bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A novel thermal-visual place learning paradigm for honeybees
Authors: Scheiner R , Frantzmann F , Jäger M , Helfrich-Förster C , Pauls D
Published: December 2019

Honeybees have fascinating navigational skills and learning capabilities in the field. To decipher the mechanisms underlying place learning in honeybees, we need paradigms to study place learning of individual honeybees under controlled laboratory conditions. Here, we present a novel visual place learning arena for honeybees which relies on high temperatures as aversive stimuli. Honeybees learn to locate a safe spot in an unpleasantly warm arena, relying on a visual panorama. Bees can solve this task very well at a temperature of 46°C, while at temperatures above 48 °C bees die quickly. This new paradigm, which is based on a pioneering work inDrosophila, allows us now to investigate thermal-visual place learning of individual honeybees in the laboratory, for example after controlled genetic knockout or pharmacological intervention.
The characterization of a humanized rabbit anti-TNFα monoclonal antibody
Authors: Wang Chao , Ni Xianpu , Liu Ying , Jin Zheng , Xia Huanzhang
Published: December 2019

Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is now regarding as a key role in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated disease such as Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), Crohn's Disease, Psoriatic arthritis and Plaque Psoriasis. HERE we have successfully developed an anti-hTNFα monoclonal rabbit antibody(HZ3M) with high binding and neutralizing activity based on RabMAbs platform. Rabbit hybridomas, immunized subcutanrously with 0.4 mg human TNFα, were generated from the rabbit splenocytes and a total of 142 hybridoma clones with specific binding to human TNFa were obtained. The anti-TNFa RabMAbs showed better neutralizing activity and higher antigen binding affinity compared to Humira and Remicade, the elimination phase half-life 58.2h respectively. In vivo efficay studies, normal mice or human TNF-alpha transgenic mice were injected with 1.0 mg/kg Humira (positive control), HZ3M at 0.33?1.0 or 3.0 mg/kg, or solvent (negative control), showed that HZ3M is able to bind and neutralize hTNFα in transgenic and normal mice as well as normal rabbits.Clearly dose-dependent response can be determined. Compared to marketed anti-TNFa drug Humira, the efficacy of HZ3M is seems to show significant longer holding time.Our observations indicate that the HZ3M derived from RabMAb preclinical safety study, and might have a therapeutic role in RA treatment.
Co-movements and diversification opportunities among Dow Jones Islamic indexes
Authors: Antar Monia , Alahouel Fatma
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to analyse the opportunity of an exclusive investment in the DJ Islamic indexes. The objective is to characterize the links between MENA region index with seven DJ Islamic indexes.

Design/methodology/approach

A co-movement analysis was conducted to assess whether there is a safe investment during crisis. The VECM verifies the existence of a long run association. The MGARCH-DCC characterizes the dynamic links. The wavelet coherence detects a correlation in a time-frequency domain, which is relevant to set up a diversification strategy based on investment horizons.

Findings

Despite the existence of a long run association between the Islamic indexes, diversification opportunities are present. The MGARCH-DCC results recommend including the USA, Canada and Emerging Markets indexes with the Mena index to get diversification benefits. The Wavelet coherence confirms these results for 0 to 16 days holding period and more than six-months’ investment horizons. Hence, MENA portfolio managers should not invest in Europe, UK and Emerging Markets indexes.

Research limitations/implications

This study focused only on the bivariate correlation analysis without taking into consideration multivariate relationships. Future research should use multiple wavelet coherence and explore S&P Shariah indexes.

Practical implications

This work is important for investors searching for assets governed by sharia rules, who reject resorting to conventional markets, and policy makers dealing with coordination costs. They would be able to formulate strategies based on the different indexes’ relationships.

Originality/value

This paper enriches the limited stream of literature focusing only on Islamic indexes. Due to the important development of Islamic Finance in each MENA country, the authors shed the light on this Region’s index.
SMEs project: a method to encourage interpersonal skills among pre-service accountant
Authors: Sagala Gaffar Hafiz , Effiyanti Tri
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Accounting Education Change Commission reveals that accounting professionals are required to have interpersonal skills. For this reason, higher education requires the dynamics of learning that can foster critical thinking skills, analysis, communication, negotiation, cooperation and argumentation. Therefore, studies in the field of accounting education have led to a project approach to provide students with complex learning experiences to develop various supporting skills in addition to learning outcomes. Interestingly, the methods have its own dilemma with social loafing in groups. Therefore, a lecturer must be able to match it with an appropriate evaluation instrument. The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of implementing peer evaluations and project-based learning (SMEs project) on improving the interpersonal skills of accounting students.

Design/methodology/approach

The population of this research is Accounting students at Medan State University, while the sample is students who are undergoing Cost Accounting courses taken with purposive sampling. The within-sample of field experiment method was conducted in the current study. Furthermore, data analysis was performed using one-way ANOVA analysis assisted by SPSS 19.

Findings

The results of this study showed that students had an increase in interpersonal skills in their board, and peer-evaluation design resulted in learning satisfaction and fairness in students.

Originality/value

The results of this study produce practical recommendations for lecturers to innovate their learning activities with actual project design and control group dynamics with accommodative evaluation designs. This study provides new insights in building a comprehensive instructional design, so it can strengthen the concept of instructional and evaluation designs which are integral parts that should match between one another.
Space tourism-past to future : a perspective article
Authors: Cohen Erik , Spector Samuel
Published: December 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to briefly review the history and future expectations for space tourism.

Design/methodology/approach

Historical review.

Findings

After a series of successes in space travel, culminating by the Apollo 11 Moon landings in 1969, governmental efforts at space travel stalled. In the early twenty-first century, private entrepreneurs inspired new life into space travel and tourism, offering commercial suborbital trips, but none have as yet actually taken place. However, despite impediments, a significant expansion of space travel and tourism is expected to occur in the course of the twenty-first century.

Originality/value

The paper offers a synoptic view of past and projected future developments in space travel and tourism.
Tourism entrepreneurship research: a perspective article
Authors: Ratten Vanessa
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Tourism entrepreneurship is an emerging area of study that has both practical and theoretical importance. This paper aims to review past research on tourism entrepreneurship with the view of highlighting neglected areas of study.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of the past 75 years is conducted that highlights the gaps in the research in need of further research.

Findings

There is a focus on lifestyle and sustainable forms of tourism entrepreneurship without taking into account emerging technologies and other forms of entrepreneurship such as digital and societal.

Originality/value

This paper places emphasis on the transdisciplinary nature of tourism entrepreneurship that enables researchers to build on multiple disciplines to derive fruitful new areas of research interest.
Measuring tourism success – alternative outcome variables: a perspective article
Authors: Uysal Muzaffer
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The focus of this perspective paper is to provide new directions in the ontology of thinking about outcome variables by observational analysis of past and linking it to the present research.

Design/methodology/approach

This perspective paper follow a critical review approach that is reflective and speculative in its orientation.

Findings

Outcome variables are assumed to serve as the dependent variables which are observed and measured by changing independent variables. It is argued that there would certainly be more and innovative concerted efforts in the future that would focus on non-conventional measures as outcome variables. These efforts would help researchers better understand the contribution of tourism activities to well-being of stakeholders. By doing so, success in tourism can be ensured.

Originality/value

Proposing, in addition to conventional outcome variables, new/possible outcome variables to enrich research.
The effectiveness of a pseudo‐inverse extended Born operator to handle lateral heterogeneity for imaging and velocity analysis applications
Authors: Alali Abdullah , Sun Bingbing , Alkhalifah Tariq
Published: December 2019

Wave equation–based migration velocity analysis techniques aim to construct a kinematically accurate velocity model for imaging or as an initial model for full waveform inversion applications. The most popular wave equation–based migration velocity analysis method is differential semblance optimization, where the velocity model is iteratively updated by minimizing the unfocused energy in an extended image volume. However, differential semblance optimization suffers from artefacts, courtesy of the adjoint operator used in imaging, leading to poor convergence. Recent findings show that true amplitude imaging plays a significant role in enhancing the differential semblance optimization's gradient and reducing the artefacts. Here, we focus on a pseudo‐inverse operator to the horizontally extended Born as a true amplitude imaging operator. For laterally inhomogeneous models, the operator required a derivative with respect to a vertical shift. Extending the image vertically to evaluate such a derivative is costly and impractical. The inverse operator can be simplified in laterally homogeneous models. We derive an extension of the approach to apply the full inverse formula and evaluate the derivative efficiently. We simplified the implementation by applying the derivative to the imaging condition and utilize the relationship between the source and receiver wavefields and the vertical shift. Specifically, we verify the effectiveness of the approach using the Marmousi model and show that the term required for the lateral inhomogeneity treatment has a relatively small impact on the results for many cases. We then apply the operator in differential semblance optimization and invert for an accurate macro‐velocity model, which can serve as an initial velocity model for full waveform inversion.
Research Note: A unifying framework for the widely used stabilization of potential field inverse problems
Authors: Vatankhah Saeed , Renaut Rosemary Anne , Liu Shuang
Published: December 2019

We present a brief review of the widely used and well‐known stabilizers in the inversion of potential field data. These include stabilizers that use L2, L1 and L0 norms of the model parameters and the gradients of the model parameters. These stabilizers may all be realized in a common setting using two general forms with different weighting functions. Moreover, we show that this unifying framework encompasses the use of additional stabilizations which are not common for potential field inversion.
Light availability and land‐use history drive biodiversity and functional changes in forest herb layer communities
Authors: Depauw Leen , Perring Michael P. , Landuyt Dries , Maes Sybryn L. , Blondeel Haben , De Lombaerde Emiel , Brūmelis Guntis , Brunet Jörg , Closset‐Kopp Déborah , Czerepko Janusz , Decocq Guillaume , den Ouden Jan , Gawryś Radosław , Härdtle Werner , Hédl Radim , Heinken Thilo , Heinrichs Steffi , Jaroszewicz Bogdan , Kopecký Martin , Liepiņa Ilze , Macek Martin , Máliš František , Schmidt Wolfgang , Smart Simon M. , Ujházy Karol , Wulf Monika , Verheyen Kris
Published: December 2019

A central challenge of today's ecological research is predicting how ecosystems will develop under future global change. Accurate predictions are complicated by (a) simultaneous effects of different drivers, such as climate change, nitrogen deposition and management changes; and (b) legacy effects from previous land use.

We tested whether herb layer biodiversity (i.e. richness, Shannon diversity and evenness) and functional (i.e. herb cover, specific leaf area [SLA] and plant height) responses to environmental change drivers depended on land‐use history. We used resurvey data from 192 plots across nineteen European temperate forest regions, with large spatial variability in environmental change factors. We tested for interactions between land‐use history, distinguishing ancient and recent (i.e. post‐agricultural) forests and four drivers: temperature, nitrogen deposition, and aridity at the regional scale and light dynamics at the plot‐scale.

Land‐use history significantly modulated global change effects on the functional signature of the herb layer (i.e. cover, SLA and plant height). Light availability was the main environmental driver of change interacting with land‐use history. We found greater herb cover and plant height decreases and SLA increases with decreasing light availability in ancient than in recent forests. Furthermore, we found greater decreases in herb cover with increased nitrogen deposition in ancient forests, whereas warming had the strongest decreasing effect on the herb cover in recent forests. Interactive effects between land‐use history and global change on biodiversity were not found, but species evenness increased more in ancient than in recent forests.

Synthesis. Our results demonstrate that land‐use history should not be overlooked when predicting forest herb layer responses to global change. Moreover, we found that herb layer composition in semi‐natural deciduous forests is mainly controlled by local canopy characteristics, regulating light levels at the forest floor, and much less by environmental changes at the regional scale (here: warming, nitrogen deposition and aridity). The observed disconnect between biodiversity and functional herb layer responses to environmental changes demonstrates the importance of assessing both types of responses to increase our understanding of the possible impact of global change on the herb layer.
Unsettling trauma: from individual pathology to social pathology
Authors: Lannamann John W. , McNamee Sheila
Published: December 2019

Rather than assuming that psychological terms mirror natural categories in the world and that the task of the helping professions is to find ways to discover, diagnose and treat these categories, our goal is to inquire about the status of the categories as an aid to then focusing on therapeutic responses. To that end, we unsettle trauma by exploring its social ontology as a disorder as well as its grammar. Feminist and cultural critiques of PTSD illustrate the limitations of the dominant discourse of trauma, moving trauma from individual pathology to social pathology. We offer two illustrations from the family therapy literature that draw upon polyphony, inner dialogues and the creation of new narratives to expand beyond the pathologising potentials of the discourse of trauma.

Practitioner points

Understanding the concept of trauma as a socially embedded construction is a necessary first step towards recognising its different applications in therapeutic work

The dialogic/constructionist stance taken here assumes that meaning and understanding are shaped by discourse and interaction

The taken‐for‐granted meanings associated with trauma need to be questioned

Practitioners may then assess when the use of a PTSD diagnosis might import individualising and objectifying assumptions that undermine the goals of systemic family therapy
Induction, detection, formation, and resuscitation of viable but non‐culturable state microorganisms
Authors: Dong Kai , Pan Hanxu , Yang Dong , Rao Lei , Zhao Liang , Wang Yongtao , Liao Xiaojun
Published: December 2019

The viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state has been recognized as a strategy for bacteria to cope with stressful environments; in this state, bacteria fail to grow on routine culture medium but are actually alive and can resuscitate into a culturable state under favorable conditions. The VBNC state may pose a great threat to food safety and public health. To date, more than 100 VBNC microorganism species have been proven to exist in fields of food safety, environmental application, and agricultural diseases. Most harsh conditions can induce these microorganisms into the VBNC state, including food processing and preservation methods, adverse environmental conditions, and plant‐disease controlling means. The characteristics of VBNC state cells differ from those of normally growing cells and dead cells, based on which of the various detection methods are developed, and they are of great significance for potential risk assessment. To provide molecular level insights into this state, many studies on induction and resuscitation mechanisms have emerged over the past three decades, including research on omics, specific genes, or proteins involved in VBNC state formation and the roles of promoters in resuscitation from the VBNC state. In this review, microorganism species, induction and resuscitation factors, detection methods, and formation and resuscitation mechanisms of the VBNC state are comprehensively and systematically summarized.
Exploring Persistence in Streamflow Forecasting
Authors: Ghimire Ganesh Raj , Krajewski Witold F.
Published: December 2019

In this study, the authors explore three persistence approaches in streamflow forecasting motivated by the need for forecasting model skill evaluation. The authors use streamflow observations with 15 min resolution from the year 2008 to 2017 at 140 United States Geological Survey streamflow gauges monitoring the streams and rivers over the State of Iowa. The spatial scale of the basins ranges from about 7 to 37,000 km2. The study explores three approaches: simple persistence, gradient persistence, and anomaly persistence. The study shows that persistence forecasts skill has strong dependence on basin scales and weaker but non‐negligible dependence on geometric properties of the river network for a given basin. Among the three approaches explored, anomaly persistence shows highest skill especially for small basins, under about 500 km2. The anomaly persistence can serve as a benchmark for model evaluations considering the effect of basin scales and geometric properties of river network of the basin. This study further reiterates that persistence forecasts are hard‐to‐beat methods for larger basin scales at short to medium forecast range.
Measuring Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): An Inclusive Approach
Authors: Bidarbakhtnia Arman
Published: December 2019

Four years on from the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), countries around the world seek methods that provide simple but comprehensive narratives on their progress. Given the complexity of the agenda and its indicator framework, key questions that arise are what is an appropriate method to summarize information? and how to get everyone counted? This paper provides an overview of various existing methodologies for assessing progress towards the SDGs. It provides guidance on how to choose an appropriate method that is fit for the purpose of analysis. The paper also recommends an approach for measuring SDG progress that accounts for progress among the furthest left behind groups in order to fulfil the leave no‐one behind ambition of the 2030 agenda. Applying the new approach to data from countries in Asia‐Pacific region shows that, when disaggregated statistics are available, the inclusive measurement can significantly change the progress narrative and our understanding of priorities for SDGs implementation.
Troponin Testing and Coronary Syndrome in Geriatric Patients With Nonspecific Complaints: Are We Overtesting?
Authors: Wang Alfred Z. , Schaffer Jason T. , Holt Daniel B. , Morgan Keaton L. , Hunter Benton R.
Published: December 2019

Background

Elderly patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with nonspecific complaints (NSCs) often undergo troponin testing to assess for atypical acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, the rate of ACS and utility of troponin testing in this population is unknown. We sought to determine the rate of ACS and diagnostic yield of troponin testing in elderly patients with NSCs.

Methods

We retrospectively identified all patients aged ≥ 65 years triaged in the ED with NSCs from January 1, 2017, to June 30, 2017. NSCs were defined a priori and included complaints such as weakness, dizziness, or fatigue. NSCs were verified in ED provider notes by trained abstractors blind to testing results. Exclusions were focal chief complaint in provider notes, fever, and no troponin ordered. ACS was strictly defined and independently adjudicated by two trained physician researchers blind to the study hypothesis. We calculated the proportion of patients with ACS within 30 days and the test characteristics of troponin to diagnose ACS.

Results

Screening identified 1,146 encounters, and 552 were excluded for fever or focal chief complaints in the provider notes. Of the remaining 594 patients, troponin was ordered in 412 (69%), comprising the study cohort. The mean (±SD) age was 78.7 (±8.3) years, with 58% female and 75% admitted. Troponin elevation occurred in 81 patients (20%). ACS occurred in 5 of 412 (1.2%). Troponin was 100% sensitive (95% confidence interval [CI] = 48% to 100%) and 81% specific (95% CI = 77% to 85%) for ACS. Of patients with elevated troponin, 93.8% were false positives (no ACS). All patients with troponin elevation were admitted, but only one underwent angiography and no patients received reperfusion therapy.

Conclusions

While consideration for ACS is prudent in selected elderly patients with NSCs, ACS was rare and no patients received reperfusion therapy. Given the false‐positive rate in our study, our results may not support routine troponin testing for ACS in this population.
Effects of Pharmacologically Targeting Neuroimmune Pathways on Alcohol Drinking in Mice Selectively Bred to Drink to Intoxication
Authors: Ozburn Angela R. , Metten Pamela , Potretzke Sheena , Townsley Kayla G. , Blednov Yuri A. , Crabbe John C.
Published: December 2019

Background

Rodent models of high alcohol drinking offer opportunities to better understand factors for alcohol use disorders (AUD) and test potential treatments. Selective breeding was carried out to create 2 unique High Drinking in the Dark (HDID‐1, HDID‐2) mouse lines that represent models of genetic risk for binge‐like drinking. A number of studies have indicated that neuroimmune genes are important for regulation of alcohol drinking. We tested whether compounds shown to reduce drinking in other models also reduce alcohol intake in these unique genetic lines.

Methods

We report tests of gabapentin, tesaglitazar, fenofibrate, caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE), ibrutinib, and rolipram. Although these compounds have different mechanisms of action, they have all been shown to reduce inflammatory responses. We evaluated effects of these compounds on alcohol intake. In order to facilitate comparison with previously published findings for some compounds, we employed similar schedules that were previously used for that compound.

Results

Gabapentin increased ethanol (EtOH) binge‐like alcohol drinking in female HDID‐1 and HS/NPT mice. Tesaglitazar and fenofibrate did not alter 2‐bottle choice (2BC) drinking in male HDID‐1 or HS/NPT mice. However, tesaglitazar had no effect on DID EtOH intake but reduced blood alcohol levels (BAL), and fenofibrate increased DID intake with no effects on BAL. CAPE had no effect on EtOH intake. Ibrutinib reduced intake in female HDID‐1 in initial testing, but did not reduce intake in a second week of testing. Rolipram reduced DID intake and BALs in male and female HDID‐1, HDID‐2, and HS/NPT mice.

Conclusions

A number of compounds shown to reduce EtOH drinking in other models, and genotypes are not effective in HDID mice or their genetically heterogeneous founders, HS/NPT. The most promising compound was the PDE4 inhibitor, rolipram. These results highlight the importance of assessing generalizability when rigorously testing compounds for therapeutic development.
Inhibition of the Inflammasome Signaling Cascade Reduces Alcohol Consumption in Female But Not Male Mice
Authors: Lowe Patrick P. , Cho Yeonhee , Tornai David , Coban Sahin , Catalano Donna , Szabo Gyongyi
Published: December 2019

Background

Alcohol use disorder is a significant societal and medical burden that is associated with both organ pathology and addiction. Excessive alcohol use results in neuroinflammation characterized by activation of the inflammasome, a multiprotein complex, and IL‐1β increase in the brain. Recent studies suggest that inflammation could contribute to alcohol addiction. Here, we targeted components of the NOD‐like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome cascade, which senses and responds to immunologic stimuli, to determine whether NLRP3 inhibition modulates alcohol consumption.

Methods

C57BL/6J male and female mice were provided a 2‐bottle choice of alcohol at increasing concentrations (3, 6, 9, and 12%, 4 days each) or water, and some were treated with daily injections of an NLRP3 inhibitor (MCC950), a caspase‐1 inhibitor (VX765), IL‐1 receptor antagonist (IL‐1ra; anakinra), or vehicle injection.

Results

Treatment with VX765, MCC950, and IL‐1ra significantly reduced alcohol consumption and preference in female mice (p < 0.05). Treatment with MCC950 and IL‐1ra reduced alcohol consumption, while IL‐1ra reduced alcohol preference in male mice (p < 0.05). VX765 did not affect alcohol consumption or preference in male mice.

Conclusions

These findings highlight gender differences in alcohol preference and demonstrate that inhibition of different steps in inflammasome signaling can reduce alcohol consumption in females. Inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation and the inflammasome‐IL‐1β cascade opens novel insights into the development of new therapies to address alcohol use disorder in an era of targeted and precision medicine.
A randomised controlled trial of shoulder block vs. interscalene brachial plexus block for ventilatory function after shoulder arthroscopy
Authors: Rhyner P. , Kirkham K. , Hirotsu C. , Farron A. , Albrecht E.
Published: December 2019

The shoulder block may impair ventilatory function and diaphragmatic movement less than the interscalene brachial plexus block. We randomly allocated 30 adults who underwent shoulder arthroscopy under general anaesthesia to ultrasound‐guided shoulder block or interscalene block with 20 ml bupivacaine 0.5%. The primary outcome, rate of ultrasound‐measured hemidiaphragmatic excursion < 25% of baseline 30 min after blockade, was reduced from 12/15 with brachial plexus block to 2/15 with shoulder block, a difference (95%CI) of 67% (40–93%), p < 0.001. The mean (SD) numeric rating scale pain scores at rest after shoulder block were higher than after interscalene block at two postoperative hours, 1.4 (1.2) vs. 0.3 (0.7), p = 0.02, but lower at 24 postoperative hours, 1.3 (1.3) vs. 3.4 (2.3), p = 0.008. Mean (SD) pain scores on movement in the shoulder and interscalene blocks were similar, with respective values of 1.9 (1.9) vs. 0.7 (1.2), p = 0.13 at two postoperative hours and 3.7 (2.3) vs. 5.3 (2.5), p = 0.41, at 24 postoperative hours.
Epistasis between phenylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase and β2‐adrenergic receptor influences extracellular epinephrine level and associates with the susceptibility to allergic asthma
Authors: Sio Yang Yie , Matta Sri Anusha , Ng Yu Ting , Chew Fook Tim
Published: December 2019

Background

Reduced extracellular epinephrine level often associates with asthma‐related symptoms; however, the correlation between asthma and genetic variants in genes participating in the epinephrine signalling pathway remains unclear.

Objective

To characterize the functions of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in phenylethanolamine N‐methyltransferase (PNMT) and β2‐adrenergic receptor (ADRB2), and to study the effects, including both direct and epistatic, of these SNPs on serum epinephrine level and asthma susceptibility.

Methods

Single nucleotide polymorphisms functions were characterized through in vitro luciferase assay. ADRB2 gene expression level in peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) was measured by transcriptome sequencing and expression microarray on two separate Asian cohorts (NUS‐UTAR, n = 278 and NUS‐TA, n = 58). Serum epinephrine level was assessed on a Singapore Chinese cohort (NUS‐SH, n = 314) with 155 asthmatic and 159 non‐asthmatic subjects. A separate Singapore Chinese cohort (NUS‐G, n = 3009) was genotyped to show disease association (direct and epistatic effect) of functional SNPs in PNMT and ADRB2.

Results

Reduced serum epinephrine level was associated with increased asthma risk in Singapore Chinese. The minor allele of rs876493 was shown to increase PNMT promoter activity and reduce asthma risk. Multiple SNPs in ADRB2 forms a haplotype that was associated with the differential promoter activity of this gene. In this haplotype, rs11168070 was associated directly with ADRB2 expression in PBMCs. Both minor alleles from rs876493 and rs11168070 contribute synergistically to reduce asthma risk and increase serum epinephrine level.

Conclusion and Clinical Relevance

Epistatic interaction between genetic variants from PNMT (rs876493) and ADRB2 (rs11168070) is associated with serum epinephrine level and the susceptibility of asthma. Our findings improved the current understanding of the genetic basis of this disease, while genotypic states of these SNPs may serve as potential biomarkers to predict susceptibility to the disease.
Bridging antifungal prophylaxis with 50 mg or 100 mg micafungin in allogeneic stem cell transplantation: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Rothe Achim , Claßen Annika , Carney Jonathan , Hallek Michael , Mellinghoff Sibylle C. , Scheid Christoph , Holtick Udo , von Bergwelt‐Baildon Michael
Published: December 2019

Objective

Fluconazole or posaconazole is a standard of care in antifungal prophylaxis for patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). However, many patients need to interrupt standard prophylaxis due to intolerability, drug‐drug interactions, or toxicity. Micafungin has come to prominence for these patients. However, the optimal biological dose of micafungin stays unclear.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy of micafungin as antifungal prophylaxis in HSCT patients. Micafungin was applied as bridging in patients who were not eligible to receive oral posaconazole. Micafungin was either given at a dose of 100 mg or 50 mg SID.

Results

A total of 173 patients received micafungin prophylaxis, 62 in the 100 mg and 111 in the 50 mg dose group. The incidence of probable or proven breakthrough IFDs during the observation period was one in the 100 mg and one in the 50 mg group. Fungal‐free survival after 100 days was 98% and 99% (P = .842), and overall survival after 365 days was 60% and 63% (P = .8) respectively. In both groups, micafungin was well tolerated with no grade 3 or 4 toxicities.

Conclusion

In this retrospective analysis, which was not powered to detect non‐inferiority, micafungin is effective and complements posaconazole as fungal prophylaxis in HSCT.
Contralateral delay activity is not a robust marker of cognitive function in older adults at risk of mild cognitive impairment
Authors: Farina Francesca R. , Pragulbickaitė Gabija , Bennett Marc , Judd Cian , Walsh Kevin , Mitchell Samantha , O'Connell Redmond G. , Whelan Robert
Published: December 2019

Contralateral delay activity (CDA) has been proposed as a pre‐clinical neural marker for mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, existing evidence is limited to one study with a small sample size (n = 24). Our aim was to extend previous work by investigating the relationship between the CDA and MCI risk in a large sample of older adults (n = 76). We used a regression approach to determine whether (and when) CDA amplitude predicted MCI risk, as indexed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). CDA amplitude from ~300‐500 and ~800‐900 ms predicted MoCA performance. However, significant effects were only observed for specific electrodes (P5/P6 and CP3/CP4, but not PO7/PO8) and the nature of the relationship between the CDA and MoCA scores differed across time and according to set size. Bayesian regression analysis indicated partial evidence in favour of the null hypothesis (BF10 values = 4–1.18). Contrary to previous results, our findings suggest that the CDA may not a robust marker of MCI risk. More broadly, our results highlight the difficulty in identifying at‐risk individuals, particularly as MCI is a heterogeneous, unstable condition. Future research should prioritise longitudinal approaches in order to track the progression of the CDA and its association with cognitive decline in later life.
Ultrasonographic features associated with the lumbosacral or lumbar 5–6 symphyses in 64 horses with lumbosacral‐sacroiliac joint region pain (2012–2018)
Authors: Boado A. , Nagy A. , Dyson S.
Published: December 2019

The ultrasonographic appearance of the lumbosacral symphysis of horses with no history of hindlimb lameness or thoracolumbosacral pain has previously been documented. The aims of the study were to describe the signalment and clinical findings in horses with ultrasonographic lesions of the fifth and sixth lumbar (L) vertebrae and lumbosacral symphyses and to determine whether lesions of the L5‐6 symphysis are only seen in horses with congenital sacralisation or other abnormalities of the lumbosacral symphysis. Horses in Group 1 (n = 25) underwent poor performance investigation and improved in ridden performance after infiltration of mepivacaine around the sacroiliac joints. Horses in Group 2 (n = 39) presented for investigation of changes in thoracolumbosacral shape or poor performance but did not undergo anaesthesia of the sacroiliac joint regions. The median ages were 10 and 19 years respectively for Groups 1 and 2. Mares (53.1%) were over‐represented relative to the normal populations of the clinics. All horses had poor development of the thoracolumbar epaxial and pelvic muscles and prominence of the lumbar spinous processes and the tubera sacrale. Most horses (70%) had reduced range of movement of the thoracolumbosacral region. Ultrasonographic features included irregular vertebral end plates; heterogeneous echogenicity of the intervertebral disc ± ventral protrusion; and displacement of the ventral longitudinal ligament ± alteration in its echogenicity. In Group 1, abnormalities of the L5‐6 symphysis were seen in 13 horses, of which 84.6% had congenital sacralisation or narrowing of the lumbosacral symphysis. In Group 2, the majority of horses had lesions of both the L5‐6 and lumbosacral symphyses; only 9/39 horses (23.1%) had congenital fusion of either joint. Limitations include the lack of age‐matched control horses. However, the purpose of the study was to raise awareness of lesions of the L5‐6 and lumbosacral symphyses, which may contribute to pain and poor performance.
Cardioprotective effect of hemin in isoprenaline‐induced myocardial infarction: role of ATP‐sensitive potassium channel and endothelial nitric oxide synthase
Authors: Refaie Marwa M.M. , Rifaai Rehab A. , Bayoumi Asmaa M.A. , Shehata Sayed
Published: December 2019

Ischemic heart disease is a common cardiac health problem. Despite the significant advances in prevention and treatment of this disorder, its incidences and complications are very serious. So, the search for more antioxidants and anti‐inflammatory agents with cardioprotective effects is an urgent task. We aimed to evaluate the effects of a heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) inducer, hemin (HEM), on isoprenaline (ISO)‐induced myocardial damage. Forty‐five Wistar albino rats were used. Animals were treated with HEM (25 mg/kg/day) i.p. for 5 days and injected with ISO (150 mg/kg/day) i.p. on 4th and 5th day of the experiment. Detection of the role of ATP‐sensitive potassium channel (KATP) was performed by administration of glibenclamide (GP) (5 mg/kg/day) orally 2 h before HEM. Moreover, the role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was detected by coadministration of Nitro‐ ω‐L‐arginine (L‐NNA) (25 mg/kg/day) for 5 days. The ISO group showed increase in heart weight, cardiac enzymes, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), and malondialdehyde (MDA) with decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH), HO1, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). In addition, there were increases in Bcl‐2 associated X protein (Bax) and cleaved caspase‐3, but decreases in B‐cell lymphoma‐2 (Bcl‐2) and eNOS. Moreover, the histopathological examination of the ISO group showed degeneration of the cardiac muscle fibers and marked infiltration of the inflammatory cells. The biochemical and histopathological changes induced by ISO were markedly ameliorated in the HEM plus ISO group. This protective effect was diminished with coadministration of GP or L‐NNA; thus, KATP and eNOS might mediate HEM cardioprotection.
Association between mastication‐related factors and the prevalence of dementia in Korean elderly women visiting senior centres
Authors: Shin Hae‐Eun , Cho Min‐Jeong , Amano Atsuo , Song Keun‐Bae , Choi Youn‐Hee
Published: December 2019

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the mastication ability of elderly women by assessing the number of their remaining teeth, subjective mastication comfort, subjective chewing ability of five food items, relative occlusion balance and mastication performance involving in chewing gum.

Background

Korea has already entered an aged society, issues related to the elderly are also growing; for example, dementia is emerging as a social problem. In addition, oral health of the elderly is very important because it is directly related to nutrient intake. A total of 101 subjects aged ≥65 who attended senior citizen centres in Daegu city provided consent and were included in this study.

Materials and methods

The Korean version of the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE‐DS) was used to evaluate cognitive function. To assess the degree of objective mastication, we measured colour changes using a chewing gum and posterior occlusion force using a T‐scan Ⅲ® system.

Results

There was an association between mastication ability and cognitive function, indicated by the colour changes in the chewing gum (P < .05). The participants with greater relative posterior occlusion forces had higher MMSE‐DS scores than those with stronger relative anterior occlusion forces. There was a positive correlation between cognitive function and posterior occlusion force.

Conclusion

The elderly having more occlusion force of posterior teeth rather than anterior teeth were associated with better cognitive ability. Therefore, it may be important for the elderly to restore the masticatory function for the posterior part to prevent against deterioration of cognitive function.
Effects of rikkunshito supplementation on resistance to oxidative stress and lifespan in mice
Authors: Wang Zi , Komatsu Toshimitsu , Ohata Yoshihisa , Watanabe Yukari , Yuan Yiwen , Yoshii Yuki , Park Seongjoon , Mori Ryoichi , Satou Motoyasu , Kondo Yoshitaka , Shimokawa Isao , Chiba Takuya
Published: December 2019

Aim

Caloric restriction (CR), which limits the caloric intake to 60–70% of ad libitum (AL) amounts in various experimental animals, delays aging and extends the lifespan. We previously showed that neuropeptide Y (NPY), an appetite‐stimulating peptide, is essential for the anti‐oxidative and life‐extending effects of CR. Here, we investigated whether a Japanese traditional herbal medicine, rikkunshito (RKT), which induces NPY activation, has CR‐like life‐extending effects.

Methods

First, we evaluated the life‐extending activity of RKT by examining the effect of long‐term RKT administration on wild‐type and NPY knockout mice. Furthermore, we tested whether RKT enhances CR‐mediated beneficial effects under AL conditions with a normal diet and under mild CR conditions with a high‐fat diet. We then used 3‐nitropropionic acid or doxorubicin to induce oxidative stress, and analyzed the differences in survival rate, weight loss, gene expression and cellular oxidative damage among groups.

Results

RKT administration did not extend the lifespan of wild‐type or NPY knockout mice. In the oxidative stress models, RKT treatment upregulated anti‐oxidative gene expression in the liver. Furthermore, RKT administration reduced the oxidative damage in the liver compared to the CR conditions alone. However, on induction of oxidative stress by 3‐nitropropionic acid or doxorubicin, RKT administration did not affect the survival rate.

Conclusions

These results show that RKT administration only partially mimics the effects of CR at the cellular level, but not at the organismal level to increase the lifespan of mice. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; ••: ••–••.
Association between redox state of human serum albumin and exercise capacity in older women: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Ashikawa Hironobu , Adachi Takuji , Ueyama Jun , Yamada Sumio
Published: December 2019

Aim

Oxidative stress plays a key role in declining exercise capacity, which is one of the major health problems in old age. The redox state of human serum albumin (HSA) has been considered a biomarker reflecting oxidative stress; however, its relationship to exercise capacity in older people remains to be examined. We aimed to examine the redox state of HSA as a potential biomarker of exercise capacity in community‐dwelling older women.

Methods

We analyzed 125 women aged ≥75 years. Exercise capacity was evaluated using 6‐min walk distance (6MWD). The redox state of HSA was analyzed using the high‐performance liquid chromatography post‐column bromocresol green reaction method. The fraction of human mercaptalbumin in HSA (f[HMA]) was considered the redox state of HSA. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) or Spearman's correlation coefficient (ρ) was used to assess correlations between 6MWD, f(HMA) and HSA. The association between 6MWD and f(HMA) was further examined using multivariate linear regression analysis adjusted for age, diabetes mellitus, renal function, number of medications, HSA and knee extensor isometric strength.

Results

The 6MWD was significantly correlated with f(HMA; ρ = 0.44, P < 0.001), but not with HSA (r = 0.05, P = 0.562). The f(HMA) was not significantly correlated with HSA (ρ = 0.03, P = 0.769). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that f(HMA) was independently associated with 6MWD (standardized β = 0.27, P = 0.004).

Conclusions

The findings of this study suggest that f(HMA) might serve as a novel biomarker for exercise capacity in community‐dwelling older women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; ••: ••–••.
Individualized nutritional treatment for acute stroke patients with malnutrition risk improves functional independence measurement: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Otsuki Ikuto , Himuro Nobuaki , Tatsumi Hiroomi , Mori Mitsuru , Niiya Yoshimasa , Kumeta Yukihiro , Yamakage Michiaki
Published: December 2019

Aim

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of individualized nutritional treatment on the activities of daily living of acute stroke patients.

Methods

This was a randomized controlled study. The eligibility criteria were acute stroke, age >65 years and the presence of malnutrition risk. Between September 2016 and December 2017, 128 patients were assigned to either the standard or intensive group (individualized nutritional treatment). The intensive group received energy that was calculated using the Harris–Benedict equation. The main outcome measures were the total functional independence measurement gain from the time of assignment to the time of discharge from the recovery hospital or at 3 months after the stroke onset, and motor and cognitive functional independence measurement gains.

Results

Compared with the standard group, the intensive group had significantly higher median energy intake (P < 0.001); significantly greater functional independence measurement gains in the total score (42 vs. 22; P = 0.02) and motor subscore (P = 0.01), but similar cognitive subscore.

Conclusion

Individualized nutritional treatment improved the activities of daily living of older acute stroke patients with malnutrition risk. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; ••: ••–••.
Measuring the impact of participatory research in psychiatry: How the search for epistemic justifications obscures ethical considerations
Authors: Friesen Phoebe , Lignou Sapfo , Sheehan Mark , Singh Ilina
Published: December 2019

Context

Both within politics and practice, the field of psychiatry is undergoing a significant transformation, as increasing emphasis is placed on the importance of involving those with lived experience in research. In response to this participatory turn, a push towards measuring the impact of patient involvement is also growing, seeking to identify how participation can improve research.

Objective

This paper examines the recent push towards measuring impact in relation to justifications underlying the democratization of research in psychiatry, revealing a disconnect between the two, and harms that could result from a singular focus on measuring impact.

Discussion

While those promoting and regulating participatory research tend to focus on the epistemic benefits of such research, many have pointed to both epistemic and ethical justifications underlying participatory research. The ethical reasons for involving service users loom especially large in psychiatry, given its unique history of abuse, the ways diagnoses can be utilized as tools for oppression, and the prevalence of coercion. The current focus on measuring the impact of involvement can be harmful, in that it obscures ethical reasons in favour of epistemic ones, potentially exacerbating issues common to participatory research, such as role confusion and ineffective, tokenistic participatory efforts.

Conclusions

We argue that to take the ethical reasons behind involvement in mental health research seriously will involve looking beyond impact and towards sharing power. We suggest three ways this can be done: measuring more than impact, building service user capacities and sharing power in realms outside of research.