bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dispersal has inhibited avian diversification in Australasian archipelagoes
Authors: Weeks Brian C. , Claramunt Santiago
Published: August 2014

Different models of speciation predict contrasting patterns in the relationship between the dispersal ability of lineages and their diversification rates. This relationship is expected to be negative in isolation-limited models and positive in founder-event models. In addition, the combination of negative and positive effects of dispersal on speciation can result in higher diversification rates at intermediate levels of dispersal ability. Using molecular phylogenies to estimate diversification rates, and wing morphology to estimate dispersal ability, we analysed the influence of dispersal on diversification in the avifauna of Australasian archipelagoes. Contrary to expectations given the fragmented nature of island systems, the relationship between dispersal ability and diversification rate was monotonically negative. While multiple mechanisms could generate this pattern, they all share a phase of range expansion that is decoupled from speciation.
Direct evidence that density-dependent regulation underpins the temporal stability of abundant species in a diverse animal community
Authors: Henderson Peter A. , Magurran Anne E.
Published: August 2014

To understand how ecosystems are structured and stabilized, and to identify when communities are at risk of damage or collapse, we need to know how the abundances of the taxa in the entire assemblage vary over ecologically meaningful timescales. Here, we present an analysis of species temporal variability within a single large vertebrate community. Using an exceptionally complete 33-year monthly time series following the dynamics of 81 species of fishes, we show that the most abundant species are least variable in terms of temporal biomass, because they are under density-dependent (negative feedback) regulation. At the other extreme, a relatively large number of low abundance transient species exhibit the greatest population variability. The high stability of the consistently common high abundance species—a result of density-dependence—is reflected in the observation that they consistently represent over 98% of total fish biomass. This leads to steady ecosystem nutrient and energy flux irrespective of the changes in species number and abundance among the large number of low abundance transient species. While the density-dependence of the core species ensures stability under the existing environmental regime, the pool of transient species may support long-term stability by replacing core species should environmental conditions change.
Inhibition of the foot-and-mouth disease virus subgenomic replicon by RNA aptamers
Authors: Forrest Sophie , Lear Zoe , Herod Morgan R. , Ryan Martin , Rowlands David J. , Stonehouse Nicola J.
Published: August 2014

We have previously documented the inhibitory activity of RNA aptamers to the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of foot-and-mouth disease virus (3Dpol). Here we report their modification and use with a subgenomic replicon incorporating GFP (pGFP-PAC replicon), allowing replication to be monitored and quantified in real-time. GFP expression in transfected BHK-21 cells reached a maximum at approximately 8 h post-transfection, at which time change in morphology of the cells was consistent with a virus-induced cytopathic effect. However, transfection of replicon-bearing cells with a 3Dpol aptamer RNA resulted in inhibition of GFP expression and maintenance of normal cell morphology, whereas a control aptamer RNA had little effect. The inhibition was correlated with a reduction in 3Dpol (detected by immunoblotting) and shown to be dose dependent. The 3Dpol aptamers appeared to be more effective than 2′-C-methylcytidine (2′CMC). Aptamers to components of the replication complex are therefore useful molecular tools for studying viral replication and also have potential as diagnostic molecules in the future.
Analysis of purified Wild type and mutant adenovirus particles by SILAC based quantitative proteomics
Authors: Alqahtani Ali , Heesom Kate , Bramson Jonathan L. , Curiel David , Ugai Hideyo , Matthews David A.
Published: August 2014

We used SILAC (stable isotope labelling of amino acids in cell culture) and high-throughput quantitative MS mass spectrometry to analyse the protein composition of highly purified WT wild type adenoviruses, mutant adenoviruses lacking an internal protein component (protein V) and recombinant adenoviruses of the type commonly used in gene therapy, including one virus that had been used in a clinical trial. We found that the viral protein abundance and composition were consistent across all types of virus examined except for the virus lacking protein V, which also had reduced amounts of another viral core protein, protein VII. In all the samples analysed we found no evidence of consistent packaging or contamination with cellular proteins. We believe this technique is a powerful method to analyse the protein composition of this important gene therapy vector and genetically engineered or synthetic virus-like particles. The raw data have been deposited at proteomexchange, identifer PXD001120.
Alternative endocytosis pathway for productive entry of hepatitis C virus
Authors: Matsuda Mami , Suzuki Ryosuke , Kataoka Chikako , Watashi Koichi , Aizaki Hideki , Kato Nobuyuki , Matsuura Yoshiharu , Suzuki Tetsuro , Wakita Takaji
Published: August 2014

Previous studies have shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV) enters human hepatic cells through interaction with a series of cellular receptors, followed by clathrin-mediated, pH-dependent endocytosis. Here, we investigated the mechanisms of HCV entry into multiple HCV-permissive human hepatocyte-derived cells using trans-complemented HCV particles (HCVtcp). Knockdown of CD81 and claudin-1, or treatment with bafilomycin A1, reduced infection in Huh-7 and Huh7.5.1 cells, suggesting that HCV entered both cell types via receptor-mediated, pH-dependent endocytosis. Interestingly, knockdown of the clathrin heavy chain or dynamin-2 (Dyn2), as well as expression of the dominant-negative form of Dyn2, reduced infection of Huh-7 cells with HCVtcp, whereas infectious entry of HCVtcp into Huh7.5.1 cells was not impaired. Infection of Huh7.5.1 cells with culture-derived HCV (HCVcc) via a clathrin-independent pathway was also observed. Knockdown of caveolin-1, ADP-ribosylation factor 6 (Arf6), flotillin, p21-activated kinase 1 (PAK1) and the PAK1 effector C-terminal binding protein 1 of E1A had no inhibitory effects on HCVtcp infection into Huh7.5.1 cells, thus suggesting that the infectious entry pathway of HCV into Huh7.5.1 cells was not caveolae-mediated, or Arf6- and flotillin-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis, but rather may have occurred via an undefined endocytic pathway. Further analysis revealed that HCV entry was clathrin- and dynamin-dependent in ORL8c and HepCD81/miR122 cells, but productive entry of HCV was clathrin- and dynamin-independent in Hep3B/miR122 cells. Collectively, these data indicated that HCV entered different target cells through different entry routes.
Phototropin Encoded by a Single-Copy Gene Mediates Chloroplast Photorelocation Movements in the LiverwortMarchantia polymorpha
Authors: Komatsu Aino , Terai Mika , Ishizaki Kimitsune , Suetsugu Noriyuki , Tsuboi Hidenori , Nishihama Ryuichi , Yamato Katsuyuki T. , Wada Masamitsu , Kohchi Takayuki
Published: August 2014

Blue-light-induced chloroplast photorelocation movement is observed in most land plants. Chloroplasts move toward weak-light-irradiated areas to efficiently absorb light (the accumulation response) and escape from strong-light-irradiated areas to avoid photodamage (the avoidance response). The plant-specific kinase phototropin (phot) is the blue-light receptor for chloroplast movements. Although the molecular mechanisms for chloroplast photorelocation movement have been analyzed, the overall aspects of signal transduction common to land plants are still unknown. Here, we show that the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha exhibits the accumulation and avoidance responses exclusively induced by blue light as well as specific chloroplast positioning in the dark. Moreover, in silico and Southern-blot analyses revealed that the M. polymorpha genome encodes a single PHOT gene, MpPHOT, and its knockout line displayed none of the chloroplast photorelocation movements, indicating that the sole MpPHOT gene mediates all types of movement. Mpphot was localized on the plasma membrane and exhibited blue-light-dependent autophosphorylation both in vitro and in vivo. Heterologous expression of MpPHOT rescued the defects in chloroplast movement of phot mutants in the fern Adiantum capillus-veneris and the seed plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). These results indicate that Mpphot possesses evolutionarily conserved regulatory activities for chloroplast photorelocation movement. M. polymorpha offers a simple and versatile platform for analyzing the fundamental processes of phototropin-mediated chloroplast photorelocation movement common to land plants.
Three-dimensional study of poly(lactic co-glycolic acid) micro-porous microspheres using hard X-ray nano-tomography
Authors: Wang Dajiang , Li Na , Wang Zhili , Gao Kun , Zhang Yongming , Luo Yuyan , Wang Shengxiang , Bao Yuan , Shao Qigang , Wu Ziyu
Published: August 2014

Poly(lactic co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) is widely used in diverse fields, especially in delivering biologically active proteins and drugs. For these applications, the knowledge of morphology and microstructure of PLGA micro-porous microspheres is of great importance since they strongly influence the drug delivering efficiency. In this study, micro-porous PLGA microspheres loaded by bovine serum albumin are investigated by using a full-field Zernike phase contrast transmission hard X-ray microscope. From three-dimensional reconstructions and segmentations, fundamental microstructural parameters such as size, shape, distribution and volume ratio among pores and proteins inside PLGA microspheres were obtained. These parameters are useful to understand the relationship between the internal microstructure and drug encapsulation, as well as the drug release efficiency of PLGA microspheres. The presented results demonstrate the capability of hard X-ray nano-tomography to characterize porous microspheres loaded with proteins and drugs, and also open a way to analyse, optimize and design new PLGA microspheres for specific applications.
Financial Liberalisation and Institutional Incompatibility: The Unresolved Dilemma of the Korean Economy
Authors: Jung Jaehwan
Published: August 2014

Using a ‘varieties of capitalism’ approach, this article explains the ongoing contradictions of the Korean economy in terms of institutional incompatibilities between the liberalised financial system and the most important institutional legacy of the Korean developmental model: the chaebol system. Using its control over financial resources, the developmental state supported, monitored and disciplined the chaebol. Since the 1990s, financial liberalisation has been incompatible with the chaebol system. The liberalised financial system has tended to heighten risks or to dampen vitality within the system. Thus, despite attempts at reform, the failure to rectify these incompatibilities has led to an overall weakening of the Korean economy.
Phylogenetic Evidence for a Case of Misleading Rather than Mislabeling in Caviar in the United Kingdom
Authors: Johnson Tania Aspasia , Iyengar Arati
Published: August 2014

Sturgeons and paddlefish are freshwater fish which are highly valued for their caviar. Despite the fact that every single species of sturgeon and paddlefish is listed under CITES, there are reports of illegal trade in caviar where products are deliberately mislabeled. Three samples of caviar purchased in the United Kingdom were investigated for accurate CITES labeling using COI and cyt b sequencing. Initial species identification was carried out using BLAST followed by phylogenetic analyses using both maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood methods. Results showed no evidence for mislabeling with respect to CITES labels in any of the three samples, but we observed clear evidence for a case of misleading the customer in one sample.
Piloting an online incident reporting system in Australasian emergency medicine
Authors: Schultz Timothy J , Crock Carmel , Hansen Kim , Deakin Anita , Gosbell Andrew
Published: August 2014

Background

Medical‐specific incident reporting systems are critical to understanding error in healthcare but underreporting by doctors reduces their value.

Objective

We conducted a pilot study of the implementation of an online ED‐specific incident reporting system in Australasian hospitals and evaluated its use.

Methods

The reporting system was based on the literature and input of experts. Thirty‐one hospital EDs were approached to pilot the Emergency Medicine Events Register (EMER). The pilot evaluated: website usage and analytics, reporting behaviours and rates, the quality of information collected in EMER. Semi‐structured interviews of three site champions responsible for implementing EMER were conducted.

Results

Seventeen EDs expressed interest; however, due to delays and other barriers reporting only occurred at three sites. Over 354 days, the website received 362 unique visitors and 77 incidents. The median time to report was 4.6 min. The reporting rate was 0.07 reports per doctor month, suggesting a reporting rate of 0.08% of ED presentations. Data quality, as measured by the number of completed non‐mandatory fields and ability to classify incidents, was very high. The interviews identified enablers (the EMER system, site champions) and barriers (chiefly the context of EM) to EMER uptake.

Conclusions

Collecting patient safety information by frontline doctors is essential to actively engage the profession in patent safety. Although the EMER system allowed easy online reporting of high quality incident data by doctors, site recruitment and system uptake proved difficult. System use by ED doctors requires dedicated and conscious effort from the profession.
Is aggregated oviposition by the blow flies Lucilia sericata and Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) really pheromone‐mediated?
Authors: Brodie Bekka S. , Wong Warren H. L. , VanLaerhoven Sherah , Gries Gerhard
Published: August 2014

When female blow flies Lucilia sericata and Phormia regina (Diptera: Calliphoridae) oviposit in aggregations on carrion, even‐aged larval offspring reportedly develop faster, and fewer are parasitized or preyed upon. The benefits of aggregated oviposition equally affect con‐ and heterospecific larvae sharing a resource. The benefits imply that female blow flies engage in coordinated, pheromone‐mediated oviposition behavior. Yet, repeated attempts to identify oviposition pheromones have failed invoking doubt that they exist. Simply by regurgitating and feeding on carrion, flies may produce attractive semiochemicals. If flies were to aggregate in response to feeding flies rather than ovipositing flies, then the semiochemical cue(s) may be associated with the salivary gland. Working with L. sericata and P. regina and using liver as a surrogate oviposition medium, we test the hypotheses, and present data in their support, that (i) gravid or nongravid females ovipositing and/or feeding on liver enhance its attractiveness to gravid and nongravid females; (ii) females respond to semiochemicals from feeding heterospecific females; (iii) females respond equally well to semiochemicals from feeding con‐ and heterospecific females; (iv) macerated head tissues of females applied to liver enhance its attractiveness; and (v) females in direct contact with and feeding on liver, but not when next to yet physically separated from liver, enhance attraction of flies. We conclude that oviposition site‐seeking females do not respond to an oviposition pheromone. Instead, they appear to coopt semiochemicals associated with feeding flies as resource indicators, taking chances that resources are suitable for oviposition, and that ovipositing flies are present.
Validation and calibration of probabilistic predictions in ecology
Authors: Chivers Corey , Leung Brian , Yan Norman D.
Published: August 2014

Predictive models in ecology are important for guiding policy and management. However, they are necessarily abstractions of natural systems, making predictive validation imperative. Models, which make predictions about binary outcomes (e.g. Species distribution models, population viability analysis, disease/invasion models), are widespread in the ecological literature. When supporting probability‐based management decisions, these predictions need to be assessed with respect to the degree to which predicted probabilities agree with future outcomes. Many predictive models are not validated using external data and are often only assessed in terms of their ability to discriminate between outcomes rather than the degree to which they predicted the correct probabilities.

We develop a novel Validation Metric Applied to Probabilistic Predictions (VMAPP), which provides a goodness‐of‐fit test of calibration for probabilistic prediction models using binary data (e.g. presences and absences in models of species distributions). We analyse the theoretic properties of this test and compare its performance against existing methods, and apply it to a published model in invasion biology, which forecasts the establishment probability of the zooplanktivorous spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus). We selected 102 additional sites to sample four years after the training data were collected and use this independently collected data to assess predictive reliability using VMAPP.

Theoretic simulation analysis shows that VMAPP outperforms existing metrics (Cox's regression technique and Hosmer & Lemeshow's χ2 test) in terms of statistical power to identify model miscalibration. Further, we find that under realistic conditions where model parameters are estimated (and have associated uncertainty) that VMAPP is more robust, retaining the appropriate type‐I error rates (5%) where previous metrics fail (≤17%). Application of VMAPP to a published invasion model using empirical validation data shows that in addition to having high discriminative power, the model's probabilistic predictions agree with the observed outcomes as measured by VMAPP.

We argue that quantifying ecological predictions as probabilities with associated uncertainty provides the most useful information to support management decisions. Ecological predictions, while uncertain, should still be rigorously validated. Identifying the circumstances in which our predictions deviate from observation can further inform the next generation of the model, bringing prediction and reality ever closer.
Methods for studying cause‐specific senescence in the wild
Authors: Koons David N. , Gamelon Marlène , Gaillard Jean‐Michel , Aubry Lise M. , Rockwell Robert F. , Klein François , Choquet Rémi , Gimenez Olivier
Published: August 2014

The founding evolutionary theories of ageing indicate that the force of mortality imposed by environmental factors should influence the strength of natural selection against actuarial senescence and its evolution. To rigorously test this idea, field biologists need methods that yield estimates of age‐specific mortality according to cause of death.

Here, we present existing methods commonly applied in studies of human health that could be used to accomplish these goals in studies of wild species for which fate can be determined with certainty. We further present a new application of hidden Markov models for capture‐reencounter studies of wild animals that can be used to estimate age‐specific trajectories of cause‐specific mortality when detection is imperfect.

By applying our new hidden Markov model with thee‐surgeandmarksoftwares to capture‐reencounter data sets for long‐lived species, we demonstrate that senescence can be severe for natural causes of mortality in the wild, while being largely non‐existent for anthropogenic causes.

Moreover, we show that conflation of mortality causes in commonly used survival analyses can induce an underestimation of the intensity of senescence and overestimation of mortality for pre‐senescent adults. These biases have important implications for both age‐structured population modelling used to guide conservation and comparative analyses of senescence across species. Similar to frailty, individual differences in causes of death can generate individual heterogeneity that needs to be accounted for when estimating age‐specific mortality patterns.

The proposed hidden Markov method and other competing risk estimators can nevertheless be used to formally account for these confounding effects, and we additionally discuss how our new method can be used to gain insight into the mechanisms that drive variation in ageing across the tree of life.
Genetics and the successful reintroduction of the Missouri river otter
Authors: Mowry R. A. , Schneider T. M. , Latch E. K. , Gompper M. E. , Beringer J. , Eggert L. S.
Published: August 2014

Reintroduction is an effective tool for restoring endangered populations. There is increasing concern, however, that demographic restoration may not equate with genetic restoration. We examine the demographic‐genetic contrast in the context of one of the world's most successful carnivore population restorations. Beginning in 1982, a total of 835 river otters Lontra canadensis were reintroduced to Missouri, USA, more than 50 years after extirpation. Most otters were translocated from Louisiana, USA, and released at 43 sites across the state. An estimated population of 11 000–18 000 otters existed by 2000, and density estimates for Missouri otters are now similar to those reported for populations across the continent, indicating demographic recovery. We used microsatellite genotyping and mitochondrial sequence analysis of DNA extracted from fecal samples from eight southern Missouri rivers, in conjunction with mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) analyses from several native Louisiana otter populations, to evaluate the genetic diversity and population structure of otters within Missouri as compared with Louisiana. The Missouri population showed moderate to high heterozygosity and allelic diversity, similar to that of the source populations, but low mtDNA haplotype diversity. We detected five distinct genetic clusters distributed throughout the eight rivers, with no evidence of isolation by distance. These data collectively suggest that 30 years after restoration efforts commenced, Missouri river otters have retained genetic diversity levels similar to those of the source populations, but that genetic structure has not reached an equilibrium between migration and genetic drift. Thus, the Missouri otter population has made a robust recovery despite retaining the genetic signature of the reintroduction.
Efficacy and tolerability of antidepressants in the treatment of adolescents and young adults with depression and substance use disorders: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhou Xinyu , Qin Bin , Del Giovane Cinzia , Pan Junxi , Gentile Salvatore , Liu Yiyun , Lan Xinghui , Yu Jia , Xie Peng
Published: August 2014

Aims

To measure the effectiveness of antidepressants for adolescents and young adults with co‐occurring depression and substance use disorder.

Design, Setting and Participants

Meta‐analysis of randomized controlled clinical trials. A comprehensive literature search of PubMed, Cochrane, Embase, Web of Science and PsychINFO was conducted (from 1970 to 2013). Prospective, parallel groups, double‐blind, controlled trials with random assignment to an antidepressant or placebo on young patients (age ≤ 25 years) who met diagnostic criteria of both substance use and unipolar depressive disorder were included. Five trials were selected for this analysis and included 290 patients.

Measurements

Our efficacy outcome measures were depression outcomes (dichotomous and continuous measures) and substance‐use outcomes (change of frequency or quantity of substance‐use). Secondary analysis was conducted to access the tolerability of antidepressant treatment.

Findings

For dichotomous depression outcome, antidepressants group was significantly more effective than placebo group [risk ratio (RR) = 1.21; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.45], with low heterogeneity (I2 = 0%). Although no statistically significant effects for continuous depression outcome [standardized mean differences (SMD) = −0.13; 95% CI, −0.55 to 0.30] were found with moderate heterogeneity (I2 = 63%), subgroup analysis showed that the medicine group with a sample size of more than 50 showed statistically significant efficacy compared with the placebo group (SMD −0.53, 95% CI −0.82 to −0.25). Moreover, there was no significant difference for substance‐use outcomes and tolerability outcomes between the medication and placebo groups.

Conclusions

Antidepressant medication has a small overall effect in reducing depression in young patients with combined depressive and substance‐use disorders, but does not appear to improve substance use outcomes.
Molecular characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus associated with chronic rhinosinusitis
Authors: Thunberg Ulrica , Hugosson Svante , Monecke Stefan , Ehricht Ralf , Söderquist Bo
Published: August 2014

The anterior nares have been regarded as the major carriage site of Staphylococcus aureus. From here, the organism can spread to other parts of the body where it might act as harmless commensal or cause mild to severe infections. Nasal sinuses are normally sterile, but in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), the finding of S. aureus in maxillary sinus cultures is common. Isolates were obtained from the nares and maxillary sinus of patients with CRS and the nares of healthy controls. A significantly higher frequency of S. aureus was found in nares samples from patients (24/42) compared to controls (16/57) (p = 0.004). There is no consensus regarding whether S. aureus is a relevant pathogen in CRS. A DNA microarray was used to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus virulence genes with focus on staphylococcal enterotoxins, toxic shock syndrome toxin‐1, agr types, and cell wall‐associated proteins. The genotyping of S. aureus isolates revealed only small and non‐significant differences in gene prevalence between isolates collected from patients with CRS and those collected from healthy nasal carriers. This study provides an increased knowledge of the genetic pattern of virulence genes among S. aureus collected in CRS.
The role of IL‐28, IFN‐γ, and TNF‐α in predicting response to pegylated interferon/ribavirin in chronic HCV patients
Authors: Abdou Asmaa Gaber , Asaad Nancy Youssef , Ehsan Nermin , Eltahmody Mohammad , El‐Sabaawy Maha Mohamed , Elkholy Shimaa , Elnaidany Nada Farag
Published: August 2014

The primary goal of HCV therapy is to achieve a sustained virological response (SVR). Many host and viral factors influence the treatment response. Cytokines play an important role in the defense against viral infections, where successful treatment of hepatitis C depends on a complex balance between pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory responses. In the present study, we investigated the relationship between the presence and percentage of some cytokines (IL‐28, IFN‐γ, and TNF‐α) regarding different clinicopathological parameters including response to therapy in chronic HCV patients using immunohistochemical technique. This study was carried out on 64 chronic HCV patients (34 responders and 30 non‐responders). Of cases, 54% showed IL‐28 expression, which was associated with low AST (p = 0.002) and low HAI score (p = 0.006). Of cases, 67 and 45% showed IFN‐γ and TNF‐α expression, respectively, where the median percentage of TNF‐α expression was higher in grade II spotty necrosis compared to grade I. Some inflammatory cytokines expressed by intrahepatic inflammatory cells in chronic HCV patients promote inflammation and injury (pro‐inflammatory) such as TNF‐α. Other cytokines aid in resolving inflammation and injury (anti‐inflammatory) such as IL‐28. The balance between these cytokines will determine the degree of inflammatory state. None of the investigated cytokines proved its clear cut role in affecting response to therapy, however, their levels varied between responders and non‐responders for further investigations to clarify.
Complete remission of VZV reactivation treated with valganciclovir in a patient with total lymphocyte depletion and acute kidney injury after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation
Authors: Maximova Natalia , Antonio Pizzol , Marilena Granzotto , Rovere Francesca , Tamaro Paolo
Published: August 2014

Varicella zoster virus (VZV), a threat for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) recipients, is still one of the most common viral pathogens that affect these patients with a reported incidence ranging between 17% and 50% in the post transplantation period. Valganciclovir (V‐GCV), a valine ester pro‐drug of GCV orally administrable, has recently shown great activity against CMV infections, but there are no reports of its clinical efficacy against VZV. We here report a case history of a patient with positive serologic test for VZV, who underwent allogeneic HSCT and developed an atypical varicella‐like illness. First‐line therapy with foscarnet had to be discontinued due rapid development of renal impairment (creatinine: 2.60 mg/dL, urea: 130.6 mg/dL) and therefore was switched to V‐GCV. The renal impairment and skin lesions of the patient fully recovered after few days of therapy, even though the patient had complete lymphocyte depletion. This is the first case of a patient with chickenpox‐like illness treated successfully with V‐GCV.
Clinical and molecular characteristics of community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections in Chinese neonates
Authors: Li Shipeng , Ning Xue , Song Wenqi , Dong Fang , Zheng Yaojie , Chen Qiang , Qiao Yanhong , Li Juan , Wang Lijuan , Wang Qun , Yue Liqin , Wang Aihua , Yu Sangjie , Yao Kaihu , Yang Yonghong , Shen Xuzhuang
Published: August 2014

This study aims to characterize the clinical features of community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA‐MRSA) infections in Chinese neonates, as well as the molecular characteristics and expression of key virulence genes of isolates. Clinical information and molecular characteristics of 130 cases were analyzed. Up to 83.8% patients were affected with late‐onset infection. Cesarean delivery was the main delivery route, accounting for 74.6% of the total deliveries. Pneumonia (69, 53.1%) was the most common infection. A total of 38 patients (29.2%) suffered from complications. Moreover, 35 cases (26.9%) were invasive infections, among which 88.6% involved multiple organs and 45.7% suffered from complications. Cesarean section and premature birth were the risk factors for invasive CA‐MRSA infection. ST59‐MRSA‐SCCmecIVa‐t437 (54, 41.5%) was the most predominant CA‐MRSA clone. The hla expression in the ST59 isolates was higher than that in ST910 (p = 0.02) and the hla expression in ST59‐SCCmecV‐t437 was higher than that in ST59‐SCCmecIVa‐t437. Approximately, 46.4% (13/28) of the infections caused by ST59‐SCCmecV were invasive. This value is higher than that of ST59‐SCCmecVa caused infections (14/59, 23.7%) (p = 0.03). This study showed that neonatal CA‐MRSA infections in China readily become invasive, involve multiple organs, and are often accompanied by complications. The SCCmec V clone may be more pathogenic than the SCCmecVIa clone.
The bumpy road to ‘becoming’: capturing the stories that teenage mothers told about their journey into motherhood
Authors: Leese Maggie
Published: August 2014

Understanding the experience of women who become mothers during their teenage years is central to ensuring that the support that is offered is appropriate to meet their needs. This paper reports on a small part of a larger ethnographic study that captured the lived experience of young mothers who were between the ages of 16 and 19 years that potentially typifies and illuminates the experiences of young women who become mothers in their teenage years. By collecting data from narrative interviews as well as participant and non‐participant observations over an extended period of time it was possible to identify how the young women experienced a range of difficulties as they made their transition into motherhood. Drawing on the findings, this paper argues that this transition for teenage mothers can be significantly different from the experience of older mothers, and it identifies the importance of appropriate support to mediate the challenges that they face. Understanding the young women's journey to ‘becoming’ is critical when planning services because if their experience of support is negative, it can lead to increased levels of maternal stress and reluctance to engage with support services.
Priority effects on the life‐history traits of two carrion blow fly (Diptera, Calliphoridae) species
Authors: BRUNDAGE ADRIENNE , BENBOW MARK ERIC , TOMBERLIN JEFFERY K.
Published: August 2014

1. Third instars of the invasive blow fly Chrysomya rufifacies are facultative predators on larvae of the native blow fly Cochliomyia macellaria.

2. The effects of priority arrival time on the survivorship and fitness of C. rufifacies and C. macellaria were investigated in laboratory experiments.

3. Cochliomyia macellaria colonising a resource within 1–2 days after C. rufifacies resulted in a 20–70% reduction in survivorship, pupal weight and fecundity compared with those colonising a resource more than 2 days before or after C. rufifacies. Inversely, C. rufifacies exhibited a 50% increase in survivorship and fecundity when closely (∼2 days) associated temporally on the resource with C. macellaria and was negatively affected by disparate arrival.

4. These results demonstrate that arrival sequence significantly affects the fitness of both C. rufifacies and C. macellaria. Early colonisation may allow C. macellaria to persist in a community, while there are fitness benefits for C. rufifacies colonising after C. macellaria.

5. The 60% reduction in C. macellaria survivorship when in close temporal association with C. rufifacies may act as an agent of selection for C. macellaria to colonise a resource early and develop quickly to avoid predation on resources colonised by C. rufifacies.

6. Selection for such traits may explain how C. macellaria is able to persist despite intraguild predation by this invasive species. In contrast, the 50% increase in survivorship and fecundity exhibited by C. rufifacies when arriving after C. macellaria may select for C. rufifacies to delay colonisation.
Is there a Positive Risk‐Return Tradeoff? A Forward‐Looking Approach to Measuring the Equity Premium
Authors: Koutmos Dimitrios
Published: August 2014

This article revisits the puzzling time‐series relation between risk and return on the stock market portfolio. It replaces the standard ex post mean returns with forward‐looking calculations of the equity risk premium derived from the classic Gordon stock valuation model. The article estimates the equity premium for several industrialised markets and finds that conditional market risk is significantly priced in the context of asset pricing theory both in the short‐ and long‐run using various specifications for volatility. Findings herein lend credible support for the presence of a positive intertemporal risk‐return relation and suggest that perhaps ex post realised returns are unjustifiably used to make ex ante inferences regarding expected returns and to motivate asset pricing tests.
Sex‐specific behavioral traits in the Brd2 mouse model of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy
Authors: Chachua T. , Goletiani C. , Maglakelidze G. , Sidyelyeva G. , Daniel M. , Morris E. , Miller J. , Shang E. , Wolgemuth D. J. , Greenberg D. A. , Velíšková J. , Velíšek L.
Published: August 2014

Idiopathic generalized epilepsy represents about 30–35% of all epilepsies in humans. The bromodomain BRD2 gene has been repeatedly associated with the subsyndrome of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME). Our previous work determined that mice haploinsufficient in Brd2 (Brd2+/−) have increased susceptibility to provoked seizures, develop spontaneous seizures and have significantly decreased gamma‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) markers in the direct basal ganglia pathway as well as in the neocortex and superior colliculus. Here, we tested male and female Brd2+/− and wild‐type littermate mice in a battery of behavioral tests (open field, tube dominance test, elevated plus maze, Morris water maze and Barnes maze) to identify whether Brd2 haploinsufficiency is associated with the human behavioral patterns, the so‐called JME personality. Brd2+/− females but not males consistently displayed decreased anxiety. Furthermore, we found a highly significant dominance trait (aggression) in the Brd2+/− mice compared with the wild type, more pronounced in females. Brd2+/− mice of either sex did not differ from wild‐type mice in spatial learning and memory tests. Compared with wild‐type littermates, we found decreased numbers of GABA neurons in the basolateral amygdala, which is consistent with the increase in aggressive behavior. Our results indicate that Brd2+/− haploinsufficient mice show no cognitive impairment but have behavioral traits similar to those found in patients with JME (recklessness, aggression). This suggests that either the BRD2 gene is directly responsible for influencing many traits of JME or it controls upstream regulators of individual phenotypes.
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions, water use, and grain arsenic levels in rice systems
Authors: Linquist Bruce A. , Anders Merle M. , Adviento‐Borbe Maria Arlene A. , Chaney Rufus L. , Nalley L. Lanier , da Rosa Eliete F.F. , van Kessel Chris
Published: August 2014

Agriculture is faced with the challenge of providing healthy food for a growing population at minimal environmental cost. Rice (Oryza sativa), the staple crop for the largest number of people on earth, is grown under flooded soil conditions and uses more water and has higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions than most crops. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that alternate wetting and drying (AWD – flooding the soil and then allowing to dry down before being reflooded) water management practices will maintain grain yields and concurrently reduce water use, greenhouse gas emissions and arsenic (As) levels in rice. Various treatments ranging in frequency and duration of AWD practices were evaluated at three locations over 2 years. Relative to the flooded control treatment and depending on the AWD treatment, yields were reduced by <1–13%; water‐use efficiency was improved by 18–63%, global warming potential (GWP of CH4 and N2O emissions) reduced by 45–90%, and grain As concentrations reduced by up to 64%. In general, as the severity of AWD increased by allowing the soil to dry out more between flood events, yields declined while the other benefits increased. The reduction in GWP was mostly attributed to a reduction in CH4 emissions as changes in N2O emissions were minimal among treatments. When AWD was practiced early in the growing season followed by flooding for remainder of season, similar yields as the flooded control were obtained but reduced water use (18%), GWP (45%) and yield‐scaled GWP (45%); although grain As concentrations were similar or higher. This highlights that multiple environmental benefits can be realized without sacrificing yield but there may be trade‐offs to consider. Importantly, adoption of these practices will require that they are economically attractive and can be adapted to field scales.
Change in algal symbiont communities after bleaching, not prior heat exposure, increases heat tolerance of reef corals
Authors: Silverstein Rachel N. , Cunning Ross , Baker Andrew C.
Published: August 2014

Mutualistic organisms can be particularly susceptible to climate change stress, as their survivorship is often limited by the most vulnerable partner. However, symbiotic plasticity can also help organisms in changing environments by expanding their realized niche space. Coral–algal (Symbiodinium spp.) symbiosis exemplifies this dichotomy: the partnership is highly susceptible to ‘bleaching’ (stress‐induced symbiosis breakdown), but stress‐tolerant symbionts can also sometimes mitigate bleaching. Here, we investigate the role of diverse and mutable symbiotic partnerships in increasing corals' ability to thrive in high temperature conditions. We conducted repeat bleaching and recovery experiments on the coral Montastraea cavernosa, and used quantitative PCR and chlorophyll fluorometry to assess the structure and function of Symbiodinium communities within coral hosts. During an initial heat exposure (32 °C for 10 days), corals hosting only stress‐sensitive symbionts (Symbiodinium C3) bleached, but recovered (at either 24 °C or 29 °C) with predominantly (>90%) stress‐tolerant symbionts (Symbiodinium D1a), which were not detected before bleaching (either due to absence or extreme low abundance). When a second heat stress (also 32 °C for 10 days) was applied 3 months later, corals that previously bleached and were now dominated by D1a Symbiodinium experienced less photodamage and symbiont loss compared to control corals that had not been previously bleached, and were therefore still dominated by Symbiodinium C3. Additional corals that were initially bleached without heat by a herbicide (DCMU, at 24 °C) also recovered predominantly with D1a symbionts, and similarly lost fewer symbionts during subsequent thermal stress. Increased thermotolerance was also not observed in C3‐dominated corals that were acclimated for 3 months to warmer temperatures (29 °C) before heat stress. These findings indicate that increased thermotolerance post‐bleaching resulted from symbiont community composition changes, not prior heat exposure. Moreover, initially undetectable D1a symbionts became dominant only after bleaching, and were critical to corals' resilience after stress and resistance to future stress.
Effect of truncated neurokinin‐1 receptor expression changes on the interaction between human breast cancer and bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells
Authors: Zhou Yunli , Zuo Duo , Wang Meng , Zhang Yongci , Yu Man , Yang Jie , Yao Zhi
Published: August 2014

Previous studies in breast cancer cell lines showed that truncated neurokinin receptor‐1 (NK1R‐Tr) was able to promote malignant transformation of breast cells, and NK1R‐Tr may contribute to tumor progression and promote distant metastasis in human breast cancer. A co‐culture model of breast cancer and bone marrow‐derived human mesenchymal stem (HMSC‐bm) cells showed that HMSC‐bm inhibited the growth of breast cancer cells and entered the bone marrow at early stages. Down‐regulation of NK1R‐Tr may be a key factor in maintaining the quiescent phenotype of breast cancer cells among bone marrow stroma. Stromal‐derived factor (SDF)‐1α expression was negatively correlated with NK1R‐Tr expression in breast cancer cells. Secretion of SDF‐1α by HMSC‐bm may maintain the quiescent phenotype of breast cancer cells among bone marrow stroma by down‐regulating NK1R‐Tr expression. Transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 expression was positively associated with NK1R‐Tr expression in breast cancer cells. In a co‐culture system, MDA‐MB‐231‐TGF‐β1I (TGF‐β genes were suppressed using specific shRNA) cells were able to attach to HMSC‐bm quickly, indicating that TGF‐β1 was also a key factor for maintaining the quiescent phenotype of breast cancer cells in bone marrow stroma. However, the detailed mechanism still remained unclear and could involve other molecules, in addition to NK1R‐Tr.
Palaeosol Control of Arsenic Pollution: The Bengal Basin in West Bengal, India
Authors: Ghosal U. , Sikdar P.K. , McArthur J.M.
Published: August 2014

Groundwater in the Bengal Basin is badly polluted by arsenic (As) which adversely affects human health. To provide low‐As groundwater for As mitigation, it was sought across 235 km2 of central West Bengal, in the western part of the basin. By drilling 76 boreholes and chemical analysis of 535 water wells, groundwater with <10 µg/L As in shallow aquifers was found under one‐third of a study area. The groundwater is in late Pleistocene palaeo‐interfluvial aquifers of weathered brown sand that are capped by a palaeosol of red clay. The aquifers form two N‐S trending lineaments that are bounded on the east by an As‐polluted deep palaeo‐channel aquifer and separated by a shallower palaeo‐channel aquifer. The depth to the top of the palaeo‐interfluvial aquifers is mostly between 35 and 38 m below ground level (mbgl). The palaeo‐interfluvial aquifers are overlain by shallow palaeo‐channel aquifers of gray sand in which groundwater is usually As‐polluted. The palaeosol now protects the palaeo‐interfluvial aquifers from downward migration of As‐polluted groundwater in overlying shallow palaeo‐channel aquifers.

The depth to the palaeo‐interfluvial aquifers of 35 to 38 mbgl makes the cost of their exploitation affordable to most of the rural poor of West Bengal, who can install a well cheaply to depths up to 60 mbgl. The protection against pollution afforded by the palaeosol means that the palaeo‐interfluvial aquifers will provide a long‐term source of low‐As groundwater to mitigate As pollution of groundwater in the shallower, heavily used, palaeo‐channel aquifers. This option for mitigation is cheap to employ and instantly available.
Biogeographical variation in arthropod communities on coyote bush, Baccharis pilularis
Authors: Noelia Barrios‐Garcia Maria , Rodriguez‐Cabal Mariano A. , González Angélica L. , Crutsinger Gregory M.
Published: August 2014

A classic pattern in biogeography is the decline in species richness from lower to higher latitudes. Communities, however, can also vary with other geographical patterns, such as the abiotic gradients that occur from coastal to interior habitats.

In this study, we surveyed arthropod communities and herbivore pressure on populations of a dominant shrub, Baccharis pilularis, across a 2000 km latitudinal transect to determine whether coastal versus interior location mediates arthropod responses to latitude.

We found that arthropod species richness and abundance declined with increasing latitude. We also found significant coastal‐interior shifts in community composition and trophic structure. Specifically, predator and scavenger richness were two and three fold greater at coastal sites compared to interior sites, and were three‐ and six‐fold more abundant on the coast than in the interior. Herbivore pressure displayed a similar pattern, with greater abundance at lower latitudes and at coastal sites.

Our results corroborate the general macroecological pattern that diversity declines with increasing latitude, and that coastal versus interior location can also shape community assemblages. We did not, however, find any interaction between latitude and location suggesting the effect of latitude on arthropod communities remains consistent inland compared to more constant coastal conditions.
Effect of Al2O3 Addition on the Flexural Strength and Light‐Transmission Properties of Bone China
Authors: Zhang Yin , Yang Yuquan , Li Wenda , Ren Yunpeng
Published: August 2014

To improve the flexural strength and light‐transmission properties of bone china, the effects of adding different amounts of alumina (0–3%) to bone china bodies were studied and the phase composition and microstructure of different samples were studied by X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In addition, physical properties, such as the bulk density, the thermal expansion coefficient (TEC) and thermal shock resistance, were studied. It was found that adding alumina increased the overall sintering temperature while reducing the sintering temperature range of bone china. Furthermore, addition of 1% Al2O3 improved the tree‐point flexural strength from 120 MPa to 150 MPa, the light transmittance (at 2 mm thickness) from 6.7% to 7.5%, the thermal expansion coefficient from 8.4 × 10−6°C−1 to 8.1 × 10−6°C−1 and the thermal shock resistance from 140°C to 180°C. Higher corundum content results in similar high flexural strength but lower light transmittance.