bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: diagnostic accuracy of transient elastography for staging of fibrosis in people with alcoholic liver disease
Authors: Pavlov C. S. , Casazza G. , Nikolova D. , Tsochatzis E. , Gluud C.
Published: January 2016

Background

The progression of hepatic fibrosis into cirrhosis is a main prognostic factor for survival in people with alcoholic liver disease. The range of cut‐off values characterising the stage of hepatic fibrosis seems to be dependent on the aetiology of the liver disease.

Aims

To determine the diagnostic accuracy of transient elastography (the index test) for diagnosis of fibrosis in alcoholic liver disease when compared with liver biopsy (the reference standard), using the METAVIR scoring system. To establish the optimal cut‐off values for the hepatic fibrosis stages.

Methods

We followed Cochrane Methodology for diagnostic test accuracy reviews. We identified 14 studies. Among the study participants with alcoholic liver disease, 834 provided numerical data for analysis (August 2014). Only half of the studies were monoaetiology studies. We used the bivariate model and estimated the summary sensitivities and summary specificities. Hence, we calculated the summary likelihood ratios (LRs) to rule in or rule out hepatic fibrosis. We investigated pre‐defined sources of heterogeneity.

Results

Severe fibrosis (F3 or worse): summary (95% CI) sensitivity 0.92(0.89–0.96) and specificity 0.70(0.61–0.79); LR+ 3.1(2.1–4.1), LR− 0.11(95% CI 0.06–0.16). Cirrhosis (F4): summary (95% CI) sensitivity of 0.95(0.87–0.98) and specificity 0.71(0.56–0.82); LR+ 3.3(2.1–5.0); LR− 0.07(0.03–0.19).

Conclusions

Transient elastography may be used as a diagnostic method to exclude cirrhosis or severe fibrosis when the test is negative. Cut‐off values of around 12.5 kPa for cirrhosis may be used in clinical practice, but caution is needed, as the values reported in the review are not yet prospectively validated.
Inclusion of Yucca schidigera extract in diets with different protein levels for dogs
Authors: Dos Reis Jéssica S. , Zangerônimo Márcio G. , Ogoshi Rosana C. S. , França Janine , Costa Adriano C. , Almeida Thomás N. , Dos Santos João P. F. , Pires Carolina P. , Chizzotti Ana F. , Leite Carlos A. L. , Saad Flávia M. O. B.
Published: January 2016

This study evaluated the effects of inclusion of Yucca schidigera extract (YSE) in two diets with different levels of crude protein (CP) for dogs on facal odour, nutrient digestibility, ammonia concentration in feces and hematological and serum biochemical profiles. Twenty adults Beagles were used, distributed in a randomized block design in a 2 × 4 factorial design (two diets, 25% and 34% CP, and four YSE levels: 0, 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg) with five replicates, obtained during two experimental periods. The fecal odour reduced (P < 0.05) when 500 mg/kg of YSE was used in diets with higher CP. The inclusion of YSE reduced (P < 0.05) fecal ammonia, and the inclusion of 250 and 500 mg/kg YSE reduced intestinal gas. The inclusion of 750 mg/kg YSE increased the mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity and tended to increase the serum cholesterol concentration, regardless of the protein level of the diets. There was no effect on the digestibility of nutrients, fecal consistency, nitrogen balance and thickness of the intestinal wall. The inclusion of 500 mg/kg YSE is effective in reducing fecal odour in dogs receiving diets with 34% of CP. Regardless of the protein content, YSE reduces fecal ammonia, but may cause adverse effects if included at higher doses.
Association of CYP2C19*2 and associated haplotypes with lower norendoxifen concentrations in tamoxifen‐treated Asian breast cancer patients
Authors: Lim Joanne Siok Liu , Sutiman Natalia , Muerdter Thomas E. , Singh Onkar , Cheung Yin Bun , Ng Raymond Chee Hui , Yap Yoon Sim , Wong Nan Soon , Ang Peter Cher Siang , Dent Rebecca , Schroth Werner , Schwab Matthias , Chowbay Balram
Published: January 2016

Aim

The aim was to examine the influence of CYP2C19 variants and associated haplotypes on the disposition of tamoxifen and its metabolites, particularly norendoxifen (NorEND), in Asian patients with breast cancer.

Methods

Sixty‐six CYP2C19 polymorphisms were identified in healthy Asians (n = 240), of which 14 were found to be tightly linked with CYP2C19*2, CYP2C19*3 and CYP2C19*17. These 17 SNPs were further genotyped in Asian breast cancer patients receiving tamoxifen (n = 201). Steady‐state concentrations of tamoxifen and its metabolites were quantified using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Non‐parametric tests and regression methods were implemented to evaluate genotypic–phenotypic associations and haplotypic effects of the SNPs.

Results

CYP2C19 functional polymorphisms and their linked SNPs were not significantly associated with plasma concentrations of tamoxifen and its main metabolites N‐desmethyltamoxifen, (Z)‐4‐hydroxytamoxifen and (Z)‐Endoxifen. However, CYP2C19*2 and its seven linked SNPs were significantly associated with lower NorEND concentrations, MRNorEND/NDDM and MRNorEND/(Z)‐END. Specifically, patients carrying the CYP2C19*2 variant allele A had significantly lower NorEND concentrations [median (range), GG vs. GA vs. AA: 1.51 (0.38–3.28) vs. 1.28 (0.30–3.36) vs. 1.15 ng ml−1 (0.26–2.45, P = 0.010)] as well as significantly lower MRNorEND/(Z)‐END [GG vs. GA vs. AA: 9.40 (3.27–28.35) vs. 8.15 (2.67–18.9) vs. 6.06 (4.47–14.6), P < 0.0001] and MRNorEND/NDDM [GG vs. GA vs. AA: 2.75 (0.62–6.26) vs. 2.43 (0.96–4.18) vs. 1.75 (1.10–2.49), P < 0.00001]. CYP2C19 H2 haplotype, which included CYP2C19*2, was also significantly associated with lower NorEND concentrations (P = 0.0020), MRNorEND/NDDM (P < 0.0001) and MRNorEND/(Z)‐END (P < 0.0001), indicating significantly lower formation rates of NorEND.

Conclusion

These data highlight the potential relevance of CYP2C19 pharmacogenetics in influencing NorEND concentrations in tamoxifen‐treated patients, which may influence treatment outcomes.
In Vivo RNAi Efficacy of Palmitic Acid‐Conjugated Dicer‐Substrate siRNA in a Subcutaneous Tumor Mouse Model
Authors: Kubo Takanori , Yanagihara Kazuyoshi , Seyama Toshio
Published: January 2016

Short interfering RNAs are used in RNA interference technology and are powerful tools for target gene silencing in a sequence‐specific manner. In this study, we synthesized Dicer‐substrate siRNAs consisting of 27‐nt double‐stranded RNAs conjugated with palmitic acid at the 5′‐end of the sense strand and investigated their RNA interference efficacies in vitro and in vivo. The palmitic acid‐conjugated 27‐nt DsiRNAs (C16‐Dsi27RNAs) were prepared by our simple synthesis strategy and achieved a good yield. C16‐Dsi27RNAs showed enhanced in vitro RNA interference potency compared with not only non‐modified Dsi27RNAs but also cholesterol‐conjugated Dsi27RNAs against both an exogenous enhanced green fluorescent protein and the endogenous vascular endothelial growth factor gene in a human scirrhous‐type gastric cancer cell line that stably expressed the enhanced green fluorescent protein gene (GCIY‐eGFP). Additionally, C16‐Dsi27RNAs had potent gene silencing activity against both enhanced green fluorescent protein and vascular endothelial growth factor as target genes in a subcutaneous tumor mouse model generated from GCIY‐eGFP cells administered by intratumoral injection. These results suggest that the C16‐Dsi27RNAs will be useful next‐generation RNA interference molecules that can overcome the problems associated with RNA interference technology.
The effect of hydrothermal spark discharge anodization in the early integration of implants in sheep sinuses
Authors: Duncan Warwick J. , Gay Jennifer H. A. , Lee Min‐Ho , Bae Tae‐Sung , Lee Sook‐Jeong , Loch Carolina
Published: January 2016

Objectives

Spark discharge anodic oxidation forms a porous oxide film on titanium implant surfaces, which may increase surface roughness and enhance early osseointegration. This study aimed to clinically and histomorphometric compare commercially‐available sandblasted (RBM) implants, treated with hydrothermal anodization and placed into an animal maxillary sinus model.

Materials and Methods

Thirty 3.75 mm × 8.5 mm threaded titanium implants were placed into the maxillary sinuses of 10 sheep via an external approach, with three test groups and 10 implants per group: right side, Control = CP‐titanium with RBM surface, Test group 1 = CP‐titanium with RBM + anodized surface; left side, Test group 2 = Ti‐6Al‐7Nb with RBM + anodized surface. Schneiderian membranes were elevated but not bone grafted. Resonant frequency analysis (RFA) was measured at surgery. Animals were sacrificed after 1 month unloaded healing. Resin‐embedded undemineralized ground‐sections were digitised, and mean bone‐implant contact (% BIC) was measured bilaterally for the best‐three consecutive threads.

Results

Seven of 30 implants showed signs of failure. RFA was low at placement but did not differ between the groups (group mean ISQ values ranged from 23 to 35; χ2 = 0.37). RFA was not repeated at sacrifice due to implant instability. Histomorphometric analysis showed % BIC was highest for control (34.8 ± 15.7), followed by Test 1 (29.6 ± 18.1) and Test 2 implants (23.3 ± 22.7), but this difference was not statistically significant (χ2 = 0.3).

Discussion and Conclusions

Early integration of RBM implants placed into thin maxillary sinus walls was not enhanced by hydrothermal anodization of implant surfaces. This may be related to the initial low stability of the implants and the relatively short healing period. However, non‐anodized RBM surfaces showed promising results, with % BIC values comparable to the best estimates of other studies using sinus grafting. Whether the modification of the implant surfaces through anodization with simultaneous sinus grafting would promote enhanced early osseointegration, is a subject of future research.
In vitro cleaning potential of three implant debridement methods. Simulation of the non‐surgical approach
Authors: Ronay Valerie , Merlini Andrea , Attin Thomas , Schmidlin Patrick R. , Sahrmann Philipp
Published: January 2016

Objectives

To assess the cleaning potential of commonly used implant debridement methods, simulating non‐surgical peri‐implantitis therapy in vitro.

Materials and methods

One‐hundred‐and‐eighty dental implants were ink‐stained and mounted in combined soft and hard tissue models, representing peri‐implantitis defects with angulations of 30, 60, and 90° covered by a custom‐made artificial mucosa. Implants were treated by a dental school graduate and a board‐certified periodontist for 120 s with following instruments: Gracey curette, ultrasonic scaler, and an air powder abrasive device with a nozzle for sub‐mucosal use utilizing glycine powder. All procedures were repeated 10 times for each instrumentation and defect morphology respectively. Images of the implant surface were taken. Areas with color remnants were planimetrically determined and their cumulative surface area was calculated. Results were tested for statistical differences using two‐way anova and Bonferroni correction. Micro‐morphologic surface changes were analyzed on scanning electron microscope (SEM) images.

Results

The areas of uncleaned surfaces (%, mean ± standard deviations) for curettes, ultrasonic tips, and air abrasion accounted for 74.70 ± 4.89%, 66.95 ± 8.69% and 33.87 ± 12.59% respectively. The air powder abrasive device showed significantly better results for all defect angulations (P < 0.0001). SEM evaluation displayed considerable surface alterations after instrumentation with Gracey curettes and ultrasonic devices, whereas glycine powder did not result in any surface alterations.

Conclusion

A complete surface cleaning could not be achieved regardless of the instrumentation method applied. The air powder abrasive device showed a superior cleaning potential for all defect angulations with better results at wide defects.
Evaluating resilience of tree communities in fragmented landscapes: linking functional response diversity with landscape connectivity
Authors: Craven D. , Filotas E. , Angers V. A. , Messier C.
Published: January 2016

Aim

Multiple agents of change increasingly impact functioning of forest ecosystems, for which management plans often ignore how local disturbances and habitat fragmentation jointly operate on ecological resilience at different scales. We examined sensitivity of functional response diversity (FD) to variation in species diversity to predict ecological resilience to future disturbances across tree communities and evaluated the role of landscape connectivity in maintaining ecological resilience at the landscape scale.

Location

Centre‐du‐Quebec, Quebec, Canada.

Methods

We inventoried private forests and calculated FD and community‐weighted means to determine the extent to which forest‐use intensity affects ecological resilience. Subsequently, we constructed a regional map of FD, from which a spatial network was extracted. To assess potential impacts of fragmentation in maintaining FD at the landscape scale, we examined how the functional connectivity of the landscape, measured by the probability of connectivity (PC), varied across a range of maximum seed dispersal distances. Lastly, we evaluated the importance of individual forest fragments in maintaining landscape FD by measuring the connectivity fractions of PC.

Results

Across tree communities, ecological resilience was low as FD increased sharply with species diversity. Forests with high FD were dominated by species with trait values associated with greater resilience to future anthropogenic disturbances rather than to future climate change. FD was maintained across the landscape by forest fragments acting as intermediate stepping stones in the transfer of seeds.

Main conclusions

We employed a novel approach based on spatial networks to extend the functional diversity concept from the local to the landscape scale. Our results suggest that seed dispersal over sufficiently large distances can maintain ecological resilience in fragmented landscapes and buffer changes in local‐scale FD. Otherwise, FD is maintained by local processes, meaning that ecological resilience of isolated forest fragments depends strongly on land use type and intensity.
A 24‐week study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of once‐weekly dulaglutide added on to glimepiride in type 2 diabetes (AWARD‐8)
Authors: Dungan K. M. , Weitgasser R. , Perez Manghi F. , Pintilei E. , Fahrbach J. L. , Jiang H. H. , Shell J. , Robertson K. E.
Published: January 2016

Aims

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of once‐weekly dulaglutide 1.5 mg, a long‐acting glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonist, compared with placebo in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) on glimepiride monotherapy.

Methods

This phase III, randomized (4 : 1; dulaglutide:placebo), double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, 24‐week study compared the safety and efficacy of once‐weekly dulaglutide 1.5 mg with placebo in sulphonylurea‐treated (≥half‐maximal dose, stable ≥3 months) patients (N = 300) with T2D and inadequate glycaemic control [glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥7.5 and ≤9.5% (≥58 mmol/mol and ≤80 mmol/mol)]. Analysis was carried out according to intention‐to‐treat.

Results

At baseline, the mean participant age was 58 years; mean HbA1c was 8.4% (68 mmol/mol) and mean weight was 85.5 kg. Dulaglutide 1.5 mg was superior to placebo at 24 weeks for HbA1c reduction from baseline with a between‐group HbA1c difference of −1.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) −1.6, −1.0] or ‐14 mmol/mol (95% CI −17, −11); p < 0.001. A greater proportion of participants in the dulaglutide group reached an HbA1c level of <7.0% (53 mmol/mol) compared with placebo (55.3% vs 18.9%; p < 0.001). Dulaglutide significantly decreased fasting serum glucose from baseline compared with placebo (between‐group difference −1.86 mmol/l (95% CI −2.58, −1.14) or −33.54 mg/dl (95% CI −46.55, −20.53); p < 0.001. Weight was decreased significantly from baseline in the dulaglutide group (p < 0.001); the between‐group difference was not significant. The most common treatment‐emergent adverse events for dulaglutide 1.5 mg were gastrointestinal: nausea (10.5%), diarrhoea (8.4%) and eructation (5.9%). Total hypoglycaemia was higher with dulaglutide 1.5 mg vs placebo (2.37 and 0.07 events/participant/year, respectively; p = 0.025). No severe hypoglycaemia was reported.

Conclusions

Once‐weekly dulaglutide 1.5 mg had a favourable benefit/risk profile when added to glimepiride monotherapy.
High fitness costs of climate change‐induced camouflage mismatch
Authors: Zimova Marketa , Mills L. Scott , Nowak J. Joshua
Published: January 2016

Anthropogenic climate change has created myriad stressors that threaten to cause local extinctions if wild populations fail to adapt to novel conditions. We studied individual and population‐level fitness costs of a climate change‐induced stressor: camouflage mismatch in seasonally colour molting species confronting decreasing snow cover duration. Based on field measurements of radiocollared snowshoe hares, we found strong selection on coat colour molt phenology, such that animals mismatched with the colour of their background experienced weekly survival decreases up to 7%. In the absence of adaptive response, we show that these mortality costs would result in strong population‐level declines by the end of the century. However, natural selection acting on wide individual variation in molt phenology might enable evolutionary adaptation to camouflage mismatch. We conclude that evolutionary rescue will be critical for hares and other colour molting species to keep up with climate change.
Differential gene expression in dentate granule cells in mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with and without hippocampal sclerosis
Authors: Griffin Nicole G. , Wang Yu , Hulette Christine M. , Halvorsen Matt , Cronin Kenneth D. , Walley Nicole M. , Haglund Michael M. , Radtke Rodney A. , Skene J. H. Pate , Sinha Saurabh R. , Heinzen Erin L.
Published: January 2016

Objective

Hippocampal sclerosis is the most common neuropathologic finding in cases of medically intractable mesial temporal lobe epilepsy. In this study, we analyzed the gene expression profiles of dentate granule cells of patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with and without hippocampal sclerosis to show that next‐generation sequencing methods can produce interpretable genomic data from RNA collected from small homogenous cell populations, and to shed light on the transcriptional changes associated with hippocampal sclerosis.

Methods

RNA was extracted, and complementary DNA (cDNA) was prepared and amplified from dentate granule cells that had been harvested by laser capture microdissection from surgically resected hippocampi from patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with and without hippocampal sclerosis. Sequencing libraries were sequenced, and the resulting sequencing reads were aligned to the reference genome. Differential expression analysis was used to ascertain expression differences between patients with and without hippocampal sclerosis.

Results

Greater than 90% of the RNA‐Seq reads aligned to the reference. There was high concordance between transcriptional profiles obtained for duplicate samples. Principal component analysis revealed that the presence or absence of hippocampal sclerosis was the main determinant of the variance within the data. Among the genes up‐regulated in the hippocampal sclerosis samples, there was significant enrichment for genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation.

Significance

By analyzing the gene expression profiles of dentate granule cells from surgically resected hippocampal specimens from patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy with and without hippocampal sclerosis, we have demonstrated the utility of next‐generation sequencing methods for producing biologically relevant results from small populations of homogeneous cells, and have provided insight on the transcriptional changes associated with this pathology.
The effect of contact pad hardness on the fretting fatigue behaviour of AZ61 magnesium alloy
Authors: Sadeler R. , Atasoy S.
Published: January 2016

In the present study, the effect of hardness of contact material on fretting fatigue strength was experimentally investigated as a function of stress ratio. AZ61 magnesium alloy used in defense and transportation industries was used as the material for both the specimen and the contact pad. Two levels of hardness of contact material, 55.3 Vickers Hardness (HV) and 83.3 HV, were prepared by heat treatments. According to the results, with increasing hardness, the fretting fatigue strength decreased. The relative slip amplitude increased with increasing hardness, while the tangential force amplitude was not influenced by the hardness. It was speculated that because the local tangential stress at the contact edge increases with increasing hardness, the fretting fatigue strength decreases with increasing hardness.
Early ocean distribution of juvenile Chinook salmon in an upwelling ecosystem
Authors: Hassrick Jason L. , Henderson Mark J. , Huff David D. , Sydeman William J. , Sabal Megan C. , Harding Jeffrey A. , Ammann Arnold J. , Crandall Eric D. , Bjorkstedt Eric P. , Garza John Carlos , Hayes Sean A.
Published: January 2016

Extreme variability in abundance of California salmon populations is often ascribed to ocean conditions, yet relatively little is known about their marine life history. To investigate which ocean conditions influence their distribution and abundance, we surveyed juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) within the California Current (central California [37°30′N) to Newport, Oregon (44°00′N]) for a 2‐week period over three summers (2010–2012). At each station, we measured chlorophyll‐a as an indicator of primary productivity, acoustic‐based metrics of zooplankton density as an indicator of potential prey availability and physical characteristics such as bottom depth, temperature and salinity. We also measured fork lengths and collected genetic samples from each salmon that was caught. Genetic stock identification revealed that the majority of juvenile salmon were from the Central Valley and the Klamath Basin (91–98%). We constructed generalized logistic‐linear negative binomial hurdle models and chose the best model(s) using Akaike's Information Criterion (AIC) to determine which covariates influenced the salmon presence and, at locations where salmon were present, determined the variables that influenced their abundance. The probability of salmon presence was highest in shallower waters with a high chlorophyll‐a concentration and close to an individual's natal river. Catch abundance was primarily influenced by year, mean fork length and proximity to natal rivers. At the scale of sampling stations, presence and abundance were not related to acoustic indices of zooplankton density. In the weeks to months after ocean entry, California's juvenile Chinook salmon population appears to be primarily constrained to coastal waters near natal river outlets.
Distribution and intensity of bottom trawl fisheries in the Patagonian Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem and its relationship with marine fronts
Authors: Alemany Daniela , Acha Eduardo M. , Iribarne Oscar O.
Published: January 2016

Trawling is a major concern worldwide and there is considerable debate about its impact on marine ecosystems. The Patagonian Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (PSLME) is an important fishing area in the Southwest Atlantic where bottom trawling is the dominant fishing method. We investigated the distribution of bottom trawl fishing within this region, defining the areas of highest trawling intensity (hotspots) and evaluating their relationship with marine fronts. We focused on the three main oceanographic fronts, the shelf‐break front, the southern Patagonia front and the mid‐shelf front. To estimate fishing effort and trawled areas, we used VMS data from 2006 to 2012. Despite being almost a fully trawlable shelf, we found that the spatial distribution of trawling activity is patchy and trawling hotspots were small, comprising annually <5% of the shelf extension or <7% of the total trawlable area. Contrary to what is believed worldwide, our findings suggest that over the PSLME the magnitude of habitat effects as a result of bottom trawling is relatively small. Regarding the three frontal systems studied, only the shelf‐break front showed a positive relationship with trawl fishing activity. Although trawling hotspots did not overlap with marine fronts, the shelf‐break front receives more trawling effort than expected. We hypothesize that this pattern is due to aggregation of species near or at the front taking advantage of the opportunities provided by this area.
Can miscanthus C4photosynthesis compete with festulolium C3photosynthesis in a temperate climate?
Authors: Jiao Xiurong , Kørup Kirsten , Andersen Mathias Neumann , Sacks Erik J. , Zhu Xin‐Guang , Lærke Poul Erik , Jørgensen Uffe
Published: January 2016

Miscanthus, a perennial grass with C4photosynthesis, is regarded as a promising energy crop due to its high biomass productivity. Compared with other C4species, most miscanthus genotypes have high cold tolerances at 14 °C. However, in temperate climates, temperatures below 14 °C are common and our aim was to elucidate cold tolerances of different miscanthus genotypes and compare with a C3perennial grass – festulolium. Eleven genotypes ofM. sacchariflorus, M. sinensis, M. tinctorius, M. × giganteusas well as festulolium were grown under warm (24/20 °C, day/night) and three under cold (14/10 °C, 10/8 °C and 6/4 °C) conditions in a controlled environment. Measurements of photosynthetic light response curves, operating quantum yield of photosystem II (ΦPSII), net photosynthetic rate at a PAR of 1000 μmol m−2s−1(A1000) and dark‐adapted chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) were made at each temperature. In addition, temperature response curves were measured after the plants had been grown at 6/4 °C. The results showed that two tetraploidM. sacchariflorusand the standard triploidM. × giganteus cv. Hornum retained a significantly higher photosynthetic capacity than other miscanthus genotypes at each temperature level and still maintained photosynthesis after growing for a longer period at 6/4 °C. Only two of five measured miscanthus genotypes increased photosynthesis immediately after the temperature was raised again. The photosynthetic capacity of festulolium was significantly higher at 10/8 °C and 6/4 °C than of miscanthus genotypes. This indicates that festulolium may be more productive than the currently investigated miscanthus genotypes in cool, maritime climates. Within miscanthus, only oneM. sacchariflorusgenotype exhibited the same photosynthetic capacity as Hornum at both cold conditions and when the temperature was raised again. Therefore, this genotype could be useful for breeding new varieties with an improved cold tolerance vis‐a‐vis Hornum, and be valuable in broadening the genetic diversity of miscanthus for more widespread cultivation in temperate climates.
Altitudinal shifts of the native and introduced flora of California in the context of 20th‐century warming
Authors: Wolf Adam , Zimmerman Naupaka B. , Anderegg William R. L. , Busby Posy E. , Christensen Jon
Published: January 2016

Aim

The differential responses of plant species to climate change are of great interest and grave concern for scientists and conservationists. One underexploited resource for better understanding these changes are the records held by herbaria. Using these records to assess the responses of different groups of species across the entire flora of California, we sought to quantify the magnitude of species elevational shifts, to measure differences in shifts among functional groups and between native and introduced species, and to evaluate whether these shifts were related to the conservation of thermal niches.

Location

California.

Methods

To characterize these shifts in California, we used 681,609 georeferenced herbarium records to estimate mean shifts in elevational and climatic space of 4426 plant taxa. We developed and employed a statistical method to robustly analyse the data represented in these records.

Results

We found that 15% of all taxa in California have ranges that have shifted upward over the past century. There are significant differences between range shifts of taxa with different naturalization statuses: 12% of endemic taxa show significant upward range shifts, while a greater proportion (27%) of introduced taxa have shifted upward. We found significant differences between the proportion of significant range shifts across taxa with different seed sizes, but did not find evidence for differences in shift based on life‐form (annual versus perennial, herbaceous versus woody).

Main conclusions

Our analyses suggest that introduced species have disproportionately expanded their ranges upward in elevation over the past century when compared with native species. While these shifts in introduced species may not be exclusively driven by climate, they highlight the importance of considering the interacting factors of climate‐driven range shifts and invasion to understand how floras are responding in the face of anthropogenic change.
Coordinated pattern of multi‐element variability in leaves and roots across Chinese forest biomes
Authors: Zhao Ning , Yu Guirui , He Nianpeng , Wang Qiufeng , Guo Dali , Zhang Xinyu , Wang Ruili , Xu Zhiwei , Jiao Cuicui , Li Nani , Jia Yanlong
Published: January 2016

Aim

The elemental composition of plants is of fundamental importance for plant physiology and biogeochemical cycling. Knowledge about how the pattern of multi‐element variability is coordinated between above‐ and below‐ground organs remains limited. Here, we quantify multi‐element variability in the leaves and roots of terrestrial plants, in addition to trying to understand its taxonomic and environmental regulation at large scales.

Location

China.

Methods

Sixteen elements in the leaves and fine roots of 792 plant species across nine forests located along the north–south transect of eastern China were measured. General linear mixed models were used to partition taxonomic and environmental variation. Canonical discriminant analyses were conducted to identify elements with the highest discriminatory power for different plant orders.

Results

Elemental composition differed significantly between the leaves and roots, with the roots containing higher concentrations of trace metal elements (aluminium, iron, sodium, zinc, copper, lead, nickel and cobalt). A coordinated pattern of multi‐element variability and similar taxonomic regulation was observed between the leaves and roots of terrestrial plants. That is, elements with higher internal concentrations were less variable, with most of the variability being attributed to taxonomic effects rather than the environment.

Main conclusions

Taxonomic and environmental regulation differed for different elements. Compared with microelements, macroelements exhibited a narrow range of internal concentrations, less environmental control and stronger taxonomic conservatism. The coordinated pattern of multi‐element variability and similar taxonomic effects in the leaves and roots implies that above‐ and below‐ground ecological processes are tightly linked.
Sarcopenia and frailty in older patients with diabetes mellitus
Authors: Umegaki Hiroyuki
Published: January 2016

Sarcopenia is defined as age‐associated loss of muscle mass and function, and is frequently accompanied by diabetes mellitus (DM) in older adults. Some of the mechanisms of the development of sarcopenia including insulin resistance, chronic inflammation and mitochondrial dysfunction are also associated with the pathogenesis ofDM. Sarcopenia provides the basis for frailty, which is a state that is highly vulnerable to stressors, and can lead to disability, dependency and mortality, and olderDMpatients are often in a state of frailty. Given the background of an increasing number of olderDMpatients, the screening and early detection of sarcopenia/frailty and appropriate intervention would be expected to improve the prognosis and quality of life in older patients.Geriatr Gerontol Int 2016; 16: 293–299.
Sex differences in depressive effects of experiencing spousal bereavement
Authors: Lee Hyo Jung , Lee Sang Gyu , Chun Sung‐Youn , Park Eun‐Cheol
Published: January 2016

Aim

Spousal death is a significant event that becomes a turning point in an individual's life. Widowed persons experience new circumstances, which might induce depression. However, the effects of spousal death on depression can differ by sex and culture. Thus, the present study examined the association between depressive levels and experience of spousal death in Korean adults aged older than 45 years.

Methods

The data were from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging from 2010 to 2012. The analysis used frequency analysis to compare the distribution of demographic variables between men and women, and anova to compare 10‐item short‐form Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale scores as the dependent variable among comparison groups. We also carried out linear mixed model analysis on the association between the 10‐item short‐form Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale and experience of spousal death.

Results

Among 5481 respondents, 2735 were men and 2741 were women. The number of men and women who experienced spousal death were 43 (1.6%) and 181 (6.6%), respectively. Men had lower depressive levels than women when they had been married (men 2.99, women 3.64). Both men and women experiencing spousal death had significantly higher 10‐item short‐form Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale scores than married men and women (men β = 0.911, P = 0.003; women β = 0.512, P = 0.001; ref: no experience of spousal death).

Conclusions

There was a significant association between experience of spousal death and depressive level for both men and women. We suggest that policy practitioners promote community programs that provide bereaved adults with easy access to meaningful social participation and support the minimum cost of living of the widowed. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 322–329.
Effects of aging and sarcopenia on tongue pressure and jaw‐opening force
Authors: Machida Nami , Tohara Haruka , Hara Koji , Kumakura Ayano , Wakasugi Yoko , Nakane Ayako , Minakuchi Shunsuke
Published: January 2016

Aim

Aging and sarcopenia reduce not only body strength, but also the strength of swallowing muscles. We examined how aging and sarcopenia affect tongue pressure and jaw‐opening force.

Methods

A total of 97 older adults (97 men, mean age 78.5 ± 6.6 years; 100 women, mean age 77.8 ± 6.2 years) were enrolled. Classification of sarcopenia was based on the Criteria of Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia. To investigate which variable between aging and sarcopenia was a significant independent variable on tongue pressure and jaw‐opening force, multivariate linear regression analysis was carried out.

Results

The mean tongue pressure was 26.3 ± 7.8 kPa in men and 24.6 ± 7.2 kPa in women. The mean jaw‐opening force was 6.3 ± 1.6 kg in men and 5.2 ± 1.3 kg in women. Tongue pressure in men, aging and sarcopenia were significant independent variables, whereas only sarcopenia was a significant independent variable in women. Jaw‐opening force in men and sarcopenia were significant independent variables, whereas neither aging nor sarcopenia were significant independent variables in women.

Conclusions

We found different characteristics in the effects of aging and sarcopenia based on site and sex. We suggested that aging decreased tongue pressure more than jaw‐opening force, and affected men more than women. Sarcopenia affected tongue pressure and jaw‐opening force, with the exception of jaw‐opening force in women. Considering these characteristics is useful to predict the decline of swallowing function, and provide appropriate interventions preventing dysphagia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 295–301.
Development and validation of a new quality of life scale for patients receiving home‐based medical care: The Observational Study of Nagoya Elderly with Home Medical Care
Authors: Kamitani Hiroko , Umegaki Hiroyuki , Okamoto Kazushi , Kanda Shigeru , Asai Atsushi , Maeda Keiko , Nomura Hideki , Shimojima Takuya , Suzuki Yusuke , Ohshima Hiroko , Kuzuya Masafumi
Published: January 2016

Aim

To develop and validate a scale that assesses quality of life in patients receiving home‐based medical care.

Methods

A new quality of life scale was developed and evaluated in four phases: (i) item generation; (ii) first field study with a 14‐item questionnaire; (iii) preliminary validation study, to reduce the number of items to four; and (iv) second field study comprising 40 patients, to evaluate the validity of the final version. Participants were requested to answer both the final version of the scale and the Short Form‐8, to enable identification of any relationship between the two.

Results

Items were generated after discussions with doctors and care managers, and 14 items were selected for the draft version. In the preliminary validation study, 10 items were deleted, based on the results of statistical analysis of the data from the first field study. A psychometric analysis showed that the final four‐item questionnaire had internal consistency (Cronbach's α = 0.7), and a significant association with the Short Form‐8.

Conclusions

We created the first quality of life scale for patients receiving home‐based medical care. The scale's internal consistency was confirmed, as well as its external validity. This scale can be used independently of factors such as a patient's age, sex, level of independence in the presence of dementia or disability, swallowing function, hearing ability and communication ability, and can be used with ease in routine clinical practice. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 440–448.
Using the Educational Histories of Individuals to Complicate Standard Historical Narratives about Expanding Citizenship Rights and Opportunity
Authors: Littlefield Valinda W.
Published: January 2016

My History of Southern African American Education, 1865–Present class, a mid-level survey course, examines the history of education for African Americans in the South from Reconstruction to the twenty-first century. It draws a variety of undergraduate students, as it is cross-listed with the College of Education, Department of History, African American Studies Program, and the Institute of Southern Studies. We examine issues of power and privilege, and the ways that race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status interact with educational opportunities and achievement. A major objective is to help students understand the ways in which public education in the United States was shaped by competing economic, political, and ideological interests; this focus includes learning the ways in which schools reinforced and reshaped the larger society. Another objective is to use local, state, and regional educational issues to provide a background for understanding the history of education as well as patterns, trends, and changes in the larger historical narrative.
The Significance of Geographic and Programmatic Context in Developing Historical Case Studies in Social Foundations in Teacher Education
Authors: Gottesman Isaac , Bowman Michael
Published: January 2016

In the summer of 2008, we met at an alehouse in Columbia City, a rapidly gentrifying neighborhood on Seattle's south side, to begin conceptualizing and designing a School & Society class we were teaching that fall in a Master of Teaching (MIT) elementary teacher education program at the University of Washington (UW) in Seattle. One of us (Isaac) was working on a dissertation and was the instructor of record, while the other (Michael) was transitioning from master's to doctoral student, and was the teaching assistant. This was the first preservice teacher education social foundations course either of us had taught. The experience of working together on that course has led to several years of collaborative thinking about social foundations in teacher education, including developing what we call a “place-conscious approach”—an approach that grounds the political and normative questions at the heart of social foundations in the history of places in which preservice teachers learn to teach.
Neonatal exposure to monosodium glutamate induces morphological alterations in suprachiasmatic nucleus of adult rat
Authors: Rojas‐Castañeda Julio César , Vigueras‐Villaseñor Rosa María , Chávez‐Saldaña Margarita , Rojas Patricia , Gutiérrez‐Pérez Oscar , Rojas Carolina , Arteaga‐Silva Marcela
Published: January 2016

Neonatal exposure to monosodium glutamate (MSG) induces circadian disorders in several physiological and behavioural processes regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of neonatal exposure to MSG on locomotor activity, and on morphology, cellular density and expression of proteins, as evaluated by optical density (OD), of vasopressin (VP)‐, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)‐ and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)‐immunoreactive cells in the SCN. Male Wistar rats were used: the MSG group was subcutaneously treated from 3 to 10 days of age with 3.5 mg/g/day. Locomotor activity was evaluated at 90 days of age using ‘open‐field’ test, and the brains were processed for immunohistochemical studies. MSG exposure induced a significant decrease in locomotor activity. VP‐ and VIP‐immunoreactive neuronal densities showed a significant decrease, while the somatic OD showed an increase. Major axes and somatic area were significantly increased in VIP neurons. The cellular and optical densities of GFAP‐immunoreactive sections of SCN were significantly increased. These results demonstrated that newborn exposure to MSG induced morphological alterations in SCN cells, an alteration that could be the basis for behavioural disorders observed in the animals.
Customer satisfaction incentives with budget constraints
Authors: Deng Shiming , Wang Tian , Chang Xingjian
Published: January 2016

We study the design of incentive contracts based on customer satisfaction (CS) surveys with reward budget limits. We extend principal‐agent models to consider budget constraints, survey response rates, and correlation between CS measure and demand. We derive the optimal incentive contract and study the impacts of these factors on contract performance. In contrast to the common belief that customer future values are the drivers of CS incentives, we show that CS incentives can benefit principals even in a single‐period setting where customers bring no future value. Improvements can be achieved without increasing total reward, because the CS incentive program reveals additional information about agents' service effort and diversifies their risk. Such effects are overlooked in existing CS research. With consideration of correlation between sales and CS measures, we provide a metrics selection rule regarding which reward(s)—CS, sales commission, or both—should be included in an incentive plan. We also study cumulative incentive schemes based on commonly used average CS measures and show that such incentive schemes may fail to motivate agents to increase service effort. Therefore, designing proper reward schemes is a critical issue for effective CS management and deserves future research.
New formulation and branch‐and‐cut algorithm for the pickup and delivery traveling salesman problem with multiple stacks
Authors: Sampaio Afonso H. , Urrutia Sebastián
Published: January 2016

In this paper, we consider the pickup and delivery traveling salesman problem with multiple stacks in which a single vehicle must serve a set of customer requests defined by a pair of pickup and delivery destinations of an item. The vehicle contains a fixed number of stacks, where each item is loaded at a pickup location and unloaded at the corresponding delivery location. Each stack has finite capacity, and its loading and unloading sequence must follow the last‐in‐first‐out (LIFO) policy, that is, for each stack, just the last item loaded can be unloaded at its corresponding delivery location. We propose a new integer programming formulation for this problem with a polyhedral representation described by exponentially many inequalities and a branch‐and‐cut algorithm for solving the proposed formulation. Computational results show that our approach is competitive with the best algorithm in the literature. Also, three new certificates of optimality are provided and several optimality gaps are reduced.
Determination of 1:2 Ordered Domain Boundaries in Ba[(Co, Zn, Mg)1/3Nb2/3]O3 Dielectric Ceramics
Authors: Ma Pian Pian , Gu Hui , Chen Xiang Ming
Published: January 2016

The boundaries of 1:2 ordered domains in Ba[(Co, Zn, Mg)1/3Nb2/3]O3 perovskite ceramics are comprehensively studied by high‐resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) on the base of atomic position simulation. The atomic configurations for four types of twin boundaries are determined. A‐type and B‐type boundary, which lie along (001)c and (110)c planes, respectively, are conservative. C‐type boundary parallels to (111)c plane, while Г‐type boundary is perpendicular to (111)c plane. At C‐type and Г‐type boundary, atomic intersection leads to a buffer layer, among which the B‐site cations are generally disordered. The width of Г‐type boundary is larger than that of C‐type boundary, so is the perturbation to the system. The energy of four types of twin boundaries is proved to be “A‐type & B‐type < C‐type < Г‐type” according to the magnitude of the destabilization to the system. Single antiphase boundary (APB) is considered to be nonconservative. However, when combined with conservative twin boundary, an extra ordered structure with a periodicity of 1.24 nm along [001]c direction and a periodicity of 0.87 nm along [110]c direction forms. The boundary regions are indeed stabilized by the new superlattice.
Cardiac rehabilitation patients' perspectives on the recovery following heart valve surgery: a narrative analysis
Authors: Hansen Tina Birgitte , Zwisler Ann Dorthe , Berg Selina Kikkenborg , Sibilitz Kirstine Lærum , Buus Niels , Lee Anne
Published: January 2016

Aims

To explore the structure and content of narratives about the recovery process among patients undergoing heart valve surgery participating in cardiac rehabilitation.

Background

Several studies with short‐term follow‐up have shown that recovering from cardiac surgery can be challenging, but evidence on the long‐term recovery process is very limited, especially following heart valve surgery. Furthermore, few studies have explored the recovery process among cardiac rehabilitation participants.

Design

A qualitative study with serial interviews analysed using narrative methods.

Methods

We collected data over 18 months (April 2013–October 2014). We recruited nine patients undergoing heart valve surgery from a randomized trial, CopenHeartVR and conducted 27 individual narrative interviews at 2‐3 weeks, 3‐4 months and 8‐9 months after surgery.

Findings

Following heart valve surgery, the participants expected to return to normality. The analysis identified four courses of recovery, with three non‐linear complex pathways deviating from the classic restitution narrative: the frustrated struggle to resume normality, the challenged expectation of normality – being in a limbo and becoming a heart patient. These deviating pathways were characterized by physical, existential and mental challenges even up to 9 months after surgery.

Conclusion

The recovery processes of participants' in cardiac rehabilitation were often more complicated than anticipated. Patients undergoing heart valve surgery may benefit from more extensive medical follow‐up immediately after discharge, individual psychological assessment and individualized, realistic information about the recovery trajectory.