bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research group experiences and intent to complete
Authors: Borrego Maura , Knight David B. , Choe Nathan Hyungsok
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to better understand the nature of graduate training experiences in research groups and to identify factors that may lead to increased student retention and success.

Design/methodology/approach

Surveys administered at four US universities resulted in quantitative responses from 130 Master’s and 702 doctoral engineering students participating in graduate research groups. Missing data were imputed, and responses were weighted by gender, discipline, degree program and nationality. Exploratory factor analysis identified four factors describing research group experiences. Regression models were built for two outcomes: satisfaction with research group experience and intention to complete degree. Control variables included gender, discipline, degree program, nationality, year in program and institution.

Findings

Fifty-five per cent of the variance in satisfaction was described by a model including agency, support, international diversity and group climate. Sixty-five per cent of variance in intent to complete was described by a model comprising international diversity, agency and support. Several control variables were significant.

Originality/value

Agency and support in particular were the most influential predictors of both satisfaction and intention, suggesting that future efforts should emphasize stable funding, clear expectations, access to mentors and agency-building experiences to help students take an active role in their own success.
Reflections on change in doctoral education: an Australian case study
Authors: Kiley Margaret
Published: November 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to reflect on the development of Australian doctoral education after the program commenced, initially at the University of Melbourne, following the end of the Second World War.

Design/methodology/approach

While utilizing the rich literature on doctoral education in Australia, the paper adopts a chronological approach to key issues that have had particular impact on the Australian doctorate since the mid-1980s.

Findings

Three major reports have had particular impact on the Australian PhD which was based on the Oxbridge model of supervisor/candidate with little or no coursework.

Originality/value

This reflection brings together a number of threads in Australia’s PhD program based on a wide range of historical and contemporary literature.
Site-specific technical and economic analysis of wind power potential and energy generation using Weibull parameters
Authors: Hulio Zahid Hussain , Jiang Wei
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to find out a new potential site for energy generation to maximize the energy generation via installing utility wind turbines.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, Weibull two-parameter methodologies are used to determine the effectiveness of the wind speed at three different heights including 80, 60 and 30 m. Standard deviation and wind power density (WPD) are also calculated for the site. After analyzing the wind resource, the wind turbine selection is materialized to maximize the energy production, considering the best configuration of the wind turbines that is suitable for the site. In the end, economic aspect is also calculated.

Findings

The mean Weibull dimensionless parameter k is found to be 2.91, 2.845 and 2.617, respectively. The mean Weibull scale parameter c is found to be 6.736, 6.524 and 6.087 at the heights of 80, 60 and 30 m, respectively. The mean standard deviation is found to be 2.297, 2.249 and 2.157 at the heights of 80, 60 and 30 m at the heights of 80, 60 and 30 m, respectively. Wind power densities are calculated to be 265, 204 and 157.9 W/m2 at the heights of 80, 60 and 30 m, respectively (highest in the month of July when the mean wind speed is 7.707 m/s and WPD is 519 W/m2). Finally, site-specific economic analysis of wind turbines is carried out, which shows $0.0230 per kWh at the height of 80 m.

Originality/value

The results show that the site is beneficial for the installation of small and large wind turbines.
University libraries-bridging digital gaps and accelerating the achievement of sustainable development goals through information and communication technologies
Authors: Anasi Stella Ngozi , Ukangwa Clement Chinemerem , Fagbe Abimbola
Published: November 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of university libraries in accelerating the achievement of sustainable development goals (SDGs) through information and communication technologies (ICTs).

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a descriptive survey design using a researcher developed questionnaire for data collection. In all, 103 professional librarians working in all the university libraries in Ogun State, Nigeria were surveyed. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 19) was used to run the analysis.

Findings

The university libraries in Ogun State, Nigeria are not lagging behind in the provision of ICT facilities for the delivery of twenty-first century library services. The paper highlights the critical role of university libraries in bridging digital gaps by taking advantage of ICTs to accelerate the attainment of SDGs. ICTs have the capacity to accelerate the actualisation of SDG in all communities. However, illiteracy, lack of political accountability and transparency, lack of financial resources and inadequate power supply were the major challenges impeding the achievement of SDGs in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Practical implications

This paper establishes the role of university libraries in bridging digital gaps through ICTs in order to facilitate the attainment of SDGs.

Originality/value

The paper originality lies in its concise articulation of the roles of university libraries and ICTs in the actualisation of SDGs. Library and information professionals who are eager to contribute their quota to the achievement of SDGs will find this article useful.
Why Do Established Practices Deinstitutionalize? An Actor‐Centred Approach
Authors: Chaudhry Sara , Rubery Jill
Published: November 2017

Drawing on 63 in‐depth interviews from three American multinationals, we investigate how individual actors negotiate the interplay of insider and outsider pressures on the deinstitutionalization of four employment practices in an institutionally complex setting. Existing institutional theory highlights different degrees of deinstitutionalization, from complete abandonment of practices to partial erosion, with an underlying presumption of organizations and actors striving for stability and stasis. However, the present study finds that actor reconciliation of interacting insider and outsider pressures can result in three distinct phases of deinstitutionalization (complete, partial and negotiated deinstitutionalization), which crucially coexist, suggesting perpetual instability and change. The authors conceptualize the individual‐level enabling conditions for each of these different phases of deinstitutionalization, highlighting a range of actor responses as well as differences in how actors exercise agency across each phase. Examining actor negotiation of the interplay of insider and outsider pressures improves our understanding of how individuals engage in differential institutional work when responding to practice deinstitutionalization.
Will comments change your opinion? The persuasion effects of online comments and heuristic cues in crisis communication
Authors: Hong Seoyeon , Cameron Glen T.
Published: November 2017

The emergence of online communication reflects a shift in communication practitioners’ roles, with more emphasis on interactive features in news such as writing online comments and clicking “like” on such comments. A 2 (consistency: consistent crisis responsibility attribution between online news and online comments vs. inconsistent responsibility attribution) × 2 (heuristic cues: high vs. low number of “likes” clicked) mixed subject design was tested on N = 389 samples. The findings of this study showed that participants tended to attribute less crisis responsibility and held an improved regard of reputation towards a corporation when they read online comments defending the corporation compared to when participants only read the news. Our findings suggest corporate communication practitioners should acknowledge the role of online comments that could motivate people to attribute crisis responsibility in a positive direction.
Genetic monitoring of open ocean biodiversity: An evaluation of DNA metabarcoding for processing continuous plankton recorder samples
Authors: Deagle Bruce E. , Clarke Laurence J. , Kitchener John A. , Polanowski Andrea M. , Davidson Andrew T.
Published: November 2017

DNA metabarcoding is an efficient method for measuring biodiversity, but the process of initiating long‐term DNA‐based monitoring programmes, or integrating with conventional programs, is only starting. In marine ecosystems, plankton surveys using the continuous plankton recorder (CPR) have characterized biodiversity along transects covering millions of kilometres with time‐series spanning decades. We investigated the potential for use of metabarcoding in CPR surveys. Samples (n = 53) were collected in two Southern Ocean transects and metazoans identified using standard microscopic methods and by high‐throughput sequencing of a cytochrome c oxidase subunit I marker. DNA increased the number of metazoan species identified and provided high‐resolution taxonomy of groups problematic in conventional surveys (e.g., larval echinoderms and hydrozoans). Metabarcoding also generally produced more detections than microscopy, but this sensitivity may make cross‐contamination during sampling a problem. In some samples, the prevalence of DNA from large plankton such as krill masked the presence of smaller species. We investigated adding a fixed amount of exogenous DNA to samples as an internal control to allow determination of relative plankton biomass. Overall, the metabarcoding data represent a substantial shift in perspective, making direct integration into current long‐term time‐series challenging. We discuss a number of hurdles that exist for progressing DNA metabarcoding from the current snapshot studies to the requirements of a long‐term monitoring programme. Given the power and continually increasing efficiency of metabarcoding, it is almost certain this approach will play an important role in future plankton monitoring.
ReadTools: A universal toolkit for handling sequence data from different sequencing platforms
Authors: Gómez‐Sánchez Daniel , Schlötterer Christian
Published: November 2017

Sequencing whole genomes has become a standard research tool in many disciplines including Molecular Ecology, but the rapid technological advances in combination with several competing platforms have resulted in a confusing diversity of formats. This lack of standard formats causes several problems, such as undocumented preprocessing steps or the loss of information in downstream software tools, which do not account for the specifics of the different available formats. ReadTools is an open‐source Java toolkit designed to standardize and preprocess read data from different platforms. It manages FASTQ‐ and SAM‐formatted inputs while dealing with platform‐specific peculiarities and provides a standard SAM compliant output. The code and executable are available at https://github.com/magicDGS/ReadTools.
Financial Statement Comparability and the Efficiency of Acquisition Decisions
Authors: Chen Ciao‐Wei , Collins Daniel W. , Kravet Todd D. , Mergenthaler Richard D.
Published: November 2017

This study examines whether acquirers make better acquisition decisions when target firms’ financial statements exhibit greater comparability with industry peer firms. We predict and find that acquirers make more profitable acquisition decisions when target firms’ financial statements are more comparable—as evidenced by higher merger announcement returns, higher acquisition synergies, and better future operating performance. We also find that post‐acquisition goodwill impairments and post‐acquisition divestitures are less likely when target firms’ financial statements are more comparable. Finally, we find that acquirers benefit most from comparability when acquirers’ ex ante information asymmetry is higher, acquirers operate in volatile operating environments, and management knows relatively less about the target. In total, our evidence suggests targets’ financial statement comparability helps acquirers make better acquisition‐investment decisions and fosters more efficient capital allocation.
Fine‐scale spatial distribution of murundus structures in the semi‐arid region of Brazil
Authors: De Souza Henrique J. , Delabie Jacques H. C.
Published: November 2017

Murundus are earth mounds widespread in most landscapes in the semi‐arid region of Brazil. Evidence obtained from predictive modelling has suggested a termite origin for these structures, opening up new opportunities for further research. Distribution of densely packed murundus at larger spatial scales is most related to climatic regime and soil nutrient availability. However, factors and processes underlying their distribution and density at smaller spatial scales are not yet fully understood. In this study, we adopted an approach based on mapping point data using high‐resolution satellite imagery, multi‐scale second‐order analysis and general linear models to examine the fine‐scale spatial distribution and density of murundus. Our results suggest that the distribution of those structures within densely packed areas is regulated by more than one process acting or interacting across multiple spatial scales. All densely packed murundus showed a significant regular distribution at the distance scale of up to 50 m radially and a completely random distribution across all other upper distance scales. We interpret the regular pattern as a result of competition for foraging territories between different termite colonies during the process formation of densely packed murundus. The random pattern at larger distance scales (above 50 m radially) can be attributed to habitat selection preferences by termite species builders of murundus mediated by local environmental resources and conditions (i.e. availability of food resources and nesting and open habitat), which would be randomly distributed in space. Thus, at finer spatial scales murundus distributions are associated with biotic interactions acting on an abiotic template. On the basis of significant linear correlations, we suggest that the density of murundus is strongly related to local temperature regime with soil‐type influencing its effect on the murundus densities. Our findings provide novel evidences that mound‐building termites are involved in the formation of murundus in the semi‐arid region of Brazil.
How many geriatricians should, at minimum, be staffing health regions in Australia?
Authors: Commerford Toby
Published: November 2017

In any particular region, determining an adequate, quantifiable geriatrician full‐time equivalent required to run geriatric medicine services comprehensively – that is spanning both inpatient and outpatient settings – remains an imperfect science. Whilst workforce planning may be addressed through ‘demand versus supply’ simulations, ‘specialist‐to‐patient ratios’ (SPRs) may be a useful additional workforce metric. There has never been a yardstick SPR, which ‘defines’ a satisfactory level of geriatrician manpower in any particular Australian hospital catchment. Here, a new methodology is proposed (tailored specifically to Australian geriatrics), illustrating how we may begin to transparently deduce such a national benchmark SPR. Allowing for some empiricism, the method presently favours an SPR approximating ‘0.4 full‐time equivalent of geriatrician time per 10 000 head of population’ in regions with ‘average’ population age distribution; this level of manpower may afford specialist assessment of targeted patients (widely capturing geriatric cases from acute to community settings). Further discussion on workforce planning methodologies is warranted.
A randomised controlled trial comparing high‐flow nasal oxygen with standard management for conscious sedation during bronchoscopy
Authors: Douglas N. , Ng I. , Nazeem F. , Lee K. , Mezzavia P. , Krieser R. , Steinfort D. , Irving L. , Segal R.
Published: November 2017

Traditional conscious sedation for endobronchial ultrasound procedures places patients at risk of desaturation, and high‐flow nasal oxygen may reduce the risk. We designed a parallel‐group randomised controlled trial of high‐flow nasal oxygen at a flow rate of 30–70 l.min−1 via nasal cannulae, compared with standard oxygen therapy at 10 l.min−1 via a bite block in adults planned for conscious sedation for endobronchial ultrasound. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients experiencing desaturation (defined as SpO2 < 90%). Secondary outcomes included oxygen saturation after pre‐oxygenation, lowest oxygen saturation during procedure, number of hypoxic episodes, duration of hypoxia, end‐procedure end‐tidal CO2, satisfaction scores and complications. Thirty participants were allocated to each group. Baseline patient characteristics, procedure time and anaesthetic agents used were similar between the groups. Desaturation occurred in 4 out of 30 patients allocated to the high‐flow nasal oxygen group, compared with 10 out of 30 allocated to the standard oxygenation group, a non‐significant difference (p = 0.07) with intention to treat analysis. The difference was significant (p = 0.047) when using a per‐protocol analysis. Oxygen saturation after pre‐oxygenation and the lowest oxygen saturation during procedure were significantly higher in the high‐flow nasal oxygen group compared with the standard oxygenation group; median (IQR [range] 100 (99–100 [93–100]) vs. 98 (97–99 [94–100]), p = 0.0001 and 97.5 (94–99 [77–100]) vs. 92 (88–95 [79–98]), p < 0.001, respectively. There were no differences in other secondary outcomes. Although high‐flow nasal oxygen may prevent desaturation due to some causes, it does not protect against hypoxaemia in all circumstances.
A new REML (parameter expanded) EM algorithm for linear mixed models
Authors: Diffey S. M. , Smith A. B. , Welsh A. H. , Cullis B. R.
Published: November 2017

Linear mixed models are regularly applied to animal and plant breeding data to evaluate genetic potential. Residual maximum likelihood (REML) is the preferred method for estimating variance parameters associated with this type of model. Typically an iterative algorithm is required for the estimation of variance parameters. Two algorithms which can be used for this purpose are the expectation‐maximisation (EM) algorithm and the parameter expanded EM (PX‐EM) algorithm. Both, particularly the EM algorithm, can be slow to converge when compared to a Newton‐Raphson type scheme such as the average information (AI) algorithm. The EM and PX‐EM algorithms require specification of the complete data, including the incomplete and missing data. We consider a new incomplete data specification based on a conditional derivation of REML. We illustrate the use of the resulting new algorithm through two examples: a sire model for lamb weight data and a balanced incomplete block soybean variety trial. In the cases where the AI algorithm failed, a REML PX‐EM based on the new incomplete data specification converged in 28% to 30% fewer iterations than the alternative REML PX‐EM specification. For the soybean example a REML EM algorithm using the new specification converged in fewer iterations than the current standard specification of a REML PX‐EM algorithm. The new specification integrates linear mixed models, Henderson's mixed model equations, REML and the REML EM algorithm into a cohesive framework.
Asphyxiated neonates who received active therapeutic hypothermia during transport had higher rates of hypocapnia than controls
Authors: Szakmar Eniko , Kovacs Kata , Meder Unoke , Bokodi Geza , Szell Andras , Somogyvari Zsolt , Szabo Attila J. , Szabo Miklos , Jermendy Agnes
Published: November 2017

Aim

We investigated the association between active hypothermia and hypocapnia in neonates with moderate‐to‐severe hypoxic‐ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) transported after birth.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of neonates with HIE born between 2007 and 2011 and transported to Semmelweis University, Hungary, for hypothermia treatment before and after we introduced active cooling during transport in 2009. Of these, 71 received intensive care plus controlled active hypothermia during transport, while the 46 controls just received standard intensive care. Incident hypocapnia was defined as a partial pressure of carbon‐dioxide (pCO2) that decreased below 35 mm Hg during transport. Multivariable logistic regression investigated the relationship between hypothermia and incident hypocapnia.

Results

Incident hypocapnia was more frequent in the actively cooled transport group (36.6%) than control group (17.4%; p = 0.025). pCO2 decreased from a median of 45 to 35 mm Hg (p < 0.0001) in the intervention group, but remained unchanged in the controls. After adjusting for confounders, hypothermia remained an independent risk factor for hypocapnia with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.23 and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of 1.30–13.79. Sedation was associated with a reduction in OR of hypocapnia, at 0.35 (95% CI 0.12–0.98).

Conclusions

Hypothermia increased the risk of hypocapnia in neonates with HIE during transport.
Conservative Reporting and the Incremental Effect of Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation Policy: A Comparative Analysis of Audit Partner Rotation vs Audit Firm Rotation in South Korea
Authors: Mali Dafydd , Lim Hyoung‐joo
Published: November 2017

In this paper, we take advantage of Korea's unique experiment with mandatory audit firm rotation (MAFR) and mandatory audit partner rotation (MAPR) to ascertain their influence on audit quality, proxied by conditional conservatism. Overall, we find that the implementation of MAFR did not have the desired effect. Firms that adopted MAFR demonstrate higher levels of conservatism in previous periods under MAPR (or compared to voluntary adopters). Furthermore, we find that audit tenure increases conservatism levels consistent with the auditor expertise hypothesis. However, whilst evidence suggests MAFR decreases audit quality on the whole, we find that firms that switch from non‐Big 4 to Big 4 auditors demonstrate higher conservatism because Big 4 auditors are more likely to demand conservative accounting practices, consistent with Big 4 audit firm knowledge superiority. Overall, the results suggest that MAFR's negative effect on audit quality can be mitigated by Big 4 auditor supervision.
Strategic Responses to Changing Climate Change Policies: The Role Played by Carbon Accounting
Authors: Bui Binh , Fowler Carolyn J.
Published: November 2017

Using a broad institutional theory lens, this paper examines the climate change strategies and carbon accounting practices adopted by two New Zealand electricity firms in response to changes in government climate change policies over time (2002–12). The two firms pursue different strategic responses to climate change‐related institutional and economic pressures in order to maintain both legitimacy and a competitive advantage. Five different strategic responses are identified: avoidance, operational conformance, strategic conformance, strategic differentiation, negotiation and manipulation. Firm‐level characteristics are also important drivers of inter‐firm variations in the strategic responses. Further, carbon accounting makes the greatest contribution to carbon reduction when integrated as part of strategic processes that support strategic conformance and strategic differentiation. Carbon monitoring systems, internal carbon information use and carbon disclosure were the main forms of carbon accounting used to realise the different strategies employed.
Assessment of prescribed fire and cutting as means of controlling the invasion of sub‐alpine grasslands by Echinospartum horridum
Authors: Nuche Paloma , Komac Benjamin , Gartzia Maite , Villellas Jesús , Reiné Ramón , Alados Concepción L.
Published: November 2017

Aims

Sub‐alpine grassland ecosystems have some of the highest biodiversity in Europe and constitute high‐value natural resources. These grasslands are under threat because of the abandonment of traditional agro‐pastoral activities and subsequent invasion by woody species. In the Central Pyrenees (Spain) several management techniques have been used to stop expansion of the highly encroaching shrub Echinospartum horridum. However, the ways in which these techniques affect recovery of sub‐alpine grasslands are poorly understood. The final goal of this study is to gain information about the effects of E. horridum management practices and provide recommendations for the local stakeholders.

Methods

This study evaluated the efficacy of controlled fires and mechanical removal of above‐ground vegetation in controlling expansion of E. horridum into sub‐alpine grasslands in the Central Pyrenees. E. horridum demography (germination and survival), soil seed bank and soil properties were recorded in two E. horridum stands where vegetation was previously removed by (1) fire (burning treatment) or (2) mechanical removal (cutting treatment) and (3) an undisturbed E. horridum stand (control).

Results

The burning treatment increased germination and survival of E. horridum seedlings more than the cutting treatment, relative to the control. Therefore, cutting appeared to be a better option for controlling E. horridum. Soil seed density was higher in the management treatments than in the control, but it did not harbour sub‐alpine grasslands species. E. horridum removal favoured recharge of the soil with seeds that arrived by dispersal. The soil seed bank in the burning treatment had higher seed abundance and seed diversity than in the cutting treatment; however, fire promoted a loss of soil nutrients.

Conclusions

The soil seed bank composition (low abundance and diversity of native species) coupled with rapid regeneration rate of E. horridum would prevent recovery of the sub‐alpine grassland based on the soil seed bank alone. Traditional shepherding has been reported to favour seed dispersal, and here we recommend E. horridum removal with cutting treatment as an additional practice for integrated management and recovery of the sub‐alpine grasslands.
First experience in the UK of treating women with recurrent urinary tract infections with the bacterial vaccine Uromune®
Authors: Yang Bob , Foley Stephen
Published: November 2017

Objectives

To determine the effectiveness of Uromune® in preventing recurrent urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women.

Patients and Methods

A total of 77 women with microbiology‐proven recurrent UTIs were given Uromune sublingual vaccine for a period of 3 months. Time to first UTI recurrence since treatment and adverse events were prospectively recorded in a follow‐up period of up to 12 months.

Results

Of the 77 women, 75 completed the treatment. Of the 75 women who completed treatment, 59 (78%) had no subsequent UTIs in the follow‐up period. Prior to treatment, all women had experienced a minimum of three or more episodes of UTI during the preceding 12 months. Proportionally, the majority of recurrences occurred in postmenopausal women. One patient had to stop treatment because of an adverse event (rash over face and neck).

Conclusion

This prospective study suggests that Uromune is safe and effective at preventing UTIs in women. Further research is required in larger groups of patients for longer treatment times. An international double‐blind randomized control trial comparing Uromune with placebo is currently underway.
Corporate Movements in Democratic Brazil: Informal Business Networks, Civil Activism, and Political Influence
Authors: PEÑA ALEJANDRO MILCÍADES
Published: November 2017

Relations between business, state, and civil society in Latin America are conventionally discussed in antagonistic or hierarchical terms. This article challenges this position, developing a qualitative case study tracing the activities of an informal network of Brazilian businesspersons that, over the last three decades, promoted an agenda of sustainability, transparency, and civil society participation. Drawing from concepts in social movement theory, it is argued that a dynamic movement‐like behaviour combining civil activism, organisational entrepreneurship, and fluid political alignment, allowed the group to establish lasting collaborative alliances with core actors in Brazilian democratic politics, and access relevant elite and policy‐making circles.
Xenopus‐derived glucagon‐like peptide‐1 and polyethylene‐glycosylated glucagon‐like peptide‐1 receptor agonists: long‐acting hypoglycaemic and insulinotropic activities with potential therapeutic utilities
Authors: Han Jing , Fei Yingying , Zhou Feng , Chen Xinyu , Zhang Ying , Liu Lin , Fu Junjie
Published: November 2017

Background and Purpose

Incretin‐based therapies based on glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor agonists are effective treatments of type 2 diabetes. Abundant research has focused on the development of long‐acting GLP‐1 receptor agonists. However, all GLP‐1 receptor agonists in clinical use or development are based on human or Gila GLP‐1. We have identified a potent GLP‐1 receptor agonist, xGLP‐1B, based on Xenopus GLP‐1.

Experimental Approach

To further modify the structure of xGLP‐1B, alanine scanning was performed to study the structure ‐activity relationship of xGLP‐1B. Two strategies were then employed to improve bioactivity. First, the C‐terminal tail of lixisenatide was appended to cysteine‐altered xGLP‐1B analogues. Second, polyethylene glycol (PEG) chains with different molecular weights were conjugated with the peptides, giving a series of PEGylated conjugates. Comprehensive bioactivity studies of these conjugates were performed in vitro and in vivo.

Results

From the in vitro receptor activation potency and in vivo acute hypoglycaemic activities of conjugates 25 ‐36, 33 was identified as the best candidate for further biological assessments. Conjugate 33 exhibited prominent hypoglycaemic and insulinotropic activities, as well as improved pharmacokinetic profiles in vivo. The prolonged antidiabetic duration of 33 was further confirmed by pre‐oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTT) and multiple OGTT. Furthermore, chronic treatment of db/db mice with 33 ameliorated non‐fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, reduced HbA1c values and normalized their impaired glucose tolerance. Importantly, no in vivo toxicity was observed in mice treated with 33.

Conclusions and Implications

Peptide 33 is a promising long‐acting type 2 diabetes therapeutic deserving further investigation.
Differential involvement of ipsilateral and contralateral spinal cord astrocyte D‐serine in carrageenan‐induced mirror‐image pain: role of σ1 receptors and astrocyte gap junctions
Authors: Choi Hoon‐Seong , Roh Dae‐Hyun , Yoon Seo‐Yeon , Choi Sheu‐Ran , Kwon Soon‐Gu , Kang Suk‐Yun , Moon Ji‐Young , Han Ho‐Jae , Beitz Alvin J , Lee Jang‐Hern
Published: November 2017

Background and Purpose

Although we have recently demonstrated that spinal astrocyte gap junctions mediate the development of mirror‐image pain (MIP), it is still unclear which astrocyte‐derived factor is responsible for the development of MIP and how its production is controlled. In the present study, we focused on the role of ipsilateral versus contralateral D‐serine in the development of MIP and investigated the possible involvement of σ1 receptors and gap junctions in astrocyte D‐serine production.

Experimental Approach

Following carrageenan injection, mechanical allodynia was tested at various time points to examine the effect of individual drugs. Immunohistochemistry and Western blot analyses were performed to clarify the expression levels of spinal D‐serine, serine racemase, σ1 receptors and connexin 43.

Key Results

The expression of ipsilateral D‐serine was up‐regulated during the early phase of inflammation, while contralateral D‐serine increased during the later phase of inflammation. The pharmacological inhibition of D‐serine during the early phase blocked the development of both ipsilateral and contralateral mechanical allodynia. However, the inhibition of D‐serine during the later phase of inflammation blocked contralateral, but not ipsilateral mechanical allodynia. Furthermore, the inhibition of σ1 receptors during the earlier phase of inflammation inhibited the increase in ipsilateral D‐serine. Conversely, the blockade of astrocyte gap junctions suppressed the up‐regulation of contralateral D‐serine during the later phase of inflammation.

Conclusion and Implications

Spinal astrocyte D‐serine plays an important role in the development of mirror‐image pain. Furthermore, σ1 receptors and astrocyte gap junction signalling mediate ipsilateral and contralateral D‐serine production respectively.
A Within‐Family Examination of Interparental Conflict, Cognitive Appraisals, and Adolescent Mood and Well‐Being
Authors: Fosco Gregory M. , Lydon‐Staley David M.
Published: November 2017

Interparental conflict (IPC) is a well‐established risk factor across child and adolescent development. This study disentangled situational (within‐family) and global (between‐family) appraisal processes to better map hypothesized processes to adolescents’ experiences in the family. This 21‐day daily dairy study sampled 151 caregivers and their adolescents (61.5% female). Using multilevel mediation analyses indicated that, on days when IPC was elevated, adolescents experienced more threat and self‐blame. In turn, when adolescents experienced more threat appraisals, they experienced diminished positive well‐being; whereas days when adolescents felt more self‐blame, they experienced increased negative mood and diminished positive well‐being. Statistically significant indirect effects were found for threat as a mediator of IPC and positive outcomes. Daily blame appraisals mediated IPC and adolescent angry mood.
Exposure to Parental Depression in Adolescence and Risk for Metabolic Syndrome in Adulthood
Authors: Ehrlich Katherine B. , Chen Edith , Yu Tianyi , Miller Gregory E. , Brody Gene H.
Published: November 2017

The psychosocial consequences of living with a depressed parent have been well characterized. Less well known, however, is how this exposure is predictive of later physical health problems. The present study evaluated how parental depression across youths’ adolescence (ages 11–18) was associated with youth metabolic syndrome at age 25 (n = 391). Youth self‐regulation and health behaviors were considered as possible moderators of the link between parental depression and youth metabolic syndrome. Analyses revealed that parental depression in adolescence was associated with a composite score reflecting metabolic syndrome components in early adulthood. Furthermore, self‐regulation and health behaviors moderated this link, such that links between parental depression and the metabolic syndrome existed only for youth with low self‐regulation or unhealthy behaviors.
Concomitant sensitization to legumin, Fag e 2 and Fag e 5 predicts buckwheat allergy
Authors: Geiselhart S. , Nagl C. , Dubiela P. , Pedersen A. C. , Bublin M. , Radauer C. , Bindslev‐Jensen C. , Hoffmann‐Sommergruber K. , Mortz C. G.
Published: November 2017

Background

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) has become increasingly popular as a healthy food in Europe. However, for sensitized individuals, consumption can cause anaphylactic reactions. The aim of this study was to identify individual well‐characterized buckwheat allergens for component‐resolved diagnosis.

Methods

Patients were selected by positive skin prick test to buckwheat and divided into two groups: (1) sensitized to buckwheat without clinical symptoms and (2) buckwheat allergy. Buckwheat proteins were extracted from raw buckwheat seeds, purified applying a combination of protein precipitation and chromatographic methods, and analyzed by IgE immunoblotting and ELISA.

Results

Buckwheat‐allergic patients had a significantly larger median skin prick test weal diameter for buckwheat than the sensitized group and the positive control. Also, IgE immunoblotting clearly showed a distinct pattern in sera from allergic patients when compared to sensitized individuals. Several IgE‐reactive proteins were purified from crude buckwheat extract, namely legumin (Fag e 1 plus its large subunit), Fag e 2 (2S albumin), and newly identified Fag e 5 (vicilin‐like) as well as hevein‐like antimicrobial peptides, designated Fag e 4. All four allergens showed superior diagnostic precision compared to extract‐based ImmunoCAP with high sensitivity as well as high specificity.

Conclusions

Patients with clinical symptoms clearly show a distinct allergen recognition pattern. We characterized a buckwheat vicilin‐like protein as a new relevant marker allergen, designated Fag e 5. Additionally, another new allergen, Fag e 4, potentially important for cross‐reactivity to latex was added to the allergen panel of buckwheat. Further, our data show that the full‐length legumin comprising both, large and small subunit should be applied for component‐resolved diagnosis. Our data indicate that concomitant sensitization to legumin, Fag e 2 and Fag e 5, predicts buckwheat allergy.
No effect of transcranial direct current stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex on short‐term memory
Authors: Wang Jing , Wen Jian‐Bing , Li Xiao‐Li
Published: November 2017

Introduction

Short‐term memory refers to the capacity for holding information in mind for a short period of time with conscious memorization. It is an important ability for daily life and is impaired in several neurological and psychiatric disorders. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) was reported to enhance the capability of short‐term memory in healthy subjects. However, results were not consistent and what is the possible impact factor is not known. One important factor that may significantly influence the effect of tDCS is the timing of tDCS administration.

Aims

In order to explore whether tDCS impact short‐term memory and the optimal timing of tDCS administration, we applied anodal tDCS to the left DLPFC to explore the modulatory effect of online and off‐line tDCS on digit span as well as visual short‐term memory performance in healthy subjects.

Results

Results showed tDCS of the left DLPFC did not influence intentional digit span memory performance, whether before the task or during the task. In addition, tDCS of the DLPFC administered before the task showed no effect on visual short‐term memory, while there was a trend of increase in false alarm when tDCS of the DLPFC administered during the task.

Conclusions

These results did not provide evidence for the enhancement of short‐term memory by tDCS of the left DLPFC in healthy subjects, but it suggested an importance of administration time for visual short‐term memory. Further studies are required to taking into account the baseline performance of subjects and time‐dependence feature of tDCS.
Prevalence and prognostic impact of electrocardiographic abnormalities in outpatients with extracardiac artery disease
Authors: Hysing Per , Jonason Tommy , Leppert Jerzy , Hedberg Pär
Published: November 2017

Identifying cardiac disease in patients with extracardiac artery disease (ECAD) is essential for clinical decision‐making. Electrocardiography (ECG) is an easily accessible tool to unmask subclinical cardiac disease and to risk stratify patient with or without manifest cardiovascular disease (CV). We aimed to examine the prevalence and prognostic impact of ECG changes in outpatients with ECAD. Outpatients with carotid or lower extremity artery disease (n = 435) and community‐based controls (n = 397) underwent resting ECG. The patients were followed during a median of 4·8 years for CV events (hospitalization or death caused by ischaemic heart disease, cardiac arrest, heart failure, or stroke). ECG abnormalities were classified according to the Minnesota Code. Major (33% versus 15%, P<0·001) but not minor ECG abnormalities (23% versus 26%, P = 0·42) were significantly more common in patients versus controls. During the follow‐up, 141 patients experienced CV events. Both major ECG abnormalities [hazard ratio (HR) 1·58, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·11–2·25, P = 0·012] and any ECG abnormalities (HR 1·57, 95% CI 1·06–2·33, P = 0·024) were significantly associated with CV events after adjustment for potential risk factors. In conclusion, ECG abnormalities were common in these outpatients with ECAD. Major and any ECG abnormalities were independent predictors of CV events. Addition of easily accessible ECG information might be useful in risk stratification for such patients.
Autophagy regulates cisplatin‐induced stemness and chemoresistance via the upregulation of CD44, ABCB1 and ADAM17 in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Naik Prajna Paramita , Mukhopadhyay Subhadip , Panda Prashanta Kumar , Sinha Niharika , Das Chandan Kanta , Mishra Rajakishore , Patil Shankargouda , Bhutia Sujit Kumar
Published: November 2017

Objective

We inspected the relevance of CD44, ABCB1 and ADAM17 in OSCC stemness and deciphered the role of autophagy/mitophagy in regulating stemness and chemoresistance.

Material and methods

A retrospective analysis of CD44, ABCB1 and ADAM17 with respect to the various clinico‐pathological factors and their correlation was analysed in sixty OSCC samples. Furthermore, the stemness and chemoresistance were studied in resistant oral cancer cells using sphere formation assay, flow cytometry and florescence microscopy. The role of autophagy/mitophagy was investigated by transient transfection of siATG14, GFP‐LC3, tF‐LC3, mKeima‐Red‐Mito7 and Western blot analysis of autophagic and mitochondrial proteins.

Results

In OSCC, high CD44, ABCB1 and ADAM17 expressions were correlated with higher tumour grades and poor differentiation and show significant correlation in their co‐expression. In vitro and OSCC tissue double labelling confirmed that CD44+ cells co‐expresses ABCB1 and ADAM17. Further, cisplatin (CDDP)‐resistant FaDu cells displayed stem‐like features and higher CD44, ABCB1 and ADAM17 expression. Higher autophagic flux and mitophagy were observed in resistant FaDu cells as compared to parental cells, and inhibition of autophagy led to the decrease in stemness, restoration of mitochondrial proteins and reduced expression of CD44, ABCB1 and ADAM17.

Conclusion

The CD44+/ABCB1+/ADAM17+ expression in OSCC is associated with stemness and chemoresistance. Further, this study highlights the involvement of mitophagy in chemoresistance and autophagic regulation of stemness in OSCC.
Men across a range of ethnicities have a higher prevalence of diabetes: findings from a cross‐sectional study of 500 000 UK Biobank participants
Authors: Ferguson L. D. , Ntuk U. E. , Celis‐Morales C. , Mackay D. F. , Pell J. P. , Gill J. M. R. , Sattar N.
Published: November 2017

Aims

Studies show that white men have a higher prevalence of Type 2 diabetes mellitus than women at a given age and BMI, but equivalent standardized data for other ethnic groups in the UK are sparse.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study analysed UK Biobank data from 489 079 participants to compare the prevalence of diabetes mellitus across four major ethnic groups including: 471 700 (96.4%) white, 7871 (1.6%) South Asian, 7974 (1.6%) black and 1534 (0.3%) Chinese participants, before and after standardizing for age, socio‐economic status (SES), BMI and lifestyle factors including physical activity, TV viewing, fruit and vegetable intake, processed meat, red meat, oily fish, alcohol intake and smoking. A subgroup analysis of South Asians was also undertaken.

Results

Crude diabetes prevalence was higher in men across all four ethnicities. After standardizing for age, SES, BMI and lifestyle factors, a significant sex difference in diabetes prevalence persisted in white (men 6.0% vs. women 3.6%), South Asian (21.0% vs. 13.8%) and black individuals (13.3% vs. 9.7%) (P < 0.0001); there was a non‐significant difference between Chinese men and women (7.1% vs. 5.5%) (P = 0.211). Sex differences persisted across South Asian subgroups.

Conclusions

Men across a range of major ethnic groups including white, South Asian and black, have a higher prevalence of diabetes compared with women of similar age, BMI, SES and lifestyle in the UK.
Persistent carbon loss from the humus layer of tilled boreal forest soil
Authors: Simola H.
Published: November 2017

Effects of forest floor tillage on the soil organic matter (SOM) content of a podzol were studied across the boreal forest zone in Finland. At each of the 93 study sites, where an old natural forest stand is bordered by a tilled or non‐tilled clear‐cut‐regenerated stand, 20 topsoil cores were collected from both the old and regenerated stand for SOM determination. An analysis of covariance (ancova) revealed a significant decrease in the SOM pool related to tilled soil on the clear‐cut stands compared with the adjacent old‐forest stands. A relative increase in SOM on several of the most recent ‘clear‐cut’ sites appears to be a transient feature attributable to logging residue. The average decrease in SOM for all the > 10‐year tilled sites was 1260 g OM m−2, corresponding to a decline of about 15% from the old‐forest average. For clear‐cut sites without tillage, there was an average loss of only 300 g OM m−2, or 3.9%. Based on the current rates of forest floor tillage in Finland (1200 km2 annually), CO2 emissions were estimated to be in the order of 2.8 Tg year−1, which suggests a total of about 130 Tg CO2 has been emitted since the 1960s (about 58 000 km2 of forests have been tilled so far). The persistent reduction in carbon stocks observed in tilled forest soil contradicts the carbon balance neutrality claimed for the intensive forestry currently practised in Finland.

Highlights

Effects of clear‐cut forestry and soil tillage on SOM stores in Finland.

Soil at clear‐cut borders of old‐forest stands reveals effect of forestry on soil C balance.

Tilling of soil on clear‐cuts typically reduces SOM by 10–15% on average.

The results suggest that present Finnish UNFCCC reporting for boreal forest soil is erroneous.
On the Choice of Anchor Tests in Equating
Authors: Sinharay Sandip
Published: November 2017

The choice of anchor tests is crucial in applications of the nonequivalent groups with anchor test design of equating. Sinharay and Holland (2006, 2007) suggested “miditests,” which are anchor tests that are content‐representative and have the same mean item difficulty as the total test but have a smaller spread of item difficulties. Sinharay and Holland (2006, 2007), Cho, Wall, Lee, and Harris (2010), Fitzpatrick and Skorupski (2016), Liu, Sinharay, Holland, Curley, and Feigenbaum (2011a), Liu, Sinharay, Holland, Feigenbaum, and Curley (2011b), and Yi (2009) found the miditests to lead to better equating than minitests, which are representative of the total test with respect to content and difficulty. However, these findings recently came into question as Trierweiler, Lewis, and Smith (2016) concluded, based on a comparison of correlation coefficients of miditests and minitests with the total test, that making an anchor test a miditest does not generally increase the anchor to total score correlation and recommended the continuation of the practice of using minitests over miditests. Their recommendation raises the question, “Should miditests continue to be considered in practice?” This note defends the miditests by citing literature that favors miditests and then by showing that miditests perform as well as the minitests in most realistic situations considered in Trierweiler et al. (2016), which implies that miditests should continue to be seriously considered by equating practitioners.