bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
(25R)-3β,16β-Diacetoxy-23-acetyl-22,26-epoxycholesta-5,22-dienen-hexane 0.8-solvate
Authors: Hernández Linares María-Guadalupe , Carrasco-Carballo Alan , Guerrero-Luna Gabriel , Bernès Sylvain , Aguirre Hernández Gerardo
Published: April 2016

In the title solvate, C33H48O6·0.8C6H14, the steroid presents a conformation almost identical to that of its previously characterized benzene monosolvate [Sandoval-Ramírezet al.(1999).Tetrahedron Lett.40, 5143–5146]. Then-hexane solvent of crystallization is agglomerated in channels parallel to [100] in the crystal. The solvent molecule is disordered over two sites in the asymmetric unit, with occupancies of 0.46 and 0.34. A minor disorder for the carbonyl O atom of the acetyl substituent at position 16 in the steroid was also introduced, with two sites having occupancies of 0.7 and 0.3.
Schumpeterian innovation patterns and firm-performance of global technology companies
Authors: Kumar Vijay , Sundarraj Rangaraja P
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine how different innovation patterns affect the financial performance of global technological firms.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors integrate the theories of innovation performance with those of Schumpeter’s innovation patterns, namely, creative destruction and creative accumulation. Data spread over 20 years is used to investigate the influence of innovation on the firm performance.

Findings

– Panel regression results indicate that, as compared to creative-destruction innovation, creative-accumulation patterns have a better firm performance, have a moderating effect on innovation-performance relationships, and have a better propensity to deal with difficult economic periods.

Research limitations/implications

– There is a scarcity of research that considers the effects of Schumpeterian patterns on innovation performance, especially ones dealing with the technology sector. Future work could consider other innovation variables (besides innovation patterns), as well as whether the results hold in other sectors.

Practical implications

– The findings indicate that in the tech-sector firms must continue to innovate.

Originality/value

– From the research perspective, the work integrates two streams of literature into a comprehensive model, and provides a holistic test for it. For tech-sector managers, the research provides one point of motivation for carrying out innovation even during a troubled economy.
The combined effect of technological relatedness and knowledge utilization on explorative and exploitative invention performance post-M & A
Authors: Ganzaroli Andrea , De Noni Ivan , Orsi Luigi , Belussi Fiorenza
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the combined effect of Mergers and Acquisitions (M & A) partners’ technological relatedness and the acquirer’s effective utilization of the target’s knowledge on explorative and exploitative invention performance post-M & A.

Design/methodology/approach

– Based on the knowledge perspective of an M & A, this study measures how much of the target’s knowledge acquired in an M & A has been effectively transformed into new knowledge. A negative binomial regression on a cross-sectional data set of 152 bio-pharmaceutical firms (59 European firms and 93 North American firms) completing at least one M & A in the period between 2001 and 2005 is conducted. The effect of knowledge utilization is assessed by comparing performance six years before the M & A and six years after.

Findings

– The effective assimilation and utilization of acquired knowledge positively affects both acquirers’ explorative and exploitative performance post-M & As. The combined effect with technological relatedness, measured as similarity and complementarity, further enhances the acquirer’s technological performance. However, while the utilization of similar knowledge significantly affects only exploitative invention performance, the utilization of complementary knowledge influences both, although explorative more than exploitative performance.

Originality/value

– The acquirer’s ability to effectively use the target’s knowledge is crucial in order to support the transformation of the inventive potential, such as is embodied in the interaction between an internal and an external base of knowledge, into new explorative and exploitative performance.
Environmental attitudes and behaviors among secondary students in Hong Kong
Authors: Jackson Liz , Pang Ming Fai , Brown Emma , Cain Sean , Dingle Caroline , Bonebrake Timothy
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– Although researchers have identified correlations between specific attitudes and particular behaviors in the pro-environmental domain, the general relationship between young people’s development of environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors is not well understood. Past research indicates that geographic context can play a role, while social factors such as age and gender can have a more significant impact on predicting attitudes and behaviors than formal education. Few studies have systematically examined the relationships between education and environmental attitudes and behaviors among youth in Hong Kong. The purpose of this paper is to report the findings of a study comparing secondary school students’ environmental attitudes and behaviors with age and related factors in two international schools and two government schools in Hong Kong. Students’ attitudes and behaviors were compared based on school type (curriculum), while the authors additionally compared the significance of social factors and attitudes on students’ behaviors.

Design/methodology/approach

– Attitudes were measured using the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) and the NEP for Children (NEPC), the most commonly used, internationally standardized tools for investigating environmental attitudes and values of adults and young people for comparative purposes. The authors compared NEP/NEPC scores and student self-reported environmental behaviors using a short questionnaire.

Findings

– No significant differences were found in attitudes or behaviors based on school type. However the authors did observe a significant effect of gender and age on students’ attitudes, and a significant correlation of student attitudes in the NEP with students’ self-reports regarding air conditioning consumption.

Originality/value

– This study builds a foundation for cross-national studies and for evaluating the impact of curricula over time.
Small town centre attractiveness: evidence from Sweden
Authors: Wahlberg Olof
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the qualities of a small town centre and how such centres can enhance their attractiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

– A convenience sampling procedure was used to administer a web survey to visitors of a small Swedish town. Importance-performance analysis and statistical methods were used to analyse quality attributes and quality dimensions. Correlation analysis was run to measure the relationship between centre attractiveness and shopping loyalty.

Findings

– The variety of retail outlets is what is most valued by visitors to a small town centre, followed by the provision of events and non-commercial activities and the design and maintenance of the physical environment in the centre. Surprisingly, the interpersonal behaviour has less impact on the perceived attractiveness than the aforementioned quality dimensions. Visitors’ shopping loyalty is significantly related to the perceived attractiveness.

Research limitations/implications

– The study is a one-off study based upon a small Swedish town, but it is indicative of global shopping trends.

Practical implications

– Implications for town centre management to enhance the attractiveness of the business district of a small town.

Social implications

– Traditional town centres have been props for the surrounding societies, providing anscillary services beside retailing. When retail moves to out-of-town retail locations, this could lead to the erosion of interpersonal communications and central services for citizens.

Originality/value

– Pioneering research on small Swedish town shopping.
Preparedness of the entities for the IFRS for SMEs: an emerging country case
Authors: Kiliç Merve , Uyar Ali , Ataman Başak
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to determine the preparedness of the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) for SMEs in Turkey; and to analyze the effect of several firm characteristics on such preparedness.

Design/methodology/approach

– The preparedness of the SMEs was determined via a questionnaire survey. The effect of several characteristics of the SMEs (i.e. size, age, independent auditing, internationality, and the existence of an accounting department) on their preparedness was examined by employing non-parametric tests and logistic regression.

Findings

– This study found that the preparedness of the SMEs for IFRS for SMEs is low in Turkey. Several firm characteristics including, size, independent auditing, and internationality have a significant impact on the preparedness of the SMEs.

Research limitations/implications

– This study has some implications for several parties, including national and international standard setting authorities, entities, managers, and accounting professionals. SMEs are one of the most important actors in the adoption process of the IFRS for SMEs. Their preparedness level for IFRS for SMEs will present important clues to sustain an effective and successful adoption process. The results of this study show the profile of entities which are prepared for IFRS for SMEs that will be useful for standard authorities and regulatory bodies. The findings of this study will also be useful for other emerging countries’ standard authorities because they will face similar problems in their adoption process.

Originality/value

– This research makes a significant contribution to the existing literature because there are only a few studies that analyze the preparedness for IFRS for SMEs, especially in emerging countries.
Earnings management and macroeconomic crises
Authors: Flores Eduardo , Weffort Elionor Farah Jreige , Silva Aldy Fernandes da , Carvalho L. Nelson G.
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether macroeconomic crises are a motivational factor for earnings management practices by the companies listed in the capital markets of Brazil and the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

– The sample consisted of 7,932 firm-quarter observations from listed Brazilian companies and 99,931 from listed US companies, covering a 13-year period (1998-2010). The authors developed regression models for the panel data, taking into account discretionary accruals as an earnings management proxy (dependent variable), while crises were regarded as a macroeconomic factor (dummy variable of interest). Also considered were return on assets, market-to-book ratio, size, leverage, foreign direct investment, income taxes, quarters, and sectors, which were treated as control variables.

Findings

– The results corroborate the conceptual issues involved in undertaking this study, and they demonstrate that in periods of macroeconomic crises, companies are more motivated to employ earnings management practices both in Brazil and in the USA.

Originality/value

– Unlike previous studies, the model developed in our research includes multiple macroeconomic crises simultaneously. Furthermore, it was applied in two markets at different stages of development and operating in distinct institutional contexts, which indicates its viability for replication for a large number of countries.
Why some small businesses ignore austere working capital management routines
Authors: Orobia Laura Aseru , Padachi Kesseven , Munene John C.
Published: April 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate factors explaining take-up rate of working capital management routines in small-scale businesses.

Design/methodology/approach

– A cross-sectional survey research was employed using a sample of 450 small-scale businesses in the central business district of Kampala, Uganda. Common working capital management routines and activity rates were analyzed using descriptive statistics. While binary logistic regression analysis was conducted to discriminate between businesses that engage in working capital management frequently and those that do so less frequently.

Findings

– The results show that on average, the most frequently performed routines relate to safeguarding cash and inventory, and credit risk assessment. Payment management routines are least performed. Second, business size, perceived usefulness and attitude explain high take-up rate of working capital management routines in small-scale businesses. Business age, level of education and financial management training are inconsequential in determining the likelihood to undertake working capital management frequently.

Research limitations/implications

– Paucity of studies world over on the input perspective of working capital management limited comparison of the findings with previous research. Future studies should be conducted to confirm the results.

Practical implications

– The study findings imply that policy makers should develop work-based training programs that take into account the business size effect.

Originality/value

– This study contributes to existing working capital management literature by explaining activity rate in a developing country perspective.
Inter‐Rater Reliability of Total Body Score—A Scale for Quantification of Corpse Decomposition
Authors: Nawrocka Marta , Frątczak Katarzyna , Matuszewski Szymon
Published: April 2016

The degree of body decomposition can be quantified using Total Body Score (TBS), a scale frequently used in taphonomic or entomological studies of decomposition. Here, the inter‐rater reliability of the scale is analyzed. The study was made on 120 laymen, which were trained in the use of the scale. Participants scored decomposition of pig carcasses from photographs. It was found that the scale, when used by different people, gives homogeneous results irrespective of the user qualifications (the Krippendorff's alfa for all participants was 0.818). The study also indicated that carcasses in advanced decomposition receive significantly less accurate scores. Moreover, it was found that scores for cadavers in mosaic decomposition (i.e., representing signs of at least two stages of decomposition) are less accurate. These results demonstrate that the scale may be regarded as inter‐rater reliable. Some propositions for refinement of the scale were also discussed.
Neutrophilic superoxide production can assess pharmacological and pharmacogenetic β‐adrenoreceptor effects
Authors: Reinartz M. T. , Wetzke M. , Happle C. , Kälble S. , Scherer R. , Kabesch M. , Seifert R.
Published: April 2016

Asthma can be controlled well in most patients by inhaled β‐adrenoreceptor (β2AR) agonists and steroids. Poor response to β2AR agonists is difficult to predict, especially in young children and by lung function testing, which may be affected by multiple influences. As an alternative approach, we analyzed ex vivo neutrophilic superoxide inhibition in response to β2AR stimulation. In 60 healthy volunteers, this assay was unaffected by sex, age, smoking, atopy or asthma status. Furthermore, we assessed effects of genetic variants in β2AR by sequencing the ADRB2 gene in our cohort and relating genotypes to β2AR‐mediated neutrophilic superoxide inhibition. Gly16Arg genotypes correlated with minor decrease in overall adrenoresponse in this small study population. Taken together, ex vivo testing of the β2AR response in human neutrophils represents a robust tool with good signal‐to‐noise ratio at physiological β2AR agonist concentrations, and this assay may be useful to complement future pharmacogenetic studies in asthma.
Daunorubicin Down‐Regulates the Expression of Stem Cell Markers and Factors Involved in Stem Cell Migration and Homing in Rat Heart in Subchronic but not Acute Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Srankova Jasna , Doka Gabriel , Pivackova Lenka , Mesarosova Lucia , Kyselovic Jan , Klimas Jan , Krenek Peter
Published: April 2016

We tested the hypothesis that daunorubicin (DAU) cardiotoxicity alters expression of cytokines involved in stem cell migration and homing. Male Wistar rats were treated with daunorubicin to induce acute DAU cardiomyopathy (6 × 3 mg/kg, i.p., every 48 hr, DAU‐A) or subchronic DAU cardiomyopathy (15 mg/kg, i.v., DAU‐C). The left ventricle was catheterized. The animals were killed 48 hr (DAU‐A) and 8 weeks (DAU‐C) after the last dose of DAU. Expression of foetal genes (Nppa, Nppb), isomyosins (Myh6, Myh7), sources of oxidative stress (Abcb8, gp91phox), cytokines (Sdf‐1, Cxcr4, Scf, Vegf, Hgf, Igf‐1), markers of cardiac progenitor (c‐kit, Atnx‐1), endothelial progenitor (CD34, CD133) and mesenchymal (CD44, CD105) stem cells were determined by qRT‐PCR in left ventricular tissue. Reduced body‐weight, decreased left ventricular weight and function, and elevated Nppa, Nppb, Myh7 were observed in both models. Myh6 decreased only in DAU‐C, which had a 35% mortality. Up‐regulated gp91phox and down‐regulated Abcb8 in DAU were present only in DAU‐C where we observed markedly decreased expressions of Scf and Vegf as well as expressions of stem cell markers. Down‐regulation of cytokines and stem cell markers may reflect impaired chemotaxis, migration and homing of stem cells and tissue repair in the heart in subchronic but not acute model of DAU cardiomyopathy.
Adults’ Descriptions of a Situation Can Influence Children's Appraisal, Feelings, and Subsequent Psychological Functions
Authors: Qu Li , Lim Zhao M. T.
Published: April 2016

This study examined how an adult's descriptions of a situation could influence children's appraisal, feelings, and subsequent psychological functions. After baseline measures, 81 middle‐class Singaporean kindergarten children (Mage = 5.6 years, SD = 0.6) were exposed to an ambiguous accident and provided with positive, negative, or no descriptions of the accident. Children's appraisal of the experience, feelings of pleasantness, motivation to play a new game, confidence in playing the new game well, and performance on the new game were measured. The results revealed that the descriptions of the accident influenced children's appraisal, feelings of pleasantness, motivation to play a new game, confidence in playing the new game well, and performance on the new game.
Effects of low oxygen tension on gene profile of soluble growth factors in co‐cultured adipose‐derived stromal cells and chondrocytes
Authors: Shi Sirong , Xie Jing , Zhong Juan , Lin Shiyu , Zhang Tao , Sun Ke , Fu Na , Shao Xiaoru , Lin Yunfeng
Published: April 2016

Objectives

Moving towards development of optimized cartilage regeneration with adipose‐derived stromal cells (ASCs), the focus of this study was on investigating the influence of hypoxia on soluble factors secreted by ASCs and chondrocytes after crosstalk.

Methods

We established direct contact co‐culture and non‐contact co‐culture systems by using red or green fluorescent protein (R/GFP)‐labelled mice and SD rats respectively. Gene variation of growth factors of the two cell types, in both hypoxic and normoxic conditions, were screened using semi‐quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Results

Co‐culture with ASCs and chondrocytes under hypoxia was shown to successfully induce or enhance ASC to chondrogenic differentiation. To be specific, chondrogenic maker genes: AGC, COL II and SOX9 were remarkably enhanced in both ASCs and chondrocytes after crosstalk under low oxygen tension. Subsequently, screening growth factors in ASCs and chondrocytes under hypoxia showed that HIF‐1α, VEGF‐A/B, BMP‐2/‐4/‐6, FGF‐2 and IGF‐1 were significantly increased, but not TGF‐β1.

Conclusions

These results revealed that both hypoxia and co‐culture systems can notably enhance chondrogenesis of ASCs as well as increase proliferation of ASCs and chondrocytes.
Platelet CD40 contributes to enhanced monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 levels in patients with resistant hypertension
Authors: Stumpf Christian , Raaz Dorette , Klinghammer Lutz , Schneider Markus , Schmieder Roland E. , Garlichs Christoph D. , Achenbach Stephan
Published: April 2016

Background

Growing evidence shows that inflammation plays a pivotal role in the pathophysiology of essential hypertension (EH). Although it is acknowledged that target organ damage involves an inflammatory response, most work has focused on the role of macrophages. However, recently, platelets were identified as inducing inflammation partly by releasing cytokines. The goal of our study was to evaluate the role of platelets as inflammatory cells in the pathogenesis of EH.

Methods

Thirty‐nine patients with EH and 30 healthy normotensive controls have been examined. Expression of platelet CD40 was measured by flow cytometry. Serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP‐1) and sCD40L were measured via a multiplexing assay. In in vitro experiments, activated platelets were cocultured with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in the presence and absence of anti‐CD154 antibodies. MCP‐1 in the supernatants was measured by EIA.

Results

Essential hypertension patients showed significantly enhanced MCP‐1 levels with highest levels in EH patients with microalbuminuria. EH patients showed increased expression of platelet CD40. In the cell coculture model, activated platelets were able to significantly induce MCP‐1 release from HUVEC in a CD40L‐dependent manner. EH patients showed elevated sCD40L levels with a positive correlation with MCP‐1 levels.

Conclusions

Platelets can contribute to enhanced MCP‐1 levels in EH. MCP‐1 is markedly elevated in serum of EH patients with highest levels in patients with microalbuminuria, one early sign of renal target organ damage. Further studies are required to test whether MCP‐1 blocking or antiplatelet strategies may represent new therapeutic options in preventing hypertensive target organ damage.
Long noncoding RNA H19 competitively binds miR‐17‐5p to regulate YES1 expression in thyroid cancer
Authors: Liu Lin , Yang Jian , Zhu Xuchao , Li Dan , Lv Zhongwei , Zhang Xiaoping
Published: April 2016

The long noncoding RNA H19 is overexpressed in many cancers and acts as an oncogene. Here, we investigated the role of H19 in thyroid carcinogenesis and its relation to microRNA miR‐17‐5p and its target gene YES1. H19 expression was higher in tumor samples and in thyroid cancer cell lines than nontumor tissues and normal thyroid cells. H19 knockdown and ectopic expression in the TPC‐1 and NIM thyroid cancer cell lines showed that overexpression of H19 promoted proliferation, migration, and invasion, whereas H19 knockdown reduced cell viability and invasion and induced growth arrest in vitro and in vivo. H19 was identified as a target of miR‐17‐5p, by Dual‐Luciferase Reporter assays and RNA‐binding protein immunoprecipitation assays. H19 antagonized the function of miR‐17‐5p on upregulation of its target YES1 and inhibited miR‐17‐5p‐induced cell cycle progression. Our results suggest that H19 functions as a competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) by acting as a sink for miR‐17‐5p, revealing a potential ceRNA regulatory network involving H19 and miR‐17‐5p with a role in the modulation of YES1 expression. This mechanism may contribute to a better understanding of thyroid cancer pathogenesis and provide new insights into the treatment of this disease.
A review of the relationships between drought and forest fire in the United States
Authors: Littell Jeremy S. , Peterson David L. , Riley Karin L. , Liu Yongquiang , Luce Charles H.
Published: April 2016

The historical and presettlement relationships between drought and wildfire are well documented in North America, with forest fire occurrence and area clearly increasing in response to drought. There is also evidence that drought interacts with other controls (forest productivity, topography, fire weather, management activities) to affect fire intensity, severity, extent, and frequency. Fire regime characteristics arise across many individual fires at a variety of spatial and temporal scales, so both weather and climate – including short‐ and long‐term droughts – are important and influence several, but not all, aspects of fire regimes. We review relationships between drought and fire regimes in United States forests, fire‐related drought metrics and expected changes in fire risk, and implications for fire management under climate change. Collectively, this points to a conceptual model of fire on real landscapes: fire regimes, and how they change through time, are products of fuels and how other factors affect their availability (abundance, arrangement, continuity) and flammability (moisture, chemical composition). Climate, management, and land use all affect availability, flammability, and probability of ignition differently in different parts of North America. From a fire ecology perspective, the concept of drought varies with scale, application, scientific or management objective, and ecosystem.
Cyborg Writing as a Political Act: Reading Donna Haraway in Organization Studies
Authors: Prasad Ajnesh
Published: April 2016

Extending the works of scholars who have elucidated writing as the quintessential site for social transformation, the aim of this article is to locate the myriad possibilities for actualizing Donna Haraway's concept of cyborg writing in the field of organization studies. I contend that cyborg writing functions as a discursive mechanism by which to disrupt Enlightenment ideals of Cartesian duality, objectivity and rationality. These ideals inform the very structure of masculine privilege that emerge from having a society that is organized along androcentric values. Situating the scholarship of Jo Brewis, a contemporary scholar in the field, I illuminate how cyborg writing can be practised effectively, whereby greater richness is imparted into conceptualizations of, and theorizing on, organizational and management phenomena. I conclude with a discussion of the implications of cyborg writing, and with the identification of two trajectories that scholars can pursue in future studies. Progress along these two paths will move towards actualizing the feminist project for gender egalitarianism.
The Role of the Trigemino Cervical Complex in Chronic Whiplash Associated Headache: A Cross Sectional Study
Authors: Watson Dean H. , Drummond Peter D.
Published: April 2016

Objective

To investigate signs of central sensitization in a cohort of patients with chronic whiplash associated headache (CWAH).

Background

Central sensitization is one of the mechanisms leading to chronicity of primary headache, and thus might contribute to CWAH. However, the pathophysiological mechanism of CWAH is poorly understood and whether it is simply an expression of the primary headache or has a distinct pathogenesis remains unclear. Thus, the factors involved in the genesis of CWAH require further investigation.

Methods

Twenty‐two patients with CWAH (20 females, 2 males; age 25–50 years, mean age 36.3 years) and 25 asymptomatic participants (13 females, 12 males; age 18–50 years, mean age 35.6 years) rated glare and light‐induced discomfort in response to light from an ophthalmoscope. Hyperalgesia evoked by a pressure algometer was assessed bilaterally on the forehead, temples, occipital base, and the middle phalanx of the third finger. The number, latency, area under the curve, and recovery cycle of nociceptive blink reflexes elicited by a supraorbital electrical stimulus were also recorded.

Results

Eight and 6 CWAH patients had migrainous and tension‐type headache (TTH) profiles, respectively; the remainder had features attributable to both migraine and TTH. Patients in the whiplash group reported significantly greater light‐induced pain than controls (8.48 ± .35 vs 6.66 ± .43 on a 0–10 scale; P = .001). The CWAH patients reported significantly lower pressure pain thresholds at all sites. For stimuli delivered at 20 second intervals, whiplash patients were more responsive than controls (4.8 ± .6 blinks vs 3.0 ± .6 blinks in a block of 10 stimuli; P = .036). While R2 latencies and the area under the curve for the 20 second interval trials were comparable in both groups, there was a significant reduction of the area under the curve from the first to the second of the 2‐second interval trials only in controls (99 ± 8% of baseline in whiplash patients vs 68 ± 7% in controls; P = .009). The recovery cycle was comparable for both groups.

Conclusions

Our results corroborate previous findings of mechanical hypersensitivity and photophobia in CWAH patients. The neurophysiological data provide further evidence for hyperexcitability in central nociceptive pathways, and endorse the hypothesis that CWAH may be driven by central sensitization.
Demographic drivers of age‐dependent sexual selection
Authors: Martin A. M. , Festa‐Bianchet M. , Coltman D. W. , Pelletier F.
Published: April 2016

Sexual selection has a critical role in evolution, and it is fundamental to identify what ecological factors drive its variation. Disentangling the ecological correlates of sexual selection over the long term, however, is challenging and has rarely been done in nature. We sought to assess how demographic changes influenced the intensity, direction and form of sexual selection and whether selective pressures varied with age. We tested whether breeder sex ratio, number of competitors and age structure influenced selection differentials on horn length of wild bighorn rams (Ovis canadensis) of different age classes on Ram Mountain, Alberta. We used 21 years of data including a detailed pedigree, demographic parameters and repeated morphological measurements. Sexual selection on horn length of males of all ages was directional and positive. Selection intensity increased with the number of competitors, reflecting male–male encounter rate during the rut, but was independent of breeder sex ratio or age structure. This result can also be linked to changes in population size because the number of competitors was highly correlated to total number of sheep. This demographic effect likely arises from age‐dependent mating tactics. Males aged 2–4 years are weakly competitive and experienced stronger sexual selection as they accounted for a greater proportion of all males. Selection experienced by mature males appeared independent of demography. Our study provides a rare description of the demographic determinants of sexual selection in nature.
Comparative evaluation of subgingivally delivered 1% alendronate versus 1.2% atorvastatin gel in treatment of chronic periodontitis: a randomized placebo‐controlled clinical trial
Authors: Pradeep Avani R. , Kanoriya Dharmendra , Singhal Sandeep , Garg Vibhuti , Manohar Balaji , Chatterjee Anirban
Published: April 2016

Aim

Alendronate (ALN) and atorvastatin (ATV) are known to inhibit osteoclastic bone resorption and were proposed to have osteostimulative properties. The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the efficacy of 1% ALN and 1.2% ATV gel as a local drug‐delivery system in adjunct to scaling and root planning (SRP) for the treatment of intrabony defects in chronic periodontitis patients.

Methods

A total of 90 intrabony defects were treated with either 1% ALN, 1.2% ATV, or placebo gel. Clinical parameters (plaque index, modified sulcus bleeding index, probing depth (PD), and clinical attachment level (CAL)) were recorded at baseline, 3, 6, and 9 months. Intrabony defect depth (IBD) and defect depth reduction (DDR%) was calculated on standardized radiographs at 6 and 9 months.

Results

The mean PD reduction, CAL gain, and DDR% were greater in the ALN and ATV group than in the placebo group at 3, 6, and 9 months. Furthermore, a significantly greater DDR% was found in the ALN group at 6 and 9 months than in the ATV and placebo groups.

Conclusion

Local delivery of 1% ALN results in significantly greater improvement in PD, CAL, IBD depth, and DDR% as compared to 1.2% ATV gel.
Hypothalamic hamartoma with neurofibrillary tangles
Authors: Yamada Seiji , Wood Christopher P , Shah Jawad A , Vida Jonathan , Parisi Joseph E , Jentoft Mark E
Published: April 2016

Hypothalamic hamartomas are rare tumors that typically present in childhood, often with gelastic seizures, precocious puberty, or as a manifestation of Pallister‑Hall syndrome. Neurofibrillary tangles are cytoplasmic aggregates of hyperphosphorylated tau that are best recognized in Alzheimer disease, other tau‐associated neurodegenerative diseases, or as part of aging, but occasionally may be seen in low‐grade neoplasms with a ganglion cell component as gangliocytoma or ganglioglioma. Herein, we report a case of hypothalamic hamartoma with neurofibrillary tangles.
Low patch test reactivity to nickel in unselected adolescents tested repeatedly with nickel in infancy
Authors: Christiansen Elisabeth Soegaard , Andersen Klaus Ejner , Bindslev‐Jensen Carsten , Halken Susanne , Kjaer Henrik Formsgaard , Eller Esben , Høst Arne , Mortz Charlotte Gotthard
Published: April 2016

Background

It is questionable how repeated patch tests with nickel sulfate in infancy affect nickel patch test reactivity at a later age.

Methods

The Danish Allergy Research Center (DARC) cohort encompasses 562 infants invited to a clinical examination including patch tests with nickel sulfate six times during the first 36 months of life. At the follow‐up investigation at 14 years of age (2013–2014), participants were offered re‐patch tests with nickel sulfate. The Odense Adolescence Cohort Study TOACS cohort encompasses 1501 schoolchildren evaluated for the first time at 14 years of age (1995–1996) including clinical examination and nickel sulfate patch tests. The prevalence of nickel sensitization in the DARC cohort was compared to the prevalence in the TOACS cohort at 14 years of age.

Results

Nickel sulfate sensitization was found in 1.2% of the participants from the DARC cohort tested repeatedly with nickel sulfate in early childhood and retested at 14 years of age compared to 8.6% of the participants from the TOACS cohort patch‐tested for the first time at 14 years of age using the same patch test system and test concentration.

Conclusion

The significant difference in nickel patch test reactivity comparing the two cohorts may reflect an immunologic effect or the effect of nickel regulation.
Power Generation From Coal Mill Rejection Using Kalina Cycle
Authors: Khankari Goutam , Karmakar Sujit
Published: April 2016

This paper proposes an ammonia–water Kalina cycle driven by low-grade waste energy released from the combustion reactions of mill's rejection which is coupled with 500 MWe coal-fired thermal power plant to quantify the additional electrical power. Energy of combustion for mill rejection is computed by combustion modeling equations. A thermodynamic property calculator for the binary mixture and a computer simulation program have been developed by MS-Excel and Visual Basic for Application (VBA) to calculate and optimize the Kalina cycle operating parameters based on thermodynamic modeling equations. Variation of key operating parameters, namely, turbine inlet pressure, mass flow rate of binary mixture, and ammonia mass fraction in mixture is studied and filters the optimum value accordingly to maximize the cycle efficiency. Techno-commercial feasibility is also done through economic analysis. The results show that about 562.745 kWe power generation can be added with total plant generation for organization profit. This will enhance the combined plant efficiency from 38.559% to 38.604%. Maximum net Kalina cycle efficiency of 24.74% can be achieved with ammonia mass fraction of 0.4 at condenser back pressure of 1.957 bar and turbine inlet pressure and temperature of 20 bar and 442.40 K, respectively. Ammonia mass fraction of 0.4 is the optimum choice for 20 bar turbine inlet pressure to get maximum output after maintaining minimum 50 K degree of superheat compared to ammonia mass fraction of 0.3. The cycle performance at ammonia mass fraction of 0.4 is better than 0.5 due to less condenser back pressure. Kalina cycle operating with less mass flow rate performs higher cycle efficiency when dryness fraction at turbine exhaust is less than 1 and performance deteriorates at above 1. This deterioration is due to higher condenser energy loss carried away by cooling water (CW) flow. The simple payback period of this system is around 5.5 years if the system is running with 80% plant availability factor and 100% plant load factor.
Penetration of chlorhexidine coating into tooth enamel: A surface analytical study
Authors: Sodhi Rana N. S. , Symington John
Published: April 2016

Chlorhexidine has proved an efficient antibacterial agent and has been used successfully to prevent new carious lesions in the teeth of adults and children. The substantivity of chlorhexidine has not been identified with any precision, but is certainly not of short duration. In this work, surface analytical techniques have been applied to study the chemical composition, distribution, and penetration of an applied liquid coating containing chlorhexidine onto tooth enamel in order to ascertain mechanisms by which chlorhexidine keeps its long term substantivity. Several hypotheses have been put forward with regard to its substantivity, including concepts of chlorhexidine remaining as a reservoir upon application either in the epithelial surfaces, the tooth surface, or the biofilm. Alternatively, it has been proposed the teeth themselves act as the reservoir. To study this, a chlorhexidine containing liquid coating was applied to the surface of teeth. These were subsequently transversely cross-sectioned. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) were performed on both surfaces to ascertain chemical composition and distribution of the applied coating. It was found that it formed a coating layer of about 25 μm thick. High spatial ToF-SIMS images showed little evidence of substantial diffusion of chlorhexidine into the enamel, either from the surface or via the enamel lamellae.
Shallow water acoustic response and platform motion modeling via a hierarchical Gaussian mixture model
Authors: Gendron Paul J.
Published: April 2016

A hierarchical Gaussian mixture model is proposed to characterize shallow water acoustic response functions that are time-varying and sparse. The mixture model is based on the assumption that acoustic paths can be partitioned into two sets. The first is a relatively coherent set of arrivals that on average exhibit Doppler spreading about a mean Doppler and the remaining set is of multiple surface scattered paths that exhibit a spectrally flat Doppler. The hierarchy establishes constraints on the parameters of each of these Gaussian models such that coherent components of the response are both sparse and in the ensemble obey the Doppler spread profile. This is accomplished with a Bernoulli model that indicates the ensonification state of each element in the bi-frequency representation of the acoustic response function. Estimators of the time-varying acoustic response for the full duration of a broadband transmission are developed and employed to compensate for the shared time-varying dilation process among the coherent arrivals. The approach ameliorates response coherence degradation and can be employed to enhance coherent multi-path combining and is a useful alternative to time recursive estimation. The model is tested with acoustic communication recordings taken in shallow water at low signal-to-noise ratios.
Image reconstruction with uncertainty quantification in photoacoustic tomography
Authors: Tick Jenni , Pulkkinen Aki , Tarvainen Tanja
Published: April 2016

Photoacoustic tomography is a hybrid imaging method that combines optical contrast and ultrasound resolution. The goal of photoacoustic tomography is to resolve an initial pressure distribution from detected ultrasound waves generated within an object due to an illumination of a short light pulse. In this work, a Bayesian approach to photoacoustic tomography is described. The solution of the inverse problem is derived and computation of the point estimates for image reconstruction and uncertainty quantification is described. The approach is investigated with simulations in different detector geometries, including limited view setup, and with different detector properties such as ideal point-like detectors, finite size detectors, and detectors with a finite bandwidth. The results show that the Bayesian approach can be used to provide accurate estimates of the initial pressure distribution, as well as information about the uncertainty of the estimates.
Daptomycin–β-Lactam Combinations in a Rabbit Model of Daptomycin-Nonsusceptible Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Endocarditis
Authors: Chambers Henry F. , Basuino Li , Hamilton Stephanie M. , Choo Eun Ju , Moise Pamela
Published: April 2016

Beta-lactams enhance the
in vitro
activity of daptomycin against methicillin-resistant strains of
Staphylococcus aureus
. Experiments were performed in a rabbit model of aortic valve endocarditis caused by methicillin-resistant daptomycin-nonsusceptible
S. aureus
strain CB5054 to determine if a cephalosporin, ceftriaxone, administered as a once-daily dose of 100 mg/kg of body weight, or a carbapenem, ertapenem, administered as a once-daily dose of 40 mg/kg, improved the efficacy of daptomycin, administered as a once-daily dose of 12 mg/kg. Daptomycin was ineffective alone in reducing organism densities compared to untreated controls in vegetations and spleen, but densities were 1.4 log
10
CFU/g lower in kidney. The combination of daptomycin plus ceftriaxone or daptomycin plus ertapenem reduced bacterial densities in all tissues compared to single agents, with 0.6 to 1.0 log
10
CFU/g fewer organisms in vegetations, 1.5 to 2.5 log
10
CFU/g fewer organisms in spleen, and 1.8 to 2.5 log
10
CFU/g fewer organisms in kidney, although differences were statistically significant only in spleen for daptomycin plus ceftriaxone and in kidney for daptomycin plus ertapenem. Drug exposures in rabbits were less than those achievable in humans, which may have limited the
in vivo
activity, particularly in vegetations.
An unusual cause for halitosis
Authors: Bathgate Gabriella , Ali Haythem , Aboul Enein Mohamed , Poynter Liam
Published: April 2016

This report describes an unusual cause for halitosis and an unusual treatment for the underlying problem. Halitosis is a symptom which can result from a diverse range of underlying pathologies, most frequently those affecting the oral cavity or respiratory tract. Uncommonly, it arises due to pathology within the upper gastrointestinal tract. The case of a patient presenting with severe persistent halitosis attributable to mesh erosion occurring 8 years after redo laparoscopic hiatus hernia repair is described. Full external healing of the erosion tract was observed such that no symptomatic oesophageal perforation resulted. Mesh erosion is typically managed with surgical intervention. In this case, the infected mesh was successfully removed endoscopically.
Delayed onset seroma formation ‘opting out’ at 5 years after ventral incisional hernia repair
Authors: Mohamed Mohamed , Elmoghrabi Adel , Shepard William Reid , McCann Michael
Published: April 2016

We present a case of delayed onset seroma formation presenting 5 years after ventral incisional hernia repair (VIHR) with mesh. The patient presented with several months of progressive abdominal fullness and eventual spontaneous drainage from a prior abdominal surgical incision site. Surgical drainage was performed with evolvement of mesh infection. After 5 months of conservative management, the patient remained symptomatic and continued to show evidence of infection. Subsequently, she underwent mesh explantation and definitive repair with complex abdominal wall reconstruction. To the best of our knowledge, this case represents the longest delay in the onset of seroma formation post-VIHR, reported in the literature.
Training general practitioners contributes to the identification of palliative patients and to multidimensional care provision: secondary outcomes of an RCT
Authors: Thoonsen Bregje , Gerritzen Stefanie H M , Vissers Kris C P , Verhagen Stans , van Weel Chris , Groot Marieke , Engels Yvonne
Published: April 2016

Introduction

To support general practitioners (GPs) in providing early palliative care to patients with cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or heart failure, the RADboud university medical centre indicators for PAlliative Care needs tool (RADPAC) and a training programme were developed to identify such patients and to facilitate anticipatory palliative care planning. We studied whether GPs, after 1 year of training, identified more palliative patients, and provided multidimensional and multidisciplinary care more often than untrained GPs.

Methods

We performed a survey 1 year after GPs in the intervention group of an RCT were trained. With the help of a questionnaire, all 134 GPs were asked how many palliative patients they had identified, and whether anticipatory care was provided. We studied number of identified palliative patients, expected lifetime, contact frequency, whether multidimensional care was provided and which other disciplines were involved.

Results

Trained GPs identified more palliative patients than did untrained GPs (median 3 vs 2; p 0.046) and more often provided multidimensional palliative care (p 0.024). In both groups, most identified patients had cancer.

Conclusions

RADPAC sensitises GPs in the identification of palliative patients. Trained GPs more often provided multidimensional palliative care. Further adaptation and evaluation of the tools and training are necessary to improve early palliative care for patients with organ failure.

Trial registration number

NTR2815; post results.
Effect of continuous access to feeding stalls during mixing on behavior, welfare, and performance of group-housed gestating sows in different social ranks
Authors: Wang Lihua H. , Li Yuzhi Z.
Published: April 2016

This study was conducted to evaluate a strategy of using feeding stalls to protect low-ranking sows in group-housing systems. Sows (n = 150, parity 1–9) were mixed at weaning in pens of 15 sows. Control pens allowed sows to access feeding stalls for 1 h of feeding daily during the initial 2 d after mixing. Treatment pens allowed sows to access feeding stalls continuously. Social rank was determined based on outcomes of aggressive interactions among sows after mixing. Low-ranking sows used the feeding stalls more frequently (P < 0.01) than high-ranking sows during the initial 6 h after mixing. Continuous stall access reduced frequency of aggressive interactions (P = 0.05) and, consequently, reduced skin lesions (P = 0.05) of sows in the pen. Neither continuous access to stalls nor social rank affected performance of sows. These results suggest that low-ranking sows used feeding stalls as hiding spaces to escape from aggressive interactions during mixing, which reduced skin lesions caused by aggression and improved the welfare of sows in the group-housing system studied.