bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Soluble Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Receptor 2 in Urine Is a Potential Biomarker for Noninvasive Diagnosis of Malaria During Pregnancy
Authors: Tassi Yunga Samuel , Thévenon Audrey Davidson , Leke Rose Gana Fomban , Taylor Diane Wallace
Published: April 2016

Background.  During pregnancy, the placenta is inaccessible for diagnosis of placental malaria (PM), but soluble tumor necrosis factor-α receptors (sTNFR) are elevated in the plasma of women with PM.

Methods.  In this study, sTNFR-1 and sTNFR-2 were quantified in urine of pregnant and nonpregnant Cameroonian women who were positive or negative for malaria by blood-smear microscopy.

Results.  We found that levels of both sTNFR in urine were higher in pregnant compared with nonpregnant women, but malaria-positive pregnant women excreted substantially more sTNFR-1 (P = .005) and sTNFR-2 (P < .001) than malaria-negative pregnant women. The amount of sTNFR-1(rs = 0.784, P < .001) and sTNFR-2 (rs = 0.816, P < .001) in urine correlated with parasitemia, even in afebrile pregnant women. Urine sTNFR-2 predicted maternal malaria with an area under curve of 0.892 (95% confidence interval, .787–.898). At cutoff concentrations of 9.8 ng and 13.6 ng of sTNFR-2 per mL urine, the sensitivity/specificity were 82.6%/87.0% and 78.3%/95.7%, respectively.

Conclusions.  The sTNFR-2 in noninvasive urine samples may be useful for diagnosis of malaria during pregnancy.
Occurrence of Phytophthora Species in Commercial Nursery Production
Authors: Junker Corina , Goff Patrick , Wagner Stefan , Werres Sabine
Published: April 2016

Two commercial woody ornamental nurseries were sampled for the presence of Phytophthora species over a period of three years between 2011 and 2014. The samples were taken every two months at different propagation (greenhouses, plastic tunnels) and cultivation (container stands) areas as well as from nearby pathways and from a water recycling system with a slow sand filter. Furthermore, different materials like soil, substrates, residues, wind-carried leaves, water and sediment were sampled. In total, 12 known Phytophthora species could be detected. Further, three isolates did not match any of the known species. Phytophthora ramorum, P. gonapodyides, and P. plurivora were the species with the highest detection rates. Phytophthora ramorum could be detected during all seasons of the year. In total, the puddles on the pathways had the highest percentage of positive detections. Residues, wind-carried leaves and water and sediment from the water runoffs were also good places for Phytophthora survival. In both nurseries, the plant samples showed very low infection rates. Ideas for surveys and management are discussed.

Accepted for publication 14 March 2016. Published 11 April 2016.
Efficacy of Biopesticides and Leaf Removal in Grapevine Powdery Mildew Management
Authors: Moyer Michelle M. , Newhouse Jensena M. , Grove Gary G.
Published: April 2016

Integrating biological-based fungicides into conventional spray programs may help with fungicide resistance management. However, little is known about how to best integrate these products while still maintaining maximum disease control. Programs with as few as one synthetic fungicide or as many as three synthetic fungicides added to a biopesticide-based rotation during the bloom period of Vitis vinifera had significantly better disease control than a biopesticide-only-based program. When integrated with different timings of fruit-zone leaf removal, specific combinations of biopesticide programs and fruit-zone leaf removal enhanced the efficacy of that program to be on par with disease control seen in a program entirely based on synthetic fungicides. This suggests that when designing a fungicide program using biopesticides as a base, the addition of a synthetic fungicide during the window of ontogenic susceptibility in clusters and the adoption of cultural practices such as leaf removal can significantly improve the efficacy of that program.

Accepted for publication 11 April 2016. Published 20 April 2016.
Delayed Senescence in Soybean: Terminology, Research Update, and Survey Results from Growers
Authors: Harbach C. J. , Allen T. W. , Bowen C. R. , Davis J. A. , Hill C. B. , Leitman M. , Leonard B. R. , Mueller D. S. , Padgett G. B. , Phillips X. A. , Schneider R. W. , Sikora E. J. , Singh A. K. , Hartman G. L.
Published: April 2016

The terms used to describe symptoms of delayed senescence in soybean often are used inconsistently or interchangeably and do not adequately distinguish the observed symptoms in the field. Various causes have been proposed to explain the development of delayed senescence symptoms. In this article, we review published reports on delayed senescence symptoms in soybean, summarize current research findings, provide examples of terms related to specific symptoms, and present an overview of the results of a multi-state survey directed to soybean growers to understand their concerns about delayed soybean senescence. Some of these terms, such as green bean syndrome and green stem syndrome, describe symptoms induced by biotic factors, while other terms describe symptoms associated with abiotic factors. Some delayed senescence terms involve the whole plant remaining green while other terms include just the stem and other plant parts such as pods. In the grower survey, 77% reported observing soybean plants or plant parts that remained green after most plants in the field were fully mature with ripe seed. Most respondents attributed these symptoms to changes in breeding and choice of cultivars. At the end of this article, we standardized the terms used to describe delayed senescence in soybean.

Accepted for publication 23 March 2016. Published 15 April 2016.
CaPOW! Using Problem Sets in a Capstone Course to Improve Fourth-Year Medical Students’ Confidence in Self-Directed Learning
Authors: Clay Alison S. , Ming David Y. , Knudsen Nancy W. , Engle Deborah L. , Grochowski Colleen O’Connor , Andolsek Kathryn M. , Chudgar Saumil M.
Published: April 2016

Problem

Despite the importance of self-directed learning (SDL) in the field of medicine, individuals are rarely taught how to perform SDL or receive feedback on it. Trainee skill in SDL is limited by difficulties with self-assessment and goal setting.

Approach

Ninety-two graduating fourth-year medical students from Duke University School of Medicine completed an individualized learning plan (ILP) for a transition-to-residency Capstone course in spring 2015 to help foster their skills in SDL. Students completed the ILP after receiving a personalized report from a designated faculty coach detailing strengths and weaknesses on specific topics (e.g., pulmonary medicine) and clinical skills (e.g., generating a differential diagnosis). These were determined by their performance on 12 Capstone Problem Sets of the Week (CaPOWs) compared with their peers. Students used transitional-year milestones to self-assess their confidence in SDL.

Outcomes

SDL was successfully implemented in a Capstone course through the development of required clinically oriented problem sets. Coaches provided guided feedback on students’ performance to help them identify knowledge deficits. Students’ self-assessment of their confidence in SDL increased following course completion. However, students often chose Capstone didactic sessions according to factors other than their CaPOW performance, including perceived relevance to planned specialty and session timing.

Next Steps

Future Capstone curriculum changes may further enhance SDL skills of graduating students. Students will receive increased formative feedback on their CaPOW performance and be incentivized to attend sessions in areas of personal weakness.
Early Experiences After Adopting a Quality Improvement Portfolio Into the Academic Advancement Process
Authors: Sehgal Niraj L. , Neeman Naama , King Talmadge E.
Published: April 2016

Problem

Academic medical centers (AMCs) and their academic departments are increasingly assuming leadership in the education, science, and implementation of quality improvement (QI) and patient safety efforts. Fostering, recognizing, and promoting faculty leading these efforts is challenging using traditional academic metrics for advancement.

Approach

The authors adapted a nationally developed QI portfolio, adopted it into their own department’s advancement process in 2012, and tracked its utilization and impact over the first two years of implementation.

Outcomes

Sixty-seven QI portfolios were submitted with 100% of faculty receiving their requested academic advancement. Women represented 60% of the submitted portfolios, while the Divisions of General Internal Medicine and Hospital Medicine accounted for 60% of the submissions. The remaining 40% were from faculty in 10 different specialty divisions. Faculty attitudes about the QI portfolio were overwhelmingly positive, with 83% agreeing that it “was an effective tool for helping to better recognize faculty contributions in QI work” and 85% agreeing that it “was an effective tool for elevating the importance of QI work in our department.”

Next Steps

The QI portfolio was one part of a broader effort to create opportunities to recognize and support faculty involved in improvement work. Further adapting the tool to ensure that it complements—rather than duplicates—other elements of the advancement process is critical for continued utilization by faculty. This will also drive desired dissemination to other departments locally and other AMCs nationally who are similarly committed to cultivating faculty career paths in systems improvement.
Medical Student Perceptions of the Learning Environment: Learning Communities Are Associated With a More Positive Learning Environment in a Multi-Institutional Medical School Study
Authors: Smith Sunny D. , Dunham Lisette , Dekhtyar Michael , Dinh An , Lanken Paul N. , Moynahan Kevin F. , Stuber Margaret L. , Skochelak Susan E.
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Many medical schools have implemented learning communities (LCs) to improve the learning environment (LE) for students. The authors conducted this study to determine whether a relationship exists between medical student perceptions of the LE and presence of LCs during the preclerkship years.

Method

Students from 24 schools participating in the American Medical Association Learning Environment Study completed the 17-item Medical Student Learning Environment Survey (MSLES) at the end of their first and second years of medical school between 2011 and 2013. Mean total MSLES scores and individual item scores at the end of the first and second years in schools with and without LCs were compared with t tests, and effect sizes were calculated. Mixed-effects longitudinal models were used to control for student demographics and random school and student effects on the relationship between LC status and MSLES score.

Results

A total of 4,980 students (81% of 6,148 matriculants) from 18 schools with LCs and 6 without LCs participated. Mean [SD] MSLES scores were significantly higher in LC schools compared with non-LC schools at the end of year one (3.72 [0.44] versus 3.57 [0.43], P < .001) and year two (3.69 [0.49] versus 3.42 [0.54], P < .001). The effect size increased from 0.35 (small) at the end of year one to 0.53 (medium) at the end of year two.

Conclusions

This large multi-institutional cohort study found that LCs at medical schools were associated with more positive perceptions of the LE by preclerkship students.
Effect of Performance Deficiencies on Graduation and Board Certification Rates
Authors: Turner Judi A. , Fitzsimons Michael G. , Pardo Manuel C. , Hawkins Joy L. , Huang Yue Ming , Rudolph Maria D. D. , Keyes Mary A. , Howard-Quijano Kimberly J. , Naim Natale Z. , Buckley Jack C. , Grogan Tristan R. , Steadman Randolph H.
Published: April 2016

AbstractAbstract

In a review of 865 residents from four U.S. programs with up to 16 yr of follow-up, residents who were deemed deficient in an Essential Attribute or in multiple competencies were at high risk for not graduating or achieving board certification.

Background

This multicenter, retrospective study was conducted to determine how resident performance deficiencies affect graduation and board certification.

Methods

Primary documents pertaining to resident performance were examined over a 10-yr period at four academic anesthesiology residencies. Residents entering training between 2000 and 2009 were included, with follow-up through February 2016. Residents receiving actions by the programs’ Clinical Competency Committee were categorized by the area of deficiency and compared to peers without deficiencies.

Results

A total of 865 residents were studied (range: 127 to 275 per program). Of these, 215 residents received a total of 405 actions from their respective Clinical Competency Committee. Among those who received an action compared to those who did not, the proportion graduating differed (93 vs. 99%, respectively, P < 0.001), as did the proportion achieving board certification (89 vs. 99%, respectively, P < 0.001). When a single deficiency in an Essential Attribute (e.g., ethical, honest, respectful behavior; absence of impairment) was identified, the proportion graduating dropped to 55%. When more than three Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Core Competencies were deficient, the proportion graduating also dropped significantly.

Conclusions

Overall graduation and board certification rates were consistently high in residents with no, or isolated, deficiencies. Residents deficient in an Essential Attribute, or multiple competencies, are at high risk of not graduating or achieving board certification. More research is needed on the effectiveness and selective deployment of remediation efforts, particularly for high-risk groups.
Evolving Role of Exercise Testing in Contemporary Cardiac Rehabilitation
Authors: Reeves Gordon R. , Gupta Shuchita , Forman Daniel E.
Published: April 2016

Symptom-limited (maximal) exercise testing before cardiac rehabilitation (CR) was once an unambiguous standard of care. In particular, it served as an important screen for residual ischemia and instability before initiating a progressive exercise training regimen. However, improved revascularization and therapy for coronary heart disease has led many clinicians to downplay this application of exercise testing, especially because such testing is also a potential encumbrance to CR enrollment (delaying ease and efficiency of enrollment after procedures and hospitalizations) and patient burden (eg, added costs, logistic hassle, and anxiety). Nonetheless, exercise testing has enduring value for CR, especially because it reveals dynamic physiological responses as well as ischemia, arrhythmias, and symptoms pertinent to exercise prescription and training and to overall stability and prognosis. Moreover, as indications for CR have expanded, the value of exercise testing and functional assessment is more relevant than ever in the growing population of eligible patients, including those with heart failure, valvular heart disease, and posttransplantation, especially as current patients also tend to be more clinically complex, with advanced ages, multimorbidity, frailty, and obesity. This review focuses on the appropriate use of exercise testing in the CR setting. Graded exercise tests, cardiopulmonary exercise tests, submaximal walking tests, and other functional assessments (strength, frailty) for CR are discussed.
The Effects of (−)-OSU6162 on Chronic Fatigue in Patients With Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Berginström Nils , Nordström Peter , Schuit Robert , Nordström Anna
Published: April 2016

Objective:

To examine the effects of the monoaminergic stabilizer (−)-OSU6162 on mental fatigue in patients with traumatic brain injury.

Setting:

Single-center Neurorehabilitation Clinic.

Design:

Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Participants:

Sixty-four subjects with traumatic brain injury were randomized to treatment (n = 33) and placebo (n = 31).

Main Measures:

The effects of (−)-OSU6162 at a dose of 15 mg twice a day were evaluated using self-assessment scales and neuropsychological tests measuring mental fatigue.

Results:

No difference between groups was observed on any scale at baseline. At follow-up, both groups showed significant improvement on the Fatigue Severity Scale and the Mental Fatigue Scale (both Ps < .01). Similarly, the performance of both groups increased significantly on many neuropsychological tests. However, no significant between-group difference in changes on these scales was observed before or after adjustment for confounders except for one neuropsychological test favoring the control group. Sensitivity analyses showed significantly greater changes in levels of prolactin and folic acid and heart rate (all Ps < .05) in the treatment group. The mean plasma concentration after 4 weeks of treatment was 0.14 (range, 0.01–0.32) µM, which was lower than expected.

Interpretation:

Treatment with (−)-OSU6162 had no significant effect on mental fatigue in patients with traumatic brain injury compared with placebo.
A Paired Comparison of Initial and Recurrent Concussions Sustained by US High School Athletes Within a Single Athletic Season
Authors: Currie Dustin W. , Comstock R. Dawn , Fields Sarah K. , Cantu Robert C.
Published: April 2016

Objective:

To compare initial and recurrent concussions regarding average number of days between concussions, acute concussion symptoms and symptom resolution time, and return to play time.

Setting/Participants:

High school athletes sustaining multiple concussions linked within sport seasons drawn from a large sports injury surveillance study.

Design:

Retrospective analysis of longitudinal surveillance data.

Measures:

Number of days between concussions, number of symptoms endorsed, specific symptoms endorsed, symptom resolution time, return to play time.

Results:

Median time between initial and recurrent concussions was 21 days (interquartile range = 10-43 days). Loss of consciousness, the only significant symptom difference, occurred more frequently in recurrent (6.8%) than initial (1.7%) concussions (P = .04). No significant difference was found in the number of symptoms (P = .84) or symptom resolution time (P = .74). Recurrent concussions kept athletes from play longer than initial concussions (P < .0001); 26.6% of recurrent concussions were season ending.

Conclusions:

We found that athletes' initial and recurrent concussions had similar symptom presentations and resolution time. Despite these similarities, athletes were restricted from returning to play for longer periods following a recurrent concussion, indicating clinicians are managing recurrent concussions more conservatively. It is probable that concussion recognition and management are superior now compared with when previous studies were published, possibly improving recurrent concussion outcomes.
Jack Kerouac Revisited
Authors: Wigand Moritz E. , Rüsch Nicolas , Becker Thomas
Published: April 2016

On the Road is a classic American novel that appeared at a time of great political, cultural, and psychiatric upheaval. Published almost 60 years ago, it still exerts great influence. We propose that the affirmative approach toward “madness” in the novel can enlighten our understanding of alternative perceptions of mental illness. The novel is analyzed with quantifying and narrative methods focusing on the concept of madness, which is a prominent theme in the novel. Stigma and glorification of madness can be found throughout the text. The positive sides and the pitfalls of an overly positive attitude toward mental illness and minority group members are discussed, including benevolent discrimination, recovery, and positive psychiatry.
The Psychobiology of Authentic and Simulated Dissociative Personality States
Authors: Reinders Antje A.T.S. , Willemsen Antoon T.M. , Vissia Eline M. , Vos Herry P.J. , den Boer Johan A. , Nijenhuis Ellert R.S.
Published: April 2016

The etiology of dissociative identity disorder (DID) remains a topic of debate. Proponents of the fantasy model and the trauma model of DID have both called for more empirical research. To this end, the current study presents new and extended data analyses of a previously published H2
15O positron emission tomography imaging study. This study included 29 subjects: 11 patients with DID and 10 high- and 8 low-fantasy-prone DID-simulating mentally healthy control subjects. All subjects underwent an autobiographical memory script–driven (neutral and trauma related) imagery paradigm in 2 (simulated) dissociative personality states (neutral and trauma related). Psychobiological and psychophysiological data were obtained. Results of the new post-hoc tests on the psychophysiological responses support the trauma model. New results of the brain imaging data did not support the fantasy model. This study extends previously published results by offering important new supporting data for the trauma model of DID.
An Examination of Incentive Strategies to Increase Participation in Outcomes Research for an Adolescent Inpatient Unit
Authors: HA CAROLYN , MADAN ALOK , LONG TESSA A. , SHARP CARLA
Published: April 2016

Tracking adolescent outcomes after inpatient hospitalization is important in informing clinical care for this age group, as inpatient care is one of the most expensive treatment modalities. This study examined 4 incentive strategies used to maintain adolescent participation in follow-up research (at 6, 12, and 18 mo) after their discharge from the hospital (N=267). A generalized estimation equation approach was taken to investigate whether different incentive strategies predicted adolescent completion of the follow-up assessments at each time point. Findings demonstrate that implementation of social worker contact significantly differed from other incentive strategies in increasing adolescent completion of follow-up assessments (Z=2.51, P=0.012) over the 3 time points, even when controlling for age and sex. Although these findings ultimately need to be confirmed through a randomized controlled study of incentive strategies, they provide preliminary support for the notion that relational incentives, such as maintaining contact with a member of the clinical team at the hospital, may be particularly important in promoting adolescent participation in outcomes research.
The Use of Fluoxetine in a Patient With Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy
Authors: CONRAD SUKI K. , CATALANO MARIA C. , CATALANO GLENN
Published: April 2016

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an acute coronary syndrome that is believed to be brought on by stress. Symptoms, which are similar to an acute myocardial infarction, include chest pain, shortness of breath, arrhythmias, and cardiogenic shock, and the electrocardiogram often shows ST and T wave changes. Left ventricular wall hypokinesis along with a significantly reduced ejection fraction are seen on echocardiogram. The great majority of these symptoms all occur in the absence of occlusive disease. Many cases have been reported in which the development of takotsubo cardiomyopathy was associated with serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and tricyclic antidepressants. However, no cases of takotsubo cardiomyopathy have been reported involving selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. This article presents the case of a 51-year-old woman receiving stable therapy with fluoxetine who developed takotsubo cardiomyopathy after an acute stress. We also discuss the clinical presentation of takotsubo cardiomyopathy, review possible causes, and discuss the treatment of depressive symptoms in patients who are at increased risk of developing this illness.
Efficacy of Baduanjin Exercise and Feasibility of Mobile Text Reminders on Follow-up Participation in People With Severe Mental Illness: An Exploratory Study
Authors: CHEN MING-DE , YEH YA-CHIN , TSAI YI-JUNG , CHANG YEN-CHING , YU JUNE-WEI , HSU CHING-HUI
Published: April 2016

Background:

People with severe mental illness (SMI) frequently have poor physical health, which can in part be related to a low level of physical activity. The goal of this exploratory study was to examine the efficacy of a group participating in Baduanjin (a type of traditional Chinese exercise) on the health of individuals with SMI and the feasibility/acceptability of using short message service (SMS) reminder strategies to prompt continued exercise during a follow-up period.

Method:

Participants (N=11) participated in a Baduanjin group session for 8 weeks and then maintained home-based Baduanjin with SMS reminders for another 8 weeks. Physical and psychological tests were administered to participants.

Results:

Significant improvements were found in balance and processing speed and in some domains of the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) after the Baduanjin program. Participants were able to maintain engagement in 80% of the expected practice time during the follow-up period. The acceptability of strategies to support home-based exercise, including SMS reminders, was high.

Conclusions:

This preliminary study suggested the efficacy of Baduanjin and the feasibility of SMS reminders in maintaining follow-up participation in people with SMI. Future studies using a larger sample size and a control group are needed to confirm the findings.
Psychotherapy and its Role in Psychiatric Practice: A Position Paper. I. Psychiatry as a Psychobiological Discipline
Authors: SHAPIRO YAKOV , JOHN NICHOLAS , SCOTT ROWAN , TOMY NADIA
Published: April 2016

Economic, political, and ideological landscapes have impacted the practice of psychiatry throughout its evolution as a medical discipline. Despite enormous scientific advances over the course of the past century, many psychiatrists continue to operate with a split Cartesian picture of mind versus brain and entrenched ideological positions ranging from biological “chemical imbalance” to rigidly followed manualized psychotherapy approaches, both of which frequently result in fractured clinical care. With the impact of systemic economic and political pressures in Canada and the United States, the attention to the doctor-patient relationship has taken a back seat to high-volume practices, computerized assessment tools, and the focus on evidence-based treatments for behaviorally defined syndromes in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders that often come at the expense of the patient’s experience of his or her illness. We spend much time teaching the next generation of psychiatrists what to prescribe versus how to prescribe; what manualized treatments to administer versus questioning why our patients engage in dysfunctional patterns of thinking, feeling, and relating to others, and what impact these patterns may have on their interaction with us in the here-and-now of the treatment setting. In this paper, we propose an integrative psychobiological model, in which biological interventions carry personal meanings, and relational transactions in the treatment setting are a form of learning that results in lasting physiological changes in the brain. Psychiatry needs to reconnect with its roots as a science of attachment and meaning, in which attention to the objective, subjective, and relational domains of the patient-provider experience is equally foundational for any successful treatment outcome.
Job Satisfaction and Professional Characteristics of Registered Dietitians
Authors: Abad-Jorge Ana , Butcher Michael F.
Published: April 2016

This study investigated the relationship between a graduate versus a bachelor's degree during entry-level practice within the profession and for other job factors. The guiding research question was whether there was a difference in job satisfaction as measured by the Job Satisfaction Score instrument, in professional involvement as measured by the Professional Involvement Marker score, and in compensation between registered dietitian/nutritionists with a graduate degree versus a bachelor's degree during entry-level practice. Using a survey design comparing entry-level registered dietitian/nutritionists, data were collected via e-mail from both bachelor's and graduate trained registered dietitian/nutritionists (n = 96). The results indicated that entry-level registered dietitians with a master's degree had significantly higher job satisfaction and professional involvement (P < .05). In addition, a larger proportion of dietitians with master's degrees earned within the “greater than $50 000” annual income categories than dietitians with a bachelor's degree (P < .05). Raising the minimal entry-level educational requirements may promote greater career satisfaction, professional involvement, and compensation among dietitians.
Pollinator shifts drive petal epidermal evolution on the Macaronesian Islands bird-flowered species
Authors: Ojeda Dario I. , Valido Alfredo , Fernández de Castro Alejandro G. , Ortega-Olivencia Ana , Fuertes-Aguilar Javier , Carvalho José A. , Santos-Guerra Arnoldo
Published: April 2016

Pollinator shifts are considered to drive floral trait evolution, yet little is still known about the modifications of petal epidermal surface at a biogeographic region scale. Here we investigated how independent shifts from insects to passerine birds in the Macaronesian Islands consistently modified this floral trait (i.e. absence of papillate cells). Using current phylogenies and extensive evidence from field observations, we selected a total of 81 plant species and subspecies for petal microscopy and comparative analysis, including 19 of the 23 insular species pollinated by opportunistic passerine birds (Macaronesian bird-flowered element). Species relying on passerine birds as the most effective pollinators (bird-pollinated) independently evolved at least five times and in all instances associated with a loss of papillate cells, whereas species with a mixed pollination system (birds plus insects and/or other vertebrates) evolved at least five times in Macaronesia and papillate cells were lost in only 25% of these transitions. Our findings suggest that petal micromorphology is a labile trait during pollinator shifts and that papillate cells tend to be absent on those species where pollinators have limited mechanical interaction with flowers, including opportunistic passerine birds that forage by hovering or from the ground.
ParA and ParB coordinate chromosome segregation with cell elongation and division during
Streptomyces
sporulation
Authors: Donczew Magdalena , Mackiewicz Paweł , Wróbel Agnieszka , Flärdh Klas , Zakrzewska-Czerwińska Jolanta , Jakimowicz Dagmara
Published: April 2016

In unicellular bacteria, the ParA and ParB proteins segregate chromosomes and coordinate this process with cell division and chromosome replication. During sporulation of mycelial
Streptomyces
, ParA and ParB uniformly distribute multiple chromosomes along the filamentous sporogenic hyphal compartment, which then differentiates into a chain of unigenomic spores. However, chromosome segregation must be coordinated with cell elongation and multiple divisions. Here, we addressed the question of whether ParA and ParB are involved in the synchronization of cell-cycle processes during sporulation in
Streptomyces
. To answer this question, we used time-lapse microscopy, which allows the monitoring of growth and division of single sporogenic hyphae. We showed that sporogenic hyphae stop extending at the time of ParA accumulation and Z-ring formation. We demonstrated that both ParA and ParB affect the rate of hyphal extension. Additionally, we showed that ParA promotes the formation of massive nucleoprotein complexes by ParB. We also showed that FtsZ ring assembly is affected by the ParB protein and/or unsegregated DNA. Our results indicate the existence of a checkpoint between the extension and septation of sporogenic hyphae that involves the ParA and ParB proteins.
Quantifying the link between art and property prices in urban neighbourhoods
Authors: Seresinhe Chanuki Illushka , Preis Tobias , Moat Helen Susannah
Published: April 2016

Is there an association between art and changes in the economic conditions of urban neighbourhoods? While the popular media and policymakers commonly believe this to be the case, quantitative evidence remains lacking. Here, we use metadata of geotagged photographs uploaded to the popular image-sharing platform
Flickr
to quantify the presence of art in London neighbourhoods. We estimate the presence of art in neighbourhoods by determining the proportion of
Flickr
photographs which have the word ‘art’ attached. We compare this with the relative gain in residential property prices for each Inner London neighbourhood. We find that neighbourhoods which have a higher proportion of ‘art’ photographs also have greater relative gains in property prices. Our findings demonstrate how online data can be used to quantify aspects of the visual environment at scale and reveal new connections between the visual environment and crucial socio-economic measurements.
Evidence for
r
- and
K
-selection in a wild bird population: a reciprocal link between ecology and evolution
Authors: Sæther Bernt-Erik , Visser Marcel E. , Grøtan Vidar , Engen Steinar
Published: April 2016

Understanding the variation in selection pressure on key life-history traits is crucial in our rapidly changing world. Density is rarely considered as a selective agent. To study its importance, we partition phenotypic selection in fluctuating environments into components representing the population growth rate at low densities and the strength of density dependence, using a new stochastic modelling framework. We analysed the number of eggs laid per season in a small song-bird, the great tit, and found balancing selection favouring large clutch sizes at small population densities and smaller clutches in years with large populations. A significant interaction between clutch size and population size in the regression for the Malthusian fitness reveals that those females producing large clutch sizes at small population sizes also are those that show the strongest reduction in fitness when population size is increased. This provides empirical support for ongoing
r
- and
K
-selection in this population, favouring phenotypes with large growth rates
r
at small population sizes and phenotypes with high competitive skills when populations are close to the carrying capacity
K
. This selection causes long-term fluctuations around a stable mean clutch size caused by variation in population size, implying that
r
- and
K
-selection is an important mechanism influencing phenotypic evolution in fluctuating environments. This provides a general link between ecological dynamics and evolutionary processes, operating through a joint influence of density dependence and environmental stochasticity on fluctuations in population size.
Intoxicated copepods: ingesting toxic phytoplankton leads to risky behaviour
Authors: Lasley-Rasher Rachel S. , Nagel Kathryn , Angra Aakanksha , Yen Jeannette
Published: April 2016

Understanding interactions between harmful algal bloom (HAB) species and their grazers is essential for determining mechanisms of bloom proliferation and termination. We exposed the common calanoid copepod,Temora longicornisto the HAB speciesAlexandrium fundyenseand examined effects on copepod survival, ingestion, egg production and swimming behaviour.A. fundyensewas readily ingested byT. longicornisand significantly altered copepod swimming behaviour without affecting copepod survival or fitness.A. fundyensecausedT. longicornisto increase their swimming speed, and the straightness of their path long after the copepods had been removed from theA. fundyensetreatment. Models suggest that these changes could lead to a 25–56% increase in encounter frequency between copepods and their predators. This work highlights the need to determine how ingesting HAB species alters grazer behaviour as this can have significant impacts on the fate of HAB toxins in marine systems.
Habituation in non-neural organisms: evidence from slime moulds
Authors: Boisseau Romain P. , Vogel David , Dussutour Audrey
Published: April 2016

Learning, defined as a change in behaviour evoked by experience, has hitherto been investigated almost exclusively in multicellular neural organisms. Evidence for learning in non-neural multicellular organisms is scant, and only a few unequivocal reports of learning have been described in single-celled organisms. Here we demonstrate habituation, an unmistakable form of learning, in the non-neural organism
Physarum polycephalum
. In our experiment, using chemotaxis as the behavioural output and quinine or caffeine as the stimulus, we showed that
P. polycephalum
learnt to ignore quinine or caffeine when the stimuli were repeated, but responded again when the stimulus was withheld for a certain time. Our results meet the principle criteria that have been used to demonstrate habituation: responsiveness decline and spontaneous recovery. To distinguish habituation from sensory adaptation or motor fatigue, we also show stimulus specificity. Our results point to the diversity of organisms lacking neurons, which likely display a hitherto unrecognized capacity for learning, and suggest that slime moulds may be an ideal model system in which to investigate fundamental mechanisms underlying learning processes. Besides, documenting learning in non-neural organisms such as slime moulds is centrally important to a comprehensive, phylogenetic understanding of when and where in the tree of life the earliest manifestations of learning evolved.
Metabolomics of reef benthic interactions reveals a bioactive lipid involved in coral defence
Authors: Quinn Robert A. , Vermeij Mark J. A. , Hartmann Aaron C. , Galtier d'Auriac Ines , Benler Sean , Haas Andreas , Quistad Steven D. , Lim Yan Wei , Little Mark , Sandin Stuart , Smith Jennifer E. , Dorrestein Pieter C. , Rohwer Forest
Published: April 2016

Holobionts are assemblages of microbial symbionts and their macrobial host. As extant representatives of some of the oldest macro-organisms, corals and algae are important for understanding how holobionts develop and interact with one another. Using untargeted metabolomics, we show that non-self interactions altered the coral metabolome more than self-interactions (i.e. different or same genus, respectively). Platelet activating factor (PAF) and Lyso-PAF, central inflammatory modulators in mammals, were major lipid components of the coral holobionts. When corals were damaged during competitive interactions with algae, PAF increased along with expression of the gene encoding Lyso-PAF acetyltransferase; the protein responsible for converting Lyso-PAF to PAF. This shows that self and non-self recognition among some of the oldest extant holobionts involve bioactive lipids identical to those in highly derived taxa like humans. This further strengthens the hypothesis that major players of the immune response evolved during the pre-Cambrian.
The evolution of the competition–dispersal trade-off affects α- and β-diversity in a heterogeneous metacommunity
Authors: Laroche Fabien , Jarne Philippe , Perrot Thomas , Massol Francois
Published: April 2016

Difference in dispersal ability is a key driver of species coexistence in metacommunities. However, the available frameworks for interpreting species diversity patternsin naturaoften overlook trade-offs and evolutionary constraints associated with dispersal. Here, we build a metacommunity model accounting for dispersal evolution and a competition–dispersal trade-off. Depending on the distribution of carrying capacities among communities, species dispersal values are distributed either around a single strategy (evolutionarily stable strategy, ESS), or around distinct strategies (evolutionary branching, EB). We show that limited dispersal generates spatial aggregation of dispersal traits in ESS and EB scenarios, and that the competition–dispersal trade-off strengthens the pattern in the EB scenario. Importantly, individuals in larger (respectively (resp.) smaller) communities tend to harbour lower (resp. higher) dispersal, especially under the EB scenario. We explore how dispersal evolution affects species diversity patterns by comparing those from our model to the predictions of a neutral metacommunity model. The most marked difference is detected under EB, with distinctive values of both α- and β-diversity (e.g. the dissimilarity in species composition between small and large communities was significantly larger than neutral predictions). We conclude that, from an empirical perspective, jointly assessing community carrying capacity with species dispersal strategies should improve our understanding of diversity patterns in metacommunities.
Biodiversity response to natural gradients of multiple stressors on continental margins
Authors: Sperling Erik A. , Frieder Christina A. , Levin Lisa A.
Published: April 2016

Sharp increases in atmospheric CO
2
are resulting in ocean warming, acidification and deoxygenation that threaten marine organisms on continental margins and their ecological functions and resulting ecosystem services. The relative influence of these stressors on biodiversity remains unclear, as well as the threshold levels for change and when secondary stressors become important. One strategy to interpret adaptation potential and predict future faunal change is to examine ecological shifts along natural gradients in the modern ocean. Here, we assess the explanatory power of temperature, oxygen and the carbonate system for macrofaunal diversity and evenness along continental upwelling margins using variance partitioning techniques. Oxygen levels have the strongest explanatory capacity for variation in species diversity. Sharp drops in diversity are seen as O
2
levels decline through the 0.5–0.15 ml l
−1
(approx. 22–6 µM; approx. 21–5 matm) range, and as temperature increases through the 7–10°C range.
p
CO
2
is the best explanatory variable in the Arabian Sea, but explains little of the variance in diversity in the eastern Pacific Ocean. By contrast, very little variation in evenness is explained by these three global change variables. The identification of sharp thresholds in ecological response are used here to predict areas of the seafloor where diversity is most at risk to future marine global change, noting that the existence of clear regional differences cautions against applying global thresholds.
The fitness burden imposed by synthesising quorum sensing signals
Authors: Ruparell A. , Dubern JF. , Ortori CA. , Harrison F. , Halliday NM. , Emtage A. , Ashawesh M. , Laughton CA. , Diggle SP. , Williams P. , Barrett DA. , Hardie KR.
Published: April 2016

It is now well established that bacterial populations utilize cell-to-cell signaling (quorum-sensing, QS) to control the production of public goods and other co-operative behaviours. Evolutionary theory predicts that both the cost of signal production and the response to signals should incur fitness costs for producing cells. Although costs imposed by the downstream consequences of QS have been shown, it has not been demonstrated that the production of QS signal molecules (QSSMs) results in a decrease in fitness. We measured the fitness cost to cells of synthesising QSSMs by quantifying metabolite levels in the presence of QSSM synthases. We found that: (i) bacteria making QSSMs have a growth defect that exerts an evolutionary cost, (ii) production of QSSMs correlates with reduced intracellular concentrations of QSSM precursors, (iii) the production of heterologous QSSMs negatively impacts the production of a native QSSM that shares common substrates, and (iv) supplementation with exogenously added metabolites partially rescued growth defects imposed by QSSM synthesis. These data provide the first direct experimental evidence that the production of QS signals carries fitness costs to producer cells.

Originality-Significance Statement

Bacterial cells within populations communicate with each other to control social behaviors by producing diffusible quorum sensing (QS) signal molecules. Evolutionary theory predicts that both the cost of signal production and the response to signals should incur fitness costs for producing cells. Here we provide the first empirical evidence that the production of QS signals incurs fitness costs to producing cells. Since QS plays a major role in bacterial pathogenicity, this finding will underpin novel antimicrobial strategies that are urgently needed to replace currently available antimicrobials that are becoming obsolete through the ever-rising incidence of resistance.
A data acquisition and analysis pipeline for scanning angle interference microscopy
Authors: Carbone Catherine B. , Vale Ronald D. , Stuurman Nico
Published: April 2016

We describe open source software and hardware tools for calibrating, acquiring, and analyzing images forscanningangleinterferencemicroscopy (SAIM) analysis. These tools make it possible for any user with a TIRF microscope equipped with a motorized illumination unit to generate reconstructed images with nanometer precision in the axial (z) direction and diffraction-limited resolution in the lateral (xy) plane.
Particle motion around open mixing screws: optimal screw angular velocity
Authors: Keppler Istvan , Varga Attila , Szabo Istvan , Katai Laszlo , Fenyvesi Laszlo
Published: April 2016

Purpose

The analysis of the effect of screw angular velocity on the mixing efficiency of open mixing screws.

Design/methodology/approach

Measurements and discrete element method based simulations.

Findings

There is an optimal screw rotation angular velocity above which there is no reason to operate the mixing apparatus, as the mixing efficiency does not increase with the increase of screw angular velocity.

Research limitations/implications

By using discrete element method based optimization of open mixing screw apparatus, the effective mixing of agricultural grains can be achieved. The quality degradation of the dried product can be reduced.

Practical implications

The causeless increase of screw angular velocity results higher power consumption and quality degradation because of the increasing value of contact forces arising between the mixed particles.

Originality/value

Our article shows that by using discrete element based simulations, the optimal working parameters of open mixing screws can be evaluated.
Monitoring operating room turnaround time: a retrospective analysis
Authors: Scagliarini Michele , Apreda Mariarosaria , Wienand Ulrich , Valpiani Giorgia
Published: April 2016

Purpose

Operating room turnaround time is a key process indicator for hospital business management: delays lead to a reduced surgical interventions per day with a consequent increase in costs and decrease in efficiency. This study aims to increase understanding by assessing the process’ steady-state behaviour and identifying changes that indicate either improvement or deterioration in quality.

Design/methodology/approach

With this purpose, we retrospectively applied Shewhart control charts and exponentially weighted moving average control charts to data extracted from an hospital information system.

Findings

The results showed that statistical process control is able to identify steady-state behaviour process and to detect positive or negative changes in process performance. In particular we detected a deterioration in the process performance coinciding with the change in the operanting room patient transfer staff.

Practical implications

This study showed that statistical quality control is a valuable tool for monitoring performance indicators. Currently, hospital managers are designing an operating room dashboard which also includes the control charts.

Originality/value

The article highlights the control chart application to organizational indicators allowing an objective operating room system performance assessment