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In our rapidly changing world, understanding how species respond to shifting conditions is of paramount importance. Pharmaceutical pollutants are widespread in aquatic ecosystems globally, yet their impacts on animal behaviour, life‐history and reproductive allocation remain poorly understood, especially in the context of intraspecific variation in ecologically important traits that facilitate species' adaptive capacities. We test whether a widespread pharmaceutical pollutant, fluoxetine (Prozac), disrupts the trade‐off between individual‐level (co)variation in behavioural, life‐history and reproductive traits of freshwater fish. We exposed the progeny of wild‐caught guppies (Poecilia reticulata) to three field‐relevant levels of fluoxetine (mean measured concentrations: 0, 31.5 and 316 ng/L) for 5 years, across multiple generations. We used 12 independent laboratory populations and repeatedly quantified activity and risk‐taking behaviour of male guppies, capturing both mean behaviours and variation within and between individuals across exposure treatments. We also measured key life‐history traits (body condition, coloration and gonopodium size) and assessed post‐copulatory sperm traits (sperm vitality, number and velocity) that are known to be under strong sexual selection in polyandrous species. Intraspecific (co)variation of these traits was analysed using a comprehensive, multivariate statistical approach. Fluoxetine had a dose‐specific (mean) effect on the life‐history and sperm trait of guppies: low pollutant exposure altered male body condition and increased gonopodium size, but reduced sperm velocity. At the individual level, fluoxetine reduced the behavioural plasticity of guppies by eroding their within‐individual variation in both activity and risk‐taking behaviour. Fluoxetine also altered between‐individual correlations in pace‐of‐life syndrome traits: it triggered the emergence of correlations between behavioural and life‐history traits (e.g. activity and body condition) and between life‐history and sperm traits (e.g. gonopodium size and sperm vitality), but collapsed other between‐individual correlations (e.g. activity and gonopodium size). Our results reveal that chronic exposure to global pollutants can affect phenotypic traits at both population and individual levels, and even alter individual‐level correlations among such traits in a dose‐specific manner. We discuss the need to integrate individual‐level analyses and test behaviour in association with life‐history and reproductive traits to fully understand how animals respond to human‐induced environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Special concentrically braced frames (SCBFs) with in‐plane buckling (IPB) braces are often designed using the provisions applicable for out‐of‐plane buckling (OOPB) brace systems. As a result, the IPB brace systems may fail in the undesirable modes as observed in past experimental studies. In this study, a novel simplified analytical formulation based on the rigid beam spring model (RBSM) has been proposed to prevent the out‐of‐plane buckling of IPB braces. A high‐fidelity finite element model (FEM) is generated and validated with the experimental studies incorporating the influence of the residual stress, imperfection, and strain hardening. The variability, sensitivity, and uncertainties involved in predicting the direction of buckling of braces are examined. A parametric study has been carried out to investigate the influence of thickness and clearance of the gusset and knife plates, geometric imperfections, slenderness ratios, compactness ratios, residual stresses, and frame actions considering the most destabilizing effect in the OOPB mode. The third mode of buckling, termed as the mixed‐mode of buckling, has been observed in this study. A design criterion is proposed to get the desired IPB mode of buckling of braces in SCBFs. Multivariate regression analysis is carried out to incorporate the impact of various parameters as well as uncertainties in the formulation of the design criteria. The validity of the proposed equation is verified by comparing the findings of past experimental studies for various loading scenarios. Finally, a resistance factor of 0.8 in the LRFD approach has been proposed for the IPB brace systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV)‐driven oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas (OPSCCs) demonstrate superior outcome compared with HPV‐negative OPSCCs. The eighth edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer/Union for International Cancer Control (AJCC/UICC) tumor, lymph node, metastasis (TNM) classification (TNM 2017) modifies OPSCC staging based on p16 positivity as a surrogate for HPV‐driven disease. In p16‐negative OPSCCs, lymph node (N) categories include extracapsular/extranodal extension (ECE); and, in p16‐positive OPSCCs, N categories are based on the number of positive neck lymph nodes omitting ECE status. The objective of the current study was to assess the prognostic impact of positive ECE status and the detection of HPV16 DNA in patients with p16‐positive OPSCC. Methods: In a cohort of 92 patients with p16‐positive, lymph node (N)‐positive (stage III‐IVB) OPSCC who underwent surgery and neck dissection, allowing for a pathologic examination of positive lymph nodes, 66 of 92 patients (71.4%) were p16‐positive/HPV16 DNA‐positive, 62 of 92 (67%) were ECE‐positive, and 45 of 62 (72.6%) were ECE‐positive, p16‐positive, and HPV16 DNA‐positive. Differences in outcome were assessed using Kaplan‐Meier plots and Cox proportional hazard regression (CoxR) for tumor‐specific survival and overall survival (OS). Results: The mean numbers of positive lymph nodes in ECE‐positive patients (5.0 positive lymph nodes; 95% CI, 3.8‐6.4 positive lymph nodes) and ECE‐negative patients (2.4 positive lymph nodes; 95% CI, 1.8‐2.9 positive lymph nodes) were different (P =.0007). ECE affected OS and tumor‐specific survival in p16‐positive patients (P =.007 and P =.047, respectively) and in p16‐positive/HPV16 DNA‐positive patients (P =.013 and P =.026, respectively). Related to the unequal distributions of ECE‐positive/HPV16 DNA‐negative tumors, the TNM 2017 failed to discriminate OS in patients with UICC stage I, II, and III disease (mean OS, 54.5, 73.4, and 45 months, respectively; median OS, 64.7 months, not reached, and 41.1 months, respectively). According to a univariate CoxR, the presence of ECE predicted impaired OS in patients with p16‐positive OPSCC (hazard ratio, 3.40; 95% CI, 1.17‐9.89; P =.025) and even greater impaired OS in those with p16‐positive/HPV16 DNA‐positive OPSCC (HR, 8.64; 95% CI, 1.12‐66.40; P =.038). Multivariate CoxR confirmed ECE and HPV16 DNA detection as independent predictors. Conclusions: ECE and HPV16 DNA status should be included in the prognostic staging of patients with p16‐positive OPSCC because several lines of evidence demonstrate their impact on survival. In a consecutive sample of 92 patients with p16‐positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent surgery with or without adjuvant radiotherapy/chemotherapy, extracapsular extension of neck lymph nodes and the absence of detectable human papillomavirus (HPV) subtype 16 DNA are linked to impaired outcomes. The staging of these patients should not omit but, rather, should include an assessment of HPV type 16 DNA and extracapsular extension because both are independent prognostic factors for overall survival and other outcome measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pulse corticosteroid therapy is effective for alopecia areata (AA) in the early stage. The risk and efficacy of this therapy for patients with several backgrounds, however, remains controversial. To explore the predictive factors of the response and risk factors of this therapy, data from 105 AA patients treated with methylprednisolone (500 mg) i.v. for 3 days consecutively in our facility were retrospectively analyzed. Among good responders, longer time from the onset to therapy was correlated with longer time required for hair regrowth (P = 0.037, n = 27). Multivariate models demonstrated that "severity", "relapse" and longer "duration from the latest onset" were significantly and independently associated with poorer outcome (P < 0.01). "History of atopic dermatitis (AD)" was also associated with poorer outcome, but this correlation could be explained by the effect that duration from the latest onset of AA was longer among participants with AD. We propose that earlier initiation of pulse corticosteroid therapy is preferable for better outcome of AA, particularly among patients with AD. Clinicians should be mindful of the occurrence of mild adverse effects in the elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A simple and efficient method for Suzuki cross-coupling of highly substituted and congested 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzene with phenylboronic acid was developed, investigated, and optimized. The reaction conditions comprises a mixture of MeOH and water (4:1) as the reaction medium, readily available and cheap Pd(PPh3)4 as catalyst, sodium carbonate as base, and microwave heating, which affords a fast reaction rate with good outcomes. The procedure was proven to have high functional group tolerance with phenylboronic acid and for 1-chloro-2-nitrobenzene and thus is a general method for the synthesis of 2-nitrobiphenyl. The target scaffold, 2-nitrobiphenyls, was produced in excellent yields with excellent selectivities in all cases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A two-way switchable Pd-catalyzed process that can pursue two different mechanisms, namely hydro- and methoxy-deiodination was discovered, developed, and optimized by means of statistical experimental design, multivariate modelling, and response surface methodology. The investigation revealed that the two-way switchable process might be controlled either by ligand alone, or by ligand and other process variables in combination. The present study represents the first example of a catalytic system that provides either hydro- or methoxy-deiodination selectively by simply fine-tuning the experimental variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT A growing number of firms are considering the incorporation of environmental thinking into their business strategies, hoping to improve their competitiveness. In this paper, we analyze the effects of pollution prevention and service stewardship capabilities on firm differentiation advantage in the third-party logistics industry. Since prior research claims that complementary assets play an important role in fully understanding the environmental-management-competitiveness link, we furthermore examine the moderating role of environmental communication on the pollution-prevention-differentiation and the service-stewardship-differentiation linkages. We theoretically base our research in natural-resource-based thinking. Drawing on survey data, we apply multivariate regression and moderation analysis. The results highlight that pollution prevention and service stewardship capabilities can help third-party logistics providers to achieve a differentiation advantage. Also, the results show that environmental communication moderates the effect of pollution prevention on differentiation advantage and can hence be considered a valuable complementary asset. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the mid-1990s, the East Asian countries experienced severe financial crisis that were followed by deep economic downturns. A variety of methodologies have been used to understand the nature of the Asian financial crisis. However, the impact of the 1997 Asian financial crisis on the efficiency of the financial industry has yet to be studied. By employing the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) approach the present study attempts to examine for the first time the impact of the 1997 Asian financial crisis on the efficiency of the Malaysian and Thailand banking sectors, two of the East Asian countries that were severely affected by the crisis. The study focuses on three major approaches vis., intermediation, value added and operating approaches. The results clearly bring forth the high degree of inefficiency in the Malaysian and Thailand banking sectors, particularly a year after the crisis. We find that the Malaysian banking sector has exhibited a higher TE levels during the post crisis period under the intermediation and value added approaches, while TE seems to be lower under the operating approach. The empirical findings suggest that the Thailand banking sector has exhibited a lower TE level during the post crisis period under all approaches. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Changes in cladoceran subfossils in the surface sediments of 54 shallow lakes were studied along a European latitude gradient (36–68°N). Multivariate methods, such as regression trees and ordination, were applied to explore the relationships between cladoceran taxa distribution and contemporary environmental variables, with special focus on the impact of climate. 2. Multivariate regression tree analysis showed distinct differences in cladoceran community structure and lake characteristics along the latitude gradient, identifying three groups: (i) northern lakes characterised by low annual mean temperature, conductivity, nutrient concentrations and fish abundance, (ii) southern, macrophyte rich, warm water lakes with high conductivity and high fish abundance and (iii) Mid-European lakes at intermediate latitudes with intermediate conductivities, trophic state and temperatures. 3. Large-sized, pelagic species dominated a group of seven northern lakes with low conductivity, where acid-tolerant species were also occasionally abundant. Small-sized, benthic-associated species dominated a group of five warm water lakes with high conductivity. Cladoceran communities generally showed low species-specific preferences for habitat and environmental conditions in the Mid-European group of lakes. Taxon richness was low in the southern-most, high-conductivity lakes as well as in the two northern-most sub-arctic lakes. 4. The proportion of cladoceran resting eggs relative to body shields was high in the northern lakes, and linearly (negatively) related to both temperature and Chl a, indicating that both cold climate (short growing season) and low food availability induce high ephippia production. 5. Latitude and, implicitly, temperature were strongly correlated with conductivity and nutrient concentrations, highlighting the difficulties of disentangling a direct climate signal from indirect effects of climate, such as changes in fish community structure and human-related impacts, when a latitude gradient is used as a climate proxy. Future studies should focus on the interrelationships between latitude and gradients in nutrient concentration and conductivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The tendency to engage in risky behaviours is a core feature of the manic episodes of bipolar disorder. The aim of this study was to establish whether this characteristic can be quantified with a laboratory measure of decision making [the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT)] and to determine clinical correlates of the IGT performance in mania. Methods: Inpatients with acute mania (n = 45) and healthy volunteers (n = 45) were assessed on the IGT. Affective symptomatology was assessed with the Young Mania Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and item scores were subjected to factor analysis. Multivariate regression was used to assess clinical predictors of impaired decision making in the manic patients. Results: On the IGT, manic patients selected more cards from the risky decks than healthy controls, and showed little capacity to learn from incurred losses. In a multivariate analysis, impaired decision making ability in the manic patients was significantly predicted by a symptom factor associated with lack of insight. Conclusions: Manic patients clearly show defects in decision making, which are strongly related to their lack of insight. Neural circuitry supporting effective decision making, including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and somatosensory cortex, may be implicated in the pathophysiology of acute mania. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on analyses of the ecological environments of the Neolithic sites along the Chan and Ba Rivers in the Xi’an area (Shaanxi Province, China), it was found that the characteristic factors of the sites had a very close relationship with the nearby river. The characteristic factors of Neolithic sites have been analysed and defined as mathematical parameters by statistical methods. A mathematical model of the human–land relationship between Neolithic sites and rivers has been established using the stepwise regression procedure REGRESS in SPSS®. The mathematical model is Y = 496.153 – 4.833X1 + 113.692X3 + 725.097X5 – 27.683X3X4. It shows that the distance (Y) from a site to a river has a marked relationship with the site area (X1), the river flux (X3), the site location (X5) and river ratio drop (X4). The model shows that the relationship between the sites and the river is in accordance with the conclusions of archaeological research. The mathematical model not only offers theoretical guidance for the archaeological excavation of Neolithic sites in Xi’an, but also contributes to the archaeological environmental research of Xi’an Neolithic sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the longitudinal trend of depressive symptoms in the Netherlands, using large–scale national data recorded over the period 1975–1996. Our analyses showed fluctuations in the overall longitudinal trend. On the basis of a general theoretical framework, we formulated hypotheses concerning which socio–demographic characteristics determine the likelihood of suffering from depressive symptoms and how these associations might have changed over time. Our results revealed that people on low incomes, unemployed people, unmarried people and those who had given up their church membership were associated with depressive symptoms. Some associations between socio–demographic categories and depressive symptoms have changed over time. Divorced people have become progressively less likely to suffer from depressive symptoms compared with married people, whereas the reverse holds for those who were never married. People on low incomes have become more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms over time in comparison to people with the highest incomes. Gender differences in these associations were also found: educational level and church attendance were more beneficial to women in protecting them from depressive symptoms than they were to men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

By means of a multivariate regression analysis, we have studied the importance of atopy, "wet" and "dry" occupations, and domestic work as risk factors for hand eczema. Hand eczema was identified by questionnaire. The studied cohort consisted of 2452 newly employed hospital workers with a median follow-up time of 20 months. Of the total cohort studied, 86% were Female. The total occurrence of hand eczema in the 4 occupational groups studied were: nursing staff 41%, kitchen workers/cleaners 37%, office workers 25% and caretakers/craftsmen 17%. Atopic dermatitis increased the odds of developing hand eczema by 3 times in wet as well as in dry work. Subjects with atopic dermatitis developed a more severe hand eczema than subjects with atopic mucosal symptoms and non-atopics. Wet hospital work increased the odds by a factor of 2 compared to dry office work. 2 anamnestically available parameters of domestic work, namely "nursing of children younger than 4 years" and "absence of dish-washing machine" were found to significantly increase the risk of developing hand eczema. Wet work in combination with unfavourable domestic factors increased the odds by a factor of 4. The caretakers/craftsmen group, which was dominated by men, showed the Lowest Figure for hand eczema. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To compare the efficacy of low and relatively high dosages of recombinant interferon (IFN)-α-2a in Japanese patients with chronic hepatitis C, as well as to characterize the type of patients who will respond well to a low-dosage treatment, 88 patients with histologically proven chronic hepatitis C were randomly assigned to two treatment groups; one treated with IFN-α-2a 6 MU daily for 2 weeks followed by 6 MU three times weekly for 22 weeks (6-MU group), and another given the same initial treatment followed by 3 MU three times weekly for 22 weeks (3-MU group). The rate of sustained normalization of ALT 6 months after the cessation of treatment was 33% in the 3-MU group and 40% in the 6-MU group ( p=0.64). In addition, there was no difference in elimination of serum HCV-RNA 6 months after the cessation of treatment between the 3-MU group (26%) and 6-MU group (29%). Multivariate stepwise regression analysis revealed that serum HCV-RNA level ( p=0.0035) and platelet count ( p=0.0009) were independent variables useful in predicting a sustained response of ALT. The sustained response rate of ALT in patients with a serum HCV-RNA level less than 105 copies/ml and serum platelet level above 15×104/μl was 71%, whereas that in patients with a serum HCV-RNA level above 105 copies/ml and serum platelet level less than 15×104/μl was 12%. These results indicate that a high rate of sustained response to IFN therapy can be expected in chronic hepatitis C patients with a low serum level of HCV-RNA and a high level of platelets, even if treated with a low dose of IFN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]