bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
‘Loyal Believers and Disloyal Sceptics’: Propaganda and Dissent in Britain during the Korean War, 1950–1953
Authors: BUCHANAN TOM
Published: December 2016

This article looks at the small number of British subjects who visited China and North Korea during the Korean War with a view to influencing British opinion. Although none were brought to trial, all experienced some form of punitive action, whether the loss of employment, loss of passports, or damage to their reputations. The subject is placed in the context of the Cold War, and the wider concerns about disloyalty on the Left at the time, as well as the controversies surrounding the Korean War in Britain. It concludes that the actions of these individuals have to be understood in terms of their alternative loyalties (such as to the ‘new’ China, or to an alternative vision of the United Nations), which ultimately outweighed allegations of disloyalty.
The Mediterranean Metaphor in Early Geopolitical Writings
Authors: PETRI ROLF
Published: December 2016

The article focuses on the view of the Mediterranean in early geopolitical writings. Through this lens, it looks at the space metaphors and imaginative geographies that defined the core meanings of the Middle Sea over the last 200 years. The author discusses the role that the Enlightenment philosophy of history had in the shaping of classical geography. Moving on similar grounds, early geopolitical writers believed in the ‘force of history’ as a generator of spatial order. They used episodes of the Mediterranean past as a parable for the spatial articulation of contact, conflict and power in the overall ‘process of civilization’. In their writings recurs an idea, which resonates also in later key texts regarding the same maritime space. It is the idea of a ‘greater Mediterranean’ that after the fifteenth century was destined to gain worldwide importance thanks to transoceanic expansion. In doing so, geographers, historians and philosophers of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries transformed the Middle Sea into a metaphor for the universal mission of Europe and the West.
Visual function and retinal vessel diameters during hyperthermia in man
Authors: Jensen Bettina Hagström , Bram Thue , Kappelgaard Per , Arvidsson Henrik , Loskutova Ekaterina , Munch Inger Christine , Larsen Michael
Published: December 2016

Purpose

To assess the effect of elevated core body temperature on temporal and spatial contrast sensitivity and retinal vessel diameters.

Methods

The study included 13 healthy volunteers aged 20–37 years. Core body temperature elevation (target +1.1°C) was induced by wrapping the participants in cling film, tinfoil and warming blankets. Subsequent cooling was achieved by undressing. Flicker sensitivity (critical flicker fusion frequency) was chosen to assess temporal resolution, while the Freiburg Vision Test was used to determine spatial contrast sensitivity at 1.5 cycles per degree. Scanning laser ophthalmoscopy was used to measure retinal trunk vessel diameters. Assessment was made at baseline, during hyperthermia and after cooling.

Results

The induction of a mean increase in core body temperature of 1.02°C was associated with a 7.15‐mmHg mean reduction in systolic blood pressure (p < 0.01), a 10.6‐mmHg mean reduction in diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.01), a mean increase in pulse rate of 36.3 bpm (p < 0.0001), a 2.66% improvement in flicker sensitivity (CI95 1.37–3.94, p < 0.001), a 2.80% increase in retinal artery diameters (CI95 1.09–4.51, p < 0.01) and a 2.95% increase in retinal vein diameters (CI95 0.96–4.94, p < 0.01). There was no detectable effect of temperature on spatial contrast sensitivity. All ocular test parameters returned to baseline levels after cooling.

Conclusion

Increased core body temperature was accompanied by improved temporal visual resolution and retinal trunk vessel dilation. The results suggest that hyperthermia is associated with enhanced retinal function and increased retinal metabolism.
Pharmacokinetics and safety of a single dose of the novel necrosis inhibitor LC28‐0126 in healthy male subjects
Authors: Kim Seokuee , Chung Hyewon , Lee SeungHwan , Cho Sang‐Heon , Cho Hyun‐Jai , Kim Soon Ha , Jang In‐Jin , Yu Kyung‐Sang
Published: December 2016

Aims

A novel necrosis inhibitor, LC28‐0126, is expected to have a cellular protective effect from ischaemic reperfusion injury in acute myocardial infarction. The objective of this study was to investigate the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of LC28‐0126 after a single intravenous administration in healthy male subjects.

Methods

The study was a dose‐block‐randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, single ascending dose, first‐in‐human trial. Subjects were randomly assigned to receive 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 25, 50, 100 or 200 mg of LC28‐0126. LC28‐0126 was infused for 30 min and 5 min in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively. An interim analysis to assess the tolerability and pharmacokinetics was conducted in each dose group. Blood samples were taken to determine plasma LC28‐0126 concentrations from predose to 48 or 144 h postdose, and urine samples were taken from predose to 48 or 72 h postdose.

Results

Overall, 89 subjects were randomly assigned to the dose groups of the two cohorts. LC28‐0126 was well tolerated, and no serious adverse events were reported. LC28‐0126 showed rapid disposition in the distribution phase. Overall, the fraction of unchanged LC28‐0126 excreted during the 48 or 72 h after administration was below 5%. The systemic exposure of LC28‐0126 tends to be increased in a dose‐proportional manner in the dose range of 0.3–200 mg.

Conclusions

A single intravenous dose of LC28‐0126 was safe and well tolerated up to 200 mg. Furthermore, LC28‐0126 demonstrated a predictable pharmacokinetic profile after a single intravenous infusion of doses ranging from 0.3 to 200 mg.
Variability in response to albuminuria‐lowering drugs: true or random?
Authors: Petrykiv Sergei I. , de Zeeuw Dick , Persson Frederik , Rossing Peter , Gansevoort Ron T. , Laverman Gozewijn D. , Heerspink Hiddo J. L.
Published: December 2016

Aims

Albuminuria‐lowering drugs have shown different effect size in different individuals. Since urine albumin levels are known to vary considerably from day‐to‐day, we questioned whether the between‐individual variability in albuminuria response after therapy initiation reflects a random variability or a true response variation to treatment. In addition, we questioned whether the response variability is drug dependent.

Methods

To determine whether the response to treatment is random or a true drug response, we correlated in six clinical trials the change in albuminuria during placebo or active treatment (on‐treatment) with the change in albuminuria during wash‐out (off‐treatment). If these responses correlate during active treatment, it suggests that at least part of the response variability can be attributed to drug response variability. We tested this for enalapril, losartan, aliskiren, atrasentan and paricalcitol.

Results

No correlation between the on‐ and off‐treatment albuminuria change was observed in the placebo arm of all clinical trials (R2 < 0.01). However, we observed significant associations between the on‐ and off‐treatment response (R2 0.14 to 0.57; all P < 0.015) for different albuminuria lowering drugs. Additionally, the albuminuria responses strongly correlated when the same individual was re‐exposed to the same drug at the same dose: lisinopril 10 mg day–1 (R2 = 53%; P < 0.01), losartan 50 mg day–1 (R2 = 63%; P < 0.01).

Conclusion

The degree of albuminuria lowering with antialbuminuric drugs varies between patients. This variability in response appears drug‐class independent. Identifying which factors determine this initial short‐term variation in drug response appears important since the degree of albuminuria lowering is related to subsequent long‐term renoprotection.
Triggering Mechanisms and Inflammatory Effects of Combustion Exhaust Particles with Implication for Carcinogenesis
Authors: Øvrevik Johan , Refsnes Magne , Låg Marit , Brinchmann Bendik C. , Schwarze Per E. , Holme Jørn A.
Published: December 2016

A number of biological responses may contribute to the carcinogenic effects of combustion‐derived particulate matter (CPM). Here, we focus on mechanisms that trigger CPM‐induced pro‐inflammatory responses. Inflammation has both genotoxic and non‐genotoxic implications and is considered to play a central role in development of various health outcome associated with CPM exposure, including cancer. Chronic, low‐grade inflammation may cause DNA damage through a persistent increased level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced and released by activated immune cells. Moreover, a number of pro‐inflammatory cytokines and chemokines display mitogenic, motogenic, morphogenic and/or angiogenic properties and may therefore contribute to tumour growth and metastasis. The key triggering events involved in activation of pro‐inflammatory responses by CPM and soluble CPM components can be categorized into (i) formation of ROS and oxidative stress, (ii) interaction with the lipid layer of cellular membranes, (iii) activation of receptors, ion channels and transporters on the cell surface and (iv) interactions with intracellular molecular targets including receptors such as the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). In particular, we will elucidate the effects of diesel exhaust particles (DEP) using human lung epithelial cells as a model system.
Perspectives of water and health using Photovoice with youths living on reserve
Authors: Bradford Lori E. A. , Zagozewski Rebecca , Bharadwaj Lalita A.
Published: December 2016

Key Messages

We facilitated an opportunity for on‐reserve youth to share perspectives on water and health.

Aesthetics, pollution, technological treatment, and the ubiquitous need for water emerged from the Postervoice methodology.

Encouraging youth to be involved in lateral exchanges to control their collective future by protecting resources contributes to cultural resilience.
The Early Development of Human Aggression
Authors: Hay Dale F.
Published: December 2016

Infants develop the capacity to use force against other people in the first years of life, which gradually transforms into intentional aggression, particularly as they understand possession rights. Individual differences in expressing anger and using force are evident from 6 months and predict later aggressive conduct problems. In contrast, gender differences emerge gradually over early childhood. Toddlers' sparing use of force in interactions with other children is linked to other forms of sociability, but excessive rage and using physical force in infancy predict problematic levels of aggressiveness in later childhood. Acknowledging the early origins of aggression can inform prevention and intervention strategies.
Subpollen particles are rich carriers of major short ragweed allergens and NADH dehydrogenases: quantitative proteomic and allergomic study
Authors: Smiljanic K. , Apostolovic D. , Trifunovic S. , Ognjenovic J. , Perusko M. , Mihajlovic L. , Burazer L. , van Hage M. , Cirkovic Velickovic T.
Published: December 2016

Background

Short ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) allergies affect more than 36 million people annually. Ragweed pollen grains release subpollen particles (SPP) of respirable size upon hydration or a change in air electrical conditions. The aim of this study was to characterize the proteomes and allergomes of short ragweed SPP and total pollen protein extract (TOT), and compare their effects with those of standard aqueous pollen protein extract (APE) using sera from short ragweed pollen‐sensitized patients.

Methods

Quantitative 2D gel‐based and shotgun proteomics, 1D and 2D immunoblotting, and quantitative ELISA were applied. Novel SPP extraction and preparation protocols enabled appropriate sample preparation and further downstream analysis by quantitative proteomics.

Results

The SPP fraction contained the highest proportion (94%) of the allergome, with the largest quantities of the minor Amb a 4 and major Amb a 1 allergens, and as unique, NADH dehydrogenases. APE was the richest in Amb a 6, Amb a 5 and Amb a 3, and TOT fraction was the richest in the Amb a 8 allergens (89% and 83% of allergome, respectively). Allergenic potency correlated well among the three fractions tested, with 1D immunoblots demonstrating a slight predominance of IgE reactivity to SPP compared to TOT and APE. However, the strongest IgE binding in ELISA was noted against APE. New allergenic candidates, phosphoglycerate mutase and phosphoglucomutase, were identified in all the three pollen fractions. Enolase, UTP‐glucose‐1‐phosphate uridylyltransferase and polygalacturonase were observed in SPP and TOT fractions as novel allergens of the short ragweed pollen, as previously described.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

We demonstrated that the complete major (Amb a 1 and 11) and almost all minor (Amb a 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9) short ragweed pollen allergen repertoire as well as NADH oxidases are present in SPP, highlighting an important role for SPP in allergic sensitization to short ragweed.
Lutein facilitates physiological revascularization in a mouse model of retinopathy of prematurity
Authors: Fu Zhongjie , Meng Steven S , Burnim Samuel B , Smith Lois EH , Lo Amy CY
Published: December 2016

Background

Retinopathy of prematurity is one of the leading causes of childhood blindness worldwide, with vessel growth cessation and vessel loss in phase I followed by neovascularization in phase II. Ischaemia contributes to its pathogenesis, and lutein protects against ischaemia‐induced retinal damages. We aimed to investigate the effects of lutein on a murine model of oxygen‐induced retinopathy.

Methods

Mouse pups were exposed to 75% oxygen for 5 days and returned to room air for another 5 days. Vascular obliteration, neovascularization and blood vessel leakage were examined. Immunohistochemistry for glial cells and microglia were performed.

Results

Compared with vehicle controls, mouse pups receiving lutein treatment displayed smaller central vaso‐obliterated area and reduced blood vessel leakage. No significant difference in neovascular area was found between lutein and vehicle controls. Lutein promoted endothelial tip cell formation and maintained the astrocytic template in the avascular area in oxygen‐induced retinopathy. No significant changes in Müller cell gliosis and microglial activation in the central avascular area were found in lutein‐treated pups.

Conclusions

Our observations indicated that lutein significantly promoted normal retinal vascular regrowth in the central avascular area, possibly through promoting endothelial tip cell formation and preserving astrocytic template. Our results indicated that lutein might be considered as a supplement for the treatment of proliferative retinopathy of prematurity because of its role in facilitating the revascularization of normal vasculature.
Do Americans Have a Preference for Rule‐Based Classification?
Authors: Murphy Gregory L. , Bosch David A. , Kim ShinWoo
Published: December 2016

Six experiments investigated variables predicted to influence subjects’ tendency to classify items by a single property (rule‐based responding) instead of overall similarity, following the paradigm of Norenzayan et al. (, Cognitive Science), who found that European Americans tended to give more “logical” rule‐based responses. However, in five experiments with Mechanical Turk subjects and undergraduates at an American university, we found a consistent preference for similarity‐based responding. A sixth experiment with Korean undergraduates revealed an effect of instructions, also reported by Norenzayan et al., in which classification instructions led to majority rule‐based responding but similarity instructions led to overall similarity grouping. Our American subjects showed no such difference and used similarity more overall. We conclude that Americans do not have a preference for rule responding in classification and discuss the differences between tasks that reliably show strong rule or unidimensional preferences (category construction and category learning) in contrast to this classification paradigm.
Dirty Money: The Role of Moral History in Economic Judgments
Authors: Tasimi Arber , Gelman Susan A.
Published: December 2016

Although traditional economic models posit that money is fungible, psychological research abounds with examples that deviate from this assumption. Across eight experiments, we provide evidence that people construe physical currency as carrying traces of its moral history. In Experiments 1 and 2, people report being less likely to want money with negative moral history (i.e., stolen money). Experiments 3–5 provide evidence against an alternative account that people's judgments merely reflect beliefs about the consequences of accepting stolen money rather than moral sensitivity. Experiment 6 examines whether an aversion to stolen money may reflect contamination concerns, and Experiment 7 indicates that people report they would donate stolen money, thereby counteracting its negative history with a positive act. Finally, Experiment 8 demonstrates that, even in their recall of actual events, people report a reduced tendency to accept tainted money. Altogether, these findings suggest a robust tendency to evaluate money based on its moral history, even though it is designed to participate in exchanges that effectively erase its origins.
Local climate mediates spatial and temporal variation in carabid beetle communities in three forests in Mount Odaesan, Korea
Authors: PARK YONGHWAN , KIM JONGKUK , JANG TEAWOONG , CHAE HEEMUN , TAKAMI YASUOKI
Published: December 2016

1. Global environmental change can dramatically alter the composition of floral and faunal communities, and elucidating the mechanisms underlying this process is important for predicting its outcomes. Studies on global climate change have mostly focused on statistical summaries within wide spatial and temporal scales; less attention has been paid to variability in microclimates at narrower spatial and temporal scales.

2. The microclimate is the suite of climatic conditions measured in a local area. Environmental variables at the microclimatic scale can be critical for the ecology of organisms inhabiting each area. The effect of spatial and temporal changes in the microclimate on the ecology of carabid beetle communities in three sites on Mount Odaesan, Korea was examined.

3. Carabid beetle communities and quantified site‐specific environmental factors from measurements of air temperature, air humidity, light intensity and soil temperature over 5 years (2010–2015) were surveyed.

4. It was found that microclimatic variables and the patterns of temporal changes in carabid beetle communities differed between the three sites within the single mountain system. Microclimatic variables influencing temporal changes in beetle communities also differed between the sites. Therefore, it is suggested that variation in local microclimates affects spatial and temporal variation in carabid beetle communities at a local scale.

5. The present results demonstrate the importance of regular surveys of communities at local scales. Such surveys are expected to reveal an additional fraction of variation in communities and underlying processes that have been overlooked in studies of global community patterns and change.
Detecting spatial regimes in ecosystems
Authors: Sundstrom Shana M. , Eason Tarsha , Nelson R. John , Angeler David G. , Barichievy Chris , Garmestani Ahjond S. , Graham Nicholas A.J. , Granholm Dean , Gunderson Lance , Knutson Melinda , Nash Kirsty L. , Spanbauer Trisha , Stow Craig A. , Allen Craig R.
Published: December 2016

Research on early warning indicators has generally focused on assessing temporal transitions with limited application of these methods to detecting spatial regimes. Traditional spatial boundary detection procedures that result in ecoregion maps are typically based on ecological potential (i.e. potential vegetation), and often fail to account for ongoing changes due to stressors such as land use change and climate change and their effects on plant and animal communities. We use Fisher information, an information theory‐based method, on both terrestrial and aquatic animal data (U.S. Breeding Bird Survey and marine zooplankton) to identify ecological boundaries, and compare our results to traditional early warning indicators, conventional ecoregion maps and multivariate analyses such as nMDS and cluster analysis. We successfully detected spatial regimes and transitions in both terrestrial and aquatic systems using Fisher information. Furthermore, Fisher information provided explicit spatial information about community change that is absent from other multivariate approaches. Our results suggest that defining spatial regimes based on animal communities may better reflect ecological reality than do traditional ecoregion maps, especially in our current era of rapid and unpredictable ecological change.
The intermediate distance hypothesis of biological invasions
Authors: Seebens Hanno , Essl Franz , Blasius Bernd
Published: December 2016

Biological invasions are a worldwide phenomenon, but the global flows between native and alien regions have rarely been investigated in a cross‐taxonomic study. We therefore lack a thorough understanding of the global patterns of alien species spread. Using native and alien ranges of 1380 alien species, we show that the number of alien species follows a hump‐shaped function of geographic distance. We observe distinct variations in the relationship between alien species exchanges and distance among taxonomic groups, which relate to the taxa‐specific dispersal modes and their pathways of introduction. We formulate a simple statistical model, combining trade volume and biogeographic dissimilarity, which reproduces the observed pattern in good agreement with reported data and even captures variations among taxonomic groups. This study demonstrates the universality of the intermediate distance hypothesis of alien species spread across taxonomic groups, which will help to improve the predictability of new alien species arrivals.
Extensions of Island Biogeography Theory predict the scaling of functional trait composition with habitat area and isolation
Authors: Jacquet Claire , Mouillot David , Kulbicki Michel , Gravel Dominique
Published: December 2016

The Theory of Island Biogeography (TIB) predicts how area and isolation influence species richness equilibrium on insular habitats. However, the TIB remains silent about functional trait composition and provides no information on the scaling of functional diversity with area, an observation that is now documented in many systems. To fill this gap, we develop a probabilistic approach to predict the distribution of a trait as a function of habitat area and isolation, extending the TIB beyond the traditional species–area relationship. We compare model predictions to the body‐size distribution of piscivorous and herbivorous fishes found on tropical reefs worldwide. We find that small and isolated reefs have a higher proportion of large‐sized species than large and connected reefs. We also find that knowledge of species body‐size and trophic position improves the predictions of fish occupancy on tropical reefs, supporting both the allometric and trophic theory of island biogeography. The integration of functional ecology to island biogeography is broadly applicable to any functional traits and provides a general probabilistic approach to study the scaling of trait distribution with habitat area and isolation.
Qualitative Inquiry in Management: Methodological Dilemmas and Concerns in Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Point Sébastien , Fendt Jacqueline , Jonsen Karsten
Published: December 2016

We posit that qualitative inquiry is essential to management science but is insufficiently capitalized on and that, if aggregated through meta‐studies, such research could yield rich insight on emergent properties and enable the development of higher‐order knowledge and theory. We introduce a pragmatic approach along four ontological perspectives to conducting meta‐studies from qualitative inquiries. We identify principal epistemological, ethical and methodological concerns and dilemmas that occur in the understanding, review and aggregation of qualitative studies and propose concrete remedying heuristics.
Subcutaneous immunoglobulin as first‐line therapy in treatment‐naive patients with chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy: randomized controlled trial study
Authors: Markvardsen L. H. , Sindrup S. H. , Christiansen I. , Olsen N. K. , Jakobsen J. , Andersen H. ,   The Danish CIDP and MMN Study Group
Published: December 2016

Background and purpose

Subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) is effective as maintenance treatment in chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP). We investigated whether multiple subcutaneous infusions are as effective as conventional therapy with intravenous loading doses in treatment‐naive patients with CIDP.

Methods

Twenty patients fulfilling the clinical and electrophysiological criteria for CIDP were included and treated with either SCIG (0.4 g/kg/week) for 5 weeks or intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) (0.4 g/kg/day) for 5 days. After 10 weeks, patients were switched to the opposite treatment arm and followed for a further 10 weeks. All participants were evaluated at weeks 0, 2, 5 and 10 during both therapies. Primary outcome was combined isokinetic muscle strength (cIKS). Secondary outcomes were disability, clinical evaluation of muscle strength and the performance of various function tests.

Results

All participants received both therapies, 14 completing the protocol. Overall, cIKS increased by 7.4 ± 14.5% (P = 0.0003) during SCIG and by 6.9 ± 16.8% (P = 0.002) during IVIG, the effect being similar (P = 0.80). Improvement of cIKS peaked 2 weeks after IVIG and 5 weeks after SCIG. Disability improved during SCIG treatment only. Muscle strength determined by manual muscle testing improved after 5 and 10 weeks during SCIG but only after 5 weeks during IVIG. The remaining parameters improved equally during both treatments. Plasma immunoglobulin G levels at baseline and improvement of cIKS were related.

Conclusion

In treatment‐naive patients with CIDP, short‐lasting SCIG and IVIG therapy improve motor performance to a similar degree, but with earlier maximal improvement following IVIG than SCIG treatment.
Decadal shifts in autumn migration timing by Pacific Arctic beluga whales are related to delayed annual sea ice formation
Authors: Hauser Donna D. W. , Laidre Kristin L. , Stafford Kathleen M. , Stern Harry L. , Suydam Robert S. , Richard Pierre R.
Published: December 2016

Migrations are often influenced by seasonal environmental gradients that are increasingly being altered by climate change. The consequences of rapid changes in Arctic sea ice have the potential to affect migrations of a number of marine species whose timing is temporally matched to seasonal sea ice cover. This topic has not been investigated for Pacific Arctic beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) that follow matrilineally maintained autumn migrations in the waters around Alaska and Russia. For the sympatric Eastern Chukchi Sea (‘Chukchi’) and Eastern Beaufort Sea (‘Beaufort’) beluga populations, we examined changes in autumn migration timing as related to delayed regional sea ice freeze‐up since the 1990s, using two independent data sources (satellite telemetry data and passive acoustics) for both populations. We compared dates of migration between ‘early’ (1993–2002) and ‘late’ (2004–2012) tagging periods. During the late tagging period, Chukchi belugas had significantly delayed migrations (by 2 to >4 weeks, depending on location) from the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. Spatial analyses also revealed that departure from Beaufort Sea foraging regions by Chukchi whales was postponed in the late period. Chukchi beluga autumn migration timing occurred significantly later as regional sea ice freeze‐up timing became later in the Beaufort, Chukchi, and Bering seas. In contrast, Beaufort belugas did not shift migration timing between periods, nor was migration timing related to freeze‐up timing, other than for southward migration at the Bering Strait. Passive acoustic data from 2008 to 2014 provided independent and supplementary support for delayed migration from the Beaufort Sea (4 day yr−1) by Chukchi belugas. Here, we report the first phenological study examining beluga whale migrations within the context of their rapidly transforming Pacific Arctic ecosystem, suggesting flexible responses that may enable their persistence yet also complicate predictions of how belugas may fare in the future.
Investigation of nutritional status using the Mini Nutritional Assessment‐Short Form and analysis of the relevant factors in patients with head and neck tumour
Authors: Yanagi Ayaka , Murase Mai , Sumita Yuka I. , Taniguchi Hisashi
Published: December 2016

Objective

The aims of this study were to reveal the nutritional status of patients after head and neck tumour treatment by using the Mini Nutritional Assessment‐Short Form (MNA‐SF) and to analyse the factors affecting nutritional status in patients with head and neck tumour.

Background

Elderly patients with loss of teeth and maxillary/mandibular bone due to head and neck tumour treatment could be at high risk of malnutrition. However, there are few reports on the nutritional status of these patients.

Materials and methods

Forty‐six participants (average age 74.7 years) were selected from patients who visited the maxillofacial prosthetics clinic of Tokyo Medical and Dental University Hospital Faculty of Dentistry in Japan. Nutritional status was evaluated using the MNA‐SF. Multiple regression analysis was used to identify predictors affecting MNA‐SF score. The candidate explanatory variables were age, sex, maxillofacial prosthesis use, number of residual teeth, resection side, neck dissection and treatment option.

Results

The results showed that approximately half of the patients were at risk of malnutrition, and a regression equation for MNA‐SF score was developed using two predictors: maxillofacial prosthesis use and neck dissection.

Conclusion

Use of a maxillofacial prosthesis can improve nutritional status. On the other hand, a medical history of neck dissection can decrease nutritional status.
Improving the Academic Performance of Non‐native English‐Speaking Students: the Contribution of Pre‐sessional English Language Programmes
Authors: Thorpe Andy , Snell Martin , Davey‐Evans Sue , Talman Richard
Published: December 2016

There is an established, if weak, inverse relationship between levels of English language proficiency and academic performance in higher education. In response, higher education institutions (HEIs) insist upon minimum entry requirements concerning language for international applicants. Many HEIs now also offer pre‐sessional English courses to bring applicants up to the designated language requirement. This paper revisits the research into language proficiency and academic performance using data on all full‐time students (17,925) attending a major UK HEI in the academic year 2011–2012, 4,342 of whom were non‐native English speakers. The findings confirm that while higher International English Language Testing System (IELTS) marks at entry translate into higher grade point averages (GPAs), students who undertake pre‐sessional courses do notably worse in GPA terms than students who arrive with acceptable (for the course) IELTS scores. These findings suggest HEIs (and, by extension, international students) could benefit from a review regarding the appropriateness of current pre‐sessional English language proficiency programmes.
Mutuality, Metaphor and Micropolitics in Collaborative Governance: a Joint Venture in UK Higher Education
Authors: Ross Fiona , Woodfield Steve
Published: December 2016

As market‐led higher education systems become the ‘new normal’, a wider variety of organisational forms is likely to emerge. This paper reports on the findings of a qualitative and historical study that aimed to explore the meaning of collaborative governance in a unique and long‐standing higher education joint venture in England. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with senior‐level stakeholders from both participating institutions: architects of the joint venture, institutional leaders and faculty managers. Interviewees frequently referred to the metaphor of marriage and described the institutions as partners who don't live together but have responsibility for the children! The paper offers reflective insights on governance, leadership and management and highlights the tensions of balancing mutual interests, the use of metaphor to make sense of critical incidents and the role of micropolitics of enacting leadership at multiple levels. The paper contributes to conceptual understanding and knowledge of collaborative governance in higher education.
Implementation of an e‐learning module improves consistency in the histopathological diagnosis of sessile serrated lesions within a nationwide population screening programme
Authors: IJspeert Joep E G , Madani Ariana , Overbeek Lucy I H , Dekker Evelien , Nagtegaal Iris D
Published: December 2016

Aims

Distinguishing premalignant sessile serrated lesions (SSLs) from hyperplastic polyps (HPs) is difficult for pathologists in daily practice. We aimed to evaluate nationwide variability within histopathology laboratories in the frequency of diagnosing an SSL as compared with an HP within the Dutch population‐based screening programme for colorectal cancer and to assess the effect of an e‐learning module on interlaboratory consistency.

Methods and results

Data were retrieved from the Dutch Pathology Registry from the start of the nationwide population screening programme, January 2014, until December 2015. An obligatory e‐learning module was implemented among pathologists in October 2014. The ratio between SSL and HP diagnosis was determined per laboratory. Odds ratios (ORs) for the diagnosis of an SSL per laboratory were compared with the laboratory with the median odds (median laboratory), before and after implementation of the e‐learning module. In total, 14 997 individuals with 27 879 serrated polyps were included; 6665 (23.9%) were diagnosed as SSLs, and 21 214 as HPs (76.1%). The ratio of diagnosing an SSL ranged from 5% to 47% (median 23%) within 44 laboratories. Half of the laboratories showed a significantly different OR (range 3.47–0.16) for diagnosing an SSL than the median laboratory. Variability decreased after implementation of the e‐learning module (P = 0.02). Of all pathology laboratories, 70% became more consistent with the median laboratory after e‐learning implementation.

Conclusions

We demonstrated substantial interlaboratory variability in the histopathological diagnosis of SSLs, which significantly decreased after implementation of a structured e‐learning module. Widespread implementation of education might contribute to more homogeneous practice among pathologists.
A hundred times faster: Novel, rapid sol‐gel synthesis of bio‐glass nanopowders (Si‐Na‐Ca‐P system, Ca:P = 1.67) without aging
Authors: Ben‐Arfa Basam A. E. , Miranda Salvado Isabel M. , Ferreira José M. F. , Pullar Robert C.
Published: December 2016

Synthesis of sol‐gel glass with incorporation of Na2O is extremely difficult, as such glasses have a great tendency to crystallize. Slow drying and aging over several days or weeks is usually required in sol‐gel preparation procedures. This work reports a fast, novel route for the synthesis of bioglass powders in a considerably shortened period of 1 h. A comparative study of sol‐gel derived glasses made by this novel route using rotary evaporator drying, and a conventional route using oven drying and aging, revealed that the two methods produce stabilized (devitrified) bio‐glasses with virtually identical behavior and properties. Indeed, the rapidly dried powder exhibited slightly enhanced properties that should result in improved bioactivity. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy was used to understand the structures of the synthesized powders, and MAS‐NMR was used to look at the degree of polymerization. This innovative, rapid route was successfully demonstrated to produce glass and devitrified glass nanopowders more than one hundred times quicker than the quickest reported standard drying methods.
Effect of the (Ba + Sr)/Ti ratio on the microwave‐tunable properties of Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 ceramics
Authors: Teranishi Takashi , Kanemoto Riku , Hayashi Hidetaka , Kishimoto Akira
Published: December 2016

The impact of the (Ba + Sr)/Ti (A/B) ratio on the microwave‐tunable characteristics of diffuse phase transition (DPT) ferroelectric Ba0.6Sr0.4TiO3 (0.6‐BST) ceramics was investigated. The reduction in the lattice constant with increasing nonstoichiometry was attributed to introduced partial Schottky defects, i.e., and . The magnitude of the dielectric constant, ε′, at room temperature in the absence of an applied electric field was governed by the shift in the dielectric maximum temperature, Tm, because Tm was close to room temperature for the 0.6‐BST. The dielectric loss, tanδ, diminished as the ε′ decreased for 0.98≤A/B≤1.05, while the tanδ was much higher for A/B=0.95 having the greatest A‐site vacancy loading. The negatively charged and were mainly compensated by oxygen vacancies and likely partly compensated by holes, h•, which contributed to the electrical conduction. The tunability, T, at 100 MHz was almost constant at 20%–25% for A/B≥1.00 despite the reduction of the ε′, whereas T decreased for A/B<1.00 to ca. 10% for A/B=0.95 having the greatest A‐site vacancy loading. The results implied that the for larger A/B values was more efficient in generating nucleation sites in the polar nanoregions (PNRs) than the for smaller A/B values, thereby providing greater dipole polarization. Consequently, the figure of merit, FOM, reached its maximum of 250 at A/B=0.9875, which was ca. 155% higher than that of the stoichiometric BST.
Receipt of interpersonal citizenship: fostering agentic emotion, cognition, and action in organizations
Authors: Kabat‐Farr Dana , Cortina Lilia M.
Published: December 2016

With an eye to fostering an energized and empowered workforce, we explore the discrete emotion ofself‐assurance(characterized by boldness, pride, and audacity), investigating how receipt ofinterpersonal citizenship behavior(ICB)fuels this agentic emotion. ICB includes acts of everyday concern that may be of a person‐ or task‐focused nature. With two survey samples, we propose and test a model that situates self‐assurance as a mechanism linking ICB‐receipt to employee thriving and empowerment. Additionally, we find links to citizenship enactment, as reported by coworkers. Notably, person‐focused ICB‐receipt may be just as beneficial to self‐assurance as task‐focused ICB‐receipt. These results hold equally for working women and men. Our multi‐study, multi‐source results underscore the role of agentic emotion in cultivating a proactive workforce.
Task context changes: teams’ maladaptive responses to unanticipated change
Authors: Koseoglu Gamze , Shalley Christina E. , Herndon Benjamin
Published: December 2016

Understanding how teams are affected by and adapt to unexpected change is critical to maximizing team effectiveness. We explore the perspective that rather than being adaptive, how teams experience relativistic adjustments in pacing can actually undermine team creative processes and performance. We test our hypotheses in two experimental studies. Study 1 considers how teams experience change in the time available to complete the task, while Study 2 employs a change in workload. Results support that the deviating patterns of task pacing exhibited by teams responding to an unexpected exogenous change undermines effective team creative processes, leading to lower levels of creative performance. In addition, their effects differ by when the change occurs in the teams’ work process (i.e., earlier, midpoint, or later).
Association between TCF7L2 polymorphisms and gestational diabetes mellitus: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Chang Shaoyan , Wang Zhen , Wu Lihua , Lu Xiaolin , Shangguan Shaofang , Xin Yu , Li Li , Wang Li
Published: December 2016

Aims/Introduction

Studies have been carried out to evaluate the correlation between TCF7L2 genetic polymorphisms and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) risk. However, the conclusions from these studies are incomplete, because partial single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed. We carried out a meta‐analysis aimed to systematically evaluate TCF7L2 gene polymorphisms and GDM susceptibility in all population and racial/ethnic subgroups to afford a foundation for future research.

Materials and Methods

Published studies censoring TCF7L2 variants and GDM risk were captured from the EMBASE, PubMed, CNKI and Wanfang databases. The meta‐analysis was processed using software of RevMan 5.2 and Stata13. The relationship between TCF7L2 polymorphism and GDM occurrence was evaluated by pooled odds ratios. Stratified analysis based on race/ethnicity was also carried out. The allele‐specific odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were counted, and based on homogeneity evaluated using the I2‐test, fixed‐ or random‐effects pooled measures were selected.

Results

A total of 22 studies were covered, capturing eight TCF7L2 SNPs and involving 5,573 cases and 13,266 controls. Six of eight SNPs showed significant relationships with GDM occurrence, of which the SNPs rs7903146, rs12255372 and rs7901695 were the most powerful. Stratified analysis by race/ethnicity showed discrepant results in these three SNPs. In Caucasians and other races, all these SNPs were found to have a significant association with GDM risk, but in Asians, only SNP rs7903146 showed a significant association.

Conclusions

Six of eight SNPs were found to have significant associations between TCF7L2 variants and GDM risk in the overall population, with the most powerful in SNPs being rs7903146, rs12255372 and rs7901695, but the contribution of these SNPs to GDM risk were variable among different racial/ethnic groups.
Evolutionary potential of morphological traits across different life‐history stages
Authors: Bourret A. , Bélisle M. , Pelletier F. , Garant D.
Published: December 2016

Despite accumulating examples of selection acting on heritable traits in the wild, predicted evolutionary responses are often different from observed phenotypic trends. Various explanations have been suggested for these mismatches. These include within‐individual changes across lifespan that can create important variation in genetic architecture of traits and selection acting on them, but also potential problems with the methodological approach used to predict evolutionary responses of traits. Here, we used an 8‐year data set on tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) to first assess the effects of differences among three nestling life‐history stages on the genetic (co)variances of two morphological traits (body mass and primary feather length) and the selection acting on them over three generations. We then estimated the evolutionary potential of these traits by predicting their evolutionary responses using the breeder's equation and the secondary theorem of selection approaches. Our results showed variation in strength and direction of selection and slight changes in trait variance across ages. Predicted evolutionary responses differed importantly between both approaches for half of the trait–age combinations we studied, suggesting the presence of environmentally induced correlations between focal traits and fitness possibly biasing breeder's equation predictions. Our results emphasize that predictions of evolutionary potential for morphological traits are likely to be highly variable, both in strength and direction, depending on the life stage and method used, thus mitigating our capacity to predict adaptation and persistence of wild populations.
Behaviour of Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus during an induced mating season in captivity: how male relative size influences male behavioural investment and female preference over time
Authors: Bolgan M. , O'Brien J. , Picciulin M. , Manning L. , Gammell M.
Published: December 2016

The behaviour of sexually mature Arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus specimens (fifth farm generation) was observed in captivity for four consecutive days. Only agonistic interactions between males of different size were facilitated on the first 2 days, while both agonistic and courtship interactions were possible from the third day up to the end of the experiment. The reliability of behavioural analysis was assessed in order to reduce the possibility of observer errors within the generated datasets. The behavioural investment of big males, small males and females was analysed using general linear models (two‐way repeated measures ANOVAs with time and male size as factors). A peak in the agonistic interactions between males occurred during the first day of interactions, where the agonistic investment of big males was significantly higher than that of small males. This resulted in an increased investment in submissive behaviour by the small males, who consistently performed submissive behaviours from the second day of interactions up to the end of the trial. Big males were found to invest significantly more than small males in courtship behaviours for the duration of the trial. Even though females performed inter‐sexual behaviours towards both big and small males for the entire observation period, female interaction rate towards big males was higher than towards small males. This study suggests that both male investment in mating behaviour and female preference might be related to male characteristics such as body length and that S. alpinus behavioural patterns and mate choice cues might be strongly context‐related and characterized by high levels of behavioural plasticity (i.e. presence–absence of certain behavioural units or potential reversal of a mate choice cue) within the same species. Finally, in light of this, some conservation measures are discussed. In particular, effective management plans should take into account the high level of behavioural plasticity likely to be occurring in this species.
Probiotic potential and function of a Lactobacillus strain L1 isolated from Silage
Authors: Wang Jian , Li Beibei , Zhou Li , Zhang Xiaoyan , Shi Ping
Published: December 2016

One strain L1 was isolated from silage and identified as Lactobacillus rhamnosus confirmed by sequencing of its 16S rDNA genes. The isolate in this study showed sensitive traits to antibiotics, including the clinically relevant antibiotic tetracycline. It showed inhibition against pathogen E. Coli, good adhesion ability to epithelial intestinal cell line LS‐174T and the strong competitive exclusion of E. coli adhesion to LS‐174T (84.1% exclusion). The gastrointestinal transit proved the strain survived well using a simulation of conditions. What's more, L1 induced slight cytokines to provoke an inflammatory response, but not lead to cell damage. Due to its capabilities to protect the host, L1 is good candidate for further studying potential benefits that support its use as probiotic, then the in vivo immunodulatory effects were investigated. The effect of the long‐term administration of skim milk containing L1 on the immune response in mice was analyzed. Values for CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ cell populations were increased in relation to the control. The results obtained in this study suggest that the L. rhamnosus strain L1 has potential for use as probiotic and is likely to be immune‐enhancing for human use.

Practical application

Lactobacillus belong to lactic acid bacteria that occur frequently in large numbers in various foods including vegetable, meat, and dairy products. Several properties may be evaluated to prove the potential of the bacteria before using them as probiotics. In this study, one of the Lactobacillus strains L1 isolated from the mixed grass and corn stalk silage exhibited above‐average results in all criteria observed in vitro including antibiotic susceptibility, antimicrobial activity, tolerance to gastrointestinal conditions, adhesion to intestinal cells, competitive exclusion of E. coli adhesion to epithelial cells, stimulation of immunity and benefit in animal experiment. The findings of our study suggest that L1 isolated from the silage may be potential probiotic for human use.