bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supplier integration in the assortment management of builders’ merchants
Authors: Ellström Daniel
Published: July 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore supplier integration in the assortment management of builders’ merchants (BMs) by identifying potential factors enabling supplier integration and potential factors mediating the success of supplier integration.

Design/methodology/approach

– A qualitative case study method was used, in which interviews and participative observations were conducted with a timber supplier and BMs in the UK.

Findings

– The likelihood that a supplier and a retailer will implement supplier integration is positively affected by the retailer’s format as a large chain with several product categories represented in its stores and the retailer’s trust in the supplier. Effectiveness and efficiency of supplier integration is mediated by the number of different retail formats represented by the retailers, the ability of the supplier to determine cost drivers in its operations and a homogeneous market, meaning that local circumstances have limited effect on demand.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings are exploratory and further testing of the propositions, using a wider empirical sample, is required. The paper extends theories relating to resource complementarity and suggests that a resource complementarity framework can be applied in relationships other than alliances.

Practical implications

– This paper suggests when incorporation of supplier resources is possible to implement and when it is likely to succeed.

Originality/value

– This paper uses a contingency perspective to explore supplier integration and targets individual buyer-supplier relationships. It uses a dyadic perspective and considers how supplier integration affects the dyad, rather than only the buyer.
Examining preservice teacher content and pedagogical content knowledge needed to teach reading in elementary school
Authors: Clark Sarah K. , Helfrich Sara R. , Hatch Lance
Published: July 2015

Recently, increased attention has been placed on the importance of having knowledgeable and skilled teachers in order to influence reading achievement. Yet many international reports suggest that large numbers of children are not learning to read. How can we better prepare teachers with the necessary knowledge to teach reading? The current study examined the reading instructional knowledge of elementary education preservice teachers (N = 87) from two teacher education programmes. Programme A required five reading methods courses and Programme B required two methods courses. Findings indicate that the preservice teachers presented fairly robust levels of knowledge in the areas of phonological awareness, phonics, comprehension and vocabulary. However, we found statistically significant differences in knowledge based on the programme attended and the number of courses completed. Suggestions for improving reading teacher education are provided.
‘Eco’ For Whom? Envisioning Eco‐urbanism in the Sino‐Singapore Tianjin Eco‐city, China
Authors: Caprotti Federico , Springer Cecilia , Harmer Nichola
Published: July 2015

Eco‐cities have attracted international attention from governments, corporations, academics and other actors seeking to use sustainable urban planning to reduce urban environmental impacts. China has devoted significant political will and economic resources to the development of new‐build eco‐city projects, reflecting the Chinese government's goals to build a ‘harmonious society' in which environmental sustainability and social stability are mutually reinforcing. We critically analyse the case of the Sino‐Singapore Tianjin eco‐city to demonstrate that the eco‐city's ecologically modernizing visions of eco‐urbanism construct a protective environment for its residents that constrains broader consideration of social sustainability. Through analysis of the marketing and presentation of specific domestic and other spaces of the eco‐city, we examine the application of ecologically modernizing construction and technology to the design of the city. We argue that the eco‐city is discursively constructed as ecologically beneficial for its inhabitants rather than for the broader socio‐environmental landscape. Our analysis of residential spaces in Tianjin eco‐city introduces the question of what ‘eco’ means when considering the construction of eco‐urban environments for the city's residents.
Evolution of occlusal shape of the first and second upper molars of Middle–Late Pleistocene collared lemmings (Dicrostonyx, Arvicolinae, Rodentia) in northeast European Russia
Authors: Ponomarev Dmitry , Puzachenko Andrey
Published: July 2015

An approach combining traditional morphotypical methods, multivariate analysis and informational‐statistical methods was used to study evolutionary changes in the occlusal shape of the first and second upper molars of Recent and Middle–Late Pleistocene Dicrostonyx (32 samples) from localities in northeast European Russia (northeastern Russian Plain, the Timan Ridge and the northern part of the Urals). The evolutionary history is described in terms of morphological evolutionary levels of teeth suggested by Smirnov et al. (1997, Materialy Po Istorii I Sovremennomu Sostojaniju Fauny Severa Zapadnoj Sibiri: Sbornik Nauchnyh Trudov, Chelyabinsk, slightly modified). Based on 14C‐dated samples, levels of molar evolution did not always successively replace each other in time, but rather there were often synchronous populations at any given level. This finding supports the notion of a mosaic pattern of morphotypical diversity and relatively independent, parallel evolution of lemming teeth amongst different populations. Six relatively distinct stages in the evolutionary history of Dicrostonyx from the Pechora (Dnieper) to Recent time have been described, but estimations of their relative ages are often debatable. The rates of change in the M1 and M2 morphotypes and morphological diversity in collared lemmings varied over the entire time interval. The fastest replacement of morphotypes and the highest level of morphological diversity in the study area occurred approximately during the Lateglacial (16–10 cal. ka BP). In the present study, we suggest a new version of evolutionary history of collared lemmings in northeast European Russia, taking into consideration the morphological variability of molars, radiocarbon dates and geological data. Our results provide a more detailed pattern of species evolution in the studied region and specific ages of some localities.
Optimal Participation Taxes
Authors: Christiansen Vidar
Published: July 2015

Addressing extensive labour supply responses, the literature has established a case for larger transfers to the working poor than to even poorer non‐working people. This paper casts new light on this result. I argue that the result hinges crucially on the labour supply responses of people in income brackets above that of the working poor. Then, distinguishing between more and less poor working people, I show that if a single working type faces a negative tax, it is the poorer one who does. Finally, I endogenize wages and show that key conditions will be of the same form as before.
mangal – making ecological network analysis simple
Authors: Poisot Timothée , Baiser Benjamin , Dunne Jennifer A. , Kéfi Sonia , Massol François , Mouquet Nicolas , Romanuk Tamara N. , Stouffer Daniel B. , Wood Spencer A. , Gravel Dominique
Published: July 2015

The study of ecological networks is severely limited by 1) the difficulty to access data, 2) the lack of a standardized way to link meta‐data with interactions, and 3) the disparity of formats in which ecological networks themselves are stored and represented. To overcome these limitations, we have designed a data specification for ecological networks. We implemented a database respecting this standard, and released an R package (rmangal) allowing users to programmatically access, curate, and deposit data on ecological interactions. In this article, we show how these tools, in conjunction with other frameworks for the programmatic manipulation of open ecological data, streamlines the analysis process and improves replicability and reproducibility of ecological network studies.
Regeneration or replacement? A case report and review of literature
Authors: Farhad Ali Reza , Shokraneh Ali , Shekarchizade Neda
Published: July 2015

Endodontic treatment of immature necrotic teeth is a real challenge. Recently, a biologically based treatment strategy, referred to as regeneration, has been introduced. Tissue regeneration requires the presence of stems cells, a scaffold, and growth factors. Endodontic regeneration may improve the prognosis of immature necrotic teeth by re‐establishing the functional pulpal tissue and further development of the root. However, the tissue formed in the pulpal space may not be original pulp tissue, and in some cases, it may result in uncontrolled calcification of the pulp. This study reports a case of successful endodontic regeneration and compares this process with the normal development of the contralateral tooth. Finally, it discusses the nature of the tissue formed during endodontic regeneration.
Why are Aedes mosquitoes rare colonisers of Nepenthes pitcher plants?
Authors: CHOU LEE YIUNG , WILSON ROBYN F. , DYKES GARY A. , CLARKE CHARLES M.
Published: July 2015

1. Nepenthes pitcher plants produce fluid‐containing animal traps that are colonised
by a variety of specialised arthropods, especially dipterans. However, container‐breeding vector mosquitoes, such as Aedes albopictus Skuse have rarely been recorded from pitchers. Increasing overlap in the geographical ranges of Nepenthes and Ae. albopictus in urban parts of Southeast Asia owing to urbanisation highlights a growing need to investigate the potential role of pitchers as larval habitats for vector mosquitoes.

2. The ability of Ae. albopictus larvae to survive in three common lowland Nepenthes in Peninsular Malaysia that are most likely to co‐occur with Ae. albopictus [viz., Nepenthes ampullaria Jack, Nepenthes gracilis Korth., and Nepenthes mirabilis (Lour.) Druce] was investigated.

3. The larval survival rates of Ae. albopictus in pitcher fluids of the three Nepenthes species were determined, then the effects of low pH, larvicidal agents (such as microbes, predators, and chemical compounds) through manipulative experiments were investigated.

4. It was found that pitchers represent a hostile environment to Ae. albopictus, but that the principal cause of larval mortality varies among Nepenthes species (i.e. low fluid pH in N. gracilis, predation by Toxorhynchites acaudatus Leicester larvae in N. ampullaria, and microbial activity in N. mirabilis). It was concluded that Nepenthes pitchers are generally not suitable larval habitats for Ae. albopictus. However, the pitcher environment of N. ampullaria is worthy of further study, as pitchers that lack predators are nevertheless rarely colonised by Ae. albopictus, indicating that other aspects of the host pitcher environment inhibit oviposition or larval survivorship.
How much flower‐rich habitat is enough for wild pollinators? Answering a key policy question with incomplete knowledge
Authors: DICKS LYNN V. , BAUDE MATHILDE , ROBERTS STUART P. M. , PHILLIPS JAMES , GREEN MIKE , CARVELL CLAIRE
Published: July 2015

In 2013, an opportunity arose in England to develop an agri‐environment package for wild pollinators, as part of the new Countryside Stewardship scheme launched in 2015. It can be understood as a ‘policy window’, a rare and time‐limited opportunity to change policy, supported by a narrative about pollinator decline and widely supported mitigating actions. An agri‐environment package is a bundle of management options that together supply sufficient resources to support a target group of species. This paper documents information that was available at the time to develop such a package for wild pollinators. Four questions needed answering: (1) Which pollinator species should be targeted? (2) Which resources limit these species in farmland? (3) Which management options provide these resources? (4) What area of each option is needed to support populations of the target species? Focussing on wild bees, we provide tentative answers that were used to inform development of the package. There is strong evidence that floral resources can limit wild bee populations, and several sources of evidence identify a set of agri‐environment options that provide flowers and other resources for pollinators. The final question could only be answered for floral resources, with a wide range of uncertainty. We show that the areas of some floral resource options in the basic Wild Pollinator and Farmland Wildlife Package (2% flower‐rich habitat and 1 km flowering hedgerow), are sufficient to supply a set of six common pollinator species with enough pollen to feed their larvae at lowest estimates, using minimum values for estimated parameters where a range was available. We identify key sources of uncertainty, and stress the importance of keeping the Package flexible, so it can be revised as new evidence emerges about how to achieve the policy aim of supporting pollinators on farmland.
Environmental conditions and physiological state influence estuarine movements of homing sockeye salmon
Authors: Drenner S. Matthew , Hinch Scott G. , Martins Eduardo G. , Furey Nathan B. , Clark Timothy D. , Cooke Steven J. , Patterson David A. , Robichaud David , Welch David W. , Farrell Anthony P. , Thomson Richard E.
Published: July 2015

The reproductive migration of anadromous salmonids through estuarine waters is one of the most challenging stages of their life cycle, yet little is known about the environmental and physiological conditions that influence migratory behaviour. We captured, sampled tissues, tagged and released 365 sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) homing through inner coastal waters towards the Fraser River, British Columbia, Canada. Biotelemetry was used to assess the behaviour of individual sockeye salmon approaching estuarine waters and at river entry, which were related to both fish physiological condition at release and to prevailing environmental conditions. Sockeye salmon tended to stay close to the shore, migrated during the day, and movements were related to tide. Sockeye salmon migration rate was linked to wind‐induced currents, salinity and an individual's physiological state, but these factors were specific to location and stock. We propose that wind‐induced currents exposed sockeye salmon entering the estuary to stronger olfactory cues associated with Fraser River water, which in turn resulted in faster migration rates presumably due to either an increased ability for olfactory navigation and/or advanced reproductive schedule through a neuroendocrine response to olfactory cues. However, once the migration had progressed further into more concentrated freshwater of the river plume, sockeye salmon presumably used wind‐induced currents to aid in movements towards the river, which may be associated with energy conservation. Results from this study improve our biological understanding of the movements of Fraser River sockeye salmon and are also broadly relevant to other anadromous salmonids homing in marine environments.
Net aboveground biomass declines of four major forest types with forest ageing and climate change in western Canada's boreal forests
Authors: Chen Han Y. H. , Luo Yong
Published: July 2015

Biomass change of the world's forests is critical to the global carbon cycle. Despite storing nearly half of global forest carbon, the boreal biome of diverse forest types and ages is a poorly understood component of the carbon cycle. Using data from 871 permanent plots in the western boreal forest of Canada, we examined net annual aboveground biomass change (ΔAGB) of four major forest types between 1958 and 2011. We found that ΔAGB was higher for deciduous broadleaf (DEC) (1.44 Mg ha−1 year−1, 95% Bayesian confidence interval (CI), 1.22–1.68) and early‐successional coniferous forests (ESC) (1.42, CI, 1.30–1.56) than mixed forests (MIX) (0.80, CI, 0.50–1.11) and late‐successional coniferous (LSC) forests (0.62, CI, 0.39–0.88). ΔAGB declined with forest age as well as calendar year. After accounting for the effects of forest age, ΔAGB declined by 0.035, 0.021, 0.032 and 0.069 Mg ha−1 year−1 per calendar year in DEC, ESC, MIX and LSC forests, respectively. The ΔAGB declines resulted from increased tree mortality and reduced growth in all forest types except DEC, in which a large biomass loss from mortality was accompanied with a small increase in growth. With every degree of annual temperature increase, ΔAGB decreased by 1.00, 0.20, 0.55 and 1.07 Mg ha−1 year−1 in DEC, ESC, MIX and LSC forests, respectively. With every cm decrease of annual climatic moisture availability, ΔAGB decreased 0.030, 0.045 and 0.17 Mg ha−1 year−1 in ESC, MIX and LSC forests, but changed little in DEC forests. Our results suggest that persistent warming and decreasing water availability have profound negative effects on forest biomass in the boreal forests of western Canada. Furthermore, our results indicate that forest responses to climate change are strongly dependent on forest composition with late‐successional coniferous forests being most vulnerable to climate changes in terms of aboveground biomass.
Protease inhibitors to treat hepatitis C in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study: high efficacy but low treatment uptake
Authors: Schaerer V , Haubitz S , Kovari H , Ledergerber B , Ambrosioni J , Cavassini M , Stoeckle M , Schmid P , Decosterd L , Aouri M , Böni J , Günthard HF , Furrer H , Metzner KJ , Fehr J , Rauch A ,   Swiss HIV Cohort Study
Published: July 2015

Objectives

Direct‐acting antiviral agents (DAAs) have become the standard of care for the treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We aimed to assess treatment uptake and efficacy in routine clinical settings among HIV/HCV coinfected patients after the introduction of the first generation DAAs.

Methods

Data on all Swiss HIV Cohort Study (SHCS) participants starting HCV protease inhibitor (PI) treatment between September 2011 and August 2013 were collected prospectively. The uptake and efficacy of HCV therapy were compared with those in the time period before the availability of PIs.

Results

Upon approval of PI treatment in Switzerland in September 2011, 516 SHCS participants had chronic HCV genotype 1 infection. Of these, 57 (11%) started HCV treatment during the following 2 years with either telaprevir, faldaprevir or boceprevir. Twenty‐seven (47%) patients were treatment‐naïve, nine (16%) were patients with relapse and 21 (37%) were partial or null responders. Twenty‐nine (57%) had advanced fibrosis and 15 (29%) had cirrhosis. End‐of‐treatment virological response was 84% in treatment‐naïve patients, 88% in patients with relapse and 62% in previous nonresponders. Sustained virological response was 78%, 86% and 40% in treatment‐naïve patients, patients with relapse and nonresponders, respectively. Treatment uptake was similar before (3.8 per 100 patient‐years) and after (6.1 per 100 patient‐years) the introduction of PIs, while treatment efficacy increased considerably after the introduction of PIs.

Conclusions

The introduction of PI‐based HCV treatment in HIV/HCV‐coinfected patients improved virological response rates, while treatment uptake remained low. Therefore, the introduction of PIs into the clinical routine was beneficial at the individual level, but had only a modest effect on the burden of HCV infection at the population level.
A new trap for collecting aquatic and semi‐aquatic insects from madicolous habitats
Authors: Shimabukuro Erika M. , Pepinelli Mateus , Perbiche‐Neves Gilmar , Trivinho‐Strixino Susana
Published: July 2015

A new trap is described for capturing adult insects (especially Chironomidae) from madicolous habitats in mountainous environments.

The trap is light enough to be carried and is easy and inexpensive to build, being constructed of mosquito netting fabric (no‐see‐um mesh size), galvanised wire, a plastic bottle, a plastic conduit and nylon clamps.

Seventy‐one traps deployed along an altitudinal gradient on three different mountains (altitude 0–2700 m above sea level) captured c. 1400 adult insects, representing 20 higher taxa (i.e. families or orders) of insects.
Word frequency and morphological family size effects on the accuracy and speed of lexical access in school‐aged bilingual students
Authors: Akbari Neda
Published: July 2015

This study investigated whether school‐aged bilingual students demonstrate word frequency and morphological family size (MFS) effects for written L2 words, and if so, the extent to which the effects are present for bilingual students in different grades. The study revealed both word frequency and MFS effects for the bilingual students in relation to the accuracy of their responses. The bilingual students were less accurate in response to mid and low‐frequency words and words with a very small morphological family compared to the monolingual students. Despite that, they demonstrated similar speed of access to the written L2 words in different frequency ranges and with different MFSs. The findings were discussed in terms of the strength of connections between the form and meaning of words.
Correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis
Authors: Shahidi‐Dadras Mohammad , Haghighatkhah Hamid Reza , Abdollahimajd Fahimeh , Younespour Shima , Partovi kia Masoud , Zargari Omid
Published: July 2015

Background

Psoriasis is associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic disorders. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an angiogenic factor that was overexpressed in both psoriatic and atherosclerotic lesions. In a prospective controlled study, we investigated the correlation between serum levels of VEGF and subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis.

Method

Sixty patients with moderate to severe psoriasis and 60 age‐ and gender‐matched healthy controls were recruited to the study. Mean intima‐media thickness of the common carotid artery (MIMT‐CCA) and serum VEGF levels of all subjects were measured. Subclinical atherosclerosis was defined as having an MIMT‐CCA ≥0.8 mm.

Results

Serum VEGF levels in psoriatic patients were significantly higher compared with healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Psoriatic patients had significantly greater MIMT‐CCA than healthy controls (P < 0.0001). Forty‐five percent of patients and 6.7% of the healthy controls had subclinical atherosclerosis (P < 0.0001). In the patient group, subclinical atherosclerosis was significantly associated with serum VEGF levels, age, disease duration, and psoriasis area and severity index (PASI).

Conclusion

This study supported the possible role of VEGF in the pathogenesis of subclinical atherosclerosis in psoriatic patients.
Scale effects on the pattern and predictors of small mammal diversity along a local elevational gradient in the Great Basin
Authors: Rowe Rebecca J. , Heaney Lawrence R. , Rickart Eric A.
Published: July 2015

Aim

Evaluation of the generality of the diversity–elevation relationship has highlighted effects of scale (spatial extent and grain size) on pattern perception. In contrast, the effects of scale on the attribution of drivers of diversity along elevational gradients remain largely unexplored. This is important because many causal factors have been proposed, and remotely sensed data about abiotic factors are available at increasingly fine grain sizes. Here, we evaluate the effects both of the resolution of the species diversity estimate on the pattern perceived, and of environmental predictor grain size on the potential contribution to each pattern.

Location

Ruby Mountains, Nevada, western North America.

Methods

For the small mammal fauna along one local elevational gradient, we compared patterns among estimates of richness derived from site‐based occurrences rarefied by survey effort and those inferred from interpolation across species’ elevational ranges. Using an information‐theoretic approach, we evaluated the relative importance of spatial and environmental factors in structuring each richness distribution. Climate and habitat were assessed at coarse and fine grain sizes. Comparisons were based on model fit and relative variable importance.

Results

We find general congruence in the diversity–elevation relationship, with peak diversity near the midpoint of the sampled gradient. Despite this commonality in pattern, we find the attribution of underlying drivers is substantially influenced by the type of richness estimate and by the grain size of the predictor variables.

Main conclusions

Our results illustrate that the factors identified as predictors of diversity can be sensitive to grain size, and that this sensitivity is not equally apparent under different measures of richness obtained from the same survey data. We call for broader discussion of scale effects and resolution appropriateness for elevational diversity gradients. This is particularly important because mismatches in scale may result in misguided conservation or management initiatives.
Phenotypic variation and covariation indicate high evolvability of acoustic communication in crickets
Authors: Blankers T. , Lübke A. K. , Hennig R. M.
Published: July 2015

Studying the genetic architecture of sexual traits provides insight into the rate and direction at which traits can respond to selection. Traits associated with few loci and limited genetic and phenotypic constraints tend to evolve at high rates typically observed for secondary sexual characters. Here, we examined the genetic architecture of song traits and female song preferences in the field crickets Gryllus rubens and Gryllus texensis. Song and preference data were collected from both species and interspecific F1 and F2 hybrids. We first analysed phenotypic variation to examine interspecific differentiation and trait distributions in parental and hybrid generations. Then, the relative contribution of additive and additive‐dominance variation was estimated. Finally, phenotypic variance–covariance (P) matrices were estimated to evaluate the multivariate phenotype available for selection. Song traits and preferences had unimodal trait distributions, and hybrid offspring were intermediate with respect to the parents. We uncovered additive and dominance variation in song traits and preferences. For two song traits, we found evidence for X‐linked inheritance. On the one hand, the observed genetic architecture does not suggest rapid divergence, although sex linkage may have allowed for somewhat higher evolutionary rates. On the other hand, P matrices revealed that multivariate variation in song traits aligned with major dimensions in song preferences, suggesting a strong selection response. We also found strong covariance between the main traits that are sexually selected and traits that are not directly selected by females, providing an explanation for the striking multivariate divergence in male calling songs despite limited divergence in female preferences.
The influence of growth patterns on sexual size monomorphism in lemurs
Authors: Tennenhouse E. M.
Published: July 2015

The lack of sexual size dimorphism among lemurs is puzzling given the high degree of polygyny in this clade. It has been proposed that the unique ecological conditions of Madagascar favour rapid completion of growth, limiting the opportunities for bimaturism and sexual size dimorphism in lemurs. Using recently compiled large data sets on many species across the lemur clade, I examined the prevalence of sexual size monomorphism of body mass among lemurs and tested the hypothesis that limited growth durations constrain sexual size dimorphism. I used segmented regression analyses to accurately model growth in each species. The majority of species analysed exhibited a period of rapid growth followed by a distinct period of slow growth prior to attainment of adult body mass. Whereas the first period of growth was constrained by the need to attain the majority of adult body mass prior to the onset of the infant's first dry season, the subsequent period of slow growth was unconstrained and sufficiently long to promote sexual bimaturism. Sex differences in the duration and rate of growth during this second growth phase appeared to account for the sexual size dimorphism exhibited by three lemur species. Therefore, constraints on growth processes do not limit sexual size dimorphism in lemurs, and other explanations for the prevalence of sexual size monomorphism in this clade should be examined. The importance of considering ontogeny in future investigations of sexual size monomorphism in lemurs is highlighted.
Spatial heterogeneity lowers rather than increases host–parasite specialization
Authors: Hesse E. , Best A. , Boots M. , Hall A. R. , Buckling A.
Published: July 2015

Abiotic environmental heterogeneity can promote the evolution of diverse resource specialists, which in turn may increase the degree of host–parasite specialization. We coevolved Pseudomonas fluorescens and lytic phage ϕ2 in spatially structured populations, each consisting of two interconnected subpopulations evolving in the same or different nutrient media (homogeneous and heterogeneous environments, respectively). Counter to the normal expectation, host–parasite specialization was significantly lower in heterogeneous compared with homogeneous environments. This result could not be explained by dispersal homogenizing populations, as this would have resulted in the heterogeneous treatments having levels of specialization equal to or greater than that of the homogeneous environments. We argue that selection for costly generalists is greatest when the coevolving species are exposed to diverse environmental conditions and that this can provide an explanation for our results. A simple coevolutionary model of this process suggests that this can be a general mechanism by which environmental heterogeneity can reduce rather than increase host–parasite specialization.
Effects of Ultrasound Treatment on Connective Tissue Collagen and Meat Quality of Beef Semitendinosus Muscle
Authors: Chang Hai‐Jun , Wang Qiang , Tang Chun‐Hong , Zhou Guang‐Hong
Published: July 2015

The effects of low‐frequency, high‐power ultrasound (40 kHz, 1,500 W) on meat quality and connective tissue collagen of beef semitendinosus muscle were assessed. Beef steaks were sonicated for 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 or 60 min. The effects of ultrasound on exudate yield, water‐loss rate, cooking loss, meat tenderness, and connective tissue and collagen properties were assessed. The results revealed that ultrasound increased meat exudate and water‐loss rates and reduced Warner–Bratzler shear force values. However, ultrasound had no effect on cooking loss or insoluble collagen content and little effects on collagen content and solubility. The mechanical strength of connective tissue decreased in ultrasound‐treated beef samples. Following ultrasound treatment of ≥10 min, muscle fibers shrank, the endomysium was disrupted and the perimysium thickness decreased. Protein aggregates formed in the extracellular space. Low‐frequency, high‐power ultrasound had significant effects on meat texture and connective tissue properties.

Practical Applications

Intramuscular connective tissue (IMCT) and collagen are related to meat quality, especially meat tenderness and texture. Ultrasound treatment enhances tenderness and sensory attributes of meat by changing cellular structures. However, there are limited data on the effectiveness of ultrasound on meat quality from the viewpoint of IMCT. In this study, we reported the meat quality attributes affected by changes in connective tissue and collagen as a result of ultrasound treatment. The results obtained in this study would be useful for the scientific community and the meat industry.
The phosphorylation of α‐synuclein: development and implication for the mechanism and therapy of the Parkinson's disease
Authors: Xu Yan , Deng Yulin , Qing Hong
Published: July 2015

Parkinson's disease (PD) is cited to be the second most common neuronal degenerative disorders; however, the exact mechanism of PD is still unclear. α‐synuclein is one of the key proteins in PD pathogenesis as it's the main component of the PD hallmark Lewy bodies (LBs). Nowadays, the study of α‐synuclein phosphorylation mechanism related to the PD pathology has become a research hotspot, given that 90% of α‐synuclein deposition in LBs is phosphorylated at Ser129, whereas in normal brains, only 4% or less of α‐synuclein is phosphorylated at the residue. Here, we review the related study of PD pathological mechanism involving the phosphorylation of α‐synuclein mainly at Ser129, Ser87, and Tyr125 residues in recent years, as well as some explorations relating to potential clinical application, in an attempt to describe the development and implication for the mechanism and therapy of PD. Given that some of the studies have yielded paradoxical results, there is need for more comprehensive research in the field. The phosphorylation of α‐synuclein might provide a breakthrough for PD mechanism study and even supply a new therapeutic strategy.

image

The milestone study on the phosphorylation of α‐synuclein mainly at Ser129, Ser87, and Tyr125 relating to PD in recent years as well as some clinical application exploration are overviewed. The potential pathways of the phosphorylated α‐synuclein related to PD are also summarized. The review may supply more ideas and thinking on this issue for the scientists in related research field.
Quality of life assessment in cosmetics: specificity and interest of the international BeautyQol instrument
Authors: Beresniak Ariel , Auray Jean‐Paul , Duru Gérard , Aractingi Selim , Krueger Gerald G. , Talarico Sergio , Tsutani Kiichiro , Dupont Danielle , de Linares Yolaine
Published: July 2015

The wide use of cosmetics and their perceived benefits upon well‐being imply objective descriptions of their effects upon the different dimensions contributing to the quality of life (QoL). Such a goal pleas for using relevant and validated scientific instruments with robust measurement methods. This paper discusses the interest of the new validated questionnaire BeautyQoL specifically designed to assess the effect of cosmetic products on physical appearance and QoL. After conducting a review of skin appearance and QoL, three phases of the international codevelopment have been carried out in the following sequence: semi‐directed interviews (Phase 1), acceptability study (Phase 2), and validation study (Phase 3). Data collection and validation process have been carried out in 16 languages. This review confirms that QoL instruments developed in dermatology are not suitable to assess cosmetic products, mainly because of their lack of sensitivity. General acceptability of BeautyQol was very good. Forty‐two questions have been structured in five dimensions that explained 76.7% of the total variance: Social Life, Self‐confidence, Mood, Vitality, and Attractiveness. Cronbach's alpha coefficients are between 0.932 and 0.978, confirming the good internal consistency of the results. The BeautyQol questionnaire is the first international instrument specific to cosmetic products and physical appearance that has been validated in 16 languages and could be used in a number of clinical trials and descriptive studies to demonstrate the added value of these products on the QoL.
The Great Recession, Fertility, and Uncertainty: Evidence From the United States
Authors: Schneider Daniel
Published: July 2015

The Great Recession produced the highest rates of unemployment and foreclosure in the United States since the Great Depression. In this article the author examines the consequences of these poor economic conditions for fertility in the United States by estimating the effect of area‐level economic conditions on state fertility in the years leading up to and including the Great Recession. The economic impacts of the Great Recession, captured by state‐level economic conditions, had a strong negative effect on fertility in models with state and year fixed effects. These reductions in fertility were likely caused both by increased economic hardship and increased economic uncertainty.
The “Cougar” Phenomenon: An Examination of the Factors That Influence Age‐Hypogamous Sexual Relationships Among Middle‐Aged Women
Authors: Alarie Milaine , Carmichael Jason T.
Published: July 2015

Using data from the National Survey of Family Growth, the authors considered the prevalence of the “cougar” phenomenon and the characteristics of middle‐aged women who reported having sexual relationships with younger men in the past 12 months. They found that roughly 13% of sexually active women between ages 35 and 44 had slept with a man who was at least 5 years younger. Contrary to conventional assumptions, the results show that women with low incomes and those who self‐identify as “other race” (not White or Black) are more likely to be in an age‐hypogamous sexual relationship. Relative to all other relationship statuses, previously married women are the most likely to choose younger partners. Finally, the results suggest that age‐hypogamous relationships are not simply “flings”; a majority of them last at least 2 years, and a sizable share of “cougars” are married to their younger partners. These results highlight the need to reconsider our conventional understanding of women's sexual relationships at midlife.
Pain from bluebottle jellyfish stings
Authors: Li Li , McGee Richard G , Webster Angela C
Published: July 2015

An 11‐year‐old girl presented to the emergency department with severe pain after a jellyfish sting at a New South Wales beach. Bluebottle (Physalia) jellyfish was deemed the most likely cause considering her geographical location. The Australian Resuscitation Council Guideline (2010) suggests immersing in water as hot as can be tolerated for 20 min for treating pain from jellyfish stings. This guideline was written based on past case reports, books and randomised controlled trials (RCTs). We performed a search to assess the most current evidence for relief of pain from Bluebottle jellyfish stings, which yielded two systematic reviews and seven RCTs. Both systematic reviews had similar conclusions, with one of the RCTs used in both reviews showing the most relevance to our presenting patient in terms of demographics, location and jellyfish type. This journal club article is an appraisal of this RCT by Loten et al. and the validity of its conclusion that hot water immersion is most effective for the relief of pain from Bluebottle stings.
Asthma deaths in children in New South Wales 2004–2013: Could we have done more?
Authors: Fitzgerald Dominic A , Gillis Jonathan
Published: July 2015

Aims

The aim of this study was to characterise the deaths of children from asthma in New South Wales (NSW) over the last 10 years and ascertain whether there were modifiable factors that could have prevented the deaths.

Methods

The hospital medical records, coronial reports, immunisation records and all relevant correspondence from general practitioners, medical specialists and hospitals were reviewed for children who died with asthma in the 10 years (2004–2013).

Results

In 10 years, there were 20 deaths (0–7 per year) with a male predominance (70%) occurring in children aged 4–17 years. Sixteen (80%) had persistent asthma and 4 (20%) had intermittent asthma. The majority (55%) had been hospitalised for asthma in the preceding 12 months, 25% in the preceding 6 weeks. The majority (55%) was aged 10–14 years. Ninety percent were atopic. Psychosocial issues were identified in the majority (55%) of families. Forty percent had a child protection history. Seventy‐five percent had consulted a general practitioner in the year before their death, 45% had a current written asthma action plan and 50% had not seen a paediatrician ever in relation to their asthma. Of the 16 children at school, the schools were aware of the asthma in 14 (88%) cases, but only half had copies of written asthma plans.

Conclusions

Improved communication and oversight between health‐care providers, education and community protection agencies could reduce mortality from asthma in children.
Nutritional approaches for the primary prevention of allergic disease: An update
Authors: Rueter Kristina , Prescott Susan L , Palmer Debra J
Published: July 2015

The dramatic rise in early childhood allergic diseases indicates the specific vulnerability of the immune system to early life environmental changes. Dietary changes are at the centre of lifestyle changes that underpin many modern inflammatory and metabolic diseases, and therefore are an essential element of prevention strategies. Although modern dietary changes are complex and involve changing patterns of many nutrients, there is also an interest in the early life effects of specific nutrients including polyunsaturated fatty acids, oligosaccharides (soluble fibre), antioxidants, folate and other vitamins that have documented effects on immune function as well as metabolism. A better understanding of nutritional programming of immune health, nutritional epigenetics and the biological processes sensitive to nutritional exposures in early life may lead to dietary strategies that provide more tolerogenic conditions during early immune programming and reduce the burden of many inflammatory diseases, not just allergy.
The importance of seed mass for the tolerance to heat shocks of savanna and forest tree species
Authors: Ribeiro Leandro C. , Barbosa Eduardo R. M. , van Langevelde Frank , Borghetti Fabian
Published: July 2015

Questions

Does seed mass influence the tolerance of seeds to the effects of heating in fires? Is the tolerance to heat shocks during fire events dependent mostly on seed mass itself or to other traits linked to the species ecological origin, e.g. non‐fire‐prone (forest) and fire‐prone (savanna) environments?

Location

Savanna and forest ecosystems of the Cerrado biome, Brazil.

Methods

Heat shocks were applied to seeds of 17 selected common tree species in savanna (ten species) or forest ecosystems (seven species) of the Cerrado biome. After being submitted to a heat shock, seeds were allowed to germinate in chambers set at 30 °C. Germination percentage was calculated for each treatment and species. For comparison purposes, species were grouped into two functional groups (forest and savanna) and also into seed size classes (small, medium and large). We used generalized linear model to analyse heat shock effects on seed germination of savanna and forest tree species, and how seed size affected the germination response.

Results

Seed mass influenced seed tolerance to heat shock. Larger seeds had higher survival when subjected to heat shock, independent of species’ ecological origin. In addition, seeds from species occurring in fire‐prone environments (savanna) were more tolerant to high levels of heat shock than seeds from species occurring in non‐fire‐prone environments (forest).

Conclusion

In response to global climatic change, fire regimes in savannas of South America are expected to become more frequent and intense, even expanding into currently non‐fire‐prone environments. In this sense, our findings indicate that species from savannas (fire‐prone environments) might have an adaptive advantage to these consequences of climatic changes, potentially leading to expansion of the savanna ecosystems.
Probe‐based confocal laser endomicroscopy quantitative morphometric markers associated with portal hypertension in duodenal mucosa
Authors: Rodriguez‐Diaz Eladio , Baffy György , Singh Satish K.
Published: July 2015

Background & Aims

Early detection of portal hypertension (PH) may help to prevent the morbidity of late‐stage cirrhosis by stratifying disease severity and enabling disease‐modifying interventions in potentially reversible conditions like non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic hepatitis. This study seeks to correlate morphometric features by confocal endomicroscopy with established surrogate clinical markers of PH.

Methods

Patients with and without PH scheduled for upper endoscopy at VA Boston participated in this IRB‐approved study. Real‐time probe‐based confocal endomicroscopy (pCLE) was performed in the duodenum. Vascular and epithelial morphometry was performed off‐line, in a blinded manner, using image‐processing software.

Results

Morphometric analysis of pCLE images from 16 patients with PH and 15 control patients was performed. Statistically significant differences were observed among control and PH patients for average vessel diameter (AVD: 11.7 μm vs. 17.1 μm), average vessel branching (AVB: 0.11 vs. 0.31 bifurcations per image frame), and average columnar cell height (ACCH: 40.0 μm vs. 52.0 μm). Spearman correlations comparing AVD, AVB and ACCH to portal gastropathy scores (0.86, 0.44 and 0.70) and to grade of oesophageal varices (0.88, 0.41 and 0.66) were statistically significant. Similarly, Pearson correlations of AVD and ACCH to spleen size (0.72 and 0.57), platelet count (−0.69 and −0.40) and the platelet count/spleen size ratio (−0.69 and −0.41) were also found to be statistically significant.

Conclusions

Duodenal pCLE reveals microvascular dilatation and altered epithelial cell volume/morphology in PH. These morphometric pCLE markers correlate with surrogate markers of PH. Additional studies will define the correlation between microscopic vascular patterns, epithelial cell volume and the hepatic venous pressure gradient.
Evaluation of Sacrospinous Hysteropexy vs. Uterosacral Suspension for the Treatment of Uterine Prolapse: A Retrospective Assessment
Authors: AL‐BADR Ahmed , PERVEEN Kauser , AL‐SHAIKH Ghadeer
Published: July 2015

Objective

This single‐center retrospective study aimed to compare the outcomes of vaginal hysterectomy with utero‐sacral suspension (VH/USS) versus sacro‐spinous hysteropexy (SSHP) in the management of uterine prolapse at a tertiary care center specializing in Urogynecology.

Methods

The medical records of 50 women with stage 2 or more uterine prolapse treated with VH/USS (n = 26) or SSHP (n = 24) were assessed between January 2006 and December 2012.

Results

There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of body mass index (BMI) and parity P = 0.881 and 0.304, respectively. VH/USS procedure was significantly more successful than SSHP procedure with regard to anatomical success (84.62 vs. 41.67%, P = 0.0028). There was a significantly higher anterior prolapse recurrence with SSHP procedure than with VH/USS (33.3 vs. 7.7%; P = 0.034). SSHP was associated with the lower likelihood of anatomical success and a higher risk of recurrent anterior prolapse in multivariate logistic regression analyzes adjusting for potential confounders.

Conclusion

The findings of this retrospective study indicate that SSHP appears to be associated with less anatomical objective success and an increased risk of recurrent anterior prolapse in comparison to VH/USS. Further validation of our observations by independent investigators is required.