bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sociological significance: enhancing resilience to climate change among communities.
Authors: Singh N. P. , Bantilan C. , Jayatilaka W. , Padmaja R.
Published: December 2015

Interesting sociological dimensions of enhancing resilience to climate change among communities were observed for formulating viable policy interventions. This chapter applied a comprehensive approach appealing to principles, methodologies, tools, validation and evaluation techniques for understanding the social dimensions of responses and adaptation to climate change. The analyses were undertaken at the individual and systems level with particular attention to the role of networks. The case studies from India revealed deeper sociological insights on (i) farmers' perceptions of climate change or variability; (ii) binding constraints to adaptation and vulnerability; and (iii) coping mechanisms to enhance their adaptive capacity. Three case studies of the villages of Dokur, Kanzara and Shirapur in the semi-arid regions of India, complemented by comparable observations from three additional villages from the longitudinal Village Level Studies panel data (ICRISAT 2014), highlighted significant findings. The first is that farmers perceive climate variability rather than climate change. Second, the critical constraints are not just the lack of access to financial resources, but that human and social capital as well as institutional and governance challenges are equally binding. Lastly, collective action and institutional arrangements effectively mediate the adaptive capacity and resilience of communities to climate change.
Policy options towards climate resilience: agent-based assessment of farm households in West Africa.
Authors: Wossen T. , Nedumaran S. , Berger T.
Published: December 2015

This chapter will present the impacts of farm-level adaptation strategies on farm household income and food security under the changing climate in Northern region of Ghana using a bio-economic modelling approach. The modeling approach captures the heterogeneity of important resources of farm households such as access to credits, irrigation and non-farm income sources under the context of climatic change.
Moving along adaptation pathways toward grass-root resilience: a synthesis.
Authors: Singh N. P. , Bantilan C. , Byjesh K. , Nedumaran S. , Rao V. U. M. , Venkateswarulu B. , Niranjan F. , Jayatilaka W. , Deb U. K. , Ha P. Q. , Suddhiyam P.
Published: December 2015

This chapter reports on cross-country evidence from the micro (farm-level) analysis on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability to the ever-rising climate-related risks. It has also identified the common challenges across countries, as well as unique features within regions, countries and continents. The challenges include excessive stress on natural capital, increasing demand for physical and financial resources and social capital. Through extensive data collection and analysis it also identifies deficiencies in future planning and country-specific strategies, policies and programmes. These deficiencies and their implications for the future on the farm households are highlighted comprehensively in these selected countries of Asia and Africa.
Way forward - towards climate resilience.
Authors: Singh N. P. , Bantilan C. , Byjesh K. , Nedumaran S.
Published: December 2015

This chapter sketches out the intervention needs from the evidence evolved from the comprehensive analysis described in the previous chapters. The authors argue that there are innumerable entry points for interventions that should be in place through policies, and programmes to create an enabling environment to adapt effectively among the rural population in the arid and semi-arid tropics. This chapter summarizes the critical areas identified within the sustainable livelihood framework that has to be promoted relentlessly until the very objective of enhancing resilience is achieved. The current policies and support are blanket in nature and they resonate a high disconnect because they are aggregative, top down, highly macro-level approaches. Furthermore, they are often coupled with uncertainties and information gaps, thereby vitiating the mainstreaming of adaptation options that is crucial for these marginal environments of the developing world. A comprehensive policy recommendation will be discussed with reference to contexts of Asia and Africa.
Effects of Low Salinities on Osmoregulation, Growth, and Survival of Juvenile Gulf Killifish
Authors: Ramee Shane , Green Christopher , Allen Peter J
Published: December 2015

The Gulf Killifish Fundulus grandis, a popular baitfish, is a euryhaline fish species native to coastal estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico and the eastern coast of Florida. Established culture methods have relied on a saline water source but such methods have not been widely adapted by the commercial sector. Since this species is highly euryhaline, there is potential for freshwater culture via the utilization of established inland facilities. In order to assess the feasibility of inland culture, changes in Gulf Killifish hypo-osmotic tolerance throughout early growth were evaluated. Gulf Killifish were challenged with low salinity treatments of 0 (freshwater), 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5‰ at 2, 7, and 12 weeks posthatch for 4 weeks to determine growth, survival, gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity, and whole-body Na+ content. Gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity and whole-body ion samples were collected at 0, 2, 14, and 28 d posttransfer (dpt) for each age-group. Results indicated Gulf Killifish at 2 weeks posthatch grew and survived at 2.5‰ as well as at higher salinities, but growth was reduced in freshwater. At 7 and 12 weeks posthatch, freshwater survival and growth rates at 0‰ salinity were comparable with other salinity treatments. Gill Na+,K+-ATPase activity increased in Gulf Killifish that were transferred to freshwater at both 7 and 12 weeks posthatch. Whole-body Na+ content was higher in freshwater 28 dpt in the 2-week-posthatch age-group, and 14 dpt in the 7-week-posthatch age-group. There were few differences in Na+,K+-ATPase activity and whole-body Na+ content between salinity treatments in the 12-week-posthatch age-group. These results suggest Gulf Killifish develop hypo-osmotic tolerance at less than 2 weeks of age posthatch and culture in low salinities including freshwater will be more successful with fish older than 7 weeks of age.
Switch Costs in the Self-Memory System
Authors: Rathbone Clare J. , Moulin Chris J. A.
Published: December 2015

Two experiments on undergraduates examined the idea that the working self operates as an executive structure to constrain and co-ordinate the generation of autobiographical memories. A switching task was used, in which participants completed an autobiographical memory fluency task, using either alternating self-image cues or the same cue repeatedly. In two experiments, there was a clear switch cost, whereby participants took longer to generate autobiographical memories when alternating between two different self-images. In the second experiment, there was also a similar cost associated with generating names and places from two separate domains, home and university. Taken together, these experiments support the idea that autobiographical memories and personal semantics are organized into a hierarchical structure, which can be probed using executive-function-like tasks. In particular, the task switch cost points to retrieval systems being geared up to retrieving memories according to the current goals of the self. In terms of autobiographical retrieval, the self can thus be thought of as a mental structure that is subject to dynamic patterns of excitation and interference.
Maxwell-Huygens, Newton-Cartan, and Saunders-Knox Space-Times
Authors: Weatherall James Owen
Published: December 2015

I address a question recently raised by Simon Saunders concerning the relationship between the space-time structure of Newton-Cartan theory and that of what I will call “Maxwell-Huygens space-time.” This discussion will also clarify a connection between Saunders’s work and a recent paper by Eleanor Knox.
Literal and Spiritual Births: Mary as Mother in Seventeenth-Century Women’s Writing
Authors: Brownlee Victoria
Published: December 2015

Mindful of the complex position of Christ’s mother, Mary, in post-Reformation Europe, this article examines how two women writers read Mary’s fleshly relationship with Christ. Reading the Bible typologically, Aemilia Lanyer and Dorothy Leigh determine that Mary’s material labor has spiritual consequences, because, in delivering Christ, she delivers God’s plan for salvation and inaugurates the new covenant. But, interpreting Marian maternity in this way, Lanyer’sSalve Deus Rex Judaeorumand Leigh’sThe Mothers Blessingalso suggest that the new covenant initiates a form of maternity that has sustained spiritual resonance for all women and has profound implications for the female writer.
Chronic Q-Fever (Coxiella burnetii) Causing Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm and Lumbar Osteomyelitis: A Case Report
Authors: Leahey P. Alexander , Tahan Steven R. , Kasper Ekkehard M. , Albrecht Mary
Published: December 2015

Coxiella burnetii is a rare cause of chronic infection that most frequently presents as endocarditis. We report a case of C burnetii causing an infected abdominal aortic aneurysm with contiguous lumbar osteomyelitis resulting in spinal cord compromise. The diagnosis was established by serologic studies consistent with chronic Q-fever (ratio of C burnetii immunoglobulin [Ig]G phase II titer to IgG phase I titer <1) and was confirmed by positive C burnetii polymerase chain reaction of vertebral tissue in addition to pathology of vertebral bone showing intracellular Gram-negative coccobacillary bacteria. The patient clinically improved after surgical decompression and prolonged treatment with doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine.
Acute Flaccid Paralysis: The New, The Old, and The Preventable
Authors: Macesic N. , Hall V. , Mahony A. , Hueston L. , Ng G. , Macdonell R. , Hughes A. , Fitt G. , Grayson M. L.
Published: December 2015

Acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) has a changing epidemiology with ongoing polio outbreaks and emerging causes such as nonpolio enteroviruses and West Nile virus (WNV). We report a case of AFP from the Horn of Africa that was initially classified as probable polio but subsequently found to be due to WNV.
Healthcare Workers' Attitudes Toward Patients With Ebola Virus Disease in The United States
Authors: Narasimhulu Deepa Maheswari , Edwards Vernee , Chazotte Cynthia , Bhatt Devika , Weedon Jeremy , Minkoff Howard
Published: December 2015

Background.  We assessed healthcare workers' (HCWs) attitudes toward care of patients with Ebola virus disease (EVD).

Methods.  We provided a self-administered questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of HCWs at 2 urban hospitals.

Results.  Of 428 HCWs surveyed, 25.1% believed it was ethical to refuse care to patients with EVD; 25.9% were unwilling to provide care to them. In a multivariate analysis, female gender (32.9% vs 11.9%; odds ratio [OR], 3.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4–7.7), nursing profession (43.6% vs 12.8%; OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.4–5.2), ethical beliefs about refusing care to patients with EVD (39.1% vs 21.3%; OR, 3.71; 95% CI, 2.0–7.0), and increased concern about putting family, friends, and coworkers at risk (28.2% vs 0%; P = .003; OR, 11.1) were independent predictors of unwillingness to care for patients with EVD. Although beliefs about the ethics of refusing care were independently associated with willingness to care for patients with EVD, 21.3% of those who thought it was unethical to refuse care would be unwilling to care for patients with EVD. Healthcare workers in our study had concerns about potentially exposing their families and friends to EVD (90%), which was out of proportion to their degree of concern for personal risk (16.8%).

Conclusion.  Healthcare workers' willingness to care for patients with Ebola patients did not precisely mirror their beliefs about the ethics of refusing to provide care, although they were strongly influenced by those beliefs. Healthcare workers may be balancing ethical beliefs about patient care with beliefs about risks entailed in rendering care and consequent risks to their families. Providing a safe work environment and measures to reduce risks to family, perhaps by arranging child care or providing temporary quarters, may help alleviate HCW's concerns.
Modifications in Tibialis Anterior Transfer for Dynamic Forefoot Adductus
Authors: Dar Tahir A. , Dhar Shabir A.
Published: December 2015

The transfer of the tibialis anterior is often required for the management of dynamic forefoot adductus in children with CTEV. We report a technique that reduces the size of the incision for this procedure. By tying the suture holding the tendon over the plantar fascia the skin complications caused by the button used in older techniques are avoided.
A new Defective Helper RNA to produce recombinant Sindbis virus that infects neurons but does not propagate
Authors: Kebschull Justus M , Garcia da Silva Pedro , Zador Anthony M
Published: December 2015

Recombinant Sindbis viruses are important tools in neuroscience because they combine rapid and high transgene expression with a capacity to carry large transgenes. Currently, two packaging systems based on the DH(26S)5’SIN and the DH-BB(tRNA;TE12) Defective Helper (DH) RNAs are available for making recombinant Sindbis virus that is neurotropic (able to infect neurons and potentially other cells). Both systems produce a fraction of viral particles that can propagate beyond the primary infected neuron. When injected into mouse brains, viruses produced using these DH RNAs label neurons at the injection site, but also elsewhere in the brain. Such ectopic labeling caused recombinant Sindbis viruses to be classified as anterograde viruses with limited retrograde spread, and can complicate the interpretation of neuroanatomical and other experiments.

Here we describe a new DH RNA, DH-BB(5’SIN;TE12ORF), that can be used to produce virus that is both neurotropic and propagation-incompetent. We show in mice that DH-BB(5’SIN;TE12ORF)- packaged virus eliminates infection of cells outside the injection site. We also provide evidence that ectopically labeled cells observed in previous experiments with recombinant Sindbis virus resulted from secondary infection by propagation-competent virus, rather than from inefficient retrograde spread.

Virus produced with our new packaging system retains all the advantages of previous recombinant Sindbis viruses, but minimizes the risks of confounding results with unwanted ectopic labeling. It should therefore be considered in future studies in which a neurotropic, recombinant Sindbis virus is needed.
Measuring and modeling diffuse scattering in protein X-ray crystallography
Authors: Van Benschoten Andrew H. , Liu Lin , Gonzalez Ana , Brewster Aaron S. , Sauter Nicholas K. , Fraser James S. , Wall Michael E.
Published: December 2015

X-ray diffraction has the potential to provide rich information about the structural dynamics of macromolecules. To realize this potential, both Bragg scattering, which is currently used to derive macromolecular structures, and diffuse scattering, which reports on correlations in charge density variations must be measured. Until now measurement of diffuse scattering from protein crystals has been scarce, due to the extra effort of collecting diffuse data. Here, we present three-dimensional measurements of diffuse intensity collected from crystals of the enzymes cyclophilin A and trypsin. The measurements were obtained from the same X-ray diffraction images as the Bragg data, using best practices for standard data collection. To model the underlying dynamics in a practical way that could be used during structure refinement, we tested Translation-Libration-Screw (TLS), Liquid-Like Motions (LLM), and coarse-grained Normal Modes (NM) models of protein motions. The LLM model provides a global picture of motions and were refined against the diffuse data, while the TLS and NM models provide more detailed and distinct descriptions of atom displacements, and only used information from the Bragg data. Whereas different TLS groupings yielded similar Bragg intensities, they yielded different diffuse intensities, none of which agreed well with the data. In contrast, both the LLM and NM models agreed substantially with the diffuse data. These results demonstrate a realistic path to increase the number of diffuse datasets available to the wider biosciences community and indicate that NM-based refinement can generate dynamics-inspired structural models that simultaneously agree with both Bragg and diffuse scattering.

Significance

The structural details of protein motions are critical to understanding many biological processes, but they are often hidden to conventional biophysical techniques. Diffuse X-ray scattering can reveal details of the correlated movements between atoms; however, the data collection historically has required extra effort and dedicated experimental protocols. We have measured three-dimensional diffuse intensities in X-ray diffraction from CypA and trypsin crystals using standard crystallographic data collection techniques. Analysis of the resulting data is consistent with the protein motions resembling diffusion in a liquid or vibrations of a soft solid. Our results show that using diffuse scattering to model protein motions can become a component of routine crystallographic analysis through the extension of commonplace methods.
Competition between binding sites determines gene expression at low transcription factor concentrations
Authors: van Dijk David , Sharon Eilon , Lotan-Pompan Maya , Weinberger Adina , Segal Eran , Carey Lucas B.
Published: December 2015

The response of gene expression to intra-and extra-cellular cues is largely mediated through changes in the activity of transcription factors (TFs), whose sequence specificities are largely known. However, the rules by which promoters decode the amount of active TF into gene expression are not well understood. Here, we measure the activity of 6500 designed promoters at six different levels of TF activity in budding yeast. We observe that maximum promoter activity is determined by TF activity and not by the number of sites. Surprisingly, the addition of an activator-binding site often reduces expression. A thermodynamic model that incorporates competition between neighboring binding sites for a local pool of TF molecules explains this behavior and accurately predicts both absolute expression and the amount by which addition of a site increases or reduces expression. Taken together, our findings support a model in which neighboring binding sites interact competitively when TF is limiting but otherwise act additively

Significance Statement

In response to intracellular and extracellular signals organisms alter the concentration and activity of transcription factors (TFs), proteins that regulate gene expression. However, the molecular mechanisms that determine the response of a target promoter to changes in the number of active TF molecules are not well understood. By combining mathematical modeling with measurements of TF dose-response curves for thousands of designed promoters, we show that competition for active TF molecules is a major factor in determining gene expression. At low TF concentrations additional activator-binding sites within a promoter can actually reduce expression. Thermodynamic modeling suggests that steric hindrance between neighboring binding sites cannot explain this behavior, but that competition for limiting TF molecules can.
Across-cohort QC analyses of genome-wide association study summary statistics from complex traits
Authors: Chen Guo-Bo , Lee Sang Hong , Robinson Matthew R , Trzaskowski Maciej , Zhu Zhi-Xiang , Winkler Thomas W , Day Felix R , Croteau-Chonka Damien C , Wood Andrew R , Locke Adam E , Kutalik Zoltán , Loos Ruth J F , Frayling Timothy M , Hirschhorn Joel N , Yang Jian , Wray Naomi R ,   The Genetic Investigation of Anthropometric Traits (GIANT) Consortium, Visscher Peter M
Published: December 2015

Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have been successful in discovering replicable SNP-trait associations for many quantitative traits and common diseases in humans. Typically the effect sizes of SNP alleles are very small and this has led to large genome-wide association meta-analyses (GWAMA) to maximize statistical power. A trend towards ever-larger GWAMA is likely to continue, yet dealing with summary statistics from hundreds of cohorts increases logistical and quality control problems, including unknown sample overlap, and these can lead to both false positive and false negative findings. In this study we propose a new set of metrics and visualization tools for GWAMA, using summary statistics from cohort-level GWASs. We proposed a pair of methods in examining the concordance between demographic information and summary statistics. In method I, we use the population geneticsFststatistic to verify the genetic origin of each cohort and their geographic location, and demonstrate using GWAMA data from the GIANT Consortium that geographic locations of cohorts can be recovered and outlier cohorts can be detected. In method II, we conduct principal component analysis based on reported allele frequencies, and is able to recover the ancestral information for each cohort. In addition, we propose a new statistic that uses the reported allelic effect sizes and their standard errors to identify significant sample overlap or heterogeneity between pairs of cohorts. Finally, to quantify unknown sample overlap across all pairs of cohorts we propose a method that uses randomly generated genetic predictors that does not require the sharing of individual-level genotype data and does not breach individual privacy.
Habitat variability does not generally promote metabolic network modularity in flies and mammals
Authors: Takemoto Kazuhiro
Published: December 2015

The evolution of species habitat range is an important topic over a wide range of research fields. In higher organisms, habitat range evolution is generally associated with genetic events such as gene duplication. However, the specific factors that determine habitat variability remain unclear at higher levels of biological organization (e.g., biochemical networks). One widely accepted hypothesis developed from both theoretical and empirical analyses is that habitat variability promotes network modularity; however, this relationship has not yet been directly tested in higher organisms. Therefore, I investigated the relationship between habitat variability and metabolic network modularity using compound and enzymatic networks in flies and mammals. Contrary to expectation, there was no clear positive correlation between habitat variability and network modularity. As an exception, the network modularity increased with habitat variability in the enzymatic networks of flies. However, the observed association was likely an artifact, and the frequency of gene duplication appears to be the main factor contributing to network modularity. These findings raise the question of whether or not there is a general mechanism for habitat range expansion at a higher level (i.e., above the gene scale). This study suggests that the currently widely accepted hypothesis for habitat variability should be reconsidered.
The reported healthy ageing gene expression score: lack of association in two cohorts
Authors: Pilling Luke C. , Harries Lorna W , Hernandez Dena G , Singleton Andrew B , Kuchel George A. , Ferrucci Luigi , Melzer David
Published: December 2015

Soodet al. report a multi-tissue RNA signature “predictive of human health, using only peripheral blood samples”. We tested this score in blood in two independent, larger cohorts and found no associations with age or related phenotypes, including muscle strength, interleukin-6 or mortality.
Effect of Poli I:C in murine model of autoimmune thyroiditis
Authors: Vera C , Barria M.
Published: December 2015

Hashimoto’s thyroiditis is one of the most common autoimmune diseases in humans and, similar to other autoimmune diseases, is multifactorial in nature. Moreover, the expression of TLRs has been implicated in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, such as diabetes and insulinitis. The TLRs are a family of at least 10 receptors associated with innate immunity that are present in monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, which recognize highly conserved patterns of the surface of microorganisms, such as LPS, peptidoglycan, and dsRNA and CpG sequences.

The aim of this study was to evaluate mRNA of the TLR3, TLR9 and cytokines (IFN-beta, TNF and IL-1) in thyroid follicular cells obtained of mice with autoimmune experimental thyroiditis (EAT). For that C57BL/6 mice were immunized with Tg plus complete Freund’s adyuvant and treated or not with Poli I:C. Anti-thyroglobulin autoantibodies level was determined by indirect ELISA. Also isolated thyroid follicles were treatedin vitrowith Poli IC. The results show that TLR3 receptors and some cytokines (IFN-beta, TNF and IL-10) are more highly expressed in thyroid follicular cells treated with Poli I:C. and in the animals with TAE, which present humoral autoimmune response. Taken together, these results suggest that TLR3 expression in thyroid follicular cells induces signaling mechanisms to enhanced IL-1, TNF and IFN-β levels during pathogen infections and that could trigger of autoimmune thyroiditis.
Cultural and Organisational Diversity Evaluation (CODE)
Authors: Siakas Kerstin , Siakas Dimitrios
Published: December 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to present the Cultural and Organisational Diversity Evaluation (CODE) model and its subsequent electronic tool, aiming to assess the cultural fit of global partners.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is a longitudinal study for gaining profound insights into cultural differences and for increasing understanding of human dynamics influencing the success of global relationships. A multi-method including overlapping qualitative and quantitative research methodology was used comprising interviews, observations and questionnaires.

Findings

– Incorporating cultural knowledge and understanding of the specific context of the partners in global transactions was found to bring added value to global partners. The results of the pilot studies suggest that increased appreciation and awareness of cultural diversity in global transactions are important factors for achieving harmonised distributed collaboration. Such awareness, also called cultural intelligence, can be reached by using a customised assessment tool that evaluates the particularities of the partners.

Research limitations/implications

– The conceptual CODE model has so far only been piloted in a few cases in a longitudinal study and is not a commercial tool.

Practical implications

– Raising awareness of cultural concerns is important for organisations that are involved in global transactions to improve communication, mutual understanding and effectivity. The CODE assesses the cultural fit of partners in a global context.

Social implications

– Organisations involved in global transactions would benefit from understanding the culture of partners for improved effectiveness.

Originality/value

– The CODE model, an instrument for assessing the fit between organisational and national culture, is a novel model developed by the authors.
Resolving patterns of population genetic and phylogeographic structure to inform control and eradication initiatives for brown rats Rattus norvegicus on South Georgia
Authors: Piertney Stuart B. , Black Andy , Watt Laura , Christie Darren , Poncet Sally , Collins Martin A.
Published: December 2015

The control and eradication of invasive species is a common management strategy to protect or restore native biodiversity. On South Georgia in the Southern Ocean, the brown rat Rattus norvegicus was brought onto the island with the onset of whaling and sealing activity in the 1800s and has had a significant detrimental impact on key bird species of conservation concern. Efforts to eradicate rats from South Georgia using poisoned bait are ongoing.

Despite the South Georgia rat eradication programme being the geographically largest and most ambitious eradication initiative to date, its success is facilitated by the potential that rat populations are effectively isolated by glacial barriers. This allows for localized eradication effort at manageable scales, leading to sequential eradication of individual populations with minimal risk of incursion from neighbouring areas.

Here, we use the levels of population genetic divergence estimated from 299 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) loci and DNA sequence variation across 993 base pairs of the mitochondrial DNA cytochrome B locus to examine whether rat populations from nine glacially isolated areas on South Georgia are genetically distinct and so can be treated as independent eradication units.

Bayesian clustering of individuals based on SNP similarity identified seven different genetic groups, which were confirmed using analyses based on pairwise genetic distance estimates and ordination of individuals using principal coordinate analysis. From a management perspective, these seven groups represent individual targets in baiting operations.

Two mtDNA haplotypes were resolved across South Georgia, with a distinct geographical separation between the north‐western and south‐eastern populations. Approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) was used to identify that this divergence was a consequence of two separate historical colonization events.

Synthesis and applications. We illustrate that molecular markers are a valuable tool in species management and pest eradication given that the spatial distribution of genetic diversity can: (i) identify demographically and genetically independent populations on which local eradication effort can be focussed, (ii) distinguish between incomplete eradication and immigration in situations where individuals remain after eradication has been attempted and (iii) identify the source of migrants when dispersal occurs over large spatial scales.
Which landscape size best predicts the influence of forest cover on restoration success? A global meta‐analysis on the scale of effect
Authors: Crouzeilles Renato , Curran Michael
Published: December 2015

Landscape context is a strong predictor of species persistence, abundance and distribution, yet its influence on the success of ecological restoration remains unclear. Thus, a primary question arises: which landscape size best predicts the effects of forest cover on restoration success?

To answer this question, we conducted a global meta‐analysis for biodiversity (mammals, birds, invertebrates, herpetofauna and plants) and measures of vegetation structure (cover, density, height, biomass and litter). Response ratios were calculated for comparisons between reference (e.g. old‐growth forest) and disturbed sites (degraded or restored). Using an information‐theoretic approach, mean response ratio (restoration success) and response ratio variance (restoration predictability) within each study landscape were regressed against the percentage of overall (summed forest cover) and contiguous (summed pixels of ≥60% forest cover) forest within eight different buffer sizes of radius 5–200 km (at 1‐km resolution).

We included 247 studies encompassing 196 study landscapes and 4360 quantitative comparisons. The best buffer (landscape) size varied for the following: (i) overall and contiguous forest cover, (ii) biodiversity and vegetation structure and (iii) mean response ratio and response ratio variance. Only plant biodiversity was influenced by overall forest cover (buffer size of 5, 10 and 200 km radii), while plants (10 and 200 km radii), mammals (5, 10 and 50–200 km radii), invertebrates (5 and 10 km radii), cover (5 km radii), height (5 km radii) and litter (100 km radii) were influenced by contiguous forest cover. Overall, mean response ratio and response ratio variance were positively and negatively nonlinearly related with both overall and contiguous forest cover, respectively.

We reveal for the first time a clear pattern of increasing restoration success and decreasing uncertainty as contiguous forest cover increases. We also indicate preliminary recommended buffer sizes for investigating landscape restoration effects on biodiversity and vegetation structure. However, the coarse grain and variability in the data mean the optimal landscape size may not have been detected; thus, further research is needed.

Synthesis and applications. When setting targets for ecological restoration, policymakers and restoration practitioners should account for the following: (i) the landscape context, particularly the amount of contiguous habitat up to 10 km around a disturbed site, and (ii) the uncertainty in restoration success, as it increases when contiguous forest cover falls below about 50%.
Conversion Narratives and the Roman Inquisition in Malta, 1650–1700
Authors: Ciappara Frans
Published: December 2015

This article analyses the conversion narratives which Christian renegades to Islam narrated to the inquisitor on their arrival in Malta in the second half of the seventeenth century. A few of them really believed in their new faith and were declared formal heretics, but the great majority had either been brought up as Muslims since a tender age or else were only suspected of believing that one can save oneself as a Muslim. The inquisitors were very indulgent with them and believed them when they said that they preserved the Christian religion in their hearts and were Muslims only on the outside.
Relationship between malnutrition and selected risk factors in two hospitals in Vietnam
Authors: Hanna Katherine L. , Glen Kate D. , Lau Bonnie T. , Tran Cuong Q. , Truong Nam T. , Gallegos Danielle
Published: December 2015

Aim

The purpose of the present study was to determine the percentage of patients assessed as malnourished using the Subjective Global Assessment in two hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho across multiple wards; and to investigate the association with factors including gender, age, days since admission, medical diagnosis and number of medications used.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study involved 205 inpatients from a hospital in Ho Chi Minh City and 78 inpatients and 89 outpatients from a hospital in Can Tho. Malnutrition status was assessed using Subjective Global Assessment. Ward, gender, age, medical diagnosis, time since admission and medication number were extracted from medical records.

Results

Up to 36% of inpatients and 9.0% of outpatients were malnourished. Multivariate analysis revealed factors predicting malnutrition status within inpatients (OR (95% CI)) were: age (OR = 1.03 (1.01–1.06)); cancer diagnosis (OR = 34.25 (3.16–370.89)); respiratory ward (11.49 (1.05–125.92)); or general medicine ward (20.34 (2.10–196.88)).

Conclusions

Results indicate that malnutrition is a common problem in hospitals in Vietnam. Further research is needed to confirm this finding across a wider range of hospitals and to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of implementation of nutrition interventions in hospital settings.
Advances in genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics of toxin‐producing cyanobacteria
Authors: D'Agostino Paul M. , Woodhouse Jason N. , Makower A. Katharina , Yeung Anna C. Y. , Ongley Sarah E. , Micallef Melinda L. , Moffitt Michelle C. , Neilan Brett A.
Published: December 2015

A common misconception persists that the genomes of toxic and non‐toxic cyanobacterial strains are largely conserved with the exception of the presence or absence of the genes responsible for toxin production. Implementation of ‐omics era technologies has challenged this paradigm, with comparative analyses providing increased insight into the differences between strains of the same species. The implementation of genomic, transcriptomic and proteomic approaches has revealed distinct profiles between toxin‐producing and non‐toxic strains. Further, metagenomics and metaproteomics highlight the genomic potential and functional state of toxic bloom events over time. In this review, we highlight how these technologies have shaped our understanding of the complex relationship between these molecules, their producers and the environment at large within which they persist.
Incidence of and risk factors for surgical site infections in women undergoing hysterectomy for endometrial carcinoma
Authors: Tuomi Taru , Pasanen Annukka , Leminen Arto , Bützow Ralf , Loukovaara Mikko
Published: December 2015

Introduction

The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of, and risk factors for, surgical site infections in a contemporary cohort of women with endometrial carcinoma.

Material and methods

We retrospectively studied 1164 women treated for endometrial carcinoma by hysterectomy at a single institution in 2007–2013. In all, 912 women (78.4%) had minimally invasive hysterectomy. Data on surgical site infections were collected from medical records. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify risk factors for incisional and organ/space infections.

Results

Ninety‐four women (8.1%) were diagnosed with a surgical site infection. Twenty women (1.7%) had an incisional infection and 74 (6.4%) had an organ/space infection. The associations of 17 clinico‐pathologic and surgical variables were tested by univariate analyses. Those variables that were identified as potential risk factors in univariate analyses (p < 0.15) were used in logistic regression models with incisional and organ/space infections as dependent variables. Obesity (body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2), diabetes, and long operative time (>80th centile) were independently associated with a higher risk of incisional infection, whereas minimally invasive surgery was associated with a smaller risk. Smoking, conversion to laparotomy, and lymphadenectomy were associated with a higher risk of organ/space infection.

Conclusions

Organ/space infections comprised the majority of surgical site infections. Risk factors for incisional and organ/space infections differed. Minimally invasive hysterectomy was associated with a smaller risk of incisional infections but not of organ/space infections.
Intraocular pressure and biomechanical corneal properties measure by ocular response analyser in patients with primary congenital glaucoma
Authors: Perucho‐González Lucía , Martínez de la Casa Jose María , Morales‐Fernández Laura , Bañeros‐Rojas Paula , Saenz‐Francés Federico , García‐Feijoó Julían
Published: December 2015

Purpose

To measure the differences in corneal hysteresis (CH) and corneal resistance factor (CRF) in primary congenital glaucoma (PCG) and in control subjects using ocular response analyser (ORA) and also to compare intraocular pressure (IOP) measurements given by ORA against IOP given by Perkins tonometer, a handheld version of Goldman applanation tonometer (GAT), to determine correlation.

Methods

One hundred and eighteen eyes of 78 patients with PCG (group I) and 103 eyes of 53 controls (group II) were evaluated using ORA. In all participants, IOP was measured using the Perkins tonometer. The ORA device uses applanation pressure peaks to generate the corneal‐compensated IOP (IOPcc), which is reportedly independent of corneal thickness, and the measurement of Goldman‐correlated IOP (IOPg), which is influenced by corneal thickness.

Results

The measures in group I were as follows: IOPcc 20.92 ± 5.33; IOPg 18.87 ± 6.67; CH 8.51 ± 2.25; CRF 9.85 ± 3.03; and IOP measured by Goldman 18.32 ± 5.13. The measures in group II were as follows: IOPcc 14.33 ± 2.91; IOPg 14.77 ± 3.00; CH 11.37 ± 1.61; CRF 11.02 ± 1.74; and IOP measured by Goldman 13.74 ± 2.42. The differences of all parameters compared between both groups were statistically significant (p < 0.001 for CH and for all IOP measures and p = 0.001 for CRF). The values of IOPcc, IOPg and IOP measured with Goldman were higher in group I than the values in group II. However, CH and CRF values were lower in group I.

Conclusion

A decrease in CH and CRF has been observed in patients with PCG compared to controls. Future research should assess how these parameters are modified in PCG and whether they could provide more information about progression.
A single nucleotide polymorphism in the dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase gene is associated with lower risk of pulmonary hypertension in bronchopulmonary dysplasia
Authors: Trittmann Jennifer K. , Gastier‐Foster Julie M. , Zmuda Erik J. , Frick Jessica , Rogers Lynette K. , Vieland Veronica J. , Chicoine Louis G. , Nelin Leif D.
Published: December 2015

Aim

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) develops in 25–40% of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) patients, substantially increasing mortality. We have previously found that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) production, is elevated in patients with BPD‐associated PH. ADMA is metabolised by Nᴳ,Nᴳ‐dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH). Presently, we test the hypothesis that there are single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in DDAH1 and/or DDAH2 associated with the development of PH in BPD patients.

Methods

BPD patients were enrolled (n = 98) at Nationwide Children's Hospital. Clinical characteristics and 36 SNPs in DDAH1 and DDAH2 were compared between BPD‐associated PH patients (cases) and BPD‐alone patients (controls).

Results

In BPD patients, 25 (26%) had echocardiographic evidence of PH (cases). In this cohort, DDAH1 wild‐type rs480414 was 92% sensitive and 53% specific for PH in BPD, and the DDAH1 SNP rs480414 decreased the risk of PH in an additive model of inheritance (OR = 0.39; 95% CI [0.18–0.88], p = 0.01).

Conclusion

The rs480414 SNP in DDAH1 may be protective against the development of PH in patients with BPD. Furthermore, the DDAH1 rs480414 may be a useful biomarker in developing predictive models for PH in patients with BPD.
The neuroscience and context of adolescent depression
Authors: Henje Blom Eva , Ho Tiffany C. , Connolly Colm G. , LeWinn Kaja Z. , Sacchet Matthew D. , Tymofiyeva Olga , Weng Helen Y. , Yang Tony T.
Published: December 2015

Adolescent depression is a growing public health concern with an increased risk of negative health outcomes, including suicide. The use of antidepressants and psychotherapy has not halted its increasing prevalence, and there is a critical need for effective prevention and treatment. We reviewed the neuroscience of adolescent depression, with a focus on the neurocircuitry of sustained threat and summarised contextual factors that have an impact on brain development and the pathophysiology of depression. We also reviewed novel treatment models.

Conclusion

Attention to the relevant neurocircuitry and contextual factors implicated in adolescent depression is necessary to advance prevention and treatment development.
Role of deltaNp63posCD44vpos cells in the development of N‐nitroso‐tris‐chloroethylurea‐induced peripheral‐type mouse lung squamous cell carcinomas
Authors: Yamano Shotaro , Gi Min , Tago Yoshiyuki , Doi Kenichiro , Okada Satoshi , Hirayama Yukiyoshi , Tachibana Hirokazu , Ishii Naomi , Fujioka Masaki , Tatsumi Kumiko , Wanibuchi Hideki
Published: December 2015

The role of cells expressing stem cell markers deltaNp63 and CD44v has not yet been elucidated in peripheral‐type lung squamous cell carcinoma (pLSCC) carcinogenesis. Female A/J mice were painted topically with N‐nitroso‐tris‐chloroethylurea (NTCU) for induction of pLSCC, and the histopathological and molecular characteristics of NTCU‐induced lung lesions were examined. Histopathologically, we found atypical bronchiolar hyperplasia, squamous metaplasia, squamous dysplasia, and pLSCCs in the treated mice. Furthermore, we identified deltaNp63posCD44vposCK5/6posCC10pos clara cells as key constituents of early precancerous atypical bronchiolar hyperplasia. In addition, deltaNp63posCD44vpos cells existed throughout the atypical bronchiolar hyperplasias, squamous metaplasias, squamous dysplasias, and pLSCCs. Overall, our findings suggest that NTCU induces pLSCC through an atypical bronchiolar hyperplasia–metaplasia–dysplasia–SCC sequence in mouse lung bronchioles. Notably, Ki67‐positive deltaNp63posCD44vpos cancer cells, cancer cells overexpressing phosphorylated epidermal growth factor receptor and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and tumor‐associated macrophages were all present in far greater numbers in the peripheral area of the pLSCCs compared with the central area. These findings suggest that deltaNp63posCD44vpos clara cells in mouse lung bronchioles might be the origin of the NTCU‐induced pLSCCs. Our findings also suggest that tumor‐associated macrophages may contribute to creating a tumor microenvironment in the peripheral area of pLSCCs that allows deltaNp63posCD44vpos cancer cell expansion through activation of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling, and that exerts an immunosuppressive effect through activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling.
An active video game intervention does not improve physical activity and sedentary time of children at‐risk for developmental coordination disorder: a crossover randomized trial
Authors: Howie E. K. , Campbell A. C. , Straker L. M.
Published: December 2015

Background

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) are highly inactive and sedentary. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of a home‐based active video game intervention on objectively measured physical activity and sedentary behaviour in children at risk for DCD.

Methods

In a crossover randomized clinical trial, 21 children (mean age 11.0, SD 1.0; n = 11 girls) in Perth, Western Australia participated in two 16‐week periods: no active video games (AVGs) control period and AVGs intervention period. Two active input consoles were provided to participants along with a selection of non‐violent AVGs for participants to play at home. Participants wore accelerometers at baseline and following each period to determine minutes of sedentary, light, moderate and vigorous times in addition to self‐reported types of activities in a diary. Linear mixed models, adjusted for the order of periods, compared physical activity and sedentary time during the last week of each period.

Results

There were no significant differences between the intervention and control periods in time spent in sedentary (decrease of −1.0 min/day during the intervention period, 95%CI −12.1, 10.1), light (increase of 2.2 min/day, 95%CI −8.8, 13.2), moderate (decrease of 0.7 min/day, 95%CI −4.6, 3.3) or vigorous (decrease of −0.6 min/day, 95%CI −1.6, 0.4).

Conclusions

Among children at risk for DCD, participating in this AVG intervention did not improve objectively measured physical activity and sedentary time.