bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Further evidence for the involvement of EFL1 in a Shwachman–Diamond-like syndrome and expansion of the phenotypic features
Authors: Tan Queenie K.-G. , Cope Heidi , Spillmann Rebecca C. , Stong Nicholas , Jiang Yong-Hui , McDonald Marie T. , Rothman Jennifer A. , Butler Megan W. , Frush Donald P. , Lachman Ralph S. , Lee Brendan , Bacino Carlos A. , Bonner Melanie J. , McCall Chad M. , Pendse Avani A. , Walley Nicole ,   Undiagnosed Diseases Network, Shashi Vandana , Pena Loren D.M.
Published: July 2018

Recent evidence has implicated EFL1 in a phenotype overlapping Shwachman–Diamond syndrome (SDS), with the functional interplay between EFL1 and the previously known causative gene SBDS accounting for the similarity in clinical features. Relatively little is known about the phenotypes associated with pathogenic variants in the EFL1 gene, but the initial indication was that phenotypes may be more severe, when compared with SDS. We report a pediatric patient who presented with a metaphyseal dysplasia and was found to have biallelic variants in EFL1 on reanalysis of trio whole-exome sequencing data. The variant had not been initially reported because of the research laboratory's focus on de novo variants. Subsequent phenotyping revealed variability in her manifestations. Although her metaphyseal abnormalities were more severe than in the original reported cohort with EFL1 variants, the bone marrow abnormalities were generally mild, and there was equivocal evidence for pancreatic insufficiency. Despite the limited number of reported patients, variants in EFL1 appear to cause a broader spectrum of symptoms that overlap with those seen in SDS. Our report adds to the evidence of EFL1 being associated with an SDS-like phenotype and provides information adding to our understanding of the phenotypic variability of this disorder. Our report also highlights the value of exome data reanalysis when a diagnosis is not initially apparent.
Enhancing student engagement in business sustainability through games
Authors: Emblen-Perry Kay
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the value students place on the sustainable strategies game (SSG) which seeks to improve student engagement in business sustainability through enhanced game-based learning. This game provides an alternative collaborative learning environment to the traditional instructivist approach to enrich Education for Sustainability (EfS) learning experiences and enhance student engagement.

Design/methodology/approach

Students’ reflections on their game-based learning experiences and suggestions for game development were collected through a short qualitative survey. Results are explored through three frameworks, namely, the multifaceted student value model, the dimensions of engagement framework and the UK higher education authority (HEA) framework for engagement through partnership.

Findings

Research findings suggest the SSG provides game-based learning within EfS that delivers “edutainment” within an active, collaborative and experiential learning environment that the students value. It is also able to challenge thinking and emotionally engage students with the fundamentals of business sustainability. Reflection-on-action and the students’ role as co-researchers in game development allow students to become active participants in their learning as well as knowledge producers and evaluators. These outcomes deliver the UK HEA’s core facets of student engagement through partnership.

Research limitations/implications

This practice-focused study presents the self-reported results of a one-time, small study which does not offer generalised, independently validated responses. However, the findings may be of interest to educators considering the adoption of game-based learning and those seeking new learning cultures for EfS.

Practical implications

Game-based learning and teaching approaches can achieve a learner-centred active, collaborative learning environment that enhances student engagement with business sustainability.

Originality/value

Experiences gained from this study should assist others in the implementation of game-based learning to engage students in business sustainability.
Student teachers’ perceptions about the social pillar of urban sustainability
Authors: Panatsa Vasiliki Maria , Malandrakis Georgios
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This study aims to detect preschool and primary school student–teachers’ (STs) views about the social pillar of urban sustainability and particularly about the importance they attach to various social aspects of urban sustainability, and the perceived effectiveness of education in influencing these aspects.

Design/methodology/approach

A custom-designed questionnaire comprising eight literature-based social aspects of urban sustainability was developed and administered to 207 STs during the spring semester of 2015-2016, in the school of education, of a university located in northern Greece.

Findings

The highest levels of importance were attached to the aspect of “Health”, whereas aspects related to “Policy and Governance” were considered as the least important of all social aspects of urban sustainability. The aspect considered most easily influenced through education was that of “Human Relations”, in contrast to the aspect of “Housing” in which education was considered as the least effective. Also, STs considered every aspect of social urban sustainability to be more important than able to be influenced by education, revealing that they are somewhat sceptical of the effectiveness of education in this field.

Research limitations/implications

The participation of only student-teachers and the use of quantitative research tools are among the main limitation of the study. Future research should include teachers, both in-service and pre-service, from various disciplines and educational levels, and should employ a combination of quantitative with qualitative methods of analysis.

Practical implications

Insight into STs’ views can serve as a useful guidance for teacher education programs, providing information about necessary actions that have to be taken for the improvement of both pre- and in-service teacher educations.

Originality/value

There is a great lack of research around pre- and in-service teachers’ views about the importance of sustainability and the role of education in influencing it. Existing research is further scarcer when it comes to the investigation of the social pillar of urban sustainability, as literature usually focuses either on the environmental pillar of sustainability or on the concept of sustainable development in general.
Mindfulness training for school administrators: effects on well-being and leadership
Authors: Mahfouz Julia
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Based on a need to utilize strategies and develop social-emotional competency skills of school administrators, the purpose of this paper is to explore the influence of Cultivating Awareness and Resilience in Education (CARE), a mindfulness-based professional development program, on the leadership and well-being of 13 school administrators.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical data consist of in-depth interviews with 13 administrators before and after the implementation of CARE program, observation notes from shadowing their activities during school time and attending the CARE program as a participant observer. Employing the pro-social classroom model (Jennings and Greenberg, 2009) as a theoretical foundation, the paper is based on an ongoing, iterative data analysis process, following the coding and interpretive techniques of grounded theory.

Findings

The positive outcomes that emerged from the data relate to improved leadership skills, such as increased self-reflection, better relationships and attendance to self-care. These skills are tied to increased self-awareness, self-management and self-compassion. Participants also reported an improved ability to recognize their emotional reactions, which enabled them to better understand their leadership roles in shaping their school climates.

Research limitations/implications

The findings reveal significant insights about the implementation of social-emotional, mindfulness-based professional development with school administrators and potential outcomes. Implications for professional development that fosters school administrators’ social-emotional competencies are discussed.

Originality/value

As a study of one of the first implementations of mindfulness-based professional development programs among school principals, this research illuminates the specific benefits of such programs for school leaders and how mindfulness could be integral in their lives and education. Specifically, this study is one of the first to reveal how the CARE professional development program influences principals’ well-being and leadership.
Problems and solutions for using computer (networks) for education
Authors: Maurer Hermann
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The idea to use computers for teaching and learning is over 50 years old. Numerous attempts to use computers for knowledge dissemination under a variety of names have failed in many cases, and have become successful in others. The essence of this paper can be summarized in two sentences. One, in some niches, applications tend to be successful. Second, attempts to fully eliminate humans from the educational process are bound to fail, yet if a large number of aspects is handled well, the role of teachers can indeed be much reduced. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Report on experimental results.

Findings

In some niches, applications of e-Learning technology tend to be successful. However, attempts to fully eliminate humans from the educational process are bound to fail, yet if a large number of aspects is handled well, the role of teachers can indeed be much reduced.

Research limitations/implications

A number of features that seemed essential in earlier e-Learning systems turn out to be superfluous.

Practical implications

New e-Learning systems have to concentrate on quality of content, not complex technology.

Social implications

E-Learning the right way helps learners, teachers and institutions.

Originality/value

Experiments reported verify or do the opposite of often loosely stated opinions.
Customer response to service encounter linguistics
Authors: Zolfagharian Mohammadali , Hasan Fuad , Iyer Pramod
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Focused on multicultural service encounters, this paper aims to argue that the interplay between customer language preference, employee choice and use of language affects perceived interaction quality, which in turn influences loyalty, customer brand identification and positive word-of-mouth.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Mexican Americans (Spanish) as the focal ethnic group (language), a 3 (contexts: Fast food-English; Post office-English; Post office-Spanish) × 4 (scenarios: customer language preference adhered to; adapted to; mixed; ignored) between-subject scenario-based experiment was conducted.

Findings

Customers perceive a higher, or at least equal, level of interaction quality when the employee choice of language adheres to their preference than when the employee switches to their preferred language after missing it initially. Both of these scenarios lead to significantly higher interaction quality compared to when the employee ignores customer language preference or combines elements from two languages throughout the interaction. The adverse effects of ignoring customer preferred language or mixing it with another language are accentuated among customers with low ethnic identification and those with low level of bilingualism. Prior findings regard the interplay among interaction quality, and the remainder of outcomes variables were also corroborated.

Research limitations/implications

The findings add to the literature that examines the dynamics of intercultural service encounters and draws attention to employee choice and use of language and its impact on a host of service outcomes, with interaction quality serving as a key mediator.

Practical implications

This study highlights the need for service firms to consider customer language preferences and train and empower employees to meet customer expectations. To the extent that the increasingly viable segments of minority customers remain underserved in most developed markets, this study provides insights into cultivating a profitable customer segment.

Originality/value

This study demonstrates the role of employee choice and use of language and its consequences.
Workplace democracy and psychological capital: a paradigm shift in workplace
Authors: Han Ki-Soon , Garg Pooja
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the role of workplace democracy in generating psychological capital, which is an inevitable paradigm for the contemporary organizations. The study also provides a conceptual framework which connotes the nexus between the two constructs.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is qualitative in nature and uses content analysis to identify the determinants of workplace democracy and psychological capital. Furthermore, the study used SPSS macro, i.e. PROCESS, a computational tool for calculating inter-coder reliability by using KALPHA, i.e. Krippendorff’s alpha reliability estimate (Hayes, 2013; Krippendorff, 2011).

Findings

The present study adds to the literature by signaling the dire need for building democratic workplaces and offers significant insights for the management and human resource practitioners to cultivate workplace democracy to build their employees’ psychological strengths, which in turn will result in enhanced organizational outcomes.

Originality/value

The present study brings attention toward the necessity for a shift in the generic organizational strategies and instigate organizations to nurture a democratic setup for developing employees’ psychological capital.
Effect ofCitrus maximajuice on fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, liver enzyme and body weight
Authors: Ani Peace Nwanneka , Aginam Precious Chisom
Published: July 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the effect ofCitrus maximajuice on fasting blood glucose, lipid profile, liver enzyme and body weight of alloxan-induced diabetic adult wistar rats.

Design/methodology/approach

The fruits were thoroughly washed with potable water. They were peeled; the epicarp and seeds were removed. Fruit juice was extracted from the pulp. Animal experiment was carried out using 21 adult male wistar rats weighing about 110-130 g. The rats were categorized into three groups (A-C), with each group consisting of seven rats of similar body weights. Diabetes was induced using alloxan. Rats in Groups A and B were administered 300 mg and 600 mg ofC. maximafruit juice/kg body weight/day, respectively, for 14 days, while Group C rats acted as control and received placebo. Biochemical analysis was performed using standard procedures. Data were analyzed using SPSS, version 21.

Findings

Blood glucose of rats in the treated groups decreased significantly (p< 0.05) from 454.7 and 569.7 mg/dl to 149.3 and 297.3 mg/dl, respectively, while the control increased from 257.0 to 46.57 mg/dl. Total cholesterol and triglyceride levels of Group B rats reduced significantly (p< 0.05), while the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level increased (p< 0.05). Body weight of rats in the treated groups increased significantly (p< 0.05) by 30.1 and 20.2 per cent in Groups A and B, respectively, compared to the control group, which reduced by 0.21 per cent. There was no significant effect on markers of liver damage.

Practical implications

The rate at which diabetes and other non-communicable diseases increase recently calls for affordable and sustainable management.

Social implications

Diabetes is one of the major health and development challenges of the 21st century, its complications are disabling and life threatening.

Originality/value

The hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic properties demonstrated byC. maximafruit juice suggest its potential contribution in reducing/stabilizing blood glucose level and managing complications of diabetes.
Spatiotemporal patterns and distributions of harm within street segments
Authors: Norton Stuart , Ariel Barak , Weinborn Cristobal , O’Dwyer Emma
Published: July 2018

Purpose

Virtually all analyses of hotspots have been devoted to a crude counting system, i.e. tallying the number of occurrences that take place in pre-specified units of space and time. Recent research shows that while usually half of all criminal events are concentrated in about 3 percent of places commonly referred to as “hotspots” of crime, similar proportions of harm concentrate in only 1 percent of places. These are “harmspots.” Identifying that harm is a more concentrated issue suggests wide policy and research implications, but what are the dynamics of these harmspots? The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper provides a descriptive framework for measuring, as well as evidence about, these patterns and concentrations, harmspots in Sussex, England.

Findings

There are four discrete offense categories that account for 80 percent of all the harm within harmspots. These categories include: sexual offenses, violence against the person, robbery and theft. Within these high harmspots, crime counts and harm are strongly correlated (r=0.82, p=0.001). Temporal analyses show that harmspots are not evenly spread across time and place, with night time and weekends becoming substantially more susceptible to harm – more than count-based models. Harmspot trajectory analysis suggests evidence of stability over time within the high harmspots; most harmspots remain chronically inflicted with harm. Violence and sexual offenses are random in their spatial distribution between the harmspots, but robberies and theft are more closely coupled to particular harmspots than others.

Originality/value

Implications of these findings are discussed in terms of future research avenues and crime policy.
The Korean Desk in the Philippines
Authors: Kim Ki Heun
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine a newly initiated strategy for international cooperation in criminal justice; specifically, the facilitation of a “Korean Desk” between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea, as a case of successful collaboration.

Design/methodology/approach

International efforts to formulate and implement the Korean Desk are reviewed, by collecting legal and administrative literature on its implementation.

Findings

The Korean Desk, as a newly implemented strategy to handle the increasing incidence of crime by and against Koreans in the Philippines, showed that direct communication and collaboration between police agencies significantly increased effectiveness. Creating the Korean Desk greatly assisted the resolution of criminal matters including extradition, cyber-crime, murder, robbery and others that involved Korean suspects and offenders in Korea and Philippines. The paper describes how the implementation of the Korean Desk evolved, the different roles of the Korean Desk and the police consul, and the substantial, positive outcomes of the project.

Practical implications

Law-enforcement agencies are constantly formulating new approaches to enhance international anti-crime efforts. The successful collaboration described in this paper provides new insights and ideas for how, through close cooperation, agencies can benefit from, and enhance, those efforts. The paper shows how direct communication between the Korean Desk and local police in the Philippines can facilitate investigations, making them efficient and timely. Evaluation of the Korean Desk suggests that it has greatly contributed to international law enforcement.

Originality/value

The overall steps for formulating the Korean Desk strategy and implementing it are examined.
Racial disparities in police use-of-force: a state-of-the-art review
Authors: Hollis Meghan E. , Jennings Wesley G.
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to systematically and comprehensively review the extant literature on racial disparities in police use of force.

Design/methodology/approach

The current study uses a narrative meta-review of racial disparities in police use of force through a systematic and exhaustive search of several academic databases (e.g. Criminal Justice Abstracts; EBSCO Host, PsychInfo, etc.).

Findings

The current meta-review identified 41 studies that matched the selection criteria. These studies examined public and police officer perceptions of use of force, rates of use of force, types of force used, neighborhood contextual correlates of use of force, and severity of force used. The relationship between race and use of force remains unclear after an examination of these studies. This indicates a need for high-quality research focusing on comparable operationalization of variables and stronger methodologies.

Research limitations/implications

The research implications derived from this meta-review indicate a need for increased research to better understand the intersections of race and police use of force (and the factors that increase the likelihood of force being used more broadly).

Practical implications

The practical implications derived from this meta-review indicate the need for monitoring techniques, such as the use of police body-worn cameras that could serve to deter inappropriate use of force.

Originality/value

The state-of-the-art review on racial disparities in police use of force is the first of its kind. This study comprehensively reviews the literature on racial disparities in police use of force. This study will be useful for those who wish to further explore racial disparities and use of force issues in policing, and for police managers and administrators who want to address concerns related to racial disparities in use of force in their organization.
The usage intention of e-learning for police education and training
Authors: Rui-Hsin Kao , Lin Chen-Tai
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to adopt the revised and integrated technology acceptance model (TAM) and the successful model of the information system as a framework suitable for discussing factors the affecting the usage intention of e-learning for police education and training.

Design/methodology/approach

To attain the aforementioned objective, this study employed the questionnaire survey approach for the collection of information from Taiwan’s border police officers. A total of 277 questionnaires were completed and validated.

Findings

The results showed that the subjective norms, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness positively influenced the usage intention of e-learning for police education and training. Second, subjective norms, job relevance, system quality, service quality, and ease of use were found to act positively on the police’s perceived usefulness of e-learning. Lastly, system quality and service quality acted positively on the police’s perceived usefulness of e-learning.

Originality/value

The present study integrated TAM2 and information systems successful model into the research framework for building e-learning efficacy indicators. The good validation results obtained suggest the theoretical importance of this integrated model. The model and research findings closed the research gap especially in the application of police e-learning.
Enhancing camera surveillance using computer vision: a research note
Authors: Idrees Haroon , Shah Mubarak , Surette Ray
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The growth of police operated surveillance cameras has out-paced the ability of humans to monitor them effectively. Computer vision is a possible solution. An ongoing research project on the application of computer vision within a municipal police department is described. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Following the demystification of computer vision technology, its potential for police agencies is developed within a focus on computer vision as a solution for two common surveillance camera tasks (live monitoring of multiple surveillance cameras and summarizing archived video files). Three unaddressed research questions (can specialized computer vision applications for law enforcement be developed at this time, how will computer vision be utilized within existing public safety camera monitoring rooms, and what are the system-wide impacts of a computer vision capability on local criminal justice systems) are considered.

Findings

Despite computer vision becoming accessible to law enforcement agencies the impact of computer vision has not been discussed or adequately researched. There is little knowledge of computer vision or its potential in the field.

Originality/value

This paper introduces and discusses computer vision from a law enforcement perspective and will be valuable to police personnel tasked with monitoring large camera networks and considering computer vision as a system upgrade.
The impacts of neighborhood context on residents’ satisfaction with police services in metropolitan Taipei
Authors: Lai Yung-Lien , Zhao Ruohui
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to add to the literature on Taiwanese policing in three regards: employing multiple measures of satisfaction with police services; including analysis of the effects of differing neighborhood contexts; and examining both individual and district-level measures simultaneously to deepen our understanding of influences on citizen satisfaction with police services.

Design/methodology/approach

Data for the study were obtained from a random-stratified sampling telephone survey of 1,806 residents in metropolitan Taipei, which is located in the Northern part of Taiwan Island, during May of 2014. Given the fact that these residents were nested in 41 districts in metropolitan Taipei, hierarchical linear modeling was employed to examine the effects of both individual and district-level factors on satisfaction with police services simultaneously.

Findings

Results indicate that, among neighborhood context variables, mean levels of victimization, fear of crime, and perceived disorder erode citizen satisfaction with police. In contrast, collective efficacy produces a positive effect on the perception of police performance after controlling for demographics. With respect to those district-level variables, citizen/police ratio, the total crime rate/100,000 habitants, and the average of household income significantly impact public assessment of police services.

Originality/value

Only limited empirical research has examined neighborhood context effects on residents’ satisfaction with policing services, and virtually no such research has been carried out by examining individual and contextual-level factors at play simultaneously in Taiwan. This research fills this gap.
How police officers perform in encounters with the public
Authors: Vila Bryan , James Stephen , James Lois
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop and describe the implementation of a novel method for creating interval-level metrics for objectively assessing police officer behaviors during an encounter with the public. These behaviors constitute officer performance and affect the probability of desirable encounter outcomes. The metrics measure concrete, micro-level performance in the common types of complex, dynamic, and low-information police-public encounters that often require immediate action using “naturalistic” decision making. Difficulty metrics also were developed to control for situational variability. The utility of measuring what officers do vs probabilistic outcomes is explored with regard to informing policymaking, field practice, and training.

Design/methodology/approach

Metric sets were developed separately for three types of police-public encounters: deadly force judgment and decision making, cross-cultural tactical social interaction, and crisis intervention. In each, “reverse concept mapping” was used with a different diverse focus group of “true experts” to authoritatively deconstruct implicit concepts and derive important variables. Variables then were scaled with Thurstone’s method using 198 diverse expert trainers to create interval-level metrics for performance and situational difficulty. Metric utility was explored during two experimental laboratory studies and in response to a problematic police encounter.

Findings

Objective, interval-level metric sets were developed for measuring micro-level police performance and encounter difficulty. Validation and further refinement are required.

Research limitations/implications

This novel method provides a practical way to rapidly develop metrics that measure micro-level performance during police-public encounters much more precisely than was previously possible.

Originality/value

The metrics developed provide a foundation for measuring officers’ performance as they exercise discretion, engage people, and affect perceptions of police legitimacy.
Collaborative problem-solving at youth crime hot spots: a pilot study
Authors: Gill Charlotte , Weisburd David , Vitter Zoe , Gross Shader Claudia , Nelson-Zagar Tari , Spain Linda
Published: July 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a case study of a pilot program in which a collaborative problem-solving approach was implemented at hot spots of juvenile and youth crime in downtown Seattle, Washington.

Design/methodology/approach

Two matched pairs of youth crime hot spots were allocated at random to treatment (“non-enforcement problem-solving”) or comparison (“policing-as-usual”) conditions within matched pairs. In the treatment condition, police collaborated with community and local government partners to develop problem-solving strategies that deemphasized arrests and other traditional law enforcement approaches. Impacts on crime incidents, calls for service, and police activity were assessed using difference-in-differences Poisson regression with robust standard errors.

Findings

No significant impact on crime or calls for service was observed at one site, where several problem-solving approaches were successfully implemented. However, crime and calls for service were significantly lower at the other site, where some enforcement activity took place but non-enforcement problem-solving was limited.

Research limitations/implications

The authors find mixed support for non-enforcement problem-solving at hot spots. The enforcement may be necessary for stabilization, and must be balanced with the risks of justice system involvement for youth. Political support at the city level is necessary for collaboration. Limitations include the small number of sites in this pilot study and key differences between treatment and comparison locations.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to assess the impact of primarily non-enforcement problem-solving specifically at youth crime hot spots.
Hot spots of mental health crises
Authors: White Clair , Goldberg Victoria
Published: July 2018

Purpose

A strong body of research has established the concentration of crime in a small number of street segments or “hot spots” throughout urban cities, but the spatial distribution of mental health-related calls for services is less well known. The extent to which these calls are concentrated on a small number of street segments, similar to traditional crime calls for service is understudied. The purpose of this paper is to examine the concentration of mental health calls and the spatial distribution of street segments with mental health calls to provide directions for law enforcement and place-based policing.

Design/methodology/approach

Using call for service data from a large city on the East coast, the current study examines whether mental health calls for service are concentrated on street segments, and tests spatial dispersion to whether these “mental health hot spots” are spread throughout the city or clustered in space. Finally, the authors explore the relationship between mental health calls and violent and drug calls by calculating the correlation and using a spatial point pattern test to determine if mental health calls are spatially similar to violent and drug calls.

Findings

The authors found that mental health calls are concentrated on street segments; specifically 22.4 percent of calls are located on 0.5 percent of city street segments. Additionally, these street segments are fairly dispersed throughout the city. When comparing the spatial similarity of mental health calls to violent and drug calls, they are highly correlated suggesting a relationship between the calls types, but the location of mental health calls appears to be different from violet and drug calls.

Originality/value

Very few studies have examined the location of mental health calls and whether they are concentrated in small areas similar to crime, but such research can provide police officers new approaches to working with people with mental health problems. The police are the primary emergency response for calls involving someone with a mental illness or experiencing a mental health crisis and the authors provide suggestions for policing that draw from strategies used in hot spot policing and mental health responses, like CIT, to address challenges of modern policing and working with people with mental health problems.
Receptive and expressive language characteristics of school‐aged children with non‐syndromic cleft lip and/or palate
Authors: Boyce Jessica O. , Kilpatrick Nicky , Reilly Sheena , Da Costa Annette , Morgan Angela T.
Published: July 2018

Background

Research investigating language skills in school‐aged children with non‐syndromic cleft lip and/or palate is sparse. Past studies focus on younger populations, lack key comparisons to demographically matched control cohorts or explore language as a component of broader academic skills. Trends of existing studies suggest that affected children may perform at a lower level compared with typically developing peers.

Aims

To examine the receptive and expressive language skills of middle‐school‐aged children with non‐syndromic cleft lip and palate (CLP) and cleft palate only (CP). Additionally, to explore the language skills of children with clefts compared with a non‐cleft control group.

Methods & Procedures

Thirty‐seven participants with orofacial clefts (aged 7;1–14;1 years) participated in the study: 19 with CLP (10 males; 9 females) and 18 with CP (8 males; 10 females). A non‐cleft comparison group consisted of 129 individuals matched on age, sex and maternal education level. Participants completed formal language (Clinical Evaluation of Language Fundamentals, Fourth Edition) and non‐verbal intellectual measurements (Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence—WASI). Demographic and developmental information was obtained via parental interview. Further clinical details (e.g., surgery; hearing status) were extracted from patient medical files. Cleft and non‐cleft language and non‐verbal IQ outcomes were reported separately. Language outcomes were then compared between groups.

Outcomes & Results

Participants with clefts achieved core (mean = 103.31, standard deviation (SD) = 10.31), receptive (mean = 102.51, SD = 11.60) and expressive (mean = 102.89, SD = 12.17) language index scores within the normative average range. A total of 14.1% and 17.8% of the cleft and non‐cleft groups respectively had impairment (i.e., ≥ 1.25 SD below the mean) in one or more language domains. No significant differences were found in the three language index scores between cleft and non‐cleft groups.

Conclusions & Implications

This study is the first formally to examine language skills alongside non‐verbal IQ in school‐aged children with clefts compared with a large matched non‐cleft population. Results suggest that health professionals should evaluate each child as they present and not assume that a child with non‐syndromic CLP or CP will also have co‐occurring language difficulties. Where language falls in the average range, these skills can be harnessed to support areas of difficulty often associated with orofacial clefting, such as speech.
Ecophysiology and lipid dynamics of a eukaryotic mangrove decomposer
Authors: Dellero Younès , Rose Suzanne , Metton Coralie , Morabito Christian , Lupette Josselin , Jouhet Juliette , Maréchal Eric , Rébeillé Fabrice , Amato Alberto
Published: July 2018

Aurantiochytrium limacinum is an osmo‐heterotrophic Stramenopile and a pioneering mangrove decomposer which is taxonomically assigned to the family of Thraustochytriaceae (class: Labyrinthulomycetes). The life cycle of A. limacinum involves different cell types including mono‐ and multi‐nucleated cells as well as flagellated zoospores which colonize new fallen leaves. The ecological relevance of thraustochytrids is underestimated and eclipsed by their biotechnological importance, due to their ability to accumulate large amount of lipids, mainly triacylglycerols (TAGs). In this study, we aimed to understand the ecophysiological parameters that trigger zoospore production and the interplay between the life cycle of A. limacinum and its lipid metabolism. When grown in a rich medium, cells accumulated large amounts of TAGs at the end of their growth period, but no zoospores were produced. In poor media such as artificial sea water, zoospores were produced in massive quantities. In the absence of organic carbon, the zoospores remained swimming for at least 6 days, consuming their TAGs in the process. Addition of glucose rapidly triggered the maturation of the zoospores. On the basis of these data, we propose a life cycle for A. limacinum integrating the potential perturbations/changes in the environment surrounding a mangrove leaf that could lead to the production of zoospores and colonization of new areas.
Antidiabetic Effect of High‐Chromium Yeast Against Type 2 Diabetic KK‐Ay Mice
Authors: Liu Lu , Zhang Shu‐wen , Lu Jing , Pang Xiao‐yang , Lv Jia‐ping
Published: July 2018

High chromium yeast has attracted many researchers for its high efficiency and high safety among chromium supplements. The preventive effect of oral high‐chromium yeast on diabetes was assessed using KK‐AY mice. Sixteen‐wk‐old type 2 diabetic KK‐AY mice were divided into five groups and orally administered with two types of drying processed high‐chromium yeast, chromium picolinate at 1000 μg Cr/kg/d, metformin (positive control), and normal yeast (negative control) for 13 weeks. The spray‐dried high‐chromium yeast significantly delayed the onset of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic KK‐AY mice (P < 0.05) and significantly improved fasting blood glucose, TG(triglyceride), and TCHO(total cholesterol) . Histopathological analysis showed that the spray‐dried high‐chromium yeast led to high affinities for the stains to the β‐cells in the islets of Langerhans and alleviated hepatic steatosis. High‐chromium yeast could be a potential candidate for nutritional supplement to ameliorate diabetes.

Practical Application

Chromium plays an important role in fat and carbohydrate metabolism. The result show that spray‐dried high chromium yeast significantly delayed the onset of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetic KK‐AY mice. As one of chromium supplements, the purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of high chromium yeast on the type 2 diabetes and drying method on its bioactivity, which will be useful for research and development of high‐chromium yeast and improvement of pharmacological activity‐based quality control.
Effects of in vitro Human Digestion on the Antioxidant Activity and Stability of Lycopene and Phenolic Compounds in Pork Patties Containing Dried Tomato Prepared at Different Temperatures
Authors: Kim Hyeong Sang , Hur Sun Jin
Published: July 2018

The antioxidant activity can be changed during digestion. The effects of in vitro human digestion on the antioxidant activity and stability of tomato powders (TPs), dried at three different temperatures (60, 80, and 100 °C) and added to pork patties (1% TP by weight), were investigated. The pork patties with three TPs underwent in vitro human digestion with enterobacteria. Lycopene and individual phenolic compounds were analyzed by using HPLC. The highest total phenolic compounds (6.96 g/100 g) and lycopene concentrations (2.68 mg/100 g) were observed in pork patties with TP dried at 100 °C. In addition, antioxidant activity of pork patties containing TPs were measured during in vitro human digestion. Gallic acid (23.8 to 41.6 g/100 g), chlorogenic acid (11.2 to 25.7 g/100 g), and caffeic acid (11.1 to 21.7 g/100 g) were detected as the main phenolic compounds in the TPs. Lycopene, and total and individual phenolic compound contents increased with increasing drying temperatures. Moreover, in vitro human digestion increased the antioxidant activity of TP‐containing pork patties. The lycopene and total phenolics contents were increased during in vitro human digestion with enterobacteria by 146% to 220% and 1549% to 2095%, respectively as compared to the samples of before digestion. Hence, we hypothesized that the antioxidant activity of each TP increased during in vitro human digestion and depended on the amount of lycopene and phenolic compounds released. The TP dried at the highest temperature (100 °C) had the highest antioxidant activity in pork patties during in vitro human digestion.

Practical Application

In this study, we revealed that in vitro human digestion increases the antioxidant activities of tomato powder. In addition, tomato powder dried at the highest temperature (100 °C) showed the highest antioxidant activity. Therefore, tomato powder at 100 °C could be used as strong antioxidants in meat products.
Global research trends in stem cells for osteoarthritis: a bibliometric and visualized study
Authors: Xing Dan , Zhao Yu , Dong Shengjie , Lin Jianhao
Published: July 2018

Aim

There have been increased interests in the use of stems cells in the research of osteoarthritis (OA). The present study aimed to investigate the global status and trends in this field.

Method

Publications related to stem cells search in OA from 1994 to 2017 were retrieved from the Science Citation Index‐Expanded Web of Science. The source data were studied and indexed using a bibliometric methodology. For visualized study, VOS viewer software was used to conduct bibliographic coupling, co‐authorship, co‐citation and co‐occurrence analysis and to analyze the publication trends in stem cells for OA research.

Result

A total of 1933 articles were included. The relative research interests and number of publications were globally increasing per year. The USA made the highest contributions to the global research with the most citations and the highest H‐index. The journal Osteoarthritis and Cartilage had the highest publication number. The Tokyo Medical and Dental University, University of Pittsburgh and Shanghai Jiaotong University were the most contributive institutions. Studies could be divided into four clusters: mechanism study, animal study, clinical trials and tissue engineering. The clinical studies were predicted to be the next popular topic in this field.

Conclusion

The number of publications about stem cells for OA would be increasing based on the current global trends. The USA was the largest contributor in this field. Most efforts could be put into clinical studies involving mesenchymal stem cells for OA, which may be the next hot spots in OA and stem cells research.
Significance of combined anti‐CCP antibodies and rheumatoid factor in a New Zealand cohort of patients with systemic sclerosis
Authors: Kamalaksha Sujatha , White Douglas H. N. , Solanki Kamal K.
Published: July 2018

Background

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) can present as an overlap syndrome with rheumatoid arthritis (SSc‐RA overlap).

Objective

To evaluate the frequency of rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies (anti‐CCP) in our SSc cohort and their association with clinical features.

Methods

Data were gathered prospectively from the Waikato Hospital Systemic Sclerosis Clinics. Patients with SSc and SOS (systemic sclerosis overlap syndrome) underwent baseline auto‐antibody profiling including RF and anti‐CCP along with annual clinical review.

Results

Our cohort comprised of 132 patients (two had incomplete data); 115 (87.1%) were female. Out of 89 limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) patients, arthralgia, synovitis, contractures, tendon crepitus and erosions on imaging were found in three, 10, 31, five and nine patients, respectively. Within the 33 diffuse cutaneous SSc (dcSSc) patients, arthralgia, synovitis, contractures, tendon crepitus and erosion were found in 15, five, 27, five and one patient, respectively. In the 10 SOS patients, arthralgia, synovitis and contractures were found in six, three and two patients; none had tendon crepitus or erosions. RF positivity was found in 15.7%, 9% and 20% of patients with lcSSc, dcSSc and SOS, and anti‐CCP positivity was found in 13.5%, 6.1% and 0% in lcSSc, dcSSc and SOS patients. A statistically significant relationship of double antibody positivity with arthralgia (P = 0.03) and erosions (P < 0.001) was found. Anti‐CCP positivity association with erosions was significant at P = 0.007.

Conclusion

Our study confirms that articular manifestations are common in SSc. Statistically significant associations of double antibody positivity with arthralgia and erosions were demonstrated. Significant association between anti‐CCP antibody and erosions was also confirmed.
Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase‐Activating Polypeptide‐27 (PACAP‐27) in the Thalamic Paraventricular Nucleus Is Stimulated by Ethanol Drinking
Authors: Gupta Anuranita , Gargiulo Andrew T. , Curtis Genevieve R. , Badve Preeti S. , Pandey Surya , Barson Jessica R.
Published: July 2018

Background

The paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus (PVT) is a limbic brain structure that affects ethanol (EtOH) drinking, but the neurochemicals transcribed in this nucleus that may participate in this behavior have yet to be fully characterized. The neuropeptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide (PACAP), is known to be transcribed in other limbic areas and to be involved in many of the same behaviors as thePVTitself, possibly including EtOHdrinking. It exists in 2 isoforms,PACAP‐38 andPACAP‐27, with the former expressed at higher levels in most brain regions. The purpose of this study was to characterizePACAPin thePVTand to assess its response to EtOHdrinking.

Methods

First, EtOH‐naïve, Sprague Dawley rats were examined using quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and immunohistochemistry, to characterizePACAP mRNAand peptide throughout the rostrocaudal axis of thePVT. Next, EtOH‐naïve,vGLUT2‐GFPtransgenic mice were examined using immunohistochemistry, to identify the neurochemical phenotype of thePACAPergic cells in thePVT. Finally, Long Evans rats were trained to drink 20% EtOHunder the intermittent‐access paradigm and then examined withPCRand immunohistochemistry, to determine the effects of EtOHon endogenousPACAPin the PVT.

Results

Gene expression ofPACAPwas detected across the entirePVT, denser in the posterior than the anterior portion of this nucleus. The protein isoform,PACAP‐27, was present in a high percentage of cell bodies in thePVT, again particularly in the posterior portion, whilePACAP‐38 was instead dense in fibers. AllPACAP‐27+cells colabeled with glutamate, which itself was identified in the majority ofPVTcells. EtOHdrinking led to an increase inPACAPgene expression and in levels ofPACAP‐27 in individual cells of thePVT.

Conclusions

This study characterizes thePVTneuropeptide,PACAP, and its understudied protein isoform,PACAP‐27, and demonstrates that it is involved in pharmacologically relevant EtOHdrinking. This indicates thatPACAP‐27 should be further investigated for its possible role in EtOHdrinking.