bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Search for magic patches that heal the broken heart
Authors: Jiang Fan
Published: December 2015

Heart failure caused by acute myocardial infarction remains a great challenge in clinical practice due to the high mortality rate associated with this pathology. Current therapies mainly aim to prevent expansion of the initial infarct lesion; however, approaches to effective regeneration of functional myocardium remain elusive. A recent breakthrough is that scientists have shown a collagen‐based cardiac patch containing follistatin‐like 1 can not only attenuate infarction‐induced heart injuries, but also stimulate proliferation of endogenous myocytes. These results raise the possibility that the intrinsic cardiomyocyte division, albeit a rare phenomenon, may be therapeutically manipulated and augmented for treating myocardial infarction and heart failure, at least in mice.
The role of tissue‐specific microbiota in initial establishment success of Pacific oysters
Authors: Lokmer Ana , Kuenzel Sven , Baines John F. , Wegner Karl Mathias
Published: December 2015

Microbiota can have positive and negative effects on hosts depending on the environmental conditions. Therefore, it is important to decipher host–microbiota–environment interactions, especially under natural conditions exerting (a)biotic stress. Here, we assess the relative importance of microbiota in different tissues of Pacific oyster for its successful establishment in a new environment. We transplanted oysters from the Southern to the Northern Wadden Sea and controlled for the effects of resident microbiota by administering antibiotics to half of the oysters. We then followed survival and composition of haemolymph, mantle, gill and gut microbiota in local and translocated oysters over 5 days. High mortality was recorded only in non‐antibiotic‐treated translocated oysters, where high titres of active Vibrio sp. in solid tissues indicated systemic infections. Network analyses revealed the highest connectivity and a link to seawater communities in the haemolymph microbiota. Since antibiotics decreased modularity and increased connectivity of the haemolymph‐based networks, we propose that community destabilization in non‐treated translocated oysters could be attributed to interactions between resident and external microbiota, which in turn facilitated passage of vibrios into solid tissues and invoked disease. These interactions of haemolymph microbiota with the external and internal environment may thus represent an important component of oyster fitness.
Divided Interests: Multi‐level Parties and the Politics of Territorial Reform in Sweden
Authors: Feltenius David
Published: December 2015

In the beginning of 2007, the Committee on Public Sector Responsibilities (CPSR) presented its final report on the future organization of the intermediate level of government in Sweden. The CPSR, which consisted of representatives from all parties in parliament, recommended replacing the existing structure of 20 county councils with six to nine regional municipalities. The committee's proposal is paradoxical in light of the resistance to regions that exists within the country's two largest parties: the Social Democrats and the Moderates. The purpose of this article is to describe and explain the CPSR's unanimous proposal to establish regional municipalities despite this resistance. How was it possible to achieve a unanimous proposal? In order to explain this paradox, I use the ‘multi‐level party’ theoretical approach. The empirical study, consisting of a qualitative case study of the actions of the Moderates and the Social Democrats on territorial policy, supports this theoretical construct. It is evident from the empirical record that groups within the parties had different views about territorial policy. Within the CPSR, the advocates for regions took control, which made a unanimous proposal possible. The research findings improve our understanding of party organization in a polity characterized by multilevel governance. When the central level delegates more power and responsibility to subnational levels, the balance of power within parties changes. New regional and local elites arise, which makes it possible for a single party to communicate different messages on territorial policy depending on which group is in charge within a particular arena.
Long‐Run Fiscal Multipliers for Autonomous Prefectures in China
Authors: Shi Yingxin , Fukushige Mototsugu
Published: December 2015

In this paper, we successfully overcome the problems of data availability and investigate the fiscal multipliers for autonomous prefectures in China. We first estimate the long‐run elasticity of gross regional production with respect to fiscal expenditure at the prefecture level using autoregressive distributed lag models. We find that the estimated long‐run elasticity is much less than unity and that the estimated fiscal multipliers for prefectures lie between 0.61 and 4.93, with an average of 1.93. These results indicate that additional fiscal expenditure remains effective in increasing local income and promoting economic growth for most autonomous prefectures.
On Blending Competitive Trade Models
Authors: Jones Ronald W.
Published: December 2015

Three standard models typically discussed in the theory of international trade are the Ricardian model, the Heckscher‐Ohlin model and the Specific‐Factors model. Models are often compared with each other, in an attempt to analyze which model is best or fits reality better. Instead, I suggest that these international trade models can often be blended to take account of finite changes when, as a country develops, the appropriate model to be used changes as the pattern of production changes. Trade allows countries to produce fewer commodities than it consumes, and which commodities are selected to be produced may change as the economy grows in the size of its endowment bundle and/or technology changes. At issue is not only the question of which commodities are produced, but also how many commodities are produced, especially with reference to the number of productive factors.
Antenatal and postnatal care: a review of innovative models for improving availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of services in low‐resource settings
Authors: Kearns AD , Caglia JM , ten Hoope‐Bender P , Langer A
Published: December 2015

Key lessons can be drawn from innovative approaches that have been implemented to ensure access to better antenatal care (ANC) and postnatal care (PNC). This paper examines the successes and challenges ofANCandPNCdelivery models in several settings around the world; discusses the lessons to be learned from them; and makes recommendations for future programmes. Based on this review, we conclude that close monitoring ofANCandPNCquality and delivery models, health workforce support, appropriate use of electronic technologies, integrated care, a woman‐friendly perspective, and adequate infrastructure are key elements of successful programmes that benefit the health and wellbeing of women, their newborns and families. However, a full evaluation of care delivery models is needed to establish their acceptability, accessibility, availability and quality.

Tweetable abstract

New paper examines global innovations in antenatal/postnatal care @MHTF@ICS_Integrare #MNCH#healthsystems.
Coevolution of Brachiopod Paleobiogeography and Tectonopaleogeography during the Early–Middle Permian
Authors: Chengwen WANG , Yongqin MAO , Ning LI , Pu ZONG
Published: December 2015

A comprehensive compilation and systematic analysis of known early and middle Permian brachiopod faunas shows that the early Permian brachiopod faunas comprise three realms, six regions, and eleven provinces, while those of the middle Permian comprise three realms, four regions, and eight provinces. A comparison and analysis of brachiopod faunal patterns reveal a coevolution between global brachiopod paleobiogeography and tectonopaleogeography during the early–middle Permian. Although temperature/latitude is the main factor controlling the formation of three realms, tectonopaleogeographic factors determine the temperature/latitude in which the continents were located. The ‘continental barrier’ of Pangea, as a ‘central axis’ continent, divided the three realms into six regions, which indicates that the formation of biogeographic regions was controlled mainly by the tectonopaleogeographic factors. The evolution of tectonopaleogeography was sometimes a long–term process, so that the biogeographic regions (or provinces) controlled by tectonopaleogeography displayed relative stability. Shifts in the nature of biogeographic provinces (e.g., from cool water to warm water, and vice versa), extensions or narrowing of geographical ranges, and recombinations of some provinces were all related to regional tectonic evolution. The study of the coevolution between brachiopod paleobiogeography and tectonopaleogeography not only accounts for the formation mechanisms of brachiopod paleobiogeographic patterns during the early–middle Permian, but also provides evidences for the locations and configurations of oceans and plates (blocks) during this period.
Characterization of Galena and Vein Paragenesis in the Penjom Gold Mine, Malaysia: Trace Elements, Lead Isotope Study and Relationship to Gold Mineralization Episodes
Authors: Zakaria ENDUT , Tham Fatt NG , Jasmi Hafiz ABDUL AZIZ , Sebastien MEFFRE , Charles MAKOUNDI
Published: December 2015

The Penjom Gold Mine is located 30 km from the Bentong‐Raub Suture at the western boundary of the Central Belt in Peninsular Malaysia. Gold mineralization hosted within the vein system is associated with pyrite, arsenopyrite, and minor base metals including galena. Trace element and lead isotope analysis was undertaken on nine samples that represent two stages of galena formed during two tectonic events. Both the Pb isotopes and the trace elements show that the first stage galena within the mineralized areas at the footwall has different geochemical characteristics compared with galena in non mineralized areas in the hanging wall, suggesting that galena crystallized from two different ore fluids and probably at two different times. Higher Te, Se and Bi in the galena from the mineralized area may indicate hydrothermal fluids that migrate through the structural conduit and leached out the metal along the pathway that consist of dominant carbonaceous unit. The Pb isotopic ratio composition are transitional between the bulk crustal growth and an upper crustal growth curve, indicating that derivation was from arc rocks associated with continental crust or a crustal source that includes arc volcanic and old continental sedimentary rocks.
Zircon U‐Pb Geochronology and Geochemical Characteristics of the Volcanic Host Rocks from the Tongyu VHMS Copper Deposit in the Western North Qinling Orogen and Their Geological Significance
Authors: Xiao XIONG , Laimin ZHU , Ben LI , Guowei ZHANG , Hujun GONG , Jun ZHENG , Hang JIANG
Published: December 2015

Precise in situ zircon U‐Pb dating and Lu–Hf isotopic measurement using an LA‐ICP‐MS system, whole‐rock major and trace element geochemistry and Sr–Nd isotope geochemistry were conducted on the volcanic host rocks of the Tongyu copper deposit on the basis of further understanding of its geological characteristics. Three zircon samples from the volcanic host rocks yielded 206Pb/238U weighted average ages ranging from 436±4 Ma to 440±5 Ma, which are statistically indistinguishable and coeval with the ca. 440 Ma northward subduction event of the Paleo‐Qinling oceanic slab. The volcanic host rocks were products of magmatic differentiation that evolved from basalt to andesite to dacite to rhyolite, forming an integrated tholeiitic island arc volcanic rock suite. The primitive mantle‐normalized trace element patterns for most samples show characteristics of island arc volcanic rocks, such as relative enrichment of LILE (e.g. Th, U, Pb and La) and depletion of HFSE (e.g. Nb, Ta, Ti, Zr and Hi). Discrimination diagrams of Ta/Yb vs Th/Yb, Ta vs Th, Yb vs Th/Ta, Ta/Hf vs Th/Hf, Hf/3 vs Th vs Nb/16, La vs La/Nb and Nb vs Nb/Th all suggest that both the volcanic host rocks from the Tongyu copper deposit and the volcanic rocks from the regional Xieyuguan Group were formed in an island arc environment related to subduction of an oceanic slab. Values of ISr (0.703457 to 0.708218) and ∊Nd(t) (–2 to 5.8) indicate that the source materials of volcanic rocks from the Tongyu copper deposit and the Xieyuguan Group originated from the metasomatised mantle wedge with possible crustal material assimilation. Most of the volcanic rock samples show good agreement with the values of typical island arc volcanic rocks in the ISr–∊Nd(t) diagram. The involvement of crustal‐derived material in the magma of the volcanic rocks from the Tongyu copper deposit was also reflected in the zircon ∊Hf(t) values, which range from –3.08 to 10.7, and the existence of inherited ancient xenocrystic zircon cores (2616±39 Ma and 1297±22 Ma). The mineralization of the Tongyu copper deposit shows syn‐volcanic characteristics such as layered orebodies interbedded with the volcanic rock strata, thus, the zircon U–Pb age of the volcanic host rocks can approximately represent the mineralization age of the Tongyu copper deposit. Both the Meigou pluton and the volcanic host rocks were formed during the ca. 440 Ma northward subduction of the Paleo‐Qinling Ocean when high oxygen fugacity aqueous hydrothermal fluid released by dehydration of the slab and the overlying sediments fluxed into the mantle wedge, triggered partial melting of the mantle wedge, and activated and extracted Cu and other ore‐forming elements. The magma and ore‐bearing fluid upwelled and erupted, and consequently formed the island arc volcanic rock suite and the Tongyu VHMS‐type copper deposit.
Outline of Metallogenic Regularity of Bauxite Deposits in China
Authors: Lan GAO , Jihong LI , Denghong WANG , Xiaoyun XIONG , Chengwei YI , Meizhi HAN
Published: December 2015

Among the abundant aluminum ore resources in China, bauxite is dominated, which is mainly distributed in 19 provinces and regions, including Shanxi, Henan, Guizhou and Guangxi. The major deposit type of bauxite is paleo‐weathering crust sedimentary type, and the other one is the accumulation type. The main metallogenic period is the late Paleozoic Era followed by the Cenozoic Era. The metallogenic tectonic background is characterized by a cratonic environment. This paper summarizes the bauxite metallogenic regularity based on the characteristics of bauxite resources, bauxite deposit type, bauxite metallogenic belt and metallogenic series in China, and 15 bauxite metallogenic belts, 8 bauxite metallogenic series and 7 bauxite ore concentrated areas were identified in the study. This paper also provides a theoretical basis for the evaluation of the potential of bauxite resources.
CMV seropositivity and T‐cell senescence predict increased cardiovascular mortality in octogenarians: results from the Newcastle 85+ study
Authors: Spyridopoulos Ioakim , Martin‐Ruiz Carmen , Hilkens Catharien , Yadegarfar Mohammad E. , Isaacs John , Jagger Carol , Kirkwood Tom , von Zglinicki Thomas
Published: December 2015

Although chronic infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) is known to drive T lymphocytes toward a senescent phenotype, it remains controversial whether and how CMV can cause coronary heart disease (CHD). To explore whether CMV seropositivity or T‐cell populations associated with immunosenescence were informative for adverse cardiovascular outcome in the very old, we prospectively analyzed peripheral blood samples from 751 octogenarians (38% males) from the Newcastle 85+ study for their power to predict survival during a 65‐month follow‐up (47.3% survival rate). CMV‐seropositive participants showed a higher prevalence of CHD (37.7% vs. 26.7%, P = 0.030) compared to CMV‐seronegative participants together with lower CD4/CD8 ratio (1.7 vs. 4.1, P < 0.0001) and higher frequencies of senescence‐like CD4 memory cells (41.1% vs. 4.5%, P < 0.001) and senescence‐like CD8 memory cells (TEMRA, 28.1% vs. 6.7%, P < 0.001). CMV seropositivity was also associated with increased six‐year cardiovascular mortality (HR 1.75 [1.09–2.82], P = 0.021) or death from myocardial infarction and stroke (HR 1.89 [107–3.36], P = 0.029). Gender‐adjusted multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that low percentages of senescence‐like CD4 T cells (HR 0.48 [0.32–0.72], P < 0.001) and near‐senescent (CD27 negative) CD8 T cells (HR 0.60 [0.41–0.88], P = 0.029) reduced the risk of cardiovascular death. For senescence‐like CD4, but not near‐senescent CD8 T cells, these associations remained robust after additional adjustment for CMV status, comorbidities, and inflammation markers. We conclude that CMV seropositivity is linked to a higher incidence of CHD in octogenarians and that senescence in both the CD4 and CD8 T‐cell compartments is a predictor of overall cardiovascular mortality as well as death from myocardial infarction and stroke.
Cheater or mutualist? Novel florivory interaction between nectar‐rich Crotalaria cunninghamii and small mammals
Authors: Popic Tony J. , Davila Yvonne C. , Wardle Glenda M.
Published: December 2015

Animals visit flowers to access resources and by moving pollen to conspecific individuals act as pollinators. While biotic pollinators can increase the seed set of plants, other flower visitors can reduce seed set directly by damaging vital reproductive organs and indirectly by affecting the way the plant interacts with subsequent flower visitors. It is, therefore, vital to understand the varied effects of all visitors and not only pollinators on plant fitness, including those visitors that are temporally or spatially rare. We document the first known case of flower visitation by small mammals to Crotalaria cunninghamii (Fabaceae), a plant species morphologically suited to bird pollination. During a rain‐driven resource pulse in the Simpson Desert in 2011, the rodents Mus musculus (Muridae) and Pseudomys hermannsburgensis (Muridae) visited flowers to remove nectar by puncturing the calyx. We investigated the effects of this novel interaction on the reproductive output of C. cunninghamii. Compared with another recent resource pulse in 2007, plants flowering during mammal visitation had five times as many inflorescences per plant, 90% more flowers per inflorescence, and two to three times more nectar per flower, but this nectar was 30% less sugar rich. Concurrently, rodent plagues were up to three times larger during this rain‐driven resource pulse than during a previous pulse in 2007. Up to 75% of flowers had evidence of small mammal florivory, but this was not necessarily destructive, as up to 90% of fruit had the remains of florivory. Through a series of exclusion experiments, we found that small mammal florivory did not directly reduce seed set. We conclude that rain‐driven resource pulses led to a unique combination of events that facilitated the novel florivory interaction. Our findings emphasize the dynamic nature of biotic interactions and the importance of testing the role of all visitors to pollination services.
Health resource use after robot‐assisted surgery vs open and conventional laparoscopic techniques in oncology: analysis of English secondary care data for radical prostatectomy and partial nephrectomy
Authors: Hughes David , Camp Charlotte , O'Hara Jamie , Adshead Jim
Published: December 2015

Objectives

To evaluate postoperative health resource utilisation and secondary care costs for radical prostatectomy and partial nephrectomy in National Health Service (NHS) hospitals in England, via a comparison of robot‐assisted, conventional laparoscopic and open surgical approaches.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively analysed the secondary care records of 23 735 patients who underwent robot‐assisted (RARP, n = 8 016), laparoscopic (LRP, n = 6 776) or open radical prostatectomy (ORP, n = 8 943). We further analysed 2 173 patients who underwent robot‐assisted (RAPN, n = 365), laparoscopic (LPN, n = 792) or open partial nephrectomy (OPN, n = 1 016). Postoperative inpatient admissions, hospital bed‐days, excess bed‐days and outpatient appointments at 360 and 1 080 days after surgery were reviewed.

Results

Patients in the RARP group required significantly fewer inpatient admissions, hospital bed‐days and excess bed‐days at 360 and 1 080 days than patients undergoing ORP. Patients undergoing ORP had a significantly higher number of outpatient appointments at 1 080 days. The corresponding total costs were significantly lower for patients in the RARP group at 360 days (£1679 vs £2031 for ORP; P < 0.001) and at 1 080 days (£3461 vs £4208 for ORP; P < 0.001). In partial nephrectomy, Patients in the RAPN group required significantly fewer inpatient admissions and hospital bed‐days at 360 days compared with those in the OPN group; no significant differences were observed in outcomes at 1 080 days. The corresponding total costs were lower for patients in the RAPN group at 360 days (£779 vs £1242 for OPN, P = 0.843) and at 1 080 days (£2122 vs £2889 for ORP; P = 0.570). For both procedure types, resource utilisation and costs for laparoscopic surgeries lay at the approximate midpoint of those for robot‐assisted and open surgeries.

Conclusion

Our analysis provides compelling evidence to suggest that RARP leads to reduced long‐term health resource utilisation and downstream cost savings compared with traditional open and laparoscopic approaches. Furthermore, despite the limitations that arise from the inclusion of a small sample, these results also suggest that robot‐assisted surgery may represent a cost‐saving alternative to existing surgical options in partial nephrectomy. Further exploration of clinical cost drivers, as well as an extension of the analysis into subsequent years, could lend support to the wider commissioning of robot‐assisted surgery within the NHS.
Expression of visfatin in the diabetic rat retina
Authors: Qu Shen , Mo Lijuan , Niu Yunli , Sun Xiaoting , Li Houshuo , Wang Zhen , Xu Wei , Rong Ao
Published: December 2015

Background

Visfatin has been found in adipose tissue, liver and kidney of healthy and diabetic people, with its expression being increased in the aforementioned tissues in diabetes. Based on the former researches, visfatin may exist in the retina and affect the development of diabetic retinopathy. The expression of visfatin in Sprague–Dawley rats' retina, which may carve a path to study the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, was investigated by this study.

Methods

The mRNA and protein expression of visfatin in Sprague–Dawley rats' retina were detected by the reverse transcription‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and western blot. Immunohistochemical staining was applied to detect the expression location of visfatin in the rats' retinas.

Results

The mRNA and visfatin protein expressions in both normal and streptozocin‐induced diabetic rats' retina increased significantly in 2 to 8 weeks of diabetes mellitus (DM). Compared with the normal control groups, the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). The histological examination showed that the retinal thickness decreased gradually over the course of DM and the decrease in the outer nuclear layer was the most obvious. At 4 and 8 weeks, the decrease in the retinal thickness was significant (P < 0.01). Visfatin was expressed in the retinal nerve fibre layer, inner plexiform layer and outer plexiform layer, and with the progression of DM, its expression was increased.

Conclusions

Visfatin was expressed in the rats' retinas, mainly in the retinal nerve fibre layer, inner plexiform layer and outer plexiform layer. As the development of DM course, its expression was gradually increased.
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado–Joseph disease: segregation patterns and factors influencing instability of expanded CAG transmissions
Authors: Souza G.N. , Kersting N. , Krum‐Santos A.C. , Santos A.S.P. , Furtado G.V. , Pacheco D. , Gonçalves T.A. , Saute J.A. , Schuler‐Faccini L. , Mattos E.P. , Saraiva‐Pereira M.L. , Jardim L.B.
Published: December 2015

Controversies about Mendelian segregation and CAG expansion (CAGexp) instabilities during meiosis in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado–Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD) need clarification. Additional evidence about these issues was obtained from the cohort of all SCA3/MJD individuals living in South Brazil. A survey was carried out to update information registered since 2001. Deaths were checked with the Public Information System, and data was made anonymous. Anticipation and delta‐CAGexp from parent–offspring pairs, and delta‐CAGexp between siblings were obtained. One hundred and fifty‐nine families (94% of the entire registry) were retrieved, comprising 3725 living individuals as of 2015, 625 of these being symptomatic. Minimal prevalence was 6:100,000. Carriers of a CAGexp represented 65.6% of sibs in the genotyped offspring (p < 0.001). Median instability was larger among paternal than maternal transmissions, and instabilities correlated with anticipation (r = 0.38; p = 0.001). Age of the parent correlated to delta‐CAGexp among 115 direct parent–offspring CAGexp transmissions (ρ = 0.23, p = 0.014). In 98 additional kindreds, the delta‐CAGexp between 269 siblings correlated with their delta‐of‐age (ρ = 0.27, p < 0.0001). SCA3/MJD was associated with a segregation distortion favoring the expanded allele in our cohort. Instability of expansion during meiosis was weakly influenced by the age of the transmitting parent at the time of conception.
To Plan or to Simply React? An Experimental Study of Action Planning in a Game Environment
Authors: Černý Martin , Barták Roman , Brom Cyril , Gemrot Jakub
Published: December 2015

Many contemporary computer games, notably action and role‐playing games, represent an interesting class of navigation‐intensive dynamic real‐time simulations inhabited by autonomous intelligent virtual agents (IVAs). Although higher level reasoning of IVAs in these domains seems suited for action planning, planning is not widely adopted in existing games and similar applications. Moreover, statistically rigorous study measuring performance of planners in decision making in a game‐like domain is missing. Here, five classical planners were connected to the virtual environment of Unreal Development Kit along with a planner for delete‐free domains (only positive preconditions and positive effects). Performance of IVAs employing those planners and IVAs with reactive architecture was measured on a class of game‐inspired test environments of various sizes and under different levels of external interference. The analysis has shown that planning agents outperform reactive agents if (i) the size of the problem is small or if (b) the environment changes are either hostile to the agent or infrequent. In delete‐free domains, specialized approaches are inferior to classical planners because the lower expressivity of delete‐free domains results in lower plan quality. These results can help to determine when planning is advantageous in games and for IVAs control in other dynamic real‐time environments.
A Community Structure‐Based Approach for Network Immunization
Authors: Yoshida Tetsuya , Yamada Yuu
Published: December 2015

We propose a community structure‐based approach that does not require community labels of nodes, for network immunization. Social networks have been widely used as daily communication infrastructures these days. However, fast spreading of information over networks may have downsides such as computer viruses or epidemics of diseases. Because contamination is propagated among subgraphs (communities) along links in a network, use of community structure of the network would be effective for network immunization. However, despite various research efforts, it is still difficult to identify ground‐truth community labels of nodes in a network. Because communities are often interwoven through intermediate nodes, we propose to identify such nodes based on the community structure of a network without requiring community labels. By regarding the community structure in terms of nodes, we construct a vector representation of nodes based on a quality measure of communities. The distribution of the constructed vectors is used for immunizing intermediate nodes among communities, through the hybrid use of the norm and the relation in the vector representation. Experiments are conducted over both synthetic and real‐world networks, and our approach is compared with other network centrality‐based approaches. The results are encouraging and indicate that it is worth pursuing this path.
Embedding Evidence on Conservation Interventions Within a Context of Multilevel Governance
Authors: Ekroos Johan , Leventon Julia , Fischer Joern , Newig Jens , Smith Henrik G.
Published: December 2015

We outline a conceptual strategy for implementing conservation interventions in a multiscale, multiactor, and multilevel governance world. Using farmland as an example, we argue that conservation interventions should be implemented within a multiscale framework of guiding ecological principles. In this context, findings from multilevel governance research can inform a nuanced understanding of the role of evidence in conservation governance and decision‐making. We propose that principles of evidence‐based conservation can be used to refine guiding ecological principles across scales, thereby creating a comprehensive evidence base that underpins decision‐making. This evolving evidence base, in turn, should be operationalized by considering the fit of ecologically relevant scales to governance levels, paying explicit attention to issues such as democratic legitimacy and interplay with existing governance structures. We outline two specific steps for meeting this challenge. Drawing on a strategic combination of conservation interventions, guiding ecological principles, and insights from multilevel governance research promises to improve both the effectiveness and legitimacy of conservation action.
Comparative histopathologic analysis of cutaneous extranodal natural killer/T‐cell lymphomas according to their clinical morphology
Authors: Lee Woo Jin , Lee Mi Hye , Won Chong Hyun , Chang Sung Eun , Choi Jee Ho , Moon Kee Chan , Park Chan‐Sik , Lee Mi Woo
Published: December 2015

Background

Few studies have evaluated the histopathologic features of cutaneous extranodal natural killer (NK)/T‐cell lymphoma (ENKTL), and the histopathologic spectrum of this disease according to its clinical morphology remains unclear.

Objective

This study investigated the differences in pathologic findings of cutaneous ENKTL depending on clinical morphology.

Methods

A total of 41 cases of cutaneous ENKTL were included. Skin lesions were classified according to clinical morphology as: (i) nodular lesions, (ii) cellulitis or abscess‐like swellings and (iii) erythematous to purpuric patches. Histopathologic variables were compared between groups.

Results

Perivascular infiltration of tumor cells and vasculopathy in the dermis and subcutaneous layer were common microscopic findings irrespective of clinical morphology. Erythematous to purpuric patches were mainly composed of small‐sized tumor cells, whereas medium‐ to large‐tumor cells were predominant in lesions of other clinical morphologies. The density of tumor cell infiltration was significantly higher in cellulitis or abscess‐like lesions or nodular lesions compared with erythematous to purpuric patches. A panniculitis‐like pattern and angiocentricity were less common in patch lesions than in cellulitis‐like swelling and nodular lesions.

Conclusion

There is a histopathologic spectrum of cutaneous ENKTL that is dependent on the clinical morphology.
Optimal Fee Structures of Crowdsourcing Platforms
Authors: Wen Zhong , Lin Lihui
Published: December 2015

Crowdsourcing platforms specialize in hosting open contests and usually charge a percentage of the prizes as service fees. While prior research has studied the design of contests and the behavior of contestants, the strategy of a crowdsourcing platform has remained largely unexplored. We develop a game‐theoretic model of crowdsourcing services and find the optimal fee structure of a platform. We prove for the case of a single contest that the service fees should be an increasing concave function of task prizes and show that this also holds true for the case of multiple contests. We further find that for a platform with many users and tasks, there is an optimal ratio of the number of contestants and contests. Our research is one of the first to focus on the strategies of crowdsourcing platforms and our results have interesting managerial implications. We show that the linear fee schedule widely used in practice is not optimal and that a platform is better off lowering the fee rate for contests with high prizes. It is also in the best interests of a platform to develop both sides of the crowdsourcing market proportionally and keep the ratio of contestants and contests at the optimal level.
Autumn food restriction reduces smoltification rate, but not over‐winter survival, in juvenile brown trout Salmo trutta
Authors: Näslund Joacim , Sundström L. Fredrik , Johnsson Jörgen I.
Published: December 2015

The winter is often considered as a survival bottleneck for stream‐living fish. Juvenile salmonids generally become less active during this period, and while food intake continues to some extent, growth rates are typically low. Here we present the results of an over‐winter field experiment where energy levels were manipulated in late autumn. Three groups of juvenile (age 1+) brown trout, from an anadromous population, were monitored with respect to over‐winter growth rate and survival (as indicated by recapture rates). Two groups were fed either high (HR), or low (LR) food rations in the laboratory for a month (October); the third group remained in the stream (STR). Over‐winter growth rates were relatively low in all groups, and no growth compensation could be detected. Compared to HR and LR, STR fish had higher recapture rates after winter, indicating that laboratory housing may have affected the subsequent stream survival negatively. Comparing the two laboratory‐housed groups, the LR group reached similar condition as the HR group in early spring, without indications of differences in survival. However, the initiation rate of body silvering (indicating initiation of smoltification) was lower in the LR group. Thus, it appears that food restriction during late autumn affect the onset of smoltification in juvenile brown trout. The results support previous laboratory studies indicating that salmonids modify their over‐winter foraging behaviour to avoid too low energy levels at the end of winter. This modification appears to delay smoltification, but may not necessarily be costly in terms of over‐winter mortality.
Age‐dependent mesial temporal lobe lateralization in language fMRI
Authors: Sepeta Leigh N. , Berl Madison M. , Wilke Marko , You Xiaozhen , Mehta Meera , Xu Benjamin , Inati Sara , Dustin Irene , Khan Omar , Austermuehle Alison , Theodore William H. , Gaillard William D.
Published: December 2015

Objective

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) activation of the mesial temporal lobe (MTL) may be important for epilepsy surgical planning. We examined MTL activation and lateralization during language fMRI in children and adults with focal epilepsy.

Methods

One hundred forty‐two controls and patients with left hemisphere focal epilepsy (pediatric: epilepsy, n = 17, mean age = 9.9 ± 2.0; controls, n = 48; mean age = 9.1 ± 2.6; adult: epilepsy, n = 20, mean age = 26.7 ± 5.8; controls, n = 57, mean age = 26.2 ± 7.5) underwent 3T fMRI using a language task (auditory description decision task). Image processing and analyses were conducted using Statistical Parametric Mapping (SPM8); regions of interest (ROIs) included MTL, Broca's area, and Wernicke's area. We assessed group and individual MTL activation, and examined degree of lateralization.

Results

Patients and controls (pediatric and adult) demonstrated group and individual MTL activation during language fMRI. MTL activation was left lateralized for adults, but less so in children (p's < 0.005). Patients did not differ from controls in either age group. Stronger left‐lateralized MTL activation was related to older age (p = 0.02). Language lateralization (Broca's and Wernicke's) predicted 19% of the variance in MTL lateralization for adults (p = 0.001), but for not children.

Significance

Language fMRI may be used to elicit group and individual MTL activation. The developmental difference in MTL lateralization and its association with language lateralization suggests a developmental shift in lateralization of MTL function, with increased left lateralization across the age span. This shift may help explain why children have better memory outcomes following resection compared to adults.
Long‐term reduction of health care costs and utilization after epilepsy surgery
Authors: Schiltz Nicholas K. , Kaiboriboon Kitti , Koroukian Siran M. , Singer Mendel E. , Love Thomas E.
Published: December 2015

Objective

To assess long‐term direct medical costs, health care utilization, and mortality following resective surgery in persons with uncontrolled epilepsy.

Methods

Retrospective longitudinal cohort study of Medicaid beneficiaries with epilepsy from 2000 to 2008. The study population included 7,835 persons with uncontrolled focal epilepsy ages 18–64 years, with an average follow‐up time of 5 years. Of these, 135 received surgery during the study period. To account for selection bias, we used risk‐set optimal pairwise matching on a time‐varying propensity score, and inverse probability of treatment weighting. Repeated measures generalized linear models were used to model utilization and cost outcomes. Cox proportional hazard was used to model survival.

Results

The mean direct medical cost difference between the surgical group and control group was $6,806 after risk‐set matching. The incidence rate ratio of inpatient, emergency room, and outpatient utilization was lower among the surgical group in both unadjusted and adjusted analyses. There was no significant difference in mortality after adjustment. Among surgical cases, mean annual costs per subject were on average $6,484 lower, and all utilization measures were lower after surgery compared to before.

Significance

Subjects that underwent epilepsy surgery had lower direct medical care costs and health care utilization. These findings support that epilepsy surgery yields substantial health care cost savings.
Parents’ interest in genetic testing of their offspring in multiplex epilepsy families
Authors: Caminiti Courtney B. , Hesdorffer Dale C. , Shostak Sara , Goldsmith Jeff , Sorge Shawn T. , Winawer Melodie R. , Phelan Jo C. , Chung Wendy K. , Ottman Ruth
Published: December 2015

Objective

To evaluate parents’ interest in genetic testing of their offspring in families containing multiple individuals with epilepsy.

Methods

Seventy‐seven parents with affected offspring and 173 parents without affected offspring from families containing multiple individuals with epilepsy completed a questionnaire asking about their interest in genetic testing of their offspring. Interest in testing was ascertained in four scenarios defined by clinical utility and penetrance of the gene in the test (100% vs. 50%). Pairwise agreement in interest was assessed between parents for testing themselves versus their offspring, and between mothers and fathers for their offspring.

Results

Among parents with affected offspring, the proportion interested in genetic testing of offspring (“diagnostic testing”) was 86% in the 100% penetrance, clinical utility scenario, and 71% in the 100% penetrance, no clinical utility scenario (p = 0.007). Among parents without affected offspring, comparable proportions interested in genetic testing of offspring (“predictive testing”) were 74% and 53% (p < 0.001), and were significantly lower than in parents with affected offspring (clinical utility, p = 0.02; no clinical utility, p = 0.01). Interest in testing did not differ by gene penetrance. Parents’ agreement in testing interest for themselves versus their offspring was “substantial” (90% agreement, κ = 0.72) for a test with clinical utility, and “almost perfect” for a test without clinical utility (94% agreement, κ = 0.88). Agreement in testing interest between mothers and fathers was “moderate” for a test with clinical utility (85% agreement, κ = 0.48,), and “fair” for a test without clinical utility (67% agreement, κ = 0.30).

Significance

Interest in diagnostic genetic testing is strong among parents with offspring with epilepsy, particularly when the test offers clinical utility. Testing interest is lower for a diagnostic test without clinical utility, or for a predictive test in offspring at risk of developing epilepsy in the future.
A pilot randomized controlled clinical trial to improve antiepileptic drug adherence in young children with epilepsy
Authors: Modi Avani C. , Guilfoyle Shanna M. , Mann Krista A. , Rausch Joseph R.
Published: December 2015

The primary aim was to examine the preliminary efficacy of a family tailored problem‐solving intervention to improve antiepileptic drug (AED) adherence in families of children with new‐onset epilepsy. Secondary aims were to assess changes in targeted mechanisms and treatment feasibility and acceptability. Fifty families (Mage = 7.6 ± 3.0; 80% Caucasian; 42% idiopathic localization related) completed baseline questionnaires and were given an electronic monitor to observe daily AED adherence. If adherence was ≤ 95% in the first 7 months of the study, families were randomized (Supporting Treatment Adherence Regimens (STAR): n = 11; Treatment as Usual (TAU): n = 12). Twenty‐one families were not randomized due to adherence being ≥95%. The STAR intervention included four face‐to‐face and two telephone problem‐solving sessions over 8 weeks. Significant group differences in adherence were found during active intervention (weeks 4–6; TAU = −12.0 vs. STAR = 18.1, p < 0.01; and weeks session 6–8: TAU = −9.7 vs. STAR = 15.3, p < 0.05). Children who received the STAR intervention exhibited improved adherence compared to children in the TAU group during active treatment. Significant changes in epilepsy knowledge and management were noted for the STAR group. Families expressed benefitting from the STAR intervention. Future studies should include a larger sample size and booster intervention sessions to maintain treatment effects over time.
Food Acceptance and Social Learning Opportunities in Semi‐Free Eastern Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii)
Authors: Gustafsson Erik , Saint Jalme Michel , Kamoga Dennis , Mugisha Lawrence , Snounou Georges , Bomsel Marie‐Claude , Krief Sabrina
Published: December 2015

When confronted with novel foods, chimpanzees’ responses combine a mixture of curiosity and cautiousness. Once the item is in the mouth, the initial cautiousness is followed by an aversion to bitter taste that is mediated mainly by the TAS2R gene family. For instance, variations on the TAS2R38 locus which has been studied extensively in humans have been associated with different acceptance of bitter substances. Surprisingly, while cautiousness and bitter taste aversion were selected to prevent any risk of poisoning, very few studies on novel food acceptance have included the vegetative parts of plants. Moreover, the studies were usually carried out with captive apes faced to a very restricted variety of non‐toxic plants, hardly making the results representative. This study aims to replicate previous findings obtained in zoos while controlling for these limitations. We provided nine subgroups of eastern chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes schweinfurthii) living in the Ugandan sanctuary of Ngamba Island with novel plants known to be consumed by wild chimpanzees of the same subspecies, as well as domestic plants, wild sapota fruit and grey clay used by human local communities. We also genotyped their TAS2R38 gene. Our results confirm the very low genetic heterogeneity for TAS2R38 in this chimpanzee subspecies. Chimpanzees were particularly cautious towards the vegetative parts of novel plants, likely reflecting their behavioural strategy for avoiding toxic compounds. We also confirmed their higher propensity towards testing sapota and clay, reflecting their ability to expand their diet. In contrast with the results found in zoos, familiar and novel less‐palatable vegetative parts of plants did not elicit many interindividual observations. This may be explained by the items presented, which could have been so novel to be considered as enrichment in captive conditions, where the apes are rarely exposed to plants.
Animal behaviour shapes the ecological effects of ocean acidification and warming: moving from individual to community‐level responses
Authors: Nagelkerken Ivan , Munday Philip L.
Published: December 2015

Biological communities are shaped by complex interactions between organisms and their environment as well as interactions with other species. Humans are rapidly changing the marine environment through increasing greenhouse gas emissions, resulting in ocean warming and acidification. The first response by animals to environmental change is predominantly through modification of their behaviour, which in turn affects species interactions and ecological processes. Yet, many climate change studies ignore animal behaviour. Furthermore, our current knowledge of how global change alters animal behaviour is mostly restricted to single species, life phases and stressors, leading to an incomplete view of how coinciding climate stressors can affect the ecological interactions that structure biological communities. Here, we first review studies on the effects of warming and acidification on the behaviour of marine animals. We demonstrate how pervasive the effects of global change are on a wide range of critical behaviours that determine the persistence of species and their success in ecological communities. We then evaluate several approaches to studying the ecological effects of warming and acidification, and identify knowledge gaps that need to be filled, to better understand how global change will affect marine populations and communities through altered animal behaviours. Our review provides a synthesis of the far‐reaching consequences that behavioural changes could have for marine ecosystems in a rapidly changing environment. Without considering the pervasive effects of climate change on animal behaviour we will limit our ability to forecast the impacts of ocean change and provide insights that can aid management strategies.