bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Indian Meal Moth (Plodia Interpunctella)–Resistant Food Packaging Film Development Using Microencapsulated Cinnamon Oil
Authors: Kim In‐Hah , Song Ah Young , Han Jaejoon , Park Ki Hwan , Min Sea C.
Published: September 2014

Insect‐resistant laminate films containing microencapsulated cinnamon oil (CO) were developed to protect food products from the Indian meal moth (Plodia interpunctella). CO microencapsulated with polyvinyl alcohol was incorporated with a printing ink and the ink mixture was applied to a low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) film as an ink coating. The coated LDPE surface was laminated with a polypropylene film. The laminate film impeded the invasion of moth larvae and repelled the larvae. The periods of time during which cinnamaldehyde level in the film remained above a minimum repelling concentration, predicted from the concentration profile, were 21, 21, and 10 d for cookies, chocolate, and caramel, respectively. Coating with microencapsulated ink did not alter the tensile or barrier properties of the laminate film. Microencapsulation effectively prevented volatilization of CO. The laminate film can be produced by modern film manufacturing lines and applied to protect food from Indian meal moth damage.
Peri‐operative massive pulmonary embolism management: is veno‐arterial ECMO a therapeutic option?
Authors: PAVLOVIC G. , BANFI C. , TASSAUX D. , PETER R. E. , LICKER M. J. , BENDJELID K. , GIRAUD R.
Published: September 2014

Pulmonary embolism remains an important clinical problem with a high mortality rate. The potential for sudden and fatal hemodynamic deterioration highlights the need for a prompt diagnosis and appropriate intervention. The purpose of the present case report is to describe a successful peri‐operative veno‐arterial extra corporeal membrane oxygenation (VA‐ECMO) implantation for assumed massive pulmonary embolism associated with high hemodynamic instability and severe hypoxemia. A 52‐year‐old female victim of a motorcycle accident had been operated on for unstable fractures that required optimal repair. Despite subcutaneous administration of 40 mg enoxaparin on day 0 and day 1, the patient developed a massive pulmonary embolism leading to peri‐operative pulseless activity. As intravenous thrombolysis was strictly contraindicated, a VA‐ECMO was successfully implanted and permitted to stabilize the patient's hemodynamics. The hemodynamic and respiratory status improved by day 3, and the ECMO was removed. A vena cava filter was implanted before successful and definitive stabilization of the femoral fracture and the L2 fracture on days 4 and 5. The patient was able to be mobilized 2 days after the surgery and was transferred to a rehabilitation ward on day 15. At that time, her cognitive functions had fully recovered. ECMO can provide lifesaving hemodynamic and respiratory support in patients with massive pulmonary embolism who are too unstable to tolerate other interventions, who have failed other therapies or for whom other therapies are contraindicated.
Decomposition of Seasonality and Long‐term Trend in Seismological Data: A Bayesian Modelling of Earthquake Detection Capability
Authors: Iwata Takaki
Published: September 2014

This study demonstrates the decomposition of seasonality and long‐term trend in seismological data observed at irregular time intervals. The decomposition was applied to the estimation of earthquake detection capability using cubic B‐splines and a Bayesian approach, which is similar to the seasonal adjustment model frequently used to analyse economic time‐series data. We employed numerical simulation to verify the method and then applied it to real earthquake datasets obtained in and around the northern Honshu island, Japan. With this approach, we obtained the seasonality of the detection capability related to the annual variation of wind speed and the long‐term trend corresponding to the recent improvement of the seismic network in the studied region.
Semiparametric estimation in generalized linear mixed models with auxiliary covariates: A pairwise likelihood approach
Authors: Liu Li , Xiang Liming
Published: September 2014

Auxiliary covariates are often encountered in biomedical research settings where the primary exposure variable is measured only for a subgroup of study subjects. This article is concerned with generalized linear mixed models in the presence of auxiliary covariate information for clustered data. We propose a novel semiparametric estimation method based on a pairwise likelihood function and develop an estimating equation‐based inference procedure by treating both the error structure and random effects as nuisance parameters. This method is robust against misspecification of either error structure or random‐effects distribution and allows for dependence between random effects and covariates. We show that the resulting estimators are consistent and asymptotically normal. Extensive simulation studies evaluate the finite sample performance of the proposed estimators and demonstrate their advantage over the validation set based method and the existing method. We illustrate the method with two real data examples.
In‐group bias in children's intention to help can be overpowered by inducing empathy
Authors: Sierksma Jellie , Thijs Jochem , Verkuyten Maykel
Published: September 2014

An experimental vignette study was conducted among children (8–13 years) to examine whether inducing empathic understanding is an effective intervention to overpower peer group boundaries in children's helping. Children were induced or not induced to empathize with the recipient of help, who was or was not part of their (imagined) group of friends. Results showed that children intended to help in‐group peers more compared to outgroup peers when empathic understanding was not induced. However, when empathy was induced, they intended to help friends and non‐friends equally. Inducing empathic understanding was effective independent of the recipient's level of need, and children's advanced social perspective‐taking ability. Encouraging children to imagine how a recipient of help feels might thus be a useful strategy to prevent peer group‐based biases in children's helping behaviour.
Enriching the hierarchical model of achievement motivation: Autonomous and controlling reasons underlying achievement goals
Authors: Michou Aikaterini , Vansteenkiste Maarten , Mouratidis Athanasios , Lens Willy
Published: September 2014

Background

The hierarchical model of achievement motivation presumes that achievement goals channel the achievement motives of need for achievement and fear of failure towards motivational outcomes. Yet, less is known whether autonomous and controlling reasons underlying the pursuit of achievement goals can serve as additional pathways between achievement motives and outcomes.

Aims

We tested whether mastery approach, performance approach, and performance avoidance goals and their underlying autonomous and controlling reasons would jointly explain the relation between achievement motives (i.e., fear of failure and need for achievement) and learning strategies (Study 1). Additionally, we examined whether the autonomous and controlling reasons underlying learners' dominant achievement goal would account for the link between achievement motives and the educational outcomes of learning strategies and cheating (Study 2).

Sample

Six hundred and six Greek adolescent students (Mage = 15.05, SD = 1.43) and 435 university students (Mage M = 20.51, SD = 2.80) participated in studies 1 and 2, respectively.

Method

In both studies, a correlational design was used and the hypotheses were tested via path modelling.

Results

Autonomous and controlling reasons underlying the pursuit of achievement goals mediated, respectively, the relation of need for achievement and fear of failure to aspects of learning outcomes.

Conclusion

Autonomous and controlling reasons underlying achievement goals could further explain learners' functioning in achievement settings.
Heritage preservation and the “differentiated countryside”: Evidence from southern Ontario
Authors: Mitchell Clare J.A. , Randle Kathryn
Published: September 2014

Hedonic consumption is contributing to functional diversity in the amenity‐rich countryside of many North American and European cities. Building on earlier research (Mitchell ), we question if heritage policy is contributing to this emerging state. We revisit St. Jacobs, Ontario, whose historic commercial core has evolved into a hybrid pleasure‐scape appealing to the amenity‐seeking consumer. Our policy, streetscape, and functional analyses find an absence of Regional and Township bylaws mandating building preservation and, hence, few designated properties in the village. Building removal and addition has ensued, giving rise to considerable functional elasticity. We conclude that the absence of an effective public preservation narrative, combined with a hegemonic profit discourse, encourages functional change and differentiation within the city's countryside. This scenario is undoubtedly unfolding not only here, but in other rural spaces with hedonistic appeal.
Silencing of STRN4 suppresses the malignant characteristics of cancer cells
Authors: Wong Meihong , Hyodo Toshinori , Asano Eri , Funasaka Kohei , Miyahara Ryoji , Hirooka Yoshiki , Goto Hidemi , Hamaguchi Michinari , Senga Takeshi
Published: September 2014

The striatin family of proteins, comprising STRN, STRN3 and STRN4, are multidomain‐containing proteins that associate with additional proteins to form a large protein complex. We previously reported that STRN4 directly associated with protein kinases, such as MINK1, TNIK and MAP4K4, which are associated with tumor suppression or tumor progression. However, it remains unclear whether STRN4 is associated with tumor progression. In this report, we examined the role that STRN4 plays in cancer malignancy. We show that depletion of STRN4 suppresses proliferation, migration, invasion and the anchorage‐independent growth of cancer cells. In addition, STRN4 knockdown increases the sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine. Finally, we show that STRN4 knockdown suppresses the proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells in mice. Our results demonstrate a possible role of STRN4 in tumor progression.
A Cognitive Model of Dynamic Cooperation With Varied Interdependency Information
Authors: Gonzalez Cleotilde , Ben‐Asher Noam , Martin Jolie M. , Dutt Varun
Published: September 2014

We analyze the dynamics of repeated interaction of two players in the Prisoner's Dilemma (PD) under various levels of interdependency information and propose an instance‐based learning cognitive model (IBL‐PD) to explain how cooperation emerges over time. Six hypotheses are tested regarding how a player accounts for an opponent's outcomes: the selfish hypothesis suggests ignoring information about the opponent and utilizing only the player's own outcomes; the extreme fairness hypothesis weighs the player's own and the opponent's outcomes equally; the moderate fairness hypothesis weighs the opponent's outcomes less than the player's own outcomes to various extents; the linear increasing hypothesis increasingly weighs the opponent's outcomes at a constant rate with repeated interactions; the hyperbolic discounting hypothesis increasingly and nonlinearly weighs the opponent's outcomes over time; and the dynamic expectations hypothesis dynamically adjusts the weight a player gives to the opponent's outcomes, according to the gap between the expected and the actual outcomes in each interaction. When players lack explicit feedback about their opponent's choices and outcomes, results are consistent with the selfish hypothesis; however, when this information is made explicit, the best predictions result from the dynamic expectations hypothesis.
How Do Groups Work? Age Differences in Performance and the Social Outcomes of Peer Collaboration
Authors: Leman Patrick J.
Published: September 2014

Do children derive different benefits from group collaboration at different ages? In the present study, 183 children from two age groups (8.8  and 13.4 years) took part in a class quiz as members of a group, or individually. In some groups, cohesiveness was made salient by awarding prizes to the top performing groups. In other groups, prizes were awarded to the best performing individuals. Findings, both in terms of social outcomes and performance in the quiz, indicated that the 8‐year olds viewed the benefits of group membership in terms of the opportunities to receive information from other members. The 13‐year olds, in contrast, viewed group collaboration as a constructive process where success was connected with group cohesiveness.
Patient Empowerment Programme in primary care reduced all‐cause mortality and cardiovascular diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a population‐based propensity‐matched cohort study
Authors: Wong C. K. H. , Wong W. C. W. , Wan Y. F. , Chan A. K. C. , Chung K. L. , Chan F. W. K. , Lam C. L. K.
Published: September 2014

Aims

To assess whether a structured diabetes education programme, the Patient Empowerment Programme (PEP), was associated with a lower risk of first cardiovascular disease (CVD) event and all‐cause mortality in a population‐based cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in primary care.

Methods

A Chinese cohort of 27 278 patients with T2DM and without previous CVD events on or before the baseline study recruitment date was linked to the Hong Kong administrative database from 2008 to 2013. The PEP was provided to patients with T2DM treated at primary care outpatient clinics through community trained professional educators. PEP non‐participants were matched one‐to‐one with the PEP participants using a propensity score method with respect to their baseline covariates. Cox proportional hazard regression was performed to estimate the associations of the PEP with the occurrence of first CVD event, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and death from any cause, controlling for baseline characteristics.

Results

During a median of 21.5 months follow‐up, 795 (352 PEP participants and 443 PEP non‐participants) patients experienced a first CVD event. After adjusting for confounding variables, PEP participants had a lower rate of all‐cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 0.564, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.445–0.715; p < 0.001], first CVD (HR 0.807, 95% CI 0.696–0.935; p = 0.004) and stroke (HR 0.702; 95% CI 0.569–0.867; p = 0.001) than those without PEP.

Conclusions

Enrolment in the PEP was associated with lower all‐cause mortality and a lower number of first CVD events among patients with T2DM. The CVD benefit of PEP might be attributable to improving metabolic control through empowerment of self‐care and the enhancement of quality of diabetes care in primary care.
Three‐Dimensional Transesophageal Echocardiographic Study of Aortic‐Mitral Valve Coupling after Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting
Authors: Qu Shao‐Hui , Hsiung Ming‐Chon , Leng Xiao‐Ping , Wei Jeng , Du Guo‐Qing , Houle Helene , Yin Wei‐Hsian , Tian Jia‐Wei
Published: September 2014

Aims

To observe the geometric changes in aortic‐mitral valve coupling (AMC) on three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography and the factors leading to decreased mitral regurgitation (MR) after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Methods and Results

This study included 23 patients undergoing CABG for coronary artery disease. Fifteen patients with moderate to severe MR were separately analyzed to determine whether the severity of MR influences the geometric change in AMC. Echocardiographic examinations were performed pre‐ and post‐CABG, and the studied parameters were obtained using Siemens Auto Valve Analysis software. The effective mitral regurgitant orifice area, left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), end‐diastolic volume (EDV), and end‐systolic volume (ESV) were measured pre‐ and post‐CABG using Philips QLAB software. Ischemic MR, EDV, and ESV significantly decreased (all P < 0.05) and LVEF significantly improved (P < 0.05) after CABG. There were no significant differences between the pre‐ and post‐CABG mitral valve (MV) parameters, aortic valve parameters, aortic‐mitral annular angle, or centroid distance (all P > 0.05). Patients with moderate to severe MR exhibited the same results.

Conclusion

The results of this study show that CABG does not cause an acute change in the geometry of AMC. Improved left ventricular function might increase the closing force of the MV, leading to decreased MR after CABG alone. MR significantly improved after CABG alone without MV treatment in the present study. This result may help to guide surgeons in choosing the optimal surgical methods for individual patients.
The Clinical Dilemma of Quantifying Mechanical Left Ventricular Dyssynchrony for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy: Segmental or Global?
Authors: Bajraktari Gani , Henein Michael Y.
Published: September 2014

Heart failure (HF) represents a serious clinical and public cause of mortality, morbidity, as well as healthcare expenditures. Guidelines for treatment of HF join in recommending multimedical regimen at targeted doses as the best medical strategy, despite that a significant percentage of patients remain symptomatic. Studies have shown that these patients might benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), particularly those presenting with broad QRS duration, >135 msec. Trials have already shown that CRT results in improved morbidity and survival of these patients particularly those in New York Heart Association class III–IV HF, but almost 30% do not show any symptomatic or survival benefit, hence are classified as nonresponders. Exhaustive efforts have been made in using noninvasive methods of assessing left ventricle (LV) dyssynchrony in predicting nonresponders to CRT, including Doppler echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and even single photon emission computed tomography analysis, but only with modest success. In this report, we aimed to review the available evidence for assessing markers of mechanical LV dyssynchrony by various echocardiographic modalities and their respective strength in predicting favorable response to CRT treatment, comparing global with segmental ones. While the accuracy of segmental markers of dyssynchrony in predicting satisfactory response to CRT remains controversial because of various technical limitations, global markers seem easier to measure, reproducible, and potentially accurate in reflecting overall cavity response and its clinical implications. More studies are needed to qualify this proposal.
Unusual Myocardial Late Gadolinium Enhancement in Isolated Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Moustafa Sherif , Patton David J. , Al Shanawani Mansour , Connelly Michael S. , Alvarez Nanette , Prieur Timothy , Mookadam Farouk
Published: September 2014

Mini‐Abstract

Noncompaction cardiomyopathy is characterized by prominent ventricular trabeculations and deep intertrabecular recesses with high risk of mortality and morbidity secondary to heart failure, thromboembolic events, and malignant arrhythmias. We herein report a 19‐year‐old man with isolated noncompaction cardiomyopathy in which the echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance were very useful in decision making regarding his optimal management.
Infusing considerations of trophic dependencies into species distribution modelling
Authors: Trainor Anne M. , Schmitz Oswald J.
Published: September 2014

Community ecology involves studying the interdependence of species with each other and their environment to predict their geographical distribution and abundance. Modern species distribution analyses characterise species‐environment dependency well, but offer only crude approximations of species interdependency. Typically, the dependency between focal species and other species is characterised using other species’ point occurrences as spatial covariates to constrain the focal species’ predicted range. This implicitly assumes that the strength of interdependency is homogeneous across space, which is not generally supported by analyses of species interactions. This discrepancy has an important bearing on the accuracy of inferences about habitat suitability for species. We introduce a framework that integrates principles from consumer–resource analyses, resource selection theory and species distribution modelling to enhance quantitative prediction of species geographical distributions. We show how to apply the framework using a case study of lynx and snowshoe hare interactions with each other and their environment. The analysis shows how the framework offers a spatially refined understanding of species distribution that is sensitive to nuances in biophysical attributes of the environment that determine the location and strength of species interactions.
Balancing health literacy about epilepsy surgery in the community
Authors: Zuccato Jeffrey A. , Milburn Cynthia , Valiante Taufik A.
Published: September 2014

Objective

Despite significant underutilization of surgical treatment for drug‐resistant epilepsy, no studies have quantified patient desire for surgery within a representative population. The main objective was to determine desire for surgery in a sample with a high proportion of potential candidates to characterize patient‐related barriers to the treatment. Secondary objectives included assessing clinical predictors of attitudes toward surgery and evaluating the impact of passive knowledge translation on desire for surgery.

Methods

An online survey was administered to all clients connected with a core epilepsy community access center. It obtained information about demographics, clinical characteristics, knowledge of epilepsy surgery, and interest in receiving surgery before and after receiving risk/benefit information about it.

Results

Of 118 potential respondents, 48 (41%) completed the questionnaire, of which 67% had failed more than two AEDs and 78% experienced seizures in the past year. Eleven ( 26%) were uninterested in receiving surgery at baseline, and this decreased significantly to 7 (16%) following knowledge translation regarding the benefits (p = 0.001). Significance was lost with subsequent complication rate information despite fewer respondents still being uninterested compared to baseline (20% vs. 26%). Having experienced seizures within the past month was correlated with being interested in or undecided regarding surgery at baseline and following all steps of knowledge translation. Subjects had conservative views regarding the benefits of surgery and largely overestimated the risks.

Significance

A significant portion of those with active epilepsy in the community do not desire surgical treatment. Passive knowledge translation regarding the risks and benefits enhanced optimistic attitudes and mobilized interest within a subset of participants. Preexisting views regarding the risks of surgery were exaggerated, and analysis suggests that these views can be modified with information about the benefits of surgery. However, exaggerated risk perceptions return following crude descriptions of the risks, underlying the importance of sensitive counseling from primary care physicians.
CLIFTEX Theatre: Balancing Technology and Sustainability
Authors: Brunson Rochelle R. , Reed Marlene M.
Published: September 2014

Phyllis Gamble and her business partner, Mechelle Slaughter, had purchased the CLIFTEX Theatre in Clifton, Texas, in 2008 and had spent a great deal of time and money restoring this historic venue. The theater had been founded in 1916 and was the oldest continually operating theater in the state of Texas. The primary purpose for the purchase and restoration of the theater by the two women had been to give something back to a community which they had grown to love. They had never expected it to be profitable as long as they operated it; however, they had envisioned an exit strategy in which they would be able to achieve sustainability at some point for the theater so that they could hand it over to a member of the community who could use the business for his/her own livelihood. An immediate question they were facing in 2011 was whether or not to spend $75,000 to replace reel–to–reel with digital projection. The transformation would provide better sound and picture quality but would be very expensive to implement. There was the related issue of whether the digital equipment might allow them to host other events that might make the theater profitable.
Collateral Regulation and IPO‐Specific Liberalisation: the Case of Price Limits in the Athens Stock Exchange
Authors: Thomadakis Stavros , Gounopoulos Dimitrios , Nounis Christos , Merikas Andreas
Published: September 2014

This paper uses a unique testing ground on the effect of price limits upon IPO pricing and initial returns. The Athens Stock Exchange offers the opportunity for this new experiment, as three substantial changes in limit regulations were implemented in a short period of eight years. The results indicate significant differences in initial returns. Effective price limits reduce underpricing in all market segments, without visible diminution of IPO activity. The introduction of mandatory book‐building after price limits were phased out in Athens also led to reduced underpricing in the main market segment. Nevertheless, the existence of an independent effect of price limits explains why some regulators continue to use them to the present day.
Strangulation of the small intestine by an anomalous congenital band in a yearling
Authors: Dearo A. C. O. , de Moraes Marcondes G. , Araújo J. C. O. , Grumadas C. E. S. , Marino P. C. , Teixeira W. T. , de La Penha Chiacchio Fernandes G.
Published: September 2014

Strangulating obstruction of the small intestine by anomalous mesenteric bands is an uncommon cause of colic in horses. The most commonly reported bands are mesodiverticular bands that are embryological remnants of the vitelline arteries. Despite the congenital nature of the anomaly, a wide age range of horses can be affected. This report describes a case of small intestinal strangulating obstruction caused by an unusual, anomalous congenital band attached to the ileocaecal fold in a yearling colt. Information including case background, history, clinical, laboratory, surgical and pathological findings is described.
Morphological and trophic specialization in a subterranean amphipod assemblage
Authors: Hutchins Benjamin T. , Schwartz Benjamin F. , Nowlin Weston H.
Published: September 2014

Sympatric species are expected to exhibit specialisation that reduces interspecific competition in environments with food resources that exhibit little spatial or temporal variation in availability, while sympatric species in more unpredictable environments should exhibit generalised feeding strategies to exploit a wide range of variable resources.

We combined stable isotopes and quantitative mouthpart morphometric data to investigate trophic structure among sympatric species in a diverse subterranean amphipod assemblage in the Edwards Aquifer, Texas, U.S.A.

Seven amphipod species occupied different regions of isotopic (δ13C and δ15N) space, suggesting the use of different food resources. Trophic position, measured as δ15N, was negatively correlated with planar area of the mandible and number of molar ridges, while it was positively correlated with incisor width. Reduced molar size and robust incisors are generally associated with predatory feeding strategies in non‐subterranean amphipods. δ13C exhibited non‐significant relationships with mouthpart morphology although one species, Texiweckeliopsis insolita, had significantly different mouthpart and δ13C values. Another species, Stygobromus russelli, had more generalised mouthparts, but isotope values indicate that it had a unique and unidentified feeding method and food source, illustrating the obfuscating effect of phylogeny on form–function relationships.

Intraspecific relationships between body size and isotope values indicate that amphipod species showed little to moderate ontogenetic shifts in trophic position. Furthermore, body size did not predict trophic position when data were combined across species, suggesting that larger amphipods do not necessarily feed at higher trophic levels in this community.

Our results indicate that sympatric subterranean amphipod species can exhibit specialised feeding strategies, suggesting that competition among species is driving niche partitioning. These results contradict the assumption that variable resource availability in groundwater habitats selects for trophic generalists among sympatric species.
Using modelled stream temperatures to predict macro‐spatial patterns of stream invertebrate biodiversity
Authors: Hill Ryan A. , Hawkins Charles P.
Published: September 2014

Stream temperature is thought to be a primary determinant of the macro‐spatial distribution of stream biota, but we lack temperature data for most streams. Past research often relied on surrogates, such as altitude, latitude, catchment area (ALCA) and air temperature to study biota–temperature relationships. However, temperature surrogates may not accurately represent the thermal environments experienced by the biota and could thus produce misleading inferences regarding such relationships.

In the absence of observations, modelled stream temperature could improve both predictions and interpretations of stream biodiversity patterns. We tested this hypothesis by relating stream benthic invertebrate assemblage structure and composition at 92 reference‐quality streams to ALCA, air temperature, modelled stream temperature and measured stream temperature, that is a progression from a coarse surrogate to directly measured water temperature. Modelled stream temperatures were obtained from a U.S.A.‐wide model developed previously with data from 569 reference‐quality sites. Variation in taxonomic composition, measured with an ordination, was strongly and almost identically associated with both modelled and measured stream temperature, but was less strongly associated with ALCA and air temperature.

We also built predictive niche models to assess how choice of thermal metrics affected model performance. Model performance was measured as the precision with which each model predicted the number of taxa at a site (i.e. observed‐to‐expected taxon ratios). Niche models that contained modelled or measured stream temperature were more precise than those based on air temperature and ALCA. In addition, we compared the predicted probabilities of occurrence using niche models based on both modelled and measured stream temperatures. The two produced predicted probabilities of occurrence that were statistically indistinguishable for most (79%) taxa.

Finally, we calculated thermal optima for each taxon as the abundance‐weighted average of stream temperature at sites where each taxon occurred. Thermal optima produced with modelled and measured stream temperatures were almost identical.

Large‐scale models of stream temperature can be sufficiently accurate and precise to detect temperature‐driven patterns in stream biodiversity and should be useful in predicting the effects of climate change and other human‐caused thermal alterations on stream biodiversity.
Effects of longitudinal and lateral stream channel complexity on native and non‐native fishes in an invaded desert stream
Authors: Franssen Nathan R. , Gilbert Eliza I. , Propst David L.
Published: September 2014

Understanding how habitat heterogeneity influences the structure of communities has been a longstanding goal of ecologists. Identifying how stream channel complexity affects fishes will be particularly important in systems simplified by anthropogenic activities and encroachment of non‐native riparian vegetation.

Here, we assessed how large‐scale longitudinal distribution of lateral stream channel complexity from anthropogenically channelised, naturally braided and canyon‐bound reaches of the San Juan River in New Mexico and Utah, U.S.A., correlated with species richness, evenness and the relative abundance of small‐bodied native and non‐native fishes. We also contrasted fish assemblages at a smaller scale, in the most laterally complex reach of the river, by comparing fish assemblages between primary channel and secondary channel habitats as well as in newly restored secondary channels.

Rarefied fish species richness was generally highest in the braided reach of the river and the longitudinal distribution of total fish densities varied temporally. Contrary to our predictions, native fish densities were highest in the most upstream and anthropogenically channelised reach of the river. Non‐native fish densities tended to be highest in the downstream braided reach, and all fishes were sparse in the least complex canyon‐bound reach. Total fish densities were higher in secondary channels compared with primary channels, and non‐native fishes were responsible for this difference. Fish assemblages in recently restored secondary channels were generally similar to those in naturally occurring ones.

Our results suggest that lateral channel complexity can facilitate greater species richness at larger scales and is likely to provide habitats for fishes that are rare or not found in larger primary channels. These findings also suggest reduced channel complexity may lower the ability of riverine systems to support diverse fish assemblages.
A genetic interaction network model of a complex neurological disease
Authors: Tyler A. L. , McGarr T. C. , Beyer B. J. , Frankel W. N. , Carter G. W.
Published: September 2014

Absence epilepsy (AE) is a complex, heritable disease characterized by a brief disruption of normal behavior and accompanying spike‐wave discharges (SWD) on the electroencephalogram. Only a handful of genes has been definitively associated with AE in humans and rodent models. Most studies suggest that genetic interactions play a large role in the etiology and severity of AE, but mapping and understanding their architecture remains a challenge, requiring new computational approaches. Here we use combined analysis of pleiotropy and epistasis (CAPE) to detect and interpret genetic interactions in a meta‐population derived from three C3H × B6J strain crosses, each of which is fixed for a different SWD‐causing mutation. Although each mutation causes SWD through a different molecular mechanism, the phenotypes caused by each mutation are exacerbated on the C3H genetic background compared with B6J, suggesting common modifiers. By combining information across two phenotypic measures – SWD duration and frequency – CAPE showed a large, directed genetic network consisting of suppressive and enhancing interactions between loci on 10 chromosomes. These results illustrate the power of CAPE in identifying novel modifier loci and interactions in a complex neurological disease, toward a more comprehensive view of its underlying genetic architecture.
Low‐Resolution Modeling of Dense Drainage Networks in Confining Layers
Authors: Pauw P.S. , Van der Zee S.E.A.T.M. , Leijnse A. , Delsman J.R. , De Louw P.G.B. , De Lange W.J. , Oude Essink G.H.P.
Published: September 2014

Groundwater‐surface water (GW‐SW) interaction in numerical groundwater flow models is generally simulated using a Cauchy boundary condition, which relates the flow between the surface water and the groundwater to the product of the head difference between the node and the surface water level, and a coefficient, often referred to as the “conductance.” Previous studies have shown that in models with a low grid resolution, the resistance to GW‐SW interaction below the surface water bed should often be accounted for in the parameterization of the conductance, in addition to the resistance across the surface water bed. Three conductance expressions that take this resistance into account were investigated: two that were presented by Mehl and Hill (2010) and the one that was presented by De Lange (1999). Their accuracy in low‐resolution models regarding salt and water fluxes to a dense drainage network in a confined aquifer system was determined. For a wide range of hydrogeological conditions, the influence of (1) variable groundwater density; (2) vertical grid discretization; and (3) simulation of both ditches and tile drains in a single model cell was investigated. The results indicate that the conductance expression of De Lange (1999) should be used in similar hydrogeological conditions as considered in this paper, as it is better taking into account the resistance to flow below the surface water bed. For the cases that were considered, the influence of variable groundwater density and vertical grid discretization on the accuracy of the conductance expression of De Lange (1999) is small.
The association of adiposity with kidney function decline among HIV‐infected adults: findings from the Fat Redistribution and Metabolic Changes in HIV Infection (FRAM) study
Authors: Malkina A , Scherzer R , Shlipak MG , Bacchetti P , Tien PC , Grunfeld C , Kosmiski L , Peralta CA
Published: September 2014

Objectives

The aim of the study was to investigate the association of adiposity with longitudinal kidney function change in 544 HIV‐infected persons in the Study of Fat Redistribution and Metabolic Change in HIV infection (FRAM) cohort over 5 years of follow‐up.

Methods

The regional distribution of muscle and adipose tissue was quantified by whole‐body magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and total adiponectin and leptin levels were measured in serum. Kidney function was assessed using the estimated glomerular filtration rate from serum cystatin C (eGFRCys), obtained at baseline and follow‐up. Rapid kidney function decline was defined as annual loss of eGFRCys ≥ 3 mL/min/1.73 m2, and incident chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as eGFRCys < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Multivariate regression analysis was adjusted for age, race, gender, glucose, antihypertensive use, serum albumin, baseline and change in HIV viral load.

Results

At baseline, mean age was 43 years, mean eGFRCys was 86 mL/min/1.73 m2, and 21% of patients had albuminuria. The mean (± standard deviation) eGFRCys decline was −0.11 ± 4.87 mL/min/1.73 m2 per year; 23% of participants had rapid kidney function decline, and 10% developed incident CKD. The lowest tertile of visceral adipose tissue and the highest tertile of adiponectin were both marginally associated with annual kidney function decline of −0.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 each, but these associations were not statistically significant after adjustment. We found no statistically significant associations of MRI‐measured regional adiposity or serum adipokines with rapid kidney function decline or incident CKD (all P‐values > 0.1 in adjusted models).

Conclusions

Contrary to findings in the general population, adiposity did not have a substantial association with longitudinal change in kidney function among HIV‐infected persons.
Hodgkin lymphoma is as common as non‐Hodgkin lymphoma in HIV‐positive patients with sustained viral suppression and limited immune deficiency: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Hoffmann C , Hentrich M , Gillor D , Behrens G , Jensen B , Stoehr A , Esser S , van Lunzen J , Krznaric I , Müller M , Oette M , Hensel M , Thoden J , Fätkenheuer G , Wyen C
Published: September 2014

Objectives

The incidence of HIV‐related non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) but not that of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) has been declining. The aim of the study was to compare HIV‐infected patients with NHL and HL with respect to antiretroviral therapy (ART) exposure at the time of lymphoma diagnosis.

Methods

HIV‐infected patients with NHL and HL included in a prospective multicentre cohort study since January 2005 were compared with respect to ART exposure and viral load at the time of lymphoma diagnosis.

Results

As of 31 December 2012, data for 329 patients with NHL and 86 patients with HL from 31 participating centres were available. Patients with HL were more likely to be on ART (73.5% vs. 39.1%, respectively; P < 0.001) and more frequently had a viral load below the detection limit (57.3% vs. 27.9%, respectively; P < 0.001) than patients with NHL. The proportion of patients with HL was 8.0% in ART‐naïve patients, 34.8% in patients with current HIV RNA < 50 HIV‐1 RNA copies/mL, and 50.0% in patients with both HIV RNA < 50 copies/mL for > 12 months and a CD4 cell count of > 200 cells/μL. Of note, 45.8% of all patients with NHL were not currently on ART and had a CD4 count of < 350 cells/μL.

Conclusions

This prospective cohort study shows that HL was as common as NHL in patients with sustained viral suppression and limited immune deficiency. In contrast to NHL, the majority of patients with HL were on effective ART, suggesting that ART provides insufficient protection from developing HL. The high proportion of untreated patients with NHL suggests missed opportunities for earlier initiation of ART.
Reduced genetic diversity in Bearded Vultures Gypaetus barbatus in Southern Africa
Authors: Krüger Sonja C. , Wesche Philipp L. , Jansen van Vuuren Bettine
Published: September 2014

The Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus occurs throughout its range in small and dwindling population fragments with limited genetic differentiation between populations, suggesting that the species might be managed as a single entity. The numbers of East and Southern African Bearded Vultures included in previous studies were small, so we determine the genetic variation within, evolutionary placement of and connectivity among sub‐Saharan African populations. Mitochondrial DNA fragment analyses detected little or no differentiation between populations in Ethiopia and Southern Africa, with reduced haplotype diversity in Southern Africa compared with populations in the Northern Hemisphere. The results inform conservation management of this species globally and locally, and offer guidelines for translocations should populations continue to decline.
Impact of root fillings and posts on the diagnostic ability of three intra‐oral digital radiographic systems in detecting vertical root fractures
Authors: Nascimento H. A. R. , Neves F. S. , de‐Azevedo‐Vaz S. L. , Duque T. M. , Ambrosano G. M. B. , Freitas D. Q.
Published: September 2014

Aim

To evaluate (i) the accuracy of three intra‐oral digital systems in detecting vertical root fractures (VRFs); and (ii) the influence of different intracanal conditions (without filling, filled with Gutta‐percha and metal or fibreglass post).

Methodology

Forty single‐rooted human teeth were decoronated and the root canals prepared. VRFs were induced using a universal testing machine on 20 teeth. Radiographic images were obtained using the paralleling technique with three different horizontal angulations on conventional E/F film, two storage phosphor plates (Digora Optime and VistaScan) and one sensor system (SnapShot). All teeth were radiographed with all intracanal conditions tested. All images were evaluated by five examiners. After 30 days, 25% of the images were reviewed. Areas under ROC curves, sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive and negative predictive values were compared by anova.

Results

The weighted kappa values for intra‐ and interobserver reproducibility were 0.48–0.74 and 0.57–0.66, respectively. The sensitivity revealed a significant difference between imaging modalities, with higher values for SnapShot (0.53) and VistaScan (0.46), followed by the film (0.41) and Digora (0.38). The area under the ROC curve for SnapShot (0.82) was greater than for the other systems in the teeth with a fibreglass post (VistaScan: 0.70; Digora: 0.64; film: 0.60).

Conclusion

All systems gave a similar performance for detecting VRFs; all gave a good performance in the absence of intracanal materials, but performed less well in the presence of a metal post or Gutta‐percha. In teeth with a fibreglass post, digital systems with higher resolution should be used.
Simple organ failure count versus CANONIC grading system for predicting mortality in acute‐on‐chronic liver failure
Authors: Agrawal Swastik , Duseja Ajay , Gupta Tarana , Dhiman Radha K , Chawla Yogesh
Published: September 2014

Background and Aim

This study assessed the utility of a simple organ failure count (SOFC) in predicting the in‐hospital mortality in patients with acute‐on‐chronic liver failure (ACLF) compared with Chronic Liver Failure Acute‐on‐Chronic Liver Failure in Cirrhosis (CANONIC) ACLF grading system.

Methods

Consecutive patients of ACLF were included prospectively from 2012 to 2013. The diagnosis was based on Asian‐Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) criteria except for the inclusion of non‐hepatic insults as acute events. Organ failures were defined as per the Chronic Liver Failure–Sequential Organ Failure Assessment system. SOFC was calculated as the simple number of organ failures from 0 to 6. In‐hospital mortality was recorded.

Results

Majority (92[87%]) of the 106 patients included were males, had alcohol (76[72%]) as the etiology of cirrhosis, and alcoholic hepatitis (58[55%]) as the acute precipitating event. Overall, 51(48%) patients died in‐hospital. In‐hospital mortality in patients with SOFC of 0 (n = 9), 1 (n = 39), 2 (n = 24), 3 (n = 24), 4 (n = 7), and 5 (n = 3) was 0%, 26%, 58%, 71%, 100%, and 100% respectively (P < 0.001), whereas it was 10%, 30%, 58%, and 79% in patients with no‐ACLF (n = 21), grades 1 (n = 27), 2 (n = 24), and 3 ACLF (n = 34) respectively (P < 0.001). Patients with no‐ACLF (n = 21) had higher mortality than SOFC 0 as they included 9 patients with SOFC 0 (0% mortality) and 12 patients with SOFC 1 (17% mortality). Mortality was similar between 12 no‐ACLF and 27 grade 1 ACLF patients (P = 0.462) that comprised SOFC 1.

Conclusion

SOFC is a simpler and better method than the CANONIC grading system for predicting the in‐hospital mortality in patients with ACLF defined as per APASL criteria.
Noninvasive assessments of liver fibrosis with transient elastography and Hui index predict survival in patients with chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Wong Grace Lai‐Hung , Chan Henry Lik‐Yuen , Yu Zhuo , Wong Catherine Ka‐Yan , Leung Calvin , Ho Patricia Po‐Lai , Chan Candace Yim , Chung Vivian Chi‐Yee , Chan Zhan Cham‐Yan , Tse Yee‐Kit , Chim Angel Mei‐Ling , Lau Tina Kit‐Ting , Chan Hoi‐Yun , Tse Chi‐Hang , Wong Vincent Wai‐Sun
Published: September 2014

Background and Aims

The prognostic role of noninvasive assessments of liver fibrosis has been evolving. Our aim was to investigate the prognostic value of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) with transient elastography and serum‐based Hui index to predict hepatic events and deaths in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients.

Methods

The main prospective cohort included 1555 consecutive CHB patients referred for transient elastography examination; a subgroup of 980 patients underwent follow‐up assessments at least 3 years later formed the serial cohort. Cox proportional hazard model was performed to determine the relationship of LSM, Hui index and other clinical variables with hepatic events and deaths.

Results

During a mean follow‐up of 69 ± 9 months, 119 patients (7.6%) developed hepatic events or deaths. Hepatic event‐free survival was significantly decreased with increasing stages of LSM and Hui index. The 5‐year cumulative probability of hepatic event‐free survival of patients of Stage 1–7 of LSM were 99.3%, 98.8%, 95.7%, 90.9%, 89.6%, 74.6%, and 50.0%, respectively; that of Stage 1 to 3 of Hui index were 98.2%, 93.1%, and 77.5%, respectively. Independent predictors of hepatic event‐free survival were age, baseline LSM, and follow‐up Hui index. Serum ALT and body mass index affected the accuracy of prediction by LSM. Patients remained early stages of LSM or Hui index at follow‐up visit had better survival compared to those remained at late stages.

Conclusion

Baseline and change in noninvasive parameters of liver fibrosis, LSM and Hui index, are accurate to predict hepatic event‐free survival in CHB patients.