bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
What drives social integration in the domain of social network sites?
Authors: Sánchez-Franco Manuel J. , Buitrago-Esquinas Eva María , Yñiguez-Ovando Rocío
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is twofold. First, the study aims to investigate the effects of personal innovativeness and familiarity on social integration in the domain of social network site (SNS) innovation. Second, the study seeks to examine the influences of satisfaction and trust on social integration.

Design/methodology/approach

– Structural equation modelling is proposed to assess the relationships between the constructs, along with the predictive power of the model.

Findings

– The results demonstrate that increasing satisfaction, trust, and familiarity and assisting members’ personal innovativeness are important initiatives that promote social integration, reduce competition between my SNS and others, and consequently, inhibit opportunistic behaviour.

Research limitations/implications

– The model does not include all the relevant variables. The sample is not random and thus it is not necessarily representative of the population.

Practical implications

– Managers must take familiarity and innovativeness into account to customise their social strategies in order to ensure enduring enthusiasm for SNSs. Likewise, fostering members’ satisfaction through more gratifying and easier interactions is an effective strategy to promote social integration. Furthermore, SNSs should prioritise their initiatives for enhancing perceived control by making clear rules and management procedures available, as well as the required legal aspects and seals of approval that will increase levels of trust.

Originality/value

– A review of the literature reveals that very few studies analyse the effects of personal differences and relationship quality on social integration. This work therefore improves the explanatory power of existing theoretical frameworks.
The networked cultural diffusion of Korean wave
Authors: Xu Weiai Wayne , Park Ji Young , Park Han Woo
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the diffusion of a popular Korean music video on the video-sharing web site YouTube. It applies a webometric approach in the diffusion of innovations framework to study three elements of diffusion in a Web 2.0 environment: users, user-to-user relationship and user-generated comment.

Design/methodology/approach

– The webometric approach combines profile analyses, social network analyses, semantic and sentiment analyses.

Findings

– The results show that male users in the US played a dominant role in the early-stage diffusion. The dominant users represented the innovators and early adopters in the evaluation stage of the diffusion, and they engaged in continuous discussions about the cultural origin of the video and expressed criticisms. Overall, the discussion between users varied according to their gender, age, and cultural background. Specifically, male users were more interactive than female users, and users in countries culturally similar to Korea were more likely to express favourable attitudes toward the video.

Originality/value

– The study provides a webometric approach to examine the Web 2.0-based social system in the early-stage global diffusion of cultural offerings. This approach connects the diffusion of innovations framework to the new context of Web 2.0-based diffusion.
What’s App: a social capital perspective
Authors: Aharony Noa
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– Based on the premises of Putnam’s bridging social capital, and on Ellison, Steinfield and Lampe’s notion of maintained social capital, the purpose of this paper is to explore the extent to which the well-being variables of self-esteem and loneliness, as well as What’s App attitudes and intention to use variables, explain the social capital students gain from What’s App use.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research was conducted in Israel during the second semester of the 2014 academic year and included 124 students from two major universities in Israel. Researchers used six questionnaires to gather data.

Findings

– Findings confirm that the well-being variables, as well as What’s App attitudes and intention to use, affect the social capital students gain while using What’s App.

Originality/value

– The findings of this study shed light on a new technological platform: What’s App that has rarely been examined to date. In addition, it expands the social capital and well-being perspectives to new media.
Sustainability measures: a stakeholder focus beyond shareholders
Authors: Tetrault Sirsly Carol-Ann
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provoke a reflection on how sustainability may be measured to predict future performance to inform diverse stakeholders in their assessment of organizations.

Design/methodology/approach

– Conceptual.

Findings

– Propositions have been developed for considerations in elaborating future measures.

Originality/value

– A rigorous examination of the pertinence of current sustainability measures and assumptions has been carried out to provide a foundation for the future development of forward-looking sustainability measures. Integration of stakeholder management capabilities and environmental, social and governance measures to support sustainable business development strategies.
Corrupting activities and economic development
Authors: Anderson Beverlee B.
Published: February 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationships of different types of corruption and selected economic measures that appear to contribute to a country’s sustainable economic development.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research used selected data from the World Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey on corruption activities (Irregular Payments and Bribes, the Diversion of Public Funds, Organised Crime, and Favouritism in Decisions of Government Officials) and Ethical Behaviour of Firms. The economic data (FDI, GDP, GDP Growth and Capital Formation among others) is from the World Bank database. A series of statistical models were developed to examine the relationships among different types of corruption and a country’s economic development.

Findings

– The findings are mixed, showing that some types of corruption have greater negative impact on specific aspects of economic development.

Research limitations/implications

– The research is limited by the availability of data from reliable sources and the availability of data on a limited number of corruption activities. Only four aspects of corruption are examined in this paper. Only selected aspects of a country’s economy were examined. The variables analysed in the study were not available for each of the 179 countries.

Practical implications

– A country may learn the types of corrupting activities that must be controlled to aid in the targeted growth of specific economic development, such as Direct Foreign Investment.

Originality/value

– This study builds on previous work by Anderson (2012, 2013) that used Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) as a global measure of corruption. This study, in contrast, uses the results of the World Economic Forum Executive Opinion Survey, to indicate the perceived level of different types (components) of corruption. By using more specific measure of corruption, there is a better understanding of the relationships between corruption and economic development.
Constructing the meaning of ultrasound viewing in abortion care
Authors: Kimport Katrina , Weitz Tracy A.
Published: February 2015

As ultrasound scanning becomes increasingly routine in abortion care, scholars and activists have forwarded claims about how viewing the ultrasound image will affect pregnant women seeking abortion, speculating that it will dissuade them from abortion. These accounts, however, fail to appreciate how viewing is a social process. Little research has investigated how ultrasound workers navigate viewing in abortion care. We draw on interviews with twenty‐six ultrasound workers in abortion care for their impressions and practices around ultrasound viewing. Respondents reported few experiences of viewing dissuading women from abortion, but did report that it had an emotional effect on patients that they believed was associated with gestational age. These impressions informed their practices, leading many to manage patient viewing based on the patient's gestational age. Other aspects of their accounts, however, undercut the assertion that the meaning of ultrasound images is associated with gestation and show the pervasiveness of cultural ideas associating developing foetal personhood with increasing gestational age. Findings demonstrate the social construction of ultrasound viewing, with implications in the ongoing contestation over abortion rights in the US.
Pelvic organ prolapse and incontinence 15–23 years after first delivery: a cross‐sectional study
Authors: Volløyhaug I , Mørkved S , Salvesen Ø , Salvesen KÅ
Published: February 2015

Objective

To study the association between pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) and mode of delivery and to calculate the risks of PFD comparing caesarean delivery and operative vaginal delivery to normal vaginal delivery 15–23 years after childbirth. A subgroup analysis comparing forceps and vacuum delivery was planned.

Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Postal questionnaire.

Population

1641 (53%) of 3115 women who delivered their first child in Trondheim, Norway, between January 1990 and December 1997.

Methods

A questionnaire including questions on symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse, urinary and fecal incontinence and surgery for these conditions.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of PFD measured by symptomatic pelvic organ prolapse or surgery (sPOP), urinary incontinence or surgery (UI) and fecal incontinence or surgery (FI).

Results

When caesarean delivery was compared to normal vaginal delivery the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for sPOP was 0.42 (95% confidence interval, CI, 0.21–0.86) and the aOR for UI was 0.65 (95% CI 0.46–0.92). Operative vaginal delivery was associated with increased risk of sPOP (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.21–2.48) and FI (aOR 1.96, 95% CI 1.26–3.06) when compared with normal vaginal delivery. There were no differences in sPOP, UI or FI in a subgroup analysis comparing forceps and vacuum delivery.

Conclusions

Caesarean delivery was associated with decreased risk and operative vaginal delivery with increased risk of pelvic floor dysfunction 15–23 years after first delivery, but there were no differences between forceps and vacuum delivery.
The Long and the Short of Household Formation
Authors: Paciorek* Andrew
Published: February 2015

Household formation has been running well below trend in the United States. This article studies the determinants of household formation and how they evolve over the long and short runs. There are three main findings. First, the aging of the population has pushed up the headship rate and household formation. Second, after stripping out demographic effects, offsetting changes in behavior among younger and older adults have left the behavioral component of the headship rate with no pronounced trend. Finally, the short‐run dynamics of headship reflect the business cycle, implying that household formation could increase substantially as the labor market recovers.
Geography and Global Change Science: Relationships Necessary, Absent, and Possible
Authors: CASTREE NOEL
Published: February 2015

Initiated by geoscientists, the growing debate about the Anthropocene, ‘planetary boundaries’ and global ‘tipping points’ is a significant opportunity for geographers to reconfigure two things: one is the internal relationships among their discipline's many and varied perspectives (topical, philosophical, and methodological) on the real; the other the discipline's actual and perceived contributions to important issues in the wider society. Yet, without concerted effort and struggle, the opportunity is likely to be used in a ‘safe’ and rather predictable way by only a sub‐set of human‐environment geographers. The socio‐environmental challenges of a post‐Holocene world invite old narratives about Geography's holistic intellectual contributions to be reprised in the present. These narratives speak well to many geoscientists, social scientists, and decision‐makers outside Geography. However, they risk perpetuating an emaciated conception of reality wherein Earth systems and social systems are seen as knowable and manageable if the ‘right’ ensemble of expertise is achieved. I argue that we need to get out from under the shadow of these long‐standing narratives. Using suggestive examples, I make the case for forms of inquiry across the human‐physical ‘divide’ that eschew ontological monism and that serve to reveal the many legitimate cognitive, moral, and aesthetic framings of Earth present and future. Geography is unusual in that the potential for these forms of inquiry to become normalised is high compared with other subjects. This potential will only be taken advantage of if certain human‐environment geographers unaccustomed to engaging the world of geoscience and environmental policy change their modus operandi.
Mobile Adaptation and Sticky Experiments: Circulating Best Practices and Lessons Learned in Climate Change Adaptation
Authors: WEBBER SOPHIE
Published: February 2015

This article engages with the recent geographical literature on policy mobilities in order to examine how the World Bank mobilizes climate change adaptation 'best practices'. Drawing from the relational case study of the Kiribati Adaptation Project and the Community Resilience to Climate Change and Disaster Risk in Solomon Islands Project, the article explores the complex and intensive work required for mobilizing lessons and practices. The analytical work required in building the Kiribati Adaptation Project as a World Bank success story and policy model worthy of replication in new sites is demonstrated. However, heeding calls within the policy mobilities literature to avoid fetishizing mobility and attending to the contradictions between global flows and local institutional specificity, the article finds limited evidence of replication in noted sites of emulation. Instead, there is compulsive citation, publication, and circulation of experiences and successes within the World Bank, which operates to build internal and external legitimacy.
Two new species of horse flies in the genera Caenoprosopon and Pseudotabanus (Diptera: Tabanidae) from a remnant coastal rainforest in southern New South Wales
Authors: Ferguson David J , Yeates David K
Published: February 2015

Two new species of horse flies, one in the genus Caenoprosopon Ricardo and one in the genus Pseudotabanus Ricardo, are described from a temperate rainforest on the far south coast of New South Wales. Caenoprosopon niger sp. nov. and P. mackerrasi sp. nov. are diagnosed and illustrated. Revised keys to the species of Caenoprosopon, and the species of the P. distincta species‐group, are provided.
Using morphometrics to quantitatively differentiate African wild dog footprints from domestic dog footprints – a pilot study
Authors: Scharis Inger , Rasmussen Gregory S. A. , Laska Matthias
Published: February 2015

Reliable population estimation and species inventories are important for wildlife conservation, but such estimations are often difficult due to unreliable identification of the species in question. Furthermore, for predator conflict resolution, it is essential to be able to reliably identify the predator. This study presents a new method to quantitatively distinguish African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) footprints from feral domestic dog (Canis lupus familiaris) footprints. Footprint photographs were digitally processed using Photoshop and the NIH image processing software ImageJ, and total pad area and angles between the centroids of the backpad and the digits of the paw were measured. Pad angles showed statistically significant differences between the two species and, with the exception that there was no significant difference in pad area between African wild dog females and domestic dog males, total pad areas were also diagnostic. Consequently, the combination of total pad area and the angle between backpad and digits are useful discriminators to reliably identify the species from an unknown footprint.
Review article: cytomegalovirus and inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Sager K. , Alam S. , Bond A. , Chinnappan L. , Probert C. S.
Published: February 2015

Background

The association between ulcerative colitis and cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been recognised for over 50 years; and the role of CMV in ulcerative colitis in general, and steroid resistance in particular, remains a topic of ongoing controversy. The outcome for patients with CMV reactivation appears worse than that for patients without reactivation, but it is not entirely clear whether CMV is a contributor or a bystander and if treatment with anti‐virals alters the course of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Aim

To review the role of CMV associated with IBD, including epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and management strategies.

Methods

By reviewing literature available on CMV associated with IBD in adult patients. A PubMed literature search was performed using the following terms individually or in combination: CMV colitis, cytomegalovirus colitis, IBD and CMV, CMV treatment.

Results

Cytomegalovirus reactivation is common in patients with severe colitis, with a reported prevalence of 4.5–16.6%, and as high as 25% in patients requiring colectomy for severe colitis. The outcome for this group of patients appears worse than that for patients without reactivation; however, reported remission rates following treatment with anti‐viral therapy are as high as 71–86%.

Conclusions

Evidence, although not conclusive, supports testing for CMV colonic disease in cases of moderate to severe colitis, by processing biopsies for haematoxylin and eosin staining with immunohistochemistry and/or, CMV DNA real‐time polymerase chain reaction; and if present treating with ganciclovir.
A channel evolution model to guide sustainable urban stream restoration
Authors: Booth Derek B , Fischenich Craig J
Published: February 2015

Channel evolution models (CEMs) are used to structure the interpretation of observed channel morphology to support long‐term restoration of these systems. However, channels reflect the variety of their watersheds' climatological, ecological and physiographic contexts, and so no single CEM can be truly ‘global’. Unrecognised differences between the assumptions and the reality of evolutionary trajectories of particular streams can subsequently lead to restoration actions that neither fully achieve their intended objectives nor successfully self‐maintain even limited improvements. Despite the daunting variety of biophysical settings, however, urbanisation imposes distinctive, homogenising influences on virtually all watercourses, suggesting that even a relatively small set of evolutionary pathways can embrace much of the diversity of critical watershed drivers on urban channels. CEMs describing single‐thread channel response to incision are most common in the published literature, but not every urban disturbance yields this classic sequence, initiated by excess transport capacity followed by incision, bank erosion, widening and ultimately a lowered re‐equilibrated channel. A comprehensive urban CEM must also include responses under less common (but locally ubiquitous) conditions, such as excess sediment relative to transport capacity (the ‘inverse’ of the classic CEM), imposed constraints on vertical and/or lateral adjustment, and multi‐thread channels or those influenced by instream or riparian vegetation. An urban CEM also requires a hierarchical framework that acknowledges fundamental differences in the process drivers within any given watershed, because a single observation of channel form can rarely pinpoint the context or evolutionary trajectory of every stream. We present a geomorphic framework for diagnosing and predicting the evolution of urban streams, potentially guiding the selection of restoration targets that are achievable within an urban context and sustainable without ongoing maintenance.
Ontogenetic integration between force production and force reception: a case study inCtenomys(Rodentia: Caviomorpha)
Authors: Vassallo Aldo I. , Becerra Federico , Echeverría Alejandra I. , Casinos Adriá
Published: February 2015

During ontogeny, complex adaptations undergo changes that sometimes entail different functional capabilities. This fact constrains the behaviour of organisms at each developmental stage. Rodents have ever‐growing incisors for gnawing, and a powerful jaw musculature. The incisors are long enough, relative to their diameter, to be affected by bending stresses. This is particularly true in the subterraneanCtenomysthat uses its incisors for digging. We measured bite force (BF) in individuals of different ages using a force transducer. We estimated incisor section modulusZ, a geometrical parameter proportional to bending strength. A relative strength indicator was calculated asS = Z/BFincisor length. We found that ontogeneticBFscales to body mass with positive allometry. However, ananovashowed non‐significant differences inS, neither between sexes nor among age classes. This result implies that during growth, incisors might have a rather similar ability to withstand bending stresses from increasing masticatory forces, what may be considered evidence of ontogenetic integration of force production (by muscles) and force reception (by the incisors). This fact well correlates with the observation that pups and juveniles ofC. talarumincorporate solid foods shortly after birth, and they are able to dig burrows early in life.
Clinical and genetic data on Lafora disease patients of Serbian/Montenegrin origin
Authors: Kecmanović M. , Jović N. , Keckarević‐Marković M. , Keckarević D. , Stevanović G. , Ignjatović P. , Romac S.
Published: February 2015

Lafora disease (LD) is an autosomal recessive, progressive disorder characterized by myoclonus and seizures, inexorable neurologic deterioration, cognitive decline and poor prognosis. LD is caused by mutations either in the EPM2A or in NHLRC1 genes. Here we report clinical and genetic findings on 14 LD patients from 10 families of Serbian/Montenegrin origin. Molecular diagnostics was performed by sequencing the coding regions of the EPM2A and NHLRC1 genes. In addition, haplotype analysis of the chromosomes carrying the two most frequent mutations (c.1048‐1049delGA and deletion of the whole NHLRC1 gene) using eight different markers flanking the NHLRC1 gene was conducted. We identified one new mutation (c.1028T>C) along with the 3 previously reported mutations (c.1048‐1049delGA, c.990delG, deletion of the whole NHLRC1 gene), all of which were located on the NHLRC1 gene. The two predominant mutations (c.1048‐1049delGA and complete NHLRC1 gene deletion) appear to be founder mutations. In addition to documenting the genetic heterogeneity observed for LD, our study suggests that mutations in the NHLRC1 gene may be a common cause of LD in the Serbian/Montenegrin population, primarily because of a founder effect.
Urban Fads and Consensual Fictions: Creative, Sustainable, and Competitive City Policies in Buenos Aires
Authors: Lederman Jacob
Published: February 2015

Scholarship in urban sociology has pointed to the reliance of city governments on ever–more market mechanisms for organizing social and economic policy. This form of governance involves prioritizing cities’ cultural and social assets for their value in a global competition of urban “brands,” each competing for new infusions of human and investment capital. At the same time, however, cities have been at the center of seemingly progressive policy efforts aimed at promoting innovation, sustainability, and creativity. These themes represent a newly dominant planning discourse in cities across the globe. While researchers have thoroughly examined how “creative classes” and “creative cities” may exclude everyday, working–class, or poor residents, new urban imaginaries focused on sustainability potentially imply less stratified urban outcomes. Analyzing two high–profile interventions in Buenos Aires, Argentina—a sustainable urban regeneration plan for the historic downtown, and the creation of an arts cluster in the impoverished south of the city—this paper argues that despite divergent narratives, creative and sustainable urban projects suggest similar policy agendas, planning assumptions, and relationships to market mechanisms. Increasingly, global policies, whose design and objectives may appear to contradict market logics, may have outcomes that further them.
Transcrestal maxillary sinus augmentation: Summers' versus a piezoelectric technique – an experimental cadaver study
Authors: Kühl S. , Kirmeier R. , Platzer S. , Bianco N. , Jakse N. , Payer M.
Published: February 2015

Objectives

Sinus floor augmentation using transalveolar techniques is a successful and predictable procedure. The aim of the study was to compare the performance of conventional hand instruments using mallets and osteotomes with that of piezoelectric–hydrodynamic devices for maxillary sinus floor elevation.

Material and methods

In 17 undamaged cadaver heads on randomly allocated sites, Schneiderian membrane elevation was carried out transcrestally using piezosurgery and a hydrodynamic device or by conventional hand instrumentation. After simulation of sinus augmentation by the use of a radiopaque impression material, a post‐operative CT scan was carried out and volumes were determined. Statistic significant differences between the two methods were evaluated by nonparametric Mann–Whitney U‐test with P < 0.05.

Results

A mean graft volume of 0.29 ± 0.18 cm3 (0.07–0.60 cm3) was measured for the Summers' technique compared to 0.39 ± 0.32 cm3 (0.05–1.04 cm3) for the Sinus Physiolift® technique. There is no statistically significant difference with regard to trauma to the Schneiderian membrane or augmented volume.

Conclusions

Both techniques generate expedient augmentation volume in the posterior atrophic maxilla. The piezoelectric technique can be recommended as an alternative tool to graft the floor of human maxillary sinuses.
Postoperative changes in telemetry measurements after cochlear implantation and its impact on early activation
Authors: Wolf‐Magele A. , Schnabl J. , Edlinger S. , Pok S.M. , Schoerg P. , Sprinzl G.M.
Published: February 2015

Introduction

Cochlear implantation is a clinically routine treatment for patients with severe sensorineural hearing loss for over 20 years. Up to now, the general recommendation for speech processor activation was 4 weeks after cochlear implantation. The aim of this study was to determine whether activation is possible at <4 weeks postop and to show the postoperative change in telemetry over time.

Material and methods

The study was retrospectively carried out at the Karl Landsteiner University Hospital St. Pölten, Austria. Patients who routinely received a CI between January and August 2013 were included in this study. Two weeks after the surgery clinical complications, the ability to wear the audio processor and the impedance values were analysed.

Results

Forty‐five patients were included in this study. Forty patients were examined at the first postoperative visit, scheduled 2 weeks after the surgery. In nine cases, a mild wound‐healing complication occurred; just in one patient, the activation could not carry out immediately. There were no statistically significant differences between the intraoperative, the 2‐ and 6‐week postop impedance measurements for each channel.

Discussion

We used the minimally invasive approach and soft implantation technique in all of our patients and believe this to have been a major reason that earlier activation was possible. With this technique, you can reduce the wound‐healing process, which makes it possible for the wound to heal fully and for the patient to wear the sound processor over the wound without problems. We found out that telemetry is not a predictor for the time of activation.

Conclusion

Based on the results in this study, an earlier activation can be recommended. This will shorten the time the patient needs to wait following cochlear implantation, and rehabilitation can begin sooner.
Progression of diabetic retinopathy after bariatric surgery
Authors: Murphy R. , Jiang Y. , Booth M. , Babor R. , MacCormick A. , Hammodat H. , Beban G. , Barnes R. M. , Vincent A. L.
Published: February 2015

Aim

To assess the impact of bariatric surgery on the progression of diabetic retinopathy in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Method

We conducted a retrospective, observational study of patients with Type 2 diabetes who underwent bariatric surgery between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2012 and had hospital‐based retinal screening records. Data were collected from four surgical centres. Those who had pre‐operative retinal screening and at least one post‐operative retinal screen were eligible for analysis. A generalized linear mixed model was used to explore significant clinical predictors on the post‐operative grade severity over time, controlling for important baseline characteristics.

Results

Three hundred and eighteen patients were eligible for analysis. Of these, 68.6% had no diabetic retinopathy pre‐operatively compared with 18.9%, 8.5% and 4% with a diabetic retinopathy grade of minimal, mild or moderate and higher, respectively. First post‐operative retinal screening results showed that after surgery 73% had no change in their diabetic retinopathy grade, 11% regressed and 16% progressed. The probability of having a diabetic retinopathy grade of moderate or higher over time post surgery was significantly associated with the magnitude of HbA1c reduction from pre‐surgery HbA1c levels, a shorter post‐operative retinal screening duration, more severe pre‐operative retinal screening grade, male gender and non‐Maori/Pacific ethnicity.

Conclusions

A higher pre‐operative diabetic retinopathy grade, and a large decrease in HbA1c post surgery warrant closer monitoring of diabetic retinopathy after bariatric surgery. Further prospective, randomized studies are required to investigate the gender and ethnic differences found.
Exploring the predictability of soil texture and organic matter content with a commercial integrated soil profiling tool
Authors: Wetterlind J. , Piikki K. , Stenberg B. , Söderström M.
Published: February 2015

In soil mapping, combining information from conceptually different proximal soil sensors can increase the accuracy of prediction and robustness of the model when compared with using individual sensors. In this study the predictability of soil texture (clay, silt and sand fractions) and soil organic matter (SOM) content was tested with a commercial integrated soil profiling tool that included sensors for measuring apparent electrical conductivity (ECa), reflectance in the visible and near‐infrared (vis‐NIR) parts of the electromagnetic spectrum and insertion force (IF). The measurements were made at 20 locations on each of two Swedish farms. At every location, sensor measurements were made at 1.5‐cm intervals from the soil surface to a depth of 0.8 m. Soil samples were collected close to the sensor measurement points and analysed for texture and SOM content. Farm‐specific calibrations were developed for texture and SOM with each sensor separately and with combinations of all three sensors. The calibrations were made using both partial least squares regression (PLSR) and simple linear regression. The results for the two farms were quite consistent in terms of rank in prediction performance between the individual sensors and the sensor combinations. The vis‐NIR spectrometer was the best individual sensor for predicting the soil properties tested on both farms, with root mean square error of cross‐validation (RMSECV) of 0.3–0.5% for SOM, about 6% for clay and silt and 10–11% for sand. The inclusion of IF reduced the RMSECV for predictions of SOM content by about 10%. For soil texture, including ECa reduced the RMSECV on average for all particle size fractions by 5–10%. However, the small improvements obtained by combining sensors do not provide strong support for combining vis‐NIR sensor measurements with measurements of ECa and or IF.
Short‐term effect of strontium‐ and zinc‐containing toothpastes and mouthrinses on volatile sulphur compounds in morning breath: a randomized, double‐blind, cross‐over clinical study
Authors: Soares Léo G. , Jonski Grazyna , Tinoco Eduardo M. B. , Young Alix
Published: February 2015

Zinc (Zn) reduces the formation of volatile sulphur compounds (VSCs) associated with oral malodour. Although strontium (Sr) is included in some products for reducing dental hypersensitivity, it may also have anti‐halitosis properties. This randomized, double‐blind, cross‐over clinical study compared the anti‐VSC effect of brushing with commercial toothpastes and rinses containing Zn and Sr. The volunteers (n = 30) either brushed/rinsed with/without tongue brushing using Zn‐containing toothpaste/rinse, Sr‐containing toothpaste/rinse, or placebo (control). Volatile sulphur compounds [hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and methyl mercaptan (CH3SH)] were measured, in morning breath, using gas chromatography. The anti‐VSC effects of the test toothpastes and test rinses were significantly better than the anti‐VSC effects of the respective controls. Toothbrushing with test toothpastes gave median reductions, compared with the control, of 70% for H2S and 55–57% for CH3SH. Rinsing with the Sr‐ and Zn‐containing solutions had the same anti‐VSC effect as toothbrushing and tooth‐ and tongue brushing with the Sr‐ and Zn‐containing toothpastes. Zinc‐containing rinse resulted in a significantly higher median salivary level of Zn compared with brushing with Zn‐containing toothpaste, although this effect did not correlate with the anti‐VSC effect. It can be concluded that the Sr‐ and Zn‐containing toothpastes and the Zn‐ and Sr‐containing rinses, when used in the evening, are equally effective in reducing morning‐breath VSCs the following day.
Fracture resistance of computer‐aided design/computer‐aided manufacturing‐generated composite resin‐based molar crowns
Authors: Harada Akio , Nakamura Keisuke , Kanno Taro , Inagaki Ryoichi , Örtengren Ulf , Niwano Yoshimi , Sasaki Keiichi , Egusa Hiroshi
Published: February 2015

The aim of this study was to investigate whether different fabrication processes, such as the computer‐aided design/computer‐aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) system or the manual build‐up technique, affect the fracture resistance of composite resin‐based crowns. Lava Ultimate (LU), Estenia C&B (EC&B), and lithium disilicate glass‐ceramic IPS e.max press (EMP) were used. Four types of molar crowns were fabricated: CAD/CAM‐generated composite resin‐based crowns (LU crowns); manually built‐up monolayer composite resin‐based crowns (EC&B‐monolayer crowns); manually built‐up layered composite resin‐based crowns (EC&B‐layered crowns); and EMP crowns. Each type of crown was cemented to dies and the fracture resistance was tested. EC&B‐layered crowns showed significantly lower fracture resistance compared with LU and EMP crowns, although there was no significant difference in flexural strength or fracture toughness between LU and EC&B materials. Micro‐computed tomography and fractographic analysis showed that decreased strength probably resulted from internal voids in the EC&B‐layered crowns introduced by the layering process. There was no significant difference in fracture resistance among LU, EC&B‐monolayer, and EMP crowns. Both types of composite resin‐based crowns showed fracture loads of >2000 N, which is higher than the molar bite force. Therefore, CAD/CAM‐generated crowns, without internal defects, may be applied to molar regions with sufficient fracture resistance.
Animal research as a basis for clinical trials
Authors: Faggion Clovis M.
Published: February 2015

Animal experiments are critical for the development of new human therapeutics because they provide mechanistic information, as well as important information on efficacy and safety. Some evidence suggests that authors of animal research in dentistry do not observe important methodological issues when planning animal experiments, for example sample‐size calculation. Low‐quality animal research directly interferes with development of the research process in which multiple levels of research are interconnected. For example, high‐quality animal experiments generate sound information for the further planning and development of randomized controlled trials in humans. These randomized controlled trials are the main source for the development of systematic reviews and meta‐analyses, which will generate the best evidence for the development of clinical guidelines. Therefore, adequate planning of animal research is a sine qua non condition for increasing efficacy and efficiency in research. Ethical concerns arise when animal research is not performed with high standards. This Focus article presents the latest information on the standards of animal research in dentistry, more precisely in the field of implant dentistry. Issues on precision and risk of bias are discussed, and strategies to reduce risk of bias in animal research are reported.
Experimental evolution reveals high insecticide tolerance in Daphnia inhabiting farmland ponds
Authors: Jansen Mieke , Coors Anja , Vanoverbeke Joost , Schepens Melissa , De Voogt Pim , De Schamphelaere Karel A. C. , De Meester Luc
Published: February 2015

Exposure of nontarget populations to agricultural chemicals is an important aspect of global change. We quantified the capacity of natural Daphnia magna populations to locally adapt to insecticide exposure through a selection experiment involving carbaryl exposure and a control. Carbaryl tolerance after selection under carbaryl exposure did not increase significantly compared to the tolerance of the original field populations. However, there was evolution of a decreased tolerance in the control experimental populations compared to the original field populations. The magnitude of this decrease was positively correlated with land use intensity in the neighbourhood of the ponds from which the original populations were sampled. The genetic change in carbaryl tolerance in the control rather than in the carbaryl treatment suggests widespread selection for insecticide tolerance in the field associated with land use intensity and suggests that this evolution comes at a cost. Our data suggest a strong impact of current agricultural land use on nontarget natural Daphnia populations.
Fifty years of the asebia mouse: origins, insights and contemporary developments
Authors: Schneider Marlon R.
Published: February 2015

First described as an alopecic spontaneous mutant mouse line lacking sebaceous glands in a publication in Science in 1965 by Allen H. Gates and Marvin Karasek, asebia mice soon became a popular tool for rodent sebaceous gland research. In addition to the study of sebaceous lipids, the original asebia mice and subsequent allelic mutations were widely employed to examine the influence of the sebaceous gland on hair growth, epidermal proliferation, dermal inflammation and skin carcinogenesis, among other aspects. With the identification of Scd1 gene mutations as the genetic basis of the asebia phenotype and with the advent of more refined methods for manipulating the mouse genome, asebia mice progressively lost importance. However, they contributed to, or even provided the initial spark for, several current research topics. These include the role of the sebaceous gland in hair shaft–sheath interaction and its significance for cicatricial alopecia, and the antimicrobial activity of sebum. Furthermore, mice with skin‐specific deletion of SCD1, which have increased energy expenditure and are protected from high fat diet‐induced obesity, provided novel insights into the crosstalk between the skin and peripheral tissues in maintaining energy homeostasis. In briefly reviewing its story, this commentary pays tribute to asebia mice and to the original publication in its golden anniversary year.
Sex differentiation and sex determination in eels: consequences for management
Authors: Geffroy Benjamin , Bardonnet Agnès
Published: February 2015

The aim of this review is to present an overview of the sex differentiation and sex determination processes in eels in relation to the urgent need to provide scientific knowledge to better protect and manage the Anguilla genus. Indeed, the global decline of the three main temperate eel stocks, Anguilla anguilla, Anguillidae (Fisheries Management and Ecology, 2003, 10, 365); Anguilla japonica, Anguillidae (Casselman, Eel Biology, Springer Japan, 2003, 293) and Anguilla rostrata, Anguillidae (Tatsukawa, Eel Biology, Springer, Japan, 2003, 255), raises concerns about the necessity to better understand all stages of the life cycle of eels (Righton and Walker, Journal of Fish Biology, 2013, 83, 754). Little is known about the mechanisms involved in the production of males and females in this species with environmental sex determination. Previous reviews identifying the density of individuals as the major factor influencing sex determination were undertaken (Krueger and Oliveira, Environmental Biology of Fishes, 1999, 55, 381; Reviews in Fish Biology and Fisheries, 2005, 15, 37). Here, we review the current advances on the subject, focusing on the roles of early growth rate and interindividual relationships, which are mechanisms underpinned by density, as well as the sex differentiation process, and we question how this knowledge might influence global conservation measures.
Review of Family Relational Stress and Pediatric Asthma: The Value of Biopsychosocial Systemic Models
Authors: Wood Beatrice L. , Miller Bruce D. , Lehman Heather K.
Published: February 2015

Asthma is the most common chronic disease in children. Despite dramatic advances in pharmacological treatments, asthma remains a leading public health problem, especially in socially disadvantaged minority populations. Some experts believe that this health gap is due to the failure to address the impact of stress on the disease. Asthma is a complex disease that is influenced by multilevel factors, but the nature of these factors and their interrelations are not well understood. This paper aims to integrate social, psychological, and biological literatures on relations between family/parental stress and pediatric asthma, and to illustrate the utility of multilevel systemic models for guiding treatment and stimulating future research. We used electronic database searches and conducted an integrated analysis of selected epidemiological, longitudinal, and empirical studies. Evidence is substantial for the effects of family/parental stress on asthma mediated by both disease management and psychobiological stress pathways. However, integrative models containing specific pathways are scarce. We present two multilevel models, with supporting data, as potential prototypes for other such models. We conclude that these multilevel systems models may be of substantial heuristic value in organizing investigations of, and clinical approaches to, the complex social–biological aspects of family stress in pediatric asthma. However, additional systemic models are needed, and the models presented herein could serve as prototypes for model development.
Effects of oxide on fatigue crack growth behaviour of type 347 stainless steel in PWR water conditions
Authors: Min K.‐D. , Lee B.‐S. , Kim S.‐J.
Published: February 2015

The fatigue crack growth behaviour of type 347 stainless steel in pressurized water reactor (PWR) conditions was investigated at two different temperatures, 25 and 316 °C. The fatigue crack growth rate was slightly increased at the elevated temperature in air. In the simulated PWR water environment, the fatigue crack growth rate was changed in a rather complicated manner with a change of the dissolved oxygen (DO) content. The DO content did not significantly change the fatigue crack growth rate at 25 °C. With the lower oxygen content of 5 ppb, which is the practical limit of deoxygenated water, the fatigue crack growth rate was similar at both 25 and 316 °C. The fatigue crack growth rate was significantly decreased at 316 °C with the higher oxygen level of 100 ppb. Under 316 °C water conditions, oxides were observed on the fatigue crack surface where the size of oxide particles was about 0.2 µm at 5 ppb and about 1 µm at 100 ppb. The thickness of the oxide layers also increased with the increase of DO. Moreover, the ΔK threshold (ΔKth) also increased as the DO increased from 5 to 100 ppb. The dissolved hydrogen levels did not affect the measured crack growth rate at the given test conditions. The decrease of the fatigue crack growth rate with higher DO content is attributed to a crack closure resulting from the formation of larger oxides near the crack tip at a rather fast loading frequency of 10 Hz that was used in this study.
Total ankle replacement in patients with von Willebrand disease: mid‐term results of 18 procedures
Authors: Barg K. , Wiewiorski M. , Anderson A. E. , Schneider S. W. , Wimmer M. D. , Wirtz D. C. , Valderrabano V. , Barg A. , Pagenstert G.
Published: February 2015

von Willebrand disease (VWD) is a recognized cause of secondary ankle osteoarthritis (OA). Few studies have examined orthopaedic complications and outcomes in VWD patients treated for end‐stage ankle OA with total ankle replacement (TAR). To determine the clinical presentation, intraoperative and postoperative complications and evaluate the mid‐term outcome in VWD patients treated with TAR. Eighteen patients with VWD with mean age 47.3 years (range = 34.0–68.7) were treated for end‐stage ankle OA with TAR. The mean duration of follow‐up was 7.5 years (range = 2.9–13.2). Intraoperative and perioperative complications were recorded. Component stability was assessed with weight‐bearing radiographs. Clinical evaluation included range of motion (ROM) tests using a goniometer and under fluoroscopy using a lateral view. Clinical outcomes were analysed by a visual analogue scale, the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society hindfoot score and Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF‐36) health survey. One patient sustained an intraoperative medial malleolar fracture. In two patients delayed wound healing was observed. Two secondary major surgeries were performed. Pain level decreased from 8.2 ± 0.9 (range = 7–10) preoperatively to 1.1 ± 1.2 (range = 0–4) postoperatively. Significant functional improvement including ROM was observed. All categories of SF‐36 score showed significant improvement in quality of life. Mid‐term results of TAR in patients with VWD are encouraging. The total rate of intraoperative and postoperative complications was 33.3%. However, longer term outcomes are necessary to fully understand the clinical benefit of TAR in patients with VWD.