bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A capability approach for online primary and secondary students with disabilities
Authors: Stella Julie , Corry Michael
Published: October 2017

A capability approach was used to identify and synthesise research studies about online students with disabilities in primary and secondary school (aged five to 18 years) in an attempt to describe the experience from an empirical perspective. A capability approach is intended to maximise agency and can be used to describe the extent to which individuals are able to use limited resources to build a satisfying and enjoyable life. In this analysis, a derived capability set was used to narrow the larger body of research about primary and secondary students in online education in order to consider only studies that described ways in which students successfully used online education to maximise agency. The derived capability set was: autonomy, judgement, practical reason, affiliation, high school graduation and a desire to help others. A method for deriving the capability set and ways in which a capability approach fails to describe this experience are discussed.
Synergistic activity of Bacillus thuringiensis δ‐endotoxin and TMOF against Culex pipiens and Spodoptera littoralis larvae
Authors: Mohammed Ahmed M.A. , Diab Mervat R. , Khalil Sayed M.S.
Published: October 2017

Trypsin Modulating Oostatic Factor (TMOF) is a decapeptide hormone that inhibits the biosynthesis of digestive enzymes in the mosquito midgut. The hormone inhibits food digestion and ultimately leads to starvation and death. It has been used as a biological insecticide to control mosquitoes. In an attempt to increase the insecticidal activity of TMOF, a combination of CryIC (δ‐endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis) and TMOF was determined. Eight recombinant proteins fused with GST (glutathione‐S‐transferase) were expressed in Escherichia coli cells. Their insecticidal activities were determined against Culex pipiens and Spodoptera littoralis larvae. Purified GST‐TMOF and its analogue GST‐YDPAS exhibited a moderate toxicity on C. pipiens larvae with LC50 of 145.9 and 339.9 μg/mL, respectively. Unexpectedly, no mortality was observed in first instar larvae of S. littoralis. Puirified GST‐TMOF and GST‐YDPAS together with Bt toxin showed a synergistic toxic effect on both Culex and Spodoptera larvae. In the presence of 100 μg/mL GST‐TMOF and GST‐YDPAS, the median lethal concentration of entomocidus on culex larvae decreased from 52.1 to 16.7 and 31.9 μg/mL, respectively. Likewise, GST‐TMOF and GST‐YDPAS incorporated with 0.07 μg/cm2 of enotmocidus showed insecticidal activity against S. littoralis with LC50 of 16.4 and 21.9 μg/cm2. The E. coli lysates containing GST‐CryIC and its 3′‐truncated version showed low toxicity against the lepidopteran insect (10.8 and 16.6 μg/cm2) compared to 0.15 μg/cm2 of the native crystalline form of CryIC. Similarly, the mosquitocidal activity of the recombinant Bt toxins was low.
Scheduled to work hard: The relationship between non‐standard working hours and work intensity among European workers (2005–2015)
Authors: Piasna Agnieszka
Published: October 2017

Work intensity is of central importance for organisational performance, as well as workers' health and well‐being, yet its determinants at the workplace‐level remain underresearched. This article addresses this gap by examining consequences of working time adjustments for work intensity and the role of control over scheduling in influencing when working time adjustments have stronger effect on work intensity. Working hours are analysed on three dimensions: duration, distribution and flexibility. Analysis uses the European Working Conditions Survey (2005–2015) and a sample of employees from EU28 countries. Findings reveal that work intensity is closely related to the timing of work. Working long days or weeks, at night, on weekends, and with changes in hours imposed by employers is associated with more intense work. Moreover, the impact of non‐standard hours on work intensity differs depending on who (workers or employers) has control over their scheduling.
Opportunities for groundwater microbial electro‐remediation
Authors: Pous Narcís , Balaguer Maria Dolors , Colprim Jesús , Puig Sebastià
Published: October 2017

Groundwater pollution is a serious worldwide concern. Aromatic compounds, chlorinated hydrocarbons, metals and nutrients among others can be widely found in different aquifers all over the world. However, there is a lack of sustainable technologies able to treat these kinds of compounds. Microbial electro‐remediation, by the means of microbial electrochemical technologies (MET), can become a promising alternative in the near future. MET can be applied for groundwater treatment in situ or ex situ, as well as for monitoring the chemical state or the microbiological activity. This document reviews the current knowledge achieved on microbial electro‐remediation of groundwater and its applications.
Association of glucocorticoid receptor gene polymorphisms with systemic lupus erythematosus in a Chinese population
Authors: Chen Yang‐Fan , Xu Jian‐Hua , Zou Yan‐Feng , Lian Li , Wang Fen , Chen Shan‐Yu , Cai Jing , Li Mu
Published: October 2017

Objectives

To identify the association of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) gene polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

A case‐control study was carried out, in which 400 Chinese patients with SLE and 400 normal people were enrolled. DNA was extracted using a genomic DNA extraction kit, and tagged single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified by Haploview (4.0) Project from the Chinese HapMap Project. Eighteen tagged SNPs of the GR gene were genotyped by the Multiplex SNaPshot technique.

Results

Two GR gene SNPs were associated with the pathogenesis of SLE: rs6865292 (dominant model: crude odds ratio [OR] = 1.526, 95% CI: 1.151–2.025, P = 0.003; adjusted OR = 1.525, 95% CI: 1.149–2.023, P = 0.004; PBH = 0.036) and rs9324921 (dominant model: crude OR = 1.556, 95% CI: 1.173–2.062, P = 0.002; adjusted OR = 1.553, 95% CI: 1.171–2.060, P = 0.002; PBH = 0.036). The haplotype analysis of GR gene SNPs manifested that the haplotype of ‘CCGGG’ (OR = 2.701, 95% CI: 1.348–5.410, P = 0.004; PBH = 0.036) was a risk factor for the development of SLE. A lower frequency of A‐allele of SNP rs4607376 (P = 0.021; OR = 0.794, 95% CI: 0.652–0.966, PBH = 0.126), higher frequency of C‐allele of SNP rs6865292 (P = 0.019, OR = 1.317, PBH = 0.126) and A‐allele of SNP rs9324921 (P = 0.019, OR = 1.317, PBH = 0.126) may be risk factors for developing SLE. The rs7719514 (recessive model: crude P = 0.044; adjusted P = 0.044, PBH = 0.264), rs7701443 (recessive model: crude P = 0.044, adjusted P = 0.045; PBH = 0.264), rs4607376 (recessive model: crude P = 0.027; adjusted P = 0.026; PBH = 0.264) and haplotype ‘CAGCG’ (P = 0.044; PBH = 0.198) showed marginal association with the pathogenesis of SLE. In the case group, there were no significant differences between non‐lupus nephritis and lupus nephritis. Further, we found that the SNP rs12054797 (F = 3.228, P = 0.041, PBH = 0.342), rs2963156 (F = 3.163, P = 0.043, PBH = 0.342) might be marginally associated with disease activity.

Conclusions

The study indicates that GR genetic polymorphisms may play a major role in the pathogenesis and development of SLE.
Which Democracy for a Union of States? A Comparative Perspective of the European Union
Authors: Fabbrini Sergio
Published: October 2017

The article investigates the democratic model of the European Union (EU) from a comparative perspective. A democratic model concerns the way in which systemic divisions, expression of structural cleavages, are institutionally and politically regulated in order to generate authoritative decisions applicable to all members (citizens and territorial units) of the political system. On the bases of a critique of the statist paradigm that influences comparative politics literature, the article has shown that unions of asymmetrical and differentiated states (as the United States, Switzerland and the supranational EU) function according to a democratic logic different from the ones characterizing the nation states. Unions of states function without both a government and a state because structured on multiple separation of powers that segment sovereignty horizontally and vertically. The segmentation of sovereignty constitutes a condition for preventing domination of the larger and powerful states on the smaller and weaker ones.
EU Insights for Political Inclusion in International Institutions
Authors: von Bogdandy Armin
Published: October 2017

This text approaches the issue of strengthening the democratic legitimacy of international institutions from a comparative legal perspective. It argues that Articles 9 to 12 of the Treaty on European Union can help to conceptualize and develop the elements of such democratic legitimation. The core statement of this contribution is: A democratization of governance beyond the state, in particular in the sense of a better political inclusion of citizens in the exercise of public authority by international institutions, can well be theoretically conceived and practically realized.
The Internal and External Levers to Achieve Global Democracy
Authors: Archibugi Daniele , Cellini Marco
Published: October 2017

The paper explores the methods to introduce democratic devices in global governance. The first part makes an attempt to define what democratic global governance is and what its aims are. The second part provides some benchmark to identify when and how international organizations, the most important and visible part of global governance, correspond to the values of democracy. The third part presents what we label the internal and the external levers. The internal lever is defined as the ways in which democratization within countries helps to foster more transparent, accountable and participatory forms of global governance. The external lever is defined as the ways in which international organizations contribute to promote democratic transition and consolidation in their members. Neither the internal nor the external levers work effectively if they are left to inter‐governmental bargaining only. An active participation of non‐governmental actors is needed in order to make them effective. The paper finally discusses a list of proposals to democratize global governance.
Democratic Dangers Beyond Borders
Authors: Maier Charles S.
Published: October 2017

Democratization can advance “beyond borders” as an international trend, but it can also falter and decay on as a transnational phenomenon. This article examines the forces that seem to be weakening democracy on a global level, including populism, the rise of authoritarian leadership, and growing xenophobia. It compares current discontents with the advent of dictatorships in the 1930s and focuses in particular on the growing inability of postwar political parties to provide coherent governance since the 1970s. Borrowing a suggestion from Albert Hirschman's Shifting Involvements, it tentatively suggests that following a long era of strenuous political engagement in the twentieth century, an institutional anomie has set in, such that political acitivity — not as confrontation, but as institutional commitment — has decisively eroded in Western societies.
Loss of SIRT2 leads to axonal degeneration and locomotor disability associated with redox and energy imbalance
Authors: Fourcade Stéphane , Morató Laia , Parameswaran Janani , Ruiz Montserrat , Ruiz‐Cortés Tatiana , Jové Mariona , Naudí Alba , Martínez‐Redondo Paloma , Dierssen Mara , Ferrer Isidre , Villarroya Francesc , Pamplona Reinald , Vaquero Alejandro , Portero‐Otín Manel , Pujol Aurora
Published: October 2017

Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is a member of a family of NAD+‐dependent histone deacetylases (HDAC) that play diverse roles in cellular metabolism and especially for aging process. SIRT2 is located in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and mitochondria, is highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), and has been reported to regulate a variety of processes including oxidative stress, genome integrity, and myelination. However, little is known about the role of SIRT2 in the nervous system specifically during aging. Here, we show that middle‐aged, 13‐month‐old mice lacking SIRT2 exhibit locomotor dysfunction due to axonal degeneration, which was not present in young SIRT2 mice. In addition, these Sirt2−/− mice exhibit mitochondrial depletion resulting in energy failure, and redox dyshomeostasis. Our results provide a novel link between SIRT2 and physiological aging impacting the axonal compartment of the central nervous system, while supporting a major role for SIRT2 in orchestrating its metabolic regulation. This underscores the value of SIRT2 as a therapeutic target in the most prevalent neurodegenerative diseases that undergo with axonal degeneration associated with redox and energetic dyshomeostasis.
Mediterranean Movements and Constituent Political Spaces: An Interview with Sandro Mezzadra and Toni Negri
Authors: Garelli Glenda , Sciurba Alessandra , Tazzioli Martina
Published: October 2017

These conversations between Toni Negri and Sandro Mezzadra (November 2014–October 2015) focus on the politics of Mediterranean boundaries and situate migratory movements across the Mediterranean in the geopolitical context of the Eastern and Southern shore. Looking at the proliferation of wars around the Mediterranean region and reflecting on the legacy of the Arab Uprisings, Mezzadra and Negri revisit the concept of the “autonomy of migration” and critically interrogate its possible contribution to the field of migration and in terms of the current refugee crisis.
Space, Social Relations, and Contestation: Transformative Peacebuilding and World Social Forum Climate Spaces
Authors: Buckley Karen
Published: October 2017

The 2013 and 2015 World Social Forums in Tunis, Tunisia hosted thematic “climate spaces” for the first time. This article examines the extent to which these spaces are constitutive of a form of “transformative peacebuilding” aiming to transform social relations and eliminate the structural violence of the world capitalist economy. Both the theoretical and practical activities of civil society at the climate spaces are shown to be transformative but only to the extent that they contest broad processes of trasformismo which transcend differences and obscure the lived realities of governance and resistance. In this sense, civil society groups and movements at the climate spaces are shown to engage with global capitalism to potentially produce new global understanding and action. This generates new understandings of civil society as constitutive of directly resistant modes of social relation that push for radically different visions of climate justice and governance.
Highly identified power‐holders feel responsible: The interplay between social identification and social power within groups
Authors: Scholl Annika , Sassenberg Kai , Ellemers Naomi , Scheepers Daan , de Wit Frank
Published: October 2017

Power relations affect dynamics within groups. Power‐holders’ decisions not only determine their personal outcomes, but also the outcomes of others in the group that they control. Yet, power‐holders often tend to overlook this responsibility to take care of collective interests. The present research investigated how social identification – with the group to which both the powerful and the powerless belong – alters perceived responsibility among power‐holders (and the powerless). Combining research on social power and social identity, we argue that power‐holders perceive more responsibility than the powerless when strongly (rather than when weakly) identifying with the group. A study among leaders and an experiment supported this, highlighting that although power‐holders are often primarily concerned about personal outcomes, they do feel responsible for considering others’ interests when these others are included in the (social) self.
Socioemotional developmental surveillance in young children: monitoring and screening best identify young children that require mental health treatment
Authors: Barger Brian , Rice Catherine , Roach Andrew
Published: October 2017

Background

Widely recommended socioemotional developmental surveillance methods include monitoring and development screening techniques. Currently, very little research has compared the effectiveness of monitoring and screening together, and existing research primarily focuses on the relationship between surveillance techniques and referrals or receipt of early intervention (EI). This study investigates the relationship between monitoring and screening and mental health treatment receipt in 3–5 year olds.

Methods

The authors conducted logistic regression analyses on data from the National Surveys of Children's Health (NSCH; 2007) and NSCH (2011/2012) on the odds of mental health treatment receipt in children aged 3–5 years of age who either received (a) screening only, (b) monitoring only, (c) both monitoring and screening, or (d) no monitoring or screening. Sociodemographic control variables were also considered.

Results

In both 2007 and 2011/2012 datasets, monitoring and screening together was the best predictor of mental health treatment receipt. Neither screening alone nor monitoring alone was associated with mental health treatment receipt.

Conclusions

Children who received monitoring and screening together had the greatest odds of treatment receipt compared with children receiving screening only, monitoring only, or no monitoring or screening.
Endocrine sensitivity of estrogen receptor‐positive breast cancer is negatively correlated with aspartate‐β‐hydroxylase expression
Authors: Shimoda Masafumi , Hori Ami , Wands Jack R. , Tsunashima Ryo , Naoi Yasuto , Miyake Tomohiro , Tanei Tomonori , Kagara Naofumi , Shimazu Kenzo , Kim Seung Jin , Noguchi Shinzaburo
Published: October 2017

Although prognostic markers for early estrogen receptor (ER)‐positive breast cancer have been extensively developed, predictive markers for adjuvant endocrine therapy are still lacking. Focusing on the mechanisms underlying endocrine resistance, we investigated whether the endocrine sensitivity of ER‐positive breast cancer cells was correlated with the expression of aspartate‐β‐hydroxylase (ASPH), which is involved in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. ASPH expression in ER‐positive and tamoxifen‐resistant breast cancer cells was upregulated by the MAPK and phosphoinositide‐3 kinase (PI3K) pathways, which both play pivotal roles in endocrine resistance. In the clinical setting, ASPH expression was negatively correlated with recurrence‐free survival of luminal B breast cancer patients that received adjuvant endocrine therapy, but not in patients that did not receive adjuvant endocrine therapy. Luminal B breast cancer is one of the intrinsic molecular subtypes identified by the Prediction Analysis of Microarray 50 (PAM50) multiple gene classifier, and because of its poor response to endocrine therapy, chemotherapy in addition to endocrine therapy is generally required after surgical resection. Our results suggest that the endocrine sensitivity of luminal B breast cancer can be assessed by examining ASPH expression, which promotes the consideration of a prospective study on the association between ASPH expression at the mRNA and protein levels in luminal B breast cancer and subsequent response to endocrine therapy.
Truly selective primary IgM deficiency is probably very rare
Authors: Janssen L M A , Macken T , Creemers M C W , Pruijt J F M , Eijk J J J , de Vries E
Published: October 2017

Isolated decreased serum-immunoglobulin (Ig)M has been associated with severe and/or recurrent infections, atopy and autoimmunity. However, the reported high prevalence of clinical problems in IgM-deficient patients may reflect the skewed tertiary centre population studied so far. Also, many papers on IgM deficiency have included patients with more abnormalities than simply IgM-deficiency. We studied truly selective primary IgM deficiency according to the diagnostic criteria of the European Society for Immunodeficiencies (ESID) (true sIgMdef) by reviewing the literature (261 patients with primary decreased serum-IgM in 46 papers) and analysing retrospectively all patients with decreased serum-IgM in a large teaching hospital in 's-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands [1 July 2005–23 March 2016; n = 8049 IgM < 0·4 g/l; n = 2064 solitary (IgG+IgA normal/IgM < age-matched reference)]. A total of 359 of 2064 (17%) cases from our cohort had primary isolated decreased serum-IgM, proven persistent in 45 of 359 (13%) cases; their medical charts were reviewed. Our main finding is that true sIgMdef is probably very rare. Only six of 261 (2%) literature cases and three of 45 (7%) cases from our cohort fulfilled the ESID criteria completely; 63 of 261 (24%) literature cases also had other immunological abnormalities and fulfilled the criteria for unclassified antibody deficiencies (unPAD) instead. The diagnosis was often uncertain (possible sIgMdef): data on IgG subclasses and/or vaccination responses were lacking in 192 of 261 (74%) literature cases and 42 of 45 (93%) cases from our cohort. Our results also illustrate the clinical challenge of determining the relevance of a serum sample with decreased IgM; a larger cohort of true sIgMdef patients is needed to explore fully its clinical consequences. The ESID online Registry would be a useful tool for this.
Combined phylogenetic analysis of the subclass Marchantiidae (Marchantiophyta): towards a robustly diagnosed classification
Authors: Flores Jorge R. , Catalano Santiago A. , Muñoz Jesus , Suárez Guillermo M.
Published: October 2017

The most extensive combined phylogenetic analyses of the subclass Marchantiidae yet undertaken was conducted on the basis of morphological and molecular data. The morphological data comprised 126 characters and 56 species. Taxonomic sampling included 35 ingroup species with all genera and orders of Marchantiidae sampled, and 21 outgroup species with two genera of Blasiidae (Marchantiopsida), 15 species of Jungermanniopsida (the three subclasses represented) and the three genera of Haplomitriopsida. Takakia ceratophylla (Bryophyta) was employed to root the trees. Character sampling involved 92 gametophytic and 34 sporophytic traits, supplemented with ten continuous characters. Molecular data included 11 molecular markers: one nuclear ribosomal (26S), three mitochondrial genes (nad1, nad5, rps3) and seven chloroplast regions (atpB, psbT‐psbH, rbcL, ITS, rpoC1, rps4, psbA). Searches were performed under extended implied weighting, weighting the character blocks against the average homoplasy. Clade stability was assessed across three additional weighting schemes (implied weighting corrected for missing entries, standard implied weighting and equal weighting) in three datasets (molecular, morphological and combined). The contribution from different biological phases regarding node recovery and diagnosis was evaluated. Our results agree with many of the previous studies but cast doubt on some relationships, mainly at the family and interfamily level. The combined analyses underlined the fact that, by combining data, taxonomic enhancements could be achieved regarding taxon delimitation and quality of diagnosis. Support values for many clades of previous molecular studies were improved by the addition of morphological data. The long‐held assumption that morphology may render spurious or low‐quality results in this taxonomic group is challenged. The morphological trends previously proposed are re‐evaluated in light of the new phylogenetic scheme.
Development of the Hand Assessment for Infants: evidence of internal scale validity
Authors: Krumlinde‐Sundholm Lena , Ek Linda , Sicola Elisa , Sjöstrand Lena , Guzzetta Andrea , Sgandurra Giuseppina , Cioni Giovanni , Eliasson Ann‐Christin
Published: October 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to develop a descriptive and evaluative assessment of upper limb function for infants aged 3 to 12 months and to investigate its internal scale validity for use with infants at risk of unilateral cerebral palsy.

Method

The concepts of the test items and scoring criteria were developed. Internal scale validity and aspects of reliability were investigated on the basis of 156 assessments of infants at 3 to 12 months corrected age (mean 7.2mo, SD 2.5) with signs of asymmetric hand use. Rasch measurement model analysis and non‐parametric statistics were used.

Results

The new test, the Hand Assessment for Infants (HAI), consists of 12 unimanual and five bimanual items, each scored on a 3‐point rating scale. It demonstrated a unidimensional construct and good fit to the Rasch model requirements. The excellent person reliability enabled person separation to six significant ability strata. The HAI produced an interval‐level measure of bilateral hand use as well as unimanual scores of each hand, allowing a quantification of possible asymmetry expressed as an asymmetry index.

Interpretation

The HAI can be considered a valid assessment tool for measuring bilateral hand use and quantifying side difference between hands among infants at risk of developing unilateral cerebral palsy.

What this paper adds

The Hand Assessment for Infants (HAI) measures the use of both hands and quantifies a possible asymmetry of hand use.

HAI is valid for infants at 3 to 12 months corrected age at risk of unilateral cerebral palsy.
Reform, informal sector, and extortion
Authors: Mandal Biswajit , Marjit Sugata , Beladi Hamid
Published: October 2017

Informal economy involving unrecorded, unregistered, extra‐legal activities employs majority of the work force in the developing world. Such extra‐legal existence of informal production is facilitated through extortion by agents of political forces in power. Also, extortion activities themselves constitute an informal segment. Full‐scale general equilibrium consequences of such institutions are rarely discussed in the literature. We develop a well‐specified general equilibrium model to explore the possible consequences of reform. Economic reform may have an expansionary effect on the number of extortionists. Depending on capital mobility and factor intensity assumptions informal output and informal wage may increase.
The influence of environmental factors on the upstream movements of rheophilic cyprinids according to their position in a river basin
Authors: Benitez Jean‐Philippe , Ovidio Michaël
Published: October 2017

Throughout their lives, fish accomplish frequent movements between functional habitats that are often triggered by environmental signals. We aimed to determine if rheophilic cyprinids (barbel,Barbus barbusand chubSqualius cephalus), living in different places of the same river basin, may develop similar movement periodicities and react identically to environmental cues to carry out their spawning migration. We used the capture data of three modern fish passes that were monitored continuously during three consecutive years (2010 to 2012) in three rivers of the Meuse basin in Belgium. We captured 418 individuals at adult stage, and the capture number per species was greater (80%) in spring (during the spawning migration period). The spawning migration of the barbel occurred earlier (median = 122nd day of the year) and at lower temperatures (median = 14.5°C) in the lowland rivers compared to the upland river (140th day of the year and 18.4°C). For the barbel, migration initiation differed depending on the river but finished under similar environmental conditions. In contrast, for the chub, no significant difference between rivers was observed regarding spawning migration periodicity and environmental cues. Within the same river basin, rheophilic cyprinids demonstrate flexibility in their responses to environmental variables and may optimise the start date of migration to spawning grounds depending on their local environment and individual experiences. This phenomenon was more pronounced in the barbel, which has more specific ecological requirements.
Effects of di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate on microbial biomass carbon and microbial community structural diversity in a Mollisol
Authors: Wang L. , Wang L. H. , Chang Q. , Dong J. W. , Sun R. X. , Yang S. S. , Fu J. W. , Feng C. C. , Yang L. L. , Zhang Y.
Published: October 2017

One of the most common persistent organic pollutants is di‐(2‐ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), which has caused considerable pollution in the Mollisols of agricultural areas in northeast China. This research investigates the effects of different concentrations of DEHP from 0 to 35 days on microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and structural diversity in the microbial community of Mollisols. The results indicated that contamination by DEHP of more than 20 mg kg−1 could clearly affect MBC and structural diversity of the microbial community of a Mollisol in a short time depending on the dose of DEHP. At concentrations of DEHP >20 mg kg−1, we observed that the larger was the concentration of DEHP, the greater was the effect on the MBC and diversity of the soil microbial community. The DEHP concentration or incubation time had negative correlations with MBC, and the evenness (EH), Shannon (H) and richness (S) indices of the microbial community, and the DEHP concentration had a dominant effect on microbial properties. The dominant bacterium in the DEHP‐contaminated soil was Bacillus. Furthermore, bacterial community structure changed under different amounts of DEHP stress and with the increase in incubation time; Pseudomonas and Sphingopyxis clearly increased in number with large concentrations of DEHP. The change in the microbial population indicated that these two bacteria might have a strong resistance to change under the microbial DEHP stress.

Highlights

DEHP significantly changed MBC and microbial diversity of a Mollisol.

The change in MBC was related to the composition of the soil microbial community structure.

DEHP had a persistent effect on the microbial community in a Mollisol.

Bacillus were the dominant bacteria in the DEHP‐contaminated soil.
Financial Issues in Strong African American Marriages: A Strengths‐Based Qualitative Approach
Authors: Dew Jeffrey P. , Anderson Bonnie L. , Skogrand Linda , Chaney Cassandra
Published: October 2017

Objective

We examined the role financial issues played in African Americans' marriages using a strengths‐based perspective.

Background

Few studies have examined the importance of finances in African Americans' marriages. Those that have done so have mostly focused on money as a stressful contextual problem. Allowing African American couples to describe their own marital experiences expands our understanding regarding the interface of finances and relationships.

Method

Using qualitative data from 37 African American couples (N = 74 individuals) who felt they had strong marriages, we took a phenomenological approach to identify themes in the data.

Results

Many participants portrayed money as a stressor. Furthermore, participants discussed financial behaviors and attitudes that helped their marriages be strong. Finally, participants described transcending, or rising above, financial issues.

Conclusion

The participants in this study, African Americans who felt they were in strong marriages, talked about the marital role of finances in multiple ways. It was clear that they actively strived to shape the way that financial issues influenced their marriages, whether through making decisions that would help them financially and relationally or by shifting their focus to more important matters like the well‐being of family members.

Implications

These findings offer researchers new ideas about the intersection of money, family, and race, and show diversity among African American couples. The findings may also help practitioners recognize both the circumstances by which finances are stressors in some African American marriages, and how some African American couples navigate financial challenges while maintaining strong relationships.
Family Stressors and Resources: Relationships with Depressive Symptoms in Military Couples During Pre‐Deployment
Authors: Collins Christina L. , Lee Kyung‐Hee , MacDermid Wadsworth Shelley M.
Published: October 2017

Objective

To evaluate family‐related stressors and resources associated with the depressive symptoms of military members and their spouses.

Background

Most deployment‐related research has focused on deployment and reintegration, but there is a dearth of information about military families during the pre‐deployment phase. Family stress theory provided a valuable lens from which to view family‐related risk and protective factors associated with adaptation during times of stressful transition.

Method

Data were gathered using an online survey from 151 U.S. Army National Guard members and their spouses preparing for a scheduled deployment. Hierarchical regression was utilized to examine associations between the independent variables (e.g., stress pileup, informal and formal resources, deployment preparation) and participants' depressive symptoms.

Results

Results revealed that aspects of stress pileup were positively associated with depressive symptoms. Informal resources and deployment preparation, but not formal resources, had statistically significant negative associations with individuals' depressive symptoms. Findings were similar for military members and spouses.

Conclusion

Results indicated that logistical and instrumental preparation, in addition to informal resources such as effective family functioning and social support, are important for positive adaptation in times of stressful transition.

Implications

Family service professionals may want to assist families with identifying and strengthening their family support and improving family functioning, as well as guide families in a process of identifying the instrumental and logistical tasks that are necessary or helpful for an impending transition.
Tumor‐associated myeloid cells: new understandings on their metabolic regulation and their influence in cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Porta Chiara , Sica Antonio , Riboldi Elena
Published: October 2017

Tumor‐associated myeloid cells (TAMCs), mainly represented by tumor‐associated macrophages and myeloid‐derived suppressor cells, can promote tumor growth directly, by favoring tumor cell proliferation and survival, and indirectly, by creating an immunosuppressive microenvironment. Myeloid cells are characterized by an extreme phenotypical and functional plasticity. Immunometabolism is now emerging as a crucial aspect of TAMCs skewing toward pro‐tumoral activities. The metabolic re‐education of myeloid cells is a new strategy to boost their antitumor effector functions. Several anticancer therapies targeting TAMCs are already under investigation. Nowadays, the hot topic of cancer immunotherapy is represented by immune checkpoint inhibitors. These drugs unrestrain T‐cell‐mediated tumor elimination by removing suppressive signals delivered by tumor‐associated cells. The efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade can be enhanced using coordinated strategies to counteract the TAMCs‐dependent impairment of immune adaptive responses. In the first part of the review, we will describe the association between metabolic reprogramming and TAMCs biological activities. In the second part, we will illustrate the potential of combination therapies associating TAMC‐targeting drugs with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Learning Chinese Formulaic Expressions in a Scenario‐Based Interactive Environment
Authors: Taguchi Naoko , Li Qiong , Tang Xiaofei
Published: October 2017

This study examined the effectiveness and usability of a scenario‐based interactive practice in teaching Chinese formulaic expressions. Thirty students enrolled in Chinese classes in a U.S. university interacted with characters in videos featuring scenes recorded in Shanghai. Students were prompted to use formulaic expressions during their text‐based interactions with built‐in characters. Several game‐like features were incorporated into the practice (e.g., a plot and settings, character selections, and point systems). Pre‐, post‐, and delayed posttest results showed that students made significant gains in their knowledge of formulaic expressions after the practice, and their knowledge was maintained 2 weeks later. Interviews with individual students revealed some features that motivated them with the practice (e.g., videorecordings of authentic situations, interactions with the characters). However, some students did not perceive the practice as a game‐like experience because of the linear, structured nature of the practice and limited decision‐making power, leaving room for design improvement in the future.
The prospects of terrace agriculture as an adaptation to climate change in Latin America
Authors: Bocco Gerardo , Napoletano Brian M.
Published: October 2017

This paper analyzes slope management through terrace agriculture in Latin America's hilly to mountainous terrain to assess the practice's potential role in climate‐change adaptation in the region. We review the historical geography of slope management in variable climates and highlight the role of social, rural innovation, and hybrid knowledge in the face of climate change's effects on agriculture. Although the literature on terrace agriculture in the region is extensive, further research is needed to better foresee the future of terrace agriculture, particularly in terms of its role in facing sustainability challenges posed by future climate change.
Distance or location? How the geographic distribution of kin networks shapes support given to single mothers in urban Kenya
Authors: Madhavan Sangeetha , Clark Shelley , Araos Malcolm , Beguy Donatien
Published: October 2017

With increasing urbanisation and mobility underway across sub‐Saharan Africa, kin groups are becoming spatially dispersed. The extent of support provided by kin to one another is likely to vary with this geospatial positioning. Because most data collection is restricted to the co‐residential household, we have little knowledge of the geospatial dimensions of kin groups of which a large part is beyond household boundaries, and even less insight into how spatial variation might impact on intra‐familial support patterns. Drawing on recently collected data on single mothers and their kin in Nairobi, Kenya, we describe the geospatial positioning of non‐residential kin; examine the relationship between objective and subjective measures of distance and location of kin and support for single mothers; and analyse the relationship between kin clustering and receipt of support. Our results show several important findings. First, financial support from non‐residential kin is geographically quite dispersed but emotional support is more concentrated among kin living near the mother. Second, whereas there is no effect of the objective measures on financial or emotional support, we find strong effects of subjective measures. Third, we find that the clustering of kin around the mother by distance has no effect on either outcome but having the majority of kin living in rural areas has a negative effect on emotional support even after controlling for distance between kin and kin location.
Incidental Findings and Normal Anatomical Variants on Brain MRI in Children for Primary Headaches
Authors: Strauss Lauren Doyle , Cavanaugh Beth Anne , Yun Ethan SungEun , Evans Randolph W.
Published: October 2017

When MRI scans of the brain are obtained for evaluation of primary headaches in children, incidental findings and anatomical variants are commonly present. After a review of the prevalence, 11 types are presented.
MicroRNA‐125b expression and intrahepatic metastasis are predictors for early recurrence after hepatocellular carcinoma resection
Authors: Shimagaki Tomonari , Yoshizumi Tomoharu , Harimoto Norifumi , Yoshio Sachiyo , Naito Yutaka , Yamamoto Yusuke , Ochiya Takahiro , Yoshida Yoshihiro , Kanto Tatsuya , Maehara Yoshihiko
Published: October 2017

Aim

Early hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) recurrence after curative resection is a known poor prognostic factor. We aimed to identify microRNAs associated with recurrence after curative HCC resection.

Methods

To identify risk factors for early recurrence and metastasis, 694 patients who underwent primary curative HCC resection were analyzed. We evaluated microRNA expression in cancerous and non‐cancerous tissues by microarray and quantitative PCR analyses using 16 HCC samples. We defined patients who had a recurrence within 1 year of resection as the early recurrence (ER) group, patients who had a recurrence within 1–5 years as the late recurrence (LR) group, and patients who did not recur during the 5‐year observation period as the no recurrence (NR) group. We examined the relationship between microRNA expression and clinical features.

Results

Multivariate analysis revealed that α‐fetoprotein >31 ng/mL, tumor size >4 cm, and intrahepatic metastasis (IM) were significant factors. Afterwards, microarray analyses revealed that microRNA (miR)‐125b‐5p and miR‐148a‐3p were significantly downregulated in recurrent cases. The ratio of miR‐125b‐5p expression in cancerous versus non‐cancerous tissue (miR‐125b ratio), but not miR‐148a‐3p, was significantly lower in the ER group. Early recurrence was associated with reduced overall survival compared with the LR and NR group. The miR‐125b ratio was significantly lower in the ER group than in the LR and NR groups. Multivariate analysis showed that a low miR‐125b ratio and IM were independently associated with ER and disease‐free survival.

Conclusions

Assessing tissue miR‐125b‐5p expression and IM is useful for stratifying patients at risk of early HCC recurrence after curative resection.
Incidence of cancer and overall risk of mortality in individuals treated with raltegravir‐based and non‐raltegravir‐based combination antiretroviral therapy regimens
Authors: Cozzi‐Lepri A , Zangerle R , Machala L , Zilmer K , Ristola M , Pradier C , Kirk O , Sambatakou H , Fätkenheuer G , Yust I , Schmid P , Gottfredsson M , Khromova I , Jilich D , Flisiak R , Smidt J , Rozentale B , Radoi R , Losso MH , Lundgren JD , Mocroft A ,   the EuroSIDA Study Group
Published: October 2017

Objectives

There are currently few data on the long‐term risk of cancer and death in individuals taking raltegravir (RAL). The aim of this analysis was to evaluate whether there is evidence for an association.

Methods

The EuroSIDA cohort was divided into three groups: those starting RAL‐based combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) on or after 21 December 2007 (RAL); a historical cohort (HIST) of individuals adding a new antiretroviral (ARV) drug (not RAL) to their cART between 1 January 2005 and 20 December 2007, and a concurrent cohort (CONC) of individuals adding a new ARV drug (not RAL) to their cART on or after 21 December 2007. Baseline characteristics were compared using logistic regression. The incidences of newly diagnosed malignancies and death were compared using Poisson regression.

Results

The RAL cohort included 1470 individuals [with 4058 person‐years of follow‐up (PYFU)] compared with 3787 (4472 PYFU) and 4467 (10 691 PYFU) in the HIST and CONC cohorts, respectively. The prevalence of non‐AIDS‐related malignancies prior to baseline tended to be higher in the RAL cohort vs. the HIST cohort [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.31; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95–1.80] and vs. the CONC cohort (aOR 1.89; 95% CI 1.37–2.61). In intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis (events: RAL, 50; HIST, 45; CONC, 127), the incidence of all new malignancies was 1.11 (95% CI 0.84–1.46) per 100 PYFU in the RAL cohort vs. 1.20 (95% CI 0.90–1.61) and 0.83 (95% CI 0.70–0.99) in the HIST and CONC cohorts, respectively. After adjustment, there was no evidence for a difference in the risk of malignancies [adjusted rate ratio (RR) 0.73; 95% CI 0.47–1.14 for RALvs. HIST; RR 0.95; 95% CI 0.65–1.39 for RALvs. CONC] or mortality (adjusted RR 0.87; 95% CI 0.53–1.43 for RALvs. HIST; RR 1.14; 95% CI 0.76–1.72 for RALvs. CONC).

Conclusions

We found no evidence for an oncogenic risk or poorer survival associated with using RAL compared with control groups.
Native ladybird decline caused by the invasive harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis: evidence from a long‐term field study
Authors: Brown Peter M. J. , Roy Helen E.
Published: October 2017

Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is regarded as an invasive non‐native species in Europe, where it has been spreading rapidly since the early years of the 21st century.

This study examines changes in ladybird communities at four sites (two lime tree sites, one pine tree site and one nettle site) in East Anglia, England, over an 11‐year period (2006–2016) following invasion by H. axyridis.

Overall, H. axyridis represented 41.5% of all ladybirds sampled [varying from a low of 0.2% (1 of 520 ladybirds at three sites) in 2006 to a high of 70.7% (724 of 1024 at four sites) in 2015] and was over three times more abundant than the second commonest species, Coccinella septempunctata L. The proportion of native ladybirds declined from 99.8% (520 of 521 ladybirds at three sites) in 2006 to 30.7% (383 of 1248 at four sites) in 2016, but H. axyridis dominated only at the lime tree sites and not at the pine or nettle sites.

There was a significant negative relationship between H. axyridis and Adalia bipunctata (L.) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) adults at the lime tree sites, but not between H. axyridis and adults of any of the other main ladybird species sampled. Adalia bipunctata adults and Adalia spp. larvae were the only native ladybirds that significantly declined.

Our study shows a clear change in the ladybird community on lime trees over an 11‐year period in which H. axyridis invaded England. Intraguild predation is hypothesised to be an important driver of the changes observed.
The triple‐negative (CD34‐/HLA‐DR‐/CD11b‐) profile rapidly and specifically identifies an acute promyelocytic leukemia
Authors: Rahman K. , Gupta R. , Singh M. K. , Sarkar M. K. , Gupta A. , Nityanand S.
Published: October 2017

Introduction

The genetic testing to confirm or rule out an acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) typically takes a minimum of 24‐72 hours. Flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCI) on the other hand provides rapid and objective information to differentiate APL from non‐APL.

Methods

FCI features, with single‐tube 8‐color combination using CD45, CD34, HAL‐DR, CD11b, CD13, CD33, and CD117 and CD64, were compared for the 30 consecutive APL and 30 non‐APL acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cases which morphologically mimicked an APL. The diagnosis was confirmed by cytogenetic or molecular genetic testing in the form of t (15:17) (q22; q21)/variant translocations or PML‐RARA fusion transcript analysis.

Results

The APL cells lacked CD34, HLA‐DR, and CD11b in 90%, 90%, and 93.3% cases, respectively. Myeloid antigens such as CD33, CD13, CD117, and CD64 were expressed in 96.7%, 96.7%, 76.7%, and 70% cases, respectively. The dual negative profiles, CD34‐/HLA‐DR‐ or HLA‐DR‐/CD11b‐, were noted in 90% and 93.3% cases. The triple‐negative (CD34‐/HLA‐DR‐/CD11b‐) profile was noted in 90% of the cases. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value (PPV) of CD34‐/HLA‐DR‐ and HLA‐DR‐/CD11b‐ profiles for the diagnosis of APL were found to be 90%, 80% & 81.1% and 93.3%, 86.7%& 87.5%, respectively. Combining the above two profiles resulted in a triple‐negative profile (CD34‐, HLA‐DR‐ and CD11b‐), which had a better specificity (93.3%) and positive predictive value (93.1%), with similar sensitivity.

Conclusion

FCI is a rapid and reliable modality for the diagnosis of an APL. The triple‐negative profile (CD34‐/HLA‐DR‐/CD11b‐) rapidly and specifically identifies an APL case.
‘Ye Worship Ye Know Not What’? The Apophatic Turn and the Trinity
Authors: Van Kuiken E. Jerome
Published: October 2017

This article studies three advocates of the ‘apophatic turn’ in recent trinitarian theology: Karen Kilby, Sarah Coakley and Katherine Sonderegger. I evaluate particular uses to which they put apophaticism in relation to the doctrine of the Trinity, dialogically building a case for an integrative approach. I conclude by sketching several constructive implications of this approach.