bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Community Correctional Agents’ Views of Medication-Assisted Treatment: Examining Their Influence on Treatment Referrals and Community Supervision Practices
Authors: Mitchell Shannon Gwin , Willet Jennifer , Monico Laura B. , James Amy , Rudes Danielle S. , Viglioni Jill , Schwartz Robert P. , Gordon Michael S. , Friedmann Peter D.
Published: February 2016

Background

Alcohol and opioid use disorders are common among adults under community supervision. Although several medications (medication-assisted treatment or MAT) are Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved to treat such disorders, they are underutilized with this population despite established effectiveness at decreasing substance use. This paper examines how community correctional agents’ understanding of addiction and views of MAT influence their professional actions regarding addiction medications.

Methods

A total of 118 semistructured qualitative interviews were conducted with community correctional agents taking part in the CJ-DATS MATICCE implementation study across 20 parole/probation offices in 9 US states. Using grounded theory methodology and an iterative analytic approach, issues of role perception, views of MAT, current treatment referral, and community supervision practices were explored.

Results

Agents often had limited autonomy to make direct treatment referrals, regardless of their views of MAT, as they were required to follow court orders and their organization's policies and procedures. Within some organizations, community correctional agents held sufficient autonomy to make direct treatment referrals, with agents struggling to reconcile their desire to support their clients who needed MAT with concerns about the abuse potential of opioid agonist medications. Viewing MAT as a “treatment of last resort” was counterbalanced by the view that it was an effective evidence-based practice. Agents described how MAT impacted their ability to supervise clients and how their knowledge and understanding of MAT was directly influenced by watching their clients who were successful or unsuccessful on MAT. Even those agents who were more accepting of MAT were largely unsupportive of it long-term use.

Conclusions

Community correctional agents’ views of MAT were influenced by their understanding of addiction as well as their experiences supervising clients receiving treatment with medications, but whether or not MAT referrals were made was not always within their control.
High Frequency of Clinically Significant Bacteremia in Adults Hospitalized With Falciparum Malaria
Authors: Nyein Phyo Pyae , Aung Ne Myo , Kyi Tint Tint , Htet Zaw Win , Anstey Nicholas M. , Kyi Mar Mar , Hanson Josh
Published: February 2016

Background.  African children with severe falciparum malaria commonly have concomitant Gram-negative bacteremia, but co-infection has been thought to be relatively rare in adult malaria.

Methods.  Adults with a diagnosis of falciparum malaria hospitalized at 4 tertiary referral hospitals in Myanmar had blood cultures collected at admission. The frequency of concomitant bacteremia and the clinical characteristics of the patients, with and without bacteremia, were explored.

Results.  Of 67 adults hospitalized with falciparum malaria, 9 (13% [95% confidence interval, 5.3%–21.6%]) were also bacteremic on admission, 7 (78%) with Gram-negative enteric organisms (Escherichia coli [n = 3], typhoidal Salmonella species [n = 3], nontyphoidal Salmonella [n = 1]). Bacteremic adults had more severe disease (median Respiratory Coma Acidosis Malaria [RCAM] score 3; interquartile range [IQR], 1–4) than those without bacteremia (median RCAM score 1; IQR, 1–2) and had a higher frequency of acute kidney injury (50% vs 16%, P = .03). Although 35 (52%) were at high risk of death (RCAM score ≥2), all 67 patients in the study survived, 51 (76%) of whom received empirical antibiotics on admission.

Conclusions.  Bacteremia was relatively frequent in adults hospitalized with falciparum malaria in Myanmar. Like children in high transmission settings, bacteremic adults in this low transmission setting were sicker than nonbacteremic adults, and were often difficult to identify at presentation. Empirical antibiotics may also be appropriate in adults hospitalized with falciparum malaria in low transmission settings, until bacterial infection is excluded.
A Comparison of Sequential Glaucoma Drainage Device Implantation Versus Cyclophotocoagulation Following Failure of a Primary Drainage Device
Authors: Levinson Joshua D. , Giangiacomo Annette L. , Beck Allen D. , Pruett Paul B. , Superak Hillary M. , Lynn Michael J. , Costarides Anastasios P.
Published: February 2016

Purpose:

To compare sequential glaucoma drainage device (GDD) implantation with transscleral diode cyclophotocoagulation (CPC) following failure of a primary GDD.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective review of all patients who underwent GDD implantation at a single institution over 10 years. Patients who required an additional GDD and/or CPC were analyzed. Success was defined as absence of loss of light perception, reoperation for glaucoma, and intraocular pressure (IOP) >21 or <6 at 2 consecutive visits after an initial 3-month period.

Results:

Thirty-two patients received sequential GDD. Twenty-one underwent CPC. Cohorts were statistically similar in regards to age, sex, race, and number of previous surgeries. Preoperatively, the GDD cohort had a lower IOP and better visual acuity. The mean length of follow-up was 37.9 months for the GDD group and 46.3 months for CPC. Both procedures significantly reduced IOP; however, CPC led to a greater reduction (P=0.0172). Survival analysis found the 5-year probability of surgical success to be 65.3% for sequential GDD and 58.0% for CPC (P=0.8678). No cases of phthisis occurred in either group. There were 2 cases of endophthalmitis (6.3%) in the GDD group, and none in the CPC group. In eyes without preexisting corneal edema, estimated corneal decompensation probability at 3 years was 31.6% for GDD and 6.7% for CPC (P=0.0828).

Conclusions:

Sequential GDD and CPC are both effective at reducing IOP following the failure of a primary GDD. CPC after GDD failure warrants further investigation as it led to a greater reduction in IOP with fewer serious adverse events.
The Conjunctiva in Normal Tension Glaucoma Patients is Thinner Than in Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma Patients: A Comparative Histologic Study
Authors: Van Ginderdeuren Rita , Vandewalle Evelien , Pinto Luis Abegão , Stalmans Ingeborg , Zeyen Thierry
Published: February 2016

Purpose:

To compare histologically the thickness of conjunctival specimens of normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) patients.

Materials and Methods:

In this prospective study, 54 patients scheduled for trabeculectomy were categorized into NTG and POAG based on their maximum untreated intraocular pressure at any time (IOPmax) as measured by Goldmann applanation tonometry. Sixteen patients with NTG (IOPmax≤21 mm Hg) and 36 patients with high tension POAG (IOPmax>21 mm Hg) were included in the study. Biopsies were taken from the superior bulbar conjunctiva during trabeculectomy. The specimens were fixed in formalin, embedded in methacrylate, histologically sectioned, stained with toluidine blue, and analyzed with a light microscope. The stromal conjunctival thickness (CT) was measured in a standardized way and compared between the 2 groups. Intergroup comparisons were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for continuous variables and the Fisher exact test for categorical variables. The correlation between the central cornea thickness (CCT) and the CT was investigated by the Spearman test.

Results:

The stromal CT was significantly thinner in NTG compared with POAG (64±31 vs. 103±44 µm, respectively; P=0.002). Stromal CT of the whole group was positively correlated with IOPmax (r=0.41; P=0.002; 95% confidence interval, 0.15-0.62) but not with central cornea thickness (r=−0.005; P=0.97; 95% confidence interval, −0.28 to 0.27).

Conclusions:

The conjunctiva in patients with NTG was thinner than in POAG patients. This finding is an additional feature in the pattern of thinner ocular structures in patients with NTG.
Hypertransaminasemia in Newly Diagnosed Pediatric Patients With Celiac Disease
Authors: Lee Grace J. , Boyle Brendan , Ediger Tracy , Hill Ivor
Published: February 2016

Objectives:

The aim of the present study was to determine the proportion of pediatric patients with celiac disease (CD) who had transaminases obtained at diagnosis and to determine the proportion with hypertransaminasemia.

Methods:

Data from newly diagnosed patients with CD at Nationwide Children's Hospital from February 2007 to March 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) values at diagnosis and after initiation of a gluten‐free diet (GFD) were assessed.

Results:

Of 388 patients (mean age 10.1 ± 4.4 years, 235 girls), 185 (47.7%) had transaminases obtained at the time of diagnosis. Twenty‐eight of one hundred eighty‐five (15.1%) had an elevated ALT and/or AST level with an average ALT 2.52 × upper limit of normal (ULN) and AST 1.87 × ULN. Those with hypertransaminasemia were younger than those with normal levels (6.31 ± 4.75 vs 11.00 ± 4.28 years, P < 0.0001). Sex, symptoms at diagnosis, and weight, height, and body mass index z scores were not predictive of elevated transaminases. Of the 21 patients with hypertransaminasemia at diagnosis who had repeat laboratory test results after starting the GFD, 15 (71.4%) normalized whereas 6 (28.6%) remained elevated.

Conclusions:

There is variation in practice among pediatric gastroenterologists in the assessment of transaminases in children with CD. Hypertransaminasemia is present at diagnosis in a significant proportion of children with CD although at a lower frequency than previously reported. Younger patients are more likely to have an elevation in transaminases. Abnormal transaminases normalize in the majority of patients within 1 year after initiation of a GFD.
High Prevalence of Eosinophilic Gastrointestinal Disease in Children With Intestinal Failure
Authors: Stamm Danielle A. , Hait Elizabeth , Litman Heather J. , Mitchell Paul D. , Duggan Christopher
Published: February 2016

Objectives:

The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence and clinical features of gastrointestinal (GI) eosinophilic inflammation among pediatric patients with intestinal failure (IF).

Methods:

Medical records of all patients studied in our institution's IF program who underwent GI endoscopy over a 15‐year period were reviewed, and clinical, pathologic, nutrition, and laboratory data collected.

Results:

One hundred five patients underwent 208 GI endoscopic procedures with biopsy. The overall prevalence of eosinophilic inflammation, defined as increased eosinophils in at least 1 tissue type on at least 1 endoscopy, was 39 of 105 (37%). The tissue‐specific prevalence of eosinophilic inflammation ranged widely, with the colon/rectosigmoid being the most common (18/68, 26%), followed by the esophagus (17/83, 20%), ileum (9/54, 17%), duodenum (4/83, 5%), and stomach (3/83, 4%). Higher peripheral eosinophil count and hematochezia were associated with eosinophilic inflammation in the colon (P = 0.002 and 0.0004, respectively). The use of a strict elemental diet for 3 months before endoscopy was not associated with a decreased frequency of eosinophilic inflammation in any tissue.

Conclusions:

Eosinophilic inflammation is a common histopathological finding in patients with IF. Colonic eosinophilic inflammation is associated with clinical symptoms of GI blood loss, and peripheral eosinophilia, and was not abrogated by a strict elemental diet.
Using ancient DNA and coalescent-based methods to infer extinction
Authors: Chang Dan , Shapiro Beth
Published: February 2016

DNA sequences extracted from preserved remains can add considerable resolution to inference of past population dynamics. For example, coalescent-based methods have been used to correlate declines in some arctic megafauna populations with habitat fragmentation during the last ice age. These methods, however, often fail to detect population declines preceding extinction, most likely owing to a combination of sparse sampling, uninformative genetic markers, and models that cannot account for the increasingly structured nature of populations as habitats decline. As ancient DNA research expands to include full-genome analyses, these data will provide greater resolution of the genomic consequences of environmental change and the genetic signatures of extinction.
Spatio-temporal variation in the preservation of ancient faunal remains
Authors: Surovell Todd A. , Pelton Spencer R.
Published: February 2016

Palaeodemographic studies of animals using frequency distributions of radiocarbon dates are increasingly used in studies of Quaternary extinction but are complicated by taphonomic bias, or the loss of material through time. Current taphonomic models are based on the temporal frequency distributions of sediments, but bone is potentially lost at greater rates because not all sedimentary contexts preserve bone. We test the hypotheses that (i) the loss of bone over time is greater than that of sediment and (ii) this rate of loss varies geographically at large scales. We compiled radiocarbon dates on Pleistocene-aged bone from eastern Beringia (EB), the contiguous United States (CUSA) and South America (SA), from which we developed models of taphonomic loss. We find that bone is lost at greater rates than terrestrial sediment in general, but only for CUSA and SA. Bone in EB is lost at approximately the same rate as terrestrial sediments, which demonstrates the excellent preservation environments of arctic regions, presumably due to preservative effects of permafrost. These differences between bone and sediment preservation as well as between arctic and non-arctic regions should be taken into account by any research addressing past faunal population dynamics based on temporal frequency distributions.
Predicting chemoinsensitivity in breast cancer with ’omics/digital pathology data fusion
Authors: Savage Richard S. , Yuan Yinyin
Published: February 2016

Predicting response to treatment and disease-specific deaths are key tasks in cancer research yet there is a lack of methodologies to achieve these. Large-scale ’omics and digital pathology technologies have led to the need for effective statistical methods for data fusion to extract the most useful patterns from these diverse data types. We presentFusionGP, a method for combining heterogeneous data types designed specifically for predicting outcome of treatment and disease.FusionGPis a Gaussian process model that includes a generalization of feature selection for biomarker discovery, allowing for simultaneous, sparse feature selection across multiple data types. Importantly, it can accommodate highly nonlinear structure in the data, and automatically infers the optimal contribution from each input data type.FusionGPcompares favourably to several popular classification methods, including the Random Forest classifier, a stepwise logistic regression model and the Support Vector Machine on single data types. By combining gene expression, copy number alteration and digital pathology image data in 119 estrogen receptor (ER)-negative and 345 ER-positive breast tumours, we aim to predict two important clinical outcomes: death and chemoinsensitivity. While gene expression data give the best predictive performance in the majority of cases, the digital pathology data are much better for predicting death in ER cases. Thus,FusionGPis a new tool for selecting informative features from heterogeneous data types and predicting treatment response and prognosis.
An individual-based forest model links canopy dynamics and shade tolerances along a soil moisture gradient
Authors: Liénard Jean , Strigul Nikolay
Published: February 2016

Understanding how forested ecosystems respond to climatic changes is a challenging problem as forest self-organization occurs simultaneously across multiple scales. Here, we explore the hypothesis that soil water availability shapes above-ground competition and gap dynamics, and ultimately alters the dominance of shade tolerant and intolerant species along the moisture gradient. We adapt a spatially explicit individual-based model with simultaneous crown and root competitions. Simulations show that the transition from xeric to mesic soils is accompanied by an increase in shade-tolerant species similar to the patterns documented in the North American forests. This transition is accompanied by a change from water to sunlight competitions, and happens at three successive stages: (i) mostly water-limited parkland, (ii) simultaneously water- and sunlight-limited closed canopy forests featuring a very sparse understory, and (iii) mostly sunlight-limited forests with a populated understory. This pattern is caused by contrasting successional dynamics that favour either shade-tolerant or shade-intolerant species, depending on soil moisture and understory density. This work demonstrates that forest patterns along environmental gradients can emerge from spatial competition without physiological trade-offs between shade and growth tolerance. Mechanistic understanding of population processes involved in the forest–parkland–desert transition will improve our ability to explain species distributions and predict forest responses to climatic changes.
Does influenza A virus infection affect movement behaviour during stopover in its wild reservoir host?
Authors: Bengtsson Daniel , Safi Kamran , Avril Alexis , Fiedler Wolfgang , Wikelski Martin , Gunnarsson Gunnar , Elmberg Johan , Tolf Conny , Olsen Björn , Waldenström Jonas
Published: February 2016

The last decade has seen a surge in research on avian influenza A viruses (IAVs), in part fuelled by the emergence, spread and potential zoonotic importance of highly pathogenic virus subtypes. The mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) is the most numerous and widespread dabbling duck in the world, and one of the most important natural hosts for studying IAV transmission dynamics. In order to predict the likelihood of IAV transmission between individual ducks and to other hosts, as well as between geographical regions, it is important to understand how IAV infection affects the host. In this study, we analysed the movements of 40 mallards equipped with GPS transmitters and three-dimensional accelerometers, of which 20 were naturally infected with low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV), at a major stopover site in the Northwest European flyway. Movements differed substantially between day and night, as well as between mallards returning to the capture site and those feeding in natural habitats. However, movement patterns did not differ between LPAIV infected and uninfected birds. Hence, LPAIV infection probably does not affect mallard movements during stopover, with high possibility of virus spread along the migration route as a consequence.
A minimization principle for the description of modes associated with finite-time instabilities
Authors: Babaee H. , Sapsis T. P.
Published: February 2016

We introduce a minimization formulation for the determination of a finite-dimensional, time-dependent, orthonormal basis that captures directions of the phase space associated with transient instabilities. While these instabilities have finite lifetime, they can play a crucial role either by altering the system dynamics through the activation of other instabilities or by creating sudden nonlinear energy transfers that lead to extreme responses. However, their essentially transient character makes their description a particularly challenging task. We develop a minimization framework that focuses on the optimal approximation of the system dynamics in the neighbourhood of the system state. This minimization formulation results in differential equations that evolve a time-dependent basis so that it optimally approximates the most unstable directions. We demonstrate the capability of the method for two families of problems: (i) linear systems, including the advection–diffusion operator in a strongly non-normal regime as well as the Orr–Sommerfeld/Squire operator, and (ii) nonlinear problems, including a low-dimensional system with transient instabilities and the vertical jet in cross-flow. We demonstrate that the time-dependent subspace captures the strongly transient non-normal energy growth (in the short-time regime), while for longer times the modes capture the expected asymptotic behaviour.
Refined boundary conditions on the free surface of an elastic half-space taking into account non-local effects
Authors: Chebakov R. , Kaplunov J. , Rogerson G. A.
Published: February 2016

The dynamic response of a homogeneous half-space, with a traction-free surface, is considered within the framework of non-local elasticity. The focus is on the dominant effect of the boundary layer on overall behaviour. A typical wavelength is assumed to considerably exceed the associated internal lengthscale. The leading-order long-wave approximation is shown to coincide formally with the ‘local’ problem for a half-space with a vertical inhomogeneity localized near the surface. Subsequent asymptotic analysis of the inhomogeneity results in an explicit correction to the classical boundary conditions on the surface. The order of the correction is greater than the order of the better-known correction to the governing differential equations. The refined boundary conditions enable us to evaluate the interior solution outside a narrow boundary layer localized near the surface. As an illustration, the effect of non-local elastic phenomena on the Rayleigh wave speed is investigated.
Prey size diversity hinders biomass trophic transfer and predator size diversity promotes it in planktonic communities
Authors: García-Comas Carmen , Sastri Akash R. , Ye Lin , Chang Chun-Yi , Lin Fan-Sian , Su Min-Sian , Gong Gwo-Ching , Hsieh Chih-hao
Published: February 2016

Body size exerts multiple effects on plankton food-web interactions. However, the influence of size structure on trophic transfer remains poorly quantified in the field. Here, we examine how the size diversity of prey (nano-microplankton) and predators (mesozooplankton) influence trophic transfer efficiency (using biomass ratio as a proxy) in natural marine ecosystems. Our results support previous studies on single trophic levels: transfer efficiency decreases with increasing prey size diversity and is enhanced with greater predator size diversity. We further show that communities with low nano-microplankton size diversity and high mesozooplankton size diversity tend to occur in warmer environments with low nutrient concentrations, thus promoting trophic transfer to higher trophic levels in those conditions. Moreover, we reveal an interactive effect of predator and prey size diversities: the positive effect of predator size diversity becomes influential when prey size diversity is high. Mechanistically, the negative effect of prey size diversity on trophic transfer may be explained by unicellular size-based metabolic constraints as well as trade-offs between growth and predation avoidance with size, whereas increasing predator size diversity may enhance diet niche partitioning and thus promote trophic transfer. These findings provide insights into size-based theories of ecosystem functioning, with implications for ecosystem predictive models.
Bacterial predator–prey dynamics in microscale patchy landscapes
Authors: Hol Felix J. H. , Rotem Or , Jurkevitch Edouard , Dekker Cees , Koster Daniel A.
Published: February 2016

Soil is a microenvironment with a fragmented (patchy) spatial structure in which many bacterial species interact. Here, we explore the interaction between the predatory bacterium
Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus
and its prey
Escherichia coli
in microfabricated landscapes. We ask how fragmentation influences the prey dynamics at the microscale and compare two landscape geometries: a patchy landscape and a continuous landscape. By following the dynamics of prey populations with high spatial and temporal resolution for many generations, we found that the variation in predation rates was twice as large in the patchy landscape and the dynamics was correlated over shorter length scales. We also found that while the prey population in the continuous landscape was almost entirely driven to extinction, a significant part of the prey population in the fragmented landscape persisted over time. We observed significant surface-associated growth, especially in the fragmented landscape and we surmise that this sub-population is more resistant to predation. Our results thus show that microscale fragmentation can significantly influence bacterial interactions.
Dimethylsulfoniopropionate, superoxide dismutase and glutathione as stress response indicators in three corals under short-term hyposalinity stress
Authors: Gardner Stephanie G. , Nielsen Daniel A. , Laczka Olivier , Shimmon Ronald , Beltran Victor H. , Ralph Peter J. , Petrou Katherina
Published: February 2016

Corals are among the most active producers of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP), a key molecule in marine sulfur cycling, yet the specific physiological role of DMSP in corals remains elusive. Here, we examine the oxidative stress response of three coral species (
Acropora millepora
,
Stylophora pistillata
and
Pocillopora damicornis
) and explore the antioxidant role of DMSP and its breakdown products under short-term hyposalinity stress. Symbiont photosynthetic activity declined with hyposalinity exposure in all three reef-building corals. This corresponded with the upregulation of superoxide dismutase and glutathione in the animal host of all three species. For the symbiont component, there were differences in antioxidant regulation, demonstrating differential responses to oxidative stress between the
Symbiodinium
subclades. Of the three coral species investigated, only
A. millepora
provided any evidence of the role of DMSP in the oxidative stress response. Our study reveals variability in antioxidant regulation in corals and highlights the influence life-history traits, and the subcladal differences can have on coral physiology. Our data expand on the emerging understanding of the role of DMSP in coral stress regulation and emphasizes the importance of exploring both the host and symbiont responses for defining the threshold of the coral holobiont to hyposalinity stress.
Niche-tracking migrants and niche-switching residents: evolution of climatic niches in New World warblers (Parulidae)
Authors: Gómez Camila , Tenorio Elkin A. , Montoya Paola , Cadena Carlos Daniel
Published: February 2016

Differences in life-history traits between tropical and temperate lineages are often attributed to differences in their climatic niche dynamics. For example, the more frequent appearance of migratory behaviour in temperate-breeding species than in species originally breeding in the tropics is believed to have resulted partly from tropical climatic stability and niche conservatism constraining tropical species from shifting their ranges. However, little is known about the patterns and processes underlying climatic niche evolution in migrant and resident animals. We evaluated the evolution of overlap in climatic niches between seasons and its relationship to migratory behaviour in the Parulidae, a family of New World passerine birds. We used ordination methods to measure seasonal niche overlap and niche breadth of 54 resident and 49 migrant species and used phylogenetic comparative methods to assess patterns of climatic niche evolution. We found that despite travelling thousands of kilometres, migrants tracked climatic conditions across the year to a greater extent than tropical residents. Migrant species had wider niches than resident species, although residents as a group occupied a wider climatic space and niches of migrants and residents overlapped extensively. Neither breeding latitude nor migratory distance explained variation among species in climatic niche overlap between seasons. Our findings support the notion that tropical species have narrower niches than temperate-breeders, but does not necessarily constrain their ability to shift or expand their geographical ranges and become migratory. Overall, the tropics may have been historically less likely to experience the suite of components that generate strong selection pressures for the evolution of migratory behaviour.
Synergistic interactions of ecosystem services: florivorous pest control boosts crop yield increase through insect pollination
Authors: Sutter Louis , Albrecht Matthias
Published: February 2016

Insect pollination and pest control are pivotal functions sustaining global food production. However, they have mostly been studied in isolation and how they interactively shape crop yield remains largely unexplored. Using controlled field experiments, we found strong synergistic effects of insect pollination and simulated pest control on yield quantity and quality. Their joint effect increased yield by 23%, with synergistic effects contributing 10%, while their single contributions were 7% and 6%, respectively. The potential economic benefit for a farmer from the synergistic effects (12%) was 1.8 times greater than their individual contributions (7% each). We show that the principal underlying mechanism was a pronounced pest-induced reduction in flower lifetime, resulting in a strong reduction in the number of pollinator visits a flower receives during its lifetime. Our findings highlight the importance of non-additive interactions among ecosystem services (ES) when valuating, mapping or predicting them and reveal fundamental implications for ecosystem management and policy aimed at maximizing ES for sustainable agriculture.
Interactions among ecosystem stressors and their importance in conservation
Authors: Côté Isabelle M. , Darling Emily S. , Brown Christopher J.
Published: February 2016

Interactions between multiple ecosystem stressors are expected to jeopardize biological processes, functions and biodiversity. The scientific community has declared stressor interactions—notably synergies—a key issue for conservation and management. Here, we review ecological literature over the past four decades to evaluate trends in the reporting of ecological interactions (synergies, antagonisms and additive effects) and highlight the implications and importance to conservation. Despite increasing popularity, and ever-finer terminologies, we find that synergies are (still) not the most prevalent type of interaction, and that conservation practitioners need to appreciate and manage for all interaction outcomes, including antagonistic and additive effects. However, it will not be possible to identify the effect of every interaction on every organism's physiology and every ecosystem function because the number of stressors, and their potential interactions, are growing rapidly. Predicting the type of interactions may be possible in the near-future, using meta-analyses, conservation-oriented experiments and adaptive monitoring. Pending a general framework for predicting interactions, conservation management should enact interventions that are robust to uncertainty in interaction type and that continue to bolster biological resilience in a stressful world.
Touch sensation by pectoral fins of the catfishPimelodus pictus
Authors: Hardy Adam R. , Steinworth Bailey M. , Hale Melina E.
Published: February 2016

Mechanosensation is fundamental to many tetrapod limb functions, yet it remains largely uninvestigated in the paired fins of fishes, limb homologues. Here we examine whether membranous fins may function as passive structures for touch sensation. We investigate the pectoral fins of the pictus catfish (Pimelodus pictus), a species that lives in close association with the benthic substrate and whose fins are positioned near its ventral margin. Kinematic analysis shows that the pectoral fins are held partially protracted during routine forward swimming and do not appear to generate propulsive force. Immunohistochemistry reveals that the fins are highly innervated, and we observe putative mechanoreceptors at nerve fibre endings. To test for the ability to sense mechanical perturbations, activity of fin ray nerve fibres was recorded in response to touch and bend stimulation. Both pressure and light surface brushing generated afferent nerve activity. Fin ray nerves also respond to bending of the rays. These data demonstrate for the first time that membranous fins can function as passive mechanosensors. We suggest that touch-sensitive fins may be widespread in fishes that maintain a close association with the bottom substrate.
Interspecific shared collective decision-making in two forensically important species
Authors: Boulay Julien , Deneubourg Jean-Louis , Hédouin Valéry , Charabidzé Damien
Published: February 2016

To date, the study of collective behaviour has mainly focused on intraspecific situations: the collective decision-making of mixed-species groups involving interspecific aggregation–segregation has received little attention. Here, we show that, in both conspecific and heterospecific groups, the larvae of two species (Lucilia sericataandCalliphora vomitoria, calliphorid carrion-feeding flies) were able to make a collective choice. In all groups, the choice was made within a few minutes and persisted throughout the period of the experiment. The monitoring of a focal individual within a group showed that these aggregations were governed by attractive and retentive effects of the group. Furthermore, the similarity observed between the conspecific and heterospecific groups suggested the existence of shared aggregation signals. The group size was found to have a stronger influence than the species of necrophagous larvae. These results should be viewed in relation to the well-known correlation between group size and heat generation. This study provides the first experimental examination of the dynamics of collective decision-making in mixed-species groups of invertebrates, contributing to our understanding of the cooperation–competition phenomenon in animal social groups.
Increasing the Efficiency of Genome-wide Association Mapping via Hidden Markov Models
Authors: Gao Hong , Tang Hua , Bustamante Carlos D.
Published: February 2016

With the rapid production of high dimensional genetic data, one major challenge in genome-wide association studies is to develop effective and efficient statistical tools to resolve the low power problem of detecting causal SNPs with low to moderate susceptibility, whose effects are often obscured by substantial background noises. Here we present a novel method that serves as an optimal technique for reducing background noises and improving detection power in genome-wide association studies. The approach uses hidden Markov model and its derivate Markov hidden Markov model to estimate the posterior probabilities of a markers being in an associated state. We conducted extensive simulations based on the human whole genome genotype data from the GlaxoSmithKline-POPRES project to calibrate the sensitivity and specificity of our method and compared with many popular approaches for detecting positive signals including theχ2test for association and the Cochran-Armitage trend test. Our simulation results suggested that at very low false positive rates (< 10−6), our method reaches the power of 0.9, and is more powerful than any other approaches, when the allelic effect of the causal variant is non-additive or unknown. Application of our method to the data set generated by Welcome Trust Case Control Consortium using 14,000 cases and 3,000 controls confirmed its powerfulness and efficiency under the context of the large-scale genome-wide association studies.
Bacterial sequences detected in 99 out of 99 serum samples from Ebola patients
Authors: Manrique Marina , Pareja-Tobes Eduardo , Pareja Eduardo , Pareja-Tobes Pablo , Tobes Raquel
Published: February 2016

Evolution and clinical manifestations of Ebola virus (EBOV) infection overlap with the pathologic processes that occur in sepsis1. Some viruses certainly compromise the immune system, leading to a breach in the integrity of the mucosal epithelial barrier, thus allowing bacterial translocation2, 3. Guided by these facts, we wondered if bacteria could be involved in the pathogenesis of some of the septic shock-like symptoms typical of EBOV infected patients, something that could have a dramatic impact on the design of new treatment approaches. We decided to search for bacteria in available EBOV patient sequence datasets. Given that EBOV is an RNA virus and that, hence, some NGS sequencing experiments carried out to sequence the EBOV genomes were RNA-Seq experiments, we thought that, if there were any bacteria in patient serum, at least some bacterial RNA might probably be detected in the sequenced material from Ebola patients. Thus, we searched for bacteria in a RNA-Seq public dataset from 99 Ebola samples from the last outbreak4, and surprisingly, in spite of the certainly suboptimal experimental conditions for bacterial RNA sequencing, we found bacteria in all of the 99 samples.
Salmonid chromosome evolution as revealed by a novel method for comparing RADseq linkage maps
Authors: Sutherland Ben J. G. , Gosselin Thierry , Normandeau Eric , Lamothe Manuel , Isabel Nathalie , Audet Céline , Bernatchez Louis
Published: February 2016

Whole genome duplication (WGD) can provide material for evolutionary innovation. Assembly of large, outbred eukaryotic genomes can be difficult, but structural rearrangements within such taxa can be investigated using linkage maps. RAD sequencing provides unprecedented ability to generate high-density linkage maps for non-model species, but can result in low numbers of homologous markers between species due to phylogenetic distance or differences in library preparation. Family Salmonidae is ideal for studying the effects of WGD as the ancestral salmonid underwent WGD relatively recently, around 65 million years ago, then rediploidized and diversified. Extensive synteny between orthologous chromosomes occurs in extant salmonids, but each species has both conserved and unique chromosome arm fusions and fissions. Here we generate a high-density linkage map (3826 markers) for theSalvelinusgenera (Brook CharrS. fontinalis), and then identify orthologous chromosome arms among the other available salmonid high-density linkage maps, including six species ofOncorhynchus, and one species for each ofSalmoandCoregonus, as well as the sister group for the salmonids,Esox luciusfor homeolog designation. To this end, we developedMapComp, a program that identifies identical and proximal markers between linkage maps using a reference genome of a related species as an intermediate. This approach increases the number of comparable markers between linkage maps by 5-fold, enabling a characterization of the most likely history of retained chromosomal rearrangements post-WGD, and identifying several conserved chromosomal inversions. Analyses of RADseq-based linkage maps from other taxa will also benefit fromMapComp, available at:https://github.com/enormandeau/mapcomp/
Efficient Breeding by Genomic Mating
Authors: Akdemir Deniz , Isidro Sánchez Julio
Published: February 2016

In this article, we propose an approach to breeding which focuses on mating instead of truncation selection, our method uses genome-wide marker information in a similar fashion to genomic selection so we refer it to as genomic mating. Using concepts of estimated breeding values, risk (usefulness) and inbreeding, an efficient mating approach is formulated for improvement of breeding values in the long run. We have used a genetic algorithm to find solutions to this optimization problem. Results from our simulations point to the efficiency of genomic mating for breeding complex traits compared to truncation selection.
Light adaptation explains different linearity of ON and OFF responses
Authors: Carandini Matteo
Published: February 2016

The visual system separates the responses to dark and light stimuli into OFF and ON channels. Recordings in visual thalamus indicate that these channels exhibit marked asymmetries in linearity: OFF responses grow roughly linearly with intensity decrements, but ON responses can saturate with small intensity increments. Here I show that this asymmetry is likely to originate in photoreceptors, as it follows from the classical description of their light responses and of their properties of light adaptation. Under this interpretation, the surprising aspect of the recordings is that the visual system does so little to change this asymmetry in subsequent stages.
Rewiring of an ancestral Tbx1/10-Ebf-Mrf network for pharyngeal muscle specification in distinct embryonic lineages
Authors: Tolkin Theadora , Christiaen Lionel
Published: February 2016

Skeletal muscles arise from diverse embryonic origins, yet converge on common regulatory programs involving muscle regulatory factor (MRF)-family genes. Here, we compare the molecular basis of myogenesis in two separate muscle groups in the simple chordateCiona:theatrial andoralsiphonmuscles. Here, we describe the ontogeny of OSM progenitors and characterize the clonal origins of OSM founders to compare mechanisms of OSM specification to what has been established for ASM. We determined that, as is the case in the ASM,Ebf and Tbx1/10are both expressed and function upstream ofMrfin the OSM founder cells. However, regulatory relationships betweenTbx1/10, EbfandMrfdiffer between the OSM and ASM lineages: whileTbx1/10, EbfandMrfform a linear cascade in the ASM,EbfandTbx1/10are expressed in the inverse temporal order and are required together in order to activateMrfin the OSM founder cells.
The perception of public sector auditors on performance audit in Malaysia: an exploratory study
Authors: Loke Chew Har , Ismail Suhaiza , Hamid Fatima Abdul
Published: February 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the perception of public sector auditors on performance audit in Malaysian public sector entities. In particular, this study elicits the respondents’ opinions on the elements of performance audit, the need for involvement of auditors in policy making, relevant experts to undertake a performance audit, major constraints in carrying out performance audit and the potential of performance audit to improve public administration.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study employed a postal questionnaire method to seek the perception of the auditors. The questionnaire was distributed to the population of public sector auditors in the National Audit Department in Malaysia and a total of 503 usable responses were received. The responses were analysed using descriptive statistical analysis including mean score and mean score ranking.

Findings

– The results reveal that auditors were of the opinion that effectiveness element should be one of the performance audit elements and that public sector auditors should be given the opportunity to influence policy decisions. In addition, the results show that the public auditor is not the only profession that can carry out performance audit, but can team up with other professions. In relation to constraints in performance audit, “Lack of cooperation and commitment from auditees in conducting a performance audit” was claimed to be the topmost constraint. Furthermore, performance audit was claimed to be able to enhance public accountability, as well as to enable more economical, efficient and effective utilising of public resources.

Originality/value

– This paper is one of few studies on public sector auditing particularly on performance auditing in the context of a developing country (i.e Malaysia).
What makes consumers believe: the impacts of priming and sequential service experiences on consumer emotions and willingness to pay
Authors: Chou Ting-Jui , Chang En-Chung , Zheng Yanan , Tang Xiaofei
Published: February 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of priming on consumer emotions and willingness to pay as consumers experience two services with two opposite valences.

Design/methodology/approach

A 2 (service experience sequence: failure–success, success–failure) × 3(priming: positive, negative, no priming) between-subject experiment was conducted with 230 college students in China.

Findings

Results indicate that when priming information is included, people give greater decision weight to the second service. Specifically, in the failure–success scenario, priming information between two services increases positive emotions and decreases negative emotions, raising willingness to pay. In the success–failure scenario, priming information decreases positive emotions and increases negative emotions, thus lowering willingness to pay.

Practical implications

First, if businesses discover the possibility of a service failure, then disclosing negative information is better than whitewashing the truth. Second, services following a campaign of positively framed messages should be carefully rendered. The damage of pre-failure positive priming is most certainly irreparable. Finally, in terms of communication, businesses and service providers should cater to consumers exposed to different levels of information accordingly.

Originality/value

Previous investigations focusing on a single purchase have argued that priming effects should cause consumers of varying tastes to react in a more unified manner to a service. This study extends the research scope to more realistic situations ”sequential service experiences with opposite valences” and asserts that differences in service experiences alter the influence of priming information.
Unlocking the potential of branding in social marketing services: utilising brand personality and brand personality appeal
Authors: Gordon Ross , Zainuddin Nadia , Magee Christopher
Published: February 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to demonstrate the utility of branding theory for social marketing services. Specifically, this is to our knowledge the first to investigate brand personality (BP) and brand personality appeal (BPA) in a single study as predictors for consumer attitudes and intentions to engage with a service.

Design/methodology/approach

The associations between BP and BPA and their subsequent associations with attitudes and intentions are tested in two service types, i.e. a commercial marketing service (banking) and a social marketing service (health screening). This involved a cross-sectional dual online survey administered to a sample of 395 women 50-69 years old in Queensland, Australia. This sampling criterion represented the primary target audience for the social marketing service, which was breastscreening and was maintained for the banking services sample. Multiple mediation analysis using a bootstrapping approach was conducted using Mplus 6.11.

Findings

BP and BPA perform similarly across the two service types. BP and BPA are related and have direct and indirect associations with consumer attitudes and behavioural intentions towards both commercial and social marketing services. Specifically, the BP traits of responsibility and activity were found to have significant direct and indirect relationships with attitudes and behavioural intentions towards both commercial and social marketing services. The relationships for the emotionality and simplicity traits were non-significant. The results also suggest that the attractiveness, favourability and clarity BPA traits had the strongest associations with consumer responses.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the utility of using branding in social marketing services, which to date has been under-utilised. It also offers originality by combining BP and BPA in the same empirical inquiry, which to date has been examined separately. A new and alternative factor structure for BPA is provided, and future research is recommended to further examine BPA in this and other contexts.