bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A critical incident technique investigation of customers’ waiting experiences in service encounters
Authors: Ramseook-Munhurrun Prabha
Published: April 2016

Purpose

This study explores customers’ reactions to waiting experiences in service encounters. It seeks to explore the key driving features determining customer satisfaction and dissatisfaction with waiting experiences during service encounters. The main challenge for service organisation is to understand the satisfactory and dissatisfactory features of the waiting experiences so as to design and deliver a memorable experience leading to positive post-consumption reactions.

Design/methodology/approach

The critical incident technique (CIT) was used to explore the salient factors on which customers forged their evaluation and based their satisfaction while waiting in lines in the context of various service encounters. To elicit incidents, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 25 customers in Mauritius and a total of 297 critical incidents involving customers’ waiting experiences in service encounters were identified.

Findings

Based on the CIT analysis, four distinctive features associated with the satisfying and dissatisfying waiting experiences emerged: social justice, servicescapes, affective response and service outcome. The customers exhibited mostly dissatisfying reactions to waiting experiences during the service encounters.

Originality/value

While CIT has been used extensively in services management, it has not been used to explore customers’ reactions to waiting experiences. Therefore, this study extended the waiting experience literature in service encounters to explain customers’ reactions to waiting.
Siro And Two-Fold Yarns
Authors: Cheng K.P.S , Yuen C.H.
Published: April 2016

Investigation was carried out on how the tensile and related properties of Siro yarns, spun from two separated rovings of different types of materials, were affected by the twist factor and draft. Comparison on Siro yarns and two-fold yarns of the same linear density and twist
factor revealed that the former was better in tensile strength and related properties. The Siro yarns are believed to be able to bear extra tension during manufacturing processes such as weaving and knitting.
The Effect of Throat Plate Design on.Sewing Damage on an Overlock Sewing Machine
Authors: Fan J.
Published: April 2016

Sewing damage is caused by the resistance of fabric to the penetration of sewing needle during sewing. Such resistance not only comes from the fact that the spaces in the fabric (between the fibres or the yams) are relatively small to the size of the sewing needle, but also comes from the congestion in the needle gap as a result of the fabric materials (viz. fibres and yarns) being pushed into the needle gap (i.e. the gap or hole in the throat plate of the sewing machine, through which the needle passes when penetrating the fabric) during sewing. Therefore, the size and design of the needle gap is very important to the elimination of sewing damage. In the work reported on in this paper, throat plates of different needle gap sizes were designed and the effect of needle gap on sewing damage was investigated. It was found that needle plate having optimum needle gap size can minimise sewing problems.
Torsional Properties of Single Yarn: Part I - Theoretical Model
Authors: Choi K.F. , Carnaby G.A. , Shih T.M. , Lo M.T. , Tandon S.K.
Published: April 2016

A refined singles yam torsional model was built based on a previously developed singles yam model(1). The initial yam density distribution was found to be a very important yam parameter governing the torsional property of singles yams. Detailed study of the differential volumetric changes within the yam has shown that jamming of the structure is the key factor initiating longitudinal tensile and compressive strains in the fibres. The yam model was summarised in the form of a system of non-linear equations and the solution finding algorithm was presented.
The Alkali Desizing of Woven Cotton Fabrics
Authors: Au C. K. , Holme I.
Published: April 2016

The alkali metal hydroxides LiOH, NaOH and KOH have been studied in the desizing of woven cotton fabrics under different treatment conditions. The % fabric weight loss, the TEGEVA rating on the desized fabric, the effect of desizing bath pH and the molarity of the alkalis to the desizing results, and the starch removal rate of the treatments was studied. It was found that the removal of starch size from the warp yams of the woven cotton fabric is not only bath pH dependent, but also depending on the nature of the alkali that used, in that NaOH has the best desizing ability among the others. In addition, the temperature of the desizing bath is the most important in order to obtain a good desizing result. Although alkali desizing can improve the water absorption and the whiteness of the grey cotton fabric, it is not good enough for use in subsequent coloration processes.
A Study of the Dyeing Properties of Natural Dyes Extracted from Simulated Lung Ching Tea Residues
Authors: Chan P.M. , Yuen C.W.M. , Yeung K.W.
Published: April 2016

A huge amount of Chinese tea residue forms part of everyday waste. In this paper, one of the daily used Lung Ching tea was selected to perform a series of experiments. A pilot scale of simulating the wasted Lung Ching tea residue was conducted using the fresh tea bought from
department stores. Endeavours have been made to find out the optimum extraction conditions including the solvent selection, optimum concentration, temperature and time to extract the dyes from the tea residues. The thermodynamic behaviour of Lung Ching tea dyes such as the standard affinity, enthalpy change, dyeing mechanism, time of half dyeing and activation energy were also taken into account. Furthermore, the shade, depth and colour fastness properties of dyed wool fabric under different dyeing conditions were also investigated. The results showed that water was a good solvent to extract tea dye and the optimum extraction conditions was 100°C at 90 min. Dyeing of wool fabric with tea dye can be carried out at room temperature but the affinity on fabric was relatively low. On the whole, tea dye showed a good result of colour fastness tests except a minute colour change after washing which leaves room for further investigation.
STRAIN MEASUREMENT IN FABRICS PART I: GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN EXTENSIBLE STRAIN SENSOR
Authors: Lloyd D.W. , Neilly D.G. , Brook D.B.
Published: April 2016

Almost all end-uses of fabrics make use of the ability of fabrics to suffer strains that are very large compared to engineering strains. This paper is the first of a series devoted to the measurement of large strains in fabrics. This paper considers some of the problems of fabric strain measurement and describes the use of piezoelectric polyvinylidene fluoride film as the active element in an extensible strain sensor. Strain sensors based on this film are suitable for use with many industrial fabrics, for measuring strains that vary over time with periods of a few seconds or less.
Investigation of Fibre Tension and Fibre Breakage in Simulated Fibre Opening Processes
Authors: Wang Lijing , Wang Xungai
Published: April 2016

To reveal the mechanism of fibre damage and breakage in the fibre opening processes, the fibre tension during the interaction between a fibre and a pinned beater has been investigated. Details of the interacting force variations and incident of fibre breakage have been closely examined. Many factors which influence the fibre/pin interacting force have been elucidated. The results highlight the causes of fibre damage and breakage by fibre/pin interactions.
Learning of an Instance-Based System for Predicting Garment Sizes
Authors: Davis Steve , Jarvis Christine , Jindal Vinit
Published: April 2016

This project developed an instance-based system to predict garment sizes. Instance-based systems learn by increasing the size of the instance base. Before installing a system, developers need to know how many instances is enough to achieve the desired decision accuracy. Including more instances than necessary can be wasteful of development time and wastes storage capacity. Knowing the learning curve could be helpful in deciding how many instances is enough. Among the few reported learning curves for instance-based systems, most common is the classic learning curve, a rapid increase in accuracy as the first instances are added, then a tapering off as the number of instances increases. Therefore, it appears sensible for most systems to add enough instances until the curve levels off, but no more. In this paper we review the learning phenomenon in natural and artificial systems, summarize the learning behavior of several instance-based systems, and describe how we determined the learning curve of the size prediction system.
INFLUENCE OF STITCH DENSITY TO STITCHES PROPERTIES OF KNITTED PRODUCTS
Authors: Wang L , Chan L.K. , Hu X.
Published: April 2016

This study examined the influences of stitch density on the strength, extensibility, and stress withstand retention of three stitch types commonly used for knitted fabrics. With experimental and theoretical analyses the patterns of changes in various stitch structures brought about by the increase of stitch density were investigated.
GROUNDED DESIGN THEORY OF BRITISH FASHION DESIGNERS
Authors: Au Joe S. , Taylor Gail , Newton Edward W.
Published: April 2016

The first author is currently registered as a doctoral research student at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. This paper is derived from the findings of a full-time doctoral research programme relating to the design theory of international fashion designers. The researcher stayed in London for three weeks for the purpose of data collection. The method of data collection included in-depth interviews, observations and questionnaire survey. The purpose of this paper is to formulate the underlying design theory of British fashion designers by using the qualitative research method of grounded theory developed by Glaser and Strauss (1967) and Glaser (1978). Different factors influencing fashion designers when creating new fashion are examined. A framework of factors influencing fashion designers is developed. Constructs for a grounded theory of fashion designers are synthesised from in-depth interviews, observations and questionnaire surveys of 25 fashion designers, students and educators in London. The design theory of the British fashion designers is portrayed through the major constructs subsequently identified, namely, ‘psychological satisfaction’ and ‘aesthetic presence’.
FIBRES CONFIGURATION AND ORIENTATION MEASURED BY LIGHT SCATTERING METHOD Part II. THEORETICAL TREATMENT
Authors: Kornoohin Igor P. , Kornoohina Tamara A.
Published: April 2016

Angular distribution of relative fibers length is worked out theoretically for flat and axial symmetric fibrous structures. Indices of fibers configuration, fibers orientation and integrated one are introduced and defined using this distribution. Fibers configuration indices are compared with these obtained by direct method.
STUDY OF YARN APPEARANCE FOR TWO-BAR WARP KNITTING
Authors: Feng Sun
Published: April 2016

This paper presents the results of an experimental [1] [2] and theoretical investigation into some aspects of the yarn appearing in warp knitted fabrics: Here, the formulae of the lapping heights have been established. The appearance of the yarn depends mainly on parameters such as the lapping height, the angle of the yarn around the needle and the friction coefficient between the yarn and the needle. Consequently, a rule guiding the covering of one yarn by another in fabrics has been found, so that either the front or back yarns appearing on the face side of fabric can be properly controlled.
PLANNING THE MACROPORE AREA OF WOVEN FABRICS
Authors: Dubrovski Polona Dobnik , Brezocnik Miran
Published: April 2016

This paper reports the comparative analysis of predictive models for one of the macroporosity properties of woven fabric; e.g., the area of a macropore's cross-section. The following construction parameters are observed in this research - yarn linear density, fabric tightness, weave type and denting. Predictive models are derived to describe the influence of fabric construction. Empirical models, based on a statistical technique (a three-factor analysis) that shows much better agreement with real values according to ideal mathematical models that include some simplifying assumptions, were first developed. While woven fabrics made from staple yarns are much more heterogeneous in terms of the size, shape and orientation of its macropores compared to fabrics made from mono- or multifilament yarns, the results were not good enough. The next stage of our research was to use another modelling tool (genetic programming) to more precisely predict the macropore area of woven fabrics. This work is focused on the engineering of staple cotton fabrics in a grey state in terms of the area of the macropore.
The Effects of Kenya's ‘Smarter’ Input Subsidy Programme on Smallholder Behaviour and Incomes: Do Different Quasi‐experimental Approaches Lead to the Same Conclusions?
Authors: Mason Nicole M. , Wineman Ayala , Kirimi Lilian , Mather David
Published: April 2016

Kenya joined the ranks of sub‐Saharan African (SSA) countries implementing targeted input subsidy programmes (ISPs) for inorganic fertiliser and improved seed in 2007 with the establishment of the National Accelerated Agricultural Inputs Access Programme (NAAIAP). Although several features of NAAIAP were ‘smarter’ than other ISPs in the region, some aspects were less ‘smart’. However, the efficacy of the programme, and the relationship between its design and effectiveness, have been little studied. This article uses nationwide survey data to estimate the effects of NAAIAP participation on Kenyan smallholders’ cropping patterns, incomes, and poverty status. Unlike most previous studies of ISPs, a range of panel data‐ and propensity score‐based methods are used to estimate the effects of NAAIAP. The article then compares these estimated effects across estimators and to the effects of other ISPs in SSA, and discusses the likely links between differences in programme designs and impacts. The results are robust to the choice of estimator and suggest that, despite substantial crowding out of commercial fertiliser demand, NAAIAP had sizeable impacts on maize production and poverty severity. NAAIAP's success in targeting resource‐poor farmers and implementation through vouchers redeemable at private agro‐dealer shops likely contributed to its more favorable impacts than those of ISPs in Malawi and Zambia.
REIT Capital Structure Choices: Preparation Matters
Authors: Pavlov Andrey , Steiner Eva , Wachter Susan
Published: April 2016

Sun, Titman and Twite find that capital structure risks, namely, high leverage and a high share of short‐term debt, reduced the cumulative total return of U.S. REITs in the 2007–2009 financial crisis. We find that mitigating capital structure risks ahead of the crisis by reducing leverage and extending debt maturity in 2006 was associated with a significantly higher cumulative total return 2007–2009, after controlling for the levels of those variables at the start of the financial crisis. We further identify two systematic cross‐sectional differences between those REITs that reduced capital structure risks prior to the financial crisis and those that did not: the exposure to capital structure risks and the strength of corporate governance. On balance, our findings are consistent with the interpretation of risk‐reducing adjustments to capital structure ahead of the crisis as a component of managerial skill and discipline with significant implications for firm value during the crisis.
The Geographic Distribution and Characterisation of EU Arable Land Affected by the ‘Greening’ of the Common Agricultural Policy
Authors: Bertaglia Marco , Angileri Vincenzo , Fasbender Dominique
Published: April 2016

The reformed Common Agricultural Policy includes a mandatory ‘greening’ component for direct payments, implementation of which has started in 2015. Two of the measures introduced (crop diversification and ecological focus area) will not be applied in holdings with AL below specific thresholds (10, 15 and 30 ha). This article uses statistical data on different territories and agricultural systems in order to assess the possible impacts of these exclusions. It investigates if and in which regions this exemption may generate a theoretical loss of environmental protection, depending on farming systems and current level of semi‐natural vegetation. The analysis sketches a complex picture and highlights the regions where the exclusion from these two measures may generate greater issues. Noticeably, considering those regions where there is a major prevalence of specialist cereals farming systems, these greening measures concern 97 per cent of all AL. Regions with current low values of semi‐natural vegetation where more than half of AL is exempt from greening are relatively few. Member States may consider adopting specific targeted policy in these regions. Applying a set of decision thresholds to fine‐tune the analysis, the GIS created could be used as a decision support tool by national and regional authorities.
Feed handling of lactating crossbred cows maintained in a semi‐arid region during the hot season: physiological parameters, ingestive behavior and performance
Authors: de Paula Xavier de Andrade Rafael , de Andrade Ferreira Marcelo , de Azevedo Marcílio , da Silva Emmanuelle Cordeiro , Urbano Stela Antas , da Conceição Maria Gabriela , de Lima Silva Janaina
Published: April 2016

The effects of time of feed delivery (14.00 hours; 14.00 and 20.00 hours; 16.00 and 18.00 hours) on the physiological parameters, ingestive behavior, nutrient intake and production of lactating cows maintained in a semi‐arid region during the hot season were evaluated. Regardless of treatment, all animals received the first feeding supply at 06.00 hours. Eight cows with an average body weight of 600 kg, average milk yield of 20 kg/day and 80 days in milk were utilized. The rectal temperature, respiratory rate and sweating rate were not affected (P > 0.05), with average values of 38.5°C, 53.8 movements/min and 104 g/m2/h respectively. There was no effect (P > 0.05) on the eating time (314 min/day), ruminating time (564 min/day), drinking time (61 min/day) and idle time (502 min/day). Similarly, the intake of nutrients and performance of lactating cows were not affected (P > 0.05), with average dry matter intake of 19.8 kg/day, 4% fat‐corrected milk of 20.6 kg/day and milk fat concentration of 4.03 g/100 g. Since the behavior and performance have not altered, any times of feed delivery evaluated could be used to crossbred Holstein × Zebu cows maintained on a feedlot in semi‐arid regions during the hot season.
Education scholars’ evolving uses of twitter as a conference backchannel and social commentary platform
Authors: Kimmons Royce , Veletsianos George
Published: April 2016

The scholarly community faces a lack of large‐scale research examining how students and professors use social media in authentic contexts and how such use changes over time. This study uses data mining methods to better understand academic Twitter use during, around, and between the 2014 and 2015 American Educational Research Association annual conferences both as a conference backchannel and as a general means of participating online. Descriptive and inferential analysis is used to explore Twitter use for 1421 academics and the more than 360 000 tweets they posted. Results demonstrate the complicated participation patterns of how Twitter is used “on the ground.” In particular, we show that tweets during conferences differed significantly from tweets outside conferences. Further, students and professors used the conference backchannel somewhat equally, but students used some hashtags more frequently, while professors used other hashtags more frequently. Academics comprised the minority of participants in these backchannels, but participated at a much higher rate than their non‐academic counterparts. While the number of participants in the backchannel increased between 2014 and 2015, only a small number of authors were present during both years, and the number of tweets declined from year to year. Various hashtags were used throughout the time period during which this study occurred, and some were ongoing (ie, those which tended to be stable across weeks) while others were event‐based (ie, those which spiked in a particular week). Professors used event‐based hashtags more often than students and students used ongoing hashtags more often than professors. Ongoing hashtags tended to exhibit positive sentiment, while event‐based hashtags tended to exhibit more ambiguous or conflicting sentiments. These findings suggest that professors and students exhibit similarities and differences in how they use Twitter and backchannels and indicate the need for further research to better understand the ways that social technologies and online networks are integrated in scholars’ lives.
Social augmented reality: Enhancing context‐dependent communication and informal learning at work
Authors: Pejoska Jana , Bauters Merja , Purma Jukka , Leinonen Teemu
Published: April 2016

Our design proposal of social augmented reality (SoAR) grows from the observed difficulties of practical applications of augmented reality (AR) in workplace learning. In our research we investigated construction workers doing physical work in the field and analyzed the data using qualitative methods in various workshops. The challenges related to learning in the construction sites were: sharing of specific situation processes or details, need of direct communication channel over distance and support for social appraisal. The second result of the study is a prototype. SoAR is a design solution, an application for smart phones. The primary target for the SoAR design builds on the discoveries and idea that current AR developments in the area should focus on enhancing human‐to‐human interactions: messages, gestures, words and other small elements of communication. We present the current SoAR prototype that enhances video calls with overlaid drawings therefor SoAR is a tool for asking and providing guidance in context‐reliant work situations. Our guiding theoretical framework is drawing from phenomenological discussion dealing with embodied interaction expanded by a process of research‐based design.
Design principles for authentic learning of English as a foreign language
Authors: Ozverir Ildeniz , Herrington Jan , Osam Ulker Vanci
Published: April 2016

Knowledge obtained in higher education through de‐contextualised tasks and activities often remains “inert” and learners cannot readily transfer understanding to novel contexts. Nowhere is this more evident than in learning a foreign language. Typical language interaction exercises in class do not mirror real‐life language use and such activities may have negative effects on students’ development of robust knowledge. This article describes a design‐based research study that investigated the use of an authentic e‐learning environment in a course of English language at a university preparatory school. The findings suggest that the use of critical elements of authentic activities is the key to achieving authentic learning in these contexts. An important outcome of the research was the development of a framework for the design of authentic activities to be used in the teaching of foreign languages, in the form of 11 design principles. These principles contribute both theoretically and practically to understanding of how students learn languages in meaningful contexts.
Adolescent and young adult non‐Hodgkin lymphoma
Authors: Hochberg Jessica , El‐Mallawany Nader Kim , Abla Oussama
Published: April 2016

Non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a heterogeneous group of lymphoid malignancies accounting for a significant portion of cancers occurring in children, adolescents and young adults with an increasing incidence with age. The adolescent and young adult (AYA) population presents a specific set of characteristics and challenges. The most common diseases occurring in adolescents and young adults include Burkitt lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma, diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma and primary mediastinal B‐cell lymphoma. There is also a higher incidence of primary central nervous system lymphoma in AYA patients. Cure rates largely depend on risk‐stratification, and are generally superior to outcomes in comparison to older adult data but less than in younger children. Here, we review the unique clinical and biological characteristics of NHL occurring in the AYA population with a focus on how to achieve similar curative outcomes in AYA that have been established in younger cohorts.
Outcomes of MYC‐associated lymphomas after R‐CHOP with and without consolidative autologous stem cell transplant: subset analysis of randomized trial intergroup SWOG S9704
Authors: Puvvada Soham D. , Stiff Patrick J. , Leblanc Michael , Cook James R. , Couban Stephen , Leonard John P. , Kahl Brad , Marcellus Deborah , Shea Thomas C. , Winter Jane N. , Li Hongli , Rimsza Lisa M. , Friedberg Jonathan W. , Smith Sonali M.
Published: April 2016

Double hit lymphoma (DHL) and double protein‐expressing (MYC, BCL2) lymphomas (DPL) fare poorly with R‐CHOP (rituximab + cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone); consolidative autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) may improve outcomes. S9704, a phase III randomized study of CHOP +/−R with or without ASCT enabled evaluation of intensive consolidation. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) identified 27 of 198 patients (13·6%) with MYC overexpression; 20 (74%) harboured concurrent BCL2 overexpression. Four had DHL and 16 had DPL only. With median 127 months follow‐up, there is a trend favouring outcomes after ASCT in DPL and MYC protein overexpressing patients, whereas all DHL patients have died irrespective of ASCT.
Demethylation of SFRP2 by histone demethylase KDM2A regulated osteo‐/dentinogenic differentiation of stem cells of the apical papilla
Authors: Yu Guoxia , Wang Jinsong , Lin Xiao , Diao Shu , Cao Yu , Dong Rui , Wang Liping , Wang Songlin , Fan Zhipeng
Published: April 2016

Objectives

Dental mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are easily obtained; however, mechanisms underlying directed differentiation of these cells remains unclear. Wnt/β‐catenin signalling is essential for mesenchymal cell commitment and differentiation, and Wnt inhibition is linked to stem cell maintenance and function. Secreted frizzled‐related protein 2 (SFRP2) competes with the Frizzled receptor for direct binding to Wnt and blocks activation of Wnt signalling. Here, we used stem cells derived from apical papillae (SCAPs) to study the functions of SFRP2.

Materials and methods

SCAPs were isolated from apical papillae of immature third molars. The cells were analysed using alkaline phosphatase activity assays, Alizarin red staining and quantitative calcium measurements. In addition, we evaluated expression profile of genes associated with osteogenesis and dentinogenesis (osteo‐/dentinogenesis), and conducted in vivo transplantation experiments to determine osteo‐/dentinogenic differentiation potential of SCAPs. ChIP assays were used to detect histone methylation at the SFRP2 promoter.

Results

We found that SFRP2 enhanced osteo‐/dentinogenic differentiation via Osterix, a key transcription factor in SCAPs. Furthermore, silencing SFRP2 induced SCAP cell death in osteogenic‐inducing medium, indicating that SFRP2 is a key factor in maintaining SCAP survival following osteo‐/dentinogenic commitment. Moreover, we found that silencing KDM2A, a histone demethylase and BCL6 co‐repressor, de‐repressed SFRP2 transcription by increasing histone H3K4 and H3K36 methylation at the SFRP2 promoter.

Conclusions

Our results have identified a new function of SFRP2 and shed new light on the molecular mechanism underlying directed differentiation of stem cells of dental origin.
Migratory behaviour shapes spatial genetic structure of cyprinid fishes within the Lake Malawi catchment
Authors: Sungani Harold , Ngatunga Benjamin P. , Genner Martin J.
Published: April 2016

Genetic differences among freshwater fish populations are dependent on life‐history characteristics of the species, including the range of adult dispersal and the extent of homing to natal breeding grounds. However, the effects of variation in such characteristics on population genetic connectivity are rarely studied comparatively among closely related species.

We studied population genetic structure within three congeneric cyprinid species from the Lake Malawi catchment that differ substantially in life‐history traits and conservation status, using a combination of microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA markers. Mpasa (Opsaridium microlepis) is a large (70 cm total length) migratory species that spawns in rivers, but as an adult is exclusively known from the main lake body. Sanjika (Opsaridium microcephalum), is a medium size (30 cm total length) species that exists in lake breeding, river‐lake migratory and apparently landlocked populations. Dwarf sanjika (Opsaridium tweddleorum) is a small non‐migratory species (15 cm total length) that persists in small tributaries surrounding the main lake and adjoining rivers.

The results revealed striking differences among the three species in spatial genetic structuring. The river‐lake migratory mpasa showed only weak yet significant population genetic structure within the main Lake Malawi catchment, suggesting that there is no strong natal homing. The habitat‐generalist sanjika showed only weak spatial genetic differentiation at microsatellite loci within the Lake Malawi catchment, but moderate structure in mitochondrial DNA, potentially reflecting male‐biased dispersal. The river‐restricted dwarf sanjika showed strong genetic structure in both microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA, suggesting strictly limited dispersal at both adult and juvenile stages.

We conclude that contrasting migration life histories have resulted in dramatically different patterns of population genetic structure among these congeneric species. The observed patterns demonstrate how divergent life‐history evolution may strongly influence broader patterns of population genetic connectivity in freshwater fish, with consequences for management and conservation. Specifically the results suggesting gene flow among Lake Malawi populations of mpasa, an IUCN red‐listed ‘Endangered’ species endemic to the lake catchment, imply that conservation initiatives operating at both local and catchment scales are needed to reverse local population decline.
Indian Media in Global Context
Authors: Rajagopal Arvind
Published: April 2016

There is a curious partitioning of media histories of the west from those of other countries. The kind of comparative analysis that would be expected with a set of global technologies and practices is lacking. Although communications media were promoted as a technology of nation building by western powers and received as such by countries such as India, strangely, there is a wide gap between the rhetoric of globality and the literature pertaining to local and national uses of media technologies. My essay situates the history of post‐independence media growth in India within this gap, in a preliminary attempt to bridge it.
Association of telomere length with IL‐6 levels during an obesity treatment in adolescents: interaction with the‐174G/C polymorphism in the IL‐6gene
Authors: García‐Calzón S. , Moleres A. , Gómez‐Martinez S. , Diaz L. E. , Bueno G. , Campoy C. , Martinez J. A. , Marcos A. , Azcona‐Sanjulián M. C. , Zalba G. , Marti A. ,   on behalf of the EVASYON study group
Published: April 2016

Background

Shorter telomeres have been associated with elevated risk for age‐related diseases. However, little is known about the biomarker role of telomere length (TL) for predicting inflammation and glucose alterations.

Objective

The objective of this research is to evaluate the association between TL, inflammatory markers and glucose levels after a 2‐month weight‐loss programme in obese adolescents.

Methods

Telomere length was measured using a quantitative polymerase chain reaction in 66 obese adolescents aged 12–17 years (51% men) from the EVASYON programme. The adolescents were genotyped for the polymorphism ‐174G/C (rs1800795) in the IL‐6gene, and anthropometric and biochemical markers as well as inflammatory cytokines were analysed.

Results

Multiple‐adjusted models showed that longer telomeres at baseline were associated with a higher reduction in glucose (B = −4.08, 95% confidence interval: −6.66 to −1.50) and IL‐6 (B = −1.03, 95% confidence interval: −2.01 to −0.05) serum levels after 2 months of the weight‐loss treatment. The ‐174G/C polymorphism modulated the association between basal TL and changes in IL‐6 (P interaction = 0.029). Thus, subjects with the GG + GC genotype and with longer telomeres showed a higher decrease in IL‐6 levels than CC homozygotes.

Conclusion

Longer telomeres are associated with an improvement in glucose tolerance and inflammation after a weight‐loss programme in obese adolescents. Moreover, the ‐174G/C polymorphism may influence the relationship between TL and IL‐6 changes.
Ingenol mebutate in the treatment of ‘Hydroxyurea‐induced Squamous Dysplasia’: a single centre experience
Authors: Grandi V. , Delfino C. , Pimpinelli N.
Published: April 2016

Background

‘Hydroxyurea‐induced Squamous Dysplasia’ (HISD) is a cutaneous side‐effect related to chronic oral treatment with Hydroxyurea. Ingenol mebutate gel is a topical drug approved for the treatment of multiple, non‐hypertrophic actinic keratoses (AK) localized within a limited cancerization field. Since HISD may be considered as a drug‐induced variant of classic AK, ingenol mebutate is likely to have therapeutic effects.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of ingenol mebutate 150 mcg/g and 500 mcg/g, as a treatment of HISD lesions on face/scalp and trunk/extremities respectively.

Methods

Seven areas with a mean of lesions of 5.9 ± 1.7 in five patients with HISD were treated. Patients with lesions on face/scalp self‐treated a 25 cm2 skin affected area with ingenol mebutate gel 150 mcg/g, one tube daily for 3 days. Patients with lesions localized on trunk/extremities treated the same size affected area with ingenol mebutate gel 500 mcg/g, one tube daily for 2 days. Clinical assessment and count of HISD lesions has been performed by an experienced dermatologist at day 0, at day 57, and at time of last feasible follow‐up visit (median 337 days). Safety assessment included the report of all SAEs.

Results

At 57‐day follow‐up, we observed an overall response rate (ORR) – the sum of Complete Responses (CR) + Partial Responses (PR) – of 87.5%, with a 57.1% CR, and a 78.0% total lesions' reduction compared to time 0 (P < 0.01). On a median follow‐up of 337 days, we observed a long‐term ORR of 71.4%, a 57.1% CR ratio and a 65.9% total lesions' reduction compared to time 0 (P = 0.01). No severe (grade 3–4) adverse events have been reported.

Conclusion

Although obtained in a small case series, these encouraging data lead us to propose ingenol mebutate gel as a possible treatment for HISD.
Precipitation of free fatty acids generated by Malassezia – a possible explanation for the positive effects of lithium succinate in seborrhoeic dermatitis
Authors: Mayser P. , Schulz S.
Published: April 2016

Background

Lithium succinate and gluconate are effective alternative options licensed for the topical treatment of seborrhoeic dermatitis (SD).

Objective

Their mode of action is not fully elucidated. Minimal inhibitory concentrations against Malassezia (M.) yeasts, which play an important role in SD, are very high.

Methods

An assay based on the hydrolysis of ethyl octanoate enables us to test the hydrolytic activity of reference strains of the species M. globosa, M. sympodialis and M. furfur solely without interference by fungal growth as the free octanoic acid generated has antifungal activity.

Results

In this assay the presence of alkali salts (lithium, sodium and potassium succinate resp.) in concentrations of 2%, 4% and 8% does not influence hydrolytic activity but the availability of the generated free fatty acid in a dose‐dependent manner which was analysed by means of high‐performance thin layer chromatography and densitometry. This was best effected with the lithium, followed by the sodium and only to a low degree by the potassium salt. As shown by attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy the free fatty acid reacted to the respective alkali soap and precipitate from solution. The alkali soaps could not be utilized by the M. spp. as shown in a modified Tween auxanogram and in lack of fungal growth by ethyl oleate in the presence of 8% lithium succinate.

Conclusion

The effect of lithium succinate on growth of M. yeasts and presumably in SD can be explained by a precipitation of free fatty acids as alkali soaps limiting their availability for the growth of these lipid‐dependent yeasts.
The gut microbiota and metabolic disease: current understanding and future perspectives
Authors: Arora T. , Bäckhed F.
Published: April 2016

The human gut microbiota has been studied for more than a century. However, of nonculture‐based techniques exploiting next‐generation sequencing for analysing the microbiota, development has renewed research within the field during the past decade. The observation that the gut microbiota, as an environmental factor, contributes to adiposity has further increased interest in the field. The human microbiota is affected by the diet, and macronutrients serve as substrates for many microbially produced metabolites, such as short‐chain fatty acids and bile acids, that may modulate host metabolism. Obesity predisposes towards type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Recently, it has been established that levels of butyrate‐producing bacteria are reduced in patients with type 2 diabetes, whereas levels of Lactobacillus sp. are increased. Recent data suggest that the reduced levels of butyrate‐producing bacteria might be causally linked to type 2 diabetes. Bariatric surgery, which promotes long‐term weight loss and diabetes remission, alters the gut microbiota in both mice and humans. Furthermore, by transferring the microbiota from postbariatric surgery patients to mice, it has been demonstrated that an altered microbiota may contribute to the improved metabolic phenotype following this intervention. Thus, greater understanding of alterations of the gut microbiota, in combination with dietary patterns, may provide insights into how the gut microbiota contributes to disease progression and whether it can be exploited as a novel diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic target.
A Background Layer in Aesthetic Experience: Cross‐cultural Affective Symbolism
Authors: Stamatopoulou Despina , Cupchik Gerald C. , Amemiya Toshihiko , Hilscher Michelle , Miyahara Tomoko
Published: April 2016

This study explored the role of affective/physiognomic perception in emotion perception, and its contribution to meaning construction in the absence of any representation. Following Werner's microgenetic paradigm, by peeling away the fossilized representational level in the drawings, we attempted to link both the “subjective” emotion experience of the artists, articulated in line‐drawings that functioned as the spectators’ perceptual stimulus. Subsequently, a cross‐cultural study was performed using 12 non‐representational, emotion drawings as experimental stimuli of the emotion at hand, to investigate any correspondence of feeling between spectators (152 Canadian, 48 Greek, and 72 Japanese participants) and emotions expressed in the drawings. The results suggested a relative congruence of feeling reflected in the gross classification of the stimuli, and coordination in the organization of perceived affect across cultures. Mood‐state and mood‐trait played differential roles in recognition accuracy. Greeks showed impaired classification for negative drawings, not modifying internal structures accordingly to external constraints, and being oversensitive to subjective arousal in the aversive ambiguous stimuli. Japanese coped with aversion in an implicit aesthetic manner, being task oriented while not flattening the experiential impact of the stimuli. Canadians were not insensitive to body cues, but their impact was overridden by the salience of the attended object.
The prevalence of intestinal nematodes in cats and dogs from Lancashire, north‐west England
Authors: Wright I. , Stafford K. , Coles G.
Published: April 2016

OBJECTIVES

To estimate prevalence of clinically‐relevant intestinal nematodes in UK cats and dogs using the sensitive faecal analysis technique FLOTAC.

METHODS

Faecal samples were collected from 171 domestic dogs and 131 domestic cats living in urban areas of Lancashire and examined for the ova of intestinal parasites using the FLOTAC technique. All tested individuals were at least 6 months old, had not been treated with anthelmintics since 6 months of age nor in the 3 weeks prior to testing.

RESULTS

In total, 5·3% of dogs (9/171) were positive for Toxocara canis; of these, 5/9 had <100 T. canis epg. Two dogs were positive for Uncinaria stenocephala, and 3 were positive for Strongyloides species. Single animals had Ancylostoma species and Spirocerca lupi infection. All egg counts were <100 epg. 26% of cats (34/131) were infected with Toxocara cati; of these, 6/34 had <100 T. cati epg. Two cats were positive for Strongyloides species, four for Ancylostoma species and single case for U. stenocephala, Toxascaris leonina and S. lupi.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

The high prevalence and zoonotic potential of Toxocara species in cats and dogs suggests the need for greater awareness of the need for repeated treatment. The discovery of S. lupi warrants further investigation and awareness of the clinical signs that this parasite may cause in cats and dogs.
Profitability and Investment: Evidence from India's Organized Manufacturing Sector
Authors: Basu Deepankar , Das Debarshi
Published: April 2016

Using a state‐industry panel data set of 55 industries for 19 major Indian states over the period 1983–84 to 2007–08, we analyze the contemporaneous and long run impacts of the rate of profit and its components—profit share, capacity utilization rate and capacity‐capital ratio—on investment using linear dynamic panel data models. Our results show that: (a) the rate of profit has both short and long run positive impacts on investment; (b) the profit share and capacity‐capital ratio have mainly long run positive impacts, but the capacity utilization rate has a more complex pattern of impact on investment.
Development a diagnostic pan‐dermatophyte TaqMan probe real‐time PCR assay based on beta tubulin gene
Authors: Mirhendi Hossein , Motamedi Marjan , Makimura Koichi , Satoh Kazuo
Published: April 2016

Early differentiation of dermatophytosis from other cutaneous mycoses is essential to avoid inaccurate therapy. DNA‐based techniques including real‐time PCR have increasingly been considered for detection of fungal elements in clinical specimens. In this study, after partial sequence analysis of beta tubulin (BT2) gene in 13 common and rare pathogenic dermatophyte species, a pan‐dermatophyte primer and probe set was designed in a TaqMan probe‐based PCR format. The sensitivity and specificity of the system was tested with 22 reference strains of dermatophytes, 234 positive clinical specimens, 32 DNA samples extracted from normal nails, several fungi other than dermatophytes and human DNAs. Analytical detection limit of the designed PCR on serially diluted DNAs of prepared recombinant plasmid indicated that only five molecules per sample are the minimum number for reliable detection by the assay. A total of 226 out of 234 (96.5%) DNAs extracted from clinical samples, but none of the 32 nail samples, from healthy volunteers were positive in PCR. The real‐time PCR targeted beta tubulin gene established in this study could be a sensitive diagnostic tool which is significantly faster than the conventional culture method and should be useful in the clinical settings, in large‐scale epidemiological studies and in clinical trials of antifungal therapy.
A Review of the Potential Pathogenicity and Management of Frequent Premature Ventricular Contractions
Authors: LAPLANTE LAURENCE , BENZAQUEN BRUNO S.
Published: April 2016

Very frequent premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) may be a reversible cause of dilated cardiomyopathy. Literature on this largely unrecognized entity has increased in the last 15 years. This paper reviews the literature on the consequences of frequent PVCs on myocardial function and management of PVC‐associated cardiomyopathy.

The authors reviewed articles published in English before June 2015 describing pathophysiology, risk factors, symptoms, time course, treatment, and outcome of cardiomyopathy associated with PVCs. The search was conducted using Medline and Embase. Keywords included: cardiomyopathy, catheter ablation, antiarrhythmic drug (AAD), pathophysiology, and ventricular premature contractions or synonyms.

PVC‐associated cardiomyopathy is associated with a high burden of PVC (over 20% of heartbeats). Other risk factors include electrophysiological characteristics, such as PVC QRS width, presence of ventricular tachycardia, retrograde P waves, interpolation, polymorphic PVCs, and longer coupling intervals. Symptoms include palpitations, light‐headedness, dyspnea, cough, and dysphagia. The systolic dysfunction and chamber dilatation progress over a few years. Once the PVCs are suppressed by radiofrequency ablation or AADs, the cardiomyopathy usually resolves within 6 months. The pathophysiology remains unknown, but hypotheses mainly include ventricular dyssynchrony resulting in hemodynamic disturbances and abnormalities in calcium handling and oxygen consumption.

PVC‐associated cardiomyopathy remains a largely unrecognized entity. It is a reversible cause of dilated cardiomyopathy that results from abnormal calcium and oxygen handling within the myocyte, dyssynchrony, and hemodynamic compromise from inefficient heartbeats. Suppression of the PVCs improves myocardial function, cardiac chamber sizes, and patient's symptoms.
Mycophenolate Mofetil and Mood Changes in Children with Skin Disorders
Authors: Arkin Lisa , Talasila Sreya , Paller Amy S.
Published: April 2016

The Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has mandated has intensified the counseling associated with prescribing mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), because of its teratogenicity. In this brief report, two children are described who were prescribed MMF and within weeks developed psychiatric symptoms, with rapid resolution after discontinuation of the medication and no recurrence over 4 years of follow‐up. Mood disorders are a rare but possible side effect that should be mentioned when discussing MMF with patients and families. Prompt discontinuation of the drug should lead to reversal of symptoms when the drug is implicated.
Early‐onset colorectal cancer in young adult survivors of childhood cancer
Authors: Morita Daisuke , Nakazawa Yozo , Tanaka Miyuki , Nakayama Yoshiko , Koizumi Tomonobu , Koike Kenichi
Published: April 2016

We describe the cases of two childhood cancer survivors (CCS) who developed colorectal cancer at 21 and 30 years of age. They had been treated with 30 Gy abdominal irradiation and chemotherapy including platinum and high‐dose alkylating agents at age 1 year, and 12 Gy total body irradiation and high‐dose cyclophosphamide at age 15 years, respectively. Both had not been screened for colorectal cancer. One patient with advanced cancer died, whereas the other with early cancer was still alive at the time of writing. Two guidelines for long‐term follow‐up of CCS recommend that CCS who had >30 Gy irradiation receive periodic check‐ups at age ≥ 35 years. The present cases suggest that CCS, even with irradiation <30 Gy, should receive earlier check‐ups for colorectal cancer. © 2016 Japan Pediatric Society