bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
How people respond to military crisis: Exploring the role of military affiliation, gender and political ideology
Authors: Park Sejin
Published: October 2019

The current research analyses people's trust in the military during military crisis. Also, this research explores whether the three demographic factors that were known to influence people's perceptions of the military (i.e. military identity, gender and political affiliation) played roles in military crisis. The results indicated that, compared to pre‐crisis situation, both civilian and military publics showed lower scores on their trust in the military after a military crisis than before. Also, the three factors were identified as the indicators of military crisis responsibility. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings are discussed.
Health information exchange between hospital and skilled nursing facilities not associated with lower readmissions
Authors: Cross Dori A. , McCullough Jeffrey S. , Banaszak‐Holl Jane , Adler‐Milstein Julia
Published: October 2019

Objective

To assess whether an electronic health record (EHR) portal to enable health information exchange (HIE) between a hospital and three skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) reduced likelihood of patient readmission.

Setting/Data

Secondary data; all discharges from a large academic medical center to SNFs between July 2013 and March 2017, combined with portal usage records from SNFs with HIE access.

Design

We use difference‐in‐differences to determine whether portal implementation reduced likelihood of readmission over time for patients discharged to HIE‐enabled SNFs, relative to those discharged to nonenabled facilities. Additional descriptive analyses of audit log data characterize portal use within enabled facilities.

Data Collection

Encounter‐level clinical EHR data were merged with EHR audit log data that captured portal usage in the timeframe associated with a patient transition from hospital to SNF.

Principal Findings

Declines in likelihood of 30‐day readmission were not significantly different for patients in HIE‐enabled vs control SNFs (diff‐in‐diff = 0.022; P = .431). We observe similar null effects with shorter readmission windows. The portal was used for 46 percent of discharges, with significant usage pattern variation within/across facilities.

Conclusions

Implementation of a hospital‐SNF EHR portal did not reduce readmissions from enabled SNFs. Emergent HIE use cases need to be better defined and leveraged for design and implementation that generates value in the context of postacute transitions.
Medicaid expansion and the Medicaid undercount in the American Community Survey
Authors: Boudreaux Michel , Noon James M. , Fried Brett , Pascale Joanne
Published: October 2019

Objective

To measure discordance between aggregate estimates of means‐tested coverage from the American Community Survey (ACS) and administrative counts and examine the association of discordance with ACA Medicaid expansion.

Data Sources

2010‐2016 ACS and counts of Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program enrollment from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Study Design

State‐by‐year counts of means‐tested coverage from the ACS were compared to administrative counts using percentage differences. Discordance was compared for states that did and did not adopt expansion using difference‐in‐differences. We then contrasted the effect of expansion on means‐tested coverage estimated from the ACS with results from administrative data.

Data Collection/Extraction

Survey and administrative data.

Principal Findings

One year before expansion there was a 0.8 and 4 percent overcount in expansion and nonexpansion states, respectively. By 2016, there was a 10.64 percent undercount in expansion states vs a 0.02 percent undercount in nonexpansion states. The ACS suggests that expansion increased means‐tested coverage in the full population by three percentage points, relative to five percentage points suggested by administrative records.

Conclusions

Discordance between the ACS and administrative records has increased over time. The ACS underestimates the impact of Medicaid expansion, relative to administrative counts.
Diet quality is more strongly related to food skills rather than cooking skills confidence: Results from a national cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Lavelle Fiona , Bucher Tamara , Dean Moira , Brown Hannah M. , Rollo Megan E. , Collins Clare E.
Published: October 2019

Aim

While diet quality has declined globally, the promotion of cooking skills as a potential target to counter the decline has been proposed. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between food and cooking skills and diet quality in Australian adults.

Methods

A sample of 910 Australian adults completed an online cross‐sectional survey to evaluate their level of cooking and food skills confidence, food related psychological variables, diet quality using the Australian Recommended Food Score (ARFS) and sociodemographic characteristics. Analysis of variance with post hoc analysis, Pearson's correlations and hierarchical multiple regressions were conducted using IBM SPSS V25, with statistical significance set at P < .05.

Results

Older respondents and females reported higher levels of both cooking and food skills confidence compared to younger and male participants, all P < .001. Cooking and food skills confidence scores were highly correlated (r = .70, P < .001), but weakly correlated with ARFS (r = .22, P < .001; r = .31, P < .001, respectively). Participants with higher diet quality scores had greater cooking and food skills confidence and they consumed less takeaway food (P < .001 and P = .006, respectively). Sixteen percent of the variance in ARFS was accounted for, with age, sex, food creativity and food skills confidence contributing the most variability.

Conclusions

Strategies to improve food skills confidence could potentially enhance diet quality and variety to a greater degree than focusing on cooking skills alone. However, development of both skills sets should be encouraged within education programs and targeted to differing aspects of diet quality. Tailoring interventions to specific population groups with low confidence in their skills, including younger adults and males, may facilitate individuals in making healthy food choices.
Benchmarking the research track record and level of appointment of Australian dietetic academics
Authors: Broome Kieran , Swanepoel Libby
Published: October 2019

Aims

Research involvement is fundamental to the practice of dietetics. The present study aims to benchmark the research track record of Australian dietetic academics, and to provide insight into how research productivity informs the level of appointment of academics across the career pathway.

Methods

Australian dietetic faculty websites and corresponding Scopus database profiles were used to support a bibliographic analysis of Australian dietetic academics’ research track record. Current research productivity in relation to academic attributes, level of appointment, and institutional characteristics were explored.

Results

In Australia, dietetic academic level of appointment is logarithmically related to number of publications and relatively consistent across regions and university networks.

Conclusions

Benchmarking provides universities with guidance regarding the performance to expect from academics at each academic level as well as feedback regarding recruitment and promotion practices. The present study provides an important benchmark for Australian dietetic academics and offers implications for individual academics and university management.
Ecophysiological traits of invasive alien Acacia cyclops compared to co‐occuring native species in Strandveld vegetation of the Cape Floristic Region
Authors: Morris Taryn L. , Barger Nichole N. , Cramer Michael D.
Published: October 2019

Tree invasions of Mediterranean‐climate ecosystems pose a significant threat to both biodiversity and functioning, by excluding native species, altering soil nutrient status and depleting water resources. In order to attain greater relative biomass associated with successful invasion in these characteristically resource‐poor environments, invasive species must have novel traits that enable better acquisition (e.g. deep roots) or exploitation of different resources (e.g. N2 fixation) and/or more efficient use of available resources than native species. We compared the ecophysiological and morphological traits of three abundant native species to those of the invasive Australian tree species, Acacia cyclops. This species is widely invasive in the Mediterranean‐climate coastal vegetation of South Africa that includes the Strandveld vegetation type. A. cyclops had 30–50% greater foliar N concentrations (P < 0.001) in comparison with the native species and lower foliar δ15N values that may indicate N2 fixation. Additionally, A. cyclops maintained higher photosynthetic rates over the dry summer season (ca. 15 μmol m−2 s−1) than the native species. These higher photosynthetic rates may result from sustained access to water due to deeper rooting abilities as indicated by the more negative δD values (P < 0.001) of A. cyclops (−43‰) in comparison with the some native species (−29 to −37‰). Acacia cyclops did not, however, exhibit greater water use efficiencies or photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiencies (P > 0.05) compared to native species. Invasiveness of A. cyclops into this resource‐limited Mediterranean‐climate ecosystem appears to be supported by greater resource acquisition, possibly partially through N2 fixation and greater rooting depth, rather than greater resource use efficiency or conservation.
Determination of the international maize price: What is the growing role of Brazil and Ukraine?
Authors: Arnade Carlos , Hoffman Linwood
Published: October 2019

This paper examines the relationships among maize prices for four countries to determine if newly emerging exporters, Brazil and Ukraine, influence the international price of maize. Our work focuses on each market's participation in the price discovery process rather than trying to determine a price leader. We find that the United States plays the largest role in price discovery, followed by Argentina, Brazil, and Ukraine. We also search for export thresholds and find that Ukraine's contribution to price discovery rises slightly when an export threshold of 2.3 million tons is reached. No export thresholds were found for Brazil. Export thresholds for Argentina were found but only have a minor impact on price relationships. We also found that price relationships vary considerably across seasons of the year.
Distribution of neuronal structures immunoreactive for parvalbumin in the midcingulate cortex of the rabbit
Authors: Uddin Mohi , Shibata Hideshi
Published: October 2019

The rabbit midcingulate cortex that enclosed four cortical areas was immunohistochemically studied using a calcium‐binding protein, parvalbumin, as a neurochemical marker. The distribution of parvalbumin‐immunopositive somata and fibres was similar across all four areas, where they were present mainly in layers 2/3 and 5. However, there were a slightly greater number of the immunopositive structures in the two ventral areas than the two dorsal areas. Similarity in the distribution of parvalbumin‐immunopositive structures across the four areas suggests that neurons expressing parvalbumin may be involved in similar functions across the constituent areas of the rabbit midcingulate cortex.
The clinical significance of premature atrial contractions: How frequent should they become predictive of new‐onset atrial fibrillation
Authors: Durmaz Eser , Ikitimur Baris , Kilickiran Avci Burcak , Atıcı Adem , Yurtseven Ece , Tokdil Hasan , Ebren Cansu , Polat Fuat , Karaca Orhan , Karadag Bilgehan , Ongen Zeki
Published: October 2019

Background

Although previous studies reported frequent premature atrial contractions(fPACs) increased the risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, especially atrial fibrillation(AF), there is a substantial inconsistency between reports concerning the definition of fPAC. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between fPAC and cardiovascular outcomes, especially AF. We further searched for a cutoff value of fPAC for prediction of AF.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed the ambulatory 24‐hr Holter monitoring records and 392 patients included. Frequent PAC was defined as more than 720 PAC/24 hr as used for frequent ventricular premature beats. Patients’ baseline characteristics, echocardiographic variables and medical history were recorded.

Results

There were 189 patients with fPAC and 203 patients without fPAC. Patients with fPAC had more comorbidities in terms of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. CHA2DS2‐VaSc was higher in patients with fPAC. Mean follow‐up duration was 31 months, and the number of patients with new‐onset AF during follow‐up was significantly higher in fPAC group (22% vs. 5%, p < .001). fPAC was significantly and independently associated with new‐onset AF and predicted AF with a cutoff value of 3,459 PAC/24 hr, and the risk of AF was 11‐fold higher than those with <3,000 PAC/24 hr. In addition, an increased CHA2DS2‐VaSc score was also associated with new‐onset atrial fibrillation.

Conclusion

In our study, we have demonstrated that fPAC is significantly associated with new‐onset AF, and this association is the strongest among those patients who have more than 3,000 PAC in 24 hr.
Isolated single umbilical artery and the risk of adverse perinatal outcome and third stage of labor complications: A population‐based study
Authors: Ebbing Cathrine , Kessler Jörg , Moster Dag , Rasmussen Svein
Published: October 2019

Introduction

Isolated single umbilical artery (iSUA) refers to single umbilical artery cords with no other fetal malformations. The association of iSUA to adverse outcome of pregnancy has not been consistently reported, and whether iSUA carries increased risk of third stage of labor complications has not been studied. We aimed to investigate the risk of adverse perinatal outcome, third stage of labor complications, and associated placental and cord characteristics in pregnancies with iSUA. A further aim was to assess the risk of recurrence of iSUA and anomalous cord or placenta characteristics in Norway.

Material and methods

This was a population‐based study of all singleton pregnancies with gestational age >16 weeks at birth using data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway from 1999 to 2014 (n = 918 933). Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals were calculated for adverse perinatal outcome (preterm birth, perinatal and intrauterine death, low Apgar score, transferral to neonatal intensive care ward, placental and cord characteristics [placental weight, cord length and knots, anomalous cord insertion, placental abruption and previa]), and third stage of labor complications (postpartum hemorrhage and the need for manual placental removal or curettage) in pregnancies with iSUA, and recurrence of iSUA using generalized estimating equations and logistic regression.

Results

Pregnancies with iSUA carried increased risk of adverse perinatal outcome (OR 5.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.26‐6.02) and perinatal and intrauterine death (OR 5.62, 95% CI 4.69‐6.73), and a 73% and 55% increased risk of preterm birth and small‐for‐gestational‐age neonate, respectively. The presence of iSUA also carried increased risk of a small placenta, placenta previa and abruption, anomalous cord insertion, long cord, cord knot and third stage of labor complications. Women with iSUA, long cord or anomalous cord insertion in one pregnancy carried increased risk of iSUA in the subsequent pregnancy.

Conclusions

The presence of ISUA was associated with a more than five times increased risk of intrauterine and perinatal death and with placental and cord complications. The high associated risk of adverse outcome justifies follow up with assessment of fetal wellbeing in the third trimester, intrapartum surveillance and preparedness for third stage of labor complications.
Association between body positioning and gastroesophageal reflux in paediatric age
Authors: Quitadamo Paolo , Tambucci Renato , Alessandrella Annalisa , Andreozzi Marialuisa , Malamisura Monica , Isoldi Sara , Caldaro Tamara , Zenzeri Letizia , Verrotti Alberto , De Angelis Paola , Siani Paolo , Staiano Annamaria
Published: October 2019

Aim

Postural measures are frequently recommended for gastroesophageal reflux (GER) symptoms, despite limited evidence. This was the first study to assess the impact of upright and recumbent body positions on GER episodes in children and adolescents, not just infants.

Methods

We retrospectively assessed the pH‐impedance parameters of paediatric patients referred for possible GER‐related symptoms to two hospitals in Naples and Rome, Italy, from September 2016 to September 2018. Data were separately obtained for the time that the patients spent in upright and recumbent positions.

Results

Data from 187 patients under the age of 18 were collected, at a mean age of just over seven years. We found that the acid exposure time was stable irrespective of changes in body position (P > .05). The mean number of reflux episodes per hour was 2.99 during the upright position and 1.21 during the recumbent position (P < .05), and the mean oesophageal acid clearance time was 44.4 and 93.4 seconds, respectively (P < .05).

Conclusion

Most paediatric patients experienced reflux in the upright rather than recumbent position, probably as a result of frequent transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxations while they were awake. In particular, our findings provide new insights into postural measures for reflux in children and adolescents.
‘Blue boats’ and ‘reef robbers’: A new maritime security threat for the Asia Pacific?
Authors: Song Andrew M. , Hoang Viet Thang , Cohen Philippa J. , Aqorau Transform , Morrison Tiffany H.
Published: October 2019

Vietnamese ‘blue boats’ – small wooden‐hulled fishing boats – are now entering the territorial waters of Pacific Island countries and illegally catching high‐value species found on remote coastal reefs. Crossing several international boundaries and traversing a distance of over 5000 km, these intrusions have alarmed Oceanic countries, including Australia. Lacking administrative capacity as well as jurisdictional authority to effectively control the vast stretches of island coastlines individually, governments and intergovernmental bodies in the region have called for strengthened coordination of surveillance efforts while also pressuring Vietnam diplomatically. This paper reviews these latest developments and is the first to provide a focused assessment of the issue. Through the lens of Copenhagen School of securitisation theory, we analyse responses of national and regional actors and their portrayal in online media to understand how blue boats are constructed as a security threat within a narrative of maritime, food and human security. Arguably, Australia together with the Forum Fisheries Agency, who advise on the governance of offshore tuna resources, have so far acted most decisively – in a way that might see them extend their strategic role in the region. We propose a comprehensive empirical research agenda to better understand and manage this nascent, flammable and largely unpredictable inter‐regional phenomenon.
Genetic parameters for litter traits at different parities in purebred Landrace and Yorkshire pigs
Authors: Lopez Bryan I. M. , Seo Kangseok
Published: October 2019

Comparison of the multi‐trait animal model and the traditional repeatability model was carried out using data obtained from 6,424 Landrace and 20,835 Yorkshire sows farrowed from January 2000 to April 2018 in order to estimate genetic parameters for litter traits at different parities. Specifically, records of the total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), total number of mortality (MORT), number of stillborn (NSB) and number of mummified pigs (MUM) were used. Although results showed the heterogeneity of heritability for litter traits at different parities, the mean heritability estimates from the multi‐trait model were found to be higher than those of the repeatability model for all traits in both pig breeds. In terms of genetic correlation between parities, a slight difference in genetic control in the first parity was noted for TNB and NBA in Landrace and Yorkshire pigs. The correlation between the first parity and later parities ranged from 0.48 to 0.74 for TNB and NBA in both breeds. Moreover, genetic correlation between parities for MORT and NSB was observed to be high for parities higher than 2 in Yorkshire pigs. For MUM, genetic correlation between the first and other parities was generally low in both breeds, indicating that culling pigs on the basis of MUM at the first parity could probably be unreasonable. Overall, the results of this study suggest that the multi‐trait approach for litter size traits is useful for the accurate estimation of genetic parameters.
Deciphering molecular heterogeneity of Indian families with hereditary spherocytosis using targeted next‐generation sequencing: First South Asian study
Authors: Aggarwal Anu , Jamwal Manu , Sharma Prashant , Sachdeva Man Updesh Singh , Bansal Deepak , Malhotra Pankaj , Das Reena
Published: October 2019

Defects in various erythrocyte membrane proteins genes (ankyrin, band‐3, β‐ and α‐spectrin and protein 4·2) can cause hereditary spherocytosis (HS). This molecular heterogeneity of HS, together with co‐inherited genetic modifiers, results in marked phenotypic variability among patients. We studied the molecular spectrum and genotype‐phenotype correlations in 73 families (with 113 patients) with HS. Deleterious variants including nonsense (42%), deletions (18%), splice site (20%), missense (10%) and duplication/insertion (10%) were found in 47 patients. The variants detected included sporadic and dominantly‐inherited defects in ANK1 (53·2%), SPTB (36·2%) and SLC4A1 (4·2%). Compound heterozygous variants in SPTA1 (6·4%) showed autosomal recessive inheritance. Alpha‐spectrin variants were associated with severe anaemia and splenectomy alleviated symptoms. Co‐inherited glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency was found in 15%. G6PD variants (n = 5) led to greater transfusion requirements (1‐8 times) in males with HS. Homozygosity (41%) for the promoter variant of UGT1A1 (Gilbert syndrome) led to a significantly higher mean bilirubin level (126·54 µmol/l) with a higher frequency of cholelithiasis (30%) (P < 0·001). This first‐ever south Asian study on the molecular spectrum of HS found ANK1 and SPTB genes variants to be the commonest with inheritance being sporadic/dominant. Next‐generation sequencing provided a relatively sensitive and rapid tool for molecular diagnosis with a diagnostic yield of 64·4%.
Twitter and academic Urology in the United States and Canada: a comprehensive assessment of the Twitterverse in 2019
Authors: Chandrasekar Thenappan , Goldberg Hanan , Klaassen Zachary , Wallis Christopher J.D. , Leong Joon Yau , Liem Spencer , Teplitsky Seth , Noorani Rodrigo , Loeb Stacy
Published: October 2019

Objective

To provide the first comprehensive analysis of the Twitterverse amongst academic urologists and programmes in North America.

Methods

Using national accreditation and individual programme websites, all active urology residency programmes (USA and Canada) and academic Urology faculty at these programmes were identified. Demographic data for each programme American Urological Association [AUA] section, resident class size) and physician (title, fellowship training, Scopus Hirsch index [H‐index] and citations) were documented. Twitter metrics (Twitter handle, date joined, # tweets, # followers, # following, likes) for programmes and physicians were catalogued (data capture: March–April 2019). Descriptive analyses and temporal trends in Twitter utilisation amongst programmes and physicians were assessed. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify predictors of Twitter use.

Results

In all, 156 academic programmes (143 USA, 13 Canada) and 2214 academic faculty (2015 USA, 199 Canada) were identified. Twitter utilisation is currently 49.3% and 34.1% amongst programmes and physicians, respectively, and continues to increase. On multivariable analysis, programmes with 3–5 residents/year and programmes with a higher percentage of faculty Twitter engagement were more likely to have Twitter accounts. From a physician perspective, those with fellowship training, lower academic rank (Clinical Instructor, Assistant Professor, Associate Professor vs Professor) and higher H‐indices were more likely to have individual Twitter accounts.

Conclusion

There is a steady increase in Twitter engagement amongst Urology programmes and academic physicians. Faculty Twitter utilisation is an important driver of programme Twitter engagement. Twitter social media activity is strongly associated with academic productivity, and may in fact drive academic metrics. Within Urology, social media presence appears to be proportional to academic activity.
Bird extirpations and community dynamics in an Andean cloud forest over 100 years of land‐use change
Authors: Palacio Ruben D. , Kattan Gustavo H. , Pimm Stuart L.
Published: October 2019

Long‐term studies to understand biodiversity changes remain scarce—especially so for tropical mountains. We examined changes from 1911 to 2016 in the bird community of the cloud forest of San Antonio, a mountain ridge in the Colombian Andes. We evaluated the effects of past land‐use change and assessed species vulnerability to climate disruption. Forest cover decreased from 95% to 50% by 1959, and 33 forest species were extirpated. From 1959 to 1990, forest cover remained stable, and an additional 15 species were lost—a total of 29% of the forest bird community. Thereafter, forest cover increased by 26% and 17 species recolonized the area. The main cause of extirpations was the loss of connections to adjacent forests. Of the 31 (19%) extirpated birds, 25 have ranges peripheral to San Antonio, mostly in the lowlands. Most still occurred regionally, but broken forest connections limited their recolonization. Other causes of extirpation were hunting, wildlife trade, and water diversion. Bird community changes included a shift from predominantly common species to rare species; forest generalists replaced forest specialists that require old growth, and functional groups, such as large‐body frugivores and nectarivores, declined disproportionally. All water‐dependent birds were extirpated. Of the remaining 122 forest species, 19 are vulnerable to climate disruption, 10 have declined in abundance, and 4 are threatened. Our results show unequivocal species losses and changes in community structure and abundance at the local scale. We found species were extirpated after habitat loss and fragmentation, but forest recovery stopped extirpations and helped species repopulate. Land‐use changes increased species vulnerability to climate change, and we suggest reversing landscape transformation may restore biodiversity and improve resistance to future threats.
The Faulty Magnitude Detector: Why SNARC‐Like Tasks Cannot Support a Generalized Magnitude System
Authors: Casasanto Daniel , Pitt Benjamin
Published: October 2019

Do people represent space, time, number, and other conceptual domains using a generalized magnitude system (GMS)? To answer this question, numerous studies have used the spatial‐numerical association of response codes (SNARC) task and its variants. Yet, for a combination of reasons, SNARC‐like effects cannot provide evidence for a GMS, even in principle. Rather, these effects support a broader theory of how people use space metaphorically to scaffold their understanding of myriad non‐spatial domains, whether or not these domains exhibit variation in magnitude.
Generating Relations Elicits a Relational Mindset in Children
Authors: Simms Nina K. , Richland Lindsey E.
Published: October 2019

Relational reasoning is a hallmark of human higher cognition and creativity, yet it is notoriously difficult to encourage in abstract tasks, even in adults. Generally, young children initially focus more on objects, but with age become more focused on relations. While prerequisite knowledge and cognitive resource maturation partially explains this pattern, here we propose a new facet important for children's relational reasoning development: a general orientation to relational information, or a relational mindset. We demonstrate that a relational mindset can be elicited, even in 4‐year‐old children, yielding greater than expected spontaneous attention to relations. Children either generated or listened to an experimenter state the relationships between objects in a set of formal analogy problems, and then in a second task, selected object or relational matches according to their preference. Children tended to make object mappings, but those who generated relations on the first task selected relational matches more often on the second task, signaling that relational attention is malleable even in young children.
Children's implicit attitude acquisition: Evaluative statements succeed, repeated pairings fail
Authors: Charlesworth Tessa E. S. , Kurdi Benedek , Banaji Mahzarin R.
Published: October 2019

From the earliest ages tested, children and adults show similar overall magnitudes of implicit attitudes toward various social groups. However, such consistency in attitude magnitude may obscure meaningful age‐related change in the ways that children (vs. adults) acquire implicit attitudes. This experiment investigated children's implicit attitude acquisition by comparing the separate and joint effects of two learning interventions, previously shown to form implicit attitudes in adults. Children (N = 280, ages 7–11 years) were taught about novel social groups through either evaluative statements (ES; auditorily presented verbal statements such as ‘Longfaces are bad, Squarefaces are good’), repeated evaluative pairings (REP; visual pairings of Longface/Squareface group members with valenced images such as a puppy or snake), or a combination of ES+REP. Results showed that children acquired implicit attitudes following ES and ES+REP, with REP providing no additional learning beyond ES alone. Moreover, children did not acquire implicit attitudes in four variations of REP, each designed to facilitate learning by systematically increasing verbal scaffolding to specify (a) the learning goal, (b) the valence of the unconditioned stimuli, and (c) the group categories of the conditioned stimuli. These findings underscore the early‐emerging role of verbal statements in children's implicit attitude acquisition, as well as a possible age‐related limit in children's acquisition of novel implicit attitudes from repeated pairings.
Building a policy space via mainstreaming ICT in European education: The European Digital Education Area (re)visited
Authors: Salajan Florin D.
Published: October 2019

This article examines the ideational construction and definition of the European Digital Education Area (EDEA) as a policy space and mechanism for the mainstreaming of digital technologies in Europe's education and training systems. It revisits the foundational pillars on which it is premised, proposed in a previous iteration of the concept: formal legislation, mainstreaming of digital education actions and interlinked networks of practice. Employing a mixed methods approach, involving discourse analysis of key policy documents enacted over the past two decades, an online survey of ICT project coordinators under the Lifelong Learning Programme, and interviews with policy officers at the European Commission, the study reinforces the structure and utility of the EDEA for ICT diffusion in education. It argues for its formal acknowledgment as a political priority and key policy area enforceable through instruments similar to those existing under the Bologna Process for a coherent, concerted and strategic approach to digital education at EU level.
DNA hypermethylation is associated with invasive phenotype of malignant melanoma
Authors: Koroknai Viktória , Szász István , Hernandez‐Vargas Hector , Fernandez‐Jimenez Nora , Cuenin Cyrille , Herceg Zdenko , Vízkeleti Laura , Ádány Róza , Ecsedi Szilvia , Balázs Margit
Published: October 2019

Tumor cell invasion is one of the key processes during cancer progression, leading to life‐threatening metastatic lesions in melanoma. As methylation of cancer‐related genes plays a fundamental role during tumorigenesis and may lead to cellular plasticity which promotes invasion, our aim was to identify novel epigenetic markers on selected invasive melanoma cells. Using Illumina BeadChip assays and Affymetrix Human Gene 1.0 microarrays, we explored the DNA methylation landscape of selected invasive melanoma cells and examined the impact of DNA methylation on gene expression patterns. Our data revealed predominantly hypermethylated genes in the invasive cells affecting the neural crest differentiation pathway and regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Integrative analysis of the methylation and gene expression profiles resulted in a cohort of hypermethylated genes (IL12RB2, LYPD6B, CHL1, SLC9A3, BAALC, FAM213A, SORCS1, GPR158, FBN1 and ADORA2B) with decreased expression. On the other hand, hypermethylation in the gene body of the EGFR and RBP4 genes was positively correlated with overexpression of the genes. We identified several methylation changes that can have role during melanoma progression, including hypermethylation of the promoter regions of the ARHGAP22 and NAV2 genes that are commonly altered in locally invasive primary melanomas as well as during metastasis. Interestingly, the down‐regulation of the methylcytosine dioxygenase TET2 gene, which regulates DNA methylation, was associated with hypermethylated promoter region of the gene. This can probably lead to the observed global hypermethylation pattern of invasive cells and might be one of the key changes during the development of malignant melanoma cells.
Sphene (titanite)
Authors: Brooks Kent
Published: October 2019

Few people have heard of the mineral sphene (also called titanite), but it is nevertheless extremely widespread, occurring in most common rocks. It can be useful to the Earth scientist as it contains information on the timing, temperature and pressure of formation of many common rocks. It is also a source of titanium—and can sometimes be used as a gemstone.
Expression and ultrastructural localization of plasmin(ogen) in the terminally differentiated layers of normal human epidermis
Authors: Voegeli R. , Rawlings A.V. , Haftek M.
Published: October 2019

Objective

Plasmin, a relatively unspecific trypsin‐like serine protease, is involved in many physiological and pathological conditions, particularly in dermatoses with barrier impairment. It is secreted as the inactive zymogen plasminogen and is activated to plasmin by plasminogen activators, such as urokinase. There still exists a paucity of data on the precise localization of epidermal plasmin(ogen) within the epidermis and the stratum corneum. The aim of the present study was to get information about its origin and ultrastructural localization within normal human epidermis.

Method

We performed immunoelectron transmission electron microscopy immunogold labelling in normal abdominal human skin.

Result

Plasmin was only observed in the terminally differentiated cell layers of the epidermis and was largely associated with the corneocyte envelopes and to some extent with the intercellular lipid matrix in the stratum corneum.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that in normal human skin, plasmin(ogen) is synthesized by differentiated epidermal keratinocytes of the stratum granulosum and is not serum‐born.
Preparation of B4C composites toughened by MoB2/Mo2B5‐SiC interlocking structure via reactive hot pressing
Authors: Wang Shuai , Li Lamei , Xing Pengfei , Yan Shu , Wu Qi , Gao Shuaibo , Nie Dan
Published: October 2019

B4C composites toughened by MoB2/Mo2B5‐SiC interlocking structure were prepared via reactive hot pressing with B4C and MoSi2 as raw materials. The phase composition, microstructure, and mechanical properties of the fabricated B4C composites were studied. The crack propagation and fracture surface were observed, and the toughening mechanism was analyzed. The results indicate that the interlocking structure of MoB2/Mo2B5‐SiC is formed in the obtained B4C composites. The relative density, flexural strength, and fracture toughness of the B4C composites reach 99.3%, 480 MPa, and 5.2 MPa·m1/2, respectively, when the MoSi2 content is 30 wt%. The hardness is 33 GPa when the MoSi2 content is 20 wt%. The special laminar fracture of the interlocking structure of MoB2/Mo2B5‐SiC elongates the crack extending path and thus consumes more energy of crack extension. The phenomena of crack bridging and branching and the special laminar fracture of the interlocking structure have a synergistic effect on promoting the overall fracture toughness.
Analysis of patients referred for aged care assessment with concerns related to hoarding or squalor
Authors: Guinane John , Bailey Deborah , Fuge Warren , Lee Sook Meng
Published: October 2019

Patients referred with concerns related to hoarding and squalor frequently pose significant management challenges. We conducted a retrospective analysis of 120 patients referred to an Aged Care Assessment Service. The hoarding only group comprised 27%, squalor only 15% and hoarding and squalor 53%. Mild cognitive impairment was the most common cognitive diagnosis, no cognitive diagnosis was made in 25% and the usual diagnostic process could not be followed in 13%. This analysis provides relevant Australian specific data to assist with planning service delivery for a group of patients with complex management issues.
Idarucizumab for dabigatran reversal: the first 6 months in a tertiary centre
Authors: Wheeler Matthew , Borrie Andrew , Dookia Rishi , Carter John
Published: October 2019

This retrospective audit reviews patients on dabigatran presenting with bleeding or requiring urgent surgery in the Wellington region, whether they received idarucizumab appropriately and the outcome of episodes. Eighty patients were identified with bleeding or need for urgent surgery, 14 of which received idarucizumab. In patients who received idarucizumab, use was safe, effective and overall appropriate. Idarucizumab was underutilised with patients who could have benefited not receiving it; however, some patients who were treated may not have required it. Increased awareness and use may improve outcomes.
A nationwide assessment of blood pressure control and the associated factors in Chinese type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
Authors: Zhang Yu‐Qing , Li Yong , Dong Yu‐Gang , Wu Yan‐Hua , Bian Rui , Li Ji‐Hu , Ji Li‐Nong
Published: October 2019

A subgroup analysis of the nationwide, cross‐sectional 3B STUDY was performed to understand the current blood pressure (BP) control status and treatment patterns in Chinese diabetes patients as well as to identify factors associated with BP control. The demographic data, anthropometric parameters, and laboratory results were collected from 24 512 type 2 diabetes patients. The BP goal was a systolic BP <130 mm Hg and a diastolic BP <80 mm Hg regardless of a history of hypertension or current antihypertensive treatment. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 59.9% with geographical differences. Among the diabetes patients with hypertension, 76.9% received antihypertensive medicines. Calcium channel blockers (39.3%), angiotensin II receptor antagonists (26.6%), and then β‐blockers (14.0%) or angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors (13.6%) were frequently used for BP control. Only 17.5% (n = 2658) of diabetes patients with hypertension reached the recommended target BP. Body mass index <24 kg/m2, urban resident, frequent physical activity, good adherence to medication, comorbidity with cardiovascular disease, achieving glycemic goal (HbA1c <7.0%), achieving lipid goal (low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol <2.59 mmol/L) were independent factors that predicted achievement of target BP goal. On the contrary, comorbidity with chronic kidney disease predicted failure to achieve target BP goal. Patients who were treated in a cardiology department or lived in the North were more likely to achieve BP goals. A considerable proportion of diabetic patients failed to achieve guideline‐recommended BP targets. More aggressive efforts should be made to overcome the diverse barriers and facilitate the optimization of diabetes management.
Savings that hurt: Production rationalization and its effect on prices
Authors: Varela Mauricio , Viswanathan Madhu
Published: October 2019

Postmerger scenarios often lead to a reallocation of resources and production across the merged entity. Production rationalization, the process of reallocating production across facilities so as to reduce total costs, results in firms equating marginal costs across markets. This results in marginal costs, and hence prices, being higher in some markets and lower in others than otherwise would be without production rationalization. This paper proposes a model of competition that elicits these effects and the resulting consequences on consumer and producer surplus. The paper also presents empirical evidence to show that production rationalization, in the form of fleet reoptimization, affected prices following the US Airways/American Airlines merger. Prices of the merged firm increased 10% on routes typically served by US Airways relative to routes typically served by American Airlines, and by 12% relative to US Airways’ rivals’ prices. Price‐cost regressions confirm such price hikes were likely due to fleet reoptimization.
The Ones We Seldom See: Old Folks in Young Countries
Authors: Clarfield A. Mark
Published: October 2019

It has long been thought that demographic aging and its attendant implications for health and social services is primarily a problem for industrialized wealthy countries. Nothing could be further from the truth since most older persons (and an increasingly higher number) reside in low‐income countries. Through a description of a home visit to older women in the small town of Gondar, Ethiopia, the general state of older persons in sub‐Saharan Africa is addressed. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2240–2244, 2019
Metabolic syndrome and its association with the Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII)® in a Croatian working population
Authors: Kenđel Jovanović G. , Pavičić Žeželj S. , Klobučar Majanović S. , Mrakovcic‐Sutic I. , Šutić I.
Published: October 2019

Background

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a global public health concern, although its association with the inflammatory potential of the diet is still indefinite. The main objective of the present study was to investigate the association of MetS and its components with the inflammatory potential of the diet in a Croatian working population with sedentary occupations.

Methods

In a cross‐sectional study, Croatian workers (n = 366) self‐administrated questionnaires for sociodemographic and health‐related data. Their anthropometric measurements and fasting blood samples were collected for evaluation of MetS. The inflammatory potential of the diet was assessed with a Dietary Inflammatory Index (DII)®, scored using dietary data collected from a food frequency questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusted for sex, age, body mass index, education, smoking, physical activity and energy intake, was used to establish the association between DII and MetS.

Results

MetS prevalence was 25% and was significantly associated with a pro‐inflammatory diet [mean (SD) 3.28 (1.45); P < 0.01]. The pro‐inflammatory diet was statistically associated with women, university degree, moderate physical activity, snacking between meals, central obesity, hypertriglyceridaemia, hypertension, low high‐density lipoprotein‐cholesterol, MetS prevalence and lower adherence to a Mediterranean diet. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed a statistically positive association for a one‐unit increase in the DII and MetS prevalence (odds ratio = 2.31; 95% confidence interval = 1.61–3.31; P < 0.01) and hypertension (odds ratio = 1.28; 95% confidence interval = 1.01–1.64; P = 0.04).

Conclusions

Further longitudinal studies in different parts of Croatia, including inflammation biomarkers, are needed to enable a more defined view of the inflammatory potential of a diet and its association with various inflammatory‐based health conditions. The results obtained in the present study indicate the need for the development of anti‐inflammatory dietary interventions for population health protection.
Retinol status and associated factors in mother–newborn pairs
Authors: Bezerra D.S. , Ribeiro K.D.S. , Lima M.S.R. , Pires Medeiros J.F. , da Silva A.G.C.L. , Dimenstein R. , Osório M.M.
Published: October 2019

Background

Vitamin A deficiency is still considered to be a nutritional problem during pregnancy, lactation and early childhood. The present study aimed to assess the vitamin A status of women and their newborns in the Brazilian Northeast and to determine the association between retinol in the maternal serum, umbilical cord blood and colostrum.

Methods

Vitamin A status in 65 pairs of women and newborns was assessed from samples of the mother’s serum, umbilical cord serum and colostrum using high‐performance liquid chromatography. The inadequacy of the vitamin A status of mothers and infants was identified if the retinol values were <0.7 µmol L−1 in maternal serum or umbilical cord blood or <1.05 µmol L−1 in colostrum.

Results

The prevalence of inadequate maternal vitamin A status was 21.5% (95% CI: 11.5%–31.5%) and 13.8% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 5.4%–22.2%] based on maternal serum and colostrum, respectively. Among newborns, 41.5% (95% CI = 29.3%–53.5%) presented a low status of vitamin A based on cord serum. Multiple linear regression analysis identified that maternal serum retinol is a predictor of umbilical cord retinol (P = 0.005). Retinol in maternal serum was lower in mothers who were less educated (P = 0.04) and colostrum retinol was higher in older (P = 0.04) and multiparous (P = 0.002) mothers.

Conclusions

Vitamin A deficiency is a common problem among mothers attended in public hospitals in Northeast Brazil and maternal retinol concentrations are associated with retinol status in newborns. Maternal age, parity and educational level were related to the maternal vitamin A status.