bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on the competitive dynamics and structured context analysis
Authors: Pei Wen , Li Jeng-Huan
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The credit card business has been one of the key businesses for banks in Taiwan. The purpose of this paper is to use competitive dynamics and structured context analysis (SCA) to explore the competition relationships among market, resources, and strategies concerning the credit card issued banks in Taiwan.

Design/methodology/approach

The market commonality and resource similarity analysis of competitive dynamics in the first stage obtained the competitive mapping of four major credit card issue banks, as well as the differences of competition strategy. In the second stage, 1,968 pieces of data on credit card news from 2013 to 2014 were collected. SCA was used to analyze the competitive action, competitive response, number of responses, response lag, and response order.

Findings

The competitor mapping and four hypothesis obtained from competitive dynamics correspond to the credit card competition strategy, as obtained from SCA.

Originality/value

This research combined competitive dynamics and SCA to analyze the credit cards market in Taiwan. The research model could be used in the other financial market.
Cooperation strategies for e-commerce platforms with seller classification
Authors: Ji Ya’nan , Xu Xiaoyan , Sun Yanhong
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the cooperation and pricing strategies for e-commerce platforms when considering seller classification.

Design/methodology/approach

E-commerce platforms serve to facilitate trade and generate revenue from the participants. By classifying the sellers in the market into two types (the individual sellers vs the professional sellers), the authors examine how the interaction between the two types of sellers affects the platform’s cooperation and pricing decisions. Specifically, the authors compare two cooperation strategies for the platform: cooperating only with the professional sellers (strategy I); and cooperating with both the two types of sellers (strategy II).

Findings

When the platform attractiveness for the professional sellers is high enough, strategy II is absolutely beneficial than strategy I; whereas when the platform attractiveness for the professional sellers is low and the performance requirement of the individual sellers is relatively high, strategy I will be more beneficial.

Practical implications

For a platform choosing strategy II, it should make effort to differentiate between the different types of sellers by the product or service quality.

Originality/value

The paper is among the first to study the cooperation and pricing strategies for the e-commerce platform with seller classification.
Sound absorption characterization of aluminum foam made by press infiltration casting
Authors: Sun J.X. , Duan C.Y. , Liu P.S.
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the sound absorption by modeling for the aluminum foam produced by press infiltration casting.

Design/methodology/approach

First use Johnson-Allard-Champoux (JAC) model to calculate the sound absorption coefficient of the present aluminum foam, and then improve it after finding its deviation from the experimental data, so as to get an improved model that could have a good agreement with the experimental result.

Findings

Using JAC model to calculate the sound absorption coefficient of the present aluminum foam, it is found that the model may have a good agreement with the experimental data only for the sound wave frequency below the absorption peak frequency, but a large deviation from the experimental result for the sound wave frequency above this frequency.

Originality/value

Improving JAC model by means of two factors, i.e., the absorption peak frequency and the specific surface area, the resultant improved model could be in good agreement with the experimental data.
An organizational economics approach on the pursuit of socioemotional and financial wealth in family firms
Authors: Kabbach de Castro Luiz Ricardo , Crespi-Cladera Rafel , Aguilera Ruth V.
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the contribution of the paper by Martin and Gomez-Mejia and propose complementary approaches and ways to test their hypotheses.

Design/methodology/approach

This study compares different theoretical approaches that complement socioemotional wealth to explain manager’s decisions and firm performance.

Findings

The authors of this study argue that progress could be achieved by combining Martin and Gomez-Mejia’s propositions with elements of existing organizational theories that are grounded on economics such as the resource-based view, transactional cost and property rights.

Originality/value

This study provides a new perspective of the work of Martin and Gomez-Mejia published in this issue.
Socio-emotional wealth and family: revisiting the connection
Authors: Schulze William
Published: December 2016

Purpose

In this commentary, the author aims to question whether the socio-emotional wealth (SEW) construct should be limited to family firms by noting that non-family owners and founders, i.e. those who yet have to involve family in their enterprise‘s operations, management or ownership, are also motivated to maximize their socioemotional wealth.

Design/methodology/approach

The concept of SEW has generated significant traction in the family business literature and motivated an important body of work about how SEW alters decision-making in family firms. Professors Martin and Gomez–Mejia (this issue) extend past contributions by teasing apart complex relationships among the underlying dimensions of the construct. However, the domain of that paper, as well as the SEW construct, has heretofore been limited to family firms. The author builds his commentary on the work of Martin and Gomez–Mejia (this issue) to argue that the notion that SEW shapes decision-making in the owner controlled and owner-managed non-family firms, as well as family firms.

Findings

The author’s overarching conclusion is that there are several dimensions in which family interests materially alter decision-making but others in which family likely plays a moderating and possibly even a suppressor role. The surprising implication is that it may not be SEWper sethat distinguishes family firms from non-family firms but rather how the family dynamic alters the influence of SEW on outcomes of interest.

Originality/value

Acknowledging that personal and familial SEW have a common foundation allows one to sharpen the research focus and shift it from questions about how SEW might alter decision-making in family firms to questions about how the presence of family members alters the influence of SEW on decision-making in owner-controlled and owner-managed firms. This commentary explicates the argument and offers some suggestions about how this re-framing might allow for the extension of the SEW concept from the family firm to its influence on founder-managed and non-family firms.
Determination of acceptable thermal range in outdoor built environments by various methods
Authors: Shooshtarian Salman , Ridley Ian
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Assessment of outdoor thermal perception in urban spaces is of particular importance due to its financial, social and ecological consequences. Thermal perception includes four elements: thermal sensation votes (TSV), thermal preference (Tpref), overall thermal comfort (Tc) and thermal acceptability (Taccept). Thermal acceptability can offer a benchmark that specifies the acceptable thermal range (ATR), which is useful for urban planners, designers, and bio-meteorologists. ATR, however, can be defined either using direct or indirect measures. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the validity of the indirect measures of ATR, which are most commonly used in outdoor thermal comfort assessments.

Design/methodology/approach

This study was conducted in the context of Melbourne, which has an oceanic temperate climate (Cfb). Three sites forming RMIT University City Campus (RUCC) were selected as the case studies, which were located in the heart of Melbourne Central Business District. A field survey was conducted in RUCC during three seasons, from November 2014 (Spring) to May 2015 (Autumn), which consisted of concurrent field measurements and questionnaire surveys from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Findings

In total, 1,059 valid questionnaires were collected from the three sites of RUCC. The results of comparative analysis between the different measures of ATR determination showed that the various elements of thermal perceptions expressed the users’ thermal judgements in different ways. Therefore, it was found that the instruction recommended by the thermal comfort standards on the definition of ATR failed to provide an appropriate estimation of ATR for outdoor built environments. The ATR, defined using TSV, therefore, was revised by the direct measure of thermal acceptability. The resulting range showed broader limits in acceptable thermal conditions in RUCC outdoor spaces users. Lastly, the results suggest that in the absence of directly measured acceptability of thermal conditions in field surveys, overall comfort is the most appropriate indirect measure to use.

Originality/value

Some indoor thermal comfort studies have used the alternatives for defining ATR. However, as the applicability of these four methods is yet to be fully explored in outdoor conditions with large weather variations, it is valuable to conduct a comparative analysis among these methods. This study also intended to understand the dynamics of comfort range under non-steady and non-uniform outdoor conditions. The resultant outcome has provided information on the relationship between different measures of thermal perceptions. Ultimately, this research aimed to explore the extent to which the indirect measures of acceptability are considered as a reliable source of information compared to the direct measure.
Improving sustainability literacy of future quantity surveyors
Authors: Xia Bo , Rosly Nur , Wu Peng , Bridge Adrian , Pienaar Josua
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The increasing need for sustainability-literate construction professionals has prompted higher education institutions to incorporate a sustainability agenda education into their construction courses. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the sustainability knowledge embedded into a quantity surveying (QS) undergraduate course.

Design/methodology/approach

Using the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) as a case study, analysis of sustainability knowledge embedded into the QS course is conducted by examining the content of QS course structure, unit aims, learning outcomes, assessment framework and weekly lecture and tutorial materials.

Findings

The results show that the “incorporation approach”, i.e. the practice of incorporating the sustainability themes into existing relevant subjects, is mainly used in delivering the sustainability knowledge to the QS students. Additionally, it is found that in its QS course, QUT has covered all aspects of sustainability comprehensively from an environmental viewpoint and with regard, to economic, social and governance aspects.

Practical implications

This research also proposes recommendations for further improvement of the sustainability education in the QUT QS course and beyond.

Originality/value

This study revealed the current practices and approaches of incorporating sustainability knowledge into QS education programme and addressed the knowledge requirements of future sustainability literate QS professionals.
At the margins of biomedicine: the ambiguous position of ‘Registered Medical Practitioners’ in rural Indian healthcare
Authors: Nahar Papreen , Kannuri Nanda Kishore , Mikkilineni Sitamma , Murthy G.V.S. , Phillimore Peter
Published: December 2016

This analysis challenges a tendency in public health and the social sciences to associate India's medical pluralism with a distinction between biomedicine, as a homogeneous entity, and its non‐biomedical ‘others’. We argue that this overdrawn dichotomy obscures the important part played by ‘informal’ biomedical practice, an issue with salience well beyond India. Based on a qualitative study in rural Andhra Pradesh, South India, we focus on a figure little discussed in the academic literature – the Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) – who occupies a niche in the medical market‐place as an informal exponent of biomedical treatment. We explore the significance of these practitioners by tracking diagnosis and treatment of one increasingly prominent medical ‘condition’, namely diabetes. The RMP, who despite the title is rarely registered, sheds light on the supposed formal‐informal sector divide in India's healthcare system, and its permeability in practice. We develop our analysis by contrasting two distinctive conceptualisations of ‘informality’ in relation to the state in India – one Sarah Pinto's, the other Ananya Roy's.
Counting the cost of alcohol: what you measure will shape the policy response
Authors: Katikireddi Srinivasa Vittal
Published: December 2016

Commentary to: Which cost of alcohol? What should we compare it against?
Is Chelation Therapy Efficient for the Treatment of Intravenous Metallic Mercury Intoxication?
Authors: Pelclova Daniela , Vlckova Stepanka , Bezdicek Ondrej , Vaneckova Manuela , Urban Pavel , Ridzon Petr , Diblik Pavel , Navratil Tomas , Klusackova Pavlina , Vlcek Kamil , Benesova Olga , Trestik Pavel , Homolka Jiri , Zakharov Sergey
Published: December 2016

The efficacy of treatment for intravenous elemental mercury intoxication has not been fully studied with regard to clinical outcome, and treatment recommendations vary. We treated a 41‐year‐old man with a history of drug abuse and depression who attempted suicide using 1 mL (13.53 g) metallic Hg i.v. He was admitted to the hospital 2 months later for dyspnoea and thoracic pain and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Hg deposits were seen in the lungs and extra‐pulmonary organs. His blood level (372 μg/L) exceeded the population level of 5 μg/L by more than 70 times. Dimercaptopropane sulphonate sodium (DMPS; 600 mg/day orally) was administered for 14 days. One year later, the patient presented with dyspnoea on exertion, fatigue, depression and impaired sleep. His chest X‐ray showed multiple opacities (size up to 2.8 cm), and psychological testing revealed a selective cognitive deficit in the area of visual attentiveness, flexibility, source memory and impairment of the motor speed of the dominant upper extremity. Mercury blood level was 158 μg/L and mercury urine output was 1380 μg/24 hr. DMPS (800 mg/day orally) was administered for 40 days; the patient eliminated up to 18 mg Hg/day. His Hg blood level and Hg urine output belong to the highest among reported cases. In spite of the therapy, the patient's blood Hg, complaints and psychological tests showed no improvement. This case report confirms that DMPS does not effectively remove intravenous deposits of metallic Hg.
A qualitative investigation into the HIV disclosure process within an intimate partnership: ‘The moment I realized that our relationship was developing into something serious, I just had to tell him’
Authors: Smith Charlotte , Cook Rachel , Rohleder Poul
Published: December 2016

Objectives

This study sought to elucidate the process through which people living with HIV (PLWH) in the United Kingdom disclose their status to an intimate partner (IP).

Design

A qualitative cross‐sectional survey design was used.

Method

A total of 95 PLWH took part. They were presented with a series of open‐ended questions enquiring into their last experience of disclosing to an IP. The data were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Disclosure became a salient issue when the discloser acknowledged their relationship as meaningful. A decision to tell was mostly made to build a foundation for the evolving relationship. Once the decision was made, it was enacted via one of two mechanisms (self‐initiated or opportunistic) and partners’ reported reactions fell within one of four main reaction types. In the long‐term for couples who remained together, disclosure was understood to have brought them closer. However, for both those whose relationships remained intact, and for those whose relationship had since broken down, sexual difficulties associated with being in a sero‐discordant partnership pervaded. At a personal level, the experience resulted in increased confidence in living with the diagnosis, and an increased sense of disclosure mastery.

Conclusions

Disclosure is a highly nuanced process. In particular, it was found to be largely characterized by the IP relational context in which it was occurring. The clinical and theoretical implications of these findings are discussed. In particular, these findings highlight a need for the provision of long‐term support to PLWH in negotiating their relationships throughout the process.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Disclosing a HIV+ status to an intimate partner (IP) is key in addressing the global HIV epidemic, social stigma, and the psychological and physical well‐being of people living with the condition.

It is increasingly recognized that HIV disclosure is a process, rather than an event.

Researchers have begun to initiate a line of research into a process‐based theoretical account of disclosure.

What does this study add?

This study provided a nuanced account of the disclosure process within an IP relationship.

The process was found to be largely influenced by the discloser's subjective experience of the intimate partnership.

The findings point to a need for a disclosure intervention that supports couples more longitudinally, particularly in negotiating the emotional and sexual difficulties that often arise upon disclosing.
A 13 000 year multi‐proxy climate record from central Utah (westernUSA), emphasizing conditions leading to large mass movements
Authors: Shurtliff Ryan A. , Nelson Stephen T. , McBride John H. , Rey Kevin A. , Tucker Joseph C. , Godwin Steven B. , Tingey David G.
Published: December 2016

Younger Dryas to earliest Holocene mega‐landslides (>10 km2) in the eastern Fish Lake Plateau of central Utah required unusually wet conditions to drive movement. The sediment from abundant small lakes, ponds and especially fens that formed in swales between hummocks on the landslide surfaces are excellent archives of past climate. An integrated geophysical, geochemical and micro‐palaeontological investigation characterized fen deposits, determining the timing of mass movement and establishing the subsequent climate history of the region. High‐resolution P‐(compressional) wave surveys of fen deposits were conducted to image fen‐landslide contacts. Past climate states were assessed through loss on ignition, pollen and diatom abundances. Diatoms, in particular, record large variations in precipitation as the present‐day wetland switched from fen (intermittent standing water) to pond states in response to variable precipitation. One core was analysed for detailed climate proxies. A wet episode (pond) prevailed from 11.5 to 10 ka after which the climate became much drier (fen) until 6 ka due to weakening of the North American Monsoon. After 2.5–2.0 ka, reduced insolation produced cooler summers and wet winters (pond). Only recently (<500 years) has a fen re‐emerged based on direct observation and the disappearance of diatoms that require standing water.14C ages of basal sediment from four cores show two episodes of movement: 12.8–12.5 and 10.5 ka. The earlier ages indicate that Younger Dryas high effective precipitation caused mass wasting. Later, during early Holocene times, colder winters followed by warmer summers and vigorous monsoons drove movement as rapid spring snow‐melt was followed by wet summers. In broad terms, this work highlights variable climate conditions that can drive mass movement, as well as the sensitivity of diatom records in fens to effective precipitation.
Driving restrictions that work? Quito's Pico y Placa Program
Authors: Carrillo Paul E. , Malik Arun S. , Yoo Yiseon
Published: December 2016

Programs to reduce traffic congestion and air pollution by restricting use of motor vehicles on working days have generally not met with success, given existing studies of such programs. We conduct the first study of Quito, Ecuador's four‐year‐old Pico y Placa program and find that it has reduced ambient concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), a pollutant primarily emitted by vehicles, by 9% to 11% during peak traffic hours. Given that ambient concentrations of CO generally track the spatial and temporal distributions of traffic, these reductions in pollution suggest similar reductions in vehicle flows. We find no significant evidence that traffic has shifted to other times of the day or week, or to other locations.
Predictors of developmental surveillance completion at six months of age in south western Sydney
Authors: Overs B. J. , Woolfenden S. , Williams K. , Jalaludin B. , Axelsson E. L. , Dissanayake C. , Descallar J. , Harvey S. , Beasley D. , Murphy E. , Eapen V. ,   the ‘Watch Me Grow’ Study Group
Published: December 2016

Background

While developmental surveillance programs promote early identification of child developmental problems, evidence has indicated suboptimal uptake. This study aimed to identify predictors of developmental surveillance completion at 6 months postpartum.

Methods

Questionnaires were administered to the parents of 510 infants who were born in south western Sydney, Australia over a 22‐month period. Attendance for developmental screening and completion of the Parents' Evaluation of Developmental Status (PEDS) at 6 months postpartum were modelled separately using multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Developmental surveillance attendance was predicted by higher levels of maternal education, annual income and being informed about checks. PEDS completion at 6 months of age was predicted by higher income and being informed, as well as being married, employed, speaking English at home, full‐term birth and the professional status of the practitioner completing the check.

Conclusions

Barriers to developmental surveillance included low socioeconomic status, linguistic diversity and possible gaps in parental knowledge and professional education. Developmental surveillance rates may be increased by the addition of targeted parental and professional support within current universal frameworks.
The relationship between biomarkers of fungal allergy and lung damage in asthma
Authors: Woolnough K. F. , Richardson M. , Newby C. , Craner M. , Bourne M. , Monteiro W. , Siddiqui S. , Bradding P. , Pashley C. H. , Wardlaw A. J.
Published: December 2016

Background

Immunological biomarkers are the key to the diagnosis of allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) and fungal sensitisation, but how these relate to clinically relevant outcomes is unclear.

Objectives

To assess how fungal immunological biomarkers are related to fixed airflow obstruction and radiological abnormalities in moderate to severe asthma.

Methods

Cross‐sectional study of 431 asthmatics. Inflammatory biomarkers, lung function and an IgE fungal panel to colonising filamentous fungi, yeasts and fungal aeroallergens were measured. CT scans were scored for the presence of radiological abnormalities. Factor analysis informed the variables used in a k‐means cluster analysis. Fixed airflow obstruction and radiological abnormalities were then mapped to these immunological variables in the cluster analysis.

Results

329 (76.3%) subjects were sensitised to ≥ 1 fungi. Sensitisation to Aspergillus fumigatus and/or Penicillium chrysogenum was associated with a lower post‐bronchodilator FEV1 compared with those not sensitised to fungi ((73.0 (95% CI 70.2–76) vs. 82.8 (95% CI 78.5–87.2)% predicted, P < 0.001), independent of atopic status (P = 0.005)), and an increased frequency of bronchiectasis (54.5%, P < 0.001), tree‐in‐bud (18.7%, P < 0.001) and collapse/consolidation (37.5%, P = 0.002). Cluster analysis identified three clusters: (i) hypereosinophilic (n = 71, 16.5%), (ii) high immunological biomarker load and high frequency of radiological abnormalities (n = 34, 7.9%) and (iii) low levels of fungal immunological biomarkers (n = 326, 75.6%).

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

IgE sensitisation to thermotolerant filamentous fungi, in particular A. fumigatus but not total IgE, is associated with fixed airflow obstruction and a number of radiological abnormalities in moderate to severe asthma. All patients with IgE sensitisation to A. fumigatus are at risk of lung damage irrespective of whether they meet the criteria for ABPA.
Long‐term reproducibility of positive patch test reactions in patients with non‐immediate cutaneous adverse drug reactions to antibiotics
Authors: Pinho André , Marta Ana , Coutinho Inês , Gonçalo Margarida
Published: December 2016

Background

As in contact allergy,Tcell‐mediated hypersensitivity in non‐immediate (NI) cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADRs) to antibiotics is considered to be lifelong, but, in this setting, patch tests have rarely been repeated after long time intervals.

Objective

To evaluate the long‐term reproducibility of positive patch test reactions to antibiotics in patients withNI CADRs.

Methods

Fifty‐six patients withNI CADRs to antibiotics who had relevant positive reactions during patch testing were invited to repeat patch tests with a similar antibiotic series 2–15 years thereafter.

Results

Twenty patients were included (9 males and 11 females; mean age 54.6 years): 18 with maculopapular exanthema, 1 with drug hypersensitivity syndrome, and 1 with acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis. Results were reproducible in 17 of 20 patients after a mean interval of 6.0 years (range 2–14.7 years). Concerning β‐lactams, 7 of 8 patients remained positive for aminopenicillins, 4 of 4 for isoxazolyl penicillins, and 1 for cefoxitin. Patch test results were also reproducible for clindamycin in 5 of 7 patients, for vancomycin in 1 patient, and for spiramycin in 1 patient. Reproducibility was not affected by the time interval between tests, sex, or age at testing.

Conclusions

In the context ofNI CADRs, we showed high reproducibility of positive patch test reactions to various antibiotics, even after several years.
Illumination compensation in textile colour constancy, based on an improved least‐squares support vector regression and an improved GM(1,1) model of grey theory
Authors: Zhang Jian‐xin , Zhang Pan , Wu Xiao‐liang , Zhou Zhi‐yu , Yang Chong
Published: December 2016

In many colour‐related fields, such as textile colour measurement systems based on computer vision as well as dyestuff synthesis, colour constancy with illumination variation is a key problem to be solved. A new algorithm of illumination compensation for colour constancy for textured textiles is proposed in this paper, combining an improved least‐squares support vector regression (LSSVR) and an improved GM(1,1) model of grey theory. The LSSVR algorithm was improved by determining the error limitation according to the distance between a standard sample and a test sample, while the improved GM(1,1) model used the average value of the sequence as the initial iteration value. The disadvantage of LSSVR, that it easily falls into global optimisation, can be compensated for by the local optimisation capacity of the GM(1,1) model. Experimental results show that the algorithm of this paper is very stable and provides good illumination compensation, whereby the time complexity of compensation is reduced by repeatedly processing fractional data with the LSSVR algorithm, and the prediction accuracy is improved by combining the improved GM(1,1) model and the LSSVR algorithm.
Synthesis, photophysical properties, and application of optical brighteners based on stilbene‐oxadiazole derivatives
Authors: El‐Sedik Mervat , Aysha Tarek , Youssef Yehya
Published: December 2016

A series of symmetrical optical brighteners based on stilbene‐oxadiazole derivatives were prepared by the simple synthetic route of a condensation reaction between 4,4′‐dicarboxystilbene and N,N′‐carbonyldiimidazole reagent, forming stilbene 4,4′‐ethene‐1,2‐diyldibenzohydrazide as a key intermediate. The obtained compounds were characterised by analysis of nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis data. The absorption maximum wavelength, fluorescence emission wavelength, and fluorescence quantum yield were measured in N,N‐dimethylformamide solution at room temperature, and the fluorescence properties of the prepared compounds in the solid state were observed and measured. The compounds exhibited bluish and greenish fluorescence emission, with the fluorescence quantum yield in the range 0.2–0.8; the effects of substituents on the emission spectra of these compounds were interpreted. The prepared compounds were applied as optical brighteners to polyester and polyamide‐6 fabrics at various concentrations, and their CIE whiteness index and fastness properties were studied.
Serum amyloid A, an acute phase protein, stimulates proliferative and proinflammatory responses of keratinocytes
Authors: Yu Ning , Zhang Shujie , Lu Jiajing , Li Ying , Yi Xuemei , Tang Li , Su Lina , Ding Yangfeng
Published: December 2016

Objectives

Serum amyloid A (SAA), an acute phase protein, is highly expressed in psoriatic lesions but its function is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to explore its role in activation of keratinocytes.

Materials and methods

Real‐time PCR and immunofluorescence were performed to examine SAA expression in imiquimod (IMQ)‐induced psoriasis‐like mice. In vivo function of SAA was examined by treating psoriasis‐like mice with SAA neutralising antibody. Cell viability was monitored using the CCK‐8 assay. Real‐time PCR was performed to determine expression of genes associated with differentiation and inflammation. Ki67+ percentage and immunological markers were analysed by flow cytometry. Involvement of formyl peptide receptor‐like 1 (FPRL1) in SAA signal transduction was determined by RNA interference. Binding of SAA and FPRL1 was examined by co‐immunoprecipitaion. Western blotting was conducted to assess phosphorylation of downstream signalling molecules.

Results

SAA was highly expressed in skin lesions of IMQ‐treated psoriasis‐like mice and neutralising SAA attenuated epidermal hyperplasia and inflammation. SAA in vitro promoted keratinocyte proliferation and expression of immunological mediators, while inhibiting differentiation. Effects of SAA on keratinocyte proliferation and inflammation were mediated by FPRL1, as well as activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway.

Conclusions

These observations indicate that SAA/FPRL1 contributed to pathogenesis of psoriasis by promoting keratinocyte proliferation and inflammation, thus providing a potential therapeutic target for disease therapy.
miR‐29a regulates vascular neointimal hyperplasia by targeting YY1
Authors: Zhang Yu , Li Yong Hui , Liu Chao , Nie Chan‐Juan , Zhang Xin‐Hua , Zheng Cui‐Ying , Jiang Wen , Yin Wei‐Na , Ren Ming‐Hui , Jin Yu‐Xin , Liu Shu‐Feng , Zheng Bin , Wen Jin‐Kun
Published: December 2016

Objectives

The formation of vascular neointima is mainly related to impairment of the vascular endothelial barrier and abnormal proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells. The objective of this study was to investigate whether miR‐29a exerts any promoting effect on the vascular neointimal hyperplasia and if so, its mechanism.

Materials and methods

RT‐qPCR was performed to determine expression of miR‐29a in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and vascular neointimal hyperplasia. To further understand its role, we restored its expression in VSMCs by transfection with miR‐29a mimics or inhibitors. Effects of miR‐29a on cell proliferation were also determined.

Results

In this study, we used two kinds of model to observe the role of miR‐29a in neointimal hyperplasia induced by carotid ligation or balloon injury. The major findings were that: (i) miR‐29a overexpression promoted neointimal hyperplasia induced by carotid ligation; (ii) miR‐29a increased proliferation of VSMCs, one aspect of which was by targeting expression of Ying and yang 1 protein (YY1), a negative regulator of Cyclin D1. A further aspect, was by increasing expression of Krüppel‐like factor 5, a positive regulator of Cyclin D1, thereby allowing formation a synergistic effect. (iii) Tongxinluo (TXL), a traditional Chinese medicine reduced neointimal formation in ligated vessels by inhibiting VSMC proliferation and migration.

Conclusions

These findings provide a new molecular mechanism of TXL in decreasing neointima hyperplasia.
Spatial congruence between taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional hotspots: true pattern or methodological artefact?
Authors: Pardo Iker , Roquet Cristina , Lavergne Sébastien , Olesen Jens M. , Gómez Daniel , García María B.
Published: December 2016

Aim

To assess the spatial congruence between hotspots based on taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity, after accounting for the correlation between diversity metrics, and the spatial scale and sampling completeness of data.

Location

The Ordesa and Monte Perdido National Park (Central Pyrenees, Spain), a species‐rich area subjected to intensive botanical sampling.

Methods

We selected hotspots using different diversity metrics and two different data sources (~49,000 occurrence records of 1379 vascular plants in 1 × 1 km grid cells and 1218 inventories of plant communities containing a total of 859 taxa) and compared their spatial congruence. The effect of sampling completeness of data was explicitly assessed. Phylogenetic diversity and functional diversity (measured with richness‐dependent and richness‐independent metrics) were based on a molecular phylogeny, and a functional dendrogram, respectively. The effectiveness of different types of hotspots in representing other diversity components was tested with permutation tests.

Results

We found that spurious correlations between diversity metrics explained the congruence between taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional hotspots. When richness‐independent metrics were used, diversity hotspots were no longer congruent regardless of the source of data. Hotspots were biased towards intensively sampled grid cells, and the amount of diversity they captured was exaggerated due to the coarse spatial scale of species‐occurrence data. The efficiency of hotspots in terms of integrating different diversity components was lower at community scale and not significantly higher than expected at random, regardless of the sampling completeness.

Main conclusions

Our results stress that the arbitrary use of diversity metrics and the scale of analyses along with the sampling bias in data can distort the true location of hotspots, and exaggerate their spatial congruence. After accounting for such methodological issues, we found a clear mismatch between diversity components that questions the utility of hotspots as a conservation tool of multiple diversity components.
A diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging study of paediatric patients with severe non‐traumatic brain injury
Authors: Molteni Erika , Rocca Maria A , Strazzer Sandra , Pagani Elisabetta , Colombo Katia , Arrigoni Filippo , Boffa Giacomo , Copetti Massimiliano , Pastore Valentina , Filippi Massimo
Published: December 2016

Aim

In this observational study using 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor, we investigated the differential effects of pathology, stage of disease, state of consciousness, and aetiology on the modifications of supra‐ and infra‐tentorial white matter tracts and their correlations with clinical scales in paediatric patients with severe non‐traumatic brain injury.

Method

Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (DT‐MRI) was obtained from seven children with unresponsive wakefulness syndrome (UWS; five males, two females; age at event 5y; standard deviation [SD] 2y 1mo), six children in a minimally conscious state (MCS; three males, three females; age at event 5y 10mo; SD 5y), and 10 healthy children as controls(two males, eight females; age at study 10y 10mo; SD 2y 10mo). Fractional anisotropy, mean, axial, and radial diffusivities were calculated for the corpus callosum, inferior, middle (MCP), and superior cerebellar peduncles (SCP).

Results

DT‐MRI parameters from corpus callosum and SCP differed between patients and controls. MCP abnormalities were detected in patients presenting non‐traumatic composite aetiology (n=4) versus those suffering from pure anoxia (n=9). The supra‐tentorial compartment was more damaged (i.e. decreased fractional anisotropy and increased diffusivities) than the infra‐tentorial one. Correlations were found between DT‐MRI abnormalities and Glasgow Outcome Scale scores.

Interpretation

In paediatric UWS/MCS, the severity of clinical disability correlates with white matter tract abnormalities.
The Helix of Change: A Visual Metaphor
Authors: Kassinis George , Panayiotou Alexia
Published: December 2016

Although discourse encompasses verbal as well as visual representations, the visual mode of meaning construction remains largely unaddressed in discussions of organizational change, despite recent calls for a ‘visual turn’ in organization studies. To this end, our study adds a visual meaning‐making perspective to the literature on organizational change through an empirical, longitudinal study of a Boston‐based start‐up that radically altered the music industry. By employing a bottom‐up view of organizing, we document change as it happens ‘on the ground’ and propose a new visual metaphor for understanding change – ahelix. This visual metaphor adds a helpful image to the current literature of change as process, which is often bound by static, noun‐oriented language. It also has the potential to effectively depict the stability‐change paradox in a way that moves us beyond either/or ways of thinking, talking and planning.
Biotic interchange in the Anthropocene: strong asymmetry in East Asian and eastern North American plant invasions
Authors: Mason Heberling J. , Jo Insu , Kozhevnikov Andrey , Lee Hyohyemi , Fridley Jason D.
Published: December 2016

Aim

Modern species invasions result in the global reshuffling of regional floras, but biogeographical biases in floristic exchanges (origin effects) are underexplored. We compared habitat‐level invasion patterns in two environmentally similar regions, and ask whether plant exchanges are also similar or if one region largely invades the other.

Location

Eastern North America (ENA) and East Asia (EAS).

Methods

We compiled a new dataset of the 1293 naturalized (i.e. non‐native, self‐sustaining) and invasive (i.e. spreading) plant taxa in EAS, including the habitats they invade and their native distributions. We tested for biases by biogeographical origin, growth form and habitat in EAS invasions, and compared them with those for ENA.

Results

EAS contains 51% fewer naturalizations than ENA, but with a similar biogeographical representation. However, invasions in each region show large differences in biogeographical affinity, taxonomic representation and habitat. Invasions in ENA are biased from East Asia (29% invasive), while invaders in EAS come from a fairly uniform set of major temperate regions. Taxonomically, 54% of Asteraceae naturalizations in EAS are invasive compared with only 16% in ENA. Open habitats are highly invaded in both regions (75% of invasions), but forests are significantly more invaded in ENA than EAS (29% vs. 9%). Reciprocal invasions are asymmetric: EAS contributes more woody invaders to ENA than expected (56% woody, P < 0.001), while in EAS nearly all (91%) invaders from ENA are herbaceous.

Main conclusions

Although they represent regions of similar temperate environments, the origin, taxonomy and habitat affinities of plant invaders in EAS and ENA floristic regions are strongly contrasting. These differences are robust to differences in introduction effort when the invasiveness of species once naturalized is considered. We suggest these patterns support a historical perspective of invasions that invokes differences in regional selection pressures that pre‐adapt certain floras for invasion into particular environmental conditions.
De Novo Migraine With Aura After Surgical Repair of Aortic Coarctation
Authors: Kato Yuji , Hayashi Takeshi , Kobayashi Toshiki , Masuoka Ayumu , Abe Tetsuya , Hasebe Takahiro , Tanahashi Norio , Takao Masaki
Published: December 2016

Coarctation of the aorta (CoA) is reported to be associated with an increased risk for migraine. We describe here the case of a 13‐year‐old female patient who presented migraine with aura after surgical repair of CoA with a stent. As possible reasons for her condition, we postulate host responses to stent placement and/or disturbed cerebral autoregulation related to intracranial hypertension before the surgical repair and hypotension afterward, leading to hypoperfusion. This case demonstrates that de novo migraine with aura can occur after surgical repair of CoA and should be recognized as a potential complication.
Territory occupancy and breeding success of Peregrine FalconsFalco peregrinusat various stages of population recovery
Authors: McGrady Michael J. , Hines James E. , Rollie Chris J. , Smith George D. , Morton Elise R. , Moore Jennifer F. , Mearns Richard M. , Newton Ian , Murillo‐García Oscar E. , Oli Madan K.
Published: December 2016

Organochlorine pesticides disrupted reproduction and killed many raptorial birds, and contributed to population declines during the 1940s to 1970s. We sought to discern whether and to what extent territory occupancy and breeding success changed from the pesticide era to recent years in a resident population of Peregrine FalconsFalco peregrinusin southern Scotland using long‐term (1964–2015) field data and multi‐state, multi‐season occupancy models. Peregrine territories that were occupied with successful reproduction in one year were much more likely to be occupied and experience reproductive success in the following year, compared with those that were unoccupied or occupied by unsuccessful breeders in the previous year. Probability of territory occupancy differed between territories in the eastern and western parts of the study area, and varied over time. The probability of occupancy of territories that were unoccupied and those that were occupied with successful reproduction during the previous breeding season generally increased over time, whereas the probability of occupancy of territories that were occupied after failed reproduction decreased. The probability of reproductive success (conditional on occupancy) in territories that were occupied during the previous breeding season increased over time. Specifically, for territories that had been successful in the previous year, the probability of occupancy as well as reproductive success increased steadily over time; these probabilities were substantially higher in recent years than earlier, when the population was still exposed to direct or residual effects of organochlorine pesticides. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that progressive reduction, followed by a complete ban, in the use of organochlorine pesticides improved reproductive success of Peregrines in southern Scotland. Differences in the temporal pattern of probability of reproductive success between south‐eastern and south‐western Scotland suggest that the effect of organochlorine pesticides on Peregrine reproductive success and/or the recovery from pesticide effects varied geographically and was possibly affected by other factors such as persecution.
National Culture and Default on Mortgages
Authors: Tajaddini Reza , Gholipour Hassan F.
Published: December 2016

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between national cultural characteristics and default on mortgages (DOM). Using Hofstede's constructs and controlling for other relevant determinants of DOM, our regression analyses show that borrowers from countries with high individualism may default more on their mortgages in both a relatively stable economic period and during a period of crisis. Moreover, we find that borrowers from societies showing lower level of pragmatism and higher level of indulgence default more on their mortgages in a stable economic period. Our findings suggest important implications for multinational financial institutions that provide mortgages across countries.
Identification and Analysis of Factors Contributing to the Reduction in Seclusion and Restraint for a Population with Intellectual Disability
Authors: Larue Caroline , Goulet Marie‐Hélène , Prevost Marie‐Josée , Dumais Alexandre , Bellavance Jacques
Published: December 2016

Background

A cohort of 11 patients with an intellectual disability and a psychiatric diagnosis present severe behavioural disorders in psychiatric hospital of Quebec in 2009. Control‐measure use for this clientele has now been reduced. How do management personnel, families and care teams explain the changes? What clinical interventions did management and care providers implement that contributed to the reduction?

Method

A retrospective case study was conducted. Five focus groups were held with people involved in their care, and the patient files were examined.

Results

The factors contributing to this change were the cohesion of the care providers, the involvement of the families and the efforts to determine the function of the behaviour.

Implications

This study may inspire other care teams to try new approaches in dealing with patients with severe behavioural disorders. Also, the model of factors and interventions supporting a reduction in seclusion and restraint measures may inspire future studies.
Holocene tree line changes in the Canadian Cordillera are controlled by climate and topography
Authors: Schwörer Christoph , Gavin Daniel G. , Walker Ian R. , Hu Feng Sheng
Published: December 2016

Aim

Although ongoing climate change is expected to lead to an upward shift of tree lines in mountain areas, evidence for widespread tree line advances remains scarce, implying secondary controls on tree line dynamics at the local scale. We aim to determine if vegetation change in response to past warm periods was regionally synchronous or if local factors such as topography, geomorphology or fire caused divergent local responses.

Location

The Canadian Cordillera in south‐eastern British Columbia (Canada).

Methods

We analysed post‐glacial sediments from three lakes at or just below the present tree line for macrofossils, pollen and charcoal to infer past local forest composition, density, dynamics and fire disturbance.

Results

At two lakes (Windy and Redmountain), tree macrofossil concentrations were highest in the warmer‐than‐present Early Holocene (11,700–7000 cal. bp), indicating higher forest density and tree line position during this time period. At the third lake (Thunder), macrofossil concentrations were low during the Early Holocene and reached maximum values in the mid‐Holocene (7000–3000 cal. bp). The divergent vegetation dynamics and species composition at Thunder Lake suggest that moisture availability may have limited the establishment of closed forests on steep south‐facing slopes or shallow soils in the Early Holocene.

Main conclusions

Summer temperature was the main driver of tree line dynamics over millennial to decadal time‐scales. Closed forests, however, occurred only in areas of adequate moisture availability, which is controlled by topography and geomorphology. We therefore expect a rapid upward shift of tree lines during the 21st century in response to warmer temperatures, but only where deep soils or favourable aspects provide sufficient moisture for tree growth. Upward forest expansion will therefore be patchy and occur first in favourable microsites.