bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct N2O emission factors for synthetic N‐fertilizer and organic residues applied on sugarcane for bioethanol production in Central‐Southern Brazil
Authors: Siqueira Neto Marcos , Galdos Marcelo V. , Feigl Brigitte J. , Cerri Carlos E. P. , Cerri Carlos C.
Published: February 2015

The production and use of biofuels have increased rapidly in recent decades. Bioethanol derived from sugarcane has become a promising alternative to fossil fuel for use in automotive vehicles. The ‘savings’ calculated from the carbon footprint of this energy source still generates many questions related to nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from sugarcane cultivation. We quantified N2O emissions from soil covered with different amounts of sugarcane straw and determined the direct N2O emission factors of nitrogen fertilizers (applied at the planting furrows and in the topdressing) and the by‐products of sugarcane processing (filter cake and vinasse) applied to sugarcane fields. The results showed that the presence of different amounts of sugarcane straw did not change N2O emissions relative to bare soil (control). N‐fertilizer increased N2O emissions from the soil, especially when urea was used, both at the planting furrow (plant cane) and during the regrowth process (ratoon cane) in relation to ammonium nitrate. The emission factor for N‐fertilizer was 0.46 ± 0.33%. The field application of filter cake and vinasse favored N2O emissions from the soil, the emission factor for vinasse was 0.65 ± 0.29%, while filter cake had a lower emission factor of 0.13 ± 0.04%. The experimentally obtained N2O emission factors associated with sugarcane cultivation, specific to the major sugarcane production region of the Brazil, were lower than those considered by the IPCC. Thus, the results of this study should contribute to bioethanol carbon footprint calculations.
Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects on gingival fibroblasts from static magnetic fields produced by dental magnetic attachments
Authors: Yagci Filiz , Kesim Bulent
Published: February 2015

Objective

To investigate cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of static magnetic field (SMF) produced by dental magnetic attachments on human gingival fibroblasts in vitro.

Background

Magnetic attachments have numerous roles in dental prosthesis fixation, but few reports evaluate possible biological effects of static magnetic field (SMF) on human gingival tissues, particular genotoxic effects.

Materials and methods

The Dyna (500‐gr breakaway force) and Steco (173‐gr breakaway force) dental magnetic attachments were embedded into autopolymerising acrylic resin in four different configurations each, including single and double magnets. Gingival biopsy was performed on 28 individuals during third molar extraction, and each sample was divided into two pieces for culture under SMF exposure or as a control. In total, seven test and seven control gingival fibroblast cultures were performed for each group resulting in 56 gingival fibroblast cultures. The test culture flasks were placed atop the magnet‐embedded resin blocks. After cultures were terminated, mitotic index (MI) and micronucleus (MN) rates were analysed at a p = 0.05 significance level by Wilcoxon's test; intergroup differences were analysed with a Kruskal–Wallis test.

Results

There was no significant difference in intragroup or intergroup MI rates. The double Dyna (p = 0.023) and double Steco (p = 0.016) groups had statistically significant intragroup differences in the MN rates. There were no statistically significant differences in MN rates in intergroup analyses.

Conclusion

In particular, higher magnetic fields from dental magnetic attachments might be toxic genetically to human gingival fibroblasts. However, there is need for further investigations from different aspects to detect any genotoxicity.
Organizing Love — Thoughts on the Transformative and Activist Potential of Feminine Writing
Authors: Vachhani Sheena J.
Published: February 2015

This paper engages with what it means to write love and poses the question: what does love do for feminine writing? I move beyond the concept of love as an ideology or condition of work (such as ‘for the love of the job’) and draw on a feminine poetics of organization that highlights its disruptive potential. Love, in this sense, breaks the rationality and order of the ‘masterful’ text and alters gendered academic writing. The power of writing with love and effecting change in organizations is developed through a discussion of three feminist writers. The paper explores three significant texts, Kristeva's Tales of Love; Irigaray's The Way of Love; and hooks’ All About Love, in order to examine the problematic representation of love and to advocate a turn to an ethics of love as a basis for self‐other relations that points us to defiant, activist and transformative forms of feminine writing. These writers bring to bear practical politics and possibilities through political interruption — namely through three modes: reconstruction, reclamation and activation, and I discuss the implications of these modes for work and organization, notably that writing and thinking the wisdom of love offers insight into how we creatively imagine socially just organizations of the future. © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Using Sealed Wells to Measure Water Levels Beneath Streams and Floodplains
Authors: Noorduijn Saskia L. , Cook Peter G. , Wood Cameron , White Nick
Published: February 2015

The design of wells beneath streams and floodplains has often employed with tall standpipes to prevent incursion of surface water into the well during flood events. Here, an approach has been presented to minimise the infrastructure demands in these environments by sealing the well top (e.g., prevent water entering the well) and monitor the total pressure in the water column using an absolute (non‐vented) pressure transducer. The sealed well design was tested using a laboratory experiment where the total pressure responses were monitored in both an unsealed and sealed well, while the water level was varied. It is observed that, whether the well is sealed or not, the total pressure at a given depth in the aquifer will be equal to that within the well. This indicates that the sealed well design is a viable alternative to tall standpipes and also facilitates installation of wells beneath streams and floodplains.
The LAAF Procedure for Exploring Offenders' Narratives
Authors: CANTER DAVID , YOUNGS DONNA
Published: February 2015

The Life As A Film (LAAF) procedure is described. This was developed for use with offenders, building on McAdams's (1993) explorations of autobiographical accounts from effective individuals. The advantages of the LAAF procedure for a prison population are discussed, together with the content dictionary used for analysing LAAF responses. The LAAF reveals implicit and explicit aspects of self‐concepts and relationships to others, as well as perceived agency and future orientation within a dynamic storyline. Quotations are given to illustrate those psychological processes that underlie criminality, complementing Presser's (2009) work on offender reform and Maruna's (2001) study of narratives of desistance. The values of the LAAF procedure for understanding the maintenance of offending behaviour and the consequent implications for interventions with offenders are discussed.
Phylogeographic evidence for a Florida panhandle–peninsula discontinuity in the distribution of Melitara prodenialis Walker (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), a native cactus‐boring moth
Authors: Marsico Travis D. , Sauby Kristen E. , Brooks Christopher P. , Welch Mark E. , Ervin Gary N.
Published: February 2015

Insects are highly underrepresented in the phylogeographic literature of the coastal plain region of the southeastern U.S., but they may contribute much to understanding the phylogeographic history of the area.

The present study uses Melitara prodenialis Walker, a cactus‐boring moth, to test two alternative hypotheses: Pleistocene changes in environment and coastline associated with population geographic change resulted in (i) a homogeneous Florida, USA, population of M. prodenialis or (ii) isolated subpopulations that gave rise to genetic divergence between regions.

Melitara prodenialis larvae were collected from 23 sites (n = 42 larvae sampled). For each larva, a 791 bp sequence of the COI mitochondrial gene was sequenced. Bayesian and parsimony approaches were used to investigate relationships among haplotypes. Phylogeographic and demographic analyses were conducted to identify geographic patterns in haplotype diversity distribution and infer population dynamics over time. Bioclim climate variables from the last interglacial period and the present were used to assess the potential contribution of environmental conditions to phylogeographic patterns observed.

Melitara prodenialis populations in the Florida panhandle and peninsula are distinct, and the geographic segregation between these regions is correlated with current and historic climate patterns.

Results suggest that populations of M. prodenialis in the Florida peninsula have more recently expanded than those in the panhandle. These findings are consistent with M. prodenialis populations changing in size and distribution following land area and climatic shifts associated with North American cycles of glaciation, with panhandle and peninsula populations remaining segregated over the relevant timeframes.
Determination of sunset yellow (E110) in foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals after separation and preconcentration via solid‐phase extraction method
Authors: Bişgin Abdullah Taner , Narin İbrahim , Uçan Mustafa
Published: February 2015

The two novel preconcentration and separation methods based on adsorption onto Amberlite XAD‐1180 and Amberlite XAD‐16 polymeric resins for spectrophotometric determination of sunset yellow dye were developed. The parameters, affecting the quantitative recovery, including pH, sample and eluent flow rates, eluent type, sample volume, were investigated and optimised. The interference effects of some cations, anions and widely used dye were also studied. At the optimum conditions, detection limits of the methods were found as 2.0 and 1.6 μg L−1 for Amberlite XAD‐1180 and Amberlite XAD‐16 resins, respectively. Linear dynamic ranges of the methods were obtained in the range of 0.2–50.0 and 0.2–20.0 μg mL−1 for Amberlite XAD‐1180 and Amberlite XAD‐16 resins, respectively. The relative standard deviations were below than 7% and 5% for Amberlite XAD‐1180 and Amberlite XAD‐16 resins, respectively. The determination of dye was performed at 483.0 nm using spectrophotometry. Validations of the methods were performed comparatively with determination of the sunset yellow content of some foodstuffs and pharmaceuticals.
A multivariate approach to optimise the synergistic blend of oleoresin rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) and ascorbyl palmitate added into sunflower oil
Authors: Upadhyay Rohit , Mishra Hari Niwas
Published: February 2015

The simultaneous optimisation of a synergistic blend of oleoresin rosemary (ROS) and ascorbyl palmitate (AP) in sunflower oil (SO) was performed using central composite and rotatable design coupled with principal component analysis (PCA) and response surface methodology (RSM). The physicochemical parameters, viz. peroxide value, anisidine value, induction period, total polar matter, UV absorbances (232 and 270 nm) and antioxidant capacity were considered as response variables. PCA reduced the original set of correlated responses to few uncorrelated principal components (PC). The PC1 (eigenvalue, 6.08; data variance explained, 86.97%) was selected for optimisation using RSM. The quadratic model described the data (R2 = 0. 93, P < 0.05), and lack of fit was insignificant (P > 0.05). The contour plot of PC 1 score indicated the optimal synergistic combination of 1309.62 and 129.29 ppm for ROS and AP, respectively. In conclusion, the versatility of PCA–RSM approach has resulted in an easy interpretation in multiple response optimisations.
‘You'll never walk alone’: Supportive social relations in a football and mental health project
Authors: McKeown Mick , Roy Alastair , Spandler Helen
Published: February 2015

Football can bring people together in acts of solidarity and togetherness. This spirit is most evocatively illustrated in the world renowned football anthem ‘You'll Never Walk Alone’ (YNWA). In this paper, we argue that this spirit can be effectively harnessed in nursing and mental health care. We draw on data from qualitative interviews undertaken as part of evaluating a football and mental health project to explore the nature of supportive social relations therein. We use some of the lyrics fromYNWAas a metaphor to frame our thematic analysis. We are especially interested in the interactions between the group facilitators and group members, but also address aspects of peer support within the groups. A contrast is drawn between the flexible interpersonal boundaries and self‐disclosure evident in the football initiative, and the reported, more‐distant relations with practitioners in mainstream mental health services. The findings suggest scope for utilizing more collective, solidarity‐enhancing initiatives and attention to alliances and boundaries to maximize engagement and therapeutic benefits within routine practice.
The Effectiveness of Capital Regulation on Bank Behavior in China
Authors: Fu Yishu , Lee Shih‐Cheng , Xu Lei , Zurbruegg Ralf
Published: February 2015

This paper examines the impact that ownership and governance structures have on how Chinese banks react to regulatory pressure. We find that the current regulatory regime induces banks to increase their capital, but its effectiveness in doing so varies based on whether the bank is listed or not, and also who is the majority shareholder. We also find that the degree of central government ownership and the political ties the chief executive officer of the bank has play an important role in the risk‐taking behavior of banks. Overall, our results have a number of policy implications supporting the need to further reduce state ownership of banks in China to mitigate the prevailing moral hazard and dual‐agency problems that arise from the government being both the regulator and the majority shareholder.
Root Phenotyping For Drought Tolerance in Bean Landraces From Calabria (Italy)
Authors: Abenavoli M. R. , Leone M. , Sunseri F. , Bacchi M. , Sorgonà A.
Published: February 2015

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is cultivated throughout Latin America and Africa, and for the European community, in Italy and Spain, areas are mainly subjected to drought stress which is predict to worsen by regional climatic models. The aims of this work were to identify the drought‐tolerant and drought‐sensitive bean landraces using drought tolerance and phenotypic plasticity indexes and to dissect the root morphological and 2D‐architecture traits related to drought tolerance. Thirty‐one landraces from diverse gene pools and areas of the Calabria region (South Italy), with different habits and morphological traits, were screened for drought tolerance in a hydroponic system. Root phenotyping was conducted by image analysis. Drought tolerance screening identified two landraces as drought tolerant and sensitive, respectively. Under drought stress, the drought‐tolerant landrace exhibited several interesting root traits such as a higher root length, surface area and, above all, the fineness of the whole root systems and, with emphasis, of the higher order roots. Drought stress induced plastic root responses in both bean landraces but with contrasting patterns. The drought‐tolerant landrace exhibited a dimorphic‐rooted strategy, which could be included in future utility for bean breeding programmes in drought‐prone environments.
Protocol for a study of the psychosocial determinants of health in early childhood among children with cystic fibrosis
Authors: Douglas Tonia , Jordan Brigid , Priddis Lynn , Anderson Vicki , Sheehan Jane , Kane Robert T. , Massie John , Branch‐Smith Cindy , Shields Linda ,   AREST‐CF
Published: February 2015

Aims

To investigate the causal associations between family relationships, family functioning, social circumstances and health outcomes in young children with cystic fibrosis.

Background

The anticipated health gains for patients with cystic fibrosis, promised by early diagnosis through newborn screening, have yet to be fully realized, despite advances in cystic fibrosis health care with aggressive management in multidisciplinary clinics and the development of specific medications. Adverse psychosocial functioning may underpin the current lack of progress as it is well recognized that compromised early parent–child attachment relationship experiences and adverse social circumstances have negative impacts on lifelong health status and health resource use, even in healthy children.

Design

A cross‐sectional (initial) and longitudinal (progressive), multicentre study of children aged 3 months–6 years with cystic fibrosis, who have been diagnosed by newborn screening.

Methods

Questionnaire and observational measures of parent psychosocial functioning, parenting and parent–child attachment and social markers; and including clinical outcomes of regular health surveillance with clinical, lung imaging (computerized tomography) and bronchoalveolar lavage for airway microbiology and inflammation.

Conclusion

This will be the first study to investigate the causal effect of psychosocial functioning, parenting and attachment on physical health outcome measures in children with cystic fibrosis.
Pelvic floor health: a concept analysis
Authors: Pierce Heather , Perry Lin , Gallagher Robyn , Chiarelli Pauline
Published: February 2015

Aim

To report an analysis of the concept ‘pelvic floor health’.

Background

‘Pelvic floor health’ is a term used by multiple healthcare disciplines, yet as a concept is not well defined.

Design

Rodger's evolutionary view was used to guide this analysis.

Data sources

Academic literature databases and public domain websites viewed via the Internet search engine Google.

Review methods

Literature in English, published 1946–July 2014 was reviewed. Websites were accessed in May 2014, then analysed of presentation for relevance and content until data saturation. Thematic analysis identified attributes, antecedents and consequences of the concept.

Results

Based on the defining attributes identified in the analysis, a contemporary definition is offered. ‘Pelvic floor health’ is the physical and functional integrity of the pelvic floor unit through the life stages of an individual (male or female), permitting an optimal quality of life through its multifunctional role, where the individual possesses or has access to knowledge, which empowers the ability to prevent or manage dysfunction.

Conclusion

This analysis provides a definition of ‘pelvic floor health’ that is based on a current shared meaning and distinguishes the term from medical and lay terms in a complex, multifaceted and often under‐reported area of healthcare knowledge. This definition provides a basis for theory development in future research, by focusing on health rather than disorders or dysfunction. Further development of the meaning is required in an individual's social context, to ensure a contemporaneous understanding in a dynamic system of healthcare provision.
Ecological and environmental factors related to variation in egg size of New World flycatchers
Authors: Heming Neander M. , Marini Miguel Â.
Published: February 2015

Geographical variation in egg size is well documented for several taxa, but remains insufficiently described for birds in spite of a well‐known latitudinal gradient in clutch size. Several hypotheses have been proposed to explain avian egg size variation; however, they were not tested on a continental scale. Egg size is a key component of reproductive investment that influences offspring fitness. It is thought to vary geographically as one of a set of correlated life‐history traits that are under selection from varying ecological conditions. We completed a comprehensive literature review and calculated egg sizes for the most widespread clade within tyrant flycatchers, describing for the first time the geographical variation in egg size on a continental scale. We examined the relative support for ecological and environmental variables in explaining egg size variation using multi‐model inference and linear mixed models controlled for phylogenetic autocorrelation among species. We tested five hypotheses and found that: larger eggs occur in colder sites, which is consistent with the embryonic temperature hypothesis; medium/long‐distance migrants had smaller eggs than resident species while short‐distance migrants had the largest eggs; neither species clutch size, nor species nest type, nor evapotranspiration seasonality influenced egg size. Avian egg size is larger in Austral and Neotropical America (ANA), where species are resident or short‐distance migrants, and smaller across the medium/long‐distance migrants of the Nearctic region. In addition, while clutch size increases towards higher northern latitudes and is almost invariable across ANA species, egg sizes vary largely across ANA sites, increasing with southern latitudes and higher elevations and being influenced by summer temperature. While the embryonic temperature hypothesis has been usually linked to parental nest attentiveness, we highlight that environmental temperatures also have strong effects in shaping investment in egg size.
Association between low‐dose aspirin and periodontal disease: results from the continuous national health and nutrition examination survey (NHANES) 2011–2012
Authors: Kotsakis Georgios A. , Thai Ashley , Ioannou Andreas L. , Demmer Ryan T. , Michalowicz Bryan S.
Published: February 2015

Aim

Low‐dose aspirin has been hypothesized as being a potential host modulatory agent for periodontitis treatment. We investigated the relationship between low‐dose aspirin use and periodontitis prevalence in the continuous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2011–2012.

Methods

We analysed n = 2335 adult men and women who received a full‐mouth periodontal examination and responded to an aspirin use questionnaire. Periodontal disease was defined as severe, moderate or mild according to established case definitions. Mean full‐mouth probing depth, attachment loss and tooth loss were also considered. Low‐dose aspirin was defined by any self‐reported, physician prescribed aspirin use of ≤162 mg/day.

Results

Participants had mean age (SE) 55.8 years (0.42). The prevalences of periodontitis and low‐dose aspirin use were 49.5% and 25% respectively. In multivariable logistic regression models controlling for age, sex, race, socioeconomic variables and comorbidities, the odds ratios [95%CI] for moderate or severe periodontitis among low‐dose aspirin users (versus non‐users) were: 0.91 [0.56–1.50] and 1.06 [0.74–1.50] respectively. Results were unchanged among participants without diabetes or coronary heart disease.

Conclusions

Within the limitations of this cross‐sectional study we conclude that low‐dose aspirin is not associated with prevalent periodontal status in a nationally representative sample of US adults.
Comparison of sitagliptin with nateglinide on postprandial glucose and related hormones in drug‐naïve Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A pilot study
Authors: Tanimoto Masumi , Kanazawa Akio , Hirose Takahisa , Yoshihara Tomoaki , Kobayashi‐Kimura Saeko , Nakanishi Risa , Tosaka Yuka , Sasaki‐Omote Ruri , Kudo‐Fujimaki Kyoko , Komiya Koji , Ikeda Fuki , Someya Yuki , Mita Tomoya , Fujitani Yoshio , Watada Hirotaka
Published: February 2015

Aims/Introduction

Dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors and glinides are effective in reducing postprandial hyperglycemia. However, little information is available on the comparative effects of the two drugs on the levels of postprandial glucose. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of sitagliptin and nateglinide on meal tolerance tests in drug‐naïve patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials and Methods

The study participants were 19 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, which was inadequately controlled by diet and exercise. An open‐label, prospective, cross‐over trial was carried out to compare the effects of single‐dose sitagliptin and nateglinide on the postprandial glucose level and its related hormones during meal tests.

Results

The change in area under the curve (AUC) of glucose from 0 to 180 min (AUC0–180 min) during the meal test by nateglinide was similar to that by sitagliptin. As expected, the change in active glucagon like peptide‐1 was significantly higher after a single‐dose of sitagliptin than nateglinide. Then, insulin secretion relative to glucose elevation (ISG) (ΔISG0–180 min: ΔAUC0–180 min insulin/AUC0–180 min glucose) was significantly enhanced by nateglinide compared with sitagliptin. Conversely, glucagon level (ΔAUC0–180 min glucagon) was increased by administration of nateglinide, whereas the glucagon level was reduced by administration of sitagliptin.

Conclusions

The effects of sitagliptin on postprandial glucose levels were similar to those of nateglinide in drug‐naïve type 2 diabetes patients. However, the induced changes in insulin, active glucagon‐like peptide‐1 and glucagon during meal loading suggest that reduction of postprandial hyperglycemia was achieved by the unique effect of each drug.
Factors affecting the implementation process of clinical pathways: a mixed method study within the context of Swedish intensive care
Authors: Bjurling‐Sjöberg Petronella , Wadensten Barbro , Pöder Ulrika , Nordgren Lena , Jansson Inger
Published: February 2015

Rationale, aims and objectives

Clinical pathways (CPs) can improve quality of care on intensive care units (ICUs), but are infrequently utilized and of varying quality. Knowledge regarding factors that facilitate versus hinder successful implementation of CPs is insufficient and a better understanding of the activities and individuals involved is needed. The aim of this study was to explore the implementation process of CPs within the context of ICUs.

Methods

An exploratory design with a sequential mixed method was used. A CP survey, including all Swedish ICUs, was used to collect quantitative data from ICUs using CPs (n = 15) and interviews with key informants (n = 10) were used to collect qualitative data from the same ICUs. Descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis were used, and the quantitative and qualitative findings were integrated.

Results

The CP implementation was conceptualized according to two interplaying themes: a process to realize the usefulness of CPs and create new habits; and a necessity of enthusiasm, support and time. Multiple factors affected the process and those factors were organized in six main categories and 14 subcategories.

Conclusions

Bottom‐up initiatives, interprofessional project groups and small ICUs seem to enhance successful implementation of CPs while inadequate electronic health record systems, insufficient support and time constrains can be barriers. Support regarding the whole implementation process from centralized units at the local hospitals, as well as cooperation between ICUs and national guidance, has the potential to raise the quality of CPs and benefit the progress of CP implementation.
Facile Synthesis of Zirconia‐Modified Magnetic Nanoparticles for Purification of Phosphopeptides
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Niu Fuge , Su Yujie , Yang Yanjun
Published: February 2015

Because of the low stoichiometry from enzymatic hydrolysis of casein, purification of casein phosphopeptides (CPPs) is necessary prior to application in infant formula or nutritional foods. In this study, functional zirconia‐modified magnetic nanoparticles (Fe3O4@ZrO2) were prepared and applied for purification of CPPs. The physical shape, crystalline structures and chemical groups were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared. Fe3O4@ZrO2 nanoparticles had nano‐dimension and good dispersion. The purification studies showed that the high selectivity of Fe3O4@ZrO2 was obtained at pH 4.5. Then the structures of reused Fe3O4@ZrO2 were characterized to study the stability of material. The purity of CPPs isolated by Fe3O4@ZrO2 was analyzed to study the affinity force of material. All results confirmed that Fe3O4@ZrO2 nanoparticles had good stability and high affinity force for CPPs after 15 repeated cycles, and the maximum loading amount of material was 105.53 mg/g with lower N/P (5.94) of CPPs.

Practical Applications

Casein phosphopeptides can enhance the absorption and utilization of calcium, but it needs to be purified before used as calcium nutritional supplements. Most of existing purification methods are two‐step methods, which have limitations in food application. Compared with traditional methods, the separation method using Fe3O4@ZrO2 nanoparticles can one‐step purify phosphopeptides from real samples, and shows good performance. The purification process using Fe3O4@ZrO2 nanoparticles has the simpler procedures, higher enrichment efficiency and shorter production cycle. It means that the purification process is easy to expand the scale of production for improving the yield and quality of phosphopeptides, which can satisfy the demand of market. The results demonstrate that Fe3O4@ZrO2, which has good stability and high affinity force for metal oxide affinity peptides, is one new type of extraction materials and possesses wide application prospects in food industry.
Indices of adiposity as predictors of cardiometabolic risk and inflammation in young adults
Authors: Pourshahidi L. K. , Wallace J. M. W. , Mulhern M. S. , Horigan G. , Strain J. J. , McSorley E. M. , Magee P. J. , Bonham M. P. , Livingstone M. B. E.
Published: February 2015

Background

Studies investigating obesity and cardiometabolic risk have focused on ‘at‐risk’ populations and methodological inconsistencies have produced equivocal findings. The present cross‐sectional study investigated indices of body composition as predictors of cardiometabolic risk and their relationship with inflammation in apparently healthy young adults.

Methods

A fasting blood sample was taken from consenting adults (160 males, 32 females, aged 18–40 years) for assessment of cardiometabolic risk markers (blood pressure, lipid profiles and insulin resistance) and inflammatory markers (C‐reactive protein, tumour necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐6, interleukin‐10 and adiponectin). Together with anthropometry, fat mass (FM) and fat‐free mass (FFM) were determined by dual‐energy X‐ray absorptiometry. FM was expressed in absolute terms (kg), as well as relative to total body weight (%), height [FM index (FMI, kg m−2)] and FFM (FM : FFM,%).

Results

Although anthropometric indices were associated with most cardiometabolic risk markers, the strongest relationship was observed with FMI. Relative to having a low cardiometabolic risk (≤2 markers above clinically relevant cut‐offs), each kg m−2 increase in FMI, increased the likelihood of having an increased cardiometabolic risk by 29% (odds ratio = 1.29; 95% confidence interval = 1.12–1.49). Inflammatory markers were not associated with body composition or cardiometabolic risk.

Conclusions

FMI was the strongest predictor of overall cardiometabolic risk but not inflammation per se. However, anthropometric indices, such as body mass index and waist‐to‐height ratio, remain valuable surrogate measures of adiposity in this group, particularly when risk markers are considered independently.
Kinetic diversity of dopamine transmission in the dorsal striatum
Authors: Taylor I. Mitch , Nesbitt Kathryn M. , Walters Seth H. , Varner Erika L. , Shu Zhan , Bartlow Kathleen M. , Jaquins‐Gerstl Andrea S. , Michael Adrian C.
Published: February 2015

Dopamine (DA), a highly significant neurotransmitter in the mammalian central nervous system, operates on multiple time scales to affect a diverse array of physiological functions. The significance of DA in human health is heightened by its role in a variety of pathologies. Voltammetric measurements of electrically evoked DA release have brought to light the existence of a patchwork of DA kinetic domains in the dorsal striatum (DS) of the rat. Thus, it becomes necessary to consider how these domains might be related to specific aspects of DA's functions. Responses evoked in the fast and slow domains are distinct in both amplitude and temporal profile. Herein, we report that responses evoked in fast domains can be further classified into four distinct types, types 1–4. The DS, therefore, exhibits a total of at least five distinct evoked responses (four fast types and one slow type). All five response types conform to kinetic models based entirely on first‐order rate expressions, which indicates that the heterogeneity among the response types arises from kinetic diversity within the DS terminal field. We report also that functionally distinct subregions of the DS express DA kinetic diversity in a selective manner. Thus, this study documents five response types, provides a thorough kinetic explanation for each of them, and confirms their differential association with functionally distinct subregions of this key DA terminal field.

image

The dorsal striatum is composed of five significantly different dopamine domains (types 1–4 and slow, average ± SEM responses to medial forebrain bundle (MFB) stimulation are shown in the figure). Responses from each of these five domains exhibit significantly different ascending and descending kinetic profiles and return to a long lasting elevated dopamine state, termed the dopamine hang‐up. All features of these responses are modeled with high correlation using first‐order modeling as well as our recently published restricted diffusion model of evoked dopamine overflow. We also report that functionally distinct subregions of the dorsal striatum express selective dopamine kinetic diversity.
Immunohistochemical analysis of pancreatic islets of platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) and echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus ssp.)
Authors: He Chuan , Myers Mark A. , Forbes Briony E. , Grützner Frank
Published: February 2015

Monotremes have undergone remarkable changes to their digestive and metabolic control system; however, the monotreme pancreas remains poorly characterized. Previous work in echidna demonstrated the presence of pancreatic islets, but no information is available for platypus and the fine structure has not been described for either monotreme. Based on our recent finding that monotremes lack the ghrelin gene, which is expressed in mouse and human pancreatic islets, we investigated the structure of monotreme islets in more detail. Generally, as in birds, the islets of monotremes were smaller but greater in number compared with mouse. β‐cells were the most abundant endocrine cell population in platypus islets and were located peripherally, while α‐cells were observed both in the interior and periphery of the islets. δ‐cells and pancreatic polypeptide (PP)‐cells were mainly found in the islet periphery. Distinct PP‐rich (PP‐lobe) and PP‐poor areas (non‐PP‐lobe) are present in therian mammals, and we identified these areas in echidna but not platypus pancreas. Interestingly, in some of the echidna islets, α‐ and β‐cells tended to form two poles within the islets, which to our knowledge is the first time this has been observed in any species. Overall, monotreme pancreata share the feature of consisting of distinct PP‐poor and PP‐rich islets with other mammals. A higher number of islets and α‐ or β‐cell only islets are shared between monotremes and birds. The islets of monotremes were larger than those of birds but smaller compared with therian mammals. This may indicate a trend of having fewer larger islets comprising several endocrine cell types during mammalian evolution.
Integration of active pharmaceutical ingredient solid form selection and particle engineering into drug product design
Authors: Ticehurst Martyn David , Marziano Ivan
Published: February 2015

This review seeks to offer a broad perspective that encompasses an understanding of the drug product attributes affected by active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) physical properties, their link to solid form selection and the role of particle engineering. While the crucial role of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) solid form selection is universally acknowledged in the pharmaceutical industry, the value of increasing effort to understanding the link between solid form, API physical properties and drug product formulation and manufacture is now also being recognised.

A truly holistic strategy for drug product development should focus on connecting solid form selection, particle engineering and formulation design to both exploit opportunities to access simpler manufacturing operations and prevent failures. Modelling and predictive tools that assist in establishing these links early in product development are discussed. In addition, the potential for differences between the ingoing API physical properties and those in the final product caused by drug product processing is considered. The focus of this review is on oral solid dosage forms and dry powder inhaler products for lung delivery.
The ghost plastid of Choreocolax polysiphoniae
Authors: Salomaki Eric D. , Nickles Katie R. , Lane Christopher E.
Published: February 2015

Parasitism has evolved innumerable times among eukaryotes. Red algal parasites alone have independently evolved over 100 times. The accepted evolutionary paradigm proposes that red algal parasites arise by first infecting a close relative and over time diversifying and infecting more distantly related species. This provides a natural evolutionary gradient of relationships between hosts and parasites that share a photosynthetic common ancestor. Upon infection, the parasite deposits its organelles into the host cell and takes over, spreading through cell‐cell connections. Microscopy and molecular studies have demonstrated that the parasites do not maintain their own plastid, but rather abscond with a dedifferentiated host plastid as they pack up spores for dispersal. We sequenced a ~90 kb plastid genome from the parasite Choreocolax polysiphoniae, which has lost genes for light harvesting and photosynthesis. Furthermore, the presence of a native C. polysiphoniae plastid indicates that not all red algal parasites follow the same evolutionary pathway to parasitism. Along with the 167 kb plastid genome of its host, Vertebrata lanosa, these plastids are the first to be sequenced from the Ceramiales.
A late Neolithic expansion of Y chromosomal haplogroup O2a1‐M95 from east to west
Authors: Arunkumar GaneshPrasad , Wei Lan‐Hai , Kavitha Valampuri John , Syama Adhikarla , Arun Varatharajan Santhakumari , Sathua Surendra , Sahoo Raghunath , Balakrishnan R. , Riba Tomo , Chakravarthy Jharna , Chaudhury Bapukan , Panda Premanada , K. Das Pradipta , Nayak Prasanna K. , Li Hui , Pitchappan Ramasamy ,   The Genographic Consortium
Published: February 2015

The origin and dispersal of Y‐Chromosomal haplogroup O2a1‐M95, distributed across the Austro Asiatic speaking belt of East and South Asia, are yet to be fully understood. Various studies have suggested either an East Indian or Southeast Asian origin of O2a1‐M95. We addressed the issue of antiquity and dispersal of O2a1‐M95 by sampling 8748 men from India, Laos, and China and compared them to 3307 samples from other intervening regions taken from the literature. Analyses of haplogroup frequency and Y‐STR data on a total 2413 O2a1‐M95 chromosomes revealed that the Laos samples possessed the highest frequencies of O2a1‐M95 (74% with >0.5) and its ancestral haplogroups (O2*‐P31, O*‐M175) as well as a higher proportion of samples with 14STR‐median haplotype (17 samples in 14 populations), deep coalescence time (5.7 ± 0.3 Kya) and consorted O2a1‐M95 expansion evidenced from STR evolution. All these suggested Laos to carry a deep antiquity of O2a1‐M95 among the study regions. A serial decrease in expansion time from east to west: 5.7 ± 0.3 Kya in Laos, 5.2 ± 0.6 in Northeast India, and 4.3 ± 0.2 in East India, suggested a late Neolithic east to west spread of the lineage O2a1‐M95 from Laos.
Identity Conflicts and Value Pluralism—What Can We Learn from Religious Psychoanalytic Therapists?
Authors: Novis‐Deutsch Nurit
Published: February 2015

Does the way we think about our personal self‐complexity affect how we accept others? Researchers have offered various conceptualizations of how individuals manage their complex identities, while others have identified links between cognitive complexity and acceptance of outgroups. This paper integrates the two bodies of work by positing a route by which personal identity conflicts may lead to cognitive and cultural pluralism.

For individuals committed to multiple identities perceived as conflicting, the intra‐psychic experience of value conflicts may lead to a recognition of self‐complexity, which is then transposed from the personal domain to the social one and expressed as a pluralistic attitude towards others. This argument find support in a study of Israeli Jewish Orthodox psychoanalytic therapists who belong to what they perceive as non‐pluralistic religious groups, yet express value pluralism, which they attribute to their complex identities. One of the educational implications of this study is that facilitating engagement with internal complexity, multiple identities and personal value conflicts may promote pluralistic thinking for individuals in religious societies.
Occult cirrhosis diagnosed by transient elastography is a frequent and under‐monitored clinical entity
Authors: Chen Tianyan , Wong Remy , Wong Philip , Rollet‐Kurhajec Kathleen C. , Alshaalan Rasha , Deschenes Marc , Ghali Peter , Sebastiani Giada
Published: February 2015

Background & Aims

Diagnosis of preclinical compensated cirrhosis (occult cirrhosis, OC) is challenging due to lack of clinical findings. We evaluated prevalence and outcomes of OC by transient elastography (TE, Fibroscan®).

Methods

Eight hundred and seventy‐one patients with compensated chronic liver disease (CLD) and TE examination were divided into: (i) OC (TE ≥ 13 kPa and no sign of cirrhosis, including absence of thrombocytopenia and signs of advanced liver disease on ultrasound or gastroscopy); (ii) clinically evident cirrhosis (TE ≥ 13 kPa with signs of cirrhosis); (iii) non‐cirrhotic CLD (TE < 13 kPa). Outcomes included hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), esophageal varices and ascites. Late diagnosis of outcomes was defined as HCC stage ≥intermediate by BCLC or variceal bleeding.

Results

Occult cirrhosis represented 12% of the cohort and 37% of cirrhotic patients. Independent predictors of OC were age [odds ratio (OR) 1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04–1.26], HIV co‐infection (OR 3.53; 95% CI, 1.85–6.76) and APRI (OR 2.63; 95 CI, 1.87–3.71). During a median follow‐up of 24 (interquartile range 20–37) months, OC received less surveillance than clinically evident cirrhosis, with fewer ultrasounds (2.7 ± 1.5 vs 3.6 ± 2; P < 0.001) and gastroscopies (2 ± 0.8 vs 2.6 ± 1.4; P < 0.001). Incidence of outcomes was 3.5/100 per person‐years (PY) (95% CI, 0.1–6.9) in OC, 0 in non‐cirrhotic CLD and 9.8/100 PY (95% CI, 0.3–19.3) in clinically evident cirrhosis (P < 0.001). Late diagnosis occurred more in OC than clinically evident cirrhosis (60 vs 15%, P = 0.01).

Conclusions

Occult cirrhosis is a frequent and under‐monitored clinical entity associated with short‐term risk of outcomes. TE may help early diagnosis, prompt initiation of surveillance and specific therapy for an otherwise unrecognized condition.
On the Relationship between Spillovers and Bundling
Authors: Plotnikova Maria , Sarangi Sudipta , Swaminathan Sushmita
Published: February 2015

This paper examines the relationship between the bundling decision of a large firm and the impact of spillovers from smaller firms drawing on stylized facts from the software industry. We find that bundling occurs only in the presence of significant spillovers from the two smaller firms. The large firm does not bundle when there are spillovers for only one product. Finally, we show that welfare is higher under bundling.
Causes and consequences of failed adaptation to biological invasions: the role of ecological constraints
Authors: Lau Jennifer A. , terHorst Casey P.
Published: February 2015

Biological invasions are a major challenge to native communities and have the potential to exert strong selection on native populations. As a result, native taxa may adapt to the presence of invaders through increased competitive ability, increased antipredator defences or altered morphologies that may limit encounters with toxic prey. Yet, in some cases, species may fail to adapt to biological invasions. Many challenges to adaptation arise because biological invasions occur in complex species‐rich communities in spatially and temporally variable environments. Here, we review these ‘ecological’ constraints on adaptation, focusing on the complications that arise from the need to simultaneously adapt to multiple biotic agents and from temporal and spatial variation in both selection and demography. Throughout, we illustrate cases where these constraints might be especially important in native populations faced with biological invasions. Our goal was to highlight additional complexities empiricists should consider when studying adaptation to biological invasions and to begin to identify conditions when adaptation may fail to be an effective response to invasion.
Whole‐genome sequencing reveals absence of recent gene flow and separate demographic histories for Anopheles punctulatus mosquitoes in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Logue Kyle , Small Scott T. , Chan Ernest R. , Reimer Lisa , Siba Peter M. , Zimmerman Peter A. , Serre David
Published: February 2015

Anopheles mosquitoes are the vectors of several human diseases including malaria. In many malaria endemic areas, several species of Anopheles coexist, sometimes in the form of related sibling species that are morphologically indistinguishable. Determining the size and organization of Anopheles populations, and possible ongoing gene flow among them is important for malaria control and, in particular, for monitoring the spread of insecticide resistance alleles. However, these parameters have been difficult to evaluate in most Anopheles species due to the paucity of genetic data available. Here, we assess the extent of contemporary gene flow and historical variations in population size by sequencing and de novo assembling the genomes of wild‐caught mosquitoes from four species of the Anopheles punctulatus group of Papua New Guinea. Our analysis of more than 50 Mb of orthologous DNA sequences revealed no evidence of contemporary gene flow among these mosquitoes. In addition, investigation of the demography of two of the An. punctulatus species revealed distinct population histories. Overall, our analyses suggest that, despite their similarities in morphology, behaviour and ecology, contemporary sympatric populations of An. punctulatus are evolving independently.