bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detailed insights into pan‐European population structure and inbreeding in wild and hatchery Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) revealed by genome‐wide SNP data
Authors: Vendrami David L. J. , Houston Ross D. , Gharbi Karim , Telesca Luca , Gutierrez Alejandro P. , Gurney‐Smith Helen , Hasegawa Natsuki , Boudry Pierre , Hoffman Joseph I.
Published: November 2018

Cultivated bivalves are important not only because of their economic value, but also due to their impacts on natural ecosystems. The Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) is the world's most heavily cultivated shellfish species and has been introduced to all continents except Antarctica for aquaculture. We therefore used a medium‐density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array to investigate the genetic structure of this species in Europe, where it was introduced during the 1960s and has since become a prolific invader of coastal ecosystems across the continent. We analyzed 21,499 polymorphic SNPs in 232 individuals from 23 localities spanning a latitudinal cline from Portugal to Norway and including the source populations of Japan and Canada. We confirmed the results of previous studies by finding clear support for a southern and a northern group, with the former being indistinguishable from the source populations indicating the absence of a pronounced founder effect. We furthermore conducted a large‐scale comparison of oysters sampled from the wild and from hatcheries to reveal substantial genetic differences including significantly higher levels of inbreeding in some but not all of the sampled hatchery cohorts. These findings were confirmed by a smaller but representative SNP dataset generated using restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing. We therefore conclude that genomic approaches can generate increasingly detailed insights into the genetics of wild and hatchery produced Pacific oysters.
Depilatory chemical thioglycolate affects hair cuticle and cortex, degrades epidermal cornified envelopes and induces proliferation and differentiation responses in keratinocytes
Authors: Duit Rebecca , Hawkins Tim J. , Määttä Arto
Published: November 2018

Thioglycolate is a potent depilatory agent. In addition, it has been proposed to be useful as a penetration enhancer for transepidermal drug delivery. However, the effects on hair structure and stress responses it elicits in epidermal keratinocytes have not been fully characterised. We have used label‐free confocal and fluorescence lifetime imaging supported by electron microscopy to demonstrate how thioglycolate damages hair cuticle cells by generating breakages along the endocuticle and leading to swelling of cortex cells. Maleimide staining of free SH‐groups and a decrease in the average fluorescence lifetime of endogenous fluorophores demonstrate a specific change in protein structure in both hair cuticle and cortex. We found that the thioglycolate damages cornified envelopes isolated from the stratum corneum of the epidermis. However, thioglycolate‐treated epidermal equivalent cultures recover within 48 hours, which highlights the reversibility of the damage. HaCaT keratinocytes respond to thioglycolate by increased proliferation, onset of differentiation and expression of the chaperone protein Hsp 70, but not Hsp 27. Up‐regulation of involucrin can be blocked by an application of c‐Jun N–terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, but the up‐regulation of Hsp 70 takes place regardless of the presence of the JNK inhibitor.
Structural integrity analysis of HDPE pipes for water supplying network
Authors: Bouaziz Mohamed Ali , Guidara Mohamed Amine , Schmitt Christian , Hadj‐Taïeb Ezzeddine , Azari Zitouni , Dmytrakh Ihor
Published: November 2018

A problem of reliability of polymer pipes manufactured with the high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) for drinking water supply was considered. The safety of the pipelines network was analyzed with taking into account two main factors: arising of sudden overpressure (water hammer phenomenon) and presence of defects on pipe surface. Based on elastoplastic fracture mechanics and using of J‐integral approach, the numerical model of cracked pipe was developed and verified by direct experimental test. The formula for calculation of crack initiation pressure, which is the function of pipe size and size of external surface defect, was derived. The validity of this relation was proved for pipes of diameter 450 to 800 mm. It was also shown that the pressure peaks of the water hammer phenomenon are quickly damped because of the high deformability of the polyethylene pipes and the defect depth that is equivalent to 40% of pipe wall thickness can be considered as acceptable. The applicability of developed tools was demonstrated under analysis in the real state of South Tunisian water supply network.
The efficiency of sieve‐panels for bycatch separation in Nephrops trawls
Authors: Santos Juan , Herrmann Bent , Mieske Bernd , Krag Ludvig A. , Haase Stefanie , Stepputtis Daniel
Published: November 2018

This study investigated the efficiency of a sieve‐panel concept, intended to separate bycatch species from Nephrops (Norway lobster) in a trawl gear via mechanical and behavioural means. Four different designs of varying panel mesh size or inclination were tested in experimental fishing. For each design, the length‐dependent sieving efficiency, defined as the fraction of Nephrops or fish passing through the panel to the lower codend, was estimated. The sieving efficiency for Nephrops increased from ~17% to ~71% as mesh size increased, and decreased with increasing carapace length, but did so less as panel inclination and mesh size increased. The sieving efficiency for roundfish was low, as intended, while the efficiency for flatfish decreased with fish size. Although results are promising, the sieving efficiency for the largest, most valuable Nephrops remained too low. Therefore, further improvements are necessary before the concept is acceptable to the commercial fishing fleet.
A small marine biosphere in the Proterozoic
Authors: Laakso Thomas A. , Schrag Daniel P.
Published: November 2018

The riverine supply of the globally limiting nutrient, phosphorus, to the ocean accounts for only a few percent of nutrient supply to photosynthetic organisms in surface waters. Recycling of marine organic matter by heterotrophic organisms provides almost all of the phosphorus that drives net primary production in the modern ocean. In the low‐oxygen environments of the Proterozoic, the lack of free oxygen would have limited rates of oxic respiration, slowing the recycling of nutrients and thus limiting global rates of photosynthesis. A series of steady‐state mass balance calculations suggest that the rate of net primary production in the ocean was no more than 10% of its modern value during the Proterozoic eon, and possibly less than 1%. The supply of nutrients in such a world would be dominated by river input, rather than recycling within the water column, leading to a small marine biosphere found primarily within estuarine environments.
Testing multiple hypotheses for the high endemic plant diversity of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Yu Haibin , Deane David C. , Sui Xinghua , Fang Suqin , Chu Chengjin , Liu Yu , He Fangliang
Published: November 2018

Aim

The Tibetan Plateau harbours the highest alpine and endemic plant diversity in the world, attributed to rapid diversification during the plateau uplift and Quaternary climate fluctuations. However, there is little understanding of which hypotheses associated with these geological and climatic processes garner strong support as explanations for the observed diversity patterns. Here, we test support for hypotheses related to uplift and climate changes that could account for the high endemicity and phylogenetic diversity of the world’s highest plateau.

Location

Tibetan Plateau (TP).

Time period

Neogene, Quaternary and current period.

Major taxa studied

Tibetan endemic seed plants.

Methods

We collated data on endemic seed‐plant distribution based on county‐level mapping from published monographs and online databases. We calculated species richness (SR) and phylogenetic diversity for endemic herbs, shrubs, trees, and all plants for 0.5‐degree × 0.5‐degree grid cells covering the TP. We derived environmental and evolutionary predictors to evaluate eight biogeographical hypotheses associated with plateau uplift and climate fluctuations, and used partial regression analysis and mixed conditional autoregressive (CAR) models to assess the relative contribution of each predictor to the extant diversity of the TP.

Results

We found plateau uplift independently explained more variance in diversity than climate fluctuations, but there were also strong interaction effects. The full CAR models including all predictors explained 37%–75% of the total variation across diversity measures and life forms. The predictor representing the montane museum hypothesis explained the most variation (c. 25%), but each predictor explained at least 6%.

Main conclusions

These results demonstrate that both the plateau uplift and Quaternary climate fluctuations had large impacts on current patterns of species diversity, but the influence of plateau uplift was more pronounced than that of climate changes. Our study suggests that plateau uplift and climate changes are the original drivers of complex biogeographical processes accounting for the biodiversity of the TP.
Isolation and characterization of 18 microsatellites for the invasive native Pedicularis kansuensis (Orobanchaceae)
Authors: Li Wenjun , Su Zhihao , Li Airong , Guan Kaiyun , Feng Ying
Published: November 2018

To quantify the population‐level genetic characteristics of Pedicularis kansuensis, polymorphic microsatellite loci (simple sequence repeats) were identified and characterized. Methods and Results: Using Illumina HiSeq paired‐end reads from genomic DNA, searches for repeat motifs identified 1594 sequences by four softwares simultaneously. We developed and characterized 18 polymorphic microsatellite primers for P. kansuensis using 45 individuals that were collected from three P. kansuensis populations. The number of alleles varied from two to 12. The observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity per locus ranged from 0.182 to 0.933 and 0.227 to 0.904 in the pooled population, respectively. All of the primers that were developed were also successfully applied in Pedicularis cheilanthifolia and Pedicularis violascens. These markers should be useful in probing the genetic diversity, genetic structure of P. kansuensis, which could provide information about assessment and prediction of potential risks of this species in its distribution areas.
Meiosis‐specific cohesin component, Rec8, promotes the localization of Mps3 SUN domain protein on the nuclear envelope
Authors: Bommi Jagadeeswara Rao , Rao Hanumanthu Bala Durga Prasada , Challa Kiran , Higashide Mika , Shinmyozu Kaori , Nakayama Jun‐ichi , Shinohara Miki , Shinohara Akira
Published: November 2018

Proteins in the nuclear envelope (NE) play a role in the dynamics and functions of the nucleus and of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis. Mps3, a yeast NE protein with a conserved SUN domain, predominantly localizes on a yeast centrosome equivalent, spindle pole body (SPB), in mitotic cells. During meiosis, Mps3, together with SPB, forms a distinct multiple ensemble on NE. How meiosis‐specific NE localization of Mps3 is regulated remains largely unknown. In this study, we found that a meiosis‐specific component of the protein complex essential for sister chromatid cohesion, Rec8, binds to Mps3 during meiosis and controls Mps3 localization and proper dynamics on NE. Ectopic expression of Rec8 in mitotic yeast cells induced the formation of Mps3 patches/foci on NE. This required the cohesin regulator, WAPL ortholog, Rad61/Wpl1, suggesting that a meiosis‐specific cohesin complex with Rec8 controls NE localization of Mps3. We also observed that two domains of the nucleoplasmic region of Mps3 are essential for NE localization of Mps3 in mitotic as well as meiotic cells. We speculate that the interaction of Mps3 with the meiosis‐specific cohesin in the nucleoplasm is a key determinant for NE localization/function of Mps3.
Recent trends in Middle East economic history: Cultural factors and structural change in the medieval period 650–1500 (Part one)
Authors: Shatzmiller Maya
Published: November 2018

Economic historians have returned in recent years to blaming the prolonged economic decline of the Middle East on cultural factors. At the root of the problem, as they see it, were economic institutions rendered inefficient by the religion of Islam and Islamic law, and they have used evidence from the Islamic medieval Middle East as support. This paper reviews the various strands of the argument and critically assesses its use of historical evidence. It concludes that the evidence does not support the postulate that cultural factors generated a dysfunctional Middle Eastern economic system and offers an alternative analysis. It shows that empirical evidence ignored by the cultural factors argument points to growth promoting structural change and corresponds to what we would expect based on economic theory.
Waste waters from the leachate of mushroom as vine foliar treatments: influence on grape volatile composition over two consecutive seasons
Authors: Gutiérrez‐Gamboa Gastón , Pérez‐Álvarez Eva P. , Rubio‐Bretón Pilar , Garde‐Cerdán Teresa
Published: November 2018

Edible mushrooms production presents a potential problem for the environment, due to the large amount of waste generated. These wastes contain nitrogenous matter, which could be used as biostimulant in plants. The aim of this work was to study the effect of waste waters, from the mushroom production process, applied at veraison and 1 week later to grapevine leaves, on grape volatile compounds over two vintages. The results evidenced that mushroom water treatment decreased the grape content of certain terpenoids, C13 norisoprenoids, benzenoid compounds and esters, increasing C6 compounds content during the first season. Treated mushroom water application slightly affected grape volatile composition. This was the treatment that least affected the content of grape volatile composition. Few differences were found after the biostimulation during the second vintage. The season was the dominant factor of grape volatile content variation compared to the treatment and their interaction.
Effects of heating method and temperature in combination with hypoxic treatment on γ‐aminobutyric acid, phenolics content and antioxidant activity of germinated rice
Authors: Techo Jakkrawut , Soponronnarit Somchart , Devahastin Sakamon , Wattanasiritham Ladda S. , Thuwapanichayanan Ratiya , Prachayawarakorn Somkiat
Published: November 2018

Heat and hypoxic treatments were combined with soaking to enhance γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) production in germinated paddy (GP). Effects of heating temperature, heating techniques, that is, impinging stream drying (ISD) and tray drying (TD), and germination time on the GABA content, phenolics content and antioxidant activity were also investigated. Heating temperature had a significant effect on the GABA content; both ISD and TD helped increase the GABA content when the post‐treatment grain temperature was 38–40.5 °C. Within this grain temperature range, soaking in combination with heat and hypoxic treatments (S‐ISD‐H and S‐TD‐H) yielded GP with higher GABA content than soaking (S) and soaking in combination with hypoxic treatment (S‐H). However, ISD was noted to be more suitable than TD. Phenolics content and antioxidant activity of GP prepared by S‐ISD‐H at different heating temperatures and S‐H were not significantly different but were higher than those of the GP prepared by S.
Jagged1‐expressing adenovirus‐infected dendritic cells induce expansion of Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and alleviate T helper type 2‐mediated allergic asthma in mice
Authors: Lin Chu‐Lun , Huang Huei‐Mei , Hsieh Chia‐Ling , Fan Chia‐Kwung , Lee Yueh‐Lun
Published: November 2018

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen‐presenting cells that play a key role in directing T‐cell responses. Regulatory T (Treg) cells possess an immunosuppressive ability to inhibit effector T‐cell responses, and Notch ligand Jagged1 (Jag1) is implicated in Treg cell differentiation. In this study, we evaluated whether bone marrow‐derived DCs genetically engineered to express Jag1 (Jag1‐DCs) would affect the maturation and function of DCs in vitro and further investigated the immunoregulatory ability of Jag1‐DCs to manipulate T helper type 2 (Th2) ‐mediated allergic asthma in mice. We produced Jag1‐DCs by adenoviral transduction. Overexpression of Jag1 by ovalbumin (OVA) ‐stimulated Jag1‐DCs exhibited increased expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD‐L1) and OX40L molecules. Subsequently, co‐culture of these OVA‐pulsed Jag1‐DCs with allogeneic or syngeneic CD4+ T cells promoted the generation of Foxp3+ Treg cells, and blocking PD‐L1 using specific antibodies partially reduced Treg cell expansion. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of OVA‐pulsed Jag1‐DCs to mice with OVA‐induced asthma reduced allergen‐specific immunoglobulin E production, airway hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation, and secretion of Th2‐type cytokines (interleukin‐4, interleukin‐5, and interleukin‐13). Notably, an increased number of Foxp3+ Treg cells associated with enhanced levels of transforming growth factor‐β production was observed in Jag1‐DC‐treated mice. These data indicate that transgenic expression of Jag1 by DCs promotes induction of Foxp3+ Treg cells, which ameliorated Th2‐mediated allergic asthma in mice. Our study supports an attractive strategy to artificially generate immunoregulatory DCs and provides a novel approach for manipulating Th2 cell‐driven deleterious immune diseases.
Second‐Order Correlation Learning of Dynamic Stimuli: Evidence from Infants and Computational Modeling
Authors: Rakison David H. , Benton Deon T.
Published: November 2018

We present two habituation experiments that examined 20‐ and 26‐month‐olds’ ability to engage in second‐order correlation learning for static and dynamic features, whereby learned associations between two pairs of features (e.g., P and Q, P and R) are generalized to the features that were not presented together (e.g., Q and R). We also present results from an associative learning mechanism that was implemented as an autoencoder parallel distributed processing (PDP) network in which second‐order correlation learning is shown to be an emergent property of the dynamics of the network. The experiments and simulation demonstrate that 20‐ and 26‐month‐olds as well as neural networks are capable of second‐order correlation learning in a category context for internal features of dynamic objects. However, the model predicts—and Experiment 3 demonstrates—that 20‐ and 26‐month‐olds are unable to encode second‐order correlations in a noncategory context for dynamic objects with internal features. It is proposed that the ability to learn second‐order correlations represents a powerful but as yet unexplored process for generalization in the first years of life.
Robust Hierarchical Bayes Small Area Estimation for the Nested Error Linear Regression Model
Authors: Chakraborty Adrijo , Datta Gauri Sankar , Mandal Abhyuday
Published: November 2018

Standard model‐based small area estimates perform poorly in presence of outliers. Sinha & Rao () developed robust frequentist predictors of small area means. In this article, we present a robust Bayesian method to handle outliers in unit‐level data by extending the nested error regression model. We consider a finite mixture of normal distributions for the unit‐level error to model outliers and produce noninformative Bayes predictors of small area means. Our modelling approach generalises that of Datta & Ghosh () under the normality assumption. Application of our method to a data set which is suspected to contain an outlier confirms this suspicion, correctly identifies the suspected outlier and produces robust predictors and posterior standard deviations of the small area means. Evaluation of several procedures including the M‐quantile method of Chambers & Tzavidis () via simulations shows that our proposed method is as good as other procedures in terms of bias, variability and coverage probability of confidence and credible intervals when there are no outliers. In the presence of outliers, while our method and Sinha–Rao method perform similarly, they improve over the other methods. This superior performance of our procedure shows its dual (Bayes and frequentist) dominance, which should make it attractive to all practitioners, Bayesians and frequentists, of small area estimation.
4 in 1: Antibody‐free protocol for isolating the main hepatic cells from healthy and cirrhotic single rat livers
Authors: Fernández‐Iglesias Anabel , Ortega‐Ribera Martí , Guixé‐Muntet Sergi , Gracia‐Sancho Jordi
Published: November 2018

Liver cells isolated from pre‐clinical models are essential tools for studying liver (patho)physiology, and also for screening new therapeutic options. We aimed at developing a new antibody‐free isolation method able to obtain the four main hepatic cell types (hepatocytes, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells [LSEC], hepatic macrophages [HMΦ] and hepatic stellate cells [HSC]) from a single rat liver. Control and cirrhotic (CCl4 and TAA) rat livers (n = 6) were perfused, digested with collagenase and mechanically disaggregated obtaining a multicellular suspension. Hepatocytes were purified by low revolution centrifugations while non‐parenchymal cells were subjected to differential centrifugation. Two different fractions were obtained: HSC and mixed LSEC + HMΦ. Further LSEC and HMΦ enrichment was achieved by selective adherence time to collagen‐coated substrates. Isolated cells showed high viability (80%‐95%) and purity (>95%) and were characterized as functional: hepatocytes synthetized albumin and urea, LSEC maintained endocytic capacity and in vivo fenestrae distribution, HMΦ increased expression of inflammatory markers in response to LPS and HSC were activated upon in vitro culture. The 4 in 1 protocol allows the simultaneous isolation of highly pure and functional hepatic cell sub‐populations from control or cirrhotic single livers without antibody selection.
Evaluation of the efficacy of microneedle fractional radiofrequency in Turkish patients with atrophic facial acne scars
Authors: Bulbul Baskan Emel , Akin Belli Asli
Published: November 2018

Background

Scarring is an undesirable and severe complication of acne resulting in loss of self‐esteem in young people. Although microneedle fractional radiofrequency (MFR) system has emerged as a good option to treat acne scars in recent years, it was examined in a few studies which were commonly from Asian countries.

Aims

We sought to evaluate the efficacy of MFR in Turkish patients with facial acne scars.

Methods

Nine patients with atrophic facial acne scars treated with MFR device were included in the study. The number of treatment sessions was varied from one to five (median three) with 4‐week intervals. Demographic and basal clinical features were recorded. Efficacy of the device was evaluated by the physicians’ global assessment and patients’ self‐assessment scales 4 weeks after the last treatment session.

Results

Of nine patients, two were male and seven were female (mean age, 31.33 years). Two patients had mild, four had moderate, and three had severe facial acne scars. Mean acne scar age was 13.22 ± 8.79 years. According to the predominant scar subtype, three patients had V‐shaped, three had U‐shaped, and three had M‐shaped atrophic acne scars. A clinical improvement of >25% has been reported in seven patients (77.7%) and eight patients (88.9%) by the physicians and patients, respectively. U‐shaped atrophic acne scars responded better to the treatment than the other types, as statistically nonsignificant. There were no severe side effects.

Conclusions

Microneedle fractional radiofrequency system showed a quite good efficacy and safety in the treatment of atrophic facial acne scars (Department of Dermato‐Cosmetology, Uludag University Medical School).
FINANCE AND PRODUCTIVITY: A LITERATURE REVIEW
Authors: Heil Mark
Published: November 2018

This paper surveys a broad range of studies and highlights the main findings of the empirical literature regarding business finance and productivity. Numerous studies analyse the productivity effects of financial development and frictions. The results suggest the following: (1) Financial development likely has favourable effects on productivity growth, (2) financial frictions that impede the efficient flow of finance can mitigate the positive effects through a variety of channels and (3) the magnitudes of productivity costs of financial frictions generally appear modest in financially developed economies but are considerably larger in developing economies. The paper also reviews studies of the influence of specific mechanisms on productivity, such as human capital, corporate finance, financial sector efficiency, equity finance and venture capital. Some policies that hamper productivity growth include inefficient insolvency regimes that impede exit of low‐productivity firms, poorly developed contract monitoring and enforcement systems between banks and firms, collateral constraints that impair resource reallocation and imperfect bank supervisory practices that diminish productive capital reallocation through distorted lending practices.
Paternity Leave and Parental Relationships: Variations by Gender and Mothers' Work Statuses
Authors: Petts Richard J. , Knoester Chris
Published: November 2018

Objective: This study examines the associations between paternity leave and parents' reports of relationship satisfaction and relationship conflict and whether the associations vary by parent gender and mothers' work statuses.

Background: Paternity leave research in the United States has focused on implications for father involvement, but paternity leave may also help to strengthen parental relationships by promoting a more equitable division of domestic labor. Given gender gaps in child care, the association between paternity leave and parental relationship outcomes may also vary by gender and mothers' work statuses.

Method: The sample consists of 4,700 couples (i.e., parent dyads) from the Early Childhood Longitudinal Study, Birth Cohort. Multilevel models are used to assess the associations between paternity leave and both relationship satisfaction and conflict and whether these associations vary by gender and mothers' work statuses.

Results: Paternity leave‐taking is positively associated with parents' reports of relationship satisfaction, but length of paternity leave is only positively associated with mothers' reports of relationship satisfaction. Also, among mothers who worked prior to the child's birth, paternity leave‐taking and length of leave are negatively associated with their reports of relationship conflict. In contrast, among ‘mothers who did not work in paid labor prebirth, paternity leave is positively associated with mothers’ reports of relationship conflict.

Conclusion: Paternity leave may have implications for parental relationships (and especially mothers' perceptions of their relationships with fathers).
Melatonin and its metabolites as chemical agents capable of directly repairing oxidized DNA
Authors: Pérez‐González Adriana , Castañeda‐Arriaga Romina , Álvarez‐Idaboy Juan Raúl , Reiter Russel J. , Galano Annia
Published: November 2018

Oxidative stress mediates chemical damage to DNA yielding a wide variety of products. In this work, the potential capability of melatonin and several of its metabolites to repair directly (chemically) oxidative lesions in DNA was explored. It was found that all the investigated molecules are capable of repairing guanine‐centered radical cations by electron transfer at very high rates, that is, diffusion‐limited. They are also capable of repairing C‐centered radicals in the sugar moiety of 2′‐deoxyguanosine (2dG) by hydrogen atom transfer. Although this was identified as a rather slow process, with rate constants ranging from 1.75 to 5.32 × 102 M−1 s−1, it is expected to be fast enough to prevent propagation of the DNA damage. Melatonin metabolites 6‐hydroxymelatonin (6OHM) and 4‐hydroxymelatonin (4OHM) are also predicted to repair OH adducts in the imidazole ring. In particular, the rate constants corresponding to the repair of 8‐OH‐G adducts were found to be in the order of 104 M−1 s−1 and are assisted by a water molecule. The results presented here strongly suggest that the role of melatonin in preventing DNA damage might be mediated by its capability, combined with that of its metabolites, to directly repair oxidized sites in DNA through different chemical routes.
Sleep efficiency and neurophysiological patterns in middle‐aged men are associated with cognitive change over their adult life course
Authors: Waser Markus , Lauritzen Martin J. , Fagerlund Birgitte , Osler Merete , Mortensen Erik L. , Sørensen Helge B. D. , Jennum Poul
Published: November 2018

Disrupted sleep is a contributing factor to cognitive ageing, while also being associated with neurodegenerative disorders. Little is known, however, about the relation of sleep and the gradual cognitive changes over the adult life course. Sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) patterns are potential markers of the cognitive progress. To test this hypothesis, we assessed sleep architecture and EEG of 167 men born in the Copenhagen Metropolitan Area in 1953, who, based on individual cognitive testing from early (~18 years) to late adulthood (~58 years), were divided into 85 subjects with negative and 82 with positive cognitive change over their adult life. Participants underwent standard polysomnography, including manual sleep scoring at age ~58 years. Features of sleep macrostructure were combined with a number of EEG features to distinguish between the two groups. EEG rhythmicity was assessed by spectral power analysis in frontal, central and occipital sites. Functional connectivity was measured by inter‐hemispheric EEG coherence. Group differences were assessed by analysis of covariance (p < 0.05), including education and severity of depression as potential covariates. Subjects with cognitive decline exhibited lower sleep efficiency, reduced inter‐hemispheric connectivity during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, and slower EEG rhythms during stage 2 non‐REM sleep. Individually, none of these tendencies remained significant after multiple test correction; however, by combining them in a machine learning approach, the groups were separated with 72% accuracy (75% sensitivity, 67% specificity). Ongoing medical screenings are required to confirm the potential of sleep efficiency and sleep EEG patterns as signs of individual cognitive progress.
Replacement of fish oil in plant‐based diets for Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, by stearine fish oil and palm oil
Authors: Soller Fabio , Roy Luke A. , Davis D. Allen
Published: November 2018

Stearine fish oil (SFO) and palm oil (PO) have emerged as promising alternatives for the replacement of fish oil (FO) in aquafeeds. This study evaluated the replacement of FO with alternative oils in practical diets for Litopenaeus vannamei. In a clear brackish water study (14.1 g/L) utilizing shrimp (0.29 ± 0.02 g, initial weight), FO was replaced by SFO at inclusion ratios of 100:0, 75:25, 50:50, 25:75, and 0:100 (FO:SFO) and PO as 90% of FO. After 55 days, no significant differences (p < 0.05) in final weight, growth, or survival of shrimp were observed. A second trial (8 weeks) in low‐salinity water (2.1 g/L) with shrimp (0.92 ± 0.02 g, initial weight) evaluated diets with 100% FO, 100% SFO, 90% PO, 90% soybean oil (SO), or 90% flaxseed oil (FXO) as a replacement for FO and four commercially produced diets with 2% of FO, SO, PO, or FXO. One treatment received half rations of the commercial FO diet, and one treatment was based entirely on natural productivity. Results show that the fatty acid profiles of the tail muscle conformed to the lipids of the feed, and highly unsaturated fatty acids (HUFAs) were preserved. Following 8 weeks of culture, there were no significant differences in production performance.
Rural Land Registration in Ethiopia: Myths and Realities
Authors: Ayano Mekonnen Firew
Published: November 2018

Rural land registration has frequently been recommended as a step forward for developing countries. Registration is conceived not only as a means of clarifying property rights and promoting land markets, but also as a way to protect the rights of women and other vulnerable groups and prevent environmental degradation. This package of advantages was once associated with the land rights of individuals. However, more recently, customary interests have been recognized as important for social peace and as serving local conceptions of justice. In recognition of these objectives, Ethiopia and some other countries of sub-Saharan Africa have formally recognized what are often called “customary land rights.” Ethiopia is cited as a model of this approach in a multicultural setting. This paper shows, however, that serious problems associated with rural land registration have not disappeared. Fieldwork evidence from parts of Ethiopia suggests that customary property interests often go unrecognized. It also shows that the bargaining power of smallholder farmers who rent land to commercial farmers is being reduced. Simultaneously, there is an evident shift in decision-making power from households and communities to the state and officials. The complexity of these matters in practice raises questions about the interpretation of Ethiopian land policy.
The Determinants of Price Rigidity in the UK: Analysis of the CPI and PPI Microdata and Application to Macrodata Modelling
Authors: Zhou Peng , Dixon Huw
Published: November 2018

This paper investigates price rigidity in UK consumer and producer markets, by estimating the hazard functions of price changes in microdata which are then used in macrodata modelling. We explore the mechanism of price setting using survival analysis in order to see what factors drive the observed price rigidity. We find significant effects of macroeconomic variables such as inflation and output, which should be purged off before calibrating any macroeconomic models. The microdata findings are then used to estimate and simulate a heterogeneous price setting model (generalised Calvo and Taylor), which improves the performance in matching macrodata persistence.
Self‐adaptive form generation method for reciprocal grid structures
Authors: Su Yan , Wu Yue , Qiao Gang , Shen Shizhao
Published: November 2018

Reciprocal grid structure is a structural system consisting of mutually supporting bars. Its geometry should satisfy not only the demands of architectural intents but also the requirements of the lapping relationship of the bars. Thus, form generation is the key problem in its design. Inspired by the physical building process of a reciprocal grid structure, self‐adaptive form generation method is proposed. In this method, an initial plane grid with the topology of required structural configuration is created first. Next, elements are iteratively lapped to realize a self‐adaptive generation of structural form. Two new parameters, bar lapping factor and rotation angle, are proposed to describe reciprocal grid structures quantitatively and make the form generation process easy. The efficiency and accuracy of the method are illustrated by comparisons with other form generation methods. Numerical examples demonstrate the applicability of the proposed method in the complex and realistic reciprocal grid structures.
Incidence and predictors of moderate to severe tricuspid regurgitation after dual‐chamber pacemaker implantation
Authors: Cho Min Soo , Kim Jun , Lee Jung‐Bok , Nam Gi‐Byoung , Choi Kee‐Joon , Kim You‐Ho
Published: November 2018

Introduction

The incidence and predictors of tricuspid regurgitation (TR) after permanent pacemaker (PM) implantations have not been well evaluated. We attempted to determine TR's natural course and predictors, especially focusing on the influence of atrial fibrillation (AF).

Methods

Data from 530 patients with dual‐chamber PMs were evaluated. The main study outcomes were moderate to severe TR and isolated TR (moderate to severe TR without other structural heart diseases [SHDs]) in follow‐up echocardiography.

Results

Over a median follow‐up period of 7.6 years, moderate to severe TR developed in 14.5% patients. Of those, concomitant SHD was observed in 51.9% of patients, and 48.1% presented with isolated TR. A multivariable analysis identified the independent predictors of moderate to severe TR (diabetes mellitus [DM], chronic lung disease, preexisting mild TR, peripheral artery disease, moderate to severe aortic regurgitation, and persistent AF [PeAF]) and isolated TR (DM, preexisting mild TR, and PeAF). PeAF (n = 67, 12.6%) was an independent predictor of both moderate to severe TR (hazard ratio [HR] 2.59, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22–5.51) and isolated TR (HR 4.54, 95% CI: 1.60–12.90). The patients with PeAF exhibited a higher incidence of moderate to severe TR (21.8% vs 12.9% vs 11.6% PeAF, paroxysmal AF, and without AF, respectively) and isolated TR (18.6% vs 6.6% vs 4.2%, respectively) during the follow‐up.

Conclusion

Moderate to severe TR after PM implantations developed with or without the influence of concomitant SHD. Patients with PeAF exhibited a higher risk of moderate to severe TR after PM implantations.
The prevalence and outcome of children with failure to thrive after pediatric kidney transplantation
Authors: Sgambat Kristen , Cheng Y. Iris , Charnaya Olga , Moudgil Asha
Published: November 2018

Background

Prior to transplantation, effects of advanced CKD contribute to malnutrition and impaired growth. After transplant, children are expected to thrive, however, in a subset of transplant recipients this does not occur. Factors associated with post‐transplant FTT are poorly understood.

Objective

A retrospective cohort study was conducted to determine factors associated with FTT and association of FTT with infections and hospitalizations.

Methods

Records of 119 children transplanted between 2005 and 2016 were reviewed. FTT was defined by ≥2 of the following post‐transplant criteria: (a) low BMI or deceleration in BMI z‐score, (b) poor growth velocity, and (c) chronic hypoalbuminemia at 1 or 3 years post‐transplant. Association of FTT with deceased donor transplant, de novo DSA, intolerance to MMF, anemia, vitamin D deficiency, and CIC was investigated by logistic regression. Poisson regression was used to identify outcomes associated with FTT.

Results

Low pre‐transplant BMI and post‐transplant CIC dependence were independently associated with FTT after transplant. Odds of FTT at 1 year post‐transplant decreased by 0.5 for each 1 unit increase in pre‐transplant BMI z‐score. Requirement for CIC conferred 3.8 and 7.8 higher odds of FTT at 1 and 3 years. Patients with FTT had 2.7 and 2.6 times infections and hospitalizations during the first year, and 4.2 and 4.3 times infections and hospitalizations over 3 years post‐transplant.

Conclusions

Children with low BMI prior to transplant and those requiring CIC after transplant are at increased risk for post‐transplant FTT. FTT is associated with adverse outcomes, evidenced by increased infections and hospitalizations.
Detection of Spongospora subterranea in potato tuber lesions using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)
Authors: Bulman S. R. , Marshall J. W.
Published: November 2018

The ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) was sequenced from several collections of Spongospora subterranea from Europe, Peru, and Australasia. No sequence variation was detected between any of the Australasian or European collections with the exception of one from Inverness (Scotland) which was identical to the two Peruvian samples. PCR primers designed from the ITS sequence were used successfully to detect S. subterranea in DNA extracts from potato scab lesions.
A new enzymatic activity from elicitor‐treated pear cell cultures converting trans‐cinnamic acid to benzaldehyde
Authors: Saini Shashank S. , Teotia Deepa , Gaid Mariam , Sircar Debabrata
Published: November 2018

Cell cultures of Asian pear (Pyrus pyrifolia) are known to produce benzoate‐derived biphenyl phytoalexins upon elicitor treatment. Although the downstream pathway for biphenyl phytoalexin biosynthesis is almost known, the upstream route of benzoic acid biosynthesis in pear has not been completely elucidated. In the present work, we report benzaldehyde synthase (BS) activity from yeast extract‐treated cell suspension cultures of P. pyrifolia. BS catalyzes the in vitro conversion of trans‐cinnamic acid to benzaldehyde using a non‐oxidative C2‐side chain cleavage mechanism. The enzyme activity was strictly dependent on the presence of a reducing agent, dithiothreitol being preferred. C2‐side chain shortening of the cinnamic acid backbone resembled the mechanisms catalyzed by 4‐hydroxybenzaldehyde synthase (HBS) activity in Vanilla planifolia and salicylaldehyde synthase (SAS) activity in tobacco and apple cell cultures. A basal BS activity was also observed in the non‐elicited cell cultures. Upon yeast extract‐treatment, a 13‐fold increase in BS activity was observed when compared to the non‐treated control cells. Moreover, feeding of the cell cultures with trans‐cinnamic acid, the substrate for BS, resulted in an enhanced level of noraucuparin, a biphenyl phytoalexin. Comparable accumulation of noraucuparin was observed upon feeding of benzaldehyde, the BS product. The preferred substrate for BS was found to be trans‐cinnamic acid, for which the apparent Km and Vmax values were 0.5 mM and 50.7 pkat mg−1 protein, respectively. Our observations indicate the contribution of BS to benzoic acid biosynthesis in Asian pear via the CoA‐independent and non‐β‐oxidative route.
Certifying a state forestry agency in Quebec: Complementarity and conflict around government responsibilities, indigenous rights, and certification of the state as forest manager
Authors: Wyatt Stephen , Teitelbaum Sara
Published: November 2018

As voluntary third‐party certification systems become an increasingly accepted part of international frameworks for forest governance, some state forestry agencies are following the private sector in seeking certification of their forest management activities. We ask how the roles and responsibilities of state forest management agencies interact with the processes and mechanisms established by certification systems. To answer this question, we review existing research to propose a conceptual framework composed of eight issues of particular relevance to states: regulation, transnationalism, sovereignty disputes, partnerships and competition, mainstreaming, effectiveness, equity, and legitimacy and trust. We then use this framework to analyze experience in Quebec, Canada, where the state agency initially sought certification and then abandoned this plan after facing difficulties meeting the requirements pertaining to indigenous rights. Our framework helps to understand possible complementarities between state and non‐state systems, but also highlights challenges for reconciling state roles and responsibilities under certification.
‘The right hybrid for every acre’: Assembling the social worlds of corn and soy seed‐selling in conventional agricultural techniques
Authors: Comi Matt
Published: November 2018

This article looks to better understand seed‐selling assemblages between top‐10 agricultural companies and conventional farmers in the US Midwest by looking to the often ignored participants connecting these groups. Data for this research are drawn from 12 qualitative, on‐site interviews with participants identifying as seed dealers or agronomists who live and work in Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri, an agricultural region dominated by the soybean and corn agriculture that has also become ubiquitous in European and global contexts over the last half‐century. This project arises out of assemblage‐thinking approaches to re‐see the social relations between agronomists and agricultural seed. This research suggests that the convergence between genetically engineering hybrid seed stock and the discursive act of marketing that seed stock together coproduces a flexible materiality which is far from discreet or static. Because of this, transitional actors, the seed dealers and agronomists who buy and sell such seeds have unexpectedly outsized clout when considering the agentic capacity of members in conventional agriculture assemblages. By engaging with community members and farmer‐clients, seed dealers co‐produce the worlds and meanings of hybrid seeds and conventional agriculture. This paper explores these relations and considers their implications for imagining more environmentally sustainable futures.
Update on Racial Disparities in Access to Healthcare: An Application of Nonlinear Decomposition Techniques*
Authors: Oguz Tunay
Published: November 2018

Objective

Access to care disparities between non‐Hispanic whites and Hispanics continue to persist; updating the literature is essential to finding solutions.

Methods

Used the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey 2009–2011, Area Health Resource File, and 2010 Census to update the literature using nonlinear decomposition techniques.

Results

Findings confirm previous studies: health insurance is essential in reducing racial disparities in healthcare. The impact of language has grown to 25 percent. Findings also suggest that acquiring public health insurance and gaining citizenship offset the access to care disparities between non‐Hispanic whites and Hispanics, especially for women. Heterogeneity exists between Hispanic women and men, some of which comes from differences between their attitudes and beliefs regarding healthcare. However, these disparities cannot be explained with observed characteristics.

Conclusion

Disparities in access to care have changed and observed characteristics explain all disparities between non‐Hispanic whites and Hispanics. Hispanic men suffer disproportionately from access to care disparities compared to Hispanic women.