bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effect of chia (Salvia hispanic L.) flour as a substitute for fat in gluten-free bread
Authors: Huerta Katira da Mota , Boeira Caroline Pagnossim , Soquetta Marcela Bromberger , Alves Jamila dos Santos , Kubota Ernesto Hashime , da Rosa Claudia Severo
Published: November 2018

Purpose

The preparation of gluten-free bread is a challenge because the gluten in wheat is the main ingredient responsible for the retention of the gases which cause the bread to rise. This paper aims to develop breads without gluten and fat, and to evaluate the effect of the use of chia (Salvia hispanic L.) flour on the physical, nutritional and sensory properties of the breads that were developed.

Design/methodology/approach

Three formulations were developed with different proportions of chia flour (2.5, 5 and 7.5%), fat-free. Physiochemical, sensorial analyses were performed out in three repetitions (p-value = 0.05).

Findings

In the nutritional assessment, the results demonstrated that 7.5% chia showed higher levels of protein (15.1%), lipid (3.43%), total fiber (7.04%) and lower levels of carbohydrates (22.49%), with significant nutrient enrichment (p-value = 0.05). The specific volume and the elevation of the dough decreased with the addition of chia flour. In the sensorial analysis, the treatments with chia flour showed no significant difference regarding flavor and texture when compared to the standard. The addition of chia improved the nutritional and sensory properties (p-value = 0.05).

Originality/value

The chia flour improved the nutritional characteristics of the breads, in the reduction of carbohydrate content and the increase in the content of protein, minerals and fiber. It presented good acceptability and good nutritional characteristics, providing a healthy and differentiated variation in this segment.
Optimization of submerged and solid state culture conditions forMonascuspigment production and characterization of its composition and antioxidant activity
Authors: Zeng Huawei , Jie Qiao , Xin Zeng , Dayong Xu , Minghua Xiong , Feng Li , Jianfan Sun , Xuan Jiang , Chuanyun Dai
Published: November 2018

Purpose

Monascuspigment was widely applied in food processing industry as functional additive, so more attention was paid to the fermentation optimization of pigment production. Therefore, this paper aims to evaluate the best possible fermentative conditions for maximum production of biopigment using submerged fermentation (SFM) and solid state fermentation (SSF) byMonascus purpureusHBSD 08.

Design/methodology/approach

The biopigment was produced by using an SMF and an SSF with optimized substrate to achieve higher yield. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging ability, superoxide anion radical scavenging ability and hydroxyl radical scavenging ability. The pigment composition was analyzed by thin layer chromatography.

Findings

MaximumMonascuspigment production (79.6 U/ml and 1,102 U/g) were obtained under an SFM and an SFF. The antioxidant activity of the pigment in an SFM was significantly higher than that in an SFM. The composition of pigment was not different in an SFM and an SFF.

Originality/value

The study developed new conditions, andMonascusstrain was a candidate for producing pigment in an SFM and an SFF. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is a first attempt toward comparative evaluation on antioxidant capacity and composition between pigment in an SSF and an SFM. This result will serve forMonascuspigment production.
Which transformational leadership behaviors relate to organizational learning processes?
Authors: Vashdi Dana R. , Levitats Zehavit S. , Grimland Shmuel
Published: November 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between behaviors associated with transformational leadership (TL) and the sub-processes of organizational learning (OL) and to explain these relationships based on the ability-motivation-opportunity (AMO) framework.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaires assessing leadership behaviors and unit learning processes were filled in by 520 employees from 30 units within 9 organizations.

Findings

Each sub-process of OL was found to be related to different leadership behaviors. For example, distribution was related to TL components directed toward developing followers’ ability (i.e. vision and intellectual stimulation) and created the opportunity to share knowledge (i.e. supportive leadership). On the other hand, the TL components found to be related to interpretation were those that enhance followers’ motivation to work well in a group (i.e. inspirational communication and personal recognition).

Research limitations/implications

Showing that specific TL behaviors are related to different OL sub-processes emphasizes the importance of each OL sub-process as a distinct outcome. In addition, this study begins to address the possible mechanisms that may explain why specific factors enhance some OL sub-processes, but not others.

Practical implications

The study’s findings will assist managers and HR practitioners in recognizing which leadership behaviors are to be enhanced to help address particular sub-processes of OL that need improvement.

Originality/value

This paper is the first to examine the fine-tuned relationships between TL and OL and thus adds another explanation regarding why organizations differ in their learning processes and in their eventual outcomes, such as performance and innovation.
Soil micro‐organisms and competitive ability of a tussock grass species in a dry ecosystem
Authors: Lozano Yudi M. , Hortal Sara , Armas Cristina , Pugnaire Francisco I.
Published: November 2018

Drylands are among the most threatened ecosystems in the world because of the effects of global change and because they are not particularly resilient. Regeneration after disturbance is quite slow and secondary succession can be delayed to the point of nearly stop. This is exacerbated when the community is strongly dominated by a single species able to quickly respond after disturbance. One example of such monospecific dominance is the colonization of abandoned fields in SE Spain by an early successional and native tussock grass, Lygeum spartum, that seems to halt succession.

Here we tested the competitive ability of Lygeum against Salsola oppositifolia, a shrub species that can be found interspersed with Lygeum in mid‐successional stages, and assessed how plant–soil interactions mediate the outcome of plant–plant competition. To do so, we sowed seeds and grew plants of Lygeum and Salsola in either intra‐ or interspecific competition under controlled conditions using sterile field soils inoculated with either live (i.e., with micro‐organisms) or sterile soil extracts from the understories of either Lygeum or Salsola. Soil nutrient content, seed germination rate, and shoot mass growth were determined after 5 months, and soil bacterial communities were characterized by sequencing.

Lygeum soil micro‐organisms and soil properties, such as the high content of N and organic matter, enhanced seed germination rate of Lygeum individuals. By contrast, Salsola adults outperformed Lygeum when growing in interspecific competition.

Synthesis. The enhanced competitive ability of Lygeum, which was mediated by soil micro‐organisms, may lead to complete dominance of Lygeum in the plant community right after abandonment of agricultural fields. However, when the plant community is already developed, Lygeum would be unable to enforce such dominance. We conclude that positive plant–soil feedbacks combined with certain plant traits such as clonal growth support the strong resilience of Lygeum and allow for its dominance in extreme habitats.
Groundwater enhances above‐ground growth in mangroves
Authors: Hayes Matthew A. , Jesse Amber , Welti Nina , Tabet Basam , Lockington David , Lovelock Catherine E.
Published: November 2018

Groundwater flow through coastal wetlands plays an important role in the maintenance of productivity of intertidal ecosystems. Groundwater can reduce salinity and increase nutrient availability which can enhance plant growth and alter plant biomass allocation patterns.

Here, we used stable isotopes of oxygen and hydrogen to assess how groundwater influences below‐ground and above‐ground growth in the widespread mangrove species Avicennia marina.

We found source water within tree stems varied seasonally, with non‐saline water use higher in the wet season when rainwater availability was highest compared to the dry season. Stems with higher proportional contribution of non‐saline water had increased above‐ground growth but no effect on below‐ground growth. Below‐ground growth was however influenced by nutrient availability across the intertidal zone which was higher in the high‐ compared to the low‐intertidal zone.

Synthesis. This study shows that mangroves use non‐saline groundwater and rainwater when available rather than saline water sources. Groundwater flows into the intertidal stimulates organic matter accumulation in above‐ground biomass suggesting the availability of non‐saline water sources, such as groundwater and rainfall, are important for the growth and productivity of mangrove forests.
Do racial and ethnic disparities in health care use vary with health?
Authors: Biener Adam I. , Zuvekas Samuel H.
Published: November 2018

Objective

To determine the relationship between health status and the magnitude of black‐white and Hispanic‐white disparities in the likelihood of having any office‐based or hospital outpatient department visits, as well as number of visits.

Data Source

2010‐2014 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey.

Study Design

The probability of having a visit is modeled using a Probit model, and the number of visits using a negative binomial model. We use a nonlinear rank‐and‐replace method to adjust minority health status to be comparable to that of whites, and predict utilization at different levels of health by fixing an indicator of health status. We compare estimated differences in predicted utilization across racial/ethnic groups for each level of health status to map out the relationship between the racial/ethnic disparity and health status, also stratifying by health insurance coverage.

Extraction Methods

We subset to nonelderly adults.

Principal Findings

We find that Hispanic‐white differences in the probability of having an office‐based or hospital outpatient department were widest among adults in excellent health (27 percentage points, 95% CI: [23, 31]) and narrowest when reporting poor or fair health (15 p.p. [13, 17]). Black‐white and Hispanic‐white differences in the number of visits were wider for adults who report poor or fair health (5.3 visits [4.0, 6.6] and 5.7 [4.3, 7.0], respectively) compared to excellent health (1.7 [1.2, 2.1] and 1.5 [1.1, 2.0], respectively) among adults who are full‐year privately insured.

Conclusions

The magnitudes of racial/ethnic disparities vary with level of health.
Autophagy and aging: Maintaining the proteome through exercise and caloric restriction
Authors: Escobar Kurt A. , Cole Nathan H. , Mermier Christine M. , VanDusseldorp Trisha A.
Published: November 2018

Accumulation of dysfunctional and damaged cellular proteins and organelles occurs during aging, resulting in a disruption of cellular homeostasis and progressive degeneration and increases the risk of cell death. Moderating the accrual of these defunct components is likely a key in the promotion of longevity. While exercise is known to promote healthy aging and mitigate age‐related pathologies, the molecular underpinnings of this phenomenon remain largely unclear. However, recent evidences suggest that exercise modulates the proteome. Similarly, caloric restriction (CR), a known promoter of lifespan, is understood to augment intracellular protein quality. Autophagy is an evolutionary conserved recycling pathway responsible for the degradation, then turnover of cellular proteins and organelles. This housekeeping system has been reliably linked to the aging process. Moreover, autophagic activity declines during aging. The target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1), a central kinase involved in protein translation, is a negative regulator of autophagy, and inhibition of TORC1 enhances lifespan. Inhibition of TORC1 may reduce the production of cellular proteins which may otherwise contribute to the deleterious accumulation observed in aging. TORC1 may also exert its effects in an autophagy‐dependent manner. Exercise and CR result in a concomitant downregulation of TORC1 activity and upregulation of autophagy in a number of tissues. Moreover, exercise‐induced TORC1 and autophagy signaling share common pathways with that of CR. Therefore, the longevity effects of exercise and CR may stem from the maintenance of the proteome by balancing the synthesis and recycling of intracellular proteins and thus may represent practical means to promote longevity.
The Role of Social Support in Motivating Reductions in Alcohol Use: A Test of Three Models of Social Support in Alcohol‐Impaired Drivers
Authors: Moon Tae‐Joon , Mathias Charles W. , Mullen Jillian , Karns‐Wright Tara E. , Hill‐Kapturczak Nathalie , Roache John D. , Dougherty Donald M.
Published: November 2018

Background

Social support has been linked to many therapeutic benefits (e.g., treatment retention, reduced posttreatment relapse) for individuals with alcohol use disorder. However, the positive impacts of social support have not been well understood in the context of alcohol‐impaired driving. This article examines the role of social support in motivating those with histories of driving while intoxicated (DWI) arrest to reduce alcohol use by testing 3 major models of social support: the Main‐Effects model, the Buffering model, and the Optimal Matching model.

Methods

One hundred and nineteen participants with histories of DWI arrest were recruited from a correctional treatment facility (n = 59) and the local community (n = 60). Participants completed interviews to assess alcohol consumption, psychiatric/physical conditions, and psychosocial factors associated with drinking behavior (e.g., social support, alcohol‐related problems, and motivation to change). Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the 3 models. Additionally, the relative magnitude of the effects of general and recovery‐specific social support was compared based on the approach of statistical inference of confidence intervals.

Results

Overall social support was positively associated with some motivation to change (i.e., importance of change, confidence in change) among alcohol‐impaired drivers, supporting the Main‐Effects model. However, the impact of overall social support on motivation to change was not moderated by alcohol‐related problems of individuals arrested for DWI, which did not confirm the Buffering model. Last, recovery‐specific social support, rather than general social support, contributed to increasing motivation to reduce alcohol use, which supported the Optimal Matching model.

Conclusions

These findings highlight the benefits of social support (i.e., increased motivation to change alcohol use) for alcohol‐impaired drivers. Regardless of the severity of alcohol‐related problems of alcohol‐impaired drivers, social support had direct positive impacts on motivation to change. In particular, the results underscore that social support can be more effective when it is matched to the recovery effort of individuals, which is consistent with the Optimal Matching model.
Receipt of radiotherapy after mastectomy in women with breast cancer: Population‐based cohort study in New Zealand
Authors: Latt Phyu Mon , Tin Tin Sandar , Elwood Mark , Lawrenson Ross , Campbell Ian
Published: November 2018

Purpose

To investigate the receipt of postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) in breast cancer patients in New Zealand for whom radiotherapy is strongly recommended in current clinical guidelines.

Method

This study involved all women who were diagnosed with primary invasive breast cancer in two health regions, had undergone a mastectomy, and met the “strong recommendation” criteria for PMRT based on New Zealand National Guidelines. We performed logistic regression analyses to identify demographic and clinical factors associated with the receipt of PMRT.

Results

Of the 1455 patients with stage II to III cancers included in this analysis, 1195 (82%) received radiotherapy. The receipt of PMRT decreased with increasing age, and was significantly lower in rural residents, Māori and Pacific women, those with more comorbidity, those who received primary cancer care in a public facility, and those diagnosed with stage III cancer. Although not significant, the receipt was also lower in patients who resided in more deprived neighborhood, and those with comorbidities. The findings restricted to stage III patients (n = 1325), and to those diagnosed since 2010 (n = 422), after the current guidelines were published, which were very similar to the whole cohort.

Conclusion

Disparities exist in the receipt of PMRT in breast cancer patients in New Zealand, underscoring the need for a greater equity focus in management of breast cancer.
Apples in action: Territoriality and land use politics of mountain agriculture in Taiwan
Authors: Hung Po‐Yi , Hsiao Hui‐Tsen
Published: November 2018

This essay outlines the symbolic and material transformation of mountain agriculture in Taiwan by tracing the historical trajectories of temperate fruit production, and of apple growing in particular. Specifically, we look at the area of Lishan, a major production centre for apples and other temperate fruits in Taiwan's Central Mountain Range in order to explore the relationship between the mountain agriculture and the politics of territorialisation. Focusing on the post‐war era, we argue that the development of mountain agriculture in Taiwan, and upland fruit growing in particular, has operated as a ‘more‐than‐human political technology’. The territory of Lishan is not just a passive geographical space, but engaged in a process of becoming, which re‐makes the mountain areas of Taiwan into ‘apple zones’ both spatially and socially. The spatial dimension centres on processes of political territorialisation, economic deterritorialisation and combined reterritorialisations whereby apple plantations have transformed the landscape from one focused on strategic politics to one embedded within development and market frameworks which entail their own particular forms of politics. The social dimensions are centred on the politics of forging connections among different elements circulating through the mountain areas of Taiwan, including apples, soldiers, transport infrastructures and agricultural policies.
Causal Inference Accounting for Unobserved Confounding After Outcome Regression and Doubly Robust Estimation
Authors: Genbäck Minna , de Luna Xavier
Published: November 2018

Causal inference with observational data can be performed under an assumption of no unobserved confounders (unconfoundedness assumption). There is, however, seldom clear subject-matter or empirical evidence for such an assumption. We therefore develop uncertainty intervals for average causal effects based on outcome regression estimators and doubly robust estimators, which provide inference taking into account both sampling variability and uncertainty due to unobserved confounders. In contrast with sampling variation, uncertainty due to unobserved confounding does not decrease with increasing sample size. The intervals introduced are obtained by modeling the treatment assignment mechanism and its correlation with the outcome given the observed confounders, allowing us to derive the bias of the estimators due to unobserved confounders. We are thus also able to contrast the size of the bias due to violation of the unconfoundedness assumption, with bias due to misspecification of the models used to explain potential outcomes. This is illustrated through numerical experiments where bias due to moderate unobserved confounding dominates misspecification bias for typical situations in terms of sample size and modeling assumptions. We also study the empirical coverage of the uncertainty intervals introduced and apply the results to a study of the effect of regular food intake on health. An R-package implementing the inference proposed is available.
Convex Clustering Analysis for Histogram-Valued Data
Authors: Park Cheolwoo , Choi Hosik , Delcher Chris , Wang Yanning , Yoon Young Joo
Published: November 2018

In recent years, there has been increased interest in symbolic data analysis, including for exploratory analysis, supervised and unsupervised learning, time series analysis, etc. Traditional statistical approaches that are designed to analyze single-valued data are not suitable because they cannot incorporate the additional information on data structure available in symbolic data, and thus new techniques have been proposed for symbolic data to bridge this gap. In this article, we develop a regularized convex clustering approach for grouping histogram-valued data. The convex clustering is a relaxation of hierarchical clustering methods, where prototypes are grouped by having exactly the same value in each group via penalization of parameters. We apply two different distance metrics to measure (dis)similarity between histograms. Various numerical examples confirm that the proposed method shows better performance than other competitors.
The efficacy of learning analytics interventions in higher education: A systematic review
Authors: Larrabee Sønderlund Anders , Hughes Emily , Smith Joanne
Published: November 2018

Educational institutions are increasingly turning to learning analytics to identify and intervene with students at risk of underperformance or discontinuation. However, the extent to which the current evidence base supports this investment is currently unclear, and particularly so in relation to the effectiveness of interventions based on predictive models. The aim of the present paper was to conduct a systematic review and quality assessment of studies on the use of learning analytics in higher education, focusing specifically on intervention studies. Search terms identified 689 papers, but only 11 studies evaluated the effectiveness of interventions based on learning analytics. These studies highlighted the potential of such interventions, but the general quality of the research was moderate, and left several important questions unanswered. The key recommendation based on this review is that more research into the implementation and evaluation of scientifically driven learning analytics is needed to build a solid evidence base for the feasibility, effectiveness and generalizability of such interventions. This is particularly relevant when considering the increasing tendency of educational institutions around the world to implement learning analytics interventions with only little evidence of their effectiveness.

Practitioner Notes

What is already known about this topic?

Drop‐out rates and underachivement is a significant issue at most Western universities.

Learning analytics have been shown to predict student performance and risk of dropping out.

Interventions based on learning analytics have emerged in recent years, some reportedly successful.

What this paper adds

The paper also reviews and synthesizes the evidence on the effectiveness of learning analytics interventions targeting student underperformance, experience and discontinuation.

The paper compares and contrasts past and current learning analytics methods and foci, and makes recommendations for the future research and practice.

It critically synthesizes the current evidence base on learning analytics interventions, which is a field that is in constant flux and development.

Implications for practice and/or policy

The paper focuses on an increasing part of higher education with the goal of validating learning analytics methods and usefulness.

The paper makes evidence‐based recommendations for institutions wishing to implement learning analytics programs and/or interventions.

The paper makes evidence‐based recommendations for instructors as well as researchers in the field.
20(S)‐ginsenoside‐Rg3 reverses temozolomide resistance and restrains epithelial‐mesenchymal transition progression in glioblastoma
Authors: Chen Zheng , Wei Xiangyu , Shen Lin , Zhu Hanshuo , Zheng Xuesheng
Published: November 2018

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most malignant human intracranial tumors. Temozolomide (TMZ) is the primary alkylating agent for GBM patients. However, many GBM patients are resistant to TMZ. Therefore, patients with GBM urgently need more effective therapeutic options. 20(S)‐ginsenoside‐Rg3 (20(S)‐Rg3) is a natural chemical with anti‐tumor effects, but at present there is little understanding of its functional mechanism. Several research reports have demonstrated that O6‐methylguanine DNA‐methyltransferase (MGMT) repairs damaged DNA and contributes to TMZ resistance in gliomas. In addition, recent studies have shown that MGMT gene expression could be regulated by the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. However, whether 20(S)‐Rg3 inhibits MGMT expression and augments chemosensitivity to Temozolomide (TMZ) in glioma cells remains unclear. In this study, we explored the modulating effects of 20(S)‐Rg3 on MGMT. We used glioma cell lines, primary cell strain (including T98G, U118 and GBM‐XX; all of them are MGMT‐positive glioma cell lines) and xenograft glioma models to examine whether 20(S)‐Rg3 increased the sensitivity to TMZ and to reveal the underlying mechanisms. We found that the MGMT expression was effectively downregulated by 20(S)‐Rg3 via the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway in glioma cell lines, and TMZ resistance was significantly reversed by 20(S)‐Rg3. Meanwhile, 20(S)‐Rg3 shows no obvious cytotoxicity at its effective dose and is well tolerated in vivo. In addition, we found that 20(S)‐Rg3 significantly restrains the epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) progression of glioma cells. Taken together, these results indicate that 20(S)‐Rg3 may be a novel agent to use in treatment of GBM, especially in TMZ‐resistant GBM with high MGMT expression.
Nuclear factor‐kappa B‐dependent X‐box binding protein 1 signalling promotes the proliferation of nucleus pulposus cells under tumour necrosis factor alpha stimulation
Authors: Chen Lu , Xie Zhi‐Yang , Liu Lei , Zhu Lei , Wang Feng , Fan Pan , Sinkemani Arjun , Zhang Cong , Hong Xin , Wu Xiao‐Tao
Published: November 2018

Objectives

Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) expressed by nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) plays a critical role in intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. A key unfolded protein response (UPR) component, X‐box binding protein 1 (XBP1) and nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) are essential for cell survival and proliferation. The aim of our study was to elucidate the roles of XBP1 and NF‐κB in IVD degeneration (IDD).

Materials and methods

Rat NPCs were cultured with TNF‐α in the presence or absence of XBP1 and NF‐κB‐p65 small interfering RNA. The associated genes and proteins were evaluated through quantitative real‐time PCR, Western blot analyses and immunofluorescence staining to monitor UPR and NF‐κB signalling and identify the regulatory mechanism of p65 by XBP1. Cell counting kit‐8 assay, cell cycle analysis and related gene and protein expression were performed to examine the proliferation of NPCs.

Results

The acute exposure of TNF‐α accelerated the proliferation of rat NPCs by activating the UPR/XBP1 pathway. XBP1 signalling favoured the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of p65 subunit of NF‐κB. The activation of NF‐κB in the later phase also enhanced NPC proliferation.

Conclusions

Unfolded protein response reinforces the survival and proliferation of NPCs under TNF‐α stimulation by activating the XBP1 pathway, and NF‐κB serves as a vital mediator in these events. The XBP1 signalling of UPR can be a novel therapeutic target in IDD.
High concordance of BRAF mutational status in matched primary and metastatic melanoma
Authors: Cormican David , Kennedy Ciaran , Murphy Sandra , Werner Reiltin , Power Derek G. , Heffron Cynthia C. B. B.
Published: November 2018

Background

Techniques for the accurate identification of activating mutations of BRAF in metastatic melanoma are of great clinical importance, due to the availability of targeted therapies for these tumors. There is uncertainty regarding the frequency with which BRAF status differs between primary and metastatic sites.

Methods

Between 2011 and 2016, 219 melanoma cases underwent BRAF testing in our institution. In 53 of these cases, paired primary and metastatic specimens were available for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and immunohistochemical evaluation.

Results

Fifty‐two out of 53 cases (98%) showed concordant BRAF status between primary and metastatic site by immunohistochemistry (IHC). In one case, a metastasis and its matched primary were positive by IHC, but the metastasis was negative on PCR. On further investigation, PCR was positive in the primary, and repeat PCR in the metastasis was positive, following macrodissection.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that discordance of BRAF mutational status between primaries and metastases is a rare occurrence. In one case, IHC provided strong evidence that initial PCR testing had provided a false‐negative result due to low tumor volume. Thus, in cases where tissue is difficult to obtain from a metastasis or unavailable, the primary tumor can be used with confidence.
Clusters as Innovation Engines: The Accelerating Strengths of Proximity
Authors: Ferras‐Hernandez Xavier , Nylund Petra A.
Published: November 2018

As economic competition is becoming global, innovation clusters emerge as a salient level of competitive analysis. We hence study when and how innovation clusters strengthen innovation at firm level. We review insights in this topic from different theoretical perspectives, for example, neoclassical economics, evolutionary economics, behavioral economics, strategic management and open innovation, in search of a comprehensive theoretical framework that explains the relationship between firm innovation and the concentration of innovative activities in the proximity. We then deduce five strengths which drive technological change in innovation clusters, namely attraction, information, interaction, anticipation, and rivalry. The model has implications for researchers, managers, and policymakers and contributes to our understanding of the acceleration of innovation within clusters.
Increased expression of PD1 and CD39 on CD3+CD4+ skin T cells in the elderly
Authors: Zuelgaray Elina , Boccara David , Ly Ka So Sophie , Boismal Françoise , Mimoun Maurice , Bagot Martine , Bensussan Armand , Bouaziz Jean‐David , Michel Laurence
Published: November 2018

Normal ageing is associated with an impaired systemic immune response contributing to an increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the lymphocyte phenotype in human skin from old and young healthy subjects. Skin samples from donors were used for explant cultures before flow cytometric analysis. Our results depicted a higher proportion of CD4+ and a lower proportion of CD8+ among CD3+ T cells, a decreased proportion of CD45RA+ naive T cells (3.5 ± 1.9% vs 22.9 ± 11.1%, P ≤ 0.007) and an upregulation of the expression of CD39 and PD1 on CD3+CD4+ T cells (25.1 ± 8.5% vs 12.5 ± 8.5%, P ≤ 0.003, 68.8 ± 11.6% vs 50.0 ± 11.3%, P ≤ 0.01, respectively) in the skin of old subjects. These findings could explain a reduced generation of long‐lived memory T cells and an impaired antitumoral response in the skin of the elderly.
Tacrolimus overexposure in kidney transplant recipients during the first post‐operative week: caution is required in older patients
Authors: Lemaitre Florian , Lorcy Nolwen , Tron Camille , Golbin Léonard , Petitcollin Antoine , Verdier Marie‐Clémence , Vigneau Cécile , Bellissant Eric
Published: November 2018

In liver transplantation, tacrolimus trough concentrations (Cmin) above 20 ng/mL during the first days led to worse outcome at 1 year but data in the kidney transplant (KT) era are scarce. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of tacrolimus overexposure during the first week post‐transplantation on the kidney function (KF) of KT recipients. In this retrospective study, 105 KT recipients were attributed to overexposure group (OG) or normal group according to their Cmin during the first week of treatment. KF was evaluated by comparing the rate of delayed graft function (DGF) and by collecting plasma creatinine from day 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 21, 28 and at 1 year. Risk factors for developing DGF were also investigated using a multivariate model. DGF was more frequent in OG (43% of patients; P = 0.027) which has higher plasma creatinine on day 7, 14, and 21. OG patients were older with more extended criteria donor's grafts. In the multivariate analysis, only cold ischemia time (CIT) remained associated with DGF (OR = 1.003), while TAC overexposure did not reach significance (P = 0.06; OR = 3.9). In this study, we confirmed the predominant role of CIT as a risk factor for the onset of DGF in kidney transplantation. 43% of KT recipients were overexposed with more DGF, especially older patients.
Phosphomimetic‐mediated in vitro rescue of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy linked to R58Q mutation in myosin regulatory light chain
Authors: Yadav Sunil , Kazmierczak Katarzyna , Liang Jingsheng , Sitbon Yoel H. , Szczesna‐Cordary Danuta
Published: November 2018

Myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) phosphorylation is important for cardiac muscle mechanics/function as well as for the Ca2+‐troponin/tropomyosin regulation of muscle contraction. This study focuses on the arginine to glutamine (R58Q) substitution in the human ventricular RLC (MYL2 gene), linked to malignant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in humans and causing severe functional abnormalities in transgenic (Tg) R58Q mice, including inhibition of cardiac RLC phosphorylation. Using a phosphomimic recombinant RLC variant where Ser‐15 at the phosphorylation site was substituted with aspartic acid (S15D) and placed in the background of R58Q, we aimed to assess whether we could rescue/mitigate R58Q‐induced structural/functional abnormalities in vitro. We show rescue of several R58Q‐exerted adverse phenotypes in S15D‐R58Q‐reconstituted porcine cardiac muscle preparations. A low level of maximal isometric force observed for R58Q‐ versus WT‐reconstituted fibers was restored by S15D‐R58Q. Significant beneficial effects were also observed on the Vmax of actin‐activated myosin ATPase activity in S15D‐R58Q versus R58Q‐reconstituted myosin, along with its binding to fluorescently labeled actin. We also report that R58Q promotes the OFF state of myosin, both in reconstituted porcine fibers and in Tg mouse papillary muscles, thereby stabilizing the super‐relaxed state (SRX) of myosin, characterized by a very low ATP turnover rate. Experiments in S15D‐R58Q‐reconstituted porcine fibers showed a mild destabilization of the SRX state, suggesting an S15D‐mediated shift in disordered‐relaxed (DRX)↔SRX equilibrium toward the DRX state of myosin. Our study shows that S15D‐phosphomimic can be used as a potential rescue strategy to abrogate/alleviate the RLC mutation‐induced phenotypes and is a likely candidate for therapeutic intervention in HCM patients.
An experimental investigation on the fatigue crack growth behaviour of AISI/SAE 1045 under load sequences containing underloads
Authors: Richter Hannes , Sander Manuela
Published: November 2018

The estimation of load interaction effects is essential for residual lifetime calculations of components with cracks. Whereas overloads are widely investigated, there is still no consensus about the effects and mechanisms of underloads. For this reason, load sequences containing underloads are experimentally examined within this paper. Because Kmax and R are not appropriate for describing the cyclic crack tip loading at tension/compression loading, the σtip concept is used to quantify the crack driving force at compressive loads. Among others, the tests also include load sequences that have not been reported in the literature yet like underloads that are applied at a certain distance after an overload. The influence of underloads on crack arrest is also investigated. The experimental tests are performed with the tool steel AISI/SAE 1045.
The spatial scale of homogenisation and differentiation in Chihuahuan Desert fish assemblages
Authors: Taylor Christopher M. , Miyazono Seiji , Cheek Christopher A. , Edwards Robert J. , Patiño Reynaldo
Published: November 2018

We examined riverine desert fish assemblages in the Chihuahuan Desert, U.S.A. at multiple spatial scales of similarity to assess long‐term changes to assemblage distinctiveness, identify individual species responsible for changes, and determine the importance of geographic context and species resolution in interpreting patterns of change.

We used a well‐documented historical data set on fish distribution and abundance, and recent collections of fishes that provided a paired analytical design across 36 localities spanning nearly 3 decades. Patterns of faunal homogenisation and differentiation were assessed at basin‐wide, sub‐basin and river‐reach scales with species occurrence and relative abundance data. Individual species responses were examined to identify the drivers of assemblage change across time.

Patterns of assemblage similarity varied across spatial scales and produced seemingly incongruous trends across time. Assemblage distinctiveness depended on the spatial extent of the analyses, the geographical structuring of the fish assemblages, and whether occurrence or relative abundance data were used. These dependencies led to interesting and conflicting patterns of homogenisation and differentiation. The Rio Grande sub‐basin showed strong homogenisation with convergence between upstream and downstream reaches that corresponded to declining water quality and quantity from the Rio Conchos in Mexico. In contrast, the Pecos River sub‐basin showed strong differentiation between upstream and downstream reaches that corresponded to the successful colonisation and spread of the non‐native gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis) in the upper reach, where water quantity and quality have declined. Spatial variability in fish assemblages and their degree of change from historical conditions were largely congruent with anthropogenic modifications to the flow regime and variability in the success of invasive gulf killifish in the basin.

The use of species occurrence as opposed to relative abundance data, and the spatial scale of analysis are crucial choices in studies of faunal homogenisation and differentiation, and we have demonstrated how these choices lead to variable results for our study system. Our multi‐scale approach and examination of individual species responses identified the ultimate drivers of these differences and illustrated the importance of scale‐dependent effects and geographical context on patterns of assemblage distinctiveness, especially with regard to species invasion, species loss and relative abundance shifts.
Organismal stoichiometry at the temporal scale: Seasonal variability shapes interspecific differences in fish
Authors: Mozsár Attila , Sály Péter , Antal László , Nagy Sándor Alex , Boros Gergely
Published: November 2018

Changes in organismal stoichiometry (OS) may be driven by seasonal changes in lipid reserves (i.e. energy) and gonadal development in fish. However, these relationships are understudied. Hence, we investigated how seasonal changes in body lipid content and gonadal development can drive the seasonal variability of OS traits at the example of three coexisting freshwater fish species. Furthermore, we aimed to assess the importance of seasonal OS alteration in comparison with interspecific differences.

Carbon (%C), nitrogen (%N) and phosphorus (%P) contents, and the molar ratios of these elements (C:N, C:P and N:P) were examined in rudd (Scardinius erythrophthalmus), pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus) and Amur sleeper (Perccottus glenii). We consider the sex and seasonal changes in body size as a potential factor in shaping OS.

Substantial seasonal intraspecific variability occurred in all OS traits. Its extent exceeded interspecific differences in %C, %N and C:N, while %P and C:P, N:P were determined primarily by species identity. The effect of sex occurred sporadically and was considerable in some cases. Seasonal changes in total length did not contribute to intraspecific variability of OS. Intra‐annual changes in body lipid content affected seasonal variability of OS traits substantially, but the strength of this effect was species‐specific. The regulatory role of lipid reserve alterations worked only for those species that exhibited considerable seasonal variation in body fat content. Gonado‐somatic index proved to be marginal in shaping seasonal changes in OS, presumably because a substantial portion of the essential elemental demand for gonadal growth is supplied by rearrangements within the body, without notable changes in the entire elemental composition.

In the light of our findings, we suggest that more attention should be given to the influence of seasonal variability in OS traits, and sex should be considered as a taxon‐dependent effect. Ignoring this substantial degree of variability might lead to inaccuracies in assessing the extent of both intra‐ and interspecific OS differences. We conclude that seasonal OS variability might shape consumer‐driven nutrient dynamics.
Deficiency of sterol regulatory element‐binding protein‐1c induces schizophrenia‐like behavior in mice
Authors: Lee Sueun , Kang Sohi , Ang Mary Jasmin , Kim Juhwan , Kim Jong Choon , Kim Sung‐Ho , Jeon Tae‐Il , Jung Chaeyong , Im Seung‐Soon , Moon Changjong
Published: November 2018

Schizophrenia is a hereditary disease that approximately 1% of the worldwide population develops. Many studies have investigated possible underlying genes related to schizophrenia. Recently, clinical studies suggested sterol regulatory element‐binding protein (SREBP) as a susceptibility gene in patients with schizophrenia. SREBP controls cellular lipid homeostasis by three isoforms: SREBP‐1a, SREBP‐1c and SREBP‐2. This study used SREBP‐1c knockout (KO) mice to examine whether a deficiency in SREBP‐1c would affect their emotional and psychiatric behaviors. Altered mRNA expression in genes downstream from SREBP‐1c was confirmed in the brains of SREBP‐1c KO mice. Schizophrenia‐like behavior, including hyperactivity during the dark phase, depressive‐like behavior, aggressive behavior and deficits in social interaction and prepulse inhibition, was observed in SREBP‐1c KO mice. Furthermore, increased volume of the lateral ventricle was detected in SREBP‐1c KO mice. The mRNA levels of several γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA)‐receptor subtypes and/or glutamic acid decarboxylase 65/67 decreased in the hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex of SREBP‐1c KO mice. Thus, SREBP‐1c deficiency may contribute to enlargement of the lateral ventricle and development of schizophrenia‐like behaviors and be associated with altered GABAergic transmission.
Inter‐person Separation: A New Objective Standard for Evaluating the Spatial Fairness of Political Redistricting Plans
Authors: Plane David A. , Tong Daoqin , Lei Ting
Published: November 2018

The fundamental basis for territorial political representation is the presumption that people share greater common interests with others in closer geographic proximity than with people farther away. This principle is found in U.S. legal requirements that districts for the House of Representatives and state legislatures should not needlessly divide “communities of interest” and should be “reasonably compact.” We propose a new objective standard to evaluate spatial fairness of redistricting plans: the extent to which a delineation minimizes total distance between all pairs of people assigned to the same district. To date, the legal standard of compactness has primarily been thought of in terms of the shapes of political districts, but boundary shape may have little correspondence with how populations are actually clustered and dispersed. Inter‐person separation, by contrast, provides a direct, intuitive metric for evaluating the congruence of districting plans with the territorial basis of political representation. To operationalize an inter‐person separation standard, we propose a model and present a heuristic method for delineating comparator districting schemes. We apply the standard to the current U.S. Congressional Districts in the states of Arizona and North Carolina to demonstrate how inter‐person separation could be used to develop and vet future redistricting plans.
Spontini and the City: Bach and Musical Politics in Berlin
Authors: Papanikolaou Eftychia
Published: November 2018

In April 1828, Gaspare Spontini conducted aconcert spirituelat the Berlin Opera that included sections of the Credo from J. S. Bach'sMass in B minorand the Kyrie and Gloria from Beethoven'sMissa solemnis. Spontini was Italian by birth, had conquered Parisian opera houses, and was at the time Generalmusikdirektor of the Berlin Opera. Amidst turbulent controversy and consequent intrigues, Spontini's decision to pair Bach and Beethoven on the program encoded the concert with an overt political statement—the two giants of German music would be viewed in the context of the wider nationalistic politics surrounding German music in general and opera in particular in the first half of the nineteenth century. This essay places Spontini's concert in the context of the early nineteenth‐century Bach revival that preceded Mendelssohn's much anticipated performance of theSt. Matthew Passionby almost a year.
Critical Formalism: Max Graf, Julius Korngold, and the Language of “Modern Music” in Vienna around 1900
Authors: Gentry Jonathan
Published: November 2018

Max Graf and Julius Korngold legitimated modernism in music. These two Viennese music critics redefined the avant‐garde music of Strauss, Mahler, Schoenberg, and others by incorporating literary concepts of “die Moderne” into the analysis of musical form. Not only did Graf and Korngold take the concept of modernity as a synonym for “avant‐garde” seriously in order to refer to an era of rapid change, energetic movement, and technophilia, but they clarified how avant‐garde music expressed these qualities at the level of musical language, i.e., form. As “critical formalists,” Graf and Korngold pioneered both twentieth‐century terminology for music and analytical methods that anticipated Adorno. This article reassesses the origins of musical modernism in Vienna by focusing on critics and their ambivalence toward “die Moderne,” rather than on composers and a crisis of politics.
Jazz als literarisches Symbol der (Unterhaltungs‐)Kultur in der Weimarer Republik
Authors: Höfer Hannes
Published: November 2018

Der Artikel untersucht Jazz als ein literarisches Symbol in seiner Funktion für die Kultur der Weimarer Republik. Es wird gezeigt, welche maßgebliche Rolle Romane von Vicki Baum, Bruno Frank, Erwin Sedding, Hans Janowitz und Hermann Hesse ab Mitte der 1920er Jahre bei der Etablierung der symbolischen Bedeutung von Jazz in der deutschen Gesellschaft spielen, wobei Jazz in diesen Büchern manchmal kritisch, in anderen Fällen jedoch auch positiv dargestellt wird. Diese Romane nehmen einerseits teil an der zeitgenössischen Debatte um Zustand und Zukunft der deutschen Kultur. Andererseits verhandeln sie durch ihren Bezug auf Jazz indirekt auch den Standort von Literatur innerhalb der Kultur der Weimarer Republik.