bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular biogeography and host relations of a parasitoid fly
Authors: Gray David A. , Kunerth Henry D. , Zuk Marlene , Cade William H. , Balenger Susan L.
Published: March 2019

Successful geographic range expansion by parasites and parasitoids may also require host range expansion. Thus the evolutionary advantages of host specialization may trade off against the ability to exploit new host species encountered in new geographic regions. Here we use molecular techniques and confirmed host records to examine biogeography, population divergence, and host flexibility of the parasitoid fly,Ormia ochracea(Bigot). Gravid females of this fly find their cricket hosts acoustically by eavesdropping on male cricket calling songs; these songs vary greatly among the known host species of crickets. Using both nuclear and mitochondrial genetic markers, we (1) describe the geographical distribution and sub-division of genetic variation inO. ochraceafrom across the continental United States, the Mexican states of Sonora and Oaxaca, and populations introduced to Hawaii; (2) demonstrate that the distribution of genetic variation among fly populations is consistent with a single widespread species with regional host specialization, rather than locally differentiated cryptic species, (3) identify the more-probable source populations for the flies introduced to the Hawaiian islands; (4) examine genetic variation and sub-structure within Hawaii; and (5) discuss specialization and lability in host-finding behavior in light of the diversity of cricket songs serving as host cues in different geographically separate populations.
Environmental change effects on life history traits and population dynamics of anadromous fishes
Authors: Chaparro-Pedraza P. Catalina , de Roos André M.
Published: March 2019

Migration, the recurring movement of individuals between a breeding and a non-breeding habitat, is a widespread phenomenon in the animal kingdom. Since the life cycle of migratory species involves two habitats, they are particularly vulnerable to environmental change, which may affect either of these habitats as well as the travel between them. In this study, we investigate the consequences of environmental change affecting older life history stages for the population dynamics and the individual life history of a migratory population. In particular, we use a theoretical approach to study how increased energetic cost of the breeding travel and reduced survival and food availability in the non-breeding habitat affect an anadromous fish population. These unfavorable conditions have impacts at individual and population level. First, when conditions deteriorate individuals in the breeding habitat have a higher growth rate as a consequence of reductions in spawning that reduce competition. Second, population abundance decreases, and its dynamics change from stable to oscillations with a period of four years. The oscillations are caused by the density-dependent feedback between individuals within a cohort through the food abundance in the breeding habitat, which results in alternation of a strong and a weak cohort. Our results explain how environmental change, by affecting older life history stages, has multiple consequences for other life stages and for the entire population. We discuss these results in the context of empirical data and highlight the need for mechanistic understanding of the interactions between life history and population dynamics in response to environmental change.
Nonlinear mixed selectivity supports reliable neural computation
Authors: Johnston W. Jeffrey , Palmer Stephanie E. , Freedman David J.
Published: March 2019

Neuronal activity in the brain is variable, yet both perception and behavior are generally reliable. How does the brain achieve this? Here, we show that the conjunctive coding of multiple stimulus features, commonly known as nonlinear mixed selectivity, may be used by the brain to support reliable information transmission using unreliable neurons. Nonlinear mixed selectivity (NMS) has been observed widely across the brain, from primary sensory to decision-making to motor areas. Representations of stimulus features are nearly always mixed together, rather than represented separately or with only additive (linear) mixing, as in pure selectivity. NMS has been previously shown to support flexible linear decoding for complex behavioral tasks. Here, we show that NMS has another important benefit: it requires as little as half the metabolic energy required by pure selectivity to achieve the same level of transmission reliability. This benefit holds for sensory, motor, and more abstract, cognitive representations. Further, we show experimental evidence that NMS exists in the brain even when it does not enable behaviorally useful linear decoding. This suggests that NMS may be a general coding scheme exploited by the brain for reliable and efficient neural computation.
The model of local axon homeostasis - explaining the role and regulation of microtubule bundles in axon maintenance and pathology
Authors: Hahn Ines , Voelzmann André , Liew Yu-Ting , Costa-Gomes Beatriz , Prokop Andreas
Published: March 2019

Axons are the slender, cable-like, up to meter-long projections of neurons that electrically wire our brain and body. In spite of their challenging morphology, they usually need to be maintained for an organism’s lifetime. This makes them key lesion sites in pathological processes of ageing, injury and neurodegeneration. The morphology and physiology of axons crucially depends on the parallel bundles of microtubules (MTs), running all along to form their structural backbones and highways for life-sustaining cargo transport and organelle dynamics. Understanding how these bundles are formed and then maintained will provide important explanations for axon biology and pathology. Currently, much is known about MTs and the proteins that bind and regulate them, but very little about how they functionally integrate to regulate axons. As an attempt to bridge this important knowledge gap, we explain here the model of local axon homeostasis, based on our own experiments and published data. (1) As the default, we observe that axonal MTs have a strong bias to become disorganised, likely caused by the physical forces imposed by motor proteins and their life-sustaining functions during intra-axonal transport and dynamics. (2) Preventing MT disorganisation and promoting their bundled conformation, requires complex machinery involving most or even all major classes of MT-binding and - regulating proteins. As will be discussed, this model offers new explanations for axonopathies, in particular those linking to MT-regulating proteins and motors; it will hopefully motivate more researchers to study MTs, and help to decipher the complex regulatory networks that can explain axon biology and pathology.
Mapping the steroid response to major trauma from injury to recovery: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Foster Mark A. , Taylor Angela E. , Hill Neil E. , Bentley Conor , Bishop Jon , Gilligan Lorna C. , Shaheen Fozia , Bion Julian F. , Fallowfield Joanne L. , Woods David R. , Bancos Irina , Midwinter Mark M. , Lord Janet M. , Arlt Wiebke
Published: March 2019

Context

Survival rates after severe injury are improving, but complication rates and outcomes are variable.

Objective

This cohort study addressed the lack of longitudinal data on the steroid response to major trauma and during recovery.

Design

We undertook a prospective, observational cohort study from time of injury to six months post-injury at a major UK trauma centre and a military rehabilitation unit, studying patients within 24 hours of major trauma (estimated New Injury Severity Score (NISS) >15).

Main outcome measures

We measured adrenal and gonadal steroids in serum and 24-h urine by mass spectrometry, assessed muscle loss by ultrasound and nitrogen excretion, and recorded clinical outcomes (ventilator days, length of hospital stay, opioid use, incidence of organ dysfunction and sepsis); results were analysed by generalized mixed-effect linear models.

Findings

We screened 996 multiple injured adults, approached 106, and recruited 95 eligible patients; 87 survived. We analysed all male survivors <50 years not treated with steroids (N=60; median age 27 [interquartile range 24-31] years; median NISS 34 [29-44]). Urinary nitrogen excretion and muscle loss peaked after one and six weeks, respectively. Serum testosterone, dehydroepiandrosterone and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate decreased immediately after trauma and took two, four and more than six months, respectively, to recover; opioid treatment delayed dehydroepiandrosterone recovery in a dose-dependent fashion. Androgens and precursors correlated with SOFA score and probability of sepsis.

Conclusion

The catabolic response to severe injury was accompanied by acute and sustained androgen suppression. Whether androgen supplementation improves health outcomes after major trauma requires further investigation.

Précis

A cohort study in male survivors of major trauma revealed acute and sustained androgen suppression and protein catabolism including muscle loss. Serum androgens correlated with probability of sepsis.
Effective concentrations enforced by intrinsically disordered linkers are governed by polymer physics
Authors: Sørensen Charlotte S. , Kjaergaard Magnus
Published: March 2019

Many multidomain proteins contain disordered linkers that regulate inter-domain contacts, and thus the effective concentrations that govern intra-molecular reactions. Effective concentrations are rarely measured experimentally and therefore little is known about how they relate to linker architecture. We have directly measured the effective concentrations enforced by disordered protein linkers using a new fluorescent biosensor. We show that effective concentrations follow simple geometric models based on polymer physics, offering an indirect method to probe the structural properties of the linker. The compaction of the disordered linker depends not only on net charge, but also on the type of charged residues. In contrast to theoretical predictions, we found that polyampholyte linkers can contract to similar dimensions as globular proteins. Hydrophobicity has little effect in itself, but aromatic residues lead to strong compaction likely through π-interactions. Finally, we find that the individual contributors to chain compaction are not additive. This work represents perhaps the most systematic study of the relationship between sequence and structure of intrinsically disordered proteins so far. A quantitative understanding of the relationship between effective concentration and linker sequence will be crucial for understanding disorder-based allosteric regulation in multidomain proteins.
The nonlinear characteristics of Chinese stock index futures yield volatility
Authors: Wang Xuebiao , Wang Xi , Li Bo , Bai Zhiqi
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider that the model of volatility characteristics is more reasonable and the description of volatility is more explanatory.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper analyzes the basic characteristics of market yield volatility based on the five-minute trading data of the Chinese CSI300 stock index futures from 2012 to 2017 by Hurst index and GPH test, A-J and J-O Jumping test and Realized-EGARCH model, respectively. The results show that the yield fluctuation rate of CSI300 stock index futures market has obvious non-linear characteristics including long memory, jumpy and asymmetry.

Findings

This paper finds that the LHAR-RV-CJ model has a better prediction effect on the volatility of CSI300 stock index futures. The research shows that CSI300 stock index futures market is heterogeneous, means that long-term investors are focused on long-term market fluctuations rather than short-term fluctuations; the influence of the short-term jumping component on the market volatility is limited, and the long jump has a greater negative influence on market fluctuation; the negative impact of long-period yield is limited to short-term market fluctuation, while, with the period extending, the negative influence of long-period impact is gradually increased.

Research limitations/implications

This paper has research limitations in variable measurement and data selection.

Practical implications

This study is based on the high-frequency data or the application number of financial modeling analysis, especially in the study of asset price volatility. It makes full use of all kinds of information contained in high-frequency data, compared to low-frequency data such as day, weekly or monthly data. High-frequency data can be more accurate, better guide financial asset pricing and risk management, and result in effective configuration.

Originality/value

The existing research on the futures market volatility of high frequency data, mainly focus on single feature analysis, and the comprehensive comparative analysis on the volatility characteristics of study is less, at the same time in setting up the model for the forecast of volatility, based on the model research on the basic characteristics is less, so the construction of a model is relatively subjective, in this paper, considering the fluctuation characteristics of the model is more reasonable, characterization of volatility will also be more explanatory power. The difference between this paper and the existing literature lies in that this paper establishes a prediction model based on the basic characteristics of market return volatility, and conducts a description and prediction study on volatility.
Analysis of manual data collection in maintenance context
Authors: Mahlamäki Katrine , Nieminen Marko
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify details of technological, organizational and people (TOP) factors affecting maintenance technicians’ use of computerized maintenance management systems (CMMS) in manual collection of asset data.

Design/methodology/approach

In addition to TOP factor details, results from six case studies in Finland, India and the Caribbean are presented. Interviews and observations clarify the role of TOP factors in CMMS use in industrial maintenance.

Findings

In total, 17 detailed TOP factors are identified and criteria for analyzing CMMS contexts with them are defined. Analyzing the cases with these factors reveals that technicians who collect good quality data have received good training and instructions for the CMMS, are competent, and understand how manually collected data benefits them in their own work. However, even these sites struggle with the usability of the CMMS.

Research limitations/implications

The 17 TOP factors and the criteria for CMMS evaluation extend understanding on context and usability in manual data collection. Case study method does not imply the relative importance of the TOP factors, which calls for future research using quantitative methods.

Practical implications

Management can use the criteria to analyze the context of manual data collection for improvements, e.g., in CMMS usability.

Originality/value

Insights from industrial environments and a new way of studying contextual factors of CMMS use are presented. The results extend a data quality research framework with details to manual data collection and define the TOP factors in CMMS context.
Core self-evaluations, perceived organizational support, and work-related well-being
Authors: Hsieh Hui-Hsien , Wang Yung-Chuan , Huang Jie-Tsuen
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a moderated mediation model involving core self-evaluations (CSE), perceived organizational support (POS) and work-related well-being in terms of job burnout and job satisfaction. Drawing on conservation of resources theory, the authors examine the mediating effect of job burnout on the relationship between CSE and job satisfaction, while also investigating the moderating role of POS on the above effect.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected from a sample of 396 full-time employees from four restaurant and food service companies in Taiwan. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses.

Findings

The results show that job burnout partially mediates the relationship between CSE and job satisfaction. Moreover, the results indicate that POS moderates the negative relationship between CSE and job burnout, as well as the mediated relationship between CSE and job satisfaction via job burnout. Specifically, both the CSE-job burnout relationship and the CSE-job burnout-job satisfaction relationship become stronger for employees with high POS than for those with low POS.

Practical implications

The results highlight the importance of raising employees’ POS by creating a supportive work environment in organizations, because it can serve as an important job resource that complements the impact of employees’ CSE on their work-related well-being.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the literature by suggesting that work-related well-being should be viewed as the results of interplay between personal characteristics and perceptions of the work environment, highlighting the importance of the person-environment interaction in explaining employees’ work-related well-being.
Antecedents of ethical infrastructures against workplace bullying
Authors: Einarsen Kari , Salin Denise , Einarsen Ståle Valvatne , Skogstad Anders , Mykletun Reidar Johan
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Drawing on the resource-based view, the purpose of this paper is to examine the extent to which the level of the organization’s human resource management (HRM) practices, perceived financial resources and organizational size predict the existence of a well-developed ethical infrastructure against workplace bullying.

Design/methodology/approach

The human resource (HR) managers or the main health and safety representatives (HSRs) in 216 Norwegian municipalities responded to an electronic survey, representing some 50 percent of the municipalities.

Findings

The level of high-quality HRM practice predicted the existence of an ethical infrastructure against workplace bullying, particularly informal systems represented by a strong conflict management climate. Perceived financial resources did not predict the existence of such ethical infrastructure. Organizational size predicted the existence of policies and having training against bullying.

Practical implications

This study informs practitioners about organizational resources associated with organization having a well-developed ethical infrastructure against workplace bullying. A high level of high-quality HRM practices seems to be more important for the existence of a well-developed ethical infrastructure against workplace bullying compared to financial resources and organizational size, at least as perceived by HR managers and HSRs.

Originality/value

This study provides empirical evidence for the importance of having a high level of high-quality HRM practices as predictors of the existence of ethical infrastructure to tackle workplace bullying. An essential finding is that the existence of such an infrastructure is not dependent on distal resources, such as organizational size and perceived financial resources.
Understanding the effects of empowering, transformational and ethical leadership on promotive and prohibitive voice
Authors: Jada Umamaheswara Rao , Mukhopadhyay Susmita
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to compare the direct and indirect effects of transformational, ethical and empowering leadership (EL) on promotive and prohibitive voice behavior. The study also explores the mediating effects of leader-member exchange (LMX) and moderating effects of individual power distance orientation (IPDO) in the hypothesized model. The research conducted attempts to identify the most suitable leadership style for encouraging promotive and prohibitive voice behavior in service sector organizations in India.

Design/methodology/approach

Purposive and snowball sampling was used for data collection. Necessary condition analysis (NCA) was conducted to identify the most suitable style for encouraging promotive and prohibitive voice behavior. The results NCA were later verified using the structural equation modeling technique.

Findings

Results of the study displayed the supremacy of EL style in promoting high-quality LMX and “promotive and prohibitive” voice over transformational and ethical leadership in Indian service organizations. Considering the overall results of the study, EL appears to be the most suitable style for encouraging promotive and prohibitive voice in a high power distance country like India.

Research limitations/implications

Self-reported measures utilized in the study might have affected the findings and hence, should be interpreted with caution.

Practical implications

Researchers propose the adoption of EL style for encouraging promotive and prohibitive voice in Indian service sector organizations. The researchers also highlight the noteworthy impact of LMX and IPDO on promotive and prohibitive voice behavior, which makes it a point for the leaders to work toward lowering IPDO amongst followers to promote both promotive and prohibitive voice behavior for the growth of an organization.

Originality/value

The study is the first one to conduct a comparative moderated mediated examination to analyze the effects of transformational, ethical and EL in encouraging promotive and prohibitive voice behavior in Indian organizations.
The Role of Gatekeepers in Capital Markets
Authors: ROYCHOWDHURY SUGATA , SRINIVASAN SURAJ
Published: March 2019

Gatekeepers in financial markets have the power to provide the institutional stability, fortitude, and direction necessary for the development and the smooth functioning of capital markets. At the same time, they are often motivated by their own private incentives. This along with the tradeoffs they face, and the at‐times unintended consequences of the regulations they propose and enforce, can undermine their effectiveness. A thorough understanding of gatekeepers and their roles can thus illuminate academics, the financial community, and regulators on how such gatekeepers can be the most effective and generate the greatest benefits for capital markets. Since gatekeeping roles and the literature they have inspired encompass a wide array of institutions and agencies, our overview concentrates on those that the conference papers appearing in this volume focus on. We conclude that collectively, the papers contribute to significant progress, and point out some crucial areas that call for further investigation and offer opportunities for future research.
A microcin processing peptidase‐like protein of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus is essential for secretion of biofilm‐promoting proteins
Authors: Parnasa Rami , Sendersky Eleonora , Simkovsky Ryan , Waldman Ben‐Asher Hiba , Golden Susan S. , Schwarz Rakefet
Published: March 2019

Small secreted compounds, e.g. microcins, are characterized by a double‐glycine (GG) secretion motif that is cleaved off upon maturation. Genomic analysis suggests that small proteins that possess a GG motif are widespread in cyanobacteria; however, the roles of these proteins are largely unknown. Using a biofilm‐proficient mutant of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 in which the constitutive biofilm self‐suppression mechanism is inactivated, we previously demonstrated that four small proteins, Enable biofilm formation with a GG motif (EbfG1‐4), each with a GG motif, enable biofilm formation. Furthermore, a peptidase belonging to the C39 family, Peptidase transporter enabling Biofilm (PteB), is required for secretion of these proteins. Here, we show that the microcin processing peptidase‐like protein encoded by gene Synpcc7942_1127 is also required for biofilm development – inactivation of this gene in the biofilm‐proficient mutant abrogates biofilm development. Additionally, this peptidase‐like protein (denoted EbfE – enables biofilm formation peptidase) is required for secretion of the EbfG biofilm‐promoting small proteins. Given their protein‐domain characteristics, we suggest that PteB and EbfE take part in a maturation‐secretion system, with PteB being located to the cell membrane while EbfE is directed to the periplasmic space via its secretion signal.
Increased intron retention is a post‐transcriptional signature associated with progressive aging and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Adusumalli Swarnaseetha , Ngian Zhen‐Kai , Lin Wei‐Qi , Benoukraf Touati , Ong Chin‐Tong
Published: March 2019

Intron retention (IR) by alternative splicing is a conserved regulatory mechanism that can affect gene expression and protein function during adult development and age‐onset diseases. However, it remains unclear whether IR undergoes spatial or temporal changes during different stages of aging or neurodegeneration like Alzheimer's disease (AD). By profiling the transcriptome of Drosophila head cells at different ages, we observed a significant increase in IR events for many genes during aging. Differential IR affects distinct biological functions at different ages and occurs at several AD‐associated genes in older adults. The increased nucleosome occupancy at the differentially retained introns in young animals suggests that it may regulate the level of IR during aging. Notably, an increase in the number of IR events was also observed in healthy older mouse and human brain tissues, as well as in the cerebellum and frontal cortex from independent AD cohorts. Genes with differential IR shared many common features, including shorter intron length, no perturbation in their mRNA level, and enrichment for biological functions that are associated with mRNA processing and proteostasis. The differentially retained introns identified in AD frontal cortex have higher GC content, with many of their mRNA transcripts showing an altered level of protein expression compared to control samples. Taken together, our results suggest that an increased IR is an conserved signature that is associated with aging. By affecting pathways involved in mRNA and protein homeostasis, changes of IR pattern during aging may regulate the transition from healthy to pathological state in late‐onset sporadic AD.
Editorial: can hepatitis B core‐related antigen be the new biomarker for hepatocellular carcinoma in nucleoside analogue‐treated chronic hepatitis B? Author’s reply
Authors: Hosaka Tetsuya
Published: March 2019

Linked Content

This article is linked to Hosaka et al and Mak papers. To view these
articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15108 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15156.
Letter: severe vitamin D deficiency is a prognostic biomarker in autoimmune hepatitis—offender or bystander? Authors’ reply
Authors: Ebadi Maryam , Czaja Albert J. , Montano‐Loza Aldo J.
Published: March 2019

Linked Content

This article is linked to Ebadi et al and Cheng and Wang papers. To
view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15029 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15165.
β3‐Adrenoceptors in the normal and diseased urinary bladder—What are the open questions?
Authors: Igawa Yasuhiko , Aizawa Naoki , Michel Martin C.
Published: March 2019

β3‐Adrenoceptor agonists are used in the treatment of overactive bladder syndrome. Although the relaxant response to adrenergic stimulation in human detrusor smooth muscle cells is mediated mainly via β3‐adrenoceptors, the plasma concentrations of the therapeutic dose of mirabegron, the only clinically approved β3‐adrenoceptor agonist, are considerably lower than the EC50 for causing direct relaxation of human detrusor, suggesting a mechanism of action other than direct relaxation of detrusor smooth muscle. However, the site and mechanism of action of β3‐adrenoceptor agonists in the bladder have not been firmly established. Postulated mechanisms include prejunctional suppression of ACh release from the parasympathetic nerves during the storage phase and inhibition of micro‐contractions through β3‐adrenoceptors on detrusor smooth muscle cells or suburothelial interstitial cells. Implications of possible desensitization of β3‐adrenoceptors in the bladder upon prolonged agonist exposure and possible causes of rarely observed cardiovascular effects of mirabegron are also discussed.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Adrenoceptors—New Roles for Old Players. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.14/issuetoc
“We don't know what we don't know”: Providing information about communication to families of children with Down syndrome
Authors: Melvin Katelyn , Meyer Carly , Ryan Brooke
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Children with Down syndrome often present with a communication disability, and families require information to support their child's communication. Effective provision of information by professionals is an important part of family‐centred practice. However, we currently do not know the specific communication information needs of families of children with Down syndrome. This study aimed to (1) explore families' experiences of communication information provision and (2) identify families' preferences regarding when, what and how they would like to receive information about communication.

Method

A qualitative descriptive approach was used to explore the experiences and information needs of nine family members of children with Down syndrome aged 0–15 years. Data from semistructured, in‐depth interviews were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Three core themes were identified: (1) We want more information about communication to be provided by professionals now and into the future so we can be “self‐help people.” (2) We want general information resources that help us support our child's communication. (3) We want to have a two‐way partnership with professionals so we can share and receive specific information about our child's communication.

Conclusion

Ineffective information provision restricts families' capacity to be self‐help people in supporting communication development. Ongoing provision of both general and specific information about communication is needed in different formats. This study informs the development of resources to better meet families' information needs.
Assessing optimism and pessimism about genomic medicine: Development of a genomic orientation scale
Authors: Horrow Caroline , Pacyna Joel E. , Sutton Erica J. , Sperry Beau P. , Breitkopf Carmen Radecki , Sharp Richard R.
Published: March 2019

Efforts to characterize stakeholder attitudes about the implementation of genomic medicine would benefit from a validated instrument for measuring public views of the potential benefits and harms of genomic technologies, which would facilitate comparison across populations and clinical settings. We sought to develop a scale to evaluate attitudes about the future of genomic medicine. We developed a 21‐item scale that examined the likelihood of various outcomes of genomic medicine. The scale was administered to participants in a genomic sequencing study. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted and bivariate correlations were calculated. The genomic orientation (GO) scale was completed by 2895 participants. A two‐factor structure was identified, corresponding to an optimism subscale (16 items, α = 0.89) and a pessimism subscale (5 items, α = 0.63). Genomic optimism was positively associated with a perceived value of genetic test results, higher health literacy, and decreased decisional conflict about participation in a genomic research study. Genomic pessimism was associated with concerns about genetic testing, lower health literacy, and increased decisional conflict about the decision to participate in the study. The GO scale is a promising tool for measuring both positive and negative views regarding the future of genomic medicine and deserves further validation.
Efficient Computation of Smoothed Exponential Maps
Authors: Herholz Philipp , Alexa Marc
Published: March 2019

Many applications in geometry processing require the computation of local parameterizations on a surface mesh at interactive rates. A popular approach is to compute local exponential maps, i.e. parameterizations that preserve distance and angle to the origin of the map. We extend the computation of geodesic distance by heat diffusion to also determine angular information for the geodesic curves. This approach has two important benefits compared to fast approximate as well as exact forward tracing of the distance function: First, it allows generating smoother maps, avoiding discontinuities. Second, exploiting the factorization of the global Laplace–Beltrami operator of the mesh and using recent localized solution techniques, the computation is more efficient even compared to fast approximate solutions based on Dijkstra's algorithm.
SODA WARS: THE EFFECT OF A SODA TAX ELECTION ON UNIVERSITY BEVERAGE SALES
Authors: Taylor Rebecca L. C. , Kaplan Scott , Villas‐Boas Sofia B. , Jung Kevin
Published: March 2019

We examine how soda sales changed due to the campaign attention and election outcome of a local excise tax on sugar‐sweetened beverages. Using panel data of beverage sales from university retailers in Berkeley, California, we estimate that soda purchases relative to control beverages significantly dropped immediately after the election, months before the tax was implemented in the city of Berkeley or on campus. Supplemental scanner data from off‐campus retailers reveal this result is not unique to the university setting. Our findings suggest soda tax media coverage and election outcomes can have larger effects on purchasing behavior than the tax itself. (JEL D12, H20, C23, I38, Q18)
WILLINGNESS TOUPEE
Authors: McEvoy David M. , Morgan O. Ashton , Whitehead John C.
Published: March 2019

In this paper we tackle the hairy problem of male pattern baldness. We survey balding men and elicit their willingness to pay to move from their current situation to a more plentiful one. Then we comb‐over the results. What's the average willingness to pay to move from a glistening cue ball to a luscious mane? About $30,000. (JEL B12)
The Inherited Inequality: How Demographic Aging and Pension Reforms can Change the Intergenerational Transmission of Wealth
Authors: Klimaviciute Justina , Pestieau Pierre , Onder Harun
Published: March 2019

The role of inherited wealth in modern economies has increasingly come under scrutiny. This study presents one of the first attempts to shed light on how demographic aging could shape this role. It shows that, in the absence of retirement annuities, or for a given level of annuitization, both increasing longevity and decreasing fertility should reduce the inherited share of total wealth in a given economy. Thus, aging is not likely to explain a recent surge in this share in some advanced economies. Shrinking retirement annuities, however, could offset and potentially reverse these effects. The paper also shows that individual bequests will be more unequally distributed if aging is driven by a drop in fertility. In comparison, the effect of increasing longevity on their distribution is non-monotonic.
Using nest captures and video cameras to estimate survival and abundance of breeding Piping Plovers Charadrius melodus
Authors: Hunt Kelsi L. , Gibson Daniel , Friedrich Meryl J. , Huber Coral J. , Fraser James D. , Karpanty Sarah M. , Catlin Daniel H.
Published: March 2019

The estimation of abundance is fundamental to ecology and conservation but often is difficult or impossible to accomplish reliably. Recent improvements in wildlife cameras and ecological modelling have allowed for improved accuracy in estimates of abundance. In this study, we paired nest captures and high‐definition nest video camera monitoring with modelling for a novel approach to estimate survival and abundance of threatened Piping Plovers Charadrius melodus breeding on Missouri River sandbars. From 2005 to 2014, we captured individuals on nests and uniquely marked them and recaptured previously marked individuals. In 2015–2017, we resighted marked individuals using small, high‐definition video cameras deployed at nests, and counted the number of marked and unmarked breeding individuals associated with nests. We estimated apparent survival and derived estimates of the abundance of breeding individuals and population growth each year using a state‐space Jolly–Seber superpopulation model with the addition of a binomial band ratio model for data collected using nest video cameras. Apparent survival averaged 0.73 ± 0.03 (mean ± sd) throughout the study. The number of breeding individuals varied, with the population increasing from 2012 to 2017 following a major habitat creation event. This study provides one of the few examples of camera data being used to produce demographic parameter and abundance estimates for an avian species. The camera and modelling methods described in this study may be applicable to other avian species in which some portion of the breeding population is uniquely marked.
Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis of Return on Bitcoin*
Authors: Shrestha Keshab
Published: March 2019

We revisit the issue of market efficiency of Bitcoin, which is an important part of the new financial technology (FinTech), by analyzing the Bitcoin returns using two recently developed analytical techniques called bipower variation method and Multifractal Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (MF‐DFA). MF‐DFA allows us to analyze the return series in ways not possible using a monofractal analytical techniques such as detrended fluctuation analysis (DFA) and R/S method. The bipower variation method suggests that the Bitcoin returns are efficient and contain some large finite jumps. Using MF‐DFA, we find that the Bitcoin returns are multifractal and, therefore, the Bitcoin market is not efficient. By carrying out further analysis, we also find that the multifractility and inefficiency are caused by the autocorrelated returns as well as extreme returns.
In vivo expansion and regeneration of full‐thickness functional skin with an autologous homologous skin construct: Clinical proof of concept for chronic wound healing
Authors: Granick Mark S. , Baetz Nicholas W. , Labroo Pratima , Milner Stephen , Li William W. , Sopko Nikolai A.
Published: March 2019

A new cell‐tissue technology uses a patient's skin to create an in vivo expanding and self‐organising full‐thickness skin autograft derived from potent cutaneous appendages. This autologous homologous skin construct (AHSC) is manufactured from a small full‐thickness skin harvest obtained from an uninjured area of the patient. All the harvested tissue is incorporated into the AHSC including the endogenous regenerative cellular populations responsible for skin maintenance and repair, which are activated during the manufacturing process. Without any exogenous supplementation or culturing, the AHSC is swiftly returned to the patient's wound bed, where it expands and closes the defect from the inside out with full‐thickness fully functional skin. AHSC was applied to a greater than two‐year old large (200 cm2) chronic wound refractory to multiple failed split‐thickness skin grafts. Complete epithelial coverage was achieved in 8 weeks, and complete wound coverage with full‐thickness functional skin occurred in 12 weeks. At 6‐month follow‐up, the wound remained covered with full‐thickness skin, grossly equivalent to surrounding native skin qualitatively and quantitatively equivalent across multiple functions and characteristics, including sensation, hair follicle morphology, bio‐impedance and composition, pigment regeneration, and gland production.
Resource partitioning between two young‐of‐year cownose rays Rhinoptera bonasus and R. brasiliensis within a communal nursery inferred by trophic biomarkers
Authors: de Sousa Rangel Bianca , Hussey Nigel E. , Gomes Aline D. , Rodrigues Alexandre , Martinelli Luiz A. , Moreira Renata Guimarães
Published: March 2019

Although interspecific trophic interactions plays a principal role within elasmobranch communal nurseries, little is known over variation in foraging strategies adopted by young‐of‐year of sympatric species. To test the hypothesis of dietary resource partitioning between batoids within a communal nursery, we investigated two cownose ray species, Rhinoptera bonasus and R. brasiliensis, which occur in heterospecific groups, a strategy predicted to increase survival and foraging success. Using two biochemical tracers, fatty acids (FA) and stable isotopes (δ15N and δ13C), the combined effects of maternal investment and the formation of heterospecific groups implying competition for, or partitioning of available food resources were investigated. Through univariate and multivariate analyses of biochemical tracers in several tissues (fin clip, muscle, liver, red blood cells; RBC) and plasma, our results revealed significant interspecific differences in tracers between the two species. Total FAs (∑saturated FA, ∑monounsaturated FA and ∑polyunsaturated FA) and trophic biomarkers (i.e., docosahexaenoic acid, arachidonic acid, oleic acid and δ15N) were the principle tracers responsible for the differences detected. These data revealed that R. brasiliensis was less enriched in physiologically important essential FAs than R. bonasus. Our findings suggest that these congeneric species differ in maternal investment strategy and moderately partition food resources over relatively fine spatial scales within a single nursery habitat to limit competition. These results provide further knowledge on the foraging strategies adopted by batoids in communal nursery areas, information that is required for improving spatial conservation and management planning.
Temporomandibular disorders in Class II malocclusion patients after surgical mandibular advancement treatment as compared to non‐treated patients
Authors: Paunonen Jaakko , Helminen Mika , Sipilä Kirsi , Peltomäki Timo
Published: March 2019

Background

Severe malocclusions may cause functional and aesthetic problems and symptoms of temporomandibular disorders (TMD). Studies have investigated association between malocclusions and TMDs and shown controversial findings.

Objective

Purpose of this investigation was to examine the prevalence of TMD sub‐diagnoses, using Diagnostic Criteria for the TMD (DC/TMD), in patients with Class II malocclusion and retrognathic mandible who had undergone mandibular advancement surgery 4‐8 years previously, and to compare their frequencies with non‐treated patients with a similar pre‐existing condition.

Methods

Study cohort comprised 151 patients who had orthognathic treatment due to mandibular retrognathia in 2007‐2011. Seventy‐seven (51%) participated in the study (Group 1). Group 2 comprised 22 patients who were planned for orthognathic treatment but had not started their treatment. Patients filled in the Finnish version of the DC/TMD Symptom Questionnaire and were examined using to the DC/TMD Axis I. DC/TMD Symptom Questionnaire were inquired by phone from 24 of the 74 patients who did not participate in the study.

Results

Results showed that Group 2 had more myalgia (13% vs 50%, P < 0.001) and arthralgia (18% vs 65%, P < 0.001) sub‐diagnoses than Group 1. A tendency was noted that Group 2 had more pain‐related TMD symptoms than Group 1. No differences were found between Groups 1 and 3 in gender and age distribution or frequency TMD symptoms.

Conclusion

Prevalence of especially pain‐related TMD diagnoses was higher in Group 2 compared to Group 1, thus indicating a possible beneficial effect of this treatment for TMD.
Understanding Puberty and Its Measurement: Ideas for Research in a New Generation
Authors: Mendle Jane , Beltz Adriene M. , Carter Rona , Dorn Lorah D.
Published: March 2019

The measurement of puberty is an intricate and precise task, requiring a match between participants’ developmental age and appropriate techniques to identify and capture variations in maturation. Much of the foundational work on puberty and its psychosocial correlates was conducted several decades ago. In this article, we review the biological foundation of puberty; the operationalization of puberty in statistical analyses; and strategies for considering diversity and social context in research to help researchers align measurement with meaningful conceptual questions. These three areas are particularly important, given new statistical techniques, greater awareness of individual variations in development, and key differences between past cohorts and youth coming of age today.
Preliminary exploration for evaluating acuity of oral texture perception
Authors: Furukawa Nao , Ito Yoshihiko , Tanaka Yasue , Ito Wakana , Hattori Yoshinori
Published: March 2019

Despite the important role of oral texture perception in feeding and nutritional homeostasis, its impairment has not been of particular clinical interest, and no clinical protocol is available to evaluate its acuity. This preliminary study aimed to establish a method to evaluate the acuity of oral texture perception. Because texture perception is regarded as reflecting integrity of the sensorimotor system of the jaw and mouth, we hypothesized that the ability to perceive various aspects of food texture would correlate with each other, and tested our hypothesis in 11 healthy adults. First, we prepared three types of test foods with different dominant textures, each of which comprised a series of stimuli with different ingredient concentrations; we used these test foods in discrimination tests involving pairwise comparison. Tests performed using the up‐down staircase method revealed significant correlation among the discrimination thresholds for three test foods, suggesting that acuities of texture perception correlated with each other across different textural attributes. Second, we examined the associations between the acuity of texture perception and some aspects of mechanical sensation of the tongue: tactile and two‐point discrimination thresholds, as well as the graininess recognition threshold. The acuity of texture perception of the subjects whose sensitivity was low for at least one of these aspects of mechanical sensation (n = 5) was significantly lower than that exhibited by the other subjects (Wilcoxon rank‐sum test, p = 0.0417). We concluded that oral texture perception ability can be evaluated by discrimination tests for specific aspects of texture, using appropriate test foods.
Dietary supplementation of dry oregano leaves increases the innate immunity and resistance of Nile tilapia against Streptococcus agalactiae infection
Authors: Espirito Santo Amanda H. , Brito Túlio S. , Brandão Laura L. , Tavares Guilherme C. , Leibowitz Márcia P. , Prado Samuel A. , Ferraz Vany P. , Hoyos Daniela C. M. , Turra Eduardo M. , Teixeira Edgar A. , Figueiredo Henrique C. P. , Leal Carlos A. G. , Ribeiro Paula A. P.
Published: March 2019

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of increasing concentrations of dietary dry oregano leaves (DOL), ranging from 0 to 0.15%, on different performance parameters of Nile tilapia. Hence, two separate experimental trials testing growth factors (Trial 1) and innate immunity and disease resistance against Streptococcus agalactiae infection (Trial 2) were conducted with a total of 464 tilapia juveniles and two to four replicates. As a result, dietary inclusion of DOL did not induce significant effects on growth performance, hematological parameters, and fillet composition. However, there were significant differences in lysozyme activity between groups of DOL at 0.075% and the control (0%). Moreover, the bactericidal index of the positive control and groups supplemented with DOL were significantly higher than baseline treatment groups. For disease resistance, there was a reduction of 15% in the relative risk of streptococcosis in fish juveniles after dietary inclusion of oregano at 0.15%. In conclusion, the inclusion of DOL in tilapia diets resulted in no significant gains in terms of growth; nevertheless, the immune system and resistance of tilapia against S. agalactiae infection were significantly improved.