bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Information systems ethics – challenges and opportunities
Authors: Rogerson Simon , Miller Keith W. , Winter Jenifer Sunrise , Larson David
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the ethical issues surrounding information systems (IS) practice with a view to encouraging greater involvement in this aspect of IS research. Information integrity relies upon the development and operation of computer-based information systems. Those who undertake the planning, development and operation of these information systems have obligations to assure information integrity and overall to contribute to the public good. This ethical dimension of information systems has attracted mixed attention in the IS academic discipline.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors are a multidisciplinary team providing a rich, diverse experience which includes professional and information ethics, management information systems, software engineering, data repositories and information systems development. Each author has used this experience to review the IS ethics landscape, which provides four complimentary perspectives. These are synthesised to tease out trends and future pointers.

Findings

It is confirmed that there is a serious lack of research being undertaken relating to the ethical dimension of the Information Systems field. There is limited crossover between the well-established multidisciplinary community of Computer Ethics research and the traditional Information Systems research community.

Originality/value

An outline framework is offered which could provide an opportunity for rich and valuable dialogue across the two communities. This is proposed as the starting point for a proactive research and practice action plan for information systems ethics.
An enactment theory model of supplier financial disruption risk mitigation
Authors: Oliveira Marcos Paulo Valadares de , Handfield Robert
Published: October 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine supplier financial risk through the lens of Enactment Theory, to explore the role of transparency and communication on buyers’ perceptions of supplier default risk. The authors develop a theoretical model proposing that buyer communication with suppliers leads to preemptive actions that may prevent supplier financial default and fewer supply disruptions. The results suggest that reducing equivocality in buyers through communication with suppliers leads to understanding of financial factors not captured through third-party financial indicators, leading to proactive risk mitigation activities that prevent disruptions during recessionary economic cycles. This research proposes that transparency and communication reduces equivocality in buyers, spurring them to take contractual actions that reduces, financial default in key suppliers, which leads to fewer supply disruptions.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data collected from 175 firms in the North America and Brazil during a period of the global recession is used to test the impact of communication with suppliers on supply chain disruptions in periods of economic crisis. This relationship is mediated by proactive contract renegotiation and supplier financial health, supporting a model grounded in Enactment Theory.

Findings

Results show that buyers who regularly assess and develop an understanding of their key suppliers’ financial conditions are more likely to re-negotiate contracts that revise payment terms, leading to improved supplier working capital and fewer supply chain disruptions.

Research limitations/implications

Validation of industry-specific financial ratios and figures could provide a richer set of insights and some quantitative measures for establishing baseline on what levels of financial ratios actually result in disruptions. However, future research should consider using a cross-sectional sample and, in addition, a qualitative approach to capture risk from a greater variety of industries and supply chain dynamics.

Originality/value

The notion of effective communication flows as a means for reduction of supplier disruption risk is aligned with Enactment Theory views that emphasize the benefits of risk reduction. Equivocality is reduced in buyers through information exchange and formal assessments in complex environments. This research suggests that while such communication does not have a direct effect on supply disruption risk, it is mediated through proactive buyer actions to improve supplier financial health and contract re-negotiation mechanisms that may preempt financial distress. These are important lessons learned that provide guidelines for supply chain executives in future economic recessions that may occur in the coming years.
Robotic inspection of ship hull surfaces using a magnetic crawler and a monocular camera
Authors: Milella Annalisa , Maglietta Rosalia , Caccia Massimo , Bruzzone Gabriele
Published: October 2017

Purpose

Periodic inspection of large tonnage vessels is critical to assess integrity and prevent structural failures that could have catastrophic consequences for people and the environment. Currently, inspection operations are undertaken by human surveyors, often in extreme conditions. This paper aims to present an innovative system for the automatic visual inspection of ship hull surfaces, using a magnetic autonomous robotic crawler (MARC) equipped with a low-cost monocular camera.

Design/methodology/approach

MARC is provided with magnetic tracks that make it able to climb along the vertical walls of a vessel while acquiring close-up images of the traversed surfaces. A homography-based structure-from-motion algorithm is developed to build a mosaic image and also produce a metric representation of the inspected areas. To overcome low resolution and perspective distortion problems in far field due to the tilted and low camera position, a “near to far” strategy is implemented, which incrementally generates an overhead view of the surface, as long as it is traversed by the robot.

Findings

This paper demonstrates the use of an innovative robotic inspection system for automatic visual inspection of vessels. It presents and validates through experimental tests a mosaicking strategy to build a global view of the structure under inspection. The use of the mosaic image as input to an automatic corrosion detector is also demonstrated.

Practical implications

This paper may help to automate the inspection process, making it feasible to collect images from places otherwise difficult or impossible to reach for humans and automatically detect defects, such as corroded areas.

Originality/value

This paper provides a useful step towards the development of a new technology for automatic visual inspection of large tonnage ships.
Possible pro‐inflammatory role of heparin‐binding epidermal growth factor‐like growth factor in the active phase of systemic sclerosis
Authors: Hirabayashi Megumi , Asano Yoshihide , Yamashita Takashi , Miura Shunsuke , Nakamura Kouki , Taniguchi Takashi , Saigusa Ryosuke , Takahashi Takehiro , Ichimura Yohei , Miyagawa Takuya , Yoshizaki Ayumi , Miyagaki Tomomitsu , Sugaya Makoto , Sato Shinichi
Published: October 2017

Heparin‐binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)‐like growth factor (HB‐EGF) is a member of the EGF family growth factors, which affects multiple aspects of the wound healing process such as epithelialization, wound contraction and angiogenesis. In our study, we measured the serum HB‐EGF levels of 51 systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, which showed a significant increase compared with those of 20 normal subjects. Further analysis revealed a positive correlation between the HB‐EGF level and pulmonary ground‐glass score but no correlation between the former and pulmonary fibrosis score. Other findings include: a significant increase of serum sialylated carbohydrate antigen KL‐6 levels and significant shortness of disease duration in the diffuse cutaneous SSc patients with elevated HB‐EGF levels; and significantly higher HB‐EGF levels in the presence of Raynaud's phenomenon, in that of telangiectasia, and in the absence of contracture of phalanges in all SSc patients. We then evaluated HB‐EGF mRNA levels of fibroblasts harvested from skin samples of the SSc patients and those of foreskin‐derived fibroblasts treated with transforming growth factor‐β, both of which were significantly higher than each control. In conclusion, we speculate that HB‐EGF plays a pro‐inflammatory role in the active skin and lung lesions of SSc.
Managing, making sense of and finding meaning in advanced illness: a qualitative exploration of the coping and wellbeing experiences of patients with lung cancer
Authors: Harrop Emily , Noble Simon , Edwards Michelle , Sivell Stephanie , Moore Barbara , Nelson Annmarie
Published: October 2017

Coping plays an essential role in maintaining the wellbeing of patients with cancer. A number of different coping responses and strategies have been identified in the literature. The value and relevance of meaning based coping theory has also been emphasised, including Antonovosky's Sense of Coherence (SoC) theory. Ten patients with advanced lung cancer were interviewed up to three times. A total of twenty in depth interviews were carried out, fully transcribed and data were analysed following a methodology of Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Three broad domains were identified to categorise the core life concerns of participants; making sense of and managing one's illness; maintaining daily life and relationships and confronting the future. Within these domains multiple coping themes are identified, which to varying degrees help to maintain patient wellbeing and quality of life. This article considers the relevance of SoC theory for understanding the coping experiences of patients with advanced cancer, and identifies resources and factors likely to support patient coping, with implications for health and social care services.
Understanding lay perspectives on socioeconomic health inequalities in Britain: a meta‐ethnography
Authors: Smith Katherine E. , Anderson Rosemary
Published: October 2017

The links between socioeconomic circumstances and health have been extensively studied in Britain but surprisingly few studies consider lay perspectives. This is problematic given popular efforts to reduce health inequalities appear to be based on assumption that public understanding is limited (this is evident in efforts to raise awareness of both ‘upstream’ causes of health inequalities and health‐damaging behaviours). The results of this meta‐ethnography, involving 17 qualitative studies, fundamentally challenge this assumption. We show, first, that people who are living with socioeconomic disadvantage already have a good understanding of the links between socioeconomic hardship and ill‐health. Indeed, participants’ accounts closely mirror the research consensus that material‐structural factors represent ‘upstream’ determinants of health, while ‘psychosocial’ factors provide important explanatory pathways connecting material circumstances to health outcomes. Despite this, people living in disadvantaged circumstances are often reluctant to explicitly acknowledge health inequalities, a finding that we suggest can be understood as an attempt to resist the stigma and shame of poverty and poor health and to (re)assert individual agency and control. This suggests that work to increase public awareness of health inequalities may unintentionally exacerbate experiences of stigma and shame, meaning alternative approaches to engaging communities in health inequalities discussions are required.
Modeling and Extrapolating Wheat Producer Support Using Income and Other Factors
Authors: Zhao Jing , Miller J. Isaac , Thompson Wyatt
Published: October 2017

Using wheat market support data from 55 countries for 1961–2011 from the World Bank Agricultural Distortion database, we develop a fixed effect model that shows a more complicated, nonlinear relationship between income and wheat support and its components than previously realised. We find that income generally has a greater effect on border market price support than on domestic price support. Moreover, the difference between these types of support is greater for net importers than for net exporters and has increased with the URAA or WTO accession. Holding other variables constant, the wheat support level of China, driven mainly by border market price support, is projected to rise with future income growth. Meanwhile, Japan is projected to maintain its high level of support, while the US and EU are projected to maintain their lower levels of support. These results are relevant in the context of multilateral trade negotiations, arguing against a narrow focus on past or current policy profiles and for long‐run analyses that might mistakenly rest on the inconsistent assumptions of constant agricultural policies against the backdrop of rising incomes.
A Retrospective Study of the Investigation of Homicidal Childhood Asphyxial Deaths
Authors: Brown Theodore T. , Batalis Nick I. , McClain Joni L. , Corey Tracey , Collins Kim A. , Jentzen Jeffrey M. , Prahlow Joseph A.
Published: October 2017

As one of the leading causes of traumatic deaths in newborns, infants, and young children, there is no anatomic or microscopic feature that is pathognomonic for asphyxial deaths. Instead, pathologists rely on investigation information, including confessions and/or witness statements, and potential evidence at the scene. Twenty cases of homicidal newborn, infant, and young children asphyxial deaths were reviewed, which included death and police investigation reports and autopsy reports, as well as histology slides of lung sections. This series of homicidal asphyxial deaths highlight that, in a vast majority of such cases, the final cause and manner of death rulings are dependent on confession by the perpetrator. Furthermore, this series highlights the possible role of histology to help forensic pathologists better certify asphyxial deaths. Finally, this series emphasizes important investigation points and considerations at autopsy during the investigation of asphyxial deaths in newborns, infants, and young children.
Development and Validation of a Virtual Examination Tool for Firearm Forensics, ,
Authors: Duez Pierre , Weller Todd , Brubaker Marcus , Hockensmith Richard E. , Lilien Ryan
Published: October 2017

The transition from 2D imaging to 3D scanning in the discipline of firearms and toolmark analysis is likely to provide examiners an unprecedented view of microscopic surface topography. The digital examination of measured 3D surface topographies has been referred to as virtual microscopy (VM). The approach offers several potential advantages over traditional comparison microscopy. Like any new analytic method, VM must be validated prior to its use in a crime laboratory. This paper describes one of the first validation studies of virtual microscopy. Fifty‐six participants at fifteen laboratories used virtual microscopic tools to complete two proficiency‐style tests for cartridge case identification. All participating trained examiners correctly reported 100% of the identifications (known matches) while reporting no false positives. The VM tools also allowed examiners to annotate compared surfaces. These annotations provide insight into the types of marked utilized in comparative analysis. Overall, the results of the study demonstrate that trained examiners can successfully use virtual microscopy to conduct firearms toolmark examination and support the use of the technology in the crime laboratory.
Novel antibacterial peptides induced by probiotics in Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) larvae
Authors: Choi Won Hyung , Choi Hyo‐Jick , Goo Tae Won , Quan Fu‐Shi
Published: October 2017

There is a need to discover new therapeutic substances due to the emergence of deadly infectious diseases and various antibiotic resistance. We focused on the larvae that are utilized as a medical insect for the treatment of skin damage in Europe and America. This study was to investigate the pharmacological activities of novel antibacterial peptides isolated from Hermetia illucens larvae against the Klebsiella pneumoniae and Shigella dysenteriae. The larvae were immunized by probiotics (Lactobacillus casei) for 24 h. The hemolymph from the immunized larvae was fractionated through reverse‐phase chromatography. Peptides were purified using HPLC and the coomassie blue staining, and identified using Nano‐LC‐ESI‐MS/MS system. Antibacterial activities of the peptides were evaluated by turbidometric assay, liquid broth dilution assay, resazurin assay, and agar disk diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the peptides were measured as 150 μg/mL through the turbidometric, liquid broth dilution, and resazurin assays. The peptides effectively inhibited their growth/proliferation as well as the survival rate of the tested bacteria. Furthermore, the immunized larvae exhibited overexpression of the peptides compared to non‐immunized larvae. These results demonstrate that the peptides induced by H. illucens exert strong antibacterial activity against Gram‐negative bacteria. The results suggest that the activation of the humoral immunity induced by immunization functioned to enhance the production of antibacterial peptides from the insect and their antibacterial properties. This study indicates the potential of the peptides produced from larvae as antibacterial peptide substance for the development of novel antibacterial drugs.
Income Inequality in Australia – Decomposing by City and Suburb
Authors: Biddle Nicholas , Montaigne Maxine
Published: October 2017

There has been an increasing interest in the level and change in income inequality across much of the developed world. In Australia, this research has extended our knowledge by using new measures (for example wealth), longer time periods, and income inequality dynamics. One area for which we have relatively little recent evidence is on the spatial distribution of income inequality, especially at small areas of geography. Specifically, we look at the level of income inequality for the eight Australian capital cities in 2006 and 2011 (using relevant Census and survey data), as well as inequality between and within suburbs within those capital cities. A number of interesting findings emerge from the analysis. The most obvious finding is that there are differences across cities in the extent to which income is unevenly distributed. While this has been demonstrated in previous research, we were able to use new data and new techniques to show that the type of income which one uses has a small but noticeable effect on the spatial distribution of inequality. Differences in household sizes and the tax system change how income inequality is spatially distributed.
Reducing geriatric outpatient waiting times: Impact of an advanced health practitioner
Authors: Saxon Robyn L , Gray Marion A , Oprescu Florin I
Published: October 2017

Objective

To investigate the impact on patient waiting times of a role substitution model introducing an advanced allied health practitioner as the first point of contact within a geriatric outpatient context.

Methods

A pre‐ to postintervention design was used to determine impact over a five‐year period (2008–2012). All patients referred to the geriatric specialist outpatient department were included (n = 1514). Data relating to waiting times were analysed using one‐way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests to determine effects on patient waiting times.

Results

Waiting times were reduced from an average of 82 to as low as 35 days, in a context of increasing referral rates. Medical specialist capacity was increased through improvements to available outpatient times and reduced appointment lengths. Patients seen within their designated triage category timeframe increased from 47 to 86%.

Conclusion

Health professional substitution in geriatrics can be an effective intervention for reducing patient waiting times and improving access to care.
Proper training in laparoscopic hernia repair is necessary to minimize the rising recurrence rate in Japan
Authors: Matsumoto Sumio , Hayakawa Tetsushi , Kawarada Yoh , Uchida Kazunori , Eguchi Tohru , Wada Hidetoshi , Ueno Nozomi , Idani Hitoshi , Nakano Kanyu , Oomomo Yoshiyuki
Published: October 2017

Introduction

The Japan Society for Endoscopic Surgery reported that the recurrence rate for inguinal hernia repair in Japan was less than 1% in 2010. However, its 2012 survey found that the recurrence rate had increased to 4% for the transabdominal preperitoneal procedure and 5% for the totally extraperitoneal procedure. We held 14 hernia repair training courses from 2011 to 2016 with help from Covidien. This study aimed to determine the effect of this training on the recurrence rate.

Methods

Training was composed of a theoretical revision of inguinal anatomy, dry laboratory suturing, a video lecture, and practice on an animal model. We made inquiries about the length of each surgeon's career, post‐training changes in surgical methods, and recurrence rates before and after training.

Results

We received responses from 159 of 300 trainees (53%). The mean career length was 12.7 ± 8.2 years. The annual number of transabdominal preperitoneal procedures performed increased from 20.9 ± 29.9 to 32.4 ± 56.1 after training (P < 0.001), and the number of totally extraperitoneal procedures increased from 9.5 ± 13.9 to 13.9 ± 16.9 (P = 0.0218). The annual number of procedures performed via the anterior approach decreased from 153.1 ± 28.4 to 28.4 ± 52.2 after training (P < 0.001). The pre‐training transabdominal preperitoneal procedure recurrence rate was 0.9%, and this decreased to 0.4% after training. There was no pre‐training recurrence rate for the totally extraperitoneal procedure, but this was 0.4% after training.

Conclusion

The high recurrence rate after inguinal hernia repair in Japan was mainly due to inadequate training in the laparoscopic method. Our laparoscopic hernia repair training course achieved low recurrence rates.
Compassion focused therapy: Exploring the effectiveness with a transdiagnostic group and potential processes of change
Authors: Cuppage Jennifer , Baird Katie , Gibson Jennifer , Booth Richard , Hevey David
Published: October 2017

Objectives

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a compassion focused therapy (CFT) group with a transdiagnostic population, as compared to treatment as usual (TAU). A secondary aim was to explore the potential processes of change within the treatment.

Design

A non‐randomized control trial was used.

Method

Fifty‐eight participants who engaged in group CFT were compared to 29 participants receiving TAU. Group CFT consisted of 14 sessions twice weekly for 5 weeks and once weekly for 4 weeks. Participants completed measures of psychopathology, shame, self‐criticism, fears of self‐compassion, and social safeness, at pre‐treatment, post‐treatment, and 2‐month follow‐up. Potential processes of change were examined using correlations and regression analysis.

Results

Significantly greater improvements were found for levels of psychopathology, fears of self‐compassion and social safeness for CFT, compared to TAU. Additionally, analyses showed improvements in shame and self‐criticism within the CFT group but not the TAU group. All improvements were maintained at 2‐month follow‐up. Improvements in psychopathology were predicted by changes in self‐criticism and fears of self‐compassion.

Conclusion

Compassion focused therapy appears to be an effective group intervention for a range of mental health difficulties. The positive impact of the CFT model with a transdiagnostic group emphasizes the value of addressing underlying psychological process, rather than symptoms alone.

Practitioner points

Compassion focused therapy is a multimodal therapy designed to target high levels of shame and self‐criticism.

Compassion focused therapy has been shown previously to have positive results within a range of diagnostic‐specific populations. While there is an emerging research base, limited studies assessing effectiveness with transdiagnostic populations have been published.

CFT was shown to have a significant effect in reducing levels of psychopathology, compared to TAU.

A number of potential processes of change were identified: Changes in psychopathology were significantly correlated with changes in self‐criticism and fears of self‐compassion.
A semi‐parametric within‐subject mixture approach to the analyses of responses and response times
Authors: Molenaar Dylan , Bolsinova Maria , Vermunt Jeroen K.
Published: October 2017

In item response theory, modelling the item response times in addition to the item responses may improve the detection of possible between‐ and within‐subject differences in the process that resulted in the responses. For instance, if respondents rely on rapid guessing on some items but not on all, the joint distribution of the responses and response times will be a multivariate within‐subject mixture distribution. Suitable parametric methods to detect these within‐subject differences have been proposed. In these approaches, a distribution needs to be assumed for the within‐class response times. In this paper, it is demonstrated that these parametric within‐subject approaches may produce false positives and biased parameter estimates if the assumption concerning the response time distribution is violated. A semi‐parametric approach is proposed which resorts to categorized response times. This approach is shown to hardly produce false positives and parameter bias. In addition, the semi‐parametric approach results in approximately the same power as the parametric approach.
Building a working alliance between professionals and service users in family preservation. A multiple case study
Authors: Steens Roos Julie , Hermans Koen , Van Regenmortel Tine
Published: October 2017

In the margin of the ongoing experimental and quasi‐experimental research projects on family preservation, some research projects focus on the process through which families accomplish change and acknowledge the importance of the working alliance. There is, however, little information about barriers and facilitators in building this working alliance. To fill this gap, we performed a multiple case study with a triangulation of ethnographical methods such as observation, in‐depth interviews, case file analysis, and multistakeholder focus groups. We illustrate how, in a context of managerialism and transactional leadership, social workers find themselves in a continuous tension between complying with the expectations of their social organization and “tuning in” with the service users. This jeopardizes the working alliance between a social worker and a family. Consequences for research, practice, and policy regarding family preservation interventions are discussed.
Estimation of population size and trends for highly mobile species with dynamic spatial distributions
Authors: Boyd Charlotte , Barlow Jay , Becker Elizabeth A. , Forney Karin A. , Gerrodette Tim , Moore Jeffrey E. , Punt André E.
Published: October 2017

Aim

To develop a more ecologically realistic approach for estimating the population size of cetaceans and other highly mobile species with dynamic spatial distributions.

Location

California Current Ecosystem,USA.

Methods

Conventional spatial density models assume a constant relationship between densities and habitat covariates over some time period, typically a survey season. The estimated population size must change whenever total habitat availability changes. For highly mobile long‐lived species, however, density–habitat relationships likely adjust more rapidly than population size. We developed an integrated population‐redistribution model based on a more ecologically plausible alternative hypothesis: (1) population size is effectively constant over each survey season; (2) if habitat availability changes, then the population redistributes itself following an ideal free distribution process. Thus, the estimated relationship between densities and habitat covariates adjusts rather than population size. We constructed Bayesian hierarchical models corresponding to the conventional and alternative hypotheses and applied them to distance sampling data for Dall's porpoise (Phocoenoides dalli), a highly mobile cetacean with distribution patterns closely tied to cool sea‐surface temperatures.

Results

The Dall's porpoise data provided strong support for the hypothesis based on an ideal free redistribution process. Our results indicate that the population size of Dall's porpoise within the survey region was relatively stable over each summer/fall survey season, but the distribution expanded and contracted with the extent of suitable habitat. Over multiple survey seasons, the model partitioned variation in observed densities among three sources: variation in population size, the density–habitat relationship and measurement error, leading to lower and more ecologically plausible estimates of interannual variation in population size.

Main conclusions

We conclude that the integrated population‐redistribution model (IPRM) presented here represents an ecologically plausible model for use in future assessments of the population size and dynamics of cetaceans and other highly mobile long‐lived species with variable spatial distributions.
Incident ischaemic stroke and Type 2 diabetes: trends in incidence and case fatality in Scotland 2004–2013
Authors: Read S. H. , McAllister D. A. , Colhoun H. M. , Farran B. , Fischbacher C. , Kerssens J. J. , Leese G. P. , Lindsay R. S. , McCrimmon R. J. , McGurnaghan S. , Philip S. , Sattar N. , Wild S. H. ,   the Scottish Diabetes Research Network Epidemiology Group
Published: October 2017

Aim

To describe trends in first ischaemic stroke incidence and case fatality in adults with and without a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes prior to their ischaemic stroke event in Scotland between 2004 and 2013.

Methods

Using population‐wide hospital admission, death and diabetes datasets, we conducted a retrospective cohort study. Negative binomial and logistic regression models were used to calculate year‐specific incidence and case‐fatality rates for people with Type 2 diabetes and for people without diabetes.

Results

During 41.0 million person‐years of follow‐up there were 69 757 ischaemic stroke events. Type 2 diabetes prevalence among patients who experienced ischaemic stroke increased from 13.5% to 20.3% between 2004 and 2013. Stroke incidence rates declined by 2.7% (95% CI 2.4, 3.0) annually for people with and without diabetes [diabetes/year interaction: rate ratio 0.99 (95% CI 0.98, 1.01)]. Type 2 diabetes was associated with an increased risk of ischaemic stroke in men [rate ratio 1.23 (95% CI 1.17, 1.30)] and women [rate ratio 1.41 (95% CI 1.35, 1.48)]. Case‐fatality rates were 14.2% and 12.7% in people with Type 2 diabetes and without diabetes, respectively. Case fatality declined by 3.5% (95% CI 2.7, 4.5) annually [diabetes/year interaction: odds ratio 1.01 (95% CI 0.98, 1.02)].

Conclusions

Ischaemic stroke incidence declined no faster in people with a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes than in people without diabetes. Increasing prevalence of Type 2 diabetes among stroke patients may mean that declines in case fatality over time will be less marked in the future.
Information processing from the motor cortices to the subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus and their somatotopic organizations revealed electrophysiologically in monkeys
Authors: Iwamuro Hirokazu , Tachibana Yoshihisa , Ugawa Yoshikazu , Saito Nobuhito , Nambu Atsushi
Published: October 2017

To understand how the information derived from different motor cortical areas representing different body parts is organized in the basal ganglia, we examined the neuronal responses in the subthalamic nucleus (STN), and the external (GPe) and internal (GPi) segments of the globus pallidus (input, relay and output nuclei, respectively) to stimulation of the orofacial, forelimb and hindlimb regions of the primary motor cortex (MI) and supplementary motor area (SMA) in macaque monkeys under the awake state. Most STN and GPe/GPi neurons responded exclusively to stimulation of either the MI or SMA, and one‐fourth to one‐third of neurons responded to both. STN neurons responding to the hindlimb, forelimb and orofacial regions of the MI were located along the medial–lateral axis in the posterolateral STN, while neurons responding to the orofacial region of the SMA were located more medially than the others in the anteromedial STN. GPe/GPi neurons responding to the hindlimb, forelimb and orofacial regions of the MI were found along the dorsal–ventral axis in the posterolateral GPe/GPi, and neurons responding to the corresponding regions of the SMA were similarly but less clearly distributed in more anteromedial regions. Moreover, neurons responding to the distal and proximal forelimb MI regions were found along the lateral–medial axis in the STN and the ventral–dorsal axis in the GPe/GPi. Most STN and GPe/GPi neurons showed kinaesthetic responses with similar somatotopic maps. These observations suggest that the somatotopically organized inputs from the MI and SMA are well preserved in the STN and GPe/GPi with partial convergence.
Effects of forced, passive, and voluntary exercise on spinal motoneurons changes after peripheral nerve injury
Authors: Arbat‐Plana Ariadna , Navarro Xavier , Udina Esther
Published: October 2017

After peripheral nerve injury, there are important changes at the spinal level that can lead to disorganization of the central circuitry and thus compromise functional recovery even if axons are able to successfully regenerate and reinnervate their target organs. Physical rehabilitation is a promising strategy to modulate these plastic changes and thus to improve functional recovery after the damage of the nervous system. Forced exercise in a treadmill is able to partially reverse the synaptic stripping and the loss of perineuronal nets that motoneurons suffer after peripheral nerve injury in animal models. The aim of this study was to investigate whether passive exercise, by means of cycling in a motorized bicycle, or voluntary free running in a wheel is able to mimic the effects induced by forced exercise on the changes that axotomized motoneurons suffer after peripheral nerve injury. Partial preservation of synapses and perineuronal nets was observed only in axotomized motoneurons from animals subjected to high‐intensity cycling and the ones that freely ran long distances, but not when low‐intensity exercise protocols were applied. Therefore, the intensity but not the type of exercise used is the key element to prevent synaptic stripping and loss of perineuronal nets in motoneurons after axotomy.
Theta band oscillations reflect more than entrainment: behavioral and neural evidence demonstrates an active chunking process
Authors: Teng Xiangbin , Tian Xing , Doelling Keith , Poeppel David
Published: October 2017

Parsing continuous acoustic streams into perceptual units is fundamental to auditory perception. Previous studies have uncovered a cortical entrainment mechanism in the delta and theta bands (~1–8 Hz) that correlates with formation of perceptual units in speech, music, and other quasi‐rhythmic stimuli. Whether cortical oscillations in the delta‐theta bands are passively entrained by regular acoustic patterns or play an active role in parsing the acoustic stream is debated. Here, we investigate cortical oscillations using novel stimuli with 1/f modulation spectra. These 1/f signals have no rhythmic structure but contain information over many timescales because of their broadband modulation characteristics. We chose 1/f modulation spectra with varying exponents of f, which simulate the dynamics of environmental noise, speech, vocalizations, and music. While undergoing magnetoencephalography (MEG) recording, participants listened to 1/f stimuli and detected embedded target tones. Tone detection performance varied across stimuli of different exponents and can be explained by local signal‐to‐noise ratio computed using a temporal window around 200 ms. Furthermore, theta band oscillations, surprisingly, were observed for all stimuli, but robust phase coherence was preferentially displayed by stimuli with exponents 1 and 1.5. We constructed an auditory processing model to quantify acoustic information on various timescales and correlated the model outputs with the neural results. We show that cortical oscillations reflect a chunking of segments, > 200 ms. These results suggest an active auditory segmentation mechanism, complementary to entrainment, operating on a timescale of ~200 ms to organize acoustic information.
Integrated analysis of microRNA and mRNA expression profiles in the rat spinal cord under inflammatory pain conditions
Authors: Liu Chien Cheng , Cheng Jiin Tsuey , Li Tien Yui , Tan Ping Heng
Published: October 2017

Recent studies using microarray‐based approaches have demonstrated that microRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in pain processing pathways. However, a significant proportion of computational predictions of miRNA targets are false‐positive interactions. To increase the chance of identifying biologically relevant targets, we performed an integrated analysis of both miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in the rat spinal cord during complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)‐induced inflammatory pain. We generated miRNA and mRNA arrays from the same corresponding samples on days 5 and 14 after CFA injection. Five miRNAs and 1096 mRNAs in the CFA 5d group and 16 miRNAs and 647 mRNAs in the CFA 14d group were differentially expressed based on a filter of at least a 1.5‐fold change in either direction. An integrated analysis revealed 54 mRNA targets with an inverse correlation to the expression patterns of three miRNAs in the CFA 5d group. Seventy‐five targets were inversely correlated to six miRNAs in the CFA 14d group. The miRNA–mRNA interaction networks revealed significant changes in miR‐124, miR‐149, miR‐3584 and their target genes, IL‐6R, ADAM19, LAMC1 and CERS2, in the CFA 5d group. In the CFA 14d group, significant changes were noted in miR‐124, miR‐29, miR‐34, miR‐30, miR‐338 and their target genes, TIMP2, CREB5 and EFNB1. We also investigated an interaction pair, miR‐124‐3p and IL‐6R, and the results showed that miR‐124‐3p could attenuate inflammatory pain and decrease IL‐6R expression in the spinal cord. These specific miRNAs and their target genes provide possible avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory pain.
Diabetes mellitus and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: time to bridge the gap between the bench and the bedside
Authors: Jawaid A. , Abid A. , Schulz P. E.
Published: October 2017

Click here to view the accompanying paper in this volume.
Preliminary investigation of orally administered benazepril in horses with left‐sided valvular regurgitation
Authors: Afonso T. , Giguère S. , Brown S. A. , Barton M. H. , Rapoport G. , Barba M. , Dembek K. A. , Toribio R. E. , Coleman A. E.
Published: October 2017

Background

Despite the paucity of data available, orally administered angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are empirically used in horses with valvular regurgitation.

Objective

Evaluate the echocardiographic and hormonal changes in response to oral benazepril in horses with left‐sided valvular regurgitation.

Study design

Prospective, randomised double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial.

Methods

Horses with mitral valve (MR) and/or aortic valve regurgitation (AR) received oral benazepril (n = 6) at a dosage of 1 mg/kg q 12 h or a placebo (n = 5) for 28 days. Echocardiography was performed before drug administration and after 28 days of treatment. Plasma renin activity, serum ACE activity, angiotensin II concentration, aldosterone concentration and biochemical variables were measured before drug administration and after 7 and 28 days of treatment.

Results

Relative to baseline, horses treated with benazepril had statistically significant reduction in left ventricular internal diameter in systole (mean difference between groups = −0.97 cm; 95% CI = −1.5 to −0.43 cm), aortic sinus diameter (−0.31 cm; −0.54 to −0.07 cm), and percentage of the aortic annulus diameter occupied by the base of the AR jet (−17.05%; −31.17 to −2.93%) compared with horses receiving a placebo. In addition, horses treated with benazepril had a significantly greater increase in cardiac output (11.95 L/min; 1.17–22.73 L/min) and fractional shortening (7.59%; 3.3–11.88%) compared with horses receiving a placebo. Despite profound serum ACE inhibition, renin activity and concentrations of angiotensin II and aldosterone were not significantly different between treatment groups or among time points.

Main limitations

Very small sample size and short treatment period.

Conclusions

Treatment with oral benazepril resulted in statistically significant echocardiographic changes that might indicate reduced cardiac afterload in horses with left‐sided valvular regurgitation. Additional studies with a larger sample size will be necessary to determine if administration of benazepril is beneficial in horses with valvular regurgitation.

The Summary is available in Spanish – see Supporting Information
Water and Salt Migration with Phase Change in Saline Soil during Freezing and Thawing Processes
Authors: Wu Daoyong , Zhou Xiangyang , Jiang Xingyuan
Published: October 2017

Water and salt transfer coupled with phase change may cause serious damage to engineering structures in saline soil regions. In this study, the migration of water and salt in silty clay collected from the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau is explored experimentally and numerically during freezing and thawing processes. The results revealed that there are significant differences in the variations of liquid water content and solution concentration for different initial salt contents, due to salt crystallization and dissolution. The temperature‐induced water migration is determined by the soil properties, which can be well explained by the thermodynamics of mass transfer. The amount of salt migrated upward during cooling is slightly larger than that transported downward in the warming period, implying that salt may be accumulated in the surface soil after a large number of circulations and finally result in soil salinization.
Transitioning into a ‘throwaway planet’
Authors: McCollough John , Bayramoglu Mehmet Fatih , He Miao
Published: October 2017

It is generally considered to be safer for the environment to repair a malfunctioning product for further reuse than to dispose of it and replace it with a newly manufactured product, unless the product is being replaced with a more energy efficient alternative. However, whereas United States has long been labelled a ‘throwaway society’, this paper presents the results of an international consumer survey which demonstrates that as other nations develop with respect to GDP per Capita (Gross Domestic Product per Capita), they too start transitioning into throwaway societies. This transition then calls into account of just how environmentally damaging this practice will become.
Resistance of phages lytic to pathogenic Escherichia coli to sanitisers used by the food industry and in home settings
Authors: Tomat David , Balagué Claudia , Aquili Virginia , Verdini Roxana , Quiberoni Andrea
Published: October 2017

Phages are potentially useful as antimicrobial agents in food‐processing environments, provided they can remain active upon extended storage and in the presence of sanitisers. Survival of six phages lytic against enteropathogenic (EPEC) and shiga‐toxigenic (STEC) Escherichia coli strains was assessed upon storage at 4 °C, −20 °C and −70 °C in phosphate‐buffered‐saline (PBS) and Tris‐magnesium‐gelatine buffer (TMG) for up to 1 year. The phages were also exposed to ethanol, sodium hypochlorite, peracetic acid, quaternary ammonium chloride (biocide A), hydrogen peroxide/peracetic acid/peroctanoic acid (biocide B), p‐toluensulfonchloroamide (biocide D) and alkaline chloride foam (biocide C). Plaque‐forming units remained unchanged when the phages were stored at 4 °C in both buffers tested, but decreased by 3.5 and 5.7 log10 PFU when stored in PBS at −20 and −70 °C, respectively. Moreover, TMG seems to be the most protective suspension medium with decreasing temperature because a 1−log10 PFU reduction was observed at −20 and −70 °C. Incubation in 100% ethanol for 24 h reduced plaque counts only by 2.5 log10 PFU. In 10 ppm of sodium hypochlorite and in biocide B (0.13%), the counts decreased by ~5 and ~6 log10 PFU after 15 min. Finally, biocide A and D reduced counts by 4 and 2–4 log10 PFU after 30 min and 8 h of incubation, respectively. Phages were completely inactivated only by peracetic acid and biocides C and E. Therefore, the phages evaluated might be potentially applied together with classical sanitisers such as ethanol and industrial biocides A, B and D, in disinfection programs against pathogenic STEC and EPEC strains.
Differential expression profiles of circulating microRNAs in newborns associated to maternal pregestational overweight and obesity
Authors: Méndez‐Mancilla A. , Lima‐Rogel V. , Toro‐Ortíz J. C. , Escalante‐Padrón F. , Monsiváis‐Urenda A. E. , Noyola D. E. , Salgado‐Bustamante M.
Published: October 2017

Background

The perinatal environment has a role in the establishment of altered metabolic and inflammatory responses, and could be modulated by microRNAs regulating immune and metabolic processes.

Objective

To analyze the expression profile of four circulating microRNAs and cytokine serum concentrations in neonates born to overweight and obese women.

Methods

Pregnant women were included and grouped by pregestational body mass index (21 with normal weight, 10 overweight and 10 obese women). A peripheral blood sample was obtained from newborn infants and used to determine circulating miRNAs expression and cytokine serum concentrations.

Results

There were significant differences in the expression of three microRNAs between newborns of pregestational obese women and newborns from pregestational normal weight women: miR‐155 (p = 0.03), miR‐181a (p = 0.02) and miR‐221 (p = 0.04). A significant reduction in IL‐1β (p = 0.005) expression was also found in newborns of overweight women; although this cytokine was also diminished in newborns of obese women, this was not statistically significant. An association between IL‐1β concentrations and miR‐146a and miR‐221 expression was also observed.

Conclusions

Expression of miR‐155, miR‐181a and miR‐221 differs in infants born to obese women compared with infants born to normal weight women. Changes in microRNA expression could participate in the epigenetic foetal programming of metabolic disorders in children born to obese women.
Impact of power structure on supply chain performance and consumer surplus
Authors: Wang Jian‐Cai , Wang Yao‐Yu , Lai Fujun
Published: October 2017

In this study, we consider a game theory based framework to model power in a supply chain with price‐dependent stochastic demand and to investigate how power structures (dominant retailer, dominant manufacturer, or balanced power) and demand models (expected demand and demand shock) affect supply chain efficiency, members’ profits, and consumer surplus. We analyze all of the problems in this framework and characterize their equilibrium outcomes. In comparison, we demonstrate that a firm often benefits from its power except that a power manufacturer might suffer in a supply chain with isoelastic demand and additive shock. A balanced power structure is often conducive to the whole supply chain, but this structure might not perform very well in a supply chain with isoelastic demand and additive shock. Power structures and demand models act on consumers in much the same manner that they do on supply chain efficiency. In other words, consumers often prefer a balanced power structure and thereby do not profit from power retailers. Additionally, we find that the retail price can play a pivotal role in determining supply chain efficiency and consumer surplus. Specifically, the lower the retail price, the higher the supply chain efficiency and consumer surplus. In contrast, the service level has a less preeminent influence on both of them.