bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Detection of early anastomotic leakage by intraperitoneal microdialysis after low anterior resection for rectal cancer: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Ellebæk M. B. , Rahr H. B. , Boye S. , Fristrup C. , Qvist N.
Published: July 2019

Aim

Anastomotic leakage (AL) is a common and serious complication following sphincter‐preserving surgery for rectal cancer. Early detection and intervention can improve clinical outcomes. The aim of this prospective cohort study was to compare intraperitoneal microdialysis with a clinical scoring system for early detection of AL.

Method

A microdialysis catheter was anchored near the anastomosis at low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer. Peritoneal fluid samples were analysed (lactate, pyruvate, glucose and glycerol concentration) 4‐hourly and compared with a daily clinical leak score (DULK = Dutch leakage). At day 7 a pelvic CT with rectal contrast enema was performed to establish if there had been a radiological leak.

Results

In this two‐centre study, 129 patients [median age 65 (26–82) years; 60.5% male] underwent LAR. The leak rate was 27% (grade A, n = 11; grade B, n = 12; grade C, n = 12). Receiver operator characteristic analysis demonstrated a lactate cut‐off value of 9.8 mm and had 77% sensitivity, 82% specificity, 78% accuracy, a positive predictive value (PPV) of 58, a negative predictive value (NPV) of 88 (CI 79–94) and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.9 for AL. This compared with a clinical score ≥ 4, which had 57% sensitivity, 79% specificity, 71% accuracy, a PPV of 46, a NPV of 82 and an AUC of 0.7 for AL. The mean day for a positive test when using delta lactate ≥ 6.3 mm was 1.6 days and for leak score ≥ 4 it was 3.3 days (NS).

Conclusion

When AL occurs, intraperitoneal lactate concentration increases over time, and at a certain cut‐off has a higher sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, PPV and NPV than a clinical scoring system.
Motivations for Loan Herding by Chinese Banks and Its Impact on Bank Performance
Authors: Fang Hao , Lee Yen‐Hsien , Shen Chung‐Hua , Chung Chien‐Ping
Published: July 2019

This study uses a dynamic herding model that considers intertemporal and cross‐sectional correlation to confirm that loan herding occurs among joint‐stock commercial banks (JSCBs) and city commercial banks (CCBs). We clarify the motivations for bank loan herding. We find that loan herding by both JSCBs and CCBs results more from following the behavior of other same‐type banks than different‐type banks because of characteristic herding or reputational concerns. Loan herding by JSCBs is motivated by investigative herding, whereas loan herding by CCBs results from informational cascades. Moreover, loan herding has a significantly harmful impact on the operating performance of CCBs but not JSCBs, which may be explained by the irrational behavior of CCBs. Our results will help Chinese bank supervisors develop appropriate policies for handling loan herding.
Fiscal Subsidy Policy on Home Appliances: Its Effects on Domestic Consumption and Exports in China
Authors: Ji Ting , Jia Ningyuan , Lin Faqin , Wu Hang
Published: July 2019

This paper evaluates the effects of the Home Appliances Going to the Countryside (HAGC) policy, a fiscal subsidy program implemented in China to boost private consumption of home appliances in rural areas from 2007 to 2012. Using the policy as a natural experiment and employing the difference‐in‐difference estimator, we find that the policy did not increase domestic sales of relevant goods as expected; instead, it actually reduced domestic sales and significantly promoted exports. These surprising results are robust across regressions of alternative datasets, more controls, and different regions. We further provide detailed information of undisclosed audit data for a county in Zhejiang province to shed light on the underlying mechanism of such unexpected results, suggesting loopholes in the HAGC and changes in export tax rebate rates.
Asking young Aboriginal people who use illicit drugs about their healthcare preferences using audio‐computer‐assisted self‐interviewing
Authors: Dowsett Marianne , Islam M. Mofizul , Ganora Christopher , Day Carolyn , Lee K. S. Kylie , Dawson Angela , Joseph Telphia , White Ann , Freeburn Bradley , Conigrave Katherine M.
Published: July 2019

Introduction and Aims

Substance use significantly contributes to increasing the disease burden experienced by young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Aboriginal) Australians. Little is known about the primary healthcare needs of young Aboriginal people who use drugs. The aim of this study was to pilot Audio Computer Assisted Self‐Interviewing (ACASI) as a method of asking young Aboriginal people who use illicit drugs about their health concerns and service preferences, in inner‐Sydney, New South Wales.

Design and Methods

We employed a sequential mixed methods exploratory study design. Qualitative data was collected using a focus group and in‐depth interviews. These findings informed the development of the ACASI survey, which asked questions on substance use, health concerns, health service usage, barriers and preferences for services. Recruitment sites included youth and health services. Qualitative results were analysed thematically, and survey results using descriptive statistics.

Results

Eight people participated in the focus group and two in in‐depth interviews. Of the 38 survey respondents, 68% reported illicit drug use. Reported barriers to service access included waiting time and services seeming unfriendly or not understanding Aboriginal people. Participants expressed preferences for Aboriginal‐friendly health services that provide internet access, literacy skill development and opportunities to learn about Aboriginal culture. Participants found the ACASI survey user‐friendly.

Discussion and Conclusions

This is the first report describing health concerns and service preferences of young Aboriginal people who use illicit drugs. The ACASI survey appears to be an appropriate and efficient approach to giving a voice to young Aboriginal people.
The mitral annulus in lipedema: Insights from the three‐dimensional speckle‐tracking echocardiographic MAGYAR‐Path Study
Authors: Nemes Attila , Kovács Zsolt , Kormányos Árpád , Domsik Péter , Kalapos Anita , Piros Györgyike Á. , Kemény Lajos , Forster Tamás , Szolnoky Győző
Published: July 2019

Introduction

Lipedema is a barely recognized and poorly diagnosed, but common disease affecting almost exclusively female patients. The pathomechanism of lipedema is not known, and clinically, it is a bilateral, symmetrical, disproportional fatty enlargement of the lower half of the body, the disease does not affect the feet, and the upper extremities are often involved. Since lipedema is associated with increased aortic stiffness and altered left ventricular (LV) rotational mechanics, the present study was designed to compare the size and function of the mitral annulus (MA) between lipedema patients and controls by three‐dimensional speckle‐tracking echocardiography (3DSTE).

Methods

Twenty‐four patients with stage 2 lipedema and 48 age‐, gender‐, and body mass index‐matched healthy control patients were included in the study. Each person from the lipedema and the control groups underwent two‐dimensional Doppler echocardiography and 3DSTE.

Results

Significantly enlarged left atrial diameter, LV end‐diastolic diameter and volume, and LV end‐systolic volume could be detected in lipedema patients as compared to controls. None of the lipedema patients and controls showed ≥grade 1 mitral or tricuspid regurgitation. Dilated end‐systolic and end‐diastolic MA diameter, area, and perimeter could be demonstrated in lipedema patients as compared to controls, and these changes were accompanied by impaired MA fractional area change at rest. Following 1‐hour use of compression stockings, no significant improvement was seen in these parameters.

Conclusions

Lipedema is associated with MA enlargement and functional impairment. The use of compression stockings does not improve these alterations.
Anti‐immigration policy in the destination country and skilled–unskilled wage inequality in a source economy with or without unemployment
Authors: Chaudhuri Sarbajit
Published: July 2019

This paper is aimed at theoretically examining the consequence of the anti‐immigration policy adopted in the destination country on the skilled–unskilled wage inequality in a source nation using a couple of two‐sector, specific‐factor general equilibrium models in both the presence and absence of unemployment. Emigration requires incurring some capital cost for professional skill formation on the part of every prospective emigrant that adds to the opportunity cost of emigration. The authority of the destination country determines the number of visas to be granted and hence directly controls the magnitude of skilled emigration from the source country. In the migration equilibrium, the expected skilled wage income abroad is equal to the opportunity cost of emigration. In both the presence and absence of unemployment of unskilled labor, the outcome of the policy on the wage inequality crucially hinges on both the magnitude of the fixed cost of emigration and the technological factors. In the specific‐factor Harris–Todaro model, the degree of imperfection in the unskilled labor market is an additional factor. Finally, some policy recommendations have been made for protecting the interest of the poor unskilled workforce.
A molecular tool to identify Anastatus parasitoids of the brown marmorated stink bug
Authors: Stahl Judith M. , Gariepy Tara D. , Beukeboom Leo W. , Haye Tim
Published: July 2019

Globally, Anastatus species (Hymenoptera: Eupelmidae) are associated with the invasive agricultural pest Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). In Europe, the polyphagous Anastatus bifasciatus (Geoffroy) is the most prevalent native egg parasitoid on H. halys eggs and is currently being tested as a candidate for augmentative biological control. Anastatus bifasciatus frequently displays behavior without oviposition, and induces additional host mortality through oviposition damage and host feeding that is not measured with offspring emergence. This exacerbates accurate assessment of parasitism and host impact, which is crucial for efficacy evaluation as well as for pre‐ and post‐release risk assessment. To address this, a general Anastatus primer set amplifying a 318‐bp fragment within the barcoding region of the cytochrome oxidase I (COI) gene was developed. When challenged with DNA of three Anastatus species —A. bifasciatus, Anastatus japonicus Ashmead, and Anastatus sp.—, five scelionid parasitoid species that might be encountered in the same host environments and 11 pentatomid host species, only Anastatus DNA was successfully amplified. When applied to eggs of the target host, H. halys, and an exemplary non‐target host, Dendrolimus pini L. (Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae), subjected to host feeding, no Anastatus amplicons were produced. Eggs of the two host species containing A. bifasciatus parasitoid stages, from 1‐h‐old eggs to pupae, and emerged eggs yielded Anastatus fragments. Confirmation of parasitoid presence with dissections and subsequent PCRs with the developed primer pair resulted in 95% success for 1‐h‐old parasitoid eggs. For both host species, field‐exposed sentinel emerged eggs stored dry for 6 months, 100% of the specimens produced Anastatus amplicons. This DNA‐based screening method can be used in combination with conventional methods to better interpret host‐parasitoid and parasitoid‐parasitoid interactions. It will help address ecological questions related to an environmentally friendly approach for the control of H. halys in invaded areas.
Reframing the teacher profession as a dynamic multifaceted profession: A wider perspective on teacher quality and teacher competence frameworks
Authors: Snoek Marco , Dengerink Jurriën , de Wit Bas
Published: July 2019

Many countries in Europe use some kind of competence framework to define the quality of teachers. They typically formulate one level of teaching quality which defines the competence level that teachers must have acquired after completing initial teacher education. In addition, most countries provide limited career structures that define career opportunities within the teacher profession itself, resulting in a profession where often the only option for career progression is to move to leadership positions. Competence frameworks that create opportunities for vertical and horizontal career structures can make being a teacher a more attractive profession. They offer teachers opportunities for ‘career crafting’ and professional growth and supply school leaders with tools for more elaborate career guidance. In this article, we present a framework that was developed in the Netherlands to support teacher growth and teachers' career development. It has been used as a starting point for creating a shared language and understanding of the teacher profession and as a catalyst for dialogue between teachers and school leaders on professional growth. We elaborate the main characteristics of the resulting model, its limitations, the feedback that has been collected and how this feedback has been incorporated in how the model is used and discussed by teachers, school leaders and teacher education institutes. Finally, we argue that the strength of the framework can be explained by the way it acts as a boundary object, inspiring mutual learning and dialogue between different activity systems (of teachers, school leaders and teacher educators).
Spontaneous use and modification of a feather as a tool in a captive common raven
Authors: Gallot Quentin , Gruber Thibaud
Published: July 2019

Here, we report an observation of a zoo‐housed common raven (Corvus corax) modifying and using a raven feather as a tool to access the food cache of her partner. We believe this record is of importance, as it represents one of the first cases of untrained common ravens spontaneously using and modifying a tool, and a rare example of a non‐human animal manufacturing a tool from a body part. This anecdotal observation suggests that tool use and tool modification may be present in the common raven behavioral repertoire in the foraging context; nevertheless, further investigations are needed to assess this possibility in more controlled settings as well as in the wild.
How do commercial fishing licences relate to access?
Authors: Silver Jennifer J. , Stoll Joshua S.
Published: July 2019

Commercial fishing licences are central to fisheries management systems. They define and allocate harvest rights, place rules upon authorized harvesters and, in some cases, require holders to pay user fees. In this paper, we ask how licences and licensing relate to access, itself a broader concept defined as the opportunity to derive benefits from resources and that draws attention to how institutions and social structures enable and constrain different individuals and groups. Using published literature, reports and publicly available licence data for fisheries off of British Columbia, Canada, we overview licensing history and examine all major commercial licence types in the jurisdiction. Using a network approach, we also describe the diverse suite of licence portfolios held in 2017. Results show that there were 6,563 commercial fishing licences registered by 2,377 unique holders, including a handful that hold ‘access‐rich’ and a much larger number who hold ‘access‐constrained’ portfolios. The literature review and analysis support two broadly applicable conclusions. First, that licensing history shapes access and that limited entry policies continue to influence who benefits from fisheries resources well beyond implementation. Second, that analysing licence holdings suggests business strategies and fishing prospects available to different harvesters and other commercial fisheries participants in a jurisdiction. In response to demand for greater attention to human dimensions and to the perception that indicators are challenging to develop and integrate, we advance conceptual thinking and practical approaches relevant to fisheries research and evaluation.
Structural analysis of phosphorylation‐associated interactions of human MCC with Scribble PDZ domains
Authors: Caria Sofia , Stewart Bryce Z. , Jin Ruitao , Smith Brian J. , Humbert Patrick O. , Kvansakul Marc
Published: July 2019

Scribble is a crucial adaptor protein that plays a pivotal role during establishment and control of cell polarity, impacting many physiological processes ranging from cell migration to immunity and organization of tissue architecture. Scribble harbours a leucine‐rich repeat domain and four PDZ domains that mediate most of Scribble's interactions with other proteins. It has become increasingly clear that post‐translational modifications substantially impact Scribble–ligand interactions, with phosphorylation being a major modulator of binding to Scribble. To better understand how Scribble PDZ domains direct cell polarity signalling and how phosphorylation impacts this process, we investigated human Scribble interactions with MCC (Mutated in Colorectal Cancer). We systematically evaluated the ability of all four individual Scribble PDZ domains to bind the PDZ‐binding motif (PBM) of MCC as well as MCC phosphorylated at the −1 Ser position. We show that Scribble PDZ1 and PDZ3 are the major interactors with MCC, and that modifications to Ser at the −1 position in the MCC PBM only has a minor effect on binding to Scribble PDZ domains. We then examined the structural basis for these observations by determining the crystal structures of Scribble PDZ1 domain bound to both the unphosphorylated MCC PBM as well as phosphorylated MCC. Our structures indicated that phospho‐Ser at the −1 position in MCC is not involved in major contacts with Scribble PDZ1, and in conjunction with our affinity measurements suggest that the impact of phosphorylation at the −1 position of MCC must extend beyond a simple modulation of the affinity for Scribble PDZ domains.
Proximity channeling during cyanobacterial phycoerythrobilin synthesis
Authors: Aras Marco , Hartmann Volker , Hartmann Jana , Nowaczyk Marc M. , Frankenberg‐Dinkel Nicole
Published: July 2019

Substrate channeling is a widespread mechanism in metabolic pathways to avoid decomposition of unstable intermediates, competing reactions, and to accelerate catalytic turnover. During the biosynthesis of light‐harvesting phycobilins in cyanobacteria, two members of the ferredoxin‐dependent bilin reductases are involved in the reduction of the open‐chain tetrapyrrole biliverdin IXα to the pink pigment phycoerythrobilin. The first reaction is catalyzed by 15,16‐dihydrobiliverdin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase and produces the unstable intermediate 15,16‐dihydrobiliverdin (DHBV). This intermediate is subsequently converted by phycoerythrobilin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase to the final product phycoerythrobilin. Although substrate channeling has been postulated already a decade ago, detailed experimental evidence was missing. Using a new on‐column assay employing immobilized enzyme in combination with UV‐Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy revealed that both enzymes transiently interact and that transfer of the intermediate is facilitated by a significantly higher binding affinity of DHBV toward phycoerythrobilin:ferredoxin oxidoreductase. Concluding from the presented data, the intermediate DHBV is transferred via proximity channeling.
Rural geographies in the wake of non‐representational theories
Authors: Maclaren Andrew S.
Published: July 2019

Non‐representational theories have come to exert an influence on rural geographies. Geographers are engaging with rurality not just discursively, but as part of an assemblage of the embodied, practiced, and experienced elements of life. This paper reflects on the emergence of non‐representational theories and considers what non‐representational theories have brought to the study of rural geography to date. This recent work has considered diverse topics, from rural gentrification to an understanding of different demographic conceptualisations of rurality. The paper will consider further trajectories of where an embodied approach can take rural geographies, this includes assessing the challenges researchers wishing to engage with non‐representational theories may face, from methodological considerations to the debates surrounding the (re)presentation of research. The paper concludes by considering how rural geography can progress its engagement with non‐representational theories, through the expansion of empirical research informed by this theoretical approach.
Getting to the Heart of the Matter: Migraine, Triptans, DHE, Ditans, CGRP Antibodies, First/Second‐Generation Gepants, and Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Mathew Paul G. , Klein Brad C.
Published: July 2019

Premise

The science of migraine pathophysiology has advanced significantly since the 1930’s. Imaging techniques, neurochemical analysis, clinical trials, and the clinical experience of providers treating migraine patients have not only sharpened our understanding of the disease, but have also led to the development of novel neural‐based targets. Targeted therapies such as calcitonin gene‐related peptide (CGRP) antibodies and “Second Generation” CGRP receptor antagonists (Gepants) have not only demonstrated efficacy, but have not resulted in any significant cardiovascular nor other serious adverse events. “First Generation” Gepants were associated with liver toxicity.

Problem

Triptans and dihydroergotamine (DHE) are contraindicated in patients with hemiplegic and basilar migraine based on theories of migraine pathophysiology from the 1930s. While our understanding of migraine has evolved substantially, perceived concerns of safety from almost a century ago continue to preclude their use in certain patient populations.

Potential solution

While migraine aura was once thought to be primarily due to vasoconstriction, current evidence debunks this concept. For instance, hemiplegic migraine is the consequence of genetic mutations resulting in channelopathies without evidence of cerebral ischemia or infarction. Evidence of basilar artery constriction as postulated in basilar migraine is also lacking. This recognition has led the International Headache Society to rename basilar‐type migraine to migraine with brainstem aura.

The following discussion reviews current literature with respect to migraine as a neuronal disorder, as well as the published data on the safety of triptans, DHE, Ditans (a novel class of 5‐HT1f receptor agonists), CGRP antibodies, and Gepants.
The concept of sacrum imperium in historical scholarship
Authors: Sulovsky Vedran
Published: July 2019

Sacrum imperium is a phrase that first appears in the imperial chancery in a document of Frederick Barbarossa in 1157. It later developed into the title Holy Roman Empire (of the German nation), the name of Europe's largest polity for many centuries. Where other country names were based on the peoples inhabiting them, the Empire's name is of unknown provenance, though it obviously imitates the Roman Empire. I intend to survey the extant theories on its origin and meaning and show how 20th‐century national discourse affected scholarly opinion.

It is maintained that sacrum imperium was introduced by Rainald of Dassel to resacralise the Empire after the imperial defeat in the Investiture Controversy. Many opinions were based on this (1) that sacrum imperium means that the state is holier than the Church, (2) that Charlemagne's canonisation was a thinly veiled canonisation of the Empire, and (3) that Rainald of Dassel translated the three kings to Cologne to prove that there was no intermediary between the emperor and God.

I will show that these views are derived from Zeumer's 1910 modelling of Rainald of Dassel after Otto von Bismarck and his 1872 Reichstag speech against Pope Pius IX.
Optimistic tone and audit fees: Some Australian evidence
Authors: Bicudo de Castro Vincent , Gul Ferdinand A. , Muttakin Mohammad Badrul , Mihret Dessalegn Getie
Published: July 2019

We examine whether the tone of corporate annual reports is associated with audit pricing decisions. A unique dataset drawn from annual reports of nonfinancial firms listed on the Australian Stock Exchange for the period from 2002 to 2014 is generated using textual analysis. We find that annual reports that convey optimistic tone are associated with lower audit fees, suggesting that annual report tone reflects factors that auditors consider in assessing audit risk. Consistent with the inverse association between tone and audit fees, results of additional analysis show that annual report tone is positively associated with earnings quality. Our results hold after controlling for firm characteristics that influence audit pricing decisions and remain robust to alternative variable measurement and test of endogeneity. Overall, the findings suggest that auditors could enhance their audit risk assessment practices by systematically considering linguistic attributes of qualitative corporate disclosures.
Transport costs in new economic geography models: A more realistic approach
Authors: Puente‐Ajovín Miguel , Sanz‐Gracia Fernando
Published: July 2019

This paper proposes an alternative method to the iceberg approach for modeling transport costs. Instead of part of the good evaporating in transit, we take as our basis the idea that certain workers in companies are in productive occupations in the strict sense, and others work in transport. This simple change is found to be capable of overcoming most of the criticisms associated with the iceberg approach.
Effect of cerebrolysin on bladder function after spinal cord injury in female Wistar rats
Authors: Abolhasanpour Nasrin , Eidi Akram , Hajebrahimi Sakineh , Reyhani‐Rad Siamak , Hashim Hashim
Published: July 2019

Objectives

To study the effect of cerebrolysin on bladder function after spinal cord injury using functional measurements in rats.

Methods

A total of 60 female rats were enrolled in this study. After induction of complete transection at T9–T10 spinal vertebrae, cerebrolysin was injected intraperitoneally, and daily in three dosages until 7 days (1 week) and continued until 28 days (4 weeks) in three groups to show the impact of that on the bladder function. Urodynamic parameters were measured in the different groups.

Results

Cerebrolysin injection in a dose of 1 mL/kg for 1 week showed a slight improvement in urodynamic parameters. However, infusion of 2.5 and 5 mL/kg cerebrolysin for 1 week caused an elevation in contractions and a decrease in compliance. In long‐term 2.5 mL/kg cerebrolysin injection, an improvement in compliance was observed, despite relative contractions. Furthermore, the bladder pressure pattern in the 2.5 mL/kg infused rats for 4 weeks was similar to the control group, but in the group receiving 5 mL/kg cerebrolysin for 4 weeks, reduced bladder contractions and function were observed.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that cerebrolysin might be able to inhibit the emergence of neurogenic detrusor overactivity in spinal cord injured female rats.
α1‐Blocker inhibits non‐voiding contractions and decreases the level of intravesical prostaglandin E2 in rats with partial bladder outlet obstruction
Authors: Akino Hironobu , Ito Hideaki , Nagase Keiko , Matsuta Yosuke , Aoki Yoshitaka , Hattori Tsuyoshi , Yokoyama Osamu
Published: July 2019

Objectives

To elucidate the mechanism of action of the α1‐blocker, naftopidil, in partial bladder outlet obstruction animals, by studying non‐voiding contractions, and the levels of mediators were measured with resiniferatoxin treatment.

Methods

A total of 35 female Wistar rats were randomly divided into a sham or bladder outlet obstruction group, and rats in each group were given vehicle or resiniferatoxin. Incomplete urethral ligation was applied to the bladder outlet obstruction group. After cystometry, the intravesical level of prostaglandin E2 and adenosine 5′‐triphosphate was measured in the instilled perfusate collected. Naftopidil was given at the time of cystometry.

Results

In bladder outlet obstruction rats, non‐voiding contractions, bladder capacity, and the intravesical levels of prostaglandin E2 and adenosine 5′‐triphosphate were markedly increased compared with sham rats. Naftopidil decreased non‐voiding contractions, enlarged the bladder capacity, and decreased the intravesical levels of prostaglandin E2 and adenosine 5′‐triphosphate. Resiniferatoxin enhanced non‐voiding contractions. The effects of naftopidil on non‐voiding contractions and the intravesical level of prostaglandin E2, but not adenosine 5′‐triphosphate, were tolerant to resiniferatoxin.

Conclusions

In bladder outlet obstruction rats, one cause of generation of non‐voiding contractions might be bladder wall distension, but not transient receptor potential cation channel V1. The increase in intravesical prostaglandin E2 might also be associated with the generation of non‐voiding contractions. Naftopidil inhibits the increase in non‐voiding contractions and decreases the intravesical level of prostaglandin E2, which are independent of transient receptor potential cation channel V1.
Pan African phylogeography and palaeodistribution of rousettine fruit bats: Ecogeographic correlation with Pleistocene climate vegetation cycles
Authors: Stribna Tereza , Romportl Dušan , Demjanovič Jan , Vogeler Anna , Tschapka Marco , Benda Petr , Horáček Ivan , Juste Javier , Goodman Steven M. , Hulva Pavel
Published: July 2019

Aim

The impact of Pleistocene climatic oscillations on tropical biomes is associated with changes in the extent of forest cover. Fruit bats have played a role in woodland dynamics via pollination and seed dispersal. We hypothesized that phylogeographic patterns ofRousettuson continental Africa and adjacent islands should show a signature of pluvial‐drought cycles, involving demographic expansions and contractions.

Location

Afrotropical, Malagasy and Saharo‐Arabian biogeographic realms.

Taxon

GenusRousettus(Pteropodidae).

Methods

Phylogeographic and population genetic approaches using mitochondrial and microsatellite data were integrated with species distribution modelling of currently suitable habitats and those of the Last Glacial Maximum using climate simulations.

Results

Phylogenetic reconstruction yielded an Asian outgroup followed by pectinate branching of the Indian Ocean taxa andRousettus aegyptiacus. While nuclear microsatellites were homogeneous across the African mainland, two mitochondrial haplogroups were found. Haplogroup I is widespread in regions with extensive tree cover, including tropical rain forests, and has close relationships to isolated lineages in the Middle East and islands in the Gulf of Guinea. Haplogroup II is sister to the rest of theR. aegyptiacusradiation and is found in eastern and southern Africa and the Sudanian savanna in habitats with semi‐open land cover.

Main Conclusion

Palaeodistributional modelling ascertained that the Indian Ocean islands provided more extensive areas of suitable habitat in the past relative to conditions today, suggesting stepping stone connectivity between Asia and Africa during Pleistocene interpluvial sea‐level lowstands. Inverse pluvial‐drought demography was detected in lineages ancestral to recent haplogroups, providing evidence of past forest refugia and complex ecogeographic scenarios of haplogroup origins involving allopatry and parapatry connected with the eastern Afromontane biodiversity hotspot, and subsequent admixture of nuclear gene pools. The Middle Eastern lineage probably originated during pluvial green Sahara periods, possibly in co‐evolution with ancestors of tree crop species domesticated later during the Neolithic revolution. The keystone role of rousettine bats for forest regeneration and their ability to pioneer dry and distant habitats emphasize their role in conservation biology and restoration ecology.
Utility of obesity and metabolic dyslipidemia (a non‐insulin based determinate of the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance) in predicting arterial stiffness
Authors: Aroor Annayya R. , Whaley‐Connell Adam , Sowers James R.
Published: July 2019

Increased arterial stiffening is not only a hallmark of the aging process but the consequence of many metabolic abnormalities such as insulin resistance (IR), obesity, and metabolic dyslipidemia. In patients with the cardiometabolic syndrome, arterial stiffening is consistently observed across all age groups. A core feature linking obesity and the metabolic syndrome to arterial stiffness has been IR. However, including other metabolic abnormalities such as metabolic dyslipidemia increases the risk prediction of arterial stiffness in a dose‐dependent fashion. Chronic hyperinsulinemia also increases the activity of both the systemic and the local RAAS which contributes to the development of arterial stiffness. All of these relevant metabolic features that predict arterial stiffness are appropriately incorporated in the METS‐IR used in the current study.
Low‐intensity aerobic exercise improves cardiac remodelling of adult spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Pagan Luana U. , Damatto Ricardo L. , Gomes Mariana J. , Lima Aline R. R. , Cezar Marcelo D. M. , Damatto Felipe C. , Reyes David R. A. , Caldonazo Tulio M. M. , Polegato Bertha F. , Okoshi Marina P. , Okoshi Katashi
Published: July 2019

We evaluated the influence of aerobic training on cardiac remodeling in untreated spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Four experimental groups were used: sedentary (W‐SED, n=27) and trained (WEX, n=31) normotensive Wistar rats, and sedentary (SHR‐SED, n=27) and exercised (SHR‐EX, n=32) hypertensive rats. At 13 months old, trained groups underwent treadmill exercise five days a week for four months. Statistical analysis: ANOVA or Kruskal‐Wallis. Exercised groups had higher physical capacity. Hypertensive groups presented left ventricular (LV) concentric hypertrophy with impaired function. Left atrium diameter, LV posterior wall thickness and relative thickness, and isovolumetric relaxation time were lower in SHR‐EX than SHR‐SED. Interstitial collagen fraction and Type I‐Type III collagen ratio were higher in SHR‐SED than W‐SED. In SHR‐EX these parameters had intermediate values between W‐EX and SHRSED with no differences between either group. Myocardial matrix metalloproteinase‐2 activity, evaluated by zymography, was higher in SHR‐SED than W‐SED and SHR‐EX. TIMP‐2 was higher in hypertensive than normotensive groups. In conclusion, low intensity aerobic exercise reduces left atrium dimension and LV posterior wall thickness, and improves functional capacity, diastolic function, and metalloproteinase‐2 activity in adult SHR.
Prevalence of albuminuria and renal dysfunction, and related clinical factors in Japanese patients with diabetes: The Japan Diabetes Complication and its Prevention prospective study 5
Authors: Shikata Kenichi , Kodera Ryo , Utsunomiya Kazunori , Koya Daisuke , Nishimura Rimei , Miyamoto Satoshi , Tajima Naoko ,   the JDCP study group
Published: July 2019

Aims/Introduction

To clarify the prevalence of albuminuria and renal dysfunction, and related factors in Japanese patients with diabetes, we analyzed the baseline data of the Japan Diabetes Complication and its Prevention prospective study.

Materials and Methods

We used the data of 355 patients with type 1 diabetes and 5,194 patients with type 2 diabetes to evaluate the prevalence of albuminuria and renal dysfunction, and related factors. A binomial logistic regression analysis was used to investigate independent contributing factors for estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 or albuminuria.

Results

The prevalence of microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria was 15.2% (54/355) and 3.1% (11/355) in type 1 diabetes patients, and 25.0% (1,298/5,194) and 5.1% (265/5,194) in type 2 diabetes patients, respectively. The proportion of renal dysfunction (estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2) was 9.9% (35/355) in type 1 diabetes patients, and 15.3% (797/5,194) in type 2 diabetes patients. The proportion of patients with renal dysfunction with normoalbuminuria was 7.3% (26/355) for type 1 diabetes patients, and 9.0% (467/5,194) for type 2 diabetes patients. The factors related to albuminuria in type 2 diabetes patients were glycated hemoglobin, hypertension, age, duration of diabetes, body mass index and estimated glomerular filtration rate. In contrast, factors to related renal dysfunction were age, duration of diabetes, dyslipidemia, hypertension, body mass index, male sex and albuminuria.

Conclusions

We showed the recent prevalence of albuminuria and renal dysfunction, and related factors in Japanese type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients using the baseline data of the Japan Diabetes Complication and its Prevention prospective study. The current results suggest that renal disease in patients with type 2 diabetes is heterogeneous, and different mechanisms might be involved in albuminuria and deterioration of renal function.
International research into 22 years of use of chemical restraint: An evidence overview
Authors: Muir‐Cochrane Eimear , Oster Candice , Grimmer Karen
Published: July 2019

Background

Chemical restraint (CR) (also known as rapid tranquilisation) is the forced (non‐consenting) administration of medications to manage uncontrolled aggression, anxiety, or violence in people who are likely to cause harm to themselves or others. Our population of interest was adults with mental health disorders (with/without substance abuse). There has been a growing international movement over the past 22 years towards reducing/eliminating restrictive practices such as CR. It is appropriate to summarise the research that has been published over this time, identify trends and gaps in knowledge, and highlight areas for new research to inform practice.

Aims

To undertake a comprehensive systematic search to identify, and describe, the volume and nature of primary international research into CR published since 1995.

Methods

This paper reports the processes and overall findings of a systematic search for all available primary research on CR published between 1 January 1996 and 31 July 2018. It describes the current evidence base by hierarchy of evidence, country (ies) producing the research, CR definitions, study purpose, and outcome measures.

Results

This review identified 311 relevant primary studies (21 RCTs; 46 non‐controlled experimental or prospective observational studies; 77 cross‐sectional studies; 69 retrospective studies; 67 opinion pieces, position or policy statements; and 31 qualitative studies). The USA, UK, and Australia contributed over half the research, whilst cross‐country collaborations comprised 6% of it. The most common research settings comprised acute psychiatric wards (23.3%), general psychiatric wards (21.6%), and general hospital emergency departments (19.0%).

Discussion

A key lesson learnt whilst compiling this database of research into CR was to ensure that all papers described non‐consenting administration of medications to manage adults with uncontrolled aggression, anxiety, or violence. There were tensions in the literature between using effective CR without producing adverse events, and how to decide when CR was needed (compared with choosing non‐chemical intervention for behavioural emergencies), respecting patients’ dignity whilst safeguarding their safety, and preserving safe workplaces for staff, and care environments for other patients. The range of outcome measures suggests opportunities to standardise future research.
A moving boundary model for food isothermal drying and shrinkage: One‐dimensional versus two‐dimensional approaches
Authors: Adrover Alessandra , Brasiello Antonio
Published: July 2019

We investigate and quantify the error in the estimate of water diffusivity resulting from the adoption of one‐dimensional (1‐d) models to describe the drying process of thin discoidal or long‐thin cylindrical samples. Numerical results obtained with the 1‐d and the 2‐d moving boundary models recently proposed by Adrover, Brasiello, and Ponso (2019a, 2019b) are compared for different sample aspect ratios. The overestimate error of 1‐d model predictions of diffusivity falls below 5% for an aspect ratio radius‐over‐thickness R0/L0 > 10 for discoidal samples while, for cylindrical samples, the aspect ratio height‐to‐radius L0/R0 must be greater than 15 to get a similar level of accuracy. To overcome this issue we propose a modified 1‐d model able to take into account water flux from lateral surfaces (usually neglected in a 1‐d approach) thus reducing the overestimate error of water diffusivity below 2% even for low‐intermediate values of the aspect ratio. The 1‐d modified model is successfully applied to experimental data of convective drying of eggplant and chayote discoidal samples.

Practical applications

End consumer is increasingly demanding for ever more standardized and high quality food products. To meet these requirements, food industries are challenged to refine process design and control tools in order to be able to take into account the variability of both food matrices and operating conditions. This objective cannot be reached without the help of mathematical models based on first principles as the one here discussed and applied to food drying. The comparison between one‐ and two–dimensional approaches and the resulting quantification of errors in the adoption of simpler one‐dimensional models have a great practical interest for industrial applications as they provide reliable criteria to obtain good predictions even when the whole set of the needed experimental data are not available or too expensive. The developed method can be easily adopted to predict final food quality (moisture content, sample volume reduction, and deformation) and therefore to implement more refined control systems and to optimize process‐operating conditions, thus saving experimental and processing costs.
Associations of Usual Pace and Complex Task Gait Speeds With Incident Mobility Disability
Authors: Rosso Andrea L. , Metti Andrea L. , Faulkner Kimberly , Brach Jennifer S. , Studenski Stephanie A. , Redfern Mark , Rosano Caterina
Published: July 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

To assess whether gait speed under complex conditions predicts long‐term risk for mobility disability as well as or better than usual‐pace gait speed.

DESIGN

Longitudinal cohort study.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Subsample of Health Aging and Body Composition study with follow‐up from 2002 to 2003 to 2010 to 2011, including 337 community‐dwelling adults (mean age = 78.5 years, 50.7% female, 26.1% black).

MEASUREMENTS

Associations of gait speed measured under usual‐pace, fast‐pace, dual‐task, and narrow‐path conditions with mobility disability, defined by any self‐reported difficulty walking ¼ mile assessed annually, were tested by Cox proportional hazard models adjusted for demographic and health characteristics. Models were fitted for each walking condition, and R2 statistics were used to compare predictive value across models. Models were repeated for persistent mobility disability, defined as at least two consecutive years of mobility disability.

RESULTS

Mobility disability occurred in 204 (60.5%) participants over the 8‐year follow‐up. There was a lower hazard of developing mobility disability with faster gait speed under all conditions. Hazard ratios, confidence intervals, and R2 of gait speed predicting mobility disability were similar across all four walking conditions (R2 range = 0.22‐0.27), but were strongest for dual‐task gait speed (hazard ratio [95% confidence interval], R2 of fully adjusted models = 0.81 [0.75‐0.88], 0.27). Results were comparable for persistent mobility disability (R2 range = 0.26‐0.28).

CONCLUSION

Slower gait speed under both usual‐pace and complex conditions may be a clinical indicator of future risk of mobility disability. These results support the call for increased use of gait speed measures in routine geriatric care. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2072–2076, 2019
Strengthening Geriatric Expertise in Swiss Nursing Homes: INTERCARE Implementation Study Protocol
Authors: Zúñiga Franziska , De Geest Sabina , Guerbaai Raphaëlle Ashley , Basinska Kornelia , Nicca Dunja , Kressig Reto W. , Zeller Andreas , Wellens Nathalie I.H. , De Pietro Carlo , Vlaeyen Ellen , Desmedt Mario , Serdaly Christine , Simon Michael
Published: July 2019

OBJECTIVES

Nursing home (NH) residents with complex care needs ask for attentive monitoring of changes and appropriate in‐house decision making. However, access to geriatric expertise is often limited with a lack of geriatricians, general practitioners, and/or nurses with advanced clinical skills, leading to potentially avoidable hospitalizations. This situation calls for the development, implementation, and evaluation of innovative, contextually adapted nurse‐led care models that support NHs in improving their quality of care and reducing hospitalizations by investing in effective clinical leadership, geriatric expertise, and care coordination.

DESIGN

An effectiveness‐implementation hybrid type 2 design to assess clinical outcomes of a nurse‐led care model and a mixed‐method approach to evaluate implementation outcomes will be applied. The model development, tailoring, and implementation are based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

SETTING

NHs in the German‐speaking region of Switzerland.

PARTICIPANTS

Eleven NHs were recruited. The sample size was estimated assuming an average of .8 unplanned hospitalizations/1000 resident days and a reduction of 25% in NHs with the nurse‐led care model.

INTERVENTION

The multilevel complex context‐adapted intervention consists of six core elements (eg, specifically trained INTERCARE nurses or evidence‐based tools like Identify, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation [ISBAR]). Multilevel implementation strategies include leadership and INTERCARE nurse training and support.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary outcomes are unplanned hospitalizations/1000 care days. Secondary outcomes include unplanned emergency department visits, quality indicators (eg, physical restraint use), and costs. Implementation outcomes included, for example, fidelity to the model's core elements.

CONCLUSION

The INTERCARE study will provide evidence about the effectiveness of a nurse‐led care model in the real‐world setting and accompanying implementation strategies. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:2145–2150, 2019
Controlling risks to ensure financial stability and reducing volatility
Authors: Gabbi Giampaolo , Levich Richard
Published: July 2019

The 11th International Risk Management Conference was held at the University of Paris‐Dauphine and the EM LYON Business School (Paris Campus) in June 2018. The conference theme “1968–2018: From Z‐Score to Contemporary Risk Management, 50 Years of Risk Measurement and Management” was selected as a means to showcase the many ways that financial risk measurement has evolved and impacted financial risk management in banks and corporations as well as the tools used by asset managers and market regulators. The four papers included in this special issue of the Journal of International Financial Management and Accounting focus on a wide range of issues: How small differences in credit ratings effect the speed of adjustment in corporate leverage, the impact of using soft variables to assess default probabilities in European corporations, a new approach to measuring a company's intrinsic risk, and the effectiveness of short sale circuit breaker rules to limit stock price volatility. Our Foreword highlights the main findings of these papers and offers our assessment of the lessons they provide for financial managers and policymakers.