bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The complex link between forgiveness, PTSD symptoms and well-being in female victims of intimate partner stalking
Authors: Baldry Anna Costanza , Cinquegrana Vincenza , Regalia Camillo , Crapolicchio Eleonora
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and poor general health reported by female victims of intimate partner stalking (IPS) and victims’ forgiveness or lack of forgiveness towards their perpetrators, controlling for escalation of stalking, age of victims and dispositional forgiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 120 Italian female victims of IPS, who had obtained an administrative protective order (PO) issued by police in stalking cases (Ammonimento), took part in a retrospective study that examined the relationship between the presence or absence of victims’ forgiveness of perpetrators and victims’ PTSD symptoms and general well-being. Interviews took place after one, two or three years following the PO.

Findings

All participants reported some level of direct or indirect stalking, and up to 98 per cent had suffered both. In half of all cases, a PO had been breached within a year of its issuance. Positive forgiveness was not associated with lower PTSD symptoms and was marginally associated with well-being. Negative forgiveness (e.g. holding a grudge, desiring revenge) was associated with greater PTSD symptoms; holding a grudge was significantly associated with poorer general health.

Research limitations/implications

Victims of IPS experience a state of fear and anxiety due to the constant risk of being attacked, followed and controlled. Compared to studies about the protective role of forgiveness in community couples, this study found that among couples where stalking is present not only positive forgiveness does not take place at the same rate, but it is also not associated with the increased well-being. On the contrary, lack of forgiveness by stalked victims was related to PTSD symptoms and poorer health. Harbouring negative feelings, such a desire for revenge and holding a grudge towards a perpetrator, worsened woman’s mental health. These findings are novel and may assist the criminal justice system, law enforcement and service providers in their efforts to help women who are victims of IPS.

Originality/value

This study addresses the relationship between forgiveness and lack of forgiveness among victims of IPS and PTSD symptoms and victims’ poor health. Although longitudinal studies are needed to establish any causal relationship between stalking and mental health and the possibly mediating effects of forgiveness, this study is a first contribution to this important field of inquiry.
Citation personal display
Authors: Li Xingchen , Wu Qiang , Zhang Nan
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the extent to which researchers display citation information and examine whether there are researcher differences in citation personal display at the level of university, country, and academic rank.

Design/methodology/approach

Physicists from 11 well-known universities in USA, Britain, and China were chosen as the subjects of the study. It was manually identified if physicists had mentioned citation counts, citation-based indices, or a link to Google Scholar Citations on the personal websites. Aχ2test is constructed to test researcher differences in citation personal display.

Findings

Results showed that the overall proportion of citation personal display is not high (14.8 percent), with 129 of 870 physicists displaying citation. Moreover, physicists from different well-known universities indeed had a significant difference in citation personal display. Moreover, at the national level, it was noticed that physicists in well-known Chinese universities had the highest level of citation personal display, followed by Britain and the USA. Furthermore, this study also found that researchers who had the academic rank of professor had the highest citation personal display. In addition, the differences inh-index personal display by university, country, or academic rank were analyzed, and the results showed that they were not statistically significant.

Originality/value

This is the first study to investigate how widely researchers provide citation-based information on personal websites.
Parasites structuring ecological communities: The mistletoe footprint in Mediterranean pine forests
Authors: Mellado Ana , Zamora Regino
Published: May 2017

The capacity of parasitic plants in structuring natural communities is increasingly recognized. These plants can affect the structure, composition and productivity of plant communities by modifying the competitive balance between hosts and non‐host species and by altering the quantity and quality of resources entering the soil. Despite the progress made in this field, there is still a lack of integrative studies showing the structuring capacity of parasitic plants in forest ecosystems, where their effect may be less detectable due to the long life span of the system.

In this study we evaluate the long‐term impact of Viscum album subsp. austriacum on the woody‐plant community of a Mediterranean pineland. This mistletoe remains several years on the same host, exerting long‐lasting, spatially concentrated effects on community and ecosystem characteristics. Mistletoe concentrates zoochorous seeds and induces changes in the soil fertility and light availability beneath the canopy of parasitized trees, which have the potential to facilitate zoochorous–plant colonization, recruitment, and growth at the same time as it weakens the host. Here, we analyse whether mistletoe‐driven changes could result in a nucleus of zoochorous woody plants nourished by the abundant organic detritus accumulated under the host. We also analyse whether mistletoe effects can expand after host death.

We selected unparasitized, parasitized, and dead parasitized Pinus nigra trees, in which we studied the joint effect of mistletoe‐mediated changes in soil nutrient and light availability, with the seed rain, seed predation, seedling establishment, plant recruitment, and plant growth. Light‐ and soil‐nutrient resources were greater under parasitized trees, and intensified after host death. The seed rain was maximum under parasitized trees, where seedling recruitment proved more likely. Sapling density, richness, and growth increased with the development of parasitism.

Our findings show that V. album exerts a strong and lasting impact on the structure and dynamics of Mediterranean pinelands, with parasitized trees acting as centres for the establishment and growth of colonizing fleshy‐fruited woody species, which, over the long term, promote vegetation shifts by limiting dominant pine trees and facilitating less represented fleshy‐fruited shrubs.

A plain language summary
is available for this article.
Asymmetric winter warming advanced plant phenology to a greater extent than symmetric warming in an alpine meadow
Authors: Suonan Ji , Classen Aimée T. , Zhang Zhenhua , He Jin‐Sheng
Published: May 2017

The warming of terrestrial high‐latitude ecosystems, while increasing, will likely be asymmetric across seasons—where winter non‐growing seasons will warm more than summer‐growing seasons. Asymmetric winter warming in temperature‐sensitive ecosystems may delay spring phenological events by reducing the opportunity that a plants’ chilling requirement is met. Similarly, symmetric warming can advance spring phenology.

To explore the impact of asymmetric warming on plant phenology, we applied a year‐round warming and a winter warming treatment to our experimental plots. Over a 2‐year period, we monitored leaf‐out and flowering phenology for 11 plant species.

There was variation among species, however, both winter and year‐round warming, advanced the leaf‐out day and the first flowering day relative to the control treatment. Winter warming advanced leaf‐out and flowering phenology by 11.1 (±2.4) and 12.6 (±2.9) days respectively. However, year‐round warming had less of an impact advancing leaf‐out and flowering phenology by 5.1 (±2.1) and 10.0 (±3.0) days respectively.

Our study provides direct evidence that asymmetric winter warming has a larger impact on plant phenology than symmetric year‐round warming. Increasing soil temperature in the winter from below to above freezing temperatures advanced the spring phenology of alpine plants. Winter warming increased soil temperature more than year‐round warming, which explains why phenology advanced under winter warming more than under year‐round warming. In addition, early or mid‐season flowering plant species displayed different phenology strategies in warmer winters.

Relative to other ecosystems, alpine ecosystems such as the Tibetan Plateau will likely respond to asymmetric warming given the higher amplitude of winter temperature increases due to climatic warming. Our data indicate that seasonal variation in warming should be considered when predicting and modelling the response of alpine ecosystems to climatic change.

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is available for this article.
Individual and non‐additive effects of exotic sap‐feeders on root functional and mycorrhizal traits of a shared conifer host
Authors: Schaeffer Robert N. , Wilson Claire M. , Radville Laura , Barrett Mauri , Whitney Elizabeth , Roitman Sofia , Miller Esther R. , Wolfe Benjamin E. , Thornber Carol S. , Orians Colin M. , Preisser Evan L.
Published: May 2017

Forest pests drive tree mortality through disruption of functional traits linked to nutrient acquisition, growth and reproduction. The impacts of attack by individual or multiple above‐ground herbivores on root functional traits critical to tree health have received little attention. This is especially true for exotic herbivores, organisms often found in disturbed forests.

We excavated whole‐root systems from eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) individuals experimentally infested with hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA:Adelges tsugae) and elongate hemlock scale (EHS:Fiorina externa) individually, or in combination, for periods of 2 and 4 years. Below‐ground root biomass, functional traits and storage nutrients were measured to assess impacts of herbivory. We also quantified ectomycorrhizal fungal (EMF) colonisation of fine roots and used culture‐independent methods to examineEMFdiversity.

Trees infested withHWAhad a greater root mass fraction (root to total biomass ratio), although feeding had no observable effects on root functional traits (e.g. specific root length) or on resource allocation to roots.HWAfeeding did significantly reduceEMFcolonisation of hemlock fine roots, though surprisingly,EMFdiversity and that of other fungal associates were unaffected. In contrast toHWA,EHS(alone or in conjunction withHWA) feeding had no observable effect on below‐ground traits orEMFcolonisation alone; however, its presence mediatedHWAeffects when trees were co‐infested. Simultaneous infestation within the same year yielded significant reductions inEMFcolonisation, whereas priorEHSattack weakenedHWAeffects.

Our results collectively suggest that priorEHSattack dampens the impact ofHWAon below‐ground functional traits. This highlights how the timing and sequence of herbivore arrival can alter plant‐mediated interactions between herbivores and their effects on above–below‐ground linkages and associated tree health.

Aplain language summaryis available for this article.
Estimating demographic contributions to effective population size in an age‐structured wild population experiencing environmental and demographic stochasticity
Authors: Trask Amanda E. , Bignal Eric M. , McCracken Davy I. , Piertney Stuart B. , Reid Jane M.
Published: May 2017

A population's effective size (Ne) is a key parameter that shapes rates of inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity, thereby influencing evolutionary processes and population viability. However, estimating Ne, and identifying key demographic mechanisms that underlie the Ne to census population size (N) ratio, remains challenging, especially for small populations with overlapping generations and substantial environmental and demographic stochasticity and hence dynamic age‐structure.

A sophisticated demographic method of estimating Ne/N, which uses Fisher's reproductive value to account for dynamic age‐structure, has been formulated. However, this method requires detailed individual‐ and population‐level data on sex‐ and age‐specific reproduction and survival, and has rarely been implemented.

Here, we use the reproductive value method and detailed demographic data to estimate Ne/N for a small and apparently isolated red‐billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax) population of high conservation concern. We additionally calculated two single‐sample molecular genetic estimates of Ne to corroborate the demographic estimate and examine evidence for unobserved immigration and gene flow.

The demographic estimate of Ne/N was 0.21, reflecting a high total demographic variance () of 0.71. Females and males made similar overall contributions to . However, contributions varied among sex‐age classes, with greater contributions from 3 year‐old females than males, but greater contributions from ≥5 year‐old males than females.

The demographic estimate of Ne was ~30, suggesting that rates of increase of inbreeding and loss of genetic variation per generation will be relatively high. Molecular genetic estimates of Ne computed from linkage disequilibrium and approximate Bayesian computation were approximately 50 and 30, respectively, providing no evidence of substantial unobserved immigration which could bias demographic estimates of Ne.

Our analyses identify key sex‐age classes contributing to demographic variance and thus decreasing Ne/N in a small age‐structured population inhabiting a variable environment. They thereby demonstrate how assessments of Ne can incorporate stochastic sex‐ and age‐specific demography and elucidate key demographic processes affecting a population's evolutionary trajectory and viability. Furthermore, our analyses show that Ne for the focal chough population is critically small, implying that management to re‐establish genetic connectivity may be required to ensure population viability.
An age‐dependent fitness cost of migration? Old trans‐Saharan migrating spoonbills breed later than those staying in Europe, and late breeders have lower recruitment
Authors: Lok Tamar , Veldhoen Linde , Overdijk Otto , Tinbergen Joost M. , Piersma Theunis
Published: May 2017

Migration is a widespread phenomenon in the animal kingdom. On the basis of the considerable variation that exists between and within species, and even within populations, we may be able to infer the (age‐ and sex‐specific) ecological trade‐offs and constraints moulding migration systems from assessments of fitness associated with migration and wintering in different areas.

During three consecutive breeding seasons, we compared the reproductive performance (timing of breeding, breeding success, chick body condition and post‐fledging survival) of Eurasian spoonbills Platalea leucorodia that breed at a single breeding site in The Netherlands, but migrate different distances (c. 4,500 vs. 2,000 km, either or not crossing the Sahara) to and from wintering areas in southern Europe and West Africa. Using mark–recapture analysis, we further investigated whether survival until adulthood (recruitment probability) of chicks hatched between 2006 and 2010 was related to their hatch date and body condition.

Long‐distance migrants bred later, particularly the males, and raised chicks of poorer body condition than short‐distance migrants. Hatch dates strongly advanced with increasing age in short‐distance migrants, but hardly advanced in long‐distance migrants, causing the difference in timing of breeding between long‐ and short‐distance migrants to be more pronounced among older birds.

Breeding success and chick body condition decreased over the season, and chicks that fledged late in the season or in poor condition were less likely to survive until adulthood. As a result, long‐distance migrants—particularly the males and older birds—likely recruit fewer offspring into the breeding population than short‐distance migrants. This inference is important for predicting the population‐level consequences of changes in winter habitat suitability throughout the wintering range.

Assuming that the long‐distance migrants—being the birds that occupy the traditional wintering areas—are not the poorer quality birds, and that the observed age‐dependent patterns in timing of breeding are driven by within‐individual effects and not by selective disappearance, our results suggest that the strategy of long‐distance migration, involving the crossing of the Sahara to winter in West Africa, incurred a cost by reducing reproductive output, albeit a cost paid only later in life.
Intensive forest harvesting increases susceptibility of northern forest soils to carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus loss
Authors: Hume Alexandra M. , Chen Han Y. H. , Taylor Anthony R.
Published: May 2017

Understanding the impact of forest harvesting is critical to sustainable forest management, yet there remains much uncertainty regarding how harvesting affects soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) dynamics.

Here, we conducted a global meta‐analysis of 808 observations from 49 studies to test the effects of harvesting on the stocks and concentrations of soil C, N and P and C:N:P ratios relative to uncut control stands.

With all harvesting intensities combined, C stock was unaffected by harvesting in either the forest floor or mineral soil, while harvesting reduced forest floor [C], [N] and [P] and C:N ratio, increased the mineral soil [C] and C:N ratio, but reduced mineral soil N stock. The impacts of harvesting on forest floor C and N stocks, C:P and N:P and mineral soil [C] and [N] changed from no effects by partial, stem‐only and whole‐tree harvesting (WTH) to significantly negative effects by the harvesting coupled with fire. Stem‐only and WTH similarly reduced forest floor [P]. The negative effects of harvesting were most pronounced in conifer stands. Soil [C], [N] and C:N decreased with time since harvesting, but soil [P] did not, resulting in an increase in forest floor N:P.

Synthesis and applications. Our findings highlight the importance of harvest intensity and rotation length on long‐term soil nutrient availability when managing forests. Furthermore, the lag in the recovery of phosphorus concentration following harvesting may indicate a decoupling of the phosphorus cycle from those of carbon and nitrogen, and a potential concern in managed forests.
The importance of scattered trees for biodiversity conservation: A global meta‐analysis
Authors: Prevedello Jayme A. , Almeida‐Gomes Mauricio , Lindenmayer David B.
Published: May 2017

Scattered trees are thought to be keystone structures for biodiversity in landscapes world‐wide. However, such trees have been largely neglected by researchers and their importance for biodiversity remains unclear.

We completed a global meta‐analysis to quantify relationships between scattered trees and the species richness, abundance and composition of vertebrates, arthropods and plants. First, we tested whether areas near scattered trees support higher levels of species richness and abundance than nearby open areas. Second, we compared levels of species richness and abundance in matrix areas with scattered trees and areas embedded within nearby habitat patches. We also compared the composition of biological communities inhabiting habitat patches, open areas and areas with scattered trees.

A total of 62 studies contained suitable data for our quantitative analyses. The local abundance of arthropods, vertebrates and woody plants was 60%–430% greater and overall species richness was 50%–100% higher in areas with scattered trees than in open areas. Conversely, for herbaceous plants, there was no consistent relationship between species abundance and the occurrence of scattered trees, although species richness was, on average, 43% lower.

The abundance and richness of all taxonomic groups was similar in matrix areas supporting scattered trees and habitat patches, although the species richness of epiphytes was, on average, 50% higher in habitat patches. Communities inhabiting habitat patches were more similar in composition to the communities inhabiting areas with scattered trees, and less similar to the communities of open areas.

Synthesis and applications. Areas with scattered trees support greater levels of biodiversity than open areas, as well as communities that are more similar to those inhabiting habitat patches. Scattered trees can be regarded as keystone structures for vertebrates, arthropods and terrestrial plants in landscapes world‐wide. The maintenance of scattered trees may be compatible with livestock grazing in some agricultural landscapes. Greater management effort and targeted, long‐term policies are needed to retain or re‐establish scattered trees in many farming landscapes in both forest and non‐forest biomes around the world.
Flowering biology of Aspidistra (Asparagaceae): new data on pollination by dipteran insects
Authors: Vislobokov Nikolay A.
Published: May 2017

The genus Aspidistra comprises about 160 species of herbaceous plants. In previous investigations, different authors suggested that Aspidistra is pollinated by flies, fungus gnats, slugs, amphipods and even collembolans. The vast majority of data was based on only one species, A. elatior, and was not confirmed by direct observations. Recent field observations of anthetic plants confirm the idea of pollination by flies for two other species of the genus. The present study summarizes direct observations of flowering phenology and pollination of five previously unstudied species of Aspidistra. Flowering biology was studied using visual observations as well as video and photo monitoring. Flowers and captured pollinators were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. As a result, knowledge of the flowering biology of Aspidistra has been increased. The absence of heat production and an ultraviolet pattern were verified. The present data show that flowers of Aspidistra can serve as a food resource for animals. The investigated species of Aspidistra are pollinated by dipteran insects: A. formosa, A. marasmioides and A. subrotata are pollinated by fungus gnats; A. multiflora and A. oviflora are pollinated by flies. The occurrence of fungus‐gnat pollination was directly demonstrated for the first time in the genus Aspidistra. The present study confirmed the idea of myiophily in the genus Aspidistra. Apparently, myiophily is common and diverse in Aspidistra. More likely, pollinators are attracted by scent, which is undetectable by humans, but the attraction mechanism is still not completely clear.
The company you keep: Is socialising with higher‐status people bad for mental health?
Authors: Lee Min‐Ah , Kawachi Ichiro
Published: May 2017

Socialising with higher‐status individuals can be hypothesised to exert opposing influences on the mental health of the ego. On the one hand, socialising with higher‐status alters might enable individuals to access valuable resources. On the other hand, status‐discrepant friendships could be detrimental to mental health by engendering feelings of unfairness. We sought to examine the impact of status‐discrepant social relationships on depressive symptoms in the 2012 Korean General Social Survey (KGSS), a nationally representative sample. We show that socialising with higher‐status people is positively associated with depressive symptoms. There is no significant difference between those socialising with equivalent‐status or with lower‐status alters. Perceived unfairness also increase depressive symptoms. Respondents socialising with higher‐status alters tend to report greater depressive symptoms as their perceived unfairness increases. Gender‐stratified analyses reveal that the detrimental impact of status‐discrepant relationships are observed for men only, not for women. These findings suggest that socialising with higher‐status people can be a net detriment for mental wellbeing by increasing stress/frustration or decreasing psychological resources such as self‐esteem, and that these effects are more pronounced for individuals who perceive that society is unfair. This pattern appears stronger for men, which might be associated with gender roles internalised through gender socialisation processes.
Policy design and domestic support for international bailouts
Authors: BECHTEL MICHAEL M. , HAINMUELLER JENS , MARGALIT YOTAM
Published: May 2017

Financial bailouts for ailing Eurozone countries face deep and widespread opposition among voters in donor countries, casting major doubts over the political feasibility of further assistance efforts. What is the nature of the opposition and under what conditions can governments obtain broader political support for funding such large‐scale, international transfers? This question is addressed by distinguishing theoretically between ‘fundamental’ and ‘contingent’ attitudes. Whereas the former entail complete rejection or embrace of a policy, the latter depend on the specific features of the policy and could shift if those features are altered. Combining unique data from an original survey in Germany – the largest donor country – together with an experiment that varies salient policy dimensions, the analysis indicates that less than a quarter of the public exhibits fundamental opposition to the bailouts. Testing a set of theories on contingent attitudes, particular sensitivity is found to the burden‐sharing and cost dimensions of the bailouts. The results imply that the choice of specific features of a rescue package has important consequences for building domestic support for international assistance efforts.
Effects of quadriceps functional exercise with isometric contraction in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis
Authors: Huang Lanfeng , Guo Bin , Xu Feixiang , Zhao Jinsong
Published: May 2017

Objective

This study aims to investigate the effects of a quadriceps isometric contraction exercise method in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Methods

A total of 250 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of knee OA were enrolled. The patients were randomly divided into an exercise treatment test group (128 patients) and a traditional treatment control group (122 patients). Quadriceps isometric contraction exercise was used in the test group, and local physiotherapy and oral nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs were used in the control group. Knee joint function was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS) score and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) questionnaire before treatment, and 1 and 3 months after treatment.

Results

VAS scoring and the WOMAC questionnaire showed significant relief in pain 1 month after treatment in the test group (P < 0.05), but minimal relief in the control group; at 1 month, there was also minimal joint function improvement in the test group (P > 0.05), but significant improvement in the control group (P < 0.05). However, 3 months after treatment, pain relief and knee joint function were more improved in the test group than in the control group, with a significant difference (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Through our short‐term observation, joint pain was effectively relieved and knee joint function was improved with systematic quadriceps isometric contraction exercise.
Spindle cell subtype of pulmonary clear cell tumor with prominent calcification and malignant potential
Authors: Song Yinghua , Chen Fangfang , Zhang Caiqing , Lin Xiaoyan
Published: May 2017

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor of the lung, also known as clear cell “sugar” tumor, is a rare benign tumor arising from perivascular epithelioid cells. Herein, we present a case of spindle cell subtype of pulmonary perivascular epithelioid cell tumor with prominent calcification and malignant potential in a 49‐year‐old woman. Histologically, the striking feature of this lesion was attributed to the presence of spindle cells arranged in a diffuse pattern, which is a pitfall for diagnosis. However, some of the lesion contained polygonal tumor cells with clear abundant cytoplasm surrounded by thin‐walled vascular spaces. The size of the tumor and its Ki‐67 index suggested malignant potential, and calcification was another rare characteristic. Immunostaining indicated that the tumor cells were positive not only for HMB‐45 and Melan A, but also for CD34 and CD1a. This tumor should be distinguished from tumors with rich spindle cells such as sarcoma, clear cell carcinoma, or metastatic tumors. The patient in this case was alive with no tumor recurrence or metastasis six months after lobectomy.
An efficient method for sorting and quantifying individual social traits based on group‐level behaviour
Authors: Szorkovszky Alex , Kotrschal Alexander , Herbert Read James E. , Sumpter David J. T. , Kolm Niclas , Pelckmans Kristiaan
Published: May 2017

In social contexts, animal behaviour is often studied in terms of group‐level characteristics. One clear example of this is the collective motion of animals in decentralized structures, such as bird flocks and fish schools. A major goal of research is to identify how group‐level behaviours are shaped by the traits of individuals within them. Few methods exist to make these connections. Individual assessment is often limited, forcing alternatives such as fitting agent‐based models to experimental data.

We provide a systematic experimental method for sorting animals according to socially relevant traits, without assaying them or even tagging them individually. Instead, they are repeatedly subjected to behavioural assays in groups, between which the group memberships are rearranged, in order to test the effect of many different combinations of individuals on a group‐level property or feature. We analyse this method using a general model for the group feature, and simulate a variety of specific cases to track how individuals are sorted in each case.

We find that in the case where the members of a group contribute equally to the group feature, the sorting procedure increases the between‐group behavioural variation well above what is expected for groups randomly sampled from a population. For a wide class of group feature models, the individual phenotypes are efficiently sorted across the groups and thus become available for further analysis on how individual properties affect group behaviour. We also show that the experimental data can be used to estimate the individual‐level repeatability of the underlying traits.

Our method allows experimenters to find repeatable variation in social behaviours that cannot be assessed in solitary individuals. Furthermore, experiments in animal behaviour often focus on comparisons between groups randomly sampled from a population. Increasing the behavioural variation between groups increases statistical power for testing whether a group feature is related to other properties of groups or to their phenotypic composition. Sorting according to socially relevant traits is also beneficial in artificial selection experiments, and for testing correlations with other traits. Overall, the method provides a useful tool to study how individual properties influence social behaviour.
The association between psychotic experiences and disability: results from the WHO World Mental Health Surveys
Authors: Navarro‐Mateu F. , Alonso J. , Lim C. C. W. , Saha S. , Aguilar‐Gaxiola S. , Al‐Hamzawi A. , Andrade L. H. , Bromet E. J. , Bruffaerts R. , Chatterji S. , Degenhardt L. , de Girolamo G. , de Jonge P. , Fayyad J. , Florescu S. , Gureje O. , Haro J. M. , Hu C. , Karam E. G. , Kovess‐Masfety V. , Lee S. , Medina‐Mora M. E. , Ojagbemi A. , Pennell B.‐E. , Piazza M. , Posada‐Villa J. , Scott K. M. , Stagnaro J. C. , Xavier M. , Kendler K. S. , Kessler R. C. , McGrath J. J. ,   the WHO World Mental Health Survey Collaborators
Published: May 2017

Objective

While psychotic experiences (PEs) are known to be associated with a range of mental and general medical disorders, little is known about the association between PEs and measures of disability. We aimed to investigate this question using the World Mental Health surveys.

Method

Lifetime occurrences of six types of PEs were assessed along with 21 mental disorders and 14 general medical conditions. Disability was assessed with a modified version of the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used to investigate the association between PEs and high disability scores (top quartile) with various adjustments.

Results

Respondents with PEs were more likely to have top quartile scores on global disability than respondents without PEs (19.1% vs. 7.5%; χ2 = 190.1, P < 0.001) as well as greater likelihood of cognitive, social, and role impairment. Relationships persisted in each adjusted model. A significant dose–response relationship was also found for the PE type measures with most of these outcomes.

Conclusions

Psychotic experiences are associated with disability measures with a dose–response relationship. These results are consistent with the view that PEs are associated with disability regardless of the presence of comorbid mental or general medical disorders.
Targeting PP2A and proteasome activity ameliorates features of allergic airway disease in mice
Authors: Nair P. M. , Starkey M. R. , Haw T. J. , Liu G. , Horvat J. C. , Morris J. C. , Verrills N. M. , Clark A. R. , Ammit A. J. , Hansbro P. M.
Published: May 2017

Background

Asthma is an allergic airway disease (AAD) caused by aberrant immune responses to allergens. Protein phosphatase‐2A (PP2A) is an abundant serine/threonine phosphatase with anti‐inflammatory activity. The ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS) controls many cellular processes, including the initiation of inflammatory responses by protein degradation. We assessed whether enhancing PP2A activity with fingolimod (FTY720) or 2‐amino‐4‐(4‐(heptyloxy) phenyl)‐2‐methylbutan‐1‐ol (AAL(S)), or inhibiting proteasome activity with bortezomib (BORT), could suppress experimental AAD.

Methods

Acute AAD was induced in C57BL/6 mice by intraperitoneal sensitization with ovalbumin (OVA) in combination with intranasal (i.n) exposure to OVA. Chronic AAD was induced in mice with prolonged i.n exposure to crude house dust mite (HDM) extract. Mice were treated with vehicle, FTY720, AAL(S), BORT or AAL(S)+BORT and hallmark features of AAD assessed.

Results

AAL(S) reduced the severity of acute AAD by suppressing tissue eosinophils and inflammation, mucus‐secreting cell (MSC) numbers, type 2‐associated cytokines (interleukin (IL)‐33, thymic stromal lymphopoietin, IL‐5 and IL‐13), serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E and airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR). FTY720 only suppressed tissue inflammation and IgE. BORT reduced bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and tissue eosinophils and inflammation, IL‐5, IL‐13 and AHR. Combined treatment with AAL(S)+BORT had complementary effects and suppressed BALF and tissue eosinophils and inflammation, MSC numbers, reduced the production of type 2 cytokines and AHR. AAL(S), BORT and AAL(S)+BORT also reduced airway remodelling in chronic AAD.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the potential of combination therapies that enhance PP2A and inhibit proteasome activity as novel therapeutic strategies for asthma.
Initial placement and secondary displacement of a new suture‐method catheter for sciatic nerve block in healthy volunteers: a randomised, double‐blind pilot study
Authors: Lyngeraa T. S. , Rothe C. , Steen‐Hansen C. , Madsen M. H. , Christiansen C. B. , Andreasen A. M. , Lundstrøm L. H. , Lange K. H. W.
Published: May 2017

We performed a randomised double‐blind pilot study in 16 healthy volunteers to investigate the success rate for placing a new suture‐method catheter for sciatic nerve block. A catheter was inserted into both legs of volunteers and each was randomly allocated to receive 15 ml lidocaine 2% through the catheter in one leg and 15 ml saline in the other leg. Successful placement of the catheter was defined as a 20% decrease in maximum voluntary isometric contraction for dorsiflexion of the ankle. Secondary outcomes were maximum voluntary isometric contraction for plantar flexion at the ankle, surface electromyography and cold sensation. After return of motor and sensory function, volunteers performed standardised physical exercises; injection of the same study medication was repeated in the same leg and followed by motor and sensory assessments. Fifteen of 16 (94%; 95%CI 72–99%) initial catheter placements were successful. The reduction in maximum voluntary isometric contraction and surface electromyography affected the peroneal nerve more often than the tibial nerve. Eleven of 15 (73%; 95%CI 54–96%) catheters remained functional with motor and sensory block after physical exercise, and the maximal displacement was 5 mm. Catheters with secondary block failure were displaced between 6 and 10 mm. One catheter was displaced 1.8 mm that resulted in a decrease in maximum voluntary isometric contraction of less than 20%. After repeat test injection, 14 of the 16 volunteers had loss of cold sensation. Neither motor nor sensory functions were affected in the legs injected with placebo. We conclude that the suture‐method catheter can be placed with a high success rate, but that physical exercise may cause displacement.
A unique case of bilateral ovarian splenosis and review of the literature
Authors: Disanto Maria Giulia , Mercalli Francesca , Palicelli Andrea , Arnulfo Alberto , Boldorini Renzo
Published: May 2017

Splenosis is an acquired anomaly related to heterotopic auto‐transplantation of splenic tissue following abdominal trauma or splenectomy. We report the first definitive bilateral ovarian case in a 65‐year‐old woman who underwent splenectomy following a motor vehicle accident 44 years prior to presentation. We review the literature and discuss the main differential diagnoses. Gross examination revealed a 1‐cm well‐circumscribed dark nodule on the surface of each ovary. Paraffin‐embedded, formalin‐fixed blocks were sectioned and stained with hematoxylin–eosin and immunostains (CK5/6, Calretinin, WT1, Vimentin). The histological presence of both red and white splenic pulp, delimitation from ovarian tissue and ovarian origin of blood supply, as well as medical history, led us to the correct diagnosis. The outer nodular surface was covered by mesothelium (WT1+, CK5/6+, Calretinin+, Vimentin+), which was in continuity with the ovarian surface epithelium. To our knowledge, only six previous cases of ovarian splenosis are reported. Our patient is the oldest, with a very long interval from splenectomy to presentation. Clinically, splenosis may mimic malignancy, and a correct diagnosis avoids unnecessary overtreatment. The differential diagnosis includes an accessory spleen, spleno‐gonadal fusion, and splenic hamartoma: they should be excluded to come to the correct diagnosis.
Visions of wilderness in the North Bay communities of California
Authors: Freitag Amy
Published: May 2017

The Wilderness Act of 1964 defines American wilderness as “untrammeled” and remains the guiding law in wilderness management despite harsh critiques of the concept in the intervening 50 years. In the North Bay region of California, the “untrammeled” designation is part of a matrix of protected lands that makes its way into the daily lives of local residents. Using three such cases, a Visions of the Wild festival, the drawn‐out legal battle over aquaculture in Drakes Bay and in upgrading a highway connecting two major North Bay communities, the concept of wilderness is a concept on trial. In each of these cases, the ethnic diversity of the area contributes to conflict in understanding and decision‐making. However, as the festival demonstrates, direct stakeholder‐driven discussion of the concept can highlight shared values in nature despite the apparent differences.
Understanding the reconstitution of the B‐cell compartment in bone marrow and blood after treatment for B‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia
Authors: Theunissen Prisca M. J. , van den Branden Anouk , Van Der Sluijs‐Gelling Alita , De Haas Valerie , Beishuizen Auke , van Dongen Jacques J. M. , Van Der Velden Vincent H. J.
Published: May 2017

A better understanding of the reconstitution of the B‐cell compartment during and after treatment in B‐cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (BCP‐ALL) will help to assess the immunological status and needs of post‐treatment BCP‐ALL patients. Using 8‐colour flow cytometry and proliferation‐assays, we studied the composition and proliferation of both the B‐cell precursor (BCP) population in the bone marrow (BM) and mature B‐cell population in peripheral blood (PB) during and after BCP‐ALL therapy. We found a normal BCP differentiation pattern and a delayed formation of classical CD38dim‐naive mature B‐cells, natural effector B‐cells and memory B‐cells in patients after chemotherapy. This B‐cell differentiation/maturation pattern was strikingly similar to that during initial B‐cell development in healthy infants. Tissue‐resident plasma cells appeared to be partly protected from chemotherapy. Also, we found that the fast recovery of naive mature B‐cell numbers after chemotherapy was the result of increased de novo BCP generation, rather than enhanced B‐cell proliferation in BM or PB. These results indicate that post‐treatment BCP‐ALL patients will eventually re‐establish a B‐cell compartment with a composition and B‐cell receptor repertoire similar to that in healthy children. Additionally, the formation of a new memory B‐cell compartment suggests that revaccination might be beneficial after BCP‐ALL therapy.
Hyperleucocytosis in paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia – the challenge of white blood cell counts above 200 × 109/l. The NOPHO experience 1984–2014
Authors: Zeller Bernward , Glosli Heidi , Forestier Erik , Ha Shau‐Yin , Jahnukainen Kirsi , Jónsson Ólafur G. , Lausen Birgitte , Palle Josefine , Hasle Henrik , Abrahamsson Jonas ,   the NOPHO AML working group
Published: May 2017

Hyperleucocytosis in paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We studied hyperleucocytosis in 890 patients with AML aged 0–18 years registered in the Nordic Society of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology (NOPHO) registry, with special focus on very high white blood cell counts (WBC >200 × 10/l). Eighty‐six patients (10%) had WBC 100–199 × 109/l and 57 (6%) had WBC ≥200 × 109/l. Patients with WBC ≥200 × 109/l had a high frequency of t(9;11) and a paucity of trisomy 8. Due to the high frequency of deaths within the first 2 weeks (30% vs. 1% for all others), overall survival in this group was inferior to patients with WBC <200 × 109/l (39% vs. 61%). Main cause of early death was intracranial haemorrhage and leucostasis. Twenty‐six per cent of these patients never started antileukaemic protocol therapy. Leukapheresis or exchange transfusion was used in 24% of patients with hyperleucocytosis without impact on survival. Patients with hyperleucocytosis surviving the first week had identical survival as patients with lower WBC. We conclude that death within the first days after diagnosis is the major challenge in patients with high WBC and advocate rapid initiation of intensive chemotherapy.
The inward rectifier current inhibitor PA‐6 terminates atrial fibrillation and does not cause ventricular arrhythmias in goat and dog models
Authors: Ji Yuan , Varkevisser Rosanne , Opacic Dragan , Bossu Alexandre , Kuiper Marion , Beekman Jet D M , Yang Sihyung , Khan Azinwi Phina , Dobrev Dobromir , Voigt Niels , Wang Michael Zhuo , Verheule Sander , Vos Marc A , van der Heyden Marcel A G
Published: May 2017

Background and Purpose

The density of the inward rectifier current (IK1) increases in atrial fibrillation (AF), shortening effective refractory period and thus promoting atrial re‐entry. The synthetic compound pentamidine analogue 6 (PA‐6) is a selective and potent IK1 inhibitor. We tested PA‐6 for anti‐AF efficacy and potential proarrhythmia, using established models in large animals.

Experimental Approach

PA‐6 was applied i.v. in anaesthetized goats with rapid pacing‐induced AF and anaesthetized dogs with chronic atrio‐ventricular (AV) block. Electrophysiological and pharmacological parameters were determined.

Key Results

PA‐6 (2.5 mg·kg−1·10 min−1) induced cardioversion to sinus rhythm (SR) in 5/6 goats and prolonged AF cycle length. AF complexity decreased significantly before cardioversion. PA‐6 accumulated in cardiac tissue with ratios between skeletal muscle : atrial muscle : ventricular muscle of approximately 1:8:21. In SR dogs, PA‐6 peak plasma levels 10 min post infusion were 5.5 ± 0.9 μM, PA‐6 did not induce significant prolongation of QTc and did not affect heart rate, PQ or QRS duration. In dogs with chronic AV block, PA‐6 did not affect QRS but lengthened QTc during the experiment, but not chronically. PA‐6 did not induce TdP arrhythmias in nine animals (0/9) in contrast to dofetilide (5/9). PA‐6 (200 nM) inhibited IK1, but not IK,ACh, in human isolated atrial cardiomyocytes.

Conclusion and Implications

PA‐6 restored SR in goats with persistent AF and, in dogs with chronic AV block, prolonged QT intervals, without inducing TdP arrhythmias. Our results demonstrate cardiac safety and good anti‐AF properties for PA‐6.
Positive Affectivity and Fear Trajectories in Infancy: Contributions of Mother–Child Interaction Factors
Authors: Gartstein Maria A. , Hancock Gregory R. , Iverson Sydney L.
Published: May 2017

Fear and positive emotionality were considered in a growth modeling context. Mothers, primarily Caucasian (91.9%) and of middle socioeconomic status, participated in play interactions with infants at 4 months (N = 148). Infant fear and positive affectivity were evaluated at 6, 8, 10, and 12 months of age. A linear trajectory was superior in explaining growth for parent report and observation‐based indicators of positive affectivity and parent report of fearfulness; a piecewise model explained the nonlinear growth of observation‐based fear. Responsiveness in mother–infant interactions emerged as a significant predictor of the fear trajectory, with higher sensitivity predicting lower levels of observed fear. Reciprocity, tempo, emotional tone, and intensity of mother–infant interactions also made significant contributions to temperament development; however, analyses addressing these were exploratory.
Butyrate and retinoic acid imprint mucosal-like dendritic cell development synergistically from bone marrow cells
Authors: Qiang Y , Xu J , Yan C , Jin H , Xiao T , Yan N , Zhou L , An H , Zhou X , Shao Q , Xia S
Published: May 2017

Accumulating data show that the phenotypes and functions of distinctive mucosal dendritic cells (DCs) in the gut are regulated by retinoic acid (RA). Unfortunately, the exact role of butyrate in RA-mediated mucosal DC differentiation has not been elucidated thoroughly to date. Mucosal-like dendritic cell differentiation was completed in vitro by culturing bone marrow cells with growth factors [granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF/interleukin (IL)-4], RA and/or butyrate. The phenotypes, cytokine secretion, immune functions and levels of retinal dehydrogenase of different DCs were detected using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and flow cytometry, respectively. The results showed that RA-induced DCs (RA-DCs) showed mucosal DC properties, including expression of CD103 and gut homing receptor α4β7, low proinflammatory cytokine secretion and low priming capability to antigen-specific CD4+ T cells. Butyrate-treated RA-DCs (Bu-RA-DCs) decreased CD11c, but increased CD103 and α4β7 expression. Moreover, the CD4+ T priming capability and the levels of retinal dehydrogenase of RA-DCs were suppressed significantly by butyrate. Thus, butyrate and retinoic acid have different but synergistic regulatory functions on mucosal DC differentiation, indicating that immune homeostasis in the gut depends largely upon RA and butyrate to imprint different mucosal DC subsets, both individually and collectively.