bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential Glucocorticoid Receptor‐Mediated Effects on Immunomodulatory Gene Expression by Progestin Contraceptives: Implications for HIV‐1 Pathogenesis
Authors: Hapgood Janet P. , Ray Roslyn M. , Govender Yashini , Avenant Chanel , Tomasicchio Michele
Published: February 2014

Whether hormonal contraceptives increase HIV‐1 acquisition, transmission and disease progression are critical questions. Clinical research has been hampered by a lack of understanding that different progestins used in contraception exhibit differential off‐target effects via steroid receptors other than the progesterone receptor. Of particular, relevance is the relative effects of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and norethisterone enanthate (NET‐EN), widely used as injectable contraceptives in sub‐Saharan Africa. While most high‐quality clinical studies find no increased risk for HIV‐1 acquisition with oral contraception or injectable NET‐EN, most do find an increase with MPA, particularly in young women. Furthermore, mounting evidence from animal, ex vivo and biochemical studies are consistent with MPA acting to increase HIV‐1 acquisition and pathogenesis, via mechanisms involving glucocorticoid‐like effects on gene expression, in particular genes involved in immune function. We report that MPA, unlike NET and progesterone, represses inflammatory genes in human PBMCs in a dose‐dependent manner, via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), at concentrations within the physiologically relevant range. These and published results collectively suggest that the differential GR activity of MPA versus NET may be a mechanism whereby MPA, unlike NET or progesterone, differentially modulates HIV‐1 acquisition and pathogenesis in target cells where the GR is the predominant steroid receptor expressed.
The use of 3‐dimensional ultrasound of the pelvic floor to predict recurrence risk after pelvic reconstructive surgery
Authors: Rodrigo Natassia , Wong Vivien , Shek Ka Lai , Martin Andrew , Dietz Hans Peter
Published: February 2014

Aims

Female pelvic organ prolapse is a common condition. Prolapse recurrence following surgical treatment is a significant clinical issue. The aim of this study was to determine risk factors for recurrence, attempting to improve clinical practice by allowing better patient selection prior to surgery.

Methods

This was a retrospective study utilising patient records and ultrasound volume imaging data sets obtained in four clinical audits following anterior colporrhaphy ± mesh. Prolapse recurrence was diagnosed clinically and by ultrasound; findings were analysed against potential predictors.

Results

Symptomatic prolapse recurrence was demonstrated in 86 (26%), on clinical examination in 141 (42%) and on ultrasound in 113/334 women (34%). None of the tested predictors were predictive of recurrent symptoms, likely due to a lack of power. However, both levator avulsion and hiatal area on Valsalva were shown to be highly significant predictors of objective prolapse recurrence on clinical examination and ultrasound.

Conclusions

Prolapse recurrence following surgery is a common complaint. The state of the patient's pelvic floor muscle seems to be the strongest determinant.
Immediate and long‐term outcomes of assault in pregnancy
Authors: Gulliver Pauline J. , Dixon Robyn S.
Published: February 2014

Objective

We examined the immediate and long‐term health outcomes of hospitalised pregnancy‐related assault.

Methods

A retrospective review of hospital records was conducted using data from theNewZealandMinistry ofHealth'sNationalMinimumDataSet of hospital discharges. The hospital records of pregnant women admitted to a public hospital inNewZealand between 2001 and 2006 were included in this investigation. Unique identifiers were used to identify the index pregnancy event, subsequent discharge events and mortality for five years after the index event. Discharge records were grouped as follows:pregnancy‐related hospital admission, but no associated or subsequent assault recorded (pregnant only);an assault‐related hospital admission event after the pregnancy, but within five years of the index pregnancy (assault after pregnancy);an assault recorded within the same hospital admission event as the pregnancy (assault during pregnancy). Generalised linear models for the binomial family were conducted to explore increased risk ratios of adverse maternal, fetal and subsequent injury outcomes depending on group assignment.

Results

Compared with the pregnancy‐only group, the assault after pregnancy and assault during pregnancy groups had increased risk ratios for death, preterm labour, antepartum haemorrhage, infectious complication, spontaneous abortion and stillbirth.

Conclusion

Assault during pregnancy substantially increased the risks for a number of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. The identification of women who live in a violent relationship and the provision of adequate social support to these women may reduce the risks of subsequent injury and adverse maternal and fetal outcomes.
Vitamin E, γ‐tocopherol, diminishes ex vivo basophil response to dust mite allergen
Authors: Mills K. , Lay J. , Wu W. , Robinette C. , Kesic M. J. , Dreskin S. C. , Peden D. B. , Hernandez M.
Published: February 2014

Epidemiologic studies suggest that dietary vitamin E is a candidate intervention for atopic disease. We used in vitro and ex vivo exposures to test the hypothesis that the most common dietary isoform of vitamin E, γ‐tocopherol (γT), could suppress FcεRI‐mediated basophil activation. Rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)‐SX38 cells that express human FcεRI were treated with or without γT, followed by stimulation with α‐IgE. In the ex vivo study, 20 Der f 1‐allergic volunteers consumed a γT‐enriched supplement for 7 days. Their basophils were challenged ex vivo with α‐IgE and graded doses of Der f 1 before and after the supplementation period. γt treatment of RBL‐SX38 cells significantly reduced basophil degranulation and de novo TH2 cytokine production. Daily consumption of a γT‐rich supplement by dust mite‐allergic volunteers reduced basophil activation after ex vivo dust mite challenge. Vitamin E supplements rich in γT may be useful adjuncts in decreasing atopic disease.
The traffic light bougie: a study of a novel safety modification
Authors: Paul A. , Gibson A. A. , Robinson O. D. G. , Koch J.
Published: February 2014

Use of a bougie is not without risk, and insertion too far may cause airway injury. We designed a new bougie with a ‘traffic light’ system to indicate depth of insertion. Forty anaesthetists were randomly assigned to insert either a conventional single‐coloured bougie or a novel traffic light bougie. Depth of insertion was measured before and after railroading a tracheal tube. Participants were not informed as to the purpose of the colouring system. The median (IQR [range]) insertion depth of the traffic light bougie was 22 (21–24 [19–27]) cm and for the conventional bougie was 28 (21–32 [20–35]) cm (p = 0.011). Median (IQR [range]) insertion depth after railroading for the traffic light bougie was 25 (25–28 [21–34]) cm and for the conventional bougie was 30.5 (27–35 [23–40]) cm (p = 0.003). This simple colouring system appears to allow intuitive use and significantly reduced the depth of bougie insertion. This system could be also used with other airway exchange devices to improve safety.
Factors influencing short‐ and long‐term mortality after lower limb amputation
Authors: Scott S. W. M. , Bowrey S. , Clarke D. , Choke E. , Bown M. J. , Thompson J. P.
Published: February 2014

Mortality after lower limb amputation is high, with UK 30‐day mortality rates of 9–17%. We performed a retrospective analysis of factors affecting early and late outcome after lower limb amputation for peripheral vascular disease or diabetic complications at a UK tertiary referral vascular centre between 2003 and 2010. Three hundred and thirty‐nine patients (233 male), of median (IQR [range]) age 73 (62–79 [26–92]) years underwent amputation. Thirty‐day mortality was 12.4%. On regression modelling, the risk of 30‐day mortality was increased in patients of ASA grade ≥ 4 (OR 4.23, 95% CI 2.07–8.63), p < 0.001 and age between 74 and 79 years (OR 3.8, 95% CI 1.10–13.13), p = 0.04 and older than 79 years (OR 4.08, 95% CI 1.25–13.25), p = 0.02. Peri‐operative (30‐day) mortality for these groups was 23.2%, 13.7% and 18.8%, respectively. Survival and Cox regression analysis demonstrated that long‐term mortality was associated with: age 74–79 years (HR 2.15, 95% CI 1.38–3.35), p = 0.001; age > 79 years (HR 2.78, 95% CI 1.82–4.25), p < 0.001; ASA grade ≥ 4 (HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.51–2.75), p < 0.001; out‐of‐hours operating (HR 1.51, 95% CI 1.08–2.10), p = 0.02; and chronic kidney disease stage 4–5 (1.57, 95% CI 1.07–2.30), p = 0.02. Anaesthetic technique was associated with long‐term mortality on survival analysis (p = 0.04), but not when analysed using regression modelling. Mortality after lower limb amputation relates to patient age, ASA, out‐of‐hours surgery and renal dysfunction. These data support lower limb amputations’ being performed during daytime hours and after modification of correctable risk factors.
Renal artery embolization prior to nephrectomy for locally advanced renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Zargar Homayoun , Addison Ben , McCall John , Bartlett Adam , Buckley Brendan , Rice Michael
Published: February 2014

Background

To assess the outcomes of patients undergoing percutaneous renal artery embolization (PRAE) prior to radical nephrectomy.

Methods

We performed retrospective chart review of patients undergoing PRAE in Auckland Public Hospital from January 2004 to December 2011. PRAE was performed under epidural anaesthesia and within 24 h of nephrectomy. We compared our perioperative outcomes with the published literature.

Results

Forty‐two patients were identified in this series. Patients had predominantly more advanced stage disease with 30 (71%) being T3 or higher (TNM staging). Median operation time was 192 min (range 84–428). 45.2% of patients experienced complications from the surgery. There were no complications associated with PRAE.

Conclusions

PRAE prior to nephrectomy is a safe procedure. There is no convincing evidence in the literature that the benefits outweigh the risks. All published studies are non‐randomized and subject to selection bias, so the true role of PRAE has not yet been determined and routine use is probably not justified.
On the Use of Fixed‐Intensity Functional Electrical Stimulation for Attenuating Essential Tremor
Authors: Bó Antônio Padilha Lanari , Azevedo‐Coste Christine , Geny Christian , Poignet Philippe , Fattal Charles
Published: February 2014

A great proportion of essential tremor (ET) patients have not so far been able to receive functional benefits from traditional therapies. In this regard, the use of functional electrical stimulation (FES) has been proposed for reducing tremor amplitude by stimulating muscles in antiphase with respect to the trembling motion. Although some studies have reported success in terms of tremor attenuation, drawbacks still exist that prevent the method from being used in real‐life applications. In this article, we explore an alternative approach: a strategy based on the hypothesis that FES‐induced constant muscle contraction may provide functional benefit for tremor patients. To evaluate the proposed strategy, experiments were conducted in which stimulation was intermittently turned on and off while the subjects performed a static motor task. The results of the proposed experimental protocol indicate that tremor attenuation using this strategy is feasible, as consistent tremor attenuation levels were obtained in eight out of 10 ET patients. Nonetheless, tremor reduction was not instantaneous for all successful trials, indicating that prior training with FES may improve the overall response. Furthermore, although simpler assistive devices may potentially be designed based on this technique, some experimental difficulties still exist, which suggests that further studies are necessary.
William John Adie: the man behind the syndrome
Authors: Siddiqui Aazim A , Clarke Jonathan C , Grzybowski Andrzej
Published: February 2014

William John Adie was an Australian neurologist in the early 20th century responsible for extensively describing the tonically dilated pupil associated with absent deep tendon reflexes – both features of a syndrome that now bears his name. In addition to other neurological syndromes, he was also significant in delineating narcolepsy through his clinical essays and case series. His ophthalmic and neurologic contributions have served the test of time and played an important role in the modern understanding of Adie syndrome and narcolepsy. This report reviews Adie's medical contributions, extensive descriptions of Adie syndrome, and provides a brief biographical account of his life.
Association between health‐related quality of life and impaired glucose metabolism in Iran: the Qazvin Metabolic Diseases Study
Authors: Ghorbani A. , Ziaee A. , Esmailzadehha N. , Javadi H.
Published: February 2014

Aim

To evaluate the association between health‐related quality of life and glucose metabolism status in a study population in Qazvin, Iran.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was conducted in 1044 people (aged 20–78 years old) between September 2010 and April 2011 in Qazvin, Iran. An oral glucose tolerance test was performed for each participant who had never been diagnosed with diabetes. Participants were characterized as having normal glucose metabolism, pre‐diabetes or diabetes according to American Diabetes Association criteria. The short‐form 36 questionnaire was used to measure quality of life. Data were analysed using a chi‐squared test, anova and ancova.

Results

A total of 530 (51.7%) of the participants were women, and 24.1 and 11.6% of the participants were categorized as having prediabetes and diabetes mellitus, respectively. Except for the role emotional domain, there was a gradual decrease in the mean scores of every domain of the short‐form 36 scale across the three study groups. The mean scores in the physical domains were significantly different among the participants with normal glucose metabolism and those with diabetes. After adding age as covariate, there were no significant differences between the categories in any of the domains.

Conclusion

There is no association between quality of life domains and glucose metabolism status in Iranian subjects. More longitudinal studies are necessary to investigate the natural history of pre‐diabetes, diabetes and quality of life.
Screening of diabetes of youth for hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 mutations: clinical phenotype of HNF1β‐related maturity‐onset diabetes of the young and HNF1α‐related maturity‐onset diabetes of the young in Japanese
Authors: Horikawa Y. , Enya M. , Fushimi N. , Fushimi Y. , Takeda J.
Published: February 2014

Aim

To compare the prevalence and clinical features of HNF1β‐related MODY and HNF1α‐related MODY in Japanese.

Methods

We enrolled 230 Japanese patients with suspected MODY and examined them for HNF1α and HNF1β mutations. We characterized the clinical features of HNF1β‐related MODY (HNF1β‐MODY) and HNF1α‐related MODY (HNF1α‐MODY).

Results

Six patients had HNF1β mutations, four of which were large gene deletions and 24 patients had HNF1α mutations, which included one gene deletion. The mean fasting plasma glucose level at onset of HNF1β‐MODY was considerably higher and the age of onset of HNF1β‐MODY was considerably older than they were for HNF1α‐MODY, while the mean BMI and C‐peptide index at onset were similar. Three patients with HNF1β‐MODY were found to have dorsal pancreatic agenesis and four of them had whole‐gene deletion. Five of the patients with HNF1β‐MODY had insulin secretion defects and were treated with insulin, and four of these did not have a parent with overt diabetes.

Conclusion

HNF1β‐MODY may present as β‐cell dysfunction in Japanese rather than as hyperinsulinaemia, which it does among European/American. This dysfunction might result from an intrinsically lower capacity for insulin secretion in Japanese. HNF1β‐MODY has an older age of onset than HNF1α‐MODY, which may suggest lower penetrance of the disease. In addition, HNF1β‐MODY has a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations, some of which are detectable by imaging. This may be helpful in some cases for selecting HNF1β‐MODY candidates for genetic testing.
Testing environmental and genetic effects in the presence of spatial autocorrelation
Authors: Rousset François , Ferdy Jean‐Baptiste
Published: February 2014

Spatial autocorrelation is a well‐recognized concern for observational data in general, and more specifically for spatial data in ecology. Generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) with spatially autocorrelated random effects are a potential general framework for handling these spatial correlations. However, as the result of statistical and practical issues, such GLMMs have been fitted through the undocumented use of procedures based on penalized quasi‐likelihood approximations (PQL), and under restrictive models of spatial correlation. Alternatively, they are often neglected in favor of simpler but more questionable approaches. In this work we aim to provide practical and validated means of inference under spatial GLMMs, that overcome these limitations. For this purpose, a new software is developed to fit spatial GLMMs. We use it to assess the performance of likelihood ratio tests for fixed effects under spatial autocorrelation, based on Laplace or PQL approximations of the likelihood. Expectedly, the Laplace approximation performs generally slightly better, although a variant of PQL was better in the binary case. We show that a previous implementation of PQL methods in the R language, glmmPQL, is not appropriate for such applications. Finally, we illustrate the efficiency of a bootstrap procedure for correcting the small sample bias of the tests, which applies also to non‐spatial models.
Specific immunoadsorption of pathogenic autoantibodies in pemphigus requires the entire ectodomains of desmogleins
Authors: Langenhan Jana , Dworschak Jenny , Saschenbrecker Sandra , Komorowski Lars , Schlumberger Wolfgang , Stöcker Winfried , Westermann Jürgen , Recke Andreas , Zillikens Detlef , Schmidt Enno , Probst Christian
Published: February 2014

Pemphigus foliaceus (PF) and pemphigus vulgaris (PV) are life‐threatening autoimmune blistering skin diseases. They are characterized by circulating autoantibodies which bind to the ectodomains of desmoglein (Dsg) 1 and Dsg3. These antibodies induce acantholysis in skin and mucous membranes. In severe cases of pemphigus, immunoadsorption is applied to remove total IgG from patient plasma using protein A or other ligands. To develop a specific adsorber for anti‐Dsg antibodies, epitope mapping studies of Dsg1 and Dsg3 ectodomains were conducted. Dsg variants were expressed on the surface of HEK‐293 cells and analysed for reactivity with pemphigus and control sera by indirect immunofluorescence technique. For Dsg1, a construct consisting of domain 1 directly fused to domain 5, seemed to be suitable for specific immunoadsorption of anti‐Dsg1 antibodies. The recognized epitopes were mainly conformation‐dependent. However, adsorption of pemphigus foliaceus IgG using this protein coupled to a Sepharose matrix did not completely remove pathogenicity from the sera, as proven by a keratinocyte dissociation assay. In contrast, full‐length Dsg1 and Dsg3 ectodomains were able to specifically adsorb anti‐Dsg antibodies and to efficiently eliminate pathogenicity. Therefore, the complete and correctly folded ectodomains of both desmogleins are required for therapeutic immunoadsorption.
Overexpression of the NR2A subunit in the forebrain impairs long‐term social recognition and non‐social olfactory memory
Authors: Jacobs S. A. , Tsien J. Z.
Published: February 2014

Animals must recognize and remember conspecifics and potential mates, and distinguish these animals from potential heterospecific competitors and predators. Despite its necessity, aged animals are known to exhibit impaired social recognition memory. As the brain ages, the ratio of NR2A:NR2B in the brain increases over time and has been postulated to underlie the cognitive decline observed during the aging process. Here, we test the hypothesis that an increased NR2A:NR2B subunit ratio underlies long‐term social recognition memory. Using transgenic overexpression of NR2A in the forebrain regions, we investigated the ability of these mice to learn and remember male and female conspecifics, mice of another strain and animals of another rodent species, the rat. Furthermore, due to the importance of olfaction in social recognition, we tested the olfactory memory in the NR2A transgenic mice. Our series of behavioral experiments revealed significant impairments in the NR2A transgenic mice in long‐term social memory of both male and female conspecifics. Additionally, the NR2A transgenic mice are unable to recognize mice of another strain or rats. The NR2A transgenic mice also exhibited long‐term memory impairments in the olfactory recognition task. Taken together, our results provide evidence that an increased NR2A:NR2B ratio in the forebrain leads to reduced long‐term memory function, including the ethologically important memories such as social recognition and olfactory memory.
Measuring and explaining large‐scale distribution of functional and phylogenetic diversity in birds: separating ecological drivers from methodological choices
Authors: Calba Sarah , Maris Virginie , Devictor Vincent
Published: February 2014

Aim

Investigations into how different facets of biodiversity are related has become a central research agenda in ecology. Here, we use a large‐scale and high‐resolution data set on bird distribution to examine the robustness of the relationships between species diversity and functional or phylogenetic diversity.

Location

France

Methods

We measured the functional and phylogenetic diversity of 1914 bird assemblages monitored over 10 years with a standardized protocol. We investigated the consequences of incorporating abundance versus presence–absence data, changing the number and identity of traits considered, or varying the spatial scale used to estimate functional and phylogenetic diversity. We further examined the outcomes of different null model procedures that aim to reveal ecological processes influencing the distribution of each facet of diversity.

Results

We found that the shape and strength of the relationship between species diversity and functional diversity are structured by several methodological choices. We show that increasing the quantity of information yielded by the indices (in particular, including abundances or increasing the number of traits considered) decreases the amount of functional redundancy estimated. Reducing the number of functional traits used to estimate functional diversity can change and even reverse the relationship of interest. Moreover, using alternative null models, we highlighted the specific role of environmental filtering and the link between species abundances and their functional originality (defined for a given species as the average of the functional distances with other species). The same tests applied to phylogenetic diversity revealed that its relationship with species diversity varies differently suggesting that this latter index cannot be used as a proxy for functional diversity.

Main conclusions

Our results show that the identification of patterns and processes linking species diversity to functional or phylogenetic diversity vary with methodological choices. We further show that the study of these sources of variation via robustness tests allows ecologically meaningful information to be separated from pure artefacts.
Review of angiogenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Muto Jun , Shirabe Ken , Sugimachi Keishi , Maehara Yoshihiko
Published: February 2014

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a hypervascular tumor, and its vascularity is unique and greatly different from peripheral parenchyma of liver. Afferent and efferent vessels of HCC lesions come to differ as the lesion develops. The characteristic of the flow regulates the common style of metastasis. The portal tract of the HCC lesion is the first site of the intrahepatic metastasis, because cancer cells roll into the portal vein via efferent flow. On microscopic observation, HCC displays marked vascular abnormalities, arteriogenesis and capillarization. Arteriogenesis is defined as the growth of functional collateral arteries covered with smooth muscle cells from pre‐existing arteries. Sinusoidal capillarization involves the transformation of fenestrated hepatic sinusoids into continuous capillaries. Several angiogenic factors have been reported, and some of them are studied as prognostic factors or target molecules of chemotherapeutic reagents. However, the mechanism of neovascularization during HCC development is still unclear. This review discusses the characteristics of angiogenesis in HCC and known angiogenic factors of HCC.
Synthesis of La2O3–ZrO2–Y2O3 with Various Y2O3 Contents via Hydrothermal Method: A Phase Evolution and Sintering‐Resistance Properties Study
Authors: Wang Yue , Wang Chunjie , Li Chao , Zhang Aihua , Cheng Yongliang
Published: February 2014

Lanthanum zirconate (La2Zr2O7) with various Y2O3 contents was synthesized by hydrothermal method. The effects of Y2O3 on structure evolution and sintering‐resistance properties of the products and sintered ceramics were studied by X‐ray diffraction, thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimeter, Raman spectroscopy, and field‐emission scanning electron microscopy. Qualitative analysis indicates that La2Zr2O7 containing 3~12 wt% Y2O3 mainly keep a pyrochlore‐type structure. The lattice parameter and average crystallite size of the products are closely related to the content of Y2O3. The sintering behaviors of compacted body were also investigated, and 3 wt% Y2O3‐La2Zr2O7 shows the highest sintering‐resistance property among the five samples.
Torulopsis versatilis strains with increased salt tolerance carry mutations in the glycerol transporter gene FPS1
Authors: Wang Xiaohua , Wang Cong , Wang Chunling , Cao Xiaohong , Hou Lihua
Published: February 2014

The salt‐tolerant Torulopsis versatilis mutant strain, T3‐5, is able to grow in YPD medium containing 22% salt, whereas the original strain, T, used for soy sauce fermentation was only able to grow in the presence of 20% or less. Biochemical analyses showed that strain T3‐5 had a 22% higher intracellular glycerol level than T. Sequencing of the glycerol transporter gene FPS1 revealed a change from G to A at position 198 upstream of the start codon, changes from G to A at positions 93 and 1084, respectively, within the FPS1 gene, and insertions of T base at positions 285 and 310, respectively, downstream of the termination codon when comparing the corresponding sequences of strains T and T3‐5. An inverse relationship between osmotic pressure and the FPS1 transcription level was observed for both T and T3‐5 using qPCR. Therefore, it is possible that lower transcription levels of FPS1 are at least partly responsible for increased osmotolerance in strain T3‐5. Overexpression of T and T3‐5 FPS1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae resulted in lower salt tolerance, especially in the presence of 12% salt. The data suggest that decreased expression levels of and/or alteration in the FPS1 protein contributed to increased salt tolerance of T3‐5.
Quality attributes and their relations in fresh black ripe ‘Kalamon’ olives (Olea europaea L.) for table use – phenolic compounds and total antioxidant capacity
Authors: Tsantili Eleni
Published: February 2014

Quality attributes were investigated in fresh Greek black table ‘Kalamon’ olives prior to processing. Fruit weight, dimensions, respiration and ethylene production rates, firmness, peel colour, moisture, oil content, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), the concentration of total phenolics (TP) and phenolic compounds (hydroxytyrosol, oleuropein, tyrosol, verbascoside, luteolin‐7‐O‐glucoside, luteolin, rutin) were determined in olives from different orchards. There was a significant effect of orchard on most attributes, but not on fruit firmness. Verbascoside, oleuropein and hydroxytyrosol were the major phenolics, and the presence of verbascoside in ‘Kalamon’ olives is revealed for the first time. Positive correlations were found among fruit weight, dimensions, respiration and ethylene. TAC was positively related mainly to TP, hydroxytyrosol, verbascoside and rutin, but inversely to oleuropein. Luteolin was inversely related to luteolin‐7‐O‐glucoside. Colour darkening was directly related to TAC, while colour parameters were positively and moderately affected by oil and moisture.
Effect of industrial juice concentrate processing on phenolic profile and antioxidant capacity of black carrots
Authors: Suzme Sezen , Boyacioglu Dilek , Toydemir Gamze , Capanoglu Esra
Published: February 2014

Black carrot concentrate has gained increasing interest in recent years as a natural colourant due to its substantial content of bioactive compounds, especially anthocyanins. Black carrot concentrate production includes several steps, some of which are milling, mashing, pressing, pasteurisation and concentration. In this study, every step of black carrot concentrate processing was investigated to elucidate both the quantitative and qualitative changes in antioxidative compounds using spectrophotometric, HPLC‐based and LC‐QTOF‐MS‐based analyses. The results obtained indicated that processing the raw black carrot material into its concentrate led to an overall reduction of 70%, 73% and 44% in total phenolic, total flavonoid and total monomeric anthocyanin contents on a dry weight basis, respectively. Moreover, concentrate processing resulted in 67% and 71% decreases in total antioxidant capacity, determined using DPPH and CUPRAC methods, respectively, on dry weight basis. Untargeted LC‐MS‐based metabolomics analysis enabled the identification of ten phenolic components including seven anthocyanins and three phenolic acids. HPLC‐based quantification of individual anthocyanins revealed cyanidin‐3‐xylosyl (feruloylglucosyl)galactoside as the major anthocyanin component.
An Examination of Common Sensitivity Review Practices in Test Development
Authors: Golubovich Juliya , Grand James A. , Ryan Ann Marie , Schmitt Neal
Published: February 2014

Sensitivity reviews of test content are commonly advocated techniques for reducing bias and enhancing fairness in employment and educational testing. However, few descriptions or empirical investigations of these techniques exist. The present paper presents a study documenting common sensitivity review practices and the extent to which expert reviewers agree in their judgments of item sensitivity. Results indicated that reviewers do not always receive training or adequate guidance and most frequently encounter subtle forms of insensitive item content. Further, only modest agreement in expert ratings of item sensitivity was found. Implications for improving sensitivity review practices are presented.
Prior Related Work Experience and Job Performance: Role of personality
Authors: Uppal Nishant , Mishra Sushanta Kumar , Vohra Neharika
Published: February 2014

In contrast to the general notion, recent studies presented a negative or insignificant relationship between prior related work experience (PRWE) and job performance (JP) and suggestively attributed the theoretically inconsistent results to individual factors. Using a sample of 688 sales persons in the insurance industry, the present study found support for the positive relationship between PRWE and JP. Further, the study found the moderation effect of personality factors on the above relationship. Implication of the study to the practitioners and the academia is discussed.
‘Good Impression’ as a Moderator in Employment‐related Assessment
Authors: Lanyon Richard I. , Goodstein Leonard D. , Wershba Rebecca
Published: February 2014

There is widespread agreement that response bias variables, such as good impression, have little relevance, either as moderators or suppressors, in efforts to improve the accuracy of employment‐related predictions based on personality test scores. However, a recent review found that there were relatively few methodologically sound real‐life studies of the moderator function. Reported here are four such studies involving the prediction of job performance. As hypothesized, a significant moderator effect was shown in the two studies that utilized ‘transparent’ job‐related predictors, with useful prediction only at the lower levels of good impression, but not in the two studies that utilized personality variables as predictors. These results confirm that validity when using transparent items to predict employment‐related success can be affected by the operation of good‐impression response bias. Further research is needed to delineate other relevant effects of good impression in such situations.
Telomeric transcriptome from Chironomus riparius (Diptera), a species with noncanonical telomeres
Authors: Martínez‐Guitarte J. L. , de la Fuente M. , Morcillo G.
Published: February 2014

Although there are alternative telomere structures, most telomeres contain DNA arrays of short repeats (6–26 bp) maintained by telomerase. Like other diptera, Chironomus riparius has noncanonical telomeres and three subfamilies, TsA, TsB and TsC, of longer sequences (176 bp) are found at their chromosomal ends. Reverse transcription PCR was used to show that different RNAs are transcribed from these sequences. Only one strand from TsA sequences seems to render a noncoding RNA (named CriTER‐A); transcripts from both TsB strands were found (CriTER‐B and αCriTER‐B) but no TsC transcripts were detected. Interestingly, these sequences showed a differential transcriptional response upon heat shock, and they were also differentially affected by inhibitors of RNA polymerase II and RNA polymerase III. A computer search for transcription factor binding sites revealed putative regulatory cis‐elements within the transcribed sequence, reinforcing the experimental evidence which suggests that the telomeric repeat might function as a promoter. This work describes the telomeric transcriptome of an insect with non‐telomerase telomeres, confirming the evolutionary conservation of telomere transcription. Our data reveal differences in the regulation of telomeric transcripts between control and stressful environmental conditions, supporting the idea that telomeric RNAs could have a relevant role in cellular metabolism in insect cells.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards prevention and early detection of chronic kidney disease
Authors: Khalil A. , Abdalrahim M.
Published: February 2014

Objective

To describe the knowledge, attitudes and practices of Jordanian patients with chronic illnesses towards prevention and early detection of chronic kidney disease.

Background

Patients with chronic illnesses such as hypertension and diabetes need to adopt healthy attitudes and practices and gain knowledge regarding prevention and early detection of kidney disease to decrease the prevalence of dialysis‐related complications and costs.

Methods

A total of 740 patients were recruited from out‐patients clinics in Jordan. Knowledge, attitudes and practices about kidney disease prevention and early detection were measured using the Chronic Kidney Disease Screening Index which was developed by the researcher and tested for validity and reliability.

Results

The results revealed that most of the participants have knowledge about kidney disease; however, half of them had wrong information related to signs and symptoms of chronic kidney disease. The majority of the participants were not aware about the importance of discovering health problems at early stages.

Conclusion and implications

Improvement in population understanding about chronic kidney disease is needed to advance their awareness and practices to make appropriate decisions towards health promotion and better quality of life.

Implication for policy development

Nurses need to be involved in development of protocols for screening and intervention programmes, taking into consideration the cultural issues and the financial status of individuals at risk for kidney disease. Governments should adopt a public health policy for chronic kidney disease that supports programmes for screening and programmes for improving public awareness for kidney disease prevention.
A Brief Survey of Modern Optimization for Statisticians
Authors: Lange Kenneth , Chi Eric C. , Zhou Hua
Published: February 2014

Modern computational statistics is turning more and more to high‐dimensional optimization to handle the deluge of big data. Once a model is formulated, its parameters can be estimated by optimization. Because model parsimony is important, models routinely include non‐differentiable penalty terms such as the lasso. This sober reality complicates minimization and maximization. Our broad survey stresses a few important principles in algorithm design. Rather than view these principles in isolation, it is more productive to mix and match them. A few well‐chosen examples illustrate this point. Algorithm derivation is also emphasized, and theory is downplayed, particularly the abstractions of the convex calculus. Thus, our survey should be useful and accessible to a broad audience.
Preventing the Next Financial Crisis? Regulating Bankers' Pay in Europe
Authors: Johnston Andrew
Published: February 2014

This article offers a critical appraisal of the way in which executive pay in financial institutions is regulated in the European Union. Despite the widely acknowledged role of executive pay in causing the financial crisis, regulators and policy makers were reluctant to intervene because of the ideology of shareholder primacy and an unjustified belief that this was a matter for companies and their shareholders alone. As a result, the original regulatory scheme which was introduced was very weak. The European Parliament responded to these developments by capping executive pay. The article argues that, while this cap is a crude instrument, it can be justified on economic grounds because it considerably reduces the likelihood of a future financial crisis, with all the social costs that would entail. If it also results in much higher fixed pay, that is a matter of concern for shareholders alone, and might even force them into the activism so long expected of them.
Market Discipline and EU Corporate Governance Reform in the Banking Sector: Merits, Fallacies, and Cognitive Boundaries
Authors: Avgouleas Emilios , Cullen Jay
Published: February 2014

Much contemporary analysis has concluded that the recent financial crisis and bank failures were, among other things, the result of a breakdown in corporate governance regimes and market discipline. In this context, new regulations advocate such market‐based remedies as tighter investor monitoring and greater control over executives' remuneration, in order to safeguard financial stability. We argue that this approach largely ignores three very important aspects of modern financial markets that cannot be constrained through market discipline: (i) socio‐psychological phenomena; (ii) the epistemological properties of financial market innovation; and (iii) the inherent inability of market participants to predict uncertain risk correlations. Therefore, this article argues that excessive EU focus on corporate governance reforms as a means to improve financial stability detracts attention from much more significant concerns, chiefly, the issue of optimal bank structure.
The Financial Crisis: A Reason to Improve Shareholder Protection in the EU?
Authors: Mukwiri Jonathan , Siems Mathias
Published: February 2014

The global financial crisis of 2008 has stimulated the debate on corporate governance and shareholder protection. The intuitive reason for the topicality of shareholder protection is that insolvencies mainly harm shareholders as the companies' residual claimants. In addition, ideally, shareholder empowerment may ensure better monitoring of management and therefore better‐run companies preventing corporate failures and benefiting the economy as a whole. Yet, it is not self‐evident that shareholder participation has such a positive effect. This article critically examines the discussion about the relationship between the financial crisis, shareholder protection, and law reform. We also develop a central position: while there may be a need to improve shareholder protection, we do not take the view that any increase in shareholder rights is the right way forward; rather, such reforms should aim to encourage shareholder engagement by responsible long‐term investors.
Post‐crisis Corporate Governance and Labour Relations in the EU (and Beyond)
Authors: Villiers Charlotte
Published: February 2014

This article attempts to explain how corporate governance and macroeconomic policies have impacted on the role of workers and their representatives in the corporate environment and to consider how this has affected their capacity to protect themselves in the context of the financial crisis. It also considers the strategies they might adopt to strengthen their position in the future. It argues for the need to reposition labour law in the legal hierarchy as a first condition but also, and more importantly, that for democratic reasons, trade unions need to work collectively with other civil society and protest movements to hold corporations, national governments, and European institutions to account and, internally, to develop the class consciousness of old and new members.
Developing Two‐tiered Regulatory Competition in EU Corporate Law: Assessing the Impact of the Societas Privata Europaea
Authors: Eckardt Martina , Kerber Wolfgang
Published: February 2014

Since the Centros ruling in 1999, Europe has evolved a two‐tiered system of corporate laws. This opens up the possibility of some horizontal regulatory competition between the corporate laws of the member states. Following a draft regulation on the European Private Company (SPE), an additional legal form tailored to the needs of small and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) is being proposed. We analyse whether such a supranational European legal form can be recommended from the perspective of the economic theory of legal federalism. We present a general theoretical framework for studying centralization/harmonization versus the decentralization of legal rules and regulations in regard to corporate law in the EU. Our analysis of the empirical evidence on horizontal regulatory competition and the advantages or disadvantages of such an additional legal form for SMEs shows clearly that it might render many benefits, compared with the existing situation of only (partial) horizontal competition.
The Integrated Design Process from the Facilitator's Perspective
Authors: Lee Jeehyun
Published: February 2014

The focus of this study was to clarify the integrated design process from an educational standpoint, and identify its influencing factors and the role of facilitator. Through a literature review, the integrated design process and the role of facilitator were framed, and through the case study, the whole process of integrated design and the facilitator's role were analysed from the preparation phase to the assessment phase. The integrated design studio was conducted for 16 weeks with third‐year undergraduate students who had various academic backgrounds. The integrated design studio was composed of three integration elements: integration of knowledge, integration of research and development methods and systematic integration of process. Each phase of the integrated design process and the facilitating role of the instructors were empirically analysed. After the integrated design studio, the students' perspective on its effectiveness and the difficulties encountered were analysed quantitatively. The results showed that the effective integration in design education should place a high importance on integration of knowledge and R&D phases, and the facilitator's role should be focused to maximise the multidisciplinary collaboration effect.
Concepts as Context: Thematic Museum Education and its Influence on Meaning Making
Authors: Hubard Olga
Published: February 2014

Thematic art museum education programmes – programmes where visitors make meaning of various artworks in relation to a specific preselected theme – are conspicuous within interactive museum education on both sides of the Atlantic. How do thematic programmes influence visitors' experiences with art? In this article, I explore this question based on data collected in a museum education class at a graduate school of education. The findings emphasise how the selection of a particular theme inevitably shapes the way viewers read an artwork. Viewers who are compelled by aspects of an artwork that do not ‘fit’ within the assigned theme feel frustrated in thematic programmes. These viewers contend that the thematic approach flattens the rich, multidimensional – and multi‐thematic – experiences that artworks invite. By the same token, the data suggest that the limits that themes set can promote in‐depth exploration of certain interpretive avenues in the work and yield feasible, insightful interpretations that might otherwise remain obscure. Ultimately, this article is a reminder that the themes museum educators select – or their absence – inevitably shape the way individual artworks come to life as viewers interact with them.
Research into Teachers' Receptivity for Arts Infused Curricula in Taiwan
Authors: Giffen Cheng Yueh Hsiu , Chou Wen‐Shou , Cheng Chun Wen
Published: February 2014

The main purpose of this study was to understand the common attitudes and behaviours of teachers in Taiwan with regard to the implementation of arts infused curricula, as well as the individual problems these teachers encounter. From these results, we extracted reference data for the benefit of schools and policymakers in promoting arts infused curricula. The model of receptivity theory and the interrelated factors of influence shown therein were particularly useful in interpreting the attitudes and behaviours of teachers with regard to arts infused education. Teacher receptivity theory is usually applied to measure the relationships between the implementation of a new curriculum and the attitudes/viewpoints of teachers with regard to the new curriculum. With the aid of teacher receptivity theory, this study explored the difficulties and obstacles faced by teachers when implementing arts infused curricula, as well as the attitudes, behavioural intentions and considerations of these teachers. The methodology of this study included both a review of the literature and in‐depth interviews. Using the interview data, this research compiled 16 key factors of consideration for teachers with regard to arts infused curricula. These factors influence the attitudes and behaviour of teachers in relation to these curricula.
Reforming the School Curriculum and Assessment in England to Match the Best in the World – A Cautionary Tale
Authors: Steers John
Published: February 2014

This article traces the development of a new National Curriculum in England following the general election of 2010. The prevailing political ideology of an approach based on securing ‘core knowledge’ in a limited range of preferred ‘academic’ subjects and its deleterious impact on the arts in schools is described. The vigorous debate accompanying these ‘reforms’ is summarised.