bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Price Volatility Spillovers in the Western Canadian Feed Barley, U.S. Corn, and Alberta Cattle Markets
Authors: Zhen Miao , Rude James , Qiu Feng
Published: August 2017

Price volatility complicates price discovery and creates risks for cattle producers. This paper analyzes volatility spillovers in the western Canadian beef cattle supply chain. A modified bivariate VAR‐BEKK‐GARCH model is used to examine spillovers and account for asymmetries associated with rising versus falling markets. The spillovers that are found are unidirectional from input to output markets. Spillovers tended to be stronger when cattle prices are depressed and feed costs are rising. Volatility transmission is also flows from feed barley to feeder cattle markets, but volatility does not flow in the opposite direction nor does it advance by more than one level in the supply chain.

La volatilité des prix complique la découverte des prix et crée des risques pour les éleveurs de bétail. Cet article analyse les répercussions de la volatilité au sein de la chaîne d'approvisionnement des bovins d'élevage. Un modèle VAR‐BEKK‐GARCH modifié à deux variables sert à l'examen des répercussions et tient compte des asymétries associées aux marchés à la hausse et à la baisse. Les répercussions décelées sont unidirectionnelles du marché des intrants aux produits. Les répercussions semblent plus fortes lorsque les prix des bovins sont bas, et les coûts de fourrage à la hausse. Le transfert de la volatilité se fait aussi sentir de l'orge de fourrage aux marchés de bovins d'engraissement, mais l'inverse ne survient pas et elle ne progresse pas de plus d'un niveau dans la chaîne d'approvisionnement.
Children's food and satiety responsiveness in association with post‐prandial glucose following a standardized liquid meal
Authors: Gowey M. A. , Chandler‐Laney P. C.
Published: August 2017

Children's responsiveness to food cues and satiety may put them at greater risk for obesity; however, little is known about the physiological mechanisms underlying children's responsiveness to food and satiety. The objective of this study was to examine the association between children's post‐prandial glucose responses and maternal report of their eating behaviours. A secondary data analysis was conducted using partial correlation analyses adjusted for gender in a sample of children aged 5–10 years and their mothers (N = 28 dyads). Standardized liquid meal tests were administered to children and blood samples were obtained over the following 4 h. Mothers completed the Children's Eating Behaviour Questionnaire. An earlier post‐prandial peak glucose concentration was associated with greater food responsiveness (r = −0.39, P = 0.04) but not satiety responsiveness. The percent increase in glucose from fasting to peak also tended to be inversely associated with greater food responsiveness (r = −0.38, P = 0.05). Results suggest that earlier and smaller post‐prandial glucose excursions may be related to children's response to food cues. Future research should use objective methods to examine whether the association of post‐prandial glucose with food responsiveness prospectively contributes to weight gain.
Emerging mechanisms regulating mitotic synchrony during animal embryogenesis
Authors: Ogura Yosuke , Sasakura Yasunori
Published: August 2017

The basic mechanisms controlling mitosis are highly conserved in animals regardless of cell types and developmental stages. However, an exceptional aspect of mitosis is seen during early animal embryogenesis in which a large fertilized egg is quickly divided into smaller blastomeres according to the reproducible spatiotemporal pattern that does not rely on the cell‐cycle arrest or growth. This mitosis, referred to as cleavage, overlaps in the timeframe with the specification of cell fate. The precise spatiotemporal regulation of cleavages is therefore essential to the creation of the appropriate cell number and to the morphology of an embryo. To achieve the reproducibility of cleavage during embryogenesis, the relative timing of mitosis between cells, which we refer to as synchrony, must be properly regulated. Studies in model organisms have begun to reveal how the synchrony of mitosis is regulated by the developmental modulation of cell‐cycle machineries. In this review, we focus on three such mechanisms: biochemical switches that achieve the synchrony of mitosis, the nucleo‐cytoplasmic ratio that provokes the asynchrony of mitosis, and the transcriptional mechanisms coupled with cell fate control that reestablish the synchrony of mitosis in each fate‐restricted compartment. Our review is an attempt to understand the temporal patterns of cleavages in animal embryos created by the combinations of these three mechanisms.
An easy‐to‐use scoring index to determine severity of mitral regurgitation by 2D echocardiography in clinical practice
Authors: Jansen Rosemarijn , Hart Einar A. , Peters Max , Urgel Kim , Kluin Jolanda , Tietge Wouter J. , Zwart Koen , Sybrandy Kirsten C. , Cramer Maarten J. M. , Chamuleau Steven A. J.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Mitral regurgitation (MR) grading by two‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography is challenging, but important to determine the best treatment strategy in patients with MR. Current guidelines advocate an integrative approach, although no recommendation is provided on how to do so. An easy‐to‐use index will be helpful for standardized and reproducible MR grading.

Methods

Eleven echocardiographic parameters were retrospectively evaluated in 145 patients with moderate or severe MR. Parameters were scored positive or negative for severe MR, where expert panel consensus reading was considered as the reference standard. Logistic regression was performed, and adjusted coefficients were used to create a risk score for severe MR per patient (ROSE‐index). The best cutoff with corresponding predictive values was determined.

Results

Eighty‐two percent of all parameters could be determined. Multivariable analysis revealed five parameters that remained significant predictors for severe MR: morphology, jet characteristics, vena contracta, systolic reversal, and left ventricular dimensions. With different weighing, a total score of 8 could be obtained. Median total ROSE‐index score for moderate (2.0) and severe MR (5.0) did significantly differ. The cutoff score (≥4) revealed sensitivity 0.84 and specificity 0.83 to diagnose severe MR. Negative predictive value was 100% for score 0 and 1; score 6–8 showed a 100% positive predictive value. Inter‐ and intra‐observer agreements were excellent (K‐values >0.80).

Conclusion

Here, we propose an easy‐to‐use tool for integrated analysis of guideline parameters to assess MR severity. Using this so‐called ROSE‐index revealed reliable and reproducible assessment of severe MR (cutoff≥4) that may be helpful for clinical decision making.
Evaluation of potential long‐term changes in endothelial functions and basic echocardiographic parameters in unilateral nephrectomy patients
Authors: Özkurt Sultan , Karavelioğlu Yusuf , Kalcik Macit , Dogan Ibrahim , Musmul Ahmet
Published: August 2017

Aim

Decreased nephron count may result in lower glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and cardiorenal injury in the absence of compensatory hyperfunction. In this study, we aimed to evaluate long‐term effects of 50% nephron loss on endothelial functions and cardiac morphology in nondonor nephrectomy patients.

Methods

This study comprised 26 patients (median age: 44 [37.5–50] years, male: 14) with unilateral nephrectomy and 25 healthy controls (median age: 47 [42–50] years, male: 9). Echocardiography was performed in all patients. Endothelial function was examined by measuring ischemia‐induced flow‐mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery.

Results

The mean nephrectomy time was 12.5 (8.75–23.25) years. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR [CKD‐EPI]) was significantly lower in the patient group than controls (85.54±16.27 vs 96.35±11.68 mL/min, P=0.009). Uric acid levels were significantly higher in the patient group than controls (5.7±1.3 vs 4.5±0.8, P<0.001). Percentage of FMD was significantly lower in the unilateral nephrectomy patients than the control group (11.6±6.2 vs 16.1%±7.9%; P=0.029). Left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWT) (P<0.001), interventricular septal thickness (IVST) (P<0.001), left ventricular (LV) mass (P=0.014), and left ventricular mass index (P=0.014) were significantly higher in the patient group.

Conclusion

In conclusion, 50% decrease in nephron mass due to unilateral nephrectomy may result in decreased eGFR, impaired endothelial functions and cardiac hypertrophy. What triggers endothelial dysfunction and cardiac hypertrophy in the event of mild decrease in GFR when creatinine has not been elevated yet remains unclear, but uric acid may be playing a role in this process necessitating large‐scaled studies.
Echocardiographic assessment of the right ventricle in the current era: Application in clinical practice
Authors: Venkatachalam Sridhar , Wu Geru , Ahmad Masood
Published: August 2017

The right ventricle has unique structural and functional characteristics. It is now well recognized that the so‐called forgotten ventricle is a key player in cardiovascular physiology. Furthermore, there is accumulating evidence that demonstrates right ventricular dysfunction as an important marker of morbidity and mortality in several commonly encountered clinical situations such as heart failure, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, right ventricular myocardial infarction, and adult congenital heart disease. In contrast to the left ventricle, echocardiographic assessment of right ventricular function is more challenging as volume estimations are not possible without the use of three‐dimensional (3D) echocardiography. Guidelines on chamber quantification provide a standardized approach to assessment of the right ventricle. The technique and limitations of each of the parameters for RV size and function need to be fully understood. In this era of multimodality imaging, echocardiography continues to remain a useful tool for the initial assessment and follow‐up of patients with right heart pathology. Several novel approaches such as 3D and strain imaging of the right ventricle have expanded the usefulness of this indispensable modality.
Intraoperative assessment of transient and persistent regional left ventricular wall motion abnormalities in patients undergoing coronary revascularization surgery using real time three‐dimensional transesophageal echocardiography: A prospective observational study
Authors: Aggarwal Neelam , Unnikrishnan Koniparambil P. , Biswas Indranil , Karunakaran Jayakumar , Suneel Puthuvasseri R.
Published: August 2017

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility of intraoperative real time three‐dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) for identification and quantification of transient and persistent regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMAs) in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG).

Design

A prospective observational study

Setting

Single‐center study in an academic tertiary care hospital

Participants

A series of 42 patients undergoing elective CABG over a 2‐year period were included.

Intervention

After induction of anesthesia, a comprehensive transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination was performed to evaluate regional wall motion using two‐dimensional wall motion score index (WMSI) and RT3D echocardiographic parameters at three specific time points during the operative phase.

Measurements and main results

The 3D assessment of LV function was based on the quantification of change in LV chamber volume over time from each segment excursion. Patients were divided into two groups and subgroups based on TEE findings. There was significant mechanical dyssynchrony in patients with RWMAs (WMSI > 1; systolic dyssynchrony index [SDI] = 7.0 ± 3.66) as compared to the patients having normal wall motion (WMSI = 1; SDI = 2.0 ± 0.95; P = .001). Patients with contractile dysfunction were found to have low values of segmental excursion and high values of negative excursion on parametric imaging. Persistent RWMAs due to hibernating myocardium showed significant resolution of mechanical dyssynchrony after revascularization. Parametric imaging could detect transient RWMAs due to stunning and graft dysfunction. Early activating segments (EAS) on “timing bull's‐eye” may represent hypercontractile segments and may influence inotrope administration.

Conclusion

The RT3DE is a valuable modality for precise quantification of regional wall motion during revascularization procedure.
Elasticity of ascending aorta and left ventricular myocardial functions in children with bicuspid aortic valve
Authors: Ekici Filiz , Uslu Diyar , Bozkurt Selen
Published: August 2017

Background

The aim of the study was to determine the aortic elasticity parameters (EPs) and myocardial function in children with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Additionally, we evaluated the effect of aortic leaflet phenotype (ALP) and aortic dilatation on elasticity parameters.

Methods

Sixty‐two children diagnosed with isolated BAV (mean age 9.3 years old; patient group) and 63 healthy children (control group) have been evaluated for this study. Patient group was divided into three age subgroups: between 0–6, 7–11 and 12–17 age intervals. Distensibility (DI) and stiffness index (SI) of ascending aorta were calculated by M‐mode echocardiographic data. The myocardial functions were evaluated by tissue Doppler echocardiography.

Results

Patient group exhibited significantly lower DI and higher SI than control group (SI: 3.8 ± 1.7 vs 2.4 ± 0.8, P < .0001). The aortic elasticity indexes in patient group with different age subgroups were different from those in control subgroups. Patient group had significantly lower E′ velocity at mitral lateral annulus and septum than control group (P < .017 and P < .001). There was no statistically significant correlation between E′ velocities and DI/SI values. We, however, found a weak correlation between septal E′ velocities and strain values (r = .255, P = .046). EP did not show statistically significant difference with regard to ALP and presence of aortic dilatation.

Conclusion

Abnormality of aortic elasticity and myocardial functions can be detected in children with BAV from infantile to adolescent. Myocardial functions are not related to SI and DI. We considered the possibility of intrinsic aortic wall abnormality in children with BAV.
Decreases in left atrial compliance during early‐stage exercise are related to exercise intolerance in asymptomatic significant mitral stenosis
Authors: Jung Mi‐Hyang , Jung Hae Ok , Lee Jung‐Won , Youn Ho‐Joong
Published: August 2017

Background

Doppler‐driven net atrioventricular compliance (Cn), which represents left atrial (LA) compliance, is an important determinant of pulmonary hypertension in mitral stenosis (MS).

Hypothesis

We hypothesized that decreases in Cn during early‐stage exercise underlie exercise intolerance in patients with MS.

Methods

Thirty‐three asymptomatic patients with significant MS (valve area 1.24 ± 0.16 cm2) underwent resting and bicycle exercise echocardiography. LA compliance and conventional parameters were assessed at each workload. The patients were classified into two groups based on whether they developed dyspnea during exercise: an exercise‐intolerance group (n = 22) and an exercise‐tolerance group (n = 11). Moreover, “50 W” was defined as an early exercise stage.

Results

Although the groups had similar resting characteristics, there were striking differences in their echocardiographic parameters from the early stages of exercise. The relative Cn decrease at 50 W (expressed as a percentage of the resting Cn) was significantly greater in the exercise‐intolerance group (70.3 ± 15.4% vs 49.7 ± 9.7%, P < .001). The overall decrease in relative Cn was significantly greater in the exercise‐intolerance group (P = .0005). Furthermore, differences in the trends in this parameter were observed between the two groups (P < .0001 for interaction). Multivariate analysis revealed that the relative Cn decrease at 50 W was an independent predictor of exercise intolerance (adjusted OR 1.105, 95% CI 1.030–1.184) after adjustment for other conventional parameters.

Conclusions

Decreases in Cn during early‐stage exercise are an important mechanism underlying exercise intolerance in MS.
Multimodality imaging of a huge subaortic left ventricular aneurysm in a child
Authors: Morais Humberto , Pedro Albino , Reis Maria João , Costa João Carlos
Published: August 2017

A subannular left ventricular aneurysm is very rare, and is mostly considered to be a congenital anomaly. A subannular left ventricular aneurysm is classified based on the type of its own orifice—submitral or subaortic. Subaortic left ventricular aneurysm occurs less frequently compared with a submitral type of subannular aneurysm. We hereby describe a rare case of a huge bilobed subaortic aneurysm, in which the orifice was located just below the left coronary cusp diagnosed with multimodality imaging in a child.
High‐fidelity simulation in training dental students for medical life‐threatening emergency
Authors: Roy E. , Quinsat V. E. , Bazin O. , Lesclous P. , Lejus‐Bourdeau C.
Published: August 2017

Introduction

Any dental surgeon may be faced with a critical life‐threatening emergency situation. In our university, all students in dentistry receive a standard course on emergency first aid. The aim of this prospective, comparative, single‐centre study was to determine whether additional training on a high‐fidelity patient simulator would improve student performance.

Methods

After approval by an Ethical Committee and written informed consent, the students of the Simulation group (n=42) had full‐scale high‐fidelity training on a patient simulator SimMan 3G™ (3 hours by six students). They participated in pairs in two scenarios (airway obstruction, seizures, allergies, vasovagal syncope, asthma, chest pain). The first scenario was simple, and the second was a progression to cardiac arrest. Three months later, the Simulation group and the Control group (n=42) participated in a test session with two scenarios. The primary end point was the score at the test session (with a standardised scoring grill, direct observation and audio‐video recording). Data were median and 25%‐75% percentiles.

Results

High‐fidelity training strongly improved the score on the test obtained by the students of the Simulation group (146 [134‐154]) which was much higher (P<.0001) than in the Control group (77 [67‐85]). Technical as well as non‐technical skills components of the scores were improved. In addition, performances of the Simulation group were increased between the training and the test. Simulation session was very positively assessed by the students.

Conclusions

The results support the systematic introduction of training to critical life‐threatening emergency situations on high‐fidelity patient simulators the dentistry curriculum. The impact on clinical practice in the dental office remains to be assessed.
Integrated planning for education and development
Authors: Persaud Amlata
Published: August 2017

This article addresses the issue of integrated planning for education in a post‐2015 international development paradigm. It argues that there has been a growth in the opportunity space for education stakeholders at both global and local levels to pay greater attention to the links between education and other development sectors. It uses a boundary‐spanning policy framework to present an analysis of this trend, pointing to political, economic and social factors that have intersected to create a conducive environment for consideration of integrated approaches. It proposes three ‘dimensions’ of integration, namely, horizontal integration of the education sector with other development sectors such as health and social protection; vertical integration across national and sub‐national levels; and lateral integration of state and non‐state actors. The article focuses on horizontal integration and draws on the theoretical literature on collaborative management to highlight the contextual, personal, structural and technical factors that can present risks and challenges to policy makers and practitioners in implementing integrated approaches in the education sector.
Interests without history? Some difficulties for a negative Aristotelianism
Authors: O'Connor Brian
Published: August 2017

This paper focuses on 3 features of Freyenhagen's Aristotelian version of Adorno. (a) It challenges the strict negativism Freyenhagen finds in Adorno. If we have morally relevant interests in ourselves, it is implicit that we have a standard by which to understand what is both good and bad for us (our interests). Because strict negativism operates without reference to what is good, it seems to be detached from real interests too. Torture, it is argued, is, among other things, a violation of those interests. (b) Freyenhagen identifies the “impulse” in Adorno as an untutored yet moral reaction to morally demanding situations. The plausibility of this primitivism and its compatibility with Adorno's general worries about immediacy are considered. (c) The disruptive character of Adorno's version of the categorical imperative, its willingness to complicate action through wholesale reflection on the norms of what we are committing ourselves to, is set in contrast with Freyenhagen's Aristotelian claim that certain notions, such as “humanity,” cannot be intelligibly questioned.
Pharmacokinetic variability of valproate in women of childbearing age
Authors: Johannessen Landmark Cecilie , Burns Margrete Larsen , Baftiu Arton , Farmen Anette Huuse , Lossius Morten I. , Johannessen Svein I. , Tomson Torbjörn
Published: August 2017

The purpose was to investigate pharmacokinetic variability of valproic acid (VPA) in women of childbearing age by therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) data to elucidate the variable relationship between dose and serum concentrations with the ultimate aim of facilitating safer use of VPA. Anonymized retrospective data from the TDM database (2006–2015) at the National Center for Epilepsy in Norway were used. Trough total concentrations of VPA at assumed steady state in women aged 14–46 years were analyzed. Data from 643 nonpregnant women of childbearing age (mean age = 27 years) were included. Mean dose and serum concentration of VPA were 968 (standard deviation [SD] = 453) mg/day and 411 (SD = 138) μmol/L, respectively, and 59% used polytherapy. The pharmacokinetic variability in serum concentration/dose (C/D) ratios between women was extensive. For doses <700 mg/day (n = 202; 32%; 150–625 mg/day), mean serum concentration was 336 μmol/L and variability in C/D ratio was 10‐fold. The variability decreased with increasing dose to eightfold (≥700 to <1,500 mg/day, n = 358) and fourfold (≥1,500 mg/day, n = 96). This study demonstrates the extensive pharmacokinetic variability of VPA among women of childbearing age, which is most pronounced at low doses. In future studies, serum concentrations of VPA, rather than dosage, should be used as a guide for exposure of VPA and possible risks of teratogenicity to evaluate safety aspects of VPA in women.
Uterine adenocarcinoma in Quarter Horse mare
Authors: Lopez C. , Ciccarelli M. , Gold J. R. , Tibary A.
Published: August 2017

Uterine adenocarcinoma was diagnosed in a 16‐year‐old Quarter Horse mare that presented for fever, stranguria, anorexia and a history of weight loss. A mass at the level of the cervix and uterine body was identified by transrectal palpation. Biopsy of the cervix revealed an antemortem diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Thoracic ultrasonography revealed multiple areas of consolidation in the lung, and comet tail artefact along the entire pleural surface. Post‐mortem examination confirmed the endometrial adenocarcinoma with metastasis to urinary bladder, ureters, lungs, tracheobronchial lymph nodes and bone marrow.
Microscopic damage evolution during very‐high‐cycle fatigue (VHCF) of tempered martensitic steel
Authors: Krupp U. , Giertler A. , Koschella K.
Published: August 2017

Dimensioning with high‐strength steels relies on the knowledge of Wöhler‐type S/N data and the assumption that no failure occurs for load levels below the fatigue limit for applications where the number of load cycles exceeds 107. Very‐high‐cycle fatigue (VHCF) experiments applied to a 0.5C‐1.0Cr‐Mo tempered steel (German designation: 50CrMo4) revealed surface crack initiation at prior austenite grain boundaries in medium strength condition (37HRC) and internal crack initiation at nonmetallic inclusions at high strength condition (57HRC). Despite the formation of small cracks during cycling up to 109 cycles, it seems that these are nonpropagating cracks in the case of the medium strength condition and therefore a real fatigue limit exists. Application of automated electron back‐scatter diffraction (EBSD) within the shallow‐notched area of electro‐polished fatigue specimens had shown that prior austenite grain boundaries act as effective obstacles to crack propagation. High‐resolution thermography during cycling of the specimens allowed the identification of local plasticity, which led to crack initiation at a later stage of the fatigue life. It was found that Cr segregation rows play a decisive role in the crack initiation process. By means of high‐resolution electron microscopy in combination with focused ion beam milling (FIB), evolution of cyclic plasticity and crack initiation was correlated with the material's microstructure. The results are discussed in terms of the completely different crack initiation mechanisms of medium and high strength variants of the same steel. EBSD microstructure and crack propagation data are used to adapt a numerical modeling tool to predict microcrack propagation in the VHCF regime.
Fatigue analysis of railway wheel using a multiaxial strain‐based critical‐plane index
Authors: Kiani M. , Fry G.T.
Published: August 2017

A fatigue damage model to assess the development of subsurface fatigue cracks in railway wheels is presented in this paper. A 3‐dimensional finite element model (FEM) is constructed to simulate repeated cycles of contact loading between a railway wheel and a rail. The computational approach includes a hard‐contact over‐closure relationship and an elastoplastic material model with isotropic and kinematic hardening.

Results from the simulation are used in a multiaxial critical‐plane fatigue damage analysis. The employed strain‐based critical‐plane fatigue damage approach is based on Fatemi‐Socie fatigue index that takes into account the non‐proportional and out‐of‐phase nature of the multiaxial state of stress occurs when a railway wheel rolls on a rail. It predicts fatigue‐induced micro‐crack nucleation at a depth of about 3.7 mm beneath the wheel tread, as well as the crack plane growth orientation which indicates the possible failure pattern. Additionally, the influence of various factors such as contribution of normal stresses, higher wheel load, and material model have been investigated.
Deficiency of aminopeptidase P1 causes behavioral hyperactivity, cognitive deficits, and hippocampal neurodegeneration
Authors: Bae Y.‐S. , Yoon S. H. , Han J. Y. , Woo J. , Cho Y. S. , Kwon S.‐K. , Bae Y. C. , Kim D. , Kim E. , Kim M.‐H.
Published: August 2017

Metabolic diseases affect various organs including the brain. Accumulation or depletion of substrates frequently leads to brain injury and dysfunction. Deficiency of aminopeptidase P1, a cytosolic proline‐specific peptidase encoded by the Xpnpep1 gene, causes an inborn error of metabolism (IEM) characterized by peptiduria in humans. We previously reported that knockout of aminopeptidase P1 in mice causes neurodevelopmental disorders and peptiduria. However, little is known about the pathophysiological role of aminopeptidase P1 in the brain. Here, we show that loss of aminopeptidase P1 causes behavioral and neurological deficits in mice. Mice deficient in aminopeptidase P1 (Xpnpep1−/−) display abnormally enhanced locomotor activities in both the home cage and open‐field box. The aminopeptidase P1 deficiency in mice also resulted in severe impairments in novel‐object recognition, the Morris water maze task, and contextual, but not cued, fear memory. These behavioral dysfunctions were accompanied by epileptiform electroencephalogram activity and neurodegeneration in the hippocampus. However, mice with a heterozygous mutation for aminopeptidase P1 (Xpnpep1+/−) exhibited normal behaviors and brain structure. These results suggest that loss of aminopeptidase P1 leads to behavioral, cognitive and neurological deficits. This study may provide insight into new pathogenic mechanisms for brain dysfunction related to IEMs.
“Bad Neighborhood” and Internet Adoption in Poor Countries: What is behind the Persistent Digital Gap?
Authors: Dohse Dirk , Lim Cheng Yee
Published: August 2017

The paper investigates the determinants of Internet adoption in poor countries, focusing on the role of macro‐geographic location (neighborhood). It is argued that neighboring countries are interconnected by various kinds of spillovers, including knowledge spillovers as well as spillovers of norms and attitudes that affect individual adoption behavior. The empirical findings support the view that Internet adoption is affected by adoption rates in neighboring countries, even when controlling for a wide range of covariates. Addressing potential endogeneity concerns using an instrumental variable approach moreover suggests these relationships to be causal. The findings imply that international policies to support Internet adoption in poor countries might be more effective if they target groups of neighboring countries rather than single countries in order to better exploit spillovers between neighboring countries.
What's new in dermoscopy of Bowen's disease: two new dermoscopic signs and its differential diagnosis
Authors: Yang Yi , Lin Jingrong , Fang Shifeng , Han Shixin , Song Zhiqi
Published: August 2017

Background

Clinical and dermoscopic features of Bowen's disease (BD) show great diversity. Some lesions of BD are often difficult to be differentiated from seborrheic keratosis, actinic keratosis, lichen planus‐like keratosis, etc. It is necessary to fully describe the dermoscopic features of the disease, considering differential diagnosis.

Objective

To describe the dermoscopic feautres of Bowen's disease and summarize the dermoscopic differential diagnosis of the disease.

Patients and methods

Altogether 146 lesions with a histopathological diagnosis of Bowen's disease were consecutively included in this study. All the lesions were imaged with dermoscopy and analyzed for dermoscopic features.

Results

A total of 146 lesions were analyzed. The dermoscopic features most frequently observed in our series of lesions were scales (78.8%), glomerular vessels (69.2%), yellow crusts (56.8%), focal hemorrhage (55.5%), focal/multifocal hypopigmentation (44.5%), and linear irregular vessels (42.5%). Besides, we found two new dermoscopic signs in BD: the double‐edge sign (30.1%) and the clusters of brown structureless areas (38.4%).

Conclusion

Bowen's disease presents a variety of dermoscopic features. The recognition of two new dermoscopic signs of BD and fully understanding its dermoscopic features will help us in differential diagnosis.
What Leads To Shared Attention? Maternal Cues and Infant Responses During Object Play
Authors: Deák Gedeon O. , Krasno Anna M. , Jasso Hector , Triesch Jochen
Published: August 2017

Attention sharing provides an important context for infant learning, but it is not fully understood how infants respond to parents’ isolated or combined actions to shift from nonsharing to attention‐sharing states. To investigate this, we recorded unscripted toy‐play interactions of infants (3 to 11 months old, N = 35) and mothers at home, and coded attention‐related behaviors. These included infants’ and mothers’ visual fixations, and mothers’ attention‐directing actions including gaze shifts, pointing gestures, object manipulations, verbalizations, and object sounds. In addition, dyadic attention was continuously classified into one of seven states of shared or nonshared attention. Results showed that mothers usually produced a combination of attention‐directing cues within the 7 sec. before infants shifted their attention to match the mother's focus. Mothers’ cue combinations usually included object manipulation and either a gaze shift or a verbalization. Infants seldom looked at mothers’ faces and followed a very small proportion of isolated gaze shifts or pointing gestures. However, infants frequently shifted attention to watch mothers manipulate objects. The results indicate that during toy play, combinations of maternal attention‐specifying actions selectively elicit infants’ attention following.
Trajectory Discrimination and Peripersonal Space Perception in Newborns
Authors: Orioli Giulia , Filippetti Maria Laura , Gerbino Walter , Dragovic Danica , Farroni Teresa
Published: August 2017

The ability to discriminate the trajectories of moving objects is highly adaptive and fundamental for physical and social interactions. Therefore, we could reasonably expect sensitivity to different trajectories already at birth, as a precursor of later communicative and defensive abilities. To investigate this possibility, we measured newborns' looking behavior to evaluate their ability to discriminate between visual stimuli depicting motion along different trajectories happening within the space surrounding their body. Differently from previous studies, we did not take into account defensive reactions, which may not be elicited by impending collision as newborns might not categorize approaching stimuli as possible dangers. In two experiments, we showed that newborns display a spontaneous visual preference for trajectories directed toward their body. We found this visual preference when visual stimuli depicted motion in opposite directions (approaching vs. receding) as well as when they both moved toward the peripersonal space and differed only in their specific target (i.e., the body vs. the space around it). These findings suggest that at birth human infants seem to be already equipped with visual mechanisms predisposing them to perceive their presence in the environment and to adaptively focus their attention on the peripersonal space and their bodily self.
Qualitative evaluation of a physical activity health promotion programme for people with intellectual disabilities in a group home setting
Authors: Dixon‐Ibarra A , Driver S , Nery‐Hurwit M , VanVolkenburg H
Published: August 2017

Background

There is a lack of health promotion programming designed to change the physical activity environment of the group home setting. The Menu‐Choice programme assists staff in creating physical activity goals alongside residents with intellectual disabilities and provides strategies to incorporate activity into the group home schedule. The purpose of this study was to complete a process evaluation of Menu‐Choice utilizing qualitative methods.

Methods

Twelve participants, who completed a 10‐week pilot intervention (n = 7 staff, mean age 42; n = 5 residents, mean age 52), participated in face‐to‐face interviews. Participants represented five group home sites involved in the intervention.

Results

Meta‐themes included: (i) Programme training, (ii) Programme implementation, (iii) Programme physical activity, (iv) Programme barriers, (v) Programme facilitators and (vi) Programme feedback.

Conclusions

Changes in programme training and simplified programme materials are needed to accommodate identified barriers for implementation. The importance of obtaining increased agency support and policy change is highlighted.
Differential associations of systolic and diastolic time rate of blood pressure variation with carotid atherosclerosis and plaque echogenicity
Authors: Kolyviras Athanasios , Manios Efstathios , Georgiopoulos Georgios , Michas Fotios , Gustavsson Thomas , Papadopoulou Efthimia , Ageliki Laina , Kanakakis John , Papamichael Christos , Stergiou Georgios , Zakopoulos Nikolaos , Stamatelopoulos Kimon
Published: August 2017

In the current study, the authors sought to assess whether the time rate of systolic and diastolic blood pressure variation is associated with advanced subclinical stages of carotid atherosclerosis and plaque echogenicity assessed by gray scale median. The authors recruited 237 consecutive patients with normotension and hypertension who underwent 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and carotid artery ultrasonography. There was an independent association between low 24‐hour systolic time rate and increased echogenicity of carotid plaques (adjusted odds ratio for highest vs lower tertiles of gray scale median, 0.470; 95% confidence interval, 0.245–0.902 [P = .023]). Moreover, increased nighttime diastolic time rate independently correlated with the presence (adjusted odds ratio, 1.328; P = .015) and number of carotid plaques (adjusted odds ratio, 1.410; P = .003). These results indicate differential associations of the systolic and diastolic components of time rate of blood pressure variation with the presence, extent, and composition of carotid plaques and suggest that when blood pressure variation is assessed, both components should be considered.
Role of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring for the management of hypertension in Asian populations
Authors: Hoshide Satoshi , Cheng Hao‐Min , Huang Qifang , Park Sungha , Park Chang‐Gyu , Chen Chen‐Huan , Wang Ji‐Gwang , Kario Kazuomi ,   the Characteristics On the ManagEment of Hypertension in Asia – Morning Hypertension Discussion Group (COME Asia MHDG)
Published: August 2017

Out‐of‐clinic blood pressure (BP) measurement, eg, ambulatory BP monitoring, has a strong association with target organ damage and is a powerful predictor of cardiovascular events compared with clinic BP measurement. Ambulatory BP monitoring can detect masked hypertension or various BP parameters in addition to average 24‐hour BP level. Short‐term BP variability assessed by standard deviation or average real variability, diminished nocturnal BP fall, nocturnal hypertension, and morning BP surge assessed by ambulatory BP monitoring have all been associated with target organ damage and cardiovascular prognosis. Recently, the authors compared the degree of sleep‐trough morning BP surge between a group of Japanese and a group of Western European untreated patients with hypertension and found that sleep‐trough morning BP surge in Japanese persons was significantly higher than that in Europeans. Although Asian persons have been known to have a higher incidence of stroke than heart disease, the difference in characteristics of BP indices assessed by ambulatory BP monitoring might be the cause of racial differences in stroke incidence between Asian and Western populations. This review focuses on Asian characteristics for the management of hypertension using ambulatory BP monitoring.
Relatively weak inbreeding depression in selfing but also in outcrossing populations of North American Arabidopsis lyrata
Authors: Carleial S. , van Kleunen M. , Stift M.
Published: August 2017

Hermaphroditic plants can potentially self‐fertilize, but most possess adaptations that promote outcrossing. However, evolutionary transitions to higher selfing rates are frequent. Selfing comes with a transmission advantage over outcrossing, but self‐progeny may suffer from inbreeding depression, which forms the main barrier to the evolution of higher selfing rates. Here, we assessed inbreeding depression in the North American herb Arabidopsis lyrata, which is normally self‐incompatible, with a low frequency of self‐compatible plants. However, a few populations have become fixed for self‐compatibility and have high selfing rates. Under greenhouse conditions, we estimated mean inbreeding depression per seed (based on cumulative vegetative performance calculated as the product of germination, survival and aboveground biomass) to be 0.34 for six outcrossing populations, and 0.26 for five selfing populations. Exposing plants to drought and inducing defences with jasmonic acid did not magnify these estimates. For outcrossing populations, however, inbreeding depression per seed may underestimate true levels of inbreeding depression, because self‐incompatible plants showed strong reductions in seed set after (enforced) selfing. Inbreeding‐depression estimates incorporating seed set averaged 0.63 for outcrossing populations (compared to 0.30 for selfing populations). However, this is likely an overestimate because exposing plants to 5% CO2 to circumvent self‐incompatibility to produce selfed seed might leave residual effects of self‐incompatibility that contribute to reduced seed set. Nevertheless, our estimates of inbreeding depression were clearly lower than previous estimates based on the same performance traits in outcrossing European populations of A. lyrata, which may help explain why selfing could evolve in North American A. lyrata.
Sexual dimorphism in epicuticular compounds despite similar sexual selection in sex role‐reversed seed beetles
Authors: Booksmythe I. , Rundle H. D. , Arnqvist G.
Published: August 2017

Sexual selection imposed by mating preferences is often implicated in the evolution of both sexual dimorphism and divergence between species in signalling traits. Epicuticular compounds (ECs) are important signalling traits in insects and show extensive variability among and within taxa. Here, we investigate whether variation in the multivariate EC profiles of two sex role‐reversed beetle species, Megabruchidius dorsalis and Megabruchidius tonkineus, predicts mate attractiveness and mating success in males and females. The two species had highly distinct EC profiles and both showed significant sexual dimorphism in ECs. Age and mating status in both species were also distinguishable by EC profile. Males and females of both species showed significant association between their EC profile and attractiveness, measured both as latency to mating and as success in mate‐choice trials. Remarkably, the major multivariate vector describing attractiveness was correlated in both species, both sexes, and in both choice and no‐choice experiments such that increased attractiveness was in all cases associated with a similar multivariate modification of EC composition. Furthermore, in both sexes this vector of attractiveness was associated with more male‐like EC profiles, as well as those characterizing younger and nonvirgin individuals, which might reflect a general preference for individuals of high condition in both sexes. Despite significant sexual selection on EC composition, however, we found no support for the proposition that sexual selection is responsible for divergence in ECs between these species.
Processing of raw coconut milk for its value addition using spray and freeze drying techniques
Authors: Zafisah N. S. , Yusof Y. A. , Ali M. A. , Roslan N. S. , Tahir A. , Aziz M. G. , Chin N. L.
Published: August 2017

In this study, a comparison among spray‐dried powder at optimized conditions was done, freeze‐dried powder produced in the laboratory using same concentration of MD and commercial one was finally made. Multilevel factorial design was used to generate experiments for spray drying using inlet temperatures (180–200 °C) and feed rate (0.7–0.9 L/hr) as factors. Powder moisture, drying ratio, productivity, drying rate, and product recovery yield were used as responses for optimizing spray drying. The optimum conditions for spray drying of coconut milk with respect to the responses studied were 180 °C for inlet temperature and 0.9 L/hr for feed rate. A comparison was made in terms of physical, chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Freeze dried powder exhibits more stable form of powder in handling and storage due to its low moisture content (1.19%) and high glass transition temperature (22.94 ± 0.2 °C). The porous structure and large particle size of freeze dried powder make it free flowing as compared to spray dried powder.

Practical applications

Good quality coconut milk can provide with all the benefits of raw virgin coconut oil but it is difficult to store due to less shelf life. By converting coconut milk into powder, its shelf life can be increased without using preservatives. Coconut milk powder can be used as natural source of dietary supplement as it has many proven health benefits including prevent anemia, regulates heart functioning, increases body fitness, anti‐bacterial, and anti‐viral. It is difficult to convert raw coconut milk into powder form due to its creamy and sticky structure. In this research work, raw coconut milk was dried with two different drying methods to produce good quality coconut milk powder in terms of flowability. The findings of this research work provide basic fundamentals for food industry to produce better quality coconut milk powder which is easy to handle, store and further use in combination with different dishes.
Hydration kinetics of cereal and pulses: New data and hypothesis evaluation
Authors: Miano Alberto Claudio , Sabadoti Viviane Deroldo , Pereira Jéssica da Costa , Augusto Pedro Esteves Duarte
Published: August 2017

This work described the hydration kinetics of several grains from the legumes and cereal families, which many of them were studied for the first time. In addition, some comparisons among the different hydration kinetics were performed to corroborate some hypothesis about this process. By comparing the hydration kinetics of the studied grains and fitting their data to suitable equations, the idea that this process is very complex was reinforced. It is difficult to say how intrinsic properties of the grains (color, size, specie, family, structure or composition) affect the hydration process. Some reported hypothesis about the hydration process were argued. For instance, it was demonstrated that some hypotheses about the grains hydration are not completely true: the grains with darker color seed coat do not always hydrate slower than the lighter color ones; the grains with sigmoidal behavior can hydrate faster than the grains with downward concave shape behavior; the bigger size grains sometimes hydrate slower than the smaller ones. It was concluded that the hydration process behavior and velocity are affected by many intrinsic properties of the grains (composition and structure, in a complex interaction) acting together to give the representative hydration kinetics behavior of each curve.

Practical applications

From the academic point of view, the results of this work will help to avoid misunderstandings during the study of the grains hydration process, as many hypotheses were reanalyzed and argued. Furthermore, it provides new data, in special for sigmoidal behavior grains, which is very scarce in the literature. From the industrial point of view, this work provides data about the hydration kinetics of several grains, which is very useful for the process design.