bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spot Sign in Acute Intracerebral Hemorrhage in Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Authors: Khan Zalan , Nattanmai Premkumar , George Pravin , Newey Christopher R.
Published: May 2018

Introduction:

Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Current treatment paradigms focus on correcting hypertension and coagulopathy to prevent hematoma expansion. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is becoming more common in the hyperactive phase of ICH management. The finding of contrast extravasation (ie, spot sign) on MRI may be a marker of active bleeding. We present a case of MRI spot sign and review of the literature.

Case Report:

We present a patient on oral coumadin for history of deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolus who presented with a right basal ganglia hemorrhage. She had a computed tomography angiography showing contrast extravasation and also had a hyperacute MRI showing similar contrast extravasation. Follow-up imaging showed hematoma enlargement.

Discussion:

We present here a case of corroboration of the computed tomography angiography spot sign with the MRI spot sign. The prognostic value of the MRI spot sign is unclear. Future studies should evaluate the prognostic value of the hyperacute MRI in ICH management.
Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation on Walking and Balance Function after Stroke
Authors: Li Yi , Fan Jingjing , Yang Jingyi , He Chengqi , Li Shasha
Published: May 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on walking and balance function in patients with stroke.

Design

MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CENTRAL, and the Physiotherapy Evidence Database were comprehensively searched for randomized controlled trials published through March 2017 that investigated the effects of rTMS on lower limb function. Main outcomes included walking speed, balance function, motor function, and cortical excitability.

Results

Nine studies were included. The meta-analysis revealed a significant effect of rTMS on walking speed (standardized mean difference, 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32–0.95), particularly ipsilesional stimulation (standardized mean difference, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.36–1.24). No significant effects were found for balance function (standardized mean difference, 0.10; 95% CI, −0.26 to 0.45), motor function (mean difference, 0.50, 95% CI: −0.68 to 1.68), or cortical excitability (motor-evoked potentials of the affected hemisphere: mean difference, 0.21 mV; 95% CI, −0.11 to 0.54; motor-evoked potentials of the unaffected hemisphere: mean difference, 0.09 mV; 95% CI, −0.16 to −0.02).

Conclusion

These results suggest that rTMS, particularly ipsilesional stimulation, significantly improves walking speed. Future studies with larger sample sizes and an adequate follow-up period are required to further understand the effects of rTMS on lower limb function and its relationship with changes in cortical excitability with the help of functional neuroimaging techniques.

To Claim CME Credits

Complete the self-assessment activity and evaluation online at http://www.physiatry.org/JournalCME

CME Objectives

Upon completion of this article, the reader should be able to: 1) Understand the potential neurophysiologic effects of rTMS; 2) Appreciate the potential benefits of rTMS on stroke recovery; and 3) Identify indications for including rTMS in a stroke rehabilitation program.

Level

Advanced

Accreditation

The Association of Academic Physiatrists is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Association of Academic Physiatrists designates this Journal-based CME activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Two-Year Longitudinal Changes in Lower Limb Strength and Its Relation to Loss in Function in a Large Cohort of Patients With Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Batra Abhinandan , Harrington Ann , Lott Donovan J. , Willcocks Rebecca , Senesac Claudia R. , McGehee William , Xu Dandan , Mathur Sunita , Daniels Michael J. , Rooney William D. , Forbes Sean C. , Triplett William , Deol Jasjit K. , Arpan Ishu , Bendixen Roxanne , Finkel Richard , Finanger Erika , Tennekoon Gihan , Byrne Barry , Russman Barry , Sweeney H. Lee , Walter Glenn , Vandenborne Krista
Published: May 2018

Objective

The main objective of this study was to examine the effect of disease on strength in two functionally important lower limb muscles for a period of 2 yrs in children with Duchene muscular dystrophy.

Design

Seventy-seven Duchene muscular dystrophy children participated in this study. Plantar flexors, knee extensors, strength, and performance on timed tests (6-min walk, 4-stairs, 10-m walk, supine-up) were assessed yearly for 2 yrs. Multivariate normal regression was used to assess changes in strength over time in the Duchene muscular dystrophy group. Spearman correlations were computed to examine relationship between strength and function.

Results

Normalized plantar flexor and knee extensor strength showed a significant decrease (P < 0.05) over 2 yrs, with larger declines in knee extensor. At baseline, knee extensor strongly correlated with performance on timed tests. However, plantar flexor strength was found to be a stronger predictor of loss in ambulatory function. Modest correlations (r = 0.19–0.34) were found between the decline in strength and functional performance over 2 yrs.

Conclusions

This study describes the loss of lower limb strength in a large cohort of Duchene muscular dystrophy children for 2 yrs. The findings support that lower limb strength alone cannot account for the decline in performance on functional tests, and the role of other contributing factors, such as compensatory strategies, should be considered.
Corticosteroid Injections Into Lumbar Facet Joints
Authors: Kennedy David J. , Huynh Lisa , Wong Joe , Mattie Ryan , Levin Josh , Smuck Matthew , Schneider Byron J.
Published: May 2018

Background

Corticosteroid injections into the intra-articular zygapophysial (z-joints) are frequently used to treat this cause of low back pain. No studies have been done on the efficacy of intra-articular corticosteroids in those with z-joint pain confirmed by dual comparative medial branch blocks.

Objective

The aim of the study was to determine whether an injection of a corticosteroid into lumbar z-joints is effective in reducing pain and the need for radiofrequency neurotomy.

Methods

This is a double-blind, prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The study was conducted in Academic Medical Center. Twenty-eight subjects with z-joint pain confirmed by medial branch blocks were included in the study. Subjects with confirmed z-joint pain via dual comparative medial branch block were randomized to receive either intra-articular corticosteroid (triamcinolone 20 mg) or saline via fluoroscopic guided injection.

Results

No statistically significant difference in the need for radiofrequency neurotomy (radiofrequency neurotomy) between the groups, with 75% (95% confidence interval = 50.5%–99.5%) of the saline group vs. 91% (95% confidence interval = 62.3%–100%) of the corticosteroid group receiving radiofrequency neurotomy. There is no difference in mean time to radiofrequency neurotomy between saline (6.1 wks) and corticosteroid (6.5 wks) groups. There is a need for radiofrequency neurotomy.

Conclusions

Corticosteroid injections into the lumbar z-joints were not effective in reducing the need for radiofrequency neurotomy of the medial branches in those with z-joint pain confirmed by dual comparative medial branch blocks.
The Use of Immersion Therapy Mattress With Low Air Loss in Patients With Myocutaneous Flaps
Authors: VanWyhe Judy , Willer Sue
Published: May 2018

BACKGROUND:

In our hospital, air-fluidized therapy beds were used for all patients undergoing surgery for the creation of myocutaneous flaps. These beds were associated with staff injuries and patients reported dissatisfaction. The WOC nurses were asked to find an alternative support surface for postmyocutaneous flap patients.

CASES:

We report findings from 5 patients placed on a low air loss immersion mattress after myocutaneous flap surgery. On week 2, per our hospital's clinical pathway, all were transferred to our critical access hospitals with the immersion therapy mattress. Upon discharge, all flap incisions were approximated and closed.

CONCLUSION:

Our experiences with these 5 cases suggest that a support surface combining immersion and low air loss feature is a viable alternative to an air-fluidized bed for postoperative management of patient undergoing myocutaneous flap surgery for the management of full-thickness pressure injuries.
The Impact of Pediatric Pressure Injury Prevention Bundle on Pediatric Pressure Injury Rates
Authors: Singh Charleen Deo , Anderson Cheryl , White Earla , Shoqirat Noordeen
Published: May 2018

PURPOSE:

The primary aim of this study was to explore the relationship between a pediatric pressure injury prevention bundle (PPIPB) implemented by pediatric hospitals across the nation and pressure injury (PI) rates over a 6-year period. A secondary aim of this study was to identify whether any one risk factor addressed in the PPIPB had a greater effect on PI occurrences than any other factor.

DESIGN:

Nonexperimental, retrospective correlation analysis of secondary data.

SUBJECTS AND SETTING:

Analysis of data from 99 pediatric hospitals participating in the national initiative Solutions for Patient Safety (SPS).

METHODS:

Data were extracted from the SPS, an initiative designed to reduce PI rates in pediatric hospitals. We analyzed data related to nursing interventions implemented to ameliorate 5 factors associated with PI development. They were presence of medical devices, moisture, immobility, skin integrity, and absence of pressure redistribution with some support surfaces. Paired t test and correlation analysis were used to determine the relationship between the use of a PPIPB and PI incidence per 1000 patient-days.

RESULTS:

Findings indicated a 57% reduction in PI incidence when the PPIPB was used. A significant inverse relationship between the PPIPB and PI incidence was found. None of the 5 risk factors addressed by the PPIPB had a stronger correlation with PI occurrences than any other factor.

CONCLUSIONS:

Study findings strongly suggest the use of a PPIPB decreases PI incidence in pediatric hospitals and should be considered when implementing a PI prevention program.
A direct comparison of four high risk human papilloma virus tests versus the cobas test for detecting cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer
Authors: Xue Peng , Gao Li-Li , Yin Jian , Han Li-Li , Zhao Jing , Li Li , Seery Samuel , Han Xue-Yan , Li Ting-yuan , Jiang Yu , Shen Jie , Chen Wen
Published: May 2018

This study is to evaluate performances and genotyping capabilities of four human papilloma virus (HR-HPV) tests based on real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technology platforms compared with the cobas test. Discordant results were further analyzed using INNO-LiPA HPV genotyping test, the gold standard laboratory test to determine presence and type of HPV infection. Over 200 samples from Hospital patients were collected and analyzed using five HR-HPV tests. Women with positive test results were referred directly to colposcopy. If a positive result was returned, biopsies were administered for pathological classification. Clinical performances and genotyping capabilities between the four HR-HPV and cobas tests were compared and contrasted. High levels of agreement were observed, though all HR-HPV tests presented discrepancies compared with the cobas test. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia Grade 2 or higher lesions (CIN2+) was set as the threshold, and all five tests performed with equally high sensitivity. Lower levels of specificity were observed across all five tests. Results suggest the four HR-HPV tests analyzed are as effective as the cobas test in genotyping capacities and diagnosing CIN. Therefore, these test kits should be used for HPV screening, especially in developing nations because they are cost effective and reliable. Minor discrepancies between tests are generally unavoidable though this may add complexity to the clinical decision-making process. As such, we recommend that efforts be made to standardize HPV genotyping tests as well as to optimize clinical sensitivity and specificity. Focusing on these issues will drive the development of HPV detection techniques, therefore save lives.
Normal observers show no evidence for blindsight in facial emotion perception
Authors: Rajananda Sivananda , Zhu Jeanette , Peters Megan A.K.
Published: May 2018

It is commonly assumed that normal human observers can exhibit ‘blindsight-like’ behavior: the ability to discriminate or identify a stimulus without being aware of it. However, we recently used a bias-free task to show that what looks like blindsight may in fact be an artifact of typical experimental paradigms’ susceptibility to response bias. While those findings challenge many previous reports of blindsight in normal observers, they do not rule out the possibility that different stimuli or techniques could reveal such perception without awareness. One particularly intriguing candidate for this unconscious perception is emotion processing, as processing of emotional stimuli (e.g. fearful/happy faces) has been reported to potentially bypass conscious visual circuits. Here we used the bias-free blindsight paradigm to investigate whether emotion processing might reveal ‘featural blindsight’, i.e. the ability to identify a face’s emotion without having introspective access to the task-relevant features of the face that led to the discrimination decision. However, despite the purported ability of emotional stimuli to bypass conscious visual processing, we saw no evidence for such emotion processing ‘featural blindsight’: like in our previous study, as soon as participants could identify a face’s emotion they reported introspective access to the task-relevant features, matching predictions of a Bayesian ideal observer. The present results challenge dominant theory, adding to the growing body of evidence that perceptual discrimination ability in the complete absence of introspective access may not be possible for neurologically intact observers.
Identification of novel and structurally diverse N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptor Antagonists: Successful Application of Pharmacophore Modeling, Virtual Screening and Molecular Docking
Authors: Sharma Mukta , Mittal Anupama , Singh Aarti , Jainarayanan Ashwin K. , Paliwal Sarvesh Kumar
Published: May 2018

In view of “excitotoxic” effects of glutamate, wherein excessive excitatory input causes increase in intracellular Ca2+ and ultimately cell death, NMDA receptor has emerged as an important target for treatment and prevention of several neurological disorders, like Alzheimer disease. Prompted by the successful application of in-silico pharmacophore-based virtual screening in lead identification, we have made an effort to implement in-silico protocols to identify novel NMDA receptor antagonist. A series of novel benzo[b]quinolizinium cations as NMDA receptor antagonists have been used as a starting point to develop prognostic pharmacophore models. The most predictive pharmacophore model (hypothesis 1), consisting of four features, namely, one hydrogen bond acceptor, one hydrophobic and two ring aromatic, showed a correlation (r) of 0.89, root mean square of 0.259, and the cost difference of 43.01 bits between null and fixed cost. The model was thoroughly validated and subjected to a chemical database search, which lead to the identification of 400 hits from NCI and Maybridge databases which were checked for Lipinski’s violation and predictive potency.

This reduced the list to 10 compounds, out of which, two most potent compounds were subjected to molecular docking using Libdock software and interestingly, all the docked conformations showed hydrogen bond interactions with important amino acids Tyr214, His88, Thr174, Val169 and Arg121. In summary, through our validated pharmacophore-based virtual screening protocol, we have identified two potent, structurally diverse, druggable and novel NMDA receptor antagonist which might be of great help to address the unmet medical need of Alzheimer disease.
A cosine similarity-based method to infer variability of chromatin accessibility at the single-cell level
Authors: Cai Stanley , Georgakilas Georgios K. , Johnson John L. , Vahedi Golnaz
Published: May 2018

Cellular identity between generations of developing cells is propagated through the epigenome particularly via the accessible parts of the chromatin. It is now possible to measure chromatin accessibility at single-cell resolution using single-cell assay for transposase accessible chromatin (scATAC-seq), which can reveal the regulatory variation behind the phenotypic variation. However, single-cell chromatin accessibility data are sparse, binary, and high dimensional, leading to unique computational challenges. To overcome these difficulties, we developed PRISM a computational workflow and R package (https://github.com/stanleycai123/PRISM) that quantifies cell-to-cell chromatin accessibility variation while controlling for technical biases. Using data generated in our lab or publically available, we show that PRISM outperforms an existing algorithm, which relies on the aggregate of signal across a set of genomic regions. PRISM shows robustness to noise in low accessibility cells and reveals previously masked accessibility variation where accessible sites differ between cells but total number of accessible sites is constant. We also show that PRISM, but not an existing algorithm, finds suppressed heterogeneity of accessibility at CTCF binding sites. PRISM is a novel multidimensional scaling-based method using angular cosine distance metrics coupled with distance from the spatial centroid. PRISM takes differences in accessibility at each genomic region between single cells into account. This updated approach uncovers new biological results with profound implications on the cellular heterogeneity of chromatin architecture.
Introduction: cultivation, medication, activism and cannabis policy
Authors: Bone Melissa , Potter Gary , Klein Axel
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the special issue on Illicit Cannabis Cultivation in a Time of Policy Change.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews some of the different adaptations made by cannabis growers in countries where cannabis has not been legalised.

Findings

Cannabis growers are adjusting to different legal settings by focusing on home production. Participation in cultivation is a crime, but can also be activism: an effort to change the law. Medical use of cannabis is a particularly important driver here. Having to break the law to alleviate symptoms and treat illnesses provides both a greater sense of urgency and a level of sympathy not usually granted to illicit drug users.

Practical implications

Grass-roots advocacy may drive policy change.

Originality/value

This is an original assessment of current state of knowledge on cannabis cultivation in countries where cannabis cultivation remains restricted.
Academic consulting – income stream, impact and brand building
Authors: Kinnunen Heidi , Holm Emmi , Nordman Anna-Maria , Roschier Solveig
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Universities are expected to accelerate and optimize their role as economic growth engines. Technology transfer is a traditional way of expanding knowledge exchange, and it is typically used in hard sciences. This paper aims to discuss academic consultancy as a novel way to bring especially social sciences, humanities and arts (SSHA sciences) knowledge into the society. In addition, it seeks practical ways to combine both university’s and individual researcher’s needs in consultancy.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study comprising interviews at two Finnish universities was conducted. Literature on academic consulting was used as background knowledge. International benchmarking was done through interviews and desk top studies. Some background statistics was extracted from the financial database for received research funding from businesses and ministries.

Findings

Corporate funding is most prominent in hard sciences, and SSHA sciences seem to get their funding mainly from public sources. SSHA researchers provide services for firms, but these relationships are generally private. According to interviews, there is will to consult firms through university, but researcher’s time limitations, remuneration and academic merit related to consultancy are important factors when consultancy guidelines are drawn. The administration view is expanded from only research staff to include the entire university knowledge production ecosystem and its members.

Originality/value

Acknowledging the value of SSHA sciences is topical because the respect towards humanities and social studies seems to be in decline in some developed countries. However, according to this study, academic consulting could have great potential in bringing the human perspective into the digitalized society. The quantification of knowledge exchange would benefit from formal, institutionalized consultancy sales. More studies are needed to assess the impact of academic consultancy on society.
Curricular coaches’ impact on retention for early-career elementary teachers in the USA
Authors: De Jong David , Campoli Ayana
Published: May 2018

Purpose

Researchers have found that curricular coaches have had an impact on student achievement by supporting classroom teachers in providing high-quality instruction. However, few studies examine the association between curricular coaches and teacher retention, especially in urban areas. Given the high cost of teacher turnover and the high percentage of early-career teachers who leave the profession each year, the purpose of this paper is to investigate whether the presence of curricular coaches in elementary schools reduces turnover among early-career teachers.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, the authors analyzed the observational data from the 2007-2008 Schools and Staffing Survey (SASS). The SASS is a nationally representative cross-sectional survey that has been administered repeatedly to public and private kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers in the USA approximately every four years by the National Center for Education Statistics and the US Census Bureau.

Findings

The authors found that the presence of a curricular coach was associated with a substantial reduction in early-career teacher turnover. This finding suggests that curricular coaches could be a particular benefit to urban schools.

Research limitations/implications

This study was national in scope; therefore, it does not examine causes of attrition specific to local contexts.

Practical implications

Curricular coaches may indirectly save urban school districts thousands of dollars because of their impact on reducing early-career teacher attrition.

Social implications

In this study, the authors found a statistically significant and practically meaningful association between the presence of curricular coaches in schools and the retention of elementary teachers, especially in urban areas.

Originality/value

The model predicted that among early-career teachers, teachers in schools without curricular coaches are approximately twice as likely to leave the profession the next year compared to teachers in schools with curricular coaches.
The winery experience from the perspective of Generation Z
Authors: Stergiou Dimitrios P. , Airey David , Apostolakis Alexandros
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the wine tourism experience from the perspective of Generation Z adults in Greece, following an actual winery visit.

Design/methodology/approach

Responses were obtained from a total of 306 respondents drawn from student groups visiting a winery in the Achaia region of the Peloponnese, Western Greece, using convenience sampling. A list of winescape attributes was adopted for testing and used to structure self-administered questionnaires. The data collected were analysed using a factor-analytic and importance-performance analysis framework.

Findings

Five factors that promote understanding of the desired wine tourism experience of Generation Z adults were identified, namely, cost considerations and wine and entertainment both perceived to be important but the winery’s performance on the same was poor, destination attributes and service staff both perceived to be important with good performance and learning about wine perceived to be unimportant with low performance.

Originality/value

This is the first academic study focusing specifically on the winery experience from the perspective of Generation Z. As such, it has provided new and useful insights for researchers and managers in the wine industry concerning the experience of this under-researched generational cohort.
The relationship between authentic leaders and employees’ creativity
Authors: Semedo Ana Suzete , Coelho Arnaldo , Ribeiro Neuza
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how authentic leadership (AL) predicts creativity both directly and through the mediating role of affective commitment (AC) and job resourcefulness (JR).

Design/methodology/approach

Data collected from a questionnaire administered to a sample of 543 employees have been analyzed. The model was tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The findings show that AL predicts AC, JR and creativity. The findings also show that AC and JR predict creativity. In other words, leaders’ authenticity increases employees’ creative spirit and, thus, employees’ ability to overcome obstacles and meet challenges at work and their emotional bond play an important role (mediators) in this relationship.

Practical implications

The results of this study are conclusive and contribute to a better understanding of AL and its implication for employees’ emotional bond, their ability to overcome obstacles and their ability to introduce new and useful ideas. This study provides evidence that organizations should focus on training leaders with authentic characteristics.

Originality/value

This study considers both AC and JR as mediators of the relationship between AL and creativity. Therefore, the originality of this study lies in the integration of these four concepts in a single study to provide a model that depicts the chain of effects between AL, AC, JR and an employee’s creativity.
Mapping the “housing with care” concept with stakeholders: insights from a UK case study
Authors: Wild Annie , Clelland David , Whitelaw Sandy , Fraser Sandy , Clark David
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the findings of an early stage, exploratory case study of a proposed housing with care initiative (the Crichton Care Campus (CCC)). This sought the perspectives of a range of key stakeholders on the proposed model and how it might be best realised. The analyses of these findings show their relevance to debates on integrated housing with care, and reflect on the methodology used and its potential relevance to similar projects.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used a transactive planning approach, where grounded views are sought from a variety of stakeholders. A purposive sample identified informants from relevant health, social care and housing organisations and nine semi-structured interviews were conducted. These were transcribed and data analysis was undertaken on an “interactive” basis, relating care theory to empirical expressions.

Findings

The authors identify two contrasting orientations – inclusive “community-oriented” and professional “service-oriented”. This distinction provides the basis for a rudimentary conceptual map which can continue to be used in the planning process. Two significant variables within the conceptual map were the extent to which CCC should be intergenerational and as such, the degree to which care should come from formalised and self-care/informal sources. The potential to achieve an integrated approach was high with stakeholders across all sectors fully supporting the CCC concept and agreeing on the need for it to have a mixed tenure basis and include a range of non-care amenities.

Originality/value

This paper offers originality in two respects. Methodologically, it describes an attempt to undertake early stage care planning using a needs led transactive methodology. In more practical terms, it also offers an innovative environment for considering any approach to care planning that actively seeks integration – based on an acknowledgement of complexity, a variety of perspectives and possible conflicts. The authors propose that the concepts of “community-orientation” and “service-orientation” are used as a helpful basis for planning negotiations, making implicit divergences explicit and thus better delineated.
Empirical study on the evaluation model of public satisfaction with typhoon disaster information disclosure
Authors: Zhong Zufeng , Duan Yaoqing
Published: May 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study major influencing factors on public satisfaction with regard to information disclosure amid typhoon disasters. Internal latent variables, including disaster information quality, information disclosure channels and disaster perception levels, significantly affected the degree of public satisfaction, which was key factors in determining account consumer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

By conducting the questionnaire survey in typhoon-prone areas, 326 copies of the questionnaire about public satisfaction towards government information disclosure about typhoon were collected. An exponential model of satisfaction about information disclosure amid typhoon disasters was constructed and analyzed through the selection of latent variables, the hypotheses of the structural relationship and the establishment of measurable variables.

Findings

Disaster information quality, disaster information disclosure channels and disaster perception levels were all positively correlated with the dimensions of information performance perception dimensions. Public expectations also made positive contributions to public satisfaction. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that public satisfaction affects the government image and public trust.

Originality/value

With the Leizhou Peninsula, China attacked by the typhoon disasters as an example, the SEM was adopted to simulate the routes and its feasibility and scientificity were validated. It is valuable to build and analyze an evaluation model based on a structural equation model underlying the public satisfaction towards information disclosure amid typhoon disasters.
Heat insulation characteristics of multi-layer nonwovens
Authors: G. Gnanauthayan , R.S. Rengasamy , Kothari Vijayakumar
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with the thermal resistance of multilayer nonwovens. The effect of fibre denier, cross-sectional shape and positioning within the layers were analysed with respect to the thermal resistance. Moreover, effect of compression on thermal resistance of the multilayer nonwoven structure have also be studied.

Design/methodology/approach

The study involves multiple layering of thermal bonded nonwoven webs and the effect of fibre denier and positioning of different nonwovens from the hot plate. To avoid the increase in thermal resistance because of the air gaps between layers, the nonwovens were enclosed within an acrylic frame to compress them to a thickness of 12 mm. Compressional behaviour of the nonwovens were tested at a rate of 5 mm/min with peak compressive load of 50 N. Multilayer nonwoven assemblies were tested for thermal resistance with compressive pressure of 3.5 gf/cm2 and compared with that tested at zero pressure.

Findings

In the study, three-layered nonwoven structure, provided better thermal resistance than their single component counterparts. The structural characteristic of the multilayer nonwovens affected the conductive, convective and the radiative heat transfer. In a multi-layer nonwoven, the top most layer should have the finest fibre as possible. Second preference may be given to the middle and followed by bottom layers in terms of fibre fineness. However, fine solid fibres performed poorly in terms of compression and recovery resulting in poor thermal resistance under compressive load.

Originality/value

The experimental approach of controlling thickness while evaluating the thermal resistance will help in nullify the effect of air gaps between the layer interface, thus focussing on the effect of fibre denier and the positioning of nonwovens. This paper also discusses the unique properties of fine solid fibre and hollow fibres and their role in providing better thermal insulation for extreme cold weather applications.
CO2 storage in the high Arctic: efficient modelling of pre‐stack depth‐migrated seismic sections for survey planning
Authors: Lubrano Lavadera P. , Kühn D. , Dando B.D.E. , Lecomte I. , Senger K. , Drottning Å.
Published: May 2018

The sequestration of CO2 in subsurface reservoirs constitutes an immediate counter‐measure to reduce anthropogenic emissions of CO2, now recognized by international scientific panels to be the single most critical factor driving the observed global climatic warming. To ensure and verify the safe geological containment of CO2 underground, monitoring of the CO2 site is critical. In the high Arctic, environmental considerations are paramount and human impact through, for instance, active seismic surveys, has to be minimized. Efficient seismic modelling is a powerful tool to test the detectability and imaging capability prior to acquisition and thus improve the characterization of CO2 storage sites, taking both geological setting and seismic acquisition set‐up into account. The unique method presented here avoids the costly generation of large synthetic data sets by employing point spread functions to directly generate pre‐stack depth‐migrated seismic images. We test both a local‐target approach using an analytical filter assuming an average velocity and a full‐field approach accounting for the spatial variability of point spread functions. We assume a hypothetical CO2 plume emplaced in a sloping aquifer inspired by the conditions found at the University of Svalbard CO2 lab close to Longyearbyen, Svalbard, Norway, constituting an unconventional reservoir–cap rock system. Using the local‐target approach, we find that even the low‐to‐moderate values of porosity (5%–18%) measured in the reservoir should be sufficient to induce significant change in seismic response when CO2 is injected. The sensitivity of the seismic response to changes in CO2 saturation, however, is limited once a relatively low saturation threshold of 5% is exceeded. Depending on the illumination angle provided by the seismic survey, the quality of the images of five hypothetical CO2 plumes of varying volume differs depending on the steepness of their flanks. When comparing the resolution of two orthogonal 2D surveys to a 3D survey, we discover that the images of the 2D surveys contain significant artefacts, the CO2‐brine contact is misplaced and an additional reflector is introduced due to the projection of the point spread function of the unresolvable plane onto the imaging plane. All of these could easily lead to a misinterpretation of the behaviour of the injected CO2. Our workflow allows for testing the influence of geological heterogeneities in the target aquifer (igneous intrusions, faults, pervasive fracture networks) by utilizing increasingly complex and more realistic geological models as input as more information on the subsurface becomes available.
Bacteria in the ageing gut: did the taming of fire promote a long human lifespan?
Authors: Danchin Antoine
Published: May 2018

Unique among animals as they evolved towards Homo sapiens, hominins progressively cooked their food on a routine basis. Cooked products are characterized by singular chemical compounds, derived from the pervasive Maillard reaction. This same reaction is omnipresent in normal metabolism involving carbonyls and amines, and its products accumulate with age. The gut microbiota acts as a first line of defence against the toxicity of cooked Maillard compounds, that also selectively shape the microbial flora, letting specific metabolites to reach the blood stream. Positive selection of metabolic functions allowed the body of hominins who tamed fire to use and dispose of these age‐related compounds. I propose here that, as a hopeful accidental consequence, this resulted in extending human lifespan far beyond that of our great ape cousins. The limited data exploring the role of taming fire on the human genetic setup and on its microbiota is discussed in relation with ageing.
EukRef‐Ciliophora: a manually curated, phylogeny‐based database of small subunit rRNA gene sequences of ciliates
Authors: Boscaro Vittorio , Santoferrara Luciana F. , Zhang Qianqian , Gentekaki Eleni , Syberg‐Olsen Mitchell J. , del Campo Javier , Keeling Patrick J.
Published: May 2018

High‐throughput sequencing (HTS) surveys, among the most common approaches currently used in environmental microbiology, require reliable reference databases to be correctly interpreted. The EukRef Initiative (eukref.org) is a community effort to manually screen available small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene sequences and produce a public, high‐quality and informative framework of phylogeny‐based taxonomic annotations. In the context of EukRef, we present a database for the monophyletic phylum Ciliophora, one of the most complex, diverse and ubiquitous protist groups. We retrieved more than 11 500 sequences of ciliates present in GenBank (28% from identified isolates and 72% from environmental surveys). Our approach included the inference of phylogenetic trees for every ciliate lineage and produced the largest SSU rRNA tree of the phylum Ciliophora to date. We flagged approximately 750 chimeric or low‐quality sequences, improved the classification of 70% of GenBank entries and enriched environmental and literature metadata by 30%. The performance of EukRef‐Ciliophora is superior to the current SILVA database in classifying HTS reads from a global marine survey. Comprehensive outputs are publicly available to make the new tool a useful guide for non‐specialists and a quick reference for experts.
Tailoring for Development: China's Post‐crisis Influence in Global Financial Governance
Authors: Gruin Julian , Knaack Peter , Xu Jiajun
Published: May 2018

China's increasing engagement in global financial governance since the 2008 crisis has potentially significant ramifications for global financial rule‐making and standard‐setting. This article presents a novel analysis of China's growing influence on the international stage and its consequences for the financial rules and standards that constrain policy makers in developing countries. We draw upon literature from international political economy and development studies to develop a framework for assessing whether China's rise has catalyzed a shift in global financial governance towards a tailored approach that responds to country‐specific developmental circumstances and needs. We argue that China's status as a rising power that still has idiosyncratic developmental priorities is leading it to push for rules and standards that are more flexible and sensitive to specific national development conditions. We illustrate this argument in three case studies, deploying the framework to explain variation in the post‐crisis evolution of rules in prudential banking regulation, capital flow management, and debt sustainability surveillance.
GDNF and alcohol use disorder
Authors: Barak Segev , Ahmadiantehrani Somayeh , Logrip Marian L. , Ron Dorit
Published: May 2018

Glial cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been extensively studied for its role in the development and maintenance of the midbrain dopaminergic system, although evidence suggests that GDNF also plays a role in drug and alcohol addiction. This review focuses on the unique actions of GDNF in the mechanisms that prevent the transition from recreational alcohol use to abuse. Specifically, we describe studies in rodents suggesting that alcohol acutely increases GDNF expression in the ventral tegmental area, which enables the activation of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase signaling pathway and the gating of alcohol intake. We further provide evidence to suggest that GDNF acts in the ventral tegmental area via both nongenomic and genomic mechanisms to suppress alcohol consumption. In addition, we describe findings indicating that when this endogenous protective pathway becomes dysregulated, alcohol intake levels escalate. Finally, we describe the potential use of GDNF inducers as a novel therapeutic approach to treat alcohol use disorder.
Effects of heroin on rat prosocial behavior
Authors: Tomek Seven E. , Stegmann Gabriela M. , Olive M. Foster
Published: May 2018

Opioid use disorders are characterized in part by impairments in social functioning. Previous research indicates that laboratory rats, which are frequently used as animal models of addiction‐related behaviors, are capable of prosocial behavior. For example, under normal conditions, when a ‘free’ rat is placed in the vicinity of rat trapped in a plastic restrainer, the rat will release or ‘rescue’ the other rat from confinement. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of heroin on prosocial behavior in rats. For 2 weeks, rats were given the opportunity to rescue their cagemate from confinement, and the occurrence of and latency to free the confined rat was recorded. After baseline rescuing behavior was established, rats were randomly selected to self‐administer heroin (0.06 mg/kg/infusion i.v.) or sucrose pellets (orally) for 14 days. Next, rats were retested for rescuing behavior once daily for 3 days, during which they were provided with a choice between freeing the trapped cagemate and continuing to self‐administer their respective reinforcer. Our results indicate that rats self‐administering sucrose continued to rescue their cagemate, whereas heroin rats chose to self‐administer heroin and not rescue their cagemate. These findings suggest that rats with a history of heroin self‐administration show deficits in prosocial behavior, consistent with specific diagnostic criteria for opioid use disorder. Behavioral paradigms providing a choice between engaging in prosocial behavior and continuing drug use may be useful in modeling and investigating the neural basis of social functioning deficits in opioid addiction.
Effects of depth of neuromuscular block on surgical conditions during laparoscopic colorectal surgery: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Koo B. W. , Oh A. Y. , Na H. S. , Lee H. J. , Kang S. B. , Kim D. W. , Seo K. S.
Published: May 2018

There have been few objective evaluations of the effects of deep neuromuscular blockade on intra‐operative conditions. In this prospective randomised controlled study, we evaluated the effects of deep neuromuscular block on surgical conditions during laparoscopic colorectal surgery. Patients were randomly allocated using a computer‐generated randomisation code to either moderate (train‐of‐four count 1–2 maintained and antagonised with neostigmine) or deep (post‐tetanic count 1–2 maintained and reversed with sugammadex) levels of neuromuscular blockade. The primary outcome measure was the number of abrupt increases in intra‐abdominal pressure intra‐operatively. Secondary outcome variables were intra‐operative restoration of spontaneous breathing, number of surgical requests for additional neuromuscular blockade, surgical rating of operating conditions and patient satisfaction. The surgeon who rated the surgical conditions score and investigator who checked the postoperative variables were blinded to patient allocation. In total, we recruited 70 patients of whom 64 (32 in each group) were analysed. Increases in intra‐abdominal pressure (14/32 vs. 6/32; p = 0.031), intra‐operative restoration of spontaneous breathing (16/32 vs. 2/32; p < 0.001) and request for additional neuromuscular blockade (21/32 vs. 8/32; p = 0.001) were more frequent in the moderate compared with the deep group. In patients undergoing elective laparoscopic colorectal surgery, deep neuromuscular blockade provided better surgical conditions than moderate neuromuscular blockade, as measured by a reduction in the incidence of intra‐abdominal pressure alarms.
The Effect of Litigation Risk Increase on Big N Auditor Exits and Audit Quality in the Korean Savings Banking Industry
Authors: Jung Nam Chul , Kim Hyun Ah
Published: May 2018

This study investigates whether an increase in litigation risk results in Big N auditors leaving the industry and examines the impact of this increase on audit quality. Using a sample of Korean savings banks from 2009 to 2015, the study finds that the proportion of Big N auditors sharply decreases after a savings bank crisis, suggesting that Big N auditors are likely to reject riskier clients, while audit quality is unchanged. The results provide new evidence that an increase in litigation risk does not necessarily increase audit quality. The findings have academic and practical implications, as they suggest that policies for improving audit quality should consider auditors’ strategies in response to litigation risk.
Will cognitive enhancement create post‐persons? The use(lessness) of induction in determining the likelihood of moral status enhancement
Authors: Mihailov Emilian , Dragomir Alexandru
Published: May 2018

The prospect of cognitive enhancement well beyond current human capacities raises worries that the fundamental equality in moral status of human beings could be undermined. Cognitive enhancement might create beings with moral status higher than persons. Yet, there is an expressibility problem of spelling out what the higher threshold in cognitive capacity would be like. Nicholas Agar has put forward the bold claim that we can show by means of inductive reasoning that indefinite cognitive enhancement will probably mark a difference in moral status. The hope is that induction can determine the plausibility of post‐personhood existence in the absence of an account of what the higher status would be like. In this article, we argue that Agar's argument fails and, more generally, that inductive reasoning has little bearing on assessing the likelihood of post‐personhood in the absence of an account of higher status. We conclude that induction cannot bypass the expressibility problem about post‐persons.