bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Higher-order discrimination learning by honey bees in a virtual environment
Authors: Buatois Alexis , Laroche Lou , Avarguès-Weber Aurore , Giurfa Martin
Published: August 2018

Non-elemental learning constitutes a cognitive challenge because, contrary to elemental learning forms, it does not rely on simple associations, as events to be learned are usually ambiguous in terms of reinforcement outcome. Negative patterning constitutes a paradigmatic case of non-elemental learning, as subjects have to learn that single elements A and B are reinforced while their conjunctive representation AB is not reinforced (A+, B+ vs. AB-). Solving this problem requires treating the compound AB as being different from the linear sum of its components in order to overcome stimulus ambiguity (A+/A- and B+/B-). The honey bee is the only insect capable of mastering negative patterning as shown by numerous studies restricted mainly to the olfactory domain. Here we studied the capacity of bees to solve a negative patterning discrimination in the visual domain and used to this end a virtual reality (VR) environment in which a tethered bee walking stationary on a treadmill faces visual stimuli projected on a semicircular screen. Stimuli are updated by the bee’s movements, thus creating an immersive environment. Bees were trained to discriminate single-colored gratings rewarded with sucrose solution (blue, green; A+, B+) from a non-rewarded composite grating (blue-green, AB-). Bees learned this discrimination in the VR environment and inhibited to this end linear processing of the composite grating, which otherwise is treated as the sum of its components. Our results show for the first time mastering of a non-linear visual discrimination in a VR environment by honey bees, thus highlighting the value of VR for the study of cognition in insects.
Study of Oak Ridge soils using BONCAT-FACS-Seq reveals that a large fraction of the soil microbiome is active
Authors: Couradeau Estelle , Sasse Joelle , Goudeau Danielle , Nath Nandita , Hazen Terry C. , Bowen Benjamin P. , Malmstrom Rex R. , Northen Trent R.
Published: August 2018

The ability to link soil microbial diversity to soil processes requires technologies that differentiate active subpopulations of microbes from so-called relic DNA and dormant cells. Measures of microbial activity based on various techniques including DNA labelling have suggested that most cells in soils are inactive, a fact that has been difficult to reconcile with observed high levels of bulk soil activities. We hypothesized that measures of in situ DNA synthesis may be missing the soil microbes that are metabolically active but not replicating, and we therefore applied BONCAT (Bioorthogonal Non Canonical Amino Acid Tagging) i.e. a proxy for activity that does not rely on cell division, to measure translationally active cells in soils. We compared the active population of two soil depths from Oak Ridge (TN) incubated under the same conditions for up to seven days. Depending on the soil, a maximum of 25 – 70% of the cells were active, accounting for 3-4 million cells per gram of soil type, which is an order of magnitude higher than previous estimates. The BONCAT positive cell fraction was recovered by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) and identified by 16S rDNA amplicon sequencing. The diversity of the active fraction was a selected subset of the bulk soil community. Excitingly, some of the same members of the community were recruited at both depths independently from their abundance rank. On average, 86% of sequence reads recovered from the active community shared >97% sequence similarity with cultured isolates from the field site. Our observations are in line with a recent report that, of the few taxa that are both abundant and ubiquitous in soil, 45% are also cultured – and indeed some of these ubiquitous microorganisms were found to be translationally active. The use of BONCAT on soil microbiomes provides evidence that a large portion of the soil microbes can be active simultaneously. We conclude that BONCAT coupled to FACS and sequencing is effective for interrogating the active fraction of soil microbiomes in situ and provides new perspectives to link metabolic capacity to overall soil ecological traits and processes.
The interaction of phylogeny and community structure: linking clades’ ecological structures and trait evolution
Authors: Pearse William D. , Legendre Pierre , Peres-Neto Pedro , Davies T. Jonathan
Published: August 2018

1

Aim

Community phylogenetic studies use information about species’ evolutionary relationships to understand the processes of community ecological assembly. A central premise of the field is that species’ evolution maps onto ecological patterns, and phylogeny reveals something more than species’ traits alone. We argue, therefore, that there is a need to better understand and model the interaction of phylogeny with species’ traits and community composition.

Innovation

We outline a new method that identifies clades with unusual ecological structures, based around partitioning the variation of species’ site occupancies (β-diversity). Eco-phylogenetic theory would predict that these clades should also demonstrate distinct evolutionary trajectories. We suggest that modelling the evolution of independent trait data in these clades represents a strong test of whether there is an association between species’ ecological structure and evolutionary history.

Main conclusions

Using an empirical dataset of mammals from around the world, we identify two clades of rodents that tend not to co-occur (are phylogenetically overdispersed), and then find independent evidence of slower rates of body mass evolution in these clades. We suggest that our approach, which assumes nothing about the mode of species’ trait evolution but rather seeks to explain it using ecological information, presents a new way to examine eco-phylogenetic structure.
Inter-organisational learning in public safety management system
Authors: Sienkiewicz-Małyjurek Katarzyna Ewa , Kożuch Barbara , Szczygłowski Jeremi
Published: August 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to recognition and understanding of the inter-organisational learning processes in the public safety management system.

Design/methodology/approach

The findings presented in this paper are based on empirical data including: first, desk research in the scope of inter-organisational learning; second, participant observation conducted in the Provincial Headquarters of the State Fire Service in the Silesia Province in the years 2013–2014; third, hermeneutic process within a focus group of scholars conducted in December 2014 within a four-person group of researchers. The carried out studies have shown the usefulness of the three-loop learning model appliance.

Findings

The paper analyses the course of inter-organisational learning in dynamic and uncertain operating conditions. As a result, the main methods and effects of inter-organisational learning in the public safety management system are identified.

Originality/value

The paper adds a new value to understanding of inter-organisational learning in the framework of public safety management by driving attention to the importance of inter-organisational learning and its practical use. It also provides a useful research model for investigating inter-organisational learning and effective public safety management.
Trust-culture leadership in local public administrators’ work
Authors: Fairholm Matthew R. , Dzordzormenyoh Michael K. , Binda Godlove A.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

Trust and culture are common themes in leadership literature and research. The purpose of this paper is it to describe an emergent model of trust-culture leadership from the comments of local government managers in the USA. The environment of local government requires a level of trust between government and citizens. Comments from local government managers suggest trust is also a component of leading public organizations. The elements of the model culled from practical insights serve to both verify and elucidate much of what is found in leadership theory in a local government context.

Design/methodology/approach

This research is based on qualitative interviews of practicing local government managers coupled with an analysis of essays on leadership also written by local government managers.

Findings

The research indicates eight elements of a model divided into three categories (descriptions of leadership in practice, tools and behaviors, and approaches to followers) that help to both describe and perhaps prescribe the work of trust-culture leadership in a local government context.

Originality/value

While some of what is summarized below is found in leadership literature already, the fact that these elements of leadership are intuitive to local government managers and internalized in their practice is significant. Linking both trust and culture in leadership literature is limited, and linking them both to the practical insights of public managers is even more unique. The findings verify that public leaders at the local level actually engage in leadership of a particular sort, that of trust-culture leadership. It highlights the priority of trust in local government administration. The elements of the model serve to offer public managers specific things to focus on to promote trust-culture leadership and suggest to public leadership scholars specific avenues for further investigation.
Crowdfunding – revealing preferences for environmental goods
Authors: Frey Ulrich J.
Published: August 2018

Purpose

A major problem in environmental economics is to estimate the monetary value of non-market goods. This is especially relevant for environmental goods. To assess their non-use value, different approaches have been used measuring stated and revealed preferences. However, both methodologies are associated with criticism. The purpose of this paper is to propose a new method to estimate non-use values of environmental goods, i.e., to calculate revealed preferences in crowdfunded projects.

Design/methodology/approach

Since millions of individuals invest in various crowdfunded projects, the willingness to pay (WTP) can be robustly derived for any kind of project. Here, data on 19 projects on three endangered species are collected from various crowdfunding platforms.

Findings

With the new method introduced to estimate the monetary value of non-market goods, the WTP could be determined for a number of projects. Across projects, the average WTP per person is $42 for dolphins, $45 for falcons and $38 for butterflies. This new approach is validated by comparing these values to a meta-analysis of contingent valuation studies reporting on average $42 for dolphins, $37 for falcons and $24 for butterflies.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this study is the small number of projects which are for demonstration only.

Practical implications

Validating this method by a comparison with a meta-analysis of contingent valuation shows that estimating WTP via crowdfunding may serve as a new instrument. Given the large number of subjects and diversity of projects in crowdfunding, a robust WTP could be derived for many topics in the future.

Originality/value

A new method to estimate the monetary value of non-market goods is introduced. Estimating the WTP via crowdfunded projects makes it possible to measure revealed preferences for a large variety of environmental and other projects.
Identifying causes of perceptual differences in problematic activities of daily life between patients with COPD and proxies: A qualitative study
Authors: Nakken Nienke , Spruit Martijn A. , van den Bogaart Esther H. A. , Crutzen Rik , Muris Jean W. M. , Wouters Emiel F. M. , Janssen Daisy J. A.
Published: August 2018

Background/aim

Proxies of patients with COPD are often unable to identify the patients’ most important problematic activities of daily life (ADLs). The aim was to explore causes of perceptual differences between patients with COPD and their proxies about the problematic ADLs of the patient.

Methods

Ten open structured interviews were conducted in the presence of both the patient and proxy. Patients’ five most important problematic ADLs identified by the couple were compared and discussed. For data analysis, open coding, axial coding and selective coding were conducted.

Results

Ten main causes were identified: differences in the level of satisfaction, or acceptance; estimation of own capabilities; problematic ADL goes unnoticed; proxy is not present during problematic ADL; problematic ADL is not performed (often or anymore), or not (longer) talked about; masked by another problematic ADL; value judgement; solution for problematic ADL.

Conclusion

The causes of perceptual differences between patients and proxies about patients’ problematic ADLs were related to both the patient's and the proxy's perception.
The experiences of social and community participation of people with non‐traumatic spinal cord injury
Authors: Barclay Linda , Lentin Primrose , Bourke‐Taylor Helen , McDonald Rachael
Published: August 2018

Background/aim

Incidence of non‐traumatic spinal cord injury in Australia is increasing, which will result in more occupational therapists being involved in the rehabilitation of this group in the future. The profile of people with non‐traumatic spinal cord injury differs from people with traumatically acquired spinal cord injuries, and their long‐term health and well‐being outcomes are not known. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of returning to social and community participation following non‐traumatic spinal cord injury.

Methods

Qualitative methods were used for this study. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with seventeen people with non‐traumatic spinal cord injury who had returned home. Data were analysed inductively utilising the thematic analysis method.

Results

The process of returning to social and community participation following non‐traumatic spinal cord injury was identified as occurring in three main stages: withdrawal; re‐emergence into society; and stability. Each stage consisted of adjustment and adaptation in a number of areas, including: the loss of independence; the experience of being out in public; social networks; participation in productivity roles; and expectations regarding satisfactory social and community participation. Many of the participants had developed or were developing strategies to adapt to the changes experienced in these stages.

Conclusion

By using a qualitative approach, this study adds to the understanding of the adjustment process experienced by people following non‐traumatic spinal cord injury when they return to living in the community. Although findings parallel those of studies conducted with people with TSCI, there are some differences that may warrant alternative approaches from occupational therapists working with people with NTSCI. Such approaches include assisting people with NTSCI to modify their expectations regarding how they will participate in the community, assisting them to find new meaningful roles, and facilitating the development of new social networks to replace lost ones.
The roles of PD‐1/PD‐L1 and its signalling pathway in gastrointestinal tract cancers
Authors: Cui Chunguo , Yu Bo , Jiang Qi , Li Xingfang , Shi Kaiyao , Yang Zecheng
Published: August 2018

Cancer immunotherapy has been increasingly applied in the treatment of advanced malignancies. Consequently, immune checkpoints have become a major concern. As PD‐1 is an important immunomodulatory protein, the blockade of PD‐1 and its ligand PD‐L1 is a promising tumour immunotherapy for human carcinoma. In this review, we first discuss the role of the PD‐1/PD‐L1 interaction in gastrointestinal tract cancers. Targeting PD‐1 and PD‐L1 in immune cells and tumour cells may show remarkable efficiency in gastrointestinal tract cancers. Second, the PD‐1/PD‐L1‐associated signalling pathway involved in cancer immunotherapy in gastrointestinal tract cancers is discussed. Most importantly, this review summarizes the PD‐1/PD‐L1‐targeted immunotherapy combinations with relevant signalling pathways, which may result in a breakthrough for the treatment of gastrointestinal tract cancers, such as gastric cancer, colorectal cancer and liver cancer. Meanwhile, the review provides a deeper insight into the mechanism of checkpoint blockade immunotherapies.
Psychometric properties of discourse measures in aphasia: acceptability, reliability, and validity
Authors: Pritchard Madeleine , Hilari Katerina , Cocks Naomi , Dipper Lucy
Published: August 2018

Background

Discourse in adults with aphasia is increasingly the focus of assessment and therapy research. A broad range of measures is available to describe discourse, but very limited information is available on their psychometric properties. As a result, the quality of these measures is unknown, and there is very little evidence to motivate the choice of one measure over another.

Aims

To explore the quality of a range of discourse measures, targeting sentence structure, coherence, story structure and cohesion. Quality was evaluated in terms of the psychometric properties of acceptability (data completeness and skewness), reliability (inter‐ and intra‐rater), and validity (content, convergent, discriminant and known groups).

Methods & Procedures

Participants with chronic mild‐to‐moderate aphasia were recruited from community groups. They produced a range of discourses which were grouped into Cinderella and everyday discourses. Discourses were then transcribed orthographically and analyzed using macro‐ and microlinguistic measures (Story Grammar, Topic Coherence, Local Coherence, Reference Chains and Predicate Argument Structure—PAS). Data were evaluated against standard predetermined criteria to ascertain the psychometric quality of the measures.

Outcomes & Results

A total of 17 participants took part in the study. All measures had high levels of acceptability, inter‐ and intra‐rater reliability, and had good content validity, as they could be related to a level of the theoretical model of discourse production. For convergent validity, as expected, 8/10 measures correlated with the Western Aphasia Battery—Revised (WAB‐R) spontaneous speech scores, and 7/10 measures correlated with the Kissing and Dancing Test (KDT) scores (r≥ 0.3), giving an overall positive rating for construct validity. For discriminant validity, as predicted, all measures had low correlations with Raven's Coloured Progressive Matrices (RCPM) and WAB‐R Auditory Verbal Comprehension scores (r< 0.3), giving an overall positive rating for construct validity. Finally, for known groups validity, all measures indicated a difference between speakers with mild and moderate aphasia except for the Local Coherence measures. Overall, Story Grammar, Topic Coherence, Reference Chains and PAS emerged as the strongest measures in the current study because they achieved the predetermined thresholds for quality in terms of each of the psychometric parameters profiled.

Conclusions & Implications

The current study is the first to psychometrically profile measures of discourse in aphasia. It contributes to the field by identifying Story Grammar, Topic Coherence, Reference Chains and PAS as the most psychometrically robust discourse measures yet profiled with speakers with aphasia. Until further data are available indicating the strength of other discourse measures, caution should be applied when using them.
The Limits of a Commitment? Public Responses to Asylum Policy in Sweden over Time
Authors: Andersson Dennis , Bendz Anna , Olofsdotter Stensöta Helena
Published: August 2018

It is hardly an exaggeration to claim that one of the most turbulent political areas in recent years has been asylum policy, which has disclosed a rapidly increasing inflow of asylum seekers, and, in many countries, has been followed by fierce media discussion and political controversies. In Sweden, this development has been heated as the Swedish self‐image is one of providing generous policies, which is also reflected in terms of strong refugee policy. The article uses this example to explore assumptions about public responsiveness in previous policy feedback literature and to examine the link between citizens' attitudes towards immigration and changes in asylum policy output, measured as asylums granted, over time in the period 1990–2015. It focuses especially on the link through which citizens become aware of policy output, operationalized as media visualization, and find that including media reveals a suppressed relationship between policy output and public attitudes. The relationship is negative and thus confirms the assumptions of the thermostatic models. Second, the article shows that feedback is mediated by political orientation: People defining themselves politically as right‐oriented respond with negative feedback when the number of granted asylums increases, while left‐oriented people do not change their attitudes. Based on these findings it is concluded, first, that analyses of democratic responsiveness need to incorporate a clear measure of the link by which exogenous factors become visible. Second, the importance needs to be stressed of considering important cleavages in the population in order to display responsiveness processes fairly.
The brain as an agentic system: how the brain is articulated in the field of neuroenhancement
Authors: Brenninkmeijer Jonna
Published: August 2018

This article analyses the material of a European Project on Responsible Research and Innovation in Neuroenhancement (NERRI) to explore how the brain is articulated in this field. Since brains are closely connected to ideas of self, responsibility, free will and being human, and since brain metaphors have important effects on research practices and perspectives, it also matters how people talk about and use the brain. In the NERRI project, the brain is articulated as an agent interacting with or substituting the self; as a system that can, cannot or should not be analysed; and as the part of oneself that can potentially change human nature in positive and negative ways. Since most of the material analysed was produced by neuroscientists or other neuroenhancement experts, this article emphasises the responsibility of the experts in this process. By showing what brain images are disseminated within the field of neuroenhancement, and analysing how this depiction is related to ideas of self or being human, this article does not only intend to contribute to a more empirically based and societally relevant neuroenhancement debate, but also to a more realistic and societally relevant idea of the brain.
Leopold I, Louis XIV, William III and the Origins of the War of the Spanish Succession
Authors: TROOST WOUTER
Published: August 2018

Drawing on the correspondence of contemporary rulers and diplomats and on the work of modern European and American historians, this article reinterprets the origins of the War of the Spanish Succession by examining the triangular relationship between Leopold I, Louis XIV and William III during the last quarter of the seventeenth century. It disposes of two ‘myths’: namely that Leopold I and William III were natural allies and that Louis XIV and William III were natural enemies. During the Dutch War and the Nine Years War, relations between the allies William and Leopold were strained for various reasons. And although William regarded Louis XIV as his main rival after the Peace of Nijmegen (1678), at Rijswijk (1697) his relationship with Louis improved significantly. This resulted in two treaties between Louis and William partitioning the Spanish Empire after the death of Carlos II. Leopold I, who took no part in the treaty negotiations, refused to accept the second treaty, which widened the rift between him and the stadholder‐king. As William III refused to force Leopold I to accept the second treaty, Louis XIV accepted Carlos II's will, which left the Spanish inheritance to Philip of Anjou, Louis's grandson. When Louis XIV started to behave like a Spanish king and invaded the Spanish Netherlands, whose independence was the cornerstone of William's foreign policy, a rapprochement between Leopold and William took place, leading to the renewal of their former alliance and the outbreak of the War of the Spanish Succession.
Risk of malnutrition is associated with poor physical function in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation following heart failure
Authors: Matsuo Haruyo , Yoshimura Yoshihiro , Fujita Shoji , Maeno Yuichi
Published: August 2018

Aim

Patients who experience heart failure are prone to malnutrition. The aim of this study was to determine the association between risk of malnutrition and physical function in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation following heart failure.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was performed in consecutive patients hospitalised for cardiac rehabilitation following heart failure. Risk of malnutrition was evaluated using the Mini Nutritional Assessment‐Short Form (MNA‐SF). Physical function was evaluated using the Barthel index (BI). Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to determine whether nutritional status was associated with BI in these patients.

Results

The present study included 105 patients (mean age of 77.3 years, 56 men and 49 women) for analysis. The median (interquartile range) scores of the MNA‐SF and BI were 11 (9–13) and 75 (45–90), respectively. Patients with high risk of malnutrition (MNA‐SF score < 7) were significantly older, had a lower body mass index, exhibited lower muscle mass and strength, could walk shorter distances, and had lower BI scores (all P < 0.05). On multivariate analysis, the MNA‐SF score was independently associated with BI (β = 0.409, P < 0.001) after adjusting for age, sex, muscle mass and strength, brain natriuretic peptide levels, ejection fraction of the left ventricle, and reason for admission.

Conclusions

Risk of malnutrition is associated with physical function in patients undergoing cardiac rehabilitation following heart failure. Early detection of malnutrition and commencement of nutritional support may improve functional recovery in these patients.
Accuracy and Interobserver Reliability of the Simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index Versus the Hestia Criteria for Patients With Pulmonary Embolism
Authors: Quezada Carlos Andrés , Bikdeli Behnood , Villén Tomás , Barrios Deisy , Mercedes Edwin , León Francisco , Chiluiza Diana , Barbero Esther , Yusen Roger D. , Jimenez David
Published: August 2018

Objectives

The objective was to assess and compare the accuracy and interobserver reliability of the simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI) and the Hestia criteria for predicting short‐term mortality in patients with pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods

This prospective cohort study evaluated consecutive eligible adults with PE diagnosed in the emergency department (ED) at a large, tertiary, academic medical center in the era January 1, 2015, to December 30, 2017. We assessed and compared sPESI and Hestia criteria prognostic accuracy for 30‐day all‐cause mortality after PE diagnosis and their interobserver reliability for classifying patients as low risk or high risk. Two clinician investigators scored both prediction tools during the ED evaluation. We used the kappa statistic to test for agreement.

Results

The 488‐patient cohort had a mean (±SD) age of 69.0 (±17.1) years and an approximately even sex distribution. The investigators classified one‐quarter of patients as low risk using the sPESI and Hestia criteria (28% vs. 27%, respectively). During the 30‐day follow‐up, 31 of the 488 (6.4%) patients died. Patients classified as low risk according to the sPESI and the Hestia criteria had a similar 30‐day mortality (sPESI 0.7% [1/135], 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.0%–4.0%; Hestia 2.3% [3/132], 95% CI = 0.5%–6.5%). The two observers had good agreement (κ = 0.80) for the Hestia criteria and very good agreement (κ = 0.97) for the sPESI.

Conclusion

The sPESI and the Hestia criteria had similar risk classification determination and prognostic accuracy for 30‐day mortality after PE. However, the succinct and more objective sPESI had higher interobserver reliability than the Hestia criteria.
The Persistent Effect of U.S. Civil Rights Protests on Political Attitudes
Authors: Mazumder Soumyajit
Published: August 2018

Protests can engender significant institutional change. Can protests also continue to shape a nation's contemporary politics outside of more formalized channels? I argue that social movements can not only beget institutional change, but also long‐run, attitudinal change. Using the case of the U.S. civil rights movement, I develop a theory in which protests can shift attitudes and these attitudes can persist. Data from over 150,000 survey respondents provide evidence consistent with the theory. Whites from counties that experienced historical civil rights protests are more likely to identify as Democrats and support affirmative action, and less likely to harbor racial resentment against blacks. These individual‐level results are politically meaningful—counties that experienced civil rights protests are associated with greater Democratic Party vote shares even today. This study highlights how social movements can have persistent impacts on a nation's politics.
Compulsory Voting and Parties’ Vote‐Seeking Strategies
Authors: Singh Shane P.
Published: August 2018

I advance a theory about how compulsory voting affects the behavior of political parties. The theory suggests that parties will pivot toward programmatic vote‐seeking strategies and away from clientelistic tactics, such as vote buying, where voting is compulsory. I test my expectations in three separate studies, using several data sources and empirical approaches. In Study 1, cross‐national analyses show that parties behave more programmatically under compulsory voting and that vote buying is less common where voting is mandatory. In Study 2, synthetic control and difference‐in‐differences analyses show that a switch to compulsory voting in Thailand produced an increase in programmatic vote seeking. In Study 3, a list experiment conducted in tandem with a natural experiment shows that compulsory voting leads parties to rely less on vote‐buying tactics in Argentina. I conclude by discussing the implications of these findings, which together are broadly supportive of my theoretical expectations.
Modified early obstetric warning scores: A promising tool but more evidence and standardization is required
Authors: Robbins Tanya , Shennan Andrew , Sandall Jane
Published: August 2018

Early warning systems involve the routine monitoring and recording of vital signs or clinical observations on specifically designed charts with linked escalation protocols. Meeting criteria for abnormal physiological parameters triggers a color‐coded or weighted scoring system aimed to guide the frequency of monitoring, need for, and urgency of clinical review. Color‐coded systems trigger a clinical response when one or more abnormal observation is recorded in the red zone or two or more mildly abnormal parameters in the amber zone. The principle of maternity‐specific early warning systems to structure surveillance for hospitalized women is intuitive. The widespread use and policy support, including recommendations following confidential enquiries and from the National Health Service Litigation Authority, is not, however, currently backed up by a strong evidence base. Research is required to develop predictive models and validate evidence‐based maternity‐specific early warning systems in the general maternity population.
Emotional excitability and behaviour of horses in response to stroking various regions of the body
Authors: Janczarek Iwona , Stachurska Anna , Wilk Izabela , Krakowski Leszek , Przetacznik Monika , Zastrzeżyńska Monika , Kuna‐Broniowska Izabela
Published: August 2018

Touching the skin by gentle stroking is frequently used to reward horses. The objective of the study was to examine emotional excitability and behaviour of horses in response to stroking different regions of their bodies. The study included 15 adult warmbloods and 15 adult ponies, nine geldings and six mares within each type of horse. First, a novel‐object test was conducted. For five successive days, one of five regions of the horse's body was stroked on each side for 5 min. Heart rate and heart rate variability were monitored at rest, during the test and stroking. Simultaneously, horse behaviour was assessed on a 1–5 scale. The data were analysed using analysis of variance GLM, Tukey's Honestly Significant Difference test and Spearman's correlation coefficient. When stroked, horses were more excited than when at rest. Differences in emotional excitability and behaviour while stroking various body regions depended on the type and sex of horses. Parameters studied indicated that both in warmbloods and ponies, stroking the head may be beneficial, whereas the trunk should be treated with caution. Stroking may have a more positive influence in horses of lower emotionality and highly estimated behaviour at rest and during the novel‐object test.
Farmer survey to assess the size of the Australian dairy goat industry
Authors: Zalcman E , Cowled B
Published: August 2018

Objective

To better understand the commercial food‐producing Australian dairy goat industry.

Methods

We contacted all licensing boards and telephone surveyed a large sample of Australian dairy goat farmers producing food products on demographics, production and labour.

Results

Jurisdictional licensing boards confirmed there were 68 licensed dairy goat farms in Australia in 2016. We surveyed representatives from 41. Of the farmers surveyed 20 were female and 19 were male; 81% were over 40 years old. The median number of milking goats per farm was 96 and the median total number of goats per farm was 150. The mean number of litres of milk produced per milking goat per day was 2.5. A total production of 9.6 million litres of milk was reported from these 41 farms alone in 2016, suggesting an increase in production since 2012. Production included 60% sold as cheese, 18% as fresh milk and the remaining as milk powder or other products. Most of the respondents (73%) supported the development of an industry group.

Conclusion

If the farmers surveyed are representative, we estimate that in 2016 there were 30,550 milking goats in the Australian national herd, producing 16,867,792 litres of milk with a farm‐gate value of AU$20–27 million. This is a significant increase on the estimates made in 2009 and 2012 and suggests the industry is expanding.
Mapping grassland plant communities using a fuzzy approach to address floristic and spectral uncertainty
Authors: Rapinel Sébastien , Rossignol Nicolas , Hubert‐Moy Laurence , Bouzillé Jan‐Bernard , Bonis Anne
Published: August 2018

Aims

The mapping and monitoring of natural vegetation is a challenging but important objective for environmental management. Although remote sensing has been used to map plant communities for several years, the maps produced are not sufficiently accurate to meet management requirements. This can be explained by the cumulative effects of floristic and spectral uncertainty. The objective of this study was to accurately map grassland plant communities using a comprehensive fuzzy approach in order to address floristic and spectral uncertainty.

Location

Sub‐brackish wet grasslands, Marais Poitevin, France.

Methods

We first created a compromise typology—floristically and spectrally consistent—to perform fuzzy noise clustering on a joint PCA matrix derived from vegetation relevés and remote sensing data. This typology had two levels, which corresponded to spectral signatures and plant communities, respectively. Second, we mapped grassland plant communities to predict the fuzzy model from the remote sensing data. We applied this approach using (1) a very high spatial resolution multispectral satellite image and a LiDAR‐derived Digital Terrain Model acquired on a 73 km2 wet grassland site and (2) more than 200 relevés collected in the field.

Results

The results show that (1) the compromise typology yields significantly higher mapping accuracy than classic phytosociological typology (62% and 26%, respectively); (2) compared to a crisp approach, the fuzzy approach improves mapping accuracy by 17 percentage points and (3) a single plant community can be defined by several (1–4) distinct spectral signatures.

Conclusions

The comprehensive fuzzy procedure successfully mapped herbaceous plant communities at the ecosystem scale using inexpensive remote sensing data. Floristic and spectral uncertainty was considered in a fuzzy approach, resulting in the mapping of nine herbaceous plant communities with acceptable accuracy. As the natural habitats were characterized at the plant community level, correspondence with functional properties of the species or with ecosystem services can be easily inferred. These encouraging results open up new ways to meet the requirements for monitoring the conservation status of natural habitats in the EU Habitats Directive.
Transcranial electrical stimulation for human enhancement and the risk of inequality: Prohibition or compensation?
Authors: Lavazza Andrea
Published: August 2018

Non‐invasive brain stimulation is used to modulate brain excitation and inhibition and to improve cognitive functioning. The effectiveness of the enhancement due to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is still controversial, but the technique seems to have large potential for improvement and more specific applications. In particular, it has recently been used by athletes, both beginners and professionals. This paper analyses the ethical issues related to tDCS enhancement, which depend on its specific features: ease of use, immediate effect, non‐detectability and great variability of effects. If tDCS were to become widespread, there could be some potential side effects, especially the rise of inequality in many selective competitive contexts. I discuss two possible scenarios to counter this effect: that of prohibition and that of compensation, each supported by reasons and arguments that seem plausible and worthy of consideration. In conclusion, I show why I think the scenario of compensation is the preferable one.
Peri‐operative and local control outcomes of robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy vs percutaneous cryoablation for renal masses: comparison after matching on radiological stage and renal score
Authors: Fraisse Guillaume , Colleter Loïc , Peyronnet Benoit , Khene Zine‐Eddine , Mandoorah Qusay , Soorojebally Yanish , Bourgi Ali , De La Taille Alexandre , Roupret Morgan , De Kerviler Eric , Desgrandchamps François , Bensalah Karim , Masson‐Lecomte Alexandra
Published: August 2018

Objectives

To compare the oncological outcomes of percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) vs robot‐assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) for the treatment of T1 renal tumours.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a retrospective study in all patients treated by RAPN or PCA for malignant renal tumours in one of four centres between 2009 and 2016. Tumours were paired one by one using radiological tumour stage and RENAL nephrometry score (package matchit, R software version 3.2.2). Malignancy was confirmed by biopsy for all patients in the PCA group. Patient characteristics before and after matching and oncological results were compared between the two groups. Cox regression, adjusted for age, treatment type, histological type and margins, was used to identify factors associated with time to local recurrence. Positive margins were defined histologically in the RAPN group and radiologically in the PCA group.

Results

A total of 647 patients were identified; 470 underwent RAPN and 177 underwent PCA. After matching, there was no significant difference between the two groups (RAPN, n = 177; PCA, n = 177) with regard to tumour stage, RENAL nephrometry score, tumour size (27.6 vs 25.9 mm; P = 0.07) and gender ratio. Patients in the PCA group remained significantly older (69.9 vs 59.8 years; P < 0.001). The absolute recurrence rate was 2.8% in the RAPN group vs 8.4% in the PCA group (P = 0.03). The 5‐year recurrence‐free survival rate was 85% in the PCA group vs 95% in the RAPN group (log‐rank P = 0.02). In multivariate analysis, the presence of positive margins and the type of treatment were the two factors significantly associated with local recurrence (P < 0.001 and P = 0.046, respectively).

Conclusion

The local recurrence rate after PCA was significantly higher than after RAPN for T1 renal tumours. Incomplete treatment was the main criterion associated with recurrence. The recurrence rate may have been overestimated in the PCA group because of closer radiological follow‐up in these patients.
Preclinical efficacy in therapeutic area guidelines from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Langhof Holger , Chin William Wei Lim , Wieschowski Susanne , Federico Carole , Kimmelman Jonathan , Strech Daniel
Published: August 2018

Background and Purpose

Therapeutic area guidelines (TAGs) published by the EMA and the FDA offer guidance in planning the launch of a trial in a certain indication. We assessed and compared the guidance on preclinical efficacy of all available TAGs from EMA and FDA.

Experimental Approach

EMA and FDA websites and databases were searched for all TAGs. A mixed deductive and inductive approach was applied to analyse and cluster content for preclinical efficacy.

Key Results

A total of 114 EMA and 120 FDA TAGs were identified, covering 126 indications. Our core finding is that 75% of EMA TAGs and 58% from the FDA TAGs do not offer any guidance on preclinical efficacy. TAGs varied widely on the extent, nature and detail of guidance.

Conclusions and Implications

Guidance on preclinical efficacy in a consistent, comprehensive and explicit way that still allows for justified deviations is an important but neglected aspect of transparency for drug development. This transparency would help sponsors in designing preclinical studies and in negotiating more efficiently with regulators.
Effects of levetiracetam on astroglial release of kynurenine‐pathway metabolites
Authors: Fukuyama Kouji , Okada Motohiro
Published: August 2018

Background and Purpose

Several preclinical studies have demonstrated the unique profiles of levetiracetam (LEV), inhibits spontaneous absence epilepsy models but does not affect traditional convulsion models; however, the detailed pharmacological mechanisms of action of LEV remain to be clarified.

Experimental Approach

We determined the interaction between LEV and IFNγ regarding astroglial release of anti‐convulsive (kynurenic acid and xanthurenic acid), pro‐convulsive (quinolinic acid) and anti‐convulsive but pro‐absence (cinnabarinic acid) kynurenine‐pathway metabolites from rat cortical primary cultured astrocytes using ultra‐HPLC equipped with MS.

Key Results

IFNγ increased basal astroglial release of cinnabarinic acid and quinolinic acid but decreased that of kynurenic acid and xanthurenic acid. IFNγ enhanced inositol 1,4,5‐trisphosphate (IP3) receptor agonist (adenophostin A, AdA)‐induced astroglial release of kynurenine‐pathway metabolites, without affecting AMPA‐induced release. LEV increased basal astroglial release of kynurenic acid and xanthurenic acid without affecting cinnabarinic acid or quinolinic acid. Chronic and acute LEV administration inhibited AMPA‐ and AdA‐induced kynurenine‐pathway metabolite release. Upon chronic administration, LEV enhanced stimulatory effects of IFNγ on kynurenic acid and xanthurenic acid, and reduced its stimulatory effects on cinnabarinic acid and quinolinic acid. Furthermore, LEV inhibited stimulatory effects of chronic IFNγ on AdA‐induced release of kynurenine‐pathway metabolites.

Conclusions and Implications

This study demonstrated several mechanisms of LEV: (i) inhibition of AMPA‐ and AdA‐induced astroglial release, (ii) inhibition of IFNγ‐induced IP3receptor activation and (iii) inhibition of release of cinnabarinic acid and quinolinic acid with activation of that of kynurenic acid induced by IFNγ. These combined actions of LEV may contribute to its unique profile.
Skills, scope and success: An empirical look at the start‐up process in creative industries in Germany
Authors: Kohn Karsten , Wewel Solvejg A.
Published: August 2018

Creative industries comprise enterprises focusing on the creation, production and distribution of creative or cultural goods and services. Following an explorative empirical approach, we analyse start‐ups in creative industries regarding three issues along the start‐up process: (1) personal characteristics of creative entrepreneurs, (2) their use of labour and capital as input factors, and (3) start‐up success as measured by start‐up survival, degree of innovativeness and change in household income. Based on individual‐level data from the KfW Start‐up Monitor, a large‐scale survey on entrepreneurship in Germany, our regression results show that entrepreneurs in creative industries tend to be younger and better educated than entrepreneurs in other economic sectors. Businesses in creative industries are prevalently started on a small scale, as part‐time occupations, and with less financial resources. Yet they show a higher persistence and an above‐average degree of innovativeness.
Whose responsibility is it anyway? Competing narratives of suggestion system change
Authors: Vanharanta Outi
Published: August 2018

This study explores employee narratives concerning change in a company suggestion program. The purpose of the change was to increase suggestion activity in the organization by introducing a new IT platform and altering the distribution of responsibilities in the suggestion process. This study explored how the change in the suggestion process was constructed by responsible managers, suggestion evaluators as well as the suggestion makers themselves. The narratives of the different employee groups differed in the ways in which the employee groups were positioned with respect to the suggestion process, as well as the assumptions concerning the motivational drivers underlying suggestion activity. The study is based on 22 interviews in a company operating in the field of oil refinement. By studying change in a company suggestion program, the paper contributes to the innovation management literature by illustrating the plurality of ways in which the social reality concerning suggestion practice may be constructed, and thus provides a novel perspective to understanding why engaging people in such activity can be challenging.
The effect of ethical leadership on employee social innovation tendency in social enterprises: Mediating role of perceived social capital
Authors: Pasricha Palvi , Rao M. Kameshwar
Published: August 2018

Although social innovation has gained prominence in policy, academic, and practitioner debates, there remains a lack of understanding of how leader aspects such as behavior and ethics contribute to fostering social innovation among employees in the social enterprise, owing primarily to a dearth of empirical research on this subject. The goal of this study is to empirically examine the effect of ethical leadership on the social innovation tendency among employees in social enterprises; also, employees' perceived social capital is hypothesized as a mediator through which the ethical leader is likely to influence their social innovation tendency. Using data collected from 189 employees associated with a variety of social enterprises, the results of structural equation modeling indicate that ethical leadership has both a direct and indirect effect on the social innovation tendency among employees, where the indirect effect of ethical leadership involves influencing the employees' perceived social capital, which subsequently influences their tendency for social innovation. Accordingly, the study offers key implications for social enterprise leaders aspiring to boost innovation in their endeavors aimed at achieving the enterprise's objective of creating positive social impact.