bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Positive behavioural support for children and adolescents with learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges: an initial exploration of service use and costs
Authors: Iemmi Valentina , Knapp Martin , Reid Caroline , Sholl Catherine , Ferdinand Monique , Buescher Ariane , Trachtenberg Marija
Published: September 2016

Purpose

Positive behavioural support has been considered as a valuable alternative to residential care for children and adolescents with learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges. While recent evidence suggests it has a positive impact on behaviour and carer ability to cope, there is little evidence of its economic costs or benefits. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the cost of providing positive behavioural support to ten children and adolescents with learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges living in the community in Ealing, West London. Comparison was also made with the cost estimate of possible alternative support packages for children and adolescents with learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges in the UK, as obtained through a Delphi exercise.

Findings

Total cost of services per child was £1,454 per week for young people supported short-term, and £1,402 supported long-term. Children and adolescents were making use of a range of social care, education and health services. Over the full sample, half of the total cost was accounted for by education services. The Delphi exercise estimated the weekly cost of residential-based care as more expensive than the cost of community-based care for children and adolescents with learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges. At the end of the ITSBS, all ten children and adolescents initially at risk of imminent residential placement were living in the community with less service-intensive and less expensive support. This suggests that avoiding residential-based care could reduce costs in the long term.

Originality/value

Positive behavioural support has potential to support people with learning disabilities and behaviour that challenges in the community, leading to potential cost advantages. However, this is a small study and more robust research is needed.
Commentary on “Reflections on culture, structure and function of an intensive support service centred on positive behavioural support”
Authors: Toogood Sandy
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on Patterson and Berry’s paper “Reflections on culture, structure and function of an intensive support service centred on positive behavioural support”.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper reviews key ideas presented in Patterson and Berry’s article relative to the recent history of service delivery in the UK and the growing interest being shown in positive behaviour support.

Findings

Patterson and Berry’s article adds to a modest literature on specialist support services and should stimulate further descriptions of service models and the concepts underpinning them.

Originality/value

The literature on specialist support service models is limited and this addition should be relevant to a wide range of clinicians, consumers and commissioners.
Supporting people with learning disabilities through a bereavement
Authors: Blackman Noelle
Published: September 2016

Purpose

There remains a lack of clarity regarding what constitutes “normal” or “complicated” grief within this client group. The purpose of this paper is to identify the factors that complicate grief and considers interventions which would be beneficial.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper draws on previous research by the author and others to comment on some of the issues discussed by Hannah Young in her article.

Findings

Three domains contribute to complicated grief in people with learning disabilities. These are the learning disability itself, environmental factors and the impact of disability on attachment.

Practical implications

A relational approach to support is important in preventing complicated grief. If the grief becomes complicated, a relational psychotherapy is recommended as the preferable intervention.

Originality/value

This paper gives important consideration to practical factors that can lower vulnerability to complicated grief for this client group.
The mediating role of TQM and organizational excellence, and the moderating effect of entrepreneurial organizational culture on the relationship between ERP and organizational performance
Authors: Al-Dhaafri Hassan Saleh , Al-Swidi Abdullah Kaid , Yusoff Rushami Zien Bin
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relationship between enterprise resource planning (ERP) and organizational performance through examining the mediating effect of total quality management (TQM) and organizational excellence and the moderating effect of entrepreneurial organizational culture (EOC).

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was used to collect the data from Dubai Police Departments. Out of the questionnaires distributed, 320 completed usable were returned and used for the analysis which employed partial least squares structural equation modelling methodology.

Findings

The results showed that there are positive and significant relationships between ERP, organizational excellence, TQM, and organizational performance. In addition, TQM was found to partially mediate the effect of ERP on organizational performance, where organizational excellence was found to fully mediate the effect on the same relationship. However, the moderating role of EOC on the ERP, TQM, and organizational performance was not confirmed.

Practical implications

Several practical implications have been gained from this study. It will increase the awareness of managers and decision makers to consider the constructs test to enhance the overall organizational performance in their organizations. The role of TQM and organizational excellence to facilitate the implementation of ERP is very critical. In addition, this research will increase the awareness of different stakeholders such as customers, supplier, and shareholders to integrate the proposed constructs examined to enhance the overall organizational performance.

Originality/value

The current study is one of the few or the only empirical study that examines the joint effect of ERP, TQM, organizational excellence, and EOC on organizational performance.
Preparedness for hospital practice in assuring quality of care
Authors: Abd Manaf Noor Hazilah , Mohd Ghazali Roslan Johari Dato , Mohd Borhan Nor Filzatun , Omar Azura , Mohd Dinon , Adewale Abideen Adeyemi , Ismail Izhairi , Abdul Hamid Zabeda
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the dimensions of preparedness for hospital practice among newly graduated medical officers in Malaysian hospitals who are undergoing their housemanship training; and to compare the level of preparedness among the different curricula and predict the dimensions of preparedness for hospital practice.

Design/methodology/approach

A national study was carried out and data collection was by means of self-administered questionnaire. Data obtained (n=1,213) were subjected to exploratory factor analysis using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 18 in extracting the dimensions of preparedness for hospital practice.

Findings

Nine dimensions of hospital practice were identified which were access to information and IT skills, interpersonal skills, basic skills, and continuing professional development, holistic skills, coping skills, ethic and legal skills, patient management skills, scientific knowledge, and clinical skills. Overall, the respondents felt their medical schools prepared them for hospital practice. The strongest predictor for preparedness for hospital practice is coping skills. Holistic skill and preparedness for hospital practice was found to be negatively associated. Those who graduated from twining programmes between Malaysian and overseas universities were found to be better prepared for hospital practice.

Social implications

An understanding on preparedness for hospital practice among newly graduated medical officers is a step forward in assuring patient safety and quality of care.

Originality/value

Although of significant importance, however, a study of this nature is rarely researched and the first for Malaysian houseman.
Data quality requirements for water bills
Authors: Moura e Sá Patrícia , Martins Rita
Published: September 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to uncover the customers’ concerns with the information disclosed in water services invoices and to analyse them with reference to the data quality dimensions usually proposed in the literature. In the context of services of general interest invoices are particularly relevant as a vehicle to convey information to all consumers.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the principles of quality planning, the research uses a qualitative approach to identify the data quality requirements of water invoices. Customer voices were collected by means of focus groups and their meanings analysed using an affinity diagram.

Findings

Findings show that plain language efforts and strategies to enhance trust on the service provided need to be further reinforced. Consumers’ requirements together with the regulator recommendations also confirm the data quality dimensions identified in the literature.

Practical implications

This research highlights that avoiding technical language and making visible the consequences of different consumption levels on the amounts to be paid is essential when designing water invoices. Moreover, it emphasises that there is still room for improvement in the way the economic regulator performs its role in ensuring the provision of sound information.

Originality/value

This research addresses a literature gap by conducting a study on data quality requirements outside the context of information systems for organisations. The study is original because it looks at water invoices as a “product” that can be designed to meet the needs of their users.
The role of cultural factors in engagement and change in Multisystemic Therapy (MST)
Authors: Fox Simone , Bibi Fatima , Millar Hayleigh , Holland Amaryllis
Published: September 2016

Evidence has shown that Multisystemic Therapy (MST) has been particularly effective in the treatment of youth with antisocial behaviour from ethnically diverse backgrounds. Although the process of change within MST has been explored, there is a dearth of research in looking at this for families from ethnic minority backgrounds. This qualitative study aimed to explore ethnic minority caregiver experiences of MST and understand how this might impact on engagement, the presenting problems and the process of change. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with seven ethnic minority caregivers who had completed treatment. A constructivist version of grounded theory was used to analyse the data. Specific cultural theoretical codes that emerged were around the consideration of cultural difference in terms of the engagement process, the conceptualisation of difficulties and the therapist acting as cultural broker in the process of change. This research integrates culturally specific ideas into the existing MST Analytical Process.

Practitioner points

Being culturally understood, cultural sensitivity and respecting difference can help engagement with ethnic minority caregivers

The role of culture may be important to consider in the conceptualisation of difficulties

For change to occur therapists may need to act as cultural brokers
The Politics of England
Authors: Mycock Andrew
Published: September 2016

Party political interest in the so‐called ‘English Question’ has grown in recent years, due to the enmeshing of constitutional issues with a growing political and public affiliation with and expression of English national identity and culture. More recently, attention has shifted to the decentralisation of government within England. The ‘English Question’ is thus defined by two interconnected but distinctive ‘English Questions’. This article will assess whether, in seeking to find answers for these ‘English Questions’, the Conservatives and Labour are establishing a more distinctive ‘politics of England’. It will first consider the extent to which the politicisation of English identity and civic society have stimulated a more nationally framed political culture and party politics, and then assess whether constitutional reforms undertaken in Westminster, especially the introduction of EVEL, and regional devolution initiatives within England might facilitate greater party political engagement with an emergent ‘politics of England’.
If Immigrants Could Vote in the UK: A Thought Experiment with Data from the 2015 General Election
Authors: Fox Sean , Johnston Ron , Manley David
Published: September 2016

The distribution of voting rights in the UK is an artefact of history rather than a product of clear legal or philosophical principles. Consequently, some resident aliens (i.e. immigrants) have the right to vote in all UK elections; others can vote in local elections but are excluded from national elections; still others are excluded from all elections. In England and Wales alone, roughly 2.3 million immigrants are excluded from voting in national elections. This exclusion is inconsistent with the founding principle of democracy and distorts political discourse. What if all immigrants could vote in national elections? We estimate that up to ninety‐five parliamentary seats could have been won by a different party in the 2015 general election. More substantially, enfranchising all immigrants would require re‐drawing UK constituency boundaries. The new electoral map would increase the relative power of urban constituencies and would incentivise some political entrepreneurs and parties to temper anti‐immigration rhetoric.
Does Increased Medication Use among Seniors Increase Risk of Hospitalization and Emergency Department Visits?
Authors: Allin Sara , Rudoler David , Laporte Audrey
Published: September 2016

Objective

To examine the extent of the health risks of consuming multiple medications among the older population.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Secondary data from the period 2004–2006. The study setting was the province of Ontario, Canada, and the sample consisted of individuals aged 65 years or older who responded to a national health survey.

Study Design

We estimated a system of equations for inpatient and emergency department (ED) services to test the marginal effect of medication use on hospital services. We controlled for endogeneity in medication use with a two‐stage residual inclusion approach appropriate for nonlinear models.

Principal Findings

Increased prescription drug use has the effect of increasing the likelihood of both being admitted into hospital and visiting a hospital ED. Each additional medication is associated with a 2–3 percent increase in the likelihood of hospitalization and a 3–4 percent increase in the likelihood of an ED visit, after controlling for past utilization, health status, the endogeneity of medication use, and the unobserved factors that may affect the use of both services.

Conclusions

Multiple medications appear to increase the risk of hospitalization among seniors covered by a universal prescription drug plan. These results raise questions about the appropriateness of medication use and the need for increased oversight of current prescribing practices.
Modeling the Transfer of Salmonella Enteritidis during Slicing of Ready‐to‐Eat Turkey Products Treated with Thyme Essential Oil
Authors: Possas Arícia M. M. , Posada‐Izquierdo Guiomar D. , Pérez‐Rodríguez Fernando , García‐Gimeno Rosa M.
Published: September 2016

The increased demand for low‐sodium ready‐to‐eat (RTE) meat products highlights the need for new strategies to ensure food safety. The application of essential oils (EOs) as natural antimicrobials in the meat industry has been suggested to prevent or control cross‐contamination during meat processing operations. This work aims to quantify and model the transfer of Salmonella Enteritidis during the slicing procedure of RTE turkey products treated with thyme essential oil (TEO) at a concentration of 0.1% (v/w). Two products were subjected to the slicing procedure with slicer blades inoculated with S. Enteritidis at 108 cfu/mL. The Weibull and modified Weibull predictive models were fitted to the transfer data. Twenty slices were sampled and showed positive with bacteria, indicating cross‐contamination. The number of cells transferred per slice decreased logarithmically during the assays. The transfer models, based on the Weibull model, were suitable to describe the bacterial transfer trend on slices in most cases. TEO treatment reduced the transfer of Salmonella on a preservative free RTE turkey product. The predictive models obtained in this study can help food‐quality staff and managers on the design and assessment of processes to guard RTE turkey products against Salmonella. This work supports the addition of EOs to reduce microbial risk in RTE meat products.
Angiotensin‐I‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Activities and In Vivo Antihypertensive Effects of Sardine Protein Hydrolysate
Authors: Huang Jiacheng , Liu Qianyue , Xue Bin , Chen Long , Wang Yong , Ou Shiyi , Peng Xichun
Published: September 2016

In our previous study, an antihypertensive protein hydrolysate was prepared from sardine. This study aimed to investigate the composition of sardine protein hydrolysate (SPH) and it's in vivo antihypertensive effect. SPH was separated sequentially with ultrafiltration and size exclusion chromatography. Fractions with high angiotensin‐I‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity were further analyzed with RP‐HPLC and amino acids analysis. Then, SPH was individually oral administrated to spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and normotensive wistar kyoto rats (WKY) for 4 wk. After treatment, the systolic blood pressure (SBP), organ index, oxidative status, serum ACE activity, and serum angiotensin‐II (ANG‐II) of all the rats were determined. According to the separation and analysis results, 3 main fractions with high ACE‐inhibitory activity were obtained with different amino acids composition. The animal experiments results showed that SPH could significantly reduce SBP (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) within 4 h after a single oral administration. After a chronic oral administration, a steady state of SBP in SHR rats was attained. The heart weight index and left ventricular weight index were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in SPH‐treated SHR rats. The malonyldialdehyde (MDA) levels in organs and serum, serum ACE activity, and serum ANG‐II concentration in SPH‐treated SHR rats were significantly lowered (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01) as compared to their controls. Meanwhile there was no significant effect (P > 0.05) on those parameters in WKY rats. These results indicate that SPH can decrease blood pressure in SHR rats and not in WKY rats.
Syngas obtained by microwave pyrolysis of household wastes as feedstock for polyhydroxyalkanoate production inRhodospirillum rubrum
Authors: Revelles Olga , Beneroso Daniel , Menéndez J. Angel , Arenillas Ana , García J. Luis , Prieto M. Auxiliadora
Published: September 2016

The massive production of urban and agricultural wastes has promoted a clear need for alternative processes of disposal and waste management. The potential use of municipal solid wastes (MSW) as feedstock for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) by a process known as syngas fermentation is considered herein as an attractive bio‐economic strategy to reduce these wastes. In this work, we have evaluated the potential ofRhodospirillum rubrumas microbial cell factory for the synthesis ofPHAfrom syngas produced by microwave pyrolysis of theMSWorganic fraction from a European city (Seville). Growth rate, uptake rate, biomass yield andPHAproduction from syngas inR. rubrumhave been analysed. The results revealed the strong robustness of this syngas fermentation where the purity of the syngas is not a critical constraint forPHAproduction. Microwave‐induced pyrolysis is a tangible alternative to standard pyrolysis, because it can reduce cost in terms of energy and time as well as increase syngas production, providing a satisfactoryPHAyield.
Diet and body condition of cave‐dwelling dwarf crocodiles (Osteolaemus tetraspis, Cope 1861) in Gabon
Authors: Shirley Matthew H. , Burtner Brittany , Oslisly Richard , Sebag David , Testa Olivier
Published: September 2016

We present the first ever observations of dwarf crocodiles (Osteolaemus tetraspis) selectively utilizing a cave ecosystem. We analysed crocodile diet to preliminarily assess the degree of ecological isolation of cave‐dwelling crocodiles from their forest‐dwelling conspecifics despite their physical proximity. We additionally conducted the first study of body condition of dwarf crocodiles and compared cave‐dwelling individuals to surface‐dwelling individuals from a variety of alternative habitats and sites as a means to better understand the implications of a semihypogean life on this species. Crocodiles captured in the caves appeared to forage exclusively in the caves and ate mostly cave crickets and bats, whereas crocodiles captured in the surrounding forest habitat consumed primarily freshwater crustaceans and insects and were not found to consume cave‐dwelling prey. Juvenile cave crocodiles had significantly higher body condition compared to juvenile forest crocodiles, which did not vary amongst forest locations. The difference in body condition between adult cave and forest crocodiles was not statistically significant despite also being higher; we suspect this is an artefact of the low sample size rather than a real nondifference. Forest adult crocodiles generally had significantly higher body condition than juveniles, but did not vary by site or habitat. This lack of variation suggests that habitat type is not the most important factor influencing dwarf crocodile body condition. Our results provide a unique insight into facultative cave use by a principally surface‐dwelling species and reinforce the necessity for further research into this unique system to better understand the evolutionary‐scale implications of cave habitat use by dwarf crocodiles.
Towards national comprehensive gestational diabetes screening – consequences for neonatal outcome and care
Authors: Koivunen Sanna , Torkki Annukka , Bloigu Aini , Gissler Mika , Pouta Anneli , Kajantie Eero , Vääräsmäki Marja
Published: September 2016

Introduction

The change from risk‐factor‐based to nearly comprehensive screening of gestational diabetes (GDM) identifies more but milder cases of the disease. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of this screening policy change on neonatal outcomes and care.

Material and methods

A population‐based register study in Finland. GDM cases during risk‐factor‐based (year 2006, n = 5179) and comprehensive (2010, n = 6679) screenings were identified through the Medical Birth Register. All singletons without maternal GDM or prepregnancy diabetes served as controls (n = 51 746 and n = 52 386, respectively). The main outcomes were macrosomia, neonatal hypoglycemia and the need for care in a neonatal ward.

Results

In the GDM group, the mean birthweight decreased between the study years from 3660 g to 3595 g and the prevalence of macrosomia from 5.6 to 4.1% even after adjustment for maternal age, parity and prepregnancy body mass index. The adjusted mean difference in birthweight between GDM and control newborns decreased from 70 to 22 g between the study years. The prevalence of neonatal hypoglycemia increased from 18.0 to 22.1% in the GDM group. However, neonatal hypoglycemia was more often treated without care in a neonatal ward. The proportion of infants treated on a neonatal ward decreased in both the GDM and control groups between the study years.

Conclusions

In newborns, comprehensive GDM screening led to decreased mean birthweight and macrosomia rates, but the prevalence of neonatal hypoglycemia increased. This places substantial demands for delivery hospitals and healthcare resources.
Duplex detection of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and medically important non‐tuberculosis mycobacteria by real‐time PCR based on the rnpB gene
Authors: Abdeldaim Guma , Svensson Erik , Blomberg Jonas , Herrmann Björn
Published: September 2016

A duplex real‐time PCR based on the rnpB gene was developed for Mycobacterium spp. The assay was specific for the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB) and also detected all 19 tested species of non‐tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). The assay was evaluated on 404 clinical samples: 290 respiratory samples and 114 from tissue and other non‐respiratory body sites. M. tuberculosis was detected by culture in 40 samples and in 30 samples by the assay. The MTB assay showed a sensitivity similar to Roche Cobas Amplicor MTB‐PCR (Roche Molecular Systems, Pleasanton, CA, USA). There were only nine samples with non‐tuberculous mycobacteria detected by culture. Six of them were detected by the PCR assay.
The interaction effect of attentional bias and attentional control on dispositional anxiety among adolescents
Authors: Ho Samuel M. Y. , Yeung Dannii , Mak Christine W. Y.
Published: September 2016

Research has shown that children and adolescents with attentional control deficits tend to have high anxiety and exhibit threat‐related selective attentional bias. This study aimed to investigate how positive and negative attentional biases would interact with attentional control on dispositional anxiety. One hundred and twenty participants aged 18 years of age or younger participated in a visual dot‐probe task to measure their attentional bias and completed psychological questionnaires to measure their trait anxiety, and attentional control. Mean reaction times to the probe in milliseconds were used to measure attentional bias. Overall, our participants showed a bigger tendency towards attending to positive emotional stimuli than to negative emotional stimuli. Adolescents with high dispositional anxiety showed poorer attentional control. Regression analyses showed that attentional control interact with negative attentional bias to affect anxiety. For participants with high attentional control, higher negative attentional bias was associated with lower trait anxiety. Trait anxiety was not related to negative attentional bias for participants with low attentional control. Positive attentional bias showed no significant relationship with dispositional anxiety, either alone or in interaction with attentional control. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are also discussed.
Selective activation of vascular Kv7.4/Kv7.5 K+ channels by fasudil contributes to its vasorelaxant effect
Authors: Zhang Xuan , An Hailong , Li Junwei , Zhang Yuanyuan , Liu Yang , Jia Zhanfeng , Zhang Wei , Chu Li , Zhang Hailin
Published: September 2016

Background and Purpose

Kv7 (Kv7.1–7.5) channels play an important role in the regulation of neuronal excitability and the cardiac action potential. Growing evidence suggests Kv7.4/Kv7.5 channels play a crucial role in regulating vascular smooth muscle contractility. Most of the reported Kv7 openers have shown poor selectivity across these five subtypes. In this study, fasudil – a drug used for cerebral vasospasm – has been found to be a selective opener of Kv7.4/Kv7.5 channels.

Experimental Approach

A perforated whole‐cell patch technique was used to record the currents and membrane potential. Homology modelling and a docking technique were used to investigate the interaction between fasudil and the Kv7.4 channel. An isometric tension recording technique was used to assess the vascular tension.

Key Results

Fasudil selectively and potently enhanced Kv7.4 and Kv7.4/Kv7.5 currents expressed in HEK293 cells, and shifted the voltage‐dependent activation curve in a more negative direction. Fasudil did not affect either Kv7.2 and Kv7.2/Kv7.3 currents expressed in HEK293 cells, the native neuronal M‐type K+ currents, or the resting membrane potential in small rat dorsal root ganglia neurons. The Val248 in S5 and Ile308 in S6 segment of Kv7.4 were critical for this activating effect of fasudil. Fasudil relaxed precontracted rat small arteries in a concentration‐dependent fashion; this effect was antagonized by the Kv7 channel blocker XE991.

Conclusions and Implications

These results suggest that fasudil is a selective Kv7.4/Kv7.5 channel opener and provide a new dimension for developing selective Kv7 modulators and a new prospective for the use, action and mechanism of fasudil.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis multi-drug-resistant strain M induces IL-17+IFNγ– CD4+ T cell expansion through an IL-23 and TGF-β-dependent mechanism in patients with MDR-TB tuberculosis
Authors: Basile J I , Kviatcovsky D , Romero M M , Balboa L , Monteserin J , Ritacco V , Lopez B , Sabio y García C , García A , Vescovo M , Montaner P G , Palmero D , del Carmen Sasiain M , de la Barrera S
Published: September 2016

We have reported previously that T cells from patients with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) express high levels of interleukin (IL)-17 in response to the MDR strain M (Haarlem family) of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). Herein, we explore the pathways involved in the induction of Th17 cells in MDR-TB patients and healthy tuberculin reactors [purified protein derivative healthy donors (PPD+ HD)] by the M strain and the laboratory strain H37Rv. Our results show that IL-1β and IL-6 are crucial for the H37Rv and M-induced expansion of IL-17+interferon (IFN)-γ– and IL-17+IFN-γ+ in CD4+ T cells from MDR-TB and PPD+ HD. IL-23 plays an ambiguous role in T helper type 1 (Th1) and Th17 profiles: alone, IL-23 is responsible for M. tuberculosis-induced IL-17 and IFN-γ expression in CD4+ T cells from PPD+ HD whereas, together with transforming growth factor (TGF-β), it promotes IL-17+IFN-γ– expansion in MDR-TB. In fact, spontaneous and M. tuberculosis-induced TGF-β secretion is increased in cells from MDR-TB, the M strain being the highest inducer. Interestingly, Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 signalling mediates the expansion of IL-17+IFN-γ– cells and the enhancement of latency-associated protein (LAP) expression in CD14+ and CD4+ T cells from MDR-TB, which suggests that the M strain promotes IL-17+IFN-γ– T cells through a strong TLR-2-dependent TGF-β production by antigen-presenting cells and CD4+ T cells. Finally, CD4+ T cells from MDR-TB patients infected with MDR Haarlem strains show higher IL-17+IFN-γ– and lower IL-17+IFN-γ+ levels than LAM-infected patients. The present findings deepen our understanding of the role of IL-17 in MDR-TB and highlight the influence of the genetic background of the infecting M. tuberculosis strain on the ex-vivo Th17 response.
Trade‐offs and efficiencies in optimal budget‐constrained multispecies corridor networks
Authors: Dilkina Bistra , Houtman Rachel , Gomes Carla P. , Montgomery Claire A. , McKelvey Kevin S. , Kendall Katherine , Graves Tabitha A. , Bernstein Richard , Schwartz Michael K.
Published: September 2016

Conservation biologists recognize that a system of isolated protected areas will be necessary but insufficient to meet biodiversity objectives. Current approaches to connecting core conservation areas through corridors consider optimal corridor placement based on a single optimization goal: commonly, maximizing the movement for a target species across a network of protected areas. We show that designing corridors for single species based on purely ecological criteria leads to extremely expensive linkages that are suboptimal for multispecies connectivity objectives. Similarly, acquiring the least‐expensive linkages leads to ecologically poor solutions. We developed algorithms for optimizing corridors for multispecies use given a specific budget. We applied our approach in western Montana to demonstrate how the solutions may be used to evaluate trade‐offs in connectivity for 2 species with different habitat requirements, different core areas, and different conservation values under different budgets. We evaluated corridors that were optimal for each species individually and for both species jointly. Incorporating a budget constraint and jointly optimizing for both species resulted in corridors that were close to the individual species movement‐potential optima but with substantial cost savings. Our approach produced corridors that were within 14% and 11% of the best possible corridor connectivity for grizzly bears(Ursus arctos)and wolverines(Gulo gulo), respectively, and saved 75% of the cost. Similarly, joint optimization under a combined budget resulted in improved connectivity for both species relative to splitting the budget in 2 to optimize for each species individually. Our results demonstrate economies of scale and complementarities conservation planners can achieve by optimizing corridor designs for financial costs and for multiple species connectivity jointly. We believe that our approach will facilitate corridor conservation by reducing acquisition costs and by allowing derived corridors to more closely reflect conservation priorities.
Setting population targets for mammals using body mass as a predictor of population persistence
Authors: Hilbers Jelle P. , Santini Luca , Visconti Piero , Schipper Aafke M. , Pinto Cecilia , Rondinini Carlo , Huijbregts Mark A.J.
Published: September 2016

Conservation planning and biodiversity assessments need quantitative targets to optimize planning options and assess the adequacy of current species protection. However, targets aiming at persistence require population‐specific data, which limit their use in favor of fixed and nonspecific targets, likely leading to unequal distribution of conservation efforts among species. We devised a method to derive equitable population targets; that is, quantitative targets of population size that ensure equal probabilities of persistence across a set of species and that can be easily inferred from species‐specific traits. In our method, we used models of population dynamics across a range of life‐history traits related to species’ body mass to estimate minimum viable population targets. We applied our method to a range of body masses of mammals, from 2 g to 3825 kg. The minimum viable population targets decreased asymptotically with increasing body mass and were on the same order of magnitude as minimum viable population estimates from species‐ and context‐specific studies. Our approach provides a compromise between pragmatic, nonspecific population targets and detailed context‐specific estimates of population viability for which only limited data are available. It enables a first estimation of species‐specific population targets based on a readily available trait and thus allows setting equitable targets for population persistence in large‐scale and multispecies conservation assessments and planning.
Equitable Representation of Ecoregions is Slowly Improving Despite Strategic Planning Shortfalls
Authors: Kuempel Caitlin D. , Chauvenet Alienor L. M. , Possingham Hugh P.
Published: September 2016

Representing all ecosystem types in protected areas (PAs) is central to international conservation agreements (i.e., Aichi Target 11) and ensuring the persistence of biodiversity. In response to these agreements, we have seen rapid growth of PA networks, but we do not know how this affects ecosystem representation. We explored this question by investigating drivers and trends of representation during periods of rapid land acquisition using the protection equality metric. We found that 90.9% of the studied countries have improved protection equality through time. Periods of rapid area expansion resulted in greater increases in protection equality, particularly through multiple, smaller PAs as opposed to fewer, larger PAs. However, observed increases may not be due to strategic planning, as protection equality from random PA allocation was statistically similar to observed values within six country‐level simulations. Future international agreements should hold countries accountable to meeting multiple objectives and prioritize conservation outcomes over individual targets.
Global Coverage of Agricultural Sustainability Standards, and Their Role in Conserving Biodiversity
Authors: Tayleur Catherine , Balmford Andrew , Buchanan Graeme M. , Butchart Stuart H. M. , Ducharme Heather , Green Rhys E. , Milder Jeffrey C. , Sanderson Fiona J. , Thomas David H. L. , Vickery Juliet , Phalan Ben
Published: September 2016

Voluntary sustainability standards have increased in uptake over the last decade; here, we explore their potential contribution to biodiversity conservation and other aspects of agricultural sustainability. We reviewed the content of 12 major crop standards and quantified their global coverage. All standards included some provisions for the protection of biodiversity, but we only identified two with criteria that prohibited all deforestation. We found records of certified cropland in 133 countries, and estimated that certified crop area increased by 11% (range 8.8–13.5%) per year from 2000 to 2012, but still only covered 1.1% (range 1.0–1.2%) of global cropland. The crops with the highest levels of certification were heavily traded commodities: coffee, cocoa, tea, and palm oil each had 10% or more of their total global production area certified. Coverage was lower for other crops, including the world's most important staple foods (maize, rice, and wheat). Sustainability standards have considerable potential to contribute to conservation, but there is an ongoing need for better evaluation of how effectively they are implemented. We present examples of ways in which governments, companies, financial institutions, and civil society can work together to scale up and target certification to places where it can have the greatest positive impact.
Navigating the Space between Research and Implementation in Conservation
Authors: Toomey Anne H. , Knight Andrew T. , Barlow Jos
Published: September 2016

Recent scholarship in conservation biology has pointed to the existence of a “research‐implementation” gap and has proposed various solutions for overcoming it. Some of these solutions, such as evidence‐based conservation, are based on the assumption that the gap exists primarily because of a communication problem in getting reliable and needed technical information to decision makers. First, we identify conceptual weaknesses with this framing, supporting our arguments with decades of research in other fields of study. We then reconceptualize the gap as a series of crucial, productive spaces in which shared interests, value conflicts, and complex relations between scientists and publics can interact. Whereas synonyms for “gap” include words such as “chasm,” “rift,” or “breach,” the word “space” is connected with words such as “arena,” “capacity,” and “place” and points to who and what already exists in a specific context. Finally, we offer ways forward for applying this new understanding in practice.
The multi‐ethnic global lung initiative 2012 and Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reference values do not reflect spirometric measurements in Black boys and men from Tanzania
Authors: Rębacz‐Maron Ewa
Published: September 2016

The interpretation of spirometric results of Black Africans according to reference standards based on data from outside their native environment may lead to the wrong conclusions. This article aims to characterize the ventilatory capacity of boys and men from Tanzania according to forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), peak expiratory flow (PEF) and FEV1/FVC based on the collected anthropological material and to compare them to NHANES III, Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) African American predicted values and GLI2012 equations. The analysis included spirometric measurements of n = 295 participants from Tanzania. Pearson's correlation analysis and the backward stepwise multiple regression analysis were performed. FEV1, FVC, PEF and FEV1/FVC results were compared to the NHANES III African American predicted values as well as to the GLI2012 equations. FEV1 measurements are lower than the reference values according to NHANES III and GLI2012 equations by 22·1% and 25·8%. FVC results fell short of the NHANES III predicted by 29·5% and of GLI2012 by 32·5%. The average %FEV1/FVC scores for the boys and men exceeded the recommended GLI2012 predicted by 10·5–15·2%. All the spirometric measurements included in the analysis were statistically significantly correlated with age, body height, sitting height, trunk length and body weight. The application of prediction formulae developed for non‐African populations overestimates the values for Black Africans. The results of spirometric measurements are ecosensitive and dependent on various external (environmental) factors.
Hypoxia and low‐dose inflammatory stimulus synergistically enhance bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell migration
Authors: Yu Yang , Yin Yuan , Wu Rui‐Xin , He Xiao‐Tao , Zhang Xi‐Yu , Chen Fa‐Ming
Published: September 2016

Objectives

Cell migration is necessary for numerous physiological cell processes. Although either inflammatory or hypoxic stimuli of certain dose and duration have positive influence on cell migration, their combination has not been shown to result in a synergistic effect.

Materials and methods

In this study, we investigated combined effects of hypoxia and low‐dose inflammatory stimulus (one‐tenth of that of a previously used concentration) on migration of human bone marrow‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSCs).

Results

Our results from real‐time PCR, Western blot analysis and an immunofluorescence assay, showed that dual stimulation up‐regulated CXCR4 expression. Based on tablet scratch experimentation and transwell assay, the dual stimuli exhibited greater positive effects on cell migration than a single inflammatory or hypoxic stimulus. When effects of various pre‐treatments on cell proliferation, differentiation and immunosuppression were screened, cells subjected to the hypoxic stimulus or dual stimuli had increased cell proliferation, while short‐term inflammatory stimulus and/or hypoxic stimulus had no negative effect on cell differentiation and immunosuppression.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the combination of hypoxia and low‐dose inflammatory stimuli enhances the potential of BMMSCs to migrate, thus identifying cell pre‐treatment conditions that could enhance future stem cell‐based therapeutics.
Primary scalp alopecia: new histopathological tools, new concepts and a practical guide to diagnosis
Authors: Kolivras Athanassios , Thompson Curtis
Published: September 2016

The diagnosis of primary scalp alopecia remains one of the most challenging fields in dermatopathology. In this review, we would like to connect the established classification of primary alopecia into scarring (cicatricial) and non‐scarring (non‐cicatricial) with current concepts. We introduce a simplified pathway for the diagnosis of the most common causes of alopecia, including a discussion of tissue processing techniques and use of immunohistochemistry.
Pouchitis after ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis in ulcerative colitis: Diagnosis, management, risk factors, and incidence
Authors: Hata Keisuke , Ishihara Soichiro , Nozawa Hiroaki , Kawai Kazushige , Kiyomatsu Tomomichi , Tanaka Toshiaki , Kishikawa Junko , Anzai Hiroyuki , Watanabe Toshiaki
Published: September 2016

Restorative proctocolectomy with ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis has been the surgical treatment of choice for patients with ulcerative colitis who require surgery. Quality of life after this procedure is satisfactory in most cases; however, pouchitis is a troublesome condition involving inflammation of the ileal pouch. When a patient presents with symptoms of pouchitis, such as increased bowel movements, mucous and/or bloody exudates, abdominal cramps, and fever, endoscopy is essential for a precise diagnosis. The proximal ileum and rectal cuff, as well as the ileal pouch, should be endoscopically observed. The reported incidence of pouchitis ranges from 14% to 59%, and antibiotic therapy is the primary treatment for acute pouchitis. Chronic pouchitis includes antibiotic‐dependent and refractory pouchitis. Intensive therapy including antitumor necrosis factor antibodies and steroids may be necessary for antibiotic‐refractory pouchitis, and pouch failure may occur despite such intensive treatment. Reported risk factors for the development of pouchitis include presence of extraintestinal manifestations, primary sclerosing cholangitis, non‐smoking, and postoperative non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug usage. In the present review, we focus on the diagnosis, endoscopic features, management, incidence, and risk factors of pouchitis in patients with ulcerative colitis who underwent ileal pouch‐anal anastomosis.
Can myocardial performance index predict the presence of silent ischemia in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients?
Authors: Al‐Daydamony Mohammad M. , El‐Tahlawi Mohammad A. , Shawky Ahmad
Published: September 2016

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) is common in patients with diabetes and is associated with poorer prognosis. Myocardial performance index “Tei index” that reflects both left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function. The aim of our study was to test the value of Tei index in prediction of SMI in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes.

Patients and Methods

Asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes were included in our study. We excluded patients with known CAD, previous revascularization, low ejection fraction, or abnormal ECG from the study. All patients had undergone history taking and clinical examination, ECG, echocardiography with measuring of Tei index and Holter monitoring for detecting silent ischemia.

Results

A total of 200 patients were recruited. We divided our patients into two groups: Group I: 64 patients with SMI, Group II: 136 patients without SMI. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding clinical and conventional echocardiographic data. Tei index was significantly higher in patients with silent ischemia (P<.00001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of Tei index ≥0.6 in prediction of Holter detected silent ischemia were 85.9%, 90%, 78.6%, and 88.6%, respectively. We found a significant positive correlation between Tei index and number of ischemic episodes (r=.366, P=.0029).

Conclusion

Measuring Tei index is helpful in predicting the presence of silent ischemia in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes.