bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consumers’ attitudes and willingness to pay for organic eggs
Authors: Güney Osman Inanç , Giraldo Luca
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand consumer attitudes toward organic eggs by identifying their profiles and estimating the degree of their willingness to pay (WTP) for eggs with different attributes in order to evaluate the position of organic eggs.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical data were collected from a face-to-face cross-sectional market survey, which involved a choice experiment design and a series of questions related to respondents’ attitudes and preferences in terms of organic egg consumption. A total of 552 consumers who are responsible for their household purchases were sampled, while the survey was performed in the major cities of seven regions of Turkey. The gathered data from the questions on consumer attitudes and preferences were analyzed using ordered probit, while the choice experiment data were analyzed through the use of conditional logit and mixed logit models.

Findings

Consumers perceive organic eggs to be healthy, nutritious and delicious food. In the study, we obtained three consumer groups (collectivist consumers, individualist consumers and reluctant consumers) with different characteristics in relation to organic egg consumption. When the motivations for organic egg consumption were analyzed, it was found that individual benefits have a greater impact than collectivist benefits on consumers’ choice to purchase organic eggs. According to the results of the regression analysis, consumers are willing to pay ₺0.76 more per egg for organic eggs compared to conventional eggs. Overall, consumers are reluctant to pay a premium in view of the functionality aspect of eggs.

Research limitations/implications

The results will help the actors within the egg industry to develop production and market-planning processes for differentiated egg markets according to consumer preferences and in terms of having the opportunity to select their ideal customer segments.

Originality/value

The research is the first study that analyses the motivations and the willingness of Turkish consumers to purchase organic eggs through using a choice experiment design and regression models. Original findings include the segmentation of consumers according to personal beliefs and norms. The research is also important in terms of comparing two regression model results in methodical terms. The similarity among the obtained results from the regression analysis increased the reliability of the study.
Phycocyanin as substitute for texture ingredients in ice creams
Authors: Rodrigues Ellen Francine , Vendruscolo Luana Paula , Bonfante Kimberly , Reinehr Christian Oliveira , Colla Eliane , Colla Luciane Maria
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The phycocyanin is a pigment present in the microalgaSpirulinathat has been studied due to its applicability as food coloring; however, it can be used due to the ability to act as an emulsifier or stabilizer in function of its protein characteristic. The purpose of this paper is to use aqueous extracts ofSpirulinacontaining phycocyanin (EP) as a substitute of additives in the production of ice creams.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was divided in two sections: first, the influence of addition of EP in ice cream bases (that represent the ice cream preparation before air incorporation step) and second, the influence of addition of EP in five ice cream formulations, in which the differences were the addition of EP in substitution of stabilizer, Chantilly or emulsifier, one at a time or in substitution of all additives together, by the EP.

Findings

The different ice creams developed presented centesimal composition according to Brazilian legislation in relation to the chemical parameters. The EP presented emulsifying and stabilizing activity in the ice creams formulations acting in substitution of emulsifier and stabilizer presented in the standard formulation, not influencing the overall acceptability of consumers.

Originality/value

The authors demonstrate that the aqueous extract ofSpirulinacontaining phycocyanin can be used as a natural additive in ice cream in substitution of emulsifiers and stabilizers normally used in this product, contributing to produce more healthy foods, once phycocyanin is an protein of high nutritional value.
The relationship between food neophobia, domain-specific innovativeness, and food festival revisit intentions
Authors: Payini Valsaraj , Ramaprasad Badrinarayan Srirangam , Mallya Jyothi , Sanil Megha , Patwardhan Vidya
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence of two personality traits (i.e. food neophobia (FN) and domain-specific innovativeness (DSI)) on revisit intentions of consumers in the food festival context.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopted a FN scale, DSI scale and food festival revisit intention scale to capture the study constructs. Furthermore, data were collected from 265 food festival attendees in the town of Udupi (State of Karnataka, India). Furthermore, the study adopted structural equating modeling to investigate the relationship between the three study constructs.

Findings

The findings of this study reveals that DSI seems to exercise significant positive influence on consumers revisit intentions for the food festival. On the contrary, FN seems to exercise a negative influence on consumers revisit intentions. This relation, however, is found to be non-significant.

Practical implications

The findings of this study are expected to help food festival event managers, organizers and practitioners outline and delineate marketing strategies so as to increase the revisit intentions of consumers for the food festivals.

Originality/value

FN and DSI have been extensively studied in the context of consumers’ food consumption and related behaviors. On the contrary, majority of the studies that relate to festival revisit intentions situate consumers’ experiential values and satisfaction with attributes of the festival itself (e.g. location, affordability, quality of food, infrastructure, venue ambiance, service quality, entertainment avenues, timing and duration and size of the festival) as key precursors to their revisit propensity. This research endeavor, however, attempts to investigate whether, notwithstanding other food festival attributes, personality traits of individuals (i.e. FN and DSI) exercise any influence on food festival revisit intentions.
The fluctuations of China’s economic growth since the reform and opening up and the rational countermeasures
Authors: Jian Xinhua , Yu Jiang
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the four large and two small fluctuations in China’s economic growth since the reform and opening up, which can be further divided into five periods of economic upturn and six periods of economic downturn.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper also analyzes the performance, causes and practical countermeasures of these fluctuations and summarizes the experience and lessons from the eight aspects of dealing with economic downturn and stabilizing growth since the reform and opening up.

Findings

At last, the paper puts forward some measures to cope with economic downturn and stabilize growth under the new normal in the new era.

Originality/value

Any country’s economic growth is a tortuous process with many fluctuations. The rate of economic growth cannot rise or go down straight for a long time, and China’s economic growth is no exception. The drastic fluctuations of economic growth can lead to serious overproduction, waste of resources, increased unemployment, decreased income or supply shortages, rising prices and decline of living standards.
Construction of China’s financial conditions index in the post-crisis era
Authors: Li Nan , Yuanchun Liu
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to summarize different methods of constructing the financial conditions index (FCI) and analyze current studies on constructing FCI for China. Due to shifts of China’s financial mechanisms in the post-crisis era, conventional ways of FCI construction have their limitations.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper suggests improvements in two aspects, i.e. using time-varying weights and introducing non-financial variables. In the empirical study, the author first develops an FCI with fixed weights for comparison, constructs a post-crisis FCI based on time-varying parameter vector autoregressive model and finally examines the FCI with time-varying weights concerning its explanatory and predictive power for inflation.

Findings

Results suggest that the FCI with time-varying weights performs better than one with fixed weights and the former better reflects China’s financial conditions. Furthermore, introduction of credit availability improves the FCI.

Originality/value

FCI constructed in this paper goes ahead of inflation by about 11 months, and it has strong explanatory and predictive power for inflation. Constructing an appropriate FCI is important for improving the effectiveness and predictive power of the post-crisis monetary policy and foe achieving both economic and financial stability.
Study and application of improved level set method with prior graph cut in PCB image segmentation
Authors: Yin Yong , Luo Hualiang , Sa Jiming , Zhang Qi
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The segmentation of printed circuit board (PCB) images is an important process in PCB inspection. The circuit traces, pads and vias in a PCB are dense and curved, and the PCB image obtained using different cameras or in different conditions may exhibit a large image gradient, which leads to inaccuracy and inefficiency in the PCB image segmentation. This paper aims to propose an improved local binary fitting level set method with prior graph cut, aiming to improve the accuracy and efficiency of the segmentation of PCB images obtained using different cameras or in different environments.

Design/methodology/approach

First, the paper constructs a 4-connected undirected graph using a given PCB image and classifies it based on the graph cut. Second, an adaptive initialization level set is implemented using the priori information obtained from the graph cut. Finally, the paper constructs a priori energy term using the prior information and introduces it into the energy function of the level set.

Findings

The approach results in an improved accuracy of segmentation in the context of a large gradient within the image. Experimental results demonstrate that the method can solve the deviation of artificially initialized level set from targets and improve the efficiency and accuracy of segmentation.

Research limitations/implications

This study only considers level set method as the research object. Iteration of the level set method takes a long time for a given huge PCB picture, which makes it impossible to apply to scenes with high real-time requirements.

Practical implications

PCB image segmentation is an important process in the PCB inspection. Since template matching and morphology techniques are well-established, image segmentation quality has a significant impact on the accuracy of detection.

Originality/value

This paper studies the segmentation of PCB images, improves the efficiency and accuracy of segmentation and facilitates the subsequent applications, such as in the nondestructive testing of PCB.
Can participative management practices be applied in an authoritarian culture
Authors: Litvinov Aleksandr
Published: December 2019

Purpose of this paper

This paper aims to discuss the case of implementing participative management practices to support changes required following the introduction of a new strategy in a Russian bank. It provides a detailed description of the entire process including the methods implemented and the results achieved. The case study provides insights on how to extend participative management into an organization set in a context of strict regulative policies and an authoritarian culture.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents a case study on how participative management practices were implemented in a Russian bank and provides insights from the case.

Findings

The findings indicate some successful practices of participative management which can be implemented to identify problems/needs and assist with quick and collaborative decision-making for change without breaking strict banking normative procedures.

Practical implications

The paper provides insights for further implementation of participative management practices into organizations in an authoritarian context.

Originality/Value

The paper presents empirical evidence of participative management implementation. This is uncommon for Russian organizations, where the authoritarian culture dominates. Other researchers and managers can use this paper as a source to guide changes within other companies and sectors in similar cultures.
Action learning: challenges that impact employability skills
Authors: Olivares Silvia Lizett , Adame Eduardo , Treviño José Ignacio , López Mildred Vanessa , Turrubiates Miriam Lizzeth
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the perceived value of an action learning experience (i-Week) on the development of important soft employability skills applying expectation confirmation theory (ECT).

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 1,295 activities were offered in 36 cities of ten countries. Each activity had a faculty member and multidisciplinary teams to address an authentic situation during one full-time week. The ECT was applied to assess the disparity between what was expected from the students and their actual learning experience. A total of 929 students answered a Perceived Value Questionnaire to measure 14 transversal competences categorized on five employability skills.

Findings

Achievements were statistically higher than expectations in 5 out of 14 transversal competences. The perceived value of the i-Week reflects the impact on soft skills: self-skills, personal, learning, social and systemic. The paper proposed an integrated model to learn these competences from action learning experiences.

Research limitations/implications

The questionnaire is a self-assessment and not an actual performance measure. Besides transversal competences, there were more disciplinary competences that are not included in the study.

Practical implications

The perceived value model of the i-Week could be applied for different educational levels and contexts considering a lower scale. A new version of the Perceived Value Questionnaire on Competences is provided for educational research.

Originality/value

The educational experience, instruments and analysis described in the study might be easily transferred to other action activity used to measure perceived learning results on multiple skills.
Impacts of the sectoral composition of growth on poverty reduction in Vietnam
Authors: Pham Thu Hang , Riedel James
Published: December 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of sectoral economic growth and other factors on poverty reduction in Vietnam in the period 2010–2016.

Design/methodology/approach

Originating from the question of whether there is an endogenous problem between the structure of economic growth by sector and some other factors in the process of impact on poverty reduction, the paper has used the 2-Stage Least Squares method to deal with the endogenous issues.

Findings

Increasing the proportion of the industrial sector and the agricultural sector had great impacts on poverty reduction. In contrast, the increasing proportion of the service sector made the poverty rate higher. One noticeable thing is that economic growth was not significant for the goal of poverty reduction in 2010–2016. In addition, the process of urbanization, the increase in the labor rate and literacy rate contributed positively to poverty reduction achievements. Finally, population growth was also one of the reasons hindering Vietnam’s successful poverty reduction process.

Practical implications

Accelerating the process of economic restructuring in the direction of increasing the proportion of the industry is accompanied by more attention to agricultural development than the service sector. Employment creation policies should be promoted. Maintaining population control by educating poverty reduction awareness for the poor will have a positive effect on long-term poverty reduction.

Originality/value

Research on the growth structure by sector affecting poverty reduction in Vietnam is still relatively limited. The study of relationships in the context of endogenous existence is still quite limited in Vietnam. Therefore, this paper has focused on the question of sectoral economic growth affects poverty in the interrelation among sectors in the process of economic development.
Contextual and Task Performance: Do Demographic and Organizational variables matter?
Authors: Kalia Namrita , Bhardwaj Bhawana
Published: December 2019

Purpose

Improving employee’s performance has always remained an area of concern in the hospitality industry where employees’ performance is related to customers’ satisfaction. The inadequacy of research work on demographics and organization variables’ influence on contextual and task performance has led to present research. Thus, the purpose of this study is to identify role of demographic and organizational variables in affecting contextual and task performance of hotel employees.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from a sample of 350 hotel employees. The research is based on primary data and a structured questionnaire.

Findings

Task performance of employees increases with the age but contextual performance improves up to 40-50 years and then remains constant. Low salaries and job insecurity affected the performance of employees. A change of designation alone, without a corresponding increase in pay, did not enhance the performance of the employees. The type and size of the organization significantly affect job performance.

Research limitations/implications

The study is a contribution to the theory and practice of employee management and improving employee’s performance. Factors affecting contextual and task performance have been identified. Future research can be conducted based on this study.

Practical implications

The study has highlighted the significant effect of demographic variables, organizational variables on contextual and task performance of hotel employees. The hotel industry plays an important role in economic development of a country. The study is practically helpful for hotel industry to understand what demographical and organizational variables can be considered to enhance employee’s performance.

Originality/value

Previous literature has lacked in identifying factors, which can affect the contextual and task performance of hotel employees. The paper is contributing to the existing body of knowledge related to employees’ performance. The managers of hotel industry can use outcome of this research to improve job performance of the employees. Findings open new avenues for future research.
Healthcare providers’ knowledge and handling of impairments after intensive unit treatment: A questionnaire survey
Authors: Jensen Emilie K. , Poulsen Lone M. , Mathiesen Ole , Estrup Stine
Published: December 2019

Background

Numerous patients experience long‐term impairments after discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU), including physical, psychological and cognitive deficiencies. This study aims to investigate the knowledge and handling of post‐intensive care impairments among Danish doctors and nurses in the medical and surgical wards.

Methods

An electronic questionnaire survey was distributed to consultants and development nurses, head nurses and assistant head nurses at departments of abdominal surgery and internal medicine of hospitals with an ICU in the Region Zealand of Denmark.

Results

We invited 350 employees to participate, 48% responded. Most participants, 82.8% nurses and 86.6% doctors, reported their knowledge of in‐hospital needs of the ICU patients to be average or higher. Sixty per cent of doctors reported having average or higher knowledge of the patients’ post‐discharge needs. More than half the doctors (60.2%) reported that they “Rarely” or “Never” addressed possible ICU‐related impairments in the discharge summary. During hospital admission, 22.9% replied “No screening performed” for physical impairment, while the rates for psychological and cognitive impairments were 70.7% and 57.3%, respectively. Most respondents believed that doctors (92.8%) and nurses (92.1%) in the ward and ICU doctors (89.4%) play an important role in detecting ICU‐related impairments; 63.8% felt that general practitioners play a key role.

Conclusion

Doctors and nurses generally reported having average or higher knowledge of ICU patients’ in‐hospital needs, but few screened systematically for ICU‐related impairments. Most respondents believed that detecting these problems is a shared responsibility between professionals in the primary and, especially, the secondary healthcare sector.
Maf1‐dependent transcriptional regulation of tRNAs prevents genomic instability and is associated with extended lifespan
Authors: Shetty Mihir , Noguchi Chiaki , Wilson Sydney , Martinez Esteban , Shiozaki Kazuhiro , Sell Christian , Mell Joshua Chang , Noguchi Eishi
Published: December 2019

Maf1 is the master repressor of RNA polymerase III responsible for transcription of tRNAs and 5S rRNAs. Maf1 is negatively regulated via phosphorylation by the mTOR pathway, which governs protein synthesis, growth control, and lifespan regulation in response to nutrient availability. Inhibiting the mTOR pathway extends lifespan in various organisms. However, the downstream effectors for the regulation of cell homeostasis that are critical to lifespan extension remain elusive. Here we show that fission yeast Maf1 is required for lifespan extension. Maf1’s function in tRNA repression is inhibited by mTOR‐dependent phosphorylation, whereas Maf1 is activated via dephosphorylation by protein phosphatase complexes, PP4 and PP2A. Mutational analysis reveals that Maf1 phosphorylation status influences lifespan, which is correlated with elevated tRNA and protein synthesis levels in maf1∆ cells. However, mTOR downregulation, which negates protein synthesis, fails to rescue the short lifespan of maf1∆ cells, suggesting that elevated protein synthesis is not a cause of lifespan shortening in maf1∆ cells. Interestingly, maf1∆ cells accumulate DNA damage represented by formation of Rad52 DNA damage foci and Rad52 recruitment at tRNA genes. Loss of the Rad52 DNA repair protein further exacerbates the shortened lifespan of maf1∆ cells. Strikingly, PP4 deletion alleviates DNA damage and rescues the short lifespan of maf1∆ cells even though tRNA synthesis is increased in this condition, suggesting that elevated DNA damage is the major cause of lifespan shortening in maf1∆ cells. We propose that Maf1‐dependent inhibition of tRNA synthesis controls fission yeast lifespan by preventing genomic instability that arises at tRNA genes.
“Whole” vs. “fragmented” approach to EAACI pollen season definitions: A multicenter study in six Southern European cities
Authors: Hoffmann Tara Maria , Acar Şahin Aydan , Aggelidis Xenophon , Arasi Stefania , Barbalace Andrea , Bourgoin Anne , Bregu Blerina , Brighetti Maria Antonia , Caeiro Elsa , Caglayan Sozmen Sule , Caminiti Lucia , Charpin Denis , Couto Mariana , Delgado Luís , Di Rienzo Businco Andrea , Dimier Claire , Dimou Maria V. , Fonseca João A. , Goksel Ozlem , Guvensen Aykut , Hernandez Dolores , Jang Dah Tay , Kalpaklioglu Fusun , Lame Blerta , Llusar Ruth , Makris Michael P. , Mazon Angel , Mesonjesi Eris , Nieto Antonio , Öztürk Ayse , Pahus Laurie , Pajno Giovanni Battista , Panasiti Ilenia , Panetta Valentina , Papadopoulos Nikolaos G. , Pellegrini Elisabetta , Pelosi Simone , Pereira Ana Margarida , Pereira Mariana , Pinar Munevver , Pfaar Oliver , Potapova Ekaterina , Priftanji Alfred , Psarros Fotis , Sackesen Cansin , Sfika Ifigenia , Suarez Javier , Thibaudon Michel , Travaglini Alessandro , Tripodi Salvatore , Verdier Valentine , Villella Valeria , Xepapadaki Paraskevi , Yazici Duygu , Matricardi Paolo M. , Dramburg Stephanie
Published: December 2019

Background

The adequate definition of pollen seasons is essential to facilitate a correct diagnosis, treatment choice, and outcome assessment in patients with seasonal allergic rhinitis. A position paper by the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) proposed season definitions for Northern and Middle Europe.

Objective

To test the pollen season definitions proposed by EAACI in six Mediterranean cities for seven pollen taxa.

Methods

As part of the @IT.2020 multi‐center study, pollen counts for Poaceae, Oleaceae, Fagales, Cupressaceae, Urticaceae (Parietaria spp.), and Compositae (Ambrosia spp., Artemisia spp.) were collected from January 1 to December 31, 2018. Based on these data, pollen seasons were identified according to EAACI criteria. A unified monitoring period for patients in AIT trials was created and assessed for feasibility.

Results

The analysis revealed a great heterogeneity between the different locations in terms of pattern and length of the examined pollen seasons. Further, we found a fragmentation of pollen seasons in several segments (max. 8) separated by periods of low pollen counts (intercurrent periods). Potential monitoring periods included often many recording days with low pollen exposure (max. 341 days).

Conclusion

The Mediterranean climate leads to challenging pollen exposure times. Monitoring periods for AIT trials based on existing definitions may include many intermittent days with low pollen concentrations. Therefore, it is necessary to find an adapted pollen season definition as individual solution for each pollen and geographical area.
A pilot randomised controlled trial of the management of systolic blood pressure during endovascular thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke
Authors: Deng C. , Campbell D. , Diprose W. , Eom C. , Wang K. , Robertson N. , Short T. G. , Brew S. , Caldwell J. , McGuinness B. , Barber P. A.
Published: December 2019

It is unknown whether systolic blood pressure augmentation during endovascular thrombectomy improves clinical outcomes. This pilot randomised controlled trial aimed to assess the feasibility of differential systolic blood pressure targeting during endovascular thrombectomy procedures for anterior circulation ischaemic stroke. Fifty‐one eligible patients fulfilling the national criteria for endovascular thrombectomy were randomly assigned to receive either standard or augmented systolic blood pressure management from the start of anaesthesia to recanalisation of the target vessel. Systolic blood pressure targets for the standard and augmented groups were 130–150 mmHg and 160–180 mmHg, respectively. The study achieved all feasibility targets, including a recruitment rate of 3.5 participants per week and median (IQR [range]) of mean systolic blood pressure separation between groups of 139 (135–143 [115–154]) vs. 167 (150–175 [113–188]) mmHg, p < 0.001. Data completeness was 99%. Independent functional recovery at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale 0, 1 or 2) was achieved in 30 (59%) patients, which is consistent with previously published data. There were no safety concerns with trial procedures. In conclusion, a large randomised controlled efficacy trial of standard vs. augmented systolic blood pressure management during endovascular thrombectomy is feasible.
In the Shadow of Other Anthropologists
Authors: Dalzell Victoria M.
Published: December 2019

This piece of creative nonfiction traces how the work and presence of previous anthropologists laid a foundation for the author’s fieldwork on Tharu folk music traditions in Nepal. As she learned about Tharu folk music, the author also encountered stories of anthropologists, both foreign and national, who had worked in the same Tharu villages. As she continued her own fieldwork, the author interacted personally with some of these scholars or realized how others’ research had repercussions on how some of her Tharu interlocutors perceived her work. This piece explores the interconnectivity of multiple generations of ethnographers, the communities in which they study, and the scholarly artifacts they create.
Neonatal brainstem auditory function associates with early receptive language development in preterm children
Authors: Antinmaa Jaana , Lapinleimu Helena , Salonen Jaakko , Stolt Suvi , Kaljonen Anne , Jääskeläinen Satu
Published: December 2019

Aim

To study whether auditory function measured with brainstem auditory evoked potential and brainstem audiometry recordings in the neonatal period associates with language development 1 year later in preterm infants.

Methods

This retrospective study included 155 preterm infants (birthweight ≤1500 g and/or birth ≤32 gestational weeks) born between 2007 and 2012 at the Turku University Hospital. Auditory function was recorded in neonatal period. Information of language development was gathered at the mean corrected age of 1 year by using the Finnish version of the MacArthur Communicative Development Inventory.

Results

Slower auditory processing (longer interpeak interval, IPI I‐V) in the right ear in the neonatal brainstem auditory evoked potential recording associated with smaller receptive lexicon size at 1 year (P = .043). Infants with longer IPI I‐V were more likely to have a deviant (≤17 words) receptive lexicon size (P = .033). The absence of a contralateral response with right ear stimulation increased the risk for deviant lexicon size (P = .049).

Conclusion

The results suggest that impaired auditory function in the neonatal period in preterm infants may lead to a poorer receptive language outcome 1 year later. Auditory pathway function assessment provides information for the identification of preterm children at risk for weak language development.
The effectiveness and safety of topical β‐receptor blocker in treating superficial infantile haemangiomas: A meta‐analysis including 20 studies
Authors: Lin Zhenying , Zhang Baoxin , Yu Zhongjing , Li Huanyuan
Published: December 2019

Aims

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of topical β‐receptor blocker in treating superficial infantile haemangiomas (SIH) and compare the effectiveness and safety of topical β‐receptor blocker against other therapies.

Methods

A search of the literature using PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Review database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang were performed to identify the studies that estimated the effectiveness and safety of topical β‐receptor blocker in treating SIH, the fixed‐effect or random‐effects meta‐analytical techniques were applied to assess the outcomes.

Results

Twenty studies, involving 2098 patients, were included to conduct this analysis. Topical propranolol and topical timolol were discovered to be as effective as oral propranolol in treating SIH (propranolol, odds ratio [OR] = 0.486, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.165, 1.426, P = .189; timolol, OR = 0.955; 95%CI 0.700, 1.302; P = .769), and topical timolol was more effective than topical imiquimod (OR = 2.561; 95%CI 1.182, 5.550; P = .017), observation (OR = 18.458; 95%CI 5.660, 60.191; P < .001) and topical saline solutions (OR = 19.193; 95%CI 8.837, 41.683; P < .001) in treating SIH. The comparison between topical propranolol and oral propranolol led to no discovery of significant difference in the incidence of adverse effects (OR = 1.258; 95%CI 0.471, 3.358; P = .647). Compared with oral propranolol, topical timolol was associated with fewer incidences of adverse effects (OR = 0.191; 95%CI 0.043, 0.858; P = .031). No significant difference in the incidence of adverse effects was found when topical timolol and topical imiquimod were compared (OR = 0.077; 95%CI 0.005, 1.206; P = .068).

Conclusion

This meta‐analysis provided evidence that topical β‐receptor blockers (propranolol and timolol), especially timolol, may replace oral propranolol as a first‐line treatment for SIH.
Learning‐based biomarker‐assisted rules for optimized clinical benefit under a risk constraint
Authors: Wang Yanqing , Zhao Ying‐Qi , Zheng Yingye
Published: December 2019

Novel biomarkers, in combination with currently available clinical information, have been sought to improve clinical decision making in many branches of medicine, including screening, surveillance, and prognosis. Statistical methods are needed to integrate such diverse information to develop targeted interventions that balance benefit and harm. In the specific setting of disease detection, we propose novel approaches to construct a multiple‐marker‐based decision rule by directly optimizing a benefit function, while controlling harm at a maximally tolerable level. These new approaches include plug‐in and direct‐optimization‐based algorithms, and they allow for the construction of both nonparametric and parametric rules. A study of asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators is provided. Simulation results demonstrate good clinical utilities for the resulting decision rules under various scenarios. The methods are applied to a biomarker study in prostate cancer surveillance.
Spatial‐temporal trends in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) offices in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Meyer Stephen P.
Published: December 2019

This paper assesses complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) from a spatial‐temporal perspective; it would be of particular interest to those who evaluate health care resource accessibility over space. The analysis compares CAM supply (number of offices, employment, and sales) in Ontario by provincial district, metropolitan influence classification, and health care and social assistance employment quintiles using summary statistics, Kruskal‐Wallis and median analyses, and local spatial autocorrelation evaluation. Metropolitan areas throughout Ontario, but especially in the southcentral part of the province, are well endowed with CAM supply and tend to be most important in terms of CAM change. CAM offices are increasing in size in the most populated parts of the province and shrinking in regions that are more peripheral. CAM supply per capita is highest in census subdivisions with moderate levels of health care and social assistance employment, a result that is not offset by significant temporal change. While CAM supply is restructuring in many of Ontario's most populated urban locations, the overall attraction of CAM resources to large and small metropolitan areas is clear. If current spatial‐temporal trends continue, CAM spatial disparities will be exacerbated as accessibility to CAM in Ontario's most peripheral locations worsen.
RNA‐binding protein Musashi2 stabilizing androgen receptor drives prostate cancer progression
Authors: Zhao Jing , Zhang Yu , Liu Xi‐sheng , Zhu Fang‐ming , Xie Feng , Jiang Chen‐yi , Zhang Zi‐ye , Gao Ying‐li , Wang Yong‐chuan , Li Bin , Xia Shu‐jie , Han Bang‐min
Published: December 2019

The androgen receptor (AR) pathway is critical for prostate cancer carcinogenesis and development; however, after 18‐24 months of AR blocking therapy, patients invariably progress to castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), which remains an urgent problem to be solved. Therefore, finding key molecules that interact with AR as novel strategies to treat prostate cancer and even CRPC is desperately needed. In the current study, we focused on the regulation of RNA‐binding proteins (RBPs) associated with AR and determined that the mRNA and protein levels of AR were highly correlated with Musashi2 (MSI2) levels. MSI2 was upregulated in prostate cancer specimens and significantly correlated with advanced tumor grades. Downregulation of MSI2 in both androgen sensitive and insensitive prostate cancer cells inhibited tumor formation in vivo and decreased cell growth in vitro, which could be reversed by AR overexpression. Mechanistically, MSI2 directly bound to the 3′‐untranslated region (UTR) of AR mRNA to increase its stability and, thus, enhanced its transcriptional activity. Our findings illustrate a previously unknown regulatory mechanism in prostate cancer cell proliferation regulated by the MSI2‐AR axis and provide novel evidence towards a strategy against prostate cancer.
Monoamine oxidase inhibition by selected dye compounds
Authors: de Beer Franciska , Petzer Jacobus P. , Petzer Anél
Published: December 2019

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) is an important drug target as the MAO isoforms play key roles in neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, as well as in neuropsychiatric diseases such as depression. Methylene blue is an inhibitor of MAO‐A, while azure B, the major metabolite of methylene blue, and various other structural analogues retain the ability to inhibit MAO‐A. Based on this, the present study evaluated 22 dyes, many of which are structurally related to methylene blue, as potential inhibitors of human MAO‐A and MAO‐B. The results highlighted three dye compounds as good potency competitive and reversible MAO inhibitors, and which exhibit higher MAO inhibition than methylene blue: acridine orange, oxazine 170 and Darrow red. Acridine orange was found to be a MAO‐A specific inhibitor (IC50 = 0.017 μM), whereas oxazine 170 is a MAO‐B specific inhibitor (IC50 = 0.0065 μM). Darrow red was found to be a non‐specific MAO inhibitor (MAO‐A, IC50 = 0.059 μM; MAO‐B, IC50 = 0.065 μM). These compounds may be advanced for further testing and preclinical development, or be used as possible lead compounds for the future design of MAO inhibitors.
Developments in the field of clinical allergy in 2018 through the eyes of Clinical and Experimental Allergy, Part II
Authors: Roberts Graham , Almqvist C. , Boyle R. , Crane J. , Hogan S. P. , Marsland B. , Saglani S. , Woodfolk J. A.
Published: December 2019

In this article, we describe developments in the field of clinical allergy as described by Clinical and Experimental Allergy in 2018; epidemiology, asthma and rhinitis, clinical allergy and allergens are all covered.
Chronic infection with a tissue‐invasive helminth attenuates sublethal anaphylaxis and reduces granularity and number of mast cells
Authors: Kropp Laura , Jackson‐Thompson Belinda , Thomas Louis Michael , McDaniel Dennis , Mitre Edward
Published: December 2019

Background

Immunoglobulin E (IgE)‐mediated anaphylaxis is a potentially fatal condition in which allergy effector cells rapidly discharge pre‐formed inflammatory mediators. Treatments that address the immune component of allergic anaphylaxis are inadequate. Helminths have been previously shown to suppress effector cell function; however, their ability to treat pre‐existing allergy remains unclear.

Objective

To evaluate the ability of chronic helminth infection to protect against anaphylaxis in previously sensitized mice.

Methods

A sublethal model of anaphylaxis was used, in which BALB/c mice were sensitized by three intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of OVA/alum. Temperature drop was then monitored after systemic OVA challenge in uninfected mice and in mice infected chronically with Litomosoides sigmodontis, a tissue‐invasive filarial nematode.

Results

Litomosoides sigmodontis‐infected mice exhibited significantly lower serum levels of mMCP‐1 and were less hypothermic at 30‐minute post‐challenge compared to uninfected OVA‐challenged controls. Characterization of anaphylaxis revealed that FcԑR1 and mast cells were required for hypothermia and elevated serum mMCP‐1. OVA‐IgE and OVA‐IgG1 serum levels were not significantly altered by L sigmodontis infection, and experiments with IL‐10−/− mice demonstrated that IL‐10 was not required for protection against anaphylaxis. However, peritoneal mast cell numbers were significantly lower in infected mice, and those that were present exhibited decreased granularity by flow cytometry and marked depletion of intracytoplasmic granules by light microscopy. Mast cells from infected mice had lower expression of the activation markers CD200R and CD63 and contained significantly lower basal stores of histamine.

Conclusions

Chronic L sigmodontis infection protects against anaphylaxis, likely due to reduction in mast cell numbers and depletion of pre‐formed inflammatory mediators in remaining mast cells.
Problem Solvers Adjust Cognitive Offloading Based on Performance Goals
Authors: Weis Patrick P. , Wiese Eva
Published: December 2019

When incorporating the environment into mental processing (cf., cognitive offloading), one creates novel cognitive strategies that have the potential to improve task performance. Improved performance can, for example, mean faster problem solving, more accurate solutions, or even higher grades at university.1 Although cognitive offloading has frequently been associated with improved performance, it is yet unclear how flexible problem solvers are at matching their offloading habits with their current performance goals (can people improve goal‐related instead of generic performance, e.g., when being in a hurry and aiming for a “quick and dirty” solution?). Here, we asked participants to solve a cognitive task, provided them with different goals—maximizing speed (SPD) or accuracy (ACC), respectively—and measured how frequently (Experiment 1) and how proficiently (Experiment 2) they made use of a novel external resource to support their cognitive processing. Experiment 1 showed that offloading behavior varied with goals: Participants offloaded less in the SPD than in the ACC condition. Experiment 2 showed that this differential offloading behavior was associated with high goal‐related performance: fast answers in the SPD, accurate answers in the ACC condition. Simultaneously, goal‐unrelated performance was sacrificed: inaccurate answers in the SPD, slow answers in the ACC condition. The findings support the notion of humans as canny offloaders who are able to successfully incorporate their environment in pursuit of their current cognitive goals. Future efforts should be focused on the finding's generalizability, for example, to settings without feedback or with high mental workload.
Cold‐water coral assemblages on vertical walls from the Northeast Atlantic
Authors: Robert Katleen , Jones Daniel O. B. , Georgiopoulou Aggeliki , Huvenne Veerle A. I.
Published: December 2019

Aim

In this study, we assess patterns of cold‐water coral assemblages observed on deep‐sea vertical walls. Similar to their shallow‐water counterparts, vertical and overhanging walls in the deep sea can host highly diverse communities, but because of their geometry, these habitats are generally overlooked and remain poorly known. These vertical habitats are however of particular interest, because they can protect vulnerable coral ecosystems from trawling activities. As such, it is important to understand their ecology and assess their global importance.

Location

Vertical walls on complex geomorphic features, in particular walls of the Rockall Bank Slope Failure Escarpment, Whittard and Explorer Canyons, Northeast Atlantic.

Methods

Video analysis of remotely operated vehicle transects carried out at five sites is used to investigate differences in species composition and diversity across walls and to compare those to nearby cold‐water coral sites on flat terrain. A high‐resolution photogrammetric reconstruction is further employed to examine whether wall complexity plays a role in promoting niche differentiation at very fine spatial scales.

Results

The investigated walls showed differences in species assemblage both across walls and in comparison to flat sites, with the fine‐scale heterogeneity engendered by walls allowing niche differentiation between closely related taxa.

Main Conclusions

Vertical walls represent an important cold‐water coral habitat with differences in species composition across walls within a region, illustrating their role in driving diversity patterns. Based on publicly available bathymetric datasets and a catalogue of broad‐scale terrain features, globally over 8,000 features are likely to have vertical walls and cold‐water corals, which highlight the need to consider deep‐sea vertical habitats in current conservation efforts.
Test–retest reliability of the Dyskinesia Impairment Scale: measuring dystonia and choreoathetosis in dyskinetic cerebral palsy
Authors: Vanmechelen Inti , Dan Bernard , Feys Hilde , Monbaliu Elegast
Published: December 2019

Aim

To assess test–retest reliability of the Dyskinesia Impairment Scale (DIS) in children and young adults with dyskinetic cerebral palsy (CP).

Method

Dystonia and choreoathetosis were assessed in 15 participants with dyskinetic CP (13 males, 2 females; age range 5–22y, mean 14y, SD 4y) using the DIS in two separate sessions over 7 days. Exclusion criteria were changes in muscle relaxant medication within the previous 3 months, orthopaedic or neurosurgical interventions within the previous year, and spinal fusion. Intraclass correlation coefficient, confidence intervals (CI), standard error of measurement, and the minimal detectable difference (MDD) were determined for test–retest reliability.

Result

Intraclass correlation coefficients of the DIS, the dystonia subscale of the DIS, and the choreoathetosis subscale of the DIS were 0.98 (95% CI 0.94–0.99), 0.97 (95% CI 0.92–0.99), and 0.96 (95% CI 0.90–0.99). The standard error of measurement and MDD were 2.6% and 7.2%.

Interpretation

The DIS is a reliable tool to assess dystonia and choreoathetosis; it remains stable over time in children and young adults with dyskinetic CP. These results add to the current evidence for good clinimetric properties of the DIS.

What this paper adds

The Dyskinesia Impairment Scale (DIS) shows stability in scoring dystonia and choreoathetosis.

The total DIS score and dystonia and choreoathetosis subscales are clinically useful.
Multidisciplinary healthcare teams' challenges and strategies in supporting people with type 1 diabetes to recover from disordered eating
Authors: Zaremba N. , Watson A. , Kan C. , Broadley M. , Partridge H. , Figuereido C. , Hopkins D. , Treasure J. , Ismail K. , Harrison A. , Stadler M.
Published: December 2019

Aim

To examine the challenges healthcare teams face when treating people with type 1 diabetes and disordered eating and the strategies these teams have developed to facilitate effective treatment.

Methods

Four semi‐structured focus groups were conducted including two tertiary diabetes specialist teams and three tertiary eating disorders specialist teams between July and December 2018. Thematic analysis of the transcripts followed a six‐phase process.

Results

Twenty‐nine experienced healthcare professionals (16 diabetes and 13 eating disorder specialists, 16±12 years' professional experience) were interviewed. The challenges identified in treating people with type 1 diabetes and disordered eating included subthemes the ‘challenges specific to the healthcare professional’ (feeling not competent enough and perceived emotional burden), ‘challenges pertaining to patient factors’ (e.g. difficulties with engaging in therapy) and ‘challenges created by the healthcare system’ (time pressure and staff shortage). Healthcare professionals expressed the need for a consensus on diagnosis and the definition of disordered eating in type 1 diabetes, as well as the need for training and educational resources specific to type 1 diabetes and disordered eating. Healthcare professionals gave practical examples of strategies of communication for better patient engagement and felt that multidisciplinary working in joint clinics with the other specialty were facilitators for recovery from disordered eating.

Conclusions

Healthcare professionals require multidisciplinary team support when treating people with type 1 diabetes and to improve their own competencies. The development of effective screening and assessment tools, educational resources and training for healthcare professionals, and developing multidisciplinary treatment pathways will be key to improving outcomes for their service users with type 1 diabetes and disordered eating.