bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detecting violation of business constraints in declarative process execution: a case study
Authors: Lam Vitus S.W.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Declarative process modelling is a constraint-centric approach that treats business rules as first-class citizens in business process models. Augmenting the declarative process modelling technique with capability to detect the constraint violations during business process execution is of crucial importance. The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the modelling of business rules through a repository of pattern-oriented templates.

Design/methodology/approach

The semantics of the business rule templates is underpinned by linear temporal logic (LTL). Automated temporal reasoning is then conducted for determining whether process executions adhere to the business rules through the utilisation of the Logics Workbench (LWB). An application of the methodological framework is illustrated by a realistic case study on degree requirements verification.

Findings

To access the practicality of the approach, the case study of this paper is based on the verification of degree requirements, which is different from the domain area of the case study in the author’s prior work. The findings indicated that the temporal framework could be applied to the declarative process modelling in a consistent and efficient manner.

Originality/value

This paper is an extended version of the author’s earlier study. More details on the LTL and LWB are provided in the current study. The author introduces 17 new business rule templates and illustrates the utilisation of the new templates via a case study that belongs to a different domain area.
Learning from students behind the fence: a critical book club with incarcerated youth
Authors: Bemiss Elizabeth McCall , Doyle Jennifer L. , Styslinger Mary Elizabeth
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore alternative literacy instruction with incarcerated youth, add to the body of existing literature documenting the literacy of those incarcerated and investigate the construction of book clubs through a critical lens.

Design/methodology/approach

This qualitative case study answered the following research questions: What can a critical book club reveal about the literacy lives of these incarcerated youth? What can we learn from incarcerated youth through a critical book club? Data were collected through participant observation and in-depth interviews and analyzed using a critical literacy framework.

Findings

Findings indicate students used text connections to critically reflect on selves and schools. They questioned issues of power, particularly the power of literacy in their own lives as well as the power of schools, teachers and curriculum. The paper concludes with the authors’ critical reflection on both the findings and process which results in implications for future book clubs in settings with incarcerated youth.

Social implications

As educators, administrators and community members living in the “age of incarceration” (Hill, 2013), there is a social responsibility to design curriculum and pedagogy that expands instruction in correctional facilities.

Originality/value

The need for expanded literacy instruction in juvenile detention centers has been widely documented and supported; however, conventional methods of teaching literacy are not always successful for youth who may not have had positive experiences with traditional schooling. This study expands and explores literacy instruction with incarcerated youth through book clubs, an alternative literacy structure which challenges traditional curricula, pedagogical practices and culturally irrelevant texts which often contribute to the alienation and disempowerment of many students. Book clubs can facilitate new understandings through a critical lens.
Conceptualising and enacting the critical imagination through a critical writing pedagogy
Authors: Mendelowitz Belinda
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Imagination in critical literacy research is usually referred to as a taken for granted concept that is seldom theorised, leaving the assumptions unchecked that everyone has a shared understanding of imagination. This paper aims to challenge critical literacy researchers to rethink the relationship between criticality and imagination and its implication for a critical writing pedagogy. It aims to synthesise the imagination and criticality in the context of critical literacy, both theoretically and empirically and in doing so to illustrate what form a critical writing pedagogy that foregrounds the critical imagination might take.

Design/methodology/approach

This argument is illustrated through analysing two sets of data that contain embodied enactments of contested gender issues across different modes and genres. Data from student teachers’ embodied enactments of contested gender issues and from their writing on these issues were analysed thematically.

Findings

A crucial aspect of the critical imagination entails creating pedagogical spaces that mobilise affect and empathy alongside criticality. Embodied literacy work across different modes and genres can play a significant role in facilitating the critical imagination by enabling students to enact, perform and immerse themselves in different discourses, ultimately generating new insights and ways of seeing.

Research limitations/implications

Data was drawn from a relatively small sample of 30 assignments in the context of teacher education in South Africa. More empirical research needs to be conducted across a wider range of contexts.

Practical implications

The paper provides a theoretical framework and practical ideas for implementing a critical writing pedagogy that foregrounds the critical imagination and thus could be used in both teacher education contexts and school literacy classrooms.

Originality/value

This paper challenges critical literacy researchers to rethink the relationship between criticality and imagination and its implication for a critical writing pedagogy.
Regional patient safety and quality leaders aim to reduce disparities in healthcare with collaborative approach
Authors: Veit Kelly Renee
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Washington Patient Safety Coalition (WPSC) brings individuals and healthcare organizations together to identify and work on patient safety priorities. It holds bi-annual strategic planning sessions to assess program effectiveness around current organizational goals and to develop new goals. The purpose of this paper is to describe how WPSC members came to identify health disparities as a priority, and what they did to integrate this into organizational strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

For the 2015 strategic planning session, WPSC staff used 2012-2015 internal activities records to conduct a SWOT analysis. The author conducted stakeholder and member “Sensing Surveys” and framed action items on two underlying considerations: first, positioning of the members within the patient safety landscape, taking into account where the members are most “touching” the issue of disparity and are most appropriately positioned to act as change agents and, second, WPSC is not an established content expert in health disparities.

Findings

The author focused the efforts on assisting the Governor’s Interagency Council in promoting Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services standards. This Council helps to drive policy, but not necessarily operationalizing it. WPSC has ability to fulfill that role; the membership is comprised of organizational leaders, those positioned to operationalize the Council’s disparity interventions. The WPSC saw an opportunity to partner the efforts, bridging gaps between policy and operational action.

Practical implications

This viewpoint shows the power of a small collaboration interested in broadening awareness of a complex issue.

Originality/value

Health disparities are complex and multifaceted. Within the Seattle area there were many organizations committed to working on this topic, each with their unique value add to the issue.
The pre-eminence of patient safety in health care governance
Authors: MacVane Phipps Fiona
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify a common theme linking the articles in this issue of IJHG. The review editor elucidates on this topic while presenting key findings from the articles which comprise the current issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The design is a general review describing the articles under review while expanding on the subject matter through reference to other authors.

Social implications

The Review provides readers with a brief overview of the current articles enabling them to select the ones which reflect their needs or interests.

Originality/value

IJHG is the only Emerald journal providing a Review section of this type.
Hotel social media marketing: a study on message strategy and its effectiveness
Authors: Leung Xi Y. , Bai Billy , Erdem Mehmet
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a typology of social media messages to compare the effectiveness of different message strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 1,837 messages from 12 hotel brand Facebook pages were content-analyzed. Applying both correspondence analysis and multivariate analysis of variance, the study compared message strategy across hotel-scale levels and explored the effectiveness of different message strategies.

Findings

A typology of four-type message format and six-type message content was developed. The picture message was the best message format. Product, brand and involvement messages were shown to be more effective than information, reward and promotion messages. Promotion message was the least effective message content type.

Research limitations/implications

The major limitation of this study is the generalizability owing to the sample selection process. There is also the limitation on exclusion of control variables, selection of the three effectiveness measures and evolving social media technology.

Practical implications

The typology of Facebook message strategy developed in the study provided guidelines for hotel marketers to create messages on Facebook pages and track effectiveness. Hotels should also take full advantage of the picture format and product, brand and involvement contents.

Originality/value

This study created a new typology of social media message strategy consisting of two dimensions. It also provided empirical evidence to support the application of message strategy theory in the hotel social media marketing area.
Asset liability management and the euro crisis
Authors: Rodriguez Gonzalez Miguel , Kunze Frederik , Schwarzbach Christoph , Dieng Christoph
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the long-term relationships of long-term European Monetary Union (EMU) government bond yields. From an asset managers’ or risk managers’ perspective during the euro crisis, the relevance of sovereign credit and redenomination risk became a major issue. Furthermore, it has to be differentiated between core and non-core EMU member countries.

Design/methodology/approach

Methods of applied time series analysis are used to investigate EMU government bond yields and EMU government bond yield spreads for Spain, Italy, The Netherlands, Austria and Germany. Both standard unit root testing procedures and breakpoint unit root tests are used to examine cointegrating relationships and structural changes in these relationships.

Findings

The empirical results deliver clear evidence for structural shifts in the long-term relationship between German and the two non-core EMU countries (Italy and Spain). The timing of the breaks coincides with the timing of the euro crisis. On the contrary, the results for Austria and The Netherlands are different from the findings for the two non-core countries.

Research limitations/implications

One major limitation of the study is the limited availability of data regarding to the reaction of asset managers or risk managers to the euro crisis. Especially in the context of the discussion with regard to the relevant risk-free rate for investors, this strand of research is relatively new.

Practical implications

A deeper understanding of changes in the long-term relationship between government bond yields and the re-emergence of redenomination risk is important for asset managers and risk managers in the financial services industry. This is especially true for German life insurers.

Originality/value

The study provides various empirical contributions to the literature on the euro crisis and sovereign credit risk. First, previous results with regard to the structural changes in the long-term relationship between German and Spanish, German and Italian, German and Austrian as well as Germany and Dutch government bond yields are confirmed using unit root breakpoint tests. Second, investigating the autoregressive coefficient and the timing of the breaks delivers evidence that non-core countries have been more exposed to the fear of redenomination risk. Third, we raise the question which risk free interest rate is relevant for the affected countries.
Exploring the relationship between macroeconomic indicators and sovereign credit default swap in Pakistan
Authors: Rashid Abdul , Ahmad Farooq , Yasmin Ammara
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically examine the long- and short-run relationship between macroeconomic indicators (exchange rates, interest rates, exports, imports, foreign reserves and the rate of inflation) and sovereign credit default swap (SCDS) spreads for Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors apply the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to explore the level relationship between the macroeconomic variables and SCDS spreads. The error correction model is estimated to examine the short-run effects of the underlying macroeconomic variables on SCDS spreads. Finally, the long-run estimates are obtained in the ARDL framework. The study uses monthly data covering the period January 2001-February 2015.

Findings

The results indicate that there is a significant long-run relationship between the macroeconomic indicators and SCDS spreads. The estimated long-run coefficients reveal that both the interest rate and foreign exchange reserves are significantly and negatively, whereas imports and the rate of inflation are positively related to SCDS spreads. Yet, the results suggest that the exchange rate and exports do not have any significant long-run impact on SCDS spreads. The findings regarding the short-run relationship indicate that the exchange rate, imports and the rate of inflation are positively, whereas the interest rate and exports are negatively related to SCDS spreads.

Practical implications

The results suggest that State Bank of Pakistan should design monetary and foreign exchange rate polices to minimize unwanted variations in the exchange rate to reduce SCDS spreads. The results also suggest that it is incumbent to Pakistan Government to improve the balance of payments to reduce SCDS spreads. The findings also suggest that the inflation targeting policy can also help in reducing SCDS spreads.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine the empirical determinants of SCDS spreads for Pakistan. Second, it estimates the short- and long-run effects in the ARDL framework. Third, it considers both internal and external empirical determinants of SCDS spreads.
Remastering contemporary enterprise performance management systems
Authors: Blahova Michaela , Palka Premysl , Haghirian Parissa
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate current trends in selected management systems and analyses their mutual synergy effects to remaster contemporary enterprise performance management systems in the business sphere.

Design/methodology/approach

This research involves assembling key academic texts and other literature on the subject of changes in management systems worldwide and their influence on remastering contemporary enterprise performance management systems. The literature is reviewed using a systematic approach. More than 3,000 papers and studies are identified and content analysed.

Findings

The main trends and emerging themes of management practices in the current business world and their synergy effects are identified, reviewed and classified.

Originality/value

The field of performance management systems and their remastering based on individual corporate needs is an emergent area of study. This paper is relevant to academics, as well as the corporate world, because it introduces summarized results from an extensive number of published studies on the topic of trends in current management systems, their mutual synergy effects and their influence on performance management systems.
“Work with me”: service users’ perspectives on shared decision making in mental health
Authors: Castillo Heather , Ramon Shulamit
Published: July 2017

Purpose

While shared decision making (SDM) in general health has proven effectiveness, it has received far less attention within mental health practice with a disconnection between policy and ideals. The purpose of this paper to review existing developments, contemporary challenges, and evidence regarding SDM in mental health with a particular focus on the perspectives of service users.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a review of international papers analysed using narrative synthesis of relevant data bases.

Findings

The review shows significant barriers to the utilisation of SDM including ethical and legal frameworks, accountability and risk. The medical model of psychiatry and diagnostic stigma also contributes to a lack of professional acknowledgement of service user expertise. Service users experience an imbalance of power and feel they lack choices, being “done to” rather than “worked with”.

Practical implications

The paper also presents perspectives about how barriers can be overcome, and service users enabled to take back power and acknowledge their own expertise.

Originality/value

This review is the first with a particular focus on the perspectives of service users and SDM.
Shared decision making within the context of recovery-oriented care
Authors: Davidson Larry , Tondora Janis , Pavlo Anthony J. , Stanhope Victoria
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider the role of shared decision making (SDM) as one component of recovery-oriented care.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is conceptual and reviews the literature relevant to recovery-oriented care, person-centered recovery planning (PCRP), and SDM.

Findings

To the degree to which SDM offers tools for sharing useful information about treatment options with service users and family members or other loved ones, it can be considered a valuable addition to the recovery-oriented armamentarium. It is important to emphasize, though, that recovery-oriented practice has a broader focus on the person’s overall life in the community and is not limited to formal treatments or other professionally delivered interventions. Within the more holistic context of recovery, SDM regarding such interventions is only one tool among many, which needs to be integrated within an overall PCRP process. More emphasis is given within the recovery-oriented care to activating and equipping persons for exercising self-care and for pursuing a life they have reason to value, and the nature of the relationships required to promote such processes will be identified. In describing the nature of these relationships, it will become evident that decision making is only one of many processes that need to be shared between persons in recovery and those who accept responsibility for promoting and supporting that person’s recovery.

Originality/value

By viewing SDM within the context of recovery, this paper provides a framework that can assist in the implementation of SDM in routine mental health care.
Multinational franchise entry and institutional quality: evidence from Mexican cities
Authors: Fakos Alexandros , Merino Maria
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to document the extensive heterogeneity in institutions within countries and investigate which institutional factors are the most relevant for international brands.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper analyzes the entry patterns of three global fast-food franchise networks in 78 Mexican cities using discrete outcome models and ordered probit in particular. To summarize the quantitative importance of the results, the analysis includes also log-linear regressions with Heckman correction for the city observations without franchise presence.

Findings

Institutional factors are critical for an international franchisor in the decision to enter a new market. The most important institutional quality proxy for franchise entry is the rate of formal employment. The more the informal employment in a city, the lower the number of franchised stores and the lower the probability of brand presence in the city.

Research limitations/implications

Only three fast-food franchises are included in the paper, which limits the generalization of the results beyond the sector and Mexico. Another limitation of the methodology of this paper is that the authors estimate the effect of institutions on multinational franchise entry conditioning on market size. The issue here is that if institutions increase gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, then the demand for multinational franchises also increases. Such an effect cannot be captured if we condition on market size in our econometric models. This is particularly important for policy-makers aiming to quantify costs and benefits of reforms but not an important consideration for practitioners who might take institutions as given and are mainly interested in entry strategies that maximize profitability.

Practical implications

Institutional variables, and not only market factors, are critical to understand the entry decision of global franchisors in Mexico. In particular, the extent of informality is relevant in explaining the store location. It is necessary to understand how managers value the quality of institutions and which dimensions are most important for multinationals. In addition, the analysis should be conducted both at the national and sub-national level, given that within-country heterogeneity is prevalent in emerging markets.

Social implications

Cities must reinforce and communicate their institutional quality to attract foreign investment by franchises in particular.

Originality/value

We test several dimensions of institutional quality at the urban level as determinants of multinationals? decision to enter a city in a foreign market. We use novel administrative data at the municipality level and we employ econometric model that takes into account the discreetness of entry data and the fact that there are cities with no franchise presence. We control for sample selection, which comes from the zero number of stores in some city observations in the regressions.
Optimal foraging by herbivores maintains polymorphism in defence in a natural plant population
Authors: Sato Yasuhiro , Ito Koichi , Kudoh Hiroshi
Published: July 2017

Many species of plants and animals exhibit polymorphism for defensive traits. Adaptive foraging by natural enemies has long been hypothesized to maintain such polymorphism, but this has not been clearly demonstrated in a natural prey or host population.

The purpose of this study was to address whether the brassica leaf beetle Phaedon brassicae promotes the maintenance of defence polymorphism in the trichome‐producing (hairy) and trichomeless (glabrous) morphs of Arabidopsis halleri subsp. gemmifera. Here, we modelled foraging behaviours of herbivores and demography of the host plant. Then, we estimated the model parameters based on the likelihood of observed data from a natural A. halleri population.

The patterns of leaf damage to hairy and glabrous plants were well explained when we presumed the optimal diet choice (ODC) by P. brassicae. The observed dynamics in the plant number and morph‐frequency were well supported by the model with the estimated parameter values. Our numerical analysis showed that the ODC by P. brassicae caused a negative frequency‐dependent selection on trichrome dimorphism. The coexistence of two morphs was allowed over a wide range of herbivory pressure and the cost of defence.

These results indicate that the ODC by P. brassicae contributes to the coexistence of hairy and glabrous A. halleri. While species interaction and stochastic dispersal are both involved in polymorphism dynamics in the field, our findings suggest that the role of consumer behaviours in the maintenance of defence polymorphism may be more important than currently appreciated.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Root elemental composition in Chinese forests: Implications for biogeochemical niche differentiation
Authors: Zhao Ning , Liu Huiming , Wang Qiufeng , Wang Ruili , Xu Zhiwei , Jiao Cuicui , Zhu Jianxing , Yu Guirui , He Nianpeng
Published: July 2017

Trait‐based community analysis provides a new approach to integrate functional ecology with community ecology. However, our understanding of the linkages between root chemical traits and community chemical diversity and assembly is still in its infancy.

Environmental filtering and niche differentiation are two opposite driving forces of community assembly based on deterministic niche processes. We hypothesize that environmental filtering is a strong driver of root chemical assembly at a large spatial scale, whereas biogeochemical niche differentiation drives root chemical traits divergence among co‐occurring species at site scale.

We analysed the concentrations of 15 elements in the fine roots of 281 species across five forest types of China. Discriminant analysis was used to measure the degree of similarity of root chemical traits at the community level and biogeochemical niche differentiation at the species level.

Root chemical traits at the community level showed a systematic shift along environmental gradients. The growth rate‐related dimension represented by root P and Ca was the most important niche dimension associated with community root chemical assembly, driven by large‐scale environmental filters, particularly soils and climate. Biogeochemical niche differentiation of co‐occurring species could be a consequence of reducing nutrient competition, especially the competition for nitrogen.

Root chemical traits provide a new dimension for assessing the functional niche and may help improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of root chemical assembly from the local to the biome scale.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Shorter juvenile telomere length is associated with higher survival to spawning in migratory Atlantic salmon
Authors: McLennan Darryl , Armstrong John D. , Stewart David C. , Mckelvey Simon , Boner Winnie , Monaghan Pat , Metcalfe Neil B.
Published: July 2017

The risk of mortality associated with a long‐distance migration will depend on an animal's physiological state, as well as the prevailing ecological conditions. Here, we assess whether juvenile telomere length, which in endotherms has been shown to be a biomarker of physiological state and expected life span, predicts whether wild Atlantic salmon Salmo salar successfully complete their marine migration.

Over 1,800 juvenile fish were trapped, measured, passive integrated transponder tagged and a tissue biopsy taken when migrating as juveniles down‐river towards the sea. Survivors of the marine phase of the life cycle were then re‐trapped and re‐sampled when returning to the river to spawn as sexually mature adults, 1.5–2.5 years later. Most individuals experienced a reduction in telomere length during the marine migratory phase of their life cycle. While the relative rate of telomere loss was greater in males than females, telomere loss was unrelated to growth at sea.

Contrary to expectations, salmon that had the shortest telomeres at the time of the outward migration had the greatest probability of surviving through to the return migration. This effect, independent of body size, may indicate a trade‐off between investment in readiness for marine life (which favours high glucocorticoid levels, known to increase telomere attrition in other vertebrate species) and investment in telomere maintenance. Survival was also significantly influenced by the seasonal timing of outward migration, with the fish migrating downstream earliest in the spring having the highest probability of return.

This study reveals that telomere length is associated with survival, although in ways that contrast with patterns seen in endotherms. This illustrates that while telomeres may be universally important for chromosome protection, the potential for telomere dynamics to predict performance may vary across taxa.

A plain language summary
is available for this article.
Cholinesterase inhibition reduces arrhythmias in asymptomatic Chagas disease
Authors: Castro Renata R. T. , Porphirio Graciema , Xavier Sergio S. , Moraes Ruy S. , Ferlin Elton L. , Ribeiro Jorge P. , da Nóbrega Antonio C. L.
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Parasympathetic dysfunction may play a role in the genesis of arrhythmias in Chagas disease.

Aim

This study evaluates the acute effects of pyridostigmine (PYR), a reversible cholinesterase inhibitor, on the occurrence of arrhythmias in patients with Chagas cardiac disease.

Method

Following a double‐blind, randomized, placebo‐controlled, cross‐over protocol, 17 patients (age 50±2 years) with Chagas cardiac disease type B underwent 24‐hour Holter recordings after oral administration of either pyridostigmine bromide (45 mg, 3 times/day) or placebo (PLA).

Results

Pyridostigmine reduced the 24‐hours incidence (median [25%‐75%]) of premature ventricular beats—PLA: 2998 (1920‐4870), PYR: 2359 (940‐3253), P=.044; ventricular couplets—PLA: 84 (15‐159), PYR: 33 (6‐94), P=.046. Although the total number of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in the entire group was not different (P=.19) between PLA (1 [0‐8]) and PYR (0 [0‐4]), there were fewer episodes under PYR in 72% of the patients presenting this type of arrhythmia (P=.033).

Conclusion

Acute administration of pyridostigmine reduced the incidence of nonsustained ventricular arrhythmias in patients with Chagas cardiac disease. Further studies that address the use of pyridostigmine by patients with Chagas cardiac disease under a more prolonged follow‐up are warranted.
An active‐radio‐frequency‐identification system capable of identifying co‐locations and social‐structure: Validation with a wild free‐ranging animal
Authors: Ellwood Stephen A. , Newman Chris , Montgomery Robert A. , Nicosia Vincenzo , Buesching Christina D. , Markham Andrew , Mascolo Cecilia , Trigoni Niki , Pasztor Bence , Dyo Vladimir , Latora Vito , Baker Sandra E. , Macdonald David W.
Published: July 2017

Behavioural events that are important for understanding sociobiology and movement ecology are often rare, transient and localised, but can occur at spatially distant sites e.g. territorial incursions and co‐locating individuals. Existing animal tracking technologies, capable of detecting such events, are limited by one or more of: battery life; data resolution; location accuracy; data security; ability to co‐locate individuals both spatially and temporally. Technology that at least partly resolves these limitations would be advantageous. European badgers (Meles meles L.), present a challenging test‐bed, with extra‐group paternity (apparent from genotyping) contradicting established views on rigid group territoriality with little social‐group mixing.

In a proof of concept study we assess the utility of a fully automated active‐radio‐frequency‐identification (aRFID) system combining badger‐borne aRFID‐tags with static, wirelessly‐networked, aRFID‐detector base‐stations to record badger co‐locations at setts (burrows) and near notional border latrines. We summarise the time badgers spent co‐locating within and between social‐groups, applying network analysis to provide evidence of co‐location based community structure, at both these scales.

The aRFID system co‐located animals within 31.5 m (adjustable) of base‐stations. Efficient radio transmission between aRFIDs and base‐stations enables a 20 g tag to last for 2–5 years (depending on transmission interval). Data security was high (data stored off tag), with remote access capability. Badgers spent most co‐location time with members of their own social‐groups at setts; remaining co‐location time was divided evenly between intra‐ and inter‐social‐group co‐locations near latrines and inter‐social‐group co‐locations at setts. Network analysis showed that 20–100% of tracked badgers engaged in inter‐social‐group mixing per week, with evidence of trans‐border super‐groups, that is, badgers frequently transgressed notional territorial borders.

aRFID occupies a distinct niche amongst established tracking technologies. We validated the utility of aRFID to identify co‐locations, social‐structure and inter‐group mixing within a wild badger population, leading us to refute the conventional view that badgers (social‐groups) are territorial and to question management strategies, for controlling bovine TB, based on this model. Ultimately aRFID proved a versatile system capable of identifying social‐structure at the landscape scale, operating for years and suitable for use with a range of species.
Ticagrelor mitigates ischaemia–reperfusion induced vascular endothelial dysfunction in healthy young males – a randomized, single‐blinded study
Authors: Weisshaar Stefan , Litschauer Brigitte , Eipeldauer Matthias , Hobl Eva Luise , Wolzt Michael
Published: July 2017

Aims

Animal data suggest that ticagrelor but not clopidogrel protects against tissue injury. It is unclear if this effect of ticagrelor is also detectable in humans. We studied the effect of ticagrelor and clopidogrel at standard clinical doses on endothelial dysfunction in an experimental model of forearm vascular ischaemia–reperfusion (IR) injury.

Methods

In a randomized, single‐blinded trial, 24 subjects underwent forearm blood flow (FBF) measurements in response to the endothelium‐dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh) and to glyceryltrinitrate (GTN; endothelium‐independent) before and after a 20 min forearm ischaemia. FBF reactivity was assessed after an oral loading dose of ticagrelor or clopidogrel and after 14 days of regular intake of maintenance doses of the study medicines. In addition, the effect on platelet inhibition was evaluated using multiple electrode aggregometry.

Results

ACh‐induced vasodilation was impaired during reperfusion and not completely normalized by acute or chronic treatment with ticagrelor or clopidogrel (post‐ vs. pre‐ischaemia). However, ticagrelor mitigated endothelial dysfunction compared to clopidogrel after loading (FBF AChAUC ratio post‐ vs. pre‐ischaemia: 0.83 [0.70; 0.96] vs. 0.64 [0.56; 0.72]; P = 0.024) and after chronic administration (FBF AChAUC ratio: 0.86 [0.71; 1.00] vs. 0.66 [0.55; 0.77]; P = 0.027). As expected, GTN‐induced vasodilation was not affected by ischaemia. Ticagrelor or clopidogrel treatment inhibited platelet activation to a similar degree.

Conclusion

Our data indicate that ticagrelor treatment exerts a greater vascular salutary effect than clopidogrel during reperfusion after an acute vascular occlusion. IR‐induced vascular injury cannot be prevented completely by administration of these antiplatelet agents at standard clinical doses.
Smoking and alcohol and subsequent risk of myelodysplastic syndromes in Japan: the Japan Public Health Centre‐based Prospective Study
Authors: Ugai Tomotaka , Matsuo Keitaro , Sawada Norie , Iwasaki Motoki , Yamaji Taiki , Shimazu Taichi , Sasazuki Shizuka , Inoue Manami , Kanda Yoshinobu , Tsugane Shoichiro ,   the Japan Public Health Centre‐based Prospective Study Group
Published: July 2017

Smoking and alcohol are important modifiable risk factors for human cancers. However, few epidemiological studies have investigated their association with the risk of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). Here, we investigated the association of smoking and alcohol consumption and the risk of MDS in a large‐scale population‐based cohort study in Japan. We included 95 510 Japanese subjects (45 451 men and 50 059 women; age 40–69 years at baseline) and identified 70 MDS cases (50 men and 20 women) during 18·3 years of follow‐up. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were estimated using a Cox regression model adjusted for potential confounders. Smoking was marginally associated with an increased risk of MDS among men, with a HR for current smokers relative to never smokers of 2·11 (95% CI: 0·91–4·89). In contrast, alcohol consumption was associated with a dose‐dependent decrease in the risk of MDS among men (nondrinkers: reference, occasional drinkers: HR = 0·48, 0·16–1·41; 0–299 g/week: HR = 0·37, 0·19–0·73; ≥300 g/week: HR = 0·49, 0·22–1·08, P for trend = 0·010). This study showed that alcohol has a significant protective effect on the risk of MDS. In addition, this study might indicate that smoking increases the risk of MDS among Japanese population, as it does in Western populations.
Altered levels of soluble CD18 may associate immune mechanisms with outcome in sepsis
Authors: Kragstrup T W , Juul-Madsen K , Christiansen S H , Zhang X , Krog J , Vorup-Jensen T , Kjærgaard A G
Published: July 2017

The pathogenesis of sepsis involves a dual inflammatory response, with a hyperinflammatory phase followed by, or in combination with, a hypoinflammatory phase. The adhesion molecules lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA-1) (CD11a/CD18) and macrophage-1 (Mac-1) (CD11b/CD18) support leucocyte adhesion to intercellular adhesion molecules and phagocytosis through complement opsonization, both processes relevant to the immune response during sepsis. Here, we investigate the role of soluble (s)CD18 in sepsis with emphasis on sCD18 as a mechanistic biomarker of immune reactions and outcome of sepsis. sCD18 levels were measured in 15 septic and 15 critically ill non-septic patients. Fifteen healthy volunteers served as controls. CD18 shedding from human mononuclear cells was increased in vitro by several proinflammatory mediators relevant in sepsis. sCD18 inhibited cell adhesion to the complement fragment iC3b, which is a ligand for CD11b/CD18, also known as Mac-1 or complement receptor 3. Serum sCD18 levels in sepsis non-survivors displayed two distinct peaks permitting a partitioning into two groups, namely sCD18 ‘high’ and sCD18 ‘low’, with median levels of sCD18 at 2158 mU/ml [interquartile range (IQR) 2093–2811 mU/ml] and 488 mU/ml (IQR 360–617 mU/ml), respectively, at the day of intensive care unit admission. Serum sCD18 levels partitioned sepsis non-survivors into one group of ‘high’ sCD18 and low CRP and another group with ‘low’ sCD18 and high C-reactive protein. Together with the mechanistic data generated in vitro, we suggest the partitioning in sCD18 to reflect a compensatory anti-inflammatory response syndrome and hyperinflammation, respectively, manifested as part of sepsis.
Paradigm shifts, peregrinations and pixies in ophthalmology
Authors: Coroneo Minas T
Published: July 2017

Human ingenuity is challenged by defending vision, our highest bandwidth sense. Special challenges are presented by the replacement or repair of highly specialized but scarce tissue within the constraints of transparency, tissue shape and alignment, tissue borders and pressure maintenance. Many, mostly destructive, surgical procedures were developed prior to an understanding of underlying pathophysiology. For a number of conditions, both reconstructive and destructive procedures co‐exist, yet there are few guidelines as to the better approach. Because the consequences of these procedures may take many years to surface (consistent with a stem cell role in long‐term tissue maintenance), guidance may be provided by the elucidation of underlying principles from these approaches. Illustrative examples from clinical, basic research and biotechnology, particularly relating to pterygium, ocular surface squamous neoplasia, dry‐eye syndrome, corneal rehabilitation and replacement, cataract surgery, strabismus surgery and bionic eye research, are described. An unexpected consequence of bionic device development has been an appreciation of the sophistication of tissues being replaced, given the limitations of available biomaterials. Examples of how this has provided insights into ocular disease will be illustrated. Stem cell and biomaterial technologies are starting to impact at a time when cost‐effectiveness is under scrutiny. Both efficacy and cost will need to be considered as these interventions are introduced. It appears that the paradigm shift rate is accelerating and there is evidence of this in ophthalmology. Lessons learned from the areas of destructive versus reconstructive surgery and the limitations of development of bionic replacements will be used to illustrate how new procedures and technologies can be developed.
The relevance of the lymph node ratio as predictor of prognosis is higher in HPV‐negative than in HPV‐positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Meyer M.F. , Meinrath J. , Seehawer J. , Lechner A. , Odenthal M. , Quaas A. , Semrau R. , Huebbers C.U. , Marnitz S. , Büttner R. , Beutner D.
Published: July 2017

Objectives

Lymph node ratio (LNR) is an established predictor in different entities of carcinoma, including head and neck malignancies. In oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC), lymph node involvement differs between human papilloma virus (HPV)‐positive and HPV‐negative tumours. Herein, we evaluate the impact of HPV association on the concept of LNR.

Methods

88 surgically treated patients were included in this retrospective chart review. HPV‐positive and HPV‐negative OPSCC were evaluated for prediction of outcome by LNR separately. The endpoints were 5‐year overall survival (OS) and recurrence‐free survival (RFS).

Results

The OS of all patients was 60.1%. In univariate analysis, LNR was a significant predictor of overall survival rate (P=.008) in OPSCC independently of the HPV status, as well as extracapsular spread (ECS). T‐classification was only a significant predictor in the univariate analysis in HPV‐positive OPSCC carcinoma. However, in the multivariate analysis LNR remained predictor of prognosis in all OPSCC and in HPV‐negative OPSCC. In patients with HPV‐positive OPSCC, only T‐classification reached significance to predict OS.

Conclusion

Prognosis of primarily operated HPV‐positive patients might be more dependent on the extent of primary tumour site, whereas prognosis of HPV‐negative patients is based more on cervical metastatic spread, represented by LNR.
Mapping social–ecological vulnerability to inform local decision making
Authors: Thiault Lauric , Marshall Paul , Gelcich Stefan , Collin Antoine , Chlous Frédérique , Claudet Joachim
Published: July 2017

An overarching challenge of natural resource management and biodiversity conservation is that relationships between people and nature are difficult to integrate into tools that can effectively guide decision making. Social–ecological vulnerability offers a valuable framework for identifying and understanding important social–ecological linkages, and the implications of dependencies and other feedback loops in the system. Unfortunately, its implementation at local scales has hitherto been limited due at least in part to the lack of operational tools for spatial representation of social–ecological vulnerability. We developed a method to map social–ecological vulnerability based on information on human–nature dependencies and ecosystem services at local scales. We applied our method to the small‐scale fishery of Moorea, French Polynesia, by combining spatially explicit indicators of exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity of both the resource (i.e., vulnerability of reef fish assemblages to fishing) and resource users (i.e., vulnerability of fishing households to the loss of fishing opportunity). Our results revealed that both social and ecological vulnerabilities varied considerably through space and highlighted areas where sources of vulnerability were high for both social and ecological subsystems (i.e., social–ecological vulnerability hotspots) and thus of high priority for management intervention. Our approach can be used to inform decisions about where biodiversity conservation strategies are likely to be more effective and how social impacts from policy decisions can be minimized. It provides a new perspective on human–nature linkages that can help guide sustainability management at local scales; delivers insights distinct from those provided by emphasis on a single vulnerability component (e.g., exposure); and demonstrates the feasibility and value of operationalizing the social–ecological vulnerability framework for policy, planning, and participatory management decisions.
Schwann cells secrete extracellular vesicles to promote and maintain the proliferation and multipotency of hDPCs
Authors: Li Ziyue , Liang Yan , Pan Kuangwu , Li Hui , Yu Mei , Guo Weihua , Chen Guoqing , Tian Weidong
Published: July 2017

Objectives

Schwann cells (SCs) are the principal glial cells in peripheral nerve system, involved in neuropathies with great regenerative potential. Dental pulp cells have been reported to maintain neurogenic potential. In contrast, the regulatory role of SCs on human dental pulp cells (hDPCs) development remains undefined.

Materials and methods

SC secretion and SC‐derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) were collected and used to treat hDPCs; and proliferation and multiple differentiation of hDPCs were detected after EVs treatments. Finally, we analysed the proteomes of SC‐EVs and SCs through mass spectrum.

Results

In this study, we found SC secretion showed a predominantly regulatory role on the development of hDPCs. Further, we identified EVs from SC secretion with similar function as SC secretion in regulating hDPCs proliferation and multipotency. And expression of transcription factor Oct4 was upregulated after treatment of both SC secretion and EVs, as well as Sox2 and Nanog. We detected abundant enrichment of Oct4 in EVs, which might be responsible for the upregulation of stem cell‐related genes in hDPCs. Through proteome and western blot analysis, we found enriched TGFβs in EVs, indicating that accelerated hDPCs proliferation may be mediated by activated TGFβ‐Samd and TGFβ‐MAPK signalling.

Conclusions

In summary, our study sheds light on critical regulatory ability of SC‐derived EVs on hDPCs proliferation and multipotency, suggesting great implications for seeding cells used in tissue engineering.