bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Does improved medication adherence reduce inpatient hospital expenditures?
Authors: Scott David M. , Christensen Tom , Zhang Anqing , Friesner Daniel L.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This study aims to assess whether patients [who receive community pharmacy services at locations where routine medication therapy management (MTM) care is reimbursed] who were adherent to their medications generated lower inpatient hospitalization expenses.

Design/methodology/approach

This is a retrospective, descriptive and cross-sectional study using administrative claims data drawn from 84 community pharmacies in North Dakota. The included patients were enrolled in a Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota insurance plan and were taking one or more of eight groups of medications (metformin, antidepressants, anti-asthmatics, ACEs/ARBs, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, diuretics and statins) commonly prescribed to treat chronic conditions filled between July 1, 2014 and June 30, 2015. Community pharmacists used software that allowed the pharmacists to provide and bill for MTM services. Data from these sources were used to calculate medication adherence and inpatient costs.

Findings

Patients prescribed a beta blocker, a calcium channel blocker, and a diuretic or an anti-diabetic medication, and those who are fully adherent to their medications were associated with significantly lower inpatient hospitalization costs (as measured by insurance payments to hospitals) as compared to non-adherent patients. Patients who were fully adherent to their medications had no statistically significant differences in patient-specific costs compared to non-adherent patients.

Originality/value

Patients receiving services at a community pharmacy that offers MTM services and those who were adherent to their medication regimens generate lower health care expenses. Most of the savings come from lower hospitalization expenses, rather than patient-paid expenses.
The influence of beliefs on organ donation intention
Authors: Pauli Jandir , Basso Kenny , Ruffatto Juliane
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Recent technological developments in healthcare have enabled an increased number of organ transplantation surgeries. At the same time, there is an increase in the number of people awaiting organ transplant, coupled with the difficulty in donation. To bridge this gap, this study aims to propose to evaluate the effect of three types of beliefs (clinical beliefs, financial incentive beliefs and beliefs on the social benefits of altruism and solidarity) on the intention to donate organs. Moreover, this paper uses the attitudes in relation to donation to explain the effect of these beliefs on the intention to donate organs.

Design/methodology/approach

The research was conducted using a survey of 422 Brazilian participants and a mediation analysis to test the mediation hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggest that the effect of three types of beliefs (clinical, economic order and social solidarity) influence the intention to donate organs indirectly through the formation of attitudes concerning organ donation.

Research limitations/implications

This article contributes to the understanding of the formation of organ donation intentions and the role of different types of beliefs in the formation of such intentions.

Originality/value

The findings extend the discussions regarding the role of beliefs in the formation of attitudes and intentions of organ donation and have significant value in creating public policies that further promote organ donation.
The adverse effect of doctors’ skepticism toward prescription drugs
Authors: Johnson Devon S. , Riley Breagin K. , Sato Shintaro
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This study examines the use of high-expertise sources such as doctors to sell dietary supplements and the use of skeptical statements toward approved drugs in the act of selling dietary supplements.

Design/methodology/approach

The research questions are addressed by means of a scenario experiment that manipulated two independent variables: expertise (high- vs low-expertise) and skepticism toward prescription drugs (present vs absent).

Findings

Surprisingly, skeptical statements from a low-expertise source toward a prescription drug made while selling dietary supplements was found to have an insignificant effect on selling effectiveness (willingness to recommend and perceived product effectiveness). However, when a high-expertise source (doctor) did the same, selling effectiveness was reduced.

Research limitations/implications

The paper identifies a boundary condition for competitive selling claims of dietary supplements. Doctors are likely to get away with claims regarding the efficacy of dietary supplements until they criticize a more credible prescription drug in favor of supplements.

Practical implications

Claims made by a low-expertise sources and high-expertise sources in the act of selling dietary supplements must be carefully considered. Conventional wisdom tactics may be ineffective.

Originality/value

This paper uniquely demonstrates the role of competitive skepticism at different levels of expertise. The findings of this study suggest that managers, in especially the multi-level marketing industry, should reconsider some of their selling tactics.
Physicians’ relationship with the pharmaceutical industry and its reflection in introduction of a new drug
Authors: Matikainen Minna , Olkkonen Leena , Katajavuori Nina , Parvinen Petri , Juppo Anne
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This study aims to examine the attitudes of physicians towards the pharmaceutical industry and investigates how these are reflected when a new drug is introduced.

Design/methodology/approach

The qualitative theme-interview study adopts the innovation diffusion perspective and is conducted with 22 general practitioners and specialists.

Findings

Physicians’ positive relationship orientation and active interaction can result in early adoption of new drugs with product advantage. In comparison, negatively oriented and passively interacting physicians will adopt a new drug later based on research evidence- and experience-based reasoning and opinions of their colleagues.

Research limitations/implications

The objective was to obtain a deeper understanding of the research themes. Further qualitative studies in different countries and health care environments with a larger sample size would improve generalizability of results.

Practical implications

It’s necessary to find an optimal win – win situation that fulfils both parties’ needs, while decreasing unnecessary and time-consuming marketing activities and avoiding waste of limited resources and allowing physicians to participate in activities that better serve their primary needs. Managers in pharmaceutical companies should ensure their sales representatives act in appropriate and professional ways, interact openly and reciprocally and provide accurate and objective information.

Originality/value

The study demonstrates that the physician–pharmaceutical industry relationship has developed from being ethically precarious and having non-professional related personal benefits, towards becoming a more sustainable collaboration. The mutually beneficial collaboration supports physicians’ professional development, enabling better patient care and relieving strain on limited resources.
US securities and exchange commission’s division of investment management issues guidance regarding robo-advisers
Authors: Monaco Stephanie M. , Pershkow Amy Ward , Cruz Leslie S. , McCamman Peter M. , Getsinger Andrew D. , Kanter Adam
Published: July 2017

Purpose

To explain a guidance update issued in February 2017 by the staff of the Division of Investment Management (Staff) at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on how robo-advisers may meet their disclosure, suitability and compliance obligations under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940 (Advisers Act).

Design/methodology/approach

Examines the update’s guidance on three areas – the substance and presentation of disclosures, the provision of suitable investment advice, and the adoption and implementation of effective compliance programs – and then raises practical considerations for robo-advisers.

Findings

The update reflects the Staff’s increasing concern about the potential risks of the robo-adviser platform and provides a listing of key issues that the SEC’s Office of Compliance Inspections and Examinations (OCIE) – which recently added “electronic investment advice” as a new focus for its 2017 examinations – may zero in on when examining robo-advisory firms.

Practical implications

Robo-advisers should carefully review the Staff’s update to evaluate whether their firms’ operations address the guidance.

Originality/value

Practical advice from experienced securities regulatory lawyers.
SEC approves FINRA’s rules to protect seniors from financial exploitation
Authors: Kutner Matthew J.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

To inform readers of new FINRA Rule 2165 and amended FINRA Rule 4512, which are aimed at protecting seniors from financial exploitation.

Design/methodology/approach

This article discusses the scope of the FINRA Rules and amendments, including provisions for temporary holds on disbursements of funds or securities and the revised National Adjudicatory Council (NAC) Sanction Guidelines, and provides the author’s analysis.

Findings

This article concludes that the while FINRA Rule 2165 and the accompanying amendments to FINRA Rule 4512 take the apparent position that financial professionals are an initial line of defense against exploitation, brokers could face challenges in implementing the changes, including with the decision-making discretion afforded to them with respect to the “reasonable belief” elements of the rules.

Originality/value

This article contains valuable information about recent FINRA Rules and guidance from an experienced investment management lawyer.
AML compliance in the age of individual accountability
Authors: Greene Carlton , Hanusik Thomas , Stinebower Cari , Bartle Sarah
Published: July 2017

Purpose

To analyze FinCEN’s settlement with Thomas Haider and examine regulatory agencies’ emphasis on individual accountability and the implications of this emphasis for anti-money laundering (AML) compliance personnel, and to provide practical guidance for personnel who have involvement with or oversight of corporate AML programs.

Design/methodology/approach

This article analyzes the Thomas Haider settlement and its importance for individuals involved in AML compliance functions. This analysis includes an examination of several recent corporate and individual enforcement actions to contextualize the Thomas Haider settlement and its usefulness in the prediction of trends in the financial regulatory space.

Findings

This article concludes that FinCEN’s May 2017 settlement with Thomas Haider, which resolved the first occurrence of FinCEN’s filing suit to enforce a civil penalty against an individual, illustrates the importance of effective AML programs and highlights the potential consequences for individuals who fail to ensure effective programs. The article also makes specific practical suggestions for AML compliance personnel, and finds that such personnel should be particularly conscientious in light of regulatory agencies’ focus on individual accountability in resolving corporate enforcement actions.

Originality/value

This article contains valuable information about recent regulatory enforcement activity and practical guidance for AML compliance personnel from experienced lawyers with specialties in financial services and white collar regulatory enforcement.
Proposing a framework of barriers to opening government data in China
Authors: Huang Ruhua , Lai Tong , Zhou Lihong
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper reports on a critical literature review, which aimed to identify, understand and qualify barriers that hinder the release of open government data (OGD) in China. Moreover, the purpose of this paper is to develop and propose a theoretical framework, which can be adopted as a basis for empirical investigation in the future, and to articulate mitigating strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted an inductive qualitative approach, retrieving 42 academic articles from three main Chinese academic databases: CNKI, Wanfang and CQVIP. A thematic analysis approach was employed for the literature analysis.

Findings

The literature analysis pointed to 15 barriers to the release of OGD in China. Furthermore, the barriers emerged in the following three main themes: institutional barriers, data integrity and quality barriers, and user participation barriers.

Originality/value

This paper reports on one of the early research efforts into the problems of releasing OGD in China. Although this study focusses on Chinese context and issues, the findings and lessons learnt can be shared across international borders.
User search terms and controlled subject vocabularies in an institutional repository
Authors: Hanrath Scott , Radio Erik
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the search behavior of institutional repository (IR) users in regard to subjects as a means of estimating the potential impact of applying a controlled subject vocabulary to an IR.

Design/methodology/approach

Google Analytics data were used to record cases where users arrived at an IR item page from an external web search and subsequently downloaded content. Search queries were compared against the Faceted Application of Subject Terminology (FAST) schema to determine the topical nature of the queries. Queries were also compared against the item’s metadata values for title and subject using approximate string matching to determine the alignment of the queries with current metadata values.

Findings

A substantial portion of successful user search queries to an IR appear to be topical in nature. User search queries matched values from FAST at a higher rate than existing subject metadata. Increased attention to subject description in IR records may provide an opportunity to improve the search visibility of the content.

Research limitations/implications

The study is limited to a particular IR. Data from Google Analytics does not provide comprehensive search query data.

Originality/value

The study presents a novel method for analyzing user search behavior to assist IR managers in determining whether to invest in applying controlled subject vocabularies to IR content.
Co-marketing alliances: definitions and approaches. Insights from a literature review
Authors: Grieco Cecilia , Iasevoli Gennaro
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Co-marketing strategies play an important role in enabling firms to improve their competitive position. However, despite its increasing implementation, it remains a topic that is largely not researched. The purpose of this paper is to analyze existing contributions to the field of co-marketing research and the different perspectives scholars have adopted in analyzing the topic.

Design/methodology/approach

A literature review has been developed, as its lack seems to be a major hindrance to the development of related studies. A specific focus has been made on the adopted approaches. Five approaches have been identified, and multidimensional scaling (MDS) has been used to analyze the differences among them.

Findings

First, the analysis of the typologies of studies on co-marketing alliances is made. Also, the identified approaches are strategic-based, consumer-based, relational-based, specificity-based and evaluation-based. What emerges from the MDS is that there are two perspectives of analysis of the alliance that characterize them: the inside–outside and the wide–narrow points of view.

Research limitations/implications

Limitations are mostly referred to the methodologies and the level of subjectivity they imply. For example, they are not only the choices made concerning keywords to be used and, consequently, the articles included in the analysis, but also the MDS that offers broad autonomy to the researchers in interpreting the data.

Originality/value

The originality of this research is that it fills an emerged gap concerning a literature review on co-marketing alliances, supporting future research in this field of study. The identification of the approaches underlines what may be lacking, providing interesting insights on possible avenues for future research.
How India can be essential to the global ecosystem economy
Authors: Agrawal Namit , Banda Madhuri , Marshall Anthony , Mehrotra Nipun , Patrao Clifford
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Outlines why India is poised to be a key partner in the global ecosystem economy

Design/methodology/approach

Researches the advantage India has and the steps it is taking to make itself a leaders in ecosystem businesses.

Findings

54 percent of Indian executives expect ecosystems to replace traditional value chains with new value models. and 92 percent expect to change primary organizational activities due to the emergence of ecosystems.

Practical implications

To maximize and capture benefits from ecosystems, business, educational and government leaders can pursue three key steps to participate in rapidly emerging Indian business ecosystems.

Originality/value

This study puts together both the corporate and governmental actions that promote the right conditions for ecosystem entrepreneurship so that potential partners have a unique view of the opportunities to participate in this rapidly changing economy.
Two strategies for innovating in the face of market disruption
Authors: Leavy Brian
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This Masterclass considers the lessons of two recent important books have contrasting but complementary insights to offer to company leaders and strategists on how to improve the odds for developing successful innovations in response to game changes in markets.”

Design/methodology/approach

In Dual Transformation: How to Reposition Today’s Business While Creating the Future (2017), disruptive innovation experts, Scott Anthony, Clark Gilbert and Mark Johnson offer corporate leaders a “dual transformation” template for simultaneously repositioning the traditional core business in the face of disruptive change, while also creating new businesses to harness the growth potential typically unlocked by such disruption. In The Power of Little Ideas: A Low-Risk, High-Reward Approach to Innovation (2017), innovation guru, David Robertson, and his collaborator, Kent Lineback, offer companies a “third way” for coping with historic market inflections by innovating around a core product to make it more compelling, rather than having to choose between attempting the radical or incremental innovation of the product itself.

Findings

The most powerful message that both books featured in this masterclass have to offer is that while it may be true, as they go on to observe, that large companies can’t innovate faster than the market, they can learn “to innovate better than the market,” through more imaginative use of legacy products, platforms and assets.

Practical implications

A “third way” to cope with market disruption is based on innovating around the core product, by surrounding it with a set of complementary innovations, rather than re-featuring the product itself. All of the complementary innovations operate together with the product “as a system or family to satisfy a compelling promise to the customer.”

Originality/value

Both Dual Transformation and The Power of Little Ideas, present different, but far from mutually exclusive, innovation strategies that can help many more great companies to survive disruptive competition.
Harbour seals avoid tidal turbine noise: Implications for collision risk
Authors: Hastie Gordon D. , Russell Debbie J. F. , Lepper Paul , Elliott Jim , Wilson Ben , Benjamins Steven , Thompson Dave
Published: July 2017

Tidal stream energy converters (turbines) are currently being installed in tidally energetic coastal sites. However, there is currently a high level of uncertainty surrounding the potential environmental impacts on marine mammals. This is a key consenting risk to commercial introduction of tidal energy technology. Concerns derive primarily from the potential for injury to marine mammals through collisions with moving components of turbines. To understand the nature of this risk, information on how animals respond to tidal turbines is urgently required.

We measured the behaviour of harbour seals in response to acoustic playbacks of simulated tidal turbine sound within a narrow coastal channel subject to strong, tidally induced currents. This was carried out using data from animal‐borne GPS tags and shore‐based observations, which were analysed to quantify behavioural responses to the turbine sound.

Results showed that the playback state (silent control or turbine signal) was not a significant predictor of the overall number of seals sighted within the channel.

However, there was a localised impact of the turbine signal; tagged harbour seals exhibited significant spatial avoidance of the sound which resulted in a reduction in the usage by seals of between 11% and 41% at the playback location. The significant decline in usage extended to 500 m from the playback location at which usage decreased by between 1% and 9% during playback.

Synthesis and applications. This study provides important information for policy makers looking to assess the potential impacts of tidal turbines and advise on development of the tidal energy industry. Results showing that seals avoid tidal turbine sound suggest that a proportion of seals encountering tidal turbines will exhibit behavioural responses resulting in avoidance of physical injury; in practice, the empirical changes in usage can be used directly as avoidance rates when using collision risk models to predict the effects of tidal turbines on seals. There is now a clear need to measure how marine mammals behave in response to actual operating tidal turbines in the long term to learn whether marine mammals and tidal turbines can coexist safely at the scales currently envisaged for the industry.
Balancing ecological costs and benefits of fire for population viability of disturbance‐dependent butterflies
Authors: Warchola Norah , Crone Elizabeth E. , Schultz Cheryl B.
Published: July 2017

Disturbance is a fundamental ecological process and driver of population dynamics. Ecologists seek to understand the effects of disturbance on ecological systems and to use disturbance to modify habitats degraded by anthropogenic change. Demographic responses by plants to disturbance are often well described, but demographic responses by animals are less understood. This limits development of applied strategies that leverage disturbance to augment animal populations.

We estimated demographic and behavioural responses of an endangered butterfly, Fender's blue,Plebejus icarioides fenderi, to experimental burning in Oregon, USA. We monitored butterfly vital rates for 4 years post‐fire.

Prescribed fire killed Fender's blue larvae. However, fecundity was higher relative to reference/unburned areas for 2 years after the burn and overwinter larval survivorship was higher for a year after the burn. Fire treatments did not influence adult movement behaviour.

We used matrix models to project butterfly population dynamics in fire‐driven successional landscapes. We compared optimal burn strategies given targeted burns, such as prescribed fire, to undirected burns, such as wildfires. Disturbance enhances population growth rate under both strategies, and the optimal proportion of landscape burned is similar in both cases. However, targeted burning leads to substantially higher population growth rates.

Synthesis and applications. Demographic models allow planning of long‐term and large‐scale disturbance by balancing initial costs of disturbance with subsequent benefits. We use matrix models to project population growth in fire‐driven successional landscapes and contrast prescribed burns with undirected burns (wildfires). We also use these models to evaluate the influence of local vs. non‐local dispersal. Because random (non‐local) dispersal allows individuals to disperse into areas that were just burned, non‐local dispersal always increases population growth rates in this system. This contrasts with source‐sink dynamics in stationary environments, in which local dispersal leads to higher population growth rates. Our matrix modelling approach has broad application to other disturbance‐dependent taxa surviving in anthropogenically modified landscapes, and could be more widely applied to animal populations.
Covariation of soil nutrients drives occurrence of exotic and native plant species
Authors: Driscoll Don A. , Strong Craig
Published: July 2017

Nutrient enrichment with phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) threatens biodiversity globally, particularly because it drives invasion by exotic plant species. However, the effects of nutrients on plants can interact with other ecosystem processes such as competition and grazing, and these interactions can be scale‐dependent. Furthermore, P and N are often correlated, making it difficult to separate the effects of each.

After implementing a herbivore‐exclusion experiment for 3 years in grassy woodlands, SE Australia, we assessed the relationship of native and exotic plant species with soil nutrients, grazing and spatial scale. Nitrate (NO3), available P and organic carbon (C) were partitioned into two principle components and further divided into plot‐ and site‐level variation.

The correlated components of NO3, P and C (principle component 1) appeared to drive a dominant competitive relationship. Two exotic annual grasses likely out‐competed native and exotic species in areas high in NO3, P and C. In contrast, responses to principle component 2 (gradient from high NO3 to high P) indicated that native and exotic species generally benefitted when NO3 was high relative to P.

Plant–nutrient relationships were further modified by grazing and spatial scale. Native and exotic species benefitted from grazing but did so under specific nutrient regimes. Summed occurrence of exotic species and native richness was reduced in the absence of grazing and high values of NO3 relative to P at site scales, but not at plot scales, suggesting competition is more important at a scale of hundreds of square metres while soil properties are most important at the plot scale (25 m2).

Synthesis and applications. Dividing soil nutrients into uncorrelated principal components showed that niche space for native and exotic plant species is partitioned by positive and negative covariation of nitrate (NO3), phosphorus (P) and carbon (C), and interactions of these soil properties with grazing and spatial scale. Increasing NO3 relative to P could increase species richness, but requires further experimentation to define beneficial concentrations. Native plant richness can be enhanced with adequate levels of grazing by native herbivores and, in the long term, by reducing P from areas enriched with NO3 and P. These actions will help prevent likely competitive dominance by annual exotic grasses.
Furosemide suppresses ileal and colonic contractility via interactions with GABA‐A receptor in mice
Authors: Kaewsaro Kannaree , Nualplub Suparp , Bumrungsri Sara , Khuituan Pissared
Published: July 2017

The loop diuretic furosemide has an action to inhibit Na+–K+–2Cl− co‐transporter at the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop resulting in diuresis. Furosemide also has the non‐diuretic effects by binding to GABA‐A receptor which may involve the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of furosemide on smooth muscle contractions in mice ileum and proximal colon. Each intestinal segment suspended in an organ bath was connected to a force transducer. Signal output of mechanical activity was amplified and recorded for analysis using PowerLab System. After equilibration, the intestine was directly exposed to furosemide, GABA, GABA‐A receptor agonist (muscimol), or muscarinic receptor antagonist (atropine). Furosemide (50, 100 and 500 μmol L−1) acutely reduced the amplitude of ileal and colonic contraction. In the ileum, 1 mmol L−1 GABA and 10‐60 μmol L−1 muscimol significantly increased the amplitude, whereas in the colon, 50‐100 mmol L−1 GABA and 60 μmol L−1 muscimol decreased the contractions. The contractions were also significantly suppressed by atropine. To investigate the mechanisms underlying the inhibiting effect of furosemide, furosemide was added to the organ bath prior to the addition of muscimol or atropine. A comparison of furosemide combined with muscimol or atropine group and furosemide group showed no significant difference of the ileal contraction, but the amplitude of colonic contraction significantly decreased when compared to adding furosemide alone. These results suggest that furosemide can reduce the ileal and proximal colonic contraction mediated by blocking and supporting of GABA‐A receptor, respectively, resulting in decreased acetylcholine release.
Veto player theory and reform making in Western Europe
Authors: ANGELOVA MARIYANA , BÄCK HANNA , MÜLLER WOLFGANG C. , STROBL DANIEL
Published: July 2017

Veto player theory generates predictions about governments’ capacity for policy change. Due to the difficulty of identifying significant laws needed to change the policy status quo, evidence about governments’ ability to change policy has been mostly provided for a limited number of reforms and single‐country studies. To evaluate the predictive power of veto player theory for policy making across time, policy areas and countries, a dataset was gathered that incorporates about 5,600 important government reform measures in the areas of social, labour, economic and taxation policy undertaken in 13 Western European countries from the mid‐1980s until the mid‐2000s. Veto player theory is applied in a combined model with other central theoretical expectations on policy change derived from political economy (crisis‐driven policy change) and partisan theory (ideology‐driven policy change). Robust support is found that governments introduce more reform measures when economic conditions are poor and when the government is positioned further away from the policy status quo. No empirical support is found for predictions of veto player theory in its pure form, where no differentiation between government types is made. However, the findings provide support for the veto player theory in the special case of minimal winning cabinets, where the support of all government parties is sufficient (in contrast to minority cabinets) and necessary (in contrast to oversized cabinets) for policy change. In particular, it is found that in minimal winning cabinets the ideological distance between the extreme government parties significantly decreases the government's ability to introduce reforms. These findings improve our understanding of reform making in parliamentary democracies and highlight important issues and open questions for future applications and tests of the veto player theory.
How and when do presidents influence the duration of coalition bargaining in semi‐presidential systems?
Authors: SAVAGE LEE
Published: July 2017

How and when do presidents influence the government formation process in semi‐presidential systems? Presidents have both a formal role and vested interest in the formation of the cabinet, yet their influence has been overlooked in studies of the duration of government formation. In this article, it is argued that the president's influence over government formation can be explained by his or her perceived legitimacy to act in the bargaining process and their partisanship. In this first case, it is argued that the legitimacy to act derives from a president's constitutional powers and more powerful presidents simplify cabinet bargaining, leading to shorter government formation periods. In the second case, it is proposed that presidents and their parties have overlapping preferences. Therefore, when the president's party holds greater bargaining power in government formation negotiations, the bargaining process is less uncertain and less complex. Thus, government formation processes will be shorter. Using survival models and data from 26 European democracies, both propositions are confirmed by the analysis. The results enhance our understanding of the dynamics of cabinet bargaining processes and contribute to the wider study of semi‐presidentialism and executive‐legislative relations. One broader implication of these results is that the president's party affiliation is an important motivation for them as political actors; this contrasts with some previous studies which conceive of presidents as non‐partisan actors.
Characterized cantharidin distribution and related gene expression patterns in tissues of blister beetles, Epicauta chinensis
Authors: Jiang Ming , Lü Shu‐Min , Qi Zi‐Yi , Zhang Ya‐Lin
Published: July 2017

Cantharidin (CTD), a terpenoid defensive toxin mainly produced by blister beetles, is widely known by its toxicity to both cancer cells and pests. However, little information is known about its biosynthesis in blister beetles. In this study, first we determined the CTD content in various tissues of adult blister beetles on different days after mating, and then detected the temporal and spatial expression patterns of genes related to CTD biosynthesis in Epicauta chinensis. Results revealed that the accessory gland is the source of the highest CTD production. The second highest level was in the fat body in male blister beetles after mating. In females, the highest CTD content was in the reproductive system except the ovary after mating. As revealed by messenger RNA expression level analysis, the highest levels of 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutary‐CoA reductase (HMGR) and juvenile hormone epoxide hydrolase (JHEH) transcripts of E. chinensis were observed in the fat body in males after mating. However, the highest transcript level of EcHMGR was in the ovary and EcJHEH was maintained at a nearly similar level in females. The transcript level of methyl‐farnesoate epoxide was significantly higher in the head and that of CYP4BM1 in the midgut in both male and female E. chinensis. We speculate that the fat body may play a more important role than other tissues on the CTD biosynthesis in male E. chinensis after mating. There may be multiple tissues involved in the process of CTD biosynthesis. These four genes probably play regulatory roles in different tissues in males.
A New Role for IPCC: Balancing Science and Society
Authors: Sanwal Mukul , Wang Can , Wang Bo , Yang Yuan
Published: July 2017

There is a new role for global climate policy and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to support national implementation. For keeping within global ecological limits, public debate has shifted from concerns about the reliability of model‐based climate projections to national legislators considering questions of when, where, and how to modify longer term trends. However, modeling remains the essential scientific tool by which the climate problem is defined assuming that society and the economy can be transformed, actually re‐engineered, with relative ease. Inputs from the IPCC to the new governance process, the global ‘stocktake’, suggesting solutions will now influence deliberations between stakeholders, national actions and global cooperation. How best to shape a different science architecture and agenda linking science with both policy and society requires, for example, giving as much importance to reports of multilateral bodies and business consultancies as to peer‐reviewed literature. This paper lays out some ideas how legitimacy can be maintained even as the IPCC recommends policy options and not just advice that is policy relevant.
Moving alcohol prevention research forward—Part II: new directions grounded in community‐based system dynamics modeling
Authors: Apostolopoulos Yorghos , Lemke Michael K. , Barry Adam E. , Lich Kristen Hassmiller
Published: July 2017

Background and aims

Given the complexity of factors contributing to alcohol misuse, appropriate epistemologies and methodologies are needed to understand and intervene meaningfully. We aimed to (1) provide an overview of computational modeling methodologies, with an emphasis on system dynamics modeling; (2) explain how community‐based system dynamics modeling can forge new directions in alcohol prevention research; and (3) present a primer on how to build alcohol misuse simulation models using system dynamics modeling, with an emphasis on stakeholder involvement, data sources and model validation. Throughout, we use alcohol misuse among college students in the United States as a heuristic example for demonstrating these methodologies.

Methods

System dynamics modeling employs a top–down aggregate approach to understanding dynamically complex problems. Its three foundational properties—stocks, flows and feedbacks—capture non‐linearity, time‐delayed effects and other system characteristics. As a methodological choice, system dynamics modeling is amenable to participatory approaches; in particular, community‐based system dynamics modeling has been used to build impactful models for addressing dynamically complex problems.

Results

The process of community‐based system dynamics modeling consists of numerous stages: (1) creating model boundary charts, behavior‐over‐time‐graphs and preliminary system dynamics models using group model‐building techniques; (2) model formulation; (3) model calibration; (4) model testing and validation; and (5) model simulation using learning‐laboratory techniques.

Conclusions

Community‐based system dynamics modeling can provide powerful tools for policy and intervention decisions that can result ultimately in sustainable changes in research and action in alcohol misuse prevention.
Consequences of disperser behaviour for seedling establishment of a mistletoe species
Authors: Amico Guillermo C. , Sasal Yamila , Vidal‐Russell Romina , Aizen Marcelo A. , Morales Juan Manuel
Published: July 2017

The dispersal process in plants links adults and their offspring. For frugivore‐dispersed plants, animal behaviour can have a strong effect on plant fitness. Many mistletoes are totally dependent on animals that deposit seeds on suitable hosts and particular branch diameters. We characterised the seed dispersal and seedling establishment of the mistletoe Tristerix corymbosus, which at our study site, is exclusively dispersed by the marsupial Dromiciops gliroides. Mistletoes’ fruits have a viscous pulp that remains in the seed even after dispersal. This substance adheres the seed to the host branch. We estimated host branch availability in the forest and seed deposition (faeces) by the marsupial in the study area. Specifically, the branch suitability factors we assessed were host identity, branch status (alive or dead), branch diameter, height, and canopy cover. Lodged faeces were individually marked and the number of seed deposited within these droppings was counted, and we recorded the number of seedlings with true leaves that had established after 1 year to estimate the probability of seedling establishment. Branch diameter and canopy cover had a significant positive effect on seed deposition probability. Seedling establishment probability decreased with the number of seeds deposited per faeces and with canopy cover. In general, the marsupial deposited mistletoe seeds in microsites that increase the chance of seedling establishment. Thus, the movement behaviour of the marsupial has a positive effect on the regeneration process of this mistletoe species.
Commentary: Perspectives on alcohol‐related gene and environment interplay in diverse populations
Authors: Scott Marcia S.
Published: July 2017

Background and Objectives

Racial/ethnic groups comprise more than 20% of the U.S. population, but many experience disproportionately high risk for alcohol misuse, often resulting in higher rates of alcohol‐associated consequences. Completion of mapping the human genome has launched rapidly evolving research methods aimed at improved understanding of genetic contribution to disease. Despite decades of research on the influence of genetic and environmental risks on alcohol use disorders and outcomes, few studies have included racial/ethnic subpopulations in sufficient numbers to allow for proper statistical analysis.

Methods

The papers in this special issue help to elucidate current knowledge on the etiology of genetic and environmental contributors and potential moderators of alcohol use and associated problems among racial/ethnic populations. The lack of racial/ethnic diversity across many genetic studies contributes to challenges in interpretation of findings and eventually applications to precision medicine.

Results

Proposed approaches to overcome disparities in racial/ethnic participant recruitment in genetic studies include methods to address population stratification in allele frequency, improve transparency in subjects’ consenting to participate, and engaging interdisciplinary research teams and community involvement to improve recruitment of racial/ethnic minorities.

Discussion and Conclusions

The reviews presented underscore various gaps in our knowledge of the genetic influences on alcohol use disorders due to the failure to include racially and ethnically diverse populations in genetic and epigenetic study samples. New directions are suggested to overcome the resulting research challenges and ultimately to inform future personalized intervention approaches for racial/ethnic populations.

Scientific Significance

Inclusion of heterogeneous populations in genomic research will provide a better comprehension of possible unique genetic factors in the broader general population that may be missed due to exclusion of unique and common variants that may be present in racial/ethnic populations. (Am J Addict 2017;26:526–531)
ADAM10 and Notch1 on murine dendritic cells control the development of type 2 immunity and IgE production
Authors: Damle S. R. , Martin R. K. , Cockburn C. L. , Lownik J. C. , Carlyon J. A. , Smith A. D. , Conrad D. H.
Published: July 2017

Background

Allergy and allergic asthma are significant health burdens in developed countries and are increasing in prevalence. Dendritic cells (DCs) initiate immune responses to common aeroallergens, and ADAM10 has been demonstrated to be important for the development of adaptive responses. This study's objective was to understand the role of ADAM10 on DCs in the development of allergic and anaphylactic responses.

Methods

In this study, we used mouse models of allergic airway inflammation (house dust mice and Alternaria alternata) and OVA‐induced models of active anaphylaxis to determine the DC‐specific function of ADAM10 and Notch signaling. To examine TH1 and TH17 immunity infection with Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Citrobacter rodentium respectively, were used.

Results

Mice, which have ADAM10 deleted from DCs, have dramatic reductions in IgE production and do not develop significant TH2 immune responses. Further, ADAM10DC−/− mice are resistant to IgE‐mediated anaphylaxis. This response is selective for TH2 immunity as TH1 and TH17 immunity is largely unaffected. Notch1, a known ADAM10 substrate, when knocked out of DCs (Notch1DC−/−) demonstrated a similar reduction in anaphylaxis and IgE. Without ADAM10 and Notch1 signaling, DCs were unable to make cytokines that stimulate TH2 cells and cytokines. Anaphylaxis and allergic lung inflammation were restored in ADAM10DC−/− with the overexpression of the Notch1‐intracellular domain, confirming the role of Notch signaling.

Conclusions

Targeting ADAM10 and Notch1 on DCs represent a novel strategy for modulating TH2 immune responses and IgE production.
The effect of pre‐operative methylprednisolone on early endothelial damage after total knee arthroplasty: a randomised, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Lindberg‐Larsen V. , Ostrowski S. R. , Lindberg‐Larsen M. , Rovsing M. L. , Johansson P. I. , Kehlet H.
Published: July 2017

We wished to evaluate whether inhibition of the systemic inflammatory response by a single pre‐operative dose of methylprednisolone reduced markers of early endothelial damage after fast‐track total knee arthroplasty. We randomly allocated 70 patients undergoing elective unilateral total knee arthroplasty (1:1) to receive either pre‐operative intravenous methylprednisolone 125 mg (methylprednisolone group) or isotonic saline (control group). All procedures were performed under spinal anaesthesia without a tourniquet, using a standardised multimodal analgesic regime. The outcomes included changes in Syndecan‐1 concentrations, a marker of glycocalyx degradation, markers of endothelial cell damage and activation (plasma soluble thrombomodulin and sE‐Selectin), and permeability by vascular endothelial growth factor, as well as C‐reactive protein concentrations. Blood samples were collected at baseline and 2 h, 6 h and 24 h after surgery, with complete sampling from 63 patients for analyses. Methylprednisolone significantly reduced markers of endothelial damage at 24 h following surgery compared with saline (methylprednisolone group vs. control group, adjusted means (SEM)) expressed by circulating Syndecan‐1: 11.6 (1.0) ng.ml−1 vs. 13.4 (1.1) ng.ml−1 p = 0.046; soluble thrombomodulin: 5.1 (0.1) ng.ml−1 vs. 5.7 (0.2) ng.ml−1, p = 0.009; sE‐Selectin: 64.8 (1.8) ng.ml−1 vs. 75.7 (1.9) ng.ml−1, p = 0.001, and vascular endothelial growth factor: 35.3 (2.7) ng.ml−1 vs. 58.5 (2.8) ng.ml−1, p < 0.001. The effect of the intervention increased with time for soluble thrombomodulin, sE‐Selectin and vascular endothelial growth factor, and was more pronounced in patients with high baseline values. Finally, methylprednisolone reduced the C‐reactive protein response 24 h postoperatively; 31.1 (1.1) mg.l−1 vs. 68.4 (1.1) mg.l−1, p < 0.001. Pre‐operative administration of methylprednisolone 125 mg reduced circulating markers of endothelial activation and damage, as well as the systemic inflammatory response (C‐reactive protein) early after fast‐track total knee arthroplasty. These findings may have a positive effect on surgical outcome, but require studies in major surgery.