bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Biomimetic and Non-biomimetic Extraction of Motor Control Signals Through Matched Filtering of Neural Population Dynamics
Authors: Badreldin Islam S. , Oweiss Karim G.
Published: August 2015

Brain-machine interfaces rely on extracting motor control signals from brain activity in real time to actuate external devices such as robotic limbs. Whereas biomimetic approaches to neural decoding use motor imagery/observation signals, non-biomimetic approaches assign an arbirary transformation that maps neural activity to motor control signals. In this work, we present a unified framework for the design of both biomimetic and non-biomimetic decoders based on kernel-based system identification. This framework seamlessly incorporates the neural population dynamics in the decoder design, is particularly robust even with short training data records, and results in decoders with small filter delays. The theory and results presented here provide a new formulation of optimal linear decoding, a formal method for designing non-biomimetic decoders, and a set of proposed metrics for assessing decoding performance from an online control perspective. The theoretical framework is also applicable to the design of closed-loop neural control schemes.
Multilocus sex determination revealed in two populations of gynodioecious wild strawberry,Fragaria vescasubsp.bracteata
Authors: Ashman T-L. , Tennessen J.A. , Dalton R. , Govindarajulu R. , Koski M. , Liston A.
Published: August 2015

Gynodioecy, the coexistence of females and hermaphrodites, occurs in 20% of angiosperm families and often enables transitions between hermaphroditism and dioecy. Clarifying mechanisms of sex determination in gynodioecious species can thus illuminate sexual system evolution. Genetic determination of gynodioecy, however, can be complex and is not fully characterized in any wild species. We used targeted sequence capture to genetically map a novel nuclear contributor to male sterility in a self-pollinated hermaphrodite ofFragaria vescasubsp.bracteatafrom the southern portion of its range. To understand its interaction with another identified locus and possibly additional loci, we performed crosses within and between two populations separated by 2000 km, phenotyped the progeny and sequenced candidate markers at both sex-determining loci. The newly mapped locus contains a high density of pentatricopeptide repeat genes, a class commonly involved in restoration of fertility caused by cytoplasmic male sterility. Examination of all crosses revealed three unlinked epistatically interacting loci that determine sexual phenotype and vary in frequency between populations.Fragaria vescasubsp.bracteatarepresents the first wild gynodioecious species with genomic evidence of both cytoplasmic and nuclear genes in sex determination. We propose a model for the interactions between these loci and new hypotheses for the evolution of sex determining chromosomes in the subdioecious and dioeciousFragaria.
Loss-of-Function Screening in Hematopoietic Malignancies
Authors: Hemann Michael
Published: August 2015

Loss-of-function screens can be performed in vivo using retrovirally modified tumor cells. This approach has been used for decades in viral insertional mutagenesis to identify proto-oncogenes. In this approach, tumors are infected with a library of retroviral vectors expressing short-hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), such that each cell receives only a single retroviral insertion, and the representation of proviruses is monitored during ongoing tumor growth or before and after cancer therapy. The resulting tumors are highly chimeric, allowing a large diversity of loss-of-function phenotypes to be monitored simultaneously in an unbiased manner. This approach, used in conjunction with RNAi, can identify genes that are essential for the growth of diverse malignancies in vivo. Here, we outline this approach and discuss key challenges in performing these studies.
Ca2+ Uncaging in Nerve Terminals: A Three-Point Calibration Procedure
Authors: Kochubey Olexiy , Schneggenburger Ralf
Published: August 2015

Ca2+ uncaging can be used to create a spatially homogenous elevation of the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration, [Ca2+]i, in cells. When applied to nerve terminals or secretory cells, this technique allows one to elicit transmitter release with a [Ca2+]i signal of measurable amplitude, and therefore to directly relate the rate of transmitter release to the measured [Ca2+]i. When combined with patch-clamp measurements, Ca2+ uncaging is done by introducing a Ca2+-loaded photolyzable Ca2+ chelator (like DM-nitrophen) into the cell via the whole-cell patch-pipette. A brief light pulse from a flash lamp or a pulsed laser is used to photolyze the DM-nitrophen. The resulting increase in [Ca2+]i is measured with ratiometric fluorescent indicators of suitable Ca2+ affinity, such as Fura-2, Fura-4F, Fura-2FF, or Fura-6F, depending on the postflash [Ca2+]i values. To quantitatively measure [Ca2+]i, an accurate calibration of the fluorescent indicator in the presence of the photolyzable Ca2+ chelator is necessary, which will be described here. Ca2+ uncaging in nerve terminals has proven useful for investigating Ca2+-dependent functions like transmitter release, short-term plasticity, and exocytosis–endocytosis coupling in the presynaptic compartment of neurons.
Evaluating the service provision for ethnic minorities in Islington in the treatment of substance misuse
Authors: Fernandez Jeff
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to illustrate how local drug services use their senior staff to respond to emerging ethnic groups presenting to treatment using flexible thinking and innovative processes.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology was a case study design that used a semi-structured questionnaire that looked at two drug services and their staff’s influence on service delivery in different boroughs of east London.

Findings

– The research found very innovative findings from the two boroughs. The boroughs had different racial mixes and therefore differing populations presenting to their local drug services. However, they used flexible approaches to structure their services to engage with emerging ethnic minority populations in drug treatment. From the findings, these different approaches and structures of providing drug treatment were very important. Approaches, for example, of clinical staff offering a “rapid assessment” are particularly important in engaging and retaining ethnic minority populations. Also, using flexible thinking within the staff team enables drug services to adapt treatments to be flexible in responding to emerging ethnic populations.

Practical implications

– This paper shows that thinking in designing approaches to drug treatment shows that ethnic minority populations can be successfully engaged in drug treatment. This has implications for drug treatment nationally and across Europe where there are “emerging” ethnic populations presenting for drug treatment.

Originality/value

– This paper shows that drug services can adapt and change to their different ethnic minority populations if they can able to be flexible in their clinical approach to service provision.
Central city vibrancy and new business venturing
Authors: Gross Stephen , Campbell Noel
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– Researchers have identified the “vibrancy” of living in a spatially defined area as having a positive impact on entrepreneurial activity, measured as new business start-ups. Vibrant areas attract and facilitate would-be entrepreneurs, and attract other entrepreneurs and the skilled people and other resources who can take advantage of the opportunities other entrepreneurs create. A vibrant locale, then, can trigger a virtuous cycle of entrepreneurially led economic and social development. The purpose of this paper is to test this hypothesis.

Design/methodology/approach

– The unit of observation is the county of the US Census-designated central city of metropolitan statistical areas. The authors use principal components analysis to recover scores from a variety of measures of urban vibrancy. The authors embed these scores in an OLS model of new business venturing.

Findings

– Within a standard model of new business launches that is designed to be comparable across time and space, the inclusion of principal components scores based on urban vibrancy measures adds little explanatory power.

Social implications

– Policies designed to make an urban area “more vibrant” as a means to the end of attracting new establishment launches may be less successful than policymakers hope.

Originality/value

– To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to apply principal components analysis to measures of urban vibrancy within a general model of new business venturing.
Measuring and testing general fundamental attribution error in entrepreneurship effecting public policy
Authors: Fiore Robert A. , Lussier Robert N.
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to empirically test for fundamental attribution error (FAE) – the naturally occurring bias of humans to over-attribute business success to celebrity-entrepreneur disposition.

Design/methodology/approach

– Employing a five-step process, this paper measures and tests for FAE bias in entrepreneurial situations. The methodology includes anecdotal historical evidence; developing a FAE survey instrument; having 101 respondents classify variables; statistically testing and validating the instrument; and then statistically identifying the importance of each factor with a sample 105.

Findings

– Significant statistical evidence for an active FAE bias was found. People do tend to attribute business success to entrepreneurial dispositions, rather than team behavior and circumstantial outcome factors which can reduce the effectiveness of public policy.

Research limitations/implications

– There is minimal research on FAE in entrepreneurship effecting public policy, thus there is a need for research to better understand factors of business outcomes actually based on entrepreneurial dispositions vs team behavior and circumstantial-situational factors.

Practical implications

– FAE bias may lead the general public, entrepreneurs, and public policy makers to overemphasize the impact of the entrepreneur’s behavior and especially the dispositional factors of the celebrity-based entrepreneur when assessing causation of firm performance. This would under-emphasize the value of other organizational factors. Misidentification of true cause-effect factors may lead to inappropriate managerial conclusions and introduction of error in public policy decisions.

Originality/value

– Although FAE is primarily a psychological literature concept, this is the first study to contribute empirical evidence of the FAE of professionals employed in business as it applies to entrepreneurship and economic outcomes.
Economic freedom, homeownership, and state labor market conditions
Authors: Heller Lauren R. , Stephenson E. Frank
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to reconcile research finding that labor market outcomes are related to economic freedom for entrepreneurs and separate research finding that higher homeownership rates are associated with more unemployment.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using panel data covering the 50 states over 1981-2009, this paper analyzes the relationship between labor market conditions, economic freedom, and homeownership rates.

Findings

– The results indicate that economic freedom is associated with favorable labor market conditions but that the relationship between homeownership and poor labor market outcomes is small and insignificant in most specifications once economic freedom is accounted for.

Originality/value

– This paper is the first paper to examine the relationship between labor market outcomes and both homeownership and economic freedom. The results suggest that the economic environment for entrepreneurs is more important than any rigidities created by homeownership.
Corruption, debt financing and corporate ownership
Authors: Lemma Tesfaye T.
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of perceived corruption on debt financing and ownership structure decisions of firms within the context of ten African countries.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper analyses 15-year (1996-2010) data pertaining to 556 non-financial firms drawn from ten African countries using models that link firm financing, ownership structure, and perceived corruption. It uses robust procedures including system-generalized method of moments, general least square, and Logistic (LOGIT) regression.

Findings

– The study finds evidence that perceived corruption is important in shaping debt financing and ownership structure decisions of firms in Africa. Particularly, it finds that: first, higher levels of perceived corruption lead to firms using higher levels of short-term leverage, lower levels of long-term leverage and debts with shorter maturities and second, firms in countries with higher levels of perceived corruption respond to weaknesses in the law enforcement institutions through higher ownership concentration and controlling block shareholding.

Research limitations/implications

– As in most empirical studies, this study focused on listed firms. Nonetheless, future studies that focus on non-listed firms could add additional insights to the extant literature.

Practical implications

– The study provides empirical support for the argument that perceived corruption in a country distorts corporate governance. The policy implication of the findings is that governments, by taking steps that curb corruption, could enhance corporate governance by inducing firms into optimal debt financing and ownership structure decisions.

Originality/value

– The study focuses on firms in African countries for which studies such as this are non-existent.
Nonlinear ARDL approach, asymmetric effects and the J-curve
Authors: Bahmani-Oskooee Mohsen , Fariditavana Hadise
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– Previous research that investigated the effects of currency depreciation on the trade balance assumed that the adjustment of all variables in a given model is in linear fashion. The authors wonder if introduction of nonlinearity in the adjustment of some variables such as the exchange rate can shed additional light on evidence of the J-curve. The new approach also allows to test whether exchange rate changes have symmetric or asymmetric effects on the trade balance. Estimates of a trade balance model for Canada, China, Japan, and the USA reveal that the effects are indeed asymmetric. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

– The methodology is based on linear and nonlinear ARDL approach.

Findings

– When nonlinearity is introduced into testing approach for the J-curve, more evidence is found in support of the J-curve.

Research limitations/implications

– The models are estimated using aggregate trade flows of each country with the rest of the world, hence they suffer from aggregation bias. Using trade flows at bilateral level and at commodity level are highly recommended for future research.

Originality/value

– This is the first paper that applies nonlinear ARDL approach to test the short-run and long-run effects of currency depreciation on the trade balance.
Technical efficiency and its determinants factors in Spanish textiles industry (2002-2009)
Authors: De Jorge-Moreno Justo , Rojas Carrasco Oscar
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide new evidence about the technical efficiency and its determinants in Spanish textile sector during the period 2002-2009. The empirical results suggest that the effects of trade liberalization have led to higher levels of inefficiency in the Spanish sector, due to the lack of flexibility of firms to adjust to the environment, and perhaps to aggressive competition with fuzzy rules of the game. Controlling for specific factor like age, intensity of capital, salary by worker, regions and market share, the authors have obtained that the interaction between market share and size indicates that as firms have more size are also more inefficient.

Design/methodology/approach

– In this paper, the stochastic frontier production function is considered, specifically, a panel data version of Battese and Coelli (1995), in which the technical inefficiency is estimated from the stochastic frontier and simultaneously explained by a set of variables. This approach avoids the inconsistency problems of the two-stage approach used in other empirical works when analyzing the inefficiency determinants.

Findings

– This work provides new evidence about the technical efficiency and its determinants can be due to environmental or firm-specific factors in Spanish textile sector during the period 2002-2009. The authors have estimated the Cobb-Douglass stochastic production frontier following Battese and Coelli (1995) model to analyze an unbalanced panel.

Originality/value

– The empirical results suggest that the trend of the inefficiency shows a curvilinear behavior in the form of U (turning point third-quarter of 2004). This result is related to the efficiency analysis through Kernel distributions (in static and dynamic form) confirmed a clear process of divergence. In the period 2002-2005 the efficiency of the firms analyzed maintained higher levels than the 2005-2009 period where there is deterioration. This may be related to the increased competition due to the end of the Multi-Fiber Arrangement in January 2005 and the entry of Chinese products in 2004.
The shadow economy as a higher order construct inside European governance
Authors: Quintano Claudio , Mazzocchi Paolo
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– Several dimensions of public governance occur while approaching the Shadow Economy (SE) phenomenon. The purpose of this paper is to study the SE by means of the European governance analysis by highlighting the main features of implications of the policy options. A statistical significance on the nexus between public governance and the SE appears with respect to the indicators taken into consideration except for the dimensions related to the tax system, which appear to be moderate in magnitude in terms of their effects.

Design/methodology/approach

– In order to evaluate data from 32 European Union countries during 2011, a hierarchical component model (HCM) in the context of the structural equation model (SEM) partial least squares (PLS) is utilised. Two different procedures are considered: a two-stage approach (TSA) and the repeated indicators approach (RIA).

Findings

– The two procedures (RIA and TSA) proposed in the model have about the same impact on the SE. Evidence suggests that the manifest variables joined to the regulatory system, business regulation and wealth level significantly affect the SE. In contrast, different dimensions connected to the tax system need to be considered to avoid that there be no significant effects on the SE from taxes.

Research limitations/implications

– A critical evaluation of the policy implications of the results are included, by focusing on the effects on the SE.

Practical implications

– This paper suggests where more emphasis should be placed when referring to the statistical results in dealing with the SE.

Originality/value

– To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to explore the SE while using an HCM (also known as higher order model) performed in a SEM-PLS procedure. The model proposed discerns the relevance and the marginal impact of several dimensions of policy interventions.
Analyzing CSR issues for supply chain performance system using preference rating approach
Authors: Tyagi Mohit , Kumar Pradeep , Kumar Dinesh
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to identify the significant corporate social responsibility (CSR) issues and to analyze the interaction among them in order to improve supply chain performance (SCP) system of an organization.

Design/methodology/approach

– To achieve the objective, a preference rating approach (synthesized in company preference rating (CPR) and company satisfaction assessment (CSA) approaches) has been used in two stages as: stage 1, relative importance rating (RIR) of identified issues has been computed using CPR approach. For this, preference graphs have been developed based on the field expert’s opinions using graph-theory-based representation technique. In stage 2: competitive priority ratings of CSR issues with respect to competitive strategies have been calculated using CSA approach.

Findings

– Based on RIRs (stage 1), it has been noticed that issue namely “social benefits for employees” is more desirable among all considered issues. In stage 2, based on competitive priority ratings, the issue “social benefits for employees” is more important for an organization to build a better brand reputation through CSR activities and issue “degree of CSR implementation” is more significant in order to improve the SCP of an organization. The issue “environmental protection” helps the organization to reduce their overall environmental impact and also provides an aid in achieving long-term sustainable goals of an organization.

Research limitations/implications

– The findings of present research gives an idea about the importance of CSR issues, based on this, managers can decide, which issue is more significant and can help in taking decisions and framing strategies in context of CSR for improving the SCP of their organization effectively and efficiently.

Originality/value

– As per the best knowledge, recognized CSR issues have been considered first time to quantify the CSR-based SCP of Indian automobile industries located near around Delhi region, India. This paper may provide an aid to the managers in making the CSR-based policies to enhance their SCP.
Africa Ariño: having an international perspective is essential in a multi-polar world
Authors: Ibarreche Santiago
Published: August 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the gist of a conversation with Africa Ariño, conducted by Santiago Ibarreche, about her career as an Expert Researcher in the areas of Strategic Alliances, Strategic Management, International Ventures and her experiences as an International scholar who is now in an interesting project about “Internationalizing in Africa and from Africa”.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper is an interview.

Findings

– The interview explores Ariño’s career her achievements and continued search for excellence in terms of teaching, research and service in academia, especially in her contributions in the areas of strategic alliances and the importance of Africa as the future of businesses.

Originality/value

– The interview in this special section, A Life in Research, brings out an individual scholar’s experience and history, not only as recognition of scholarly impact but also as recognition of the person.
Ecosystem response to interventions: lessons from restored and created wetland ecosystems
Authors: Moreno‐Mateos David , Meli Paula , Vara‐Rodríguez María Isabel , Aronson James
Published: August 2015

Current efforts to restore and create ecosystems require greater understanding of ecosystems’ responses to commonly used physical and biological intervention approaches to overcome ecological and technological limitations.

We estimated effect sizes from measurements of biotic assemblage structure and biogeochemical functions at 628 restored and created wetlands globally, in comparison with 499 reference wetlands. We studied the recovery trajectories of wetlands where different restoration or creation approaches were used under different environmental settings.

Although the variance explained by a linear mixed‐effects models was low (6–7%), the study of recovery trajectories showed that the restoration or creation approach had no significant effects in most environmental settings.

In particular, wetlands where surface modification and flow re‐establishment were used followed similar recovery trajectories regardless of whether they were revegetated or not. We even found potential detrimental effects of biological manipulations on the recovery of the plant assemblage, particularly in cold climates and in wetlands restored or created in agricultural areas.

Since physical interventions are required to recover or create the hydrological conditions of degraded or new wetlands, and given the high cost (22–73%) of biological interventions (i.e. revegetation), the need for biological interventions is, in most cases, unclear.

Our results highlight the urgent need to increase our understanding of the long‐term effects of restoration and creation actions in our aim to engage in large‐scale ecosystem management strategies for wetlands.

Synthesis and applications. These results suggest that, currently, the recovery and development processes of restored and created wetlands can be driven by spontaneous processes rather than by the response of wetlands to human interventions other than those targeted to restore hydrological conditions that existed prior to disturbance. However, given the synthetic nature of the data set, the mixed nature of available data and the limited number of measures we found to estimate recovery, caution must be exercised when adapting the results presented here to the planning and execution of specific ecosystem restoration projects.
Evaluation of the effects of a telephone‐delivered health behaviour change program on weight and physical activity
Authors: Hammersley Megan L. , Cann Veronica R. , Parrish Anne‐Maree , Jones Rachel A. , Holloway David J.
Published: August 2015

Aim

Telephone health behaviour change interventions have shown potential as a medium for change. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a telephone behaviour change program on weight and physical activity. It was hypothesised that participants would achieve significant improvements in body mass index (BMI) and physical activity at the completion of the program and at follow up.

Methods

A six‐month health telephone behaviour change program was delivered by health professionals trained in health coaching methodology. Participants (n = 250) had two or more chronic disease risks, received five calls during the program and a follow up call 12–18 months after completion of the program.

Results

The average participant age was 70, 72% were female and mean BMI was 28.90 kg/m2. Significant improvements in BMI were reported from baseline to post‐intervention (−1.70% change) and from baseline to follow up (−1.21% change). Changes in weight were significant from baseline to post‐intervention (−1.67% change) and not significant from baseline to follow up (−1.25% change). Significant changes in the average number of minutes spent in moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) per week were reported between baseline and post‐intervention and post‐intervention and follow up. From baseline to follow up, the average time spent in MVPA per week increased by 157 minutes. At follow up, 86% of participants maintained or further improved their health behaviour.

Conclusions

The present study demonstrated the potential effectiveness of a low‐dose telephone health behaviour change program in assisting participants to change and maintain their health behaviour.
Major complications of high‐energy microwave ablation for percutaneous CT‐guided treatment of lung malignancies: Single‐centre experience after 4 years
Authors: Splatt Alexander M , Steinke Karin
Published: August 2015

Purpose

To evaluate the rate of major complications related to percutaneous computed tomography (CT)‐guided microwave ablation (MWA) of primary and secondary lung malignancies performed at our institution over a 4‐year period.

Methods

From May 2010 to September 2014, 70 MWAs were performed on 51 patients. All major intra‐ and post‐procedural complications (as defined by the classification proposed by the Society of Interventional Radiology) were retrospectively analysed. The results were correlated with a systematic review of the available literature on MWA in the lung.

Results

Major complications were encountered in 14 out of 70 ablations (20%). Twenty‐one separate major complications were encountered (some ablations lead to more than one major complication). One death occurred within 30 days of ablation, though the relationship to the procedure remains uncertain. Other major complications included: nine pneumothoraces requiring drain insertion (12.9%), four cases of large effusion requiring drainage (5.7%), two cases of significant pulmonary haemorrhage altering clinical management (2.9%), two infections (2.9%), one case of mechanical failure (1.4%), one chest wall burn (1.4%) and one case of pleural seeding (1.4%). Major complications were much more likely to occur if the nodule was located within 7 mm from the pleura.

Conclusion

MWA of pulmonary tumours carries moderate risk; nevertheless, the usually manageable complications should not deter from undertaking a potentially curative therapy for poor surgical candidates.
Scientific basis of personalised tomographic radiation planning for radioembolisation: A form of brachytherapy planning
Authors: Kao Yung Hsiang , Goodwin Mark , Lee Sze Ting , Lichtenstein Meir , Scott Andrew Mark
Published: August 2015

Today's tomographic imaging techniques such as catheter‐directed CT and single photon emission computed tomography with integrated computed tomography may be used for pre‐therapy radiation planning for radioembolisation based on prospective calculation of tissue radiation absorbed doses. We outline the scientific concepts that underlie modern personalised tomographic radiation planning for radioembolisation and highlight its similarities to brachytherapy planning.
China national lung cancer screening guideline with low‐dose computed tomography (2015 version)
Authors: Zhou Qing‐hua , Fan Ya‐guang , Bu Hong , Wang Ying , Wu Ning , Huang Yun‐chao , Wang Guiqi , Wang Xin‐yun , Qiao You‐lin
Published: August 2015

Background

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer‐related death in China. Results from a randomized controlled trial using annual low‐dose computed tomography (LDCT) in specific high‐risk groups demonstrated a 20% reduction in lung cancer mortality.

Methods

A China national lung cancer screening guideline was developed by lung cancer early detection and treatment expert group appointed by the National Health and Family Planning Commission, based on results of the National Lung Screening Trial, systematic review of evidence related to LDCT screening, and protocol of lung cancer screening program conducted in rural China.

Results

Annual lung cancer screening with LDCT is recommended for high risk individuals aged 50–74 years who have at least a 20 pack‐year smoking history and who currently smoke or have quit within the past five years. Individualized decision making should be conducted before LDCT screening. LDCT screening also represents an opportunity to educate patients as to the health risks of smoking; thus, education should be integrated into the screening process in order to assist smoking cessation.

Conclusions

A lung cancer screening guideline is provided for the high‐risk population in China.
Alcohol and Drug Use Among Postoperative Bariatric Patients: A Systematic Review of the Emerging Research and Its Implications
Authors: Spadola Christine E. , Wagner Eric F. , Dillon Frank R. , Trepka Mary Jo , De La Cruz‐Munoz Nestor , Messiah Sarah E.
Published: August 2015

Background

Emerging research suggests that some bariatric surgery patients are at a heightened risk for developing substance use problems, especially alcohol use problems.

Methods

An exhaustive literature review was conducted in January 2015 to investigate all articles published that included data on postoperative alcohol use, alcohol use disorders, and illicit drug use among bariatric surgery patients.

Results

Twenty‐three studies reported on alcohol and/or substance use among bariatric patients. Six studies longitudinally assessed alcohol use behaviors; 3 of these studies found an increase in alcohol use following surgery. Six studies were cross‐sectional, and 2 studies assessed medical records. Five studies investigated the prevalence of admissions to substance abuse treatment, and 3 studies combined alcohol and drug use data in a single index. Six studies reported on illicit drug use and reported low‐postoperative use. The studies' samples were primarily non‐Hispanic white females in their upper 40s, and only 11 of the 23 studies utilized validated assessment instruments.

Conclusions

Studies employing longitudinal designs and large sample sizes indicate that bariatric patients who had the gastric bypass procedure are at an elevated risk for alcohol use problems postoperatively. Research also indicates that bariatric surgery patients might be overrepresented in substance abuse treatment facilities. Risk factors for problematic postoperative alcohol use include regular or problematic alcohol use presurgery, male gender, younger age, tobacco use, and symptoms of attention deficient and hyperactivity disorder. As a whole, however, studies indicate bariatric surgery patients demonstrate a low prevalence of problematic alcohol use, and studies about gastric bypass patients are not entirely conclusive. Prospective, longitudinal studies are needed, utilizing standardized and validated alcohol assessment instruments that follow postoperative bariatric patients well beyond 2 years, and account for types of bariatric procedure. Finally, study samples with greater racial/ethnic diversity and wider age ranges are needed.
Innovative community‐based educational face‐to‐face intervention to reduce HIV, hepatitis C virus and other blood‐borne infectious risks in difficult‐to‐reach people who inject drugs: results from the ANRS–AERLI intervention study
Authors: Roux Perrine , Le Gall Jean‐Marie , Debrus Marie , Protopopescu Camélia , Ndiaye Khadim , Demoulin Baptiste , Lions Caroline , Haas Aurelie , Mora Marion , Spire Bruno , Suzan‐Monti Marie , Carrieri Maria Patrizia
Published: August 2015

Aims

To study the effectiveness of an educational intervention on risks associated with drug injection, comparing primary [unsafe HIV–hepatitis C virus (HCV) practices] and secondary (local complications at injecting site) end‐points in harm reduction (HR) programmes offering this intervention versus HR programmes not offering it.

Design

This non‐random clustered intervention study was conducted in nine intervention groups (programmes offering the intervention) and eight control groups (programmes not offering it). Each participant was followed‐up through a telephone interview at enrolment and at 6 and 12 months.

Setting

The study took place in 17 cities throughout France.

Participants

Of the 271 participants, 144 were enrolled into the intervention group and 127 in the control group. Of the latter, 113 received at least one educational session.

Intervention

A series of participant‐centred face‐to‐face educational sessions. Each session included direct observation by trained non‐governmental organization (NGO) staff or volunteers of participants’ self‐injecting the psychoactive product they used habitually; analysis by the trained NGO staff or volunteers of the participant's injecting practices, identification of injection‐related risks and explanation of safer injecting practices; and an educational exchange on the individual participant's injection practices and the questions he or she asked.

Measurements

Primary and secondary outcomes were ‘at least one unsafe HIV–HCV practice’ and at least one injection‐related complication (derived from a checklist).

Findings

The proportion of participants with at least one unsafe HIV–HCV practice in the intervention group decreased significantly, from 44% at M0 to 25% at M6, as well as complications at the injection site (from 66 to 39% at M12), while in the control group it remained mainly stable. Multivariate probit analyses showed that the intervention group experienced a significant reduction in unsafe HIV–HCV practices at M6 [coefficient, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −0.73 (−1.47 to 0.01)] and in injection‐related complications at M12 [coefficient, 95% CI = −1.01 (−1.77 to −0.24)], compared with the control group.

Conclusions

An inexpensive and easily implemented educational intervention on risks associated with drug injection reduces significantly unsafe HIV–HCV transmission practices and injection‐related complications.
Hemocompatibility of Axial Versus Centrifugal Pump Technology in Mechanical Circulatory Support Devices
Authors: Schibilsky David , Lenglinger Matthias , Avci‐Adali Meltem , Haller Christoph , Walker Tobias , Wendel Hans Peter , Schlensak Christian
Published: August 2015

The hemocompatible properties of rotary blood pumps commonly used in mechanical circulatory support (MCS) are widely unknown regarding specific biocompatibility profiles of different pump technologies. Therefore, we analyzed the hemocompatibility indicating markers of an axial flow and a magnetically levitated centrifugal device within an in vitro mock loop. The HeartMate II (HM II; n = 3) device and a CentriMag (CM; n = 3) adult pump were investigated in a human whole blood mock loop for 360 min using the MCS devices as a driving component. Blood samples were analyzed by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay for markers of coagulation, complement system, and inflammatory response. There was a time‐dependent activation of the coagulation (thrombin–antithrombin complexes [TAT]), complement (SC5b‐9), and inflammation system (polymorphonuclear [PMN] elastase) in both groups. The mean value of TAT (CM: 4.0 μg/L vs. 29.4 μg/L, P < 0.001; HM II: 4.5 μg/L vs. 232.2 μg/L, P < 0.05) and PMN elastase (CM: 53.4 ng/mL vs. 253.8 ng/mL, P < 0.05; HM II: 28.0 ng/mL vs. 738.8 ng/mL, P < 0.001) significantly increased from baseline until the end of the experiments (360 min). After 360 min, TAT and PMN values were significantly higher in the HM II group compared with the values in the CM adult group. The values of SC5b‐9 increased from baseline to 360 min in the CM group (CM: 141.8 ng/mL vs. 967.9 ng/mL, P < 0.05) and the HM II group. However, the increase within the HM II group (97.3 vs. 2462.0, P = 0.06) and the comparison of the 360‐min values between CM group and HM II group did not reach significance (P = 0.18). The activation of complement, coagulation, and inflammation system showed a time‐dependent manner in both devices. The centrifugal CM device showed significantly lower activation of coagulation and inflammation than that of the HM II axial flow pump. Both HM II and CM have demonstrated an acceptable hemocompatibility profile in patients. However, there is a great opportunity to gain a clinical benefit by developing techniques to lower the blood surface interaction within both pump technologies and a magnetically levitated centrifugal pump design might be superior.
Pump Speed Waveform Analysis to Detect Aortic Valve Opening in Patients on Ventricular Assist Device Support
Authors: Hayward Christopher , Lim Choon Pin , Schima Heinrich , Macdonald Peter , Moscato Francesco , Muthiah Kavitha , Granegger Marcus
Published: August 2015

As the aortic valve (AV) opens, the pump pressure head remains constant, which is reflected as a “notch/plateau” in pump pressure and flow signals. However, instantaneous flow estimation may be influenced by friction and is particularly difficult in axial pumps. Therefore, a new method to determine the duration of AV opening based on the area under the curve (AUC) of the power spectral density analysis of pump speed signal was developed. Data from patients implanted with HeartWare HVAD left ventricular assist device were studied at different pump speeds, with simultaneous transthoracic echocardiography in two cohorts. In the first group, pump data of 15 patients were used to investigate the ability to discriminate between an open and closed AV. In the second cohort of a further 13 patients, the duration of AV opening was measured from digitized M‐mode images, and the relationship between the AV opening time and the new method assessed. In 14 of the initial 15 patients, AV status could be discriminated using only one threshold for all patients. In the second cohort, gradual speed reduction resulted in aortic valve opening in 12 of the 13 patients. The correlation between AV opening duration and AUC was 0.96 ± 0.03. Regression analysis indicated a linear relationship in each of the patients with a small error between the fit and the measured opening time (root mean square error = 11.0 ± 7.6 ms). However, the slopes (69.0 ± 52.8) and intercepts (−31.4 ± 78.0) varied widely between patients. The sensitivity and specificity for the new method using AUC threshold of 0.95 for aortic valve closure was 95% and 91%, respectively. The newly developed method to detect AV opening not only provides information on the AV status during LVAD support (open/closed) but also gives insight into the duration of AV opening. Because the slope of the relationship varies from patient to patient, initial training and adaptation of the method to each patient seems to be required.
Colloidal bismuth subcitrate impedes proton entry into Helicobacter pylori and increases the efficacy of growth‐dependent antibiotics
Authors: Marcus E. A. , Sachs G. , Scott D. R.
Published: August 2015

Background

Successful eradication of Helicobacter pylori is becoming more difficult, mainly due to emerging antibiotic resistance. Treatment regimens containing bismuth have increased efficacy, but the mechanism is unknown. Helicobacter pylori is a neutralophile adapted to survive the acidic gastric environment via acid acclimation, but demonstrates more robust growth at neutral pH. Many antibiotics used to treat H. pylori rely on bacterial growth.

Aim

To investigate the mechanism of increased efficacy of bismuth‐containing H. pylori treatment regimens.

Methods

RNAseq and qPCR, urease activity in permeabilised and intact bacteria, internal pH and membrane potential were measured with and without colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS). Bacterial survival was assessed with CBS and/or ampicillin.

Results

Genes involved with metabolism and growth were upregulated in the presence of CBS at acidic pH. Urease activity of permeabilised H. pylori at pH 7.4 and 4.5 decreased in the presence of CBS, but intact urease activity decreased only at acidic pH. The fall in cytoplasmic pH with external acidification was diminished by CBS. The increase in membrane potential in response to urea addition at acidic medium pH was unaffected by CBS. The impact of CBS and ampicillin on H. pylori survival was greater than either agent alone.

Conclusions

Bismuth is not acting directly on urease or the urea channel. Colloidal bismuth subcitrate impedes proton entry into the bacteria, leading to a decrease in the expected fall in cytoplasmic pH. With cytoplasmic pH remaining within range for increased metabolic activity of a neutralophile, the efficacy of growth‐dependent antibiotics is augmented.
A combined analysis of worldwide studies demonstrates an association between bipolar disorder and tobacco smoking behaviors in adults
Authors: Jackson James G , Diaz Francisco J , Lopez Lucelly , de Leon Jose
Published: August 2015

Objectives

Worldwide studies were combined to examine two hypotheses: (i) bipolar disorder is associated with smoking behaviors, compared with the general population; and (ii) smoking behavior prevalences in bipolar disorder are intermediate between those in major depressive disorder and those in schizophrenia.

Methods

Combined analyses used 56 articles on adults obtained from a PubMed search or the senior author's article collection. Odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) compared current smoking, heavy smoking among current smokers, smoking cessation in ever smokers, and ever smoking in bipolar disorder versus control groups.

Results

The combined OR was 3.5 (CI: 3.39–3.54) in 51 current smoking studies of bipolar disorder versus the general population from 16 countries. More limited data provided an OR = 0.34 (CI: 0.31–0.37) for smoking cessation and an OR = 3.6 (CI: 3.30–3.80) for ever smoking. The combined OR was 0.76 (CI: 0.74–0.79) for current smoking in bipolar disorder versus schizophrenia in 20 studies from ten countries. Ever smoking may be lower in bipolar disorder than in schizophrenia (OR = 0.83, CI: 0.75–0.91). The OR was 2.05 (CI: 2.00–2.10) for current smoking in bipolar disorder versus major depression in 18 studies from seven countries. Ever smoking may be higher (OR = 1.5, CI: 1.40–1.70) and smoking cessation lower (OR = 0.51, CI: 0.45–0.59) in bipolar disorder than in major depression.

Conclusions

Increased current smoking in bipolar disorder versus the general population reflected increased ever smoking (initiation) and decreased smoking cessation. Smoking behavior frequencies in bipolar disorder may be between those in depressive disorder and schizophrenia, with schizophrenia showing the highest severity level.
Young children use pedagogical cues to modulate the strength of normative inferences
Authors: Butler Lucas P. , Schmidt Marco F. H. , Bürgel Jessica , Tomasello Michael
Published: August 2015

Young children understand pedagogical demonstrations as conveying generic, kind‐relevant information. But, in some contexts, they also see almost any confident, intentional action on a novel artefact as normative and thus generic, regardless of whether this action was pedagogically demonstrated for them. Thus, although pedagogy may not be necessary for inferences to the generic, it may nevertheless be sufficient to produce inductive inferences on which the child relies more strongly. This study addresses this tension by bridging the literature on normative reasoning with that on social learning and inductive inference. Three‐year‐old children learned about a novel artefact from either a pedagogical or non‐pedagogical demonstration, and then, a series of new actors acted on that artefact in novel ways. Although children protested normatively in both conditions (e.g., ‘No, not like that’), they persisted longer in enforcing the learned norms in the face of repeated non‐conformity by the new actors. This finding suggests that not all generic, normative inferences are created equal, but rather they depend – at least for their strength – on the nature of the acquisition process.
Coumarin: A Privileged Scaffold for the Design and Development of Antineurodegenerative Agents
Authors: Jameel Ehtesham , Umar Tarana , Kumar Jitendra , Hoda Nasimul
Published: August 2015

Drug development for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) is foremost task for the medicinal chemists in the 21st century. Coumarins are exemplary of an assorted and aptitudinally useful set of drugs. Coumarins play a momentous role in several pharmacological and medicinal aspects. Its analogues are anticipated to play a significant role in the development of new therapeutic leads for NDs. Their promising applications in the field of ND medication are exemplified by clinical candidates such as nodakenin that have been potent for demoting memory impairment. Apart from ND, clinically used anticoagulant warfarin, anticoagulant dicoumarol, and antibiotic coumermycin, novobiocin and chartesium grab the interest of researchers in coumarins. It would be worthwhile to look at the different biological processes that could cause neurodegeneration, thereby establishing a link with distinct coumarin derivatives to serve the purpose of medication. This review undertakes estimation of the wide spectrum of studies focusing coumarin to the domain of drug research for ND. Herein, we search for multitarget coumarin‐based inhibitors and their scope for NDs. Future challenges in coumarin‐based drug development have been discussed, and emphases have been laid on the future perspectives of coumarins as possible drugs in the future for the treatment of NDs.