bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Transcriptomic responses of Solanum dulcamara to natural and simulated herbivory
Authors: Lortzing Tobias , Firtzlaff Vivien , Nguyen Duy , Rieu Ivo , Stelzer Sandra , Schad Martina , Kallarackal Jim , Steppuhn Anke
Published: April 2017

Plants are attacked by diverse herbivores and respond with manifold defence responses. To study transcriptional and other early regulation events of these plant responses, herbivory is often simulated to standardize the temporal and spatial dynamics that vary tremendously for natural herbivory. Yet, to what extent such simulations of herbivory are able to elicit the same plant response as real herbivory remains largely undetermined. We examined the transcriptional response of a wild model plant to herbivory by lepidopteran larvae and to a commonly used herbivory simulation by applying the larvae's oral secretions to standardized wounds. We designed a microarray for Solanum dulcamara and showed that the transcriptional responses to real and to simulated herbivory by Spodoptera exigua overlapped moderately by about 40%. Interestingly, certain responses were mimicked better than others; 60% of the genes upregulated but not even a quarter of the genes downregulated by herbivory were similarly affected by application of oral secretions to wounds. While the regulation of genes involved in signalling, defence and water stress was mimicked well by the simulated herbivory, most of the genes related to photosynthesis, carbohydrate‐ and lipid metabolism were exclusively regulated by real herbivory. Thus, wounding and application of oral secretions decently mimics herbivory‐induced defence responses but likely not the reallocation of primary metabolites induced by real herbivory.
Valgus malalignment and prevalence of lateral compartmental radiographic knee osteoarthritis (OA): The Wuchuan OA study
Authors: Wang Bin , Liu Qiang , Wise Barton L. , Ke Yan , Xing Dan , Xu Yuankun , Zhang Yuqing , Lin Jianhao
Published: April 2017

Aim

To evaluate whether knee alignment explains the higher prevalence of lateral compartment tibiofemoral radiographic osteoarthritis (TFROA) among rural Chinese compared with that among Whites.

Methods

The Wuchuan OA Study is a population‐based longitudinal study of risk factors for knee OA. At baseline 1030 participants had home interviews, clinical examinations and weight‐bearing posteroanterior semi‐flexed radiographs of the tibiofemoral joints. Anatomic knee alignment was measured using an e‐film workstation and divided into three categories: normal (182°–184°), valgus (> 184°), and varus (< 182°) alignment. A knee was defined as having medial or lateral compartmental ROA if its Kellgren and Lawrence grade was ≥ 2 and joint space narrowing ≥ 1 in the medial or lateral compartment, respectively. We examined the association between knee alignment with prevalent medial or lateral knee ROA separately using multiple logistic regression.

Results

Among 1030 participants, the proportions of knees with normal, valgus and varus alignment were 29.9%, 56.5% and 13.7%, respectively. The prevalence of medial and lateral ROA was 16.0% and 4.3%, respectively. Valgus alignment was associated with prevalence of lateral compartment ROA (odds ratio [OR] = 5.0, 95% CI: 2.4–10.5), while varus alignment was associated with medial compartment ROA (OR = 6.1, 95% CI: 4.4–8.6). The ratio of prevalence of lateral versus medial compartment TFROA was greater in Wuchuan than that in the Framingham OA Study and valgus malalignment was more common in Wuchuan than in the Rotterdam study.

Conclusions

The prevalence of compartment‐specific TFROA differs between rural Chinese and Whites. This difference is likely due to relatively high prevalence of valgus malalignment in rural Chinese compared with that in Whites.
The G20 and Climate Change: The Transnational Contribution of Global Summitry
Authors: Slaughter Steven
Published: April 2017

This article examines the prospective role of the G20 (Group of Twenty) in contributing to current efforts to address climate change. This article contends that the G20 has the potential to be a site of policy coordination of economically significant states and transnational policy actors which could support the implementation of the Paris Agreement reached at the 21st conference of the parties (COP21) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 2015. While this article demonstrates that the G20 and its predecessors have considered the topic of climate change without great success, it articulates the ways that recent developments within the operation of the G20 offers new prospects for addressing this crucial policy issue. These prospects rest primarily upon seeing the G20 as a form of global summitry which is not only an international forum but also a transnational framework of policy makers which offer the possibility that G20 deliberations can be more open to a wider variety of perspectives and more effectively engage with transnational efforts to address climate change.
Discovering and sequencing new plant viral genomes by next‐generation sequencing: description of a practical pipeline
Authors: Blawid R. , Silva J.M.F. , Nagata T.
Published: April 2017

Small‐scale sequencing has improved substantially in recent decades, culminating in the development of next‐generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. Modern NGS methods have helped the discovery of many new plant viruses. Nevertheless, there is still a need to establish solid assembly pipelines targeting small genomes characterised by low identities to known viral sequences. Here, we describe and discuss the fundamental steps required for discovering and sequencing new plant viral genomes by NGS. A practical pipeline and standard alternative tools used in NGS analysis are presented.
Autophagy compensates impaired energy metabolism in CLPXP‐deficient Podospora anserina strains and extends healthspan
Authors: Knuppertz Laura , Osiewacz Heinz D.
Published: April 2017

The degradation of nonfunctional mitochondrial proteins is of fundamental relevance for maintenance of cellular homeostasis. The heteromeric CLPXP protein complex in the mitochondrial matrix is part of this process. In the fungal aging model Podospora anserina, ablation of CLPXP leads to an increase in healthy lifespan. Here, we report that this counterintuitive increase depends on a functional autophagy machinery. In PaClpXP mutants, autophagy is involved in energy conservation and the compensation of impairments in respiration. Strikingly, despite the impact on mitochondrial function, it is not mitophagy but general autophagy that is constitutively induced and required for longevity. In contrast, in another long‐lived mutant ablated for the mitochondrial PaIAP protease, autophagy is neither induced nor required for lifespan extension. Our data provide novel mechanistic insights into the capacity of different forms of autophagy to compensate impairments of specific components of the complex mitochondrial quality control network and about the biological role of mitochondrial CLPXP in the control of cellular energy metabolism.
Genetic Variability in Adenosine Deaminase‐Like Contributes to Variation in Alcohol Preference in Mice
Authors: Lesscher Heidi M. B. , Bailey Alexis , Vanderschuren Louk J. M. J.
Published: April 2017

Background

A substantial part of the risk for alcohol use disorder is determined by genetic factors. We previously used chromosome substitution (CSS) mice, to identify a quantitative trait loci (QTL) for alcohol preference on mouse chromosome 2. The aim of this study was to identify candidate genes within this QTL that confer the risk for alcohol preference.

Methods

In order to delineate the neurobiological underpinnings of alcohol consumption, we expanded on the QTL approach to identify candidate genes for high alcohol preference in mice. We narrowed down a QTL for alcohol preference on mouse chromosome 2, that we previously identified using CSS mice, to 4 candidate genes in silico. Expression levels of these candidate genes in prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and nucleus accumbens—brain regions implicated in reward and addiction—were subsequently compared for the CSS‐2 and the C57BL/6J host strain.

Results

We observed increased expression of adenosine deaminase‐like (Adal) in all 3 regions in CSS‐2 mice. Moreover, we found that the adenosine deaminase inhibitor EHNA reduced the difference in alcohol preference between CSS‐2 and C57BL/6J mice.

Conclusions

This study identifies Adal as a genetically protective factor against alcohol consumption in mice, in which elevated Adal levels contribute to low alcohol preference.
Phylogenetic reclassification and genitalic morphology of the small water strider genusNesidoveliaAndersen & Weir and allied Microveliinae (Hemiptera:Veliidae)
Authors: Cassis Gerasimos , Hodgins Mitchell , Weir Tom A , Tatarnic Nikolai J
Published: April 2017

Phylogenetic analyses of the Australasian Microveliinae is given, including a reanalysis of Andersen and Weir () dataset and an analysis of a new dataset of 46 morphological characters and 42 taxa. Analyses focused on pregenital, genital and postgenital structures of males and females, including putative male grasping and female anti‐grasping structures. Phylogenetic analyses resulted in a redefinition of the genusNesidoveliaAndersen & Weir, withMicrovelia(Austromicrovelia) andMicrovelia(Barbivelia) erected as junior synonyms, and 29 species included inNesidovelia, with all but the type species in new combination.Nilsveliagen. nov. is described to include two species,N. milleriandN. ventrospinosa, both formerly assigned toM. (Austromicrovelia). In addition, we report on the recognition ofPapuavelia,PseudoveliaandTanyveliaas valid genera, distinct fromNesidovelia. We diagnose and describeNilsvelia, and redescribeNesidovelia, and provide checklists of the included species for both genera.
Predictors of success of external cephalic version and cephalic presentation at birth among 1253 women with non‐cephalic presentation using logistic regression and classification tree analyses
Authors: Hutton Eileen K. , Simioni Julia C. , Thabane Lehana
Published: April 2017

Introduction

Among women with a fetus with a non‐cephalic presentation, external cephalic version (ECV) has been shown to reduce the rate of breech presentation at birth and cesarean birth. Compared with ECV at term, beginning ECV prior to 37 weeks’ gestation decreases the number of infants in a non‐cephalic presentation at birth. The purpose of this secondary analysis was to investigate factors associated with a successful ECV procedure and to present this in a clinically useful format.

Material and methods

Data were collected as part of the Early ECV Pilot and Early ECV2 Trials, which randomized 1776 women with a fetus in breech presentation to either early ECV (34–36 weeks’ gestation) or delayed ECV (at or after 37 weeks). The outcome of interest was successful ECV, defined as the fetus being in a cephalic presentation immediately following the procedure, as well as at the time of birth. The importance of several factors in predicting successful ECV was investigated using two statistical methods: logistic regression and classification and regression tree (CART) analyses.

Results

Among nulliparas, non‐engagement of the presenting part and an easily palpable fetal head were independently associated with success. Among multiparas, non‐engagement of the presenting part, gestation less than 37 weeks and an easily palpable fetal head were found to be independent predictors of success. These findings were consistent with results of the CART analyses.

Conclusions

Regardless of parity, descent of the presenting part was the most discriminating factor in predicting successful ECV and cephalic presentation at birth.
Fetal head circumference and subpubic angle are independent risk factors for unplanned cesarean and operative delivery
Authors: Rizzo Giuseppe , Aiello Elisa , Bosi Costanza , D'Antonio Francesco , Arduini Domenico
Published: April 2017

Introduction

The aim of this study was to ascertain whether combined ultrasound assessment of fetal head circumference (HC) and maternal subpubic angle (SPA) prior to the onset of labor may predict the likelihood of an unplanned operative delivery (UOD) in nulliparous women at term.

Material and methods

Prospective cohort study of singleton pregnancies in cephalic presentation. Pregnancies experiencing UOD secondary to fetal distress were excluded. HC was assessed transabdominally and SPA values were obtained from a reconstructed coronal plane on three‐dimensional (3D) ultrasound performed translabially at 36–38 weeks of gestation. Maternal characteristics, HC expressed as multiple of median, and SPA were compared according to the mode of delivery. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristics curve analyses were used to analyze the data.

Results

597 pregnancies were included in the study. Spontaneous vaginal delivery occurred in 70.2% of the cases and UOD was required in 29.8%. There was no difference in pregnancy characteristics and birthweight between women who had a spontaneous vaginal birth compared with UOD. The HC multiple of median was larger (1.00 ± 0.02 vs. 1.03 ± 0.02, p ≤ 0.0001), whereas SPA was narrower in the UOD group (124.02 ± 13.64 vs. 102.61 ± 16.13, p ≤ 0.0001). At logistic regression, SPA (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.89–0.93), HC multiple of median (OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.09–1.17) and maternal height (OR 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.99) were independently associated with UOD. When combined, the diagnostic accuracy of a predictive model integrating HC, SPA and maternal height was highly predictive of UOD with an area under the curve of 0.904 (95% CI 0.88–0.93).

Conclusions

Ultrasound assessment of fetal HC and maternal SPA after 36 weeks of gestation can identify a subset of women at higher risk of UOD during labor, for whom early planned delivery might be beneficial.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: proximal disease extension in limited ulcerative colitis
Authors: Roda G. , Narula N. , Pinotti R. , Skamnelos A. , Katsanos K. H. , Ungaro R. , Burisch J. , Torres J. , Colombel J.‐F.
Published: April 2017

Background

Disease extent in ulcerative colitis is one of the major factors determining prognosis over the long‐term. Disease extent is dynamic and a proportion of patients presenting with limited disease progress to more extensive forms of disease over time.

Aim

To perform a systematic review and meta‐analysis of epidemiological studies reporting on extension of ulcerative colitis to determine frequency of disease extension in patients with limited ulcerative colitis at diagnosis.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature search to identify studies on disease extension of ulcerative colitis (UC) and predictors of disease progression.

Results

Overall, 41 studies were eligible for systematic review but only 30 for meta‐analysis. The overall pooled frequency of UC extension was 22.8% with colonic extension being 17.8% at 5 years and 31% at 10 years. Extension was 17.8% (95% CI 11.2‐27.3) from E1 to E3, 27.5% (95% CI 7.6‐45.6) from E2 to E3 and 20.8% (95% CI 11.4‐26.8) from E1 to E2. Rate of extension was significantly higher in patients younger than 18 years (29.2% (CI 6.4‐71.3) compared to older patients (20.2% (CI 13.0‐30.1) (P<.0001). Risk of extension was significantly higher in patients from North America (37.8%) than from Europe (19.6%) (P<.0001).

Conclusions

In this meta‐analysis, approximately one quarter of patients with limited UC extend over time with most extension occurring during the first 10 years. Rate of extension depends on age at diagnosis and geographic origin. Predicting those at high risk of disease extension from diagnosis could lead to personalised therapeutic strategies.
A rising incidence and poorer male outcomes characterise early onset paediatric inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Coughlan A. , Wylde R. , Lafferty L. , Quinn S. , Broderick A. , Bourke B. , Hussey S. ,   DOCHAS Study
Published: April 2017

Background

The incidence of paediatric inflammatory bowel disease diagnosed before age 10 years is reportedly increasing, but national data are limited.

Aim

To characterise the epidemiology, phenotype and clinical outcomes of children diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease before age 10 years, and compare with data from children diagnosed aged 10‐16 years.

Methods

A review of all Irish cases of early onset inflammatory bowel disease (diagnosis <10 years, EO‐IBD) presenting between January 2000 and December 2014 was undertaken and compared to a cohort of later onset paediatric inflammatory bowel disease patients (diagnosis between 10 and 16 years, LO‐IBD). Diagnostic investigations, phenotype, treatments, and long‐term clinical and surgical outcomes were analysed.

Results

One hundred and ninety children (99 male) with EO‐IBD were identified; 92 (48%) CD, 77 (41%) UC and 21 (11%) IBDU. The incidence of EO‐IBD increased by 0.6 per 100 000 per year (0.8‐3.2 per 100 000 per year), with a significant increase in UC by 0.06 per 100 000 per year (P=.02). Males with CD had more upper GI disease (L4a; 48% vs 21%; P=.007), more extensive disease distribution (L3±L4; 31% vs 11%; P=.05) and more severe disease activity at presentation (52% vs 31%; P=.05) than females. Fewer patients with early onset than later onset Crohn's disease had ileocolonic disease (L3; 10% vs 20%; P<.001). More relapses were observed in the first year post‐diagnosis in early onset than later onset IBD (1.02 vs 0.5 mean relapses; P<.001).

Conclusions

EO‐IBD is increasing in incidence. Males have more extensive and severe disease phenotypes, and younger patients have higher relapse rates than older children. Further research to explain these findings is warranted.
The risk of lower gastrointestinal bleeding in low‐dose aspirin users
Authors: Chen W.‐C. , Lin K.‐H. , Huang Y.‐T. , Tsai T.‐J. , Sun W.‐C. , Chuah S.‐K. , Wu D.‐C. , Hsu P.‐I.
Published: April 2017

Background

Aspirin increases the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding.

Aim

To investigate the risk of lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) in aspirin users.

Methods

Low‐dose (75‐325 mg daily) aspirin users and controls matched by age, gender and enrollment time in a 1:5 ratio were selected from 1 million randomly sampled subjects in the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Cox proportional hazard regression models were developed to evaluate the predictors of LGIB with adjustments for age, gender, comorbidities including coronary artery disease, ischaemic stroke, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, liver cirrhosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, dyslipidemia, uncomplicated peptic ulcer disease, history of peptic ulcer bleeding, and concomitant use of clopidogrel, ticlopidine, warfarin, nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), cyclooxygenase‐2 inhibitors, steroids, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), histamine‐2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs), nitrates, alendronate, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and calcium channel blockers.

Results

A total of 53 805 aspirin users and 269 025 controls were included. Aspirin group had a higher incidence of LGIB within 1 year than control group (0.20% vs 0.06%, P<.0001). Aspirin (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.06‐3.65), NSAIDs (HR: 8.61, 95% CI: 3.28‐22.58), steroids (HR: 10.50, 95% CI: 1.98‐55.57), SSRIs (HR: 11.71, 95% CI: 1.40‐97.94), PPIs (HR: 8.47, 95% CI: 2.26‐31.71), and H2RAs (HR: 10.83, 95% CI: 2.98‐39.33) were significantly associated with LGIB.

Conclusions

The risk of LGIB was higher in low‐dose aspirin users than in aspirin nonusers in this nationwide cohort. Low‐dose aspirin, NSAIDs, steroids, SSRIs, PPIs and H2RAs were independent risk factors for LGIB.
‘Guard the Good Deposit’: Technology, Provenance and Dating of Bipyramidal Iron Semi‐Products of the Durrenentzen Deposit (Haut‐Rhin, France)
Authors: Bauvais S. , Berranger M. , Boukezzoula M. , Leroy S. , Disser A. , Vega E. , Aubert M. , Dillmann P. , Fluzin P.
Published: April 2017

In the early days of iron metallurgy in Western Europe, the most widespread type of ‘trade iron’ (semi‐product) was bipyramidal in shape. Although they are frequently found, little is known about how they were manufactured and circulated, or even about their age. An interdisciplinary approach was applied to the Durrenentzen deposit (Haut‐Rhin, France), the third‐largest in Europe in terms of artefact quantities, in an attempt to reconstruct the technological, social and economic context that caused them to be abandoned. A morphometric study of the 51 iron bars revealed a high degree of homogeneity, despite variations in detail. Four objects were selected for archaeometric studies. Metallographic analyses show internal differences (quality of the material, nature of the alloys and manufacturing techniques). Chemical analyses also showed different provenances. Finally, radiocarbon analyses of the carbon in steel (iron/carbon alloy) linked this deposit to the early Iron Age. This study provided the first benchmark for more general research, significantly changing perceptions of the economics of iron at the beginning of the Iron Age.
Metoprolol‐pridopidine drug–drug interaction and food effect assessments of pridopidine, a new drug for treatment of Huntington's disease
Authors: Rabinovich‐Guilatt Laura , Steiner Lilach , Hallak Hussein , Pastino Gina , Muglia Pierandrea , Spiegelstein Ofer
Published: April 2017

Aims

Pridopidine is an oral drug in clinical development for treatment of patients with Huntington's disease. This study examined the interactions of pridopidine with in vitro cytochrome P450 activity and characterized the effects of pridopidine on CYP2D6 activity in healthy volunteers using metoprolol as a probe substrate. The effect of food on pridopidine exposure was assessed.

Methods

The ability of pridopidine to inhibit and/or induce in vitro activity of drug metabolizing enzymes was examined in human liver microsomes and fresh hepatocytes. CYP2D6 inhibition potency and reversibility was assessed using dextromethorphan. For the clinical assessment, 22 healthy subjects were given metoprolol 100 mg alone and concomitantly with steady‐state pridopidine 45 mg twice daily. Food effect on a single 90 mg dose of pridopidine was evaluated in a crossover manner. Safety assessments and pharmacokinetic sampling occurred throughout the study.

Results

Pridopidine was found to be a metabolism dependent inhibitor of CYP2D6, the main enzyme catalysing its own metabolism. Flavin‐containing monooxygenase heat inactivation of liver microsomes did not affect pridopidine metabolism‐dependent inhibition of CYP2D6 and its inhibition of CYP2D6 was not reversible with addition of FeCN3. Exposure to metoprolol was markedly increased when coadministered with pridopidine; the ratio of the geometric means (90% confidence interval) for maximum observed plasma concentration, and area under the plasma concentration–time curve from time 0 to the time of the last quantifiable concentration and extrapolated to infinity were 3.5 (2.9, 4.22), 6.64 (5.27, 8.38) and 6.55 (5.18, 8.28), respectively. Systemic exposure to pridopidine was unaffected by food conditions.

Conclusions

As pridopidine is a metabolism‐dependent inhibitor of CYP2D6, systemic levels of drugs metabolized by CYP2D6 may increase with chronic coadministration of pridopidine. Pridopidine can be administered without regard to food.
Active background choice facilitates crypsis in a tropical crab
Authors: Uy Floria M. K. , Ravichandran Suvetha , Patel Krisha S. , Aresty Jeffrey , Aresty Patricia P. , Audett Raymond M. , Chen Kelvin , Epple Lauren , Jeffries Sterling F. , Serein Gilbert N. , Tullis‐Joyce Phallon , Uy J. Albert C.
Published: April 2017

Animals can evade predators in multiple ways, one of the most effective of which is to avoid detection in the first place. We know much about the evolution of color patterns that match the visual background to avoid detection (i.e., crypsis), yet we know surprisingly less about the specific behaviors that have co‐evolved with these morphological traits to enhance or maintain crypsis. We here explore whether the match between body color and background in a seemingly well‐camouflaged tropical shore crab is a result of active background choice. Taking advantage of a coastal area in the Solomon Islands with variable sand color and a population of the pallid ghost crab Ocypode pallidula with varying carapace color, we experimentally tested whether individuals actively choose specific substrate that best matches their color patterns. We found that individuals taken from extreme sand colors chose substrate that maintained crypsis, with relatively darker crabs typically choosing dark sand and lighter crabs choosing light sand. Crabs of intermediate color pattern, in contrast, showed no clear preference for dark or light sand. Our results suggest that potential prey can actively choose specific backgrounds to enhance and maintain crypsis, providing insights into how behavior interacts with morphological traits to avoid predator detection.
Operational tolerance in kidney transplantation and associated biomarkers
Authors: Massart A , Ghisdal L , Abramowicz M , Abramowicz D
Published: April 2017

In the 1960s, our predecessors won a historical battle against acute rejection and ensured that transplantation became a common life-saving treatment. In parallel with this success, or perhaps because of it, we lost the battle for long-lived transplants, being overwhelmed with chronic immune insults and the toxicities of immunosuppression. It is likely that current powerful treatments block acute rejection, but at the same time condemn the few circulating donor cells that would have been able to elicit immunoregulatory host responses towards the allograft. Under these conditions, spontaneously tolerant kidney recipients – i.e. patients who maintain allograft function in the absence of immunosuppression – are merely accidents; they are scarce, mysterious and precious. Several teams pursue the goal of finding a biomarker that would guide us towards the ‘just right’ level of immunosuppression that avoids rejection while leaving some space for donor immune cells. Some cellular assays are attractive because they are antigen-specific, and provide a comprehensive view of immune responses toward the graft. These seem to closely follow patient regulatory capacities. However, these tests are cumbersome, and require abundant cellular material from both donor and recipient. The latest newcomers, non-antigen-specific recipient blood transcriptomic biomarkers, offer the promise that a practicable and simple signature may be found that overcomes the complexity of a system in which an infinite number of individual cell combinations can lead possibly to graft acceptance. Biomarker studies are as much an objective – identifying tolerant patients, enabling tolerance trials – as a means to deciphering the underlying mechanisms of one of the most important current issues in transplantation.
Prevalence of, and work‐related risk factors for, hand eczema in a Norwegian general population (The HUNT Study)
Authors: Vindenes Hilde K. , Svanes Cecilie , Lygre Stein H. L. , Hollund Bjørg‐Eli , Langhammer Arnulf , Bertelsen Randi J.
Published: April 2017

Background

Chemical exposures at work and at home may cause hand eczema. However, this has been scarcely described for Norway.

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence of, and occupational risk factors for, hand eczema in Norway.

Methods

Among 50 805 respondents (aged ≥20 years) to the third Nord‐Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3), 5757 persons reported ever having hand eczema, and 4206 answered a hand eczema questionnaire.

Results

The lifetime prevalences of hand eczema were 8.4% in men and 13.8% in women (p < 0.001), with onset at age ≤10 years in 24% (men) and 20% (women), and onset at age ≥30 years in 37% (men) and 25% (women) (p < 0.001). Work‐related hand eczema affected 4.8% of the population, and was most frequently associated with health/social work (29%) and occupational cleaning (20%) in women, and with farming (26%) and industrial occupations (27%) in men. Cleaning detergents (75%) and other chemicals (36%) were the most common exacerbating factors.

Conclusions

The prevalence of hand eczema was 11.3%, and that of work‐related hand eczema was 4.8%. Hand eczema was more common in women than in men, but with a later onset in men. Cleaning detergents were the most common aggravating factors. A large proportion of the Nord‐Trøndelag population is employed in farming, providing the possibility to identify farming as an important risk factor for hand eczema.
Learning During Processing: Word Learning Doesn't Wait for Word Recognition to Finish
Authors: Apfelbaum Keith S. , McMurray Bob
Published: April 2017

Previous research on associative learning has uncovered detailed aspects of the process, including what types of things are learned, how they are learned, and where in the brain such learning occurs. However, perceptual processes, such as stimulus recognition and identification, take time to unfold. Previous studies of learning have not addressed when, during the course of these dynamic recognition processes, learned representations are formed and updated. If learned representations are formed and updated while recognition is ongoing, the result of learning may incorporate spurious, partial information. For example, during word recognition, words take time to be identified, and competing words are often active in parallel. If learning proceeds before this competition resolves, representations may be influenced by the preliminary activations present at the time of learning. In three experiments using word learning as a model domain, we provide evidence that learning reflects the ongoing dynamics of auditory and visual processing during a learning event. These results show that learning can occur before stimulus recognition processes are complete; learning does not wait for ongoing perceptual processing to complete.
A spatially explicit definition of conservation priorities according to population resistance and resilience, species importance and level of threat in a changing climate
Authors: Brambilla Mattia , Caprio Enrico , Assandri Giacomo , Scridel Davide , Bassi Enrico , Bionda Radames , Celada Claudio , Falco Riccardo , Bogliani Giuseppe , Pedrini Paolo , Rolando Antonio , Chamberlain Dan
Published: April 2017

Aim

Human‐induced climate change requires conservation strategies incorporating its potential effects on species and communities. Key components of population persistence can be attributed to resistance (the capacity to remain unaffected) or resilience (capacity to absorb and recover) to climate change. In situ climatic refugia can act as resistant distribution units, and ex situ climatic refugia and the corridors to reach them may enhance resilience. We develop a novel approach selecting conservation priorities, resistant units and resilient areas according to structural connectivity and future distribution, to identify strategies that maximize the chances of species persistence in a changing climate.

Location

Italian Alps.

Methods

Conservation priorities were defined across species according to the regional conservation status and the level of threat from climate change, and across sites according to their suitability for target species and their related potential for population persistence (in situ climatic refugia, i.e., resistant units) or redistribution (ex situ climatic refugia and main corridors according to current and future connectivity, i.e., resilient units).

Results

Models suggested a marked loss of suitable area for all species by 2050 (ranging from ~50% for pygmy owl and water pipit, to 84% for snowfinch in the worst scenario), and a general loss of connectivity, which was particularly marked for pygmy owl and snowfinch. The approach applied to Alpine birds of different habitats led to a spatially explicit definition of conservation priorities.

Main conclusions

The spatial definition of conservation priorities according to species (regional importance and level of threat), resistance and resilience refines the definition of management/conservation priorities (including protected area definition), complementing the existing approaches to address climate change‐induced threats in planning conservation and ecological networks.
Reconstructing the ancestral vertebrate brain
Authors: Sugahara Fumiaki , Murakami Yasunori , Pascual‐Anaya Juan , Kuratani Shigeru
Published: April 2017

Highly complicated morphologies and sophisticated functions of vertebrate brains have been established through evolution. However, the origin and early evolutionary history of the brain remain elusive, owing to lack of information regarding the brain architecture of extant and fossil species of jawless vertebrates (agnathans). Comparative analyses of the brain of less studied cyclostomes (only extant agnathan group, consisting of lampreys and hagfish) with the well‐known sister group of jawed vertebrates (gnathostomes) are the only tools we have available to illustrate the ancestral architecture of the vertebrate brain. Previous developmental studies had shown that the lamprey lacked well‐established brain compartments that are present in gnathostomes, such as the medial ganglionic eminence and the rhombic lip. The most accepted scenario suggested that cyclostomes had fewer compartments than that of the gnathostome brain and that gnathostomes thus evolved by a stepwise addition of innovations on its developmental sequence. However, recent studies have revealed that these compartments are present in hagfish embryos, indicating that these brain regions have been acquired before the split of cyclostomes and gnathostomes. By comparing two cyclostome lineages and gnathostomes, it has become possible to speculate about a more complex ancestral state of the brain, excluding derived traits in either of the lineages. In this review, we summarize recent studies on the brain development of the lamprey and hagfish. Then, we attempt to reconstruct the possible brain architecture of the last common ancestor of vertebrates. Finally, we discuss how the developmental plan of the vertebrate brain has been modified independently in different vertebrate lineages.
Quakers, coercion, and pre‐modern growth: why Friends’ formal institutions for contract enforcement did not matter for early modern trade expansion
Authors: Sahle Esther
Published: April 2017

During the late seventeenth century, Atlantic trade grew dramatically. The New Institutional Economists attribute this to institutional developments. During this period, Quakers emerged as the region's most prominent trading community. Some historians explain this achievement as the result of the competitive advantage that Quakers gained from their formal institutions for contract enforcement. This article studies the London Quaker community to show that, in fact, they only began to police the conduct of business regularly after 1750, as part of a wider effort to promote the Society's reputation. Formal institutional advantages cannot explain the Quakers’ early trading success.
The impact of lesion location on dysphagia incidence, pattern and complications in acute stroke. Part 2: Oropharyngeal residue, swallow and cough response, and pneumonia
Authors: Suntrup‐Krueger S. , Kemmling A. , Warnecke T. , Hamacher C. , Oelenberg S. , Niederstadt T. , Heindel W. , Wiendl H. , Dziewas R.
Published: April 2017

Background and purpose

Dysphagia is a well‐known complication of acute stroke. Given the complexity of cerebral swallowing control it is still difficult to predict which patients are likely to develop swallowing dysfunction based on their neuroimaging. In Part 2 of a comprehensive voxel‐based imaging study, whether the location of a stroke lesion can be correlated with further dysfunctional swallowing patterns, pulmonary protective reflexes and pneumonia was evaluated.

Methods

In all, 200 acute stroke cases were investigated applying flexible endoscopic evaluation of swallowing within 96 h from admission. Lesions were mapped using patients’ computed tomography/magnetic resonance images and these were registered to a standard space. The percentage of lesioned volume of 137 anatomically defined brain regions was determined on a voxel basis (FSL5.0). Region‐specific odds ratios (ORs) were calculated with respect to the presence of oropharyngeal residue, delayed swallow response, insufficient cough reflex and occurrence of pneumonia during hospital stay. Colour‐coded lesion location maps of brain regions with significant ORs were created (P < 0.05).

Results

Lesion maps for residue and impaired swallow response depicted parietal‐temporal areas of the right hemisphere. Limbic structures in the right hemisphere and sensory regions on the left were associated with cough reflex disturbance. There was no overlap of lesion maps for impaired swallow response and insufficient cough reflex or pneumonia, but substantial overlap between the last two conditions.

Conclusions

This study gives new insights on the cortical representation of single components of swallowing and airway protection behaviours. The lesion model may help to risk‐stratify patients for dysphagia and pneumonia based on their brain scan.
Comparative assessment of statistical and machine learning techniques towards estimating the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular complications
Authors: Dalakleidi Kalliopi , Zarkogianni Konstantia , Thanopoulou Anastasia , Nikita Konstantina
Published: April 2017

The aim of the present study is to comparatively assess the performance of different machine learning and statistical techniques with regard to their ability to estimate the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (Case 1) and cardiovascular disease complications (Case 2). This is the first work investigating the application of ensembles of artificial neural networks (EANN) towards producing the 5‐year risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease as a long‐term diabetes complication. The performance of the proposed models has been comparatively assessed with the performance obtained by applying logistic regression, Bayesian‐based approaches, and decision trees. The models' discrimination and calibration have been evaluated using the classification accuracy (ACC), the area under the curve (AUC) criterion, and the Hosmer–Lemeshow goodness of fit test. The obtained results demonstrate the superiority of the proposed models (EANN) over the other models. In Case 1, EANN with different topologies has achieved high discrimination and good calibration performance (ACC = 80.20%, AUC = 0.849, p value = .886). In Case 2, EANN based on bagging has resulted in good discrimination and calibration performance (ACC = 92.86%, AUC = 0.739, p value = .755).
Prediction of crack initiation plane direction in high‐cycle multiaxial fatigue with in‐phase and out‐of‐phase loading
Authors: Lu C. , Melendez J. , Martínez‐Esnaola J. M.
Published: April 2017

A new method for predicting crack plane direction in high‐cycle multiaxial fatigue is proposed. This method considers material properties and loading conditions. Two situations are considered: (i) in‐phase loading, where the crack plane direction only depends on the loading condition and material properties have little influence on it, and (ii) out‐of‐phase loading, where the crack plane direction is affected by both loading conditions and material properties. The prediction accuracy is assessed by comparison with several experimental results, including different loading conditions and materials. The results show that the proposed method provides a good prediction capability for these experiments.
Rapid thermal adaptation in photosymbionts of reef‐building corals
Authors: Chakravarti Leela J. , Beltran Victor H. , van Oppen Madeleine J. H.
Published: April 2017

Climate warming is occurring at a rate not experienced by life on Earth for 10 s of millions of years, and it is unknown whether the coral‐dinoflagellate (Symbiodinium spp.) symbiosis can evolve fast enough to ensure coral reef persistence. Coral thermal tolerance is partly dependent on the Symbiodinium hosted. Therefore, directed laboratory evolution in Symbiodinium has been proposed as a strategy to enhance coral holobiont thermal tolerance. Using a reciprocal transplant design, we show that the upper temperature tolerance and temperature tolerance range of Symbiodinium C1 increased after ~80 asexual generations (2.5 years) of laboratory thermal selection. Relative to wild‐type cells, selected cells showed superior photophysiological performance and growth rate at 31°C in vitro, and performed no worse at 27°C; they also had lower levels of extracellular reactive oxygen species (exROS). In contrast, wild‐type cells were unable to photosynthesise or grow at 31°C and produced up to 17 times more exROS. In symbiosis, the increased thermal tolerance acquired ex hospite was less apparent. In recruits of two of three species tested, those harbouring selected cells showed no difference in growth between the 27 and 31°C treatments, and a trend of positive growth at both temperatures. Recruits that were inoculated with wild‐type cells, however, showed a significant difference in growth rates between the 27 and 31°C treatments, with a negative growth trend at 31°C. There were no significant differences in the rate and severity of bleaching in coral recruits harbouring wild‐type or selected cells. Our findings highlight the need for additional Symbiodinium genotypes to be tested with this assisted evolution approach. Deciphering the genetic basis of enhanced thermal tolerance in Symbiodinium and the cause behind its limited transference to the coral holobiont in this genotype of Symbiodinium C1 are important next steps for developing methods that aim to increase coral bleaching tolerance.
Evaluation of agronomic traits of someBrachiariacultivars in the temperate low warm region in Japan
Authors: Nitthaisong Pattama , Ishigaki Genki , Fukuyama Kiichi , Akashi Ryo
Published: April 2017

Tropical grasses with high forage quality and biomass could be grown as annuals in warm subtropical regions as an additional source of feedstock. For sustainable forage production, it is also vital to know the interactions between plant and weed for the selection of promising alternating forage grass.Brachiariagrass has been used as source of high quality forage in the tropics, and this could be developed as a promising forage grass species in this region. Therefore, this study compared the agronomic traits, productivity, and dominance to weeds in sixBrachiariacultivars with two rhodesgrass cultivars in southwestern Kyushu, Japan. This study was evaluated twice from spring to autumn in 2012. MostBrachiariacultivars grew more vigorously than the two rhodesgrass cultivars during early seedling development in 2012. Except for ‘Llanero’, allBrachiariacultivars had a higher dry matter yield than the two rhodesgrass cultivars. Notably, ‘Kennedy’ had the highest dry matter yield of 9.5 t ha−1at the second cutting, resulting from substantial regrowth after the first cutting. However, twoBrachiariacultivars and one rhodesgrass cultivar evaluated in 2014 were not significantly different. Except ‘Llanero’, biomass percentage in allBrachiariacultivars ranged from 57 to 81% at the first cutting. Subsequently, the value for the second cutting increased more than 90%. There was a significant positive correlation (P < 0.01) between dominance to weeds and growth in the early stage, indicating that the vigorous growth ofBrachiariagrasses, during the early stage was superior to that of weeds in their competition. In addition,Brachiaria ruziziensisandBrachiaria decumbenscould be introduced as new variety in temperate low warm region, Japan.
Effect of moist pre‐chill and dry pre‐heat treatment on the germination of Miscanthus sinensis seed from southwest China
Authors: Nie Gang , Sun Ming , Huang Linkai , Ma Xiao , Zhang Xinquan
Published: April 2017

Miscanthus × giganteus has been widely cultivated in Europe and North America and is considered a potential biofuel plant. However, a barrier is the lacking establishment of inexpensive and successful stands. As a progenitor of M. × giganteus, M. sinensis could be potentially propagated by seed, with comparable biomass yield in some areas. The germination of seed plays an important role in establishing M. sinensis in the field. However, dormancy may not be advantageous for a seed to germinate freely. It is widely recognized that temperature is a key factor for seed dormancy and germination. In this study, two different temperature methods were hypothesized for promoting the seed germination of M. sinensis. The results showed that both 4°C and 10°C moist pre‐chill treatment for 21 days had a positive effect on breaking dormancy. Nevertheless, 10°C treatment showed the ability to promote germinated seed growth, especially in the radical, which provided a rapid growth for establishment. For dry pre‐heat treatments, 30°C for 30 days was the suitable treatment for increasing overall germination, as well as growth vigor. Furthermore, for saving time and labor, 50°C for 10 days also could be a choice as pre‐treatment before sowing. In addition, there is a possibility that the high temperature sometimes reinforced dormancy or even induced seed death, but could well increase the radical growth, indicating that high temperature could be an unfavorable environment signal to cause the seed self‐protection mechanism to dormancy. Therefore, high temperature level and duration of treatment for pre‐heat seeds is necessary for further field performance studies.
Effect of inoculants and fibrolytic enzymes on the fermentation characteristics, in vitro digestibility and aflatoxins accumulation of whole‐crop corn silage
Authors: Li Ying Han , Borjigin Narisu , Yu Zhu
Published: April 2017

Two additives (bacterial inoculants and fibrolytic enzymes) were tested for their effects on fermentation characteristics, in vitro digestibility, mold counts and aflatoxin (B1, B2, G1 and G2) content in corn silages. Whole‐plant corn was harvested with one‐half milk line stage and ensiled after the following treatments: (i) untreated (CON); (ii) bacterial inoculants at 105 CFU g−1 of fresh forage (B); (iii) fibrolytic enzymes at 100 U g−1 of fresh forage (E); and (iv) mixture of bacterial inoculants and enzymes at 105 CFU g−1 and 100 U g−1 of fresh forage, respectively (B+E). All the additives increased the lactic acid content and in vitro dry matter digestibility (P < 0.05), decreased ammonia nitrogen content (P < 0.05). E and B+E decreased the neutral detergent fiber content and increased the crude protein, in vitro digestibility of neutral detergent fiber and crude protein (P < 0.05). Aflatoxins content and mold counts for treated silage were lower than untreated silage (P < 0.05) throughout the air exposure stages (0, 1, 5, and 10 days). Additionally, the aflatoxins were not detected in B treated silage after 0 day exposure to air and in B+E throughout the air exposure stages.
Bureaucratic Role Perceptions and Gender Mainstreaming in Canada
Authors: Scala Francesca , Paterson Stephanie
Published: April 2017

Since the mid‐1990s, governments have adopted gender mainstreaming (GM) as a strategy for achieving gender equality and improving women's social, economic and political conditions. Yet, studies indicate that GM continues to be unevenly implemented, both within and across countries. To explain this outcome, this paper focuses on the local implementers of GM — the gender focal points — and how they understand GM and interpret it in their everyday work. Drawing upon interviews with gender focal points in the Canadian public service, we explore how bureaucratic role perceptions shape how these local actors understand GM and how they navigate the complex terrain between bureaucratic neutrality and the equality agenda of gender mainstreaming. Our exploratory study shows no common understanding among our interviewees, revealing how the meaning of gender mainstreaming varies depending on whether the public servant views himself or herself as policy analyst, policy advisor or policy advocate. Based on these insights, we conclude with suggestions for future research on gender mainstreaming.