bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Administering solidarity: grassroots welfare in post-debt crisis Greece
Authors: Henshaw Russell
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine what happens as the state relinquishes welfare provision to volunteers. Attending to the ethnographic reality of such practices, to the collection, storage, allocation, and distribution of assistance, it explores how the impetus to address poverty is transformed through the process of administering it.

Design/methodology/approach

Research was based on one year of ethnographic fieldwork volunteering at a solidarity organization in Athens.

Findings

Administering solidarity, volunteers were confronted with practical, logistic problems. Attempting to resolve these, they resorted to technical, administrative devices. Yet through these efforts, the volunteers systematized not only their activities, but also their view of rights themselves. Solidarity ethics were subtly transformed into values of fairness, efficiency, and impartiality. As a result, the help they offered became impersonal and material, omitting the political dimensions of their work.

Originality/value

This paper applies insights from ethnographies of humanitarian organization that emphasize the material, embodied qualities of moral labour. Doing so, it illustrates how seemingly benign practices, such as administration, have fundamentally ethical qualities.
Effect of pro-social behaviour and conduct problems on the relationship between limiting longstanding illness and negative emotional symptoms in children
Authors: van Woerden Andrine N.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore direct and moderating effects of pro-social behaviour and conduct problems on the link between limiting longstanding illness (LL-I) and negative emotional symptoms in children.

Design/methodology/approach

The Welsh Health Survey variables: LL-I, emotional symptoms, conduct problems, pro-social behaviour, gender, age and socio-economic status were entered into regression models to assess the relationships outlined above. Cross-sectional data from several years were combined.

Findings

In the cohort of 627 children aged 4–12 years who had LL-I, 601 (95.9 per cent) had complete data for analysis. Children with LL-I scored a mean of 1.8 points higher on negative emotional symptoms than children without LL-I, with LL-I accounting for 6 per cent of the variance in emotional symptoms in a regression model. In children with LL-I, highly pro-social children had lower levels of negative emotional symptoms compared to those with low pro-social levels (1.1 points on emotional symptoms scale, 95% CI=0.55–1.70;p<0.001). In children with LL-I, high levels of conduct problems were associated with increased negative emotional symptoms compared to those with low levels of conduct disorder (2.1 points on emotional symptoms scale, 95% CI=1.3–2.5;p<0.001).

Research limitations/implications

Potential improvements include a longitudinal design, and use of multi-informant Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire scores.

Practical implications

Assessment of children with LL-I could usefully include pro-social behaviours.

Social implications

National policy could consider the value of promoting pro-social responses.

Originality/value

Emotional symptoms in children with LL-I are associated with pro-social behaviour and conduct problems, primarily as a direct effect. Pro-social interventions could promote emotional wellbeing in children with LL-I.
Preparing health professions students to lead change
Authors: Rotenstein Lisa , Perez Katherine , Wohler Diana , Sanders Samantha , Im Dana , Kazberouk Alexander , Phillips Russell S.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Health care systems increasingly demand health professionals who can lead interdisciplinary teams. While physicians recognize the importance of leadership skills, few receive formal instruction in this area. This paper aims to describe how the Student Leadership Committee (SLC) at the Harvard Medical School Center for Primary Care responded to this need by creating a leadership curriculum for health professions students.

Design/methodology/approach

The SLC designed an applied longitudinal leadership curriculum and taught it to medical, dentistry, nursing, public health and business students during monthly meetings over two academic years. The perceptions of the curriculum were assessed via a retrospective survey and an assessment of team functioning.

Findings

Most teams met their project goals and students felt that their teams were effective. The participants reported increased confidence that they could create change in healthcare and an enhanced desire to hold leadership positions. The sessions that focused on operational skills were especially valued by the students.

Practical implications

This case study presents an effective approach to delivering leadership training to health professions students, which can be replicated by other institutions.

Social implications

Applied leadership training empowers health professions students to improve the health-care system and prepares them to be more effective leaders of the future health-care teams. The potential benefits of improved health-care leadership are numerous, including better patient care and improved job satisfaction among health-care workers.

Originality/value

Leadership skills are often taught as abstract didactics. In contrast, the approach described here is applied to ongoing projects in an interdisciplinary setting, thereby preparing students for real-world leadership positions.
Empirical examination of organizational culture on accounting information system and corporate performance
Authors: Kwarteng Amoako , Aveh Felix
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The study aims to empirically examine the impact of organizational culture on accounting information system and corporate performance of firms in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted using top corporate executives of diverse firms from different industrial sectors. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM) and a further post hoc test was done using analysis of variance (ANOVA).

Findings

The study demonstrates that there is a statistically significant relationship between organizational culture on accounting information system and corporate performance. The results indicate that mission, adaptability and consistency dimensions of organizational culture were significant and also accounting information system influences corporate performance. Moreover, there are significant differences in the means of accounting information system on different industrial sectors.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to the extent that only overall profitability was used to measure performance. In addition, the study did not control for leadership style and organizational structure in the relationships. The implication of the study is that ethical culture-shaped accounting information system and financial reporting practice which ultimately leads to corporate performance.

Originality/value

Ghana is a developing country where structures and institutions are not well developed. Businesses and organizational forms are now beginning to pick up; therefore, organizational culture, accounting information systems and their impact on corporate performance are not well documented. These are all new phenomena in this part of the globe. The context of Ghana in terms of national culture that feeds into organizational culture, institutions, quality and application of accounting information is entirely different from that of advanced countries. The study therefore contributes to the extant literature by applying the constructs of organizational culture, accounting information system and corporate performance within a developing country perspective.
Corporate social responsibility inEconomia Aziendalescholars’ theories
Authors: Coronella Stefano , Caputo Fabio , Leopizzi Rossella , Venturelli Andrea
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide an analytical overview of the academic output of eminent Italian scholars in the period from the end of the Second World War to the 1970s on the subject of corporate social responsibility (CSR).

Design/methodology/approach

Through the use of content analysis, possible logical and conceptual similarities between the theories of the scholars and present-day definition of CSR have been identified.

Findings

Concepts as ethical values and stakeholders included in definition of CSR come from the thinking of the Italian Economia Aziendale scholars, so that it is possible to get pioneering aspects in the light of the international debate on CSR today.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper derives from the fact that the theme of CSR has rarely been examined from a historical point of view and that the development of the theme in Italy has rarely been examined through analysis of the ideas of the leading Italian Economia Aziendale Scholars.
Technical efficiency: the pathway to credit union cost efficiency in Ghana
Authors: Amoah Benjamin , Ohene-Asare Kwaku , Bokpin Godfred Alufar , Aboagye Anthony Q.Q.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the factors that tend to influence credit union efficiency, specifically examining cost efficiency (CE) and technical efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a two-stage method, the authors first estimate CE using Tones’ SBM data envelopment analysis method and technical efficiency in a variable returns to scale setting during the period 2008–2014. The authors estimate a mixed-effects and two-limit Tobit regression to examine the effect of credit union specific characteristics, banking industry and macroeconomic conditions, on efficiency.

Findings

Credit unions’ CE averaged 38.9 percent compared to 54.4 percent for technical efficiency. The authors find that technical efficiency does not translate into CE and vice versa.

Practical implications

The authors suggest that when targeting CE, credit union managers would have to make technical efficiency a priority. A monopolized and inefficient banking sector does not challenge efficiency improvement in the credit unions industry.

Originality/value

This study employs data from a frontier market.
Mental health advocacy outcomes from service user perspectives
Authors: Ridley Julie , Newbigging Karen , Street Cathy
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address a knowledge gap on advocacy outcomes from mental health service users’ perspective, and the implications for evaluating advocacy impact. The studies discussed highlight challenges for measuring the outcomes of advocacy, but underline the importance of doing so, and of involving service users alongside other stakeholders in co-designing evaluation systems.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper uses findings from three qualitative studies of independent advocacy involving focus groups and interviews with: 30 African and African Caribbean men who were mental health service users; 90 “qualifying patients” in a study of Independent Mental Health Advocate services; and nine young women in children and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS).

Findings

A comparative analysis and synthesis of findings from three studies identifies four common dimensions: how mental health advocacy is conceptualised and understood; how service users define advocacy outcomes; wider impacts; and, user involvement in evaluating advocacy outcomes. Advocacy outcomes were conceptualised as increasing involvement, changing care and treatment and supporting personal development. There was evidence of advocacy acting to empower mental health service users, and of broader impacts on service regimes and policies. However, there was limited evidence of transformational impact. Evaluating advocacy outcomes is increasingly seen as important.

Originality/value

Few researchers have focused primarily on the perspectives of people using independent mental health advocacy, or on the experience of “advocacy as empowerment”, and none have done so across diverse groups. This analysis adds insight into the impact of independent advocacy. Data from empirical studies attest to the important role independent advocacy plays in modern mental health systems.
The influence of enterprise microblogging on consumer loyalty
Authors: Huang Jinghua , Jin Yue , Wang Xinyao , Zhang Jing
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore how enterprise microblogging can influence consumer loyalty and thus generate business value for firms. The study aims to expand traditional brand community theory.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is based on brand community theory, social identity theory and usage and gratifications theory. Using a pre-survey of the fans of an enterprise microblog and a random sample survey of such fans on Sina Weibo, the authors tested the structural equation model with LISREL, which includes multiple fit indices.

Findings

The paper provides empirical insights about how enterprise microblogging can influence consumer loyalty and thus generate business value for firms. It suggests that consumers’ perceived value could strengthen their microblog identification, which will influence their perceived relationship with the enterprise and its products directly and indirectly through the mediation of enterprise identification. Perceived relationship can further influence purchase and recommendation intentions.

Research limitations/implications

Because of the chosen data collecting approach, the research results may be still subjective. Moreover, the study overlooks the effects of the different types of enterprise microblogging and consumers.

Practical implications

Enterprises should operate their official microblogging from the perspective of maintaining brand community to improve consumer loyalty. They can generate more value for consumers through their microblogging and predict the operating performance by evaluating the degree of consumers’ relationship perception.

Originality/value

This paper considers enterprise microblogging as a new form of virtual brand community and identifies its features, and expands theories of brand community, and social media/IT business value, social identity theory and gratifications theory.
Impacts of the spirit of initiative and identification with the organization on IT governance effectiveness perception in public organizations
Authors: Wiedenhöft Guilherme Costa , Luciano Edimara Mezzomo , Porto Josiane Brietzke
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the process of organizational governance of IT resources, called IT governance (ITG), especially its behavioral approach. The organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) concept was used to understand the relationship between the behavioral dimensions and the perception of ITG effectiveness. The objective of this research is to identify if individuals’ behavior contributes to a greater perception of ITG effectiveness in public organizations. This is an exploratory and descriptive research with a quantitative approach.

Design/methodology/approach

This was an exploratory and descriptive research with a quantitative approach. A survey with IT teams of public organizations in a Brazilian state was performed, and data were analyzed through partial least squares. A positive and significant relationship between the variables Spirit of Initiative (R2=0.2926) and Identification with the Organization (R2=0.1276), and the perception of ITG effectiveness was found.

Findings

Results showed that when OCB levels are higher, ITG is more easily perceived as effective. This occurs because the predisposition to adopt ITG mechanisms increases the changes in the governance process, which are understood as significant by the organization. In addition, it is important to consider the impact of change on individuals, due to ITG adoption. This reinforces that ITG is not just about the IT department, but also refers to its adoption and use throughout the organization as a key resource for the implementation of public policies and for following governmental strategies.

Research limitations/implications

The predictive capacity of the proposed relationship model requires a larger number of confirmatory studies. Its application is suggested in other federative units or in private organizations.

Practical implications

OCB increases the predisposition to adopt ITG mechanisms, provided they understand that changes in the governance process are important to the organization. The change impact on individuals due to ITG adoption is also relevant, which shows that ITG is not only about the IT department, but also about IT adoption and its use throughout the organization.

Originality/value

The paper helps understanding the behavioral effects on the effectiveness of the GTI, since the simple adoption of GTI mechanisms does not guarantee that they are effective in achieving its objective of responding to governmental demands.
Dissolving the paradox: toward a Yin–Yang perspective on the power and trust antagonism in collaborative business relationships
Authors: Horak Sven , Long Chris P.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

By challenging the typical antagonistic view of the informal institutions power and trust, this paper aims to explore the interrelatedness of the two through the Yin–Yang lens.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this research stem from extensive group and one-to-one interviews with Toyota and its domestic and international suppliers.

Findings

Contrary to the conventional antagonistic view of power and trust, the study finds a different relationship between power and trust in Japan, namely, a rather natural, mutually integrative and dependent one. The paper assumes that Taoist ideals, in particular the forces of Yin–Yang, explain this apparent contradiction.

Practical implications

Guided by the Yin–Yang perspective on power and trust balancing, the study proposes six management paradigms regarding how power and trust relationships can be developed and managed to increase collaboration performance.

Originality/value

While this research contributes to the research stream considering power and trust as complements rather than substitutes, it introduces the Yin–Yang view of business collaboration into the field of supply chain management in the automotive industry. Furthermore, it proposes practical measurements for the management of collaborative business relationships in a supply chain by taking advantage of the Yin–Yang view of putative contradictions.
Complementing and correcting representative institutions: When and how to use mini‐publics
Authors: KUYPER JONATHAN W. , WOLKENSTEIN FABIO
Published: October 2018

In democratic theory and practice, it has become a popular view that designed deliberative mini‐publics can effectively counteract failures of representative democratic institutions. But when should mini‐publics be deployed, and how should they be designed? This article develops a framework for thinking about these questions. It argues that when representative democratic institutions ensure the empowerment of inclusions, enable the formation of collective agendas and wills, and are capable of translating those agendas into binding decisions, mini‐publics should be used sparingly and as complementary initiatives; the less representative institutions are able to serve these functions, the more mini‐publics should gain independence and standing to correct these problems. The article shows how this can be operationalised in light of two key institutional design issues – coupling and authority – and discusses some empirical examples that foreground the empirical leverage offered by the suggested framework.
Impact Spatter Bloodstain Patterns on Textiles
Authors: Wu Jiaying , Michielsen Stephen , Baby Ruksana
Published: October 2018

There are few reports of studies of impact spatter on textiles even though bloodstained textiles are found at many violent scenes. Impact spatter was deposited at 90° impact angle onto three knit fabrics of different yarn sizes and on paper. The resulting stain areas and number of stains were measured using ImageJ and compared with stains on paper using one‐factor ANOVA. The number of stains observed and their areas on the knit fabrics decreased as the yarn size increased. It was also found that blood that deposited on the fabric wicked only in the direction of the fibers at that location within the fabric which led to distorted stain shapes. Fewer observed impact spatter stains were found on cotton jersey knits for fabrics made with larger yarns than on paper. As the yarn size became smaller, the number of stains became the same as on paper.
Engineering bacteria for biogenic synthesis of chalcogenide nanomaterials
Authors: Chellamuthu Prithiviraj , Tran Frances , Silva Kalinga Pavan T. , Chavez Marko S. , El‐Naggar Mohamed Y. , Boedicker James Q.
Published: October 2018

Microbes naturally build nanoscale structures, including structures assembled from inorganic materials. Here, we combine the natural capabilities of microbes with engineered genetic control circuits to demonstrate the ability to control biological synthesis of chalcogenide nanomaterials in a heterologous host. We transferred reductase genes from both Shewanella sp. ANA‐3 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium into a heterologous host (Escherichia coli) and examined the mechanisms that regulate the properties of biogenic nanomaterials. Expression of arsenate reductase genes and thiosulfate reductase genes in E. coli resulted in the synthesis of arsenic sulfide nanomaterials. In addition to processing the starting materials via redox enzymes, cellular components also nucleated the formation of arsenic sulfide nanomaterials. The shape of the nanomaterial was influenced by the bacterial culture, with the synthetic E. coli strain producing nanospheres and conditioned media or cultures of wild‐type Shewanella sp. producing nanofibres. The diameter of these nanofibres also depended on the biological context of synthesis. These results demonstrate the potential for biogenic synthesis of nanomaterials with controlled properties by combining the natural capabilities of wild microbes with the tools from synthetic biology.
Meeting Water Quality Goals under Climate Change in Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA
Authors: Bosch Darrell J. , Wagena Moges B. , Ross Andrew C. , Collick Amy S. , Easton Zachary M.
Published: October 2018

Climate change may increase precipitation, temperatures, and pollution loading and necessitate additional measures and costs to achieve water quality goals. We used two climate change models and the mean of the ensemble of seven climate models (Ensemble Mean), a yield prediction model (Soil and Water Assessment Tool‐Variable Source Area), and a farm economic model to estimate how climate change would affect yields and the costs of reducing nitrogen (N) loading in an agricultural subbasin of the Chesapeake Bay. We estimated costs of meeting water quality goals based on the reduction in farm net returns from limits on N loadings under historical and future climate scenarios. Estimated costs of meeting water quality goals increase under future climate for one of the two climate models and for the Ensemble Mean. Major reasons for increased costs are higher predicted N loading from crops and higher N loading reductions to be achieved under future climate. The farm meets N limits by eliminating wheat and reducing corn and soybean production as well as increased use of best management practices (BMPs) including Conservation Reserve Program. Researchers should analyze effects of climate change on the costs of meeting water quality goals using multiple climate change prediction models and considering possible crop substitutions as well as crop and livestock BMPs. Further research should consider how commodity market reactions to producers’ choices under climate change affect costs of meeting water quality goals.
Persistent or recurrent symptoms after arthroscopic surgery for femoroacetabular impingement: A review of imaging findings
Authors: Woodward Rebecca M , Philippon Marc J
Published: October 2018

Hip arthroscopy is one of the most rapidly growing and evolving orthopaedic subspecialties. With the recent dramatic increase in the volume of hip arthroscopy performed there has been an increase in the number of symptomatic patients following arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement. Imaging has a key role in determining the need for revision surgery and in preoperative planning. Although the revision rate for hip arthroscopy is 3–9%, little has been published about the imaging findings associated with unsatisfactory treatment outcomes. This review discusses the significance of pre‐existing osteoarthritis and underlying hip dysplasia and describes the causes of persistent symptoms. Recent literature on extra articular impingement and causes of microinstability are presented. Post‐operative appearances are described focussing on the clinically relevant imaging findings. The challenges of evaluating the labrum after repair and specific findings associated with anchor failure and iatrogenic chondrolabral injury are discussed. The purpose of this article is to review the causes of unsatisfactory treatment outcomes after hip arthroscopy, role of imaging and indications for revision arthroscopy.
Randomized Placebo‐controlled Trial of Droperidol and Ondansetron for Adult Emergency Department Patients With Nausea
Authors: Meek Robert , Mee Michaela J. , Egerton‐Warburton Diana , Graudins Andis , Meyer Alastair , Pouryahya Pourya , Blecher Gabriel , Fahey James , Crow Sallyanne
Published: October 2018

Objective

The objective was to separately compare effectiveness of 1.25 mg of intravenous (IV) droperidol and 8 mg of IV ondansetron with 0.9% saline placebo for adult emergency department (ED) patients with nausea. A novel primary outcome measure, expected to aid clinical interpretation of reported results, was employed.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted at the three EDs of Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia. The design was to demonstrate superiority of the active drugs over placebo. The primary outcome measure of symptom improvement was defined as a visual analog scale (VAS) rating change of –8 mm or more from baseline at 30 minutes posttreatment. Mean VAS changes per group and percentages experiencing the desired treatment effect were also compared. The study was concluded after recruitment of 215 of the planned 378 patients, as interim analysis confirmed that continuation could not result in a finding of superiority.

Results

Of 215 patients, 73 (34%), 71 (33%), and 71 (33%) received droperidol, ondansetron, and placebo. Symptom improvement occurred in 75% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 64% to 85%), 80% (95% CI = 69% to 89%), and 76% (95% CI = 64% to 85%), respectively. Mean VAS changes were –29 mm (95% CI = –36 to –23 mm), –34 mm (95% CI = –41 to –28 mm), and –24 mm (95% CI = –29 to –19 mm), respectively. Desired treatment effects were experienced by 77% (95% CI = 65% to 86%), 73% (95% CI = 61% to 83%), and 59% (95% CI = 47% to 71%), respectively.

Conclusion

For adult ED patients with nausea, superiority was not demonstrated for droperidol or ondansetron over placebo.
Implementing conservation measures for the North Atlantic right whale: considering the behavioral ontogeny of mother‐calf pairs
Authors: Cusano D. A. , Conger L. A. , Van Parijs S. M. , Parks S. E.
Published: October 2018

Understanding the behavioral ecology of a species is fundamental to effective conservation and management efforts. This study quantifies the behavioral ontogeny of North Atlantic right whale mother‐calf pairs from birth to weaning spanning three critical habitat areas off the eastern coast of the United States and Canada. Data from 55 focal follows of 34 mother‐calf pairs were collected from 2011 to 2015. Resting behaviors dominated the activity budgets for both mother and calf during the first 5 months, putting them at increased risk of vessel collisions. There was an increase in the proportion of active behaviors (travel, foraging, social activity) in both mother and calf as the calf matured. Importantly, the type of active behaviors, in particular surface skim feeding and surface active social behavior, meant that the risk of vessel collision to the pair did not decrease as the calf matured. Mother‐calf right whale pairs showed very low calling rates on the calving grounds, suggesting that passive acoustic monitoring may not be an effective mitigation tool during the early months. However, calling rates increase once the pair leave the calving areas with both calf age and activity levels increasing, at which point passive acoustic monitoring becomes valuable. Protective measures need to take these rapid developmental changes throughout calf growth into account to improve the efficacy of protection measures for the endangered North Atlantic right whale and other species where behavioral ecology changes rapidly during maturation.
Behavioural tactics used by invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) to exploit apiaries in Australia
Authors: Silvester Renee , Greenlees Matthew , Shine Richard , Oldroyd Benjamin
Published: October 2018

Behavioural flexibility plays a key role in facilitating the ability of invasive species to exploit anthropogenically‐created resources. In Australia, invasive cane toads (Rhinella marina) often gather around commercial beehives (apiaries), whereas native frogs do not. To document how toads use this resource, we spool‐tracked cane toads in areas containing beehives and in adjacent natural habitat without beehives, conducted standardized observations of toad feeding behaviour, and ran prey‐manipulation trials to compare the responses of cane toads versus native frogs to honeybees as potential prey. Toads feeding around beehives travelled shorter distances per night, and hence used different microhabitats, than did toads from nearby control sites without beehives. The toads consumed live bees from the hive entrance (rather than dead bees from the ground), often climbing on top of one another to gain access to the hive entrance. Prey manipulation trials confirm that bee movement is the critical stimulus that elicits the toads’ feeding response; and in standardized trials, native frogs consumed bees less frequently than did toads. In summary, cane toads flexibly modify their movements, foraging behaviour and dietary composition to exploit the nutritional opportunities created by commercial beehives, whereas native anurans do not.
Axonal swellings and spheroids: a new insight into the pathology of neurocysticercosis
Authors: Mejia Maza Alan , Carmen‐Orozco Rogger P. , Carter Emma C , Dávila‐Villacorta Danitza G. , Castillo Gino , Morales Jemina D. , Mamani Javier , Gavídia Cesar M , Alroy Joseph , Sterling Charles R. , Gonzalez Armando E. , García Héctor H. , Woltjer Randy L. , Verástegui Manuela R. , Gilman Robert H. ,   for the Cysticercosis Working Group in Peru
Published: October 2018

Neurocysticercosis is a parasitic brain disease caused by the larval form (Cysticercus cellulosae) of Taenia solium and is the leading cause of preventable epilepsy worldwide. However, the pathophysiology and relation to the wide range of clinical features remains poorly understood. Axonal swelling is emerging as an important early pathological finding in multiple neurodegenerative diseases and as a cause of brain injury, but has not been well described in neurocysticercosis. Histological analysis was performed on human, rat and porcine NCC brain specimens to identify axonal pathology. Rat infection was successfully carried out via two routes of inoculation: direct intracranial injection and oral feeding. Extensive axonal swellings, in the form of spheroids, were observed in both humans and rats and to a lesser extent in pigs with NCC. Spheroids demonstrated increased immunoreactivity to amyloid precursor protein and neurofilament indicating probable impairment of axonal transport. These novel findings demonstrate that spheroids are present in NCC which is conserved across species. Not only is this an important contribution toward understanding the pathogenesis of NCC, but it also provides a model to analyze the association of spheroids with specific clinical features and to investigate the reversibility of spheroid formation with antihelminthic treatment.
N‐pyridin‐2‐yl benzamide analogues as allosteric activators of glucokinase: Design, synthesis, in vitro, in silico and in vivo evaluation
Authors: Grewal Ajmer Singh , Kharb Rajeev , Prasad Deo Nandan , Dua Jagdeep Singh , Lather Viney
Published: October 2018

Glucokinase (GK) is the key enzyme controlling levels of blood glucose under normal physiological range, and GK activators are emerging class of drug candidates with promising hypoglycaemic activity. The current study was planned to design, synthesize and evaluate novel N‐pyridin‐2‐yl benzamide analogues as allosteric activators of GK. A novel series of N‐pyridin‐2‐yl benzamide analogues were synthesized starting from 3‐nitrobenzoic acid and evaluated in vitro for GK activation followed by in silico studies to predict the binding interactions of the designed molecules with GK protein. The selected synthesized molecules (compounds 5b, 5c, 5e, 5g, 5h and 6d) which displayed excellent GK activity (GK fold activation around 2) in GK assay and appreciable binding interaction with GK in docking studies were further evaluated for their antihyperglycaemic potential using oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in rats. Amongst the compounds tested in vivo (OGTT assay) for antihyperglycaemic potential, compounds 5c, 5e and 5g displayed significant reduction in blood glucose levels. Compound 5e displayed most significant antidiabetic activity and comparable to that of standard drug in animal studies. The N‐pyridin‐2‐yl benzamide analogues discovered in the current study can provide some lead molecules for the development of potent oral GK activators with minimum side‐effects for the management of type 2 diabetes.
A predominant Th1 polarization is present in synovial fluid of end-stage osteoarthritic knee joints: analysis of peripheral blood, synovial fluid and synovial membrane
Authors: Rosshirt N , Hagmann S , Tripel E , Gotterbarm T , Kirsch J , Zeifang F , Lorenz H-M , Tretter T , Moradi B
Published: October 2018

Thorough understanding of the complex pathophysiology of osteoarthritis (OA) is necessary in order to open new avenues for treatment. The aim of this study was to characterize the CD4+ T cell population and evaluate their activation and polarization status in OA joints. Fifty-five patients with end-stage knee OA (Kellgren–Lawrence grades III–IV) who underwent surgery for total knee arthroplasty (TKA) were enrolled into this study. Matched samples of synovial membrane (SM), synovial fluid (SF) and peripheral blood (PB) were analysed for CD3+CD4+CD8– T cell subsets [T helper type 1 (Th1), Th2, Th17, regulatory T cells] and activation status (CD25, CD69, CD45RO, CD45RA, CD62L) by flow cytometry. Subset-specific cytokines were analysed by cytometric bead array (CBA). SM and SF samples showed a distinct infiltration pattern of CD4+ T cells. In comparison to PB, a higher amount of joint-derived T cells was polarized into CD3+CD4+CD8– T cell subsets, with the most significant increase for proinflammatory Th1 cells in SF. CBA analysis revealed significantly increased immunomodulating cytokines [interferon (IFN)-γ, interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-10] in SF compared to PB. Whereas in PB only a small proportion of CD4+ T cells were activated, the majority of joint-derived CD4+ T cells can be characterized as activated effector memory cells (CD69+CD45RO+CD62L–). End-stage OA knees are characterized by an increased CD4+ T cell polarization towards activated Th1 cells and cytokine secretion compared to PB. This local inflammation may contribute to disease aggravation and eventually perpetuate the disease process.
Natural histories of patients with Wolf‐Hirschhorn syndrome derived from variable chromosomal abnormalities
Authors: Yamamoto‐Shimojima Keiko , Kouwaki Masanori , Kawashima Yuki , Itomi Kazuya , Momosaki Ken , Ozasa Shiro , Okamoto Nobuhiko , Yokochi Kenji , Yamamoto Toshiyuki
Published: October 2018

Wolf‐Hirschhorn syndrome (WHS) is a subtelomeric deletion syndrome affecting the short arm of chromosome 4. The main clinical features are a typical craniofacial appearance, growth deficiency, developmental delays, and seizures. Previous genotype‐phenotype correlation analyses showed some candidate regions for each clinical finding. The WHS critical region has been narrowed into the region 2 Mb from the telomere, which includes LETM1 and WHSC1; however, this region is insufficient to cause “typical WHS facial appearance”. In this study, we identified 10 patients with a deletion involving 4p16.3. Five patients showed pure terminal deletions and three showed unbalanced translocations. The remaining patients showed an interstitial deletion and a suspected inverted‐duplication‐deletion. Among 10 patients, one patient did not show “typical WHS facial appearance” although his interstitial deletion included LETM1 and WHSC1. On the other hand, another patient exhibited “typical WHS facial appearance” although her small deletion did not include LETM1 and WHSC1. Instead, FGFRL1 was considered as the candidate for this finding. The largest deletion of 34.7 Mb was identified in a patient with the most severe phenotype of WHS.
Real‐Time Facial Expression Transformation for Monocular RGB Video
Authors: Ma L. , Deng Z.
Published: October 2018

This paper describes a novel real‐time end‐to‐end system for facial expression transformation, without the need of any driving source. Its core idea is to directly generate desired and photo‐realistic facial expressions on top of input monocular RGB video. Specifically, an unpaired learning framework is developed to learn the mapping between any two facial expressions in the facial blendshape space. Then, it automatically transforms the source expression in an input video clip to a specified target expression through the combination of automated 3D face construction, the learned bi‐directional expression mapping and automated lip correction. It can be applied to new users without additional training. Its effectiveness is demonstrated through many experiments on faces from live and online video, with different identities, ages, speeches and expressions.
Autonomy, Fairness and Active Relationships: Children's Experiences of Well‐being in Childcare
Authors: Cooke Emma , Brady Michelle , Alipio Cheryll , Cook Kay
Published: October 2018

Researchers and policy‐makers are increasingly concerned with children's well‐being in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) and Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) settings. Recent research identifies the value of using qualitative methods to understand children's experiences of well‐being in ECEC/OSHC, but there remain few such studies. This article presents findings from a child‐centric qualitative study with Australian children of nurses and police, which sought to understand their experiences of well‐being in ECEC/OSHC. Children's experiences of well‐being were shaped by parental relationships, how informed they were about the rationale for their care arrangements and the degree of age‐appropriate autonomy they experienced.
Contact sensitization to hydroperoxides of limonene and linalool: Results of consecutive patch testing and clinical relevance
Authors: Dittmar Daan , Schuttelaar Marie L. A.
Published: October 2018

Background

Hydroperoxides of limonene and linalool are potent sensitizers.

Objectives

To investigate the prevalence of contact allergy to both hydroperoxides of limonene and hydroperoxides of linalool, to report clinical relevance, and to investigate patient demographics.

Methods

A total of 821 patients (35.6% male, mean age 42.4 years ± 17.8 years) were consecutively patch tested with our departmental baseline series and our fragrance series, including hydroperoxides of limonene 0.3% pet. and hydroperoxides of linalool 1.0% pet. The clinical relevance was assessed for all positive reactions.

Results

Positive patch test reactions to hydroperoxides of limonene and to hydroperoxides of linalool were observed in 77 patients (9.4%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 7.4%‐11.4%) and in 96 patients (11.7%, 95%CI: 9.5%‐13.9%), respectively; 38 of these patients (4.6%, 95%CI: 3.2%‐6.0%) reacted to both. Most reactions were considered to be possibly or probably clinically relevant (66.3% and 68.8%, respectively), and a small proportion were deemed to be of certain clinical relevance (18.2% and 19.8%, respectively).

Conclusion

As compared with previous studies, high numbers of positive reactions to both hydroperoxides of limonene and hydroperoxides of linalool were observed, the majority of which were clinically relevant, supporting their inclusion in the European baseline series.
Newborn Metabolic Profile Associated with Hyperbilirubinemia With and Without Kernicterus
Authors: McCarthy Molly E. , Oltman Scott P. , Baer Rebecca J. , Ryckman Kelli K. , Rogers Elizabeth E. , Steurer‐Muller Martina A. , Witte John S. , Jelliffe‐Pawlowski Laura L.
Published: October 2018

Our objective was to assess the relationship between hyperbilirubinemia with and without kernicterus and metabolic profile at newborn screening. Included were 1,693,658 infants divided into a training or testing subset in a ratio of 3:1. Forty‐two metabolites were analyzed using logistic regression (odds ratios (ORs), area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), 95% confidence intervals (CIs)). Several metabolite patterns remained consistent across gestational age groups for hyperbilirubinemia without kernicterus. Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and C‐18:2 were decreased, whereas tyrosine and C‐3 were increased in infants across groupings. Increased C‐3 was also observed for kernicterus (OR: 3.17; 95% CI: 1.18–8.53). Thirty‐one metabolites were associated with hyperbilirubinemia without kernicterus in the training set. Phenylalanine (OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.85–1.97), ornithine (OR: 0.76; 95% 0.74–0.77), and isoleucine + leucine (OR: 0.63; 95% CI: 0.61–0.65) were the most strongly associated. This study showed that newborn metabolic function is associated with hyperbilirubinemia with and without kernicterus.
The definition of the museum through its social role
Authors: Brown Karen , Mairesse François
Published: October 2018

For the seventh time in its history the ICOMDefinition of a Museum is under discussion, with a view to possible revision to be agreed at the General Conference in Kyoto in September 2019. As part of this process,ICOFOMinitiated an academic debate on the Definition, welcoming museologists, museum professionals and policy makers to a suite of symposia held around the world in 2017. In this article, we consider the results of symposia held in France, Argentina, Brazil, and Scotland in the light of the changing social role of museums, and reveal how the museum has come to perceive itself differently in relation to museum values, participation and social inclusion in Europe and Latin America.
What Do North American Babies Hear? A large‐scale cross‐corpus analysis
Authors: Bergelson Elika , Casillas Marisa , Soderstrom Melanie , Seidl Amanda , Warlaumont Anne S. , Amatuni Andrei
Published: October 2018

A range of demographic variables influences how much speech young children hear. However, because studies have used vastly different sampling methods, quantitative comparison of interlocking demographic effects has been nearly impossible, across or within studies. We harnessed a unique collection of existing naturalistic, day‐long recordings from 61 homes across four North American cities to examine language input as a function of age, gender, and maternal education. We analyzed adult speech heard by 3‐ to 20‐month‐olds who wore audio recorders for an entire day. We annotated speaker gender and speech register (child‐directed or adult‐directed) for 10,861 utterances from female and male adults in these recordings. Examining age, gender, and maternal education collectively in this ecologically valid dataset, we find several key results. First, the speaker gender imbalance in the input is striking: children heard 2–3× more speech from females than males. Second, children in higher‐maternal education homes heardmorechild‐directed speech than those in lower‐maternal education homes. Finally, our analyses revealed a previously unreported effect: the proportion of child‐directed speech in the input increases with age, due to adecreasein adult‐directed speech with age. This large‐scale analysis is an important step forward in collectively examining demographic variables that influence early development, made possible by pooled, comparable, day‐long recordings of children's language environments. The audio recordings, annotations, and annotation software are readily available for reuse and reanalysis by other researchers.
Proteasome activity determines pupation timing through the degradation speed of timer molecule Blimp‐1
Authors: Aly Hamdy , Akagi Kazutaka , Ueda Hitoshi
Published: October 2018

The transcriptional repressor Blimp‐1 is a labile protein. This characteristic is key for determining pupation timing because the timing of the disappearance of Blimp‐1 affects pupation timing by regulating the expression of its target βftz‐f1. However, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the protein turnover of Blimp‐1 are still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that Blimp‐1 is regulated by the ubiquitin proteasome system. We show that Blimp‐1 degradation is inhibited by proteasome inhibitor MG132. Pupation timing was delayed in mutants of 26S proteasome subunits as well as FBXO11, which recruits target proteins to the 26S proteasome as a component of the SCF ubiquitin ligase complex by slowing down the degradation speed of Blimp‐1. Delay in pupation timing in the FBXO11 mutant was suppressed by the induction of βFTZ‐F1. Furthermore, fat‐body‐specific knockdown of proteasomal activity was sufficient to induce a delay in pupation timing. These results suggest that Blimp‐1 is degraded by the 26S proteasome and is recruited by FBXO11 in the fat body, which is important for determining pupation timing.
Management of pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy: a systematic review
Authors: Ostojic Katarina , Paget Simon P , Morrow Angela M
Published: October 2018

Aim

To determine the efficacy of interventions for the management of pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method

Electronic databases were searched from the earliest date possible to April 2018 using a mixture of subject headings and free text. Inclusion criteria comprised of studies with (1) diagnosis of CP, (2) under the age of 18 years, (3) intervention for the management of pain, (4) outcome measure of pain, and (5) studies published in English‐language peer‐reviewed journals.

Results

Fifty‐seven studies met the eligibility criteria. Pain related to (n=number of studies): hypertonia (n=17), spastic hip disease (n=13), procedures for the management of CP (n=7), postoperative (n=18), and other (n=2). Most of the studies were of level III to level V evidence.

Interpretation

There is level II evidence to support intrathecal baclofen therapy for pain secondary to hypertonia in spastic and spastic‐dyskinetic CP, and non‐pharmacological interventions for procedural pain and pharmacological interventions for postoperative pain. Most studies were restricted by retrospective design and limited use of validated outcome measures. Future research is needed to explore multidisciplinary interventions for chronic pain and pain secondary to dystonia. Clinicians and researchers would benefit from a standardized approach to pain assessment.

What this paper adds

The strongest evidence exists for pharmacological treatments for postoperative pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP).

There is moderate evidence for the efficacy of intrathecal baclofen for pain related to hypertonia in predominately spastic CP.

There is a lack of standardization in the assessment of pain.

There is limited evidence for multimodal and non‐pharmacological strategies in paediatric CP.