bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strengthening Multipayer Collaboration: Lessons From the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative
Authors: ANGLIN GRACE , TU HA , LIAO KRISTIE , SESSUMS LAURA , TAYLOR ERIN FRIES
Published: September 2017

Policy Points:

Collaboration across payers to align financial incentives, quality measurement, and data feedback to support practice transformation is critical, but challenging due to competitive market dynamics and competing institutional priorities.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or other entities convening multipayer initiatives can build trust with other participants by clearly outlining each participant's role and the parameters of collaboration at the outset of the initiative.

Multipayer collaboration can be improved if participating payers employ neutral, proactive meeting facilitators; develop formal decision‐making processes; seek input on decisions from practice representatives; and champion the initiative within their organizations.

Context

With increasing frequency, public and private payers are joining forces to align goals and resources for primary care transformation. However, sustaining engagement and achieving coordination among payers can be challenging. The Comprehensive Primary Care (CPC) initiative is one of the largest multipayer initiatives ever tested. Drawing on the experience of the CPC initiative, this paper examines the factors that influence the effectiveness of multipayer collaboration.

Methods

This paper draws largely on semistructured interviews with CPC‐participating payers and payer conveners that facilitated CPC discussions and on observation of payer meetings. We coded and analyzed these qualitative data to describe collaborative dynamics and outcomes and assess the factors influencing them.

Findings

We found that several factors appeared to increase the likelihood of successful payer collaboration: contracting with effective, neutral payer conveners; leveraging the support of payer champions, and seeking input on decisions from practice representatives. The presence of these factors helped some CPC regions overcome significant initial barriers to achieve common goals. We also found that leadership from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) was key to achieving broad payer engagement in CPC, but CMS's dual role as initiative convener and participating payer at times made collaboration challenging. CMS was able to build trust with other payers by clarifying which parts of CPC could be adapted to regional contexts, deferring to other payers for these decisions, and increasing opportunities for payers to meet with CMS representatives.

Conclusions

CPC demonstrates that when certain facilitating factors are present, payers can overcome competitive market dynamics and competing institutional priorities to align financial incentives, quality measurement, and data feedback to support practice transformation. Lessons from this large‐scale, multipayer initiative may be helpful for other multipayer efforts getting under way.
Social mobility and the well‐being of individuals
Authors: Chan Tak Wing
Published: September 2017

Several papers published in recent years have revived interest in Sorokin's dissociative thesis: the view that intergenerational social mobility has detrimental effects on the social relationships and wellbeing of individuals. In this paper, I test the dissociative thesis using data from the British Household Panel Survey and Understanding Society. On a wide range of indicators that measure participation in civic associations, contact with parents, close personal relationships, social support, subjective wellbeing, etc. individuals who have achieved long‐range upward mobility (i.e. those who move from working class origin to salariat destination) tend to fare better than those who are immobile in the working class. Those who have experienced long‐range downward mobility (moving from salariat origin to working class destination) do about as well as second‐generation members of the working class. Overall, there is no support for Sorokin's thesis.
In‐hospital ‘CODE STEMI’ improves door‐to‐balloon time in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention
Authors: Koh Ji Quan , Tong David C , Sriamareswaran Rumes , Yeap Allysha , Yip Bryan , Wu Sam , Perera Padeepa , Menon Shyaman , Noaman Saad Al , Layland Jamie
Published: September 2017

Objective

Reducing time to reperfusion for ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) is essential in improving outcomes. Consequently, numerous strategies have been employed to reduce median door‐to‐balloon time (DTBT).

Methods

CODE STEMI is an ED physician‐activated STEMI notification system. On activation, an announcement is made over the hospital's public announcement (PA) system. We prospectively analysed all in‐hours STEMI patients who had primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) Pre‐CODE STEMI (2014) and after CODE STEMI was implemented (2015). The primary end‐points were median DTBT and the proportion of STEMI patients achieving a DTBT ≤90 min. The secondary end‐points were in‐hospital outcomes, and a composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and hospital readmission rates at 30 days and 12 months.

Results

There were 41 and 42 patients in Pre‐CODE STEMI and CODE STEMI groups respectively. Baseline characteristics were similar. DTBT was significantly reduced by 22.1 min from 67.1 ± 34.9 min Pre‐CODE STEMI to 45.0 ± 22.7 min (P = 0.001) in the CODE STEMI group. Door‐to‐door time (DTDT) was also reduced from 46.3 ± 30.9 min to 29.4 ± 23.3 min (P = 0.006). A greater proportion of CODE STEMI patients achieved the target DTBT ≤90 min (95.2% vs 73.2%, P = 0.007). CODE STEMI patients had less systolic dysfunction measured by a left ventricle ejection fraction of ≤40% (10.0% vs 27.8%, P = 0.07). There were trends to lower in‐hospital mortality rates (4.8% vs 9.8%, P = 0.43), MACE at 30 days and 12 months (4.8% vs 9.8%, P = 0.43; 11.9% vs 22.0%, P = 0.25).

Conclusion

The novel in‐hospital in‐hours CODE STEMI notification system significantly reduced DTBT in patients undergoing PPCI.
Combined Effect of Ultrasound and Mild Temperatures on the Inactivation of E. coli in Fresh Carrot Juice and Changes on its Physicochemical Characteristics
Authors: Pokhrel Prashant Raj , Bermúdez‐Aguirre Daniela , Martínez‐Flores Héctor E. , Garnica‐Romo M. Guadalupe , Sablani Shyam , Tang Juming , Barbosa‐Cánovas Gustavo V.
Published: September 2017

The combination of ultrasound and mild temperatures to process fruits and vegetables juices is a novel approach that is showing promising results for microbial inactivation and preservation of bioactive compounds and sensory attributes. This study centers on investigating the inactivation of Escherichia coli (ATCC 11755) in carrot juice as a result of the combined effect of ultrasound (24 kHz frequency, 120 μm, and 400 W) with temperature (50, 54, and 58 °C) and processing time (0 to 10 min). In addition, the possible changes in physicochemical properties and the retention of bioactive compounds after processing were analyzed. Microbial inactivation with ultrasound treatment at 50 °C resulted in 3.5 log reduction after 10 min, whereas at 54 °C almost 5 log reduction was attained in the same period of time; meanwhile, for treatment at 58 °C, no viable cells were detected (>5 log reduction) after 2 min. There was no significant difference (P > 0.05) on pH (6.80 to 6.82), °Brix (8.0 to 8.5), titratable acidity (0.29% to 0.30%), total carotenoid (1774 to 1835 μg/100 mL), phenolic compounds (20.19 to 20.63 μg/mL), ascorbic acid (4.8 mg/100 mL), and color parameters between fresh and ultrasound treated samples at the studied temperatures. To predict the inactivation patterns, observed values were tested using 3 different general models: first‐order, Weibull distribution, and biphasic. The Weibull and biphasic models show good correlation for inactivation under all processing conditions. Results show ultrasound in combination with mild temperature could be effectively used to process fresh carrot juice providing a safe product without affecting physicochemical characteristics.

Practical Applications

The combination of ultrasound and mild temperatures is effective in reducing microbial load in carrot juice to safe levels. This combination would be beneficial in the industrial processing of carrot juice without altering the quality attributes or bioactive compounds.
Antioxidant Activity of Chinese Shanxi Aged Vinegar and Its Correlation with Polyphenols and Flavonoids During the Brewing Process
Authors: Xie Xiaolin , Zheng Yu , Liu Xian , Cheng Cheng , Zhang Xianglong , Xia Ting , Yu Songfeng , Wang Min
Published: September 2017

One of the most famous Chinese vinegars, Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV), is produced with solid‐state fermentation technology. Total antioxidant activity (TAC) is a special property for SAV. In this study, we investigate correlations between total antioxidant activity (TAC) and total polyphenol (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) contents of SAV, especially during the brewing process. For SAV, TAC, TP, and TF increased with the increase of aging time. The correlation coefficients between TAC and TP were 0.869 and 0.934, respectively, when analyzed with the method of ABTS and FRAP. They were 0.828 (ABTS) and 0.877 (FRAP) between the TAC and TF. In smoking pei stage that is a special technique for SAV different from other Chinese cereal vinegars, TAC increased by 120% (ABTS) and 111% (FRAP) mainly due to the increase of TP (89%) and TF (75%), which was more obvious than that during alcohol fermentation and acetic acid fermentation stages. Moreover, variation during brewing process of 8 main polyphenol compounds that were proved responsible for the TAC of SAV was analyzed. In addition to catechins and chlorogenic acid, gallic acid serves as one of the principal antioxidant ingredients in SAV.

Practical Application

Total antioxidant activity (TAC) of Shanxi aged vinegar (SAV), which is highly correlated with total polyphenol and total flavonoid, increased with aging time, however, there is a little loss of total antioxidant after more than 8 y. During the brewing process smoking pei technique is important for enhancing the TAC of SAV suggesting critical controlled and thoroughly study of smoking pei stage are needed to improve the quality of SAV.
Relationship Between Consumer Acceptability and Pungency‐Related Flavor Compounds of Vidalia Onions
Authors: Kim Ha‐Yeon , Jackson Daniel , Adhikari Koushik , Riner Cliff , Sanchez‐Brambila Gabriela
Published: September 2017

A consumer study was conducted to evaluate preferences in Vidalia onions, and define consumer acceptability thresholds for commonly analyzed flavor compounds associated with pungency. Two varieties of Vidalia onions (Plethora and Sapelo Sweet) were grown at 3 fertilizer application rates (37.5 and 0; 134.5 and 59.4; and 190 and 118.8 kg/ha of nitrogen and sulfur, respectively), creating 6 treatments with various flavor attributes to use in the study. Bulb soluble solids, sugars, pyruvic acid, lachrymatory factor (LF; propanethial S‐oxide), and methyl thiosulfinate (MT) content were determined and compared to sensory responses for overall liking, intensity of the sharp/pungent/burning sensation (SPB), and intent to buy provided by 142 consumers. Onion pyruvate, LF, MT, and sugar content increased as fertilization rate increased, regardless of onion variety. Consumer responses showed participants preferred onions with low SPB, which correlated positively to lower pyruvate, LF and MT concentrations, but showed no relationship to total sugars in the onion bulb. Regression analyses revealed that the majority of consumers (≥55%) found the flavor of Vidalia onions acceptable when the concentrations of LF, pyruvic acid, and MT within the bulbs were below 2.21, 4.83, and 0.43 nmol/mL, respectively. These values will support future studies aimed at identifying the optimal cultivation practices for production of sweet Vidalia onions, and can serve as an industry benchmark for quality control, thus ensuring the flavor of Vidalia onions will be acceptable to the majority of consumers.

Practical Application

This study identified the relationship between consumer preferences and commonly analyzed flavor compounds in Vidalia onions, and established thresholds for these compounds at concentrations which the majority of consumers will find desirable. These relationships and thresholds will support future research investigating how cultural practices impact onion quality, and can be used to assist growers in variety selection decisions. In addition, this information will provide a benchmark to Vidalia onion producers for quality control of the sweet onions produced, ensuring that the onions are consistently of a desired quality, thereby increasing consumer's reliability in the Vidalia onion brand.
Rapid organic matter assay of organic matter degradation across depth gradients within marine sediments
Authors: O'Meara Theresa , Gibbs Emma , Thrush Simon F.
Published: September 2017

Methods to quickly measure organic matter degradation have been well developed for terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems. However, these methods have not been adapted to marine environments. Current methods of assessing organic matter degradation in marine ecosystems are costly, difficult to relate across spatial scales and rarely include sediment depth components to account for redox effects and subsurface macrofaunal activity.

We developed a method which is cost effective and time efficient to directly measure rates of organic matter degradation across vertical and horizontal spatial scales in marine sediments. This rapid organic matter assay (ROMA), utilizes a simple design consisting of an acrylic plate with a series of machined wells (0.9 ml) filled with carbon rich substrate. Substrate can be easily adapted to any carbon source by simply modifying the recipe. The plates are deployed with minimal disturbance to the sediment surface and subsurface stratification. Once collected, the resulting change in carbon substrate volume is equated to organic matter degradation.

Rapid organic matter assay was shown to be a useful tool in comparing organic matter degradation across sediment redox potentials, habitats within an estuary, and similar habitats across different estuaries. Here, we demonstrate its utility, versatility, and ease of use across a variety of habitats and environments.

Rapid organic matter assay is an effective assay for in situ, whole community (micro, meio and macrofauna) organic matter degradation across a myriad of habitats. This supports intensive spatial and temporal analysis that are costly and logistically difficult with current methods. Because it is simple, cost effective, and adaptable, it is an ideal candidate for a standard method to measure organic matter degradation rates in estuaries globally.
Covering the Cough? Memory, Remembrance, and Influenza Amnesia
Authors: Youde Jeremy
Published: September 2017

The 1918–1919 influenza pandemic killed an estimated 20–100 million people, making it more lethal than the First World War and causing life expectancy rates to decline by approximately ten years. Nearly one hundred years later, though, there will be few (if any) commemorations of the pandemic and its effects on societies around the world, and the bodies affected are largely rendered invisible. Rather than trying to figure out how or why we remember, the 1918–1919 influenza pandemic requires us to consider why we don't remember. In this article, I suggest some possible reasons for this lack of remembrance and what it may say about the politics of memory. In particular, I consider the effects of transnationalism, the role of illness as a presence or absence within international politics, the absenting of bodies and how it contributes to commemorative silences, and the ambiguity around what gets performed when we remember or commemorate.
Attitudes towards mental illness among medical students in China: Impact of medical education on stigma
Authors: Zhu Yifan , Zhang Hanwen , Yang Ge , Hu Xinran , Liu Zhening , Guo Na , He Hongbo , Sun Bin , Rosenheck Robert
Published: September 2017

Introduction

Stigma towards people with mental illness impedes effective treatment. A recent study found that Chinese students were less socially accepting of people with mental illness than counterparts from other countries. The current study examined stigma among Chinese medical students at different levels of training.

Methods

Medical students (N = 1372 from 12 Chinese schools) were surveyed with a questionnaire addressing attitudes and beliefs about people with mental illness. Analysis of variance was used to compare responses from students: (1) with no psychiatry training; (2) who had only taken a didactic course; and (3) who had completed both a course and a clinical rotation. Specific attitudes were identified through factor analysis. Interest in further training and other personal experience were also examined.

Results

Factor analysis revealed attitudes favoring: (1) social acceptance of people with mental illness, (2) not believing in supernatural causes of mental illness, (3) bio‐psycho‐social causation, (4) rehabilitation, and (5) social integration. The absence of consistent trends across training levels suggested that education did not increase nonstigmatized attitudes. Areas of most stigmatization were low social acceptance and little favor for social integration. Measures most strongly correlated with nonstigmatized attitudes were as follows: interest in clinical psychiatry, belief that psychiatry should be more valued, and having friends with mental illness.

Discussion

Although medical school education showed little effect on attitudes, students with more individual experiences such as planning to continue clinical psychiatric training, believing psychiatry should be more valued, and having friends with mental illness had less stigmatized attitudes than others.
Serial order working memory and numerical ordinal processing share common processes and predict arithmetic abilities
Authors: Attout Lucie , Majerus Steve
Published: September 2017

Recent studies have demonstrated that both ordinal number processing and serial order working memory (WM) abilities predict calculation achievement. This raises the question of shared ordinal processes operating in both numerical and WM domains. We explored this question by assessing the interrelations between numerical ordinal, serial order WM, and arithmetic abilities in 102 7‐ to 9‐year‐old children. We replicated previous studies showing that ordinal numerical judgement and serial order WM predict arithmetic abilities. Furthermore, we showed that ordinal numerical judgement abilities predict arithmetic abilities after controlling for serial order WM abilities while the relationship between serial order WM and arithmetic abilities was mediated by numerical ordinal judgement performance. We discuss these results in the light of recent theoretical frameworks considering that numerical ordinal codes support the coding of order information in verbal WM.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Numerical ordinal processes predict mathematical achievement in adults.

Order WM processing predicts first mathematical abilities.

What the present study adds?

Numerical ordinal processes predict mathematical achievement in children and independently of order WM.

The link between order WM and mathematical abilities was mediated by long‐term ordinal processes.
Effect of identity fusion on decision to make extreme sacrifices in romantic relationships: The moderating role of impulsiveness
Authors: Joo Minjoo , Park Sun W.
Published: September 2017

The present research investigated the roles of identity fusion and impulsiveness in extreme sacrifices for romantic partners. After completing questionnaires assessing identity fusion, inclusion of other in the self, passionate love, and communal orientation, participants responded to the trolley dilemma in which they could save their partner by sacrificing themselves. Participants in the time‐pressure condition were given eight‐seconds to respond to the dilemma; the other group had no time constraints. Identity fusion was the only variable that significantly predicted ultimate sacrifice. Hurrying participants’ response to the dilemma (i.e., inducing impulsive decision‐making) increased self‐sacrifice in highly fused but not in weakly fused individuals.
The need for river management and stream restoration practices to integrate hydrogeomorphology
Authors: Biron Pascale M. , Buffin‐Bélanger Thomas , Massé Simon
Published: September 2017

There is growing support amongst scientists worldwide about the need for a shift in river management approaches to include hydrogeomorphic processes. However, the degree to which these concepts are transferred to governmental agencies and practitioners varies widely. In Quebec, for example, many stream restoration projects are based on the (incorrect) assumption that river mobility and its inevitable consequences (bank erosion of meanders, presence of woody debris in the channel) are problematic for salmonids. This paper presents examples drawn from current guidelines on stream restoration for fish habitat in Quebec to demonstrate the need to improve the knowledge exchange among scientists and decision makers about the positive impact of river mobility and large wood dynamics on biodiversity. Our observations reveal that existing guidelines for stream restoration in Quebec need to be revised to better integrate hydrogeomorphic concepts and to no longer assume that maintaining rivers in a static state is beneficial for fish. Adopting the “freedom space for rivers” approach would likely result in improved habitat as it combines natural processes related to mobility, flooding, and riparian wetland connectivity to determine the minimal space around rivers where development should not be allowed, thus allowing river processes to be restored.
HIERARCHICAL AND FUNCTIONAL STABILITY AND CHANGE IN A STRONGLY URBANIZING AREA OF SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO, 1871‐1971
Authors: RUSSWURM LORNE H. , THAKUR BALESHWAR
Published: September 2017

Commercial functional and hierarchical stability and change, 1871‐1971, are analysed for the Toronto‐to‐London area using the Davies index. The subsequent spatial analysis showed that by 1971 ‘surging’ places, those growing faster than their long‐term mean, were concentrated near larger cities, a pattern similar to 1871 except for the 1971 concentration near Toronto. The middle years 1901‐41 were the most stable on all measures. ‘Slowing’ places occurred on the northern periphery in 1871, from Toronto to Hamilton in 1901‐41, and in the rural area west of Kitchener by 1971.

Une analyse est entreprise de l‘évolution hierarchique et fonctionnelle, 1871‐1971, pour la region entre Toronto et Londres, utilisant l'indice de Davies. L'analyse spatialle demontre qu'en 1971 les centres qui etaient entrain de s'agrandir plus rapidement que la moyenne à long terme se trouvaient concentrés près des plus grandes villes, une repartition semblable a celle de 1871 exception faite de la concentration prés de Toronto en 1971. Les periodes de 1901 à 1941 furent caractérisées par le plus grand degré de stabilité sur tous les mesures. Les centres dits ralentissants se trouverent sur la limite nord en 1871, de Toronto à Hamilton entre 1901 et 1941, et dans la zone rurale à l'ouest de Kitchener en 1971.
Self‐concept in institutionalized children with disturbed attachment: The mediating role of exploratory behaviours
Authors: Vacaru V. S. , Sterkenburg P. S. , Schuengel C.
Published: September 2017

Background

Self‐concept is seen as both an outcome of sociocognitive and emotional development, and a factor in social and mental health outcomes. Although the contribution of attachment experiences to self‐concept has been limited to quality of primary attachment relationships, little is known of the effects of disturbed attachment on self‐concept in institutionalized children. Thus, the current study examined associations between disturbed attachment behaviours in institutionalized children and self‐concept, testing limited exploration as an explanatory factor.

Methods

Thirty‐three institutionalized children, aged 4–12, participated in a multimethod and multi‐informant assessment of disturbed attachment behaviours (i.e., Disturbances of Attachment Interview and Behavioral Signs of Disturbed Attachment in Young Children), self‐concept (i.e., Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Young Children), and exploratory behaviours (i.e., Student Exploratory Behaviours Observation Scale). Analyses were conducted using bootstrapping techniques.

Results

Global self‐concept converged with teacher‐rated children's self‐concept, except for physical competence domain. Disturbed attachment behaviours were identified in 62.5% of the children, and this was associated with lower levels of exploration and lower scores on self‐concept, compared with children without disturbed attachment behaviours. Furthermore, exploratory behaviours mediated the effects of disturbed attachment behaviours on self‐concept.

Conclusions

Institution‐reared children with disturbed attachment behaviours were likely to have a negative perception of self and one's own competences. Limited exploratory behaviours explained this linkage. Targeting disordered attachment in children reared in institutions and their caregivers should become a high priority as a means for preventing socioemotional development issues.
Structural and functional imaging of aqueous humour outflow: a review
Authors: Huang Alex S , Francis Brian A , Weinreb Robert N
Published: September 2017

Maintaining healthy aqueous humour outflow (AHO) is important for intraocular cellular health and stable vision. Impairment of AHO can lead to increased intraocular pressure, optic nerve damage and concomitant glaucoma. An improved understanding of AHO will lead to improved glaucoma surgeries that enhance native AHO as well as facilitate the development of AHO‐targeted pharmaceuticals. Recent AHO imaging has evolved to live human assessment and has focused on the structural evaluation of AHO pathways and the functional documentation of fluid flow. Structural AHO evaluation is predominantly driven by optical coherence tomography, and functional evaluation of flow is performed using various methods, including aqueous angiography. Advances in structural and functional evaluation of AHO are reviewed with discussion of strengths, weaknesses and potential future directions.
Plasma Catechols After Eating Olives
Authors: Goldstein David S. , Holmes Courtney , Cherup Jamie , Sharabi Yehonatan
Published: September 2017

Olives contain 3,4‐dihydroxyphenyl compounds (catechols)—especially 3,4‐dihydroxyphenylethanol (DOPET)—that have therapeutic potential as nutraceuticals. Whether olive ingestion affects plasma levels of free (unconjugated) catechols has been unknown. Arm venous blood was sampled before and 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, 180, and 240 min after six healthy volunteers ate 10 Kalamata olives. Catechols were assayed by alumina extraction followed by liquid chromatography with series electrochemical detection. Plasma DOPET increased to 18.5 times baseline at 30 min (area under the curve (AUC) 39.2 ± 9.2 pmol‐min/mL, P = 0.008). 3,4‐Dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) increased markedly (peak 37.4 times baseline, AUC 23,490 ± 4,151 pmol‐min/mL, P = 0.002). The sum of 10 catechols increased 12‐fold (P < 0.0001). Eating olives produces large‐magnitude increases in plasma levels of catechols, mainly DOPAC. DOPET seems to go undergo extensive hepatic metabolism to DOPAC.
Calcium Carbonate and Phosphate Reference Materials for Monitoring Bulk and Microanalytical Determination of Sr Isotopes
Authors: Weber Michael , Lugli Federico , Jochum Klaus Peter , Cipriani Anna , Scholz Denis
Published: September 2017

In situ laser ablation analyses rely on the microanalytical homogeneity of reference materials (RMs) and a similar matrix and mass fraction between unknown samples and RMs to obtain reliable results. Suitable carbonate and phosphate RMs for determination of Sr isotope ratios in such materials are limited. Thus, we determined 87Sr/86Sr ratios of several carbonate (JCt‐1, JCp‐1, MACS‐1, MACS‐3) and phosphate (MAPS‐4, MAPS‐5, NIST SRM 1400, NIST SRM 1486) international RMs using dissolved samples and two different multi‐collector inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometers (MC‐ICP‐MS). Our Sr isotope data are in agreement with published data and have an improved measurement precision for some RMs. For MACS‐1, we present the first 87Sr/86Sr value. We tested the suitability of these materials for microanalytical analyses by LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS, with two different laser ablation systems: a conventional nanosecond laser and a state‐of‐the‐art femtosecond laser. We investigated the RMs micro‐homogeneity and compared the data with our solution data. Both laser ablation systems yielded identical 87Sr/86Sr ratios within uncertainty to the solution data for RMs with low interferences of REEs. Therefore, these carbonate and phosphate RMs can be used to achieve accurate and precise results for in situ Sr isotope investigations by LA‐MC‐ICP‐MS of similar materials.
Changes in serum chitinase 3‐like 1 levels correlate with changes in liver fibrosis measured by two established quantitative methods in chronic hepatitis B patients following antiviral therapy
Authors: Wang Lin , Liu Tianhui , Zhou Jialing , You Hong , Jia Jidong
Published: September 2017

Aim

Non‐invasive assessment of changes in liver fibrosis is still an unmet medical need in the era of antiviral therapy. Therefore, we explore whether chitinase 3‐like 1 (CHI3L1), a serum marker of liver fibrosis, can be used as a non‐invasive surrogate marker of fibrosis change during treatment.

Methods

We correlated serum CHI3L1 levels with liver tissue collagen proportionate area (CPA) in a cohort of 131 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) receiving entecavir‐based antiviral therapy for 78 weeks. In addition, we compared this marker with the liver stiffness measurement (LSM). Multivariate regression analyses were undertaken to determine the clinical factors associated with the CHI3L1 levels.

Results

Before treatment, correlation analysis showed that there were positive correlations between CHI3L1 levels and the CPA (r = 0.351, P < 0.001), and between CHI3L1 and LSM (r = 0.412, P < 0.001). After 78 weeks treatment, serum CHI3L1 levels decreased compared with that at baseline (87.8 vs. 69.6 ng/mL, P < 0.001), and CHI3L1 levels were also correlated with CPA (r = 0.293, P = 0.001) and LSM (r = 0.443, P < 0.001). Furthermore, there were positive correlations between the changes in CHI3L1 and CPA (r = 0.366, P<0.001), and changes in CHI3L1 and LSM (r = 0.438, P<0.001). Multivariate regression analyses indicated that CPA values were related with pre‐ (β = 5.450, P = 0.019) and post‐treatment CHI3L1 levels (β = 7.460, P = 0.023).

Conclusions

Chitinase 3‐like 1 is not only a useful non­invasive marker for the assessment of liver fibrosis in CHB patients before treatment, but also a potential useful marker for monitoring the change in liver fibrosis during therapy.
Engagement in European social dialogue: an investigation into the role of social partner structural capacity
Authors: Bechter Barbara , Brandl Bernd , Prosser Thomas
Published: September 2017

Despite the importance of social dialogue for the European social model, there has been little attention to the factors that account for social partner engagement with European social dialogue. On the basis of data from 28 European sectoral social dialogue committees, this article investigates structural factors that account for the conclusion of European sectoral social dialogue agreements. It is found that actors' organisational density is a necessary but not sufficient factor for successful European social dialogue and four different categories of sectoral social partner engagement with European social dialogue are identified.
Investigation of sulfide capacity of aluminosilicate slag based on ionic structure considerations
Authors: Lee Sunghee , Min Dong Joon
Published: September 2017

The present study investigated the relationship between sulfide capacity and the average nonbridging oxygens to tetrahedral cations (NBO/T) of CaO‐SiO2‐Al2O3‐MgO slags. The sulfide capacity and NBO/T increase with increasing Al2O3/SiO2 ratio and XCaO due to increasing basicity. The inflected dependence of sulfide capacity and NBO/T observed at a eutectic composition. Thermodynamic investigations revealed that the inflected dependence is caused by the effects of mixing enthalpy and entropy components in eutectic composition. Quantitative analysis of sulfide capacity and NBO/T revealed a proportional linear relationship between the two variables. Based on these experimental results, the corresponding structure‐property relationships concerning sulfide capacity, viscosity, and stability are discussed in detail.
Biologics combined with conventional systemic agents or phototherapy for the treatment of psoriasis: real‐life data from PSONET registries
Authors: Busard C.I. , Cohen A.D. , Wolf P. , Gkalpakiotis S. , Cazzaniga S. , Stern R.S. , Hutten B.A. , Feldhamer I. , Quehenberger F. , Lichem R. , Kojanova M. , Adenubiova E. , Addis A. , Naldi L. , Spuls P.I.
Published: September 2017

Background

Biologics have greatly improved psoriasis management. However, primary and secondary non‐response to treatment requires innovative strategies to optimize outcomes.

Objective

To describe the use of combined treatment of biologics with conventional systemic agents or phototherapy in daily clinical practice.

Methods

We collected data on frequency of use, demographics, treatment characteristics and drug survival of biologics combined with conventional systemic agents or phototherapy in five PSONET registries.

Results

Of 9922 biologic treatment cycles, 982 (9.9%) were identified as combination treatment. 72.9% of treatment cycles concerned concomitant use of methotrexate, 25.3% concerned concomitant UVB therapy, acitretin or cyclosporin and 1.8% concerned combined treatment with PUVA, fumaric acids or a second biologic. Substantial variation was detected in type and frequency of combination treatments prescribed across registries. Patients initiated on combined treatment had generally severe disease and were affected with psoriasis for many years. The extent to which patients had been priory treated with biologic monotherapy and the proportion of patients affected with psoriatic arthritis differed between registries. Survival rates for etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab and ustekinumab with methotrexate ranged between 43 and 92%, 28 and 83%, 65 and 87% and 53 and 77%, respectively, across registries after one year with no consistent superior survival for a particular biologic. Longest survival on a biologic combined with methotrexate, acitretin or cyclosporin was 103, 78 and 34 months, respectively.

Conclusion

Methotrexate was the most commonly used concomitant treatment for patients on a biologic. Wide geographical variations in treatment selection and persistence of combination treatment exist. Data derived from ongoing studies may help to determine whether combined treatment is superior to biologic monotherapy.
Effects of 6 Weeks of Parenteral Cobalamin Supplementation on Clinical and Biochemical Variables in Cats with Gastrointestinal Disease
Authors: Kempf J. , Hersberger M. , Melliger R.H. , Reusch C.E. , Kook P.H.
Published: September 2017

Background

Effects and duration of commonly used protocols for cobalamin (Cbl) supplementation on cellular Cbl deficiency have not been determined in hypocobalaminemic cats.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To evaluate effect of Cbl supplementation on clinical signs, serum and urine methylmalonic acid (MMA) concentrations over 16 weeks.

Animals

Twenty client‐owned hypocobalaminemic cats with enteropathy.

Methods

Prospective study. Serum Cbl and serum and urine MMA concentrations were determined prospectively in cats at enrollment (t0), immediately before (t6), and 4 (t10) and 10 weeks (t16) after 6th Cbl injection (250 μg, IM q 7 days). Clinical signs severity (activity, appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, body weight) graded at each time point and expressed as clinical disease activity score.

Results

Clinical disease activity score decreased during supplementation and increased after treatment discontinuation. Median serum Cbl concentration increased significantly from t0 (111 pmol/L, range 111–212) to t6 (2,332.5 pmol/L, range 123–22,730) (P < 0.01). Values at t10 were 610.5 pmol/L (range, 111–2,527) and 180.5 pmol/L (range, 111–2,262) at t16 (P < 0.01). Median baseline serum MMA concentration (372 μmol/L, range 0.39–147,000) decreased significantly to 1.62 μmol/L (range, 0.18–806) at t6 (P < 0.01) and gradually increased to 5.34 μmol/L (range, 0.13–1,730) at t10 and 189 μmol/L (range, 0.4–983) at t16. Similar, nonsignificant, pattern observed for urine MMA concentration. Serum and urine MMA concentrations had not normalized in 12 and 6 cats, respectively, at t6.

Conclusion and Clinical Importance

The Cbl supplementation protocol used here did not lead to complete normalization of cellular Cbl deficiency in all examined cats, and biochemical improvements were transient.
Hepatitis C virus core protein induces hepatic steatosis via Sirt1‐dependent pathway
Authors: Zhang Chuanhai , Wang Jingjing , Zhang Hanlin , Liu Shunai , Lee Hyuek Jong , Jin Wanzhu , Cheng Jun
Published: September 2017

Background & Aims

Hepatic steatosis is a common feature of patients with chronic hepatitis C. Previous reports have shown that the overexpression of hepatitis C virus core‐encoding sequences (hepatitis C virus genotypes 3a and 1b) significantly induces intracellular triglyceride accumulation. However, the underlying mechanism has not yet been revealed.

Methods

To investigate whether Sirt1 is involved in hepatitis C virus‐mediated hepatic steatosis, the overexpression of hepatitis C virus core 1b protein and Sirt1 and the knockdown of Sirt1 in HepG2 cells were performed. To confirm the results of the cellular experiment liver‐specific Sirt1 KO mice with lentivirus‐mediated hepatitis C virus core 1b overexpression were studied.

Results

Our results show that hepatitis C virus core 1b protein overexpression led to the accumulation of triglycerides in HepG2 cells. Notably the expression of PPARγ2 was dramatically increased at both the mRNA and protein levels by hepatitis C virus core 1b overexpression. The protein expression of Sirt1 is an upstream regulator of PPARγ2 and was also significantly increased after core 1b overexpression. In addition, the overexpression or knockdown of Sirt1 expression alone was sufficient to modulate p300‐mediated PPARγ2 deacetylation. In vivo studies showed that hepatitis C virus core protein 1b‐induced hepatic steatosis was attenuated in liver‐specific Sirt1 KO mice by downregulation of PPARγ2 expression.

Conclusions

Sirt1 mediates hepatitis C virus core protein 1b‐induced hepatic steatosis by regulation of PPARγ2 expression.
Exploring how viruses enhance plants' resilience to drought and the limits to this form of viral payback
Authors: Carr John Peter
Published: September 2017

This article comments on: Virulence determines beneficial trade‐offs in the response of virus‐infected plants to drought via induction of salicylic acid
Immediate and Long‐Term Benefits of In‐Store Return Experience
Authors: Ertekin Necati
Published: September 2017

This study contributes to the understanding of customer relationship management by assessing how an in‐store customer return experience can influence customer exchange behavior and satisfaction during a return event, and customer repurchase behavior following a return event. Exchanges, satisfaction, and repurchases are potential customer relationship management outcomes that may contribute to customer lifetime value. We empirically examine these outcomes with respect to two store labor factors: salesperson competence and selling pressure. Using transactional data and 7921 customer satisfaction survey responses obtained from a jewelry retailer, we demonstrate an in‐store return experience may contribute to customer lifetime value more through future purchases than through immediate exchanges. We show convincing customers to exchange their returns may decrease their future purchases if customers are dissatisfied with their return experience. Our results suggest, in order to increase both exchanges and future purchases, retailers should improve the competence of employees who handle returns and abstain from using selling pressure during a return experience. We also conduct a counterfactual analysis to assess the impact on net sales of several return experience improvement initiatives. Overall, our analysis provides evidence that an in‐store return experience represents a significant opportunity for retailers when handled carefully.
The Diffusion of Tolerance: Birth Cohort Changes in the Effects of Education and Income on Political Tolerance
Authors: Schwadel Philip , Garneau Christopher R. H.
Published: September 2017

Political tolerance—the willingness to extend civil liberties to traditionally stigmatized groups—is pivotal to the functioning of democracy and the well‐being of members of stigmatized groups. Although political tolerance has traditionally been more common among American elites, we argue that as tolerance has increased, it has also diffused to less educated and less affluent segments of the population. The relative stability of political attitudes over the life course and the socialization of more recent birth cohorts in contexts of increased tolerance suggest that this diffusion of tolerance occurs across birth cohorts rather than time periods. Using age‐period‐cohort models and more than three and a half decades of repeated cross‐sectional survey data, we find persistent and robust across‐cohort declines in the importance of both income and higher education in determining levels of political tolerance. Declines in the effects of socioeconomic status are evident with tolerance toward all five out‐groups in the analysis—anti‐religionists, gays and lesbians, communists, militarists, and racists—but to varying degrees. These findings fit with a model of changes in public opinion, particularly views of civil and political rights, through processes of cultural diffusion and cohort replacement.
Education, Perceived Control, and Volunteering
Authors: Son Joonmo , Wilson John
Published: September 2017

The consistent effect of education on volunteering has been explained in a number of ways. In this study we test the hypothesis that perceived control beliefs are partly responsible. Using two waves of panel data from National Survey of Midlife in the United States we estimated cross‐lagged structural equation models in which education is positioned as the exogenous variable and perceived control and volunteering are allowed to be reciprocally related across the two waves. We find that perceived control predicts volunteering, but there is no reciprocal effect: volunteering has no effect on sense of control. One reason, therefore, that educated people are more likely to volunteer is that they have stronger control beliefs. The findings enrich the theory of volunteering by introducing the idea of agency, showing one way in which resources influence the decision to volunteer.
Preservice History Teachers’ Perceptions of Subject Matter Competency
Authors: Yıldırım Tercan , Yazıcı Fatih
Published: September 2017

Teachers should be able to understand conceptual constructs, viewpoints, and principles related to their field and organize teaching process accordingly. This is valid also for history teachers. They are expected to comprehend the basic conceptions related to subject areas and reflect them on classroom practices. The association between subject matter and pedagogy is significant for the quality of teaching. The drawbacks in content knowledge cause deficiencies in learning and a tendency to handle subjects in a similar manner. The aim of this study was to investigate preservice history teachers’ perceptions of content knowledge in terms of different variables. Within this scope, Scale of Perceived Competence in History as a Subject Matter was used as the data collection tool. The participants were composed of 305 preservice history teachers receiving pedagogical formation education at 3 different universities in Turkey during 2016-2017 academic year. In this study, it was investigated whether participants’ perceptions of subject matter competency differed in terms of gender, graduation high school, order and reason of choosing the program studied, city of program studied, and general academic average.
Additions to the Philippine oribatid mite fauna, with description of a new species of the genus Malaconothrus (Acari, Oribatida, Malaconothridae)
Authors: Ermilov Sergey G. , Corpuz-Raros Leonila , Naredo Jeremy
Published: September 2017

The present study is based on oribatid mite materials (Acari, Oribatida) collected from Luzon, Cebu and Siargao Islands of the Philippines in 2016. A list of identified taxa, including 137 species from 88 genera and 43 families, is presented; of these, eight species (Malaconothrus macrofoveolatus, Hermanniella granulata, Eremobelba breviseta, Pulchroppia granulata, Striatoppia opuntiseta, Suctobelbella (Flagrosuctobelba) multiplumosa, Perxylobates brevisetus, Allogalumna (Globogalumna) biporosa), and one family (Licnodamaeidae) are recorded in the fauna of this country for the first time; three species (Hexachaetoniella japonica, Austrocarabodes lepidus, Porogalumnella quadriporosa) and one genus (Hexachaetoniella) are recorded in the Oriental region for the first time. A new species belonging to the genus Malaconothrus (Malaconothridae) is described from litter on top of fallen log of Luzon Island; M. pseudoadilatatus Ermilov & Corpuz-Raros sp. nov. differs from M. adilatatus Ermilov, Anichkin & Tolstikov, 2014 by the thicker and longer notogastral setae c1–c3, cp, d1, d2, e1, f2, h1, thick lamellar setae pressed to the prodorsal surface, adanal setae ad2, ad3 dilated mediobasally with attenuate tips and phylliform epimeral setae 3b, 3c.
Discovery of a new species of genus Typhlodromus Scheuten (Acari: Phytoseiidae: Typhlodrominae) on rocky shore habitat from Lanyu Island
Authors: Liao Jhih-Rong , Ho Chyi-Chen , Ko Chiun-Cheng
Published: September 2017

Phytoseiid mites have been intensively surveyed in Taiwan during the past decades because of their potential as biological control agent. Despite the fact, many regions of Taiwan remain under-explored especially in mountain areas and neighboring islands. Typhlodromus (Anthoseius) crossostephium sp. nov. was collected from Crossostephium chinense (L.) Makino (Asteraceae) on rocky shore habitat during a survey on Lanyu Island. In this paper, presence of a phytoseiid mite on rocky shores is reported for the first time. A detailed morphological description of the new species and a key to the Taiwanese species of subgenus Anthoseius are provided.
Papers of note in
Nature
549
(7670)
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: September 2017

This week’s articles identify microbial metabolites that stimulate GPCRs; a transmembrane protein that maintains PD-L1 at the plasma membrane; immune enhancer elements that respond to specific extracellular signals; a signaling pathway that defines the right side of the vertebrate embryo; functions for ionotropic glutamate receptors in plants; and structural features of AMPA receptors during activation and desensitization.