bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A bibliometric analysis of inventory management research based on knowledge mapping
Authors: Ye Yong , Ge Yuanqin
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The research mainly aims at the hotspot of inventory management by knowledge mapping and provides a visualization reference in this research field.

Design/methodology/approach

First, inventory management journals during 1986 to 2017 were selected as the research object and text formatting in the Web of Science (WOS) database is exported. Then inventory management knowledge mapping is done and clustering keywords are extracted by using CiteSpace and VOSviewer software. Based on co-word analysis, the three special clusters are exported: inventory optimization strategy, inventory pricing and inventory technology. Besides, the clustering structure and time evolution are analysed. Finally, bibliographic item co-occurrence matrix builder (BICOMB) was used to extract the “journal” and “researchers” keywords in the inventory management research fields. Setting three parameters such as the cited half-life, centrality, frequency and keywords for data mining, it can infer the trend keywords of future research.

Findings

Results showed that inventory management research has been abundant in literature over the past 30 years and has experienced a change from focusing on inventory optimization strategy to inventory pricing and inventory technology in process. It shows that inventory management research focused on the classic topics and includes economic order quantity, dynamic pricing, design and technology, and the new topics include channel coordination, hierarchical price and simulation.

Research limitations/implications

Based on knowledge mapping, this study is still relatively macro and cannot cover all areas of inventory management. This study only investigated the state of correlational research in WOS and Google Trends and not additional databases.

Originality/value

The current research mainly builds on knowledge mapping for the research hotspot of inventory management and provides visual references for future research in this field.
Performance-based contracting in military supply chains and the willingness to bear risks
Authors: van Strien Jeroen , Gelderman Cees Johannes , Semeijn Janjaap
Published: December 2018

Purpose

Performance-based contracting (PBC) plays an increasingly important role in the defense industry. This paper aims to investigate factors that influence service provider’s willingness to accept PBC-induced risks. It also shows how these risks could be managed in a military service supply chain.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study focused on the relationship between a service provider and a customer that acted on behalf of other users in the defense sector. The contract involved the sustainment of a military engine in a complex supply chain.

Findings

The service provider’s performance attributability appeared to have a strong impact on its willingness to take PBC-induced risks. For the parts where the service provider did not have full control over the service performance, exclusions and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) were used to manage and mitigate the risks associated with uncontrolled performance. The service provider’s willingness to accept PBC-induced risks was also affected by its ability to make accurate forecasts, the applied growth path and the length of the contract.

Research limitations/implications

This case has specific characteristics, unique by time (maturity of the technical system and supply chain) and place (market). It is recommended that results are tested in other research settings.

Practical implications

Organizations should be aware of the factors that influence a service provider’s willingness to bear PBC-induced risks. Customers should limit PBC to those parts of a contract where risks are of an acceptable level. Also, it is recommended to follow a phased growth path when it is not possible to make accurate forecasts in a PBC context.

Originality/value

This study is the first to address critical issues concerning the identification and management of risks under PBC in the defense industry.
Disability and support relationships: What role does policy play?
Authors: Fisher Karen R. , Gendera Sandra , Graham Anne , Robinson Sally , Johnson Kelley , Neale Kate
Published: December 2018

Very little is known about how relationships between people with disabilities and their paid support workers are positioned in policy. With the policy shift toward choice of provider, individualised approaches, person centredness and self‐directed funding, the nature of their relationship assumes a more prominent role in the quality of support practice. The policy analysis in this article explores the extent to which current disability policy acknowledges, promotes, or diminishes the relationships between people with disabilities and workers, in their organisational context. It uses Honneth's conditions for recognition—love (cared for), rights (respected) and solidarity or social esteem (valued)—to understand how policy positions mutuality in the relationship. The policy review applied a three‐stage process: categorisation of policies, textual analysis and content analysis to policy documents at four levels—international, Australian federal, state and organisational in two case studies. The analysis revealed that while a rights framework is explicit in most policies, the emphases on the conditions for recognition within a relationship between people with disabilities and workers are compromised in instructional policies that attempt to manage the tension between choice and risk, particularly at the organisational level.
Auditor Reporting and Regulatory Sanctions in the Broker‐Dealer Industry: From Self‐Regulation to PCAOB Oversight
Authors: Schnader Anne Leah , Bedard Jean C. , Cannon Nathan H.
Published: December 2018

The financial security of the investing public relies on high‐quality service by broker‐dealers (BDs), investors' gateway to the financial markets. The SEC has long required auditors to attest to BDs' internal controls and compliance with regulations (including those privately owned). Following the unraveling of the Madoff Ponzi scheme in 2008, the SEC required auditors of all BDs to register with the PCAOB, and Congressional initiatives signaled imminent transition from private (AICPA) to public (PCAOB) oversight. We investigate whether audit quality increased following this transition by measuring whether auditors report material internal control and compliance problems for BD clients where a deficiency presumably existed (i.e., BDs sanctioned by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority for transgressions against stakeholders). Overall, we do not find increased reporting quality following the regulatory shift but do observe variation by auditor group and BD ownership. While reporting quality for global network firms (GNFs) increases slightly, lower reporting quality observed prior to the regulatory shift for specialist audit firms (having large BD portfolios but small overall size) is exacerbated afterward. This finding complements results of PCAOB inspections and other research identifying audit quality problems among small, industry‐specialized firms in non‐public client settings. Focusing on deficiencies likely more difficult to detect, we find lower reporting quality for private relative to publicly affiliated BDs prior to PCAOB oversight, and lower reporting quality for very small audit firms relative to GNFs following the regulatory shift.
The disclosure of corporate social responsibility reports and sales performance in China
Authors: Yu Wei , Zheng Ying
Published: December 2018

Based on legitimacy and stakeholder theory, we investigate whether there is an association between the disclosure of corporate social responsibility reports and a firm's sales performance in China. The empirical results reveal that the return on sales and sales growth are positively associated with the level of corporate social responsibility reporting in China. This positive association is strengthened when firms have concentrated customers. Firms use corporate social responsibility reports to improve sales performance and attract customers, who are one of their major stakeholders, and retain their legitimacy.
Impact of modified FOLFOX‐6 for patients with gastric cancer and a gastrointestinal obstruction
Authors: Yukami Hiroki , Terazawa Tetsuji , Goto Masahiro , Aoki Masahiko , Asaishi Ken , Yamaguchi Toshifumi , Kuwakado Shin , Kii Takayuki , Higuchi Kazuhide
Published: December 2018

Aim

Gastric cancer patients are normally treated with oral fluoropyrimidine and cisplatin or oxaliplatin; however, treating patients who also have a gastrointestinal obstruction is often difficult because of their poor oral intake. Instead, a modified (m)FOLFOX‐6 regimen is administered, even to patients with gastrointestinal obstructions. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of mFOLFOX‐6 for gastric cancer patients with a gastrointestinal obstruction.

Methods

Patients with a poor oral intake because of a gastrointestinal obstruction who received mFOLFOX‐6 as systemic chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed. Poor oral intake was defined as receiving a daily intravenous drip infusion due to a gastrointestinal obstruction.

Results

Eighteen patients received mFOLFOX‐6; the median progression‐free survival was 6.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9–9.7), the median overall survival was 8.0 months (95% CI, 2.8–20.8) and the median time to treatment failure was 2.2 months (95% CI, 1.2–5.7). An improved oral intake was observed in 13 of the 18 treated patients, with 12 of these continuing treatment as outpatients.

Conclusions

A mFOLFOX‐6 treatment regimen seems promising for gastric cancer patients who have a gastrointestinal obstruction.
The serine protease testisin is present on the surface of capacitated stallion spermatozoa and interacts with key zona pellucida binding proteins
Authors: Swegen A. , Smith N. D. , Gibb Z. , Curry B. J. , Aitken R. J.
Published: December 2018

Background and Objectives

Serine proteases are emerging as important players in the spermatozoon's acquisition of functional competence. This study aimed to characterize the serine protease testisin (PRSS21) in stallion spermatozoa, examining its surface expression, possible origins in the testis and epididymis, and changes in response to capacitation and acrosome reaction, as well as its capacity to form high molecular weight complexes and interact with other proteins.

Materials and Methods

The role of serine proteases in spontaneous capacitation and acrosome reaction of stallion spermatozoa was established using the serine protease inhibitor, AEBSF. Testisin localization, before and after exposure of stallion spermatozoa to capacitating conditions and calcium ionophore, was examined using live cell immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Immunohistochemistry of testicular and epididymal tissues was used to further dissect the origins of sperm testisin. Testisin's participation in high molecular weight protein complexes and identification of its interacting partner proteins were investigated using Blue Native PAGE, co‐immunoprecipitation, and mass spectrometry, with interrogation of protein–protein interaction databases and gene ontology analysis of partner proteins used to further explore the potential roles of the testisin‐containing complex in sperm function.

Results

Testisin surface expression increased significantly in capacitated spermatozoa (p < 0.001), increased further following acrosome reaction (p < 0.01), and was localized to the equatorial region of the sperm head. Testisin was also detected in luminal fluid within the caput and corpus regions of the epididymis, epididymal spermatozoa, and epididymal epithelial cells. Testisin formed several multiprotein complexes; co‐immunoprecipitation revealed interactions of testisin with a multitude of zona pellucida‐binding proteins, including ZPBP, ZAN, acrosin, several heat‐shock proteins, and components of the TCP1 complex.

Conclusion

Testisin appears to form part of the zona pellucida‐binding complex in stallion spermatozoa and may be involved in the proteolytic cascade that prepares the sperm surface for interaction with the oocyte.
Primary signet‐ring stromal tumour of the testis: case report with literature review
Authors: Fichtner Alexander , Fisseler‐Eckhoff Annette , Kramer Wolfgang , Radzun Heinz Joachim , Ströbel Philipp , Bremmer Felix
Published: December 2018

Primary signet‐ring stromal tumour of the testis (PSRSTT) is a very rare type of primary testicular tumour, which is not actually mentioned in the current WHO categorization of tumours of the male genital organs. In this case we report about histologically and immunohistochemically features of this rare tumour. In the present case, PSRTT was found in the orchiectomy preparation of a 69‐year‐old man with painless swelling of his left testicle. The tumour was well circumscribed and separated from the normal testicular tissue by a fibrous capsule. The tumour cells showed a signet‐ring pattern and were separated by thin collagen bundles. No mitotic activity and necrosis were found inside the tumour. Immunohistochemically, the tumour was positive for vimentin, neuron‐specific enolase (NSE), S‐100 protein, β‐catenin and cyclin D1. No expression of cytokeratin, actin, SALL4, OCT3/4, and especially, inhibin and calretinin were detected. In conclusion, the presence of signet‐ring cell formation can be found in different tumours of the testis. PSRSTT is a rare tumour that needs to be considered, in particular, to distinct them from other tumours with signet‐ring cell pattern.
Live single cell mass spectrometry reveals cancer‐specific metabolic profiles of circulating tumor cells
Authors: Abouleila Yasmine , Onidani Kaoru , Ali Ahmed , Shoji Hirokazu , Kawai Takayuki , Lim Chwee Teck , Kumar Vipin , Okaya Shinobu , Kato Ken , Hiyama Eiso , Yanagida Toshio , Masujima Tsutomu , Shimizu Yoshihiro , Honda Kazufumi
Published: December 2018

Recently, there has been increased attention on the analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs), also known as liquid biopsy, owing to its potential benefits in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Circulating tumor cells are released from primary tumor lesions into the blood stream and eventually metastasize to distant body organs. However, a major hurdle with CTC analysis is their natural scarcity. Existing methods lack sensitivity, specificity, or reproducibility required in CTC characterization and detection. Here, we report untargeted molecular profiling of single CTCs obtained from gastric cancer and colorectal cancer patients, using live single cell mass spectrometry integrated with microfluidics‐based cell enrichment techniques. Using this approach, we showed the difference in the metabolomic profile between CTCs originating from different cancer groups. Moreover, potential biomarkers were putatively annotated to be specific to each cancer type.
Circadian disruption and human health: A bidirectional relationship
Authors: Abbott Sabra M. , Malkani Roneil G. , Zee Phyllis C.
Published: December 2018

Circadian rhythm disorders have been classically associated with disorders of abnormal timing of the sleep–wake cycle, however circadian dysfunction can play a role in a wide range of pathology, ranging from the increased risk for cardiometabolic disease and malignancy in shift workers, prompting the need for a new field focused on the larger concept of circadian medicine. The relationship between circadian disruption and human health is bidirectional, with changes in circadian amplitude often preceding the classical symptoms of neurodegenerative disorders. As our understanding of the importance of circadian dysfunction in disease grows, we need to develop better clinical techniques for identifying circadian rhythms and also develop circadian based strategies for disease management. Overall this review highlights the need to bring the concept of time to all aspects of medicine, emphasizing circadian medicine as a prime example of both personalized and precision medicine.
Repetition priming effects for famous faces through dynamic causal modelling of latency‐corrected event‐related brain potentials
Authors: Kashyap Rajan , Bhattacharjee Sagarika , Sommer Werner , Zhou Changsong
Published: December 2018

Repetition priming, that is, the repeated processing of a stimulus, facilitates performance. However, the neural underpinnings of repetition priming for famous faces in terms of effective connectivity are not known. Here we investigated this problem using dynamic causal modelling of latency‐corrected event‐related brain potentials (RERPs). Source waveforms of RERP‐derived sources in the Occipital Lobe, Fusiform Gyrus, Mediotemporal Lobe, Prefrontal Cortex and Anterotemporal Lobe of each hemisphere entered into models with only forward (F) or also with backward (FB) connections. Based on the framework of predictive coding formulated for repetition suppression, modulations of F and FB connections were expected for sources that displayed priming effects in their source waveforms. Hence, neural sources in each hemisphere were fitted with either F or FB connections. Inter‐hemispheric connections were considered between homologous areas and were allowed to be modulated in an incremental manner resulting in a model space that comprised of 24 models. Bayesian model averaging across models revealed effective bidirectional connectivity between the Fusiform Gyrus (face perception) and Prefrontal Cortex (decision‐making) in both hemispheres to be modulated by priming. In the left hemisphere, there is also a substantial involvement from the Mediotemporal Lobe, indicating the facilitation of automatic retrieval of the famous person's name. Furthermore, there is evidence that the priming is supported by connections from the right to the left Fusiform Gyri possibly in the service of inter‐hemispheric cooperation. Altogether, the study indicates that along with top–down modulations, efficient processing within and across the two hemispheres is crucial for famous face priming.
Circulating miRNA‐375 as a potential novel biomarker for active Kaposi’s sarcoma in AIDS patients
Authors: Piano Maria Assunta , Gianesello Lisa , Grassi Angela , Del Bianco Paola , Mattiolo Adriana , Cattelan Anna Maria , Sasset Lolita , Zanovello Paola , Calabrò Maria Luisa
Published: December 2018

The aim of this study was to identify circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) that could be used as biomarkers in patients at risk for or affected by AIDS‐Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Screening of 377 miRNAs was performed using low‐density arrays in pooled plasma samples of 10 HIV/human herpesvirus 8 (HHV8)‐infected asymptomatic and 10 AIDS‐KS patients before and after successful combined antiretroviral therapy (cART). MiR‐375 was identified as a potential marker of active KS, being the most down‐regulated in AIDS‐KS patients after cART and the most up‐regulated in naïve AIDS‐KS patients compared to naïve asymptomatic subjects. Validation on individual plasma samples confirmed that miR‐375 levels were higher in AIDS‐KS compared to asymptomatic patients, decreased after cART‐induced remission in most AIDS‐KS patients and increased in patients with active KS. In asymptomatic patients miR‐375 was up‐regulated after cART in both screening and validation. Statistical analyses revealed an association between miR‐375 changes and CD4 cell counts, which could explain the discordant cases and the opposite trend between asymptomatic and AIDS‐KS patients. These data suggest that circulating miR‐375 might be a good indicator of active AIDS‐KS. Moreover, changes in miR‐375 levels may have a prognostic value in HIV/HHV8‐infected patients undergoing treatment. Further large‐scale validation is needed.
Calcium carbonate productivity by Halimeda macroloba in the tropical intertidal ecosystem: The significant contributor to global carbonate budgets
Authors: Mayakun Jaruwan , Prathep Anchana
Published: December 2018

Halimeda is a potential carbon sink species and an important player in the global carbonate budget. The objectives of this study were to: (i) examine the CaCO3 and sediment productions of H. macroloba by measuring the density, growth rate, and recruitment; (ii) quantify the numbers of aragonite crystals; (iii) document reproductive events; and (iv) determine the life‐span. This study was carried out at Lidee Lek Island, Satun, Thailand during July 2015 to April 2016. The density was measured using quadrats (0.25 m2) and three 50 m line transects. Alizarin Red‐S marking technique was used for the growth rate and CaCO3 accumulation rate assessments. The recruitment, reproduction and life‐span were measured by tagging 500 individuals. Tagged individuals and new plants were counted. In this study, mean and the highest density of Halimeda were 44.42 ± 13.95 and 138.22 ± 11.68 thalli m−2, respectively, and Halimeda produced 1–2 new segments.thallus−1 day−1 or 0.021 ± 0.001 g dry weight.thallus−1.day−1. The annual biomass production was 1910–5950 g m−2 year.−1. There was a low rate of occurrence of sexual reproduction, observed in late July to September, ranging from 0.17% to 1.92%. For the mortality and recruitment rates, approximately 70–80% of individuals were lost during July to September 2015, probably from sexual reproduction and the recruitment rate varied from 5.36 ± 0.79% to 21.03 ± 2.33%. The highest density of new recruits was found in September 2015 right after the sexual reproductive event occurred. New recruits have been found up to April 2016 without any reproductive events, suggesting that both sexual and asexual reproduction helped maintain the population. The life span of Halimeda was 8–12 months. In addition, Halimeda accumulated CaCO3 at approximately 0.018 g CaCO3 thallus−1 day−1 and produced CaCO3 at approximately 291.94–908.11 g m−2 year−1, indicating that Halimeda contributes to CaCO3 and helps to sink carbon through calcification. The results in terms of the density, growth rate, and CaCO3 accumulation rate can be used to calculate the mass of carbonate sediment contributed by Halimeda.
Treating osteosarcoma with CAR T cells
Authors: Köksal Hakan , Müller Elisabeth , Inderberg Else Marit , Bruland Øyvind , Wälchli Sébastien
Published: December 2018

Novel therapies to treat patients with solid cancers that have developed resistance to chemotherapy represent unmet needs of considerable dimensions. In the present review, we will address the attempts to develop chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeted immunotherapy against osteosarcoma (OS). This aggressive cancer displays its peak incidence in children and young adults. The main cause of patient death is lung metastases with a 5‐year survival as low as 5%‐10% in the primary metastatic setting and 30% in the relapse situation, respectively. Effective adjuvant combination chemotherapy introduced more than 40 years ago improved the survival rates from below 20% to around 60% in patients; however, since then, no major breakthroughs have been made. The use of immune checkpoint inhibitors has been disappointing in OS, while other types of immunotherapies such as CAR T cells remain largely unexplored. Indeed, for CAR T‐cell therapy to be efficacious, two main criteria need to be fulfilled: (a) CAR T cells should target an epitope selectively expressed on the cell surface of OS in order to prevent toxicities in normal tissues and (b) the target should also be widely expressed on OS metastases. These challenges have already been undertaken in OS and illustrate the difficulties in developing tomorrow's CAR‐T treatment in a solid tumour. We will discuss the experiences with CAR‐T therapy development and efficacy to combat the clinical challenges in OS.
Molecular epidemiology of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus in the Brazilian primary health care system
Authors: Pereira‐Franchi Eliane Patricia Lino , Barreira Maria Rachel Nogueira , da Costa Natália de Sousa Lima Moreira , Riboli Danilo Flávio Moraes , Abraão Ligia Maria , Martins Katheryne Benini , Victória Cassiano , Cunha Maria de Lourdes Ribeiro de Souza da
Published: December 2018

Objective

To evaluate the molecular epidemiology and to georeference Staphylococcus aureus isolated from wounds and nares of patients seen at Basic Health Units (BHUs) of a Brazilian city.

Methods

Observational, cross‐sectional study conducted from 2010 to 2013. A total of 119 S. aureus strains isolated from the wounds and nares of 88 patients were studied. The isolates were characterised by identifying virulence genes encoding enterotoxins A–E, haemolysins α, β and δ, exfoliatins A, B and D, biofilm production, Panton‐Valentine Leukocidin and toxic shock syndrome toxin 1, and by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence and spa typing.

Results

Eighteen methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (6 SCCmec type II and 12 SCCmec type IV) and 101 (85%) MSSA were identified. PFGE typing resulted in the formation of eight clusters, with STs 1, 5, 8, 30, 188, 1176 and 1635 and spa type t002 being the predominant types among MSSA. The 18 MRSA belonged to STs 5, 8 and 1176 and spa types t002 and t062.

Conclusion

The results demonstrate widespread dissemination of MSSA and MRSA clones carrying haemolysin, biofilm and toxin genes. Kernel density estimation revealed the highest density of S. aureus in the 4, 5 and 8 BHUs.
Insights into the pulmonary vascular complications of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
Authors: Lai Yen‐Chun , Wang Longfei , Gladwin Mark T.
Published: December 2018

Pulmonary hypertension in the setting of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (PH‐HFpEF) is a growing public health problem that is increasing in prevalence. While PH‐HFpEF is defined by a high mean pulmonary artery pressure, high left ventricular end‐diastolic pressure and a normal ejection fraction, some HFpEF patients develop PH in the presence of pulmonary vascular remodelling with a high transpulmonary pressure gradient or pulmonary vascular resistance. Ageing, increased left atrial pressure and stiffness, mitral regurgitation, as well as features of metabolic syndrome, which include obesity, diabetes and hypertension, are recognized as risk factors for PH‐HFpEF. Qualitative studies have documented that patients with PH‐HFpEF develop more severe symptoms than those with HFpEF and are associated with more significant exercise intolerance, frequent hospitalizations, right heart failure and reduced survival. Currently, there are no effective therapies for PH‐HFpEF, although a number of candidate drugs are being evaluated, including soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, sodium nitrite and endothelin receptor antagonists. In this review we attempt to provide an updated overview of recent findings pertaining to the pulmonary vascular complications in HFpEF in terms of clinical definitions, epidemiology and pathophysiology. Mechanisms leading to pulmonary vascular remodelling in HFpEF, a summary of pre‐clinical models of HFpEF and PH‐HFpEF, and new candidate therapeutic strategies for the treatment of PH‐HFpEF are summarized.

image
Numerical Study of a Moored Structure in Moving Broken Ice Driven by Current and Wave
Authors: Su Biao , Aarsæther Karl Gunnar , Kristiansen David
Published: December 2018

This paper presents a numerical model intended to simulate the mooring force and the dynamic response of a moored structure in drifting ice. The mooring lines were explicitly modeled by using a generic cable model with a set of constraint equations providing desired structural properties such as the axial, bending, and torsional stiffness. The six degrees-of-freedom (DOF) rigid body motions of the structure were simulated by considering its interactions with the mooring lines and the drifting ice. In this simulation, a fragmented ice field of broken ice pieces could be considered under the effects of current and wave. The ice–ice and ice–structure interaction forces were calculated based on a viscoelastic-plastic rheological model. The hydrodynamic forces acting on the floating structure, mooring line, and drifting ice were simplified and calculated appropriately. The present study, in general, demonstrates the potential of developing an integrated numerical model for the coupled analysis of a moored structure in a broken ice field with current and wave.
Directional hearing and sound source localization by fishes
Authors: Hawkins Anthony D. , Popper Arthur N.
Published: December 2018

Directional hearing may enable fishes to seek out prey, avoid predators, find mates, and detect important spatial cues. Early sound localization experiments gave negative results, and it was thought unlikely that fishes utilized the same direction-finding mechanisms as terrestrial vertebrates. However, fishes swim towards underwater sound sources, and some can discriminate between sounds from different directions and distances. The otolith organs of the inner ear detect the particle motion components of sound, acting as vector detectors through the presence of sensory hair cells with differing orientation. However, many questions remain on inner ear functioning. There are problems in understanding the actual mechanisms involved in determining sound direction and distance. Moreover, very little is still known about the ability of fishes to locate sound sources in three-dimensional space. Do fishes swim directly towards a source, or instead “sample” sound levels while moving towards the source? To what extent do fishes utilize other senses and especially vision in locating the source? Further behavioral studies of free-swimming fishes are required to provide better understanding of how fishes might actually locate sound sources. In addition, more experiments are required on the auditory mechanism that fishes may utilize.
The transcription factor POU3F2 regulates a gene coexpression network in brain tissue from patients with psychiatric disorders
Authors: Chen Chao , Meng Qingtuan , Xia Yan , Ding Chaodong , Wang Le , Dai Rujia , Cheng Lijun , Gunaratne Preethi , Gibbs Richard A. , Min Shishi , Coarfa Cristian , Reid Jeffrey G. , Zhang Chunling , Jiao Chuan , Jiang Yi , Giase Gina , Thomas Amber , Fitzgerald Dominic , Brunetti Tonya , Shieh Annie , Xia Cuihua , Wang Yongjun , Wang Yunpeng , Badner Judith A. , Gershon Elliot S. , White Kevin P. , Liu Chunyu
Published: December 2018

POU3F2 regulates expression of key genes in postmortem brain tissue from patients with schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria that Produce Polyhydroxybutyrate Depolymerases
Authors: Egusa Emily A. , Edwards Daniel J. , Thao MyLo L. , Kirk Larry L. , Hanne Larry F.
Published: December 2018

Isolation of environmental bacterial strains with diverse metabolic properties such as antibiotic production, sulfide oxidation, and the ability to use different nutrient sources is a common undergraduate lab experience. This article describes a useful protocol for the detection and isolation of bacteria that can degrade the common carbon storage biopolymer poly (3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB). The procedure utilizes a low nutrient media supplemented with insoluble PHB that allows for the easy, visible detection of strains that produce extracellular PHB degrading enzymes. This method can be used to determine the percent of culturable bacteria from various environments that can degrade PHB. Further, PHB degrading exoenzyme activity can be monitored from pure cultures by: (1) Growing cells in broth, (2) inducing with PHB, and (3) measuring activity of supernatant with a UV/Vis spectrophotometer. The enzymatic breakdown of PHB presents an opportunity to expose students to the concept of using biodegradable plastics as a solution to the global plastic waste problem.
Indigenous health worker support for patients with poorly controlled type 2 diabetes: study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of the Mana Tū programme
Authors: Selak Vanessa , Stewart Tereki , Jiang Yannan , Reid Jennifer , Tane Taria , Carswell Peter , Harwood Matire
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and its complications are more common among Māori and Pacific people compared with other ethnic groups in New Zealand. Comprehensive and sustained approaches that address social determinants of health are required to address this condition, including culturally specific interventions. Currently, New Zealand has no comprehensive T2DM management programme for Māori or Pacific people.

Methods and analysis

The Mana Tū programme was developed by a Māori-led collaborative of primary healthcare workers and researchers, and codesigned with whānau (patients and their families) in order to address this gap. The programme is based in primary care and has three major components: a Network hub, Kai Manaaki (skilled case managers who work with whānau with poorly controlled diabetes) and a cross-sector network of services to whom whānau can be referred to address the wider determinants of health. The Network hub supports the delivery of the intervention through training of Kai Manaaki, referrals management, cross-sector network development and quality improvement of the programme. A two-arm cluster randomised controlled trial will be conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the Mana Tū programme among Māori, Pacific people or those living in areas of high socioeconomic deprivation who also have poorly controlled diabetes (glycated haemoglobin, HbA1c, >65 mmol/mol (8%)), compared with being on a wait list for the programme. A total of 400 participants will be included from 10 general practices (5 practices per group, 40 participants per practice). The primary outcome is HbA1c at 12 months. Secondary outcomes include blood pressure, lipid levels, body mass index and smoking status at 12 months. This protocol outlines the proposed study design and analysis methods.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval for the trial has been obtained from the New Zealand Health and Disability Ethics Committee (17/NTB/249). Findings will be presented to practices and their patients at appropriate fora, and disseminated widely through peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12617001276347; Pre-result.
Clinical and genetic associations of renal function and diabetic kidney disease in the United Arab Emirates: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Osman Wael M , Jelinek Herbert F , Tay Guan K , Khandoker Ahsan H , Khalaf Kinda , Almahmeed Wael , Hassan Mohamed H , Alsafar Habiba S
Published: December 2018

Objectives

Within the Emirati population, risk factors and genetic predisposition to diabetic kidney disease (DKD) have not yet been investigated. The aim of this research was to determine potential clinical, laboratory and reported genetic loci as risk factors for DKD.

Research design and methods

Four hundred and ninety unrelated Emirati nationals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) were recruited with and without DKD, and clinical and laboratory data were obtained. Following adjustments for possible confounders, a logistic regression model was developed to test the associations of 63 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 43 genetic loci with DKD (145 patients with DKD and 265 without DKD). Linear regression models, adjusted for age and gender, were then used to study the genetic associations of five renal function traits, including 83 SNPs with albumin-to-creatinine ratio, 92 SNPs with vitamin D (25-OH cholecalciferol), 288 SNPs with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), 363 SNPs with serum creatinine and 73 SNPs with blood urea.

Results

Patients with DKD, as compared with those without the disease, were mostly men (52%vs38% for controls), older (67vs59 years) and had significant rates of hypertension and dyslipidaemia. Furthermore, patients with DKD had T2DM for a longer duration of time (16vs10 years), which in an additive manner was the single factor that significantly contributed to the development of DKD (p=0.02, OR=3.12, 95% CI 1.21 to 8.02). Among the replicated associations of the genetic loci with different renal function traits, the most notable includedSHROOM3with levels of serum creatinine, eGFR and DKD (Padjusted=0.04, OR=1.46);CASR,GCandCYP2R1with vitamin D levels; as well asWDR72with serum creatinine and eGFR levels.

Conclusions

Associations were found between several genetic loci and risk markers for DKD, which may influence kidney function traits and DKD in a population of Arab ancestry.
Clinical effectiveness of pharmacy-led versus conventionally delivered antiviral treatment for hepatitis C in patients receiving opioid substitution therapy: a study protocol for a pragmatic cluster randomised trial
Authors: Radley Andrew , de Bruin Marijn , Inglis Sarah K , Donnan Peter T , Dillon John F
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection affects 0.7% of the general population, and up to 40% of people prescribed opioid substitution therapy (OST) in Scotland. In conventional care, less than 10% of OST users are tested for HCV and less than 25% of these initiate treatment. Community pharmacists see this group frequently to provide OST supervision. This study examines whether a pharmacist-led ‘test & treat’ pathway increases cure rates for HCV.

Methods and analysis

This protocol describes a cluster-randomised trial where 60 community pharmacies provide either conventional or pharmacy-led care. All pharmacies offer dried blood spot testing (DBST) for HCV. Participants have attended the pharmacy for OST for 3 months; are positive for HCV genotype 1 or 3; are not co-infected with HIV and/or hepatitis B; have no decompensated liver disease; are not pregnant. For conventional care, pharmacists refer HCV-positive participants to a local centre for assessment. In the pharmacy-led arm, pharmacists assess participants themselves in the pharmacy. Drug prescribing is by nurse prescribers (conventional arm) or pharmacist prescribers (pharmacy-led arm). Treatment in both arms is delivered as daily modified directly observed therapy in a pharmacy. Primary trial outcome is number of sustained virological responses at 12 weeks after treatment completion. Secondary trial outcomes are number of tests taken; treatment uptake; completion; adherence; re-infection. An economic evaluation will assess potential cost-effectiveness. Qualitative research interviews with clients and health professionals assess acceptability of a pharmacist-led pathway.

Ethics and dissemination

This protocol has been ethically approved by the East of Scotland Research Ethics Committee 2 (15/ES/0086) and complies with the Declaration of Helsinki and principles of Good Clinical Practice. Caldicott guardian approval was given on 16 December 2016 to allow NHS Tayside to pass information to the cluster community pharmacies about the HCV test status of patients that they are seeing to provide OST supervision. NHS R&D approvals have been obtained from each health board taking part in the study. Informed consent is obtained before study enrolment and only anonymised data are stored in a secured database, enabling an audit trail. Results will be submitted to international peer-reviewed journals and presented at international conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT02706223; Pre-results.
Impact of workplace incivility in hospitals on the work ability, career expectations and job performance of Chinese nurses: a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Zhang Shu’e , Ma Chongyi , Meng Dexin , Shi Yu , Xie Fengzhe , Wang Jinghui , Dong Xinpeng , Liu Jiao , Cang Shuang , Sun Tao
Published: December 2018

Objectives

The objectives of this study were to investigate new nurses’ experiences of workplace incivility; verify the mediating role of work ability in the relationship between workplace incivility and job performance and examine the moderating role of career expectations in the relationship between workplace incivility and job performance.

Design

This cross-sectional survey was conducted in China in May 2016.

Settings

The research settings included 54 cities across 29 provinces of China.

Participants

Of the 903 participants recruited, 696 new nurses (<3 years of nursing experience) agreed to complete the online questionnaire of the study. The effective response rate was 77.1%. The inclusion criteria were voluntary participation, <3 years of nursing experience and recognition as a registered nurse. The exclusion criteria were refusal to participate, >3 years of nursing experience or not recognised as a registered nurse.

Results

New nurses (60.7%) experienced some level of workplace incivility in the previous year, and it was more frequent among those with higher educational degrees. Work ability mediated the relationship between workplace incivility and job performance, and this relationship was moderated by career expectations.

Conclusion

Incivility towards new nurses was relatively common in the workplace. Workplace incivility impairs job performance by weakening the work ability of new nurses. Higher career expectations may buffer workplace incivility and contribute to the maintenance of job performance by buffering the detrimental effects of workplace incivility.
Neighbourhood characteristics and cumulative biological risk: evidence from the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2008: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Cunningham-Myrie Colette Andrea , Mabile Emily , Govia Ishtar , Younger Novie O , Tulloch-Reid Marshall Kerr , McFarlane Shelly , Francis Damian , Gordon-Strachan Georgiana , Wilks Rainford , Greene Lisa-Gaye , Lyew-Ayee Parris , Theall Katherine P
Published: December 2018

Objective

To examine whether neighbourhood characteristics are associated with cumulative biological risk (CBR) and sex differences in CBR in a nationally representative sample in Jamaica, a small island developing country with increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).

Design

Cross-sectional study

Setting

A population-based cross-sectional survey, the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey 2008 (JHLS II) recruited persons at their homes over a 4 month period from all 14 parishes and 113 neighbourhoods defined as enumeration districts (EDs).

Participants

2544 persons aged 15–74 years old from the 2008 Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey (JHLS II), who completed interviewer-administered questionnaires and had biomarkers assessed, and whose home addresses could be reliably geocoded.

Primary outcome

A summary measure CBR was created using seven markers—systolic and diastolic blood pressure readings, waist circumference, body mass index, total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose levels and self-reported asthma. Weighted multilevel models examined clustering, using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), of CBR across neighbourhoods and the impact of neighbourhood characteristics (recreational space availability and neighbourhood disorder) on CBR.

Results

Women had significantly higher mean CBR scores than men across all age groups. There was significant clustering of CBR by ED, and among women versus men (ICC: F=6.9%, M=0.7%). Women living in more disordered neighbourhoods were 26% more likely to have high CBR as those in less disordered ones (aOR=1.26, 95% CI=1.08 to 1.47; p<0.05). Individuals living in EDs with greater recreational space availability were 25% less likely to have a high CBR (aOR=0.75, 95% CI=0.64 to 0.90; p<0.05).

Conclusions

Policy-makers in Jamaica should pay greater attention to neighbourhood factors such as recreational space availability and neighbourhood disorder that may contribute to CBR in any effort to curtail the epidemic of NCDs.
Study protocol for a double-blind randomised controlled trial investigating the impact of 12 weeks supplementation with aFucus vesiculosusextract on cholesterol levels in adults with elevated fasting LDL cholesterol who are overweight or have obesity
Authors: Murray Margaret , Dordevic Aimee L , Cox Katherine H M , Scholey Andrew , Ryan Lisa , Bonham Maxine P
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Hyperlipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and chronic inflammation are risk factors for chronic diseases cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Polyphenols are bioactive compounds found in marine algae with potential antihyperlipidaemic, antihyperglycaemic and anti-inflammatory effects. The modulation of these risk factors using bioactive polyphenols may represent a useful strategy for disease prevention and management; research in humans, however, remains limited. This trial aims to determine the impact of a polyphenol-rich brown seaweed extract on fasting hyperlipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and inflammation. Effects on mood and cognition will also be evaluated.

Methods and analysis

Fifty-eight hypercholesterolaemic participants who are overweight or have obesity will be randomised to receive either a polyphenol-rich brown seaweed extract (2000 mg dose containing 600 mg polyphenols) or placebo (2000 mg rice flour) daily for 12 weeks. Fasting venous blood samples will be taken at baseline, week 6 and week 12 of the intervention to assess serum cholesterol (total, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein) and triglyceride concentrations, plasma glucose and insulin concentrations and markers of inflammation. Mood and cognitive function will be evaluated as exploratory outcomes. Independent t-tests or equivalent will be used to determine differences between the two groups in changes from baseline to week 12. Analysis of variance will be used to assess differences between the groups across the three time points (baseline, week 6 and week 12).

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval has been granted by the Monash University Human Research Ethics Committee (2017-8689-10379). Results from this trial will be disseminated through publication in peer-reviewed journals, national and international presentations, and a PhD thesis. These results are essential to inform the use of polyphenol-rich brown seaweeds as a functional food or nutritional supplement ingredients for health promotion and disease prevention and management in humans.

Trial registration number

ACTRN12617001039370; Pre-results.
Ten-year trends in traumatic brain injury: a retrospective cohort study of California emergency department and hospital revisits and readmissions
Authors: Hsia Renee Y , Markowitz Amy J , Lin Feng , Guo Joanna , Madhok Debbie Y , Manley Geoffrey T
Published: December 2018

Objective

To describe visits and visit rates of adults presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with a diagnosis of traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is a major cause of death and disability in the USA; yet, current literature is limited because few studies examine longer-term ED revisits and hospital readmission patterns of TBI patients across a broad spectrum of injury severity, which can help inform potential unmet healthcare needs.

Design

We performed a retrospective cohort study.

Setting

We analysed non-public patient-level data from California’s Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development for years 2005 to 2014.

Participants

We identified 1.2 million adult patients aged ≥18 years presenting to California EDs and hospitals with an index diagnosis of TBI.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Our main outcomes included revisits, readmissions and mortality over time. We also examined demographics, mechanism and severity of injury and disposition at discharge.

Results

We found a 57.7% increase in the number of TBI ED visits, representing a 40.5% increase in TBI visit rates over the 10-year period (346–487 per 100 000 residents). During this time, there was also a 33.8% decrease in the proportion of patients admitted to the hospital. Older, publicly insured and black populations had the highest visit rates, and falls were the most common mechanism of injury (45.5% of visits). Of all patients with an index TBI visit, 40.5% of them had a revisit during the first year, with 46.7% of them seeking care at a different hospital from their initial hospital or ED visit. Additionally, of revisits within the first year, 13.4% of them resulted in hospital readmission.

Conclusions

The large proportion of patients with TBI who are discharged directly from the ED, along with the high rates of revisits and readmissions, suggest a role for an established system for follow-up, treatment and care of TBI.