bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Culturally responsive practices for teacher candidates: a neighborhood treasure hunt
Authors: Johnson Velma , Carpenter Jan , Richards Centae , Vincent Kathleen Brennan
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how, and to what degree, culturally responsive field experiences influence the knowledge, beliefs, perspectives and abilities of teacher candidates in an educator preparation program (EPP).

Design/methodology/approach

Researchers conducted a mixed methods study using a pre-/post-Likert scale survey regarding pre-service teacher beliefs, reflections, Professional Learning Communities (PLC) meetings and observations by the researchers.

Findings

Teacher candidates expressed greater confidence in their ability to perform culturally responsive tasks by the end of their first field experience, but also indicated ambivalence toward the importance of those tasks.

Research limitations/implications

The paper’s limitations include the small number of participants, the short timeframe of the study and it was year one implementation of a new model.

Practical implications

A community mapping experience called the Neighborhood Treasure Hunt (NTH), in conjunction with the other components of the educator preparation program, impacted teacher candidates’ understanding of culturally responsive teaching practices, their perception of their ability to perform them and the importance of culturally responsive teaching. Each program component is necessary to raise awareness and effect change.

Originality/value

Based on the research of Ladson-Billings (1994) and Author 1 (2007), the NTH was intentionally integrated into the field experience component. Author 1 (2007) was involved in this process adding integrity, authenticity and originality to the research study with teacher candidates in an EPP.
Cross-country differences in new service development
Authors: Valtakoski Aku , Reynoso Javier , Maranto Daniel , Edvardsson Bo , Maravillo Cabrera Egren
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test how national culture may help to explain cross-country differences in new service development (NSD) by comparing the impact of NSD success factors between Mexico and Sweden.

Design/methodology/approach

Eight hypotheses based on prior literature on NSD and national culture were tested using covariance-based structural equation modeling and survey data from 210 Mexican and 173 Swedish firms.

Findings

Launch proficiency and customer interaction had a positive impact on NSD performance with no difference between the two cultures. NSD process formalization did not have clear positive impact on NSD performance but had a statistically significantly stronger impact in the structured culture (Mexico). Team empowerment affected NSD performance positively, but the difference between cultures was non-significant.

Research limitations/implications

The impact of national culture depends on the type of NSD success factor. Some factors are unaffected by the cultural context, while factors congruent with the national culture enhance performance. Factors incongruent with national culture may even hurt NSD performance.

Practical implications

When choosing priorities in NSD improvement, managers need to consider the national culture environment.

Originality/value

Paper directly tests how national culture moderates NSD performance using primary data. Findings suggest that the effects of NSD success factors are contingent on congruence with national culture.
Tackling rogue landlords and substandard housing
Authors: Vols Michel , Belloir Alexandre Copeland
Published: March 2019

Purpose

In 2011, Dutch municipalities requested supplementary legal enforcement instruments to tackle rogue landlords and substandard housing. The national government implemented new legislation granting municipalities’ local authorities more legal instruments in 2015. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the application and effectiveness of these instruments.

Design/methodology/approach

Using both quantitative and qualitative (legal) empirical research methods, this study establishes the frequency these instruments are used and the manner they are applied in practice to determine their role in limiting abusive practices of rogue landlords.

Findings

By comparing legislation and policies with their enforcement, the authors pinpoint differences between the law in the books and the law in practice and argue that the legal instruments have a stronger effect on the informal power than on formal power of local authorities. Moreover, the paper shows that the shift of responsibility from the Public Prosecutions Office to local authorities has left the Public Prosecutions Office disinterested, feeling that it no longer has to deal with substandard housing violations at all, therefore leaving the repeat offenders free to continue their activities with minor consequences.

Originality/value

The paper presents original data on the ways governments address substandard housing and rogue landlords. This is the first study that analyses the fight against substandard housing in the Dutch context. Although centred on legislation and procedures in The Netherland, the paper’s findings are relevant in other jurisdictions facing similar issues.
The inclusion of transversal competences in the training programs for unemployed of Bahía De Cádiz
Authors: Canto Miguel Blanco , López Lydia Bares , Hrynevych Oksana
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The economic crisis of 2008 has caused a significant increase in the number of unemployed in Spain and a decrease in investments in active training policies. In this context, it is even more necessary to demand improvements in the degree of efficiency of the training programs aimed at unemployed people.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents the opinions of a group of experts in labor intermediation on the need to include transversal competences in the training contents of employment courses aimed at the tourism sector to improve the degree of employment of the unemployed.

Findings

All the experts consulted have indicated the need to enrich the subjects of the training courses by incorporating workshops that favor the implementation of certain transversal competences such as team work, management in stress situations, problem-solving, willingness to learn, self-initiative, verbal communication and mastery of social networks.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitations are given by the small number of experts in the field. However, their long career and participation in employment programs make their opinions valuable.

Practical implications

The main practical implication is in the fact that the proposed suggestions about modifications in the contents of the training courses for employment in the tourism sector are perfectly applicable, and according to the expert’s opinions, they would improve the degree of labor insertion of the participants.

Social implications

The improvement of the degree of employability of the unemployed who participate in the training actions and a greater adaptation to the specific characteristics of the jobs offered by the entrepreneurs of the sector.

Originality/value

The adaptation of the formative contents of the courses focused on the unemployed can make possible two desirable effects. On the one hand, the improvement of the quality of the tourist resources and on the other hand, increase the degree of employability of the unemployed, and in this way improve the efficiency of training programs.
Information visualization skills for academic librarians
Authors: Chen Hsuanwei Michelle
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how scholars in the digital humanities employ information visualization techniques in their research, and how academic librarians should prepare themselves to support this emerging trend.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a content analysis methodology, which further draws techniques from data mining, natural language processing and information visualization to analyze three peer-reviewed journals published within the last five years and ten online university library research guides in this field.

Findings

To successfully support and effectively contribute to the digital humanities, academic librarians should be knowledgeable in more than just visualization concepts and tools. The content analysis results for the digital humanities journals reflect the importance of recognizing the wide variety of applications and purposes of information visualization in digital humanities research.

Practical implications

This study provides useful and actionable insights into how academic librarians can prepare for this emerging technology to support future endeavors in the digital humanities.

Originality/value

Although information visualization has been widely adopted in digital humanities research, it remains unclear how librarians, especially academic librarians who support digital humanities research, should prepare for this emerging technology. This research is the first study to address this research gap through the lens of actual applications of information visualization techniques in digital humanities research, which is compared against university LibGuides for digital humanities research.
Absorptive capacity and organizational mechanisms
Authors: Cordero P. Laura , Ferreira João J.
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This study aims to contribute to fill the gap in the existing absorptive capacity (AC) literature relating to how organizational mechanisms applied both at the national and international level affect a firm’s AC.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review was carried out using analytical articles from two sources – Web of Science and Scopus – aiming to cover as many studies related to the AC research topic.

Findings

The results show that the majority of the studies do not include a specific analysis of an organizational mechanism’s role as mediator or moderator of a firm’s AC. The analysis of the reverse knowledge set of mechanisms will provide for international business scholars and practitioners a compilation of specific strategies that MNC apply to improve AC.

Originality/value

The study identifies four sets of organizational mechanisms: external search strategy; organizational knowledge management; reverse knowledge; and mechanisms not orientated to knowledge management; and it describes their specific relationships with AC.
The Development of Prefixation in Time and Space
Authors: Hill Eugen , Kölligan Daniel , Scheungraber Corinna , Frotscher Michael
Published: March 2019

The paper argues that seemingly aberrant phonological developments of local adverbs that have become prepositions and verbal and nominal prefixes in Baltic, Germanic and Armenian are to be explained by the assumption of a phase of ‘ditropic’ behaviour: ‘ditropic clitics’ select as their prosodic host any stressed word preceding their syntactic host without forming a semantic unit. This enclitic behaviour of forms that in the historically attested stages of Baltic, Germanic and Armenian are prepositions and verbal and nominal prefixes is argued to explain their seemingly aberrant phonological developments: the shortening of Lithuanian (preverbal) nu‐ and pri‐ beside (prenominal) núo‐ and príe‐ due to Leskien's law, the operation of Verner's law in Proto‐Germanic *ga‐ beside residual *ham‐ from Proto‐Indo‐European *kom‐ and of Verner's law or assimilatory voicing in Proto‐Gmc *du‐, and the behaviour of the Armenian prepositions / prefixes betraying word‐internal position e.g. in the reduction of the affricate /dz/ to /z/ in Arm z‐. After the local adverbs passed through a phase of ditropic behaviour in all three proto‐languages, the mismatch between prosody and morphosyntax was resolved by a ‘prosodic jump’, phonologically attaching the local adverbs to their semantic and syntactic hosts.
Hartog's Account of Historical Times and the Rise of Presentism
Authors: BOUTON CHRISTOPHE
Published: March 2019

In his book Regimes of Historicity: Presentism and Experiences of Time (2003; Engl. trans. 2015), Hartog develops a new notion, that of the ‘regime of historicity’, with a view to describing the different relations societies entertain with their own historicity, their different ‘experiences of time’. He applies this concept to our present epoch, which, according to him, makes available a new experience of time, founded in the primacy of the present: presentism. This diagnosis is advanced as a hypothesis which itself exhibits two sides, depending on whether presentism is thought as a provisional phase or whether, on the contrary, it is taken to be a durable state, our new ‘regime of historicity’. In this article, I want to come to terms with the epistemological and semantic status of the concept of a ‘regime of historicity’, situated at the intersection of anthropology (1) and of the theory of history developed in the German tradition (Reinhart Koselleck) (2). Then, I would like to examine the way in which Hartog makes use of this concept as a methodological instrument, making it possible for him to distinguish several regimes of historicity and to lay them out periodically (3). Finally, I would like to discuss the thesis of a contemporary ‘presentism’ in both of its two versions, ‘stopgap’ or ‘new state’ (4). Hence my question: how far can our contemporary experience of time be reduced to the category of ‘presentism’?
Examining the Economic Interactions Between Australia's Regions: Results From a Global VAR
Authors: Moallemi Morteza , Melser Daniel
Published: March 2019

Australia's economy, like most national economies, is made up of several regional sub‐economies. How these regional economies interact is not well understood but is relevant to macroeconomic policy setting. We outline and estimate a flexible Global Vector Autoregression model using quarterly data on house prices, output, unemployment and population for the eight Australian states and territories from 1986 to 2016. Using region‐to‐region impulse response functions from this model we quantify the influence of shocks in one region on another. Our results highlight the high degree of influence of New South Wales on other regions over and above its size.
Multi‐trajectories of antidepressant and antipsychotic use: a 11‐year naturalistic study in a community‐based sample
Authors: Verdoux H. , Pambrun E. , Tournier M. , Cortaredona S. , Verger P.
Published: March 2019

Objective

To explore the temporal dynamic of antidepressant and antipsychotic co‐prescribing in real‐life conditions.

Methods

The study was performed using reimbursement data from the French Insurance Healthcare system in a cohort of 118 454 persons with at least one dispensing of antidepressants and/or antipsychotics over the period 2006–2016. Latent class analyses were used to identify homogeneous groups of persons following similar multi‐trajectories of antidepressant and/or antipsychotic dispensing. Multivariate polynomial logistic regression models were used to explore the characteristics independently associated with distinct trajectories.

Results

Five multi‐trajectories of antidepressant and/or antipsychotic dispensing were identified: more than half of the sample (58%) had very low antidepressant and antipsychotic use; two groups had chronic (12%) or decreasing (11%) antidepressant use with very low antipsychotic use; two groups used both antidepressants and antipsychotics simultaneously either in an increasing (12%) or chronic (7%) way. Persons with chronic antidepressant–antipsychotic use presented with markers of poor social and mental health conditions.

Conclusions

Most persons using antipsychotics over the follow‐up also used antidepressants over the same period. The benefit/risk ratio of these prescribing practices should be further explored as the long‐term efficacy of antidepressant–antipsychotic polypharmacy is poorly documented, while this combination increases the risk of adverse effects.
Effects of pruning on the concentration of macronutrients in Colophospermum mopane leaves
Authors: Makhado Rudzani A. , Potgieter Martin J. , Luus‐Powell Wilmien J.
Published: March 2019

Despite the nutritional value of Colophospermum mopane leaves to browser's diets, there is limited knowledge on the effect of browsers on the concentration of macronutrients in mopane leaves. A field experiment was conducted in Musina Nature Reserve, Limpopo Province, South Africa to determine the effect of pruning, a proxy for browsing, on the concentration of macronutrients in mopane leaves. Samples were analysed for calcium (Ca), potassium (K), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), sulphur (S), chlorine (Cl), magnesium (Mg), nitrate (NO3), sodium (Na), protein and fibre, using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry techniques. The effect of pruning on the monthly concentration of macronutrients was tested using a two‐tailed t test: two‐sample assuming equal variance. The seasonal and annual effect of pruning on the concentration of macronutrients was tested using a one‐way ANOVA. Results showed that the amount of Ca, K, N, P, S, Cl, Na, protein and fibre increased during leaf flush in October and then declined as the leaves matured and aged. However, the concentration of Mg and NO3 increased when the leaves reached maturity in June, particularly during senescence stage, and declined thereafter. The concentration of macronutrients between the control and pruned trees was statistically insignificant for most samples.
When Should We Use Unit Fixed Effects Regression Models for Causal Inference with Longitudinal Data?
Authors: Imai Kosuke , Kim In Song
Published: March 2019

Many researchers use unit fixed effects regression models as their default methods for causal inference with longitudinal data. We show that the ability of these models to adjust for unobserved time‐invariant confounders comes at the expense of dynamic causal relationships, which are permitted under an alternative selection‐on‐observables approach. Using the nonparametric directed acyclic graph, we highlight two key causal identification assumptions of unit fixed effects models: Past treatments do not directly influence current outcome, and past outcomes do not affect current treatment. Furthermore, we introduce a new nonparametric matching framework that elucidates how various unit fixed effects models implicitly compare treated and control observations to draw causal inference. By establishing the equivalence between matching and weighted unit fixed effects estimators, this framework enables a diverse set of identification strategies to adjust for unobservables in the absence of dynamic causal relationships between treatment and outcome variables. We illustrate the proposed methodology through its application to the estimation of GATT membership effects on dyadic trade volume.
Bedside tests for predicting difficult airways: an abridged Cochrane diagnostic test accuracy systematic review
Authors: Roth D. , Pace N. L. , Lee A. , Hovhannisyan K. , Warenits A. M. , Arrich J. , Herkner H.
Published: March 2019

Although bedside screening tests are routinely used to identify people at high risk of having a difficult airway, their clinical utility is unclear. We estimated the diagnostic accuracy of commonly used bedside examination tests for assessing the airway in adult patients without apparent anatomical abnormalities scheduled to undergo general anaesthesia. We searched for studies that reported our pre‐specified bedside index screening tests against a reference standard, published in any language, from date of inception to 16 December 2016, in seven bibliographic databases. We included 133 studies (127 cohort type and 6 case–control) involving 844,206 participants. Overall, their methodological quality (according to QUADAS‐2, a standard tool for assessing quality of diagnostic accuracy studies) was moderate to high. Our pre‐specified tests were: the Mallampati test (6 studies); modified Mallampati test (105 studies); Wilson risk score (6 studies); thyromental distance (52 studies); sternomental distance (18 studies); mouth opening test (34 studies); and the upper lip bite test (30 studies). Difficult facemask ventilation, difficult laryngoscopy, difficult intubation and failed intubation were the reference standards in seven, 92, 50 and two studies, respectively. Across all reference standards, we found all index tests had relatively low sensitivities, with high variability, but specificities were consistently and markedly higher than sensitivities. For difficult laryngoscopy, the sensitivity and specificity (95%CI) of the upper lip bite test were 0.67 (0.45–0.83) and 0.92 (0.86–0.95), respectively; upper lip bite test sensitivity (95%CI) was significantly higher than that for the mouth opening test (0.22, 0.13–0.33; p < 0.001). For difficult tracheal intubation, the modified Mallampati test had a significantly higher sensitivity (95%CI) at 0.51 (0.40–0.61) compared with mouth opening (0.27, 0.16–0.41; p < 0.001) and thyromental distance (0.24, 0.12–0.43; p < 0.001). Although the upper lip bite test showed the most favourable diagnostic test accuracy properties, none of the common bedside screening tests is well suited for detecting unanticipated difficult airways, as many of them are missed.
Systematic review: economic evaluations of HCV screening in the direct‐acting antivirals era
Authors: Cortesi Paolo Angelo , Barca Roberta , Giudicatti Giulia , Mossini Sergio , Ciaccio Antonio , Iannazzo Sergio , Micale Mariangela , Cesana Giancarlo , Mantovani Lorenzo Giovanni
Published: March 2019

Background

The World Health Organization estimated that 90% of the infected people need to be diagnosed and 80% need to be treated to reach the aim of hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination by 2030. For this reason, all possible strategies to detect and treat HCV‐infected people need to be carefully evaluated to implement the best one.

Aim

To review and synthesise the economic evaluations of HCV screening programs conducted in the era of direct‐acting antiviral agents regimens.

Methods

A systematic literature review was conducted until April 2018 to provide information on the costs and effectiveness of HCV screenings in direct‐acting antiviral agents era. A critical assessment of the quality of economic evaluations retrieved was conducted.

Results

The literature search identified 716 references; 17 of them assessed cost and effectiveness of screening programs and antiviral treatments in different populations: general population (n = 7), drug users (n = 5), high‐risk populations (n = 4) and other populations (n = 3). The HCV screening and direct‐acting antiviral agents treatment appear to be good value for money, both in general and high‐risk populations, if a cost per quality adjusted life years of $50 000 is set as willingness to pay threshold. Some studies showed the value of including lower stage of fibrosis in the treatment selection criteria.

Conclusions

Several HCV screening strategies plus direct‐acting antiviral agents treatments resulted cost‐effectiveness in different populations. However, there is still need of country and population‐specific evaluations within the different HCV screening and treatment strategies available, in order to assess their cost‐effectiveness and sustainability and fully support an evidence‐informed policy for HCV elimination.
Endoscopic treatment of perforated duodenal ulcer using a partially polyurethane‐covered self‐expandable nitinol stent: A case report
Authors: Yartsev Peter , Kirsanov Ilya , Teterin Yury , Dmitriev Ilya , Lebedev Aleksander , Kazakova Victoria
Published: March 2019

We describe a clinical case involving endoscopic treatment of a perforated duodenal ulcer using a partially polyurethane‐covered self‐expandable nitinol stent. A 93‐year‐old patient with severe cardiovascular comorbidity underwent a laparoscopic closure of a perforated duodenal ulcer. The early postoperative period was complicated by failure of the closure, and as a result, endoscopic treatment was performed, including the placement of a partially polyurethane‐covered self‐expandable nitinol stent. The treatment had a positive effect. Further study of the proposed method is required, and favorable results will allow endoscopists to actively introduce this procedure into clinical practice.
Effects of proton pump inhibitors, esomeprazole and vonoprazan, on the disposition of proguanil, a CYP2C19 substrate, in healthy volunteers
Authors: Funakoshi Ryohkan , Tomoda Yukana , Kudo Toshiyuki , Furihata Kenichi , Kusuhara Hiroyuki , Ito Kiyomi
Published: March 2019

Aims

Vonoprazan, a new class of potassium‐competitive proton pump inhibitors has been found to attenuate the antiplatelet function of clopidogrel in a recent clinical study, despite weak in vitro activity against CYP2C19. To elucidate the mechanism of this interaction, the present study investigated the effects of esomeprazole and vonoprazan on the pharmacokinetics of proguanil, a CYP2C19 substrate.

Methods

Seven healthy male volunteers (CYP2C19 extensive metabolizers) received a single oral administration of 100 mg proguanil/250 mg atovaquone (control phase), oral esomeprazole (20 mg) for 5 days followed by proguanil/atovaquone (esomeprazole phase) and oral vonoprazan (20 mg) for 5 days followed by proguanil/atovaquone (vonoprazan phase). Concentrations of proguanil and its metabolite, cycloguanil, in plasma and urine in each phase were determined using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.

Results

Coadministration with proton pump inhibitors resulted in increase and decrease in the area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC) of proguanil and cycloguanil, respectively, significantly reducing their AUC ratio (cycloguanil/proguanil) to 0.317‐fold (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.256–0.379) and 0.507‐fold (95% CI 0.409–0.605) in esomeprazole phase and vonoprazan phase, respectively. Esomeprazole and vonoprazan also significantly reduced the apparent formation clearance (cumulative amount of cycloguanil in urine divided by AUC of proguanil) to 0.324‐fold (95% CI 0.212–0.436) and 0.433‐fold (95% CI 0.355–0.511), respectively, without significant changes in renal clearance of proguanil and cycloguanil.

Conclusions

Although further studies are needed, both esomeprazole and vonoprazan potentially inhibit CYP2C19 at clinical doses, suggesting caution in the coadministration of these drugs with CYP2C19 substrates.
Nectin‐2 in ovarian cancer: How is it expressed and what might be its functional role?
Authors: Bekes Inga , Löb Sanja , Holzheu Iris , Janni Wolfgang , Baumann Lisa , Wöckel Achim , Wulff Christine
Published: March 2019

Nectin‐2 is an adhesion molecule that has been reported to play a role in tumor growth, metastasis and tumor angiogenesis. Herein, we investigated Nectin‐2 in ovarian cancer patients and in cell culture. Tumor as well as peritoneal biopsies of 60 ovarian cancer patients and 22 controls were dual stained for Nectin‐2 and CD31 using immunohistochemistry. Gene expression of Nectin‐2 was quantified by real‐time PCR and differences analyzed in relation to various tumor characteristics. In the serum of patients, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was quantified by ELISA. Effect of VEGF on Nectin‐2 expression as well as permeability was investigated in HUVEC. In tumor biopsies, Nectin‐2 protein was mainly localized in tumor cells, whereas in peritoneal biopsies, clear colocalization was found in the vasculature. T3 patients had a significantly higher percentage of positive lymph nodes and this correlated with survival. Nectin‐2 was significantly upregulated in tumor biopsies in patients with lymph node metastasis and with residual tumor >1 cm after surgery. Nectin‐2 expression was significantly suppressed in the peritoneal endothelium of patients associated with significantly increased VEGF serum levels. In cell culture, VEGF stimulation led to a significant downregulation of Nectin‐2 which was reversed by VEGF‐inhibition. In addition, Nectin‐2 knockdown in endothelial cells was associated with significantly increased endothelial permeability. Nectin‐2 expression in ovarian cancer may support tumor cell adhesion, leading to growth and lymph node metastasis. In addition, VEGF‐induced Nectin‐2 suppression in peritoneal endothelium may support an increase in vascular permeability leading to ascites production.
Cellular immunological changes in patients with LADA are a mixture of those seen in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes
Authors: Singh K , Martinell M , Luo Z , Espes D , Stålhammar J , Sandler S , Carlsson P-O
Published: March 2019

There is currently scarce knowledge of the immunological profile of patients with latent autoimmune diabetes mellitus in the adult (LADA) when compared with healthy controls (HC) and patients with classical type 1 diabetes (T1D) and type 2 diabetes (T2D). The objective of this study was to investigate the cellular immunological profile of LADA patients and compare to HC and patients with T1D and T2D. All patients and age-matched HC were recruited from Uppsala County. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells were isolated from freshly collected blood to determine the proportions of immune cells by flow cytometry. Plasma concentrations of the cytokine interleukin (IL)-35 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The proportion of CD11c+CD123– antigen-presenting cells (APCs) was lower, while the proportions of CD11c+CD123+ APCs and IL-35+ tolerogenic APCs were higher in LADA patients than in T1D patients. The proportion of CD3–CD56highCD16+ natural killer (NK) cells was higher in LADA patients than in both HC and T2D patients. The frequency of IL-35+ regulatory T cells and plasma IL-35 concentrations in LADA patients were similar to those in T1D and T2D patients, but lower than in HC. The proportion of regulatory B cells in LADA patients was higher than in healthy controls, T1D and T2D patients, and the frequency of IL-35+ regulatory B cells was higher than in T1D patients. LADA presents a mixed cellular immunological pattern with features overlapping with both T1D and T2D.
Conservation value of small reserves
Authors: Volenec Zoe M. , Dobson Andrew P.
Published: March 2019

The importance of large reserves has been long maintained in the scientific literature, often leading to dismissal of the conservation potential of small reserves. However, over half the global protected‐area inventory is composed of protected areas that are <100 ha, and the median size of added protected area is decreasing. Studies of the conservation value of small reserves and fragments of natural area are relatively uncommon in the literature. We reviewed SCOPUS and WOK for studies on small reserve and fragment contributions to biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, and fifty‐eight taxon‐specific studies were included in the review. Small reserves harbored substantial portions (upward of 50%) of regional species diversity for many taxa (birds, plants, amphibians, and small mammals) and even some endemic, specialist bird species. Unfortunately, small reserves and fragments almost always harbored more generalist and exotic species than large reserves. Community composition depended on habitat quality, surrounding land use (agricultural vs. urban), and reserve and fragment size, which presents opportunities for management and improvement. Small reserves also provided ecosystem services, such as pollination and biological pest control, and cultural services, such as recreation and improved human health. Limitations associated with small reserves, such as extinction debt and support of area‐sensitive species, necessitate a complement of larger reserves. However, we argue that small reserves can make viable and significant contributions to conservation goals directly as habitat and indirectly by increasing landscape connectivity and quality to the benefit of large reserves. To effectively conserve biodiversity for future generations in landscapes fragmented by human development, small reserves and fragments must be included in conservation planning.
Vitamin D as a risk factor for patient survival after kidney transplantation: A prospective observational cohort study
Authors: Thorsen Inga S. , Bleskestad Inger H. , Åsberg Anders , Hartmann Anders , Skadberg Øyvind , Brede Cato , Ueland Thor , Pasch Andreas , Reisæter Anna V. , Gøransson Lasse G.
Published: March 2019

Background

Short‐term survival after kidney transplantation is excellent, but long‐term survival remains low and is equivalent to non‐end‐stage renal disease patients with many invasive malignancies. The aim of the study was to explore vitamin D status in the early phase after transplantation as a prognostic marker for long‐term graft and patient survival.

Methods

All first‐time kidney transplant recipients between October 2007 and October 2012 in Norway were included. Vitamin D was measured 10 weeks post‐transplant. Information on graft failure and death was obtained from the Norwegian Renal Registry.

Results

Seven hundred and sixty‐two first‐time kidney transplant recipients were included, with a median age of 57 years and a median follow‐up of 82 months. In the follow‐up period, there were 172 graft failures (23%) and 118 deaths (15%). Eighty‐six percent of the transplant recipients with sufficient vitamin D levels were alive with a well‐functioning graft after 5 years using Kaplan‐Meier survival estimates, compared with 79% and 76% of the patients with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency, respectively (P = 0.006).

Conclusion

In a nation‐wide cohort of 762 first‐time kidney transplant recipients, long‐term graft and patient survival were better in recipients with vitamin D sufficiency 10 weeks post‐transplant compared with those with vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency.
Human herpesvirus 6, 7, and 8 in solid organ transplantation: Guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice
Authors: Pellett Madan Rebecca , Hand Jonathan ,   the AST Infectious Diseases Community of Practice
Published: March 2019

These updated guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Community of Practice of the American Society of Transplantation review the diagnosis, prevention, and management of HHV‐6A, HHV‐6B, HHV‐7, and HHV‐8 in the pre‐ and post‐transplant period. The majority of HHV‐6 (A and B) and HHV‐7 infections in transplant recipients are asymptomatic; symptomatic disease is reported infrequently across organs. Routine screening for HHV‐6 and 7 DNAemia is not recommended in asymptomatic patients, nor is prophylaxis or preemptive therapy. Detection of viral nucleic acid by quantitative PCR in blood or CSF is the preferred method for diagnosis of HHV‐6 and HHV‐7 infection. The possibility of chromosomally integrated HHV‐6 DNA should be considered in individuals with persistently high viral loads. Antiviral therapy should be initiated for HHV‐6 encephalitis and should be considered for other manifestations of disease. HHV‐8 causes Kaposi's sarcoma, primary effusion lymphoma, and multicentric Castleman disease and is also associated with hemophagocytic syndrome and bone marrow failure. HHV‐8 screening and monitoring may be indicated to prevent disease. Treatment of HHV‐8 related disease centers on reduction of immunosuppression and conversion to sirolimus, while chemotherapy may be needed for unresponsive disease. The role of antiviral therapy for HHV‐8 infection has not yet been defined.
Strategies for safe living following solid organ transplantation—Guidelines from the American Society of Transplantation Infectious Diseases Community of Practice
Authors: Avery Robin K. , Michaels Marian G. ,   the AST Infectious Diseases Community of Practice
Published: March 2019

The present AST‐IDCOP guidelines update information on strategies for safe living after organ transplantation. While transplantation carries an increased risk for infection from the recipient's environment due to lifelong immunosuppression, the goal is for the recipient to be able to return to their home and live as normal a life as possible with a functioning graft. The current guideline provides updates to prior recommendations including additions on infections from water and food sources, exposures to animals, cannabis use as well as sexual exposures or those encountered with travel. Similar to the prior editions, many of the recommendations are based on good infection prevention standards, extrapolation from other immunocompromised hosts, and risks found from cases series in transplant patients. Enhanced education and attention to incorporating safe living strategies into daily life should help to accomplish successful transplant with recipients achieving a fulfilling life away from the hospital.
Sodium glucose cotransporter (SGLT)‐2 inhibitors: Do we need them for glucose‐lowering, for cardiorenal protection or both?
Authors: Scholtes Rosalie A. , van Baar Michaël J. B. , Lytvyn Yuliya , Bjornstad Petter , Nieuwdorp Max , Cherney David Z. I. , van Raalte Daniël H.
Published: March 2019

Sodium glucose cotransporter (SGLT)‐2 inhibitors are the newest addition to our treatment armamentarium for the management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. Glucose‐lowering per se reduces the risk of microvascular complications, but not the risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart failure and cardiovascular mortality. Also, even when embedded in optimal cardiovascular prevention, a large residual risk remains with respect to progression of diabetic kidney disease. SGLT‐2 inhibitors lower blood glucose levels by inducing glucosuria. Through various proposed mechanisms, among which diuretic and natriuretic effects, SGLT‐2 inhibitors decrease heart failure hospitalization, reduce cardiovascular mortality, and mitigate progression of diabetic kidney disease. In this perspective, we will discuss the glucose‐lowering and other protective effects of SGLT‐2 inhibitors on the cardiorenal axis, both in primary and secondary prevention. By comparing the glycemic and pleiotropic effects of these agents to other glucose‐lowering drugs, we will address questions around whether SGLT‐2 inhibitors should be considered primarily as glucose‐lowering agents, cardiorenal drugs or both.
Glycaemic goal attainment and hypoglycaemia outcomes in type 2 diabetes patients initiating insulin glargine 300 units/mL or 100 units/mL: Real‐world results from the DELIVER Naïve cohort study
Authors: Bailey Timothy S. , Zhou Fang L. , Gupta Rishab A. , Preblick Ronald , Gupta Vineet E. , Berhanu Paulos , Blonde Lawrence
Published: March 2019

Aims

To compare HbA1c and hypoglycaemia in insulin‐naïve patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) who initiated insulin glargine 300 units/mL (Gla‐300) or 100 units/mL (Gla‐100).

Materials and methods

This retrospective cohort study examined electronic medical records of insulin‐naïve adults with T2D who initiated Gla‐300 or Gla‐100 during March 2015 through to December 2016 with active records for ≥12 months before and ≥6 months after initiation, and ≥1 valid HbA1c value during 6‐month baseline and 90–180‐day follow‐up. Outcomes included HbA1c and hypoglycaemia. Cohorts were propensity score‐matched (1:2) on baseline demographic and clinical characteristics. Sensitivity analyses were conducted using broader inclusion criteria.

Results

The matched cohorts included 1004 Gla‐300 and 2008 Gla‐100 initiators (mean age 60.4 years; 53.2% male). During 6‐month follow‐up, Gla‐300 versus Gla‐100 initiators had a greater mean HbA1c decrease (−1.52 ± 2.08% vs. –1.30 ± 2.12%; P = 0.003) and more patients achieved HbA1c <7% (25.0% vs. 21.5%; P = 0.029) and <8% (55.0% vs. 49.2%; P = 0.002); and HbA1c <7% (21.9% vs. 17.4%; P = 0.003) and <8% (49.1% vs. 41.8%; P < 0.001) without hypoglycaemia. Gla‐300 initiators were similarly or less likely to have any or inpatient/emergency department‐associated hypoglycaemia during 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up (e.g. any hypoglycaemia to 6 months: 9.7% vs. 12.5%; adjusted odds ratio 0.61; P = 0.057).

Conclusions

Among insulin‐naïve adults with T2D, Gla‐300 was associated with significantly better HbA1c reductions (latest value during 90–180‐day follow‐up) and similar or improved hypoglycaemia outcomes (3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up) than Gla‐100.
The role and contribution of clonality studies in the diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders
Authors: Paterson Anna L. , Liu Hongxiang , ElDaly Hesham
Published: March 2019

Objectives

To explore the frequency, context and diagnostic impact of B‐ and T‐lymphocyte clonality assay use in the assessment of possible lymphoproliferative disorders at a central haematopathology diagnostics hub.

Methods

All cases reported by haematopathologists over a sixteen‐month period were identified, n = 4462, and those which had clonality studies undertaken analysed further.

Results

Clonality studies were requested in 9% of cases, directly contributing to a diagnosis being made in 79%. They were most frequently used to help distinguish reactive lymphoid infiltrates from low‐grade B‐cell lymphomas and in cases of possible T‐cell lymphoma, facilitating a diagnosis being made in over 90% of these. In contrast when clonality assays were requested as a diagnostic adjunct in cases with an atypical cutaneous lymphoid infiltrate, and in occasional cases of lymphoid proliferations with Hodgkin‐like cells or EBV‐driven proliferations, a definitive final diagnosis was possible in less than 60% of cases.

Conclusions

Clonality studies were used in 9% of cases assessed for a possible lymphoproliferative disorder and had a differing impact depending on the differential diagnoses being considered. These findings can be used to guide access to clonality assays by highlighting the likelihood of an informative result in different diagnostic settings.
Reconstruction of Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) recruitment in the North Sea for the past 455 years based on the δ13C from annual shell increments of the ocean quahog (Arctica islandica)
Authors: Estrella‐Martínez Juan , Schöne Bernd R. , Thurstan Ruth H. , Capuzzo Elisa , Scourse James D. , Butler Paul G.
Published: March 2019

Understanding the recruitment variability of the Atlantic herring North Sea stock remains a key objective of stock assessment and management. Although many efforts have been undertaken linking climatic and stock dynamic factors to herring recruitment, no major attempt has been made to estimate recruitment levels before the 20th century. Here, we present a novel annually resolved, absolutely dated herring recruitment reconstruction, derived from stable carbon isotope geochemistry (δ13C), from ocean quahog shells from the Fladen Ground (northern North Sea). Our age model is based on a growth increment chronology obtained from fourteen shells. Ten of these were micromilled at annual resolution for δ13C analysis. Our results indicate that the anthropogenically driven relative depletion of 13C, the oceanic Suess effect (oSE), became evident in the northern North Sea in the 1850s. We calculated a regression line between the oSE‐detrended δ13C results (δ13CṠ) and diatom abundance in the North Sea, the regression being mediated by the effect of phytoplankton on the δ13C of the ambient dissolved inorganic carbon. We used this regression to build an equation mediated by a nutritional link to reconstruct herring recruitment using δ13CṠ. The reconstruction suggests that there were five extended episodes of low‐recruitment levels before the 20th century. These results are supported by measured recruitment estimates and historical fish catch and export documentation. This work demonstrates that molluscan sclerochronological records can contribute to the investigation of ecological baselines and ecosystem functioning impacted by anthropogenic activity with implications for conservation and stock management.
Light‐controlled carotenoid transfer between water‐soluble proteins related to cyanobacterial photoprotection
Authors: Slonimskiy Yury B. , Muzzopappa Fernando , Maksimov Eugene G. , Wilson Adjélé , Friedrich Thomas , Kirilovsky Diana , Sluchanko Nikolai N.
Published: March 2019

Carotenoids are lipophilic pigments with multiple biological functions from coloration to vision and photoprotection. Still, the number of water‐soluble carotenoid‐binding proteins described to date is limited, and carotenoid transport and carotenoprotein maturation processes are largely underexplored. Recent studies revealed that CTDHs, which are natural homologs of the C‐terminal domain (CTD) of the orange carotenoid protein (OCP), a photoswitch involved in cyanobacterial photoprotection, are able to bind carotenoids, with absorption shifted far into the red region of the spectrum. Despite the recent discovery of their participation in carotenoid transfer processes, the functional roles of the diverse family of CTDHs are not well understood. Here, we characterized CTDH carotenoproteins from Anabaena variabilis (AnaCTDH) and Thermosynechococcus elongatus and examined their ability to participate in carotenoid transfer processes with a set of OCP‐derived proteins. This revealed that carotenoid transfer occurs in several directions guided by different affinities for carotenoid and specific protein–protein interactions. We show that CTDHs have higher carotenoid affinity compared to the CTD of OCP from Synechocystis, which results in carotenoid translocation from the CTD into CTDH via a metastable heterodimer intermediate. Activation of OCP by light, or mutagenesis compromising the OCP structure, provides AnaCTDH with an opportunity to extract carotenoid from the full‐length OCP, either from Synechocystis or Anabaena. These previously unknown reactions between water‐soluble carotenoproteins demonstrate multidirectionality of carotenoid transfer, allowing for efficient and reversible control over the carotenoid‐mediated protein oligomerization by light, which gives insights into the physiological regulation of OCP activity by CTDH and suggests multiple applications.
Antibacterial action of synthetic antilipopolysaccharide peptides (SALP) involves neutralization of both membrane‐bound and free toxins
Authors: Correa Wilmar , Heinbockel Lena , Behrends Jochen , Kaconis Yani , Barcena‐Varela Sergio , Gutsmann Thomas , Mauss Karl , Schürholz Tobias , Schromm Andra B. , Martinez de Tejada Guillermo , Brandenburg Klaus
Published: March 2019

Increasing failure of conventional antibiotics to combat bacterial infections requires the urgent development of new antibacterial drugs; a promising class of new drugs based on antimicrobial peptides. Here, we studied the molecular interaction of polycationic synthetic antilipopolysaccharide peptides (SALPs) with various gram‐negative and gram‐positive bacteria, including resistant strains. The analysis of antimicrobial activity by conventional techniques and atomic force microscopy showed a strict dependence on amino acid (aa) sequences, with the type of amino acid, its position within the primary structure, and the sequence length being critical parameters. By monitoring lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐ or bacteria‐induced cytokine production in human mononuclear cells and whole blood, we found a direct link between the binding of the lead compound Pep19‐2.5 to Salmonella enterica and the anti‐inflammatory activity of the peptide. Thermodynamic analysis of Pep19‐2.5 binding to the bacterial cell envelope showed an exothermic reaction with saturation characteristics, whereas small‐angle X‐ray scattering data indicated a direct attachment of Pep19‐2.5 to the bacterial cell envelope. This binding preferentially takes place to the LPS outer monolayer, as evidenced by the change in the LPS acyl chain and phosphate vibrational bands seen by Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy. We report here that the anti‐inflammatory activity of Pep19‐2.5 is not only connected with neutralization of cell‐free bacterial toxins but also with a direct binding of the peptide to the outer leaflet of the bacterial outer membrane.