bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of time since fire on frog occurrence are altered by isolation, vegetation and fire frequency gradients
Authors: Westgate Martin J. , MacGregor Christopher , Scheele Ben C. , Driscoll Don A. , Lindenmayer David B.
Published: October 2017

Aim

To quantify how frogs in terrestrial environments respond to recurrent fire, and to what extent this is mediated by isolation from breeding sites or vegetation structure.

Location

Jervis Bay, south‐eastern Australia.

Methods

We used data from 8 years of pitfall trapping, collected via a random stratified design, to quantify frog occurrence at 110 locations. We then used an information theoretic approach to compare 13 logistic generalized linear mixed models, each of which related frog occurrence to a distinct combination of additive and interactive effects of fire, vegetation structure and proximity to known breeding sites.

Results

For all four species, the effect of one or more fire variables on frog occurrence depended on both the density of breeding sites in the surrounding area, or on the vegetation structure at the trap locality. A classic “fire averse” response of initial declines followed by post‐fire recovery did occur, but only in frequently burned, low‐quality terrestrial habitats (i.e., heath vegetation for Uperoleia tyleri, or locations with few available breeding sites for the remaining species), or in some cases, when suitable habitats were infrequently burned. However, a “fire‐dependent” result of negative effects of time since fire was also evident for some species and contexts.

Main conclusions

The effect of fire on frog occurrence can be mediated by environment. Therefore, a single species could be identified as either “fire dependent” or “fire averse” depending on the combination of isolation, vegetation types and fire histories in the study region. Failure to account for the context specificity of fire response curves could lead to incomplete conclusions regarding the effect of time since fire—or the cumulative impacts of multiple fires—on faunal assemblages.
Climate, host phylogeny and the connectivity of host communities govern regional parasite assembly
Authors: Clark Nicholas J. , Clegg Sonya M. , Sam Katerina , Goulding William , Koane Bonny , Wells Konstans
Published: October 2017

Aim

Identifying barriers that govern parasite community assembly and parasite invasion risk is critical to understand how shifting host ranges impact disease emergence. We studied regional variation in the phylogenetic compositions of bird species and their blood parasites (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus spp.) to identify barriers that shape parasite community assembly.

Location

Australasia and Oceania.

Methods

We used a data set of parasite infections from >10,000 host individuals sampled across 29 bioregions. Hierarchical models and matrix regressions were used to assess the relative influences of interspecies (host community connectivity and local phylogenetic distinctiveness), climate and geographic barriers on parasite local distinctiveness and composition.

Results

Parasites were more locally distinct (co‐occurred with distantly related parasites) when infecting locally distinct hosts, but less distinct (co‐occurred with closely related parasites) in areas with increased host diversity and community connectivity (a proxy for parasite dispersal potential). Turnover and the phylogenetic symmetry of parasite communities were jointly driven by host turnover, climate similarity and geographic distance.

Main conclusions

Interspecies barriers linked to host phylogeny and dispersal shape parasite assembly, perhaps by limiting parasite establishment or local diversification. Infecting hosts that co‐occur with few related species decreases a parasite's likelihood of encountering related competitors, perhaps increasing invasion potential but decreasing diversification opportunity. While climate partially constrains parasite distributions, future host range expansions that spread distinct parasites and diminish barriers to host shifting will likely be key drivers of parasite invasions.
Left to Other Peoples’ Devices? A Political Economy Perspective on the Big Data Revolution in Development
Authors: Mann Laura
Published: October 2017

This article brings a political economy perspective to the field of Data for Development (D4D). It highlights the fact that many projects involve extracting data from African‐based organizations for expert analysis in advanced economies. This extraction is justified on the basis that it is being used for humanitarian purposes. Key actors including the UN Global Pulse and World Economic Forum have lobbied for a governance framework emphasizing greater emission, personalization and centralization of data. The article shows how this approach enables the strategies of multinational corporations which are aiming to become data custodians of Africa's emerging economies. Little attention has been paid to the geographical distribution of capacity building nor to the ways in which data‐driven restructuring may alter existing livelihoods. As African economies become increasingly ‘digital’, data will become a source of power in economic governance. Current frameworks amount to a kind of industrial policy that supports the learning and innovation of foreign firms. The article aims to move D4D away from the focus on humanitarianism towards economic development, considering the opportunities for African citizens to benefit from their data as a source of revenue, knowledge and power. The conclusion suggests lines of inquiry for taking research further.
High‐resolution melting analysis allows rapid and accurate differentiation of the three Melampsoridium species occurring on Alnus
Authors: Tuomivirta T. T. , Hantula J.
Published: October 2017

Alder (Alnus) leaves can be infected by three species of Melampsoridium rust: M. alni, M. betulinum and M. hiratsukanum. The latter is an invasive species in Europe that can be differentiated from the other two on the basis of morphological and molecular characters. This study presents a rapid, one‐step, closed‐tube and inexpensive method to differentiate species of Melampsoridium using two primer sets and high‐resolution melting (HRM) analysis of alder leaf material.
Parent–Child Relationships and Adolescents' Life Satisfaction Across the First Decade of the New Millennium
Authors: Jiménez‐Iglesias Antonia , García‐Moya Irene , Moreno Carmen
Published: October 2017

Objective

To examine whether changes occurred in parent–child relationships (maternal and paternal affection, ease of communication with the mother and father, maternal and paternal knowledge, and family activities) between 2002 and 2010 in boys and girls and to examine the contributions of these family dimensions to life satisfaction.

Background

Although parent–child relationships may be affected by social change, there are few investigations of change in parent–child relationships over time.

Method

The sample consisted of 46,593 adolescents between 11 to 18 years of age who participated in the 2002, 2006, or 2010 editions of the Health Behaviour in School‐aged Children (HBSC) study in Spain. Trend analysis including univariate analyses of variance (ANOVAs) and factorial ANOVAs were conducted separately for boys and girls, and effect size tests were calculated.

Results

Communication with fathers and family activities statistically increased across HBSC editions and parent–child relationships were positively associated with life satisfaction across the examined period.

Conclusion

There were small positive changes in some family dimensions, and some of them were increasingly important for adolescent life satisfaction over time.

Implications

Interventions for strengthening parent–child relationships and promoting adolescent well‐being should include mothers and fathers and emphasize affection, communication, and family activities.
Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment–Revised Scores in Adolescents: A Psychometric and Person‐Oriented Study
Authors: Andretta James R. , McKay Michael T. , Harvey Séamus A. , Perry John L.
Published: October 2017

Objective

Identify perceived parental security profiles and examine differences across profiles with regard to self‐esteem and three domains of self‐efficacy (i.e., social, emotional, and academic).

Background

The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment–Revised (IPPA‐R) is an index of the quality of communication, feelings of trust, and degree of alienation that adolescents and young adults perceive in their parental and peer relationships. However, the factor structure of IPPA‐R scores has yet to be examined in adolescents, and no study to date has included a person‐oriented analysis using the assessment tool.

Method

Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and exploratory structural equation modeling (ESEM) were planned to examine the structural validity of IPPA‐R scores in a large sample of adolescents (N = 1,126; 61% male, 12–16 years of age). Model‐based clustering was employed to enumerate perceived parental security profiles, and Cohen's d effect sizes were used to interpret profile differences in outcomes.

Results

CFA (root mean square error of approximation, RMSEA = .06, comparative fit index, CFI = .90) and ESEM (RMSEA = .04, CFI = .95) substantiated the proposed three‐factor structure for IPPA‐R parent (but not peer) scores. Model‐based clustering led to the identification of five perceived parental security profiles: (a) high security, (b) moderately high security, (c) average security, (d) moderately low security, and (e) low security. Adolescents with high security and low security profiles, respectively, reported the highest and lowest levels of self‐esteem and self‐efficacy (0.48 ≤ Cohen's d ≤ 1.67).

Conclusion

IPPA‐R parent, but not peer, scores appear to be a valid index of perceived parental security in adolescents. Perceived parental security profiles are strongly associated with self‐concept.

Implications

A student's self‐confidence in his or her ability to manage emotions and cope with the academic demands of school is explained, in part, by perceived parental security. Therefore, interventions designed to develop feelings of trust and closeness with parents, as well as lines of communication, might result in improvements in how adolescents perceive their emotional and academic aptitude.
Legacies, lags and long‐term trends: Effective flow restoration in a changed and changing world
Authors: Thompson Ross M. , King Alison J. , Kingsford Richard M. , Mac Nally Ralph , Poff N. LeRoy
Published: October 2017

Human impacts on natural ecosystems are pervasive and will play out more severely as human populations and per capita resource use increase. Freshwater ecosystems are critical for human well‐being and experience a diverse range of human‐induced pressures. Most river systems throughout the world have much‐altered flow regimes.

The Murray–Darling Basin in southeastern Australian has been the focus of an extensive water reform process to address the over‐allocation of water for human uses. This has included many scientific investigations, hydrological modelling and the development of institutional and market structures to reallocate water. Substantial recovery of water has been achieved, which has been used to restore aspects of the natural flow regime.

We reviewed recent papers on responses to flow restoration in the Murray–Darling Basin and complemented this with inferences from the global literature. Ecological responses to flow restoration are often inconsistent, site and taxon specific and difficult to detect.

By combining ideas from mainstream thinking in restoration ecology with the insights from our review, we propose a conceptual model for understanding responses to flow restoration. This model incorporates key factors that influence the size of ecological responses to restoration, including existing ecological condition, legacy impacts of past change, interactions with other variables, life‐history traits of taxa and broad‐scale and long‐term trends due to climate or land‐use change.
Benefits and extent of CAM use among persons living with HIV attending an antiretroviral therapy clinic in Warri, Nigeria
Authors: Ahwinahwi Ufuoma S , Odili Valentine U , Ogubere Jeremiah
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The objective of this study was to assess the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies among patients on anti-retroviral therapies as well as the possible reasons for their use.

Method

This cross-sectional survey was conducted with the aid of an interviewer-administered questionnaire on HIV-positive patients attending the antiretroviral therapy clinic (Heart-to-Heart centre) of the Central Hospital, Warri, Nigeria. Patients who were 18 years and over were included after a brief introductory talk on the nature of the study. Participation was voluntary and anonymous.

Key findings

One hundred and thirty-five patients participated in the study, 50 (37%) patients used one form of CAM. Of the patients who used CAM, 17 (34.0%) patients used herbal medicines; eight (16.0%) patients used spirituality, and 25 (50.0%) nutritional supplements. The CAM methods used by the patients were for the treatment of discomforts related to antiretroviral therapy (ART), eight (16.0%); the treatment of medical conditions not related to ART, 13 (26.0%), boosting the immune system, 25 (50%) among other reasons. The study revealed that a higher percentage of HIV-infected patients (76.0%) did not disclose their use of CAM to their healthcare providers.

Conclusion

Although highly active antiretroviral therapy has proved to be very effective in the management of patients with HIV, CAMs are still much in use.
Influence of dutasteride treatment on serum hormone levels and aging male symptoms in patients with benign prostatic enlargement
Authors: Maeda Takahiro , Kikuchi Eiji , Hasegawa Masanori , Homma Keiko , Ando Toshiyuki , Suzuki Kenjiro , Kaneko Gou , Mizuno Ryuichi , Miyajima Akira , Oya Mototsugu
Published: October 2017

Objectives

To clarify the effects of dutasteride on serum hormone levels and aging male symptoms in patients with benign prostatic enlargement.

Methods

The present prospective study was carried out in 110 symptomatic benign prostatic enlargement patients treated with daily administration of 0.5 mg dutasteride. We analyzed serum hormonal levels and aging related symptoms using a validated Aging Male Symptom questionnaire at baseline and after 3 months of dutasteride treatment.

Results

The mean total testosterone, free testosterone and luteinizing hormone levels after dutasteride treatment were approximately 20% higher than those at baseline. The percentage increases in total and free testosterone levels were negatively correlated with these baseline levels. Baseline age, levels of total testosterone and free testosterone, and the changes in the rate of luteinizing hormone after dutasteride treatment tended to be correlated with an increase in the rate of total testosterone and free testosterone after dutasteride treatment. In a subgroup of 26 patients with moderate‐to‐severe aging male symptoms, poor morning erection and free testosterone levels <8.5 pg/mL, total aging male symptoms, and somatic symptoms scores significantly decreased after dutasteride treatment with an increase of total and free testosterone.

Conclusions

The increase of endogenous free testosterone and total testosterone by dutasteride might bring additional benefits of improvement of aging male‐related symptoms, especially in patients with lower free testosterone baseline levels and moderate‐to‐poor aging‐related symptoms.
Extrusion of highly porous silicon nitride ceramics with bimodal pore structure and improved gas permeability
Authors: Jiang Guang‐Peng , Yang Jian‐Feng
Published: October 2017

Highly porous Si3N4 ceramics with bimodal pore structure were prepared by the extrusion processing with petroleum coke of 30 μm as pore‐maker. The microstructure, mechanical strength, and gas permeability were investigated. The microstructure with petroleum coke contained not only numerous fine pores by interlocking the high aspect ratio β‐Si3N4 grains, but also some large pores of 15‐25 μm left by the burnout of petroleum coke. The resultant samples obtained an improved gas permeability of 1.2 × 10−12 m2, which is approximately two times that of samples without petroleum coke addition. Furthermore, the mechanical strength is still superior even at a porosity of 67% in comparison with the other porous ceramics used in the current diesel particulate filter.
Social anxiety and parental overprotection in young adults with and without intellectual disabilities
Authors: Hemm Cahley , Dagnan Dave , Meyer Thomas D.
Published: October 2017

Objectives

Developmental literature highlights peer relationships and parental overprotection as factors implicated in the development of social anxiety. These factors are highly prevalent in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities; however research has not examined whether these factors are associated with social anxiety for this population.

Methods

Twenty‐one individuals without intellectual disabilities and 21 individuals with intellectual disabilities (aged 16–24 years) completed the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescents with follow‐up questions, the Glasgow Anxiety Scale‐Intellectual disabilities and the parental overprotection subscale of the Parental Bonding Instrument with follow‐up questions.

Results

Aspects of general and social anxiety were significantly greater in the intellectual disabilities group. There were no significant differences in parental overprotection between groups, however, qualitative analyses revealed differences in experiences of social anxiety and parental overprotection.

Conclusions

Further research into factors associated with social anxiety in people with intellectual disabilities may inform adaptations to therapies and early intervention.
Patterns of sport participation for youth with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities
Authors: Ryan Stephanie , Fraser‐Thomas Jessica , Weiss Jonathan
Published: October 2017

Background

Little is known about sport participation in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The current study examined sport characteristics (frequency, diversity, positive social experiences [PSE]) for youth with ASD and intellectual disability compared to youth with intellectual disability alone and explored the personal and contextual correlates of involvement.

Method

Parents (N = 409) completed an online survey, and multiple mediation analyses were used to examine the factors that explained the relationships between sport involvement in youth with ASD and intellectual disability.

Results

No significant main effects of ASD status were found for frequency or diversity, but youth with intellectual disability alone had higher scores for PSE compared to youth with ASD and intellectual disability. Sociocommunicative abilities, coach relationship and resources mediated the relationship between ASD status and PSE.

Conclusions

A better understanding of the factors related to sport is essential for allowing families, service providers and policy makers to improve involvement for youth with ASD.
Oxidative stress induces imbalance of adipogenic/osteoblastic lineage commitment in mesenchymal stem cells through decreasing SIRT1 functions
Authors: Lin Chia‐Hua , Li Nan‐Ting , Cheng Hui‐Shan , Yen Men‐Luh
Published: October 2017

With rapidly ageing populations worldwide, the incidence of osteoporosis has reached epidemic proportions. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), a by‐product of oxidative stress and ageing, has been thought to induce osteoporosis by inhibiting osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). However, specific mechanisms of how ROS results in alterations on MSC differentiation capacity have been inconsistently reported. We found that H2O2, an ROS, simultaneously induced MSC lineage commitment towards adipogenesis and away from osteogenesis at the functional as well as transcriptional level. In addition, H2O2 decreased the activities of SIRT1, a histone deacetylase and longevity gene. By silencing and reconstituting SIRT1 in MSCs, we demonstrated that H2O2 exerted its disparate effects on adipogenic/osteoblastic lineage commitment mainly through modulating SIRT1 expression levels. Treatment with resveratrol, a SIRT1 agonist, can also reverse this ROS‐induced adipogenesis/osteogenesis lineage imbalance. Moreover, SIRT1 regulation of RUNX2 transcriptional activity was mediated through deacetylation of the ROS‐sensitive transcription factor FOXO3a. Taken together, our data implicate SIRT1 as playing a vital role in ROS‐directed lineage commitment of MSCs by modulating two lineages simultaneously. Our findings on the critical role of SIRT1 in ROS/age‐related perturbations of MSC differentiation capacity highlight this molecule as a target for maintenance of MSC stemness as well as a potential anabolic target in osteoporosis.
Hydroxychloroquine decreases human MSC‐derived osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in vitro
Authors: Both Tim , van de Peppel H. Jeroen , Zillikens M. Carola , Koedam Marijke , van Leeuwen Johannes P. T. M. , van Hagen P. Martin , van Daele Paul L. A. , van der Eerden Bram C. J.
Published: October 2017

We recently showed that patients with primary Sjögren Syndrome (pSS) have significantly higher bone mineral density (BMD) compared to healthy controls. The majority of those patients (69%) was using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), which may have favourable effects on BMD. To study the direct effects of HCQ on human MSC‐derived osteoblast activity. Osteoblasts were cultured from human mesenchymal stromal cells (hMSCs). Cultures were treated with different HCQ doses (control, 1 and 5 µg/ml). Alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium measurements were performed to evaluate osteoblast differentiation and activity, respectively. Detailed microarray analysis was performed in 5 µg/ml HCQ‐treated cells and controls followed by qPCR validation. Additional cultures were performed using the cholesterol synthesis inhibitor simvastatin (SIM) to evaluate a potential mechanism of action. We showed that HCQ inhibits both MSC‐derived osteoblast differentiation and mineralization in vitro. Microarray analysis and additional PCR validation revealed a highly significant up‐regulation of the cholesterol biosynthesis, lysosomal and extracellular matrix pathways in the 5 µg/ml HCQ‐treated cells compared to controls. Besides, we demonstrated that 1 µM SIM also decreases MSC‐derived osteoblast differentiation and mineralization compared to controls. It appears that the positive effect of HCQ on BMD cannot be explained by a stimulating effect on the MSC‐derived osteoblast. The discrepancy between high BMD and decreased MSC‐derived osteoblast function due to HCQ treatment might be caused by systemic factors that stimulate bone formation and/or local factors that reduce bone resorption, which is lacking in cell cultures.
Expression of FK506‐binding protein 51 (FKBP51) in Mycosis fungoides
Authors: Mascolo M. , Romano M.F. , Ilardi G. , Romano S. , Baldo A. , Scalvenzi M. , Argenziano G. , Merolla F. , Russo D. , Varricchio S. , Pagliuca F. , Russo M. , Ciancia G. , De Rosa G. , Staibano S.
Published: October 2017

Background

Mycosis fungoides (MF) is the major subtype of cutaneous T‐cell lymphomas (CTCL). It usually has a prolonged indolent clinical course with a minority of cases acquiring a more aggressive biological profile and resistance to conventional therapies, partially attributed to the persistent activation of nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) pathway. In the last decade, several papers suggested an important role for the FK506‐binding protein 51 (FKBP51), an immunophilin initially cloned in lymphocytes, in the control of NF‐κB pathway in different types of human malignancies.

Objectives

We aimed to investigate the possible value of FKBP51 expression as a new reliable marker of outcome in patients with MF.

Methods

We assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) FKBP51 expression in 44 patients with MF, representative of different stages of the disease. Immunohistochemical results were subsequently confirmed at mRNA level with quantitative PCR (qPCR) in a subset of enrolled patients. In addition, IHC and qPCR served to study the expression of some NF‐κB‐target genes, including the tumour necrosis factor receptor‐associated factor 2 (TRAF2).

Results

Our results show that FKBP51 was expressed in all evaluated cases, with the highest level of expression characterizing MFs with the worst prognosis. Moreover, a significant correlation subsisted between FKBP51 and TRAF2 IHC expression scores.

Conclusions

We hypothesize a role for FKBP51 as a prognostic marker for MF and suggest an involvement of this immunophilin in deregulated NF‐κB pathway of this CTCL.
Higher temperatures during development reduce body size in the zebra finch in the laboratory and in the wild
Authors: Andrew S. C. , Hurley L. L. , Mariette M. M. , Griffith S. C.
Published: October 2017

The most commonly documented morphological response across many taxa to climatic variation across their range follows Bergmann's rule, which predicts larger body size in colder climates. In observational data from wild zebra finches breeding across a range of temperatures in the spring and summer, we show that this relationship appears to be driven by the negative effect of high temperatures during development. This idea was then experimentally tested on zebra finches breeding in temperature‐controlled climates in the laboratory. These experiments confirmed that those individualso produced in a hot environment (30 °C) were smaller than those produced in cool conditions (18 °C). Our results suggest a proximate causal link between temperature and body size and suggest that a hotter climate during breeding periods could drive significant changes in morphology within and between populations. This effect could account for much of the variation in body size that drives the well‐observed patterns first described by Bergmann and that is still largely attributed to selection on adult body size during cold winters. The climate‐dependent developmental plasticity that we have demonstrated is an important component in understanding how endotherms may be affected by climate change.
Evolutionary emergence and maintenance of horizontally transmitted mutualism that do not rely on the supply of standing variation in symbiont quality
Authors: Uchiumi Y. , Ohtsuki H. , Sasaki A.
Published: October 2017

Mutualism based on reciprocal exchange of costly services must avoid exploitation by ‘free‐rides’. Accordingly, hosts discriminate against free‐riding symbionts in many mutualistic relationships. However, as the selective advantage of discriminators comes from the presence of variability in symbiont quality that they eliminate, discrimination and thus mutualism have been considered to be maintained with exogenous supply of free‐riders. In this study, we tried to resolve the ‘paradoxical’ co‐evolution of discrimination by hosts and cooperation by symbionts, by comparing two different types of discrimination: ‘one‐shot’ discrimination, where a host does not reacquire new symbionts after evicting free‐riders, and ‘resampling’ discrimination, where a host does from the environment. Our study shows that this apparently minor difference in discrimination types leads to qualitatively different evolutionary outcomes. First, although it has been usually considered that the benefit of discriminators is derived from the variability of symbiont quality, the benefit of a certain type of discriminators (e.g. one‐shot discrimination) is proportional to the frequency of free‐riders, which is in stark contrast to the case of resampling discrimination. As a result, one‐shot discriminators can invade the free‐rider/nondiscriminator population, even if standing variation for symbiont quality is absent. Second, our one‐shot discriminators can also be maintained without exogenous supply of free‐riders and hence is free from the paradox of discrimination. Therefore, our result indicates that the paradox is not a common feature of evolution of discrimination but is a problem of specific types of discrimination.
Effect of thermal pretreatments and cooking characteristics on physicochemical, rheological, and sensorial properties of food products based on cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz)
Authors: Vega Oscar , Carvajal Luz Marina , Rodríguez Faber , Marín María Clara , Ramírez Cristian , Simpson Ricardo , Valdenegro Mónika
Published: October 2017

The aim of this work was to develop, characterize and standardize four food products using cassava: cassava cake, dessert, ice cream, and a milk drink, evaluating the effect of cooking on quality. The methodology included the food handling and processing of the cassava products and the performance of textural, rheological, nutritional, and sensory studies of the final products. The sensory panel favorably rated all foods. All of the products developed received high acceptability scores from the sensory panel. The apparent viscosity of the beverage increased over time, whereas the firmness of the ice cream bar and the firmness of the cassava cake did not significantly change during the observation period. The sensory analysis identified typical descriptors for each food. We concluded that cassava is a functional raw material, which combined with other additives, conserves their properties, and is ideal for preparing bakery products, flavored beverages, and ice cream.

Practical applications

In this study, four different food processing alternatives by cassava were performed by the community support of rural women from the village of Lebanon Township Andes, west of the Department of Antioquia in Colombia. Process lines were established for foods made from cassava, for its standardization and incorporation of processing of tubers in diet of the indigenous population of Colombia. Subsequent to this stage, the food obtained was evaluated physicochemical, nutritional, and sensory. It is important that research projects support the rural entrepreneurial units to strengthen the food security in the region as well as to improve the quality of life through the commercialization of new products. This research may contribute with strategy for the development and utilization of cassava and cassava products that can provide incentives for farmers, crop vendors and food processors to increase their incomes, and it can also provide food security for households producing and consuming this foods.
Association Between Race, Neighborhood, and Medicaid Enrollment and Outcomes in Medicare Home Health Care
Authors: Joynt Maddox Karen E. , Chen Lena M. , Zuckerman Rachael , Epstein Arnold M.
Published: October 2017

Background/Objectives

More than 3 million Medicare beneficiaries use home health care annually, yet little is known about how vulnerable beneficiaries fare in the home health setting. This is particularly important given the recent launch of Medicare's Home Health Value‐Based Purchasing model. The objective of this study was to determine odds of adverse clinical outcomes associated with dual enrollment in Medicaid and Medicare as a marker of individual poverty, residence in a low‐income ZIP code tabulation area (ZCTA), and black race.

Design

Retrospective observational study using individuals‐level logistic regression.

Setting

Home health care.

Participants

Fee‐for‐service Medicare beneficiaries from 2012 to 2014.

Measurements

Thirty‐ and 60‐day clinical outcomes, including readmissions, admissions, and emergency department (ED) use.

Results

Home health agencies serving a high proportion of dually enrolled, low‐income ZCTA, or black beneficiaries were less often high‐quality. Dually‐enrolled, low‐income ZCTA, and Black beneficiaries receiving home health care after hospitalization had higher risk‐adjusted odds of 30‐day readmission (odds ratio [OR] = 1.08, P < 0.001; OR = 1.03, P < 0.001; and OR = 1.02, P = 0.002 respectively) and 30‐day ED use (OR = 1.20, 1.07, and 1.15, P < 0.001 for each). Those receiving home health care without preceding hospitalization had higher 60‐day admission (OR = 1.06, P < 0.001; OR = 1.01, P = 0.002; and OR = 1.05, P < 0.001), and 60‐day ED use (OR = 1.16, 1.03, and 1.19, P < 0.001 for each). Differences were primarily within agencies rather than between the agencies where these beneficiaries sought care.

Conclusion

Medicare beneficiaries receiving home health services who are dually enrolled, live in a low‐income neighborhood, or are black have higher rates of adverse clinical outcomes. These populations may be an important target for quality improvement under Home Health Value‐Based Purchasing.
Migration and agrarian transformation in Indigenous Mexico
Authors: Robson James , Klooster Daniel , Worthen Holly , Hernández‐Díaz Jorge
Published: October 2017

Migration is of particular concern to Indigenous peoples and communities. It physically separates those who migrate from the land upon which collective processes of labour and ritual practice are often based, it affects congruence between individual and collective rationality (as migrants make the choice to maintain or relinquish community membership), and it robs communities of the adult residents who can be essential for projects of collective action. Using the concept of comunalidad, created by Indigenous intellectuals in Oaxaca, Mexico to analyse the importance of alternative practices surrounding land, labour, governance, and ritual found in the region, we show that while Indigenous villages are profoundly affected by different forms of migration, migration itself is not necessarily a “death knell” for Indigenous peasants. We argue that communities struggle—often successfully—to find ways to evolve and reconfigure themselves economically and politically, incorporating migration into the fabric of their daily lives and organizational structures. To make this argument, we draw on ethnographic research conducted with Indigenous Oaxacan transnational communities, both in the United States and Mexico.
Temporal brow lift vs internal browpexy in females undergoing upper blepharoplasty: Effects on lateral brow lifting
Authors: Zandi Alireza , Ranjbar‐Omidi Behzad , Pourazizi Mohsen
Published: October 2017

Background

Lateral brow‐lifting surgical procedures in conjunction with upper blepharoplasty may prevent secondary descent following upper blepharoplasty.

Objective

To compare the results of internal browpexy (IBP) and temporal brow lift (TBL) in patients with dermatochalasis undergoing simultaneous upper blepharoplasty.

Methods

This study was a single‐center, parallel‐group randomized controlled trial conducted on 32 female patients suitable for upper blepharoplasty. Patients were divided into two groups: the IBP group and the TBL group. The brow lift was measured using change in the distance between the ala nasi and lateral tail of the eyebrow as nasal ala to lateral brow (NALB) in millimeter (mm), and the vertical line between the lateral tail of eyebrow and horizontal line extending the lateral cantus as lateral brow plump line (LBPL) in mm before and after the surgery. The follow‐up time was 6 months.

Results

The mean ± SD age of patients was 55.93 ± 7.1 years and 53.94 ± 7.7 years in the TBL and IBP groups, respectively (P > .05). No significant change in mean LBPL at 6 months compared to baseline was observed in the TBL group (baseline: 15.7 ± 1.6 mm vs 6 month: 15.8 ± 1.3 mm; P = .602). In the IBP group, a significant increase in mean LBPL at 6 months compared to baseline was observed (baseline: 15.09 ± 2.13 mm vs 6 months: 17. 43 ± 2.68 mm; P < .001).

Conclusions

Internal browpexy combined with blepharoplasty could be considered the better procedure in patients with upper eyelid dermatochalasis in terms of long‐lasting stability and lateral brow elevation.
Spontaneous intraperitoneal hemorrhage in the third trimester of pregnancy: Clinical suspicion made the difference
Authors: Hamadeh Sameer , Addas Bishr , Hamadeh Nasreen , Rahman Jessica
Published: October 2017

A case of spontaneous hemoperitoneum resulting from ruptured vessels in the uterine–ovarian plexus, in the third trimester of pregnancy is described. This is a rare and challenging obstetric emergency. Acute abdominal pain is the main presenting symptom. Clinical suspicion and rapid intervention consisting of emergency cesarean section with ligation of bleeding vessels resulted in favorable outcomes for both mother and baby. The importance of prompt action in the case of deteriorating vital signs is emphasized to achieve success in their management.
Occurrence of graft‐versus‐host disease increases mortality after umbilical cord blood transplantation for acute myeloid leukaemia: a report from Eurocord and the ALWP of the EBMT
Authors: Baron F. , Ruggeri A. , Beohou E. , Labopin M. , Mohty M. , Sanz J. , Vigouroux S. , Furst S. , Bosi A. , Chevallier P. , Cornelissen J. J. , Michallet M. , Sierra J. , Karakasis D. , Savani B. N. , Gluckman E. , Nagler A.
Published: October 2017

Background

The efficacy of umbilical cord blood transplantation (UCBT) as treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) relies on immune‐mediated graft‐versus‐leukaemia effects. Previous studies have suggested a strong association between graft‐versus‐host disease (GVHD) occurrence and graft‐versus‐leukaemia effects after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Methods

Here, we evaluated the kinetics of relapse rate in correlation with GVHD occurrence after UCBT. The kinetics of relapse rate over time in correlation to GVHD occurrence were assessed by calculating the relapse rate per patient‐year within sequential 90‐day intervals. The impact of GVHD on relapse and mortality was further studied in multivariate Cox models handling GVHD as a time‐dependent covariate.

Results

The study included data from 1068 patients given single (n = 567) or double (n = 501) UCBT. The proportion of patients with grade II, III and IV acute GVHD was 20%, 7% and 4%, respectively. At 2 years, the cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD was 42%, the cumulative incidence of relapse was 32%, and overall survival was 32% as well. Relapse rates declined gradually over time during the first 30 months after transplantation. There was a possible suggestion that grade II–IV acute (HR = 0.8, P = 0.1) and chronic (HR = 0.65, P = 0.1) GVHD decreased relapse risk. However, grade II–IV acute GVHD significantly increased early (the first 18 months after UCBT) mortality (HR = 1.3, P = 0.02), whilst chronic GVHD increased each early (HR = 2.7, P < 0.001) and late (HR = 4.9, P < 0.001) mortality after UCBT.

Conclusions

The occurrence of grade II–IV acute or chronic GVHD each increases overall mortality after UCBT for AML mitigating the possible graft‐versus‐leukemia effect of GVHD.
Knowledge Worker Mobility in Context: Pushing the Boundaries of Theory and Methods
Authors: Wright Mike , Tartari Valentina , Huang Kenneth G. , Di Lorenzo Francesco , Bercovitz Janet
Published: October 2017

Scholars are paying more attention to knowledge workers (KW) as they gain importance in the knowledge‐based economy. Knowledge worker mobility (KWM) can involve various forms of employee and entrepreneurial movements: the transfer of employees from one organization to another either through locational movement or through a change in ownership, the transfer of employees within the same organization but in different units and/or geographies, and the spinning off by employees into new ventures. KWM spans a variety of different contexts which have rarely been explored in prior research. We focus on advancing our understanding of KWM in context, pushing the boundaries of theory and methods by developing a framework focusing on five main contextual dimensions: organizational context and roles, geographical and spatial context, social context and teams, institutional and cultural norms, and temporal dynamics. We summarize the papers presented in the special issue and also identify an agenda for further research.
Effect of crumb cellular structure characterized by image analysis on cake softness
Authors: Dewaest Marine , Villemejane Cindy , Berland Sophie , Neron Stéphane , Clement Jérôme , Verel Aliette , Michon Camille
Published: October 2017

Sponge cake is a cereal product characterized by an aerated crumb and appreciated for its softness. When formulating such product, it is interesting to be able to characterize the crumb structure using image analysis and to bring knowledge about the effects of the crumb cellular structure on its mechanical properties which contribute to softness. An image analysis method based on mathematical morphology was adapted from the one developed for bread crumb. In order to evaluate its ability to discriminate cellular structures, series of cakes were prepared using two rather similar emulsifiers but also using flours with different aging times before use. The mechanical properties of the crumbs of these different cakes were also characterized. It allowed a cell structure classification taking into account cell size and homogeneity, but also cell wall thickness and the number of holes in the walls. Interestingly, the cellular structure differences had a larger impact on the aerated crumb Young modulus than the wall firmness. Increasing the aging time of flour before use leads to the production of firmer crumbs due to coarser and inhomogeneous cellular structures. Changing the composition of the emulsifier may change the cellular structure and, depending on the type of the structural changes, have an impact on the firmness of the crumb.

Practical applications

Cellular structure rather than cell wall firmness was found to impact cake crumb firmness. The new fast and automated tool for cake crumb structure analysis allows detecting quickly any change in cell size or homogeneity but also cell wall thickness and number of holes in the walls (openness degree). To obtain a softer crumb, it seems that options are to decrease the cell size and the cell wall thickness and/or to increase the openness degree. It is then possible to easily evaluate the effects of ingredients (flour composition, emulsifier …) or change in the process on the crumb structure and thus its softness. Moreover, this image analysis is a very efficient tool for quality control.
Kv7 potassium channels as signal transduction intermediates in the control of microvascular tone
Authors: Byron Kenneth L. , Brueggemann Lyubov I.
Published: October 2017

Potassium channels are recognized as important regulators of cellular functions in most, if not all cell types. These cellular proteins assemble to form gated pores in the plasma membrane, which serve to regulate the flow of potassium ions (K+) from the cytosol to the extracellular space. In VSMCs, the open state of potassium channels enables the efflux of K+ and thereby establishes a negative resting voltage across the plasma membrane that inhibits the opening of VSCCs. Under these conditions, cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations are relatively low and Ca2+‐dependent contraction is inhibited. Recent research has identified Kv7 family potassium channels as important contributors to resting membrane voltage in VSMCs, with much of the research focusing on the effects of drugs that specifically activate or block these channels to produce corresponding effects on VSMC contraction and vascular tone. Increasingly, evidence is emerging that these channels are not just good drug targets—they are also essential intermediates in vascular signal transduction, mediating vasoconstrictor or vasodilator responses to a variety of physiological stimuli. This review will summarize recent research findings that support a crucial function of Kv7 channels in both positive (vasoconstrictive) and negative (vasorelaxant) regulation of microvascular tone.
Don’t let sleeping dogmas lie: new views of peptidoglycan synthesis and its regulation
Authors: Zhao Heng , Patel Vaidehi , Helmann John D. , Dörr Tobias
Published: October 2017

Bacterial cell wall synthesis is the target for some of our most powerful antibiotics and has thus been the subject of intense research focus for more than 50 years. Surprisingly, we still lack a fundamental understanding of how bacteria build, maintain and expand their cell wall. Due to technical limitations, directly testing hypotheses about the coordination and biochemistry of cell wall synthesis enzymes or architecture has been challenging, and interpretation of data has therefore often relied on circumstantial evidence and implicit assumptions. A number of recent papers have exploited new technologies, like single molecule tracking and real‐time, high resolution temporal mapping of cell wall synthesis processes, to address fundamental questions of bacterial cell wall biogenesis. The results have challenged established dogmas and it is therefore timely to integrate new data and old observations into a new model of cell wall biogenesis in rod‐shaped bacteria.
A mutation in an exoglucanase of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae, which confers an endo mode of activity, affects bacterial virulence, but not the induction of immune responses, in rice
Authors: Tayi Lavanya , Kumar Sushil , Nathawat Rajkanwar , Haque Asfarul S. , Maku Roshan V. , Patel Hitendra Kumar , Sankaranarayanan Rajan , Sonti Ramesh V.
Published: October 2017

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo) causes bacterial blight, a serious disease of rice. Xoo secretes a repertoire of cell wall‐degrading enzymes, including cellulases, xylanases and pectinases, to degrade various polysaccharide components of the rice cell wall. A secreted Xoo cellulase, CbsA, is not only a key virulence factor of Xoo, but is also a potent inducer of innate immune responses of rice. In this study, we solved the crystal structure of the catalytic domain of the CbsA protein to a resolution of 1.86 Å. The core structure of CbsA shows a central distorted TIM barrel made up of eight β strands with N‐ and C‐terminal loops enclosing the active site, which is a characteristic structural feature of an exoglucanase. The aspartic acid at the 131st position of CbsA was predicted to be important for catalysis and was therefore mutated to alanine to study its role in the catalysis and biological functions of CbsA. Intriguingly, the D131A CbsA mutant protein displayed the enzymatic activity of a typical endoglucanase. D131A CbsA was as proficient as wild‐type (Wt) CbsA in inducing rice immune responses, but was deficient in virulence‐promoting activity. This indicates that the specific exoglucanase activity of the Wt CbsA protein is required for this protein to promote the growth of Xoo in rice.