bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Why Is There Universal Macrobehavior? Renormalization Group Explanation as Noncausal Explanation
Authors: Reutlinger Alexander
Published: November 2014

Renormalization group (RG) methods are an established strategy to explain how it is possible that microscopically different systems exhibit virtually the same macrobehavior when undergoing phase transitions. I argue—in agreement with Robert Batterman—that RG explanations are noncausal explanations. However, Batterman misidentifies the reason that RG explanations are noncausal: it is not the case that an explanation is noncausal if it ignores causal details. I propose an alternative argument, according to which RG explanations are noncausal explanations because their explanatory power is due to the application of mathematical operations, which do not serve the purpose of representing causal relations.
Resituating Knowledge: Generic Strategies and Case Studies
Authors: Morgan Mary S.
Published: November 2014

This paper addresses the problem of how scientific knowledge, which is always locally generated, becomes accepted in other sites. The analysis suggests that there are a small number of strategies that enable scientists to resituate knowledge and that these strategies are generic: they are not restricted to specific disciplines or modes of doing science but rather are found in a variety of different forms across the sciences.
Realism, Antirealism, and Conventionalism about Race
Authors: Kaplan Jonathan Michael , Winther Rasmus Grønfeldt
Published: November 2014

This paper distinguishes three concepts of “race”: bio-genomic cluster/race, biological race, and social race. We map out realism, antirealism, and conventionalism about each of these, in three important historical episodes: Frank Livingstone and Theodosius Dobzhansky in 1962, A. W. F. Edwards’s 2003 response to Lewontin’s 1972 paper, and contemporary discourse. Semantics is especially crucial to the first episode, while normativity is central to the second. Upon inspection, each episode also reveals a variety of commitments to the metaphysics of race. We conclude by interrogating the relevance of these scientific discussions for political positions and a post-racial future.
Ductile compaction of partially molten rocks: the effect of non-linear viscous rheology on instability and segregation
Authors: Veveakis E. , Regenauer-Lieb K. , Weinberg R.F.
Published: November 2014

The segregation of melt from a linear viscous matrix is traditionally described by McKenzie's compaction theory. This classical solution overlooks instabilities that arise when non-linear solid matrix behaviour is considered. Here we report a closed form 1-D solution obtained by extending McKenzie's theory to non-linear matrix behaviours. The new solution provides periodic stress singularities, acting as high porosity melt channels, to be the fundamental response of the compacted matrix. The characteristic length controlling the periodicity is still McKenzie's compaction length $\bar{\delta }_{\rm c}$, adjusted for non-linear rheologies.
Macrozooplankton predation impact on anchovy (Engraulis encrasicolus) eggs mortality at the Bay of Biscay shelf break spawning centre
Authors: Albaina Aitor , Irigoien Xabier , Aldalur Unai , Boyra Guillermo , Santos María , Estonba Andone
Published: November 2014

A real-time PCR based method involving a species-specific probe was applied to detect Engraulis encrasicolus eggs predation by the macrozooplankton community during the 2011 spawning season. Three locations along the shelf break presenting contrasting but high prey densities were sampled. A total of 840 individuals from 38 taxa of potential macrozooplankton predators were assayed for E. encrasicolus DNA presence and 27 presented at least one positive signal. Carnivorous copepods were responsible for the most predation events (66%) followed by euphausiids (16%), chaetognaths (5%), and myctophid fish (4%). Macrozooplankton predation on anchovy eggs followed a type-I functional response with daily mortalities <4% of available prey abundance suggesting a negligible impact on the species recruitment at the shelf break spawning centre.
The colours of satellite galaxies in the Illustris simulation
Authors: Sales Laura V. , Vogelsberger Mark , Genel Shy , Torrey Paul , Nelson Dylan , Rodriguez-Gomez Vicente , Wang Wenting , Pillepich Annalisa , Sijacki Debora , Springel Volker , Hernquist Lars
Published: November 2014

Observationally, the fraction of blue satellite galaxies decreases steeply with host halo mass, and their radial distribution around central galaxies is significantly shallower in massive (M* ≥ 1011 M⊙) than in Milky Way-like systems. Theoretical models, based primarily on semi-analytical techniques, have had a long-standing problem with reproducing these trends, instead predicting too few blue satellites in general but also estimating a radial distribution that is too shallow, regardless of primary mass. In this Letter, we use the Illustris cosmological simulation to study the properties of satellite galaxies around isolated primaries. For the first time, we find good agreement between theory and observations. We identify the main source of this success relative to earlier work to be a consequence of the large gas contents of satellites at infall, a factor ∼5–10 times larger than in semi-analytical models. Because of their relatively large gas reservoirs, satellites can continue to form stars long after infall, with a typical time-scale for star-formation to be quenched ∼2 Gyr in groups but more than ∼5 Gyr for satellites around Milky Way-like primaries. The gas contents we infer are consistent with z = 0 observations of H i gas in galaxies, although we find large discrepancies among reported values in the literature. A testable prediction of our model is that the gas-to-stellar mass ratio of satellite progenitors should vary only weakly with cosmic time.
Expanded Host Range Testing forVerticillium nonalfalfae: Potential Biocontrol Agent Against the InvasiveAilanthus altissima
Authors: Kasson M. T. , O’Neal E. S. , Davis D. D.
Published: November 2014

The naturally occurring Verticillium nonalfalfae has been proposed as a biocontrol agent against the highly invasive Ailanthus altissima in the eastern United States. We tested 71 nontarget woody species for susceptibility to the potential biocontrol agent. In the field, only devil’s walkingstick (17% incidence) and striped maple (3%) acquired infections through natural spread from infected A. altissima (100%). Staghorn sumac (16% incidence) also exhibited wilt in close proximity to diseased Ailanthus, although V. nonalfalfae was never recovered. Stem inoculations, which are highly artificial in that they bypass root defenses and flood the xylem with millions of conidia, induced varying levels of wilt and mortality in 10 nontarget species from which V. nonalfalfae was reisolated, although recovery and crown rebuilding occurred following initial wilt in several species including sassafras and northern catalpa. Thirty-seven of the 71 inoculated species exhibited vascular discoloration, although 23 of these species exhibited no outward symptoms (wilt, dieback) for up to 6 years postinoculation. However, V. nonalfalfae was reisolated from three of the 23 species, indicating a tolerant host response. Our results suggest that V. nonalfalfae is generally host-adapted to A. altissima with 78 of 78 A. altissima seed sources from 26 states and Canada showing susceptibility, and offers support for adoption and dissemination of V. nonalfalfae to combat the highly invasive A. altissima.
Stunted Patches in Onion Bulb Crops in Oregon and Washington: Etiology and Yield Loss
Authors: Sharma-Poudyal Dipak , Paulitz Timothy C. , du Toit Lindsey J.
Published: November 2014

Onion stunting caused by Rhizoctonia spp. is an important soilborne disease on very sandy soils in the Columbia Basin of Oregon and Washington. From 2010 to 2013, 251 isolates of Rhizoctonia or Rhizoctonia-like spp. were obtained from soil and onion plant samples collected from inside and outside patches of stunted plants in 29 onion fields in the Columbia Basin. Sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was used to identify the isolates, with 13 anastomosis groups (AGs) or subspecies detected. The most frequent was Waitea circinata var. circinata (25%), followed by Rhizoctonia solani AG 3 (17%), R. solani AG 4 (14%), Ceratobasidium sp. AG A (10%), R. solani AG 8 (7%), Ceratobasidium sp. AG K (6%), R. solani AG 2-1 (6%), W. circinata var. zeae (6%), R. solani AG 5 (4%), Ceratobasidium sp. AG G (2%), R. solani AG 11 (2%), and R. solani AG 1-1B and AG 10 (each <1%). However, the distribution of AGs and subspecies varied depending on whether soil or onion plants samples were collected within or adjacent to patches of stunted onion plants. In an attempt to predict the risk of onion stunting for a field prior to planting, DNA concentrations of AG 2-1, AG 3, AG 4, and AG 8 were quantified from bulk soil samples collected from each of nine growers’ fields approximately 1 month before onion sowing in 2012. The preplant DNA concentrations did not show a significant association with the amount of stunting observed in the fields during the growing season. In contrast, the frequency of isolation and DNA concentration of R. solani AG 8 detected in soil samples collected during the growing season were greater from inside patches of stunted onion plants than from adjacent healthy areas of an onion crop sampled in 2012, but not for soil samples collected similarly from an onion crop in 2013. AG 2-1, AG 3, and AG 4 DNA concentrations did not differ significantly in soil sampled inside versus outside stunted patches in the fields sampled in 2012 and 2013. Relationships between the number of bulbs harvested or bulb weight versus severity of stunting were defined using correlation and regression analyses for six onion cultivars grown in seven fields surveyed in 2012 and 2013. Onion stunting reduced the average marketable bulb yield by 25 to 60% within stunted patches of the six cultivars. Stunting did not reduce onion plant stand but consistently reduced the size of bulbs, and yield reduction increased with increasing disease severity.
Identification and Genetic Diversity of Formae Speciales of Setosphaeria turcica in China
Authors: Tang L. , Gao Z. G. , Yao Y. , Liu X.
Published: November 2014

Setosphaeria turcica is an important pathogen that causes northern leaf blight of corn and sorghum. In total, 188 isolates were isolated from diseased leaves of maize and sorghum in China. However, differences in morphology were not apparent among S. turcica isolates derived from different hosts. The formae speciales were identified as S. turcica. f. sp. zeae and S. turcica. f. sp. sorghi. Universally primed polymerase chain reaction (UP-PCR) analysis led to the conclusion that genetic differences were present among these formae speciales and divided these isolates into five clades. The isolates of each clade belonged to the same forma specialis, and different formae speciales were assigned to different clades. The results of the present study demonstrated that pathogenic specialization of the S. turcica isolate correlated more closely with genetic diversity than geographical distribution. Therefore, combined with assays for pathogenicity, UP-PCR analysis yields an enhanced understanding of the formae speciales of S. turcica.
Effect of Temperature on Growth and Sporulation of US-22, US-23, and US-24 Clonal Lineages of Phytophthora infestans and Implications for Late Blight Epidemiology
Authors: Seidl Johnson Anna C. , Frost Kenneth E. , Rouse Douglas I. , Gevens Amanda J.
Published: November 2014

Epidemics of late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary, have been studied by plant pathologists and regarded with great concern by potato and tomato growers since the Irish potato famine in the 1840s. P. infestans populations have continued to evolve, with unique clonal lineages arising which differ in pathogen fitness and pathogenicity, potentially impacting epidemiology. In 2012 and 2013, the US-23 clonal lineage predominated late blight epidemics in most U.S. potato and tomato production regions, including Wisconsin. This lineage was unknown prior to 2009. For isolates of three recently identified clonal lineages of P. infestans (US-22, US-23, and US-24), sporulation rates were experimentally determined on potato and tomato foliage and the effect of temperature on lesion growth rate on tomato was investigated. The US-22 and US-23 isolates had greater lesion growth rates on tomato than US-24 isolates. Sporulation rates for all isolates were greater on potato than tomato, and the US-23 isolates had greater sporulation rates on both tomato and potato than the US-22 and US-24 isolates. Experimentally determined correlates of fitness were input to the LATEBLIGHT model and epidemics were simulated using archived Wisconsin weather data from four growing seasons (2009 to 2012) to investigate the effect of isolates of these new lineages on late blight epidemiology. The fast lesion growth rates of US-22 and US-23 isolates resulted in severe epidemics in all years tested, particularly in 2011. The greater sporulation rates of P. infestans on potato resulted in simulated epidemics that progressed faster than epidemics simulated for tomato; the high sporulation rates of US-23 isolates resulted in simulated epidemics more severe than simulated epidemics of isolates of the US-22 and US-24 isolates and EC-1 clonal lineages on potato and tomato. Additionally, US-23 isolates consistently caused severe simulated epidemics when lesion growth rate and sporulation were input into the model singly or together. Sporangial size of the US-23 isolates was significantly smaller than that of US-22 and US-24 isolates, which may result in more efficient release of sporangia from the tomato or potato canopy. Our experimentally determined correlates of fitness and the simulated epidemics resulting from their incorporation into the LATEBLIGHT model suggest that US-23 isolates of P. infestans may have the greatest fitness among currently prevalent lineages and may be the most likely lineage to persist in the P. infestans population. The US-23 clonal lineage has been documented as the most prevalent lineage in recent years, indicating its overall fitness. In our work, US-23 had the highest epidemic potential among current genotypes. Given that epidemic potential is a component of fitness, this may, in part, explain the current predominance of the US-23 lineage.
Incidence of ‘Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus’-Infected Plants Among Citrandarins as Rootstock and Scion Under Field Conditions
Authors: Boava Leonardo Pires , Sagawa Cíntia Helena Duarte , Cristofani-Yaly Mariângela , Machado Marcos Antonio
Published: November 2014

Huanglongbing (HLB), caused by the bacterium ‘Candidatus Liberibacter’ spp., is currently one of the most serious diseases of citrus plants and has caused substantial economic losses. Thus far, there is no source of genetic resistance to HLB in the genus Citrus or its relatives. However, several studies have reported Poncirus trifoliata and some of its hybrids to be more tolerant to the disease. The main objective of this study was to report differences in the incidence of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ infection in citrandarin plants, hybrids from Sunki mandarin (Citrus sunki (Hayata) hort. ex Tanaka), and trifoliate orange Rubidoux (P. trifoliata (L.) Raf.)), after conducting an extensive survey under field conditions. These hybrid plants were established for approximately 7 years in an area with a high incidence of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’-infected plants. We selected two experimental areas (area A and area B), located approximately 10 m apart. Area A consists of Pera sweet orange (C. sinensis (L.) Osb.) grafted onto 56 different citrandarin rootstocks. Area B consists of citrandarin scions grafted onto Rangpur lime (C. limonia Osb.) rootstock. Bacteria in the leaves and roots were detected using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The incidence of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’-infected plants was 92% in area A and 14% in area B. Because infected plants occurred in both areas, we examined whether the P. trifoliata hybrid rootstock influenced HLB development and also determined the distribution of ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’ in Citrus tree tissues. Although this survey does not present evidence regarding the resistance of P. trifoliata and its hybrids in relation to bacteria or psyllids, future investigation, mainly using the most promising hybrids for response to ‘Ca. L. asiaticus’, will help us to understand the probable mechanism of defense or identifying compounds in P. trifoliata and its hybrids that are very important as strategy to combat HLB. Details of these results are presented and discussed in this article.
Spontaneous symmetry breaking in gauge theories
Authors: Kibble T. W. B.
Published: November 2014

The aim of this historical article is to describe the development of the idea of spontaneous symmetry breaking in gauge theories as seen from my perspective as a member of Abdus Salam's group at Imperial College London, UK. Beginning with an account of particle physics in the years after the Second World War, I describe early attempts at constructing a unified theory of weak and electromagnetic interactions, the obstacles encountered and how they were eventually overcome with the mass-generating mechanism incorporating the idea of spontaneous symmetry breaking, one of whose features is the now-famous Higgs boson.
Genesis of the Large Hadron Collider
Authors: Smith Chris Llewellyn
Published: November 2014

This paper describes the scientific, technical and political genesis of the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It begins with an outline of the early history of the LHC, from first thoughts and accelerator and detector developments that underwrote the project, through the first studies of the LHC and its scientific potential and the genesis of the experimental programme, to the presentation of the proposal to build the LHC to the CERN Council in December 1993. The events that led to the proposal to build the LHC in two stages, which was approved in December 1994, are then described. Next, the role of non-Member State contributions and of the agreement that CERN could take loans, which allowed single stage construction to be approved in December 1996, despite a cut in the Members' contributions, are explained. The paper concludes by identifying points of potential relevance for the approval of possible future large particle physics projects.
The pre-LHC Higgs hunt
Authors: Dissertori G.
Published: November 2014

Enormous efforts at accelerators and experiments all around the world have gone into the search for the long-sought Higgs boson, postulated almost five decades ago. This search has culminated in the discovery of a Higgs-like particle by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN's Large Hadron Collider in 2012. Instead of describing this widely celebrated discovery, in this article I will rather focus on earlier attempts to discover the Higgs boson, or to constrain the range of possible masses by interpreting precise data in the context of the Standard Model of particle physics. In particular, I will focus on the experimental efforts carried out during the last two decades, at the Large Electron Positron collider, CERN, Geneva, Switzerland, and the Tevatron collider, Fermilab, near Chicago, IL, USA.
Identifying multiple coral reef regimes and their drivers across the Hawaiian archipelago
Authors: Jouffray Jean-Baptiste , Nyström Magnus , Norström Albert V. , Williams Ivor D. , Wedding Lisa M. , Kittinger John N. , Williams Gareth J.
Published: November 2014

Loss of coral reef resilience can lead to dramatic changes in benthic structure, often called regime shifts, which significantly alter ecosystem processes and functioning. In the face of global change and increasing direct human impacts, there is an urgent need to anticipate and prevent undesirable regime shifts and, conversely, to reverse shifts in already degraded reef systems. Such challenges require a better understanding of the human and natural drivers that support or undermine different reef regimes. The Hawaiian archipelago extends across a wide gradient of natural and anthropogenic conditions and provides us a unique opportunity to investigate the relationships between multiple reef regimes, their dynamics and potential drivers. We applied a combination of exploratory ordination methods and inferential statistics to one of the most comprehensive coral reef datasets available in order to detect, visualize and define potential multiple ecosystem regimes. This study demonstrates the existence of three distinct reef regimes dominated by hard corals, turf algae or macroalgae. Results from boosted regression trees show nonlinear patterns among predictors that help to explain the occurrence of these regimes, and highlight herbivore biomass as the key driver in addition to effluent, latitude and depth.
Synchronous marine pelagic regime shifts in the Northern Hemisphere
Authors: Beaugrand G. , Conversi A. , Chiba S. , Edwards M. , Fonda-Umani S. , Greene C. , Mantua N. , Otto S. A. , Reid P. C. , Stachura M. M. , Stemmann L. , Sugisaki H.
Published: November 2014

Regime shifts are characterized by sudden, substantial and temporally persistent changes in the state of an ecosystem. They involve major biological modifications and often have important implications for exploited living resources. In this study, we examine whether regime shifts observed in 11 marine systems from two oceans and three regional seas in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) are synchronous, applying the same methodology to all. We primarily infer marine pelagic regime shifts from abrupt shifts in zooplankton assemblages, with the exception of the East Pacific where ecosystem changes are inferred from fish. Our analyses provide evidence for quasi-synchronicity of marine pelagic regime shifts both within and between ocean basins, although these shifts lie embedded within considerable regional variability at both year-to-year and lower-frequency time scales. In particular, a regime shift was detected in the late 1980s in many studied marine regions, although the exact year of the observed shift varied somewhat from one basin to another. Another regime shift was also identified in the mid- to late 1970s but concerned less marine regions. We subsequently analyse the main biological signals in relation to changes in NH temperature and pressure anomalies. The results suggest that the main factor synchronizing regime shifts on large scales is NH temperature; however, changes in atmospheric circulation also appear important. We propose that this quasi-synchronous shift could represent the variably lagged biological response in each ecosystem to a large-scale, NH change of the climatic system, involving both an increase in NH temperature and a strongly positive phase of the Arctic Oscillation. Further investigation is needed to determine the relative roles of changes in temperature and atmospheric pressure patterns and their resultant teleconnections in synchronizing regime shifts at large scales.
Mixture models reveal multiple positional bias types in RNA-Seq data and lead to accurate transcript concentration estimates
Authors: Tuerk Andreas , Wiktorin Gregor , Güler Serhat
Published: November 2014

Quantification of RNA transcripts with RNA-Seq is inaccurate due to positional fragment bias, which is not represented appropriately by current statistical models of RNA-Seq data. This article introduces the Mix2(rd. ”mixquare”) model, which uses a mixture of probability distributions to model the transcript specific positional fragment bias. The parameters of the Mix2model can be efficiently trained with the Expectation Maximization (EM) algorithm resulting in simultaneous estimates of the transcript abundances and transcript specific positional biases. Experiments are conducted on synthetic data and the Universal Human Reference (UHR) and Brain (HBR) sample from the Microarray quality control (MAQC) data set. Comparing the correlation between qPCR and FPKM values to state-of-the-art methods Cufflinks and PennSeq we obtain an increase in R2value from 0.44 to 0.6 and from 0.34 to 0.54. In the detection of differential expression between UHR and HBR the true positive rate increases from 0.44 to 0.71 at a false positive rate of 0.1. Finally, the Mix2model is used to investigate biases present in the MAQC data. This reveals 5 dominant biases which deviate from the common assumption of a uniform fragment distribution. The Mix2software is available athttp://www.lexogen.com/fileadmin/uploads/bioinfo/mix2model.tgz.
Crystal structure of ethyl 4-[(1H-pyrazol-1-yl)methyl]benzoate
Authors: Wang Ju-Xian , Feng Chao
Published: November 2014

In the title molecule, C13H14N2O2, the dihedral angle between the pyrazole and benzene ring mean planes is 76.06 (11)°, and the conformation of the ethyl side chain isanti[C—O—C—C = −175.4 (3)°]. In the crystal, the only directional interactions are very weak C—H ...π interactions involving both the pyrazole and benzene rings, leading to the formation of a three-dimensional network.
Crystal structure of (Z)-1-(ferrocenylethynyl)-10-(phenylimino)anthracen-9(10H)-one from synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction
Authors: Nishibori Eiji , Aoyagi Shinobu , Sakata Makoto , Sakamoto Ryota , Nishihara Hiroshi
Published: November 2014

In the title compound, [Fe(C5H5)(C27H16NO)], designed and synthesized to explore a new electron-donor (D) and -acceptor (A) conjugated complex, the two cyclopentadienyl rings adopt an eclipsed conformation. The anthracene tricycle is distorted towards a butterfly conformation and the mean planes of the outer benzene rings are inclined each to other at 22.7 (3)°. In the crystal, molecules are paired into inversion dimersviaπ–π interactions. Weak intermolecular C—H...π interactions link further these dimers into one-dimensional columns along thebaxis, with the ferrocenylethynyl arms arranged between the stacks to fill the voids.
Design and development of a controlled pressure/temperature set-up forin situstudies of solid–gas processes and reactions in a synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction station
Authors: Salas-Colera Eduardo , Muñoz-Noval Álvaro , Heyman Catherine , Ania Conchi O. , Parra José B. , García-Granda Santiago , Calero Sofía , Rubio-Zuazo Juan , Castro Germán R.
Published: November 2014

A novel set-up has been designed and used for synchrotron radiation X-ray high-resolution powder diffraction (SR-HRPD) in transmission geometry (spinning capillary) forin situsolid–gas reactions and processes in an isobaric and isothermal environment. The pressure and temperature of the sample are controlled from 10−3to 1000 mbar and from 80 to 1000 K, respectively. To test the capacities of this novel experimental set-up, structure deformation in the porous material zeolitic imidazole framework (ZIF-8) by gas adsorption at cryogenic temperature has been studied under isothermal and isobaric conditions. Direct structure deformations by the adsorption of Ar and N2gases have been observedin situ, demonstrating that this set-up is perfectly suitable for direct structural analysis underin operandoconditions. The presented results prove the feasibility of this novel experimental station for the characterization in real time of solid–gas reactions and other solid–gas processes by SR-HRPD.
Identification of a Buried Cadaver Based on Finger Ridge Characteristics of a Hand Protected by a Latex Glove
Authors: Klemczak Krzysztof , Szczepański Tomasz M. , Więckiewicz Urszula , Kulczyk Tomasz
Published: November 2014

This paper presents the case of a cadaver buried in a pine grove, in loamy soil at a depth of about 1.8 m. The case is quite interesting due to the fact that one hand of the victim was bare and the other one was clad in a latex glove. In the laboratory, the severed hands were gently washed with water. The left palm exhibited signs of advanced decomposition. The ridges were visible only on the thumb. The gloved hand was found to be in much better condition. There were signs of saponification on the palm. Ridges on both the palm and all fingers were visible. The fingers of the right hand, palm prints, and the thumb of the left hand were successfully matched against a ten‐print card. The match provided the police with a positive identification of the missing person.
Arg972 insulin receptor substrate‐1 polymorphism and risk and severity of rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Zhao Hongjun , Liu Shiqing , Long Mei , Peng Lijuan , Deng Hongxiang , You Yunhui
Published: November 2014

Aim

To explore the association between the Arg972 insulin receptor substrate (IRS)‐1 polymorphism (rs1801278) and the risk and disease activity/severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Method

We genotyped the Arg972 IRS‐1 polymorphism in 871 pairs of age‐, sex‐, body mass index‐, residence area‐ and current smoking status‐matched RA patients and controls. We assessed RA severity using the disease activity score of 28 joints (DAS28).

Results

The AA (homozygous Arg972 IRS‐1) and GA (heterozygous Arg972 IRS‐1) genotypes were significantly associated with high risk of RA with or without adjustment for comorbidities (P < 0.001). The A allele was significantly associated with high risk of RA (P < 0.001). The AA genotype was significantly associated with high/severe RA activity (P < 0.001), while the GG genotype (wild type IRS‐1) had protective effects.

Conclusion

The Arg972 IRS‐1 polymorphism is associated with increased risk and disease activity/severity of RA, and therefore may be a potential prognostic factor for RA. This study adds novel insights into the pathogenesis of RA.
Corticosterone: effects on feather quality and deposition into feathers
Authors: Jenni‐Eiermann Susanne , Helfenstein Fabrice , Vallat Armelle , Glauser Gaétan , Jenni Lukas
Published: November 2014

The concentration of the glucocorticoid hormone corticosterone (CORT) is increasingly used in ecology and conservation biology as an integrated measure of the historical record of an individual's hypothalamo–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) activity during feather growth. However, where and how CORT is incorporated in feathers is incompletely known.

We therefore examined whether CORT is reliably measured with an enzyme immunoassay, where CORT is incorporated in the feather and where it affects feather quality, and whether CORT incorporation is related to plasma CORT levels, feather growth rate and melanin pigmentation.

During the regrowth of plucked tail feathers, we injected pigeons with tritium‐labelled CORT, and implanted a CORT‐releasing pellet to increase plasma CORT concentration for about 3 days. In feather segments, we measured labelled CORT (DPM3H) and we quantified CORT with an enzyme immunoassay EIA (CORTEIA) and double‐checked the results with ultra‐high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LCMS) (CORTMS).

Administered CORT affected feather structure and colour at the very base of the feather (epidermal collar, ramogenic zone) and reduced growth rate. In contrast, incorporation of CORT into the feather happened mainly in the blood quill, as shown with all three methods (DPM3H, CORTEIA and CORTMS).

Incorporation of CORT into feathers was only roughly proportional to plasma concentration, proportional to feather growth rate and increased with melanin pigmentation.

Measuring CORT in feather is a way to reveal past events of increased stress during feather growth in birds.
Acquiring Competence in Oncology Nursing Skills Through the Use of Film: A Study Protocol
Authors: Raga‐Chardi Rosa , Iglesias‐Parra Maria R. , García‐Mayor Silvia , Kaknani Shakira , García‐Guerrero Alfonso , Morales‐Asencio Jose M.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

To determine the influence of movies as a teaching resource with nursing students to improve their ability to cope with challenging scenarios in oncology nursing, as well as their competence to identify nursing diagnoses in these patients.

Methods

Cluster, randomized controlled trial with nursing students at the University of Málaga (Spain).

Measures

Accuracy of nursing diagnoses, perceived stressors, death anxiety, empathy, level of decision making, and cognitive closure.

Conclusions

This study will provide information about the efficacy of movies to improve the competence in nursing students for the care of oncology patients, as well as their diagnostic reasoning.

Implications for Nursing Practice

If significant modifications are obtained, this approach can be an important resource applicable to other contexts of patient care.
Chronic Pain: Content Validation of Nursing Diagnosis in Slovakia and the Czech Republic
Authors: Zeleníková Renáta , Maniaková Lenka
Published: November 2014

Purpose

The main purpose of the study was to validate the defining characteristics and related factors of the nursing diagnosis “chronic pain” in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Methods

This is a descriptive study. The validation process involved was based on Fehring's Diagnostic Content Validity Model.

Findings

Three defining characteristics (reports pain, altered ability to continue previous activities, and depression) were classified as major by Slovak nurses, and one defining characteristic (reports pain) was classified as major by Czech nurses.

Conclusion

The results of the study provide guidance in devising strategies of pain assessment and can aid in the formulation of accurate nursing diagnoses.

Implications for Nursing Practice

The defining characteristic “reports pain” is important for arriving at the nursing diagnosis “chronic pain.”
Are rodents a source of biotic resistance to tree invasion in Pampean grasslands? Tree seed consumption under different conditions
Authors: Muschetto Emiliano , Mazia Noemí , Cueto Gerardo R. , Busch María
Published: November 2014

Biotic resistance has been invoked as a major barrier to woody species invasion, although the role of resident generalist consumers and their interaction with seed availability in a local community has received little attention. We assessed tree seed consumption by rodents under two different scenarios: (i) We documented in field spatio‐temporal patterns of seed predation by native rodents on two exotic tree species, Gleditsia triacanthos or ‘honey locust’ and Robinia pseudoacacia or ‘white locust’ (family Leguminosae), in five grassland habitats of the Inland Pampa, Argentina. (ii) We conducted laboratory feeding trials to evaluate tree seed consumption in the presence (cafeteria‐style feeding trials) and in the absence (non‐choice feeding trials) of alternative food supplies. Seed predation was generally higher for Robinia than for Gleditsia seeds, both in field and laboratory conditions. For both tree species, seed predation varied between habitats and seasons and was higher in the native tussock grassland than in the remaining studied communities, whereas the crop field showed the lowest levels of consumption along with the absence of captured rodents. Seed consumption of Gleditsia and Robinia among the four grassland communities (which did not differ in rodent abundance) was negatively associated with the availability of alternative food. Laboratory feeding trials showed a higher consumption of Gleditsia seeds in the non‐choice than in the cafeteria‐style feeding trials, while the consumption of Robinia seeds did not differ in the absence or presence of alternative seeds. These patterns indicate that the contribution of resident granivores to invasion resistance might depend on colonizer species identity, recipient community type and season of the year. We suggest that rodent preferences for different invader seeds will interact with the availability of alternative food in the local habitat in influencing the amount of predator‐mediated biotic resistance to invasion.
Caregiver distress in dementia in rural Victoria
Authors: Ervin Kaye , Pallant Julie , Reid Carol
Published: November 2014

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore the levels of stress, anxiety and depression of informal carers caring for someone with dementia in a rural setting.

Methods

Carers of people with dementia were recruited to complete a survey that incorporated the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) to measure carer emotional well‐being. The survey also included the Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire (NPI‐Q), which assesses the presence and severity of behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) of care recipients and their effects on the carer.

Results

A total of 39 carers completed surveys. Almost half of the respondents reported levels of stress and depression in the moderate to severe range as measured on the DASS. BPSD exhibited by care recipients, such as agitation, anxiety, aggression and nocturnal disturbance, were associated with the level of stress reported by the carer as measured with the NPI‐Q.

Conclusion

Caring for care recipients who exhibit BPSD predisposes carers in rural areas to high levels of stress and depression. Regular, periodic screening of carers is required to detect abnormal levels of stress, depression and anxiety in order to enable timely introduction of interventions.
Getting a Fair Share: Attitudes and Perceptions of Biobank Stakeholders Concerning the Fairness of Sample Sharing
Authors: Colledge Flora , Elger Bernice
Published: November 2014

Biobanks are essential tools for furthering a broad range of medical research areas. However, despite the plethora of national and international laws and guidelines which apply to them, the access and sharing policies of biobanks are only sparsely addressed by regulatory bodies. The ‘give and take’ process of biosample sharing is largely left up to biobank stakeholders themselves to oversee; it is therefore both in stakeholders' power, and in their interest, to ensure that sample accessibility is fair. This is an important step in motivating researchers to collaborate and pool samples, and is crucial to fostering trust in the absence of universally accepted standard practices. To date, little attention has been paid to how fairness considerations affect scientific material sharing, and no empirical research has been carried out to determine the role that fairness plays in collaborative studies. In order to begin to gain understanding in this area, we interviewed 36 biobank stakeholders currently working in Switzerland, focusing on their perceptions of current and optimal fair sharing practices. Our findings reveal that fairness is an important feature of exchange situations for these stakeholders, and that they have well‐formed notions about the practical elements of fair sample access, although ideas about the concept of fairness itself are vague. In order to support efforts to network biobanks, attention should be paid to this issue to reassure all involved that they are getting a fair share in their cooperative efforts.
Rethinking Informed Consent in Research on Heroin‐Assisted Treatment
Authors: Uusitalo Susanne , Broers Barbara
Published: November 2014

Can heroin addicts give consent to research on trials in which heroin is prescribed to them? Analyses of addicts and informed consent have been objects of debate in several articles. Informed consent requires the agent not only to be competent but also to give consent voluntarily. This has been questioned because of alleged features of heroin addiction. Until recently the discussion has focused on heroin addicts' desires for heroin, whether these are irresistible and thus pose a problem for giving consent. Still, in light of empirical evidence, there seems to be a consensus more or less that the problem is not whether the addicts can resist their desire for heroin. A recent article concentrates specifically on heroin addicts' false assumptions of options and voluntariness. We argue that the prevailing framing of the options in this discussion in terms of heroin and access to it is problematic. The way in which the options are typically laid out suggests an assumption that participation in the research is allegedly based on the addicts' views on using the drug. We argue that this way of presenting the options is, first, a mismatch to the studies carried out and, second, symptomatic of potential misconceptions about heroin addiction and addicts. Furthermore, we also suggest that the account of voluntariness needs to be realistic in order for subjects to be able to give consent voluntarily in actual situations, and for medical research to carry out studies on improving outcomes in addiction treatment in an ethical way.
The messenger between worlds: the regulation of innate and adaptive type‐2 immunity by innate lymphoid cells
Authors: Scanlon S. T. , McKenzie A. N. J.
Published: November 2014

Although type‐2 immune responses evolved primarily to defend against extracellular helminths, in part through the co‐opting of tissue repair and remodeling mechanisms, they are often inappropriately directed towards relatively innocuous allergens resulting in conditions including asthma, allergic rhinitis, food allergy, and atopic dermatitis. The recent discovery of group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) has increased our understanding of the initiation of these responses and the roles played by CD4+ T helper (Th) 2 cells in their modulation. This review focuses on the important messenger role of ILC2 in translating epithelial‐derived alarmins into downstream adaptive type‐2 responses via dendritic cells and T cells, with special emphasis on their roles in allergic disease.
Partial rescue of mucopolysaccharidosis type VII mice with a lifelong engraftment of allogeneic stem cells in utero
Authors: Ihara Norimasa , Akihiro Umezawa , Onami Naoko , Tsumura Hideki , Inoue Eisuke , Hayashi Satoshi , Sago Haruhiko , Mizutani Shuki
Published: November 2014

In utero hematopoietic cell transplantation (IUHCT) has been performed in Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII (MPSVII) mice, but a lifelong engraftment of allogeneic donor cells has not been achieved. In this study, we sought to confirm a lifelong engraftment of allogeneic donor cells immunologically matched to the mother and to achieve partial rescue of phenotypes in the original MPSVII strain through IUHCT by intravenous injection. We performed in vitro fertilization in a MPSVII murine model and transferred affected embryos to ICR/B6‐GFP surrogate mothers in cases where fetuses receiving IUHCT were all homozygous. Lineage‐depleted cells from ICR/B6‐GFP mice were injected intravenously at E14.5. Chimerism was confirmed by flow cytometry at 4 weeks after birth, and β‐glucuronidase activity in serum and several phenotypes were assessed at 8 weeks of age or later. Donor cells in chimeric mice from ICR/B6‐GFP mothers were detected at death, and were confirmed in several tissues including the brains of sacrificed chimeric mice. Although the serum enzyme activity of chimeric mice was extremely low, the engraftment rate of donor cells correlated with enzyme activity. Furthermore, improvement of bone structure and rescue of reproductive ability were confirmed in our limited preclinical study. We confirmed the lifelong engraftment of donor cells in an original immunocompetent MPSVII murine model using intravenous IUHCT with cells immunologically matched to the mother without myeloablation, and the improvement of several phenotypes.
The clinical utility of whole‐exome sequencing in the context of rare diseases – the changing tides of medical practice
Authors: Nguyen M.T. , Charlebois K.
Published: November 2014

Whole‐exome sequencing (WES) carries the potential to facilitate the identification of disease causing genes. This is particularly relevant concerning rare diseases, which proves particularly difficult for physicians to diagnose. However, the complexity of this technology renders its applicability onto the clinical setting uncertain. Our study thus aims to understand physicians' perspectives regarding the clinical utility of WES, particularly for providing a diagnosis for patients with rare diseases. Ten semi‐structured interviews were conducted with physicians with experience and familiarity with WES, and the major themes that emerged from our interviews were (i) the relevance of WES in diagnosing patients with rare diseases (appropriateness); (ii) the cost‐effectiveness of WES (accessibility), (iii) the practical issues related to the clinical implementation of WES (practicability); and (iv) ethical, legal and social issues (acceptability). Our study highlights how the clinical implementation of WES presents additional challenges where rare diseases are taken into consideration.
Children's Public Participation, Middle‐Class Families and Emotions
Authors: Kiili Johanna
Published: November 2014

The article examines the activities of a municipal children's parliament (the TCP) in a middle‐sized Finnish town. The article focuses on members of the TCP board and their parents and the emphasis is on parents' views as very little research exists on family background in relation to children's public participation. All the participating families were middle‐class, both as self‐defined and according to their socioeconomic background. The parents studied detailed different emotions they and their children experienced as members of the children's parliament. The article illustrates that being a middle‐class child and participating in civic activities is not an uncomplicated description of privilege. Children and parents engaged in the TCP board displayed three distinct strategies, to interpret and support engagement in the structure; as hobbyists, school‐oriented or ambivalently engaged. They had to cope with feelings of pressure and stress over workload and the conflict between having peer‐related problems in school versus the future civic competencies and advantages held out to TCP office holders. The article extends the understanding of participation to include discussion of social class and emotions and calls for further research on these themes.
What happens after R1 resection in patients undergoing laparoscopic total mesorectal excision for rectal cancer? A study in 333 consecutive patients
Authors: Debove C. , Maggiori L. , Chau A. , Kanso F. , Ferron M. , Panis Y.
Published: November 2014

Aim

There are no studies on the respective influence of microscopic involvement at the circumferential (R1c) and the distal margin (R1d) of the surgical specimen on oncological results after laparoscopic mesorectal excision.

Method

We studied 333 consecutive patients undergoing laparoscopic mesorectal excision for cancer. An R1 resection was defined a by a circumferential and/or distal margin of 1 mm or less.

Results

Forty (12%) patients had an R1 resection including R1c [n = 28 (70%)], R1d [n = 7 (18%)] or both [n = 5 (12%)]. After a mean of 28 (0–97) months, comparisons of R1 with R0 resection were as follows: mortality 10% and 4% (NS), overall recurrence 48% and 19% (P < 0.001), 2‐year disease‐free survival rate 51% and 76% (P < 0.001) and overall survival (OS) rate 91% and 96% (NS). For R1c patients mortality was 14% (4% for R0; P = 0.026), overall recurrence 46% (19% for R0; P = 0.028) and 2‐year OS 88% (96% for R0; P = 0.025). No significant differences were found between R1d and R0. The metastatic recurrence rate was greater in R1c then R0 (29% vs 12%; P = 0.036) but not for R1d (14% vs 12%; NS). Locoregional recurrence rates of R1c (7%) and R1d (0%) were similar to R0 (4%).

Conclusion

This study shows that the poorer prognosis observed after R1 resection for rectal cancer is due to circumferential rather than distal involvement. This is mainly related to a higher rate of metastatic recurrence.
An Evolutionary Analysis of Learned Attention
Authors: Hullinger Richard A. , Kruschke John K. , Todd Peter M.
Published: November 2014

Humans and many other species selectively attend to stimuli or stimulus dimensions—but why should an animal constrain information input in this way? To investigate the adaptive functions of attention, we used a genetic algorithm to evolve simple connectionist networks that had to make categorization decisions in a variety of environmental structures. The results of these simulations show that while learned attention is not universally adaptive, its benefit is not restricted to the reduction of input complexity in order to keep it within an organism's processing capacity limitations. Instead, being able to shift attention provides adaptive benefit by allowing faster learning with fewer errors in a range of ecologically plausible environments.