bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Histologic and Clinical Changes in Vulvovaginal Tissue After Treatment With a Transcutaneous Temperature-Controlled Radiofrequency Device
Authors: Vanaman Wilson Monique J. , Bolton Joanna , Jones Isabela T. , Wu Douglas C. , Calame Antoanella , Goldman Mitchel P.
Published: January 2018

BACKGROUND

Although transcutaneous temperature-controlled radiofrequency (TTCRF) may effectively treat vulvovaginal laxity (VVL), atrophic vaginitis (AV), orgasmic dysfunction (OD), and stress urinary incontinence (SUI), there is a lack of histopathologic evidence to validate its use.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate clinical and histological changes induced by vulvovaginal TTCRF.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This was a prospective, nonrandomized trial. Ten female subjects with mild-to-moderate VVL, with or without AV, OD, and/or SUI underwent 3 TTCRFs at 4-week intervals. Five subjects underwent pre- and post-treatment biopsies of the labia majora and vaginal canal for histology. Assessments were performed at baseline and Days 10, 30, 60, and 120.

RESULTS

Investigator-rated VVL improved significantly from baseline to Day 10, with improvement maintained through Day 120 (p = .001 and .001, respectively). Sexual satisfaction improved significantly by Day 60 (p = .001). Improvement in AV reached significance at Day 120 (p = .048). Although OD and SUI improved steadily, the difference in improvement did not reach statistical significance. Histology revealed that post-treatment increases in collagen, elastin, vascularity, and small nerve fibers.

CONCLUSION

Transcutaneous temperature-controlled RF resulted in significant improvements in AV, VVL, and sexual satisfaction with milder improvements in OD and SUI. Post-treatment histology demonstrated neocollagenesis, neoelastogenesis, neoangiogenesis, and the first reported finding of TTCRF-related neurogenesis.
Effect of Age at Vaccination on Rotavirus Vaccine Effectiveness in Bolivian Infants
Authors: Burke Rachel M. , Tate Jacqueline E. , Pringle Kimberly D. , Patel Manish , De Oliveira Lucia H. , Parashar Umesh D.
Published: January 2018

Background:

Rotavirus vaccines are less effective in developing countries versus developed countries. One hypothesis for this difference in performance is that higher levels of maternal antibodies in developing countries may interfere with vaccine response, suggesting that delayed dosing could be beneficial. The present analysis aims to assess whether rotavirus vaccine effectiveness (VE) varies by age at vaccination during routine use in Bolivia.

Methods:

Data were merged from 2 postlicensure evaluations of monovalent rotavirus vaccine (RV1) in Bolivia, where 2 doses of RV1 are recommended at 2 and 4 months of age. For each dose, children were classified as receiving each dose “early,” “on-time” or “late.” Stratified unconditional logistic regression models were used to estimate VE, using unvaccinated children as the referent. VE was calculated as (1 – odds ratio) × 100%. Models were adjusted for hospital, age and time since RV1 introduction (via including terms for month and year of birth).

Results:

VE for 2 doses of RV1 tended to be higher in infants receiving the first dose early (VE, 92%; 95% confidence interval: 70%–98%), when compared with infants receiving their first dose on-time [72% (62%–81%)] or late [68% (51%–79%)]. Estimates of VE were not substantially different when comparing children by age at second dose [early: VE, 76% (50%–89%); on-time: VE, 70% (50%–89%); late: VE, 75% (60%, 84%)], including all children.

Conclusions:

Our results indicate that early administration may improve VE and support the current World Health Organization recommendations for the RV1 schedule.
Concurrent Versus Sequential Intrapleural Instillation of Tissue Plasminogen Activator and Deoxyribonuclease for Pleural Infection
Authors: Kheir Fayez , Cheng George , Rivera Estefania , Folch Alejandro , Folch Erik , Fernandez-Bussy Sebastian , Keyes Colleen , Parikh Mihir , Channick Colleen , Chee Alex , Majid Adnan
Published: January 2018

Background:

Treatment of pleural infection with instillation of sequential intrapleural tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and human recombinant deoxyribonuclease (DNase) twice daily for a total of 6 doses has been shown to decrease surgical referral and improve radiographic imaging. This labor-intensive regimen was empirically chosen. Thus, it remains unclear whether the 2 drugs can be administered immediately one after the other (concurrent administration) instead of instilling them separately with a 1-hour to 2-hour interval in between (sequential administration). The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy and safety of sequential versus concurrent tPA/DNase therapy in patients with pleural infection.

Methods:

This was a prospective observational study. Consecutive patients with pleural infection who received concurrent and sequential tPA/DNase were included. The initiation and number of doses of tPA/DNase therapy were based on the amount of pleural fluid drainage, clinical response and radiographic findings.

Results:

A total of 38 patients with pleural infection received tPA/DNase treatment: 18 in the sequential group and 20 in the concurrent group. Treatment was successful in 77.7% in the sequential group and 75% in concurrent group (P=0.57). There was no statistically significant difference between the 2 treatment groups (sequential and concurrent) in median pleural fluid drainage (P=0.45), median volume of pleural effusion estimated on chest computed tomography scan (P=0.4) or median hemithorax occupied by effusion on chest radiography (P=0.83) following intrapleural therapy. One patient required a blood transfusion for gradual pleural blood loss in each treatment group. Pain needing escalation of analgesia affected 3 patients in each arm but none required cessation of therapy.

Conclusion:

A simpler regimen of concurrent administration of intrapleural tPA/DNase as compared with sequential intrapleural therapy is safe, effective, and represents a viable option for the management of pleural infection.
Elevated Level of Myeloperoxidase-Deoxyribonucleic Acid Complex in the Middle Ear Fluid Obtained From Patients With Otitis Media Associated With Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-associated Vasculitis
Authors: Morita Shinya , Nakamaru Yuji , Nakazawa Daigo , Hattanda Fumihiko , Shida Haruki , Kusunoki Yoshihiro , Watanabe Kanako , Masuda Sakiko , Takagi Dai , Suzuki Masanobu , Hoshino Kimiko , Fukuda Atsushi , Tomaru Utano , Homma Akihiro , Ishizu Akihiro
Published: January 2018

Objective:

The purpose was to explore the presence of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) complex as a surrogate marker of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the middle ear fluid, and to clarify the correlation between its quantifiable level and hearing outcome in patients with otitis media associated with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

Study Design:

Prospective study.

Setting:

Tertiary referral center.

Patients:

Nine AAV patients presenting with otitis media.

Intervention:

Collection of the fluid samples from middle ear.

Main Outcome Measure:

The quantifiable levels of MPO-DNA complex using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results:

The quantifiable levels of MPO-DNA complex in patients with AAV were significantly higher than those in controls (p < 0.001). In particular, both ANCA-positive and -negative cases indicated higher levels of MPO-DNA complex compared with the controls (p = 0.004 and p = 0.006, respectively). The significant negative correlations were observed between the level of MPO-DNA complex and the functional hearing values for air (r = −0.82, p = 0.009) and bone conduction (r = −0.73, p = 0.028), respectively.

Conclusion:

This analysis is the first to reveal the presence of elevated levels of MPO-DNA complex in the middle ear fluid, suggesting the pathogenic role of NETs in otitis media associated with AAV. NETs may be a valuable biomarker for use in clinical decision-making and predicting hearing outcome, regardless of ANCA status.
Caffeine controversies
Authors: Gentle Samuel J. , Travers Colm P. , Carlo Waldemar A.
Published: January 2018

Purpose of review

Caffeine use in preterm infants has endured several paradigms: from standard of care to possible neurotoxin to one of the few medications for which there is evidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) risk reduction. The purpose of the review is to analyze this dynamic trajectory and discuss controversies that still remain after decades of caffeine use.

Recent findings

Following concerns for caffeine safety in preterm infants, a large randomized controlled trial demonstrated a reduction in BPD and treatment for patent ductus arteriosus. The lower rate of death or neurodevelopmental impairment noted at 18–21 months was not statistically different at later timepoints; however, infants in the caffeine group had lower rates of motor impairment at 11-year follow-up. The time of caffeine therapy initiation is now substantially earlier, and doses used are sometimes higher that previously used, but there are limited data to support these practices.

Caffeine therapy for apnea of prematurity (AOP) remains one of the pillars of neonatal care, although more evidence to support dosing and timing of initiation and discontinuation are needed.
Pursuing Normality
Authors: Madsen Louise S. , Handberg Charlotte
Published: January 2018

Background

The present study explored the reflections on cancer survivorship care of lymphoma survivors in active treatment. Lymphoma survivors have survivorship care needs, yet their participation in cancer survivorship care programs is still reported as low.

Objective

The aim of this study was to understand the reflections on cancer survivorship care of lymphoma survivors to aid the future planning of cancer survivorship care and overcome barriers to participation.

Methods

Data were generated in a hematological ward during 4 months of ethnographic fieldwork, including participant observation and 46 semistructured interviews with 9 lymphoma survivors. Interpretive description methodology and social practice theory guided the analytical framework.

Results

“Pursuing normality” was an overall finding and was comprised of 2 overarching patterns, “future prospects” and “survivorship care perceptions,” both implying an influence on whether to participate in cancer survivorship care programs. Because of “pursuing normality,” 8 of 9 participants opted out of cancer survivorship care programming due to prospects of “being cured” and perceptions of cancer survivorship care as “a continuation of the disease.”

Conclusion

The findings add to our understanding of possible barriers for participation in cancer survivorship care and outline important aspects to account for in the practice of health professionals.

Implications for Practice

The study findings may guide practice to establish a systematic approach for providing information to cancer survivors regarding the possible management of their symptoms and of the content and purpose of cancer survivorship care.
High-quality fossil dates support a synchronous, Late Holocene extinction of devils and thylacines in mainland Australia
Authors: White Lauren C. , Saltré Frédérik , Bradshaw Corey J. A. , Austin Jeremy J.
Published: January 2018

The last large marsupial carnivores—the Tasmanian devil (
Sarcophilis harrisii
) and thylacine (
Thylacinus cynocephalus
)—went extinct on mainland Australia during the mid-Holocene. Based on the youngest fossil dates (approx. 3500 years before present, BP), these extinctions are often considered synchronous and driven by a common cause. However, many published devil dates have recently been rejected as unreliable, shifting the youngest mainland fossil age to 25 500 years BP and challenging the synchronous-extinction hypothesis. Here we provide 24 and 20 new ages for devils and thylacines, respectively, and collate existing, reliable radiocarbon dates by quality-filtering available records. We use this new dataset to estimate an extinction time for both species by applying the Gaussian-resampled, inverse-weighted McInerney (GRIWM) method. Our new data and analysis definitively support the synchronous-extinction hypothesis, estimating that the mainland devil and thylacine extinctions occurred between 3179 and 3227 years BP.
Hydrogel biomaterials and their therapeutic potential for muscle injuries and muscular dystrophies
Authors: Lev Rachel , Seliktar Dror
Published: January 2018

Muscular diseases such as muscular dystrophies and muscle injuries constitute a large group of ailments that manifest as muscle weakness, atrophy or fibrosis. Although cell therapy is a promising treatment option, the delivery and retention of cells in the muscle is difficult and prevents sustained regeneration needed for adequate functional improvements. Various types of biomaterials with different physical and chemical properties have been developed to improve the delivery of cells and/or growth factors for treating muscle injuries. Hydrogels are a family of materials with distinct advantages for use as cell delivery systems in muscle injuries and ailments, including their mild processing conditions, their similarities to natural tissue extracellular matrix, and their ability to be delivered with less invasive approaches. Moreover, hydrogels can be made to completely degrade in the body, leaving behind their biological payload in a process that can enhance the therapeutic process. For these reasons, hydrogels have shown great potential as cell delivery matrices. This paper reviews a few of the hydrogel systems currently being applied together with cell therapy and/or growth factor delivery to promote the therapeutic repair of muscle injuries and muscle wasting diseases such as muscular dystrophies.
Combining radiation with hyperthermia: a multiscale model informed by
in vitro
experiments
Authors: Brüningk S. , Powathil G. , Ziegenhein P. , Ijaz J. , Rivens I. , Nill S. , Chaplain M. , Oelfke U. , ter Haar G.
Published: January 2018

Combined radiotherapy and hyperthermia offer great potential for the successful treatment of radio-resistant tumours through thermo-radiosensitization. Tumour response heterogeneity, due to intrinsic, or micro-environmentally induced factors, may greatly influence treatment outcome, but is difficult to account for using traditional treatment planning approaches. Systems oncology simulation, using mathematical models designed to predict tumour growth and treatment response, provides a powerful tool for analysis and optimization of combined treatments. We present a framework that simulates such combination treatments on a cellular level. This multiscale hybrid cellular automaton simulates large cell populations (up to 10
7
cells)
in vitro
, while allowing individual cell-cycle progression, and treatment response by modelling radiation-induced mitotic cell death, and immediate cell kill in response to heating. Based on a calibration using a number of experimental growth, cell cycle and survival datasets for HCT116 cells, model predictions agreed well (
R
2
> 0.95) with experimental data within the range of (thermal and radiation) doses tested (0–40 CEM43, 0–5 Gy). The proposed framework offers flexibility for modelling multimodality treatment combinations in different scenarios. It may therefore provide an important step towards the modelling of personalized therapies using a virtual patient tumour.
Risk ratios for contagious outcomes
Authors: Morozova Olga , Cohen Ted , Crawford Forrest W.
Published: January 2018

Epidemiologists commonly use the risk ratio to summarize the relationship between a binary covariate and outcome, even when outcomes may be dependent. Investigations of transmissible diseases in clusters—households, villages or small groups—often report risk ratios. Epidemiologists have warned that risk ratios may be misleading when outcomes are contagious, but the nature of this error is poorly understood. In this study, we assess the meaning of the risk ratio when outcomes are contagious. We provide a mathematical definition of infectious disease transmission within clusters, based on the canonical stochastic susceptible–infective model. From this characterization, we define the individual-level ratio of instantaneous infection risks as the inferential target, and evaluate the properties of the risk ratio as an approximation of this quantity. We exhibit analytically and by simulation the circumstances under which the risk ratio implies an effect whose direction is opposite that of the true effect of the covariate. In particular, the risk ratio can be greater than one even when the covariate reduces both individual-level susceptibility to infection, and transmissibility once infected. We explain these findings in the epidemiologic language of confounding and Simpson's paradox, underscoring the pitfalls of failing to account for transmission when outcomes are contagious.
Survival of adult Steller sea lions in Alaska: senescence, annual variation and covariation with male reproductive success
Authors: Hastings Kelly K. , Jemison Lauri A. , Pendleton Grey W.
Published: January 2018

Population dynamics of long-lived vertebrates depend critically on adult survival, yet factors affecting survival and covariation between survival and other vital rates in adults remain poorly examined for many taxonomic groups of long-lived mammals (e.g. actuarial senescence has been examined for only 9 of 34 extant pinniped species using longitudinal data). We used mark–recapture models and data from 2795 Steller sea lion (
Eumetopias jubatus
) pups individually marked at four of five rookeries in southeastern Alaska (SEAK) and resighted for 21 years to examine senescence, annual variability and covariation among life-history traits in this long-lived, sexually dimorphic pinniped. Sexes differed in age of onset (approx. 16–17 and approx. 8–9 years for females and males, respectively), but not rate (−0.047 and −0.046/year of age for females and males) of senescence. Survival of adult males from northern SEAK had greatest annual variability (approx. ±0.30 among years), whereas survival of adult females ranged approximately ±0.10 annually. Positive covariation between male survival and reproductive success was observed. Survival of territorial males was 0.20 higher than that of non-territorial males, resulting in the majority of males alive at oldest ages being territorial.
Population, sex and body size: determinants of behavioural variations and behavioural correlations among wild zebrafish
Danio rerio
Authors: Roy Tamal , Bhat Anuradha
Published: January 2018

This study (1) investigated variation among populations and the effects of sex and body size on boldness, activity and shoal-association tendency among wild zebrafish, and (2) tested for existence of correlations between behaviours, controlling for sex and body size. Individuals across four natural populations were tested for general activity in a novel situation, number of predator inspections undertaken and tendency to associate with a conspecific shoal in the presence of predators. Results showed a significant effect of population on boldness with a population from high-predation habitat being bolder than populations from low-predation habitats. Males showed significantly higher tendencies than females to associate with a conspecific shoal in the presence of predators. Further, a negative relationship was found between activity and boldness only within two low-predation populations. Individual body size had a strong effect on the activity–boldness relationship within the low-predation population from flowing water habitat. Smaller fish were bolder and less active while larger fish were more cautious and active. Overall, the results indicated that while population-level behavioural responses might be shaped by predation pressure, state-dependent factors could determine behavioural correlations among individuals within populations.
Lack of multiple paternity in the oceanodromous tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)
Authors: Holmes Bonnie J. , Pope Lisa C. , Williams Samuel M. , Tibbetts Ian R. , Bennett Mike B. , Ovenden Jennifer R.
Published: January 2018

Multiple paternity has been documented as a reproductive strategy in both viviparous and ovoviviparous elasmobranchs, leading to the assumption that multiple mating may be ubiquitous in these fishes. However, with the majority of studies conducted on coastal and nearshore elasmobranchs that often form mating aggregations, parallel studies on pelagic, semi-solitary species are lacking. The tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) is a large pelagic shark that has an aplacental viviparous reproductive mode which is unique among the carcharhinids. A total of 112 pups from four pregnant sharks were genotyped at nine microsatellite loci to assess the possibility of multiple paternity or polyandrous behaviour by female tiger sharks. Only a single pup provided evidence of possible multiple paternity, but with only seven of the nine loci amplifying for this individual, results were inconclusive. In summary, it appears that the tiger sharks sampled in this study were genetically monogamous. These findings may have implications for the genetic diversity and future sustainability of this population.
Controlling population of the molecular rotational state and the alignment theoretically by tailored femtosecond laser pulse
Authors: Huang Yunxia , Xu Shuwu
Published: January 2018

We demonstrate that the population of the molecular rotational state through a stimulated impulsive Raman excitation can be controlled by tailoring the femtosecond laser pulse with a V-style phase modulation. The results show that, by precisely manipulating the modulation parameters, both the odd and even populations of the molecular rotational state can be completely suppressed or reconstructed. Meanwhile, the relative excitation between the odd and even populations can be obtained. Finally, we show that field-free molecular alignment can be controlled due to the modulation of the molecular rotational state populations.
Massively parallel interrogation of protein fragment secretability using SECRiFY reveals features influencing secretory system transit
Authors: Boone M. , Ramasamy P. , Zuallaert J. , Bouwmeester R. , Van Moer B. , Maddelein D. , Turan D. , Hulstaert N. , Eeckhaut H. , Vandermarliere E. , Martens L. , Degroeve S. , De Neve W. , Vranken W. , Callewaert N.
Published: January 2018

While transcriptome- and proteome-wide technologies to assess processes in protein biogenesis are now widely available, we still lack global approaches to assay post-ribosomal biogenesis events, in particular those occurring in the eukaryotic secretory system. We here developed a method, SECRiFY, to simultaneously assess the secretability of >105 protein fragments by two yeast species, S. cerevisiae and P. pastoris, using custom fragment libraries, surface display and a sequencing-based readout. Screening human proteome fragments with a median size of 50 - 100 amino acids, we generated datasets that enable datamining into protein features underlying secretability, revealing a striking role for intrinsic disorder and chain flexibility. SECRiFY is the first methodology that generates sufficient amounts of annotated data for advanced machine learning methods to deduce secretability predictors. The finding that secretability is indeed a learnable feature of protein sequences is of significant impact in the broad area of recombinant protein expression and de novo protein design.
Pulsed ELDOR Measurement of the Distance Between a Spin-Label and Copper (II) Centre in the Copper Loaded R48C Mutant of N. gonorrhoeae Ferric Binding Protein
Authors: Bawn Matt , Bradley Justin , MacMillan Fraser
Published: January 2018

Distance determination in proteins and biomolecules using pulsed EPR (electron paramagnetic resonance) techniques is becoming an increasingly popular and accessible technique. PELDOR (pulsed electron-electron double resonance), is a technique designed for distance determination over a nanoscopic scale. Here, ferric binding protein (Fbp) is used to demonstrate the practicability of this technique to Cu (II) Metalloproteins. PELDOR is usually applied to bi-radicals or endogenous radicals, and distance determination using pulsed EPR of metal containing centres in biomolecules has been restricted to relaxation experiments. PELDOR distance measurements between a Cu (II) ion and a nitroxide have previously only been reported for model compounds [1, 2].

Fbp as the name suggests usually, contains a Fe (III) ion centre. For the purposes of this investigation the Fe (III) ion was removed and replaced by a Cu (II) ion, after a nitroxide spin-label was added to the Fbp using of site directed spin-labelling (SDSL). PELDOR was then applied to measure the distance between the two centres.

Simulation methods were then employed to fully investigate these data and allow a quantitative interpretation of the copper nitroxide PELDOR data. The observed PELDOR time traces were analysed using DEER analysis[3].
Loss of mitochondrial SIRT4 shortens lifespan and leads to a decline in physical activity
Authors: Parik Sweta , Tewary Sandipan , Ayyub Champakali , Kolthur-Seetharam Ullas
Published: January 2018

Mitochondrial mechanisms and pathways have recently emerged as critical determinants of organismal aging. While nuclear sirtuins have been shown to regulate aging, whether mitochondrial sirtuins do so is still unclear. Here, we report that mitochondrial dSirt4 mediates organismal survival. We establish that absence of dSirt4 leads to reduced lifespan independent of dietary inputs. Further by assaying locomotion, a key correlate of aging, we demonstrate that dSirt4 null flies are severely physically impaired with a significant reduction in locomotion. In summary, we report for the first time that mitochondrial dSirt4 is a key determinant of longevity and its loss leads to early aging.
Synthesis, crystal structure and photophysical properties of 1,4-bis(1,3-diazaazulen-2-yl)benzene: a new π building block
Authors: Sun Peili , Zhang Zongyao , Luo Hongxia , Zhang Pu , Qin Yujun , Guo Zhi-Xin
Published: January 2018

A dimerized 1,3-diazaazulene derivative, namely 1,4-bis(1,3-diazaazulen-2-yl)benzene [or 2,2′-(1,4-phenylene)bis(1,3-diazaazulene)], C22H14N4, (I), has been synthesized successfully through the condensation reaction between 2-methoxytropone and benzene-1,4-dicarboximidamide hydrochloride, and was characterized by 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopies, and ESI–MS. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that (I) has a nearly planar structure with good π-electron delocalization, indicating that it might serve as a π building block. The crystal belongs to the monoclinic system. One-dimensional chains were formed along the a axis through π–π interactions and adjacent chains are stabilized by C—H...N interactions, forming a three-dimensional architecture. The solid emission of (I) in the crystalline form exhibited a 170 nm red shift compared with that in the solution state. The observed optical bandgap for (I) is 3.22 eV and a cyclic voltammetry experiment confirmed the energy levels of the highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO). The calculated bandgap for (I) is 3.37 eV, which is very close to the experimental result. In addition, the polarizability and hyperpolarizability of (I) were appraised for its further application in second-order nonlinear optical materials.
Cultural influences on the design and management of transnational higher education programs in China
Authors: He Lan , Liu Ersi
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the influence of cultural differences on the design and management of two franchise programs and one joint degree program run by a Chinese university in partnership with a British university and a French university. The cross-cultural challenges and the differences in the strategies taken by the managers in both types of program to deal with such challenges are analyzed. The frameworks for such strategies are also proposed.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study approach was used for the analysis. Participatory observation and interview were adopted to collect information in combination with the written reports on the programs. The interviewees included managers, faculty members, and students. Thematic analysis was conducted to find out the common themes from the coded data.

Findings

For franchise programs, the British university takes a “collaborating” strategy focusing on globalization, which is combined with the “compromising” strategy of the Chinese partner university focusing on localization. Both parties keep their different styles of management and combine them into one new management mode. By contrast, in the joint degree program, the French management mode can be described as a “collaborating” strategy toward the management of the Chinese students and curriculum, while the Chinese managers are seeking to progressively “accommodate” the needs of the French students.

Originality/value

Few studies in the current literature are targeted at the cultural influences on the design and management of transnational higher education (TNHE) programs as well as the proper management strategies to deal with such cultural differences. The result of this study will provide useful advice for researchers and practitioners in cross-cultural management of TNHE programs.
New employee onboarding – psychological contracts and ethical perspectives
Authors: Caldwell Cam , Peters Ray
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the ethical implications of treating new employees with high consideration and respect for their needs and to explain how this expectation honors the psychological contract between employers and their incoming employees. By providing a specific model for improving the onboarding process, this paper also provides helpful information for practitioners in addressing this important task.

Design/methodology/approach

The process for onboarding and assimilating new employees in the modern organization is often ineffective – despite the fact that this important task is acknowledged to be vital to the success of those employees and important to their organizations. This conceptual paper addresses the problems of new employee orientation from an ethical and psychological contract perspective and suggests a ten-step model to improve the onboarding process.

Findings

The paper confirms that onboarding is not done well by organizations, that employees expect that they will be treated with appropriate concern for their interests as part of their assumptions in coming into a new organization, that onboarding new employees is fraught with ethical implications, and that the process can be greatly improved by following the ten-step model provided.

Research limitations/implications

The paper provides opportunities for practitioners to apply their proposed model and enables scholars to test the impact of incorporating the steps of the ten-step onboarding model.

Practical implications

Ineffective onboarding has significant ramifications not only for the efficiency of organizations but also for the effectiveness of incoming employees. Understanding the implicit ethical issues in the onboarding process enables organizations to improve the employer-employee relationship and honor their responsibilities to incoming employees.

Social implications

In a world where trust in leaders and organizations has declined, understanding the implications of the psychological contract expectations of incoming employees and honoring an organization’s obligations to those employees is likely to increase employee trust and commitment while benefiting the organizations that apply the proposed model.

Originality/value

The topic of onboarding employees has not been fully understood by busy organizations and this paper addresses the ethical and psychological implications of effective onboarding and its contributing value for both the organization and the new employees affected by the onboarding process. The ten-step model provides a useful checklist for human resources staff and for the organizational leaders who oversee them.
Mediating effect of work performance and organizational commitment in the relationship between reward system and employees’ work satisfaction
Authors: Taba Muhammad Idrus
Published: January 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the mediation effect of work performance and organizational commitment in the relationship between reward system and employees’ work satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The study population constituted all employees/permanent employees (civil servants and non-civil servants) at Bank of BNI, Bank of BRI, Bank of Mandiri, and Bank of South Sulawesi. The analytical method used to test the hypothesis of the research was structural equation modeling.

Findings

Based on the analysis results, it can be concluded that the extrinsic reward system and the intrinsic reward system have a direct, significant effect on work performance and organizational commitment, and work performance and also organizational commitment have a direct, significant effect on work satisfaction. On the other hand, the extrinsic reward system and the intrinsic reward system have no direct effect on work performance, but work performance and organizational commitment as mediation variables bridge the relationship between the extrinsic reward system and the intrinsic reward system to work satisfaction.

Originality/value

Mediation effect (using the Sobel test) of work performance, and organizational commitment in the relationship between Reward Systems on work satisfaction, location of the study (no previous research for this relationship): Bank of South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Prey nutritional state drives divergent behavioural and physiological responses to predation risk
Authors: Tigreros Natasha , Wang Eugenia H. , Thaler Jennifer S.
Published: January 2018

Prey species can respond to the risk of predation with a range of antipredator behaviours and physiological changes. While these responses increase chances of survival, they often involve feeding reductions and greater energy expenditure (e.g. increases in metabolic rate). As a consequence, a prey response is constrained by its own nutritional condition. While a number of studies indeed demonstrate that prey in better nutritional condition have stronger antipredator behaviours, we do not yet understand how condition impacts the physiological component of the prey's response.

Previous research revealed that Leptinotarsa decemlineata beetles experiencing predation risk improve their offspring's nutritional condition by promoting intraclutch egg cannibalism. Importantly, egg cannibalism decreased offspring vulnerability by increasing larval behavioural responses to chronic predation risk. In this study we test if egg cannibalism similarly impacts larval physiological responses by comparing how risk of predation in cannibals and non‐cannibals affects their behaviour (e.g. feeding reductions), metabolic rate and energy stores.

We found that non‐cannibals did not exhibit antipredator behaviours but responded physiologically, by increasing metabolic rates. In contrast, cannibals responded behaviourally, suppressing feeding, but without altering metabolism. While cannibals and non‐cannibals coupled food intake and energy expenditure differently, both reached similar growth rates and had similar energy stores when facing chronic predation risk.

These results indicate that increases in predator avoidance behaviours are not merely mirrored by a stronger physiological response. Instead, changes in metabolism appear to ameliorate, within our experimental conditions, the costs associated with the behavioural response. Prey in poorer nutritional state are not less responsive to predators but appear to rely more heavily on physiological responses, demonstrating that how prey integrates behaviour and physiology depends on their own nutritional state.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Landscape complexity promotes hoverflies across different types of semi‐natural habitats in farmland
Authors: Schirmel Jens , Albrecht Matthias , Bauer Philipp‐Martin , Sutter Louis , Pfister Sonja C. , Entling Martin H.
Published: January 2018

Semi‐natural habitats (SNH) provide essential resources for many organisms in agricultural landscapes and can increase biodiversity at the local and landscape scale. For the management of ecosystem services, it is crucial to understand how local characteristics of SNH and the surrounding landscape complexity affect beneficial species.

We investigated this for hoverflies (Diptera: Syrphidae)—an important functional group providing both pest control and pollination services—in a total of 138 SNH within 35 agricultural landscapes in Switzerland and Germany. SNH differed in type (woody, herbaceous), shape (areal, linear) and availability of food resources (floral resources and aphids). They were located along a gradient of landscape complexity (1%–75% SNH in a 1 km radius).

In total, 9,030 hoverflies belonging to 89 species were collected. In both countries, hoverfly community composition was mainly driven by SNH type and SNH shape, in addition to landscape complexity in Switzerland. Species richness of hoverflies increased with additional SNH at the landscape scale. However, the ubiquitous and dominant aphidophagous species Episyrphus balteatus was indifferent to landscape composition.

Species richness of total and aphidophagous hoverflies was higher in woody than in herbaceous SNH. Hoverfly species richness was similar in linear and areal SNH, but non‐aphidophagous hoverflies were more vulnerable to landscape simplification in linear than areal SNH. Effects of the SNH type partly differed between the two countries. In Germany, the dominant aphidophagous species E. balteatus preferred woody over herbaceous SNH, while no such difference was found in Switzerland. Overall, local richness and abundance of floral resources were poor predictors for hoverfly abundance, richness or community composition.

Synthesis and applications. Hoverfly species richness and community composition in semi‐natural habitats (SNH) were mainly driven by the SNH type and landscape complexity. Conservation and restoration of complex agricultural landscapes with a high proportion of different SNH types is therefore key for the conservation of hoverfly diversity, and thus likely to promote pest control and pollination services provided by them. Thereby, local improvement of SNH to promote hoverflies has to consider regional differences in habitat characteristics.
An Analysis of Political Ambition in Britain
Authors: Allen Peter , Cutts David
Published: January 2018

Representative democracies require sufficient numbers of citizens to put themselves forward as candidates for political office. Existing studies have shown that political institutions are not representative of the population as a whole, suggesting that political ambition is not evenly distributed across all potential candidates. We discuss evidence from the first systematic study of political ambition in Britain, examining the question of who is interested in putting themselves forward for political office. We find patterns in the distribution of political ambition that help to explain why British political institutions do not look like the British people as a whole and include a gender gap, a social class gap, an education gap, a north–south divide, and a personality gap. We discuss the implications of our findings for political parties, arguing that they need to adjust practices of candidate recruitment in such a way that minimises the effects of these biases.
Measuring spatial and temporal trends of nicotine and alcohol consumption in Australia using wastewater‐based epidemiology
Authors: Lai Foon Yin , Gartner Coral , Hall Wayne , Carter Steve , O'Brien Jake , Tscharke Benjamin J. , Been Frederic , Gerber Cobus , White Jason , Thai Phong , Bruno Raimondo , Prichard Jeremy , Kirkbride K. Paul , Mueller Jochen F.
Published: January 2018

Background and aims

Tobacco and alcohol consumption remain priority public health issues world‐wide. As participation in population‐based surveys has fallen, it is increasingly challenging to estimate accurately the prevalence of alcohol and tobacco use. Wastewater‐based epidemiology (WBE) is an alternative approach for estimating substance use at the population level that does not rely upon survey participation. This study examined spatio‐temporal patterns in nicotine (a proxy for tobacco) and alcohol consumption in the Australian population via WBE.

Methods

Daily wastewater samples (n = 164) were collected at 18 selected wastewater treatment plants across Australia, covering approximately 45% of the total population. Nicotine and alcohol metabolites in the samples were measured using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Daily consumption of nicotine and alcohol and its associated uncertainty were computed using Monte Carlo simulations. Nation‐wide daily average and weekly consumption of these two substances were extrapolated using ordinary least squares and mixed‐effect models.

Findings

Nicotine and alcohol consumption was observed in all communities. Consumption of these substances in rural towns was three to four times higher than in urban communities. The spatial consumption pattern of these substances was consistent across the monitoring periods in 2014–15. Nicotine metabolites significantly reduced by 14–25% (P = 0.001–0.008) (2014–15) in some catchments. Alcohol consumption remained constant over the studied periods. Strong weekly consumption patterns were observed for alcohol but not nicotine. Nation‐wide, the daily average consumption per person (aged 15–79 years) was estimated at approximately 2.5 cigarettes and 1.3–2.0 standard drinks (weekday–weekend) of alcohol. These estimates were close to the sale figure and apparent consumption, respectively.

Conclusions

Wastewater‐based epidemiology is a feasible method for objectively evaluating the geographic, temporal and weekly profiles of nicotine and alcohol consumption in different communities nationally.
Developmental coordination disorder: the role of executive functions
Authors: Blank Rainer
Published: January 2018

This commentary is on the original article by Bernardi et al. on pages 306‐313 of this issue.
Use of quantitative real‐time PCR to determine viability of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi in respiratory secretions from horses with strangles
Authors: Pusterla N. , Leutenegger C. M. , Barnum S. M. , Byrne B. A.
Published: January 2018

Background

In recent years, molecular approaches have been able to characterise the viability of equine upper respiratory tract pathogens using absolute molecular quantitation as well as detection of transcripts for virulence genes.

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate molecular surrogates for S. equi subspecies equi (S. equi) viability in biological samples from horses with strangles.

Study design

Retrospective cross‐sectional study.

Methods

S. equi culture‐positive and culture‐negative upper airway secretions were assessed by qPCR at the genomic (gDNA) and complimentary DNA (cDNA) level for various target genes (SeM, SEQ2190, eqbE and szpSe). Absolute quantitation was performed using standard curves, and the results were expressed as number of S. equi target genes per μl of gDNA or cDNA. Additionally, the presence or absence of S. equi gene expression for the various target genes was assessed and compared with the culture results.

Results

While all 21 culture‐positive samples tested S. equiqPCR positive, up to 43.7 and 18.9% of 64 culture‐negative samples tested qPCR positive at the gDNA and cDNA level, respectively. Significant differences in absolute quantitation for S. equi at the gDNA level were found between culture‐positive and culture‐negative samples. When absolute quantitation of S. equi target genes at the gDNA level was assessed with the presence or absence of transcripts, there was a significantly higher S. equi target gene number in samples with expression of transcripts compared with samples with no expression of transcripts.

Main limitations

The lack of standardisation of samples collected in the field and the delay from sample collection to samples processing may have negatively affected the cultivability of S. equi and mRNA quality.

Conclusions

Molecular viability for S. equi can be investigated by determining absolute quantitation and/or by detecting mRNA for specific target genes. However, veterinarians have to be cautioned that any qPCR‐positive result for S. equi needs to be taken seriously and trigger biosecurity protocols aimed at reducing spread.
Pork is policy: Dissipative inclusion at the local level
Authors: Bertholini Frederico , Pereira Carlos , Renno Lucio
Published: January 2018

The article investigates the impact of local policies on human development indicators in Brazilian municipalities. This is an attempt to investigate the role of the legislative branch in reducing inequality and poverty through budget amendments, usually seen in derogatory form as pork barrel politics. We assess the effect of pork on municipalities using up‐to‐date policy evaluation techniques. Brazil is a case of extreme inequality and an active legislative branch in disbursing monies. The data set contains over 60,000 observations from all 5,500+ Brazilian municipalities for over a decade. We use matching and longitudinal data analysis techniques, treating pork as exogenous shocks, mapping how its effect reverberates on social and economic indicators in succeeding years. The results indicate a positive impact of such policies in improving local level development. However, these results are not sustainable over time, thus suggesting inclusion with a dissipative profile.
Fatty liver index predicts incident diabetes in a Japanese general population with and without impaired fasting glucose
Authors: Hirata Aya , Sugiyama Daisuke , Kuwabara Kazuyo , Hirata Takumi , Tsutatani Hiromi , Funamoto Mika , Watanabe Kouiti , Miyamatsu Naomi , Okamura Tomonori
Published: January 2018

Aim

Fatty liver is associated with the development of diabetes. However, to our knowledge, no study has examined the relationship between the fatty liver index (FLI), calculated scores of hepatic steatosis, and the development of diabetes among individuals without impaired fasting glucose (IFG). We aimed to examine whether FLI predicts the development of diabetes in individuals with and without IFG in a Japanese general population.

Methods

We selected 1498 men and 2941 women who participated in Specific Health Checkups in Japan. We divided all participants into six groups according to tertiles of FLI (low, moderate, and high) and the presence or absence of IFG, by sex. We calculated hazard ratios for incident diabetes for each group using a Cox proportional hazard model, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

During a mean follow‐up period of 3.0 years, 176 cases of diabetes in men and 320 cases in women were identified. Compared with the low FLI group without IFG, the high FLI group without IFG was significantly associated with incident diabetes in both men (hazard ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.08–3.36) and women (hazard ratio, 1.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.18–2.51). All IFG groups were significantly associated with incident diabetes regardless of FLI levels.

Conclusions

Our results showed that FLI is associated with the development of diabetes regardless of sex and the presence or absence of IFG, and that it may be a useful predictor of future risk of incident diabetes even in individuals without IFG.