bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prevention: wrestling with new economic realities
Authors: Knapp Martin
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss the economic pressures on long-term care systems, and describe how an economic case might be made for better care, support and preventive strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

– Discussion of recent developments and research responses, with illustrations from previous studies.

Findings

– Economics evidence is highly relevant to decision makers in health, social care, and related systems. When resources are especially tight, economics evidence can sometimes persuade uncertain commissioners and others to adopt courses of action that improve the wellbeing of individuals, families, and communities.

Originality/value

– The paper uses long-established approaches in economic evaluation to discuss preventive and other strategies in today's challenging context.
Preventing dependency, promoting independence: a researcher's perspective
Authors: Emerson Eric
Published: November 2013

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to discuss how research can support a renewed focus on the promotion of independence and the prevention of avoidable dependency.

Design/methodology/approach

– Narrative review and discussion.

Findings

– Generating practice-based evidence, exploiting the possibilities of existing administrative data and learning from the world of public health may offer some ways forward.

Originality/value

– Potential priorities for future research are identified.
The intrinsic dimensionality of plant traits and its relevance to community assembly
Authors: Laughlin Daniel C.
Published: November 2013

Plants are multifaceted organisms that have evolved numerous solutions to the problem of establishing, growing and reproducing with limited resources. The intrinsic dimensionality of plant traits is the minimum number of independent axes of variation that adequately describes the functional variation among plants and is therefore a fundamental quantity in comparative plant ecology. Given the large number of functional traits that are measured on plants, the dimensionality of plant form and function is potentially vast.

A variety of linear and nonlinear methods were used to estimate the intrinsic dimensionality of three large trait data sets. The results of these analyses indicate that while the dimensionality of plant traits is generally larger than we have admitted in the past, it does not exceed six in the most comprehensive data set.

The dimensionality of plant form and function is a blessing, not a curse. The higher the intrinsic dimension of traits in an analysis, the more easily our models will be able to accurately discriminate species in trait space and therefore be able to predict species distributions and abundances. Recent analyses indicate that the ability to predict community composition increases rapidly with additional traits, but reaches a plateau after four to eight traits.

Synthesis. There appears to be a tractable upper limit to the dimensionality of plant traits. To optimize research efficiency for advancing our understanding of trait‐based community assembly, ecologists should minimize the number of traits while maximizing the number of dimensions, because including multiple correlated traits does not yield dividends and including more than eight traits leads to diminishing returns. It is recommended to measure traits from multiple organs whenever possible, especially leaf, stem, root and flowering traits, given their consistent performance in explaining community assembly across different ecosystems.
Species‐specific responses of foliar nutrients to long‐term nitrogen and phosphorus additions in a lowland tropical forest
Authors: Mayor Jordan R. , Wright S. Joseph , Turner Benjamin L.
Published: November 2013

The concentration, stoichiometry and resorption of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in plant leaves are often used as proxies of the availability of these growth‐limiting nutrients, but the responses of these metrics to changes in nutrient availability remain largely untested for tropical forest trees.

We evaluated changes in N and P concentrations, N/P ratios and resorption for four common tree species after 13 years of factorial N and P additions in a lowland tropical forest in Panama.

Chronic P addition increased foliar P concentrations, decreased P resorption proficiency and decreased N/P ratios in three locally common eudicot tree species (Alseis blackiana, Heisteria concinna, Tetragastris panamensis). The increase in foliar P involved similar proportional increases in organic and inorganic P in two species and a disproportionately large increase in inorganic P in A. blackiana.

Nitrogen addition did not alter foliar N concentrations in any species, but did decrease N resorption proficiency in H. concinna.

A fourth species, the palm Oenocarpus mapora, demonstrated remarkably static foliar nutrient concentrations, responding only with a marginal decrease in P resorption proficiency under N plus P co‐addition.

Synthesis. Collectively, these results suggest that adjustment of N/P ratios can be expected in eudicots exposed to elevated P, but foliar N appears to already be at optimal levels in these lowland rain forest tree species. The complexity of species‐specific responses to altered nutrient availability highlights the difficulty in predicting future responses of tropical forest trees to a changing world.
Dietary Supplementation of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera, Dunal) Enhances NK Cell Function in Ovarian Tumors in the Laying Hen Model of Spontaneous Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Barua Animesh , Bradaric Michael J. , Bitterman Pincas , Abramowicz Jacques S. , Sharma Sameer , Basu Sanjib , Lopez Heather , Bahr Janice M.
Published: November 2013

Problem

Ovarian cancer (OVCA) disseminates in a distinct pattern through peritoneal metastasis and little is known about the immunosuppression in the tumor microenvironment. Our goal was to determine changes in NK cell population during OVCA development and the effects of Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera, Dunal) supplementation on NK cell localization in laying hens with OVCA.

Methods

Frequency of NK cells in ovarian tumors at early and late stages in 3‐ to 4‐year‐old hens (exploratory study) as well as in hens supplemented with dietary Ashwagandha root powder for 90 days (prospective study) was examined.

Results

The population of stromal NK cells but not the intratumoral NK cells increased with OVCA development and progression. Ashwagandha supplementation decreased the incidence and progression of OVCA. Both the stromal and intratumoral NK cell population increased significantly (P < 0.0001) in Ashwagandha supplementated hens.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that the population of stromal and tumorinfiltrating NK cells is increased by dietary Ashwagandha supplementation. Thus, Ashwagandha may enhance antitumor function of NK cells. This study may be useful for a clinical study to determine the effects of dietary Ashwagandha on NK cell immune function in patients with ovarian cancer.
Hypotonic solution decreases serum sodium in infants with moderate bronchiolitis
Authors: Rodrigues Regina M , Schvartsman Benita GS , Farhat Sylvia CL , Schvartsman Cláudio
Published: November 2013

Aim

To investigate the influence of hypotonic parenteral hydration on serum and urinary sodium and osmolality in infants with moderate bronchiolitis.

Methods

We studied 36 infants (mean age 3.7 ± 2.3 months), with a diagnosis of moderate bronchiolitis admitted to a paediatric emergency unit in São Paulo, Brazil. Patients received a standard parenteral hypotonic solution, according to Holliday and Segar, during the first 24 h, due to respiratory distress. The disease was monitored by a respiratory severity score (RDAI‐Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument), respiratory rate and oxygen saturation. Serum and urinary sodium and osmolality were monitored at admission, 24 and 48 h after admission.

Results

All respiratory parameters improved during hospitalisation. Serum sodium and osmolality dropped after 24 h (136.8 ± 2.8 and 135.8 ± 2.6 mEq/L, p = 0.031; 283.4 ± 4.1 and 281.6 ± 3.9 mOsm/kg, p = 0.004 respectively) as well as urinary osmolality (486.8 ± 243.4 mOsm/kg and 355.7 ± 205.0 mOsm/kg, p < 0.001) when compared to admission.

Conclusion

This study reinforces the occurrence of hyponatraemia in bronchiolitis even in patients with moderate disease and highlights the risk of serum sodium drop caused by hypotonic parenteral hydration.
Coeliac disease is more common in children with high socio‐economic status
Authors: Whyte LA , Kotecha S , Watkins WJ , Jenkins HR
Published: November 2013

Aim

There are a number of genetic and environmental factors that are associated with an increased risk of developing coeliac disease. Our aim was to determine whether socio‐economic deprivation increases or reduces the development of the disease.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study identified all children <16 years old diagnosed with coeliac disease in the same tertiary paediatric centre between January 1995 and December 2011. Data, including age at diagnosis and postcode, were collected and linked with the quintile rank of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation score 2008, a measure of socio‐economic status.

Results

We included 232 patients and identified a graded association between the prevalence of coeliac disease and socio‐economic deprivation, which showed a higher rate in children living in more affluent areas. The largest difference was between the lowest deprivation level (rate/1000 = 1.16) and the highest deprivation level (rate/1000 = 0.49).

Conclusion

In our population, coeliac disease was more common in children in the higher socio‐economic groupings. The reasons for this are not clear, but perhaps both the ‘hygiene hypothesis’ and the health seeking behaviours of parents with high socio‐economic status are possible factors in the more frequent diagnosis of coeliac disease in this group.
Prevalence of antiphospholipid antibodies in psychiatric patients users and non‐users of antipsychotics
Authors: Delluc Aurélien , Rousseau Aurélie , Le Galudec Mickael , Canceil Olivier , Woodhams Barry , Etienne Sylvie , Walter Michel , Mottier Dominique , Van Dreden Patrick , Lacut Karine
Published: November 2013

Past reports have suggested that antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies may emerge as a response to antipsychotics treatment, as a high prevalence of aPL antibodies in antipsychotics users has been observed. However, no control group of non‐medicated psychiatric patients was included in these reports. In a cross sectional study we determined the prevalence of aPL antibodies in 333 psychiatric inpatients. We compared the proportions of positive aPL antibodytests between users and non‐users of antipsychotics with adjustments for potential confounders. The proportion of antipsychotics users carrying at least one aPL antibody ranged from 10·8% to 27·0% compared with 6·8% to 27·2% in non‐users (P = 0·24, P = 0·24) depending on the method of detection of lupus anticoagulant (LA). The prevalence of LA detected by dilute Russell viper venom time or partial thromboplastin time‐LA was not different between antipsychotics users and non‐users (8·1% vs. 5·4%, P = 0·53 and 18·4% vs. 18·2%, P = 0·22), as well as the prevalence of IgM and IgG anti‐β2‐glycoprotein‐I antibodies, IgM and IgG anti‐cardiolipin antibodies(3·8% vs. 2·0%, P = 0·75, 0·0% vs. 0·0%, P = not applicable, 1·1 vs. 1·4%, P = 0·91, 2·7% vs. 3·4%, P = 0·71). In conclusion, aPL antibodies were frequently found in patients with psychiatric diseases and no significant increase in the prevalence of aPL antibodies was observed in antipsychotics users.
Pyoderma gangrenosum and Wegener granulomatosis-like syndrome induced by cocaine
Authors: Jiménez-Gallo D. , Albarrán-Planelles C. , Linares-Barrios M. , Rodríguez-Hernández C. , Martínez-Rodríguez A. , García-Moreno E. , Bravo-Monge R.
Published: November 2013

Cocaine abuse is associated with various skin and rheumatological diseases that mimic primary autoimmune diseases, including retiform purpura with involvement of the ears, cocaine-induced midline destructive lesions (CIMDL), and eruptive pyoderma gangrenosum (PG). Previous reports have suggested the use of perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) with specificity against human neutrophil elastase (HNE) to differentiate these cocaine-induced diseases from primary autoimmune diseases. We describe a case of a 54-year-old woman with a history of cocaine abuse, who had PG lesions on her legs with accompanying CIMDL and lung lesions similar to those seen in Wegener granulomatosis. Detection of HNE-positive pANCA, and improvement or clinical recurrence after cessation or consumption of cocaine, respectively, were key to differentiating this presentation from primary autoimmune disease.
Anti-myelin antibodies play an important role in the susceptibility to develop proteolipid protein-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Marín N , Eixarch H , Mansilla M J , Rodríguez-Martín E , Mecha M , Guaza C , Álvarez-Cermeño J C , Montalban X , Villar L M , Espejo C
Published: November 2013

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. It is an autoimmune disorder in which activated T cells cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to initiate an inflammatory response that leads to demyelination and axonal damage. The key mechanisms responsible for disease initiation are still unknown. We addressed this issue in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), the animal model of MS. It is widely known that EAE manifests only in certain strains when immunized with myelin proteins or peptides. We studied the differential immune responses induced in two mouse strains that are susceptible or resistant to EAE induction when they are immunized with the 139–151 peptide of proteolipid protein, an encephalitogenic peptide capable of inducing EAE in the susceptible strain. The adequate combination of major histocompatibility complex alleles and myelin peptides triggered in susceptible mice a T helper type 17 (Th17) response capable of inducing the production of high-affinity anti-myelin immunoglobulin (Ig)G antibodies. These were not detected in resistant mice, despite immunization with the encephalitogenic peptide in junction with complete Freund's adjuvant and pertussis toxin, which mediate BBB disruption. These data show the pivotal role of Th17 responses and of high-affinity anti-myelin antibodies in EAE induction and that mechanisms that prevent their appearance can contribute to resistance to EAE.
Application of a modified Neff classification to patients with uncomplicated diverticulitis
Authors: Mora Lopez L. , Serra Pla S. , Serra‐Aracil X. , Ballesteros E. , Navarro S.
Published: November 2013

Aim

Severity of acute diverticulitis (AD) has traditionally been assessed using the Hinchey classification; however, this classification is predominantly a surgical one. The Neff classification provides an alternative classification based on CT findings. The aim of this study was to evaluate a modification of the Neff classification to select patients presenting with early‐stage AD to receive outpatient management.

Method

All patients with AD, presenting to a single unit, were prospectively studied. All patients underwent emergency abdominal CT and were assigned a Neff stage, including a modification (mNeff) to Neff Stage I. The Neff stages used were: Stage 0, uncomplicated diverticulitis; Diverticula, thickening of the wall, increased density of the pericolic fat; Stage I, locally complicated (our modification included substages Ia (localized pneumoperitoneum in the form of air bubbles) and Ib (local abscess); Stage II, complicated with pelvic abscess; Stage III, complicated with distant abscess; and Stage IV, complicated with other distant complications. Patients who presented with Stage 0 or Stage Ia were selectively managed as outpatients. Patients with comorbidity or the presence of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) were excluded.

Results

Between February 2010 and January 2013, 205 patients (mean age 59 years; age range 25–90 years) presented with AD. One‐hundred and forty‐nine met the radiological criteria for potential outpatient treatment. After applying the exclusion criteria, 68 were eventually assigned to an outpatient programme. Sixty‐four (94%) successfully completed the outpatient treatment protocol; four patients were readmitted.

Conclusion

Our mNeff classification allowed selected patients with AD to be successfully managed in an outpatient programme.
Preoperative risk information and patient involvement in surgical treatment for rectal and sigmoid cancer
Authors: Snijders H. S. , Kunneman M. , Bonsing B. A. , de Vries A. C. , Tollenaar R. A. E. M. , Pieterse A. H. , Stiggelbout A. M.
Published: November 2013

Aim

Surgery for rectal and sigmoid cancer is a model setting for investigating preoperative information provision and shared decision making (SDM), as the decision consists of a trade‐off between the pros and cons of different treatment options. The aim of this study was to explore surgeons' opinion on the preoperative information that should be given to rectal and sigmoid cancer patients and to evaluate what is actually communicated. In addition, we assessed surgeons' attitudes towards SDM and compared these with patient involvement.

Method

A questionnaire was sent to Dutch surgeons with an interest in gastroenterology. Preoperative consultations were recorded. A checklist was used to code the information that surgeons communicated to the patients. The OPTION‐scale was used to measure patient involvement.

Results

Questionnaires were sent to 240 surgeons, and 103 (43%) responded. They stated that information on anastomotic leakage and its consequences, the benefits and risks of a defunctioning stoma and the impact of a stoma on quality of life were necessary preoperative information. In practice, patients were inconsistently informed of these items. Most participants agreed to using SDM in their consultations. However, in practice, most patients were offered only one treatment option and little SDM was seen. The mean OPTION‐score was low (7/100).

Conclusion

Insufficient information is given to patients with rectal and sigmoid cancer to guide them on their preferred surgical option. Information should be given on all treatment options, together with their complications and outcome, before any decision is made.
Practical blood flow restriction training increases muscle hypertrophy during a periodized resistance training programme
Authors: Lowery Ryan P. , Joy Jordan M. , Loenneke Jeremy P. , de Souza Eduardo O. , Machado Marco , Dudeck Joshua E. , Wilson Jacob M.
Published: November 2013

Background

Resistance training in combination with practical blood flow restriction (pBFR) is thought to stimulate muscle hypertrophy by increasing muscle activation and muscle swelling. Most previous studies used the KAATSU device; however, little long‐term research has been completed using pBFR.

Objective

To investigate the effects of pBFR on muscle hypertrophy.

Methods

Twenty college‐aged male participants with a minimum of 1 year of resistance training experience were recruited for this study. Our study consisted of a randomized, crossover protocol consisting of individuals either using pBFR for the elbow flexors during the first 4 weeks (BFR‐HI) or the second 4 weeks (HI‐BFR) of an 8‐week resistance training programme. Direct ultrasound‐determined bicep muscle thickness was assessed collectively at baseline and at the end of weeks 4 and 8.

Results

There were no differences in muscle thickness between groups at baseline (P = 0·52). There were time (P<0·01, ES = 0·99) but no condition by time effects (P = 0·58, ES = 0·80) for muscle thickness in which the combined values of both groups increased on average from week 0 (3·66 ± 0·06) to week 4 (3·95 ± 0·05) to week 8 (4·11 ± 0·07). However, both the BFR‐HI and HI‐BFR increased significantly from baseline to week 4 (6·9% and 8·6%, P<0·01) and from weeks 4 to 8 (4·1%, 4·0%, P<0·01), respectively.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that pBFR can stimulate muscle hypertrophy to the same degree to that of high‐intensity resistance training.
Limited benefit of pentostatin salvage therapy for steroid‐refractory grade III‐IV acute graft‐versus‐host disease
Authors: Alam Naheed , Atenafu Eshetu G. , Tse Garwin , Viswabandya Auro , Gupta Vikas , Kim Dennis , Lipton Jeffrey H. , Messner Hans A. , Kuruvilla John
Published: November 2013

Corticosteroid‐refractory (SR) acute graft‐versus‐host disease (aGVHD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Multiple agents have been evaluated in this setting, but the benefit of pentostatin has not been described well. We report a single‐center experience of pentostatin salvage therapy for SR aGVHD. Fifteen patients received pentostatin for SR aGVHD from March 2005 till March 2010 after failure to respond to methylprednisolone ≥2 mg/kg/d for at least seven d. All patients had grade III‐IV aGVHD prior to pentostatin therapy. Thirteen (87%), 10 (67%), and six (40%) patients had gastrointestinal (GI), skin, and liver involvement of aGVHD, respectively. Pentostatin was given at a median of 33 d after steroid therapy initiation. The dose of pentostatin was 1.4 mg/m2 daily for three d, repeated every two wk. Eight (53%) patients also received additional therapies. Complete responses were noted in two patients (both in skin). However, one patient relapsed and did not respond to additional salvage treatment. Partial responses were seen in three patients. Fourteen died of GVHD‐related causes. This study suggested that pentostatin is of limited benefit in the treatment for SR grade III‐IV aGVHD.
The Effect of Social Entitlement Programmes on Private Transfers: New Evidence of Crowding Out
Authors: Gerardi Kristopher , Tsai Yuping
Published: November 2013

This paper exploits a policy experiment to identify the crowding‐out effects of public transfers on the incidence and level of private transfers. The introduction of a large social security programme in Taiwan is used to estimate the effect of an exogenous increase in government transfer payments to the elderly on the private transfer behaviour of their adult children. Using an instrumental variables strategy that accounts for the endogeneity of receiving public transfers, the empirical results show some evidence of crowding out on the extensive margin of private transfers.
PRODUCT BUNDLING AND INCENTIVES FOR MERGERS AND STRATEGIC ALLIANCES
Authors: MIALON SUE H.
Published: November 2013

This paper analyzes firms' choice of a merger or a strategic alliance in bundling their products with other complementary products. Tying two products of unequal value makes them equally valuable as they become inseparable for purchase. Consequently, firms can charge a higher price for the bundled products than before. If foreclosure is not the main purpose of bundling, firms would prefer strategic alliances to mergers because mergers only intensify competition by internalizing the complementarities of two products. In equilibrium, bundling occurs only through strategic alliances. (JEL L4, L11, L13, L23)
Boundary Diffusion, Individuation, and Adjustment: Comparison of Young Adults Raised in Divorced Versus Intact Families
Authors: Perrin Marei B. , Ehrenberg Marion F. , Hunter Michael A.
Published: November 2013

Anchored in structural family systems theory, this study investigated the role of psychological individuation during young adulthood in mediating the relationship between growing up in families with diffuse boundaries and poor psychological health outcomes. A sample of 404 young adults was recruited to reflect relatively equal numbers of individuals raised in two‐parent married households and those who had experienced their parents' separation by age 14. Participants completed self‐report questionnaires to assess specific types of cross‐generational boundary diffusion in the forms of parentification and triangulation experienced in their adolescence, individuation, and general psychological and relationship adjustment. Experiences of boundary diffusion were commonplace recollections for young adults with divorced parents, revealing a large effect size in comparison to young persons raised in intact families. As expected, individuation mediated the significant relationship between boundary diffusion, especially in the form of triangulation, and psychological and relationship adjustment outcomes. The role of gender was explored.
Warming and browning of lakes: consequences for pelagic carbon metabolism and sediment delivery
Authors: Kritzberg Emma S. , Granéli Wilhelm , Björk Jessica , Brönmark Christer , Hallgren Per , Nicolle Alice , Persson Anders , Hansson Lars‐Anders
Published: November 2013

Thousands of lakes in the Northern Hemisphere are experiencing a continuous increase in water temperature and colour. While increasing temperature is an effect of climate change, several factors are suggested to drive the increasing water colour, including climate change, altered land use and reversed acidification.

In this mesocosm study, we study the effects on pelagic production and sedimentation of organic carbon from a 3 °C increase in temperature, a doubling of water colour and a combination of increased temperature and water colour. These manipulations correspond to the predicted development in water colour and temperature in northern temperate systems within the life time of the next generation.

The water and plankton communities in the mesocosms were taken from an oligohumic and mesotrophic lake, and the increase in water colour was achieved by the additions of water from a humic lake. The experiment ran from early March to late October.

In accordance with our predictions and previous cross‐system analyses, net carbon production (NCP) and organic carbon sedimentation decreased in response to increasing water colour.

At odds with current theory, NCP and sedimentation increased in heated treatments, as not only respiration but also gross production increased in response to temperature. There were no synergistic effects between warming and browning.

These results imply that warming may enhance pelagic delivery of organic carbon to sediments. This could potentially offset a reduction in burial efficiency of organic carbon, which has been projected based on a positive relationship between carbon mineralisation in sediments and temperature.
Historical changes in global yields: major cereal and legume crops from 1982 to 2006
Authors: Iizumi Toshichika , Yokozawa Masayuki , Sakurai Gen , Travasso Maria Isabel , Romanenkov Vladimir , Oettli Pascal , Newby Terry , Ishigooka Yasushi , Furuya Jun
Published: November 2013

Aim

Recent changes in crop yields have implications for future global food security, which are likely to be affected by climate change. We developed a spatially explicit global dataset of historical yields for maize, soybean, rice and wheat to explore the historical changes in mean, year‐to‐year variation and annual rate of change in yields for the period 1982–2006.

Location

This study was conducted at the global scale.

Methods

We modelled historical and spatial patterns of yields at a grid size of 1.125° by combining global agricultural datasets related to the crop calendar and harvested area in 2000, country yield statistics and satellite‐derived net primary production. Modelled yields were compared with other global datasets of yields in 2000 (M3‐Crops and MapSPAM) and subnational yield statistics for 23 major crop‐producing countries. Historical changes in modelled yields were then examined.

Results

Modelled yields explained 45–81% of the spatial variation of yields in 2000 from M3‐Crops and MapSPAM, with root‐mean‐square errors of 0.5–1.8 t ha−1. Most correlation coefficients between modelled yield time series and subnational yield statistics for the period 1982–2006 in major crop‐producing regions were greater than 0.8. Our analysis corroborated the incidence of reported yield stagnations and collapses and showed that low and mid latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere (0–40°S) experienced significantly increased year‐to‐year variation in maize, rice and wheat yields in 1994–2006 compared with that in 1982–93.

Main conclusions

Our analyses revealed increased instability of yields across a broad region of the Southern Hemisphere, where many developing countries are located. Such changes are likely to be related to recent yield stagnation and collapses. Although our understanding of the impacts of recent climate change, particularly the incidence of climate extremes, on crop yields remains limited, our dataset offers opportunities to close parts of this knowledge gap.
Phylogenetic patterns of climatic, habitat and trophic niches in aEuropean avian assemblage
Authors: Pearman Peter B. , Lavergne Sébastien , Roquet Cristina , Wüest Rafael , Zimmermann Niklaus E. , Thuiller Wilfried
Published: November 2013

Aim

The origins of ecological diversity in continental species assemblages have long intrigued biogeographers. We apply phylogenetic comparative analyses to disentangle the evolutionary patterns of ecological niches in an assemblage ofEuropean birds. We compare phylogenetic patterns in trophic, habitat and climatic niche components.

Location

Europe.

Methods

From polygon range maps and handbook data we inferred the realized climatic, habitat and trophic niches of 405 species of breeding birds inEurope. We fittedPagel's lambda and kappa statistics, and conducted analyses of disparity through time to compare temporal patterns of ecological diversification on all niche axes together. All observed patterns were compared with expectations based on neutral (Brownian) models of niche divergence.

Results

In this assemblage, patterns of phylogenetic signal (lambda) suggest that related species resemble each other less in regard to their climatic and habitat niches than they do in their trophic niche. Kappa estimates show that ecological divergence does not gradually increase with divergence time, and that this punctualism is stronger in climatic niches than in habitat and trophic niches. Observed niche disparity markedly exceeds levels expected from a Brownian model of ecological diversification, thus providing no evidence for past phylogenetic niche conservatism in these multivariate niches. Levels of multivariate disparity are greatest for the climatic niche, followed by disparity of the habitat and the trophic niches.

Main conclusions

Phylogenetic patterns in the three niche components differ within this avian assemblage. Variation in evolutionary rates (degree of gradualism, constancy through the tree) and/or non‐random macroecological sampling probably lead here to differences in the phylogenetic structure of niche components. Testing hypotheses on the origin of these patterns requires more complete phylogenetic trees of the birds, and extended ecological data on different niche components for all bird species.
The relationship between high‐sensitivity CRP and polyclonal Free Light Chains as markers of inflammation in chronic disease
Authors: Burmeister A. , Assi L. K. , Ferro C. J. , Hughes R. G. , Barnett A. H. , Bellary S. , Cockwell P. , Pratt G. , Hutchison C. A.
Published: November 2013

Introduction

Serum concentrations of polyclonal free light chains (FLC) represent the activity of the adaptive immune system. This study assessed the relationship between polyclonal FLC and the established marker of innate immunity, C‐reactive protein (CRP), in chronic and acute disease.

Methods

We utilized four cross‐sectional chronic disease patient cohorts: chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes, vasculitis and kidney transplantation; and a longitudinal intensive care case series to assess the kinetics of production in acute disease.

Results

There was a weak association between polyclonal FLC and high‐sensitivity CRP (hs‐CRP) in the study cohorts. A longitudinal assessment in acute disease showed a gradual increase in FLC concentrations over time, often when CRP levels were falling, demonstrating clear differences in the response kinetics of CRP and FLC in this setting.

Conclusion

Polyclonal FLC and hs‐CRP provide independent information as to inflammatory status. Prospective studies are now required to assess the utility of hs‐CRP and polyclonal FLC in combination for risk stratification in disease populations.
Rethinking Police Violence in Brazil: Unmasking the Public Secret of Race
Authors: French Jan Hoffman
Published: November 2013

In Brazilian cities, perhaps the most disturbing criminal activity is the violence perpetrated by police officers themselves. This article is an invitation and a provocation to reconsider social scientific thinking about police violence in Brazil. Illustrated by a court decision from a Northeastern city, in which a black man won a case against the state for being falsely arrested and abused by a black police officer on the grounds of racism, this article investigates three paradoxes: Brazilians fear both crime and the police; black police beat black civilians; and government officials disavow responsibility by stigmatizing the police on racial grounds. It then proposes an alternative reading of these paradoxes that opens the possibility for rethinking police reform and argues that democratization in Brazil is deeply intertwined with the future of its darkest-skinned citizens.
Sex bias in evaluating nontraditional job applicants: reactions to women and men's interrupted college attendance
Authors: Halim May Ling , Heilman Madeline E.
Published: November 2013

Two studies indicated that being a nontraditional job applicant due to voluntary interruption of college attendance had detrimental consequences for employment evaluation. These negative reactions were more severe for women than for men. Women with interrupted attendance received the most negative responses (Studies 1 and 2). Choosing to interrupt college attendance increased perceived instability and also positively affected perceived flexibility, and these characterizations were related to evaluative outcomes (Study 2). Moreover, both instability and flexibility characterizations contributed to the gender‐discrepant consequences of interrupted college attendance. Female applicants were rated more negatively on flexibility characterizations than were male applicants. Furthermore, although there were no gender differences in ratings of instability, instability ratings were found to negatively impact evaluations of female applicants, but not male applicants.
CD146 expression on mesenchymal stem cells is associated with their vascular smooth muscle commitment
Authors: Espagnolle Nicolas , Guilloton Fabien , Deschaseaux Frédéric , Gadelorge Mélanie , Sensébé Luc , Bourin Philippe
Published: November 2013

Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are plastic adherent cells that can differentiate into various tissue lineages, including osteoblasts, adipocytes and chondrocytes. However, this progenitor property is not shared by all cells within the MSC population. In addition, MSCs vary in their proliferation capacity and expression of markers. Because of heterogeneity of CD146 expression in the MSC population, we compared CD146−/Low and CD146High cells under clonal conditions and after sorting of the non‐clonal cell population to determine whether this expression is associated with specific functions. CD146−/Low and CD146High bone marrow MSCs did not differ in colony‐forming unit‐fibroblast number, osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic differentiation or in vitro haematopoietic‐supportive activity. However, CD146−/Low clones proliferated slightly but significantly faster than did CD146High clones. In addition, a strong expression of CD146 molecule was associated with a commitment to a vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) lineage characterized by a strong up‐regulation of calponin‐1 and SM22α expression and an ability to contract collagen matrix. Thus, within a bone marrow MSC population, certain subpopulations characterized by high expression of CD146, are committed towards a VSMC lineage.
Healthy adherer effect – the pitfall in the interpretation of the effect of medication adherence on health outcomes
Authors: Ladova Katerina , Vlcek Jiri , Vytrisalova Magda , Maly Josef
Published: November 2013

Rationale, aims and objectives

Different designs of studies monitoring adherence may cause bias and subsequent unavailability to compare results. Healthy adherer effect (HAE) is a type of bias reflecting patient behaviour. It cannot be easily monitored in study population and can favourably affect health outcomes that may be incorrectly attributed to drug therapy. The aim of this paper was to assess the HAE impact on health outcomes of studies concerning medication adherence.

Methods

Systematic review of literature from PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials identified all randomized controlled or observational studies dealing with HAE. Included studies were analysed with respect to relationships between HAE, adherence to therapy and health outcomes.

Results

Seven studies were identified – two randomized controlled and five cohort studies. Significant occurrence of HAE in relation to mortality was not observed while one study indicated the presence of HAE in relation to surrogate (bone mineral density). Cohort studies were mainly based on drug class effect, but HAE was not revealed. Factors associated with patient behaviour (e.g. smoking, regular preventive screening) were also not clearly associated with the occurrence of HAE, but their inclusion in design of cohort studies can help to detect health seeking behaviour.

Conclusion

Only a few studies concerning HAE were found, but they did not obtain any consistent conclusions. HAE impact was supposed particularly on treatment outcomes that may be easier affected by patient behaviour. However, researchers and clinicians should be still aware of HAE, interpret results carefully and verified them in further studies.
Hospitalizations of Nursing Home Residents in the Last Year of Life: Nursing Home Characteristics and Variation in Potentially Avoidable Hospitalizations
Authors: Xing Jingping , Mukamel Dana B. , Temkin‐Greener Helena
Published: November 2013

Objectives

To examine the incidence of, variations in, and costs of potentially avoidable hospitalizations (PAHs) of nursing home (NH) residents at the end of life and to identify the association between NH characteristics and a facility‐level quality measure (QM) for PAH.

Design

Retrospective.

Setting

Hospitalizations originating from NHs.

Participants

Long‐term care NH residents who died in 2007.

Measurements

A risk‐adjusted QM was constructed for PAH. A Poisson regression model was used to predict the count of PAH given residents’ risk factors. For each facility, the QM was defined as the difference between the observed facility‐specific rate (per 1,000 person‐years) of PAH (O) and the expected risk‐adjusted rate (E). A logistic regression model with state fixed‐effects was then fit to examine the association between facility characteristics and the likelihood of having higher‐than‐expected rates of PAH (O–E > 0). QM values greater than 0 indicate worse‐than‐average quality.

Results

Almost 50% of hospital admissions for NH residents in their last year of life were for potentially avoidable conditions, costing Medicare $1 billion. Five conditions were responsible for more than 80% of PAHs. PAH QM across facilities showed significant variation (mean 12.0 ± 142.3 per 1,000 person‐years, range −399.48 to 398.09 per 1,000 person‐years). Chain and hospital‐based facilities were more likely to exhibit better performance (O–E < 0). Facilities with higher nursing staffing were more likely to have better performance, as were facilities with higher skilled staff ratio, those with nurse practitioners or physician assistants, and those with on‐site X‐ray services.

Conclusion

Variations in facility‐level PAHs suggest that a potential for reducing hospital admissions for these conditions may exist. Presence of modifiable facility characteristics associated with PAH performance could help us formulate interventions and policies for reducing PAHs at the end of life.
Rac1‐mediated indentation of resting neurons promotes the chain migration of new neurons in the rostral migratory stream of post‐natal mouse brain
Authors: Hikita Takao , Ohno Akihisa , Sawada Masato , Ota Haruko , Sawamoto Kazunobu
Published: November 2013

New neurons generated in the ventricular‐subventricular zone in the post‐natal brain travel toward the olfactory bulb by using a collective cell migration process called ‘chain migration.’ These new neurons show a saltatory movement of their soma, suggesting that each neuron cycles through periods of ‘rest’ during migration. Here, we investigated the role of the resting neurons in chain migration using post‐natal mouse brain, and found that they undergo a dynamic morphological change, in which a deep indentation forms in the cell body. Inhibition of Rac1 activity resulted in less indentation of the new neurons in vivo. Live cell imaging using a Förster resonance energy transfer biosensor revealed that Rac1 was activated at the sites of contact between actively migrating and resting new neurons. On the cell surface of resting neurons, Rac1 activation coincided with the formation of the indentation. Furthermore, Rac1 knockdown prevented the indentation from forming and impaired migration along the resting neurons. These results suggest that Rac1 regulates a morphological change in the resting neurons, which allows them to serve as a migratory scaffold, and thereby non‐cell‐autonomously promotes chain migration.

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New neurons generated in the ventricular‐subventricular zone of the post‐natal brain travel toward the olfactory bulb using a collective cell migration process called ‘chain migration.’ We found that chain‐migrating neurons form an indentation in their cell body. Rac1 (Ras‐related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1) regulates the indentation in the resting neurons, which serve as a scaffold for the migrating neurons, thereby promoting chain migration non‐cell‐autonomously.
Ectopic expression of transcription factor AP‐2δ in developing retina: effect on PSA‐NCAM and axon routing
Authors: Li Xiaodong , Monckton Elizabeth A. , Godbout Roseline
Published: November 2013

Retinal ganglion cells transmit the visual signal from the retina to the brain. We have previously shown that the activator protein 2 (AP‐2)δ (TFAP2D) transcription factor is expressed in one third of ganglion cells in developing retina suggesting a specialized role for these AP‐2δ‐expressing cells. Here, we address the role of AP‐2δ in retina by in ovo electroporation of RCAS/AP‐2δ retroviral constructs into the eyes of chick embryos at day 2 of gestation. Ectopic expression of AP‐2δ does not affect lineage differentiation in the developing retina. However, immunostaining of retinal tissue with markers associated with axonal growth such as growth‐associated protein 43 and polysialic acid‐neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA‐NCAM) demonstrates axonal misrouting and abnormal axonal bundling. Treatment of AP‐2δ‐misexpressing retinal cell cultures with endoneuraminidase, an enzyme that removes PSA from NCAM, decreases AP‐2δ‐induced axonal bundling. Our data suggest a role for AP‐2δ in polysialylation of NCAM, with ectopic expression of AP‐2δ resulting in premature bundling of emerging axons and misrouting of axons. We propose that expression of AP‐2δ in a subset of ganglion cells contributes to the fine‐tuning of axonal growth in the developing retina.

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AP‐2δ is a transcription factor expressed in one third of retinal ganglion cells. Chick embryonic retinas which have been in ovo electroporated with a RCAS GFP‐AP‐2δ expression construct show axonal abnormalities. We propose a model whereby GFP‐AP‐2δ‐positive (green) non‐ganglion cells produce substrate or signaling molecules (e.g., PSA‐NCAM; indicated by asterisks) that cause misrouting and increased bundling of ganglion cell axons.
The role of tumor progression locus 2 protein kinase in glial inflammatory response
Authors: Hirschhorn Joshua , Mohanty Sangeeta , Bhat Narayan R.
Published: November 2013

Tumor progression locus 2 (Tpl2)/cancer Osaka thyroid kinase is a newer member of MAP3K family that is now known for its essential role in tumor necrosis factor‐aplha (TNFα) expression in macrophages, but its pro‐inflammatory signaling, if any, in glia is unknown. When cultures of murine microglia and astrocytes were exposed to lipopolysaccharide, there was a rapid activation (i.e., phosphorylation) of Tpl2 in parallel to the activation of down‐stream effector MAPKs, that is, extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK), p38 MAPK and C‐Jun N‐terminal kinase (JNK). Pre‐incubation of the cultures with a Tpl2 inhibitor selectively suppressed the activation of the primary down‐stream target, that is, ERK relative to p38 MAPK and JNK. That Tpl2 activation was functionally involved in glial inflammatory response was indicated by a reduced release of the cytokines, i.e. TNFα and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the presence of the kinase inhibitor. Furthermore, over‐expression of a wild‐type Tpl2 construct in C‐6 glia resulted in an enhanced transcriptional activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase, while transfection with a dominant negative form of Tpl‐2 had the opposite effect. The findings assign an important pro‐inflammatory signaling function for Tpl2 pathway in glial cells.

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MAP kinase cascades including ERK, JNK, and p38 are involved in glial expression of inflammatory mediators. Recent studies identify TPL2, a newer member of MAP3K, as the major upstream activator of ERK in immune cells although essentially nothing is known about this kinase in glial cells. The studies presented define an important proinflammatory function of TPL2 pathway in these cells.
SUMOylation of MeCP2 is essential for transcriptional repression and hippocampal synapse development
Authors: Cheng Ju , Huang Min , Zhu Ying , Xin Yong‐Juan , Zhao Yun‐Ke , Huang Jian , Yu Jian‐Xiu , Zhou Wen‐Hao , Qiu Zilong
Published: November 2013

Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) binds to methylated DNA and acts as a transcriptional repressor. Mutations of human MECP2 gene lead to Rett syndrome, a severe neural developmental disorder. Here, we report that the MeCP2 protein can be modified by covalent linkage to small ubiquitin‐like modifier (SUMO) and SUMOylation at lysine 223 is necessary for its transcriptional repression function. SUMOylation of MeCP2 is required for the recruitment of histone deacetylase complexes 1/2 complex. Mutation of MeCP2 lysine 223 to arginine abolishes its suppression of gene expression in mouse primary cortical neurons. Significantly, mutation of MeCP2 K223 site leads to developmental deficiency of rat hippocampal synapses in vitro and in vivo. Thus, the SUMOylation of MeCP2 at K223 is a critical switch for transcriptional repression and plays a crucial function in regulating synaptic development in the central nervous system.

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The Methyl CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is implicated in Rett syndrome and autism spectrum disorders. We showed that MeCP2 protein could be modified by SUMOylation and SUMOylation of MeCP2 is critical for its transcriptional regulation activity. Furthermore, we found that SUMOylation of MeCP2 plays a critical role in regulating synapse development in vitro and in vivo.