bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Malaysian banking: is the current practice of ibrā’ (rebate) reflecting its true meaning?
Authors: Ishak Muhammad Shahrul Ifwat
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the current regulation of ibrā’ (rebate) set by the Central Bank for the Islamic banks in Malaysia and how far its original concept has been compromised to make it adaptable to the modern financial system.

Design/methodology/approach

This study, with regard to practising ibrā’ in Islamic banking in Malaysia, is qualitative in nature, using semi-structured interviews carried out with two types of informant: members of either the National Sharīʿah Advisory Council (NSAC) or the Internal Sharīʿah Committee (SC). All data are analysed based on the content analysis method.

Findings

The findings reveal that while stipulating an ibrā’ clause makes practising ibrā’ stray from its original concept, it has successfully tackled the current problem. However, the long-term consequences should be a concern, particularly Islamic banking products, which have been significantly influenced by the conventional system, including interest rates and the debt structure, neither of which should be identified with Islamic banking.

Research limitations/implications

This study is limited because it focusses on the practice of ibrā’ in Malaysian Islamic banking. Moreover, data are collected from nine interviewees from NSAC and SC from different Islamic banks. Thus, the results cannot be generalised to other countries.

Originality/value

This paper provides a fresh discussion of ibrā’ from the perspective of regulators and the experience of practitioners in Malaysia, particularly in respect of aspects of Sharīʿah and current actual practice.
Impact of competition on fund disclosures and consumer search costs
Authors: Parida Sitikantha
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of competition in financial markets on the frequency of portfolio disclosures by mutual funds and its implications for consumer search costs.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical analysis merges the Center for Research in Security Prices (CRSP) survivorship bias-free mutual fund database, the Thompson Financial CDA/ Spectrum holdings database and the CRSP stock price data. The sample covers the time period between 1993 and 2010 and OLS and logistic regressions are used to investigate the impact of competition on fund disclosures.

Findings

This paper finds that mutual fund disclosures decrease with market competition and this effect is amplified for funds holding illiquid assets. These results provide empirical support for the findings of Carlin et al. (2102). Mutual funds use portfolio disclosures as a marketing tool to attract investments in a tournament-like market, where superior relative performance and greater visibility are rewarded with convex payoffs. With competition, the likelihood of receiving new investments decreases for each fund and funds respond by reducing costly voluntary disclosures. The disclosure costs are higher for funds holding illiquid assets, and hence, the effect is stronger for them.

Originality/value

This paper has important policy implications for disclosures in a market where relative performance matters. The traditional view is that competition induces voluntary disclosure because entities would like to differentiate themselves from competitors, and hence, competition should increase market transparency. However, this paper sheds light on the negative consequence of competition in a tournament-like mutual fund market.
Voting with hands, earnings management and corporate governance
Authors: Li Ting , Zhao Xinlei , Zhao Aiwu
Published: May 2019

Purpose

Motivated by managers’ intentions to pursue private interests by engaging in earnings management, this paper aims to investigate whether voting with hands (shareholders cast votes on shareholder proposals) by shareholders acts as an external disciplining mechanism over earnings management relative to corporate governance. Also, as corporate governance can scrutinize managers’ behavior, this study also examines whether there is a substitutive relation between shareholder proposals and corporate governance mechanism.

Design/methodology/approach

First, this paper uses ordinary least squares (OLS) regressions of discrepancy accruals on the percentage of “For” votes for shareholder proposals to test the incremental effect of shareholder proposals on earnings management. Second, firms receiving shareholder proposals are matched with those not receiving proposals by propensity scores, and the levels of earnings management and corporate governance between these two groups are compared by univariate analysis and OLS regressions. In addition, six portfolios are created based on whether firms receive shareholder proposals, as well as on the levels of corporate governance, to assess whether external control from shareholder proposals can substitute internal control for corporate governance in disciplining earnings management. Regressions of earnings management on corporate governance (shareholder proposals) are conducted in the sub-samples formed on shareholder proposals (corporate governance) to further explore the above substitution effects.

Findings

Based on a sample of 2,041 firm-year observations from 2001 to 2010, this paper finds that the “For” votes received from the shareholder proposals have a significant negative relationship with the practice of earnings management, even when corporate governance is controlled. The negative relationship between shareholder proposal and magnitude of earnings management is also found to be stronger when firms have weak corporate governance. The overall evidence suggests that the external control from “voting-with-hand” shareholders has a significant impact on earnings management. In addition, shareholder proposals can substitute the monitoring mechanism for corporate governance in constraining managers’ myopic behavior.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the extant literature by using the percentage of “For” votes for shareholder proposals as a proxy for shareholder pressure and concerns. This study contributes to the earnings management literature by showing the disciplinary effect of outside shareholders on managers’ reporting behavior. Also, it contributes to the corporate governance research by presenting that shareholder proposals can substitute for the internal control of corporate governance in decreasing earnings management. This paper should be of interest to investors and standard setters.
Governance of the Chinese Super League
Authors: Ma Yang , Kurscheidt Markus
Published: May 2019

Purpose

In 2017, the Chinese Super League (CSL), the first professional football division in the People’s Republic of China (PRC), became the highest-spending league in the international players’ transfer market, with a total spending of €377m. Moreover, the government of the PRC is backing the CSL with an ambitious football plan. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to examine the governance of the CSL by questioning the organisational viability of the league.

Design/methodology/approach

In addition to the relevant international literature, this study is based on 14 recent scholarly articles published in Mandarin from 2013 to 2018 to reflect the national academic debate. Moreover, website research on all CSL clubs has been conducted. The institutional analysis follows the integrative change model of Cunningham (2002) complemented by agency and bureaucracy theory.

Findings

The CSL still faces substantial governance problems caused by the divergence of goal setting, organisational inefficiencies and compliance issues. The organisational change is notably constrained by internal competitive value commitments and external power dependency.

Research limitations/implications

The institutional findings on the CSL provide a starting point for empirical studies. The approach contributes to the theory of sport governance processes.

Practical implications

The material and insights are informative for decision makers to evaluate the competitiveness of the CSL.

Originality/value

This paper is the first international in-depth analysis of the governance of the CSL using the body of knowledge published in Mandarin.
Extracting and prioritizing knowledge risk components by considering the knowledge map
Authors: Akhavan Peyman , Khodabandeh Mehdi , Rajabion Lila , Zahedi Mohamad Reza
Published: May 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to identify knowledge risk components. The present research also tends to determine the relationship between knowledge risk components, the importance of each component and the final ranking of components.

Design/methodology/approach

This is applied research regarding type, as well as being a descriptive, analytical study regarding performance; it is done according to the opinion of experts. Library studies are applied to extract knowledge risk components. After extracting components, components were screened using the interview technique. In addition, network analytical process method has been used for considering the interrelationship of components and determining their values.

Findings

After making the required analysis and studies, a total of 17 knowledge risk components were identified in four clusters. The four clusters include knowledge cluster, knowledge map cluster, organization cluster and expert cluster. It is to be noted that the extracted components are prioritized in each cluster. In the regarded case study, different parts of the organization have been evaluated in terms of exposure to knowledge risk.

Originality/value

Identifying the knowledge risk components enables the organization for moving toward the implementation of the knowledge management system and informing the organization in connection with risk aversion. In fact, such components provide the chance for the organization to identify risks inherent in each department of any organization and develop the necessary measures to reduce the risk in risky areas.
Human Rights in the Public Sector
Authors: Wildbore Helen
Published: May 2019

This article examines how universal human rights have been given practical effect in the UK through the Human Rights Act. It focusses on the role of human rights in public services and using the duty placed on public officials as a lever to bring about positive change.
Imputing race and ethnic information in administrative health data
Authors: Xue Yishu , Harel Ofer , Aseltine Robert H.
Published: May 2019

Objective

To improve on existing methods to infer race/ethnicity in health care data through an analysis of birth records from Connecticut.

Data Source

A total of 162 467 Connecticut birth records from 2009 to 2013.

Study Design

We developed a logistic model to predict race/ethnicity using data fromUSCensus and patient‐level information. Model performance was tested and compared to previous studies. Five performance measures were used for comparison.

Principal Findings

Our full model correctly classifies 81 percent of subjects and shows improvement over extant methods. We achieved substantially improved sensitivity in predicting black race.

Conclusions

Predictive models using Census information and patients’ demographic characteristics can be used to accurately populate race/ethnicity information in health care databases, enhancing opportunities to investigate and address disparities in access to, utilization of, and outcomes of care.
Female competition for availability of males in insects: the Nezara viridula (Linnaeus, 1758) model
Authors: Čokl Andrej , Žunič Kosi Alenka , Laumann Raul Alberto , Virant‐Doberlet Meta
Published: May 2019

Multimodal communication in solitary stinkbugs enables them to meet, mate and copulate. Many plant‐dwelling species exchange information during the calling phase of mating behavior using substrate‐borne vibratory signals. A female‐biased gender ratio induces rivalry and competition for a sexual partner. Female competition for males, first described among Heteroptera in three stinkbug species, revealed species specific differences and opened the question of plasticity in individually emitted temporal and frequency signal characteristics during calling and rival alternation. To address this question and gain an insight into the mechanisms underlying stinkbug female rivalry, we compared the characteristics of alternated signals in the southern green stinkbug Nezara viridula (Linnaeus, 1758) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Compared to male rivalry, female rivalry is more complex, lasts longer and runs through successive phases by a combination of different song types. The male pheromone triggers alternation between females, producing song pulses that occasionally overlap each other. One female initiates the rivalry by changing individual pulses into pulse trains of three different types. The competing female alternates with pulses of changed temporal characteristics at lower levels of rivalry and by varying the frequency characteristics of pulse trains at higher levels. During female rivalry, the male either stops responding or occasionally emits calling and courtship signals in response to the female that has produced signals of steady temporal characteristics. Female rivalry shows complex and species specific patterns of information exchange at different levels with a broad‐range variation of temporal and frequency characteristics of, until now, unidentified vibratory emissions.
Precision medicine for autoimmune hepatitis
Authors: Chen Rui Ling , Wang Qi Xia , Ma Xiong
Published: May 2019

Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is an autoimmune liver disease induced by environmental factors in genetically susceptible individuals. AIH is characterized by hypergammaglobulinemia, elevation of serum autoantibodies and transaminases, and interface hepatitis. Personalized therapy is necessary in AIH because of its heterogeneity in clinical manifestations. Precision medicine is a recent and novel therapeutic pattern which ultimately aims to achieve personalized therapy. In this review we summarize the research progress of precision medicine to treat AIH by an exploration of the susceptible genes, precision diagnosis and prognosis of AIH, pharmacogenomics and precision medication, and the precision treatment for special types of AIH.
Temporal impact of the publication of guidelines and randomised evidence on the adoption of hypofractionated whole breast radiotherapy for early‐stage breast cancer
Authors: Jung Kyung Yoon Kylie , Shadbolt Bruce , Rezo Angela
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Clinical data supporting the use of hypofractionated whole breast radiotherapy (HF‐WBRT) in early‐stage breast cancer patients have accumulated over the last decade. Despite the availability of the published evidence, the adoption rate of HF‐WBRT has been slower‐than‐expected. We sought to assess the temporal impact of the publication of the guidelines and randomised evidence on the practice pattern of HF‐WBRT and identify clinical predictors of its utilisation.

Methods

Women with early‐stage breast cancer who received adjuvant WBRT at Canberra Health Services between 2008 and 2016 were identified from clinical databases. The patterns of HF‐WBRT use were analysed in relation to pre‐specified time periods (before and after the guideline publications) in the entire cohort as well as in a patient subset fulfilling the criteria for HF‐WBRT according to the guidelines (referred to as ‘guideline‐endorsed subset’). The impact of clinical variables, treating clinicians and the time periods on the adoption of HF‐WBRT was assessed by hierarchical multivariate logistic regressions.

Results

Of the entire cohort (n = 1171), the guideline‐endorsed subset constituted 51.6% (n = 604) of the patients. HF‐WBRT was utilised in 32.8% of the entire cohort and 46.2% of the guideline‐endorsed subset. Between 2008 and 2016, HF‐WBRT use rate increased from 12.1% to 56.6% in a non‐linear pattern. Release of international and local consensus guidelines significantly correlated with the increase in HF‐WBRT utilisation rate. The use of chemotherapy and/or tumour bed boost radiotherapy (TBBR), chest wall sepJMIROtion distance (CWSD) and patient age were significant predictors of HF‐WBRT use on multivariate analyses. After factoring in the effects of individual clinicians and the time periods on hierarchical multivariate analyses, the use of chemotherapy, TBBR, and CWSD remained as significant variables. Clinicians contributed to the variability in the HF‐WBRT adoption pattern.

Conclusion

The temporal uptake pattern and the predictors of adjuvant HF‐WBRT use in early breast cancer patients largely reflected the accumulating clinical evidence and the publication of the consensus guidelines. This study identified potentially modifiable factors associated with slower‐than‐expected uptake rate of HF‐WBRT. Understanding why there is variability in clinicians’ readiness to adopt the abbreviated treatment despite the availability of advanced radiotherapy techniques and the updated evidence is an important step towards formulating effective strategies to optimise the radiotherapeutic management of this common malignancy.
When Do Qualitative Risk Disclosures Backfire? The Effects of a Mismatch in Hedge Disclosure Formats on Investors' Judgments
Authors: He Yanan , Tan Hun‐Tong , Yeo Feng , Zhang Jixun
Published: May 2019

Disclosure standards mandate the quantitative disclosure of hedging‐instrument‐related risks but not the disclosure of hedged‐item‐related risks. We examine how a match (mismatch) in formats, caused by making quantitative (qualitative) hedged item disclosures alongside quantitative hedging instrument disclosures, affects investors' integration of information from these two related disclosures. Our first experiment varies the hedged item disclosure format (quantitative or qualitative) and the portion of risk hedged (small or large). We find that when disclosure formats are mismatched, the less comparable nature of the two disclosures caused investors to neglect the offsetting relationship when assessing net risks. As a result, risk and investment judgments were influenced by the more prominent quantitative hedging instrument disclosures. Our second experiment finds that the use of a qualitative debiaser that clarifies the relationship between the two disclosures led to the integration of information and mitigated this effect.
Double‐blind randomized trial of progesterone to prevent preterm birth in second‐trimester bleeding
Authors: Salim Raed , Hakim Marwan , Zafran Noah , Nachum Zohar , Romano Shabtai , Garmi Gali
Published: May 2019

Introduction

Second‐trimester vaginal bleeding increases the risk of spontaneous preterm birth. We aimed to examine the efficacy of vaginal progesterone to reduce preterm birth rate in women with second‐trimester vaginal bleeding.

Material and methods

Two‐center, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial involving pregnant women with second‐trimester vaginal bleeding. Women with documented uterine bleeding were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive 200 mg of micronized vaginal progesterone or placebo once daily at 16‐26 weeks until 36 weeks of gestation. Women who had prior preterm birth or short cervix diagnosed before recruitment were not eligible. The primary outcome was spontaneous delivery <37 weeks. Clinical Trial Registration: clinicaltrials.gov Identifier: NCT01269450.

Results

Between March 2011 and January 2017, 128 women gave consent and were randomized; 16 withdrew consent and 3 had a second‐trimester termination of pregnancy. The final analysis included 109 women: 60 in the progesterone group and 49 in the placebo group. Demographic and obstetric characteristics did not differ between the groups. Primary outcome occurred in 19 (31.7%) and 12 (24.5%) in the progesterone and placebo groups, respectively (odds ratio [OR] 1.32; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.55‐3.16; P = 0.53). The proportion of births <34 weeks was similar between the groups (OR 1.19; 95% CI 0.47‐3.02; P = 0.72), as were the survival curves from randomization to delivery (hazard ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 0.60‐2.56; P = 0.57). There were no significant differences in neonatal morbidities between the groups. The study was ended prematurely because of slow recruitment.

Conclusions

Antepartum vaginal progesterone does not seem to reduce the incidence of preterm birth in women with second‐trimester bleeding.
Eribulin penetrates brain tumor tissue and prolongs survival of mice harboring intracerebral glioblastoma xenografts
Authors: Takahashi Masamichi , Miki Shunichiro , Fujimoto Kenji , Fukuoka Kohei , Matsushita Yuko , Maida Yoshiko , Yasukawa Mami , Hayashi Mitsuhiro , Shinkyo Raku , Kikuchi Kiyomi , Mukasa Akitake , Nishikawa Ryo , Tamura Kenji , Narita Yoshitaka , Hamada Akinobu , Masutomi Kenkichi , Ichimura Koichi
Published: May 2019

Glioblastoma is one of the most devastating human malignancies for which a novel efficient treatment is urgently required. This pre–clinical study shows that eribulin, a specific inhibitor of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT)‐RNA‐dependent RNA polymerase, is an effective anticancer agent against glioblastoma. Eribulin inhibited the growth of 4 TERT promoter mutation‐harboring glioblastoma cell lines in vitro at subnanomolar concentrations. In addition, it suppressed the growth of glioblastoma cells transplanted subcutaneously or intracerebrally into mice, and significantly prolonged the survival of mice harboring brain tumors at a clinically equivalent dose. A pharmacokinetics study showed that eribulin quickly penetrated brain tumors and remained at a high concentration even when it was washed away from plasma, kidney or liver 24 hours after intravenous injection. Moreover, a matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging analysis revealed that intraperitoneally injected eribulin penetrated the brain tumor and was distributed evenly within the tumor mass at 1 hour after the injection whereas only very low levels of eribulin were detected in surrounding normal brain. Eribulin is an FDA‐approved drug for refractory breast cancer and can be safely repositioned for treatment of glioblastoma patients. Thus, our results suggest that eribulin may serve as a novel therapeutic option for glioblastoma. Based on these data, an investigator‐initiated registration‐directed clinical trial to evaluate the safety and efficacy of eribulin in patients with recurrent GBM (UMIN000030359) has been initiated.
IL-1 receptor antagonist, anakinra, prevents myocardial dysfunction in a mouse model of Kawasaki disease vasculitis and myocarditis
Authors: Gorelik M , Lee Y , Abe M , Andrews T , Davis L , Patterson J , Chen S , Crother T R , Aune G J , Noval Rivas M , Arditi M
Published: May 2019

Kawasaki disease (KD) vasculitis is an acute febrile illness of childhood characterized by systemic vasculitis of unknown origin, and is the most common cause of acquired heart disease among children in the United States. While histological evidence of myocarditis can be found in all patients with acute KD, only a minority of patients are clinically symptomatic and a subset demonstrate echocardiographic evidence of impaired myocardial function, as well as increased left ventricular mass, presumed to be due to myocardial edema and inflammation. Up to a third of KD patients fail to respond to first-line therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), and the use of interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra, anakinra) is currently being investigated as an alternative therapeutic approach to treat IVIG-resistant patients. In this study, we sought to investigate the effect of IL-1Ra on myocardial dysfunction and its relation to myocarditis development during KD vasculitis. We used the Lactobacillus casei cell-wall extract (LCWE)-induced murine model of KD vasculitis and investigated the effect of IL-1Ra pretreatment on myocardial dysfunction during KD vasculitis by performing histological, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiographic evaluations. IL-1Ra pretreatment significantly reduced KD-induced myocardial inflammation and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) release. Both MRI and echocardiographic studies on LCWE-injected KD mice demonstrated that IL-1Ra pretreatment results in an improved ejection fraction and a normalized left ventricular function. These findings further support the potential beneficial effects of IL-1Ra therapy in preventing the cardiovascular complications in acute KD patients, including the myocarditis and myocardial dysfunction associated with acute KD.
Shame and recognition: Social work practice with vulnerable young people
Authors: Munford Robyn , Sanders Jackie
Published: May 2019

Drawing on the findings from a longitudinal study of vulnerable young people's transitions to adulthood, this paper explores the ideas of shame and recognition. The young people, aged between 12 and 17 years at the first interview, had experienced chronic exposure to adversity from an early age (abuse, violence, mental health issues, addictions, and expulsion from school). They were clients of statutory and non‐governmental services: child welfare, juvenile justice, remedial education, and mental health services. This paper draws on the qualitative phase of the study (n = 107); young people and a trusted other, nominated by the young person, participated in three annual qualitative interviews. Interviews focused on young people's experiences of services, key transitions, their relationships, and the strategies they used to locate support and resources. Experiences of shame, misrecognition, and seeking recognition emerged as dominant themes in the young people's accounts, and these are explored in this paper. The paper concludes with a discussion on responsive social work interventions that generate a deeper understanding of young people's experiences of shame and misrecognition. Central to this practice are critical and relational social work practices that actively support young people to achieve recognition.
Esthetic, clinical, and radiographic outcomes of two surgical approaches for single implant in the esthetic area: 1‐year results of a randomized controlled trial with parallel design
Authors: Huynh‐Ba Guy , Hoders Ashley B. , Meister David J. , Prihoda Thomas J. , Mills Michael P. , Mealey Brian L. , Cochran David L.
Published: May 2019

Aim

The objectives of this study were to compare (a) esthetic, (b) clinical, (c) radiographic, and (d) patient‐centered outcomes following immediate (Type 1) and early implant placement (Type 2).

Material and Methods

Forty‐six subjects needing a single extraction (premolar to premolar) were randomly allocated to Type 1 or Type 2 implant placement. One year following permanent restoration, evaluation of (a) Esthetics using soft tissue positions, and the pink and white esthetic scores (PES/WES), (b) Clinical performance using probing depth, modified plaque index, and sulcus bleeding index (c) Radiographic bone level, and (d) Patient satisfaction by means of visual analogue scales (VAS) was recorded.

Results

Thirty‐five patients completed the one‐year examination (Type 1,n = 20; Type 2,n = 15). Type 1 implants lost 1.03 ± 0.24 mm (mean ± SE) of mid‐facial soft tissue height while Type 2 implants lost 1.37 ± 0.28 mm (p = 0.17). The papillae height on the mesial and distal was reduced about 1 mm following both procedures. Frequency of clinical acceptability as defined by PES ≥ 6 (Type 1: 55% vs. Type 2 40%), WES ≥ 6 (Type 1: 45% vs. Type 2 27%) was not significantly different between groups (p > 0.05). Clinical and radiographic were indicative of peri‐implant health. Patient‐centered outcomes failed to demonstrate significant differences between the two cohorts.

Conclusion

One year after final restoration, there were no significant differences in esthetic, clinical, radiographic, and patient‐centered outcomes following Type 1 and Type 2 implant placement. At one year, patient satisfaction may be achieved irrespective of the two placement protocols.
Obesity prevention in corticosteroid‐treated patients: Use and effectiveness of strategies for weight management
Authors: Conklin Annalijn I. , Hong Jenny
Published: May 2019

We conducted a systematic review to identify the use and effectiveness of clinical interventions to prevent or mitigate weight gain in patients using systemic corticosteroids. We independently searched nine bibliometric databases for reviews and longitudinal studies published up to 26 October 2018, and assessed the quality of studies meeting inclusion criteria. We identified 3893 records and screened 3037 eligible studies, read four full‐texts and extracted data from three randomized control trials. Two studies examined a diet‐only intervention for weight management, while one study examined a mixed intervention for diet and exercise. Overall, existing evidence is of poor quality and based on small feasibility studies of either paediatric leukaemia or female lupus patients, which suggested divergent effects of lifestyle interventions on weight, body mass index or waist circumference. Current evidence suggests a state of clinical equipoise that deserves greater research attention given the prevalent use of corticosteroids for treating a variety of chronic conditions. Robust high‐quality longitudinal studies to decipher preventive strategies of steroid‐induced weight gain must be prioritized in research and policy to improve patient care and prevent further obesity‐related disease burden.
Hybridization as a conservation management tool
Authors: Chan Wing Yan , Hoffmann Ary A. , van Oppen Madeleine J. H.
Published: May 2019

The recent extensive loss of biodiversity raises the question of whether organisms will adapt in time to survive the current era of rapid environmental change, and whether today's conservation practices and policies are appropriate. We review the benefits and risks of inter‐ and intraspecific hybridization as a conservation management tool aimed at enhancing adaptive potential and survival, with particular reference to coral reefs. We conclude that hybridization is underutilized and that many of its perceived risks are possibly overstated; the few applications of hybridization in conservation to date have already shown positive outcomes. Moreover, perceptions of potential risk change significantly when the focus of conservation is on preserving the adaptive potential of a species/population, instead of preserving the species in its original state. Further, we suggest that the uncertain legal status of hybrids as entities of protection can be costly to society and ecosystems, and that a legislative revision of hybrids and hybridization is overdue. We present a decision tree to help assess when and where hybridization can be a suitable conservation tool, and whether inter‐ or intraspecific hybridization is the preferred option.
Climatic predictors of species distributions neglect biophysiologically meaningful variables
Authors: Gardner Alexandra S. , Maclean Ilya M.D. , Gaston Kevin J.
Published: May 2019

Aim

Species distribution models (SDMs) have played a pivotal role in predicting how species might respond to climate change. To generate reliable and realistic predictions from these models requires the use of climate variables that adequately capture physiological responses of species to climate and therefore provide a proximal link between climate and their distributions. Here, we examine whether the climate variables used in plant SDMs are different from those known to influence directly plant physiology.

Location

Global.

Methods

We carry out an extensive, systematic review of the climate variables used to model the distributions of plant species and provide comparison to the climate variables identified as important in the plant physiology literature. We calculate the top 10 SDM and physiology variables at 2.5° spatial resolution for the globe and use principal component analyses and multiple regression to assess similarity between the climatic variation described by both variable sets.

Results

We find that the most commonly used SDM variables do not reflect the most important physiological variables and differ in two main ways: (a) SDM variables rely on seasonal or annual rainfall as simple proxies of water available to plants and neglect more direct measures such as soil water content; and (b) SDM variables are typically averaged across seasons or years and overlook the importance of climatic events within the critical growth period of plants. We identify notable differences in their spatial gradients globally and show where distal variables may be less reliable proxies for the variables to which species are known to respond.

Main conclusions

There is a growing need for the development of accessible, fine‐resolution global climate surfaces of physiological variables. This would provide a means to improve the reliability of future range predictions from SDMs and support efforts to conserve biodiversity in a changing climate.
Characteristics of Turkish children with Type 2 diabetes at onset: a multicentre, cross‐sectional study
Authors: Hatun S. , Yesiltepe Mutlu G. , Cinaz P. , Turan S. , Ekberzade A. , Bereket A. , Erbas M. Y. , Akcay T. , Onal H. , Bolu S. , Arslanoglu I. , Doger E. , Yilmaz A. A. , Ucakturk A. , Karabulut G. S. , Tuhan H. Ü. , Demir K. , Erdeve S. S. , Aycan Z. , Nalbantoğlu Ö. , Kara C. , Gungor N. ,   the turkish type 2 diabetes research group
Published: May 2019

Aims

To describe the baseline clinical and laboratory findings and treatment modalities of 367 children and adolescents diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes in various paediatric endocrinology centres in Turkey.

Methods

A standard questionnaire regarding clinical and laboratory characteristics at onset was uploaded to an online national database system. Data for 367 children (aged 6–18 years) newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at 37 different paediatric endocrinology centres were analysed.

Results

After exclusion of the children with a BMI Z‐score < 1 SD, those with genetic syndromes associated with Type 2 diabetes, and those whose C‐peptide and/or insulin levels were not available, 227 cases were included in the study. Mean age was 13.8 ± 2.2 (range 6.5–17.8) years, with female preponderance (68%). Family history of Type 2 diabetes was positive in 86% of the children. The mean BMI was 31.3 ± 6.5 kg/m2 (range 18.7–61) and BMI Z‐score was 2.4 ± 0.8 (range 1–5). More than half (57%) of the children were identified by an opportunistic diabetes screening due to existing risk markers without typical symptoms of diabetes. Only 13% (n = 29) were treated solely by lifestyle modification, while 40.5% (n = 92) were treated with metformin, 13% (n = 30) were treated with insulin, and 33.5% (n = 76) were treated with a combination of insulin and metformin initially. Mean HbA1C levels of the insulin and combination of insulin and metformin groups were 98 (11.1%) and 102 mmol/mol (11.5%), respectively, and also were significantly higher than the lifestyle modification only and metformin groups mean HbA1C levels (70(8.6%) and 67 mmol/mol (8.3%), respectively).

Conclusions

An opportunistic screening of children who are at high risk of Type 2 diabetes is essential, as our data showed that > 50% of the children were asymptomatic at diagnosis. The other important result of our study was the high rate of exclusion from the initial registration (38%), suggesting that accurate diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes in youth is still problematic, even for paediatric endocrinologists.
Mechanisms underlying the cardiometabolic protective effect of walnut consumption in obese people: A cross‐over, randomized, double‐blind, controlled inpatient physiology study
Authors: Tuccinardi Dario , Farr Olivia M. , Upadhyay Jagriti , Oussaada Sabrina M. , Klapa Maria I. , Candela Marco , Rampelli Simone , Lehoux Sylvain , Lázaro Iolanda , Sala‐Vila Aleix , Brigidi Patrizia , Cummings Richard D. , Mantzoros Christos S.
Published: May 2019

Aims

To assess the effects of walnuts on cardiometabolic outcomes in obese people and to explore the underlying mechanisms using novel methods including metabolomic, lipidomic, glycomic and microbiome analysis, integrated with lipid particle fractionation, appetite‐regulating hormones and haemodynamic measurements.

Materials and Methods

A total of 10 obese individuals were enrolled in this cross‐over, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled clinical trial. The participants had two 5‐day inpatient stays, during which they consumed a smoothie containing 48 g walnuts or a macronutrient‐matched placebo smoothie without nuts, with a 1‐month washout period between the two visits.

Results

Walnut consumption improved aspects of the lipid profile; it reduced fasting small and dense LDL particles (P < 0.02) and increased postprandial large HDL particles (P < 0.01). Lipoprotein insulin resistance score, glucose and the insulin area under the curve (AUC) decreased significantly after walnut consumption (P < 0.01, P < 0.02 and P < 0.04, respectively). Consuming walnuts significantly increased 10 N‐glycans, with eight of them carrying a fucose core. Lipidomic analysis showed a robust reduction in harmful ceramides, hexosylceramides and sphingomyelins, which have been shown to mediate effects on cardiometabolic risk. The peptide YY AUC significantly increased after walnut consumption (P < 0.03). No major significant changes in haemodynamic or metabolomic analysis or in microbiome host health‐promoting bacteria such as Faecalibacterium were found.

Conclusions

These data provide a more comprehensive mechanistic perspective of the effect of dietary walnut consumption on cardiometabolic variables. Lipidomic and lipid nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis showed an early but significant reduction in ceramides and other atherogenic lipids with walnut consumption, which may explain the longer‐term benefits of walnuts or other nuts on insulin resistance, cardiovascular risk and mortality.
Longitudinal strain measured by two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography to evaluate left ventricular function in patients with myocardial bridging of the left anterior descending coronary artery
Authors: Zhang Minping , Yang Jun , Ma Chunyan , Liu Minghui
Published: May 2019

Objectives

Myocardial bridging (MB) can cause myocardial ischemia, myocardial infarction, or even sudden cardiac death. We aimed to evaluate the left ventricular function in patients withMBof the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) using longitudinal strain (LS) measured by two‐dimensional speckle tracking echocardiography.

Methods

We enrolled 46 subjects withMBin theLADdiagnosed by coronary angiography. Patients were categorized into two groups according to the severity of tunneled artery stenosis: <50% as group I (23 patients) and ≥50% as groupII(23 patients). Twenty‐five gender‐ and age‐matched subjects withoutMBconfirmed by coronary angiography or with normal results on treadmill exercise test were included as controls. Two‐dimensional strain software was applied to measure the territories systolic average peakLSof theLADcoronary artery (LAD‐TPLS), right coronary artery (RCA‐TPLS), and left circumflex coronary artery (LCX‐TPLS) and to measure the global systolic peakLSof left ventricle (LV‐GPLS).

Results

The ratio of mitral peak early (E) and late (A) filling velocity (E/A) and the average mitral annular velocity (e′) were lower, and the mitral E/e′ ratio was higher in groupIIthan in group I and controls (P < 0.05).LV‐GPLSandLAD‐TPLSwere significantly less negative in groupIIthan in group I and controls (LV‐GPLS: −19.77 ± 1.60% vs −21.10 ± 1.91% and −21.76 ± 1.23%;LAD‐TPLS: −19.24 ± 2.22% vs −22.00 ± 2.22% and −22.74 ± 1.82%,P < 0.001). The systolic compression severity of the tunneled artery was significantly correlated withLAD‐TPLS(r = −0.56,P < 0.001), but less strongly correlated withLV‐GPLS(r = −0.40,P < 0.05). The area under the curves ofLAD‐TPLSwas larger than that ofLV‐GPLS; a cutoff value forLAD‐TPLSof −21.68% had 91.3% sensitivity and 73.9% specificity for detection of ≥50% of the tunneled artery stenosis.

Conclusions

In patients with ≥50% systolic narrowing of the tunneled artery, left ventricular systolic function and diastolic function were impaired, and theLAD‐TPLSis an excellent predictor of ≥50% systolic narrowing of the tunneled artery in patients withMBof theLAD.
Cutis marmorata in decompression sickness is associated with a patent foramen ovale
Authors: Kerut Christian K. , Serio Joseph R. , Kerut Edmund K.
Published: May 2019

A 39‐year‐old male commercial diver developed cutis marmorata after a dive. He had a full recovery after therapy in a hyperbaric oxygen chamber. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed an atrial septal aneurysm and a large shunt during normal respirations. This form of decompression sickness may progress to type II DCS, thus is important to identify and treat. Cutis marmorata as a result of diving is highly associated with an atrial septal defect or a large patent foramen ovale. It is particularly important to assess these patients for a right‐to‐left shunt as part of a medical evaluation prior to returning to diving.
Nonlinear frequency‐dependent selection promotes long‐term coexistence between bacteria species
Authors: Harmand Noémie , Federico Valentine , Hindré Thomas , Lenormand Thomas
Published: May 2019

Negative frequency‐dependent selection (NFDS) is an important mechanism for species coexistence and for the maintenance of genetic polymorphism. Long‐term coexistence nevertheless requires NFDS interactions to be resilient to further evolution of the interacting species or genotypes. For closely related genotypes, NFDS interactions have been shown to be preserved through successive rounds of evolution in coexisting lineages. On the contrary, the evolution of NFDS interactions between distantly related species has received less attention. Here, we tracked the co‐evolution of Escherichia coli and Citrobacter freundii that initially differ in their ecological characteristics. We showed that these two bacterial species engaged in an NFDS interaction particularly resilient to further evolution: despite a very strong asymmetric rate of adaptation, their coexistence was maintained owing to an NFDS pattern where fitness increases steeply as the frequency decreases towards zero. Using a model, we showed how and why such NFDS pattern can emerge. These findings provide a robust explanation for the long‐term maintenance of species at very low frequencies.
2017 WONOEP appraisal: Studying epilepsy as a network disease using systems biology approaches
Authors: Mahoney John M. , Mills James D. , Muhlebner Angelika , Noebels Jeffrey , Potschka Heidrun , Simonato Michele , Kobow Katja
Published: May 2019

The revolution in high‐throughput omics technologies has dramatically expanded our understanding of the epilepsies as complex diseases. It is now clear that further progress in treating the full spectrum of seizure disorders requires a systems‐level framework for analyzing and integrating data from multiple omics technologies that moves beyond the search for single molecular alterations to an understanding of dysregulated pathways in epilepsy. Taking such a pathway‐centered view requires further integrating the tools of systems biology into epilepsy research. In this appraisal, we highlight and summarize systems biology approaches in basic epilepsy studies as they were discussed during the 2017 Workshop on the Neurobiology of Epilepsy (WONOEP). During the 3‐day event, participants exchanged emerging results and thoughts on developing the systems biology of epilepsy, and the promise and limitations of these approaches for the near term.
Effects of shredding on silage density and fermentation quality
Authors: Samarasinghe Milani Bhagya , Larsen Mogens , Johansen Marianne , Waldemar Peter , Weisbjerg Martin Riis
Published: May 2019

The effects of shredding forages on the density and fermentation quality of the resulting silages were studied. Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.), red clover (Trifolium pratense L.), perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and a grass–clover mixture were harvested and wilted indoors for 1–2 days. The dry‐matter content of the forages after wilting was 192 g/kg, 192 g/kg, 237 g/kg and 214 g/kg respectively. The forages were then either unprocessed or shredded once (1×) or four (4×) times using a novel laboratory shredder and were ensiled in laboratory‐scale silos. Fermentation was terminated after either 50 or 113 days of ensiling. Density and the fermentation weight losses of the silages were recorded. Initial density of the silages was considerably increased with increased intensity of shredding (p < 0.01). The initial density (DM basis) of the 4× shredded silages ranged from 177 to 236 kg DM/m3 whereas it was 124–163 kg DM/m3 in non‐shredded silages. The 4× shredded silages had the greatest fermentation weight loss at day 1 of ensiling (p < 0.01). Overall fermentation weight loss after 113 days of ensiling was reduced in the 4× shredded silages (p < 0.01). Shredding increased L‐lactate concentration and reduced pH of the silages (p < 0.01). The NH3 concentrations were reduced by 25%–46% in 4× shredded silages and butyrate concentrations were reduced by 76%–97% in shredded silages in comparison to non‐shredded silages (p < 0.01). Shredding improved initial density and fermentation quality of silages while reducing overall fermentation weight losses.
The effect of intradialytic exercise twice a week on the physical capacity, inflammation, and nutritional status of dialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Suhardjono  , Umami Vidhia , Tedjasukmana Deddy , Setiati Siti
Published: May 2019

Introduction: Inactivity, uremia, and malnutrition in dialysis patients may lead to decreased muscle mass and physical capacity. As a preventative measure, dialysis patients are provided with an intradialytic exercise program. Our study aimed to determine the role of intradialytic exercise performed 2 times per week on physical capacity, inflammation, and nutritional status in dialysis patients and to determine which exercises are more suitable for this population.

Methods: A randomized clinical trial in which participants were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 groups, i.e., a group of patients performing aerobic exercise, a group of patients performing a combination of aerobic and resistance exercise and the control group. The study was conducted at the Dialysis Unit of Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital, Jakarta for 12 weeks from February to May 2018. The inclusion criteria were dialysis patients aged over 18 years who had undergone routine dialysis for over 3 months.

Findings: A total of one hundred twenty patients were included in the study. There was a significant increase in lower extremity strength in the group performing aerobic exercise and in the combined exercise group compared to the lower extremity strength of the control group. There was also a significant increase in the physical component score (PCS) of the KDQOL‐SF™ instrument in the aerobic training and combination exercise groups compared to the PCS of the control group. No significant differences were found between the combination exercise group and the aerobic training group in any outcome.

Discussion: Both types of exercise programs significantly increased the lower extremity muscle strength and the PCS of the quality of life index. Combination exercise was not more effective than aerobic exercise for dialysis patients.