bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Public relations at the crossroads
Authors: Wolf Katharina , Archer Catherine
Published: October 2018

Purpose

Using the theoretical lens of social capital, this paper provides insight into senior public relations (PR) professionals’ views on and attitudes towards digital communication in Singapore and Perth, Western Australia, and explores the fundamental question of PR purpose.

Design/methodology/approach

Drawing on Bourdieu’s theory of practice and in particular his notion of social capital, this exploratory study is based on the critical analysis of 31 semi-structured interviews with senior PR professionals in Singapore and Perth, Western Australia.

Findings

PR professionals concur with assumptions made in the extant literature regarding the potential of digital media for PR, despite broad agreement that the fundamentals of good communication have not changed. At its core PR is about counselling, relationships and the building of social capital. Hence, digital tools and platforms are typically being referred to as merely an extension of the PR toolkit. However, as illustrated within the context of influencer engagement, PR has increasingly adopted advertising-led models and has moved away from its core business of developing strategic relationships and goodwill, hence contributing to the convergence of previously distinct communication functions.

Originality/value

This paper is believed to be one of the first to look at the theory of social capital related to PR within a digital context. Further, it takes a holistic view of PR professionals’ views on working with digital media in two geographical locations that have been under-represented in scholarly work in the field of PR. While much of the extant literature has focussed on the benefits of social media for PR, this paper takes a critical look at current challenges, including the rise of social media influencers. The paper contributes to theory relevant to social capital as it looks at the convergence of the professions relevant to digital disruption and argues for PR claiming its distinctive attributes.
Determinants of halal meat consumption in Germany
Authors: Sherwani Mehkar , Ali Afzaal , Ali Adnan , Hussain Sikander
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the determinants of halal meat consumption within a Turkish Muslim migration population in Germany using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) as a conceptual framework. The role of self-identity as a Muslim, dietary acculturation in the host culture, moral obligation to purchase halal food and trust on the authenticity of available halal food are explored.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative cross-sectional survey design for the current study was adopted. Purposive sampling through self-administered questionnaires was used to collect data from 517 Muslim consumers originated from Turkey and currently living in Germany. The analysis includes exploratory factor analysis, means scores, linear correlation and multiple regressions to examine the determinants of halal meat consumption.

Findings

A positive personal attitude towards the consumption of halal meat, motivation to comply with the opinion of important persons and institutions and the perceived control over consuming halal meat predict the intention to eat halal meat among Muslims.

Research limitations/implications

This study used self-identity, dietary acculturation, trust and moral obligation as moderator variables. Future research should also examine the moderating effects of values such as individualism/collectivism and materialism and demographic factors such as age, country of origin, education level and income level to increase the predictive power of the current TPB model.

Practical implications

Practical implications can be extended to those policymakers, marketing managers and advertising agencies dealing with food-related products. They can pursue strategies based on religious self-identity, dietary acculturation, trustworthiness and moral obligation factors in their distribution and communication efforts targeted at the growing local and international market of halal food.

Originality/value

This is one of the few studies investigating the determinants of halal meat consumption in a Muslim population in Germany using the TPB within a food, religion and migration context.
Assessing teaching performance in higher education: a framework for continuous improvement
Authors: Carlucci Daniela , Renna Paolo , Izzo Carmen , Schiuma Giovanni
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework for the analysis of students’ ratings of teaching quality in higher education and the disclosure of risky issues undermining the quality of teaching and courses that require attention for continuous improvement. The framework integrates two decision-based methods: the standardized u-control chart and the ABC analysis using fuzzy weights. The control chart, using the students’ ratings, allows the identification of those courses requiring an improvement of teaching quality in the short-medium term. While the ABC analysis uses fuzzy weights to deal with the vagueness and uncertainty of students’ teaching evaluations and provides a risk map of the potential areas of teaching performances improvement in the long term. The proposed framework allows the identification of teaching and course quality aspects that need corrective actions in response to students’ criticisms in accordance with different levels of priority.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts two methods, commonly used in industrial applications, i.e. the u-control chart and ABC analysis. Combining the results of a literature review on teaching evaluation and the application of these two methods as building blocks for the assessment, a framework to detect potential risks reducing teaching quality in higher education is proposed. The application of the framework is shown through an action-based case study developed in an Italian public university.

Findings

The study proposes a framework that combines two methods, i.e. u-control chart and ABC analysis with fuzzy weights, to support the assessment of teaching and course quality. The framework is proposed as an assessment approach of the teaching performance in higher education with the purpose to continuously improve the quality of teaching and courses both in the short, medium and long term.

Originality/value

The study provides an original contribution to the understanding of how to analyze students’ evaluation of teaching performance in order to take proper and timely decisions on corrective actions in response to the need of continuously improving the level of teaching and course quality.
Corporate governance and risk in cross-listed and Canadian only companies
Authors: Chakraborty Atreya , Gao Lucia , Sheikh Shahbaz
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate if there is a differential effect of corporate governance mechanisms on firm risk in Canadian companies cross-listed on US markets and Canadian companies not cross-listed (Canadian only companies).

Design/methodology/approach

Using a sample comprised of all Canadian companies included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index for the period 2009–2014, this study applies OLS and fixed effect regressions to investigate the effect of corporate governance mechanisms on firm risk. Interaction variables between governance mechanisms and the cross-listing status are used to examine if this effect is different for cross-listed firms.

Findings

Results indicate that the effect of board characteristics such as size, independence and proportion of female directors remains the same in both cross-listed and not cross-listed firms. CEO duality and insider equity ownership impact firm risk only in cross-listed companies, while institutional shareholdings, environmental, social and governance disclosure and family control affect firm risk in Canadian only firms. Overall, the empirical results indicate that some governance mechanisms impact firm risk only in firms that cross-list, while others are well-suited for Canadian only firms.

Practical implications

This study suggests that some of the differences between Canadian companies that cross-list and the Canadian companies that do not cross-list in US stock markets may change the impact of governance mechanisms on firm risk. Therefore, these findings have important implications for the design of governance mechanisms in Canadian firms. Since some of these differences are common to other economies, the conclusions can be extended to companies in other countries with similar governance structures.

Originality/value

Although previous studies have investigated the effect of governance mechanism on firm risk, this is the first paper that studies the differential effect for companies that cross-list in US markets. Specifically, differences in the ownership structure, firm control and in the regulatory and institutional environment, may explain this differential effect. Unlike most of the previous studies that focus on the effect of individual governance mechanisms, this study uses several mechanisms and their interactions at the same time.
Efficient dip‐angle angle‐domain common‐image gather estimation using Poynting vector in acoustic reverse time migration and its application in noise suppression
Authors: Liu Qiancheng , Zhang Jianfeng
Published: October 2018

In reverse time migration, we can produce angle‐domain common‐imaging gathers in either the scattering‐angle domain or the dip‐angle domain. The latter, although not used as widely as the former, still provides a unique view to look into seismic imaging. The reverse time migration dip‐angle angle‐domain common‐image gather can be computed via the subsurface offset extension, which is a bit costly in storage. We here obtain dip‐angle angle‐domain common‐imaging gathers efficiently in acoustic reverse time migration by using the normalized Poynting vectors. Poynting vector, an indicator of the directional energy flux, is easy to compute during wavefield propagation. Similar to the subsurface‐offset method, our method also has dip‐angle angle‐domain common‐imaging gathers of blocky horizontal coherence. In the theory of local semblance analysis, the signal with better horizontal coherence has a higher semblance score, and vice versa. Based on the estimated semblance scores, we can thus design a specularity filter to preserve valid signals and suppress noises. We validate our method with two data sets. Both the Marmousi data and the real data show that our method works effectively in eliminating noises and enhancing resolution in the acoustic reverse time migration imaging.
Blended‐acquisition design of irregular geometries towards faster, cheaper, safer and better seismic surveying
Authors: Nakayama Shotaro , Blacquière Gerrit , Ishiyama Tomohide , Ishikawa Satoshi
Published: October 2018

The application of blended acquisition has drawn considerable attention owing to its ability to improve the operational efficiency as well as the data quality and health, safety and environment performance. Furthermore, the acquisition of less data contributes to the business aspect, while the desired data density is still realizable via subsequent data reconstruction. The use of fewer detectors and sources also minimizes operational risks in the field. Therefore, a combined implementation of these technologies potentially enhances the value of a seismic survey further. One way to encourage this is to minimize any imperfection in deblending and data reconstruction during processing. In addition, one may derive survey parameters that enable a further improvement in these processes as introduced in this study. The proposed survey design workflow iteratively performs the following steps to derive the survey parameters responsible for source blending as well as the spatial sampling of detectors and sources. The first step is the application of blending and sampling operators to unblended and well‐sampled data. We then apply closed‐loop deblending and data reconstruction. The residue for a given design from this step is evaluated and subsequently used by genetic algorithms to simultaneously update the survey parameters related to both blending and spatial sampling. The updated parameters are fed into the next iteration until they satisfy the given termination criteria. We also propose a repeated encoding sequence to form a parameter sequence in genetic algorithms, making the size of problem space manageable. The results of the proposed workflow are outlined using blended dispersed source array data incorporating different scenarios that represent acquisition in marine, transition zone and land environments. Clear differences attributed solely to the parameter design are easily recognizable. Additionally, a comparison among different optimization schemes illustrates the ability of genetic algorithms along with a repeated encoding sequence to find better solutions within a computationally affordable time. The optimized parameters yield a notable enhancement in the deblending and data reconstruction quality and consequently provide optimal acquisition scenarios.
Topotecan monotherapy for the treatment of relapsed small cell lung cancer in elderly patients: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Imai Hisao , Yamada Yutaka , Minemura Hiroyuki , Sugiyama Tomohide , Kotake Mie , Kaira Kyoichi , Kanazawa Kenya , Nakamura Yoichi , Kasai Takashi , Shibata Yoko , Kaburagi Takayuki , Minato Koichi ,   Gunma‐Ibaragi‐Fukushima‐Tochigi (GIFT) Group
Published: October 2018

Background

Topotecan is one of the most active chemotherapeutic drugs for small cell lung cancer (SCLC). However, its efficacy in elderly patients with SCLC has not been validated. This study evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of topotecan monotherapy in elderly patients with relapsed SCLC.

Methods

Between January 2000 and March 2017, 43 patients aged ≥ 70 years received topotecan monotherapy for relapsed SCLC at four institutions. The clinical outcomes and adverse events of treatment were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Twenty‐nine patients (median age 75 years; range: 70–83 years) had sensitive‐type relapse, while 14 (median age 78 years; range: 71–82 years) had refractory relapse. The median number of treatment cycles was two (range: 1–6). The response rate was 7.0% (10.3% and 0% in sensitive and refractory patients, respectively), while the disease control rate was 23.2% (20.6% and 42.8% in sensitive and refractory patients, respectively). Median progression‐free survival was 1.9 months in sensitive patients and 1.4 months in refractory patients (P = 0.87). The median survival time from the start of topotecan therapy was 5.5 months in sensitive patients and 4.0 months in refractory patients (P = 0.64). Grade ≥ 3 hematological toxicities were as follows: leukopenia, 37.2%; neutropenia, 51.1%; anemia, 0%; thrombocytopenia, 32.5%; and febrile neutropenia, 9.3%. No treatment‐related deaths occurred.

Conclusion

Although hematological toxicities (particularly neutropenia) were severe, topotecan showed favorable disease control in both sensitive and refractory patients. Topotecan may thus be a preferred treatment for elderly patients with relapsed SCLC.
A pilot study of cardiopulmonary exercise testing and cardiac stress positron emission tomography before major non‐cardiac surgery
Authors: Ferguson M. T. , Hofman M. S. , Ismail H. , Melville A. , Yap K. S. K. , Hicks R. J. , Wright S. , Riedel B.
Published: October 2018

Cardiac events are a common cause of peri‐operative morbidity. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing can objectively assess risk, but it does not quantify myocardial ischaemia. With appropriate dietary preparation to suppress basal myocardial glucose uptake, positron emission tomography with 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose can identify post‐ischaemic myocardium, providing an attractive complement to exercise testing. We aimed to investigate the feasibility of this diagnostic algorithm. Patients referred for cardiopulmonary exercise testing before major cancer surgery were prospectively recruited. Exercise testing and positron emission tomography imaging were performed after a high fat–low carbohydrate meal. Protocol feasibility (primary end‐point) included compliance with pre‐test diet instructions and the completion of tests. Stress myocardial perfusion imaging was performed if either exercise testing or positron emission tomography was equivocal or positive for ischaemia. We recorded cardiac complications for 30 postoperative days. We enrolled 26 participants, 20 of whom completed protocol. Twenty‐one participants proceeded to surgery: myocardial injury or infarction was diagnosed in three participants, two of whom had positive or equivocal positron emission tomography but negative myocardial perfusion imaging. We have shown that pre‐operative cardiac positron emission tomography after cardiopulmonary exercise testing is feasible; protocol deviations were minor and did not affect image quality. Our findings warrant further investigation to compare the diagnostic utility of cardiac positron emission tomography imaging with standard pre‐operative stress tests.
Editorial: a baseline tool for predicting response to peginterferon alfa‐2a in HBeAg‐positive patients—same score, different outcomes
Authors: Peng Cheng‐Yuan
Published: October 2018

Linked Content

This article is linked to Chan et al and Chan papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14862 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14961.
Special considerations for clinical trials in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP)
Authors: Hsiao Edward C. , Di Rocco Maja , Cali Amanda , Zasloff Michael , Al Mukaddam Mona , Pignolo Robert J. , Grunwald Zvi , Netelenbos Coen , Keen Richard , Baujat Genevieve , Brown Matthew A. , Cho Tae‐Joon , De Cunto Carmen , Delai Patricia , Haga Nobuhiko , Morhart Rolf , Scott Christiaan , Zhang Keqin , Diecidue Robert J. , Friedman Clive S. , Kaplan Fredrick S. , Eekhoff Elisabeth M.W.
Published: October 2018

Clinical trials for orphan diseases are critical for developing effective therapies. One such condition, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP; MIM#135100), is characterized by progressive heterotopic ossification (HO) that leads to severe disability. Individuals with FOP are extremely sensitive to even minor traumatic events. There has been substantial recent interest in clinical trials for novel and urgently‐needed treatments for FOP. The International Clinical Council on FOP (ICC) was established in 2016 to provide consolidated and coordinated advice on the best practices for clinical care and clinical research for individuals who suffer from FOP. The Clinical Trials Committee of the ICC developed a focused list of key considerations that encompass the specific and unique needs of the FOP community – considerations that are endorsed by the entire ICC. These considerations complement established protocols for developing and executing robust clinical trials by providing a foundation for helping to ensure the safety of subjects with FOP in clinical research trials.
STRUCTURAL CHANGE THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION EXPENDITURE: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA
Authors: Zhang Xun
Published: October 2018

Under China's hukou system, I analyze the relationship between public education expenditure and structural change as measured by labor transfer from the agricultural to the industrial sector. I construct a two‐sector general equilibrium model, which shows that in the short term, public education expenditure crowds out industrial capital accumulation and temporarily hinders structural change, but in the long term, public education expenditure permanently reduces rural residents' education costs. An inverted U‐shape relationship implied by the empirical evidence indicates that China's current public education expenditure is far from optimal, suggesting that China should increase it, especially for rural residents. (JEL I28, O11, O15)
Personalized risk‐based screening for diabetic retinopathy: A multivariate approach versus the use of stratification rules
Authors: García‐Fiñana Marta , Hughes David M. , Cheyne Christopher P. , Broadbent Deborah M. , Wang Amu , Komárek Arnošt , Stratton Irene M. , Mobayen‐Rahni Mehrdad , Alshukri Ayesh , Vora Jiten P. , Harding Simon P.
Published: October 2018

Aims

To evaluate our proposed multivariate approach to identify patients who will develop sight‐threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR) within a 1‐year screen interval, and explore the impact of simple stratification rules on prediction.

Materials and methods

A 7‐year dataset (2009‐2016) from people with diabetes (PWD) was analysed using a novel multivariate longitudinal discriminant approach. Level of diabetic retinopathy, assessed from routine digital screening photographs of both eyes, was jointly modelled using clinical data collected over time. Simple stratification rules based on retinopathy level were also applied and compared with the multivariate discriminant approach.

Results

Data from 13 103 PWD (49 520 screening episodes) were analysed. The multivariate approach accurately predicted whether patients developed STDR or not within 1 year from the time of prediction in 84.0% of patients (95% confidence interval [CI] 80.4‐89.7), compared with 56.7% (95% CI 55.5‐58.0) and 79.7% (95% CI 78.8‐80.6) achieved by the two stratification rules. While the stratification rules detected up to 95.2% (95% CI 92.2‐97.6) of the STDR cases (sensitivity) only 55.6% (95% CI 54.5‐56.7) of patients who did not develop STDR were correctly identified (specificity), compared with 85.4% (95% CI 80.4‐89.7%) and 84.0% (95% CI 80.7‐87.6%), respectively, achieved by the multivariate risk model.

Conclusions

Accurate prediction of progression to STDR in PWD can be achieved using a multivariate risk model whilst also maintaining desirable specificity. While simple stratification rules can achieve good levels of sensitivity, the present study indicates that their lower specificity (high false‐positive rate) would therefore necessitate a greater frequency of eye examinations.
Variation in dung removal by dung beetles in subtropical Atlantic Rainforests
Authors: Amore Valentina , da Silva Pedro Giovâni , Hensen Maristela Carpintero , Hernández Malva Isabel Medina , Lobo Jorge M.
Published: October 2018

Dung consumption and removal is a fundamental ecological process carried out by dung beetles that drive soil nutrient cycling and associated ecosystem services. In this study, the removal rate of small droppings by dung beetles was estimated in natural subtropical rainforests of southern Brazil located along an elevational gradient, in order to understand the factors influencing variation in dung removal. To do that, the comparative explanatory capacity of three main types of variables was quantified: assemblage characteristics, local climatic and habitat conditions, and seasonal variation. The complete disappearance of dung within 48 h after deposition occurs in 73% of occasions. The highest explanatory capacity correspond to the combined effects of the three types of variables; however, average air temperature during the sampling period, total volume of dung beetles collected in the traps in which dung removal was measured, and the seasonal transition from summer to winter were the most important and representative predictors of dung removal. Thus, the dung nutrient incorporation into the soil will most likely be greater during spring‐summer conditions, when the air temperature at the time of dung deposition is high and the biomass of the dung beetle assemblage is bigger.
Spread of Xanthomonas fragariae in strawberry fields by machinery
Authors: Kastelein P. , Evenhuis A. , van der Zouwen P. S. , Krijger M. , van der Wolf J. M.
Published: October 2018

The spread of Xanthomonas fragariae in a strawberry field by mowing and runner cutting machinery was studied in the Netherlands during autumn. The blades of a rotary mower became heavily contaminated after trimming the leaves of symptomatic plants. Use of a contaminated mower resulted in infection of plants that were initially free of X. fragariae, even at a distance of 4 m (i.e. 10 mother plants) from the symptomatic plants. Directly after mowing, the pathogen could be detected on damaged leaves at a density of 103–105 cells g−1. Infections were established, although 3 months after mowing symptoms were still absent. There were indications that the use of the mower resulted in the spread of infected leaf material from symptomatic plants to neighbouring beds. Spread by a runner cutting machine was also studied. Again, after cutting the runners of symptomatic plants, high numbers of X. fragariae cells were recovered from debris on the discs of the machine. During cutting, the cut ends of runners of plants initially free of X. fragariae became contaminated, even at a distance of 4 m from the symptomatic plants, but only at low densities of 103 cfu g−1. Three months after stolon cutting, infections were detected in some of the cut plants.
14‐3‐3 protein masks the nuclear localization sequence of caspase‐2
Authors: Smidova Aneta , Alblova Miroslava , Kalabova Dana , Psenakova Katarina , Rosulek Michal , Herman Petr , Obsil Tomas , Obsilova Veronika
Published: October 2018

Caspase‐2 is an apical protease responsible for the proteolysis of cellular substrates directly involved in mediating apoptotic signaling cascades. Caspase‐2 activation is inhibited by phosphorylation followed by binding to the scaffolding protein 14‐3‐3, which recognizes two phosphoserines located in the linker between the caspase recruitment domain and the p19 domains of the caspase‐2 zymogen. However, the structural details of this interaction and the exact role of 14‐3‐3 in the regulation of caspase‐2 activation remain unclear. Moreover, the caspase‐2 region with both 14‐3‐3‐binding motifs also contains the nuclear localization sequence (NLS), thus suggesting that 14‐3‐3 binding may regulate the subcellular localization of caspase‐2. Here, we report a structural analysis of the 14‐3‐3ζ:caspase‐2 complex using a combined approach based on small angle X‐ray scattering, NMR, chemical cross‐linking, and fluorescence spectroscopy. The structural model proposed in this study suggests that phosphorylated caspase‐2 and 14‐3‐3ζ form a compact and rigid complex in which the p19 and the p12 domains of caspase‐2 are positioned within the central channel of the 14‐3‐3 dimer and stabilized through interactions with the C‐terminal helices of both 14‐3‐3ζ protomers. In this conformation, the surface of the p12 domain, which is involved in caspase‐2 activation by dimerization, is sterically occluded by the 14‐3‐3 dimer, thereby likely preventing caspase‐2 activation. In addition, 14‐3‐3 protein binding to caspase‐2 masks its NLS. Therefore, our results suggest that 14‐3‐3 protein binding to caspase‐2 may play a key role in regulating caspase‐2 activation.

Database

The atomic coordinates and structure factors have been deposited in the Protein Data Bank, www.ww pdb.org (PDB ID codes 6GKF and 6GKG).
A mitochondrial ROS pathway controls matrix metalloproteinase 9 levels and invasive properties in RAS‐activated cancer cells
Authors: Mori Kazunori , Uchida Tetsu , Yoshie Toshihiko , Mizote Yuko , Ishikawa Fumihiro , Katsuyama Masato , Shibanuma Motoko
Published: October 2018

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are tissue‐remodeling enzymes involved in the processing of various biological molecules. MMPs also play important roles in cancer metastasis, contributing to angiogenesis, intravasation of tumor cells, and cell migration and invasion. Accordingly, unraveling the signaling pathways controlling MMP activities could shed additional light on cancer biology. Here, we report a molecular axis, comprising the molecular adaptor hydrogen peroxide‐inducible clone‐5 (HIC‐5), NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4), and mitochondria‐associated reactive oxygen species (mtROS), that regulates MMP9 expression and may be a target to suppress cancer metastasis. We found that this axis primarily downregulates mtROS levels which stabilize MMP9 mRNA. Specifically, HIC‐5 suppressed the expression of NOX4, the source of the mtROS, thereby decreasing mtROS levels and, consequently, destabilizing MMP9 mRNA. Interestingly, among six cancer cell lines, only EJ‐1 and MDA‐MB‐231 cells exhibited upregulation of NOX4 and MMP9 expression after shRNA‐mediated HIC‐5 knockdown. In these two cell lines, activating RAS mutations commonly occur, suggesting that the HIC‐5–mediated suppression of NOX4 depends on RAS signaling, a hypothesis that was supported experimentally by the introduction of activated RAS into mammary epithelial cells. Notably, HIC‐5 knockdown promoted lung metastasis of MDA‐MB‐231 cancer cells in mice. The tumor growth of HIC‐5–silenced MDA‐MB‐231 cells at the primary sites was comparable to that of control cells. Consistently, the invasive properties of the cells, but not their proliferation, were enhanced by the HIC‐5 knockdown in vitro. We conclude that NOX4‐mediated mtROS signaling increases MMP9 mRNA stability and affects cancer invasiveness but not tumor growth.
A combined lipidomic and 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing approach reveals archaeal sources of intact polar lipids in the stratified Black Sea water column
Authors: Sollai Martina , Villanueva Laura , Hopmans Ellen C. , Reichart Gert‐Jan , Sinninghe Damsté Jaap S.
Published: October 2018

Archaea are important players in marine biogeochemical cycles, and their membrane lipids are useful biomarkers in environmental and geobiological studies. However, many archaeal groups remain uncultured and their lipid composition unknown. Here, we aim to expand the knowledge on archaeal lipid biomarkers and determine the potential sources of those lipids in the water column of the euxinic Black Sea. The archaeal community was evaluated by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and by quantitative PCR. The archaeal intact polar lipids (IPLs) were investigated by ultra‐high‐pressure liquid chromatography coupled to high‐resolution mass spectrometry. Our study revealed both a complex archaeal community and large changes with water depth in the IPL assemblages. In the oxic/upper suboxic waters (<105 m), the archaeal community was dominated by marine group (MG) I Thaumarchaeota, coinciding with a higher relative abundance of hexose phosphohexose crenarchaeol, a known marker for Thaumarchaeota. In the suboxic waters (80–110 m), MGI Nitrosopumilus sp. dominated and produced predominantly monohexose glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraethers (GDGTs) and hydroxy‐GDGTs. Two clades of MGII Euryarchaeota were present in the oxic and upper suboxic zones in much lower abundances, preventing the detection of their specific IPLs. In the deep sulfidic waters (>110 m), archaea belonging to the DPANN Woesearchaeota, Bathyarchaeota, and ANME‐1b clades dominated. Correlation analyses suggest that the IPLs GDGT‐0, GDGT‐1, and GDGT‐2 with two phosphatidylglycerol (PG) head groups and archaeol with a PG, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylserine head groups were produced by ANME‐1b archaea. Bathyarchaeota represented 55% of the archaea in the deeper part of the euxinic zone and likely produces archaeol with phospho‐dihexose and hexose‐glucuronic acid head groups.
Clinical presentation at initiation of maintenance dialysis and subsequent survival: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: YU Margaret K. , WONG Susan P. Y. , LIU Chuan‐Fen , HEBERT Paul L. , O'HARE Ann M.
Published: October 2018

Introduction: Clinical practice guidelines increasingly favor a more symptom‐driven approach to maintenance dialysis initiation. But, little is known about the clinical presentation at dialysis initiation, such as the different kinds of signs and symptoms present at dialysis initiation, illness acuity at dialysis initiation, and how these aspects of the clinical presentation relate to subsequent survival.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of a random sample of veterans who initiated dialysis between 2000 and 2009 at Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers across the country (N = 1,691). We looked at associations between the clinical presentation (types of signs and/or symptoms and illness acuity) at the time of dialysis initiation and 1‐year mortality.

Findings: The most common types of signs and/or symptoms at initiation were gastrointestinal (50.9%) and cardiopulmonary (48.7%). The crude mortality rate was 174.2 deaths per 1000 patients per year (95% CI 154.7, 196.1). Among different categories of signs and/or symptoms, only cardiopulmonary signs and/or symptoms were associated with a higher 1‐year risk of mortality after initiation (risk ratio (RR) 1.32, 95% CI 1.05, 1.69) in adjusted analyses. Patients who were acutely ill at initiation were more likely to die during the following year as compared with those who initiated dialysis in the outpatient setting (RR 1.57, 95% CI 1.15, 2.21).

Discussion: With the exception of cardiopulmonary signs and/or symptoms, most signs and/or symptoms documented around the time of dialysis initiation were not associated with an increased risk of death during the year after initiation. In contrast, whether patients were acutely ill at the time of initiation was strongly associated with an increased risk of death after initiation regardless of the specific signs and/or symptoms present. Limitations of this study include retrospective study design, residual confounding, and lack of generalizability to non‐VA settings.
Factors associated with adherence to antimicrobial stewardship after-hours
Authors: Mostaghim Mona , Snelling Thomas , Bajorek Beata
Published: October 2018

Objectives

Assess restricted antimicrobials acquired after standard working hours for adherence to antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and identify factors associated with increased likelihood of adherence at the time of acquisition, and the next standard working day.

Methods

All documented antimicrobials acquired from a paediatric hospital after-hours drug room from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 were reconciled with records of AMS approval, and documented AMS review in the medical record.

Key findings

Of the 758 antimicrobial acquisitions from the after-hours drug room, 62.3% were restricted. Only 29% were AMS adherent at the time of acquisition, 15% took place despite documented request for approval by a pharmacist. Antimicrobials for respiratory patients (OR 3.10, 95% CI 1.68–5.5) and antifungals (2.48, 95% CI 1.43–4.30) were more likely to be AMS adherent. Half of the acquisitions that required review the next standard working day were adherent to AMS (51.8%, 129/249). Weekday acquisitions (2.10, 95% CI 1.20–3.69) and those for patients in paediatric intensive care (2.26, 95% CI 1.07–4.79) were associated with AMS adherence. Interactions with pharmacists prior to acquisition did not change the likelihood of AMS adherence the next standard working day. Access to restricted antimicrobial held as routine ward stock did not change the likelihood of AMS adherence at the time of acquisition, or the next standard working day.

Conclusion

Restricted antimicrobials acquired after-hours are not routinely AMS adherent at the time of acquisition or the next standard working day, limiting opportunities for AMS involvement.
‘It depends what you mean by leadership’: An analysis of stakeholder perspectives on consumer leadership
Authors: Stewart Stephanie , Scholz Brett , Gordon Sarah , Happell Brenda
Published: October 2018

Contemporary mental health policies call for increased involvement of consumers in leadership across mental health service design, delivery, and evaluation. However, consumer leadership is not currently well understood within academia or in mental health services themselves. This study investigates how consumer leadership is currently conceptualized by stakeholders at the service delivery level. To this end, semistructured interviews were conducted with 14 mental health organization members identifying as consumer leaders, colleagues supporting consumer leaders, or organization executives. Interview data were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis to develop a broad understanding of participants’ perceptions of consumer leadership. Findings indicate constructions of consumer leadership within mental health organizations can be understood in relation to four themes: consumer leadership roles, requirements, purpose, and process. Inconsistencies across participants’ perceptions of consumer leadership were identified as constituting barriers to its development, highlighting the need to better clarify the nature of consumer leadership.
Algorithms “don't see the World the same way we do”
Authors: Tarran Brian
Published: October 2018

Mathematician Hannah Fry explores the good, the bad and the ugly of the new machine age
Team Pachedu makes its Mark in Zimbabwe
Authors: Mwareya Ray
Published: October 2018

An anonymous group of fact-checkers seems set on holding the country's new government to account. By Ray Mwareya
An Empirical Study of Corporate Default Rules and Menus in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan
Authors: Lin Yu‐Hsin , Chang Yun‐chien
Published: October 2018

Competing theories of default rules and menus in contract law and corporate law provide different accounts of their effects. However, empirical studies are scant, and all focus on U.S. law. Given that corporate ownership outside of the United State is usually concentrated, and institutional settings are vastly different, one might wonder whether corporate law and economic theories on default rules and menus aptly explain corporate practices in other countries. To that end, this article analyzes a unique dataset of 498 randomly sampled and hand‐coded charters of public firms in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan. While the data do not enable us to make causal inferences, we make a descriptive contribution to the literature by examining whether corporate practices in the studied jurisdictions are consistent with the U.S. theories. The major findings are that firms often opted into menus and rarely opted out of default rules without menus, thereby supporting the minimization of transaction cost theory. However, Chinese firms may follow default rules for noneconomic reasons. Hansmann's delegation theory explains the short corporate charters observed in Taiwan, but not those in China and Hong Kong. Corporations in China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan do not appear to be systematically more pro‐minority or pro‐controller than their jurisdictions' corporate laws. This contradicts the principal‐agent theory.
Northern areas as refugia for temperate species under current climate warming: Atlantic salmon (Salmo salarL.) as a model in northern Europe
Authors: Horreo Jose L. , Griffiths Andrew M. , Machado‐Schiaffino Gonzalo , Stevens Jamie R. , Garcia‐Vazquez Eva
Published: October 2018

In this work, patterns of geographical genetic diversity in Atlantic salmonSalmo salarwere studied across the whole Atlantic Arc; whether these patterns (and thus genetic population structure) were affected by water temperatures was also evaluated.Salmo salarpopulations were characterized using microsatellite loci and then analysed with reference to ocean surface temperature data from across the region. Analysis showed the presence of a latitudinal cline of genetic variability (higher in northern areas) and water temperatures (sea surface temperatures) determining genetic population structure (the latter in combination with genetic drift in southern populations). Under the current global change scenario, northern areas of Europe would constitute refugia for diversity in the future. This is effectively the inverse of what appears to have happened in glacial refugia during the last glacial maximum. From this perspective, the still abundant and large northern populationsS. salarshould be considered as precious as the small almost relict southern ones and given appropriate protection. Careful management of the species, coordinated across countries and latitudes, is needed in order to avoid its extinction in Europe.
Effects of dietary amino acid supplementation on measures of whole‐body and muscle protein metabolism in aged horses
Authors: Latham Christine M. , Wagner Ashley L. , Urschel Kristine L.
Published: October 2018

The objective of this study was to examine markers of whole‐body and muscle protein metabolism in aged horses fed a diet typical for North American aged horses, supplemented with amino acids. In a replicated Latin square design, six aged horses (20 ± 1.1 years) were studied while receiving each of three isocaloric, isonitrogenous diets, a control treatment concentrate (CON; 100 mg/kg−1 BW day−1 lysine, 84 mg kg−1 day−1 threonine, 51 mg kg−1 day−1 methionine), LYS/THR (134 mg kg−1 BW day−1 lysine, 110 mg kg−1 BW day−1 threonine, 52 mg kg−1 BW day−1 methionine) and LYS/THR/MET (132 mg kg−1 BW day−1 lysine, 112 mg kg−1 BW day−1 threonine, 62 mg kg−1 BW day−1 methionine). In each 15‐days period, urine and faeces were collected for assessment of nitrogen balance. Blood samples were collected before and after feeding for analysis of plasma urea nitrogen (PUN), glucose, insulin and plasma amino acid concentrations. Skeletal muscle samples were collected for measurement of proteins associated with muscle protein synthesis and degradation, and horses underwent stable isotope infusion procedures for comparison of differences in whole‐body rates of protein synthesis and degradation. There was no effect of treatment on relative abundance of proteins involved in protein synthesis, nitrogen retention or phenylalanine kinetics. PUN concentrations tended to be higher for LYS/THR (p = 0.054) and were higher for LYS/THR/MET (p = 0.0056) than for CON. Atrogin‐1 abundance tended to be higher in the post‐absorptive state for the CON treatment (p = 0.07), indicating that amino acid supplementation resulted in less muscle protein degradation when horses were in the post‐absorptive state. However, lack of differences in nitrogen retention and phenylalanine kinetics indicated that whole‐body protein metabolism was not improved, and higher PUN concentrations in the supplemented diets suggest that the supplemented amino acids may have been catabolized. Amino acid availability was not limiting protein synthesis in the sedentary aged horses in this study when fed the CON diet.
Probiotics alter the immune response of gingival epithelial cells challenged by Porphyromonas gingivalis
Authors: Albuquerque‐Souza Emmanuel , Balzarini Danilo , Ando‐Suguimoto Ellen S. , Ishikawa Karin H. , Simionato Maria R. L. , Holzhausen Marinella , Mayer Marcia P. A.
Published: October 2018

Background and Objective

Although previous studies revealed the potential use of probiotics in the control of periodontitis, little is known about their interactions with gingival epithelial cells (GECs). Since GECs comprise the first defense in the subgingival microenvironment, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotic lactobacilli and bifidobacteria strains on OBA‐9 cells challenged with Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Methods

Immortalized human GECs (OBA‐9) were challenged with live P. gingivalis (strains W83 and ATCC33277) and co‐infected with one of 12 tested probiotic strains at a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 1:1000 for 2 hours. Bacterial adhesion and invasion were determined by antibiotic exclusion analysis and CFU counting. OBA‐9 viability was assessed by MTT assay, and levels of inflammatory mediators (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and CXCL8) in the supernatants were determined by ELISA. The expression of genes encoding Toll‐like receptors (TLR2, TLR4) was evaluated by RT‐qPCR.

Results

Both strains of P. gingivalis were able to adhere and invade OBA‐9 cells, with significant loss in cell viability, increase in the levels of TNF‐α and IL‐1β, and upregulation of TLR4. However, co‐infection with probiotics attenuated these effects in P. gingivalis challenged GECs. Most probiotics maintained OBA‐9 viability and reduced pathogens adhesion and invasion. Furthermore, probiotics were able to adhere to GECs, which was enhanced for most strains in the presence of P. gingivalis. The synthesis of IL‐1β and TNF‐α by P. gingivalis in challenged GECs was reduced in co‐culture with most of the tested probiotics, whereas the secretion of CXCL8 increased, and TLR4 was downregulated.

Conclusion

Probiotics can alter the interaction of GECs with P. gingivalis by modulating the pathogen's ability to adhere and invade these cells, as well as by regulating the innate immune response. Such properties are strain‐specific and may indicate the most efficient probiotics to control periodontitis.
Effect of client complaints on small animal veterinary internists
Authors: Bryce A. R. , Rossi T. A. , Tansey C. , Murphy R. A. , Murphy L. A. , Nakamura R. K.
Published: October 2018

Objectives

To investigate the effect of client complaints on small animal veterinary internists’ welfare, job satisfaction and medical practices.

Materials and Methods

Cross‐sectional anonymous survey study. Between February 1 and March 31, 2017, a web‐based questionnaire was made available through the American College Veterinary Internal Medicine sub‐specialty Small Animal Internal Medicine E‐mail List Serve.

Results

A total of 92 completed surveys were available for review. Fifty‐nine (64∙1%) respondents received a client complaint during the previous 6 months with cost of care the most common reason (53∙3%). Eighty‐nine (96∙7%) respondents worry about client complaints being made against them with 33 (35∙8%) stating they worry “most of the time” or “all of the time.” Thirty‐two (34∙8%) reported being verbally assaulted by a client in the previous 6 months and 27 (29∙4%) reported being threatened with litigation during the previous 6 months. Sixty‐six (71∙7%) have reported changing the way they practice medicine to avoid a client complaint and 40 (43∙5%) have considered changing their career because of complaints made against them.

Clinical Relevance

Client complaints are a frequent problem among small animal veterinary internists that have detrimental effects on job satisfaction, psychological distress and medical practices.
Nominals and number neutrality in languages
Authors: Görgülü Emrah
Published: October 2018

This overview article is concerned with number neutrality of Noun Phrases (NPs henceforth) across languages. Number is one of the fundamental grammatical categories, being found in both the nominal and the verbal domains. Although the specification of number among languages varies significantly, number is rather understudied when compared to other grammatical categories. Number neutrality is not so different, and it has only gained more attention in recent studies despite being an important phenomenon. Work on this particular topic has demonstrated that number‐neutral NPs can be morphologically singular or plural and are found in various constructions across typologically different languages. Number‐neutral NPs do not express semantic number and do not co‐occur with any number‐expressing elements such as numerals or quantifiers. Number neutrality with singular bare NPs surfaces in various constructions such as compounding, (pseudo) incorporation, and kind‐reference/genericity, while the distribution of bare plural NPs is not so constrained. Number‐neutral NPs in these structures were shown to differ significantly from their number‐specific counterparts in terms of their semantic and discourse characteristics such as referentiality, discourse anaphora, relativization, and scope. In this article, I provide a descriptive overview of these issues by bringing together empirical facts drawn from various constructions. The discussion also includes some important theoretical approaches to number neutrality.