Additional Negative Effects Research Articles

Additive negative effects of anthropogenic sedimentation and warming on the survival of coral recruits

Corals worldwide are facing population declines due to global climate change and local anthropogenic impacts. Global climate change effects are hard to tackle but recent studies show that some coral species can better handle climate change stress when provided with additional energy resources. The local stressor that most undermines energy acquisition is sedimentation because it impedes coral heterotrophic feeding and their ability to photosynthesize. To investigate if reducing local sedimentation will enable corals to better endure ocean warming, we quantitatively assessed the combined effects of increased temperature and sedimentation (concentration and turbidity) on the survival of coral recruits of the species, Porites astreoides. We used sediment from a reef and a boat basin to mimic natural sediment (coarse) and anthropogenic (fine) sediment (common in dredging), respectively. Natural sediment did not negatively impact coral survival, but anthropogenic sediment did. We found that the capacity of coral recruits to survive under warmer temperatures is less compromised when anthropogenic sedimentation is maintained at the lowest level (30 mg.cm−2). Our study suggests that a reduction of US-EPA allowable turbidity from 29 Nephelometric Turbidity Units (NTU) above background to less than 7 NTU near coral reefs would facilitate coral recruit survival under current and higher temperatures.

The phylogenetic structure of AMF communities shifts in response to gradient warming with and without winter grazing on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have been demonstrated to influence many ecological processes in their natural ecosystems. However, little is known about how AMF communities respond to gradient warming and grazing, especially winter grazing. In the present study, we conducted an experiment to examine the interaction between warming and winter grazing, simulated by clipping before the growing season, to measure changes in the AMF community across a warming gradient with and without winter clipping in an alpine meadow ecosystem. A total of 63 phylotypes of AMF were identified using 454 pyrosequencing. Both warming and clipping reduced AMF species richness, but had no additive negative effects. The clipping alone and the interaction between warming and clipping changed the AMF species composition, but not its phylogenetic composition. The phylogenetic structure of AMF communities were dramatically changed from phylogenetically random to convergent across our warming gradient under the unclipped treatments and were phylogenetically random in all treatments with clipping. Our findings suggest that the primary ecological processes determining AMF communities shift from stochastic processes to habitat filtering across our warming gradient under the unclipped treatments, whilst there was no such shift under the clipped treatments. This study highlights that the removal of standing dead biomass through winter grazing serves a key role in regulating soil microbial diversity in the much warmer world.

Outcomes of intrathecal baclofen therapy in patients with cerebral palsy and acquired brain injury.

Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) has been known to reduce spasticity which did not respond to oral medications and botulinum toxin treatment. However, few results have been reported comparing the effects of ITB therapy in patients with cerebral palsy (CP) and acquired brain injury. This study aimed to investigate beneficial and adverse effects of ITB bolus injection and pump therapy in patients with CP and to compare outcomes to patients with acquired brain injury such as traumatic brain injury and hypoxic brain injury. ITB test trials were performed in 37 patients (19 CP and 18 acquired brain injury). Based on ambulatory function, CP patients were divided into 2 groups: 11 patients with nonambulatory CP and 8 patients with ambulatory CP. Change of spasticity was evaluated using the Modified Ashworth Scale. Additional positive or negative effects were also evaluated after ITB bolus injection. In patients who received ITB pump implantation, outcomes of spasticity, subjective satisfaction and adverse events were evaluated until 12 months post-treatment. After ITB bolus injection, 32 patients (86.5%) (CP 84.2% versus acquired brain injury 88.9%) showed a positive response of reducing spasticity. However, 8 patients with CP had negative adverse effects. Particularly, 3 ambulatory CP patients showed standing impairment and 1 ambulatory CP patient showed impaired gait pattern such as foot drop because of excessive reduction of lower extremity muscle tone. Ambulatory CP patients received ITB pump implantation less than patients with acquired brain injury after ITB test trials (P = .003 by a chi-squared test). After the pump implantation, spasticity was significantly reduced within 1 month and the effect maintained for 12 months. Seventeen patients or their caregivers (73.9%) were very satisfied, whereas 5 patients (21.7%) suffered from adverse events showed no subjective satisfaction. In conclusion, ITB therapy was effective in reducing spasticity in patients with CP and acquired brain injury. Before ITB pump implantation, it seems necessary to perform the ITB bolus injection to verify beneficial effects and adverse effects especially in ambulatory CP.

Dissimilar effects of organohalogenated compounds on thyroid hormones in glaucous gulls

The glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) is an arctic top predator and scavenger exposed to high levels of mixtures of organohalogenated contaminants (OHCs) of which many interfere with the thyroid hormone (TH) system. In the present study, we applied statistical modeling to investigate the potential combined influence of the mixture of chlorinated, brominated and perfluorinated organic compounds in plasma of glaucous gulls on their plasma TH concentrations. In females, there were significant negative associations between several organochlorinated compounds (OCs) and free thyroxin (FT4) and triiodothyronine (FT3), indicating additive negative effects on FT4 and FT3. However, in these females there was also a significant positive association between perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and FT3. The inverse associations between several OCs and FT3 and the contrasting positive association between PFOS and FT3, indicate that these two groups of OHCs may have dissimilar and antagonistic effects on FT3 in female glaucous gulls. In males, there were no associations between any of the OHCs and the THs. That OHCs affect THs in a complex manner involving both additive and antagonistic effects add to the challenge of interpreting the overall functional effect of thyroid disruptive chemicals in wildlife. However, experimental studies are needed to confirm or disprove such effects.

Unveiling the recovery time zone of tolerance: when time matters in service recovery

This article examines the link between recovery time and customer compensation expectations for service failures that cannot be immediately redressed. First, we show that the relationship between recovery time and compensation expectations is nonlinear. Initially, in a recovery time zone of tolerance, compensation expectations do not increase. Beyond this zone, the relationship follows an inverted U-shape, such that compensation expectations first increase but decrease in the long run. Second, our results show that long recovery times are accompanied by additional negative effects, including lower satisfaction with the recovery and negative word of mouth, so postponing service recovery represents a poor option. Third, relationship strength functions as a moderator. First-time customers expect higher compensation earlier; relational customers display a recovery time zone of tolerance but claim considerably higher compensations afterwards. Fourth, communication initiatives like the separate provision of status updates or an explanation may limit increases in compensation expectations over time. Still, their joint usage creates a “too-much-of-a-good-thing” effect, suggesting that if the usage of communication initiatives is taken too far it may lead to negative outcomes such as increasing compensation expectations.

Antecedents and Consequences of MNE Bribery: A Multilevel Review

As bribery constitutes a highly complex phenomenon, there is need for an integrative understanding to identify effective tackling tactics at multiple levels. In this vein, our literature review contributes to the research on bribery by depicting the multiple levels of analysis that collectively embrace the phenomenon of bribery. In particular, we depict multinational enterprises’ (MNEs) motivation to bribe as well as enabling factors within the MNEs but also within the target country that provide the ground for MNE bribery payments. Besides, we also discuss home country characteristics that contribute to MNE bribery in the target country. Considering outcomes of bribery, we discuss profits and costs for MNEs as well as for the target country. Thereby, we show that apart from negative effects for the target country, MNEs’ benefits are questionable and have to be seen in the context of additional unintended negative effects related to bribery.

Stress acclimation and particulate matter accumulation in Pinus sylvestris saplings affected by moderate combinations of urban stressors

To predict how the function of urban vegetation and the provision of ecosystem services respond to combinations of natural and anthropogenic drivers, a better understanding of multiple stress interactions is required. This study tested combined effects of moderate levels of drought, soil salinity and exposure to diesel exhaust on parameters of physiology, metabolism, morphology and growth of Pinus sylvestris L. saplings. We found that plant responses were primarily dominated by single stressors and a few two-way interactions. Stressor combinations did not have considerable additional negative effects on plant performance compared to single stressors. Hence, synergistic and antagonistic interactions were rare and additive effects frequent. Drought cycles caused most negative effects, from chlorophyll a fluorescence and epicuticular wax content to growth responses, while soil salinity caused fewer negative effects but contributed to reduction in fine root growth and fluorescence parameters at low air contamination. Interestingly, the air contamination alone had only marginal effects on plant morphology and growth, but contributed an antagonistic effect, dampening the negative effect of drought and salinity on the maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and fine root biomass. Although, these effects were moderate, it appears that exhaust exposure had a cross-acclimation effect on plant responses to drought and salinity. We also found that salinity had a negative effect on the accumulation of particulate matter on shoots, illustrating that the plant stress situation can affect the provisioning of certain ecosystem services like pollution attenuation. These findings have implications for the understanding of the complex natural and anthropogenic stress situation of urban, and how to maintain the ecological functions and delivery of ecosystem services.

The litigation of tax benefit preservation plans

PurposeThe authors study the shareholder wealth effects of the adoption and subsequent litigation confirming the validity of shareholder right plans that are enacted to protect a firm’s net operating loss (NOL) carry forwards (tax benefit preservation plans (TBPPs)). The purpose of this paper is to expand the understanding of nontraditional shareholder rights plans, which are becoming increasingly more common.Design/methodology/approachThis paper considers abnormal returns around TBPP adoptions and Delaware Court rulings that validated their use. The authors study 118 plans adopted between 1998 and 2011. Abnormal returns are measured using both a market model and a performance-matched sample.FindingsThe authors find that abnormal returns are negative at the announcement of a new TBPP. However, the full impact of plan adoption on share prices is not evident until the Delaware Courts validated their use. The Delaware Court rulings in the case of Selectica, Inc. v. Versata Enterprises, Inc. and Trilogy, Inc. are associated with additional negative wealth effects for both prior plan adopters and the firms most likely to consider adopting a plan. These results suggest that entrenchment concerns tend to outweigh the protection of NOL carry forwards when firms adopt TBPPs.Originality/valueThis study was the first to consider the adoption of TBPPs. Currently, it is the only study that considers Delaware Court rulings related to these plans, which allows us to successfully disentangle the entrenchment hypothesis from the potential alternative hypothesis that the negative announcement period returns are driven by investors updating their expectations for firm performance.

Panmixia in a Critically Endangered Fish: The Totoaba (Totoaba macdonaldi) in the Gulf of California.

Conservation of the evolutionary legacy of endangered species is a key component for long-term persistence. Totoaba is a long-lived fish endemic to the Gulf of California and is considered critically endangered. There is currently a debate concerning its conservation status and whether it can be used as a fishery resource. Unfortunately, basic information on biological and genetic population structure of the species is lacking. We sampled 313 individuals and employed 16 microsatellite loci and 3 mitochondrial DNA markers (16S, 547 pb; COI, 619 pb; control region, 650 pb) to assess population structure and demography of totoaba in the Gulf of California, with samples from locations that encompass nearly all of its recognized geographic distribution. We could not reject a hypothesis of panmixia for totoaba, using nuclear or mitochondrial markers. Demographic analysis of mtDNA suggests a sudden population expansion model. The results have important implications for totoaba conservation because poaching is a significant conservation challenge and could have additive negative effects over the single population of totoaba in the Gulf of California.

Relative impact of COPD and comorbidities on generic health-related quality of life: a pooled analysis of the COSYCONET patient cohort and control subjects from the KORA and SHIP studies.

BackgroundHealth-related quality of life (HRQL) is an important patient-reported outcome measure used to describe the burden of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which is often accompanied by comorbid conditions.MethodsData from 2275 participants in the COPD cohort COSYCONET and from 4505 lung-healthy control subjects from the population-based KORA and SHIP studies were pooled. Main outcomes were the five dimensions of the generic EQ-5D-3 L questionnaire and two EQ-5D index scores using a tariff based on valuations from the general population and an experience-based tariff.The association of COPD in GOLD grades 1–4 and of several comorbid conditions with the EQ-5D index scores was quantified by multiple linear regression models while adjusting for age, sex, education, body mass index (BMI), and smoking status.ResultsFor all dimensions of the EQ-5D, the proportion of participants reporting problems was higher in the COPD group than in control subjects. COPD was associated with significant reductions in the EQ-5D index scores (-0.05 points for COPD grades 1/2, -0.09 for COPD grade 3, -0.18 for COPD grade 4 according to the preference-based utility tariff, all p < 0.0001). Adjusted mean index scores were 0.89 in control subjects and 0.85, 0.84, 0.81, and 0.72 in COPD grades 1-4 according to the preference-based utility tariff and 0.76, 0.71, 0.68, 0.64, and 0.58 for control subjects and COPD grades 1-4 for the experience-based tariff respectively. Comorbidities had additive negative effects on the index scores; the effect sizes for comorbidities were comparable to or smaller than the effects of COPD grade 3. No statistically significant interactions between COPD and comorbidities were observed. Score differences between COPD patients and control subjects were most pronounced in younger age groups.ConclusionsCompared with control subjects, the considerable reduction of HRQL in patients with COPD was mainly due to respiratory limitations, but observed comorbidities added linearly to this effect. Younger COPD patients showed a greater loss of HRQL and may therefore be in specific need of comprehensive disease management.Trial registrationNCT01245933

Relationship between photosynthetically active radiation and understory productivity across a forest-savanna continuum

Conversion of closed-canopy forests to open woodland and savanna structure is an important objective related to ecosystem restoration and management of wildlife habitat. Our objective was to determine how aboveground net primary production (ANPP) of the understory at the forest-prairie ecotone of the Southern Great Plains, USA is affected by availability and interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) as modified by overstory tree cover. The study site included a continuum from closed-canopy Pinus echinata/Quercus stellata dominated forest to savanna. More open-canopy treatments were created by harvesting and thinning trees in 1984 and implementation of fire return interval between one and four years (1985–2013). During the 2013 growing season, we measured PAR interception by the overstory using repeated hemispherical photographs (fIPARo), calculated total PAR available to the understory (TAPARu), and measured PAR intercepted by the understory (TIPARu) using repeated ceptometer measurements. ANPP of grasses, forbs, legumes, and woody plants in the understory was measured by clip plots at the end of the growing season and correlated to TAPARu and TIPARu. ANPP increased as TAPARu increased (less than 25gm−2y−1 in closed-canopy forest to >300gm−2y−1 in savanna areas) and dominance within the understory shifted from woody plants to C4 grasses along the forest to savanna continuum. However, the relationship between ANPP per TAPARu shifted lower in the forested treatments (28.9gANPPm−2y−1 at 1486MJPARm−2y−1) compared to the savanna treatments (66.8gANPPm−2y−1 at 1486MJPARm−2y−1). In contrast, the relationship between ANPP and TIPARu was consistent across the forest-savanna continuum. The net effect was that where trees occur in greater abundance they exert additional negative effects on ANPP beyond the capture of PAR. Stand level basal area of approximately 10m2ha−1 or lower appears sufficient to shift ANPP per TAPARu upwards.

Hypoxia and acidification in ocean ecosystems: coupled dynamics and effects on marine life.

There is increasing recognition that low dissolved oxygen (DO) and low pH conditions co-occur in many coastal and open ocean environments. Within temperate ecosystems, these conditions not only develop seasonally as temperatures rise and metabolic rates accelerate, but can also display strong diurnal variability, especially in shallow systems where photosynthetic rates ameliorate hypoxia and acidification by day. Despite the widespread, global co-occurrence of low pH and low DO and the likelihood that these conditions may negatively impact marine life, very few studies have actually assessed the extent to which the combination of both stressors elicits additive, synergistic or antagonistic effects in marine organisms. We review the evidence from published factorial experiments that used static and/or fluctuating pH and DO levels to examine different traits (e.g. survival, growth, metabolism), life stages and species across a broad taxonomic spectrum. Additive negative effects of combined low pH and low DO appear to be most common; however, synergistic negative effects have also been observed. Neither the occurrence nor the strength of these synergistic impacts is currently predictable, and therefore, the true threat of concurrent acidification and hypoxia to marine food webs and fisheries is still not fully understood. Addressing this knowledge gap will require an expansion of multi-stressor approaches in experimental and field studies, and the development of a predictive framework. In consideration of marine policy, we note that DO criteria in coastal waters have been developed without consideration of concurrent pH levels. Given the persistence of concurrent low pH-low DO conditions in estuaries and the increased mortality experienced by fish and bivalves under concurrent acidification and hypoxia compared with hypoxia alone, we conclude that such DO criteria may leave coastal fisheries more vulnerable to population reductions than previously anticipated.

Effects of geolocators on hatching success, return rates, breeding movements, and change in body mass in 16 species of Arctic-breeding shorebirds.

BackgroundGeolocators are useful for tracking movements of long-distance migrants, but potential negative effects on birds have not been well studied. We tested for effects of geolocators (0.8–2.0 g total, representing 0.1–3.9 % of mean body mass) on 16 species of migratory shorebirds, including five species with 2–4 subspecies each for a total of 23 study taxa. Study species spanned a range of body sizes (26–1091 g) and eight genera, and were tagged at 23 breeding and eight nonbreeding sites. We compared breeding performance and return rates of birds with geolocators to control groups while controlling for potential confounding variables.ResultsWe detected negative effects of tags for three small-bodied species. Geolocators reduced annual return rates for two of 23 taxa: by 63 % for semipalmated sandpipers and by 43 % for the arcticola subspecies of dunlin. High resighting effort for geolocator birds could have masked additional negative effects. Geolocators were more likely to negatively affect return rates if the total mass of geolocators and color markers was 2.5–5.8 % of body mass than if tags were 0.3–2.3 % of body mass. Carrying a geolocator reduced nest success by 42 % for semipalmated sandpipers and tripled the probability of partial clutch failure in semipalmated and western sandpipers. Geolocators mounted perpendicular to the leg on a flag had stronger negative effects on nest success than geolocators mounted parallel to the leg on a band. However, parallel-band geolocators were more likely to reduce return rates and cause injuries to the leg. No effects of geolocators were found on breeding movements or changes in body mass. Among-site variation in geolocator effect size was high, suggesting that local factors were important.ConclusionsNegative effects of geolocators occurred only for three of the smallest species in our dataset, but were substantial when present. Future studies could mitigate impacts of tags by reducing protruding parts and minimizing use of additional markers. Investigators could maximize recovery of tags by strategically deploying geolocators on males, previously marked individuals, and successful breeders, though targeting subsets of a population could bias the resulting migratory movement data in some species.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40462-016-0077-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Abstract P4-10-16: Long term effects of trastuzumab on cardiopulmonary and left ventricular function in women with HER2 overexpressing breast cancer

Abstract Background: Adjuvant trastuzumab (TRZ) is the standard of care for HER2-overexpressing (HER2+) early stage breast cancer (EBC) patients (PTS), with five-year survival rates exceeding 90%. However, significant cardiac toxicities are observed, with a fivefold increase in clinical heart failure (HF). Left ventricular (LV) remodeling (increased heart size and mass) is an early indicator of cardiac injury, progressing to further LV dysfunction, reduced exercise tolerance and overt HF. Therefore, effective prevention of such negative sequelae is of enormous clinical interest. As the pivotal TRZ trials assessed cardiac function with MUGA or echocardiography, insensitive modalities to evaluate LV remodeling, the long-term sequelae of TRZ remain unknown. Objective: to determine the long term effects of trastuzumab on cardiopulmonary and left ventricular function in women with HER2 overexpressing breast cancer. Additionally as aerobic training is an effective intervention in HF PTS who adhere to prescribed exercise, a sub-analysis compared those who adhered during a 4 month exercise intervention (AEX) vs those who did not adhere (NEX). Methods: 16 PTS (mean age 58 ± 7) who participated in an exercise intervention study during the first 4 months of TRZ therapy were recruited, with an average of 4 years elapsing since TRZ completion. Cardiopulmonary exercise (VO2peak) testing and resting cardiac MRI (CMR) were performed and compared with baseline and 4 month assessments. Adherence to exercise intevention was defined as attendance ≥80% prescribed sessions. Results: All 16 PTS reported independent living with no limitations to ADLs. At 4 years, mean VO2peak for all PTS was 22.4 ml/kg/min (20.0 at baseline and 22.0 at 4 months). In AEX PTS, higher VO2peak persisted 4 years after cessation of therapy, 4.1 mL/kg/min higher than NEX PTS (24.9 and 20.8 mL/kg/min, respectively ). Mean LVEF for all PTS was 60 ± 6%, not significantly different from baseline or 4 months (61 ± 5 and 55 ± 4%, respectively) . Statistically significant interactions of exercise adherence to other CMR metrics were not observed. Conclusions: Clinically significant impairment of cardiopulmonary function (equal to 14 years of aging) are present before therapy and persist in PTS four years following exposure to TRZ-based chemotherapy. This observation is consistent with our other work, and occurs on a background of normal LVEF, implying additional negative effects to other components of the oxygen cascade. As mortality risk has been shown to decrease by 17% for every 3.5 mL/kg/min difference in aerobic capacity in healthy females, these findings indicate adherence to exercise interventions during TRZ-based therapy has potentially important long-term implications. Citation Format: Pituskin E, Paterson I, Ghosh S, Mackey JR, Haykowsky MJ. Long term effects of trastuzumab on cardiopulmonary and left ventricular function in women with HER2 overexpressing breast cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-10-16.

Carryover effect of postpartum inflammatory diseases on developmental biology and fertility in lactating dairy cows

The objective of this series of studies was to investigate the effects of inflammatory diseases occurring before breeding on the developmental biology and reproductive responses in dairy cows. Data from 5 studies were used to investigate different questions associating health status before breeding and reproductive responses. Health information for all studies was composed of the incidence of retained fetal membranes, metritis, mastitis, lameness, and respiratory and digestive problems from parturition until the day of breeding. Retained placenta and metritis were grouped as uterine disease (UTD). Mastitis, lameness, digestive and respiratory problems were grouped as nonuterine diseases (NUTD). Study 1 evaluated the effect of disease before artificial insemination (AI), anovulation before synchronization of the estrous cycle, and low body condition score at AI on pregnancy per AI, as well as their potential interactions or additive effects. Study 2 investigated the effect of site of inflammation (UTD vs. NUTD) and time of occurrence relative to preantral or antral stages of ovulatory follicle development, and the effect of UTD and NUTD on fertility responses of cows bred by AI or by embryo transfer. Study 3 evaluated the effect of disease on fertilization and embryonic development to the morula stage. Study 4 evaluated the effect of disease on preimplantation conceptus development as well as secretion of IFN-τ and transcriptome. Study 5 investigated the effect of diseases before AI on the transcript expression of interferon-stimulated genes in peripheral blood leukocytes during peri-implantation stages of conceptus development after first AI postpartum. Altogether, these studies demonstrated that inflammatory disease before breeding reduced fertilization of oocytes and development to morula, and impaired early conceptus development to elongation stages and secretion of IFN-τ in the uterine lumen. Diseases caused inflammation-like changes in transcriptome of conceptus cells, increased risk of pregnancy loss, and reduced pregnancy or calving per breeding. Moreover, the effects on reproduction were independent of cyclic status before synchronization of the estrous cycle and body condition score at breeding, which all had additive negative effects on fertility of dairy cows. Occurrence of disease at preantral or at antral stages of ovulatory follicle development had similar detrimental effects on pregnancy results. The carryover effects of diseases on developmental biology might last longer than 4 mo. Reduced oocyte competence is a likely reason for carryover effects of diseases on developmental biology, but impaired uterine environment was also shown to be involved.

The effects of habitat, climate, and Barred Owls on long-term demography of Northern Spotted Owls

ABSTRACT Estimates of species' vital rates and an understanding of the factors affecting those parameters over time and space can provide crucial information for management and conservation. We used mark–recapture, reproductive output, and territory occupancy data collected during 1985–2013 to evaluate population processes of Northern Spotted Owls (Strix occidentalis caurina) in 11 study areas in Washington, Oregon, and northern California, USA. We estimated apparent survival, fecundity, recruitment, rate of population change, and local extinction and colonization rates, and investigated relationships between these parameters and the amount of suitable habitat, local and regional variation in meteorological conditions, and competition with Barred Owls (Strix varia). Data were analyzed for each area separately and in a meta-analysis of all areas combined, following a strict protocol for data collection, preparation, and analysis. We used mixed effects linear models for analyses of fecundity, Cormack-Jolly-...

Psychomotor effects, pharmacokinetics and safety of the orexin receptor antagonist suvorexant administered in combination with alcohol in healthy subjects.

A double-blind crossover study investigated psychomotor effects, pharmacokinetics, and safety of the orexin receptor antagonist suvorexant with and without alcohol. Healthy adults (n=31) were randomized to receive placebo or suvorexant (40 mg) plus placebo solution or alcohol (0.7 g/kg) in each of four treatments (single doses; morning administration). The US Food and Drug Administration approved suvorexant dose is 10 mg (up to 20 mg) daily. Pharmacodynamic effects were assessed using tests of digit vigilance (DVT; primary endpoint), choice reaction time, digit symbol substitution, numeric working memory, immediate/delayed word recall, body sway and subjective alertness. Suvorexant alone did not significantly affect DVT reaction time, but did impact some pharmacodynamic tests. Suvorexant with alcohol increased reaction time versus either alone (mean difference at 2 h: 44 ms versus suvorexant, p<0.001; 24 ms, versus alcohol, p<0.05) and had additive negative effects on tests of vigilance, working/episodic memory, postural stability and alertness. No effects of suvorexant alone or with alcohol were observed by 9 h. No important changes in pharmacokinetic parameters were observed upon co-administration. All treatments were generally well tolerated without serious adverse events. In conclusion, co-administration of 40 mg suvorexant and 0.7 g/kg alcohol had additive negative psychomotor effects. Patients are advised not to consume alcohol with suvorexant.

Smoking, posttraumatic stress disorder, and alcohol use disorders in a nationally representative sample of Australian men and women

BackgroundPosttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorders (AUDs) often co-occur with smoking and tobacco use disorders. Each of these disorders is known to have negative health consequences and impairment independently, but little is known about the impact of their co-occurrence. The aim of the present study is to examine the prevalence, correlates, order of onset, and impact of co-occurring daily smoking, PTSD, and AUDs. MethodThe 2007 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (2007 NSMHWB) was a nationally representative survey of 8841 Australians. The survey assessed for 12-month DSM-IV mental disorders; the age respondents first started smoking daily, experienced a traumatic event, or developed problems with alcohol; and self-reported mental and physical health and impairment. ResultsThere were systematic patterns of co-occurrence between daily smoking, PTSD, and AUDs. Daily smoking and problems with alcohol use tended to develop after first trauma exposure, which is broadly consistent with the self-medication hypothesis. Daily smoking, PTSD, and AUDs were also associated with additive negative effects on mental and physical health and functioning, after controlling for demographics. ConclusionsSmoking, PTSD, and AUDs commonly co-occur in this nationally representative sample of Australian men and women, and this comorbidity was associated with greater severity of mental and physical health problems and impairment in several areas of functioning. This study highlights the importance of identifying and eliminating these patterns of co-occurrence, potentially through integrated interventions.

Impact of hormonal crosstalk on plant resistance and fitness under multi-attacker conditions.

The hormone salicylic acid (SA) generally induces plant defenses against biotrophic pathogens. Jasmonic acid (JA) and its oxylipin derivatives together with ethylene (ET) are generally important hormonal regulators of induced plant defenses against necrotrophic pathogens, whereas JAs together with abscisic acid (ABA) are implicated in induced plant defenses against herbivorous insects. Hormonal crosstalk between the different plant defense pathways has often been hypothesized to be a cost-saving strategy that has evolved as a means of the plant to reduce allocation costs by repression of unnecessary defenses, thereby minimizing trade-offs between plant defense and growth. However, proof for this hypothesis has not been demonstrated yet. In this study the impact of hormonal crosstalk on disease resistance and fitness of Arabidopsis thaliana when under multi-species attack was investigated. Induction of SA- or JA/ABA-dependent defense responses by the biotrophic pathogen Hyaloperonospora arabidopsidis or the herbivorous insect Pieris rapae, respectively, was shown to reduce the level of induced JA/ET-dependent defense against subsequent infection with the necrotrophic pathogen Botrytis cinerea. However, despite the enhanced susceptibility to this second attacker, no additional long-term negative effects were observed on plant fitness when plants had been challenged by multiple attackers. Similarly, when plants were grown in dense competition stands to enlarge fitness effects of induced defenses, treatment with a combination of SA and MeJA did not cause additional negative effects on plant fitness in comparison to the single MeJA treatment. Together, these data support the notion that hormonal crosstalk in plants during multi-attacker interactions allows plants to prioritize their defenses, while limiting the fitness costs associated with induction of defenses.

Contagious Effects of Customer Misbehavior in Access-Based Services

Customer misbehavior in service settings is problematic for two reasons: (1) because of the direct damage it causes and (2) because of additional negative effects that arise from the contagion of such misbehavior. The authors extend existing theory of customer misbehavior by studying its contagious effect. The investigation focuses on access-based services, defined as transactions in which multiple consumers successively gain temporal, short-term access to a good, while legal ownership remains with the service provider (e.g., car sharing and fashion rentals). Due to the nature of these services, they are especially prone to indirect customer misbehavior, which is directed at the accessed product and occurs in the absence of others. Two online experiments provide the first empirical evidence for a contagiousness of misbehavior and reveal that this effect is driven by customers’ perceptions of the social norms among the customer group. Moreover, they indicate that greater strength of the accessed product’s brand as well as lower anonymity of the accessed product’s owner attenuate contagion. A field experiment shows that an increase in the communal identification among access-based service customers reverses the contagious effect, with customers more likely to remove signs of previous users’ misbehavior. The results suggest that access-based service providers should address customer misbehavior by (a) investing in the products they offer access to, (b) establishing more personal relationships with customers, and, foremost, (c) increasing communal identification among customers.