bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Energy mutual funds and oil prices
Authors: Gormus Alper , Diltz John David , Soytas Ugur
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the price level and volatility impacts of oil prices on energy mutual funds (EMFs). The authors also examine specific fund characteristics which might influence those interactions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test for volatility transmission between the oil prices and the funds in the sample. Later, the authors test to see which fund characteristics impact these volatility interactions.

Findings

The results show oil price movements lead majority of sample EMFs. The authors also find a volatility feedback relationship with most of the sample. Furthermore, the authors show the fund characteristics to be important indicators of these interactions. Morningstar rating, market capitalization and management tenure are found to be significant drivers of the relationships between EMFs and oil prices.

Originality/value

To the knowledge, there is not a study in literature which examines these relationships.
The Expression Of Progressive Aspect In Grico: Mapping Morphosyntactic Isoglosses In An Endangered Italo‐Greek Variety
Authors: Ledgeway Adam , Schifano Norma , Silvestri Giuseppina
Published: January 2018

This article investigates the expression of progressive aspect by means of verbal periphrases in the Italo‐Greek variety known as Grico, spoken in Salento (southern Italy). Building on the extremely valuable, yet out‐dated, description of Rohlfs (), we first present an overview of the array of different patterns brought to light by our recent fieldwork and through a survey of a selection of both early and contemporary sources which include combinations of (non‐)inflected STAND with (non‐)finite forms of a lexical verb, optionally linked by functional elements. After describing the empirical picture, we assess the degree of grammaticalization of the patterns which are still productive today, reconstructing their evolution from earlier periphrases and paying particular attention to the grammaticalization of the ambiguous elementpu‘where; from; that’. Finally, we analyse a hybrid structure currently consistently produced by semi‐speakers from different villages, which seems to instantiate a new ‘third’ option within the local repertoire. The article concludes with of a number of observations about the role of this case study for our knowledge of diatopic morphosyntactic microvariation in Grico and for the nature of language contact and language change.
Can You Build a Better Cop?
Authors: Owens Emily , Weisburd David , Amendola Karen L. , Alpert Geoffrey P.
Published: January 2018

Research Summary

By drawing from psychology and economics, we present an experimental evaluation of a procedural justice training program designed to “slow down” police officers’ thought processes during citizen encounters. We find that officers who were randomly assigned to participate in training were as engaged in the community as similarly situated officers, but they were less likely to resolve incidents with an arrest or to be involved in incidents where force was used. These changes were most evident among officers who worked in areas with a modest level of risk.

Policy Implications

Police officers who are actively engaged with the public can reduce crime through general deterrence and by arresting criminals. Nevertheless, excessive discretionary arrests and the use of force by officers can reduce public trust in the police. To date, there is scant evidence as to how police departments can successfully train officers to balance enforcement and public trust in the field. Through our study, we demonstrate that a relatively minor supervisory intervention may cause substantive changes in how police and citizens interact with each other.
The effects of added whey protein to a pre‐operative carbohydrate drink on glucose and insulin response
Authors: Karimian N. , Moustafa M. , Mata J. , Al‐Saffar A. K. , Hellström P. M. , Feldman L. S. , Carli F.
Published: January 2018

Background

Pre‐operative complex carbohydrate (CHO) drinks are recommended to attenuate post‐operative insulin resistance. However, many institutions use simple CHO drinks, which while convenient, may have less metabolic effects. Whey protein may enhance insulin release when added to complex CHO. The aim of this study was to compare the insulin response to simple CHO vs. simple CHO supplemented with whey protein.

Methods

Twelve healthy volunteers participated in this double‐blinded, within subject, cross‐over design study investigating insulin response to simple CHO drink vs. simple CHO + whey (CHO + W) drink. The primary outcome was the accumulated insulin response during 180 min after ingestion of the drinks (Area under the curve, AUC). Secondary outcomes included plasma glucose and ghrelin levels, and gastric emptying rate estimated by acetaminophen absorption technique. Data presented as mean (SD).

Results

There was no differences in accumulated insulin response after the CHO or CHO + W drinks [AUC: 15 (8) vs. 20 (14) nmol/l, P = 0.27]. Insulin and glucose levels peaked between 30 and 60 min and reached 215 (95) pmol/l and 7 (1) mmol/l after the CHO drink and to 264 (232) pmol/l and 6.5 (1) mmol/l after the CHO + W drink. There were no differences in glucose or ghrelin levels or gastric emptying with the addition of whey.

Conclusion

The addition of whey protein to a simple CHO drink did not change the insulin response in healthy individuals. The peak insulin responses to simple CHO with or without whey protein were lower than that previously reported with complex CHO drinks. The impact of simple carbohydrate drinks with lower insulin response on peri‐operative insulin sensitivity requires further study.
Executive incentive compatibility and selection of governance mechanisms
Authors: Xu Rong , Zhang Guangli , Zhang Junyan , Zheng Zhigang
Published: January 2018

Executive incentive compatibility plays a crucial role in firm's selection of corporate governance mechanisms. We provide a simple model to explain why firms with enough executive incentive compatibility still prefer having external governance mechanisms, and firms with poor executive incentive compatibility have to rely on a combination of large investors monitoring and external governance. This model facilitates a better understanding of the co‐existence of the two governance mechanisms and also reconciles conflicting findings with respect to a substitutive and complementary relationship between the two governance mechanisms. Empirical evidence supports there is a substitutive relation between large investors monitoring and executive compensation.
Director interlocks and spillover effects of board monitoring: evidence from regulatory sanctions
Authors: Zhong Qinlin , Liu Yuanyuan , Yuan Chun
Published: January 2018

Exploiting regulatory sanctions as quasi‐exogenous shocks and unique data at the individual‐director level from China, we examine whether board monitoring can spread between firms via shared directors. Our results show that a director experiencing regulatory sanction at another firm is more likely to attend the board meetings, indicating his or her greater monitoring efforts. We also find that a firm is more likely to provide transparent financial statement when it shares a common director with an accused firm, and the effect is mainly concentrated among non‐state‐owned enterprises. These findings shed new light on the positive role of director interlocks in spreading monitoring efforts after regulatory sanction.
Symbionts in excess? No correlation between symbiont density and the ability of mealybug hosts to exploit plant species or tolerate insecticide stress
Authors: Parkinson Jasmine F. , Gobin Bruno , Hughes William O.H.
Published: January 2018

The acquisition of obligate, nutritional, vertically‐transmitted bacteria has been pivotal to the evolution and diversification of many insect taxa.

Sap‐feeding citrus mealybugs Planococcus citri are an interesting example of obligate nutritional symbiosis, harbouring a pair of symbionts: Tremblaya princeps and Moranella endobia. Hosts can often vary in the densities of their symbionts and symbiont cells will inevitably carry some cost to the hosts, and so it would be predicted that a higher symbiont density will have some form of benefit to the host to outweigh this cost.

In the present study, we examine whether populations of citrus mealybugs, with heritably different symbiont densities, differed in their ability to exploit multiple plant species or to tolerate the stress from insecticide exposure.

Plant species were found to significantly impact mealybug fitness, but higher symbiont densities did not hold any evident compensation for reduced host‐plant suitability and did not correlate with mealybug susceptibility to insecticide treatment. Planococcus citri harbour variable symbiont densities but this did not correlate with the fitness of the host.

This apparently sub‐optimum symbiont density regulation in an otherwise intricate and tightly‐knit tripartite symbiosis could be an evolutionary artefact of previous conflicts of interest.
Efficacy and safety of sunitinib alternate day regimen in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma in Japan: Comparison with standard 4/2 schedule
Authors: Ohba Kojiro , Miyata Yasuyoshi , Yasuda Takuji , Asai Akihiro , Mitsunari Kensuke , Matsuo Tomohiro , Mochizuki Yasushi , Matsunaga Noriko , Sakai Hideki
Published: January 2018

Aim

Sunitinib is a standard agent for metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). The standard schedule, 4 weeks‐on followed by 2 weeks‐off (4/2 schedule), often does not maintain an adequate dosage because of the severe adverse events (AEs). We compared the efficacy and safety of an alternative every other day (q.a.d.) dosing with that of the 4/2 schedule in mRCC patients.

Methods

Of the 55 Japanese patients, 32 and 23 were administered 4/2 (standard group) and q.a.d. schedules (50 or 37.5 mg, every other day; experimental groups), respectively. The AEs, anticancer effects, and trough plasma concentrations of sunitinib were compared between them.

Results

The most common AE in the standard group was thrombocytopenia (43.2%), but it was observed in only two patients in the experimental group (8.7%). Although leukopenia and hand‐foot syndrome were both detected in six patients (18.8%) in the standard group, no patients had these AEs in the experimental group. The incidence of dose interruption in the experimental group (21.7%) was significantly lower than that in the standard group was (59.4%, P = 0.005). Time to progression (TTP) and overall survival (OS) of the experimental group were better than those of the standard group (P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Mean plasma levels in the experimental group (64.83 ng/mL) were significantly lower than those in the standard group (135.82 ng/mL, P < 0.001) were.

Conclusion

Sunitinib administered q.a.d. was safe and effective for mRCC patients. We speculate that the persistent optimal drug plasma concentrations contributed to these effects.
A simplified guide to randomized controlled trials
Authors: Bhide Amar , Shah Prakesh S. , Acharya Ganesh
Published: January 2018

A randomized controlled trial is a prospective, comparative, quantitative study/experiment performed under controlled conditions with random allocation of interventions to comparison groups. The randomized controlled trial is the most rigorous and robust research method of determining whether a cause–effect relation exists between an intervention and an outcome. High‐quality evidence can be generated by performing an randomized controlled trial when evaluating the effectiveness and safety of an intervention. Furthermore, randomized controlled trials yield themselves well to systematic review and meta‐analysis providing a solid base for synthesizing evidence generated by such studies. Evidence‐based clinical practice improves patient outcomes and safety, and is generally cost‐effective. Therefore, randomized controlled trials are becoming increasingly popular in all areas of clinical medicine including perinatology. However, designing and conducting an randomized controlled trial, analyzing data, interpreting findings and disseminating results can be challenging as there are several practicalities to be considered. In this review, we provide simple descriptive guidance on planning, conducting, analyzing and reporting randomized controlled trials.
Procalcitonin and C‐reactive protein may help to detect invasive bacterial infections in children who have fever without source
Authors: Hubert‐Dibon Gaëlle , Danjou Lou , Feildel‐Fournial Cécile , Vrignaud Bénédicte , Masson Damien , Launay Elise , Gras‐Le Guen Christèle
Published: January 2018

Aim

This study evaluated the epidemiology and performance of biomarkers for identifying bacterial infections in children who presented with fever without source.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study in the paediatric department at the University Hospital of Nantes, France, in 2016. Children older than six days and younger than five years of age were included.

Results

A total of 1060 children (52.2% male) with fever without source were admitted, and the median age was 17 months (interquartile range: 6.6–24.3 months). Severe bacterial infections were diagnosed in 127 (11.9%) children and invasive bacterial infections in 11 (1.0%) children: four (0.3%) with bacterial meningitis and seven (0.6%) with bacteraemia. A further 114 (10.7%) had urinary tract infections. We explored the area under the receiver‐operating characteristic curves for identifying invasive bacterial infections. The curves for procalcitonin and C‐reactive protein assays were better than those for the absolute neutrophil counts and the white blood cell counts.

Conclusion

This study found that there was a low prevalence of invasive bacterial infections in children who presented with fever without source. It also showed that procalcitonin and C‐reactive protein may help to detect invasive bacterial infections in children who have fever without source.
Increased FXYD1 and PGC‐1α mRNA after blood flow‐restricted running is related to fibre type‐specific AMPK signalling and oxidative stress in human muscle
Authors: Christiansen D. , Murphy R. M. , Bangsbo J. , Stathis C. G. , Bishop D. J.
Published: January 2018

Aim

This study explored the effects of blood flow restriction (BFR) on mRNA responses of PGC‐1α (total, 1α1, and 1α4) and Na+,K+‐ATPase isoforms (NKA; α1‐3, β1‐3, and FXYD1) to an interval running session and determined whether these effects were related to increased oxidative stress, hypoxia, and fibre type‐specific AMPK and CaMKII signalling, in human skeletal muscle.

Methods

In a randomized, crossover fashion, 8 healthy men (26 ± 5 year and 57.4 ± 6.3 mL kg−1 min−1) completed 3 exercise sessions: without (CON) or with blood flow restriction (BFR), or in systemic hypoxia (HYP, ~3250 m). A muscle sample was collected before (Pre) and after exercise (+0 hour, +3 hours) to quantify mRNA, indicators of oxidative stress (HSP27 protein in type I and II fibres, and catalase and HSP70 mRNA), metabolites, and α‐AMPK Thr172/α‐AMPK, ACC Ser221/ACC, CaMKII Thr287/CaMKII, and PLBSer16/PLB ratios in type I and II fibres.

Results

Muscle hypoxia (assessed by near‐infrared spectroscopy) was matched between BFR and HYP, which was higher than CON (~90% vs ~70%; P < .05). The mRNA levels of FXYD1 and PGC‐1α isoforms (1α1 and 1α4) increased in BFR only (P < .05) and were associated with increases in indicators of oxidative stress and type I fibre ACC Ser221/ACC ratio, but dissociated from muscle hypoxia, lactate, and CaMKII signalling.

Conclusion

Blood flow restriction augmented exercise‐induced increases in muscle FXYD1 and PGC‐1α mRNA in men. This effect was related to increased oxidative stress and fibre type‐dependent AMPK signalling, but unrelated to the severity of muscle hypoxia, lactate accumulation, and modulation of fibre type‐specific CaMKII signalling.
Von Willebrand factor indicates bacterial translocation, inflammation, and procoagulant imbalance and predicts complications independently of portal hypertension severity
Authors: Mandorfer M. , Schwabl P. , Paternostro R. , Pomej K. , Bauer D. , Thaler J. , Ay C. , Quehenberger P. , Fritzer‐Szekeres M. , Peck‐Radosavljevic M. , Trauner M. , Reiberger T. , Ferlitsch A. ,   the Vienna Hepatic Hemodynamic Lab
Published: January 2018

Background

Elevated plasma von Willebrand factor antigen (vWF) has been shown to indicate the presence of clinically significant portal hypertension, and thus, predicts the development of clinical events in patients with cirrhosis.

Aim

To investigate the impact of bacterial translocation and inflammation on vWF, as well as the association between vWF and procoagulant imbalance. Moreover, we assessed whether vWF predicts complications of cirrhosis, independent of the severity of portal hypertension.

Methods

Our study population comprised 225 patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) ≥ 10 mm Hg without active bacterial infections or hepatocellular carcinoma.

Results

vWF correlated with markers of bacterial translocation (lipopolysaccharide‐binding protein [LBP; ρ = 0.201; P = 0.021]), inflammation (interleukin 6 [IL‐6; ρ = 0.426; P < 0.001] and C‐reactive protein [CRP; ρ = 0.249; P < 0.001]), and procoagulant imbalance (factor VIII/protein C ratio; ρ = 0.507; P < 0.001). Importantly, the associations between vWF and these parameters were independent of HVPG.

Moreover, vWF (per 10%) independently predicted variceal bleeding (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.08 [95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.01‐1.16]; P = 0.023), requirement of paracentesis (HR: 1.05 [95% CI: 1.01‐1.1]; P = 0.023) and bacterial infections (HR: 1.04 [95% CI: 1‐1.09]; P = 0.04) including spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (HR: 1.09 [95% CI: 0.999‐1.18]; P = 0.053) on a trend‐wise level. After backward elimination, vWF (HR: 1.05 [95% CI: 1.02‐1.08]; P = 0.003) and CRP (per 10 mg/L; HR: 1.53 [95% CI: 1.14‐2.05]; P = 0.005) remained in the final model for transplant‐free mortality. Finally, the independent prognostic value of vWF/CRP groups for mortality was confirmed by competing risk analysis.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that vWF is not only a marker of portal hypertension but also independently linked to bacterial translocation, inflammation and procoagulant imbalance, which might explain its HVPG‐independent association with most clinical events. Prognostic groups based on vWF/CRP efficiently discriminate between patients with a poor 5‐year survival and patients with a favourable prognosis.
Constrained agencies: The emergence of Singapore's distinctive temporary staffing industry
Authors: Yip Amanda , Coe Neil M.
Published: January 2018

This paper presents the first economic geography study of Singapore's temporary staffing industry. Drawing on secondary data and semi‐structured interviews with trade association representatives and senior executives from temporary staffing agencies, it examines the structure and characteristics of Singapore's industry and, more specifically, how its distinctive institutional configuration influences the activities of staffing agencies and the industry's overall trajectory. While temporary staffing in Singapore has experienced steady growth since the turn of the millennium, growth is ultimately constrained by both Singapore's regulatory environment and the inherent nature of its labour market. As such, the temporary staffing industry is still relatively small today, and has become increasingly saturated with strong competition between transnational and domestic agencies. Empirically, analysis of the Singapore case contributes to the wider literature on temporary staffing markets by profiling the nature and growth dynamics of a small and emerging temporary staffing market. Conceptually, the study reveals under‐studied aspects in current work relating to how the market is shaped by intersections with shifting global divisions of labour, the nature of the state's managed immigration regime and elements of national labour‐market culture.
Did China Import Metals from Africa in the Bronze Age?
Authors: Liu S. , Chen K. L. , Rehren Th. , Mei J. J. , Chen J. L. , Liu Y. , Killick D.
Published: January 2018

The origins of the copper, tin and lead for China's rich Bronze Age cultures are a major topic in archaeological research, with significant contributions being made by archaeological fieldwork, archaeometallurgical investigations and geochemical considerations. Here, we investigate a recent claim that the greater part of the Shang‐period metalwork was made using metals from Africa, imported together with the necessary know‐how to produce tin bronze. A brief review of the current status of lead isotopic study on Shang‐period bronze artefacts is provided first, clarifying a few key issues involved in this discussion. It is then shown that there is no archaeological or isotopic basis for bulk metal transfer between Africa and China during the Shang period, and that the copper and lead in Shang bronze with a strongly radiogenic signature is not likely to be from Africa. We call for collaborative interdisciplinary research to address the vexing question of the Shang period's metal sources, focusing on smelting sites in geologically defined potential source regions and casting workshops identified at a number of Shang settlements.
Positive stereotypes, negative outcomes: Reminders of the positive components of complementary gender stereotypes impair performance in counter‐stereotypical tasks
Authors: Kahalon Rotem , Shnabel Nurit , Becker Julia C.
Published: January 2018

Gender stereotypes are complementary: Women are perceived to be communal but not agentic, whereas men are perceived to be agentic but not communal. The present research tested whether exposure to reminders of the positive components of these gender stereotypes can lead to stereotype threat and subsequent performance deficits on the complementary dimension. Study 1 (N = 116 female participants) revealed that compared to a control/no‐stereotype condition, exposure to reminders of the stereotype about women's communality (but not to reminders of the stereotype about women's beauty) impaired women's math performance. In Study 2 (N = 86 male participants), reminders of the stereotype about men's agency (vs. a control/no‐stereotype condition) impaired men's performance in a test of socio‐emotional abilities. Consistent with previous research on stereotype threat, in both studies the effect was evident among participants with high domain identification. These findings extend our understanding of the potentially adverse implications of seemingly positive gender stereotypes.
Kidney allograft survival outcomes in combined intestinal‐kidney transplant: An analysis of the UNOS/OPTN database 2000‐2014
Authors: Moinuddin Irfan , Yaqub Muhammad Sohail , Taber Tim , Mujtaba Muhammad , Sharfuddin Asif
Published: January 2018

Background and objectives

Intestinal transplants carry a high morbidity/mortality. Kidney allograft outcomes after combined intestinal (IT) with kidney transplant (CIKT) remain largely uninvestigated.

Materials and methods

The UNOS STAR database was queried to identify all such combined organ transplants from 2000 to 2015.

Results

Out of a total 2215 (51.4% peds vs 48.6% adults) intestinal transplants, 111 (5.0%) CIKT were identified (32.4% peds vs 67.6% adults). Over the study period of CIKT, a total of 45.9% of these cases died with a functioning kidney graft. DGF rate was 9.0%. The 1‐year reported kidney acute rejection rate was 6.3%. For the entire CIKT population over the entire study era, the 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year unadjusted kidney graft survival was 57%, 39%, and 34%, while death‐censored kidney graft survival was 93%, 90%, and 86%, respectively. Overall conditional 5‐year kidney graft survival (defined as 1‐year kidney graft survival) was 58%. Overall, patient survival was significantly lower in recipients of CIKT compared to intestinal transplant (IT) (P < .005); However, the 5‐year conditional (1 year kidney graft) patient survival in adults was not significantly different between IT and CIKT overall (P = .194).

Conclusions

Kidney allograft survival is primarily dependent on 1‐year patient survival. Guidelines regarding allocation of kidney allografts in CIKT need to take into consideration utility and urgency.
Epidermotropic presentation by splenic B‐cell lymphoma: The importance of clinical‐pathologic correlation
Authors: Hedayat Amin A. , Carter Joi B. , Lansigan Frederick , LeBlanc Robert E.
Published: January 2018

There are exceedingly rare reports of patients with epidermotropic B‐cell lymphomas. A subset presented with intermittent, variably pruritic papular eruptions and involvement of their spleens, peripheral blood and bone marrow at the time of diagnosis. Furthermore, some experienced an indolent course despite dissemination of their lymphomas. We report a 66‐year‐old woman with a 12‐year history of intermittent eruptions of non‐pruritic, salmon‐colored papules on her torso and proximal extremities that occurred in winter and resolved with outdoor activity in spring. Skin biopsy revealed an epidermotropic B‐cell lymphoma with a non‐specific B‐cell phenotype and heavy chain class switching with IgG expression. On workup, our patient exhibited mild splenomegaly and low‐level involvement of her peripheral blood and bone marrow by a kappa‐restricted B‐cell population. A splenic B‐cell lymphoma was diagnosed. Considering her longstanding history and absences of cytopenias, our patient has been followed without splenectomy or systemic therapy. Furthermore, the papules have responded dramatically to narrowband UVB. Our case and a review of similar rare reports aim to raise awareness among dermatopathologists and dermatologists of a clinically distinct and indolent subset of epidermotropic splenic lymphomas with characteristic clinical and histologic findings.
Works of art and ivory: what are the issues?
Authors: Levy Martin P.
Published: January 2018

There is nothing new about worldwide concern for endangered fauna and flora. Indeed since 1975 the protection of threatened species has been enshrined in the Convention on the Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). But most recently, the fate of the African elephant has been subject to particular scrutiny. This culminated in President Obama's 2014 “Director's Order 210”. Since then the movement of ivory into the States has effectively been banned, and internal commercial transactions subject to impossible restrictions. This affects the ability of museums to add significant works of art to their collections. Is this the correct approach? Surely the protection of endangered species and the preservation and presentation of “antique” works of art made of or containing ivory are not mutually exclusive.
An Art Conservation Perspective: Saving the African Elephant and Ivory Cultural Heritage
Authors: Drayman‐Weisser Terry , Hornbeck Stephanie E.
Published: January 2018

A surge in African elephant poaching to supply global demand for ivory led the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to revise policies and regulations protecting African elephants. In 2014, commercial import of antique ivory was banned in compliance with the 1989 African Elephant Conservation Act, and non‐commercial import was restricted. In 2016, the USFWS revised other regulations regarding interstate commerce, export, and foreign commerce. For museums, confusion and uncertainty over interpretation of the regulations led to re‐examination of acquisitions and loan policies. In 2015, the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) appointed a working group to evaluate the impact on conservators working with ivory and to make recommendations for changes to reflect preservation concerns before the proposed regulations were to go into effect in 2016. This article discusses the conservator's role working with ivory artifacts, reviews preservation issues for museums raised by the regulations, and shares the AIC working group's recommendations for preserving ivory artifacts and the African elephant.
Ivory as an Important Model Bio‐composite
Authors: Vollrath Fritz , Mi Ruixin , Shah Darshil U.
Published: January 2018

Ivory carves well and lasts long even under heavy usage. Its use over millennia are testaments to its value for household items, high‐value ornaments and weaponry as well as false teeth and early hip‐replacements. Indeed, exceptional toughness is required of the elephant's ivory because its tusk is used by the animal to leverage trees to breaking point or act as weapon in fights between bulls the size and weight of trucks. A number of studies have shown elephant ivory to be a highly non‐isotropic material with complex 3 dimensional structures and network of porosity. Combined, these properties give ivory its qualities so desirable by carvers, pianists, artists and pool players. In this brief overview we focus on the structures and material properties of elephant ivory, many of which are shared by other types of ivories.
Mindfulness and fear of hypoglycaemia in parents of children with Type 1 diabetes: results from Diabetes MILES Youth – The Netherlands
Authors: Aalders J. , Hartman E. , Nefs G. , Nieuwesteeg A. , Hendrieckx C. , Aanstoot H.‐J. , Winterdijk P. , van Mil E. , Speight J. , Pouwer F.
Published: January 2018

Aims

To identify the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of fear of hypoglycaemia among parents of children (aged 4–18 years) with Type 1 diabetes and to examine the relationships between parental fear of hypoglycaemia, mindfulness and mindful parenting.

Methods

Sociodemographic, self‐reported clinical and psychological data were extracted from the cross‐sectional Diabetes MILES Youth – The Netherlands dataset. Questionnaires included the Hypoglycaemia Fear Survey – Parent Worry (parental fear of hypoglycaemia), the Freiburg Mindfulness Inventory – Short version (mindfulness) and the Interpersonal Mindfulness in Parenting Scale (mindful parenting).

Results

A total of 421 parents (359 mothers) participated. Hierarchical linear regression analyses showed that greater parental fear of hypoglycaemia was related to younger parental age, low educational level, non‐Dutch nationality, more frequent blood glucose monitoring, and less general mindfulness. Adding mindful parenting to the model negated the previous contribution of general mindfulness. In this model, lower mindful parenting was related to greater parental fear of hypoglycaemia. In particular, parents with an increased ability to be less judgemental of themselves as parents and less reactive to emotions within parenting interactions reported less fear of hypoglycaemia. In total, 21% of the variance in parental fear of hypoglycaemia was explained.

Conclusion

Parental fear of hypoglycaemia was associated largely with parental characteristics, including non‐modifiable sociodemographics (i.e. age, education, nationality) and modifiable psychological factors (i.e. mindful parenting). These findings suggest that it is important to further explore mindfulness‐based interventions for parents to reduce fear of hypoglycaemia next to interventions to reduce hypoglycaemia.
Planning for Low End Analytics Disruptions in Business School Curricula
Authors: Rienzo Thomas , Chen Kuanchin
Published: January 2018

Analytics is getting a great deal of attention in both industrial and academic venues. Organizations of all types are becoming more serious about transforming data from a variety of sources into insight, and analytics is the key to that transformation. Academic institutions are rapidly responding to the demand for analytics talent, with hundreds of offerings aimed at producing a broad range of analytical graduates from data scientists to data‐savvy managers and functional specialists. Curricula generally provides best practice methods of tackling descriptive, predictive, and prescriptive analytics; but there has been little discussion about the disruptive nature of increasingly robust analytical tools in the academic space. The net effect of astounding tool capability is empowerment of less technically trained people to address analytical complexities heretofore only comprehensible to data scientists with in‐depth knowledge of mathematics, programming, and statistics. This article examines skills needed for analytics in industry, academic response, and evolving analytic needs through the lens of disruption theories of Clayton Christensen. We offer a direction of curriculum development by supplementing the disruption theory with three interactive components of problem space mapping: processes, tools, and techniques. The challenge for academicians is a dynamic, adaptable curricula addressing multiple levels of data analyses.
Fine‐scale movement ecology of a freshwater top predator, Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), in response to the abiotic environment over the course of a year
Authors: Nakayama Shinnosuke , Doering‐Arjes Peer , Linzmaier Stefan , Briege John , Klefoth Thomas , Pieterek Tonio , Arlinghaus Robert
Published: January 2018

Fine‐scale underwater telemetry affords an unprecedented opportunity to understand how aquatic animals respond to environmental changes. We investigated the movement patterns of an aquatic top predator, Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis), using a three‐dimensional acoustic telemetry system installed in Kleiner Döllnsee (25 ha), a small, shallow, mesotrophic natural lake. Adult piscivorous perch (N = 16) were tagged and tracked in the whole lake at a minimum of 9‐s intervals over the course of one year. Perch increased swimming activity with higher water temperature and light intensity. Air pressure, wind speed and lunar phase also explained perch movements, but the effects were substantially smaller compared to temperature and light. Perch showed a strong diel pattern in activity, with farther swimming distances and larger activity spaces during the daytime, compared to the night‐time. To investigate the influence of prey distribution, we sampled the prey fish in both littoral and pelagic zones in both day and night monthly using gill nets. We found that the prey fish underwent diel horizontal migration, using the littoral zone during the day and the pelagic zone during the night. However, perch showed the opposite patterns, suggesting either that the prey fish avoided predation risk or that the horizontal diel migration of perch was driven by other mechanisms. Our results collectively suggest that the movement ecology of piscivorous perch is mainly governed by a foraging motivation as a function of abiotic variables, especially temperature and light.
Dating phototrophic microbial lineages with reticulate gene histories
Authors: Magnabosco C. , Moore K. R. , Wolfe J. M. , Fournier G. P.
Published: January 2018

Phototrophic bacteria are among the most biogeochemically significant organisms on Earth and are physiologically related through the use of reaction centers to collect photons for energy metabolism. However, the major phototrophic lineages are not closely related to one another in bacterial phylogeny, and the origins of their respective photosynthetic machinery remain obscured by time and low sequence similarity. To better understand the co‐evolution of Cyanobacteria and other ancient anoxygenic phototrophic lineages with respect to geologic time, we designed and implemented a variety of molecular clocks that use horizontal gene transfer (HGT) as additional, relative constraints. These HGT constraints improve the precision of phototroph divergence date estimates and indicate that stem green non‐sulfur bacteria are likely the oldest phototrophic lineage. Concurrently, crown Cyanobacteria age estimates ranged from 2.2 Ga to 2.7 Ga, with stem Cyanobacteria diverging ~2.8 Ga. These estimates provide a several hundred Ma window for oxygenic photosynthesis to evolve prior to the Great Oxidation Event (GOE) ~2.3 Ga. In all models, crown green sulfur bacteria diversify after the loss of the banded iron formations from the sedimentary record (~1.8 Ga) and may indicate the expansion of the lineage into a new ecological niche following the GOE. Our date estimates also provide a timeline to investigate the temporal feasibility of different photosystem HGT events between phototrophic lineages. Using this approach, we infer that stem Cyanobacteria are unlikely to be the recipient of an HGT of photosystem I proteins from green sulfur bacteria but could still have been either the HGT donor or the recipient of photosystem II proteins with green non‐sulfur bacteria, prior to the GOE. Together, these results indicate that HGT‐constrained molecular clocks are useful tools for the evaluation of various geological and evolutionary hypotheses, using the evolutionary histories of both genes and organismal lineages.
The effect of adjusting the pH of local anaesthetics in dentistry: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Aulestia‐Viera P. V. , Braga M. M. , Borsatti M. A.
Published: January 2018

The acidic nature of commercial local anaesthetics (LAs) can cause pain during infiltration and delay the onset of anaesthesia. It is suggested that adjusting the pH of anaesthetic agents could minimize these effects. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the efficacy of buffered LAs in reducing infiltration pain and onset time during dental procedures. MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus and Scielo databases were searched up to April 2017. Randomized controlled trials comparing buffered and unbuffered LAs for intraoral injections were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Collaboration tool. Data upon injection pain and onset time were pooled in a random‐effects model. Subgroup analyses compared normal and inflamed tissues, and terminal infiltrations and inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) blocks. Meta‐regressions were performed to explain heterogeneity. Fourteen articles were included in this review. Lidocaine with epinephrine was the most used anaesthetic combination. Nonlidocaine studies (n = 2) were not pooled in the meta‐analysis. Buffered lidocaine did not result in less pain during intraoral injections: mean difference −6.4 (95% CI −12.81 to 0.01) units in a 0–100 scale. Alkalinized lidocaine did not reduce the onset time in normal tissues when terminal infiltration techniques were used, but resulted in a more rapid onset for IAN blocks (−1.26 min) and in inflamed tissues (−1.37 min); however, this change may not be clinically relevant, considering the time required to prepare the buffered agent. Studies performed using other anaesthetic salts did not show robust and clinically significant results in favour of alkalinization.
Microwave irradiation enhances the in vitro antifungal activity of citrus by‐product aqueous extracts against Alternaria alternata
Authors: Papoutsis Konstantinos , Vuong Quan V. , Tesoriero Len , Pristijono Penta , Stathopoulos Costas E. , Gkountina Stela , Lidbetter Fiona , Bowyer Michael C. , Scarlett Christopher J. , Golding John B.
Published: January 2018

The effect of two lemon by‐product aqueous extracts at different concentrations (14, 7, 3.5 and 1 mg mL−1) was tested against the in vitro growth of Alternaria alternata. Prior to extraction, one batch of by‐product was dehydrated by freeze‐drying (untreated by‐product), while the other batch was treated by microwave irradiation in conjunction with freeze‐drying (microwave‐treated by‐product). High‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed for the identification of individual phenolic compounds with potent antifungal activities. Both lemon by‐product aqueous extracts inhibited the mycelial growth and suppressed the spore germination of the fungus in a concentration‐dependent manner. In general, the extracts obtained from the microwave‐treated lemon by‐product displayed enhanced antifungal activity than those obtained from the untreated one. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that both lemon by‐product extracts affected the hyphal morphology of the fungus. The antifungal activity of the extracts was attributed to their phenolic acid and ascorbic acid contents.
Wheat preharvest herbicide application, whole‐grain flour properties, yeast activity and the degradation of glyphosate in bread
Authors: Gélinas Pierre , Gagnon Fleur , McKinnon Carole
Published: January 2018

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of wheat preharvest application of a glyphosate‐based herbicide (Roundup WeatherMax® with Transorb® 2 Technology) on whole‐grain flour composition and properties, including yeast activity. The effect of dough fermentation on the degradation of herbicide residues was also estimated. Grain samples from two hard red spring wheat varieties exceeded the maximum residue limits (5 mg kg−1) in Canada. Glyphosate had minor effects on wheat kernels composition and properties, including fructans content and yeast gassing power. No degradation of Roundup® or pure glyphosate was seen after dough fermentation for up to 4 h and baking. These results call for more scientific studies on glyphosate residues in wheat.
A massive incorporation of microbial genes into the genome ofTetranychus urticae, a polyphagous arthropod herbivore
Authors: Wybouw N. , Van Leeuwen T. , Dermauw W.
Published: January 2018

A number of horizontal gene transfers (HGTs) have been identified in the spider miteTetranychus urticae, a chelicerate herbivore. However, the genome of this mite species has at present not been thoroughly mined for the presence of HGT genes. Here, we performed a systematic screen for HGT genes in theT. urticaegenome using theh‐index metric. Our results not only validated previously identified HGT genes but also uncovered 25 novel HGT genes. In addition to HGT genes with a predicted biochemical function in carbohydrate, lipid and folate metabolism, we also identified the horizontal transfer of a ketopantoate hydroxymethyltransferase and a pantoate β‐alanine ligase gene. In plants and bacteria, both genes are essential for vitamin B5 biosynthesis and their presence in the mite genome strongly suggests that spider mites, similar toBemisia tabaciand nematodes, can synthesize their own vitamin B5. We further show that HGT genes were physically embedded within the mite genome and were expressed in different life stages. By screening chelicerate genomes and transcriptomes, we were able to estimate the evolutionary histories of these HGTs during chelicerate evolution. Our study suggests that HGT has made a significant and underestimated impact on the metabolic repertoire of plant‐feeding spider mites.
Daily very low UV dose exposure enhances adaptive immunity, compared with a single high‐dose exposure. Consequences for the control of a skin infection
Authors: Cela Eliana M. , Gonzalez Cintia Daniela , Friedrich Adrian , Ledo Camila , Paz Mariela Laura , Leoni Juliana , Gómez Marisa Inés , González Maglio Daniel H.
Published: January 2018

Ultraviolet radiation (UVr) promotes several well‐known molecular changes, which may ultimately impact on health. Some of these effects are detrimental, like inflammation, carcinogenesis and immunosuppression. On the other hand, UVr also promotes vitamin D synthesis and other beneficial effects. We recently demonstrated that exposure to very low doses of UVr on four consecutive days [repetitive low UVd (rlUVd)] does not promote an inflammatory state, nor the recruitment of neutrophils or lymphocytes, as the exposure to a single high UV dose (shUVd) does. Moreover, rlUVd reinforce the epithelium by increasing antimicrobial peptides transcription and epidermal thickness. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adaptive immune response after shUVd and rlUVd, determining T‐cell and B‐cell responses. Finally, we challenged animals exposed to both irradiation procedures with Staphylococcus aureus to study the overall effects of both innate and adaptive immunity during a cutaneous infection. We observed, as expected, a marked suppression of T‐cell and B‐cell responses after exposure to an shUVd but a novel and significant increase in both specific responses after exposure to rlUVd. However, the control of the cutaneous S. aureus infection was defective in this last group, suggesting that responses against pathogens cannot be ruled out from isolated stimuli.
Carbon nanotube/graphene oxide‐added CaO‐B2O3‐SiO2 glass/Al2O3 composite as substrate for chip‐type supercapacitor
Authors: Lee Tae‐Ho , Cho Sung‐Hoon , Lee Tae‐Gon , Kim Hyo Tae , You In‐Kyu , Nahm Sahn
Published: January 2018

A CaO‐B2O3‐SiO2 (CBS) glass/40 wt% Al2O3 composite sintered at 900°C exhibited a dense microstructure with a low porosity of 0.21%. This composite contained Al2O3 and anorthite phases, but pure glass sintered at 900°C has small quantities of wollastonite and diopside phases. This composite was measured to have a high bending strength of 323 MPa and thermal conductivity of 3.75 W/(mK). The thermal conductivity increased when the composite was annealed at 850°C after sintering at 900°C, because of the increase in the amount of the anorthite phase. 0.25 wt% graphene oxide and 0.75 wt% multi‐wall carbon nanotubes were added to the CBS/40 wt% Al2O3 composite to further enhance the thermal conductivity and bending strength. The specimen sintered at 900°C and subsequently annealed at 850°C exhibited a large bending strength of 420 MPa and thermal conductivity of 5.51 W/(mK), indicating that it would be a highly effective substrate for a chip‐type supercapacitor.
Assessment of left ventricular dyssynchrony by three‐dimensional echocardiography: Prognostic value in patients undergoing cardiac resynchronization therapy
Authors: Höke Ulas , Bax Jeroen J. , Delgado Victoria , Ajmone Marsan Nina
Published: January 2018

Background

Systolic dyssynchrony index (SDI) using three‐dimensional echocardiography (3DE) was shown to be a reliable measure of left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony. However, the prognostic value of SDI on long‐term outcomes after cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) remains unknown.

Methods and results

A total of 414 patients (mean age 67 ± 10 years, 60% ischemic etiology) with 3DE evaluation before CRT implantation were included. SDI was evaluated as continuous value and in quartiles. The study endpoint was combined all‐cause mortality, heart transplantation, and LV assist device implantation.

At baseline, median SDI was 8.0% (IQR 5.6–11.3%). During a median follow‐up of 45 months (IQR 25–59 months), the endpoint was observed in 94 (23%) patients. SDI was independently associated with the endpoint together with ischemic etiology, diabetes, and renal function (HR 0.914, P = 0.003) after adjustment for age, atrial fibrillation, hemoglobin level, NYHA functional class, and posterolateral LV lead position. Patients from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd SDI quartiles showed similar survival and superior as compared to the 4th quartile with the lowest SDI values (≤5.5%; χ²: 30.4, log‐rank P < 0.001). From receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal SDI cut‐off value associated with the endpoint was >6.8% (area under the curve 0.634). Finally, a subgroup analysis (293 patients) demonstrated that a more pronounced reduction in SDI immediately after CRT (resynchronization) was independently associated with superior survival (HR 0.461, P = 0.011) after adjustment for prognostic relevant parameters.

Conclusion

SDI is independently associated with long‐term prognosis after CRT and might therefore be important to optimize risk‐stratification in these patients.