bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of pioglitazone on bone mineral density in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: A 36‐month clinical trial
Authors: Portillo‐Sanchez Paola , Bril Fernando , Lomonaco Romina , Barb Diana , Orsak Beverly , Bruder Jan Marie , Cusi Kenneth
Published: August 2018

Background

The effects of pioglitazone on bone metabolism are unclear. This study evaluated the long‐term effects of pioglitazone on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone metabolism in patients with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH).

Methods

Ninety‐two patients with prediabetes or T2DM and biopsy‐proven NASH with BMD and baseline biochemical bone measurements were included. Patients (mean [±SEM] age 51 ± 1 years, 71% male, mean body mass index 34.5 ± 0.5 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to pioglitazone (45 mg/day) or placebo for 18 months, followed by an 18‐month open‐label pioglitazone treatment phase. Baseline, 18‐ and 36‐month evaluations included plasma vitamin D and bone turnover biomarker levels, and BMD measurements at the spine, femoral neck, total hip, and one‐third radius.

Results

After 18 months of pioglitazone treatment, there were no differences in BMD versus placebo at either the femoral neck (P =0.87), total hip (P =0.78), or one‐third radius (P =0.44); however, bone density decreased at the level of the spine with pioglitazone (−3.5%; P =0.002). During the extension phase (18–36 months), patients had no further decreases in BMD or plasma biomarkers of bone turnover during pioglitazone treatment. No patient experienced a low‐energy bone fracture.

Conclusions

Treatment of patients with prediabetes or T2DM with pioglitazone for up to 3 years was associated with decreased BMD at the level of the lumbar spine. This reduction in BMD at the lumbar spine at 18 months versus placebo suggests an early deleterious effect of pioglitazone on bone metabolism.
The status of radiation oncology teaching in Australian and New Zealand medical schools
Authors: Nicholls Luke , Bravery Ben , Chelvarajah Revadhi , Shi Kate , Tieu Minh Thi , Turner Sandra , Windsor Apsara
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Radiation therapy is a core component of curative and palliative cancer treatment; however, its indications and benefits remain poorly understood across the medical profession.

Methods

An electronic survey focussing on curriculum content, teaching and assessment in radiation oncology and plans for curriculum change was developed. The Faculty of Radiation Oncology, Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiology (RANZCR) distributed the survey to all 24 Australian and New Zealand medical schools. The survey was conducted from November 2017 to January 2018 following ethics approval.

Results

Sixteen of the 24 (67%) medical Faculties in Australia and New Zealand responded. Ninety‐four percent of Faculties had no formal radiation oncology curriculum. Most Faculties (87%) dedicated <15% of the total medical course to oncology, of which the majority (63%) dedicated <10% to radiation oncology. At least 50% of Faculties did not offer formal radiation oncology teaching to all students. When offered, students’ exposure to radiation oncology was often <5 days over the entire course (44%). The majority of medical schools (73%) are planning curriculum changes in the next 5 years; however, most have no intention of changing radiation oncology teaching.

Conclusion

Radiation oncology continues to be underrepresented in medical curricula throughout Australia and New Zealand with no plans for improvement by Faculties. This study supports the need for formal advocacy for improving radiation oncology education in medical schools and will form the basis of new national recommendations for radiation oncology curriculum development.
TGR5 activation induces cytoprotective changes in the heart and improves myocardial adaptability to physiologic, inotropic, and pressure‐induced stress in mice
Authors: Eblimit Zeena , Thevananther Sundararajah , Karpen Saul J. , Taegtmeyer Heinrich , Moore David D. , Adorini Luciano , Penny Daniel J. , Desai Moreshwar S.
Published: August 2018

Introduction

Administration of cholic acid, or its synthetic derivative, 6‐alpha‐ethyl‐23(S)‐methylcholic acid (INT‐777), activates the membrane GPCR, TGR5, influences whole body metabolism, reduces atherosclerosis, and benefits the cardiovascular physiology in mice. Direct effects of TGR5 agonists, and the role for TGR5, on myocardial cell biology and stress response are unknown.

Methods

Mice were fed chow supplemented with 0.5% cholic acid (CA) or 0.025% INT‐777, a specific TGR5 agonist, or regular chow for 3 weeks. Anthropometric, biochemical, physiologic (electrocardiography and echocardiography), and molecular analysis was performed at baseline. CA and INT‐777 fed mice were challenged with acute exercise‐induced stress, acute catecholamine‐induced stress, and hemodynamic stress induced by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) for a period of 8 weeks. In separate experiments, mice born with constitutive deletion of TGR5 in cardiomyocytes (CM‐TGR5del) were exposed to exercise, inotropic, and TAC‐induced stress.

Results

Administration of CA and INT‐777 supplemented diets upregulated TGR5 expression and activated Akt, PKA, and ERK1/2 in the heart. CA and INT‐777 fed mice showed improved exercise tolerance, improved sensitivity to catecholamine and attenuation in pathologic remodeling of the heart under hemodynamic stress. In contrast, CM‐TGR5del showed poor response to exercise and catecholamine challenge as well as higher mortality and signs of accelerated cardiomyopathy under hemodynamic stress.

Conclusions

Bile acids, specifically TGR5 agonists, induce cytoprotective changes in the heart and improve myocardial response to physiologic, inotropic, and hemodynamic stress in mice. TGR5 plays a critical role in myocardial adaptability, and TGR5 activation may represent a potentially attractive treatment option in heart failure.
Effect of evidence‐based cardiac drug therapy on mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome: Findings from the Gulf COAST registry
Authors: Al‐Zakwani Ibrahim , Zubaid Mohammad , Alsheikh‐Ali Alawi A. , Almahmeed Wael , Rashed Wafa
Published: August 2018

Aim

To evaluate the prevalence and impact of the prescribing of an evidence‐based cardiac medication (EBM) combination on 1‐month, 6‐months, and 12‐months all‐cause mortality in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods

Data were analyzed from 3681 consecutive patients diagnosed with ACS admitted to 29 hospitals in 4 Middle Eastern countries from January 2012 to January 2013. The EBM combination consisted of concurrent prescribing of an antiplatelet therapy, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), β‐blocker, and a statin, at hospital discharge. Analyses were performed using univariate and multivariate statistical techniques.

Results

The overall mean age of the cohort was 60 ± 13 years, 66% (n = 2436) were males. In all, 69% (n = 2542) of the patients received the quadruple EBM combination at discharge. Two‐way interactions between EBM and age (P = 0.824), EBM and GRACE risk score (P = 0.873) and between EBM and discharge diagnosis (P = 0.836) were all not statistically significant. Adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics, the prescribing of EBM combination was associated with significantly lower cumulative all‐cause mortality at 1‐month (adjusted OR (aOR), 0.43; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.24‐0.79; P = 0.007), which persisted at 6‐months (aOR, 0.52; 95% CI: 0.38‐0.72; P < 0.001) and at 12‐months of follow‐up (aOR, 0.58; 95% CI: 0.44‐0.75; P < 0.001) posthospital discharge.

Conclusions

Among patients discharged after an ACS event, concurrent EBM prescribing was associated with lower all‐cause mortality that persists for up to 12‐months posthospital discharge. The relative benefits of EBMs were also consistent across age, GRACE risk score, and discharge diagnosis.
Home Capital Group—The High Cost of Dishonesty
Authors: Brown Kareen , Veenstra Kevin
Published: August 2018

This instructional case presents the problems that began in the summer of 2015 when Home Capital Group (HCG) announced it had cut ties with 45 mortgage brokers for falsifying figures on mortgage applications regarding the earnings of prospective home purchasers in Canada. The case details the subsequent investigation by the Ontario Securities Commission in 2017 that resulted in a run on the bank and consequent efforts by HCG to stay afloat. While emphasizing the importance of strong corporate governance and corporate social responsibility initiatives, this case also stresses the influence of various stakeholders including short‐sellers, regulators, shareholders, management, depositors, and customers in the evolution of subsequent events. As a whole, this case provides an interesting context for the discussion of stock market efficiency.
Satellite remote sensing to monitor mangrove forest resilience and resistance to sea level rise
Authors: Duncan Clare , Owen Harry J. F. , Thompson Julian R. , Koldewey Heather J. , Primavera Jurgenne H. , Pettorelli Nathalie
Published: August 2018

Coastal ecosystems, such as mangroves, provide key ecosystem services for climate change mitigation and adaptation. However, combined anthropogenic activities and climatic change‐driven sea level rise (SLR) pose a severe threat to their global persistence, and to the continued delivery of these services. Mangrove vulnerability to SLR depends upon capacity for both resilience (landward migration) and resistance (maintained functioning with the existing distribution), which are in turn hindered by extractive activities and coastal infrastructure development. Limited landscape‐scale data availability means existing SLR vulnerability assessment frameworks lack rigorous quantification of these discrete processes.

Here we develop and implement a novel multi‐product (multispectral, microwave, derived‐product) open‐access satellite remote sensing approach to assess both coastal ecosystem SLR resilience and resistance capacity in multiple mangrove sites across the world, and landscape‐level and anthropogenic factors driving these capacities. Our approach allows comparative ranking of resilience and resistance capacities across sites, based on relative observed ecosystem change (biomass, distribution) and in constraints to these two components of SLR vulnerability.

We observe mostly low SLR resilience and resistance across our case study sites. Furthermore, we find that site‐specific resilience and resistance capacities and constraints can be highly incongruent, highlighting the importance of comprehensive SLR vulnerability monitoring for effective management. High within‐site variation was also detected in resilience and resistance capacities and their constraints. This underlines the importance of spatially explicit monitoring at extensive spatial scales to inform decision making.

The methodology developed and repeat‐pass imagery employed adds to the remote monitoring and assessment toolkit for adaptive coastal ecosystem management under SLR, providing a new approach to inform conservation and management priority assessments in data‐deficient regions.
Power play
Authors: INESI ENA , PFEFFER JEFFREY , SHERMAN ELIOT , SIVANATHAN NIRO
Published: August 2018

Power shapes our every interaction – so better learn how to use it. Ena Inesi, Eliot Sherman, Niro Sivanathan and Jeffrey Pfeffer show how to go about it
The Power Paradox
Authors: GODDARD JULES
Published: August 2018

The most effective leaders influence by example and rarely have to exercise their authority, says Jules Goddard
Who Are you looking at?
Authors: TAVASSOLI NADER
Published: August 2018

The main value drivers of business are still efficiency, effectiveness and experience, says Nader Tavassoli, but the need today to look beyond the purchaser to the consumer means it's time to reorder priorities
How populists thrive when times are hard
Authors: PAPAIOANNOU ELIAS
Published: August 2018

Research by Elias Papaioannou, Yann Algan, Sergei Guriev and Evgenia Passari highlights the crucial link between a stable economy and popular trust in democratic institutions
Tickets to ride
Authors: JACOBIDES MICHAEL G
Published: August 2018

How and where will value be captured in the emerging mobility ecosystem – and by whom? Michael G Jacobides explores the future
How long is long term?
Authors: DIMSON ELROY , MARSH PAUL , STAUNTON MIKE
Published: August 2018

We need to look at investments over many decades to see past all the ups and downs, say Elroy Dimson, Paul Marsh and Mike Staunton
Seven lessons from Tencent's Pony Ma
Authors: BIRKINSHAW JULIAN , DE DIEGO ENRIQUE , LIANGHONG KE DICKIE
Published: August 2018

How the man behind the Chinese goliath keeps innovating, by Julian Birkinshaw, Enrique de Diego and Dickie Liang‐Hong Ke
Strategies for managing pain during endodontic treatment
Authors: Abbott Paul V. , Parirokh Masoud
Published: August 2018

Many patients associate root canal treatment with pain. Unfortunately, local anaesthetic techniques such as infiltrations and inferior alveolar nerve blocks are not very effective as single injections for acute irreversible pulpitis. This review discusses strategies for more effective pain management for such situations. Pain control before, during and after treatment is essential for effective patient management. Adequate pain control during treatment also reduces post‐operative pain. Effective pain management begins with a thorough understanding of the conditions being treated and an accurate diagnosis. In some cases, premedication with non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs can help reduce intra‐operative pain. Pain management during treatment involves standard local anaesthetic solutions and injection techniques plus increased volumes and supplementary injections. Once anaesthesia is achieved, treatment can be commenced and the root canal system can be medicated to relieve pain. These should be followed by flexible post‐operative pain management strategies for the individual patient and specific condition.
PRLH and SOD1 gene variations associated with heat tolerance in Chinese cattle
Authors: Zeng L. , Chen N. , Ning Q. , Yao Y. , Chen H. , Dang R. , Zhang H. , Lei C.
Published: August 2018

With the proposed global climate change, heat tolerance is becoming increasingly important to the sustainability of livestock production systems. Results from previous studies showed that variants in the prolactin releasing hormone (PRLH) (AC_000160.1:g.11764610G>A) and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) (AC_000158.1:g.3116044T>A) genes play an important role in heat tolerance in African indicine cattle. However, it is unknown whether or not the mutations are associated with heat tolerance in Chinese cattle. In this study, PCR and DNA sequencing were used to genotype two missense mutations in 725 individuals of 30 cattle breeds. Analysis results demonstrated that two classes of base substitution were detected at two loci: AC_000160.1:g.11764610G>A and AC_000158.1:g.3116044T>A or T>C respectively, with amino acid substitutions arginine to histidine and phenylalanine to isoleucine or leucine. The frequencies of the G and T alleles of the two loci gradually diminished from northern groups to southern groups of native Chinese cattle, whereas the frequencies of A and A or C alleles showed a contrary pattern, displaying a significant geographical difference across native Chinese cattle breeds. Additionally, analysis of these two loci in Chinese indigenous cattle revealed that two SNPs were significantly associated with mean annual temperature (T), relative humidity (RH) and temperature humidity index (THI) (P < 0.01), suggesting that cattle with A or C alleles were distributed in regions with higher T, RH and THI. Our results suggest that the two mutations of PRLH and SOD1 genes in Chinese cattle were associated with the heat tolerance.
Joint Skeleton Estimation of Multiple Directed Acyclic Graphs for Heterogeneous Population
Authors: Liu Jianyu , Sun Wei , Liu Yufeng
Published: August 2018

The directed acyclic graph (DAG) is a powerful tool to model the interactions of high-dimensional variables. While estimating edge directions in a DAG often requires interventional data, one can estimate the skeleton of a DAG (i.e., an undirected graph formed by removing the direction of each edge in a DAG) using observational data. In real data analyses, the samples of the high-dimensional variables may be collected from a mixture of multiple populations. Each population has its own DAG while the DAGs across populations may have significant overlap. In this article, we propose a two-step approach to jointly estimate the DAG skeletons of multiple populations while the population origin of each sample may or may not be labeled. In particular, our method allows a probabilistic soft label for each sample, which can be easily computed and often leads to more accurate skeleton estimation than hard labels. Compared with separate estimation of skeletons for each population, our method is more accurate and robust to labeling errors. We study the estimation consistency for our method, and demonstrate its performance using simulation studies in different settings. Finally, we apply our method to analyze gene expression data from breast cancer patients of multiple cancer subtypes.
Does cross‐frequency phase coupling of oscillatory brain activity contribute to a better understanding of visual working memory?
Authors: Sauseng Paul , Peylo Charline , Biel Anna Lena , Friedrich Elisabeth V. C. , Romberg‐Taylor Carola
Published: August 2018

Nesting of fast rhythmical brain activity (gamma) into slower brain waves (theta) has frequently been suggested as a core mechanism of multi‐item working memory (WM) retention. It provides a better understanding of WM capacity limitations, and, as we discuss in this review article, it can lead to applications for modulating memory capacity. However, could cross‐frequency coupling of brain oscillations also constructively contribute to a better understanding of the neuronal signatures of working memory compatible with theoretical approaches that assume flexible capacity limits? Could a theta‐gamma code also be considered as a neural mechanism of flexible sharing of cognitive resources between memory representations in multi‐item WM? Here, we propose potential variants of theta‐gamma coupling that could explain WM retention beyond a fixed memory capacity limit of a few visual items. Moreover, we suggest how to empirically test these predictions in the future.
Laminins and their receptors in the CNS
Authors: Nirwane Abhijit , Yao Yao
Published: August 2018

Laminin, an extracellular matrix protein, is widely expressed in the central nervous system (CNS). By interacting with integrin and non‐integrin receptors, laminin exerts a large variety of important functions in the CNS in both physiological and pathological conditions. Due to the existence of many laminin isoforms and their differential expression in various cell types in the CNS, the exact functions of each individual laminin molecule in CNS development and homeostasis remain largely unclear. In this review, we first briefly introduce the structure and biochemistry of laminins and their receptors. Next, the dynamic expression of laminins and their receptors in the CNS during both development and in adulthood is summarized in a cell‐type‐specific manner, which allows appreciation of their functional redundancy/compensation. Furthermore, we discuss the biological functions of laminins and their receptors in CNS development, blood–brain barrier (BBB) maintenance, neurodegeneration, stroke, and neuroinflammation. Last, key challenges and potential future research directions are summarized and discussed. Our goals are to provide a synthetic review to stimulate future studies and promote the formation of new ideas/hypotheses and new lines of research in this field.
Antigenic mimicry of ubiquitin by the gut bacteriumBacteroides fragilis: a potential link with autoimmune disease
Authors: Stewart L , Edgar J D M , Blakely G , Patrick S
Published: August 2018

Ubiquitin is highly conserved across eukaryotes and is essential for normal eukaryotic cell function. The bacterium Bacteroides fragilis is a member of the normal human gut microbiota, and the only bacterium known to encode a homologue of eukaryotic ubiquitin. The B. fragilis gene sequence indicates a past horizontal gene transfer event from a eukaryotic source. It encodes a protein (BfUbb) with 63% identity to human ubiquitin which is exported from the bacterial cell. The aim of this study was (i) to determine if there was antigenic cross-reactivity between B. fragilis ubiquitin and human ubiquitin and (ii) to determine if humans produced antibodies to BfUbb. Molecular model comparisons of BfUbb and human ubiquitin predicted a high level (99·8% confidence) of structural similarity. Linear epitope mapping identified epitopes in BfUbb and human ubiquitin that cross-react. BfUbb also has epitope(s) that do not cross-react with human ubiquitin. The reaction of human serum (n = 474) to BfUbb and human ubiquitin from the following four groups of subjects was compared by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA): (1) newly autoantibody-positive patients, (2) allergen-specific immunoglobulin (Ig)E-negative patients, (3) ulcerative colitis patients and (4) healthy volunteers. We show that the immune system of some individuals has been exposed to BfUbb which has resulted in the generation of IgG antibodies. Serum from patients referred for first-time testing to an immunology laboratory for autoimmune disease are more likely to have a high level of antibodies to BfUbb than healthy volunteers. Molecular mimicry of human ubiquitin by BfUbb could be a trigger for autoimmune disease.
Biparental/androgenetic mosaicism in a male with features of overgrowth and placental mesenchymal dysplasia
Authors: Repnikova E. , Roberts J. , Kats A. , Habeebu S. , Schwager C. , Joyce J. , Manalang M. , Amudhavalli S.M.
Published: August 2018

Biparental/androgenetic mosaicism is a rarely diagnosed condition in humans. It is typically ascertained prenatally on the basis of placental mesenchymal dysplasia. Fetal outcome can range from demise due to intrauterine growth retardation to term delivery. Most of the published cases of liveborns represent females that are either completely normal or have features of Beckwith‐Wiedemann syndrome. Only two healthy liveborn males with mosaicism detected in the placenta have been described to date. Here, we report another liveborn male with hepatic mesenchymal hamartoma, soft tissue overgrowth on his right fifth toe, hemangiomas over his chest, right buttock and foot, anemia, thrombocytopenia and congenital hypothyroidism with biparental/androgenetic mosaicism detected in the toe mass in addition to the placenta. This new case adds to the existing literature of individuals with biparental/androgenetic mosaicism and expands the range of clinical presentations that may be seen in male patients with this condition. This study also illustrates the important use of single‐nucleotide polymorphism microarray in conjunction with short‐tandem repeat analysis on affected tissue to provide a diagnosis for patients with features of overgrowth and prior, non‐diagnostic, genetic analyses of their peripheral blood.
On Visualizing Continuous Turbulence Scales
Authors: Liu Xiaopei , Mishra Maneesh , Skote Martin , Fu Chi‐Wing
Published: August 2018

Turbulent flows are multi‐scale with vortices spanning a wide range of scales continuously. Due to such complexities, turbulence scales are particularly difficult to analyse and visualize. In this work, we present a novel and efficient optimization‐based method for continuous‐scale turbulence structure visualization with scale decomposition directly in the Kolmogorov energy spectrum. To achieve this, we first derive a new analytical objective function based on integration approximation. Using this new formulation, we can significantly improve the efficiency of the underlying optimization process and obtain the desired filter in the Kolmogorov energy spectrum for scale decomposition. More importantly, such a decomposition allows a ‘continuous‐scale visualization’ that enables us to efficiently explore the decomposed turbulence scales and further analyse the turbulence structures in a continuous manner. With our approach, we can present scale visualizations of direct numerical simulation data sets continuously over the scale domain for both isotropic and boundary layer turbulent flows. Compared with previous works on multi‐scale turbulence analysis and visualization, our method is highly flexible and efficient in generating scale decomposition and visualization results. The application of the proposed technique to both isotropic and boundary layer turbulence data sets verifies the capability of our technique to produce desirable scale visualization results.
Antenatal maternal medication administration in preventing respiratory distress syndrome of premature infants: A network meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Haoyang , Liu Jing , Liu Tianhao , Wang Yu , Dai Weidan
Published: August 2018

Introduction

High incidence of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) was revealed in preterm infants, which acted as one of the main factors that led to infant death.

Objectives

This network meta‐analysis (NMA) was performed to rank the efficacy of different therapies in preventing for premature infants.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, and CNKI were searched. Statistical analysis was performed using STATA statistical software (Version 12.0). Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% credible intervals (95%CrIs) were applied to evaluate relative efficacy of various treatments. Ranking of probabilities of each treatment was illustrated by surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA). Consistency between direct and indirect evidence was assessed using the node‐splitting plots and heat plots.

Results and conclusion

A total of 48 trials were eligible to evaluate the efficacy of 3 interventions including ambroxol (AMB), betamethasone (BET), and dexamethasone (DEX). Three outcomes including the incidence of RDS, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and neonatal death were assessed. Compared with placebo, BET, DEX, and AMB all demonstrated better efficacy in terms of preventing RDS and neonatal death. No significant difference among treatments was found in the assessment of the incidence of BPD. According to SUCRA, AMB was the optimal treatment in preventing RDS and neonatal death. Besides, no significant inconsistency was detected between direct and indirect evidence. To conclude, no significant difference was found among these three medications. AMB seems to have the potential to be the most effective treatment for reducing the incidence of RDS and neonatal death.
Parent‐report instruments for assessing feeding difficulties in children with neurological impairments: a systematic review
Authors: Jaafar Nurul Hazirah , Othman Azizah , Majid Noorizan A , Harith Sakinah , Zabidi‐Hussin Zamh
Published: August 2018

Aim

This study aimed to review the psychometric properties and clinical application of parent‐report instruments that assess feeding difficulties in children with neurological impairments.

Method

Papers were identified through five electronic databases based on 15 keywords and were included if they met the following criteria: published in English, described the implementation of parent‐report instruments, and included children with neurological impairments (either in the report or a related study population).

Results

In total, 1220 relevant abstracts were screened and 22 full‐text articles were evaluated. The following six parent‐report instruments met the inclusion criteria: (1) Screening Tool of Feeding Problems applied to children, (2) Paediatric Eating Assessment Tool, (3) Paediatric Assessment Scale for Severe Feeding Problems, (4) Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale, (5) Children's Eating Behaviour Inventory, and (6) Behavioural Paediatric Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS). Based on comprehensive psychometric testing and consistently good results, the BPFAS was considered the most valid and reliable instrument. The BPFAS also showed good clinical applicability because it was readily available, required a short administration time, and used a simple scoring system.

Interpretation

We reviewed the available parent‐report instruments for assessing feeding difficulties in children with neurological impairments. The BPFAS had the best psychometric properties and clinical applicability.

What this paper adds

Six parent‐report instruments were suitable for assessing feeding in children with neurological impairments.

The Behavioural Paediatric Feeding Assessment Scale (BPFAS) has the strongest psychometric properties.

The BPFAS also has good clinical applicability.
Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms and intraventricular haemorrhage in infants born preterm: a large prospective multicentre cohort study
Authors: Dzietko Mark , Schulz Soeren , Preuss Michael , Haertel Christoph , Stein Anja , Felderhoff‐Mueser Ursula , Goepel Wolfgang
Published: August 2018

Aim

Infants born preterm are at risk of intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) but individual susceptibility related to genes is not well defined in this vulnerable population. Apolipoprotein genotypes APOE2 and APOE4 increase the hazard of cerebral haemorrhages in adults. We investigated whether APOE is associated with prevalence of IVH and is likely to have a particular genotype.

Method

In this prospective study, 5075 infants born preterm with genotype APOE3 were compared to 965 (APOE2) and 1912 (APOE4) individuals, to analyse the association between APOE genotype and grade III and IV IVH. We used a logistic regression model including gestational age, antenatal steroid treatment, 5‐minute Apgar scores less than 3, intubation, pneumothorax, small for gestational age, multiple birth, sex, and maternal descent as independent factors.

Results

The APOE2 (20.1%) and APOE4 (19.8%) genotypes were significantly more prevalent in infants with IVH than in those with the APOE3 haplotype (17.4%) (APOE2: odds ratio [OR] 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00–1.76; APOE4: OR 1.39, 95% CI 1.12–1.74). Infants with two polymorphisms had the highest risk of IVH (8.7%; OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.09–2.45).

Interpretation

APOE2 and APOE4 genotypes are relevant risk factors for IVH in infants born preterm. Our findings improve our understanding of the genetic contributions to IVH.
WINNING IN PROFESSIONAL TEAM SPORTS: HISTORICAL MOMENTS
Authors: Jang Hayley , Lee Young Hoon , Fort Rodney
Published: August 2018

Our aims in this paper are to (1) examine the higher moments of the distribution of winning percentages and (2) discover economic implications of such an examination. The results prove useful to both current sports league policy questions and future research. We speculate that the institutional differences between North American pro leagues and European soccer leagues will prove fruitful areas for future research on the determination of competitive balance. (JEL C1, L83, Z20)
A capability approach to children's well‐being, agency and participatory rights in education
Authors: Hart Caroline Sarojini , Brando Nicolás
Published: August 2018

This article applies a capability approach to examine how children's agency, well‐being and participation rights can be developed and supported in educational settings. We introduce Amartya Sen's concepts of agency and well‐being freedoms and achievements to highlight the tensions and trade‐offs between risks to children's agency and well‐being in and through educational processes. We draw upon selected empirical examples to illustrate this relationship further. By positioning the development of children's agency as an explicit and important goal of education, alongside well‐being achievement, we aim to broaden the evaluative space for assessing what constitutes quality in children's education. We conclude with some reflections on implications for policy and practice going forward.
Erecting Walls Versus Tearing Them Down: Inclusion and the (False) Paradox of Diversity in Times of Economic Upheaval
Authors: Mor Barak Michàlle E.
Published: August 2018

Media images of walls being erected or dismantled symbolize the global dilemma at the heart of the approach toward diversity during economically challenging times. Will communities, organizations, and nations become more isolated, exclusionary, and protective of scarce resources? Or will they embrace diversity for humanistic reasons and its potential to drive economic growth? This paper first critically examines the paradox of diversity and deems it false because it omits the important role of inclusion climate. It then presents a systematic review of the research. Findings indicate that people are more likely to blame ‘the other’ for their economic hardships, and as a result are more likely to express racism, prejudice, and xenophobia, giving rise to intergroup conflicts and strife. Yet research also links diversity with innovation and its potential to uplift and energize economies, a quality that is particularly important during times of economic hardship. Finally, the paper presents a theory‐based conceptual model, highlighting the central role of inclusion, and proposes directions for future research.
Local official turnover, ownership, and firm cash holdings: Insights from an emerging market
Authors: Ni Xiaoran
Published: August 2018

Using a hand‐collected dataset of city‐level local official turnover in China, I find that average cash holdings of listed firms decrease significantly upon turnover of city heads, and this effect concentrates in privately owned enterprises. Such effects are more pronounced in firms located in cities with lower government quality. I also find that local official turnover leads to decreases in equity issuance for privately owned enterprises but not for state‐owned enterprises, which largely explains our primary findings. Overall, this paper reveals that the cash policy of privately owned enterprises is sensitive to local official turnover in an emerging market.
Prevalence of owner‐reported ocular problems and veterinary ocular findings in a population of horses aged ≥15 years
Authors: Malalana F. , McGowan T. W. , Ireland J. L. , Pinchbeck G. L. , McGowan C. M.
Published: August 2018

Background

Previous studies suggest that ocular disease is common among aged horses but owners may fail to identify or underestimate their clinical relevance.

Objectives

To document the prevalence of owner‐reported ocular disease in horses aged ≥15 years. In a subset of these horses, to document ophthalmic findings from veterinary examination and compare with owner‐reported ocular disease, and to determine risk factors for veterinary ophthalmic findings.

Study design

Cross‐sectional study.

Methods

Owners of aged horses completed a survey on management, clinical signs and medical history. Risk factors for the presence of ocular disease as reported by the owner were determined. A subset of these horses underwent an ophthalmological examination. Risk factors for the presence of ocular disease detected during this examination were determined. Agreement between owner‐reported data and veterinary ophthalmic findings was assessed.

Results

Abnormal ocular findings were detected in 287/327 horses aged ≥15 years that underwent a complete ophthalmic examination, whereas the presence of ocular disease as reported by the horse‐owners was only 3.3%. Agreement between owner‐reported ocular disease and results of the veterinary examination was low for all categories analysed. An owner‐reported history of ocular discharge was associated with increased odds of veterinary‐reported diminished vision. Increasing age was associated with increased odds of the presence of an eye abnormality (any) and cataracts. Appaloosa horses had increased odds of cataract compared with other breeds. Horses in work were less likely to have an eye abnormality.

Main limitations

Volunteer bias may have influenced our results with owners of sick horses or those more concerned about their horses more likely to volunteer at the initial recruitment phase.

Conclusions

This study showed a high prevalence of ocular lesions in aged horses which was not reflected in owner‐reported disease. This has highlighted problems in obtaining information on ocular conditions from horse‐owners.
Oncogene c‐fos and mutant R175H p53 regulate expression of Nucleophosmin implicating cancer manifestation
Authors: Senapati Parijat , Dey Suchismita , Sudarshan Deepthi , Das Sadhan , Kumar Manoj , Kaypee Stephanie , Mohiyuddin Azeem , Kodaganur Gopinath S. , Kundu Tapas K.
Published: August 2018

Nucleophosmin (NPM1) is a nucleolar protein that is frequently overexpressed in various types of solid tumors. NPM1 is involved in several cellular processes that might contribute significantly to the increased proliferation potential of cancers. Previous reports suggest that NPM1 expression is highly increased in response to mitogenic and oncogenic signals, the mechanisms of which have not been elucidated extensively. Using constructs incorporating different fragments of the NPM1 promoter upstream to a Luciferase reporter gene, we have identified the minimal promoter of NPM1 and candidate transcription factors regulating NPM1 promoter activity by luciferase reporter assays. We have validated the roles of a few candidate factors at the transcriptional and protein level by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR, immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry, and explored the mechanism of regulation of NPM1 expression using immunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. We show here that the expression of NPM1 is regulated by transcription factor c‐fos, a protein that is strongly activated by growth factor signals. In addition, mutant p53 (R175H) overexpression also enhances NPM1 expression possibly through c‐myc and c‐fos. Moreover, both c‐fos and mutant p53 are overexpressed in oral tumor tissues that showed NPM1 overexpression. Collectively, our results suggest that c‐fos and mutant p53 R175H positively regulate NPM1 expression, possibly in synergism, that might lead to oncogenic manifestation.
Presidential Address and record of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) AGM 2018
Authors: Crane Nicholas
Published: August 2018

In his third and final Address as President of the Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers), Nicholas Crane located our “inner geographer”. He argued that geography is with all of us from birth and should be fostered and celebrated through primary and secondary education. Noting that every major global issue is geographical at root, the President argued that redeployment of our inner geographer is key to encouraging the changes that are urgently needed if the planet is to remain habitable. In this context, the President concluded that the role of the Society, which is already fundamental to efforts to further geographical science, will become ever more important.
Transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) induces mouse precartilaginous stem cell differentiation through TGFRII‐CK1ε‐β‐catenin signalling
Authors: Qiong Wang , Xiaofeng Gu , Junfang Wang
Published: August 2018

Precartilaginous stem cells (PSCs) are adult stem cells which could self‐renew or differentiate into chondrocytes to promote bone growth. In this study, we aimed to understand the role of transforming growth factor‐β1 (TGF‐β1) in precartilaginous stem cell (PSC) differentiation and to study the mechanisms that underlie this role. We purified PSCs from the neonatal murine perichondrial mesenchyme using immunomagnetic beads, and primary cultured them. Their phenotype was confirmed by the PSC marker fibroblast growth factor receptor‐3 (FGFR‐3) overexpression. TGF‐β1 was added to induce PSCs differentiation. TGF‐β1 increased mRNA expression of chondrogenesis‐related genes (collagen type II, Sox 9 and aggrecan) in the cultured PSCs. This was abolished by TGF‐β receptor II (TGFRII) and Casein kinase 1 epsilon (CK1ε) lentiviral shRNA depletion. Meanwhile, we found that TGF‐β1 induced CK1ε activation, glycogen synthase kinase‐3β (GSK3β) phosphorylation and β‐catenin nuclear translocation in the mouse PSCs, which was almost completely blocked by TGFRII and CK1ε shRNA knockdown. Based on these results, we suggest that TGF‐β1 induces CK1ε activation to promote β‐catenin nuclear accumulation, which then regulates chondrogenesis‐related gene transcription to eventually promote mouse PSC differentiation.
Erythema elevatum diutinum: a case report and review of literature
Authors: Doktor Vladyslava , Hadi Ahmed , Hadi Ali , Phelps Robert , Goodheart Herbert
Published: August 2018

Erythema elevatum diutinum (EED) is a rare cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis thought to be related to increased levels of circulating antibodies. It has been shown to be associated with HIV infection, tuberculosis, as well as various autoimmune diseases. A retrospective review of all cases of EED indexed in PubMed between 1990 and 2014 was performed. Inclusion criteria for articles was availability of full text in English and a biopsy‐confirmed diagnosis of EED. All other articles were excluded. Cases were stratified by age and anatomic location of the lesions. Treatment response was coded as “complete,” “partial,” and “none.” A total of 133 cases of EED with 381 lesions detailed in case reports and case series were included. Twenty‐one cases were associated with HIV. Of 47 patients with reported paraproteinemias, IgA paraproteinemia was found in 57.45%, IgG paraproteinemia in 29.8%, IgM paraproteinemia in 10.6%, and IgD paraproteinemia in 2.1% of cases. Of 40 (30.1%) patients with reported comorbid autoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis was associated with 10 cases. Cancer was found to be associated with 9.77% of cases. Seventy‐five patients were treated with dapsone, with 36 (48%) achieving complete treatment response, 24 (32%) achieving partial response, and seven (9.3%) achieving no response. Keeping the clinical associations of EED in mind, especially malignancy, is critical in management of the disease. More structured studies need to take place in order to fully define the mechanisms and strength of these associations.
How does labour share respond to risk? Theory and evidence from the Chinese industrial sector
Authors: ZOU Jingxian , SHEN Guangjun , JIA Shen
Published: August 2018

This study discusses the role of firm risk in the declining labour share in China. Based on the model developed by Holmström and Milgrom (1987), the authors demonstrate that lower firm risk can motivate workers to work harder, leading to higher output per worker and average wage. However, increased output will lower the labour share. Using data from the Chinese Industrial Enterprises Database for the period 1998–2007 and the World Bank's Investment Climate Survey 2005, empirical evidence supports this hypothesis and performs robustly across various model specifications and proxies for firm risk, indicating a positive correlation between labour share and firm risk.
‘Regurgitation and reingestion’ (R/R) in great apes: a review of current knowledge
Authors: Hill S. P.
Published: August 2018

Research indicates that regurgitation and reingestion (R/R) is a relatively common behaviour in zoo‐housed great apes, with most studies to date carried out on Western lowland gorillas Gorilla gorilla gorilla and Chimpanzees Pan troglodytes. R/R is an abnormal behaviour because great apes are not anatomically adapted to regurgitate their food as part of their normal feeding processes, and because this behaviour has not been observed in members of the species living freely in the wild, in conditions that would allow a full behavioural range. In this article, an overview is given of the published literature on R/R in great apes, which suggests that this behaviour is probably multifactorial and may be linked to inappropriate feeding environments (e.g. in terms of nutritional composition of the diet and/or presentation of food), and possibly also social and other factors. A similar behaviour to R/R, known as rumination disorder, can occur in humans (another great ape species), in whom it is classified as a feeding and eating disorder, and there are potential consequences to people's physical health as a result of oral acid. There have been no known studies to date to identify whether or not similar health consequences can occur in non‐human great apes, but the regurgitant has been found to be significantly more acidic in gorillas than the food they ingested originally, meaning it is potentially injurious in non‐human great apes. There is much that is not yet known about R/R and how to reduce or eliminate it when it does occur. The research indicates that there are a range of factors involved and these can vary by individual animal. More research into this behaviour is clearly needed to ensure that zoos and sanctuaries are providing the best possible care for these animals, and some suggestions for future research directions are included in this review.
A computational search for the zeta phase in the tantalum carbides
Authors: Weinberger Christopher R. , Thompson Gregory B.
Published: August 2018

A systematic electronic structure density functional theory search for the zeta phase in the tantalum carbon system has been conducted, demonstrating that the zeta phase does indeed lie on the convex hull, establishing low‐temperature thermodynamic stability, and is structurally stable. Even though the zeta phase is most oft reported as a ζ‐Ta4C3‐x structure, these new computational results reveal that the perfectly ordered zeta phase occurs at the Ta3C2 composition and belongs to the C2/m space group. Furthermore, these results suggest that the space group may be a result of an order‐disorder transition and potential deviations from ideal stoichiometry at higher temperatures. The structure of this Ta3C2 compound can be described as ordered strings of carbon vacancies on a single carbon plane, which is also the preferred plane where additional carbon vacancies or interstitials form. These defects have modest formation energies, which provides further explanation for the small homogeneity range in zeta phase.
Social comparison processes in the experience of personal relative deprivation
Authors: Kim Hyunji , Callan Mitchell J. , Gheorghiu Ana I. , Skylark William J.
Published: August 2018

Drawing on social comparison and equity theories, we investigated the role that perceived similarity of a comparison target plays in how resentful people feel about their relative financial status. In Study 1, participants tended to choose a comparison target who was better off, and they selected a target they perceived to be more similar than dissimilar along dimensions that surrounded their financial outcomes. In Study 1, perceived relative disadvantage was positively associated with resentment regardless of the perceived similarity of the comparison target. The results of Studies 2 to 5b clarified these findings by showing that being both similar and dissimilar to a target can cause resentment depending on the context. Using hypothetical and real social comparisons, we found that people are more dissatisfied with their financial outcomes when their comparative targets have the same background qualifications (i.e., are similar) but are financially better off (Studies 2, 3b, 4, and 5b). However, we also found that when the comparative financial contexts were similar (i.e., equal affluence), participants were more dissatisfied when their target for comparison had lower qualifications (i.e., was dissimilar; Studies 2, 3a, 4, and 5a). In all cases, perceptions of unfairness mediated the effects of social comparison on financial dissatisfaction. Taken together, these studies address some of the ambiguities around what it means to be similar to a target in the context of social comparisons of affluence, and they underscore the importance of perceived unfairness in the link between social comparison and resentment with one's financial status.