bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The state’s position in international agricultural commodity trade
Authors: Cai Hongbo , Song Yuanyuan
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to apply an analysis of complex networks to empirically research international agricultural commodity trade and countries’ trading relations. The structure of global agricultural commodity trade is quantitatively described and analysed.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on statistical physics and graph theory, the research paradigm of a complex network, which has sprung up in the last decade, provides us with new global perspective to discuss the topic of international trade, especially agricultural commodity trade. In this paper, the authors engage in the issue of countries’ positions in international agricultural commodity trade using the latest complex network theories. The authors at first time introduce the improved bootstrap percolation to simulate cascading influences following the breaking down of bilateral agricultural commodity trade relations.

Findings

On a mid-level structure, countries are classified into three communities that reflect the structure of the “core/periphery” using the weighted extremal optimisation algorithm and the coarse graining process. On a micro-level, countries’ rankings are provided with the aid of network’s node centralities, which presents world agricultural commodity trade as a closed, imbalanced, diversified and multi-polar development.

Originality/value

The authors at first time introduce the improved bootstrap percolation to simulate cascading influences following the breaking down of bilateral agricultural commodity trade relations.
Convergence and mobility of rural household income in China
Authors: Li Shi , Cheong Tsun Se
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study convergence and income mobility of China’s rural households.

Design/methodology/approach

The data of rural household income per capita are employed to compute the transitional dynamics in the rural sector. The analyses are conducted at two spatial levels, namely, the national and provincial levels. Ergodic distributions are computed to provide a forecast of future income distributions, whereas Mobility Probability Plots are constructed to offer detailed information on the transitional dynamics.

Findings

The income distributions are found to have considerable persistence. Another finding is that most of the households (except the extremely low-income households) have a tendency of moving downwards in the income distribution though they are more likely to remain in the same levels of relative income because of their high persistence. Convergence to a unimodal income distribution is possible in the long run, however, the households will converge to a value which is far below China’s per capita gross domestic product.

Research limitations/implications

Since a lot of the rural households would congregate to the lower part of the income distribution if the transitional dynamics remain unchanged, therefore, it calls for government intervention.

Practical implications

More resources should be diverted to the rural sector.

Social implications

The finding also shows that the provinces have very different transitional dynamics even if they are situated in the same economic zone. Thus, the government should formulate province-specific development polices so as to promote greater equality.

Originality/value

Given that no recent research has been conducted on convergence and transitional dynamics of rural household income. Therefore, this paper attempts to fill the gap in the literature by investigating the pattern and future development of rural household income in China through the use of stochastic kernel approach.
Realizing targeted poverty alleviation in China
Authors: Li Yuheng , Su Baozhong , Liu Yansui
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The Chinese Government initiates the targeted poverty alleviation strategy to lift 70.17 million population out of poverty in five years time until 2020. The purpose of this paper is to investigate how the targeted poverty alleviation policy was implemented. The investigation focusses on the people’s voices, implementation challenges and implications for policy making and improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

A nationwide survey covering 2,075 households in 22 impoverished counties of 13 provinces was carried out in August, 2015, providing rich statistics and evidence for the paper. Literature review of China’s poverty alleviation history is also made to lay a research basis for the study.

Findings

There are diverse needs of the impoverished households of different ages and different poverty causes. The defects of the policy are revealed such as the impractical way of accurate poverty identification, the existence of poverty-returning problem and passive poverty alleviation.

Originality/value

The study of the paper investigates the current challenges for carrying out the targeted poverty alleviation and indicates implications for policy improvement. These contribute to the effectiveness and efficiency of the targeted poverty alleviation policy in China.
Evaluating Unity created teaching simulations within occupational therapy
Authors: Sutton Greg , Newberry Karen , Threapleton Kate
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe the evaluation of an educational occupational therapy home visit simulation newly built in Unity, compared with a previously created simulation based in the Open Sim platform. The evaluation is based on students’ preferences.

Design/methodology/approach

A simulation was built in Unity in which the academic content was identical to the previous Open Sim-based simulation. Student groups used the simulations then completed a questionnaire. Numerical data and descriptive comments were analysed.

Findings

Students preferred the simulation built in Unity to the Open Sim simulation. Improvements with the Unity simulation include; reduced time to gain competence to use, ease of use and fewer negative physiological experiences. The small percentage of students experiencing motion sickness is an ongoing concern and warrants further investigation. The Unity simulation may also be useful as an academic assessment tool.

Research limitations/implications

Findings are limited by short time usage of the simulations in 3D virtual worlds with confined spaces and no requirement for in-world group interaction, and by some methodological limitations including the research being based within a single higher education institution, and with a profession-specific group of students.

Originality/value

This paper highlights student preference for using a purpose built simulation created with Unity over a simulation built in Open Sim, showing where best to spend future development time and funding. Similar comparison research is scarce.
An instrument to measure mobile shower commode usability: the eMAST 1.0
Authors: Friesen Emma L. , Theodoros Deborah , Russell Trevor G.
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a preliminary psychometric evaluation of the electronic mobile shower commode assessment tool (eMAST) 1.0.

Design/methodology/approach

A cross-sectional validation study was undertaken with 32 adults with spinal cord injury (SCI), aged 18 years or older, who use mobile shower commodes for toileting and/or showering. The eMAST 1.0, Quebec user evaluation of satisfaction with assistive technology, Version 2.0 (QUEST 2.0), and modified system usability scale (SUS) were administered online via SurveyMonkey. The eMAST 1.0 was re-administered approximately seven days later. Psychometric properties of internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and convergent validity were assessed.

Findings

As hypothesised, the eMAST 1.0 demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach’s α=0.73, N=32); acceptable test-retest reliability (intra-class coefficient (3, 1)=0.75 (0.53-0.88, 95 per cent confidence interval) (n=27)); and strong, positive correlations with the QUEST 2.0’s devices subscale and modified SUS (Pearson’s correlation coefficients 0.70 and 0.63, respectively).

Research limitations/implications

The sample was not fully representative of Australian data in terms of gender, or state of residence, but was representative in terms of SCI level. Age data were not assessed. The sample size was small but adequate for a preliminary psychometric evaluation.

Originality/value

The preliminary psychometric evaluation indicates the eMAST 1.0 is a valid and reliable instrument that measures usability of MSCs for adults with SCI. It may be useful for exploring relationships between usability and satisfaction of MSCs.
Can school policing be trauma-informed? Lessons from Seattle
Authors: Gill Charlotte , Gottfredson Denise , Hutzell Kirsten
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe Seattle’s School Emphasis Officer (SEO) program, a distinctive approach to school policing that aims to connect at-risk students with services and has potential to incorporate a trauma-informed approach.

Design/methodology/approach

Using qualitative data collected from a process evaluation of SEO, including interviews, observations, and analysis of activity logs and program documentation, the authors explore elements of the program that could be adapted for the development of a trauma-informed policing (TIP) model and highlight some potential pitfalls.

Findings

SEO activities align well with trauma-informed principles of safety, promoting collaboration, and impulse management and are delivered in a context of trust-building, transparency, and responsivity. However, the program is poorly defined and has limited reach, has not been rigorously evaluated, and faces serious threats to sustainability.

Research limitations/implications

This study does not assess the effectiveness or appropriateness of TIP. A rigorous evaluation is needed to improve upon and test the model to ensure that increased contact between police and youth is effective and does not contribute to the school-to-prison pipeline.

Originality/value

To the authors’ knowledge, this paper is the first to describe a potential framework for TIP and lay out an agenda for further research and policy development around this idea.
Stop and question campus policing
Authors: Allen Andrea
Published: August 2016

Purpose

Stopping and questioning citizens is an important policing tactic. Prior research explores citizens’ perceptions of stop and question policing, or “SQP”, by municipal police, yet campus police also use this tactic. The purpose of this paper is to understand whether and why college students believe campus police should have the right to engage in SQP.

Design/methodology/approach

Data come from 73 in-depth interviews with students attending a university in metropolitan Atlanta, GA. The sample was obtained through convenience and purposive sampling methods. Data were analyzed using the ethnographic perspective.

Findings

Most participants said campus police should practice SQP for three reasons: it is their job; SQP is an effective crime fighting tactic; and SQP is useful given the features and functions of college campuses. Among participants who said campus police should not practice SQP, they were concerned that officers would use it in unwarranted situations.

Practical implications

Findings suggest that the police might be able to reduce resistance to SQP by clearly explaining to suspects why they are being stopped and also clarifying to the public the legal thresholds for stopping and questioning citizens.

Originality/value

This is the first study to consider perceptions of SQP by campus police. The findings also shed light on how campus and municipal police are (dis)similar in perceptions of their SQP practices.
Moving towards “Slow Food”, the new frontier of culinary innovation in India
Authors: Munjal Sandeep , Sharma Sanjay , Menon Pallavi
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The paper aims to research the current understanding of Slow Food in the Indian hospitality sector and to identify how the industry can embrace the concept and its sustainability. To begin, underpinnings are considered in relation to traditional, locally produced food for patrons that is actually “farm to fork” in terms of its delivery model as evidenced by backward integration in the supply of key ingredients. The economics of the backward integration is analysed to measure its impact on businesses’ bottom-line in the context of an inflationary economy.

Design/methodology/approach

Existing published literature is reviewed with reference to the “Slow Food movement” from both an international and Indian perspective. Vedatya’s approach to sustainable culinary value chain creation and its applicability for industry adoption with an intent to offer Slow Food on commercial menus is documented and discussed. A round table discussion with key food and beverage leaders is also documented and analysed to establish the current state of awareness and readiness of the sector to offer “Slow Food” through an integrated supply chain in India.

Findings

Slow Food as a concept is new to India; there is a huge shift in many parts of the world towards food that is fresh, traditional and drawn from locally available ingredients. This research shares Vedatya’s experience in developing an integrated value chain that can provide a sustainable Slow Food model for the Indian hospitality and restaurant sector to deploy with a positive impact on profitability too.

Research limitations/implications

There is need for more research to better understand the feasibility of hospitality businesses working on supply chain with backward integration, to offer “Slow Food” to consumers. While there seems to be a demand for traditional food, this paper does not research that aspect; further research is required to ascertain the potential demand for Slow Food in India.

Practical implications

The popularity of Slow Food is global; however, the Indian hospitality sector is yet to warm up to this potential. The customer focus on healthy, traditional, fresh food opens an opportunity to innovate, and businesses that build capacity to offer real farm-to-fork menus can become market leaders and will reap bottom-line benefits through lower input costs because of supply chain integration.

Originality/value

This paper is unique in terms of offering a discussion on the potential of Slow Food as the next realm of culinary innovation in India. It also adds value by sharing the Vedatya experience in terms of developing an integrated supply chain that facilitates the Slow Food offering in a farm-to-fork format. The model can be emulated by commercial hospitality businesses resulting in cost advantages and higher satisfaction levels of customers.
Recent innovative measures across different functions in the Indian hospitality industry
Authors: Sen Kakoli , Kaushik Tanuja
Published: August 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide exploratory insights on recent innovative measures taken across different functions in the Indian hospitality industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The study draws on data from senior management of a newly developed Pullman Hotel, part of the group of Accor Hotels located in Aero City, Delhi. The study data was collected using structured interviews.

Findings

The study explores the various innovative measures adopted in marketing, human resource management and information technology to leverage operations, improve manpower efficiency and maximizing service effectiveness while keeping costs low for long-term sustainability. The study also gives some useful insights on other functions that need to be addressed such as food and beverage, operations, security, guest relations and finance.

Research limitations/implications

The study is exploratory in nature though the findings will be of interest to existing and newly opened hotels and to policy makers who need to know about the innovation trends in the hospitality industry.

Originality/value

This study reveals some of the recent innovative measures adopted by the Indian hospitality industry.
Innovations in the Indian hospitality industry: an overview
Authors: Sanjeev Gunjan M. , Bandyopadhyay Rumki
Published: August 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to provide an overview of the facts and trends relating to the innovations that are taking place in the Indian hospitality industry.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws facts and emerging trends from the existing literature and other reports. The paper also serves as an introduction to areas covered by theme issue contributors that are discussed in detail in their respective papers. All the papers bring out key findings after several rounds of discussion with practitioners.

Findings

Some of the key emerging areas are customer service, cost competitiveness, culinary management, revenue management and technology. The paper also suggests that it is important to understand how innovations are being managed across different functional departments and whether managers face barriers to the implementation of innovative ideas and processes.

Practical implications

The Indian hospitality industry continues to expand despite tough competition. But, it is imperative that hotels are able to find ways to differentiate their products and services and by innovating, it is possible to sustain and create new forms of differentiation. Given this reality, the paper is of interest to hoteliers and policy makers who want to know more about the emerging innovation trends in the Indian hospitality industry.

Originality/value

There is limited literature available on innovations in the Indian context. Further, all the papers in this theme issue were written after several rounds of interaction with practitioners so as to incorporate real-time, relevant and contemporary data.
Prediction of the location of future rupture surfaces of a slowly moving loess landslide by electrical resistivity tomography
Authors: Szalai S. , Szokoli K. , Metwaly M. , Gribovszki Z. , Prácser E.
Published: August 2016

A slowly moving loess landslide along the River Danube in South Hungary was studied using electrical resistivity tomography. Our aim was to determine the fracture system of the study site. Due to the homogeneous composition of the loess, it seems to be the only possibility to get information about the landslide and its further evolution. The applicability of the electrical resistivity tomography technique for such a supposedly dense fracture system was studied by numerical modelling, and the results have been verified in the field. The dip of the fractures could not always been observed, and they could not be explored deeply. However, it was possible to map their surface projection to get the desired information about the structure of the landslide. Fracture zones could have been especially well localized, enabling the prediction of the positions of future rupture surfaces and thus the delineation of the endangered zone. Although the area outside of the already subsided one is not endangered yet, the area which has already started to move is going to break into two. Parts of the about 5 m wide blocks at the front of the landslide may fall or slide down anytime. A large area was assumed to move as one unit. Most of our predictions have been verified by the mass movements that occurred about one and half years after the measurements. The electrical resistivity tomography method proved to be a good tool to characterize the fracture system of such a landslide area, enabling the prediction of future rupture surfaces and also delineation of the endangered area. Its use is therefore highly recommended to monitor landslides to provide early risk warnings to avoid damage to constructions or endangering human life.
Autophagy in vascular endothelial cells
Authors: Jiang Fan
Published: August 2016

The importance of autophagy in cardiovascular physiology and cardiovascular disease is increasingly recognized; however, the precise biological effects and underlying mechanisms of autophagy in the cardiovascular system are still poorly understood. In the last few years, the effects of autophagy in endothelial cells have attracted great interests. This article provides a summary of our current knowledge on the regulatory factors, signalling mechanisms, and functional outcomes of autophagy in endothelial cells. It is suggested that in most situations, induction of an autophagic response has cytoprotective effects. The beneficial effects of autophagy in endothelial cells are likely to be context‐dependent, since autophagy may also contribute to cell death under certain circumstances. In addition to regulating endothelial cell survival or death, autophagy is also involved in modulating other important functions, such as nitric oxide production, angiogenesis and haemostasis/thrombosis. The mounting data will help us draw a clear picture of the roles of autophagy in endothelial cell biology and dysfunction. Given the pivotal role of endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of vascular disease, disruptions of autophagy in endothelial cells are likely to have significant contributions. This is supported by some preliminary ex vivo data indicating that compromised autophagic functions may be important in the development of endothelial dysfunctions associated with diabetes and ageing.
Moderate traumatic brain injury is linked to acute behaviour deficits and long term mitochondrial alterations
Authors: Chen Hui , Chan Yik Lung , Nguyen Long The , Mao Yilin , de Rosa Alicia , Beh Ing Tsyr , Chee Candice , Oliver Brian , Herok George , Saad Sonia , Gorrie Catherine
Published: August 2016

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. Mild TBI may lead to neuropsychiatric sequelae, including memory loss and motor impairment. Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress have a contributory role in several neurological disorders; however, their association with mitophagy in mild TBI is unclear. TBI was induced in female Sprague Dawley (SD) rats using a New York University Impactor (10 g, impactor head 2.5 mm diameter, weight drop 50 mm) and compared to sham surgery controls. The novel object recognition and error ladder tests were performed at 24 hours and for 6 weeks post injury, and the brains were examined histologically to confirm the extent of injury. Mitochondria manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes I‐V (CI‐CV), as well as mitophagy markers, dynamin related protein 1 (DRP‐1), LC3A/B and PTEN‐induced putative kinase 1 (PINK‐1), were measured in the penumbra by western blot. At 24 hours sham rats performed as expected on a novel object recognition test while TBI rats showed cognitive deficits at the early time points. TBI rats also showed more early motor deficits on a horizontal ladder, compared with the sham rats. MnSOD, OXPHOS CI, CIII and CV protein levels were significantly lower in the TBI group at 24 hours. DRP‐1, LC3A/B I and II, and PINK‐1 were increased at 6 weeks suggesting abnormal mitophagy. Moderate TBI caused immediate cognitive and mild motor functional deficits in the rats that did not persist. Reduced antioxidative capacity and possibly compromised mitochondrial function may affect the long term functional recovery.
Antipodean agricultural and resource economics at 60: national and global price‐ and trade‐distorting policies
Authors: Anderson Kym
Published: August 2016

This paper surveys significant contributions made by Australian and New Zealand (ANZ) agricultural and trade economists to our understanding of the extent to which price‐ and trade‐distorting policies affect domestic and international prices and markets for agricultural products and economic welfare. It begins with the theory of policy impacts on producer and consumer prices and value added by farmers. It then surveys efforts to measure the extent of distortions due to such policies, first in Australia and New Zealand and then in other regions of the world. ANZ economists’ efforts to use models to estimate the market and welfare effects of policies nationally and globally are then assessed, before attention turns to their ex ante estimates of the effects of trade agreements. The paper's Supporting Information includes a brief survey of attempts to understand the political economy forces behind those various policies and their recent reforms.
The “Seven Pillars” Response to Patient Safety Incidents: Effects on Medical Liability Processes and Outcomes
Authors: Lambert Bruce L. , Centomani Nichola M. , Smith Kelly M. , Helmchen Lorens A. , Bhaumik Dulal K. , Jalundhwala Yash J. , McDonald Timothy B.
Published: August 2016

Objective

To determine whether a communication and resolution approach to patient harm is associated with changes in medical liability processes and outcomes.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Administrative, safety, and risk management data from the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, from 2002 to 2014.

Study Design

Single health system, interrupted time series design. Using Mann–Whitney U tests and segmented regression models, we compared means and trends in incident reports, claims, event analyses, patient communication consults, legal fees, costs per claim, settlements, and self‐insurance expenses before and after the implementation of the “Seven Pillars” communication and resolution intervention.

Data Collection Methods

Queried databases maintained by Department of Safety and Risk Management and the Department of Administrative Services at UIH. Extracted data from risk module of the Midas incident reporting system.

Principal Findings

The intervention nearly doubled the number of incident reports, halved the number of claims, and reduced legal fees and costs as well as total costs per claim, settlement amounts, and self‐insurance costs.

Conclusions

A communication and optimal resolution (CANDOR) approach to adverse events was associated with long‐lasting, clinically and financially significant changes in a large set of core medical liability process and outcome measures.
Are Rising College Premiums Capitalized into House Prices? Evidence from China
Authors: Shen Leilei , Turner Tracy M.
Published: August 2016

Many areas in China experienced steeply rising house prices beginning in 2003. We test whether a change in local residency requirements may have played a role in driving up house prices in some places by tying access to Chinese universities to local homeownership status in the presence of a rising college premium. We generate a novel dataset that combines China housing market and neighborhood data with household and university admission data. We find evidence of capitalization effects and a sizable increase in the likelihood of homeownership postpolicy change in places with the greatest preferential access to China's elite universities.
Current Knowledge about Oxysterols: A Review
Authors: Brzeska Magdalena , Szymczyk Krystyna , Szterk Arkadiusz
Published: August 2016

For years food consumers have been warned that a cholesterol‐rich diet may result in atherosclerosis. It is also well known that consumption of large amounts of phytosterols decreases concentration of low‐density lipoproteins (LDLs) in blood (LDLs are regarded a key risk factor in development of cardiovascular diseases). However, no scientific evidence has unambiguously proved any direct connection between amount of consumed cholesterol and LDL level in blood. On the other hand, concentration of cholesterol oxidation products, oxysterols, seems to be indeed relevant; for example, they significantly impact appearance of atherosclerotic lesions (plaques). Phytosterols (like sitosterol or campasterol) decrease LDL level in blood, but on the other hand products of their oxidation are toxic. Therefore, it is worth to know influence of phytosterols on living organisms, processes which lead to their formation, and their levels in popular foodstuffs. This paper is an attempt to review literature data on the above aspects, as well as on impact on living organisms of oxidation products of popular sterols.
Lack of compliance with consensus recommendations on the diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) in published prevalence studies. A clinical and systematic review
Authors: García‐Compeán Diego , González‐Moreno Emmanuel Irineo , González‐González José Alberto , Borjas‐Almaguer Omar David , Maldonado‐Garza Héctor Jesus
Published: August 2016

Objective

According to consensus recommendations, the presence of esophageal symptoms, >15 eosinophils/high‐power field and unresponsiveness to proton pump inhibitors are required for a diagnosis of eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE). Nevertheless, inconsistency in using these guidelines has been reported in recent publications. The objective of this study was to assess compliance with EoE diagnostic guidelines in published studies on EoE prevalence and to evaluate other clinical and methodological parameters.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted in articles published between 2008 and 2015 on the prevalence of EoE in unselected adults. Studies using EoE diagnostic definitions were judged to be compliant if they included all three components of the definition, partially compliant if they included two and non‐compliant if they included one or none. Esophageal biopsy protocol differences and descriptions of patients’ characteristics were determined.

Results

Among the 20 studies included, eight were performed in a hospital setting and 12 in the general population. Only 40.0% of studies were compliant, 35.0% were partially compliant and 25.0% were non‐compliant with the EoE diagnostic definition guidelines. In 60.0% of the studies a proton pump inhibitor trial was not administered. Only 30.0% adhered to the recommendations in the esophageal biopsy protocol. A lack of description of the history of atopia and endoscopic characteristics was observed in many studies.

Conclusions

Partial or non‐compliance with the EoE diagnostic definition was observed in most of the published prevalence studies after the publication of the first consensus. The results of these studies might be interpreted taking into account this context.
Response of diatom‐associated bacteria to host growth state, nutrient concentrations, and viral host infection in a model system
Authors: Baker Lydia J. , Alegado Rosanna A. , Kemp Paul F.
Published: August 2016

Diatoms are photosynthetic unicellular eukaryotes found ubiquitously in aquatic systems. Frequent physical associations with other microorganisms such as bacteria may influence diatom fitness. The predictability of bacterial–diatom interactions is hypothesized to depend on availability of nutrients as well as the physiological state of the host. Biotic and abiotic factors such as nutrient levels, host growth stage and host viral infection were manipulated to determine their effect on the ecological succession of bacterial communities associated with a single cell line of Chaetoceros sp. KBDT20; this was assessed using the relative abundance of bacterial phylotypes based on 16S rDNA sequences. A single bacterial family, Alteromonadaceae, dominated the attached‐bacterial community (84.0%), with the most prevalent phylotypes belonging to the Alteromonas and Marinobacter genera. The taxa comprising the other 16% of the attached bacterial assemblage include Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Bacilli, Deltaproteobacteria, other Gammaproteobacteria and Flavobacteria. Nutrient concentration and host growth stage had a statistically significant effect on the phylogenetic composition of the attached bacteria. It was inferred that interactions between attached bacteria, as well as the inherent stochasticity mediating contact may also contribute to diatom–bacterial associations.
Involvement of the Rcs regulon in the persistence of SalmonellaTyphimurium in tomatoes
Authors: Marvasi Massimiliano , de Moraes Marcos H. , Salas‐Gonzalez Isai , Porwollik Steffen , Farias Marcelo , McClelland Michael , Teplitski Max
Published: August 2016

It is becoming clear that human enteric pathogens, like Salmonella, can efficiently colonize vegetative and reproductive organs of plants. Even though the bacterium's ability to proliferate within plant tissues has been linked to outbreaks of salmonellosis, little is known about regulatory and physiological adaptations of Salmonella, or other human pathogens, to their persistence in plants. A screen of Salmonella deletion mutants in tomatoes identified rcsA and rcsB genes as those under positive selection. In tomato fruits, populations of Salmonella rcsB mutants were as much as 100‐fold lower than those of the wild type. In the follow‐up experiments, competitive fitness of rcsA and rcsB mutants was strongly reduced in tomatoes. Bioinformatics predictions identified a putative Salmonella RcsAB binding box (TTMGGAWWAABCTYA) and revealed an extensive putative RcsAB regulon, of which many members were differentially fit within tomatoes.
Genome‐wide methylation profile following prenatal and postnatal dietary omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation in pigs
Authors: Boddicker R. L. , Koltes J. E. , Fritz‐Waters E. R. , Koesterke L. , Weeks N. , Yin T. , Mani V. , Nettleton D. , Reecy J. M. , Baumgard L. H. , Spencer J. D. , Gabler N. K. , Ross J. W.
Published: August 2016

The objective of this study was to determine how prenatal and postnatal dietary omega‐3 fatty acids alter white blood cell (leukocyte) DNA methylation of offspring. Fifteen gilts (n = 5 per treatment) were selected from one of three treatments: (i) control diet throughout gestation, lactation and nursery phase (CON); (ii) algal omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation enriched in EPA and DHA (Gromega™) fed throughout gestation, lactation and nursery phase (Cn3); or (iii) Gromega™ supplementation maternally, during gestation and lactation only, and control diet during the nursery phase (Mn3). At 11 weeks of age and after 8 weeks of post‐weaning nursery feeding, buffy coat genomic DNA was subjected to methyl CpG binding protein sequencing. The methylation enriched profile mapped to 26% of the porcine genome. On chromosome 4, a 27.7‐kb differentially methylated region downstream of RUNX1T1 was hypomethylated in the Mn3 and Cn3 groups by 91.6% and 85.0% respectively compared to CON pigs. Conversely, hypermethylation was detected in intergenic regions of chromosomes 4 and 12. Regulatory impact factor and differential hubbing methods were used to identify pathways that were coordinately regulated by methylation due to feeding EPA and DHA during pregnancy. Despite limited ability to detect differential methylation, we describe methods that allow the identification of coordinated epigenetic regulation that could not otherwise be detected from subtle single locus changes in methylation. These data provide evidence of novel epigenetic regulation by maternal and early life supplementation of omega‐3 fatty acids that may have implications to growth and inflammatory processes.
In Search of a Professional Supervisory Practice: External Social Work Supervision in China
Authors: Mo Yuen Han
Published: August 2016

This article examines the importance of supportive and educative functions in the practice of social work supervision and identifies the common features of external social work supervision. Using a qualitative study design, the author explores social workers’ need for professional supervision and support, and the functions and roles commonly played by external supervisors. A mixed model of internal and external supervision is used in some countries; however, such a method is not commonly used or discussed in the literature in Asian regions. The findings of this study suggest that the practice of external supervision should be considered by social work agencies in China. Arranging appropriate external supervisors and establishing a supportive supervisory environment at an agency level are recommended to facilitate the professional growth of social work practitioners.
An S‐warfarin and AZD1981 interaction: in vitro and clinical pilot data suggest the N‐deacetylated amino acid metabolite as the primary perpetrator
Authors: Grime Ken , Pehrson Rikard , Nordell Pär , Gillen Michael , Kühn Wolfgang , Mant Timothy , Brännström Marie , Svanberg Petter , Jones Barry , Brealey Clive
Published: August 2016

Aim

AZD1981 is an orally bioavailable chemoattractant receptor‐homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTh2) receptor antagonist progressed to phase II trials for the treatment of allergic asthma. Previously performed in vitro human hepatocyte incubations identified N‐deacetylated AZD1981 as a primary metabolite. We report on metabolite exposure from a clinical excretion balance, on in vitro studies performed to determine the likelihood of a metabolite‐dependent drug–drug interaction (DDI) and on a clinical warfarin DDI study. The aim was to demonstrate that N‐deacetylated AZD1981 is responsible for the observed interaction.

Methods

The excretion and biotransformation of [14C]‐AZD1981 were studied in healthy male volunteers, and subsequently in vitro cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibition and hepatocyte uptake investigations were carried out with metabolites and the parent drug. A clinical DDI study using coadministered twice‐daily 100 mg and 400 mg AZD1981 with 25 mg warfarin was performed.

Results

The excretion balance study showed N‐deacetylated AZD1981 to be the most abundant metabolite present in plasma. In vitro data revealed the metabolite to be a weak CYP2C9 time‐dependent inhibitor, subject to more active hepatic uptake than the parent molecule. Clinically, the S‐warfarin area under the plasma concentration–time curve increased, on average, 1.4‐fold [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.22, 1.50] and 2.4‐fold (95% CI 2.11, 2.64) after 100 mg (n = 13) and 400 mg (n = 11) AZD1981 administration, respectively. In vitro CYP inhibition and hepatocyte uptake data were used to explain the interaction.

Conclusions

N‐deacetylated AZD1981 can be added to the small list of drug metabolites reported as sole contributors to clinical drug–drug interactions, with weak time‐dependent inhibition exacerbated by efficient hepatic uptake being the cause.
A pedagogy for outreach activities in ICT: Promoting peer to peer learning, creativity and experimentation
Authors: Lang Catherine , Craig Annemieke , Casey Gail
Published: August 2016

The importance of integrating technology into the classroom has become a priority at most levels of the curriculum in many countries around the world. This paper draws on the evaluation and research that informed four outreach programs. The authors acknowledge that teachers are generally time poor and often have limited information and communication technology (ICT) skills and confidence, while students have skills and knowledge in ICT that often go untapped in the classroom. They present a curriculum that promoted peer to peer learning and support for teachers. This is a model of pedagogy for outreach that promotes a community of learners between ICT teachers, generalist teachers and preservice teachers while promoting socio‐cultural student led learning practices in the classroom.
Participation patterns in a massive open online course (MOOC) about statistics
Authors: Rieber Lloyd P.
Published: August 2016

A massive open online course (MOOC) was designed to provide an introduction to statistics used in educational research and evaluation. The purpose of this research was to explore people's motivations for joining and participating in a MOOC and their behaviors and patterns of participation within the MOOC. Also studied were factors that the participants reported for completing or not completing the MOOC and what they perceive as criteria for quality in an online course. Participants also expressed their opinions about what they perceive as a reasonable balance between access to, cost, and quality of MOOCs. This study used a descriptive research design involving survey, quiz, and participation data. A total of 5079 people enrolled in the MOOC across six sections. When viewed from the point of view of the participants, the results suggest that even highly structured, instructionist MOOCs can offer flexible learning environments for participants with varied goals and needs.
Risk of hospitalisation after primary treatment for prostate cancer
Authors: Williams Stephen B. , Duan Zhigang , Chamie Karim , Hoffman Karen E. , Smith Benjamin D. , Hu Jim C. , Shah Jay B. , Davis John W. , Giordano Sharon H.
Published: August 2016

Objective

To compare the risk of hospitalisation and associated costs in patients after treatment for prostate cancer.

Patients and Methods

We identified 29 571 patients aged 66–75 years without significant comorbidity from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)‐Medicare linked database who were diagnosed with localised prostate cancer between 2004 and 2009. We compared the rates of all‐cause and treatment‐related hospitalisation that occurred within 365 days of the initiation of definitive therapy. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to identify determinants associated with hospitalisation.

Results

Men who underwent radical prostatectomy (RP) rather than radiotherapy (RT) had lower odds of being hospitalised for any cause after therapy [odds ratio (OR) 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.74–0.87]. Patients who underwent RP rather than RT had higher odds of being hospitalised for treatment‐related complications (OR 1.15, 95% CI: 1.03–1.29). However, men who underwent external beam RT (EBRT)/intensity modulated RT (IMRT) (OR 0.84, 95% CI: 0.72–0.99) had a 16% lower odds of hospitalisation from treatment‐related complications than patients undergoing RP. Using propensity score‐weighted analyses there was no significant difference in the odds of hospitalisation from treatment‐related complications for men who underwent RP vs RT (OR 1.06, 95% CI: 0.92–1.21). Patients hospitalised for treatment‐related complications after RT were costlier than patients who underwent RP (Mean $18 381 vs $13 203, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

With the exception of men who underwent EBRT/IMRT, there was no statistically significant difference in the odds of hospitalisation from treatment‐related complications. Costs from hospitalisation after treatment were significantly higher for men undergoing RT than RP. Our findings are relevant in the context of penalties linked to hospital readmissions and bundled payment models.
Calreticulin is highly expressed in pancreatic cancer stem‐like cells
Authors: Matsukuma Satoshi , Yoshimura Kiyoshi , Ueno Tomio , Oga Atsunori , Inoue Moeko , Watanabe Yusaku , Kuramasu Atsuo , Fuse Masanori , Tsunedomi Ryouichi , Nagaoka Satoshi , Eguchi Hidetoshi , Matsui Hiroto , Shindo Yoshitaro , Maeda Noriko , Tokuhisa Yoshihiro , Kawano Reo , Furuya‐Kondo Tomoko , Itoh Hiroshi , Yoshino Shigefumi , Hazama Shoichi , Oka Masaaki , Nagano Hiroaki
Published: August 2016

Cancer stem‐like cells (CSLCs) in solid tumors are thought to be resistant to conventional chemotherapy or molecular targeting therapy and to contribute to cancer recurrence and metastasis. In this study, we aimed to identify a biomarker of pancreatic CSLCs (P‐CSLCs). A P‐CSLC‐enriched population was generated from pancreatic cancer cell lines using our previously reported method and its protein expression profile was compared with that of parental cells by 2‐D electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry. The results indicated that a chaperone protein calreticulin (CRT) was significantly upregulated in P‐CSLCs compared to parental cells. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that CRT was mostly localized to the surface of P‐CSLCs and did not correlate with the levels of CD44v9, another P‐CSLC biomarker. Furthermore, the side population in the CRThigh/CD44v9low population was much higher than that in the CRTlow/CD44v9high population. Calreticulin expression was also assessed by immunohistochemistry in pancreatic cancer tissues (n = 80) obtained after radical resection and was found to be associated with patients' clinicopathological features and disease outcomes in the Cox proportional hazard regression model. Multivariate analysis identified CRT as an independent prognostic factor for pancreatic cancer patients, along with age and postoperative therapy. Our results suggest that CRT can serve as a biomarker of P‐CSLCs and a prognostic factor associated with poorer survival of pancreatic cancer patients. This novel biomarker can be considered as a therapeutic target for cancer immunotherapy.
Expression of metastasis suppressor gene AES driven by a Yin Yang (YY) element in a CpG island promoter and transcription factor YY2
Authors: Kakizaki Fumihiko , Sonoshita Masahiro , Miyoshi Hiroyuki , Itatani Yoshiro , Ito Shinji , Kawada Kenji , Sakai Yoshiharu , Taketo M. Mark
Published: August 2016

We recently found that the product of the AES gene functions as a metastasis suppressor of colorectal cancer (CRC) in both humans and mice. Expression of amino‐terminal enhancer of split (AES) protein is significantly decreased in liver metastatic lesions compared with primary colon tumors. To investigate its downregulation mechanism in metastases, we searched for transcriptional regulators of AES in human CRC and found that its expression is reduced mainly by transcriptional dysregulation and, in some cases, by additional haploidization of its coding gene. The AES promoter‐enhancer is in a typical CpG island, and contains a Yin‐Yang transcription factor recognition sequence (YY element). In human epithelial cells of normal colon and primary tumors, transcription factor YY2, a member of the YY family, binds directly to the YY element, and stimulates expression of AES. In a transplantation mouse model of liver metastases, however, expression of Yy2 (and therefore of Aes) is downregulated. In human CRC metastases to the liver, the levels of AES protein are correlated with those of YY2. In addition, we noticed copy‐number reduction for the AES coding gene in chromosome 19p13.3 in 12% (5/42) of human CRC cell lines. We excluded other mechanisms such as point or indel mutations in the coding or regulatory regions of the AES gene, CpG methylation in the AES promoter enhancer, expression of microRNAs, and chromatin histone modifications. These results indicate that Aes may belong to a novel family of metastasis suppressors with a CpG‐island promoter enhancer, and it is regulated transcriptionally.
Measles virus selectively blind to signaling lymphocyte activity molecule has oncolytic efficacy against nectin‐4‐expressing pancreatic cancer cells
Authors: Awano Mutsumi , Fujiyuki Tomoko , Shoji Koichiro , Amagai Yosuke , Murakami Yoshinori , Furukawa Yoichi , Sato Hiroki , Yoneda Misako , Kai Chieko
Published: August 2016

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most intractable cancers and has a devastating prognosis; over the past three decades the 5‐year survival rate has been <10%. Therefore, development of a novel anticancer treatment for pancreatic cancer is a matter of urgency. We previously developed an oncolytic recombinant measles virus (MV), rMV‐SLAMblind, that had lost the ability to bind to its principal receptor, signaling lymphocyte activity molecule (SLAM), but which selectively infected and efficiently killed nectin‐4‐expressing breast and lung cancer cells. In this study, we analyzed the antitumor effect of this virus against pancreatic cancer. Nectin‐4 was expressed on the surface of 4/16 tested pancreatic cancer cell lines, which were efficiently infected and killed by rMV‐SLAMblind in vitro. The intratumoral inoculation of rMV‐SLAMblind suppressed the growth of KLM1 and Capan‐2 cells xenografted in SCID mice. The sequence analysis of MV isolated from the tumor revealed that the designed mutation in the H protein of rMV‐SLAMblind had been stably maintained for 47 days after the last inoculation. These results suggest that rMV‐SLAMblind is a promising candidate for the novel treatment of pancreatic cancer.