bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Nursing Management of Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy and Jejunostomy (PEG/PEJ) in Adult Patients
Authors: Roveron Gabriele , Antonini Mario , Barbierato Maria , Calandrino Vita , Canese Giancarlo , Chiurazzi Lucio Fernando , Coniglio Gesualdo , Gentini Gabriele , Marchetti Mara , Minucci Andrea , Nembrini Laura , Neri Vanessa , Trovato Paola , Ferrara Francesco
Published: July 2018

Enteral nutrition (EN) is the introduction of nutrients into the gastrointestinal tract through a tube placed in a natural or artificial stoma. Tubes may be passed into the stomach (gastrostomy) or the jejunum (jejunostomy) in patients who cannot obtain adequate nourishing via oral feeding. Following placement, nurses are typically responsible for management of gastrostomy or other enteral tube devices in both the acute and home care settings. This article summarizes guidelines developed for nursing management of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy or jejunostomy (PEG/PEJ) and gastrojejunostomy (PEGJ) tubes, developed by the Italian Association of Stoma care Nurses (AIOSS—Associazione Italiana Operatori Sanitari di Stomaterapia) in collaboration with the Italian Association of Endoscopic Operators (ANOTE—Associazione Nazionale Operatori Tecniche Endoscopiche) and the Italian Association of Gastroenterology Nurses and Associates (ANIGEA—Associazione Nazionale Infermieri di Gastroenterologia e Associati). The guidelines do not contain recommendations about EN through nasogastric tubes, indications for PEG/PEJ/PEGJ positioning, composition of EN, selection of patients, type of tube, modality of administration of the EN, and gastrointestinal complications
Patient-Reported Outcome After Ostomy Surgery for Chronic Constipation
Authors: Iqbal Fareed , van der Ploeg Valerie , Adaba Franklin , Askari Alan , Murphy Jamie , Nicholls R. John , Vaizey Carolynne
Published: July 2018

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this study was to describe experiences of and evaluate psychosocial and health-related quality of life of individuals undergoing ostomy surgery for severe, chronic constipation.

METHODS:

A search of the local ostomy archive and the electronic hospital episode statistics database was performed in a large tertiary referral center. Study outcomes were evaluated retrospectively using clinical notes and prospectively via administration of the City of Hope Ostomy Quality of Life questionnaire, Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, Hospital Anxiety and Depression tool, and a specially designed ostomy-specific questionnaire. Questionnaires were mailed and returned via post.

RESULTS:

Twenty-four patients, with a median age of 44 years (interquartile range [IQR] = 31-56), who underwent ileostomy (n = 20) and colostomy (n = 4) over a 13-year period participated in the study. The vast majority of respondents (91%; n = 22) were female. Ten (41%) underwent laparoscopic surgery, 13 (54%) underwent open procedures, and 1 was converted from laparoscopic to open surgery. The mean length of stay (5.5 days vs 5.4 days) and the rate of complication did not differ between the 2 approaches. Fourteen patients (13 females, median age = 47.5 years; IQR = 23-70 years) responded to the postal questionnaires (58.3%). Adverse effects on health-related quality of life in the physical and social well-being domains were reported, and a further 86% of respondents reported psychological morbidity related to their ostomy. However, more than 70% were satisfied (median follow-up = 17 months; IQR = 0.16-8 years) with their quality of life despite a 20% reoperation rate.

CONCLUSIONS:

An ostomy is a justified last-resort treatment option in selected individuals with severe, chronic constipation. Patients should be warned of the negative effects on health-related quality of life and the risk of complications. We advocate using an algorithm presented in this article.
Biological Approach for Managing Severe Gunshot Wounds
Authors: Muñoz Victoria , Martinez Carmen , Echevarria Begoña , Fernández Mª Isabel , Pino Ander , Anitua Eduardo
Published: July 2018

BACKGROUND:

Autologous formulations rich in bioactive proteins promote cutaneous tissue regeneration. This case report describes our experiences with a platelet-based autologous formulation in the management of a hard-to-heal and severe gunshot wound.

CASE:

A healthy, 34-year-old man suffered an accidental gunshot wound of his right foot. After cleansing with saline and application of vacuum-assisted closure therapy for a period of 5 weeks, the resulting full-thickness wound had a surface area of 20 cm2 and did not show progress toward closure despite ongoing treatment. Plasma-rich growth factor (PRGF) therapy was used in order to promote tissue regeneration. The patient's own blood was drawn, centrifuged, and platelet-rich plasma was obtained. Intradermal injections of freshly activated platelet-rich plasma were administered into the wound edges, and a fibrin membrane was applied on the wound bed. Afterward, a novel topical ointment based on the patient's own growth factors was used as a daily therapy over the affected tissue.

RESULTS:

This full-thickness wound healed after 16 weeks of autologous growth factor therapy. The patient was able to walk without pain.

CONCLUSION:

Plasma-rich growth factor therapy successfully healed this full-thickness wound that did not respond to a period of 5 weeks with negative pressure wound therapy using a vacuum-assisted device. Healing occurred after 16 weeks of treatment, and he was able to resume walking without pain or functional deficits.
Gap junctions set the speed and nucleation rate of stage I retinal waves
Authors: Malte Kähne , Sten Rüdiger , Alexandre Kihara , Benjamin Lindner
Published: July 2018

Spontaneous waves in the developing retina are essential in the formation of the retinotopic mapping in the visual system. From experiments in rabbits, it is known that the earliest type of retinal waves (stage I) is nucleated spontaneously, propagates at a speed of 451±91μm/sec and relies on gap junction coupling between ganglion cells. Because gap junctions (electrical synapses) have short integration times, it has been argued that they cannot set the low speed of stage I retinal waves. Here, we present a theoretical study of a two-dimensional neural network of the ganglion cell layer with gap junction coupling and intrinsic noise. We demonstrate that this model can explain observed nucleation rates as well as the comparatively slow propagation speed of the waves. From the interaction between two coupled neurons, we estimate the wave speed in the model network. Furthermore, using simulations of small networks of neurons (N≤260), we estimate the nucleation rate in form of an Arrhenius escape rate. These results allow for informed simulations of a realistically sized network, yielding values of the gap junction coupling and the intrinsic noise level that are in a physiologically plausible range.

Author summary

Retinal waves are a prominent example of spontaneous activity that is observed in neuronal systems of many different species during development. Spatio-temporally correlated bursts travel across the retina at a few hundredμm/sec to facilitate the maturation of the underlying neuronal circuits. Even at the earliest stage, in which the network merely consists of ganglion cells coupled by electric synapses (gap junctions), it is unclear which mechanisms are responsible for wave nucleation and transmission speed. We propose a model of gap-junction coupled noisy neurons, in which waves emerge from rare stochastic fluctuations in single cells and the wave’s transmission speed is set by the latency of the burst onset in response to gap-junction currents between neighboring cells.
TP53 mutations as potential prognostic markers for specific cancers: Analysis of data from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the International Agency for Research on Cancer TP53 Database
Authors: Li Victor , Li Karen , Li John T.
Published: July 2018

Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene TP53 are associated with a variety of cancers. Therefore, it is important to know the occurrence and the prognostic effects of TP53 mutations in certain cancers. Over 29,000 cases of TP53 mutations were obtained from the April 2016 release of the Internal Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) TP53 Database, and 7,893 cancer cases were compiled in the cBioPortal for Cancer Genomics from the 33 most recent studies of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The data was analyzed, and it was found that the majority of TP53 mutations were missense and the major mutational hotspots were located at codons 248, 273, 175, and 245 in exons 4–8 for somatic mutations with the addition of codon 337 and other mutations in exons 9–10 for germline mutations. Out of 33 TGCA studies, the effects of TP53 mutations were statistically significant in ten cancers (ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, acute myeloid leukemia, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC), papillary RCC, chromophobe RCC, uterine endometrial carcinoma, and thymoma) for survival time and in six cancers (ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, chromophobe RCC, acute myeloid leukemia, and thymoma) for disease-free survival time. Also, it was found that the most common p53 mutation in hepatocellular carcinomas (R249S) was a much better indicator for poor prognosis than TP53 mutations as a whole.

Author summary

The TP53 gene codes for the tumor suppressor protein, p53, which is essential for DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. It is commonly inactivated or partially disabled by mutations, contributing to the development of a variety of human cancers. In this study, over 29,000 cases from the April 2016 release of the International Agency for Research on Cancer TP53 Database (IARC) were analyzed to determine the distribution of mutations in the TP53 gene. Data was also collected from the 33 most recent The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) studies to determine the prevalence of TP53 mutations in cancers and their effects on survival and disease-free survival time. It was found that there were statistically significant differences between cases with and without TP53 mutations in ten cancers when comparing survival time, and in six cancers when comparing disease-free survival time. This indicates that TP53 mutations are potential prognostic markers that can be used to further improve the accuracy of predicting the survival time and disease-free survival time of cancer patients.
Understanding the motives of consumers of mezcal in Mexico
Authors: López-Rosas Carolina Andrea , Espinoza-Ortega Angélica
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to characterize the consumers of mezcal in México based on their motivations, identifying different groups of consumers and their demographic characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

A questionnaire based on the Food Choice Questionnaire was applied to 310 consumers: 154 directly to mezcal consumers in three “mezcalerías” (mezcal bars) and 156 through five social networking communities of mezcal consumers. The data obtained were analysed using multivariate statistics, factor and cluster analysis.

Findings

The results show that the search for tradition is the determining buying motivation, whereas quality seals do not exert a significant influence. Four profiles of mezcal consumers can be identified according to their consumption patterns: consumer linked to the territory, traditional consumer, consumer in transition and social consumer. The predominant demographic characteristics in the four consumer groups described a male, between 20 and 39 years old, single, childless, with professional education and employed. The overall results reveal a consumer who shares the quality criteria established by mescal-producing communities and is strongly interested in traditionally processed drinks.

Originality/value

In México, there are two important distilled drinks, tequila and mezcal. There is ample research on the first one, but there is less research on mezcal, despite it has an annual increase of 45 per cent in consumption. Most of the research work has been focused on aspects of diversity, sustainability and productivity, but there are not studies on the factors that affect mezcal consumption. Thus, this paper aims to characterize the consumers of mezcal, based on their motivations.
Heterogeneous effects of rural land property mortgage loan program on income
Authors: Yang Xi , Luo Jianchao , Yan Wenshou
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The innovative rural land property right mortgage loan program (RLPRMLP) provides a new channel for farmers to secure borrowing from microfinance institutions. Farmers’ land property right could be used as collateral to deal with moral hazard and adverse selection issues. The purpose of this paper is to document the effects of the RLPRMLP on households’ income using a unique data set from 1,279 households’ survey in Western China during 2012–2014.

Design/methodology/approach

At the first stage, the authors evaluate the impacts of RLPRMLP on households’ income to get the benchmark results when the authors control household’s observed and unobserved characteristics. To address the potential endogeneity issue resulting from the self-selection of farmers into the rural financial market, the authors apply the treatment effect model to identify the csusal effects of the innovative loan approach on a household’s income.

Findings

The empirical results favor the belief that participating in the RLPRMLP helps the households improve their total income (at least by 20.2 percent) and income per capita. This income-improving channel is only through agricultural sector, rather than through non-agricultural sector which potentially helps to deal with the inequality issue within poor regions. The results are robust when the authors control households’ characteristics, including observed and unobserved, and solve the endogeneity issue. Participating in the RLPRMLP could encourage farmers to invest more in the agricultural sector and increase agricultural productivity, which is the main mechanism of the income-improving effect of the RLPRMLP.

Originality/value

The innovative mortgage loan program provides a new channel for farmers to get loan. Land property right reform is being currently applied in rural China. Testing the effectiveness of combining land property right and microfinance loan method is necessary for the government policy making and development of rural areas. The findings are striking. The income improvement mechanism mainly works through agricultural sector, potentially because of the reform of land property, contributing to the increase of marginal product of land, i.e., the increase of agricultural productivity. These could help the development of microfinance theory, and the innovative loan method could be applied to other developing countries.
Demand and supply of opiates in an unregulated market
Authors: Vitaliano Donald F.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to estimate the demand and supply of opiates in the USA during the period 1870–1914 when the market was virtually unregulated.

Design/methodology/approach

The price and quantity of opiates is econometrically estimated using a data set constructed primarily from pharmaceutical trade journals.

Findings

Per capita opiate consumption varies in inverse proportion to its price, a price elasticity of demand of unity. The supply of opiates to the USA is perfectly elastic, a horizontal line, implying the USA was a “price-taker” in the world market for opium. The number of medical schools, a proxy for the state of medical science, significantly effects opiate consumption, as does the import tariff on opium.

Research limitations/implications

Opiate use, both medicinal and addictive, is highly responsive to purely the economic forces of price and income. The influential role of the medical profession in shaping the pattern of consumption is confirmed. Data limitations prevent making substantive statements about usage of the various sub-categories of opium, requiring all opium to be treated as equivalent units of morphine sulfate.

Practical implications

Decriminalized access to opiates and other addictive substances is likely to result in a significant increase in usage, which could be controlled by taxation.

Originality/value

Prior studies of unregulated opiate demand and supply have covered Indonesia and Taiwan under colonial government monopoly, not a major western country user like the USA. Also, this paper uses a newly created consistent set of inflation-adjusted opiate prices covering a long period (1870–1914).
Human resource function, unions and varieties of capitalism
Authors: Cristiani Alvaro , Peiró José María
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore varieties of capitalism (VoC) as a moderator of the effect of: the strategic HR function role; and the level of union presence on the adoption of different human resource management (HRM) practices categorized as either person-centered or performance-centered.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use data on both multinationals and locally owned firms from 14 OECD countries, collected through the Cranet 2009 survey. The hypotheses of the proposed model were tested using hierarchical multiple regression analysis.

Findings

Evidence shows that the strategic HR function is positively related to the adoption of both types of HRM practices, whereas higher levels of union presence inhibit the adoption of performance-centered practices and promote the adoption of person-centered practices. In addition, although VoC does not show any significant direct effects on HR practices, there is a moderating effect of VoC on the HR function role – HRM practices and union presence – HRM practices relationships.

Research limitations/implications

The use of survey data with single respondents might produce reliability problems. Additionally, the data used are cross-sectional, which means that causality cannot be determined.

Practical implications

Managers in multinationals corporations and local firms must be aware of the distinct effects of the strategic HR function and trade union presence in different market economies. In particular, special attention must be paid when a firm expands globally, “outside the reach” of the national market economy or type of capitalism, and operates in different VoC.

Originality/value

The present paper contributes to better understanding the influence of VoC, not only on HRM practices, as in previous research, but also on the relationships between the HR function role and the level of union presence and the types of practices promoted.
The impact of school principals on implementing effective teaching and learning practices
Authors: Fourie Elsa
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify limitations in managing the implementation of effective teaching and learning in township ECD centres.

Design/methodology/approach

This research was grounded in a community-based participatory research approach. A qualitative research design was utilised because phenomena could be studied in terms of the meanings of people. Elements of grounded theory, situational analysis and community-based participatory research were blended. The qualitative research design involved semi-structured face-to-face interviews with teachers in township ECD centres.

Findings

The findings from this research made it evident that principals of ECD centres were often absent; had not been trained to manage an ECD centre; had limited skills to manage finances; did not communicate with parents or teachers; and did not motivate teachers to achieve goals or to improve their qualifications.

Practical implications

Challenges that could impede the effective implementation of an intervention programme should be identified and addressed. Principals of ECD centres should be empowered to manage their centres effectively. A training programme aimed at empowering principals of ECD centres has been developed and will be implemented after consultation with the gatekeeper and principals of the ECD centres.

Originality/value

The findings of this research could be used by principals and researchers to reflect on management practices in ECD centres. A challenge for principals is to acknowledge the principles of effective management and to close the gap between current practices and effective management practices. Interventions from academics are essential to enhance the quality of teaching and learning in ECD centres.
Determinants of effectiveness in public higher education-students’ viewpoint
Authors: Kaur Harpreet , Bhalla G.S.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the determinants of effectiveness in public colleges of Punjab (India) from the students’ perspective and the impact of these determinants on the satisfaction level of students. The study further explores the difference in the overall satisfaction of students’ toward college effectiveness on the basis of demographic variables.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a survey approach. The sample comprises of 369 students from 19 public/government general degree colleges of Punjab (India). Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) has been used to explore the determinants of public colleges and structural equation modeling (SEM) has been used to analyze the impact of these determinants on the satisfaction of students.t-Test and ANOVA have been used to examine the difference in students’ satisfaction on the basis of their demographic variables.

Findings

The research instrument has been tested for both reliability and validity. The findings showed that the eight determinants of the satisfaction of students toward public colleges, namely academic environment, college administration, students support services, learning material, infrastructure facilities, placement services, extracurricular activities and financial administration. These, eight independent variables have been entered into SEM. The SEM model shows that infrastructure facilities, academic environment, learning material, college administration, extracurricular activities and financial administration have a positive and significant impact on the students’ satisfaction. On the basis of demographic variables, significant differences in overall satisfaction have been found for gender and level of education.

Practical implications

Public higher education sector in Punjab suffers from many limitations. Students are the internal customers of educational institutions and their satisfaction toward higher educational institutions will make every learner’s mind and policymakers in the field of education think seriously about bringing reforms in the higher education sector in Punjab.

Originality/value

Punjab, a well-known state of northern India is a leader in providing higher education. But, it is a fact that public higher education sector in Punjab has been facing many challenges. Student satisfaction is the central goal of any institution and this research helps to develop new insight in the quality of public higher education.
Examining situational continuous mobile game play behavior from the perspectives of diversion and flow experience
Authors: Liu Yanni , Liu Dongsheng , Yuan Yufei , Archer Norm
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate users’ continuous adoption behaviors on mobile game playing from the perspective of situational habit formation.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the literature research, a continuous adoption model for situational mobile game is proposed. And the research model is assessed based on data gathered from a sample of 226 mobile game players by employing the structural equation model methodology.

Findings

The results show that situational cues represented by availability, perceived ease of use and diversion lead to repeated performance that can be represented by flow experience and satisfaction in the situational mobile game playing context. But only flow experience and diversion influence continuous usage directly. Additionally diversion, as a critical situational variable, not only indirectly affects continuous usage intention through flow experience, but also directly affects continuous usage intention for situational mobile game playing.

Originality/value

Mobile game adoption has been studied from different perspectives, but most research is based on the technology acceptance model. They could not explain the common fact that young people tend to be highly motivated by mobile games and can be regarded as pro-active mobile game players, but many people play mobile games only when they are bored and need a diversion. So this study attempts to illustrate the phenomena to fill the gaps.
Tourism sustainability: economic benefits and strategies for preservation and conservation of heritage sitesin Southeast Asia
Authors: Chong Kar Yee , Balasingam Ann Selvaranee
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to provide empirical insights about the economic benefits as well as the useful strategies to preserve and conserve heritage sites in Southeast Asia. The benefits of heritage tourism include high tourist arrivals and receipts, the multiplier effects within the industry and creation of employment opportunities for the local community.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper used systematic literature review of secondary data to discover the benefits and strategies for preserving and conserving heritage sites. The data were obtained from peer-review journals, documentary analysis, industrial report, working paper and books.

Findings

This paper provides empirical insights about the economic benefits as well as the useful strategies to preserve and conserve heritage sites in Southeast Asia. The benefits of heritage tourism include high tourist arrivals and receipts, the multiplier effects within the industry and creation of employment opportunities for the local community. The strategies proposed include stakeholder collaboration and involvement, stakeholder empowerment and the adaptive reuse approach.

Practical implications

This research is useful for sites’ managers as local stakeholders are highly motivated in participating in the decision-making process on the future development of heritage sites. Involving and empowering stakeholders in heritage management programs increase the stakeholders’ values and willingness to participate in heritage preservation program. In addition, the implementation of adaptive reuse approach enables the conservation of heritage originality and values.

Originality/value

This paper has discovered three benefits and three strategies toward positive heritage management. Stakeholders’ involvement and collaboration is the easiest way to promote heritage management programs and empower stakeholders. Finally, adaptive reuse program is the hardest approach, but the most beneficial approach in maintaining the value and rejuvenating the heritage sites.
Nitrogen fixation and foliar nitrogen do not predict phosphorus acquisition strategies in tropical trees
Authors: Soper Fiona M. , Nasto Megan K. , Osborne Brooke B. , Cleveland Cory C.
Published: July 2018

The mechanistic links between nitrogen (N) availability and investment in plant phosphorus (P) acquisition have important implications for plant growth, species distributions, and responses to CO2 fertilization under global change, especially in P‐poor tropical ecosystems. Currently, it is unclear whether investment in strategies that enhance plant P acquisition (arbuscular mycorrhizal, AM; colonization or root phosphatase activity, RPA) are determined primarily by phylogeny, or whether these strategies differ among N2‐fixing legumes and nonfixing plants as a result of differing N availability.

We hypothesized that plant N status, which can vary widely independent of N fixation, correlates with investment in P acquisition, because: (a) N and P concentrations scale in plant tissue indicative of coupled demand and (b) plants with more N may have more resources available to allocate to acquisition strategies.

We grew seedlings of eight tropical tree species from three families (including three N2‐fixing and one nonfixing legume) under greenhouse conditions in native forest soil for four months. Species represented almost the full range of foliar N observed in tropical trees.

Neither foliar N nor P concentrations correlated with investment in P acquisition. Across all species, we found an inverse relationship between investment in AM colonization and RPA, but this trade‐off was unrelated to foliar N or P and did not differ between functional types (i.e., N2 fixers vs. nonfixers).

Within legumes (family Fabaceae), two strategies were evident that were unrelated to fixation status. High‐fixing Inga and nonfixing Dialium displayed high foliar N and P concentrations and greater proportional investment in RPA versus AM, while lower fixing Ormosia species were characterized by lower foliar nutrient concentrations and proportionally more investment in AM.

Synthesis.Investment in P acquisition strategies in tropical trees is not dependent on foliar N or functional group, but instead may be controlled in part by resource trade‐offs. High diversity in nutrient strategies between related species cautions again the use of simple functional groupings to draw conclusions about nutrient acquisition in tropical trees.
Agency, activation and compatriots: the influence of social networks on health‐seeking behaviours among Sri Lankan migrants and Anglo‐Australians with depression
Authors: Antoniades Josefine , Mazza Danielle , Brijnath Bianca
Published: July 2018

The nexus between social networks and illness behaviours is important in uptake of health care, however scant research has explored this relationship in South Asian migrants living with mental illness. We explored the interplay between culture, social networks and health seeking in Sri Lankan migrants and Anglo‐Australians living with depression. Forty‐eight in‐depth interviews were conducted and data were analysed through the theoretical prism of the network episode model. Results showed that social networks were important in negotiating care. Decisions to initiate care occurred along a continuum of choice and agency; some took charge of their care, others were coerced into care, however some Sri Lankan migrants were led through various informal channels of care. Selective activation of compatriots – those perceived to understand mental illness‐became increasingly important to participants through their illness careers. Compatriots were considered of greater benefit as participants progressed through depression than otherwise meaningful social networks based on ethnicity, culture and kinship. We argue that the role of social networks is pivotal in uptake of formal care, and engaging with communities to improve responses of social networks to mental illnesses may provide a bottom‐up avenue for improving uptake of mental health services in migrant communities.
Presence and distribution of leptin and its receptor in the gut of adult zebrafish in response to feeding and fasting
Authors: Garcia‐Suarez Olivia , Cabo Roberto , Abbate Francesco , Randazzo Basilio , Laurà Rosaria , Piccione Giuseppe , Germanà Antonino , Levanti Maria
Published: July 2018

Leptin is an anorectic hormone secreted mainly by peripheral adipocytes but also by other central and peripheral tissues. It acts by means of a receptor called OB‐R, influencing not only appetite and body mass but being also involved in many fields like endocrinology, metabolism and reproduction. Immunohistochemistry and qRT‐PCR techniques were, respectively, used to demonstrate the presence of leptin and its receptor in the gut of adult zebrafish and to evaluate the leptin gene expression response to feeding and fasting. Immunoreactivity for the antibodies utilized was demonstrated in feeding but not in fasting fish, and the gene expression analysis corroborates the data obtained by immunohistochemistry. Therefore, all the obtained results support the hypothesis of the role of this hormone in food regulation in zebrafish.
Tokishakuyakusan, a traditional Japanese medicine (Kampo) mitigates iNKT cell‐mediated pregnancy loss in mice
Authors: Nagamatsu Takeshi , Fujii Tatsuya , Schust Danny J. , Tsuchiya Naoko , Tokita Yohei , Hoya Mari , Akiba Naoya , Iriyama Takayuki , Kawana Kei , Osuga Yutaka , Fujii Tomoyuki
Published: July 2018

Objective

Tokishakuyakusan (TSS) is a traditional herbal medicine that has been used empirically to prevent recurrent pregnancy loss. Its mode of action remains unclear. With their potent capacity to produce cytokines, invariant natural killer (iNKT) cells are involved in the control of fetomaternal immunity in early gestation. This study aimed to clarify the effect of TSS on iNKT cell activities in a well‐studied murine miscarriage model.

Methods

Pregnant mice were fed 1% TSS‐containing or control diet from the day of vaginal plug formation. Alpha‐galactosylceramide (AGC) was administered intraperitoneally to the pregnant mice at day 9.5 postcoitus (pc) to stimulate iNKT cells. Peripheral cytokine levels were evaluated using cytokine arrays. The percentage of iNKT cells among splenocytes was examined by flow cytometric analysis. The incidence of pregnancy loss was assessed at day 12.5 pc.

Results

The ratio of fetal resorptions to total conceptuses was significantly higher in the group exposed to TSS (34%) than in controls (78%). A rapid and robust surge in inflammatory cytokines, including IFN‐γ and TNF‐α, was detected in the peripheral blood of control animals 2 hours after AGC administration. This peripheral cytokine induction was significantly attenuated in the TSS‐fed group compared with the control. The percentage of iNKT cells among total splenocytes was lower in the TSS‐fed group than in controls.

Conclusion

The findings in this study suggest that the inhibitory effects of TSS on pregnancy loss may involve immune modulation of iNKT cells during early pregnancy.
The functions of foliar nyctinasty: a review and hypothesis
Authors: Minorsky Peter V.
Published: July 2018

Foliar nyctinasty is a plant behaviour characterised by a pronounced daily oscillation in leaf orientation. During the day, the blades of nyctinastic plant leaves (or leaflets) assume a more or less horizontal position that optimises their ability to capture sunlight for photosynthesis. At night, the positions that the leaf blades assume, regardless of whether they arise by rising, falling or twisting, are essentially vertical. Among the ideas put forth to explain the raison d'être of foliar nyctinasty are that it: (i) improves the temperature relations of plants; (ii) helps remove surface water from foliage; (iii) prevents the disruption of photoperiodism by moonlight; and (iv) directly discourages insect herbivory. After discussing these previous hypotheses, a novel tritrophic hypothesis is introduced that proposes that foliar nyctinasty constitutes an indirect plant defence against nocturnal herbivores. It is suggested that the reduction in physical clutter that follows from nocturnal leaf closure may increase the foraging success of many types of animals that prey upon or parasitise herbivores. Predators and parasitoids generally use some combination of visual, auditory or olfactory cues to detect prey. In terrestrial environments, it is hypothesised that the vertical orientation of the blades of nyctinastic plants at night would be especially beneficial to flying nocturnal predators (e.g. bats and owls) and parasitoids whose modus operandi is death from above. The movements of prey beneath a plant with vertically oriented foliage would be visually more obvious to gleaning or swooping predators under nocturnal or crepuscular conditions. Such predators could also detect sounds made by prey better without baffling layers of foliage overhead to damp and disperse the signal. Moreover, any volatiles released by the prey would diffuse more directly to the awaiting olfactory apparatus of the predators or parasitoids. In addition to facilitating the demise of herbivores by carnivores and parasitoids, foliar nyctinasty, much like the enhanced illumination of the full moon, may mitigate feeding by nocturnal herbivores by altering their foraging behaviour. Foliar nyctinasty could also provide a competitive advantage by encouraging herbivores, seeking more cover, to forage on or around non‐nyctinastic species. As an added advantage, foliar nyctinasty, by decreasing the temperature between plants through its effects on re‐radiation, may slow certain types of ectothermic herbivores making them more vulnerable to predation. Foliar nyctinasty also may not solely be a behavioural adaptation against folivores; by discouraging foraging by granivores, the inclusive fitness of nyctinastic plants may be increased.
Why Choo‐Choo Is Better Than Train: The Role of Register‐Specific Words in Early Vocabulary Growth
Authors: Ota Mitsuhiko , Davies‐Jenkins Nicola , Skarabela Barbora
Published: July 2018

Across languages, lexical items specific to infant‐directed speech (i.e., ‘baby‐talk words’) are characterized by a preponderance of onomatopoeia (or highly iconic words), diminutives, and reduplication. These lexical characteristics may help infants discover the referential nature of words, identify word referents, and segment fluent speech into words. If so, the amount of lexical input containing these properties should predict infants’ rate of vocabulary growth. To test this prediction, we tracked the vocabulary size in 47 English‐learning infants from 9 to 21 months and examined whether the patterns of growth can be related to measures of iconicity, diminutives, and reduplication in the lexical input at 9 months. Our analyses showed that both diminutives and reduplication in the input were associated with vocabulary growth, although measures of iconicity were not. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that phonological properties typical of lexical input in infant‐directed speech play a role in early vocabulary growth.
When portfolio theory can help environmental investment planning to reduce climate risk to future environmental outcomes—and when it cannot
Authors: Ando Amy W. , Fraterrigo Jennifer , Guntenspergen Glenn , Howlader Aparna , Mallory Mindy , Olker Jennifer H. , Stickley Samuel
Published: July 2018

Variability among climate change scenarios produces great uncertainty in what is the best allocation of resources among investments to protect environmental goods in the future. Previous research shows Modern Portfolio Theory (MPT) can help optimize environmental investment targeting to reduce outcome uncertainty with minimal loss of expected level of environmental benefits, but no work has yet identified the types of cases for which MPT is most useful. This article assembles data on 26 different conservation cases in three distinct ecological settings and develops new metrics to evaluate how well MPT can reduce uncertainty in future outcomes of a set of environmental investments. We find MPT is broadly but not universally useful and works best when multiple investments have negatively correlated outcomes across climate scenarios; a second‐best investment has expected value almost as good as the value in the best investment; or multiple investments have little uncertainty in ecological outcomes.
Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and bone metabolism in Type 1 diabetes
Authors: Hansen C. S. , Theilade S. , Lajer M. , Hansen T. W. , Rossing P.
Published: July 2018

Aim

To investigate the association between cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy and bone metabolism in people with Type 1 diabetes.

Methods

We assessed cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in 329 people with Type 1 diabetes according to heart rate response to deep breathing, to standing and to the Valsalva manoeuvre, and 2‐min resting heart rate. More than one pathological non‐resting test was defined as cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. Bone mineral density of the femoral neck (BMDfn) was assessed by dual energy X‐ray absorptiometry. Serum parathyroid hormone levels and other bone markers were measured.

Results

The mean (sd) age of the participants was 55.6 (9.4) years, 52% were men, and the mean (sd) diabetes duration was 40 (8.9) years, HbA1c 62 (9) mmol/mol and estimated GFR 78 (26) ml/min/1.73m2. In all, 36% had cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy. Participants with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy had 4.2% (95% CI –8.0 to –0.2; P=0.038) lower BMDfn and 33.6% (95% CI 14.3 to 53.8; P=0.0002) higher parathyroid hormone levels compared with participants without cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in adjusted models. Higher resting heart rate remained associated with higher parathyroid hormone level and lower BMDfn after additional adjustment for eGFR (P<0.0001 and P = 0.042, respectively).

Conclusions

The presence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was associated with reduced BMDfn and increased levels of parathyroid hormone. Kidney function may either confound or mediate these findings. Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy could be associated with increased risk of osteoporosis in Type 1 diabetes. Whether cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy directly affects bone metabolism detrimentally or if this association is mediated via decreased kidney function should be investigated further.
Differential responses of carbon‐degrading enzyme activities to warming: Implications for soil respiration
Authors: Chen Ji , Luo Yiqi , García‐Palacios Pablo , Cao Junji , Dacal Marina , Zhou Xuhui , Li Jianwei , Xia Jianyang , Niu Shuli , Yang Huiyi , Shelton Shelby , Guo Wei , van Groenigen Kees Jan
Published: July 2018

Extracellular enzymes catalyze rate‐limiting steps in soil organic matter decomposition, and their activities (EEAs) play a key role in determining soil respiration (SR). Both EEAs and SR are highly sensitive to temperature, but their responses to climate warming remain poorly understood. Here, we present a meta‐analysis on the response of soil cellulase and ligninase activities and SR to warming, synthesizing data from 56 studies. We found that warming significantly enhanced ligninase activity by 21.4% but had no effect on cellulase activity. Increases in ligninase activity were positively correlated with changes in SR, while no such relationship was found for cellulase. The warming response of ligninase activity was more closely related to the responses of SR than a wide range of environmental and experimental methodological factors. Furthermore, warming effects on ligninase activity increased with experiment duration. These results suggest that soil microorganisms sustain long‐term increases in SR with warming by gradually increasing the degradation of the recalcitrant carbon pool.
Pathways into and out of overweight and obesity from infancy to mid‐childhood
Authors: Wright C. M. , Marryat L. , McColl J. , Harjunmaa U. , Cole T. J.
Published: July 2018

Objectives

To investigate whether high weight in infancy predicts obesity in childhood.

Method

Data from two UK cohorts (Newcastle Growth and Development N = 795, Gateshead Millennium N = 393) and one Finnish (Tampere N = 1262) were combined. Z scores of weight at 3 and 12 months and body mass index (BMI) at 5 and 8 years were categorized as raised/overweight (1 to <2 SD) or high/obese (≥2 SD).

Results

The majority of infants with raised or high weight at birth tended to revert to normal by 3 months and to track in the same category from 3 to 12 months. Although infants with high weight were five times more likely to have BMI ≥ 2 SD at 8 years (p < 0.001), only 22% went on to have BMI ≥ 2 SD, while 64% of infants with raised weight had normal BMI at 8 years. Of children with BMI ≥ 2 SD aged 8 years, only 22% had raised weight in infancy and half had BMI ≥ 2 SD for the first time at that age.

Conclusions

Infants with raised weight in infancy tend to remain so, but most children who go on to have BMI ≥ 2 SD were not unusually heavy infants and the majority of infants with high weight reverted to overweight or normal weight in childhood.
A 627K variant in the PB2 protein of H9 subtype influenza virus in wild birds
Authors: Ge Ye , Yao Qiucheng , Chai Hongliang , Hua Yuping , Deng Guohua , Chen Hualan
Published: July 2018

Background

Wild birds are gaining increasing attention as gene‐mixing reservoirs for influenza viruses. To investigate the molecular properties of the viruses isolated and epidemiological analysis of H9N2 subtype AIV in wild birds, we studied samples obtained over two years (2014‐2015) from wetlands in Anhui province, China.

Methods

A total of 4534 samples were collected from migratory waterfowl in Anhui in 2014‐2015, and 8 strains of H9 subtype AIV were isolated.

Results

Phylogenetic analysis showed different degrees of gene segment reassortment in H9 viruses between the Eurasian lineage and the North American lineage. Most importantly, two viruses harbored the E627K mutation in the polymerase PB2 (PB2) protein. This is the first report of the mutation of this virus from low pathogenicity to high pathogenicity in wild birds.

Conclusions

The continued surveillance of wild birds, especially migratory birds, is important to provide early warning and control of AIV outbreaks. Our results highlight the high genetic diversity of AIV along the Eurasian‐Australian migration flyway and the need for more extensive AIV surveillance in eastern China.
Technology‐induced bias in the theory of evidence‐based medicine
Authors: Eustace Scott
Published: July 2018

Designing trials and studies to minimize confounding and bias is central to evidence‐based medicine (EBM). The widespread use of recent technologies such as machine learning, smartphones, and the World Wide Web to collect, analyse, and disseminate information can improve the efficiency, reliability, and availability of medical research. However, it also has the potential to introduce new sources of significant, technology‐induced evidential bias. This paper assesses the extent of the impact by reviewing some of the methods by and principles according to which evidence is collected, analysed, and disseminated in EBM, supported by specific examples. It considers the effect of personal health tracking via smartphones, the current proliferation of research data and the influence of search engine “filter bubbles”, the possibility of machine learning‐driven study design, and the implications of using machine learning to seek patterns in large quantities of data, for example from observational studies and medical record databases. It concludes that new technology may introduce profound new sources of bias that current EBM frameworks do not accommodate. It also proposes new approaches that could be incorporated in to EBM theory to mitigate the most obvious risks, and suggests where further assessment of the practical implications is needed.