bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Routine X‐rays for suspected frozen shoulder offer little over diagnosis based on history and clinical examination alone
Authors: Roberts Shaun , Dearne Rebecca , Keen Sally , Littlewood Chris , Taylor Stephanie , Deacon Paula
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Frozen shoulder is a common condition, and current guidelines state that it is a diagnosis of exclusion. Along with a history and clinical examination, routine X‐ray is mandated, to rule out any “masquerading” pathology such as fracture, dislocation, metastatic lesions or severe osteoarthritis. Despite the certainty of the guidelines there is a lack of evidence to support the use of routine X‐rays in this situation.

Methods

A retrospective review was performed of all X‐rays obtained in the diagnosis of frozen shoulder between February 2014 and August 2017 in an integrated musculoskeletal interface service. Results were screened and the prevalence of masquerading pathology was determined.

Results

A total of 350 shoulder X‐rays that had been performed for patients with a provisional diagnosis of frozen shoulder were reviewed. Of these, 213 were from female patients (60.9%), the mean age was 57.7 (standard deviation 10.4) years and 342 (97.7%) did not have any concerning features. Six (1.7%) had severe osteoarthritis, one (0.3%) had a fracture and one (0.3%) had a lucency. All eight patients with masquerading pathology had findings from the history and clinical examination which would have warranted an X‐ray, regardless of a differential diagnosis of frozen shoulder.

Conclusions

The findings of this retrospective review of a large number of X‐rays do not support the requirement of a routine X‐ray to rule out masquerading pathology to confirm the diagnosis. The data suggest that it is unnecessary for patients without a relevant clinical history suggestive of serious or masquerading pathology to undergo routine imaging.
Drug utilization patterns and healthcare resource use and costs in patients with neurogenic bladder in the United Kingdom: A retrospective primary care database study
Authors: Jaggi Ashley , Nazir Jameel , Fatoye Francis , Siddiqui Emad , Choudhury Nurul , Argoubi Ramzi , Ali Mahmood , de Ridder Dirk , Drake Marcus J.
Published: March 2019

Aim

To characterize patients with neurogenic bladder (NGB), their treatment patterns, healthcare resource utilization, and associated costs based on records from a primary care database in the United Kingdom.

Methods

This was a retrospective, descriptive, observational study of anonymized data from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink and Hospital Episode Statistics databases (selection period, 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2016). Adults with a definitive or probable diagnosis of NGB and ≥1 referral to a urologist were included.

Results

The study cohort included 3913 patients with definitive (n = 363) or probable (n = 3550) NGB. Patients had a mean of 8.6 (standard deviation [SD], 7.6) comorbidities, and mean Anticholinergic Cognitive Burden Scale score of 6.6 (SD, 5.9). During 12 months’ follow‐up, urinary tract infection (UTI) and urinary incontinence were the most common complications. Most patients (92.2%) received ≥1 prescription for an antimuscarinic agent or mirabegron, and 53.9% of patients received prescriptions for UTI‐specific antibiotics. The mean number of visits to a general practitioner for any cause was 67.7 (SD, 42.6) per individual. Almost half (46.7%) of the study cohort visited a specialist during the 12‐month follow‐up period, and 11.0% had ≥1 hospital admission. Total mean per patient costs for healthcare resource utilization was £2395.

Conclusions

The burden of illness, healthcare resource needs, and associated costs among patients with NGB are considerable. Drug prescribing patterns are consistent with the symptoms and complications of NGB, although increased awareness of drugs with anticholinergic activity among prescribers may help to reduce the cumulative anticholinergic burden in this vulnerable population.
Effects of graft polymer compatibilizers in blends of cellulose triacetate and poly(lactic acid)
Authors: Volokhova Anastasia S , Waugh John B , Arrington Kyle J , Matson John B
Published: March 2019

Blends of cellulose triacetate (CTA) and poly(l‐lactic acid) (PLLA) were prepared using graft polymer compatibilizers. The graft polymers were synthesized using a grafting‐from approach via ring‐opening polymerization of l‐ and d,l‐lactide initiated from free hydroxyl groups along the CTA backbone. The blends incorporating either 1, 2.5 or 5% of each of the two graft polymer compatibilizers by weight in a 20:80 mixture of CTA:PLLA were solution‐cast to yield films. Characterization of graft polymers included the use of 1H NMR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis. Mechanical properties of the compatibilized films were evaluated using tensile testing, and thermomechanical properties were analyzed using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The compatibilized films exhibited greater tensile stress at yield than the uncompatibilized films for both types of compatibilizers, but no statistically significant changes were observed in modulus or strain at break, although modulus trended higher in compatibilized films. Stereochemical differences in tensile performance were statistically insignificant, though some differences in thermal behavior were observed. DMA and DSC revealed that crystallization of PLLA was altered by the addition of compatibilizer and CTA. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry
Nascent particle sizes and degrees of entanglement are responsible for the significant differences in impact strength of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene
Authors: Zhang Huan , Zhao Shicheng , Yu Xin , Xin Zhong , Ye Chunlin , Li Zhi , Xia Jincheng
Published: March 2019

The physical properties of ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) are generally highly dependent on its molecular weight. However, in our study, it was found that two UHMWPE samples of similar molecular weight, SLL‐5 and GUR 4150, have significantly different impact strengths, with the Charpy impact strength of GUR 4150 being almost 3.4 times that of SLL‐5. To reveal the reasons, the structure–property relations of these UHMWPE materials were investigated. Morphologies of the nascent particles and impact fracture surfaces, the melting behavior, rheological behavior, and three‐phase (crystalline, amorphous, and interphase) contents were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, advanced rotary rheometer, and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. It was observed that no significant differences in the crystal structures of SLL‐5 and GUR 4150, but GUR 4150 had smaller nascent particles sizes and a lower degree of entanglement when compared with those of SLL‐5. Accordingly, a mechanism to clarify the significant difference in the impact strengths of GUR 4150 and SLL‐5 was developed. More importantly, this work may be useful for improving the preparation technologies and industrial applications of UHMWPE. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019, 57, 632–641
Input/output‐to‐state stability for switched nonlinear systems with unstable subsystems
Authors: Long Lijun
Published: March 2019

In this paper, a couple of sufficient conditions for input/output‐to‐state stability (IOSS) of switched nonlinear systems with non‐IOSS subsystems are derived by exploiting the multiple Lyapunov functions (MLFs) method. A state‐norm estimator–based small‐gain theorem is also established for switched interconnected nonlinear systems under some proper switching laws, where the small‐gain property of individual connected subsystems is not required in the whole state space instead only in some subregions of the state space. The state‐norm estimator for the switched system under study is explicitly designed via a constructive procedure by exploiting the MLFs method and the classical small‐gain technique. The presented results permit removal of a technical condition in existing literature, where all subsystems in switched systems are IOSS or some are IOSS. An illustrative example is also provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the theoretical results.
Exponential stability of impulsive positive switched systems with discrete and distributed time‐varying delays
Authors: Liu Zhi , Zhang Xianfu , Lu Xiaodong , Hou Ting
Published: March 2019

This paper studies the exponential stability problems of discrete‐time and continuous‐time impulsive positive switched systems with mixed (discrete and distributed) time‐varying delays, respectively. By constructing novel copositive Lyapunov‐Krasovskii functionals and using the average dwell time technique, delay‐dependent sufficient conditions for the solvability of considered problems are given in terms of fairly simple linear matrix inequalities. Compared with the most existing results, by introducing an extra real vector, restrictive conditions on derivative of the time‐varying delays (less than 1) are relaxed, thus the obtained improved stability criteria can deal with a wider class of continuous‐time positive switched systems with time‐varying delays. Finally, two simple examples are provided to verify the validity of theoretical results.
Accumulating Transcriptome Drift Precedes Cell Aging in Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Serially Cultured to Replicative Senescence
Authors: Wiese Danielle M. , Ruttan Cindy C. , Wood Catherine A. , Ford Barry N. , Braid Lorena R.
Published: March 2019

In preclinical studies, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) exhibit robust potential for numerous applications. To capitalize on these benefits, cell manufacturing and delivery protocols have been scaled up to facilitate clinical trials without adequately addressing the impact of these processes on cell utility nor inevitable regulatory requirements for consistency. Growing evidence indicates that culture-aged MSCs, expanded to the limits of replicative exhaustion to generate human doses, are not equivalent to early passage cells, and their use may underpin reportedly underwhelming or inconsistent clinical outcomes. Here, we sought to define the maximum expansion boundaries for human umbilical cord-derived MSCs, cultured in chemically defined xeno- and serum-free media, that yield consistent cell batches comparable to early passage cells. Two male and two female donor populations, recovered from cryostorage at mean population doubling level (mPDL) 10, were serially cultivated until replicative exhaustion (senescence). At each passage, growth kinetics, cell morphology, and transcriptome profiles were analyzed. All MSC populations displayed comparable growth trajectories through passage 9 (P9; mPDL 45) and variably approached senescence after P10 (mPDL 49). Transcription profiles of 14,500 human genes, generated by microarray, revealed a nonlinear evolution of culture-adapted MSCs. Significant expression changes occurred only after P5 (mPDL 27) and accumulated rapidly after P9 (mPDL 45), preceding other cell aging metrics. We report that cryobanked umbilical cord-derived MSCs can be reliably expanded to clinical human doses by P4 (mPDL 23), before significant transcriptome drift, and thus represent a mesenchymal cell source suited for clinical translation of cellular therapies. Stem Cells Translational Medicine  2019;8:945–958
Lessons from a large‐scale systems dynamics modeling project: the example of the biomass scenario model
Authors: Peterson Steve , Bush Brian , Inman Daniel , Newes Emily , Schwab Amy , Stright Dana , Vimmerstedt Laura
Published: March 2019

The biomass scenario model (BSM) is a dynamic model of the biomass‐to‐biofuels supply chain in the U.S.A., developed during a multi‐year analysis effort conducted by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), under sponsorship from the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO). The BSM project, which received the 2018 Applications Award by the International System Dynamics Society, has supported collaborative analyses, developed scenarios for industry development and facilitated stakeholder engagement. We summarize insights gained from the BSM project that may be useful to other large‐scale dynamic modeling efforts. We summarize the project focus, the analysis process, key outcomes and observations on successful execution of such a product. Key points include the value of a multidisciplinary team with clear roles, engagement of experts and stakeholders, and use and reuse of simple, modular structures. The overall effort suggests that these practices may aid long‐term, team‐focused, multi‐stakeholder modeling efforts.

© 2019 System Dynamics Society
Optimal design for high‐throughput screening via false discovery rate control
Authors: Feng Tao , Basu Pallavi , Sun Wenguang , Ku Hsun Teresa , Mack Wendy J.
Published: March 2019

High‐throughput screening (HTS) is a large‐scale hierarchical process in which a large number of chemicals are tested in multiple stages. Conventional statistical analyses of HTS studies often suffer from high testing error rates and soaring costs in large‐scale settings. This article develops new methodologies for false discovery rate control and optimal design in HTS studies. We propose a two‐stage procedure that determines the optimal numbers of replicates at different screening stages while simultaneously controlling the false discovery rate in the confirmatory stage subject to a constraint on the total budget. The merits of the proposed methods are illustrated using both simulated and real data. We show that, at the expense of a limited budget, the proposed screening procedure effectively controls the error rate and the design leads to improved detection power.
Precast reinforced concrete shear walls: State of the art review
Authors: Singhal Shubham , Chourasia Ajay , Chellappa Shermi , Parashar Jalaj
Published: March 2019

Expeditious urbanization and population rise around the globe has fostered the need of speedy and efficient construction, thus generating immense pressure on the construction industry to introduce an efficacious construction technique. The issue can be addressed by precast technology, which is advantageous over conventional monolithic construction in regards to speed, safety, and quality control along with reduced construction cost on mass scale production. However, precast reinforced concrete (RC) buildings have experienced severe damage during the past earthquakes, attributed to seismic behavior of connections between components. Thus, it is of utmost importance to improve the joint connection details and deploy seismic resisting features in precast buildings, such as provision of precast shear walls. Researchers across the world have performed extensive experimental studies to evaluate the response of precast RC walls under lateral loading. This paper reviews on general concepts, codal provisions, precast RC wall connections, review of experimental findings, and effect of post‐tensioning on precast RC walls.
Prediction of ultimate strength of concrete walls restrained on three sides
Authors: Ho Nhat‐Minh , Doh Jeung‐Hwan
Published: March 2019

This paper presents experimental and numerical investigations on the behavior of axially‐loaded concrete walls restrained on three sides (TW3S walls). Particular emphasis was given to the influences of varying the slenderness ratio, aspect ratio, concrete strength, and eccentricity on the ultimate axial strength of TW3S walls. Because of the overly conservative nature of the code design equations and the scarcity of other available models for estimating the ultimate axial strength of TW3S walls, a more encompassing design equation has been developed. Comparisons with the test data of the current and previous studies confirmed that the proposed equation is satisfactory and reliable.
Squall line over Antalya: a case study of the events of 25 October 2014
Authors: Özdemir E. Tuncay , Yavuz Veli , Deniz Ali , Karan Haldun , Kartal Mesut , Kent Sedef
Published: March 2019

A typical squall line with heavy rainfall (≥100mm in 24h) was observed on 25 October 2014 in Antalya, a province located in southwest Turkey. Residential areas sustained serious damage, and the rainfall caused significant disruptions to transportation and daily life, as people were evacuated and many cars were flooded. This study examines the factors that caused the severe rainfall over Antalya. The squall line is considered to be one of the reasons for the heavy rainfall, and satellite and radar observations lend support to this hypothesis. Synoptic conditions, convective available potential energy (CAPE), sounding diagrams (the vertical profile of temperature, humidity and wind in the atmosphere over the geographic location), and numerical weather prediction model outputs were also investigated. As a consequence of the squall line activity over Antalya, 311.6mm of rain fell in an 8‐h period in Manavgat district. The 3‐day precipitation average for the 12 regions most affected by rainfall was around 165mm. In addition, during the 8‐h critical period, the total precipitation for the five regions which were most seriously affected was around 112mm.
Holographic integration of $$ T\overline{T} $$ & $$ J\overline{T} $$ via O(d, d)
Authors: Araujo T. , Colgáin E. Ó , Sakatani Y. , Sheikh-Jabbari M. M. , Yavartanoo H.
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Prompted by the recent developments in integrable single trace

$$ T\overline{T} $$

T

T
¯

and

$$ J\overline{T} $$

J

T
¯

deformations of 2d CFTs, we analyse such deformations in the context of AdS3/CFT2 from the dual string worldsheet CFT viewpoint. We observe that the finite form of these deformations can be recast as O(d, d) transformations, which are an integrated form of the corresponding Exactly Marginal Deformations (EMD) in the worldsheet Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) model, thereby generalising the Yang-Baxter class that includes TsT. Furthermore, the equivalence between O(d, d) transformations and marginal deformations of WZW models, proposed by Hassan & Sen for Abelian chiral currents, can be extended to non-Abelianchiral currents to recover a well-known constraint on EMD in the worldsheet CFT. We also argue that such EMD are also solvable from the worldsheet theory viewpoint.
Resolving the Weinberg paradox with topology
Authors: Terning John , Verhaaren Christopher B.
Published: March 2019

Abstract

Long ago Weinberg showed, from first principles, that the amplitude for a single photon exchange between an electric current and a magnetic current violates Lorentz invariance. The obvious conclusion at the time was that monopoles were not allowed in quantum field theory. Since the discovery of topological monopoles there has thus been a paradox. On the one hand, topological monopoles are constructed in Lorentz invariant quantum field theories, while on the other hand, the low-energy effective theory for such monopoles will reproduce Weinberg’s result. We examine a toy model where both electric and magnetic charges are perturbatively coupled and show how soft-photon resummation for hard scattering exponentiates the Lorentz violating pieces to a phase that is the covariant form of the Aharonov-Bohm phase due to the Dirac string. The modulus of the scattering amplitudes (and hence observables) are Lorentz invariant, and when Dirac charge quantization is imposed the amplitude itself is also Lorentz invariant. For closed paths there is a topological component of the phase that relates to aspects of 4D topological quantum field theory.
Diets containing the highest levels of dairy products are associated with greater eutrophication potential but higher nutrient intakes and lower financial cost in the United Kingdom
Authors: Hobbs D. A. , Durrant C. , Elliott J. , Givens D. I. , Lovegrove J. A.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Previously, the nutritional contribution, environmental and financial costs of dairy products have been examined independently. Our aim was to determine the nutritional adequacy, financial cost and environmental impact of UK diets according to dairy content.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study of adults (19–64 years) from the UK National Diet and Nutrition Survey years 1–4 (n = 1655), dietary intakes assessed from 4-day estimated food diaries were organized into quartiles (Q) total grams of dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, dairy desserts) and analyzed using ANCOVA controlling for age, sex and energy intake with Bonferroni post hoc test for nutritional adequacy, Alternative Healthy Eating Index (AHEI-2010), environmental impact [greenhouse gas emissions (GHGE), eutrophication and acidification potentials], financial cost, markers of health and cardio-metabolic diseases.

Results

Nutritional adequacy, particularly for protein, calcium and iodine (+ 18 g, + 533 mg, + 95 g, respectively, all P < 0.0001) and AHEI-2010 (P < 0.0001) were significantly higher and systolic BP (− 2 mmHg, P = 0.019) was significantly lower for the higher-dairy diets (Q4, 274–1429 g/day dairy), compared with diets containing lower dairy (Q1, 0–96 g/day dairy). Diets in Q4 had lower financial cost (− 19%, P < 0.0001) and the greatest eutrophication potential, compared with Q1 (+ 29%, P < 0.0001). Yet the environmental (GHGE) and financial costs per unit nutrient (riboflavin, zinc, iodine, magnesium, calcium, potassium) were lower in Q4 than Q1 (all P < 0.0001).

Conclusion

Diets with the highest dairy content had higher nutrient composition, better diet quality, were associated with lower BP and financial cost, but with higher eutrophication potential. Robust environmental data for many of food groups are limited
and this needs an urgent addressing.

Trial registration

This trial was registered on clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03407248.
Employees’ self-expansion as a mediator between perceived work conditions and work engagement and productive behaviors
Authors: Jurek Paweł , Besta Tomasz
Published: March 2019

There has been increasing scientific interest in the relationships between self-perception and group identity development processes as well as the behavioural implications of these processes in organizational contexts. Recently, the concept of workplace self-expansion has been introduced to work and organizational psychology. That is, the self-expanding characteristics of work and the workplace have been related to job satisfaction and organizational commitment. In the following studies, we examined the importance of workplace self-expansion and found that it is a significant mediator between job resources (e.g. compensation and benefits, job tasks) and work engagement (Study 1) as well as task-oriented engagement (Study 2). At the same time, our findings prove that job demands (e.g. role ambiguity, overload) do not weaken employees’ self-expansion if the impact of job resources is taken into account.
Difficult but Not Impossible: in Search of an Anti-Candida Vaccine
Authors: Piccione Dillon , Mirabelli Susanna , Minto Nicholas , Bouklas Tejas
Published: March 2019

Purpose of Review

Pervasive fungal infection among the immunocompromised population, in conjunction with a lack of effective treatment options, has demanded further scrutiny. Millions of people are still dying annually from fungal infections. While existing treatment for these fungal infections exists, it is difficult to administer without adverse effects in the immunocompromised and is slowly becoming obsolete due to varying mutation rates and rising resistance in multiple species. Thus, vaccines may be a viable target for preventing and treating fungal infections and addressing the critical challenge of such infections.

Recent Findings

Candida albicans, along with other non-albicans Candida species, is among the more virulent class of fungal specimens considered for vaccine development. C. albicans is responsible for a large percentage of invasive fungal infections among immunocompromised and immunocompetent populations and carries a relatively high mortality rate. In the last decade, a recent increase in infective capacity among Candida species has shed light on the lack of adequate fungal vaccine choices. While roadblocks still exist in the development of antifungal vaccines, several novel targets have been examined and proposed as candidates.

Success in vaccine development has universal appeal; an anti-Candida vaccine formulation could be modified to work against other fungal infections and thus bolster the antifungal pipeline.
Anatomic Basis and Clinical Effect of Selective Dorsal Neurectomy for Patients with Lifelong Premature Ejaculation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Liu Qian , Li Sen , Zhang Youpeng , Cheng Yongbiao , Fan Jiamin , Jiang Li , Li Shan , Tang Yong , Zeng Hanqing , Wang Jin , Zhu Zhaohui
Published: March 2019

Introduction

Although guidelines from the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology do not consider surgical treatment for premature ejaculation (PE), the use of selective dorsal neurectomy (SDN) has increased for many years in Asian countries.

Aim

To evaluate anatomic basis and clinical effect of SDN in patients with PE in mainland China.

Methods

All of the patients included in the study had redundant foreskin, and they were assigned to 2 groups: group 1, composed of 46 patients with redundant foreskin, and group 2, composed of 96 patients with redundant foreskin and PE. The patients in group 2 were further randomly classified into group 2a (n = 48) and group 2b (n = 48).

Main Outcome Measures

The number of dorsal penile nerve branches were compared among group 1, group 2a, and group 2b. Preoperative and postoperative intravaginal ejaculatory latency time (IELT), 5-item version of the International Index of Erectile Function, Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool, and postoperative complications were compared between group 2a and group 2b.

Results

The patients in group 2 had a greater number of dorsal penile nerve branches of 1–2-mm–diameter, ≥2-mm–diameter, and total branches than group 1. The postoperative IELT of group 2a (257.7 ± 205.7 seconds) was longer than that of group 2b (49.3 ± 26.1 seconds). Group 2a had more ejaculation controllability and lower Premature Ejaculation Diagnostic Tool scores than group 2b after the surgery (P < .001). We did not observe permanent numbness in glans, wound infection, or hematoma in any patients.

Clinical Implication

SDN is an effective treatment for lifelong PE patients who had poor response to medicine or refused oral medication.

Strength & Limitations

This study has some strengths. First, the study made a comprehensive comparison based on both the numbers of dorsal penile nerve branches and the effect. Second, a randomized controlled trial design was used for the evaluation of SDN. It also possesses a limitation—we did not determine how many dorsal nerves should be selectively resected for each person to achieve optimal IELT prolongation.

Conclusion

The dorsal penile nerve branches of patients with lifelong PE are more and thicker than those without lifelong PE, and SDN is effective in improving lifelong PE by IELT prolongation and ejaculation controllability, with few postoperative complications.
The effect of chronic oral vitamin D supplementation on adiposity and insulin secretion in hypothalamic obese rats
Authors: Guareschi Zoé M. , Valcanaia Ana C. , Ceglarek Vanessa M. , Hotz Pamela , Amaral Bruna K. , de Souza Domwesley W. , de Souza Thainan A. , Nardelli Tarlliza , Ferreira Thiago R. , Leite Nayara C. , Lubackzeuski Camila , de O. Emilio Henriette R. , Grassiolli Sabrina
Published: March 2019

Reduced plasma vitamin D (VD) levels may contribute to excessive white adipose tissue, insulin resistance (IR) and dyslipidaemia. We evaluated the effect of chronic oral VD supplementation on adiposity and insulin secretion in monosodium glutamate (MSG)-treated rats. During their first 5 d of life, male neonate rats received subcutaneous injections of MSG (4 g/kg), while the control (CON) group received saline solution. After weaning, groups were randomly distributed into VD supplemented (12 µg/kg; three times/week) and non-supplemented (NS) rats, forming four experimental groups (n 15 rats/group): CON-NS, CON-VD, MSG-NS and MSG-VD. At 76 d of life, rats were submitted to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; 2 g/kg), and at 86 d, obesity, IR and plasma metabolic parameters were evaluated. Pancreatic islets were isolated for glucose-induced insulin secretion (GIIS), cholinergic insulinotropic response and muscarinic 3 receptor (M3R), protein kinase C (PKC) and protein kinase A (PKA) expressions. Pancreas was submitted to histological analyses. VD supplementation decreased hyperinsulinaemia (86 %), hypertriacylglycerolaemia (50 %) and restored insulin sensibility (89 %) in MSG-VD rats, without modifying adiposity, OGTT or GIIS, compared with the MSG-NS group. The cholinergic action was reduced (57 %) in islets from MSG-VD rats, without any change in M3R, PKA or PKC expression. In conclusion, chronic oral VD supplementation of MSG-obese rats was able to prevent hyperinsulinaemia and IR, improving triacylglycerolaemia without modifying adiposity. A reduced cholinergic pancreatic effect, in response to VD, could be involved in the normalisation of plasma insulin levels, an event that appears to be independent of M3R and its downstream pathways.
Cluster of differentiation 36 gene polymorphism (rs1761667) is associated with dietary MUFA intake and hypertension in a Japanese population
Authors: Fujii Ryosuke , Hishida Asahi , Suzuki Koji , Imaeda Nahomi , Goto Chiho , Hamajima Nobuyuki , Wakai Kenji , Kondo Takaaki
Published: March 2019

Cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) is a membrane receptor expressed on a wide variety of human cells. CD36 polymorphisms are reportedly associated with oral fat perception, dietary intake and metabolic disorders. The present study examined associations of two CD36 polymorphisms (rs1761667 and rs1527483) and dietary fat intake, and metabolic phenotypes in a Japanese population. This cross-sectional study was conducted based on clinical information collected from health check-ups in Japan (n 495). Dietary nutrient intake was estimated from a validated short FFQ and adjusted for total energy intake using the residual method. Mean blood pressure was calculated from systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Hypertension was defined as SBP ≥ 130 mmHg and/or DBP ≥ 85 mmHg, or use of antihypertensive drugs. Genotyping was performed using PCR with confronting two-pair primers method. Mean age was 63·4 (sd 9·9) years. Individuals with the AA genotype showed higher total fat and MUFA intake (standardised β = 0·110 and 0·087, P = 0·01 and 0·05, respectively) compared with the GG and GA genotypes. For metabolic phenotypes, the AA genotype of rs1761667 had a lower blood pressure compared with the GG genotype (standardised β = –0·123, P = 0·02). Our results suggested that the AA genotype of rs1761667 in the CD36 gene was associated with higher intake of total fat and MUFA and lower risk of hypertension in a Japanese population.
Gut Prevotella as a possible biomarker of diet and its eubiotic versus dysbiotic roles: a comprehensive literature review
Authors: Precup Gabriela , Vodnar Dan-Cristian
Published: March 2019

The gut microbiota has a profound impact on human health. Emerging data show that dietary patterns are associated with different communities of bacterial species within the gut. Prevotella species have been correlated with plant-rich diets, abundant in carbohydrates and fibres. Dysbiosis within the gut ecosystem has been associated with the development of non-communicable diseases such as obesity, the metabolic syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, colorectal cancer, type 1 diabetes, allergies and other diseases. The purpose of this comprehensive literature review was to evaluate the available data on the impact of diet on the Prevotella genus, as a dietary fibre fermenter in the gut as well as its implications as a potential biomarker for homeostasis or disease state through its metabolite signature. Studies were identified by conducting PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection and Google Scholar electronic searches. We found eighty-five publications reporting the impact of dietary patterns on gut microbial communities, including Prevotella or Prevotella/Bacteroides ratio in particular. Moreover, the role of Prevotella species on health status was also evaluated. Prevotella possess a high genetic diversity, representing one of the important groups found in the oral cavity and large intestine of man. The gut commensal Prevotella bacteria contribute to polysaccharide breakdown, being dominant colonisers of agrarian societies. However, studies also suggested a potential role of Prevotella species as intestinal pathobionts. Further metagenomic studies are needed in order to reveal health- or disease-modulating properties of Prevotella species in the gut.
The Roman Fortress at Carpow, Perthshire: An Alternative Interpretation of the Gates and their Dedicatory Inscriptions
Authors: Keppie Lawrence
Published: March 2019

The Roman fortress at Carpow, Perthshire, was excavated in 1961–62 and 1964–79. The gates of the fortress are the key to our understanding of its occupational history. The suggestion made here is that they were initially constructed in timber, at the same time as the associated turf rampart, but were soon replaced in stone specifically to support heavy dedication slabs set above them. A new arrangement of the surviving inscribed fragments at the East Gate is proposed, and new readings adopted, which confirm their traditional Severan dating. The Supplementary Material which includes detailed descriptions of the fragments and possible restorations is available athttps://doi.org/10.1017/S0068113X19000138.
English or Chinese as medium of instruction? International students’ perceptions and practices in Chinese universities
Authors: Wan Zhongyan , Gao Xuesong
Published: March 2019

Medium of instruction (‘MOI’) issues have long been identified as the most important decisions in the internationalization of higher education (HE) (Hamid, Nguyen & Baldauf, 2013). The adoption of internationally influential languages as MOIs may attract international students who aspire to undertake higher education in these languages, which in turn helps to sustain the status of these languages as internationally influential. Among all these languages, English is certainly the most powerful academic lingua franca and boosted by its use as MOI in globally leading universities worldwide. However, the elevated position of English in international higher education seems not without competition, as many governments in non-English-speaking countries have made efforts to internationalize their higher education by providing parallel higher learning programs both with English and with their native language (usually the official language) for international students. For instance, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), in which it first promoted higher education in the medium of German and later expanded to the medium of English in the 2000s, plays a critical role in attracting and recruiting international students to study in German universities (e.g. Erling & Hilgendorf, 2006).
Modelled composition of cryogenically produced subglacial brines, Antarctica
Authors: Gardner Christopher B. , Lyons W. Berry
Published: March 2019

Polar subglacial hydrologic systems have garnered much interest since the recognition of Lake Vostok in 1996. In Antarctica, these environments are hydrologically diverse, including isolated lakes of different sizes, river–lake flow-through systems, “swamps” and groundwater (Siegert 2016). The refreezing of subglacial meltwater is also an important process beneath a large portion of the East Antarctic Ice Sheet (Bell et al. 2011). As subglacial water refreezes it exsolves salts, potentially leaving behind saline and hypersaline brines. Brines thought to derive from this cryoconcentration process have been observed in the northern polar permafrost regions and in the McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDVs) region of Antarctica. Additionally, sediments in the Victoria Land Basin have diagenetic signatures produced by brine movement dating from 3–11 m.y.a, suggesting hypersaline brines have existed in the McMurdo region since at least this time (Staudigel et al. 2018).
‘Rural’ rhetoric in 1930s unemployment relief schemes
Authors: O’Donnell Ronan , Petts David
Published: March 2019

This article examines the role of particular ideas of the countryside in unemployment relief schemes. While interwar thinking on the countryside has received attention, it has not been examined in the specific context of unemployment relief. This article uses four case studies from North East England, namely the Team Valley Trading Estate (Gateshead), Hamsterley Forest Instructional Centre (Durham), Swarland model village (Northumberland) and Heartbreak Hill (Cleveland). All four projects took different approaches to the unemployment problem, but all used some form of rural rhetoric. The ways in which the projects deployed images of the countryside creatively recombined a wide range of ideas to suit their needs rather than being rigidly confined by particular schools of thought.
Triggered codeswitching: Lexical processing and conversational dynamics
Authors: Broersma Mirjam , Carter Diana , Donnelly Kevin , Konopka Agnieszka
Published: March 2019

This study investigates the psycholinguistic process underlying triggered codeswitching – codeswitching facilitated by the occurrence of cognates – within the context of conversational dynamics. It confirms that, in natural bilingual speech, lexical selection of cognates can facilitate codeswitching by enhancing the activation of the non-selected language. Analyses of a large-scale corpus of Welsh–English conversational speech showed that 1) producing cognates facilitated codeswitching, 2) speakers who generally produced more cognates generally codeswitched more, even in clauses that did not contain cognates, 3) larger numbers of cognates in a clause increased the likelihood of codeswitching, 4) codeswitching temporarily remained facilitated after the production of cognates, and 5) hearing rather than producing cognates did not facilitate codeswitching. The findings confirm the validity of the proposed cognitive account of triggered codeswitching, and clarify the relation between the lexical activation of cognates and consecutive language choice, in accord with current insights in lexical processing.
Attitudes towards Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Old Age Scale (EAFV– LGBT): Elaboration and Psychometric Evidence
Authors: Diógenes de Medeiros Emerson , Fernandes de Araújo Ludgleydson , Victor de Oliveira Santos José , Souza Thais Coutinho , Monteiro Renan Pereira
Published: March 2019

The aim of this study was to construct and validate an Attitude Scale relating to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) old age (EAFV-LGBT). The first study, consisting of 29 items in its preliminary version, counted on 266 individuals from the public in general with an average age of 28.6 years (DP = 9.70), exploratory factor analysis was undertaken and EAFV-LGBT consisted of twelve items, with eigenvalues of 5.08, accounting for 43.8% of total variance. The second study consisted of 261 individuals from the general public with an average age of 23.18 years (DP = 8.25), confirmatory factor analysis was undertaken and psychometric parameters by means of Item Response Theory and conformation of the EAFV-LGBT structure. After this analysis, two items were excluded due to lower psychometric values, in which the 10 item scale proved to be valid and precise in evaluating individuals with varying levels of the latent trait. An adequate fit of the model to the data was verified, CFI = 0.97; TLI = 0.6; RMSEA, 90% CI = 0.05 [0.01, 0.07]. Lastly, the EAFV-LGBT has valid psychometric properties to evaluate attitudes towards LGBT old age.
How Does Ethical Leadership Impact Employee Organizational Citizenship Behavior?
Authors: Zhang Yucheng , Zhang Long , Liu Guangjian , Duan Jiali , Xu Shan , Cheung Mike W.-L.
Published: March 2019

Abstract. This study investigates the mechanism between ethical leadership and employees’ organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) through a justice perspective. We propose that interactional justice serves as a conduit that induces employees’ OCB in response to leaders’ ethical behaviors. The explanatory powers of interactional justice on two forms of OCB – organizational OCB (OCBO) and interpersonal OCB (OCBI) – are compared. Based on data from 34,028 participants in 100 empirical studies, we applied a two-stage meta-analytic structural equations modeling (TSSEM) and found that interactional justice only explains the influence of ethical leadership on employees’ OCBO but not OCBI. Theoretical and managerial implications of our findings are discussed.
Intra-Individual Value Change in Adulthood
Authors: Schuster Carolin , Pinkowski Lisa , Fischer Daniel
Published: March 2019

Abstract. Values guide people in their lives as overarching principles of judgments and decision making. Focusing on Schwartz’s circumplex value model, the present work is the first systematic literature review (SLR) to comparatively synthesize the empirical evidence regarding stability and change of values in adulthood. Besides understanding the extent of value change, the aim of this review is to reveal the conditions under which values change. The search procedure and screening revealed 19 publications reporting empirical studies on 25 adult samples containing at least two measurements of Schwartz’s values in respondents. Results suggest moderate to high rank-order stabilities of values, even through potentially life-changing transitions. There is evidence of small changes, rarely consistent with theoretical predictions or cross-sectional findings. Preliminary experimental evidence shows that values can be changed with interventions. We identify considerable gaps in knowledge about value change and propose promising avenues for further research.
Observations and Mechanisms for the Formation of Deep Equatorial and Tropical Circulation
Authors: Ménesguen Claire , Delpech Audrey , Marin Frédéric , Cravatte Sophie , Schopp Richard , Morel Yves
Published: March 2019

The Intermediate and Deep Equatorial and Tropical Circulations (DEC and DTC) consist of a complex system of zonal jets. This paper attempts at unifying existing observations and theories to present our current understanding of this jets system. Recent in situ observations suggesting a continuity between DEC and DTC are confronted against the various generation mechanisms that have been proposed in the literature. The key notion to differentiate these previous studies lies in the so‐called “cascade of mechanisms,” that is, the energy pathway and equilibration processes chain that lead to the jets from their initial energy source. Many studies see the deep equatorial intraseasonal variability as the initial energy source, highlighting its key role in energizing the DEC and DTC. However, critical gaps remain in this cascade of mechanisms and limit substantially our ability to represent the jets in Ocean Global Circulation Models. This paper aims at identifying such gaps and propose future research directions.
Frequent interactions of Tibet's CO2 emissions with those of other regions in China
Authors: Ou Jiamin , Meng Jing , Zheng Heran , Mi Zhifu , Shan Yuli , Guan Dabo
Published: March 2019

Tibet is usually missing from China's emission accounts, especially from those of consumption‐based emissions. In this study, we developed a multiregional input‐output table for 31 provinces in China and examined the production‐ and consumption‐based characteristics of Tibet's CO2 emissions in 2012. Results show that the consumption‐based CO2 emissions in Tibet (18.8 Mt, similar to Guinea's emissions in 2015) were three times as high as the production‐based estimate (6.2 Mt). Tibet displays unique emission patterns with the highest ratio of consumption‐ to production‐based emissions in China, which are more similar with the east developed provinces rather than its counterparts in west China. More than half of Tibet's consumption‐based emissions are supported by Qinghai, Hebei, Sichuan, and others, enabled by the Qinghai‐Tibet railway that connected Tibet to China's national railway system. High carbon footprint but low life expectancy is found in Tibet, suggesting the emerging need of a more sustainable consumption pathway under the intensifying interregional connections by Belt and Road Initiative.
Radiative Forcing by Dust and Black Carbon on the Juneau Icefield, Alaska
Authors: Nagorski Sonia A. , Kaspari Susan D. , Hood Eran , Fellman Jason B. , Skiles S. McKenzie
Published: March 2019

Here we present the first known data set on black carbon (BC) and mineral dust concentrations in snow from the Juneau Icefield (JIF) in southeastern Alaska, where glacier melt rates are among the highest on Earth. In May 2016, concentrations of BC (0.4–3.1 μg/L) and dust (0.2–34 mg/L) were relatively low and decreased toward the interior of the JIF. The associated radiative forcing (RF) averaged 4 W/m2. In July, after 10 weeks of exposure, the aged snow surface had substantially higher concentrations of BC (2.1–14.8 μg/L) and dust (11–72 mg/L) that were not spatially distributed by elevation or distance from the coast. RF by dust and BC ranged from 70 to 130 W/m2 (87 W/m2 average) across the JIF in July, and RF was dominated by dust. The associated median snow water equivalent reduction in the July samples is estimated at 10–18 mm/day, potentially advancing melt on the scale of days to weeks. Aging of the snow surface in summer likely resulted in a positive feedback of melt consolidation, enhanced solar absorption and melting, and further concentration of surface particles. Regional projections of warming temperatures and increased rain at the expense of snow make it likely that summer season darkening will become a more important contributor to the high melt rates on the JIF. Further studies are needed to elucidate the spatiotemporal occurrence of various light‐absorbing particles on the JIF, and models of ice field wastage should incorporate their associated RF.
High‐Temperature Extreme Events Over Africa Under 1.5 and 2 °C of Global Warming
Authors: Nangombe Shingirai S. , Zhou Tianjun , Zhang Wenxia , Zou Liwei , Li Donghuan
Published: March 2019

With anthropogenic global warming, heat‐related extreme events are projected to increase in severity and frequency. Already vulnerable regions like Africa will be hard‐hit. Therefore, such regions could benefit from low global warming levels. Using the Community Earth System Model low warming simulations, we investigate changes in temperature extremes across Africa as a function of global mean temperature in the context of the implications of the Paris Agreement's targets. A significant warming across Africa is projected at the 1.5 °C warming world and is amplified at the 2 °C world, exceeding the mean global warming rate. Specifically, North Africa and East Africa regions are projected to have the highest and lowest temperature changes of 0.63 °C (0.60–0.67 °C) and 0.50 °C (0.47–0.54 °C), respectively, between the 1.5 and 2 °C warmer worlds. Consequently, hot events are also estimated to increase with global warming. We showed that limiting warming to 1.5 °C instead of 2 °C may lead to 29% (27–31%) to 35% (33–37%) reduction in severity of hot events and to 31% (30–33%) to 42% (39–48%) reduction in the frequency of the threshold‐based high‐temperature events across Africa. The highest reductions are projected over North Africa. Furthermore, restricting warming to 0.5 °C lower than 2 °C might also result in 28% (34–40%) to 37% (25–34%) reduction in severity of once‐in‐10/20‐year heat events across Africa with North Africa having the highest benefits than tropical regions. Thus, restricting warming to low levels may indeed translate to substantial benefits of reduced intensity and frequency of extreme heat events across Africa.