bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterization and sources of dissolved and particulate phosphorus in 10 freshwater lakes with different trophic statuses in China by solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy
Authors: Zhang Chen , Feng Weiying , Chen Haiyan , Zhu Yuanrong , Wu Fengchang , Giesy John P. , He Zhongqi , Wang Hao , Sun Fuhong
Published: January 2019

Information on dissolved phosphorus (DP) and particulate phosphorus (PP) is essential to evaluate the P dynamics and control eutrophication. In this work, DP and PP in 10 freshwater lakes representing various trophic statuses were analyzed by solution 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results indicated that the predominant forms of DP and PP were orthophosphate (Ortho‐P) and monoester phosphate (Mono‐P). There was a greater concentration of Ortho‐P and Mono‐P in the water and particulate matter of medium‐eutriphic lakes than in lightly eutriphic or mesotrophic lakes. α‐Glycerophophate (2.7–32.5%), β‐glycerophosphate (1.3–23.4%), guanosine 2′Mono‐P (20.2–29.3%), inositol hexakisphosphate (IHP) (8.3–36.4%) and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) (17.3–35.9%) were identified as the major chemical forms of Mono‐P in water and particulate matter, which originate mainly from the degradation of labile diesters, aquatic/microbial sources and a combination of terrestrial and aquatic/microbial sources. Diester phosphate (Di‐P) was dominated by teichoic acid (0.5–14.8%) and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) (0.6–17.7%), which originated from aquatic/microbial sources. Moreover, correlation analysis showed that dissolved Mono‐P in water and particulate matter had a positive correlation with chlorophyll‐a (Chl‐a), which indicated their potential bioavailability for algal activity. pH was a crucial parameter to control Di‐P, pyrophosphate (Pyro‐P) and polyphosphate (Poly‐P) in water. Mono‐P/PPs showed a positive correlation with Chl‐a (R2 = 0.459), total phosphorus (TP) (R2 = 0.586) and the trophic status index (R2 = 0.588), which suggested that particulate Mono‐P can potentially contribute to lake eutrophication. Both Ortho‐P and Mono‐P were major contributors of P nutrients for algae, and therefore source control and new techniques are needed for reducing eutrophication.
Interactive effects of wind and light on growth and architecture of poplar saplings
Authors: Feng Jinxia , Huang Ping , Wan Xianchong
Published: January 2019

To explore the interactive effects of wind and light on growth and morphogenesis, poplar saplings were subjected to two different levels of wind and light. Morphogenesis, growth, water relations and gas exchange were examined in a factorial experiment. The results showed that wind reduced both shoot height and root growth but did not affect shoot diameter or root/shoot ratio, while light promoted both shoot and root growth, and the root/shoot ratio. However, light and wind consistently increased stem taper. Wind and light reduced leaf water potential and increased stem xylem cavitation at midday. Lateral shade decreased root and stem hydraulic conductance, while wind reduced stem hydraulic conductance without influencing root hydraulic conductance. Wind and light reduced the vulnerability of poplar saplings to xylem cavitation. Lateral shade strongly reduced the CO2 assimilation rate and stomatal conductance. Wind reduced the assimilation rate at midday under full sunlight. In summary, both light and wind increased stem taper, although the two environmental factors had opposite effects on the growth of poplar saplings. Lateral shading reduced the growth of shoots and roots of poplar saplings by restricting assimilation, and light promoted greater allocation of carbon to roots than to shoots, and to a lower rather than upper portion of the stem, leading to increased root/shoot ratio and stem taper. At the sapling stage, wind reduced shoot height and root growth primarily by interrupting water balance, and also induced thigmomorphogenic responses, such as increased taper. Finally, lateral shading did not suppress the thigmomorphological responses to wind.
Risk sensitivity of a forager with limited energy reserves in stochastic environments
Authors: Ito Hiromu
Published: January 2019

Long‐term environmental stochasticity is known to affect the adaptive evolution of life history traits. In stochastic environments, there are two different levels of behavioral optimization, as follows: Level 1, the optimal strategy under an intrageneration stochastic environment and Level 2, the optimal strategy under an intergeneration stochastic environment. This article presents a simple optimal foraging model under predation risks and verified the effect of behavioral optimization on the foraging time ratio. In this model, foragers are exposed to predation risks during foraging but are safe if they stay in their nests without any food. The foraging time allocation strategies that optimize the geometric mean fitness (Level 2) were compared with the arithmetic mean fitness (Level 1) to verify the effects of intergenerational stochasticity, whereby there is an alternation in good/bad environments across generations. As in previous studies, risk‐averse strategies (a shorter foraging time is adopted for Level 2 than for Level 1) were commonly observed using this model. Unexpectedly, the model showed a tendency toward a preference for risk‐prone strategies. This qualitative difference became prominent when food was abundant and the maximum energy reserves were small. Theoretical studies have shown that risk‐averse strategies are commonly adopted during food shortages and result in starvation. However, the current results indicate that risk‐prone strategies may become optimal under a limited reserve capacity. Thus, the optimal strategy depends not only on the individual status and environmental conditions, but also on the detailed selection regimes.
Ecological aspects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in different habitat types of a Brazilian mountainous area
Authors: Vieira Larissa C. , da Silva Danielle K. A. , da Silva Iolanda R. , Gonçalves Camila M. , de Assis Daniele M. A. , Oehl Fritz , da Silva Gladstone A.
Published: January 2019

Increasing elevation affects many abiotic factors, such as a temperature decrease and an increase in radiation, as well as multiple biotic characteristics such as richness and composition of plant communities, both of which contribute to the formation of different habitats in mountainous landscapes. Both biotic and abiotic factors also affect belowground arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities, but there is scarce information available from tropical mountain ecosystems. The objective of this study was to determine the diversity and distribution of AM fungi in different mountainous habitat types in the Chapada Diamantina mountain range in Bahia (NE Brazil). Soil samples were collected in five habitats types: high‐altitude cerrado savannas (HAC), natural grasslands (GRA), gallery forests (GAF), in natural rocky rupestrian fields (shrublands; CAR) and in rocky, rupestrian field in the regeneration stage (CRR). A total of 49 AMF species were identified, of which Glomeraceae and Acaulosporaceae species were the most representative families. The AMF communities did not follow the shifts in plant communities. The composition of the AMF communities differed only between CAR and HAC and between CRR and GAF, while the other habitats had similar AMF communities. Our conclusion is that the AMF community assemblages in tropical mountains are related to the heterogeneity of habitats of these ecosystems. In our study, silt and coarse sand contents were the main factors related to the community composition of AMF in the different habitats.
High macrophyte canopy complexity enhances sediment retention and carbon storage in coastal vegetative meadows at Tangkhen Bay, Phuket, Southern Thailand
Authors: Panyawai Janmanee , Tuntiprapas Piyalap , Prathep Anchana
Published: January 2019

Marine macrophytes help protect coastal habitats by modifying the energy of their environment, attenuating wave action, and stabilizing the sediment. The aim of this research was to examine the effect of the above ground parts of different seagrass and seaweed species on the deposition, retention, physical (dry bulk density and grain size), and chemical properties (organic carbon content and organic carbon density) of sediment. Six seagrass and seaweed communities with different above ground morphologies were studied between the dry (April 2015) and wet seasons (August 2015). The results suggested that the highest canopy complexity index was in the green alga, Halimeda macroloba Decaisne patches, which had the highest canopy score. High canopy complexity patches were likely to retain more sediment and store more organic carbon than lower canopy complexity patches and bare sand, respectively. The sediment retention and percent of organic carbon content were also affected by seasons. The wave action in the wet season affected the sediment through higher sediment deposition and movement, which caused increased sediment instability and led to changes in sediment properties. In addition, shoot density in the dry season was lower than that in the wet season, most likely due to damage from long exposure during low tide. Our results indicate that the canopy complexity of marine macrophytes and seasons influenced both sediment retention and properties of the sediment.
Effects of sand burial disturbance on establishment of three desert shrub species in the margin of oasis in northwestern China
Authors: Wang Guohua , Yu Kailiang , Gou Qianqian
Published: January 2019

Sand burial is an important environmental disturbance which determines seed germination, plant establishment, and plant fitness in sand dune ecosystems. But the critical importance of sand burial for seedling establishment of desert shrubs is rarely explored. We investigated the effects of sand burial at different regimes (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 cm, the main depths of soil seed bank) on the seedling emergence, growth and survival rate of three dominant desert shrubs (Calligonum mongolicum, Nitraria sphaerocarpa and Haloxylon ammodendron) for ecosystem restoration in sand dunes of northwestern China. The results indicated that shallow burial improved the seedling emergence and the subsequent seedling survival rate for the initial establishment period. The optimal burial depths were 2, 4 and 5 cm for H. ammodendron, N. sphaerocarpa and C. mongolicum, respectively; this difference in optimal burial depth may account for observed decreased regeneration of H. ammodendron as compared to the other two species. Beyond the optimal depths, we found that sand burial prevented seedling emergence for H. ammodendron and N. sphaerocarpa. Only a small proportion of seedlings can emerged from deep burial depth by increasing seedling biomass allocation to blow‐ground stem. However, after emergence deep sand burial stimulated growth rate of emerged seedlings, increased the seedling vigor and promoted the seedling establishment. We suggest that sand burial could affect plant regeneration and potentially leaded to shift in species composition. Choice of suitable species for ecosystem restoration needs to account for its ability in term of seed germination and plant establishment/regeneration to adapt to disturbance of sand burial.
Bacteria and microeukaryotes are differentially segregated in sympatric wastewater microhabitats
Authors: Cohen Yossi , Pasternak Zohar , Johnke Julia , Abed‐Rabbo Alfred , Kushmaro Ariel , Chatzinotas Antonis , Jurkevitch Edouard
Published: January 2019

Wastewater purification is mostly performed in activated sludge reactors by bacterial and microeukaryotic communities, populating organic flocs and a watery liquor. While there are numerous molecular community studies of the bacterial fraction, those on microeukaryotes are rare. We performed a year‐long parallel 16S rRNA gene and 18S rRNA‐gene based analysis of the bacterial and of the microeukaryote communities, respectively, of physically separated flocs and particle‐free liquor samples from three WWTPs. This uncovered a hitherto unknown large diversity of microeukaryotes largely composed of potential phagotrophs preferentially feeding on either bacteria or other microeukaryotes. We further explored whether colonization of the microhabitats was selective, showing that for both microbial communities, different but often closely taxonomically and functionally related populations exhibiting different dynamic patterns populated the microhabitats. An analysis of their between plants‐shared core populations showed the microeukaryotes to be dispersal limited in comparison to bacteria. Finally, a detailed analysis of a weather‐caused operational disruption in one of the plants suggested that the absence of populations common to the floc and liquor habitat may negatively affect resilience and stability.
Audit Within the Corporate Governance Paradigm: A Cornerstone Built on Shifting Sand?
Authors: Fairchild Richard , Gwilliam David , Marnet Oliver
Published: January 2019

This paper is a case study‐based investigation of aspects of the current paradigmatic approach to ‘good’ corporate governance, with its focus on the interlinked roles of internal control and risk management procedures, internal audit and external audit, overseen and coordinated by a formal structure of board committees, in particular the audit committee. The evidence that we adduce from the study of four high‐profile cases of perceived accounting and governance failure provides limited assurance that this approach will in fact be cost‐effective or efficient in preventing further such cases of accounting and governance failure. Specifically, issues as to remuneration and fee dependence, lack of relevant knowledge and expertise, social and psychological dependence upon executive management appear to have significantly and negatively affected the quality of decision‐making of governance gatekeepers. This suggests that further consideration of relevant economic, institutional and cognitive/behavioural factors beyond the rational choice model of traditional economics should underpin future developments in required modes and structures of governance.
Corporate Governance Reform in Australia: A New Institutional Approach
Authors: Mees Bernard , Smith Sherene A.
Published: January 2019

From an international perspective, Australia has been one of the leading jurisdictions for corporate governance reform. Its first corporate governance code predates the Cadbury Report, and Australia is also one of the few countries internationally to have been only marginally affected by the recession that ensued after the Global Financial Crisis. Considerable governance reform has occurred since 2007–8 in Australia, however; much of it occasioned by pressure brought to bear by institutional investors as a reaction to both traditional governance failings and also social and environmental concerns such as a growing awareness of climate change. Institutional influence is primarily associated with the compulsory retirement income system that emerged in the 1980s in light of an economy‐wide union campaign. While governance structures are becoming more homogenous, institutional logics reflecting trustees’ concerns are driving and shaping this ongoing process. A new approach to corporate engagement has emerged under the influence of investor representative bodies such as the Australian Council of Superannuation Investors that is driving corporate governance change.
Does Corporate Culture Affect Bank Risk‐Taking? Evidence from Loan‐Level Data
Authors: Nguyen Duc Duy , Nguyen Linh , Sila Vathunyoo
Published: January 2019

Using comprehensive corporate and retail loan data, we show that the corporate culture of banks explains their risk‐taking behaviour. Banks whose corporate culture leans towards aggressive competition are associated with riskier lending practices: higher approval rate, lower borrower quality, and fewer covenant requirements. Consequently, these banks incur larger loan losses and make greater contributions to systemic risk. The opposite behaviour is observed among banks whose culture emphasizes control and safety. Our findings cannot be explained by heterogeneity in a bank's business model, CEO compensation incentives or CEO characteristics. We use an exogenous shock to the US banking system during the 1998 Russian default crisis to support a causal inference.
Withdrawn: Hair Analysis for Drug‐Facilitated Crime: The Critical Role of Hair Growth Rate
Authors: Koren Gideon , Bellaish Elad , Maman Karen
Published: January 2019

The following article from the Journal of Forensic Sciences, “Hair Analysis for Drug‐Facilitated Crime: The Critical Role of Hair Growth Rate” by Koren G, Bellaish E, Maman K, published online on 3rd September 2019 (1) on Wiley Online Library has been withdrawn at the authors’ request, and in agreement between the authors, the Journal’s Editorial Office, and John Wiley & Sons, Inc. The withdrawal has been agreed to by all parties due to material included in the article being involved in current litigation.

Reference

1. Koren G, Bellaish E, Maman K. Hair analysis for drug‐facilitated crime: the critical role of hair growth rate. J Forensic Sci 2019;54(5):1574–5. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.14013.
Evolutionary and functional analyses of the interaction between the Bombyx mori inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) and nucleopolyhedrovirus IAPs
Authors: Chen Peng , Kang Tao‐Tao , Bao Xi‐Yan , Dong Zhan‐Qi , Zhu Yan , Xiao Wen‐Fu , Pan Min‐Hui , Lu Cheng
Published: January 2019

As an important insect immune response, apoptosis plays a critical role in the interaction between baculoviruses and insect hosts. Previous reports have identified inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) proteins in both insects and baculoviruses, but the relationship between these proteins is still not clearly understood. Here, we found that insect IAP proteins were clustered with baculovirus IAP3, suggesting that the baculovirus iap3 gene might be derived from the Lepidoptera or Diptera. We demonstrated that Bombyx mori inhibitor of apoptosis (Bmiap) gene had an inhibitory effect on apoptosis in silkworm cells. Further analysis of the effects of Bmiap genes on the proliferation of B. mori nucleopolyhedrovirus (BmNPV) showed that both the Bmiap and BmNPV iap genes increased BmNPV proliferation after BmNPV infected silkworm cells. Our results also indicated that BmNPV IAP1 and IAP2 directly interacted with BmIAP in silkworm cells, implying that the Bmiap gene might be hijacked by BmNPV iap genes during BmNPV infection. Taken together, our results provide important insights into the functional relationships of iap genes, and improve our knowledge of apoptosis in baculoviruses and insect hosts.
Differential Alteration of Adenylyl Cyclase Subtypes I, II, and V/VI in Postmortem Human Brains of Heroin Addicts
Authors: Shichinohe Shin , Ozawa Hiroki , Saito Toshikazu , Hashimoto Eri , Lang Carola , Riederer Peter , Takahata Naohiko
Published: January 2019

In animal and culture cell experiments, the upregulation of cAMP‐related signal transduction after chronic opioid administration has been hypothesized to be an adaptive change of the molecular mechanism to maintain homeostasis in intracellular signals downstream from opioid receptors. Herein, we have examined the quantitative changes of three adenylyl cyclase (AC) subtypes (I, II, and VM) in temporal cortex membranes from brains of heroin addicts and age‐matched controls by immunoblotting. The immunoreactivity of AC‐I decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in heroin addicts, compared with controls; whereas those of AC‐II and AC‐V/VI were not changed. The present findings indicate that differential regulation of AC subtypes occurs and that AC‐I may play an important role in the signal transduction for opiate‐induced tolerance and dependence mechanisms in human brain cortex.
Patterns of social determinants of health associated with drug use among women living with HIV in Canada: a latent class analysis
Authors: Shokoohi Mostafa , Bauer Greta R. , Kaida Angela , Logie Carmen H. , Lacombe‐Duncan Ashley , Milloy M.‐J. , Lloyd‐Smith Elisa , Carter Allison , Loutfy Mona ,   on behalf of the CHIWOS Research Team
Published: January 2019

Background and Aims

Identifying typologies of social determinants of health (SDoH) vulnerability influencing drug use practices among women living with HIV (WLWH) can help to address associated harms. This research aimed to explore the association of SDoH clusters with drug use among WLWH.

Design

Latent class analysis (LCA) was used to identify the distinct clusters of SDoH. Inverse probability weighting (IPW) was employed to account for confounding and potential selection bias. Associations were analyzed using generalized linear model with log link and Poisson distribution, and then weighted risk ratio (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported.

Setting and Participants

Data from 1422 WLWH recruited at time‐point 1 of the Canadian HIV Women's Sexual and Reproductive Health Cohort Study (CHIWOS, 2013–15), with 1252 participants at 18 months follow‐up (time‐point 2).

Measurements

Drug use was defined as use of illicit/non‐prescribed opioids/stimulants in the past 6 months. SDoH indicators included: race discrimination, gender discrimination, HIV stigma, social support, access to care, food security, income level, employment status, education, housing status and histories of recent sex work and incarceration.

Findings

LCA identified four SDoH classes: no/least SDoH adversities (6.6%), discrimination/stigma (17.7%), economic hardship (30.8%) and most SDoH adversities (45.0%). Drug use was reported by 17.5% and 17.2% at time‐points 1 and 2, respectively. WLWH with no/least SDoH adversities were less likely to report drug use than those in economic hardship class (weighted RR = 0.13; 95% CIs = 0.03, 0.63), discrimination/stigma class (weighted RR = 0.15; 95% CIs = 0.03, 0.78), and most SDoH adversities class (weighted RR = 0.13; 95% CIs = 0.03, 0.58).

Conclusions

Social determinants of health vulnerabilities are associated with greater likelihood of drug use, underscoring the significance of addressing interlinked social determinants and drug use through the course of HIV care and treatment.
Anatomical variation of habitat‐related changes in scapular morphology
Authors: Matsuo Taiki , Morita Fumio , Tani Daisuke , Nakamura Hitomi , Higurashi Yasuo , Ohgi Junji , Luziga Claudius , Wada Naomi
Published: January 2019

The mammalian forelimb is adapted to different functions including postural, locomotor, feeding, exploratory, grooming and defence. Comparative studies on morphology of the mammalian scapula have been performed in an attempt to establish the functional differences in the use of the forelimb. In this study, a total of 102 scapulae collected from 66 species of animals, representatives of all major taxa from rodents, sirenians, marsupials, pilosa, cetaceans, carnivores, ungulates, primates and apes, were analysed. Parameters measured included scapular length, width, position, thickness, area, angles and index. Structures included supraspinous and infraspinous fossae, scapular spine, glenoid cavity, acromium and coracoid processes. Images were taken using computed tomographic (CT) scanning technology (CT‐Aquarium, Toshiba and micro CT‐LaTheta, Hotachi, Japan), and measurement values were acquired and processed using Avizo computer software and CanvasTM 11 ACD systems. Statistical analysis was performed using Microsoft Excel 2013. Results obtained showed that there were differences in morphological characteristics of scapula between mammals with arboreal locomotion and living in forest and mountainous areas and those with leaping and terrestrial locomotion living in open habitat or savannah. Differences were seen in the ratio of maximum length and maximum width, the orientation of scapular spine and the horizontal length of acromion and coracoid processes. The cause for the statistical grouping of the animals and the way the scapular shape covaries with habitat and to the type of locomotion and speed are discussed in detail.
Project to improve storage, access and incorporation of advance care plans in a regional Australian hospital
Authors: Auret Kirsten , Sinclair Craig , Wilkinson Anne , Thomas Jill , Price Dot
Published: January 2019

Problem

Despite acknowledged benefits, the impact of advance care planning on usual care is inconsistent.

Design

Quality improvement study.

Setting

A Western Australian regional hospital.

Key measures for improvement

This project aimed to create a system for storing, accessing and incorporating advance care planning documents in clinical care.

Strategies for change

Interventions over 18 months addressed four areas: medical records processes for receiving and processing advance care planning documents; information technology solutions for electronic storage and alerts; clerical staff duties in regards advance care planning documents; and clinician education.

Effects of change

There was a 12‐fold increase in advance care planning documents stored electronically and 100% of audited notes had correct filing of advance care planning documents with an alert in place at follow‐up audit. Clinician recognition of the presence of an advance care planning document improved. Detailed examples of interventions are described.

Lessons learnt

Repeated exposure to different forms of advance care planning education, in conjunction with simple but effective system changes can make a difference in changing established hospital practice. Final impact of these changes on end‐of‐life care requires further audit.
Establishment and effects of allograft and synthetic bone graft substitute treatment of a critical size metaphyseal bone defect model in the sheep femur
Authors: Hettwer Werner , Horstmann Peter F. , Bischoff Sabine , Güllmar Daniel , Reichenbach Jürgen R. , Poh Patrina S. P. , van Griensven Martijn , Gras Florian , Diefenbeck Michael
Published: January 2019

Assessment of bone graft material efficacy is difficult in humans, since invasive methods like staged CT scans or biopsies are ethically unjustifiable. Therefore, we developed a novel large animal model for the verification of a potential transformation of synthetic bone graft substitutes into vital bone. The model combines multiple imaging methods with corresponding histology in standardized critical sized cancellous bone defect. Cylindrical bone voids (10 ml) were created in the medial femoral condyles of both hind legs (first surgery at right hind leg, second surgery 3 months later at left hind leg) in three merino‐wool sheep and either (i) left empty, filled with (ii) cancellous allograft bone or (iii) a synthetic, gentamicin eluting bone graft substitute. All samples were analysed with radiographs, MRI, μCT, DEXA and histology after sacrifice at 6 months. Unfilled defects only showed ingrowth of fibrous tissue, whereas good integration of the cancellous graft was seen in the allograft group. The bone graft substitute showed centripetal biodegradation and new trabecular bone formation in the periphery of the void as early as 3 months. μCT gave excellent insight into the structural changes within the defects, particularly progressive allograft incorporation and the bone graft substitute biodegradation process. MRI completed the picture by clearly visualizing soft tissue ingrowth into unfilled bone voids and presence of fluid collections. Histology was essential for verification of trabecular bone and osteoid formation. Conventional radiographs and DEXA could not differentiate details of the ongoing transformation process. This model appears well suited for detailed in vivo and ex vivo evaluation of bone graft substitute behaviour within large bone defects.
On the Experience of a Melancholic Gaze
Authors: Bainbridge Caroline
Published: January 2019

This article focuses on Lars von Trier's 2011 film, Melancholia, described as ‘a beautiful film about the end of the world’ and interlocking personal and global tragedy. Drawing directly on her personal emotional response to the film, and referring to her profound incapacity to talk about it for many years after an initial encounter with it, the author turns to a range of object relations psychoanalytic thinkers to consider what such experience has to say about lived emotional relationships to cinema, and its role in shaping and articulating psychological, and affective states. The article touches on debates about the cinematic gaze, and the role of film as a psychological object, and considers whether film might be seen as offering a form of therapeutic encounter for viewers.
Characterization of sensitization to furry animal allergen components in an adult population
Authors: Suzuki Shintaro , Nwaru Bright I. , Ekerljung Linda , Sjölander Sigrid , Mincheva Roxana , Rönmark Erik P. , Rönmark Eva , Lundbäck Bo , Borres Magnus P. , Lötvall Jan
Published: January 2019

Background

There are paucity of data on sensitization to furry animal allergen components in adults. Furry animals are major sensitizers and contributors to asthma burden in northern Europe and North America.

Objective

To characterize sensitization patterns to furry animal allergen components in Swedish adults.

Methods

Based on the West Sweden Asthma Study, a random population (n = 1103) and an asthma sample (n = 769) were tested for allergen sensitization using Phadiatop®. Those with IgE ≥ 0.35 kUA/L were tested for cat (Fel d 1, 2, and 4), dog (Can f 1, 2, 3, and 5), and horse (Equ c 1) allergen component sensitization. We defined allergen component poly‐sensitization patterns, identified data‐driven sensitization clusters, described component sensitization overlaps, and assessed determinants of sensitization patterns.

Results

The prevalence of allergen component sensitization ranged from 0.8% for Fel d 2 and Can f 3 to 8.9% for Fel d 1. The most common dog component was Can f 5 (3.6%); 2.1% were sensitized to Equ c 1. Those sensitized to Fel d 2 and Fel d 4 were commonly sensitized to Fel d 1. The most common dog component overlap was between Can f 1/Can f 2 and Can f 5. Mono‐sensitization was 5.6%, double sensitization 1.5% and poly‐sensitization 2.1%. Sensitization was always higher in the asthma than in the random sample. Three sensitization clusters were derived, namely non‐sensitized (90% in random vs 66% in asthma sample); Fel d 1‐driven sensitized (7% vs 19%); and multi‐sensitized (3% vs 15%). Key determinants of sensitization were gender, age, raised on a farm, family history of allergy or asthma, smoking, and occupational exposure to dust or fumes.

Conclusions & Clinical Relevance

Fel d 1 and Can f 5 are the most common cat and dog components sensitization in this adult Swedish population. Mono‐sensitization is more common than poly‐sensitization. This detailed characterization highlights the current distribution of furry animal allergen components in Swedish adults, and their impact on clinical outcomes of asthma will be further explored.
Exploring immunomodulation by endocrine changes in Lady Windermere syndrome
Authors: Holt M R , Miles J J , Inder W J , Thomson R M
Published: January 2019

Lung disease due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) occurs with disproportionate frequency in postmenopausal women with a unique phenotype and without clinically apparent predisposing factors. Dubbed ‘Lady Windermere syndrome’, the phenotype includes low body mass index (BMI), tall stature and higher than normal prevalence of scoliosis, pectus excavatum and mitral valve prolapse. Although the pathomechanism for susceptibility to NTM lung disease in these patients remains uncertain, it is likely to be multi-factorial. A role for the immunomodulatory consequences of oestrogen deficiency and altered adipokine production has been postulated. Altered levels of adipokines and dehydroepiandrosterone have been demonstrated in patients with NTM lung disease. Case reports of NTM lung disease in patients with hypopituitarism support the possibility that altered endocrine function influences disease susceptibility. This paper catalogues the evidence for immunomodulatory consequences of predicted endocrine changes in Lady Windermere syndrome, with emphasis on the immune response to NTM. Collectively, the data warrant further exploration of an endocrine link to disease susceptibility in Lady Windermere syndrome.
LSMAT Least Squares Medial Axis Transform
Authors: Rebain Daniel , Angles Baptiste , Valentin Julien , Vining Nicholas , Peethambaran Jiju , Izadi Shahram , Tagliasacchi Andrea
Published: January 2019

The medial axis transform has applications in numerous fields including visualization, computer graphics, and computer vision. Unfortunately, traditional medial axis transformations are usually brittle in the presence of outliers, perturbations and/or noise along the boundary of objects. To overcome this limitation, we introduce a new formulation of the medial axis transform which is naturally robust in the presence of these artefacts. Unlike previous work which has approached the medial axis from a computational geometry angle, we consider it from a numerical optimization perspective. In this work, we follow the definition of the medial axis transform as ‘the set of maximally inscribed spheres’. We show how this definition can be formulated as a least squares relaxation where the transform is obtained by minimizing a continuous optimization problem. The proposed approach is inherently parallelizable by performing independent optimization of each sphere using Gauss–Newton, and its least‐squares form allows it to be significantly more robust compared to traditional computational geometry approaches. Extensive experiments on 2D and 3D objects demonstrate that our method provides superior results to the state of the art on both synthetic and real‐data.
Motivating landowners to recruit neighbors for private land conservation
Authors: Niemiec R. M. , Willer R. , Ardoin N. M. , Brewer F. K.
Published: January 2019

Encouraging motivated landowners to not only engage in conservation action on their own property but also to recruit others may enhance effectiveness of conservation on private lands. Landowners may only engage in such recruitment if they believe their neighbors care about the conservation issue, will positively respond to their conservation efforts, and are likely to take action for the conservation cause. We designed a series of microinterventions that can be added to community meetings to change these beliefs to encourage landowner engagement in recruitment of others. The microinterventions included neighbor discussion, public commitment making, collective goal setting, and increased observability of contributions to the conservation cause. In a field experiment, we tested whether adding microinterventions to traditional knowledge‐transfer outreach meetings changed those beliefs so as to encourage landowners in Hawaii to recruit their neighbors for private lands conservation. We delivered a traditional outreach meeting about managing the invasive little fire ant (Wasmannia auropunctata) to 5 communities and a traditional outreach approach with added microinterventions to 5 other communities. Analysis of pre‐ and post‐surveys of residents showed that compared with the traditional conservation outreach approach, the microinterventions altered a subset of beliefs that landowners had about others. These microinterventions motivated reputationally minded landowners to recruit and coordinate with other residents to control the invasive fire ant across property boundaries. Our results suggest integration of these microinterventions into existing outreach approaches will encourage some landowners to facilitate collective conservation action across property boundaries.
Antibiotic prophylaxis for ureteral stent removal after kidney transplantation
Authors: Lee Jennifer H. , Muthukumar Thangamani , Kim Jim , Aull Meredith J. , Watkins Anthony , Kapur Sandip , Hartono Choli
Published: January 2019

There are no guidelines for antibiotic prophylaxis for ureteral stent removal after kidney transplantation. We reviewed the charts of 277 adult kidney transplant recipients with ureteral stents transplanted at our center between September 2014 and December 2015 and investigated whether antibiotic prophylaxis for stent removal was associated with reduced incidence of urinary tract infections (UTI). We defined UTI as a urine culture ≥104 CFU/mL of bacterial isolates irrespective of symptoms. Primary outcome was the incidence of UTI within four weeks of stent removal. Among the 277 recipients, 199 (72%) were on sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SMZ/TMP) as Pneumocystis jirovecii prophylaxis. At the time of ureteral stent removal, 56 recipients (20%) received additional antibiotic prophylaxis (ABX+) and 221 (80%) did not (ABX‐). The difference in the incidence of UTI in the ABX(+) group (16%) and ABX(−) group (19%) was not statistically significant (P = 0.85). Variables independently associated with the development of UTI were recipient age (odds ratio [OR] 1.04, [95% confidence interval 1.01‐1.07]) and UTI while stents were in situ (OR 3.9 [2.00‐7.62]). Use of SMZ/TMP was protective (OR 0.35 [0.18‐0.7]). Our study does not show a statistically significant benefit for additional antibiotic prophylaxis for ureteral stent removal. Antibiotic prophylaxis may be beneficial for recipients not on SMZ/TMP at the time of stent removal.
Gestational diabetes and adiposity are independent risk factors for perinatal outcomes: a population based cohort study in Sweden
Authors: Hildén K. , Hanson U. , Persson M. , Magnuson A. , Simmons D. , Fadl H.
Published: January 2019

Aims

To evaluate the interaction effects of gestational diabetes (GDM) with obesity on perinatal outcomes.

Methods

A population‐based cohort study in Sweden excluding women without pre‐gestational diabetes with a singleton birth between 1998 and 2012. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the potential independent associations of GDM and BMI with adverse perinatal outcomes as well as their interactions. Main outcome measures were malformations, stillbirths, perinatal mortality, low Apgar score, fetal distress, prematurity and Erb's palsy.

Results

Some 1,294,006 women were included, with a GDM prevalence of 1% (n = 14,833). The rate of overweight/obesity was 67.7% in the GDM‐group and 36.1% in the non‐GDM‐group. No significant interaction existed. Offspring of women with GDM had significantly increased risk of malformations, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.16 (95% confidence intervals 1.06–1.26), prematurity, aOR 1.86 (1.76–1. 98), low Apgar score, aOR 1.36 (1.10–1.70), fetal distress, aOR 1.09 (1.02–1.16) and Erb's palsy aOR 2.26 (1.79–2.86). No risk for stillbirth or perinatal mortality was seen. Offspring of overweight (BMI 25–29.9 kg/m2), obese (BMI 30–34.9 kg/m2) and severely obese women (BMI ≥ 35.0 kg/m2) had significantly increased risks of all outcomes including stillbirth 1.51 (1.40–1.62) to 2.85 (2.52–3.22) and perinatal mortality 1.49 (1.40–1.59) to 2.83 (2.54–3.15).

Conclusions

There is no interaction effect between GDM and BMI for the studied outcomes. Higher BMI and GDM are major independent risk factors for most serious adverse perinatal outcomes. More effective pre‐pregnancy and antenatal interventions are required to prevent serious adverse pregnancy outcomes among women with either GDM or high BMI.
Association between HbA1c and the development of cystic fibrosis‐related diabetes
Authors: Choudhury M. , Taylor P. , Morgan P. H. , Duckers J. , Lau D. , George L. , Ketchell R. I. , Wong F. S.
Published: January 2019

Aims

To examine HbA1c as a predictor of risk for future development of cystic fibrosis‐related diabetes and to assess the association with the development of retinopathy in people with cystic fibrosis‐related diabetes.

Methods

A 7‐year retrospective longitudinal study was conducted in 50 adults with cystic fibrosis, comparing oral glucose tolerance test results with HbA1c values in predicting the development of cystic fibrosis‐related diabetes. Retinal screening data were also compared with HbA1c measurements to assess microvascular outcome.

Results

An HbA1c value ≥37 mmol/mol (5.5%; hazard ratio 3.49, CI 1.5–8.1) was significantly associated with the development of dysglycaemia, as defined by the oral glucose tolerance test over a 7‐year period. Severity of diabetic retinopathy was associated with a higher HbA1c and longer duration of cystic fibrosis‐related diabetes.

Conclusion

There is a link between HbA1c level and the future development of dysglycaemia in cystic fibrosis based on oral glucose tolerance test, as well as microvascular outcomes. Although current guidance does not advocate the use of HbA1c as a diagnostic tool in cystic fibrosis‐related diabetes, it may be of clinical use in determining individuals at risk of future development of cystic fibrosis‐related diabetes.
Understanding the July 2016 Military Coup: The Contemporary Security Dilemma in Turkey
Authors: Kardas Tuncay , Balci Ali
Published: January 2019

This study explores the link between religious identity and conflict in contemporary Turkey by examining the dramatic reversals in the relations between the country’s two prominent Islamic social forces, the ruling party AKP and the Gülen Organization. It shows how a particular trajectory of power and identity between the two religious forces transformed into a brutal security competition in the Turkish society and polity. It puts the analytical foci on the following puzzle: how did the Gülen community — once a confidential ally of AKP — turn into a coup plotter in the Turkish military to bring down the elected government? In order to explore the puzzle, the study offers significant departures from the standard approaches to religious identity and conflict by employing a distinct concept — the inter‐societal security dilemma.
Feral horse impacts on threatened plants and animals in sub‐alpine and montane environments in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Cherubin Rebecca C. , Venn Susanna E. , Driscoll Don A. , Doherty Tim S. , Ritchie Euan G.
Published: January 2019

Feral herbivores are a major driver of biodiversity loss globally and can alter the structure, composition and functioning of ecosystems. The direct impacts of feral herbivores on plant communities are well studied, but the direct and indirect effect they have on wildlife is not well understood. In Victoria (south‐eastern Australia), a large feral Horse (Equus caballus) population coincides with highly sensitive and nationally endangered Alpine Sphagnum Bogs and Associated Fens communities, and several threatened animal species. We assessed the impact of feral horses on this ecological community and the Alpine Water Skink (Eulamprus kosciuskoi) and the Broad‐toothed Rat (Mastacomys fuscus) at 20 sites with varying levels of horse disturbance. We used scat counts to determine an index of feral horse abundance and quantified impacts associated with their presence in the landscape. Active searches were used for Alpine Water Skink and scat and runway surveys for Broad‐toothed Rat. We also measured the vegetation structure and the abundance of different vegetation types (life forms). Our results suggest that feral horses are associated with vegetation types and characteristics that negatively influence the presence or abundance of Alpine Water Skink and Broad‐toothed Rat. Sites with high horse activity had more low‐growing forbs, and the abundance of Alpine Water Skink was negatively related to this vegetation type. Grasses, sedges, rushes and shrubs were also less dense and lower in height in high horse activity sites, and Broad‐toothed Rat was less likely to be present in areas with these habitat attributes. We recommend that feral horses are controlled to protect these threatened vertebrate species and their Sphagnum bog habitat.
Impacts of feral horses and deer on an endangered woodland of Kosciuszko National Park
Authors: Ward‐Jones Jessica , Pulsford Ian , Thackway Richard , Bishwokarma Dipak , Freudenberger David
Published: January 2019

In recent years, the impacts of rapidly increasing populations of feral horses and deer on the vegetation and stability of soils have become highly visible and widespread in Kosciuszko National Park. We investigated these impacts in the White Cypress Pine (Callitris glaucophylla Joy Thomps. & L.A.S. Johnson) – White Box (Eucalyptus albens Benth) woodlands of the lower Snowy River valley. This woodland is a component of the White Box‐Yellow Box‐Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grasslands complex that is nationally listed as a critically endangered ecological community. To investigate the severity of the impacts of feral horse (Equus caballus) and deer (Dama dama and Rusa unicolor) in the valley in 2013 and 2017/18, we surveyed fenced exclosures and paired grazed plots that were first established and surveyed in 1984 and re‐surveyed in 1987. Using LFA and VAST methodologies (not used in 1987), we compared the relative response of environmental variables in plots inside and outside the exclosures in an attempt to ascertain recent herbivore impacts. While there was no evidence of horses or deer from dung surveys in 1987, in 2018, 84% of the dung was from horses, 13% from deer, 1% from rabbits and 2% from macropods. Total herbivore dung density increased fourfold since the 1987 survey. On the understanding that all plots had the same starting condition in 1984 with respect to prior herbivory, we deduce that horses and deer are having significant ecological impacts. There was a far greater cover of understorey plants and the midstorey was denser and taller inside the exclosures. Outside the exclosures, the vegetation cover was far more sparse and soil erosion was active and extensive. The total number of invertebrates captured in small pitfall traps was nearly twice as many within the exclosures compared to the grazed plots. The dense even‐aged regrowth overstorey stands of White Cypress Pine, inside and outside the exclosures, have changed little in 34 years.
Adding carbon at a standard and a higher rate reduces soil nitrate in a grassy woodland
Authors: Morris Edward Charles , Gibson‐Roy Paul
Published: January 2019

C addition has been used successfully in grassland restoration in Australia, generally as sucrose at a standard rate of 840 g C/m2/year. Previous experiments that have varied the rate of soil carbon application to reduce nitrate to favour native over nitrophilous exotic species have found that the benefits can increase over the whole range used for some native species, but only appear above particular rates of C addition for others. A restoration trial of degraded grassy woodland on former agricultural land in western Sydney combined burning and slashing to remove biomass with C addition at the standard rate, and a high rate, to reduce soil nitrate on the burnt or slashed plots. Soil was sampled for extractable nitrate, ammonium and phosphorus, and plant root simulator probes were used to measure nitrate and ammonium supply. Both extractable nitrate and nitrate supply were periodically high in the controls, at which times C addition at the standard rate significantly reduced extractable nitrate with an even greater reduction at the high rate, and resulted in negative relationships between nitrate supply and added C. Effects of added C on extractable nitrate or nitrate supply were not detectable in non‐peak periods. Extractable ammonium and ammonium supply were either unaffected or increased with added C. Colwell phosphorus showed temporal variation but was unresponsive to added C. Of the three nutrients, only the decline in nitrate matched the decline in plant cover which was lowest in value at the high carbon rate (Morris & Gibson‐Roy 2018). In the absence of added C, extractable nitrate was less than control values in the fire and slash treatments 1 year after treatment application but was similar to control values at other times.