bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Difference in the impacts of the neonicotinoid dinotefuran administered through sugar syrup from that through pollen paste on a honeybee colony in the long-term field experiment
Authors: Yamada Toshiro , Yamada Yasuhiro , Yamada Kazuko
Published: February 2015

We have previously examined the impact of neonicotinoid pesticides, dinotefuran and clothianidin, on honeybee Apis mellifera colonies in long-term field experiments when they were simultaneously administered through both vehicles of sugar syrup and pollen paste (Yamadaet al., 2012). The independent effect of a pesticide through two vehicles has not been studied in our previous work. In this paper, we investigated the independent impact of dinotefuran through each of the two vehicles. We confirmed that dinotefuran intake per bee until colony extinction due to administration through pollen paste (DF-TIPP) was roughly one-fifth as much as that through sugar syrup (DF-TISS). The intake was largely independent of dinotefuran concentration. We considered the possibility of DF-TIPP per bee as an indicator to assess the impact of persistent pesticide on a honeybee colony in a practical apiary.

This work has replicated the finding that a honeybee colony has dwindled away to nothing after assuming an aspect of a colony collapse disorder (CCD) by administration of the neonicotinoids dinotefuran and clothianidin in our previous work, regardless of the vehicles. In addition, a failure in wintering was observed in case of administration of dinotefuran with the lowest concentration in this work even if the colony appeared vigorous before winter.

We can infer that a CCD and a failure in wintering may have the same roots of chronic toxicity of neonicotinoids under conditions of low concentrations due to the persistency and high toxicity which are characteristic of them.
Molecular evolutionary consequences of island colonisation
Authors: James Jennifer E. , Lanfear Robert , Eyre-Walker Adam
Published: February 2015

Island endemics are likely to experience population bottlenecks; they also have restricted ranges. Therefore we expect island species to have small effective population sizes (Ne) and reduced genetic diversity compared to their mainland counterparts. As a consequence, island species may have inefficient selection and reduced adaptive potential. We used both polymorphisms and substitutions to address these predictions, improving on the approach of recent studies that only used substitution data. This allowed us to directly test the assumption that island species have small values ofNe. We found that island species had significantly less genetic diversity than mainland species; however, this pattern could be attributed to a subset of island species that had undergone a recent population bottleneck. When these species were excluded from the analysis, island and mainland species had similar levels of genetic diversity, despite island species occupying considerably smaller areas than their mainland counterparts. We also found no overall difference between island and mainland species in terms of effectiveness of selection or mutation rate. Our evidence suggests that island colonisation has no lasting impact on molecular evolution. This surprising result highlights gaps in our knowledge of the relationship between census and effective population size.
After the games are over: life-history trade-offs drive dispersal attenuation following range expansion
Authors: Alex Perkins T. , Boettiger Carl , Phillips Benjamin L.
Published: February 2015

Increased dispersal propensity often evolves on expanding range edges due to the Olympic Village effect, which involves the fastest and fittest finding themselves together in the same place at the same time, mating, and giving rise to like individuals. But what happens after the range’s leading edge has passed and the games are over? Although empirical studies indicate that dispersal propensity attenuates following range expansion, hypotheses about the mechanisms driving this attenuation have not been clearly articulated or tested. Here we use a simple model of the spatiotemporal dynamics of two phenotypes, one fast and the other slow, to propose that dispersal attenuation beyond pre-expansion levels is only possible in the presence of trade-offs between dispersal and life-history traits. The Olympic Village effect ensures that fast dispersers pre-empt locations far from the range’s previous limits. When trade-offs are absent, this pre-emptive spatial advantage has a lasting impact, with highly dispersive individuals attaining equilibrium frequencies that are strictly higher than their introduction frequencies. When trade-offs are present, dispersal propensity decays rapidly at all locations. Our model’s results about the post-colonization trajectory of dispersal evolution are clear and, in principle, should be observable in field studies. We conclude that empirical observations of post-colonization dispersal attenuation offer a novel way to detect the existence of otherwise elusive trade-offs between dispersal and life-history traits.
Key role of amino acid repeat expansions in the functional diversification of duplicated transcription factors
Authors: Radó-Trilla Núria , Arató Krisztina , Pegueroles Cinta , Raya Alicia , de la Luna Susana , Albà M.Mar
Published: February 2015

The high regulatory complexity of vertebrates has been related to two closely spaced whole genome duplications (2R-WGD) that occurred before the divergence of the major vertebrate groups. Following these events, many developmental transcription factors (TFs) were retained in multiple copies and subsequently specialized in diverse functions, whereas others reverted to their singleton state. TFs are known to be generally rich in amino acid repeats or low-complexity regions (LCRs), such as polyalanine or polyglutamine runs, which can evolve rapidly and potentially influence the transcriptional activity of the protein. Here we test the hypothesis that LCRs have played a major role in the diversification of TF gene duplicates. We find that nearly half of the TF gene families (107 out of 237) originated during the 2R-WGD contain LCRs, compared to only a small percentage of the non-duplicated TF genes used as a control (15 out of 115). At the individual gene level, we observe that twice as many duplicated TFs have gained LCRs as non-duplicated TFs. In addition, duplicated TFs preferentially accumulate certain LCR types, the most prominent of which are alanine repeats. We experimentally test the role of alanine-rich LCRs in two different TF gene families, PHOX2A/PHOX2B and LHX2/LHX9. In both cases, the presence of the alanine-rich LCR in one of the copies (PHOX2B and LHX2) significantly increases the capacity of the TF to activate transcription. Taken together, the results provide strong evidence that LCRs are important driving forces of evolutionary change in duplicated genes.
Evolution of selenophosphate synthetases: emergence and relocation of function through independent duplications and recurrent subfunctionalization
Authors: Mariotti Marco , Santesmasses Didac , Capella-Gutierrez Salvador , Mateo Andrea , Arnan Carme , Johnson Rory , D’Aniello Salvatore , Yim Sun Hee , Gladyshev Vadim N , Serras Florenci , Corominas Montserrat , Gabaldón Toni , Guigé Roderic
Published: February 2015

SPS catalyzes the synthesis of selenophosphate, the selenium donor for the synthesis of the amino acid selenocysteine (Sec), incorporated in selenoproteins in response to the UGA codon. SPS is unique among proteins of the selenoprotein biosynthesis machinery in that it is, in many species, a selenoprotein itself, although, as in all selenoproteins, Sec is often replaced by cysteine (Cys). In metazoan genomes we found, however, SPS genes with lineage specific substitutions other than Sec or Cys. Our results show that these non-Sec, non-Cys SPS genes originated through a number of independent gene duplications of diverse molecular origin from an ancestral selenoprotein SPS gene. Although of independent origin, complementation assays in fly mutants show that these genes share a common function, which most likely emerged in the ancestral metazoan gene. This function appears to be unrelated to selenophosphate synthesis, since all genomes encoding selenoproteins contain Sec or Cys SPS genes (SPS2), but those containing only non-Sec, non-Cys SPS genes (SPS1) do not encode selenoproteins. Thus, in SPS genes, through parallel duplications and subsequent convergent subfunctionalization, two functions initially carried by a single gene are recurrently segregated at two different loci. RNA structures enhancing the readthrough of the Sec-UGA codon in SPS genes, which may be traced back to prokaryotes, played a key role in this process. The SPS evolutionary history in metazoans constitute a remarkable example of the emergence and evolution of gene function. We have been able to trace this history with unusual detail thanks to the singular feature of SPS genes, wherein the amino acid at a single site determines protein function, and, ultimately, the evolutionary fate of an entire class of genes.
Linkage Disequilibrium and Inversion-Typing of theDrosophila melanogasterGenome Reference Panel
Authors: Houle David , Márquez Eladio J.
Published: February 2015

We calculated the linkage disequilibrium between all pairs of variants in the Drosophila Genome Reference Panel with minor allele count equal to or greater than 5. We usedr2≥0.5 as the cutoff for a highly correlated SNP. We make available the list of all highly correlated SNPs for use in association studies. Seventy-six percent of variant SNPs are highly correlated with at least one other SNP, and the mean number of highly correlated SNPs per variant over the whole genome is 83.9. Disequilibrium between distant SNPs is also common when minor allele frequency (MAF) is low: 37% of SNPs with MAF<0.1 are highly correlated with SNPs more than 100kb distant. While SNPs within regions with polymorphic inversions are highly correlated with somewhat larger numbers of SNPs, and these correlated SNPs are on average farther away, the probability that a SNP in such regions is highly correlated with at least one other SNP is very similar to SNPs outside inversions. Previous karyotyping of the DGRP lines has been inconsistent, and we used LD and genotype to investigate these discrepancies. When previous studies agreed on inversion karyotype, our analysis was almost perfectly concordant with those assignments. In discordant cases, and for inversion heterozygotes, our results suggest errors in two previous analyses, or discordance between genotype and karyotype. Heterozygosities of chromosome arms are in many cases surprisingly highly correlated, suggesting strong epsistatic selection during the inbreeding and maintenance of the DGRP lines.
Mitochondrial Genomes of Giant Deers Suggest their Late Survival in Central Europe
Authors: Immel Alexander , Drucker Dorothée G. , Jahnke Tina K. , Münzel Susanne C. , Schuenemann Verena J. , Bonazzi Marion , Herbig Alexander , Kind Claus-Joachim , Krause Johannes
Published: February 2015

The giant deerMegaloceros giganteusis among the most fascinating Late Pleistocene Eurasian megafauna that became extinct at the end of the last ice age. Important questions persist regarding its phylogenetic relationship to contemporary taxa and the reasons for its extinction. We analyzed two large ancient cervid bone fragments recovered from cave sites in the Swabian Jura (Baden-Württemberg, Germany) dated to 12,000 years ago. Using hybridization capture in combination with next generation sequencing, we were able to reconstruct nearly complete mitochondrial genomes from both specimens. Both mtDNAs cluster phylogenetically with fallow deer and show high similarity to previously studied partialMegaloceros giganteusDNA from Kamyshlov in western Siberia and Killavullen in Ireland. The unexpected presence ofMegaloceros giganteusin Southern Germany after the Ice Age suggests a later survival in Central Europe than previously proposed. The complete mtDNAs provide strong phylogenetic support for aDama-Megalocerosclade. Furthermore, isotope analyses support an increasing competition between giant deer, red deer, and reindeer after the Last Glacial Maximum, which might have contributed to the extinction ofMegalocerosin Central Europe.
Methodology for acquisition of collective tacit knowledge used in diagnosis of defect cause in industrial processes
Authors: Rosário Cláudio Roberto , Kipper Liane Mahlmann , Frozza Rejane , Mariani Bruna Bueno
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper was to build the MACTAK methodology, which aims to transform collective tacit knowledge into the explicit one using knowledge elicitation techniques, associated to quality tools structured by systemography, represent it in a symbolic language and production rules and model it in two expert systems which can assist the investigation of defect causes during the metal packaging production process.

Design/methodology/approach

– The method applied in the research was classified as exploratory, because a preliminary study was conducted, to better suit the mapping methodology for eliciting collective tacit knowledge, to the reality which was intended to be known. Through studies and the application of the systemography technique, a methodology for the elicitation of collective tacit knowledge has been developed. It suggests a systematic sequence of activities, to map and transform collective tacit knowledge into the explicit one, on the production process which was studied.

Findings

– The types of tacit knowledge were mapped and became explicit through the application of the methodology proposed. A knowledge management system was created, as such knowledge was validated by other mechanics during their training on the shop-floor, which resulted in a structure of unique and shared knowledge. They became explicit for being stored in a knowledge base and presented to its users through the expert system. It is concluded that the methodology of acquiring collective tacit knowledge helped on the reduction of rework index by standardizing the way used to investigate the cause of the defect, in the studied company.

Research limitations/implications

– The MACTAK methodology was developed for exclusive use in industrial processes where the following elements are presented: process, method, environment, raw materials, labor work, measurement and machine. In this method, the detection of the problem occurs from statistical data.

Practical implications

– The methodology began in August 2010, and in October 2011, obtained as a result a reduction in rework cost equivalent to US$17,780.95.

Originality/value

– The methodology is unique, as it refers to the systematic use of knowledge acquisition techniques and tools of quality, and the methodology has a characteristic of direct application in manufacturing processes. The beneficiaries, in this case, are mechanicals of production and quality inspectors that work at the operation level in the company. For the organizational and tactical level, the beneficiaries are engineers of production.
Using essential processes in knowledge integration for knowledge enhancement
Authors: Mohd. Rodzi Mohd. Zuhaili , Ahmad Mohammad Nazir , Zakaria Nor Hidayati
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to study the significant role of knowledge integration, which has a considerable influence on the growth of civilisation and modernisation. It identifies the essential processes in knowledge integration for establishing common understanding, thus enabling long-term sustainability in a dynamic environment that requires continuous adaptability. By understanding the essential processes of knowledge integration, the timely creation of new knowledge is ensured as a solution for critical problems; thus enhancing past and present knowledge.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper undertakes a comparative analysis of research in the literature on knowledge integration and derives the essential processes in knowledge integration from existing theories.

Findings

– Generally, there are various interpretations of knowledge integration that complicate the understanding and implementation of knowledge integration in many organisations. This study extracts the implicit nature of knowledge integration by explicitly proposing its essential processes, namely: identification, creation, assimilation and evaluationto identify the core elements necessary for any initiative in knowledge integration.

Research limitations/implications

– A number of barriers and dependencies exist in knowledge integration. These are categorised as individual, structural and ontological factors.

Practical implications

– The utilisation of the essential processes of knowledge integration increases the speed of knowledge creation through the elimination of redundant conventional processes. This indirectly establishes a generic form of knowledge integration, allowing effective communication among knowledge practitioners.

Originality/value

– The paper’s originality lies in the explicit proposal of the essential processes of knowledge integration, referred to as identification, creation, assimilation and evaluation. Furthermore, this paper highlights the potential of essential processes to act as an ontology that can bridge the real and virtual world of knowledge integration implementation through a generic understanding of the knowledge integration concept among practitioners.
Enhancement of the immunogenicity of a porcine circovirus type 2 DNA vaccine by a recombinant plasmid coexpressing capsid protein and porcine interleukin‐6 in mice
Authors: Guo Xiao‐Qing , Wang Lin‐Qing , Qiao Han , Yang Xing‐Wu , Yang Ming‐Fan , Chen Hong‐Ying
Published: February 2015

The development of effective vaccines against porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) has been accepted as an important strategy in the prophylaxis of post‐weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome; a DNA vaccine expressing the major immunogenic capsid (Cap) protein of PCV2 is considered to be a promising candidate. However, DNA vaccines usually induce weak immune responses. In this study, it was found that the efficacy of a DNA vaccine expressing Cap protein was improved by simultaneous expression of porcine IL‐6. A plasmid (pIRES‐ORF2/IL6) separately expressing both Cap protein and porcine IL‐6 was constructed and compared with another plasmid (pIRES‐ORF2) expressing Cap protein for its potential to induce PCV2‐specific immune responses. Mice were vaccinated i.m. twice at 3 week intervals and the induced humoral and cellular responses evaluated. All animals vaccinated with pIRES‐ORF2/IL6 and pIRES‐ORF2 developed specific anti‐PCV2 antibodies (according to enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay) and a T lymphocyte proliferation response. The percentages of CD3+, CD3+CD8+, and CD3+CD4+ subgroups of peripheral blood T‐lymphocytes were significantly higher in mice immunized with pIRES‐ORF2/IL6 than in those that had received pIRES‐ORF2. After challenge with the virulent PCV2 Wuzhi isolate, mice vaccinated with pIRES‐ORF2/IL6 had significantly less viral replication than those vaccinated with pIRES‐ORF2, suggesting that the protective immunity induced by pIRES‐ORF2/IL6 is superior to that induced by pIRES‐ORF2.
Mannan‐binding lectin reduces CpG DNA‐induced inflammatory cytokine production by human monocytes
Authors: Tang Yuan , Ma Di , Ming Siqi , Zhang Liyun , Zhou Jia , Shan Guiqiu , Chen Zhengliang , Lu Xiao , Zuo Daming
Published: February 2015

Mannan‐binding lectin (MBL) belongs to the collectin family and functions as an opsonin that can also initiate complement activation. Our previous study showed that MBL serves as a double‐stranded RNA binding protein that attenuates polyriboinosinic‐polyribocytidylic acid‐induced TLR3 activation. Prompted by these findings, in the present study cross‐talk between MBL and CpG‐DNA‐induced TLR9 activation was investigated. Here, it was found that MBL also interacts with the TLR9 agonist, CpG oligodeoxynucleotide (CpG‐ODN), in a calcium‐dependent manner. Purified MBL protein suppressed activation of nuclear factor‐kappa B signaling and subsequent production of proinflammatory cytokines from human monocytes induced by CpG‐ODN 2006. These observations indicate that MBL can down‐regulate CpG DNA‐induced TLR9 activation, emphasizing the importance of understanding the interaction of MBL with TLR agonist in host immune defense.
Trade‐offs between transgenerational transfer of nutritional stress tolerance and immune priming
Authors: Shikano Ikkei , Oak Miranda C. , Halpert‐Scanderbeg Olivia , Cory Jenny S.
Published: February 2015

Transgenerational effects are often assumed to have adaptive value as a driver of variation in offspring and parental fitness. Studies of transgenerational effects often focus on single environmental variables. However, in nature, it is unlikely for one factor to vary independently from others and there are likely to be trade‐offs between different stressors.

We altered the nutritional environment of both parents and offspring to examine how nutritional stress influences transgenerational immune priming (TGIP) with a sublethal challenge by the bacterial pathogen Bacillus thuringiensis, in the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni.

Transgenerational immune priming was adaptive when offspring encountered the same pathogen experienced by their parents, such that offspring resistance to B. thuringiensis increased 1·5‐fold and antibacterial activity in the haemolymph increased by as much as 4‐fold. However, this was not a general increase in pathogen resistance as susceptibility to a second pathogen, the baculovirus, TnSNPV remained the same. Interestingly, nutritional stress in the parents both enhanced nutritional stress tolerance of offspring and heightened resistance to both B. thuringiensis and TnSNPV. Elevated pathogen resistance was linked to increased egg size.

There was a significant trade‐off between TGIP and the transfer of nutritional stress tolerance when parents encountered both stressors simultaneously, such that parents transferred resistance to pathogens but not nutritional stress tolerance.

These results highlight the trade‐offs that can modulate the occurrence and magnitude of transgenerational effects and illustrate the importance of assessing interactions between multiple environmental variables. At high population densities, disease risk increases and resour‐ces become depleted. Thus, our findings could have significant implications for population dynamics.
Host age modulates parasite infectivity, virulence and reproduction
Authors: Izhar Rony , Ben‐Ami Frida
Published: February 2015

Host age is one of the most striking differences among hosts within most populations, but there is very little data on how age‐dependent effects impact ecological and evolutionary dynamics of both the host and the parasite.

Here, we examined the influence of host age (juveniles, young and old adults) at parasite exposure on host susceptibility, fecundity and survival as well as parasite transmission, using two clones of the water flea Daphnia magna and two clones of its bacterial parasite Pasteuria ramosa.

Younger D. magna were more susceptible to infection than older ones, regardless of host or parasite clone. Also, younger‐infected D. magna became castrated faster than older hosts, but host and parasite clone effects contributed to this trait as well. Furthermore, the early‐infected D. magna produced considerably more parasite transmission stages than late‐infected ones, while host age at exposure did not affect virulence as it is defined in models (host mortality).

When virulence is defined more broadly as the negative effects of infection on host fitness, by integrating the parasitic effects on host fecundity and mortality, then host age at exposure seems to slide along a negative relationship between host and parasite fitness. Thus, the virulence–transmission trade‐off differs strongly among age classes, which in turn affects predictions of optimal virulence.

Age‐dependent effects on host susceptibility, virulence and parasite transmission could pose an important challenge for experimental and theoretical studies of infectious disease dynamics and disease ecology. Our results present a call for a more explicit stage‐structured theory for disease, which will incorporate age‐dependent epidemiological parameters.
What Future for the Ombudsman?
Authors: O'Brien Nick
Published: February 2015

The ombudsman institution, in both the public and private sectors, is increasingly identified with the ethos of consumerism and the protection of consumer rights. The current trend is exemplified and reinforced by the EU ADR Directive and by the government response to a recent inquiry into complaints conducted by the Public Administration Select Committee. This article argues that the dominant consumerist ethos diminishes the ability of the ombudsman institution to fulfil its potential. If the ombudsman institution, in particular as manifest in the office of the UK Parliamentary Ombudsman, is to serve the public interest, it must instead promote human rights principles and constitutional morality, adopt a process that is marked by public reasoning and participation and seek by a whole‐system approach to realise a vision that is integrated and truly democratic.
Egg trait variation in a large hawk‐cuckoo (Hierococcyx sparverioides) host population of Chinese babax (Babax lanceolatus)
Authors: YANG Canchao , LIU Yang , LIANG Wei
Published: February 2015

Mutual interaction between brood parasites and their hosts is a well‐known model system for studying host–parasite coevolution. Both parties have acted reciprocally, resembling an evolutionary arms race, in which adaptations and counter‐adaptations have evolved as a result of host–parasite dynamics, such as the classical cuckoo–host system. Discrimination among parasite and cuckoo eggs and rejection of foreign eggs is regarded as an important anti‐parasitism strategy. The Chinese babax (Babax lanceolatus) is a large hawk‐cuckoo (Hierococcyx sparverioides) host distributed in southwest China. A previous study shows that the babax is an intermediate egg rejector, and most cuckoo eggs are accepted by the Chinese babax, although a small proportion of hosts reject cuckoo eggs. Interestingly, the large hawk‐cuckoo lays non‐mimetic eggs in contrast to the uniform blue eggs of babaxes. Because egg coloration is a critical cue used by host species in favor of the recognition of parasitic eggs by hosts, we used a spectrometer to quantify egg color variation to understand the differentiation in discrimination ability between the egg rejectors and acceptors. We found that the chroma of intra‐clutch variation of babax eggs was more consistent in egg rejectors than in acceptors. However, no statistical significance was found in inter‐clutch variation between these two types of hosts. Our results suggest that hosts lay eggs with a low level of intra‐clutch variation without the necessity of a high level of inter‐clutch variation simultaneously as predicted by the egg signature hypothesis. This study may further indicate that selection pressures from evolutionarily recent parasites can drive individual‐based differences in an anti‐parasitism strategy.
One hundred years of population ecology: Successes, failures and the road ahead
Authors: KREBS Charles J.
Published: February 2015

Population ecology is the most mature of the three subdisciplines of ecology partly because it has a solid mathematical foundation and partly because it can address the primary questions of distribution and abundance with experimental protocols. Yet there is much left to do to integrate our population knowledge into community and ecosystem ecology to help address the global issues of food security and the conservation of biodiversity. Many different approaches are now being developed to bring about this integration and much more research will be necessary to decide which if any will be most useful in achieving our goals of explaining the changes we see in the distribution and abundance of animals and plants. Food web ecology would appear to be the best approach at present because it uses the detailed information of the population ecology of particular species in combination with data on consumer–resource interactions to apply to the applied problems of biodiversity conservation, food security, pest management and disease prevention. If we can use our understanding of population ecology to address the practical problems of our time in a creative way, we will benefit both the human population and the Earth's biodiversity. Much remains to be done.
Insect abundance and damage on the deciduous Nothofagus macrocarpa increase with altitude at a site in the Mediterranean climate zone of Chile
Authors: Altmann Scott H , Claros Sandra
Published: February 2015

An understanding of the spatial and temporal patterns of insect abundance and plant damage across altitudinal gradients and the mechanisms driving them is limited. Importantly, little is known in this area in relation to specific Mediterranean climate ecosystems. Insect abundance and plant damage in these environments may be closely related to air temperature, since it contributes to insect performance, length of growing season and tree growth, which is hypothesised to be negatively related to host plant defences against herbivory. In this study, we examined general insect abundance (across all taxa) and associated leaf damage, plant growth and leaf defences in the tree Nothofagus macrocarpa along an altitudinal gradient in the Mediterranean climate zone of Chile. Sampling was conducted in spring and summer at ‘El Roble’ mountain at three elevations (masl): low (1100–1200), medium (1600–1700) and high (2000–2100). Foliar insect abundance in both seasons was twofold higher at high vs. low altitude, and in summer leaf area damage increased with altitude. Twig growth was highest at high altitude, whereas leaf total polyphenols in both seasons were also relatively high at this altitude. Results indicate that in this climate, higher overall insect abundance and damage in a plant species can be found at higher altitudes and that air temperature does not limit insect presence. Moreover, total leaf polyphenols were not negatively related to this pattern or to plant growth. Among the possible explanations, we suggest that climate change is creating unfavourable conditions for insects at lower altitudes, resulting in an altitudinal shift.
THE DETERMINANTS OF OUTREACH PERFORMANCE OF SOCIAL BUSINESS: AN INQUIRY ON ITALIAN SOCIAL COOPERATIVES
Authors: BECCHETTI Leonardo , PISANI Fabio
Published: February 2015

We analyze factors affecting outreach performance of a large sample of (type A) social cooperatives in Italy taking into account their heterogeneity with a multi‐output stochastic distance function frontier. We find that cooperative age, innovation leading to new products/customer segments, managerial turnover, target programming and shareholder variety are positively and significantly (while shareholder meetings, the number of volunteers and of contracts negatively and significantly) correlated with outreach performance, measured as the capacity of serving more beneficiaries given labour and capital inputs. Outreach is also significantly and positively affected by local GDP and human capital.
A novel CGRP‐neutralizing Spiegelmer attenuates neurogenic plasma protein extravasation
Authors: Hoehlig K , Johnson K W , Pryazhnikov E , Maasch C , Clemens‐Smith A , Purschke W G , Vauléon S , Buchner K , Jarosch F , Khiroug L , Vater A , Klussmann S
Published: February 2015

Background and Purpose

Calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) plays an important role in the pathology of migraine, and recent clinical trials suggest the inhibition of CGRP‐mediated processes as a new therapeutic option in migraine. In this study, we describe the generation of NOX‐L41, a CGRP‐neutralizing mirror‐image (l‐)aptamer (Spiegelmer) and investigate its in vitro and in vivo function.

Experimental Approach

A CGRP‐binding Spiegelmer was identified by in vitro selection. Binding studies were performed using surface plasmon resonance (SPR), and the inhibitory activity was determined in cell‐based assays. The pharmacokinetic profile comparing i.v. and s.c. dosing was analysed in rats. Intravital two‐photon microscopy was employed to follow extravasation from meningeal vessels. Finally, in vivo efficacy was tested in a model of electrically evoked meningeal plasma protein extravasation (PPE) in rats.

Key Results

We identified NOX‐L41, a novel CGRP‐neutralizing Spiegelmer. SPR studies showed that NOX‐L41 binds to human and rat/mouse CGRP with sub‐nanomolar affinities and is highly selective against related peptides such as amylin. In vitro, NOX‐L41 effectively inhibited CGRP‐induced cAMP formation in SK‐N‐MC cells. In rats, NOX‐L41 had a plasma half‐life of 8 h. Pharmacodynamic studies showed that NOX‐L41 extravasates from blood vessels in the dura mater and inhibits neurogenic meningeal PPE for at least 18 h after single dosing.

Conclusions and Implications

This is the first description of the CGRP‐neutralizing Spiegelmer NOX‐L41. Preclinical studies confirmed a role for CGRP in neurogenic PPE and provided proof‐of‐concept for the potential use of this new drug candidate for the treatment or prevention of migraine.
Postoperative follow‐up of Cushing's disease using cortisol, desmopressin and coupled dexamethasone‐desmopressin tests: a head‐to‐head comparison
Authors: Le Marc'hadour Pauline , Muller Marie , Albarel Frederique , Coulon Anne‐Laure , Morange Isabelle , Martinie Monique , Gay Emmanuel , Graillon Thomas , Dufour Henri , Conte‐Devolx Bernard , Chabre Olivier , Brue Thierry , Castinetti Frederic
Published: February 2015

Objective

Predicting the outcome of patients operated on for Cushing's disease (CD) is a challenging task. Our objective was to assess the accuracy of immediate postsurgical plasma cortisol, desmopressin test and the coupled dexamethasone‐desmopressin test (CDDT) as predictors of outcome.

Design and patients

Sixty‐seven patients with initial remission and a minimal postsurgical follow‐up greater than 18 months were included in this retrospective bicentre study.

Measurements

Follow‐up included 3–6 months followed by yearly 24‐h urinary‐free cortisol, ACTH and cortisol plasmatic levels, a 1‐mg overnight dexamethasone suppression test (1‐mg DST), desmopressin test and the CDDT. ROC curves were performed to define the optimal threshold of immediate postsurgical cortisol level and 3‐ to 6‐month desmopressin test and CDDT, as predictors of final outcome in comparison with classical biological markers of recurrence.

Results

Eleven patients presented recurrence. The patient's median follow‐up was 52 months (range, 18–180). As early predictors of outcome, immediate postsurgical plasma cortisol level <35 nmol/l predicted the lack of recurrence with 93% negative predictive value (NPV), whereas predictive positive value (PPV) was 25%. During the follow‐up, the CDDT was more precise than the desmopressin test in predicting the lack of recurrence (100% NPV) when performed in the first 3 years after surgery. Positivity of the CDDT was defined based on ROC curves by ACTH and cortisol increments >50%. The CDDT was highly reproducible, as the same response was observed every year in 91% of the patients.

Conclusions

Adding the CDDT the first 3 years after surgery to immediate postsurgical cortisol evaluation should allow obtaining an optimal follow‐up management of patients operated for Cushing's disease.
A systematic review and meta‐analysis of removable and fixed implant‐supported prostheses in edentulous jaws: post‐loading implant loss
Authors: Kern Jaana‐Sophia , Kern Thomas , Wolfart Stefan , Heussen Nicole
Published: February 2015

Objectives

The aim of this systematic review was to analyze post‐loading implant loss for implant‐supported prostheses in edentulous jaws, regarding a potential impact of implant location (maxilla vs. mandible), implant number per patient, type of prosthesis (removable vs. fixed), and type of attachment system (screw‐retained, ball vs. bar vs. telescopic crown).

Material and methods

A systematic literature search for randomized‐controlled trials (RCTs) or prospective studies was conducted within PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Embase. Quality assessment of the included studies was carried out, and the review was structured according to PRISMA. Implant loss and corresponding 3‐ and 5‐year survival rates were estimated by means of a Poisson regression model with total exposure time as offset.

Results

After title, abstract, and full‐text screening, 54 studies were included for qualitative analyses. Estimated 5‐year survival rates of implants were 97.9% [95% CI 97.4; 98.4] in the maxilla and 98.9% [95% CI 98.7; 99.1] in the mandible. Corresponding implant loss rates per 100 implant years were significantly higher in the maxilla (0.42 [95% CI 0.33; 0.53] vs. 0.22 [95% CI 0.17; 0.27]; P = 0.0001). Implant loss rates for fixed restorations were significantly lower compared to removable restorations (0.23 [95% CI 0.18; 0.29] vs. 0.35 [95% CI 0.28; 0.44]; P = 0.0148). Four implants and a fixed restoration in the mandible resulted in significantly higher implant loss rates compared to five or more implants with a fixed restoration. The analysis of one implant and a mandibular overdenture also revealed higher implant loss rates than an overdenture on two implants. The same (lower implant number = higher implant loss rate) applied when comparing 2 vs. 4 implants and a mandibular overdenture. Implant loss rates for maxillary overdentures on <4 implants were significantly higher than for four implants (7.22 [95% CI 5.41; 9.64] vs. 2.31 [1.56; 3.42]; P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Implant location, type of restoration, and implant number do have an influence on the estimated implant loss rate. Consistent reporting of clinical studies is necessary and high‐quality studies are needed to confirm the present results.
Stable and variable life‐history responses to temperature and photoperiod in the beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis
Authors: Kutcherov Dmitry , Saulich Aida , Lopatina Elena , Ryzhkova Maria
Published: February 2015

The beet webworm, Loxostege sticticalis L. (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), unlike many temperate insects and despite its wide distribution range, has a geographically stable value of the critical photoperiod for diapause induction. It has thus been hypothesized that the species could adjust its life cycle to different climates in an alternative way, which should be reflected in geographical variation and/or environmental plasticity of some other ecophysiological trait. Three remote populations of the beet webworm were studied. The insects were reared from egg to adult at several combinations of temperature and photoperiod in order to measure development times of all the immature stages and pre‐pupal body weight, and to characterize the sensitivity of these life‐history traits to the two ecological factors. The thermal reaction norms for immature development appeared to be significantly different in the three populations. There was also a significant effect of photoperiod on development time as well as on the thermal sensitivity and lower temperature threshold for larval development. Pre‐pupae from the northernmost population were heavier and their body mass was more strongly affected by photoperiod than in the other two, but attainment of a greater weight under short‐day conditions, especially combined with higher temperatures, was common for all the three populations. Nevertheless, all the discovered geographical and environmentally induced differences in life‐history traits were very small and their adaptive significance remains problematic.
Evidence that phosphorylation of threonine in the GT motif triggers activation of PknA, a eukaryotic‐type serine/threonine kinase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Ravala Sandeep K. , Singh Suruchi , Yadav Ghanshyam S. , Kumar Sanjay , Karthikeyan Subramanian , Chakraborti Pradip K.
Published: February 2015

Phosphorylation of the activation loop in the catalytic domain of the RD family of bacterial eukaryotic‐type Ser/Thr protein kinases (STPK) induces their conformational transition from an inactive to active state. However, mechanistic insights into the phosphorylation‐mediated transition of these STPKs from an inactive to active state remain unknown. In the present study, we addressed this issue with PknA, an essential STPK from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We found that the catalytic activity of PknA is confined within the N‐terminal 283 amino acids (PknA‐283). The crystal structure of PknA‐283 in unphosphorylated form showed an ordered activation loop and existed in an inactive state preventing the phosphorylation of its cognate substrate(s). Peptide mass finger printing studies revealed that all activation loop threonines (Thr172, Thr174 and Thr180) were phosphorylated in the activated PknA‐283 protein. Substitution of Thr180 with Ala/Asp (T180A/T180D) resulted in catalytically defective mutants, whereas a double mutant replacing Thr172 and Thr174 with Ala (T172A‐T174A) was deficient in kinase activity. Analysis of PknA‐283 structure, together with biochemical studies, revealed the possibility of phosphorylation of Thr180 via a cis mechanism, whereas that of Thr172 and Thr174 occurs via a trans mechanism. Moreover, unlike wild‐type, these mutants did not show any drastic change in cell morphology in a phenotypic assay, implicating the role of all threonines in the activation loop towards the functionality of PknA. Thus, our findings offer a model for kinase activation showing that the phosphorylation of Thr180 triggers PknA to transphosphorylate Thr172/Thr174, thereby governing its functionality.
The contribution of trees to ecosystem methane emissions in a temperate forested wetland
Authors: Pangala Sunitha R. , Hornibrook Edward R.C. , Gowing David J. , Gauci Vincent
Published: February 2015

Wetland‐adapted trees are known to transport soil‐produced methane (CH4), an important greenhouse gas to the atmosphere, yet seasonal variations and controls on the magnitude of tree‐mediated CH4 emissions remain unknown for mature forests. We examined the spatial and temporal variability in stem CH4 emissions in situ and their controls in two wetland‐adapted tree species (Alnus glutinosa and Betula pubescens) located in a temperate forested wetland. Soil and herbaceous plant‐mediated CH4 emissions from hollows and hummocks also were measured, thus enabling an estimate of contributions from each pathway to total ecosystem flux. Stem CH4 emissions varied significantly between the two tree species, with Alnus glutinosa displaying minimal seasonal variations, while substantial seasonal variations were observed in Betula pubescens. Trees from each species emitted similar quantities of CH4 from their stems regardless of whether they were situated in hollows or hummocks. Soil temperature and pore‐water CH4 concentrations best explained annual variability in stem emissions, while wood‐specific density and pore‐water CH4 concentrations best accounted for between‐species variations in stem CH4 emission. Our study demonstrates that tree‐mediated CH4 emissions contribute up to 27% of seasonal ecosystem CH4 flux in temperate forested wetland, with the largest relative contributions occurring in spring and winter. Tree‐mediated CH4 emissions currently are not included in trace gas budgets of forested wetland. Further work is required to quantify and integrate this transport pathway into CH4 inventories and process‐based models.
Parkinson's disease and periodontitis – the missing link? A review
Authors: Kaur Tejaswani , Uppoor Ashita , Naik Dilip
Published: February 2015

Objective

In this article an attempt has been made to postulate a possible link between Parkinson's disease and periodontal disease.

Background

Various systemic diseases such as cardiac disease, diabetes, renal diseases, low birth weight and Alzheimer's disease have been proposed to be linked with periodontal disease on the basis of systemic inflammation. Parkinson's disease is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disorder with multifactorial aetiology. Until now, periodontal disease and Parkinson's disease has been linked only on the basis of poor motor and cognitive control in Parkinson's patient which leads to poor oral health maintenance. Evidence now suggests that chronic neuroinflammation is consistently associated with the pathophysiology of Parkinson's disease. Also, recently, systemic inflammation has been suggested as one of the contributing factors for neurodegeneration.

Material and methods

Dental and medical literature especially those dealing with neurosciences were selected which highlighted the link between systemic inflammation and infection.

Results

So far there is no direct evidence implicating an effect of periodontitis in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. To clarify this link, studies on population based case–control or cohort design are needed. This would be especially significant in the present era where there is paucity for preventive measures as far as a cognitive disorder such as Parkinson's disease is concerned.

Conclusion

We cannot cure Parkinson's disease, but if in future this missing link is established, an attempt can be made to prevent it by tackling one of its possible contributors (periodontitis) for systemic inflammation by simple preventive oral hygiene measures.
Approximate Bayesian Computation for a Class of Time Series Models
Authors: Jasra Ajay
Published: February 2015

In the following article, we consider approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) for certain classes of time series models. In particular, we focus upon scenarios where the likelihoods of the observations and parameter are intractable, by which we mean that one cannot evaluate the likelihood even up to a non‐negative unbiased estimate. This paper reviews and develops a class of approximation procedures based upon the idea of ABC, but specifically maintains the probabilistic structure of the original statistical model. This latter idea is useful, in that one can adopt or adapt established computational methods for statistical inference. Several existing results in the literature are surveyed, and novel developments with regards to computation are given.
Reduction in wound healing times, cost of consumables and number of visits treated through the implementation of an electronic wound care system in rural Australia
Authors: Khalil Hanan , Cullen Marianne , Chambers Helen , Carroll Matthew , Walker Judi
Published: February 2015

Globally, wound care costs the health care system 2–3% of the total expenditure on health, which equates to several billion dollars annually. To date, there are little data on the cost and healing rates of various wounds. This has been partly because of the difficulty in tracking wound management as the majority of wound care data has been focused on retrospective data from hospitals, general practice clinics and aged care facilities. This study reports on wound healing and cost of wounds collected from a larger project using the mobile wound care (MWC) electronic documentation system, which has been described elsewhere. The study involved 2350 clients from four health service districts in the Gippsland region in rural Australia who received treatments as part of the MWC research project (2010–2012), with a total of 3726 wounds identified (so an average of 1·6 wounds per client). By the end of the data collection period, 81% of these wounds had healed. A significant drop in healing time, cost of consumables and number of visits was found across the 3‐year period.