bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Preoperative Planning of Transapical Beating Heart Mitral Valve Repair for Safe Adaptation in Clinical Practice
Authors: Heuts Samuel , Daemen Jean H. T. , Streukens Sebastian A.F. , Olsthoorn Jules R. , Vainer Jindrich , Cheriex Emile C. , Maessen Jos G. , Nia Peyman Sardari
Published: June 2018

Objective

Transapical off-pump minimally invasive mitral valve repair (TOP-MINI) is a new technique for the surgical repair of degenerative mitral regurgitation based on mitral valve prolapse. The aim of this study is to demonstrate the preoperative planning tools available for starting this new procedure in a safe manner.

Methods

The first patients undergoing TOP-MINI by a single surgeon in 2016 were prospectively included. All patients underwent identical clinical pathways and underwent extensive preoperative planning for a safe start of the program. Patients were discussed in our dedicated mitral valve heart-team consisting of diagnostic and interventional mitral valve specialists. All patients underwent computed tomography, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, and mitral valve replication using rapid prototyping. All procedures were performed by the same surgical team.

Results

Thirty-six patients were discussed for isolated mitral valve repair in our dedicated mitral valve heart team of which seven patients were deemed eligible for this novel approach. Three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of computed tomography images allowed the surgical team to determine skin incision level and ideal level of device insertion near the apex of the heart. Echocardiography and rapid prototyping allowed us to assess surgical success probability by determining the amount of tissue overlap and was used intraoperatively for guidance. All patients were operated on successfully, without any major adverse events.

Conclusions

We demonstrate a method to safely start the TOP-MINI program with precise patient selection and preoperative planning, allowing us to determine procedural strategy and assessment of surgical success probability.
Outcomes of a Rapid Deployment Aortic Valve versus its Conventional Counterpart
Authors: Wahlers Thorsten C. W. , Andreas Martin , Rahmanian Parwis , Candolfi Pascal , Zemanova Barbora , Giot Christophe , Ferrari Enrico , Laufer Günther
Published: June 2018

Objective

The aim of this study was to compare outcomes after rapid-deployment aortic valve replacement (RDAVR) and conventional aortic valve replacement (AVR) from two studies.

Methods

Patients who underwent RDAVR (INTUITY valve) in the prospective, 5-year, single-arm multicenter TRITON study, or conventional AVR (Perimount Magna Ease valve) in the prospective Perimount Magna Ease postmarket study, were propensity score matched and compared for procedural, hemodynamic, safety, and clinical outcomes.

Results

Matched RDAVR (n = 106) and conventional AVR (n = 106) patients had similar baseline characteristics (mean ± SD age, 72.8 ± 7.6 vs 72.5 ± 7.4 years; male 59.4% vs 61.3%) and procedures (concomitant procedures: 41.5% vs 50.9%). Mean ± SD aortic cross-clamp time was significantly shorter in RDAVR than AVR patients (51.8 ± 20.9 vs 73.9 ± 33.2 minutes; P < 0.001), as was mean cardiopulmonary bypass time (82.8 ± 34.2 vs 102.4 ± 41.7 minutes; P < 0.001). At 1 year, RDAVR patients showed significantly lower mean ± SD and peak aortic valve gradients (9.0 ± 3.4 and 17.0 ± 6.2 mm Hg, respectively) than conventional AVR patients (13.4 ± 5.5 and 24.2 ± 10.8 mm Hg, respectively; all P < 0.001). Patient-prosthesis mismatch was significantly less common with RDAVR than with AVR [overall: 16/66 (24.2%) vs 46/76 (60.5%); P = 0.007; severe: 2/66 (3.0%) vs 13/76 (17.1%)]. There were no significant differences between the RDAVR and AVR groups regarding 30-day safety endpoints. Survival rates in the RDAVR and conventional AVR groups were, respectively, 99.1% and 100.0% at 30 days, 97.1% and 95.1% at 1 year, and 93.3% and 94.1% at 3 years ( P = nonsignificant).

Conclusions

In this retrospective study with matched populations, the RDAVR with the INTUITY valve system provided superior procedural and hemodynamic outcomes than a standard bioprosthesis without compromising safety.
Decreases in Suicide Cognitions After Cognitive Processing Therapy Among Veterans With Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Due to Military Sexual Trauma
Authors: Holliday Ryan , Holder Nicholas , Monteith Lindsey L. , Surís Alina
Published: June 2018

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with suicidal ideation (SI) and suicidal self-directed violence (SDV). Military sexual trauma (MST) is a common precursor to PTSD among veterans. Survivors of MST are more likely to be diagnosed with PTSD and are at greater risk for SI than survivors of other forms of trauma. Suicide-specific beliefs (e.g., unlovability, unbearability, unsolvability) have been shown to be strong predictors of SI and future suicidal SDV. Suicide-specific beliefs were examined over the course of treatment and follow-up in 32 veterans (23 women, 9 men) who received cognitive processing therapy (CPT) for MST-related PTSD. Hierarchical linear models revealed that veterans who received CPT had significant reductions in suicide-specific cognitions regarding unbearability, unlovability, and unsolvability. These preliminary findings warrant replication in a randomized controlled trial with a larger sample that includes participants with more acute suicidal intent.
The Impact of Massage and Reading on Children’s Pain and Anxiety After Cardiovascular Surgery: A Pilot Study*
Authors: Staveski Sandra L. , Boulanger Karen , Erman Lee , Lin Li , Almgren Christina , Journel Chloe , Roth Stephen J. , Golianu Brenda
Published: June 2018

Objectives:

The purpose of this pilot study was three-fold: 1) to evaluate the safety and feasibility of instituting massage therapy in the immediate postoperative period after congenital heart surgery, 2) to examine the preliminary results on effects of massage therapy versus standard of care plus three reading visits on postoperative pain and anxiety, and 3) to evaluate preliminary effects of opioid and benzodiazepine exposure in patients receiving massage therapy compared with reading controls.

Design:

Prospective, randomized controlled trial.

Setting:

An academic children’s hospital.

Subjects:

Sixty pediatric heart surgery patients between ages 6 and 18 years.

Interventions:

Massage therapy and reading.

Measurement and Main Results:

There were no adverse events related to massage or reading interventions in either group. Our investigation found no statistically significant difference in Pain or State-Trait Anxiety scores in the initial 24 hours after heart surgery (T1) and within 48 hours of transfer to the acute care unit (T2) after controlling for age, gender, and Risk Adjustment for Congenital Heart Surgery 1 score. However, children receiving massage therapy had significantly lower State-Trait Anxiety scores after receiving massage therapy at time of discharge (T3; p = 0.0075) than children receiving standard of care plus three reading visits. We found no difference in total opioid exposure during the first 3 postoperative days between groups (median [interquartile range], 0.80 mg/kg morphine equivalents [0.29–10.60] vs 1.13 mg/kg morphine equivalents [0.72–6.14]). In contrast, children receiving massage therapy had significantly lower total benzodiazepine exposure in the immediate 3 days following heart surgery (median [interquartile range], 0.002 mg/kg lorazepam equivalents [0–0.03] vs 0.03 mg/kg lorazepam equivalents [0.02–0.09], p = 0.0253, Wilcoxon rank-sum) and number of benzodiazepine PRN doses (0.5 [0–2.5] PRN vs 2 PRNs (1–4); p = 0.00346, Wilcoxon rank-sum).

Conclusions:

Our pilot study demonstrated the safety and feasibility of implementing massage therapy in the immediate postoperative period in pediatric heart surgery patients. We found decreased State-Trait Anxiety scores at discharge and lower total exposure to benzodiazepines. Preventing postoperative complications such as delirium through nonpharmacologic interventions warrants further evaluation.
Neighborhood size-effects in nonlinear public goods games
Authors: Kimmel Gregory J. , Gerlee Philip , Brown Joel S. , Altrock Philipp M.
Published: June 2018

Ecological and evolutionary dynamics can be strongly affected by population assortment and frequency-dependent selection. In growing populations, a particular challenge is to disentangle global ecological effects from local frequency-dependent effects. Here we implement a logistic growth and death model on the global scale, coupled to frequency-dependent growth rates influenced by a public goods game between cooperators and defectors. For each individual, the public good is only effective within a neighborhood of other individuals, and the public good-growth rate relationship can be nonlinear. At low numbers of cooperators, increases of public good accumulate synergistically; at high numbers, increases in public good only provide diminishing returns-the inflection point of this pattern is given by the strength of frequency-dependent selection in relation to the background fitness effect. We observed complex critical behavior in the evolutionary dynamics’ equilibria, determined by the relative magnitude of frequency-dependent to constant (background) growth benefits. We predict neighborhood-size-driven state changes, hysteresis between polymorphic and monomorphic equilibria, and observed that type-dependent differences in neighborhood sizes can destabilize monomorphic cooperative states but increase coexistence of cooperators and defectors. Stochastic neighborhood size fluctuations also led to coexistence and could stabilize the purely cooperative equilibrium. Our results quantify the role of assortment through neighborhood-size effects and nonlinearity of the gains function in eco-evolutionary dynamics, which is relevant for a variety of microbial and cellular public goods games.
Dissecting the neural focus of attention reveals distinct processes for spatial attention and object-based storage in visual working memory
Authors: Hakim Nicole , Adam Kirsten C. S. , Gunseli Eren , Awh Edward , Vogel Edward K.
Published: June 2018

Complex cognition relies on both online representations in working memory (WM) said to reside in thefocus of attention, and passive offline representations of related information. Here, we dissect the focus of attention by showing that distinct neural signals index the online storage of objects and sustained spatial attention. We recorded EEG activity during two tasks that employed identical stimulus displays while the relative demands for object storage and spatial attention varied. We found distinct delay-period signatures for an attention task (which only required spatial attention) and WM task (which invoked both spatial attention and object storage). Although both tasks required active maintenance of spatial information, only the WM task elicited robust contralateral delay activity that was sensitive to mnemonic load. Thus, we argue that the focus of attention is maintained via a collaboration between distinct processes for covert spatial orienting and object-based storage.
Evolution and developmental diversity of skin spines in pufferfish
Authors: Shono Takanori , Thiery Alexandre P. , Kurokawa Daisuke , Britz Ralf , Fraser Gareth J.
Published: June 2018

Teleost fishes develop a huge variety of skin ornaments. How these diverse skin structures develop in fishes is unknown. The teleost fish order Tetraodontiformes includes some of the most unusual fishes such as the ocean sunfish, triggerfish and pufferfish, and they all can develop a vast assortment of scale derivatives that cover their bodies. Pufferfish have some of the most extreme scale derivatives, dermal spines, which are erected during their characteristic puffing behavior. Here we show that pufferfish spines develop through conserved gene interactions essential for other vertebrate skin appendage formation, like hair and feathers. However, pufferfish spines form without EDA (ectodysplasin), an essential molecule for the development of most vertebrate skin appendages. Modifying signaling pathways lead to loss or reduction of spine coverage in pufferfish, suggesting a mechanism for skin appendage diversification. We suggest that pufferfish skin spines evolved from a basic teleost scale-type through derived gene network modification in Tetraodontiformes.
Tool use by four species of Indo-Pacific sea urchins
Authors: Barrett Glyn , Revell Dominic , Harding Lucy , Mills Ian , Jorcin Axelle , Stiefel Klaus M.
Published: June 2018

We compared the covering behavior of four sea urchin species, Tripneustes gratilla, Pseudoboletia maculata, Toxopneutes pileolus, and Salmacis sphaeroides found in the waters of Malapascua Island, Cebu Province and Bolinao, Panagsinan Province, Philippines. Specifically, we measured the amount and type of covering material on each urchin, and, in several cases, the recovery of debris cover after stripping the animal of its cover.

We found that Tripneustes gratilla and Salmacis sphaeroides have a higher preference for plant material, especially sea-grass, compared to Pseudoboletia maculata and Toxopneutes pileolus, which prefer to cover themselves with coral rubble and other calcified material. Only for Toxopneutes pileolus did we find a decrease in cover with depth, confirming previous work that the covering behavior serves UV protection. We found no dependence of particle size on either species or urchin size, but we observed that larger urchins carried more and heavier debris. We observed a transport mechanism of debris onto the echinoid body surface utilizing a combination of tube feet and spines. The transport speed of individual debris items varied between species.

We compare our results to previous studies of urchin covering behavior, comment on the phylogeny of urchin covering behavior and discuss the interpretation of this behavior as animal tool use.
Coffee polyphenols prevent cognitive dysfunction and suppress amyloid β plaques in APP/PS2 transgenic mouse
Authors: Ishida Keiko , Yamamoto Masaki , Misawa Koichi , Ota Noriyasu , Shimotoyodome Akira
Published: June 2018

Epidemiological studies have found that habitual coffee consumption may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Coffee contains numerous phenolic compounds (coffee polyphenols) such as chlorogenic acids. However, evidence demonstrating the contribution of chlorogenic acids in preventing cognitive dysfunction induced by Alzheimer’s disease is limited. In this study, we investigated the effect of chlorogenic acids on prevention of cognitive dysfunction in APP/PS2 transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease. Five-week-old APP/PS2 mice were administered a diet supplemented with coffee polyphenols daily for 5 months. The memory and cognitive function of mice was determined using the novel object recognition test, the Morris water maze test, and the step-through passive avoidance test. We found that chronic treatment with coffee polyphenols prevented cognitive dysfunction and significantly reduced hippocampal Aβ deposition. We then determined the effect of 5-caffeoylquinic acid, one of the primary components of coffee polyphenols, on Aβ formation. 5-Caffeoylquinic acid did not inhibit Aβ fibrillation, but degraded Aβ fibrils in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that coffee polyphenols prevented cognitive deficits and alleviated Aβ plaque deposition via disaggregation of Aβ in APP/PS2 mouse.
Age-related late-onset disease heritability patterns and implications for genome-wide association studies
Authors: Oliynyk Roman Teo
Published: June 2018

Background

Genome-wide association studies and other computational biology techniques are gradually discovering the causal gene variants that contribute to late-onset human diseases. After more than a decade of genome-wide association study efforts, these can account for only a fraction of the heritability implied by familial studies, the so-called “missing heritability” problem.

Methods

Computer simulations of polygenic late-onset diseases in an aging population have quantified the risk allele frequency decrease at older ages caused by individuals with higher polygenic risk scores becoming ill proportionately earlier. This effect is most prominent for diseases characterized by high cumulative incidence and high heritability, examples of which include Alzheimer’s disease, coronary artery disease, cerebral stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Results

The incidence rate for late-onset diseases grows exponentially for decades after early onset ages, guaranteeing that the cohorts used for genome-wide association studies overrepresent older individuals with lower polygenic risk scores, whose disease cases are disproportionately due to environmental causes such as old age itself. This mechanism explains the decline in clinical predictive power with age and the lower discovery power of familial studies of heritability and genome-wide association studies. It also explains the relatively constant-with-age heritability found for late-onset diseases of lower prevalence, exemplified by cancers.

Conclusions

For late-onset polygenic diseases showing high cumulative incidence together with high initial heritability, rather than using relatively old age-matched cohorts, study cohorts combining the youngest possible cases with the oldest possible controls may significantly improve the discovery power of genome-wide association studies.
Spared perception of object geometry and object components after hippocampal damage
Authors: Urgolites Zhisen J. , Levy Daniel A. , Hopkins Ramona O. , Squire Larry R.
Published: June 2018

We tested the proposal that medial temporal lobe (MTL) structures support not just memory but also high-level object perception. In one task, participants decided whether a line drawing could represent an object in three-dimensional space and, in another task, they saw the components of an object and decided what object could be formed if the components were assembled. Patients with hippocampal lesions were intact, indicating that the hippocampus is not needed for perceiving the structural coherence of objects or appreciating the relations among object parts. Patients with large MTL lesions were moderately impaired, likely due to damage outside the MTL.
Distributed X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy data reduction using Hadoop MapReduce
Authors: Khan Faisal , Narayanan Suresh , Sersted Roger , Schwarz Nicholas , Sandy Alec
Published: June 2018

Multi-speckle X-ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) is a powerful technique for characterizing the dynamic nature of complex materials over a range of time scales. XPCS has been successfully applied to study a wide range of systems. Recent developments in higher-frame-rate detectors, while aiding in the study of faster dynamical processes, creates large amounts of data that require parallel computational techniques to process in near real-time. Here, an implementation of the multi-tau and two-time autocorrelation algorithms using the Hadoop MapReduce framework for distributed computing is presented. The system scales well with regard to the increase in the data size, and has been serving the users of beamline 8-ID-I at the Advanced Photon Source for near real-time autocorrelations for the past five years.
Characterization of the X-ray coherence properties of an undulator beamline at the Advanced Photon Source
Authors: Ju Guangxu , Highland Matthew J. , Thompson Carol , Eastman Jeffrey A. , Fuoss Paul H. , Zhou Hua , Dejus Roger , Stephenson G. Brian
Published: June 2018

In anticipation of the increased use of coherent X-ray methods and the need to upgrade beamlines to match improved source quality, here the coherence properties of the X-rays delivered by beamline 12ID-D at the Advanced Photon Source have been characterized. The measured X-ray divergence, beam size, brightness and coherent flux at energies up to 26 keV are compared with the calculated values from the undulator source, and the effects of beamline optics such as a mirror, monochromator and compound refractive lenses are evaluated. Diffraction patterns from slits as a function of slit width are analyzed using wave propagation theory to obtain the beam divergence and thus coherence length. Imaging of the source using a compound refractive lens was found to be the most accurate method for determining the vertical divergence. While the brightness and coherent flux obtained without a monochromator (`pink beam') agree well with those calculated for the source, those measured with the monochromator were a factor of three to six lower than the source, primarily because of vertical divergence introduced by the monochromator. The methods described herein should be widely applicable for measuring the X-ray coherence properties of synchrotron beamlines.
Bangladesh HR professionals’ competencies
Authors: Prikshat Verma , Biswas Kumar , Nankervis Alan , Hoque Md. Rakibul
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the HR roles of Bangladesh HR professionals in the public and private firms in Bangladesh using Human Resource Competency Study (HRCS) model (2016). The impact of identified HR competencies on firm performance and moderation of this relationship concerning different stages of organisation life cycle (OLC) is also explored.

Design/methodology/approach

This quantitative study uses the HRCS model (RBL, 2015) as its underpinning analytical framework, and explores the impact of identified HR competencies on firm performance and analyses whether this relationship is moderated by different OLC stages. The sample for this study consisted of 202 HR professionals from both public and private organisations in Bangladesh.

Findings

Results confirmed that all the nine competencies of HRCS model were demonstrated by the HR professionals in Bangladesh. The “credible activist” competency achieved the top ranking and “paradox navigator competency” recorded the lowest. Minor variation in terms of levels of competencies was observed in the context of private and public firms. HR competencies positively impacted the firm performance and only the maturity and growth stages of a firm’s life cycle moderated this relationship.

Originality/value

There is a deficit of studies which have tested this relationship in terms of the moderating effects of OLC stages in the Asian developing country context. Focusing on this paucity of research concerning the transference of western human resource management models in developing economies and their resultant impact on firm performance, this is the first study set out to explore whether the most cited western HRCS model (RBL, 2015) is useful in understanding HR competencies in Bangladesh.
Local development through rural entrepreneurship, from the Triple Helix perspective
Authors: Sá Elisabete , Casais Beatriz , Silva Joaquim
Published: June 2018

Purpose

By using the Triple Helix model, the purpose of this paper is to uncover the perceptions of nascent entrepreneurs about a university–industry–government collaboration program, in particular about the role of each agent to foster rural entrepreneurship; the value and effect of this collaboration; and their own contributions to local development.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative case study method is adopted, involving semi-structured interviews with entrepreneurs and secondary data. The text is analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Findings

The interaction of the Triple Helix partners is perceived as valuable both at the personal and the business levels. One of the most salient results is the value ascribed to the knowledge-rich environment created. Entrepreneurs are aware of their contribution to local development, identifying economic, social and cultural effects.

Practical implications

The research strengthens the importance of the joint efforts of the Triple Helix partners by uncovering a number of outputs from their collaboration, which affect both the entrepreneurs and local development through entrepreneurship.

Originality/value

Previous studies assume that the Triple Helix fosters technological innovation that favors regional development, mainly by adopting a macro-level perspective. This study makes a contribution by furthering the knowledge on the micro-level dynamics of the Triple Helix, through the view of low tech, rural entrepreneurs, considering their context.
Rights of access to healthcare for undocumented migrants: understanding the Italian and British national health systems
Authors: da Costa Leite Borges Danielle , Guidi Caterina Francesca
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the levels of access to healthcare available to undocumented migrants in the Italian and British health systems through a comparative analysis of health policies for this population in these two national health systems.

Design/methodology/approach

It builds on textual and legal analysis to explore the different meanings that the principle of universal access to healthcare might have according to literature and legal documents in the field, especially those from the human rights domain. Then, the concept of universal access, in theory, is contrasted with actual health policies in each of the selected countries to establish its meaning in practice and according to the social context. The analysis relies on policy papers, data on health expenditure, legal statutes and administrative regulations and is informed by one research question: What background conditions better explain more universal and comprehensive health systems for undocumented migrants?

Findings

By answering this research question the paper concludes that the Italian health system is more comprehensive than the British health system insofar it guarantees access free of charge to different levels of care, including primary, emergency, preventive and maternity care, while the rule in the British health system is the recovering of charges for the provision of services, with few exceptions. One possible legal explanation for the differences in access between Italy and UK is the fact that the right to health is not recognised as a fundamental constitutional right in the latter as it is in the former.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to ongoing debates on Universal Health Coverage and migration, and dialogues with recent discussions on social justice and welfare state typologies.
Overeducation and the gender pay gap in Italy
Authors: Castagnetti Carolina , Rosti Luisa , Töpfer Marina
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the pivotal role of overeducation in explaining the unexplained part of the gender pay gap (GPG), i.e. the component usually attributed to gender discrimination in the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a large Italian data set (ISFOL PLUS 2005–2014) to estimate the GPG among properly educated and overeducated workers. The model simultaneously accounts for both participation bias and endogeneity bias by applying an extension of the Heckman’s two-stage procedure.

Findings

Estimates show that the GPG is significantly higher among overeducated than among properly educated workers because women’s unobservable characteristics driving female employment into overeducation also drag down female wages more than men’s unobservable characteristics drag down male wages. Correcting for the participation and overeducation decisions, the unexplained portion of the GPG disappears among overeducated workers, while it remains significant among properly educated individuals.

Originality/value

The authors draw the conclusion that overeducation is, first, a first-best matching for individuals (both men and women) compensating with more education for their lower productive characteristics. Second, it may be a signaling device for women spending their useless-for-the-job diploma to inform employers on their valuable though unobservable productive characteristics and fight gender wage discrimination. The results favor education as a tool of counteracting gender discrimination. Hence, as females are less overeducated than males despite their larger representation in higher education, there should not be concern that expanding higher education will disadvantage females.
Understanding preferences of German flower consumers: the desire for sustained beauty
Authors: Rombach Meike , Widmar Nicole , Byrd Elizabeth , Bitsch Vera
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insights for flower retailers, horticultural practitioners and marketing managers into the prioritisation of cut flower attributes by German residents.

Design/methodology/approach

Applying a best–worst scaling approach, this analysis identified the relative ranking of importance amongst product attributes relevant to German consumers when buying fresh cut flowers. A latent class analysis determined four flower consumer segments for further study. The study builds on a sample of 978 consumers and is consistent with the most recent German census in terms of age, gender, income and federal state.

Findings

The best-worst analysis showed that intrinsic flower attributes, in particular appearance, freshness and scent were found to be more important to German consumers than the extrinsic attributes studied, namely, price, country of origin and a certification indicating fair trade. The latent class analysis determined four consumer segments that desire either budget, luxury or ethical flowers or more information about flowers. For all identified consumer segments, appearance was the attribute of greatest importance. The segments that desired luxury or ethical flowers, as well as the segment that desires more information were interested in appearance, but also had relatively large shares of preferences dedicated to flower freshness guarantees. The preference for freshness guarantees in addition to appearance may be interpreted jointly as a desire for not only beautiful and aesthetically pleasing flowers, but for sustained beauty.

Originality/value

Internationally, the study fills a research gap by exploring consumer’s relative preference for cut flower attributes. In contrast to existing studies on consumer preferences for flowers in Germany, the present study builds on a sample that was targeted in terms of age, gender, net household income and federal state to the most recent German census.
Charisma as an attribute of transformational leaders: what about credibility?
Authors: Williams Jr Ralph , Raffo Deana M. , Clark Leigh Anne
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual model describing potential relationships among transformational leadership, charisma, credibility and organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is conceptual, based on a review of current transformational leadership, charisma and credibility literature.

Findings

The authors present a model where credibility is an antecedent of transformational leadership; transformational leadership has a positive effect on organizational performance; and charisma positively moderates the relationship between transformational leadership and organizational performance.

Research limitations/implications

A model to integrate credibility into transformational leadership research is proposed.

Practical implications

This paper considers credibility as an important attribute of transformational leadership, and thus credibility may have significant implications for practitioners in leadership development strategies.

Originality/value

Currently, there is a lack of research on the role of credibility in leadership. The authors discuss the importance of measuring leader credibility and generating a credibility scale.
Mortality in bullous pemphigoid: A systematic review and meta‐analysis of standardized mortality ratios
Authors: Kridin Khalaf , Schwartz Naama , Cohen Arnon D. , Zelber‐Sagi Shira
Published: June 2018

There are inconsistent data on mortality rates in patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP). Trends in mortality in BP throughout the years are yet to be established. The aim of the present study was to study the mortality in BP patients relative to the general population and to estimate trends in standardized mortality over the past 30 years. We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis of observational studies in Medline, Embase and Scopus (1823–2017). Reference lists of included studies were also searched for eligible studies. Quality of evidence was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS). A meta‐analysis was performed using random‐effects models to estimate pooled standardized mortality ratios (SMR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Meta‐regression models were used to investigate the secular trends in SMR. Ten studies were included covering the period 1960–2015 (1736 patients, 746 deaths). Pooled all‐cause SMR was 3.6 (95% CI, 2.6–5.0). There was no trend in all‐cause SMR across the last three decades (regression coefficient 0.02 [change in logSMR/year]; 95% CI, 0.04–0.08; P = 0.545). In conclusion, there is a 3.6‐fold increased mortality among patients with BP as compared with the age‐matched general population. The excess mortality in BP has not changed significantly over the past 30 years.
Co‐expression of LAG3 and TIM3 identifies a potent Treg population that suppresses macrophage functions in colorectal cancer patients
Authors: Ma Qiang , Liu Junning , Wu Guoliang , Teng Mujian , Wang Shaoxuan , Cui Meng , Li Yuantao
Published: June 2018

Regulatory T (Treg) cells are critical suppressors of inflammation and are thought to exert mainly deleterious effects in cancers. In colorectal cancer (CRC), Foxp3+ Treg accumulation in tumors was associated with poor prognosis. Hence, we examined the circulating Treg cells in CRC patients. Compared to controls, CRC patients presented mild upregulations in CD4+CD25+/hi T cells and in the more canonical CD4+CD25+/hiFoxp3+ Treg cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Both of these Treg populations could be roughly divided into lymphocyte activation gene 3 negative T cell immunoglobulin and mucin‐domain containing‐3 negative (LAG3−TIM3−) and LAG3+TIM3+ subsets. In CRC patients, the LAG3+TIM3+ subset represented approximately half of CD4+CD25+/hi T cells and greater than 60% of CD4+CD25+/hiFoxp3+ Treg cells, which was significantly more frequent than in healthy controls. Compared to the LAG3−TIM3− CD4+CD25+/hi T cells, the LAG3+TIM3+ CD4+CD25+/hi T cells presented considerably higher transforming growth factor‐β and slightly higher interleukin (IL)‐10 secretion, together with higher cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte associated protein 4 and Foxp3 expression levels. Notably, macrophages following incubation with LAG3−TIM3− CD4+CD25+/hi T cells and LAG3+TIM3+ CD4+CD25+/hi T cells displayed different characteristics. Macrophages incubated with LAG3+TIM3+ CD4+CD25+/hi T cells presented lower expression of major histocompatibility complex class II, CD80, CD86, and tumor necrosis factor‐α but higher expression of IL‐10, than macrophages incubated with LAG3−TIM3− CD4+CD25+/hi T cells. Together, our investigations demonstrated that CRC patients presented an enrichment of circulating Treg cells, in which the LAG3+TIM3+ subset exhibited more potent expression of inhibitory molecules, and furthermore, the LAG3+TIM3+ Treg cells could suppress the proinflammatory activation of macrophages more potently than the LAG3−TIM3− Treg cells.
Phenolic Substances in Beer: Structural Diversity, Reactive Potential and Relevance for Brewing Process and Beer Quality
Authors: Wannenmacher Julia , Gastl Martina , Becker Thomas
Published: June 2018

For the past 100 years, polyphenol research has played a central role in brewing science. The class of phenolic substances comprises simple compounds built of 1 phenolic group as well as monomeric and oligomeric flavonoid compounds. As potential anti‐ or prooxidants, flavor precursors, flavoring agents and as interaction partners with other beer constituents, they influence important beer quality characteristics: flavor, color, colloidal, and flavor stability. The reactive potential of polyphenols is defined by their basic chemical structure, hydroxylation and substitution patterns and degree of polymerization. The quantitative and qualitative profile of phenolic substances in beer is determined by raw material choice. During the malting and brewing process, phenolic compounds undergo changes as they are extracted or enzymatically released, are subjected to heat‐induced chemical reactions or are precipitated with or adsorbed to hot and cold trub, yeast cells and stabilization agents. This review presents the current state of knowledge of the composition of phenolic compounds in beer and brewing raw materials with a special focus on their fate from raw materials throughout the malting and brewing process to the final beer. Due to high‐performance analytical techniques, new insights have been gained on the structure and function of phenolic substance groups, which have hitherto received little attention. This paper presents important information and current studies on the potential of phenolics to interact with other beer constituents and thus influence quality parameters. The structural features which determine the reactive potential of phenolic substances are discussed.
Serving Duplicates in a Single Session Can Selectively Improve Sensitivity of Duplicated Intensity Ranking Tests
Authors: Carabante Kennet Mariano , Prinyawiwatkul Witoon
Published: June 2018

Duplicating ranking tests can improve the power of preference and sensory intensity tests, and reduce the number of panelists required. With multiple‐samples rankings, duplications could be served using different protocols: in two serving sessions (two sample sets, that is, 2SS) to allow a break period or jointly in one serving session (one sample set, that is, 1SS). Evaluating the duplicates in a single session improves statistical data analysis but increases concerns of sensory fatigue, adaptation, memory, and possible irritation. The extent to which each serving protocol for duplicated ranking affects detection of differences has not been reported. This study used panelists (n = 75) who performed both ranking test protocols on two sets of orange juice samples (k = 3). One set was designed to obtain higher similarity than the other set to investigate the effects of degree of difference. Sweetness and yellow color intensity rankings were performed separately for each set to compare the protocols between attributes. The magnitude of the differences was evaluated using Mack–Skillings (M–S) statistics, and the total and individual rank sum differences at varied n (10 to 75) values. With similar set samples, the 2SS serving protocol improved differentiation for yellow color intensity. Although in sweetness, using the 1SS serving protocol showed higher M–S statistics and higher sum of total rank sum differences. Paired comparisons followed the same pattern. With very different samples, both protocols had comparable performance. This study showed that serving duplicates in the 1SS can improve duplicated ranking's power, depending on the task difficulty and attribute, and should be considered before splitting replications into two sessions.

Practical Application

This study evaluated two alternative and not previously studied protocols for conducting a duplicated ranking test. One protocol required that each panelist received duplicates in the same single serving session (1SS), against the alternative of serving duplicates separately in two sessions to allow a break period (2SS). Two attributes: yellow color intensity and sweetness intensity of orange juice samples were studied. This study showed that serving duplicates in the same single session can improve duplicated ranking's power, depending on the task difficulty and attribute, and should be considered before splitting replications into two sessions.
A Combination of Impulsivity Subdomains Predict Alcohol Intoxication Frequency
Authors: O'Halloran Laura , Pennie Brian , Jollans Lee , Kiiski Hanni , Vahey Nigel , Rai Laura , Bradley Louisa , Lalor Robert , Whelan Robert
Published: June 2018

Background

Impulsivity, broadly characterized as the tendency to act prematurely without foresight, is linked to alcohol misuse in college students. However, impulsivity is a multidimensional construct and different subdomains likely underlie different patterns of alcohol misuse. Here, we quantified the association between alcohol intoxication frequency and alcohol consumption frequency and choice, action, cognitive, and trait domains of impulsivity.

Methods

University student drinkers (n = 106) completed a battery of demographic and alcohol‐related items, as well as self‐report and task‐based measures indexing different facets of impulsivity. Two orthogonal latent factors, intoxication frequency and alcohol consumption frequency, were generated. Their validity was demonstrated with respect to adverse consequences of alcohol use. Machine learning with penalized regression and feature selection was then utilized to predict intoxication and alcohol consumption frequency using all impulsivity subdomains. Out‐of‐sample validation was used to quantify model performance.

Results

Impulsivity measures alone were significant predictors of intoxication frequency, but not consumption frequency. Propensity for increased intoxication frequency was characterized by increased trait impulsivity, including the Disinhibition subscale of the Sensation Seeking Scale, Attentional and Non‐planning subscales of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, increased task‐based cognitive impulsivity (response time variability), and increased choice impulsivity (steeper delay discounting on a delay discounting questionnaire). A model combining impulsivity domains with other risk factors (gender; nicotine, cannabis, and other drug use; executive functioning; and learning processes) was also significant but did not outperform the model comprising of impulsivity alone.

Conclusions

Intoxication frequency, but not consumption frequency, was characterized by a number of impulsivity subdomains.
PIK3CA mutation profiling in patients with breast cancer, using a highly sensitive detection system
Authors: Shimoi Tatsunori , Hamada Akinobu , Yamagishi Marifu , Hirai Mitsuharu , Yoshida Masayuki , Nishikawa Tadaaki , Sudo Kazuki , Shimomura Akihiko , Noguchi Emi , Yunokawa Mayu , Yonemori Kan , Shimizu Chikako , Kinoshita Takayuki , Fukuda Takahiro , Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Tamura Kenji
Published: June 2018

PIK3CA mutations are common activating mutations associated with breast cancer (occurring in 20–30% of all cases) and are potent predictive markers for responses to PI3K inhibitors. Thus, it is important to develop sensitive methods to detect these mutations. We established a novel detection method using a quenching probe (QP) system to identify PIK3CA mutations, using DNA from 309 breast cancer tissues. In a developmental cohort, we determined the optimal detection threshold of the QP system with human tumor DNA from 119 freshly frozen tumor samples. We found a 96% concordance rate with the QP system between DNA from 26 matching fresh‐frozen specimens and formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded (FFPE) specimens from the same patients, and known PIK3CA mutation status in the developmental cohort. In a validation cohort, we evaluated whether the threshold for judging mutations using the QP system with frozen specimen‐derived DNA was applicable with FFPE‐derived DNA. In the validation cohort, 30 DNA samples from 190 FFPE‐derived DNA samples with known PIK3CA mutation status were analyzed by direct sequencing (DS) and droplet digital PCR, in a blinded manner. The sensitivity and specificity of the droplet digital PCR results were 100% and 100% (QP system), and 60% and 100% (DS), respectively. We also analyzed the relationship between clinical outcomes and the PIK3CA mutational status of 309 breast cancer samples, including the developmental cohort and validation cohort samples. Multivariate analysis suggested that PIK3CA mutations, especially H1047R, were prognostic factors of relapse‐free survival. Our novel detection system could be more useful than DS for detecting clinical PIK3CA mutations.
A subset of walnut allergic adults is sensitized to walnut 11S globulin Jug r 4
Authors: Blankestijn M. A. , den Hartog Jager C. F. , Blom W. M. , Otten H. G. , de Jong G. A. H. , Gaspari M. , Houben G. F. , Knulst A. C. , Verhoeckx K. C. M.
Published: June 2018

Background

The role of sensitization to commercially available allergens of English walnut (Juglans regia) Jug r 1, 2 and 3 in walnut allergy has been previously investigated in walnut allergic adults and was unable to explain all cases of walnut allergy.

Objectives

Identify recognized walnut allergens, other than the ones previously investigated (Jug r 1‐3), in walnut allergic adults and determine the sensitization frequency and diagnostic value.

Methods

Three different in‐house walnut extracts were prepared and analysed on SDS‐PAGE blots to identify allergenic walnut proteins. Immunoblots and immunoprecipitation, followed by LC‐MS analysis, were performed to screen for, and confirm, IgE binding to walnut allergens in selected walnut allergic adults. In a cohort of 55 walnut challenged adults, including 33 allergic and 22 tolerant, sensitization to native and recombinant walnut allergen Jug r 4 was assessed using immunoblotting and immuno‐line blot (EUROLINE), respectively.

Results

Screening of sera of 8 walnut allergic adults identified Jug r 4 as an allergen in our population. In the total cohort of 55 subjects, 5 were positive for Jug r 4 on immunoblot and 10 on EUROLINE. All but one EUROLINE positive subject had a positive food challenge (sensitivity 27%, specificity 95%, PPV 90%, NPV 47%). All 5 subjects positive on immunoblot were also positive on EUROLINE. LC‐MS analysis showed a lack of Jug r 4 in the ImmunoCAP extract. Co‐sensitization to other 11S albumins (eg hazelnut Cor a 9) was common in Jug r 4 sensitized subjects, potentially due to cross‐reactivity.

Conclusions

Walnut 11S globulin Jug r 4 is a relevant minor allergen, recognized by 27% of walnut allergic adults. It has a high positive predictive value of 90% for walnut allergy. Specific IgE against Jug r 4 occurred mostly with concomitant sensitization to other walnut components, mainly Jug r 1.