bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Acquirer-to-target relatedness and target country unfamiliarity in acquisitions
Authors: Galavotti Ilaria , Depperu Donatella , Cerrato Daniele
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze corporate scope decisions in acquisitions with a focus on the relationship between target country unfamiliarity and acquirer-to-target relatedness and on the moderating effects played by product diversification and international experience.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a dataset of 689 acquisitions completed in the period 2007-2013 by acquirers located in 60 countries, this paper utilizes an ordered logistic regression analysis.

Findings

With greater target country unfamiliarity, acquirers are encouraged to pursue greater acquirer-to-target relatedness. This finding suggests that acquirers tend to seek a balance between product and international diversification to reduce the sources of uncertainty in their acquisition moves. While past international experience strengthens this relationship, diversification experience has a negative moderating effect and hence encourages acquirers to reduce relatedness at increasing market unfamiliarity.

Originality/value

The originality of this paper is twofold. First, the authors extend the traditional internationalization-diversification framework to an unfamiliarity-relatedness relationship in the context of acquisitions. Second, the authors propose a construct of target country unfamiliarity in acquisitions that goes beyond the traditional domestic vs cross-border dichotomy by including previous experience in the target country.
The influence of board diversity in human capital and social capital in crisis
Authors: Ooi Chai-Aun , Hooy Chee-Wooi , Mat Som Ahmad Puad
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate whether board diversity in human capital and social capital effectively mitigates the negative impacts of crises on firm performance.

Design/methodology/approach

Cross-sectional time series data for 2001-2011 are collected from all the tourism-related public listed firms across four Asian markets. Linear and non-linear effects of board diversity on firm performance are examined.

Findings

This study finds that board diversity in human capital and social capital does not significantly improve firm performance, but it significantly mitigates the negative impacts of crises striking firm performance. The effects of board diversity show difference with sudden and gradual crises. The effects of board diversity show non-linear when tackling sudden crises. Only high levels of board diversity in external network ties are effective to tackle gradual crisis.

Practical implications

The best composition of board capital should depend on the external environment. Only through adopting excessively high board diversity in social capital is suitable when the firms have lower frequency of industry cycle, or prone to the crisis which is likely to sustain. Instead, a moderate level of board diversity in human and social capital is crucial if the firms are always situated in harsh circumstances such as high competition environment, or prone to face industrial bubble.

Originality/value

This study directly investigates board diversity in human capital and social capital, rather than investigating through the proxy of age, gender, ethnicity, etc. This study sheds light on the influence of the board diversity in the crisis periods, the findings are enhanced with the classification of crises into sudden and gradual-onset type.
A spatial approach to social media
Authors: Laurell Christofer
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to conceptually explore how spatial features of social media can be explained.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on a conceptual approach, specific spatial features of social media are reviewed in terms of location, locale and sense of place within the wider frame of the social media landscape.

Findings

In the literature stream of social media management and marketing, central conceptualisations relate implicitly to the notions of space and place. By drawing from the field of human geography, this implicit spatiality of social media is made explicit by approaching social media applications as the building blocks of digital space in which digital places are created, maintained and integrated with each other over time as a result of interactions and relationships forming between users that inhabit digital places.

Originality/value

The present paper contributes to extant literature by providing a spatial approach to social media that depicts the character of social media, its interrelation with the physical world, as well as how it currently transforms and evolves. Furthermore, it also addresses how social media places represent settings in which social meaning of commercial relevance is created that affects the way consumption activities take place beyond the physical realm of human co-existence.
Real estate business model innovation and the impact of ego network structure
Authors: Yderfält Åsa , Roxenhall Tommy
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to analyze how a real estate business model innovation developed in a real estate network, with a special focus on the relationship between ego network structure and the innovative development of the business model.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is a single case study of a Swedish real estate network of 38 actors. The data were collected at the individual actor level using multiple sources: 12 semi-structured in-depth interviews, 94 min of meetings and 28 written contracts. The empirical findings resulted in four propositions.

Findings

This study demonstrates that it was primarily the building user who was behind the innovative development of the real estate business model innovation, whereas the real estate company acted as a network hub and network resource coordinator. The ego network structures significantly affected the outcome.

Practical implications

Real estate companies should act as hubs, coordinating all the network actor resources the building user needs in the value-creation process. To be effective hubs, the representatives of real estate companies must create extensive personal and open ego networks to acquire central network positions.

Originality/value

Few studies examine business model innovation, particularly in the real estate context. Though large real estate businesses usually operate in the networks of various actors, analyses based on the network perspective are also lacking. This case study builds a valuable understanding of how network processes in real estate networks can be used as tools to foster real estate business model innovation, which in turn can lead to more competitive real estate companies and building users.
Quality of life among women in Bangladesh following ileal conduit urinary diversion operations for irreparable vesicovaginal fistula and bladder exstrophy: observational study
Authors: Walker SH , Ambauen‐Berger B , Saha SL , Akhter S
Published: May 2017

Objective

To determine the quality of life (QOL) of fistula patients in Bangladesh who have undergone ileal conduit (IC) urinary diversion operations, and to assess whether the risks and ethical challenges involved, outweigh the reality of leaving a woman with urinary incontinence for the rest of her life.

Design

Observational study.

Setting

LAMB Hospital, Bangladesh.

Population

Seventeen women who had undergone IC between February 2012 and March 2016: 14 women previously had irreparable obstetric fistulas and three had bladder exstrophy.

Methods

Demographic, obstetric, IC‐related, stigma and discrimination information were collected by questionnaire. Univariate analysis was done using the two‐sided t‐test for comparison of differences before and after IC surgery.

Main outcome methods

Change in stigma and discrimination scores. Health‐related QOL assessed using the 36‐item Short Form Health Survey.

Results

Of the 17 women, 14 (82.3%) felt they were cured of their fistula disease. Three complained of occasional leakage due to insufficient seal of the bag, mainly at night, and all but one experienced no limits to their daily activities. Stigma and discrimination scores were significantly lower after having the IC surgery. The mean difference from when the woman had a fistula to when she had an IC for stigma score was 3.17 (1.12–4.16, P < 0.001), and for discrimination score was 3 (1.9–4.1, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Overall, there has been improved QOL following IC among the women in this study and all would recommend IC to women in the same situation. They remain chronic patients with some physical symptoms, but are well re‐integrated back into their communities.

Tweetable abstract

Improved QOL following ileal conduit in women with persistent fistula related disorder in Bangladesh.
Anatomical variations of the renal arterial vasculature: An Australian perspective
Authors: Tardo Daniel T , Briggs Christopher , Ahern Gerard , Pitman Alexander , Sinha Sankar
Published: May 2017

Introduction

Variations of the renal arteries have been studied and published across various population groups, but similar information for the ethnically diverse nation of Australia is lacking. This study describes the pattern of renal artery anomalies in a section of the Australian population based on computed tomography (CT) angiograms of the abdomen and cadaveric dissection.

Methods

The renal arterial vasculature of 594 kidneys from 300 subjects (28 cadavers, 272 CT) was studied. The number and pattern of renal arteries were categorised on the basis of laterality, point of origin and termination in the kidney (superior pole, hilum and inferior pole), symmetry and sex.

Results

Multiple renal arteries were discovered in 22% of subjects and 12.12% of kidneys. The most common pattern observed was the presence of one variant renal artery (93.1%), compared to the finding of two (5.6%) and three (1.4%) multiple arteries. The aorta was the most frequent site of origin for anomalous vessels, while the hilum was the predominant point of entry. No significant difference was established between left‐ and right‐sided kidneys (13.8% vs. 12.5%; P = 0.627); however, unilateral distribution was more common than bilateral additional renal arteries (16.7% vs. 3.4%; P < 0.01), and variations among males were more than females (27.2% vs. 15.2%; P < 0.05). A higher rate of multiple renal arteries was noted in cadaveric dissections compared to CT images (46.4% vs. 19.5%; P < 0.01).

Conclusion

These findings provide application of an evidence‐based teaching tool that facilitates education regarding renal arterial variations in Australia.
Dietary analysis and nutritional counselling for caries prevention in dental practise: a pilot study
Authors: Hayes MJ , Cheng B , Musolino R , Rogers AA
Published: May 2017

Background

Dental practitioners agree that dietary counselling is essential for caries prevention; however, they provide advice infrequently due to a lack of confidence and competence. This study aimed to improve practises through an online training module exploring the use of a brief counselling method, and a diet assessment of caries risk form.

Methods

Dental practitioners (N = 41) completed a survey on current practises and confidence in providing dietary advice, followed by an online training module. Ten practitioners were involved in recruiting patients, eliciting a diet assessment of caries risk, and using brief counselling techniques with these patients. Patients were followed up at 6 months for a risk assessment review. Dental practitioners also completed a 6‐month follow‐up survey exploring changes in confidence and perceived barriers.

Results

Dental hygienists’ confidence improved significantly following the intervention (P < 0.025). Patients showed a significant reduction in high‐risk behaviour pertaining to quantity and timing of sugar intake, and significant trends in improvement of behaviours relating to frequency, exposure time and drinking style (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

It appears that a simple online learning module can improve hygienists’ confidence in dietary advice provision, and have a positive impact on patient behaviour change, within a relatively short time‐frame.
Gingival enlargement in a pregnant woman with acute monocytic leukaemia: a case report
Authors: Fu Y‐W , Xu H‐Z
Published: May 2017

The objective of the present study was to report the case of a pregnant woman with severe gingival enlargement for 3 months with undiagnosed acute leukaemia. The pregnant woman presented with anaemia and generalized gingival enlargement. A provisional diagnosis of gingival enlargement in pregnancy was made. Twelve days after the initial treatment, the patient was referred and admitted to the haematology department of a local hospital with clinical signs of anaemia and thrombocytopenia. Blood count showed a white blood cell count of 9.68 × 109/L, with a haemoglobin count of 64.0 g/L and a platelet count of 17 × 109/L. Bone marrow aspiration showed 94.5% monoblasts, and the morphological diagnosis was acute monocytic leukaemia. One day after admission, the patient delivered a male infant by Caesarean section. Ten days after the Caesarean section, the patient was started on a course of chemotherapy. Pulmonary infection, hypokalaemia, and respiratory failure developed, and the patient died 23 days after the Caesarean section. The present case shows the importance of awareness of severe gingival enlargement as an initial oral sign of acute leukaemia.
Physiological and pathological angiogenesis in endometrium at the time of embryo implantation
Authors: Chen Xiaoyan , Man Gene Chi Wai , Liu Yingyu , Wu Fangrong , Huang Jin , Li Tin Chiu , Wang Chi Chiu
Published: May 2017

Embryo establishes contact with the endometrium during implantation. Proper endometrial vascular development and maintenance at the time of embryo implantation is crucial for successful pregnancy. Vascular development at the maternal‐embryo interface can be regulated by various cell types, of which uterine natural killer (uNK) cells play an important role. Abnormal angiogenesis and uNK cell number/function may lead to reproductive failure, particularly in women with recurrent miscarriage (RM) and women with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) after IVF‐ET treatment, which are the important clinical hurdles in reproductive medicine to overcome. In this review, we aim to discuss the current knowledge of physiological angiogenic processes and the pathological angiogenesis at the time of implantation, as well as the possible mechanism and potential treatment.
Physical activity, obesity and survival in diffuse large B‐cell and follicular lymphoma cases
Authors: Boyle Terry , Connors Joseph M. , Gascoyne Randy D. , Berry Brian R. , Sehn Laurie H. , Bashash Morteza , Spinelli John J.
Published: May 2017

There is limited information concerning the impact of physical activity and obesity on non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) prognosis. We examined the associations between pre‐diagnosis physical activity and body mass index (BMI) with survival in 238 diffuse large B‐cell (DLBCL) and 175 follicular lymphoma cases, with follow‐up from 2000 to 2015. The most physically active DLBCL cases had 41% lower risk of dying in the follow‐up period than the least active [Hazard ratio (HR) = 0·59, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0·36–0·96], while obese follicular lymphoma cases had a 2·5‐fold risk of dying (HR = 2·52, 95% CI = 1·27–5·00) compared with cases with normal BMI. NHL‐specific survival results were similar.
Pericyte‐derived bone morphogenetic protein 4 underlies white matter damage after chronic hypoperfusion
Authors: Uemura Maiko T. , Ihara Masafumi , Maki Takakuni , Nakagomi Takayuki , Kaji Seiji , Uemura Kengo , Matsuyama Tomohiro , Kalaria Raj N. , Kinoshita Ayae , Takahashi Ryosuke
Published: May 2017

Subcortical small vessel disease (SVD) is characterized by white matter damage resulting from arteriolosclerosis and chronic hypoperfusion. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) is dysregulated in the hereditary SVD, CARASIL (cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy). However, very little is known about the role of the largest group in the TGFB superfamily – the bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) – in SVD pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to characterize signaling abnormalities of BMPs in sporadic SVD. We examined immunostaining of TGFB1 and BMPs (BMP2/BMP4/BMP6/BMP7/BMP9) in a total of 19 post‐mortem human brain samples as follows: 7 SVD patients (4 males, 76–90 years old); 6 Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients (2 males, 67–93 years old) and 6 age‐matched disease controls (3 males, 68–78 years old). We subsequently investigated the effects of oxygen–glucose deprivation and BMP4 addition on cultured cells. Furthermore, adult mice were subjected to chronic cerebral hypoperfusion using bilateral common carotid artery stenosis, followed by continuous intracerebroventricular infusion of the BMP antagonist, noggin. In the SVD cases, BMP4 was highly expressed in white matter pericytes. Oxygen–glucose deprivation induced BMP4 expression in cultured pericytes in vitro. Recombinant BMP4 increased the number of cultured endothelial cells and pericytes and converted oligodendrocyte precursor cells into astrocytes. Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion in vivo also upregulated BMP4 with concomitant white matter astrogliogenesis and reduced oligodendrocyte lineage cells, both of which were suppressed by intracerebroventricular noggin infusion. Our findings suggest ischemic white matter damage evolves in parallel with BMP4 upregulation in pericytes. BMP4 promotes angiogenesis, but induces astrogliogenesis at the expense of oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation and maturation, thereby aggravating white matter damage. This may explain white matter vulnerability to chronic hypoperfusion. The regulation of BMP4 signaling is a potential therapeutic strategy for treating SVD.
Guided bone regeneration with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 9 loaded on either deproteinized bovine bone mineral or a collagen barrier membrane
Authors: Saulacic Nikola , Fujioka‐Kobayashi Masako , Kobayashi Eizaburo , Schaller Benoit , Miron Richard J.
Published: May 2017

Background

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein 9 (rhBMP9) has been considered the most osteoinductive growth factor of the BMP‐family and has much translation potential for guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to compare bone formation using rhBMP9 loaded with different carrier systems including deprotenized bovine bone mineral (BioOss, BO) or collagen barrier membranes (BioGide, BG) in a rabbit GBR model.

Materials and methods

rhBMP9 was loaded either on BO; named BO/BMP9, or BG; named BG/BMP9 to investigate the better carrier system for rhBMP9. New bone formation was quantified in a rabbit calvarial defect model using four groups; (1) control (empty, n = 9), (2) BO + BG (n = 9), (3) BO/BMP9 + BG (n = 9; BMP9 loaded onto BO), and (4) BO + BG/BMP9 (n = 9; BMP9 loaded onto BG) by radiographically and histologically at 8 weeks post‐surgery.

Results

Both BO/BMP9 + BG and BO + BG/BMP9 samples significantly promoted new bone formation when compared to BO + BG samples based on parameters including mineralized tissue volume by microCT analysis, as well as new bone height and new bone area by histomorphometry. Interestingly, BO + BG/BMP9 samples but not BO/BMP9 + BG achieved near perfect horizontal bone defect closure, while demonstrating new bone layers in the defect areas implanted with BG materials and bone formation around BO materials.

Conclusion

Both BO and BG positively induced bone formation with rhBMP9 in an experimental rabbit GBR model when compared to BO + BG alone. This study revealed that BG‐loaded with rhBMP9 promoted better wound closure when compared to BO‐loaded with rhBMP9. GBR procedures with growth factors may thus benefit from loading rhBMP9 onto BG‐collagen barrier membranes when compared to BO‐bone grafting particles. Future large animal studies with different types of bone grafts and barrier membranes are needed to further investigate these trends.
Dyeing treatments for protecting colour and colour fastness of green bamboo culms
Authors: Chung Min‐Jay , Cheng Sen‐Sung , Lee Chia‐Ju , Chang Shang‐Tzen
Published: May 2017

The effects of various dyestuffs and treatment conditions on the epidermis colour of ma bamboo (Dendrocalamus latiflorus), moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens), and makino bamboo (P. makinoi) were examined to determine the most appropriate dyeing material and approach for endowing bamboo culms with a fascinating green colour without removal of their epidermis. Experimental results revealed that excellent green colour was obtained when the three species of bamboo culms were treated with 0.25% basic dyes in an 80 °C water bath for 30 min (a* values of −19.6, −15.4, and −16.0, respectively). Moreover, alkali pretreatment, though contributing to dyeing effectiveness, yielded bamboo culms with dim surface lightness of low L* values. Dye makino bamboo culms without colour fixation post‐treatment changed from green to light green after indoor exposure for 1 year, exhibiting unstable indoor colour fastness. In contrast, colour fixation post‐treatment was found to improve colour fastness of bamboo culms; in particular, treatment with 1% glacial acetic acid or 3% tannic acid achieved more uniform dyeing effectiveness and better indoor fastness. By inhibiting discoloration, the natural beauty of bamboo culm can be preserved and its service life can be extended.
Donor co‐ordination or donor confusion? How disputed facts and problem framing affect the prospects for aid harmonization
Authors: Sjöstedt Martin , Sundström Aksel
Published: May 2017

A declared commitment in international development assistance is to promote donor co‐ordination. Yet, how this objective plays out in practice, or how feasible and realistic it is, have rarely been evaluated. Using the fisheries sector as a critical case, this article explores whether two major international actors, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank, meet the demands of policy harmonization as spelled out in the Paris Declaration on aid effectiveness. Through a systematic qualitative analysis, the article investigates whether the policies of these actors are complementary or contradictory. It also assesses how the potential challenges to harmonization can be understood and what the broader implications for aid and development policies in general might be.
Oral impacts on daily performance: Validity, reliability and prevalence estimates among Indian adolescents
Authors: Nagarajappa R , Batra M , Sanadhya S , Daryani H , Ramesh G
Published: May 2017

Background

Dental diseases negatively influence people's oral health‐related quality of life and thus their perceived need for dental care.

Objectives

To test the validity and reliability of an Indian version of Oral Impacts on Daily Performance (OIDP) index for college students and to identify age and sex‐specific OIDP prevalence estimates.

Methods

Cross‐sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 800 professional and non‐professional bachelor degree college students of Udaipur, India aged between 17 and 24 years. Oral health‐related quality of life among the college students was assessed through OIDP, tested for validity and reliability and then prevalence rates were estimated. Chi square test was employed for statistical analysis. Cronbach's alpha was found to be 0.82.

Results

Sixty percent subjects reported at least one oral impact in last 6 months with overall mean OIDP score of 2.49±3.92. The most commonly affected performances were cleaning teeth (24%) and eating (12%). A significant association in oral impacts on daily performances among college students was observed with age (P=.001) but not with gender (P=.053).

Conclusions

The validity and reliability of OIDP and also the prevalence of oral health‐related impacts were found to be high. OIDP index showed acceptable psychometric properties in the context of an oral health survey among Indian college students.
Quantifying the swelling properties of alkali‐silica reaction (ASR) gels as a function of their composition
Authors: Gholizadeh‐Vayghan Asghar , Rajabipour Farshad
Published: May 2017

Synthetic alkali‐silica reaction (ASR) gels were produced and tested to investigate the effects of chemical composition (Ca/Si, Na/Si, and K/Si atomic ratios) on the gels’ free swelling strain (εg,fr) and restrained swelling pressure (Prs). The gels were cast into disk‐shape molds and exposed to distilled water after curing. Each gel's εg,fr was recorded over a period of 28 days, followed by measuring Prs, defined as the pressure required to fully reverse and eliminate the gel's free swelling under a drained configuration. Regression models were developed linking gels compositions to their swelling properties. The outcomes show that Na/Si and K/Si monotonically increase εg,fr. Increasing Ca/Si up to 0.23 drastically reduces εg,fr; higher Ca/Si has modest effect on free swelling. Prs increases by increasing calcium up to a pessimum Ca/Si level; Prs decreases for higher Ca/Si. The value of (Ca/Si)pess is related to the alkali content of the gel. Prs also increases by increasing the gel's alkali content, while a (Na/Si)pess exists in the range 0.85‐0.95. These observations are linked with the roles of alkalis and calcium in modifying the silica gel network.
Treatment of pulmonary sinus cusp‐derived ventricular arrhythmia with reversed U‐curve catheter ablation
Authors: Yang Yufan , Liu Qiming , Liu Zhenjiang , Zhou Shenghua
Published: May 2017

Background

The origin of pulmonary sinus cusp (PSC)‐derived ventricular arrhythmia (VA) is a highly specialized anatomical structure; therefore, insertion of the radiofrequency ablation catheter tip to the target site to ensure safe ablation is a major challenge for clinicians.

Purpose

To summarize ablation methods, and provide valuable experience for the treatment of PSC‐derived VA with ablation.

Methods

A retrospective analysis and summary of the clinical data of 15 patients undergoing catheter ablation for PSC‐derived VA in Cardiac Intervention Therapy Center, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University between January 2013 and July 2015 was conducted.

Results

For the 15 patients, the PSC‐derived VA originated from the lower regions of the pulmonary sinuses, leading from the right, left, and anterior sinuses of the PSC in 4, 6, and 5 patients, respectively. Nine patients with PSC‐derived VAs originating from the right and anterior sinuses underwent successful reversed U‐curve catheter ablation, while the other six cases with arrhythmias originating from the left sinus underwent successful ablation with the conventional method (nonreversed U‐curve catheter ablation). All the patients were followed‐up for 6–31 months, and no cases of recurrence or complications occurred.

Conclusions

Reversed U‐curve catheter ablation is suitable for VAs originating from the right and anterior PSCs, while conventional ablation can also be used for those originating from the left PSCs.
BMP9 induces osteogenesis and adipogenesis in the immortalized human cranial suture progenitors from the patent sutures of craniosynostosis patients
Authors: Song Dongzhe , Zhang Fugui , Reid Russell R. , Ye Jixing , Wei Qiang , Liao Junyi , Zou Yulong , Fan Jiaming , Ma Chao , Hu Xue , Qu Xiangyang , Chen Liqun , Li Li , Yu Yichun , Yu Xinyi , Zhang Zhicai , Zhao Chen , Zeng Zongyue , Zhang Ruyi , Yan Shujuan , Wu Tingting , Wu Xingye , Shu Yi , Lei Jiayan , Li Yasha , Zhang Wenwen , Wang Jia , Lee Michael J. , Wolf Jennifer Moriatis , Huang Dingming , He Tong‐Chuan
Published: May 2017

The cranial suture complex is a heterogeneous tissue consisting of osteogenic progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from bone marrow and suture mesenchyme. The fusion of cranial sutures is a highly coordinated and tightly regulated process during development. Craniosynostosis is a congenital malformation caused by premature fusion of cranial sutures. While the progenitor cells derived from the cranial suture complex should prove valuable for studying the molecular mechanisms underlying suture development and pathogenic premature suture fusion, primary human cranial suture progenitors (SuPs) have limited life span and gradually lose osteoblastic ability over passages. To overcome technical challenges in maintaining sufficient and long‐term culture of SuPs for suture biology studies, we establish and characterize the reversibly immortalized human cranial suture progenitors (iSuPs). Using a reversible immortalization system expressing SV40 T flanked with FRT sites, we demonstrate that primary human suture progenitor cells derived from the patent sutures of craniosynostosis patients can be efficiently immortalized. The iSuPs maintain long‐term proliferative activity, express most of the consensus MSC markers and can differentiate into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages upon BMP9 stimulation in vitro and in vivo. The removal of SV40 T antigen by FLP recombinase results in a decrease in cell proliferation and an increase in the endogenous osteogenic and adipogenic capability in the iSuPs. Therefore, the iSuPs should be a valuable resource to study suture development, intramembranous ossification and the pathogenesis of craniosynostosis, as well as to explore cranial bone tissue engineering.
Bilastine: a new H1‐antihistamine with an optimal profile for updosing in urticaria
Authors: Church M.K. , Labeaga L.
Published: May 2017

This review set out to examine published papers detailing the efficacy of bilastine in skin models and urticaria to assess whether it meets the optimal profile for updosing in urticaria, that is, strong clinical efficacy and freedom from unwanted side effects, particularly sedation. Bilastine is a highly effective H1‐antihistamine even when used at the basic dose of 20 mg daily. Its facilitated uptake after oral dosage gives it a rapid onset and long duration of action. In both wheal and flare studies and in urticaria updosing fourfold showed increased effectiveness. With respect to somnolence, bilastine is a substrate for P‐glycoprotein, a membrane pump which prevents it crossing the blood–brain barrier. Consequently, bilastine is a practically ‘non‐sedating’ H1‐antihistamine. In conclusion, the excellent profile of bilastine in both efficacy and safety make it the ideal H1‐antihistamine for updosing the daily dose fourfold in difficult‐to‐treat urticaria as recommended by the EAACI/GA2LEN/EDF/WAO guideline for the management of urticaria.
Family Formation and Close Social Ties Within Religious Congregations
Authors: Gurrentz Benjamin T.
Published: May 2017

The study of family and religion has yet to elaborate on the social ties that connect these two important and changing institutions. Specifically, how does family formation (i.e., marriage and childrearing) impact social ties to religious communities? Using longitudinal data from the Portraits of American Life Study (2006–2012) and fixed effects regression models that control for time‐stable heterogeneity (N = 1,314), this study tests the effects of marriage and childrearing on changes in close congregational social ties. Fixed effects estimates suggest that marriage actually decreases close social ties to religious congregations, whereas rearing children within marital unions increases them. Thus, it is children, not marriage per se, that actually integrates married couples into religious communities. These contrasting effects tend to be the strongest among young adults, but they weaken with age as well as marital duration.
Investigating the role of discrete emotions in silence versus speaking up
Authors: Kirrane Melrona , O'Shea Deirdre , Buckley Finian , Grazi Adele , Prout Joanne
Published: May 2017

Silence in the workplace is a highly prevalent behaviour, but more is needed to understand the causes and consequences of such behaviour. In this article, we draw on theory and research to examine the role of discrete emotions in decisions to remain silent or to speak up. Three studies with full‐time employees were carried out utilizing both qualitative and experimental methodologies. Study 1 (n = 110) demonstrated that there are many reasons for being silent and established fear as the main emotion associated with silence behaviour. Building on the results of Study 1 and using a quasi‐experimental vignette design, Study 2 (n = 142) confirmed that different silence motives provoke different emotional experiences. Exploring the behavioural effects of emotions using a further experimental design, Study 3 (n = 80) showed that anger is an antecedent to speaking up about an observed transgression, whereas less intense anger was associated with staying silent. This pattern was not evident for fear. Taken together, these three studies provide empirical data regarding the relationship between silence, emotions, and actions. We contribute to theory and research at the intersection of silence, emotions, and behaviour and offer valuable insights into the dynamics of these concepts in the workplace.

Practitioner points

Our study demonstrates that employees are silent for many reasons and that managers need to be sensitive to the multiple motives driving silence behaviour

Managers need to be aware that silence provokes specific emotions, with fear and anger being particularly common emotional consequences of silence.

Employees are more likely to take action when emotions are intense and so managers need to incorporate a sensitivity to employee emotions in understanding worker silence and voice
Introduction to proceedings of healthy futures: engaging the oral health community in childhood obesity prevention national conference
Authors: Tinanoff Norman , Holt Katrina
Published: May 2017

Objectives

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has worked to ensure that all children have healthy weights. To promote this goal, the RWJF has supported the Healthy Futures: Engaging the Oral Health Community in Childhood Obesity Prevention National Conference, held on November 3‐4, 2016, and the proceeding of this conference. The goals of the conference were to increase understanding of the science focusing on oral health and childhood obesity, increase understanding of how to prevent childhood obesity, and provide opportunities to network and plan activities to prevent childhood obesity.

Methods

The papers prepared for the conference identified through systematic reviews or scoping reviews the state of the science related to preventing childhood obesity and reducing children's consumption of sugar‐sweetened beverages and strategies that oral health professionals and organizations can employ prevent childhood obesity.

Results

Causes of childhood obesity are multifactorial and include genetic components, environmental and lifestyle variables, and nutritional factors. Dental caries also is caused by a combination of factors, including cariogenic diet, inadequate fluoride exposure, a susceptible host, and the presence of caries‐causing bacteria in the oral cavity. One key risk factors for both obesity and caries is excessive sugar consumption.

Conclusions

To reduce the risk of obesity and dental caries in children, health professionals and parents need to be aware of the sugar content of processed foods and beverages as well as of current daily sugar‐consumption recommendations. Additionally, oral health professionals must become more engaged in identifying children who are at risk for obesity and dental caries; and provide education, screening and referral to reduce these risks.
The use of oral fluralaner for the treatment of feline generalised demodicosis: a case report
Authors: Matricoti I. , Maina E.
Published: May 2017

There is little agreement on the most effective and safest treatment for feline demodicosis. Protocols generally consist of long‐lasting therapy courses based on rinses, subcutaneous injections, oral drug administration or repeated spot‐on formulation and the efficacy of most of these is poorly documented. Many of these products have also been associated with adverse effects and may be difficult to administer in cats, leading to poor owner compliance and treatment failure. This case report describes the successful use of fluralaner in treating a generalised form of demodicosis caused by Demodex cati in an adult cat that was probably triggered by chronic glucocorticoid administration. After a single oral dose of 28 mg/kg fluralaner, negative skin scrapings were obtained within one month and clinical cure within two months. No side effects were observed. Larger studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of fluralaner in treating feline generalised demodicosis.
On the C‐property and ‐representations of risk measures
Authors: Gao Niushan , Xanthos Foivos
Published: May 2017

We identify a large class of Orlicz spaces for which the topology fails the C‐property introduced by Biagini and Frittelli. We also establish a variant of the C‐property and use it to prove a ‐representation theorem for proper convex increasing functionals, satisfying a suitable version of Delbaen's Fatou property, on Orlicz spaces with . Our results apply, in particular, to risk measures on all Orlicz spaces other than .
Very low prevalence of iron deficiency among young French children: A national cross‐sectional hospital‐based survey
Authors: Sacri Anne‐Sylvia , Hercberg Serge , Gouya Laurent , Levy Corinne , Bocquet Alain , Blondel Béatrice , Vincelet Catherine , Hebel Pascale , Vinatier Isabelle , de Montalembert Mariane , Barros Henrique , Le Strat Yann , Chalumeau Martin
Published: May 2017

Although iron deficiency (ID) is considered the most frequent micronutrient deficiency in industrialized countries and is associated with impaired neurodevelopment when occurring in early years, accurate recent estimations of its prevalence are lacking. Our objective was to estimate ID prevalence and associated sociodemographic markers in young children in France. The Saturn‐Inf national cross‐sectional hospital‐based survey recruited 3,831 French children <6 years old between 2008 and 2009 to assess lead poisoning prevalence and to establish a biobank. This secondary analysis measured serum ferritinemia (SF) in sera kept frozen at −80 °C for children with sufficient serum aliquots and C‐reactive protein <10 mg/L. For the 657 participating children (17% of the Saturn‐Inf study), the median age was 3.9 years (interquartile range: 2.2–5.1); 52% were boys. The median SF was 44 μg/L (interquartile range: 28–71). ID prevalence was 2.8% (95% confidence interval [1.7, 4.7]) and 3.2% (95% confidence interval [2.0, 5.1]) with an SF threshold of 10 and 12 μg/L, respectively. Low SF was significantly associated (p < .05) with mother being a migrant (32 vs. 45 μg/L for a mother born in France) or unemployed (37 vs. 50 μg/L for a mother employed).

In this first national cross‐sectional hospital‐based study in France, ID prevalence was much lower than that in other French and European studies performed in underprivileged populations but close to the lowest values observed in other population‐based studies in Europe.
Esophagogastric junction in systemic sclerosis: A study with the functional lumen imaging probe
Authors: Fynne L. , Liao D. , Aksglæde K. , Lottrup C. , Gregersen H. , Bjerregaard N. C. , Drewes A. M. , Krogh K.
Published: May 2017

Background

Fibrosis and atrophy of esophageal smooth muscle cells cause gastro‐esophageal reflux and dysphagia in most patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Recent studies indicate that distensibility of the esophagogastric junction (EGJ), assessed with the Functional Lumen Imaging Probe (FLIP) may be a more sensitive and accurate measure of sphincter function than manometry. We aim to describe and compare distension parameters of the EGJ in a well‐characterized group of patients with SSc.

Method

Twelve patients with SSc reporting reflux or dysphagia (11 women, median age 53 [range 35‐72], duration of disease: 1‐20 years) were investigated using distensibility testing of the EGJ. Patients were compared with 11 healthy volunteers (HV) (10 women, median age 53 [range 40‐68]). The pressure and minimum diameter along the EGJ during ramp distension were used for distensibility analysis.

Key Results

Patients with SSc had significantly lower EGJ yield pressure (median: 4.0 mm Hg [Inter Quartile Range (IQR): 2.8‐7.7]) than HV (median: 6.2 mm Hg [IQR: 9.4‐26]) (P=.007). Likewise, the pressure‐strain elastic modulus was lower in SSc patients (median 1.73 kPa [IQR: 1.16‐2.15]) than in HV (median 2.41 kPa [IQR: 1.85‐2.67]) (P=.03), indicating the reduced resistance to distension in SSc patient.

Conclusion & Inferences

Patients with SSc and symptoms of reflux and dysphagia have significantly reduced resistance to distension of the EGJ.
High temporal variability in the occurrence of consumer–resource interactions in ecological networks
Authors: Lopez Daniela N. , Camus Patricio A. , Valdivia Nelson , Estay Sergio A.
Published: May 2017

Ecological networks have been used to represent interactions between species as fixed linkages despite that populations naturally oscillate over time and space. As such, the influence of the persistence of linkages between species in communities has been overlooked. Unfortunately, empirical analysis of the temporal variation of trophic networks is constrained by the lack of data with high spatial, temporal and taxonomic resolution. Here, we evaluate the spatiotemporal variability of multiple consumer– resource interactions to quantify the relative dominance of highly persistent versus poorly persistent interactions, the commonness of the interaction persistence patterns, and the effect of biotic and abiotic conditions on these patterns. We took advantage of a dataset from four large marine intertidal rocky‐shore networks monitored seasonally for three years along 1000 km of the coast of northern Chile. Our results showed that the communities were characterized by few persistent interactions and a large number of transient trophic interactions, which was well described by a common exponential decay in the rank‐frequency relationship of consumer–resource interactions despite dissimilarities in environmental conditions among sites. These results were independent of the degree of consumer–resource co‐occurrence. Our results stress the need for more long‐term studies that evaluate the temporal variability of ecological networks.
The Impact of Estimation: A New Method for Clustering and Trajectory Estimation in Patient Flow Modeling
Authors: Ranjan Chitta , Paynabar Kamran , Helm Jonathan E. , Pan Julian
Published: May 2017

The ability to accurately forecast and control inpatient census, and thereby workloads, is a critical and long‐standing problem in hospital management. The majority of current literature focuses on optimal scheduling of inpatients, but largely ignores the process of accurate estimation of the trajectory of patients throughout the treatment and recovery process. The result is that current scheduling models are optimizing based on inaccurate input data. We developed a Clustering and Scheduling Integrated (CSI) approach to capture patient flows through a network of hospital services. CSI functions by clustering patients into groups based on similarity of trajectory using a novel semi‐Markov model (SMM)‐based clustering scheme, as opposed to clustering by patient attributes as in previous literature. Our methodology is validated by simulation and then applied to real patient data from a partner hospital where we demonstrate that it outperforms a suite of well‐established clustering methods. Furthermore, we demonstrate that extant optimization methods achieve significantly better results on key hospital performance measures under CSI, compared with traditional estimation approaches, increasing elective admissions by 97% and utilization by 22% compared to 30% and 8% using traditional estimation techniques. From a theoretical standpoint, the SMM‐clustering is a novel approach applicable to any temporal‐spatial stochastic data that is prevalent in many industries and application areas.
Local Content Requirements Versus Tariff Equivalents: How We Measure Matters
Authors: Flaig Dorothee , Stone Susan F.
Published: May 2017

This article develops a mechanism to measure the impact of local content requirements as quantitative restrictions. We compare effects of the novel quantitative approach to the effects of a tariff equivalent, which is more traditionally used to analyse these types of policies. Local content requirements increase output and value added in the affected sector, but at the expense of other sectors, leading to declines in GDP and trade across the economy. Comparing the two modelling approaches, the differences in outcomes are shown to be significant.
An Option to Avoid the Sudden Mass Influx of Migrants Resulting From Worldwide Environmental Threats
Authors: Fujibayashi Hirotaka , Nakayama Mikiyasu
Published: May 2017

This study attempts to explore useful and practical measures to mitigate the anticipated impacts on host communities caused by the mass influx of migrants resulting from worldwide environmental threats. Concern for worldwide environmental threats such as climate change, deforestation, and sea -level are on the rise, meaning that many people from all over the world may become environmentally displaced persons (EDPs). Unless we take some corrective measures, the world could face grave difficulties resulting from massive displacement of EDPs in the near future. Human migrations generally occur for a variety of reasons and under different circumstances, and they potentially have strong effects on host communities. When massive numbers of migrants flow into one country all at once, worries about severe conflicts between migrants and residents in the host community emerge. Against those concerns, we propose an option that avoids the sudden mass influx of migrants resulting from environmental threats and; resettling them instead as economic migrants in a manageable fashion. This option seems preferable both for migrants and for the host community, rather than tackling a mass migration that would occur after the slow-onset effect of environmental threats.