bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of rare earth lanthanum-cerium doping on corrosion behavior of zinc-aluminum-magnesium hot-dip galvanizing coatings used for transmission towers
Authors: Han Yu , Xia Yanqiu , Chen Xin , Sun Liang , Liu Dongyu , Ge Xiangyu
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to improve the corrosion resistance of the transmission towers by Zinc-aluminum-magnesium (Zn-Al-Mg) coatings doped with rare earths lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) (denoted as Zn-Al-Mg-Re) in Q345 steel.

Design/methodology/approach

The phase structure of Zn-Al-Mg-Re composite coatings has been determined by X-ray diffraction, whereas their surface morphology and cross-sectional microstructure as well as cross-sectional elemental composition have been analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectrometry. Moreover, the corrosion resistance of Zn-Al-Mg-Re composite coatings has been evaluated by acetic acid accelerated salt spray test of copper strip.

Findings

Experimental results show that doping with La and Ce favors to tune the composition (along with the generation of new phase, such as LaAl3 or Al11Ce3) and refine the microstructure of Zn-Al-Mg galvanizing coatings, thereby significantly improving the corrosion resistance of the coatings. Particularly, Zn-Al-Mg-Re with 0.15% (mass fraction) La exhibits the best corrosion resistance among the tested galvanizing coatings.

Originality/Value

Zinc-aluminum-magnesium (Zn-Al-Mg) coatings doped with rare earths lanthanum (La) and cerium (Ce) (denoted as Zn-Al-Mg-Re) have been prepared on Q345 steel substrate by hot-dip galvanizing so as to improve the corrosion resistance of the transmission towers, and to understand the corrosion inhibition of the Zn-Al-Mg-Re coating.
Co-production with young people to tackle alcohol misuse
Authors: Clark Jill , Laing Karen
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the learning gained from undertaking research activities in co-production with young people in order to tackle alcohol misuse in local communities.

Design/methodology/approach

The findings are drawn from an evaluation of an alcohol misuse change programme in which opportunities to learn about and conduct research were provided to young people through co-production. The evaluation was guided by a theory of change, and a portfolio of evidence collected which included feedback from the young people and project staff about their experiences.

Findings

This paper demonstrates that young people can be empowered to take on roles as agents of change in their own communities by learning more about research processes. However, the empowerment does not come from undertaking research training per se, but by being able to work co-productively with researchers on issues and questions that are of direct relevance to themselves and which are framed within a change agenda. Shared values, strong relationships and reciprocal knowledge exchange enabling flexible and relevant responses to real-world problems and questions are needed.

Originality/value

The paper suggests a reflexive and co-productive learning, design and delivery approach to involving young people in research. It challenges notions of young people as a problem in terms of alcohol misuse, and rather situates them as part of a solution that is aiming at longer-term transformational community change. This is significant in that much of the existing evidence concentrates on individual intervention.
The sources of house price changes in Malaysia
Authors: Kok Shiau Hui , Ismail Normaz Wana , Lee Chin
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the house market in Malaysia from 2002 to 2015. Specifically, the macroeconomic determinants on the house price and house demand are investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

Structural Vector Autoregressive Regression was adopted to estimate the unexpected changes in both house demand (residential transaction volume) and prices based on economic theoretical reasoning that consider shock from macroeconomic determinants.

Findings

The transaction volume and real house prices respond to most of the macroeconomic shocks. While the impact of real gross domestic product (GDP) on house prices appears to be stronger and longer in comparison to other macroeconomic shocks, a 60 per cent change in house prices can be explained by real GDP regardless of whether it is in the short run or the long run. The studies also reveal that a positive effective exchange rate plays an important role when demonstrating the transaction volume. Moreover, monetary liquidity plays a major role in justifying the transaction volume. This implies that mortgage lending may have an impact on housing demand. Meanwhile, movements of house prices cannot be explained by the demand in quantity. This signifies that supply has a strong influence in determining the price.

Research limitations/implications

This study has implications on policymakers of which the interest rate as a cooling measure might not be effective in the short run. The interest rate has very little impact on housing prices. Furthermore, policymakers should address the concerns on speculations, as the results reveal that monetary liquidity and the exchange rate have a strong impact on the housing demand.

Originality/value

This study seeks to provide answers regarding the recent upsurge of Malaysian housing prices. Besides focusing on the house price changes, this study addresses the role of transaction volume while evaluating the house market, as housing prices are usually downwards rigid. Since the price and transaction volume are both related to the transaction activity, this study is significant and could be a good reflection on the actual demand behaviour in the residential market.
Notes on anthropogenic risks mitigation management and recovery of ancient theatres’ heritage
Authors: Haddad Naif Adel , Fakhoury Leen Adeeb , Akasheh Talal S.
Published: February 2018

Purpose

Ancient theatres and odea are one of the most significant and creative socio-cultural edutainment centres of human history that are still in use. They stood and served as huge multi-functional structures for social, religious, propaganda and political meeting space. Meanwhile, ancient theatres’ sites have an intrinsic value for all people, and as a vital basis for cultural diversity, social and economic development, they should continue to be a source of information for future generations. Though, all places with ancient theatre heritage should be assessed as to their potential risk from any anthropogenic or natural process. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The main paper’s objective is to discuss mainly the anthropogenic and technical risks, vulnerability and impact issues on the ancient classical theatres. While elaborating on relevant recent studies, where the authors were involved in ERATO and ATHENA European projects for ancient theatres and odea, this paper provides a brief overview of the main aspects of the anthropogenic qualitative risks and related issues for selected classical antiquity theatres. Some relevant cases are critically presented and investigated in order to examine and clarify the main risk mitigation issues as an essential prerequisite for theatre heritage preservation and its interface with heritage reuse.

Findings

Theatre risk mitigation is an ongoing and challenging task. By preventive conservation, theatre anthropogenic qualitative risks’ management can provide a framework for decision making. The needed related guidelines and recommendations that provide a systematic approach for sustainable management and planning in relation mainly to “ancient theatre compatible use” and “theatre technical risks” are analysed and presented. This is based on identification, classification and assessment of the theatre risk causes and contributing factors and their mitigation.

Originality/value

The paper also suggests a new methodological approach for the theatre anthropogenic qualitative risk assessment and mitigation management, and develop some recommendations that provide a systematic approach for theatre site managers and heritage experts to understand, assess, and mitigate risks mainly due to anthropogenic and technical threats.
Beyond metrics
Authors: Welch Amber N. , Wyatt-Baxter Krystal
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe an approach to developing a makerspace assessment plan. This approach focuses on connecting organizational and service point mission statements with outcome-based assessment plan goals, strategies, methods, and success measures.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper will outline the steps taken by an academic research library to design an outcomes-based assessment plan that monitors the human ecology of a makerspace. The paper includes a history of the space, the role of the library within the campus makerspace environment, the connection between mission statements and assessment plans, and how that connection can facilitate and drive space and service design.

Findings

Designing assessment plans that are centered on a makerspace mission statement can ensure that progress toward fulfilling the mission, values, and goals of the space is constantly monitored.

Originality/value

Academic library makerspace assessment literature is still in its infancy. This paper seeks to contribute to the literature on academic library makerspace management and stewardship.
How does culture influence innovation? A systematic literature review
Authors: Tian Mu , Deng Ping , Zhang Yingying , Salmador Maria Paz
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to conduct a systematic literature review of the studies that have analyzed the impact of culture on innovation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors carried out a systematic literature review of peer-reviewed articles in the past 37 years (January 1980-January 2017). Based on a total of 61 identified primary studies, the authors developed two clusters of culture definition studied in relation to innovation, including organizational culture and national culture.

Findings

After reporting the findings of the systematic literature review, the authors discuss how a variety of culturally related factors combine to facilitate or restrict innovation performance in their corresponding cluster. The findings highlight the complex and idiosyncratic relationship between culture and innovation. Future research lines are recommended.

Research limitations/implications

The authors adopt a systematic literature review method to probe into existing literature, inevitably missing some empirical studies. Implications for future research are suggested.

Practical implications

The paper offers interesting implications for managers and academia. For business practitioners, this study can provide a useful reference regarding the role of cultures in the corporate internal management or international operations; for scholars, the study can provide a current research landscape and development process in this field.

Originality/value

The findings are derived from a systematic literature review that has studied the influence of culture on innovation. In addition, implications and insights as to where future research might be usefully inquired in this field are provided.
Corporate cash-pool valuation: a Monte Carlo approach
Authors: Berlinger Edina , Bihary Zsolt , Walter György
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze a special corporate banking product, the so-called cash-pool, which gained remarkable popularity in the recent years as firms try to centralize and manage their liquidity more efficiently.

Design/methodology/approach

A Monte Carlo simulation has been applied to assess the key benefits of the firms arising from the pooling of their cash holdings.

Findings

The main conclusion of the analysis is that the value of a cash-pool is higher in the case of firms with large, diverse and volatile cash flows having less access to the capital markets, especially if the partner bank is risky but offers a high interest rate spread at the same time. It is also shown that cash pooling is not the privilege of large multinational firms as the initial direct costs can be easily regained within a year even in the case of SMEs.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper is the formalization of a valuation model. The literature emphasizes several benefits of cash pooling, such as interest rate savings, economy of scale and reduced cash flow volatility. The presented model focuses on the interest rate savings complemented with a new aspect: the reduced counterparty risk toward the bank.
Informed trading around biotech M&As
Authors: Kryzanowski Lawrence , Tran Trang Phuong
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to test the extent to which downward bias due to a floating-point exception in probability of informed trading (PIN) estimates obtained using the Easley, Hvidkjaer and O’Hara (EHO; 2002) method is remedied using the Yan and Zhang (YZ; 2012) method. The paper also aims to test the sample-size sensitivity of EHO PIN and identify PIN determinants for acquirers and targets in the biotech sector.

Design/methodology/approach

EHO and YZ PIN performances are compared for US biotech acquirers and targets around their mergers and acquisition (M&A) announcements. The sampling method of Kryzanowski and Lazrak (2007) is used to assess sample-size sensitivity of announcement window EHO PIN estimates. Cross-sectional regressions are estimated to identify PIN determinants.

Findings

EHO and YZ PIN are not significantly different. EHO PIN exhibits significant sample-size sensitivity. Information leakage prior to M&A announcements is strongly affected by some firm characteristics. Significant determinants of PIN behavior around M&A announcements include insider and institutional holdings and research and development (R&D) expense.

Research limitations/implications

Findings imply that PIN partially reflects the activities of insiders and other informed investors about takeover intentions. Subsequent research can examine PIN behavior around pre-announcement rumors for M&As in the same or other industries and for potential targets that are peers of the M&A targets.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the ongoing debate in the empirical finance literature on whether PIN measures informed trading by examining its behavior and the importance of some methodological issues associated with its use in examining market behavior around M&A announcements.
Fair-value accounting, asset sales and banks’ lending
Authors: Downing Jeff
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the interaction between fair-value accounting, asset sales and banks’ lending in booms and busts. Throughout, the author uses “fair value” and “mark-to-market” interchangeably, to denote an accounting regime where changes in the prices of banks’ assets affect regulatory capital. “Historic-cost accounting” has been used in the paper to denote an accounting regime where changes in asset prices do not affect regulatory capital.

Design/methodology/approach

The author built a model that examines how the accounting regime affects banks’ incentives to sell assets and how the impact of the accounting regime on asset sales affects lending.

Findings

In a bust, fair value strengthens banks’ incentives to sell assets. The resulting increase in sales increases banks’ lending capacity. Consequently, lending can be higher under fair value. Conversely, in a boom, historic cost strengthens banks incentives to sell assets. The resulting increase in sales increases banks’ lending capacity. Hence, lending can be higher under historic cost.

Originality/value

This paper identifies a new channel through which the accounting regime could affect lending. The accounting regime can affect banks’ incentives to sell assets. The resulting difference in sales can affect banks’ ability to make new loans. Hence, in a boom, although banks book mark-to-market gains under fair value, asset sales could be higher under historic cost. Lending, thus, could be higher under historic cost. Conversely, in a bust, although banks book mark-to-market losses under fair value, sales could be higher under fair value. Lending, thus, could be higher under fair value.
Cap rates and risk: a spatial analysis of commercial real estate
Authors: Unbehaun Florian , Fuerst Franz
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This study aims to assess the impact of location on capitalization rates and risk premia.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a transaction-based data series for the five largest office markets in Germany from 2005 to 2015, regression analysis is performed to account for a large set of asset-level drivers such as location, age and size and time-varying macro-level drivers.

Findings

Location is found to be a key determinant of cap rates and risk premia. CBD locations are found to attract lower cap rates and lower risk premia in three of the five largest markets in Germany. Interestingly, this effect is not found in the non-CBD locations of these markets, suggesting that the lower perceived risk associated with these large markets is restricted to a relatively small area within these markets that are reputed to be safe investments.

Research limitations/implications

The findings imply that investors view properties in peripheral urban locations as imperfect substitutes for CBD properties. Further analysis also shows that these risk premia are not uniformly applied across real estate asset types. The CBD risk effect is particularly pronounced for office and retail assets, apparently considered “prime” investments within the central locations.

Originality/value

This is one of the first empirical studies of the risk implications of peripheral commercial real estate locations. It is also one of the first large-scale cap rate analyses of the German commercial real estate market. The results demonstrate that risk perceptions of investors have a distinct spatial dimension.
Plant and soil microbe responses to light, warming and nitrogen addition in a temperate forest
Authors: Ma Shiyu , Verheyen Kris , Props Ruben , Wasof Safaa , Vanhellemont Margot , Boeckx Pascal , Boon Nico , De Frenne Pieter
Published: February 2018

Temperate forests across Europe and eastern North America have become denser since the 1950s due to less intensive forest management and global environmental changes such as nitrogen deposition and climate warming. Denser tree canopies result in lower light availability at the forest floor. This shade may buffer the effects of nitrogen deposition and climate warming on understorey plant communities.

We conducted an innovative in situ field experiment to study the responses of co‐occurring soil microbial and understorey plant communities to nitrogen addition, enhanced light availability and experimental warming in a full‐factorial design.

We determined the effects of multiple environmental drivers and their interactions on the soil microbial and understorey plant communities, and assessed to what extent the soil microbial and understorey plant communities covary.

High light led to lower biomass of the soil microbes (analysed by phospholipid fatty acids), but the soil microbial structure, i.e. the ratio of fungal biomass to bacterial biomass, was not affected by light availability. The composition of the soil bacterial community (analysed by high‐throughput sequencing) was affected by both light availability and warming (and their interaction), but not by nitrogen addition. Yet, the number of unique operational taxonomic units was higher in plots with nitrogen addition, and there were significant interactive effects of light and nitrogen addition. Light availability also determined the composition of the plant community; no effects of nitrogen addition and warming were observed. The soil bacterial and plant communities were co‐structured, and light availability explained a large part of the variance of this co‐structure.

We provide robust evidence for the key role of light in affecting both the soil microbial and plant communities in forest understoreys. Our results advocate for more multifactor global change experiments that investigate the mechanism underlying the (in) direct effects of light on the plant–soil continuum in forests.

Aplain language summaryis available for this article.
Sexual signal loss: The link between behaviour and rapid evolutionary dynamics in a field cricket
Authors: Zuk Marlene , Bailey Nathan W. , Gray Brian , Rotenberry John T.
Published: February 2018

Sexual signals may be acquired or lost over evolutionary time, and are tempered in their exaggeration by natural selection.

In the Pacific field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus, a mutation (“flatwing”) causing loss of the sexual signal, the song, spread in <20 generations in two of three Hawaiian islands where the crickets have been introduced. Flatwing (as well as some normal‐wing) males behave as satellites, moving towards and settling near calling males to intercept phonotactic females.

From 2005 to 2012, we surveyed crickets and their responses to conspecific song, noting the morph and number of males and females before and after experimental playbacks. The three Hawaiian islands consistently contained different proportions of flatwing crickets, ranging from about 90% of males on Kauai to 50% on Oahu to rare on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Flatwing and normal‐wing males do not appear to differ in responsiveness to playback, a behaviour that should influence the likelihood of a male encountering a phonotactic female. Instead, male and female crickets from populations in which little to no calling song is perceptible during development tended to seek out callers more readily than crickets that developed in noisier environments. Such increased phonotaxis makes females more likely to find either the caller to which they are responding or to encounter a flatwing (or normal male satellite) that has also been attracted to the song.

Our evidence suggests that pre‐existing behavioural plasticity (manifest as flexible responses to social—particularly acoustic—information in the environment) is associated with the rapid spread of the flatwing trait. Different social environments select for differential success of flatwing or normal‐wing males, which in turn alters the social environment itself.
Genetic variants in sex hormone pathways and the risk of type 2 diabetes among African American, Hispanic American, and European American postmenopausal women in the US
Authors: Goto Atsushi , Chen Brian H. , Chan Kei‐hang K. , Lee Cathy , Nelson Sarah C. , Crenshaw Andrew , Bookman Ebony , Margolis Karen L. , Sale Michèle M. ,   The MEta‐analysis of type 2 DIabetes in African Americans (MEDIA) Consortium, Ng Maggie C.Y. , Reiner Alexander P. , Liu Simin
Published: February 2018

Background

Sex hormones are implicated in the development of diabetes. However, whether genetic variations in sex hormone pathways (SHPs) contribute to the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains to be determined. This study investigated associations between genetic variations in all candidate genes in SHPs and T2DM risk among a cohort of women participating in the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI).

Methods

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located within 30 kb upstream and downstream of SHP genes were comprehensively examined in 8180 African American, 3498 Hispanic American, and 3147 European American women in the WHI. In addition, whether significant SNPs would be replicated in independent populations was examined.

Results

After adjusting for age, region, and ancestry estimates and correcting for multiple testing, seven SNPs were significantly associated with the risk of T2DM among Hispanic American women were identified in the progesterone receptor (PGR) gene, with rs948516 showing the greatest significance (odds ratio 0.67; 95% confidence interval 0.57–0.78;P = 8.8 × 10−7; false discovery rate,Q = 7.8 × 10−4). These findings were not replicated in other ethnic groups in the WHI or in sex‐combined analyses in replication studies.

Conclusion

Significant signals were identified implicating thePGRgene in T2DM development in Hispanic American women in the WHI, which are consistent with genome‐wide association studies findings linkingPGRto glucose homeostasis. Nevertheless, thePGRSNPs–T2DM association was not statistically significant in other ethnic populations. Further studies, especially sex‐specific analyses, are needed to confirm the findings and clarify the role of SHPs in T2DM.
Drinking Level Versus Drinking Pattern and Cigarette Smoking Among Older Adults
Authors: Holahan Charles J. , Brennan Penny L. , Schutte Kathleen K. , Holahan Carole K. , Hixon J. Gregory , Moos Rudolf H.
Published: February 2018

Background

There is a lack of research on the role of alcohol consumption in cigarette smoking among older adults, and the few studies on alcohol use and smoking with older adults have failed to distinguish between average level and pattern of drinking as predictors of smoking. The main purpose of this study was to examine the independent contributions of average level versus pattern of drinking as predictors of cigarette smoking among older adults. A subsidiary purpose was to examine the link between continued smoking and mortality among older smokers.

Methods

We investigated average level and pattern of drinking as predictors of current smoking among 1,151 older adults at baseline and of continued smoking and mortality among the subset of 276 baseline smokers tracked across 20 years. We used multiple linear and logistic regression analyses and, to test mediation, bias‐corrected bootstrap confidence intervals.

Results

A high level of average drinking and a pattern of episodic heavy drinking were concurrently associated with smoking at baseline. However, only episodic heavy drinking was prospectively linked to continued smoking among baseline smokers. Continued smoking among baseline smokers increased the odds of 20‐year mortality and provided an indirect pathway through which heavy episodic drinking related to mortality.

Conclusions

Smokers who misuse alcohol are a challenging population for smoking cessation efforts. Older adults who concurrently misuse alcohol and smoke cigarettes provide a unique target for public health interventions.
Clinical characteristics affecting length of stay in patients with cellulitis
Authors: Grinlinton Megan , Sohn Stephen , Hill Andrew , Zeng Irene , Wagener Jenny
Published: February 2018

Background

This study aimed to profile the clinical characteristics of patients presenting to Middlemore Hospital with cellulitis in order to identify factors that are associated with an increased length of stay (LOS).

Methods

Retrospective clinical data were collected for all patients aged 18 and above who were admitted with cellulitis to Middlemore Hospital General Surgical Department between 1 January and 31 March 2014. Comorbidities, laboratory results and medical conditions were included in the investigation.

Results

The study included 201 patients. Significant factors associated with increased LOS include type 2 diabetes mellitus (P < 0.012), obesity (P < 0.001), raised C‐reactive protein (P < 0.0001), raised white cell count (P < 0.0001), raised temperature (P < 0.0001), septic shock (P < 0.003), multiorgan failure (P < 0.01), extended‐spectrum beta‐lactamases or methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus colonization (P < 0.04) and intensive care unit admission (P < 0.0004).

Conclusion

This single‐centre, retrospective clinical study has identified several factors that are significantly associated with an increased LOS. These factors provide a basis for future studies that may facilitate identification and timely medical optimization of high‐risk patients.
Seventeen‐Year Nationwide Trends in Use of Long‐acting Bronchodilators and Inhaled Corticosteroids among Adults – A Danish Drug Utilization Study
Authors: Reilev Mette , Pottegård Anton , Davidsen Jesper Rømhild , Rasmussen Lotte , Søndergaard Jens , Laursen Christian B. , Henriksen Daniel Pilsgaard
Published: February 2018

Long‐acting bronchodilators and inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the cornerstones in treatment of chronic obstructive and inflammatory pulmonary diseases. However, non‐adherence to guidelines is widespread. Detailed information on real‐life treatment patterns is needed to promote rational use. We aimed to investigate nationwide time trends in individual‐level treatment patterns of long‐acting bronchodilators and ICS. Using nationwide Danish health registries, we identified all Danish adults with a prescription for long‐acting bronchodilators and/or ICS from 2000 to 2016. We investigated the total use of long‐acting bronchodilators and ICS, the proportion of current users and the rate of new users over time. Finally, we assessed treatment persistence. We included 23,061,681 prescriptions for long‐acting bronchodilators and ICS issued to 805,860 individuals from 2000 to 2016. Over this period, the total annual amount of prescribed long‐acting bronchodilators and ICS increased by 39%. Similarly, the proportion of adult users increased from 2.6% to 4.5%, mainly driven by the introduction of combination therapy and long‐acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA). Although the rate of new users of fixed‐dose combination drugs increased substantially over time, the overall rate of new users was stable. In general, the proportion of patients on therapy after 1 year was low (25–53%), especially among young individuals and users of ICS. We document a pronounced increase in the total use of long‐acting bronchodilators and ICS over time, mainly driven by the introduction of combination drugs and LAMA. Special attention should be paid to the low level of persistence, especially among young individuals and users of ICS.
Evaluation of T‐lymphocyte subpopulations in actinic keratosis, in situ and invasive squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
Authors: Stravodimou Aristea , Tzelepi Vassiliki , Papadaki Helen , Mouzaki Athanasia , Georgiou Sophia , Melachrinou Maria , Kourea Eleni P.
Published: February 2018

Background

Tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) represent important regulators of carcinogenesis. Cutaneous invasive squamous cell carcinoma (inSCC) develops through precursor lesions, namely in situ squamous cell carcinoma (isSCC) and actinic keratosis (AK), representing a natural model of carcinogenesis. The study evaluates TIL subpopulations in inSCC and its precursors by comparing 2 semiquantitative scoring systems, and assesses the presence of regulatory T‐cells (Tregs) in these lesions.

Methods

Paraffin sections from 33 cases of AK, 19 isSCCs and 34 inSCCs with adjacent precursor lesions or normal skin (NS) were immunostained for CD3, CD4, CD8 and Foxp3. TIL subgroups were evaluated by the semiquantitative Klintrup‐Mäkinen (K‐M) score, and by a more detailed modification of this system. Treg counts were assessed by image analysis quantification.

Results

An increase of all TIL subpolulations from precursor lesions toward inSCC was shown by both scoring systems. Treg counts progressively increased from NS to AK and isSCC, but decreased in inSCC. Tregs were more numerous in pT2 and around indolent inSCCs compared to T1 and aggressive subtypes.

Conclusions

T‐cells and cytotoxic T‐cells progressively increase in cutaneous squamous cell carcinogenesis, while Treg counts diminish in inSCC. The K‐M score is an appropriate, easily applicable TIL scoring system in cutaneous inSCC.
Biosimilars in der Dermatologie – Theorie wird Realität
Authors: Gerdes Sascha , Mrowietz Ulrich , Augustin Matthias , von Kiedrowski Ralph , Enk Alexander , Strömer Klaus , Schön Michael P. , Radtke Marc A.
Published: February 2018

Biosimilars sind biologische Medikamente, bei denen es sich um Nachbildungen eines spezifischen Referenzprodukts handelt. Biosimilars der Tumornekrosefaktor‐alpha‐Inhibitoren Infliximab und Etanercept sind bereits zugelassen und stehen für dermatologische Indikationen zur Verfügung. Die Aufsichtsbehörden verlangen eine eingehende Analyse der physikochemischen und funktionellen Eigenschaften dieser hochkomplexen Moleküle sowie klinische Daten hinsichtlich ihrer gleichwertigen Wirksamkeit und Sicherheit anhand mindestens einer klinischen Studie mit einer sensitiven und homogenen Population. Für die Zulassung in einem regulierten Arzneimittelmarkt muss daher nachgewiesen werden, dass die Biosimilars praktisch gleichwertig mit dem jeweiligen Originalpräparat sind. Demzufolge werden diese Daten von einem Molekül (dem Originator) auf das andere (das Biosimilar) extrapoliert und die resultierende Zulassung umfasst die gleichen Indikationen wie beim Originalpräparat. Die Extrapolation ist zwar gut akzeptiert und reguliert, es fehlen jedoch klare Empfehlungen hinsichtlich der Austauschbarkeit von Originator und Biosimilar ebenso wie Daten über mehrmalige aufeinanderfolgende Umstellungen. Die aktuellen wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnisse stehen einer Anwendung von Biosimilars bei dermatologischen Indikationen nicht entgegen. Eine mehrmalige Umstellung der Biosimilars sollte jedoch sorgfältig überdacht werden. Um das Vertrauen in Biosimilars zu festigen und ihre Evidenz zu verbessern, ist es essentiell das spezifische Produkt, das jeder Patient erhält, möglichst genau und möglichst im Rahmen von Patientenregister zu dokumentieren.
Do Liberalising Reforms Harm the Environment? Evidence from the Post‐Communist Transition
Authors: Bjørnskov Christian
Published: February 2018

Whether or not economic freedom and capitalism are associated with better or worse environmental performance gives rise to a heated political debate. This article sheds empirical light on the debate by examining the association between economic and political freedom on the one hand and environmental performance on the other. Estimating the effects of economic freedom and democracy on four environmental measures since 1993 across 27 formerly communist countries shows that liberalising the size of the public sector is associated with less environmental damage, although only in autocracies. The consequences of regulatory activity, market openness and the rule of law are more mixed.
The effect of ferrite phases on the micromechanical response and crack initiation in the intercritical heat‐affected zone of a welded 9Cr martensitic steel
Authors: Li M. , Sun F. , Li D.F. , O'Donoghue P.E. , Leen S.B. , O'Dowd N.P.
Published: February 2018

This paper presents a crystal plasticity model to predict the tensile response and crack initiation in a mixed ferrite‐martensite material with a low volume fraction of pro‐eutectoid ferrite, representative of a welding‐induced intercritical heat‐affected zone. It is shown that small volume fractions of ferrite can have a significant effect on material strength and ductility depending on the ferrite grain orientation. For relatively “soft” ferrite grains, microcracks can grow across interferrite ligaments with damage accumulating in the ferrite, leading to a reduction in strength and strain hardening, but with little influence on ductility; in contrast, relatively “hard” ferrite grains act to accelerate microcrack initiation, leading to reduced ductility, with negligible influence on strain hardening up to the maximum load.
A review about the effects of structural and operational factors on the gigacycle fatigue of steels
Authors: Jeddi D. , Palin‐Luc T.
Published: February 2018

It is well‐known that the high cycle fatigue (HCF) strength of steel components is influenced by a lot of factors depending on both material, loading (including environment), specimen or component geometry (design), and manufacturing process. Based on a literature review of a lot of experimental data, a synthesis is proposed in this paper to discuss the effect of the structural and operational factors on the very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) characteristics of steels. HCF and VHCF regimes are distinguished in terms of failure mechanisms and S‐N curve shapes for high and low strength steels. Then, the effect of the microstructural and mechanical features on the VHCF resistance is debated as different parameters (microstructure, inclusion size type and depth, hydrogen, environment, maximum tensile strength, and residual stresses). Next, the influence of the loading conditions is addressed by taking into account both the frequency effect, the highly stressed volume, the loading type, and loading ratio. Finally, the influence of the testing techniques used in VHCF experiments is discussed.
Leaf litter traits drive community structure and functioning in a natural aquatic microcosm
Authors: Migliorini Gustavo H. , Srivastava Diane S. , Romero Gustavo Q.
Published: February 2018

Leaf litter fuels secondary production in many aquatic ecosystems. Although the identity and species richness of leaf litter have been shown to influence ecosystem functioning and food‐web composition, it has been challenging to relate such patterns to mechanisms based on litter traits.

Here, we investigate how six different leaf litter species, and their mixture, affect litter decomposition, as well as the colonisation and survival of associated aquatic invertebrates in natural microecosystems (tank bromeliads). We then ask whether these effects of litter composition are explained by chemical and structural traits of the litter.

Litter composition affected decomposition rates, assembly of aquatic macroinvertebrates in bromeliads and survival of some detritivores (e.g. Chironomidae). In general, most of this effect of litter composition was due to differences between litter species, not between single‐species and six‐species mixtures, and could be explained in terms of two dominant axes in litter traits.

Decomposition was fastest in litters with high specific leaf area (SLA), N:P ratios and N and P contents, and slowest in litters with high lignin content and C:N ratios. Chironomid survival was also greatest on high N, N:P and SLA litters.

Our results highlight the importance of considering leaf litter traits on the structure and functioning of freshwater ecosystems in future studies. More broadly, these results add to a growing consensus that functional traits of resource species, rather than the number of resource species, are essential to predicting resource–consumer interactions in food webs.
Vulnerability of the Great Barrier Reef to climate change and local pressures
Authors: Wolff Nicholas H. , Mumby Peter J. , Devlin Michelle , Anthony Kenneth R. N.
Published: February 2018

Australia's Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is under pressure from a suite of stressors including cyclones, crown‐of‐thorns starfish (COTS), nutrients from river run‐off and warming events that drive mass coral bleaching. Two key questions are: how vulnerable will the GBR be to future environmental scenarios, and to what extent can local management actions lower vulnerability in the face of climate change? To address these questions, we use a simple empirical and mechanistic coral model to explore six scenarios that represent plausible combinations of climate change projections (from four Representative Concentration Pathways, RCPs), cyclones and local stressors. Projections (2017–2050) indicate significant potential for coral recovery in the near‐term, relative to current state, followed by climate‐driven decline. Under a scenario of unmitigated emissions (RCP8.5) and business‐as‐usual management of local stressors, mean coral cover on the GBR is predicted to recover over the next decade and then rapidly decline to only 3% by year 2050. In contrast, a scenario of strong carbon mitigation (RCP2.6) and improved water quality, predicts significant coral recovery over the next two decades, followed by a relatively modest climate‐driven decline that sustained coral cover above 26% by 2050. In an analysis of the impacts of cumulative stressors on coral cover relative to potential coral cover in the absence of such impacts, we found that GBR‐wide reef performance will decline 27%–74% depending on the scenario. Up to 66% of performance loss is attributable to local stressors. The potential for management to reduce vulnerability, measured here as the mean number of years coral cover can be kept above 30%, is spatially variable. Management strategies that alleviate cumulative impacts have the potential to reduce the vulnerability of some midshelf reefs in the central GBR by 83%, but only if combined with strong mitigation of carbon emissions.
Global environmental costs of China's thirst for milk
Authors: Bai Zhaohai , Lee Michael R. F. , Ma Lin , Ledgard Stewart , Oenema Oene , Velthof Gerard L. , Ma Wenqi , Guo Mengchu , Zhao Zhanqing , Wei Sha , Li Shengli , Liu Xia , Havlík Petr , Luo Jiafa , Hu Chunsheng , Zhang Fusuo
Published: February 2018

China has an ever‐increasing thirst for milk, with a predicted 3.2‐fold increase in demand by 2050 compared to the production level in 2010. What are the environmental implications of meeting this demand, and what is the preferred pathway? We addressed these questions by using a nexus approach, to examine the interdependencies of increasing milk consumption in China by 2050 and its global impacts, under different scenarios of domestic milk production and importation. Meeting China's milk demand in a business as usual scenario will increase global dairy‐related (China and the leading milk exporting regions) greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 35% (from 565 to 764 Tg CO2eq) and land use for dairy feed production by 32% (from 84 to 111 million ha) compared to 2010, while reactive nitrogen losses from the dairy sector will increase by 48% (from 3.6 to 5.4 Tg nitrogen). Producing all additional milk in China with current technology will greatly increase animal feed import; from 1.9 to 8.5 Tg for concentrates and from 1.0 to 6.2 Tg for forage (alfalfa). In addition, it will increase domestic dairy related GHG emissions by 2.2 times compared to 2010 levels. Importing the extra milk will transfer the environmental burden from China to milk exporting countries; current dairy exporting countries may be unable to produce all additional milk due to physical limitations or environmental preferences/legislation. For example, the farmland area for cattle‐feed production in New Zealand would have to increase by more than 57% (1.3 million ha) and that in Europe by more than 39% (15 million ha), while GHG emissions and nitrogen losses would increase roughly proportionally with the increase of farmland in both regions. We propose that a more sustainable dairy future will rely on high milk demanding regions (such as China) improving their domestic milk and feed production efficiencies up to the level of leading milk producing countries. This will decrease the global dairy related GHG emissions and land use by 12% (90 Tg CO2eq reduction) and 30% (34 million ha land reduction) compared to the business as usual scenario, respectively. However, this still represents an increase in total GHG emissions of 19% whereas land use will decrease by 8% when compared with 2010 levels, respectively.
A New Solution for Confined‐Unconfined Flow Toward a Fully Penetrating Well in a Confined Aquifer
Authors: Xiao Liang , Ye Ming , Xu Yongxin
Published: February 2018

Transient confined‐unconfined flow conversion caused by pumping in a confined aquifer (i.e., piezometric head drops below the top confined layer) is complicated, partly due to different hydraulic properties between confined and unconfined regions. For understanding mechanism of the transient confined‐unconfined conversion, this paper develops a new analytical solution for the transient confined‐unconfined flow toward a fully penetrating well in a confined aquifer. The analytical solution is used to investigate the impacts on drawdown simulation by differences of hydraulic properties, including transmissivity, storativity, and diffusivity defined as a ratio of transmissivity and storativity, between the confined and unconfined regions. It is found that neglecting the transmissivity difference may give an overestimation of drawdown. Instead, neglecting the diffusivity difference may lead to an underestimation of drawdown. The shape of drawdown‐time curve is sensitive to the change of storativity ratio, S/Sy, between the confined and unconfined regions. With a series of drawdown data from pumping tests, the analytical solution can also be used to inversely estimate following parameters related to the transient confined‐unconfined conversion: radial distance of conversion interface, diffusivity, and specific yield of the unconfined region. It is concluded that using constant transmissivity and diffusivity in theory can result in biased estimates of radial distance of the conversion interface and specific yield of the unconfined region in practice. The analytical solution is useful to gain insight about various factors related to the transient confined‐unconfined conversion and can be used for the design of mine drainage and groundwater management in the mining area.
Male gender, school attendance and sports participation are positively associated with health‐related quality of life in children and adolescents with congenital bleeding disorders
Authors: Limperg P. F. , Joosten M. M. H. , Fijnvandraat K. , Peters M. , Grootenhuis M. A. , Haverman L.
Published: February 2018

Background

This study assesses health‐related quality of life (HRQOL), and variables associated with HRQOL, in children and adolescents with haemophilia and congenital bleeding disorders (CBD) in the Netherlands.

Methods

Patients <18 years with CBD under treatment at the Hemophilia Comprehensive Care Center of the Academic Medical Center were included. Participants completed generic HRQOL questionnaires (TAPQOL 0‐5 years; PedsQL 6‐18 years). Differences and effect sizes in HRQOL compared to healthy peers, and between hemophilia severity groups, were tested using Mann Whitney U‐tests. Multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess variables associated with HRQOL.

Results

Data of 145 patients (81%) were analyzed (N = 32 with severe haemophilia). Children (0‐12 years) show no significant impairments in HRQOL compared to healthy peers. Adolescent boys (13‐18 years) with CBD report a slightly higher HRQOL on the total and emotional functioning scales than healthy peers (small‐moderate effect sizes). In contrast, adolescent girls experience lower HRQOL on total, social functioning and psychosocial health scales compared to healthy peers (moderate effect sizes). No differences between severity groups were found in HRQOL, but more problem behaviour was found in young boys (0‐5 years) with severe haemophilia. Male gender, participation in sports and school attendance are positively associated with HRQOL. Parental country of birth, type of treatment and number of bleeds are not associated with HRQOL.

Conclusion

Continuing monitoring HRQOL in daily clinical practice for children with CBD is important, since possible influencing psychosocial factors can change over time, with special focus on adolescent girls, sports participation and school absence.