bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Locality or habitat? Exploring predictors of biodiversity in Amazonia
Authors: Ritter Camila D. , Zizka Alexander , Barnes Christopher , Nilsson R. Henrik , Roger Fabian , Antonelli Alexandre
Published: May 2018

Amazonia is an environmentally heterogeneous and biologically megadiverse region, and its biodiversity varies considerably over space. However, existing knowledge on Amazonian biodiversity and its environmental determinants stems almost exclusively from studies of macroscopic above‐ground organisms, notably vertebrates and trees. In contrast, diversity patterns of most other organisms remain elusive, although some of them, for instance microorganisms, constitute the overwhelming majority of taxa in any given location, both in terms of diversity and abundance. Here, we use DNA metabarcoding to estimate prokaryote and eukaryote diversity in environmental soil and litter samples from 39 survey plots in a longitudinal transect across Brazilian Amazonia using 16S and 18S gene sequences, respectively. We characterize richness and community composition based on operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and test their correlation with longitude and habitat. We find that prokaryote and eukaryote OTU richness and community composition differ significantly among localities and habitats, and that prokaryotes are more strongly structured by locality and habitat type than eukaryotes. Our results 1) provide a first large‐scale mapping of Amazonian soil biodiversity, suggesting that OTU richness patterns might follow substantially different patterns from those observed for macro‐organisms; and 2) indicate that locality and habitat factors interact in determining OTU richness patterns and community composition. This study shows the potential of DNA metabarcoding in unveiling Amazonia's outstanding diversity, despite the lack of complete reference sequence databases for the organisms sequenced.
Aberrant learning in Parkinson's disease: A neurocomputational study on bradykinesia
Authors: Ursino Mauro , Baston Chiara
Published: May 2018

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive decline in motor functions, such as bradykinesia, caused by the pathological denervation of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons within the basal ganglia (BG). It is acknowledged that dopamine (DA) directly affects the modulatory role of BG towards the cortex. However, a growing body of literature is suggesting that DA‐induced aberrant synaptic plasticity could play a role in the core symptoms of PD, thus recalling for a “reconceptualization” of the pathophysiology. The aim of this work was to investigate DA‐driven aberrant learning as a concurrent cause of bradykinesia, using a comprehensive, biologically inspired neurocomputational model of action selection in the BG. The model includes the three main pathways operating in the BG circuitry, that is the direct, indirect and hyperdirect pathways, and use a two‐term Hebb rule to train synapses in the striatum, based on previous history of rewards and punishments. Levodopa pharmacodynamics is also incorporated. Through model simulations of the Alternate Finger Tapping motor task, we assessed the role of aberrant learning on bradykinesia. The results show that training under drug medication (levodopa) provides not only immediate but also delayed benefit lasting in time. Conversely, if performed in conditions of vanishing levodopa efficacy, training may result in dysfunctional corticostriatal synaptic plasticity, further worsening motor performances in PD subjects. This suggests that bradykinesia may result from the concurrent effects of low DA levels and dysfunctional plasticity and that training can be exploited in medicated subjects to improve levodopa treatment.
Intact goal‐directed control in treatment‐seeking drug users indexed by outcome‐devaluation and Pavlovian to instrumental transfer: critique of habit theory
Authors: Hogarth Lee , Lam‐Cassettari Christa , Pacitti Helena , Currah Tara , Mahlberg Justin , Hartley Lucie , Moustafa Ahmed
Published: May 2018

Animal studies have demonstrated that chronic exposure to drugs of abuse impairs goal‐directed control over action selection indexed by the outcome‐devaluation and specific Pavlovian to instrumental transfer procedures, suggesting this impairment might underpin addiction. However, there is currently only weak evidence for impaired goal‐directed control in human drug users. Two experiments were undertaken in which treatment‐seeking drug users and non‐matched normative reference samples (controls) completed outcome‐devaluation and specific Pavlovian to instrumental transfer procedures notionally translatable to animal procedures (Experiment 2 used a more challenging biconditional schedule). The two experiments found significant outcome‐devaluation and specific Pavlovian to instrumental transfer effects overall and there was no significant difference between groups in the magnitude of these effects. Moreover, Bayes factor supported the null hypothesis for these group comparisons. Although limited by non‐matched group comparisons and small sample sizes, the two studies suggest that treatment‐seeking drug users have intact goal‐directed control over action selection, adding uncertainty to already mixed evidence concerning the role of habit learning in human drug dependence. Neuro‐interventions might seek to tackle goal‐directed drug‐seeking rather than habit formation in drug users.
Spectrophotometric methods for lignin and cellulose in forest soils as predictors for humic substances
Authors: Danise T. , Fioretto A. , Innangi M.
Published: May 2018

The origin and fate of humus, a soil organic matter fraction that is most resistant to decomposition, are not yet completely understood. Humus derives mainly from plant structural components; that is, lignin and cellulose, together with several other primary and secondary compounds. There are several methods to estimate lignin and cellulose in plant material; however, the applications to soil are limited and usually complicated and expensive. Conversely, humus can be estimated in soil by chemical titration methods, which estimate the carbon linked to humic and fulvic acids (HAC and FAC). Therefore, we carried out analyses that aimed to compare, within beech forest soils, spectrophotometric data for lignin and cellulose with those of HAC and FAC. We used soil samples from six different beech woods in Italy, sampling in four layers from 0–5 to 30–40 cm. The relations between spectrophotometric cellulose and lignin and HAC and FAC were tested by linear mixed models. Our results showed that both lignin and cellulose were significant predictors for HAC and FAC, even if cellulose had a larger conditional coefficient of determination (R2c). The best fit was between cellulose and the sum of HAC and FAC (R2c = 0.675). Our novel approach proved that spectrophotometric lignin and cellulose provide reliable results in both organic and mineral beech forest soils, even though lignin had a greater random variation than cellulose. Thus, spectrophotometric lignin and cellulose provide reliable and rapidly obtained predictors of humic substances in beech forest soils, with appropriate conversion factors to estimate HAC and FAC.

Highlights

Humic substances are of pivotal importance in the global carbon cycle.

There is a need for simple and rapid methods to estimate humic substances.

Spectrophotometric methods provide fast results for cellulose and lignin in soils.

Lignin and cellulose function as good predictors for humic substances in forest soils.
Evaluating the predicted extinction risk of living amphibian species with the fossil record
Authors: Tietje Melanie , Rödel Mark‐Oliver
Published: May 2018

Bridging the gap between the fossil record and conservation biology has recently become of great interest. The enormous number of documented extinctions across different taxa can provide insights into the extinction risk of living species. However, few studies have explored this connection. We used generalised boosted modelling to analyse the impact of several traits that are assumed to influence extinction risk on the stratigraphic duration of amphibian species in the fossil record. We used this fossil‐calibrated model to predict the extinction risk for living species. We observed a high consensus between our predicted species durations and the current IUCN Red List status of living amphibian species. We also found that today's Data Deficient species are mainly predicted to experience short durations, hinting at their likely high threat status. Our study suggests that the fossil record can be a suitable tool for the evaluation of current taxa‐specific Red Listing status.
The impact of the Morningstar Sustainability Rating on mutual fund flows
Authors: Ammann Manuel , Bauer Christopher , Fischer Sebastian , Müller Philipp
Published: May 2018

We examine the effect of the introduction of Morningstar's Sustainability Rating in March 2016 on mutual fund flows. Exploiting this shock to the availability of sustainability information, we find strong evidence that retail investors shift money away from low‐rated and into high‐rated funds. An average high‐rated retail fund receives between $ 4.1 million and $ 10.1 million higher net flows and an average low‐rated retail fund suffers from $ 1.0 million to $ 5.0 million lower net flows than an average‐rated fund during the first year after the publication of the Rating. Institutional investors react much more weakly to the publication of the Rating.
Polymorphism in disease‐related apolipoprotein C‐II amyloid fibrils: a structural model for rod‐like fibrils
Authors: Zlatic Courtney O. , Mao Yu , Todorova Nevena , Mok Yee‐Foong , Howlett Geoffrey J. , Yarovsky Irene , Gooley Paul R. , Griffin Michael D. W.
Published: May 2018

Human apolipoprotein (apo) C‐II is one of several plasma apolipoproteins that form amyloid deposits in vivo and is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Lipid‐free apoC‐II readily self‐assembles into twisted‐ribbon amyloid fibrils but forms straight, rod‐like amyloid fibrils in the presence of low concentrations of micellar phospholipids. Charge mutations exerted significantly different effects on rod‐like fibril formation compared to their effects on twisted‐ribbon fibril formation. For instance, the double mutant, K30D‐D69K apoC‐II, readily formed twisted‐ribbon fibrils, while the rate of rod‐like fibril formation in the presence of micellar phospholipid was negligible. Structural analysis of rod‐like apoC‐II fibrils, using hydrogen–deuterium exchange and NMR analysis showed exchange protection consistent with a core cross‐β structure comprising the C‐terminal 58–76 region. Molecular dynamics simulations of fibril arrangements for this region favoured a parallel cross‐β structure. X‐ray fibre diffraction data for aligned rod‐like fibrils showed a major meridional spacing at 4.6 Å and equatorial spacings at 9.7, 23.8 and 46.6 Å. The latter two equatorial spacings are not observed for aligned twisted‐ribbon fibrils and are predicted for a model involving two cross‐β fibrils in an off‐set antiparallel structure with four apoC‐II units per rise of the β‐sheet. This model is consistent with the mutational effects on rod‐like apoC‐II fibril formation. The lipid‐dependent polymorphisms exhibited by apoC‐II fibrils could determine the properties of apoC‐II in renal amyloid deposits and their potential role in the development of cardiovascular disease.
Increased body size along urbanization gradients at both community and intraspecific level in macro‐moths
Authors: Merckx Thomas , Kaiser Aurélien , Van Dyck Hans
Published: May 2018

Urbanization involves a cocktail of human‐induced rapid environmental changes and is forecasted to gain further importance. Urban‐heat‐island effects result in increased metabolic costs expected to drive shifts towards smaller body sizes. However, urban environments are also characterized by strong habitat fragmentation, often selecting for dispersal phenotypes. Here, we investigate to what extent, and at which spatial scale(s), urbanization drives body size shifts in macro‐moths—an insect group characterized by positive size‐dispersal links—at both the community and intraspecific level. Using light and bait trapping as part of a replicated, spatially nested sampling design, we show that despite the observed urban warming of their woodland habitat, macro‐moth communities display considerable increases in community‐weighted mean body size because of stronger filtering against small species along urbanization gradients. Urbanization drives intraspecific shifts towards increased body size too, at least for a third of species analysed. These results indicate that urbanization drives shifts towards larger, and hence, more mobile species and individuals in order to mitigate low connectivity of ecological resources in urban settings. Macro‐moths are a key group within terrestrial ecosystems, and since body size is central to species interactions, such urbanization‐driven phenotypic change may impact urban ecosystem functioning, especially in terms of nocturnal pollination and food web dynamics. Although we show that urbanization's size‐biased filtering happens simultaneously and coherently at both the inter‐ and intraspecific level, we demonstrate that the impact at the community level is most pronounced at the 800 m radius scale, whereas species‐specific size increases happen at local and landscape scales (50–3,200 m radius), depending on the species. Hence, measures—such as creating and improving urban green infrastructure—to mitigate the effects of urbanization on body size will have to be implemented at multiple spatial scales in order to be most effective.
Ocean warming has a greater effect than acidification on the early life history development and swimming performance of a large circumglobal pelagic fish
Authors: Watson Sue‐Ann , Allan Bridie J. M. , McQueen David E. , Nicol Simon , Parsons Darren M. , Pether Stephen M. J. , Pope Stephen , Setiawan Alvin N. , Smith Neville , Wilson Carly , Munday Philip L.
Published: May 2018

Ocean warming and acidification are serious threats to marine life; however, their individual and combined effects on large pelagic and predatory fishes are poorly understood. We determined the effects of projected future temperature and carbon dioxide (CO2) levels on survival, growth, morphological development and swimming performance on the early life stages of a large circumglobal pelagic fish, the yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi. Eggs, larvae and juveniles were reared in cross‐factored treatments of temperature (21 and 25°C) and pCO2 (500 and 985 μatm) from fertilisation to 25 days post hatching (dph). Temperature had the greatest effect on survival, growth and development. Survivorship was lower, but growth and morphological development were faster at 25°C, with surviving fish larger and more developed at 1, 11 and 21 dph. Elevated pCO2 affected size at 1 dph, but not at 11 or 21 dph, and did not affect survival or morphological development. Elevated temperature and pCO2 had opposing effects on swimming performance at 21 dph. Critical swimming speed (Ucrit) was increased by elevated temperature but reduced by elevated pCO2. Additionally, elevated temperature increased the proportion of individuals that responded to a startle stimulus, reduced latency to respond and increased maximum escape speed, potentially due to the more advanced developmental stage of juveniles at 25°C. By contrast, elevated pCO2 reduced the distance moved and average speed in response to a startle stimulus. Our results show that higher temperature is likely to be the primary driver of global change impacts on kingfish early life history; however, elevated pCO2 could affect critical aspects of swimming performance in this pelagic species. Our findings will help parameterise and structure fisheries population dynamics models and improve projections of impacts to large pelagic fishes under climate change scenarios to better inform adaptation and mitigation responses.
Genotypic variation in transpiration of coppiced poplar during the third rotation of a short‐rotation bio‐energy culture
Authors: Navarro Alejandra , Portillo‐Estrada Miguel , Arriga Nicola , Vanbeveren Stefan P. P. , Ceulemans Reinhart
Published: May 2018

The productivity of short‐rotation coppice (SRC) plantations with poplar (Populus spp.) strongly depends on soil water availability, which limits the future development of its cultivation, and makes the study of the transpirational water loss particularly timely under the ongoing climate change (more frequent drought and floods). This study assesses the transpiration at different scales (leaf, tree and stand) of four poplar genotypes belonging to different species and from a different genetic background grown under an SRC regime. Measurements were performed for an entire growing season during the third year of the third rotation in a commercial scale multigenotype SRC plantation in Flanders (Belgium). Measurements at leaf level were performed on specific days with a contrasted evaporative demand, temperature and incoming shortwave radiation and included stomatal conductance, stem and leaf water potential. Leaf transpiration and leaf hydraulic conductance were obtained from these measurements. To determine the transpiration at the tree level, single‐stem sap flow using the stem heat balance (SHB) method and daily stem diameter variations were measured during the entire growing season. Sap flow‐based canopy transpiration (Ec), seasonal dry biomass yield, and water use efficiency (WUE; g aboveground dry matter/kg water transpired) of the four poplar genotypes were also calculated. The genotypes had contrasting physiological responses to environmental drivers and to soil conditions. Sap flow was tightly linked to the phenological stage of the trees and to the environmental variables (photosynthetically active radiation and vapor pressure deficit). The total Ec for the 2016 growing season was of 334, 350, 483 and 618 mm for the four poplar genotypes, Bakan, Koster, Oudenberg and Grimminge, respectively. The differences in physiological traits and in transpiration of the four genotypes resulted in different responses of WUE.
Urban agriculture, racial capitalism, and resistance in the settler‐colonial city
Authors: McClintock Nathan
Published: May 2018

Recent scholarship on urban agriculture (UA)—the production of food in cities—argues that UA can both undergird and resist capitalist accumulation, albeit often at different spatio‐temporal scales. Scholarship that explicitly examines how UA, capitalist development, and racial difference work through one another, however, is less extensive. In this review, I propose that the lens of racial capitalism can elucidate UA's contradictory motivations and outcomes. As an analytical framework, racial capitalism considers how distinct forms of colonization, settler colonialism, and White supremacy function relationally as part of a unified system of capitalist accumulation built on the exploitation of racialized human and spatial difference. By focusing on UA's contributions to racial Othering, the racialization of space, and dispossession, on the one hand, and on struggles of resistance and self‐determination, on the other, this review attempts to sheds new light on the dialectical, “both/and” nature of UA, while also addressing recent calls to consider how settler colonial logics persist in the contemporary North American city.
Evaluation of biofilm removal and adverse effects on acrylic resin by diluted concentrations of sodium hypochlorite and Ricinus communis solutions
Authors: Arruda Carolina N. F. , Salles Marcela M. , Badaró Maurício M. , Sorgini Danilo B. , Oliveira Viviane C. , Macedo Ana P. , Silva‐Lovato Cláudia H. , Paranhos Helena F. O.
Published: May 2018

Purpose

To verify whether 0.1% and 0.2% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl), and 8% Ricinus communis (RC) were able to remove denture biofilm without causing deleterious effects to acrylic resin.

Background

Previous data show that denture cleansers are effective in reducing biofilm; however, they can change acrylic resin properties.

Methods

In a crossover trial, 47 denture wearers brushed and soaked their dentures (20 min/14 d): control, 0.85% saline; SH1, 0.1% NaOCl; SH2, 0.2% NaOCl and RC. Denture biofilm on the intaglio surface was stained, photographed and quantified (Image Tool®). Furthermore, 80 rectangular and 80 disc‐shaped specimens (Lucitone 550) were assigned into tested solutions (n = 20), simulating 5 years of daily short immersions (20 minutes). A colorimeter and the National Bureau of Standards units (NBS) determined colour data (ΔE). Surface roughness and flexural strength were measured using rugosimeter and universal testing machine, respectively. Data were compared by the Friedman test (α = .05) followed by Wilcoxon, corrected by Bonferroni (α = .005) (clinical) and Kruskal‐Wallis followed by the Dunn test (α = .05) (laboratorial).

Results

SH2 (MR=1.77) showed lower biofilm coverage; SH1 (MR = 2.37) and RC (MR = 2.74) presented intermediated values. RC (1.10 [0.96:1.75]) revealed higher colour alteration than SH1 (0.71 [0.62:0.80]) and SH2 (0.74 [0.58:0.85]); however, NBS classified all solutions as “trace” (0.0‐0.5). There was no statistical significance for surface roughness (P = .760) and flexural strength (P = .547).

Conclusions

The 0.2% NaOCl showed the best clinical performance and did not cause adverse effects on acrylic resin on laboratory analyses.
Mapping the spatial distribution of soil depth in a grassland ecosystem with the aid of ground penetrating radar andGIS(Northwestern Sichuan, China)
Authors: Zhang Xuelian , Dao Ligang , Zhang Chaosheng , Morrison Liam , Hong Bing , Zhang Hongxuan , Gan Youmin
Published: May 2018

Obtaining accurate soil depth information is critical to improving how we assess the health and manage of soil resources that contribute to sustainable management of agricultural lands. While there are many techniques to assess soil characteristics, using ground penetrating radar (GPR) to determine soil depth has received little attention. This study aimed to determine the suitability ofGPRfor obtaining accurate soil depth information over a 10 km intervals grid system in a generally flat grasslands ecosystem in the Sichuan Province of China.Geographic information system (GIS)and geostatistical techniques were used to map the spatial distribution of soil depth across the field site. Images created fromGPRwere filtered usingDCremoval and automatic gain control, and log‐transformation was used to transform the raw data in order to conform a normal distribution. The soil depth data were spatially interpolated across the field site using the geostatistical techniques of (semi‐) variogram and ordinary kriging (OK), then ground‐truthed and validated via comparison with traditional methods and previously collected data. A total of 39 random data points (ruler‐measured andGPRdata) were selected to evaluate the accuracy of theGPR, and results showed that the difference were within 3 cm of the actual soil depth in 93% of all samples, and within 5 cm in all samples (R2 = 0.914). Results confirmed that thisGPRreflection technique has the potential to precisely and quickly measure soil depth over large areas and under variable topography, contributing to the body of technical information that can help inform soil management policy for sustainable agriculture. The spatial distribution map of soil depth produced with the aid ofOKdemonstrated the accuracy and non‐destructive features ofGPR, which is able to provide a more detailed map of soil depth than methods used in previous grassland soil depth studies.
Joan Acker and Doing Comparable Worth
Authors: Rubery Jill
Published: May 2018

Joan Acker's seminal book Doing Comparable Worth, based on her first‐hand experience of implementing comparable worth for Oregon state employees, constitutes a major contribution to understanding the obstacles to achieving the goal of equal pay and is a precursor of her inequalities regimes work. For Acker the foundering of the comparable worth exercise on the rocks of management's opportunistic strategy to marginalize trade unions provided a direct experience of how gender and class inequalities are simultaneously produced and reproduced. Consequently, wage setting is always political and change to wages generates widespread resistance above and beyond issues of gender inequalities. While the feminist activists may be rightly criticized for naivety in their belief in a technical solution to gender pay inequalities, their robust critiques of pay practices is sorely missing in today's renewed acceptance of a gender‐neutral labour market, and more limited feminist interest in theories of pay.
Antimicrobial activities of high molecular weight water‐soluble chitosans against selected gram‐negative and gram‐positive foodborne pathogens
Authors: Rubio Nancy Katherine , Quintero Rita , Fuentes Jose , Brandao Jose , Janes Marlene , Prinyawiwatkul Witoon
Published: May 2018

Antimicrobial activities of high molecular weight water‐soluble chitosans (HMWWS) against selected Gram‐negative and Gram‐positive foodborne pathogens (initial inoculation of ca. 6.5 Log CFU mL−1) were evaluated. Chitosans with 789 kDa and/or 1017 kDa were dissolved in aspartic acid (AS) to obtain 1–4% w/v solutions. Among HMWWS, only 4% 789 kDa AS chitosan reduced E. coli counts by 2 Log CFU mL−1 from 7.33 at 0 h to 5.16 Log CFU mL−1 at 96 h, and they were not effective against S. Typhimurium. Depending on the concentrations, HMWWS completely inhibited V. cholerae, V. vulnificus and V. parahaemolyticus as well as B. cereus and L. monocytogenes after 48 h or 96 h of incubation. Compared with the control (no HMWWS), 2% or 3% 1017 kDa AS chitosans showed about 3 Log CFU mL−1 lower (4.72–4.86 vs. 7.71) for S. aureus at 96 h of incubation.
Parental Embodied Mentalizing and its Relation to Mind‐Mindedness, Sensitivity, and Attachment Security
Authors: Shai Dana , Meins Elizabeth
Published: May 2018

Relations between two forms of parental mentalizing—maternal mind‐mindedness (appropriate and nonattuned mind‐related comments) and parental embodied mentalizing (PEM)—and their role in predicting infant attachment security were investigated. Maternal PEM and mind‐mindedness were assessed at 8 months (N = 206), and infant attachment security was assessed at 15 months. PEM was positively correlated with appropriate mind‐related comments and was unrelated to nonattuned mind‐related comments. Multinomial regression analyses showed that higher PEM distinguished between secure versus insecure–avoidant infants and between insecure–resistant versus insecure–avoidant infants over and above the contributions of appropriate and nonattuned mind‐related comments. These results suggest that both verbal and nonverbal indices of parental mentalizing make independent contributions in predicting the security of the infant–mother attachment relationship.
Measurement and Analysis of Object Reflectance Spectra
Authors: Vrhel Michael J. , Gershon Ron , Iwan Lawrence S.
Published: May 2018

Recent algorithms developed in the field of color vision make assumptions based on the spectral reflectance curves of Munsell chips and natural materials. Some of them rely on data collected many years ago. which is partially incomplete in the visible spectrum. or contains many occurrences of the same material in it. In this article. we present a set of new measurements of different materials. In particular. we measured the spectral reflectance of Munsell chips, paints. and various natural materials in the 390–730‐nm range. In addition, we have analyzed. through principal‐component analysis, the possibility of representing the data collected with a set of basis functions. We show the implications of varying the number of principal components used (from 7 down to 3) on the errors introduced using this method.
Health perception and adherence with blood pressure control among rural Chinese adults with hypertension
Authors: Yang Lili , Winslow Betty , Taylor Elizabeth , Pothier Patricia
Published: May 2018

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine associations among blood pressure, personal and illness characteristics, illness perception and medication and self‐management adherence among adults with hypertension in rural mainland China.

Background

Despite the high prevalence of hypertension in China, the control rate is only 20%. Identifying factors associated with blood pressure control is critical.

Design

Cross‐sectional survey.

Methods

Data were collected from 163 hypertensive adults in two rural villages in mainland China. Measures included a demographic questionnaire, the Chinese Illness‐Perception Questionnaire‐Revised, Medication Adherence Inventory and the Inventory of Adherence to Self‐management. Height, weight, and blood pressure were also measured using standard approaches. Hierarchical linear regression was used to assess the association between blood pressure and significant variables identified in bivariate analysis.

Findings

The mean systolic pressure observed in this sample was 147 mmHg and the diastolic mean was 81 mmHg. None of the variables analysed were associated with systolic blood pressure. Gender, age, and household annual income were associated with diastolic blood pressure, explaining 23% of the variance in the regression model. Illness coherence contributed an additional 2%.

Conclusion

These findings suggest: (a) healthcare providers should focus on educating rural hypertensive adults about healthful diets and behaviours to manage hypertension, especially for those with high household income; (b) knowledge‐based health education alone is not adequate; (c) illness perception may not be directly associated with blood pressure; and (d) the Chinese Illness‐Perception Questionnaire‐Revised and the Inventory of Adherence to Self‐management require validation and potential revision for use with rural Chinese populations.
Monitoring and evaluation framework for hypertension programs. A collaboration between the Pan American Health Organization and World Hypertension League
Authors: Campbell Norm R. C. , Ordunez Pedro , DiPette Donald J , Giraldo Gloria P. , Angell Sonia Y. , Jaffe Marc G. , Lackland Dan , Martinez Ramón , Valdez Yamilé , Maldonado Figueredo Javier I. , Paccot Melanie , Santana Maria J. , Whelton Paul K.
Published: May 2018

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)–World Hypertension League (WHL) Hypertension Monitoring and Evaluation Framework is summarized. Standardized indicators are provided for monitoring and evaluating national or subnational hypertension control programs. Five core indicators from the World Health Organization hearts initiative and a single PAHO‐WHL core indicator are recommended to be used in all hypertension control programs. In addition, hypertension control programs are encouraged to select from 14 optional qualitative and 33 quantitative indicators to facilitate progress towards enhanced hypertension control. The intention is for hypertension programs to select quantitative indicators based on the current surveillance mechanisms that are available and what is feasible and to use the framework process indicators as a guide to program management. Programs may wish to increase or refine the number of indicators they use over time. With adaption the indicators can also be implemented at a community or clinic level. The standardized indicators are being pilot tested in Cuba, Colombia, Chile, and Barbados.
p62‐mediated autophagy affects nutrition‐dependent insulin receptor substrate 1 dynamics in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes
Authors: Igawa Hirobumi , Kikuchi Akihiro , Misu Hirofumi , Ishii Kiyo‐aki , Kaneko Shuichi , Takamura Toshinari
Published: May 2018

Aims/Introduction

Previous studies have shown that an organism's nutritional status changes the protein levels of insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS‐1) in a tissue‐specific manner. Although the mechanisms underlying the regulation of IRS‐1 in the nutrient‐rich conditions associated with diabetes and insulin resistance have been well studied, those under nutrient‐poor conditions remain unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate how IRS‐1 protein levels change depending on the nutritional status of 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes.

Materials and Methods

3T3‐L1 preadipocytes were treated with glucose‐, amino acid‐ and serum‐free medium for starvation. IRS‐1 protein levels were detected by western blot. Autophagy activity was observed by western blot and fluorescence microscopy. The effect of autophagy and p62, an adaptor for selective autophagy, on IRS‐1 protein levels under starvation conditions was examined by western blot and immunocytochemistry.

Results

We showed that the levels of IRS‐1, but not those of insulin receptor and protein kinase B, decreased when starvation activated autophagy. The inhibition of autophagy by chloroquine or autophagy‐related 7 (Atg7) ribonucleic acid interference counteracted the starvation‐induced decrease of IRS‐1. Additionally, Atg7 knockdown increased insulin‐stimulated phosphorylation of protein kinase B under starvation conditions. Furthermore, p62 colocalized with IRS‐1 under starvation conditions, and p62 knockdown counteracted the starvation‐induced degradation of IRS‐1.

Conclusions

Autophagy through p62 plays an important role in regulating IRS‐1 protein levels in response to nutritional deficiency. The present findings suggest that autophagy might function as energy depletion‐sensing machinery that finely tunes insulin signal transduction.
Elevated histone H3 acetylation is associated with genes involved in T lymphocyte activation and glutamate decarboxylase antibody production in patients with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Wang Yanfei , Hou Can , Wisler Jonathan , Singh Kanhaiya , Wu Chao , Xie Zhiguo , Lu Qianjin , Zhou Zhiguang
Published: May 2018

Aims/Introduction

Genetic and epigenetic mechanisms have been implicated in the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes, and histone acetylation is an epigenetic modification pattern that activates gene transcription. However, the genome‐wide histone H3 acetylation in new‐onset type 1 diabetes patients has not been well described. Accordingly, we aimed to unveil the genome‐wide promoter acetylation profile in CD4+ T lymphocytes from type 1 diabetes patients, especially for those who are glutamate decarboxylase antibody‐positive.

Materials and Methods

A total of 12 patients with new‐onset type 1 diabetes who were glutamate decarboxylase antibody‐positive were enrolled, and 12 healthy individuals were recruited as controls. The global histone H3 acetylation level of CD4+ T lymphocytes from peripheral blood was detected by western blot, with chromatin immunoprecipitation linked to microarrays to characterize the promoter acetylation profile. Furthermore, we validated the results of particular genes from chromatin immunoprecipitation linked to microarrays by using chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative polymerase chain reaction, and analyzed the transcription level by real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Elevated global histone H3 acetylation level was observed in type 1 diabetes patients, with 607 differentially acetylated genes identified between type 1 diabetes patients and controls by chromatin immunoprecipitation linked to microarrays. The hyperacetylated genes were enriched in biological processes involved in immune cell activation and inflammatory response. Gene‐specific assessments showed that increased transcription of inducible T‐cell costimulator was in concordance with the elevated acetylation in its gene promoter, along with positive correlation with glutamate decarboxylase antibody titer in type 1 diabetes patients.

Conclusions

The present study generates a genome‐wide histone acetylation profile specific to CD4+ T lymphocytes in type 1 diabetes patients who are glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody‐positive, which is instrumental in improving our understanding of the epigenetic involvement in autoimmune diabetes.
Platform pricing and consumer foresight: The case of airports
Authors: Flores‐Fillol Ricardo , Iozzi Alberto , Valletti Tommaso
Published: May 2018

We analyze the optimal behavior of a platform providing essential inputs to downstream firms selling a primary and a second complementary good. Final demand is affected by consumer foresight, that is, consumers may not anticipate the ex post surplus from the secondary good when purchasing the primary good. We first set up a reduced‐form platform model and evaluate the effects of consumer foresight on the platform's optimal decisions. Then, we specialize the analysis in the context of airports, which derive revenues from both aeronautical and, increasingly, commercial activities. An airport sets landing fees and, in addition, it chooses the retail market structure by selecting the number of retail concessions to be awarded. We find that, with perfectly myopic consumers, the airport chooses to attract more passengers via low landing fees, and also sets the minimum possible number of retailers in order to increase the concessions’ revenues. However, even a very small amount of anticipation of the consumer surplus from retail activities changes significantly the airport's choices: the optimal policy is dependent on the degree of differentiation in the retail market. When consumers instead have perfect foresight, the airport establishes a very competitive retail market. This attracts passengers and it is exploited by the airport by charging higher landing fees, which then constitute the largest share of its profits. Overall, the airport's profits are maximal when consumers have perfect foresight.
Towards a new classification of stable phase schizophrenia into major and simple neuro‐cognitive psychosis: Results of unsupervised machine learning analysis
Authors: Kanchanatawan Buranee , Sriswasdi Sira , Thika Supaksorn , Stoyanov Drozdstoy , Sirivichayakul Sunee , Carvalho André F. , Geffard Michel , Maes Michael
Published: May 2018

Rationale

Deficit schizophrenia, as defined by the Schedule for Deficit Syndrome, may represent a distinct diagnostic class defined by neurocognitive impairments coupled with changes in IgA/IgM responses to tryptophan catabolites (TRYCATs). Adequate classifications should be based on supervised and unsupervised learning rather than on consensus criteria.

Methods

This study used machine learning as means to provide a more accurate classification of patients with stable phase schizophrenia.

Results

We found that using negative symptoms as discriminatory variables, schizophrenia patients may be divided into two distinct classes modelled by (A) impairments in IgA/IgM responses to noxious and generally more protective tryptophan catabolites, (B) impairments in episodic and semantic memory, paired associative learning and false memory creation, and (C) psychotic, excitation, hostility, mannerism, negative, and affective symptoms. The first cluster shows increased negative, psychotic, excitation, hostility, mannerism, depression and anxiety symptoms, and more neuroimmune and cognitive disorders and is therefore called “major neurocognitive psychosis” (MNP). The second cluster, called “simple neurocognitive psychosis” (SNP) is discriminated from normal controls by the same features although the impairments are less well developed than in MNP. The latter is additionally externally validated by lowered quality of life, body mass (reflecting a leptosome body type), and education (reflecting lower cognitive reserve).

Conclusions

Previous distinctions including “type 1” (positive)/“type 2” (negative) and DSM‐IV‐TR (eg, paranoid) schizophrenia could not be validated using machine learning techniques. Previous names of the illness, including schizophrenia, are not very adequate because they do not describe the features of the illness, namely, interrelated neuroimmune, cognitive, and clinical features. Stable‐phase schizophrenia consists of 2 relevant qualitatively distinct categories or nosological entities with SNP being a less well‐developed phenotype, while MNP is the full blown phenotype or core illness. Major neurocognitive psychosis and SNP should be added to the DSM‐5 and incorporated into the Research Domain Criteria project.
Molecular and morphological diversity of Trebouxia microalgae in sphaerothallioid Circinaria spp. lichens1
Authors: Molins Arántzazu , Moya Patricia , García‐Breijo Francisco J. , Reig‐Armiñana José , Barreno Eva
Published: May 2018

Three vagrant (Circinaria hispida, Circinaria gyrosa, and Circinaria sp. ‘paramerae’) and one crustose (semi‐vagrant, Circinaria sp. ‘oromediterranea’) lichens growing in very continental areas in the Iberian Peninsula were selected to study the phycobiont diversity. Mycobiont identification was checked using nrITS DNA barcoding: Circinaria sp. ‘oromediterranea’ and Circinaria sp. ‘paramerae’ formed a new clade. Phycobiont diversity was analyzed in 50 thalli of Circinaria spp. using nrITS DNA and LSU rDNA, with microalgae coexistence being found in all the species analyzed by Sanger sequencing. The survey of phycobiont diversity showed up to four different Trebouxia spp. as the primary phycobiont in 20 thalli of C. hispida, in comparison with the remaining Circinaria spp., where only one Trebouxia was the primary microalga. In lichen species showing coexistence, some complementary approaches are needed (454 pyrosequencing and/or ultrastructural analyses). Five specimens were selected for high‐throughput screening (HTS) analyses: 22 Trebouxia OTUs were detected, 10 of them not previously known. TEM analyses showed three different cell morphotypes (Trebouxia sp. OTU A12, OTU S51, and T. cretacea) whose ultrastructure is described here in detail for the first time. HTS revealed a different microalgae pool in each species studied, and we cannot assume a specific pattern between these pools and the ecological and/or morphological characteristics. The mechanisms involved in the selection of the primary phycobiont and the other microalgae by the mycobiont are unknown, and require complex experimental designs. The systematics of the genus Circinaria is not yet well resolved, and more analyses are needed to establish a precise delimitation of the species.
The overlap between the Patents Acts and the plant variety protection & Farmer's Rights Act in India: A seed of doubt
Authors: Thikkavarapu Prashant Reddy
Published: May 2018

Like many countries, India has opted to protect new plant varieties through a sui generis legislation aimed at protecting new plant varieties. Given the increased use of biotechnology to create genetically modified plants and the fact that these inventions can be protected under patent law, there is the question of overlaps of both legal regimes. These issues of overlap are not new since jurisdictions like the EU have previously witnessed significant litigation on this issue and subsequently incorporated certain safeguards in the EU Biotech Directive to reduce the confusion arising from overlaps between its patent law and its law on plant variety protection. This article will analyse the issues raised in India and propose a framework to resolve the overlaps.
Multimodality treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma: How field practice complies with international recommendations
Authors: Sangiovanni Angelo , Triolo Michela , Iavarone Massimo , Forzenigo Laura V. , Nicolini Antonio , Rossi Giorgio , La Mura Vincenzo , Colombo Massimo , Lampertico Pietro
Published: May 2018

Background

Management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is framed within standardized protocols released by Scientific Societies, whose applicability and efficacy in field practice need refining.

Aim

We evaluated the applicability and effectiveness of guidelines for the treatment of HCC of the American Association for the Study of the Liver (AASLD).

Methods

370 consecutive cirrhotic patients with de novo HCC in different stages, 253 BCLC A, 66 BCLC B, 51 BCLC C received treatment through a multidisciplinary team (MDT) decision and were followed until death or end of follow‐up.

Results

Treatment was adherent to AASLD recommendations in 205 (81%) BCLC A patients, 36 (54%) BCLC B, and 27 (53%) BCLC C. Radiological complete response was achieved in 165 (45%) patients after the first‐line treatment, in 22 (19%) after a second‐line and in 9 (23%) after a third‐line treatment. Adherence to AASLD recommendation allowed a lower yearly mean mortality rate in BCLC A patients compared with other treatment (5.0% vs 10.4% P = .004), whereas upward treatment stage migration compared with the standard of care was associated with reduced yearly mortality in BCLC B (8.6% vs 20.7%, P = .029) and BCLC C (42.6% vs 59.0%, P = .04) patients.

Conclusions

HCC multimodality treatment including other than first‐line therapy is common in clinical practice and impact on the achievement of complete response. Personalized treatment was able to provide survival benefits to patients whose profile is not accounted for by international recommendations, which need to be amended.
Experimental insights into Stannern‐trend eucrite petrogenesis
Authors: Crossley S. D. , Lunning N. G. , Mayne R. G. , McCoy T. J. , Yang S. , Humayun M. , Ash R. D. , Sunshine J. M. , Greenwood R. C. , Franchi I. A.
Published: May 2018

The incompatible trace element‐enriched Stannern‐trend eucrites have long been recognized as requiring a distinct petrogenesis from the Main Group‐Nuevo Laredo (MGNL) eucrites. Barrat et al. () proposed that Stannern‐trend eucrites formed via assimilation of crustal partial melts by a MGNL‐trend magma. Previous experimental studies of low‐degree partial melting of eucrites did not produce sufficiently large melt pools for both major and trace element analyses. Low‐degree partial melts produced near the solidus are potentially the best analog to the assimilated crustal melts. We partially melted the unbrecciated, unequilibrated MGNL‐trend eucrite NWA 8562 in a 1 atm gas‐mixing furnace, at IW‐0.5, and at temperatures between 1050 and 1200 °C. We found that low‐degree partial melts formed at 1050 °C are incompatible trace element enriched, although the experimental melts did not reach equilibrium at all temperatures. Using our experimental melt compositions and binary mixing modeling, the FeO/MgO trend of the resultant magmas coincides with the range of known Stannern‐trend eucrites when a primary magma is contaminated by crustal partial melts. When experimental major element compositions for eucritic crustal partial melts are combined with trace element concentrations determined by previous modeling (Barrat et al. ), the Stannern‐trend can be replicated with respect to both major, minor, and trace element concentrations.
Identifiability‐Enhanced Bayesian Frequency‐Domain Substructure Identification
Authors: Yuen Ka‐Veng , Huang Ke
Published: May 2018

Identification of structural parameters for large structures is challenging due to the large number of unknowns and its possibly ill‐conditioned nature. Substructure identification provides a feasible solution to partition a structure into substructures to tackle these difficulties and it has received considerable attention in the recent decades. Although there are variants of substructure identification methods, they share the key to back‐calculate the boundary force of the substructure using response measurements. It will then be treated as part of the input to the substructure. However, one major drawback is the deterioration of the identifiability of the inverse problem due to the reduction of effective constraints and the complicated interdependence relationship between the model parameters and the boundary force. In this article, an improved Bayesian substructure identification approach is proposed without the requirement of input or boundary force measurements. The crux is to model the boundary force as filtered white noise because it is an internal response of the system. This provides extra constraints to enhance the identifiability of the inverse problem. Furthermore, the proposed approach provides not only the most probable values of the identified parameters but also their associated uncertainties. This is an important indicator of identifiability, especially for this case. Examples of a 100‐story building are presented to demonstrate the proposed method. Comparison is also presented to confirm that the proposed method resolves the ill‐conditioned problem encountered in absolute acceleration measurements using existing methods.