bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using information literacy to support teaching practicum students
Authors: Whitver Sara Maurice
Published: April 2017

Purpose

Library literature is filled with studies that lament the challenges of the faculty–librarian relationship. While many examples of productive collaborations can be found in recent literature, librarians still find it challenging on the local level to reshape old perceptions of the role of the librarian. This purpose of this paper is to suggest that by building relationships with graduate student teachers during their first semester of teaching, many of those challenges can be reversed.

Design/methodology/approach

The author describes her work with a writing program teaching practicum, a 1-h course for graduate students in the department of English who are engaged in teaching for the first time.

Findings

This paper offers a model for building collaborative relationships with graduate students who are first-time teachers of writing to support the development of information literacy in their teaching practices. Using the community-building principles of Writing Across the Disciplines and the collaboration initiatives referenced in writing program literature, librarians can establish peer relationships with first-time teachers, which can have long-lasting effects on faculty–librarian relationships, as those teachers continue to teach throughout their career.

Originality/value

Many articles exist that talk about faculty–librarian collaborations, but virtually none have explored the role of librarian collaborations with first-time teachers or, by extension, with graduate student teachers in general. This paper offers one model for establishing a productive role for the librarian within first-year writing courses while also empowering first-time teachers to successfully design and implement researched writing assignments.
A strengths-based approach to widening participation students in higher education
Authors: Krutkowski Sebastian
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the need for a pedagogical shift from “problems” to “possibilities”, which will help ease the transition of students into higher education (as well as the transitions between levels of study and employment), especially those coming from under-represented and under-privileged backgrounds, known in the UK as the widening-participation category.

Design/methodology/approach

GSM London is the first higher education provider in the UK to implement a strengths-based approach to staff and student development. This study looks at the delivery plan for strengths-based education, especially how it can inform and reshape information literacy instruction in the library and other academic skills modules.

Findings

Higher education is an important environment to help learners develop their talents into strengths, which can be defined as “the ability to provide consistent and near-perfect performance in a given activity” (Buckingham and Clifton, 2005, p. 20). There is a perception that widening-participation students have more significant gaps or weaknesses upon entering university education. This case study confirms that not remediation but a strengths-based approach has the strongest potential to enable students to better manage their weaknesses and become independent learners.

Research limitations/implications

Further research is required, as not enough empirical data could be collected after only one semester of strengths-based learning implementation at GSM.

Originality/value

The author attempts to re-conceptualise information literacy instruction and propose a mapping exercise, in which library instruction is aligned to the principles of strengths-based education and the language of 34 themes in the popular strengths assessment tool from the Gallup organisation. The expectation is to build fluid transitions between levels of study and academic matters and extracurricular activities that students take part in. This approach can also assist learners far beyond the library and long after they leave university, equipping students with a skillset that enables a more meaningful participation in society.
Dermoscopy–pathology relationship in seborrheic keratosis
Authors: Minagawa Akane
Published: April 2017

Making a definitive diagnosis of seborrheic keratosis (SK) can be challenging for the naked eye due to its wide variation in clinical features. Fortunately, however, most cases of SK exhibit the typical dermoscopic findings of fissures and ridges, hairpin vessels with white halo, comedo‐like openings, and milia‐like cysts, all of which are helpful to distinguish SK from melanoma, melanocytic nevus, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and other skin tumors. Histopathologically, these dermoscopic characteristics correspond to papillomatous surface of the epidermis, enlarged capillaries of the dermal papillae, pseudohorn cysts in the epidermis opened to the surface of the lesion and intraepidermal cysts, respectively. Clinicians should bear in mind that the clonal type of SK dermoscopically mimics melanoma and BCC by the presence of globule‐like structures, while regressing SK exhibits a granular pattern that is similar to the peppering found in melanoma. Furthermore, milia‐like cysts alone are insufficient for a conclusive diagnosis of SK because melanoma in rare cases displays cysts along with other SK‐like dermoscopic findings.
Carbon nanotubes accelerate methane production in pure cultures of methanogens and in a syntrophic coculture
Authors: Salvador Andreia F. , Martins Gilberto , Melle‐Franco Manuel , Serpa Ricardo , Stams Alfons J.M. , Cavaleiro Ana J. , Pereira M. Alcina , Alves M. Madalena
Published: April 2017

Carbon materials have been reported to facilitate direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET) between bacteria and methanogens improving methane production in anaerobic processes. In this work, the effect of increasing concentrations of carbon nanotubes (CNT) on the activity of pure cultures of methanogens and on typical fatty acid‐degrading syntrophic methanogenic coculture was evaluated. CNT affected methane production by methanogenic cultures, although acceleration was higher for hydrogenotrophic methanogens than for acetoclastic methanogens or syntrophic coculture. Interestingly, the initial methane production rate (IMPR) by Methanobacterium formicicum cultures increased 17 times with 5 g·L−1 CNT. Butyrate conversion to methane by Syntrophomonas wolfei and Methanospirillum hungatei was enhanced (∼1.5 times) in the presence of CNT (5 g·L−1), but indications of DIET were not obtained. Increasing CNT concentrations resulted in more negative redox potentials in the anaerobic microcosms. Remarkably, without a reducing agent but in the presence of CNT, the IMPR was higher than in incubations with reducing agent. No growth was observed without reducing agent and without CNT. This finding is important to re‐frame discussions and re‐interpret data on the role of conductive materials as mediators of DIET in anaerobic communities. It also opens new challenges to improve methane production in engineered methanogenic processes.
Human Rights Watch v Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Victim Status, Extraterritoriality and the Search for Principled Reasoning
Authors: Raible Lea
Published: April 2017

In Human Rights Watch v Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office the UK Investigatory Powers Tribunal found that the relevant standard of ‘victim status’ that applies in secret surveillance cases consists in a potential risk of being subjected to surveillance and that the European Convention on Human Rights does not apply to the surveillance of individuals who reside outside of the UK. This note argues that the Tribunal's finding regarding the victim status of the applicants was sound but that the underlying reasoning was not. It concludes that the Tribunal's finding on extraterritoriality is unsatisfactory and that its engagement with the European Court of Human Rights case law on the matter lacked depth. Finally, the note considers the defects of the Human Rights Watch case, and the case law on extraterritoriality more generally, against the backdrop of the place of principled reasoning in human rights adjudication.
Health Insurance and Children in Low‐ and Middle‐income Countries: A Review
Authors: Mitra Sophie , Palmer Michael , Pullaro Shannon , Mont Daniel , Groce Nora
Published: April 2017

We conduct the first systematic review of the impact of health insurance on children and their households in low‐ and middle‐income countries where nine‐tenths of the world's child population reside. We find only 13 studies for seven countries published between 2000 and 2014 which assess the insurance impacts for children, controlling for self‐selection and heterogeneity. Nine out of 10 studies reviewed provide consistent evidence that health insurance provides financial protection. The results are more mixed for health utilisation and health outcomes. Policy‐makers would benefit from additional research on whether and how health insurance benefits children.
A DNA barcode library for Germany′s mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera)
Authors: Morinière Jérôme , Hendrich Lars , Balke Michael , Beermann Arne J. , König Tobias , Hess Monika , Koch Stefan , Müller Reinhard , Leese Florian , Hebert Paul D. N. , Hausmann Axel , Schubart Christoph D. , Haszprunar Gerhard
Published: April 2017

Mayflies, stoneflies and caddisflies (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera) are prominent representatives of aquatic macroinvertebrates, commonly used as indicator organisms for water quality and ecosystem assessments. However, unambiguous morphological identification of EPT species, especially their immature life stages, is a challenging, yet fundamental task. A comprehensive DNA barcode library based upon taxonomically well‐curated specimens is needed to overcome the problematic identification. Once available, this library will support the implementation of fast, cost‐efficient and reliable DNA‐based identifications and assessments of ecological status. This study represents a major step towards a DNA barcode reference library as it covers for two‐thirds of Germany's EPT species including 2,613 individuals belonging to 363 identified species. As such, it provides coverage for 38 of 44 families (86%) and practically all major bioindicator species. DNA barcode compliant sequences (≥500 bp) were recovered from 98.74% of the analysed specimens. Whereas most species (325, i.e., 89.53%) were unambiguously assigned to a single Barcode Index Number (BIN) by its COI sequence, 38 species (18 Ephemeroptera, nine Plecoptera and 11 Trichoptera) were assigned to a total of 89 BINs. Most of these additional BINs formed nearest neighbour clusters, reflecting the discrimination of geographical subclades of a currently recognized species. BIN sharing was uncommon, involving only two species pairs of Ephemeroptera. Interestingly, both maximum pairwise and nearest neighbour distances were substantially higher for Ephemeroptera compared to Plecoptera and Trichoptera, possibly indicating older speciation events, stronger positive selection or faster rate of molecular evolution.
Critical Digital Diplomacy as a Global Challenge: The South Korean Experience
Authors: Melissen Jan , de Keulenaar Emillie V.
Published: April 2017

An important debate on the impact of digitization on diplomatic practice is currently taking place in most of the world's diplomatic services and beyond. Western perspectives do however dominate writings on the subject and there is scope for importing new theoretical notions into these discussions. This article on digital diplomacy aims to show that South Korea's practices harmonize well with insights from new media theory, and that both inform this debate. New media theory advocates the examination of the new digital environment in which diplomatic interactions are unfolding, and it articulates the politics behind digital technology. We argue that existing, ‘analogue’ diplomacy is not merely superimposed onto technologies now shaping an environment that is facilitating digitally native practices. The debate on digital diplomacy can equally benefit from analysis of the experiences of South Korea. Technological development and innovation impact on the sphere of foreign policy, to the extent that ‘becoming technological’ has turned into an important Korean export asset. We briefly review four ways in which South Korea applied technology to diplomacy. Our analysis concludes with general recommendations for diplomatic practitioners across the world, particularly those who still look at new technologies, including social media, as mere open and freely available ‘services’.
An evaluation of the International Society for Animal Genetics recommended parentage and identification panel for the domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica)
Authors: de Groot M. , van Haeringen W. A.
Published: April 2017

In this study, the International Society for Animal Genetics (ISAG) recommended panel for the identification of the domestic pigeon (Columba livia domestica) is characterized based on commonly used statistical parameters. The marker panel is based on 16 short tandem repeat (STR) loci (PIGN15, PIGN10, PIGN57, PIGN26, CliμD16, CliμD19, PIGN12, CliμD17, CliμT17, PIGN04, CliμD01, CliμD11, CliμD35, CliμT02, CliμT13, CliμT43). The alleles of the 16 loci consist of a mixture of tri‐, tetra‐, penta‐ and hexameric repeat patterns. A sex determination marker was included in the multiplex for quality control. The repeat sequence of the PIGN markers was previously unpublished and therefore sequenced to reveal the sequence pattern. In total, 1421 pigeons were genotyped on 16 STR loci to generate allele frequency data for each locus. For all 16 markers combined, a PE1 (combined non‐exclusion probability, first parent) of 0.9986 and PE2 (combined non‐exclusion probability, second parent) of >0.9999 was observed. Comparing the alleged father and mother, a PE value of >0.9999 was observed. Two of the markers, CliμD19 and PIGN12, were found to have relatively high Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and F(null) values. Therefore these markers may be considered to be replaced by other STRs. Another point of discussion may be to add a gender identification marker to the recommended ISAG panel. Not only can this serve as an extra identification marker, but this can also confirm the sex of a sample, because it is challenging to determine the sex based on phenotypical characteristics, especially for chicks. In conclusion, the set of 16 STR markers can be used in routine parentage verification and the identification of individuals.
Azathioprine dose reduction in inflammatory bowel disease patients on combination therapy: an open‐label, prospective and randomised clinical trial
Authors: Roblin X. , Boschetti G. , Williet N. , Nancey S. , Marotte H. , Berger A. , Phelip J. M. , Peyrin‐Biroulet L. , Colombel J. F. , Del Tedesco E. , Paul S. , Flourie B.
Published: April 2017

Background

Infliximab (IFX) combined with azathioprine (AZA) is more effective than IFX monotherapy in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Aim

To identify the AZA optimal dose that is required for efficacy when receiving combination therapy.

Methods

Patients with IBD in durable remission on combination therapy were enrolled in a 1‐year, open‐label, prospective trial after randomisation into three groups: AZA steady (2‐2.5 mg/kg/day, n=28) vs AZA down (dose was halved 1‐1.25 mg/kg/day, n=27) vs AZA stopped (n=26). Primary endpoint was failure defined as occurrence of a clinical relapse and/or any change in IBD therapy.

Results

Eighty‐one patients were included. Five (17.9%), 3 (11.1%), and 8 (30.8%) patients experienced failure at 1 year in groups AZA steady, AZA down and AZA stopped, respectively (P=.1 across the groups). The median trough levels of IFX at inclusion were close to those measured at the end of follow‐up in group AZA steady (3.65 vs 3.45 μg/mL, P=.9) and in group AZA down (3.95 vs 3.60 μg/mL, P=.5), whereas these levels dropped from 4.25 to 2.15 μg/mL (P=.02) in group AZA stopped. Four (14.3%), four (14.8%) and 11 (42.3%) patients experienced an unfavourable evolution of IFX pharmacokinetics in groups AZA steady, AZA down and AZA stopped, respectively. A threshold of 6‐TGN <105 pmoles/8.108 RBC was associated with an unfavourable evolution of IFX pharmacokinetics.

Conclusions

Under combination therapy, AZA dose reduction, but not withdrawal, appears to be as effective as continuation of AZA at full dose.
A suite of essential biodiversity variables for detecting critical biodiversity change
Authors: Schmeller Dirk S. , Weatherdon Lauren V. , Loyau Adeline , Bondeau Alberte , Brotons Lluis , Brummitt Neil , Geijzendorffer Ilse R. , Haase Peter , Kuemmerlen Mathias , Martin Corinne S. , Mihoub Jean‐Baptiste , Rocchini Duccio , Saarenmaa Hannu , Stoll Stefan , Regan Eugenie C.
Published: April 2017

Key global indicators of biodiversity decline, such as the IUCN Red List Index and the Living Planet Index, have relatively long assessment intervals. This means they, due to their inherent structure, function as late‐warning indicators that are retrospective, rather than prospective. These indicators are unquestionably important in providing information for biodiversity conservation, but the detection of early‐warning signs of critical biodiversity change is also needed so that proactive management responses can be enacted promptly where required. Generally, biodiversity conservation has dealt poorly with the scattered distribution of necessary detailed information, and needs to find a solution to assemble, harmonize and standardize the data. The prospect of monitoring essential biodiversity variables (EBVs) has been suggested in response to this challenge. The concept has generated much attention, but the EBVs themselves are still in development due to the complexity of the task, the limited resources available, and a lack of long‐term commitment to maintain EBV data sets. As a first step, the scientific community and the policy sphere should agree on a set of priority candidate EBVs to be developed within the coming years to advance both large‐scale ecological research as well as global and regional biodiversity conservation. Critical ecological transitions are of high importance from both a scientific as well as from a conservation policy point of view, as they can lead to long‐lasting biodiversity change with a high potential for deleterious effects on whole ecosystems and therefore also on human well‐being. We evaluated candidate EBVs using six criteria: relevance, sensitivity to change, generalizability, scalability, feasibility, and data availability and provide a literature‐based review for eight EBVs with high sensitivity to change. The proposed suite of EBVs comprises abundance, allelic diversity, body mass index, ecosystem heterogeneity, phenology, range dynamics, size at first reproduction, and survival rates. The eight candidate EBVs provide for the early detection of critical and potentially long‐lasting biodiversity change and should be operationalized as a priority. Only with such an approach can science predict the future status of global biodiversity with high certainty and set up the appropriate conservation measures early and efficiently. Importantly, the selected EBVs would address a large range of conservation issues and contribute to a total of 15 of the 20 Aichi targets and are, hence, of high biological relevance.
Incidental learning in a multisensory environment across childhood
Authors: Broadbent Hannah J. , White Hayley , Mareschal Denis , Kirkham Natasha Z.
Published: April 2017

Multisensory information has been shown to modulate attention in infants and facilitate learning in adults, by enhancing the amodal properties of a stimulus. However, it remains unclear whether this translates to learning in a multisensory environment across middle childhood, and particularly in the case of incidental learning. One hundred and eighty‐one children aged between 6 and 10 years participated in this study using a novel Multisensory Attention Learning Task (MALT). Participants were asked to respond to the presence of a target stimulus whilst ignoring distractors. Correct target selection resulted in the movement of the target exemplar to either the upper left or right screen quadrant, according to category membership. Category membership was defined either by visual‐only, auditory‐only or multisensory information. As early as 6 years of age, children demonstrated greater performance on the incidental categorization task following exposure to multisensory audiovisual cues compared to unisensory information. These findings provide important insight into the use of multisensory information in learning, and particularly on incidental category learning. Implications for the deployment of multisensory learning tasks within education across development will be discussed.
Postprandial renal haemodynamic effect of lixisenatide vs once‐daily insulin‐glulisine in patients with type 2 diabetes on insulin‐glargine: An 8‐week, randomised, open‐label trial
Authors: Tonneijck Lennart , Muskiet Marcel H. A. , Smits Mark M. , Hoekstra Trynke , Kramer Mark H. H. , Danser A. H. Jan , Diamant Michaela , Joles Jaap A. , van Raalte Daniël H.
Published: April 2017

Aim

To determine whether lixisenatide, a prandial short‐acting glucagon‐like peptide receptor agonist (GLP‐1RA), ameliorates postprandial glomerular hyperfiltration in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared with insulin‐glulisine (iGlu).

Methods

Postprandial renal haemodynamic effects of 8‐week treatment with lixisenatide 20 µg vs once‐daily titrated iGlu were measured in 35 overweight patients with T2DM inadequately controlled on insulin‐glargine, with or without metformin [mean ± SD age 62 ± 7 years, HbA1c 8.0% ± 0.9%, estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 85 ± 12 mL/min/1.73 m2, median (IQR) urinary albumin/creatinine ratio 1.5 (0.9‐3.0) mg/mmol]. After a standardised breakfast, GFR (primary endpoint) and effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) were determined by inulin and para‐aminohippuric acid renal clearance, respectively, based on timed urine sampling. Intrarenal haemodynamic functions were estimated using Gomez equations.

Results

Compared with iGlu, lixisenatide did not affect GFR [+0.1 mL/min/1.73 m2 (95% CI −9 to 9)], ERPF [−17 mL/min/1.73 m2 (−61 to 26)], other (intra‐)renal haemodynamics or renal damage markers, but increased fractional sodium excretion [+0.25% (0.09‐0.41)] and urinary pH [+0.7 (0.3‐1.2)]. Plasma renin, angiotensin‐II and aldosterone were unchanged. Lixisenatide and iGlu reduced HbA1c similarly, by 0.8% ± 0.1% and 0.6% ± 0.1%, respectively, while postprandial glucose was lower with lixisenatide (P = .002). Compared with iGlu, lixisenatide reduced bodyweight [−1.4 kg (−2.5 to −0.2)] and increased postprandial mean arterial pressure [+9 mm Hg (4‐14)].

Conclusion

Eight‐week lixisenatide treatment does not affect postprandial (intra‐)renal haemodynamics compared with iGlu when added to insulin‐glargine in patients with T2DM without overt nephropathy. Prolonged lixisenatide treatment has a sustained natriuretic effect, which is in contrast to previous reports on long‐acting GLP‐1RA, reduces body weight and increases postprandial blood pressure compared with iGlu.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT02276196
Efficacy and safety of evogliptin monotherapy in patients with type 2 diabetes and moderately elevated glycated haemoglobin levels after diet and exercise
Authors: Park Juri , Park Sung Woo , Yoon Kun Ho , Kim Sung Rae , Ahn Kyu Jeung , Lee Jae Hyuk , Mok Ji Oh , Chung Choon Hee , Han Kyung Ah , Koh Gwan Pyo , Kang Jun Goo , Lee Chang Beom , Kim Seong Hwan , Kwon Na Young , Kim Doo Man
Published: April 2017

Aims

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of evogliptin, a newly developed dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitor, in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) inadequately controlled by diet and exercise.

Materials and Methods

In this randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐group, multicentre, phase III study, 160 patients with T2D were assigned to either evogliptin 5 mg or placebo for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the mean change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline to week 24.

Results

The mean baseline HbA1c levels were similar in the evogliptin and the placebo groups (7.20% ± 0.56% vs 7.20% ± 0.63%, respectively). At week 24, evogliptin significantly reduced HbA1c levels from baseline compared with placebo (−0.23% vs 0.05%, respectively,
P < .0001). Additionally, the proportion of patients achieving HbA1c <6.5% was significantly higher in the evogliptin group than in the placebo group (33.3% vs 15.2%;
P
= .008). The overall incidence of adverse events, including hypoglycaemia, was similar in the 2 groups.

Conclusions

In this 24‐week study, once‐daily evogliptin monotherapy significantly improved glycaemic control and was well tolerated in patients with T2D.
Neurovascular unit alteration in somatosensory cortex and enhancement of thermal nociception induced by amphetamine involves central AT1 receptor activation
Authors: Occhieppo Victoria Belén , Marchese Natalia Andrea , Rodríguez Iara Diamela , Basmadjian Osvaldo Martin , Baiardi Gustavo , Bregonzio Claudia
Published: April 2017

The use of psychostimulants, such as amphetamine (Amph), is associated with inflammatory processes, involving glia and vasculature alterations. Brain Angiotensin II (Ang II), through AT1‐receptors (AT1‐R), modulates neurotransmission and plays a crucial role in inflammatory responses in brain vasculature and glia. Our aim for the present work was to evaluate the role of AT1‐R in long‐term alterations induced by repeated exposure to Amph. Astrocyte reactivity, neuronal survival and brain microvascular network were analysed at the somatosensory cortex. Thermal nociception was evaluated as a physiological outcome of this brain area. Male Wistar rats (250–320 g) were administered with AT1‐R antagonist Candesartan/vehicle (3 mg/kg p.o., days 1–5) and Amph/saline (2.5 mg/kg i.p., days 6–10). The four experimental groups were: Veh‐Sal, CV‐Sal, Veh‐Amph, CV‐Amph. On day 17, the animals were sacrificed and their brains were processed for Nissl staining and immunohistochemistry against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and von Willebrand factor. In another group of animals, thermal nociception was evaluated using hot plate test, in the four experimental groups, on day 17. Data were analysed with two‐way anova followed by Bonferroni test. Our results indicate that Amph exposure induces an increase in: neuronal apoptosis, astrocyte reactivity and microvascular network, evaluated as an augmented occupied area by vessels, branching points and their tortuosity. Moreover, Amph exposure decreased the thermal nociception threshold. Pretreatment with the AT1‐R blocker prevented the described alterations induced by this psychostimulant. The decreased thermal nociception and the structural changes in somatosensory cortex could be considered as extended neuroadaptative responses to Amph, involving AT1‐R activation.
Expertise shapes domain‐specific functional cerebral asymmetry during mental imagery: the case of culinary arts and music
Authors: Bensafi Moustafa , Fournel Arnaud , Joussain Pauline , Poncelet Johan , Przybylski Lauranne , Rouby Catherine , Tillmann Barbara
Published: April 2017

Mental imagery in experts has been documented in visual arts, music and dance. Here, we examined this issue in an understudied art domain, namely, culinary arts. Previous research investigating mental imagery in experts has reported either a stronger involvement of the right hemisphere or bilateral brain activation. The first aim of our study was to examine whether culinary arts also recruit such a hemispheric pattern specifically during odor mental imagery. In a second aim, we investigated whether expertise effects observed in a given sensory domain transfer to another modality. We combined psychophysics and neurophysiology to study mental imagery in cooks, musicians and controls. We collected response times and event‐related potentials (ERP) while participants mentally compared the odor of fruits, the timbre of musical instruments and the size of fruits, musical instruments and manufactured objects. Cooks were faster in imagining fruit odors, and musicians were faster in imagining the timbre of musical instruments. These differences were not observed in control participants. This expertise effect was reflected in the ERP late positive complex (LPC): only experts showed symmetric bilateral activation, specifically when cooks imagined odors and when musicians imagined timbres. In contrast, the LPC was significantly greater in the left hemisphere than in the right hemisphere for non‐expert participants in all conditions. These findings suggest that sensory expertise does not involve transfer of mental imagery ability across modalities and highlight for the first time that olfactory expertise in cooks induces a balance of activations between hemispheres as does musical expertise in musicians.
Magnetic resonance imaging connectivity for the prediction of seizure outcome in temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Morgan Victoria L. , Englot Dario J. , Rogers Baxter P. , Landman Bennett A. , Cakir Ahmet , Abou‐Khalil Bassel W. , Anderson Adam W.
Published: April 2017

Objective

Currently, approximately 60–70% of patients with unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) remain seizure‐free 3 years after surgery. The goal of this work was to develop a presurgical connectivity‐based biomarker to identify those patients who will have an unfavorable seizure outcome 1‐year postsurgery.

Methods

Resting‐state functional and diffusion‐weighted 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was acquired from 22 unilateral (15 right, 7 left) patients with TLE and 35 healthy controls. A seizure propagation network was identified including ipsilateral (to seizure focus) and contralateral hippocampus, thalamus, and insula, with bilateral midcingulate and precuneus. Between each pair of regions, functional connectivity based on correlations of low frequency functional MRI signals, and structural connectivity based on streamline density of diffusion MRI data were computed and transformed to metrics related to healthy controls of the same age.

Results

A consistent connectivity pattern representing the network expected in patients with seizure‐free outcome was identified using eight patients who were seizure‐free at 1‐year postsurgery. The hypothesis that increased similarity to the model would be associated with better seizure outcome was tested in 14 other patients (Engel class IA, seizure‐free: n = 5; Engel class IB‐II, favorable: n = 4; Engel class III–IV, unfavorable: n = 5) using two similarity metrics: Pearson correlation and Euclidean distance. The seizure‐free connectivity model successfully separated all the patients with unfavorable outcome from the seizure‐free and favorable outcome patients (p = 0.0005, two‐tailed Fisher's exact test) through the combination of the two similarity metrics with 100% accuracy. No other clinical and demographic predictors were successful in this regard.

Significance

This work introduces a methodologic framework to assess individual patients, and demonstrates the ability to use network connectivity as a potential clinical tool for epilepsy surgery outcome prediction after more comprehensive validation.
On the role of stress waves in dynamic rupture of cylindrical tubes
Authors: Mirzaei M. , Tavakoli S. , Najafi M.
Published: April 2017

A systematic experimental/computational study was performed to investigate the role of stress waves in ductile fracture of cylindrical tubes. The stress waves were created by high‐speed moving load, which was produced by detonation of explosive cord inside two intact and two pre‐flawed steel tubes. Several distinct phenomena like cyclic crack growths in Modes I and III, crack flap bulging and crack curving/branching were observed and simulated by finite element (FE) method. The FE models were composed of 3D brick elements equipped with interface cohesive elements. The analysis results showed that the crack growths in Modes I and III were governed by the detonation‐induced stress waves. The crack speeds were obtained based on the increments of cyclic crack growth and the time period of the stress waves. The estimated crack speed range was 63–230 m s−1 for the axial growth, whereas the average speed for growth in Mode III was 100 m s−1.
Effects of temperature during processing with wine on chemical composition, antioxidant capacity and enzyme inhibition activities of Angelica Sinensis Radix
Authors: Wang Ying , Chen Xuetao , Zhao Chengcheng , Miao Jing , Mao Xinhui , Li Xia , Gao Wenyuan
Published: April 2017

The effects of temperature (100 °C, 150 °C, 250 °C) during processing with wine on chemical composition, oil oxidative stability, inhibitory activities on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and pancreatic lipase (PL) of Angelica Sinensis Radix (ASR), and the feasibility of melanoidins as a colour index to control the roasting intensities were investigated for the first time. The results showed that there were the highest content of ferulic acid, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity of sample roasted at 150 °C, and the sample roasted at 250 °C had the highest content of polysaccharide and total phenolics. A continued reduction in volatile content has occurred in progressive roast. The oxidant stability of oil has a slight increase along with the strength of the roasting intensities, which was higher than unprocessed ASR. Inhibitory activities on acetylcholinesterase and pancreatic lipase were decreased firstly and then increased. Melanoidins can be used as a colour indicator for controlling the thermal processing.
Effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on the antioxidant properties of porcine liver protein hydrolysates
Authors: Yu Hui‐Chuan , Tan Fa‐Jui
Published: April 2017

In this study, the effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on the antioxidant activity of porcine liver protein hydrolysates (PLPHs) was investigated. The results showed that the degree of hydrolysis (DH) and peptide contents of the PLPHs increased as the time of ultrasonication increased. The hydrolysate pretreated with ultrasonication for 60 s exhibited the highest DH and peptide contents. The hydrolysate pretreated with ultrasonication for 45 s exhibited the highest ferrous ion chelating ability and reducing power. The hydrolysate pretreated with ultrasonication for 30 s exhibited the highest 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity and the higher inhibitory activity in the linoleic acid autoxidation system. The molecular weight of peptides in the hydrolysates was less than 6.2 kDa. The results clearly demonstrated that ultrasonic pretreatment enhances the antioxidant activities of the PLPHs in a short period of time (15–30 s).
Investigating the oronasal contributions to metallic perception
Authors: Skinner M. , Lim M. , Tarrega A. , Ford R. , Linforth R. , Thomas A. , Hort J.
Published: April 2017

Metallic taints elicited when consuming food can be unpleasant for the consumer and are therefore problematic to food manufacturers. Although metallic has been proposed as a taste in the past, evidence remains inconclusive. This study investigates the oral and nasal contributions to metallic perception using sensory evaluation and headspace analysis using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). When sniffing the headspace over divalent salt solutions, some were discriminated from water. GC‐MS did not detect volatiles in the sample headspace, one hypothesis being that sample volatiles react with phospholipids in the nasal cavity and it is lipid oxidation products which are perceived. Copper sulphate was reported as metallic when tasted with the nose occluded to eliminate retronasal perception, suggesting a gustatory or trigeminal mechanism may be involved. This work indicates orthonasal stimulation is involved in metallic perception, and contributes to the ongoing debate over metallic being a taste, trigeminal or flavour response.
Spoilage of refrigerated (4 °C) Litopenaeus vannamei: cooperation between Shewanella species and contribution of cyclo‐(L‐Pro‐L‐Leu)‐dependent quorum sensing
Authors: Zhu Suqin , Zhang Caili , Wu Haohao , Jie Jinxin , Zeng Mingyong , Liu Zunying , Wang Changyun , Yang Huicheng
Published: April 2017

The spoilage potential of Shewanella putrefaciens and S. baltica isolated from spoiled refrigerated Litopenaeus vannamei was evaluated by in vitro assays for trimethylamine oxide reduction, extracellular hydrolytic enzymes and biofilm formation, and in vivo inoculation into surface‐sterilised shrimp followed by microbial, biochemical and sensory analyses during storage for 5 days at 4 °C. S. baltica displayed higher spoilage potential than S. putrefaciens both in vitro and in vivo. Shrimp co‐inoculated with them had one‐day shorter shelf life than those mono‐inoculated, based on the results of bacterial density, volatile base nitrogen, trimethylamine, volatile organic compounds and sensory analysis, which strongly suggests cooperation of Shewanella species in shrimp spoilage. Exogenous cyclo‐(L‐Pro‐L‐Leu) boosted bacterial growth, extracellular protease and collagenase activities, and biofilm formation of S. putrefaciens and S. baltica at least before they entered the stationary phase, indicating that cyclo‐(L‐Pro‐L‐Leu)‐dependent quorum sensing, a recently suggested communication mechanism between them, contributes to the cooperation.
Establishing reference intervals in the coagulation laboratory
Authors: Castellone D. D.
Published: April 2017

Introduction

Obtaining a reference interval (RI) is a challenge for any laboratory and becomes more complicated in the coagulation laboratory due to testing on samples with limited stability on reagents that are poorly standardized. Reference intervals are required to be able to evaluate results in relation to a patients’ hemostatic disorder. This becomes one of the most important tasks conducted in the coagulation laboratory. However, many laboratories lack the time, finances and in many cases the expertise to conduct this study.

Methods

Many RI are obtained from package inserts, or from publications written by experts in lieu of laboratories conducting their own studies. An overview of validating reference intervals and options for verifying or transference of reference intervals is discussed.

Results

Based on the confidence interval and the acceptability of risk laboratories are willing to accept, coagulation laboratories have options to conduct robust studies for their RI. Data mining or global reference studies may help to provide data for age specific ranges.

Conclusions

Pre‐analytical variables and selection of healthy subjects have the largest impact on coagulation testing outcomes and need to be well controlled during the establishment of reference intervals. Laboratories have options in lieu of conducting a full validation on how to verify RI based on smaller RI studies or transference of RI after determining compatibility of the original RI study.
Diagnostic approach to microangiopathic hemolytic disorders
Authors: Kottke‐Marchant K.
Published: April 2017

Thrombotic micro‐angiopathies (TMA) are a group of related disorders that are characterized by thrombosis of the microvasculature and associated organ dysfunction, and encompass congenital, acquired, and infectious etiologies. A hall mark of TMAs is the fragmentation of erythrocytes by the microvascular thrombi, resulting in a hemolytic anemia. There are several distinct pathophysiologies leading to microangiopathic hemolysis, ranging from decreased degradation of von Willebrand factor as seen in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) to endothelial damage facilitated by Escherichia coli shiga toxin or complement dysregulation, seen in shiga toxin‐related hemolytic‐uremic syndrome (Stx‐HUS) and complement‐mediated TMA (also called atypical hemolytic‐uremic syndrome), respectively. Distinguishing these disorders is important, as many TMAs are life‐threatening, the treatments are distinct and selecting appropriate therapy can improve patient prognosis. Laboratory testing, including measurement of ADAMTS13, ADAMTS13 inhibitor, shiga toxin, and complement factors, can help establish diagnoses and guide therapy.
School‐based surveillance for influenza vaccine effectiveness during 2014‐2015 seasons in Hong Kong
Authors: Leung Ting F. , Chan Renee W. Y. , Kwok Angela , Ho Wendy C. S. , Tao Mars K. P. , Hon Kam L. , Cheng Frankie W. T. , Li Albert M. , Chan Paul K. S.
Published: April 2017

Background

Influenza imposes substantial healthcare burden in children, which can be prevented by vaccination. Influenza vaccination coverage varies widely among childhood populations worldwide, which has significant impact on herd immunity and usefulness of influenza vaccine. However, there are limited real‐life data on influenza vaccine effectiveness (VE) in children.

Objective

This prospective study aimed to investigate clinical spectrum of childhood influenza and VE in preventing influenza in Hong Kong children.

Methods

A total of 623 children were recruited from 15 kindergartens and primary schools. Parents completed a questionnaire on subjects’ health and influenza vaccination history. Flocked nasopharyngeal swabs (FNPSs) were collected in biweekly school visits during 2014‐2015 influenza seasons. Influenza A and B viruses were detected and typed by molecular assays.

Results

A total of 2633 FNPS samples were collected, with two or more samples being obtained from 607 (97.4%) of subjects. Thirty‐six (11.2%) subjects had influenza A or B in 2014, whereas all 19 (6.3%) subjects identified in 2015 had influenza A. Ninety‐nine subjects reported influenza‐like illness (ILI), and nine illness visits were arranged. Influenza vaccination was protective against ILI but not mild laboratory‐confirmed influenza by surveillance. Moderate overall influenza VE of 42%‐52% was observed for ILI, and subgroup analyses showed much higher VE for both ILI (70.9% vs 34.6%) and mild laboratory‐confirmed influenza (44.0% vs −6.2%) in school‐age children than preschoolers who were vaccinated within 12 months.

Conclusions

Mild laboratory‐confirmed influenza infection is common in children during influenza seasons. Influenza vaccination is effective against ILI but not mild infection identified by surveillance.
The evolution of the Georgian social protection system since independence: An unclear future despite recent expansion
Authors: Gugushvili Dimitri
Published: April 2017

In the first decade of transition, the Georgian social protection system experienced a major retrenchment as the government struggled to finance welfare provision in the face of massive economic contraction and the near collapse of public institutions. Since 2004, this trend has been reversed, with the economy returning to a fast growth path and public administration improving considerably. Recent reforms, including the notable introduction of universal public health insurance, are welcome steps towards building a modern welfare state. Major challenges still remain, however, especially in relation to the system's limited effect on widespread poverty. Decelerating growth, the lack of strong pro‐welfare actors, and the absence of positive external pull factors may stall or prevent future growth, but the changing nature of the social contract between the people and government, as well as Georgian politicians' growing recognition of the importance of the welfare system for inclusive growth, leaves ample space for optimism.
Interfacial microstructure evolution of glass‐based coating on IC10 superalloy with a Ni3Al bond‐coat at 1050°C
Authors: Wang Xin , Zhu Shenglong , Li Zhengxian , Zhang Yusheng , Chen Minghui , Wang Fuhui
Published: April 2017

A glass‐based composite coating incorporating YSZ, corundum, and Ni3Al was prepared on IC10 superalloy with a sputtering Hf‐modified Ni3Al bond‐coat. Sealing effect of the glass‐based top‐coat and reactive elemental effect of Hf facilitated the formation of columnar α‐Al2O3 at 1050°C. Furthermore, a discontinuous gahnite interlayer formed at the α‐Al2O3/top‐coat interface due to interfacial reactions. However, because of the discontinuous microstructure of gahnite, the α‐Al2O3 suffered durative attack by the active glass matrix, which caused severe internal oxidation of Hf and Al within the bond‐coat. In addition, the oxygen barrier ability of the top‐coat changed with its microstructure evolution.
Paediatric melanoma
Authors: Stefanaki C. , Chardalias L. , Soura E. , Katsarou A. , Stratigos A.
Published: April 2017

Paediatric melanoma, although rare, is the most common skin cancer in children. Our current knowledge on paediatric melanoma incidence trends is expanding, as several studies have addressed this issue with conflicting results. Known risk factors for paediatric melanoma include family history of melanoma, a previous history of malignancy, large congenital nevi, numerous melanocytic nevi, sunburns, increased UV exposure and a sun‐sensitive phenotype. In younger children, melanoma more often presents with atypical features, such as a changing, amelanotic or uniformly coloured, often bleeding lesion, not fulfilling in most cases the conventional ABCDE criteria. The major differential diagnoses are melanocytic nevi, proliferative nodules in congenital nevi and atypical Spitz tumours. Moreover, in the younger age group non‐Caucasian children are over‐represented, tumours tend to be thicker and lymph nodes are often involved. Despite the frequent diagnosis at an advanced stage, the overall survival is fair in paediatric melanoma. Specific guidelines for management of melanoma in children do not exist, and most often the disease is treated similarly to melanoma in adults.
Betanodavirus: Dissection of the viral life cycle
Authors: Low C‐F , Syarul Nataqain B , Chee H‐Y , Rozaini M Z H , Najiah M
Published: April 2017

Progressive research has been recently made in dissecting the molecular biology of Betanodavirus life cycle, the causative pathogen of viral encephalopathy and retinopathy in economic important marine fish species. Establishment of betanodavirus infectious clone allows the manipulation of virus genome for functional genomic study, which elucidates the biological event of the viral life cycle at molecular level. The betanodavirus strategizes its replication by expressing anti‐apoptosis/antinecrotic proteins to maintain the cell viability during early infection. Subsequently utilizes and controls the biological machinery of the infected cells for viral genome replication. Towards the late phase of infection, mass production of capsid protein for virion assembly induces the activation of host apoptosis pathway. It eventually leads to the cell lysis and death, which the lysis of cell contributes to the accomplishment of viral shedding that completes a viral life cycle. The recent efforts to dissect the entire betanodavirus life cycle are currently reviewed.