bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mainstreaming tribals through financial literacy – a review of literature
Authors: Nanda Ajaya Kumar , Samanta Sasmita
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The present paper is an attempt to understand the various concepts related to financial literacy. For the development of this paper, secondary data have been considered by visiting various sources of information. The reviews are made on four parameters, which include social exclusion among tribes, government initiatives for tribal development, socio-economic condition of tribes and impact of financial literacy on the lives of tribes. The purpose of this paper is to identify the variables and to undertake an empirical research on this topic. It is found that excluded from income-generating activities, formal education, political system are not getting adequate exposure for maintaining the standard of living. Mostly, the changing economic scenario of consumers, discrimination of wage and employment, lack of capital and financial literacy leads to the mismanagement of money. The financial products are the various causes of financial exclusion and need to be addressed through adequate financial literacy. Moreover, the study attempts to understand the various reasons of financial exclusion and to comprehend the empirical research on the topic as well.

Design/methodology/approach

The present paper is based on the secondary data. In this regard, various sources of information have been visited to collect the data.

Findings

The study finds that owing to exclusion from income-generating activities, lack of formal education, absence of patronage political in adequate means for maintaining an acceptable standard of living, caste discriminations, poverty and migration, exploitation in the hands of money lenders, marginal increase in income, absence of infrastructure, unemployment, lack of financial literacy and its resultant mismanagement of money among the tribal community has pushed them to the utter stage of poverty universally.

Originality/value

The paper can help administrators and the policymakers of different regions across the world to take appropriate measures to focus on educating the people on different financial products and to increase the accessibility. Moreover, the paper can help research scholars to build platform of their research banking upon the data presented in this study.
Impact of health capital on economic growth in Singapore: an ARDL approach to cointegration
Authors: Isreal Akingba Idowu Opeoluwa , Kaliappan Shivee Ranjanee , Hamzah Hanny Zurina
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the long-term impacts of health capital on economic growth in Singapore from 1980 to 2013.

Design/methodology/approach

Autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL)-ECM methodology and several diagnostic and specification tests were used to estimate the impact of health capital on economic growth on time series data covering the period 1980-2013.

Findings

The results confirm that health capital (measure by health expenditure per capita) positively and significantly affects Singapore’s economic growth in the long run. In addition, the equilibrium error correction coefficient lagged by one in the short-run is approximately 83.25 percent for all estimated variables, implying a considerably high speed of long-term adjustment to equilibrium following a short-term shock. Moreover, the Toda-Yamamoto’s Granger causality estimation reveals that there is a unidirectional causality from health expenditure per capita to GDP per capita.

Research limitations/implications

The findings imply that Singapore’s economic growth could be improved significantly if expenditure on health capital is increased. This eventually would have a substantial impact on human productivity which leads to improved output per capita. Thus, policy makers and/or the government should strive to create institutional capacity to improve basic health service by strengthening the health institutions infrastructure that produces healthy and quality manpower.

Originality/value

Grounded on the premises that there are little or no studies on the impact of health capital on Singapore economy, this paper provides new evidence on the potential effect of health capital on Singapore’s economic growth over the last three decades. Also, this study explore the causal effect (unidirectional or bidirectional) between health capital and economic growth.
Gender and live-streaming: source credibility and motivation
Authors: Todd Patricia R. , Melancon Joanna
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The overall purpose of this study is to investigate and gain a better understanding of perceptions of source credibility and consumer motivation to view live-stream broadcasts. Of particular interest is gender differences based on the gender of the broadcaster and viewer.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected using an online survey from 998 respondents. As the preliminary examination technique,t-tests were used.

Findings

There are significant differences based on whether a viewer of a live broadcast is watching a source of the same gender or a different gender in source credibility. Viewing same vs opposite sex broadcasters may indicate motivation to engage with the live-video content. There are significant gender differences outcome variables of interest to live broadcasters.

Research limitations/implications

The context investigated was a single live-streaming provider.

Practical implications

The findings provide a start to understanding the differences in perceptions and motivations for watching live-stream broadcasters. This will aid marketers and broadcasters using live-stream formats on a variety of platforms in developing better content and building a more engaged viewing community. This research represents an important step in quantifying unexplored differences in gender perceptions of the source of live broadcasts that ultimately could impact not only the success of the broadcaster but also brands endorsed by these broadcasters.

Originality/value

This research is among the first to explore source effects and motivation in the live video context.
Does mandated independence improve firm performance? Evidence from New Zealand
Authors: Li Michelle , Roberts Helen
Published: December 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the relationship between board independence and firm performance for publicly listed New Zealand (NZ) firms over the period 2004-2016.

Design/methodology/approach

To address endogeneity concerns, the relationship between firm performance and board independence is modelled using three different approaches: firm fixed-effect estimation, difference-in-difference estimation and two-stage least squares estimation, while controlling for firm and governance characteristics.

Findings

The main finding is that the mandated board independence introduced by the Best Practice Code does not improve operating or market performance for listed NZ firms.

Research limitations/implications

The fact that NZ firms choose greater board independence than required is puzzling. Research examining director characteristics and connectedness, not captured by the NZX Code, may be a fruitful area for future research when disclosure allows.

Practical implications

Regulators may need to review reasons for mandating changes in factors affecting firm governance before implementing further regulations concerning board structure.

Social implications

The findings cast doubt on the benefit of mandated board independence for NZ firms. The results imply that “good” governance practices proposed by regulators are not universal.

Originality/value

This paper tests the impact of mandated board independence following the adoption of the Best Practice Code in 2004 using methodologies that account for endogeneity using 13 years of data.
Islamic calendar anomalies: Pakistani practitioners’ perspective
Authors: Halari Anwar , Helliar Christine , Power David M. , Tantisantiwong Nongnuch
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Studies on Islamic calendar anomalies in financial markets tend to apply quantitative analysis to historic share prices. Surprisingly, there is a lack of research investigating whether the participants of such markets are aware of these anomalies and whether these anomalies affect their investment practice. Or is it a case that these practitioners are completely unaware of the anomalies present in these markets and are missing out on profitable opportunities? The purpose of this paper is to analyse the views of influential participants within the Pakistani Stock Market.

Design/methodology/approach

The study documents the findings for 19 face-to-face semi-structured interviews conducted with brokers, regulators and high-net-worth individual investors in Karachi.

Findings

The paper’s major findings indicate that the participants believed that anomalies were present in the stock market and market participants were actively attempting to exploit these anomalies for abnormal gains. Interviewees suggested that predictable patterns can be identified in certain Islamic months (Muharram, Safar, Ramadan and Zil Hajj). The most common pattern highlighted by the interviews related to the month of Ramadan. Furthermore, interviewees mentioned the influence of the “Memon” community in the Pakistani Stock Market. Respondents also suggested that investor sentiment played an important role in influencing the stock market prices and trading patterns.

Originality/value

Because all the prior studies investigating Islamic calendar anomalies in Muslim-majority countries adopted quantitative method using secondary data, the current investigation is of particular value, as it focuses on the qualitative analyses and reports the views of market participants. This allows to fully explore the topic under investigation and to draw robust conclusions.
DevOps for information management systems
Authors: Qumer Gill Asif , Loumish Abhishek , Riyat Isha , Han Sungyoup
Published: December 2017

Purpose

Development and operations (DevOps) is complex in nature. Organizations are unsure how to effectively establish a DevOps capability for the continuous delivery of information management systems. This paper aims to compile and analyze DevOps by applying the well-known systematic literature review (SLR) approach. This review is intended to provide a knowledge base to support the informed, effective and less risky adoption of DevOps for information management systems.

Design/methodology/approach

In this qualitative research study, the SLR method was applied to identify 3,790 papers, of which, 32 relevant papers were selected and reviewed.

Findings

The results are organized using the well-known ISO/IEC 24744 metamodel elements: people (roles), process, technology and artifacts. In total 11 major roles, 6 processes, 23 technologies, 5 artifacts and 7 challenges (including 6 corresponding solutions) were found. DevOps engineer is becoming a newly identified role. Continuous delivery pipeline and continuous improvement are the most highlighted major DevOps processes. Build system technology is becoming the key focus of DevOps. Finally, major challenges are around people and culture and the misunderstanding of DevOps. Potential research areas are: DevOps analytics, artifacts and tool–chain integration.

Research limitations/implications

The research findings will serve as a resource for both practitioners and researchers who have interest in the research and adoption of DevOps for information management systems.

Originality/value

This paper provides a comprehensive systematic review of the body of knowledge to support the ongoing research and adoption of emerging trends of DevOps for information management systems.
Association between the clinical and histopathological classifications of actinic keratosis and the efficacy of topical imiquimod treatment
Authors: Yu Akitoshi , Tanizaki Hideaki , Kokunai Yasuhito , Kaneda Kazuma , Sugimoto Akira , Otsuka Toshihiro , Kurokawa Teruo , Moriwaki Shinichi
Published: December 2017

We investigated the association between the clinical and histopathological classifications of actinic keratosis (AK) and the efficacy of topical imiquimod treatment. Forty patients (55 lesions) with AK were treated with topical 5% imiquimod and the efficacy of imiquimod for AK was evaluated based on the clinical/histopathological changes. The complete remission (CR) rates in patients with the different clinical classifications of AK were 85.4% (erythematous type) and 46.2% (hyperkeratotic type). The CR rates in the different histopathological classifications of AK were 80% (hypertrophic type), 81.8% (atrophic type) and 42.9% (bowenoid type). The results revealed that determining the clinical and histopathological type of AK was important for selecting a therapeutic method. The topical imiquimod treatment could be expected to be more effective for AK clinically classified as the erythematous type, or histopathologically classified as the atrophic or hypertrophic type. However, it would be expected to be less effective for the treatment of AK clinically classified as the hyperkeratotic type or histopathologically classified as the bowenoid type. Our observations suggest that we can predict the efficacy of topical imiquimod therapy in AK by determining its clinical and histopathological type.
Integrating thermal physiology within a syndrome: Locomotion, personality and habitat selection in an ectotherm
Authors: Michelangeli Marcus , Goulet Celine T. , Kang Hee S. , Wong Bob B. M. , Chapple David G.
Published: December 2017

Physiology and temperature can both have a profound influence on behaviour and metabolism. Despite this, thermal physiology has rarely been considered within the animal personality framework, but could be an inherent mechanism maintaining consistent individual differences in behaviour, particularly in species that need to thermoregulate (i.e. ectotherms).

Here, we present evidence for a thermal‐behavioural syndrome and detail how it is linked to variation in habitat selection in an Australian lizard, the delicate skink, Lampropholis delicata.

We predicted that individuals would occur along a cold–hot continuum—analogues to the slow–fast continuum proposed by the pace‐of‐life hypothesis—whereby an individual's placement along a thermal physiological axis will correspond with their placement along a personality axis. We first tested the thermal‐behavioural syndrome by measuring the thermal preferences and optimal performance temperature of individual skinks and linking it to their activity, exploratory, social and boldness behaviours.

In line with our predictions, we found that individuals with a “hot” thermal type performed optimally at higher temperatures, had faster sprint speeds and were more active, explorative and bold relative to “cold” thermal types.

We then monitored each individual's habitat selection within an artificial environment containing three microhabitats differing in their thermal characteristics.

We found that an individual's thermal type mediated their use of habitat, in which “hot” individuals utilized a hotter microhabitat more regularly than both “cold” and “intermediate” thermal types, suggesting that the thermal‐behavioural syndrome could drive ecological niche partitioning in this species.

We envisage that the thermal‐behavioural syndrome concept is likely to extend to other study systems, particularly to ectothermic organisms that rely heavily on behavioural thermoregulation to maintain optimal body temperature.

A plain language summary is available for this article.
Fisheries productivity under progressive coral reef degradation
Authors: Rogers Alice , Blanchard Julia L. , Mumby Peter J.
Published: December 2017

In response to multiple stressors, coral reef health has declined in recent decades, with reefs exhibiting reduced living coral and structural complexity, and a concomitant rise in the dominance of algal resources. Reef degradation alters food availability and reduces the diversity and density of refuges for prey. These changes affect predator–prey interactions and can have cascading impacts on food webs and fisheries productivity.

We use a size‐based ecosystem model of coral reefs that incorporates the influence of structural complexity, benthic primary production and detrital recycling to explore how predator–prey interactions and fisheries productivity respond to a gradient of reef degradation.

We show that fisheries productivity overall may be robust to initial stages of reef degradation because the benefits of increased resources outweigh the costs of moderate refuge decline. However, the assemblage composition and size structure of reef fish will differ on degraded reefs, with herbivores and invertivores contributing relatively more to productivity.

More significant losses of refuges associated with the erosion of structural complexity correspond to fisheries productivity losses of at least 35% compared to healthy reefs.

Synthesis and applications. Our model provides fisheries managers with quantitative predictions about how fisheries productivity may change in response to the ongoing degradation of coral reefs. We predict an initial increase in productivity at intermediate reef degradation, followed by a drastic decline when structural complexity is lost. We also capture subtle changes to potential catch composition and fish size, including increases in smaller herbivorous and invertivorous fish from degraded reefs, which will undoubtedly impact fisheries value. On the one hand, our results reassure for continued productivity in the short term, but on the other, we warn against complacency. Management must change to capture any potential benefits to fisheries, and long‐term sustainability still depends on the maintenance of complex coral reef habitats.
Four Organisational Cultures in the Australian Public Service: Assessing the Validity and Plausibility of Mary Douglas’ Cultural Theory
Authors: Matheson Craig
Published: December 2017

This paper seeks to contribute to the study of organisational culture within the public sector by using Mary Douglas' cultural theory to analyse organisational cultures within the Australian Public Service (APS). It shows that the four cultures that she identifies, namely, hierarchy, individualism, egalitarianism, and fatalism, have been present within the APS. It also shows that these cultures can be explained in terms of variations in the extent of social regulation (grid) and social integration (group), as Douglas predicts in her theory. The article thereby shows that cultural theory is valid and it can contribute to the study of organisational cultures, particularly those within the public sector. It shows that the strength of these four cultures within the APS varies in accordance with organisational rank. Fatalism is strongest at junior and middle levels; individualism is strongest at senior levels whereas hierarchy is strongest at middle levels.
Talking about time: temporality and motivation for international Christian humanitarian actors in South Sudan
Authors: Kaler Amy , Parkins John R.
Published: December 2017

We investigate ways in which international evangelical Christian humanitarians talk about time as they engaged in humanitarian assistance and development work in South Sudan. Our focus on Christian development work is motivated by a desire to understand how and why people persevere in humanitarian work and reconcile seemingly impossible circumstances and to further elaborate sociological conceptions of time as experienced by people in their own lives. We argue that their faith commitments produce ways of understanding time and causality which make possible their attachment to risky and dangerous work. Our work is based on in‐depth interviews with people who work or have recently worked for Christian faith‐based organizations in South Sudan (n = 30). Drawing on Tavory and Eliasoph's () concepts of life narratives and life projects, we treat our participants as culturally competent actors who skilfully construct their stories through drawing on collectively shared faith‐inflected ideas about temporality and causation. We argue that these ideas represent an important resource for getting through the risks, challenges and uncertainties of doing humanitarian work in complex crises.
Measuring Suspended‐Sediment Concentration and Turbidity in the Middle Mississippi and Lower Missouri Rivers Using Landsat Data
Authors: Pereira Leticia S. F. , Andes Lisa C. , Cox Amanda L. , Ghulam Abduwasit
Published: December 2017

The Middle Mississippi River (MMR) and lower Missouri River (MOR) provide critical navigation waterways, ecological habitat, and flood conveyance. They are also directly linked to processes affecting geomorphic and ecological conditions in the lower MR and Delta. For this study, a method was developed to measure suspended‐sediment concentration (SSC) and turbidity along the MMR and the lower MOR using Landsat imagery. Data from nine United States Geological Survey water‐quality monitoring stations were used to create a model‐development dataset and a model‐validation dataset. Concurrent gaging data were identified for available Landsat images to generate the datasets. Surface‐reflectance filters were developed to eliminate images with cirrus cloud coverage or vessel traffic. Using the filtered model‐development dataset, unique reflectance‐SSC and reflectance‐turbidity models were developed for three Landsat sensors: Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager, Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus, and Landsat 4–5 Thematic Mapper. Coefficient of determination values for the models ranged from 0.72 to 0.88 for the model‐development dataset. The model‐validation dataset was used to evaluate the performance of the models and had coefficient of determination values ranging from 0.62 to 0.79.
The effect of pre‐operative gastric ultrasound examination on the choice of general anaesthetic induction technique for non‐elective paediatric surgery. A prospective cohort study
Authors: Gagey A.‐C. , de Queiroz Siqueira M. , Monard C. , Combet S. , Cogniat B. , Desgranges F.‐P. , Robinson P. , Chassard D. , Bouvet L.
Published: December 2017

Ultrasound examination of the gastric antrum is a non‐invasive tool that allows reliable estimation of gastric contents. We performed this prospective cohort study in non‐elective paediatric surgery to assess whether gastric ultrasound may help to determine the best anaesthetic induction technique, whether rapid sequence or routine. The primary outcome was the reduction of inappropriate induction technique. A pre‐operative clinical assessment was performed by the attending anaesthetist who made a provisional plan for induction. Gastric ultrasound was performed in the semirecumbent and right lateral decubitus positions for a qualitative assessment of gastric contents, using a 0–2 grading scale. A final induction plan was made based on this assessment. Immediately after tracheal intubation, gastric contents were suctioned through a multi‐orifice nasogastric tube; these were defined as above risk threshold for regurgitation and aspiration if there was clear fluid > 0.8 ml.kg−1, and/or the presence of thick fluid and/or solid particles. Gastric ultrasound was feasible in 130 out of 143 (90%) of children, and led to a change in the planned induction technique in 67 patients: 30 from routine to rapid sequence, and 37 from rapid sequence to routine. An appropriate induction technique was therefore performed in 85% of children, vs. 49% planned after pre‐operative clinical assessment alone (p < 0.00001). Our results suggest that gastric ultrasound is a useful guide to the general anaesthetic induction technique with respect to the risk of pulmonary aspiration, in comparison with pre‐operative clinical assessment alone.
Randomized clinical trial to assess the ideal mode of delivery for local anaesthetic abdominal wall blocks
Authors: Holmes Ryan , Smith Stephen R. , Carroll Rosemary , Holz Phillip , Mehrotra Rahul , Pockney Peter
Published: December 2017

Background

Adequate post‐operative analgesia is essential for recovery following abdominal surgery. Abdominal wall nerve blocks have been shown to be beneficial in this respect following surgery. The purpose of this trial was to examine the efficacy of infusional versus intermittent bolus delivery of abdominal wall blocks in patients undergoing abdominal resectional gastrointestinal surgery.

Methods

A prospective randomized clinical trial, involving 120 patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery, was undertaken across three hospitals. Insertion of abdominal wall catheters was performed and patients were randomized to receive ropivacaine 0.2% by either continuous infusion or regular intermittent bolus. The primary outcome was respiratory function, as measured by spirometry on post‐operative days 1–3 and 30. Secondary outcomes were pain, mobility, return of gut function, length of hospital stay, complication rates and patient satisfaction with analgesia.

Results

All 120 patients were followed up to trial completion. Patients were well matched with regards to demographics. There was no difference between groups with regards to the primary outcome of post‐operative respiratory function. The bolus group had improved mobility scores on post‐operative day 1 (P = 0.025). There were no complications associated with blockade, and no other differences were identified between assessed outcomes.

Conclusions

Continuous infusion and intermittent bolus are both safe ways of delivering abdominal wall nerve blockade, with equivalent analgesic outcomes. Bolus delivery appears to provide superior early mobility in comparison with continuous infusion.
The influence of postpartum PTSD on breastfeeding: A longitudinal population‐based study
Authors: Garthus‐Niegel Susan , Horsch Antje , Ayers Susan , Junge‐Hoffmeister Juliane , Weidner Kerstin , Eberhard‐Gran Malin
Published: December 2017

Background

In most Western countries, breastfeeding rates are lower than what is recommended by the World Health Organization. Depression has been shown to influence breastfeeding outcomes; however, there is very little research on the role of postpartum posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This study examined to what extent maternal postpartum PTSD predicted breastfeeding initiation, exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months, and continuation up to 1 and 2 years.

Methods

The study is part of the large, population‐based Akershus Birth Cohort. Data from the hospital's birth record and questionnaire data from 8 weeks and 2 years postpartum were used (n = 1480). All breastfeeding variables significantly correlated with postpartum PTSD were entered into stepwise logistic regression analyses.

Results

Although most mothers (97.1%) initiated breastfeeding, considerably fewer adhered to the World Health Organization's breastfeeding guidelines about exclusive breastfeeding during the first 6 months (13.4%) or continued breastfeeding for 12 or 24 months postpartum (37.7% and 4.2%, respectively). Even after adjustment for important confounding variables, maternal postpartum PTSD was significantly associated with not initiating breastfeeding (aOR 5.98 [95% CI 1.79‐19.97]). Postpartum PTSD was also significantly related to not continuing breastfeeding up to 12 months, although this association did not hold after adjusting for confounding variables.

Conclusion

Identifying women at risk of not initiating breastfeeding is crucial to prevent a negative influence on infant development and the development of the mother‐infant bond. Early screening and treatment of women at risk of developing postpartum PTSD might be a way forward.
Gender differences in mathematics achievement in Beijing: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Li Meijuan , Zhang Yongmei , Liu Hongyun , Hao Yi
Published: December 2017

Background

The topic of gender differences in mathematical performance has received considerable attention in the fields of education, sociology, economics and psychology.

Aims

We analysed gender differences based on data from the Beijing Assessment of Educational Quality in China.

Sample

A large data set of Grade 5 and Grade 8 students who took the mathematical test from 2008 to 2013 (n = 73,318) were analysed.

Method

Meta‐analysis was used in this research.

Results

The findings were as follows. (1) No gender differences in mathematical achievement exist among students in Grade 5, relatively small gender differences exist in Grade 8, females scored higher than males, and variance of male students is larger than that of females in both Grade 5 and Grade 8. (2) Except for statistics and probability, gender differences in other domains in Grade 8 are significantly higher than those in Grade 5, and female students outperform males. (3) The ratio of students of both gender in Grade 5 and Grade 8 at the 95–100% percentile level shows no significant differences. However, the ratio of male students is significantly higher than that of females at the 0–5% percentile level. (4) In Grade 5, the extent to which females outperformed males in low SES group is larger than that in higher SES groups, and in Grade 8, the magnitude of gender differences in urban schools is smaller than that in rural schools.

Conclusion

There is a small gender difference among the 8th graders, with the male disadvantage at the bottom of the distribution. And gender differences also vary across school locations.
ESTIMATING MARKET POWER IN HOMOGENOUS PRODUCT MARKETS USING A COMPOSED ERROR MODEL: APPLICATION TO THE CALIFORNIA ELECTRICITY MARKET
Authors: Orea Luis , Steinbuks Jevgenijs
Published: December 2017

This study proposes a novel econometric approach to estimating market power in homogenous product markets. We use a composed error model to estimate the stochastic part of firms' strategic pricing equation. This part is formed by two random variables: a traditional error term, which captures random shocks, and a random conduct term, which measures the degree of market power. This approach allows for the conduct parameter to vary flexibly across firms and within firms over time, and avoids ad hoc structural restrictions for identifying firms' conduct. The empirical application of our approach is based on a well‐known California wholesale electricity market data set, which has been rigorously used to study market power. Our results suggest that realization of market power varies over both time and firms, and reject the assumption of a common or time‐invariant conduct parameter. (JELC34, C51, L13, L94)
Evidence for depressed growth of juvenile Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus) in Johnstone and Queen Charlotte Straits, British Columbia
Authors: Journey M. L. , Trudel M. , Young G. , Beckman B. R.
Published: December 2017

Juvenile salmon traveling northwestward to the Pacific Ocean from the Strait of Georgia migrate through and take residence in both Johnstone and Queen Charlotte Straits. Johnstone Strait is a narrow and deep passage that is tidally mixed daily, resulting in a nearly isothermal water column, surface to the bottom (approximately 250 m). The trophic gauntlet hypothesis (McKinnell, Curchitser, Groot, Kaeriyama, & Trudel, ) suggests that Johnstone Strait provides a poor growth environment for fish required to transit this area during their migration, due to the oceanographic conditions found there. Using insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF1), a hormone used to assess short‐term growth (within 5–7 days) in fishes, growth was measured in individual juvenile salmon from five species in the Northern Strait of Georgia, Johnstone Strait, Queen Charlotte Strait, and Queen Charlotte Sound in the summer of 2012, 2013, and 2014. All five juvenile salmon species had significantly lower IGF1 concentration in both Johnstone and Queen Charlotte Straits as compared to the Northern Strait of Georgia. These results are consistent with some aspects of the tropic gauntlet hypothesis as growth of juvenile salmon in both Johnstone and Queen Charlotte Straits were significantly lower than found in the Northern Strait of Georgia across all salmon species and all years. In addition, these results demonstrate the utility of growth indices for assessing the effects of environmental variation on juvenile salmon in the presence of a strong ecological driver.
Bio‐agronomic characterization and implications on the potential use as forage of Bituminaria bituminosa and B. morisiana accessions
Authors: Melis R. A. M. , Franca A. , Re G. A. , Porqueddu C.
Published: December 2017

Perennial forage legumes may be pivotal for improving the sustainability of Mediterranean rainfed farming systems. This study summarizes the outcomes of a study aimed at characterizing morphological and agronomic traits of new germplasm of Bituminaria bituminosa and B. morisiana in Mediterranean environments. Five B. morisiana and three B. bituminosa native populations were evaluated in a small‐plot field experiment in Sardinia (Italy) and compared with seven Spanish accessions of B. bituminosa. The two Bituminaria species differed greatly in morphological traits and the beginning of the flowering stage, and remarkable variations between species were found for forage production and its seasonal distribution, seed yield and persistence. Average cumulative dry‐matter yield was higher in B. bituminosa than in B. morisiana (+7.6%; 297 vs. 276 g per plant). Average 3‐year seed production varied greatly between accessions (from 0.3 to 141 g per plant). Differences for these traits were also found between Sardinian and Spanish germplasm of B. bituminosa. Four clusters were generated by K‐means clustering. Accessions included in cluster III exhibited a positive combination of favourable forage production, high seed yield and satisfactory persistence. Nonetheless, the cluster analysis did not highlight a sharp discrimination between Bituminaria species. The overall results revealed the potential role of Sardinian accessions of B. bituminosa and B. morisiana in extending the forage season and for increased resilience of grasslands in Sardinia and other Mediterranean regions under rainfed conditions.
Five years of monitoring for the emergence of oseltamivir resistance in patients with influenza A infections in the Influenza Resistance Information Study
Authors: Lina Bruno , Boucher Charles , Osterhaus Albert , Monto Arnold S. , Schutten Martin , Whitley Richard J. , Nguyen‐Van‐Tam Jonathan S.
Published: December 2017

Background and objectives

The Influenza Resistance Information Study (IRIS) was initiated in 2008 to study the emergence of neuraminidase inhibitor (NAI) resistance and the clinical course of influenza in immunocompetent treated and untreated patients.

Methods

Patients had throat/nose swabs collected on days 1, 3, 6 and 10 for analyses of influenza type, subtype and virus susceptibility to NAIs. RT‐PCR‐positive samples were cultured and tested for NAI resistance by specific RT‐PCR and phenotypic testing. Scores for influenza symptoms were recorded on diary cards (Days 1‐10). This study focuses on influenza A‐infected cases only.

Results

Among 3230 RT‐PCR‐positive patients, 2316 had influenza A of whom 1216 received oseltamivir monotherapy within 2 days of symptom onset (9 seasonal H1N1; 662 H3N2; 545 H1N1pdm2009). Except for 9 patients with naturally resistant seasonal H1N1 (2008/9), no resistance was detected in Day 1 samples. Emergence of resistance (post‐Day 1) was detected in 43/1207 (3.56%) oseltamivir‐treated influenza A‐infected patients, with a higher frequency in 1‐ to 5‐year‐olds (11.8%) vs >5‐year‐olds (1.4%). All N1‐ and N2‐resistant viruses had H275Y (n = 27) or R292K (n = 16) substitutions, respectively. For 43 patients, virus clearance was significantly delayed vs treated patients with susceptible viruses (8.1 vs 10.9 days; P < .0001), and 11 (23.2%) remained RT‐PCR positive for influenza at Day 10. However, their symptoms resolved by Day 6 or earlier.

Conclusions

Oseltamivir resistance was only detected during antiviral treatment, with the highest incidence occurring among 1‐ to 5‐year‐olds. Resistance delayed viral clearance, but had no impact on symptom resolution.
Hidradenitis suppurativa treated with wide excision and second intention healing: a meaningful local cure rate after 253 procedures
Authors: Deckers I.E. , Dahi Y. , van der Zee H.H. , Prens E.P.
Published: December 2017

Background

Surgery is an important treatment modality for hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Various methods of HS surgery have been described. Even though wide excision is a common surgical procedure for HS, data on the recurrence rate and patient satisfaction are scarce.

Objective

To determine the recurrence rate and patient satisfaction of HS lesional wide excision (complete excision) with secondary intention healing.

Methods

A single centre retrospective study. Hundred and twenty eligible patients were identified from our medical files, and an individualized questionnaire was sent.

Results

Eighty‐six patents responded to our questionnaire (71.7%). Of whom, 84 patients underwent in total 253 procedures. The mean follow‐up time per procedure was 36.2 months. In 37.6% of the procedures, recurrence occurred within a mean follow‐up period of 3 years (after a median of 6.0 months). Total remission of an anatomical area was achieved in 49% of the procedures, whereas natural disease progression occurred in 13%. The genital region was the most prone to recurrence.

The majority of the patients were glad that they had undergone the procedure and would recommend the surgical procedure to other HS patients.

Conclusion

Lesional wide excision (complete excision) with secondary intention healing yields a meaningful local cure rate for HS and is well tolerated.
Defective trafficking of Kv2.1 channels in MPTP‐induced nigrostriatal degeneration
Authors: Chao Ru‐Yi , Cheng Chia‐Hui , Wu Sheng‐Nan , Chen Pei‐Chun
Published: December 2017

Intracellular protein trafficking is tightly regulated, and improper trafficking might be the fundamental provocateur for human diseases including neurodegeneration. In neurons, protein trafficking to and from the plasma membrane affects synaptic plasticity. Voltage‐gated potassium channel 2.1 (Kv2.1) is a predominant delayed rectifier potassium (K+) current, and electrical activity patterns of dopamine (DA) neurons within the substantia nigra are generated and modulated by the orchestrated function of different ion channels. The pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) is the progressive loss of these DA neurons, resulting in the degeneration of striatal dopaminergic terminals. However, whether trafficking of Kv2.1 channels contributes to PD remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that MPTP/MPP+ increases the surface expression of the Kv2.1 channel and causes nigrostriatal degeneration by using a subchronic MPTP mouse model. The inhibition of the Kv2.1 channel by using a specific blocker, guangxitoxin‐1E, protected nigrostriatal projections against MPTP/MPP+ insult and thus facilitated the recovery of motor coordination. These findings highlight the importance of trafficking of Kv2.1 channels in the pathogenesis of PD.

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Dissection of the genetic architecture of three seed‐quality traits and consequences for breeding in Brassica napus
Authors: Wang Bo , Wu Zhikun , Li Zhaohong , Zhang Qinghua , Hu Jianlin , Xiao Yingjie , Cai Dongfang , Wu Jiangsheng , King Graham J. , Li Haitao , Liu Kede
Published: December 2017

Genome‐wide association studies (GWASs) combining high‐throughput genome resequencing and phenotyping can accelerate the dissection of genetic architecture and identification of genes for plant complex traits. In this study, we developed a rapeseed genomic variation map consisting of 4 542 011 SNPs and 628 666 INDELs. GWAS was performed for three seed‐quality traits, including erucic acid content (EAC), glucosinolate content (GSC) and seed oil content (SOC) using 3.82 million polymorphisms in an association panel. Six, 49 and 17 loci were detected to be associated with EAC, GSC and SOC in multiple environments, respectively. The mean total contribution of these loci in each environment was 94.1% for EAC and 87.9% for GSC, notably higher than that for SOC (40.1%). A high correlation was observed between phenotypic variance and number of favourable alleles for associated loci, which will contribute to breeding improvement by pyramiding these loci. Furthermore, candidate genes were detected underlying associated loci, based on functional polymorphisms in gene regions where sequence variation was found to correlate with phenotypic variation. Our approach was validated by detection of well‐characterized FAE1 genes at each of two major loci for EAC on chromosomes A8 and C3, along with MYB28 genes at each of three major loci for GSC on chromosomes A9, C2 and C9. Four novel candidate genes were detected by correlation between GSC and SOC and observed sequence variation, respectively. This study provides insights into the genetic architecture of three seed‐quality traits, which would be useful for genetic improvement of B. napus.
Diagnostic consistency and interchangeability of schizophrenic disorders and bipolar disorders: A 7‐year follow‐up study
Authors: Hung Yen‐Ni , Yang Shu‐Yu , Kuo Chian‐Jue , Lin Shih‐Ku
Published: December 2017

Aim

The change in psychiatric diagnoses in clinical practice is not an unusual phenomenon. The interchange between the diagnoses of schizophrenic disorders and bipolar disorders is a major clinical issue because of the differences in treatment regimens and long‐term prognoses. In this study, we used a nationwide population‐based sample to compare the diagnostic consistency and interchange rate between schizophrenic disorders and bipolar disorders.

Methods

In total, 25 711 and 11 261 patients newly diagnosed as having schizophrenic disorder and bipolar disorder, respectively, were retrospectively enrolled from the Psychiatric Inpatient Medical Claims database between 2001 and 2005. We followed these two cohorts for 7 years to determine whether their diagnoses were consistent throughout subsequent hospitalizations. The interchange between the two diagnoses was analyzed.

Results

In the schizophrenic disorder cohort, the overall diagnostic consistency rate was 87.3% and the rate of change to bipolar disorder was 3.0% during the 7‐year follow‐up. Additional analyses of subtypes revealed that the change rate from schizoaffective disorder to bipolar disorder was 12.0%. In the bipolar disorder cohort, the overall diagnostic consistency rate was 71.9% and the rate of change to schizophrenic disorder was 8.3%.

Conclusion

Changes in the diagnosis of a major psychosis are not uncommon. The interchange between the diagnoses of schizophrenic disorders and bipolar disorders might be attributed to the evolution of clinical symptoms and the observation of preserved social functions that contradict the original diagnosis. While making a psychotic diagnosis, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of the change in diagnosis in the future.
Stress‐responsive regulation of long non‐coding RNA polyadenylation in Oryza sativa
Authors: Yuan Jiapei , Li Jingrui , Yang Yang , Tan Chang , Zhu Yumin , Hu Long , Qi Yijun , Lu Zhi John
Published: December 2017

Recently, long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to be involved in many biological processes of plants; however, a systematic study on transcriptional and, in particular, post‐transcriptional regulation of stress‐responsive lncRNAs in Oryza sativa (rice) is lacking. We sequenced three types of RNA libraries (poly(A)+, poly(A)− and nuclear RNAs) under four abiotic stresses (cold, heat, drought and salt). Based on an integrative bioinformatics approach and ~200 high‐throughput data sets, ~170 of which have been published, we revealed over 7000 lncRNAs, nearly half of which were identified for the first time. Notably, we found that the majority of the ~500 poly(A) lncRNAs that were differentially expressed under stress were significantly downregulated, but approximately 25% were found to have upregulated non‐poly(A) forms. Moreover, hundreds of lncRNAs with downregulated polyadenylation (DPA) tend to be highly conserved, show significant nuclear retention and are co‐expressed with protein‐coding genes that function under stress. Remarkably, these DPA lncRNAs are significantly enriched in quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for stress tolerance or development, suggesting their potential important roles in rice growth under various stresses. In particular, we observed substantially accumulated DPA lncRNAs in plants exposed to drought and salt, which is consistent with the severe reduction of RNA 3′‐end processing factors under these conditions. Taken together, the results of this study reveal that polyadenylation and subcellular localization of many rice lncRNAs are likely to be regulated at the post‐transcriptional level. Our findings strongly suggest that many upregulated/downregulated lncRNAs previously identified by traditional RNA‐seq analyses need to be carefully reviewed to assess the influence of post‐transcriptional modification.
The Self-Fulﬁlling Discriminations and Mismatches for Old Workers and Poor Workers
Authors: Liu Weiguang
Published: December 2017

There exists very general discriminations and mismatches for the old workers and poor workers. This paper built a model to explain the reason of that phenomenon based on asymmetry information. A skilled worker may be mismatched with unimportant jobs because of the social bias towards old workers and poor workers, in that situation, the expense workers spend to become skilled will not be covered, which will be a big disincentive for workers to be skilled. The disincentive will lead to less skilled workers, so the working performance of certain kinds of workers in the whole society will be worse, which will confirm the discrimination. In that process, the expense to be skilled is a key factor. And we also try to use that model to explain some phenomena, such as East Asian miracle and class solidification.
Real-Time Aerosol Measurements in Post-Combustion CO2 Capture Using ELPI+™ and Smooth and Sintered Collection Plates
Authors: Saha Chiranjib , Anthony Justin H.
Published: December 2017

The aerosols from CO2-depleted flue gas at the National Carbon Capture Center (NCCC) Pilot Solvent Test Unit (PSTU) and Slipstream Solvent Test Unit (SSTU) were measured in real-time using a Dekati Electric Low Pressure Impactor (ELPI+™). The coal-fired flue gas is provided by Alabama Power's Gaston Power Plant Unit 5. The utilization of ELPI+™ for aerosol research in postcombustion CO2 capture is very important due to its quick response time with size classification as low as 6 nm under transient conditions observed at the NCCC. Different process changes have been quantified at the PSTU and SSTU by multiple tests using the ELPI+™. The performance of smooth and sintered collection plates during dynamic process changes has been investigated. Between separate tests, upstream at unit 5, a new baghouse was installed. The aerosols measured at SSTU, before and after the baghouse installation, are compared. PSTU measurements demonstrated sample sensitivity to transient intercooler start-up conditions and dilution gas temperatures. During the tests, the typical concentration ranged from 106 to 107 cm−3. The aerosol's counter median diameter (CMD) for the sintered plates are lower (47–60 nm) compared to the normal plates (89–130 nm). The optical images indicate that sintered plates soak up all of the collected aerosols. The aerosol number concentration showed a significant drop after the baghouse installation. These results are promising and will enable the development of process control strategies to mitigate solvent losses and reduce operation and maintenance expenses.