bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pregnant women’s understanding and conceptualisations of the harms from drinking alcohol: a qualitative study
Authors: Gibson Sophie , Nagle Cate , Paul Jean , McCarthy Leisa , Muggli Evelyne
Published: October 2019

Background

Despite women’s awareness that drinking alcohol in pregnancy can lead to lifelong disabilities in a child, it appears that an awareness alone does not discourage some pregnant women from drinking.

Objectives

To explore influences on pregnant women’s decision making around alcohol use in a population with frequent and heavy peer drinking (i.e. in two Indigenous Australian communities) and another of non-Indigenous pregnant women attending antenatal care in a range of socioeconomic settings.

Methods

Individual and group discussions were held with both Indigenous Australian and non-Indigenous pregnant women attending a variety of antenatal care models, including two Indigenous maternity services in Australia. Data were analysed using inductive content analysis.

Results

A total of 14 Indigenous Australian and 14 non-Indigenous pregnant women participated in this study. Analysis identified five main influences on pregnant women’s alcohol use: the level and detail of women’s understanding of harm; women’s information sources on alcohol use in pregnancy; how this information influenced their choices; how women conceptualised their pregnancy; and whether the social and cultural environment supported abstinence.

Conclusions for practice

This study provides insight into how Indigenous Australian and non-Indigenous pregnant women understand and conceptualise the harms from drinking alcohol, including how their social and cultural environments impact their ability to abstain. Strategies for behaviour change need to: correct misinformation about supposed ‘safe’ timing, quantity and types of alcohol; develop a more accurate perception of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder; reframe messages about harm to messages about optimising the child’s health and cognitive outcomes; and develop a holistic approach encompassing women’s social and cultural context.
Kinetic fingerprints differentiate anti-Aβ therapies
Authors: Linse Sara , Scheidt Tom , Bernfur Katja , Vendruscolo Michele , Dobson Christopher M. , Cohen Samuel I. A. , Sileikis Eimantas , Lundquist Martin , Qian Fang , O’Malley Tiernan , Bussiere Thierry , Weinreb Paul H. , Xu Catherine K. , Meisl Georg , Devenish Sean R. A. , Knowles Tuomas P. J. , Hansson Oskar
Published: October 2019

The amyloid cascade hypothesis, according to which the self-assembly of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) is a causative process in Alzheimer’s disease, has driven many therapeutic efforts for the past 20 years. Failures of clinical trials investigating Aβ-targeted therapies have been interpreted as evidence against this hypothesis, irrespective of the characteristics and mechanisms of action of the therapeutic agents, which are highly challenging to assess. We bring together kinetic analysis with quantitative binding measurements to address the mechanisms of action of four clinical stage anti-Aβ antibodies, aducanumab, gantenerumab, bapineuzumab and solanezumab. We reveal and quantify the striking differences of these antibodies on the aggregation kinetics and on the production of oligomeric aggregates, and link these effects to the affinity and stoichiometry of each antibody for monomeric and fibrillar forms of Aβ. Our results uncover that, uniquely amongst these four antibodies, aducanumab dramatically reduces the flux of oligomeric forms of Aβ.
Chromosome organization by one-sided and two-sided loop extrusion
Authors: Banigan Edward J. , van den Berg Aafke A. , Brandão Hugo B. , Marko John F. , Mirny Leonid A.
Published: October 2019

SMC complexes, such as condensin or cohesin, organize chromatin throughout the cell cycle by a process known as loop extrusion. SMC complexes reel in DNA, extruding and progressively growing DNA loops. Modeling assuming two-sided loop extrusion reproduces key features of chromatin organization across different organisms. In vitro single-molecule experiments confirmed that yeast condensins extrude loops, however, they remain anchored to their loading sites and extrude loops in a “one-sided” manner. We therefore simulate one-sided loop extrusion to investigate whether “one-sided” complexes can compact mitotic chromosomes, organize interphase domains, and juxtapose bacterial chromosomal arms, as can be done by “two-sided” loop extruders. While one-sided loop extrusion cannot reproduce these phenomena, variants can recapitulate in vivo observations. We predict that SMC complexes in vivo constitute effectively two-sided motors or exhibit biased loading and propose relevant experiments. Our work suggests that loop extrusion is a viable general mechanism of chromatin organization.

Impact statement

We reconcile seemingly contradictory findings of single-molecule and in vivo experiments on a major mechanism of chromosome organization by computationally investigating mechanisms of loop extrusion that are consistent with both.
Top-down modulation of neural envelope tracking: the interplay with behavioral, self-report and neural measures of listening effort
Authors: Decruy Lien , Lesenfants Damien , Vanthornhout Jonas , Francart Tom
Published: October 2019

When listening to natural speech, our neural activity tracks the speech envelope. Moreover, recent research has demonstrated that this neural envelope tracking can be affected by top-down processes. The present study was designed to examine if neural envelope tracking is modulated by the effort that a person expends during listening. Five measures were included to quantify listening effort: two behavioral measures based on a novel dual-task paradigm, a self-report effort measure and two neural measures related to neural phase synchronization and alpha power. Electroencephalography responses to sentences, presented at a wide range of subject-specific signal-to-noise ratios, were recorded in thirteen young, normal-hearing adults. A comparison of the five measures revealed different effects of listening effort as a function of speech understanding. Reaction times on the primary task and self-reported effort decreased with increasing speech understanding. In contrast, reaction times on the secondary task and alpha power showed a peak-shaped behavior with highest effort at intermediate speech understanding levels. We found a positive association between envelope tracking and speech understanding. While a significant effect of listening effort was found on theta-band envelope tracking, the effect size was negligible. Therefore, our results suggest that listening effort is not a confound when using envelope tracking to objectively measure speech understanding in young, normal-hearing adults.
A Multicellular Network Mechanism for Temperature-Robust Food Sensing
Authors: Patel Dhaval S. , Diana Giovanni , Entchev Eugeni V. , Zhan Mei , Lu Hang , Ch’ng QueeLim
Published: October 2019

Responsiveness to external cues is a hallmark of biological systems. In complex environments, organisms must remain responsive to specific inputs even as other internal or external factors fluctuate. Here we show how Caenorhabditis elegans can discriminate between food levels to modulate lifespan despite temperature perturbations. While robustness of fixed outputs has been described, our findings uncover a more complex robustness process that maintains food-responsiveness. This end-to-end robustness from environment to physiology is mediated by food-sensing neurons that communicate via TGF-β and serotonin signals to form a multicellular gene network. Mechanistically, specific regulations in this network change with temperature to maintain similar food-responsiveness in the lifespan output. Together, our findings provide a basis for gene-environment interactions and unveil computations that integrate environmental cues to govern physiology.
Immunomodulatory effects of cytokine-induced expansion of cytotoxic lymphocytes in a mouse model of lupus-like disease
Authors: Reighard Seth D. , Krishnamurthy Durga , Cevik Hilal , Ochayon David E. , Ali Ayad , Seelamneni Harsha , Brunner Hermine I. , Waggoner Stephen N.
Published: October 2019

Certain therapies (i.e. daclizumab) that promote expansion of natural killer (NK) cells are associated with clinical amelioration of disease in the context of multiple sclerosis and associated mouse models. The clinical benefits are putatively attributable to an enhanced capacity of NK cells to kill activated pathogenic T cells. Whether a parallel approach will also be effective in systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), a multi-organ autoimmune disease driven by aberrant responses of self-reactive T and B cells, is unclear. In the present study we assess the therapeutic impact of IL-2 and IL-15-based strategies for expanding NK cells on measures of lupus-like disease in a mouse model. Unexpectedly, cytokine-mediated expansion of cytotoxic lymphocytes aggravated immunological measures of lupus-like disease. Depletion studies reveal that the negative effects of these cytokine-based regimens can largely be attributed to expansion of CD8 T cells rather than NK cells. These results provoke caution in the use of cytokine-based therapeutics to treat co-morbid cancers in patients with lupus and highlight the need for new methods to selectively expand NK cells in order to further assess their clinical value in autoimmune disease.
Determining the association between regionalisation of cortical morphology and cognition in 10,145 children
Authors: Palmer C E , Zhao W , Loughnan R , Zou J , Fan C C , Thompson W K , Jernigan T L , Dale A M
Published: October 2019

Individuals undergo protracted changes in cortical morphology during childhood and adolescence, coinciding with cognitive development. Studies quantifying the association between brain structure and cognition do not always assess regional cortical morphology relative to global brain measures and typically rely on mass univariate statistics or ROI-based analyses. After controlling for global brain measures, it is possible to detect a residual regionalisation pattern indicating the size or thickness of different regions relative to the total cortical surface area or mean thickness. Individual variability in regionalisation may be important for understanding and predicting between subject variability in cognitive performance. Here we sought to determine whether the relative configuration of cortical architecture across the whole cortex was associated with cognition using a novel multivariate omnibus statistical test (MOSTest) in 10,145 children aged 9-10 years from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. MOSTest is better powered to detect associations that are widely distributed across the cortex compared to methods that assume sparse associations. We then quantified the magnitude of the association between vertex-wise cortical morphology and cognitive performance using a linear weighted sum across vertices, based on the estimated vertex-wise effect sizes. We show that the relative pattern of cortical architecture, after removing the effects of global brain measures, predicted unique variance associated with cognition across different imaging modalities and cognitive domains.

SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT

This paper demonstrates a significant advance in our understanding of the relationship between cortical morphology and individual variability in cognition. There is increasing evidence that brain-behaviour associations are distributed across the cortex. Using the unprecedented sample from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study and a novel application of a multivariate statistical approach (MOSTest), we have discovered specific distributed regionalization patterns across the cortex associated with cognition across multiple cognitive domains. This furthers our understanding of the relationship between brain structure and cognition, namely that these associations are not sparse and localized as assumed with traditional neuroimaging analyses. This multivariate method is extremely versatile and can be used in several different applications.
Corruption and international trade: a comprehensive analysis with gravity
Authors: Gil-Pareja Salvador , Llorca-Vivero Rafael , Martínez-Serrano José Antonio
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the impact of corruption on trade.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors estimate gravity equations with the last econometric advances on a wide sample of countries and years using three different measures of corruption. Two of them belong to the so-called perception-based indexes and the third is derived from a structural model that takes into account the causes and indicators of corruption across countries.

Findings

A negative effect of corruption on trade appears with perceptions, but it is not widespread. However, the authors find sensible evidence of the “grease the wheels” view with the structural index if low and middle income countries are implicated. Additionally, when using this measure, differences in corruption levels negatively impact trade. Both results are in line with expectations.

Originality/value

Moreover, membership in regional trade agreements does not seem to significantly alter these results.
Education and economic growth: an empirical analysis of nonlinearities
Authors: Marquez-Ramos Laura , Mourelle Estefanía
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Might a country’s economic growth performance differ depending on the evolution of its human capital? This paper aims to consider education as a channel for human capital improvement and then for economic growth. The authors hypothesize the existence of a threshold for education, after which point the characteristics of economic growth change.

Design/methodology/approach

To address this question, the authors turn from a linear framework to a nonlinear one by applying smooth transition specifications.

Findings

This empirical analysis for Spain points to the existence of nonlinearities in the relationship between education and economic growth at country level, for both secondary and tertiary education. Next, as different patterns emerge in different regions, the authors provide a regional analysis for a number of representative Spanish regions. The results show that both secondary and tertiary education matter for economic growth and that nonlinearities in this relationship should be taken into account.

Practical implications

What is learnt from using Smooth Transition Regression models for the education-economic growth link is that the educational level of the population can be understood as a source of nonlinearities in the economic activity of a country (and of a region). Thus, depending on national and regional educational levels, economic growth behaves differently.

Originality/value

Although the importance of nonlinearities has been identified, linearity is usually assumed in this field of the literature. This paper calls into question the linearity assumption by using time series techniques for 1971-2013 in Spain, an OECD country, and testing whether the results at country level hold for different regions within Spain as a robustness check.
Affiliation to alcoholics anonymous or narcotics anonymous among patients attending an English specialist addiction service
Authors: Day Edward , Kirberg Sabrina , Metrebian Nicola
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Attendance at alcoholics anonymous (AA) or narcotics anonymous (NA) meetings and affiliation with the fellowship has potential benefits for people with alcohol or drug use disorders. This effect is present whether or not the individual attends professional treatment services, but the two process can have a synergistic effect. Limited information exists about the extent to which people attending UK specialist treatment services also attend AA/NA and their views about such attendance. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional survey of 200 consecutive attendees at the specialist treatment service in an English region was conducted between January and April 2018. A measure of past attendance and affiliation with AA/NA (AAAS) and a scale designed to quantify future readiness to attend (Survey of Readiness for Alcoholics Anonymous Participation) were administered and anonymously linked to data supplied to the National Drug Treatment Monitoring Service (NDTMS).

Findings

A minority of the sample had ever attended an AA meeting (31 per cent, n=59) or an NA meeting (41 per cent, n=79), and only 14 per cent (n=27) and 24 per cent (n=45) had attended an AA or NA meeting, respectively, in the past year. Only two variables significantly predicted level of readiness to attend AA or NA in a regression model: attended more AA/NA meetings in the past (ß=0.149, p=0.036) and previous level of participation (AAAS score) (ß=0.409, p < 0.001).

Practical implications

A significant proportion of attendees of a specialist drug and alcohol treatment service had never attended AA/NA, despite many positive views about their potential benefits. Given the established benefits of attending AA/NA meetings and participating in the AA or NA fellowship, these results suggest that professional treatment services should do more to explain the process and challenge preconceived ideas about how they operate.

Originality/value

The authors are not aware of any published research that captures the rates of attendance of and participation in both AA and NA groups in a UK-based community treatment sample. These results may therefore provide a baseline for evaluating the impact of interventions to increase attendance/participation, and also provide some insight into the potential barriers to attendance in this population.
Do medical cannabis growers attempt to produce cannabis with different cannabinoid concentrations than recreational growers?
Authors: Sznitman Sharon R. , Barratt Monica J. , Decorte Tom , Hakkarainen Pekka , Lenton Simon , Potter Gary , Werse Bernd , Wilkins Chris
Published: October 2019

Purpose

It is conceivable that cannabis cultivators who grow for medical purposes aim to improve the therapeutic index of their cannabis by attempting to produce particular concentrations of CBD and/or THC. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether small-scale medical cannabis growers differ from those growing for recreational reasons in terms of self-assessed concentrations of THC and CBD in the cannabis they grow.

Design/methodology/approach

Data collection was conducted online from a convenience sample of 268 cannabis growers visiting a popular Israeli cannabis internet forum. χ2 and Kruskal–Wallis H were used to test bivariate associations between medical and recreational cannabis cultivators in terms of self-assessed cannabinoid concentrations.

Findings

In total, 40 percent of cannabis growers reported that they grow for medical purposes. Medical cannabis growers were more likely to report that they thought they knew the cannabinoid concentrations of the cannabis they grew and they reported higher self-assessed concentrations of THC, but not CBD.

Originality/value

Compared to recreational growers, medical cannabis growers are more likely to strive to be informed in terms of the content of their cannabis. Medical growers may also be attempting to grow more potent THC but not CBD cannabis.
Operations strategy of cloud-based firms: achieving firm growth in the Big Data era
Authors: Shou Yongyi , Zhao Xinyu , Chen Lujie
Published: October 2019

Purpose

Cloud computing is a major enabling technology for Industry 4.0 and the Big Data era. However, cloud-based firms, who establish their businesses on cloud platforms, have received scant attention in the extant operations management (OM) literature. To narrow this gap, the purpose of this paper is to investigate cloud-based firms from an operations strategy perspective.

Design/methodology/approach

A two-phase multi-method approach was adopted. In the first phase, content analysis of 27 reports from cloud-based firms was conducted, aided by text mining keyword extraction. Two data-related operations capabilities were identified and hypotheses were posited regarding the relationships between data resources (DR), operations capabilities and firm growth (FG). In the second phase, a sample of 190 cloud-based firms was collected. Seemingly unrelated regression and bootstrapping method were employed to test the proposed hypotheses using the survey data.

Findings

The content analysis indicates data as a key resource and both data processing capability and data transformational capability as critical operations capabilities of cloud-based firms. FG is regarded as a top priority in the cloud context. The regression results indicate that DR and the two capabilities contribute to the growth of cloud-based firms. Moreover, a follow-up bootstrapping analysis reveals that the mediating effects of the two capabilities vary between different types of FG.

Originality/value

To the authors’ best knowledge, this is one of the first OM studies on cloud-based firms. This study extends the operations strategy literature by identifying and testing the key operations capabilities and priorities of cloud-based firms. It also provides insightful implications for industrial practitioners.
Ground state phase diagrams and magnetic properties of the double perovskite La2NiMnO6
Authors: El Housni Ibtissam , Idrissi Samira , El Mekkaoui Najlae , Mtougui Sara , Khalladi Rajaa , Labrim Hicham , Ziti Soumia , Bahmad Lahoucine
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the magnetic properties and the ground state phase diagrams of the double perovskite La2NiMnO6 using the Monte Carlo simulations (MCS).

Design/methodology/approach

In this work, the authors propose a Hamiltonian modeling this compound, described by an Ising model, with different exchange coupling interactions J11, J12 and J22 between the only magnetic atoms Ni and Mn.

Findings

Starting with the ground state phase diagrams, the authors present and discuss the stable configurations in different physical parameter planes. On the other hand, the authors present the investigation of the magnetic properties and the magnetization behaviors of the magnetic susceptibilities, as a function of temperature, crystal field, the exchange coupling interactions and the Zeeman energy. To complete this study, the authors illustrate the dependency of the total magnetizations for the hysteresis loops of the double perovskite La2NiMnO6 compound. This study is done for fixed values of temperature, the exchange coupling interactions and crystal field.

Originality/value

The authors modeled the different physical parameters of the double perovskite La2NiMnO with a Hamiltonian describing the system. At T=0K, the authors discussed the ground state phase diagrams of different physical parameters planes. For non-null temperature values, the authors studied the magnetic behavior of the double perovskite La2NiMnO using MCS under the metropolis algorithm. The authors expect that the results of these simulations can provide some important keys for the experimental research and technology applications of the double perovskite La2NiMnO6 in the future.
Methodology for the additive manufacture of embedded conductive paths connecting microelectromechanical sensors using conductive and flexible filaments with extrusion devices
Authors: Cao Chuan , Cazón-Martín Aitor , Rodriguez-Ferradas María Isabel , Morer-Camo Paz , Matey-Muñoz Luis , Etxaniz-Sein Unai , Morcillo-Fuentes Hector , Aguinaga-Azpiazu Daniel
Published: October 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore a methodology for connecting microelectromechanical system sensors – i.e. inertial measurement unit (IMU) – to an Arduino-based microcontroller, using graphene-based conductive filament and flexible thermoplastic polyurethane (FTPU) filament and low-cost dual material extrusion technology.

Design/methodology/approach

A series of electrical tests were carried out to determine the maximum resistance the conductive paths may take to connect printed circuit boards (PCB). To select the most suitable printing material, three types of conductive filaments were examined. Then an experiment was carried out to find the best printing parameters in terms of printing speed, printing temperature and layer height to minimise resistivity. The size of the conductive path was also analysed. A final prototype was designed and printed according to optimised printing settings and maximum allowable resistances for each line and considering different geometries and printing strategies to reduce cross-contamination among paths.

Findings

For the Black Magic 3D conductive filament, the printing speed and layer height played a significant role regarding resistivity, while the printing temperature was not very important. The infill pattern of the conductive paths had to be aligned with the expected current path, while using air gaps between two adjacent paths resulted in the best approach to reducing cross-contamination. Moreover, the cross-section size of the conductive path did not affect the volume resistivity. When combined with FTPU filament constraints, the prototype yielded suitable electrical performance and printing quality when printed at a temperature of 220°C, speed of 20 mm/s and layer height of 0.2 mm.

Originality/value

This paper explores a systematic methodology for the additive manufacturing of commercial conductive material using low-cost extrusion technology to connect complex electronics when data transmission is a key feature.
Analysis of acne‐related judicial precedents from 1997 to 2018 in South Korea
Authors: Cho Soo Ick , Shin Su Hwan , Yang Ji Hoon , Lee Won , Kim So Yoon , Suh Dae Hun
Published: October 2019

Medicolegal disputes are increasing in practical medicine. Medications or procedures related to acne could lead to medical malpractice. This study analyzed medical litigation associated with acne in South Korea. Acne‐related judgments were searched using the Supreme Court of Korea’s Written Judgment Management System based on the keyword “acne”. Eleven cases were selected; eight cases were related to acne scar and three cases were related to acne. Treatment modalities such as peeling, laser treatment, photodynamic therapy and antibiotics resulted in lawsuits. Claimed sequelae of the treatments were hyperpigmentation, scar worsening, erythema, skin bumps and liver transplant. Eight cases were awarded to the plaintiff, and the others were dismissed. This study shows that various treatments for acne can cause medical disputes.
Ecological Gentrification in Response to Apocalyptic Narratives of Climate Change: The Production of an Immuno‐political Fantasy
Authors: Harper Earl T.
Published: October 2019

Anxieties over the potential impacts of climate change, often framed in apocalyptic language, are having a profound, but little studied effect on the contemporary Western urbanscape. This article examines the ways in which current theorizations of ‘ecological gentrification’ express only half the process, describing how green space is used for social control, but not how ecology is used as a justification regime for such projects. As urbanites seek out housing and living practices that have a lower environmental impact, urban planners have responded by providing large‐scale regeneration of the urbanscape. With the demand for this housing increasing, questions of inequality, displacement and dispossession arise. I ask whether apocalyptic anxiety is being enrolled in the justification regimes of these projects to make them hard to resist at the planning and implementation stages. The article shows that, in capitalizing on collective anxiety surrounding an apocalyptic future, these projects depoliticize subjects by using the empty signifier, ‘Sustainability’, leading them into an immuno‐political relationship to the urbanscape. This leaves subjects feeling protected from both responsibility for, and the impacts of, climate change. Ultimately, this has the consequence of gentrification coupled with potentially worsening consumptive practices, rebound effects and the depoliticization of the environmentally conscious urbanite.
MicroRNA‐214‐3p modified tetrahedral framework nucleic acids target survivin to induce tumour cell apoptosis
Authors: Li Songhang , Sun Yue , Tian Taoran , Qin Xin , Lin Shiyu , Zhang Tao , Zhang Qi , Zhou Mi , Zhang Xiaolin , Zhou Yi , Zhao Hu , Zhu Bofeng , Cai Xiaoxiao
Published: October 2019

Objectives

Due to the instability of microRNAs, the applications of microRNA are currently limited. Thus, we utilized tetrahedral framework nucleic acids and a targeted microRNAs to form a stable nanocomposite to explore whether this nanocomposite can promote apoptosis of tumour cells.

Materials and methods

In our study, the survivin gene, which is expressed only in tumour cells and embryonic cells, was selected as the target gene; miRNA‐214‐3p, which can reduce the expression of survivin, was modified onto tetrahedral framework nucleic acid, thereby producing a reduction in the expression of survivin upon intracellular delivery and eventually leading to tumour cell apoptosis.

Results

By comparing the stability of microRNAs with that of microRNA‐tetrahedral framework nucleic acid, we proved the superiority of this carrier system. The results of flow cytometry showed that after treated with this complex, the ratio of A549 cells in both late and early period of apoptosis in miRNA‐214‐3p‐tetrahedral framework nucleic acid group had doubled and the cell cycle in the G2‐M phase had declined. The decrease in the expression of anti‐apoptotic protein and the increase in the expression of pro‐apoptotic protein indicate that the ability of this complex to function in cells also makes it attractive as a new targeted therapy for cancer.

Conclusion

The unique expression of survivin in tumour cells and embryonic cells makes microRNA‐tetrahedral framework nucleic acid a new targeted therapy. In addition, due to the functional diversity of microRNAs, this delivery system approach can be applied to a wide variety of fields, such as targeted therapy and tissue regeneration.
Translational Model‐Informed Dose Selection for a Human Positron Emission Tomography Imaging Study of JNJ‐54175446, a P2X7 Receptor Antagonist
Authors: Xu Yan , Miao Xin , Ravenstijn Paulien , Hijzen Anja , Schmidt Mark E. , Nandy Partha , Zhou Honghui
Published: October 2019

Positron emission tomography (PET) provides useful information in target engagement or receptor occupancy in the brain for central nervous system (CNS) drug development, however, dose selection for human PET studies is challenging and largely empirical. Here, we describe a translational pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) modeling work to inform dose selection for a human PET study of JNJ‐54175446, a CNS‐penetrating P2X7 receptor antagonist. Models were developed using data on monkey brain occupancy and plasma drug exposures from a monkey PET study and early human clinical studies that provided data on drug exposures and human ex vivo‐stimulated peripheral interleukin (IL)‐1β release. The observed plasma PK of JNJ‐54175446 in human was adequately described by a one‐compartment model with parallel zero‐order and first‐order absorption and first‐order elimination. An exposure‐occupancy model was extrapolated from monkey to human assuming a similar unbound potency (all other model parameters remained unchanged). This model was then used to simulate human brain occupancy to guide human PET study dose selection, together with the human population PK model. The corroboration of model predicted occupancy by the observed occupancy data from the human PET study supports the use of a monkey as a predictive model for human PET target engagement. Potency estimate for brain occupancy was generally comparable to that for the suppression of the provoked peripheral IL‐1β release ex vivo, indicating that blood IL‐1β release may be used as a surrogate of central occupancy for JNJ‐54175446. Translational PK/PD modeling approach could be used for selecting optimal doses for human PET and other clinical studies.
Salvation by good works? Offshoring, corporate philanthropy, and public attitudes toward trade policy
Authors: Kerner Andrew , Sumner Jane L.
Published: October 2019

American consumers are routinely reminded of the fact that the products sold by American companies are often manufactured abroad. We use a survey‐based priming experiment to explore whether and when those reminders depress Americans’ enthusiasm for free trade. We consider in particular that offshoring's effects on policy preferences may be linked to negative perceptions of the offshoring firm, such that portraying the offshoring firm in a positive light might mitigate that effect. We also consider that offshoring's effect may be exaggerated among individuals whose position in the labor market makes them especially sensitive to trade‐related labor market disruption. Our experiment suggests support for both propositions.
General Practitioners' management of young people with mental health conditions in Australia
Authors: Kehoe Michelle , Winton‐Brown Toby , Lee Stuart , Hopkins Liza , Pedwell Glenda
Published: October 2019

Aim

Detecting and diagnosing youth mental health issues can be challenging for General Practitioners (GPs) who are often the first to encounter them. One aim of this study was to understand the challenges GPs faced in identifying, treating and referring young people with mental health issues in Melbourne, Australia. A second aim was to identify gaps in GP knowledge and service provision in order to design a service and training program for GPs that addresses those gaps.

Method

A representative sampling method was used to invite GPs in south‐east Melbourne to complete the study survey. Seventy‐seven GPs completed the questionnaire consisting of 10 questions in 3 sections.

Results

The results showed that GPs who consulted with young people more often had greater levels of confidence in identifying and treating their mental health issues but not referring. Forty‐four percent identified the need for training in regards to youth mental health. GPs considered that the most effective care was provided in youth‐friendly spaces but tended to primarily refer young people to private providers.

Conclusion

GPs need access to ongoing professional development and education programs on youth mental health, in particular more severe issues such as psychosis. Specialist youth mental health services such as CYMHS/CAMHS and headspace can offer GPs support in managing mental health issues in young people. However, there is a need to strengthen the link between GPs and specialist youth mental health service. Stronger links between services will ensure young people have timely and increased access to treatment.
Combining ability among apomictic and sexual parents of Urochloa humidicola
Authors: de Figueiredo Ulisses José , Lima Barrios Sanzio Carvalho , do Valle Cacilda Borges , Nunes José Airton Rodrigues
Published: October 2019

The diallel cross constitutes an informative genetic design for choosing genitors and crosses in breeding programmes since it provides estimates of general (GCA) and specific (SCA) combining abilities. Because the breeding programme for Urochloa humidicola ([Rendle] Morrone & Zuloaga; syn. Brachiaria humidicola [Rendle] Schweick) at Embrapa Beef Cattle is recent, these estimates are still unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to obtain the estimates of GCA and SCA from the partial diallel cross design between sexual and apomictic parents. The crosses involved nine sexual and ten apomictic parents. Seventy‐one full‐sib progenies were obtained and evaluated in an incomplete block design, using all parents and the cv. BRS Tupi as a check. The agronomic and forage quality traits were evaluated using seven harvests. Statistical analysis was performed using the mixed model approach. Significant variations were associated with GCA among sexual parents for biomass yield and forage quality traits. However, this cannot be observed for apomictic parents for GCA. The SCA effect was not significant for the assessed traits. These results showed the predominance of additive effects. Sexual parents SEX3 and SEX4 presented the highest potential for contributing favourable alleles in hybrid combinations. The absence of GCA among apomictic parents and SCA suggests the need to increase genetic variability for the generation of breeding populations of U. humidicola.
Applying theory to the black box: A model for empirically scoring biodata
Authors: Speer Andrew B. , Siver Sydney R. , Christiansen Neil D.
Published: October 2019

Despite being an effective predictor of job performance, empirically keyed biodata assessments have been criticized as black box empiricism unlikely to generalize to new contexts. This paper introduces a model that challenges this perspective, explicating how biodata content, job demands, and criterion variables collectively influence the construct validity, and generalizability of empirically scored biodata. Across two field studies, expected changes in scale correlations with external measures were found that coincided with changes in the contextual similarity between calibration and holdout contexts, the criteria used, and the content validity of biodata items. Collectively, this paper offers a framework that helps understand and optimize empirical biodata keying in practice, furthering confidence for their use in applied settings.
Advanced practice for children and young people: A systematic review with narrative summary
Authors: Hyde Robin , MacVicar Sonya , Humphrey Tracy
Published: October 2019

Aim

To critically appraise and synthesise the current evidence related to the advanced practice nurse (APN) in the children and young people's healthcare setting.

Background

A complex landscape of demand and change has influenced the healthcare delivery for children and young people. In the United Kingdom and internationally, governments have endorsed the need for workforce innovation with APN roles introduced to counter these challenges. However, little is known about the impact of these initiatives in the context of children and young people's health care.

Design

Systematic review and narrative summary.

Data sources

CINAHL, MEDLINE, DARE, PubMed, Prospero and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for studies published in English language from July 1998 to 2018. Studies were selected based on key search terms and eligibility criteria.

Review methods

The selected studies were appraised using the Effective Public Health Practice Project for quantitative studies. An adapted version of the JBI data extraction tool for experimental/observational studies was used to extract the relevant key findings. This was conducted independently by two researchers.

Results

Nine studies were included in the review. The review demonstrated roles were comparable in their clinical practice to medics yet offered higher levels of patient satisfaction, role modelling for staff and led practice initiatives to improve health literacy.

Conclusion

This review demonstrates that APN roles in children and young people's health care provide clinical, organizational and professional benefits, with added value to organizations and patients, acting as role models and educators.

Impact

The findings from this review indicate further research is required to ascertain contextual issues that may influence the implementation of APNs. This research will impact APNs working with children and young people. Equally, it supports the evidence base for service commissioners outlining areas for future research.
Variation of QRS morphology of premature ventricular contractions originate from the left‐ventricular outflow tract during ablation
Authors: Qifang Liu , Ye Tian , Zhi Jiang , Jing Huang , Yidong Zhao , Long Yang
Published: October 2019

Idiopathic ventricular arrhythmias originating from the aortic sinus of Valsalva often show preferential conduction to the right‐ventricular outflow tract, which may render radiofrequency ablation more difficult. We describe a patient with symptomatic premature ventricular contractions of left‐ventricular outflow tract origin presenting with a variation of QRS morphology during ablation. The correlation between the characteristics of local voltage potentials and the real origin site of the ventricular arrhythmia is discussed.
The future of fish‐based ecological assessment of European rivers: from traditional EU Water Framework Directive compliant methods to eDNA metabarcoding‐based approaches
Authors: Pont Didier , Valentini Alice , Rocle Mathieu , Maire Anthony , Delaigue Olivier , Jean Pauline , Dejean Tony
Published: October 2019

Most of the present EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) compliant fish‐based assessment methods of European rivers are multi‐metric indices computed from traditional electrofishing (TEF) samples, but this method has known shortcomings, especially in large rivers. The probability of detecting rare species remains limited, which can alter the sensitivity of the indices. In recent years, environmental (e)DNA metabarcoding techniques have progressed sufficiently to allow applications in various ecological domains as well as eDNA‐based ecological assessment methods. A review of the 25 current WFD‐compliant methods for river fish shows that 81% of the metrics used in these methods are expressed in richness or relative abundance and thus compatible with eDNA samples. However, more than half of the member states' methods include at least one metric related to age or size structure and would have to adapt their current fish index if reliant solely on eDNA‐derived information. Most trait‐based metrics expressed in richness are higher when computed from eDNA than when computed from TEF samples. Comparable values are obtained only when the TEF sampling effort increases. Depending on the species trait considered, most trait‐based metrics expressed in relative abundance are significantly higher for eDNA than for TEF samples or vice versa due to over‐estimation of sub‐surface species or under‐estimation of benthic and rare species by TEF sampling, respectively. An existing predictive fish index, adapted to make it compatible with eDNA data, delivers an ecological assessment comparable with the current approved method for 22 of the 25 sites tested. Its associated uncertainty is lower than that of current fish indices. Recommendations for the development of future fish eDNA‐based indices and the associated eDNA water sampling strategy are discussed.
Pareuchiloglanis (Teleostei: Sisoridae) from the Pearl River, China with description of three new species
Authors: Dao Wei , Li Xu , Yang Hong‐Fu , Zhou Wei
Published: October 2019

We describe three new species of Pareuchiloglanis. Based on a comparison of 17 valid species of Pareuchiloglanis, the genus can be divided into two groups contingent on their gill opening size and the anus position. One group, which we call the large gill opening group, has a large gill opening extending to the base of the first pectoral‐fin element; the anus is obviously closer to pelvic‐fin insertion than the anal‐fin origin; this group includes five species distributed in the Red and Pearl Rivers, China. The other group has a small gill opening extending only to the middle base of the pectoral‐fin elements; the anus is usually located at the midpoint of the pelvic‐fin insertion to the anal‐fin origin or slightly behind. This group includes the other 12 species, which are distributed in the Mekong and Yangtze Rivers. The large‐gill‐opening group can be divided into two sub‐groups based on the length of the caudal peduncle. One sub‐group has a long caudal‐peduncle and the distance from the anal‐fin origin to caudal‐fin base is greater than distance from the pelvic‐fin insertion. This sub‐group is only distributed in the Pearl River drainage. Another sub‐group has a short caudal peduncle and the distance from the anal‐fin origin to the caudal‐fin base is typically smaller than the distance from the pelvic‐fin insertion. This sub‐group is only distributed in the Red River basin of China and Vietnam. The former will be called the large‐gill‐opening group with long caudal peduncle in the text and only includes one species P. longicauda. During our ongoing taxonomic work of specimens collected from Nanpan‐jiang and Beipan‐jiang (upper Pearl River drainage in Yunnan, China), some Pareuchiloglanis specimens that had the characters of the large‐gill‐opening group with long caudal peduncle represent three undescribed species.
Experimental study on cold storage phase‐change materials and quick‐freezing plate in household refrigerators
Authors: Liu Zhongbao , Lou Fengfei , Qi Xin , Wang Qinghua , Zhao Banghua , Yan Jiawen , Shen Yiyao
Published: October 2019

In this study, a quick‐freezing plate filled with low‐temperature phase‐change material (PCM) with a mass fraction of 15% was applied in household refrigerator. A single smooth quick‐freezing plate significantly reduced the amount of time required for food to pass through the maximum ice crystal generation zone, and this amount of time was 1/6 or 3/5 of that for the refrigerator in natural convection or air blast freezing. The rate of water loss using air blast freezing was 4.26% compared with that of the a single smooth quick‐freezing plate at only 1.60%. For various thicknesses of the experimental pork, the quick‐freezing effect of the double‐layer surface plate was better than those of the other conditions. For pork thickness of less than 6 mm, the quick‐freezing effect of the single smooth surface plate was better than that of air blast freezing.

Practical Applications

In this study, a new quick‐freezing plate with a phase‐change material (PCM) was developed specifically for a domestic refrigerator. The quick‐freezing effect can be equivalent to that of air blast freezing if food thickness does not exceed the specified range. The plate in this study consisted of an aluminum lid, a plastic shell, a cold‐storage agent, and a cold‐storage bag.
Improving the quality of Vernonia amygdalina extract by ultrasound‐assisted extraction coupled with gas bubble flotation
Authors: Luu Trong Q. , Le Phat T. , Le Khoa C. M. , Phan An H. T. , Zitzmann Kim , Nguyen Kim T. , Phan Nam V. H. , Nguyen Khoi T.
Published: October 2019

Vernonia amygdalina is an herb commonly used in folk medicine; It possesses various compounds with therapeutic capabilities. Traditional extraction approaches applied to this plant may destroy its bioactive compounds and inherently contaminate them with toxic organic solvents. In this study, ultrasound‐assisted extraction combined with gas‐bubble flotation was applied to increase V. amygdalina extraction yield. The efficiency of water maceration was increased by 200%, without the drawbacks of the conventional extraction methods. The total phenolic content yield was 189 ± 12.7 (mg GAE/g dry weight) with a condensation efficiency of 115 ± 5.7%; and the total flavonoid content was 6.44 ± 1.68 (mg QE/g dry weight). Additionally, the antioxidant activity of the condensed foam was enhanced up to 120%. Analysis of the extract by FTIR revealed the presence of extractable chemical families: sesquiterpene lactones, saponins and flavonoids, and that the chemical characteristics of the extract were also preserved due to mild extracting conditions. Overall, this method is effective for extracting bioactive compounds from herbs with appealing advantages: no thermal degradation, organic solvent free extraction, and low energy consumption.

Practical Applications

The utilization of ultrasound‐assisted extraction and gas bubble flotation has been proven to be effective in condensing the aqueous extract of Vernonia amygdalina. Gas bubble flotation was shown to condense the herb extract by 120%, which is considered efficient given the simplicity and energy consumption of the process.