bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dental care utilization in the west of Iran: a cross-sectional analysis of socioeconomic determinants
Authors: Rezaei Satar , Ghahramani Esmail , Hajizadeh Mohammad , Nouri Bijan , Bayazidi Sheno , Khezrnezhad Fatemah
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Oral health is a major public health problem, both in developed and developing countries. The purpose of this paper is to examine the utilization of dental care and identify the main socioeconomic factors affecting the use of these services in the city of Sanandaj, west of Iran, in 2015.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey using multistage sampling was conducted to obtain information on the dental care visits of 520 head of households in Sanandaj. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the utilization of dental visits. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify the main socioeconomic factors affecting the utilization of dental care in Sanandaj.

Findings

Results showed that 61.3 percent of the respondents visited a dentist at least once in the last year, of which 45 percent visited dentist for restoration, 27.9 percent had extraction and 10.3 percent had a dental checkup. The average number of dentist visits by respondents was 1.9. Regression results indicated a significant association between socioeconomic factors (e.g. income, educational level and employment status) and utilization of dental care.

Originality/value

This study suggested that dental care visit was influenced by socioeconomic status of households. Therefore, strategies aimed at improving dental care utilization for socioeconomically disadvantaged households (e.g. dental health insurance) are required to promote oral health among socioeconomically disadvantaged groups.
Supply chain information utilisation: conceptualisation and antecedents
Authors: Jonsson Patrik , Myrelid Paulina
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to define supply chain information utilisation and explore how its antecedents impact shared information utilisation in information receiver’s planning processes.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis is based on a literature review and exploratory case study of three supplier dyads of original equipment manufacturers. This study presents a four-phase model of supply chain information utilisation, and identifies how information sharing, information quality, and intended information usage are antecedents of actual usage of information shared in supply chains. In the dyads, 35 potential information utilisation situations are analysed.

Findings

Inter- and intra-organisational factors are antecedents of information utilisation, by their effects on the four phases of utilisation. Composite information sharing, social network governance, human process involvement, and formal planning processes are important antecedents, which are not much emphasised in the literature.

Research limitations/implications

The study focusses on routinised sharing of formal demand-related planning information in supply chain dyads. The analysis is based on three case dyads which are chosen to be complementary in several respects, and where there is access to rich data.

Practical implications

Understanding phases and antecedents could support managers in developing information sharing strategies.

Originality/value

The literature does not explicitly consider information utilisation, or related antecedents or effects. However, by defining information utilisation and proposing a multi-phase utilisation model, this study can explain the performance effect of information sharing. In addition, the composite information variable is defined. This is the first attempt to conceptualise and explore antecedents of information utilisation in supply chains.
Service recycling and ecosystems: an intriguing similarity
Authors: Mastrogiacomo Luca , Barravecchia Federico , Franceschini Fiorenzo
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the practice of service recycling. There is an end of life to every product. At this stage, recycling is one option: it is the process of converting waste materials into new products or raw materials. There is also an end of life to every service, which generally coincides with the end of service delivery. However, services are not made of materials or components that can be recovered or converted, so can they be recycled? If the concept of product recycling is something well established, then that of service recycling has not yet been sufficiently investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper introduces the perspective of service recycling, analyzing the modalities in which a service can be recycled by using an analogy with natural ecosystems. Some examples are also proposed to support this new vision.

Findings

This paper purports to formalize the practice of service recycling: recycling a service means recovering all the intangibles and tangibles resulting from the provision of a service that still may have a residual value. This practice may potentially lead to an increase in profits.

Originality/value

Although there are several examples of close relationships between two (or more) different services in which one of the two benefits from the externalities of the other, the concept of service recycling has not yet been structurally defined, and the authors believe that interesting perspectives of research may follow from its formalization.
The mediating influence of service failure explanation on customer repurchase intention through customers satisfaction
Authors: Tarofder Arun Kumar , Nikhashemi Seyed Rajab , Azam S.M. Ferdous , Selvantharan Prashantini , Haque Ahasanul
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of explanation on customer satisfaction in the service failure stage. It seeks to better understand the dynamics of consumer repurchase intention through a mediating effect of customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

A structured questionnaire was e-mailed to collect the primary data. With three reminders, this study managed to obtain 322 responses from customers who complained about their internet service in Malaysia. Structural equation modelling techniques were applied to examine both direct and mediating effects between variables.

Findings

Results reveal that all four dimensions of explanation have significant partial mediating effect on repurchase intention through customer satisfaction. Results also disclose that there is no significant relationship between excuse and customer satisfaction in service failure. Among all dimensions, reference and apology have higher influence on repurchase intention through customer satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

The results are particularly valuable for managers, as it supports the role of using explanation as a practical tool for fostering positive and profitable outcomes like repeat customer purchases.

Practical implications

The findings of this study will help organisations rethink their explanation strategies with the eye to foster greater customer repurchase intention.

Originality/value

The results are particularly valuable for managers, as they support the role of using explanation as a practical tool for fostering positive and profitable outcomes like repeat customer purchases.
Service climate in knowledge-intensive, internal service settings
Authors: Jia Ronnie , Reich Blaize Horner , Jia Heather H.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

This study aims to extend service climate research from its existing focus on routine service for external clients into a knowledge-intensive, internal (KII) service setting. This extension was important because internal knowledge workers may operate from a monopolistic perspective and not view themselves as service providers because of the technical/professional nature of their work.

Design/methodology/approach

Two surveys were distributed in participating organizations. One survey, completed by employees in information technology (IT) service units, contains measures of service climate, climate antecedents and technical competence. The second survey, filled out by members of their corporate customer units, taps their evaluations of service quality.

Findings

Service climate in IT service units significantly predicted service evaluations by their respective customer units. Importantly, service climate was more predictive than IT service employees’ technical competency. Role ambiguity, empowerment and work facilitation were also found to be significant service climate antecedents.

Research limitations/implications

These results provided strong empirical evidence supporting an extension of the existing service climate research to KII service settings. To the extent that front-line service employees rely on internal support to deliver quality service to external customers, managers should work to enhance the service climate in internal support units, which ultimately improves external service quality.

Originality/value

This is the first study that establishes the robustness of the service climate construct in KII service settings. It makes service climate a useful managerial tool for improving both internal and external service quality.
Interactivity innovations, competitive intensity, customer demand and performance
Authors: Anning-Dorson Thomas
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to identify dimensions of interactivity service innovations and examine the moderating effect of external factors, i.e. customer demand and competitive intensity, on the relationship between such service innovations and service firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected at two levels; the first for validation; and the second for confirmatory and relationship analyses. Structural equation modeling was used in analyzing the relationship between interactivity innovation and service firm performance and environmental moderating effects.

Findings

The study found that high levels of interactivity innovations, in combination, drive superior performance. It was also found that deployment of high levels of interactivity innovations in high-demand periods is significantly related to high performance. The paper also found that the relationship between high interactivity innovation and financial performance is dampened by intense competition.

Originality/value

Unlike previous studies, this study found that it is rather high levels of service innovations that maximize performance in service firms operating in emerging economies and not just the implementation of such innovations, and that the implementation must be aligned to the prevailing environmental conditions.
A resource-based view of the firm and micro and small Italian wine firms
Authors: Duarte Alonso Abel , Bressan Alessandro
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, the resource-based view (RBV) of the firm is adopted to explore the most important resources among micro and small firms operating in Italy’s wine industry. Second, the study incorporates a SWOT analysis to examine perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats based on the perceptions of owners and managers of these firms.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire was designed to gather both quantitative and qualitative data from Italian wineries; a total of 211 firms participated in the study.

Findings

Product quality, managerial/staff capabilities, knowledge, reputation, service quality and the territory/region emerge as most important resources, clearly aligning with the attributes of the RBV, namely, valuable, rare, imperfectly imitable and (non)substitutable resources. However, based on the RBV, the future-sustained competitive advantage is threatened by, among other factors, the firm’s finances, competition, red tape and the complexity of increasing sales.

Originality/value

Fundamentally, the research contributes to micro and small enterprise literature, and to the limited number of studies that have used the RBV of the firm in the context of micro and small wineries. This theoretical framework is used among wineries of one of the world’s leading wine producing nations. Some dimensions of this country’s wine industry have received limited academic attention. In addition, the study provides practical value in identifying resources, limitations, and threats at a time when micro and small wineries are seeking to develop or increase their international presence.
Whose decision is it anyway? A qualitative study of user participation and how clinicians deal with the patient perspective in mental healthcare
Authors: Mathisen Vår , Lorem Geir Fagerheim , Obstfelder Aud , Måseide Per
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The concept of user participation is well accepted internationally. Nevertheless, studies show that both patients and health professionals find it challenging to maintain patient-centred ideals in the context of severe mental illness. The purpose of this paper is to explore how professionals deal with the ideals in light of patients’ right to participate in planning and decision making regarding milieu therapeutic measures and activities.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a qualitative study with an interactionist approach based on fieldwork at three district psychiatric centres in Norway during 2011-2012. The observations focused on patient-staff interaction in milieu therapeutic activities. Interviews were based on observed situations.

Findings

Adherence to treatment, rules and routines restricted patient autonomy. The professionals’ practical orientation towards routines overrode the ideals of patients’ rights. The staff regarded user participation primarily as participation in organised and mandatory activities. Refusal to comply was met with different sanctions, e.g. the prospect of being discharged.

Originality/value

Although user participation calls for patient-centred approaches, there is some debate about the challenges and premises for cooperation with persons suffering from severe mental conditions. This study adds insight into the everyday organisational context that facilitates or impedes user participation. It helps to explain why the user perspective can be overlooked, thus providing important information to both clinicians and policy makers who aim to fulfil the patient’s right to participate in planning and decision making regarding treatment and care.
Non Gaussian returns and pension funds asset allocation
Authors: Hamayon Stéphane , Legros Florence , Pradat Yannick
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The authors aim to demonstrate the importance of taking into account “mean reversion” in asset prices and show that this type of modeling leads to a high share of equities in pension funds’ asset allocations.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the authors will study the long-run statistical characteristics of selected financial assets during the 1895-2011 period. Such an analysis corroborates the fact that, for long holding periods, equities exhibit lower risk than other asset classes. Moreover, they will provide empirical evidence that stock market returns are negatively skewed in the short term and show that this negative skewness vanishes over longer time horizons. Both these characteristics favor the use of a semi-parametric methodology.

Findings

This empirical study led to two major findings. First, the authors noticed that the distribution of stock returns is negatively skewed over short time horizons. Second, they observed that the fat-tailed shape of the returns distribution disappears for time periods longer than five years. Finally, they demonstrated that stock returns exhibit “mean-reversion”. Consequently, the optimization program should not only take into account the non-Gaussian nature of returns in the short run but also incorporate the speed at which volatility “mean reverts” to its long-run mean.

Originality/value

To simulate portfolio allocation, the authors used a Cornish–Fisher Value-at-Risk criterion with the advantage of providing an allocation that is independent of the saver’s preferences parameters. A backtesting analysis including a calculation of replacement rates shows a clear dominance of the “non-Gaussian” strategy because the retirement outcomes under such a strategy would be positively affected.
Brand personality, brand equity and revisit intention: an empirical study of a tourist destination in Iran
Authors: Salehzadeh Reza , Khazaei Pool Javad , Soleimani Samaneh
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how brand personality and brand equity affect intentions to revisit a city tourism destination.

Design/methodology/approach

Statistical population of this research consisted of those visitors who traveled to Pool city in Iran during Spring 2015. A structural equation model test with maximum likelihood estimation was performed to test the relationship among the research variables using 367 participants.

Findings

The empirical results from the structural model suggest that brand personality and brand equity positively influenced revisit intention. Furthermore, brand personality was a direct antecedent of brand equity.

Originality/value

An integrated model of brand personality, brand equity and revisit intention was tested in a tourism city in the context of a developing economy. The combination of a developing country context and the significance of destination brand enhance the contextual contribution of the paper.
Hotel’s grid group structure and risk management practices
Authors: Waikar Vilas Govind , Hegde Desai Purva G. , Borde Nilesh
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Risk management is an emerging research area in tourism and hospitality. This paper classifies hotels based on grid (control) and group (inter dependencies) structure given by the cultural theory of risk. This paper aims to understand whether hotels grouped as per grid group structure differ on risk coping strategies such as mitigation, absorption and transfer for various hospitality risks.

Design/methodology/approach

Primary data are collected from 112 senior managers of luxury hotels using structured questionnaire aimed to capture the grid group aspect and risk management practices. Using factor scores, hotels are grouped. One-way analysis of variance is performed on these data to ascertain whether risk management practices of various types of hotels differ.

Findings

Results provide new insights into hotels grid group aspect and risk-related behaviour, revealing that hotels significantly differ on risk coping and confirming that the structure of hotel – the grid and group – does impact its risk management practices.

Research limitations/implications

The study adds to the extant literature. For the first time, the grid group structure of hotel is proposed to impact the risk coping. Second, the risk perception study is conducted at firm level and not at individual level as done in past. Third, the paper looks at all three risk management practices and not in isolation, thus taking the risk research dialogue further. The study has not considered non-luxury hotels. Second limitation is a small sample of 112 hotels.

Practical implications

The study opens up a new perspective on hotel risk management. The researchers will benefit from the newer, theoretical understanding of firm-level complex structure of risk. The hotels risk professionals can benefit from understanding grid group structure and risk coping practices.

Originality/value

The novel approach of grid group classification of hotels is developed. Risk management practices are studied across hotel types for various risks. Study enhances the understanding of risk and grid group structure with regard to managing hospitality risk.
Kuwaiti consumers’ willingness to pay for environmental protection in Failaka island: a contingent valuation analysis
Authors: Mostafa Mohamed M. , Al-Hamdi Mohaned
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Evidence suggests that a growing number of consumers across the world are becoming more environmentally responsible in terms of their personal habits and lifestyles. In this paper, the authors aim to use both parametric and non-parametric econometric models to estimate Kuwaiti consumers’ willingness to pay (WTP) for environmental protection in Failaka island.

Design/methodology/approach

Contingent valuation methods based on log-logistic and log-normal regression models revealed that consumers in Kuwait are willing to pay a price premium of approximately 40 Kuwaiti dinars for environmental protection in Failaka island based on the double-bound dichotomous choice model.

Findings

Socio-economic variables have no significant influence on the respondent’s WTP. As expected income has a positive relationship with WTP and bid price has negative relationship with WTP to protect the environment in Failaka island.

Originality/value

This study highlight the fact that understanding consumers’ environmental-friendly behaviors may play an important role in formulating environmental policy changes to face complex problems as diverse as environmental pollution or environmental degradation.
Preserved travel‐time smoothing in orthorhombic media
Authors: Xu Shibo , Stovas Alexey
Published: November 2016

Certain degree of smoothness of velocity models is required for most ray‐based migration and tomography. Applying conventional smoothing in model parameters results in offset‐dependent travel‐time errors for reflected events, which can be large even for small contrasts in model parameters between the layers. This causes the shift in both the depth and residual moveout of the migrated images. To overcome this problem in transversely isotropic medium with a vertical symmetry axis, the preserved travel‐time smoothing method was proposed earlier. We extend this method for orthorhombic media with and without azimuthal variation between the layers. We illustrate this method for a single interface between two orthorhombic layers and show that the smoothing‐driven errors in travel time are very small for practical application.
Increased identification of novel variants in type 2 diabetes, birth weight and their pleiotropic loci
Authors: Zeng Chun‐Ping , Chen Yuan‐Cheng , Lin Xu , Greenbaum Jonathan , Chen You‐Ping , Peng Cheng , Wang Xia‐Fang , Zhou Rou , Deng Wei‐Min , Shen Jie , Deng Hong‐Wen
Published: November 2016

Background

Clinical and epidemiological findings point to an association between type 2 diabetes (T2D) and low birth weight. However, the nature of the relationship is largely unknown. The aim of this study was to identify novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in T2D and birth weight, and their pleiotropic loci.

Methods

A pleiotropy‐informed conditional false discovery rate (cFDR) method was applied to two independent genome‐wide association studies (GWAS) summary statistics of T2D (n = 149 821) and birth weight (n = 26 836).

Results

A conditional Q–Q plot showed strong enrichment of genetic variants in T2D conditioned on different levels of association with birth weight. 133 T2D‐associated SNPs, including 120 novel SNPs, were identified with a significance threshold of cFDR < 0.05; 13 significant birth weight‐associated SNPs, including 12 novel SNPs (cFDR < 0.05) were identified. Conjunctional cFDR (ccFDR) analysis identified nine pleiotropic loci, including seven novel loci, shared by both T2D and birth weight (ccFDR < 0.05). Two novel SNPs located at the CDK5 regulatory subunit‐associated protein 1‐like 1 (CDKAL1; rs1012635; cFDR < 0.05) and adenylate cyclase 5 (ADCY5; rs4677887; cFDR < 0.05) genes are of note. These two genes increase the risk of T2D and low birth weight through the pathway of the “fetal insulin hypothesis.”

Conclusion

Several pleiotropic loci were identified between T2D and birth weight by leveraging GWAS results. The results make it possible to explain a greater proportion of trait heritability and improve our understanding of the shared pathophysiology between T2D and birth weight.
Strategies for complete plastid genome sequencing
Authors: Twyford Alex D. , Ness Rob W.
Published: November 2016

Plastid sequencing is an essential tool in the study of plant evolution. This high‐copy organelle is one of the most technically accessible regions of the genome, and its sequence conservation makes it a valuable region for comparative genome evolution, phylogenetic analysis and population studies. Here, we discuss recent innovations and approaches for de novo plastid assembly that harness genomic tools. We focus on technical developments including low‐cost sequence library preparation approaches for genome skimming, enrichment via hybrid baits and methylation‐sensitive capture, sequence platforms with higher read outputs and longer read lengths, and automated tools for assembly. These developments allow for a much more streamlined assembly than via conventional short‐range PCR. Although newer methods make complete plastid sequencing possible for any land plant or green alga, there are still challenges for producing finished plastomes particularly from herbarium material or from structurally divergent plastids such as those of parasitic plants.
OpenMEE: Intuitive, open‐source software for meta‐analysis in ecology and evolutionary biology
Authors: Wallace Byron C. , Lajeunesse Marc J. , Dietz George , Dahabreh Issa J. , Trikalinos Thomas A. , Schmid Christopher H. , Gurevitch Jessica
Published: November 2016

Meta‐analysis and meta‐regression are statistical methods for synthesizing and modelling the results of different studies, and are critical research synthesis tools in ecology and evolutionary biology (E&E). However, many E&E researchers carry out meta‐analyses using software that is limited in its statistical functionality and is not easily updatable. It is likely that these software limitations have slowed the uptake of new methods in E&E and limited the scope and quality of inferences from research syntheses.

We developed OpenMEE: Open Meta‐analyst for Ecology and Evolution to address the need for advanced, easy‐to‐use software for meta‐analysis and meta‐regression. OpenMEE has a cross‐platform, easy‐to‐use graphical user interface (GUI) that gives E&E researchers access to the diverse and advanced statistical functionalities offered in R, without requiring knowledge of R programming.

OpenMEE offers a suite of advanced meta‐analysis and meta‐regression methods for synthesizing continuous and categorical data, including meta‐regression with multiple covariates and their interactions, phylogenetic analyses, and simple missing data imputation. OpenMEE also supports data importing and exporting, exploratory data analysis, graphing of data, and summary table generation.

As intuitive, open‐source, free software for advanced methods in meta‐analysis, OpenMEE meets the current and pressing needs of the E&E community for teaching meta‐analysis and conducting high‐quality syntheses. Because OpenMEE's statistical components are written in R, new methods and packages can be rapidly incorporated into the software. To fully realize the potential of OpenMEE, we encourage community development with an aim to advance the capabilities of meta‐analyses in E&E.
An environmental DNA‐based method for monitoring spawning activity: a case study, using the endangered Macquarie perch (Macquaria australasica)
Authors: Bylemans Jonas , Furlan Elise M. , Hardy Christopher M. , McGuffie Prudence , Lintermans Mark , Gleeson Dianne M.
Published: November 2016

Determining the timing and location of reproductive events is critical for efficient management of species. However, methods currently used for aquatic species are costly, time intensive, biased and often require destructive or injurious sampling. Hence, developing a non‐invasive sampling method to accurately determine the timing and location of reproduction for aquatic species would be extremely valuable.

We conducted an experimental and field study to determine the influence of spawning, and the mass release of spermatozoa in particular, on environmental DNA (eDNA) concentrations. Using a quantitative PCR approach we monitored changes in nuclear and mitochondrial eDNA concentrations over time.

The data from the experimental study and the field survey supported our hypothesis that spawning events are characterized by higher concentrations of nuclear relative to mitochondrial eDNA. Outside of the reproductive period, we find that nuclear and mitochondrial DNA fragments are equally abundant in environmental water samples.

We have shown that changes in the relative abundance of nuclear and mitochondrial eDNA can be used to monitor spawning activity of the endangered Macquarie perch. Our method is likely to be transferrable to other aquatic species and can be particularly useful to increase our understanding of the spawning biology of cryptic, rare or threatened species as well as design and evaluate environmental management actions and determine species establishment.
Food and consumer behavior: why the details matter
Authors: Just David R. , Gabrielyan Gnel
Published: November 2016

A growing body of literature now demonstrates the importance of behavioral factors in individual food consumption. However, whether addressing hunger, nutrition, or obesity, food policies are often created to target changes at the aggregate level. These policies ignore such behavioral tools or effects and their potential heterogeneous effects on consumers. In this article, we review the most important results examining food consumption and behavioral economics and provide a thorough discussion of how such tools are now being added to the lexicon of effective policy tools. In addition, we discuss how traditional policy tools that ignore the individual behavioral effects can miss the mark or even backfire. The implication is clear: a thorough understanding of behavioral economics is necessary to create efficient food policy.
Trends and patterns in the triple burden of malnutrition in India
Authors: Meenakshi J. V.
Published: November 2016

This paper brings together recent evidence on what has come to be referred to as the triple burden of malnutrition—consisting of overnutrition, undernutriton, and micronutrient deficiencies—using various anthropometric, biochemical, and diet quality indicators, and juxtaposing these against changes in relative prices. The evidence points to the rapid emergence of overweight as a public health problem, widespread not only in urban, but also in rural areas; associated noncommunicable diseases are also on the rise. Over time, while most indicators of undernutrition have improved, magnitudes are nonetheless high; a persistent problem is anemia, the prevalence of which remains high and unchanged. As for food, more than quantity, it is its quality that appears to be correlated with malnutrition. Yet improvements in diet quality have not been high, and micronutrient intakes remain low. It has become increasingly difficult for the poor to have a diet rich in vegetables, dairy and meat, as their prices (per unit calorie), relative to cereals, have risen faster than for the rich.
Food security as resilience: reconciling definition and measurement
Authors: Upton Joanna B. , Cissé Jennifer Denno , Barrett Christopher B.
Published: November 2016

In this article, we draw out a set of axioms for food security measurement that follow directly from the internationally agreed 1996 FAO definition. Building on recent work on the theory and measurement of development resilience, we then propose an empirical strategy to measure food security that addresses these measurement axioms better than do prevailing measures. We empirically illustrate this approach using a panel data set from northern Kenya.
A text message away: ICTs as a tool to improve food security
Authors: Nakasone Eduardo , Torero Maximo
Published: November 2016

The growing use of ICTs around the world, particularly cellular phone technology, provides a significant development opportunity. Under certain situations, ICTs can improve rural households’ agricultural production, farm profitability, job opportunities, adoption of healthier practices, and risk management. All these effects have the potential to increase wellbeing and food security in rural areas of developing countries. Several challenges to effectively scaling up the use of ICTs for development remain, however. Taking advantage of the opportunities provided by ICTs depends on increased connectivity of marginalized population groups, the content and usefulness of the information provided through ICTs, and the capacity of households in rural areas to understand and act on the information that they receive. We need innovative ways to bring together the public and private sectors to ensure that the three Cs (connectivity, content, and capacity) are addressed as a whole.
Recent weather fluctuations and agricultural yields: implications for climate change
Authors: D'Agostino Anthony Louis , Schlenker Wolfram
Published: November 2016

We summarize recent statistical analyses that link agricultural yields to weather fluctuations. Similar to other sectors, high temperatures play a crucial role in predicting outcomes. Climate change is predicted to significantly increase high temperatures and thereby reduce yields. How good are such models at predicting future outcomes? We show that a statistical model estimated using historic US data on corn and soybean yields from 1950 to 2011 is very capable of predicting aggregate US yields for the years 2012–2015, where 2012 was much hotter than normal and is expected to become the new normal under climate change. We conclude by discussing recent studies on the implication of predicted yield declines with a special focus on adaptation and commodity prices.
Crohn's disease should be considered in children with inflammatory oral lesions
Authors: Skrzat Anna , Olczak‐Kowalczyk Dorota , Turska‐Szybka Anna
Published: November 2016

This systematic review presents the oral manifestations of paediatric Crohn's disease. Our review of 28 papers published from 2000 to 2015 showed that the prevalence of oral manifestations was 10–80%. Specific symptoms included mucosal tags, swelling of the lips, cheeks and gingiva, and cobblestoning mucosa. Nonspecific symptoms included aphthous‐like ulcers, angular cheilitis, lip fissuring and gingivitis.

Conclusion

The oral manifestations of Crohn's disease might precede intestinal inflammation or coincide with it. Crohn's disease should be considered in children with multiple oral manifestations and paediatric dentists, and gastroenterologists should be involved in their coordinated evaluation and follow‐up.
Clinical symptom tool that raises the index of suspicion for eosinophilic oesophagitis in adults and drives earlier biopsy for definitive diagnosis
Authors: von Arnim U. , Röhl F.‐W. , Miehlke S. , Jechorek D. , Reinhold D. , Wex T. , Malfertheiner P.
Published: November 2016

Background

Eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) and gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease (GERD) present with overlapping symptomatology and it is challenging to distinguish EoE from GERD clinically before endoscopy.

Aim

To investigate the prognostic value of a set of clinical symptoms and laboratory values in patients with EoE and GERD.

Methods

In this prospective, single‐centre, observational study, we compared clinical and laboratory data from 202 patients with EoE or GERD (10 relevant characteristics). Those characteristics showing potential significance in a univariate analysis were then included in a multivariate analysis.

Results

The set of 10 characteristics (10‐marker set) was able to distinguish between EoE and GERD with good reliability (correct assignment, i.e. agreement with subsequent EGD, of 94.4%). Reduction of the set to the six statistically and clinically most relevant markers continued to give good reliability (88.9%), and further stepwise reduction led to four‐marker sets comprising history of atopy, history of food impaction, proton pump inhibitor refractory symptoms and either immunoglobulin E or peripheral eosinophilia, with correct assignment rates of 91.3% and 85.1% respectively.

Conclusions

We have developed a simple and easily applicable clinical/laboratory marker set that helps to distinguish EoE from GERD earlier in the treatment course, thus guiding the endoscopist to perform biopsies from the oesophagus to ensure the diagnosis. The application of the scoring system is expected to diagnose EoE earlier and avoiding delay of adequate treatment.
Simeprevir in combination with sofosbuvir in treatment‐naïve and ‐experienced patients with hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection: a Phase III, open‐label, single‐arm study (PLUTO)
Authors: Buti M. , Calleja J. L. , Lens S. , Diago M. , Ortega E. , Crespo J. , Planas R. , Romero‐Gómez M. , Rodríguez F. G. , Pascasio J. M. , Fevery B. , Kurland D. , Corbett C. , Kalmeijer R. , Jessner W.
Published: November 2016

Background

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis and subsequent hepatocellular carcinoma. HCV genotype 4 is found widely in the Middle East, Egypt and Africa, and has also spread into Europe. There are limited data available regarding the use of direct‐acting antiviral agents in HCV genotype 4‐infected patients with cirrhosis.

Aim

To evaluate in the phase III, open‐label, single‐arm PLUTO study the efficacy and safety of 12 weeks of simeprevir (HCV NS3/4A protease inhibitor) plus sofosbuvir (HCV nucleotide‐analogue NS5B polymerase inhibitor) in treatment‐naïve and (peg)interferon ± ribavirin‐experienced HCV genotype 4‐infected patients, with or without compensated cirrhosis.

Methods

Adult patients with chronic HCV genotype 4 infection received simeprevir 150 mg once‐daily and sofosbuvir 400 mg once‐daily for 12 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was sustained virologic response 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12). Safety was also assessed.

Results

Forty patients received treatment; the majority were male (73%) and treatment‐experienced (68%). Overall, 7/40 (18%) patients had compensated cirrhosis. All patients achieved SVR12 [100% (Clopper‐Pearson 95% confidence interval: 91–100%)]. Adverse events, all Grade 1 or 2, were reported in 20/40 (50%) patients. No serious adverse events were reported and no patients discontinued study treatment. Grade 3 treatment‐emergent laboratory abnormalities were noted in 2/40 (5%) patients.

Conclusions

Treatment with simeprevir plus sofosbuvir for 12 weeks resulted in SVR12 rates of 100% in treatment‐naïve and ‐experienced patients with HCV genotype 4 infection with or without compensated cirrhosis, and was well tolerated. [NCT02250807]
Telemetric tracking of scatterhoarding and seed fate in a Central African forest
Authors: Rosin Cooper , Poulsen John R.
Published: November 2016

In seed predation studies, removal of a seed is only the first step of a dynamic process that may result in dispersal rather than seed death. This process, termed seed fate, has received little attention in African forests, particularly in Central Africa. We experimentally assessed the initial steps of seed fate for two tree species—the large‐seeded Pentaclethra macrophylla and the relatively small‐seeded Gambeya lacourtiana—in northeastern Gabon. Specifically, we evaluated whether seed size and seed consumer identity are important determinants of seed fate. We established experimental stations under conspecific fruiting trees, each comprising three seeds fitted with telemetric thread tags to facilitate their recovery, and a motion‐sensitive camera to identify visiting mammals. In total, animals removed 76 tagged seeds from experimental stations. Small Murid rats and mice primarily removed small Gambeya seeds, whereas large‐bodied rodents and mandrills primarily removed large Pentaclethra seeds. Gambeya seeds were carried shorter distances than Pentaclethra seeds and were less likely to be cached. The two large‐bodied rodents handled seeds differently: Cricetomys emini larderhoarded nearly all (N = 15 of 16) encountered Pentaclethra seeds deep in burrows, while Atherurus africanus cached all (N = 5 of 5) encountered Pentaclethra seeds singly under 1–3 cm of leaf litter and soil, at an average distance of 24.2 m and a maximum distance of 46.3 m from experimental stations. This study supports the hypothesis that seed fate varies based on seed size and seed consumer identity, and represents the first telemetric experimental evidence of larderhoarding and scatterhoarding in the region.
Anaphylaxis to foods in a population of adolescents: incidence, characteristics and associated risks
Authors: Vetander M. , Protudjer J. L. P. , Lilja G. , Kull I. , Hedlin G. , van Hage M. , Östblom E. , Bergström A. , Wickman M.
Published: November 2016

Background

Information about severe reactions to foods in adolescence is limited.

Objective

To describe reactions to foods, including anaphylaxis, with regard to incidence, characteristics and associated risks, among 16‐year‐olds (adolescents) in a large, population‐based birth cohort.

Methods

Parent‐reported questionnaire data from ages 2–3 months, and 1, 2 and 16 years were used (N = 3153). Anaphylaxis at age 16 years was defined per NIAID/FAAN criteria. Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to 14 common food and inhalant allergens were analysed at ages 4 (n = 2283) and 16 years (n = 2510). Among adolescents with food‐related symptoms (FRS) and for whom blood was available (n = 221), 25 additional food allergen extracts or allergen components were analysed. Associations between reactions to foods, and sensitization and allergic multimorbidity were investigated.

Results

In the 12 months prior to the 16‐year assessment, 8.5% of adolescents had FRS. This included 0.8% (n = 24) adolescents who were classified as having anaphylaxis, yielding an incidence rate of 761/100 000 person‐years. One‐third of adolescents accessed health care during anaphylaxis. Allergic multimorbidity in infancy, as well as sensitization to foods and airborne allergens at age 4 years, was associated with an increased risk for FRS in adolescence. Peanuts and tree nuts were the most common culprit foods for anaphylaxis, and fruits and vegetables for non‐anaphylactic reactions. Adolescents with anaphylaxis were significantly more likely to be sensitized to storage proteins (Ara h 2, Cor a 9, Cor a 14) and to be polysensitized to foods (P < 0.001 vs. non‐anaphylactic reactions).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

The incidence of food‐induced anaphylaxis during adolescence in our population‐based birth cohort is higher than previously reported. Adolescents with anaphylaxis differ from adolescents with non‐anaphylactic FRS with regard to culprit foods and sensitization. Adolescents with previous anaphylaxis are likely to be polysensitized to foods, particularly tree nut and peanut storage proteins, and which warrants consideration at follow‐up.
Community healthcare professionals overestimate the risk of fatal anaphylaxis for food allergic children
Authors: Hanna H. J. , Emmanuel J. , Naim S. , Umasunthar T. , Boyle R. J.
Published: November 2016

Background

Fatal food anaphylaxis is rare, but a major concern for people with food allergy and their carers. We evaluated whether community healthcare professionals accurately estimate risk of fatal anaphylaxis for food allergic children, and whether accurate risk estimation is related to competence in recognizing and managing anaphylaxis.

Methods

We enrolled 90 community healthcare professionals in a cross‐sectional survey – 30 primary care nurses, 30 school first aiders, 30 community pharmacists. Participant risk estimates for fatal and non‐fatal anaphylaxis, and all‐cause fatalities, were measured using a risk ladder. Participant anaphylaxis knowledge was assessed by questionnaire, and practical skills using a simulated anaphylaxis scenario.

Results

In all three groups, participants significantly overestimated the risk of fatal anaphylaxis for food allergic children, by a mean factor of 13.5‐fold (95% CI 5.0, 31.6), but did not overestimate non‐fatal anaphylaxis risk or all‐cause fatality risk. We found no evidence of a relationship between successful adrenaline administration and risk estimation.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

In conclusion, we have found evidence that community pharmacists, school first aiders and primary care nurses in the UK systematically overestimate the risk of fatal anaphylaxis for a food allergic child. This overestimation may result in increased patient and carer anxiety. Community practitioners who manage childhood food allergy and anaphylaxis need to be educated about the level of risk for fatal anaphylaxis in such children.
Status and Trends in Global Ecosystem Services and Natural Capital: Assessing Progress Toward Aichi Biodiversity Target 14
Authors: Shepherd Ellen , Milner‐Gulland E.J. , Knight Andrew T. , Ling Matthew A. , Darrah Sarah , van Soesbergen Arnout , Burgess Neil D.
Published: November 2016

The Convention on Biological Diversity uses six indicators to assess progress toward Aichi Biodiversity Target 14 (ecosystem services), leaving many elements of the target untracked. We identify 13 ecosystem services as directly essential for human well‐being, and select a set of 21 datasets as indicators of the state of natural capital underpinning those services, the benefits derived from them, and distribution of access to those benefits. Analysis of these indicators supports previous conclusions that there is no overall progress toward Target 14. Sixty percent of our “benefit” indicators have positive trends, whereas 86% of our “state” indicators show a decline in natural capital. This suggests that well‐being is increasing in the near‐term despite environmental degradation, and that unsustainable use of natural capital may fuel human development. As regulating services such as “soil fertility” continue to decline, however, it seems unlikely that this trend can continue without future negative impacts on humanity.
Transcriptional and post‐transcriptional regulation of histone variant H2A.Z during sea urchin development
Authors: Hajdu Mihai , Calle Jasmine , Puno Andrea , Haruna Aminat , Arenas‐Mena César
Published: November 2016

Histone variant H2A.Z promotes chromatin accessibility at transcriptional regulatory elements and is developmentally regulated in metazoans. We characterize the transcriptional and post‐transcriptional regulation of H2A.Z in the purple sea urchin Strongylocentrotus purpuratus. H2A.Z depletion by antisense translation‐blocking morpholino oligonucleotides during early development causes developmental collapse, in agreement with its previously demonstrated general role in transcriptional multipotency. During H2A.Z peak expression in 24‐h embryos, endogenous H2A.Z 3′ UTR sequences stabilize GFP mRNAs relative to those with SV40 3′ UTR sequences, although the 3′ UTR of H2A.Z does not determine the spatial distribution of H2A.Z transcripts during embryonic and postembryonic development. We elaborated an H2A.Z::GFP BAC reporter that reproduces embryonic H2A.Z expression. Genome‐wide chromatin accessibility analysis using ATAC‐seq revealed a cis‐regulatory module (CRM) that, when deleted, causes a significant decline of the H2A.Z reporter expression. In addition, the mutation of a Sox transcription factor binding site motif and, more strongly, of a Myb motif cause significant decline of reporter gene expression. Our results suggest that an undetermined Myb‐family transcription factor controls the transcriptional regulation of H2A.Z.