bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Brand love in progress – the interdependence of brand love antecedents in consideration of relationship duration
Authors: Huber Frank , Meyer Frederik , Schmid David Alexander
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to investigate the dynamic nature of consumer–brand relationships and, in particular, the passionate dimension of brand love. It explores the relevance of the two dimensions of the identification construct (inner and social self) for the creation of passionate love for a brand. More precisely, it attends to the possible mediating character of identification between the perceived utilitarian or hedonic value and passionate brand love. These effects are analysed in consideration of the moderating effect of relationship duration taking a further-reaching perspective and contributing to the understanding of the transformation of the brand love construct within a long-term consumer–brand relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

– A survey on universally known brands representing both a hedonic and a utilitarian concept was conducted. The model has been tested using the partial least squares approach to structural equation modelling.

Findings

– The effects of the antecedents of passionate brand love in general vary with increasing relationship duration. Inner self has a stronger effect on passionate brand love than social self and becomes even more important as the relationship matures. Hedonic and utilitarian value both show substantial direct and indirect effects, but the importance of utilitarian aspects grows with time, substantiating the rational nature of brand love within a long-term consumer–brand relationship.

Research limitations/implications

– As we assessed the perceived duration of an intimate relationship, longitudinal analysis should provide even more profound results.

Practical implications

– Inasmuch as emotional attributes drive passionate feelings for a brand, the core utilitarian assets of a brand also evoke passionate love and should be highlighted, especially in long-term relationships with customers.

Originality/value

– This paper investigates the interdependent effects of identification and customer perceived value (hedonic and utilitarian value) as antecedents of passionate brand love. This paper adapts a dynamic perspective on consumer–brand relationships by taking into account the moderating effect of perceived relationship duration.
Open Access Publishing, academic research and scholarly communication
Authors: Osborne Robin
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the difference between Open Access and accessibility, to argue that accessibility is the most crucial feature, and to suggest some ways in which Open Access militates against accessibility.

Design/methodology/approach

– Analysis of best practice by journals and monograph publishers is used to highlight the degree to which accessibility is enhanced by input from readers and editors. The expense of this, both real and hidden, is shown to be compatible only with difficulty with publishing methods where keeping costs low is essential, and Open Access alternatives that make available manuscripts “as submitted” are shown to make available less accessible scholarship.

Findings

– Scholarship is markedly improved by referees and editors; the emphasis needs to be put on making available the most accessible scholarship, not on making more scholarship available.

Practical implications

– Journals and publishers should concentrate on, and research councils and similar bodies insist upon, ensuring high quality critical review and editing, not cost-free access.

Originality/value

– The debate on Open Access has put its emphasis in the wrong place. Rather than easier access to more scholarship, increased resource devoted to pre-publication review, revision and editing is the most important development to ensure the greatest advances in research and scholarship.
Open Access publishing and scholarly communications in non-scientific disciplines
Authors: Eve Martin Paul
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the current state of debates surrounding Open Access (OA) in non-STEM disciplines.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper uses a selective literature review and discussion methodology to give a representative summary of the state of the art.

Findings

– Non-STEM disciplines persistently lag behind scientific disciplines in their approach to OA, if the teleology towards open dissemination is accepted. This can be attributed to a variety of economic and cultural factors that centre on the problem of resource allocation with respect to quality.

Originality/value

– This paper will be of value to policymakers, funders, academics and publishers. The original aspect of the paper pertains to the identification of an anxiety of irrelevance in the humanities disciplines and a focus on “quality” in Open-Access publishing debates.
Making Open Access work
Authors: Pinfield Stephen
Published: September 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of one of the most important and controversial areas of scholarly communication: Open Access publishing and dissemination of research outputs. It identifies and discusses recent trends and future challenges for various stakeholders in delivering Open Access (OA) to the scholarly literature.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is based on a number of interrelated strands of evidence which make up the current discourse on OA, comprising the peer-reviewed literature, grey literature and other forms of communication (including blogs and e-mail discussion lists). It uses a large-scale textual analysis of the peer-reviewed literature since 2010 (carried out using the VOSviewer tool) as a basis for discussion of issues raised in the OA discourse.

Findings

– A number of key themes are identified, including the relationship between “Green” OA (deposit in repositories) and “Gold” OA (OA journal publication), the developing evidence base associated with OA, researcher attitudes and behaviours, policy directions, management of repositories, development of journals, institutional responses and issues around impact and scholarly communication futures. It suggests that current challenges now focus on how OA can be made to work in practice, having moved on from the discussion of whether it should happen at all.

Originality/value

– The paper provides a structured evidence-based review of major issues in the OA field, and suggests key areas for future research and policy development.
Enhanced biofilm formation and multi‐host transmission evolve from divergent genetic backgrounds in Campylobacter jejuni
Authors: Pascoe Ben , Méric Guillaume , Murray Susan , Yahara Koji , Mageiros Leonardos , Bowen Ryan , Jones Nathan H. , Jeeves Rose E. , Lappin‐Scott Hilary M. , Asakura Hiroshi , Sheppard Samuel K.
Published: September 2015

Multicellular biofilms are an ancient bacterial adaptation that offers a protective environment for survival in hostile habitats. In microaerophilic organisms such as Campylobacter, biofilms play a key role in transmission to humans as the bacteria are exposed to atmospheric oxygen concentrations when leaving the reservoir host gut. Genetic determinants of biofilm formation differ between species, but little is known about how strains of the same species achieve the biofilm phenotype with different genetic backgrounds. Our approach combines genome‐wide association studies with traditional microbiology techniques to investigate the genetic basis of biofilm formation in 102 Campylobacter jejuni isolates. We quantified biofilm formation among the isolates and identified hotspots of genetic variation in homologous sequences that correspond to variation in biofilm phenotypes. Thirteen genes demonstrated a statistically robust association including those involved in adhesion, motility, glycosylation, capsule production and oxidative stress. The genes associated with biofilm formation were different in the host generalist ST‐21 and ST‐45 clonal complexes, which are frequently isolated from multiple host species and clinical samples. This suggests the evolution of enhanced biofilm from different genetic backgrounds and a possible role in colonization of multiple hosts and transmission to humans.
High‐resolution analysis of the m‐xylene/toluene biodegradation subtranscriptome of Pseudomonas putida mt‐2
Authors: Kim Juhyun , Pérez‐Pantoja Danilo , Silva‐Rocha Rafael , Oliveros Juan Carlos , de Lorenzo Víctor
Published: September 2015

Pseudomonas putida mt‐2 metabolizes m‐xylene and other aromatic compounds through the enzymes encoded by the xyl operons of the TOL plasmid pWW0 along with other chromosomally encoded activities. Tiling arrays of densely overlapping oligonucleotides were designed to cover every gene involved in this process, allowing dissection of operon structures and exposing the interplay of plasmid and chromosomal functions. All xyl sequences were transcribed in response to aromatic substrates and the 3′‐termini of both upper and lower mRNA operons extended beyond their coding regions, i.e. the 3′‐end of the lower operon mRNA penetrated into the convergent xylS regulatory gene. Furthermore, xylR mRNA for the master m‐xylene responsive regulator of the system was decreased by aromatic substrates, while the cognate upper operon mRNA was evenly stable throughout its full length. RNA sequencing confirmed these data at a single nucleotide level and refined the formerly misannotated xylL sequence. The chromosomal ortho route for degradation of benzoate (the ben, cat clusters and some pca genes) was activated by this aromatic, but not by the TOL substrates, toluene or m‐xylene. We advocate this scenario as a testbed of natural retroactivity between a pre‐existing metabolic network and a new biochemical pathway implanted through gene transfer.
Rethinking industrial citizenship: the role and meaning of work in an age of austerity
Authors: Strangleman Tim
Published: September 2015

T. H. Marshall in his famous tract Citizenship and Social Class wrote briefly about what he called ‘industrial citizenship’, a type of belonging rooted in the workplace. Here Marshall's ideas are developed alongside a consideration of Durkheim's Professional Ethics and Civic Morals together with research material from the Guinness Company. It shows the way the Company actively sought to create ‘Guinness citizenship’ within its London brewery. The article draws out the ways in which the significance and potential of work based citizenship for ameliorating the ills of industrial society are clearly articulated in mid‐twentieth century Britain and echo earlier neglected Durkheimian sociological ideas on work. These ideas have real potential to inform contemporary academic and policy debates about the nature of capitalism and the form and content of work now and in the future.
Effect of γ‐aminobutyric acid on the physicochemical, rheological and sensory properties of yoghurt
Authors: Liu Mingying , Wang Yaosong , Jiang Lihua , Xia Quanming , Qiu Yongjun , Fan Liqiang , Zhou Jiachun , Zhao Liming
Published: September 2015

This study aimed to investigate the impacts of dairy processing conditions on the γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) content and the effect of GABA on the quality of the resulting yoghurt. Serial concentrations of GABA (0.05–1.0%, w/w, milk basis) were designed during the preparation of yoghurt. Colour and physicochemical and rheological properties of yoghurt were also examined. The results indicated that the fermentation process had no significant influence on GABA content. The GABA level greatly improved the texture properties of the resulting product at a concentration of 0.5% (w/w), whereas higher GABA concentrations impaired the texture. The lightness (L) value of yoghurt also increased in line with the GABA concentration.
Asset Measurement in Imperfect Credit Markets
Authors: BERTOMEU JEREMY , CHEYNEL EDWIGE
Published: September 2015

How should a firm measure a productive asset used as collateral? To answer this question, we develop a model in which firms borrow funds subject to collateral constraints. We characterize the qualities of optimal asset measurements and analyze their interactions with financing needs, collateral constraints, and interest rates. Because of real effects, complete transparency would reduce contracting efficiency and, hence, the measurement must be suitably adapted to credit conditions. The optimal measurement is asymmetric and reports precise information about high collateral values if credit frictions are low, but the reverse if credit frictions are high. Tighter credit market conditions may lead to more opaque measurements and increased investment, in the form of inefficient continuations.
Acetaldehyde as Key Compound for the Authenticity of Sherry Wines: A Study Covering 5 Decades
Authors: Zea Luis , Serratosa María P. , Mérida Julieta , Moyano Lourdes
Published: September 2015

Sherry wines are consumed worldwide and are principally produced in the Jerez and Montilla‐Moriles regions of southern Spain. Acetaldehyde is a relevant carbonyl compound in wines and one of the main responsible for the particular personality of Sherry wines with a ripe apple odor descriptor. Aldehyde dehydrogenase plays an important role in yeast acetaldehyde metabolism. Acetaldehyde contents in Sherry wines subjected to biological aging strongly depend on yeast populations, and the formation of velum depends on specific amino acids, oxygen availability, and the composition of the wine. Both biological and oxidative aging processes increase the acetaldehyde content in Sherry, although some of the acetaldehyde is oxidized to acetic acid and subsequently transformed into acetyl‐CoA. In sensory terms, 1,1‐diethoxyethane and other acetals, acetoin, and sotolon are the main compounds formed from acetaldehyde in Sherry wines. The chemical browning pathway of wine by the condensation between phenols and acetaldehyde is especially important in Sherry wines. Acetaldehyde can inhibit the velum formation at higher concentration than its threshold tolerance; also, it could be responsible for the high mitochondrial DNA polymorphism observed in flor yeasts. Usually, acetaldehyde is used to control the biological aging of Fino Sherry. A faster production of acetaldehyde could be considered to shorten the aging process of Sherry. In recent years, the acetaldehyde formed during ethanol metabolism in alcoholic beverages has been associated with carcinogenic processes; however, no systematic data are available about this statement.
Variant of the clock circadian regulator (CLOCK) gene and related haplotypes are associated with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the Japanese population
Authors: Uemura Hirokazu , Katsuura‐Kamano Sakurako , Yamaguchi Miwa , Arisawa Kokichi , Hamajima Nobuyuki , Hishida Asahi , Kawai Sayo , Oze Isao , Shinchi Koichi , Takashima Naoyuki , Suzuki Sadao , Nakahata Noriko , Mikami Haruo , Ohnaka Keizo , Kuriyama Nagato , Kubo Michiaki , Tanaka Hideo ,   for the Japan Multi‐Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J‐MICC) Study Group
Published: September 2015

Background

Circadian rhythm disruptions can cause various health disorders. The present study evaluated associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms in the core circadian gene clock circadian regulator (CLOCK) and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in the Japanese population.

Methods

Cross‐sectional data were analyzed from 2485 subjects (1243 men, 1242 women; age 35–69 years) enrolled in the baseline surveys of the Japan Multi‐Institutional Collaborative Cohort (J‐MICC) Study. Associations between three CLOCK gene polymorphisms (rs1801260, rs3736544, and rs4864548) and the prevalence of obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥25 kg/m2), overweight (BMI ≥23 kg/m2), and T2D were evaluated by logistic regression analyses; haplotype analysis and stratified analyses for the prevalence of diabetes were also conducted.

Results

Compared with those who were homozygous for the respective major alleles, subjects with the rs1801260 minor allele C had a significantly higher odds ratio (1.5; 95% confidence interval 1.1–2.1) for the prevalence of diabetes after adjustment for potential confounding factors, including BMI. When stratified by overweight, the associations between rs1801260 and the prevalence of diabetes were marked and significant in non‐overweight subjects, but not in overweight subjects. The TGA (rs1801260–rs3736544–rs4864548) haplotype was associated with a lower prevalence of diabetes, whereas the CGG haplotype was associated with a higher prevalence of diabetes.

Conclusions

Variant of the CLOCK gene and related haplotypes are associated with the prevalence of T2D in the Japanese population, in which obesity is less common, and the association between CLOCK gene variant at rs1801260 and the prevalence of diabetes is enhanced in normal‐weight subjects.
The Half RR Rule: A Poor Rule of Thumb and Not a Risk Assessment Tool for QT Interval Prolongation
Authors: Berling Ingrid , Isbister Geoffrey K.
Published: September 2015

Objectives

Measuring the QT interval on an electrocardiogram (ECG) is integral to risk assessment of Torsade de Pointes (TdP). This study aimed to investigate the accuracy of the 1/2 RR rule as a risk assessment tool for drug‐induced TdP, comparing it to the QT nomogram, Bazett's corrected QT (QTcB), and Fridericia's corrected QT (QTcF).

Methods

The authors calculated sensitivity and specificity of the 1/2 RR rule using a published data set of 129 cases of drug‐induced TdP and 316 controls (noncardiotoxic overdoses), compared to the QT nomogram, QTcB > 500 msec and QTcF > 500 msec. To further determine the value of the 1/2 RR rule, its observed positive, and negative agreement were calculated when compared to the QT nomogram for determining an abnormal QT in eight samples of different drugs in overdose.

Results

The sensitivity and specificity of the 1/2 RR rule were 88% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 80% to 93%) and 53% (95% CI = 47% to 58%), respectively, compared to the QT nomogram (sensitivity = 97%, 95% CI = 92% to 99%; specificity = 99%, 95% CI = 97% to 100%). It was also less sensitive than QTcB > 500 msec and had a lower specificity than QTcB > 500 msec and QTcF > 500 msec. In drug overdose patients, the 1/2 RR rule had poor observed agreement averaging 41%, which was mainly due to poor positive agreement, except for amisulpride where there was good agreement.

Conclusions

The 1/2 RR rule was not as sensitive as the QT nomogram or QTcB > 500 msec for drug‐induced TdP. It had poor positive agreement in almost all overdose patients, resulting in over half of patients receiving unnecessary cardiac monitoring and repeat ECGs.
Are Mortality and Acute Morbidity in Patients Presenting With Nonspecific Complaints Predictable Using Routine Variables?
Authors: Jenny Mirjam A. , Hertwig Ralph , Ackermann Selina , Messmer Anna S. , Karakoumis Julia , Nickel Christian H. , Bingisser Roland
Published: September 2015

Objectives

Patients presenting to the emergency department (ED) with nonspecific complaints are difficult to accurately triage, risk stratify, and diagnose. This can delay appropriate treatment. The extent to which key medical outcomes are at all predictable in these patients, and which (if any) predictors are useful, has previously been unclear. To investigate these questions, we tested an array of statistical and machine learning models in a large group of patients and estimated the predictability of mortality (which occurred in 6.6% of our sample of patients), acute morbidity (58%), and presence of acute infectious disease (28.2%).

Methods

To investigate whether the best available tools can predict the three key outcomes, we fed data from a sample of 1,278 ED patients with nonspecific complaints into 17 state‐of‐the‐art statistical and machine learning models. The patient sample stems from a diagnostic multicenter study with prospective 30‐day follow‐up conducted in Switzerland. Predictability of the three key medical outcomes was quantified by computing the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) for each model.

Results

The models performed at different levels but, on average, the predictability of the target outcomes ranged between 0.71 and 0.82. The better models clearly outperformed physicians’ intuitive judgments of how ill patients looked (AUC = 0.67 for mortality, 0.65 for morbidity, and 0.60 for infectious disease).

Conclusions

Modeling techniques can be used to derive formalized models that, on average, predict the outcomes of mortality, acute morbidity, and acute infectious disease in patients with nonspecific complaints with a level of accuracy far beyond chance. The models also predicted these outcomes more accurately than did physicians’ intuitive judgments of how ill the patients look; however, the latter was among the small set of best predictors for mortality and acute morbidity. These results lay the groundwork for further refining triage and risk stratification tools for patients with nonspecific complaints. More research, informed by whether the goal of a model is high sensitivity or high specificity, is needed to develop readily applicable clinical decision support tools (e.g., decision trees) that could be supported by electronic health records.
Short‐term Efficacy of a Brief Intervention to Reduce Drug Misuse and Increase Drug Treatment Utilization Among Adult Emergency Department Patients
Authors: Merchant Roland C. , Baird Janette R. , Liu Tao
Published: September 2015

Objectives

Although brief interventions (BIs) have shown some success for smoking cessation and alcohol misuse, it is not known if they can be applied in the emergency department (ED) to drug use and misuse. The objectives of this investigation were to assess the 3‐month efficacy of a BI to reduce drug use and misuse, increase drug treatment services utilization among adult ED patients, and identify subgroups more likely to benefit from the BI.

Methods

This randomized, controlled trial enrolled 18‐ to 64‐year‐old English‐ or Spanish‐speaking patients from two urban, academic EDs whose responses to the Alcohol, Smoking, and Substance Involvement Screening Test indicated a need for a brief or intensive intervention. Treatment participants received a tailored BI, while control participants only completed the study questionnaires. At the 3‐month follow‐up, each participant's past 3‐month drug use and misuse and treatment utilization were compared to his or her baseline enrollment data. Regression modeling was used to identify subgroups of patients (per demographic and clinical factors) more likely to stop or reduce their drug use or misuse or engage in drug treatment by the 3‐month follow‐up assessment.

Results

Of the 1,030 participants, the median age was 30 years (interquartile range = 24 to 42 years), and 46% were female; 57% were white/non‐Hispanic, 24.9% were black/non‐Hispanic, and 15% were Hispanic. The most commonly misused drugs were marijuana, prescription opioids, cocaine/crack, and benzodiazepines. Although at follow‐up the proportions of participants reporting any past 3‐month drug misuse had decreased in both study arms (control 84% vs. treatment 78%), the decreases were similar between the two study arms (Δ–6.3%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = –13.0% to 0.0). In addition, at follow‐up there were no differences between study arms in those who were currently receiving drug treatment (Δ1.8; 95% CI = –3.5 to 6.8), who had received treatment during the past 3 months (Δ–2.0; 95% CI = –6.5 to 2.4), or who at least contacted a treatment program (Δ 1.7; 95% CI = –2.4 to 6.1). Those whose baseline screening indicated the need for a brief instead of a more intensive intervention, and those currently engaged in drug treatment at the 3‐month follow‐up, were generally more likely to stop or decrease their drug use/misuse.

Conclusions

The BI employed in this study did not reduce drug use and misuse or increase treatment utilization more than the control condition over a 3‐month period. Future research should help determine what role, if any, BIs should play in affecting drug use and misuse among ED patients.
The Role of Necroptosis in Burn Injury Progression in a Rat Comb Burn Model
Authors: Reddy Avanish S. , Abraham Ariel , McClain Steve A. , Clark Richard A.F. , Ralen Pryanka , Sandoval Steven , Singer Adam J.
Published: September 2015

Objectives

Progression of cell death after burn injury may occur by one of three mechanisms: passive necrosis, apoptosis, and programmed necroptosis that requires the receptor‐interacting protein kinase‐3 (RIP‐3). The hypothesis was that RIP‐3 is present in normal and burned skin; that necroptosis plays a role in burn injury progression; and that treatment with necrostatin‐1, an inhibitor of necroptosis, would reduce burn progression.

Methods

Skin specimens from rats were examined for the presence of RIP‐3. Using a 150‐g brass comb preheated to 100°C, we created two comb burns (one on each side) consisting of four rectangular burns, separated by three unburned interspaces, on both sides of the backs of anesthetized male Sprague‐Dawley rats (240 to 300 g). The interspaces represent the ischemic zones surrounding the central necrotic core. Left untreated, these areas undergo necrosis. In the first experiment, 10 rats each were randomized to 1.65 mg/kg necrostatin‐1 or control given by intraperitoneal injection 1 hour after injury. In the second experiment, 10 rats each were randomized to two intravenous injections of 1.65 mg/kg necrostatin‐1 or its vehicle at 1 and 4 hours after injury. The primary outcome was the percentage of interspaces undergoing necrosis within 7 days of injury. Binary data were compared with chi‐square or Fishers’ exact tests.

Results

All normal and burned skin specimens from rats stained positive for RIP‐3. In the first experiment, nearly all unburned interspaces in both the experimental and the control rats underwent necrosis (47 of 48, 97.9% vs. 48 of 48, 100%; p = not significant [NS]). Similarly, in the second experiment, there was no difference in the percentage of unburned interspaces undergoing necrosis within 7 days of injury in rats treated with two doses of necrostatin‐1 or the control vehicle (46 of 48, 95.8% vs. 48 of 48, 100%; p = NS). There were no wound infections noted in rats injected with necrostatin‐1.

Conclusions

The skin of rats contains RIP‐3 necessary for necroptosis. Injection of rats with either a single intraperitoneal dose or two intravenous doses of necrostatin‐1 failed to reduce burn injury progression in a rat comb burn model. This may be due to inactivity of necrostatin‐1 or the lack of a role of necroptosis in burn injury progression in the rat comb burn model.
Genetic diversity and population structure of six Chinese indigenous pig breeds in the Taihu Lake region revealed by sequencing data
Authors: Wang Z. , Chen Q. , Yang Y. , Liao R. , Zhao J. , Zhang Z. , Chen Z. , Zhang X. , Xue M. , Yang H. , Zheng Y. , Wang Q. , Pan Y.
Published: September 2015

The Chinese indigenous pig breeds in the Taihu Lake region are the most prolific pig breeds in the world. In this study, we investigated the genetic diversity and population structure of six breeds, including Meishan, Erhualian, Mi, Fengjing, Shawutou and Jiaxing Black, in this region using whole‐genome SNP data. A high SNP with proportions of polymorphic markers ranging from 0.925 to 0.995 was exhibited by the Chinese indigenous pigs in the Taihu Lake region. The allelic richness and expected heterozygosity also were calculated and indicated that the genetic diversity of the Meishan breed was the greatest, whereas that of the Fengjing breed was the lowest. The genetic differentiation, as indicated by the fixation index, exhibited an overall mean of 0.149. Both neighbor‐joining tree and principal components analysis were able to distinguish the breeds from each other, but structure analysis indicated that the Mi and Erhualian breeds exhibited similar major signals of admixture. With this genome‐wide comprehensive survey of the genetic diversity and population structure of the indigenous Chinese pigs in the Taihu Lake region, we confirmed the rationality of the current breed classification of the pigs in this region.
Use of thiazolidinediones and the risk of elective hip or knee replacement: a population based case–control study
Authors: Nielen Johannes T.H. , de Vries Frank , Dagnelie Pieter C. , van den Bemt Bart J.F. , Emans Pieter J. , Lalmohamed Arief , de Boer Anthonius , Boonen Annelies
Published: September 2015

Aims

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common musculoskeletal condition in the elderly population. However, no disease modifying drug exists for this disease. In vivo animal studies have suggested that thiazolidinediones (TZD) may be used as disease modifying osteoarthritis drugs (DMOADs). To our knowledge, this has not yet been examined in humans before. The aim was to determine the risk of total joint replacement (TJR) in patients using TZDs compared with diabetic patients using other antidiabetic drugs.

Methods

A population based case–control study was performed using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink (CPRD). Cases (n = 94 609) were defined as patients >18 years of age who had undergone total knee (TKR) or hip replacement (THR) between 2000 and 2012. Controls were matched by age, gender and practice/surgery. Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to estimate the risk of TKR and THR with the use of TZDs in patients currently using one or more antidiabetic drugs. In order to determine effect with prolonged use, we also stratified TZD users by total number of prescriptions prior to surgery. We statistically adjusted our analyses for lifestyle factory, comorbidities and concomitant drug use.

Results

There was no difference in risk of TKR (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.93, 1.27) and THR (OR 0.92, 95% CI 0.76, 1.10) when TZD users were compared with other AD users. Furthermore, we did not find an association with prolonged use of TZDs and TJR.

Conclusion

Despite promising results from animal in vivo studies, this study did not find any evidence for a disease modifying osteoarthritic effect of TZDs.
Sola Gratia as Divine Attribute: Resurrecting the God of the Gospel
Authors: Brondos David A.
Published: September 2015

Can we speak of sola gratia as a divine attribute so as to affirm that all that God does is grace? Traditionally, Western Christian theology has answered that question negatively, placing God's justice in opposition with God's grace and presenting a God whose love does not seem to be unconditional. This has been especially evident in the ways in which Scripture, the work of Christ, justification by faith, and the distinction between law and gospel commonly have been interpreted. By rethinking those traditional interpretations on the basis of an understanding of divine grace as unconditional love, we can indeed proclaim a God of sola gratia and a gospel capable of transforming human lives and responding effectively to the crisis of faith we face today.
Ecosystem‐scale effects of megafauna in African savannas
Authors: Asner Gregory P. , Vaughn Nicholas , Smit Izak P. J. , Levick Shaun
Published: September 2015

Natural protected areas are critically important in the effort to prevent large‐scale megafaunal extinctions caused by hunting and habitat degradation. Yet such protection can lead to rapid increases in megafauna populations. Understanding ecosystem‐scale responses of vegetation to changing megafaunal populations, such as the case of the African elephant Loxodonta africana in savannas, requires large‐scale, high‐resolution monitoring over time. From 2008 to 2014, we repeatedly surveyed the fate of more than 10.4 million woody plant canopies throughout the Kruger National Park, South Africa using airborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR), to determine the relative importance of multiple environmental, biotic and management factors affecting treefall rates and patterns. We report a mean biennial treefall rate of 8 trees or 12% ha−1, but with heterogeneous patterns of loss in both space and time. Throughout Kruger, the influence of elephant density on treefall was matched only by spatial variation in soils and elevation, and all three factors co‐dominated park‐wide treefall patterns. Elephant density was up to two times more influential than fire frequency in determining treefall rates, and this pattern was most pronounced for taller trees (> 2 m in height). Our results suggest that confining megafauna populations to protected areas, or reintroducing them into former or new habitat, can greatly alter the structure and functioning of the host ecosystem. Conservation strategies will need to accommodate and manage these massive ecological changes in the effort to save megafauna from extinction, without compromising system functionality.
Updating digital soil maps with new data: a case study of soil organic matter in Jiangsu, China
Authors: Sun X.‐L. , Wu Y.‐J. , Lou Y.‐L. , Wang H.‐L. , Zhang C. , Zhao Y.‐G. , Zhang G.‐L.
Published: September 2015

The rapid developments in the acquisition of data on soil should enable pedologists to update existing digital soil maps readily. The methods by which that is done must take into account temporal change in soil properties and local differences in spatial variation. The common mapping techniques will have to be modified to make full use of digital data. We show what can be achieved with a case study on updating maps of soil organic matter (SOM) in Jiangsu Province, China, with three sets of soil data collected in the 1980s, 2000 and 2006. Our results showed that temporal changes in SOM between the three sampling periods occurred in only very small parts of the regions. Models of spatial variation of SOM based on the data collected in the 1980s and 2006 for the whole region differed somewhat, whereas models based on the data collected in the 1980s, 2000 and 2006 for the Taihu region (south Jiangsu) were significantly different. As updating with Bayesian maximum entropy continued, the accuracy of prediction increased and that of the prediction variance decreased. Finally, our study leads us to suggest improved technologies for updating digital soil maps with new data.
Development of a technique for quarantining Great Artesian Basin springs from colonisation by the invasive fish Eastern Gambusia (Gambusia holbrooki)
Authors: Kerezsy Adam
Published: September 2015

A species recovery project for the endangered fish Red‐finned Blue‐eye (Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis) commenced in 2009 at Edgbaston Reserve in central western Queensland. To date, the project has included relocations and control of alien Eastern Gambusia (henceforth Gambusia, Gambusia holbrooki), using the piscicide rotenone. Preventing Gambusia colonising springs where Red‐finned Blue‐eye occur or have been relocated is crucial to the success of the project. As such, this study tested the use of porous silt fences that were installed around five springs from 2012. Results indicate that silt fencing is a suitable barrier material and that provided installed silt fences are serviced regularly, the material is an effective method of quarantining populations of endangered species in isolated aquatic environments. Four of the five installed fences were effective, and maintenance consisted of small repairs at regular intervals (quarterly) followed by replacement after 2 years. As such, silt fencing may have wider application in the conservation of endangered fish and other organisms, particularly in areas where isolated waterbodies occur and where their size renders exclusion fencing a practical recovery action.
Developing collaborative marine turtle monitoring in theKimberley region of northernAustralia
Authors: Jackson Micha V. , Kennett Rod , Bayliss Peter , Warren Robert , Waina Neil , Adams Jason , Cheinmora Leonie , Vigilante Tom , Jungine Edmund , Woolagoodja Kirk , Woolagoodja Francis , Umbagai Jermaine , Holmes Jarrad , Weisenberger Frank
Published: September 2015

Contemporary land and sea management – driven by community‐based planning and informed by traditional and local knowledge and scientific research – can significantly improve both biodiversity and cultural outcomes. Here, we describe the context and process of developing a boat‐based survey approach to marine turtle monitoring byIndigenous rangers using a collaborative partnership model that supportsTraditionalOwner aspirations and conservation objectives.
Complexities of Productivity Policies in the Finnish Public Sector: Knowing How to Do More with Less?
Authors: Kork Anna‐Aurora , Mänttäri Pietu , Vakkuri Jarmo
Published: September 2015

This paper examines public sector productivity policies as complexities between what is ‘known’ in policy principles and what is ‘done’ in everyday policy practice. Such complexities are explored in two productivity policy cases within Finnish local government: municipal amalgamations, and the low‐threshold concept of healthcare service. Utilising quantitative and qualitative data from Finnish local government the paper demonstrates the tensions between productivity policy principles, interpretations for productivity improvement (‘knowing’) and final outcomes for actually applying (‘doing’) productivity policy. The paper argues in favour of a new understanding for the research and practice of public policy and management.
Influence of streambed substratum composition on stream microbial communities exposed to the fungicide tebuconazole
Authors: Donnadieu Florence , Besse‐Hoggan Pascale , Forestier Christiane , Artigas Joan
Published: September 2015

Fungicides reaching stream ecosystems have different capacities to adsorb to benthic substrata and thus cause varying effects on benthic microbial communities. We evaluated the potential of a triazole fungicide, tebuconazole (TBZ), to adsorb to submerged leaves and sand and assessed TBZ effects on sand‐ and leaf‐associated microbial communities.

An indoor stream channel experiment was designed to test TBZ effects slightly above concentrations measured in agricultural streams (10.7 ± 0.3 μg L−1) on the microbial communities associated with either submerged leaves alone, sand alone or a mixed substratum of leaves + sand over 5 weeks. Weekly samples were taken to determine TBZ effects on the biomass and activity (litter breakdown rate, fungal sporulation rate and extracellular enzyme activities) of fungi and bacteria as well as the dissipation of TBZ in stream channels.

TBZ significantly reduced fungal biomass (17–20% relative to controls) but increased bacterial biomass (34–50%) on leaves and sand incubated separately. TBZ also significantly inhibited phenol oxidase activity (36%) in sand but not in leaves. Differences in TBZ effects between leaves and sand communities were not explained by differences between substrata in TBZ adsorption but more likely were related to differences in biomass accrual and structure of the microbial communities.

Mixing leaves+sand tended to attenuate TBZ effects on microbial communities, which was probably explained by a greater surface area available for TBZ adsorption to the substrata. This hypothesis is supported by the greater TBZ dissipation in stream channels receiving both leaves and sand. However, leaf and sand mixtures not only diluted but also modified TBZ effects on sand communities (14% increase in fungal biomass and 82% increase in the sporulation of aquatic hyphomycetes). This result suggests that sand could serve as a refuge for fungi during TBZ‐contamination episodes.

Our study points to the importance of substratum heterogeneity for the ecotoxicological effects of TBZ on agricultural streams and highlights the contrasting responses of fungi and bacteria to contamination by a widespread fungicide.
Disjunct populations of European vascular plant species keep the same climatic niches
Authors: Wasof Safaa , Lenoir Jonathan , Aarrestad Per Arild , Alsos Inger Greve , Armbruster W. Scott , Austrheim Gunnar , Bakkestuen Vegar , Birks H. John B. , Bråthen Kari Anne , Broennimann Olivier , Brunet Jörg , Bruun Hans Henrik , Dahlberg Carl Johan , Diekmann Martin , Dullinger Stefan , Dynesius Mats , Ejrnæs Rasmus , Gégout Jean‐Claude , Graae Bente Jessen , Grytnes John‐Arvid , Guisan Antoine , Hylander Kristoffer , Jónsdóttir Ingibjörg S. , Kapfer Jutta , Klanderud Kari , Luoto Miska , Milbau Ann , Moora Mari , Nygaard Bettina , Odland Arvid , Pauli Harald , Ravolainen Virve , Reinhardt Stefanie , Sandvik Sylvi Marlen , Schei Fride Høistad , Speed James D. M. , Svenning Jens‐Christian , Thuiller Wilfried , Tveraabak Liv Unn , Vandvik Vigdis , Velle Liv Guri , Virtanen Risto , Vittoz Pascal , Willner Wolfgang , Wohlgemuth Thomas , Zimmermann Niklaus E. , Zobel Martin , Decocq Guillaume
Published: September 2015

Aim

Previous research on how climatic niches vary across species ranges has focused on a limited number of species, mostly invasive, and has not, to date, been very conclusive. Here we assess the degree of niche conservatism between distant populations of native alpine plant species that have been separated for thousands of years.

Location

European Alps and Fennoscandia.

Methods

Of the studied pool of 888 terrestrial vascular plant species occurring in both the Alps and Fennoscandia, we used two complementary approaches to test and quantify climatic‐niche shifts for 31 species having strictly disjunct populations and 358 species having either a contiguous or a patchy distribution with distant populations. First, we used species distribution modelling to test for a region effect on each species' climatic niche. Second, we quantified niche overlap and shifts in niche width (i.e. ecological amplitude) and position (i.e. ecological optimum) within a bi‐dimensional climatic space.

Results

Only one species (3%) of the 31 species with strictly disjunct populations and 58 species (16%) of the 358 species with distant populations showed a region effect on their climatic niche. Niche overlap was higher for species with strictly disjunct populations than for species with distant populations and highest for arctic–alpine species. Climatic niches were, on average, wider and located towards warmer and wetter conditions in the Alps.

Main conclusion

Climatic niches seem to be generally conserved between populations that are separated between the Alps and Fennoscandia and have probably been so for 10,000–15,000 years. Therefore, the basic assumption of species distribution models that a species' climatic niche is constant in space and time – at least on time scales 104 years or less – seems to be largely valid for arctic–alpine plants.
Functional specialization in regulation and quality control in thermal adaptive evolution
Authors: Yama Kazuma , Matsumoto Yuki , Murakami Yoshie , Seno Shigeto , Matsuda Hideo , Gotoh Kazuyoshi , Motooka Daisuke , Nakamura Shota , Ying Bei‐Wen , Yomo Tetsuya
Published: September 2015

Distinctive survival strategies, specialized in regulation and in quality control, were observed in thermal adaptive evolution with a laboratory Escherichia coli strain. The two specialists carried a single mutation either within rpoH or upstream of groESL, which led to the activated global regulation by sigma factor 32 or an increased amount of GroEL/ES chaperonins, respectively. Although both specialists succeeded in thermal adaptation, the common winner of the evolution was the specialist in quality control, that is, the strategy of chaperonin‐mediated protein folding. To understand this evolutionary consequence, multilevel analyses of cellular status, for example, transcriptome, protein and growth fitness, were carried out. The specialist in quality control showed less change in transcriptional reorganization responding to temperature increase, which was consistent with the finding of that the two specialists showed the biased expression of molecular chaperones. Such repressed changes in gene expression seemed to be advantageous for long‐term sustainability because a specific increase in chaperonins not only facilitated the folding of essential gene products but also saved cost in gene expression compared with the overall transcriptional increase induced by rpoH regulation. Functional specialization offered two strategies for successful thermal adaptation, whereas the evolutionary advantageous was more at the points of cost‐saving in gene expression and the essentiality in protein folding.
Family leave policy and child mortality: Evidence from 19 OECD countries from 1969 to 2010
Authors: Shim Joyce
Published: September 2015

This study examined the effects of family leave policy on five age‐specific child mortality rates across 19 Organization for Economic Co‐operation and Development countries from 1969 to 2010. I used the dataset developed by Ruhm and Tanaka and extended it with data from various institutions, including the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research. I controlled for six relevant variables including GDP per capita and health expenditures, three child health indicators, as well as three social expenditure measures for families. I included in all models country and year fixed effects as well as country‐time trend interactions. Throughout all model specifications, the results indicated that job‐protected paid leave significantly reduces infant mortality (death at less than 1 year of age) and postneonatal mortality (death between 1 month and 1 year of age). Other leave (unpaid or nonjob protected) had no significant effects on any of the outcome indicators.
UK Tax Policy 2010–15: An Assessment
Authors: Adam Stuart , Roantree Barra
Published: September 2015

The UK's coalition government implemented £64 billion of tax rises and £48 billion of tax cuts during its term of office from 2010 to 2015. This paper assesses the design of the individual reforms and what they imply for the coherence of the tax system as a whole. The reforms included some significant structural changes to the way savings and pensions are taxed, but for the most part reforms involved simply changing rates and thresholds, with little attempt to address the fundamental structural deficiencies of the tax system. All in all, the coalition's changes represent a missed opportunity to improve the tax system, leaving its successor with numerous challenges to address.