bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential profile of letrozole and exemestane on bone turnover markers in vinylcyclohexene diepoxide treated ovotoxic female mice
Authors: Kalam Abul , Talegaonkar Sushama , Vohora Divya
Published: June 2016

The third generation aromatase inhibitors are currently the drugs of choice for the treatment of early and advanced breast cancer in postmenopausal women. One of the significant limiting factor during therapy is their negative impact on bone health. In this study, we compared the effects of a nonsteroidal (letrozole) and a steroidal aromatase inhibitor (exemestane) on bone mineral density and markers of bone turnover including alkaline phosphatase (ALP), tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), hydroxyproline (HxP), receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B ligand (RANKL), sclerostin, and dickkopf‐1 (DKK‐1) in vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD)‐induced ovotoxic female mice. VCD administration for 15 days mimicked a postmenopausal state with reduced serum estradiol levels. Ovotoxicity was accompanied by reduced ALP, HxP and enhanced TRAP, sclerostin and DKK‐1 activity in femoral epiphysis and lumbar vertebrae of mice. While letrozole (1 mg/kg) administration for 1 month enhanced bone turnover in ovotoxic mice, exemestane (3.25 mg/kg) was devoid of such effects in both normal and ovotoxic mice. The latter, however, reduced ALP in femoral epiphysis of ovotoxic mice. Letrozole depleted estradiol levels in ovotoxic mice and enhanced RANKL activity while exemestane neither affected estradiol nor RANKL in both normal and ovotoxic mice, and enhanced sclerostin and DKK‐1 in femoral epiphysis only. The study indicates that the two aromatase inhibitors possesses differential profile in terms of their effects on bone and that exemestane could be a better option for the treatment of breast cancer in postmenopausal women at least in terms of its effects on bone.
Dammed rivers: impoundments facilitate fish invasions
Authors: Liew Jia H. , Tan Heok H. , Yeo Darren C. J.
Published: June 2016

River damming and other anthropogenic disturbances of natural habitats are among the main drivers of species loss through a range of direct and indirect effects. While the effects of river damming on aquatic species are relatively well studied, particularly with regard to their impacts on diadromous species and stenotopic riverine specialists, there is a paucity of studies quantifying the effects of dam construction on whole communities.

We conducted a global meta‐analysis focussed on fish communities, comparing species richness, abundance and proportion of alien species between dammed and undammed rivers. Both longitudinal and cross‐sectional studies were examined.

We found that construction of dams did not have a noticeable effect on fish richness and abundance, but the increase in proportion of alien species was significant (mean effect size of 0.62).

Our findings suggest that the conversion of lotic waterbodies into lentic habitats result in the extirpation of species unable to withstand a drastic change in environmental conditions, but the loss is compensated by colonising lacustrine or eurytopic species taking advantage of reduced competition and the availability of new niches specific to lentic habitats. However, when eurytopic natives are absent from waterbodies connected to the newly constructed reservoirs, vacant niches are instead exploited by alien species, resulting in impoverishment of native species richness although overall species richness may be maintained.
Climate‐driven vital rates do not always mean climate‐driven population
Authors: Tavecchia Giacomo , Tenan Simone , Pradel Roger , Igual José‐Manuel , Genovart Meritxell , Oro Daniel
Published: June 2016

Current climatic changes have increased the need to forecast population responses to climate variability. A common approach to address this question is through models that project current population state using the functional relationship between demographic rates and climatic variables. We argue that this approach can lead to erroneous conclusions when interpopulation dispersal is not considered. We found that immigration can release the population from climate‐driven trajectories even when local vital rates are climate dependent. We illustrated this using individual‐based data on a trans‐equatorial migratory seabird, the Scopoli's shearwater Calonectris diomedea, in which the variation of vital rates has been associated with large‐scale climatic indices. We compared the population annual growth rate λi, estimated using local climate‐driven parameters with ρi, a population growth rate directly estimated from individual information and that accounts for immigration. While λi varied as a function of climatic variables, reflecting the climate‐dependent parameters, ρi did not, indicating that dispersal decouples the relationship between population growth and climate variables from that between climatic variables and vital rates. Our results suggest caution when assessing demographic effects of climatic variability especially in open populations for very mobile organisms such as fish, marine mammals, bats, or birds. When a population model cannot be validated or it is not detailed enough, ignoring immigration might lead to misleading climate‐driven projections.
The Residency Discount for Rents in Germany and the Tenancy Law Reform Act 2001: Evidence from Quantile Regressions
Authors: Fitzenberger Bernd , Fuchs Benjamin
Published: June 2016

Most countries show a residency discount in rents for sitting tenants. In the wake of strong rent increases and housing shortages, Germany implemented a reform in 2001 to curtail rent increases. Based on linked housing-tenant data for Germany, this paper estimates panel OLS and quantile regressions of rents within tenancies. The results show that rents deflated by the CPI increase strongly from 1984 until the reform in 2001, and there is a reversal in the trend afterwards. Before the reform, there is a significant residence discount which decreases in absolute value with tenure. The reform reduces rents, in particular for expensive apartments and for new leases. There is no residency discount after the reform.
What constitutes an Arabian Helicobacter pylori? Lessons from comparative genomics
Authors: Kumar Narender , Albert M. John , Al Abkal Hanan , Siddique Iqbal , Ahmed Niyaz
Published: June 2016

Background

Helicobacter pylori, the human gastric pathogen, causes a variety of gastric diseases ranging from mild gastritis to gastric cancer. While the studies on H. pylori are dominated by those based on either East Asian or Western strains, information regarding H. pylori strains prevalent in the Middle East remains scarce. Therefore, we carried out whole‐genome sequencing and comparative analysis of three H. pylori strains isolated from three native Arab, Kuwaiti patients.

Materials and Methods

H. pylori strains were sequenced using Illumina platform. The sequence reads were filtered and draft genomes were assembled and annotated. Various pathogenicity‐associated regions and phages present within the genomes were identified. Phylogenetic analysis was carried out to determine the genetic relatedness of Kuwaiti strains to various lineages of H. pylori. The core genome content and virulence‐related genes were analyzed to assess the pathogenic potential.

Results

The three genomes clustered along with HpEurope strains in the phylogenetic tree comprising various H. pylori lineages. A total of 1187 genes spread among various functional classes were identified in the core genome analysis. The three genomes possessed a complete cagPAI and also retained most of the known outer membrane proteins as well as virulence‐related genes. The cagA gene in all three strains consisted of an AB‐C type EPIYA motif.

Conclusions

The comparative genomic analysis of Kuwaiti H. pylori strains revealed a European ancestry and a high pathogenic potential.
Reductions in all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality among HIV‐infected individuals receiving antiretroviral therapy in British Columbia, Canada: 2001–2012
Authors: Cheung CC , Ding E , Sereda P , Yip B , Lourenco L , Barrios R , Montaner JSG , Hogg RS , Lima V , Moore DM
Published: June 2016

Objectives

Since 2006, the British Columbia HIV/AIDS Drug Treatment Program (DTP) has expanded enrolment and dramatically increased its number of participants. We examined the effect this expansion has had on the underlying cause of death in HIV‐infected individuals.

Methods

We analysed data from participants aged 18 years and older in the DTP to measure 2‐year mortality rates and causes of death from 2001 to 2012. We conducted tests of trend for all‐cause and cause‐specific mortality, and compared demographics and characteristics of individuals. Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the risk of death.

Results

A total of 8185 participants received antiretroviral therapy (ART) during the study period. Mortality declined from 3.88 per 100 person‐years (PY) in 2001‐2002 to 2.15 per 100 PY in 2011‐2012 (P = 0.02). There were significant decreases in HIV‐related deaths (2.34 to 0.56 per 100 PY; P = 0.02) and deaths attributable to chronic liver disease (0.20 to 0.09 per 100 PY; P = 0.01), cardiovascular disease (0.24 to 0.05 per 100 PY; P = 0.03) and suicides (0.47 to 0 per 100 PY; P = 0.003). Multivariate models, adjusted for age, gender, history of injecting drug use, AIDS diagnoses and baseline CD4 cell counts, demonstrated that initiation of ART in all time periods after 2001‐2002 was independently associated with reduced mortality (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

We observed declines in HIV‐related mortality and certain non‐HIV‐related causes of death among participants in the BC DTP from 2001 to 2012. These findings suggest that there may be broader benefits to the increasingly liberal HIV treatment guidelines, including reductions in death caused by cardiovascular disease and chronic liver disease.
Expression of FOXM1 and related proteins in breast cancer molecular subtypes
Authors: Lee Jeong‐Ju , Lee Hee Jin , Son Byung‐Ho , Kim Sung‐Bae , Ahn Jin‐Hee , Ahn Seung Do , Cho Eun Yoon , Gong Gyungyub
Published: June 2016

Forkhead box (FOX) proteins constitute an extended family of transcriptional regulators. FOXM1 is ubiquitously expressed in cells undergoing proliferation, and overexpression of FOXM1 is associated with poor prognosis in various malignant tumours. FOXM1 and FOXO3a are often transcriptionally antagonistic. FOXO3a plays a critical tumour‐suppressive role in breast cancer. FOXO activity is modulated by its acetylation status, which is regulated by class III histone deacetylases (sirtuins; also known as SIRTs). This study evaluated the role of FOX proteins and their regulators in each molecular subtype of breast cancer. Immunohistochemical expressions of FOXM1, FOXO3a, SIRT1 and SIRT6 were evaluated in tissue microarray blocks containing 688 consecutive breast cancer samples. Mean expression levels were used to categorize tumours according to the expression of each protein (high or low). High expression of FOXM1 was significantly correlated with high SIRT1 and SIRT6 expression, higher histologic grade and triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC). High expression of nuclear FOXO3a and nuclear SIRT1 was correlated with a lower histologic grade and the hormone receptor‐positive/HER2‐negative subtype. In survival analysis, FOXM1 was an independent adverse prognostic factor for disease‐free and overall survival in the hormone receptor‐positive/HER2‐negative subtype but not in the HER2‐positive subtype or TNBC. In conclusion, although high FOXM1 expression was noted in the TNBC subtype, it had no prognostic impact in TNBC. However, it had prognostic significance in the hormone receptor‐positive/HER2‐negative subtype.
Identification of a new HLA‐G allele, HLA‐G*01:19, by cloning and phasing
Authors: Wang W. Y. , Tian W.
Published: June 2016

A new HLA‐G allelic variant, HLA‐G*01:19, was identified in a southern Chinese Han population by polymerase chain reaction–sequence‐based typing (PCR‐SBT), cloning and phasing. HLA‐G*01:19 differs from HLA‐G*01:04:01 by a nonsynonymous cytosine at position 99 in exon 2, resulting in amino acid change from valine to leucine at codon 34 of the mature HLA‐G molecule.
Multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging and active surveillance: How to better select insignificant prostate cancer?
Authors: Porpiglia Francesco , Cantiello Francesco , De Luca Stefano , De Pascale Agostino , Manfredi Matteo , Mele Fabrizio , Bollito Enrico , Cirillo Stefano , Damiano Rocco , Russo Filippo
Published: June 2016

Objectives

To evaluate the role of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging in improving the predictive accuracy of the Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance and Epstein criteria for active surveillance in prostate cancer.

Methods

A retrospective study was carried out with 126 prostate cancer patients treated with robot‐assisted radical prostatectomy, but eligible for active surveillance according to the Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance criteria; 63 patients were also eligible according to the Epstein criteria. All patients underwent preoperative multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging, after at least 6 weeks from biopsy. The images from the multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging were assessed, and diagrams showing prostate sextants were used to designate regions of abnormalities within the prostate. Findings in the prostate were assigned to one of five categories according the Prostate Imaging‐Reporting and Data System guidelines (v1.0), and considered positive for prostate cancer if the final Prostate Imaging‐Reporting and Data System guidelines were >3 and negative if ≤3. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was carried out to evaluate the gain in accuracy of the Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance and Epstein criteria when added to multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. Decision curve analysis was carried out to identify the net benefit of each model.

Results

The inclusion of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging to the Epstein criteria and the Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance multivariate model significantly increased their accuracy in predicting pathologically‐confirmed insignificant prostate cancer by 7% and 5%, respectively. At the decision curve analysis evaluation, the model including the Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance criteria and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging improved the clinical risk prediction over the other models.

Conclusions

The present findings suggest that multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging is able to increase the predictive accuracy of Prostate Cancer Research International: Active Surveillance and Epstein criteria to identify prostate cancer patients eligible for active surveillance.
Macrophages transfer antigens to dendritic cells by releasing exosomes containing dead‐cell‐associated antigens partially through a ceramide‐dependent pathway to enhance CD4+ T‐cell responses
Authors: Xu Yingping , Liu Yi , Yang Chunqing , Kang Li , Wang Meixiang , Hu Jingxia , He Hao , Song Wengang , Tang Hua
Published: June 2016

Defects in rapid clearance of apoptotic cells lead to an accumulation of dead cells (late apoptotic or secondary necrotic cells), which results in an aberrant immune response. However, little is known about whether and how macrophages (Mφs) cooperate with dendritic cells (DCs) in the presentation of dead‐cell‐associated antigens in this process. By transferring high numbers of dead cells to mimic a failure of apoptotic cell clearance in vivo, we found that Mφs and neutrophils were the predominant phagocytes in the uptake of dead cells in the spleen. Moreover, both Mφs and DCs were required for an optimal CD4+ T‐cell response triggered by dead‐cell‐associated antigens. Importantly, although Mφs alone had a poor capacity for antigen presentation, they could transfer phagocytosed antigens to DCs for potent antigen presentation to enhance T‐cell responses. Finally, we found that exosomes released from Mφs acted as a transmitter to convey antigens to DCs partially in a ceramide‐dependent manner, since treatment with the neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor GW4869 and spiroepoxide resulted in a significant reduction of T‐cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. These findings point to a novel pathway of cross‐talk between Mφs and DCs, which will be helpful to explain possible mechanisms for autoimmune diseases characterized by increased rates of apoptosis.
MicroRNAs regulate T‐cell production of interleukin‐9 and identify hypoxia‐inducible factor‐2α as an important regulator of T helper 9 and regulatory T‐cell differentiation
Authors: Singh Yogesh , Garden Oliver A. , Lang Florian , Cobb Bradley S.
Published: June 2016

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate many aspects of helper T cell (Th) development and function. Here we found that they are required for the suppression of interleukin‐9 (IL‐9) expression in Th9 cells and other Th subsets. Two highly related miRNAs (miR‐15b and miR‐16) that we previously found to play an important role in regulatory T (Treg) cell differentiation were capable of suppressing IL‐9 expression when they were over‐expressed in Th9 cells. We used these miRNAs as tools to identify novel regulators of IL‐9 expression and found that they could regulate the expression of Epas1, which encodes hypoxia‐inducible factor (HIF)‐2α. HIF proteins regulate metabolic pathway usage that is important in determining appropriate Th differentiation. The related protein, HIF‐1α enhances Th17 differentiation and inhibits Treg cell differentiation. Here we found that HIF‐2α was required for IL‐9 expression in Th9 cells, but its expression was not sufficient in other Th subsets. Furthermore, HIF‐2α suppressed Treg cell differentiation like HIF‐1α, demonstrating both similar and distinct roles of the HIF proteins in Th differentiation and adding a further dimension to their function. Ironically, even though miR‐15b and miR‐16 suppressed HIF‐2α expression in Treg cells, inhibiting their function in Treg cells did not lead to an increase in IL‐9 expression. Therefore, the physiologically relevant miRNAs that regulate IL‐9 expression in Treg cells and other subsets remain unknown. Nevertheless, the analysis of miR‐15b and miR‐16 function led to the discovery of the importance of HIF‐2α so this work demonstrated the utility of studying miRNA function to identify novel regulatory pathways in helper T‐cell development.
Characteristics of IT artifacts: a systems thinking‐based framework for delineating and theorizing IT artifacts
Authors: Matook Sabine , Brown Susan A.
Published: June 2016

The information technology artifact (ITA) has been suggested as the core of information systems (IS) research, and the research community has been encouraged to deeply engage with the ITA. Various studies highlight, however, that the ITA continues to receive only limited attention and thus, little foundation exists for IS researchers to delineate and theorize about the ITAs studied. In this paper, we develop a framework that can be utilized as a language for articulating and theorizing the ITA in IS research. Our framework builds on the multi‐faceted theoretical paradigm of systems thinking from which we derive several concepts and appropriate them to the context at hand, resulting in a seven‐dimensional framework of characteristics for ITAs. In a literature survey of research on enterprise systems and enterprise resource planning systems in top IS journals, we show how ITA characteristics are currently included to present details of the relevant ITA instance and identify theoretical relationships between ITA characteristics and outcomes. We conclude the study by demonstrating the use of the ITA framework for delineating and theorizing the ITA in IS research.
β‐Blockers and Vascular Hemodynamics in Patients With Peripheral Arterial Disease
Authors: Schlager Oliver , Gajdosova Kovacicova Ludmila , Senn Oliver , Amann‐Vesti Beatrice , Wilkinson Ian B. , Jacomella Vincenzo , Husmann Marc
Published: June 2016

Aortic augmentation index (AIx) is a marker of central aortic pressure burden and is modulated by antihypertensive drugs. In patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) undergoing antihypertensive treatment, aortic pressures parameters, heart rate–adjusted augmentation index (AIx75), and unadjusted AIx were determined. The (aortic) systolic and diastolic blood pressure did not differ between PAD patients who were taking β‐blockers (n=61) and those who were not taking β‐blockers (n=80). In patients taking β‐blockers, augmentation pressure and pulse pressure were higher than in patients who did not take β‐blockers (augmentation pressure, P=.02; pulse pressure, P=.005). AIx75 was lower in PAD patients taking β‐blockers than in patients not taking β‐blockers (P=.04), while the AIx did not differ between PAD patients taking and not taking β‐blockers. The present study demonstrates that β‐blockers potentially affect markers of vascular hemodynamics in patients with PAD. Because these markers are surrogates of cardiovascular risk, further studies are warranted to clarify the impact of selective β‐blocker treatment on clinical outcome in patients with PAD.
Strong dominance of functional alleles over gene deletions in both intensely growing and deeply starved yeast cells
Authors: Marek A. , Korona R.
Published: June 2016

Previous studies with diploid yeast have shown that the deletion of one allele at a single locus typically has little impact on fitness under conditions promoting fast growth. Here, we confirm and quantify this finding. The strong dominance of functional over nonfunctional alleles is predicted by the metabolic control theory which assumes that the cell is a system of metabolic fluxes and that the total metabolic rate is equivalent to fitness. To test whether these requirements are critical, we tested dominance under conditions of long‐term starvation when metabolism is low and thus the metabolic activities of proteins are likely inadequate or imbalanced. More fundamentally, the central assumption of the model, that high metabolic rate translates into high fitness, appears implausible. Contrary to these conjectures, we found that the mean rate of survival of starving heterozygotes was affected only slightly more than was the mean rate of growth under good conditions. Under none of the two treatments the central prediction of the model, that fitness of heterozygous strains is higher for the enzymatic proteins than for nonenzymatic ones, was confirmed. Our data add to growing uncertainty whether the metabolic control theory is sufficient to explain the remarkable ubiquity of strong genetic dominance.
A brief history of topographical anatomy
Authors: Standring Susan
Published: June 2016

This brief history of topographical anatomy begins with Egyptian medical papyri and the works known collectively as the Greco‐Arabian canon, the time line then moves on to the excitement of discovery that characterised the Renaissance, the increasing regulatory and legislative frameworks introduced in the 18th and 19th centuries, and ends with a consideration of the impact of technology that epitomises the period from the late 19th century to the present day. This paper is based on a lecture I gave at the Winter Meeting of the Anatomical Society in Cambridge in December 2015, when I was awarded the Anatomical Society Medal.
Application effect of sterile normal saline ice for post‐partum hemorrhage at the time of cesarean delivery: A retrospective review
Authors: Cheng Wenjing , Wang Qiushi , Zhang Zhenyu
Published: June 2016

Aim

Post‐partum hemorrhage (PPH) is a common complication of cesarean sections (CS) and affects maternal and newborn health. We used a new method to control bleeding and compared its efficacy with conventional methods.

Methods

Eighty‐six women who experienced PPH with volume of bleeding over 1000 mL in CS between January 2008 and January 2012 were chosen as samples. Thirty‐three underwent the new method in which normal saline ice blocks are placed in the uterus, and 53 underwent the conventional method. We evaluated blood loss, volume of transfusion and complications.

Results

Patients who were treated with ice blocks had better hemostatic efficacy than those who underwent the conventional method (1450 ± 251.9 mL vs 1800 ± 278.9 mL; P < 0.001); they also had less blood transfusion (806.1 ± 242.3 mL vs 1222.6 ± 308.0 mL; P < 0.001), lower rate of hysterectomy and infection (3.03% vs 5.66%; P = 0.971; 0% vs 7.55%; P = 0.276), and shorter duration of hospital stay (5.3 ± 0.5 days vs 7.6 ± 3.0 days; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

PPH in CS can be treated with peeled sterile normal saline ice blocks, a simple and reliable method for stopping bleeding. Nonetheless, there needs to be a large randomized control trial for confirmation.
Effectiveness of medical self‐experience counseling in pregnant women after echocardiographic detection of a suspected fetal heart anomaly: A longitudinal study
Authors: Zhu Mei , Liang Hao , Feng Juan , Wang Zhengjun , Wang Wei , Zhou Yanhui
Published: June 2016

Aim

The purpose of this longitudinal study was to assess maternal psychological responses after echocardiographic detection of a suspected fetal heart anomaly and to evaluate a medical self‐experience counseling intervention in improving psychological responses.

Methods

A total of 751 women were referred to Shandong Provincial Hospital, Jinan during May 2014 and April 2015. To analyze the psychological impact on the mothers, the groups were divided into mild, intermediate and severe, according to heart defect severity. State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI‐II) questionnaires were distributed in three steps: first evaluation, after the diagnostic examination; second evaluation, two weeks after step one, both study and control groups underwent routine psychological counseling; third evaluation, two weeks after step two, study groups underwent self‐experience counseling and controls underwent routine counseling. Anxiety and depression scores and above clinical cut‐off percentages in the subgroups were calculated and compared.

Results

The severity of anxiety and depression was not significantly relieved with the alleviative type of suspicious heart abnormality. State‐STAI and BDI‐II scores and above clinical cut‐off percentages were statistically different between steps 2 and 3 in intermediate and mild mothers. Women in control groups did not exhibit obvious relief of anxiety and depression.

Conclusion

Women pregnant with fetuses with mild or intermediate fetal heart abnormalities presented heightened levels of depression and anxiety when compared with mothers pregnant with fetuses with severe heart disease. Medical self‐experience counseling played an important role in relieving anxiety and depression in these mothers.
Relationship between Fas and Fas Ligand gene polymorphisms and pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Masoumi Elham , Tavakkol‐Afshari Jalil , Nikpoor Amin Reza , Ghaffari‐Nazari Haniyeh , Tahaghoghi‐hajghorbani Sahar , Jalali Seyed Amir
Published: June 2016

Aim

In normal pregnancy, the Th1 subtype, responsible for the production of inflammatory cytokines, is reduced, and the Th2 subtype is increased to prohibit inflammation. In pre‐eclampsia, the Th1 cell population is increased; thus, subsequent inflammation and trophoblast destruction occur. Polymorphisms in the Fas and Fas Ligand (FasL) promoter regions can influence Fas and FasL expression and accused to increase of Th1 subtype.

Methods

DNA samples from 153 pregnant women with pre‐eclampsia and 140 controls were genotyped through polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism. A Fisher's exact test was used to compare the distribution of individual polymorphisms.

Results

Fas‐1377 AA, AG and GG genotypes were observed in 2.61%, 18.30% and 79.08% in the pre‐eclampsia group opposed to 0%, 27.14% and 72.85% in the control group (P = 0.037), respectively. Fas‐670 AA, AG and GG genotypes were observed in 37.9%, 41.8% and 20.3% of pre‐eclampsia patients compared with 33.6%, 50.7% and 15.7% in healthy pregnant women (P = 0.291), respectively. No statically significant differences in the FasL‐844 genotype were observed between the groups (P = 0.69).

Conclusion

The Fas‐1377G > A polymorphism is associated with a higher risk of pre‐eclampsia.
Two Tests for Ex Ante Moral Hazard in a Market for Automobile Insurance
Authors: Rowell David , Nghiem Son , Connelly Luke B
Published: June 2016

Empirically separating the phenomena of moral hazard and adverse selection in insurance markets has occupied researchers in this field for decades. Recently, the potential benefits of using survey data instead of claims data to control for the different dimensions of private information when testing for evidence of asymmetric information have been explored in the insurance literature. This article extends that approach to present two tests for ex ante moral hazard in a market for automobile insurance. In this article we specify (1) a recursive model and (2) an instrumental variables model to address endogeneity with respect to policy selection in cross‐sectional road traffic crash (RTC) survey data. We report a statistically significant ex ante moral hazard effect with both models. This result is then subjected to a falsification test, whereby the analysis is repeated in subsamples of at‐fault and not‐at‐fault RTCs. Our antitest produces no evidence of ex ante moral hazard in the sub‐sample of not‐at‐fault RTCs, in which the true moral hazard may reasonably be assumed to be zero, thus supporting the interpretation of the results of our two models. Our extension of the existing literature via these two specifications may have useful analogs in other insurance markets for which survey data are available.
Site fidelity, residency, and abundance of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiopssp.) in Adelaide's coastal waters, South Australia
Authors: Zanardo Nikki , Parra Guido J. , Möller Luciana M.
Published: June 2016

Little is known about the ecology and behavior of southern Australian bottlenose dolphins (Tursiopssp.). This hinders assessment of their conservation status and informed decision‐making concerning their management. We used boat‐based surveys and photo‐identification data to investigate site fidelity, residency patterns, and the abundance of southern Australian bottlenose dolphins in Adelaide's coastal waters. Sighting rates and site fidelity varied amongst individuals, and agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis led to the categorization of individuals into one of three groups: occasional visitors, seasonal residents, or year‐round residents. Lagged identification rates indicated that these dolphins used the study area regularly from year to year following a model of emigration and reimmigration. Abundance estimates obtained from multisample closed capture‐recapture models ranged from 95 individuals (SE± 45.20) in winter 2013 to 239 (SE± 54.91) in summer 2014. The varying levels of site fidelity and residency, and the relatively high number of dolphins found throughout the study area highlights the Adelaide metropolitan coast as an important habitat for bottlenose dolphins. As these dolphins also appear to spend considerable time outside the study area, future research, conservation, and management efforts on this population must take into account anthropogenic activities within Adelaide's coastal waters and their adjacencies.
Intraspecific phytochemical variation shapes community and population structure for specialist caterpillars
Authors: Glassmire Andrea E. , Jeffrey Christopher S. , Forister Matthew L. , Parchman Thomas L. , Nice Chris C. , Jahner Joshua P. , Wilson Joseph S. , Walla Thomas R. , Richards Lora A. , Smilanich Angela M. , Leonard Michael D. , Morrison Colin R. , Simbaña Wilmer , Salagaje Luis A. , Dodson Craig D. , Miller Jim S. , Tepe Eric J. , Villamarin‐Cortez Santiago , Dyer Lee A.
Published: June 2016

Chemically mediated plant–herbivore interactions contribute to the diversity of terrestrial communities and the diversification of plants and insects. While our understanding of the processes affecting community structure and evolutionary diversification has grown, few studies have investigated how trait variation shapes genetic and species diversity simultaneously in a tropical ecosystem.

We investigated secondary metabolite variation among subpopulations of a single plant species, Piper kelleyi (Piperaceae), using high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), to understand associations between plant phytochemistry and host‐specialized caterpillars in the genus Eois (Geometridae: Larentiinae) and associated parasitoid wasps and flies. In addition, we used a genotyping‐by‐sequencing approach to examine the genetic structure of one abundant caterpillar species, Eois encina, in relation to host phytochemical variation.

We found substantive concentration differences among three major secondary metabolites, and these differences in chemistry predicted caterpillar and parasitoid community structure among host plant populations. Furthermore, E. encina populations located at high elevations were genetically different from other populations. They fed on plants containing high concentrations of prenylated benzoic acid.

Thus, phytochemistry potentially shapes caterpillar and wasp community composition and geographic variation in species interactions, both of which can contribute to diversification of plants and insects.
Serum copeptin in children exposed to maltreatment
Authors: Coelho Roberta , Levandowski Mateus L. , Mansur Rodrigo B. , da Cunha Graccielle Rodrigues , Asevedo Elson , Zugman André , Salum Giovanni A. , Gadelha Ary , Pan Pedro M. , Rizzo Lucas B. , Manfro Gisele , Mari Jair J. , Rohde Luis A. , Miguel Eurípedes C. , Bressan Rodrigo A. , Brietzke Elisa , Grassi‐Oliveira Rodrigo
Published: June 2016

Aim

Childhood maltreatment (CM) has been related to a persistent reprograming of stress‐response. Copeptin is a marker of hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis activation; however, few studies have examined copeptin levels in children exposed to CM. The aim of this study was to compare serum copeptin levels in children reporting child abuse and/or neglect and children with no history of CM.

Methods

This study included 65 children with a positive history of moderate to severe CM, as reported by themselves and their parent(s) during a clinical interview, and 71 children with no history of CM as a comparison group. CM was considered moderate to severe based on the child‐reported frequency of being exposed to events related to sexual abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, emotional neglect, and/or physical neglect. Child psychopathology symptoms were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). We measured serum copeptin concentration using enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

Children exposed to CM exhibited higher levels of serum copeptin compared to children without CM when controlling for sex, age, and psychiatric morbidity. The CBCL total score, including internalizing and externalizing symptoms, was higher in children with CM. We found no correlation between copeptin and CBCL scores for internalizing symptoms and externalizing symptoms.

Conclusion

CM is associated with copeptin serum levels independently of age, sex, and symptom severity. Copeptin is a promising new biomarker for children with a history of abuse and/or neglect.
Conceptualizing Internet use disorders: Addiction or coping process?
Authors: Kardefelt‐Winther Daniel
Published: June 2016

This paper problematizes the tendency to study Internet use disorders from a perspective of addiction. It is argued that an addiction perspective, grounded in our understanding of substance use disorders, has not contributed much to an improved understanding of the antecedents and etiology of Internet use disorders. Despite this, researchers continue to frame Internet use disorders as an addiction, recently exemplified by the inclusion of Internet gaming disorder in the DSM‐5 research appendix as a behavioral addiction. This paper claims that the decision to use an addiction framework to study Internet use disorders has consequences for the way in which results are interpreted, which impacts the potential for theoretical and etiological contributions negatively. The paper argues that a perspective of addiction may not be the most useful approach because it causes a mismatch between theory and findings in empirical work: it is not uncommon to find that a study is positioned as a study of addiction, but presents findings more illustrative of coping behaviors. The paper draws on two examples from the literature to illustrate this mismatch and discusses how this hinders theoretical and etiological development. The question that is asked going forward is what alternative explanations we might identify by not exclusively adhering to an addiction framework for purposes of research. Recommendations are given for how to usefully approach the study of Internet use disorders outside a framework of addiction. It also discusses how scholars who still prefer a framework of addiction might strengthen their conceptual position to ensure improved contributions to etiology and theoretical development.
Separating Interviewer and Area Effects by using a Cross-classified Multilevel Logistic Model: Simulation Findings and Implications for Survey Designs
Authors: Vassallo Rebecca , Durrant Gabriele , Smith Peter
Published: June 2016

Cross-classified multilevel models deal with data pertaining to two different non-hierarchical classifications. It is unclear how much interpenetration is needed for a cross-classified multilevel model to work well and to estimate the two higher-level effects reliably. The paper investigates this question and the properties of cross-classified multilevel logistic models under various survey conditions. The effects of different membership allocation schemes, total sample sizes, group sizes, number of groups, overall rates of response and the variance partitioning coefficient on the properties of the estimators and the power of the Wald test are considered. The work is motivated by an application to separate area and interviewer effects on survey non-response which are often confounded. The results indicate that limited interviewer dispersion (around three areas per interviewer) provides sufficient interpenetration for good estimator properties. Further dispersion yields only very small or negligible gains in the properties. Interviewer dispersion also acts as a moderating factor on the effect of the other simulation factors (sample size, the ratio of interviewers to areas, the overall probability and the variance values) on the properties of the estimators and test statistics. The results also indicate that a higher number of interviewers for a set number of areas and a set total sample size improves these properties.
The Representation of the African American as Colonial Oppressed in Texts of the Soviet Interwar Years
Authors: CLARK KATERINA
Published: June 2016

The article provides an overview of the representation of the African American in Soviet publications, looking both at works by Soviet writers and at works by African Americans. It discusses an evolution in the representation of both Africans and African Americans in published texts from prerevolutionary exoticist conventions, as in Pierre Loti, or emphasis on their spirituality, as in Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin, to emphasizing their debased position and the class nature of their oppression. The article discusses the impact of developments in Soviet policies and ideology on this evolution, such as the “Black Belt” doctrine of the Comintern, and traces their impact in works by Claude McKay and Richard Wright, and also in the travelogues of Soviet visitors to the United States, such as Boris Pil'niak, and Il'ia Il'f and Evgeny Petrov.
The Pattersons: Expatriate and Native Son
Authors: SALYS RIMGAILA
Published: June 2016

This article is concerned with how two generations of an African‐American family, the father Lloyd Patterson and the son James Patterson, constructed lives in the Soviet Union of the Stalin and post‐Stalin eras. Lloyd Patterson's ideological and economic decision to settle in the USSR allowed him to develop his talents and fulfill his potential in a manner that was impossible in the United States of the 1930s. The better known James (little Jimmy of Grigorii Aleksandrov's Circus) negotiated identity successfully in three interrelated ways: through his cinematic myth; by the practice of Socialist Realism, both as a literary mode and in its ideological considerations during the late Soviet era; and in a multifaceted self‐identification with Russia's national poet, Aleksandr Pushkin.
Defect in ND2, COX2, ATP6 and COX3 mitochondrial genes as a risk factor for canine mammary tumour
Authors: Surdyka M. , Slaska B.
Published: June 2016

The aim of this study was to identify mutations in ND2, COX2, ATP6 and COX3 mitochondrial genes in canine mammary tumour, determine their association with the process of neoplastic transformation, and phenotypic traits of dogs. In total, 93 biological samples, including blood, normal and neoplastic tissue samples from 31 dogs with diagnosed malignant canine mammary tumours were analysed. DNA sequencing of genes as well as bioinformatics and statistical analyses were performed. A total of 28 polymorphic loci and 11 mutations were identified. One of the mutations was blood heteroplasmy and two of the mutations caused an amino acid change in p.N117S and p.A184T. For the first time, mutations in mitochondrial genes were detected in dogs with mammary tumours. A statistically significant association between the presence of mutations and the size and age of dogs was demonstrated. Some of these changes may imply that these are the hotspot mutations of canine mammary tumour.
AN IMPROVED PERTURBATION AND OBSERVATION BASED MAXIMUM POWER POINT TRACKING METHOD FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS
Authors: Mutlag Ammar Hussein , Mohamed Azah , Shareef Hussain
Published: June 2016

In photovoltaic (PV) system, maximum power tracking (MPPT) is crucial to improve the system performance. Irradiance and temperature are the two important parameters that affect MPPT. The conventional perturbation and observation (P&O) based MPPT algorithm does not accurately track the PV maximum power point. Therefore, this paper presents an improved P&O algorithm (Im-P&O) based on variable perturbation. The idea behind the Im-P&O algorithm is to produce variable step changes in the reference current/voltage for fast tracking of the PV maximum power point. The Im-P&O based MPPT is designed for the 25 SolarTIFSTF-120P6 PV panels, with a capacity of 3 kW peak. A complete PV system is modeled using the MATLAB/Simulink. Simulation results showed that the Im-P&O based MPPT achieved faster and accurate performance compared with the conventional P&O algorithm.
CHARGING MANAGEMENT PROTOCOL FOR NEAR FIELD COMMUNICATION CHARGING
Authors: Ling Ham Hock , Eteng Akaa Agbaeze , Leow Chee Yen , Abdul Rahim Sharul Kamal , Chew Beng Wah
Published: June 2016

The current multiplicity of mobile communication devices has provided an impetus for the research into new mechanisms to supplement battery charge. Wireless charging is a solution that serves to eliminate the cable requirements of typical battery charging implementations. Numerous wireless charging implementations are based on inductive coupling, similar to existing non-radiative short range communication systems. This study proposes incorporating a charge management protocol into the existing Near Field Communication Interface and Protocol-1 (NFCIP-1) specification to achieve NFC-enabled wireless charging. To this end, the original NFCIP-1 protocol has been modified through a time-sharing arrangement to support a charging task within the protocol cycle. Simulations of the modified protocol cycle were implemented using an appropriate battery model and charging algorithm. Numerical results show that the modified protocol is able to charge the target battery with minimum communication overhead.  Satisfactory performance is also observed for charging up to 2 target devices in a single session.
APPLICATION OF A HYBRID OF LEAST SQUARE SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINE AND ARTIFICIAL BEE COLONY FOR BUILDING LOAD FORECASTING
Authors: Mat Daut Mohammad Azhar , Hassan Mohammad Yusri , Abdullah Hayati , Abdul Rahman Hasimah , Abdullah Md Pauzi , Hussin Faridah
Published: June 2016

Accurate load forecasting is an important element for proper planning and management of electricity production. Although load forecasting has been an important area of research, methods for accurate load forecasting is still scarce in the literature. This paper presents a study on a hybrid load forecasting method that combines the Least Square Support Vector Machine (LSSVM) and Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) methods for building load forecasting. The performance of the LSSVM-ABC hybrid method was compared to the LSSVM method in building load forecasting problems and the results has shown that the hybrid method is able to substantially improve the load forecasting ability of the LSSVM method.
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A PID-BASED LUMINANCE CONTROL AND LIGHT SENSING USING SMOOTHING AVERAGING TECHNIQUE
Authors: Macorol Editha , Balinado Favis Joseph , M. Flores Leo , V. Pascual Ezekiel , M. Silva Christian , R. Torres Raymee Keenah , M. Valderama Janromer , Caldo Rionel Belen
Published: June 2016

Nowadays, lighting shares a large part in the global energy consumption, lighting consumption can be easily reduced with the use of efficient light sources. The most commonly used light source is the incandescent light bulb. As time passed by, Compact Fluorescent Lamp and Light Emitting Diode use became prevalent because of their advantages over the incandescent light. The researchers were able to develop and implement a PID controlled lighting system using Light Emitting Diode utilizing the smoothing-averaging technique in its sensors. Tests were done with the system with and without smoothing technique to identify the effect of the technique used. The system automatically varies its light intensity output depending on the light stimuli maintaining the luminance level of the laboratory based on standards.
EVALUATION OF ELECTROMAGNETICS RADIATION FOR STROKE PATIENTS AND NON-STROKE PARTICIPANTS ACCORDING TO BODY SEGMENTATION
Authors: Kadir R.S.S.A. , Hj Murat Zunairah , Taib M.N. , A. Jalil Siti Zura
Published: June 2016

This research evaluates the electromagnetic radiation (EMR) for the stroke patients and non-stroke patients according to body segmentation. The human body is divided into three segments: top, middle and bottom. The frequency in hertz is collected at 23 points around the human body namely left side, right side and chakra points from 199 subjects undergoing post-stroke treatment and 100 non-stroke participants. The EMR is captured using frequency detector equipped with a dipole antenna. The data is collected by taking the reading of the frequency 5 times at each point at the same location; hence, the average value is calculated. The statistical analysis of the EMR are examined using SPSS software and Microsoft excel is used to calculate the average frequency of the data. In conclusion, the findings significantly shows that stroke patients has lower frequency value of EMR for both right side and left side but has higher frequency for chakra system. This is true for all the three segments of the body. Furthermore, it is also  shown that there is no correlation between the left and the right side frequency for the stroke patients whereas the left-right correlation values are significantly high for the non-stroke participants. This observation justify that EMR from human body can contribute to early detection for stroke.