bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adolescent Light Cigarette Smoking Patterns and Adult Cigarette Smoking
Authors: Wiener R. Constance , Shockey Alcinda K. Trickett , Morgan Susan K.
Published: June 2016

Purpose. Light cigarette smoking has had limited research. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between light smoking in adolescence with smoking in adulthood. Methods. National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health data, Waves I and IV, were analyzed. Previous month adolescent smoking of 1–5 cigarettes/day (cpd) (light smoking); 6–16 cpd (average smoking); 17 or more cpd (heavy smoking); and nonsmoking were compared with the outcome of adult smoking. Results. At baseline, 15.9% of adolescents were light smokers, 6.8% were average smokers, and 3.6% were heavy smokers. The smoking patterns were significantly related to adult smoking. In logistic regression analyses, adolescent light smokers had an adjusted odds ratio (AOR) of 2.45 (95% CI: 2.00, 3.00) of adult smoking; adolescent average or heavy smokers had AOR of 5.57 (95% CI: 4.17, 7.43) and 5.23 (95% CI: 3.29, 8.31), respectively. Conclusion. Individuals who initiate light cigarette smoking during adolescence are more likely to smoke as young adults. Practical Implications. When screening for tobacco use by adolescents, there is a need to verify that the adolescents understand that light smoking constitutes smoking. There is a need for healthcare providers to initiate interventions for adolescent light smoking.
Complex Valued b-Metric Spaces and Common Fixed Point Theorems under Rational Contractions
Authors: Dubey Anil Kumar
Published: June 2016

The aim of this paper is to prove the existence and uniqueness of a common fixed point for a pair of mappings satisfying certain rational contraction conditions in complex valued b-metric space. The obtained results generalize and extend some of the well-known results in the literature.
Treatment Strategies for Acute Ischemic Stroke Caused by Carotid Artery Occlusion
Authors: Li Wei , Yin Qin , Xu Gelin , Liu Xinfeng
Published: June 2016

Background: Acute ischemic stroke caused by internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion usually has a poor prognosis, especially the T occlusion cases without functional collaterals. The efficacy of intravenous (IV) or intra-arterial (IA) thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) remains ambiguous in these patients. Eendovascular recanalization of the occluded carotid has been attempted in recent years as a potential strategy. However, the different etiologies of ICA occlusion pose a significant challenge to neurointerventionists. Recently, several endovascular evolvements have been reported in treating carotid occlusion-related stroke. This review summarizes the current status of treatment for acute ICA occlusion.
A Giant Retroperitoneal Liposarcoma Encasing the Entire Left Kidney and Adherent to Adjacent Structures: A Case Report
Authors: Oh Sung Don  , Oh Sung Jin , Suh Byoung Jo , Shin Jin Yong , Oh Cheol Kyu , Park Jong Kwon , Kim Yeon Mee , Kim Bo Mi
Published: June 2016

Retroperitoneal liposarcoma is a rare tumor. The dimension and weight of liposarcoma are variable; those over 20 kg are called ‘giant liposarcoma’. Herein, we report giant retroperitoneal liposarcoma measuring 45 cm in diameter and 25 kg in weight encasing the entire left kidney and adherent to adjacent structures. A 71-year-old woman presented for a regular checkup. Image study revealed a huge mass probably indicative of retroperitoneal liposarcoma encasing the entire left kidney and adherent to adjacent structures. We performed an organ-preserving surgical removal. The pathologic report was liposarcoma. At postoperative month 16, a follow-up CT revealed a locally recurrent tumor. The patient underwent surgical removal of the newly discovered mass. After the second surgery, the patient underwent regular follow-up CT for approximately 12 months, and to date, there has been no evidence of tumor recurrence. High-grade liposarcoma shows sensitivity to radiation therapy. However, the toxic effect of radiation therapy limits this option by treatment modality. The use of chemotherapy is also controversial. As a result, complete resection is the gold standard treatment. Here, we report a giant retroperitoneal liposarcoma encasing the entire left kidney and adherent to adjacent structures, describe successful organ-preserving surgical removal and discuss prognosis.
Increased Levels of Copeptin, a Surrogate Marker of Arginine Vasopressin, Are Associated with an Increased Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease in a General Population
Authors: Tasevska Irina , Enhörning Sofia , Christensson Anders , Persson Margaretha , Nilsson Peter M. , Melander Olle
Published: June 2016

Background: Our aim was to test if plasma copeptin, a stable surrogate marker of arginine vasopressin, predicts decline of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: We measured copeptin and renal function at the Malmö Diet and Cancer Cardiovascular Cohort baseline exam and reassessed renal function after a follow-up time of 16.6 ± 1.5 years (n = 3,186). Furthermore, we defined CKD based on an estimated GFR (eGFR) calculated by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) <60 (CKD_60MDRD), <45 (CKD_45MDRD) and <30 (CKD_30MDRD) ml/min/1.73 m2. Results: After multivariate adjustment (gender, age, baseline eGFR, smoking status, systolic blood pressure, antihypertensive treatment and follow-up time), copeptin (beta-coefficient per 1 SD increment of copeptin) was independently associated with significantly greater annual decline of eGFR (ml/min/1.73 m2) according to the MDRD formula (OR 0.057, 95% CI 0.022-0.093; p = 0.001) as well as according to the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) formula (OR 0.050, 95% CI 0.022-0.077; p < 0.001). Each SD increment of copeptin independently predicted incident CKD_60MDRD (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04-1.36; p = 0.010), CKD_45MDRD (OR 1.33, 95% CI 1.04-1.71; p = 0.026) and CKD_30MDRD (OR 3.69, 95% CI 1.41-9.66; p = 0.008). The relationship between copeptin and CKD defined by CKD-EPI gave similar results. Conclusion: Our data suggest that increased levels of copeptin independently predict decline in eGFR and greater risk of new-onset CKD.
Rivaroxaban for the treatment of venous thromboembolism
Authors: Aujesky Drahomir , Beer Jürg H. , Mazzolai Lucia , Baldi Thomas , Banyai Martin , Hayoz Daniel , Kaeslin Thomas , Korte Wolfgang , Escher Robert , Husmann Marc , Frauchiger Beat , Baumgartner Iris , Spirk David , Kucher Nils
Published: June 2016

We investigated three-month clinical outcomes in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) treated with rivaroxaban or conventional anticoagulation in routine clinical practice. Between November 2012 and February 2015, 2,062 consecutive patients with VTE from 11 acute care hospitals in Switzerland were enrolled in the SWIss Venous ThromboEmbolism Registry (SWIVTER). Overall, 417 (20 %) patients were treated with rivaroxaban. In comparison to 1,645 patients on conventional anticoagulation, patients on rivaroxaban were younger (56 ± 18 vs. 65 ± 17 years; p<0.001), less often had pulmonary embolism (38 % vs 66 %; p<0.001), hypertension (26 % vs 41 %; p<0.001), cancer (10 % vs 28 %; p<0.001), congestive heart failure (10 % vs 17 %; p=0.001), diabetes (8 % vs 15 %; p<0.001), chronic lung disease (7 % vs 13 %; p=0.001), renal insufficiency (7 % vs 13 %; p=0.001), recent surgery (7 % vs 14 %; p<0.001), and acute coronary syndrome (1 % vs 4 %; p=0.009). VTE reperfusion therapy was more frequently used (28 % vs 9 %; p<0.001) and indefinite-duration anticoagulation treatment less often planned (26 % vs 39 %; p<0.001), respectively. In the propensity score-adjusted population, the risk of recurrent VTE was similar in patients on rivaroxaban vs conventional anticoagulation (1.2 % vs 2.1 %, hazard ratio [HR] 0.55, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 0.18–1.65; p=0.29); the risk of major bleeding was also similar, respectively (0.5 % vs 0.5 %, HR 1.00, 95 %CI 0.14–7.07; p=1.00). Conventional anticoagulation is still frequently used for the treatment of VTE, particularly in the elderly and those with comorbidities. Early clinical outcomes were comparable between propensity score-adjusted patient populations on rivaroxaban and conventional anticoagulation.
A checklist of avifauna from Malgaon-Bagayat and Malvan towns of Sindhudurg District, Maharashtra, India
Authors: Khot Mayura
Published: June 2016

The present work was carried out in Malgaon-Bagayat (16009’04.35”N & 73033’04.7”E) and Malvan Taluka (16005’00”N & 73030’00”E) of Sindhudurg District.  The paper represents the first document on birds as there are no published records from Sindhudurg District.  The study was conducted for a period of two years to explore the avifauna as no records have been published yet from this area.  A total of 101 species of birds belonging to 17 orders and 45 families and were recorded in the study areas inhabiting different types of habitats.  The Order Passeriformes contributed the maximum species (44.9%) followed by Pelecaniformes (9.2%), Charadriiformes (8.2%) and Accipitriformes (6.1%).  The species such as the Asian Paradise Flycatcher, Common Hoopoe, and Pied Kingfisher were observed only once in the study area.  The common occurrence of the Near Threatened Malabar Pied Hornbill in Bagayat signifies the ornithological importance of this site.  Long-term studies on distribution and abundance are required to prepare a conservation plan for avifauna in Sindhudurg District.  The data generated can be considered as baseline data for future conservation and management of existing species.
Egg parasitoids from the subfamily Scelioninae (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in irrigated rice ecosystems across varied elevational ranges in southern India.
Authors: Shweta M , Rajmohana K.
Published: June 2016

Platygastridae (Hymenoptera) is the most abundant family of parasitic Hymenoptera in rice ecosystems in southern India.  Members belonging to the subfamily Scelioninae were assessed in rice ecosystems along three elevation ranges, a highland (737m), midland (54m) and lowland (1.5m) in northcentral Kerala (southern India) during the pre-flowering to the milky-grain stage of paddy.  Malaise traps were employed as the standard specimen collection methodology with collections made for four weeks, using two malaise traps per field, from August 2008 to January 2009, serviced once a week. The study recorded a total of 198 individuals belonging to 38 species in 21 genera. The species diversity, richness, evenness as well as beta diversity were computed for the three sites along with ANOVA and it was concluded that, contrary to other studies on different taxa, elevation did not have any major effect on the overall diversity patterns in Platygastridae even though there was a difference in species assemblages.
Low genetic diversity in Clarias macrocephalus Günther, 1864 (Siluriformes: Clariidae) populations in the Philippines and its implications for conservation and management
Authors: Tan Marc Timothy C. , Jumawan Joycelyn C. , Quilang Jonas P.
Published: June 2016

Clarias macrocephalus Günther, 1864 is a Near Threatened freshwater catfish found in the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries.  Its numbers have dwindled over the past few years because of habitat loss and competition.  This study examined the genetic diversity of the remaining viable populations of C. macrocephalus in the Philippines.  Primers were designed to amplify via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) the complete mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) control region (870-bp) in 120 specimens collected from three sites: (1) Buguey, Cagayan; (2) Camalaniugan, Cagayan; and (3) Agusan del Sur.  Of the 120 sequences generated, only three haplotypes and two polymorphic sites were found. Overall haplotype and nucleotide diversity (h=0.479, π=0.00058) were alarmingly low, consistent with populations of other freshwater fishes that have experienced a genetic bottleneck.  The overall FST value was 0.80050, indicative of large genetic differentiation between populations.  The very low genetic variation found in all three C. macrocephalus populations calls for conservation and management efforts for the protection of the remaining populations of this economically important species.
The Nilgiri Tahr (Mammalia: Cetartiodactyla: Bovidae: Nilgiritragus hylocrius Ogilby, 1838) in the Agastyamalai range, Western Ghats, India: population status and threats
Authors: Hopeland Ponniah , Puyravaud Jean-Philippe , Davidar Priya
Published: June 2016

The Nilgiri Tahr (Nilgiritragus hylocrius Ogilby, 1838) has not been comprehensively surveyed in the southern Western Ghats, India.  Here we present results of a survey conducted in 2012 and 2013 in 25 sites where Nilgiri Tahr was reported in Agastyamalai range south of the Shencottah gap.  The objectives of the survey were to assess population status; evaluate threats and propose conservation measures. In each site the geographical coordinates were noted.  If Nilgiri Tahr (=Tahr) were sighted, the number and herd structure were recorded.  Indirect signs of Tahr presence such as faecal pellets and feedback from local informants were noted in sites with no direct sightings of Tahr.  The total sightings were 247 Tahr in 10 sites, and indication of Tahr presence in seven sites.  Only two populations viz. Kalamalai-Varraiattumudi and Muthukulivayal-Balamore were large (>30 individuals).  Tahr were not present in eight sites: of which four had earlier records of Tahr presence, and the other four had no prior data.  There was a significant positive association between percentage of young (kids and yearlings) and number of Tahr sighted.  Illegal hunting was widespread in the past, and continues to be a serious threat.  Loss of Tahr grazing habitat to successional processes resulting in increased tree cover, is a long term threat that could increase with climate change.  A landscape level management plan to reconnect small populations, rehabilitate Tahr in sites where they have disappeared, use fire to restore short grass habitats, and stringent curb on illegal hunting is required for the long term viability of the Nilgiri Tahr in this region.
Rediscovery of Penicillium paradoxum (Ascomycete: Aspergillaceae) from Maharashtra, India
Authors: Rajeshkumar Kunhiraman C. , Marathe Sayali D. , Lad Sneha S. , Mayura Deepak K. , Singh Sanjay K. , Swami Santosh V.
Published: June 2016

Penicillium paradoxum has an enigmatic Aspergillus-like anamorphic state; earlier named as Aspergillus paradoxus with a teleomorph state Hemicarpenteles paradoxus.  The present paper describes the rediscovery of this species from India after five decades and includes a phylogenetic study of this strain.  This is the first record of this strain from peninsular India including the Western Ghats.
All that glitters is not gold: A projected distribution of the endemic Indian Golden Gecko Calodactylodes aureus (Reptilia: Squamata: Gekkonidae) indicates a major range shrinkage due to future climate change.
Authors: Srinivasulu Aditya , Srinivasulu Chelmala
Published: June 2016

Climate change has a perceived threat on biodiversity due to its effect on species range.  Species with narrow ranges and highly specific climatic and habitat requirements are at higher risk.  To understand the influence of climate change on the Indian endemic gekkonid, the Indian Golden Gecko Calodactylodes aureus (Beddome, 1870) we model the present and future predicted distribution (2050 and 2070) under the CMIP5 RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios using MaxEnt under the HadGEM3-ES Model.  Our analysis revealed the negative impact of climate change on the Indian Golden Gecko with a decrease in the amount of climatically suitable areas in the future, and an almost total range shrinkage by 2070.  Despite its wide distribution in the eastern Deccan Peninsula, according to our predictions, the species is threatened by a shrinkage in the future range due to climate change.
Recent sightings of Kaiser-I-Hind Teinopalpus imperialis Hope, 1843 (Lepidoptera: Teinopalpani) from Manipur, India
Authors: Soibam Baleshwor
Published: June 2016

Kaiser-I-Hind Teinopalpus imperialis is one of the most elusive swallowtail butterflies. The sighting of Kaiser-I-Hind on 15April 2014 confirms the continued presence of the species in Manipur State. Koubru mountain is highly disturbed through anthropogenic disturbance like logging, agriculture, wildfire for the cultivation of crops by nearby local tribal communities, and is the major threat to the existence of the species in the area.
Asymmetry of Neuronal Combinatorial Codes Arises from Minimizing Synaptic Weight Change
Authors: Leibold Christian , Monsalve-Mercado Mauro M.
Published: June 2016

Synaptic change is a costly resource, particularly for brain structures that have a high demand of synaptic plasticity. For example, building memories of object positions requires efficient use of plasticity resources since objects can easily change their location in space and yet we can memorize object locations. But how should a neural circuit ideally be set up to integrate two input streams (object location and identity) in case the overall synaptic changes should be minimized during ongoing learning? This letter provides a theoretical framework on how the two input pathways should ideally be specified. Generally the model predicts that the information-rich pathway should be plastic and encoded sparsely, whereas the pathway conveying less information should be encoded densely and undergo learning only if a neuronal representation of a novel object has to be established. As an example, we consider hippocampal area CA1, which combines place and object information. The model thereby provides a normative account of hippocampal rate remapping, that is, modulations of place field activity by changes of local cues. It may as well be applicable to other brain areas (such as neocortical layer V) that learn combinatorial codes from multiple input streams.
Optimal Curiosity-Driven Modular Incremental Slow Feature Analysis
Authors: Kompella Varun Raj , Luciw Matthew , Stollenga Marijn Frederik , Schmidhuber Juergen
Published: June 2016

Consider a self-motivated artificial agent who is exploring a complex environment. Part of the complexity is due to the raw high-dimensional sensory input streams, which the agent needs to make sense of. Such inputs can be compactly encoded through a variety of means; one of these is slow feature analysis (SFA). Slow features encode spatiotemporal regularities, which are information-rich explanatory factors (latent variables) underlying the high-dimensional input streams. In our previous work, we have shown how slow features can be learned incrementally, while the agent explores its world, and modularly, such that different sets of features are learned for different parts of the environment (since a single set of regularities does not explain everything). In what order should the agent explore the different parts of the environment? Following Schmidhuber’s theory of artificial curiosity, the agent should always concentrate on the area where it can learn the easiest-to-learn set of features that it has not already learned. We formalize this learning problem and theoretically show that, using our model, called curiosity-driven modular incremental slow feature analysis, the agent on average will learn slow feature representations in order of increasing learning difficulty, under certain mild conditions. We provide experimental results to support the theoretical analysis.
The Leaky Integrator with Recurrent Inhibition as a Predictor
Authors: Voss Henning U.
Published: June 2016

The leaky integrator, the basis for many neuronal models, possesses a negative group delay when a time-delayed recurrent inhibition is added to it. By means of this delay, the leaky integrator becomes a predictor for some frequency components of the input signal. The prediction properties are derived analytically, and an application to a local field potential is provided.
A species checklist of the millipedes (Myriapoda, Diplopoda) of India
Authors: GOLOVATCH SERGEI I. , WESENER THOMAS
Published: June 2016

At present, the millipede fauna of India comprises over 270 nominate species or subspecies in at least 90 genera, 25 families and 11 orders. As complete a catalogue as possible is compiled of all species or subspecies of Diplopoda formally reported from India, some of which remain dubious. Additionally, a checklist is also compiled of millipedes that have erroneously been recorded in India. Given also several literature lacunae, as well as numerous taxonomic problems, the number of species and even genera cannot be claimed precise. The following new transfers are proposed: Delarthrum pumilum (Attems, 1944), comb. n. ex Dasypharkis Attems, 1936; Stemmiulus crassipes (Carl, 1941), S. insolitus (Carl, 1941), S. mulierosus (Carl, 1937), S. plumipes (Carl, 1941) and S. vagans (Carl, 1941), all comb. n. ex Diopsiulus Silvestri, 1897; Cryptocorypha riparia (Carl, 1932), comb. n. ex Archandrodesmus Carl, 1932. A new record of Stenobolus insularis Carl, 1918 is given from India.
Description of fourty four new species, taxonomic notes and identification key to Neotropical Trichomyia Haliday in Curtis (Diptera: Psychodidae, Trichomyiinae)
Authors: ARAÚJO MAÍRA XAVIER , BRAVO FREDDY
Published: June 2016

Trichomyia Haliday in Curtis is distributed worldwide, except in Antarctica. The Neotropical region has the greatest known species richness of Trichomyia, with 76 described species, compared with five in the Nearctic region, nine in the Palearctic, five in the Afrotropical region, six in the Oriental region, and 46 in the Australasian region. Two morphological groups within the genus have been previously recognized: Group A, comprising species with four clearly differentiated palpus segments; and Group B, comprising species with three palpus segments, as well as a group of species with four palpus segments but with the two basal segments not fully articulated (partially fused). We examined 1,330 specimens of Trichomyia that were collected almost exclusively from Brazil, specifically from the states of Amazonas, Pará, Bahia, Roraima, Rondônia, and Minas Gerais. 44 new species have been identified, representing an increase of 37% for this genus in the Neotropical region. In order to facilitate their study, some species are placed in provisional morphological groups. The distributions of five species of Trichomyia are expanded and a key to the males of Neotropical species is presented.
Four Lessons From “The Horse on the Dining-Room Table”
Authors: Corr Charles A.
Published: June 2016

This article offers a critical reflection on an allegory, “The Horse on the Dining-Room Table,” by Richard A. Kalish. After a brief review of Kalish's prolific publications during the mid-1960s to the late 1980s, the article turns to a detailed analysis of the three parts of the allegory. Next, there is a comparison of “The Horse on the Dining-Room Table” to a poem, “There’s an Elephant in the Room,” by Terry Kettering, with a table listing some similarities between the two texts. The article concludes with four lessons to learn from "The Horse on the Dining-Room Table.”
Health-Related Factors and Suicidal Ideation in High School Students in Rural China
Authors: Jia Cun-Xian , Li Shi-Bao , Han Mei , Bo Qi-Gui
Published: June 2016

The study aimed to understand the reporting rate of suicidal ideation and its health-related factors in 1,378 high school students in rural China. These students were recruited from two high schools in Lijin County, Shandong Province, China by using a stratified random cluster sampling method. Overall, 13.5% of the sample reported having suicidal ideation in the past year, and there was no significant difference between boys and girls in reporting rate of suicidal ideation. Nightmares, physical activity, and sleep duration as well as family environment, paternal education, and mental heath status were significantly associated with suicidal ideation. More efforts for these factors should be considered in suicide prevention for high school students in rural China.
Giving the Help That Is Needed
Authors: Cavallo Justin V. , Zee Katherine S. , Higgins E. Tory
Published: June 2016

Social support is most effective when it meets recipients’ needs. Guided by regulatory mode theory, this article examines how support providers’ chronic motivational concerns with assessment and locomotion shape help provision. We hypothesized that stronger assessment concerns motivate helpers to “tailor” support efforts by offering support that meets helpees’ specific motivational concerns and not offering support that would fail to address these concerns. In contrast, we predicted that stronger locomotion concerns motivate helpers to offer both support that fits helpees’ needs and support that does not. The results of Studies 1 and 2, using hypothetical scenarios, were consistent with these hypotheses. Study 3 replicated these findings in support interactions among friend pairs, and also found that helper assessment predicted greater support tailoring, which in turn predicted helpees’ negative mood improvement. Chronic assessment and locomotion concerns direct support efforts and influence the extent to which support is beneficial.
Strategic Value Contribution Role of HR
Authors: Naznin Humaira , Hussain Md. Ashfaq
Published: June 2016

This article aims to challenge the perceived lack of a strategic value of human resource (HR) function and seeks to focus on the devolution of HR from its transactional role to strategic effectiveness. Utilizing a range of secondary resources, this article aims to critically analyze the shift of HR from transactional to a strategic role and its value contribution role in business. HR needs to overcome conventional resistance and act as the driver of an organizational strategy through aligning the HR strategy to the business strategy, adopting workforce planning and measuring an organization’s competencies. The paper contributes to the evaluation of HR management from viewpoint perspective and offers help to HR practitioners in understanding the changing role of HR.
Time to abandon the hygiene hypothesis: new perspectives on allergic disease, the human microbiome, infectious disease prevention and the role of targeted hygiene
Authors: Bloomfield Sally F , Rook Graham AW , Scott Elizabeth A , Shanahan Fergus , Stanwell-Smith Rosalind , Turner Paul
Published: June 2016

Aims:

To review the burden of allergic and infectious diseases and the evidence for a link to microbial exposure, the human microbiome and immune system, and to assess whether we could develop lifestyles which reconnect us with exposures which could reduce the risk of allergic disease while also protecting against infectious disease.

Methods:

Using methodology based on the Delphi technique, six experts in infectious and allergic disease were surveyed to allow for elicitation of group judgement and consensus view on issues pertinent to the aim.

Results:

Key themes emerged where evidence shows that interaction with microbes that inhabit the natural environment and human microbiome plays an essential role in immune regulation. Changes in lifestyle and environmental exposure, rapid urbanisation, altered diet and antibiotic use have had profound effects on the human microbiome, leading to failure of immunotolerance and increased risk of allergic disease. Although evidence supports the concept of immune regulation driven by microbe–host interactions, the term ‘hygiene hypothesis’ is a misleading misnomer. There is no good evidence that hygiene, as the public understands, is responsible for the clinically relevant changes to microbial exposures.

Conclusion:

Evidence suggests a combination of strategies, including natural childbirth, breast feeding, increased social exposure through sport, other outdoor activities, less time spent indoors, diet and appropriate antibiotic use, may help restore the microbiome and perhaps reduce risks of allergic disease. Preventive efforts must focus on early life. The term ‘hygiene hypothesis’ must be abandoned. Promotion of a risk assessment approach (targeted hygiene) provides a framework for maximising protection against pathogen exposure while allowing spread of essential microbes between family members. To build on these findings, we must change public, public health and professional perceptions about the microbiome and about hygiene. We need to restore public understanding of hygiene as a means to prevent infectious disease.
The regional impact of cultural diversity on wages: evidence from Australia
Authors: Elias Amanuel , Paradies Yin
Published: June 2016

This paper investigates the impact of cultural diversity on labour market outcomes, particularly on wages across regions using a large longitudinal data. We apply an instrumental variable approach and account for individual and time fixed effects. Our findings indicate that the current level of cultural diversity positively affected current regional weekly wages; however, the positive effect holds only partially when the diversity is lagged. The results appear to be robust in all estimations controlling for heterogeneity factors and accounting for the self-selection of individuals into places with better economic opportunities. Our findings concerning the effect of lagging on the effect of diversity may explain the variation in the literature where some studies report that cultural diversity increases wages across time while others do not.

JEL Classification: J610, R23, Z190
EvolQG - An R package for evolutionary quantitative genetics
Authors: Melo Diogo , Garcia Guilherme , Hubbe Alex , Assis Ana Paula , Marroig Gabriel
Published: June 2016

We present an open source package for performing evolutionary quantitative genetics analyses in the R environment for statistical computing. Evolutionary theory shows that evolution depends critically on the available variation in a given population. When dealing with many quantitative traits this variation is expressed in the form of a covariance matrix, particularly the additive genetic covariance matrix or sometimes the phenotypic matrix, when the genetic matrix is unavailable and there is evidence the phenotypic matrix is sufficiently similar to the genetic matrix. Given this mathematical representation of available variation, the EvolQG package provides functions for calculation of relevant evolutionary statistics; estimation of sampling error; corrections for this error; matrix comparison via correlations, distances and matrix decomposition; analysis of modularity patterns; and functions for testing evolutionary hypotheses on taxa diversification.
Combined analysis of trabectome and phaco-trabectome outcomes by glaucoma severity
Authors: Dang Yalong , Roy Pritha , Bussel Igor I. , Loewen Ralitsa T. , Parikh Hardik , Loewen Nils A.
Published: June 2016

Prior glaucoma severity staging systems were mostly concerned with visual field function and retinal nerve fiber layer, but did not include intraocular pressure or medications to capture resistance to treatment. We recently introduced a simple index that combines pressure, medications, and visual field damage and applied it to stratify outcomes of trabectome surgery. In the analysis presented here, we combined data of trabectome alone and trabectome with same session cataract surgery to increase testing power and chances of effect discovery. This microincisional glaucoma surgery removes the primary resistance to outflow in glaucoma, the trabecular meshwork, and has been mostly used in mild glaucoma. Traditional glaucoma surgeries have a relatively high complication rate and have been reserved for more advanced disease stages. In the analysis presented here we include our data of trabectome combined with cataract surgery. This is a common practice pattern as both occur in the same age group with increasing frequency. For patients in higher glaucoma index (GI) groups, the intraocular pressure (IOP) reduction was 2.34+/-0.19 mmHg more than those in a GI group one level lower while holding everything else constant. Those who had undergone trabectome combined with phacoemulsification had an IOP reduction that was 1.29+/-0.39 mmHg less compared to those with trabectome alone. No statistically significant difference was found between genders and age groups while holding everything else constant. Hispanics had a 3.81+/-1.08 mmHg greater IOP reduction. Pseudoexfoliation and steroid glaucoma patients had an IOP reduction that was greater by 2.91+/-0.56 and 3.86+/-0.81 mmHg, respectively, than those with primary open angle glaucoma. These results suggest a role for trabectome-mediated ab interno trabeculectomy beyond mild forms of glaucoma. Additionally, the multifactorial glaucoma index demonstrates a role in staging patients when comparing glaucoma surgical modalities.
Thirty-five years of research into ribozymes and nucleic acid catalysis: where do we stand today?
Authors: Müller Sabine , Appel Bettina , Balke Darko , Hieronymus Robert , Nübel Claudia
Published: June 2016

Since the discovery of the first catalytic RNA in 1981, the field of ribozyme research has developed from the discovery of catalytic RNA motifs in nature and the elucidation of their structures and catalytic mechanisms, into a field of engineering and design towards application in diagnostics, molecular biology and medicine. Owing to the development of powerful protocols for selection of nucleic acid catalysts with a desired functionality from random libraries, the spectrum of nucleic acid supported reactions has greatly enlarged, and importantly, ribozymes have been accompanied by DNAzymes. Current areas of research are the engineering of allosteric ribozymes for artificial regulation of gene expression, the design of ribozymes and DNAzymes for medicinal and environmental diagnostics, and the demonstration of RNA world relevant ribozyme activities. In addition, new catalytic motifs or novel genomic locations of known motifs continue to be discovered in all branches of life by the help of high-throughput bioinformatic approaches. Understanding the biological role of the catalytic RNA motifs widely distributed in diverse genetic contexts belongs to the big challenges of future RNA research.
Some peculiarities in longitude distribution of sunspot groups over last four eleven-year solar cycles
Authors: Рыбак Алексей , Rybak Alexey
Published: June 2016

This paper considers a longitude distribution of sunspot groups over 1982–2013, using data from the National Geophysical Data Center (Boulder, USA). The space-time distribution of sunspot groups is analyzed in coordinate sectors calculated from heliographic longitudes of the groups. A longitude extent of a coordinate sector is compared to the average size of one active region (30–40°). Then, in each coordinate sector, evolutionary activity of sunspot groups is summarized according to Malde classification indices throughout the observation period. The longitude distribution of large sunspot groups made in such a way does not reveal anticorrelation between Northern and Southern hemispheres in sunspot cycle 23.
Dr Jekels’ health resort in Bystra near Bielsko: the first treatment centre which adopted psychoanalysis in Poland
Authors: Dembińska Edyta , Rutkowski Krzysztof
Published: June 2016

W artykule przedstawiona została historia sanatorium i zakładu wodoleczniczego w Bystrej koło Bielska w latach 1898-1912. W tym okresie właścicielem zakładu był dr Ludwik Jekels, jeden z prekursorów polskiej psychoanalizy. Początkowo był entuzjastą leczenia klimatycznego i hydroterapii, w roku 1905 zainteresował się psychoanalizą. Wkrótce stał się jej zagorzałym zwolennikiem i stosował jako środek leczniczy w swoim sanatorium. Było to pierwsze udokumentowane użycie psychoanalizy na ziemiach polskich. W artykule zaprezentowano rozwój ośrodka terapeutycznego w Bystrej, scharakteryzowano typowych pacjentów korzystających z leczenia, przedstawiono także krótkie historie choroby pacjentów leczonych psychoanalitycznie. Drugie istotne zagadnienie poruszone w artykule stanowi rozwój relacji dr Jekelsa z Zygmuntem Freudem od przypadkowego spotkania w Wiedniu około 1898 roku, poprzez wakacje w 1910 roku, kiedy Jekels opiekował się córkami Freuda w swoim sanatorium, aż po własną analizę Jekelsa u Freuda w roku 1912. Przedstawiono szczegółową analizę hipotez dotyczących przyczyn decyzji Jekelsa o sprzedaży sanatorium i wyjeździe do Wiednia. Podkreślono dziś mocno niedoceniane znaczenie działalności terapeutycznej Jekelsa dla rozwoju polskiej psychoterapii.
Verbal fluency in research conducted with PET technique under conditions of extended cognitive activation with the use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) tracer
Authors: Zając-Lamparska Ludmiła , Wiłkość Monika , Markowska Anita , Laskowska-Levy Ilona , Wróbel Marek , Małkowski Bogdan
Published: June 2016

Cel pracy

Dzięki nowoczesnym technikom neuroobrazowania obserwuje się w nauce rozwój badań, które nastawione są na poszukiwanie neurokorelatów określonych funkcji poznawczych, mierzonych testami neuropsychologicznymi. Testy fluencji słownej są jedną z najczęściej stosowanych metod badania funkcji językowych i wykonawczych. Celem badania było porównanie aktywacji mózgu podczas wykonania zadań fluencji literowej i kategorialnej techniką typu paced-overt.

Metoda

W badaniu wzięło udział 17 osób w wieku 20-40 lat, leczonych w przeszłości z powodu chłoniaka Hodgkina, obecnie w stadium remisji. Badani zostali przydzieleni do dwóch grup, w których przeprowadzono eksperymentalną wersję literową (9 osób) lub kategorialną (8 osób) testu fluencji słownej. Osoby kwalifikowano do grup zgodnie z zasadą homogeniczności pod względem danych demograficznych takich, jak wiek oraz wykształcenie. Ze względu na przebytą chorobę u wszystkich badanych przeprowadzono diagnozę funkcji poznawczych przed zakwalifikowaniem do badania. Neuroobrazowanie wykonano techniką PET z zastosowaniem znacznika 18F-fluorodeoksyglukozy (FDG).

Wyniki

Wykonywanie testu fluencji słownej bez względu na wersję zadania związane było z większą aktywnością lewej półkuli mózgu. Do najbardziej zaangażowanych obszarów w porównaniu z innymi obszarami kluczowymi dla wykonania zadań fluencji słownej były płaty czołowe. Wykazano także podwyższoną aktywność struktur ciemieniowych, skroniowych oraz móżdżku.

Wnioski

Przeprowadzone badanie nie ujawniło różnic w aktywności mózgu pomiędzy wersją fonemiczną i kategorialną testu fluencji słownej. Wykonywanie obu zadań w warunkach wymagających przez dłuższy czas (wynikający z procedury badania) wzmożonej kontroli poznawczej mogło spowodować istotną przewagą aktywności płatów przedczołowych w obu przypadkach i uniemożliwić obserwacje procesów specyficznych dla każdej z wersji testu.
Principles-Based Standards and Earnings Attributes
Authors: Folsom David , Hribar Paul , Mergenthaler Richard D. , Peterson Kyle
Published: June 2016

This study examines the relation between principles-based standards and earnings attributes. We create a firm-year-specific variable that measures the extent to which firms’ financial reporting is affected by principles-based standards. We find that firms’ earnings are more informative and persistent and have a larger positive association with future cash flows, on average, when firms’ standards are more principles based. We also find evidence that managers use the added discretion provided by principles-based standards to manage earnings when firms are near bankruptcy, issuing equity, or experiencing high growth, and if earnings are near prominent earnings benchmarks. Overall, our evidence is consistent with managers using the discretion provided by principles-based standards to communicate better the economic substance of transactions, on average, but also with some managers using the added discretion strategically when managerial incentives exist to increase reported earnings.

Data, as supplemental material, are available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2016.2465 .

This paper was accepted by Mary Barth, accounting.
Osteoporosis and nutrition – a paleopathological insight
Authors: Curate Francisco
Published: June 2016

The association of osteoporosis and nutrition has long been documented, and nutrition is acknowledged as a major risk factor for bone loss, affecting bone health in distinct ways. Both biomedicine and anthropology (or, more precisely, paleopathology) have strived to fully understand the contribution of diet to bone health, especially the relationship between the physiological economy of calcium and bone maintenance. Taking this into consideration, the present article is intended to summarize and comment the main empirical contributions of paleopathology to the body of knowledge on bone health, specifically the relation between bone loss and nutrition.
Obesidade ante et post cirurgia
Authors: Silva Marlene Alexandra Mariano da
Published: June 2016

O presente estudo tem por objetivo analisar a perda de peso após a intervenção cirúrgica em indivíduos obesos, verificar o seu grau de efetividade e tentar perceber a razão pela qual alguns pacientes conseguem perder peso e mantê-lo e outros não. Foi ainda avaliado o impacto das alterações associadas ao estilo de vida e hábitos alimentares após a cirurgia. Os dados foram recolhidos no Serviço de Cirurgia do Hospital de São Sebastião, localizado em Santa Maria da Feira. Foram examinados processos de pacientes operados há mais de três anos, dos quais 82 apresentavam processos válidos e completos. Destes, 67 eram mulheres e 15 eram homens. Perderam peso e estabilizaram 81,3% dos pacientes, os restantes 18,7%, após a perda de peso, aumentaram mais de cinco quilos. A prática de exercício físico esteve associada a um maior decréscimo do índice da massa corporal (IMC), tanto para os que praticaram mais de 30 minutos por dia, como para os que praticaram menos, em comparação com aqueles que não praticaram qualquer atividade física. Os melhores resultados foram encontrados entre os pacientes que simultaneamente cumpriram a dieta e fizeram mais de 30 minutos de exercício físico por dia. Daqui se deduz que os níveis de sucesso mais elevados ocorrem entre os que cumprem a dieta alimentar e os que aderem à prática de exercício físico.
Isolation of potential bacterial pathogens from the phylloplane of some selected medicinal plants
Authors: Yahaya ismail Haruna , S. Bello Hauwa , A. Allamin Ibrahim , Danjuma Elizabeth
Published: June 2016

Microorganisms are ubiquitous and their impact could be appreciated directly or indirectly. This study was aimed at determining the occurrence of pathogenic bacteria on the phylloplane of some medicinal plants commonly used to treat diseases by oral administration. Leaves samples were collected aseptically from Cassia fistula (Cassia) Mangifera indica (Mango) and Psidium guajavum (Guava) and their bacterial contents were assessed. Higher bacterial counts were observed in raw samples followed by those washed with sterile water. Samples washed with sterile warm water (blanched) were shown to have lower counts although without statistical significance (p ≤ 0.05). Guava leaves had higher counts (3.4×106 cfu/g) in the raw samples and cassia in blanched (6.4×105 cfu/g). However, mango leaves had the lowest (8.4×105 cfu/g and 2.0×105 cfu/g) in both the treatments respectively. Twenty bacterial species were isolated comprising Gram negative and Gram positive species. Bacterial identification revealed that Proteus mirabilis (35%), Proteus vulgaris (15%), Escherichia coli (15%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (5%), Morganella morganii (5%), Salmonella typhi (10%), Enterobacter sp. (5%), Staphylococcus aureus (5%) and Vibrio cholarae (5%) were the prevalent species. These organisms could be potential pathogens and proper washing with hot water may serve a better means of reducing the microbial contents and thus, it is recommended.
Prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Pasteurella multocida isolated from chicken in Ado-Ekiti metropolis
Authors: Victor Atere , Mathew Bamikole , Adekemi Oluyege , Ayo Ajurojo , Odunayo Alo
Published: June 2016

Pasteurella multocida is a poultry bacterial pathogen causing fowl cholera in chicken. The prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility of P. multocida isolates from freshly dead chicken were determined. Ninety seven (97) freshly dead chicken from 23 different farms were analyzed for the presence of P. multocida. Swabs of the trachea and the liver of the necropsied chicken were activated on buffered peptone water and later cultured on blood agar and MacConkey agar. Pure culture of organisms were subjected to cultural and biochemical characterization. In vitro susceptibility of the pure isolates of P. multocida against 12 antimicrobial agents was determined using disk diffusion method. Twelve isolates of P. multocida were recovered from the chicken, with a prevalence of 12.4%. Nine of the isolates were recovered from the trachea and three from the liver. All the 12 isolates recovered from the birds were multi-resistant to the antibiotics used in this research. The antibiogram showed that all the isolates resisted ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulinate, doxycycline and tylosine. Nitrofuratoin and gentamycin had the best antimicrobial activity with 25% and 50% resistance respectively. The resistance of other antibiotics are: Ofloxacin 75%, Ciprofloxacin 83.3%, Enrofloxacin 75%, Furasol 66.7%, Ceftazidime 91.7% and Cefuroxime 66.7%. This result showed that there is an emergence of multi- resistance in P. multocida, therefore it is important to carry out sensitivity test before administration of antibiotics in order to control fowl cholera.
Jaké jsou role učitele v e-learningu?
Authors: Mareš Jiří
Published: June 2016

Souhrn: Přehledová studie shrnuje dosavadní snahy o poznání různých rolí učitele v případech, kdy učitelovo vyučování a studentovo učení – alespoň z části – probíhá ve virtuálním prostředí. Cílem této studie je najít odpověď na dvě otázky: Mění role učitele v situacích e-learningu oproti tradiční výuce? Pokud ano, jakých hlavních podob učitelovy role nabývají? V první části studie je vysvětlen vztah mezi pojmy role - funkce – kompetence i používaná terminologie. Jádro studie tvoří tzv. systematický přehled prací publikovaných v letech 1995-2015. Vyhledávací strategie identifikovala 49 prací v angličtině a francouzštině a 11 prací v češtině. Podrobnější výklad o učitelových rolích je strukturován do čtyř oddílů: 1. teoreticky stanovené role, 2. role stanovené kvalitativními výzkumy, 3. role zjištěné kvantitativními výzkumy, 4. role identifikované smíšenými výzkumy. Závěry: Učitelova role je pojem multidimenzionální (má dimenzi pedagogickou, sociální, manažerskou, technologickou). Při e-learningu přibývá učitelských rolí, neboť kromě zvládnutí pedagogických rolí, musí učitel nově zvládnout role technické a technologické. Oproti tradiční výuce se role učitele v e-learningu posouvají k rolím typu: aktér změny, tvůrce pozitivního klimatu výuky, facilitátor učení, kouč, poradce, dokonce i spolustudující; do pozadí ustupuje dominantní role člověka řídícího průběh výuky; nově se objevují role projektanta, vývojáře, experta na technologie, technika reagujícího na technické problémy. Nelze ovšem zapomínat na skutečnost, že mnohé učitelovy role jsou kontextově podmíněné. Existuje též koncepční problém. Většina autorů ve svých úvahách postupuje tak, že ze znalosti výsledné podoby interakce učitel-studenti při e-learningu (jež je výsledkem určitých hardwarových a softwarových omezení) odvozují, které role za této konstelace může učitel plnit. Lze však postupovat i jinak: už ve chvíli, kdy projektujeme nový počítačový systém, který je určen pro vzdělávání lidí, bychom si měli předem stanovit, které role má plnit učitel a které role počítačový program. Klíčová slova: učitel, sociální role, klasifikace rolí, distanční učení, e-learning, on-line učení, výzkum