bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Utilizing an Evidence-Based Alcohol Screening Tool for Identification of Alcohol Misuse
Authors: Miller Laura B. , Brennan-Cook Jill , Turner Barbara , Husband-Ardoin Madeline , Hayes Chris S.
Published: June 2018

Background:

Alcohol misuse is prevalent among college students and negatively affects their health, relationships, and academics. Alcohol misuse screening for this age group is advised but often overlooked.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to implement an evidence-based alcohol screening tool, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption, at a southern university health clinic.

Methods:

This quality improvement project used a preintervention/postintervention, mixed-methods design. A survey containing the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-Consumption screening tool is used to identify students with alcohol misuse who are then offered education and follow-up. Students who were found to misuse alcohol were retested 1 month later. Qualitative comments were also gathered about the success of the project.

Results:

Alcohol misuse at this location is high and usually missed during the student health encounter. Screening and identification of alcohol misuse were increased. The follow-up survey showed a reduced number of students misusing alcohol.

Conclusion:

Alcohol screening and treatment in a university health setting may result in decreased alcohol-related problems. The potential to improve student outcomes at other colleges and universities should be considered.
Stimulant Use Among Undergraduate Nursing Students
Authors: Kirkpatrick Zachary A. , Boyd Carol J.
Published: June 2018

Research reveals a decade-long increase in prescription drug misuse (PDM) of stimulant medication used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and college students in particular are at the highest risk for these behaviors. However, PDM has not been specifically studied in undergraduate nursing students, and thus, this study fills a gap in our knowledge of PDM of stimulants. This descriptive study used a cross-sectional, convenience sample of undergraduate nursing students (N = 249) attending a large midwestern university. The purpose of this study was to examine the medical use, medical misuse, nonmedical use, and diversion of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder stimulant medications as well as to compare CRAFFT scores among these four groups of stimulant users. A 28-item, Web-based survey was sent via email to all registered undergraduate nursing students during the winter semester of 2017. Results showed that 10.4% of respondents used prescription stimulants nonmedically in the past 12 months, and over half (51.5%) of respondents screened positive on the CRAFFT, an indication of possible alcohol and drug misuse behaviors. In addition, there was a strong association between medical misuse and nonmedical use and positive CRAFFT scores. The high percentage of positive CRAFFT scores is a concern and indicates a pressing need for nursing faculty to evaluate and address substance use by nursing students.
Insect societies fight back: the evolution of defensive traits against social parasites
Authors: Grüter Christoph , Jongepier Evelien , Foitzik Susanne
Published: June 2018

Insect societies face many social parasites that exploit their altruistic behaviours or their resources. Due to the fitness costs these social parasites incur, hosts have evolved various behavioural, chemical, architectural and morphological defence traits. Similar to bacteria infecting multicellular hosts, social parasites have to successfully go through several steps to exploit their hosts. Here, we review how social insects try to interrupt this sequence of events. They can avoid parasite contact by choosing to nest in parasite-free locales or evade attacks by adapting their colony structure. Once social parasites attack, hosts attempt to detect them, which can be facilitated by adjustments in colony odour. If social parasites enter the nest, hosts can either aggressively defend their colony or take their young and flee. Nest structures are often shaped to prevent social parasite invasion or to safeguard host resources. Finally, if social parasites successfully establish themselves in host nests, hosts can rebel by killing the parasite brood or by reproducing in the parasites' presence. Hosts of social parasites can therefore develop multiple traits, leading to the evolution of complex defence portfolios of co-dependent traits. Social parasites can respond to these multi-level defences with counter-adaptations, potentially leading to geographical mosaics of coevolution.

This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Evolution of pathogen and parasite avoidance behaviours’.
Parasite avoidance behaviours in aquatic environments
Authors: Behringer Donald C. , Karvonen Anssi , Bojko Jamie
Published: June 2018

Parasites, including macroparasites, protists, fungi, bacteria and viruses, can impose a heavy burden upon host animals. However, hosts are not without defences. One aspect of host defence, behavioural avoidance, has been studied in the terrestrial realm for over 50 years, but was first reported from the aquatic environment approximately 20 years ago. Evidence has mounted on the importance of parasite avoidance behaviours and it is increasingly apparent that there are core similarities in the function and benefit of this defence mechanism between terrestrial and aquatic systems. However, there are also stark differences driven by the unique biotic and abiotic characteristics of terrestrial and aquatic (marine and freshwater) environments. Here, we review avoidance behaviours in a comparative framework and highlight the characteristics of each environment that drive differences in the suite of mechanisms and cues that animals use to avoid parasites. We then explore trade-offs, potential negative effects of avoidance behaviour and the influence of human activities on avoidance behaviours. We conclude that avoidance behaviours are understudied in aquatic environments but can have significant implications for disease ecology and epidemiology, especially considering the accelerating emergence and re-emergence of parasites.

This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue ‘Evolution of pathogen and parasite avoidance behaviours'.
Detection of toxigenic Clostridium difficile colonization in patients admitted to the hospital for chemotherapy or haematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Vaughn John L. , Balada-Llasat Joan-Miquel , Lamprecht Misty , Huang Ying , Anghelina Mirela , El Boghdadly Zeinab , Bishop-Hill Karen , Childs Rachel , Pancholi Preeti , Andritsos Leslie A.
Published: June 2018

Increasing evidence suggests that asymptomatic carriers are an important source of healthcare-associated Clostridium difficile infection. However, it is not known which test for the detection of C. difficile colonization is most sensitive in patients with haematological malignancies. We performed a prospective cohort study of 101 patients with haematological malignancies who had been admitted to the hospital for scheduled chemotherapy or haematopoietic cell transplantation. Each patient provided a formed stool sample. We compared the performance of five different commercially available assays, using toxigenic culture as the reference method. The prevalence of toxigenic C. difficile colonization as determined by toxigenic culture was 14/101 (14 %). The Cepheid Xpert PCR C. difficile/Epi was the most sensitive test for the detection of toxigenic C. difficile colonization, with 93 % sensitivity and 99 % negative predictive value. Our findings suggest that the Xpert PCR C. difficile/Epi could be used to rule out toxigenic C. difficile colonization in this population.
Tripal Developer Toolkit
Authors: Condon Bradford , Almsaeed Abdullah , Chen Ming , West Joe , Staton Margaret
Published: June 2018

Tripal is an open-source biological community database construction toolkit utilizing the content management system Drupal. Tripal is used to make biological, genetic and genomic data more discoverable, shareable, searchable, and standardized. As funding for community level genomics databases declines, Tripal’s open source codebase provides a means for sites to be built and maintained with a minimal investment in staff and new development. Tripal is ultimately as strong as the community of sites and developers that use it. We present a set of developer tools that will make building and maintaining Tripal 3 sites easier for new and returning users. These tools break down barriers to entry such as setting up developer and testing environments, acquiring and loading test datasets, working with controlled vocabulary terms, and writing new Drupal classes.
Identification and quantification of Lyme pathogen strains by deep sequencing of outer surface protein C (ospC) amplicons
Authors: Di Lia , Wan Zhenmao , Akther Saymon , Ying Chunxiao , Larracuente Amanda , Li Li , Di Chong , Nunez Roy , Cucura D. Moses , Goddard Noel L. , Krampis Konstantino , Qiu Wei-gang
Published: June 2018

Mixed infection of a single tick or host by Lyme disease spirochetes is common and a unique challenge for diagnosis, treatment, and surveillance of Lyme disease. Here we describe a novel protocol for differentiating Lyme strains based on deep sequencing of the hypervariable outer-surface protein C locus (ospC). Improving upon the traditional DNA-DNA hybridization method, the next-generation sequencing-based protocol is high-throughput, quantitative, and able to detect new pathogen strains. We applied the method to over one hundred infectedIxodes scapularisticks collected from New York State, USA in 2015 and 2016. Analysis of strain distributions within individual ticks suggests an overabundance of multiple infections by five or more strains, inhibitory interactions among co-infecting strains, and presence of a new strain closely related toBorreliella bissettiae. A supporting bioinformatics pipeline has been developed. With the newly designed pair of universalospCprimers targeting intergenic sequences conserved among all known Lyme pathogens, the protocol could be used for culture-free identification and quantification of Lyme pathogens in wildlife and clinical specimens across the globe.
The Evolution of Bequeathal in Stable Habitats
Authors: Clarke Parry M.R. , Mcelreath Mary Brooke , Barrett Brendan J. , Mabry Karen E. , Mcelreath Richard
Published: June 2018

Adults sometimes disperse while philopatric offspring inherit the natal site, a pattern known asbequeathal. Despite a decades-old empirical literature, little theoretical work has explored when natural selection may favor bequeathal. We present a simple mathematical model of the evolution of bequeathal in a stable environment, under both global and local dispersal. We find that natural selection favors bequeathal when adults are competitively advantaged over juveniles, baseline mortality is high, the environment is unsaturated, and when juveniles experience high dispersal mortality. However, frequently bequeathal may not evolve, because the fitness cost for the adult is too large relative to inclusive fitness benefits. Additionally, there are many situations for which bequeathal is an ESS, yet cannot invade the population. As bequeathal in real populations appears to be facultative, yet-to-be-modeled factors like timing of birth in the breeding season may strongly influence the patterns seen in natural populations.
Diagnostic algorithms to study post-concussion syndrome using electronic health records: validating a method to capture an important patient population
Authors: Dennis Jessica , Yengo-Kahn Aaron M. , Kirby Paul , Solomon Gary S. , Cox Nancy J. , Zuckerman Scott L.
Published: June 2018

Introduction

Post-concussion syndrome (PCS) is characterized by persistent cognitive, somatic, and emotional symptoms after a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Genetic and other biological variables may contribute to PCS etiology, and the emergence of biobanks linked to electronic health records (EHR) offers new opportunities for research on PCS. We sought to validate the use of EHR data of PCS patients by comparing two diagnostic algorithms.

Methods

Vanderbilt University Medical Center curates a de-identified database of 2.8 million patient EHR. We developed two EHR-based algorithmic approaches that identified individuals with PCS by: (i) natural language processing (NLP) of narrative text in the EHR combined with structured demographic, diagnostic, and encounter data; or (ii) coded billing and procedure data. The predictive value of each algorithm was assessed, and cases and controls identified by each approach were compared on demographic and medical characteristics.

Results

First, the NLP algorithm identified 507 cases and 10,857 controls. The positive predictive value (PPV) in the cases was 82% and the negative predictive value in the controls was 78%. Second, the coded algorithm identified 1,142 patients with two or more PCS billing codes and had a PPV of 76%. Comparisons of PCS controls to both case groups recovered known epidemiology of PCS: cases were more likely than controls to be female and to have pre-morbid diagnoses of anxiety, migraine, and PTSD. In contrast, controls and cases were equally likely to have ADHD and learning disabilities, in accordance with the findings of recent systematic reviews of PCS risk factors.

Conclusions

EHR are a valuable research tool for PCS. Ascertainment based on coded data alone had a predictive value comparable to an NLP algorithm, recovered known PCS risk factors, and maximized the number of included patients.
Enterobacter cloacae complex ST-171 Isolates Expressing KPC-4 Carbapenemase Recovered from Canine Patients in Ohio, USA
Authors: Daniels Joshua B. , Chen Liang , Grooters Susan V. , Mollenkopf Dixie F. , Mathys Dimitria A. , Kreiswirth Barry N. , Wittum Thomas E.
Published: June 2018

Carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) have emerged as a critical public health threat. Organisms expressing the Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) were first recognized in the US in the late 1990s and continue to be the predominant CRE genotype reported in clinical isolates. Strains harboring blaKPC alleles have been observed in multiple species of Enterobacteriaceae, including the Enterobacter cloacae complex. A major E. cloacae clone, Enterobacter xiangfangensis ST171, has emerged as an important cause of hospital associated infections (HAI) and has been shown to carry different alleles of KPC in the context of Tn4401, residing on plasmids of multiple incompatibility groups. While CRE are commonly isolated from infected humans, their recovery from animals has been rare, particularly from companion animals. In the US, only six CRE have been reported from companion animals, and one from livestock, none of which were blaKPC. This report describes two E. xiangfangensis sequence type ST171 isolates each with a large IncHI2 plasmid bearing blaKPC-4 recovered from dogs with infections at the Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center. Our phylogenetic comparison of these canine isolates with available sequences from clinical human isolates of KPC-4 identified in ST171 suggest an epidemiologically significant clonal strain.
Discovery of glycerol phosphate modification on streptococcal rhamnose polysaccharides
Authors: Edgar Rebecca J. , Hensbergen Vincent P. van , Ruda Alessandro , Turner Andrew G. , Deng Pan , Breton Yoann Le , El-Sayed Najib M. , Belew Ashton T. , McIver Kevin S. , McEwan Alastair G. , Morris Andrew J. , Lambeau Gérard , Walker Mark J. , Rush Jeffrey S. , Korotkov Konstantin V. , Widmalm Göran , Sorge Nina M. van , Korotkova Natalia
Published: June 2018

Cell wall glycopolymers on the surface of Gram-positive bacteria are fundamental to bacterial physiology and infection biology. These structures have also gained interest as vaccine antigens, in particular for the human pathogens Group AStreptococcus(GAS) andStreptococcus mutans. Streptococcal cell wall glycopolymers are considered to be functional homologues of wall teichoic acids but surprisingly lack the biologically-relevant and characteristic anionic charge. Here we identifygacH, a gene of unknown function in the GAS Group A Carbohydrate (GAC) biosynthetic cluster, in two independent transposon library screens for its ability to confer resistance to zinc and susceptibility to the bactericidal enzyme human group IIA secreted phospholipase A2. To understand the underlying mechanism of these phenotypes, we determined the structure of the extracellular domain of GacH and discover that it represents a new family of glycerol phosphate (GroP) transferases. Importantly, we demonstrate the presence of GroP in both the GAC and the homologous SerotypecCarbohydrate (SCC) fromS. mutans,which is conferred bygacHandsccHproducts, respectively. NMR analysis of GAC released from cell wall by non-destructive methods reveals that approximately 30% of the GAC GlcNAc side-chains are modified by GroP at the C6 hydroxyl group. This previously unrecognized structural modification impacts host-pathogen interaction and has implications for vaccine design.

Graphical abstract
Genetic determinants of penicillin tolerance inVibrio cholerae
Authors: Weaver Anna I. , Murphy Shannon G. , Umans Benjamin , Tallavajhala Srikar , Onyekwere Ikenna , Wittels Stephen , Shin Jung-Ho , VanNieuwenhze Michael , Waldor Matthew K. , Dörr Tobias
Published: June 2018

Many bacteria are resistant to killing (“tolerant”) by typically bactericidal antibiotics due to their ability to counteract drug-induced cell damage.Vibrio cholerae, the cholera agent, displays an unusually high tolerance to diverse inhibitors of cell wall synthesis. Exposure to these agents, which in other bacteria leads to lysis and death, results in a breakdown of the cell wall and subsequent sphere formation inV. cholerae. Spheres readily recover to rod-shaped cells upon antibiotic removal, but the mechanisms mediating the recovery process are not well-characterized. Here, we found that the mechanisms of recovery are dependent on environmental conditions. Interestingly, on agarose pads, spheres undergo characteristic stages during the restoration of rod shape. Drug inhibition and microscopy experiments suggest that class A Penicillin Binding Proteins (aPBPs) play a more active role than the Rod system, especially early in sphere recovery. TnSeq analyses revealed that LPS and cell wall biogenesis genes as well as the sigma E cell envelope stress response were particularly critical for recovery. LPS core and O-antigen appear to be more critical for sphere formation/integrity and viability than Lipid A modifications. Overall, our findings demonstrate that the outer membrane is a key contributor to beta lactam tolerance and suggest a role for aPBPs in cell wall biogenesis in the absence of rod-shape cues. Factors required for post-antibiotic recovery could serve as targets for antibiotic adjuvants that enhance the efficacy of antibiotics that inhibit cell wall biogenesis.
Crystal structure of the MBD domain of MBD3 in complex with methylated CG DNA
Authors: Liu Ke , Lei Ming , Gan Bing , Cheng Harry , Li Yanjun , Min Jinrong
Published: June 2018

MBD3 is a core subunit of the Mi-2/NuRD complex, and has been previously reported to lack methyl-CpG binding ability. However, recent reports show that MBD3 recognizes both mCG and hmCG DNA with a preference for hmCG, and is required for the normal expression of hmCG marked genes in ES cells. Nevertheless, it is not clear how MBD3 recognizes the methylated DNA. In this study, we carried out structural analysis coupled with isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) binding assay and mutagenesis studies to address the structural basis for the mCG DNA binding ability of the MBD3 MBD domain. We found that the MBD3 MBD domain prefers binding mCG over hmCG through the conserved arginine fingers, and this MBD domain as well as other mCG binding MBD domains can recognize the mCG duplex without orientation selectivity. Furthermore, we found that the tyrosine-to-phenylalanine substitution at Phe34 of MBD3 is responsible for its weaker mCG DNA binding ability compared to other mCG binding MBD domains. In summary, our study demonstrates that the MBD3 MBD domain is a mCG binder, and also illustrates its binding mechanism to the methylated CG DNA.
Molecular and functional heterogeneity of cerebellar granule cell terminals expands temporal coding in molecular layer interneurons
Authors: Dorgans Kevin , Demais Valérie , Bailly Yannick , Poulain Bernard , Isope Philippe , Doussau Frédéric
Published: June 2018

In the cerebellum, molecular layer interneurons (MLIs) play an essential role in motor behavior by exerting precise temporal control of Purkinje cells, the sole output of the cerebellar cortex. The recruitment of MLIs is tightly controlled by the release of glutamate from granule cells (GCs) during high-frequency activities. Here we study how single MLIs are recruited by their distinct unitary GC inputs during burst of GC stimulations. Stimulation of individual GC-MLI synapses revealed four classes of connections segregated by their profile of short-term plasticity. Each class of connection differentially drives MLI recruitment. Molecular and ultrastructural analyses revealed that GC-MLI synaptic diversity is underlain by heterogeneous expression of synapsin II at individual GC terminals. In synapsin II knock-out mice, the number of classes is reduced to profiles associated with slow MLI recruitment. Our study reveals that molecular diversity across GC terminals enables diversity in temporal coding by MLIs and thereby influences the processing of sensory information by cerebellar networks.
Functionally distinct ERAP1 and ERAP2 are a hallmark of HLA-A29-(Birdshot) Uveitis
Authors: Kuiper Jonas J.W. , van Setten Jessica , Devall Matthew , Cretu-Stancu Mircea , Hiddingh Sanne , Ophoff Roel A. , Missotten Tom O.A.R. , van Velthoven Mirjam , Den Hollander Anneke I , Hoyng Carel B , James Edward , Reeves Emma , Cordero-Coma Miguel , Fonollosa Alejandro , Adán Alfredo , Martín Javier , Koeleman Bobby P.C. , de Boer Joke H. , Pulit Sara L. , Márquez Ana , Radstake Timothy R. D. J.
Published: June 2018

Birdshot Uveitis (Birdshot) is a rare eye condition that affects HLA-A29-positive individuals and could be considered a prototypic member of the recently proposed “MHC-I-opathy” family. Genetic studies have pinpointed the ERAP1 and ERAP2 genes as shared associations across MHC-I-opathies, which suggests ERAP dysfunction may be a root cause for MHC-I-opathies. We mapped the ERAP1 and ERAP2 haplotypes in 84 Dutch cases and 890 controls. We identified association at variant rs10044354, which mediated a marked increase in ERAP2 expression. We also identified and cloned an independently associated ERAP1 haplotype (tagged by rs2287987) present in more than half of the cases; this ERAP1 haplotype is also the primary risk and protective haplotype for other MHC-I-opathies. We show that the risk ERAP1 haplotype conferred significantly altered expression of ERAP1 isoforms in transcriptomic data (n=360), resulting in lowered protein expression and distinct enzymatic activity. Both the association for rs10044354 (meta-analysis: OR[95% CI]=2.07[1.58-2.71], p=1.24 × 10(−7)) and rs2287987 (OR[95% CI]: =2.01 [1.51-2.67], p=1.41 × 10(−6)) replicated and showed consistent direction of effect in an independent Spanish cohort of 46 cases and 2,103 controls. In both cohorts, the combined rs2287987-rs10044354 haplotype associated with Birdshot more strongly than either SNP alone (meta-analysis: p=3.9 × 10(−9)). Finally, we observed that ERAP2 protein expression is dependent on the ERAP1 background across three European populations (n=3,353). In conclusion, a functionally distinct combination of ERAP1 and ERAP2 are a hallmark of Birdshot and provide rationale for strategies designed to correct ERAP function for treatment of Birdshot and MHC-I-opathies more broadly.
Application of adaptive-network-based fuzzy inference systems to the parameter optimization of a biochemical rule-based model
Authors: Hoard Brittany R.
Published: June 2018

Our main contribution is an efficient machine learning approach to fitting parameters of a biological model. We study the binding of the shrimp protein Pen a 1 with antibody-receptor complexes because this process is important in understanding the allergic response. Previously, we developed a BioNetGen model that simulates this process. We previously developed a method for encoding steric effects via the optimization of two parameters: the cutoff distance and the rule rate. We optimized these two parameters by fitting the output to that generated by a 3D robotics-inspired Monte Carlo simulation that explicitly represents molecular geometry.

In this work, we aim to optimize the parameters for our BioNetGen model using an efficient method: an adaptive-network-based fuzzy inference system implemented in MAT-LAB. We want to develop fuzzy systems that can accurately predict the rule binding rate and cutoff distance given a residual-sum-of-squares value or a probability distribution. We construct the fuzzy systems using fuzzy c-means clustering with existing data from BioNetGen model parameter scans as the training data. We create and test fuzzy systems with various input data and number of clusters, and analyze their performance with regard to the effective optimization of our rule-based model. We find that the fuzzy system that uses a residual-sum-of-squares value as the input value performs acceptably well. However, the performance of the fuzzy systems that use probabilities as their input values perform inconsistently in our tests.

The results of this study suggest that the system that uses a residual-sum-of-squares value as the input value could potentially be used to find an adequate fit for our biochemical model. However, the systems that use probabilities as their input values need further development to improve the consistency and reliability of their output. Testing more values for other clustering parameters other than the number of clusters may accomplish this. Further research could also include similar studies using other training or clustering algorithms. This methodology could be modified for use with fitting other biological models.
Unsupervized Quantification of Demographic Structure for Single-copy Alignments
Authors: Rohrlach AB , Bean Nigel , Glonek Gary , Holland Barbara , Tobler Ray , Tuke Jonathan , Cooper Alan
Published: June 2018

Single-copy sequence alignments have been a valuable source of information for genetic studies; their lack of recombination makes phylogenetic analyses tractable [1]. Specifically, mitochondrial DNA will continue to play an important role in genetic studies due to its high mutation rate and high copy per cell count of the molecule [2]. In this paper we develop a new method for the analysis of single-copy sequence data that simultaneously considers the relationships between sequenced individuals and positions of interest in the genome. We then show that tests for relationships between genetic information and qualitative and quantitative characteristics can be calculated. We motivate the use of our method with examples from empirical data.
Agonistic character displacement of genetically based male color patterns across darters
Authors: Moran Rachel L. , Fuller Rebecca C.
Published: June 2018

A growing number of studies are demonstrating that interspecific male-male competitive interactions can promote trait evolution and contribute to speciation. Agonistic character displacement (ACD) occurs when selection to avoid maladaptive interspecific aggression leads to the evolution of agonistic signals and/or associated behavioral biases in sympatry. Here we test for a pattern consistent with ACD in male color pattern in darters (Percidae:Etheostoma). Despite the presence of traditional sex roles and sexual dimorphism, male color pattern has been shown to function in male-male competition in several darter species, rather than female mating preferences. A pattern consistent with divergent ACD in male behavioral biases has also been documented in darters. Males bias their aggression towards conspecific over heterospecific males in sympatry but not in allopatry. Here we use a common garden approach to show that differences in male color pattern among four closely related darter species are genetically based. We also demonstrate that male color pattern exhibits enhanced differences in sympatric compared to allopatric populations of two darter species. This study provides evidence that interspecific male-male aggressive interactions alone can promote elaborate male signal evolution both between and within species. We discuss the implications this has for male-driven ACD and cascade ACD.
Seasonal Changes in Bird Assemblages of a Forest-Steppe Ecotone in North Patagonia
Authors: Cueto Víctor R. , Gorosito Cristian A.
Published: June 2018

We evaluate seasonal variations at the community level, analyzing changes in species richness, species composition and total abundance, and at the species level, evaluating differences in breeding and molting seasonality among bird species in a forest-steppe ecotone of north Patagonia. The bird assemblage showed a low seasonal variation in richness and total abundance, but a great change in species composition between spring-summer and fall-winter. The change in species composition promoted few seasonal variations in richness and total abundance, because they were compensated by the presence of abundant species that visit the area in different seasons. At the species level, resident birds and short distance migrants tended to begin breeding earlier than long distance migrants, and birds began to molt body and flight feathers after breeding. Therefore, we found a low overlap of these two demanding activities. Our results highlight the importance of bird movements in response to seasonal variations in the availability of resources, which promote migration or local displacements of birds.

Resumen. Cambios estacionales en los ensambles de aves en un ecotono bosque-estepa del norte de Patagonia

Evaluamos las variaciones estacionales a nivel comunitario, analizando la riqueza de especies, la composición de especies y la abundancia total, y a nivel de las especies, evaluando las diferencias en la estacionalidad reproductiva y de muda entre las especies de aves en un ecotono bosque-estepa del norte de Patagonia. El ensamble de aves mostró pocas variaciones estacionales en la riqueza y abundancia total, pero un notable cambio en la composición de especies entre la primavera-verano y el otoño-invierno. El cambio en la composición de especies promovió pocas variaciones estaciones en la riqueza y la abundancia total, porque fueron compensadas por la abundancia de las especies que visitan el área en las diferentes estaciones. A nivel de las especies, las aves residentes y migrantes de corta distancia tendieron a comenzar la reproducción antes que las migrantes de larga distancia, y las aves comenzaron la muda de plumas del cuerpo y del ala al finalizar la reproducción. Por lo cual encontramos una baja superposición de estas dos demandantes actividades. Nuestros resultados remarcan la importancia del movimiento de las aves en respuesta a las variaciones en la disponibilidad de recursos, que promueven la migración o el desplazamiento local de las aves.
A machine learning method for subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Buturović Ljubomir
Published: June 2018

We developed a machine learning method for subgroup analyses of randomized controlled trials (RCT), and applied it to the results of the SPRINT RCT for treatment of hypertension. To date, the subgroup analyses mostly focused on detecting associations between certain factors and outcome, in the hope that the results will point out biologically (for example, carriers of a certain mutation) or clinically (for example, smokers) distinct subgroups with different outcomes. This seldom worked in the sense of re-launching the intervention for the detected subgroup only and successfully treating it. In contrast, we propose an empirical and general method to develop a predictive multivariate classifier using the RCT outcomes and baseline data. The classifier identifies patients likely to benefit from the intervention, is not limited to a single factor of interest, and is ready for validation in a subsequent pivotal trial. We believe this approach has a better chance of succeeding in identifying the relevant subgroups because of increased accuracy made possible by the use of multiple predictor variables, and opportunity to use advanced machine learning. The method effectiveness is demonstrated by the analysis of the SPRINT trial.
No evidence that mate choice in humans is dependent on the MHC
Authors: Cretu-Stancu Mircea , Kloosterman Wigard P. , Pulit Sara L.
Published: June 2018

A long-standing hypothesis in biology proposes that various species select mates with a major histocompatibility complex (MHC) composition divergent from their own, so as to improve immune response in offspring. However, human and animal studies investigating this mate selection hypothesis have returned inconsistent results. Here, we analyze 239 mate-pairs of Dutch ancestry, all with whole-genome sequence data collected by the Genome of the Netherlands project, to investigate whether mate selection in humans is MHC dependent. We find no evidence for MHC-mediated mate selection in this sample (with an average MHC genetic similarity in mate pairs (Qc) = 0.829; permutation-based p = 0.703). Limiting the analysis to only common variation or considering the extended MHC region does not change our findings (Qc = 0.671, p = 0.513; and Qc = 0.844, p = 0.696, respectively). We demonstrate that the MHC in mate-pairs is no more genetically dissimilar (on average) than a pair of two randomly selected individuals, and conclude that there is no evidence to suggest that mate choice is influenced by genetic variation in the MHC.

Author summary

Studies within various animal species have shown that the genetic content of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) can influence mate choice. Such mate selection would be advantageous, as mating between individuals with different alleles across MHC genes would produce offspring with a more diverse MHC and therefore possess improved immune response to various pathogens. Studies of the influence on the MHC in human mate selection have been far less conclusive. Two studies of MHC-dependent mate selection performed on SNP data collected as part of the HapMap Consortium returned conflicting results: the first study reported significantly different MHC variation between mate pairs, and the second report refuted this claim. Here, we analyze a dataset comprised of 239 whole-genome sequenced Dutch mate pairs, a sample set an order of magnitude larger than the HapMap data and containing denser characterization of genetic variation. We find no evidence that the MHC influences mate selection in our population, and we show that this finding is robust to potential confounding factors and the types and frequencies of genetic variants analysed.
A variably imprinted epiallele impacts seed development
Authors: Pignatta Daniela , Novitzky Katherine , Satyaki P.R. V. , Gehring Mary
Published: June 2018

The contribution of epigenetic variation to phenotypic variation is unclear. Imprinted genes, because of their strong association with epigenetic modifications, represent an opportunity for the discovery of such phenomena. In mammals and flowering plants, a subset of genes are expressed from only one parental allele in a process called gene imprinting. Imprinting is associated with differential DNA methylation and chromatin modifications between parental alleles. In flowering plants imprinting occurs in a seed tissue – endosperm. Proper endosperm development is essential for the production of viable seeds. We previously showed that inArabidopsis thalianaintraspecific imprinting variation is correlated with naturally occurring DNA methylation polymorphisms. Here, we investigated the mechanisms and function of allele-specific imprinting of the class IV homeodomain-Leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) transcription factorHDG3. In imprinted strains,HDG3is expressed primarily from the methylated paternally inherited allele. We manipulated the methylation state of endogenousHDG3in a non-imprinted strain and demonstrated that methylation of a proximal transposable element is sufficient to promoteHDG3expression and imprinting. Gain ofHDG3imprinting was associated with earlier endosperm cellularization and changes in seed weight. These results indicate that epigenetic variation alone is sufficient to explain imprinting variation and demonstrate that epialleles can underlie variation in seed development phenotypes.

Author Summary

The contribution of genetic variation to phenotypic variation is well-established. By contrast, it is unknown how frequently epigenetic variation causes differences in organismal phenotypes. Epigenetic information is closely associated with but not encoded in the DNA sequence. In practice, it is challenging to disentangle genetic variation from epigenetic variation, as what appears to be epigenetic variation might have an underlying genetic basis. DNA methylation is one form of epigenetic information.HDG3encodes an endosperm specific transcription factor that exists in two states inA. thaliananatural populations: methylated and expressed and hypomethylated and repressed. We show that pure epigenetic variation is sufficient to explain expression variation ofHDG3– a naturally lowly expressed allele can be switched to a higher expressed state by adding DNA methylation. We also show that expression ofHDG3in strains where it is normally hypomethylated and relatively repressed causes a seed development phenotype. These data indicate that naturally circulating epialleles have consequences for seed phenotypic variation.
Motives of mergers and acquisitions in the European public utilities
Authors: Brahma Sanjukta , Boateng Agyenim , Ahmad Sardar
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the motivation and post-merger operating performance (OP) of European utility sectors following mergers and acquisitions (M&A).

Design/methodology/approach

Motives behind M&A are examined by looking into the relationships between total gains, target gains and acquirer gains. Post-merger OP is measured by comparing the sample of European utilities with a matched portfolio based on size and market to book ratio with respect to five accounting indicators: growth in turnover, growth in earnings before interest and tax, return on assets, net profit margin and growth in fixed assets.

Findings

Synergy is the primary motive for M&A in the European utility firms. This study also found that post-merger OP is negative and significant across all the five accounting indicators matched by size, and market to book ratio suggesting that utility mergers underperform in the long term. The findings suggest that gains accruing to utilities involved in acquisitions are short term in nature.

Practical implications

Negative post-merger OP bears important policy implications as in future antitrust/competition authorities should be more vigilant before approving utility mergers.

Originality/value

Public utilities possess several characteristics that are different from industrial firms and therefore need to be examined separately. Empirical literature on M&A is very limited on utilities. This study has addressed this gap by examining the motivation and post-merger OP of the European utility firms.
Financial disclosure practices among Malaysian local authorities: a case study
Authors: Teruki Neilson Anak , Nyamori Robert Ochoki , Ahmed Kamran
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand and explain the financial disclosure processes among Malaysian local authorities (MLAs).

Design/methodology/approach

Employing semi-structured interviews, data were collected from 26 members in five case study organisations, and interpreted using Gibbinset al.(1990, 1992) framework of financial disclosure.

Findings

The study finds that financial disclosure is influenced by a hierarchical structure consisting of accountants, the Financial Accounts Committee, the mayor and other managers. The decision to disclose or not disclose was influenced by how sensitive the issue was. External auditors and mediators influenced both the identification of issues, disclosure position and disclosure output. Though there are many laws governing financial accounting, MLAs opportunistically chose to apply the Federal Treasury Circular largely because the external auditors used it.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the literature by illuminating who makes disclosure decisions, what influences these decisions and how. The study reveals hitherto un-researched contextual factors that affect disclosure, namely, religion and external auditors and the opportunistic choice of which laws and regulations to apply in financial disclosure. Future studies might want to apply this approach in other contexts to see what we can learn from them.

Originality/value

Using case studies in the study of financial disclosure provided valuable insights into the complex and multi-dimensional phenomenon of financial information disclosure. The application of Gibbinset al.(1990, 1992) framework in the public sector and in Malaysia is novel.
Mayors’ leadership roles in direct participation processes – the case of community-owned wind farms
Authors: Wallmeier Franziska , Thaler Julia
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The design of participation processes influences their effectiveness. In light of processes which include both mandated and non-mandated direct participation and take place in collaboration with other actors, adequate leadership roles are an indispensable but challenging process element. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how mayors exercise leadership roles in such processes and how this relates to effective participation processes.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying a qualitative comparative case study design (n=7), this study investigates mayors’ leadership roles relative to other actors’ roles in the process of establishing a community-owned wind farm. Data collection relied on 21 semi-structured interviews, triangulated with documentary analyses and nine field-level expert interviews.

Findings

Findings reveal mayors’ exclusive roles of guarantor, formal convener, facilitator, and sponsor based on authority. Mayors’ various shared roles relate primarily to non-mandated participation. Mayors face tensions in their role exercise due to citizens’ expectations and their personal involvement. They experience a positive impact of shared leadership on the effectiveness of the participation process.

Practical implications

Mayors need to exercise specific leadership roles relative to other actors to effectively manage participation processes. Adequate role exercise relates to sensitization and mobilization for the issue, weakened opposition, and project adjustment to citizen demands. A strategic approach to process design can support mayors in their leadership efforts.

Originality/value

This paper adds to the knowledge on mayors’ leadership roles in participation processes and concretizes tensions and effectiveness of collaborative leadership. The paper reflects on the inference of findings for administrators as compared to mayors.
The role of uncertainty in performance information disclosure
Authors: Allegrini Veronica , Monteduro Fabio
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the environmental uncertainty faced by public administrations and their likelihood of disclosing performance information, particularly at municipal level.

Design/methodology/approach

The existence of the relationship between environmental uncertainty and performance information disclosure is explored, drawing on organizational information processing theory. The paper describes an empirical quantitative investigation in a sample of 490 Italian municipalities.

Findings

Municipalities facing more uncertainty are more likely to disclose performance information. There is no unique set of factors that can explain the difference in the disclosure activity of Italian municipalities, but this activity appears to be contingent on the level of environmental uncertainty.

Originality/value

The paper explores the under-investigated field of factors influencing the disclosure of performance information by public administrations. It identifies uncertainty as one of the determinants of performance information disclosure. The findings suggest that the use of theories and variables not previously used in this type of study can improve understanding of the phenomenon. The study also suggests that public officials should consider adequate enforcement mechanisms to promote performance information disclosure, especially for organizations with lower incentives to improve information processing capabilities.
Females perpetrating honour-based abuse: controllers, collaborators or coerced?
Authors: Bates Lis
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address an emerging international debate about the involvement of females in perpetrating honour-based abuse (HBA). Presenting new empirical data, this study profiles the different roles played by women, discussing them in relation to gender and their relationships to victims, and argues that acknowledgement of female perpetrators does not fundamentally challenge a gendered interpretation of HBA.

Design/methodology/approach

Some 1,474 case files flagged as HBA were gathered from one police force in Southern England and 50 domestic abuse agencies across England and Wales. Descriptive statistics explored which victim, perpetrator and abuse characteristics were associated with female perpetration. Case narratives were thematically analysed to profile the different roles females played. Findings were explored in eight key informant interviews with caseworkers from the services data came from.

Findings

This paper finds that: females are more involved in perpetrating HBA than other forms of domestic abuse, but primary perpetrators are still mostly male; victims are overwhelmingly female; the context for abuse is the maintenance of patriarchal values on gender roles; female perpetrator roles vary, meriting further exploration; and female perpetrators can be conceptualised within a gendered framework.

Originality/value

This paper presents important new empirical data to advance the debate on the role of women in perpetrating HBA. It will be of interest to academics, researchers, policy-makers, and practitioners alike.
pH in nature, humans and skin
Authors: Proksch Ehrhardt
Published: June 2018

The pH plays an important physiological role in nature and humans. pH varies from 1 to 8 in human organs with tight regulation in blood and epithelia of barrier organs. The physiological pH of the stratum corneum is 4.1–5.8 and several mechanisms contribute to its formation: filaggrin degradation, fatty acid content, sodium‐hydrogen exchanger (NHE1) activation and melanosome release. First, the acidic pH of the stratum corneum was considered to present an antimicrobial barrier preventing colonization (e.g. by Staphylococcus aureus and Malassezia). Later on, it was found that the pH influences skin barrier function, lipid synthesis and aggregation, epidermal differentiation and desquamation. Enzymes of ceramide metabolism (e.g. β‐glucocerebrosidase or acid sphingomyelinase) as well as proteases (e.g. chymotryptic enzyme or cathepsin D linked to epidermal differentiation and desquamation) are regulated by the pH. Experimental disruption of the physical barrier leads to an increase of pH, returning to normal levels only after many hours. Inflammatory skin diseases and diseases with an involvement of the epidermis exhibit a disturbed skin barrier and an increased pH. This is known for atopic dermatitis, irritant contact dermatitis, ichthyosis, rosacea and acne, but also for aged and dry skin. Normalizing the pH by acidification through topical treatment helps to establish a physiological microbiota, to repair skin barrier, to induce epidermal differentiation and to reduce inflammation.