bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Benchmarking for the effective use of student evaluation data
Authors: Smithson John , Birks Melanie , Harrison Glenn , Nair Chenicheri Sid , Hitchins Marnie
Published: January 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine current approaches to interpretation of student evaluation data and present an innovative approach to developing benchmark targets for the effective and efficient use of these data.

Design/methodology/approach

– This article discusses traditional approaches to gathering and using student feedback across the tertiary sector. The limitations of the customary use of the statistical mean as a quality measure of performance are presented and examined. An alternative method of interpreting student evaluation data is proposed and examples given.

Findings

– The traditional use of the statistical mean to interpret student evaluation data has limitations. Focusing on data at the macro level provides subject teaching staff and managers with a clearer indication of student satisfaction. The use of a percentage satisfied and percentage dissatisfied metric to classify and rank subjects is presented as an efficient alternative to the traditional approach, while recognising the value of the statistical mean to interpret data at the micro level.

Originality/value

– In light of the important role student feedback plays in determining university ranking, prioritising staff development and its potential function as an academic performance indicator, the effective interpretation of student evaluation data is critical. As economic factors become increasingly important to higher education providers, the role of evaluation data obtained from students will continue to gain traction. The identification of methods to fully capitalise on the value of these data, such as the one proposed in this article, is therefore crucial.
Larval melanism in a geometrid moth: promoted neither by a thermal nor seasonal adaptation but desiccating environments
Authors: Välimäki Panu , Kivelä Sami M. , Raitanen Jani , Pakanen Veli‐Matti , Vatka Emma , Mäenpää Maarit I. , Keret Netta , Tammaru Toomas
Published: January 2015

Spatiotemporal variation in the degree of melanism is often considered in the context of thermal adaptation, melanism being advantageous under suboptimal thermal conditions. Yet, other mutually nonexclusive explanations exist. Analysis of geographical patterns combined with laboratory experiments on the mechanisms of morph induction helps to unveil the adaptive value of particular cases of polyphenism.

In the context of the thermal melanism hypothesis and seasonal adaptations, we explored an array of environmental factors that may affect the expression and performance of nonmelanic vs. melanic larval morphs in different latitudinal populations of the facultatively bivoltine mothChiasmia clathrata(Lepidoptera: Geometridae).

Geographical variation in larval coloration was independent of average temperatures experienced by the populations in the wild. The melanic morph was, however, more abundant in dry than in mesic habitats. In the laboratory, the melanic morph was induced especially under a high level of incident radiation but also at relatively high temperatures, but independently of photoperiod. Melanic larvae had higher growth rates and shorter development times than the nonmelanic ones when both temperature and the level of incident radiation were high.

Our results that melanism is induced and advantageous in warm desiccating conditions contradict the thermal melanism hypothesis for this species. Neither has melanism evolved to compensate time constraints due to forthcoming autumn. Instead, larvae solve seasonal variation in the time available for growth by an elevated growth rate and a shortened larval period in the face of autumnal photoperiods. The phenotypic response to the level of incident radiation and a lack of adaptive adjustment of larval growth trajectories in univoltine populations underpin the role of deterministic environmental variation in the evolution of irreversible adaptive plasticity and seasonal polyphenism.
Depth shapes α‐ and β‐diversities of microbial eukaryotes in surficial sediments of coastal ecosystems
Authors: Gong Jun , Shi Fei , Ma Bin , Dong Jun , Pachiadaki Maria , Zhang Xiaoli , Edgcomb Virginia P.
Published: January 2015

Little is known about the relative influence of historic processes and environmental gradients on shaping the diversity of single‐celled eukaryotes in marine benthos. By combining pyrosequencing of 18S ribosomal RNA genes with data on multiple environmental factors, we investigated the diversity of microeukaryotes in surficial sediments of three basins of the Yellow Sea Large Marine Ecosystem. A considerable proportion (about 20%) of reads was affiliated with known parasitoid protists. Dinophyta and Ciliophora appeared dominant in terms of relative proportion of reads and operational taxonomic unit (OTU) richness. Overall, OTU richness of benthic microeukaryotes decreased with increasing water depth and decreasing pH. While community composition was significantly different among basins, partial Mantel tests indicated a depth–decay pattern of community similarity, whereby water depth, rather than geographic distance or environment, shaped β‐diversity of benthic microeukaryotes (including both the abundant and the rare biosphere) on a regional scale. Similar hydrographic and mineralogical factors contributed to the biogeography of both the abundant and the rare OTUs. The trace metal vanadium had a significant effect on the biogeography of the rare biosphere. Our study sheds new light on the composition, diversity patterns and underlying mechanisms of single‐celled eukaryote distribution in surficial sediments of coastal oceans.
Leptospira and paramyxovirus infection dynamics in a bat maternity enlightens pathogen maintenance in wildlife
Authors: Dietrich Muriel , Wilkinson David A. , Benlali Aude , Lagadec Erwan , Ramasindrazana Beza , Dellagi Koussay , Tortosa Pablo
Published: January 2015

Bats are reservoirs for several zoonotic pathogens of medical importance; however, infection dynamics of pathogens in wild bat populations remain poorly understood. Here, we examine the influence of host crowding and population age structure on pathogen transmission and diversity in bat populations. Focusing on two pathogen taxa of medical importance, Leptospira bacteria and paramyxoviruses, we monitored host population and pathogen shedding dynamics within a maternity colony of the tropical bat species Mormopterus francoismoutoui, endemic to Réunion Island. Our data reveal astonishingly similar infection dynamics for Leptospira and paramyxoviruses, with infection peaks during late pregnancy and 2 months after the initial birth pulse. Furthermore, although co‐infection occurs frequently during the peaks of transmission, the patterns do not suggest any interaction between the two pathogens. Partial sequencing reveals a unique bat‐specific Leptospira strain contrasting with the co‐circulation of four separate paramyxovirus lineages along the whole breeding period. Patterns of infection highlight the importance of host crowding in pathogen transmission and suggest that most bats developed immune response and stop excreting pathogens. Our results support that bat maternity colonies may represent hot spots of transmission for bacterial and viral infectious agents, and highlight how seasonality can be an important determinant of host–parasite interactions and disease emergence.
Uranium phosphate biomineralization by fungi
Authors: Liang Xinjin , Hillier Stephen , Pendlowski Helen , Gray Nia , Ceci Andrea , Gadd Geoffrey Michael
Published: January 2015

Geoactive soil fungi were investigated for phosphatase‐mediated uranium precipitation during growth on an organic phosphorus source. Aspergillus niger and Paecilomyces javanicus were grown on modified Czapek–Dox medium amended with glycerol 2‐phosphate (G2P) as sole P source and uranium nitrate. Both organisms showed reduced growth on uranium‐containing media but were able to extensively precipitate uranium and phosphorus‐containing minerals on hyphal surfaces, and these were identified by X‐ray powder diffraction as uranyl phosphate species, including potassium uranyl phosphate hydrate (KPUO6.3H2O), meta‐ankoleite [(K1.7Ba0.2)(UO2)2(PO4)2.6H2O], uranyl phosphate hydrate [(UO2)3(PO4)2.4H2O], meta‐ankoleite (K(UO2)(PO4).3H2O), uramphite (NH4UO2PO4.3H2O) and chernikovite [(H3O)2(UO2)2(PO4)2.6H2O]. Some minerals with a morphology similar to bacterial hydrogen uranyl phosphate were detected on A. niger biomass. Geochemical modelling confirmed the complexity of uranium speciation, and the presence of meta‐ankoleite, uramphite and uranyl phosphate hydrate between pH 3 and 8 closely matched the experimental data, with potassium as the dominant cation. We have therefore demonstrated that fungi can precipitate U‐containing phosphate biominerals when grown with an organic source of P, with the hyphal matrix serving to localize the resultant uranium minerals. The findings throw further light on potential fungal roles in U and P biogeochemistry as well as the application of these mechanisms for element recovery or bioremediation.
Master of Professional Studies in Agriculture and Life Sciences offered through the Field of Food Science and Technology at Cornell University: A Model for the Development of a Course‐Based Graduate Degree in Food Science and Technology
Authors: Weller Daniel , Robbins Janette , Elmore Andrea , Wiedmann Martin
Published: January 2015

The shortage of highly qualified graduates with advanced training in food science is a pressing problem facing government agencies and the food industry. This has created a need to recruit and train food scientists at the graduate level. However, most graduate level programs are research‐based and do not meet the needs of many students. The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell Univ. has a Master of Professional Studies Program in Agriculture and Life Sciences (MPS‐ALS), which is offered through the Field of Food Science and Technology (FFST), as an alternative to research‐based masters and doctoral degrees. Although the MPS‐ALS program began in the 1970s, the FFST did not take an active role in recruiting students or tracking alumni until 2000. From 2000 to 2013, a total of 56 students, representing an internationally and academically diverse student body, have received MPS‐ALS degrees through the FFST. In May and August 2013, alumni were asked, via e‐mail, to complete an online survey to assess the long‐term impact of the MPS‐ALS program on their career success. The results of the survey indicate that the MPS‐ALS program at Cornell Univ. is a strong program that attracts excellent candidates from a variety of undergraduate fields. Program alumni have been very successful in obtaining full‐time employment, graduate positions and internships, and are highly satisfied with the program. The MPS‐ALS offered through the FFST at Cornell Univ. is a model for the development of course‐based graduate programs that seek to increase the supply of and meet the demand for trained professionals in food science.
Development of an Augmented Reality Game to Teach Abstract Concepts in Food Chemistry
Authors: Crandall Philip G. , Engler Robert K. , Beck Dennis E. , Killian Susan A. , O'Bryan Corliss A. , Jarvis Nathan , Clausen Ed
Published: January 2015

One of the most pressing issues for many land grant institutions is the ever increasing cost to build and operate wet chemistry laboratories. A partial solution is to develop computer‐based teaching modules that take advantage of animation, web‐based or off‐campus learning experiences directed at engaging students’ creative experiences. We used the learning objectives of one of the most difficult topics in food chemistry, enzyme kinetics, to test this concept. Students are apprehensive of this subject and often criticize the staid instructional methods typically used in teaching this material. As a result, students do not acquire a useful background in this important subject. To rectify these issues, we developed an interactive augmented reality application to teach the basic concepts of enzyme kinetics in the context of an interactive search that took students to several locations on campus where they were able to gather raw materials and view videos that taught the basics of enzyme kinetics as applied to the production of high fructose corn syrup (HFCS). The students needed this background to prepare for a mock interview with an HFCS manufacturer. Students and instructors alike found the game to be preferable to sitting in a classroom listening to, or giving, a PowerPoint presentation. We feel that this use of gaming technology to teach difficult, abstract concepts may be a breakthrough in food science education and help alleviate the drain on administrative budgets from multiple wet labs.
Changes in characteristics and management of Asian and Anglo‐Celts with type 2 diabetes over a 15‐year period in an urban Australian community: The Fremantle Diabetes Study
Authors: Tan Eva D.D. , Davis Wendy A. , Davis Timothy M.E.
Published: January 2015

Background

The aim of the present study was to determine temporal changes in characteristics and management of Asians with type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared with those of the majority Anglo‐Celt (AC) patients in an urban Australian community.

Methods

Cross‐sectional data from the observational Fremantle Diabetes Study (FDS) collected in 1993–96 (Phase I; FDS1) and 2008–11 (Phase II; FDS2) were analyzed for patients classified as Asian (n = 44 and 65 in FDS1 and FDS2, respectively) or AC (n = 796 and 793, respectively). Between‐group differences in changes in key variables between FDS phases were analyzed by generalized linear modeling with adjustment for age and gender.

Results

Asians patients were significantly younger at diagnosis and recruitment and had a lower body mass index and smaller waist circumference than the AC participants in both FDS phases. They were also less likely to be treated for hypertension. Cardiovascular risk factors and their management and macrovascular complications were similar in the two groups over time. A greater propensity to retinopathy with Asian ethnicity in FDS1 (27.3% vs 13.5%; P = 0.23) was attenuated in FDS2 (23.7% vs 19.0%; P = 0.39). Asians had a significantly lower prevalence of peripheral sensory neuropathy in FDS2 (33.8% vs 63.3%; P < 0.001; adjusted P = 0.011 for between‐group temporal change).

Conclusions

There were persistent differences between the phenotypic features of Asian migrants with T2D versus AC patients in an Australian urban community over 15 years of follow‐up, but management of diabetes and non‐glycemic risk factors remained comparable. Ethnicity‐specific differences in susceptibility to microvascular complications should be considered in clinical management.
orchard: Paternity program for autotetraploid species
Authors: Spielmann A. , Harris S. A. , Boshier D. H. , Vinson C. C.
Published: January 2015

Advances in molecular marker technology have provided new opportunities to study the population genetics of polyploid taxa. Paternity analysis using microsatellite markers can be used in detection of gene flow between individuals and populations, in mating system analysis, to identify factors that influence fecundity and fertility, to identify behaviour of parent–offspring relationships and in the analysis of the reproductive success of different ecological groups. As there is no specific program for carrying out paternity analysis in tetraploid species, specialized software was designed for the assignment of paternity for autotetraploid species. orchard is a novel implementation of exclusion and likelihood statistics for carrying out paternity analysis of autotetraploids. First, the program performs an exclusion method, and then, a likelihood statistic is used with nonexcluded candidate fathers. Optional features include estimation of allele dosage of known mother trees and the estimation of pollen flow distances. orchard was tested using a data set of microsatellite data of Dipteryx odorata, a tetraploid Amazonian tree species.
Male germline transmits fetal alcohol epigenetic marks for multiple generations: a review
Authors: Sarkar Dipak K.
Published: January 2015

Alcohol exposure during fetal and early postnatal development can lead to an increased incidence of later life adult‐onset diseases. Examples include central nervous system dysfunction, depression, anxiety, hyperactivity, and an inability to deal with stressful situations, increased infection and cancer. Direct effects of alcohol leading to developmental abnormalities often involve epigenetic modifications of genes that regulate cellular functions. Epigenetic marks carried over from the parents are known to undergo molecular programming events that happen early in embryonic development by a wave of DNA demethylation, which leaves the embryo with a fresh genomic composition. The proopiomelanocortin (Pomc) gene controls neuroendocrine‐immune functions and is imprinted by fetal alcohol exposure. Recently, this gene has been shown to be hypermethylated through three generations. Additionally, the alcohol epigenetic marks on the Pomc gene are maintained in the male but not in the female germline during this transgenerational transmission. These data suggest that the male‐specific chromosome might be involved in transmitting alcohol epigenetic marks through multiple generations.
Tiunatermes mariuzani gen. nov. et sp. nov., a new nasute termite from the Brazilian savannah (Isoptera: Termitidae)
Authors: Carrijo Tiago F , Cuezzo Carolina , Santos Rafaella G
Published: January 2015

Tiunatermes mariuzani gen. nov. and sp. nov. from the subfamily Nasutitermitinae is described based on soldiers and workers collected in Brazilian savannah (Cerrado), Jalapão region, Brazil. Digital images, scanning electron micrographs and illustrations of diagnostic characters are provided. Soldiers and workers of Tiunatermes share in particular some morphological traits with the neotropical nasute termite genera Anhangatermes Constantino, but soldiers can be distinguished by a conical nasus, procoxa without a hump on the anterior surface, abdominal sclerites well sclerotized, and imbricate tergites and workers are distinguished by mandible morphology, coiling gut in situ, and cuticular armature of the gizzard and the enteric valve.
Digital health technology and trauma: development of an app to standardize care
Authors: Hsu Jeremy M.
Published: January 2015

Background

Standardized practice results in less variation, therefore reducing errors and improving outcome. Optimal trauma care is achieved through standardization, as is evidenced by the widespread adoption of the Advanced Trauma Life Support approach. The challenge for an individual institution is how does one educate and promulgate these standardized processes widely and efficiently? In today's world, digital health technology must be considered in the process.

Aim

The aim of this study was to describe the process of developing an app, which includes standardized trauma algorithms. The objective of the app was to allow easy, real‐time access to trauma algorithms, and therefore reduce omissions/errors.

Method

A set of trauma algorithms, relevant to the local setting, was derived from the best available evidence. After obtaining grant funding, a collaborative endeavour was undertaken with an external specialist app developing company.

Results

The process required 6 months to translate the existing trauma algorithms into an app. The app contains 32 separate trauma algorithms, formatted as a single‐page flow diagram. It utilizes specific smartphone features such as ‘pinch to zoom’, jump‐words and pop‐ups to allow rapid access to the desired information.

Conclusion

Improvements in trauma care outcomes result from reducing variation. By incorporating digital health technology, a trauma app has been developed, allowing easy and intuitive access to evidenced‐based algorithms.
Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy for the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer in elderly women
Authors: Delotte Jérôme , Arias Tatiana , Guerin Olivier , Boulahssass Rabia , Bereder Isabelle , Bongain André , Benchimol Daniel , Bereder Jean Marc
Published: January 2015

Our aim was to evaluate the morbidity and survival associated with combined cytoreductive surgery and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer for patients aged 70 years and older. We conducted a monocentric study in a French university hospital and collected data on 15 women aged ≥70 years, treated by cytoreduction and HIPEC for ovarian cancer relapse. The median overall survival was 35 months, with a median disease‐free survival of 15.6 months. When a Peritoneal Cancer Index subgroup analysis was performed, a statistically significant difference in the disease‐free survival could be observed for a Peritoneal Cancer Index ≤13 (p = 0.036). A trend towards improvement of disease‐free survival was observed when the Completeness of Cytoreductive Score was equal to 0 (p = 0.0915).
Cross‐cultural evidence of value structures and priorities in childhood
Authors: Döring Anna K. , Schwartz Shalom H. , Cieciuch Jan , Groenen Patrick J. F. , Glatzel Valentina , Harasimczuk Justyna , Janowicz Nicole , Nyagolova Maya , Scheefer E. Rebecca , Allritz Matthias , Milfont Taciano L. , Bilsky Wolfgang
Published: January 2015

We broaden the developmental focus of the theory of universals in basic human values (Schwartz, 1992, Advances in Experimental Social Psychology) by presenting supportive evidence on children's values from six countries: Germany, Italy, Poland, Bulgaria, the United States, and New Zealand. 3,088 7–11‐year‐old children completed the Picture‐Based Value Survey for Children (PBVS‐C, Döring et al., 2010, J. Pers. Assess., 92, 439). Grade 5 children also completed the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ, Schwartz, 2003, A proposal for measuring value orientations across nations. Chapter 7 in the Questionnaire Development Package of the European Social Survey). Findings reveal that the broad value structures, sex differences in value priorities and pan‐cultural value hierarchies typical of adults have already taken form at this early age. We discuss the conceptual implications of these findings for the new field of children's basic values by embedding them in the recent developmental literature.
Constructions Revisited: Winnicott, Deleuze and Guattari, Freud
Authors: Abou‐Rihan Fadi
Published: January 2015

In this paper, I argue that construction is not merely a tool amongst the many that are at the clinician's disposal; construction is the very means and end of the psychoanalytic experience. I reinterpret Freud's classic notion in light of the Winnicottian found object and the Deleuzo‐Guattarian understanding of desire as production. I then go on to deploy two detailed clinical vignettes in order to show how, thus reinterpreted, construction is at its most valuable when it is generative rather than historical. Instead of merely eliciting an accurate representation of a lost experience, construction brings about further associations, interpretations and, indeed, constructions that reshape the subject.
Sunflower seeds as eliciting agents of Compositae dermatitis
Authors: Paulsen Evy , El‐Houri Rime B. , Andersen Klaus E. , Christensen Lars P.
Published: January 2015

Background

Sunflowers may cause dermatitis because of allergenic sesquiterpene lactones (SLs). Contact sensitization to sunflower seeds has also been reported, but the allergens are unknown.

Objectives

To analyse sunflower seeds for the presence of SLs and to assess the prevalence of sunflower sensitization in Compositae‐allergic individuals.

Patients/materials/methods

Sunflower‐sensitive patients were identified by aimed patch testing. A dichloromethane extract of whole sunflower seeds was analysed by liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry and high‐performance liquid chromatography.

Results

The prevalence of sensitivity to sunflower in Compositae‐allergic individuals was 56%. A solvent wash of whole sunflower seeds yielded an extract containing SLs, the principal component tentatively being identified as argophyllin A or B, other SLs being present in minute amounts.

Conclusions

The concentration of SLs on the sunflower seeds is considered high enough to elicit dermatitis in sensitive persons, and it seems appropriate to warn Compositae‐allergic subjects against handling sunflower seeds.
Colorectal adenomas and diabetes: implications for disease prevention
Authors: Steele R. J. C. , Anderson A. S. , Macleod M. , Craigie A. M. , Caswell S. , Belch J. , Treweek S. ,   on behalf of the BeWEL team
Published: January 2015

Aim

This study assessed the baseline type II diabetes mellitus (T2DM) risk status among overweight patients with screen‐detected colorectal adenomas and explored the implications of the findings for preventative practice.

Method

Participants aged between 50 and 74 years (73% of whom were men) were recruited from four Scottish health boards and assessed for diabetes risk. Participants were categorized as at ‘high’ diabetes risk if glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was between 6.0 and 6.4% or fasting plasma glucose (FPG) was between 5.5 and 6.9 mmol/l and as potentially undiagnosed T2DM when HbA1c ≥ 6.5% or FPG ≥ 7 mmol/l. Secondary outcome measures included anthropometric measurements, blood pressure and the plasma lipid profile. The tests were repeated at 12 months and diabetes risk categories were reassessed following intervention procedures.

Results

Forty‐seven (14.3%) of the 329 participants had a preexisting diagnosis of T2DM. Of the remainder with complete biochemistry results (n = 250), 19 (7.6%) were classified as having potentially undiagnosed T2DM and 125 (50.0%) as being at high risk of developing diabetes. More than a quarter of participants in all categories had raised waist circumference, hypertension and plasma lipids, indicative of raised cardiovascular risk. At 12 months' follow‐up, the diabetes risk category diminished in 20% of the intervention group vs 11% in the controls [OR 2.26 (95% CI 1.03–4.96)].

Conclusion

Our results suggest that a diagnosis of adenoma in overweight patients provides a health service opportunity for diabetes assessment, prevention and management in a high‐risk population at a potentially teachable moment.
THE ECONOMICS OF EMERGENCY MEETINGS
Authors: Aadland David , Sterbenz Frederic P.
Published: January 2015

In this article, we examine the timing of emergency meetings. Meetings are critical to the success of organizations, allowing them to coordinate information, discuss strategies, and realign policies to meet their objectives. We treat the emergency meetings between scheduled meetings as real options. The optimal strategy involves time‐varying threshold values that, when exceeded, trigger an emergency meeting. The model explains why organizations need both scheduled and emergency meetings. The model also predicts more frequent emergency meetings during periods of high volatility and a hump‐shaped distribution for the timing of emergency meetings. We find empirical support for these predictions using data from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and the Federal Open Market Committee of the U.S. Federal Reserve system. (JEL C44, C61, C63)
ON THE EXTERNAL VALIDITY OF LABORATORY TAX COMPLIANCE EXPERIMENTS
Authors: Alm James , Bloomquist Kim M. , McKee Michael
Published: January 2015

An essential issue for laboratory experiments to inform policy debates is the “external validity” of the experimental results; that is, does behavior in the laboratory apply to behavior that occurs in the naturally occurring world? We examine this issue of external validity in the specific context of laboratory experiments on tax compliance, using two different types of evidence. We find that the behavioral patterns of subjects in the laboratory conform to those of individuals making a similar decision in naturally occurring settings. We also find that the behavioral responses of students are largely the same as those of nonstudents in identical experiments (JEL C9, H0, H3)
The behavioural repertoire of Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus (L.)) in captivity: a case study for testing ethogram completeness and reducing observer effects
Authors: Bolgan Marta , O'Brien Joanne , Gammell Martin
Published: January 2015

In the last 20 years, research has been directed towards possible differences in the mating behaviour of species belonging to the Salmonidae family that may reproductively isolate wild populations from escaped hatchery or farmed fish. Despite these studies, a detailed description of the overall behavioural repertoire of Salmonidae species from wild and farmed environments is still lacking. Furthermore, although Arctic charr has been described as the most variable between all vertebrate species, possible behavioural plasticity outside of the breeding season has not been widely investigated, and a complete ethogram for Arctic charr not in breeding condition is currently unavailable. This study presents the first complete ethogram of captive Arctic charr behaviour outside of the breeding season. The completeness of this ethogram was validated based on the Behavioural Accumulation Curves methodology, a reliable and easy to use tool for assessing the best compromise between sampling effort and ethogram completeness. Additionally, a new way of presenting an ethogram has been proposed and validated using a dichotomous key to describe behaviour types. This proved to be a more effective operational tool for identifying Arctic charr behaviour than the ethogram. The dichotomous key of behaviour led to a significantly less ambiguous identification of behavioural units, thus reducing observer, recording errors and enhancing accuracy. This study therefore represents an effective step forward to a more in‐depth and rigorous comparison of Arctic charr behavioural adaptation between and within artificial and natural settings.
Rating the UK: the British government's sovereign credit ratings, 1976–8
Authors: Gill David James
Published: January 2015

The UK received its first sovereign credit ratings in 1978. Despite having required financial assistance from the International Monetary Fund only 18 months earlier, the British government managed to secure ‘triple‐A’ ratings from both Standard and Poor's and Moody's. Both assessments of creditworthiness reflected improving economic conditions but also British efforts to influence the sovereign ratings process. The Bank of England and the Treasury sought guidance from American investment banks to prepare for the ratings process and then controlled the flow of information available to the rating agencies accordingly, stressing the strengths of the national economy and downplaying the weaknesses. The British government subsequently launched its first bond issue in the New York market to high levels of investor demand. Consideration of these achievements complements the historiography concerning Britain's economic fortunes in the late 1970s. Scrutiny of events also offers a rare glimpse into the confidential sovereign ratings process. Both agencies relied on a combination of quantitative and qualitative evaluations of the UK. In addition, this article highlights the existence of a unique period in the history of sovereign credit ratings. From 1974 to 1985, the ratings industry enjoyed a cautious revival focused principally on ‘triple‐A’ borrowers.
Children with epilepsy and anxiety: Subcortical and cortical differences
Authors: Jones Jana E. , Jackson Daren C. , Chambers Karlee L. , Dabbs Kevin , Hsu David A. , Stafstrom Carl E. , Seidenberg Michael , Hermann Bruce P.
Published: January 2015

Objective

Using a hypothesis‐driven approach, subcortical and cortical regions implicated in anxiety disorders in the general population were examined in children with recent‐onset epilepsy with versus without anxiety compared to controls. This study reports frequency of anxiety disorders while examining familial, clinical, and demographic variables associated with anxiety in children with epilepsy.

Method

Participants included 88 children with epilepsy aged 8–18 years: 25 with a current anxiety disorder and 63 children with epilepsy and no current anxiety disorder. Forty‐nine controls without anxiety disorders were included. T1 volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were collected; subcortical volumes and cortical thickness were computed using the FreeSurfer image analysis suite. Analyses focused on adjusted measures of subcortical volumes and cortical thickness.

Results

Relative to controls, larger left amygdala volumes were found in the Epilepsy with Anxiety group compared to the Epilepsy without Anxiety group (p = 0.027). In the hippocampus, there were no significant differences between groups. Examination of cortical thickness demonstrated that the Epilepsy with Anxiety group showed thinning in left medial orbitofrontal (p = 0.001), right lateral orbitofrontal (p = 0.017), and right frontal pole (p = 0.009). There were no differences between groups in age, sex, IQ, age of onset, medications, or duration of epilepsy. There were more family members with a history of anxiety disorders in the Epilepsy with Anxiety group compared to the Epilepsy without Anxiety group (p = 0.005).

Significance

Anxiety is a common psychiatric comorbidity in children with recent‐onset epilepsy with volumetric enlargement of the amygdala and thinner cortex in orbital and other regions of prefrontal cortex, suggesting structural abnormalities in brain regions that are part of the dysfunctional networks reported in individuals with anxiety disorders in the general population. These findings are evident early in the course of epilepsy, are not related to chronicity of seizures, and may be linked to a family history of anxiety and depressive disorders.
Afterword: the Scottish referendum, the English question and the changing constitutional geography of the United Kingdom
Authors: Clifford Ben , Morphet Janice
Published: January 2015

The referendum held in Scotland on 18 September 2014 resulted in a rejection of the option of becoming an independent nation‐state. The perceived closeness of the vote, however, led to a rush of promises for further devolution from UK politicians. This crisis seems to have resulted in a period of constitutional flux throughout the United Kingdom, with demands for further powers for Northern Ireland and Wales, as well as a broad debate on the status of England. There have also been recent pronouncements on further city‐regional devolution within England. The changing political geography of the United Kingdom can be understood in a European context and as part of longstanding debate about the rescaling of the state. Briefly considering the key issues of sovereignty and territorial identity, we argue that nation‐states will continue to play an important role in our governance for the foreseeable future, but that there needs to be further devolution in the United Kingdom. Any changes to our state spatial structures will proceed in a halting and path‐dependent manner.
Haemorrhagic complications with adenotonsillectomy in children and young adults with bleeding disorders
Authors: Warad D. , Hussain F.T.N. , Rao A.N. , Cofer S.A. , Rodriguez V.
Published: January 2015

Haemorrhagic complications remain a challenge with surgical procedures in patients with bleeding disorders. In children and young adults, the most commonly performed surgeries are tonsillectomies and/or adenoidectomies. Adequate haemostasis in these patients with bleeding disorders is centred on comprehensive perioperative haemostatic support and dexterous surgical technique. The aim of this study was to assess postoperative bleeding complications with tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy in children and young adults with known bleeding disorders. Retrospective review of all patients aged <25 years with known bleeding disorders who underwent tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy at Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN between July 1992 and July 2012. In contrast to reported literature, we observed a higher rate of bleeding complications (10/19, 53%) despite aggressive haemostatic support and appropriate surgical techniques. Delayed bleeding (>24 h postoperatively) was more common than early bleeding; and recurrent bleeding was associated with older age. Children and young adults with haemorrhagic diatheses undergoing adenotonsillectomy are at a higher risk of delayed bleeding and require close monitoring with haemostatic support for a prolonged duration in the postoperative period. A uniform approach is needed to manage these patients perioperatively by establishing standard practice guidelines and ultimately reduce postsurgical bleeding complications.
Severe and fulminant hepatitis of indeterminate etiology in a Japanese center
Authors: Fujiwara Keiichi , Yasui Shin , Nakano Masayuki , Yonemitsu Yutaka , Arai Makoto , Kanda Tatsuo , Fukuda Yoshihiro , Oda Shigeto , Yokosuka Osamu
Published: January 2015

Aim

The outcome of acute liver failure (ALF) is influenced by its etiology, making etiological consideration of ALF important. However, specific etiology could not be identified in 30–40% of adult patients in a Japanese nationwide survey. We examined our patients with severe (SH) and fulminant hepatitis (FH) of indeterminate etiology for the better understanding of ALF.

Methods

We investigated 106 adult patients with SH or FH including 24 of indeterminate etiology between 2000 and 2013, retrospectively.

Results

Of 24 patients, 12 were men. Seventeen were SH and seven FH (three FH acute type and four FH subacute type). Eighty‐three percent of patients were positive for antinuclear antibody. Seventeen recovered without liver transplantation (LT), two received LT and five died without LT. Histology of 15 patients showed a pattern of acute hepatitis (massive necrosis in four, submassive necrosis in one, severe acute hepatitis in two and acute hepatitis in eight). The involvement of immune‐mediated liver injury was histologically suggested in some patients.

Conclusion

There was no large cluster of etiology in our patients with indeterminate cause. The causes of ALF of indeterminate etiology were the mixture of various minor or rare ones, if precise diagnosis of acute AIH was done. Outcome of our patients with indeterminate cause was not poor if they were treated as early as possible after the diagnosis of severe disease. Careful examination of unknown viral infection, drugs, toxins, undefined metabolic disorders and histology may help detect some of these etiologies.
The Association of Ankle-Brachial Index with Silent Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Results of the Atahualpa Project
Authors: Del Brutto Oscar H. , Sedler Mark J. , Mera Robertino M. , Lama Julio , Gruen Jadry A. , Phelan Kelsie J. , Cusick Elizabeth H. , Zambrano Mauricio , Brown David L.
Published: January 2015

Background

An abnormal ankle-brachial index has been associated with overt stroke and coronary heart disease, but little is known about its relationship with silent cerebral small vessel disease.

Aim

To assess the value of ankle-brachial index as a predictor of silent small vessel disease in an Ecuadorian geriatric population.

Methods

Stroke-free Atahualpa residents aged ≥60 years were identified during a door-to-door survey. Ankle-brachial index determinations and brain magnetic resonance imaging were performed in consented persons. Ankle-brachial index ≤0·9 and ≥1·4 were proxies of peripheral artery disease and noncompressible arteries, respectively. Using logistic regression models adjusted for age, gender, and cardiovascular health status, we evaluated the association between abnormal ankle-brachial index with silent lacunar infarcts, white matter hyperintensities, and cerebral microbleeds.

Results

Mean age of the 224 participants was 70 ± 8 years, 60% were women, and 80% had poor cardiovascular health status. Ankle-brachial index was ≤0·90 in 37 persons and ≥1·4 in 17. Magnetic resonance imaging showed lacunar infarcts in 27 cases, moderate-to-severe white matter hyperintensities in 47, and cerebral microbleeds in 26. Adjusted models showed association of lacunar infarcts with ankle-brachial index ≤ 0·90 (OR: 3·72, 95% CI: 1·35–10·27, P = 0·01) and with ankle-brachial index ≥ 1·4 (OR: 3·85, 95% CI: 1·06–14·03, P = 0·04). White matter hyperintensities were associated with ankle-brachial index ≤ 0·90 ( P= 0·03) and ankle-brachial index ≥ 1·4 ( P = 0·02) in univariate analyses. There was no association between ankle-brachial index groups and cerebral microbleeds.

Conclusions

In this population-based study conducted in rural Ecuador, apparently healthy individuals aged ≥60 years with ankle-brachial index values ≤0·90 and ≥1·4 are almost four times more likely to have a silent lacunar infarct. Ankle-brachial index screening might allow recognition of asymptomatic people who need further investigation and preventive therapy.
Renal sinus exposure as an independent factor predicting asymptomatic unruptured pseudoaneurysm formation detected in the early postoperative period after minimally invasive partial nephrectomy
Authors: Omae Kenji , Kondo Tsunenori , Takagi Toshio , Morita Satoru , Hashimoto Yasunobu , Kobayashi Hirohito , Iizuka Junpei , Nozaki Taiji , Yoshida Kazuhiko , Tanabe Kazunari
Published: January 2015

Objectives

To investigate the incidence of asymptomatic unruptured renal artery pseudoaneurysm detected by 3‐D computed tomography arteriography in the early period after minimally invasive partial nephrectomy, including laparoscopic and robotic partial nephrectomy.

Methods

From February 2012 to November 2013, 101 patients underwent minimally invasive partial nephrectomy for renal masses. Computed tomography arteriography was carried out 3–4 days after surgery; radiologists diagnosed renal artery pseudoaneurysm in a blinded manner. Factors influencing the occurrence of renal artery pseudoaneurysm were analyzed with the logistic regression model.

Results

The incidence of renal artery pseudoaneurysm was unexpectedly high at 21.7% when detected by computed tomography arteriography during the early period after minimally invasive partial nephrectomy. The renal artery pseudoaneurysm group showed a significantly larger tumor size (P = 0.02), significantly higher N component score (P = 0.01) and higher incidence of renal sinus exposure or opening of the collecting system (P < 0.01) compared with the no renal artery pseudoaneurysm group. Although these aforementioned factors were found to be significant by univariate analysis, multivariate analysis showed that renal sinus exposure was the only significant independent predictive factor for occurrence of renal artery pseudoaneurysm. Tumor‐related factors, such as the N component of the nephrometry scoring system or tumor size, did not show an independent influence on the occurrence of renal artery pseudoaneurysm.

Conclusions

The present study shows an unexpectedly high incidence of asymptomatic unruptured renal artery pseudoaneurysm detected by computed tomography arteriography in the early period after minimally invasive partial nephrectomy. Renal sinus exposure is an independent significant factor predicting the occurrence of renal artery pseudoaneurysm. Avoidance of deep excision into the renal sinus could reduce the risk of renal artery pseudoaneurysm. © 2015 The Japanese Urological Association
Wound samples: moving towards a standardised method of collection and analysis
Authors: Ramsay Sarah , Cowan Linda , Davidson Jeffrey M , Nanney Lillian , Schultz Gregory
Published: January 2015

Chronic wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers, pressure ulcers and venous leg ulcers, impact the lives of millions of people worldwide. These types of wounds represent a significant physical, social and financial burden to both patients and health care systems. Wound care has made great progress in recent years as a result of the critical research performed in academic, clinical and industrial settings. However, there has been relatively little translation of basic research discoveries into novel and effective treatments. One underlying reason for this paucity may be inconsistency in the methods of wound analysis and sample collection, resulting in the inability of researchers to accurately characterise the healing process and compare results from different studies. This review examines the various types of analytical methods being used in wound research today with emphasis on sampling techniques, processing and storage, and the findings call forth the wound care research community to standardise its approach to wound analysis in order to yield more robust and comparable data sets.
Heritability of periodontal bone loss in mice
Authors: Hiyari S. , Atti E. , Camargo P. M. , Eskin E. , Lusis A. J. , Tetradis S. , Pirih F. Q.
Published: January 2015

Background

Periodontitis is an inflammatory disease of the periodontal tissues that compromises tooth support and can lead to tooth loss. Although bacterial biofilm is central in disease pathogenesis, the host response plays an important role in the progression and severity of periodontitis. Indeed, clinical genetic studies indicate that periodontitis is 50% heritable. In this study, we hypothesized that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections lead to a strain‐dependent periodontal bone loss pattern.

Material and methods

We utilized five inbred mouse strains that derive the recombinant strains of the hybrid mouse diversity panel. Mice received Porphyromonas gingivalis–LPS injections for 6 wk.

Results and conclusion

Micro‐computed tomography analysis demonstrated a statistically significant strain‐dependent bone loss. The most susceptible strain, C57BL/6J, had a fivefold higher LPS‐induced bone loss compared to the most resistant strain, A/J. More importantly, periodontal bone loss revealed 49% heritability, which closely mimics periodontitis heritability for patients. To evaluate further the functional differences that underlie periodontal bone loss, osteoclast numbers of C57BL/6J and A/J mice were measured in vivo and in vitro. In vitro analysis of osteoclastogenic potential showed a higher number of osteoclasts in C57BL/6J compared to A/J mice. In vivo LPS injections statistically significantly increased osteoclast numbers in both groups. Importantly, the number of osteoclasts was higher in C57BL/6J vs. A/J mice. These data support a significant role of the genetic framework in LPS‐induced periodontal bone loss and the feasibility of utilizing the hybrid mouse diversity panel to determine the genetic factors that affect periodontal bone loss. Expanding these studies will contribute in predicting patients genetically predisposed to periodontitis and in identifying the biological basis of disease susceptibility.