bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimal taxonomic groups for biodiversity assessment: a meta‐analytic approach
Authors: Westgate Martin J. , Tulloch Ayesha I. T. , Barton Philip S. , Pierson Jennifer C. , Lindenmayer David B.
Published: March 2016

A fundamental decision in biodiversity assessment is the selection of one or more study taxa, a choice that is often made using qualitative criteria such as historical precedent, ease of detection, or available technical or taxonomic expertise. A more robust approach would involve selecting taxa based on the a priori expectation that they will provide the best possible information on unmeasured groups, but data to inform such hypotheses are often lacking. Using a global meta‐analysis, we quantified the proportion of variability that each of 12 taxonomic groups (at the Order level or above) explained in the richness or composition of other taxa. We then applied optimization to matrices of pairwise congruency to identify the best set of complementary surrogate groups. We found that no single taxon was an optimal surrogate for both the richness and composition of unmeasured taxa if we used simple methods to aggregate congruence data between studies. In contrast, statistical methods that accounted for well‐known drivers of cross‐taxon congruence (spatial extent, grain size, and latitude) lead to the prioritization of similar surrogates for both species richness and composition. Advanced statistical methods were also more effective at describing known ecological relationships between taxa than simple methods, and show that congruence is typically highest between taxonomically and functionally dissimilar taxa. Birds and vascular plants were most frequently selected by our algorithm as surrogates for other taxonomic groups, but the extent to which any one taxon was the ‘optimal’ choice of surrogate for other biodiversity was highly context‐dependent. In the absence of other information – such as in data‐poor areas of the globe, and under limited budgets for monitoring or assessment – ecologists can use our results to assess which taxa are most likely to reflect the distribution of the richness or composition of ‘total’ biodiversity.
Identification and characterization of fungi associated with internal wood lesions and decline disease of willow and poplar trees in Iran
Authors: Hashemi H. , Mohammadi H.
Published: March 2016

During the study of fungal trunk pathogens associated with urban trees decline in Shiraz (Iran), a serious decline of willow and poplar trees was observed. Therefore, an investigation was conducted on these trees in some areas of this city during spring and summer 2012 and 2013, to determine the main fungal trunk pathogens associated with these ornamental plants. Plant materials were collected from trees exhibiting disease symptoms such as yellowing, shoot canker, shoot dieback, defoliation and internal wood necrosis and decayed wood. Fungal isolations were made from discoloured or decayed wood tissue onto 2% malt extract agar (MEA) amended with streptomycin sulphate. Nine species,Fomes fomentarius,Diplodia seriata,Lasiodiplodia theobromae,Dothiorella sarmentorum,Neoscytalidium hyalinum,Diatrype whitmanensis,Phaeoacremonium rubrigenum,P. aleophilumandP. parasiticum, were identified based on morphology and DNA sequence comparisons. Pathogenicity tests were performed on detached shoots of willow and poplar trees under greenhouse conditions.Lasiodiplodia theobromaecaused the longest lesions on willow. On poplar shoots, the longest lesions were caused byP. parasiticum.Diplodia seriataproduced the smallest lesions on both woody hosts. First reports from willow wood includeP. parasiticum, P. rubrigenum, D. whitmanensis, L. theobromae, D. seriataandN. hyalinum,while new reports from poplar wood includeP. parasiticumandDo. sarmentorum. Based on our knowledge, this is also the first report ofD. whitmanensisin Iran.
Longitudinal determinants of client treatment satisfaction in an intensive first‐episode psychosis treatment programme
Authors: Cruz Lisa N. , Kline Emily , Seidman Larry J. , Minor Kyle S. , Meyer Eric C. , Iati Carina , Zimmet Suzanna V. , Friedman‐Yakoobian Michelle
Published: March 2016

Aim

Previous evidence demonstrates that higher treatment satisfaction is strongly associated with improved clinical outcomes and functioning. The aim of the current study is to explore potential associations between clinical and demographic attributes, as well as changes in role, social and cognitive functioning occurring over the course of treatment, on self‐reported treatment satisfaction within the context of an intensive first‐episode psychosis intervention programme.

Methods

Forty‐four young adults attending a first‐episode psychosis treatment programme completed a battery of clinical and neuropsychological measures at intake to the programme and again after 6 months of treatment. A modified version of the Client Satisfaction Questionnaire was administered at 6 months. Baseline, 6‐month and change scores across the clinical and demographic measures were examined relative to the satisfaction questionnaire to evaluate determinants of treatment satisfaction.

Results

Better premorbid adjustment during childhood and early adolescence was associated with higher treatment satisfaction, as did positive changes in clients' cognitive performance and their use of humour as a coping strategy. Clients' use of emotional support as a coping strategy at 6 months was also positively associated with treatment satisfaction. Although clients' social and role functioning improved significantly during the 6‐month treatment window, changes in functional outcomes were not significantly associated with treatment satisfaction.

Conclusions

The current study highlights the role of premorbid adjustment and changes in coping and neurocognition as factors influencing treatment satisfaction. Future research designs might be able to more specifically ascertain causal relationships between patient characteristics, treatment components, client satisfaction and clinical effects.
Nucleus accumbens core and shell are differentially involved in general and outcome‐specific forms of Pavlovian‐instrumental transfer with alcohol and sucrose rewards
Authors: Corbit Laura H. , Fischbach Sarah C. , Janak Patricia H.
Published: March 2016

Alcohol‐associated stimuli contribute to relapse risk. Therefore, understanding the behavioural and neural mechanisms underlying the ability of such stimuli to promote alcohol‐seeking is important for developing effective treatments for alcohol‐use disorders. The Pavlovian‐instrumental transfer (PIT) paradigm can be used to study the influence of Pavlovian cues on independently‐trained instrumental responses earning reward. The effects can be either general, increasing the vigour of reward‐related behaviours, or specific to responses that earn a common outcome. These different forms of PIT are mediated by distinct neural circuits involving the nucleus accumbens (NAC) core and shell, respectively. Here we examined the effects of pharmacological inactivation of either the NAC core or shell on PIT generated by alcohol‐predictive and sucrose‐predictive stimuli in rats. We found that presentations of a stimulus predicting sucrose enhanced responding for sucrose but not alcohol, suggesting an outcome‐specific effect. In contrast, presentations of an alcohol‐predictive stimulus enhanced responding for both alcohol and sucrose, suggesting a generally arousing effect. Inactivation of the NAC core reduced PIT and, in particular, the effect of the alcohol stimulus. Inactivation of the NAC shell reduced the specificity of the stimulus effects but left the ability of the stimuli to non‐specifically invigorate responding intact, consistent with a role in mediating the specificity of PIT. Together, these results suggest that the NAC core plays a particularly important role in mediating the influence of alcohol‐predictive cues on reward‐seeking behaviours.
Ontogeny constrains phenology: opportunities for activity and reproduction interact to dictate potential phenologies in a changing climate
Authors: Levy Ofir , Buckley Lauren B. , Keitt Timothy H. , Angilletta Michael J.
Published: March 2016

As global warming has lengthened the active seasons of many species, we need a framework for predicting how advances in phenology shape the life history and the resulting fitness of organisms. Using an individual‐based model, we show how warming differently affects annual cycles of development, growth, reproduction and activity in a group of North American lizards. Populations in cold regions can grow and reproduce more when warming lengthens their active season. However, future warming of currently warm regions advances the reproductive season but reduces the survival of embryos and juveniles. Hence, stressful temperatures during summer can offset predicted gains from extended growth seasons and select for lizards that reproduce after the warm summer months. Understanding these cascading effects of climate change may be crucial to predict shifts in the life history and demography of species.
The population ecology of male gametophytes: the link between pollination and seed production
Authors: Harder Lawrence D. , Aizen Marcelo A. , Richards Shane A.
Published: March 2016

The fate of male gametophytes after pollen reaches stigmas links pollination to ovule fertilisation, governing subsequent siring success and seed production. Although male gametophyte performance primarily involves cellular processes, an ecological analogy may expose insights into the nature and implications of male gametophyte success. We elaborate this analogy theoretically and present empirical examples that illustrate associated insights. Specifically, we consider pollen loads on stigmas as localised populations subject to density‐independent mortality and density‐dependent processes as they traverse complex stylar environments. Different combinations of the timing of pollen‐tube access to limiting stylar resources (simultaneous or sequential), the tube distribution among resources (repulsed or random) and the timing of density‐independent mortality relative to competition (before or after) create signature relations of mean pollen‐tube success and its variation among pistils to pollen receipt. Using novel nonlinear regression analyses (two‐moment regression), we illustrate contrasting relations for two species, demonstrating that variety in these relations is a feature of reproductive diversity among angiosperms, rather than merely a theoretical curiosity. Thus, the details of male gametophyte ecology should shape sporophyte reproductive success and hence the dynamics and structure of angiosperm populations.
Easier Said Than Done: Rejoinder on Sijtsma and on Green and Yang
Authors: Davenport Ernest C. , Davison Mark L. , Liou Pey‐Yan , Love Quintin U.
Published: March 2016

The main points of Sijtsma and Green and Yang in Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice (34, 4) are that reliability, internal consistency, and unidimensionality are distinct and that Cronbach's alpha may be problematic. Neither of these assertions are at odds with Davenport, Davison, Liou, and Love in the same issue. However, many authors in the testing community mention these terms not only together, but sometimes as if they are synonymous. Moreover, Cronbach's coefficient alpha is very popular as an index of reliability. Thus, articles discussing alpha are not only appropriate, but necessary. Our concerns are the same as formed the genesis of prior (2009) articles by these same authors, Sijtsma and Green and Yang. This rejoinder also makes comments about item parcels when tests are multidimensional and about factor analytic approaches to assessing reliability.
Assessment of enlarged perivascular spaces and their relation to target organ damage and mild cognitive impairment in patients with hypertension
Authors: Riba‐Llena I. , Nafría C. , Mundet X. , López‐Rueda A. , Fernández‐Cortiñas I. , Jarca C. I. , Jiménez‐Balado J. , Domingo M. , Tovar J. L. , Orfila F. , Pujadas F. , Álvarez‐Sabín J. , Maisterra O. , Montaner J. , Delgado P.
Published: March 2016

Background and purpose

Enlarged perivascular spaces (EPVS) have been recently considered a feature of cerebral small vessel disease. They have been related to aging, hypertension and dementia but their relationship with hypertension related variables (i.e. target organ damage, treatment compliance) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is not fully elucidated. Our aims were to investigate the relation between basal ganglia (BG) and centrum semiovale (CSO) EPVS with vascular risk factors, hypertension related variables and MCI.

Methods

In all, 733 hypertensive individuals free of stroke and dementia from the Investigating Silent Strokes in Hypertensives, a magnetic resonance imaging Study (ISSYS) underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging and cognitive testing to diagnose MCI or normal cognitive aging.

Results

The numbers of participants presenting high grade (>10) EPVS at the BG and CSO were 23.3% and 40.0%, respectively. After controlling for vascular risk factors, high grade BG EPVS were associated with age (odds ratio 1.68; 95% confidence interval 1.37, 2.06), poor antihypertensive compliance (1.49; 1.03, 2.14) and the presence of microalbuminuria (1.95; 1.16, 3.28), whereas in the CSO only age (1.38; 1.18, 1.63) and male sex were associated with EPVS (1.73; 1. 24, 2.42). MCI was diagnosed in 9.3% of the participants and it was predicted by EPVS in the BG (1.87; 1.03, 3.39) but not in the CSO. This last association was greatly attenuated after correction for lacunes and white matter hyperintensities.

Conclusions

Basal ganglia EPVS are associated with the presence of microalbuminuria and poor adherence to antihypertensive drugs. The BG EPVS relation with MCI is not independent of the presence of other cerebral small vessel disease markers.
How often and when Fisher syndrome is overlapped by Guillain‐Barré syndrome or Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis?
Authors: Sekiguchi Y. , Mori M. , Misawa S. , Sawai S. , Yuki N. , Beppu M. , Kuwabara S.
Published: March 2016

Background and purpose

Fisher syndrome (FS) may overlap with Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS), in particular the pharyngeal–cervical–brachial variant form (PCB‐GBS), or Bickerstaff brainstem encephalitis (BBE). Our aim was to elucidate the frequency of this overlap and the patterns of clinical progression in patients with FS.

Methods

Sixty consecutive patients with FS were studied. FS/PCB‐GBS was diagnosed when the patients developed pharyngeal, cervical and/or brachial weakness. Patients with flaccid tetraparesis were diagnosed as having FS/conventional GBS. FS/BBE was defined as the development of consciousness disturbances.

Results

All 60 patients initially developed the FS clinical triad alone (pure FS). Of these, 30 (50%) patients had pure FS throughout their course, whereas the remaining 50% of patients showed an overlap: PCB‐GBS in 14 (23%) patients, conventional GBS in nine (15%) patients and BBE in seven (12%) patients. The median (range) durations from FS onset to progression to FS/PCB‐GBS, FS/GBS or FS/BBE were 5 (1–7), 3 (1–4) and 3 (1–5) days, respectively. Patients with overlap syndromes more frequently received immune‐modulating treatment, and the outcomes were generally favourable. The frequencies of positivity for anti‐GQ1b, GT1a, GD1a, GD1b, GalNAc‐GD1a and GM1 antibodies were not significantly different amongst the four groups.

Conclusions

Of the patients with pure FS, 50% later developed an overlap with PCB‐GBS, conventional GBS or BBE. The overlap occurred within 7 days of FS onset; thus, physicians should pay attention to the possible development of this overlap during the first week after FS onset.
Is deltoid muscle biopsy useful in isolated camptocormia? A prospective study
Authors: Chanson J.‐B. , Lannes B. , Echaniz‐Laguna A.
Published: March 2016

Background and purpose

Camptocormia is a marked anterior curvature of the thoracolumbar spine that may be caused by parkinsonism, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), myasthenia gravis (MG) and muscle disease. The interest of a systematic muscle biopsy has not been evaluated until now. In our study, the aim was to prospectively evaluate the proportion of patients with isolated camptocormia without ALS, MG and parkinsonism who have an underlying myopathy.

Methods

Twenty consecutive patients (75% female, mean age 70 years) with isolated camptocormia were enrolled in a single centre in this 5‐year prospective study. ALS, MG and parkinsonism had been excluded in all cases. A left deltoid muscle biopsy was performed in all patients and processed with standard techniques for histology and immunohistochemistry. Additional biochemical and genetic studies were performed when pathological analysis was consistent with myopathy.

Results

A myopathy was identified in seven patients (35%). Three patients presented with mitochondrial myopathy, including two patients harbouring a heterozygous POLG gene pathogenic variant and one patient with a heterozygous RRM2B gene pathogenic variant. Two patients presented with an inflammatory myopathy, including one with anti‐PM/Scl antibodies. One patient presented with facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy and one patient with an MYH7 gene‐related myofibrillar myopathy. No obvious myopathy was found in the 13 remaining cases.

Discussion

In this prospective study, an underlying myopathy was found in 35% of patients with isolated camptocormia. These results suggest that a muscle biopsy should be systematically performed in patients with isolated camptocormia when ALS, MG and parkinsonism have been excluded.
Do Male Mountain Chickadees Discriminate between Local and Non‐Local Elevation Intruders?
Authors: Branch Carrie L. , Pravosudov Vladimir V.
Published: March 2016

Song in temperate songbirds is typically learned from local males and commonly thought to function in mate choice and male–male competition. Because male song is learned locally and is phenotypically plastic, it often varies geographically and may serve as a cue for an individual's location of origin. In montane environments, environmental heterogeneity occurs across the elevation gradient, potentially leading to local adaptations on rather small spatial scales. If local adaptations are associated with restricted movements between elevations, this leads to the question of whether individuals can discriminate between birds from the same vs. different elevations. Mountain chickadees inhabiting high and low elevations are known to differ in numerous phenotypic traits, including male song structure. In addition, we previously reported that female high‐elevation mountain chickadees can discriminate between local and non‐local elevation males and here, we tested whether males also respond differentially to high‐ vs. low‐elevation male territory intruders. Playback stimuli were presented to resident high‐ (N = 24) and low‐ (N = 20) elevation males at our previously established study sites during spring to compare the males' behavioral responses to high‐ and low‐elevation male song playbacks. Both high‐ and low‐elevation males responded similarly to both types of playback stimuli, suggesting that they do not differentially respond to male intruders from their location of origin compared to non‐local males. These results are considered in the framework of our previous findings and the larger body of literature, which suggests that male songbirds readily discriminate between local and non‐local male intruders.
Task‐Dependent Differences in Learning by Subordinate and Dominant Wild Arabian Babblers
Authors: Keynan Oded , Ridley Amanda R. , Lotem Arnon
Published: March 2016

Learning and innovation abilities have been studied extensively in flocking birds, but their importance and relevance in cooperatively breeding birds have been relatively unexplored. We studied the acquisition of novel foraging skills in 14 groups of wild, cooperatively breeding Arabian babblers (Turdoides squamiceps). While in a previous study we found that subordinate individuals were usually the first to learn to remove black rubber lids from a foraging grid, here we show that dominant individuals were the first to succeed in shifting from these black rubber lids to newly introduced white rubber lids. We also found that in all groups where one forager learned to shift to the white lids, the rest of the foragers also learned to do so, suggesting that this behaviour may be transmitted among group members. Although dominant individuals were almost always the first to remove white lids, once starting to remove white lids, dominants and subordinates learned equally well to prefer white over black lids based on differential reinforcement (food was provided only under white lids). Together with our previous study, our results suggest that differences in learning between dominants and subordinates may be task‐specific, which may represent different cognitive strategies: subordinates may explore a more diverse range of foraging opportunities, while dominants may be better at generalizing from familiar tasks to similar ones.
Indirect Effects of an Existing Wind Energy Facility on Lekking Behavior of Greater Prairie‐Chickens
Authors: Smith Jennifer A. , Whalen Cara E. , Bomberger Brown Mary , Powell Larkin A.
Published: March 2016

Rapid expansion of the wind energy industry has raised concerns about the potential effects of anthropogenic disturbance on prairie grouse. While efforts have been made to address the effects of wind energy facilities on measures of fitness, their effect on the behaviors of prairie grouse has been largely neglected. To address these concerns, we investigated the effects of an existing wind energy facility in Nebraska that became operational in 2005 on the lekking behavior of male greater prairie‐chickens Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus between March and May 2013. Given the potential for disturbance caused by wind turbine noise to disrupt acoustic communication and thus behavior, we predicted that males at leks close to, compared to far from, the wind energy facility would spend more time in agonistic behaviors, and less in booming displays. Given the potential for wind turbine noise to reduce the number of females attending leks (hereafter ‘female lek attendance’), we also predicted that males at leks close to the wind energy facility would spend more time in non‐breeding behaviors and less time in breeding behaviors than males farther from the facility. Although we found no effect of the wind energy facility on female lek attendance, males at leks closer to the wind energy facility spent less time in non‐breeding behaviors than those at leks farther away. However, distance from the wind energy facility had no effect on time spent performing booming displays, flutter jumps, or in agonistic behaviors. Given that lekking behaviors of males influence mating success, our results may have consequences for the fitness of prairie grouse breeding in the vicinity of wind energy facilities.
Racecourse fracture management. Part 2: Techniques for temporary immobilisation and transport
Authors: Wright I. M.
Published: March 2016

In order to apply first aid support and manage effectively acute appendicular fractures, an understanding of the aims, principles and techniques available are important. The objective of this paper is to provide these in a detailed form. Comprehensive descriptions of cast, splint and bandage construction are given. Details of proprietary splints are provided together with discussion on suitability, indications and contraindications. Guidelines for movement and transport of injured horses are also described and discussed. Although the information given is tailored to racecourse injuries, the principles are equally applicable to the management of other equine fractures.
CEO Power and Firm Performance under Pressure
Authors: Han Seonghee , Nanda Vikram K. , Silveri Sabatino (Dino)
Published: March 2016

Are powerful chief executive officers (CEOs) more effective in responding to pressure from the economic environment? Concentrating decision‐making power may facilitate rapid decision making; however, the quality of decision making may be compromised, with severe consequences for the firm if a powerful CEO is less likely to receive independent advice or to have her decisions scrutinized. We empirically investigate the performance of firms with powerful CEOs when industry conditions deteriorate. We focus on industry downturns as these represent an exogenous shock to a firm's environment and on settings in which CEO power and access to quality information is likely more consequential: innovative firms, firms with relatively little related‐industry board expertise, firms operating in competitive industries, and firms operating in industries characterized by relatively greater managerial discretion. In each of these settings we find powerful CEOs perform significantly worse than other CEOs, suggesting contexts in which centralized decision making is potentially of greater concern.
Learner–Learner Interaction During Collaborative Pragmatic Tasks: The Role of Cognitive and Pragmatic Task Demands
Authors: Kim YouJin , Taguchi Naoko
Published: March 2016

Previous task complexity studies have suggested that learners produce more negotiation of meaning opportunities during complex tasks than simple tasks (Robinson, 2011). The present study builds on the existing task complexity literature by examining the impact of task complexity and pragmatic situational demands on the number of learning opportunities for request‐making expressions. Forty‐nine Korean junior high school learners of English as a foreign language were randomly assigned to participate in either simple‐ or complex‐ collaborative pair writing tasks, which included different levels of pragmatic situational demands. The interactions were transcribed and analyzed for the frequency of pragmatic related episodes (PREs; Kim & Taguchi, 2015) as well as the number of turns within each PRE. The results showed that task complexity played an important role in facilitating PREs by targeting sociopragmatic factors and not pragmalinguistic forms, regardless of the level of pragmatic task demands. Results are discussed in light of promoting interaction‐driven learning opportunities for pragmatics using collaborative tasks.
Evidence for climate‐driven synchrony of marine and terrestrial ecosystems in northwest Australia
Authors: Ong Joyce J.L. , Rountrey Adam N. , Zinke Jens , Meeuwig Jessica J. , Grierson Pauline F. , O'Donnell Alison J. , Newman Stephen J. , Lough Janice M. , Trougan Mélissa , Meekan Mark G.
Published: March 2016

The effects of climate change are difficult to predict for many marine species because little is known of their response to climate variations in the past. However, long‐term chronologies of growth, a variable that integrates multiple physical and biological factors, are now available for several marine taxa. These allow us to search for climate‐driven synchrony in growth across multiple taxa and ecosystems, identifying the key processes driving biological responses at very large spatial scales. We hypothesized that in northwest (NW) Australia, a region that is predicted to be strongly influenced by climate change, the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon would be an important factor influencing the growth patterns of organisms in both marine and terrestrial environments. To test this idea, we analyzed existing growth chronologies of the marine fish Lutjanus argentimaculatus, the coral Porites spp. and the tree Callitris columellaris and developed a new chronology for another marine fish, Lethrinus nebulosus. Principal components analysis and linear model selection showed evidence of ENSO‐driven synchrony in growth among all four taxa at interannual time scales, the first such result for the Southern Hemisphere. Rainfall, sea surface temperatures, and sea surface salinities, which are linked to the ENSO system, influenced the annual growth of fishes, trees, and corals. All four taxa had negative relationships with the Niño‐4 index (a measure of ENSO status), with positive growth patterns occurring during strong La Niña years. This finding implies that future changes in the strength and frequency of ENSO events are likely to have major consequences for both marine and terrestrial taxa. Strong similarities in the growth patterns of fish and trees offer the possibility of using tree‐ring chronologies, which span longer time periods than those of fish, to aid understanding of both historical and future responses of fish populations to climate variation.
Serum translationally controlled tumor protein is involved in rat liver regeneration after hepatectomy
Authors: Hao Shuai , Qin Yu , Yin Sheng , He Jinjun , He Dacheng , Wang Chengtao
Published: March 2016

Aim

The translationally controlled tumor protein (TCTP) has been reported to promote progression of many physiological processes. However, whether TCTP is involved in liver regeneration has been rarely studied. This study aimed to investigate the potential role of serum TCTP in liver regeneration after two‐thirds partial hepatectomy.

Methods

The synthesis rate and accumulated expression of TCTP was assessed by phosphor imaging and Western blot analysis, respectively. The mRNA expression of tctp was analyzed by quantitative real‐time PCR. The effect of serum TCTP on hepatocyte proliferation was investigated by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation, liver/body weight ratio, albumin concentration, and histological examination of liver following treatment of rat with anti‐TCTP antibody or prokaryotic TCTP protein before hepatectomy. The MTT assay was used to examine effect of TCTP on hepatocyte proliferation in vitro.

Results

The results showed that the expression of intracellular and serum TCTP protein was significantly increased in rats after two‐thirds partial hepatectomy. In vivo bromodeoxyuridine labeling assay suggested that treatment with anti‐TCTP antibody before hepatectomy significantly decreased hepatocyte proliferation and liver/body weight ratio. The prokaryotic TCTP had a potential promoting effect on hepatocyte proliferation both in vivo and in vitro, although prokaryotic TCTP given to rats prior to hepatectomy did not increase the proliferation ratio or liver/body weight ratio. Furthermore, anti‐TCTP antibody pretreatment decreased the expression of cyclin E, cdk2, and interleukin‐6 in rat liver.

Conclusion

These findings suggest serum TCTP is involved in rat liver regeneration through promoting hepatocyte proliferation.
Development of algorithms based on serum markers and transient elastography for detecting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B patients: Significant reduction in liver biopsy
Authors: Li Yan , Cai Qun , Zhang Yafei , Xie Qinxiu , Xu Nan , Jiang Xiaoping , Li Jun , Li Xu , Zhang Zhenhua
Published: March 2016

Aim

To develop algorithms for detecting significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients with the aim of reducing unwarranted liver biopsy.

Methods

For 307 CHB patients, the aspartate aminotransferase‐to‐platelet ratio index (APRI), the fibrosis index based on four factors (FIB‐4), and the result of transient elastography with FibroScan (FS) were obtained when a liver biopsy was carried out. All patients were classified based on APRI or FIB‐4 score and further assessed by FS results. Patients who remained unclassified after two steps of evaluation were considered to need liver biopsy.

Results

Algorithm implementation found that APRI + FS significantly lowered the requirement for liver biopsy for the detection of significant fibrosis compared to either individual APRI or FS screening (65.1% vs 75.9% or 78.5%, P = 0.003 or <0.001, respectively). The combination of FIB‐4 + FS significantly reduced the need for liver biopsy compared to single FIB‐4 or FS (58.3% vs 67.4% or 78.5%, P = 0.019 or <0.001, respectively). The FIB‐4 + FS algorithm also reduced the need for liver biopsy for detection of significant fibrosis in patients ≥50 years old compared to APRI + FS (22.6% vs 56.5%, P < 0.001), with a relatively lower accuracy (83.9% vs 98.4%, P = 0.004). Only 3.6% or 1.3% of patients needed liver biopsy for diagnosis of cirrhosis after screening with APRI + FS or FIB‐4 + FS, respectively.

Conclusion

The APRI + FS and FIB‐4 + FS algorithms could significantly reduce the need for liver biopsy with high accuracy, sensitivity, and positive predictive value for diagnosis of significant fibrosis and cirrhosis in CHB patients.
Report of the 19th follow‐up survey of primary liver cancer in Japan
Authors: Kudo Masatoshi , Izumi Namiki , Ichida Takafumi , Ku Yonson , Kokudo Norihiro , Sakamoto Michiie , Takayama Tadatoshi , Nakashima Osamu , Matsui Osamu , Matsuyama Yutaka
Published: March 2016

The 19th Nationwide Follow‐up Survey of Primary Liver Cancer in Japan comprised 20 850 primary liver cancer patients newly registered at 482 medical institutions over a period of 2 years (from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2007). Of these, 94.7% had hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and 4.4% had intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). In addition, follow‐up data were obtained regarding 34 752 patients who were registered in the previous survey. Epidemiological and clinicopathological factors, diagnosis, and treatment were examined in newly registered patients. Compared with the 18th follow‐up survey, the present follow‐up survey suggested an increase in the number of elderly and female patients, a reduction in the number of hepatitis B surface antigen‐ and anti‐hepatitis C virus antibody‐positive patients, and a reduction in tumor size at the time of clinical diagnosis. In terms of local ablation therapy, the number of patients receiving radiofrequency ablation therapy increased. The cumulative survival rates for newly registered patients between 1996 and 2007 were calculated for each histological type (HCC, ICC, and combined HCC and ICC) and stratified according to background factors and treatments. The cumulative survival rates of newly registered patients between 1978 and 2007 were calculated after dividing individuals into groups according to registration date (1978–1987, 1988–1997, and 1998–2007). The data obtained from this follow‐up survey will contribute to the medical management of primary liver cancer and facilitate future research.
Positive effects of burning and cattle grazing on grasshopper diversity
Authors: Joubert Lize , Pryke James S. , Samways Michael J.
Published: March 2016

Grasshoppers constitute a significant proportion of invertebrate diversity in grasslands, but little is known about how fire and grazing, two of the main drivers of grassland dynamics, influence them.

Here, we determine how these disturbances influence grasshopper diversity in remnant grassland ecological networks (ENs) among commercial forestry compartments in Afromontane grassland, South Africa. Sites differed in fire frequency (annual vs. longer rotation burning), time since last fire (<12 months vs. >12 months ago), and presence or absence of domestic cattle grazing. Reference sites were in an adjacent protected area (PA). We also recorded bare ground, vegetation cover, and vegetation height.

Grasshopper abundance significantly benefitted from annual burning, cattle grazing, short grass, and when the last fire was <12 months prior to sampling.

Fire frequency was the only disturbance with a significant effect on grasshopper species composition, but without significantly affecting species richness. In the PA, heterogeneity of dispersion was smaller in annually burned firebreaks than in sites with longer fire‐return intervals, which points to homogenisation of resident grasshopper assemblages.

Although most grasshopper species favoured recently burned or grazed grassland, some preferred low or no disturbance. This illustrates a considerable range of habitat preferences in the grasshopper assemblage.

Management recommendation: Burning and grazing at moderate levels should be integral to local landscape management, as these impacts benefit grasshoppers in grassland ENs. Some areas should be left undisturbed to create a mosaic of different successional stages at the landscape spatial scale, providing diverse habitat for a wide range of species.
Middle Managers and the Translation of New Ideas in Organizations: A Review of Micro‐practices and Contingencies
Authors: Radaelli Giovanni , Sitton‐Kent Lucy
Published: March 2016

Translation theories argue that the transformation of new ideas is ‘in the hands of people’ and that actors at multiple organizational levels interact to affect this process. However, previous research has focused mostly on executive managers or R&D departments, while other organizational actors, who have a comparable influence on the translation process, have received little systematic analysis of their role. This study draws upon this premise to review the existing literature on middle managers’ engagement with the translation of new ideas. The findings follow middle managers throughout the translation process, i.e. from the acquisition of the new ideas to its stabilization. The authors identify the micro‐practices pursued by middle managers to affect the travel of the new idea within the organization, and the contingencies that explain when and how middle managers engage in specific translation stages. The paper concludes with discussions of the main implications and indications for middle managers and future directions for research.
Effectiveness and safety of silodosin in the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia: A European phase IV clinical study (SiRE study)
Authors: Montorsi Francesco , Gandaglia Giorgio , Chapple Christopher , Cruz Francisco , Desgrandchamps Francois , Llorente Carlos
Published: March 2016

Objectives

To assess the benefit–risk balance of silodosin in a real‐life setting of benign prostatic hyperplasia patients with lower urinary tract symptoms.

Methods

A phase IV trial including men aged ≥60 years with a clinical diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia with an International Prostate Symptom Score ≥12 was carried out. Patients received silodosin 8 mg for 24 weeks. The primary end‐point was a decrease ≥25% in the total International Prostate Symptom Score. Secondary end‐points were: changes in total, storage and voiding, and quality of life International Prostate Symptom Scores; changes in the International Continence Society‐male questionnaire; changes in the frequency/volume chart; and satisfaction according to the Patient Perception of Study Medication questionnaire. Treatment‐emergent adverse events were recorded.

Results

Overall, 1036 patients were enrolled. Of these, 766 patients (77.1%) had a decrease ≥25% in the total International Prostate Symptom Score. The mean total International Prostate Symptom Score, and storage and voiding symptoms subscores decreased from 18.9, 8.1 and 10.8 to 10.6, 4.9 and 5.7. Nocturia decreased from 85.7% to 52.4%. The mean International Prostate Symptom Score quality of life score decreased from 4.0 to 2.2. Half of the patients reported an improvement in the frequency and bothersomeness of the most frequent symptoms reported at baseline (all P < 0.001). A reduction in the number of voids was documented by the frequency/volume chart data. The most common treatment‐emergent adverse event was ejaculation failure (185 patients; 17.9%), which led to study discontinuation in 2.4% of patients. Overall, 74.2% of patients were satisfied with the medication.

Conclusions

Silodosin improved lower urinary tract symptoms in three out of four patients, including diurnal voiding and storage symptoms, nocturia, and quality of life. This treatment showed a favorable safety profile in this setting.
Identification and characterization of an atypical 2‐cys peroxiredoxin from the silkworm, Bombyx mori
Authors: Wang Q. , Zhou Y. , Chen K. , Ju X.
Published: March 2016

Peroxiredoxins (Prxs) play an important role in the protection of insects against the toxicity of reactive oxygen species. Here, we identified and characterized a novel, atypical 2‐cysteine (Cys) peroxiredoxin (BmPrx3) from an expressed sequence tag database in a lepidopteran insect, Bombyx mori. The BmPrx3 cDNA contained an open reading frame of 684 bp that encodes a 228‐amino‐acid protein with a calculated molecular mass of 25 kDa. Sequence comparison revealed that BmPrx3 belongs to the atypical 2‐Cys Prxs. Quantitative real‐time PCR revealed that BmPrx3 can be detected in all tissues and developmental stages. Recombinant BmPrx3 purified from Escherichia coli exhibited antioxidant activity that removed hydrogen peroxide and protected DNA from oxidative damage. Disc diffusion and viability assays revealed that recombinant BmPrx3 increased bacterial survival under H2O2‐mediated oxidative stress. In addition, quantitative real‐time PCR analysis indicated that BmPrx3 transcription levels were significantly increased in response to various oxidative stresses. Furthermore, BmPrx3 transcription levels in the midgut were regulated by bacterial infection. Taken together, these results suggest that BmPrx3 acts as an antioxidant enzyme to protect the silkworm from various oxidative stresses.
Cardiovascular risk reduction in hypertension: angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers. Where are we up to?
Authors: Sindone A. , Erlich J. , Lee C. , Newman H. , Suranyi M. , Roger S. D.
Published: March 2016

Previously, management of hypertension has concentrated on lowering elevated blood pressure. However, the target has shifted to reducing absolute cardiovascular (CV) risk. It is estimated that two in three Australian adults have three or more CV risk factors at the same time. Moderate reductions in several risk factors can, therefore, be more effective than major reductions in one. When managing hypertension, therapy should be focused on medications with the strongest evidence for CV event reduction, substituting alternatives only when a primary choice is not appropriate. Hypertension management guidelines categorise angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) interchangeably as first‐line treatments in uncomplicated hypertension. These medications have different mechanisms of action and quite different evidence bases. They are not interchangeable and their prescription should be based on clinical evidence. Despite this, currently ARB prescriptions are increasing at a higher rate than those for ACEI and other antihypertensive classes. Evidence that ACEI therapy prevents CV events and death, in patients with coronary artery disease or multiple CV risk factors, emerged from the European trial on reduction of cardiac events with perindopril in stable coronary artery disease (EUROPA) and Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation (HOPE) trials respectively. The consistent benefit has been demonstrated in meta‐analyses. The clinical trial data for ARB are less consistent, particularly regarding CV outcomes and mortality benefit. The evidence supports the use of ACEI (Class 1a) compared with ARB despite current prescribing trends.
Substantial variation in post‐engraftment infection prophylaxis and revaccination practice in autologous stem cell transplant patients
Authors: Lim H. Y. , Grigg A.
Published: March 2016

There is a paucity of evidence supporting the necessity or duration of Pneumocystis jirovecii and antiviral prophylaxis as well as revaccination following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). A survey aimed at evaluating these policies was distributed to 34 ASCT centres across Australasia. The 26 survey respondents demonstrated significant heterogeneity in their infection prophylaxis and revaccination strategy post‐transplant despite the availability of consensual guidelines.
Acute adrenal insufficiency: an aide‐memoire of the critical importance of its recognition and prevention
Authors: Gargya A. , Chua E. , Hetherington J. , Sommer K. , Cooper M.
Published: March 2016

Adrenal crisis is a life‐threatening emergency that causes significant excess mortality in patients with adrenal insufficiency. Delayed recognition by medical staff of an impending adrenal crisis and failure to give timely hydrocortisone therapy within the emergency department continue to be commonly encountered, even in metropolitan teaching hospitals. Within the authors’ institutions, several cases of poorly handled adrenal crises have occurred over the last 2 years. Anecdotal accounts from members of the Addison's support group suggest that these issues are common in Australia. This manuscript is a timely reminder for clinical staff on the critical importance of the recognition, treatment and prevention of adrenal crisis. The manuscript: (i) outlines a case and the clinical outcome of sub‐optimally managed adrenal crisis, (ii) summarises the clinical features and acute management of adrenal crisis, (iii) provides recommendations on the prevention of adrenal crisis and (iv) provides guidance on the management of ‘sick days’ in patients with adrenal insufficiency.
Severe hypocalcaemia and hypophosphataemia following intravenous iron and denosumab: a novel drug interaction
Authors: Smyth B. , Ong S.
Published: March 2016

We present the case of a 59‐year‐old woman with chronic kidney disease who suffered severe hypocalcaemia and hypophosphataemia after receiving denosumab and intravenous iron. This potentially life‐threatening adverse drug interaction has never been reported before. We propose a mechanism to explain it with reference to the physiological derangements caused by both agents on calcium and phosphate homeostasis.
Characterisation and therapeutic manipulation of the gut microbiome in inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Schulberg J. , De Cruz P.
Published: March 2016

Inflammatory bowel diseases are thought to develop as a result of dysregulation of the relationship that exists between the gut microbiota, host genetics and the immune system. The advent of culture‐independent techniques has revolutionised the ability to characterise the role of the gut microbiota in health and disease based on the microbiota's genetic make‐up. Inflammatory bowel diseases are characterised by dysbiosis which is an imbalance between pro‐ and anti‐inflammatory bacteria and a reduction in bacterial diversity. Emerging data suggest that it is not only the presence of the gut microbiota but the functional activity of the microbiota that appears to play an important role in health and disease. Current strategies to manipulate therapeutically the gut microbiota using dietary modification, prebiotics, probiotics, antibiotics and faecal microbiota transplantation aim to restore the balance to a state of normobiosis. However, the ability of such strategies to correct dysbiosis and thereby achieve therapeutic benefit is yet to be fully characterised.