bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Police and crime commissioners: the first twelve months
Authors: Brain Timothy 
Published: December 2013

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to review the establishment of this new type of elected official and the conduct of those in office during the first twelve months of their official existence, and to consider whether a compelling case has yet been made for its retention as the principal method of police governance.

Design/methodology/approach
– The paper will review policy papers and data which preceded and followed the establishment of the office of police and crime commissioner (PCC) in November 2012; review the 2012 elections and their implications, review conduct since, particularly in respect of formal duties, principally setting budgets and police and crime plans; consider the potential for politicisation; and consider whether a case has been made for the retention of the office in future.

Findings
– The paper concludes that the government has succeeded with PCCs in implementing a major plank of the Conservative party's 2010 manifesto. It can reasonably be anticipated that the Conservatives will promote this record at the next election. However, it is simply too early to tell if PCCs are individually or collectively adding value to the sum of policing in England and Wales. A compelling case for their retention as a means of police governance is therefore yet to be made. On the other hand, Labour has still to determine whether it will offer the electorate an alternative in 2015.

Research limitations/implications
– With only ten months having elapsed since the first elections, it is early to draw firm conclusions about the effectiveness or, more pertinently, the added value that PCCs have brought to policing. Conversely, the first twelve months was an opportunity for PCCs to make a positive impression and this has not occurred.

Practical implications
– PCCs ought to be subject to a rigorous appraisal of effectiveness. This is unlikely, for political reasons, to occur.

Originality/value
– First rigorous review of PCCs based on a review of available data.
Roosting behaviour and habitat selection of Pteropus giganteus reveal potential links to Nipah virus epidemiology
Authors: Hahn Micah B. , Epstein Jonathan H. , Gurley Emily S. , Islam Mohammad S. , Luby Stephen P. , Daszak Peter , Patz Jonathan A. 
Published: December 2013

Summary

Flying foxes Pteropus spp. play a key role in forest regeneration as seed dispersers and are also the reservoir of many viruses, including Nipah virus in Bangladesh. Little is known about their habitat requirements, particularly in South Asia. Identifying Pteropus habitat preferences could assist in understanding the risk of zoonotic disease transmission broadly and, in Bangladesh, could help explain the spatial distribution of human Nipah virus cases.

We analysed characteristics of Pteropus giganteus roosts and constructed an ecological niche model to identify suitable habitat in Bangladesh. We also assessed the distribution of suitable habitat in relation to the location of human Nipah virus cases.

Compared to non‐roost trees, P. giganteus roost trees are taller with larger diameters and are more frequently canopy trees. Colony size was larger in densely forested regions and smaller in flood‐affected areas. Roosts were located in areas with lower annual precipitation and higher human population density than non‐roost sites.

We predicted that 2–17% of Bangladesh's land area is suitable roosting habitat. Nipah virus outbreak villages were 2·6 times more likely to be located in areas predicted as highly suitable habitat for P. giganteus compared to non‐outbreak villages.

Synthesis and applications. Habitat suitability modelling may help identify previously undocumented Nipah outbreak locations and improve our understanding of Nipah virus ecology by highlighting regions where there is suitable bat habitat but no reported human Nipah virus. Conservation and public health education is a key component of P. giganteus management in Bangladesh due to the general misunderstanding and fear of bats that are a reservoir of Nipah virus. Affiliation between Old World fruit bats (Pteropodidae) and people is common throughout their range, and in order to conserve these keystone bat species and prevent emergence of zoonotic viruses, it is imperative that we continue to improve our understanding of Pteropus resource requirements and routes of virus transmission from bats to people. Results presented here can be utilized to develop land management strategies and conservation policies that simultaneously protect fruit bats and public health.
Nonlinear Pricing in Drug Benefits and Medication Use: The Case of Statin Compliance in Medicare Part D
Authors: Jung Kyoungrae , Feldman Roger , McBean A. Marshall 
Published: December 2013

ObjectiveTo examine how enrollees' statin compliance responds to expected prices in Medicare Part D, which features a nonlinear price schedule due to a coverage gap.Data Sources/Study SettingPrescription Drug Event data for a 5 percent random sample of Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan enrollees in 2008 who did not receive a low‐income subsidy.Study DesignWe analyze statin compliance prior to the coverage gap, where the “effective price” is higher than the actual copayment for drugs because consumers anticipate that more spending will make them more likely to reach the gap. We construct each enrollee's effective price as her expected price at the end of the year, which is the weighted average between pre‐gap and in‐gap copayments with the weight being the predicted probability of hitting the gap. Compliance is defined as at least 80 percent of days covered.Principal FindingsPart D enrollees' pre‐gap statin compliance decreases by 3.7–4.7 percentage points for a $10 increase in the effective price.ConclusionThe presence of a coverage gap decreases statin compliance prior to the gap, suggesting that incorporating expected future prices is important to assess the full impact of cost sharing on drug compliance under nonlinear price schedules.
The Effect of Simvastatin–Ezetimibe Combination Therapy on Adipose Tissue Hormones and Systemic Inflammation in Patients with Isolated Hypercholesterolemia
Authors: Krysiak Robert , Zmuda Witold , Okopien Bogusław 
Published: December 2013

SummaryBackgroundPleiotropic effects of ezetimibe have only been investigated in a few studies. The aim of this article was to compare the effects of simvastatin and the combined treatment with simvastatin and ezetimibe on low‐grade systemic inflammation and plasma levels of selected adipokines in patients with isolated hypercholesterolemia.MethodsThe study included 69 patients with elevated cholesterol levels, who were allocated to one of the three groups treated for 12 weeks, respectively, with simvastatin (40 mg daily), simvastatin (40 mg daily) plus ezetimibe (10 mg daily), or placebo. Plasma levels of lipids, apolipoproteins, glucose homeostasis markers, leptin, adiponectin, visfatin, tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), free fatty acids (FFA), and high‐sensitive C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) were determined on the allocation day and after 12 weeks of therapy.ResultsApart from improving lipid profile, simvastatin administered alone or in combination with ezetimibe, decreased plasma levels of hsCRP, FFA, leptin, visfatin, and TNF‐α, as well as increased plasma levels of adiponectin. The combination therapy was superior to simvastatin in influencing plasma lipids/lipoproteins, hsCRP, FFA, and the investigated adipokines. The effect of the combination therapy, but not of simvastatin, on systemic inflammation and plasma adipokines was stronger in insulin‐resistant than in insulin‐sensitive subjects.ConclusionsThe obtained results suggest that insulin‐resistant patients with hypercholesterolemia and high cardiovascular risk may benefit the most from the combined treatment with simvastatin and ezetimibe.
Impact of volcanic ash on anammox communities in deep sea sediments
Authors: Song Bongkeun , Buckner Caroline T. , Hembury Deborah J. , Mills Rachel A. , Palmer Martin R. 
Published: December 2013

SummarySubaerial explosive volcanism contributes substantial amounts of material to the oceans, but little is known about the impact of volcanic ash on sedimentary microbial activity. We have studied anammox communities in deep sea sediments near the volcanically active island of Montserrat, Lesser Antilles. The rates of anammox and denitrification in the sediments were measured using 15N isotope pairing incubation experiments, while 16S rRNA genes were used to examine anammox community structures. The higher anammox rates were measured in sediment containing the lower accumulation of volcanic ash in the surface sediments, while the lowest activities were found in sediments with the highest ash deposit. 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed the presence of ‘Candidatus Scalindua spp.’ in the sediments. The lowest diversity of anammox bacteria was observed in the sediments with the highest ash deposit. Overall, this study demonstrates that the deposition of volcanic material in deep sea sediments has negative impacts on activity and diversity of the anammox community. Since anammox may account for up to 79% of N2 production in marine ecosystems, periods of extensive explosive volcanism in Earth history may have had a hitherto unrecognized negative impact on the sedimentary nitrogen removal processes.
What Is “the Question”?
Authors: Foster Stephen William 
Published: December 2013

SummaryEthnographers' questions are an impress on their encounters and an investment in the politics and poetics of ethnography. I examine the symbolic aura of the question, generically and substantively, that shapes and textures ethnographic truth‐telling. An encounter in Morocco illustrate the paradoxical dynamics of the question that constrains the dialogues it produces. The art of the question premises an ethics, a recursive style and a mobile analytics in which process and truth coalesce.
Excavation, Narration, and the Wild Man: Montage and Linearity in Representing Archaeology
Authors: Mickel Allison 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThis article contrasts the way that archaeologists discuss the practice and experience of archaeology with each other to the way archaeology is represented to nonspecialist public audiences. I argue that the former is characterized by “montage,” while the latter is typified by a radically opposed linear narrativity, suggesting that montage may offer a way of ameliorating many of the problems linked to popular (mis)conceptions of archaeology.
“If we don't push homeless people out, we will end up being pushed out by them”: The Criminalization of Homelessness as State Strategy in Hungary
Authors: Udvarhelyi Éva Tessza 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIn recent years, the intensity of the criminalization of homelessness in Hungary gave rise to a veritable tug‐of‐war between the ruling party and grassroots activists. In fact, today it is the only country in the world where the possibility of penalizing homelessness is encoded in the constitution itself. In this paper, I first provide an overview of the rise of homelessness since the late 1980s. Then, I go on to examine changing public and political attitudes towards homelessness in post‐socialist Hungary and place the growing trend towards penalization in the larger context of an emerging criminal paradigm. After examining the recent authoritarian turn, I argue that the radical intensification of criminalization is a strategy not only to secure political dominance, but also to obscure the failure of the state to address the social, political and economic contradictions that became salient at the time of the regime change.
Natural variant of the Helicobacter pylori CagA oncoprotein that lost the ability to interact with PAR1
Authors: Hashi Kana , Murata‐Kamiya Naoko , Varon Christine , Mégraud Francis , Dominguez‐Bello Maria Gloria , Hatakeyama Masanori 
Published: December 2013

Helicobacter pylori strains carrying the cagA gene are associated with severe disease outcomes, most notably gastric cancer. CagA protein is delivered into gastric epithelial cells by a type IV secretion system. The translocated CagA undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation at the C‐terminal EPIYA motifs by host cell kinases. Tyrosine‐phosphorylated CagA acquires the ability to interact with and activate SHP2, thereby activating mitogenic signaling and inducing cell morphological transformation (hummingbird phenotype). CagA also interacts with PAR1b via the CM sequence, resulting in induction of junctional and polarity defects. Furthermore, CagA‐PAR1b interaction stabilizes the CagA‐SHP2 complex. Because transgenic mice systemically expressing CagA develop gastrointestinal and hematological malignancies, CagA is recognized as a bacterium‐derived oncoprotein. Interestingly, the C‐terminal region of CagA displays a large diversity among H. pylori strains, which influences the ability of CagA to bind to SHP2 and PAR1b. In the present study, we investigated the biological activity of v225d CagA, an Amerindian CagA of H. pylori isolated from a Venezuelan Piaroa Amerindian subject, because the variant CagA does not possess a canonical CM sequence. We found that v225d CagA interacts with SHP2 but not PAR1b. Furthermore, SHP2‐binding activity of v225d CagA was much lower than that of CagA of H. pylori isolated from Western countries (Western CagA). v225d CagA also displayed a reduced ability to induce the hummingbird phenotype than that of Western CagA. Given that perturbation of PAR1b and SHP2 by CagA underlies the oncogenic potential of CagA, the v225d strain is considered to be less oncogenic than other well‐studied cagA‐positive H. pylori strains.
A prostaglandin d‐synthase‐positive mast cell gradient characterizes scalp patterning
Authors: Larson Allison R. , Zhan Qian , Johnson Elisha , Fragoso Ana Carolina , Wan Marilyn , Murphy George F. 
Published: December 2013

BackgroundPattern (androgenetic) alopecia is commonly encountered in scalp biopsies obtained for non‐scarring hair loss. Prostaglandin d‐synthase is known to be elevated in bald vs. non‐alopetic scalp of patients with androgenetic alopecia. We hypothesized that this difference in pattern of prostaglandin d‐synthase expression may constitute a developmental pattern inherent to normal as well as alopecic scalp skin, thus defining a ‘field’ vulnerable to acquired hair loss.MethodsWe immunohistochemically mapped prostaglandin d‐synthase expression from supra‐auricular to vertex scalp skin of 11 cadavers.ResultsWe found significantly more dermal mast cells immunoreactive for prostaglandin d‐synthase in the vertex compared to the lateral aspects of the scalp, with a decrement that spatially approximated the pattern of androgenetic alopecia. This difference was present in both balding and non‐balding scalps and was independent of gender. Dual labeling established dermal cells expressing prostaglandin d‐synthase as mast cells.ConclusionsThese data indicate that scalp is spatially programmed via mast cell prostaglandin d‐synthase distribution in a manner reminiscent of the pattern seen in androgenetic alopecia.
Paying the price: A cross‐sectional survey of Australian socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers' responses to hypothetical cigarette price rises
Authors: Guillaumier Ashleigh , Bonevski Billie , Paul Christine , D'Este Catherine , Doran Christopher , Siahpush Mohammad 
Published: December 2013

AbstractIntroduction and AimsIncreases in tobacco taxation can lead to reductions in tobacco consumption and prevalence of use across social groups. However, use of price‐minimisation strategies to manage current and future tobacco use and the role of financial stress is less understood. This study aimed to measure the effect of cigarette price increases on price‐minimisation strategy endorsement and financial stress among socioeconomically disadvantaged smokers.Design and MethodsCommunity service organisation welfare recipients in NSW, Australia completed a touchscreen survey. Smoking history, financial stress, highest price to quit and responses to hypothetical cigarette price increases were assessed.ResultsParticipants were 354 smokers (response rate = 79%). Most participants received income from a government pension (95%), earned <A$300/week (55%), had not completed secondary schooling (64%), were moderately or heavily nicotine‐dependent (60%), reported high financial stress (66%) and spent A$56/week on tobacco. In response to 10% and 20% hypothetical price rises, significantly more participants endorsed trying to quit in response to the larger increase scenario (P < 0.001), and fewer selected no change to their smoking (P < 0.001). Numerous price‐minimisation strategies (e.g. switching to cheaper brands/products) were endorsed, but remained constant across hypothetical scenarios; level of financial stress appeared to have little influence. Smokers indicating they would not change their smoking in response to price rises had higher levels of nicotine dependence.Discussion and ConclusionsSocially disadvantaged smokers endorsed numerous price‐minimising strategies to maintain smoking at hypothetically increased costs. Larger cigarette price rises motivated more smokers to consider quitting, while price‐resistant smokers appeared to have a more entrenched smoker status.
Changes in saccadic eye movement and memory function after mild closed head injury in children
Authors: Phillipou Andrea , Douglas Jacinta , Krieser David , Ayton Lauren , Abel Larry 
Published: December 2013

AimThe aim of this study was to determine whether volitional saccadic impairments are present in children with mild closed head injury (mCHI) and whether these deficits are predictive of ongoing cognitive impairment.MethodWe analysed a sample of 26 children with mCHI (20 males, 6 females; mean age 13y 1mo, SD 2y) and 29 age‐matched comparison children (20 males, 9 females; mean age 12y 2mo, SD 2y). Participants completed a battery of saccadic eye movement tasks and a set of computer‐based cognitive tasks at three time points: within 2 weeks of mCHI, and at 3 months and 6 months.ResultsThe group with mCHI made fewer errors on the antisaccade task at the first time point and showed increased latencies on prosaccades, correct antisaccades, and corrected antisaccade errors at the third time point (6mo). The group with mCHI also showed poorer performance on the cognitive tasks assessing memory.InterpretationEven very mild, uncomplicated mCHI in children may persistently affect aspects of executive control and visual processing.
Of scales and stationarity in animal movements
Authors: Benhamou Simon 
Published: December 2013

AbstractWith recent technological advances in tracking devices, movements of numerous animal species can be recorded with a high resolution over large spatial and temporal ranges. This opens promising perspectives for understanding how an animal perceives and reacts to the multi‐scale structure of its environment. Yet, conceptual issues such as confusion between movement scales and searching modes prevent us from properly inferring the movement processes at different scales. Here, I propose to build on stationarity (i.e. stability of statistical parameters) to develop a consistent theoretical framework in which animal movements are modelled as a generic composite multi‐scale multi‐mode random walk model. This framework makes it possible to highlight scales that are relevant to the studied animal, the nature of the behavioural processes that operate at each of these different scales, and the way in which the processes involved at any given scale can interact with those operating at smaller or larger scales. This explicitly scale‐focused approach should help properly analyse actual movements by relating, for each scale and each mode, the values of the main model parameters (speed, short‐ and long‐term persistences, degree of stochasticity) to the animal's needs and skills and its response to its environment at multiple scales.
Disentangling the interaction among host resources, the immune system and pathogens
Authors: Cressler Clayton E. , Nelson William A. , Day Troy , McCauley Edward 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe interaction between the immune system and pathogens is often characterised as a predator–prey interaction. This characterisation ignores the fact that both require host resources to reproduce. Here, we propose novel theory that considers how these resource requirements can modify the interaction between the immune system and pathogens. We derive a series of models to describe the energetic interaction between the immune system and pathogens, from fully independent resources to direct competition for the same resource. We show that increasing within‐host resource supply has qualitatively distinct effects under these different scenarios. In particular, we show the conditions for which pathogen load is expected to increase, decrease or even peak at intermediate resource supply. We survey the empirical literature and find evidence for all three patterns. These patterns are not explained by previous theory, suggesting that competition for host resources can have a strong influence on the outcome of disease.
Recognition of DNA bulges by dinuclear iron(II) metallosupramolecular helicates
Authors: Malina Jaroslav , Hannon Michael J. , Brabec Viktor 
Published: December 2013

Bulged DNA structures are of general biological significance because of their important roles in a number of biochemical processes. Compounds capable of targeting bulged DNA sequences can be used as probes for studying their role in nucleic acid function, or could even have significant therapeutic potential. The interaction of [Fe2L3]4+ metallosupramolecular helicates (L = C25H20N4) with DNA duplexes containing bulges has been studied by measurement of the DNA melting temperature and gel electrophoresis. This study was aimed at exploring binding affinities of the helicates for DNA bulges of various sizes and nucleotide sequences. The studies reported herein reveal that both enantiomers of [Fe2L3]4+ bind to DNA bulges containing at least two unpaired nucleotides. In addition, these helicates show considerably enhanced affinity for duplexes containing unpaired pyrimidines in the bulge and/or pyrimidines flanking the bulge on both sides. We suggest that the bulge creates the structural motif, such as the triangular prismatic pocket formed by the unpaired bulge bases, to accommodate the [Fe2L3]4+ helicate molecule, and is probably responsible for the affinity for duplexes with a varying number of bulge bases. Our results reveal that DNA bulges represent another example of unusual DNA structures recognized by dinuclear iron(II) ([Fe2L3]4+) supramolecular helicates.