bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compound‐specific amino acid δ15N values in archaeological shell: Assessing diagenetic integrity and potential for isotopic baseline reconstruction
Authors: Misarti Nicole , Gier Elizabeth , Finney Bruce , Barnes Kelli , McCarthy Matthew
Published: August 2017

Rationale

Reconstructing stable isotope (SI) ratios at the base of paleo‐food webs is often challenging. For coastal systems, the SI ratios of organic matter in archeological shell represents a possible solution, providing a direct record of primary consumer SI ratios in the littoral zone. However, shell is often porous, with organic compounds susceptible to diagenetic alteration or contamination. If molecular isotopic information is well preserved, compound‐specific amino acid isotope analysis (CSI‐AA) has the potential to provide direct proxies for baseline SI ratios, bypassing many contamination issues, and to allow assessment of the diagenetic state.

Methods

We collected shell from both archeological middens and nearby littoral zones in coastal Alaska, and used a simple organic extraction approach based on decalcification with sequential weak HCl additions to liberate organic material. We measured CSI‐AA patterns, molar AA distributions, and the CSI‐AA degradation parameter (ΣV), in the context of bulk SI ratios in fossil shell, modern shell, and soft tissue from five common taxa (urchin, limpet, mussel, periwinkle, chiton).

Results

CSI‐AA patterns in both soft tissue and shell were consistent with primary consumers, and were indistinguishable in most modern and fossil shell pairs, showing that amino acid δ15N values can be well preserved in archeological shell. AA molar distributions were also similar, although most fossil shell was enriched in Asx and Gly. Comparison between CSI‐AA results from modern specimens confirmed that the source AA group (tracking isotopic baselines) are transferred without substantial modification into the shell record. In contrast, the Trophic AA group had elevated δ15N values in shell versus soft tissue for all taxa examined, suggesting that a correction factor will be required for any CSI‐AA proxies using these AAs.

Conclusions

Overall, this new data indicates that the CSI‐AA analysis of fossil shell represents a promising new approach to determining isotopic baselines in coastal paleo‐ecosystems.
Carbon isotope ratios of endogenous steroids in Belgian Blue and Holstein cattle: Method development, reference population studies and application to steroid misuse control
Authors: Piper Thomas , Putz Marlen , Delahaut Philippe , Thevis Mario
Published: August 2017

Rationale

The misuse of growth promoters in livestock and breeding animals is prohibited according to the laws of the European Union. Among these growth promoters, the detection of endogenous steroids like testosterone, estradiol or progesterone remains especially challenging as concentration‐based urinary thresholds may not provide conclusive results due to large inter‐individual variations. In addition to the detection of intact steroid esters in blood or hair, carbon isotope ratio (CIR) determination of urinary steroids has commonly been the method of choice.

Methods

A comprehensive sample clean‐up procedure was developed and validated, which enables for the first time simultaneous CIR measurements of testosterone metabolites (17α‐hydroxyandrost‐4‐en‐3‐one, 3α‐hydroxy‐5β‐androstan‐17‐one and 5α‐androstane‐3β,17α‐diol), the estradiol metabolite 17α‐estradiol (ESTR) and the progesterone metabolite 5β‐pregnane‐3α,20α‐diol (PD) from a single urine specimen. As endogenous reference compounds 3β‐hydroxyandrost‐5‐en‐17‐one and 5‐androstene‐3β,17α‐diol (5EN) were chosen. The method was validated by means of linear mixing models and a reference population encompassing n = 53 Belgian Blue and Holstein cattle was investigated to enable the calculation of population‐based Δ13C thresholds.

Results

The combined measurement uncertainty determined for the Δ13C‐values of all steroids under investigation was found to be <0.8 ‰. Within the reference population studies, 5EN was demonstrated to be the most promising endogenous reference compound resulting in comparably low Δ‐values and accompanying thresholds. For PD, a surprisingly high number of samples (n = 9) yielded significantly13C‐depleted values and ESTR was only detectable in n = 13 samples. Proof‐of‐concept was accomplished by investigating two post‐administration samples.

Conclusions

This first comprehensive investigation on the CIRs of endogenous urinary steroids demonstrated once more the potential of isotope ratios in aiding discrimination between endogenously produced and exogenously administered steroids. By means of the reference population‐derived CIRs, it is possible to apply cattle‐specific thresholds to differentiate between treated and non‐treated animals.
Grain‐scale stable carbon and oxygen isotopic variations of the international reference calcite, IAEA‐603
Authors: Nishida Kozue , Ishimura Toyoho
Published: August 2017

Rationale

The new international reference material IAEA‐603 (calcite) for stable carbon and oxygen isotopes (δ13C and δ18O values) was released in 2016 to replace the previous reference material, NBS19 (exhausted). We examined the grain‐scale isotopic variations in IAEA‐603 for application to microscale isotopic analysis of carbonate samples.

Methods

Individual grains of IAEA‐603 were analyzed with an IsoPrime100 isotope ratio mass spectrometer with a customized continuous‐flow gas preparation system (MICAL3c). The individual grains of IAEA‐603 were observed by optical and scanning electron microscopy, and their observational characteristics (grain color and size) were compared with their stable isotope compositions.

Results

Translucent grains (main component of IAEA‐603; grain weight, 4–132 μg) had homogeneous isotopic ratios, comparable with the grain‐scale isotopic homogeneity of NBS 19. Their average δ13C and δ18O values were the same as the recommended values determined by the IAEA. Opaque (whitish) grains (1–2 per 100 grains; grain weight, 8–63 μg) were significantly more depleted in 13C and 18O than the translucent grains.

Conclusions

Low‐abundance opaque grains (1–2 grains out of 100 grains) have lower δ13C and δ18O values, suggesting that these grains should be eliminated when using IAEA‐603 for single‐grain (microscale) isotope analysis.
Location, location, location: considerations when using lightweight drones in challenging environments
Authors: Duffy James P. , Cunliffe Andrew M. , DeBell Leon , Sandbrook Chris , Wich Serge A. , Shutler Jamie D. , Myers‐Smith Isla H. , Varela Miguel R. , Anderson Karen
Published: August 2017

Lightweight drones have emerged recently as a remote sensing survey tool of choice for ecologists, conservation practitioners and environmental scientists. In published work, there are plentiful details on the parameters and settings used for successful data capture, but in contrast there is a dearth of information describing the operational complexity of drone deployment. Information about the practices of flying in the field, whilst currently lacking, would be useful for others embarking on new drone‐based investigations. As a group of drone‐piloting scientists, we have operated lightweight drones for research in over 25 projects, in over 10 countries, and in polar, desert, coastal and tropical ecosystems, with many hundreds of hours of flying experience between us. The purpose of this paper was to document the lesser‐reported methodological pitfalls of drone deployments so that other scientists can understand the spectrum of considerations that need to be accounted for prior to, and during drone survey flights. Herein, we describe the most common challenges encountered, alongside mitigation and remediation actions that increase the chances of safe and successful data capture. Challenges are grouped into the following categories: (i) pre‐flight planning, (ii) flight operations, (iii) weather, (iv) redundancy, (v) data quality, (vi) batteries. We also discuss the importance of scientists undertaking ethical assessment of their drone practices, to identify and mitigate potential conflicts associated with drone use in particular areas. By sharing our experience, our intention is that the paper will assist those embarking on new drone deployments, increasing the efficacy of acquiring high‐quality data from this new proximal aerial viewpoint.
Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Oligodendrocyte Progenitor Cells: Preclinical Efficacy and Safety in Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Manley Nathan C. , Priest Catherine A. , Denham Jerrod , Wirth Edward D. , Lebkowski Jane S.
Published: August 2017

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) remains an important research focus for regenerative medicine given the potential for severe functional deficits and the current lack of treatment options to augment neurological recovery. We recently reported the preclinical safety data of a human embryonic cell-derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) therapy that supported initiation of a phase I clinical trial for patients with sensorimotor complete thoracic SCI. To support the clinical use of this OPC therapy for cervical injuries, we conducted preclinical efficacy and safety testing of the OPCs in a nude rat model of cervical SCI. Using the automated TreadScan system to track motor behavioral recovery, we found that OPCs significantly improved locomotor performance when administered directly into the cervical spinal cord 1 week after injury, and that this functional improvement was associated with reduced parenchymal cavitation and increased sparing of myelinated axons within the injury site. Based on large scale biodistribution and toxicology studies, we show that OPC migration is limited to the spinal cord and brainstem and did not cause any adverse clinical observations, toxicities, allodynia, or tumors. In combination with previously published efficacy and safety data, the results presented here supported initiation of a phase I/IIa clinical trial in the U.S. for patients with sensorimotor complete cervical SCI.
Mapping of changes in microscopic strain in Alloy 600 during multi‐step applications of mechanical stress
Authors: Ulaganathan J. , Carcea A. G. , Newman R. C. , Barabash R. I. , McIntyre N. S.
Published: August 2017

An Alloy 600 C‐ring has been sequentially stressed as in a classical deformation test, and the apex of the C‐ring has been spatially mapped by Laue microdiffraction during the stress deflection sequence. The diffraction spots were analyzed to provide maps showing the distributions of deviatoric elastic deformations as they changed with increased stress. The Laue‐derived elastic strains in the stress direction, averaged over small areas at the C‐ring apex responded to stress in a classic manner expected of a system undergoing elastic and then plastic deformation. For small amounts of applied stress, maps of the strain tensor in the stress direction (εxx) showed distributions that were reasonably homogeneous. As applied stress was increased to the elastic limit, distinct local pockets of the tensile strain tensor (εxx) became apparent. As stress approached a maximum deformation of 10 times the elastic limit, the strain tensor distribution underwent further changes. Von Mises elastic strains were also mapped and, in general, appeared to reduce as stress is increased. The formation and distribution of geometrically necessary dislocations were also monitored. After annealing at 315 C, the εxx strain tensor values were diminished from most areas excepting those bordering some grain boundaries. Strain changes in stressed Alloy 600 C‐rings were also studied following two brief stages of accelerated aqueous corrosion at 315 C. Localized εxx strain tensor and von Mises strain values gradually diminished except for areas near grain boundaries. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
TiO2 Electron Transport Bilayer for Highly Efficient Planar Perovskite Solar Cell
Authors: Lu Hao , Tian Wei , Gu Bangkai , Zhu Yayun , Li Liang
Published: August 2017

In planar perovskite solar cells, it is vital to engineer the extraction and recombination of electron–hole pairs at the electron transport layer/perovskite interface for obtaining high performance. This study reports a novel titanium oxide (TiO2) bilayer with different Fermi energy levels by combing atomic layer deposition and spin‐coating technique. Energy band alignments of TiO2 bilayer can be modulated by controlling the deposition order of layers. The TiO2 bilayer based perovskite solar cells are highly efficient in carrier extraction, recombination suppression, and defect passivation, and thus demonstrate champion efficiencies up to 16.5%, presenting almost 50% enhancement compared to the TiO2 single layer based counterparts. The results suggest that the bilayer with type II band alignment as electron transport layers provides an efficient approach for constructing high‐performance planar perovskite solar cells.
Porous Hollow‐Structured LaNiO3 Stabilized N,S‐Codoped Graphene as an Active Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction
Authors: Thanh Tran Duy , Chuong Nguyen Dinh , Balamurugan Jayaraman , Van Hien Hoa , Kim Nam Hoon , Lee Joong Hee
Published: August 2017

A nanohybrid based on porous and hollow interior structured LaNiO3 stabilized nitrogen and sulfur codoped graphene (LaNiO3/N,S‐Gr) is successfully synthesized for the first time. Such a nanohybrid as an electrocatalyst shows high catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in O2‐saturated 0.1 m KOH media. In addition, it demonstrates a comparable catalytic activity, longer working stability, and much better alcohol tolerance compared with commercial Pt/C behavior in same experiment condition. The obtained results are attributed to synergistic effects from the enhanced electrocatalytic active sites on the rich pore channels of porous hollow‐structured LaNiO3 spheres and heteroatom doped efficiency on graphene structure. In addition, N,S‐Gr can meritoriously stabilize monodispersion of the LaNiO3 spheres, and act as medium bridging for high electrical conductivity, thereby providing large active surface area for O2 adsorption, accelerating reduction reaction, and improving electrochemical stability. Such a hybrid opens an interesting class of highly efficient non‐Pt catalysts for ORR in alkaline media.
Characterization and in vitro digestibility of non‐conventional starches from guinea arrowroot and La Armuña lentils as potential food sources for special diet regimens
Authors: Gutiérrez Tomy J.
Published: August 2017

Starches from guinea arrowroot (Calathea allouia) and La Armuña lentils (Lens culinaris var. La Armuña; certificate of origin La Armuña, Salamanca, Spain) were characterized and their in vitro digestibility investigated. This with the aim to compare the functional properties of starches from two different crops: Guinea arrowroot, which originated from the Amazon, and La Armuña lentils, an extremely well known species, but poorly studied as a starch source. To achieve this, proximate analysis, water activity, color parameters, microstructural analysis, X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis, rheological characterization, differential scanning calorimetry, resistant starch (RS), and in vitro digestibility assays were carried out. The study revealed that guinea arrowroot starch has some exceptional properties that “could” be promising for the development of functional foods, especially for those suffering from obesity and diabetes. In addition, the high purity of the guinea arrowroot starch compared to the La Armuña lentil starch enabled the preparation of whiter and more thermally resistant starches that could be used in sauces, ice creams and pasteurized juices. Finally, the guinea arrowroot starch (higher amylose content, 17.97%) showed a higher percent crystallinity (25%) than the La Armuña lentil starch (lower amylose content 15.94%, and crystallinity 14%). This was attributed to the formation of an amylose–lipid complex in the guinea arrowroot starch.
Single Cell Phenotyping Reveals Heterogeneity Among Hematopoietic Stem Cells Following Infection
Authors: MacLean Adam L. , Smith Maia A. , Liepe Juliane , Sim Aaron , Khorshed Reema , Rashidi Narges M. , Scherf Nico , Krinner Axel , Roeder Ingo , Lo Celso Cristina , Stumpf Michael P. H.
Published: August 2017

The hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche provides essential microenvironmental cues for the production and maintenance of HSCs within the bone marrow. During inflammation, hematopoietic dynamics are perturbed, but it is not known whether changes to the HSC–niche interaction occur as a result. We visualize HSCs directly in vivo, enabling detailed analysis of the 3D niche dynamics and migration patterns in murine bone marrow following Trichinella spiralis infection. Spatial statistical analysis of these HSC trajectories reveals two distinct modes of HSC behavior: (a) a pattern of revisiting previously explored space and (b) a pattern of exploring new space. Whereas HSCs from control donors predominantly follow pattern (a), those from infected mice adopt both strategies. Using detailed computational analyses of cell migration tracks and life-history theory, we show that the increased motility of HSCs following infection can, perhaps counterintuitively, enable mice to cope better in deteriorating HSC–niche microenvironments following infection.
East vis‐à‐vis West: The evolution of work values within China regions
Authors: Ralston David A. , Wong Yim‐Yu , Egri Carolyn P. , Lo Carlos W. H. , Li Yongjuan , Dutton Xuejiao , Yang Jun
Published: August 2017

Numerous studies have investigated between‐country cultural differences. However, the subnational cultural differences, particularly in emerging markets, have remained an underexplored research topic despite its importance. Likewise, multiperiod studies in the cross‐cultural management area have also remained an underexplored topic. This study concurrently addresses both of these voids in the literature. Specifically, we examine changes in work values of businesspeople in the economically developed East region and the less developed West region of China over the first decade of the 21st century (2000–2010). Our findings show that, across the eight work values dimensions analyzed in this study, three exhibited static crossvergence, while the other five value dimensions exhibited conforming crossvergence. An implication of these findings is that the dissimilar work values, which had been found across the regions of China of the past century, are moving toward a more countrywide set of homogeneous values among the workforce professionals of China.
Charting the genotype–phenotype map: lessons from the Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel
Authors: Mackay Trudy F.C. , Huang Wen
Published: August 2017

Understanding the genetic architecture (causal molecular variants, their effects, and frequencies) of quantitative traits is important for precision agriculture and medicine and predicting adaptive evolution, but is challenging in most species. The Drosophila melanogaster Genetic Reference Panel (DGRP) is a collection of 205 inbred strains with whole genome sequences derived from a single wild population in Raleigh, NC, USA. The large amount of quantitative genetic variation, lack of population structure, and rapid local decay of linkage disequilibrium in the DGRP and outbred populations derived from DGRP lines present a favorable scenario for performing genome‐wide association (GWA) mapping analyses to identify candidate causal genes, polymorphisms, and pathways affecting quantitative traits. The many GWA studies utilizing the DGRP have revealed substantial natural genetic variation for all reported traits, little evidence for variants with large effects but enrichment for variants with low P‐values, and a tendency for lower frequency variants to have larger effects than more common variants. The variants detected in the GWA analyses rarely overlap those discovered using mutagenesis, and often are the first functional annotations of computationally predicted genes. Variants implicated in GWA analyses typically have sex‐specific and genetic background‐specific (epistatic) effects, as well as pleiotropic effects on other quantitative traits. Studies in the DGRP reveal substantial genetic control of environmental variation. Taking account of genetic architecture can greatly improve genomic prediction in the DGRP. These features of the genetic architecture of quantitative traits are likely to apply to other species, including humans. WIREs Dev Biol 2018, 7:e289. doi: 10.1002/wdev.289

This article is categorized under:

Invertebrate Organogenesis > Flies
Adult sage‐grouse numbers rise following raven removal or an increase in precipitation
Authors: Peebles Luke W. , Conover Michael R. , Dinkins Jonathan B.
Published: August 2017

Weather and lethal control of common ravens (Corvus corax; hereafter, ravens) can affect the nesting success of greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), but implications of these effects in terms of the subsequent size of the breeding population are unknown. We used generalized linear mixed models to assess the effects of weather and raven removal on sage‐grouse lek trends within Wyoming, USA, from 2008 to 2015 by counting male sage‐grouse at leks within 8 circular sites each with a 16‐km diameter and 4 circular sites with a 24‐km diameter. We compared sites where U.S. Department of Agriculture/Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Wildlife Services (WS) removed ravens the previous year (removal sites) with other areas where they did not (nonremoval sites). Wildlife Services intensified removal efforts beginning in 2012; and, 1‐year later, WS started removing ravens to benefit sage‐grouse (i.e., raven removal was conducted near prime nesting habitat for sage‐grouse). Raven densities decreased 50% from 2008 to 2014 in removal sites, but increased in nonremoval sites by 42% based on 6,255 point counts conducted at 1,154 random locations. We hypothesized that adult sage‐grouse numbers would be greater at the 30 leks in removal sites compared with the 28 leks in nonremoval sites. The top AICc model showed that the percent change in raven numbers, minimum temperatures during the brood‐period, and precipitation during the brood‐period were informative predictors of lek counts during the next year. Fewer ravens, cooler temperatures, and more precipitation were associated with more adult males on leks. Cooler temperatures and more precipitation probably increased the survival of sage‐grouse chicks indirectly by increasing their forage, while a decrease in raven numbers may have increased nest success rates. This study was one of the first to demonstrate a positive correlation between these variables and changes in the number of adult male sage‐grouse on leks in the subsequent year. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.
Improving the Crossing-SIBTEST Statistic for Detecting Non-uniform DIF
Authors: Chalmers R. Philip
Published: August 2017

This paper demonstrates that, after applying a simple modification to Li and Stout’s (Psychometrika 61(4):647–677, 1996) CSIBTEST statistic, an improved variant of the statistic could be realized. It is shown that this modified version of CSIBTEST has a more direct association with the SIBTEST statistic presented by Shealy and Stout (Psychometrika 58(2):159–194, 1993). In particular, the asymptotic sampling distributions and general interpretation of the effect size estimates are the same for SIBTEST and the new CSIBTEST. Given the more natural connection to SIBTEST, it is shown that Li and Stout’s hypothesis testing approach is insufficient for CSIBTEST; thus, an improved hypothesis testing procedure is required. Based on the presented arguments, a new chi-squared-based hypothesis testing approach is proposed for the modified CSIBTEST statistic. Positive results from a modest Monte Carlo simulation study strongly suggest the original CSIBTEST procedure and randomization hypothesis testing approach should be replaced by the modified statistic and hypothesis testing method.
Predictors of emergency department attendance by people with dementia in their last year of life: Retrospective cohort study using linked clinical and administrative data
Authors: Sleeman Katherine E. , Perera Gayan , Stewart Robert , Higginson Irene J.
Published: August 2017

Introduction

A fall in hospital deaths in dementia has been interpreted as indicating an improvement in end‐of‐life care. Whether other indicators of quality of end‐of‐life care, such as emergency department (ED) attendance, show a similar trend is unclear.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study using electronic medical records from a large mental health care provider, linked to national mortality and hospital use data (2008–2013).

Results

Of 4867 patients, 78.6% (3824) had at least one ED attendance during their last year of life (mean 2.13, standard deviation 2.34, range 0–54). ED attendance increased over the time period (incidence rate ratio 1.62, 95% confidence interval 1.46–1.80 for 2012–2013 compared with 2008–2009).

Discussion

ED attendance in the last year of life for people with dementia is common and is increasing. Policy makers must pay attention to a broader range of indicators of poor end‐of‐life care alongside the place of death.
ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES FOR TREE FRUIT INTERMEDIARIES FROM SHOCKS
Authors: JIANG XIAOJIAO , CASSEY ANDREW J. , MARSH THOMAS L.
Published: August 2017

Motivated by disease outbreaks and trade shocks, a dynamic equilibrium displacement model is calibrated for the U.S. pear industry to simulate welfare from various shocks compared to a baseline. Our contribution is assessing the impact to intermediary packers for fresh fruit and processors for processed fruit in addition to growers and consumers. The processed market is more sensitive than the fresh market generally, and supply shocks induce larger impacts on both markets than trade sanctions. Impacts to intermediaries are on par with growers, indicating that not considering them misstates the distribution of damages to the industry from a shock.
Tallinn, Hacking, and Customary International Law
Authors: Ghappour Ahmed
Published: August 2017

Tallinn 2.0 grapples with the application of general international law principles through various hypothetical fact patterns addressed by its experts. In doing so, its commentary sections provide a nonbinding framework for thinking about sovereignty, raising important considerations for states as they begin to articulate norms to resolve the question of precisely what kinds of nonconsensual cyber activities violate well-established international laws—a question that will likely be the focus of international lawyers in this area for some time to come.
The Hybrid Authority of Sierra Leone’s Chiefs
Authors: Albrecht Peter
Published: August 2017

On the basis of a historical and ethnographic analysis, this article shows how the concept of hybridity can be used analytically to explore the emergence of paramount and lesser chiefs in Sierra Leone and their role as figures of authority at the local level and in national politics. At the same time, it critiques the ahistorical applications of the concept that are prevalent in peace and conflict studies. The article offers insight into the processes of hybridization that chiefs constitute, and are constituted by, as they draw on multiple sources of authority, including what one scholar calls their “extremely localized” sense of belonging, as well as the legislation of a centrally governed bureaucracy.
Compassion-Focused Therapy for Bulimia Nervosa and Bulimic Presentations: A Preliminary Case Series
Authors: Williams Marc O. , Tsivos Zoe , Brown Sarah , Whitelock Nicola S. , Sampson Magdalene
Published: August 2017

Objectives:Validated treatments for adults with bulimia nervosa (BN) and related presentations are scarce, and the current most evidenced treatment — cognitive behaviour therapy for eating disorders — is resource intensive and has suboptimal remission rates; there is, therefore, a need to evaluate the effectiveness of other approaches for treating such conditions in routine NHS services.Design:Data from nine patients in an NHS eating disorder service who received compassion-focused therapy (CFT) for BN or bulimic presentations were analysed retrospectively.Methods:Patients routinely completed a validated scale of eating disorder severity (the EDE-Q) at baseline and end of treatment.Results:All five scales of the EDE-Q showed a mean significant reduction (N= 9), indicating a significant reduction in eating disorder symptomatology, and individual analyses showed clinically reliable reduction in seven out of nine patients’ EDE-Q scores.Conclusions:This is the first article to report a case series of patients who benefitted significantly from receiving CFT for their eating disorder. Limitations of this study are considered along with future directions for research into effective treatments for eating disorders.
Investigating Cognitive Performance Deficits in Male and Female Soccer Players after a 4-week Heading- Training Programme: A Controlled Study
Authors: Jansen Petra , Lehmann Jennifer
Published: August 2017

This experimental study with a controlled pre-test and post-test group design investigated the possible effects of four sessions of heading training on cognitive performance. A total of 118 participants (mean age of 22.25 years) were assigned to one of the three following groups: a heading-training group, a passing-training group and a waiting control group. The participants completed a cognitive test battery of attention (D2-test), working memory (Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task, PASAT-2) and visual spatial intelligence (Mental Rotation Test) tests before, immediately after the second training session and one week after the fourth training session. There were no between-group differences in cognitive performance after the second or the fourth heading training sessions. However, within the heading-training group, women complained more of headaches than men after the fourth training session. These results build on the results from the study of Rieder and Jansen (2011) that showed no neuropsychological consequences after one heading session, showing no cumulative effects of repeat heading.
How Do Doctors and Nurses in Emergency Departments in Hong Kong View Their Disaster Preparedness? A Cross-Sectional Territory-Wide Online Survey
Authors: Lam Rex P. K. , Balsari Satchit , Hung Kevin K. C. , Hsiao Kai-hsun , Leung L. P. , Leaning Jennifer
Published: August 2017

Objectives

To assess the level of all-hazards disaster preparedness and training needs of emergency department (ED) doctors and nurses in Hong Kong from their perspective, and identify factors associated with high perceived personal preparedness.

Design

This study was a cross-sectional territory-wide online survey conducted from 9 September to 26 October, 2015.

Participants

The participants were doctors from the Hong Kong College of Emergency Medicine and nurses from the Hong Kong College of Emergency Nursing.

Methods

We assessed various components of all-hazards preparedness using a 25-item questionnaire. Backward logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with perceived preparedness.

Results

A total of 107 responses were analyzed. Respondents lacked training in disaster management, emergency communication, psychological first aid, public health interventions, disaster law and ethics, media handling, and humanitarian response in an overseas setting. High perceived workplace preparedness, length of practice, and willingness to respond were associated with high perceived personal preparedness.

Conclusions

Given the current gaps in and needs for increased disaster preparedness training, ED doctors and nurses in Hong Kong may benefit from the development of core-competency-based training targeting the under-trained areas, measures to improve staff confidence in their workplaces, and efforts to remove barriers to staff willingness to respond. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018; 12: 329–336)
Hegel’s Concept ofEmpfindungand the Debate on State vs. Content Nonconceptualism
Authors: Sanguinetti Federico
Published: August 2017

In this paper, I suggest that Hegel’s concept of sensation (Empfindung) can be fruitfully read against the background of the recent distinction between state vs. content nonconceptualism. I) I provide a brief outline of the distinctions that characterize the debate between state and content nonconceptualism. II) I discuss Hegel’s concept of sensation, arguing that Hegel’s concept of sensation is compatible with a certain version of content conceptualism that is combined with a ‘weak’ state nonconceptualism for adult, rational subjects and with a ‘strong’ state nonconceptualism for non-rational animals and infants. III) I conclude my paper by illustrating some features of Hegel’s conception of mental content starting from distinctions that characterize the debate on state vs. content nonconceptualism.
What Makes a Tweet Fly? Analysis of Twitter Messaging at Four Infection Control Conferences
Authors: Mitchell Brett G. , Russo Philip L. , Otter Jonathan A. , Kiernan Martin A. , Aveling Landon
Published: August 2017

OBJECTIVE

To examine tweeting activity, networks, and common topics mentioned on Twitter at 4 international infection control and infectious disease conferences.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional study.

METHODS

An independent company was commissioned to undertake a Twitter ‘trawl’ each month between July 1, 2016, and November 31, 2016. The trawl identified any tweets that contained the official hashtags of the conferences for (1) the UK Infection Prevention Society, (2) IDWeek 2016, (3) the Federation of Infectious Society/Hospital Infection Society, and (4) the Australasian College for Infection Prevention and Control. Topics from each tweet were identified, and an examination of the frequency and timing of tweets was performed. A social network analysis was performed to illustrate connections between users. A multivariate binary logistic regression model was developed to explore the predictors of ‘retweets.’

RESULTS

In total, 23,718 tweets were identified as using 1 of the 2 hashtags of interest. The results demonstrated that the most tweets were posted during the conferences. Network analysis demonstrated a diversity of twitter networks. A link to a web address was a significant predictor of whether a tweet would be retweeted (odds ratio [OR], 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.9–2.1). Other significant factors predicting a retweet included tweeting on topics such as Clostridium difficile (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.7–2.4) and the media (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.6–2.0). Tweets that contained a picture were significantly less likely to be retweeted (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.05–0.08).

CONCLUSION

Twitter is a useful tool for information sharing and networking at infection control conferences.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:1271–1276
FOREIGN POLICY ALIGNMENT WITH THE WAR ON TERROR: THE CASE OF JAPAN'S FOREIGN AID PROGRAM
Authors: Tuman John P. , Strand Jonathan R. , Shirali Majid
Published: August 2017

Many scholars have suggested that Japan aligned its foreign policy with the US War on Terror. Part of Japan's alignment is said to have involved disbursement of foreign aid to support the US in Afghanistan and Iraq, and with other security interests associated with the War on Terror. To date, however, there has been little empirical study of this question. Employing a data set on Japanese aid to 133 countries between 1995 and 2008, we examine the War on Terror and Japanese ODA. We find that Japanese aid was aligned with some security interests in the War on Terror, but the effects were mixed.
Safeguarding Democracy: Powersharing and Democratic Survival
Authors: GRAHAM BENJAMIN A.T. , MILLER MICHAEL K. , STRØM KAARE W.
Published: August 2017

Democracy is often fragile, especially in states recovering from civil conflict. To protect emerging democracies, many scholars and practitioners recommend political powersharing institutions, which aim to safeguard minority group interests. Yet there is little empirical research on whether powersharing promotes democratic survival, and some concern that it limits electoral accountability. To fill this gap, we differentiate between inclusive, dispersive, and constraining powersharing institutions and analyze their effects on democratic survival from 1975 to 2015 using a global dataset. We find sharp distinctions across types of powersharing and political context. Inclusive powersharing, such as ethnic quotas, promotes democratic survival only in post-conflict settings. In contrast, dispersive institutions such as federalism tend to destabilize post-conflict democracies. Only constraining powersharing consistently facilitates democratic survival regardless of recent conflict. Institution-builders and international organizations should therefore prioritize institutions that constrain leaders, including independent judiciaries, civilian control of the armed forces, and constitutional protections of individual and group rights.
Vertebrate microremains from the upper Silurian Winnica Formation of the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland
Authors: BREMER OSKAR , NIEDŹWIEDZKI GRZEGORZ , BLOM HENNING , DEC MAREK , KOZŁOWSKI WOJCIECH
Published: August 2017

Vertebrate microremains from the upper Silurian Winnica Formation in the Holy Cross Mountains, Poland are described from the Winnica and Rzepin sections. Both sites record the uppermost part of the Słupianka Member, but represent different depositional environments. The Winnica samples come from a low-energy environment, while the Rzepin sample was taken from a high-energy, oolitic facies. Both sites contain thelodontsThelodus parvidens,Thelodus trilobatus, an anaspid cf.Liivilepisand a number of acanthodian scales of ‘nostolepid’, poracanthodid and ‘gomphonchid’ types. Notable differences between the sites are the addition of the osteostracanTahulaspiscf.ordinata, the thelodontParalogania ludlowiensisand acanthodian scales identified asNostolepis gracilisin the Rzepin section. Placing the vertebrate faunas within the vertebrate biozonation established for the Silurian proved difficult. The suggested late Ludlow age for the Słupianka Member based on sequence stratigraphical and chemostratigraphical correlations cannot be definitely confirmed or refuted, but a late Ludfordian age seems the most plausible based on invertebrate and vertebrate faunas. The much lower abundance of poracanthodid acanthodians in the Rzepin sample supports the notion ofPoracanthodes porosusZone as a deep-water equivalent to a number of vertebrate biozones. The presence ofP. ludlowiensisonly in the oolitic sample confirms a long temporal range, but restricted environmental distribution for this taxon.
Differences in bioaccumulation and transfer ability between tributyltin and triphenyltin from parental female to offspring in viviparous surfperch Ditrema temmincki
Authors: Ohji Madoka , Harino Hiroya , Langston William John
Published: August 2017

To examine the risk of transgenerational transfer of organotin compounds (OTs) in fish, tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT) compounds and their breakdown products were determined in both parental females and offspring of viviparous surfperch Ditrema temmincki collected from Japanese coastal waters. TBT concentrations (Mean ± SD) in the offspring (34 ± 5.7 ng Sn g−1 wet wt) were significantly higher (10–17 times) than in the parental females (2.8 ± 1.0 ng Sn g−1 wet wt). In the offspring, TBT was the predominant butyltin compound (82 ± 1.6% ∑BTs = TBT + DBT + MBT), and represented a greater proportion than in the parental females (51 ± 9.3% as TBT). TPT concentrations were significantly lower than TBT, and the ratio of TPT in parental females, relative to offspring, was different from TBT. TPT concentrations in the offspring (0.8 ± 0.3 ng Sn g−1 wet wt) were almost identical to those in the parental females (1.0 ± 0.5 ng Sn g−1 wet wt). TPT was the predominant phenyltin (∑PTs = TPT + DPT + MPT) in both offspring (73 ± 12% as TPT) and parental females (72 ± 18% as TPT). Results suggest that the transfer rate of TBT from parent to offspring could be much faster than its degradation rate in the offspring, accounting for higher accumulation of TBT in the latter. In contrast, the transfer rate of TPT is slower than its biodegradation, leading to a lower concentration of TPT in the offspring. It is therefore likely that the offspring might be at a higher risk from TBT than the parental females during their early growth stage in ovary in the viviparous surfperch whereas exposure to TPT is comparable in both generations.
The Role of theGuangbaoin Promoting Nationalism and Transmitting Reform Ideas in Late Qing China
Authors: WONG SAM , WONG VALERIE
Published: August 2017

TheGuangbao, published in Guangzhou between 1886 and 1891, was one of China's earliest native-owned newspapers, with a circulation three times larger than theXunhuan Ribao. The newspaper, founded by Kuang Qizhao, provides important information on the ideas that were circulating at the time in Guangzhou, a place where a number of reformers were beginning to formulate their thoughts. The newspaper may have sown some of the seeds for the nationalism that would become a powerful force after the Sino-Japanese War. TheGuangbaoprotested against the mistreatment of overseas Chinese and printed stories recommending retaliation against Americans. It opposed Western imperialism, advocated a strong national defence, and even suggested annexing Korea. However, the newspaper was not xenophobic and tried to encourage good relations between Chinese and foreigners in China. Unlike future political newspapers, theGuangbaocontinued to support the existing political system—not because of fear or ignorance, but because of a sense that democracy may not have been appropriate for China at this time. Although Kuang was not a supporter of many Neo-Confucian traditions or beliefs, because he equated Confucian morality with Christian morality, and morality was needed to combat corruption, theGuangbaoemphasized Confucian moral training.

The newspaper also served as a platform to promote reform ideas. Kuang carefully picked ideas that he felt were appropriate for China, including: free universal and specialized education, women's rights, economic nationalism/industrialization/business, free trade, entrepreneurship through patent and copyright protection, support for the common people versus corrupt officials, and philanthropy.
The effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on empathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Yang C.-C. , Khalifa N. , Völlm B.
Published: August 2017

Empathy is a multi-dimensional concept with affective and cognitive components, the latter often referred to as Theory of Mind (ToM). Impaired empathy is prevalent in people with neuropsychiatric disorders, such as personality disorder, psychopathy, and schizophrenia, highlighting the need to develop therapeutic interventions to address this. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive therapeutic technique that has been effective in treating various neuropsychiatric conditions, can be potentially used to modulate empathy. To our knowledge, no systematic reviews or meta-analyses in this field have been conducted. The aim of the current study was to review the literature on the use of rTMS to modulate empathy in adults. Seven electronic databases (AMED, Cochrane library, EMBASE, Medline, Pubmed, PsycInfo, and Web of Science) were searched using appropriate search terms. Twenty-two studies were identified, all bar one study involved interventions in healthy rather than clinical populations, and 18 of them, providing results for 24 trials, were included in the meta-analyses. Results showed an overall small, but statistically significant, effect in favour of active rTMS in healthy individuals. Differential effects across cognitive and affective ToM were evident. Subgroup analyses for cognitive ToM revealed significant effect sizes on excitatory rTMS, offline paradigms, and non-randomised design trials. Subgroup analyses for affective ToM revealed significant effect sizes on excitatory rTMS, offline paradigms, and non-randomised design trials. Meta-regression revealed no significant sources of heterogeneity. In conclusion, rTMS may have discernible effects on different components of empathy. Further research is required to examine the effects of rTMS on empathy in clinical and non-clinical populations, using appropriate empathy tasks and rTMS protocols.
Association between breastfeeding and better preserved cognitive ability in an elderly cohort of Finnish men
Authors: Rantalainen V. , Lahti J. , Henriksson M. , Kajantie E. , Mikkonen M. , Eriksson J. G. , Raikkonen K.
Published: August 2017

Background

Being breastfed in infancy has been shown to benefit neurodevelopment. However, whether the benefits persist to old age remains unclear.

Methods

We examined the associations between breastfeeding and its duration on cognitive ability in young adulthood and old age, and on aging-related cognitive change over five decades. In total, 931 men from the Helsinki Birth Cohort Study born in 1934–1944 in Finland took the Finnish Defence Forces Basic Intellectual Ability Test (total and verbal, arithmetic and visuospatial subtest scores) twice, at ages 20.2 and 67.9 years, and had data on breastfeeding (yes v. no) and its duration (‘never breastfed’, ‘up to 3’, ‘3 to 6’ and ‘6 or more months’). Linear and mixed model regressions tested the associations.

Results

At 20.2 years, breastfed men had higher cognitive ability total and visuospatial subtest scores [mean differences (MDs) ranged between 3.0–3.9, p values < 0.013], and its longer duration predicted higher cognitive ability total and arithmetic and visuospatial subtest scores (MDs ranged between 3.0 and 4.8, p values < 0.039). At 67.9 years, breastfed men had higher total cognitive ability and all subtest scores (MDs ranged between 2.6 and 3.4, p values < 0.044) and its longer duration predicted all cognitive ability scores (MDs ranged between 3.1 and 4.7, p values < 0.050). Verbal subtest scores decreased over five decades in men who were never breastfed or were breastfed for 3 months or less, and increased in those breastfed for longer than 3 months.

Conclusions

Neurodevelopmental advantages of breastfeeding and its longer duration persist into old age, and longer duration of breastfeeding may benefit aging-related change, particularly in verbal reasoning ability.
Music video covers, minoritised languages, and affective investments in the space of YouTube
Authors: Dlaske Kati
Published: August 2017

While interest in affective processes has led to an affective turn in cultural studies, in sociolinguistics this perspective has been given less attention. This study takes up the ‘lens of affect’ and directs it on two cases exemplifying the circulation of minoritised languages in new media spaces: music video covers from two minority-language contexts, Irish and Sámi, uploaded on YouTube. Combining recent theorising on affect with insights from sociolinguistic research, the study investigates how the YouTube users’ affective investments contribute to a (re)evaluation of the two minoritised languages, their speakers, and the related ethnic/national belongings, and how these investments are expressions of more or less banal nationalism, connected to the colonial histories of Ireland and Finland. The study illustrates how the social media operate as a catalyst of affective investments involved in an ethnolinguistic (re)ordering of languages and their speakers, at the intersection of ‘banal globalisation’ and ‘everyday nationalism’. (Minority languages, affect, discourse, social media, nationalism)*
DIRECTIONALLY DIFFERENTIABLE ECONOMETRIC MODELS
Authors: Cho Jin Seo , White Halbert
Published: August 2017

The current article examines the limit distribution of the quasi-maximum likelihood estimator obtained from a directionally differentiable quasi-likelihood function and represents its limit distribution as a functional of a Gaussian stochastic process indexed by direction. In this way, the standard analysis that assumes a differentiable quasi-likelihood function is treated as a special case of our analysis. We also examine and redefine the standard quasi-likelihood ratio, Wald, and Lagrange multiplier test statistics so that their null limit behaviors are regular under our model framework.