bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Green product attributes and green purchase behavior
Authors: Sharma Aasha , Foropon Cyril
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Nowadays, understanding green consumers has become very critical given its implications for marketers to understand and communicate green purchase patterns on the one hand, and to design and strategize both product offerings and customer services on the other hand. The purpose of this paper is to examine the interaction effect of product attributes on the degree of environment concern, the intention of green purchase and a series of green purchase proposed patterns. This paper is built on the theory of planned behavior, and expands it by replacing subjective norms and perceived behavioral control with respectively environmental knowledge and perceived consumer effectiveness, and also by extending purchase behavior to three types of purchase patterns, namely, unconditional purchase, conditional purchase and accidental purchase.

Design/methodology/approach

The interaction effect is analyzed through ANOVA, whereas path analysis is used to understand path strengths of proposed model, which is assessed through standardized regression weights and significance throughp-value.

Findings

Overall, this study reveals the importance of product attributes in the decision-making process of green purchasers.

Research limitations/implications

This study deals with environmental behavior in general, and further research with a focus on specific behaviors is needed in this field investigating the rise of green consumption.

Practical implications

Product attributes play a role in the decision making of consumers willing to buy green products, and both communication and promotion of green products should integrate product attributes accordingly.

Originality/value

Worldwide, consumers are buying more and more green products, and this study leads to a better understanding of the decision-making process of consumers’ green products.
Impact of carbonation on neurogenic dysphagia and an exploration of the clinical predictors of a response to carbonation
Authors: Turkington Leisa , Ward Elizabeth C. , Farrell Anna , Porter Linda , Wall Laurelie R.
Published: February 2019

Background

The need for effective compensatory strategies in neurogenic dysphagia management has led to the exploration of sensory enhancement strategies (SES), such as carbonated liquids. Despite some positive findings, evidence related to the efficacy of carbonation as an SES is limited.

Aims

To determine if carbonated thin liquids reduced dysphagia symptoms and to explore clinical factors associated with response to carbonation.

Methods & Procedures

Participants (n = 29) with neurogenic dysphagia demonstrating deep penetration or aspiration on thin liquids during videofluoroscopic swallow studies (VFSS) completed a set protocol: discrete sips of non‐carbonated thin fluids (DS‐NC) followed by discrete sips of carbonated thin fluids (DS‐C) and then consecutive sips of carbonated fluids (CS‐C). The impact of carbonation was identified through changes to swallow physiology (videofluoroscopy dysphagia scale—VDS) and depth of airway compromise (penetration‐aspiration scale—PAS). Demographic variables including genetic taste type, cranial nerve function and key results from the VDS were examined for association with carbonation response using both individual parameter analysis and exploratory cluster analysis.

Outcomes & Results

Significant (p < 0.05) improvements in PAS scores were noted in DS‐C and CS‐C conditions compared with DS‐NC. Total VDS score was also significantly (p < 0.05) reduced (i.e., improved function) in the DS‐NC condition. Individual variability in response to carbonation was noted and no clear clinical factors associated with carbonation response in the current set of parameters were identified.

Conclusion & Implications

Findings support that carbonated thin fluids sometimes result in neurogenic dysphagia symptom reduction. However, identifying the clinical characteristics of patients who may benefit from trials of carbonation needs further investigation.
Impacts of a shared book‐reading intervention for Italian‐speaking children with developmental language disorder
Authors: Lavelli Manuela , Barachetti Chiara , Majorano Marinella , Florit Elena , Brotto Cristina , Miottello Piergiorgio
Published: February 2019

Background

The regular practice of shared book reading (SBR) at home may play a key role in fostering the linguistic development of children with developmental language disorder (DLD). However, more evidence is needed of the benefits of home‐based SBR interventions on the parents’ conversational strategies and on the communicative and linguistic production of children with DLD.

Aims

To examine the impacts of a parent‐based SBR intervention on the parent's use of conversational strategies, and on the engagement, conversational participation and linguistic production of Italian‐speaking children with DLD. The mothers trained in the use of SBR strategies were expected to increase their use of these strategies. The children were expected to show gains in their level of engagement and conversational participation during SBR; in turn, moderate increments of the indices of language production were expected.

Methods & Procedures

Thirty‐two preschool children with DLD participated in the study; all were receiving speech language therapy. Using a non‐randomized pre‐post‐test control trial, 20 mother–child dyads implemented an 8‐week SBR programme (the SBR intervention group), while 12 dyads acted as a comparison group. Based on the ‘dialogic reading’ method, eight verbal and non‐verbal SBR strategies were employed during individual and small‐group parent training sessions. Speech–language therapists were involved in the individual parent training sessions to provide suggestions focused on the specific characteristics of each mother–child dyad. Measures of parents’ intervention strategies, children's engagement, conversational participation and oral language were included.

Outcomes & Results

At post‐test, mothers in the SBR intervention group used three of the eight SBR strategies—Shared Book Handling, Captivating Talking, and Utterances with a familiar topic—significantly more than the comparison group. Children whose mothers implemented the intervention showed significant gains in terms of time spent in engagement and amount of verbal production during shared reading. No effects were found for the children's communicative initiatives and answers, or for indices of language complexity and diversity.

Conclusions & Implications

The present parent‐based SBR intervention for Italian‐speaking preschoolers with DLD showed effects, albeit modest, on both maternal and child communicative behaviours. The results suggest that extralinguistic strategies may be implemented successfully by parents and may be effective in enhancing children's engagement and language production in the short term. Further investigations are needed that provide a longer intervention period and examine the joint impact of therapist‐ and parent‐based intervention for children with DLD.
The relationship between pre‐pregnancy dietary patterns adherence and risk of gestational diabetes mellitus in Iran: A case–control study
Authors: Asadi Maryam , Shahzeidi Maedeh , Nadjarzadeh Azadeh , Hashemi Yusefabad Hadiseh , Mansoori Anahita
Published: February 2019

Aim

The present study aimed to investigate major dietary patterns and their association with risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in Yazd city located in Iran.

Methods

This case–control designed study was conducted at six healthcare centres. Two hundred and seventy‐eight pregnant women who referred for GDM screening participated. Dietary assessment was carried out by using a 67‐item validated food frequency questionnaire to evaluate dietary history of participants during the last year. Principal component analysis was used to identify major food patterns. Multivariable logistic regression model was employed to identify the association between dietary patterns and risk of GDM.

Results

Two major dietary patterns were detected. The Western dietary pattern was associated with higher intakes of sugar‐sweetened beverages, refined grain products, fast foods, salty snacks, sweets and biscuit, mayonnaise and saturated oils, while the prudent dietary pattern was associated with higher intakes of fruits, low‐fat dairy, potato, egg, fish, poultry, nuts, organs meat and red meat. Furthermore, prudent dietary pattern was negatively associated with GDM risk (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.44–0.99). However, there was no significant association between adherence of the Western dietary pattern and risk of GDM.

Conclusions

Pre‐pregnancy adherence of the prudent dietary pattern was significantly associated with reduced risk of GDM.
Phenolics and Antioxidant Capacity of Pitted Olive Pomace Affected by Three Drying Technologies
Authors: Sinrod Amanda J.G. , Avena‐Bustillos Roberto J. , Olson Donald A. , Crawford Lauren M. , Wang Selina C. , McHugh Tara H.
Published: February 2019

This study investigated drum‐drying's ability to produce dried food‐grade olive pomace as a potential food ingredient that is more nutritionally dense than its freeze‐dried and hot‐air dried counterparts. The pits and skin were removed from fresh olive pomace, and the remaining pulp was dried to <5% moisture through freeze‐drying, hot‐air drying, and drum‐drying at two rotational speeds. The drying treatments had no significant (P ≤ 0.05) effect on the olive pomace's fat or dietary fiber contents but did increase the L*, a*, and b* color parameter values. Although all the drying treatments significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased the fresh olive pomace's antioxidant capacity, drum‐drying preserved the olive pomace's antioxidant capacity significantly (P ≤ 0.05) better than freeze‐drying and hot‐air drying. The drum‐dried samples had concentrations of caffeic acid and verbascoside that were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher than the other dried pomace samples and were not significantly (P ≤ 0.05) different from the fresh pomace. The drum‐dried olive pomace contained concentrations of hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, vanillic acid, luteolin‐7‐glucoside, and rutin that were not significantly (P ≤ 0.05) different from the dried sample with the highest concentration of each respective phenolic compound. No oleuropein was found in the fresh or dried olive pomace. The results of this study show that drum‐drying is an energy efficient method for converting olive pomace into a stable food‐grade supplement that preserves its high phenolic, antioxidant, and dietary fiber contents to potentially benefit human health when incorporated into food or supplement products.

Practical Application

Pitting and drying converts the olive pomace into a stable form that is free of physical hazards and could be incorporated into food products to increase their nutritional quality through olive pomaces’ high fiber, antioxidant, and phenolic contents. Drum‐drying allows food‐grade olive pomace to retain higher amounts of beneficial soluble phenolics and a higher antioxidant capacity than conventional drying methods, thus furthering olive pomace's potential valorization as a food ingredient.
Acrylamide Content of Experimental and Commercial Flatbreads
Authors: Crawford Lauren M. , Kahlon Talwinder S. , Chiu Mei‐Chen M. , Wang Selina C. , Friedman Mendel
Published: February 2019

Acrylamide, formed in baked and fried plant‐based foods, is reported to induce numerous adverse effects in cells, animals, and humans. Examples from the literature show that processed potato‐ and cereal‐based products are two major food types that seem to contribute the highest amounts of acrylamide to the diet worldwide. To meet both the demand for gluten‐free products and the interest in alternative grains, we previously developed recipes for flatbreads using a variety of different grains. In this study, we determined the acrylamide content of 15 experimental flatbreads made from a variety of flours and 21 commercial flatbreads. The application of a validated, highly sensitive HPLC/MS method revealed that flatbreads made with the following flours baked at 195.5 °C for 2 min had very low (<10 μg/kg) levels of acrylamide: brown rice, buckwheat, cornmeal, millet, oat, and quinoa. The acrylamide levels of the following flatbreads were 14 to 59 μg/kg: rye, sorghum, soy, wheat, commercial pita, pita crackers, pizza, naan, and lavash. Wheat‐based matzo breads, which are rapidly baked to a crisp texture at high heat (∼400 °C), contained 101 to 504 μg/kg acrylamide. Potato‐based products were some of the highest of the products tested, ranging from 153 (potato pancakes) to 2,070 (potato‐containing gluten‐free matzos) μg/kg acrylamide. Except for the potato‐containing products, the flatbreads made in this study were lower in acrylamide content (<3 to 21.3 μg/kg) than any of the commercial products tested. Of these experimental flatbreads, wheat‐ and sorghum‐based products were the highest. Flatbreads from alternative grains can result in gluten‐free products with high nutritional value and less acrylamide.

Practical Application

Acrylamide formation is dependent on both the composition of the food product and the method of cooking. Flatbreads have the potential to be high in acrylamide due to cooking methods which lead to the development of desirable browning products. Flatbreads developed in this study using alternative and ancient grains were mostly lower in acrylamide content than their wheat counterpart, suggesting that they can serve as a low‐acrylamide, gluten‐free functional food.
Impact of hepatitis C treatment on pain intensity, prescription opioid use and arthritis
Authors: Kumthekar Anand , Shull Sarah , Lovejoy Travis I. , Morasco Benjamin J. , Chang Michael , Barton Jennifer
Published: February 2019

Objective

To assess the impact of direct acting anti‐viral (DAA) therapy for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection on changes in pain intensity and prescription opioid use among Veterans.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of Veterans with HCV who were seen in a rheumatology clinic at least once while receiving DAA therapy between January 1, 2010 and December 31st 2016. Demographic characteristics, HCV status, HCV treatment characteristics, numeric rating scale (NRS) pain scores and opioid prescription data were extracted from the electronic medical record. Pain scores were averaged over 6 months prior to HCV treatment and 6 months after completion of treatment. Prescription opioid dose was converted to a morphine equivalent daily dose (MEDD) and averaged across the two 6‐month intervals. Generalized estimating equations were used to model the change in average pain and MEDD from pre‐ to post‐HCV treatment. Effect size was assessed using Cohen’sd.

Results

A total of 121 Veterans, 91% male with average age of 59 were included. Average pre‐treatment pain was 4.4 (SD 2.4). The average reduction in pain scores was 0.6 points (P = 0.02, Cohen’sd = 0.22) after treatment. Among 67 patients prescribed chronic opioid therapy at baseline, average pre‐treatment MEDD was 52.4 mg (SD = 62.5 mg) and post‐DAA treatment average MEDD was 49.5 mg (SD = 69.3 mg), representing a decrease by 2.9 mg (P < 0.01, Cohen’sd = 0.14). Opioid dose reduction was seen in 43/67 patients and 12 patients discontinued opioids entirely.

Conclusion

Among US Veterans, subjective pain scores had modest improvement and opioid prescriptions were mildly reduced following treatment with DAA.
A low perfusion‐metabolic mismatch in 99mTl and 123I‐BMIPP scintigraphy predicts poor prognosis in systemic sclerosis patients with asymptomatic cardiac involvement
Authors: Iida Harunobu , Hanaoka Hironari , Okada Yukinori , Kiyokawa Tomofumi , Takakuwa Yukiko , Yamada Hidehiro , Okazaki Takahiro , Ozaki Shoichi , Yamaguchi Kenichiro , Nakajima Yasuo , Kawahata Kimito
Published: February 2019

Aim

This study investigated the prognostic factors of cardiac death or cardiac failure using cardiac scintigraphy, echocardiography (UCG), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in asymptomatic systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated SSc patients who had undergone cardiac scintigraphy using 99mthallium (99mTl) and 123I‐β‐methyl‐P‐iodophenyl‐pentadecanoic acid (123I‐BMIPP), UCG, and cardiac MRI. We calculated the mismatch score in scintigraphy by subtracting the uptake of 123I‐BMIPP from that of 99mTl. Patients were divided into two groups according to whether they survived with no cardiac failure or subsequently proceeded to cardiac failure or death during the study period. We identified prognostic factors by analyzing 99mTl and 123I‐BMIPP uptake, mismatch scores, UCG findings, and cardiac delayed enhancement on MRI. We also evaluated pathological evidence of myocardial fibrosis.

Results

Of 33 SSc cases, 11 proceeded to cardiac failure or death. There was no significant difference in UCG or MRI findings between the two groups. Low mismatch score in cardiac scintigraphy was the only predictive factor of cardiac failure or death by multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 6.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.22‐423.2; P = 0.01). When patients were grouped according to high or low mismatch scores based on a cut‐off using receiver operating characteristics curve analysis, the cumulative incidence of cardiac failure or death was higher in the low mismatch group than in the high mismatch group (P = 0.02). The percentage of fibrosis was significantly higher in deceased cases compared to surviving cases.

Conclusions

Low mismatch score in cardiac scintigraphy was associated with cardiac death or cardiac failure in SSc patients.
Institutional Drift in International Biotechnology Regulation
Authors: Rabitz Florian
Published: February 2019

Digitalization, genome editing and synthetic biology are presently leading to fundamental changes in the field of biotechnology. At the same time, international regulatory institutions have largely failed to adapt to those changes. This text evaluates the role of interests, knowledge and institutional factors for explaining nonadaptation, or ‘institutional drift’. Focusing on the domains of biosafety, biosecurity and genetic resources, the analysis highlights the explanatory power of knowledge and, to a lesser extent, interests, with institutional factors playing only a minor role. With global governance having to cope with profound changes in various technological fields, the text thus shows the broader importance of understanding the conditions under which international institutions do, or do not, adapt.
Effect of beta‐blockade on quantitative microvolt T‐wave alternans in 24‐hour continuous 12‐lead ECG recordings in patients with long QT syndrome
Authors: Takasugi Nobuhiro , Takasugi Mieko , Goto Hiroko , Kuwahara Takashi , Kawasaki Masanori , Verrier Richard L.
Published: February 2019

Background

The aim of study was to investigate effects of beta‐blockade on microvolt T‐wave alternans (TWA), a precursor of lethal arrhythmia, in patients with long QT syndrome (LQTS).

Methods

Eleven consecutive LQTS patients, types 1 (n = 6), 3 (n = 2), and “non‐1, non‐2, non‐3” (n = 3) were enrolled. All patients underwent 24‐hr continuous 12‐lead ECG monitoring before and after initiation of beta‐blockade therapy. TWA was measured using the modified moving average method.

Results

Seven (63.6%) of the 11 patients studied were symptomatic, with history of cardiac arrest or documented Torsade de Pointes (TdP) in 4 and syncope in three patients. After a median follow‐up of 34 months, beta‐blockade reduced the number of symptomatic patients to 1 with TdP (p < 0.02), in whom TdP frequency decreased from 25 events/60 months (0.42 event/month) to seven events/69 months (0.1 event/month). In association with this reduction in symptoms, peak TWA decreased by 47% in the cohort after a median of eight months of beta‐blockade therapy [from 95 (74–130) to 50 (39.5–64.5) µV, p = 0.01]. All patients exhibited TWA ≥42 µV before beta‐blockade therapy, which eliminated these episodes in four patients. Daily frequency of TWA ≥42 µV episodes decreased by 87% [from 15 (6–26) to 2 (0–5) episodes/day, p = 0.009].

Conclusions

This study is limited by the small sample size and is mainly hypothesis generating. TWA monitoring deserves further evaluation as a risk marker and a guide to therapy in LQTS patients in future large‐scale studies.
Single‐family room design in the neonatal intensive care unit did not improve growth
Authors: Tandberg Bente Silnes , Frøslie Kathrine Frey , Markestad Trond , Flacking Renèe , Grundt Hege , Moen Atle
Published: February 2019

Aim

The aim was to compare growth in very premature infants cared for in a single‐family room (SFR) and an open‐bay (OB) unit. We recorded duration of parental presence and skin‐to‐skin contact as proxies for parental involvement in care of their infants.

Methods

We consecutively included infants with gestational ages 28 + 0 through 32 + 0 weeks at two hospitals in Norway, one SFR unit (n = 35) and one OB unit (n = 42). Weight, length, and head circumference were followed from birth to four months after term date. Both units adhered to the same nutritional protocol and methods of recording events.

Results

The SFR mothers spent a mean (standard deviation) of 111 (38) hours and the OB mothers 33 (13) hours with their infants during the first week and 21 (5) versus 7 (3) hours per day later. The respective duration of skin‐to‐skin care was 21 (10) versus 12 (8) hours during the first week and 4.2 (2) versus 3.0 (2) hours per day later. The differences were similar, but less pronounced for the fathers. The growth trajectories did not differ between the groups.

Conclusion

SFR care was associated with more parental involvement, but not with better growth.
Predicting children's school grades: Unique and interactive effects of parental beliefs and child inattention/hyperactivity symptoms
Authors: Ferretti Nicole , Ganley Colleen M. , Kofler Michael J.
Published: February 2019

Parental beliefs about school involvement are key in predicting individual differences in children's academic success. The current study examined unique and interactive relations between parental beliefs and child inattention/hyperactivity symptoms in predicting children's achievement. Participants (N = 348) were caregivers of children aged 8–12. Caregivers completed questionnaires regarding their beliefs and their child's inattention/hyperactivity and achievement. Hierarchical regression analyses indicated lower child inattention/hyperactivity and greater parental confidence in their ability to help their child academically predicted better achievement. Parent/child interactions probed with simple slopes suggested an achievement gap for children with higher inattention/hyperactivity only when their parents felt less efficacious or more responsible for their child's academic success. This suggests parent self‐efficacy may buffer the negative relation between children's inattention/hyperactivity symptoms and underachievement, and parents of children with higher inattention/hyperactivity may increasingly assume responsibility for their success due to feedback from the school.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Academic achievement predicts several short‐ and long‐term outcomes for children.

Parental involvement beliefs are multi‐faceted and predict children's academic success.

Child inattention/hyperactivity symptoms are related to lower academic achievement.

What does this study add?

It provides specificity of previous relations for children with a range of inattention/hyperactivity symptoms.

It identifies parental self‐efficacy as a promising moderator of the relation between child behaviour and academics.

It provides a preliminary evidence base for future work on the role of parental beliefs in child academic outcomes.
The use of artificial neural network analysis can improve the risk‐stratification of patients presenting with suspected deep vein thrombosis
Authors: Willan John , Katz Harley , Keeling David
Published: February 2019

Artificial neural networks are machine‐learning algorithms designed to analyse data without a pre‐existing hypothesis as to any associations that may exist. This technique has not previously been applied to the risk stratification of patients referred with suspected deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Current assessment is usually with a points‐based clinical score, which may be combined with a D‐dimer blood test. A neural network was trained to risk‐stratify patients presenting with suspected DVT and its performance compared with existing tools. Data from 11 490 cases of suspected DVT presenting consecutively between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2017 were analysed, and 7080 for whom all components of the Wells’ score, a D‐dimer and an ultrasound result were available were included in the analysis. The data were broken into a training set of 5270 patients, used to develop the algorithm, and a testing set of 1810 patients to assess performance of the trained algorithm. This network was able to exclude DVT without the need for ultrasound in significantly more patients than existing risk assessment scores, whilst retaining very low false negatives rates. More generally, this approach may improve the analysis of complex data to support decision‐making in other areas of clinical medicine.
The impact of books on social inclusion and development and well‐being among children and young people with severe and profound learning disabilities: Recognising the unrecognised cohort
Authors: Robinson Deborah , Moore Nicki , Harris Catherine
Published: February 2019

Accessible Summary

This paper shows what people with learning disabilities can get out of enjoying books and reading even when they cannot read words easily.

The writers think about how people with learning disabilities can be helped to enjoy books. They say that this can happen through reading with other people, enjoying lots of activities about books and making books part of their daily routine.

The writers also think about the way that books and stories help us to learn about the world and the people in it.

The writers are annoyed about the way that enjoyment of books by people with learning disabilities has been ignored by people.

This matters to people with learning difficulties because enjoying books, even when we cannot read words easily, can give us good feelings and help us to learn and develop.

This paper presents the findings of an original research project commissioned by BookTrust, a respected UK charity that gifts books to children, young people (CYP) and their families. It explored the impact and modus of pleasurable engagement with books among CYP with severe and profound learning disabilities and applied a critical, phenomenological stance on what it means to read through drawing on “inclusive literacy” as a conceptual framework. Data were collected from four local areas in England and included 43 CYP aged 4–14. In keeping with a phenomenological stance, it employed interpretivist methods involving 13 deep‐level interviews with families to include observations and structured play; 13 observations of CYP sharing books with others in home, play or school settings, and interviews with 27 practitioners working in a range of organisations (e.g., Portage service and advisory teams). Findings were that books had a positive impact on well‐being, social inclusion and development. CYP were engaged in enjoying the content of books through personalisation, sensory stimulation, social stimulation and repetition. This affirmed the theoretical and practical approaches espoused by “inclusive literacy” but made a critical and original contribution to our understanding of the special place that books occupy as ordinary artefacts of literary citizenship among this cohort. The benefits of volitional reading among CYP who do not have learning disabilities are well known, but the authors urge publishers and policymakers to recognise CYP with severe and profound learning disabilities as equally important, active consumers of books who have much to gain from reading for pleasure.
The clinical value of 4‐hour delayed‐enhanced 3D‐FLAIR MR images in sudden hearing loss
Authors: Byun Hayoung , Chung Jae Ho , Lee Seung Hwan , Park Chul Won , Park Dong Woo , Kim Tae Yoon
Published: February 2019

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of 4‐hour delayed‐enhanced 3.0 Tesla (3T) 3D‐fluid‐attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MR imaging in sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL).

Study design

Case series with comparisons.

Setting

Tertiary referral centre.

Participants

Eighty‐seven idiopathic SSNHL patients were enrolled between January 2015 and December 2016 and received high dose steroid therapy and intratympanic steroid injections as salvage treatment.

Intervention

Pre‐contrast, 10‐minute and 4‐hour delayed‐enhanced 3D‐FLAIR MR images were obtained using double‐dose IV gadolinium.

Main outcome measures

The results of treatment were evaluated according to Siegel's criteria 3 months after the start of treatment. Where possible lesion‐side laterality of the inner ear was identified based on the MR images, the associations between MR findings and other clinical parameters were analysed, and the relationships between hearing recovery and MR image findings were assessed.

Results

Lesion‐side laterality was identified on MRI in 52 (59.7%), 18 (20.1%) and 8 (9.2%) patients, based on 4‐hour delayed, 10‐minute delayed, and pre‐contrast images, respectively. The hearing recovery rate was significantly lower in the patients with lesion‐side laterality on 4‐hour delayed images (P < 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, lesion‐side laterality on 4‐hour delayed images was associated with poor prognosis (OR = 5.6) after adjusting other prognostic factors including initial hearing level, lesion‐side laterality on 10‐min delayed images and presence of vertigo. In addition, as the extent of enhancement in the inner ear increased the probability of hearing recover decreased (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Contrast enhancement of inner ear structures can be seen on 4‐hour delayed‐enhanced 3T 3D‐FLAIR MR images in idiopathic SSNHL. Asymmetric lesion‐side enhancement of the inner ear may be associated with a poor prognosis.
The context dependence of frontier versus wilderness conservation priorities
Authors: Sacre Edmond , Bode Michael , Weeks Rebecca , Pressey Robert L.
Published: February 2019

Much of conservation planning has focused on how we should prioritize areas for protection based on biodiversity and cost, but less is known about how we should prioritize areas based upon the level of threat they face. We discuss two opposing threat prioritization strategies: frontier conservation (prioritizing high‐threat areas) and wilderness conservation (prioritizing low‐threat areas). Using a temporally explicit model, we demonstrate that the best strategy depends on a variety of factors, including protection costs, heterogeneity in biodiversity, biodiversity–area relationships, the rate of biodiversity recovery, the rate of change in threats through time, and the timeframe within which we measure conservation outcomes. By quantitatively comparing the impact of these strategies, we aim to shift the debate away from a simple dichotomy of frontier versus wilderness, toward an understanding of the context‐specific benefits of each option, and a discussion of how threat combines with other factors to determine spatial conservation priorities.
Bowen disease with invasive mucin‐secreting sweat gland differentiation: Report of a case and review of the literature
Authors: DeCoste Ryan , Moss Phillip , Boutilier Robert , Walsh Noreen M.G.
Published: February 2019

Bowen disease (BD) with divergent adnexal differentiation is a rare composite cutaneous tumor featuring different phenotypic elements. Sebaceous, poroid and trichilemmal invasive components have been described in this setting and very infrequent reports of mucinous glandular differentiation are extant. Clinically, these tumors are not sufficiently distinctive to enable recognition without histopathological evaluation. From a microscopic perspective, care must be taken to exclude a collision tumor as well as other combined cutaneous neoplasms featuring squamous and glandular differentiation. Direct continuity between the two epithelial phenotypes helps to establish the correct diagnosis and generates interesting speculation about the pathogenesis of these and other epithelial skin tumors. We describe a case of BD in continuity with an invasive adenocarcinoma exhibiting mucinous sweat gland differentiation on the face of an elderly man. Details of the case are outlined with the objective of adding to a scant literature on this topic.
Left atrial remodeling postseptal myectomy for severe obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Analysis by two‐dimensional speckle‐tracking echocardiography
Authors: Weissler‐Snir Adaya , Hindieh Waseem , Moravsky Gil , Ralph‐Edwards Anthony , Williams Lynne , Rakowski Harry , Carasso Shemy
Published: February 2019

Background

Septal myectomy relieves left ventricular outflow obstruction (LVOTO) and is associated with excellent long‐term outcomes. LVOTO is associated with diastolic dysfunction and increased left atrial (LA) size. We sought to investigate the changes in LA volumes and function postmyectomy and the association between these changes with clinical outcomes postmyectomy.

Methods

Sixty‐six hypertrophic cardiomyopathy patients undergoing myectomy were retrospectively studied. Preprocedural and 6‐ to 18‐month postmyectomy follow‐up transthoracic echocardiographic images were obtained. LA volumes and strain were assessed by two‐dimensional speckle‐tracking echocardiography.

Results

Left atrial volumes, that is, indexed maximal, minimal, and pre‐A volumes reduced postmyectomy, yet remained increased compared to controls (105.6 ± 34.5 mL vs 84.9 ± 26.7 mL, 45.2 ± 25.7 mL vs 35.4 ± 22.6 mL, 70.1 ± 31.4 mL vs 35.4 ± 22.6 mL, respectively, P < 0.05). The total emptying index did not improve postmyectomy and remained lower than controls (58.6 ± 12.4 vs 59.9 ± 12.8, P = NS) whereas atrial contraction improved, yet did not normalize (active emptying index 36.1 ± 14.9 vs 41.1 ± 16.2, P < 0.05). The conduit volume remained reduced postmyectomy (18.6 ± 13.3 mL vs 16.6 ± 15.1 mL, P = NS). LA strain also did not improve postmyectomy (26.8 ± 7.3 vs 28.5 ± 8.8, P = NS). A multivariable logistic regression identified preprocedural E/e′ ratio and indexed maximal LA volume, as independent predictors for LA volume reduction ≥20% postmyectomy. During a mean follow‐up of 4.9 ± 2.3 years postmyectomy, 24.2% of the patients developed atrial fibrillation and <5% of patients were severely symptomatic. We found no associations between LA volumes/function and atrial fibrillation or symptoms postmyectomy.

Conclusion

Postmyectomy LA volumes decreased, and the contractile function improved. There was no association between LA volumes/function and clinical outcomes postmyectomy. Notably, the LA remained enlarged (though to a lesser degree) with reduced strain and emptying fraction, suggesting possible atrial myopathy.
A study on corrosion‐fatigue behavior of AA7075‐T651 subjected to different surface modification treatments
Authors: Michailidis Nikolaos , Stergioudi Fani , Ragousis Antonios , Lopez‐Castaneda Homero
Published: February 2019

Two corrosive media were used (3.5 wt% NaCl aqueous solution and distilled water) to examine the corrosion‐fatigue behavior of AA 7075‐T651, subjected to various surface modifications (wire‐EDM, blasting, and anodizing). An in‐situ corrosion‐fatigue device was used to test the corrosion‐fatigue durability. The apparatus is able to generate cyclic loads within a corrosive solution. The mechanical loading is simulated with the aid of finite element method (FEM). At both corrosive environments, a prolongation of the corrosion‐fatigue life was achieved by the blasting procedure, compared with the as‐machined specimens under same conditions. Anodizing had a deleterious impact in all examined cases.
Predation risk affects egg mortality and carry over effects in the larval stages in damselflies
Authors: Sniegula Szymon , Nsanzimana Jean d'Amour , Johansson Frank
Published: February 2019

The non‐consumptive predator effect may incur physiological costs that affect growth and development and ultimately survival. While studies have shown that the effect can affect development and growth in organisms with complex life cycles, we have limited knowledge on the effect in the egg and early larval stage.

Here, we used a laboratory experiment to examine how the presence of chemical cues, a non‐consumptive predator effect, from an aquatic predator, perch, affected hatching success of larvae in three species of damselfly, Ischnura elegans, Coenagrion pulchellum, and Enallagma cyathigerum. In addition, we examined how exposure to predation risk in the early larval stages affected growth in the late larval stages of I. elegans.

We found that the presence of chemical predator cues (1) increased egg mortality in all three species, (2) caused earlier hatching of eggs in one species, no change in a second species and a delay in egg hatching in a third species. We also found that predator cues have the potential to cause a carryover effect from early larval stages to late larval stages in terms of larval growth rate.

The addition of non‐consumptive predator cues in the form of fish water caused higher algal growth than in the control experimental containers, and we suggest that this algal growth has the potential to confound predator stress cues.

Our results show that the non‐consumptive predator effects affect survival and growth, and hence they have the potential to affect predator–prey dynamics in natural systems. Future studies on such effects in aquatic systems should consider confounding stressors, such as algae, fungi, oxygen, and nutrients levels, that might come with the addition of predation cues in water and thus add additional stress.
Alonso and the Scaling of Urban Profiles
Authors: Delloye Justin , Lemoy Rémi , Caruso Geoffrey
Published: February 2019

How urban characteristics change with total population, their scaling behavior, has become an important research field since one needs to better understand the challenges of urban densification. Yet urban scaling research is largely disconnected from intra‐urban structure, and this seriously limits its operationalization. In contrast, the monocentric model of Alonso provides a residential choice‐based theory to urban density profiles. However, dedicated comparative static analyses do not completely solve how the model scales with population. This article bridges this gap by simultaneously introducing power laws for land, income and transport cost in the Alonso model. We show that the equilibrium urban structure of this augmented model matches recent empirical findings about the scaling of European population density profiles and satisfactorily represents European cities. This result is however not compatible with the observed scaling power of housing land profiles, and challenges current empirical understanding of wage and transport cost elasticities with population. Our results call for revisiting theories about land development and housing processes as well as the empirics of agglomeration benefits and transport costs.
Lobbying and uncertainty: Lobbying's varying response to different political events
Authors: Cooper Christopher A. , Boucher Maxime
Published: February 2019

Does political uncertainty affect whether lobbyists contact government officials? We suggest that the answer depends on the type of uncertainty introduced. Distinguishing between policy objective uncertainty—where organized interests and lobbyists are uncertain about the policy intentions of decision makers—and issue information uncertainty—where policymakers are uncertain about the technical details of issues—we hypothesize that whereas an increase in policy objective uncertainty leads to a decrease in lobbying, a rise in issue information uncertainty leads to more lobbying. We test the hypotheses with longitudinal data from the Canadian Lobbyists Registry measuring change in the number of times lobbyists have contacted government ministries each month from 2008 to 2018. The results suggest that lobbying intensity does respond differently to these types of uncertainty. Whereas events introducing issue information uncertainty have a statistically significant positive relationship with lobbying, events introducing policy objective uncertainty do not.
Breeding status influences timing but not duration of moult in the Northern FulmarFulmarus glacialis
Authors: Grissot Antoine , Graham Isla M. , Quinn Lucy , Bråthen Vegard S. , Thompson Paul M.
Published: February 2019

Seabirds are key marine top predator species that are often used as indicators of the environmental quality of the oceans. Their breeding phenology has been studied extensively, but their pelagic habits mean less is known about the phenology of other events during the non‐breeding period. Here, we used miniaturized saltwater immersion light‐based geolocators (GLS) to investigate moult phenology in individuals with known breeding histories in a population of Northern FulmarFulmarus glacialisin Orkney, Scotland. As seabirds spend more time on the water during moult, moulting periods can be identified from patterns of variation in the amount of time that birds are in contact with saltwater. Estimates of daily variation in this behaviour during the non‐breeding period were based upon wet/dry sensors and then modelled to characterize the timing of the moult. Light‐based geolocation provided information on the areas used by each individual during its moult period. Inter‐individual variability in moult timing was investigated in relation to sex and breeding success in the previous summer. We found a sex difference in the location of the moult, but not in its timing. However, the timing of moult did differ between individuals that had succeeded or failed in their previous breeding attempt, with successful breeders moulting the latest. In contrast, the duration of moult did not depend on prior reproductive success, but there was evidence of inter‐annual variation in moult duration.GLSstudies have provided a step change in our understanding of the at‐sea distribution of pelagic seabirds. Our work highlights how activity data from these devices can add value to such studies by identifying key phases of the annual cycle, and locations at these times, when seabirds may be at particular risk. Furthermore, our findings indicate that individual and inter‐annual variation in breeding success may influence phenological patterns in other phases of the Northern Fulmar annual cycle.
Optimal wavelength for the clot waveform analysis: Determination of the best resolution with minimal interference of the reagents
Authors: Evrard Jonathan , Siriez Romain , Morimont Laure , Thémans Pauline , Laloy Julie , Bouvy Céline , Gheldof Damien , Mullier François , Dogné Jean‐Michel , Douxfils Jonathan
Published: February 2019

Introduction

Clot waveform analysis (CWA), a new methodology to assess coagulation process, can be usefully applied in various clinical settings. However, its clinical use is limited mainly because of the absence of standardization. No consensus exists regarding the wavelengths at which CWA has to be performed what is crucial for the sensitivity of the CWA.

Objectives

The primary aim of this study is to determine which wavelength is the most sensitive and specific for CWA. Interindividual baseline absorbance will also be assessed as the impact of reagents from the intrinsic, extrinsic, and common coagulation pathway will be determined.

Methods

Plasma samples were screened at wavelengths from 280 to 700 nm to provide absorbance spectra in clotted and nonclotted plasma. The interindividual variability of baseline absorbance was obtained by screening plasma from 50 healthy individuals at 340, 635, and 671 nm. The inner‐filter effect of reagents was assessed in plasma or serum when appropriate at the same wavelengths. The reagents were those commonly used for activated partial thromboplastin time, prothrombin time, thrombin time, and dilute Russell's viper venom time.

Results

Clotted plasma has higher absorbance value than nonclotted plasma (P < 0.01). The absorbance of all type of samples is higher at 340 nm than at >600 nm (P < 0.01). The interindividual variability at the different wavelengths was around 25%. However, except with the STA®‐CKPrest® and STA®‐NeoPTimal®, the reagents do not have a significant effect on the baseline absorbance.

Conclusions

Wavelengths above 650 nm are recommended to perform CWA. Most of the commercialized reagents can be used for CWA.
Flow cytometric predictive scoring systems for common fusions ETV6/RUNX1, BCR/ABL1, TCF3/PBX1 and rearrangements of the KMT2A gene, proposed for the initial cytogenetic approach in cases of B‐acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Tsagarakis Nikolaos J. , Papadhimitriou Stefanos I. , Pavlidis Dimitris , Marinakis Theodoros , Kostopoulos Ioannis V. , Stiakaki Eftichia , Polychronopoulou Sofia , Paterakis George
Published: February 2019

Introduction

In B‐acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B‐ALL), the identification of cytogenetic prognostic factors is important for stratifying patients into risk groups and tailoring treatment accordingly. The purpose of this study was to propose flow cytometric (FCM) scoring systems (SSs) for predicting t(12;21)(p13;q22), t(9;22)(q34;q11), t(11q23), and t(1;19)(q23;p13.3) translocations.

Methods

We analyzed retrospectively the FCM immunophenotype of 377 patients with B‐ALL with regard to the major cytogenetic findings revealed by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (i‐FISH). Comparing descriptive data on the expression of each antigen and performing receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, we identified the most reliable predictive markers for each translocation and sought to establish a specific SS for each translocation, based on specific antibody panels.

Results

CD27, CD9, CD66c, CD10, CD25, and CD34 were employed for the prediction of t(12;21), CD25, CD38, CD34, and CD66c for t(9;22), NG2, CD10, CD15, CD34, and CD20 for t(11q23), and CD34, cμ, CD123, and CD66c for t(1;19). The sensitivity and specificity, respectively, of each predictive score were 89.29% and 96.15% for t(12;21), 75.00% and 88.19% for t(9;22), 84.21% and 99.04% for t(11q23), and 85.71% and 92.71% for t(1;19).

Conclusion

Four highly specific and significantly sensitive FCM‐obtained SSs are proposed for the prediction of the four major translocations observed in patients with B‐ALL. Prospective evaluation of the proposed SSs could lead to a better targeted cytogenetic investigation and therefore to more cost‐effective laboratory practice.
In memoriam: Francisc Schneider (1933‐2017)
Authors: Păunescu Virgil , Zavolan Mihaela , Oprea Tudor
Published: February 2019

This is the obituary for Francisc Schneider, who introduced clinical physiology in Romania and mentored generations of scientists.