bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cross-border merger and acquisition activities in Asia: the role of macroeconomic factors
Authors: Ibrahim Yusnidah , Raji Jimoh Olajide
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the influence of key macroeconomic factors on the inward and outward acquisition activities of six ASEAN (ASEAN: Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries, namely, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, over the 1996-2015 period.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses alternative panel data methods, including pooled mean group, mean group and dynamic fixed-effect estimators.

Findings

The results indicate that gross domestic product (GDP), interest rate, exchange rate, money supply and inflation rate are the most important macroeconomic factors explaining the trends of cross-border mergers and acquisition outflows of the ASEAN-6 countries. Specifically, GDP, money supply and inflation rate have significant positive relationships with acquisition outflows, while interest rate and exchange rate exert significant negative influence. On the other hand, the authors find four significant macroeconomic factors explaining the trends of the inward acquisitions. Essentially, GDP, money supply and inflation rate have significant positive impacts on inward acquisitions, while the impact of exchange rate is negatively significant.

Research limitations/implications

Unavailability of data limits this study to pool six sample countries from ASEAN, instead of ten representative member countries.

Practical implications

The results of this study can signal to firms or investors, involving in cross-border mergers and acquisitions, where to direct foreign resources flows. Moreover, having the knowledge about the relative levels of market size and other macroeconomic factors in both home and host countries can be of great importance for investment decision. Therefore, policymakers of ASEAN countries should make appropriate macroeconomic policies that can stimulate inward and outward acquisitions.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this paper is that it is the first to present the analysis of macroeconomic influences on the trends of inward and outward merger and acquisition activities in six ASEAN countries.
The performance of IPOs excluding the jump
Authors: Ivanov Stoyu I.
Published: May 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine performance of firms with a negative second-day return after the Initial Public Offering (IPO) relative to stocks with a positive second-day return after the IPO. Loughran and Ritter (1995) document that firms which have done an IPO or an SEO underperform similar firms over three- and five-year investment horizons. Loughran and Ritter (2002) also document that firms that go public “leave money on the table”, with this amount being almost twice as large as the fees paid to the investment banks.

Design/methodology/approach

The study’s null hypothesis is that stocks with a negative return on the second day of the IPO perform better than firms with a positive return on the second day of the IPO. The authors estimate the second-day return based on first- and second-day closing prices from the Center for Research in Security Prices, and they use a regression model and Jensen’s alpha to test the hypothesis.

Findings

The authors find evidence that rejects the paper’s working null hypothesis of superior performance of negative second-day return IPO firms relative to positive second-day return IPO firms in the three-year and five-year period samples. They fail to find statistically significant evidence in the entire period samples which suggest that negative second-day return IPO firms perform similarly to positive second-day return IPO firms.

Originality/value

The findings in this study raise interesting questions with regards to the ideas developed by Loughran and Ritter (2002) and the “money left on the table”. These findings are of interest to both entrepreneurs and investment bankers who advise them during the underwriting process. If there is not a benefit in terms of IPO performance to investors, then the question becomes – shouldn’t owners possibly consider actually “taking money from the table”. After all, the return to investors will be the same either way but if entrepreneurs make more money at IPO they would be motivated to start more companies in the future.
A gas chromatographic study of the conjugated linoleic acid and other fatty acid contents of raw milk samples from Galicia (NW Spain)
Authors: González‐García Araceli , Paz‐Rodríguez Beatriz , Aboal‐Somoza Manuel , Domínguez‐González María Raquel , Bermejo‐Barrera Pilar
Published: May 2018

ISO/IDF procedures were adjusted to extract the fat from milk samples and derivatise it into fatty acid methyl esters for their analysis by two gas chromatography methods: one for the determination of cis‐9,trans‐11‐octadecadienoic acid; another, to study the fatty acid (FA) profile of samples. Both methods exhibited good precision, produced reliable results and were applied to the analysis of tenths of raw milk samples. The data were statistically explored to check whether different farms produced different FA profiles, and there seemed to be differences (not confirmed) among some of the farms.
‘La Tige Monarchique [et] l'Arbre de la République’: Trees and the Body Politic in Revolutionary France
Authors: Pacini Giulia
Published: May 2018

This article studies the encounter of two competing and yet deeply interconnected expressions of the French body politic in revolutionary France: the monarchic body and the republican tree. It traces contemporary fears about the king or other royalist creatures damaging the nation's young liberty trees, and ultimately analyses the material and political significance of the latter's health and handling. In particular, the discourse about planting and tree‐nurturing that characterised the Directory promoted new representations of la patrie in environmental terms: as a sacred soil and landscape, a site of memory marked by human culture.
Use of stereotactic body radiation therapy for oligometastatic recurrent prostate cancer: A systematic review
Authors: Vilela Ricardo Alencar , Navarro Natássia Ferreira , Faria Edison Tostes , Ferreira Elaine Barros , Ruzza Rachel Zomer , Gadia Rafael , Guerra Eliete Neves Silva , Reis Paula Elaine Diniz dos
Published: May 2018

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in the management of oligometastatic recurrent prostate cancer (PCa) by means of a systematic review. Six databases were searched (CENTRAL, Embase, LILACS, PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science). Additionally, hand‐searching and grey literature search were performed. The main outcomes were progression‐free survival (PFS) and toxicity rates. Androgen deprivation therapy‐free survival (ADT‐FS), local control, pattern of recurrence, cancer‐specific survival and overall survival were also assessed. Risk of bias and quality of evidence were judged with the aid of specific tools. Fourteen studies were included, involving 661 patients and 899 lesions (561 nodal, 336 bone, 2 liver). Median PFS and ADT‐FS were around 1 to 3 years. Local control rates varied from 82 to 100% among researches with low risk of bias. Acute and late grade 2 toxicity was observed in 2.4% and 1.1% of the patients, respectively. One case of acute and two cases of late grade 3 toxicity were registered. Only one randomized study addresses this topic. Although it does not meet all the eligibility criteria, it is useful for the discussion. A quantitative analysis was not possible, nor were subgroup analyses, due to the significant heterogeneity of the interventions and outcomes reported. Longer follow‐up period is required. SBRT seems to be a safe approach to metastatic lesions that might provide disease control and defer androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Local control is better when higher radiation doses are employed.
Imaging in pancreas transplantation complications: Temporal classification
Authors: Gallego Ferrero Paula , Crespo Del Pozo Juan
Published: May 2018

Pancreatic transplantation is a therapeutic option for both poorly controlled cases of diabetes mellitus and patients with advanced diabetic nephropathy. It is important for radiologists to know the different surgical techniques as well as the typical radiological appearance after pancreatic transplantation, in order to accurately identify the complications. These complications can be classified according to the period of time after the transplantation in which they typically occur: immediate (first 24 hours), early (24–72 hours), intermediate (72 hours to weeks) and late (months). An accurate and early diagnosis of pancreas transplantation complications is essential to start the adequate treatment and increase the chances of graft survival.
Effects of vedolizumab, adalimumab and infliximab on biliary inflammation in individuals with primary sclerosing cholangitis and inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Tse C. S. , Loftus E. V. , Raffals L. E. , Gossard A. A. , Lightner A. L.
Published: May 2018

Background

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive cholestatic biliary disease associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) with no known cure.

Aim

To evaluate the effect of biological therapies on PSC progression in IBD patients.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of 88 cases (75 unique patients with 12 patients treated >1 biologics) of IBD (48 ulcerative colitis, 24 Crohn's disease and 3 indeterminate colitis) with concomitant PSC who received biological therapy (42 infliximab, 19 adalimumab, 27 vedolizumab) between June 2002 and October 2017. Hepatic biochemistries were compared using the paired t‐test (patients served as their own controls) ≤3 months before and 6‐8 and 12‐14 months after biological initiation. Radiographic information of biliary stenosis and liver fibrosis were obtained via abdominal ultrasound, abdominal magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance elastography.

Results

Use of adalimumab was associated with a significant decrease in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) after 6‐8 months (P = 0.03; mean change −70 U/L, standard deviation [SD] 88 U/L) compared to vedolizumab (mean change +50 U/L, SD 142 U/L) or infliximab (mean change +37 U/L, SD 183 U/L) but the change was not significant after 12‐14 months (P = 0.24). No significant decreases were observed with AST, ALT, total or direct bilirubin, elastography score or radiographic imaging of biliary tree dilation/strictures with any biological therapy after 6‐8 or 12‐14 months.

Conclusions

Current evidence suggests that biological therapies used for the treatment of IBD are not effective treatments for PSC. Further study is needed to elucidate any potential beneficial effect of adalimumab on PSC.
Identification of PbO (BaO) faience from an early and middle Warring States period cemetery at Zhaitouhe, northern Shaanxi, China
Authors: Wang Y. , Ma H. , Chen K. , Huang X. , Cui J. , Sun Z. , Ma Q.
Published: May 2018

Low‐temperature vitreous materials fluxed with lead (and barium) appeared in the early Warring States period (c.fifth centurybce) in ancient China. A range of lead vitreous products fluxed with the same agent, including faience/glass beads, glazed pottery and Chinese blue (purple) pigment, were developed subsequently. This study carries out scientific analysis of six vitreous beads unearthed from the Zhaitouhe cemetery site in northern Shaanxi dating to the early and middle Warring States period to investigate their chemical composition, microstructure and coloration. The lead (and barium) vitreous beads identified here are some of the earliest lead vitreous materials discovered in China so far, and therefore important for the study of the development of lead vitreous technologies in ancient China. This paper also points out that it is meaningful to evaluate the lead glass, glazed pottery and barium copper silicate pigments as a whole technological assemblage given their close relationships.
Quantitative assessment of the effects of outside temperature on farrowing rate in gilts and sows by using a multivariate logistic regression model
Authors: Sasaki Yosuke , Fujie Madoka , Nakatake Shingo , Kawabata Tadahiro
Published: May 2018

It is well known that pigs are sensitive to heat stress, but few studies have assessed the critical temperature that affects farrowing rate. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to assess the effects of outside temperature on farrowing rate by using a multivariate logistic regression model. Data were obtained from 25 commercial farms, including 26,128 service records for gilts and 120,655 service records for sows. Two variables, maximum temperature (MAX) and temperature humidity index (THI), were used as an indicator for climate conditions. In gilts, an interaction between climate conditions and service number was associated with farrowing rate (p < .05). In the first service, farrowing rate decreased as climate conditions increased, whereas no relationship was found in the second service or later. In sows, farrowing rate at first service decreased as MAX increased from 22°C or THI increased from 66 (p < .05), but no apparent reduction under heat conditions was found in the second service or later. Additionally, effect of heat stress on farrowing rate in parities 1–2 was higher than those in parities 3–5 and ≥6 (p < .05). These results can be applied to field conditions as a standard for the critical temperature for farrowing rate.
Effects of low‐density Pinus elliottii (Slash pine) afforestation on environmental conditions and native plant diversity, in the mountains of central Argentina
Authors: Fiandino Santiago Ignacio , Plevich Jose Omar , Tarico Juan Carlos , Nuñez Cesar , Rusch Veronica , Gyenge Javier Enrique
Published: May 2018

Question

What effects do low‐density afforestation with Pinus elliottii have on the site conditions and plant diversity of the mountains of central Argentina?

Location

Sierra de Comechingones, central Argentina.

Methods

We studied the species richness and diversity and the physical and chemical properties of soils, in both the non‐afforested steppe (US) and the understorey of P. elliottii silvopastoral systems (SPS). Measurements were performed on three plots located in US and 18 experimental plots located in SPS, which differ in tree density (150, 250 and 450 trees/ha), pruning (with/without) and position (below – UC –, or outside – BC –, the vertical projection of the tree crown). In each plot, we measured soil variables organic matter (OM), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), moisture content (RH) and relative proportion of coarse fragments; as well as photosynthetically active radiation that reached the ground surface (PARi). At the same time, a floristic survey was performed, consisting of 117 sampling plots distributed equally between treatments. Richness, diversity and evenness indices were calculated for each treatment. Then, we carried out a PCA in order to identify the differences in life forms and environmental variables across the treatments.

Results

PARi ​​and pH were statistically significantly higher in US, while EC and RH were statistically significantly higher in SPS. Diversity indices did not differ significantly among the non‐afforested steppe (US) and the patches between crowns (BC), but were significantly higher in both these treatments than below the crown (UC). The higher richness in some of the life forms and light availability clearly separated US from UC in the PCA. All the species of interest (endemic, N‐fixing, medicinal, fodder) were found in the SPS.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that the changes in site variables produced by low‐density afforestation generate niches for some species and, simultaneously, constitute a barrier to others. However, the fact that diversity indices and the presence of the species of interest showed no differences among the between‐crowns patches and the non‐afforested steppe, highlights the complex environment–vegetation relationships that take place in this kind of system.
Self‐focused processing after severe traumatic brain injury: Relationship to neurocognitive functioning and mood symptoms
Authors: Ownsworth Tamara , Gooding Kynan , Beadle Elizabeth
Published: May 2018

Objective

To investigate the impact of neurocognitive functioning on the self‐focused processing styles of rumination and reflection, and the relationship to mood symptoms after severe traumatic brain injury (TBI).

Design

A cross‐sectional design with a between‐group component comparing self‐focused processing styles and mood symptoms of adults with TBI and age‐ and gender‐matched controls.

Method

Fifty‐two participants with severe TBI (75% male, M age = 36.56, SD = 12.39) completed cognitive tests of attention, memory, executive functioning and the Awareness Questionnaire, Reflection and Rumination Questionnaire (RRQ), and Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales (DASS – 21). Fifty age‐ and gender‐matched controls completed the RRQ and DASS‐21.

Results

TBI participants reported significantly greater mood symptoms than controls (p < .05); however, levels of rumination and reflection did not significantly differ. TBI participants high on both reflection and rumination had significantly greater mood symptoms than those with high reflection and low rumination (p < .001). Higher levels of rumination and reflection were associated with better working memory and immediate and delayed verbal memory (r = .36–.43, p < .01). Higher levels of rumination were also associated with greater verbal fluency, self‐awareness, and mood symptoms (r = .36–.70, p < .01).

Conclusions

Individuals with better memory functioning may be more likely to engage in self‐focused processing after severe TBI. Reflection without ruminative tendencies is more adaptive for mental health than reflection with rumination.

Practitioner points

Individuals with severe TBI report more mood symptoms than non‐injured controls but do not differ on self‐focused processing.

Poorer memory function is related to lower levels of rumination and reflection.

Reflection without ruminative tendencies is adaptive for mental health after severe TBI.

Individuals with greater self‐awareness and ruminative tendencies are at increased risk of mental health problems following severe TBI.

Limitations

Rumination and reflection were assessed using a self‐report measure which assumes that people with severe TBI are able to reliably report on self‐focused processing styles.

The direction of associations between self‐focused processing, self‐awareness, and mood symptoms could not be determined due to the cross‐sectional design.
Long‐Run Patterns of Labour Market Polarization: Evidence from German Micro Data
Authors: Bachmann Ronald , Cim Merve , Green Colin
Published: May 2018

The past four decades have witnessed dramatic changes in the structure of employment. In particular, the rapid increase in computational power has led to large‐scale reductions in employment in jobs that can be described as intensive in routine tasks. These jobs have been shown to be concentrated in middle‐skill occupations. A large literature on labour market polarization characterizes and measures these processes at an aggregate level. However, to date, there is little information regarding the individual worker adjustment processes related to routine‐biased technological change. Using an administrative panel dataset for Germany, we follow workers over an extended period of time and provide evidence of both the short‐term adjustment process and medium‐run effects of routine task‐intensive job loss at an individual level. We initially demonstrate a marked, and steady, shift in employment away from routine, middle‐skill, occupations. In subsequent analysis, we demonstrate how exposure to jobs with higher routine task content is associated with a reduced likelihood of being in employment in both the short term (after one year) and medium term (five years). This employment penalty to routineness of work has increased over the past four decades. More generally, we demonstrate that routine task work is associated with reduced job stability and more likelihood of experiencing periods of unemployment. However, these negative effects of routine work appear to be concentrated in increased employment to employment, and employment to unemployment transitions rather than longer periods of unemployment.
The Role of Employee Stock Purchase Plans — Gift and Incentive? Evidence from a Multinational Corporation
Authors: Bryson Alex , Freeman Richard B.
Published: May 2018

Employee share purchase plans (ESPPs) give free or discounted shares of stock to workers who buy shares in the hope that the greater share ownership will retain workers, build loyalty and raise productivity, as in gift exchange models. Using measures of workers’ organizational loyalty and sense of ownership in a multinational firm that puts the ESPP at the heart of its compensation policy, we find that workers who join the ESPP have lower turnover intentions and do less on‐the‐job search than others, motivated in part by gift exchange reciprocity, and also respond to the group incentive of ownership with greater work effort, longer hours, and lower absence rates. Workers in workplaces with high perceived rates of ESPP participation are more likely to intervene against shirkers. The results appear robust to the selectivity of who joins the ESPP. The mix of gifting shares to workers who buy shares and the group incentive of ownership makes ESPPs a unique dual form of compensation.
Middle Pleistocene ice‐marginal sedimentation at a constrained ice‐sheet margin, East Anglia, UK
Authors: Leszczynska Karolina , Boreham Steve , Gibbard Philip L.
Published: May 2018

This paper presents a reconstruction of the marginal zone of the Anglian (Elsterian, 480–420 ka BP) age ice sheet in the Danbury‐Tiptree area, East Anglia, UK. The research area is a unique locality where the ice front abutted against a 30‐km‐long and 100‐m‐tall ridge in an otherwise lowland area. Observations from three main field localities (Danbury quarry, Royal Oak pit and Tiptree quarry) are complemented with ground penetrating radar survey data, borehole data analysis, laboratory analyses and geological map interpretation. A four‐stage model of the evolution of the landscape in the Danbury‐Tiptree area is presented. The results are of broader importance, in that the sedimentary record sheds light on the processes operating at a constrained ice‐sheet margin. The paper identifies the most important characteristics of the depositional environments at an ice front terminating within this type of setting: (i) high temporal and spatial variability of energetic depositional conditions, resulting in the presence of a vast array of distinct depositional sub‐environments; (ii) mechanisms promoting differential erosion leading to enhanced topography, and (iii) unusually high overburden pressure in the topographically constrained ice margin within the otherwise lowland area influencing the ice‐sheet–bedrock interaction in this particular research area, inducing postglacial seismicity.
The reaction of hydrogen sulfide with disulfides: formation of a stable trisulfide and implications for biological systems
Authors: Bianco Christopher L , Akaike Takaaki , Ida Tomoaki , Nagy Peter , Bogdandi Virag , Toscano John P , Kumagai Yoshito , Henderson Catherine F , Goddu Robert N , Lin Joseph , Fukuto Jon M
Published: May 2018

Background and Purpose

The signalling associated with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) remains to be established, and recent studies have alluded to the possibility that H2S‐derived species play important roles. Of particular interest are hydropersulfides (RSSH) and related polysulfides (RSSnR, n > 1). This work elucidates the fundamental chemical relationship between these sulfur species as well as examines their biological effects.

Experimental Approach

Using standard analytical techniques (1H‐NMR and MS), the equilibrium reactions between H2S, disulfides (RSSR), RSSH, dialkyltrisulfides (RSSSR) and thiols (RSH) were examined. Their ability to protect cells from electrophilic and/or oxidative stress was also examined using cell culture.

Key Results

H2S, RSSR, RSSH, RSSSR and RSH are all in a dynamic equilibrium. In a biological system, these species can exist simultaneously, and thus, it is difficult to discern which species is (are) the biological effector(s). Treatment of cells with the dialkyl trisulfide cysteine trisulfide (Cys‐SSS‐Cys) resulted in high intracellular levels of hydropersulfides and protection from electrophilic stress.

Conclusions and Implications

In aqueous systems, the reaction between H2S and RSSR results in the formation of equilibria whereby H2S, RSH, RSSR, RSSH and RSSSR are present. In a biological system, any of these species can be responsible for the observed biological activity. These equilibrium species can also be generated via the reaction of RSH with RSSSR. Due to these equilibria, Cys‐SSS‐Cys can be a method for generating any of the other species. Importantly, HEK293T cells treated with Cys‐SSS‐Cys results in increased levels of hydropersulfides, allowing examination of the biological effects of RSSH.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Chemical Biology of Reactive Sulfur Species. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v176.4/issuetoc
Polymorphic adaptations in metazoans to establish and maintain photosymbioses
Authors: Melo Clavijo Jenny , Donath Alexander , Serôdio João , Christa Gregor
Published: May 2018

Mutualistic symbioses are common throughout the animal kingdom. Rather unusual is a form of symbiosis, photosymbiosis, where animals are symbiotic with photoautotrophic organisms. Photosymbiosis is found among sponges, cnidarians, flatworms, molluscs, ascidians and even some amphibians. Generally the animal host harbours a phototrophic partner, usually a cyanobacteria or a unicellular alga. An exception to this rule is found in some sea slugs, which only retain the chloroplasts of the algal food source and maintain them photosynthetically active in their own cytosol – a phenomenon called ‘functional kleptoplasty’. Research has focused largely on the biodiversity of photosymbiotic species across a range of taxa. However, many questions with regard to the evolution of the ability to establish and maintain a photosymbiosis are still unanswered. To date, attempts to understand genome adaptations which could potentially lead to the evolution of photosymbioses have only been performed in cnidarians. This knowledge gap for other systems is mainly due to a lack of genetic information, both for non‐symbiotic and symbiotic species. Considering non‐photosymbiotic species is, however, important to understand the factors that make symbiotic species so unique. Herein we provide an overview of the diversity of photosymbioses across the animal kingdom and discuss potential scenarios for the evolution of this association in different lineages. We stress that the evolution of photosymbiosis is probably based on genome adaptations, which (i) lead to recognition of the symbiont to establish the symbiosis, and (ii) are needed to maintain the symbiosis. We hope to stimulate research involving sequencing the genomes of various key taxa to increase the genomic resources needed to understand the most fundamental question: how have animals evolved the ability to establish and maintain a photosymbiosis?
Narrative Matters: Stop running and start thinking
Authors: Kraemer Sebastian
Published: May 2018

A work discussion group creates space for colleagues both to learn from and support one another. I outline some of the historical events that led to this powerful method of professional development, and how it works today.
Plasma metabolite profiles in children with current asthma
Authors: Kelly R. S. , Sordillo J. E. , Lasky‐Su J. , Dahlin A. , Perng W. , Rifas‐Shiman S. L. , Weiss S. T. , Gold D. R. , Litonjua A. A. , Hivert M.‐F. , Oken E. , Wu A. C.
Published: May 2018

Background

Identifying metabolomic profiles of children with asthma has the potential to increase understanding of asthma pathophysiology.

Objective

To identify differences in plasma metabolites between children with and without current asthma at mid‐childhood.

Methods

We used untargeted mass spectrometry to measure plasma metabolites in 237 children (46 current asthma cases and 191 controls) in Project Viva, a birth cohort from eastern Massachusetts, USA. Current asthma was assessed at mid‐childhood (mean age 8.0 years). The ability of a broad spectrum metabolic profile to distinguish between cases and controls was assessed using partial least squares discriminant analysis. We used logistic regression models to identify individual metabolites that were differentially abundant by case–control status. We tested significant metabolites for replication in 411 children from the VDAART clinical trial.

Results

There was no evidence of a systematic difference in the metabolome of children reporting current asthma vs. healthy controls according to partial least squares discriminant analysis. However, several metabolites were associated with odds of current asthma at a nominally significant threshold (P < .05), including a metabolite of nicotinamide (N1‐Methyl‐2‐pyridone‐5‐carboxamide (Odds Ratio (OR) = 2.8 (95% CI 1.1‐8.0)), a pyrimidine metabolite (5,6‐dihydrothymine (OR = 0.4 (95% CI 0.2‐0.9)), bile constituents (biliverdin (OR = 0.4 (95%CI 0.1‐0.9), taurocholate (OR = 2.0 (95% CI 1.2‐3.4)), two peptides likely derived from fibrinopeptide A (ORs from 1.6 to 1.7), and a gut microbiome metabolite (p‐cresol sulphate OR = 0.5 (95% CI 0.2‐0.9)). The associations for N1‐Methyl‐2‐pyridone‐5‐carboxamide and p‐cresol sulphate replicated in the independent VDAART population (one‐sided P values = .03‐.04).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Current asthma is nominally associated with altered levels of several metabolites, including metabolites in the nicotinamide pathway, and a bacterial metabolite derived from the gut microbiome.
Echocardiographic assessment of ventricular contraction and synchrony in children with isolated complete atrioventricular block and epicardial pacing: Implications of interventricular mechanical delay
Authors: Hayashi Taiyu , Ono Hiroshi , Kaneko Yukihiro
Published: May 2018

Aims

To assess the correlations between interventricular mechanical delay (IVMD) and cardiac function in children with isolated complete atrioventricular block and epicardial pacing.

Methods and Results

We enrolled 13 children (six boys) with an epicardial dual‐chamber pacemaker due to isolated complete or advanced atrioventricular block. The patients were 9.8 (range, 6.8–15.3) years old, and none had symptomatic heart failure at the follow‐up visit. Ventricular pacing sites, which remained the same for 7.2 (1.6–12.3) years, were the left ventricle (LV) in two patients, right ventricle (RV) in four patients, and both ventricles in seven patients. IVMD was ≤40 ms in six patients (short IVMD group) and >40 ms in seven patients (long IVMD group). Compared with the long IVMD group, the short IVMD group was associated with better LV longitudinal strain (–20% [–24% to –18%] vs –16% [–20% to –13%], P < .05). The short IVMD group had superior LV mechanical synchrony than the long IVMD group (septal to lateral delay of the time to peak longitudinal strain 15 [−16–78] ms vs 78 [13–93] ms, P < .05; standard deviation of the time to peak radial strain 13 [9–34] ms vs 35 [18–64] ms, P < .05).

Conclusion

In children with epicardial pacing at LV, RV, or both ventricles, a left‐sided contraction delay was associated with poorer LV contraction and impaired LV synchrony. IVMD will help to stratify patients during follow‐up.
The effect of warmer winters on the demography of an outbreak insect is hidden by intraspecific competition
Authors: Goodsman Devin W. , Grosklos Guenchik , Aukema Brian H. , Whitehouse Caroline , Bleiker Katherine P. , McDowell Nate G. , Middleton Richard S. , Xu Chonggang
Published: May 2018

Warmer climates are predicted to increase bark beetle outbreak frequency, severity, and range. Even in favorable climates, however, outbreaks can decelerate due to resource limitation, which necessitates the inclusion of competition for limited resources in analyses of climatic effects on populations. We evaluated several hypotheses of how climate impacts mountain pine beetle reproduction using an extensive 9‐year dataset, in which nearly 10,000 trees were sampled across a region of approximately 90,000 km2, that was recently invaded by the mountain pine beetle in Alberta, Canada. Our analysis supports the hypothesis of a positive effect of warmer winter temperatures on mountain pine beetle overwinter survival and provides evidence that the increasing trend in minimum winter temperatures over time in North America is an important driver of increased mountain pine beetle reproduction across the region. Although we demonstrate a consistent effect of warmer minimum winter temperatures on mountain pine beetle reproductive rates that is evident at the landscape and regional scales, this effect is overwhelmed by the effect of competition for resources within trees at the site level. Our results suggest that detection of the effects of a warming climate on bark beetle populations at small spatial scales may be difficult without accounting for negative density dependence due to competition for resources.
Role of chromogenic assays in haemophilia A and B diagnosis
Authors: Bowyer A. E. , Duncan E. M. , Antovic J. P.
Published: May 2018

The laboratory diagnosis and monitoring of factorsVIIIandIXhave been primarily by one‐stage clotting assay (OSA) for many years. Chromogenic assays (CSA) have been available only in specialist laboratories and not for routine use. Significant differences, of more than 1.5‐fold in results between the 2 assay methods, have been described in Europe and Australia in approximately one‐third of patients with mild haemophilia A. In certain discrepant groups with restrictedF8gene mutations, theOSAresults are more than 1.5‐fold higher thanCSAand risk a missed or misleading diagnostic result. More recently, an assay discrepancy in haemophilia B has been reported. With the introduction of extended half‐life (EHL)FVIIIandFIXproducts, it is likely most coagulation laboratories will need to evaluate at least oneCSAand gain experience with this technique. The validation ofCSAinvolves a careful appraisal of calibration curve linearity, limit of detection, precision, reference range, quality control material, sample analysis, method comparison and cost. This review will discuss the current status ofFVIIIandFIX CSAfor the diagnosis of haemophilia A and B and describe approaches to implementCSAinto the laboratory repertoire.
Effects of ultrasound treatment and concentration of ethanol on selectivity of phenolic extraction from apple pomace
Authors: Wang Lu , Boussetta Nadia , Lebovka Nikolai , Vorobiev Eugene
Published: May 2018

The extraction of polyphenols from apple pomace was studied using ultrasound, ethanol/water mixtures and moderate temperatures, 20–37 °C. The extraction kinetics and extraction yields of catechin and total phenolic content (TPC) were evaluated at different times of ultrasound treatment (tu) and concentrations of ethanol (Ce). The highest extraction efficiency of TPC was observed at tu = 30 min, Ce = 50% and total extraction time of te = 60 min. The high selectivity of catechin extraction was demonstrated by analysing the relative content of catechin (R = Cc/TPC) in dependence of applied extraction protocol. The initial portions of extracts at small levels of TPC (≤50 mg per 100 DM) were richer in catechin content (R ≈ 15%–31%), whereas the last portions of extracts with high level of TPS were more exhausted in catechin (R ≈ 2%).
End‐stage renal disease patients using angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers may reduce the risk of mortality: a Taiwanese Nationwide cohort study
Authors: Lee Hsin‐Fu , See Lai‐Chu , Chan Yi‐Hsin , Yeh Yung‐Hsin , Wu Lung‐Sheng , Liu Jia‐Rou , Tu Hui‐Tzu , Wang Chun‐Li , Kuo Chi‐Tai , Chang Shang‐Hung
Published: May 2018

Background

The association between the use of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) and mortality in end‐stage renal disease (ESRD) patients lacks sufficient evidence.

Aim

To investigate the efficacy of ACEI and ARB in ESRD patients.

Methods

This nationwide retrospective cohort study using data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database enrolled ESRD patients from January 1997 to December 2011. Propensity score matching provided two study groups (ACEI/ARB users vs non‐users), balanced in sample size, with similar comorbidities and prescriptions. These patients were followed up from the first date of receiving dialysis until mortality, 5 years or 31 December 2013 (whichever came first). We analysed the association of the use of ACEI or ARB with cardiovascular (CV) death and all‐cause mortality in patients with ESRD using the Kaplan–Meier method and time‐dependent Cox models, with a robust sandwich variance method.

Results

After propensity score matching, all characteristics of the user of ACEI or ARB (n = 17 280) and non‐user (n = 17 280) groups were appropriately balanced (P > 0.05). In the Cox proportional hazards model, the user group exhibited lower CV death and all‐cause mortality with adjusted hazard ratios and 95% CI of 0.58 (0.55–0.62) and 0.47 (0.46–0.49) than the non‐user group did. Furthermore, the association of ACEI/ARB use with low mortality risk was observed in all examined subgroups.

Conclusion

In this large‐scale, population‐based cohort study, ESRD patients using ACEI/ARB had a lower risk of CV death and all‐cause mortality than non‐users did.
Cold chain investment and pricing decisions in a fresh food supply chain
Authors: Wang Min , Zhao Lindu
Published: May 2018

Cold chains play an important role in reducing food spoilage, attracting food safety sensitive consumers, and guaranteeing food safety. Despite these advantages, the implementation of cold chains also calls for massive investment. Considering both costs and benefits of cold chains, our research established an optimization model for a fresh food supply chain to maximize its members' profits. Optimal investment levels of cold chain construction and advertisement, along with optimal pricing, were determined. The analysis shows that collaborative cold chain investment and collaborative pricing are superior strategies for the supply chain. Furthermore, we discuss the role of consumer food safety awareness and observe relatively high levels of cold chain investments and the mutually reinforcing effect of supply chain members' cold chain investments in a food safety sensitive market. Therefore, we suggest that governments should encourage improved food safety awareness among consumers to motivate cold chain investment and thus guarantee food safety.
Effectiveness of the strategies of an orientation programme for the lifestyle and wound‐healing process in patients with venous ulcer: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Domingues Elaine Aparecida Rocha , Kaizer Uiara Aline Oliveira , Lima Maria Helena Melo
Published: May 2018

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of strategies of a lifestyle orientation programme on patients with venous ulcer in elastic compression therapy. This was a single‐blind, 2‐arm, randomised clinical controlled trial. The primary outcome included the reduction of the wound surface area. The secondary outcomes included the perception of pain, questionnaire of ulcer status, and quality of life. Seventy‐one patients with ulcers of venous aetiology were randomised into 2 arms: control group (CG) and intervention group (IG), with a 12‐week follow up. The CG was provided with the routine guidelines of the health services. Meanwhile, the IG was provided with lifestyle guidelines regarding the physiopathology of a venous ulcer, importance of compression therapy, physical exercises and rest in 4 face‐to‐face and 2 telephone interviews. The IG had significant improvement on the wound healing on 30, 60, and 90 days of follow up when compared with the CG (P = .0197; P = .0472; P = .0116). There were no statistical differences between groups; both had improvement in the quality of life and pain perception. Our results demonstrated that elastic compression therapy along with guidelines on lifestyle is effective adjunctive treatment to promote wound healing in patients with leg ulcers.
Haemorrhage from varicose veins and varicose ulceration: A systematic review
Authors: Serra Raffaele , Ielapi Nicola , Bevacqua Egidio , Rizzuto Antonia , De Caridi Giovanni , Massara Mafalda , Casella Filomena , Di Mizio Giulio , de Franciscis Stefano
Published: May 2018

Varicose veins (VVs) and varicose ulceration (VU) are usually considered non‐life‐threatening conditions, but in some cases they can lead to major complications such as fatal bleeding. The aim of this systematic review is to evidence the most updated information on bleeding from VV and VU. As evidence acquisition, we planned to include all the studies dealing with “Haemorrhage/Bleeding” and “VVs/VU”. We excluded all the studies, which did not properly fit our research question, and with insufficient data. As evidence synthesis, of the 172 records found, after removing of duplicates, and after records excluded in title and abstract, 85 matched our inclusion criteria. After reading the full‐text articles, we decided to exclude 68 articles because of the following reasons: (1) not responding properly to our research questions; (2) insufficient data; the final set included 17 articles. From literature searching, we identify the following main issues to be discussed in the review: epidemiology and predisposing factors, pathophysiology and forensic aspects, first aid.

It has been estimated that deaths for bleeding due to peripheral venous problems account up to 0.01% of autopsy cases. From a pathological point of view, venous bleeding may arise from either acute or chronic perforation of an enlarged vein segment through the weakened skin. From a forensic point of view, in cases of fatal haemorrhage the death scene can even simulate non‐natural events, due to crime or suicide. In most cases, incorrect first aid led to fatal complications. Further investigation on epidemiology and prevention measures are needed.
miR‐21 promotes cardiac fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast transformation and myocardial fibrosis by targeting Jagged1
Authors: Zhou Xue‐liang , Xu Hua , Liu Zhi‐bo , Wu Qi‐cai , Zhu Rong‐rong , Liu Ji‐chun
Published: May 2018

Myocardial fibrosis after myocardial infarction (MI) is a leading cause of heart diseases. MI activates cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) and promotes CF to myofibroblast transformation (CMT). This study aimed to investigate the role of miR‐21 in the regulation of CMT and myocardial fibrosis. Primary rat CFs were isolated from young SD rats and treated with TGF‐β1, miR‐21 sponge or Jagged1 siRNA. Cell proliferation, invasion and adhesion were detected. MI model was established in male SD rats using LAD ligation method and infected with recombinant adenovirus. The heart function and morphology was evaluated by ultrasonic and histological analysis. We found that TGF‐β1 induced the up‐regulation of miR‐21 and down‐regulation of Jagged1 in rat CFs. Luciferase assay showed that miR‐21 targeted 3′‐UTR of Jagged1 in rat CFs. miR‐21 sponge inhibited the transformation of rat CFs into myofibroblasts, and abolished the inhibition of Jagged1 mRNA and protein expression by TGF‐β1. Furthermore, these effects of miR‐21 sponge on rat CFS were reversed by siRNA mediated knockdown of Jagged1. In vivo, heart dysfunction and myocardial fibrosis in MI model rats were partly improved by miR‐21 sponge but were aggravated by Jagged1 knockdown. Taken together, these results suggest that miR‐21 promotes cardiac fibroblast‐to‐myofibroblast transformation and myocardial fibrosis by targeting Jagged1. miR‐21 and Jagged1 are potential therapeutic targets for myocardial fibrosis.
Parliamentary Diplomacy and Legislative‐Executive Relations in EU Foreign Policy: Studying the European Parliament's Mediation of the Macedonian Political Crisis (2015–17)
Authors: Fonck Daan
Published: May 2018

This article studies the co‐operation between parliamentary and executive diplomats in EU foreign policy. Building on transnational perspectives, the European Parliament is conceptualized as an actor capable of pursuing autonomous diplomatic behaviour through cross‐border agency over its elected representatives, its bureaucracy, as well as through European party federations. A novel framework is proposed, built around the hypothesis that parliamentary and executive actors co‐operate by exchanging institutional, information, legitimacy and access resources in order to reach their goals more effectively. To demonstrate the argument empirically, the article studies EU‐facilitated mediation talks in Macedonia (2015–17). Building on semi‐structured interviews with 27 key stakeholders, the analysis shows how during the different stages of the mediation, executive and parliamentary actors exchanged crucial diplomatic resources in order to effectively conclude and implement the so‐called Pržino‐agreements between the government and opposition parties.
Niche conservatism and phylogenetic clustering in a tribe of arid‐adapted marsupial mice, the Sminthopsini
Authors: García‐Navas Vicente , Westerman Michael
Published: May 2018

The progressive expansion of the Australian arid zone during the last 20 Ma appears to have spurred the diversification of several families of plants, vertebrates and invertebrates, yet such taxonomic groups appear to show limited niche radiation. Here, we test whether speciation is associated with niche conservatism (constraints on ecological divergence) or niche divergence in a tribe of marsupial mice (Sminthopsini; 23 taxa) that includes the most speciose genus of living dasyurids, the sminthopsins. To that end, we integrated phylogenetic data with ecological niche modelling, to enable us to reconstruct the evolution of climatic suitability within Sminthopsini. Niche overlap among species was low‐moderate (but generally higher than expected given environmental background similarity), and the degree of phylogenetic clustering increased with aridity. Climatic niche reconstruction illustrates that there has been little apparent evolution of climatic tolerance within clades. Accordingly, climatic disparity tends to be accumulated among clades, suggesting considerable niche conservatism. Our results also indicate that evolution of climatic tolerances has been heterogeneous across different dimensions of climate (temperature vs. precipitation) and across phylogenetic clusters (Sminthopsis murina group vs. other groups). Although some results point to the existence of shifts in climatic niches during the speciation of sminthopsins, our study provides evidence for substantial phylogenetic niche conservatism in the group. We conclude that niche diversification had a low impact on the speciation of this tribe of small, but highly mobile marsupials.