bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Views on education for sustainable development (ESD) among lecturers in UK MSc taught courses
Authors: Melles Gavin
Published: February 2019

Purpose

In the new Sustainability 2.0 era of education for sustainable development (ESD) transforming, curriculum remains a high interest topic, including in the UK. Among influential factors for progress, lecturer views on sustainable development and ESD in curriculum are important. In particular, the relationship between espoused views on sustainability and development and these views institutionalized into the curriculum require further investigation. Existing qualitative interview studies of lecturers identify a range of views about sustainable development and ESD but rarely focus on postgraduate environments nor use thematic discourse analysis.

Design/methodology/approach

This active interview study enrolled a cohort of academics (n= 21) teaching into ten postgraduate UK taught masters degrees. Using active interviews and thematic discourse analysis, this study focused lecturer accounts of translating sustainable development into ESD, student attitudes and characteristics and course nature and content in relation to institutional, disciplinary, personal and other drivers and discourses. Thematic discourse analysis and NVivo 12 the study identified themes and discourses arising from the interview accounts.

Findings

In addition to identifying echoes of previously identified themes, this study focuses on the influence of interviewer–interviewee interaction and the interrelated nature of themes developed from 972 substantive codes. These themes identify the key influences as institutional, personal and disciplinary perspectives, institutional contrasts and tensions; pragmatic and passionate student characteristics; flexible sustainability principles and definitions; and social and personal ethics, ideology and equity, as key factors. Despite varying in length and depth, interviewees all show a deep appreciation for the challenges of defining and teaching sustainable development in complex institutional circumstances.

Practical implications

Faculty accounts of sustainable development and ESD practice depend on personal ethics and experiences, disciplinary discourses and institutional drivers and arrangements. Rather than focusing on simple categorizations of views in abstract, progress toward transformational ESD should acknowledge the need for dialogue about the importance of a plurality of views and discourses.

Originality/value

Thematic discourse analysis of a multi-institutional cohort affords closer analysis of contextual institutional and identity factors influencing approaches to HESD. Academic views cannot be easily subcategorized into broad conservative or radical positions. Final discussion of the relevance of institutional theory to sustainability change is also new.
Charter school board members’ readiness to serve and implications for training
Authors: Gawlik Marytza , Allen Ann
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Analyzing data collected from the charter school board members and the superintendent in a charter school district in a southeastern state about the quality and usefulness of training, the purpose of this paper is to provide an important foundation for understanding training and development for charter school boards in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a qualitative case study approach to examine a charter school district and the preparedness of charter school board members to serve in that district. The authors sampled one charter school district in the southeast region of the USA and interviewed five charter school board members and the superintendent.

Findings

The first theme is composition and responsibility of charter school board members, which outlines the roles and responsibilities that charter school board members assume when they serve on this charter district board. The second theme is preparedness to serve, which traces the readiness of charter school board members to serve on a board. The final theme is training and documents related to the kind of training charter school board members receive once they are appointed to the board.

Originality/value

This study provides a conceptual framework about the dimensions and standards associated with preparedness to serve as a charter school board member and broadens the authors’ understanding of the roles and responsibilities of charter school boards, their preparedness to serve and the training and development they receive.
A typology of backsourcing: short-run total costs and internal capabilities for re-internalization
Authors: Thakur-Wernz Pooja
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to examine backsourcing, which refers to the full or partial re-internalization of a firm’s previously outsourced activity. Researchers have primarily focused on the drivers of backsourcing, but this paper builds on that prior research to develop a typology of backsourcing.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on transaction cost economics and the resource-based view (RBV), the paper posits that firms backsource because of two factors – changes in their short-run total costs and changes in their internal capabilities for re-internalization. By using the interactions between these two factors, the authors propose four types of backsourcing.

Findings

The paper presents a typology for backsourcing: profitability-backsourcing, operational-backsourcing, strategic-backsourcing and failure-backsourcing. Only one (failure-backsourcing) of these four types of backsourcing suggests failure, while the other three indicate strategic flexibility. The authors also present mini-cases to support the typology.

Research limitations/implications

The paper presents a conceptual model of backsourcing. This is a limitations of the study and further research is needed to empirically test the proposed model.

Practical implications

From a managerial perspective, this framework can be used as a decision-making tool for firms that are considering backsourcing. Given the complexity involved and the perceived stigma, decision-makers may find it difficult to backsource. Thus, a framework to avoid biases leading to decision-making errors, as well as to understand if backsourcing is a viable option, is needed.

Originality/value

This paper is one of the first to present a typology of backsourcing which can be used to understand when it is a failure of the outsourcing strategy and when it is a signal of strategic flexibility. This paper contributes to the growing stream of research on backsourcing by moving the literature beyond determinants and bringing attention to the outcomes of backsourcing. Additionally, the proposed framework can be used as a tool by decision-makers to examine whether backsourcing is favorable for their firm based on costs and capabilities for re-internalization.
A critical evaluation of integrated care: a case study of the supported discharge service
Authors: Ware Rachel Louise
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the Supported Discharge Service as a case study of integrated care. The paper will critically evaluate integrated care with regard to patient outcomes, patient satisfaction and cost and productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

A retrospective mixed methods case study design was adopted utilising patient satisfaction questionnaires, therapy outcome measure and a performance dashboard to measure improvements in patient satisfaction, patient outcomes and cost and productivity.

Findings

Measured improvements were observed in the integrated discharge process and analysis of the findings demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in patient outcomes, high levels of patient satisfaction and improved productivity subsequently leading to financial savings.

Research limitations/implications

Due to convenience sampling, the small sample size and a short time frame when analysing patient outcomes, the generalisability of results is limited. Despite this, with integrated care being polymorphous the findings can be utilised to develop theoretical principles to make assertions about integration (Wikfeldt, 1993).

Originality/value

This paper draws on the importance of integration as the principal driver of reform within the healthcare system. Even though on a small scale, the case study provides evidence to support the use of integration to improve patient outcomes, patient satisfaction and financial savings.
The impact of perceptions of politician brand warmth and competence on voting intentions
Authors: Bennett Aronté Marie , Malone Chris , Cheatham Kenyn , Saligram Naina
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The cultivation and maintenance of a brand is becoming increasingly important as politicians seek to connect with constituents. Through the lens of social cognition and group dynamics, this paper aims to understand the impact of evaluations of politician brands on voter intentions.

Design/methodology/approach

Three studies utilize the social cognition constructs of warmth and competence from the stereotype content model (SCM) and Brands as Intentional Agents Framework (BIAF) to evaluate the impact of brand perceptions on voting intentions, comparing fit between the models. The first study establishes the impact of these perceptions on existing politicians. The second study replicates these effects while controlling for party affiliation and extraneous factors and explicitly studies politicians as brands. The third study examines the formation of perceptions and assumptions when full information is unavailable.

Findings

Social cognition and group dynamics drive responses to politician brands. The data herein support perceptions of warmth and competence as significant predictors of voting intentions. Dependent upon whether the politician is being evaluated as a brand or a person, BIAF or SCM predicts the dimension that will be most impactful. These patterns persist in the absence of full information. As expected, voting intentions increased significantly when the voter was of the same (vs opposing) party as that of the candidate.

Research limitations/implications

Conducted during an election year, evaluations of politicians are susceptible to the current political climate and the predominantly two party political system in which the studies were conducted. The design of Studies 2 and 3 addresses some of these limitations. Results point toward the interrelated nature of warmth and competence perceptions and the usefulness of applying both BIAF and SCM to understand how voters view politicians and the drivers of voting intentions.

Practical implications

This study evidences the depth to which perceptions of candidates impact voting intent, establishing politicians’ unique position as both brands and people. These findings prove useful in interpreting the outcome of elections this year, and beyond.

Originality/value

Expanding a limited body of existing research, this work contributes to our understanding of the application of SCM within the context of politician brands. As the first concurrent investigation of SCM and BIAF, these findings are of value to political strategists and academics alike. The contribution is augmented by the consideration of the impact of party affiliation and missing information.
Health and fitness online communities and product behaviour
Authors: Dessart Laurence , Duclou Maureen
Published: February 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to determine the impact of online community participation on attitudes and product-related behaviour in the health and fitness sector.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data are collected from 221 users of the social medium Instagram, members of the self-proclaimed health and fitness community (#fitfam). Data are analysed with structural equation modelling.

Findings

The study shows that online community identification and engagement significantly increase health environment sensitivity, resulting in heightened engagement in physical fitness and healthy product choices.

Social implications

Given the difficulty to remain engaged in pro-health behaviour and the growing impact of social media on young adults’ lives, these findings are encouraging. They show that online health and fitness communities provide a supportive environment in which consumers can identify and freely engage and a fertile ground to the development of health sensitivity and product-related behaviour.

Originality/value

The study advances knowledge on the role of social media and online communities in promoting health and fitness product behaviours and attitudes.
Wind turbines cause functional habitat loss for migratory soaring birds
Authors: Marques Ana T. , Santos Carlos D. , Hanssen Frank , Muñoz Antonio‐Román , Onrubia Alejandro , Wikelski Martin , Moreira Francisco , Palmeirim Jorge Manuel , Silva João P.
Published: February 2019

Wind energy production has expanded to meet climate change mitigation goals, but negative impacts of wind turbines have been reported on wildlife. Soaring birds are among the most affected groups with alarming fatality rates by collision with wind turbines and an escalating occupation of their migratory corridors. These birds have been described as changing their flight trajectories to avoid wind turbines, but this behaviour may lead to functional habitat loss, as suitable soaring areas in the proximity of wind turbines will likely be underused.

We modelled the displacement effect of wind turbines on black kites (Milvus migrans) tracked by GPS. We also evaluated the impact of this effect at the scale of the landscape by estimating how much suitable soaring area was lost to wind turbines.

We used state‐of‐the‐art tracking devices to monitor the movements of 130 black kites in an area populated by wind turbines, at the migratory bottleneck of the Strait of Gibraltar. Landscape use by birds was mapped from GPS data using dynamic Brownian bridge movement models, and generalized additive mixed modelling was used to estimate the effect of wind turbine proximity on bird use while accounting for orographic and thermal uplift availability.

We found that areas up to approximately 674 m away from the turbines were less used than expected given their uplift potential. Within that distance threshold, bird use decreased with the proximity to wind turbines. We estimated that the footprint of wind turbines affected 3%–14% of the areas suitable for soaring in our study area.

We present evidence that the impacts of wind energy industry on soaring birds are greater than previously acknowledged. In addition to the commonly reported fatalities, the avoidance of turbines by soaring birds causes habitat losses in their movement corridors. Authorities should recognize this further impact of wind energy production and establish new regulations that protect soaring habitat. We also showed that soaring habitat for birds can be modelled at a fine scale using publicly available data. Such an approach can be used to plan low‐impact placement of turbines in new wind energy developments.
Ecological implications of gene regulation by TfoX and TfoY among diverse Vibrio species
Authors: Metzger Lisa C. , Matthey Noémie , Stoudmann Candice , Collas Esther J. , Blokesch Melanie
Published: February 2019

Bacteria of the genus Vibrio are common members of aquatic environments where they compete with other prokaryotes and defend themselves against grazing predators. A macromolecular protein complex called the type VI secretion system (T6SS) is used for both purposes. Previous research showed that the sole T6SS of the human pathogen V. cholerae is induced by extracellular (chitin) or intracellular (low c‐di‐GMP levels) cues and that these cues lead to distinctive signalling pathways for which the proteins TfoX and TfoY serve as master regulators. In this study, we tested whether the TfoX‐ and TfoY‐mediated regulation of T6SS, concomitantly with natural competence or motility, was conserved in non‐cholera Vibrio species, and if so, how these regulators affected the production of individual T6SSs in double‐armed vibrios. We show that, alongside representative competence genes, TfoX regulates at least one T6SS in all tested Vibrio species. TfoY, on the other hand, fostered motility in all vibrios but had a more versatile T6SS response in that it did not foster T6SS‐mediated killing in all tested vibrios. Collectively, our data provide evidence that the TfoX‐ and TfoY‐mediated signalling pathways are mostly conserved in diverse Vibrio species and important for signal‐specific T6SS induction.
The impact of CEO transformational leadership on organizational voluntary turnover and employee innovative behaviour: the mediating role of collaborative HRM
Authors: Su Zhong‐Xing , Wang Zhen , Chen Su
Published: February 2019

Integrating theories of transformational leadership and strategic human resource management, this study examines how transformational leadership of chief executive officers (CEOs) can affect organizational and individual outcomes through the establishment of a collaborative human resource management (HRM) system. Based on data collected from 98 high‐tech companies in China, our research revealed that through the mediating role of collaborative HRM, CEO transformational leadership has an indirect negative effect on organizational voluntary turnover rate and an indirect positive effect on individual innovative behaviour.
An Australian geography of unhealthy housing
Authors: Baker Emma , Lester Laurence , Beer Andrew , Bentley Rebecca
Published: February 2019

Housing problems, such as affordability, poor quality of condition, or damp, are key determinants of health and wellbeing. Importantly, though, a growing body of research has shown that unhealthy housing is the combined result of multiple housing problems acting together. Although the spatial distribution of discrete housing problems is well established, little is known of Australia's geography of unhealthy housing. We have previously defined and validated an Australian Index of Housing Insults, which captures the multiple ways in which housing adversely influences individual health—including, but not limited to, people's tenure security, affordability, quality, and neighbourhood characteristics. Using the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) dataset, a nationally representative longitudinal survey of Australian households, this paper describes Australia's geography of unhealthy housing. The analysis examines the prevalence, characteristics, and distribution of the population who are vulnerable to unhealthy housing. Our findings reveal both a worsening landscape of households at risk because of their accommodation and a changing pattern of unhealthy housing in Australia over time. The paper considers how these findings may impact future policy settings and the potential to improve the health of Australia's population through targeted housing interventions.
Health geography in New Zealand and Australia: global integration or Antipodean exceptionalism?
Authors: Moon Graham , Kearns Robin
Published: February 2019

This paper examines the hallmarks of an emergent and distinctive Australian and New Zealand health geography over the last 30 years. Building on an assessment of the early development of the sub‐discipline in the two countries, a review of published work reveals the co‐presence of local themes alongside connections to more global perspectives associated notably with health behaviour. Further common themes are the influence of year‐round exposure to outdoor spaces and the proximity of “blue spaces” to urban centres. However, there are divergences in the evolution of the sub‐discipline. A comparison of attendance at the biennial International Medical Geography Symposia (held since 1985) with publications in the journal Health & Place reveals differentially globalised characters. A steady flow of international visitors and appointments to New Zealand universities as well as more apparent connections to the wider discipline of geography contrast with more applied geospatial and public health connections in Australian health geography.
Protocols for RecET‐based markerless gene knockout and integration to express heterologous biosynthetic gene clusters in Pseudomonas putida
Authors: Choi Kyeong Rok , Lee Sang Yup
Published: February 2019

Pseudomonas putida has emerged as a promising host for the production of chemicals and materials thanks to its metabolic versatility and cellular robustness. In particular, P. putida KT2440 has been officially classified as a generally recognized as safe (GRAS) strain, which makes it suitable for the production of compounds that humans directly consume, including secondary metabolites of high importance. Although various tools and strategies have been developed to facilitate metabolic engineering of P. putida, modification of large genes/clusters essential for heterologous expression of natural products with large biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) has not been straightforward. Recently, we reported a RecET‐based markerless recombineering system for engineering P. putida and demonstrated deletion of multiple regions as large as 101.7 kb throughout the chromosome by single rounds of recombineering. In addition, development of a donor plasmid system allowed successful markerless integration of heterologous BGCs to P. putida chromosome using the recombineering system with examples of – but not limited to – integrating multiple heterologous BGCs as large as 7.4 kb to the chromosome of P. putida KT2440. In response to the increasing interest in our markerless recombineering system, here we provide detailed protocols for markerless gene knockout and integration for the genome engineering of P. putida and related species of high industrial importance.
Malignant pleural effusion as a predictor of the efficacy of anti‐PD‐1 antibody in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer
Authors: Shibaki Ryota , Murakami Shuji , Shinno Yuki , Matsumoto Yuji , Goto Yasushi , Kanda Shintaro , Horinouchi Hidehito , Fujiwara Yutaka , Motoi Noriko , Yamamoto Noboru , Ohe Yuichiro
Published: February 2019

Background

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the presence of malignant pleural effusion (MPE) as a negative predictor of anti‐PD‐1 antibody efficacy.

Methods

A retrospective review of patients with advanced or recurrent non‐small cell lung cancer treated with an anti‐PD‐1 antibody between December 2015 and March 2018 at the National Cancer Center Hospital, Japan, was conducted. Progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between patients with and without MPE. Additional survival analysis according to PD‐L1 expression status was conducted. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed.

Results

A total of 252 patients were identified before the commencement of anti‐PD‐1 antibody treatment: 33 with MPE and 219 without MPE. PFS and OS were significantly shorter in patients with MPE than in patients without MPE (median PFS 3.0 vs. 5.8 months, hazard ratio [HR] 1.7, P = 0.014; median OS 7.9 vs. 15.8 months, HR 2.1, P = 0.001). In patients with PD‐L1 expression in ≥ 1% of their tumor cells, the PFS of patients with MPE was significantly shorter than of patients without MPE (median PFS 3.1 vs. 6.5 months, HR 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.0–3.5; P = 0.021). The presence of MPE was independently associated with a shorter PFS and OS in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

The presence of MPE in patients administered an anti‐PD‐1 antibody is associated with shorter PFS and OS, regardless of the presence of PD‐L1 expression ≥ 1% of tumor cells.
IQ and Audit Quality: Do Smarter Auditors Deliver Better Audits?
Authors: Kallunki Jenni , Kallunki Juha‐Pekka , Niemi Lasse , Nilsson Henrik , Aobdia Daniel
Published: February 2019

This study examines the role of an individual auditor's cognitive ability in delivering high‐quality audits. Our results from analyzing archival data from Sweden show that audit partners' IQ scores obtained from psychological tests are positively associated with going‐concern audit reporting accuracy and audit fee premiums. We also find some, albeit weak, evidence that audit partners' IQ scores are negatively associated with the income‐increasing abnormal accruals of the client. These results suggest that, although audit services are standardized through various control mechanisms and audits are conducted by teams rather than by individual auditors, the cognitive ability of audit partners responsible for an audit remains important in delivering high‐quality audit services.
Surveys reveal a complex association of phytoplasmas and viruses with the blueberry stunt disease on Canadian blueberry farms
Authors: Arocha‐Rosete Yaima , Lambert Liette , Joly‐Séguin Violaine , Michelutti Roberto , Schilder Annemiek , Bertaccini Assunta
Published: February 2019

Surveys for phytoplasmas and viruses were conducted during September 2014 and 2015 on highbush blueberry farms in the Région Montérégie, Quebec. Total DNA and RNA were extracted from blueberry bushes showing blueberry stunt (BBS) symptoms and from symptomless blueberry bushes, and utilised as templates for PCR and RT‐PCR assays, respectively. Phytoplasma DNA was amplified with universal phytoplasma primers that target the 16S rRNA, secA and secY genes from 12 out of 40 (30%) plants tested. Based on 16S rRNA, secA and secY gene sequence identity, phylogenetic clustering, actual and in silico RFLP analyses, phytoplasma strains associated with BBS disease in Quebec were identified as ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’‐related strains, closely related to the BBS Michigan phytoplasma strain (16SrI‐E). The secY gene sequence‐based single nucleotide polymorphism analysis revealed that one of the BBS phytoplasma strains associated with a leaf marginal yellowing is a secY‐I RFLP variant of the subgroup 16SrI‐E. Two viruses were detected in blueberry bushes. The Blueberry Red Ringspot Virus (BRRV) was found in a single infection in the cultivar Bluecrop with no apparent typical BRRV symptoms. The Tobacco Ringspot Virus (TRSV) was found singly infecting blueberry plants and co‐infecting a BBS phytoplasma‐infected blueberry cv. Bluecrop plant. This is the first report of TRSV in the cv. Bluecrop in Quebec. The Quebec BBS phytoplasma strain was identified in the leafhopper Graphocephala fennahi, which suggests that G. fennahi may be a potential vector for the BBS phytoplasma. The BBS disease shows a complex aetiology and epidemiology; therefore, prompt actions must be developed to support focused BBS integrated management strategies.
Economic policy uncertainty and stock price crash risk
Authors: Jin Xuejun , Chen Ziqing , Yang Xiaolan
Published: February 2019

This paper studies the impact of economic policy uncertainty on stock price crash risk using data from China. We develop a new index to measure Chinese economic policy uncertainty and find that economic policy uncertainty has a remarkable positive effect on stock price crash risk. However, the effect reverses later. The results also indicate that the positive effect of economic policy uncertainty on stock price crash risk is more prominent for state‐owned enterprises. Moreover, this effect is more prominent for firms with higher information asymmetry and firms with greater disagreement among investors, indicating that economic policy uncertainty affects crash risk through two mechanisms: managers’ concealment of bad news and investors’ heterogeneous beliefs.
Is it possible to teach Geriatric Medicine in a stimulating way? Measuring the effect of active learning activities in Brazilian medical students
Authors: Lucchetti Alessandra L.G. , Duarte Bruna S.V.F. , de Assis Thaís V. , Laurindo Bruna O. , Lucchetti Giancarlo
Published: February 2019

Objective

To describe the experience of a Brazilian medical school in implementing different active methods to teach Geriatric Medicine, reporting the students’ opinions and satisfaction with the classes and comparing pre‐ and postcourse measurements of knowledge, attitudes and skills.

Methods

A total of 166 third‐year medical students received different active theoretical‐practical activities for teaching Geriatric Medicine and their knowledge, attitudes, clinical skills and satisfaction were investigated.

Results

All activities had good acceptance among students ranging from 8.54 in the activity “Walking aids” to 9.81 in the activity “Nursing Home visit” (ranging 0‐10). After the course, students had better attitudes towards older persons (r = 0.55‐0.81, P < 0.001), better knowledge (r = 0.84, P < 0.001), greater empathy (r = 0.51, P < 0.001) and better clinical skills (r = 0.86, P < 0.001). Finally, the course was evaluated positively by the students.

Conclusion

New active Geriatric Medicine learning activities resulted in improvement in medical students knowledge, attitudes and skills.
Right versus left sided metastatic colorectal cancer: Teasing out clinicopathologic drivers of disparity in survival
Authors: Mendis Shehara , Beck Sophie , Lee Belinda , Lee Margaret , Wong Rachel , Kosmider Suzanne , Shapiro Jeremy , Yip Desmond , Steel Simone , Nott Louise , Jennens Ross , Lipton Lara , Burge Matthew , Field Kathryn , Ananda Sumitra , Wong Hui‐Li , Gibbs Peter
Published: February 2019

Background

Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients with a right‐sided primary (RC) have an inferior survival to mCRC arising from a left‐sided primary (LC). Previous analyses have suggested multiple factors contribute.

Methods

The Treatment of Recurrent and Advanced Colorectal Cancer (TRACC) Registry prospectively captured data on consecutive mCRC patients. RC were defined as tumors proximal to the splenic flexure; LC were those at and distal to the splenic flexure and included rectal cancers. Patient, tumor, treatment, and survival data were analyzed stratified by side.

Results

Of 2306 patients enrolled from July 2009–March 2018, 747 (32%) had an RC. Patients with RC were older, more likely to be female and have a Charlson score ≥3. RC were more frequently BRAF mutated, deficient in mismatch repair, associated with peritoneal metastases, and less likely to receive chemotherapy. Progression‐free survival on first‐line systemic therapy was inferior for RC patients (8.1 vs. 10.8 months, hazard ratio [HR] for progression in RC 1.38, P < 0.001). Median overall survival for all RC patients was inferior (19.6 vs. 27.5 months, HR for death in RC 1.44, P < 0.001), and inferior within the treated (21 vs. 29.5 months, HR 1.52, P < 0.001) and untreated subgroups (5.9 vs. 10.3 months, HR 1.38, P = 0.009). Primary side remained a significant factor for overall survival in multivariate analysis.

Conclusion

Our data from a real‐world population confirms the poorer prognosis associated with RC. Primary tumor location remains significantly associated with overall survival even when adjusting for multiple factors, indicating the existence of further side‐based differences that are as yet undefined.
DNA methylation and allergic sensitizations: A genome‐scale longitudinal study during adolescence
Authors: Zhang Hongmei , Kaushal Akhilesh , Merid Simon Kebede , Melén Erik , Pershagen Göran , Rezwan Faisal I. , Han Luhang , Ewart Susan , Arshad S. Hasan , Karmaus Wilfried , Holloway John W.
Published: February 2019

Background

The presence of allergic sensitization has a major influence on the development and course of common childhood conditions such as asthma and rhinitis. The etiology of allergic sensitization is poorly understood, and its underlying biological mechanisms are not well established. Several studies showed that DNA methylation (DNAm) at some CpGs is associated with allergic sensitization. However, no studies have focused on the critical adolescence period.

Methods

We assessed the association of pre‐ and postadolescence genome‐wide DNAm with allergic sensitization against indoor, outdoor and food allergens, using linear mixed models. We hypothesized that DNAm is associated with sensitization in general, and with poly‐sensitization status, and these associations are age‐ and gender‐specific. We tested these hypotheses in the IoW cohort (n = 376) and examined the findings in the BAMSE cohort (n = 267).

Results

Via linear mixed models, we identified 35 CpGs in IoW associated with allergic sensitization (at false discovery rate of 0.05), of which 33 were available in BAMSE and replicated with respect to the direction of associations with allergic sensitization. At the 35 CpGs except for cg19210306 on C13orf27, a reduction in methylation among atopic subjects was observed, most notably for cg21220721 and cg11699125 (ACOT7). DNAm at cg10159529 was strongly correlated with expression of IL5RA in peripheral blood (P‐value = 6.76 × 10−20). Three CpGs (cg14121142, cg23842695, and cg26496795) were identified in IoW with age‐specific association between DNAm and allergic sensitization.

Conclusion

In adolescence, the status of allergic sensitization was associated with DNAm differentiation and at some CpGs the association is likely to be age‐specific.
Lipid Transfer Protein allergy in the United Kingdom: Characterization and comparison with a matched Italian cohort
Authors: Skypala Isabel J. , Cecchi Lorenzo , Shamji Mohamed H. , Scala Enrico , Till Stephen
Published: February 2019

Background

Although pollen‐related food allergy occurs in all European populations, lipid transfer protein (LTP) allergy is considered to manifest mainly in Mediterranean countries. We aimed to characterize adults presenting with LTP allergy in a northern European country.

Method

The clinical history and sensitization patterns of subjects born and residing in the United Kingdom (UK), with a prior diagnosis of LTP allergy and sensitization to the peach LTP allergen Pru p 3, were compared to UK subjects with pollen food syndrome (PFS). The sensitization patterns were also evaluated against a matched cohort of Italian subjects diagnosed with LTP allergy.

Results

None of the 15 UK PFS subjects had a positive SPT to LTP‐enriched peach reagent, compared to 91% of the 35 UK LTP subjects. The UK LTP cohort were also more likely to have positive skin prick tests to cabbage, lettuce and mustard and sensitization to the LTP allergens in peach, walnut, mugwort and plane tree These sensitization patterns to individual allergens were not significantly different to those obtained from the Italian LTP subjects, with significant correlations between Pru p 3 and the LTP allergens in peanuts, walnuts, plane tree and mugwort in both groups.

Conclusion

Native UK subjects with LTP allergy are not dissimilar to those with LTP allergy in southern Europe. Testing to LTP‐enriched peach SPT reagent and/or LTP allergens in peach, walnut, mugwort and plane tree may enhance diagnostic accuracy.
Cystic fibrosis – an example of personalized and precision medicine
Authors: Skov Marianne , Hansen Christine Rønne , Pressler Tacjana
Published: February 2019

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a severe, monogenic, autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator) gene, where disturbed chloride and bicarbonate transportation in epithelial cells results in a multiorgan disease with primarily pulmonary infections and pancreatic insufficiency. In 1968, the Copenhagen CF Center was established, and centralized care of CF patients with monthly control was introduced. Close monitoring and treatment of Pseudomonas lung infection as well as segregation of patients with different infection status improved the clinical outcome as well as survival. Prophylactic basic treatment as well as infection treatments follow specific algorithms. A variety of comorbidities have all along the pulmonary infection control necessitated personalized care, adjusted to the patients′ phenotype. With the introduction of CFTR modulators, the treatment has shifted from prophylactic, symptomatic type toward a new era of precision medicine targeting the basic defect according to the patients′ CFTR genotype. Future directions will focus on further improvement of the CFTR modulators and gene therapy, as well as modifier genes and CF phenotype.
Review article: iron disturbances in chronic liver diseases other than haemochromatosis – pathogenic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications
Authors: Czaja Albert J.
Published: February 2019

Background

Disturbances in iron regulation have been described in diverse chronic liver diseases other than hereditary haemochromatosis, and iron toxicity may worsen liver injury and outcome.

Aims

To describe manifestations and consequences of iron dysregulation in chronic liver diseases apart from hereditary haemochromatosis and to encourage investigations that clarify pathogenic mechanisms, define risk thresholds for iron toxicity, and direct management

Methods

English abstracts were identified in PubMed by multiple search terms. Full length articles were selected for review, and secondary and tertiary bibliographies were developed.

Results

Hyperferritinemia is present in 4%‐65% of patients with non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, autoimmune hepatitis, chronic viral hepatitis, or alcoholic liver disease, and hepatic iron content is increased in 11%‐52%. Heterozygosity for the C282Y mutation is present in 17%‐48%, but this has not uniformly distinguished patients with adverse outcomes. An inappropriately low serum hepcidin level has characterised most chronic liver diseases with the exception of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease, and the finding has been associated mainly with suppression of transcriptional activity of the hepcidin gene. Iron overload has been associated with oxidative stress, advanced fibrosis and decreased survival, and promising therapies beyond phlebotomy and oral iron chelation have included hepcidin agonists.

Conclusions

Iron dysregulation is common in chronic liver diseases other than hereditary haemochromatosis, and has been associated with liver toxicity and poor prognosis. Further evaluation of iron overload as a co‐morbid factor should identify the key pathogenic disturbances, establish the risk threshold for iron toxicity, and promote molecular interventions.
Corporate Political Activity and Free Riding under Market Uncertainty: An Investigation of TARP Funding
Authors: Brown Lee Warren , De Leon John A. , Rasheed Abdul A.
Published: February 2019

Given that the benefits of Corporate Political Activity (CPA) are usually granted in the form of favorable industry regulation that benefits all industry participants rather than a single firm, small politically inactive firms are often able to take advantage of the benefits from CPA without investing in them. We argue that the free‐riding problem is context specific. Situations of extreme uncertainty create institutional voids that enable individual firms to more fully appropriate the returns from their CPA. In this paper, we examine the influence that CPA had on the U.S. government’s disbursements of TARP funding in 2008. We find that politically active firms were able to avoid the free‐rider problem by obtaining more instances of TARP funding when compared to firms that were not politically active. In addition to being more likely to receive TARP funds, politically active firms received larger amounts of TARP funding than those firms who were not politically active.
A semiphysiological population pharmacokinetic model of agomelatine and its metabolites in Chinese healthy volunteers
Authors: Xie Feifan , Vermeulen An , Colin Pieter , Cheng Zeneng
Published: February 2019

Aims

Agomelatine is an antidepressant for major depressive disorders. It undergoes extensive first‐pass hepatic metabolism and displays irregular absorption profiles and large interindividual variability (IIV) and interoccasion variability of pharmacokinetics. The objective of this study was to characterize the complex pharmacokinetics of agomelatine and its metabolites in healthy subjects.

Methods

Plasma concentration–time data of agomelatine and its metabolites were collected from a 4‐period, cross‐over bioequivalence study, in which 44 healthy subjects received 25 mg agomelatine tablets orally. Nonlinear mixed effects modelling was used to characterize the pharmacokinetics and variability of agomelatine and its metabolites. Deterministic simulations were carried out to investigate the influence of pathological changes due to liver disease on agomelatine pharmacokinetics.

Results

A semiphysiological pharmacokinetic model with parallel first‐order absorption and a well‐stirred liver compartment adequately described the data. The estimated IIV and interoccasion variability of the intrinsic clearance of agomelatine were 130.8% and 28.5%, respectively. The IIV of the intrinsic clearance turned out to be the main cause of the variability of area under the curve‐based agomelatine exposure. Simulations demonstrated that a reduction in intrinsic clearance or liver blood flow, and an increase in free drug fraction had a rather modest influence on agomelatine exposures (range: −50 to 200%). Portosystemic shunting, however, substantially elevated agomelatine exposure by 12.6–109.1‐fold.

Conclusions

A semiphysiological pharmacokinetic model incorporating first‐pass hepatic extraction was developed for agomelatine and its main metabolites. The portosystemic shunting associated with liver disease might lead to significant alterations of agomelatine pharmacokinetics, and lead to substantially increased exposure.
The heterogeneous nature of water well fluoride levels in Sri Lanka: An opportunity to mitigate the dental fluorosis
Authors: Ranasinghe Nirosha , Kruger Estie , Chandrajith Rohana , Tennant Marc
Published: February 2019

Objectives

The study aimed to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to investigate the spatial distribution of the concentration of fluoride (F) in groundwater resources of Sri Lanka, and the geographic accessibility to an alternative water source having a low or safe F limit to mitigate dental fluorosis.

Methods

The study used randomly collected (6107) groundwater samples from Sri Lanka and categorized them as “dentally optimal” and “unsafe” based on their F content. The minimum distance from an identified high F source (above dentally optimal level) to a safe groundwater source was determined using geospatial analysis.

Results

Dentally optimal F sources (<1 and <1.5 mg/L) were identified among the high F groundwater sources (>2 mg/L), some even within a walking distance of 500 m. Results indicated that 26% of dentally unsafe groundwater sources (2.0 mg/L+ wells) had a low F source (<1.0 mg/L) available within a distance of 500 m. It was also evident that 39% of high F wells (2.0 mg/L+ wells) had a low F well (<1.5 mg/L) within a distance of 500 m, if the WHO guideline value for optimal F levels (1.5 mg/L) was assigned as the safe F limit.

Conclusion

The spatial approach demonstrated a reasonable access to alternative water sources with low or safe F limit in endemic fluorosis areas. Optimizing the use of accessible low F sources is highly recommended as the first‐line option to mitigate dental fluorosis in Sri Lanka since the defluoridation methods introduced in past did not provide sustainable oral health solutions for the inhabitants in high‐risk areas.
Depressive symptoms in inflammatory bowel disease: an extraintestinal manifestation of inflammation?
Authors: Moulton C D , Pavlidis P , Norton C , Norton S , Pariante C , Hayee B , Powell N
Published: February 2019

Depressive symptoms are reported by more than 20% of people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), while sleep difficulties and fatigue are even more common. Co-morbid depressive symptoms predict a poor IBD course, including increased risk of relapse and surgery, which is inconsistently improved by psychological treatments. Rather than being distinct systems, there is compelling evidence for bidirectional communication between gut and brain, driven by neural, metabolic, endocrine and inflammatory mediators. An emerging concept is that depressive symptoms may be mechanistically linked to excess inflammation and dysregulation of the gut–brain axis. Given the close link between the intestinal microbiota and host immune responses, patients prone to shifts in their intestinal microbiome, including smokers, those with poor diet and early life stress, may be exposed to exaggerated immune responses. Excess inflammation is associated with brain changes (depressive symptoms, fatigue, sleep difficulties) and worsening gastrointestinal symptoms, which are exacerbated by psychological distress. Equally, treatments both for depressive symptoms and IBD provide opportunities to break this cycle by reducing the causes and effects of inflammation. As well as addressing potential risk factors such as smoking and diet, treatments to alter the microbiome may reduce depressive symptoms. Observational evidence suggests that anti-inflammatory treatments for IBD may improve co-morbid depressive symptoms correlating with reduction in inflammation. With a growing range of treatments targeting inflammation centrally, peripherally and in the gut, IBD provides a unique model to understand the interplay between brain and gut in the pathogenesis of depressive symptoms, both in IBD and in the whole population.
Automatic Generation of Vivid LEGO Architectural Sculptures
Authors: Zhou J. , Chen X. , Xu Y.
Published: February 2019

Brick elements are very popular and have been widely used in many areas, such as toy design and architectural fields. Designing a vivid brick sculpture to represent a three‐dimensional (3D) model is a very challenging task, which requires professional skills and experience to convey unique visual characteristics. We introduce an automatic system to convert an architectural model into a LEGO sculpture while preserving the original model's shape features. Unlike previous legolization techniques that generate a LEGO sculpture exactly based on the input model's voxel representation, we extract the model's visual features, including repeating components, shape details and planarity. Then, we translate these visual features into the final LEGO sculpture by employing various brick types. We propose a deformation algorithm in order to resolve discrepancies between an input mesh's continuous 3D shape and the discrete positions of bricks in a LEGO sculpture. We evaluate our system on various architectural models and compare our method with previous voxelization‐based methods. The results demonstrate that our approach successfully conveys important visual features from digital models and generates vivid LEGO sculptures.