bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Turbulent reconnection and its implications
Authors: Lazarian A. , Eyink G. , Vishniac E. , Kowal G.
Published: April 2015

Magnetic reconnection is a process of magnetic field topology change, which is one of the most fundamental processes happening in magnetized plasmas. In most astrophysical environments, the Reynolds numbers corresponding to plasma flows are large and therefore the transition to turbulence is inevitable. This turbulence, which can be pre-existing or driven by magnetic reconnection itself, must be taken into account for any theory of magnetic reconnection that attempts to describe the process in the aforementioned environments. This necessity is obvious as three-dimensional high-resolution numerical simulations show the transition to the turbulence state of initially laminar reconnecting magnetic fields. We discuss ideas of how turbulence can modify reconnection with the focus on the Lazarian & Vishniac (Lazarian & Vishniac 1999Astrophys. J.517, 700–718 ()) reconnection model. We present numerical evidence supporting the model and demonstrate that it is closely connected to the experimentally proven concept of Richardson dispersion/diffusion as well as to more recent advances in understanding of the Lagrangian dynamics of magnetized fluids. We point out that the generalized Ohm's law that accounts for turbulent motion predicts the subdominance of the microphysical plasma effects for reconnection for realistically turbulent media. We show that one of the most dramatic consequences of turbulence is the violation of the generally accepted notion of magnetic flux freezing. This notion is a cornerstone of most theories dealing with magnetized plasmas, and therefore its change induces fundamental shifts in accepted paradigms, for instance, turbulent reconnection entails reconnection diffusion process that is essential for understanding star formation. We argue that at sufficiently high Reynolds numbers the process of tearing reconnection should transfer to turbulent reconnection. We discuss flares that are predicted by turbulent reconnection and relate this process to solar flares and γ-ray bursts. With reference to experiments, we analyse solar observationsin situas measurements in the solar wind or heliospheric current sheet and show the correspondence of data with turbulent reconnection predictions. Finally, we discuss first-order Fermi acceleration of particles that is a natural consequence of the turbulent reconnection.
Autosomal dominant multiple pterygium syndrome is caused by mutations in MYH3
Authors: Chong Jessica X , Burrage Lindsay C , Beck Anita E , Marvin Colby T , McMillin Margaret J , Shively Kathryn M , Buckingham Kati J , Bacino Carlos A , Jain Mahim , Alanay Yasemin , Berry Susan A , Carey John C , Gibbs Richard A , Lee Brendan H , Krakow Deborah , Shendure Jay , Nickerson Deborah A , Center Mendelian Genomics University Washington , Bamshad Michael J
Published: April 2015

Multiple pterygium syndromes (MPS) are a phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous group of rare Mendelian conditions characterized by multiple pterygia, scoliosis and congenital contractures of the limbs. MPS typically segregates as an autosomal recessive disorder but rare instances of autosomal dominant transmission have been reported. While several mutations causing recessive MPS have been identified, the genetic basis of dominant MPS remains unknown. We identified four families with dominantly transmitted MPS characterized by pterygia, camptodactyly of the hands, vertebral fusions, and scoliosis. Exome sequencing identified predicted protein-altering mutations in embryonic myosin heavy chain (MYH3) in three families. MYH3 mutations underlie distal arthrogryposis types 1, 2A and 2B, but all mutations reported to date occur in the head and neck domains. In contrast, two of the mutations found to cause MPS occurred in the tail domain. The phenotypic overlap among persons with MPS coupled with physical findings distinct from other conditions caused by mutations in MYH3, suggests that the developmental mechanism underlying MPS differs from other conditions and / or that certain functions of embryonic myosin may be perturbed by disruption of specific residues / domains. Moreover, the vertebral fusions in persons with MPS coupled with evidence of MYH3 expression in bone suggests that embryonic myosin plays a previously unknown role in skeletal development.
Denisovan Ancestry in East Eurasian and Native American Populations
Authors: Qin Pengfei , Stoneking Mark
Published: April 2015

Although initial studies suggested that Denisovan ancestry was found only in modern human populations from island Southeast Asia and Oceania, more recent studies have suggested that Denisovan ancestry may be more widespread. However, the geographic extent of Denisovan ancestry has not been determined, and moreover the relationship between the Denisovan ancestry in Oceania and that elsewhere has not been studied. Here we analyze genome-wide SNP data from 2493 individuals from 221 worldwide populations, and show that there is a widespread signal of a very low level of Denisovan ancestry across Eastern Eurasian and Native American (EE/NA) populations. We also verify a higher level of Denisovan ancestry in Oceania than that in EE/NA; the Denisovan ancestry in Oceania is correlated with the amount of New Guinea ancestry, but not the amount of Australian ancestry, indicating that recent gene flow from New Guinea likely accounts for signals of Denisovan ancestry across Oceania. However, Denisovan ancestry in EE/NA populations is equally correlated with their New Guinea or their Australian ancestry, suggesting a common source for the Denisovan ancestry in EE/NA and Oceanian populations. Our results suggest that Denisovan ancestry in EE/NA is derived either from common ancestry with, or gene flow from, the common ancestor of New Guineans and Australians, indicating a more complex history involving East Eurasians and Oceanians than previously suspected.
Mycobacterial infection induces a specific human innate immune response
Authors: Blischak John D. , Tailleux Ludovic , Mitrano Amy , Barreiro Luis B. , Gilad Yoav
Published: April 2015

The innate immune system provides the first response to pathogen infection and orchestrates the activation of the adaptive immune system. Though a large component of the innate immune response is common to all infections, pathogen-specific responses have been documented as well. The innate immune response is thought to be especially critical for fighting infection withMycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB), the causative agent of tuberculosis (TB). While TB can be deadly, only 5-10% of individuals infected with MTB develop active disease. The risk for disease susceptibility is, at least partly, heritable. Studies of inter-individual variation in the innate immune response to MTB infection may therefore shed light on the genetic basis for variation in susceptibility to TB. Yet, to date, we still do not know which properties of the innate immune response are specific to MTB infection and which represent a general response to pathogen infection. To begin addressing this gap, we infected macrophages with eight different bacteria, including different MTB strains and related mycobacteria, and studied the transcriptional response to infection. Although the ensued gene regulatory responses were largely consistent across the bacterial infection treatments, we were able to identify a novel subset of genes whose regulation was affected specifically by infection with mycobacteria. Genetic variants that are associated with regulatory differences in these genes should be considered candidate loci for explaining inter-individual susceptibility TB.

Author Summary

Tuberculosis (TB) is a deadly disease responsible for millions of deaths annually. It is caused by infection withMycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB), an ancient human pathogen. Approximately a third of the world’s population is infected with MTB, yet only an estimated 5-10% of individuals will develop an active form of the disease. While this variation in TB susceptibility has been demonstrated to be heritable, we still know little about its underlying genetic basis. The genetic variation that affects TB susceptibility likely involves the innate immune system, which is our first line of defense against invading pathogens, because infection with MTB does not prevent future infections. However, we do not fully understand how the innate immune system differs in its response to MTB versus other bacteria. To investigate this further, we infected macrophages with MTB, related mycobacteria, and other bacteria, and measured how their gene expression levels changed in response. We identified a subset of genes that respond preferentially to infection with mycobacterial species. These genes provide insight into the interactions between MTB and the innate immune system and are candidate loci for explaining inter-individual susceptibility to TB.
Evolutionarily induced alternative states and coexistence in systems with apparent competition
Authors: Schreiber Sebastian J. , Patel Swati
Published: April 2015

Abstract

Predators often consume multiple prey and by mutually subsidizing a shared predator, the prey may reciprocally harm each other. When predation levels are high, this apparent competition can culminate in a prey species being displaced. Coupling quantitative genetics and Lotka-Volterra models, we study how predator evolution alters this and other ecological outcomes. These models account for a trade-off between the predator’s attack rates on two prey species. We provide a mathematical characterization of a strong form of persistence–permanence–for which there is a global attractor bounded away from extinction. When the evolutionary dynamics occur at a sufficiently slower time scale than the ecological dynamics, we also characterize attractors and their basins’ of attraction using singular perturbation theory and a graphical approach to the eco-evolutionary dynamics. Our results show that eco-evolutionary feedbacks can mediate permanence at intermediate trade-offs in the attack rates. However, at strong trade-offs, permanence is lost. Despite this loss of permanence, there can be attractors supporting coexistence. These attractors, however, may coincide with attractors at which the predator is excluded. Our results highlight that evo-evolutionary feedbacks can alter community structure by mediating coexistence or leading to trait-dependent alternative stable states.
The 100-genomes strains, an S. cerevisiae resource that illuminates its natural phenotypic and genotypic variation and emergence as an opportunistic pathogen
Authors: Strope Pooja K. , Skelly Daniel A. , Kozmin Stanislav G. , Mahadevan Gayathri , Stone Eric A. , Magwene Paul M. , Dietrich Fred S. , McCusker John H.
Published: April 2015

Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a well-established model for species as diverse as humans and pathogenic fungi, is more recently a model for population and quantitative genetics. S. cerevisiae is found in multiple environments—one of which is the human body—as an opportunistic pathogen. To aid in the understanding of the S. cerevisiae population and quantitative genetics, as well as its emergence as an opportunistic pathogen, we sequenced, de novo assembled, and extensively manually edited and annotated the genomes of 93 S. cerevisiae strains from multiple geographic and environmental origins, including many clinical origin strains. These 93 S. cerevisiae strains, the genomes of which are near-reference quality, together with seven previously sequenced strains, constitute a novel genetic resource, the “100-genomes” strains. Our sequencing coverage, high-quality assemblies, and annotation provide unprecedented opportunities for detailed interrogation of complex genomic loci, examples of which we demonstrate. We found most phenotypic variation to be quantitative and identified population, genotype, and phenotype associations. Importantly, we identified clinical origin associations. For example, we found that an introgressed PDR5 was present exclusively in clinical origin mosaic group strains; that the mosaic group was significantly enriched for clinical origin strains; and that clinical origin strains were much more copper resistant, suggesting that copper resistance contributes to fitness in the human host. The 100-genomes strains are a novel, multipurpose resource to advance the study of S. cerevisiae population genetics, quantitative genetics, and the emergence of an opportunistic pathogen.
Suppression of Arbuscule Degeneration in Medicago truncatula phosphate transporter4 Mutants Is Dependent on the Ammonium Transporter 2 Family Protein AMT2;3
Authors: Breuillin-Sessoms Florence , Floss Daniela S. , Gomez S. Karen , Pumplin Nathan , Ding Yi , Levesque-Tremblay Veronique , Noar Roslyn D. , Daniels Dierdra A. , Bravo Armando , Eaglesham James B. , Benedito Vagner A. , Udvardi Michael K. , Harrison Maria J.
Published: April 2015

During arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) symbiosis, the plant gains access to phosphate (Pi) and nitrogen delivered by its fungal symbiont. Transfer of mineral nutrients occurs at the interface between branched hyphae called arbuscules and root cortical cells. In Medicago truncatula, a Pi transporter, PT4, is required for symbiotic Pi transport, and in pt4, symbiotic Pi transport fails, arbuscules degenerate prematurely, and the symbiosis is not maintained. Premature arbuscule degeneration (PAD) is suppressed when pt4 mutants are nitrogen-deprived, possibly the result of compensation by PT8, a second AM-induced Pi transporter. However, PAD is also suppressed in nitrogen-starved pt4 pt8 double mutants, negating this hypothesis and furthermore indicating that in this condition, neither of these symbiotic Pi transporters is required for symbiosis. In M. truncatula, three AMT2 family ammonium transporters are induced during AM symbiosis. To test the hypothesis that suppression of PAD involves AMT2 transporters, we analyzed double and triple Pi and ammonium transporter mutants. ATM2;3 but not AMT2;4 was required for suppression of PAD in pt4, while AMT2;4, but not AMT2;3, complemented growth of a yeast ammonium transporter mutant. In summary, arbuscule life span is influenced by PT4 and ATM2;3, and their relative importance varies with the nitrogen status of the plant.
Ethylene Responses in Rice Roots and Coleoptiles Are Differentially Regulated by a Carotenoid Isomerase-Mediated Abscisic Acid Pathway
Authors: Yin Cui-Cui , Ma Biao , Collinge Derek Phillip , Pogson Barry James , He Si-Jie , Xiong Qing , Duan Kai-Xuan , Chen Hui , Yang Chao , Lu Xiang , Wang Yi-Qin , Zhang Wan-Ke , Chu Cheng-Cai , Sun Xiao-Hong , Fang Shuang , Chu Jin-Fang , Lu Tie-Gang , Chen Shou-Yi , Zhang Jin-Song
Published: April 2015

Ethylene and abscisic acid (ABA) act synergistically or antagonistically to regulate plant growth and development. ABA is derived from the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Here, we analyzed the interplay among ethylene, carotenoid biogenesis, and ABA in rice (Oryza sativa) using the rice ethylene response mutant mhz5, which displays a reduced ethylene response in roots but an enhanced ethylene response in coleoptiles. We found that MHZ5 encodes a carotenoid isomerase and that the mutation in mhz5 blocks carotenoid biosynthesis, reduces ABA accumulation, and promotes ethylene production in etiolated seedlings. ABA can largely rescue the ethylene response of the mhz5 mutant. Ethylene induces MHZ5 expression, the production of neoxanthin, an ABA biosynthesis precursor, and ABA accumulation in roots. MHZ5 overexpression results in enhanced ethylene sensitivity in roots and reduced ethylene sensitivity in coleoptiles. Mutation or overexpression of MHZ5 also alters the expression of ethylene-responsive genes. Genetic studies revealed that the MHZ5-mediated ABA pathway acts downstream of ethylene signaling to inhibit root growth. The MHZ5-mediated ABA pathway likely acts upstream but negatively regulates ethylene signaling to control coleoptile growth. Our study reveals novel interactions among ethylene, carotenogenesis, and ABA and provides insight into improvements in agronomic traits and adaptive growth through the manipulation of these pathways in rice.
Collaborating across health and social care: joint funding an adult protection Coordinator post in Caerphilly, UK
Authors: Giordano Andrea , Neville Alison
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of the paper is to improve the consistency and quality of the response to vulnerable adults who experience abuse and neglect within NHS, independent healthcare and social care settings is noted by practitioners, agencies and patients. Health and social care policy frameworks promote principles of service improvement and consistency, along with a focus on outcomes and resource effectiveness and interagency collaboration. The Protection of Vulnerable Adults (POVA) coordinator role carries the responsibility of coordinating a response to individual referrals of abuse and neglect as described as part of the Designated Lead Manager role in the Wales Interim POVA Policy and Procedures for the POVA from abuse (Wales Adult Protection Coordinators Group, 2013).

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper will explore the benefits realised through a registered nurse being seconded from the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board into a newly created joint adult protection Health Coordinator post within the Caerphilly County Borough Council social services department POVA team.

Findings

– This is the first example of such partnership working in adult protection in Wales and has provided a number of benefits in relation to: providing adult protection advice; coordinating the response to referrals of vulnerable adult abuse and neglect within health and social care settings; carrying out or buddying others to complete adult protection investigations; facilitating the two day non-criminal POVA investigation training course and, awareness raising within the local Health Board. The development of a student nurse placement in the social services POVA team cements the multiagency collaborative approach that this development sought to achieve.

Originality/value

– The need to improve the consistency and quality of the response to vulnerable adults who experience abuse and neglect within NHS, independent healthcare and social care settings is noted by practitioners, agencies and patients.
Reproducibility of Facial Soft Tissue Thickness Measurements Using Cone‐Beam CT Images According to the Measurement Methods
Authors: Hwang Hyeon‐Shik , Choe Seon‐Yeong , Hwang Ji‐Sup , Moon Da‐Nal , Hou Yanan , Lee Won‐Joon , Wilkinson Caroline
Published: April 2015

The purpose of this study was to establish the reproducibility of facial soft tissue (ST) thickness measurements by comparing three different measurement methods applied at 32 landmarks on three‐dimensional cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Two observers carried out the measurements of facialSTthickness of 20 adult subjects usingCBCTscan data, and inter‐ and intra‐observer reproducibilities were evaluated. The measurement method of “perpendicular to bone” resulted in high inter‐ and intra‐observer reproducibility at all 32 landmarks. In contrast, the “perpendicular to skin” method and “direct” method, which measures a distance between one point on bone and the other point on skin, presented low reproducibility. The results indicate that reproducibility could be increased by identifying the landmarks on hard tissue images, rather than onSTimages, and the landmark description used in this study can be used in the establishment of reliable tissue depth data usingCBCTimages.
Forensic Applicability of Femur Subtrochanteric Shape to Ancestry Assessment in Thai and White American Males
Authors: Tallman Sean D. , Winburn Allysha P.
Published: April 2015

Ancestry assessment from the postcranial skeleton presents a significant challenge to forensic anthropologists. However, metric dimensions of the femur subtrochanteric region are believed to distinguish between individuals of Asian and non‐Asian descent. This study tests the discriminatory power of subtrochanteric shape using modern samples of 128 Thai and 77 White American males. Results indicate that the samples' platymeric index distributions are significantly different (p ≤ 0.001), with the Thai platymeric index range generally lower and the White American range generally higher. While the application of ancestry assessment methods developed from Native American subtrochanteric data results in low correct classification rates for the Thai sample (50.8–57.8%), adapting these methods to the current samples leads to better classification. The Thai data may be more useful in forensic analysis than previously published subtrochanteric data derived from Native American samples. Adapting methods to include appropriate geographic and contemporaneous populations increases the accuracy of femur subtrochanteric ancestry methods.
Determined to Die! Ability to Act Following Multiple Self‐inflicted Gunshot Wounds to the Head. The Cook County Office of Medical Examiner Experience (2005–2012) and Review of Literature
Authors: Arunkumar Ponni , Maiese Aniello , Bolino Giorgio , Gitto Lorenzo
Published: April 2015

Cases of multiple (considered 2+) self‐inflicted gunshot wounds are a rarity and require careful examination of the scene of occurrence; thorough consideration of the decedent's psychiatric, medical, and social histories; and accurate postmortem documentation of the gunshot wounds. We present a series of four cases of multiple self‐inflicted gunshot wounds to the head from the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office between 2005 and 2012 including the first case report of suicide involving eight gunshot wounds to the head. In addition, a review of the literature concerning multiple self‐inflicted gunshot wounds to the head is performed. The majority of reported cases document two gunshot entrance wound defects. Temporal regions are the most common affected regions (especially the right and left temples). Determining the capability to act following a gunshot wound to the head is necessary in crime scene reconstruction and in differentiation between homicide and suicide.
BITING ONCE, TWICE: THE INFLUENCE OF PRIOR ON SUBSEQUENT CRIME LOCATION CHOICE
Authors: LAMMERS MARRE , MENTING BARBARA , RUITER STIJN , BERNASCO WIM
Published: April 2015

Properties, victims, and locations previously targeted by offenders have an increased risk of being targeted again within a short time period. It has been suggested that often the same offenders are involved in these repeated events and, thus, that offenders’ prior crime location choices influence their subsequent crime location choices. This article examines repeated crime location choices, testing the hypothesis that offenders are more likely to commit a crime in an area they previously targeted than in areas they did not target before. Unique data from four different data sources are used to study the crime location choices of 3,666 offenders who committed 12,639 offenses. The results indicate that prior crime locations strongly influence subsequent crime location choices. The effects of prior crime locations are larger if the crimes are frequent, if they are recent, if they are nearby, and if they are the same type of crime.
A SNP test to identify Africanized honeybees via proportion of ‘African’ ancestry
Authors: Chapman Nadine C. , Harpur Brock A. , Lim Julianne , Rinderer Thomas E. , Allsopp Michael H. , Zayed Amro , Oldroyd Benjamin P.
Published: April 2015

The honeybee, Apis mellifera, is the world's most important pollinator and is ubiquitous in most agricultural ecosystems. Four major evolutionary lineages and at least 24 subspecies are recognized. Commercial populations are mainly derived from subspecies originating in Europe (75–95%). The Africanized honeybee is a New World hybrid of A. m. scutellata from Africa and European subspecies, with the African component making up 50–90% of the genome. Africanized honeybees are considered undesirable for bee‐keeping in most countries, due to their extreme defensiveness and poor honey production. The international trade in honeybees is restricted, due in part to bans on the importation of queens (and semen) from countries where Africanized honeybees are extant. Some desirable strains from the United States of America that have been bred for traits such as resistance to the mite Varroa destructor are unfortunately excluded from export to countries such as Australia due to the presence of Africanized honeybees in the USA. This study shows that a panel of 95 single nucleotide polymorphisms, chosen to differentiate between the African, Eastern European and Western European lineages, can detect Africanized honeybees with a high degree of confidence via ancestry assignment. Our panel therefore offers a valuable tool to mitigate the risks of spreading Africanized honeybees across the globe and may enable the resumption of queen and bee semen imports from the Americas.
A new method for studying population genetics of cyst nematodes based on Pool‐Seq and genomewide allele frequency analysis
Authors: Mimee Benjamin , Duceppe Marc‐Olivier , Véronneau Pierre‐Yves , Lafond‐Lapalme Joël , Jean Martine , Belzile François , Bélair Guy
Published: April 2015

Cyst nematodes are important agricultural pests responsible for billions of dollars of losses each year. Plant resistance is the most effective management tool, but it requires a close monitoring of population genetics. Current technologies for pathotyping and genotyping cyst nematodes are time‐consuming, expensive and imprecise. In this study, we capitalized on the reproduction mode of cyst nematodes to develop a simple population genetic analysis pipeline based on genotyping‐by‐sequencing and Pool‐Seq. This method yielded thousands of SNPs and allowed us to study the relationships between populations of different origins or pathotypes. Validation of the method on well‐characterized populations also demonstrated that it was a powerful and accurate tool for population genetics. The genomewide allele frequencies of 23 populations of golden nematode, from nine countries and representing the five known pathotypes, were compared. A clear separation of the pathotypes and fine genetic relationships between and among global populations were obtained using this method. In addition to being powerful, this tool has proven to be very time‐ and cost‐efficient and could be applied to other cyst nematode species.
For testing the significance of regression coefficients, go ahead and log‐transform count data
Authors: Ives Anthony R.
Published: April 2015

The rise in the use of statistical models for non‐Gaussian data, such as generalized linear models (GLMs) and generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), is pushing aside the traditional approach of transforming data and applying least‐squares linear models (LMs). Nonetheless, many least‐squares statistical tests depend on the variance of the sum of residuals, which by the Central Limit Theorem converge to a Gaussian distribution for large sample sizes. Therefore, least‐squares LMs will likely have good performance in assessing the statistical significance of regression coefficients.

Using simulations of count data, I compared GLM approaches for testing whether regression coefficients differ from zero with the traditional approach of applying LMs to transformed data. Simulations assumed that variation among sample populations was either (i) negative binomial or (ii) log‐normal Poisson (i.e. log‐normal variation among populations that were then sampled by a Poisson distribution). I used the simulated data to conduct tests of the hypotheses that regression coefficients differed from zero; I did not investigate statistical properties of the coefficient estimators, such as bias and precision.

For negative binomial simulations whose assumptions closely matched the GLMs, the GLMs were nonetheless prone to type I errors (false positives) especially when there was more than one predictor (independent) variable. After correcting for type I errors, however, the GLMs provided slightly better statistical power than LMs. For log‐normal‐Poisson simulations, both a GLMM and the LMs performed well, but under some simulated conditions the GLMs had high type I error rates, a deadly sin for statistical tests.

These results show that, while GLMs have slight advantages in power when they are properly specified, they can lead to badly wrong conclusions about the significance of regression coefficients if they are mis‐specified. In contrast, transforming data and applying least‐squares linear analyses provide robust statistical tests for significance over a wide range of conditions. Thus, the traditional approach of transforming data and applying LMs is still useful.
Variation and response to experimental warming in a New Zealand cushion plant species
Authors: Cranston Brittany H. , Monks Adrian , Whigham Peter A. , Dickinson Katharine J. M.
Published: April 2015

Cold adapted plants, such as cushion plants, may be particularly sensitive to climate warming because of their compact growth form and high branch density. In the oceanic southern hemisphere, cushion communities tend to have large range distributions at low latitudes (sea level to low alpine), thus providing an opportunity to test the effects of temperature on plant morphology and reproduction across gradients. Using Donatia novae‐zelandiae as a model species, we compared the leaf morphology, reproduction and responses to warming. Two low‐alpine sites (Maungatua (880 m a.s.l.), Blue Mountains (1000 m a.s.l.)) and two sea‐level sites (Waituna 1 (0 m a.s.l.), Waituna 2 (0 m a.s.l.)) in South Island, New Zealand were used. Donatia novae‐zelandiae cushions differed significantly between the high‐elevation and sea‐level sites both morphologically and in terms of reproduction. High‐elevation cushions produced more flowers (threefold more flowers per plant) and seeds (sevenfold more seeds per capsule) than at sea level, but leaves were larger at sea level (in length and specific leaf area). The cushions were also twice as compact at the high‐elevation sites. After two growing seasons of artificial warming, seed production (35%), leaf length (7%) and width (13%), and specific leaf area (63%) significantly decreased in D. novae‐zelandiae plants; flower production was not significantly affected. Cushion plant morphology and reproduction were significantly affected by environmental drivers at their establishment sites, but all populations responded negatively to artificial warming of 1–3°C. Many cushion plants are considered keystone species because of their propensity to facilitate the growth and establishment of other plant species, the inferred negative effects of global warming on cushion plant species may have a cascading effect on other alpine plant groups.
Can Dynamic Spectral Imaging System colposcopy replace conventional colposcopy in the detection of high‐grade cervical lesions?
Authors: Roensbo Mette T. , Hammer Anne , Blaakær Jan
Published: April 2015

The sensitivity of conventional colposcopy for the detection of high‐grade cervical lesions (cervical intraepithelial neoplasia stage 2 or above; CIN2+) is poor. We aimed to investigate if a Dynamic Spectral Imaging System (DySIS) can enhance or replace conventional colposcopy in clinical practice. From 3 December 2013 to 29 January 2014 a total of 239 women were included. All women were referred to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Aarhus, Denmark because of an abnormal cytology result. Every woman had three to five cervical punch biopsies taken; two biopsies were taken following DySIS recommendations. Subsequent biopsies were taken following the clinician's assessment or randomly. DySIS allowed detection of five CIN2+ cases (7.4%) that would not have been detected otherwise, but it failed to detect 46 of CIN2+ cases (67.6%). The sensitivity and specificity of DySIS for detecting CIN2+ was 32.4 and 83.0%, respectively. DySIS colposcopy seemed inferior to conventional colposcopy in detecting high‐grade lesions and cannot replace conventional colposcopy with random biopsies.
Intrafollicular iron and ferritin in women with ovarian endometriomas
Authors: Benaglia Laura , Paffoni Alessio , Mangiarini Alice , Restelli Liliana , Bettinardi Nora , Somigliana Edgardo , Vercellini Paolo , Fedele Luigi
Published: April 2015

Objective

To evaluate whether iron contained in ovarian endometriomas can diffuse through the cyst wall and negatively affect ovarian function.

Design

Prospective case series.

Setting

Infertility unit in an academic setting.

Population

Thirty‐nine infertile women with unilateral endometriomas who underwent in vitro fertilization.

Methods

Iron and ferritin assessments in pools of follicular fluids obtained from affected and contralateral intact gonads.

Main outcome measures

Iron and ferritin concentrations.

Results

Follicular fluid iron content did not differ between the two gonads. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] follicular concentrations in the affected and unaffected ovaries were 59 (IQR 44–74) and 59 (IQR 47–73) μg/dL, respectively (p = 0.77). Conversely, ferritin concentration was significantly higher in affected gonads. The median (IQR) concentrations of ferritin in the affected and unaffected ovaries were 57 (IQR 31–146) and 33 (IQR 23–67) μg/mL, respectively (p = 0.026). When considering together the 78 studied ovaries, no significant correlations emerged between follicular iron and ferritin and variables reflecting ovarian responsiveness and oocyte developmental competence.

Conclusions

Iron may diffuse from ovarian endometriomas into the adjacent ovarian tissue. However, this phenomenon does not appear to markedly affect ovarian function. Some effective biological mechanisms such as ferritin storage may effectively sequester free iron, so limiting its detrimental effects.
Preterm birth and social inequality: assessing the effects of material and psychosocial disadvantage in a UK birth cohort
Authors: Snelgrove John W. , Murphy Kellie E.
Published: April 2015

Objective

To examine the association between social inequalities and preterm birth, testing both psychosocial and material determinants.

Design

Retrospective cohort study with linked hospital data.

Setting and population

17 285 women in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales giving birth to singletons included in wave 1 of the UK Millennium Cohort Study.

Methods

Social inequalities were measured with material (household income, housing tenure) and psychosocial (education, occupational class, employment, social support) indicators. Analysis using multivariable logistic regression assessed odds of preterm birth, adjusting for demographics, health and health‐related behaviors, pregnancy and delivery conditions, and pregnancy complications.

Main outcome measure

Preterm birth between 24 and 36 weeks, 6 days' gestation.

Results

Initial bivariable analysis suggested associations between preterm birth and household income, housing tenure, and education. These effects were largely explained by adjustment for other social determinants in multivariable models. Following full adjustment, effects of unemployment [OR = 1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.21–1.90, p < 0.001] and one indicator of poor social support (OR = 1.17, 95% CI 1.01–1.35, p = 0.04) remained significant.

Conclusion

Unemployment and lack of social support are associated with higher risk of preterm birth, supporting the hypothesis that poor psychosocial circumstances elevate a woman's risk of this adverse perinatal outcome. Further research is needed to examine the causal pathways through which social inequalities affect preterm birth.
Transperineal ultrasonography for labor management: accuracy and reliability
Authors: Yuce Tuncay , Kalafat Erkan , Koc Acar
Published: April 2015

Objective

To compare ultrasound measurements and clinical assessments of cervical dilatation, fetal head station and fetal head position.

Design

Prospective, observational study.

Setting

Tertiary care center (Ankara University Hospital), labor ward.

Population

Forty‐three women in labor.

Methods

Women were prospectively evaluated through simultaneous examinations (79 in total). Dilatation, head station, and position were recorded via digital examination whenever possible and were compared with ultrasonographic measurements of dilatation, angle of progression, head–perineum distance, and head position by two independent operators. Operators were blinded to each other's findings.

Main outcome measures

Agreement between sonographic measurements and digital examinations.

Results

Ultrasonographic assessment of dilatation correlated significantly with digital examination. The interclass correlation coefficient of the two methods was 0.82 (95% confidence interval 0.73–0.88). Ultrasonography showed a mean lower cervical dilatation of 10 mm (95% limits of agreement: −36 to 16 mm) compared with digital examination. The angle of progression and head–perineum distances correlated moderately with the palpated head station (Pearson's correlation coefficients: 0.55 and −0.42, respectively; p < 0.001). Position could only be assessed in 40 of 79 examinations by digital examinations and the results showed low agreement with ultrasound findings.

Conclusion

We observed good agreement between clinical and ultrasound assessment of dilatation, moderate agreement in assessing fetal station and low agreement assessing head position.
Capillary growth, ultrastructure remodelling and exercise training in skeletal muscle of essential hypertensive patients
Authors: Gliemann L. , Buess R. , Nyberg M. , Hoppeler H. , Odriozola A. , Thaning P. , Hellsten Y. , Baum O. , Mortensen S. P.
Published: April 2015

Aim

The aim was to elucidate whether essential hypertension is associated with altered capillary morphology and density and to what extent exercise training can normalize these parameters.

Methods

To investigate angiogenesis and capillary morphology in essential hypertension, muscle biopsies were obtained from m. vastus lateralis in subjects with essential hypertension (n = 10) and normotensive controls (n = 11) before and after 8 weeks of aerobic exercise training. Morphometry was performed after transmission electron microscopy, and protein levels of several angioregulatory factors were determined.

Results

At baseline, capillary density and capillary‐to‐fibre ratio were not different between the two groups. However, the hypertensive subjects had 9% lower capillary area (12.7 ± 0.4 vs. 13.9 ± 0.2 μm2) and tended to have thicker capillary basement membranes (399 ± 16 vs. 358 ± 13 nm; P = 0.094) than controls. Protein expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor‐2 and thrombospondin‐1 were similar in normotensive and hypertensive subjects, but tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase was 69% lower in the hypertensive group. After training, angiogenesis was evident by 15% increased capillary‐to‐fibre ratio in the hypertensive subjects only. Capillary area and capillary lumen area were increased by 7 and 15% in the hypertensive patients, whereas capillary basement membrane thickness was decreased by 17% (P < 0.05). VEGF expression after training was increased in both groups, whereas VEGF receptor‐2 was decreased by 25% in the hypertensive patients(P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Essential hypertension is associated with decreased lumen area and a tendency for increased basement membrane thickening in capillaries of skeletal muscle. Exercise training may improve the diffusion conditions in essential hypertension by altering capillary structure and capillary number.
Increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in chronic hepatitis B patients with new onset diabetes: a nationwide cohort study
Authors: Fu S.‐C. , Huang Y.‐W. , Wang T.‐C. , Hu J.‐T. , Chen D.‐S. , Yang S.‐S.
Published: April 2015

Background

Diabetes increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), however, the time‐relationship between hepatitis B virus and diabetes for the development of HCC remains unclear.

Aim

To explore the risk of HCC in chronic hepatitis B patients with newly diagnosed diabetes.

Methods

We conducted a nationwide cohort study by using Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database, which covers over 99% of entire population. Among randomly sampled one million enrollees, 14 523 chronic hepatitis B patients were diagnosed in years 1997–2009. We defined new onset diabetes as patients who were given the diagnosis in the years 1999–2009, but not in 1997–1998. The cohorts of chronic hepatitis B with new onset diabetes (n = 2099) and 1:1 ratio age‐, gender‐ and inception point (onset date of diabetes)‐ matched nondiabetes (n = 2080) were followed up from the inception point until development of HCC, withdrawal from insurance or December 2009.

Results

After adjustment for competing mortality, patients with new onset diabetes had a significantly higher cumulative incidence of HCC [relative risk = 1.628, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.114–2.378, modified log‐rank test, P = 0.012] as compared to nondiabetes patients. After adjustment for age, gender, hyperlipidaemia, chronic hepatitis B treatment, statins therapy, cirrhosis, comorbidity index and obesity, diabetes was still an independent predictor for HCC (hazard ratio = 1.798, 95% CI = 1.194–2.707, P = 0.005).

Conclusion

Chronic hepatitis B patients with newly diagnosed diabetes have an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma over time.
Life expectancy in bipolar disorder
Authors: Kessing Lars Vedel , Vradi Eleni , Andersen Per Kragh
Published: April 2015

Objective

Life expectancy in patients with bipolar disorder has been reported to be decreased by 11 to 20 years. These calculations are based on data for individuals at the age of 15 years. However, this may be misleading for patients with bipolar disorder in general as most patients have a later onset of illness. The aim of the present study was to calculate the remaining life expectancy for patients of different ages with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Methods

Using nationwide registers of all inpatient and outpatient contacts to all psychiatric hospitals in Denmark from 1970 to 2012 we calculated remaining life expectancies for values of age 15, 25, 35 ⃛ 75 years among all individuals alive in year 2000.

Results

For the typical male or female patient aged 25 to 45 years, the remaining life expectancy was decreased by 12.0–8.7 years and 10.6–8.3 years, respectively. The ratio between remaining life expectancy in bipolar disorder and that of the general population decreased with age, indicating that patients with bipolar disorder start losing life‐years during early and mid‐adulthood.

Conclusions

Life expectancy in bipolar disorder is decreased substantially, but less so than previously reported. Patients start losing life‐years during early and mid‐adulthood.
Predictive classification of correlated targets with application to detection of metastatic cancer using functional CT imaging
Authors: Wang Yuan , Hobbs Brian P. , Hu Jianhua , Ng Chaan S. , Do Kim‐Anh
Published: April 2015

Perfusion computed tomography (CTp) is an emerging functional imaging modality that uses physiological models to quantify characteristics pertaining to the passage of fluid through blood vessels. Perfusion characteristics provide physiological correlates for neovascularization induced by tumor angiogenesis. Thus CTp offers promise as a non‐invasive quantitative functional imaging tool for cancer detection, prognostication, and treatment monitoring. In this article, we develop a Bayesian probabilistic framework for simultaneous supervised classification of multivariate correlated objects using separable covariance. The classification approach is applied to discriminate between regions of liver that contain pathologically verified metastases from normal liver tissue using five perfusion characteristics. The hepatic regions tend to be highly correlated due to common vasculature. We demonstrate that simultaneous Bayesian classification yields dramatic improvements in performance in the presence of strong correlation among intra‐subject units, yet remains competitive with classical methods in the presence of weak or no correlation.
The influence of teacher feedback on children's perceptions of student–teacher relationships
Authors: Skipper Yvonne , Douglas Karen
Published: April 2015

Background

Teachers can deliver feedback using person (‘you are clever’) or process terms (‘you worked hard’). Person feedback can lead to negative academic outcomes, but there is little experimental research examining the impact of feedback on children's perceptions of the student–teacher relationship.

Aim

We examined the effects of person, process, and no feedback on children's perceptions of their relationship with a (fictional) teacher following success and failure.

Samples

Participants were British children (145 aged 9–11 in experiment 1 and 98 aged 7–11 in experiment 2).

Method

In experiment 1, participants read three scenarios where they succeeded and received one of two types of praise (person or process) or no praise. Participants then read two scenarios where they failed. In experiment 2, participants read that they had failed in three tasks and received one of two types of criticism (person or process) or no criticism. Participants then read two scenarios where they succeeded. They rated how much they liked the teacher and how much they felt that the teacher liked them.

Results

Children felt more positive about the student–teacher relationship following success than failure. Type of praise did not influence perceptions of the student–teacher relationship following success or failure. However, person criticism led children to view the student–teacher relationship more negatively following failure and maintain this negative view following the first success.

Conclusions

Success appears to be important for developing positive student–teacher relationships. In response to failure, teachers could avoid person criticism which may negatively influence the student–teacher relationship.
Risk of prostate cancer mortality in men with a history of prior cancer
Authors: Dinh Kathryn T. , Mahal Brandon A. , Ziehr David R. , Muralidhar Vinayak , Chen Yu‐Wei , Viswanathan Vidya B. , Nezolosky Michelle D. , Beard Clair J. , Choueiri Toni K. , Martin Neil E. , Orio Peter F. , Sweeney Christopher J. , Trinh Quoc‐Dien , Nguyen Paul L.
Published: April 2015

Objectives

To describe outcomes of patients with prostate cancer diagnosed after another malignancy and identify factors associated with prostate cancer death in this population, as little is known about the clinical significance of prostate cancer as a subsequent malignancy.

Patients and Methods

We studied 18 225 men diagnosed with prostate cancer after another malignancy from 1973 to 2006. We compared demographic and clinical variables, and the proportion of death from prostate cancer vs prior malignancy with t‐test and chi‐squared analyses. Fine and Gray's regression was used to consider the effect of treatment on prostate cancer death. We then studied a second cohort of 88 013 men with prostate cancer as a first or second malignancy to describe current diagnostic and treatment patterns.

Results

One in seven men died from prostate cancer in our first cohort. More died from prostate cancer following colorectal cancer (16.8% vs 13.7%), melanoma (13.4% vs 7.56%), and oral cancer (19.1% vs 4.04%), but fewer following bladder cancer, kidney cancer, lung cancer, leukaemia and non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma (all P < 0.001). Prostate cancer treatment was associated with a nearly 50% lower risk of death when high‐grade or high‐stage (adjusted hazard ratio 0.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47–0.64). Patients who died from prostate cancer had higher grade and stage disease, and received less treatment than patients who died from prior malignancy. The second cohort showed subsequent prostate cancer had more high‐risk disease (36.3% vs 22.2%, P < 0.001) and less prostate cancer treatment (adjusted odds ratio 0.872, 95% CI 0.818–0.930) than primary prostate cancer.

Conclusions

Prostate cancer remains a significant cause of mortality when diagnosed as a subsequent cancer. These results suggest prostate cancer treatment should be seriously considered in patients with prior malignancies, especially those with high‐grade or locally advanced prostate cancer.