bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Anatomy of equine incisors: Pulp horns and subocclusal dentine thickness
Authors: Englisch L. M. , Rott P. , Lüpke M. , Seifert H. , Staszyk C.
Published: April 2018

Background

Equine incisors are often reduced in height during corrective dental procedures. Increased knowledge of subocclusal dentine thickness and pulp morphology may help prevent iatrogenic pulpar exposure. Although such data exist for equine cheek teeth, there are currently no reliable data for incisors.

Objectives

To measure the distances between pulp cavities and the occlusal as well as the labial surfaces of equine incisors and to test if these distances change with age. Furthermore, pulp morphology with regard to number and orientation of pulp horns was investigated.

Study design

Observational study using cadaver material and high‐resolution computed tomography.

Methods

Upper and lower incisor arcades were removed from heads of 13 horses and scanned with high‐resolution computed tomography. 3D Models were reconstructed and configuration as well as number of the pulp horns was evaluated. Anatomical marker points were set to measure distances between the pulp horn tips and the labial and occlusal surfaces.

Results

Subocclusal dentine thickness ranged between 1.5 and 11.7 mm in upper and 0.7 and 6.7 mm in lower incisors. It decreased with tooth age. Distance to labial aspect ranged between 3.5 and 9.0 mm in upper and 3.8 and 8.1 mm in lower incisors and increased with tooth age.

Main limitations

Details of horse management, feeding and previous dental care were not available. Therefore, it remains unknown how these factors influenced the results.

Conclusions

Although mean subocclusal dentine thickness of greater than 4.1 mm was found, equine incisors occasionally have less than 1 mm of thickness with potential for iatrogenic pulpar exposure during incisor reduction. Therefore, great care should be exercised by any practitioner during incisor reduction.
Evaluation of digital cryotherapy using a commercially available sleeve style ice boot in healthy horses and horses receiving i.v. endotoxin
Authors: Burke M. J. , Tomlinson J. E. , Blikslager A. T. , Johnson A. L. , Dallap‐Schaer B. L.
Published: April 2018

Background

Continuous digital cryotherapy experimentally prevents development and reduces severity of sepsis‐associated laminitis. A sleeve style ice boot where ice is in direct contact with the skin, and water drains from the boot is being used clinically for distal limb cryotherapy. The degree of cooling achieved by this boot is unknown.

Objectives

Evaluate skin and lamellar cooling after application of the ice sleeve in healthy horses, and the same horses during an endotoxaemia model.

Study design

Prospective study, crossover design.

Methods

In eight healthy horses thermocouples were inserted into dorsal lamellae of both front feet, and under skin on both metacarpi. One forelimb received cryotherapy using sleeve style ice boot, with contralateral limb as control. Temperature was recorded on data logging devices at 5 min intervals during each cryotherapy session. Day 1: temperature data was collected for healthy horses. Day 2: data was collected for the same horses during i.v. administration of endotoxin.

Results

In healthy and endotoxaemic horses, the sleeve style ice boot significantly decreased mean skin (7.2°C and 5.8°C respectively) and lamellar (10.8°C and 9.6°C respectively) temperatures compared with control limbs (P<0.001). Skin and lamellar temperatures in endotoxaemic horses undergoing cryotherapy were significantly colder than in healthy horses (P = 0.01).

Main limitations

Order of treatment not randomised.

Conclusions

The boot caused significant decreases in lamellar temperatures compared with untreated control limbs in all horses. Endotoxaemic horses had significantly colder lamellae and skin than healthy horses. This study is the first to show that a sleeve style boot, where ice does not cover the hoof, can cause significant decreases in lamellar temperatures through cooling of blood as it travels to the foot.
Lipidomics for translational skin research: A primer for the uninitiated
Authors: Kendall Alexandra C. , Koszyczarek Marta M. , Jones Emrys A. , Hart Philippa J. , Towers Mark , Griffiths Christopher E. M. , Morris Michael , Nicolaou Anna
Published: April 2018

Healthy skin depends on a unique lipid profile to form a barrier that confers protection and prevents excessive water loss, aids cell‐cell communication and regulates cutaneous homoeostasis and inflammation. Alterations in the cutaneous lipid profile can have severe consequences for skin health and have been implicated in numerous inflammatory skin conditions. Thus, skin lipidomics is increasingly of interest, and recent developments in mass spectrometry‐based analytical technologies can deliver in‐depth investigation of cutaneous lipids, providing insight into their role and mechanism of action. The choice of tissue sampling technique and analytical approach depends on the location and chemistry of the lipid of interest. Lipidomics can be conducted by various mass spectrometry approaches, including different chromatography and ionisation techniques. Targeted mass spectrometry is a sensitive approach for measuring low‐abundance signalling lipids, such as eicosanoids, endocannabinoids and ceramides. This approach requires specific extraction, chromatography and mass spectrometry protocols to quantitate the lipid targets. Untargeted mass spectrometry reveals global changes and allows analysis of hundreds of complex lipids across a range of lipid classes, including phospholipids, glycerophospholipids, cholesteryl esters and sphingolipids. Mass spectrometry lipid imaging, including matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionisation mass spectrometry and desorption electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry, can reveal information about abundance and anatomical distribution of lipids within a single skin sample. Skin lipidomics can provide qualitative and quantitative data on hundreds of biologically relevant lipid species with different properties and activities, all found within a single skin sample, and support translational studies exploring the involvement of lipids in skin health and disease.
A genome wide association study identifies new genes potentially associated with eyelid sagging
Authors: Laville Vincent , Le Clerc Sigrid , Ezzedine Khaled , Jdid Randa , Taing Lieng , Labib Toufik , Coulonges Cédric , Ulveling Damien , Galan Pilar , Guinot Christiane , Fezeu Leopold , Morizot Frédérique , Latreille Julie , Malvy Denis , Tschachler Erwin , Zagury Jean‐François
Published: April 2018

Sagging eyelid is considered as an outward of skin ageing and may cause medical issues. However, little is known about the factors involved in sagging eyelid. The study, which aims at determining genetic risk factors for eyelid sagging, was conducted in a cohort of 502 unrelated Caucasian women living in the Paris region. All included participants were aged between 44 and 70 years old (mean age, 57.6 years old). The severity of sagging eyelid was graded in 6 categories by a dermatologist using standardized photographs of the face. A genome wide association study adjusted on potential risk factors (including age and smoking habits) was conducted to identify genetic associations. Two single nucleotide polymorphisms in total linkage disequilibrium on chromosome 10, rs16927253 (P = 7.07 × 10‐10) and rs4746957 (P = 1.06 × 10‐8), were significantly associated with eyelid sagging severity. The rs16927253‐T and rs4746957‐A alleles showed a dominant protective effect towards eyelid sagging. These polymorphisms are located in intronic parts of the H2AFY2 gene which encodes a member of the H2A histone family and very close to the AIFM2 gene that induces apoptosis. Additionally, single nucleotide polymorphisms with a false discovery rate below 0.25 were located nearby the type XIII collagen COL13A1 gene on chromosome 10 and in the ADAMTS18 gene on chromosome 16. Several relevant genes were identified by the genome wide association study for their potential role in the sagging eyelid severity.
Understanding Emotion Socialization Through Naturalistic Observations of Parent–Child Interactions
Authors: Sperling Jacqueline , Repetti Rena L.
Published: April 2018

Objective

To describe children's emotion expressions, parent behavioral responses to their negative emotions, and children's subsequent emotional reactions.

Background

Past research typically has used questionnaires and structured laboratory studies to understand these constructs. The present study, by contrast, was designed to investigate how these behaviors unfold during families' everyday lives.

Method

Thirty‐one families were recorded going about their daily lives as part of a larger study of the everyday lives of families; footage of a parent and target child (8–12 years of age) together on screen was divided into 30‐second clips (N = 15,071). Children's expressions of positive and negative emotion were identified, and parent emotion coaching responses (those theorized to encourage emotion expression) and emotion dismissing responses (behaviors postulated to discourage emotion expression) to children's negative affective displays were coded.

Results

Multilevel modeling results indicated that children were more likely to react with negative emotion following parents' critical statements and negative commands. However, parent ignoring increased the likelihood of positive or neutral emotional reactions.

Conclusion

Although sometimes classified as a dismissing response, parent ignoring may facilitate opportunities to practice emotion regulation.

Implications

These naturalistic observations can help to inform parent training programs about differential responses to children's expressions of negative affect.
Structure and dynamics of plant TatA in micelles and lipid bilayers studied by solution NMR
Authors: Pettersson Pontus , Ye Weihua , Jakob Mario , Tannert Franzisca , Klösgen Ralf Bernd , Mäler Lena
Published: April 2018

The twin‐arginine translocase (Tat) transports folded proteins across the cytoplasmic membrane of prokaryotes and the thylakoid membrane of plant chloroplasts. In Gram‐negative bacteria and chloroplasts, the translocon consists of three subunits, TatA, TatB, and TatC, of which TatA is responsible for the actual membrane translocation of the substrate. Herein we report on the structure, dynamics, and lipid interactions of a fully functional C‐terminally truncated ‘core TatA’ from Arabidopsis thaliana using solution‐state NMR. Our results show that TatA consists of a short N‐terminal transmembrane helix (TMH), a short connecting linker (hinge) and a long region with propensity to form an amphiphilic helix (APH). The dynamics of TatA were characterized using 15N relaxation NMR in combination with model‐free analysis. The TMH has order parameters characteristic of a well‐structured helix, the hinge is somewhat less rigid, while the APH has lower order parameters indicating structural flexibility. The TMH is short with a surprisingly low protection from solvent, and only the first part of the APH is protected to some extent. In order to uncover possible differences in TatA's structure and dynamics in detergent compared to in a lipid bilayer, fast‐tumbling bicelles and large unilamellar vesicles were used. Results indicate that the helicity of TatA increases in both the TMH and APH in the presence of lipids, and that the N‐terminal part of the TMH is significantly more rigid. The results indicate that plant TatA has a significant structural plasticity and a capability to adapt to local environments.
A skeptical appraisal of the bootstrap approach in fund performance evaluation
Authors: Zhang Huazhu , Yan Cheng
Published: April 2018

It has become standard practice in the fund performance evaluation literature to use the bootstrap approach to distinguish “skills” from “luck”, while its reliability has not been subject to rigorous statistical analysis. This paper reviews and critiques the bootstrap schemes used in the literature, and provides a simulation analysis of the validity and reliability of the bootstrap approach by applying it to evaluating the performance of hypothetical funds under various assumptions. We argue that this approach can be misleading, regardless of using alpha estimates or their t‐statistics. While alternative bootstrap schemes can result in improvements, they are not foolproof either. The case can be worse if the benchmark model is misspecified. It is therefore only with caution that we can use the bootstrap approach to evaluate the performance of funds and we offer some suggestions for improving it.
Conserving rare species can have high opportunity costs for common species
Authors: Neeson Thomas M. , Doran Patrick J. , Ferris Michael C. , Fitzpatrick Kimberly B. , Herbert Matthew , Khoury Mary , Moody Allison T. , Ross Jared , Yacobson Eugene , McIntyre Peter B.
Published: April 2018

Conservation practitioners face difficult choices in apportioning limited resources between rare species (to ensure their existence) and common species (to ensure their abundance and ecosystem contributions). We quantified the opportunity costs of conserving rare species of migratory fishes in the context of removing dams and retrofitting road culverts across 1,883 tributaries of the North American Great Lakes. Our optimization models show that maximizing total habitat gains across species can be very efficient in terms of benefits achieved per dollar spent, but disproportionately benefits common species. Conservation approaches that target rare species, or that ensure some benefits for every species (i.e., complementarity) enable strategic allocation of resources among species but reduce aggregate habitat gains. Thus, small habitat gains for the rarest species necessarily come at the expense of more than 20 times as much habitat for common ones. These opportunity costs are likely to occur in many ecosystems because range limits and conservation costs often vary widely among species. Given that common species worldwide are declining more rapidly than rare ones within major taxa, our findings provide incentive for triage among multiple worthy conservation targets.
Hydraulic redistribution affects modeled carbon cycling via soil microbial activity and suppressed fire
Authors: Fu Congsheng , Wang Guiling , Bible Kenneth , Goulden Michael L. , Saleska Scott R. , Scott Russell L. , Cardon Zoe G.
Published: April 2018

Hydraulic redistribution (HR) of water from moist to drier soils, through plant roots, occurs world‐wide in seasonally dry ecosystems. Although the influence of HR on landscape hydrology and plant water use has been amply demonstrated, HR's effects on microbe‐controlled processes sensitive to soil moisture, including carbon and nutrient cycling at ecosystem scales, remain difficult to observe in the field and have not been integrated into a predictive framework. We incorporated a representation of HR into the Community Land Model (CLM4.5) and found the new model improved predictions of water, energy, and system‐scale carbon fluxes observed by eddy covariance at four seasonally dry yet ecologically diverse temperate and tropical AmeriFlux sites. Modeled plant productivity and microbial activities were differentially stimulated by upward HR, resulting at times in increased plant demand outstripping increased nutrient supply. Modeled plant productivity and microbial activities were diminished by downward HR. Overall, inclusion of HR tended to increase modeled annual ecosystem uptake of CO2 (or reduce annual CO2 release to the atmosphere). Moreover, engagement of CLM4.5′s ground‐truthed fire module indicated that though HR increased modeled fuel load at all four sites, upward HR also moistened surface soil and hydrated vegetation sufficiently to limit the modeled spread of dry season fire and concomitant very large CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. Historically, fire has been a dominant ecological force in many seasonally dry ecosystems, and intensification of soil drought and altered precipitation regimes are expected for seasonally dry ecosystems in the future. HR may play an increasingly important role mitigating development of extreme soil water potential gradients and associated limitations on plant and soil microbial activities, and may inhibit the spread of fire in seasonally dry ecosystems.
Modeling Bikeability of Urban Systems
Authors: Gholamialam Ashkan , Matisziw Timothy C.
Published: April 2018

There are characteristics of urban transportation infrastructure that are thought to influence use by bicyclists given their perceived effect on safety, comfort, and efficiency. Prior research has primarily focused on assessing the qualities of individual road segments and analysis of one or a few routes connecting pairs of origins and destinations (ODs). To address these limitations, a multicriterion shortest path framework is proposed for evaluating the characteristics of alternative routes and measuring their tradeoffs with respect to three routing objectives. A label correcting algorithm is described for identifying the complete set of routes optimizing the three objectives and metrics are developed to summarize variations in bikeability within an urban environment. The proposed methods are applied to a case study involving 27,722 urban ODs, yielding 329,931 paths optimal with respect to some combination of the three routing objectives. In particular, 77,418 paths (23.5%) were found to optimize one or more of the three individual routing objectives while 252,513 paths (76.5%) were found to optimize some tradeoff among the three routing objectives. This large number of Pareto‐optimal tradeoff paths underscores the importance of not limiting analysis of routing alternatives to one or two individual objectives.
Not only trees: Grasses determine African tropical biome distributions via water limitation and fire
Authors: D'Onofrio Donatella , von Hardenberg Jost , Baudena Mara
Published: April 2018

Aim

Although much tropical ecology generally focuses on trees, grasses are fundamental for characterizing the extensive tropical grassy biomes (TGBs) and, together with the tree functional types, for determining the contrasting functional patterns of TGBs and tropical forests (TFs). To study the factors that determine African biome distribution and the transitions between them, we performed the first continental analysis to include grass and tree functional types.

Location

Sub‐Saharan Africa.

Time period

2000–2010.

Major taxa studied

Savanna and forest trees and C4 grasses.

Methods

We combined remote‐sensing data with a land cover map, using tree functional types to identify TGBs and TFs. We analysed the relationships of grass and tree cover with fire interval, rainfall annual average and seasonality.

Results

In TGBs experiencing < 630 mm annual rainfall, grass growth was water limited. Grass cover and fire recurrence were strongly and directly related over the entire subcontinent. Some TGBs and TFs with annual rainfall > 1,200 mm had the same rainfall seasonality but displayed strongly different fire regimes.

Main conclusions

Water limitation to grass growth was fundamental in the driest TGBs, acting alongside the well‐known limitation to tree growth. Marked differences in fire regimes across all biomes indicated that fire was especially relevant for maintaining mesic and humid TGBs. At high rainfall, our results support the hypothesis of TGBs and TFs being alternative stable states maintained by a vegetation–fire feedback for similar climatic conditions.
Ethnographic Reviews
Authors: deRoche Constance
Published: April 2018

Books reviewed in this issue.

Race and the Brazilian Body: Blackness, Whiteness, and Everyday Body Language in Rio de Janeiro. Jennifer Roth‐Gordon.
Film and Video
Authors: Stinnett Ashley
Published: April 2018

Film reviewed in this issue.

My Name is Salt
Predictors of student success in Higher Education: Secondary school internal scores versus national exams
Authors: Cerdeira José Miguel , Nunes Luis Catela , Reis Ana Balcão , Seabra Carmo
Published: April 2018

In many countries entrance to Higher Education is determined by the performance of students in secondary school and/or the scores obtained in national exams. The relative weight of these two scores on the admission decision is a relevant policy topic, given its implication on who is admitted to university. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relative predictive power of these two measures on the academic performance of students in Higher Education. It makes use of a dataset of Bachelor students from Portuguese Higher Education institutions with detailed information about their characteristics and past achievement results. The measure of academic achievement considered is the Bachelor's final average score. The main finding is that the scores given by teachers in secondary school are better predictors of subsequent performance than the access exam scores. The relevance of factors like working status, social support and gender vary with the reputation of the degree and the type of Higher Education institution, university versus polytechnic. A noteworthy result is that the added predictive contribution of parents' education is always negligible when past success measures are already taken into account.
Solidarity and cost management: Swiss citizens' reasons for priorities regarding health insurance coverage
Authors: Schindler Mélinée , Danis Marion , Goold Susan D , Hurst Samia A
Published: April 2018

Context

Approaches to priority‐setting for scarce resources have shifted to public deliberation as trade‐offs become more difficult. We report results of a qualitative analysis of public deliberation in Switzerland, a country with high health‐care costs, an individual health insurance mandate and a strong tradition of direct democracy with frequent votes related to health care.

Methods

We adapted the Choosing Healthplans All Together (CHAT) tool, an exercise developed to transform complex health‐care allocation decisions into easily understandable choices, for use in Switzerland. We conducted focus groups in twelve Swiss cities, recruiting from a range of socio‐economic backgrounds in the three language regions.

Findings

Participants developed strategic arguments based on the importance of basic coverage for all, and of cost‐benefit evaluation. They also expressed arguments relying on a principle of solidarity, in particular the importance of protection for vulnerable groups, and on the importance of medical care. They struggled with the place of personal responsibility in coverage decisions. In commenting on the exercise, participants found the degree of consensus despite differing opinions surprising and valuable.

Conclusion

The Swiss population is particularly attentive to the costs of health care and means of reducing these costs. Swiss citizens are capable of making trade‐offs and setting priorities for complex health issues.
Reciprocal relationships and the importance of feedback in patient and public involvement: A mixed methods study
Authors: Mathie Elspeth , Wythe Helena , Munday Diane , Millac Paul , Rhodes Graham , Roberts Nick , Smeeton Nigel , Poland Fiona , Jones Julia
Published: April 2018

Background

Reciprocal relationships between researchers and patient and public involvement (PPI) contributors can enable successful PPI in research. However, research and anecdotal evidence suggest that researchers do not commonly provide feedback to PPI contributors thus preventing them from knowing whether, how or where their contributions were useful to researchers and research overall.

Aims

The aim of this study was to explore the variation, types, importance of, and satisfaction with feedback given by researchers to PPI contributors in six PPI groups in England, and identify the barriers to the process of feedback.

Methods

An explanatory mixed methods sequential study design with a questionnaire survey followed by semi‐structured interviews with researchers and PPI contributors in six PPI groups. PPI contributors were involved in all stages of the research process.

Results

Researchers do not routinely give feedback to PPI contributors. Feedback was found to have different meanings: an acknowledgement, impact and study success and progress. PPI contributors who receive feedback are motivated for further involvement; it supports their learning and development and prompts researchers to reflect on PPI impact. The importance of the role of a PPI lead or coordinator to facilitate the process of providing feedback was also highlighted.

Conclusion

This study found no generic way to give feedback indicating that mutual feedback expectations should be discussed at the outset. PPI feedback needs to become integral to the research process with appropriate time and resources allocated. PPI feedback can be seen as a key indicator of mature, embedded PPI in research.
Mindful organizing in patients' contributions to primary care medication safety
Authors: Phipps Denham L. , Giles Sally , Lewis Penny J. , Marsden Kate S. , Salema Ndeshi , Jeffries Mark , Avery Anthony J. , Ashcroft Darren M.
Published: April 2018

Background

There is a need to ensure that the risks associated with medication usage in primary health care are controlled. To maintain an understanding of the risks, health‐care organizations may engage in a process known as “mindful organizing.” While this is typically conceived of as involving organizational members, it may in the health‐care context also include patients. Our study aimed to examine ways in which patients might contribute to mindful organizing with respect to primary care medication safety.

Method

Qualitative focus groups and interviews were carried out with 126 members of the public in North West England and the East Midlands. Participants were taking medicines for a long‐term health condition, were taking several medicines, had previously encountered problems with their medication or were caring for another person in any of these categories. Participants described their experiences of dealing with medication‐related concerns. The transcripts were analysed using a thematic method.

Results

We identified 4 themes to explain patient behaviour associated with mindful organizing: knowledge about clinical or system issues; artefacts that facilitate control of medication risks; communication with health‐care professionals; and the relationship between patients and the health‐care system (in particular, mutual trust).

Conclusions

Mindful organizing is potentially useful for framing patient involvement in safety, although there are some conceptual and practical issues to be addressed before it can be fully exploited in this setting. We have identified factors that influence (and are strengthened by) patients’ engagement in mindful organizing, and as such would be a useful focus of efforts to support patient involvement.
“Ultimately, mom has the call”: Viewing clinical trial decision making among patients with ovarian cancer through the lens of relational autonomy
Authors: Asiedu Gladys B. , Ridgeway Jennifer L. , Carroll Katherine , Jatoi Aminah , Radecki Breitkopf Carmen
Published: April 2018

Objective

This study employs the concept of relational autonomy to understand how relational encounters with family members (FMs) and care providers may shape decisions around ovarian cancer patients’ clinical trial (CT) participation. The study also offers unique insights into howFMs view patients’ decision making.

Methods

In‐depth interviews were conducted with 33 patients with ovarian cancer who had been offered aCTand 39FMs. Data were inductively analysed using a thematic approach and deductively informed by constructs derived from the theory of relational autonomy (RA).

Results

Patients’ relationships, experiences and social status were significant resources that shaped their decisions. Patients did not give equal weight to all relationships and created boundaries around whom to include in decision making. Doctors’ recommendations and perceived enthusiasm were described as influential inCTdecisions. Both patients with ovarian cancer and theirFMs maintained that patients have the “final say,” indicating an individualistic autonomy. However, maintaining the “final say” in the decision‐making process is constitutive of patients’ relationships, emphasizing a relational approach to autonomy.FMs support patients’ autonomy and they do so particularly when they believe the patient is capable of making the right choices.

Conclusions

Although ethical principles underlying informed consent forCTparticipation emphasize individual autonomy, greater attention to relational autonomy is warranted for a more comprehensive understanding ofCTdecision making.
Reduced expression of oestrogen receptor‐β is associated with tumour invasion and metastasis in oestrogen receptor‐α‐negative human papillary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Dong Wen‐Wu , Li Jian , Li Jing , Zhang Ping , Wang Zhi‐Hong , Sun Wei , Zhang Hao
Published: April 2018

Oestrogens play an important role in the development and progression of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) through oestrogen receptor (ER)‐α and ‐β, which may exert different or even opposing actions in PTC. The roles of ERβ in ERα‐negative PTC are still not clear. This study investigated the expression dynamics of ERβ1 (wild‐type ERβ) and its clinical significance in female ERα‐negative PTC patients. ERβ1 expression was detected in thyroid tissues of 136 female patients diagnosed with PTC. The relationships between ERβ1 expression and clinicopathological/biological factors were also analysed in female ERα‐negative PTC patients. The total score for ERβ1 was significantly lower in female ERα‐negative PTC patients with LNM or ETE when compared to those without LNM or ETE (Z = −2.923, P = 0.003 and Z = −3.441, P = 0.001). Accordingly, the total score for ERβ1 was significantly higher in ERα‐negative PTC patients expressing E‐cadherin compared to patients negative for E‐cadherin expression (Z = −2.636, P = 0.008). The total score was lower in ERα‐negative PTC patients positive for VEGF expression compared to those negative for VEGF expression (Z = −1.914, P = 0.056). This preliminary study indicates that reduced expression of ERβ1 in female ERα‐negative PTC patients is associated with greater progression of the disease. This may provide insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of ERβ1 and could help design targeted approaches for treating or even preventing this disease.
Pigments, vinegar, and blood: Interpretation and reproduction of glassy materials from the medieval manuscript H‐490
Authors: Palomar Teresa , Díaz Hidalgo Rafael Javier , Vilarigues Marcia
Published: April 2018

The research on manuscripts provides useful information about the artistic/technical production and the scientific development in the past. However, the reproduction of the ancient recipes is difficult because most of them are described generally or they hide essential information to preserve the production secrets. In this study, four different recipes from the medieval Manuscript H‐490 (École de Médicine of Montpellier University, France) were reproduced. The raw materials and the production process of each recipe were discussed from the point of view of the glassmaking, and the final products were characterized. The recipe (31) indicated the preparation of a white glaze, similar to Islamic frits. The recipes (32) and (33) explained the preparation of an “unbreakable” glass; however, the characterization of the final products showed that no changes in the hardness of the glass were obtained. And the recipe (34) described the preparation of a green glass which was successfully obtained.
Artificial simulated gastrointestinal digestion of four carbohydrates containing beta‐d‐1 → 4 linkages and new GC‐TQ/MS‐MS method for characterising released monosaccharides
Authors: Liu Huifan , Gong Fan , Wei Fashan , Lai Furao , Zhang Xiaoyuan , Wu Hui
Published: April 2018

Four types of carbohydrates, including Dendrobium officinale polysaccharide, Dendrobium aphyllum polysaccharide and β‐glucans from yeast and barley, were examined, and their structures were found to mainly contain 1,4‐linked‐β‐d‐Glcp. Artificially simulated gastrointestinal digestion was conducted to characterise the changes of molecular weight, reducing sugars and released free monosaccharides by high‐performance liquid chromatography, kits and the newly developed gas chromatography (GC)‐mass spectrometry (MS)/MS analysis, which indicated that high molecular weight and complex spatial structures contributed to delayed monosaccharide release following exposure to digestive solution. The spatial structures of carbohydrates were changed during gastric digestion, but their primary structures were destroyed during intestinal digestion. Additionally, for the developed 7890A/7000 GC‐TQ/MS‐MS, the new analytical method was successfully used to analyse very low concentrations of monosaccharides in the simulated gastrointestinal digestive system.
Improved gelation functionalities of myofibrillar protein from pale, soft and exudative chicken breast meat by nonenzymatic glycation with glucosamine
Authors: Bian Guangliang , Xue Siwen , Xu Yujuan , Xu Xinglian , Han Minyi
Published: April 2018

The potential of nonenzymatic glycation of myofibrillar proteins (MPs) to improve the gelation functionalities of pale, soft and exudative (PSE‐like) chicken breast meat was investigated. MP suspensions (4 mg mL−1) obtained from both normal and PSE‐like chicken breast meat were mixed with glucosamine at a ratio of 1:6 (protein : glucosamine) in phosphate‐buffered saline (0.6 m KCl, 20 mm K2HPO4/KH2PO4, 0.02% NaN3 and pH 7.5) and incubated at 37 °C for 12 h. Untreated normal and PSE‐like MP suspensions maintained at 4 °C were used as positive and negative controls, respectively. The glycation treatment increased the surface hydrophobicity but decreased the reactive sulfhydryl contents compared to those of the control (P < 0.05), indicating that the tertiary conformation of the protein changed. Correspondingly, these glycated samples also exhibited significant improvements in gel strength and the water‐holding capacity (P < 0.05). Conclusively, nonenzymatic glycation is a potential technique to improve the properties and offer a means for effective use of PSE‐like meat.
Effect of lactose content on dielectric properties of whole milk and skim milk
Authors: Liu Qiang , Guo Wenchuan , Zhu Xinhua
Published: April 2018

Dielectric properties (dielectric constant ε′ and dielectric loss factor ε′′) of whole milk and skim milk with the lactose content of 4.56–6.44% and 4.57–6.47%, respectively, were measured over the frequency range of 20–4500 MHz at 25 °C using a vector network analyzer. The results showed that ε′ decreased with increasing frequency, and ε′′ changed with V shape and its minimum was noted at about 2000 MHz. Whole milk had lower dielectric properties than skim milk at almost same lactose content and a given frequency. ε′ had weak positive linear relationship with lactose content for whole milk, but had negative linear relationship for skim milk. No matter for which milk, ε′′ had very good negative linear relationship with lactose content below 1000 MHz and had good positive linear relationship above 2300 MHz. The study provides information on developing rapid lactose detector for milk in future.
Enzymatic production of natural sweetener trilobatin from citrus flavanone naringin using immobilised α‐l‐rhamnosidase as the catalyst
Authors: Lei Lin , Huang Baohua , Liu Aolu , Lu Yu‐Jing , Zhou Jin‐Lin , Zhang Jinjin , Wong Wing‐Leung
Published: April 2018

An efficient and cost‐effective enzymatic production method for preparation of a high‐valued natural sweetener (dihydrochalcone glucoside trilobatin) was developed by the combination of hydrogenation and enzymatic hydrolysis reactions with α‐l‐rhamnosidase as the catalyst in aqueous medium. This technology is adopting the cheap and largely available citrus flavanone naringin as the starting material for trilobatin synthesis, and the present enzymatic technology is possibly utilised by commercial for scale‐up production. The production is a straightforward two‐step process, in which naringin was hydrogenated into naringin dihydrochalcone and followed by removal of the rhamnosyl group of naringin dihydrochalcone by enzymatic hydrolysis using immobilised α‐l‐rhamnosidase as the catalyst. Under optimised conditions, an overall yield of 96% was achieved with a very low loading of α‐l‐rhamnosidase catalyst at 60 °C in a neutral aqueous buffer solution within 2 h. The immobilised α‐l‐rhamnosidase catalyst can be recycled for 10 reactions (90% yield retained).
The conditions for successful knowledge transfer in development‐aid training programs
Authors: Mikami Satoru , Furukawa Mitsuaki
Published: April 2018

The shortage of qualified human capital is a major impediment to development. In the field of international development cooperation, training programs (TPs) have been widely employed to enhance the capacity of workforces in developing countries. This paper investigates the conditions in which these programs can contribute not only to individual human resource development but also to organization‐level reform and innovation in developing countries. The methods were regression analyses of training monitoring records as well as follow‐up e‐mail interviews with former participants of information and communication technology TPs sponsored by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency. The research reveals that bilateral communication between training participants and the home organizations during the training plays a key role in increasing the probability of successful organization‐level transfer of individual‐level learning, irrespective of the original level of organization's absorptive capacity. The researchers examine the differences in transfer factors between the development aid context in their research and the paradigm case of the business organization found in much of the transfer literature.
Local Institutional Quality and Return Migration: Evidence from Viet Nam
Authors: Tran Ngoc Thi Minh , Cameron Michael P. , Poot Jacques
Published: April 2018

This article examines the link between local institutional quality in the home country and locational choices of international return migrants. We scrutinize the locational choices of Vietnamese return migrants to the south central and the south regions of Viet Nam in 2014. Binary and multinomial regression models are fitted to identify the influence of migrants’ individual attributes and the characteristics of regional destinations within Viet Nam. Our analysis reveals that both individual‐specific and region‐specific variables are significantly related to Vietnamese return migrants’ choices when registering for permanent residency back in their home country. More remarkably, we provide compelling evidence of the positive role of institutional quality at the local level in these migration decisions. Moreover, the effect of institutional quality differs with the characteristics of migrants: regions with better institutional quality are more attractive both to younger return migrants and to those who returned from host countries with better institutional quality.
Putting “Canadians First”: Problematizing the Crisis of “Foreign” Workers in Canadian Media and Policy Responses
Authors: Hari Amrita
Published: April 2018

Research into media constructions of migrant crises has noted when, where, and how migrants become illegalized, criminalized, and securitized, exposing the relationship between media, migration, and state power. News media, through narratives and lexicon, can portray some migrants as a threat to the fabric of society. This article applies the framework of policing the crisis (Hall et al., ) to discuss the discursive construction of Temporary Migrant Workers (TMWs) in Canadian media and policy. Content and textual analysis of front‐page coverage of newsprint on the Moratorium on TMWs implemented in 2014 demonstrates this process of collective problematization. The Moratorium responded to a concern of replacing Canadians, which was largely unsupported by data. Since then, news coverage has shifted their representation of TMWs from a threat to victims, signalling a critical moment to reimagine TMWs and re‐direct discussions towards granting substantive citizenship rights.
How well do economists forecast recessions?
Authors: An Zidong , Jalles João Tovar , Loungani Prakash
Published: April 2018

We describe the evolution of forecasts in the run‐up to recessions. The GDP forecasts cover 63 countries for the years 1992–2014. The main finding is that, while forecasters are generally aware that recession years will be different from other years, they miss the magnitude of the recession by a wide margin until the year is almost over. Forecasts during non‐recession years are revised slowly; in recession years, the pace of revision picks up but not sufficiently to avoid large forecast errors. Our second finding is that forecasts of the private sector and the official sector are virtually identical; thus, both are equally good at missing recessions. Strong booms are also missed, providing suggestive evidence for Nordhaus' view that behavioural factors—the reluctance to absorb either good or bad news—play a role in the evolution of forecasts.
Collaboration as a process and an outcome: Consumer experiences of collaborating with nurses in care planning in an acute inpatient mental health unit
Authors: Reid Rebecca , Escott Phil , Isobel Sophie
Published: April 2018

This qualitative study explores inpatient mental health consumer perceptions of how collaborative care planning with mental health nurses impacts personal recovery. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with consumers close to discharge from one unit in Sydney, Australia. The unit had been undertaking a collaborative care planning project which encouraged nurses to use care plan documentation to promote person‐centred and goal‐focussed interactions and the development of meaningful strategies to aid consumer recovery. The interviews explored consumer understandings of the collaborative care planning process, perceptions of the utility of the care plan document and the process of collaborating with the nurses, and their perception of the impact of collaboration on their recovery. Findings are presented under four organizing themes: the process of collaborating, the purpose of collaborating, the nurse as collaborator and the role of collaboration in wider care and recovery. Consumers highlighted the importance of the process of developing their care plan with a nurse as being as helpful for recovery as the goals and strategies themselves. The findings provide insights into consumers’ experiences of care planning in an acute inpatient unit, the components of care that support recovery and highlight specific areas for mental health nursing practice improvement in collaboration.
Evaluating the prevalence and distribution of dependent self‐employment: some lessons from the European Working Conditions Survey
Authors: Williams Colin C. , Horodnic Ioana Alexandra
Published: April 2018

This article advances understanding of the prevalence and distribution of dependent self‐employment. Analysing the 2015 European Working Conditions Survey of 35,765 employees in 28 European countries, the dependent self‐employed are found to comprise 4.3% (1 in 23) of the EU workforce, 47% of all those reporting themselves as self‐employed without employees and 31% of all self‐employed. The prevalence of dependent self‐employment, however, is found to have decreased since the previous 2010 survey, is not found to be concentrated among marginalised population groups and is significantly more likely in agriculture, forestry and fishing, arts, entertainment, recreation and other service activities, and the household services sector. The implications for theorising and tackling dependent self‐employment are discussed.
Hepatoprotective effect of Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. on carbon tetrachloride‐induced hepatic fibrosis in rats
Authors: Feng Xin , Zhong Ge‐jia , Deng Ba Da Ji , Yang Bin , Chen Lvyi , Du Shouying
Published: April 2018

Tibetan medicine Herpetospermum caudigerum Wall. (HCW) has long been employed to treat hepatitis, inflammatory diseases and jaundice according to the records of “The Four Medical Tantras” in China. This study was investigated to explore the protective effects of HCW on hepatic fibrosis and the possible mechanism in a rat model. Hepatic fibrosis was established by intragastric administration of 3 ml/kg carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) twice a week for 6 weeks. CCl4‐treated rats were received HCW (1 and 3 g/kg/d) and silymarin (0.1 g/kg/d) from 3 to 6 weeks. The results showed that HCW could significantly decrease the levels of AST, ALT, HA, LN, PCIII, Col IV, TNF‐α, IL‐1β and IL‐6. Moreover, HCW could effectively inhibit collagen deposition and reduce the pathological damage. Analysis experiments finally exhibited that HCW was able to markedly inhibit hepatic fibrosis by modulating the expressions of NF‐κB p65, IκBα, Samd3 and TGF‐β1 proteins. Therefore, our results suggest that HCW has hepatoprotective activity against CCl4‐induced hepatic fibrosis in rats by regulating the inflammatory responses.
Common genetic variants in GAL, GAP43 and NRSN1 and interaction networks confer susceptibility to Hirschsprung disease
Authors: Wang Yang , Yan Weihui , Wang Jun , Zhou Ying , Chen Jie , Gu Beilin , Cai Wei
Published: April 2018

Hirschsprung disease (HSCR) is a severe multifactorial genetic disorder. Microarray studies indicated GAL, GAP43 and NRSN1 might contribute to the altered risk in HSCR. Thus, we focused on genetic variations in GAL, GAP43 and NRSN1, and the gene‐gene interactions involved in HSCR susceptibility. We recruited a strategy combining case‐control study and MassArray system with interaction network analysis. For GAL, GAP43 and NRSN1, a total of 18 polymorphisms were assessed in 104 subjects with sporadic HSCR and 151 controls of Han Chinese origin. We found statistically significant differences between HSCR and control groups at 5 genetic variants. For each gene, the haplotypes combining all polymorphisms were the most significant. Based on SNPsyn, MDR and GeneMANIA analyses, we observed significant gene‐gene interactions among GAL, GAP43, NRSN1 and our previous identified RELN, GABRG2 and PTCH1. Our study for the first time indicates that genetic variants within GAL, GAP43 and NRSN1 and related gene‐gene interaction networks might be involved in the altered susceptibility to HSCR in the Han Chinese population, which might shed more light on HSCR pathogenesis.