bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The trained and untrained users’ mental models compatibility with the icons of search modules in Iranian digital library applications
Authors: Rahrovani Sanaz , Mirzabeigi Mahdieh , Abbaspour Javad
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the trained and untrained users’ mental models compatibility with search module icons in three Iranian digital library applications, namely, Nika, Azarakhsh, and Simorgh.

Design/methodology/approach

The population of this survey consisted of two groups including trained and untrained users. The trained user group consisted of 174 samples, all of which were included in the study due to scarcity of the samples. The untrained user group consisted of 8,210 samples, from which 267 cases were selected through stratified sampling.

Findings

Results showed that the trained users’ mental models were more compatible with the search module icons than those of the untrained users. The comparison of three software applications showed that the mental models of trained and untrained users had the highest compatibility with the search icons of Azarakhsh and the lowest compatibility with those of Nika. Concerning the untrained users’ status in terms of their fields of study, results showed that users majoring technical and engineering field and those in agriculture had, respectively, the highest and lowest mental models compatibility with the icons embedded in the user interface of the studied applications.

Originality/value

Since the mental models may be incomplete or inaccurate, the study of the trained and untrained users’ mental models compatibility with the search module icons of user interface embedded in various library applications may help in assessing the software’ status and the designers’ level of success in conveying the content. This also may assist information literacy specialists to estimate the required amount of training for trained and untrained users.
Metadata and universal access in digital library environments
Authors: Beyene Wondwossen Mulualem
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Accessibility metadata has been a recurring theme in recent efforts aimed at promoting accessibility of information and communication technology solutions to all, regardless of their disabilities, cultural differences, language, etc. The purpose of this paper is to explore the potential of accessibility metadata in improving knowledge discovery and access in digital library environments, discuss developments in creating accessibility terms for resource description, and attempt to relate those developments to the overall purpose of universal design to finally recommend points for improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an exploratory study based on review of selected literature and documentations made available by metadata projects. Search for related literature was made using Google Scholar, EBSCO, and Web of Science Databases using terms and combination of terms such as “universal design and metadata,” “accessibility metadata,” “inclusive design,” and “metadata and digital libraries.” Some documentation on metadata projects were obtained through e-mail correspondences.

Findings

The overall discussion shows that accessibility metadata can be instrumental in exposing accessible resources to search engines and in augmenting library resource discovery tools for the benefit of users with disabilities. Accessibility metadata would help users to quickly discover materials that fit their needs. However, the notion of indexing resources by their accessibility attributes remains an area that needs further exploration.

Originality/value

The paper gives emphasis to the importance of metadata research in universal design endeavors. It also provides recommendations for practical applications that would improve accessibility in digital library environments.
Dynamic cataloguing of the old Arabic manuscripts by automatic extraction of metadata
Authors: Soualah Mohammed Ourabah , Ait Ali Yahia Yassine , Keita Abdelkader , Guessoum Abderrezak
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to obtain online access to the digitised Arabic manuscripts images, which need to use a catalogue. The bibliographic cataloguing is unsuitable for old Arabic manuscripts, and it is imperative to establish a new cataloguing model. In the research, the authors propose a new cataloguing model based on manuscript annotations and transcriptions. This model can be an effective solution to dynamic catalogue old Arabic manuscripts. In this field, the authors used the automatic extraction of the metadata that is based on the structural similarity of the documents.

Design/methodology/approach

This work is based on experimental methodology. The whole proposed concepts and formulas were tested for validation. This, allows the authors to make concise conclusions.

Findings

Cataloguing old Arabic manuscripts faces problem of unavailability of information. However, this information may be found in another place in a copy of the original manuscript. Thus, cataloguing Arabic manuscript cannot be done in one time, it is a continual process which require information updating. The idea is to make a pre-cataloguing of a manuscript, then try to complete and improve it through a specific platform. Consequently, in the research work, the authors propose a new cataloguing model, which the authors call “Dynamic cataloguing”.

Research limitations/implications

The success of the proposed model is confronted with the involvement of all actors of the model. It is based on the conviction and the motivation of actors of the collaborative platform.

Practical implications

The model can be used in several cataloguing fields, where the encoding model is based on XML. The model is innovative and implements a smart cataloguing model. The model is useful by using a web platform. It allows an automatic update of a catalogue.

Social implications

The model prompts the user to participate and enrich the catalogue. The user could improve his social status from a passive to an active.

Originality/value

The dynamic cataloguing model is a new concept. It has never been proposed in the literature until now. The proposed cataloguing model is based on automatic extraction of metadata from user annotations/transcription. It is a smart system which automatically updates or fills the catalogue with the extracted metadata.
Market states and mutual fund risk shifting
Authors: Popescu Marius , Xu Zhaojin
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the motivation behind mutual funds’ risk shifting behavior by examining its impact on fund performance, while jointly considering fund managers’ compensation incentives and career concerns.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a sample of US actively managed equity funds over the period 1980-2010. A fund’s risk shifting is estimated as the difference between the fund’s intended portfolio risk in the second half of the year and the realized portfolio risk in the first half of the year. Using the state of the market to identify the dominating type of incentive that fund managers face, we examine the relationship between performance and risk shifting in a cross-sectional regression setting, using the Fama and MacBeth (1973) methodology.

Findings

The authors find that poorly performing (well performing) funds are likely to increase (decrease) their risk level in bull markets, while reducing (increasing) it during bear markets. Furthermore, we find that funds that increase risk underperform, while those that decrease their portfolio risk do not. In addition, we find that poorly performing funds that increase (or decrease) their risk underperform across bull and bear markets, while well performing funds that reduce risk during bull markets subsequently outperform.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to the literature on mutual fund risk shifting by providing evidence that the performance consequence of such behavior is dependent on the state of the market and on the funds’ past performance. The results suggest that loser funds tend to be agency prone or be managed by managers with inferior investment skill, and that winner funds exhibit superior investment ability during bull markets. The authors argue that both the agency and investment ability hypotheses are driving fund managers’ risk shifting behavior.
The influence of earnings management and bank structure on bank performance
Authors: Ujah Nacasius U. , Brusa Jorge , Okafor Collins E.
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of bank structure and earnings management on bank performance in international markets. Specifically, the authors empirically examine non-foreign banks in the following emerging countries: Brazil, China, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and South Africa.

Design/methodology/approach

A review of loan loss portfolio and bank’s power structure is examined to formulate testable conjectures. The authors used data collected from Bankscope for the aforementioned countries. The data range is from 1997 to 2009.

Findings

The results suggest that: first, bank market structure and earnings management have a significantly negative influence on bank performance. Second, the negative influence is more pronounced in banks with higher level of concentration and earnings management.

Practical implications

The evidence suggest that banks with monopoly power have a greater incentive to establish lending relationships, and monopoly enhancing regulation in the financial sector at the time of the Civil War contributed to industrialization in the USA. The evidence in the emerging market suggest that monopoly power (bank structure) and propensity to manage earnings leads to lower bank performance. As such, helping bankers in understanding the effect of their bank structure in relation to their performance.

Originality/value

To the author’s knowledge, this is the first study that explores the determinants of managed earnings and bank structure on bank performance in emerging markets.
News and social media emotions in the commodity market
Authors: Shen Jiancheng , Najand Mohammad , Dong Feng , He Wu
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Emotion plays a significant role in both institutional and individual investors’ decision-making process. Emotions affect the perception of risk and the assessment of monetary value. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence available that addresses how investors’ emotions affect commodity market returns. The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether media-based emotions can be used to predict future commodity returns.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors examine the short-term predictive power of media-based emotion indices on the following five days’ commodity returns. The research adopts a proprietary data set of commodity-specific market emotions, which is computed based on a comprehensive textual analysis of sources from newswires, internet news sources and social media. Time series econometrics models (threshold generalized autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity and vector autoregressive) are employed to analyze 14 years (January 1998-December 2011) of daily observations of the CRB commodity market index, crude oil and gold returns, and the market-level sentiments and emotions (optimism, fear and joy).

Findings

The empirical results suggest that the commodity-specific emotions (optimism, fear and joy) have significant influence on individual commodity returns, but not on commodity market index returns. Additionally, the research findings support the short-term predictability of the commodity-specific emotions on the following five days’ individual commodity returns. Compared to the previous studies of news sentiment on commodity returns (Borovkova, 2011; Borovkova and Mahakena, 2015; Smales, 2014), this research provides further evidence of the effects of news and social media-based emotions (optimism, fear and joy) in the commodity market. Additionally, this work proposes that market emotion incorporates both a sentimental effect and appraisal effect on commodity returns. Empirical results are shown to support both the sentimental effect and appraisal effect when market sentiment is controlled in crude oil and gold spot markets.

Originality/value

This paper adopts the valence-arousal approach and cognitive appraisal approach to explain financial anomalies caused by investors’ emotions. Additionally, this is the first paper to explore the predictive power of investors’ emotions (optimism, fear and joy) on commodity returns.
Gain attraction in the presence of social interactions
Authors: Wuthisatian Rattaphon , Guerrero Federico , Sundali James
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to suggest that a fundamental cause of market booms and busts is that investor risk attitudes change during market booms. Specifically, the authors propose that an investor’s risk aversion falls as (s)he attempts to “keep up with the Joneses.” This paper studies changing risk attitudes induced by social interactions, and shows that risk-seeking behavior that is initially successful may induce copycat behavior and lead individuals in the same peer group to reduce their degree of risk aversion to attempt to obtain similar rewards, a phenomenon we call “Gain attraction in the presence of social interactions.”

Design/methodology/approach

The authors propose a new theoretical model that incorporates the social interaction term into the value function of prospect theory. The modified value function empowers the standard prospect theory by introducing the idea that people often compare themselves to others and then compare their gains to the gains of others. The model predicts that, if people exhibit some degree of envy, they will treat the observed utility achieved by others as destination points and will reposition themselves to the new reference points, and at that point their willingness to accept risk dramatically increases.

Findings

The theoretical model is tested empirically against experimental data and survey data. Consistent with the theoretical prediction, the experimental results suggest that, after subjects observed the behavior of the leading investor in the controlled laboratory condition, there was a significant increase in risk-taking behavior. The survey results further confirm that envy is an emotional force behind the dissatisfaction and disappointment among investors when they miss available opportunities that others were able to take advantage of.

Originality/value

This study provides evidence that investment decisions are not made in a social vacuum by isolated individuals, but rather in social settings in which individuals are influenced by the actions and outcomes of their peers. The study also opens up a new research avenue that the reduction in risk aversion induced by peer effects may be an important element explaining how greed is transmitted across the economy during times of financial boom, thus helping to fuel the flames of financial crises.
Genetic divergence between the South Korean and Mongolian populations of the dung beetle, Gymnopleurus mopsus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequences
Authors: Yoon Tae Joong , Park Hae Chul , Kang Ji Hyoun , Bayartogtokh Badamdorj , Bae Yeon Jae
Published: May 2017

The locally extinct dung beetle, Gymnopleurus mopsus Pallas, 1781 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), has not been found in South Korea since the 1970s. This research was conducted to understand the genetic divergence between the South Korean and Mongolian populations of G. mopsus as a part of its reintroduction program in South Korea. The genetic distance and diversity were determined using the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene sequence (658 bp) corresponding to the DNA barcode region. The mitochondrial COI gene sequences of 64 individuals of G. mopsus collected in South Korea (7 individuals) and Mongolia (57 individuals) showed a relatively high level of genetic diversity (nucleotide diversity, 0.0078 ± 0.0007; Haplotype diversity, 0.965 ± 0.017). The genetic distances between the South Korean and Mongolian populations lay within the intraspecific level and the phylogenetic reconstruction using the neighbor‐joining (NJ) method showed that all individuals belonged to a single clade. This result indicates that the current Mongolian population of G. mopsus is a good candidate source population to restore the locally extinct population of the species in South Korea.
Conflicting logics? The role ofHRMin a professional service firm
Authors: Alvehus Johan
Published: May 2017

HRM is considered of vital strategic importance in professional service firms, but professionals generally resist these managerial initiatives. In this article, I report on an in‐depth case study of a tax consultancy department in a major accounting firm by exploring the way professionals reconcile the logics of professionalism and HRM. Results indicate that the logics are reconciled in several ways as they are simultaneouslyreplicated,revised, andrejected. Whereas current theories argue that the different logics balance each other, this study indicates that the professionals strengthen professional logic by acknowledging HRM and its procedures, simultaneously circumventing them throughinverted appropriation. Results suggest that hybridity between conflicting logics may appear on an organisational level, whereas a single logic dominates in everyday work. The study contributes to in‐depth studies of institutional logics and to a detailed understanding of the workings of HRM in professional contexts.
Hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis in emergency department: Typical clinical features and genetic variants
Authors: Chen Wan Jun , Sun Xiao Fan , Zhang Rui Xue , Xu Min Jie , Dou Tong Hai , Zhang Xiao Bin , Zhong Min , Yang Wei Qiang , Liu Li , Lu Xiao Ye , Zhu Chang Qing
Published: May 2017

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the clinical characteristics of patients with hypertriglyceridemic acute pancreatitis (HTGAP), and the molecular foundation contributing to hypertriglyceridemia in such patients.

METHODS

Clinical data from 329 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) were analyzed. The patients were divided into the HTGAP group, with fasting serum triglyceride (TG) levels ≥500 mg/dL (5.65 mmol/L), and the non‐HTGAP (NHTGAP) group. Targeted next‐generation sequencing was applied to 11 HTGAP patients to identify the genetic mutations associated with hypertriglyceridemia, including apolipoprotein A‐V (APOA5), APOC2, APOC3 and APOE, BLK, LPL, GPIHBP1 and LMF1.

RESULTS

Patients in the HTGAP group, compared with those in the NHTGAP group, had a higher mortality rate (7.5% vs 0.7%, P = 0.001), more commonly seen severe AP (17.5% vs 5.2%, P = 0.004) as well as a higher recurrence rate (32.4% vs 19.9%, P = 0.070). DNA sequencing showed that two patients carried the same compound of p.G185C and p.V153M heterozygous mutations located in the APOA5 gene. Two patients carried a homozygous variation of p.C14F, in the GPIHBP1 gene. One patient had a homozygous variation of p.R176C in the APOE gene. And a rare heterozygous LMF1 gene mutation of p.P562R was detected in two patients.

CONCLUSIONS

HTGAP was significantly severe than NHTGAP, with a high recurrence rate. Genetic information may be useful in the clinical setting for the investigation of the pathogenesis of HTGAP and its interventions.
Performance of Norwegian civilian EMTs and army medics in penetrating trauma: a controlled simulation‐based assessment
Authors: Blix S. W. , Melau J. , Lund‐Kordahl I.
Published: May 2017

Background

Penetrating trauma kills rapidly. Thorough and efficient examination and aggressive hemorrhage control is important to save lives. The aim of this study was to assess the skills of civilian Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) in bleeding examination and control compared to Army Medics. Our hypothesis was that civilian pre‐hospital systems perform at a lower level compared to an expert group, and did not have sufficient focus on education and training in examination and treatment of penetrating injuries.

Material and methods

We included 60 volunteer Certified EMTs and Army Medics. First, the participants examined a wounded patient. Second, the participants were presented a patient with a penetrating injury on a pork side fixated to the thigh with an artificial arterial bleeding.

Results

The EMTs took significantly shorter time examining, median 1 min 5 s vs. 3 min 58 s (P < 0.001). 5/30 (17%) of EMTs and 28/30 (93%) of army medics did an approved gauze wound packing of the penetrating injury (P < 0.001). EMTs took (median) 18 s and army medics 8 s to hemostasis regardless of approved packing or not (P < 0.001). Time spent on the packing was (median) 1 min 50 s vs. 5 min 47 s respectively (P < 0.001). Increasing time spent on the procedure showed significantly better chance of a successful procedure.

Conclusion

The EMTs had lower accuracy in examination but used significantly shorter time than the Army Medics. The treatment part of the study showed poor EMT performance compared to the Army Medics. This study indicates that more wound packing training needs to be incorporated into initial and ongoing civilian EMT training.
The So‐called Venetian Enamelled Copper Artworks of the Italian Renaissance: the Technology and Provenance of the Enamels—an Analytical Approach
Authors: Verità M. , Biron I. , Cagnini A. , Porcinai S. , Barbe F.
Published: May 2017

The so‐called Venetian enamelled coppers are a group of objects produced in Italy during the 15th century. Up to now, about 300 objects have been recognized in private collections and in European and US museums. At the end of 19th century, a Venetian origin was suggested, but their provenance is still debated. In this study, the enamel compositions from 22 enamelled copper products from Italian and French collections have been analysed by invasive and non‐invasive techniques. A comparison of the results with Tuscan and Venetian glass databases reinforces the suggestion of a Tuscan (most probably Florentine) origin for these works of art.
Comparison of productive and reproductive performance and hair cortisol levels between Brown Swiss cross‐bred and Holstein cows housed in the same barn
Authors: Endo Natsumi , Kuroki Reimi , Tanaka Tomomi
Published: May 2017

The productive and reproductive characteristics of Brown Swiss (B) cross‐bred cows were investigated by comparing with those of Holstein (H) cows housed in the same barn. Additionally, their hair cortisol levels were analyzed to evaluate the extent of stress experienced during dry and lactation periods. B cross‐bred cows had lower milk yields and higher milk fat rates than H cows. Reproductive records showed that days from parturition to first artificial insemination (AI) in B cross‐bred (n = 16) and H (n = 27) cows were not significantly different, but conception rate at first AI of B cross‐bred cows tended to be higher than that of H cows. Percentage of B cross‐bred cows that resumed ovarian cyclic activity within 45 days after parturition was higher than that of H cows (6/6 (100%) and 5/11 (45.5%), P < 0.05), and B cross‐bred cows had higher body condition scores at that time. Hair cortisol level at 60 to 90 days after parturition in H cows increased significantly compared with in the dry period, and it was higher than that of B cows during the same period. These results suggest that B cross‐bred cows experience less metabolic stress during early lactation, which may result in earlier resumption of reproductive function.
The promise of a better group future: Cognitive alternatives increase students’ self‐efficacy and academic performance
Authors: Iyer Aarti , Zhang Airong , Jetten Jolanda , Hao Zhen , Cui Lijuan
Published: May 2017

Drawing on classic social identity theorizing (Tajfel, Differentiation between social groups: Studies in the social psychology of intergroup relations, London, UK, Academic Press, 1978), we propose that low‐status minority group members’ self‐efficacy and performance on intellectual tasks can be enhanced by prompting them to believe in a better future for their group (i.e., increasing awareness of cognitive alternatives to the existing low‐status position). Study 1 manipulated cognitive alternatives among 157 migrant workers’ children in China, showing that self‐efficacy was enhanced in the high compared to the low cognitive alternative condition. Study 2 extended this experimental finding among 114 migrant workers’ children: Participants in the high cognitive alternative condition performed better on mathematics and attention tasks than did participants in the low cognitive alternative condition. Results highlight the power of believing in a better future for the collective as a means of enhancing self‐efficacy and educational outcomes among members of disadvantaged groups.
Renal functional outcomes in patients undergoing percutaneous cryoablation or partial nephrectomy for a solitary renal mass
Authors: Mason Ross J. , Atwell Thomas D. , Lohse Christine , Bhindi Bimal , Weisbrod Adam , Boorjian Stephen A. , Leibovich Bradley C. , Schmit Grant D. , Thompson R. Houston
Published: May 2017

Objectives

To compare renal functional changes after percutaneous cryoablation (PCA) or partial nephrectomy (PN).

Patients and Methods

Patients who underwent PCA or PN for a solitary renal mass at a single institution were identified (2003–2013). Estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) were calculated at baseline, discharge, and at the 3‐month follow‐up using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. Changes in renal function were compared between groups using 1:1 propensity score (PS) matching, adjustment for PS quintile, and inverse probability weighting (IPW).

Results

There were 2 040 procedures available for the PS analyses, including 448 PCA and 1 592 PN. After PS adjustments, there were no significant differences in baseline clinical features between PCA and PN patients. In the PS‐matched analysis, the change in eGFR from baseline to discharge for PCA and PN patients was −3.1 and −1.1 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively (P = 0.038), with percentage changes of −4.5% and 0% respectively (P = 0.006). From baseline to the 3‐month follow‐up, the absolute change in eGFR for PCA and PN patients was −4.3 and −2.1 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively (P = 0.008), and the percentage change was −6.1% and −2.4% respectively (P = 0.005). Similar results were obtained after adjusting for PS quintiles and in the IPW analysis. Importantly, the rate of chronic kidney disease stage progression at the 3‐month follow‐up was similar between the groups (21% vs 18%).

Conclusions

Our results confirm that both PCA and PN have a minor impact on renal function. While we observed a statistically greater decline in eGFR after PCA compared with PN, both approaches result in excellent preservation of renal function.
The support needs of parents having a child with a chronic kidney disease: a focus group study
Authors: Geense W. W. , van Gaal B. G. I. , Knoll J. L. , Cornelissen E. A. M. , van Achterberg T.
Published: May 2017

Background

Parents of children with a chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a crucial role in the management of their child's disease. The burden on parents is high: they are often exhausted, depressed and experience high levels of stress and a low quality of life, which could have a negative impact on their child's health outcomes. Support aiming at preventing and reducing parental stress is essential. Therefore, it is necessary to have insight in the problems and support needs among these parents.

Objective

Our aim is to describe parents' support needs regarding the problems they experience in having a child with CKD.

Methods

Five focus group interviews were conducted with parents of children: (i) with hereditary kidney disease, (ii) with nephrotic syndrome, (iii) with chronic kidney failure, (iv) using dialysis and (v) after renal transplantation. The children were treated at a paediatric nephrology unit in one university hospital in the Netherlands. The data were thematically analysed.

Results

Twenty‐one parents participated in the focus groups. Parents need more information about their child's CKD and treatment options, and managing their own hobbies and work. Furthermore, parents need emotional support from their partner, family, friends, peers and healthcare professionals to help them cope with the disease of their child. Additionally, parents need practical support to hand over their care and support in transport, financial management and regarding their child at school.

Conclusion

Needs regarding balancing their personal life are seldom prioritized by parents as the child's needs are considered more important. Therefore, it is important that healthcare professionals should not only attend to the abilities of parents concerning their child's disease management, but also focus on the parents' abilities in balancing their responsibilities as a caregiver with their own personal life.
A familial study of twins with severe asthenozoospermia identified a homozygous SPAG17 mutation by whole‐exome sequencing
Authors: Xu X. , Sha Y.‐W. , Mei L.‐B. , Ji Z.‐Y. , Qiu P.‐p. , Ji H. , Li P. , Wang T. , Li L.
Published: May 2017

Asthenozoospermia (AZS) is a common cause of male infertility, characterized by abnormal reduction in the motility of ejaculated spermatozoa. Here, in a patient from a consanguineous family, we identified a homozygous mutation (c.G4343A, p.R1448Q) in SPAG17 by whole‐exome sequencing. The encoded protein, SPAG17, localizes to the axonemal central apparatus and is considered essential for flagellar waveform. In silico analysis revealed that R1448Q is a potential pathogenic mutation. Immunostaining and western blot assays showed that the R1448Q mutation may exert a negative effect on the steady‐state of the SPAG17 protein. Therefore, SPAG17 may be a new pathogenic gene causing AZS.
Antidepressant‐like effects of tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside in mice: Involvement of BDNF signaling cascade in the hippocampus
Authors: Wang Hao , Zhao Ying , Wang Ying‐Jie , Song Lu , Wang Jin‐Liang , Huang Chao , Zhang Wei , Jiang Bo
Published: May 2017

Background and Aims

Current antidepressants in clinic need weeks of administration and always have significant limitations. Tetrahydroxystilbene glucoside (TSG) is one of the major bioactive ingredients of Polygonum multiflorum with neuroprotective effects. This study aimed to evaluate the antidepressant effects of TSG in mice.

Methods

The antidepressant‐like effects of TSG in mice were examined in the forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), and chronic social defeat stress (CSDS) model of depression. The effects of CSDS and TSG on the hippocampal brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) signaling pathway and neurogenesis were further investigated. Moreover, the pharmacological inhibitors and lentiviral‐shRNA were used to explore the antidepressant mechanisms of TSG.

Results

TSG produced antidepressant‐like effects in the FST and TST and also reversed the CSDS‐induced depressive‐like symptoms. Moreover, TSG treatment significantly restored the decreased hippocampal BDNF signaling pathway and neurogenesis in CSDS mice. Importantly, blockade of the hippocampal BDNF system fully abolished the antidepressant‐like effects of TSG in mice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, TSG produces antidepressant‐like effects in mice via enhancement of the hippocampal BDNF system.
A defensive endosymbiont fails to protect aphids against the parasitoid community present in the field
Authors: LENHART PAUL A. , WHITE JENNIFER A.
Published: May 2017

1. The value of protective mutualisms provided by some facultative endosymbionts has been well demonstrated in the laboratory, yet only recently has their effectiveness in the field been studied. ‘Candidatus Hamiltonella defensa’ is known to defend aphids from parasitoid wasps in laboratory trials. However, the efficacy of this defence varies among parasitoids, suggesting that protection will vary spatially and temporally depending on parasitoid community composition.

2. This demonstrated specificity and a dearth of studies on Hamiltonella in the field prompted the authors to quantify parasitism rates of Hamiltonella‐infected and ‐uninfected Aphis craccivora Koch aphid colonies in a manipulative field study.

3. It was found that A. craccivora in central Kentucky alfalfa were parasitised by Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Cresson) and Aphelinus sp. Surprisingly, Hamiltonella infection did not lower successful parasitism by the naturally occurring parasitoid wasps. Whether Hamiltonella was effective against L. testaceipes was subsequently tested in a controlled laboratory assay, and no effect on parasitism rate was found.

4. This study emphasises the fact that defensive symbionts sometimes provide no tangible defensive benefits under field conditions, depending on parasitoid community composition. It is hypothesised that the protective mutualism may be beneficial in geographically localised areas. When the symbiosis is effective against a local parasitoid community, aphid clones may experience eruptive population growth and rapidly disperse across a large area, allowing spread to habitats with different parasitoid communities where the mutualism is an ineffective defence.
Concurrent mood and anxiety disorders are associated with pharmacoresistant seizures in patients with MTLE
Authors: Nogueira Mateus H. , Yasuda Clarissa L. , Coan Ana C. , Kanner Andres M. , Cendes Fernando
Published: May 2017

Objective

To investigate whether mood disorders (MD) and anxiety disorders (AD) are associated with seizure control in patients with mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE). We compared patients without any current psychiatric disorder, patients with current MD and/or AD, patients with subsyndromic depression episodes (SSDE) and anxiety episodes (SSAE), and patients with family psychiatric history.

Methods

In a cross‐sectional study, we included 144 consecutive patients with MTLE (82 pharmacoresistant and 62 treatment‐responsive patients). Every patient underwent a psychiatric evaluation including the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition) Axis I (SCID‐I), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), Neurological Disorders Depression Inventory for Epilepsy (NDDI‐E), and Interictal Dysphoric Disorder Inventory (IDDI). Patients were divided into four groups: PsychNeg (G1, n = 61), current SSDE and SSAE (G2, n = 26), Current MD or AD (G3, n = 25), and current mixed MD/AD (G4, n = 32).

Results

Among patients with pharmacoresistant MTLE, 68.3% (56/82) experienced symptoms of depression and/or anxiety (G2, G3, and G4) (odds ratio [OR] 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.41–5.53, p < 0.01). Patients with mixed MD/AD (G4, n = 24/32) were more likely to have pharmacoresistant MTLE (OR 4.04, 95% CI 1.57–10.42, p < 0.01) than psychiatric asymptomatic patients (G1, n = 26/61), and their seizure frequency was significantly higher (p < 0.01). Positive family psychiatric history was more frequent in pharmacoresistant patients (n = 27/82, OR 2.28, 95% CI 1.02–5.05, p = 0.04). Finally, 31.6% of patients with MD and or AD were not receiving psychiatric treatment.

Significance

Identification of comorbid MD/AD and of family psychiatric history is of the essence in patients with MTLE, as they appear to be associated with worse seizure control.
Early ictal and interictal patterns in FIRES: The sparks before the blaze
Authors: Farias‐Moeller Raquel , Bartolini Luca , Staso Katelyn , Schreiber John M. , Carpenter Jessica L.
Published: May 2017

Objective

Febrile infection–related epilepsy syndrome (FIRES) is a catastrophic epileptic encephalopathy described as explosive onset of super refractory status epilepticus (SRSE) in previously healthy children. We describe electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities in the hyperacute phase of FIRES, with the aim of contributing to the diagnostic characterization of a syndrome otherwise lacking specific biomarkers.

Methods

This is a retrospective single‐center, case series of seven children with FIRES. Cases were identified from a Neurocritical Care database. Patient characteristics and clinical course were obtained from electronic medical records. Electroencephalography recordings were reviewed in two segments: the initial 12 h of recording and the 12 h prior to initiation of a medically induced burst suppression (BS).

Results

Fourteen 12‐h segments of video–electroencephalography (EEG) recordings were analyzed for commonalities. A beta–delta complex resembling extreme delta brush (EDB) occurred in at least one 12‐h segment for all patients. In six patients, seizures were brief and relatively infrequent during the first recording, with a gradual evolution to status epilepticus by the second. We observed a characteristic electrographic seizure pattern in six of seven patients with prolonged focal fast activity at onset. Shifting seizures were seen in four of seven patients.

Significance

The diagnosis of FIRES is typically assigned late in a patient's clinical course, which has broad implications for clinical care and research. We retrospectively analyzed acute EEG features in seven patients with FIRES and discovered three common features: gradual increase in seizure burden, presence of a recurrent EDB, and a typical seizure pattern. Recognition of this pattern may facilitate early diagnosis and treatment.
Head, withers and pelvic movement asymmetry and their relative timing in trot in racing Thoroughbreds in training
Authors: Pfau T. , Noordwijk K. , Sepulveda Caviedes M. F. , Persson‐Sjodin E. , Barstow A. , Forbes B. , Rhodin M.
Published: May 2017

Background

Horses show compensatory head movement in hindlimb lameness and compensatory pelvis movement in forelimb lameness but little is known about the relationship of withers movement symmetry with head and pelvic asymmetry in horses with naturally occurring gait asymmetries.

Objectives

To document head, withers and pelvic movement asymmetry and timing differences in horses with naturally occurring gait asymmetries.

Study design

Retrospective analysis of gait data.

Methods

Head, withers and pelvic movement asymmetry and timing of displacement minima and maxima were quantified from inertial sensors in 163 Thoroughbreds during trot‐ups on hard ground. Horses were divided into 4 subgroups using the direction of head and withers movement asymmetry. Scatter plots of head vs. pelvic movement asymmetry illustrated how the head–withers relationship distinguishes between contralateral and ipsilateral head–pelvic movement asymmetry. Independent t test or Mann–Whitney U test (P<0.05) compared pelvic movement asymmetry and timing differences between groups.

Results

The relationship between head and withers asymmetry (i.e. same sided or opposite sided asymmetry) predicts the relationship between head and pelvic asymmetry in 69–77% of horses. Pelvic movement symmetry was significantly different between horses with same sign vs. opposite sign of head–withers asymmetry (P<0.0001). Timing of the maximum head height reached after contralateral (‘sound’) stance was delayed compared to withers (P = 0.02) and pelvis (P = 0.04) in horses with contralateral head–withers asymmetry.

Main limitations

The clinical lameness status of the horses was not investigated.

Conclusion

In the Thoroughbreds with natural gait asymmetries investigated here, the direction of head vs. withers movement asymmetry identifies the majority of horses with ipsilateral and contralateral head and pelvic movement asymmetries. Withers movement should be further investigated for differentiating between forelimb and hindlimb lame horses. Horses with opposite sided head and withers asymmetry significantly delay the upward movement of the head after ‘sound’ forelimb stance.
Additive manufacturing and characterization of complex Al2O3 parts based on a novel stereolithography method
Authors: An Di , Li Hezhen , Xie Zhipeng , Zhu Tianbin , Luo Xudong , Shen Zhijian , Ma Jing
Published: May 2017

In this work, we prepared Al2O3 ceramic green parts with complex geometry and architecture using an additive manufacturing process based on stereolithography. The rheological and thermal behavior of Al2O3 slurry was firstly examined and used to establish the conditions for molding and debinding. As opposed to previous researches that only focused on manufacture techniques, the sintering behavior and densification process were systematically investigated. In addition, special attentions were paid to the evolution of microstructure between green bodies and sintered parts. The results showed that debound parts were equipped with uniform particle packing and narrow pore size distribution. The dimensions of the Al2O3 parts changed anisotropically with the different processing steps. The densification process was greatly accelerated by the decrease in pore size and annihilating of interconnected pores in which significant grain growth was observed above 1450°C. The sintered part also had a homogeneous microstructure and no interface between adjacent layers. High densification (relative density of 99.1%) and much desirable Vickers hardness (17.9 GPa) of Al2O3 parts were achieved at the sintering temperature of 1650°C.
Impact of activator chemistry on permeability of alkali‐activated slags
Authors: Blyth Anna , Eiben Catherine A. , Scherer George W. , White Claire E.
Published: May 2017

Durability of alkali‐activated slags has been assessed by measuring the permeability using the beam‐bending technique. This nondestructive technique obtains permeability values by measuring the hydrodynamic load relaxation curve of a saturated slender beam of solid paste placed in three‐point bending. The impact of activator selection on the permeability of alkali‐activated slags has been assessed together with the effects of water‐to‐precursor ratio, revealing that free silica in the activating solution is the dominant factor controlling permeability. The permeability results have been correlated with nitrogen sorption and mercury intrusion porosimetry to elucidate the percolated pore size controlling permeability. Comparison with existing beam‐bending results for ordinary portland cement (OPC) paste shows that alkali‐activated slags can be synthesized with permeability having the same order of magnitude as for OPC, indicating that certain alkali‐activated slags are as resistant as OPC to ingress of solutions associated with deterioration processes.
Xenogeneic collagen matrix versus connective tissue graft for buccal soft tissue augmentation at implant site. A randomized, controlled clinical trial
Authors: Cairo Francesco , Barbato Luigi , Tonelli Paolo , Batalocco Guido , Pagavino Gabriella , Nieri Michele
Published: May 2017

Background

Peri‐implant soft tissue may be critical to prevent inflammation and promote gingival margin stability. The purpose of this randomized clinical trial (RCT) is to compare xenogeneic collagen matrix (XCM) versus connective tissue graft (CTG) to increase buccal soft tissue thickness at implant site.

Materials and methods

Soft tissue augmentation with XCM (test) or CTG (control) was performed at 60 implants in 60 patients at the time of implant uncovering. Measurements were performed by a blinded examiner at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Outcome measures included buccal soft tissue thickness (GT), apico‐coronal keratinized tissue (KT), chair time and post‐operative discomfort. Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used to evaluate patient satisfaction.

Results

After 6 months, the final GT increase was 0.9 ± 0.2 in the XCM group and 1.2 ± 0.3 mm in the CTG group, with a significant difference favouring the control group (0.3 mm; p = .0001). Both procedures resulted in similar final KT amount with no significant difference between treatments. XCM was associated with significant less chair‐time (p < .0001), less post‐operative pain (p < .0001), painkillers intake (p < .0001) and higher final satisfaction than CTG (p = .0195).

Conclusion

CTG was more effective than XCM to increase buccal peri‐implant soft tissue thickness.
Night‐shift work is associated with poorer glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Manodpitipong Areesa , Saetung Sunee , Nimitphong Hataikarn , Siwasaranond Nantaporn , Wongphan Thanawat , Sornsiriwong Chotima , Luckanajantachote Pranee , Mangjit Prasitchai , Keesukphan Prasit , Crowley Stephanie J. , Hood Megan M. , Reutrakul Sirimon
Published: May 2017

The circadian system plays a role in regulating metabolism. Night‐shift work, a form of circadian misalignment, is associated with increased type 2 diabetes risk. This study aimed to determine if night‐shift workers with type 2 diabetes experience poorer glycaemic control than non‐shift workers. Patients with type 2 diabetes (104 unemployed, 85 day workers and 60 night‐shift workers) participated. Sleep duration, sleep quality, morningness–eveningness preference, depressive symptoms and dietary intake were assessed using standardized questionnaires. Haemoglobin A1c levels were measured. Night‐shift workers had significantly higher haemoglobin A1c levels compared with others, while there were no differences between day workers and unemployed participants (median 7.86% versus 7.24% versus 7.09%, respectively). Additionally, night‐shift workers were younger, had a higher body mass index, and consumed more daily calories than others. Among night‐shift workers, there were no significant differences in haemoglobin A1c levels between those performing rotating versus non‐rotating shifts (P = 0.856), or those with clockwise versus counterclockwise shift rotation (P = 0.833). After adjusting for age, body mass index, insulin use, sleep duration, morningness–eveningness preference and percentage of daily intake from carbohydrates, night‐shift work, compared with day work, was associated with significantly higher haemoglobin A1c (B = 0.059, P = 0.044), while there were no differences between unemployed participants and day workers (B = 0.016, P = 0.572). In summary, night‐shift work is associated with poorer glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes.