bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Music questions in social Q&A: an analysis of Yahoo! Answers
Authors: Hertzum Morten , Borlund Pia
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Social question and answer (social Q&A) sites have become a popular tool for obtaining music information. The purpose of this paper is to investigate what users ask about, what experience the questions convey, and how users specify their questions.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 3,897 music questions from the social Q&A site Yahoo! Answers were categorized according to their question type, user experience, and question specification.

Findings

The music questions were diverse with (dis)approval (42 percent), factual (21 percent), and advice (15 percent) questions as the most frequent types. Advice questions were the longest and roughly twice as long as (dis)approval and factual questions. The user experience associated with the questions was most often pragmatic (24 percent) or senso-emotional (12 percent). Pragmatic questions were typically about the user’s own performance of music, while senso-emotional questions were about finding music for listening. Notably, half of the questions did not convey information about the user experience but the absence of such information did not reduce the number of answers. In specifying the questions, the most frequent information was about the music context and the user context.

Research limitations/implications

This study suggests a division of labor between social Q&A sites and search engines for music information retrieval. It should be noted that the study is restricted to one social Q&A site.

Originality/value

Social Q&A sites provide an opportunity for studying what information real users seek about music and what information they specify to retrieve it, thereby elucidating the role of social Q&A in music information seeking.
Whenguanximeets connectivity
Authors: Lin Xun , Huang Hua
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reveal the underlying mechanisms that drive young adults’ participation in micro-charity.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study, which formed a large online ethnographic project, was conducted in which the twin methods of participatory observation and in-depth interviews were used to access the experience of a selected group (n= 60) of college students.

Findings

The present paper identifies that young adults’ participation in micro-charity is mainly driven by three underlying mechanisms: the formation of a powerful environment for the distribution of awareness of obligation, creation of trust towards others in distant or weak ties and symbolic construction of collective identity with a shared commitment.

Originality/value

This paper is an exploratory work which sheds new light on charity or other social entrepreneurship development in the social media era. Specifically, the connectivity of social media and the pre-existing relationships may work well together and lead to many positive outputs, including distributing awareness of social obligation, instilling social trust and strengthening social coherence.
Mediators of ethical leadership and group performance outcomes
Authors: Peng J.C. , Lin Julian
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between ethical leadership and group-level performance outcomes and show that group value congruence and group trust play pivotal mediating roles in the relationship between ethical leadership and work group performance outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

To examine the proposed model, survey data from 116 branches of a baked goods and beverages chain located in Northern Taiwan were analyzed.

Findings

The results revealed that ethical leadership was positively and significantly related to group in-role performance and group helping behavior; the relationship was fully mediated by group value congruence and group trust after controlling for idealized influence leadership.

Research limitations/implications

This study features a cross-sectional study design, thus limiting the accuracy of inferences about causality.

Practical implications

The results of the current study revealed that ethical leadership behaviors enhance group trust. Hence, these leadership behaviors could be among the best and most appropriate practices to be implemented in China and Taiwan.

Originality/value

The data suggested that ethical leadership was associated with not only individual-level behavior but also group-level performance. Furthermore, this paper also uncovered the mediation mechanism through which ethical leadership enhances group performance.
Incidence of predatory journals in computer science literature
Authors: Ibba Simona , Pani Filippo Eros , Stockton John Gregory , Barabino Giulio , Marchesi Michele , Tigano Danilo
Published: October 2017

Purpose

One of the main tasks of a researcher is to properly communicate the results he obtained. The choice of the journal in which to publish the work is therefore very important. However, not all journals have suitable characteristics for a correct dissemination of scientific knowledge. Some publishers turn out to be unreliable and, against a payment, they publish whatever researchers propose. The authors call “predatory journals” these untrustworthy journals. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the incidence of predatory journals in computer science literature and present a tool that was developed for this purpose.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors focused their attention on editors, universities and publishers that are involved in this kind of publishing process. The starting point of their research is the list of scholarly open-access publishers and open-access stand-alone journals created by Jeffrey Beall. Specifically, they analysed the presence of predatory journals in the search results obtained from Google Scholar in the engineering and computer science fields. They also studied the change over time of such incidence in the articles published between 2011 and 2015.

Findings

The analysis shows that the phenomenon of predatory journals somehow decreased in 2015, probably due to a greater awareness of the risks related to the reputation of the authors.

Originality/value

We focused on computer science field, using a specific sample of queries. We developed a software to automatically make queries to the search engine, and to detect predatory journals, using Beall’s list.
An analytical technique for solving quadratic nonlinear oscillator
Authors: Molla Md. Helal Uddin , Razzak Md. Abdur , Alam M.S.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present an analytical technique, based on the He’s energy balance method (an improved version recently presented by Khan et al.), to obtain the approximate solution of quadratic nonlinear oscillator (QNO).

Design/methodology/approach

This oscillator (QNO) is used as a mathematical model of the human eardrum oscillation.

Findings

It has been shown that the results by the present technique are very close to the numerical solution.

Originality/value

The results obtained in this paper are compared with those obtained by Hu (harmonic balance method) and Khan et al. The result shows that the method is more accurate and effective than harmonic balance as well as improved energy balance methods.
Finite element analysis of aircraft tire for safety assessment with CV and CPM methods
Authors: Yao Shile , Feng Yue Zhu , Geng Xiaoliang , Wang Peiyan
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a study of radial aircraft tire for safety assessment during various scenarios.

Design/methodology/approach

A detailed finite element (FE) model of aircraft tire was established based on the actual geometry of the target tire for numerical simulations. As the major component of this tire, rubber material usually presents a complicated mechanical behavior. To obtain the reliable hyperelastic properties of rubber, a series of material tests have been processed. Moreover, in order to validate the proposed model, the simulations results of inflation and static load scenarios were compared with the experimental results. Both of the control volume and corpuscular particle method methods were used in the numerical simulations of aircraft tire.

Findings

The comparisons of the two methods exhibit close agreement with the experimental results. To assess the safety of aircraft tire during the landing scenario, the dynamic simulations were processed with different landing weights and vertical landing speeds. According to the relevant airworthiness regulations and technical documents, the tire pressure, deflection and load have been chosen as the safety criteria. Subsequently, the analysis, results and comments have been discussed in detail.

Originality/value

The validated FE model proposed in present study can be effectively used in tire modeling in static and dynamic problems, and also in the design process of aircraft tire.
Upstream information distortion in the agro-food supply chain
Authors: Mancilla Nelson O. , Sepúlveda Wilmer S.
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to analyse the upstream information distortion among the various members of the agro-food supply chain, regarding the consumers’ quality perceptions.

Design/methodology/approach

The study focused on the beef chain, which is one of the most active in quality management terms. The study involved different actors in the chain: consumers (402), retailers (98), agro-industrials (40) and cattle farmers (84).

Findings

The results demonstrated that the more the upstream agents move away from consumers, the more the information becomes distorted. The research also highlighted that the greater the number of links in the chain, the more the consumer’s upstream information tends to be distorted.

Originality/value

The information flow is one of the important aspects on which the supply chain management focuses. This paper contributes to information flow research between different actors in the supply chain regarding product quality from the consumer perspective. Therefore, for the members of the supply chain, this research represents the potential to direct management’s value-added activities towards what consumers value the most.
Resistance and tolerance: The role of nutrients on pathogen dynamics and infection outcomes in an insect host
Authors: Miller Charlotte V. L. , Cotter Sheena C.
Published: October 2017

Tolerance and resistance are the two ways in which hosts can lessen the effects of infection. Tolerance aims to minimize the fitness effects resulting from incumbent pathogen populations, whereas resistance aims to reduce the pathogen population size within the host. While environmental impacts on resistance have been extensively, recorded their impacts on variation in tolerance are virtually unexplored.

Here, we ask how the environment, namely the host diet, influences the capacity of an organism to tolerate and resist infection, using a model host–parasite system, the burying beetle, Nicrophorus vespilloides and the entomopathogenic bacteria, Photorhabdus luminescens.

We first considered dose–responses and pathogen dynamics within the host, and compared our findings to responses known from other host species. We then investigated how investment in tolerance and resistance changed under different nutritional regimes. Beetles were maintained on one of five diets that varied in their ratio of protein to fat for 48 hr and then injected with P. luminescens. Survival was monitored and the phenoloxidase (PO) response and bacterial load at 24‐hr postinfection were ascertained.

The dose required to kill 50% of individuals in this species was several magnitudes higher than in other species and the bacteria were shown to display massive decreases in population size, in contrast to patterns of proliferation found in other host species. Diet strongly modified host survival after infection, with those on the high fat/low protein diet showing 30% survival at 8 days, vs. almost 0% survival on the low‐fat/high‐protein diet. However, this was independent of bacterial load or variation in PO, providing evidence for diet‐mediated tolerance mechanisms rather than immune‐driven resistance.

Evolutionary ecology has long focussed on immune resistance when investigating how organisms avoid succumbing to infection. Tolerance of infection has recently become a much more prominent concept and is suggested to be influential in disease dynamics. This is one of the first studies to find diet‐mediated tolerance.
Spatial redistribution of nutrients by large herbivores and dung beetles in a savanna ecosystem
Authors: Veldhuis Michiel P. , Gommers Moniek I. , Olff Han , Berg Matty P.
Published: October 2017

Territorial or resting behaviour of large herbivores can cause strong local deposits of dung, in different places than where they graze. Additionally, dung beetles and other macrodetritivores can subsequently affect local nutrient budgets through post‐depositional re‐dispersion of dung and accompanying nutrients. Such horizontal displacement of nutrients by animals has strong implications for savanna ecosystem functioning, but remains poorly studied as it is notoriously difficult to accurately map these flows and incredibly time‐consuming.

In an African savanna, with alternating patches of lawn, bunch grasses and trees/shrubs, we undertook such effort and studied nutrient aggregation and redistribution by different large herbivore functional groups and dung beetles for a full growing season. We used movable cages to quantify herbivore consumption rates and measured nutrient return through biweekly dung counts. Furthermore, we estimated the offtake of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) by the dominant megagrazer (white rhinoceros) to middens (dung deposition hotspots). Last, we experimentally measured the removal amount and movement paths of telocoprid dung beetles to quantify their nutrient redistribution effects.

Our estimates suggest white rhinoceros to cause a large export of nutrients from grazing areas towards middens resulting in negative nutrient budgets for both lawn and bunch grassland types. Mesograzers (50–600 kg) realized a net nitrogen input towards high forage quality lawn vegetation at the expense of lower quality bunch grasslands. Browsers caused a net flow from trees/shrubs towards grassland patches.

Interestingly, while the magnitude of our estimated flows of N consumption and return by large herbivores were rather similar, the P returns were about half of what has been consumed. This is in agreement with ecological stoichiometry theory that predicts that large herbivores should recycle more N than P, due to their relatively high P demand. Furthermore, dung‐rolling beetles had a small, but significant, directed movement from lawn to bunch grassland vegetation.

Synthesis. We conclude that within‐ecosystem nutrient redistributions by animals are important and approximately of the same order of magnitude as regional atmospheric nutrient in and outputs (e.g. fire emissions, atmospheric N deposition, biological N fixation), and hence are important for understanding savanna ecosystem functioning.
Disentangling competitive vs. climatic drivers of tropical forest mortality
Authors: Pillet Michiel , Joetzjer Emilie , Belmin Camille , Chave Jérôme , Ciais Philippe , Dourdain Aurélie , Evans Margaret , Hérault Bruno , Luyssaert Sebastiaan , Poulter Benjamin
Published: October 2017

Tropical forest mortality is controlled by both biotic and abiotic processes, but how these processes interact to determine forest structure is not well understood. Using long‐term demography data from permanent forest plots at the Paracou Tropical Forest Research Station in French Guiana, we analysed the relative influence of competition and climate on tree mortality. We found that self‐thinning is evident at the stand level, and is associated with clumped mortality at smaller scales (<2 m) and regular spacing of living trees at intermediate (2.5–7.5 m) scales. A competition index (CI) based on spatial clustering of dead trees was used to build predictive mortality models, which also accounted for climate interactions.

The model that most closely fitted observations included both theCIand climatic variables, with climate‐only and competition‐only models less informative than the full model. There was strong evidence for U‐shaped size‐specific mortality, with highest mortality for small and very large trees, as well as sensitivity of trees to drought, especially when temperatures were high, and when soils were water saturated. The effect of theCIwas more complex than expected a priori: a higherCIwas associated with lower mortality odds, which we hypothesize is caused by gap‐phase dynamics, but there was also evidence for competition‐induced mortality at very highCIvalues.

The strong signature of competition as a control over mortality at the stand and individual scales confirms its important role in determining tropical forest structure. The complexity of the competition‐mortality relationship and its interaction with climate indicates that a thorough consideration of the scale of analysis is needed when inferring the role of competition in tropical forests, but demonstrates that climate‐only mortality models can be significantly improved by including competition effects, even when ignoring species‐specific effects.

Synthesis. Empirical models such as the one developed here can help constrain and improve process‐based vegetation models, serving both as a benchmark and as a means to disentangle mortality processes. Tropical vegetation dynamic models would benefit greatly from explicitly considering the role of competition in stand development and self‐thinning while modelling demography, as well as its interaction with climate.
Below‐ground complementarity effects in a grassland biodiversity experiment are related to deep‐rooting species
Authors: Oram Natalie J. , Ravenek Janneke M. , Barry Kathryn E. , Weigelt Alexandra , Chen Hongmei , Gessler Arthur , Gockele Annette , de Kroon Hans , van der Paauw Jan Willem , Scherer‐Lorenzen Michael , Smit‐Tiekstra Annemiek , van Ruijven Jasper , Mommer Liesje
Published: October 2017

Below‐ground resource partitioning is often proposed as the underlying mechanism for the positive relationship between plant species richness and productivity. For example, if species have different root distributions, a mixture of plant species may be able to use the available resources more completely than the individual species in a monoculture. However, there is little experimental evidence for differentiation in vertical root distributions among species and its contribution to biodiversity effects.

We determined species‐specific root standing biomass over depth using molecular techniques (real‐time qPCR) in a large grassland biodiversity experiment (one to eight plant species mixtures), in 2 years. Species‐specific root biomass data were used to disentangle the effects of positive interactions between species (complementarity effects) and effects due to dominance of productive species (selection effects) on root biomass in mixtures. In a next step, these biodiversity effects were linked to the diversity of rooting depths and the averaged rooting depth of the community.

Root biomass increased with species richness. This was mainly due to positive interactions (the complementarity effect), which increased with species richness below‐ground. In contrast, the selection effect decreased with species richness. Although there was considerable variation in vertical root distribution between species in monocultures, the diversity of rooting strategies did not explain the complementarity effect. Rather, the abundance of deep‐rooting species in mixtures (i.e. high community‐weighted mean) was significantly related to the complementarity effect. Comparing the “predicted” root distribution (based on monocultures) to the actual distribution in mixtures, we found that mixtures rooted deeper than expected, but this did not better explain the complementarity effect.

Synthesis. This study demonstrates that vertical root distributions of species provide only subtle evidence for resource partitioning. We found no evidence that functional diversity in vertical rooting patterns was important for the complementarity effect, in contrast to our expectation that the enhancement of productivity was due to resource partitioning. Alternatively, we found significant but weak relationships between the complementarity effect and deep‐rooting communities, based on the community‐weighted mean root distribution. This suggests that factors other than below‐ground resource partitioning alone may drive the biodiversity–productivity relationship.
Quantifying antecedent climatic drivers of tree growth in the Southwestern US
Authors: Peltier Drew M. P. , Barber Jarrett J. , Ogle Kiona
Published: October 2017

Variation in antecedent (past) climate conditions is likely to govern tree growth over long periods of time. Antecedent conditions are rarely considered in models of tree growth, representing a weakness in quantitative understanding of forest responses to climate variations.

We applied the stochastic antecedent modelling (SAM) framework to 367 International Tree Ring Data Bank chronologies in the southwestern US (“Southwest”) representing eight conifer species. To better understand climatic and physiologic controls on tree growth, we quantify the effects of antecedent precipitation, temperature and Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI) over 60 months preceding and including the year of ring formation.

In Pinus edulis, Pinus ponderosa and Pseudotsuga menziesii, growth responded primarily to recent precipitation and temperature conditions (43%–49% of the response was driven by conditions during the year of ring formation), but to less recent PDSI conditions (>50% of response driven by conditions 13–48 months prior to the year of ring formation), though PDSI significantly affected growth at only 21% of sites. Combining extensive tree‐ring data with monthly resolution climate data also reveals key climatic events, such as the effect of monsoon arrival date on growth, especially in P. menziesii, highlighting the ability of the SAM framework to identify climate effects at multiple time‐scales.

Sensitivity to antecedent climate, baseline growth at average climate conditions and the strength of first order autocorrelation varied spatially, suggesting variation in mean growing conditions, non‐structural carbohydrate storage, and/or seasonal precipitation contribution of the North American Monsoon may drive differences in growth sensitivities across species’ ranges.

Synthesis. Our findings provide further evidence for multi‐year legacy effects of climate conditions, particularly drought metrics, on tree growth. Antecedent climate and especially drought are key drivers of growth in these species, and associated climatic sensitivities and growth indices vary spatially. We argue such factors should be considered in modelling efforts. The spatial variability in antecedent climate sensitivities points to key differences in how different populations within a species range may respond to climate change, particularly if timing of weather events, such as monsoon arrival date, or annual precipitation amounts undergoes significant changes.
Prevalence of and Predictive Factor for Abdominal Aortic Calcification in Thai Chronic Kidney Disease Patients
Authors: Lumlertgul Dusit , Kantachuvesiri Surasak , Apichaiyingyurd Somboon , Treamtrakanpon Worapot , Rattanasompattikul Manoch , Gojaseni Pongsathorn , Thanakitcharu Prasert , Trakarnvanich Thananda , Poonvivatchaikarn Ussanee , Vareesangthip Kriengsak ,   the Impact‐CKD investigators
Published: October 2017

Presence and severity of cardiovascular calcifications strongly predict cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with CKD. This multicenter, cross‐sectional study primarily aimed to determine prevalence of abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) detected by plain lateral abdominal radiograph, and secondarily aimed to assess predictive factors for AAC. Patients (N = 1500), aged 18–70 years, with CKD stages 3–5D for ≥3 months prior to evaluation, were enrolled at 24 study centers in Thailand; 54.3% were non‐dialysis patients. The prevalence of AAC was 70.6% and 70.8% in non‐dialysis and dialysis patients, respectively. Patient's advanced age and widening pulse pressure were identified as predictive factors for AAC ≥ 5 in non‐dialysis patients, while patient's age, history of coronary heart disease or diabetes, longer dialysis vintage, and increasing corrected serum calcium or high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein were identified as such in dialysis patients. With additional regression having covariates in binary, corrected serum calcium ≥9.5 mg/dL gave an OR 1.974 (95% CI: 1.324–2.943) for AAC ≥ 5 among the dialysis patients. AAC in diabetes subgroup (N = 692) was additionally evaluated and found that it was prevalent at 84.7% with increased phosphorus as predictive factor (OR, 1.178; 95% CI: 1.032–1.344) and 1,25 (OH)2 vitamin D as protective factor (OR, 0.983; 95% CI, 0.970–0.996). The prevalence of AAC in the Thai CKD population is lower than that reported in the literature, and yet the burden is prominent in patients coexisting with diabetes. Variable relationships identified in this study may guide preventive measures against cardiovascular complications in CKD patients.
Malt Beverage Brand Popularity Among Youth and Youth‐Appealing Advertising Content
Authors: Xuan Ziming , DeJong William , Siegel Michael , Babor Thomas F.
Published: October 2017

Background

This study examined whether alcohol brands more popular among youth are more likely to have aired television advertisements that violated the alcohol industry's voluntary code by including youth‐appealing content.

Methods

We obtained a complete list of 288 brand‐specific beer advertisements broadcast during the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's and women's basketball tournaments from 1999 to 2008. All ads were rated by a panel of health professionals using a modified Delphi method to assess the presence of youth‐appealing content in violation of the alcohol industry's voluntary code. The ads represented 23 alcohol brands. The popularity of these brands was operationalized as the brand‐specific popularity of youth alcohol consumption in the past 30 days, as determined by a 2011 to 2012 national survey of underage drinkers. Brand‐level popularity was used as the exposure variable to predict the odds of having advertisements with youth‐appealing content violations.

Results

Accounting for other covariates and the clustering of advertisements within brands, increased brand popularity among underage youth was associated with significantly increased odds of having youth‐appeal content violations in ads televised during the NCAA basketball tournament games (adjusted odds ratio = 1.70, 95% CI: 1.38, 2.09).

Conclusions

Alcohol brands popular among underage drinkers are more likely to air television advertising that violates the industry's voluntary code which proscribes youth‐appealing content.
Peripheral blood microRNAandVEGFAmRNAchanges following electroconvulsive therapy: implications for psychotic depression
Authors: Kolshus E. , Ryan K. M. , Blackshields G. , Smyth P. , Sheils O. , McLoughlin D. M.
Published: October 2017

Objective

MicroRNAs are short, non‐coding molecules that regulate gene expression. Here, we investigate the role of microRNAs in depression and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).

Methods

We performed three studies: a deep sequencing discovery‐phase study of miRNAchanges in whole blood followingECT(n= 16), followed by a validation study in a separate cohort of patients pre‐/post‐ECT(n= 37) and matched healthy controls (n= 34). Changes in an experimentally validated gene target (VEGFA) were then analysed in patients pre‐/post‐ECT(n= 97) and in matched healthy controls (n= 53).

Results

In the discovery‐phase study, we found no statistically significant differences in miRNAexpression from baseline to end of treatment in the group as a whole, butpost hocanalysis indicated a difference in patients with psychotic depression (n= 3). In a follow‐up validation study, patients with psychotic depression (n= 7) had elevated baseline levels of miR‐126‐3p (t= 3.015,P= 0.006) and miR‐106a‐5p (t= 2.598,P= 0.025) compared to healthy controls. FollowingECT, these differences disappeared. BaselineVEGFAlevels were significantly higher in depressed patients compared to healthy controls (F(1,144) = 27.688,P= <0.001). FollowingECT, there was a significant change inVEGFAlevels in the psychotic group only (t= 2.915,P= 0.010).

Conclusion

Molecular differences (miRNAandVEGFA) may exist between psychotic and non‐psychotic depression treated withECT.
Do practice approaches go far enough in shifting focus from the individual?
Authors: Fraser Suzanne
Published: October 2017

Commentary to: All drinking is not equal: how a social practice theory lens could enhance public health research on alcohol and other health behaviours
How do we determine the impact of e‐cigarettes on cigarette smoking cessation or reduction? Review and recommendations for answering the research question with scientific rigor
Authors: Villanti Andrea C. , Feirman Shari P. , Niaura Raymond S. , Pearson Jennifer L. , Glasser Allison M. , Collins Lauren K. , Abrams David B.
Published: October 2017

Aims

To propose a hierarchy of methodological criteria to consider when determining whether a study provides sufficient information to answer the question of whether e‐cigarettes can facilitate cigarette smoking cessation or reduction.

Design

A PubMed search to 1 February 2017 was conducted of all studies related to e‐cigarettes and smoking cessation or reduction.

Settings

Australia, Europe, Iran, Korea, New Zealand and the United States.

Participants and studies

91 articles.

Measurements

Coders organized studies according to six proposed methodological criteria: (1) examines outcome of interest (cigarette abstinence or reduction), (2) assesses e‐cigarette use for cessation as exposure of interest, (3) employs appropriate control/comparison groups, (4) ensures that measurement of exposure precedes the outcome, (5) evaluates dose and duration of the exposure and (6) evaluates the type and quality of the e‐cigarette used.

Findings

Twenty‐four papers did not examine the outcomes of interest. Forty did not assess the specific reason for e‐cigarette use as an exposure of interest. Twenty papers did not employ prospective study designs with appropriate comparison groups. The few observational studies meeting some of the criteria (duration, type, use for cessation) triangulated with findings from three randomized trials to suggest that e‐cigarettes can help adult smokers quit or reduce cigarette smoking.

Conclusions

Only a small proportion of studies seeking to address the effect of e‐cigarettes on smoking cessation or reduction meet a set of proposed quality standards. Those that do are consistent with randomized controlled trial evidence in suggesting that e‐cigarettes can help with smoking cessation or reduction.
Fire effects on the soil seed bank and post‐fire resilience of a semi‐arid shrubland in central Argentina
Authors: Lipoma M. Lucrecia , Funes Guillermo , Díaz Sandra
Published: October 2017

Soil seed bank is an important source of resilience of plant communities who suffered disturbances. We analysed the effect of an intense fire in the soil seed bank of a semi‐arid shrubland of Córdoba Argentina. We asked if the fire affected seed abundance, floristic and functional composition of the soil seed bank at two different layers (0–5 cm and 5–10 cm), and if fire could compromise the role of the soil seed bank as a source of resilience for the vegetation. We collected soil samples from a burned site and from a control site that had not burned. Samples were installed in a greenhouse under controlled conditions. During 12 months, we recorded all germinated seedlings. We compare soil seed bank with pre‐fire vegetation in terms of floristic and functional composition. The high‐intensity fire deeply affected the abundance of seeds in the soil, but it did not affect its floristic or functional composition. Floristic and functional composition of soil seed banks – at burned and unburned sites‐ differed markedly from that of the pre‐fire vegetation, although a previous study at the same site indicated high resilience after fire of this plant community. Our results indicate that resilience of this system is not strongly dependent on direct germination from seeds buried in the soil. Other sources of resilience, like colonization from neighbouring vegetation patches and resprouting from underground organs appear to gain relevance after an intense fire.
Impacts of the invasive fungusAustropuccinia psidii(myrtle rust) on three Australian Myrtaceae species of coastal swamp woodland
Authors: Fernandez Winzer Laura , Carnegie Angus J. , Pegg Geoff S. , Leishman Michelle R.
Published: October 2017

Exotic fungal pathogens can substantially affect individuals and populations of susceptible native plant species, potentially resulting in changes in community structure and composition.Austropuccinia psidii(myrtle rust) is a pathogenic fungus native to South America that affects species in the plant family Myrtaceae. The pathogen was introduced accidentally to Australia and first detected inNSWin April 2010. Ecological impacts have been poorly studied in the native range ofA. psidiiand even less in its Australian introduced range. In order to assess the potential impact ofA. psidiion coastal swamp woodland, two glasshouse experiments were conducted using three co‐occurring species:Melaleuca quinquenervia,Leptospermum laevigatumandBaeckea linifolia. Plants of each species were grown individually (Experiment 1) and in mixed species assemblages (Experiment 2), with half inoculated withA. psidiiand the other half remaining as controls. Infection level was assessed and impact on seedling survival and growth recorded. In both experimentsL. laevigatumandM. quinquenerviaseedlings were heavily infected and showed high degrees of susceptibility with negative effects on growth (height, biomass and number of leaves). In contrast, noB. linifoliaseedling presented visible symptoms of disease, although seedlings showed reduced growth.Melaleuca quinquenerviaseedlings had greater infection levels and suffered greater growth reductions thanL. laevigatumin both experiments. However, there was no significant difference in the relative abundance of the three species in the mixed‐species experiment. This study provides a better understanding of the potential impacts ofA. psidiiin this vegetation community and has significant implications for the conservation and management of Australian Myrtaceae‐dominated plant communities generally.
Absence of bony patella in the white‐eared opossum (Didelphis albiventris): Morphology and diagnostic imaging
Authors: Inamassu L. R. , Mamprim M. J. , Dadalto C. R. , Cavaletti F. C. , Mello M. C. , Schimming B. C.
Published: October 2017

Patella, the kneecap, is the best known and largest of the sesamoid bones and is present in the quadriceps femoris tendon. Typical patella appears in all extant mammals, with the exception of some marsupials and bats. No description about the white‐eared opossum stifle was found in the available literature up to now. Thus, the knee joints of 16 Didelphis albiventris were examined by gross anatomy, histology, radiography and computed tomography images to determine the presence or absence of ossified patella in this animal. The most remarkable observation in white‐eared opossum is the absence of a bony patella. The femoral trochlea is shallow, and the lateral gastrocnemius sesamoids are shown up in all opossums. The quadriceps femoris tendon is composed mainly of dense regular connective tissue with a classic fibrocartilage pad on the superficial surface of the tendon. The absence of a true patella seems to be typical for marsupials.
Increased attention‐deficit/hyperactivity symptoms in atopic dermatitis are associated with history of antihistamine use
Authors: Schmitt J. , Buske‐Kirschbaum A. , Tesch F. , Trikojat K. , Stephan V. , Abraham S. , Bauer A. , Nemat K. , Plessow F. , Roessner V.
Published: October 2017

Background

Epidemiologic evidence indicates a relevant association between atopic dermatitis (AD) and attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Underlying mechanisms and ways to best identify subgroups of AD patients at risk for ADHD are poorly understood.

Aims of the study

To compare sociodemographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics of children with AD, ADHD, comorbid AD/ADHD and age‐matched healthy controls and to investigate aspects of AD related to ADHD symptoms.

Methods

Applying a factorial design, we investigated 4 groups of children aged 6‐12 years: AD‐only (ie, without ADHD), ADHD‐only (ie, without AD), AD + ADHD and healthy controls (HC; ie, no AD/no ADHD). Using validated instruments, ADHD symptoms and other behavioural problems, quality of life, parenting stress and sleeping problems were compared between groups. In children with AD‐only, clinical signs (objective SCORAD), symptoms (POEM, VAS pruritus, VAS sleeping problems) and previous treatment of AD were assessed to investigate disease patterns related to ADHD symptoms.

Results

Compared to HC (n = 47), children with AD‐only (n = 42), ADHD‐only (n = 34) and comorbid AD + ADHD (n = 31) had significantly increased behavioural problems and decreased quality of life. Children with AD‐only had significantly higher levels of ADHD symptoms than HC. In children with AD‐only, previous use of antihistamines was significantly associated with increased ADHD symptoms (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.04‐3.39). Current clinical signs and AD symptoms were unrelated to the level of ADHD symptoms.

Conclusions

Even if the clinical diagnosis of ADHD is excluded, children with AD show increased levels of ADHD symptoms. Further investigations need to determine whether early antihistamine exposure is a major risk factor for ADHD or a surrogate for previous AD severity and/or associated sleeping problems.
Change in Axial Rotation of the Femur in the Resting Supine Position Following Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Uemura Keisuke , Takao Masaki , Hamada Hidetoshi , Sakai Takashi , Sugano Nobuhiko
Published: October 2017

Stem anteversion in the setting of total hip arthroplasty (THA) is usually measured by referencing the posterior condylar line (PCL). However, stem anteversion may not express the functional torsion of the femur if a consistent horizontal tilt in the PCL is observed after THA. Herein, the horizontal tilt of the PCL at the resting neutral position of the hip was retrospectively measured in 53 THA patients from three computed tomography (CT) datasets: (i) preoperative (preop‐CT), (ii) 3 weeks after THA (1st postop‐CT), and (iii) more than 2 years after THA (2nd postop‐CT). Factors including sex, surgical approach, change in femoral anteversion, leg length, leg lateral length, and pelvic sagittal tilt, were analyzed to determine if they were predictors for the rotational change in PCL, and the number of cases in which the horizontal tilt of the PCL remained within 10° in the three CT images was calculated. Comparing the preop‐CT to the 1st postop‐CT demonstrated that the PCL underwent internal rotation by (mean ± standard deviation) 13.1° ± 8.6°; only leg lateralization was significantly correlated to the change in PCL (β = 0.278, P = 0.046). Comparing the preop‐CT to the 2nd postop‐CT demonstrated that the PCL was internally rotated by 9.7° ± 9.3°; no factors were correlated to the change in PCL. There were only 12 hips (23%) in which the horizontal tilt of the PCL remained within 10°. In conclusion, the PCL in the resting position was internally rotated shortly after THA and remained internally rotated from the preoperative position at two or more years following THA. Thus, stem anteversion measured by referencing the PCL may not represent functional torsion of the femur.
How Colleagues Can Support Each Other's Needs and Motivation: An Intervention on Employee Work Motivation
Authors: Jungert Tomas , Van den Broeck Anja , Schreurs Bert , Osterman Ulla
Published: October 2017

Organisations have flattened and increasingly rely on teamwork. Therefore, colleagues play an increasingly important role in stimulating employee motivation. Adopting Self‐Determination Theory as a guiding framework, the aim of this field experiment was to examine whether team members can be trained in supporting each other's basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness and, hence, increase each other's need satisfaction and autonomous motivation, while decreasing controlled motivation. We delivered training to 146 participants nested in 26 participating teams and assessed basic need satisfaction and autonomous and controlled motivation before and after the intervention. Multilevel regression analyses indicated that employees in the experimental (i.e. intervention) condition had a stronger increase in need satisfaction and autonomous motivation than employees did in the control condition, and that the increase in autonomous motivation was mediated by an increase in need satisfaction. This study provides added value for theory on need satisfaction and demonstrates that a relatively brief intervention among team members may be effective in creating employee need support and increasing autonomous motivation.
A systematic analysis of online broadcasts of suicidality in China
Authors: Li Ang , Huang Xiaoxiao , Zhu Tingshao
Published: October 2017

Introduction

This study attempts to analyze the epidemiological characteristics of online broadcasts of suicidality in China.

Methods

A total of 193 incidents were identified by systematically searching for relevant news reports on the internet. A content analysis on these news reports was conducted to obtain information on the characteristics of each individual incident.

Results

Of these incidents, the ratio of males to females was 1:1.7 (age: 24.6 ± 6.1 years old). Approximately 45.4% and 70.8% of incidents were located in the region of Eastern China and Southern China, respectively, and 15.7% of incidents were unemployed. The most common suicide method was wrist cutting (57.5%), and the most common suicide location was at home (35.2%). Instant messaging apps (52.8%) were most frequently used for broadcasting suicidal thoughts and actions. Relationship breakup (61.1%) was reported as the leading cause of suicide. Furthermore, of the 193 incidents, 19 indicated that they suffered from a mental disorder, and 12 revealed that they had a history of suicide attempts. There were significant gender, age, regional, and occupational differences across the categories.

Discussion

This study indicates that in China, suicide prevention programmes need to target internet users.
Pharmacological vs. classical approaches in the design of first in man clinical drug trials
Authors: van den Bogert Cornelis A. , Cohen Adam F. , Leufkens Hubert G. M. , van Gerven Joop M. A.
Published: October 2017

Aims

The aims of the present study were to investigate the role of pharmacology in the design of first‐in‐man (FIM) trials in the Netherlands, and to evaluate the change in design approaches between 2007 and 2015.

Methods

All FIM drug trials approved by all Dutch Institutional Review Boards (IRBs) in 2007 and in 2015 were selected. The original trial protocols, investigator's brochures and investigational medicinal product dossiers were the data sources. The following four design elements were assessed on the justification of the chosen approaches: preclinical information, dose calculation, endpoints, and dose escalation.

Results

In 2007, the Dutch IRBs approved 21 FIM trials, and in 2015 they approved 34 FIM trials (55 in total). Seven out of 21 (33%) of the FIM trials from 2007, and 14 out of the 34 (41%) FIM trials from 2015 discussed only the no‐observed‐adverse‐effect level or no‐observed‐effect level as preclinical information. Furthermore, five of the 21 (24%) 2007 FIM trials and 12 of the 34 (35%) 2015 FIM trials used unexplained allometric scaling. Pharmacodynamic (PD) parameters were measured in 15 of the 21 (71%) 2007 FIM trials and in 31 of the 34 (91%) of the 2015 FIM trials, and allometric scaling was only guided by safety/tolerability in 11 of the 20 (55%) dose escalation trials in 2007 and in nine of the 33 (27%) dose escalation trials in 2015.

Conclusions

Trial protocols and investigator's brochures commonly lack pharmacokinetic/PD approaches. Investigators, sponsors and IRBs should require an upfront consideration of pharmacology in these aspects for all FIM trials.
A prospectus for ethical analysis of ageing individuals' responsibility to prevent cognitive decline
Authors: Forlini Cynthia , Hall Wayne
Published: October 2017

As the world's population ages, governments and non‐governmental organizations in developed countries are promoting healthy cognitive ageing to reduce the rate of age‐related cognitive decline and sustain economic productivity in an ageing workforce. Recommendations from the Productivity Commission (Australia), Dementia Australia, Government Office for Science (UK), Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues (USA), Institute of Medicine (USA), among others, are encouraging older adults to engage in mental, physical, and social activities. These lifestyle recommendations for healthy cognitive ageing are timely and well supported by scientific evidence but they make implicit normative judgments about the responsibility of ageing individuals to prevent cognitive decline. Ethical tensions arise when this individual responsibility collides with social and personal realities of ageing populations. First, we contextualize the priority given to healthy cognitive ageing within the current brain‐based medical and social discourses. Second, we explore the individual responsibility by examining the economic considerations, medical evidence and individual interests that relate to the priority given to healthy cognitive ageing. Third, we identify three key ethical challenges for policymakers seeking to implement lifestyle recommendations as an effective population‐level approach to healthy cognitive ageing. The result is a prospectus for future in‐depth analysis of ethical tensions that arise from current policy discussions of healthy cognitive ageing.
Toward personal and emotional connectivity in mobile higher education through asynchronous formative audio feedback
Authors: Rasi Päivi , Vuojärvi Hanna
Published: October 2017

This study aims to develop asynchronous formative audio feedback practices for mobile learning in higher education settings. The development was conducted in keeping with the principles of design‐based research. The research activities focused on an inter‐university online course, within which the use of instructor audio feedback was tested, analyzed and developed further. Participants in this study were students (n = 50) from four Finnish universities who enrolled in the 7‐week course. The teaching approach of the course could best be characterized as collaborative case‐based mobile learning. Furthermore, we employed a novel formative audio feedback practice that has been inspired by and follows the peer‐review practices employed by scientific journals. In particular, we wanted to find out how students experienced the use of audio feedback in terms of utility, emotional support and learning. Research data was gathered through a questionnaire to the course students, transcribed audio feedback provided for the students and students' performance results. The study indicates that the novel formative audio feedback practice was successful in promoting the emotional engagement of students and personal connectivity between students and instructors. Furthermore, the audio feedback proved effective in terms of assignment revisions, and also in terms of students' self‐reports of the meaning of the audio feedback for learning. The majority of students welcomed the audio feedback, and also expressed a wish for the integrated use of text and audio. Therefore, in future implementations, we will integrate the audio and written feedback.