bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leadership development techniques
Authors: Turner John R. , Baker Rose , Schroeder Jae , Johnson Karen R. , Chung Chih-hung
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the different leadership development techniques used to develop leaders from the human resource development (HRD) and performance improvement (PI) literature, and to categorize the development techniques using Garavan et al.’s (2015) multifaceted typology of development where development has recently emerged in the literature as a “central and important process” (p. 360).

Design/methodology/approach

This literature review followed the guidelines for an integrative literature review presented by Torraco (2005) and Imel (2011). This literature review was a freestanding literature review designed to provide directions for future research and development within the HRD discipline.

Findings

This literature review categorized over 500 leadership development techniques and mapped them with previously identified leadership capacities into Garavan et al.’s (2015) development typology. Once mapped, the authors were able to identify the most common leadership capacities and related development techniques for each development domain in the typology.

Practical implications

This research provides a tool for identifying required leadership capacities and development techniques that could be used by scholars and scholar-practitioners to conduct further research, as an aid in designing future leadership development programs and as instructional materials in the classroom.

Social implications

Leadership is becoming a shared construct in today’s literature. Leadership as a shared construct has multiple shareholders, both internal and external of the agent. To better meet the needs of these shareholders, this research provides tools for the scholar and scholar-practitioner for leadership development that can be catered to one’s needs – as opposed to a one-size fits all strategy.

Originality/value

This paper highlights the HRD and PI literature, and provides a pragmatic tool for leadership development. This tool can be used by scholars for future research and for testing, as well as by scholar-practitioners for designing future leadership development programs.
Evaluation of firefighter leadership trainings
Authors: Schulte Niklas , Thielsch Meinald T.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The training of highly skilled officers in rescue forces is essential for success and performance of fire brigades in their daily work. The purpose of this paper is to develop a validated instrument assessing the quality of leadership trainings in firefighter education.

Design/methodology/approach

In Study 1, relevant factors of teaching quality in this specific context are established using semi-structured interviews (n=5 trainer, n=59 trainees), and a pool of corresponding survey items is tested in a pilot sample (n=7 trainer, n=26 trainees). In Study 2 (n=263 trainees), we select best-fitting items and explore the structure of latent variables via exploratory factor analyses. Study 3 (n=45 trainer, n=380 trainees) tests this structure by means of confirmatory analyses and validates the questionnaire using scales from other evaluation instruments for higher education.

Findings

Analyses resulted in a six-dimensional questionnaire reflecting relevant training processes and outcomes. Results suggest that the newly created Feedback Instrument for Rescue forces Education (FIRE) meets all relevant psychometric quality criteria.

Originality/value

By examining critical factors of training quality, the authors enhance the understanding of critical processes in programs for rescue forces education. The developed questionnaire provides trainers and educational institutions with a validated tool to measure these relevant processes and the desired training outcomes. Therefore, the FIRE scales can contribute to an ongoing improvement of rescue forces trainings.
The influence of chief data officer presence on firm performance: does firm size matter?
Authors: Nie Yu , Talburt John , Dagtas Serhan , Feng Taiwen
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between the chief data officer’s (CDO) presence and firm performance, and the moderating effect of firm size.

Design/methodology/approach

The performance data for 64 treatment firms with CDOs and 64 control firms without CDOs is collected from Compustat database. The Wilcoxon signed-rank test is used to analyze the performance differences between treatment firms and control firms. Hierarchical regression method is used to test the moderating effect of firm size.

Findings

The results indicate that the profit ratios of treatment firms are significantly improved after the appointment of CDOs, and the profit ratios of treatment firms are significantly higher than that of the control firms. For the cost ratios, the findings provide some empirical evidence revealing two of the cost ratios are lower and only one ratio is higher for the treatment firms after CDOs’ appointment. Firm size moderates the relationship between the CDO’s presence and firm performance indicator, ROS, in the same direction. Firm size has no moderating effect on relationships between CDO’s presence and other performance indicators.

Practical implications

The findings provide practical insights that will help managers to realize the importance of CDOs and their work. CDOs would bring some cost to the firms, but they would bring more profit to firms. In addition, if for large firms, the CDO’s presence would bring more ROS.

Originality/value

The study explores the relationship between the CDO’s presence and firm performance. It is the first attempt to explore the CDO’s presence and the cost performance in the specific time period, and the study is also the first attempt to analyze the moderating effect of the firm size on the relationship between the CDO’s presence and firm performance.
Violence risk assessment practices in Israel: a preliminary survey investigation
Authors: Singh Jay P. , Assy Rabeea , Serpa Katrina I.
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the violence risk assessment practices in Israel by social workers, clinical criminologists, and marriage and family therapists using a Web-based survey.

Design/methodology/approach

A Web-based survey and participation letter were translated into Hebrew and distributed to members of the Israel Association of Social Workers, the Israel Society of Clinical Criminology and the Israel Association for Marital and Family Therapy following the Dillman Total Design Survey Method.

Findings

The sample was composed of 34 professionals, who reported using structured instruments to predict and manage the likelihood of violence in over half of their risk assessments over both their lifetime and the past 12 months. Younger female respondents who entered their profession more recently were more likely to use instruments during the risk assessment process. There appeared to be a trend toward decreased use of actuarial instruments and increased use in structured professional judgment instruments.

Originality/value

The first national survey of violence risk assessment practices by behavioral healthcare professionals in Israel was conducted. This study revealed the risk assessment utility trends in Israel, finding that compared to professionals in North America, South America, Europe, East Asia and Australia, professionals in Israel conducted fewer risk assessments and used structured instruments less often, highlighting concern about the lack of reliance on evidence-based techniques in the country.
Does FDI crowd out domestic firms? Micro-level evidence from the Republic of Korea
Authors: Choi Hyelin
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of the foreign investment on the exit and sales of the domestic firms. Furthermore, it studies whether domestic firms undergo different influences by foreign firms according to the size of domestic firms.

Design/methodology/approach

Korean firm-level data for the period of 2006 through 2013 provided by Statistics Korea are used to study the impact of the foreign investment on the exit and sales of the domestic firms.

Findings

The result shows that foreign firms crowd out small firms from the market and take their shares in the domestic market. On the other hand, larger firms rather enjoy positive spillover effect from foreign firms, reducing its exit probability and increasing sales. It may be that large firms have enough competitiveness and ability to learn and apply the advanced technology of the foreign firms.

Practical implications

Despite the strong belief on the positive impacts of the foreign firms such as knowledge spillovers or job creation, there might be crowding-out or market-stealing effect from the presence of foreign firms. If the latter effect is larger than positive effect, the incentives provided by host country government to the multinational firms cannot be justified. In this regard, the question addressed in this paper is very important.

Originality/value

While most of previous papers have focused on the impacts of the foreign firms on productivity of the domestic firms, this paper deals with their impacts on the exit and sales of the domestic firms in order to examine more direct crowding-out and market-stealing effect of foreign firms.
On the adoption of additive manufacturing in healthcare: a literature review
Authors: Ramola Mukul , Yadav Vinod , Jain Rakesh
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss different 3D printing techniques and also illustrate the issues related to 3D printing and cost-effectiveness in the near future.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review methodology is adopted for this review paper. 3D printing is in the initial phase of implementation in healthcare; therefore, a study of 70 research papers is done, which discusses the research trends of 3D printing in healthcare sector from 2007 to mid-2018.

Findings

Though additive manufacturing has a vast application, it has not been used to its full potential. Therefore, more research is required in that direction. It is revealed from the review that only a few researchers have explored issues related to cost, which can clearly show cost-effectiveness of adopting 3D printing.

Originality/value

This paper helps in understanding the different 3D printing techniques and their application in the healthcare. It also proposed some methods which can be applied in delivering customized pharmaceuticals to the customer and to improve surgery.
Zebra diel migrations reduce encounter risk with lions at night
Authors: Courbin Nicolas , Loveridge Andrew J. , Fritz Hervé , Macdonald David W. , Patin Rémi , Valeix Marion , Chamaillé‐Jammes Simon
Published: October 2018

Diel migrations (DM; back and forth diel movements along an ecological gradient) undertaken by prey to avoid predators during the day have been demonstrated in many taxa in aquatic ecosystems. In terrestrial ecosystems, prey often shift between various vegetation types whose cover determine their vulnerability (i.e., likelihood of being killed when attacked).

We conceptualized that in terrestrial ecosystems,DMcould also occur and that the contribution ofDMand shifts in vegetation cover use in reducing predation risk should depend upon the predator behaviour and the correlation between encounter risk and vulnerability across vegetation types. We further hypothesized that when the predator distribution is predictable, terrestrial prey could have evolvedDMstrategies taking them away from the predator when it is active or efficient.

We investigated whether plains zebrasEquus quaggaperformDMin Hwange National Park (Zimbabwe). There, zebras can forage in large patches of open grasslands located near waterholes where they can also easily detect predators. However, they are there at high risk of encountering their main predator, lionsPanthera leo, especially at night.

We found out that zebras employ aDManti‐predator strategy. Zebras forage near waterholes during the day but move away from them at sunset, when lions become active. We demonstrated that thisDM, occurring over a few kilometres, dramatically reduces their night‐time risk of encountering lions, which generally remain close to waterholes. Zebra changes in night‐time selection for vegetation cover types reduced their risk of encountering lions much less. This may arise from a trade‐off between encounter risk and vulnerability across vegetation types, with zebras favouring low vulnerability onceDMhas reduced encounter risk.

In summary, here we (a) quantify, in a terrestrial system, the effect of a predator‐inducedDMon the likelihood of encountering a predator and (b) distinguish the effects of theDMon encounter risk from those related to day/night changes in selection for vegetation types. We discuss how prey partition their risk between encounter risk and habitat‐driven vulnerability and why it is likely critical to understand the emergence of anti‐predator behavioural strategies.
Factors influencing hedging decision: evidence from Brazilian citrus growers
Authors: Carrer Marcelo José , Silveira Rodrigo Lanna Franco da , Souza Filho Hildo Meirelles de
Published: October 2018

The purpose of this study was to analyse the hedging behaviour of 98 citrus growers from the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Marketing behaviour was modelled as a choice between spot market, short and long‐term forward contracts. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to evaluate the role of behavioural, personal and managerial variables in the choice. Results indicated that the factors which explain the use of forward contracts by citrus growers are the following: risk propensity; trade with juice processing companies; farming diversification; overconfidence in management; participation in pools; use of management tools; and technical assistance. The results can be useful for farmers, policymakers, government agencies, traders and extension agents.
Pentecostal pastorhood as calling and career: migration, religion, and masculinity between Kenya and the United Kingdom
Authors: Fesenmyer Leslie
Published: October 2018

This article explores the intertwining of migration and religion in the lives of migrant men who were born in Kenya and have become Pentecostal pastors in London. Drawing on the spiritual careers of several pastors, I suggest that pastorhood be understood as a gendered means of social mobility. As pastors, these men attain a status that is socially and culturally intelligible in London and Kenya. At the same time, given that status is contingent upon recognition, the article also examines how pastorhood helps them navigate the challenges and inconsistencies of their lived experiences, such as a competitive religious marketplace and hostility in London, and the high expectations of those in Kenya. Rather than viewing religion as compensatory, I argue that Pentecostalism offers a ‘site of action’, to use Ruth Marshall's phrase, in which they can (re)make themselves as ‘new’ men and (re)position themselves vis‐à‐vis the multiple social worlds they inhabit.
William Weston: early voyager to the New World*
Authors: Condon Margaret M. , Jones Evan T.
Published: October 2018

The Bristol merchant William Weston was the first known Englishman to lead an expedition to North America. Analysis of two important document finds suggests that Weston was an early supporter of the Venetian explorer John Cabot. A monetary reward demonstrates Henry VII's satisfaction with the outcome of Weston's voyage of c.1499 and the king's continuing commitment to transatlantic discovery after Cabot's presumed disappearance. Weston's career is examined in detail to throw light on the nature and motivation of England's earliest Atlantic explorers.
Genetic diversity of Manihot esculenta Crantz germplasm based on single‐nucleotide polymorphism markers
Authors: de Albuquerque Hilçana Ylka Gonçalves , Carmo Catia Dias do , Brito Ana Carla , Oliveira Eder Jorge de
Published: October 2018

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is a species whose natural diversity has great food, industrial and energy potential. This study aimed to evaluate the genetic diversity, and population structure of 1,580 accessions belonging to the international germplasm conserved in Brazil using 20,601 single‐nucleotide polymorphism markers. The average values of polymorphic information content (PIC), inbreeding (f), observed heterozygosity (Ho) and expected heterozygosity (He) were 0.24, 0.21, 0.23 and 0.30, respectively, presenting levels of genetic diversity compatible with the nature of the marker (predominantly biallelic) and with the species reproductive system. The mean values of He, Ho, PIC and f were similar for the 18 chromosomes of the species. At the individual level, f values ranged from 0.49 to 0.97, with an average of 0.69, whereas some cassava accessions showed f > 0.90. The values of linkage disequilibrium ranged from 15 to 20 kb (r2 = 0.20). In the discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC), 22 groups were formed with probabilities of assignment of individuals above 0.99. No association was observed between DAPC grouping and clusters based on phenotypic data (cyanogenic compound content and colour of the root pulp) and on genetic and geographic origin. However, the DAPC grouping resulted in greater variation between groups (14.85%). This information suggests extensive exchange of cassava germplasm in Brazil and wide molecular and phenotypic diversity. These results will provide a better understanding of the preserved genetic variability and the population organisation of the germplasm.
Cassava wastewater as a natural pesticide: Current knowledge and challenges for broader utilisation
Authors: Pinto Zevallos Delia M. , Pereira Querol Marco , Ambrogi Bianca G.
Published: October 2018

Processing of cassava roots into flour or starch results in different waste products, which include a yellowish liquid referred to in Brazil asmanipueira. This wastewater contains large quantities of cyanide formed from the hydrolysis of cyanogenic glycosides, which acts as natural plant defence. Studies conducted in Brazil over the past 30 years have looked into the possible applications of cassava wastewater in agricultural processes such as pest management. A number of studies have demonstrated its potential as a pesticide against nematodes, fungi and arthropods. Therefore, this byproduct of cassava production holds potential as a natural pesticide. Here we describe the cyanogenic glycosides of cassava and the factors that affect their content and cyanogenic potential in the plant and the chemical composition of cassava wastewater; we also review what is known about the effects of this effluent as a pesticide against arthropods and pathogens. Challenges for broader use and new avenues for further research on this topic are also proposed.
Replacement of microglia in the aged brain reverses cognitive, synaptic, and neuronal deficits in mice
Authors: Elmore Monica R. P. , Hohsfield Lindsay A. , Kramár Enikö A. , Soreq Lilach , Lee Rafael J. , Pham Stephanie T. , Najafi Allison R. , Spangenberg Elizabeth E. , Wood Marcelo A. , West Brian L. , Green Kim N.
Published: October 2018

Microglia, the resident immune cell of the brain, can be eliminated via pharmacological inhibition of the colony‐stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R). Withdrawal of CSF1R inhibition then stimulates microglial repopulation, effectively replacing the microglial compartment. In the aged brain, microglia take on a “primed” phenotype and studies indicate that this coincides with age‐related cognitive decline. Here, we investigated the effects of replacing the aged microglial compartment with new microglia using CSF1R inhibitor‐induced microglial repopulation. With 28 days of repopulation, replacement of resident microglia in aged mice (24 months) improved spatial memory and restored physical microglial tissue characteristics (cell densities and morphologies) to those found in young adult animals (4 months). However, inflammation‐related gene expression was not broadly altered with repopulation nor the response to immune challenges. Instead, microglial repopulation resulted in a reversal of age‐related changes in neuronal gene expression, including expression of genes associated with actin cytoskeleton remodeling and synaptogenesis. Age‐related changes in hippocampal neuronal complexity were reversed with both microglial elimination and repopulation, while microglial elimination increased both neurogenesis and dendritic spine densities. These changes were accompanied by a full rescue of age‐induced deficits in long‐term potentiation with microglial repopulation. Thus, several key aspects of the aged brain can be reversed by acute noninvasive replacement of microglia.
A developmental cascade model for early adolescent‐onset substance use: the role of early childhood stress
Authors: Otten Roy , Mun Chung Jung , Shaw Daniel S. , Wilson Melvin N. , Dishion Thomas J.
Published: October 2018

Backgrounds and aims

Despite the link between stress and addictive behavior in adulthood, little is known about how early life stress in families predicts the early emergence of substance use in adolescence. This study tested a developmental cascade model, proposing that early stressful life events and negative parent–child interaction covary, and both disrupt the refinement of inhibitory control, which evolves into problem behavior in middle/late childhood and subsequent substance use exploration in early adolescence.

Methods

Data came from the Early Steps Multisite study, a community sample of at‐risk families in the metropolitan US areas of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), Eugene (Oregon) and Charlottesville (Virginia) with children aged 2 years at the start of the study and 14 years at the last measurement (n = 364). Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed model.

Results

Early stressful life events and negative parent–child interaction assessed at ages 2–5 were negatively related to inhibitory control at ages 7 and 8. Low levels of inhibitory control were prognostic of childhood problem behavior at ages 9 and 10. Finally, late childhood problem behavior was associated with substance use at age 14. Parental drug use was directly related to substance use at age 14.

Conclusions

Early life stress may disrupt child inhibitory control, which can cascade into behavioral and peer problem behavior in childhood and, in turn, heighten the risk for early adolescent substance use.
Malignant ovarian germ cell tumours in the post‐menopausal population
Authors: Robertson Jessica A. , Sanday Karen , Nicklin James
Published: October 2018

Background

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumours (MOGCT) are uncommon in the general population and very rare in post‐menopausal women.

Aims

To evaluate the demographics, treatment and survival of post‐menopausal women with MOGCT treated at the Queensland Centre for Gynaecological Cancer (QCGC) and compare these with pre‐menopausal women.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective analysis was performed of the QCGC database from January 1981 to February 2017. The disease course of post‐menopausal women was compared with pre‐menopausal women affected by MOGCT over the same period and compared with the world literature.

Results

There were six post‐menopausal women with MOGCT treated at the QCGC compared with 166 pre‐menopausal women. In the post‐menopausal group of women, there was no mortality directly attributed to germ cell ovarian disease compared with 10 (6.0%) women in the pre‐menopausal group.

Conclusions

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumours are a very rare condition in post‐menopausal women. Despite some suggestion in the world literature that survival outcomes are worse in this population, this was not found in our study.
Newly proposed electrocardiographic criteria for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy in a Chinese population
Authors: Shao Qingmiao , Meng Lei , Tse Gary , Sawant Abhishek C. , Zhuo Yi Chan Calista , Bazoukis George , Baranchuk Adrian , Li Guangping , Liu Tong
Published: October 2018

Background

The electrocardiographic criteria currently available for the diagnosis of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) are low in sensitivity. Thus, we compared the diagnostic performance of newly proposed electrocardiographic criteria to the existing criteria in a Chinese population.

Methods

A total of 235 consecutive hypertensive patients, hospitalized in our department between May 2017 and April 2018, were included. They were divided into two groups based on the gold standard echocardiogram: those with (n = 116) and without LVH (n = 119). The newly proposed ECG criteria were calculated by summating the amplitude of the deepest S wave (SD) in any single lead and the S‐wave amplitude of lead V4 (SV4). The area under the curve was calculated and compared against the sex‐specific Cornell limb lead and Sokolow–Lyon criteria.

Results

ECG analysis of the cohort showed that the newly proposed criteria had the highest sensitivity in diagnosing LVH (male: 65.5%; female: 81%), followed by the Cornell limb lead criteria (male: 55.2%; female: 56.9%). The specificities of both sets of criteria were higher than 70%, with no significant differences between them. Receiver operator curve analysis showed an optimal cutoff of ≥2.1 mV for females (AUC: 0.832; 95% CI: 0.757–0.906) and ≥2.6 mV for males (AUC: 0.772; 95% CI: 0.687–0.856).

Conclusion

The newly proposed SD + SV4 criteria provide an improved sensitivity for the ECG diagnosis of LVH compared to existing criteria, but its routine use will require further validation in larger populations.
GRIN2D variants in three cases of developmental and epileptic encephalopathy
Authors: Tsuchida Naomi , Hamada Keisuke , Shiina Masaaki , Kato Mitsuhiro , Kobayashi Yu , Tohyama Jun , Kimura Kazue , Hoshino Kyoko , Ganesan Vigneswari , Teik Keng W. , Nakashima Mitsuko , Mitsuhashi Satomi , Mizuguchi Takeshi , Takata Atsushi , Miyake Noriko , Saitsu Hirotomo , Ogata Kazuhiro , Miyatake Satoko , Matsumoto Naomichi
Published: October 2018

N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate (NMDA) receptors are glutamate‐activated ion channels that are widely distributed in the central nervous system and essential for brain development and function. Dysfunction of NMDA receptors has been associated with various neurodevelopmental disorders. Recently, a de novo recurrent GRIN2D missense variant was found in two unrelated patients with developmental and epileptic encephalopathy. In this study, we identified by whole exome sequencing novel heterozygous GRIN2D missense variants in three unrelated patients with severe developmental delay and intractable epilepsy. All altered residues were highly conserved across vertebrates and among the four GluN2 subunits. Structural consideration indicated that all three variants are probably to impair GluN2D function, either by affecting intersubunit interaction or altering channel gating activity. We assessed the clinical features of our three cases and compared them to those of the two previously reported GRIN2D variant cases, and found that they all show similar clinical features. This study provides further evidence of GRIN2D variants being causal for epilepsy. Genetic diagnosis for GluN2‐related disorders may be clinically useful when considering drug therapy targeting NMDA receptors.
Searching for solutions to the conflict over Europe's oldest forest
Authors: Kuboń Maciej , Latawiec Agnieszka E. , Scarano Fabio Rubio , Drosik Adam , Strassburg Bernardo B.N. , Grzebieniowski Włodzimierz , Bastos Juan Gomes
Published: October 2018

Article impact statement: Decision making on Białowieża Forest will affect local people and biodiversity and ecosystem services of worldwide importance.
The impact of blind peer review (team reading) of equivocal/abnormal Papanicolaou smears on inter‐reader agreement
Authors: Placidi Antonio , Giorgi Rossi Paolo
Published: October 2018

Objective

Peer review of equivocal/abnormal Papanicolaou smears is a standard internal quality assurance measure in cervical cancer screening laboratories. In 2014, we introduced a new method for peer review involving blinding the identity of the first reader. We present the comparison of different measures of inter‐reader agreement in 2013 and 2014 in order to measure the impact of blind peer review on possible cognitive biases in reading.

Methods

All suspect slides are proposed for peer review; a single reader's peer reviews are registered independently, with discordant cases discussed for consensus diagnosis. Since 2014, the first reader's name has been blinded to peers. We computed how frequently the initial diagnosis was changed, and how frequently a single reader influenced the final diagnosis when the initial one was changed. We compared κ of the first reader and that of other readers with final diagnosis. Data from 2013 were compared to those of 2014.

Results

The final diagnosis changed in 22.9% of cases (range 16.8%‐34.4%) in 2013 and in 26.8% (range 13.9%‐35.6%) in 2014 (P = .2). Individual peer diagnoses agreed with final diagnosis in 52.3% (range 41.9%‐66.3%) in 2013 and in 50.2% (range 36.0%‐65.8%) in 2014 (P = .55). The cytologist having the highest proportion of confirmed diagnoses was also the most influential on final diagnosis, both in 2013 and in 2014. Agreement between first reader and final diagnosis was higher than that of each reader in 2013 and in 2014.

Conclusions

Blinding the identity of the first reader had little or no impact on inter‐reader agreement measures in our laboratory.
The diagnostic value of cell blocks in liquid‐based cytology of bronchial aspiration and bronchial brushing materials: Methodological issues
Authors: Sabour Siamak , Pordanjani Sajjad Rahimi
Published: October 2018

The paper provides an overview on technical issues of cell blocks in liquid‐based cytology of bronchial washing and brushing.
Behavioural interventions to treat drooling in children with neurodisability: a systematic review
Authors: McInerney Michelle S , Reddihough Dinah S , Carding Paul N , Swanton Ruth , Walton Chloe M , Imms Christine
Published: October 2018

Aim

To review the evidence for behavioural interventions to reduce drooling in children with neurodisability.

Method

A detailed search in eight databases sought studies that: (1) included participants aged 0 to 18 years with neurodisability and drooling; (2) provided behavioural interventions targeting drooling or a drooling‐related behaviour; and (3) used experimental designs. Two reviewers extracted data from full‐text papers independently. Results were tabulated for comparison. The Risk of Bias assessment in N‐of‐1 Trials scale for single case experimental designs (SCEDs) and the Cochrane risk of bias assessment tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were applied.

Results

Of an initial yield of 763, seven SCEDs and one RCT were included. Behavioural interventions included the use of reinforcement, prompting, self‐management, instruction, extinction, overcorrection, and fading. Each assessed body functions or structures’ outcomes (drooling frequency and severity); three included activity outcomes (mouth drying, head control, eye contact, and vocalizations) and none assessed participation or quality of life. While each study reported positive effects of intervention, risk of bias was high.

Interpretation

Low‐level evidence suggests behavioural interventions may be useful for treatment of drooling in children with neurodisability. Well‐designed intervention studies are urgently needed to determine effectiveness.

What this paper adds

Behavioural interventions used to treat drooling included reinforcement, prompting, self‐management, extinction, overcorrection, instruction, and fading.

Interventions targeted body structures and function‐level outcomes and activity‐level outcomes.

Low‐level evidence supports the use of behavioural intervention to treat drooling.
World Health Organization life‐skills training is efficacious in reducing youth self‐report scores in primary school going children in Kenya
Authors: Ndetei David M. , Mutiso Victoria , Gitonga Isaiah , Agudile Emeka , Tele Albert , Birech Lilian , Musyimi Christine , McKenzie Kwame
Published: October 2018

Aim

Documented evidence shows that training in life skills for school going children improves their physical and mental health status. Although Kenya has a curriculum and a policy for life‐skills training in schools, these have not been implemented because lack of local evidence for efficacy. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the efficacy and effectiveness of the life‐skill training curriculum for primary schools developed by the Ministry of Education, Kenya.

Methods

We randomly selected 23 schools from two randomly selected sub‐counties representing urban/peri‐urban and rural contexts in Kenya. We collected baseline socio‐demographic characteristics and administered the locally validated youth self‐report (YSR) for 11 to 18 years old at baseline and 9 months post‐intervention. We used the Ministry of Education validated curriculum for life‐skills training for upper primary school as the intervention immediately after the baseline.

Results

The World Health Organization life‐skills training is efficacious in reducing YSR scores in primary school going children in Kenya. We found that socio‐demographic characteristics were predictors for mental health and that there were significant positive improvements in internalizing and externalizing YSR symptoms and syndromes in both sites. The improvement was over 40% and therefore unlikely to be attributable to placebo effect or natural recovery without intervention. However, attention problems worsened more so in rural sites and particularly in girls.

Conclusions

Life‐skills training is efficacious in improving mental health in school going children in the Kenyan context. However, it is not effective in attention problems which seem to be cognitive in nature.
Role of NMDA and AMPA glutamatergic receptors in the effects of social defeat on the rewarding properties of MDMA in mice
Authors: García‐Pardo M. P. , Miñarro J. , Llansola M. , Felipo V. , Aguilar M. A.
Published: October 2018

Exposure to social stress alters the response to drugs of abuse of experimental animals. Changes in the glutamatergic system seem to play a role in the effects of social defeat stress on the rewarding properties of cocaine and amphetamine. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the involvement of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate (NMDA) and α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) glutamate receptors in the effects of social defeat on the conditioned place preference induced by 3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). Our hypothesis was that changes in these receptors could mediate the effects of social defeat on MDMA reward. Young adult male mice were exposed to an episode of social defeat with an aggressive conspecific immediately before each conditioning session with MDMA (1.25 mg/kg, four sessions on alternating days). According to the treatment received before defeats, six groups were used: saline, 5 or 10 mg/kg of memantine (NMDA antagonist) and 0.25, 1 or 5 mg/kg of 6‐cyano‐7‐nitroquinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (CNQX) (AMPA antagonist). One control group was exposed to exploration before place conditioning. In two additional defeated and control groups, the membrane expression of NMDA and AMPA receptors was determined in the striatum and the hippocampus. Control and memantine‐treated groups developed place preference, but not defeated mice treated with saline or CNQX, suggesting that the blockade of NMDA receptors reversed the effects of social defeat. Social defeat decreased the expression of several subunits of NMDA and AMPA receptors, mainly GluN1 and GluA1. These results demonstrated that glutamatergic plasticity is involved in the effects of social defeat stress on MDMA reward.
DNA barcoding reveals clear delineation between spawning sites for neritic versus oceanic fishes in the Gulf of Mexico
Authors: Burrows Makenzie , Browning Jeremy S. , Breitbart Mya , Murawski Steven A. , Peebles Ernst B.
Published: October 2018

We combined research‐vessel cruises of opportunity with DNA barcoding to survey planktonic, percomorph fish eggs at 40 stations distributed across and around the Gulf of Mexico (GoM). The objectives were (a) to determine whether eggs of fishes that are potential candidates for the daily egg production method (DEPM) can be readily barcoded, (b) to identify taxa that are spawning in the GoM, (c) to determine encounter rates for eggs of economically valuable taxa, and (d) to characterize individual egg taxa as being primarily neritic, primarily oceanic, or primarily mixed (i.e., both neritic and oceanic). Of the 1,144 eggs that were individually barcoded, 709 (62%) were definitively identified to species (62 species from 42 families), with an additional 20 taxa identified to genus or subfamily level. The eggs of 15 economically important species were identified, most of which had intermediate encounter rates and moderately dispersed spatial distributions, as indicated by an index of aggregation. SIMPROF analysis of stationwise cluster analysis identified eight significant groups within the 35 stations that yielded percomorph eggs; a corresponding specieswise analysis identified six groups of stations as having a neritic egg community and two groups as having an oceanic community, with a community transition located at the shelf break. Although the neritic and oceanic stations did not share important species, it remains possible that coastal pelagic species have mixed neritic–oceanic distributions. Together, these results indicate DEPM fish‐egg surveys based on DNA barcoding are feasible at the large marine ecosystem scale.
Securing cyberspace: How states design governance arrangements
Authors: Weiss Moritz , Jankauskas Vytautas
Published: October 2018

The functioning of modern societies increasingly depends on secure cyberspace. Given states' lacking capacities to protect this novel domain, governments draw on a variety of third parties for support. Yet, they face a challenge. While imposed control may limit third parties' competence, the abandonment of hierarchical control contradicts the widespread notion of national security. How do states navigate between these functional and national security imperatives to design governance arrangements? We develop a typology that combines cybersecurity problems (risks vs. threats) with governance modes (delegation vs. orchestration). This helps us to explore more than 100 cybersecurity policies across 15 different states. We find one predominant pattern. Governments delegate authority but maintain elements of hierarchical control, when they respond to threatening attacks. In contrast, governments orchestrate intermediaries by soft inducements to address risks and diffuse vulnerabilities in cyberspace. This contributes to both indirect governance scholarship and the debate on cybersecurity.
No‐touch ablation in hepatocellular carcinoma has the potential to prevent intrasubsegmental recurrence to the same degree as surgical resection
Authors: Kawamura Yusuke , Ikeda Kenji , Shindoh Junichi , Kobayashi Yuta , Kasuya Kayoko , Fujiyama Shunichiro , Hosaka Tetsuya , Kobayashi Masahiro , Saitoh Satoshi , Sezaki Hitomi , Akuta Norio , Suzuki Fumitaka , Suzuki Yoshiyuki , Arase Yasuji , Hashimoto Masaji , Kumada Hiromitsu
Published: October 2018

Aim

The aim of this study was to clarify the utility of a no‐touch pincer ablation procedure that uses bipolar electrodes to prevent intrasubsegmental tumor recurrence after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to surgical resection.

Methods

We evaluated 175 consecutive patients with HCC (single nodule, tumor diameter ≤ 30 mm) who underwent surgical resection (146 received partial resection) and 313 patients who received RFA; 277 patients received touch ablation using a monopolar or bipolar RFA device, and 36 received no‐touch ablation using a bipolar RFA device. Pretreatment arterial and portal phase dynamic computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images were classified into four enhancement patterns: Type 1 and Type 2 are homogeneous enhancement patterns without or with increased arterial blood flow, respectively; Type 3 is a heterogeneous enhancement pattern with a septum‐like structure; and Type 4 is an irregularly shaped ring structure enhancement pattern.

Results

Cumulative recurrence rates significantly differed between procedures (surgical resection, 7.5%; no‐touch ablation, 2.9%; and touch ablation, 17.7% at the third year; P = 0.005). Multivariate Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that enhancement pattern type (Type 3: hazard ratio [HR], 2.95; P = 0.002; and Type 4: HR, 3.88, P = 0.002), treatment procedure (touch ablation: HR, 3.36; P < 0.001), and serum α‐fetoprotein level (≥30 μg/L: HR, 1.87; P = 0.009) were significant predictors of intrasubsegmental recurrence. No significant differences between no‐touch ablation and surgical resection were observed.

Conclusion

The no‐touch pincer ablation procedure has the potential to prevent intrasubsegmental recurrence after RFA for patients with HCC to the same degree as partial resection.
High recovery rate of consciousness by high‐volume filtrate hemodiafiltration for fulminant hepatitis
Authors: Fujiwara Keiichi , Abe Ryuzo , Yasui Shin , Yokosuka Osamu , Kato Naoya , Oda Shigeto
Published: October 2018

Aim

An artificial liver support (ALS) system sustaining patients with acute liver failure (ALF) in good condition until recovery of the native liver or performance of liver transplantation (LT), is essential for the improvement of the poor prognosis of ALF despite the lack of survival benefit. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of various ALS systems for fulminant hepatitis (FH) carried out in our liver unit so far, focusing on the restoration of consciousness from hepatic encephalopathy.

Methods

One hundred and ten consecutive adult Japanese patients with FH admitted to Chiba University Hospital (Chiba, Japan) between 1988 and 2016 who received ALS were analyzed.

Results

Recovery rate of consciousness improved with the increased dialysate flow rate and filtrate rate: 37.5% by plasma exchange (PE), 51.9% by PE + continuous hemodiafiltration (CHDF), 57.7% by slow PE (sPE) + high‐flow CHDF (HFCHDF) (QD = 300 mL/min), 88.6% by HFCHDF (QD = 500 mL/min) (+ sPE), and 92.9% by on‐line HDF (OLHDF) (+ sPE). All patients except one, who could not be fully treated because of circulatory failure, recovered consciousness by OLHDF, including those whose liver function were completely abolished. Superiority of HFCHDF (QD = 500 mL/min) and OLHDF was also shown in patients who died without LT or received LT.

Conclusions

More effective ALS should be recognized considering the extremely high recovery rate of consciousness. In particular, OLHDF with predilution reduces the cost of substitution fluid by supplying an unlimited amount of dialysate as substitution fluid prepared using an on‐line system, and simplifies the procedure for the management.
Amounts of malondialdehyde do not accurately represent the real oxidative level of all vegetable oils: a kinetic study of malondialdehyde formation
Authors: Ma Lukai , Liu Guoqin , Liu Xinqi
Published: October 2018

Malondialdehyde (MDA), a widely used oxidation indicator for both lipid and edible oil, has been suggested to be genotoxic and cytotoxic, thus attracting increasing attentions about its formation and exposure assessment. In this study, kinetics of MDA formation in vegetable oils and model oils were investigated by high‐performance liquid chromatography. Results showed MDA contents firstly increased rapidly then kept to a plateau over time in both reaction systems at 100, 140 and 180 °C, significant temperature‐dependent of MDA formation was observed. The rate constant and activation energy (Ea) were calculated from the fitted pseudo‐first‐order model and Arrhenius equation. Ea of MDA‐formation was much lower in linseed oil, corn oil and rapeseed oil, indicating the higher degree of unsaturation resulted in the greater susceptibility to MDA formation. Besides, MDA content was inappropriate to assess the oxidation of palm oil and camellia oil possessing high level of saturated and/or monounsaturated fatty acid.
Exploring comorbid depression and physical health trajectories: A case‐based computational modelling approach
Authors: Castellani Brian , Griffiths Frances , Rajaram Rajeev , Gunn Jane
Published: October 2018

While comorbid depression/physical health is a major clinical concern, the conventional methods of medicine make it difficult to model the complexities of this relationship. Such challenges include cataloguing multiple trends, developing multiple complex aetiological explanations, and modelling the collective large‐scale dynamics of these trends. Using a case‐based complexity approach, this study engaged in a richly described case study to demonstrate the utility of computational modelling for primary care research. N = 259 people were subsampled from theDiamonddatabase, one of the largest primary care depression cohort studies worldwide. A global measure of depressive symptoms (PHQ‐9) and physical health (PCS‐12) were assessed at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months and then annually for a total of 7 years. Eleven trajectories and 2 large‐scale collective dynamics were identified, revealing that while depression is comorbid with poor physical health, chronic illness is often low dynamic and not always linked to depression. Also, some of the cases in the unhealthy and oscillator trends remain ill without much chance of improvement. Finally, childhood abuse, partner violence, and negative life events are greater amongst unhealthy trends. Computational modelling offers a major advance for health researchers to account for the diversity of primary care patients and for developing better prognostic models for team‐based interdisciplinary care.
Experiences of coeliac disease in a changing gluten‐free landscape
Authors: King J. A. , Kaplan G. G. , Godley J.
Published: October 2018

Background

Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disorder triggered by the ingestion of gluten. In recent years, there has been considerable increase in the availability of gluten‐free products in North America. The present study investigated how the recent proliferation of the gluten‐free industry has affected individuals living with coeliac disease, with a primary focus on their social lives and relationships.

Methods

Interpretive phenomenology was utilised for study design and analysis. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 17 adults diagnosed with coeliac disease in Calgary, Alberta. Interviews were audio recorded and then transcribed for analysis.

Results

People living with coeliac disease experience the growth of the gluten‐free industry as a ‘double‐edged sword’. Although they are grateful for more palatable gluten‐free options, they are increasingly faced with misunderstandings about the severity of coeliac disease as a result of many noncoeliac disease individuals subscribing to the gluten‐free diet. This ‘double‐edged sword’ made certain types of social situations more easily manageable (e.g. more gluten‐free options available at restaurants), whereas others produced distress (e.g. increased risk of inadvertently consuming gluten). Participants also felt they may be perceived or even perceived themselves differently (e.g. felt high maintenance). To help mitigate these social ramifications of following the gluten‐free diet, participants utilised various strategies.

Conclusions

The sole medical recommendation of a gluten‐free diet fails to acknowledge the ongoing difficulties those with coeliac disease can endure in the current gluten‐free landscape. Recommendations beyond the gluten‐free diet are advisable to alleviate many of the indirect burdens revealed in the present study.