bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Calcium carbonate microparticle growth controlled by a conjugate drug–copolymer and crystallization time
Authors: Doroftei Florica , Damaceanu Mariana Dana , Simionescu Bogdan C. , Mihai Marcela
Published: March 2014

The influence of crystallization reaction time on CaCO3microparticle growth from supersaturate aqueous solutions, in the presence of a conjugate drug–copolymer, has been investigated. The polymer conjugate, P(NVP-MA-Ox), is based on poly(N-vinylpyrrolidone–co-maleic anhydride) as the support and 2-amino-5-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole as the drug. The microparticles are characterized by optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, X-ray diffraction, flow particle image analysis and particle charge density. X-ray diffraction (XRD) investigations showed that calcite polymorph content increased with an increase in crystallization time, even if the electrostatic interactions between Ca2+and polyanionic sites of P(NVP-MA-Ox) structure conduct to an increased vaterite phase stability. The strong particle size increase after 6 h of ageing can be ascribed to partially vaterite recrystallization and adsorption of nano-scaled calcite crystallite nuclei at microparticles surfaces. The pH stability of the particles was shown by zeta potential changes and their adsorption capacity as a function of their composition, and characteristics were tested using methylene blue. The sorption capacity of composite materials was strongly influenced by the ratio between polymorphs in the composites, and increased with the increase of calcite content and ageing time.
LiZn4 − x(x= 0.825) as a (3 + 1)-dimensional modulated derivative of hexagonal close packing
Authors: Pavlyuk Volodymyr , Chumak Ihor , Akselrud Lev , Lidin Sven , Ehrenberg Helmut
Published: March 2014

The (3+1)-dimensional modulated structure of the LiZn4 − x(x= 0.825) binary compound has been determined in the superspace. The compound crystallizes in the orthorhombic superspace groupCmcm(α00)0s0 witha= 2.7680 (6),b= 4.7942 (6),c= 4.3864 (9) Å, modulation wavevector:q≃ 4/7a*. The structure is a derivative from the hexagonal close packing. The cubo-octahedron as a coordination polyhedron (c.n. = 12) is typical for all atoms. Bonding between atoms is explored by means of theTB-LMTO-ASAprogram package. The absence of strong interatomic interactions in LiZn4 − xis the main reason for the possible structure transformations.
Complete crystal structure of decafluorocyclohex-1-ene at 4.2 K from original neutron diffraction data
Authors: Solovyov Leonid A. , Fedorov Alexandr S. , Kuzubov Aleksandr A.
Published: March 2014

The crystal structure model of decafluorocyclohex-1-ene at 4.2 K derived from simulated powder diffraction data and solid-state energy minimization [Smrčoket al.(2013).Acta Cryst.B69, 395–404] is found to be incomplete. In this study it is completed by an additional alternative molecular orientation revealed from the difference density analysis and direct space search. The structure is refined by the derivative difference method in the rigid-body approximation leading to perfect agreement between observed and calculated neutron powder patterns.
Superspace description of wagnerite-group minerals (Mg,Fe,Mn)2(PO4)(F,OH)
Authors: Lazic Biljana , Armbruster Thomas , Chopin Christian , Grew Edward S. , Baronnet Alain , Palatinus Lukas
Published: March 2014

Reinvestigation of more than 40 samples of minerals belonging to the wagnerite group (Mg, Fe, Mn)2(PO4)(F,OH) from diverse geological environments worldwide, using single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis, showed that most crystals have incommensurate structures and, as such, are not adequately described with known polytype models (2b), (3b), (5b), (7b) and (9b). Therefore, we present here a unified superspace model for the structural description of periodically and aperiodically modulated wagnerite with the (3+1)-dimensional superspace groupC2/c(0β0)s0 based on the average triplite structure with cell parametersa≃ 12.8,b≃ 6.4,c≃ 9.6 Å, β ≃ 117° and the modulation vectorsq=βb*. The superspace approach provides a way of simple modelling of the positional and occupational modulation of Mg/Fe and F/OH in wagnerite. This allows direct comparison of crystal properties.
Biosynthetic genes and activity spectrum of antifungal polyynes from Collimonas fungivorans Ter331
Authors: Fritsche Kathrin , van den Berg Marlies , de Boer Wietse , van Beek Teris A. , Raaijmakers Jos M. , van Veen Johannes A. , Leveau Johan H. J.
Published: March 2014

The antifungal activity of bacteria from the genus Collimonas has been well documented, but the chemistry and gene functions that underlie this phenotype are still poorly understood. Screening of a random plasposon insertion library of Collimonas fungivorans Ter331 for loss‐of‐function mutants revealed the importance of gene cluster K, which is annotated to code for the biosynthesis of a secondary metabolite and which features genes for fatty acid desaturases and polyketide synthases. Mutants in gene cluster K had lost the ability to inhibit hyphal growth of the fungus Aspergillus niger and were no longer able to produce and secrete several metabolites that after extraction and partial purification from wildtype strain Ter331 were shown to share a putative ene‐triyne moiety. Some but not all of these metabolites were able to inhibit growth of A. niger, indicating functional variation within this group of Collimonas‐produced polyyne‐like ‘collimomycins’. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of isolates representing different Collimonas species indicated that the possession of cluster K genes correlated positively with antifungal ability, further strengthening the notion that this cluster is involved in collimomycin production. We discuss our findings in the context of other bacterially produced polyynes and the potential use of collimomycins for the control of harmful fungi.
Root microbiome relates to plant host evolution in maize and other Poaceae
Authors: Bouffaud Marie‐Lara , Poirier Marie‐Andrée , Muller Daniel , Moënne‐Loccoz Yvan
Published: March 2014

Prokaryote–eukaryote interactions are primordial, but host selection of its bacterial community remains poorly understood. Because eukaryote evolution affects numerous traits shaping the ecology of their microbiome, we can expect that many evolutionary changes in the former will have the potential to impact on the composition of the latter. Consequently, the more phylogenetically distant the eukaryotic hosts, the more distinct their associated bacterial communities should be. We tested this with plants, by comparing the bacterial communities associated with maize genotypes or other Poaceae. 16S rRNA taxonomic microarray analysis showed that the genetic distance between rhizobacterial communities correlated significantly with the phylogenetic distance (derived from chloroplastic sequences) between Poaceae genotypes. This correlation was also significant when considering specific bacterial populations from all main bacterial divisions, instead of the whole rhizobacterial community. These results indicate that eukaryotic host's evolutionary history can be a significant factor shaping directly the assembly and composition of its associated bacterial compartment.
Food Security and Agri‐Foreign Direct Investment in Weak States: Finding the Governance Gap to Avoid ‘Land Grab’
Authors: Häberli Christian , Smith Fiona
Published: March 2014

Food security is important. A rising world population coupled with climate change creates growing pressure on global world food supplies. States alleviate this pressure domestically by attracting agri‐foreign direct investment (agri‐FDI). This is a high‐risk strategy for weak states: the state may gain valuable foreign currency, technology and debt‐free growth; but equally, investors may fail to deliver on their commitments and exploit weak domestic legal infrastructure to ‘grab’ large areas of prime agricultural land, leaving only marginal land for domestic production. A net loss to local food security and to the national economy results. This is problematic because the state must continue to guarantee its citizens' right to food and property. Agri‐FDI needs close regulation to maximise its benefit. This article maps the multilevel system of governance covering agri‐FDI. We show how this system creates asymmetric rights in favour of the investor to the detriment of the host state's food security and how these problems might be alleviated.
Accommodating Religious Beliefs: Harm, Clothing or Symbols, and Refusals to Serve Others
Authors: Wintemute Robert
Published: March 2014

Is there a middle path between the existing case law of theEuropean Court of Human Rights, which rarely requires accommodation of a religious individual's beliefs, and a ‘general right to conscientious objection’, which would exempt religious individuals from all anti‐discrimination and other rules interfering with manifestations of their beliefs? The author argues that failure to accommodate is better analysed asprima facieindirect discrimination, to highlight the exclusionary effects of non‐accommodation on religious minorities, and that the presence or absence of direct or indirect harm to others (or cost, disruption or inconvenience to the accommodating party) could guide case‐by‐case assessments of whether theprima facieindirect discrimination is justified. The author then applies a harm analysis to the examples of religious clothing or symbols and religiously motivated refusals to serve others, recently considered by theEuropean Court of Human Rights inEweida and OthersvUnitedKingdom.
Religion in the Workplace: Eweida and Others v United Kingdom
Authors: McCrea Ronan
Published: March 2014

The European Court of Human Rights judgment in Eweida and Others v United Kingdom dealt with the increasingly controversial questions of religious symbols at work and the clash between free conscience and anti‐discrimination norms. In a change of approach, it held that the right to resign could no longer be seen as adequate protection for religious freedom and that workplace norms that restrict religious liberty must satisfy a proportionality test. However, it accorded a wide margin of appreciation to States in reconciling freedom of conscience and freedom from discrimination, ruling that the importance of non‐discrimination could justify a failure to exempt a religious individual from complying with a policy forbidding discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.
Clinical determinants of a positive visual inspection after treatment with acetic acid for cervical cancer screening
Authors: Castle PE , Qiao Y‐L , Zhao F‐H , Chen W , Valdez M , Zhang X , Kang L‐N , Bansil P , Paul P , Bai P , Peck R , Li J , Chen F , Jeronimo J
Published: February 2014

Objective

To examine the determinants of a positive visual inspection after acetic acid (VIA), including the relationship of testing positive for high‐risk human papillomavirus (HR‐HPV), which is the necessary cause of cervical cancer.

Design

A prospective cohort study.

Setting

Three clinical sites in rural China.

Population

A total of 7541 women aged 25–65 years.

Methods

All women underwent VIA, DNA testing, by two DNA tests performed on both clinician‐ and self‐collected specimens, and HPV E6 oncoprotein testing. Those positive by any test underwent colposcopy and four‐quadrant biopsy evaluation. A random sample of women with negative screening results also underwent colposcopy and, if colposcopic abnormalities were observed, four‐quadrant biopsy evaluation was performed. Women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 (CIN2), or more severe grades (CIN2 + ), underwent treatment.

Main outcome measure

Testing positive for VIA.

Results

Overall, 7.6% (95% confidence interval, 95% CI, 7.0–8.2%) had a positive VIA. Women who tested positive for HPV were more likely to have a positive VIA than women who tested negative for HPV (15.0%, 95% CI 12.9–17.2% versus 6.3%, 95% CI 5.7–6.9%; P < 0.001). Older women were less likely to have a positive VIA (Ptrend < 0.001), including women with CIN2 +  (Ptrend < 0.001). A logistic regression model demonstrated that diagnosis (CIN2 +  versus <CIN2; odds ratio, OR, 32; 95% CI 11–100), testing HPV positive with a higher viral load (highest versus lowest; OR 4.3; 95% CI 2.5–7.4), and age (51 years and older versus <38 years; OR 0.22; 95% CI 0.17–0.30) were independent determinants of having a positive VIA. VIA was more likely to be positive for women with CIN2 + having an abnormal colposcopic impression versus women with CIN2 +  regardless of colposcopic impression (71.4 versus 47.2%).

Conclusions

The age of the population and method of disease ascertainment should be considered in the interpretation of any VIA performance.
A PCR marker Linked to a THCA synthase Polymorphism is a Reliable Tool to Discriminate Potentially THC‐Rich Plants of Cannabis sativa L.
Authors: Staginnus Christina , Zörntlein Siegfried , de Meijer Etienne
Published: March 2014

Neither absolute THC content nor morphology allows the unequivocal discrimination of fiber cultivars and drug strains of Cannabis sativa L. unequivocally. However, the CBD/THC ratio remains constant throughout the plant's life cycle, is independent of environmental factors, and considered to be controlled by a single locus (B) with two codominant alleles (BT and BD). The homozygous BT/BT genotype underlies the THC‐predominant phenotype, BD/BD is CBD predominant, and an intermediate phenotype is induced by the heterozygous state (BT/BD). Using PCR‐based markers in two segregating populations, we proved that the THCA synthase gene represents the postulated B locus and that specific sequence polymorphisms are absolutely linked either to the THC‐predominant or the THC‐intermediate chemotype. The absolute linkage provides an excellent reliability of the marker signal in forensic casework. For validation, the species‐specific marker system was applied to a large number of casework samples and fiber hemp cultivars.
Loyal Opposition? Prince Frederick and Parliament (1729–51)
Authors: Eagles Robin
Published: March 2014

This article seeks to reappraise the role of Prince Frederick as a parliamentarian and also to reconsider the size and significance of his association in both Lords and Commons. Previous studies of Prince Frederick and of the so‐called Leicester House grouping have tended to emphasize the prince's limitations as a political figure of real weight, to play down the extent of his activities as a parliamentary figure in his own right and have also paid scant attention to the role of the house of lords in Leicester House's schemes. By reconsidering some of the major political dramas of the 1730s and 1740s, this article aims to redress the balance, arguing that Prince Frederick was an active member of the Lords and that his association, though fluid, was more coherent and significant than is usually acknowledged.
The Private Bill Legislation of the Irish Parliament, 1692–1800
Authors: Kelly James
Published: March 2014

Between 1692 and 1800, 485 private bills and heads of private bills were initiated in Ireland, of which 313 (or 65%) received the royal assent. Initially, most private bills were admitted to the political process through the medium of the Irish privy council, but once the house of commons had asserted its primacy as the place of origin of Irish law, private bills increasingly took their rise as heads of private bills at that forum, in accordance with the requirements of Poynings' Law. While this meant that private bills were subject to the same close scrutiny that was accorded public bills at both the English/British and Irish privy councils, the fact that such bills sought to modify family settlements obliged both Houses of the Irish parliament and both councils to establish particular procedures that are at once revealing of the operation of these bodies, of the procedural innovations required to make private legislation, and of the privileged position it gave to the elite who could appeal to parliament. Indeed, though the manner in which private legislation was made changed with legislative independence, private bills continued to be authorised by the Irish parliament until the Act of Union.
The Irish Parliament and Print, 1660–1782
Authors: Barnard Toby
Published: March 2014

The article considers the uses made of print by the Irish Parliament between 1660 and 1782. Proceedings were made more widely available, initially with printed Votes and then with fuller Journals. Just how widely is considered. The record of the house of commons and the house of lords is compared. Also the authorised publication of statutes is traced. Sizes of format and editions and costs are considered, concluding that these seriously limited access to the publications. In contrast, varieties of unofficial print, generated either by individual members and candidates or by partisans, are discussed. The effect of these productions was to increase awareness of politics and, arguably, to generate more intense controversies.
Censorship, Salvation and the Preaching of Francis Higgins: A Reconsideration of High Church Politics and Theology in the Early 18th Century
Authors: Barber Alex W.
Published: March 2014

This article considers the exploitation of the pulpit by high churchmen between 1690 and 1710, focusing specifically on a series of sermons delivered by Francis Higgins. It is argued that high churchmen, motivated by disgust for the lax press policies pursued in the period, employed the pulpit to attack whig politicians and bishops and suggest that the Church was in danger. It is likewise argued that this strategy was accomplished through contending that the country was drenched in sin and that practices such as occasional conformity were endangering God's providential blessing. In the process of examining high church sermons, the article seeks to untangle the question of why Henry Sacheverell was prosecuted in 1710. Ultimately, the article argues that the events of 1710 were the culmination of a series of disputes between high churchmen and whig politicians and bishops over the power of the pulpit and the true nature of godly reformation.
Changes in peripheral blood B cell subsets at diagnosis and after treatment with disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters
Authors: McComish Jeremy , Mundy Joy , Sullivan Tom , Proudman Susanna M. , Hissaria Pravin
Published: March 2014

Objective

To assess variation in peripheral blood B lymphocyte subsets in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

B lymphocyte subsets in disease‐modifying anti‐rheumatic drug (DMARD)‐naïve patients with RA (n = 30), patients with RA treated with DMARDs (n = 73) and healthy controls (n = 46) were analyzed by flow cytometry. Total B cells, total memory B cells, immunoglobulin M (IgM) memory B cells, switched memory B cells, non‐switched memory B cells, CD21lo B cells, transitional B cells and plasmablasts were measured. Correlation with clinical and laboratory parameters was performed.

Results

Total memory B cells, IgM memory B cells and non‐switched memory B cells were reduced in RA patients at diagnosis compared to controls (P < 0.05). In patients with treated RA, there was a further reduction of total B cells, CD21lo cells, transitional B cells and plasmablasts, compared to controls (P < 0.05). The reduction in absolute numbers of total B cells, switched memory B cells, CD21lo cells, transitional B cells and plasmablasts in treated RA patients was significant (P < 0.05) even when compared to the DMARD‐naïve patients. Only treatment responders (Disease Activity Score < 3.2) had reduced total B cells and absolute numbers of switched and IgM memory B cells (P < 0.05). In patients requiring leflunomide, total memory B cells, IgM memory B cells, non‐switched memory B cells and absolute numbers of switched memory B cells were reduced compared with the remainder of the patient group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

There is reduction of various B cell subsets in RA patients at diagnosis. Treatment with DMARDs leads to further reduction in additional B cell subsets without correction of the abnormalities. Reduction in individual subsets may predict RA patients requiring more intensive therapy.
Genetic analysis of Anatolian pear germplasm by simple sequence repeats
Authors: Akçay M.E. , Burak M. , Kazan K. , Yüksel C. , Mutaf F. , Bakir M. , Ayanoğlu H. , Ergül A.
Published: March 2014

The pear (Pyrus communis L.) is a fruit species grown in many temperate regions of the world. Turkey harbours a rich and ancient pear germplasm adapted to diverse ecological regions of the country. The aim of this study was to genetically characterise locally grown Anatolian pear germplasm. We have analysed large numbers (228) of pear accessions originated from six eco‐geographically diverse regions using 18 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and identified 308 SSR alleles. Genetic similarities among the accessions examined were generally below 80%. The highest heterozygosity rate was obtained for the SSR locus ‘CH02D11’ derived from apples and ‘KA16’ and ‘NH0021a’ derived from pears. No identical or synonymous genotypes were found, while five homonymous genotypes were identified. Factorial correspondence analysis could not clearly separate different pear accession groups studied, suggesting that Anatolian pear accessions were intermixed possibly due to gene flow and/or germplasm movements between different eco‐geographical regions. However, most pear accessions were grouped according to their collection sites in structure analyses. The SSR data reported here for Anatolian pear accessions will be valuable for future germplasm management efforts as well as for comparative studies that investigate genetic relationships of pears from Anatolia and the surrounding regions.
International Alcohol Control Study: Pricing Data and Hours of Purchase Predict Heavier Drinking
Authors: Casswell Sally , Huckle Taisia , Wall Martin , Yeh Li Chia
Published: March 2014

Background

This study reports findings from the International Alcohol Control (IAC) study that assesses the impact of alcohol control policy on consumption and policy‐related behaviors. Modeled on the International Tobacco Control study that uses longitudinal surveys with comparison between countries, the baseline survey was carried out in New Zealand. This study reports analysis of the purchasing behavior respondents report separately for on‐ and off‐premise outlets, providing validation data for both alcohol consumption and reported prices.

Methods

New Zealand is a high‐income country with an adult per capita alcohol consumption (as of 2011) of 9.5 l. The survey was carried out among a nationally representative sample of drinkers. Interview data on place and time of purchase, amounts purchased, price paid, and consumption (beverage and location specific) was collected. Relationships between policy relevant variables and consumption were modeled taking into account demographic variables. Validation was provided by government data on alcohol available for consumption, aggregate expenditure and prices from the Consumer Price Index.

Results

Drinkers paying low prices at on‐ or off‐licensed premises had higher odds of consuming 6+ drinks on a typical occasion, as did drinkers purchasing alcohol at later times. Regarding frequency, drinkers purchasing at later times were more likely to be daily drinkers. Lower price in off licenses but not on licenses predicted daily drinking. The data collected accounted for approximately 96% of alcohol available for consumption and the prices accounted for 98% of aggregate expenditure.

Conclusions

Valid survey data were collected to give an accurate picture of alcohol consumption and prices paid by drinkers. Heavy drinkers were more likely to buy cheaper alcohol and purchase at later times; 2 policy issues under discussion in many settings. This analysis suggests the IAC study that has the potential to provide data to contribute to the debate on appropriate policy responses to reduce alcohol‐related harm.
Influenced but Unaware: Social Influence on Alcohol Drinking Among Social Acquaintances
Authors: Dallas Rebecca , Field Matt , Jones Andrew , Christiansen Paul , Rose Abi , Robinson Eric
Published: March 2014

Background

Drinking partners may be influenced by each other's alcohol consumption. However, these effects have only been shown in artificially created social pairings and typically among same‐sex young adults. Here, we test whether similarly strong influence effects occur among “real” pairs of social acquaintances (friends and partners) and whether people are aware of this influence on their alcohol consumption.

Methods

Forty‐six pairs of social acquaintances aged between 19 and 60 years old participated in a between‐subjects experiment, in a semi‐naturalistic bar laboratory setting. One member of each pair (the confederate) was randomly selected and asked to consume only alcoholic (alcohol condition) or soft drinks (nonalcohol condition), while the pair completed a game together in a bar setting. The other participant (naïve) was unaware of these drinking instructions. Postconsumption, we measured the extent to which naïve participants believed that their partner had influenced their own drinking behavior.

Results

A large effect of condition on alcohol consumption was observed, χ² (2) = 15.8, p < 0.001, Cramer's V = 0.59, whereby the number of alcoholic drinks selected by naïve participants in the alcohol confederate condition was significantly greater than in the nonalcohol confederate condition. The majority of naïve participants (81%) also tended to be unaware that their partner had influenced their alcohol consumption.

Conclusions

Social acquaintances are influenced by each other's alcohol consumption and may not be aware of this influence on their behavior.
Intragenerational Income Mobility in Gothenburg, Sweden, 1925–94: Before, during, and after the Rise of the Welfare State
Authors: Jansson Birgitta
Published: March 2014

This article compares income mobility at the household level using tax data for Gothenburg, Sweden, from 1925 to 1994. Income mobility is defined as changes in household disposable equivalent income over time. Results indicate extensive income mobility over time. Income mobility is often linked to the life cycle, and three classic poverty risks – childhood, starting a family, and old age – have been reduced. Results also show the emergence of two new poverty risks – young adulthood and family‐building for immigrants – challenges that need to be addressed by future policy prescriptions.
Group vs. Single Mindfulness Meditation: Exploring Avoidance, Impulsivity, and Weight Management in Two Separate Mindfulness Meditation Settings
Authors: Mantzios Michail , Giannou Kyriaki
Published: March 2014

Recent research has identified that mindfulness meditation in group settings supports people who are trying to lose weight. The present research investigated mindfulness meditation in group and individual settings, and explored the potential impact on weight loss and other factors (i.e. mindfulness, impulsivity, and avoidance) that may assist or hinder weight loss. Specifically, the hypotheses tested were that the group setting assisted dieters more than the individual setting by reducing weight, cognitive‐behavioral avoidance, and impulsivity and by increasing mindfulness. Participants (n = 170) who were trying to lose weight were randomly assigned to practice meditation for 6 weeks within a group or independently. Measurements in mindfulness, cognitive‐behavioral avoidance, impulsivity, and weight occurred twice (pre‐ and post‐intervention). Results indicated that participants in the group setting lost weight and lowered their levels of cognitive‐behavioral avoidance, while impulsivity and mindfulness remained stable. On the other hand, participants in the individual condition lost less weight, while there was an increase in cognitive‐behavioral avoidance and mindfulness scores, but a decrease in impulsivity. Seeing that benefits and limitations observed in group settings are not replicated when people meditate alone, this study concluded that mindfulness meditation in individual settings needs to be used with caution, although there are some potential benefits that could aid future weight loss research.
The Primary Importance of Corporate Social Responsibility and Ethicality in Corporate Reputation: An Empirical Study
Authors: Walker Kent , Dyck Bruno
Published: March 2014

We examine three assumptions commonly held in the corporate reputation literature: (1) reputation ratings of owners and investors are generally representative of all stakeholders; (2) stakeholders will generally provide a higher reputation rating to firms that emphasize corporate social responsibility versus firms that do not; and (3) profitability is the primary criterion of importance to all stakeholders when rating a firm's reputation. Using an exploratory in‐class exercise, our findings suggest that: (1) there are significant differences among stakeholder groups in their reputation ratings; (2) firms that emphasize corporate social responsibility are not rated more highly across all stakeholder groups; and (3) for all stakeholder groups, the ethicality criterion explained more of the variance in firms' reputation ratings than the profitability criterion.
Quantification of skeletal metastases in castrate‐resistant prostate cancer predicts progression‐free and overall survival
Authors: Tait Campbell , Moore David , Hodgson Clare , Brown Michael , Morris Thomas , Growcott Jim , Malone Michael , Hughes Andrew , Renehan Andrew , Clarke Noel W. , Dive Caroline
Published: March 2014

Objective

To report a simplified and effective method for substratification of M1 castrate‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) by correlating progression‐free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) with simple quantification of skeletal metastases.

Patients and Methods

In all, 561 men with M1 CRPC were studied longitudinally. Individual bone scan disease burden, quantified by counting bone metastasis number, was correlated with clinical outcome using specific threshold points of 1–4, 5–20 and >20 detectable lesions.

Results

Patients with a higher metastasis number had a shorter PFS and OS (hazard ratio [HR] 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.7–2.4; P < 0.001). Patients with 1–4 metastases had much better PFS and OS than those with 5–20 metastases. The median PFS and OS in the latter was 10.9 (95% CI 8.4–12.8) and 22.1 (95% CI: 18.5–24.5) months, respectively. PFS and OS for patients with >20 metastases were shorter still [median 5.3 (95% CI 3.4–6.9) months and 13.3 (95% CI 11.3–17.6) months, respectively]. Dichotomising into cohorts with 1–4 and ≥5 metastases, the latter group had considerably poorer PFS [8.4 (95% CI 6.8–10.3) months; P < 0.001) and OS [18.7 (95% CI 17.5–22.1) months; P < 0.001].

Conclusions

Dichotomising patients with CRPC into cohorts with 1–4 or ≥5 skeletal metastases identifies a better and a worse cohort in a manner that is easy and clinically accessible. This simple method facilitates disease stratification and patient management, enabling clinicians to counsel patients more effectively about long‐term outcomes and to help select intervention therapies more effectively.
Postoperative statin use and risk of biochemical recurrence following radical prostatectomy: results from the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) database
Authors: Allott Emma H. , Howard Lauren E. , Cooperberg Matthew R. , Kane Christopher J. , Aronson William J. , Terris Martha K. , Amling Christopher L. , Freedland Stephen J.
Published: March 2014

Objective

To investigate the effect of statin use after radical prostatectomy (RP) on biochemical recurrence (BCR) in patients with prostate cancer who never received statins before RP.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 1146 RP patients within the Shared Equal Access Regional Cancer Hospital (SEARCH) database. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to examine differences in risk of BCR between post‐RP statin users vs nonusers. To account for varying start dates and duration of statin use during follow‐up, post‐RP statin use was treated as a time‐dependent variable. In a secondary analysis, models were stratified by race to examine the association of post‐RP statin use with BCR among black and non‐black men.

Results

After adjusting for clinical and pathological characteristics, post‐RP statin use was significantly associated with 36% reduced risk of BCR (hazard ratio [HR] 0.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.47–0.87; P = 0.004). Post‐RP statin use remained associated with reduced risk of BCR after adjusting for preoperative serum cholesterol levels. In secondary analysis, after stratification by race, this protective association was significant in non‐black (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.32–0.75; P = 0.001) but not black men (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.53–1.28; P = 0.384).

Conclusion

In this retrospective cohort of men undergoing RP, post‐RP statin use was significantly associated with reduced risk of BCR. Whether the association between post‐RP statin use and BCR differs by race requires further study. Given these findings, coupled with other studies suggesting that statins may reduce risk of advanced prostate cancer, randomised controlled trials are warranted to formally test the hypothesis that statins slow prostate cancer progression.
Can Management Improve the Value of Shade Plantations for the Endemic Species of São Tomé Island?
Authors: de Lima Ricardo F. , Viegas Leonel , Solé Nelson , Soares Estevão , Dallimer Martin , Atkinson Philip W. , Barlow Jos
Published: March 2014

Cocoa and coffee are among the most valuable tropical crops, with much of their production in areas of high biodiversity. Although this could suggest a conflict between agricultural expansion and biodiversity conservation, these crops are normally grown in shade plantations—a more biodiversity‐friendly agroforestry system. Using São Tomé Island as a case study, we examined if shade plantation can benefit biodiversity by protecting extinction‐prone island endemic species. We found that shade plantations held rich assemblages, even in comparison with forest: we estimated 30 bird and 74 tree species occurring in plantations compared to 24 bird and 108 tree species in forests. However, the structure of the assemblages was significantly different between ecosystems, with an average dissimilarity of 33.8 percent and 87.9 percent for birds and trees, respectively. Shade plantations had consistently less endemic species than the forest; we estimated a drop from 17 to 13 in birds and from 17 to 3 in trees. We also found that despite marked differences in the response of bird species to the vegetation characteristics of shade plantations, there was a strong positive link between aboveground tree biomass and endemic species richness and abundance. These results show that shade plantations hold assemblages impoverished in endemic species, but that management can improve their value for the conservation of these species. Finally, we suggest that biodiversity‐friendly certification and carbon markets are used to implement and guarantee the long‐term economical sustainability of practices that favor the endemic species in São Tomé's shade plantations.
Regional Variations in Biomass Distribution in Brazilian Savanna Woodland
Authors: de Miranda Sabrina do Couto , Bustamante Mercedes , Palace Michael , Hagen Stephen , Keller Michael , Ferreira Laerte Guimarães
Published: March 2014

The Cerrado, the savanna biome in central Brazil, mostly comprised of woodland savanna, is experiencing intense and fast land use changes. To understand the changes in Cerrado carbon stocks, we present an overview of biomass distribution in different Cerrado vegetation types (i.e., grasslands, shrublands and forestlands). We surveyed 26 studies including 170 Cerrado sites. The grasslands presented mean total biomass of 24 Mg/ha, with 70 percent allocated in the belowground portion. In shrublands, the mean total biomass was 58 Mg/ha being 58 percent in the belowground portion. Finally, in forestlands the mean total biomass was 98 Mg/ha with 18 percent as belowground biomass. The surveyed studies presented 12 allometric equations for biomass estimate, most involving both diameter and height. Data on wood density for Cerrado shrubs and trees are not abundant and the average value was 0.66 g/cm3, similar to that found in the central portion of the Amazon Forest. We also examined the relationship between total precipitation and dry‐season intensity with biomass variation in the Cerrado shrubland using data from tropical rainfall measurement mission (TRMM) for the period 2000–2010. Dry‐season precipitation amount in cerrado areas in severe drought regions explained 29 percent of the variation in aboveground woody biomass. This finding is important in the face of the predictions of longer and more severe dry seasons in the region due to climate change.
Study of Orientation and Penetration of LAH4 into Lipid Bilayer Membranes: pH and Composition Dependence
Authors: Islami Matin , Mehrnejad Faramarz , Doustdar Farahnoosh , Alimohammadi Masumeh , Khadem‐Maaref Mahmoud , Mir‐Derikvand Mohammad , Taghdir Majid
Published: March 2014

LAH4 is an antimicrobial peptide that is believed to possess both antibiotic and DNA delivery capabilities. It is one of a number of membrane‐active peptides that show increased affinity toward anionic lipids. Herein, we have performed molecular dynamics simulations to compare LAH4 effects on anionic palmitoyl–oleoyl–phosphatidylglycerol bilayer, which approximate a prokaryotic membrane environment and zwitterionic palmitoyl–oleoyl–phosphatidylcholine bilayer, which approximate a eukaryotic membrane environment. One particular interest in this work is to study how different kinds of lipid bilayers respond to the attraction of LAH4. Remarkably, our data have shown that the depth of peptide penetration strongly depends on membrane composition and pH. At acidic pH, LAH4 has exhibited a high tendency to interact strongly with and be adsorbed on anionic membrane. We have also shown that electrostatic interactions between His11 and the phosphor atoms of bilayers should have a significant impact on the penetration of LAH4. These results provide insights into the interactions of LAH4 and lipid bilayers at the atomic level, which is useful to understand cell selectivity and mechanism of the peptide action.
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2/Ang‐(1–7)/Mas Axis Protects Brain from Ischemic Injury with a Tendency of Age‐dependence
Authors: Zheng Jiao‐Lin , Li Guang‐Ze , Chen Shu‐Zhen , Wang Jin‐Ju , Olson James E. , Xia Hui‐Jing , Lazartigues Eric , Zhu Yu‐Lan , Chen Yan‐Fang
Published: March 2014

Background

The angiotensin (Ang) converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)/Ang‐(1‐7)/Mas receptor pathway is an important component of the renin–angiotensin system and has been suggested to exert beneficial effects in ischemic stroke.

Aims

This study explored whether the ACE2/Ang‐(1‐7)/Mas pathway has a protective effect on cerebral ischemic injury and whether this effect is affected by age.

Methods

We used three‐month and eight‐month transgenic mice with neural over‐expression of ACE2 (SA) and their age‐matched nontransgenic (NT) controls. Neurological deficits and ischemic stroke volume were determined following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). In oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD) experiments on brain slices, the effects of the Mas receptor agonist (Ang1‐7) or antagonist (A779) on tissue swelling, Nox2/Nox4 expression reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell death were measured.

Results

(1) Middle cerebral artery occlusion ‐induced ischemic injury and neurological deficit were reduced in SA mice, especially in eight‐month animals; (2) OGD‐induced tissue swelling and cell death were decreased in SA mice with a greater reduction seen in eight‐month mice; (3) Ang‐(1–7) and A779 had opposite effects on OGD‐induced responses, which correlated with changes in Nox2/Nox4 expression and ROS production.

Conclusions

Angiotensin converting enzyme 2/Ang‐(1‐7)/Mas axis protects brain from ischemic injury via the Nox/ROS signaling pathway, with a greater effect in older animals.
Endogenous Endothelial Progenitor Cells Participate in Neovascularization via CXCR4/SDF‐1 axis and Improve Outcome After Stroke
Authors: Mao Ling , Huang Ming , Chen Sheng‐Cai , Li Ya‐Nan , Xia Yuan‐Peng , He Quan‐Wei , Wang Meng‐Die , Huang Yan , Zheng Long , Hu Bo
Published: March 2014

Aim

To study whether endogenous endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are involved in neovascularization after stroke.

Materials and methods

Animal stroke models were established by subjecting male SD rats to permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). Vessels in ischemic boundary zone (IBZ) were stained with antibody against laminin at 1 to 21 days after pMCAO. EPCs and newly formed vessels were identified by staining with special markers. After inhibiting recruitment of EPCs with AMD3100, a CXCR4 antagonist, endogenous EPCs, capillary density, cerebral blood flow (CBF) in IBZ, and neurobehavioral functions were assessed by staining, FITC‐dextran, laser‐Doppler perfusion monitor, and neurologic severity score.

Results

After pMCAO, vessels were found in IBZ at day 3, reaching a peak at day 14. The change in number of laminin‐positive cells showed a similar pattern with that of vessels. Apart from few endothelial cells, most of laminin‐positive cells were endogenous EPCs. After treatment with AMD3100, the number of endogenous EPCs, capillary density, and CBF in IBZ were significantly reduced, and neurobehavioral functions were worse as compared with the normal saline group.

Conclusions

Our findings suggested that endogenous EPCs participated in the neovascularization via CXCR4/SDF‐1 axis after pMCAO and mobilizing endogenous EPCs could be a treatment alternative for stroke.
Increased macrophage density of cardiac allograft biopsies is associated with antibody‐mediated rejection and alloantibodies to HLA antigens
Authors: Xu Lauren , Collins Jennifer , Drachenberg Cinthia , KuKuruga Debra , Burke Allen
Published: March 2014

Background

Antibody‐mediated rejection (AMR) is characterized histologically by intracapillary macrophages. Macrophage density may be an alternative method of determining inflammatory changes in AMR.

Methods

We identified 118 heart transplant patients with serologic testing for HLA alloantibodies. Macrophage density was graded as 1+ (<45/mm2), 2+ (46–90/mm2), and 3+ (>90/mm2). Maximal macrophage density and complement staining over multiple biopsies were correlated with peak panel reactive antibodies (PRA), donor‐specific antibodies (DSA), and the clinical diagnosis of AMR.

Results

The presence of PRA correlated with macrophage score (p = 0.001). Macrophage density correlated with any DSA (p < 0.0001), class I DSA (p < 0.0001), class II DSA (p < 0.0001), and class II DQ (p < 0.0001). Nine patients had clinical AMR. Among patients with AMR, 89% had a biopsy over the period of AMR with ≥3+ macrophage density (89% sensitivity); among patients without AMR, 93% of patients had no biopsy at any time with ≥3+ macrophage density (specificity). There was perfect concordance between the scores of C4d positivity and macrophage density in 61% and only partial concordance in 20%, with complete discordance in 19% in biopsies taken during clinical episodes of AMR.

Conclusions

Macrophage density in allograft endomyocardial biopsies is frequently elevated during clinical episodes of AMR and correlates well with alloantibodies.
Podoplanin expression in cancer‐associated fibroblasts predicts aggressive behavior in melanoma
Authors: Kan Saori , Konishi Eiichi , Arita Takahiro , Ikemoto Chika , Takenaka Hideya , Yanagisawa Akio , Katoh Norito , Asai Jun
Published: March 2014

Background

Recent studies have showed podoplanin expression in several tumors, which has been associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis. Podoplanin expression in cancer‐associated fibroblasts also correlates with tumor progression. However, the association of podoplanin expression with melanomas remains unclear.

Methods

To clarify the prognostic significance of podoplanin in melanoma, podoplanin expression in tumor cells and cancer‐associated fibroblasts was examined by immunohistochemistry in tissue samples collected from 55 melanoma patients.

Results

Podoplanin expression in tumor cells was identified in 38 patients (69.1%) but did not show correlation with characteristics of tumor progression such as tumor thickness (p = 0.52) and sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis (p = 0.79). Podoplanin expression in cancer‐associated fibroblasts was observed in 25 patients (45.5%), 11 of whom (44.0%) had SLN metastasis. In contrast, only 4 of 30 patients (13.3%) with podoplanin‐negative cancer‐associated fibroblasts exhibited SLN metastasis. Podoplanin‐positive cancer‐associated fibroblasts were associated with increased tumor thickness and SLN metastasis. Furthermore, patients with podoplanin‐positive cancer‐associated fibroblasts had poorer survival than those with podoplanin‐negative cancer‐associated fibroblasts (p = 0.0148).

Conclusion

The presence of podoplanin expression in cancer‐associated fibroblasts correlates with aggressive behavior in melanoma and might therefore serve as a useful prognostic factor for patients with melanoma.
Does pyrodiversity beget alpha, beta or gamma diversity? A case study using reptiles from semi‐arid Australia
Authors: Farnsworth Lisa M. , Nimmo Dale G. , Kelly Luke T. , Bennett Andrew F. , Clarke Michael F.
Published: March 2014

Aim

A common assumption in fire ecology and management is that landscapes with a greater diversity of fire‐ages will support a greater diversity of animal species (i.e. ‘pyrodiversity begets biodiversity’). This assumption is based on the idea that landscapes with a more diverse fire history provide a greater array of post‐fire habitats, leading to a greater number of species within the landscape. We assessed the hypothesis that pyrodiversity begets biodiversity by enhancing community differentiation (β diversity), resulting in increased landscape‐scale richness (γ‐diversity). We used reptiles as a case‐study.

Location

The Mallee region of south‐eastern Australia.

Methods

We used a study design in which ‘whole’ fire mosaics (12.6 km2) were the unit of replication. Study landscapes (n = 28) were selected to represent a gradient in the diversity and extent of fire‐age classes. We surveyed reptiles by using pitfall traps at 10 sites within each landscape (280 sites in total). Reptile data were used to characterize reptile assemblages at the landscape‐scale in three ways: alpha (average within‐site diversity), beta (between‐site diversity) and gamma diversity (total diversity).

Results

The diversity of fire‐age classes had little influence on the alpha, beta or gamma diversity of reptile assemblages. The properties of fire mosaics that most influenced assemblages were the extent of structurally important fire‐age classes. The extent of long‐unburned vegetation increased beta diversity but reduced alpha diversity of the total reptile assemblage, essentially cancelling each other out at the landscape scale.

Main conclusions

This study highlights the importance of considering multiple measures of diversity when exploring the influence of landscape properties on biodiversity, as ‘null’ results at the landscape scale (gamma diversity) can result from contrasting patterns in alpha and beta diversity. Using fire to create habitat mosaics, at the scale of this study, is unlikely to enhance the status of reptiles in the region.