bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the bacterial and methanotrophic diversities between an Italian paddy field and its neighboring meadow
Authors: Ghashghavi Mohammad , Hester Eric R. , Oliver Viktoria , Lüke Claudia , Jetten Mike S. M. , Lücker Sebastian
Published: January 2019

Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. However, under certain conditions, its release into the atmosphere can be mitigated by methane-oxidizing microorganisms. Typically, cultivated wetlands (i.e., paddy fields) are a major source of methane (CH4) while forests and meadow uplands are considered to be CH4 sinks. As the global need for rice production increases each year, more uplands are converted to inundated paddy fields. To investigate soils that may be converted into productive land for rice production, we investigated a paddy field and adjacent meadow in Northern Italy. Using a combination of 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing to analyze the bacterial community, and gas flux measurements to quantify CH4 emissions, we looked for differences between classically defined CH4 sinks (meadow soils) and CH4 sources (paddy fields). Analysis of the total bacterial community revealed that the family Fimbriimonadaceae, which belongs to the phylum Armatimonadetes, was significantly higher in paddy field soils driving the difference between paddy and meadow soils. Whereas, we found that the methylotrophic families Methyloligellaceae and Methylomirabilaceae were also present in higher relative abundance in the paddy field. Despite these major differences, CH4 fluxes were highly variable between the two sites with no significant differences observed. Furthermore, we found the Methylomonaceae family to be more abundant at the center of a neighboring paddy field compared to the edge of the paddy field from the current study, hinting at methanotrophic variation based on location. Taking these results into account, we propose a conceptual model to explain possible scenarios that may result in paddy and meadow fields not exhibiting classical source/sink properties. These findings call for caution when including paddy and meadow areas separately into global CH4 flux calculations, and urge further research to discern drivers of CH4 cycling under a range of environmental conditions rather than relying on assumptions.
A cross-sectional study to assess the magnitude of Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Hatcliffe, Harare
Authors: Gonde Lonestar Lazarus , Chimbari Moses John , Manyangadze Tawanda
Published: January 2019

Background

Hypertension (HTN) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are reported to be on the increase in developing countries. In this study we investigated the epidemiology of the prevalence of HTN and T2DM and its correlates in a high density area. We carried out this study to assess the magnitude of the prevalence of HTN and T2DM so that we can query the drivers that are causing an increase conditions in these conditions.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study in Hatcliffe, a high density area (HDA) in Harare. We interviewed, bled, took anthropometric and measured blood pressure of 381 participants. We investigated HbA1c, blood pressure, BMI and prevalence of prehypertension, prediabetes, co-existence of HTN and T2DM. A geospatial analysis was carried out to ascertain distribution patterns of HTN and T2DM in Hatcliffe.

Results

The prevalence for prehypertension and prediabetes is higher than it is for full blown conditions of the HTN and T2DM. The prevalence of prehypertension was 35.4% and prediabetes was 29%. The prevalence of HTN in this study was 14.4% whilst that of T2DM was 3.93%. Out of the 55 participants that had developed HTN five had developed T2DM. There was no significant difference in the HTN and T2DM clusters.

Conclusions

The prevalence for prehypertension and prediabetes is higher than it is for full blown conditions of the HTN and T2DM. This indicates the importance of having a strategy for reducing the number of prediabetes and prehypertensive cases so that cases of full blown T2DM and HTN remain low.
Convolutional and Recurrent Neural Network for Human Action Recognition: application on American Sign Language
Authors: Vincent Hernandez , Tomoya Suzuki , Gentiane Venture
Published: January 2019

Human Action Recognition (HAR) is an important and difficult topic because of the important variability between tasks repeated several times by a subject and between subjects. This work is motivated by providing time-series signal classification and a robust validation and test approaches. This study proposes to classify 60 American Sign Language signs from data provided by the LeapMotion sensor by using a combined approach with Convolutional Neural Network (ConvNet) and Recurrent Neural Network with Long-Short Term Memory cells (LSTM) called ConvNet-LSTM. Moreover, a complete kinematic model of the right and left forearm/hand/fingers/thumb is proposed as well as the use of a simple data augmentation technique to improve the generalization of neural networks. Results showed an accuracy of 89.3% on a user-independent test set with data augmentation when using the ConvNet-LSTM, while LSTM alone provided an accuracy of 85.0% on the same test set. The result dropped respectively to 85.9% and 81.4% without data augmentation.
Epigenetic Profiling Provides Insights into AIDS Resistance in African Green Monkey
Authors: Yuan Zheng , Zhou Xiao-jun
Published: January 2019

As a natural host of simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV), African green monkeys (AGM) do not develop AIDS although high levels of SIV replication were maintained. Low frequencies of CD4+ T cells and high frequencies of CD8dim T cells were observed in healthy adult AGM, which may partially explain the absence of SIV-induced disease progression. Elucidating the mechanisms that allow this natural host co-exist with SIV without progressive disease may facilitate knowledge of AIDS pathogenesis. Here we show: (1) Compared with junior AGM, 3 miRNA were up-regulated in adult AGM in which hsa-miR-151a-3p was shown to target both CD4 and MAZR; 15 miRNAs were down-regulated in adult AGM in which hsa-miR-140-5p, hsa-miR-126-3p and hsa-miR-194-5p were shown to target CD8α; (2) MeDIP sequencing analysis of adult AGM samples revealed that hypermethylation exists in the promoter region of CD4, CXCR6, CCR5, while hypomethylation exists in the promoter region of RUNX3, ICAM2; (3) Hypomethylation in the promoter region of PTK2 contributes to up-regulated expression of hsa-miR-151a-3p in adult AGM, while hypermethylation in the promoter region of WWP2 contributes to down-regulated expression of hsa-miR-140-5p. Our data for the first time demonstrates the link between miRNA and DNA methylation expression profile, which may together contribute to the phenotype of AIDS resistance in AGM.

Author Summary

African green monkeys (AGM) do not develop AIDS although high levels of SIV replication were maintained. Elucidating the mechanisms that allow this natural host co-exist with SIV without progressive disease may facilitate knowledge of AIDS pathogenesis. In this study, the miRNA expression patterns were found to be associated with the switch from CD4+ to CD4−CD8adim in adult AGM. The up-regulated hsa-miR-151a-3p was shown to target both AGM CD4 and MAZR, while the down-regulated hsa-miR-140-5p, hsa-miR-126-3p and hsa-miR-194-5p were shown to target AGM CD8α. And none of these miRNAs possess target sites in cynomolgus macaque (CM) CD4, CD8α and MAZR reflecting differences in AIDS resistance between these two species. Our data also demonstrates the link between miRNA and DNA methylation expression profile, indicating that multiple distinct mechanisms may contribute to AIDS resistance in AGM. Knowledge of the non-pathogenic nature of SIV infection in AGM may provide insight into development of new therapeutic strategies.
VisualCOBie for facilities management
Authors: Yalcinkaya Mehmet , Singh Vishal
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the technical features, underlying concepts and implementation details of a novel Building Information Modeling (BIM)-integrated, graph-based platform developed to support BIM for facilities management through a usability driven visual representation of the construction operations building information exchange (COBie) spreadsheet data.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on the iterative steps of design thinking and agile software development methodology. The conceptual development of the VisualCOBie platform is based on Gestalt’s principles of visual perception to facilitate usability and comprehension of the COBie data.

Findings

The paper demonstrates that Gestalt’s principles of visual perception provide a suitable conceptual as well as implementable basis for improving the usability and comprehension of COBie spreadsheets. The implemented BIM-integrated, graph-based VisualCOBie platform supports visual navigation and dynamic search, reducing the cognitive load of large spreadsheets that are common in facilities management software.

Research limitations/implications

The usability, visual search and dependencies-based search of VisualCOBie can potentially transform how we implement and use facilities and information management systems in construction, where large spreadsheets are frequently used in conjunction with BIM and other tools. VisualCOBie also provides usability-based step towards BIM for facilities management.

Originality/value

The VisualCOBie approach provides a novel user interface and information management platform. This paper may also foster a potential paradigm shift in our approach to the representation and use of information exchange standards such as COBie, which are required to facilitate the research and practice on BIM for facilities management.
Differences in management styles, levels of profitability, and performance across generations, and the development of the Family Business Success Model
Authors: Sreih Josiane Fahed , Lussier Robert N. , Sonfield Matthew C.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to, first, investigate the differences between generations in family businesses and, second, develop and verify the Family Business Success Model ability to improve the probability of business success measured by perceived profits, growth and meeting the owners’ expectations.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected through questionnaires and personal interviews. Overall, 98 usable questionnaires were collected for statistical analysis with a response rate of 82 percent.

Findings

One-way ANOVA hypotheses testing of the variables found four significant differences between generations. Regression analysis found the Family Business Success Model to be significant. Family business owners can improve the probability of success by utilizing a team-management decision-making approach, effectively handling conflict effectively, formulating specific succession plans, developing strategic plans, using sophisticated financial management methods, dealing effectively with the founder’s influence and if they seek to grow, they should consider going public.

Practical implications

This study provides family business owners, managers, educators and public policy makers with the means to help family businesses survive and grow effectively throughout generations by using the Family Business Success Model. In addition, this study can help consultants and advisors of family businesses to understand the differences between the first, second and third generation family businesses from a holistic perspective and help them implement the family business model.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature as one of the few studies in the Lebanese emerging market that examines how the first, second and third generations of family businesses differ. More importantly, it develops a Family Business Success Model that improves the probability of success.
Towards a framework for innovation orientation within business and management studies
Authors: Norris David , Ciesielska Malgorzata
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The innovation orientation theory has emerged within the literature in the last 40 years particular within the development of other strategic orientations, but the bulk of seminal literature in the area has been developed in the past 11 years. The purpose of this paper is to revisit the concept innovation orientation in the light of recent research.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents a systematic review of this literature, covering 74 scholarly articles published between 1982 and 2017.

Findings

Innovation orientation is a sub-construct positioned within the wider field of innovation and relates to an innovation-based strategic orientation, where orientation is used to describe the overall dominant approach that represents an organisation’s competitive posture and strategic focus. It is a multifaceted construct that includes a range of core common variables innovation culture, competition-based understanding, organisational flexibility and specific capital and knowledge capabilities and is particular relevant for that managers and executives to understand how to manage innovation at the firm level. Literature also reports links between innovation orientation and organisational performance.

Originality/value

On the basis of these analyses, a comprehensive innovation orientation framework is developed including key antecedents and key outcomes in terms of performance enhancement and capabilities development. Suggestions for future research are also presented.
A multi‐faceted approach testing the effects of previous bacterial exposure on resistance and tolerance
Authors: Kutzer Megan A. M. , Kurtz Joachim , Armitage Sophie A. O.
Published: January 2019

Hosts can alter their strategy towards pathogens during their lifetime; that is, they can show phenotypic plasticity in immunity or life history. Immune priming is one such example, where a previous encounter with a pathogen confers enhanced protection upon secondary challenge, resulting in reduced pathogen load (i.e., resistance) and improved host survival. However, an initial encounter might also enhance tolerance, particularly to less virulent opportunistic pathogens that establish persistent infections. In this scenario, individuals are better able to reduce the negative fecundity consequences that result from a high pathogen burden. Finally, previous exposure may also lead to life‐history adjustments, such as terminal investment into reproduction.

Using different Drosophila melanogaster host genotypes and two bacterial pathogens, Lactococcus lactis and Pseudomonas entomophila, we tested whether previous exposure results in resistance or tolerance and whether it modifies immune gene expression during an acute‐phase infection (one day post‐challenge). We then asked whether previous pathogen exposure affects chronic‐phase pathogen persistence and longer‐term survival (28 days post‐challenge).

We predicted that previous exposure would increase host resistance to an early stage bacterial infection while it might come at a cost to host fecundity tolerance. We reasoned that resistance would be due in part to stronger immune gene expression after challenge. We expected that previous exposure would improve long‐term survival, that it would reduce infection persistence, and we expected to find genetic variation in these responses.

We found that previous exposure to P. entomophila weakened host resistance to a second infection independent of genotype and had no effect on immune gene expression. Fecundity tolerance showed genotypic variation but was not influenced by previous exposure. However, L. lactis persisted as a chronic infection, whereas survivors cleared the more pathogenic P. entomophila infection.

To our knowledge, this is the first study that addresses host tolerance to bacteria in relation to previous exposure, taking a multi‐faceted approach to address the topic. Our results suggest that previous exposure comes with transient costs to resistance during the early stage of infection in this host–pathogen system and that infection persistence may be bacterium‐specific.
Are diet diversity metrics influenced more by rainfall or by temperature in an Afrotropical Scincid Lizard?
Authors: Dendi Daniele , Segniagbeto Gabriel H. , Di Vittorio Massimiliano , Luiselli Luca
Published: January 2019

The ecology and activity patterns of many tropical vertebrate species are heavily influenced by the seasonal alternance of dry and wet periods. However, the effects of the dry–wet seasonal alternance on feeding habits of tropical vertebrates are poorly known. In this paper, the monthly variations in the diet of the scincid lizard Trachylepis quinquetaeniata were studied, by faecal pellet analysis, in a sandy beach area of southern Togo (West Africa) in relation to both rainfall and temperature‐related variables. The diet was basically insectivorous, with five prey types (Coleoptera adults and larvae, Lepidoptera adults and larvae and Formicidae) being dominant in the pellets. Prey composition was similar between sexes, but varied considerably across months. There was a positive correlation between mean monthly rainfall and number of prey categories eaten in each month. General linear models (GLM) showed that both Simpson and Shannon indices increased with the monthly number of rainy days. GLM also showed that rainfall regime influenced the frequency of eaten Coleoptera adults and larvae and of Lepidoptera adults and larvae, with no effect on Formicoidea. Our study confirms that dietary patterns of tropical lizards are influenced by the wet‐dry‐seasonal alternance, and that both the taxonomic composition of the diet and the dietary diversity metrics are significantly affected. We also demonstrated that rainfall is more important than temperature in determining the dietary variations, and that, among the rainfall‐linked variables, it is the monthly number of rainy days that represents the most important variable.
Trait selection matters! A study on European amphibian functional diversity patterns
Authors: Tsianou Mariana A. , Kallimanis Athanasios S.
Published: January 2019

Trait‐based approaches and functional diversity have been previously used to enlighten our knowledge on the structure of community assemblages which are driven by species interactions or abiotic factors. We assess what amphibian functional diversity implies for the community assembly of amphibians of Europe and whether the use of different Functional Trait Groups (FTGs) affects the results. We used presence/absence atlas with 50 km × 50 km grain size and three functional diversity indices (FRic, RaoQ and FDiv) which reflect functional richness and divergence to estimate functional diversity patterns calculated for three FTGs: Morphological, Habitat‐related, Reproductive and the complete set of traits. To identify the two key processes (environmental filtering and limiting similarity) that may shape amphibian communities and how the relative importance of these processes could change using different FTGs, we used null models to test for non‐random patterns of functional diversity accounting or not for the difference in regional species pool. We show that for the same grid cell, for one FTG we might observe lower than randomly expected functional diversity (i.e., trait convergence or environmental filtering as the dominant community assembly process) while for another FTG or for the complete set of traits, higher than randomly expected functional diversity (i.e., trait divergence or limiting similarity as the dominant community assembly process). This highlights the role of trait selection on the inference drawn regarding community assembly. Furthermore, the number of traits (complete set vs. FTGs) used to quantify functional diversity also affects the conclusions regarding community assembly.
Disentangling grazing and light controls on algal communities in grassland and afforested streams
Authors: Cibils‐Martina Luciana , Márquez Javier A. , Gari Elena Noemí , Albariño Ricardo J. , Principe Romina E.
Published: January 2019

Our aim was to analyze the combined effect of grazing and light on composition, structure, functional diversity (FD) and succession of algal communities in two headwater streams (grassland and pine afforested). We hypothesized that algal communities in the grassland stream are top‐down controlled, as a result of higher grazing; meanwhile, in the afforested stream, algal communities are bottom‐up shaped, mainly due to sunlight reduction. In in situ experiments, we used platforms to avoid grazing in both streams, and the substrates were extracted at 23, 45 and 73 days. Algal community composition was different between stream types. Seventy percent of structural and biomass variables responded to grazing. In the grassland stream, grazing reduced richness and ash‐free dry mass (AFDM), especially after 45 days, while in the afforested stream, at the same time, grazed substrates showed higher richness and AFDM than ungrazed substrates. Net grazing effect was higher on algal biomass of grassland streams. Then, 30% of functional traits showed grazing effect. High profile algae predominated in the grassland stream, where ungrazed substrates showed higher proportions of species with pad mucilage and colonial life form. Algal communities in the afforested stream remained at an early stage of succession, with a predominance of small and low profile algae in both substrates, and FD and evenness indices were lower. Our results indicate that the relative strength of top‐down versus bottom‐up control is different among stream types and the primary regulatory factor of freshwater communities can be modified according to such forestry practice.
Climatic stress drives plant functional diversity in the Alborz Mountains, Iran
Authors: Moradi Halime , Oldeland Jens
Published: January 2019

Climate and environmental heterogeneity are currently discussed as the most important drivers of plant diversity along altitudinal gradients. Compared to functional diversity, taxonomic diversity has received much more attention in research on altitudinal gradients, although functional diversity may provide more information on the ecological mechanisms shaping plant diversity. We assessed the importance of climatic and environmental heterogeneity as drivers of functional diversity in relation to altitude in the central Alborz Mountains, Iran. We sampled 132 vegetation plots along two altitudinal transects. Plant traits including life history, growth form, stem‐leaf ratio, spinescence, hairiness, leaf consistency, dispersal type and plant height were recorded. Functional diversity was measured as functional richness, Rao's quadratic entropy, and their standardized effect sizes (SESs). In general, functional diversity decreased with altitude. The decrease in observed functional diversity was related to the decrease in taxonomic richness. SESs of functional diversity showed contrasting trends, depending on transect and index. At both transects, climatic stress best explained the variation in observed and expected functional diversity. Harsh climatic conditions at higher altitudes decreased the number of species and thus the functional trait space. Environmental heterogeneity played only a minor role for shaping functional diversity. We expect this effect to be due to the length of the sampled altitudinal transects. With increasing length, small‐scale drivers become less effective. The two transects favoured different environmental drivers, meaning that transferability of single studies could be difficult.
Concentration of radioactive materials in small mammals collected from a restricted area in Fukushima, Japan since 2012
Authors: Ishiniwa Hiroko , Okano Tsukasa , Yoshioka Akira , Tamaoki Masanori , Yokohata Yasushi , Shindo Junji , Azuma Noriko , Nakajima Nobuyoshi , Onuma Manabu
Published: January 2019

Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant was struck by a huge earthquake and tsunami, which ultimately released a large amount of radioactive material owing to steam explosion in March 2011. This accident affected extensive area and resulted in soil contamination, which would prevail over a long period. The contaminants included various types of nuclear materials, among which cesium (134,137Cs) has a particularly long half‐life. Organisms living in the contaminated area are presumably exposed to radiation caused by the presence of these radioactive contaminants in their environment, in addition to internal exposure owing to the intake of these contaminants through the food web. The purpose of our data collection is to monitor accumulation of radioactive materials in small mammals for a long period and to predict its effects. Reasons for focusing on small mammals include: (a) mammals are the most sensitive to radiation, (b) small mammals have a smaller home range compared to large mammals; therefore, accumulation of radioactive materials in small mammals is considered to reflect the condition of the surrounding environment, and (c) among the small mammals, rodents are used as laboratory animals and provide a lot of information, from which we can expect to acquire much knowledge based on investigations. The dataset contains measurements of 134,137Cs and potassium (40K) concentrations in small terrestrial mammals collected in areas contaminated with radioactive contaminants from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. We established two fixed study sites and three temporary sites inside the zone from which humans were evacuated owing to high levels of radiation. Annual monitoring of Cs contamination in small mammals was started in 2012 at the fixed study sites. Until 2016, we collected 547 individuals of four species (Apodemus speciosus, Apodemus argenteus, Microtus montebelli and Urotrichus talpoides). Cs concentrations in each individual were measured using high‐purity germanium detectors against a ground body after removing the internal organs and the head. Our data provide valuable information about temporal changes in 134Cs and 137Cs concentrations in small mammals following the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. The study is continuing and the present dataset will be updated in the future.
A phenology model for tropical species that flower multiple times each year
Authors: Wright S. Joseph , Calderón Osvaldo , Muller‐Landau Helene C.
Published: January 2019

Phenology models developed for temperate and boreal plants predict a single, population‐level first flowering date for each year. These models cannot accommodate species that flower multiple times each year in humid tropical forests nor flowering data with census‐interval rather than daily temporal resolution. Here, we present a new model framework able to predict the timing of multiple annual flowering events from census data. We extend a recent model, which predicted tropical flowering probabilities as discrete events occurring on census dates, by integrating predicted flowering probabilities over all dates between censuses. We evaluate our model against 29 years of daily climate and weekly flowering records forHybanthus prunifolius(Violaceae) andHandroanthus guayacan(Bignoniaceae) from Barro Colorado Island, Panama. Previous experiments demonstrate that both species flower shortly after a heavy, dry‐season rain interrupts an extended dry period. Our model captures this sequence of rainfall events. Best‐fit model parameters are consistent with previous experimental results. This match suggests the new model framework will provide novel insights for other humid tropical forest species.
A data set of long‐term observation of aquatic vertebrates and associate environmental factors in a temperate stream, the Yura River, Kyoto, Japan
Authors: Nakagawa Hikaru
Published: January 2019

The population dynamics of fishes are strongly affected by habitat characteristics that are constantly changing due to seasonal and interannual variations in climatic, hydrological and geographical processes. Seasonal and interannual variations in hydrological events directly affect the movement, growth and mortality of stream fishes, and indirectly affect their population density and standing crop through changes in local‐scale habitat structures. Characteristics of local‐scale habitats directly affect availability of foods, shelters, spawning sites and interspecific interactions of stream fishes. Therefore, long‐term data regarding the local‐scale dynamics of habitat characteristics and their use by fish species over a few generations or longer would be needed for understanding the mechanism of the determinant process of fish population dynamics. When investigating the effects of habitat changes due to natural processes on the long‐term dynamics of fish populations, removal of artificial influences such as changes in land use, dam constructions and channelization of riverines is often problematic. Thereby, sampling sites where long‐term observation of nonartificial changes in stream fish populations and habitats are very valuable. Here, I report the long‐term seasonal and annual changes in stream fish populations and their habitat characteristics based on 75 snorkeling observations of fishes and environmental measurements in the upper reaches of the Yura River at Ashiu research forest, which has a 36.5 km2 catchment area with very little artificial disturbance, from May 2007 to June 2018. Snorkeling observations were conducted using the line‐transect method during the day and at night, and microhabitat characteristics (water depth, current velocity, substratum characteristics and the presence/absence of cover) were determined for all individuals observed. A total of 56,042 individuals were observed, belonging to 17 fish and 7 other aquatic vertebrate species. These data may be used to examine the effects of habitat change on the processes that determine fish populations.
Sustaining the Buyout Governance Model: Inside Secondary Management Buyout Boards
Authors: Jelic Ranko , Zhou Dan , Wright Mike
Published: January 2019

This paper examines the impact of private equity (PE) directors and their human capital on operating performance in a unique hand‐collected sample of 200 secondary management buyouts (SMBOs) during 2000–2015. It shows that PE directors’ human capital tends to play a statistically and economically important role in performance. Financial (rather than operational) experience of PE directors in acquiring PE firms tends to have a substantial impact on post‐SMBO profitability, while high‐level business education is especially important in post‐SMBO growth performance enhancement. Complementary expertise, provided by directors in buying and selling PE firms, plays an important role only in post‐SMBO growth improvements. Overall, the paper's results provide evidence that governance benefits of the buyout model tend not to be exhausted in the primary buyout stage, but the effects in the secondary buyout phase depend on the nature of PE directors’ human capital resource, notably in respect of the balance between board monitoring and advisory roles. This study therefore adds to growing evidence on how the ownership and life‐cycle nature of firms affect sustainability of boards fulfilling their roles. The results are robust to sample selection bias, different types of PE firms and different measures of human capital.
Retraction: Algorithmicity of biology
Authors: Uchmański Janusz
Published: January 2019

First published: 29 January 2019

https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13157

The above article, published online on 29 January 2019 in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com), has been withdrawn by agreement between the journal's Executive Editor, the journal's Senior Editors, the British Ecological Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. The withdrawal has been agreed as it has been brought to the attention of the Editorial Office and the Publisher that this article is an English translation of a previously published Polish language article, authored by Dr Uchmański.

While the journal does consider translations for publication, this is subject to certain conditions being met. These conditions include: permission being sought by the authors from the original Publisher for the translation, the authors informing the Editorial Office upon initial submission that it is a translation, and the authors clearly referencing the original version of the article in the translation. Unfortunately, none of these conditions were met and the journal has therefore agreed to withdraw the article.
Cannabidiol as a Novel Candidate Alcohol Use Disorder Pharmacotherapy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Turna Jasmine , Syan Sabrina K. , Frey Benicio N. , Rush Brian , Costello Mary Jean , Weiss Mark , MacKillop James
Published: January 2019

There is substantial interest in the therapeutic potential of cannabidiol (CBD), a nonpsychoactive cannabinoid found in plants of the genus Cannabis. The goal of the current systematic review was to characterize the existing literature on this topic and to evaluate the credibility of CBD as a candidate pharmacotherapy for alcohol use disorder (AUD). Using a comprehensive search strategy, 303 unique potential articles were identified and 12 ultimately met criteria for inclusion (8 using rodent models, 3 using healthy adult volunteers, and 1 using cell culture). In both rodent and cell culture models, CBD was found to exert a neuroprotective effect against adverse alcohol consequences on the hippocampus. In rodent models, CBD was found to attenuate alcohol‐induced hepatotoxicity, specifically, alcohol‐induced steatosis. Finally, findings from preclinical rodent models also indicate that CBD attenuates cue‐elicited and stress‐elicited alcohol seeking, alcohol self‐administration, withdrawal‐induced convulsions, and impulsive discounting of delayed rewards. In human studies, CBD was well tolerated and did not interact with the subjective effects of alcohol. Collectively, given its favorable effects on alcohol‐related harms and addiction phenotypes in preclinical models, CBD appears to have promise as a candidate AUD pharmacotherapy. This is further bolstered by the absence of abuse liability and its general tolerability. A clear limitation to the literature is the paucity of human investigations. Human preclinical and clinical studies are needed to determine whether these positive effects in model systems substantively translate into clinically relevant outcomes.
Formation of Superoxide Anion in the Hepatic Sinusoid after Lipopolysaccharide Challenge
Authors: Yokoyama Hirokazu , Mizukami Takeshi , Kamegaya Yoshitaka , Fukuda Masahiko , Okamura Yukishige , Matsumoto Michinaga , Kato Shinzo , Ishii Hiromasa
Published: January 2019

Using the cytochrome c method, superoxide anion that is released into the hepatic sinusoid was measured after a lipopolysaccharide challenge in a liver perfusion system. Moreover, damages of epithelial cells of the hepatic sinusoid were estimated with scanning electron microscopic analysis and levels of purine nucleoside phosphorylase/GPT ratio. Lipopolysaccharide administration increased the conversion of oxidized cytochrome c into reduced cytochrome c in the perfusate, indicating that superoxide anion was formed in the hepatic sinusoid. This change was associated with increase in levels of portal tumor necrosis factor‐α and attenuated by the simultaneous administration of superoxide dismutase. Scanning electron microscope analysis revealed that diameters of sinusoidal fenestrae increased in rats treated with lipopolysaccharide, compared with controls. Moreover, levels of purine nucleoside phosphorylase/GPT ratio was significantly increased in the liver perfusate in lipopolysaccharide‐treated rats, compared with controls. Superoxide anion in hepatic sinusoid may be one of the pathogenic factors behind damages of epithelial cells of the hepatic sinusoid caused by lipopolysaccharide.
Alcohol and delirium tremens: effects of average number of drinks per day and beverage type
Authors: Sørensen H. J. , Holst C. , Knop J. , Mortensen E. L. , Tolstrup J. S. , Becker U.
Published: January 2019

Objective

Associations of amount of alcohol intake and beverage type with the risk of delirium tremens (DT) have not been studied. This longitudinal study investigated if the average number of drinks per day and beverage type predict DT.

Methods

A cohort of 3 582 alcohol‐dependent men and women aged 19–82 without previous DT were interviewed about alcohol intake and beverage type at baseline in 1994–2005 and followed through record linkage in Danish nationwide registers to identify incident DT. Data were analyzed by means of Cox regression models.

Results

An average number of drinks per day of 20–30 or >30 was associated with hazard ratios (HRs) of 1.38 (95% CI 1.03–1.84) and 1.64 (95% CI 1.19–2.27) relative to the reference category (1–9 drinks). Independently of amount consumed and covariates (age, gender, civil status and work status), beverage type (spirits vs. mixed alcohol) was associated with a HR of 1.63 (95% CI 1.08–2.46). Male gender was robustly associated with increased risk (HR = 1.62 (95% CI 1.25–2.08).

Conclusions

In alcohol‐dependent men and women, daily alcohol intake above a threshold of 20 beverages or 240 g alcohol and a preference for spirits increase the risk of developing DT.
Cardiovascular risk remains high in schizophrenia with modest improvements in bipolar disorder during past decade
Authors: Rødevand L. , Steen N. E. , Elvsåshagen T. , Quintana D. S. , Reponen E. J. , Mørch R. H. , Lunding S. H. , Vedal T. S. J. , Dieset I. , Melle I. , Lagerberg T. V. , Andreassen O. A.
Published: January 2019

Objective

While CVD risk has decreased in the general population during the last decade, the situation in patients with schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) is unknown.

Methods

We compared CVD risk factors in patients with SCZ and BD recruited from 2002–2005 (2005 sample, N = 270) with patients recruited from 2006–2017 (2017 sample, N = 1011) from the same catchment area in Norway. The 2017 sample was also compared with healthy controls (N = 922) and the general population (N range = 1285–4587, Statistics Norway) from the same area and period.

Results

Patients with SCZ and BD in the 2017 sample had significantly higher level of most CVD risk factors compared to healthy controls and the general population. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of CVD risk factors in SCZ between the 2005 and 2017 samples except a small increase in glucose in the 2017 sample. There were small‐to‐moderate reductions in hypertension, obesity, total cholesterol, low‐density lipoprotein, systolic and diastolic blood pressure in the BD 2017 sample compared to the 2005 sample.

Conclusion

Despite major advances in health promotion during the past decade, there has been no reduction in the level of CVD risk factors in patients with SCZ and modest improvement in BD.
Differential gene expression analysis of sickle cell anemia in steady and crisis state
Authors: Zanette Dalila L. , Santiago Rayra P. , Leite Ivana Paula Ribeiro , Santana Sanzio S. , da Guarda Caroline , Maffili Vitor V. , Ferreira Junia Raquel Dutra , Adanho Corynne Stephanie Ahouefa , Yahouedehou Setondji Cocou Modeste Alexandre , Menezes Isa Lyra , Goncalves Marilda Souza
Published: January 2019

Sickle cell anemia is one of the most prevalent genetic diseases worldwide, showing great clinical heterogeneity. This study compared the gene expression patterns between sickle cell anemia pediatric patients in steady state and in crisis state, as compared to age‐paired, healthy individuals. RNA sequencing was performed from these groups of patients/controls using Illumina HiSeq 2500 equipment. The resulting differentially expressed genes were loaded into QIAGEN's ingenuity pathway analysis. The results showed that EIF2 pathway and NRF2‐mediated oxidative stress‐response pathways were more highly activated both in steady state and in crisis patients, as compared to healthy individuals. In addition, we found increased activation of eIF4 and p70S6K signaling pathways in crisis state compared to healthy individuals. The transcription factor GATA‐1 was found exclusively in steady state while SPI was found exclusively in crisis state. IL6 and VEGFA were found only in crisis state, while IL‐1B was found exclusively in steady state. The regulator effects analysis revealed IgG1 as an upstream regulator in steady state compared to healthy individuals, resulting in invasion of prostate cancer cell lines as the disease/function outcome. For crisis‐state patients versus healthy individuals, two networks of regulator effects revealed STAT1, CD40LG, TGM2, IRF7, IRF4, and IRF1 acting as upstream regulators, resulting in disease/function outcomes, including engulfment of cells and aggregation of blood cells and inflammation of joints. Our results indicated genes and pathways that can provide clues on the molecular events involved in the severity of sickle cell disease.
Up‐regulation of Rac1 in the bronchial smooth muscle of murine experimental asthma
Authors: Kai Yuki , Motegi Momoko , Suzuki Yuta , Takeuchi Hiroto , Harada Yui , Sato Fumiaki , Chiba Yoshihiko , Kamei Junzo , Sakai Hiroyasu
Published: January 2019

There has been considerable research on the involvement of RhoA/Rho kinase signalling in smooth muscle contractions. However, only a few reports have addressed the specific role of Rac1, which is a member of the Rho GTPase superfamily. Therefore, this study investigated the role of Rac1‐related pathways in bronchial smooth muscle (BSM) contractions. Bronchial rings isolated from mice were suspended in an organ bath, and the isometric contractions of circular smooth muscles were monitored. The phosphorylation of myosin light chains (MLCs) was analysed by immunoblotting. The Rac1 inhibitor EHT1864 inhibited carbachol (CCh)‐induced BSM contractions, although high K+ depolarization‐induced BSM contractions were not significantly attenuated by EHT1864. Moreover, high K+‐ and phorbol 12,13‐dibutyrate (PDBu; PKC activator)‐induced contractions were not attenuated by Rac1 inhibition, whereas sodium fluoride (NaF)‐induced force development was inhibited by EHT1864. The gene and protein expression of Rac1 was increased in the BSM of a murine model with antigen‐induced airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR). In addition, an increased force of the BSM contractions in AHR was suppressed by EHT1864 treatment, suggesting that the up‐regulation of Rac1 is involved in AHR. These findings suggest that an increase in Rac1‐mediated signalling is involved in the augmented contractions of BSMs in antigen‐induced AHR mice.
Transference‐focused Psychotherapy for Patients with Personality Disorders: Overview and Case Example with a Focus on the Use of Contracting
Authors: Radcliffe Jonathan , Yeomans Frank
Published: January 2019

Transference‐focused psychotherapy (TFP) is a manualized treatment for patients with a personality disorder based on 18 months of once‐weekly or twice‐weekly therapy. TFP is suitable for publicly funded psychotherapy and private practice. Devised by Kernberg and colleagues, its conceptual framework is based on Kleinian theory of primitive defences in the paranoid schizoid position. A TFP ‘structural assessment’ is carried out before negotiating a treatment contract, which must be agreed before therapy can begin. Contracting addresses destructive acting‐out and isolative lifestyles, and requires a commitment to active engagement with therapy and its agreed aims. The therapist closely attends to relationships outside therapy and transference parallels. The goal is greater integration of the self and self‐object relations. In addition to changes in symptoms, TFP can lead to changes in patients’ defensive structures with concomitant shifts in personality structure, improved satisfaction in life, and fuller engagement in work and relationships. A case example is given of a patient with a withdrawn lifestyle. Her object relationships were interpreted as they unfolded in life outside therapy and in the transference, leading to personality structure changes which enabled her to be able to function successfully in work and in her personal relationships.
A Fragmented Doll: Madness in Hysteria
Authors: Handa Satoshi
Published: January 2019

The author describes the process of a once‐weekly psychodynamic psychotherapy with a hysterical patient. In the initial phase, the patient responded well and there was a sense of progress in the therapy. However, the author gradually began to feel stuck. He was under strong pressure to act as a good understanding therapist. At a later stage, the patient complained of severe physical pain and demanded cure. When she was absent from the treatment without notice, her fear of death and madness which had been denied so far was massively projected into the author who was overtaken by the fear of her death. It became clear that in her phantasy, the patient was a princess waiting to be rescued by her White Knight/therapist. However, to understand the transference situation fully, it was necessary for the author to acknowledge and relinquish his narcissistic satisfaction in being an omnipotent rescuer. The author argues that the difficulty in this process reflected her desperate need for an omnipotent illusion to hold herself, in which the author acted a part. He finally states the importance of acknowledging the underlying fragmentation in hysteria which is often hidden behind the façade of ostensible integrity.
On Lacan and Supervision: A Matter of Super‐Audition
Authors: Dulsster Dries , Vanheule Stijn
Published: January 2019

Supervision is crucial to most forms of talking therapy. This article focuses on psychoanalysis and explores how supervision can be conceptualized from a Lacanian point of view. We discuss two principal ideas about supervision from Lacan's work: making the analyst sensitive to the symbolic component of the unconscious and becoming sensitive to the interrelation between language and jouissance. These ideas comprise two stages that Lacan discerned in the process of supervision: the ‘stage of the rhino’ and the ‘stage of the pun’. We illustrate Lacan's distinction between these stages by means of vignettes of analysts who were supervised by Lacan. We argue that an additional third stage should be discerned, concerning the challenge of incarnating the position of the so‐called objecta. Last, we discuss the pitfalls that an analyst might experience when conducting and directing the analytic work, namely the consistency of the imaginary, the delusion of the symbolic and the real of the body.
Contextual factors influence the selection of specific and broad types of emotion regulation strategies
Authors: Tang Ying , Huang Yun
Published: January 2019

An emerging focus in the emotion regulation (ER) literature is to consider the importance of context for people's ER strategy choice, given that ER responses that adapt to situational demands have been found to be highly beneficial. However, it remains unclear what (and in what way) contextual factors impact people's ER strategy selections. Also, only a limited number of ER strategies have been extensively studied and little is known about people's selection of broad ER strategy categories (we focus on covert vs. overt ER strategies based on Aldao & Dixon‐Gordon's [2014] conceptualization). In the current study, 203 participants were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk to imagine experiencing either positive or negative emotion in various contextual settings (location: home, social, vs. professional setting × social context: alone vs. with others) and to identify from 16 ER strategies the ones that they would in general deem applicable for each context. Results showed that the aforementioned factors, in various ways, uniquely or interactively predicted the selection of specific and broad ER strategies. Furthermore, personality (neuroticism and extraversion) also influenced participants’ ER strategy selection. Overall, this study underscores the importance of including diverse strategies and considering context in the study of ER strategy choices.