bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Stathmin1 regulates p27 expression, proliferation and drug resistance, resulting in poor clinical prognosis in cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Watanabe Akira , Suzuki Hideki , Yokobori Takehiko , Tsukagoshi Mariko , Altan Bolag , Kubo Norio , Suzuki Shigemasa , Araki Kenichiro , Wada Satoshi , Kashiwabara Kenji , Hosouchi Yasuo , Kuwano Hiroyuki
Published: April 2014

Patients with extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (EHCC) have a poor prognosis; postoperative survival depends on cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. The mechanism of EHCC progression needs to be clarified to identify ways to improve disease prognosis. Stathmin1 (STMN1) is a major cytosolic phosphoprotein that regulates microtubule dynamics and is associated with malignant phenotypes and chemoresistance in various cancers. Recently, STMN1 was reported to interact with p27, an inhibitor of cyclin‐dependent kinase complexes. Eighty EHCC cases were studied using immunohistochemistry and clinical pathology to determine the correlation between STMN1 and p27 expression; RNA interference to analyze the function of STMN1 in an EHCC cell line was also used. Cytoplasmic STMN1 expression correlated with venous invasion (P = 0.0021) and nuclear p27 underexpression (P = 0.0011). Patients in the high‐STMN1‐expression group were associated with shorter recurrence‐free survival and overall survival than those in the low‐expression group. An in vitro protein‐binding assay revealed that cytoplasmic STMN1 bound to p27 in the cytoplasm, but not in the nucleus of EHCC cells. Moreover, p27 accumulated in EHCC cells after STMN1 suppression. STMN1 knockdown inhibited proliferation and increased the sensitivity of EHCC cells to paclitaxel. STMN1 contributes to a poor prognosis and cancer progression in EHCC patients. Understanding the regulation of p27 by STMN1 could provide new insights for overcoming therapeutic resistance in EHCC.
Expression and regulation of osteopontin in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps
Authors: Liu W.‐L. , Zhang H. , Zheng Y. , Wang H.‐T. , Chen F.‐H. , Xu L. , Wei Y. , Sun Y.‐Q. , Shi J.‐B. , Li H.‐B.
Published: April 2014

Background

Osteopontin (OPN) has been proposed to be associated with airway inflammation including asthma and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP). This study sought to evaluate the expression and regulation of the OPN in CRSwNP patients.

Methods

Nasal polyp (NP) tissues and normal tissues were collected from 30 CRSwNP patients and 16 control subjects. The expression and regulation of OPN, as well eosinophil (EOS) accumulation and activation, were examined in nasal tissues using DNA microarray, immunohistochemical (IHC), immunofluorescent (IF) staining and qPCR analysis. Moreover, the regulation of OPN in nasal epithelial cells and its effects on migration and activation of EOS were evaluated in vitro using flow cytometry, ELISA, qPCR and Western blot, etc.

Results

DNA microarray analysis identified OPN as one of the 19 upregulated genes in polyp tissues. The mean number of OPN+ cells in polyp tissues was found to be significantly increased compared with the normal controls (P < 0.01), and OPN+ cells in polyp tissues significantly correlated with tissue eosinophilia [major basic protein (MBP)+ cells; r = 0.51, P < 0.01]. Accordingly, the mRNA and protein levels of OPN in NP tissues were significantly higher than those in normal controls (P < 0.01). Poly I:C, flagellin and TLR‐9 agonist CpG ODN, as well as TNF‐α, IFN‐γ, IL‐6, IL‐17A and TGF‐β, significantly increased OPN mRNA expression in cultured PECs and NECs (P < 0.05). Recombinant human OPN significantly promoted the migration of EOS, as well as enhanced EOS cationic protein (ECP) production, in an in vitro dispersed NP cells (DNPCs) culture system (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

OPN promotes eosinophilic nasal inflammation in CRSwNP patients, which may represent a promising therapeutic target.
Allergic sensitization and filaggrin variants predispose to the comorbidity of eczema, asthma, and rhinitis: results from the Isle of Wight birth cohort
Authors: Ziyab A. H. , Karmaus W. , Zhang H. , Holloway J. W. , Steck S. E. , Ewart S. , Arshad S. H.
Published: April 2014

Background

Allergic sensitization and filaggrin gene (FLG) variants are important risk factors for allergic disorders; however, knowledge on their individual and interactive effects on the coexistence of eczema, asthma, and rhinitis is lacking.

Objective

This study aimed at investigating the single and combined effects of allergic sensitization and FLG variants on the development of single and multiple allergic disorders.

Methods

The Isle of Wight birth cohort (n = 1456) has been examined at 1, 2, 4, 10, and 18 years of age. Repeated measurements of eczema, asthma, rhinitis, and skin prick tests were available for all follow‐ups. FLG variants were genotyped in 1150 participants. Associations of allergic sensitization and FLG variants with single and multiple allergic disorders were tested in log‐binomial regression analysis.

Results

The prevalence of eczema‐, asthma‐, and rhinitis‐only ranged from 5.6% to 8.5%, 4.9% to 10.2%, and 2.5% to 20.4%, respectively, during the first 18 years of life. The coexistence of allergic disorders is common, with approximately 2% of the population reporting the comorbidity of ‘eczema, asthma, and rhinitis’ during the study period. In repeated measurement analyses, allergic sensitization and FLG variants, when analysed separately, were associated with having single and multiple allergic disorders. Of particular significance, their combined effect increased the risk of ‘eczema and asthma’ (RR = 13.67, 95% CI: 7.35–25.42), ‘asthma and rhinitis’ (RR = 7.46, 95% CI: 5.07–10.98), and ‘eczema, asthma, and rhinitis’ (RR = 23.44, 95% CI: 12.27–44.78).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

The coexistence of allergic disorders is frequent, and allergic sensitization and FLG variants jointly increased risk of allergic comorbidities, which may represent more severe and complex clinical phenotypes. The interactive effect and the elevated proportion of allergic comorbidities associated with allergic sensitization and FLG variants emphasize their joint importance in the pathogenesis of allergic disorders.
Platelets and allergic inflammation
Authors: Page C. , Pitchford S.
Published: April 2014

Irrefutable clinical evidence demonstrates the activation of platelets in allergic diseases, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema. Indeed, experimental models of allergic disease have now shown that platelets play a fundamental role in the tissue recruitment of leucocytes following exposure to allergens. Furthermore, the extravascular presence of platelets in lungs of patients with asthma, and in animal models of allergic lung inflammation suggests that platelets may also contribute directly to allergic inflammation, through alterations in lung function, or by modulating processes involved in airway wall remodelling. Despite significant platelet activation in patients with allergic diseases, it is of note that these patients have been described as having a mild haemostastic defect, rather than an increased incidence of thrombosis. This suggests a dichotomy exists in platelet activation during inflammation compared to haemostasis, and that hitherto undiscovered platelet activation pathways might be exploited to create novel anti‐inflammatory therapies without affecting the critical function of platelets in haemostasis.
Dietary inflammatory index is related to asthma risk, lung function and systemic inflammation in asthma
Authors: Wood L. G. , Shivappa N. , Berthon B. S. , Gibson P. G. , Hebert J. R.
Published: April 2014

Background

Asthma prevalence has increased in recent years, and evidence suggests that diet may be a contributing factor. Increased use of processed foods has led to a decrease in diet quality, which may be creating a pro‐inflammatory environment, thereby leading to the development and/or progression of various chronic inflammatory diseases and conditions. Recently, the dietary inflammatory index (DII) has been developed and validated to assess the inflammatory potential of individual diets.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the DII in subjects with asthma compared to healthy controls and to relate the DII to asthma risk, lung function and systemic inflammation.

Methods

Subjects with asthma (n = 99) and healthy controls (n = 61) were recruited. Blood was collected and spirometry was performed. The DII was calculated from food frequency questionnaires administered to study subjects.

Results

The mean DII score for the asthmatics was higher than the mean DII score for healthy controls (− 1.40 vs. − 1.86, P = 0.04), indicating that their diets were more pro‐inflammatory. For every 1 unit increase in DII score, the odds of having asthma increased by 70% (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 1.03, 2.14; P = 0.040). FEV1 was significantly associated with DII score (β = − 3.44, 95% CI: − 6.50, − 0.39; P = 0.020), indicating that for every 1 unit increase in DII score, FEV1 decreased by 3.44 times. Furthermore, plasma IL‐6 concentrations were positively associated with DII score (β = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.05, 0.21; P = 0.002).

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

As assessed using the DII score, the usual diet consumed by asthmatics in this study was pro‐inflammatory relative to the diet consumed by the healthy controls. The DII score was associated with increased systemic inflammation and lower lung function. Hence, consumption of pro‐inflammatory foods may contribute to worse asthma status, and targeting an improvement in DII in asthmatics, as an indicator of suitable dietary intake, might be a useful strategy for improving clinical outcomes in the disease.
Simplein vitromigration assay for neural crest cells and the opposite effects of all‐trans‐retinoic acid on cephalic‐ and trunk‐derived cells
Authors: Usami Makoto , Mitsunaga Katsuyoshi , Irie Tomohiko , Miyajima Atsuko , Doi Osamu
Published: April 2014

Here, we describe a simplein vitroneural crest cell (NCC) migration assay and the effects of all‐trans‐retinoic acid (RA) onNCCs. Neural tubes excised from the rhombencephalic or trunk region of day 10.5 rat embryos were cultured for 48 h to allow emigration and migration ofNCCs. Migration ofNCCswas measured as the change in the radius (radius ratio) calculated from the circular spread ofNCCsbetween 24 and 48 h of culture.RAwas added to the culture medium after 24 h at embryotoxic concentrations determined by rat whole embryo culture.RA(10 μM) reduced the migration of cephalicNCCs, whereas it enhanced the migration of trunkNCCs, indicating thatRAhas opposite effects on these two types ofNCCs.
Involvement of Aquaporin 4 in Astrocyte Function and Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Authors: Xiao Ming , Hu Gang
Published: April 2014

Aquaporin 4 (AQP4) is the main water channel in the central nervous system (CNS) and specifically localized to astrocyte processes. Recent studies indicate that AQP4 regulates various biological functions of astrocytes, including maintaining CNS water balance, spatial buffering of extracellular potassium, calcium signal transduction, regulation of neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, and adult neurogenesis, while under neuropathological conditions, AQP4 has a role in astrogliosis and proinflammatory cytokine secretion. In addition, accumulating evidence suggests that, besides cerebral edema, neuromyelitis optica and epilepsy, AQP4 participates in the onset and progression of Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, depression, and drug addiction. This review summarizes recent findings and highlights the involvement of AQP4 in astrocyte function and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Moving Through Time: The Role of Personality in Three Real‐Life Contexts
Authors: Duffy Sarah E. , Feist Michele I. , McCarthy Steven
Published: April 2014

In English, two deictic space‐time metaphors are in common usage: the Moving Ego metaphor conceptualizes the ego as moving forward through time and the Moving Time metaphor conceptualizes time as moving forward toward the ego (Clark, 1973). Although earlier research investigating the psychological reality of these metaphors has typically examined spatial influences on temporal reasoning (e.g., Boroditsky & Ramscar, 2002), recent lines of research have extended beyond this, providing initial evidence that personality differences and emotional experiences may also influence how people reason about events in time (Duffy & Feist, 2014; Hauser, Carter, & Meier, 2009; Richmond, Wilson, & Zinken, 2012). In this article, we investigate whether these relationships have force in real life. Building on the effects of individual differences in self‐reported conscientiousness and procrastination found by Duffy and Feist (2014), we examined whether, in addition to self‐reported conscientiousness and procrastination, there is a relationship between conscientious and procrastinating behaviors and temporal perspective. We found that participants who adopted the Moving Time perspective were more likely to exhibit conscientious behaviors, while those who adopted the Moving Ego perspective were more likely to procrastinate, suggesting that the earlier effects reach beyond the laboratory.
Tumor necrosis factor α level in cerebrospinal fluid for bacterial and aseptic meningitis: a diagnostic meta‐analysis
Authors: Lv S. , Zhao J. , Zhang J. , Kwon S. , Han M. , Bian R. , Fu H. , Zhang Y. , Pan H.
Published: April 2014

Background and purpose

In our previous study, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF‐α) was identified as an effective target for sepsis patients (Int J Clin Pract, 68, 2014, 520). TNF‐α in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was also investigated for its utility in the differential diagnosis of bacterial and aseptic meningitis. However, there has been neither definite nor convincing evidence so far. Here the overall diagnostic accuracy of TNF‐α in differentiation between bacterial and aseptic meningitis was evaluated through the meta‐analysis of diagnostic tests.

Methods

The sensitivity, specificity and other measures of accuracy were pooled using random effect models. Summary receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess overall test performance. Publication bias was evaluated using funnel plots, and sensitivity analysis was also introduced.

Results

A total of 21 studies involving bacterial meningitis (678) and aseptic meningitis (694) involved a total of 1372 patients. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for the TNF‐α test were 0.83 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.80–0.86, I2 = 65.1] and 0.92 (95% CI 0.89–0.94, I2 = 61.8), respectively. The positive likelihood ratio was 12.05 (95% CI 7.41–19.60, I2 = 36.5), the negative likelihood ratio was 0.17 (95% CI 0.13–0.24, I2 = 59.4), and TNF‐α was significantly associated with bacterial meningitis, with a diagnostic odds ratio of 49.84 (95% CI 28.53–87.06, I2 = 47.9). The overall accuracy of the TNF‐α test was very high with the area under the curve 0.9317. Publication bias was absent, and sensitivity analysis suggested that our results were highly stable.

Conclusions

Our meta‐analysis suggested that TNF‐α could be recommended as a useful marker for diagnosis of bacterial meningitis and differential diagnosis between bacterial and aseptic meningitis with high sensitivity and specificity. Thus, hospitals should be encouraged to conduct TNF‐α tests in CSF after lumbar puncture.
Cutaneous blastomycosis in a horse
Authors: Funiciello B. , Scandella M. , Roccabianca P. , Caniatti M. , Martino P. A. , Malalana F. , Knottenbelt D. C.
Published: April 2014

This report describes the case of a horse presented with cutaneous lesions caused byBlastomyces dermatitidisin the absence of signs of other organ involvement. Diagnosis was achieved through cytology, histopathology and culture. Surgical debulking associated with systemic therapy with oral fluconazole resulted in significant remission; however, recurrence occurred following presumed early cessation of treatment.
SIRT2 knockdown increases basal autophagy and prevents postslippage death by abnormally prolonging the mitotic arrest that is induced by microtubule inhibitors
Authors: Inoue Toshiaki , Nakayama Yuji , Li Yanze , Matsumori Haruka , Takahashi Haruka , Kojima Hirotada , Wanibuchi Hideki , Katoh Motonobu , Oshimura Mitsuo
Published: April 2014

Mitotic catastrophe, a form of cell death that occurs during mitosis and after mitotic slippage to a tetraploid state, plays important roles in the efficacy of cancer cell killing by microtubule inhibitors (MTIs). Prolonged mitotic arrest by the spindle assembly checkpoint is a well‐known requirement for mitotic catastrophe, and thus for conferring sensitivity to MTIs. We previously reported that turning off spindle assembly checkpoint activation after a defined period of time is another requirement for efficient postslippage death from a tetraploid state, and we identified SIRT2, a member of the sirtuin protein family, as a regulator of this process. Here, we investigated whether SIRT2 regulates basal autophagy and whether, in that case, autophagy regulation by SIRT2 is required for postslippage death, by analogy with previous insights into SIRT1 functions in autophagy. We show, by combined knockdown of autophagy genes and SIRT2, that SIRT2 serves this function at least partially by suppressing basal autophagy levels. Notably, increased autophagy induced by rapamycin and mild starvation caused mitotic arrest for an abnormally long period of time in the presence of MTIs, and this was followed by delayed postslippage death, which was also observed in cells with SIRT2 knockdown. These results underscore a causal association among increased autophagy levels, mitotic arrest for an abnormally long period of time after exposure to MTIs, and resistance to MTIs. Although autophagy acts as a tumor suppressor mechanism, this study highlights its negative aspects, as increased autophagy may cause mitotic catastrophe malfunction. Thus, SIRT2 offers a novel target for tumor therapy.
Considerations in individualizing prophylaxis in patients with haemophilia A
Authors: Valentino L. A.
Published: April 2014

Prophylaxis is considered optimal care for children and adults with severe haemophilia A because of its proven ability to reduce joint and other bleeding episodes. However, a ‘one size fits all’ approach to prophylaxis is not ideal, potentially leading to over‐treatment in some individuals and under‐treatment in others. Moreover, a generic plan fails to take into account a patient's lifestyle and personal preferences. This article reviews the factors contributing to bleeding risk and joint damage and uses case studies to illustrate how these contributors can be weighed to individualize the prophylactic regimen, thereby increasing the likelihood of therapeutic success.
Gas hydrate saturation at Site C0002, IODP Expeditions 314 and 315, in the Kumano Basin, Nankai trough
Authors: Miyakawa Ayumu , Saito Saneatsu , Yamada Yasuhiro , Tomaru Hitoshi , Kinoshita Masataka , Tsuji Takeshi
Published: April 2014

The degree of gas hydrate saturation at Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Site C0002 in the Kumano Basin, Nankai Trough, was estimated from logging‐while‐drilling logs and core samples obtained during IODP Expeditions 314 and 315. Sediment porosity data necessary for the calculation of saturation were obtained from both core samples and density logs. Two forms of the Archie equation (‘quick‐look’ and ‘standard’) were used to calculate gas hydrate saturation from two types of electrical resistivity log data (ring resistivity and bit resistivity), and a three‐phase Biot‐type equation was used to calculate gas hydrate saturation from P‐wave velocity log data. The gas hydrate saturation baseline calculated from both resistivity logs ranges from 0% to 35%, and that calculated from the P‐wave velocity log ranges from 0% to 30%. High levels of gas hydrate saturation (>60%) are present as spikes in the ring resistivity log and correspond to the presence of gas hydrate concentrations within sandy layers. At several depths, saturation values obtained from P‐wave velocity data are lower than those obtained from bit resistivity data; this discrepancy is related to the presence of free gas at these depths. Previous research has suggested that gas from deep levels in the Kumano Basin has migrated up‐dip towards the southern and seaward edge of the basin near Site C0002. The high saturation values and presence of free gas at site C0002 suggest that a large gas flux is flowing to the southern and seaward edge of the basin from a deeper and/or more landward part of the Kumano Basin, with the southern edge of the Kumano Basin (the location of site C0002) being the main area of fluid accumulation.
The role of lipid oxidation on biscuit texture during storage
Authors: Patrignani Mariela , Conforti Paula A. , Lupano Cecilia E.
Published: April 2014

The role of lipid oxidation and humidity absorption on the shelf life of biscuits was analysed. Biscuits with low lipid and sugar content were prepared employing different oils, and texture changes that biscuits experience during storage were studied. Water activity, peroxide value, malonaldehyde content and colour were also determined at different storage times. The maximum peroxide level was between 1 and 1.5 mmol kg−1 of oil, at 166 days of storage. Values of malonaldehyde were between 5.2 and 15.8 nmol g−1 of dry sample. Water activity and peroxide value influence the biscuit texture (P ≤ 0.05). To study the effects of both factors simultaneously, a mathematical model was adjusted to the data. Results indicate that an increase in the peroxide level, even at low level of lipid oxidation, increases Young's modulus and leads to a harder biscuit, while the humidity absorption lowers the fracture stress and Young's modulus.
The order of draw: much ado about nothing?
Authors: Indevuyst C. , Schuermans W. , Bailleul E. , Meeus P.
Published: April 2014

Introduction

The ‘order of draw’ has been advocated since 1982 to reduce the risk of cross‐contaminating blood tubes with additives from a previously filled tube.

Methods

We studied 193 patients receiving oral anticoagulation. Multiple tubes were collected in a specific order using the Sarstedt Safety Monovette System. We evaluated the effect of the ‘order of draw’ on the prothrombin time/international normalized ratio (PT/INR) and the activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) when the citrate tube is drawn as the first tube, second tube or after a heparin, EDTA or serum tube with clot activator.

Results

There was no statistically significant influence on the PT/INR. The same applies for the APTT measured on a citrate tube drawn after a heparin tube. There was a small, but statistically significant bias on the APTT when the citrate tube was drawn as the first tube, after an EDTA tube or after a serum tube with clot activator. We consider this bias (max. 0.2 s) as not clinically significant.

Conclusion

The order of draw has no significant influence on the PT/INR and APTT when measured on a Sarstedt citrate tube filled without the use of a discard tube or after a heparin, EDTA or serum tube with clot activator.
How Watershed Immigration Policies Affect American Public Opinion over a Lifetime
Authors: Abrajano Marisa , Lundgren Lydia
Published: April 2014

Important political events are known to influence political socialization and development (Green, Palmquist, and Schickler 2002). It is also possible that such events impact political socialization within particular age cohorts, and also across important social groups who may be impacted differently by landmark events. This paper examines whether landmark immigration events can leave a permanent mark on an individual's views toward immigrants and immigration, and whether that impact varies across different ethnic/racial groups in the United States Specifically, we examine the cohort of individuals who were in their formative years during the passage of major US immigration bills that were proposed or enacted from 1965 to 2010. Altogether, we focus on four pieces of landmark immigration legislation. The findings reveal variations on the effect of these events depending on the group in question; a relationship also emerges between these landmark legislative events and attitudes on immigration policies. The analysis contributes to an ongoing debate regarding the ways in which political elites influence attitudes, and we discuss how the findings may apply to other contexts outside the US.
Why Party Organization Still Matters: The Workers’ Party in Northeastern Brazil
Authors: Van Dyck Brandon
Published: April 2014

Does party organization still matter? Much of the party literature suggests that politicians, who can use substitutes like mass media to win votes, lack incentives to invest in party organization. Yet it remains an electoral asset, especially at lower levels of government. Evidence from Brazil’s Workers’ Party (PT) indicates that party elites invest in organization when they prioritize lower-level elections and that this investment delivers electoral returns. In the mid-2000s, the PT strengthened its support across levels of government in the conservative, clientelistic Northeast. Drawing from underutilized data on party offices, this article shows that organizational expansion contributed substantially to the PT’s electoral advances in the Northeast. While President Lula da Silva’s (PT) 2006 electoral spike in the Northeast resulted from expanded conditional cash transfers, the PT’s improvement at lower levels followed from top-down organization building. The PT national leadership deliberately expanded the party’s local infrastructure to deliver electoral gains.
Clinical genetic testing for male factor infertility: current applications and future directions
Authors: Hotaling J. , Carrell D. T.
Published: April 2014

Spermatogenesis involves the aggregated action of up to 2300 genes, any of which, could, potentially, provide targets for diagnostic tests of male factor infertility. Contrary to the previously proposed common variant hypothesis for common diseases such as male infertility, genome‐wide association studies and targeted gene sequencing in cohorts of infertile men have identified only a few gene polymorphisms that are associated with male infertility. Unfortunately, the search for genetic variants associated with male infertility is further hampered by the lack of viable animal models of human spermatogenesis, difficulty in robustly phenotyping infertile men and the complexity of pedigree studies in male factor infertility. In this review, we describe basic genetic principles involved in understanding the genetic basis of male infertility and examine the utility and proper clinical use of the proven genetic assays of male factor infertility, specifically Y chromosome microdeletions, chromosomal translocations, karyotype, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator mutation analysis and sperm genetic tests. Unfortunately, these tests are only able to diagnose the cause of about 20% of male factor infertility. The remainder of the review will be devoted to examining novel tests and diagnostic tools that have the potential to explain the other 80% of male factor infertility that is currently classified as idiopathic. Those tests include epigenetic analysis of the spermatozoa and the evaluation of rare genetic variants and copy number variations in patients. Success in advancing to the implementation of such areas is not only dependent on technological advances in the laboratory, but also improved phenotyping in the clinic.
Scale‐dependent adaptive evolution and morphological convergence to climatic niche in Californian eriogonoids (Polygonaceae)
Authors: Kostikova Anna , Litsios Glenn , Burgy Sarah , Milani Laura , Pearman Peter B. , Salamin Nicolas
Published: April 2014

Aim

Macroevolutionary patterns and processes change substantially depending on levels of taxonomic and ecological organization, and the resolution of environmental and spatial variability. In comparative methods, the resolution of environmental and spatial variability often defines the number of selective regimes used to test whether phenotypic characteristics are adaptively correlated with the environment. Here, we examine how investigator choice of the number of selective regimes, determined by varying the resolution of among‐species variability in the species climatic niche (hereafter called ‘ecological scale’), influences trait morphological diversification among Eriogonoideae species. We assess whether adaptive or neutral processes drive the evolution of several morphological traits in these species.

Location

South‐western North America.

Methods

We applied a phylogenetic framework of three evolutionary models to four morphological traits and the climatic niches of Eriogonoideae (in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae). We tested whether morphological traits evolve in relation to climate by adaptive or neutral process, and whether the resulting patterns of morphological variability are conserved or convergent across the clade. We inspected adaptive models of evolution under different levels of resolution of among‐species variability of the climatic niche.

Results

We show that morphological traits and climate niches of Eriogonoideae species are not phylogenetically conserved. Further, adaptive evolution of phenotypic traits is specific to climatic niche occupancy across this clade. Finally, the likely evolutionary process and the level of detectable niche conservatism change depending on the resolution of environmental variability of the climatic niche.

Main conclusions

Our study demonstrates the need to consider both the resolution of environmental variability and alternative evolutionary models to understand the morphological diversification that accompanies divergent adaptive evolution of lineages to climatic conditions.
Receiving and Adhering to Lifestyle Modification Counseling for Hypertension: Disparities Between Smokers and Nonsmokers
Authors: Persoskie Alexander , Kaufman Annette R. , Leyva Bryan
Published: April 2014

Hypertensive patients who smoke are in particular need of lifestyle modification counseling because they are at increased risk for poorer outcomes. The authors examined whether hypertensive smokers were more or less likely than nonsmokers to report receiving recommendations for diet, salt intake, exercise, alcohol use, and medication and whether receipt of recommendations was differentially associated with lifestyle changes among smokers vs nonsmokers. In an analysis of data from the 2011 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System on a representative sample of hypertensive adults from 9 US states (N=23,093), smokers were less likely than nonsmokers to report being told by a provider to exercise (odds ratio [OR], 0.66; P<.001) and change their diet (OR, 0.83; P<.05). Receiving dietary recommendations was more strongly associated with self‐reported dietary improvements among smokers (OR, 7.08; P<.001) compared with nonsmokers (OR, 4.17; P<.001) P<.01. Delivery of counseling may vary by smoking status. When provided, lifestyle counseling may be equally or more effective for smokers compared with nonsmokers.
Taking it out on survivors: Submissive employees, downsizing, and abusive supervision
Authors: Neves Pedro
Published: April 2014

For the past decade, researchers' attention to abusive supervision (Tepper, 2000, Acad. Manage. J., 43, 178) has grown consistently. However, little is still known as to why certain individuals are picked by supervisors as targets for abuse. Our study tests a model of antecedents of abusive supervision, building on the profile of submissive employees (Aquino & Lamertz, 2004, J. Appl. Psychol., 89, 1023) and examining the potential role played by the work context. With a sample of 193 employee–supervisor dyads from downsized and non‐downsized organizations, we found that as core self‐evaluations and coworker support decreased, abusive supervision increased, particularly in downsized organizations, and this effect carried over to both in‐role and extra‐role performance. Using a displaced aggression framework (Hoobler & Brass, 2006, J. Appl. Psychol., 91, 1125), our study contributes to the discussion of the antecedents of abusive supervision by emphasizing the roles played (1) by the victim and (2) by the context in which these events take place.

Practitioner points

Supervisors aim their abusive behaviours at subordinates that appear particularly vulnerable and submissive.

Strategies to prevent/reduce supervisory abusive behaviours in organizations should also focus on empowering subordinates themselves not just on training supervisors.

Downsizings are particularly powerful triggers of abusive supervision as they enhance the vulnerability and exposure of submissive employees.
Urban and Rural Utilization of Evidence‐Based Practices for Substance Use and Mental Health Disorders
Authors: Dotson Jo Ann Walsh , Roll John M. , Packer Robert R. , Lewis Jennifer M. , McPherson Sterling , Howell Donelle
Published: April 2014

Purpose

The purpose of the investigation was to examine variations in evidence‐based practice (EBP) utilization between rural and urban mental health and substance abuse prevention provider agencies in Washington State.

Methods

We conducted a secondary analysis of the 2007 EBP Survey, which was administered to 250 of Washington State Department of Social and Health Services’ contracted mental health and substance abuse treatment agencies. The survey solicited input from solo and group practices across the state on EBP implementation, successes, and challenges.

Findings

Most mental health and substance abuse treatment agencies used more than 1 EBP, although rural substance abuse agencies were less likely to do so than urban agencies. Rural substance abuse agencies were more likely to be solo than group practices. Urban agencies reporting significantly more collaboration with universities for EBP training, although training by internal staff was the most commonly reported training mechanism regardless of agency focus or location. Over half of agencies reported conducting no systematic assessment of EBPs, and of those who did report systematic assessment, most used outcome monitoring more than program evaluation or benchmarking. Urban and rural mental health and substance abuse prevention providers reported shortages of appropriately trained workforce and financing issues available to pay for EBPs as the greatest barriers to utilization.

Conclusions

Challenges to EBP utilization and fidelity should be monitored as EBPs contribute to the delivery of high‐quality care. Collaborations between universities and rural agencies may support an agency's abilities to adopt EBPs, train staff, and systematically assess impact.
The Universal Call to Holiness: Engaging with the Secular
Authors: Phillips Peter
Published: April 2014

The recent movement of apparent restorationism seems to suggest that the
Church represents an enclave where people can find a holy place, a narrowing
of the universal call to holiness that was the mandate of Vatican II. This
is not a task for Christians alone; it is a call for all people to
rediscover the true nature of the human being in the world. Such a
profoundly worldly vocation makes a radical demand for a holiness grounded
on baptism and the charisms with which the Holy Spirit endows the people of
God. ‘To be secular is the special characteristic of the laity’
(Lumen gentium, 3). There is a an important
rediscovery of the sacred taking place here: Christians are called to
transform the world in and through God in a genuine and secular
spirituality.
A Case of Mistaken Identity: Aquinas's Fifth Way and Arguments of
Intelligent Design
Authors: Newton William
Published: April 2014

When academically inclined atheists critique arguments for the existence
of God, they commonly target arguments of Intelligent Design as proposed by
Paley, Dembski, and Behe. In so doing, it is not uncommon for them to
include within the scope of their criticisms Aquinas's fifth proof for the
existence of God – the proof from final causality. In this essay, I shall
argue that there are very significant differences between the Fifth Way and
the more modern arguments of Intelligent Design which means that any
critique offered in regard to the latter normally leaves the former
unscathed. Moreover, I shall also argue that the Intelligent Design approach
concedes some of the erroneous premises of the atheists’ own arguments and
that these are in no way conceded by Aquinas in the Fifth Way or
elsewhere.
Anti-Discrimination Law, Religious Organizations, and Justice
Authors: Bailey Adam D.
Published: April 2014

In many jurisdictions the list of factors for which anti-discrimination law applies has been expanded to include sexual orientation. As a result, moral and legal difficulties have arisen for religious organizations whose basic beliefs include the belief that sexual acts between persons of the same sex are immoral. In light of these difficulties, is anti-discrimination law of this sort unjust? Recently John Finnis has argued that, as commonly applied, such anti-discrimination law is disproportionate and therefore unjust. In this essay, I critically examine Finnis's argument, and argue that, on account of the conception of disproportionateness that is employed, it does not succeed. So as to enable the argument from disproportionateness to succeed, I develop and defend a modified conception of disproportionateness.
A new multidimensional measure of personal resilience and its use: Chinese nurse resilience, organizational socialization and career success
Authors: Wei Wei , Taormina Robert J.
Published: April 2014

This study refined the concept of resilience and developed four valid and reliable subscales to measure resilience, namely, Determination, Endurance, Adaptability and Recuperability. The study also assessed their hypothesized relationships with six antecedent variables (worry, physiological needs satisfaction, organizational socialization, conscientiousness, future orientation and Chinese values) and with one outcome variable (nurses’ career success). The four new 10‐item subscale measures of personal resilience were constructed based on their operational definitions and tested for their validity and reliability. All items were included in a questionnaire completed by 244 full‐time nurses at two hospitals in China. All four measures demonstrated concurrent validity and had high reliabilities (from 0.74 to 0.78). The hypothesized correlations with the personality and organizational variables were statistically significant and in the predicted directions. Regression analyses confirmed these relationships, which explained 25–32% of the variance for the four resilience facets and 27% of the variance for the nurses’ career success. The results provided strong evidence that organizational socialization facilitates resilience, that resilience engenders career success and that identifying the four resilience facets permits a more complete understanding of personal resilience, which could benefit nurses, help nurse administrators with their work and also help in treating patients.
Use of antibiotics in infancy and childhood and risk of recurrent abdominal pain—a Swedish birth cohort study
Authors: Uusijärvi A. , Bergström A. , Simrén M. , Ludvigsson J. F. , Kull I. , Wickman M. , Alm J. , Olén O.
Published: April 2014

Background

The etiology of recurrent abdominal pain of functional origin (AP) is largely unknown. Antibiotic treatment influences the intestinal microbiota, and a few studies have indicated an increased risk of AP in adults after antibiotic treatment. Corresponding data in children are lacking. The aim of this study was to explore the association between antibiotic treatment during childhood and AP at 12 years.

Methods

Two thousand seven hundred and thirty‐two children from a Swedish, population‐based birth cohort. Parents reported antibiotic use for the children between birth and 2 years. Antibiotic use between 9 and 12 years was collected from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. The children answered questionnaires regarding AP at age 12. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for AP at 12 years as a function of antibiotic use.

Key Results

Antibiotic treatment between 9 and 12 years was not associated with AP at 12. Children who had received ≥3 courses, or broad‐spectrum antibiotics between 9 and 12 years had an increased risk of AP at 12, but these associations failed to reach statistical significance. Antibiotic treatment during both the first and the second year of life increased the risk of AP in girls at 12 (OR 1.65; 95% CI: 1.09–2.49), but not in boys or the whole cohort.

Conclusions & Inferences

Antibiotic treatment does not seem to be a major risk factor for AP at 12 years. However, we cannot exclude that repeated courses, especially to infant girls, or use of broad‐spectrum antibiotics between 9 and 12 years may be associated with an increased risk of AP.
Procedure‐related pain in children in a Danish University Hospital. A qualitative study
Authors: Rømsing Janne , Dremstrup Skovgaard Camilla , Friis Susanne M. , Henneberg Steen W.
Published: April 2014

Background

Children being cared for in hospital often undergo multiple diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Procedure‐related pain, anxiety, and distress may consequently place a significant burden on the children. Although standards for pain management exist, procedure‐related pain remains inadequately treated.

Objective

To determine the frequency and pain intensity of procedures in children, as well as the associated pharmacologic interventions to manage the pain in a Danish University Hospital.

Methods

During a 3‐month period in 2013, a structured questionnaire was used to prospectively record all procedures performed on children from 1 month to 18 years of age. Directly after the procedure, the pharmacologic pain management interventions and the pain intensity were recorded. Pain intensity was measured by using age‐appropriate pain scales. Positioning and prior experience with the procedure were recorded.

Results

Of the 316 children included in the study, 72% experienced none to mild pain, 8.5% experienced moderate to severe pain during the procedures, and 65% had a pharmacologic pain management intervention. Significant higher median VAS score was found during venipuncture in the children sitting on the lap of their parents compared with other positions (P < 0.05), and significant lower median VAS score was found in children who had experienced the procedure before (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Most children experienced mild pain during procedures. The children's positioning during the procedure and prior experience with the procedure seem to influence their experience of procedural pain and it is therefore essential that therapy is tailored for each child and includes a multimodal approach.
Endorsing benevolent sexism magnifies willingness to dissolve relationships when facing partner‐ideal discrepancies
Authors: HAMMOND MATTHEW D. , OVERALL NICKOLA C.
Published: April 2014

Benevolent sexism (BS) contains prescriptive partner expectations that should foster an intolerance of discrepancies between partners and warmth/trustworthiness ideal standards. This longitudinal study tested whether endorsing BS magnifies the degree to which warmth/trustworthiness partner‐ideal discrepancies are associated with willingness to dissolve relationships. Heterosexual couples (N = 88) reported their partner‐ideal discrepancies, willingness to dissolve the relationship, and their partner's willingness to dissolve the relationship every 3 months for 1 year. Greater partner‐ideal discrepancies were associated with subsequent increases in willingness to dissolve the relationship, but this was stronger for people who endorsed BS. Partners of women who endorsed BS also perceived this greater willingness to dissolve the relationship. These results demonstrate that the prescriptions within BS undermine the stability of ongoing relationships.
The distractor positivity (Pd) signals lowering of attentional priority: Evidence from event‐related potentials and individual differences
Authors: Burra Nicolas , Kerzel Dirk
Published: April 2014

We investigated the effects of task demands and individual differences on the allocation of attention. Using the same stimuli, participants indicated the orientation of a line contained in a shape singleton (identification task) or the presence of singletons (detection task). Shape singletons in the identification task elicited a contralateral negativity (N2pc) whereas shape singletons in the detection task elicited a contralateral positivity (Pd). We suggest that the reduction of attentional priority of a salient stimulus, reflected by the Pd, occurred more rapidly with the less demanding detection task. Further, fewer distractible participants showed a larger N2pc to lateral color distractors than highly distractible participants. We suggest that highly distractible participants developed compensatory mechanisms to suppress distracting stimuli.
Resting vagal tone and vagal response to stress: Associations with anxiety, aggression, and perceived anxiety control among youths
Authors: Scott Brandon G. , Weems Carl F.
Published: April 2014

This study tested the associations of both resting vagal tone and vagal response to stress with anxiety control beliefs, anxiety, and aggression among 80 youths (aged 11–17 years). Measures included physiological assessments of emotion regulation along with youth self‐report of anxiety control beliefs, anxiety, and aggression and caregiver reports of their child's anxiety and aggression. Resting vagal tone was positively related to anxiety control beliefs, but negatively associated with anxiety. Conversely, higher levels of anxiety and aggression were associated with increased vagal tone during a cognitive stress task. Findings suggest associations between physiological and self‐report of emotion regulation (anxiety control beliefs) and that anxiety and aggression may have specific and nonspecific relations with physiological indices of emotion regulation.
The Contested Politics of Public Value
Authors: Jacobs Lawrence R.
Published: April 2014

The emerging field of public values helpfully focuses on the norms and government policies that serve the public interest, but its analysis neglects the barriers to actually creating public value in contemporary America. Chief among these barriers are contending strains of public beliefs and opinions, the disproportionate influence of affluent individuals and business and professional associations, as well as governing structures predisposed toward inaction and drift. This article contrasts the expectations of the public values field with research on American politics to identify barriers to advancing the public interest under current conditions. Although public values scholars offer an analysis of American public life that is inadequate, they do raise challenging questions about how a public‐regarding agenda can be “designed in” to politics and policy. The article concludes by suggesting feasible reforms to improve the conditions for pursuing the public interest.
Civil Society Making Political Claims: Outcries, Interest Advocacy, and Deliberative Claims
Authors: Öberg PerOla , Uba Katrin
Published: April 2014

Increased citizen participation is proposed to remedy democratic deficits. However, it is unclear whether such participation improves reason‐based discussions or whether it serves mainly as a safety valve for discontented citizens. To what extent does citizen‐initiated participation involve reason‐based arguments? This study examines citizens’ reason giving based on unique data on citizens’ contacts with local authorities in Sweden. It provides support for proponents of deliberative participation, as an unexpected amount of contacts provided reasons for clearly stated positions and invitations to a constructive dialogue with authorities. There is variation across issues. More conflictual issues involve fewer intentions to participate in a reasoned exchange of arguments. The study shows that citizens deliver more reason‐based input to democratic decision making when they prepare their position in groups than when they participate as individuals. Findings are preliminary but clearly illustrate the fruitfulness of widening the research agenda on civic engagement in politics and public administration.