bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Predictors of Nursing Home Placement in Parkinson's Disease: A Population‐Based, Prospective Study
Authors: Aarsland Dag , Larsen Jan Petter , Tandberg Elise , Laake Knut
Published: April 2015

OBJECTIVES: To examine the rate and predictors of nursing home placement in patients with Parkinson's disease.

DESIGN: Four‐year prospective study.

SETTING: A population‐based study in western Norway

PARTICIPANTS: 178 community‐dwelling subjects with Parkinson's disease.

MEASUREMENTS: Main outcome measure was the time from baseline to nursing home admission. Baseline evaluation of motor symptoms (Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale, UPDRS), cognition (clinical dementia interview, Gottfries, Bråne & Steen dementia scale, and Mini‐Mental State Examination), depression (clinical interview and the Montgomery & Åsberg Depression Rating Scale), and psychotic symptoms (UPDRS Thought Disorder item) were performed.

RESULTS: Forty‐seven patients (26.4%) were admitted to a nursing home during the 4‐year study period. Institutionalized patients were older, had more advanced Parkinson's disease with more severe motor symptoms and impairment of activities of daily living, were cognitively more impaired, were more often living alone, and had more hallucinations than those who continued to live at home. Duration of disease, levodopa dose, and gender distribution did not differ between the two groups. A Cox proportional hazards linear regression analysis showed that old age, functional impairment, dementia, and hallucinations were independent predictors of nursing home admission.

CONCLUSIONS: Both motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms contributed to institutionalization, but the presence of hallucinations was the strongest predictor. This finding indicates it is possible that effective treatment of hallucinations may reduce the need for institutionalization in patients with Parkinson's disease. J Am Geriatr Soc 48:938–942, 2000.
Immunologic Response to a Single Dose of Tetanus Toxoid in Older People
Authors: Shohat Tamy , Marva Esther , Sivan Yoram , Lerman Ilana , Mates Avraham , Cohen Avital
Published: April 2015

OBJECTIVES: Several studies have demonstrated that a large percentage of older people are inadequately immunized against tetanus. The aim of this study was to assess the immunity against tetanus in a group of individuals aged 69 and older and to examine the immune response to a single dose of tetanus toxoid.

DESIGN: A convenience sample of 115 residents of a large retirement home, aged 69 and older, was studied. After a blood sample for anti‐tetanus antibody titer, a single dose of tetanus toxoid vaccine was administered. Repeat titers were obtained 6 weeks after the vaccination and analyzed by ELISA assay. Antibody levels equal to or greater than 0.1IU/mL were considered protective.

RESULTS: Sixty‐seven of 115 (58.3%) individuals had adequate antibody titers. Those individuals who reported having been vaccinated with tetanus toxoid in the past were more likely to be immunized adequately compared with those who reported having never been vaccinated (66.7% vs 39.3%, P = .02). After vaccination, 34 of 46 (73.9%) individuals with inadequate antibody titers became seropositive. Those who remained seronegative had mean prevaccination antibody titers significantly lower than those who seroconverted. Sixteen of 17 (94.1%) persons who reported having been vaccinated in the past and were found to be seronegative developed adequate antibody titers following vaccination, compared with only nine of 16 (56.2%) who reported never having been vaccinated (P = .04). There was no association between seroconversion rate and age, sex, underlying diseases, and army service.

CONCLUSIONS: Most individuals will develop an adequate anti‐tetanus antibody titer following administration of a single dose of tetanus vaccine. A history of past immunization is a good predictor of becoming adequately immunized. It is important that physicians follow the current recommendations for adult immunization and initiate campaigns to ensure that the older population is protected against tetanus. J Am Geriatr Soc 48:949–951, 2000.
Breast Cancer Screening for Older Women in a Primary Care Practice
Authors: Tishler Julie , McCarthy Ellen P. , Rind David M. , Hamel Mary Beth
Published: April 2015

OBJECTIVE: To determine rates of breast cancer screening for older women cared for in a primary care practice and to identify associations between patient and physician characteristics and breast cancer screening.

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of older women.

SETTING: An urban hospital‐based academic general medicine practice. This practice uses a computerized medical record and office procedures that facilitate tracking and ordering of mammograms.

PARTICIPANTS: A random sample of 130 women aged 65 to 80 who receive primary care at a hospital‐based general medicine practice.

MEASUREMENTS: Data were collected from the hospital's computerized medical record. We recorded all clinical breast exams and mammograms performed or recommended during the 2‐year study period.

RESULTS: The median age of the 130 women studied was 71, and 21% of the women were black. Most patients had no serious comorbid illness (69%) and were independent in their activities of daily living (92%). During the 2‐year study period, mammography was recommended for 95% of women and completed for 84%, and clinical breast exam was performed on 75%. Patients of male physicians had higher rates of mammography than patients of female physicians (89% vs 75%, P = .045). Patients of faculty physicians had higher rates of clinical breast exam than patients of house officers or fellows (83% vs 56%, P = .001).

CONCLUSIONS: We report a very high rate of mammography for women cared for at a hospital‐based primary care practice. The systems in place to facilitate ordering and tracking of mammograms probably contributed to the unusually high rate of mammography observed. J Am Geriatr Soc 48:961–966, 2000.
Molten Salt Synthesis, Polymorphism, and Microwave Dielectric Properties of Ba8NiTa6O24 Perovskite
Authors: Gong Meilu , Lu Fengqi , Kuang Xiaojun , Yu Xiaodi , Wang Quanchao , Li Xiaohui , Fang Liang
Published: April 2015

Molten salt synthesis (MSS) of the eight‐layer hexagonal perovskite Ba8NiTa6O24 was performed using mixed KCl–NaCl salts in comparison with solid‐state synthesis (SSS). In the SSS, the hexagonal Ba8NiTa6O24 formed at 1300°C via a reaction between cubic Ba3NiTa2O9 and hexagonal Ba5Ta4O15. While the MSS did not lower the synthesis temperature of the hexagonal Ba8NiTa6O24 but stabilized an unusual A‐ and B‐site‐deficient cubic perovskite polymorph of Ba8NiTa6O24 below 1350°C as an intermediate phase prior to transforming into the hexagonal phase. This cubic polymorph contains ~3% A‐site and ~9.5% B‐site vacancies plus ~3% Ba cations in the B sites and demonstrated remarkable stability below 1350°C when without presence of the molten salt. The cubic polymorph displayed larger ε ~ 36 and τf ~ 110 ppm/°C than the hexagonal polymorph from the MSS (ε ~ 29 and τf ~ 67 ppm/°C). The hexagonal SSS‐processed ceramics showed advantageous dielectric properties (Qf ~ 52 000 GHz, τf ~ 30 ppm/°C) over both cubic and hexagonal MSS‐processed ones (Qf ~ 18 600–20 000 GHz), while displaying anisotropic grain growth. The anisotropic grain growth was suppressed significantly by the MSS processing.
Porosity–Property Relationships of Plasma‐Sprayed Gd2Zr2O7/YSZ Thermal Barrier Coatings
Authors: Bakan Emine , Mack Daniel Emil , Mauer Georg , Mücke Robert , Vaßen Robert
Published: April 2015

During the past decade, gadolinium zirconate (Gd2Zr2O7, GZO) has attracted interest as an alternative material to partially yttria‐stabilized zirconia (YSZ) for thermal barrier coatings (TBCs). Despite the well‐known benefits of GZO, such as lower thermal conductivity and superior temperature capability compared to YSZ, processing of GZO via atmospheric plasma spraying (APS) still remains a challenge. Here, we report on APS experiments which were performed to investigate the influence of processing on GZO microstructure and lifetime of GZO/YSZ double‐layer TBCs. Different microstructures of GZO were produced and characterized in terms of porosity, stoichiometry, Young′s modulus, and their effects on the lifetime of YSZ/GZO double‐layer TBCs were discussed. Particle diagnostics were utilized for the optimization of the process parameters with respect to different microstructures of GZO and stoichiometry. It was found that both cumulative porosity of GZO and pore size distribution, which alter the Young′s modulus significantly, govern the lifetime of double layers. In addition, it was shown that the deviation in GZO stoichiometry due to gadolinia evaporation in the investigated range does not display any critical effect on lifetime.
Comparison of three methods for measuring psoriasis severity in clinical studies (Part 2 of 2): use of quality of life to assess construct validity of the Lattice System Physician's Global Assessment, Psoriasis Area and Severity Index and Static Physician's Global Assessment
Authors: Simpson M.J. , Chow C. , Morgenstern H. , Luger T.A. , Ellis C.N.
Published: April 2015

Background

Systems for determining psoriasis severity in clinical trials have not been sufficiently validated against patients’ perceived quality of life.

Objective

To validate three systems of physician‐determined psoriasis severity (the Lattice System Physician's Global Assessment [LS‐PGA], Psoriasis Area and Severity Index [PASI] and static Physician's Global Assessment [sPGA]).

Methods

Data were from a 24‐week randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, multicenter trial of therapy with oral calcineurin inhibitors in 445 patients. Construct validity was measured by correlations of the three severity scores with patients’ self‐reported quality of life (QoL) from the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and a DLQI item about psoriasis symptoms.

Results

All severity systems were moderately and positively correlated with QoL, indicating construct validity. QoL was most consistently related to physicians’ assessments of body surface area involved with psoriasis (iBSA) followed by, in the order of consistency, plaque elevation, erythema and scale.

Conclusions

The LS‐PGA weights iBSA and aspects of plaque morphology in concert with their relative effects on QoL. The LS‐PGA, sPGA and PASI are validated by their relationship to QoL in a clinical trial.
Comparison of three methods for measuring psoriasis severity in clinical studies (Part 1 of 2): change during therapy in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index, Static Physician's Global Assessment and Lattice System Physician's Global Assessment
Authors: Chow C. , Simpson M.J. , Luger T.A. , Chubb H. , Ellis C.N.
Published: April 2015

Background

Accurate and reliable assessment of changes in psoriasis severity is critical in clinical trials of therapies.

Objective

To compare Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), static Physician's Global Assessment (sPGA), and the Lattice System Physician's Global Assessment (LS‐PGA) in a trial of systemic treatments for plaque psoriasis vulgaris and to assess whether they measure change in psoriasis induced by therapy.

Methods

Patients were randomized to voclosporin or cyclosporine for 24 weeks (the ‘24‐week‐treatment’ group, n = 366), or placebo for 12 weeks followed by voclosporin for 12 weeks (the ‘initial‐placebo’ group, n = 89).

Results

All scoring systems changed in concert and were sensitive enough to detect reductions in severity during placebo therapy as well as with active therapy (P < 0.01 for each measurement). At study onset, there were poorer correlations of sPGA with PASI (r = 0.45) and LS‐PGA (r = 0.39) than between PASI and LS‐PGA (r = 0.68). After therapy, all correlations were stronger, but sPGA continued to be less well correlated (with PASI, r = 0.85; with LS‐PGA, r = 0.79) than LS‐PGA with PASI (r = 0.90). Two‐ or three‐step improvements in LS‐PGA showed very good to excellent accuracy in corresponding to PASI‐50 and PASI‐75, respectively, and were more accurate than comparable changes in sPGA.

Conclusion

PASI, sPGA and LS‐PGA are responsive to the varying degrees of improvement in psoriasis induced by either placebo or active therapy. While the three systems capture similar information, each has different reasons for use in a clinical trial.
Is an online skin cancer toolkit an effective way to educate primary care physicians about skin cancer diagnosis and referral?
Authors: Gulati A. , Harwood C.A. , Rolph J. , Pottinger E. , Mcgregor J.M. , Goad N. , Proby C.M.
Published: April 2015

Background

Skin disorders account for over 20% of GP consultations. Half of dermatology referrals to secondary care are for skin lesions, but only 12% of urgent skin cancer referrals are deemed appropriate. Suitably designed online learning resources may positively impact GP confidence in the recognition of skin cancer and improve patient outcomes.

Objective

This study evaluated the impact of a national, online, skin cancer recognition toolkit on GP confidence and knowledge in diagnosing skin cancers and referral behaviour to secondary care.

Methods

The toolkit, consisting of a referral decision aid, lesion recognition resource, clinical cases and a quiz, was launched in March 2012. Website usage statistics and online focus groups were used to assess the usability of the website and perceived changes in behaviour. The impact of the toolkit was assessed using national skin cancer referral data, cross‐sectional questionnaires and urgent skin cancer referral data to two NHS trusts.

Results

The toolkit was accessed by 20% of GPs in England from 20th March to 31st October 2012; spending a mean of over 5 minutes each, with over 33% return users. A survey revealed that the toolkit improved perceptions of skin cancer training and self‐reported knowledge about skin cancer referral pathways. Analysis of referral patterns did not identify an impact of the toolkit on number or appropriateness of urgent skin cancer referrals in the eight months following the launch of the website. Online focus groups confirmed the usefulness of the resource and suggested a positive influence on knowledge and referral behaviour.

Conclusion

The skin cancer toolkit is an accessible online learning resource for improving confidence with skin cancer referral amongst GPs. Although we were unable to identify any immediate changes in skin cancer diagnoses or appropriate referral behaviours, research is required to evaluate its longer term effects on outcomes.
Identification and field and laboratory tests of the sex pheromone of Cerconota anonella Sepp. (Lepidoptera: Oecophoridae)
Authors: Pires E. V. , Mendonça A. de L. , Vaníčková L. , Serra N. S. J. , da Silva R. de C. C. , dos Santos D. C. , Campos R. da S. , Sant'Ana A. E. G. , do Nascimento R. R.
Published: April 2015

The Annona fruit borer, Cerconota anonella Sepp., is a serious agricultural pest in many tropical areas of the world. The identification of an attractant for male C. anonella could offer new methods for pest detection and control. A mixture of compounds extracted from female C. anonella elicited antennal depolarization in the male borer. These compounds were identified as octadecanal, 1‐octadecanol, octadecyl acetate, (Z)‐octadec‐9‐enal (Z9‐18:Ald), (Z)‐octadec‐9‐en‐1‐ol (Z9‐18:OH) and [(Z)‐octadec‐9‐enyl] acetate (Z9‐18:Ac) by one‐ and two‐dimensional gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. In laboratory bioassays, synthetic individual compounds as well as synthetic mixtures were found to be attractive to males. In addition, field tests using Delta traps with 1 mg of the ternary mixture composed of Z9‐18:Ac, Z9‐18:Ald and Z9‐18:OH in the ratio of 1 : 3 : 5 caught as many males as traps containing virgin females. The ternary mixture of Z9‐18:Ac, Z9‐18:Ald and Z9‐18:OH was identified as attractant to C. anonella males and can be used to detect and control populations of this insect in Annonaceae plantations.
Behavioural responses in a net restraint test predict interrenal reactivity in Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus
Authors: Magnhagen C. , Backström T. , Øverli Ø. , Winberg S. , Nilsson J. , Vindas M. A. , Brännäs E.
Published: April 2015

In this study, a 1 min net restraint test was evaluated as a method to predict stress‐coping style in Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus, by investigating the relationship between behaviour during the test and levels of plasma cortisol sampled after 30 min confinement. In two separate groups of S. alpinus, general linearized model revealed significant correlations between cortisol levels and principal component scores extracted from principal component analysis, combining measures of activity in the tests. With the use of glmulti, the model selection ruled out any effects of size, sex and order of capture on interrenal reactivity. In general, S. alpinus that were more active in the net restraint test also had low levels of circulating cortisol, suggesting a proactive coping style. The results from two repeated runs were not correlated, but both runs, performed eight days apart, show a negative correlation between post‐stress cortisol level and activity in the net. The lack of consistency could be explained by different treatments before each run and individual differences in behavioural plasticity. The net restraint test is thus predictive of stress‐coping style in S. alpinus, and has the benefit of being less time‐consuming than the commonly used confinement stress test.
Extraction of Kiwifruit Seed (Actinidia Deliciosa) Oil Using Compressed Propane
Authors: Coelho Renata , Kanda Luis R.S. , Hamerski Fabiane , Masson Maria Lucia , Corazza Marcos L.
Published: April 2015

This study reports the extraction of kiwifruit seed oil using compressed propane as solvent and its modeling based on the Brunauer–ETmmett–Teller theory of adsorption. Temperature and pressure were the variables investigated on the kinetics of extraction. The overall extraction yields were compared with the Soxhlet extraction with n‐hexane. Most of extraction conditions using compressed propane have presented high extraction rates and overall extraction yield of 31.7 ± 1.4%. The kinetic model used showed to be able and very reliable to correlate the different conditions of extraction with compressed propane. Furthermore, the alternative extraction technique investigated in this work was found to be suitable for the oil extraction from kiwifruit seeds after short times of extraction.

Practical Applications

Compressed propane extraction is an environment‐friendly technology that can be efficiently used in oilseed extractions. A product that is free of residual solvent and without degradation of thermolabile compounds highlights the use of compressed propane as solvent for applications in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. The kiwifruit seed oil, which is predominately constituted by α‐linolenic acid (ALA), was efficiently extracted using compressed propane with a maximum extraction yield in a short time of extraction. The mathematical model applied to represent the kinetics of extraction is based on three parameters with physical meaning and it may be easily and reliably used in modeling, design, simulation and optimization, as well as in the scale‐up of this extraction process.
Limitations of the linear and the projection approximations in three‐dimensional transmission electron microscopy of fully hydrated proteins
Authors: KOECK P.J.B. , KARSHIKOFF A.
Published: April 2015

We establish expressions for the linear and quadratic terms in the series expansion of the phase and the phase and amplitude object description of imaging thin specimens by transmission electron microscopy. Based on these expressions we simulate the corresponding contributions to images of unstained protein complexes of varying thickness and arrive at an estimate for how much each term contributes to the contrast of the image. From this we can estimate a maximum specimen thickness for which the weak phase and the weak amplitude and phase object approximation (and therefore linear imaging) is still reasonably accurate.

When discussing thick specimens it is also necessary to consider limitations due to describing the image as a filtered projection of the specimen, since the different layers of the specimen are not imaged with the same defocus value. We therefore compared simulations based on the projection approximation with the more accurate multislice model of image formation. However, we find that the errors due to nonlinear image contributions are greater than those due to the defocus gradient for the defocus values chosen for the simulations.

Finally, we study how the discussed nonlinear image contributions and the defocus gradient affect the quality of three‐dimensional reconstructions. We find that three‐dimensional reconstructions reach high resolution when at the same time exhibiting localized systematic structural errors.
The development of confocal arthroscopy as optical histology for rotator cuff tendinopathy
Authors: WU J.‐P. , WALTON M. , WANG A. , ANDERSON P. , WANG T. , KIRK T.B. , ZHENG M.H.
Published: April 2015

MRI, ultrasound and video arthroscopy are traditional imaging technologies for noninvasive or minimal invasive assessment of the rotator cuff tendon pathology. However, these imaging modalities do not have sufficient resolution to demonstrate the pathology of rotator cuff tendons at a microstructural level. Therefore, they are insensitive to low‐level tendon diseases. Although traditional histology can be used to analyze the physiology of rotator cuff tendons, it requires biopsy that traumatizes the rotator cuff, thus, potentially comprising the mechanical properties of tendons. Besides, it cannot offer real‐time histological information. Confocal endoscopy offers a way to assess the microstructural disorder in tissues without biopsy. However, the application of this useful technique for detecting low‐level tendon diseases has been restricted by using clinical grade fluorescent contrast agent to acquire high‐resolution microstructural images of tendons. In this study, using a clinical grade sodium fluorescein contrast agent, we have reported the development of confocal arthroscopy for optical histological assessment without biopsy. The confocal arthroscopic technique was able to demonstrate rotator cuff tendinopathy in human cadavers, which appeared macroscopically normal under video arthroscopic examinations. The tendinopathy status of the rotator cuff tendons was confirmed by corresponding traditional histology. The development of confocal arthroscopy may provide a minimally invasive imaging technique for real‐time histology of rotator cuff without the need for tissue biopsy. This technique has the potential for surgeons to gain in real time the histological information of rotator cuff tendons, which may assist planning repair strategies and potentially improve intervention outcomes.
Identification of precursor microRNAs within distal axons of sensory neuron
Authors: Kim Hak Hee , Kim Paul , Phay Monichan , Yoo Soonmoon
Published: April 2015

A set of specific precursor microRNAs (pre‐miRNAs) are reported to localize into neuronal dendrites, where they could be processed locally to control synaptic protein synthesis and plasticity. However, it is not clear whether specific pre‐miRNAs are also transported into distal axons to autonomously regulate intra‐axonal protein synthesis. Here, we show that a subset of pre‐miRNAs, whose mature miRNAs are enriched in axonal compartment of sympathetic neurons, are present in axons of neurons both in vivo and in vitro by quantitative PCR and by in situ hybridization. Some pre‐miRNAs (let 7c‐a and pre‐miRs‐16, 23a, 25, 125b‐1, 433, and 541) showed elevated axonal levels, while others (pre‐miRs‐138‐2, 185, and 221) were decreased in axonal levels following injury. Dicer and KSRP proteins are also present in distal axons, but Drosha is found restricted to the cell body. These findings suggest that specific pre‐miRNAs are selected for localization into distal axons of sensory neurons and are presumably processed to mature miRNAs in response to extracellular stimuli. This study supports the notion that local miRNA biogenesis effectively provides another level of temporal control for local protein synthesis in axons.

image

We showed that a subset of specific precursor miRNAs are transported into distal axons of sensory neurons and that the levels of these precursor miRNAs change in response to injury. We proposed that injury could invoke a change in axonal miRNA levels, effectively providing a means to turn translation of specific mRNAs on or off within the spatial confines of the distal axon.
Taming Wicked Problems: The Role of Framing in the Construction of Corporate Social Responsibility
Authors: Reinecke Juliane , Ansari Shaz
Published: April 2015

While scholars have explained how business has increasingly taken on regulatory roles to address social and environmental challenges, less attention has been given to the process of how business is made responsible for wicked problems. Drawing on a study of ‘conflict minerals’ in the Democratic Republic of Congo, we examine the process through which companies became responsible for a humanitarian crisis. We contribute by: (1) bridging insights from contentious performance and deliberative approaches – to present a model of corporate political responsibilization for a wicked problem that explains how a ‘field frame’ of responsibility can emerge; (2) explaining shifting boundaries between public and private responsibilities and the changing role of the state as catalytic rather than coercive; and (3) showing how responsibility can be attributed to a target by framing an issue and its root cause in ways that allow such an attribution, and how the attribution can diffuse and solidify.
Precise Disease Severity Assessment for False Smut Disease of Rice
Authors: Dhua Urmila , Dhua Sudhi R. , Sahu Rabindra K.
Published: April 2015

False smut is a disease of rice inflorescence. The existing systems of disease severity assessment for rice false smut disease are not very sensitive as the ball quality and also the impact of false smut on filled grain number and grain‐filling were not under consideration. Here, a precise assessment method to evaluate the severity of the disease was developed. The ‘yield representative’ (YR) based on ‘mean floret wt.’ and ‘filled grain %’ was simulated for the precise disease severity assessment of rice false smut disease. The single floret weight envisages major yield components irrespective of the type of panicle. Correlation between YR and major yield attributes was studied, and it was observed that YR had significant correlation with ‘filled grain %’ (0.77–0.95) and ‘single spikelet weight’ (0.88–0.98). Significant negative correlation of YR was observed with the chaff percentage, false smut ball number and ball weight. This YR‐based methodology was utilized to assess the disease severity in nine rice cultivars. The disease severity in those nine cultivars was evaluated by the already existing methodologies also. The disease severity measured by the present technique was compared with the disease severity assessed by the old methodologies. The procedure adapted here for disease severity measurement was found to be more informative and useful. It was observed that in case of mild infection, the false smut was enhancing yield attributes. The high‐yielding rice varieties Savitri and Gayatri were found to be tolerant to false smut and may be used as resistant donors.
Effects of Epoxiconozale and Pyraclostrobin Fungicides in the Infection Process of Hemileia vastatrix on Coffee Leaves as Determined by Chlorophyll a Fluorescence Imaging
Authors: Honorato Júnior Jaime , Zambolim Laércio , Duarte Henrique Silva Silveira , Aucique‐Pérez Carlos Eduardo , Rodrigues Fabrício Ávila
Published: April 2015

Coffee is the most traded commodity in the world, and Brazil is its largest producer. Coffee leaf rust, caused by the biotrophic fungus Hemileia vastatrix, is the most important coffee disease, reducing coffee yield by 35–50%. This study aimed to use the ratio of variable and maximum fluorescence of dark‐adapted tissue (Fv/Fm) as a parameter to differentiate presymptomatic tissue from healthy tissue during disease development in plants sprayed with pyraclostrobin and epoxiconazole after 4 days postinoculation. Visual severity was considered as an indicative of apparent disease and true severity as an indicative of both apparent and non‐apparent disease. There was a significant linear relationship between the areas of true severity and visual severity, and for each additional unit in the visual severity, there was an increase of 1.53 units on the true severity. For the epoxiconazole and pyraclostrobin treatments, coffee leaf rust symptoms decreased according to both visual and Fv/Fm images. Pustules on the leaves sprayed with epoxiconazole were smaller in size than those on the leaves of non‐sprayed plants but bigger than those sprayed with pyraclostrobin. The reduction in Fv/Fm values at the pustule epicentres present on the leaves of plants sprayed with epoxiconazole, and pyraclostrobin was greater than those of the non‐sprayed plants. This finding was expected and reflects the importance of these fungicides in prohibiting the progress of coffee leaf rust. The photosynthetic capacity of Coffea arabica was affected by H. vastatrix infection, and the Fv/Fm parameter was able to show this effect before the visual symptoms were noticed.
The relationship between consumption of beverages and tooth wear among adults in the United States
Authors: Okunseri Christopher , Wong May C. M. , Yau David T. W. , McGrath Colman , Szabo Aniko
Published: April 2015

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence and severity of tooth wear (TW) and its relationship with consumption of beverages among adults in the United States.

Methods

The National Health and Nutrition Examinations Survey data for 2003‐2004 was analyzed. TW was defined as “wear on at least one surface of at least one examined tooth.” Drink/juice consumption was ascertained via a Food Frequency Questionnaire processed with Diet*Calc software to obtain the average daily consumption frequency for all queried drinks and juice categories including milk. Survey‐weighted descriptive and multivariable analyses with interaction terms were performed.

Results

Our study sample consisted of 3,773 adults (aged 20 and above). Eighty percent of the subjects had evidence of TW, and soft drinks were the most consumed beverage. Significant interactions between the effects of age, gender, and race/ethnicity on TW were found (P < 0.001). After adjustment for demographic factors, consumption of fruit drinks was found to be significantly associated with the severity [odds ratio (OR) = 1.32 and 1.42], but not prevalence of TW. However, this trend was reversed for grape juice consumption (OR = 0.34, 0.41).

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that a substantial proportion of adults had evidence of TW, which was affected by demographic factors in a complex way. Fruit drinks consumption in adults was associated with the severity of TW, but not with the prevalence of TW after adjusting for demographics. These findings are important for the development of appropriate treatment guidelines, public policy, and programs aimed at reducing TW in adults.
Effect of oral administration of probiotics on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility and stress‐related indicators in Holstein calves
Authors: Zhang R. , Zhou M. , Tu Y. , Zhang N. F. , Deng K. D. , Ma T. , Diao Q. Y.
Published: April 2015

This study aimed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with Lactobacillus plantarum and Bacillus subtilis on growth performance, apparent nutrient digestibility and stress‐related indicators in dairy calves. Twenty‐four neonatal Holstein calves were randomly allocated to three treatments: a basal diet with no supplementation (control), the basal diet supplemented with 1.7 × 1010 CFU per head per day (CFU/h.d) of L. plantarum GF103 (LB group) or the basal diet supplemented with a mixture of L. plantarum GF103 (1.7 × 1010 CFU/h.d) and B. subtilis B27 (1.7 × 108 CFU/h.d) (LBS group). Dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), feed conversation ratio (FCR), apparent digestibility of nutrients and stress‐related indicators were measured in this trail. The result indicated that no significant differences were observed in DMI or ADG (p > 0.05), but the FCR was improved in the LB group over the first 12 weeks (p > 0.05). The apparent digestibility of nutrients was not altered by probiotics in week 6 (p > 0.05), but the apparent digestibility of total phosphorus was significantly greater in the LB and LBS groups in week 8 (p > 0.05); additionally, an increase in the apparent digestibility of crude protein was detected in the LBS group (p > 0.05). Oral administration of L. plantarum alone improved the T‐lymphocyte transformation rate on days 58 and 62 (p > 0.05), while adding the mixture of L. plantarum and B. subtilis increased the T‐lymphocyte transformation rate (p > 0.05) but decreased the content of cortisol on day 58 (p > 0.05). No significant differences were detected between the LB and LBS groups in growth performance, apparent digestibility of nutrients and stress‐related indicators (p > 0.05). The results suggested that oral administration of L. plantarum improved growth performance, nutrient digestibility and relieved weaning stress in calves, but no additional effect was obtained by supplementation with B. subtilis.
Recurrent 3‐day cycles of water deprivation for over a month depress mating behaviour but not semen characteristics of adult rams
Authors: Khnissi S. , Lassoued N. , Rekik M. , Ben Salem H.
Published: April 2015

This study aimed to investigate the effect of water deprivation (WD) on reproductive traits of rams. Ten mature rams were used and allocated to two groups balanced for body weight. Control (C) rams had free access to drinking water, while water‐restricted rams (WD) were deprived from water for 3 consecutive days and early on the morning of day 4, they had ad libitum access to water for 24 h, similar to C animals. The experiment lasted 32 days, that is eight 4‐day cycles of water deprivation and subsequent watering. Feed and water intake were significantly affected by water deprivation; in comparison with C rams, WD rams reduced their feed intake by 18%. During the watering day of the deprivation cycle, WD rams consumed more water than C rams on the same day (11.8 (SD = 3.37) and 8.4 (SD = 1.92) l respectively; p < 0.05). Glucose, total protein and creatinine were increased as a result of water deprivation. However, testosterone levels were lowered as a result of water deprivation and average values were 10.9 and 6.2 (SEM 1.23) ng/ml for C and WD rams respectively (p < 0.05). Semen traits were less affected by treatment; WD rams consistently had superior sperm concentrations than C animals; and statistical significances were reached in cycles 5 and 8 of water deprivation. Several mating behaviour traits were modified as a result of water deprivation. When compared to controls, WD rams had a more prolonged time to first mount attempt (p < 0.001), their frequency of mount attempts decreased [6.8 vs. 5.2 (SEM 0.1); p < 0.001] and their flehmen reaction intensity was negatively affected (p < 0.05). Water deprivation may have practical implications reducing the libido and therefore the serving capacity of rams under field conditions.
Education of Children with Intellectual Disabilities in Slovenia
Authors: Schmidt Majda , Brown Ivan
Published: April 2015

In the Republic of Slovenia, the concept of inclusion was formally codified with the adoption of the Placement of Children with Special Needs Act (2000, 2007), which calls for inclusive education of students with special needs in settings as close to their homes as possible. Despite numerous innovations, Slovenian legislation still maintains a dual education system. Some students with special needs are educated separately from age peers in special schools/institutions (specialization), while others attend regular schools along with age peers (inclusion). This dichotomy results from thinking that many children with special needs (especially those with intellectual disability) are not able to achieve at the standards set for their age peers, that schools have not provided adapted programs to accommodate lower expectations of academic achievement, that many Slovenian school teachers do not have suitable skills and knowledge appropriate for educating children with special needs, and that most schools lack the capacity and resources that permit teachers to focus on children with special needs. Strategies for bringing about needed changes in practice are required, and some of these key strategies include: enforce the legal provisions enabling children with special needs to receive appropriate schooling; institute prevention processes of the improper placement of children with disabilities; constitute a strategic plan for effective inclusive education of children with intellectual disability; comprehensively monitor and evaluate education practices and inform education policy‐makers of findings; and involve special schools and institutions in the implementation of inclusion of students with intellectual disability in regular schools.
Mixed‐Norm Spaces and Prediction of SαS Moving Averages
Authors: Cheng Raymond , Harris Charles B.
Published: April 2015

Suppose that
is an i.i.d. symmetric α‐stable noise, 1 < α < 2, and consider the moving average process
given by
. Conditions are obtained for the convergence rate of the moving average series, as well as that of the inverted (autoregressive) representation
. These conditions are expressed in terms of the associated function
and its reciprocal belonging to certain mixed‐norm spaces of functions on the open unit disc. Properties of these spaces are explored. Criteria are also derived for the rate of mixing in a certain sense.
Evaluation of the Effects of Different Fermentation Methods on Dough Characteristics
Authors: Balestra Federica , Pinnavaia Gian Gaetano , Romani Santina
Published: April 2015

Dough characteristics as affected by different preferment types and fermentation times were evaluated. A dough type was obtained with yeasted stiff preferment (60% water), fermented for a long period (biga‐type dough – B) and another one made with a semiliquid preferment (100% water), obtained with sourdough and fermented for a short period (poolish‐type dough – P). The doughs obtained were compared with a standard dough (direct dough – D). During the first 60 min of fermentation, pH, titratable acidity, volume, empirical and fundamental rheological properties and gas cells number were evaluated. During fermentation time, all doughs underwent structural changes related mainly to an increase of resistance to the extension and a decrease of area and extensibility, with a noticeable change in volume and pH. Between all samples, B dough was the stiffest reaching the lowest volume (44.3 mL), the highest storage modulus (G′ = 10,982 Pa) and resistance to extension (31.78 g).

Practical Applications

This research provides practical information regarding how different fermentation methods (biga type, poolish type and direct method) can influence textural properties, pH, volume development and inner structure of doughs. During fermentation time, all doughs underwent structural changes depending on the fermentation methods used. The modifications are related mainly to an increase of resistance to the extension and a decrease of area and extensibility, with a noticeable change in volume and pH. Results indicate that different fermentation methods affect the dough characteristics. This information would be of benefit to the bakery products industry to optimize the main dough characteristics choosing the appropriate fermentation method, depending on the bakery product to realize.
Masseter moment arm as a dietary proxy in herbivorous ungulates
Authors: Varela L. , Fariña R. A.
Published: April 2015

The moment arms of jaw muscles and the hypsodonty index (HI) have been widely used to infer diet preferences in extinct species. Here, we intend to evaluate the use of the masseter moment arm and HI as dietary proxies in herbivorous ungulates and analyse its relations to diet preference, habitat selection and two continuous variables: percentage of grass in natural diet (%Grass) and annual precipitation (PREC). Masseter moment arm (Mm) showed a strong correlation to diet preference and %Grass but not for habitat selection and PREC. Contrarily, HI showed similar correlation with diet preference and %Grass but also with habitat selection and PREC. The results show that Mm predominately reflects adaptation to tougher, rich in grass diets, while HI, as previously found, indicates adaptation to the wear effect of both diet and environment. This approach has been useful in identifying the habits of two extinct very large Pleistocene South American ungulates. Macrauchenia patachonica, an extinct litoptern, is interpreted as an open‐habitat high browser and Toxodon platensis, an extinct notoungulate, as a grazer.
Substratum preferences of the invasive killer shrimp Dikerogammarus villosus
Authors: Kobak J. , Jermacz Ł. , Dzierżyńska‐Białończyk A.
Published: April 2015

The ability to select appropriate substratum in a patchy environment is crucial for food availability, reproductive success, anti‐predator defence and resistance to other environmental dangers. Therefore, even euryecious invasive species may exhibit clear substratum preferences, contributing to their success in novel areas. We used 24‐h pairwise‐choice experiments to study substratum preferences of the highly invasive freshwater Ponto‐Caspian gammarid Dikerogammarus villosus (Amphipoda, Crustacea). We tested its preferences for stony substrata of various grain diameters (2–124 mm), macrophytes differing in structural complexity (Myriophyllum spicatum, Ceratophyllum demersum, Potamogeton perfoliatus, Potamogeton nodosus, Stuckenia pectinata) and zebra mussels. We hypothesized that: (1) gammarids would select substrata adjusted to their body size and offering maximum protection; (2) mussels would be the most preferred substratum except in high densities, which lead to deterioration of water quality; (3) large gammarids would displace smaller conspecifics to worse substratum. Our results showed that large (>9 mm) and small (<7 mm) gammarids preferred stones >6 cm and between 6 and 8 cm, respectively, with relatively large empty spaces among particles (4–9 cm). Small gammarids selected complex plants, particularly M. spicatum, whereas large individuals also preferred less complex forms with large leaves (Pot. nodosus, Pot. perfoliatus). Small gammarids exhibited higher affinity for natural macrophytes than large individuals. All gammarids preferred stones over plants. Contrary to most of the published data, gammarids selected stones more often than dense zebra mussel colonies and did not discriminate between low density mussel and stone habitats. Oxygen depletion seems to be the factor distracting gammarids from mussel habitats. Thus, they seem to select mussel colonies only when alternative hard substrata are missing. Differences in substratum preferences between size classes were not pronounced, but small individuals switched to the less preferred habitat in the presence of adults, probably avoiding cannibalism and competition.
Hidden diversity in the freshwater planktonic diatom Asterionella formosa
Authors: Van den Wyngaert S. , Möst M. , Freimann R. , Ibelings B. W. , Spaak P.
Published: April 2015

Many freshwater and marine algal species are described as having cosmopolitan distributions. Whether these widely distributed morphologically similar algae also share a similar gene pool remains often unclear. In the context of island biogeography theory, stronger spatial isolation deemed typical of freshwater lakes should restrict gene flow and lead to higher genetic differentiation among lakes. Using nine microsatellite loci, we investigate the genetic diversity of a widely distributed freshwater planktonic diatom, Asterionella formosa, across different lakes in Switzerland and the Netherlands. We applied a hierarchical spatial sampling design to determine the geographical scale at which populations are structured. A subset of the isolates was additionally analysed using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Our results revealed complex and unexpected population structure in A. formosa with evidence for both restricted and moderate to high gene flow at the same time. Different genetic markers (microsatellites and AFLPs) analysed with a variety of multivariate methods consistently revealed that genetic differentiation within lakes was much stronger than among lakes, indicating the presence of cryptic species within A. formosa. We conclude that the hidden diversity found in this study is expected to have implications for the further use of A. formosa in biogeographical, conservation and ecological studies. Further research using species‐level phylogenetic markers is necessary to place the observed differentiation in an evolutionary context of speciation.
Applying ecological models to communities of genetic elements: the case of neutral theory
Authors: Linquist Stefan , Cottenie Karl , Elliott Tyler A. , Saylor Brent , Kremer Stefan C. , Gregory T. Ryan
Published: April 2015

A promising recent development in molecular biology involves viewing the genome as a mini‐ecosystem, where genetic elements are compared to organisms and the surrounding cellular and genomic structures are regarded as the local environment. Here, we critically evaluate the prospects of ecological neutral theory (ENT), a popular model in ecology, as it applies at the genomic level. This assessment requires an overview of the controversy surrounding neutral models in community ecology. In particular, we discuss the limitations of using ENT both as an explanation of community dynamics and as a null hypothesis. We then analyse a case study in which ENT has been applied to genomic data. Our central finding is that genetic elements do not conform to the requirements of ENT once its assumptions and limitations are made explicit. We further compare this genome‐level application of ENT to two other, more familiar approaches in genomics that rely on neutral mechanisms: Kimura's molecular neutral theory and Lynch's mutational‐hazard model. Interestingly, this comparison reveals that there are two distinct concepts of neutrality associated with these models, which we dub ‘fitness neutrality’ and ‘competitive neutrality’. This distinction helps to clarify the various roles for neutral models in genomics, for example in explaining the evolution of genome size.