bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Criminality and suspicious activity reports
Authors: Axelrod Robert Michael
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to suggest alternative suspicious activity analyses to improve the focus of financial institution reporting to law enforcement and to identify some limitations in the current practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper employs the consideration of US and Financial Action Task Force policies and text sources of suspicious activity reporting in the anti-money laundering context in light of how the reports are used. Furthermore, there is consideration of confidentiality and privacy constraints on public and private sector in assessing strategies to make the reporting process more effective and aiding the discovery and investigation of crime.

Findings

The current suspicious activity reporting process takes advantage of the business acumen of financial institutions to identify unusual or unexplained behavior that may assist law enforcement in criminal investigations and prosecutions. It is successful in that regard. However, the process has not been tuned to identifying criminal behavior through systematic feedback. As an alternative to feedback, analysis of criminal organizations vis-à-vis the transactions that flow through a reporting institution is suggested as a means to creating better tuning. The analysis could be accomplished either by law enforcement or by select institutions; but in either case, hurdles of confidentiality and/or privacy would have to be overcome.

Originality/value

Creating a process for law enforcement and/or reporting institutions to map known criminal activity on a transaction set would allow a new assessment of the role of financial institutions in this regard, and may allow policymakers to reassess whether the financial institutions’ efforts currently required would be more productive if redirected to focus more on criminal as opposed to merely suspicious activity.
The digital transformation of intelligence analysis
Authors: Ashwell Mark Lawrence
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the potential of digital transformation and innovation opportunities for intelligence analysis. Its focus is the development of individuals to exploit data and information technologies to better understand and counter organised criminal networks.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology adopted consisted of an extensive literature review and interview with practitioners in digital technology and transformation focused on intelligence, crime and terrorism, plus practical experience and field study.

Findings

Phenomena including the World Wide Web, social media and interconnectedness are influencing all aspects of human activity. Effective digital transformation, focusing on data, information technologies and people bestows significant competitive advantage upon those who have transformed. Applications are making previously complex processes and tasks easier for individuals to understand and exploit. An activity-based intelligence (ABI) model provides a platform for intelligence transformation. ABI provides a foundation from which to better fuse and share data to understand and resolve complex human (wicked) problems. To counter increasingly fast-moving organised crime networks, law enforcement needs to quickly transform.

Originality/value

This paper serves as a guide to alert and educate law enforcement professionals of the potential of digital transformation and associated evolving intelligence processes. It offers an appreciation of the nature of organisations, and the role of innovation within those organisation, required to better appreciate and tackle complex, human network challenges such as organised crime. It reveals the emergence and importance of an increasingly applications-based culture and the potential of this culture to simplify and exploit previously complex, expert-based processes.
Follow the money to achieve success: achievable or aspirational
Authors: McTaggart Nicholas Alan
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the extent to which organised crime and the environment have altered in relation to money laundering and terrorist financing and to explore whether strategies to “follow the money” have been successful.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is based on personal analysis and involvement as a practitioner in law enforcement and includes a broad literature review on the subject of terrorist financing and money laundering.

Findings

Money laundering, terrorist financing and economic crime activity are being disguised in the “noise” of business by specialists that have become very adept at their craft. Financial institutions and lawmakers have invested heavily in countering money laundering and terrorist financing. However, its real effectiveness is somewhat doubtful.

Originality/value

This paper serves to stimulate further discussion and research on how all actors can increase collaboration and co-operation to increase the effectiveness of disruption strategies associated with these classes of crime.
Filling black holes – using business process analysis in criminal intelligence
Authors: Murray Kenneth
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the importance of improving financial intelligence capture in understanding organized crime and the funding of terrorism.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper presents an analytical review of the core business processes used to harvest the revenues from illegal drug trafficking. Furthermore, assessment of the extent to which modern, organised crime – and the dynamics of the relationships between the relevant collaborating parties – can be more accurately defined in terms of these processes.

Findings

Understanding distinctive capabilities of criminal funding processes as well as their participants offers an approach to filling intelligence black holes which continue to afflict efforts to tackle organised crime and terrorism.

Originality/value

This paper establishes a framework for understanding and countering threat through application of competitive strategy analysis.
Political stability and FDI in the most competitive Asia Pacific countries
Authors: Rashid Mamunur , Looi Xuan Hui , Wong Shao Jye
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Competitiveness is vital to attracting FDI into a country, which has led us to investigate the determinants of FDI in the top 15 most competitive countries in the Asia Pacific region.

Design/methodology/approach

We have analysed political stability alongside other commonly studied determinants of FDI. We have employed a panel data fixed-effect model on a 14-year sample data (2000-2013) involving the top 15 most competitive Asia Pacific countries. The Global Competitiveness Index was taken as the yardstick to identify these countries. We have used fixed effect, GMM-system, and Panel ARDL tests for robust results.

Findings

The GDP, trade openness and political stability positively influenced FDI inflows while inflation rate negatively impacted FDI inflows in the selected countries. Political stability was the most influential variable in the presence of other indicators. GDP, openness, and political stability exhibit significant long-run relationship with FDI inflows.

Research limitations/implications

To increase FDI flows, regulators should focus on building the image of the country, and possibly the region, by ensuring stable economic and political environment, maintaining macroeconomic stability through bi- and multi-lateral arrangements with neighbouring countries.

Originality/value

Regional relationships with neighbouring countries can be considered as the building blocks for attracting FDIs. These relationships can be strengthened based on liberal trade policies, openness in capital control, and cooperation in terms of political actions. One such recent issue in regional political cooperation include actions to reduce terrorism and corruption that help boost the confidence of the investors.
Real earnings management or “just business”
Authors: Pacheco Paredes Angel Arturo , Wheatley Clark
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to refine what is characterized as real earnings management. Research on real earnings management (REM) has expressed concerns that firms deviating from normal business practices may endure a negative impact on future performance. Not all studies have, however, found a negative impact of REM on future performance. As a consequence, a new stream of research is emerging that examines whether actions that would mechanically be identified as REM are truly earnings management or are simply efficient business activities. The authors further this stream of inquiry by identifying factors, i.e. restructurings and expectations of future sales growth, that can be useful in making a distinction between earnings management and “just business”.

Design/methodology/approach

To measure REM, the authors rely on two of the proxies of Roychowdhury (2006), abnormal discretionary expenses and abnormal production costs, and regress interactions of these with measures of restructurings and expectations of future sales growth, on future performance.

Findings

The authors find that when they control for restructurings, reductions in discretionary expenses that would ordinarily be indicative of REM are instead associated with improved future return-on-assets and security returns. They further find that when they control for future sales growth, overproduction is also associated with improved return on sales as it is with future increases in cost of goods sold.

Originality/value

Together, the results may explain the contradictory results presented in prior research with respect to the impact of REM on future performance – that is, some of what has been identified as REM in prior studies may, in fact, be “just business”.
Economic policy uncertainty, market returns and expected return predictability
Authors: Adjei Frederick A. , Adjei Mavis
Published: May 2017

Purpose

Using the economic policy uncertainty (EPU) index as a proxy for the level of EPU, we study the impact of the level of EPU on the conditional mean of market returns and we examine the predictive power of EPU on future market returns.

Design/methodology/approach

We employ a GARCH-in-Mean model with exogenous variables.

Findings

The results show that even after controlling for business cycle effects, EPU is inversely related to contemporaneous market returns. Particularly, the authors find that the negative impact of EPU subsists only during recessions or recessionary states of the economy, and has no discernible effects during expansionary periods.

Originality/value

This is the first study to examine the predictive power of EPU on future market returns.
Expectations, uncertainty and risk premium
Authors: Abaidoo Rexford
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This study aims to examine short- and long-run effects of specific macroeconomic conditions on risk premium estimates on lending.

Design/methodology/approach

Empirical estimates are based on error correction and autoregressive distributed lag models.

Findings

The results suggest that, in the short run, inflation expectations, recession expectations and actual inflationary conditions tend to have a significant impact on risk premium estimates; in the long run, however, only inflation expectations and recession expectations are significant in risk premium estimates on lending.

Originality/value

This study examines how specific conditions of uncertainty and expectations influence variability in risk premium estimates on lending in the US economy.
Impact of federal budget deficits on theex antereal interest rate yield on Moody’s Baa-rated long-term corporate bonds, 1960-2015
Authors: Capener Don , Cebula Richard , Rossi Fabrizio
Published: May 2017

Purpose

To investigate the impact of the federal budget deficit (expressed as a per cent of the Gross Domestic Product, GDP) in the US on theex antereal interest rate yield on Moody’s Baa-rated corporate bonds and to provide evidence that is both contemporary and covers an extended time period, namely, 1960 through 2015.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis constructs a loanable funds model that involves a variety of financial and economic variables, with theex antereal interest rate yield on Moody’s Baa-rated long-term corporate bonds as the dependent variable. The dependent variable is contemporaneous with the federal budget deficit and two other interest rate measures. Accordingly, instrumental variables are identified for each of these contemporaneous explanatory variables. The model also consists of four additional (lagged) explanatory variables. The model is then estimated using auto-regressive, i.e., AR(1), two-stage least squares.

Findings

The principal finding is that theex antereal interest rate yield on Moody’s Baa rated corporate bonds is an increasing function of the federal budget deficit, expressed as a per cent of GDP. In particular, if the federal budget deficit were to rise by one per centage point, say from 3 to 4 per cent of GDP, theex antereal interest rate would rise by 58 basis points.

Research limitations/implications

There are other time-series techniques that could be applied to the topic, such as co-integration, although the AR(1) process is tailored for studying volatile series such as interest rates and stock prices.

Practical/implications

The greater the US federal budget deficit, the greater the real cost of funds to firms. Hence, the high budget deficits of recent years have led to the crowding out of investment in new plant, new equipment, and new technology. These impacts lower economic growth and restrict prosperity in the US over time. Federal budget deficits must be substantially reduced so as to protect the US economy.

Social/implications

Higher budget deficits act to reduce investment in ew plant, new equipment and new technology. This in turn reduces job growth and real GDP growth and compromises the health of the economy.

Originality/value

This is the first study to focus on the impact of the federal budget deficit on theex antereal long term cost of funds to firms in decades. Nearly all related studies fail to focus on this variable. Since, in theory, this variable (represented by theex antereal yield on Moody’s Baa rated long term corporate bonds) is a key factor in corporate investment decisions, the empirical findings have potentially very significant implications for US firms and for the economy as a whole in view of the extraordinarily high budget deficits of recent years.
Is there an intersection between “market justice” and “social justice”?
Authors: Hoek Janet
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper discusses whether companies’ over-riding profit orientation can ever promote social outcomes; Important questions exist over whether, where and how individual and corporate responsibility should intersect; these questions require explicit consideration of how best to balance the potentially competing interests of consumers and corporations.

Design/methodology/approach

The concepts of “market justice” and “social justice” provide a framework for addressing these questions. Using the rising popularity of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), as an example the paper explores the role tobacco companies have in promoting ENDS uptake and the risks that could eventuate from their involvement.

Findings

Before market and social justice can intersect and consumers can assert responsibility for their actions, corporations need to delist products that harm health and demonstrate the compatibility between their marketing strategies and public health goals. Only then will their introduction of more healthful (or less harmful) alternatives appear credible and support claims that marketing and social justice can intersect.

Originality/value

Debate over the role corporations could play in promoting public health is very timely, and this paper contributes to a larger conversation in critical social marketing.
The role of corporate social marketing
Authors: Polonsky Michael Jay
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This commentary aims to discuss the potential role of corporate social marketing and identify instances where corporate involvement in social marketing is appropriate. This argument is based on the rationale that there should be a focus on the social outcomes of initiatives rather than on which organisations are delivering the message.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper is conceptual and draws on previous marketing, social marketing and health-related literature to discuss the potential positive role of firms in social marketing.

Findings

The paper proposes that there are many instances where corporations can play a vital role in enhancing social outcomes, even though they too may benefit from these social marketing activities (defined as corporate social marketing). It is argued that corporate social marketing is not only appropriate but also may, in fact, be more effective than social marketing undertaken solely by non-profits or governments. However, it is also identified that there may be inappropriate corporate participation in social marketing.

Practical implications

Two typologies are put forward to assist in evaluating the impact of firm behaviour on society and the situations where corporate social marketing may be more appropriate. These typologies may assist in identifying where firms can play a valuable role in social marketing activities.

Social implications

Use of the typologies proposed will assist in identifying where firms can play a valuable role in social marketing activities and bringing about social benefit.

Originality/value

The discussion of corporate involvement in social marketing generally has been positioned as negative and this paper identifies instances where corporate social marketing may not only be appropriate but also may, in fact, bring about better social outcomes than if the activities were undertaken by government or non-profits.
Functional implications of maternal intake of flaxseed and its by-products during pregnancy and lactation on offspring
Authors: Correia-Santos André Manoel , Vicente Gabriela Câmara , Boaventura Gilson Teles
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this review of the literature is to provide data about flaxseed intake during pregnancy and/or lactation and its effects in the offspring from birth to adulthood.

Design/methodology/approach

This review includes up-to-date information from evidence-based sources on flaxseed intake and its by-products, during pregnancy and lactation and its effects on male and female offspring, from post-weaning until adulthood. Topics included are effects on body mass; glycaemic metabolism; lipid profile; blood pressure and aortic structure; reproductive system and brain tissue.

Findings

The main effects of flaxseed or its by-products were observed in the cardiovascular system, where a lipid profile improvement and minor aortic remodelling were noticed, and in the cerebral development, where greater n-3 PUFA incorporation in the brain was detected.

Originality/value

The research done in this study, to understand the offspring response that were early exposed to the flaxseed components during pregnancy and lactation, may be the first step toward guiding future strategies for recommending the use of this seed during the offspring’s perinatal period.
Comparison of three criteria for metabolic syndrome among Brazilian university students
Authors: Freire de Freitas Roberto Wagner Júnior , Moura de Araújo Márcio Flávio , Gueiros Gaspar Maria Wendiane , Garcia Lira Neto José Cláudio , Parente Garcia Alencar Ana Maria , Zanetti Maria Lúcia , Coelho Damasceno Marta Maria
Published: May 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to compare the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on the basis of three criteria. The diagnostic criteria adopted were those of the International Diabetes Federation, the National Cholesterol Education Program – Adult Treatment Panel III and the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute..

Design/methodology/approach

A transversal study was undertaken with 691 university students in Fortaleza, Brazil, in 2011-2013.

Findings

The prevalence of MetS varied considerably according to the criteria used, it being 4.1 per cent for the IDF, 0.7 per cent for the NCEP ATPIII and 1.7 per cent for the revised NCEP ATPIII. The criteria of the IDF presented reasonable agreement in relation to the NCEP ATP III (0.294) and revised NCEP ATP III (0.334). Moderate agreement was found between the NCEP ATPIII/revised NCEP ATPIII.

Originality/value

There is a need for a universal diagnostic criterion for MetS to obtain uniform and more reliable data for the elaboration of public health policies.
The impact of corporate social responsibility and internal controls on stakeholders’ view of the firm and financial performance
Authors: Akisik Orhan , Gal Graham
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to empirically examine whether two major stakeholder groups – customers and employees – consider third party-reviewed corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports and assurance on the quality of internal controls as value determinant in their decisions, and how their decisions influence financial performance through the halo effect of these reports.

Design/methodology/approach

Using Compustat North America and Global Reporting Initiative data, the authors used first-order autoregressive models over the period from 2006 to 2012.

Findings

The results indicate that the impacts of customers and employees on financial performance are influenced by third party-reviewed CSR reports and effective internal control. Moreover, it is found that the third party-reviewed CSR reports and effective internal control enable the persistence of financial performance.

Social implications

The findings have implications for stakeholders in terms of third party-reviewed CSR reports and effective internal control. The findings are important due to the influence that these stakeholders (customers and employees) have on the financial performance of firms and the impact that CSR actions can have on society as a whole.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first study that contributes to the literature by demonstrating that information about third party-reviewed CSR reports and internal control reviews may influence the perceptions of firms by two primary stakeholders – customers and employees.
Diversity ASX corporate governance recommendations: a step towards change?
Authors: Shimeld Sonia , Williams Belinda , Shimeld Justin
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The business case argument was used to underpin the inclusion of diversity disclosures within the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations (2010). By adding a requirement for diversity disclosure, an increase in focus on diversity would be expected because of a heightened level of accountability. Whether this change in the Recommendations affected any change in the boardroom is questionable though. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of these disclosure requirements.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors draw on data obtained from a random sample of 120 ASX-listed company annual reports across two time periods: 2009 and 2012 (before and after the change in the Recommendations).

Findings

Although findings indicate that there has been some change, especially in the more visible companies (ASX200), many of the changes appear to be largely superficial with a continued focus on the business case perspective.

Social implications

While the disclosure recommendations have the potential to be a driver in addressing gender inequity, the findings of this paper indicate that without deep change at the organisational level, requiring listed companies to disclose on gender diversity may have little impact, with the focus remaining on the business case and business as normal.

Originality/value

This paper contributes to the literature on gender diversity in the boardroom and the effect of disclosure. The empirical findings contribute to an understanding of the diversity Recommendations within the ASX Corporate Governance Principles and Recommendations, but in doing so, it calls for deeper organisational cultural change if real change is to take effect.
What do we know about girls in the care and criminal justice systems?
Authors: Fitzpatrick Claire
Published: May 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the neglect of girls in care who come into conflict with the law, arguing that a gender-neutral approach in this area risks further marginalising an already vulnerable population.

Design/methodology/approach

A critical review of the literature and current policy climate is undertaken to explore what is known about the experiences of females in the justice system, as well as knowledge gaps.

Findings

Evidence on the prevalence and nature of offending by girls in care is limited. However, as looked after children, girls may be more likely to have their own behaviour unnecessarily criminalised. Whilst females and males share some prior experiences of victimisation and trauma, girls also have distinct needs and may be assessed and managed by state care and control systems in very different ways.

Research limitations/implications

The paper is not based on primary research and does not present a systematic review of the literature.

Practical implications

The need to listen to girls and young women, and a far greater recognition of backgrounds of trauma must underpin future policy and practice. Diversion from the formal criminal justice system wherever possible is also a key goal to aspire to.

Originality/value

This paper focuses on the specific experiences of females. It calls for a gender-sensitive, trauma-informed approach to working with girls and women from the care system who come into conflict with the law, and questions the value of criminalising those whom the state previously deemed to be in need of welfare and support.
Secukinumab improves psoriasis symptoms in patients with inadequate response to cyclosporine A: A prospective study to evaluate direct switch
Authors: Ohtsuki Mamitaro , Morita Akimichi , Igarashi Atsuyuki , Imafuku Shinichi , Tada Yayoi , Fujita Hiroyuki , Fujishige Ayako , Yamaguchi Masako , Teshima Rie , Tani Yumiko , Nakagawa Hidemi
Published: May 2017

There are limited data on the safety and efficacy of switching to secukinumab from cyclosporine A (CyA) in patients with psoriasis. The purpose of the present study was to assess the efficacy and safety of secukinumab for 16 weeks after direct switching from CyA in patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis. In this multicenter, open‐label, phase IV study, 34 patients with moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis and inadequate response to CyA received secukinumab 300 mg s.c. at baseline and weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 and 12. The primary end‐point was ≥75% improvement from baseline in Psoriasis Area and Severity Index score (PASI 75) at week 16. The efficacy of secukinumab treatment was evaluated up to week 16, and adverse events (AE) were monitored during the study. The primary end‐point of the PASI 75 response at week 16 was achieved by 82.4% (n = 28) of patients receiving secukinumab. Early improvements were observed with secukinumab, with PASI 50 response of 41.2% at week 2 and PASI 75 response of 44.1% at week 4. AE were observed in 70.6% (n = 24) of patients, and there were no serious AE or deaths reported in the entire study period. Secukinumab showed a favorable safety profile consistent with previous data with no new or unexpected safety signals. The results of the present study show that secukinumab is effective in patients with psoriasis enabling a smooth and safe direct switch from CyA to biological therapy.
Comparative floral biology of Rhynchospora ciliata (Vahl) Kukenth and R. pubera (Vahl) Boeckeler (Cyperaceae): the role of white involucral bracts in attracting pollinating insects
Authors: Costa Ana C.G. , Thomas William W. , Machado Isabel C.
Published: May 2017

Although Cyperaceae are considered anemophilous, some species exhibit features that are attractive to pollinators, such as the white UV‐reflecting involucral bracts of Rhynchospora ciliata. But how effective are these conspicuous adaptations? To address this question, we tested the hypothesis that species such as R. ciliata are visited by greater numbers of pollinating insects than similar species with green involucral bracts, such as R. pubera. We compared the floral biology of both species and the number of visits to sympatric populations of each species, associating them with the availability of pollen and the pollination system. We verified that species with white involucral bracts are preferred, because there were more visits to R. ciliata in the first 2 h the flowers were open. The peak visitation in R. pubera was 2 h after the flowers opened, when the pollen of R. ciliata was exhausted. Although the involucral bracts of R. pubera are green, the spikelet scales and anthers are white and reflect ultraviolet light. Overall, flowers of R. pubera exhibit fewer white or reflective surfaces and are probably less conspicuous to a bee than those of R. ciliata. It is possible that R. pubera is a second option for visitors after the first 2 h of anthesis. The two different peaks in visitation minimize interspecific competition for pollinators, suggesting that R. ciliata and R. pubera together could attract more generalist pollinators and, instead of competing, facilitate the pollination of both species. Although R. pubera is autogamous and self‐compatible, both wind and insects are important to its reproductive success.
Death Due to Complications of Bowel Obstruction Following Raw Poppy Seed Ingestion
Authors: Schuppener Leah M. , Corliss Robert F.
Published: May 2017

Eating poppy seeds can cause a positive urine drug screen, but it is unknown whether ingesting large quantities can result in opiate intoxication or toxicity. A 54‐year‐old woman with intractable vomiting was found unresponsive at home and later pronounced dead. At autopsy, a cast‐like large bowel obstruction composed of poppy seeds was identified. Postmortem blood morphine level was < 10 ng/mL. Cause of death was determined to be complications of a bowel obstruction secondary to poppy seed ingestion. Deaths related to eating poppy seeds have not been described in the literature. This case illustrates that consuming raw poppy seeds in large quantities did not cause lethal opiate toxicity. However, overdose deaths associated with ingesting poppy seed tea (PST) have been described. Poppy seed derivatives should be considered a potential source in cases of opiate toxicity without evidence of prescription or street drug abuse.
Controlled clinical trial exploring the impact of a brief intervention for prevention of falls in an emergency department
Authors: Harper Kristie J , Barton Annette D , Arendts Glenn , Edwards Deborah G , Petta Antonio C , Celenza Antonio
Published: May 2017

Objective

To establish the effectiveness of a brief intervention to prevent falls in older patients presenting to the ED post‐discharge.

Methods

The present study is a prospective single‐centre, quasi‐randomised controlled clinical trial of a brief targeted educational intervention to prevent falls. The intervention group received brief scripted education and were advised of their percentage probability of falling in the next 6 months. The key message was to reinforce the importance of falls prevention strategies and the seriousness of falls.

Results

A total of 412 over 65 years old were recruited; 63 (32.1%) patients in the intervention group and 67 (36.8%) in the control group reported falls in the 6 month follow up period (OR 0.81, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.53–1.25, P = 0.34). No significant differences were noted for mortalities (P = 0.54), ED representations (P = 0.15) and medication changes (P = 0.17). Patients receiving intervention had less hospital admissions (P = 0.002) after adjustment for confounding variables. Intervention patients who presented with a fall had significant (P = 0.007) improvement in function at 6 months, whereas those not presenting with a fall experienced functional decline.

Conclusion

A brief intervention was associated with maintenance of function in fallers and reduced hospital admissions, without preventing falls post‐discharge.
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists 2017
Authors: Dove Abigail E. , Marathe Payal H. , Gao Helen X. , Close Kelly L.
Published: May 2017

Abigail E. Dove, Payal H. Marathe, Helen X. Gao, and Kelly L. Close are of Close Concerns (http://www.closeconcerns.com), a healthcare information company focused exclusively on diabetes and obesity care. Close Concerns publishes Closer Look, a periodical that brings together news and insights in these areas. Each month, the Journal of Diabetes includes this News feature, in which Dove, Marathe, Gao, and Close review the latest developments relevant to researchers and clinicians.
Malignancies in Korean patients with immunoglobulin G4‐related disease
Authors: Ahn Sung Soo , Song Jason Jungsik , Park Yong‐Beom , Lee Sang‐Won
Published: May 2017

Aim

Several studies have implicated increased risk of malignancy in patients with immunoglobulin G4‐related disease (IgG4‐RD). Hence, we first evaluated the risk and the type of malignancy in Korean IgG4‐RD patients.

Method

Clinical and laboratory results of patients fulfilling the comprehensive diagnostic criteria for IgG4‐RD were retrospectively collected between January 2006 and November 2015. One hundred and eighteen patients were included, and 35 were classified as having definite, 83 as possible/probable IgG4‐RD. We compared baseline clinical and laboratory variables between patients with definite and those with possible/probable IgG4‐RD and calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for malignancies.

Results

The median age was 60 years old and 91 patients (77.1%) were male. Malignancies were found in 12 of 118 patients (10.1%), and lymphoma (4, 25.0%) was the most frequent malignancy related to IgG4‐RD. Definite IgG4‐RD patients had higher serum IgG levels and frequent multiple organ involvement. The overall incidence of malignancy was increased in patients with IgG4‐RD compared to the general population (SIR 23.08 [95% CI 11.92–40.31]), and the overall risk of SIRs was highest in non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (SIR 400.00 [95% CI 109.00–1024.00]).

Conclusion

Our data showed that increased risk of malignancy, especially lymphomas, was observed in Korean IgG4‐RD patients.
Concept Analysis of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Sekhon Bikram
Published: May 2017

PURPOSE

Mental health nursing is not the same as psychiatry, so it is important for nurses to have an understanding of the defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, model cases, and empirical referents of post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

METHOD

Walker and Avant's (2005) method is used to guide this concept analysis of PTSD.

FINDINGS

Four attributes arise from this concept analysis, which are addressed through both the DSM‐IV and DSM‐5 (American Psychiatric Association, /): triggering event or events, re‐experiencing, fear, and helplessness. Though a majority of the defining attributes are addressed through both versions of the DSM, a key fifth attribute arises through this concept analysis: a disruption of meaning.

CONCLUSIONS

A better understanding of PTSD from a nursing perspective will help inform appropriate nursing interventions and prevention strategies, while expanding the knowledge synthesis and contribution of the nursing profession.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

A model case, borderline case, and contrary case of PTSD are provided. Discussion of the importance of a lack or loss of meaning in PTSD is included, along with exploration of transformative learning theory to inform clinical practice for nurses addressing a disruption of meaning.
Ethylenediamine‐N,N′‐disuccinic acid mitigates salt‐stress damages in strawberry by interfering with effects on the plant ionome
Authors: Aslantas R. , Angin I. , Kose M. , Bernstein N.
Published: May 2017

This study evaluated the hypothesis that the organic chelant ethylenediamine‐N,N′‐disuccinic acid (EDDS) mitigates plant damage under salinity, and that this is accomplished by EDDS‐induced effects on cation uptake. Damaging effects of salinity on plants often involve inhibited uptake of nutritional cations, such as K and Ca, and excessive accumulation of Na. Therefore, mechanisms that improve uptake of K and Ca, or reduce Na uptake, have a potential for ameliorating salinity damages. Organic chelants increase heavy‐metal cation availability at the site of uptake and increase their uptake by the roots or in planta transport. Although organic chelants are routinely used in agriculture to enhance uptake of heavy‐metal cations into plants, and for soil bioremediation, their effect on uptake of cation‐macronutrients is not known, and neither is their impact on plant function under salinity. In this study, we evaluated the response of strawberry plants to EDDS application (0, 1, 3 and 5 mmol kg soil−1), under six levels of NaCl (0, 3, 6, 9, 12 and 15 mmol L−1). EDDS application under salinity improved vegetative development, as well as reproductive growth and chlorophyll content, with statistically significant interaction between chelant dosage and level of salinity. The mitigation of salinity damage by EDDS occurred at high salinity treatments (from 9 mM NaCl). Application rates of 1–3 mmol EDDS kg−1 were optimal for mitigating salinity effects on reproductive development, but in accordance with the extent of chelant‐induced accumulation of the macronutrients K, Ca and P in the leaves, higher application rates (3–5 mmol EDDS kg−1) were required for optimal improvement of vegetative development. These results suggest that EDDS improves plant function under mild salinities by interfering with salinity effects on the plant ionome.
Biochemical isolation of myonuclei employed to define changes to the myonuclear proteome that occur with aging
Authors: Cutler Alicia A. , Dammer Eric B. , Doung Duc M. , Seyfried Nicholas T. , Corbett Anita H. , Pavlath Grace K.
Published: May 2017

Skeletal muscle aging is accompanied by loss of muscle mass and strength. Examining changes in myonuclear proteins with age would provide insight into molecular processes which regulate these profound changes in muscle physiology. However, muscle tissue is highly adapted for contraction and thus comprised largely of contractile proteins making the nuclear proteins difficult to identify from whole muscle samples. By developing a method to purify myonuclei from whole skeletal muscle, we were able to collect myonuclei for analysis by flow cytometry, biochemistry, and mass spectrometry. Nuclear purification dramatically increased the number and intensity of nuclear proteins detected by mass spectrometry compared to whole tissue. We exploited this increased proteomic depth to investigate age‐related changes to the myonuclear proteome. Nuclear levels of 54 of 779 identified proteins (7%) changed significantly with age; these proteins were primarily involved in chromatin maintenance and RNA processing. To determine whether the changes we detected were specific to myonuclei or were common to nuclei of excitatory tissues, we compared aging in myonuclei to aging in brain nuclei. Although several of the same processes were affected by aging in both brain and muscle nuclei, the specific proteins involved in these alterations differed between the two tissues. Isolating myonuclei allowed a deeper view into the myonuclear proteome than previously possible facilitating identification of novel age‐related changes in skeletal muscle. Our technique will enable future studies into a heretofore underrepresented compartment of skeletal muscle.
Genetic variation and genetic structure of five Chinese indigenous pig populations in Jiangsu Province revealed by sequencing data
Authors: Xiao Q. , Zhang Z. , Sun H. , Yang H. , Xue M. , Liu X. , Zhang W. , Zhen Y. , Zhu M. , Wang Q. , Pan Y.
Published: May 2017

In this study, we investigated the genetic variants, including SNPs and indels (short insertions or deletions, less than 50 bp in length), in the genomes and genetic structures of five pig populations (in the northern Taihu Lake region, Jiangsu Province) using the genotyping by genome reducing and sequencing (GGRS) approach. A total of 581 million good reads with an average depth of 11× and an average coverage of 2.16% were used to call variants. In general, 202 106 SNPs and 34 415 indels were obtained, of which 2690 SNPs and 224 indels were capable of inducing protein‐coding changes. The genes containing these variants were extracted for functional annotation. The results of gene enrichment analysis revealed that the SNPs under investigation may be associated with reproduction, disease resistance, meat quality and adipose tissue traits, whereas the indels were associated mainly with adipose tissue and disease. Analysis of the genetic structure showed that each population displayed comparable, large differentiations from the others, indicating their uniqueness. In conclusion, the results of our study provide the first genomic overview of the genetic variants and population structures of five Chinese indigenous pig populations.
Psoriasis in those planning a family, pregnant or breast‐feeding. The Australasian Psoriasis Collaboration
Authors: Rademaker Marius , Agnew Karen , Andrews Megan , Armour Katherine , Baker Chris , Foley Peter , Frew John , Gebauer Kurt , Gupta Monisha , Kennedy Debra , Marshman Gillian , Sullivan John
Published: May 2017

The Australasian Psoriasis Collaboration has reviewed the evidence for managing moderate to severe psoriasis in those who are pregnant or are breast‐feeding, or planning a family. The severity of the psoriasis, associated comorbidities and specific anti‐psoriasis treatment, along with other exposures, can have a deleterious effect on pregnancy outcomes. Psoriasis itself increases the risk of preterm and low birthweight babies, along with spontaneous and induced abortions, but no specific birth defects have been otherwise demonstrated. The baseline risk for a live born baby to have a major birth defect is 3%, and significant neuro‐developmental problem is 5%. In Australia, pregnant women with psoriasis are more likely to be overweight or obese, depressed, or smoke in their first trimester, and are also less likely to take prenatal vitamins or supplements. Preconception counselling to improve maternal, pregnancy and baby health is therefore strongly encouraged. The topical and systemic therapies commonly used in psoriasis are each discussed separately, with regards to pregnancy exposure, breast‐feeding and effects on male fertility and mutagenicity. The systemic therapies included are acitretin, adalimumab, apremilast, certolizumab, ciclosporin, etanercept, infliximab, ixekizumab, methotrexate, NBUVB, prednisone, PUVA, secukinumab and ustekinumab. The topical therapies include dithranol (anthralin), calcipotriol, coal tar, corticosteroids (weak, potent and super‐potent), moisturisers, salicylic acid, tacrolimus, and tazarotene. As a general recommendation, effective drugs that have been widely used for years are preferable to newer alternatives with less foetal safety data. It is equally important to evaluate the risks of not treating, as severe untreated disease may negatively impact both mother and the foetus.
Change of transfusion and treatment paradigm in major trauma patients
Authors: Stein P. , Kaserer A. , Sprengel K. , Wanner G. A. , Seifert B. , Theusinger O. M. , Spahn D. R.
Published: May 2017

Trauma promotes trauma‐induced coagulopathy, which requires urgent treatment with fixed‐ratio transfusions of red blood cells, fresh frozen plasma and platelet concentrates, or goal‐directed administration of coagulation factors based on viscoelastic testing. This retrospective observational study compared two time periods before (2005–2007) and after (2012–2014) the implementation of changes in trauma management protocols which included: use of goal‐directed coagulation management; admission of patients to designated trauma centres; whole‐body computed tomography scanning on admission; damage control surgery; permissive hypotension; restrictive fluid resuscitation; and administration of tranexamic acid. The incidence of massive transfusion (≥ 10 units of red blood cells from emergency department arrival until intensive care unit admission) was compared with the predicted incidence according to the trauma associated severe haemorrhage score. All adult (≥ 16 years) trauma patients primarily admitted to the University Hospital Zürich with an injury severity score ≥ 16 were included. In 2005–2007, the observed and trauma associated severe haemorrhage score that predicted the incidence of massive transfusion were identical, whereas in 2012–2014 the observed incidence was less than half that predicted (3.7% vs. 7.5%). Compared to 2005–2007, the proportion of patients transfused with red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma was significantly lower in 2012–2014 in both the emergency department (43% vs. 17%; 31% vs. 6%, respectively), and after 24 h (53% vs. 27%; 37% vs. 16%, respectively). The use of tranexamic acid and coagulation factor XIII also increased significantly in the 2012–2014 time period. Implementation of a revised trauma management strategy, which included goal‐directed coagulation management, was associated with a reduced incidence of massive transfusion and a reduction in the transfusion of red blood cells and fresh frozen plasma.
An in vitro model demonstrates the potential of neoplastic human germ cells to influence the tumour microenvironment
Authors: Klein B. , Schuppe H.‐C. , Bergmann M. , Hedger M. P. , Loveland B. E. , Loveland K. L.
Published: May 2017

Testicular germ cell tumours (TGCT) typically contain high numbers of infiltrating immune cells, yet the functional nature and consequences of interactions between GCNIS (germ cell neoplasia in situ) or seminoma cells and immune cells remain unknown. A co‐culture model using the seminoma‐derived TCam‐2 cell line and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC, n = 7 healthy donors) was established to investigate how tumour and immune cells each contribute to the cytokine microenvironment associated with TGCT. Three different co‐culture approaches were employed: direct contact during culture to simulate in situ cellular interactions occurring within seminomas (n = 9); indirect contact using well inserts to mimic GCNIS, in which a basement membrane separates the neoplastic germ cells and immune cells (n = 3); and PBMC stimulation prior to direct contact during culture to overcome the potential lack of immune cell activation (n = 3). Transcript levels for key cytokines in PBMC and TCam‐2 cell fractions were determined using RT‐qPCR. TCam‐2 cell fractions showed an immediate increase (within 24 h) in several cytokine mRNAs after direct contact with PBMC, whereas immune cell fractions did not. The high levels of interleukin‐6 (IL6) mRNA and protein associated with TCam‐2 cells implicate this cytokine as important to seminoma physiology. Use of PBMCs from different donors revealed a robust, repeatable pattern of changes in TCam‐2 and PBMC cytokine mRNAs, independent of potential inter‐donor variation in immune cell responsiveness. This in vitro model recapitulated previous data from clinical TGCT biopsies, revealing similar cytokine expression profiles and indicating its suitability for exploring the in vivo circumstances of TGCT. Despite the limitations of using a cell line to mimic in vivo events, these results indicate how neoplastic germ cells can directly shape the surrounding tumour microenvironment, including by influencing local immune responses. IL6 production by seminoma cells may be a practical target for early diagnosis and/or treatment of TGCT.