bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The intestinal microbiota programs diurnal rhythms in host metabolism through histone deacetylase 3
Authors: Kuang Zheng , Wang Yuhao , Li Yun , Ye Cunqi , Ruhn Kelly A. , Behrendt Cassie L. , Olson Eric N. , Hooper Lora V.
Published: March 2019

Circadian rhythmicity is a defining feature of mammalian metabolism that synchronizes metabolic processes to day-night light cycles. Here, we show that the intestinal microbiota programs diurnal metabolic rhythms in the mouse small intestine through histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3). The microbiota induced expression of intestinal epithelial HDAC3, which was recruited rhythmically to chromatin and produced synchronized diurnal oscillations in histone acetylation, metabolic gene expression, and nutrient uptake. HDAC3 also functioned non-canonically to coactivate estrogen related receptor α (ERRα), inducing microbiota-dependent rhythmic transcription of the lipid transporter gene Cd36 and promoting lipid absorption and diet-and jet lag-induced obesity. Our findings reveal that HDAC3 integrates microbial and circadian cues to regulate diurnal metabolic rhythms, and pinpoint a key mechanism by which the microbiota controls host metabolism.

One sentence summary

The intestinal microbiota induces daily metabolic rhythms and controls lipid uptake through the enzyme histone deacetylase 3.
Static and Dynamic Functional Connectivity Analysis of Cerebrovascular Reactivity: An fMRI Study
Authors: Lewis N. , Lu H. , Liu P. , Hou X. , Damaraju E. , Iraji Armin , Calhoun V.
Published: March 2019

The human brain, as a finely-tuned system, needs a constant flow of oxygen to function properly. To accomplish this, the cerebrovascular system ensures a steady stream of oxygenation to brain cells. One tool that the cerebrovascular system uses is cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR), which is the system’s ability to react to vasoactive stimuli. Understanding CVR can provide unique information about cerebrovascular diseases and general brain function. CVR can be evaluated by scanning subjects with blood-oxygenation-level-dependent (BOLD) functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while they periodically inhale room air and CO2-enriched gas, a powerful and widely-used vasodilator. Our goal is to understand the effect of vasodilation on individual intrinsic connectivity networks (ICNs), as well as how functional network connectivity (FNC) adapts to the same vasodilation. To achieve this goal, we first developed an innovative metric to measure the effect of CVR on ICNs, which contrasts to the commonly used voxel-wise CVR. Furthermore, for the first time, we studied static (sFNC) and dynamic (dFNC) FNC in the context of CVR. Our results show that network connectivity is generally weaker during vascular dilation, and these results are more pronounced in dFNC analysis. dFNC analysis reveals that participants did not return to the pre-CO2 inhalation state, suggesting that the one-minute period of room-air inhalation is not enough for the CO2 effect to fully dissipate in humans. Overall, we see new relationships between CVR and ICNs, as well as how FNC adapts to vascular system changes.
Multi-omics integration of the phenome, transcriptome and genome highlights genes and pathways relevant to essential tremor
Authors: Liao Calwing , Sarayloo Faezeh , Rochefort Daniel , Houle Gabrielle , Akçimen Fulya , He Qin , Laporte Alexandre D. , Spiegelman Dan , Rajput Alex , Dion Patrick A. , Rouleau Guy A.
Published: March 2019

The genetic factors predisposing to essential tremor (ET), of one of the most common movement disorders, remains largely unknown. While current studies have examined the contribution of both common and rare genetic variants, very few have investigated the ET transcriptome. To understand pathways and genes relevant to ET, we used an RNA sequencing approach to interrogate the transcriptome of two cerebellar regions, the dentate nucleus and cerebellar cortex, in 16 cases and 16 age- and sex-matched controls. Additionally, a phenome-wide association study (pheWAS) of the dysregulated genes was conducted, and a genome-wide gene association study (GWGAS) was done to identify pathways overlapping with the transcriptomic data. We identified several novel dysregulated genes includingCACNA1A, a calcium voltage-gated channel implicated in ataxia. Furthermore, several pathways including axon guidance, olfactory loss, and calcium channel activity were significantly enriched. A subsequent examination of the ET GWGAS data (N=7,154) also flagged genes involved in calcium ion-regulated exocytosis of neurotransmitters to be significantly enriched. Interestingly, the pheWAS identified that the dysregulated gene,SHF, is associated with a blood pressure medication (P=9.3E-08), which is commonly used to reduce tremor in ET patients. Lastly, it is also notable that the dentate nucleus and cerebellar cortex have different transcriptomes, suggesting that different regions of the cerebellum have spatially different transcriptomes.
Atypical developmental features of cortical thickness trajectories in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Nunes Adonay S , Vakorin Vasily A , Kozhemiako Nataliia , Peatfield Nicholas , Ribary Urs , Doesburg Sam M
Published: March 2019

Neuroimaging studies have reported numerous region-specific atypicalities in the brains of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including alterations in cortical thickness (CT). However, there are many inconsistent findings, and this is probably due to atypical CT developmental trajectories in ASD. To this end, we investigated group differences in terms of shapes of developmental trajectories of CT between ASD and typically developing (TD) populations.

Using the Autism Brain Imaging Data Exchange (ABIDE) repository (releases I and II combined), we investigated atypical shapes of developmental trajectories in ASD using a linear, quadratic and cubic models at various scales of spatial coarseness, and their association with symptomatology using the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) scores. These parameters were also used to predict ASD and TD CT development.

While no overall group differences in CT was observed across the entire age range, ASD and TD populations were different in terms of age-related changes. Developmental trajectories of CT in ASD were mostly characterized by decreased cortical thinning during early adolescence and increased thinning at later stages, involving mostly frontal and parietal areas. Such changes were associated with ADOS scores. The curvature of the trajectories estimated from the quadratic model was the most accurate and sensitive measure for detecting ASD. Our findings suggest that under the context of longitudinal changes in brain morphology, robust detection of ASD would require three time points to estimate the curvature of age-related changes.
The parietal operculum preferentially encodes heat pain and not salience
Authors: Horing Björn , Sprenger Christian , Büchel Christian
Published: March 2019

Substantial controversy exists as to which part of brain activity is genuinely attributable to pain-related percepts, and which activity is due to general aspects of sensory stimulation, such as its salience, or the accompanying arousal. The challenge posed by this question rests largely in the fact that pain per se exhibits highly intense but unspecific characteristics. These therefore should be matched by potential control conditions. Here, we used a unique combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging, behavioral and autonomic measures to address this longstanding debate in pain research.

Subjects rated perceived intensity in a sequence alternating between heat and sound stimuli. Neuronal activity was monitored using fMRI. Either modality was presented in six different intensities, three of which lay above the pain threshold (for heat) or the unpleasantness threshold (for sound). We performed our analysis on 26 volunteers in which psychophysiological responses (as per skin conductance responses) did not differ between the two stimulus modalities. Having thus ascertained a comparable amount of stimulation-related but unspecific activation, we analyzed stimulus response functions after painful stimulation, and contrasted them with those of the matched acoustic control condition. Furthermore, analysis of fMRI data was performed on the brain surface to circumvent blurring issues stemming from the close proximity of several regions of interest located in heavily folded cortical areas. We focused our analyses on insular and periinsular regions which are strongly involved in processing of painful stimuli. We employed an axiomatic approach to determine areas showing higher activation in painful compared to non-painful heat, and at the same time showing a steeper stimulus response function for painful heat as compared to unpleasant sound. Intriguingly, an area in the posterior parietal operculum emerged whose response showed a pain preference after satisfying all axiomatic constraints.

This result has important implications for the interpretation of functional imaging findings in pain research, as it clearly demonstrates that there are areas whose activity following painful stimulation is not due to general attributes or results of sensory stimulation, such as salience or arousal. Conversely, several areas did not conform to the formulated axioms to rule out general factors as explanations.
Sensitivity studies and optimization of arrangements of optically pumped magnetometers in simulated magnetoencephalography
Authors: Eichardt Roland , Strohmeier Daniel , Hunold Alexander , Machts René , Haueisen Jens , Oelsner Gregor , Schmidt Christian B. , Schultze Volkmar , Stolz Ronny , Graichen Uwe
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a simulation study using a model of a new optically pumped magnetometer sensor for application in the field of magnetoencephalography. The effects of sensor distance and orientation on the measurement information and the sensitivity to neuronal sources are investigated. Further, this paper uses a combinatorial optimization approach for sensor placement to measure spontaneous activity in the region of the occipital cortex.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper studies the effects of sensor distance and orientation on sensitivity to cortical sources and measurement information. A three-compartment model of the head, using the boundary element method, is applied. For sensor setup optimization, a combinatorial optimization scheme is developed.

Findings

The sensor distance to sources considerably affects the sensitivity and the retrieved information. A specific arrangement of four sensors for measuring spontaneous activity over the occipital part of the head is optimized by effectively avoiding position conflicts.

Research limitations/implications

Individual head models, as well as more detailed noise and signal models, will increase the significance for specific-use cases in future studies.

Originality/value

Effects of sensor distance and orientation are specifically evaluated for a new optically pumped magnetometer. A discrete optimization scheme for sensor optimization is introduced. The presented methodology is applicable for other sensor characterization and optimization problems. The findings contribute significantly to the development of new sensors.
Marketing madness or financial folly?
Authors: Gamble Jordan Robert
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of equity crowdfunding (ECF) within the record industry in terms of challenges and opportunities, in addition to the marketing and financial implications for independent music artists and major record labels.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative methodology consisting of two-stage interview-based research methods. A total of 44 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with the CEOs of ECF platforms in the record industry, other related record industry informants, independent artist managers and senior executives from major record labels.

Findings

The loyalty aspect of ECF may have significant marketing potential in terms of inconspicuously using the equity platform as a “prosumer” identification mechanism. As this early career stage of artists is delicate in terms of establishing trust and patronage from their fans, these early marketing and ECF ventures should be implemented directly from the artist without external third-party involvement.

Research limitations/implications

The implications of this paper’s findings and theoretical model are not limited to the two studied stakeholder groups of the record industry. The insights in relation to the obstinate lack of understanding and clarity (particularly for independent artists) which surround ECF are likely to influence short-term strategic approaches by other players throughout the wider music industry.

Practical implications

The insights regarding negative approaches towards ECF by the labels may influence future “coopetition strategies” for independent labels, as they seek to navigate the changing industry dynamics.

Originality/value

This paper is the first study to empirically explore the predominantly under-researched area of ECF implementation in the record industry in terms of marketing and financial consequences for artists and labels.
Conceptualising an IT mindset and its relationship to IT knowledge and intention to explore IT in the workplace
Authors: Imran Ahmed , Gregor Shirley
Published: March 2019

Purpose

An “IT mindset” significantly influences public sector information technology (IT) adoption in least developed countries (LDCs). The purpose of this paper is to explore the IT mindset concept and its relationship with IT knowledge and intention to explore IT in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

The research used a mixed-methods approach in two phases. Qualitative work was conducted to formulate the conceptual framework and hypotheses, followed by a survey of 228 public sector officials in Bangladesh to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The study showed that an IT mindset can be conceptualised as comprising personal innovativeness with IT and IT beliefs. The IT mindset was significantly related to intention to explore IT use in the workplace and its components were influenced by an individual’s IT skills and IT awareness.

Research limitations/implications

Future research could further explore the IT mindset concept and its antecedents and consequences in LDCs, where it is often related to successful IT adoption, and also in public and private organisations elsewhere.

Practical implications

The study furthers understanding of barriers to IT adoption in LDCs’ public sectors. Building IT knowledge through IT skills and awareness is required to orient mindsets to IT adoption.

Social implications

Improved efficiency, productivity and transparency in the public sector through IT use have flow-on societal and economic benefits. The paper provides insights into greater facilitation of e-government and IT in the public sector.

Originality/value

The study is theoretically significant because the IT mindset concept has lacked in-depth study and requires clarification of its nature and role.
Service user involvement in cognitive behavioural therapy training: an interpretive phenomenological analysis
Authors: Garwood Peter Thomas , Hassett Alexander
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The last two decades have seen an increase in service user involvement (SUI) in the training of Mental Health Professionals (MHP). There is developing empirical support for SUI in MHP training, however, there is no published research into SUI in the training of Cognitive Behavioural Therapists. The purpose of this paper is to explore cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) trainees’ experience of SUI in their training. The study focuses on how an individual service user (SU) led training session is experienced and how this differs to routine CBT training.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six participants. Transcripts of the interviews were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

Data revealed three superordinate themes: first, predisposing influences on learning; second, factors associated with emotional processing of experience; and third, impact upon learning outcomes. The results suggest that participants’ appraisal of their learning from SUI maybe influenced by how they accommodate the emotional impact of the experience.

Originality/value

The paper makes recommendations for educators on courses involving service users (SUs), acknowledges the study’s methodological limitations and suggests areas for future research.
Crossing disciplines
Authors: Holdaway Marcelle
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Social and environmental accountability by firms can be compromised by a lack of democracy within community engagement and decision-making processes. This is particularly evident in potential conflict situations such as with unconventional gas (UCG) extraction. Dialogic engagement sits within dialogic accounting theory and offers a potentially valuable contribution to democratisation. This study aims to contribute to dialogic engagement as practice through the application of critical futures theory and methodology, causal layered analysis (CLA).

Design/methodology/approach

CLA was applied in field research firstly in interviews and then in a workshop setting involving participants with diverse perspectives on UCG. The workshop was planned around activities designed to: implement dialogic engagement as practice, critically unpack views on the present and future of UCG and energy needs through CLA; and evaluate the usefulness of the methodology.

Findings

Findings suggest that CLA enables access to multiple, complex and nuanced perspectives and facilitates, a deeper understanding of participants own views and of other differing views in relation to UCG, 1) a deeper understanding of participants own views, and of other differing views in relation to UCG, 2) a deeper analysis in the identification of key themes in discussions around UCG, and, 3) the identification by participants of “preferred futures” and “uncertainties” concerning energy needs.

Practical implications

CLA is a valuable tool for undertaking genuine community engagement and has wide-ranging application, one example being with interviews and focus groups. Moreover, with the inclusion of diverse perspectives, options and solutions emerging for consideration are increased. This in turn provides opportunities for creative decision-making through scenario identification and strategic development that potentially give rise to transformative possibilities.

Social implications

CLA may well assist in moving firms, and indeed civil society, closer to reaching preferable social and environmental outcomes.

Originality/value

This cross-disciplinary research applies an innovative approach and methodology, taking democratic engagement to new depths.
Prophage LambdaSo uses replication interference to suppress reproduction of coexisting temperate phage MuSo2 in Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1
Authors: Guo Qinggong , Chen Beibei , Tu Yishuai , Du Shishen , Chen Xiangdong
Published: March 2019

Many bacterial genomes carry multiple prophages that compete with each other, potentially affecting the physiology, fitness, and pathogenicity of their hosts. However, molecular mechanisms of such prophage–prophage conflicts remain poorly understood. The genome of Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1, a Gammaproteobacterium residing in aquatic environments and notable for its ability to reduce metal ions, harbours four prophages, two of which (LambdaSo and MuSo2) form infectious virions during biofilm formation. Here, we constructed indicator strains of LambdaSo and MuSo2 by deleting the corresponding prophages from the MR‐1 chromosome and investigated their reproduction. Interestingly, the fitness of MuSo2 increased in the absence of LambdaSo, suggesting that prophage LambdaSo repressed MuSo2 reproduction. Partial deletion of LambdaSo from the MR‐1 chromosome revealed that gene cluster R of LambdaSo, which was responsible for the switch to the lytic cycle and LambdaSo genome replication initiation, was necessary and sufficient to repress MuSo2. Furthermore, activation of cluster R genes facilitated replication of cluster R‐encoding DNA and inhibited host and MuSo2 DNA replication. These findings suggest that LambdaSo represses MuSo2 propagation by inhibiting DNA replication during simultaneous induction. We predict that such a mechanism of inter‐prophage interference is more widespread in bacteria than currently appreciated.
Depositor Protection and Bank Liquidity Regulation: Distortions Affecting Superannuation
Authors: Davis Kevin , Maddock Rodney
Published: March 2019

This article explains why short‐term bank deposits, made on behalf of members by institutional superannuation funds, receive a substantially lower interest rate than deposits made directly by individuals and self‐managed super funds. We estimate the potential negative effect on the ultimate retirement savings of those members. We show how extending the Financial Claims Scheme to provide coverage to such deposits on a ‘look through’ basis would remove that inequity and should, in principle, remove the rationale for the payment of lower interest rates. We consider the political arguments against extending the scheme and argue that these are of limited merit.
Caustic ingestion: Has the role of the gastroenterologist burnt out?
Authors: Gill Madeleine , Tee Derrick , Chinnaratha Mohamed Asif
Published: March 2019

Caustic ingestion is a frequent presentation to EDs and encompasses a wide range of injury to the gastrointestinal tract. Endoscopy has long been considered the gold standard of investigation, even in patients with low likelihood of severe injury, and informs the decision for emergency surgery. However, recent evidence suggests that computed tomography (CT) scan can accurately diagnose digestive tract necrosis and, more importantly, guide towards more judicious use of surgical management, with improved mortality and digestive autonomy. CT scan also accurately predicts risk of stricture formation. We propose an algorithm for the use of CT scan, rather than endoscopy, as the first‐line investigation in the assessment of caustic ingestion.
Combination of ultrasound power Doppler‐verified synovitis and seropositivity accurately identifies patients with early‐stage rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Kawashiri Shin‐ya , Fujikawa Keita , Nishino Ayako , Takatani Ayuko , Shimizu Toshimasa , Umeda Masataka , Fukui Shoichi , Igawa Takeshi , Koga Tomohiro , Iwamoto Naoki , Ichinose Kunihiro , Tamai Mami , Nakamura Hideki , Origuchi Tomoki , Mizokami Akinari , Maeda Takahiro , Kawakami Atsushi
Published: March 2019

Aim

We conducted this retrospective study to identify objective and comprehensive diagnostic criteria for early‐stage rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that are based on ultrasound (US) and serologic findings.

Method

From August 2014 to May 2016, we recruited 216 consecutive patients at Hospital 1 and 223 consecutive patients at Hospital 2 who were suspected to have RA and underwent US of bilateral hands. In the US of bilateral hands from 22 sites, the findings obtained by grayscale and power Doppler (PD) assessments were each graded on a semi‐quantitative scale from 0 to 3. We also examined the assessment of the novel outcome measures in rheumatology (OMERACT)‐European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) combined power Doppler ultrasound score (ie the cPD score) and the Global OMERACT‐EULAR Synovitis Score. We used the US findings and the combination of US and serologic findings to evaluate the diagnostic performance of these modalities.

Results

Seventy patients (32.4%) at Hospital 1 and 59 patients (26.5%) at Hospital 2 were diagnosed as having RA. The best‐balanced diagnostic performance at each hospital was achieved using a combination, such as (1) the presence of PD grade ≥2 articular synovitis or (2) the presence of PD grade ≥1 articular synovitis and serologic positivity, as well as by using (1) the presence of cPD grade = 3 or (2) a cPD grade ≥2 and serologic positivity.

Conclusion

The combination of a PD assessment or the cPD score with the measurement of autoantibodies of rheumatoid factor and/or anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies can accurately identify patients with early‐stage RA.
Increased expression of TRPV1 in patients with acute or chronic cough after lung cancer surgery
Authors: Zhu Yong‐fu , Wu Sheng‐bing , Zhou Mei‐qi , Xie Ming‐ran , Xiong Ran , Xu Shi‐bin , Xu Guang‐wen
Published: March 2019

Background

We investigated preoperative and postoperative TRPV1, bradykinin (BK), and prostaglandin e‐2 (PGE2) levels in patients who underwent lung cancer surgery and evaluated the correlations between these levels and the development of acute or chronic cough after surgery.

Methods

We evaluated 60 patients with non‐small cell lung cancer who underwent lobectomy at our center between August and October 2018. TRPV1, BK, and PGE2 levels were determined by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and postoperative cough was assessed using the visual analog scale (VAS).

Results

The postoperative serum TRPV1, BK, and PEG2 levels of the 60 patients were significantly higher than the preoperative levels (P < 0.001). Thirty‐five patients (58.3%) were diagnosed with acute cough (VAS ≥ 60 mm), and 25 were diagnosed with non‐acute cough (41.7%). Three days after surgery, the serum TRPV1, BK, and PGE2 levels were significantly higher in the acute cough group than in the non‐acute cough group (P < 0.001). Twenty‐two patients (36.7%) were diagnosed with chronic cough (VAS ≥ 60 mm), and 25 (62.3%) were diagnosed with non‐chronic cough. Eight weeks after surgery, the serum TRPV1, BK, and PGE2 levels were significantly higher in the chronic cough group than in the non‐chronic cough group (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

The postoperative TRPV1, BK and PGE2 levels were significantly higher than the preoperative levels. The TRPV1 level was also higher in patients with an acute or chronic cough than in patients without. Postoperative acute or chronic cough symptoms can be improved and alleviated by blocking the TRPV1 pathway.
Use of hydroxyethyl starch in sepsis research: Protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Johansen Jes R. , Perner Anders , Brodtkorb Julie H. , Møller Morten H.
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.38‐0.45 is a synthetic colloid, which has been on the market since 1999. In recent years, concern about the use of HES has been raised because of serious adverse events, including acute kidney injury, bleeding and even increased mortality with its use. In the outlined systematic review, we aim to assess if the adverse effects of HES 130/0.38‐0.45 in patients with sepsis could have been discovered earlier.

Methods

We will conduct a systematic review with meta‐analysis of randomised clinical trials in animals and patients and observational studies in patients comparing HES 130/0.38‐0.45 vs any crystalloid in sepsis. The primary outcome will be all‐cause mortality at longest follow‐up. We will systematically search EMBASE, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library for relevant literature. We will follow the recommendations by the Cochrane Handbook, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis (PRISMA) statements and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach.

Discussion

With the outlined systematic review, we aim to assess whether the adverse effects of HES 130/0.38‐0.45 could have been discovered earlier by comparing summary effect estimates of harm from observational studies in patients and randomised trials in animals and patients. The results may have implications for future drug development and approval processes.
News media analytics in finance: a survey
Authors: Marty Tom , Vanstone Bruce , Hahn Tobias
Published: March 2019

We survey the works applying text analytics to the study of news media in financial markets beyond intraday horizons, and expand into the fundamental economic theory and concepts relevant to the field. We compare and contrast the news sources, textual analysis methods and empirical modelling approaches adopted within the literature. We distil and categorise the key empirical insights, and summarise the bibliographic history of the literature so far. While this rapidly growing field has yielded many exciting discoveries, there are a number of promising avenues for future research which will only benefit from continued advances in computational technology.
Human disturbance as a possible cause of genetic introgression from exotic into native Mauremys turtles
Authors: Lee Y. , Lin J.‐W. , Tseng S.‐P. , Chen T.‐S. , Lin S.‐M.
Published: March 2019

The Kinmen Islands on the coastline of China represent a recent case of the protection of endangered wildlife in a demilitarized zone. These islands represent the last remaining habitat in southeastern China that supports a healthy natural population of Reeves’ turtle Mauremys reevesii. However, human‐mediated dispersal appears to have aided the establishment of an introduced population of the Chinese stripe‐necked turtle M. sinensis since the late 1990s, resulting in population mixture of the two congeners. To evaluate the potential impacts of hybridization, we evaluated the magnitude of genetic introgression in ponds on Kinmen using mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences and 13 microsatellite loci. We further used eight environmental and biological factors of the ponds to conduct general linear regression model analysis between environmental factors and the magnitude of genetic introgression. Among the 41 sampled ponds, M. reevesii was recorded in 21, of which 12 ponds (57.1%) contained genetic hybrids or backcrosses, corresponding to 11.3–12.7% of the total individuals on the islands. The magnitude of genetic introgression was positively correlated with the amount of introduced M. sinensis occurring in a pond, and marginally negatively associated with the shortest distance from the pond to secondary roads. We conclude that this considerable genetic introgression is attributable to human‐mediated dispersal of M. sinensis; roads and habitat modification may increase the likelihood of unexpected encounters between these two congeners.
The risk–return trade‐off: Performance assessments and cognitive validation of inferences
Authors: Leighton Jacqueline P.
Published: March 2019

Background and Aims

In educational measurement, performance assessments occupy a niche for offering a true‐to‐life format that affords the measurement of high‐level cognitive competencies and the evidence to draw inferences about intellectual capital. However, true‐to‐life formats also introduce myriad complexities and can skew if not outright distort the accuracy of inferences. For validating claims about test‐takers from performance assessments, the collection of evidence about response processes is a necessity of sufficient import that the validation process needs to be labelled a cognitive validation to ensure that the cognitive is not forgotten in the logic of the validation process.

Analysis and Example

Cognitive validation is described as a three‐pronged process of (1) identifying the knowledge, skills, and attributes associated with the intellectual capital of interest, (2) selecting and/or developing tasks to elicit intellectual capital, and (3) collecting substantive empirical evidence of examinee response processes as part of the overall validity argument. This three‐pronged process is illustrated using the American Institute of CPA's (2018) practice analysis, task‐based simulations (TBSs), and use of think‐aloud interviews to evaluate claims.

Conclusions

Although cognitive laboratories and think alouds are used to measure distinct types of response processes as test‐takers interact with performance assessments, both methods are among the best for obtaining direct but differential evidence from test‐takers. The labour and cost of collecting this evidence are often not done or not done well by many testing programmes. However, for performance assessments to succeed in measuring what they purport to measure, the investment of cognitive validation must be made.
Parents’ postnatal depressive symptoms and their children's academic attainment at 16 years: Pathways of risk transmission
Authors: Psychogiou Lamprini , Russell Ginny , Owens Matthew
Published: March 2019

The aim of the study was to examine whether parents’ increased postnatal depressive symptoms predicted children's academic attainment over time and whether the parent–child relationship, children's prior academic attainment, and mental health mediated this association. We conducted secondary analyses on the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children data (12,607 mothers, 9,456 fathers). Each parent completed the Edinburgh‐Postnatal Depression Scale at 8 weeks after the child's birth (predictor) and a questionnaire about the mother–child and father–child relationship at 7 years and 1 month (mediator). The children's mental health problems were assessed with the teacher version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire at 10–11 years (mediator). We used data on the children's academic attainment on UK Key Stage 1 (5–7 years; mediator) and Key Stage 4 (General Certificate of Secondary Education 16 years) (outcome). We adjusted for the parents’ education, and child gender and cognitive ability. The results revealed that parents’ depressive symptoms at 8 weeks predicted lower academic performance in children at 16 years. Mothers’ postnatal depressive symptoms had an indirect effect through children's mental health problems on academic outcomes at 16 years via negative mother–child relationship, and prior academic attainment. There was a significant negative indirect effect of fathers’ postnatal depressive symptoms on academic attainment at 16 years via negative father–child relationship on child mental health. The findings suggest that the family environment (parental mental health and parent–child relationship) and children's mental health should be potential targets for support programmes for children of depressed parents.
Markerless Multiview Motion Capture with 3D Shape Model Adaptation
Authors: Fechteler P. , Hilsmann A. , Eisert P.
Published: March 2019

In this paper, we address simultaneous markerless motion and shape capture from 3D input meshes of partial views onto a moving subject. We exploit a computer graphics model based on kinematic skinning as template tracking model. This template model consists of vertices, joints and skinning weights learned a priori from registered full‐body scans, representing true human shape and kinematics‐based shape deformations. Two data‐driven priors are used together with a set of constraints and cues for setting up sufficient correspondences. A Gaussian mixture model‐based pose prior of successive joint configurations is learned to soft‐constrain the attainable pose space to plausible human poses. To make the shape adaptation robust to outliers and non‐visible surface regions and to guide the shape adaptation towards realistically appearing human shapes, we use a mesh‐Laplacian‐based shape prior. Both priors are learned/extracted from the training set of the template model learning phase. The output is a model adapted to the captured subject with respect to shape and kinematic skeleton as well as the animation parameters to resemble the observed movements. With example applications, we demonstrate the benefit of such footage. Experimental evaluations on publicly available datasets show the achieved natural appearance and accuracy.
Pharmacokinetics of Anakinra in Subjects of Heavier vs. Lighter Body Weights
Authors: Yang Bing‐Bing , Gozzi Peter , Sullivan John T.
Published: March 2019

This trial (20010168) studied how body weight (BW) and body mass index (BMI) influenced the pharmacokinetics (PK) of anakinra. Subjects (n = 32) were assigned to four groups (n = 8) according to BW and BMI. Randomization was according to a four‐treatment, four‐period, four‐sequence crossover design. The four anakinra injections were 100, 150, and 300 mg s.c. and 100 mg i.v. Plasma samples were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay and noncompartmental PK parameters estimated. BW demonstrated the following effects: after i.v. administration, significant effects (P < 0.05) were observed for exposure (area under the concentration–time curve from zero to infinity (AUC0–∞)), peak plasma concentration (Cmax), volume of distribution at steady state, and clearance; whereas after s.c. administration, significant effects (P < 0.05) were observed for Cmax, AUC0–∞, terminal half‐life, and estimated apparent clearance. Mean AUC was reduced 24% and 33% for heavier (BW ≥ 100 kg) vs. lighter subjects (BW ≤ 90 kg) after i.v. and s.c. administration, respectively. BMI increased clearance for heavier subjects. For example, mean (SD) plasma clearance of i.v. anakinra increased from 1.17 ± 0.29 to 1.62 ± 0.24 mL/minute/kg (P < 0.05) for larger (> 100 kg) obese (BMI > 36) vs. larger (> 100 kg) less obese (BMI < 35) subjects, respectively. Similarly, results following s.c. supported those after i.v. administration. Derived half‐lives increased with higher BW and higher BMI ranging from 3.63 hour for less obese, lighter‐weight subjects to 7.62 hour for obese, heavier‐weight subjects. Absolute bioavailability ranged from 80–92% and was unrelated to BW or BMI. Anakinra exposure is statistically significantly related to BW and to a lesser extent BMI.
Hereditary angioedema in Austria: prevalence and regional peculiarities
Authors: Schöffl Clemens , Wiednig Michaela , Koch Lukas , Blagojevic Daniel , Duschet Peter , Hawranek Thomas , Kinaciyan Tamar , Öllinger Angela , Aberer Werner
Published: March 2019

Background

Data on the prevalence and clinical features of Austrian patients with hereditary angioedema (HAE) with C1‐inhibitor (C1‐INH) deficiency (HAE‐1) or dysfunction (HAE‐2) are lacking.

Methods

Current baseline data were collected in a national survey. The records of HAE patients at the Medical University of Graz were analyzed with regard to clinical characteristics.

Results

A total of 137 patients were identified, yielding a prevalence of 1 : 64,396. The median age at the onset of symptoms was 6.5 years, and the median age at the time of correct diagnosis 21.0 years. The median delay in diagnosis was 15.0 years for newly diagnosed patients without a family history of HAE. Patients with a family history of HAE received an immediate diagnosis. HAE patients without a family history of HAE and born before 1960 had to wait a median of 16.0 years until they were diagnosed correctly. Patients born after 1980 still experienced a median diagnostic delay of 6.5 years.

Conclusion

Patients with this condition still face an excessive diagnostic delay in some parts of Austria, or their disorder may even remain unrecognized by specialists. This underlines the need for better awareness of the disease.
Evaluation of pulmonary artery stiffness in newly diagnosed adult patients with asthma
Authors: Baysal Sadettin Selçuk , Has Mehmet
Published: March 2019

Background

There are limited studies on the effects of asthma on cardiac function. Right ventricular dysfunction and pulmonary hypertension are cardiovascular complications that may be seen in advanced stages of the disease. Pulmonary artery stiffness (PAS), is a promising, relatively new echocardiographic index that has been reported to increase in right ventricular failure, providing information about pulmonary vascular bed.

Aim

In this study, we aimed to evaluate PAS, a marker of pulmonary artery elasticity, in adult‐onset asthma.

Methods

Ninety‐nine nonsmokers who had a new asthma diagnosis between the ages of 18 and 65 years and 97 healthy controls with similar age and sex distribution were included in the study. PAS was calculated by dividing the maximal frequency shift of pulmonary flow (MFS) in pulmonary acceleration time (PAT).

Results

Clinical and demographic characteristics of both groups were similar (P ˃ 0.05). PAS values were higher in the asthma group than in the control group (25.2 ± 4.5 vs 22.4 ± 4.1, P ˂0.001). TAPSE was lower in the case group (24.9 ± 2.0 vs 25.5 ± 2.1, P = 0.043), while RV MPI was higher (0.36 ± 0.07 vs 0.32 ± 0.06, P ˂0.001). In the multivariate linear regression analysis, RV MPI, RV Em, and TAPSE variables were independent predictors of PAS.

Conclusion

In our study, PAS values were higher in patients with newly diagnosed adult asthma and we found a significant weak correlation between PAS values and subclinical right ventricular dysfunction.
Prey colour biases in jumping spiders (Habronattus brunneus) differ across populations
Authors: Powell Erin C. , Cook Collette , Coco Jeffrey , Brock Michelle , Holian Lauren A. , Taylor Lisa A.
Published: March 2019

Predators often avoid aposematic prey as a result of aversions to particular prey signals (e.g., bright colours and noxious odours). These aversions may be flexible, that is, they can be reinforced or extinguished with experience. As such, we might expect populations to differ in their biases against certain prey characteristics (e.g., colour or pattern) depending on the prey available in the community. Here, we tested whether the jumping spider, Habronattus brunneus(Salticidae), exhibits colour biases against red prey using choice tests with novel (artificially coloured) prey, and then went on to examine how these biases differ across four geographically distinct focal populations. We then conducted preliminary field surveys at each of these four sites to explore differences in habitat type and prey availability. Overall, we found that field‐caught H. brunneusexhibited a bias against the colour red (compared with black) when tested with artificially coloured prey in the laboratory. However, the degree of colour bias varied among our four focal populations (with two populations exhibiting strong biases against red and two showing no colour biases). Preliminary habitat and prey surveys suggest that these populations also differed in both habitat structure (percentage of grass, leaf litter and bare ground) and prey availability across many taxa, suggesting that the spiders from each population may have been exposed to, and had experiences with, different potential prey. We discuss how prey availability may influence colour biases in predators, as well as how predator experience may shape the evolution of prey colour signals.
Aquatic carbon fluxes dampen the overall variation of net ecosystem productivity in the Amazon basin: An analysis of the interannual variability in the boundless carbon cycle
Authors: Hastie Adam , Lauerwald Ronny , Ciais Philippe , Regnier Pierre
Published: March 2019

The river–floodplain network plays an important role in the carbon (C) cycle of the Amazon basin, as it transports and processes a significant fraction of the C fixed by terrestrial vegetation, most of which evades as CO2 from rivers and floodplains back to the atmosphere. There is empirical evidence that exceptionally dry or wet years have an impact on the net C balance in the Amazon. While seasonal and interannual variations in hydrology have a direct impact on the amounts of C transferred through the river–floodplain system, it is not known how far the variation of these fluxes affects the overall Amazon C balance. Here, we introduce a new wetland forcing file for the ORCHILEAK model, which improves the representation of floodplain dynamics and allows us to closely reproduce data‐driven estimates of net C exports through the river–floodplain network. Based on this new wetland forcing and two climate forcing datasets, we show that across the Amazon, the percentage of net primary productivity lost to the river–floodplain system is highly variable at the interannual timescale, and wet years fuel aquatic CO2 evasion. However, at the same time overall net ecosystem productivity (NEP) and C sequestration are highest during wet years, partly due to reduced decomposition rates in water‐logged floodplain soils. It is years with the lowest discharge and floodplain inundation, often associated with El Nino events, that have the lowest NEP and the highest total (terrestrial plus aquatic) CO2 emissions back to atmosphere. Furthermore, we find that aquatic C fluxes display greater variation than terrestrial C fluxes, and that this variation significantly dampens the interannual variability in NEP of the Amazon basin. These results call for a more integrative view of the C fluxes through the vegetation‐soil‐river‐floodplain continuum, which directly places aquatic C fluxes into the overall C budget of the Amazon basin.
Good governance and multidimensional poverty: A comparative analysis of 71 countries
Authors: Jindra Christoph , Vaz Ana
Published: March 2019

In 2015, the international community committed to “reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions.” According to international development agencies, good governance is crucial to achieving this. We examine the relationship between good governance and multidimensional poverty using hierarchical models and survey data for 71 countries. Our results suggest there is a direct effect of good governance on multidimensional poverty and that good governance is associated with reduced horizontal inequalities. However, we find evidence of a beneficial effect of good governance for middle‐income countries but not for low‐income countries. Thus, while our results suggest that good governance can play a role in reducing multidimensional poverty, they also suggest that governance reforms alone might not yield the desired effect for all countries.
Forest type interacts with milkweed invasion to affect spider communities
Authors: Kapilkumar Ingle , Nikolett Gallé‐Szpisjak , Hardeep Kaur , Róbert Gallé
Published: March 2019

Non‐native tree plantations constitute a large part of forestation worldwide. Plantations are prone to invasion by exotic herbaceous plant species due to habitat properties, including understory vegetation structure.

We established 40 sampling sites in 10 plantation forests. Sites were selected according to tree species (native poplar forests and exotic pine plantations) and common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) density (invaded and non‐invaded sites) in a full factorial design. We collected spiders with pitfall traps.

We found a significant effect ofA. syriacainvasion on spider functional diversity (Rao's quadratic entropy), with invaded sites having a lower functional diversity than non‐invaded sites. A larger effect of invasion withA. syriacaon the RaoQ of spiders was observed in pine compared to poplar plantations. Spider species were larger, and web‐building spiders were more frequent in poplar forests than in pine plantations. We found no effect ofA. syriacainvasion on species richness or abundance of spiders.

Species composition of spider assemblages in the two forest types was clearly separated according to non‐metric multidimensional scaling. We identified seven species associated with pine plantations and six species associated with poplar plantations.

The similar species richness and the higher functional diversity of non‐invaded sites suggested that these trait states were less similar than invaded sites and that functionally different species were present. In contrast, the invaded sites had lower functional diversities and thus more uniform trait state compositions, suggesting that environmental filtering played an important role in species sorting, making invaded plantations low‐quality secondary habitats for the original spider fauna.