bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social support: The most important need of young Iranian single‐parent widows on their path to widowhood
Authors: Khosravan Shahla , Salehi Shayesteh , Ahmadi Fazlollah , Mansoorian Mohammad Reza
Published: June 2013

Few researchers specifically focus on the sociocultural problems facing single‐parent widows in the process of becoming widow after spousal death. Scant research has also been done on the effects that these problems have on their well‐being. This study aims to investigate the sociocultural problems, responses and consequences experienced by Iranian widow/single‐mothers. A qualitative exploratory study with a non‐structured interview was used to collect the data from participants who consisted of 24 young Iranian single‐parent widows. Using the constant comparative analysis method, the achieved results were summarized in three main categories: the facing of social problems, self‐restriction and the consequences of social wearing, with some subcategories for the first and third categories. The findings could assist nurses in becoming aware of the sociocultural problems and their unhealthy psychosocial consequences so as to help them to better focus on them in their assessments and treatment, which in turn would empower the widows to adapt positively to widowhood and live hopefully.
Natural Resources Exports, Diversification and Economic Growth of CEMAC Countries: On the Impact of Trade with China
Authors: Diaw Diadié , Lessoua Albert
Published: June 2013

This paper deals with the dynamics of growth in the countries of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa (CEMAC), focusing on external trade, in particular with China. Its aim is to shed light on the increasing influence of China in Africa. It uses dynamic panel estimations to measure the impact of trade orientation on economic growth in the CEMAC countries and concludes that specialization in natural resources affects economic growth negatively. But this effect is somewhat mitigated by the orientation towards China. Moreover, the weak intraregional trade between CEMAC countries has failed to contribute to their economic growth.
Does State Street Lead to Europe? The Case of Financial Exchange Innovations
Authors: Komulainen Mari , Takalo Tuomas
Published: June 2013

We study whether financial exchange innovations are patentable in Europe. We find that exchange‐related patent applications surged after the State Street decision. The majority of the applications come from the USA, investment banks and exchanges being among the most active innovators. But the applications seldom result in valid patents, and the post‐grant opposition rate is very high. The evidence suggests that patentability standards for financial innovations have not weakened in Europe after the State Street decision and that the combination of inventive step and technical contribution requirements constitutes a major obstacle for applicants seeking financial patents in Europe.
From ‘Glass Ceilings’ to ‘Firewalls’— Different Metaphors for Describing Discrimination
Authors: Bendl Regine , Schmidt Angelika
Published: June 2013

The glass ceiling metaphor, a framework of the 1980s, constructs discrimination processes in a particular way in particular organizational frameworks. Using a procedure of metaphor evaluation, we examine the glass ceiling metaphor to determine whether it continues to be useful in contemporary social and economic contexts. We analyse the recently introduced firewall metaphor for its usefulness for constructing discriminatory processes in organizations, which remain hidden in the glass ceiling metaphor. Our analysis suggests that both metaphors are useful for constructing diverse aspects of discrimination. In the contemporary context, however, firewalls may have greater utility due to their complexity, fluidity, heterogeneity and possibilities for permeability.
Impressing for Success: A Gendered Analysis of a Key Social Capital Accumulation Strategy
Authors: Kumra Savita , Vinnicombe Susan
Published: June 2013

Social capital theory assesses the career benefits that accrue to individuals from the stock of relationships they have. Such benefits can be in the form of guidance and advice, access to key projects and assignments and help with setting up business deals. However, when assessing whether such career‐enhancing resources are available equally to men and women, we find that gender impacts on the access to and accumulation of social capital. The article seeks to address two key research questions. The first is whether women are aware of the need to accumulate social capital to advance their careers and the second is whether they use impression management techniques in order to assist them in doing this. Findings are reported from a study in an international consulting firm with 19 female consultants. In respect of research question one the findings indicate that women in the sample are aware of the need to accumulate social capital to advance their careers; with particular emphasis being placed on the importance of gaining access to influential sponsors. In respect of research question two, the findings confirm that women in the sample do perceive the necessity to utilise impression management techniques to help them to accumulate social capital. This is done in a defensive way and is linked to ensuring that one is seen as ambitious, likable and available. It is argued that these are key organizational norms, and it is perceived that in order to accumulate social capital, women need to actively work to dispel the negative stereotypes that attach to them because of their gender. The article calls for greater recognition of the impact that masculine organizational cultures have on the career development of women, who not only have to perform at a high level but are also required to expend additional energy conforming to masculine organizational cultures they have had little say in creating.
The Short‐ and Medium‐Term Impacts of the Recession on the UK Income Distribution*
Authors: Brewer Mike , Browne James , Hood Andrew , Joyce Robert , Sibieta Luke
Published: June 2013

We study the short‐ and medium‐term impacts of the recent recession on the distribution of net household income in the UK. We document trends in the distribution of income during and immediately after the economy's 6.3 per cent contraction between 2008Q1 and 2009Q2. We then use a tax and benefit microsimulation model combined with macroeconomic and demographic forecasts to project the distribution of income up to 2015–16. As in other countries, immediate impacts of the recession on net household incomes are remarkably hard to detect, but the pain was merely delayed until 2010–11 and beyond. We find that the major difference between income groups is in the timing of the reductions in income, rather than in their magnitude. For those in the middle and upper parts of the distribution, dependent mainly on labour market income, falls in real income happened largely between 2009–10 and 2011–12. For those towards the bottom, dependent more on benefit incomes, falls in real income will happen largely as a result of the post‐recession fiscal tightening between 2010–11 and 2015–16. We explore the sensitivity of the results to different scenarios for employment and earnings: the central and qualitative conclusions prove robust.
The form of direct interspecific competition modifies secondary extinction patterns in multi‐trophic food webs
Authors: Fowler Mike S.
Published: June 2013

Forcibly removing species from ecosystems has important consequences for the remaining assemblage, leading to changes in community structure, ecosystem functioning and secondary (cascading) extinctions. One key question that has arisen from single‐ and multi‐trophic ecosystem models is whether the secondary extinctions that occur within competitive communities (guilds) are also important in multi‐trophic ecosystems? The loss of consumer–resource links obviously causes secondary extinction of specialist consumers (topological extinctions), but the importance of secondary extinctions in multi‐trophic food webs driven by direct competitive exclusion remains unknown. Here I disentangle the effects of extinctions driven by basal competitive exclusion from those caused by trophic interactions in a multi‐trophic ecosystem (basal producers, intermediate and top consumers). I compared food webs where basal species either show diffuse (all species compete with each other identically: no within guild extinctions following primary extinction) or asymmetric competition (unequal interspecific competition: within guild extinctions are possible). Basal competitive exclusion drives extra extinction cascades across all trophic levels, with the effect amplified in larger ecosystems, though varying connectance has little impact on results. Secondary extinction patterns based on the relative abundance of the species lost in the primary extinction differ qualitatively between diffuse and asymmetric competition. Removing asymmetric basal species with low (high) abundance triggers fewer (more) secondary extinctions throughout the whole food web than removing diffuse basal species. Rare asymmetric competitors experience less pressure from consumers compared to rare diffuse competitors. Simulations revealed that diffuse basal species are never involved in extinction cascades, regardless of the trophic level of a primary extinction, while asymmetric competitors were. This work highlights important qualitative differences in extinction patterns that arise when different assumptions are made about the form of direct competition in multi‐trophic food webs.
Fear in the dark? Community‐level effects of non‐lethal predators change with light regime
Authors: Forbes Coreen , Hammill Edd
Published: June 2013

The total effect of predators on prey is a combination of direct consumption, and non‐consumptive effects (NCEs), such as predator‐induced changes to prey morphology, behaviour and life history. Past research into NCEs has tended to focus on pair‐wise interactions between predators and prey, while in natural ecosystems, species exist in complex communities with several trophic levels made up of multiple autotrophic and heterotropic species. To address how predator NCEs alter the photosynthetic and heterotrophic components of communities, we exposed microbial microcosms to one of three predator treatments: live predators (full predator effect), freeze‐killed predators (NCEs only) or no predators (control), and incubated them under either 12 h:12 h light:dark conditions or continual darkness. Under 12 h:12 h light:dark conditions, NCEs‐only communities never differed from predator‐free communities, but differed from live predator communities. Under conditions of continual darkness, the structure of NCEs‐only communities differed from predator‐free controls, but not from live predator communities, suggesting NCEs can be strong enough to structure communities. Predation threat may cause certain prey to induce defences, such as reductions in movement, which make them less competitive in a community setting. This reduction in competitive ability could lead to these species being driven to extinction through interspecific competition, resulting in similar communities to those in which live predators are present. Heterotrophic species whose rates of resource acquisition depend on movement rates may be affected to a greater extent than autotrophs by predator‐induced reductions in movement, accounting for our observed differences in predator NCEs in ‘dark’ and ‘light’ communities. Our results suggest that the community‐level consequences of fear are greater in the dark.

Synthesis

Predators affect prey through consumptive and non‐consumptive effects (NCEs) such as alterations to prey behaviour, morphology, and life history. However, predators and prey do not exist in isolated pairs, but in complex communities where they interact with many other species. Using a long term study (>10 predator generations), we show that predator NCEs alone can alter community structure under conditions of darkness, but not in a 12h:12h light:dark cycle. Our results demonstrate for the first time that although the community‐level consequences of predator NCEs may be dramatic, they depend upon the abiotic conditions of the ecosystem.
Stable azole drug resistance associated with a substrain of Candida albicans from an HIV‐infected patient
Authors: White TC , Pfaller MA , Rinaldi MG , Smith J , Redding SW
Published: June 2013

Oral candidiasis is one of the earliest and most frequent complications of a failing immune system in HIV‐infected individuals. For several years, oral candidiasis has been treated effectively with azole drugs, the one most frequently used is fluconazole. Unfortunately, extensive use of the drug for treatment and prophylaxis has led to treatment failure in an increasing number of patients. In most of these cases, strains of C. albicans isolated from the infection are less susceptible to fluconazole.

The development of azole resistance in strains of C. albicans has been studied biochemically and more recently with molecular techniques. One excellent example of the development of azole resistance in C. albicans has been documented in a series of 17 C. albicans isolates from a single patient over a 2‐year period. During this time, the patient experienced 14 episodes of oral candidiasis and was treated with increasing doses of fluconazole. Molecular and biochemical analyses confirms that the isolates are the same strain of C. albicans and that the resistance in these isolates is stable over 600 generations, suggesting that the changes in this strain are genetic in nature. In addition, the development of resistance is correlated with the identification of a substrain or variant of the original strain, as identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with the moderately repetitive probe, Ca3. The analysis of this series of isolates demonstrates that azole drug resistance is associated with several small genetic changes, each of which contributes to the overall resistance of the strain. Clearly, continual use of azole drugs by a patient can select for genetic changes that render oral candidiasis refractory to treatment.
Epidemiology and diagnosis of HIV‐associated periodontal diseases
Authors: Lamster IB , Grbic JT , Bucklan RS , Mitchell‐Lewis D , Reynolds HS , Zambon JJ
Published: June 2013

A review of periodontal disease as a manifestation of HIV infection suggests a shift in emphasis over the past 5 years. Initially the focus was on newly described forms of periodontal disease (ie, HIV‐associated gingivitis or linear gingival erythema (LGE); HIV‐associated periodontitis or necrotizing ulcerative periodontitis (NUP)). While the clinical definition of LGE varies from study to study, an association between LGE and Candida infection has been described. Furthermore, the prevalence of NUP is quite low and this disorder is associated with severe immunosuppression. In contrast, the focus today is on the accelerated rate of chronic adult periodontitis occurring in seropositive patients. While the organisms that characterize adult periodontitis in seronegative individuals are present in subgingival plaque from seropositive individuals, reports suggest that atypical pathogens are also present (ie, Mycoplasma salivarium, Enterobacter cloacae). Recent studies from our laboratory have identified a novel strain of Clostridium isolated from the subgingival plaque of injecting drug users that has pathologic potential. This organism, however, was found in both seropositive and seronegative individuals in this cohort, suggesting an association with lifestyle rather than serostatus. In addition, data has been published examining the local host response in periodontitis in seropositive individuals. Distinctly elevated levels of IgG in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) have been observed in seropositive patients. Furthermore, data from our laboratory examining inflammatory mediators in GCF (polymorphonuclear leukocyte lysosomal enzyme β‐glucuronidase and the pro‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin‐1β) suggests an altered response in patients with HIV infection. The alteration manifests as the absence of the expected strong correlation between polymorphonuclear leukocyte activity in the gingival crevice and clinical measures of existing periodontal disease, as well as elevated levels of interleukin‐1β in sites with deeper probing depths. Therefore, it can be concluded that the progression of periodontal disease in the presence of HIV infection is dependent upon the immunlogic competency of the host as well as the local inflammatory response to typical and atypical subgingival microorganisms.
Prevalence of six periodontal pathogens detected by DNA probe method in HIV vs non‐HIV periodontitis
Authors: Tenenbaum H , Elkaim R , Cuisinier F , Dahan M , Zamanian P , Lang JM
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of selected periodontal pathogens associated with HIV and non‐HIV related periodontal lesions.

METHODS: Subgingival plaque samples were obtained from both HIV‐seropositive and HIV‐seronegative patients affected with periodontal disease. DNA probes were used to detect Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Bac‐teroides forsythus, Eikenella corrodent and Campylobacter rectus.

RESULTS: A. actinomycetemcomitans, P. intermedia and B. forsythus (P < 0.05) were more prevalent in HIV‐seronegative patients with rapidly progressive periodontitis. Only G. rectus was slightly more prevalent in HIV‐seropositive subjects with periodontal diseases, but this was not significant.
Epidemiology of HIV‐related oral manifestations in women: A review
Authors: Shiboski CH
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE: (1) To assess the extent of knowledge acquired since 1981 on the epidemiology of HIV‐related oral manifestations in women; (2) to determine if these findings differ by gender; and (3) to assess the needs and direction for future epidemiologic research on oral disease and HIV infection in women in relation to men.

DATA IDENTIFICATION: A computer‐assisted search was conducted to identify epidemiologic studies reporting the frequency of various oral conditions in HIV‐infected women. Studies on periodontal disease as manifestation of HIV infection were not included.

DATA EXTRACTION: Methods used in the retrieved articles were reviewed with respect to target population, study design, sampling scheme, outcomes, measurements, and statistical issues. Results were summarized in relation to oral findings in HIV‐infected men.

RESULTS OF DATA SYNTHESIS: Most studies were prospective, and sample selection was non‐random. Studies differed with respect to geographic location, risk category for HIV transmission, and stage of HIV disease. Despite these differences, oral lesions were found in at least 15% of HIV‐infected women, and the most common oral lesion in all studies was candidiasis. Women differed from men with respect to the prevalence of hairy leukoplakia and Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) both of which were significantly less common in women.

CONCLUSION: Future epidemiologic studies should be directed at identifying cofactors involved in addition to Epstein‐Barr virus (EBV) in the development of hairy leukoplakia, and in addition to KS herpes virus (KSHV) in the occurrence of KS.
Less common oral lesions associated with HIV infection: Prevalence and classification
Authors: Schiødt M
Published: June 2013

This paper deals with a number of group II and III lesions, ie lesions definitely but less commonly, and lesions possibly associated with HIV infection, respectively. Salivary gland disease includes dry mouth and/or swelling of major salivary glands, often as a part of CD8‐lymphocytosis syndrome. Xerostomia occurs commonly (2–10%) in HIV‐infected individuals. Enlargement of the major salivary glands occurs frequently (19%) among HIV‐infected children, but rarely among adults (0.8%). The major salivary glands show lymphoepithelial lesions or cysts histopathologically. Hyperpigmentation of the oral mucosa was found in 2.2% of 1710 HIV+ individuals in seven studies. The hyperpigmentation has been ascribed to a number of medicaments, and possibly to HIV. The prevalence of pigmentation is not significantly higher among HIV+ than HIV− individuals. Thrombocytopenia frequently occurs in HIV infection. Oral petechiae were reported in 2% of 1121 HIV+ in five studies. Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection occurred in 1.1 % of 989 HIV+ in seven studies. Drug reactions (white lichenoid lesions, ulceration, toxic epidermal necrolysis) have been reported in a number of cases, not allowing prevalence figures. However certain drugs, notably Foscarnet, Interferon and 2,3‐dideoxycytidine, may frequently cause oral ulcerations. Oral neurologic manifestations such as peripheral facial paralysis and sensory neuropathy have been reported in a few cases or series only.
Oral manifestations in 70 German HIV‐infected women
Authors: Schmidt‐Westhausen A , Grünewald Th , Reichart PA , Pohle HD
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence of oral lesions in HIV‐infected women, and to determine the association of oral lesions with the level of immunosuppression and the route of transmission.

PATIENTS: In a retrospective, cross‐sectional study, a cohort of 70 HIV‐infected women (median age: 32.5 y; median CD4+‐cell count 262 per μl) comprising 18% of all HIV‐infected individuals (n = 389) was selected in an outpatient clinic. Oral lesions strongly associated with HIV‐infection were evaluated.

RESULTS: The overall prevalence of oral lesions was 27/70 (39%). Among HIV‐infected women with CD4+‐cell counts <200 per μl, the prevalence was 65% (19/29); and with counts >200 per μl, the prevalence was 27% (11/41). The prevalence of candidiasis and hairy leukoplakia was similar among those infected heterosexually or by intravenous drug use.

CONCLUSIONS: As reported in men, these findings demonstrate that oral lesions are common in HIV‐infected women. Candidiasis is more likely to occur at low CD4+‐cell counts, whereas no difference was seen regarding the level of immunosuppression and hairy leukoplakia. Interestingly, the route of transmission does not play a role regarding the presence of oral lesions among HIV‐infected women.
Inhibition of HIV infectivity by human saliva
Authors: Malamud D , Nagashunmugam T , Davis C , Kennedy S , Abrams WR , Kream R , Friedman HM
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE: Human saliva is known to decrease HIV infectivity in vitro. The purpose of this study was to extend these findings and to focus on the mechanism of action of these salivary factor(s).

DESIGN: A number of viruses and several assay systems have been utilized to determine if the effect of submandibular saliva is directly on the virus, on the host cell, or on the virus‐cell interaction.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Submandibular saliva from seronegative donors was incubated with HIV‐1, other retroviruses, or unrelated viruses. Viral infectivity was monitored either by determining p24 antigen levels in peripheral blood mononuclear cells or Sup T1 cells, or using HeLa cells expressing CD4 and an HIV derived long terminal repeat linked to the β‐galactosidase gene.

RESULTS: The inhibition of viral infectivity by submandibular saliva is specific for HIV‐1. While inhibition increases with time of incubation of saliva with virus, pre‐treatment of cells with saliva does not inhibit HIV production, and saliva has only modest inhibitory effects when added to HIV‐infected cells.

CONCLUSIONS: It appears that the effect of submandibular saliva on decreasing the infectivity of HIV‐1 is directly on the virus, rather than on the host cell.
Detection of HIV in oral mucosal cells
Authors: Qureshi MN , Barr CE , Hewlitt I , Boorstein R , Kong F , Bagasra O , Bobroski LE , Joshi B
Published: June 2013

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of HIV DNA and RNA and the morphologic localization of HIV in the oral cavity of HIV‐seropositive subjects. DESIGN: A cross‐sectional analysis of saliva, buccal scrapings and buccal biopsies from HIV‐seropositive injecting drug users (IDUs).

SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Whole saliva, buccal mucosal scrapings and buccal biopsies were obtained from HIV‐seropositive and seronegative IDUs. Presence of HIV DNA and RNA was assessed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse transcriptase PCR (RT‐PCR). RT in situ PCR was used to detect HIV tat/rev RNA in buccal mucosal scrapings. Host‐cell integrated HIV‐proviral DNA in buccal biopsies was detected by in situ PCR. Presence of intact HIV viral particles in buccal scrapings was assessed by electron microscopy.

RESULTS: HIV DNA was detected in 40% (18/45) and HIV RNA in 69.2% (25/36) of saliva samples from HIV‐seropositive IDUs. Viral particles consistent with HIV were localized in inter‐epithelial spaces by electron microscopy. RT in situ PCR revealed the presence of HIV tat/rev RNA in 36% (8/22) of the seropositive samples tested.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that epithelial cells can be productively infected by HIV. Epithelial cells in buccal mucosa may acquire HIV in the basal layers through contact with submucosal HIV‐positive lymphocytes and/or Langerhans' cells. HIV infection may also spread by inter‐epithelial cell contact. As HIV infected cells mature they travel to more superficial layers and are shed into the oral cavity.
Selection and pathogenicity of Candida albicans in HIV infection
Authors: Sweet SP
Published: June 2013

The progression of immune‐suppression due to infection with HIV is mirrored by an increase in the severity and prevalence of oral candidosis. The transition of C. albicans from harmless commensal to unrelenting pathogen in the susceptible host is a fine line attributable to an extensive repertoire of selectively expressed virulence determinants, including hyphal formation, thigmotropism, protease secretion, adherence and phenotypic switching. The transition from commensal to pathogen has been linked to the formation of elongated hyphae which may more readily penetrate epithelial surfaces. Invasion may be enhanced by thigmotropism which enables hyphae to sense intercellular junctions and surface discontinuities in order to find areas that may be more readily breached. Electron micrograph studies suggest that C. albicans are able to penetrate mucosal tissues by secreting hydrolytic enzymes at the tip of the invading hyphae. Recent studies have shown that protease secretion is upregulated in C. albicans isolated from AIDS patients. Similarly, the propensity for C. albicans to adhere to oral mucosa appears to be enhanced in isolates from HIV‐infected subjects. These two virulence determinants may be coordinately regulated and DNA fingerprinting studies suggest that these phenotypic alterations may be associated with the selection of C. albicans with altered genotypes. The mechanisms by which hypervirulent C. albicans may be selected in HIV‐infected patients is likely to be a multifactorial process associated with the pathobiological effects of HIV infection and to the increased candidal proliferation so evident in these patients.
Surplus Chinese Men: Demographic Determinants of the Sex Ratio at Marriageable Ages in China
Authors: Tucker Catherine , Van Hook Jennifer
Published: June 2013

We explore the demographic factors contributing to China's unbalanced sex ratio at marriagable ages. We develop a stable population model of the sex ratio at marriagable ages, and compare a series of population projections with alternative underlying assumptions about the key demographic inputs. The stable population model demonstrates that several demographic factors interact to influence the sex ratio at marriagable ages, including the sex ratio at birth, population growth, the age gap of marriage partners, and the sex ratio of survival from birth to marriageable age. The population projections further demonstrate that policies that seek to reduce the sex ratio at birth and the age gap at marriage and, to a lesser extent, increase fertility would be most effective at alleviating the problem. But no demographic changes are likely to occur quickly enough to balance the sex ratio at marriagable ages in the near future.
Supporting People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to Participate in their Communities through Support Staff Pilot Intervention
Authors: Zakrajsek Andrea Gossett , Hammel Joy , Scazzero Joseph A.
Published: June 2013

Background

Increasingly, people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) are supported to participate in least‐restricted settings in the community. However, little is known about desired community participation choice and control of people with I/DD, nor effective strategies to support full participation. Furthermore, service providers of this population in community and residential settings have unique roles in influencing choice and control in community participation.

Research Aim

The purpose of this project is to empower adults with I/DD in community participation by collaborating with agency staff and administrators to strategize change in service provision and programming.

Methods

This article describes the development, imple‐mentation and mixed‐methods evaluation of a pilot staff intervention.

Results

Findings indicate staff who participated in pilot intervention report increased confidence in supporting adults with I/DD to participate in their communities.

Conclusions

Intervention development has implications for staff, administrators and agencies in planning and executing opportunities to support choice and control for community participation for adults with I/DD.
Geographical patterns of congruence and incongruence between correlative species distribution models and a process‐based ecophysiological growth model
Authors: Serra‐Diaz Josep M. , Keenan Trevor F. , Ninyerola Miquel , Sabaté Santiago , Gracia Carlos , Lloret Francisco
Published: June 2013

Aim

Our aim was to map the climate dependence of tree species distributions (probability of occurrence) and forest growth (net primary productivity) by comparing the congruence and incongruence between correlative and process‐based modelling approaches.

Location

Iberian Peninsula, south‐western Europe.

Methods

We used forest inventory data for three widespread tree species (Quercus ilex, Pinus halepensis and Pinus sylvestris) to model climatic suitability with an ensemble of seven correlative species distribution models (using biomod). We then simulated forest net primary productivity (NPP) as a surrogate of forest growth for forests of each species using an ecophysiological process‐based model (gotilwa+) along a gradient of climatic suitability. The spatial distribution of the growth estimates was then compared with that of the suitability estimates, and robust regression was used to classify regions in terms of model congruence.

Results

Quercus ilex and P. sylvestris both showed a positive relationship between forest NPP and climatic suitability. The main discrepancies were found in the north of the peninsula, where there was high potential forest growth but low climate suitability. Low forest‐growth estimates in areas of high suitability only appeared for P. sylvestris in southern montane regions. Pinus halepensis always showed a negative relationship between estimated growth and climatic suitability. The analysis of other ecophysiological parameters (mean leaf life and leaf area index) suggests that this tree species has different physiological strategies that allow differential growth rates in areas of low suitability.

Main conclusions

We found that the relationship between estimated growth and distribution varies strongly in different areas and species. Mapping the incongruences between the predicted climatic suitability and growth allowed us to identify regions where other factors (e.g. biotic interactions) may be more significant than the physiological limits on growth. We show that new insights into species distributions can be gained from mapping the differences between correlative and process‐based models.
Suppressive effect of RAS inhibitor manumycin A on aberrant crypt foci formation in the azoxymethane‐induced rat colorectal carcinogenesis model
Authors: Tsuda Miho , Okamoto Koichi , Muguruma Naoki , Sannomiya Katsutaka , Nakagawa Tadahiko , Miyamoto Hiroshi , Kitamura Shinji , Goji Takahiro , Kimura Tetsuo , Okahisa Toshiya , Izumi Keisuke , Takayama Tetsuji
Published: June 2013

Background and Aim

The chemopreventive effect of RAS inhibitors on colorectal cancer is unknown. Because aberrant crypt foci (ACF), earliest preneoplastic lesions, are highly positive for K‐RAS mutation, RAS inhibitors are likely to be effective for chemoprevention. Therefore, in the present study, the suppressive effect of a RAS inhibitor, manumycin A, on ACF formation in an azoxymethane (AOM)‐induced rat colorectal carcinogenesis model was investigated.

Methods

Rats injected with AOM were administered manumycin A (30 mg/kg) subcutaneously thrice weekly for 8 weeks or for 4 weeks (latter half), sacrificed at 8 weeks, and examined for ACF in the colorectum. Phosphorylated ERK and Ki‐67 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis was assessed by TUNEL staining.

Results

The mean number of ACF in the 8‐week manumycin A group (72.9 ± 20.1) was significantly lower than in the vehicle group (155.6 ± 56.7, P < 0.01), and it was significantly lower even in the 4‐week manumycin A group than in the vehicle group (92.2 ± 13.0 vs 222.3 ± 83.3, P < 0.01). The positive rate for phosphorylated ERK in the manumycin A group (13.5 ± 19.2%) was significantly lower than in the vehicle group (50.2 ± 19.8%, P < 0.01). The positive rate for Ki‐67 in the manumycin A group (2.2 ± 3.4%) was significantly lower than in the vehicle group (14.7 ± 8.2%, P < 0.01). There were significantly more terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase‐mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate nick‐end labeling‐positive cells in tissue samples from the manumycin A group versus the vehicle group (8.6 ± 9.7% vs 2.9 ± 2.0%, P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Manumycin A suppressed ACF formation in the AOM‐induced colorectal carcinogenesis model, demonstrating that RAS inhibitors may be very effective for chemoprevention of colorectal cancers.
Clinical utility of endoscopic ultrasound elastography for identification of malignant pancreatic masses: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Ying Li , Lin Xiao , Xie Zuo‐Liu , Hu Yuan‐Ping , Tang Kai‐Fu , Shi Ke‐Qing
Published: June 2013

Background and Aim

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) elastography is not used for detection but rather for characterization of solid pancreatic masses. A meta‐analysis was used to assess the accuracy of EUS elastography for identification of malignant pancreatic masses.

Methods

PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and the ISI Web of Knowledge were searched. The studies relating to evaluation accuracy of qualitative or quantitative EUS elastography for identification of malignant pancreatic masses were collected. Language was limited to English. The sensitivity and specificity were used to examine the accuracy. Clinical utility was evaluated by likelihood ratio scattergram.

Results

A total of 10 studies including 893 pancreatic masses (646 malignant, 72.3%) were analyzed. The summary sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of malignant pancreatic masses were 0.98 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93–1.00) and 0.69 (95% CI 0.52–0.82) for qualitative EUS elastography, and 0.96 (95% CI 0.86–0.99) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.58–0.87) for quantitative EUS elastography, respectively. The hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic curves were 0.94 and 0.93 for qualitative and quantitative EUS elastography. The accuracy of quantitative methods was similar to qualitative methods. The positive and negative likelihood ratios were 3.15 and 0.03 for qualitative EUS elastography, and 3.94 and 0.05 for quantitative EUS elastography, respectively. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were useful for exclusion of presence of malignant pancreatic masses and not for its confirmation.

Conclusions

EUS elastography could be used as a good identification tool for benign and malignant pancreatic masses, with its good performance for exclusion of presence of malignant pancreatic masses.
The Effect of One‐Step vs. Two‐Step Impression Techniques on Long‐Term Accuracy and Dimensional Stability when the Finish Line is within the Gingival Sulcular Area
Authors: Levartovsky Shifra , Zalis Maayan , Pilo Raphael , Harel Noga , Ganor Yehuda , Brosh Tamar
Published: June 2013

Purpose

To evaluate the effect of two putty‐wash impression techniques on the long‐term accuracy and dimensional stability of poly(vinyl siloxane) (PVS) in the gingival sulcus area.

Materials and Methods

Impressions were taken from a master cast to simulate molar crown preparation. A space around the abutment served as the gingival sulcus. Fifteen impressions using the one‐ and two‐step impression techniques were taken using Express Regular, Express Fast, and President impression materials with custom trays. Using a Toolmaker's microscope, the long (LD) and short distances (SD) of the abutment and the planar distance between two parallel lines (PL) at the circumference of the cast were taken at 0.5, 2, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, and 144 hours after mixing. ANOVA was performed, with the discrepancy between the distances of the impressions and the master cast as the dependent variable.

Results

The differences when different materials and impression techniques were used were significant (p < 0.001) for LD, SD, and PL, as was the interaction between the material, time, and technique (p < 0.001). SD discrepancies were higher than those of LD for all materials and times. The two‐step impression technique was more accurate, with smaller discrepancies than the one‐step impression technique. For all materials, the PL discrepancy was deemed acceptable (less than 0.5%) for all tested times. President had higher discrepancies than the other materials.

Conclusions

When using the two‐step putty‐wash impression technique, pouring of the impressions may be postponed up to 30 hours; however, when using the one‐step impression technique, pouring should be performed within 2 hours.
Religion and Whites’ Attitudes Toward Interracial Marriage with African Americans, Asians, and Latinos
Authors: Perry Samuel L.
Published: June 2013

Religious factors have been shown to influence whites’ attitudes toward interracial marriage, but this relationship has yet to be studied in depth. This study examines how religious affiliation, beliefs, practices, and congregational composition affect whites’ attitudes toward interracial marriage with African Americans, Asians, and Latinos. Employing data from Wave 2 of the Baylor Religion Survey, I estimate ordered logit regression models to examine the influence of religious factors on whites’ attitudes toward racial exogamy, net of sociodemographic controls. Analyses reveal that, relative to evangelicals, religiously unaffiliated whites report greater support of intermarriage with all minority groups. Biblical literalists are less likely to support interracial marriage to Asians and Latinos. However, whites who frequently engage in devotional religious practices are more likely to support interracial marriage with all racial groups, as are whites who attend multiracial congregations. My findings suggest that the relationship between religion and whites’ attitudes toward racial exogamy is more complex than previously thought and that the influence of religious practices and congregational composition should not be overlooked.
The Growing Social and Moral Conflict Between Conservative Protestantism and Science
Authors: Evans John H.
Published: June 2013

Due to conservative Protestant elites challenging scientists in the public sphere, and prominent scientists attacking religion, scholars have claimed that there is an increasing conflict between conservative Protestants and science. However, these claims have never been empirically investigated and these general claims do not specify what conflict is actually about. In this article I use the General Social Survey from 1984 to 2010 to examine whether conservative Protestants are increasingly opposed to the social and moral influence of scientists. I find evidence for increasing opposition by biblical literalist conservative Protestants to the involvement of scientists in social debates about moral issues.
Counting the Faithful: Measuring Local Religious Contexts in the United States
Authors: Lim Chaeyoon
Published: June 2013

This study compares the estimates of religious composition of counties in the United States from three independent datasets: the 2010 Religious Congregational Membership Study (RCMS); the 2010 Infogroup Congregational membership data (INFO); and the Gallup Daily Poll—a large national survey with more than 1.3 million respondents. My analyses suggest that the estimates for most major religious groups from the three datasets are highly correlated to each other. In addition, the measures of local religious compositions from the three datasets successfully predict the religious composition of friendship networks in a large, nationally representative survey. These findings suggest that RCMS, the most widely used data source for measuring local religious composition in the United States, has a convergent and predictive validity. My analyses, however, also highlight important challenges in measuring geographic distributions of non‐Christian populations, as well as total religious populations in all religious traditions.
How diverse is Mitopus morio? Integrative taxonomy detects cryptic species in a small‐scale sample of a widespread harvestman
Authors: Arthofer Wolfgang , Rauch Hannes , Thaler‐Knoflach Barbara , Moder Karl , Muster Christoph , Schlick‐Steiner Birgit C. , Steiner Florian M.
Published: June 2013

Mitopus morio is a widespread harvestman species occurring in most of Europe and in moderate and cold‐moderate zones of Asia and North America. The species is characterized by extreme variability in body size and leg length. As leg length is correlated with habitat temperature, M. morio has been considered as an example of Allen's rule. Recently, observations for a single location in Tyrol, Austria, indicated the absence of mating between short‐ and long‐legged individuals. This study examines for signs of putative cryptic species in M. morio using an integrative approach that combines mating trials, amplified fragment length polymorphism whole‐genome scans, mitochondrial sequences and morphometrics. The mating trials did not corroborate the initial hypothesis of a reproductive barrier associated with leg size. Both types of genetic data revealed the existence of three distinct groups, in line with the mating results but largely unrelated to leg morphology and geographical origin of specimens. Morphometric characters supporting the findings of the other disciplines were identified using a supervised approach. We infer from all data together the existence of strongly diverged cryptic lineages among the analysed individuals, cautiously interpret them as three sympatric species and conclude that in these harvestmen Allen's rule applies at different levels. Due to the unexpected amount of differentiation found within a geographical scale very small compared with the distribution of M. morio, we suggest a thorough revision of the genus prior to formal taxonomic changes. Our case study underlines the general applicability of the integrative taxonomic protocol used and highlights the relevance of several rationales implemented in the protocol.
Origins of Meaning: Must We ‘Go Gricean’?
Authors: BAR‐ON DORIT
Published: June 2013

The task of explaining language evolution is often presented by leading theorists in explicitly Gricean terms. After a critical evaluation, I present an alternative, non‐Gricean conceptualization of the task. I argue that, while it may be true that nonhuman animals, in contrast to language users, lack the ‘motive to share information’ understoodà laGrice, nonhuman animals nevertheless do express states of mind through complex nonlinguistic behavior. On a proper, non‐Gricean construal of expressive communication, this means that they show to their designated audience (without intentionally telling)—and their designated audience recognizes (without rationally inferring)—both how things are in the world and how things are with them. Recognizing that our nonhuman predecessors were already proficient—though non‐Gricean—sharers of such information would free us to focus on the more tractable problem of explaining how linguistic expressive vehicles came to replace, augment, and transform the nonlinguistic expressive means to which nonhuman animals are consigned.
Different models of transition to adult care after pediatric kidney transplantation: A comparative study
Authors: Pape L. , Lämmermühle J. , Oldhafer M. , Blume C. , Weiss R. , Ahlenstiel T.
Published: June 2013

Transition from pediatric to adult care is a critical and difficult step for young people with transplants and for the multidisciplinary team involved. In our retrospective study, we investigated the clinical course in a two‐yr period of transition. Data from 66 teenagers were collected one yr before and after their transfer to three different adult care settings: (i) a specialized transition clinic, (ii) a general transplantation clinic, and (iii) a nephrologist. Patient survival rate was 100%. Three patients developed graft loss. GFR development was comparable in the three settings (ΔGFR 1.4 ± 8.7 vs. 3.1 ± 10.6 vs. 0.8 ± 4.4 mL/min/1.73 m2, p = ns). Immunosuppressive therapy was stable in setting 1, whereas the number of changes increased in setting 2 and even more in setting 3. The percentage of patients with steroids increased from 36% to 38% and 52% in settings 1–3. Patient satisfaction was highest in setting 1 (100% vs. 64% and 78%, p < 0.05). Setting 1 was associated with fewer changes in therapy (13% vs. 91% and 45%, p < 0.05). The use of a specialized transition clinic is associated with fewer changes in medication and care and a higher level of patient satisfaction. This was not associated with a lower increase in GFR one yr after transition. Long‐term results are awaited.
Age‐related changes in ERP correlates of visuospatial and motor processes
Authors: Cespón J. , Galdo‐Álvarez S. , Díaz F.
Published: June 2013

Although previous ERP studies have demonstrated slowing of visuospatial and motor processes with age, such studies frequently included only young and elderly participants, and lacked information about age‐related changes across the adult lifespan. The present research used a Simon task with two irrelevant dimensions (position and direction of an arrow) to study visuospatial (N2 posterior contralateral, N2pc) and motor (response‐locked lateralized readiness potential, LRP‐r) processes in young, middle‐aged, and elderly adults. The reaction time and motor execution stage (LRP‐r) increased gradually with age, while visuospatial processes (N2pc latency) were similarly delayed in the older groups. No age‐related increase in interference was observed, probably related to a delay in processing the symbolic meaning of the direction in older groups, which was consistent with age‐related differences in distributional analyses and N2pc amplitude modulations.