bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Interferon‐free regimens for chronic hepatitis C overcome the effects of portal hypertension on virological responses
Authors: Mandorfer M. , Kozbial K. , Freissmuth C. , Schwabl P. , Stättermayer A. F. , Reiberger T. , Beinhardt S. , Schwarzer R. , Trauner M. , Ferlitsch A. , Hofer H. , Peck‐Radosavljevic M. , Ferenci P. 
Published: July 2015

SummaryBackgroundPortal hypertension is the strongest predictor of virological response to pegylated interferon (IFN)/ribavirin in patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC)‐related cirrhosis.AimTo investigate the effects of portal pressure assessed by hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) measurement on virological responses in patients treated with IFN‐free regimens outside of clinical trials.MethodsFifty‐six patients with CHC and cirrhosis who underwent HVPG measurement before starting an IFN‐free therapy were retrospectively studied. Patients were treated with sofosbuvir in combination with daclatasvir (n = 32), ribavirin (n = 12) or simeprevir (n = 11), or the combination of simeprevir/daclatasvir (n = 1), for 12–24 weeks.ResultsHepatic venous pressure gradient values ≥10 mmHg and ≥16 mmHg were observed in 41 (73%) and 31 (55%) patients respectively. The distributions of treatment regimens and durations were comparable between patients with or without portal hypertension. Patients with portal hypertension had lower platelet counts and albumin levels, while bilirubin levels, INR, MELD and Child–Pugh scores were higher than in patients without portal hypertension. Importantly, rates of on‐treatment virological response and viral kinetics, as well as the rates of sustained virological response 12 weeks after the end of therapy [96% (54/56)] were not affected by portal hypertension. Anti‐viral therapy improved liver stiffness, platelet count, serum albumin and bilirubin levels, as well as prothrombin time.ConclusionsThis is the first study to demonstrate that IFN‐free regimens overcome the negative effect of portal hypertension on virological responses and viral kinetics. Improvements in liver stiffness and platelet count might reflect an anti‐portal hypertensive effect of IFN‐free treatments.
Critique, Rediscovery and Revival in Development Studies
Authors: Arsel Murat , Dasgupta Anirban 
Published: July 2015

ABSTRACTThis article acts as the Introduction to the Debate that follows. It contends that the so‐called impasse in development has been a constant feature of the field and is an indicator of its self‐critical outlook rather than any deep‐seated existential crisis. It unpacks the various dimensions of ongoing debate regarding the future of development studies, probing its policy relevance and legitimacy, interdisciplinarity, geographic focus and relationship with post‐structuralist and Marxist thought. In order to revive and reorient the field in line with the contemporary world, the article proposes to return to an explicit Marxist/Marxian political economy framework to analyse the dynamics of capitalism in its local, national and global dimensions. Such a move would entail turning away from the increasingly dominant approach of critique for the sake of critique. Instead, the article argues that development studies can only fulfil its mission if scholars keep the goal of emancipatory development and change in mind when they engage with contemporary capitalist processes.
Ants impact the energy reserves of natural enemies through the shared honeydew exploitation
Authors: CALABUIG ALTEA , TENA ALEJANDRO , WÄCKERS FELIX L. , FERNÁNDEZ‐ARROJO LUCIA , PLOU FRANCISCO J. , GARCIA‐MARÍ FERRAN , PEKAS APOSTOLOS 
Published: July 2015

1. Ants, as well as many species of parasitoids and predators, rely on sugar‐rich foods such as honeydew to fulfill their energetic needs. Thus, ants and natural enemies may interact through the shared honeydew exploitation.2. Ant‐exclusion experiments were performed in a citrus orchard to test the hypothesis that ants may impact the energy reserves of predators and parasitoids through the competition for honeydew. Through the use of high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) the level of ant activity with the energy reserves and feeding history of individual specimens collected in the field during representative days of spring, summer, and autumn were related.3. Out of 145 Aphytis chrysomphali Mercet parasitoids captured in the field, 65% were classified as sugar‐fed and 24.7% as honeydew‐fed. In summer, when ant activity peaked, there was a significant negative correlation between the level of ant activity and the total sugar content and honeydew feeding incidence by A. chrysomphali. Out of 47 individuals of the predator Chrysoperla carnea sensu lato (Stephens), captured in the field, 55.3% were classified as sugar‐fed. We found a significant negative effect of the level of ant activity on the sugar‐feeding incidence by C. carnea in spring.4. The present study provides evidence that ants can interfere with the energy reserves of natural enemies. This interaction may be widespread in various ecosystems with important consequences for the arthropod community composition and with practical implications for biological control given that absence of sugar feeding is detrimental for the fitness of many species of predators and parasitoids.
Wise flies: a pre‐dispersal seed predator prefers hermaphrodites over females in the gynodioecious Polemonium foliosissimum
Authors: CLARKE GRETEL L. , BRODY ALISON K. 
Published: July 2015

1. Oviposition choices can profoundly affect offspring performance. Oviposition decisions of the dipteran pre‐dispersal seed predator, Hylemya sp. (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), when choosing among sex morphs of their host‐plant—Polemonium foliosissimum Hook—were evaluated. Polemonium foliosissimum is gynodioecious, with female and hermaphrodite sex morphs that differ in flower size.2. It was asked: Do female flies preferentially oviposit on hermaphrodite plants and, if so, are oviposition choices correlated with flower size? Is larval survivorship higher on hermaphrodite plants and, if so, is larval success correlated with flower size? Can the differences in oviposition and/or larval success be explained by slight differences in flowering phenology between the sexes?3. Hermaphrodite flowers received 45% more Hylemya eggs than females. Although hermaphrodites had larger petals and sepals than females, egg loads were not correlated with petal or sepal size. Larval survival was 30% greater on hermaphrodites than females and higher on plants with larger sepals. However, the difference in sepal area between genders did not fully explain larval survival differences. Egg numbers declined over weeks, but differences in egg loads between the sex morphs were not attributable to a slight phenological delay of females. Larval survival declined over the season; however, larval survival differences between sex morphs were consistent.4. Hylemya preferentially oviposited on hermaphrodites where their larvae had a significantly greater survival rate compared with females. The present results add to the knowledge that intra‐specific choices have consequences for phytophagous insects and that the relationship between antagonists and their gynodioecious host plants is complex.
The Role of Western Religious Values in Peacemaking for Divorcing Families
Authors: Marx Jeffrey A. 
Published: July 2015

Peace (wholeness and integrity) is to be sought as the highest goal in the divorce process, affecting not only the divorcing couple but their family and community as well. The value of “community” found in the three major Western religious traditions suggests that more than just the immediate family should be involved in crafting divorce settlements and that the involvement of clergy may aid in the divorce process, especially in providing rich religious metaphors and exempla to promote peaceful negotiations. Other religious values such as “humanity in the divine image,” “love,” and “the fullness of time” can be useful in working with the divorcing couple to allow their stories to be told, provide time to sort out their complex emotions, and help reduce the impulse to see the other solely as an enemy to be eliminated in battle. “Sin and atonement” can serve an important role in restorative justice, while “the delayed arrival of the divine kingdom” provides a reasonable way to assess what determines success, both for the divorcing couple and for divorce professionals.

Key Points for the Family Court Community:
Religious values found in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam can be consciously utilized to help divorcing couples separate more peacefully.
Providing opportunities for each spouse to be fully heard and seen is a crucial component in helping to bring more peace into the divorce process.
Designing Heart‐Based Systems to Encourage Forgiveness and Reconciliation in Divorcing Families
Authors: Cloke Kenneth 
Published: July 2015

Conflicts in intimate relationships are often accidental, occasional, and unique; yet they are also systemic, repetitive, and alike. For this reason, they are amenable to systemic analysis and resolution by altering them at their chronic sources and applying the preventative methodology of conflict resolution systems design. The central difficulties with using traditional forms of conflict resolution systems design in marriages, couples, and families are that they do not effectively address the emotional meaning or significance of the conflict within the relationship; are not grounded in the heart; and do not address the intimate, relational aspects of intimate, affective conflicts. Marriages and families are deeply sensitive, highly complex emotional relationships that require systems design methodologies that are profoundly informed by the heart. This article proposes a heart‐based systems design approach that includes forgiveness and reconciliation for use in marriages and families, including those that end in divorce.

Key Points for the Family Court Community:
Conflicts in intimate relationships are accidental, occasional, and unique; yet they are also systemic, repetitive, and alike.
Marriages and families are deeply sensitive, highly complex emotional relationships that require systems design methodologies that are profoundly informed by the heart.
It is possible to create a heart-based systems design approach to marital, family and divorce conflicts that includes forgiveness and reconciliation.
Parental Involvement in Juvenile Sex Offender Treatment: Requiring a Role as Informed Supervisor
Authors: Prisco Robert 
Published: July 2015

Sex offenses, particularly those against children, have always been viewed negatively in society. A large portion of these offenses are committed by children against children. Most state legislatures focus on punitive measures when dealing with juvenile sex offenses, yet few place treatment on equal ground. Treatment has been shown to be effective in reducing the rate of recidivism of juvenile sex offenders. Juvenile sex offenders that participate in treatment have shown lower recidivism rates than adult offenders or untreated juvenile sex offenders. This Note advocates that states adopt legislation based on a successful statute in Colorado that creates a sex offender management board consisting of a multidisciplinary treatment team for juvenile sex offenders' treatment while requiring parental involvement in treatment as “informed supervisors” when the team deems it appropriate.

Key Points for the Family Court Community:
Sex offender treatment on juveniles has been successful in reducing recidivism, as juveniles are more receptive to treatment than adults.
Supervision and treatment of juvenile sex offenders would be more effective if parents or guardians are involved in the juvenile's sex offender treatment.
States should adopt legislation based on the Colorado model that creates a sex offender management board and multidisciplinary team to supervise the treatment of juvenile sex offenders and requires appropriate parental involvement in the treatment as “informed supervisors”.
Eco‐genomic analysis of the poleward range expansion of the wasp spider Argiope bruennichi shows rapid adaptation and genomic admixture
Authors: Krehenwinkel Henrik , Rödder Dennis , Tautz Diethard 
Published: July 2015

AbstractPoleward range expansions are commonly attributed to global change, but could alternatively be driven by rapid evolutionary adaptation. A well‐documented example of a range expansion during the past decades is provided by the European wasp spider Argiope bruennichi. Using ecological niche modeling, thermal tolerance experiments and a genome‐wide analysis of gene expression divergence, we show that invasive populations have adapted to novel climatic conditions in the course of their expansion. Their climatic niche shift is mirrored in an increased cold tolerance and a population‐specific and functionally differentiated gene expression response. We generated an Argiope reference genome sequence and used population genome resequencing to assess genomic changes associated with the new climatic adaptations. We find clear genetic differentiation and a significant admixture with alleles from East Asian populations in the invasive Northern European populations. Population genetic modeling suggests that at least some of these introgressing alleles have contributed to the new adaptations during the expansion. Our results thus confirm the notion that range expansions are not a simple consequence of climate change, but are accompanied by fast genetic changes and adaptations that may be fuelled through admixture between long separated lineages.
Sensitivity of regional evapotranspiration partitioning to variation in woody plant cover: insights from experimental dryland tree mosaics
Authors: Villegas Juan Camilo , Dominguez Francina , Barron‐Gafford Greg A. , Adams Henry D. , Guardiola‐Claramonte Maite , Sommer Evan D. , Selvey Ashley Wiede , Espeleta Javier F. , Zou Chris B. , Breshears David D. , Huxman Travis E. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractAimMovement of water from the land surface to the atmosphere (evapotranspiration, ET) is the dominant output flux in the global terrestrial surface water budget. The partitioning of ET between soil evaporation (E) and plant transpiration (T) couples important ecological, hydrological and atmospheric processes. ET partitioning has been hypothesized to vary as a function of woody plant cover, yet a relationship between ET partitioning and woody cover has not been quantified empirically. Land surface models assume unit increase in T per unit increase in vegetation cover (woody cover), following a proportional linear relationship. Recent assessments have questioned the validity of this assumption for heterogeneous canopies, but we lack experimental data across an explicitly defined gradient of woody cover to characterize this relationship.LocationNorth American monsoon region.MethodsIn a controlled dryland environment experimental facility, we manipulated woody cover and documented the response of ET and its component fluxes. We incorporated the resulting functions into a widely used coupled land–atmosphere model (WRF‐Noah) to document the implications of modifying specific model parameters that assume (1:1) proportionality.ResultsAs total ET increased with woody cover, T/ET deviated below 1:1 proportionality. Using our experimentally determined relationship for ET partitioning and woody cover in the model, we observed reductions in ET of as much as 40% during the monsoon season and annual increases of almost 200% in regional E.Main conclusionsOur results highlight a limitation of modelled ET that affects regional to global patterns of water flux, with implications for a number of earth surface processes. A better understanding of how changing woody cover influences patch‐scale ecohydrological processes is needed, particularly under current changes in woody cover associated with deforestation, afforestation and drought‐induced mortality. More specifically, improved representation of E and T fluxes will improve understanding and modelling of large‐scale ecological, hydrological and atmospheric processes.
The expression and prognostic significance of bcl‐2‐associated transcription factor 1 in rectal cancer following neoadjuvant therapy
Authors: Brown Gordon T , Cash Beatriz , Alnabulsi Ayham , Samuel Leslie M , Murray Graeme I 
Published: July 2015

Aimsbcl‐2‐associated transcription factor 1 (BCLAF1) is a nuclear protein that binds to bcl‐related proteins and can induce apoptosis and autophagy. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of BCLAF1 in a series of rectal cancers following neoadjuvant therapy.Methods and resultsImmunohistochemistry was performed on a post‐neoadjuvant therapy rectal cancer tissue microarray. It contained rectal cancers (n = 248), lymph node metastases (n = 76), and non‐neoplastic rectal mucosal samples (n = 73). A monoclonal antibody against BCLAF1 that we have developed was used. Non‐neoplastic rectal epithelium showed nuclear localization of BCLAF1 in both crypt and surface epithelial cells, whereas rectal cancers showed both nuclear and cytoplasmic BCLAF1 expression. Most rectal cancers showed moderate or strong nuclear immunoreactivity, but showed weak cytoplasmic immunoreactivity. Cytoplasmic BCLAF1 expression was increased in primary rectal cancers as compared with non‐neoplastic rectal mucosa (P = 0.008). Negative and weak nuclear BCLAF1 expression was associated with a poor prognosis [hazard ratio (HR) 0.502, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.269–0.939, χ2 = 4.876, P = 0.027]. Nuclear BCLAF1 expression was independently prognostic in a multivariate model (HR 0.431, 95% CI 0.221–0.840, P = 0.013).ConclusionsThis study has shown that both cytoplasmic BCLAF1 expression and nuclear BCLAF1 expression are increased in post‐neoadjuvant therapy rectal cancer, and that negative and weak nuclear BCLAF1 expression are independently associated with a poor prognosis.
Vitamin D, osteoprotegerin/receptor activator of nuclear factor‐kappaB ligand (OPG/RANKL) and inflammation with alendronate treatment in HIV‐infected patients with reduced bone mineral density
Authors: Natsag J , Kendall MA , Sellmeyer DE , McComsey GA , Brown TT 
Published: July 2015

ObjectivesThe aim of the study was to determine the effect of alendronate (ALN) on inflammatory markers and osteoprotegerin (OPG)/receptor activator of nuclear factor‐kappaB ligand (RANKL), and to explore the associations of baseline systemic inflammation and vitamin D status on the bone mineral density (BMD) response to ALN.MethodsEighty‐two HIV‐positive patients with lumbar spine T‐score ≤ −1.5 were randomized to ALN 70 mg weekly or placebo for 48 weeks; all received calcium carbonate 500 mg/vitamin D3 200 IU twice daily. Serum C‐telopeptide (CTx) and BMD were assessed at baseline and week 48. Stored plasma samples in 70 subjects were assayed for levels of 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D), OPG, RANKL, interleukin (IL)‐6 and soluble receptors for tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α 1 and 2 (sTNFR 1 and 2).ResultsALN increased BMD more than placebo at both the lumbar spine (difference ALN − placebo 2.64%; P = 0.011) and the total hip (difference 2.27%; P = 0.016). No within‐ or between‐arm differences in OPG, RANKL or inflammatory markers were observed over 48 weeks. High baseline CTx and sTNFR2 were associated with a more robust BMD response to ALN over 48 weeks at the lumbar spine [difference 5.66%; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.50, 7.82; P < 0.0001] and total hip (difference 4.99%; 95% CI 2.40, 7.57; P = 0.0002), respectively. Baseline 25(OH)D < 32 ng/mL was associated with larger increases in total hip BMD over 48 weeks, independent of ALN treatment (P = 0.014).ConclusionsAmong HIV‐positive patients, higher baseline bone resorption and TNF‐α activity were associated with an increased BMD response to ALN. The greater BMD response in those with lower vitamin D reinforces the importance of vitamin D supplementation with bisphosphonate treatment.
Managing a nosocomial outbreak of carbapenem‐resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae: an early Australian hospital experience
Authors: Chang L. W. K. , Buising K. L. , Jeremiah C. J. , Cronin K. , Poy Lorenzo Y. S. , Howden B. P. , Kwong J. , Cocks J. , Blood A. , Greenough J. , Waters M. J. 
Published: July 2015

AbstractBackgroundCarbapenems are traditionally reserved as the last line of defence for treatment of serious infections with multiresistant Gram‐negative bacilli. Reports of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)‐producing organisms have been emerging globally, but rare in Australasia to date. We describe an outbreak of KPC‐2 producing K. pneumoniae at an Australian hospital.MethodsAfter initial detection in October 2012, a retrospective review of patients with meropenem‐resistant K. pneumoniae to June 2012, and ongoing prospective surveillance, was undertaken. Included patients were admitted to the hospital after June 2012 and had meropenem‐resistant K. pneumoniae isolated from any site. Available isolates underwent detection of the KPC‐2 gene by polymerase chain reaction and molecular typing was performed to determine genetic relatedness between isolates. Point‐prevalence screening was performed on selected wards to detect asymptomatic carriage. Infection control procedures were implemented to contain the outbreak.ResultsTen cases were identified in the initial cluster. Eight were localised to a single inpatient ward. Point‐prevalence screening revealed one extra case. After temporary containment, re‐emergence of KPC‐producing isolates was observed post October 2013 with 18 further cases identified. Four K. pneumoniae isolates in the 2012 cluster and 16 from the 2013–2014 cluster were referred for further testing. All carried the KPC‐2 beta‐lactamase gene. The 2012 isolates were genetically similar to the 2014 isolates.ConclusionKPC‐2 mediated resistance is an emerging threat in Australia. The re‐emergence of KPC despite initial containment emphasises the need for constant vigilance in the microbiology laboratory and ongoing maintenance of infection control and antimicrobial stewardship activity.