bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Time-lag analysis of the agenda-building process between White House public relations and congressional policymaking activity
Authors: Schweickart Tiffany , Neil Jordan , Kim Ji Young , Kiousis Spiro
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the linkages between public relations efforts and policymaking activity during a non-election setting.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a time-lag design, this study used content analysis to examine public relations materials and policymaking activity during the first six months of US President Barack Obama’s second term. The public relations data were collected from the official White House website and social media. The policymaking data were collected from congressional calendars of business.

Findings

The data revealed varying degrees of support across the three levels of agenda-building for issues, attributes, and issue/attribute co-occurrence. Contrary to the expected relationship that public relations drives policymaking activity, the data suggest that policymaking activity was a stronger predictor of public relations material.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides modest support for time-lag agenda-building effects across three levels. However, future experimental research is needed to truly assess causal relationships. Future research should also explore alternative sources of data for policymaking activity.

Practical implications

This study demonstrates that the efficacy of information subsidy types is not uniform and should be chosen strategically. Traditional subsidy types were most effective for driving issues, while digital subsidy types provided more useful outlets for driving issue attributes.

Originality/value

This study contributes to political public relations scholarship by exploring the temporal relationships between public relations efforts and policymaking activity in a non-election setting. The time-lag design serves as an exploratory inquiry into the agenda-building process.
The buffering effect of industry-wide crisis history during crisis
Authors: Lee Seul , Kim Sora
Published: November 2016

Purpose

Two questions guide this study: “Do two crisis history types (i.e. organization-specific vs industry-wide) have the same effect on publics’ perception of the organization in a crisis?” And “Is there any significant difference in public responses between the high and low levels of issue involvement?” The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

A two organization-specific crisis history (frequent vs infrequent) × two industry-wide crisis history (frequent vs infrequent) × two consumer issue involvement (high vs low) between-subjects experimental design was employed.

Findings

This experiment suggests that an industry-wide crisis history can mitigate negative damages of a crisis, while an organization-specific crisis history intensifies the damages. This indicates that crisis history types should be considered as an important factor when diagnosing appropriate crisis response strategies during crisis. This study also identifies a stronger negative impact of an organization-specific crisis history among highly issue-involved publics than less involved publics.

Originality/value

This study extends situational crisis communication theory by identifying the buffering impact of an industry-wide crisis history and adding crisis history type as an influencer in the process of the publics’ crisis responsibility attributions.
Efficacy and safety of dose escalation of infliximab therapy in Japanese patients with psoriasis: Results of the SPREAD study
Authors: Torii Hideshi , Nakano Masayuki , Yano Toshiro , Kondo Kazuoki , Nakagawa Hidemi ,   The SPREAD Study Group
Published: November 2016

Although infliximab is approved for psoriasis, its efficacy is reduced over time in some patients. The aim of this phase III trial is to evaluate efficacy and safety of infliximab dose escalation in Japanese psoriasis patients with loss of efficacy to standard‐dose therapy. Patients with plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, pustular psoriasis or psoriatic erythroderma who showed loss of efficacy to standard‐dose therapy received infliximab dose escalation (10 mg/kg every 8 weeks) from weeks 0 to 32. Loss of efficacy was defined as not maintaining 50% reduction in the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI 50) after achieving PASI 75. Efficacy and safety were evaluated up to week 40. Fifty‐one patients received dose escalation and 43 completed the study. PASI 75 and median improvement rate of PASI score at week 40 were 44% and 70.0%, respectively, showing efficacy in skin symptoms. Efficacies in quality of life, nail psoriasis and joint pain were also obtained. Median serum infliximab level increased from less than 0.1 to 1.1 μg/mL from weeks 0 to 40, showing positive correlation between efficacy and serum infliximab level at week 40. Favorable efficacy was observed in patients with detectable serum infliximab levels (≥0.1 μg/mL) at baseline. Incidences of adverse events, serious adverse events, serious infections and serious infusion reactions were 92%, 10%, 4% and 0%, respectively. No marked difference was observed in both efficacy and safety among psoriasis types. No new safety concerns were observed. Infliximab dose escalation was effective and well‐tolerated in psoriasis patients with loss of efficacy to standard‐dose therapy, suggesting that dose escalation may be a useful therapeutic option for these patients.
Phylogenetic relatedness, phenotypic similarity and plant–soil feedbacks
Authors: Fitzpatrick Connor R. , Gehant Laura , Kotanen Peter M. , Johnson Marc T. J.
Published: November 2016

Plant–soil feedbacks contribute to species invasions, the maintenance of biodiversity and climate change impacts on terrestrial ecosystems. Despite their far‐reaching importance, we lack a general understanding of the ecological and evolutionary determinants of plant–soil feedbacks.

We conducted a large‐scale plant–soil feedback experiment using 49 co‐occurring plant species from southern Ontario, Canada, representing a wide phylogenetic range. We tested whether the effects of soil conditioning vary among these species and whether different focal species respond similarly to the same soil conditioning. Next, we investigated whether plant traits and soil feedbacks depend on phylogenetic similarity and which plant traits affect plant–soil feedbacks between pairs of plant species. Finally, we used our experimental results to test whether soil feedbacks affect co‐occurrence of species in the field.

We found evidence of both strong positive and negative soil feedbacks between pairs of plant species. Our soil‐conditioning treatment explained nearly 20% of the variation in focal species performance.

Phylogenetic relatedness and phenotypic similarity between plant species were unrelated to the strength of their soil feedback. However, numerous plant traits of the conditioning species influenced the strength of soil feedbacks on focal species, including specific leaf area and total above‐ground productivity. Trait differences between species were also predictive of plant–soil feedbacks, though for some pairs of species, increased trait differences were associated with positive plant–soil feedbacks and for others, trait differences were associated with negative plant–soil feedbacks.

Plant species co‐occurrence in the field was related to their experimentally determined soil feedbacks but only for particular plant species.

Synthesis. Our results illustrate how evolutionary history and phenotypic variation shape plant–soil feedbacks and highlight the need for trait‐based studies. Due to the unique evolutionary history of individual traits and the variability in their importance across all possible interacting species, we show that indices of overall phenotypic and phylogenetic relatedness are poor predictors of plant–soil feedbacks at large phylogenetic scales. We conclude that a detailed trait‐based approach can be used to predict plant–soil feedbacks, and laboratory measures of soil feedbacks can explain patterns of co‐occurrence in nature.
Copper toxicity response influences mesotrophic Synechococcus community structure
Authors: Stuart Rhona K. , Bundy Randelle , Buck Kristen , Ghassemain Majid , Barbeau Kathy , Palenik Brian
Published: November 2016

Picocyanobacteria from the genus Synechococcus are ubiquitous in ocean waters. Their phylogenetic and genomic diversity suggests ecological niche differentiation, but the selective forces influencing this are not well defined. Marine picocyanobacteria are sensitive to Cu toxicity, so adaptations to this stress could represent a selective force within, and between, ‘species’, also known as clades. Here, we compared Cu stress responses in cultures and natural populations of marine Synechococcus from two co‐occurring major mesotrophic clades (I and IV). Using custom microarrays and proteomics to characterize expression responses to Cu in the lab and field, we found evidence for a general stress regulon in marine Synechococcus. However, the two clades also exhibited distinct responses to copper. The Clade I representative induced expression of genomic island genes in cultures and Southern California Bight populations, while the Clade IV representative downregulated Fe‐limitation proteins. Copper incubation experiments suggest that Clade IV populations may harbour stress‐tolerant subgroups, and thus fitness tradeoffs may govern Cu‐tolerant strain distributions. This work demonstrates that Synechococcus has distinct adaptive strategies to deal with Cu toxicity at both the clade and subclade level, implying that metal toxicity and stress response adaptations represent an important selective force for influencing diversity within marine Synechococcus populations.
Sensory characterisation of a high‐protein beverage
Authors: Nam Seung‐Hee , Wagh Ashwini , Martini Silvana , Walsh Marie K
Published: November 2016

This study investigated the use of sonication to increase the light transmission of protein solutions. Sonicating a five per cent whey/soy blend at pH 4 resulted in a threefold higher light transmission. Sensory analysis showed that panellists preferred the transparency of the sonicated beverage, whereas the smell and flavour of the control beverage were preferred. Overall appearance, colour and mouthfeel were not different. Panellists who preferred the control liked its creamy thickness, while those who preferred the sonicated liked the transparency. Data show that panellists who want a high protein content in their drinks are not looking for clear beverages.
Mechanisms of Oxidative Processes in Meat and Toxicity Induced by Postprandial Degradation Products: A Review
Authors: Papuc Camelia , Goran Gheorghe V. , Predescu Corina N. , Nicorescu Valentin
Published: November 2016

Antioxidant system loss after slaughtering, reactive species production, cell disruption, contact with oxygen and light, heme and nonheme iron, and irradiation starts up mainly by 2 related oxidative processes: lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. Products generated in these processes are responsible for meat quality loss, and some of them are suspected to be toxic to humans. This review article is focused on reactive species implicated in oxidative processes in meat, on lipid peroxidation mechanisms, heme protein, and nonheme protein oxidation, and on some toxic oxidation and digestion products. Nonenzymatic fatty acid peroxidation is exemplified by an arachidonic acyl group, and the initiation of chain reaction can be described by 3 pathways: singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical from the Fenton reaction, and perferrylmyoglobin. Enzymatic oxidation of fatty acids is exemplified using linoleic acid, and the main characteristics of lipoxygenase are also presented. Heme protein oxidation is described in an interrelation with lipid peroxidation and the significance for food quality is shown. For protein oxidation, 3 different mechanism types are described: oxidation of amino acid residues, oxidation of protein backbone, and reactions of proteins with carbonyl compounds from lipid peroxidation. The effects of oxidative damage on protein properties and bioavailability are also shown. At the end of each oxidative process, the postprandial toxicity induced by oxidation products and the dietary degradation products are presented. Also discussed are reports by some researchers who suggest that dietary lipid and protein oxidation products and heme iron from red meat are in part cytotoxic and/or genotoxic.
Cooking‐Induced Protein Modifications in Meat
Authors: Yu Tzer‐Yang , Morton James D. , Clerens Stefan , Dyer Jolon M.
Published: November 2016

Food ingredients commonly undergo heat treatment. Meat, in particular, is typically consumed after some form of heating, such as boiling or roasting. Heating of meat can introduce a wide range of structural changes in its proteinaceous components. At the 3‐dimensional structural level, meat proteins may denature and form aggregates upon heating. At the molecular level, primary structure (amino acid residue) alterations reported in cooked meat include protein carbonylation, modification of aromatic residues, and the formation of Maillard reaction products. Identification of these modifications is essential for determining the mechanism of thermal processing of meat and allowing better control of the nutritional and functional properties of products. This article reviews and summarizes the current state of understanding of protein modifications at the molecular level in commonly consumed mammalian food. In addition, relevant case studies relating to characterization of heat‐induced amino acid residue‐level modifications in other biological materials such as milk and wool are discussed to provide complementary insights.
Determination of S‐methyl‐L‐methionine (SMM) from Brassicaceae Family Vegetables and Characterization of the Intestinal Transport of SMM by Caco‐2 Cells
Authors: Song Ji‐Hoon , Lee Hae‐Rim , Shim Soon‐Mi
Published: November 2016

The objectives of the current study were to determine S‐methyl‐L‐methionine (SMM) from various Brassicaceae family vegetables by using validated analytical method and to characterize the intestinal transport mechanism of SMM by the Caco‐2 cells. The SMM is well known to provide therapeutic activity in peptic ulcers. The amount of SMM from various Brassicaceae family vegetables ranged from 89.08 ± 1.68 μg/g to 535.98 ± 4.85 μg/g of dry weight by using validated ultra‐performance liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐mass spectrometry method. For elucidating intestinal transport mechanism, the cells were incubated with or without transport inhibitors, energy source, or a metabolic inhibitor. Phloridzin and verapamil as inhibitors of sodium glucose transport protein (SGLT1) and P‐glycoprotein, respectively, were not responsible for cellular uptake of SMM. Glucose and sodium azide were not affected by the cellular accumulation of SMM. The efflux ratio of SMM was 0.26, implying that it is not effluxed through Caco‐2 cells. The apparent coefficient permeability (Papp) of SMM was 4.69 × 10−5 cm/s, indicating that it will show good oral absorption in in vivo.
The Use of Cardiac Orienting Responses as an Early and Scalable Biomarker of Alcohol‐Related Neurodevelopmental Impairment
Authors: Mesa Diego A. , Kable Julie A. , Coles Claire D. , Jones Kenneth Lyons , Yevtushok Lyubov , Kulikovsky Yaroslav , Wertelecki Wladimir , Coleman Todd P. , Chambers Christina D. ,   the CIFASD
Published: November 2016

Background

Considered the leading cause of developmental disabilities worldwide, fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are a global health problem. To take advantage of neural plasticity, early identification of affected infants is critical. The cardiac orienting response (COR) has been shown to be sensitive to the effects of prenatal alcohol exposure and is an inexpensive, easy to administer assessment tool. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the COR effectiveness in assessing individual risk of developmental delay.

Methods

As part of an ongoing longitudinal cohort study in Ukraine, live‐born infants of women with some to heavy amounts of alcohol consumption in pregnancy were recruited and compared to infants of women who consumed low or no alcohol. At 6 and 12 months, infants were evaluated with the Bayley Scales of Infant Development‐II. CORs were also collected during a habituation/dishabituation learning paradigm. Using a supervised logistic regression classifier, we compared the predictive utility of the COR indices to that of the 6‐month Bayley scores for identification of developmental delay based on 12‐month Bayley scores. Heart rate collected at each second (Standard COR) was compared to key features (Key COR) extracted from the response.

Results

Negative predictive values (NPV) were 85% for Standard COR, 82% for Key COR, and 77% for the Bayley, and positive predictive values (PPV) were 66% for Standard COR, 62% for Key COR, and 43% for the Bayley.

Conclusions

Predictive analysis based on the COR resulted in better NPV and PPV than the 6‐month Bayley score. As the resources required to obtain a Bayley score are substantially more than in a COR‐based paradigm, the findings are suggestive of its utility as an early scalable screening tool based on the COR. Further work is needed to test its long‐term predictive accuracy.
Effects of polyethylene glycol and a synthetic ice blocker during vitrification of immature porcine oocytes on survival and subsequent embryo development
Authors: Santos Elisa Caroline da Silva , Somfai Tamas , Appeltant Ruth , Dang‐Nguyen Thanh Quang , Noguchi Junko , Kaneko Hiroyuki , Kikuchi Kazuhiro
Published: November 2016

We evaluated the effects of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and Supercool X‐1000 (SC) as supplements during the vitrification of immature cumulus‐enclosed porcine oocytes in a solution based on 17.5% ethylene glycol + 17.5% propylene glycol. After warming, the oocytes were subjected to in vitro maturation, fertilization and embryo culture. In Experiment 1, equilibration and vitrification solutions were supplemented with or without 2% (w/v) PEG (PEG+ and PEG‐, respectively). The survival rate, cleavage and blastocyst development were similar between PEG+ and PEG‐ groups; however, all values were lower than those in the non‐vitrified control. In Experiment 2, vitrification solution was supplemented with or without 1% (v/v) SC (SC+ and SC‐, respectively). The percentages of survival and blastocyst development were similar between SC+ and SC‐ groups but lower than those in the non‐vitrified control. The percentage of cleavage in the SC‐ group was significantly lower than the control and the SC+ groups, which were in turn similar to one another. In both experiments, the cell numbers in blastocysts were not significantly different among the non‐vitrified and vitrified groups. In conclusion, PEG did not improve oocyte survival and embryo development, whereas SC improved the ability of surviving oocytes to cleave but not to develop into blastocysts.
Pharmacovigilance Skills, Knowledge and Attitudes in our Future Doctors – A Nationwide Study in the Netherlands
Authors: Schutte Tim , Tichelaar Jelle , Reumerman Michael O. , van Eekeren Rike , Rissmann Robert , Kramers Cornelis , Richir Milan C. , van Puijenbroek Eugène P. , van Agtmael Michiel A. ,   the Education Committee/Working Group Research in Education of the Dutch Society of Clinical Pharmacology and Biopharmacy (NVKF&B), Utrecht, The Netherlands
Published: November 2016

Pharmacovigilance centres monitor the safety of drugs, based on adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported by doctors, pharmacists and pharmaceutical companies. However, the under‐reporting of ADRs remains a major problem. Our aim was to investigate preparedness of future doctors for their role in pharmacovigilance, by assessing their pharmacovigilance awareness, skills and knowledge. The study was a nationwide e‐survey among medical students (third to sixth year) of all eight medical schools in the Netherlands. The survey consisted of questions regarding pharmacovigilance awareness, skills and knowledge. Overall, 874 students provided informed consent and participated (response 12%). Almost all students (96%) intended to report serious ADRs in their future practice. Almost half (44%) of the students did not know where to report an ADR, and 78% did not know which items were necessary for a good‐quality ADR report. While more than 78% of the students agreed that pharmacovigilance is an important topic in their medical education, only 26% found that their current curriculum covered pharmacovigilance adequately. Although ADR reporting is considered relevant and important among future doctors, many do not know where and what to report. This is highly undesirable and should have consequences for pharmacotherapy teaching.
Reversing defaunation by trophic rewilding in empty forests
Authors: Galetti Mauro , Pires Alexandra S. , Brancalion Pedro H.S. , Fernandez Fernando A.S.
Published: November 2016

Defaunation has a major driver of biodiversity loss in tropical forests. Here we discuss how to reverse defaunation by re‐introducing key species in defaunated or restored forests.
Factors Influencing Church Choice: An Exploration of Responses from New Attendees at Growing Canadian Mainline Churches
Authors: Haskell David Millard , Burgoyne Stephanie , Flatt Kevin N.
Published: November 2016

Seventy new attendees of growing Mainline Protestant churches in Canada agreed to be interviewed regarding what attracted them to, and kept them at, their current congregation. A variety of responses revealed that, in part, the new attendees were drawn to their Mainline Protestant church by aspects of Conservative Protestant theology. Contemporary theories of group membership are used to explore the links between Conservative Protestant theology, group cohesion, and, to a lesser extent, church growth.

Soixante‐dix nouveaux participants provenant d'une église protestante traditionnelle au Canada en croissance ont accepté d’être interviewés au sujet des caractéristiques qui les ont attirés et qui les ont gardés à leur congrégation actuelle. Une variété de réponses a démontré que, en partie, les nouveaux participants ont été attirés par leur église protestante traditionnelle par les aspects de la théologie protestante conservatrice. Les théories contemporaines de l'appartenance au groupe sont utilisées pour explorer les liens entre la théologie protestante conservatrice, la cohésion du groupe, et dans une moindre mesure, la croissance de l’église.
Toward a Sociology of the Reconciliation of Conflicting Desires
Authors: O'Donnell Susan , Perley David
Published: November 2016

Desire‐based research provides people and communities the opportunity to share their dreams and hopes for a better future. However, conflicting desires are difficult to reconcile. We suggest that sociological research to understand conflicting desires is required to support reconciliation work by Indigenous and non‐Indigenous people in Canada. Our contribution begins by identifying much of current and past sociological research about Indigenous people and communities as damaged‐centered, that is, identifying problems and obstacles in the hope that the knowledge will lead to change. This model of social change is flawed. We believe that most Canadians desire justice for Indigenous peoples while at the same time desiring land and access to resources, desires that deny that justice. How we as a society reconcile these desires will determine the extent to which true justice for Indigenous peoples will be achieved. We propose a sociology of the reconciliation of conflicting desires and suggest some practical ways that this type of research could move forward.
Designed inhibitor for nuclear localization signal of polo‐like kinase 1 induces mitotic arrest
Authors: Chen Fangjin , Zhuo Xiaolong , Qin Tan , Guo Xiao , Zhang Chuanmao , Lai Luhua
Published: November 2016

Polo‐like kinase 1 (Plk1), a member of polo‐like kinase family, regulates multiple essential steps of the cell cycle progression. Plk1 is overexpressed in multiple cancer cell lines and considered to be a prime anticancer target. Plk1 accumulates in the nucleus during S and G2 phases by its bipartite nuclear localization signal (NLS) sequence, which is crucial for Plk1 regulation during normal cell cycle progression. Here, through combined computational and experimental studies, we identified compound D110, which inhibits Plk1 kinase activity with an IC50 of 85 nm and blocks the nuclear localization of Plk1 during S and G2 phases. D110‐treated cancer cells were arrested at mitosis with monopolar spindle, indicating the inhibition of the Plk1 kinase activity in cell. As D110 interacts with both the ATP site and the NLS in Plk1, it demonstrates good selectivity toward Plk2 and Plk3. The strategy of simultaneously inhibiting kinase activity and its subcellular translocations offers a novel approach for selective kinase inhibitor design.
Individually dosed omalizumab: an effective treatment for severe peanut allergy
Authors: Brandström J. , Vetander M. , Lilja G. , Johansson S. G. O. , Sundqvist A.‐C. , Kalm F. , Nilsson C. , Nopp A.
Published: November 2016

Background

Treatment with omalizumab has shown a positive effect on food allergies, but no dosages are established. Basophil allergen threshold sensitivity (CD‐sens) can be used to objectively measure omalizumab treatment efficacy and correlates with the outcome of double‐blind placebo‐controlled food challenge to peanut.

Objective

To evaluate whether individualized omalizumab treatment monitored by CD‐sens could be an effective intervention for suppression of allergic reactions to peanut.

Methods

Severely peanut allergic adolescents (n = 23) were treated with omalizumab for 8 weeks, and CD‐sens was analysed before and after. Based on whether CD‐sens was suppressed after 8 weeks, the patients either were subject to a peanut challenge or received eight more weeks with increased dose of omalizumab, followed by peanut challenge or another 8‐week cycle of omalizumab. IgE and IgE‐antibodies to peanut and its components were analysed before treatment.

Results

After individualized omalizumab treatment (8–24 weeks), all patients continued with an open peanut challenge with no (n = 18) or mild (n = 5) objective allergic symptoms. Patients (n = 15) needing an elevated omalizumab dose (ED) to suppress CD‐sens had significantly higher CD‐sens values at baseline 1.49 (0.44–20.5) compared to those (n = 8) who managed with normal dose (ND) 0.32 (0.24–5.5) (P < 0.01). Median ratios for Ara h 2 IgE‐ab/IgE were significantly higher in the ED group (17%) compared to the ND group (11%).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Individually dosed omalizumab, monitored by CD‐sens, is an effective and safe treatment for severe peanut allergy. The ratio of IgE‐ab to storage protein Ara h 2/IgE as well as CD‐sens to peanut may predict the need of a higher omalizumab dose. Clinical trials numbers: EudraCT; 2012‐005625‐78, ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02402231.
Integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound in pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction
Authors: Hainsworth A. J. , Solanki D. , Hamad A. , Morris S. J. , Schizas A. M. P. , Williams A. B.
Published: November 2016

Aim

Imaging for pelvic floor defaecatory dysfunction includes defaecation proctography. Integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound (transvaginal, transperineal, endoanal) may be an alternative. This study assesses ultrasound accuracy for the detection of rectocele, intussusception, enterocele and dyssynergy compared with defaecation proctography, and determines if ultrasound can predict symptoms and findings on proctography. Treatment is examined.

Method

Images of 323 women who underwent integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound and defaecation proctography between 2011 and 2014 were blindly reviewed. The size and grade of rectocele, enterocele, intussusception and dyssynergy were noted on both, using proctography as the gold standard. Barium trapping in a rectocele or a functionally significant enterocele was noted on proctography. Demographics and Obstructive Defaecation Symptom scores were collated.

Results

The positive predictive value of ultrasound was 73% for rectocele, 79% for intussusception and 91% for enterocele. The negative predictive value for dyssynergy was 99%. Agreement was moderate for rectocele and intussusception, good for enterocele and fair for dyssynergy. The majority of rectoceles that required surgery (59/61) and caused barium trapping (85/89) were detected on ultrasound. A rectocele seen on both transvaginal and transperineal scanning was more likely to require surgery than if seen with only one mode (P = 0.0001). If there was intussusception on ultrasound the patient was more likely to have surgery (P = 0.03). An enterocele visualized on ultrasound was likely to be functionally significant on proctography (P = 0.02). There was, however, no association between findings on imaging and symptoms.

Conclusion

Integrated total pelvic floor ultrasound provides a useful screening tool for women with defaecatory dysfunction such that defaecatory imaging can avoided in some.
Impact of acute kidney injury following liver transplantation on long‐term outcomes
Authors: Trinh Emilie , Alam Ahsan , Tchervenkov Jean , Cantarovich Marcelo
Published: November 2016

Background

The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after liver transplantation (LTx) ranges from 17% to 94%. AKI is associated with prolonged hospitalization and increased early mortality. In our cohort study, we examined the impact of AKI on long‐term patient survival and on the incidence of stage 4‐5 chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods

We studied 491 LTx recipients at a single center between 1990 and 2012. We identified 278 pts (56.6%) with AKI defined as either an increase in serum creatinine (SCr) ≥26.5 μmol/L within 48 hour or elevation in SCr 1.5× baseline within 7 days (KDIGO criteria).

Results

In a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model, survival was worse in patients with AKI (HR: 1.41, 95% CI 1.03‐1.92). Severe (stage 3) AKI was associated with worse patient survival (HR: 2.29, 95% CI 1.46‐3.58). The risk of developing stage 4‐5 CKD was also higher in patients with AKI (17.5% vs 9.1%) with a HR of 2.39 (95% CI 1.27‐4.47). Delaying initiation of calcineurin inhibitors >48H was not associated with a decreased risk of CKD.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that AKI after LTx is associated with poor long‐term outcomes, including worse survival and higher incidence of CKD stage 4‐5. Strategies to prevent and manage LTx patients with AKI need to be developed.
Assessing the effectiveness of China's protected areas to conserve current and future amphibian diversity
Authors: Chen Youhua , Zhang Jian , Jiang Jianping , Nielsen Scott E. , He Fangliang
Published: November 2016

Aim

Protected areas are an important tool for conserving species. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of protected areas to conserve amphibian biodiversity in response to future changes in climate and land use.

Location

China.

Methods

Range maps and occurrence records of amphibian species in China were analysed separately using ensemble species distribution modelling across three spatial scales to assess scale dependency. Climate velocity and corresponding residence time in protected areas and species’ ranges were calculated, together with a number of other effectiveness indices.

Results

Predicted declines in amphibian richness, endemism, phylogenetic diversity, phylogenetic endemism and suitable habitat were lower in protected than in unprotected areas, complementary‐priority sites or richness hotspots. However, less‐disturbed amphibian habitat, calculated from current and future projected land use data, in both protected and unprotected areas were consistently lost over time although this reduction was lower in protected areas. Although residence time of precipitation was longer in protected areas and within species’ ranges in protected areas, resident time of temperature was significantly shorter in both. These results were consistent regardless of data sources and spatial scales.

Main conclusions

China's current protected areas are predicted to maintain future amphibian distribution and diversity, but are insufficient in preventing the losses of suitable climate and areas of less‐disturbed habitat. The top 10% of future conservation gaps for amphibians were identified in China based on performance of effectiveness indices. The two largest gaps prioritized for future protected areas include the southern parts of Tibet and the Hengduan Mountains.
Speech affordances: A structural take on how much we can do with our words
Authors: Ayala Saray
Published: November 2016

Individuals can do a broad variety of things with their words and enjoy different degrees of this capacity. What moderates this capacity? And in cases in which this capacity is unjustly disrupted, what is a good explanation for it? These are the questions I address here. I propose that speech capacity, understood as the capacity to do things with your words, is a structural property importantly dependent on individuals' position in a social structure. My account facilitates a non‐individualistic explanation of cases in which speech capacity is undermined due to speaker's perceived social identity, e.g. episodes of silencing. Instead of appealing to interlocutors' implicit bias against speaker's identity, a structural approach refers to the positions interlocutors occupy in the social structure and the discursive conventions operating upon those positions. I articulate my proposal drawing on the notion of affordances. Each position within a social structure is associated with its own range of speech affordances. Thus, speech capacity is a function of the probability distribution of speech affordances across positions in the structure.
Landscape‐scale spatial abundance distributions discriminate core from random components of boreal lake bacterioplankton
Authors: Niño‐García Juan Pablo , Ruiz‐González Clara , del Giorgio Paul A.
Published: November 2016

Aquatic bacterial communities harbour thousands of coexisting taxa. To meet the challenge of discriminating between a ‘core’ and a sporadically occurring ‘random’ component of these communities, we explored the spatial abundance distribution of individual bacterioplankton taxa across 198 boreal lakes and their associated fluvial networks (188 rivers). We found that all taxa could be grouped into four distinct categories based on model statistical distributions (normal like, bimodal, logistic and lognormal). The distribution patterns across lakes and their associated river networks showed that lake communities are composed of a core of taxa whose distribution appears to be linked to in‐lake environmental sorting (normal‐like and bimodal categories), and a large fraction of mostly rare bacteria (94% of all taxa) whose presence appears to be largely random and linked to downstream transport in aquatic networks (logistic and lognormal categories). These rare taxa are thus likely to reflect species sorting at upstream locations, providing a perspective of the conditions prevailing in entire aquatic networks rather than only in lakes.
Exome array analysis of ischaemic stroke: results from a southern Swedish study
Authors: Söderholm M. , Almgren P. , Jood K. , Stanne T. M. , Olsson M. , Ilinca A. , Lorentzen E. , Norrving B. , Engström G. , Melander O. , Jern C. , Lindgren A.
Published: November 2016

Background and purpose

Genome‐wide association (GWA) studies have identified a few risk loci for ischaemic stroke, but these variants explain only a small part of the genetic contribution to the disease. Coding variants associated with amino acid substitutions or premature termination of protein synthesis could have a large effect on disease risk. We performed an exome array analysis for ischaemic stroke.

Methods

Patients with ischaemic stroke (n = 2385) and control subjects (n = 6077) from three Swedish studies were genotyped with the Illumina HumanOmniExpressExome BeadChip. Single‐variant association analysis and gene‐based tests were performed of exome variants with minor allele frequency of < 5%. A separate GWA analysis was also performed, based on 700 000 genotyped common markers and subsequent imputation.

Results

No exome variant or gene was significantly associated with all ischaemic stroke after Bonferroni correction (all P > 1.8 × 10−6 for single‐variant and >4.15 × 10−6 for gene‐based analysis). The strongest association in single‐variant analysis was found for a missense variant in the DNAH11 gene (rs143362381; P = 5.01 × 10−6). In gene‐based tests, the strongest association was for the ZBTB20 gene (P = 7.9 × 10−5). The GWA analysis showed that the sample was homogenous (median genomic inflation factor = 1.006). No genome‐wide significant association with overall ischaemic stroke risk was found. However, previously reported associations for the PITX2 and ZFHX3 gene loci with cardioembolic stroke subtype were replicated (P = 7 × 10−15 and 6 × 10−3).

Conclusions

This exome array analysis did not identify any single variants or genes reaching the pre‐defined significance level for association with ischaemic stroke. Further studies on exome variants should be performed in even larger, well‐defined and subtyped samples.
Bank Risk Dynamics Where Assets are Risky Debt Claims
Authors: Peleg‐Lazar Sharon , Raviv Alon
Published: November 2016

The structural approach views firm's equity as a call option on the value of its assets, which motivates stockholders to increase risk. However, since bank assets are risky debt claims, bank equity resembles a subordinated debt. Using this assumption, and considering the strategic interaction between a bank and its debtor, we argue that risk shifting is limited to states in which the debtor is in financial distress. Furthermore, risk shifting increases with bankruptcy costs and decreases with bank capital. Thus, increasing a bank's capital affects stability, not only through the additional capital buffer, but also by affecting the risk shifting incentive.
From Rhetoric to Reality: a Multilevel Analysis of Gender Equality in Pakistani Organizations
Authors: Ali Faiza , Syed Jawad
Published: November 2016

Despite numerous governmental attempts to improve women's employment and equality in Pakistan, statistics suggest that these effortxs have not been entirely fruitful. Steps taken by the government are usually in response to pressure from international donors and rights groups. However, there seem to be important contextual and sociocultural differences at play when it comes to how gender equality is to be achieved in organizational practice. Such differences, as well as an apparent lack of genuine commitment at the policy level, may explain why there remains a gap between the policy and praxis of gender equality in Pakistan. Informed by structural and relational perspectives of gender, this article draws on in‐depth qualitative interviews with female employees to explore the multilevel issues related to gender equality at the macro‐national, meso‐organizational and micro‐individual levels. In particular, it highlights such issues as societal norms of female modesty and gender segregation (macro), sexual harassment, career‐related challenges and income gap (meso), and family status and agency (micro).
How long does the volumizing effect of a Zingiber officinale‐based lip plumper last?
Authors: Mazzarello V. , Solinas G. , Bandiera P. , Pomponi V. , Piu G. , Ferrari M. , Montella A.
Published: November 2016

Objective

Lip plumpers should enhance lip volume. It has been shown that no noticeable result was obtained after long term use of these products. The present study has been carried out to assess lip plumpers’ short term effectiveness within 2 h from application.

Methods

Effectiveness was assessed using non‐invasive techniques. The effect on vascularisation was analyzed with the Mexameter MX 16®, and the volume enhancing effect was assessed by anthropometric measures and profilometry analysis from 3D scanning electron microscope (SEM) images using Alicona's MEX software. Sixty female volunteers were recruited for the study and the measurements were taken 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after product application.

Results

Product application produced a statistically significant increase of lip vascularisation during the first 15 min, which stayed unchanged until the 30th min, then decreased in intensity. The volumizing effect was revealed by 3D profilometry analysis only, not by anthropological measurements. The use of 3D SEM images showed an increase of 0.50 mm in the protrusion of the lip vermilion (MHP parameter) during the first 15 min from product application.

Conclusion

Results suggest that the lip plumper temporarily enhances vasodilation and increases lip volume.
Reuse potential of vegetable wastes (broccoli, green bean and tomato) for the recovery of antioxidant phenolic acids and flavonoids
Authors: Aires Alfredo , Carvalho Rosa , Saavedra Maria José
Published: November 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential use of crop wastes (stems and leaves) from broccoli, beans and tomato to extract antioxidant polyphenols. Two different methods of extraction were performed: ultrasound (40 kHz) and conventional with 70 °C. In both methods, alkaline and acidic solvents were used. The polyphenol composition was assessed by HPLC‐DAD/UV‐VIS, and the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl assay was used to measure the antioxidant activity. The results showed a significant variation of polyphenol composition and antioxidant activity with the type of sample, pH of solvent and extraction method. Also it was possible to observe that acidic methanol and 70 °C enables the extraction of significant amounts of phenolic acids and flavonoids. Based in our results, broccoli, green bean and tomato wastes can be used to extract antioxidant polyphenols, and the use of such wastes to extract polyphenols can be an opportunity to develop an environmental friendly management's systems creating incoming for producers and agro‐food sector.
Effects of almond gum as texture and sensory quality improver in wheat bread
Authors: Bouaziz Fatma , Koubaa Mohamed , Ben Jeddou Khaoula , Barba Francisco J. , Chaari Fatma , Besbes Souhail , Ellouz Ghorbel Rhoudha , Ellouz Chaabouni Semia
Published: November 2016

The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of almond gum as dietary fibre source in enhancing the wheat bread quality. Different amounts of almond gum (2%, 5% and 10% (w/w)) were used in bread formulation. The volume, texture, crust and crumb colour, as well as the sensorial properties, were evaluated and compared to control (without almond gum). The obtained results showed that almond gum addition enhanced significantly the volume of bread. The highest volume was obtained using 2% almond gum concentration with 23.6% increase, compared to control. Using almond gum in bread formulation improved considerably its texture with a notable decrease in hardness by 61.7% and 42.5% when using 2% and 5% almond gum, respectively. The sensory analysis scores showed that the better overall acceptability was found for breads supplemented with 2% almond gum, as compared to control and breads supplemented with 5% or 10% almond gum.
DNA barcoding for the species identification of commercially important fishery products in Indonesian markets
Authors: Abdullah Asadatun , Rehbein Hartmut
Published: November 2016

The DNA barcoding approach was used for the species identification of 44 Indonesian commercial fishery products. Additionally, the intronless nuclear rhodopsin gene fragment (RH1) was added to the analysis to enable the identification of species not yet barcoded and possible hybrids. The 655‐bp cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) gene fragment marker was successfully amplified and used to identify 86% of the total fish samples at the species level using the BOLD and BLAST public databases. Moreover, the RH1 marker was used to complete COI analysis. For a number of fish species, the COI sequences (six species) and RH1 sequences (eight species) were the first entries submitted to GenBank. This study demonstrated that COI barcoding is a promising tool for Indonesian fishery products and confirmed that it could be adopted in the future for regular seafood control as part of the Indonesian integrated food traceability system.
Taking the sweetness out of the ‘Share a Coke’ marketing campaign: the influence of personalized labelling on elementary school children's bottled drink choices
Authors: McDarby F. , O'Hora D. , O'Shea D. , Byrne M.
Published: November 2016

Background

Drink personalization (featuring names on bottle labels) has been used by soft drink companies to make their drinks attractive to children, potentially increasing consumption. To date, no publically available research has evaluated the influence of personalization on children's drink choices.

Objectives

To determine (i) whether personalizing bottled drinks influences children's drink choices; (ii) whether it is comparably effective in promoting healthy and unhealthy drinks and (iii) whether drink choices are affected by self‐esteem, body mass index and parental factors.

Methods

Children aged 8–13 years (N = 404) were randomly assigned to one of three drink labeling conditions: Prime Healthy, Prime Unhealthy and Control. All participants selected one beverage from 12 options, comprising six healthy and unhealthy drinks.

Results

Personalizing healthy drinks increased choice of healthy drinks (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.24–4.00), and personalizing unhealthy drinks reduced choice of healthy drinks (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.15–.0.75). Higher self‐esteem predicted choosing own‐named drinks (OR = 1.08, 95% CI, 1.00–1.18; p = .049).

Conclusions

Children's drink choices are influenced by personalizing drink bottles. Tighter regulation of this marketing strategy for soft drinks may reduce children choice of these drinks. Personalization may also be used to encourage children to choose healthy drinks.
If You Go Down to the Woods Today: Infants’ Distress During a Teddy Bear's Picnic in Relation to Peer Relations and Later Emotional Problems
Authors: Hay Dale F. , van Goozen Stephanie H. M. , Mundy Lisa , Phillips Rebecca , Roberts Siwan , Meeuwsen Mirjam , Goodyer Ian , Perra Oliver
Published: November 2016

Infants’ emotional reactions to an unusual event were assessed at a simulated birthday party during which two costumed characters enacted a Teddy Bear's Picnic. Two hundred and fifty‐eight firstborn infants in a representative British community sample were observed at a mean age of 12.8 months in the presence of their parents and other participating families, in a laboratory sitting room decorated with balloons and banners. The picnic scenario was followed by free play with the other participating infants. At a mean of 36 months of age, mothers, fathers, and another informant who knew the child well completed the Child Behaviour Check List (CBCL). The majority of infants showed no vocal distress during the picnic scenario. A minority of infants expressed strong distress, which was correlated with elevated heart rate and production of cortisol. Infants who were not distressed were more likely to direct social behavior to their peers and especially likely to use physical force against peers. In comparison with strongly distressed and nondistressed infants, those who had shown mild distress during the picnic scenario were least likely to manifest later emotional problems. This pattern was particularly marked for boys. Taken together, the findings indicate that infants’ strong distress during naturalistic encounters that are meant to be entertaining can suppress sociability and might indicate risk for subsequent emotional problems.