwarz Greg , Soulsby Chris , Choi Jay
Published: October 2018

Downstream flow in rivers is repeatedly delayed by hydrologic exchange with off‐channel storage zones where biogeochemical processing occurs. We present a dimensionless metric that quantifies river connectivity as the balance between downstream flow and the exchange of water with the bed, banks, and floodplains. The degree of connectivity directly influences downstream water quality — too little connectivity limits the amount of river water exchanged and leads to biogeochemically inactive water storage, while too much connectivity limits the contact time with sediments for reactions to proceed. Using a metric of reaction significance based on river connectivity, we provide evidence that intermediate levels of connectivity, rather than the highest or lowest levels, are the most efficient in removing nitrogen from Northeastern United States’ rivers. Intermediate connectivity balances the frequency, residence time, and contact volume with reactive sediments, which can maximize the reactive processing of dissolved contaminants and the protection of downstream water quality. Our simulations suggest denitrification dominantly occurs in riverbed hyporheic zones of streams and small rivers, whereas vertical turbulent mixing in contact with sediments dominates in mid‐size to large rivers. The metrics of connectivity and reaction significance presented here can facilitate scientifically based prioritizations of river management strategies to protect the values and functions of river corridors.
Of Small Streams and Great Lakes: Integrating Tributaries to Understand the Ecology and Biogeochemistry of Lake Superior
Authors: Marcarelli Amy M. , Coble Ashley A. , Meingast Karl M. , Kane Evan S. , Brooks Colin N. , Buffam Ishi , Green Sarah A. , Huckins Casey J , Toczydlowski David , Stottlemyer Robert
Published: October 2018

Lake Superior receives inputs from approximately 2,800 tributaries that provide nutrients and dissolved organic matter (DOM) to the nearshore zone of this oligotrophic lake. Here, we review the magnitude and timing of tributary export and plume formation in Lake Superior, how these patterns and interactions may shift with global change, and how emerging technologies can be used to better characterize tributary–lake linkages. Peak tributary export occurs during snowmelt‐driven spring freshets, with additional pulses during rain‐driven storms. Instream processing and transformation of nitrogen, phosphorus, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) can be rapid but varies seasonally in magnitude. Tributary plumes with elevated DOC concentration, higher turbidity, and distinct DOM character can be detected in the nearshore during times of high runoff, but plumes can be quickly transported and diluted by in‐lake currents and mixing. Understanding the variability in size and load of these tributary plumes, how they are transported within the lake, and how long they persist may be best addressed with environmental sensors and remote sensing using autonomous and unmanned vehicles. The connections between Lake Superior and its tributaries are vulnerable to climate change, and understanding and predicting future changes to these valuable freshwater resources will require a nuanced and detailed consideration of tributary inputs and interactions in time and space.
U.S. Auditors' Perceptions of the PCAOB Inspection Process: A Behavioral Examination
Authors: Johnson Lindsay M. , Keune Marsha B. , Winchel Jennifer
Published: October 2018

This study examines U.S. auditors' observations of the PCAOB inspection process, and its impact on their work, in order to understand the current U.S. regulatory audit climate. Using 20 interviews with experienced auditors, we consider behavioral factors (e.g., perceived power of and trust in the PCAOB) that can impact the level and form of auditor compliance according to theory from the slippery slope framework on audit regulation (Kirchler et al. 2008; Dowling et al. 2018). Our participants described an audit climate with a powerful regulator. They reported that their desire to receive “clean” inspection reports has had a substantial impact on audit procedures and quality control. However, our participants do not appear to have high trust in the PCAOB, as they questioned aspects of the inspection process and its expectations. Accordingly, we conclude that U.S. public company auditors operate in an antagonistic environment in which auditors perceive the PCAOB has high coercive power. In other words, they comply due to fear of enforcement rather than agreement with the PCAOB's views on audit quality. Some auditors also indicated that they consider both the costs and benefits of compliance. Theoretical intuition implies that any future increases to perceived costs relative to perceived benefits of compliance could ultimately decrease the PCAOB's coercive power and reduce U.S. auditor compliance. Our findings have implications for regulators and researchers interested in understanding behavioral factors that may influence regulatory compliance.
Differently motivated exchange traded fund trading activities and the volatility of the underlying index
Authors: Xu Liao , Yin Xiangkang , Zhao Jing
Published: October 2018

This paper examines the correlations between two types of a market index's volatility and three trading motives of the index's exchange traded funds (ETFs). We find that ETF trading driven by belief dispersion is highly correlated with both the variance in efficient price innovations (VEPI) and the index's total volatility. Privately informed ETF trading is closely connected to the VEPI but not the total volatility, while liquidity ETF trading explains the total volatility but has little power in explaining the VEPI. Moreover, the leading ETF dominates smaller ETFs in explaining both types of volatility and often has more explanatory power than control variables.
Genetic potential for disease resistance in critically endangered amphibians decimated by chytridiomycosis
Authors: Kosch T. A. , Silva C. N. S. , Brannelly L. A. , Roberts A. A. , Lau Q. , Marantelli G. , Berger L. , Skerratt L. F.
Published: October 2018

Hundreds of amphibian species have declined worldwide after the emergence of the amphibian fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Despite captive breeding efforts, it is unlikely that wild populations for many species will be reestablished unless Bd resistance increases. We performed a Bd‐challenge study in the functionally extinct southern corroboree frog Pseudophryne corroboree to investigate differences in Bd susceptibility among individuals and populations, identify genetic [major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I] and genome‐wide variants associated with Bd resistance, and measure genetic diversity and population genetic structure. We found three MHC variants and one MHC supertype associated with Bd infection load and survival along with a suggestively associated single nucleotide polymorphism. We also showed that genome‐wide heterozygosity is associated with increased survival. Additionally, we found evidence of significant population structure among the four P. corroboree populations studied and high MHC genetic diversity. Our results indicate that there are immunogenetic differences among captive southern corroboree frogs; such differences could be manipulated to increase disease resistance and mitigate the significant threat of chytridiomycosis. These results demonstrate a potential long‐term solution to chytridiomycosis that could include breeding more resistant individuals and returning them to the wild.
Towards meaningful monitoring: A case study of a threatened rodent
Authors: Geyle Hayley M. , Guillera‐Arroita Gurutzeta , Davies Hugh F. , Firth Ronald S. C. , Murphy Brett P. , Nimmo Dale G. , Ritchie Euan G. , Woinarski John C. Z. , Nicholson Emily
Published: October 2018

Detecting trends in species’ distribution and abundance are essential for conserving threatened species, and depend upon effective monitoring programmes. Despite this, monitoring programmes are often designed without explicit consideration of their ability to deliver the information required by managers, such as their power to detect population changes. Here, we demonstrate the use of existing data to support the design of monitoring programmes aimed at detecting declines in species occupancy. We used single‐season occupancy models and baseline data to gain information on variables affecting the occupancy and detectability of the threatened brush‐tailed rabbit‐ratConilurus penicillatus(Gould 1842) on the Tiwi Islands, Australia. This information was then used to estimate the survey effort required to achieve sufficient power to detect changes in occupancy of different magnitudes. We found that occupancy varied spatially, driven primarily by habitat (canopy height and cover, distance to water) and fire history across the landscape. Detectability varied strongly among seasons, and was three times higher in the late dry season (July–September), compared to the early dry season (April–June). Evaluation of three monitoring scenarios showed that conducting surveys at times when detectability is highest can lead to a substantial improvement in our ability to detect declines, thus reducing the survey effort and costs. Our study highlights the need for careful consideration of survey design related to the ecology of a species, as it can lead to substantial cost savings and improved insight into species population change via monitoring.
Bees of the Victorian Alps: Network structure and interactions of introduced species
Authors: Johanson Lucy G. , Hoffmann Ary A. , Walker Ken L. , Nash Michael A.
Published: October 2018

Bees are considered the most important plant pollinators in many ecosystems, yet little is known about pollination of native plants by bees in many Australian ecosystems including the alpine region. Here we consider bee pollination in this region by constructing a bee visitation network and investigating the degree of specialism and network ‘nestedness’, which are related to the robustness of the network to perturbations. Bees and flowers were collected and observed from 10 sites across the Bogong High Plains/Mt Hotham region in Victoria. Low nestedness and a low degree of specialism were detected, consistent with patterns in other alpine regions. Twenty‐one native and one non‐indigenous bee species were observed visiting 46 of the 67 flower species recorded. The introduced Apis mellifera had a large floral overlap with native bees, which may reduce fecundity of native bees through competition. The introduced plant, Hypochaeris radicata (Asteraceae), had the largest and most sustained coverage of any flower and had the most visitations and bee species of any flower. The network developed in this study is a first step in understanding pollination patterns in the alpine/subalpine region and serves as a baseline for future comparisons.
Microbat responses to forest decline
Authors: Wentzel Jacobus J. , Craig Michael D. , Barber Paul A. , StJ Hardy Giles E. , Fleming Patricia A.
Published: October 2018

Tree declines have been recorded across forests and woodlands on most continents, causing tree mortality over thousands of square kilometres, yet the impact of tree declines upon mammals have only rarely been quantified. Once the dominant tree over the western parts of the Swan Coastal Plain in Western Australia, tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala) forest has been reduced to less than a third of its former range through clearing for agriculture and urban development. Additionally, over the last 30 years, the remnant population has been heavily impacted by a decline that has an unknown cause, but is likely related to a root pathogen coupled with abiotic factors (reduced rainfall, increased salinity and elevated temperatures). Tuart decline is evident as marked canopy dieback, replacement with epicormic growth and increasing bare branches, while leaf litter is lost from the tree surrounds. We examined the effect of tuart decline and other vegetation measures upon bat activity using auditory monitoring. Vegetation structure was correlated with Vespertilionidae bat activity. Falsistrellus mackenziei were more likely to forage around healthy canopies (activity positively correlated with tuart crown density and negatively correlated with tuart crown dieback). By contrast, the other three taxa were more often encountered in declining rather than healthy tuart sites. Chalinolobus gouldii was positively associated with tuart crown dieback. Activity of Vespadelus regulus and Nyctophilus spp. (species not distinguishable from their calls) were significantly positively correlated with an open tall canopy (positively with cover of plants >10 m tall and negatively with overall canopy cover density). There were no vegetation measurements that were strong predictors of activity of two Molossidae species (Ozimops kitcheneri and Austronomus australis), which intercept insects above the forest canopy. This study clearly reveals different factors influencing the activity of bat taxa, which are likely related to where they feed and their manoeuvrability around tree canopies.
Short‐Term Trading Skills of Individuals, Institutions, and Foreigners: A New Approach Based on Relative Performance
Authors: Chay Jong‐Bom , Kim Wonse
Published: October 2018

This paper evaluates the short‐term trading skills of three types of investor: individuals, institutions, and foreigners. Based on a dataset that identifies the types of sellers and buyers for all trades, we examine (i) how stock prices move contemporaneously with trading activities between investor types, and (ii) whether, given such price movements, one type of investor has superior skills in timing purchases (sales) of stocks over another type of investor. Using tests based on daily and weekly horizons, we find evidence that individuals have poor trading skills and provide liquidity to both institutions and foreigners. When domestic institutions trade with foreigners, we find that foreigners generally show superior trading skills.
The protective effect of cheese consumption at 18 months on allergic diseases in the first 6 years
Authors: Nicklaus Sophie , Divaret‐Chauveau Amandine , Chardon Marie‐Laure , Roduit Caroline , Kaulek Vincent , Ksiazek Eléa , Dalphin Marie‐Laure , Karvonen Anne M. , Kirjavainen Pirkka , Pekkanen Juha , Lauener Roger , Schmausser‐Hechfellner Elisabeth , Renz Harald , Braun‐Fahrländer Charlotte , Riedler Josef , Vuitton Dominique A. , Mutius Erika Von , Dalphin Jean‐Charles ,   Pasture Study Group
Published: October 2018

Background

The effect of exposure to microorganisms on allergic diseases has been well studied. The protective effect of early food diversity against allergic diseases was previously shown in the PASTURE cohort study. The consumption of cheese, a food potentially rich in microbial diversity, deserves further examination. We aimed to evaluate whether cheese consumption is associated with allergic diseases.

Methods

In the PASTURE study (birth cohort in 5 European countries), data on feeding practices, environmental factors, and allergic diseases were collected by questionnaires from birth to 6 years (N = 931). Cheese consumption at 18 months of age was quantified in terms of frequency and diversity (ie, number of consumed types among 6 types: hard pressed, semipressed, soft, blue, fresh cheese, and cheese from the farm). Multiple logistic regressions were performed to evaluate the effect of cheese consumption on atopic dermatitis (AD), food allergy (FA), allergic rhinitis, asthma, and atopic sensitization at 6 years after adjustment for confounders of atopy.

Results

Cheese consumption (vs. nonconsumption) had a significant protective effect on AD (OR = 0.51 [0.29‐0.90], P = 0.02) and FA (OR = 0.32, [0.15‐0.71], P = 0.004), but no effect on atopic sensitization, allergic rhinitis, and asthma at 6 years. This effect on AD and FA may be related to the diversity of consumed cheeses (OR = 0.64 [0.48‐0.85] per cheese type, P = 0.002; OR = 0.55 [0.33‐0.92], P = 0.02, respectively).

Conclusion

Although reverse causality cannot totally be ruled out, cheese diversity at 18 months had a protective effect against AD and FA at 6 years in addition to the protective effect of diversity of other foods.
Emergence and Aftermath: The (Un)Becoming of Resources and Identities in Northwestern Ecuador
Authors: Kneas David
Published: October 2018

Along the peripheries of mineral exploration, resources come and go, defined by periods of presence and absence. Though recent scholarship on “resource becoming” highlights the nonlinearity of subsoil resources, analyses of identity formation and resource conflict still tends to assume resource inevitability. Yet the ebbing of resource potential reflects on‐the‐ground social fields that have received little ethnographic attention. Such is the case in the Intag region of northwestern Ecuador, site of copper mineralization and an ongoing conflict over resource exploration. In this article, I examine the everyday relations between pro‐mining “mineros” and anti‐mining “ecologistas” during and after a conflict with Ascendant Copper, a junior company present between 2004 and 2008. Analyzing these local relations through the medium of social play, I describe the mediated and equivocated ways locals articulated these subject positions. This dynamic set the conditions for a distinct period of aftermath following Ascendant's departure, during which the significance ofmineroandecologistasubjectivities waned. While anthropologists have long approached emergent identities as processes of being and becoming, this article puts into sharper relief questions of degree and duration, highlighting the partial formation of these identities and the conditions through which they may subside. [identity, temporality, resource becoming, mining conflict, Ecuador]
To make one's name famous:
Authors: CHAPMAN SUSANNAH
Published: October 2018

Recent efforts to draft plant variety protection (PVP) legislation in The Gambia and sub‐Saharan Africa have sparked criticism from civil society organizations. Citing incongruences between intellectual property law and practices of farmer seed management, these organizations have emphasized the importance of “unfettered” seed exchange among farmers even as they have called for farmers to be granted certain exclusive rights to the varieties they develop. Where the appeals invoked a language of limits familiar to PVP, they also departed from Gambian farmers’ accounts of varietal innovation and its rewards. For farmers, attaining varietal namesakes that could travel across vast networks of farmers generated the rewards of innovation. In this way, farmers articulated a version of claims that pushes against the analytical limits set by calls for exclusive rights. [agriculture, intellectual property, innovation, value, nonhumans, Gambia, West Africa]
Labour Geographies of Workplace Restructuring: An Intra‐Labour Analysis
Authors: Warren Andrew
Published: October 2018

Informed by labour geography's thrust to situate workers as active subjects of analysis, this article examines lived experiences of restructuring at Australia's single largest industrial workplace. Drawing on extended ethnographic research, the article traverses three restructuring outcomes faced by workers and their families: (1) job retention; (2) redundancy; and (3) re‐employment. Amid the turbulence and uncertainty of a major workplace restructuring episode, workers' different lived experiences illuminate uneven intra‐labour power relations. As capitalist workplaces are re‐organised and labour processes redefined, more conflictual and divisive relationships often develop among groups of workers differentially positioned within the hierarchical labour markets of large firms. Emphasising restructuring episodes as generative contexts for grounded labour geographies research, the article develops intra‐labour agency as a critical analytical frame to explore more deeply the agency implications of workplace structures, co‐worker relationships, and social life matters that shape workers' capacities for action inside and beyond workplaces.
Are women antenatally diagnosed with abnormally invasive placenta receiving optimal management in England? An observational study of planned place of delivery
Authors: Sargent Will , Collins Sally L.
Published: October 2018

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate the planned place of delivery for women antenatally diagnosed with abnormally invasive placenta (AIP) in England and identify how many units regard themselves to be “specialist centers” for the management of AIP.

Material and methods

Observational study of obstetric‐led units in England. An anonymous survey was sent to the delivery suite lead clinician in all 154 consultant‐led units throughout England. The main outcome measures were whether each unit planned to manage AIP “in‐house”, the estimated number of AIP cases delivered in the previous 5 years and whether the unit considered itself a “specialist center” for AIP management.

Results

In all, 114 of 154 units responded (74%): 80 (70%) manage AIP cases “in‐house”, 23 (29%) of these report that they regard themselves “specialist centers” for AIP. The 23 “specialist centers” managed significantly more cases than “non‐specialist centers” (5.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.3‐7.3 vs 2.3, 95% CI 1.5‐3.1 cases/unit/year; P < .001); nearly one‐third of “non‐specialist centers” manage less than 1 case per year. Extrapolating the reported number of cases to all 154 obstetrician‐led delivery units produces an estimate of 5.2 cases per 10 000 births over the last 5 years.

Conclusions

Most units plan to manage AIP “in‐house” despite encountering few cases each year. Centralizing care would allow the multidisciplinary team in each “specialist center” to develop significant experience in the management of this rare condition, leading to improved outcomes for the women.
Bevacizumab in age‐related macular degeneration: a randomized controlled trial on the effect of on‐demand therapy every 4 or 8 weeks
Authors: Amarakoon Sankha , Martinez‐Ciriano José P. , van den Born L. Ingeborgh , Baarsma Seerp , Missotten Tom
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Intravitreal anti‐vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) injections are an effective treatment for neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nARMD). Bevacizumab appears to be a cost‐effective off‐label anti‐VEGF alternative to ranibizumab, but an optimal injection schedule has not yet been determined. In this study, we investigate whether on‐demand bevacizumab treatment every 8 weeks is non‐inferior to on‐demand bevacizumab every 4 weeks in treating nARMD.

Methods

A total of 120 nARMD patients were randomly assigned to an on‐demand regimen of intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) every 4 (n = 60) or 8 weeks (n = 60). The primary outcome was visual acuity (VA) change after 1 year of treatment.

Results

Visual acuity (VA) improved between baseline and 1 year in both treatment groups. The mean change in the VA score at 1 year was not significantly different between bevacizumab administration on‐demand every 4 weeks [5.6 ± 10.2 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) letter] or 8 weeks (4.6 ± 12.0 ETDRS letters). A reduction in the central retinal thickness was observed in both groups. At 1 year, the mean decrease in central foveal thickness ranged from 61 ± 90 μm in the 4‐week group to 91 ± 83 μm in the 8‐week group (p = 0.07). The mean number of IVB treatments during the study period was 8.7 ± 2.3 in the 4‐week group and 5.9 ± 1.0 in the 8‐week group.

Conclusion

At 1 year, bevacizumab administration on‐demand every 8 weeks was non‐inferior to administration every 4 weeks. The results strongly suggest that bevacizumab acts longer than 4 weeks in ARMD, reducing the burden of injections for patients.
Macular perfusion velocities in the ocular ischaemic syndrome
Authors: Klefter Oliver Niels , Kofoed Peter Kristian , Munch Inger Christine , Larsen Michael
Published: October 2018

Purpose

To assess retinal perfusion in eyes with unilateral ocular ischaemic syndrome (OIS) and to compare with control subjects.

Methods

Retrospective case series. Linear blood flow velocities in macular vessels were estimated using motion‐contrast fundus photography in eight patients with unilateralOIS(eightOISeyes, seven fellow eyes) and 12 control subjects. The diagnosis ofOISwas supported by carotid artery Doppler ultrasonography and pneumoplethysmographic measurement of ocular systolic perfusion pressure.

Results

Macular arterial blood flow velocity (median, range) was 1.8 (1.4–2.7) mm/s inOISeyes, 4.0 (2.9–5.3) mm/s in fellow eyes (p = 0.016) and 3.8 (2.3–5.1) mm/s in control eyes (p = 0.0004 and p = 0.67 versusOISand fellow eyes, respectively). Macular venous blood flow velocity was 1.5 (1.0–2.1) mm/s inOISeyes, 2.6 (2.0–2.9) mm/s in fellow eyes (p = 0.016) and 2.7 (1.8–3.5) mm/s in control eyes (p = 0.0007 and p = 0.64). Arterial velocities were below or equal to the lowest value observed in control subjects (≤2.3 mm/s) in seven of eight eyes withOIS. Visual acuity 0.7 or worse was found in twoOISeyes with arterial velocities below 1.7 mm/s and venous velocities below 1.3 mm/s and together with neovascular glaucoma or polycythemia vera (one eye each).

Conclusion

Motion‐contrast imaging revealed markedly reduced macular perfusion velocities inOISeyes compared with unaffected fellow eyes and healthy control eyes. The method appears to provide a clinically meaningful quantitative measure of macular hypoperfusion.
Reducing avoidable visual impairment in elderly home healthcare patients by basic ophthalmologic screening
Authors: van Nispen Ruth , van der Aa Hilde , Timmermans Frank , Meijer Nikki , Koster Nicole , de Blok Jos , Keunen Jan , van Rens Ger
Published: October 2018

Purpose

To investigate the prevalence of potential age‐related eye conditions in elderly who are assisted by home healthcare nurses. The number of referrals to the general practitioner (GP), feasibility of screening and associations between vision loss and health outcomes were also studied.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study in which trained home healthcare nurses screened the eyes of 151 patients [mean age 80 (50–96 years)] using their available correction, with VISION 2020 Netherlands screeners (e.g. acuity/field loss). Health outcomes were assessed with questionnaires.

Results

Distance decimal visual acuity was ≤0.3 in 20.5% (unilateral) and 19.9% (bilateral) of patients, and near visual acuity was ≤0.4 in 17.7% (unilateral) and 33.3% (bilateral). Macular dysfunction was present in 21.5% (unilateral) and 8.3% (bilateral) and peripheral field problems in 11.4% (unilateral) and 7.9% (bilateral). GP referrals were proposed in 21.5%; in 40%, the GP or ophthalmologist was already aware of eye problems. Although health problems were prominent in participants (8.6% fractures, 22% depression and 18% anxiety), no significant associations were found between vision loss and self‐reported outcomes.

Conclusion

Sixty per cent of frail elderly home healthcare patients had an ophthalmologic condition. Although a large number was already known in eye health care, >20% was referred with an unrecognized ophthalmologic problem. Basic ophthalmologic screening by home healthcare nurses might be a potentially relevant tool to reduce the burden of age‐related vision loss, contributing to the joint World Health Organization – VISION 2020 initiative to eliminate avoidable blindness. Relevant health outcomes do not seem to be clearly related to having visual impairment, but rather to having general health problems.