bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Professional Swimmers and Normal Populations have Different Patterns of Epidermal Green Autofluorescence
Authors: Tao Yue , Zhang Mingchao , Li Yujia , Shen Xunzhang , Ying Weihai
Published: January 2019

Our recent studies have suggested that green autofluorescence of the fingernails and certain regions of skin may be novel biomarkers for disease diagnosis and evaluation of the injury state of cardiovascular system. Our study has also suggested that oxidative stress may produce the increased epidermal green AF by altering keratin 1. Since athletes’ body may have increased oxidative stress and inflammation, we proposed our hypothesis that athletes may have increased green AF in their fingernails and certain regions of their skin. In current study we tested this hypothesis by determining the green AF of professional swimmers. We found that compared with age-matched controls, both the green AF intensity and AF asymmetry in both right and left antebrachium and Ventriantebrachium of the professional swimmers is significantly higher. In left Dorsal Centremetacarpus, the green AF intensity of the professional swimmers is significantly higher than that of the age-matched controls. In contrast, the green AF intensity or AF asymmetry of the professional swimmers is not significantly different from that of the age-matched controls in Centremetacarpus, Ventroforefinger, Dorsal Index Finger and Index Fingernails. Collectively, our study has provided first evidence suggesting that athletes have increased green AF intensity and asymmetry in certain regions of their skin. Based on this finding, we may evaluate non-invasively the levels of oxidative damage and inflammation in athletes’ body.
Using Twitter To Generate Signals For The Enhancement Of Syndromic Surveillance Systems: Semi-Supervised Classification For Relevance Filtering in Syndromic Surveillance
Authors: Edo-Osagie Oduwa , Smith Gillian , Lake Iain , Edeghere Obaghe , De La Iglesia Beatriz
Published: January 2019

We investigate the use of Twitter data to deliver signals for syndromic surveillance in order to assess its ability to augment existing syndromic surveillance efforts and give a better understanding of symptomatic people who do not seek health care advice directly. We focus on a specific syndrome - asthma/difficulty breathing. We outline data collection using the Twitter streaming API as well as analysis and pre-processing of the collected data. Even with keyword-based data collection, many of the tweets collected are not be relevant because they represent chatter, or talk of awareness instead of suffering a particular condition. In light of this, we set out to identify relevant tweets to collect a strong and reliable signal. For this, we investigate text classification techniques, and in particular we focus on semi-supervised classification techniques since they enable us to use more of the Twitter data collected without needing to label it all. In this paper, propose a semi-supervised approach to symptomatic tweet classification and relevance filtering. We also propose the use of emojis and other special features capturing the tweet’s tone to improve the classification performance. Our results show that negative emojis and those that denote laughter provide the best classification performance in conjunction with a simple bag of words approach. We obtain good performance on classifying symptomatic tweets with both supervised and semi-supervised algorithms and found that the proposed semi-supervised algorithms preserve more of the relevant tweets and may be advantegeous in the context of a weak signal. Finally, we found some correlation (r = 0.414, p = 0.0004) between the Twitter signal generated with the semi-supervised system and data from consultations for related health conditions.
RUNX1 mitotically bookmarks target genes that are important for the mammary epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
Authors: Rose Joshua T. , Moskovitz Eliana , Boyd Joseph R. , Gordon Jonathan A. , Bouffard Nicole A. , Fritz Andrew J. , Illendula Anuradha , Bushweller John H. , Lian Jane B. , Stein Janet L. , Stein Gary S. , Zaidi Sayyed K.
Published: January 2019

RUNX1 has recently been shown to play an important role in determination of mammary epithelial cell identity. However, mechanisms by which loss of the RUNX1 transcription factor in mammary epithelial cells leads to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are not known. Here, we report mitotic bookmarking of genes by RUNX1 as a potential mechanism to convey regulatory information through successive cell divisions for coordinate control of mammary cell proliferation, growth, and identity. Genome-wide RUNX1 occupancy profiles for asynchronous, mitotically enriched, and early G1 breast epithelial cells reveal RUNX1 is retained during the mitosis to G1 transition on protein coding and long non-coding RNA genes critical for mammary epithelial proliferation, growth, and phenotype maintenance. Disruption of RUNX1 DNA binding and association with mitotic chromosomes alters cell morphology, global protein synthesis, and phenotype-related gene expression. Together, these findings show for the first time that RUNX1 bookmarks a subset of epithelial-related genes during mitosis that remain occupied as cells enter the next cell cycle. Compromising RUNX1 DNA binding initiates EMT, an essential first step in the onset of breast cancer.

Significance

This study elucidates mitotic gene bookmarking as a potential epigenetic mechanism that impacts breast epithelial cell growth and phenotype and has potential implications in breast cancer onset.
YeasTSS: An Integrative Web Database of Yeast Transcription Start Sites
Authors: McMillan Jonathan , Lu Zhaolian , Rodriguez Judith S. , Ahn Tae-Hyuk , Lin Zhenguo
Published: January 2019

The transcription initiation landscape of eukaryotic genes is complex and highly dynamic. In eukaryotes, genes can generate multiple transcript variants that differ in 5’ boundaries due to usages of alternative transcription start sites (TSSs), and the abundance of transcript isoforms are highly variable. Due to a large number and complexity of the TSSs, it is not feasible to depict details of transcript initiation landscape of all genes using text-format genome annotation files. Therefore, it is necessary to provide data visualization of TSSs to represent quantitative TSS maps and the core promoters. In addition, the selection and activity of TSSs are influenced by various factors, such as transcription factors, chromatin remodeling, and histone modifications. Thus, integration and visualization of functional genomic data related to these features could provide a better understanding of the gene promoter architecture and regulatory mechanism of transcription initiation. Yeast species play important roles for the research and human society, yet no database provides visualization and integration of functional genomic data in yeast. Here, we generated quantitative TSS maps for twelve important yeast species, inferred their core promoters, and built a public database, YeasTSS (www.yeastss.org). YeasTSS was designed as a central portal for visualization and integration of the TSS maps, core promoters and functional genomic data related to transcription initiation in yeast. YeasTSS is expected to benefit the research community and public education for improving genome annotation, studies of promoter structure, regulated control of transcription initiation and inferring gene regulatory network.
The spread of resistance to imidacloprid is restricted by thermotolerance in natural populations ofDrosophila melanogaster
Authors: Fournier-Level Alexandre , Good Robert T , Wilcox Stephen , Rane Rahul V , Schiffer Michelle , Chen Wei , Battlay Paul , Perry Trent , Batterham Philip , Hoffmann Ary A , Robin Charles
Published: January 2019

Imidacloprid, the world’s most utilised insecticide1, has raised considerable controversy due to its harmful effects on non-pest species2–6and there is increasing evidence showing that insecticides have become the primary selective force in many insect species7–14. The genetic response to insecticides is heterogeneous across population and environment15–17, leading to more complex patterns of genetic variation than previously thought. This motivated the investigation of imidacloprid resistance at different temperatures in natural populations ofDrosophila melanogasteroriginating from four climate extremes replicated across two continents. Population and quantitative genomic analysis, supported by functional tests, demonstrated a polygenic basis to resistance and a major trade-off with thermotolerance. Reduced genetic differentiation at resistance-associated loci indicate enhanced gene flow at these loci. Resistance alleles showed stronger evidence of positive selection in temperate populations compared to tropical populations. Polygenic architecture and ecological factors should be considered when developing sustainable management strategies for both pest and beneficial insects.
The genetic basis of cis-regulatory divergence between the subspecies of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Campbell Malachy T , Du Qian , Liu Kan , Sharma Sandeep , Zhang Chi , Walia Harkamal
Published: January 2019

Cultivated rice consists of two subspecies,IndicaandJaponica, that exhibit well-characterized differences at the morphological and genetic levels. However, the differences between these subspecies at the transcriptome level remains largely unexamined. Here, we provide a comprehensive characterization of transcriptome divergence and cis-regulatory variation within rice using transcriptome data from 91 accessions from a rice diversity panel (RDP1). The transcriptomes of the two subspecies of rice are highly divergent. The expression and genetic diversity was significantly lower withinJaponicarelative toIndica, which is consistent with the known population bottleneck duringJaponicadomestication. Moreover, 1,860 and 1,325 genes showed differences in heritability in the broad and narrow sense respectively, between the subspecies, which was driven largely by environmental and genetic effects rather than differences in phenotypic variability. We leveraged high-density genotypic data and transcript levels to identify cis-regulatory variants that may explain the genetic divergence between the subspecies. We identified significantly more eQTL that were specific to theIndicasubspecies compared toJaponica, suggesting that the observed differences in expression and genetic variability also extends to cis-regulatory variation. We next explored the potential causes of this cis-regulatory divergence by assessing local genetic diversity for cis-eQTL. Local genetic diversity around subspecies-specific cis-eQTL was significantly lower than genome-wide averages in subspecies lacking the eQTL, suggesting that selective pressures may have shaped regulatory variation in each subspecies. This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of transcriptional and cis-regulatory variation in cultivated rice, and could be an important resource for future studies.
Annotated bacterial chromosomes from frame-shift-corrected long read metagenomic data
Authors: Arumugam Krithika , Bağci Caner , Bessarab Irina , Beier Sina , Buchfink Benjamin , Gorska Anna , Qiu Guanglei , Huson Daniel H , Williams Rohan BH
Published: January 2019

Background

Short-read sequencing technologies have long been the work-horse of microbiome analysis. Continuing technological advances are making the application of long-read sequencing to metagenomic samples increasingly feasible.

Results

We demonstrate that whole bacterial chromosomes can be obtained from a complex community, by application of MinION sequencing to a sample from an EBPR bio-reactor, producing 6Gb of sequence that assembles in to multiple closed bacterial chromosomes. We provide a simple pipeline for processing such data, which includes a new approach to correcting erroneous frame-shifts.

Conclusions

Advances in long read sequencing technology and corresponding algorithms will allow the routine extraction of whole chromosomes from environmental samples, providing a more detailed picture of individual members of a microbiome.
EHD2-mediated restriction of caveolar dynamics regulates cellular lipid uptake
Authors: Matthäus Claudia , Lahmann Ines , Kunz Séverine , Jonas Wenke , Melo Arthur Alves , Lehmann Martin , Larsson Elin , Lundmark Richard , Kern Matthias , Blüher Matthias , Müller Dominik N. , Haucke Volker , Schürmann Annette , Birchmeier Carmen , Daumke Oliver
Published: January 2019

Epsl5-homology domain containing protein 2 (EHD2) is a dynamin-related ATPase located at the neck of caveolae, but its physiological function has remained unclear. Here, we found that global genetic ablation of EHD2 in mice led to increased fat accumulation. This organismic phenotype was paralleled at the cellular level by increased lipid uptake via a caveolae-, dynamin- and CD36-dependent pathway, an elevated number of detached caveolae and higher caveolar mobility. Furthermore, EHD2 expression itself was down-regulated in the visceral fat of two obese mouse models and obese patients. Our data suggest that EHD2 controls a cell-autonomous, caveolae-dependent lipid uptake pathway and suggest that low EHD2 expression levels are linked to obesity.
Abl signaling shapes the intrinsic fluctuations of actin to direct growth of a pioneer axon in Drosophila
Authors: Clarke Akanni , McQueen Philip G. , Fang Hsiao Yu , Kannan Ramakrishnan , Wang Victor , McCreedy Evan , Wincovitch Stephen , Giniger Edward
Published: January 2019

The fundamental problem in axon growth and guidance is to understand how cytoplasmic signaling modulates the cytoskeleton to produce directed growth cone motility. We show here that the TSM1 pioneer axon of Drosophila extends by using Abl tyrosine kinase to shape the intrinsic fluctuations of a mass of accumulated actin in the distal axon. The actin mass fluctuates stochastically in length, but with a small, forward bias that drives the axon along its trajectory by promoting emergence of protrusions in leading intervals where actin accumulates, and collapse of protrusions in lagging intervals that actin has vacated. The actin mass is sculpted by Abl signaling, which probabilistically modulates its key parameters - its width and internal disorder - to drive its advance, while maintaining internal coherence. Comparison of TSM1 to other systems suggests that the mechanism we demonstrate here is apt to be common among pioneer axons in many organisms.
Crystal structure of a new 2,6-bis(imino)pyridine derivative: (1E,1′E)-1,1′-(pyridine-2,6-diyl)bis[N-(4-chlorophenyl)ethan-1-imine]
Authors: Rajesh Rajagopal , Sella E. S. , Blacque Olivier , Rajesh Kunjanpillai
Published: January 2019

The asymmetric unit of the title compound, C21H17Cl2N3, contains two crystallographically independent molecules (AandB). Both molecules haveEconfigurations for both imine double bonds with regard to the aryl and pyridine groups. The conformations of the two molecules differ with the 4-chlorophenyl rings being inclined to the central pyridine ring by 77.64 (6) and 86.18 (6)° in moleculeA, and 80.02 (5) and 43.41 (6)° in moleculeB. In the crystal, molecules are linked by a number of C—H...π interactions, forming layers parallel to thebcplane.
Synthesis, X-ray crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and DFT studies of (E)-N′-(2-bromobenzylidene)-4-methylbenzohydrazide
Authors: Anitha Azhagan Ganapathi , Arunagiri Chidambaram , Subashini Annamalai
Published: January 2019

The title molecule, C15H13BrN2O, displays a trans configuration with respect to the C=N double bond. The dihedral angle between the bromo- and methyl-substituted benzene rings is 16.1 (3)°. In the crystal, molecules are connected by N—H...O and weak C—H...O hydrogen bonds, forming R
2
1(6) ring motifs and generating chains along the a–axis direction. The optimized structure generated theoretically via density functional theory (DFT) using standard B3LYP functional and 6–311 G(d,p) basis-set calculations renders good support to the experimental data. The HOMO–LUMO behaviour was elucidated to determine the energy gap. The intermolecular interactions were quantified and analysed using Hirshfeld surface analysis.
The technical support of nanoart: anodization process
Authors: Lv Shaohua , Wang Jian
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The novel structures and properties of nanostructure and nanomaterials give people perfect artistic expression of feeling and sense, then the nanoart discipline is developed and is closely related on the nanotechniques. The many achieved novel nanostructures with strong anti-corrosion prepared by the anodization have been reviewed. The paper would raise public awareness of nanotechnology, nanomaterial and their impact on our lives.

Design/methodology/approach

Anodization is a very effective and simple technique to form various nanostructures of metal oxide. It includes hard anodization, mild anodization and pulse anodization. Many measures have been introduced anodization process to improve the quality of formed nanostructure and enhance its properties, such as anti-corrosion.

Findings

The formation mechanism of anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) by using the mild, hard and pulse anodization has been discussed. The pretexture process and many other measures have been taken in mild and hard anodization to improve the regularity of pore array and greatly accelerate the formation rate of AAO. The pulse anodization has been used to prepare the multilayer Y-branched AAO film, which exhibits steady rich and vivid structure colors and gives a very good artistic expression. Furthermore, many other metal oxide nanostructures such as TiO2and CuO have also been fabricated using the anodization techniques.

Originality/value

Various nanostructures of metal oxide prepared by anodization have been reviewed and are itself a perfect artwork in mesoscale. Also, many nanostructures have exhibited steady, rich and vivid structure colors and give people a very good artistic expression.
Hybrid energy systems in unmanned aerial vehicles
Authors: Mazur Anna Maria , Domanski Roman
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The presented research is carried out in reaction to the soaring costs of fuel and tight control over environmental issues such as carbon dioxide emissions and noise. The purpose of this paper is to study the feasibility of applying the environmental-friendly energy source in an unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) propulsion system.

Design/methodology/approach

Currently, the majority of UAVs are still powered by conventional combustion engines. An electric propulsion system is most commonly found in civilian micro and mini UAVs. The UAV classification is reviewed in this study. This paper focuses mainly on application of electric propulsion systems in UAVs. Investigated hybrid energy systems consist of fuel cells, Li-ion batteries, super-capacitors and photovoltaic (PV) modules. Current applications of fuel cell systems in UAVs are also presented.

Findings

The conducted research shows that hybridization allows for better energy management and operation of every energy source onboard the UAV within its limits. The hybrid energy system design should be created to maximize system efficiency without compromising the performance of the aircraft.

Practical implications

The presented study highlights the reduction of the energy consumption, necessary to perform the mission and maximizing of the endurance with simultaneous decrease in emissions and noise level.

Originality/value

The conducted research studies the feasibility of implementing the environmental-friendly hybrid electric propulsion systems in UAVs that offers high efficiency, reliability, controllability, lack of thermal and noise signature, thus, providing quiet and clean drive with low vibration levels. This paper highlights the main challenges and current research on fuel cell in aviation and draws attention to fuel cell – electric system modeling, hybridization and energy management.
Gender and university degree: a new analysis of entrepreneurial intention
Authors: López-Delgado Pilar , Iglesias-Sánchez Patricia P. , Jambrino-Maldonado Carmen
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine how and why differences in gender affect entrepreneurial intention (EI). Although there are many studies in this area, scholars have yet to reach a consensus.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a survey of students at Malaga University in two stages to introduce a new perspective that links gender and university degree subject with the predisposition towards business creation. Structural equation modelling (SEM) is applied.

Findings

Comparing the explanatory power of an additive model and a multiplicative model, this paper confirms that socialisation conditions both men and women in their choice of university studies. Consequently, gender and university degree subject choice are shown to be linked and both affect EI.

Research limitations/implications

These findings provide a starting point for closing the information gap in the literature, but deeper analysis is required to combine other factors, such as international variations and the influence of different education systems on entrepreneurship.

Practical implications

These results are of special value to universities interested in fomenting entrepreneurship in their graduates, allowing them to better propose educational policies and communication campaigns reducing the effect of gender on degree choice.

Originality/value

The contribution of this research is the development of introducing university degree subjects as tied to gender. The study forms one construct together, and not a descriptive variable of the sample selected or as two independent exogenous variables, as is the case in most of the literature in this area.
Optimal distribution of metal foam inserts in a double-pipe heat exchanger
Authors: Arasteh Hossein , Salimpour Mohammad Reza , Tavakoli Mohammad Reza
Published: January 2019

Purpose

In the present research, a numerical investigation is carried out to study the fluid flow and heat transfer in a double-pipe, counter-flow heat exchanger exploiting metal foam inserts partially in both pipes. The purpose of this study is to achieve the optimal distribution of a fixed volume of metal foam throughout the pipes which provides the maximum heat transfer rate with the minimum pressure drop increase.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing equations are solved using the finite volume method. The metal foams are divided into different number of parts and positioned at different locations. The number of metal foam parts, their placements and their volume ratios in each pipe are sought to reach the optimal conditions. The four-piece metal foam with optimized placement and partitioning volume ratios is selected as the best layout. The effects of the permeability of metal foam on the Nusselt number, the performance evaluation criteria (PEC) and the overall heat transfer coefficient are investigated.

Findings

It was observed that the heat transfer rate, the overall heat transfer coefficient and the effectiveness of the heat exchanger can be improved as high as 69, 124 and 9 per cent, respectively, while the highest value of PEC is 1.36.

Practical implications

Porous materials are widely used in thermo-fluid systems such as regenerators, heat sinks, solar collectors and heat exchangers.

Originality/value

Having less pressure drop than fully filled heat exchangers, partially filled heat exchangers with partitioned metal foams distributed optimally enhance heat transfer rate more economically.
Application of continuous improvement techniques to improve organization performance
Authors: Khan Sharfuddin Ahmed , Kaviani Mohamad Amin , J. Galli Brian , Ishtiaq Palvisha
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study, analyze and implement continuous improvement (CI) techniques in an interior design case company, which faces challenges in different departments that affect the case company performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed methodology implemented in three departments of an interior design company in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). First, the authors analyzed and identified problems using Pareto chart and cause and effect diagram. After that, they improved identified problems using Kaizen, 5S, developed project selection form and modified organization chart. The result has been shown savings regarding money and time.

Findings

Successful implementation of the proposed methodology reduced project in pipeline time from 16 weeks to nine weeks, profit margin increased from 25 to 27 per cent, sales win ratio increase from 11 to 32 per cent, better project and financial forecasting and 92 per cent of tender submission deadline achievement. A habit of clean, tidy and organized workplace has been developed among workers.

Originality/value

Proposed solutions contributed significantly to saving time and effort spent to accomplish different tasks in the case company. The company approved the proposed solutions and implemented them, which show that these proposed solutions are feasible and practical. In addition to that, in literature, most of the CI applications are in the manufacturing or production sectors. This was the first study, which implemented CI techniques in an interior design company.
Sustaining school-based improvement: considering emotional responses to change
Authors: Karami-Akkary Rima , Mahfouz Julia , Mansour Samaya
Published: January 2019

Purpose

Emotions of school leaders influence school culture and structure. Understanding emotions is under-researched and under-theorized in non-western contexts, especially during educational change. The purpose of this paper is to understand the nature of the leadership team’s (LT’s) emotional responses to change, their coping strategies and conditions that maintain their commitment to change.

Design/methodology/approach

The study used intrinsic case study research, drawing on data from interviews and a focus group that illuminated perceptions of the LT in a school. The data set was analyzed following the general inductive approach.

Findings

The LT’s experienced three critical incidents (CI) of educational change that provoked a range of intense negative and positive emotions, a national curriculum reform. Despite the team’s attempt to cope with the national curriculum reform (i.e. CI1), negative emotions and unsupportive conditions challenged their commitment to change. In CI2, supportive conditions and effective personal coping strategies helped elicit positive emotions, which led to sustained commitment to change. Emotions experienced during the capacity-building program (i.e. CI3) were predominantly positive due to support from the school principal and coaches, resulting in sustained commitment to change.

Research limitations/implications

Findings from this small-scale case study in Lebanon are not generalizable to other contexts. The time lag could have affected the recollection of experiences. All participants were female, and their experiences might not reflect those of other school members affected by the changes.

Practical implications

Examining emotions during change uncovers insight into school leaders’ subjective experience, facilitates a more nuanced understanding of change, and supports change implementation. Considering emotions during change informs the development of tailored interventions that provide effective support.

Originality/value

This study examines how emotions affect the success of educational change. Contrary to common understanding, change does not always generate negative emotions that impede implementation. School-based improvement creates structural and cultural conditions for effective change as it considers practitioners’ socio-emotional needs, eliciting positive emotions.
Leaders’ experiences in Arizona’s mature education market
Authors: Potterton Amanda U.
Published: January 2019

Purpose

In Arizona’s mature, market-based school system, we know little about how school leaders make meaning of school choice policies and programs on the ground. Using ethnographic methods, the author asked: How do school leaders in one Arizona district public school and in its surrounding community, which includes a growing number of high-profile and “high-performing” Education Management Organisation (EMO) charter schools, make meaning of school choice policies and programs? The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The author analysed 18 months of qualitative fieldnotes that the author collected during participant observations and six semi-structured school leader interviews from both traditional district public schools in the area (n=4) and leaders from EMO charter schools (n=2).

Findings

School leaders’ decision-making processes were influenced by competitive pressures. However, perceptions of these pressures and leadership actions varied widely and were complicated by inclusive and exclusive social capital influences from stakeholders. District public school leaders felt pressure to package and sell schools in the marketplace, and charter leaders enjoyed the notion of markets and competition.

Practical implications

As market-based policies and practices become increasingly popular in the USA and internationally, a study that examines leaders’ behaviours and actions in a long-standing school choice system is timely and relevant.

Originality/value

This study uniquely highlights school leaders’ perceptions and actions in a deeply embedded education market, and provides data about strategies and behaviours as they occurred.
Patient satisfaction with pharmaceutical care services provided at primary-level and secondary-level health facilities in Indonesia’s health coverage system
Authors: Larasanty Luh Putu Febryana , Cahyadi Maria Fiani , Sudarni Ni Made Rai , Wirasuta I Made Agus Gelgel
Published: January 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine patient expectation and perception of pharmaceutical care services in order to measure the level of patient satisfaction provided by Indonesia’s health coverage (IHC) system.

Design/methodology/approach

A patient satisfaction survey was conducted at primary-level and secondary-level health facilities operating under IHC system. The assessment was performed using a closed-ended questionnaire that had been tested for validity and reliability. The patients’ point of view was evaluated based on their expectation and perception of six dimensions of the pharmaceutical care services they had received. Patient satisfaction was calculated based on the gap between their expectation and their perception.

Findings

A total of 602 patients participated in this research. The levels of the patients’ expectation of the pharmaceutical care services provided at primary-level health facilities range from high (3.39) to very high (3.54), whereas at secondary-level health facilities, the range was from low (2.04) to very high (3.75). This indicates that patients have a higher expectation of the provided pharmaceutical care services compared to the actual experience of the healthcare services that they received, resulting in a low value in the measurement of patient satisfaction levels.

Originality/value

The high level of patient expectation is an opportunity for pharmacists at both primary-level and secondary-level health facilities to continue developing pharmaceutical care services. Improving drug information service, patient counseling and reducing patient waiting time can be good ways to increase patient satisfaction within pharmaceutical care services.
Brand equity in a tourism destination: a case study of domestic tourists in Hoi An city, Vietnam
Authors: Tran Vinh Trung , Nguyen Nguyen Phuc , Tran Phuong Thi Kim , Tran Tuan Nien , Huynh Thuan Thi Phuong
Published: January 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to propose and investigate the relationships among the components of brand equity, and examining the effects of these components on overall destination brand equity in Hoi An tourism destination, Vietnam, from the perspective of domestic tourists.

Design/methodology/approach

Questionnaire data were collected from 319 domestic tourists who have visited Hoi An city. The results of empirical tests using a structural equation model support the research hypotheses.

Findings

The results indicate that destination brand awareness has significant, positive effects on destination brand image and destination perceived quality; destination brand image has positive influences on destination perceived quality and destination brand loyalty; destination perceived quality has significant, positive impacts on destination brand loyalty; except for destination brand image, the remaining dimensions have positive and direct impacts on overall destination brand equity.

Originality/value

An integrated model of destination brand equity dimensions and overall destination brand equity was tested in a tourism city in the context of a developing economy. Moreover, relevant implications are provided for destination marketers as to how to improve destination brand equity in the tourism industry.
The functional significance of facultative hyperthermia varies with body size and phylogeny in birds
Authors: Gerson Alexander R. , McKechnie Andrew E. , Smit Ben , Whitfield Maxine C. , Smith Eric K. , Talbot William A. , McWhorter Todd J. , Wolf Blair O.
Published: January 2019

Facultative hyperthermia, the elevation of body temperature above normothermic levels, during heat exposure, importantly affects the water economy and heat balance of terrestrial endotherms. We currently lack a mechanistic understanding of the benefits hyperthermia provides for avian taxa.

Facultative hyperthermia has been proposed to minimize rates of water loss via three distinct mechanisms: M1) by maintaining body temperature (Tb) above environmental temperatures (Te), heat can be lost non‐evaporatively, saving water; M2) by minimizing the thermal gradient when Te > Tb, environmental heat gain and evaporative water loss rates are reduced; and M3) by storing heat via increases in Tb which reduces evaporative heat loss demands and conserves water.

Although individuals may benefit from all three mechanisms during heat exposure, the relative importance of each mechanism has not been quantified among species that differ in their body size, heat tolerance and mechanisms of evaporative heat dissipation.

We measured resting metabolism, evaporative water loss and real‐time Tb from 33 species of birds representing nine orders ranging in mass from 8 to 300 g and estimated the water savings associated with each proposed mechanism. We show that facultative hyperthermia varies in its benefits among species.

Small songbirds with comparatively low evaporative cooling capacities benefit most from (M1), and hyperthermia maintains a thermal gradient that allows non‐evaporative heat losses. Other species benefited most from (M2) minimizing evaporative losses via a reduced thermal gradient for heat gain at high Te. We found that (M3), heat storage, only improved the water economy of the sandgrouse, providing little benefit to other species.

We propose that differences in the frequency and magnitude of hyperthermia will drive taxon‐specific differences in temperature sensitivity of tissues and enzymes and that the evolution of thermoregulatory mechanisms of evaporative heat dissipation may contribute to differences in basal metabolic rate among avian orders.

Understanding the mechanistic basis of heat tolerance is essential to advance our understanding of the ecology of birds living in hot environments that are warming rapidly, where extreme heat events are already re‐structuring avian communities.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Evaluation of gastric residual volume in fasting diabetic patients using gastric ultrasound
Authors: Sabry Rabab , Hasanin Ahmed , Refaat Sherin , Abdel Raouf Sabah , Abdallah Ahmed S. , Helmy Nadia
Published: January 2019

Background

Diabetic patients are claimed to have high risk of delayed gastric emptying; however, the evidence concerning residual gastric volume in fasting diabetic patients is not consistent. The aim of this work is to evaluate residual gastric volume in fasting diabetic patients for elective surgery.

Methods

Fifty patients scheduled for elective surgery under general anaesthesia were included in the study. The study included 25 patients with at least 6‐year history of diabetes and 25 healthy controls. Gastric ultrasound was performed to measure antral cross‐sectional area in semi‐sitting and right lateral positions. Nasogastric tube was inserted after induction of anaesthesia to aspirate and calculate the volume of gastric contents. Both study groups were compared according to antral cross‐sectional area, residual gastric volume, risk of aspiration, in addition to demographic data.

Results

The diabetic group showed higher median (quartiles) antral cross‐sectional area (13.8 [9.5‐19.5] mm2 versus 8.8 [5.5‐10.5] mm2, P < 0.001), and higher calculated gastric residual volume, (177 [96‐275] mL versus 83 [50‐109] mL, P < 0.001) compared to the control group. The diabetic group also showed higher aspirated volume through the nasogastric tube compared to the control group (150 [85‐210] mL versus 75 [35‐87] mL, P < 0.001). The correlation was very good between calculated residual gastric volume using ultrasound measures and volume of aspirated gastric contents through nasogastric tube.

Conclusion

Patients with long standing diabetes showed higher residual gastric volume compared to healthy controls after fasting 8 hours for elective surgery.
The effect of knowledge, species aesthetic appeal, familiarity and conservation need on willingness to donate
Authors: Lundberg P. , Vainio A. , MacMillan D. C. , Smith R. J. , Veríssimo D. , Arponen A.
Published: January 2019

Environmental non‐governmental organizations (ENGOs) largely select flagship species for conservation marketing based on their aesthetic appeal. However, little is known about the fundraising effectiveness of this approach or how it compares to ecosystem conservation campaigns that use habitat types as flagships. By performing a willingness to donate (WTD) survey of potential online donors from Finland, we identified which motivations and donor characteristics influence their preferences for a range of different flagship species and ecosystems. Using the contingent valuation method and the payment card approach, we found the combined funding for eight mammal flagship species was 29% higher funding than for eight bird flagship species. Furthermore, the aesthetically more appealing species, as well as the species and ecosystems that are native to Finland, attracted the most funding. We then used ordinal logistic regression to identify the factors influencing a donor's WTD, finding that knowledge of biodiversity conservation and familiarity with the flagship was associated with an increased WTD to birds and ecosystems, and people with higher education levels had an increased WTD to ecosystems. Surprisingly, species aesthetic appeal was not related to an increased WTD, although “need of conservation” was, suggesting that highlighting the plight of these less appealing threatened species or ecosystems could raise money. Our results suggest that the factors driving donating to mammals, birds or ecosystems differ, and so underline the importance of considering the diverse motivations behind donation behaviour in fundraising campaigns. They also provide new evidence of the motivations of online donors, an under‐studied group who are likely to become an increasingly important source of conservation funding.
Insulin‐like factor 3, luteinizing hormone and testosterone in testicular cancer patients: effects of β‐hCG and cancer treatment
Authors: Steggink L. C. , van Beek A. P. , Boer H. , Meijer C. , Lubberts S. , Oosting S. F. , de Jong I. J. , van Ginkel R. J. , Lefrandt J. D. , Gietema J. A. , Nuver J.
Published: January 2019

Background

Primary hypogonadism (low testosterone and high luteinizing hormone, LH) is present in approximately 20% of testicular cancer (TC) survivors after orchidectomy with or without chemotherapy.

Objectives

We investigated insulin‐like factor 3 (INSL3), a novel marker of Leydig cell function, in TC patients.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed: (I) a cross‐sectional cohort of TC patients after orchidectomy with or without chemotherapy (1988–1999) at long‐term follow‐up (median 36 and 35 years of age at follow‐up, respectively) and healthy men of similar age; (II) a longitudinal cohort of chemotherapy‐treated TC patients (2000–2008), analyzed before and 1 year after chemotherapy (median 29 years of age at chemotherapy). INSL3, testosterone, and LH were compared between groups and over time and related to pre‐chemotherapy β‐hCG levels.

Results

In the cross‐sectional cohort, TC patients at median 7 years after orchidectomy and chemotherapy (n = 79) had higher LH (p < 0.001), lower testosterone (p = 0.001), but similar INSL3 as controls (n = 40). After orchidectomy only (n = 25), higher LH (p = 0.02), but no differences in testosterone or INSL3 were observed compared to controls. In the longitudinal cohort, patients with normal pre‐chemotherapy β‐hCG (≤5 mU/L, n = 35) had increased LH 1 year after chemotherapy compared to pre‐chemotherapy (p = 0.001), and no change in testosterone or INSL3. In contrast, patients with high β‐hCG pre‐chemotherapy (n = 42) had suppressed LH, markedly elevated testosterone, and low INSL3 at start of chemotherapy, with increased LH, decreased testosterone, and increased INSL3 1 year later (all p < 0.001).

Discussion

Changes in LH show that gonadal endocrine function is disturbed before chemotherapy, 1 year later, and at long‐term follow‐up in chemotherapy‐treated TC patients.

Conclusion

Pre‐chemotherapy, β‐hCG‐producing tumors affect the gonadal endocrine axis, demonstrated by increased testosterone and decreased LH. INSL3 did not uniformly follow the pattern of testosterone.
Genome‐wide DNA methylation profiling shows molecular heterogeneity of anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma
Authors: Nakamura Taishi , Fukuoka Kohei , Nakano Yoshiko , Yamasaki Kai , Matsushita Yuko , Yamashita Satoshi , Ikeda Junji , Udaka Naoko , Tanoshima Reo , Shiba Norio , Tateishi Kensuke , Yamanaka Shoji , Yamamoto Tetsuya , Hirato Junko , Ichimura Koichi
Published: January 2019

In the revised World Health Organization classification 2016, anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma (PXA) has been newly defined as a variant of the PXA entity. Furthermore, some anaplastic PXA were reported to have extremely poor prognosis which showed a type of pediatric glioblastoma (GBM) molecular profile. Recent integrated molecular classification for primary central nervous system tumors proposed some differences between histological and molecular features. Herein, in a genome‐wide molecular analysis, we show an extreme aggressive anaplastic PXA that resulted in a pediatric GBM molecular profile. A full implementation of the molecular approach is the key to predict prognosis and decide the treatment strategy for anaplastic PXA.
Parent experiences with paediatric allergy pathways in the West Midlands: A qualitative study
Authors: Diwakar Lavanya , Cummins Carole , Hackett Scott , Rees Martyn , Charles Lynette , Kerrigan Caroline , Creed Helen , Roberts Tracy
Published: January 2019

Background

The prevalence, severity and complexity of allergic diseases have been increasing steadily in the United Kingdom over the last few decades. Primary care physicians are often not adequately trained in allergy management while specialist services for allergy are scarce and heterogeneous. Services, therefore, have been unable to meet the rising demand. This is particularly true for paediatric allergy services in the United Kingdom.

Objective

To understand parent experiences with paediatric allergy pathways in the West Midlands (WM) region of the United Kingdom.

Methods

Parents of children aged between 0 and 16 years from the WM region were recruited opportunistically until thematic saturation was achieved. Eighteen semi‐structured interviews were carried out and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed on NVivo software using the framework method. Themes were identified from the transcripts as well as from existing literature.

Results

Parents highlighted numerous issues related to allergy services in the region including difficulties with being taken seriously by their physicians, problems with accessing health care and issues with information and the need for additional supportive care for allergies.

Conclusions and Clinical relevance

Primary care for children with allergies in the WM is disparate. Parents experience difficulties in accessing primary and secondary care services and also obtaining timely and appropriate information regarding their child's allergies. Most parents were happy to be reviewed by either specialist nurses or by consultants in the hospital. Improving accessibility and availability of reliable information as well as provision of additional services (such as psychologists and dietetics) were highlighted by parents as being important to allergy services in the region. These findings can help inform future planning and commissioning of allergy services.
Kawasaki syndrome: immunomodulatory benefit and potential toxin neutralization by intravenous immune globulin
Authors: Leung D Y M
Published: January 2019

Kawasaki Syndrome (KS) is an acute multi-system vasculitis of infancy and early childhood associated with the development of coronary artery abnormalities. The prevalence of cardiovascular abnormalities can be significantly reduced by treating patients during the first 10 days of illness with high-dose intravenous immune globulin (IVIG). Despite the widely held belief that KS is caused by an infectious agent, the aetiology of this illness remains controversial. Recent immunological and microbiological studies suggest a potential role for staphylococcal and streptocococcal toxins (superantigens) in the pathogenesis of KS. Confirmation of these findings could result in more effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for the treatment of this common cause of acquired heart disease in children.
Sigmoid resection for diverticular disease – to ligate or to preserve the inferior mesenteric artery? Results of a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Cirocchi R. , Popivanov G. , Binda G. A. , Henry B. M. , Tomaszewski K. A. , Davies R. J. , Di Saverio S.
Published: January 2019

Aim

In colorectal cancer, ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) is a standard surgical approach. In contrast, ligation of the IMA is not mandatory during treatment of diverticular disease. The object of this meta‐analysis was to assess if preservation of the IMA reduces the risk of anastomotic leakage.

Method

A search was performed up to August 2018 using the following electronic databases: MEDLINE/PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge and Scopus. The measures of treatment effect utilized risk ratios for dichotomous variables with calculation of the 95% CI. Data analysis was performed using the meta‐analysis software Review Manager 5.3.

Results

Eight studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta‐analysis: two randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and six non‐RCTs with 2190 patients (IMA preservation 1353, ligation 837). The rate of anastomotic leakage was higher in the IMA ligation group (6%) than the IMA preservation group (2.4%), but this difference was not statistically significant [risk ratio (RR) 0.59, 95% CI 0.26–1.33, I2 = 55%]. The conversion to laparotomy was significantly lower in the IMA ligation group (5.1%) than in the IMA preservation group (9%) (RR 1.74, 95% CI 1.14–2.65, I2 = 0%). Regarding the other outcomes (anastomotic bleeding, bowel injury and splenic damage), no significant differences between the two techniques were observed.

Conclusion

This meta‐analysis failed to demonstrate a statistically significant difference in the anastomotic leakage rate when comparing IMA preservation with IMA ligation. Thus, to date there is insufficient evidence to recommend the IMA‐preserving technique as mandatory in resection for left‐sided colonic diverticular disease.