bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improving ester hydrolytic stability using triblock polyalkylene glycols
Authors: Greaves Martin Robert , Zaugg Hoozemans Evelyn
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the role of different polyalkylene glycol architectures in improving the hydrolytic stability of natural and synthetic esters.

Design/methodology/approach

Hydrolytic stability measurements were conducted using a modified ASTM D2619 test method in which several polyalkylene glycol chemistries were examined at concentrations of up to 10 per cent in a selection of esters.

Findings

The inclusion of triblock copolymers derived from ethylene oxide (EO) and 1,2-propylene oxide (PO) and with an EO content of about 30 per cent produced significant improvements in the hydrolytic stability of natural and synthetic esters. Stability improved with increased concentration of the triblock.

Research limitations/implications

The study did not evaluate the vast array of polyalkylene glycol structures that can be derived from other higher alkylene oxides.

Practical implications

Improving the hydrolytic stability of esters can offer the possibility of creating longer life environmentally acceptable lubricants (EALs).

Social implications

This discovery should allow longer life EALs to be designed thereby using less raw materials over a determined period. It may also allow more replacement of conventional hydrocarbon lubricants.

Originality/value

Triblock copolymers are rarely used in lubricants. Their use as components of ester-based EALs is new.
Rheological behavior of lithium grease with CNTs/GNPs hybrid nanocomposite as an additive
Authors: Ashour Mohamed , Mohamed Alaa , Elshalakany Abou Bakr , Osman Tarek , Khatab Aly
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the rheological characteristics of graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) and hybridized nanocomposite consisting of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and GNPs as an additive on lithium-based grease. The experiments of nanogrease are examined in different values of shear stress, apparent viscosity, temperature and shear rate using Brookfield Programmable Rheometer DV-III ULTRA and characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Design/methodology/approach

First, GNPs was mixed well with lithium grease using mechanical stirring at 3,500 rpm for 15 min at room temperature to form a homogenous composite at different concentrations (0.5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 Wt.%). Afterwards, MWCNTs and GNPs are mixed and dispersed well in the lithium grease using a sonication path for 30 min and mechanical stirring at 3,500 rpm for 15 min at 28°C to form a homogenous nanocomposite.

Findings

The results indicated that 1 Wt.% of GNPs is the optimum concentration. Subsequently, the weight percentage of additives varying between MWCNTs and GNPs are tested, and the result indicate that the grease containing GNPs had a 75 per cent increase in shear stress and 93.7 per cent increase in apparent viscosity over ordinary grease.

Originality/value

This work describes the inexpensive and simple fabrication of nanogrease for improving properties of lubricants, which improve power efficiency and extend lifetimes of mechanical equipment.
Dynamics influences of Tobin’s Q and CEO compensation on US stocks
Authors: Rahman Matiur , Mustafa Muhammad
Published: February 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to empirically explore the influences of Tobin’s Q and CEO compensation of 249 US companies on their stock returns.

Design/methodology/approach

Heterogeneous panel data for these companies over 2004-2012 are used invoking panel cointegration techniques.

Findings

Panel unit root tests and Pedroni cointegration tests confirm nonstationarity of each variable and cointegration among the above three variables. The panel vector error-correction model (VECM) estimates reveal long-run convergence with tepid adjustment. The short-run net interactive feedback effects are positive. The panel generalized method of moments estimates lend further support to the panel VECM inferences.

Originality/value

The topic is unique and the existing literature on this topic is scant. Relatively new econometric techniques have been applied for estimation using panel data. The results are quite insightful, in the authors’ view.
Risk and capital in Indonesian large banks
Authors: Raz Arisyi Fariza
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the behavior of banking risk in the emerging economies, particularly Indonesia and contribute to the discussion on the existing policy debate regarding the impact of capital on bank risk.

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigates the relationship between bank risk and capital using data on 15 Indonesian large banks between 2008 and 2015, using z-score and Delta-CoVaR to measure both idiosyncratic and systemic risks.

Findings

The empirical investigation suggests that capital has a negative and significant relationship with these risk measures. The authors also find that higher systemic risk encourages banks to increase their capital. However, similar evidence is not found in the idiosyncratic risk models. Finally, the role of capital in reducing risk is considered robust only during the normal periods, as banks may increase their assets risk during times of financial distress.

Originality/value

Systemic risk (CoVaR) is used to represent bank risk. This study focuses on the Indonesian banking sector (capture institutional arrangements and regulatory environment). It covers the period of 2008 GFC and post-crisis period.
Passive leadership and its relationship with organizational justice
Authors: Adeel Muhammad Majid , Khan Hafiz Ghufran Ali , Zafar Naveed , Rizvi Syed Tahir
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship among passive leadership, organizational justice and affect-based trust. In addition, the meditating role of affect-based trust between these relationships is also investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

The data have been collected using anonymously completed questionnaire that has questions regarding passive leadership as independent variable, affect-based trust as mediator and organizational justice as dependent variable.

Findings

It is noted that the passive leadership is negatively associated with the affect-based trust and perceptions of organizational justice and the mediating role of affect-based trust is also confirmed between these relationships.

Originality/value

This study provides a new insight for social science knowledge base by explaining the direct relationship of passive leadership with organizational justice and through affect-based trust.
Learning from errors in insurance companies
Authors: Anselmann Veronika , Mulder Regina H.
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The study pursues two goals: first, as a replication study, the purpose of this paper is to test a model of learning from errors in the domain of insurance industry. Second, to increase insights in learning from errors, the authors focussed on different types of errors.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a cross-sectional survey in the insurance industry (N=206). The authors used structural equation modelling and path modelling to analyse the data. To be able to analyse different types of errors, the authors used Critical Incident Technique and asked participants to describe error situations.

Findings

Findings from the study are that the model of learning from errors could partly be replicated. The results indicate that a non-punitive orientation towards errors is an important factor to reduce the tendency of insurance agents to cover up errors when knowledge and rule-based errors happen. In situations of slips and lapses error strain has a negative influence on trust and non-punitive orientation which in turn both reduce the tendency to cover up errors.

Research limitations/implications

Limitation is the small sample size. By using Critical Incidents Technique, the authors were able to analyse authentic error situations. Implications of the results concern the importance of error-friendly climate in organisations.

Originality/value

Replication studies are important to generalise results to different domains. To increase the insight in learning from errors, the authors analysed influencing factors with regard to different types of errors.
Social policy and late-life happiness: the impact of the basic old-age pension on the happiness of older people in South Korea
Authors: Park Seung-Min
Published: February 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between social policy and late-life happiness by analyzing the impact of the basic old-age pension on the happiness of older people in South Korea.

Design/methodology/approach

People aged 65 and over selected from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing are analyzed in the study.

Findings

It shows that the association between the basic old-age pension and the happiness of older people is negative. This may be attributable to the frugality of the benefits and the side effects of the means test.

Originality/value

This implies that the relationship between social policy and late-life happiness is not linear but it is affected by the context of the policy. It suggests that changing the fundamental benefit system to be more progressive can be a more useful policy option to realize the initial policy goal for recipients.
Bond yield spillovers from major advanced economies to emerging Asia
Authors: Belke Ansgar , Dubova Irina , Volz Ulrich
Published: February 2018

This article explores the extent to which changes to long‐term interest rates in major advanced economies have influenced long‐term government bond yields in emerging Asia. To gauge long‐term interest spillover effects, the article uses vector autoregressive (VAR) variance decompositions with high frequency data. Our results reveal that sovereign bond yields in emerging Asia responded significantly to changes to US and eurozone bond yields, although the magnitudes were heterogeneous across countries. The size of spillovers varied over time. The pattern of these variations can partially be explained by the implementation of different unconventional monetary policy measures in advanced countries.
A computational‐experimental framework for mapping plant coexistence
Authors: Jiang Libo , Shi Chaozhong , Ye Meixia , Xi Feifei , Cao Yige , Wang Lina , Zhang Miaomiao , Sang Mengmeng , Wu Rongling
Published: February 2018

Despite its importance in understanding the emergent property of plant communities and ecosystems, the question of how genes govern species coexistence has proven very difficult to answer. In a plant community that behaves like a network game, each coexisting plant strives to maximize its fitness by pursuing a “rational self‐interest” strategy in a way that affects the decisive reaction of other plants.

We integrated this principle founding game theory into a quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping paradigm, on which to derive a game mapping model for the genetic landscaping of how plants coexist. The new mapping model dissolves the phenotype of each plant in a community into two components, autonomous phenotype, characteristic of the plant's intrinsic ability expected to be expressed in isolation, and social phenotype, determined by game theory‐guided interactions between the plant and other members.

We implemented the new model into a competition experiment by pairwise growing 116 recombinant inbred lines of Arabidopsis. Most QTLs detected from this experiment reside within biologically meaningful genes, including SCL6, CAR6, CLPB1, ALDH5F1, and EMB2217, which may mediate competitive interactions in unique ways. The new model can chart more detailed genetic architecture of plant community structure and diversity by extracting the genetic effects of QTLs on social phenotypes.

Our model lays the groundwork for predicting and managing dynamic relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem functioning from co‐species genotypes.
Biological legacies promote succession and soil development on tephra from the Puyehue‐Cordon Caulle eruption (2011)
Authors: Ferreiro Nicolás , Satti Patricia , Mazzarino María J.
Published: February 2018

Volcanic deposits have frequently been studied from a successional point of view, but the main focus has been on vegetation dynamics, and less frequently on the development of invertebrate and microbial communities and soil properties. Biological legacies, understood as living organisms, seeds, organic debris and biologically derived patterns in soils and understories, are important in succession, and may also influence soil development on young volcanic deposits. The volcanic eruption of the Chilean Puyehue–Cordón Caulle complex (Northern Patagonia) in June 2011 deposited tephra in southern Argentina. Sandy tephra up to 30 cm deep was deposited in the De los Siete Lagos road in Nahuel Huapi and Lanín National Parks, where a road under construction had exposed sub‐soil lacking vegetation, while adjacent forest supported a canopy ofNothofagus dombeyiwithChusquea culeouin the understory. This situation provided a unique opportunity to study soil development and succession on nearby young volcanic deposits with different biological legacies, considering several biological communities. Our hypothesis is that 29 months after the eruption the tephra in the forest would have higher organic C, total N, available P and biological activity than the tephra deposited on the roadside. Plant cover and species richness, invertebrate abundance and richness, as well as substrate respiration, N mineralization and enzymatic activities were highest in the forest. In addition, organic carbon and nutrient incorporation rates in the forest were twice those in the roadside substrate. Nevertheless, two and a half years after the eruption, most variables remained an order of magnitude lower than values expected for temperate forest soils. Surviving canopy and understory play a key role in ecosystem recovery after tephra deposition, providing seeds and organic matter and establishing conditions appropriate for plants, invertebrates, and microorganisms that would in turn accelerate soil development.
Outcomes for women without conventional treatment for stage 1A (microinvasive) carcinoma of the cervix
Authors: Paul Charlotte , Sharples Katrina J , Baranyai Judith , Jones Ronald W , Skegg David CG
Published: February 2018

Background

An unethical clinical study that entailed withholding treatment from women diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3) was conducted at National Women's Hospital, Auckland, New Zealand. Women with microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix also had treatment withheld.

Aims

To describe the management and outcomes for women with microinvasive carcinoma for many of whom conventional treatment was withheld.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective cohort study of women with a diagnosis of stage 1A cervical carcinoma at National Women's Hospital. Medical records, cytology and histopathology were reviewed and data linked with cancer and death registries up to December 2000.

Results

Between 1955 and 1976, 62 women were initially diagnosed with stage 1A cervical cancer and 20 were diagnosed during follow up (to 1995). Sixty of the 82 women had initial management characterised as ‘probably non‐curative’; 20 of these received only a small diagnostic excision. Women in the latter group were more likely to: (i) subsequently have positive cytology (P < 0.0005), (ii) have untreated positive cytology (P = 0.02), and (iii) undergo multiple biopsies after initial management (P = 0.001). Of the women who received only a small diagnostic excision, eight of 20 developed invasive carcinoma of the cervix (≥ stage 1B) or vaginal vault, compared to two of 22 women who received initial treatment characterised as ‘probably curative’.

Conclusions

Women with microinvasive carcinoma were included in a natural history study of CIN3; they underwent numerous procedures designed to observe rather than treat their condition, and had a substantial risk of invasive cancer.
Analysis of influencing factors of boar claw lesion and lameness
Authors: Wang Chao , Li Jia‐Lian , Wei Hong‐Kui , Zhou Yuan‐Fei , Tan Jia‐Jian , Sun Hai‐Qing , Jiang Si‐Wen , Peng Jian
Published: February 2018

This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting boar claw lesions and lameness. A total of 1299 boars were examined for claw lesions and lameness, including 788 boars reared in individual pens with solid concreted floor (IPS) and 511 boars raised in individual stalls with slatted floor (ISS). Flooring type showed significant impacts on all claw lesion types (P < 0.01). Except for swelling ankle, boar age had significant effects on all other claw lesion types (P < 0.01). In addition, only heel overgrowth and erosion, cracked wall horizontal, heel‐sole crack, dew claws, and toes were significantly related to boar breeds (P < 0.05). Furthermore, IPS lame boars had higher prevalence of lameness in the hind limb (P < 0.05), whereas in ISS lame boars, there were no significant differences in prevalence of lameness between the fore and hind limbs (P > 0.05). Boar lameness was moderately correlated with swelling ankle (Φ = 0.5571). In conclusion, claw lesions can be influenced by flooring type, boar age and breed, and could serve as a predictor for boar lameness.
Medicine‐related beliefs predict attribution of symptoms to a sham medicine: A prospective study
Authors: Webster Rebecca K. , Weinman John , Rubin G. James
Published: February 2018

Objectives

To investigate a range of possible predictors of nocebo responses to medicines.

Design

Prospective cohort study.

Methods

In total, 203 healthy adult volunteers completed measures concerning demographics, psychological factors, medicine‐related beliefs, baseline symptoms, and symptom expectations before taking a sham pill, described as ‘a well‐known tablet available without prescription’ that was known to be associated with several side effects. Associations between these measures and subsequent attribution of symptoms to the tablet were assessed using a hurdle model consisting of a joint logistic and truncated negative binomial regression.

Results

Men had an increased odds of attributing symptoms to the tablet OR = 1.52, and older participants had decreased odds, OR = 0.97. Medicine‐related beliefs were important, with modern health worries, belief that medicines cause harm and perceived sensitivity to medicines associated with increased odds of symptom attribution, OR = 1.02, 1.10, 1.09, respectively. Trust in medicines and pharmaceutical companies decreased the odds of symptom attribution, OR = 0.91, 0.88, respectively. The number of symptoms at baseline and the expected likelihood of symptoms were associated with an increased odds of attributing symptoms to the tablet, OR = 1.07, 1.06, respectively. Anxiety, previous symptom experience, symptom expectations, and modern health worries were also important in predicting the number of symptoms participants attributed to the tablet.

Conclusion

It is hard to predict who is at risk of developing nocebo responses to medicines from demographic or personality characteristics. Context‐specific factors such as beliefs about and trust in medicines, current symptoms and symptom expectations are more useful as predictors. More work is needed to investigate this in a patient sample.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Many patients report non‐specific side effects to their medication which may arise through a nocebo effect.

Whether some people are particularly predisposed to experience nocebo effects remains unclear.

What does this study add?

Demographic and personality characteristics are poor predictors of symptom attribution to a sham medicine.

Instead, context‐specific factors that concern people's beliefs surrounding medicines, their current symptoms, and symptom expectations are more useful as predictors of symptom attribution.
REGIONAL ANTI‐CORRUPTION EFFORT, POLITICAL CONNECTIONS AND FIRM INNOVATION EFFORT: EVIDENCE FROM CHINA
Authors: Yu Feifei , Guo Yue , Lettic Fiona , Barnes Stuart J
Published: February 2018

This paper examines how firm characteristics and local anti‐corruption effort moderate the influence of political connections on enterprises’ private R&D investment using data from 2,587 Chinese A‐share listed enterprises. Our results show that the local anti‐corruption institutional environment significantly moderates the strong relationship between political connections and enterprises’ private R&D investment. Firm characteristics (i.e., firm size and firm age) also show a moderating effect on the relationship between political connection and enterprises’ private R&D investment; larger and older enterprises are more likely to have innovative resources and business cooperation partners, and thus are able to reduce their degree of reliance on political connections and government funding. The results of our study suggest the importance of having a transparent and fair institutional environment for enterprise innovation activities.
CRNDE: An important oncogenic long non‐coding RNA in human cancers
Authors: Zhang Jiaming , Yin Minuo , Peng Gang , Zhao Yingchao
Published: February 2018

Aberrant overexpression of long non‐coding RNA CRNDE (Colorectal Neoplasia Differentially Expressed) is confirmed in various human cancers, which is correlated with advanced clinicopathological features and poor prognosis. CRNDE promotes cancer cell proliferation, migration and invasion, and suppresses apoptosis in complicated mechanisms, which result in the initialization and development of human cancers. In this review, we provide an overview of the oncogenic role and potential clinical applications of CRNDE.
FNA of peri‐implant seroma of the breast
Authors: Hatem J. , Tobey J. D. , Solomon M. P. , Yu G. H.
Published: February 2018

Case report of FNA findings of a peri‐implant seroma of the breast, including the differential diagnosis of breast implant‐associated anaplastic large cell lymphoma
Tranquilizer misuse among active cocaine users: Predictors of initiation
Authors: Roy Élise , Arruda Nelson , Jutras‐Aswad Didier , Berbiche Djamal , Motta‐Ochoa Rossio , Bruneau Julie
Published: February 2018

Introduction and Aims

Tranquilizer use is associated with negative health outcomes among people who use drugs. This paper aims to estimate the incidence rate (initiation) and identify predictors of tranquilizer misuse (TM) among cocaine users.

Design and Methods

A prospective cohort study was conducted in Montreal, Canada. Interviewer‐administered questionnaires were carried out at 3‐month intervals. Initiation was defined as misusing a tranquilizer for the first time during follow‐up. ‘Lasting‐initiation’, defined as reporting TM at the next visit following first use, was also examined. Cox proportional hazard regression analyses were carried out to assess predictors of initiation to TM.

Results

Among the 245 participants who were eligible for the initiation analyses, 123 started TM during follow‐up for an incidence rate of 40.49 per 100 person‐years (95% confidence interval, CI: 33.80–48.15). Of the 123 initiates, 35.7% were still using at the interview following initiation for an incidence rate of 14.70 per 100 person‐years (95% CI: 10.82–19.56). Multivariate models showed that independent predictors of initiation and ‘lasting initiation’ were identical as having had a criminal activity as the main source of income, having been recently in treatment for a substance use disorder (SUD) and reporting non‐medical use of prescription opioids.

Discussion and Conclusions

The incidence rate of TM initiation was high among a sample of cocaine users. Initiation was predicted by a problematic drug use pattern involving polydrug use, involvement in the street economy and having been in treatment for a SUD. These findings have implications for prevention and harm reduction strategies.
Legacy benefits of blood glucose, blood pressure and lipid control in individuals with diabetes and cardiovascular disease: Time to overcome multifactorial therapeutic inertia?
Authors: Khunti Kamlesh , Kosiborod Mikhail , Ray Kausik K.
Published: February 2018

Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally and the largest contributor to healthcare costs. There is good evidence that management of risk factors such as blood pressure, dyslipidaemia and glucose can lead to improved microvascular and macrovascular complications in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Legacy effect is a phenomenon used to describe the prolonged benefits of glucose, blood pressure or lipid control in individuals with cardiovascular disease, diabetes or in primary prevention of cardiovascular disease by early risk factor control. There is now also good quality evidence on the legacy benefits of multifactorial risk factor interventions on renal, cardiovascular and mortality outcomes. Despite this robust evidence, therapeutic inertia is widespread in the management of these risk factors in clinical practice.
Metformin does not affect postabsorptive hepatic free fatty acid uptake, oxidation or resecretion in humans: A 3‐month placebo‐controlled clinical trial in patients with type 2 diabetes and healthy controls
Authors: Gormsen Lars C. , Søndergaard Esben , Christensen Nana L. , Jakobsen Steen , Nielsen Erik H. T. , Munk Ole L. , Tolbod Lars P. , Jessen Niels , Nielsen Søren
Published: February 2018

Aims

To explore whether the pre‐clinical findings that metformin improves lipid metabolism, possibly through modulation of intrahepatic partitioning of fatty acids towards oxidation and away from re‐esterification and resecretion as triglycerides (TGs), can be translated to a human setting.

Materials and methods

We performed a 3‐month randomized, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐group clinical trial in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D; n = 24) and healthy controls (n = 12). Patients with T2D received either placebo (placebo group) or 1000 mg metformin twice daily (metformin group), while healthy subjects were all treated with metformin (control group). Hepatic fatty acid metabolism was measured by [11C]palmitate positron‐emission tomography, hepatic TG secretion and peripheral oxidation by ex vivo labelled [1‐14C]VLDL‐TG and VLDL particle size by TG/apolipoprotein B ratio. Body composition was assessed by dual‐energy X‐ray and whole‐body lipid oxidation by indirect calorimetry.

Results

Metformin treatment for 3 months produced the anticipated decrease in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) in the metformin group (FPG 7.9 ± 1.8 mM [study day 1] vs 6.4 ± 1.1 mM [study day 2]), whereas patients in the placebo group and healthy controls had similar FPG levels before and after the trial (mixed model group vs time interaction; P = .003); however, contrary to our hypothesis, metformin treatment did not affect hepatic lipid metabolism or peripheral oxidation.

Conclusion

The observed beneficial effects on lipid metabolism during metformin treatment in humans appear to be secondary to long‐term alterations in body composition or glucose homeostasis.
Successful management of a rare type of complex myxofibrosarcoma which affected right lung and invading into the left atrium under the guidance of multimode image
Authors: Zhang Heng , Zhu Da , Dong Li
Published: February 2018

Myxofibrosarcoma is a rare type of highly malignant sarcoma which easily occur lung metastasis. We report a rare metastatic myxofibrosarcoma which generated from the upper and middle lobe of the lung, invading the right superior pulmonary vein, extending to the left atrium. A single imaging examination may lead to misdiagnosis, so the combination of computed tomography imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, as well as positron emission tomographic scan are necessary for perioperative diagnosis and surgical planning.
Nicotinic activity layer specifically modulates synaptic potentiation in the mouse insular cortex
Authors: Toyoda Hiroki
Published: February 2018

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the insular cortex play an important role in nicotine addiction, but its cellular and synaptic mechanisms underlying nicotine addiction still remain unresolved. In layer 5 pyramidal neurons of the mouse insular cortex, activation of nAChRs suppresses synaptic potentiation through enhancing GABAergic synaptic transmission via activation of β2‐containing nAChRs in non‐fast‐spiking (non‐FS) interneurons. However, it has not been addressed whether and how activation of nAChRs modulates synaptic plasticity in layers 3 and 6 pyramidal neurons of the insular cortex. In this study, I demonstrate that activation of nAChRs oppositely modulates synaptic potentiation in layers 3 and 6 pyramidal neurons of the insular cortex. In layer 3 pyramidal neurons, activation of nAChRs depressed synaptic potentiation induced by combination of presynaptic stimulation with postsynaptic depolarization (paired training) through enhancing GABAergic synaptic transmission via activation of β2‐containing nAChRs in non‐FS interneurons. By contrast, in layer 6 pyramidal neurons, activation of nAChRs enhanced synaptic potentiation through activating postsynaptic β2‐containing nAChRs. These results indicate, in different layers of the mouse insular cortex, paired training‐induced synaptic potentiation is oppositely regulated by activation of nAChRs which are located on GABAergic interneurons (layer 3) and on pyramidal neurons (layer 6). Thus, layer‐specific modulation of synaptic potentiation may be involved in cellular and synaptic mechanisms of insular cortical changes in nicotine addiction.
Electrogenic N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor signaling enhances binaural responses in the adult brainstem
Authors: Siveke Ida , Ammer Julian J. , Gleiss Sarah A. , Grothe Benedikt , Leibold Christian , Felmy Felix
Published: February 2018

In sensory systems, the neuronal representation of external stimuli is enhanced along the sensory pathway. In the auditory system, strong enhancement of binaural information takes place between the brainstem and the midbrain; however, the underlying cellular mechanisms are unknown. Here we investigated the transformation of binaural information in the dorsal nucleus of the lateral lemniscus (DNLL), a nucleus that connects the binaural nuclei in the brainstem and the inferior colliculus in the midbrain. We used in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology in adult Mongolian gerbils to show that N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDARs) play a critical role in neuronal encoding of stimulus properties in the DNLL. While NMDARs increase firing rates, the timing and the accuracy of the neuronal responses remain unchanged. NMDAR‐mediated excitation increases the information about the acoustic stimulus. Taken together, our results show that NMDARs in the DNLL enhance the auditory information content in adult mammal brainstem.
Reticence
Authors: Batho David
Published: February 2018

There is an obvious role for self‐assertion within discourse. It is much less obvious what role self‐withdrawal might play. Indeed, it is far from obvious what role it could play. For how can we enter into discourse at all if we pull ourselves from the fray? Heidegger, however, claims not only that self‐withdrawal has a role to play but that reticence is the authentic mode of discourse. In this paper, I develop an account of reticence that explains its importance to Being and Time. I argue that Heidegger's conception of reticence is central to his explanation of how the understanding can be developed in terms of the things themselves, rather than in terms of what one says about things.
Topological analysis of DPY19L3, a human C‐mannosyltransferase
Authors: Niwa Yuki , Nakano Yoshihiko , Suzuki Takehiro , Yamagishi Mizuo , Otani Kei , Dohmae Naoshi , Simizu Siro
Published: February 2018

C‐mannosylation is a rare type of protein glycosylation, the functions and mechanisms of which remain unclear. Recently, we identified DPY19L3 as a C‐mannosyltransferase of R‐spondin1 in human cells. DPY19L3 is predicted to be a multipass transmembrane protein that localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER); however, its structure is undetermined. In this study, we propose a topological structure of DPY19L3 by in silico analysis and experimental methods such as redox‐sensitive luciferase assay and introduction of N‐glycosylation sites, suggesting that DPY19L3 comprises 11 transmembrane regions and two re‐entrant loops with the N‐ and C‐terminal ends facing the cytoplasm and ER lumen, respectively. Furthermore, DPY19L3 has four predicted N‐glycosylation sites, and we have demonstrated that DPY19L3 is N‐glycosylated at Asn118 and Asn704 but not Asn319 and Asn439, supporting our topological model. By mass spectrometry, we measured the C‐mannosyltransferase activity of N‐glycosylation‐defective mutants of DPY19L3 and isoform2, a splice variant, which lacks the C‐terminal luminal region of DPY19L3. Isoform2 does not possess C‐mannosyltransferase activity, indicating the importance of the C‐terminal region; however, N‐glycosylations of DPY19L3 do not have any roles for its enzymatic activity. These novel findings on DPY19L3 provide important insights into the mechanism of C‐mannosylation.
In vitro and in vivo characterization of modulation of the vacuolar cation channel TRPY1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Hamamoto Shin , Mori Yasuo , Yabe Isamu , Uozumi Nobuyuki
Published: February 2018

Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses a transient receptor potential (TRP) channel homolog TRPY1 in its vacuolar membrane, considered to be an ancestral TRP channel. So far, studies have focused on the channel properties of TRPY1, but its regulation and physiologic role remained to be elucidated. Here, we investigated TRPY1 channel function in vitro and in vivo. Patch‐clamp recording of TRPY1 in yeast vacuolar membranes showed that Ca2+ on the lumen side inhibited TRPY1‐mediated channel activity, whereas luminal Zn2+ increased the currents. TRPY1 was activated in the presence of a reducing agent, 2‐mercaptoethanol. The cysteine at position 624 was identified as the target for this activating action. This activation was independent of the presence of cytosolic Ca2+. The amplitude of TRPY1‐mediated current was reduced by addition of phosphatidylinositol 3‐phosphate on the cytosolic side but not by phosphatidylinositol (PI) or phosphatidylinositol 3,5‐phosphate. Measurement of the transient Ca2+ increase in response to hyper‐osmotic shock in several yeast mutants defective in different steps of the PI phosphate biogenesis pathway supported this interpretation. Addition of a microtubule inhibitor strongly decreased the transient cytosolic Ca2+ increase upon hyper‐osmotic shock. Taken together, the data indicate that the vacuolar TRPY1 Ca2+ channel mediates the perception of cytosolic signals that were induced by external changes in osmolarity, and participates in the modulation of cytosolic calcium signaling through Ca2+ release from the vacuole to maintain intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in yeast.
Short‐crack thresholds and propagation in an AISI 4340 steel under the effect of SP residual stresses
Authors: Patriarca L. , Filippini M. , Beretta S.
Published: February 2018

The effect of residual stresses induced by shot‐peening in a high‐strength AISI 4340 steel has been studied with the purpose of deriving a consistent fatigue model incorporating the results of fatigue crack growth experiments in the threshold region for a broad range of load ratio (R‐ratio ranging from −2.5 to 0.7), and the effect of short cracks by means of a modified El‐Haddad model. The proposed model, taking into account the effect of crack closure and being capable to assess the conditions for fatigue propagation of short cracks partially embedded in the shot‐peened surface layer, was validated against constant amplitude fatigue experiments conducted in the endurance strength region, ie, for fatigue lives up to 107 cycles, with micronotched specimens in the presence of shot‐peening residual stresses. The proposed model was also validated by comparing the results of fatigue crack propagation simulations with fatigue crack growth experiments under variable amplitude loading, experimentally reproducing the combined effect of service fatigue loads and shot‐peening residual stresses.
The power of process: State capacity and climate policy
Authors: Meckling Jonas , Nahm Jonas
Published: February 2018

State capacity is central to the provision of public goods, including environmental protection. Drawing on climate policy making, this article argues that the division of labor between the bureaucracy and legislature in policy formulation is a critical source of state capacity. In cases of bureaucratic policy design, the legislature sets policy goals and delegates policy design to bureaucracies. This division of labor shifts distributional conflict to autonomous bureaucracies, allowing for effective policy design. California followed this path in climate policy making, setting it on track to meet climate goals. In cases of legislative policy design, bureaucracies set goals and legislatures design policy measures. Since legislators have incentives to respond to vested interests, legislative policy design is vulnerable to regulatory capture. In Germany, legislative policy design in climate policy making is preventing attainment of emissions reduction goals, as industry interests succeeded in blocking key policy measures. Our findings highlight procedural sources of state capacity.
Structural and Hydrogeological Controls on Hydrocarbon and Brine Migration into Drinking Water Aquifers in Southern New York
Authors: Kreuzer Rebecca L. , Darrah Thomas H. , Grove Benjamin S. , Moore Myles T. , Warner Nathaniel R. , Eymold William K. , Whyte Colin J. , Mitra Gautam , Jackson Robert B. , Vengosh Avner , Poreda Robert J.
Published: February 2018

Environmental concerns regarding the potential for drinking water contamination in shallow aquifers have accompanied unconventional energy development in the northern Appalachian Basin. These activities have also raised several critical questions about the hydrogeological parameters that control the naturally occurring presence and migration of hydrocarbon gases in shallow aquifers within petroliferous basins. To interrogate these factors, we analyzed the noble gas, dissolved ion, and hydrocarbon gas (molecular and isotopic composition) geochemistry of 98 groundwater samples from south‐central New York. All samples were collected ≫1km from unconventional drilling activities and sample locations were intentionally targeted based on their proximity to various types of documented fault systems. In agreement with studies from other petroliferous basins, our results show significant correlations between elevated levels of radiogenic [4He], thermogenic [CH4], and dissolved ions (e.g., Cl, Br, Sr, Ba). In combination, our data suggest that faults have facilitated the transport of exogenous hydrocarbon‐rich brines from Devonian source rocks into overlying Upper Devonian aquifer lithologies over geologic time. These data conflict with previous reports, which conclude that hydrodynamic focusing regulates the occurrence of methane and salt in shallow aquifers and leads to elevated levels of these species in restricted flow zones within valley bottoms. Instead, our data suggest that faults in Paleozoic rocks play a fundamental role in gas and brine transport from depth, regulate the distribution of their occurrence in shallow aquifers, and influence the geochemistry of shallow groundwater in this petroliferous basin.
Testing the Job Demands‐Resources Model for Nigerian Prison Staff Job Stress
Authors: OTU SMART , LAMBERT ERIC G. , ELECHI O. OKO
Published: February 2018

Job stress is the psychological tension, distress, and anxiety caused by stressors at work, and job stress is linked to numerous negative outcomes. While the nature of working with inmates can cause stress, work environment variables also contribute to the job stress of prison staff. The current study used the job demands‐resource model as a theoretical guide to explore the effects of job demand variables (that is, perceived dangerousness of the job, and role overload) and job resource variables (that is, supervision, job variety, instrumental communication, and job autonomy) on the job stress of staff at a medium‐security prison in Southeast Nigeria. Perceived dangerousness of the job and role overload increased stress from the job while supervision reduced job stress. Job variety, instrumental communication, and job autonomy did not have significant positive effects on job stress. The results partially supported the job demands‐resources model; however, specific work environment variables varied in terms of their statistical significance. Prison administrators need to be aware of the contribution that work environment variables have on job stress and need to make changes to reduce job stress among prison staff.
The effect of antiseptic oral sprays on dental plaque and gingival inflammation: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang J , Ab Malik N , McGrath C , Lam OLT
Published: February 2018

Objectives

To review the effectiveness of antiseptic oral sprays on oral health.

Methods and materials

Three electronic databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library and Web of Science) were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. Only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effect of oral sprays to placebo/control spray or mouthrinse on dental plaque and gingival inflammation were included.

Results

Among a total of 996 papers, 20 effective studies fulfilled the selection criteria, and 8 studies were suitable for inclusion in meta‐analyses. A meta‐analysis of three studies using a 0.2% chlorhexidine (CHX) spray intervention, without prophylaxis at baseline, showed reductions in Plaque Index (PI) (Silness and Löe) and Gingival Index (GI) (Silness and Löe) scores of 0.74 (95% CI: −1.03 to −0.45) and 0.22 (95% CI: −0.38 to −0.06), respectively. Five studies provided a prophylaxis for subjects before study initiation. Three of these five studies used 0.2% CHX spray. A meta‐analysis demonstrated an increase of 0.18 (95% CI: −0.01 to 0.37) in PI (Silness and Löe) scores. Two RCTs compared 0.12% and 0.2% CHX spray, and a meta‐analysis showed increases of 1.71 (95% CI: 1.27 to 2.14) and 1.58 (95% CI: 1.23 to 1.93), respectively, in PI (Quigley and Hein) scores. Of the RCTs not amenable to meta‐analysis, eight studies reported significant improvements in PI and GI scores.

Conclusions

Available evidence suggests that oral sprays are an acceptable delivery method for antiseptic agents. Further high‐quality studies are warranted to determine the effectiveness of alternative chemotherapeutic agents delivered via oral sprays on oral health.
Disclosing the physiology of pulp tissue for vital pulp therapy
Authors: da Rosa W. L. O. , Piva E. , da Silva A. F.
Published: February 2018

The discovery that dentine is a reservoir of bioactive molecules that can be recruited on demand has attracted efforts to develop new protocols and materials for vital pulp therapy (VPT). The noncollagenous proteins (NCPs) present in the dentine extracellular matrix (ECM) include growth factors (TGF‐β1, BMP‐7, FGF‐2, IGF‐1 and IGF‐2, NGF and GDNF), extracellular matrix molecules (DSP, DPP, BSP, DMP‐1 and DSPP) and both anti‐inflammatory and pro‐inflammatory chemokines and cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1, IL‐6 and IL‐10). Molecules such as DSP and DPP are mainly expressed by odontoblasts, and they are cleaved products from dentine sialophosphoprotein (DSPP). Some molecules, such as TGF‐β1, specifically interact with decorin/biglycan in dentine. Although TGF‐β1 increases the expression and secretion of NGF in human pulp cells, NGF induces mineralization and increases the expression of DSPP and DMP‐1. Furthermore, GDNF may act as a cell survival factor and mitogen during tooth injury and repair. Pulp capping materials, such as MTA and calcium hydroxide, can solubilize bioactive dentine molecules (TGF‐β1, NGF and GDNF) that stimulate tertiary dentinogenesis. The binding of these signalling molecules leads to activation of several signalling transduction pathways involved in dentinogenesis, odontoblast differentiation and inflammatory responses, such as the p38 MAPK, NF‐kβ and Wnt/β‐catenin signalling pathways. Understanding the cascade of cellular and molecular events underlying the repair and regeneration processes provides a reasonable new approach to VPT through a targeted interaction between tooth tissue and bioactive molecules.
AGE‐DEPENDENT TAXES WITH ENDOGENOUS HUMAN CAPITAL FORMATION
Authors: da Costa Carlos E. , Santos Marcelo R.
Published: February 2018

We assess the gains attained by the introduction of age‐dependent labor income taxes in an overlapping generations economy where individuals live a meaningful life cycle and endogenously accumulate human capital. The model is sufficiently rich to isolate the role of general equilibrium effects, credit market imperfections, and different forms of human capital accumulation. The large welfare gains we obtain cannot be attained without age dependence, nor can they be attained with age‐dependent taxes if progressivity of labor income taxes and capital income tax rates are not suitably adjusted to profit from the complementarity of these instruments.
Accounting for the permanent vs temporary wage gaps among young adults: Three European countries in perspective
Authors: REGOLI Andrea , D'AGOSTINO Antonella , GRANDNER Thomas , GSTACH Dieter
Published: February 2018

This article analyses wage differentials between permanent and temporary workers in the 25–40 age bracket using the 2010 European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (EU‐SILC) wave data for France, Germany and Italy. Applying a Recentered Influence Function (RIF) regression and a reweighting estimation technique, we investigate the contribution of personal and job characteristics to wage differentials across the wage distribution. Results point to a large unexplained component of the wage gap across the whole distribution in Italy, while this component is weaker in France among highly paid employees and insignificant in Germany. These findings highlight potential policy considerations and areas for future research.
Diabetes, Blood Sugar and Red Wine A Personal Study
Authors: Bland Martin
Published: February 2018

When Martin Bland was diagnosed with type II diabetes, he did what any medical statistician would do: he analysed his blood test results to find out whether alcohol consumption was associated with an increase or decrease in blood sugar levels
Maturity‐onset diabetes of the young as a model for elucidating the multifactorial origin of type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Horikawa Yukio
Published: February 2018

Maturity‐onset diabetes of the young (MODY) is a form of diabetes classically characterized as having autosomal dominant inheritance, onset before the age of 25 years in at least one family member and partly preserved pancreatic β‐cell function. The 14 responsible genes are reported to be MODY type 1~14, of which MODY 2 and 3 might be the most common forms. Although MODY is currently classified as diabetes of a single gene defect, it has become clear that mutations in rare MODYs, such as MODY 5 and MODY 6, have small mutagenic effects and low penetrance. In addition, as there are differences in the clinical phenotypes caused by the same mutation even in the same family, other phenotypic modifying factors are thought to exist; MODY could well have characteristics of type 2 diabetes mellitus, which is of multifactorial origin. Here, we outline the effects of genetic and environmental factors on the known phenotypes of MODY, focusing mainly on the examples of MODY 5 and 6, which have low penetrance, as suggestive models for elucidating the multifactorial origin of type 2 diabetes mellitus.