bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Yearly and Situational Changes in the Estimate of Repertoire Size in Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos)
Authors: Derrickson Kim C.
Published: October 2019

The singing behavior of 4 male Northern Mockingbirds (Mimus polyglottos) was studied during 1980 and 1981. Over 10,000 song bouts (repetition of a particular song type) were analyzed spectrographically. Between 102 and 412 distinct song types were identified for each male in a given year. Many of these song types (25.8-57.4%) occurred only once in this sample of singing behavior. Repertoire size was estimated by fitting an exponential curve to a cumulative plot of distinct song types as a function of consecutive bouts sampled. The resulting asymptote was the estimate of repertoire size. Sequences of at least 50 consecutive bouts were used in estimating repertoire size. The technique of using consecutive bouts was required because of the high proportion of rare song types. Several estimates were made for each male and resulted in mean repertoire size estimates of 100-200 song types for the four males. Long sequences (125-150 bouts) of consecutive bouts are preferred to estimate repertoire size accurately. In addition, the social situation in which the singing behavior occurred can alter significantly the estimate of repertoire size. For example, estimates produced from singing during patrolling or countersinging were smaller than estimates generated from singing while associating with a female.

The repertoire size estimate increased between 1980 and 1981 for 3 of 4 males. The one male not showing an increase spent much time patrolling and interacting with neighboring males before dying early in 1981. These results are consistent with the impression that repertoire size increases with age.
Intersexual Differences in Food Consumption by Hand-Reared Great-Tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) Nestlings
Authors: Teather Kevin L.
Published: October 2019

I monitored food consumption by hand-reared Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) nestlings to test the hypothesis that males and females consume similar amounts of food but males direct more of their energy into characters that result in greater mass increase. Growth patterns of hand-reared nestlings reflected those of naturally reared nestlings: males were heavier and had longer tarsi, and females had longer 9th primaries on days 6-12 post-hatching. Males, on average, consumed 15.8% more food than females throughout this period; the amount of food consumed per unit mass increase was similar for both sexes. The results suggest there may be substantial cost differences to parents in rearing offspring of different sex. The nestling sex ratio for this and other sexually size-dimorphic species is generally close to one, and Fisher's (1930) theory that differential investment in sons and daughters should result in a skewed sex ratio at the end of parental care is not supported.
Linearity of Geographic Range and Its Possible Effect on the Population Structure of Andean Birds
Authors: Graves Gary R.
Published: October 2019

Geographic ranges of widespread Andean forest bird species are linear, averaging over 300 times longer than they are wide. Among congeneric species, geographic variation in plumage was negatively correlated to the width (W) of their elevational distributions, presumably because narrower distributions are more easily fragmented by barriers to gene flow. The amplitude of a species' elevational distribution may be limited by zonation of resources and by genetic factors that prevent populations from adapting to local environments. Minimum amplitudes may be dictated by demographic consequences.
Coordination of Incubation Routines and Mate Choice in Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae)
Authors: Davis Lloyd S.
Published: October 2019

I studied the mating patterns and foraging-trip durations for a colony of Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) over two consecutive breeding seasons. Foraging-trip duration was not predicted by the time spent fasting before leaving the nest, but was consistent with the time remaining until hatching of the chicks. Consequently, foraging trips of pairs that successfully coordinated their incubation routine were complementary. The complementarity was due at least in part to the assortative effects of mate choice. Pairs that successfully coordinated the first three foraging trips remained together the next season; pairs that did not, separated. I argue that Adélie Penguins should retain their mates if partners are synchronous in their arrival at the rookery the next year and that, therefore, pairs unable to coordinate incubation must also be unlikely to coordinate their arrival at the rookery the next season.
Radar and Visual Observations of Autumnal (Southward) Shorebird Migration on Guam
Authors: Williams Timothy C. , Williams Janet M.
Published: October 2019

Several species of shorebirds migrate between eastern Asia and the southern Pacific islands, Australia, and New Zealand. Observations made from Guam (13°25′N, 144°45′E) during autumn 1983 indicate that a significant number of birds take a direct route over the western Pacific Ocean. Radar observations and ground counts of migrants on Guam showed two periods of autumnal migratory activity. The first, largely adult birds, was in August and September. The second, largely juveniles, was in late September and October. Radar indicated that large numbers of birds passed over the island to the south with no evidence of compensation for drift by the easterly winds. Comparison of radar and ground observations on Guam showed that only a small subset of migrants stop on the island, suggesting that some species may make nonstop flights between eastern Asia and the South Pacific.
Morphometrics of Flightlessness in the Alcidae
Authors: Livezey Bradley C.
Published: October 2019

Data collected from skin specimens of the 23 Recent species of Alcidae, skeletal material for Recent and fossil alcids, and published data on body mass and wing area were used to describe the morphometric characteristics of flightlessness in the Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis) and the fossil mancalline auks. A regression equation confirmed a body-mass estimate (5 kg) for P. impennis (Bédard 1969). The size and relatively small wings produced wing-loading of roughly 22 g· cm-2, comparable to those of medium-sized penguins. Multivariate analysis of external measurements underscored the uniquely large size, relatively short wings, and moderately deep bill of Pinguinus compared to other Recent alcids. Analysis of skeletal measurements revealed that the genera of flightless Alcidae (Pinguinus, Mancalla, Praemancalla, and Alcodes) were characterized by relatively short distal wing elements and dorsoventral flattening of all major wing elements, in combination with relatively large core and pelvic dimensions. These differences were most pronounced in Mancalla, moderately developed in Praemancalla, and smallest in Pinguinus. Estimated body mass (1-4 kg) for selected fossil mancallines exceeded the largest flighted alcids (Uria) but was less than for Pinguinus. Pinguinus was a comparatively large piscivore sharing many morphological features with the Razorbill (Alca torda) and murres (Uria spp.). Its flightlessness evidently was a consequence of extreme specialization for pursuit diving, convergent with that of the Spheniscidae. Loss of flight imposed significant requirements on breeding sites and foraging habitats of the Great Auk and presumably the mancallines, and rendered Pinguinus exceptionally vulnerable to human exploitation.
Prey Dynamics and the Breeding Phenology of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo)
Authors: Safina Carl , Burger Joanna
Published: October 2019

We examined fish dynamics within the temporal framework of the reproductive cycle of Common Terns from 1982-1985. The hypothesis that the breeding season of terns is timed to overlap with a seasonal increase in food abundance was supported by the data. Prey fish were more available during breeding than postfledging. However, the further hypothesis that the timing of tern breeding is adapted to exploit peak prey availability while feeding growing chicks was not generally supported over the course of the study. Food for terns peaked and began to decline before the period of peak demand of food by chicks.
3D genome organization during lymphocyte development and activation
Authors: van Schoonhoven Anne , Huylebroeck Danny , Hendriks Rudi W , Stadhouders Ralph
Published: October 2019

Chromosomes have a complex three-dimensional (3D) architecture comprising A/B compartments, topologically associating domains and promoter–enhancer interactions. At all these levels, the 3D genome has functional consequences for gene transcription and therefore for cellular identity. The development and activation of lymphocytes involves strict control of gene expression by transcription factors (TFs) operating in a three-dimensionally organized chromatin landscape. As lymphocytes are indispensable for tissue homeostasis and pathogen defense, and aberrant lymphocyte activity is involved in a wide range of human morbidities, acquiring an in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanisms that control lymphocyte identity is highly relevant. Here we review current knowledge of the interplay between 3D genome organization and transcriptional control during B and T lymphocyte development and antigen-dependent activation, placing special emphasis on the role of TFs.
A Scoping Review of Interventions to Promote Health and Well-Being of Left-behind Children in Mainland China
Authors: Wang Miao , Victor Bryan G , Hong Jun Sung , Wu Shiyou , Huang Jin , Luan Hui , Perron Brian E
Published: October 2019

Approximately 65 million children in mainland China are left behind in rural areas while their parents work in the cities. Research has highlighted their health needs. However, current research on interventions for this population is unknown. The purpose of this study was to systematically review existing health service interventions for left-behind children in China. The study team identified interventions for left-behind children by conducting a comprehensive search of major academic databases for Chinese and English research. Articles were retained in the study if they were original empirical intervention studies that target health and related well-being outcomes of left-behind children. A total of eighteen unique studies met inclusion criteria. The majority of them demonstrated positive outcomes using various modalities, including education, sport and nutrition guidance and nursing services. However, the shortcomings in research design and intervention limit their replication. Intervention research for left-behind children shows an enormous gap in the knowledge about this at-risk group. Of the existing programs identified, we observe considerable promise for interventions based on inter-disciplinary approaches to services. We provide additional recommendations for conducting future research and for building collaborative relationships with social workers to better serve the needs of children.
Hippocampal Subfields and Limbic White Matter Jointly Predict Learning Rate in Older Adults
Authors: Bender Andrew R , Brandmaier Andreas M , Düzel Sandra , Keresztes Attila , Pasternak Ofer , Lindenberger Ulman , Kühn Simone
Published: October 2019

Age-related memory impairments have been linked to differences in structural brain parameters, including cerebral white matter (WM) microstructure and hippocampal (HC) volume, but their combined influences are rarely investigated. In a population-based sample of 337 older participants aged 61–82 years (Mage = 69.66, SDage = 3.92 years), we modeled the independent and joint effects of limbic WM microstructure and HC subfield volumes on verbal learning. Participants completed a verbal learning task of recall over five repeated trials and underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), including structural and diffusion scans. We segmented three HC subregions on high-resolution MRI data and sampled mean fractional anisotropy (FA) from bilateral limbic WM tracts identified via deterministic fiber tractography. Using structural equation modeling, we evaluated the associations between learning rate and latent factors representing FA sampled from limbic WM tracts, and HC subfield volumes, and their latent interaction. Results showed limbic WM and the interaction of HC and WM—but not HC volume alone—predicted verbal learning rates. Model decomposition revealed HC volume is only positively associated with learning rate in individuals with higher WM anisotropy. We conclude that the structural characteristics of limbic WM regions and HC volume jointly contribute to verbal learning in older adults.
Motor Conflict: Revealing Involuntary Conditioned Motor Preparation Using Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
Authors: Tran D M D , Harris J A , Harris I M , Livesey E J
Published: October 2019

Preparing actions to achieve goals, overriding habitual responses, and substituting actions that are no longer relevant are aspects of motor control often assumed to be driven by deliberate top-down processes. In the present study, we investigated whether motor control could come under involuntary control of environmental cues that have been associated with specific actions in the past. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to probe corticospinal excitability as an index of motor preparation, while participants performed a Go/No-Go task (i.e., an action outcome or no action outcome task) and rated what trial was expected to appear next (Go or No-Go). We found that corticospinal excitability during a warning cue for the upcoming trial closely matched recent experience (i.e., cue–outcome pairings), despite conflicting with what participants expected would appear. The results reveal that in an action–outcome task, neurophysiological indices of motor preparation show changes that are consistent with participants learning to associate a preparatory warning cue with a specific action, and are not consistent with the action that participants explicitly anticipate making. This dissociation with conscious expectancy ratings reveals that conditioned responding and motor preparation can operate independently of conscious expectancies about having to act.
Cyclodextrin-Modified Micellar UPLC for Direct, Sensitive and Selective Determination of Water Soluble Vitamins in Milk
Authors: Albishri Hassan M , Almalawi Abdullah M , Alshitari Wael , El-Hady Deia Abd
Published: October 2019

Cyclodextrin-modified micellar ultra pressure liquid chromatography (CD-MUPLC) was firstly developed and directly applied to the simultaneous determination of water-soluble vitamins thiamine hydrochloride (VB1), pyridoxine hydrochloride (VB6) and ascorbic acid (VC) in milk samples. A hybrid isocratic mobile phase consisting of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD, 5.0 mmol L−1) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB, 0.1 mol L−1) in the presence of acetic acid (0.1 mol L−1) at pH 2.9 on a RP-C18 column at 25.0°C was successfully used. The separation of vitamins was achieved in less than 10 min at a 0.2 mL min−1 flow rate showing adequate linearity at 245 nm in the ranges of 5.0–500.0 μg L−1 for VB1, 5.0–1000.0 μg L−1 for VB6 and 5.0–10000.0 μg L−1 for VC with coefficients of variation (r2) of 0.9999, 0.9987 and 0.9971, respectively. In addition, limits of detection obtained were 0.885, 1.352 and 1.358 μg L−1 and limits of quantification were 2.681, 4.096 and 4.115 μg L−1 for VB1, VB6 and VC, respectively. The high sensitivity of the proposed CD-MUPLC-UV method permitted its applications to the determination of water-soluble vitamins VB1 (32–488 μg L−1), VB6 (82–95 μg L−1) and VC (790–45000 μg L−1) in breast and bovine milk samples. The relative standard deviations and recoveries ranged between 0.07 and 2.14% and between 85.27 and 114.8%, respectively, indicating the accurate and precise measurements without any negative impact of matrix. The current analytical method illustrated several advantages including direct, sensitive, selective and non-consuming organic solvents over the hitherto published methods. These features could be attributed to the four-point competitive interactions among analytes, pseudostationary phases and modified C18 stationary phases.
Ribavirin for Hepatitis E Virus Infection After Organ Transplantation: A Large European Retrospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Kamar Nassim , Abravanel Florence , Behrendt Patrick , Hofmann Jörg , Pageaux Georges Phillippe , Barbet Christelle , Moal Valérie , Couzi Lionel , Horvatits Thomas , De Man Robert A , Cassuto Elisabeth , Elsharkawy Ahmed M , Riezebos-Brilman Annelies , Scemla Anne , Hillaire Sophie , Donnelly Mhairi C , Radenne Sylvie , Sayegh Johnny , Garrouste Cyril , Dumortier Jérôme , Glowaki François , Matignon Marie , Coilly Audrey , Figueres Lucile , Mousson Christiane , Minello Anne , Dharancy Sébastien , Rerolle Jean Philippe , Lebray Pascal , Etienne Isabelle , Perrin Peggy , Choi Mira , Marion Olivier , Izopet Jacques ,   Hepatitis E Virus Ribavirin Study Group, Bellière J , Cointault O , Del Bello A , Espostio L , Hebral A L , Lavayssière L , Lhomme S , Mansuy J M , Wedemeyer H , Nickel P , Bismuth M , Stefic K , Büchler M , D’Alteroche L , Colson P , Bufton S , Ramière C , Trimoulet P , Pischke S , Todesco E , Sberro Soussan R , Legendre C , Mallet V , Johannessen I , Simpson K
Published: October 2019

Background

Ribavirin is currently recommended for treating chronic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. This retrospective European multicenter study aimed to assess the sustained virological response (SVR) in a large cohort of solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients with chronic HEV infection treated with ribavirin monotherapy (N = 255), to identify the predictive factors for SVR, and to evaluate the impact of HEV RNA mutations on virological response.

Methods

Data from 255 SOT recipients with chronic HEV infection from 30 European centers were analyzed. Ribavirin was given at the median dose of 600 (range, 29–1200) mg/day (mean, 8.6 ± 3.6 mg/kg/day) for a median duration of 3 (range, 0.25–18) months.

Results

After a first course of ribavirin, the SVR rate was 81.2%. It increased to 89.8% when some patients were offered a second course of ribavirin. An increased lymphocyte count at the initiation of therapy was a predictive factor for SVR, while poor hematological tolerance of ribavirin requiring its dose reduction (28%) and blood transfusion (15.7%) were associated with more relapse after ribavirin cessation. Pretreatment HEV polymerase mutations and de novo mutations under ribavirin did not have a negative impact on HEV clearance. Anemia was the main adverse event.

Conclusions

This large-scale retrospective study confirms that ribavirin is highly efficient for treating chronic HEV infection in SOT recipients and shows that the predominant HEV RNA polymerase mutations found in this study do not affect the rate of HEV clearance.

This large-scale retrospective study that included 255 solid organ transplant recipients confirms that ribavirin is highly efficient for treating chronic hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection and shows that HEV RNA polymerase mutations do not play a role in HEV clearance.
Determining the Utility of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Nares Screening in Antimicrobial Stewardship
Authors: Mergenhagen Kari A , Starr Kaitlyn E , Wattengel Bethany A , Lesse Alan J , Sumon Zarchi , Sellick John A
Published: October 2019

Background

Treatment of suspected methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a cornerstone of many antibiotic regimens; however, there is associated toxicity. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospitals screen each patient for MRSA nares colonization on admission and transfer. The objective was to determine the negative predictive value (NPV) of MRSA screening in the determination of subsequent positive clinical culture for MRSA. High NPVs with MRSA nares screening may be used as a stewardship tool.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study across VA medical centers nationwide from 1 January 2007 to 1 January 2018. Data from patients with MRSA nares screening were obtained from the VA Corporate Data Warehouse. Subsequent clinical cultures within 7 days of the nares swab were evaluated for the presence of MRSA. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and NPVs were calculated for the entire cohort as well as subgroups for specific culture sites.

Results

This cohort yielded 561 325 clinical cultures from a variety of anatomical sites. The sensitivity and specificity for positive MRSA clinical culture were 67.4% and 81.2%, respectively. The NPV of MRSA nares screening for ruling out MRSA infection was 96.5%. The NPV for bloodstream infections was 96.5%, for intraabdominal cultures it was 98.6%, for respiratory cultures it was 96.1%, for wound cultures it was 93.1%, and for cultures from the urinary system it was 99.2%.

Conclusion

Given the high NPVs, MRSA nares screening may be a powerful stewardship tool for deescalation and avoidance of empirical anti-MRSA therapy.
Proof of Greatness or Evidence of Modesty? A Comparative Analysis of China’s Participation in UN Peacekeeping Operations
Authors: Ye Min , Li Quan
Published: October 2019

Any serious discussion about the consequences of China’s rise must start with a systematic and rigorous assessment of China’s actual influence and status in the international system. In this article, we examine a widely used indicator in the debate about China’s international status. Although many existing studies see China’s active participation in United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Operations as incontestable evidence of China’s great power status, others contend that it signifies the status of only a middle power. We posit that China’s policy behaviour should be evaluated in a comparative manner, and from a dynamic perspective. After comparing the patterns and features of China’s personnel contributions with that of 20 other major countries in the world, we find that China’s behaviour is more similar to that of developing ‘middle powers’, such as Turkey, India, and Brazil, as opposed to established ‘great powers’ such as other permanent members of the UN Security Council or traditional ‘western middle powers’.
Adaptive IoT Empowered Smart Road Traffic Congestion Control System Using Supervised Machine Learning Algorithm
Authors: Ata Ayesha , Khan Muhammad Adnan , Abbas Sagheer , Khan Muhammad Saleem , Ahmad Gulzar
Published: October 2019

The concept of smart systems blessed with different technologies can enable many algorithms used in Machine Learning (ML) and the world of the Internet of Things (IoT). In a modern city many different sensors can be used for information collection. Algorithms that are cast-off in Machine Learning improves the capabilities and intelligence of a system when the amount of data collectedincreases. In this research, we propose a TCC-SVM system model to analyse traffic congestion in the environment of a smart city. The proposed model comprises an ML-enabled IoT-based road traffic congestion control system whereby the occurrence of congestion at a specific point is notified.
Thucydideses: authorship, anachrony, and anachronism in Greek historiography
Authors: Greenwood Emily
Published: October 2019

This article revisits the theme of temporality in ancient Greek historiography through the lens of the Byzantine Histories of Laonikos Chalkokondyles, who fastened onto the device of the anachronic, proleptic future in Herodotus and Thucydides to license his apparently anachronistic device of writing in the language and persona of both, eighteen centuries after they wrote. In Laonikos’ account, his narrative is part of the future of ‘Greek’ history anticipated by Herodotus and Thucydides. Laonikos’ clever assimilation of Herodotus and Thucydides sheds new light on Thucydides’ own reduplication of himself to project an authorial and textual future. This strong, anachronic move has made Thucydides’ work assimilable by future readers and also opened up the work to the contingencies of reception, with its potential for anachronism.
Oviposition Substrate Selection, Egg Mass Characteristics, Host Preference, and Life History of the Spotted Lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) in North America
Authors: Liu Houping
Published: October 2019

Oviposition substrate selection, egg mass characteristics, host preference, and life history of Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) were studied in Pennsylvania between 2016 and 2017. Twenty-four substrate types (trees, shrubs, and nonliving materials) were selected by females for oviposition. Tree-of-heaven, black cherry, black birch, and sweet cherry were favored at 62.5% of the types and accounted for 68.5% of the egg masses based on survey results 200 cm above ground. Egg mass density ranged between 0.2 and 75.2 egg masses/m2 with no significant difference among substrate types. Egg mass size ranged between 0 and 192 eggs/egg mass, with 91.8% containing <50 eggs. Significantly larger egg masses were found on sweet and black cherry compared with tree-of-heaven, with significantly higher hatch success on black locust. Eggs hatched between May 2 and June 5 and peaked on 18 May 2017. Tree-of-heaven and summer grape were preferred by nymphs and adults, while multiflora rose and black walnut were favored by the first, second, and the fourth instar nymphs, respectively. The first, second, third, fourth instars and adults lasted for 62 (2 May–3 July), 42 (8 June–20 July), 35 (26 June—31 July), 39 (10 July—18 Aug.), and 114 (24 July—15 Nov.) days, with peaks on 25 May, 22 June, 6 July, 31 July, and 22 Aug., respectively. Adult feed for 2 months before laying eggs in early October. Cumulative degree-days were 0–325, 153–652, 340–881, 567–1,020, 738–1,227, and 942–1,795 for the egg, first, second, third, fourth instar, and adult stage, respectively. Oviposition strategies and development patterns were discussed.
Spatial and Climatic Factors Influence Ambrosia Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Abundance in Intensively Managed Plantations of Eastern Black Walnut
Authors: Williams G M , Ginzel M D
Published: October 2019

Invasive ambrosia beetles are among the most economically important pests of forest and plantation trees world-wide. The development of effective management guidelines for these pests in plantations of high-value hardwood species is hindered by a lack of baseline information regarding their seasonal abundance and dispersal behavior. By analyzing long-term monitoring data from intensively-managed plantations of eastern black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) in north-central Indiana, we identified key spatial and climatic variables that could improve the timing and precision of management actions to reduce ambrosia beetle populations. We also used geospatial analyses to compare species-specific spatial patterns of population density and evaluate the sensitivity of the trap density deployed in our long-term monitoring efforts. Xyleborinus saxesenii Ratzeburg and Xylosandrus crassiusculus Matschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) were more abundant during the spring in years preceded by a hot, dry growing season, and cold winter. Both species were positively associated with plantation edges during the fall flight period. However, X. saxesenii was less abundant in plantations close to forest corridors, whereas X. crassiusculus was more abundant in plantations closer to woodlots and other walnut plantations. Geospatial analysis revealed X. crassiusculus is active in larger, more spatially continuous patches than X. saxesenii, and that 200-m trap spacing is likely to be sufficient to detect both species in the spring flight period but may be insufficient to detect X. saxesenii during the fall flight period. Our findings underscore the power and utility of long-term monitoring to improve management strategies.
Inferring Invasion Paths Into Cotton by Creontiades dilutus (Hemiptera: Miridae) From Arid Zone and Agricultural Sources
Authors: Cappadonna J K , Hereward J P , Walter G H
Published: October 2019

Managing agricultural pests that use multiple host plant species is a challenge when individuals move between host plants in natural vegetation and agricultural environments. The green mirid (Creontiades dilutus) Stål (Hemiptera: Miridae) is endemic to Australia and routinely invades cotton from local uncultivated vegetation, but may also originate from remote locations in the arid continental interior. This bug is polyphagous and highly mobile, which contributes to its pest status in cotton L. (Malvaceae) systems as well as its persistence in arid environments with sparsely distributed ephemeral host plants. The aim of this study was to evaluate how C. dilutus individuals use a variety of host species across remote arid regions and highly managed agricultural landscapes. Structured field surveys spanning vast areas across the Simpson Desert in the arid heart of Australia, as well as subcoastal cotton production systems, were designed to evaluate host use across environments that share few plant species. High numbers of C. dilutus were collected from Cullen australasicum (Schltdl.) J.W.Grimes (Fabaceae) (perennial hosts) and Goodenia cycloptera R.Br. (Goodeniaceae) (ephemeral hosts) in the desert following rain. In agricultural environments, C. dilutus bugs were mostly found on irrigated Medicago sativa L. (Fabaceae) (lucerne), and to a lesser extent Melilotus indicus (L.) All. (Fabaceae) near rivers. Significantly, bugs were on these plants prior to the planting of cotton across all environments surveyed. These data allow inferences relating host use, host abundance, and insect migration to one another to understand the connection that C. dilutus bugs have between arid and agricultural environments.
Prognostic value of [15O]H2O positron emission tomography-derived global and regional myocardial perfusion
Authors: Bom Michiel J , van Diemen Pepijn A , Driessen Roel S , Everaars Henk , Schumacher Stefan P , Wijmenga Jan-Thijs , Raijmakers Pieter G , van de Ven Peter M , Lammertsma Adriaan A , van Rossum Albert C , Knuuti Juhani , Danad Ibrahim , Knaapen Paul
Published: October 2019

Aims

To evaluate the prognostic value of global and regional quantitative [15O]H2O positron emission tomography (PET) perfusion.

Methods and results

In this retrospective study, 648 patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease (CAD) who underwent [15O]H2O PET were followed for the occurrence of death and myocardial infarction (MI). Global and regional hyperaemic myocardial blood flow (hMBF) and coronary flow reserve (CFR) were obtained from [15O]H2O PET. During median follow-up of 6.9 (5.0–7.9) years, 64 (9.9%) patients experienced the composite of death (36–5.6%) and MI (28–4.3%). Impaired global hMBF (<2.65 mL/min/g) and CFR (<2.88) were both significant prognostic factors for death/MI after adjusting for clinical characteristics (both P < 0.001). However, after adjusting for clinical parameters and the combined use of hMBF and CFR, only hMBF remained an independent prognostic factor (P = 0.04). For regional perfusion, both impaired hMBF (<2.10 mL/min/g) and CFR (<2.07) demonstrated prognostic value for events (both P < 0.001). Similarly, after adjusting for clinical characteristics and combined use of hMBF and CFR, only hMBF had independent prognostic value (P = 0.04). The combination of global and regional perfusion did not improve prognostic performance over either global (P = 0.55) or regional perfusion (P = 0.37) alone.

Conclusion

Global and regional hMBF and CFR were all prognostic factors for death and MI. However, for both global and regional perfusion, hMBF remained the only independent prognostic factor after adjusting for the combined use of hMBF and CFR. Additionally, integrating global and regional perfusion did not increase prognostic performance compared to either regional or global perfusion alone.
Reconstructing William Byrd’s consort songs from the Paston lutebooks: a historically informed and computational approach to comparative analysis and musical idiom
Authors: Sequera Hector
Published: October 2019

This article outlines how computational analysis can be applied to the process of making and evaluating idiomatic reconstructions of polyphonic music from lute intabulations. It focuses on some of William Byrd’s consort songs that survive only as intabulations in one of the lute books owned by Edward Paston (1550–1630), London, British Library, Add. Ms. 31992. Fourteen of the consort songs survive as intabulations and full settings, and form the corpus used in this study; 15 survive only as intabulations needing reconstruction to return them to a performable state. After discussing the context of the pieces, the article presents three analyses: (1) to establish the differences between the tablatures and the full settings, (2) to study more closely these differences in order to inform reconstruction work, and (3) to evaluate three separate reconstructions of Byrd’s ‘In tower most high’ using the corpus and the data collected.
The spatial variation of switching rates in large cooperative membership bases: empirical evidence from the dairy sector
Authors: Viergutz Tim , Zubek Nana , Schulze-Ehlers Birgit
Published: October 2019

Structural change at both farmer and cooperative levels has significantly altered the vertical relationships between these, with increased switching activities resulting in negative economic impacts on cooperatives. This paper uses spatial panel modelling to identify how prices, cooperative member density and competitors’ processing volume affect member switching rates in a large dairy cooperative. With a unique data set, we find that these local indicators influence local members’ switching decisions. Furthermore, the detected pattern indicates a spatial interdependence of local switching rates, hinting at potential interaction processes among the members, ultimately influencing the occurrence of switching decisions in the membership base. JEL classification: C23, D23, P13, Q13, R32
The Diminishing Power of One? Welfare State Retrenchment and Rising Poverty of Single-Adult Households in Sweden 1988–2011
Authors: Alm Susanne , Nelson Kenneth , Nieuwenhuis Rense
Published: October 2019

In this study, we analyse the sharp rise in poverty among working-age singles and single parents in Sweden. In a dual-earner society like Sweden, we show that the return of mass unemployment in combination with the retreat of a generous and inclusive welfare state have substantially increased the poverty risks of single-adult households, who cannot rely on the income buffering effect of the family. Whereas cutbacks to unemployment benefits have been detrimental for the relative income position of single-adult households, the poverty risks of couples with and without children are much less affected. Individual-level characteristics of the poor persons themselves provide little explanatory leverage for why trends in poverty diverge by family form. Our results raise a number of issues of relevance for the wider academic debate about the capacity of the welfare state to adequately respond to both old and new social risk groups.
Secondary prevention medications after coronary artery bypass grafting and long-term survival: a population-based longitudinal study from the SWEDEHEART registry
Authors: Björklund Erik , Nielsen Susanne J , Hansson Emma C , Karlsson Martin , Wallinder Andreas , Martinsson Andreas , Tygesen Hans , Romlin Birgitta S , Malm Carl Johan , Pivodic Aldina , Jeppsson Anders
Published: October 2019

Aims

To evaluate the long-term use of secondary prevention medications [statins, β-blockers, renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors, and platelet inhibitors] after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and the association between medication use and mortality.

Methods and results

All patients who underwent isolated CABG in Sweden from 2006 to 2015 and survived at least 6 months after discharge were included (n = 28 812). Individual patient data from SWEDEHEART and other mandatory nationwide registries were merged. Multivariable Cox regression models using time-updated data on dispensed prescriptions were used to assess associations between medication use and long-term mortality. Statins were dispensed to 93.9% of the patients 6 months after discharge and to 77.3% 8 years later. Corresponding figures for β-blockers were 91.0% and 76.4%, for RAAS inhibitors 72.9% and 65.9%, and for platelet inhibitors 93.0% and 79.8%. All medications were dispensed less often to patients ≥75 years. Treatment with statins [hazard ratio (HR) 0.56, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.52–0.60], RAAS inhibitors (HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.73–0.84), and platelet inhibitors (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.69–0.81) were individually associated with lower mortality risk after adjustment for age, gender, comorbidities, and use of other secondary preventive drugs (all P < 0.001). There was no association between β-blockers and mortality risk (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.90–1.06; P = 0.54).

Conclusion

The use of secondary prevention medications after CABG was high early after surgery but decreased significantly over time. The results of this observational study, with inherent risk of selection bias, suggest that treatment with statins, RAAS inhibitors, and platelet inhibitors is essential after CABG whereas the routine use of β-blockers may be questioned.
Quinidine-responsive out-of-hospital polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in patients with coronary heart disease
Authors: Viskin Sami , Hochstadt Aviram , Chorin Ehud , Viskin Dana , Havakuk Ofer , Khoury Shafik , Lee John K , Belhassen Bernard , Rosso Raphael
Published: October 2019

Aims

We recently reported that patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) who develop polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) during the healing phase of an acute coronary event, generally fail to respond to revascularization or standard antiarrhythmic therapy but respond immediately to quinidine therapy. Here, we describe that CAD patients presenting with out-of-hospital polymorphic VT without a recent coronary event or an obvious precipitating factor, also respond uniquely to quinidine therapy.

Methods and results

Retrospective study of patients with unheralded, mainly out-of-hospital, polymorphic VT related to CAD but without evidence of acute myocardial ischaemia. We identified 20 patients who developed polymorphic VT without precipitating factors. The polymorphic VT events were triggered by extrasystoles with short (376 ± 49 ms) coupling interval. Arrhythmic storms occurred in 70% patients. These arrhythmic storms were generally refractory to conventional antiarrhythmic therapy but invariably responded to quinidine therapy. Revascularization was antiarrhythmic in 3 patients despite the absent clinical or ECG signs of ischaemia. During long-term follow-up (range 2 months to 11 years), 3 (15%) of patients not receiving quinidine developed recurrent polymorphic VT. There were no recurrent arrhythmias during long-term quinidine therapy.

Conclusions

Patients with CAD may develop polymorphic VT in the absence of obvious acute ischaemia or apparent precipitating factors, presenting as out-of-hospital polymorphic VT with high risk of arrhythmic storms that respond uniquely to quinidine therapy.
Cost–utility analysis of lifestyle interventions to prevent type 2 diabetes in women with prior gestational diabetes
Authors: Werbrouck Amber , Schmidt Masja , Putman Koen , Annemans Lieven , Benhalima Katrien , Simoens Steven , Verhaeghe Nick
Published: October 2019

Background

To compare estimated costs and health outcomes of lifestyle interventions for the prevention of type 2 diabetes mellitus in women who had gestational diabetes.

Methods

An age-specific Markov model was applied comparing costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) of three alternatives: ‘doing nothing’; an annual reminder system (ARS) with an awareness campaign (‘ARS-awareness’); and an ARS with an intensive lifestyle intervention (‘ARS-ILS’). A healthcare payer perspective was adopted, the time horizon was 30 years and the setting was Flanders (Belgium). Sensitivity analyses were performed.

Results

‘ARS-awareness’ was extendedly dominated. Per 10 000 participants, ‘ARS-ILS’ cost €13 210 256 more and gained 496 QALYs compared with ‘doing nothing’ (26 632 €/QALY), with a 63% probability of being cost effective, given a cost effectiveness threshold of 35 000 €/QALY. A scenario analysis showed that ‘ARS-ILS’ for 15 years only offered to women with prediabetes (compared with ‘doing nothing’) has an 89.5% likelihood of being dominant.

Conclusions

‘ARS-ILS’ may be the preferred intervention. However, the probability of being cost effective was low. Based on further scenario analyses, we recommend healthcare decision makers to consider the application of a more intensive alternative, focused on the highest risk profiles and with a shorter intervention duration.
The inconvincible patient: how clinicians perceive demand for antibiotics in the outpatient setting
Authors: Kohut Mike R , Keller Sara C , Linder Jeffrey A , Tamma Pranita D , Cosgrove Sara E , Speck Kathleen , Ahn Roy , Dullabh Prashila , Miller Melissa A , Szymczak Julia E
Published: October 2019

Background

Perceived patient demand for antibiotics drives unnecessary antibiotic prescribing in outpatient settings, but little is known about how clinicians experience this demand or how this perceived demand shapes their decision-making.

Objective

To identify how clinicians perceive patient demand for antibiotics and the way these perceptions stimulate unnecessary prescribing.

Methods

Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with clinicians in outpatient settings who prescribe antibiotics. Interviews were analyzed using conventional and directed content analysis.

Results

Interviews were conducted with 25 clinicians from nine practices across three states. Patient demand was the most common reason respondents provided for why they prescribed non-indicated antibiotics. Three related factors motivated clinically unnecessary antibiotic use in the face of perceived patient demand: (i) clinicians want their patients to regard clinical visits as valuable and believe that an antibiotic prescription demonstrates value; (ii) clinicians want to avoid negative repercussions of denying antibiotics, including reduced income, damage to their reputation, emotional exhaustion, and degraded relationships with patients; (iii) clinicians believed that certain patients are impossible to satisfy without an antibiotic prescription and felt that efforts to refuse antibiotics to such patients wastes time and invites the aforementioned negative repercussions. Clinicians in urgent care settings were especially likely to describe being motivated by these factors.

Conclusion

Interventions to improve antibiotic use in the outpatient setting must address clinicians’ concerns about providing value for their patients, fear of negative repercussions from denying antibiotics, and the approach to inconvincible patients.
Mapping of Shigella flexneri’s tissue distribution and type III secretion apparatus activity during infection of the large intestine of guinea pigs
Authors: Nigro Giulia , Arena Ellen T , Sachse Martin , Moya-Nilges Maryse , Marteyn Benoit S , Sansonetti Philippe J , Campbell-Valois F-X
Published: October 2019

Shigella spp. are bacterial pathogens that invade the human colonic mucosa using a type III secretion apparatus (T3SA), a proteinaceous device activated upon contact with host cells. Active T3SAs translocate proteins that carve the intracellular niche of Shigella spp. Nevertheless, the activation state of the T3SA has not been addressed in vivo. Here, we used a green fluorescent protein transcription-based secretion activity reporter (TSAR) to provide a spatio-temporal description of S. flexneri T3SAs activity in the colon of Guinea pigs. First, we observed that early mucus release is triggered in the vicinity of luminal bacteria with inactive T3SA. Subsequent mucosal invasion showed bacteria with active T3SA associated with the brush border, eventually penetrating into epithelial cells. From 2 to 8 h post-challenge, the infection foci expanded, and these intracellular bacteria displayed homogeneously high-secreting activity, while extracellular foci within the lamina propria featured bacteria with low secretion activity. We also found evidence that within lamina propria macrophages, bacteria reside in vacuoles instead of accessing the cytosol. Finally, bacteria were cleared from tissues between 8 and 24 h post-challenge, highlighting the hit-and-run colonization strategy of Shigella. This study demonstrates how genetically encoded reporters can contribute to deciphering pathogenesis in vivo.
Managing Understory Fagus grandifolia for Promoting Beech Bark Disease Resistance in Northern Hardwood Stands
Authors: Fajvan Mary Ann , Hille Andrea , Turcotte Richard M
Published: October 2019

Many Allegheny hardwood stands contain dense understories of very shade-tolerant American beech, resulting from partial disturbances that have accelerated root sucker development. The low-shade produced by these sprouts hampers silvicultural regeneration efforts to maintain species diversity in new cohorts. An increasing proportion of sprouts result from stressed trees infested with beech bark disease. The clonal sprouts also have a genetic affinity for the disease. A mixture of Accord® and Oust® herbicides, applied to understory vegetation after shelterwood establishment cuts, can significantly reduce understory beech density. Yet, retention of some overstory beech, with demonstrated disease resistance, is ecologically desirable. The root sprouts from these parent trees should also have resistance to the disease. We used broadcast herbicide application to kill understory vegetation after shelterwood harvests in three stands, and tested the effect of herbicide on beech sprouts associated with resistant trees. Eight years after treatment, plots that had received herbicide had similar densities of beech to no-herbicide plots. However, there were significant differences in seedling densities among stands (P = .0303) and species (P = .0014). Our results indicate that there is much temporal variability in regeneration dynamics after treatment. Resistant beech sprouts are still competitive in the long term, even after herbicide application.
Branched Chain Amino Acids, Cardiometabolic Risk Factors and Outcomes in Older Men: The Concord Health and Ageing in Men Project
Authors: Le Couteur David G , Ribeiro Rosilene , Senior Alistair , Hsu Benjumin , Hirani Vasant , Blyth Fiona M , Waite Louise M , Simpson Stephen J , Naganathan Vasikaran , Cumming Robert G , Handelsman David J
Published: October 2019

Increased blood levels of branched chain amino acids (BCAAs) have been associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. Here, we studied 918 community-dwelling older men to determine the relationship between BCAAs and other amino acids with cardiometabolic risk factors, major cardiovascular endpoints (MACE), and mortality. BCAAs had robust associations with many adverse metabolic risk factors (increased glucose, insulin, Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR), triglycerides; decreased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol). However, paradoxically, participants with lower levels of BCAAs had greater mortality and MACE possibly because increasing age and frailty, both of which were associated with lower BCAA levels, are powerful risk factors for these outcomes in older people. Overall, amino acids that were lowest in frail subjects (BCAAs, α-aminobutyric acid [AABA], histidine, lysine, methionine, threonine, tyrosine) were inversely associated with mortality and MACE. In conclusion, BCAAs are biomarkers for important outcomes in older people including cardiometabolic risk factors, frailty, and mortality. In old age, frailty becomes a dominant risk factor for MACE and mortality.