bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Restoring grasslands with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi around remnant patches
Authors: Teste François P.
Published: December 2015

Ecological restoration of species‐rich grasslands remains a priority for conservation of biodiversity. Torrez et al. (Applied Vegetation Science, this issue) determined if plant species recolonization of degraded nutrient‐poor grasslands could be increased by adding a local source of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) inoculum at different distances from intact remnant grasslands. They highlight the important role of below‐ground processes on restoration success.
A review on the impact of cognitive dysfunction on social, occupational, and general functional outcomes in bipolar disorder
Authors: Baune Bernhard T , Malhi Gin S
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Bipolar disorder (BD) is associated with significant impairment in cognitive performance across multiple domains of function that often persist after clinical recovery. It remains unclear, however, as to whether this process is related to the clinical status of BD being depressed, manic/hypomanic, or euthymic. In this review, we examine the literature on the cross‐sectional and longitudinal relationships between cognitive function and general function depending on the clinical phase of BD.

Methods

A systematic review of original research that studied both cognitive function and general function in adults (18–60 years), restricted to BD, was conducted in a total of 18 studies meeting inclusion/exclusion criteria.

Results

Results show cross‐sectional and prospective relationships between cognitive function and general function in patients with BD in both symptomatic and euthymic patients with BD. While studies using general measures of function (e.g., Global Assessment of Function scale) show more inconsistent associations with cognitive function, those employing assessments of domain specific function, suggest a consistent relationship between social and occupational function and cognitive performance. Executive function is commonly affected by cognitive deficits in these patients, but in addition a variety of domains show associations with functional outcomes (e.g., social function, occupational function). Notably, the emerging evidence suggests that cognitive function may be a better predictor of future general function than affective symptom severity.

Conclusions

Despite some inconsistencies, in sum the literature on the relationship between cognitive function and general function in BD implicates both cross‐sectional and longitudinal associations, both in symptomatic and euthymic patients with BD. And in terms of capturing these changes functional scales in particular domain‐specific measures seem superior to general measures.
The neurocognitive profile of mood disorders – a review of the evidence and methodological issues
Authors: Porter Richard J , Robinson Lucy J , Malhi Gin S , Gallagher Peter
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Cognitive abnormalities are an established part of the symptomatology of mood disorders. However, questions still exist regarding the exact profile of these deficits in terms of the domains most affected, their origins, and their relationship to clinical subtypes. This review aims to examine the current state of the evidence and to examine ways in which the field may be advanced.

Methods

Studies examining cognitive function in bipolar disorder (BD) and unipolar major depression (MDD) were examined. Given the number and variability of such studies, particular attention was paid to meta‐analyses and to meta‐regression analyses which examined the possible mediators of cognitive impairment.

Results

Meta‐analyses are available for MDD and BD in both depression and euthymia. Several analyses examine mediators. Results do not support the presence of domain specific deficits but rather a moderate deficit across a range of domains in BD and in MDD. The data on clinical mediators is inconsistent, even with regard to the effect of mood state.

Conclusions

A two‐tiered approach, with the broad‐based application of standardized measures on a large‐scale, and the refined application of theoretically driven experimental development would significantly further our understanding of neurocognitive processing in mood disorder.
Vulnerability, Health Agency and Capability to Health
Authors: Straehle Christine
Published: December 2015

One of the defining features of the capability approach (CA) to health, as developed in Venkatapuram's book Health Justice, is its aim to enable individual health agency. Furthermore, the CA to health hopes to provide a strong guideline for assessing the health‐enabling content of social and political conditions. In this article, I employ the recent literature on the liberal concept of vulnerability to assess the CA. I distinguish two kinds of vulnerability. Considering circumstantial vulnerability, I argue that liberal accounts of vulnerability concerned with individual autonomy, align with the CA to health. Individuals should, as far as possible, be able to make health‐enabling decisions about their lives, and their capability to do so should certainly not be hindered by public policy. The CA to health and a vulnerability‐based analysis then work alongside to define moral responsibilities and designate those who hold them. Both approaches demand social policy to address circumstances that hinder individuals from taking health‐enabling decisions. A background condition of vulnerability, on the other hand, even though it hampers the capability for health, does not warrant the strong moral claim proposed by the CA to health to define health as a meta‐capability that should guide social policy. Nothing in our designing social policy could change the challenge to health agency when we deal with background conditions of vulnerability.
Venkatapuram's Capability theory of Health: A Critical Discussion
Authors: Tengland Per‐Anders
Published: December 2015

The discussion about theories of health has recently had an important new input through the work of Sridhar Venkatapuram. He proposes a combination of Lennart Nordenfelt's holistic theory of health and Martha Nussbaum's version of the capability approach. The aim of the present article is to discuss and evaluate this proposal. The article starts with a discussion of Nordenfelt's theory and evaluates Venkatapuram’ critique of it, that is, of its relativism, both regarding goals and environment, and of the subjectivist theory of happiness used. Then the article explains why Nordenfelt's idea of a reasonable environment is not a problem for the theory, and it critiques Venkatapuram's own incorporation of the environment into the concept of health, suggesting that this makes the concept too wide. It contends, moreover, that Venkatapuram's alternative theory retains a problem inherent in Nordenfelt's theory, namely, that health is conceived of as a second‐order ability. It is argued that health should, instead, be defined as first‐order abilities. This means that health cannot be seen as a capability, and also that health cannot be seen as a meta‐capability of the kind envisioned by Venkatapuram. It is, furthermore, argued that the theory lacks one crucial aspect of health, namely, subjective wellbeing. Finally, the article tries to illustrate how health, in the suggested alternative sense, as first‐order abilities, fits into Nussbaum's capability theory, since health as an ‘actuality’ is part of all the ‘combined capabilities’ suggested by Nussbaum.
Flexible Link Functions in Nonparametric Binary Regression with Gaussian Process Priors
Authors: Li Dan , Wang Xia , Lin Lizhen , Dey Dipak K.
Published: December 2015

In many scientific fields, it is a common practice to collect a sequence of 0-1 binary responses from a subject across time, space, or a collection of covariates. Researchers are interested in finding out how the expected binary outcome is related to covariates, and aim at better prediction in the future 0-1 outcomes. Gaussian processes have been widely used to model nonlinear systems; in particular to model the latent structure in a binary regression model allowing nonlinear functional relationship between covariates and the expectation of binary outcomes. A critical issue in modeling binary response data is the appropriate choice of link functions. Commonly adopted link functions such as probit or logit links have fixed skewness and lack the flexibility to allow the data to determine the degree of the skewness. To address this limitation, we propose a flexible binary regression model which combines a generalized extreme value link function with a Gaussian process prior on the latent structure. Bayesian computation is employed in model estimation. Posterior consistency of the resulting posterior distribution is demonstrated. The flexibility and gains of the proposed model are illustrated through detailed simulation studies and two real data examples. Empirical results show that the proposed model outperforms a set of alternative models, which only have either a Gaussian process prior on the latent regression function or a Dirichlet prior on the link function.
Cultural invariance of goal orientation and self‐efficacy in New Zealand: Relations with achievement
Authors: Meissel Kane , Rubie‐Davies Christine M.
Published: December 2015

Background

There is substantial evidence indicating that various psychological processes are affected by cultural context, but such research is comparatively nascent within New Zealand. As there are four large cultural groups in New Zealand, representing an intersection of individualist, collectivist, indigenous, colonial, and immigrant cultures, New Zealand is an important context in which to investigate the role of culture in such processes.

Aims

This study investigated goal orientation and self‐efficacy beliefs among students of different cultural backgrounds in New Zealand, associations between motivational beliefs and achievement, and whether any relations differed by cultural background.

Sample

Participants were 2,210 students attending three intermediate schools.

Methods

Participants responded to a questionnaire at the beginning of the school year to evaluate self‐efficacy for mathematics and mastery and performance goal orientation. Participants also completed a standardized mathematics achievement test at the beginning and end of the year.

Results

The factor structure was sufficiently invariant by cultural group, but with statistically significant differences in average level of endorsement. Self‐efficacy for mathematics predicted marginally higher end‐of‐year achievement after controlling for beginning‐of‐year achievement, with a stronger relationship for Māori and Pasifika, but no statistically significant relationship with achievement among Asian students.

Conclusions

The questionnaire used was a valid instrument for the four main cultural groups in New Zealand. Differences were found in motivation levels, and Māori and Pasifika were more affected by their self‐reported self‐efficacy. Teachers may be able to raise students’ self‐beliefs by conveying high expectations for these students, potentially supporting higher academic outcomes.
The value of molecular stratification for CEBPADM and NPM1MUTFLT3WT genotypes in older patients with acute myeloid leukaemia
Authors: Dickson Glenda J. , Bustraan Sophia , Hills Robert K. , Ali Akbar , Goldstone Anthony H. , Burnett Alan K. , Linch David C. , Gale Rosemary E.
Published: December 2015

Older adult patients (≥60 years) with acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are generally considered to be poor‐risk and there is limited information available regarding risk stratification based on molecular characterization in this age group, particularly for the double‐mutant CEBPA (CEBPADM) genotype. To investigate whether a molecular favourable‐risk genotype can be identified, we investigated CEBPA, NPM1 and FLT3 status and prognostic impact in a cohort of 301 patients aged 60 years or more with intermediate‐risk cytogenetics, all treated intensively. Overall survival (OS) at 1 year was highest in the 12 patients (4%) that were CEBPADM compared to the 76 (28%) with a mutant NPM1 and wild‐type FLT3 (NPM1MUTFLT3WT) genotype or all other patients (75%, 54%, 33% respectively), with median survival 15·2, 13·6 and 6·6 months, although the benefit was short‐term (OS at 3 years 17%, 29%, 12% respectively). Combination of the CEBPADM and NPM1MUTFLT3WT genotype patients defined a molecular group with favourable prognosis (P < 0·0001 in multivariate analysis), with 57% of patients alive at 1 year compared to 33% for all other patients. Knowledge of genotype in older cytogenetically intermediate‐risk patients might influence therapy decisions.
Central nervous system involvement by Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (Bing‐Neel syndrome): a multi‐institutional retrospective study
Authors: Castillo Jorge J. , D'Sa Shirley , Lunn Michael P. , Minnema Monique C. , Tedeschi Alessandra , Lansigan Frederick , Palomba M. Lia , Varettoni Marzia , Garcia‐Sanz Ramon , Nayak Lakshmi , Lee Eudocia Q. , Rinne Mikael L. , Norden Andrew D. , Ghobrial Irene M. , Treon Steven P.
Published: December 2015

Bing‐Neel syndrome (BNS) is a rare complication seen in patients with Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM), in which lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma cells colonize the central nervous system. In this retrospective multi‐centre study, we present the clinicopathological features, imaging findings, therapy, response and outcomes of 34 patients with BNS. The median time from WM diagnosis to BNS diagnosis was 3 years, 15% of patients were diagnosed with BNS at the time of WM diagnosis, and 22% of patients developed BNS when responding to active treatment for WM. Patients with BNS presented with variable clinical features including limb motor deficits, change in mental status and cranial nerve palsies. The diagnosis was made using a combination of cerebrospinal fluid cytology, flow cytometry and detection of the MYD88 L265 mutation, and magnetic resonance imaging. The estimated 3‐year overall survival rate was 59%. Of the survivors, 40% have evidence of pathological and/or radiological persistence of disease. Age older than 65 years, platelet count lower than 100 × 109/l, and treatment for WM prior to BNS diagnosis were associated with worse outcome. Exposure to rituximab for treatment of BNS was associated with a better outcome. Multi‐institutional collaboration is warranted to improve treatment and outcomes in patients with BNS.
Non‐Hodgkin lymphoma in Southern Africa: review of 487 cases from The International Non‐Hodgkin Lymphoma Classification Project
Authors: Perry Anamarija M. , Perner Yvonne , Diebold Jacques , Nathwani Bharat N. , MacLennan Kenneth A. , Müller‐Hermelink Hans K. , Bast Martin , Boilesen Eugene , Armitage James O. , Weisenburger Dennis D.
Published: December 2015

Comparative data on the distribution of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) subtypes in Southern Africa (SAF) is scarce. In this study, five expert haematopathologists classified 487 consecutive cases of NHL from SAF using the World Health Organization classification, and compared the results to North America (NA) and Western Europe (WEU). Southern Africa had a significantly lower proportion of low‐grade (LG) B‐NHL (34·3%) and a higher proportion of high‐grade (HG) B‐NHL (51·5%) compared to WEU (54·5% and 36·4%) and NA (56·1% and 34·3%). High‐grade Burkitt‐like lymphoma was significantly more common in SAF (8·2%) than in WEU (2·4%) and NA (2·5%), most likely due to human immunodeficiency virus infection. When SAF patients were divided by race, whites had a significantly higher frequency of LG B‐NHL (60·4%) and a lower frequency of HG B‐NHL (32·7%) compared to blacks (22·5% and 62·6%), whereas the other races were intermediate. Whites and other races had a significantly higher frequency of follicular lymphoma and a lower frequency of Burkitt‐like lymphoma compared to blacks. The median ages of whites with LG B‐NHL, HG B‐NHL and T‐NHL (64, 56 and 67 years) were significantly higher than those of blacks (55, 41 and 34 years). Epidemiological studies are needed to better understand these differences.
Frequency and prognostic value of resistance/intolerance to hydroxycarbamide in 890 patients with polycythaemia vera
Authors: Alvarez‐Larrán Alberto , Kerguelen Ana , Hernández‐Boluda Juan C. , Pérez‐Encinas Manuel , Ferrer‐Marín Francisca , Bárez Abelardo , Martínez‐López Joaquín , Cuevas Beatriz , Mata M. Isabel , García‐Gutiérrez Valentín , Aragües Pilar , Montesdeoca Sara , Burgaleta Carmen , Caballero Gonzalo , Hernández‐Rivas J. Angel , Durán M. Antonia , Gómez‐Casares M. Teresa , Besses Carles ,   the Grupo Español de Enfermedades Mieloproliferativas Filadelfia Negativas (GEMFIN)
Published: December 2015

The clinical significance of resistance/intolerance to hydroxycarbamide (HC) was assessed in a series of 890 patients with polycythaemia vera (PV). Resistance/intolerance to HC was recorded in 137 patients (15·4%), consisting of: need for phlebotomies (3·3%), uncontrolled myeloproliferation (1·6%), failure to reduce massive splenomegaly (0·8%), development of cytopenia at the lowest dose of HC to achieve a response (1·7%) and extra‐haematological toxicity (9%). With a median follow‐up of 4·6 years, 99 patients died, resulting in a median survival of 19 years. Fulfilling any of the resistance/intolerance criteria had no impact on survival but when the different criteria were individually assessed, an increased risk of death was observed in patients developing cytopenia [Hazard ratio (HR): 3·5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1·5–8·3, P = 0·003]. Resistance/intolerance had no impact in the rate of thrombosis or bleeding. Risk of myelofibrotic transformation was significantly higher in those patients developing cytopenia (HR: 5·1, 95% CI: 1·9–13·7, P = 0·001) and massive splenomegaly (HR: 9·1, 95% CI: 2·3–35·9, P = 0·002). Cytopenia at the lowest dose required to achieve a response was also an independent risk factor for transformation to acute leukaemia (HR: 20·3, 95% CI: 5·4–76·5, P < 0·001). In conclusion, the unified definition of resistance/intolerance to HC delineates a heterogeneous group of PV patients, with those developing cytopenia being associated with an adverse outcome.
A survey of patient expectations regarding sexual function following radical prostatectomy
Authors: Deveci Serkan , Gotto Geoffrey T. , Alex Byron , O'Brien Keith , Mulhall John P.
Published: December 2015

Objective

To assess the understanding of patients, who had previously undergone radical prostatectomy (RP), about their postoperative sexual function, as clinical experience suggests that some RP patients have unrealistic expectations about their long‐term sexual function.

Patients and Methods

Patients presenting within 3 months of their open RP or robot‐assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) were questioned about the sexual function information that they had received preoperatively. Patients were questioned about erectile function (EF), postoperative ejaculatory status, orgasm, and postoperative penile morphology changes. Statistical analyses were performed to assess for differences between patients who underwent open RP vs RALP.

Results

In all, 336 consecutive patients (from nine surgeons) with a mean (SD) age of 64 (11) years had the survey instrument administered (216 underwent open RP and 120 underwent RALP). There were no significant differences in patient age or comorbidity profiles between the two groups. Only 38% of men had an accurate recollection of their nerve‐sparing status. The mean (SD) elapsed time after RP at the time of postoperative assessment was 3 (2) months. RALP patients expected a shorter EF recovery time (6 vs 12 months, P = 0.02), a higher likelihood of recovery back to baseline EF (75% vs 50%, P = 0.01), and a lower potential need for intracavernosal injection therapy (4% vs 20%, P = 0.01). Almost half of all patients were unaware that they were rendered anejaculatory by their surgery. None of the RALP patients and only 10% of open RP patients recalled being informed of the potential for penile length loss (P < 0.01) and none were aware of the association between RP and Peyronie's disease.

Conclusions

Patients who have undergone RP have largely unrealistic expectations about their postoperative sexual function.
From mouse to man: predicting biased effects of beta‐blockers in asthma
Authors: Lipworth B J , Anderson W J , Short P M
Published: December 2015

Linked Articles

This article is a Commentary on Thanawala VJ, Valdez DJ, Joshi R, Forkuo GS, Parra S, Knoll BJ, Bouvier M, Leff P and Bond RA (2015). Beta‐blockers have differential effects on the murine asthma phenotype. Br J Pharmacol 172: 4833–4846. doi: 10.1111/bph.13253. The authors reply in Bond RA (2016). Differences in asthma study models and the effectiveness of β2‐adrenoceptor ligands: response to Lipworth et al. Br J Pharmacol 173: 250–251. doi: 10.1111/bph.13334.
Innovative Entrepreneurial Teams: The Give and Take of Trust and Conflict
Authors: Khan Mohammad Saud , Breitenecker Robert J. , Gustafsson Veronika , Schwarz Erich J.
Published: December 2015

Entrepreneurship research lacks empirical evidence about interactions between entrepreneurial team members. This paper examines the role of trust (cognitive and affective) and conflict (task and relationship) on team performance (effectiveness and efficiency) of innovative entrepreneurial teams. Data originated from 88 incubator‐based entrepreneurial teams in Austria. Results indicate that cognitive trust is the cornerstone of innovative entrepreneurial team performance. To maximize efficiency, such teams would rely on high cognitive trust and low task conflict. Nonetheless, the guidelines for being effective centre around high cognitive trust coupled with low task and relationship conflict.
2015 Guidance on cancer immunotherapy development in early‐phase clinical studies
Authors:   Guidance Development Review Committee,   Working Group for Clinical Studies of Cancer Immunotherapy,   Working Group for Effector Cell Therapy,   Working Group for CMC/Non‐clinical Studies,   Working Group for Cancer Vaccines and Adjuvants,   Working Group for Anti‐immune Checkpoint Therapy and Comprehensive Cancer Immunotherapy,   Biostatistics Subcommittee
Published: December 2015

The development of cancer immunotherapies is progressing rapidly with a variety of technological approaches. They consist of “cancer vaccines”, which are based on the idea of vaccination, “effector cell therapy”, classified as passive immunotherapy, and “inhibition of immunosuppression”, which intends to break immunological tolerance to autoantigens or immunosuppressive environments characterizing antitumor immune responses. Recent reports showing clinical evidence of efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors and adoptive immunotherapies with tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes and tumor‐specific receptor gene‐modified T cells indicate the beginning of a new era for cancer immunotherapy. This guidance summarizes ideas that will be helpful to those who plan to develop cancer immunotherapy. The aims of this guidance are to discuss and offer important points in early phase clinical studies of innovative cancer immunotherapy, with future progress in this field, and to contribute to the effective development of cancer immunotherapy aligned with the scope of regulatory science. This guidance covers cancer vaccines, effector cell therapy, and inhibition of immunosuppression, including immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Controlling Images of Space: Latina Teachers and Racial Positioning in Multiracial Schools
Authors: Flores Glenda M.
Published: December 2015

Controlling images, which are hegemonic racial ideologies that permeate social institutions, have been applied to racial/ethnic minority groups and individuals, but much less to space. In this article, I show how controlling images of school district space affect Latina teachers’ perceptions of immigrant Latinas/os racial positioning in U.S. racial hierarchies. Drawing on ethnographic data collected from two Southern California multiracial school districts, I find that Latina teachers working in Compton—a city comprising primarily Latino immigrants—are initially encouraged to leave for districts that are not associated with the “Black underclass.” Latina teachers in Rosemead, an ethnoburb comprising primarily Latinos and Asians, on the other hand, enroll their children there, and are able to access resources the more class heterogeneous Asian population provides. Ultimately, Latina teachers perceive undocumented Latina/o immigrants to be below African Americans and Asian Americans in local racial hierarchies due to political ostracism and relative valorization, respectively.
A comparison of cat‐related risk perceptions and tolerance for outdoor cats in Florida and Hawaii
Authors: Wald Dara M. , Lohr Cheryl A. , Lepczyk Christopher A. , Jacobson Susan K. , Cox Linda J.
Published: December 2015

Risk perceptions and attitudes toward animals often explain tolerance for wildlife and management preferences. However, little is understood about how these relationships vary across different geographic regions and stakeholder groups. To address this gap in knowledge, we compared differences in acceptance capacity, risk perceptions, perceived enjoyment from outdoor cats, and experiences with outdoor cats among 3 groups (general public, conservation community, and animal‐welfare community) in Hawaii and Florida, two states with large conservation challenges. We combined independently collected data from Florida and Hawaii, to determine how perception of the risks presented by outdoor cats, group membership, and state of residence influenced people's tolerance for outdoor cats. Florida respondents were significantly more tolerant of outdoor cats and less concerned about cat‐related risks than Hawaii respondents (p < 0.05). In both states, animal‐welfare group members reported greater enjoyment seeing cats and perceived a smaller increase in the cat population and lower levels of risk than other groups (p < 0.05). All groups exhibited similar relationships between acceptance capacity and enjoyment and the perceived increase in the cat population. Our results suggest public tolerance for cats varied due to the influence of local or geographical concerns, but that strongly held beliefs, risk perceptions, and feelings about cats explained more of the variance in stakeholder tolerance.
Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis in adults: review of cases reported in the latest 15 years
Authors: Chen Xi‐Yuan , Sun Jin‐Ming , Huang Xiao‐Jun
Published: December 2015

Background

Idiopathic pulmonary hemosiderosis (IPH) is a rare disorder of unknown etiology which can cause diffuse alveolar hemorrhage. IPH is found primarily in children. In adults, however, it is extremely rare. A systematic review was applied to identify the details of IPH in adults.

Methods

Articles of English or Chinese language published between 2000 and 2015 were included. Data were extracted on the clinical features, examinations, treatments and clinical outcome.

Results

A total of 37 cases of adult‐onset IPH were included (13 females and 24 males). IPH combined with coeliac disease was found in five patients, three of whom received gluten‐free diet (GFD) only and got full remission. Upon diagnosis, median age was 34 years. The main manifestations were: hemoptysis (n = 30, 81%), dyspnea (n = 23, 64%), anemia (n = 20, 54%). Most patients were treated by corticosteroids initially. The mortality rage was 14% on acute phase.

Conclusion

The adult patients in this study showed some differences from the previously characterized IPH. It is characterized by immunologically mediated, middle‐age onset, male dominance, absence of anemia, high mortality on acute phase.
Bridging factorial and gradient concepts of resource co‐limitation: towards a general framework applied to consumers
Authors: Sperfeld Erik , Raubenheimer David , Wacker Alexander
Published: December 2015

Organism growth can be limited either by a single resource or by multiple resources simultaneously (co‐limitation). Efforts to characterise co‐limitation have generated two influential approaches. One approach uses limitation scenarios of factorial growth assays to distinguish specific types of co‐limitation; the other uses growth responses spanned over a continuous, multi‐dimensional resource space to characterise different types of response surfaces. Both approaches have been useful in investigating particular aspects of co‐limitation, but a synthesis is needed to stimulate development of this recent research area. We address this gap by integrating the two approaches, thereby presenting a more general framework of co‐limitation. We found that various factorial (co‐)limitation scenarios can emerge in different response surface types based on continuous availabilities of essential or substitutable resources. We tested our conceptual co‐limitation framework on data sets of published and unpublished studies examining the limitation of two herbivorous consumers in a two‐dimensional resource space. The experimental data corroborate the predictions, suggesting a general applicability of our co‐limitation framework to generalist consumers and potentially also to other organisms. The presented framework might give insight into mechanisms that underlie co‐limitation responses and thus can be a seminal starting point for evaluating co‐limitation patterns in experiments and nature.
Thermal Sensitivity of Aggression in Two Terrestrial Salamanders, Plethodon cylindraceus and P. montanus
Authors: Clay Timothy A. , Gifford Matthew E.
Published: December 2015

Understanding the abiotic and biotic mechanisms regulating species distributions is an important area of study for ecologists. Increasingly, studies have begun to focus on the influence of abiotic conditions on biotic interactions. Numerous examples of interspecific aggression exist within the terrestrial salamander genus Plethodon and many occur between montane endemics and lowland conspecifics. Here, we explore how variation in temperature might influence aggressive interactions between two Plethodon species that have relatively broad elevational overlap, P. cylindraceus and P. montanus. We found that both species increased aggressive acts with increasing temperatures. We also found that the pattern of variation in aggression across test temperatures differed between species. Interestingly, we found that the lowland congener, P. cylindraceus, was more aggressive than the montane endemic, P. montanus, a pattern opposite of previous observations within Plethodon. The large range of sympatry observed between these species may be a result of a reverse of what is expected based on previous research with congeners in similar systems and not the result of temperature‐specific outcomes.
An approach for community detection in social networks based on cooperative games theory
Authors: Zhou Lihua , Lü Kevin , Liu Weiyi
Published: December 2015

Detecting communities is of great importance in social network analysis. However it is an issue that has not yet been satisfactorily solved, despite the efforts made by interdisciplinary research communities over the past few years, because of the nature of complexity in deciding how community structures should be recognized. In this paper we propose an approach based on cooperative game theory for community detection in social networks. We regard individuals as players, and regard communities as coalitions formed by players, and model community detection problem as the formation and optimization of coalitions. Furthermore, we define coalition profile for players to indicate coalitions that players joined, the order of a coalition profile is defined as the number of coalitions in a coalition profile, and we introduce a utility function to measure preference of coalition profiles. Accordingly, we propose an algorithm to detect a coalition profile with maximal utility function values. We have implemented the algorithms developed in this study and experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness of our approaches.
Distinct X chromosomal rearrangements in four haemophilia B patients with entire F9 deletion
Authors: Nakamura Y. , Ando Y. , Takagi Y. , Murata M. , Kozuka T. , Nakata Y. , Hasebe R. , Takagi A. , Matsushita T. , Shima M. , Kojima T.
Published: December 2015

Introduction

Haemophilia B is an X‐linked bleeding disorder caused by a coagulation factor IX gene (F9) abnormality. Numerous F9 defects have been identified to date; however, only a few with an entire F9 deletion have been reported in detail.

Aim

To elucidate the cause of severe haemophilia B, we investigated the precise X chromosome abnormalities in four Japanese patients who did not show all amplifications in F9‐specific PCR.

Methods

We analysed the patient's genomic DNA using Multiplex ligation‐dependent probe amplification (MLPA). To assess the extent of any deletions, we further performed mapping PCRs, inverse PCRs or long‐range PCRs and direct sequencing analyses of the X chromosome.

Results

We detected entire F9 deletions in four haemophilia B patients and identified the precise deleted regions of the X chromosome including F9. Patient 1 had a 149‐kb deletion with breakpoints 90‐kb upstream and 30‐kb downstream from F9. Patients 2 and 3 showed 273‐kb and 1.19‐Mb deletions respectively. Patient 4 had two deleted regions: a 1663‐bp deletion 1.34‐Mb upstream from F9 and a 7.2‐Mb deletion including F9. These distinct breakpoints found in four different patients suggest that the mechanism of X chromosome deletion may be different between individuals. Non‐allelic homologous recombination (NAHR), microhomology‐mediated break‐induced replication (MMBIR) or fork stalling and template switching (FoSTeS) may occur in respective X chromosomes of the four haemophilia B patients analysed.

Conclusions

We identified diverse X chromosomal rearrangements in four haemophilia B patients, which might be caused by distinct mechanisms of genomic rearrangement.
Addressing Library Anxiety (LA) in student nurses: a study in an NHS Foundation Trust Hospital library and information service
Authors: Still Madeleine
Published: December 2015

Library anxiety is a concept which has been recognised in academic library circles since the early 1990s. It can result in students actively avoiding the library for the duration of their studies. Madeleine Still is Trust Librarian at North Tees & Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and while studying for an MSc, recognised that some student nurses were exhibiting signs of library anxiety. She decided to make it the focus of her MSc dissertation, and this article discusses her research project as well as highlighting the measures she has taken to address the issues she uncovered. Madeleine graduated in July 2013 with an MSc in Information & Library Studies from Robert Gordon University.

AM
The effectiveness of electrocautery ablation for the treatment of high‐grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia in HIV‐infected men who have sex with men
Authors: Burgos J , Curran A , Landolfi S , Navarro J , Tallada N , Guelar A , Crespo M , Ocaña I , Ribera E , Falcó V
Published: December 2015

Objectives

Electrocautery is one of the main treatment options for high‐grade anal intraepithelial neoplasia (HGAIN). However, data regarding its efficacy are scarce. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of electrocautery for the treatment of HGAIN.

Methods

An observational study of HIV‐infected men who have sex with men (MSM) who underwent screening for anal dysplasia was carried out. The on‐treatment effectiveness of electrocautery was evaluated (according to biopsy findings measured 6–8 weeks after treatment) in patients with HGAIN. A complete response was defined as resolution of anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN), a partial response as regression to low‐grade AIN and recurrence as biopsy‐proven HGAIN during follow‐up.

Results

From May 2009 to November 2014, 21.9% (126 of 576) of patients screened were found to have HGAIN. Electrocautery effectiveness was evaluated in 83 patients. A complete response was observed in 27 patients [32.5%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 23.4–53.2%], a partial response in 28 patients (33.7%; 95% CI 24.5–44.4%) and persistence in 28 patients (33.7%; 95% CI 24.5–44.4%). The patients with the most successful results (81.8%) required two to four sessions of electrocautery. After a mean follow‐up of 12.1 months, 14 of 55 patients with a response (25.4%; 95% CI 15.8–38.3%) developed recurrent HGAIN within a mean time of 29.9 months (95% CI 22–37.7 months). No patient progressed to invasive cancer during the study or developed serious adverse events after treatment. No factors associated with poor response or recurrences were observed.

Conclusions

Although electrocautery is the standard treatment for anal dysplasia, almost 50% of patients with HGAIN in our study did not respond or relapsed. New treatment strategies are necessary to optimize the management of anal dysplasia.
ETHNICITY AND GREEK HISTORY: RE‐EXAMINING OUR ASSUMPTIONS
Authors: VLASSOPOULOS KOSTAS
Published: December 2015

The study of ethnicity has become particularly popular over the last twenty years. This article explores certain unexamined assumptions concerning ancient ethnicity and points out certain important blind spots of modern research, focusing in particular on Jonathan Hall's contributions to the debate. Greek historians have devoted little time to thinking about the groups to which the concept of ethnicity is applicable: by exploring together the similarities and differences between poleis, regional, trans-regional, and Panhellenic ethnicities, some startling conclusions emerge. Furthermore, Greek historians have devoted little time to explaining why the concept of ethnicity is a better conceptual tool than that of nationality. But the concept of ethnicity tends to elide the question of an organised community and its shared activities in the formation of identity, with major resulting consequences. Instead of an essentialist definition of ethnicity, like that of Hall, I sketch an alternative framework that approaches ethnicity not as a static entity but as an open-endedprocess, in which the diverse Greek ethnicities moved variously within a spectrum, ranging between a collective and a communal pole.
High‐Temperature Oxidation of ZrB2–SiC–AlN Composites at 1600°C
Authors: Ouyang Gaoyuan , Ray Pratik K , Kramer Matthew J , Akinc Mufit
Published: December 2015

The effect of AlN substitution on oxidation of ZrB2–SiC was evaluated at 1600°C up to 5 h. Replacement of ZrB2 by AlN, with 30 vol% SiC resulted in improved oxidation resistance with a thinner scale and reduced oxygen affected area. On the other hand, substitution of AlN for SiC resulted in a deterioration of the oxidation resistance with an abnormal scale and significant recession. The effect of SiC content was also studied, and was found to be consistent with the literature for the composites without AlN additions. A similar effect was observed when AlN was added, with the higher SiC content materials showing improved oxidation resistance. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed the presence of Al2O3 and SiO2 on the surface, which could possibly lead to a modification in the viscosity of the glassy oxide scale. Possibly, the oxidation behavior of ZrB2–SiC composites can be improved with controlled AlN additions by adjusting the Al:Si ratios.
2D‐ and 3D Observation and Mechanism of Self‐Healing in Glass–Boron Composites
Authors: Castanié Sandra , Méar Francois O. , Podor Renaud , Suhonen Heikki , Montagne Lionel
Published: December 2015

The self‐healing of a crack in a glass–boron composite has been observed by X‐ray nanotomography. It shows the occurrence of a healing effect within the bulk of the composite, despite of a limited oxygen access in the crack. This 3D tomographic observation offers new insights in the mechanism of healing, complementary to in situ high‐temperature environmental scanning electron microscopy. In addition, nano‐X‐ray fluorescence imaging, electron microprobe and solid‐state NMR gave evidence that the molten B2O3, produced by the oxidation of boron particles at 700°C, reacts with the glass matrix to form borosilicate compounds that also contribute to heal the crack. The high viscosity of B2O3 at 700°C leads to the formation of bridges between the walls of the crack, which limit oxygen diffusion. Thus, the B particle oxidation is not completed after a single healing cycle, meaning that several healing cycles can be obtained in a composite.
Improving academic attitudes among ethnic minority youth at risk for early school leaving: the interactive effects of cross‐group friendships and ethnic identity
Authors: Cardinali Paola , Migliorini Laura , Andrighetto Luca , Rania Nadia , Visintin Emilio Paolo
Published: December 2015

A growing body of research suggests that positive interethnic experiences enhance academic attitudes among ethnic minority youth. A number of studies also show that minority youth with an achieved ethnic identity have better academic attitudes and performance. Integrating these literatures, we aim to verify the combined effects of cross‐group friendships and ethnic identity on academic attitudes among a sample of youth at risk for early school leaving. The results showed that cross‐group friendships had a positive impact on academic attitudes for minority youth, but not for majority youth. However, individual levels of ethnic identity moderated these effects, which held true for minority youth with higher levels of ethnic identity. The theoretical and practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Reassessing Risk Factors in Pediatric Patients With Pacemakers Implanted for Atrioventricular Block: The Impact of Nonsustained Ventricular Tachycardia
Authors: NIU MARY C. , MORRIS SHAINE A. , KRENEK MICHELE , DE LA UZ CARIDAD M. , PEDROZA CLAUDIA , MIYAKE CHRISTINA Y. , KIM JEFFREY J. , VALDÉS SANTIAGO O.
Published: December 2015

Ventricular Tachycardia and Atrioventricular Block

Introduction

In pediatric patients with pacemakers implanted for atrioventricular block (AVB), nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT) detected during routine surveillance is a finding of unknown significance. We sought to describe the incidence of NSVT and determine if there was an association between NSVT and adverse outcomes in these patients.

Methods and Results

This is a single‐center retrospective study of 136 patients (1971—2013) with pacemakers implanted for advanced and complete AVB. Exclusion criteria: structural heart disease, diagnoses of myocarditis, cardiomyopathy or channelopathy preceding AVB diagnosis, and sustained or polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) as the first occurring arrhythmia after pacemaker implant. During median follow‐up of 11.6 years (IQR 4.3 years, 17 years), 14 (10%) patients had NSVT. There were 6 (4.4%) deaths. Overall, Kaplan–Meier 20‐year survival from time of implant was 93%. By univariate analysis, earlier mortality was associated with NSVT (P = 0.010), sustained left ventricular (LV) dysfunction (P = 0.004), maternal autoantibodies (P = 0.017), and acquired AVB (P = 0.049). By multivariate analysis, earlier mortality was associated with NSVT (HR: 5.39 [95% CI: 1.02—28.41]; P = 0.047) and sustained LV dysfunction (HR: 10.24 [95% CI: 1.83—57.32]; P = 0.008).

Conclusions

In children with pacemakers implanted for AVB, NSVT is not uncommon and may be associated with increased mortality. Persistent LV dysfunction may also be a potential factor associated with death. Closer follow‐up should be considered in patients with these findings. Large, multicenter studies should be considered to confirm these findings and identify risk stratification methods for this unique patient population.
Tooth loss in molars with and without furcation involvement – a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Nibali Luigi , Zavattini Angelo , Nagata Kohji , Di Iorio Anna , Lin Guo‐Hao , Needleman Ian , Donos Nikos
Published: December 2015

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate risk of tooth loss in molars with furcation involvement (FI) based on initial diagnosis.

Materials and Methods

A systematic search of the literature was conducted in Ovid Medline, Embase, LILACS and Cochrane Library for longitudinal studies with at least 3 years follow‐up including measures of FI and data on tooth loss.

Results

A total of 21 studies were included in the review, from an initial search of 1207 titles. The relative risk of tooth loss during maintenance therapy attributable to FI was 1.46 (95% CI = 0.99–2.15, p = 0.06) for studies up to 10 years and 2.21 (95% CI = 1.79–2.74, p < 0.0001) for studies with a follow‐up of 10–15 years. A gradual increase in the risk of tooth loss was observed for molars with degree II and III FI.

Conclusions

The presence of FI approximately doubles the risk of tooth loss for molars maintained in supportive periodontal therapy for up to 10–15 years. However, most molars, even with grade III FI respond well to periodontal therapy, suggesting that every effort should be made to maintain these teeth when possible. Long‐term studies reporting patient‐reported outcomes are needed to substantiate this conclusion.
Practitioner Review: Involving young people with callous unemotional traits in treatment – does it work? A systematic review
Authors: Wilkinson Simon , Waller Rebecca , Viding Essi
Published: December 2015

Background

Children and adolescents with callous unemotional (CU) traits are at risk of severe and persistent antisocial behavior. It is commonly assumed that these children are difficult to treat but it has been proposed that they may benefit from being involved in interventions that go beyond typical parent training programs. This systematic review sought to answer two previously unanswered questions: do interventions involving young people reduce levels of CU traits? Do CU traits predict the effectiveness of interventions for antisocial behavior involving young people?

Method

Studies were included that adopted an randomized controlled trial, controlled or open trial design and that had examined whether treatment was related to reductions in CU traits or whether CU traits predicted or moderated treatment effectiveness.

Results

Treatments used a range of approaches, including behavioral therapy, emotion recognition training, and multimodal interventions. 4/7 studies reported reductions in CU traits following treatment. There was a mixed pattern of findings in 15 studies that examined whether CU traits predicted treatment outcomes following interventions for antisocial behavior. In 7/15 studies, CU traits were associated with worse outcomes, although three of these studies did not provide data on baseline antisocial behavior, making it difficult to evaluate whether children with high CU traits had shown improvements relative to their own behavioral baseline, despite having the worst behavioral outcomes overall. CU traits did not predict outcomes in 7/15 studies. Finally, a single study reported that CU traits predicted an overall increased response to treatment.

Conclusions

Overall, the evidence supports the idea that children with CU traits do show reductions in both their CU traits and their antisocial behavior, but typically begin treatment with poorer premorbid functioning and can still end with higher levels of antisocial behavior. However, there is considerable scope to build on the current evidence base.