bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evolution of reduced post‐copulatory molecular interactions in Drosophila populations lacking sperm competition
Authors: Hollis B. , Houle D. , Kawecki T. J. 
Published: September 2015

AbstractIn many species with internal fertilization, molecules transferred in the male ejaculate trigger and interact with physiological changes in females. It is controversial to what extent these interactions between the sexes act synergistically to mediate the female switch to a reproductive state or instead reflect sexual antagonism evolved as a by product of sexual selection on males. To address this question, we eliminated sexual selection by enforcing monogamy in populations of Drosophila melanogaster for 65 generations and then measured the expression of male seminal fluid protein genes and genes involved in the female response to mating. In the absence of sperm competition, male and female reproductive interests are perfectly aligned and any antagonism should be reduced by natural selection. Consistent with this idea, males from monogamous populations showed reduced expression of seminal fluid protein genes, 16% less on average than in polygamous males. Further, we identified 428 genes that responded to mating in females. After mating, females with an evolutionary history of monogamy exhibited lower relative expression of genes that were up regulated in response to mating and higher expression of genes that were down‐regulated – in other words, their post‐mating transcriptome appeared more virgin‐like. Surprisingly, these genes showed a similar pattern even before mating, suggesting that monogamous females evolved to be less poised for mating and the accompanying receipt of male seminal fluid proteins. This reduced investment by both monogamous males and females in molecules involved in post‐copulatory interactions points to a pervasive role of sexual conflict in shaping these interactions.
Uncertainty in Material Flow Analysis Indicators at Different Spatial Levels
Authors: Patrício João , Kalmykova Yuliya , Rosado Leonardo , Lisovskaja Vera 
Published: September 2015

SummaryMaterial flow analysis (MFA) is a tool for research and decision support in environmental policy and management. In order to promote the use of MFA at different spatial scales, a quantification of the uncertainty in nationwide, regional, and urban MFA methodologies is provided. In particular, the impact of the input data quality on the main MFA indicators is analyzed and the sources and extent of uncertainties for different spatial scales are listed. The types, origin, and extent of the errors are described in detail and several imputation methods are explained and evaluated. By introducing a novel approach to account measurement errors in data sets with “very few details on the measurement errors,” this article aims at contributing to the development of a standardized method to account for the uncertainty in MFA studies. This study uses the time series of MFA data for 1996–2011 at three spatial scales—nationwide (Sweden), regional (the Stockholm Region), and metropolitan (Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmo)—to determine how propagation of measurement errors affects the MFA results. The following MFA indicators were studied: direct material input; domestic processed output; and domestic material consumption. Generally, availability decreased as the spatial scale was lowered, whereas data errors increased. In the specific case of Sweden, the data on freight transport by rail and on waste produced by economic activities at the regional and metropolitan level should be improved.
Effect of 180‐Day Water Storage on Bonding Effectiveness of Self‐Adhesive Systems to Occlusal and Proximal Dentin
Authors: Montagner Anelise Fernandes , Skupien Jovito Adiel , Borges Marciano Freitas , Krejci Ivo , Bortolotto Tissiana , Susin Alexandre Henrique 
Published: September 2015

AbstractPurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the microshear bond strength (μSBS) values of adhesive systems to occlusal and proximal dentin submitted to water storage aging.Materials and MethodsOcclusal and proximal dentin surfaces were obtained from 90 molars, polished with 600‐grit SiC and divided according to the type of adhesive system: one total‐etch and two self‐etch. Starch tubing was used to perform 1 mm2 cylindrical composite resin restorations. The specimens were aged in distilled water during different storage times: 24 hours, 3 months, and 6 months (n = 10). The specimens were submitted to μSBS test. The μSBS values in MPa were subject to three‐way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey test (p < 0.05).ResultsThere was no statistical difference in the μSBS values among the storage times (p = 0.72); however, the dentin region (p < 0.01) and the adhesive system (p < 0.01) significantly affected the μSBS. The proximal surface (14.7 ± 3.3 MPa) presented higher μSBS values than the occlusal dentin (10.9 ± 4.1 MPa). The all‐in‐one adhesive system (GB) achieved the highest μSBS mean (17.0 ± 1.7 MPa).ConclusionBoth material and dentin surface factors affected the composite‐dentin bond strength; however, the water storage did not influence bonding effectiveness over time.
Craving Bureaucracy: Marriage, Islamic Law, and Arab Petitioners in the Straits Settlements
Authors: Yahaya Nurfadzilah 
Published: September 2015

AbstractBritish involvement in Muslim affairs in the Straits Settlements (Malacca, Penang and Singapore) was done at the behest of Muslim subjects in the colony. Arab Muslims, who were a minority in the region, exhorted British authorities to take charge of the administration of Muslim marriages and divorces. In this way, authority was vested by these Muslims in colonial legal institutions. Instead of trying to wrest religious authority from the secular colonial power, petitioners essentially attempted to remove religious authority from the hands of Muslim qāḍis by granting more control to non‐Muslim British colonial authorities. Though British authorities were initially reluctant to take on the mantle of administering legal lives of Muslim subjects who formed fifteen percent of the British Crown Colony, a petition in 1875 subsequently led to the application of legal codes and case law devised in British India in 1880 through the Mahomedan Marriage Ordinance that was brought into effect in 1882. This led to an unprecedented development in the administration of Islamic law in Southeast Asia. Thereafter, colonial legal practitioners relied heavily on this corpus of precedents and knowledge prepared by their predecessors in British India. Their conception of Islamic law was in other words based on a universal view of Islamic law, minimally affected by local understandings and customs. A universal view of Islam, coupled with centralized colonial bureaucracy suited the needs of highly mobile Arabs who traversed the Indian Ocean as they craved accountability on the part of legal administrators.
Methyl‐β‐Cyclodextrin Improves Sperm Capacitation Status Assessed by Flow Cytometry Analysis and Zona Pellucida‐Binding Ability of Frozen/Thawed Bovine Spermatozoa
Authors: Águila L , Arias ME , Vargas T , Zambrano F , Felmer R 
Published: September 2015

ContentsMammalian sperm undergo a series of biochemical transformations in the female reproductive tract that are collectively known as capacitation. Cyclodextrins added to the sperm culture medium have been described to induce in vitro sperm capacitation, enabling its use in protein‐free media. However, the additive capacitating effect of methyl‐β‐cyclodextrin (MβCD) in the medium containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) is unknown in the bovine species. In this study, we evaluated the effects of incubating frozen–thawed bovine spermatozoa in a BSA‐containing medium supplemented with MβCD on different sperm quality and functional parameters. Sperm viability decreased with the addition of MβCD in a dose‐dependent manner (p < 0.05), and DNA damage could be observed but only with the highest concentration of MβCD. However, pre‐incubation of spermatozoa in MβCD‐supplemented medium improved the capacitation status as assessed by the increase in plasma membrane fluidity, intracellular calcium concentration, induced acrosome reactivity and zona pellucida (ZP)‐binding ability (p < 0.05). Thus, we conclude that MβCD supplementation is able to enhance the capacitation status of frozen–thawed bovine spermatozoa cultured in capacitation medium containing BSA and could result in a valid strategy for its application on artificial reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection.
Radiobiologically optimized couch shift: A new localization paradigm using cone‐beam CT for prostate radiotherapy
Authors: Huang Yimei , Gardner Stephen J. , Wen Ning , Zhao Bo , Gordon James , Brown Stephen , Chetty Indrin J. 
Published: September 2015

Purpose:To present a novel positioning strategy which optimizes radiation delivery by utilizing radiobiological response knowledge and evaluate its use during prostate external beam radiotherapy.Methods:Five patients with low or intermediate risk prostate cancer were evaluated retrospectively in this IRB‐approved study. For each patient, a VMAT plan with one 358° arc was generated on the planning CT (PCT) to deliver 78 Gy in 39 fractions. Five representative pretreatment cone beam CTs (CBCT) were selected for each patient. The CBCT images were registered to PCT by a human observer, which consisted of an initial automated registration with three degrees‐of‐freedom, followed by manual adjustment for agreement at the prostate/rectal wall interface. To determine the optimal treatment position for each CBCT, a search was performed centering on the observer‐matched position (OM‐position) utilizing a score function based on radiobiological and dosimetric indices (EUDprostate, D99prostate, NTCPrectum, and NTCPbladder) for the prostate, rectum, and bladder. We termed the optimal treatment position the radiobiologically optimized couch shift position (ROCS‐position).Results:The dosimetric indices, averaged over the five patients’ treatment plans, were (mean ± SD) 79.5 ± 0.3 Gy (EUDprostate), 78.2 ± 0.4 Gy (D99prostate), 11.1% ± 2.7% (NTCPrectum), and 46.9% ± 7.6% (NTCPbladder). The corresponding values from CBCT at the OM‐positions were 79.5 ± 0.6 Gy (EUDprostate), 77.8 ± 0.7 Gy (D99prostate), 12.1% ± 5.6% (NTCPrectum), and 51.6% ± 15.2% (NTCPbladder), respectively. In comparison, from CBCT at the ROCS‐positions, the dosimetric indices were 79.5 ± 0.6 Gy (EUDprostate), 77.3 ± 0.6 Gy (D99prostate), 8.0% ± 3.3% (NTCPrectum), and 46.9% ± 15.7% (NTCPbladder). Excessive NTCPrectum was observed on Patient 5 (19.5% ± 6.6%) corresponding to localization at OM‐position, compared to the planned value of 11.7%. This was mitigated with radiobiologically optimized localization, resulting in a reduced NTCPrectum value of 11.3% ± 3.5%. Overall, the treatment position optimization resulted in similar target dose coverage with reduced risk to rectum.Conclusions:These encouraging results illustrate the potential advantage of applying radiobiologically optimized correction for online image‐guided radiotherapy of prostate patients.
Oral Fluids as a Live-Animal Sample Source for Evaluating Cross-Reactivity and Cross-Protection following Intranasal Influenza A Virus Vaccination in Pigs
Authors: Hughes Holly R. , Vincent Amy L. , Brockmeier Susan L. , Gauger Phillip C. , Pena Lindomar , Santos Jefferson , Braucher Douglas R. , Perez Daniel R. , Loving Crystal L. 
Published: September 2015

ABSTRACT
In North American swine, there are numerous antigenically distinct H1 influenza A virus (IAV) variants currently circulating, making vaccine development difficult due to the inability to formulate a vaccine that provides broad cross-protection. Experimentally, live-attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) vaccines demonstrate increased cross-protection compared to inactivated vaccines. However, there is no standardized assay to predict cross-protection following LAIV vaccination. Hemagglutination-inhibiting (HI) antibody in serum is the gold standard correlate of protection following IAV vaccination. LAIV vaccination does not induce a robust serum HI antibody titer; however, a local mucosal antibody response is elicited. Thus, a live-animal sample source that could be used to evaluate LAIV immunogenicity and cross-protection is needed. Here, we evaluated the use of oral fluids (OF) and nasal wash (NW) collected after IAV inoculation as a live-animal sample source in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to predict cross-protection in comparison to traditional serology. Both live-virus exposure and LAIV vaccination provided heterologous protection, though protection was greatest against more closely phylogenetically related viruses. IAV-specific IgA was detected in NW and OF samples and was cross-reactive to representative IAV from each H1 cluster. Endpoint titers of cross-reactive IgA in OF from pigs exposed to live virus was associated with heterologous protection. While LAIV vaccination provided significant protection, LAIV immunogenicity was reduced compared to live-virus exposure. These data suggest that OF from pigs inoculated with wild-type IAV, with surface genes that match the LAIV seed strain, could be used in an ELISA to assess cross-protection and the antigenic relatedness of circulating and emerging IAV in swine.
Referral outcomes of attendances at general practitioner led urgent care centres in London, England: retrospective analysis of hospital administrative data
Authors: Cowling Thomas E , Ramzan Farzan , Ladbrooke Tim , Millington Hugh , Majeed Azeem , Gnani Shamini 
Published: September 2015

ObjectiveTo identify patient and attendance characteristics that are associated with onwards referral to co-located emergency departments (EDs) or other hospital specialty departments from general practitioner (GP) led urgent care centres (UCCs) in northwest London, England.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of administrative data recorded in the UCCs at Charing Cross and Hammersmith Hospitals, in northwest London, from October 2009 to December 2012. Attendances made by adults resident in England were included. Logistic regression was used to model the associations between the explanatory variables—age; sex; ethnicity; socioeconomic status; area of residence; distance to UCC; GP registration; time, day, quarter, year; and UCC of attendance—and the outcome of onwards referral to the co-located EDs or other hospital specialty departments.ResultsOf 243 042 included attendances, 74.1% were managed solely within the UCCs without same day referral to the EDs (16.8%) or other hospital specialty departments (5.7%), or deferred referral to a fracture, hand management or soft tissue injury management clinic (3.3%). The adjusted odds of onwards referral was estimated to increase by 19% (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.18 to 1.19) for a 10 year increase in a patient's age. Men, patients registered with a GP and residents of less socioeconomically deprived areas were also more likely to be referred onwards from the UCCs.ConclusionsThe majority of patients, across each category of all explanatory variables, were managed solely within the UCCs, although a large absolute number of patients were referred onwards each year. Several characteristics of patients and their attendances were associated with the outcome variable.
MEASURING THE JOINT DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSEHOLD’S INCOME, CONSUMPTION AND WEALTH USING NESTED GENERALIZED MEAN
Authors: RUIZ NICOLAS 
Published: September 2015

Following recommendations from the Stiglitz et al. (2009) Commission, this paper proposes the use of a new methodology to measure the joint distribution of households’ income, consumption and wealth. Based on a multi-dimensional extension of the generalized mean framework, the paper justifies the application of this methodology based on a set of standard and acknowledged properties. The derived multi-dimensional index has an intuitive structure, which allows evaluating the overall material conditions of households under different perspectives and with varying sensitivity to distributional issues. Under its general form, the index encompasses a class of sub-indices that impose various restrictions on its parameters; the paper discusses the extent to which different restrictions on parameters affect the multi-dimensional assessments of various population groups, and provides some empirical illustrations using those different specifications. The question addressed by the multi-dimensional measure presented here is whether the joint consideration of household income, consumption and wealth modifies substantially the picture of material living standards of different individuals and groups relative to the one provided by income alone. Based on the dataset used here, the paper provides strong evidence on the importance of such a multi-dimensional assessment.
Critical behavior of the spontaneous polarization and the dielectric susceptibility close to the cubic-tetragonal transition in BaTiO3
Authors: Yurtseven H. , Oğuz F. 
Published: September 2015

Using Landau mean field model, the spontaneous polarization and the dielectric susceptibility are analyzed as functions of temperature and pressure close to the cubic–tetragonal (ferroelectric–paraelectric) transition in [Formula: see text]. From the analysis of the dielectric susceptibility and the spontaneous polarization, the critical exponents are deduced in the classical and quantum limits for [Formula: see text]. From the critical behavior of the dielectric susceptibility, the spontaneous polarization can be described for the ferroelectric–paraelectric (cubic to tetragonal) transition between 4 and 8 GPa at constant temperatures of 0 to 200 K in [Formula: see text] within the Landau mean field model given here.
Demographic Differences in Catheter Ablation After Hospital Presentation With Symptomatic Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Kummer Benjamin R. , Bhave Prashant D. , Merkler Alexander E. , Gialdini Gino , Okin Peter M. , Kamel Hooman 
Published: September 2015

Background

Catheter ablation is increasingly used for rhythm control in symptomatic atrial fibrillation (
AF
), but the demographic characteristics of patients undergoing this procedure are unclear.

Methods and Results

We used data on all admissions at nonfederal acute care hospitals in California, Florida, and New York to identify patients discharged with a primary diagnosis of
AF
between 2006 and 2011. Our primary outcome was readmission for catheter ablation of
AF
, identified using validated International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification procedure codes. Cox regression models were used to assess relationships between demographic characteristics and catheter ablation, adjusting for Elixhauser comorbidities. We identified 397 612 eligible patients. Of these, 16 717 (4.20%, 95%
CI
0.41 to 0.43) underwent ablation. These patients were significantly younger, more often male, more often white, and more often privately insured, with higher household incomes and lower rates of medical comorbidity. In Cox regression models, the likelihood of ablation was lower in women than men (hazard ratio [
HR
] 0.83; 95%
CI
0.80 to 0.86) despite higher rates of
AF
‐related rehospitalization (
HR
1.23; 95%
CI
1.21 to 1.24). Compared to whites, the likelihood of ablation was lower in Hispanics (
HR
0.60; 95%
CI
0.56 to 0.64) and blacks (
HR
0.68; 95%
CI
0.64 to 0.73), even though blacks had only a slightly lower likelihood of
AF
‐related rehospitalization (
HR
0.97; 95%
CI
0.94 to 0.99) and a higher likelihood of all‐cause hospitalization (
HR
1.38; 95%
CI
1.37 to 1.39). Essentially the same pattern existed in Hispanics.

Conclusions

We found differences in use of catheter ablation for symptomatic
AF
according to sex and race despite adjustment for available data on demographic characteristics and medical comorbidities.
They know!—Do they? A qualitative study of residents and relatives views on advance care planning, end-of-life care, and decision-making in nursing homes
Authors: Bollig Georg , Gjengedal Eva , Rosland Jan Henrik 
Published: September 2015

Background: Residents living in long-term care facilities are a vulnerable population. For many residents, a nursing home is their place of death. Palliative care and end-of-life decisions are important components of their care provision. Aim: To study the views of cognitively able residents and relatives on advance care planning, end-of-life care, and decision-making in nursing homes. Design: A qualitative study with in-depth interviews with nursing home residents and focus group interviews with relatives of nursing home residents. Analysis is based on interpretive description. Setting/participants: In total, 43 informants from nine nursing homes participated in the study (25 nursing home residents and 18 relatives). All included residents had capacity to provide informed consent and lived in long-term care. Results: The main findings of this study were the differing views about decision-making and advance care planning of residents and relatives. Residents do trust relatives and staff to make important decisions for them. The relatives are in contrast insecure about the residents’ wishes and experience decision-making as a burden. The majority of the residents had not participated in advance care planning. None of the residents stated challenges connected to end-of-life care or mentioned the wish for euthanasia. Conclusion: Although most residents seem to be satisfied with decision-making and end-of life care, there is a need for systematic advance care planning. Advance care planning could help to explore future wishes for care and ease decision-making for the relatives, physicians, and staff and should be offered to all cognitively able nursing homes residents.