bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of Complementary Therapies in Patients Following Cardiac Surgery
Authors: Chandrababu Ramesh , Nayak Baby S. , Pai Vasudev Baburaya , Patil Nitin T. , George Anice , George Linu Sara , Devi Elsa Sanatombi
Published: August 2017

Cardiovascular diseases are increasing rapidly and have become a major health problem worldwide. The incidence and prevalence of cardiovascular disease are increasing rapidly, predominantly in the developing countries. Patients with cardiovascular disease who do not respond to routine medical treatment will have to follow cardiac surgical procedures. The objective of this study was to apprise the evidence of the effect of various complementary therapies on postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing cardiac surgery. A comprehensive literature search was made on PubMed-Medline, CINAHL, Science Direct, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library databases for original research studies published between 2000 and 2015. Original articles that reported the effect of complementary therapies in patients undergoing cardiac surgery were included. Twenty-eight studies were analyzed, and they have produced conflicting results. Most of the studies (n = 25) have documented the effects of complementary therapies on improving postoperative outcomes of patients, whereas other studies (n = 3) found no evidence of improvement. Although methods varied considerably, most of the studies included in this review reported positive results. Therefore, there is some evidence that complementary therapies can lead to positive postoperative outcomes. Evidence of the efficacy of complementary therapies in cardiac surgical patients remains inconclusive. Additional research is needed to provide a strong evidence base for the use of complementary therapies to improve postoperative outcomes and recovery in patients undergoing cardiac surgery.
Effectiveness of a Treatment for Impairments in Social Cognition and Emotion Regulation (T-ScEmo) After Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Westerhof-Evers Herma J. , Visser-Keizer Annemarie C. , Fasotti Luciano , Schönherr Marleen C. , Vink Martie , van der Naalt Joukje , Spikman Jacoba M.
Published: August 2017

Objective:

To evaluate the effects of a multifaceted Treatment for Social cognition and Emotion regulation (T-ScEmo) in patients with a traumatic brain injury.

Participants:

Sixty-one patients with moderate to severe traumatic brain injury randomly assigned to an experimental T-ScEmo intervention or a Cogniplus control condition.

Interventions:

T-ScEmo is a compensatory strategy training for impairments in emotion recognition, theory of mind, and social behavioral skills. Cogniplus is a computerized cognitive function training. Both interventions were given in 16 to 20 weekly 1-hour sessions.

Main Measures:

Social cognition tests and questionnaires for social behavior (self- and proxy-rated) administered at baseline, immediately posttreatment, and at 3 to 5 months of follow-up.

Results:

Compared with the Cogniplus group, the T-ScEmo group improved significantly on facial affect recognition, theory of mind, proxy-rated empathic behavior, societal participation, and treatment goal attainment, which lasted up to 5 months after treatment. At follow-up, the T-ScEmo group also reported higher quality of life and their life partners rated relationship quality to be higher than the Cogniplus group.

Conclusion:

This study shows that impairments in social cognition can be effectively dealt with by using a comprehensive treatment protocol, leading to improvements in everyday life social functioning.
Differentiating Posttransplant Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Other Colitides in Renal Transplant Patients
Authors: Pittman Meredith E. , Jessurun Jose , Yantiss Rhonda K.
Published: August 2017

Renal transplant recipients who present with gastrointestinal complaints may have symptoms related to their underlying renal disease or secondary to their immunosuppressive regimen. Immunosuppression increases patients’ risk for infection and medication-induced injury, and a subset of transplant patients develop a form of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) despite being immunosuppressed. In this study, we present the spectrum of changes in colonic biopsy histology that occur in the postrenal transplant population, with emphasis on the clinical and histologic features that may allow distinction between several common disorders. Over a 15-year period, 51 postrenal transplant patients underwent colonoscopy with biopsy. Eleven (22%) patients had infectious colitis, and 10 of these had biopsy proven acute colitis. Another 17 (33%) patients were determined to have a medication-related injury based on resolution of symptoms following drug cessation. The majority (53%) of these colonic biopsies demonstrated crypt epithelial cell apoptosis and/or architectural distortion, although 41% were histologically normal. Four (8%) patients were ultimately diagnosed with a form of IBD after exclusion of other etiologies; biopsies from these patients demonstrated chronic active colitis or enteritis with plasma cell–rich expansion of the lamina propria and basal lymphoplasmacytosis. The increased prevalence of IBD in this patient cohort (4/700) compared with that reported in the overall North American population (1 to 2/700) is in line with prior studies and is likely related to the therapeutic regimen and associated immune dysregulation that occurs in solid-organ transplant recipients. We demonstrate that a combination of clinical, endoscopic, and histologic features are useful to distinguish among causes of gastrointestinal symptoms in this high risk population.
Electrocorticographic Patterns in Epilepsy Surgery and Long-Term Outcome
Authors: San-Juan Daniel , Alonso-Vanegas Mario Arturo , Trenado Carlos , Hernández-Segura Natalia , Espinoza-López Dulce Anabel , González-Pérez Brenda , Cobos-Alfaro Esmeralda , Zúñiga-Gazcón Héctor , Fernández-González de Aragón María del Carmen , Hernandez-Ruiz Axel
Published: August 2017

Purpose:

The role of intraoperative electrocorticography (iECoG) and of its patterns in epilepsy surgery have shown contradictory results. Our aim was to describe iECoG patterns and their association with outcome in epilepsy surgery.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed 104 patients who underwent epilepsy surgery (2009–2015) with pre- and postresection iECoG. We described clinical findings, type of surgery, preresection iECoG patterns according to Palmini et al., 1995 (sporadic, continuous, burst, and recruiting interictal epileptiform discharges—IEDs) and postresection iECoG outcome (de novo, residual, and without IEDs). The Engel scale was used to evaluate the outcome. Descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier, the logistic regression model, and analysis of variance tests were used.

Results:

We included 60.6% (63/104) females, with a mean age of 35 (±10.2) years at the time of epilepsy surgery. The etiologies were hippocampal sclerosis (63.5%), cavernomas (14.4%), cortical dysplasia (11.5%), and low-grade tumors (10.6%). The most common preresection iECoG pattern was sporadic IEDs (47%). Postresection iECoG patterns were de novo (55.7%), residual (27.8%), and without IEDs (16.3%). Mean follow-up was 19.2 months. Engel scale was as follows: Engel I (91 patients, 87.5%), Engel II (10 patients, 9.6%), and Engel III (three patients, 2.9%). Analysis by mixed-design analysis of variance showed a significant difference between etiology groups with a strong size effect (P = 0.021, η2 = 0.513) and also between preresection iECoG patterns (P = 0.008, η2 = 0.661).

Conclusions:

Preresection iECoG patterns and etiology influence Engel scale outcome in lesional epilepsy surgery.
Programming of neural progenitors of the adult subependymal zone towards a glutamatergic identity byNeurogenin2
Authors: Péron Sophie , Miyakoshi Leo M , Brill Monika S , Ortega Felipe , Karow Marisa , Gascón Sergio , Berninger Benedikt
Published: August 2017

While the adult subependymal zone (SEZ) harbors pools of distinct neural stem cells that generate different types of GABAergic interneurons, a small progenitor population in the dorsal SEZ expressesNeurog2and gives rise to glutamatergic neurons. Here we investigated whether SEZ progenitors can be programmed towards glutamatergic neurogenesis through forced expression ofNeurog2.Retrovirus-mediated expression ofNeurog2induced the glutamatergic neuron lineage markers Tbr2 and Tbr1 in cultured SEZ progenitors which subsequently differentiated into functional glutamatergic neurons. Likewise, retrovirus-mediated expression ofNeurog2in dividing SEZ progenitors within the adult SEZ induced Tbr2 and Tbr1 expression, hallmarking entry into the glutamatergic lineage alsoin vivo.Intriguingly,Neurog2-expressing progenitors failed to enter the rostral migratory stream (RMS) and instead differentiated directly within the SEZ or the adjacent striatum. In sharp contrast, lentivirus-mediated postmitotic expression ofNeurog2failed to reprogram early SEZ neurons, which instead maintained their GABAergic identity and migrated along the RMS towards the olfactory bulb. Thus, our data show thatNeurog2can program SEZ progenitors towards a glutamatergic identity, but fails to reprogram their postmitotic progeny.

Summary statement

Our study identifies a critical developmental time window during which progenitors of the adult subependymal zone, specified for generating GABAergic neurons, can be reprogrammed towards glutamatergic neurogenesis.
Fog and live fuel moisture in coastal California shrublands
Authors: Emery Nathan , D'Antonio Carla M. , Still Christopher J.
Published: August 2017

Across most Mediterranean-type climate regions, seasonal drought desiccates plants, facilitating ignition and the spread of wildfires. Along the California coast, summertime fog has the potential to ameliorate drought conditions and thus reduce plant flammability during a critical time of elevated fire risk. This study investigated the uptake of dry season fog and how it affects live fuel moisture in six dominant shrub species from chaparral and sage scrub plant associations. Fog water uptake was evaluated using stable isotopes of hydrogen and oxygen at several field sites in Santa Barbara County, California. Clear evidence of fog water uptake was identified only in Baccharis pilularis, from the sage scrub association. To determine the effects of fog on live fuel moisture, meteorological variables and indices including fog deposition were combined into principal components and the scores regressed against the live fuel moisture loss rate during the summer drought. Fog deposition slowed rates of live fuel moisture loss for all three sage scrub species tested, but it did not affect the chaparral species. Fog is a more regular occurrence in the sage scrub association and thus it is likely that fog ameliorates drought for species that experience consistent fog during the summer months. In coastal California, summer fog can be essential to plant water relations and reduce live fuel moisture loss rates during the summer drought. Understanding these effects is important in the context of changing climate in southern California and Mediterranean-type climate regions around the world.
Pathway centrality in protein interaction networks identifies functional mediators of pulmonary disease
Authors: Park Jisoo , Hescott Benjamin J. , Slonim Donna K.
Published: August 2017

Identification of functional pathways mediating molecular responses may lead to better understanding of disease processes and suggest new therapeutic approaches. We introduce a method to detect such mediating functions using topological properties of protein-protein interaction networks. We introduce the concept of pathway centrality, a measure of communication between disease genes and differentially expressed genes. We find mediating pathways for three pulmonary diseases (asthma; bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD); and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) using pathway centrality. Mediating pathways shared by all three pulmonary disorders heavily favor inflammatory or immune responses and include specific pathways such as cytokine production, NF Kappa B, and JAK/STAT signaling. Disease-specific mediators, such as insulin signaling in BPD or homeostasis in COPD, are also highlighted. We support our findings, some of which suggest new treatment approaches, both with anecdotal evidence from the literature and via systematic evaluation using genetic interactions.
Linear relationship between peak and season-long abundances in insects
Authors: Onufrieva Ksenia S. , Onufriev Alexey V.
Published: August 2017

An accurate quantitative relationship between key characteristics of an insect population, such as season-long and peak abundances, can be very useful in pest management programs. To the best of our knowledge, no such relationship yet has been established.

Here we establish a predictive linear relationship between insect catchMpwduring the week of peak abundance, the length of seasonal flight period,F(number of weeks) and season-long cumulative catch (abundance)A=0.41MpwF. The derivation of the equation is based on several general assumptions, and does not involve fitting to experimental data, which implies generality of the result. A quantitative criterion for the validity of the model is presented.

The equation was tested using extensive data collected on captures of male gypsy mothsLymantria dispar(L.) (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) in pheromone-baited traps during 15 years.

The model was also tested using trap catch data for two species of mosquitoes,Culex pipiens(L.) (Diptera: Culicidae) andAedes albopictus(Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae), in Gravid and BG-sentinel mosquito traps, respectively.

The simple, parameter-free equation approximates experimental data points with relative error of 13% andR2= 0.997, across all of the species tested.

For gypsy moth, we also related season-long and weekly trap catches to the daily trap catches during peak flight.

We describe several usage scenarios, in which the derived relationships are employed to help link results of small-scale field studies to the operational pest management programs.
Synthesis and crystal structure of cerium(IV) bis(phosphite)
Authors: Byer Stefano H. , Villa Eric M.
Published: August 2017

The structure of cerium(IV) bis(phosphite), Ce(HPO3)2, has been solved by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and has trigonal (P-3m1) symmetry. The cerium(IV) cation exhibits site symmetry -3m. and is octahedrally coordinated by O atoms of the phosphite ligands (point group symmetry 3m.). The highly symmetrical compound has a layered structure parallel to theabplane, and is closely related to zirconium(IV) bis(phosphite) solvedviapowder X-ray diffraction with trigonal (P-3 symmetry. Structural details of the two compounds are comparatively discussed.
Growth of research journals in India during last decade (2005-2014): an overview
Authors: Pandita Ramesh , Koul Meenakshi , Singh Shivendra
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to reflect a growing trend toward the introduction of new research journals in India. The study focuses on the number of journals introduced in India during the past decade, namely, for the period 2005-2014. Some of the key aspects analyzed include year-wise distribution of journals introduced, cumulative and annual corresponding growth of newly introduced journals, publishing form of journals, namely, online, print and hybrid. Some other aspects studied include distribution of journals on the basis of language, periodicity, state, etc. for both online and print journals.

Design/methodology/approach

To undertake the present study, data were retrieved from the official website of the National Science Library, New Delhi, and the analysis is based on the number of ISSN numbers issued by the National Science Library New Delhi during the period of study.

Findings

A total of 15,631 research journals were introduced in India from 2005 through 2014. Compared to 4,954 (31.69 per cent) online journals, 10,614 (67.90 per cent) print journals were introduced in India during the past decade, depicting print as the larger medium of journal publishing in India. During the period of study, research journals in India grew annually at 31.44 per cent. New Delhi, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh emerged as the three leading research journal publishing states of the country, while 82.86 per cent journals are published in English language and a maximum 32.52 per cent journals are published on a quarterly basis.

Originality/value

The study is first of its kind undertaken in India.
Measuring the impact: Springer Book Archives at Melbourne
Authors: Kent Philip Gregory
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine usage trends during the first four years of the implementation of the Springer Book Archives (SBA) at the University of Melbourne. The paper assesses the benefits of the SBA against perceptions at the time of purchase and seeks to evaluate the long-term value of the purchase.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology included a literature search to identify issues in the adoption of large backlists of ebooks, examination of detailed usage data supplied in COUNTER complaint spreadsheets and tables by Springer, validating findings with librarians and academics and positing next steps.

Findings

Usage of ebooks, like other electronic resources, is difficult to predict. Resources expected to be used, may not be and vice versa. Access to large aggregations of electronic content creates new opportunities for teaching and research, additional economies and benefits, as well as unexpected outcomes.

Research limitations/implications

Detailed data on user profiles were not available and an evaluation of user perceptions was not possible at this time.

Originality/value

The literature review suggests that this is the only published study of institutional usage of the SBA at this time.
The effectiveness of matching sales influence tactics to consumers’ avoidance versus approach shopping motivations
Authors: Guo Wenxia , Main Kelley
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Adaptive selling can help build positive relationships between salespeople and consumers. The literature shows that consumers respond positively to salespeople under approach but not avoidance motivations. This paper aims to demonstrate a circumstance under which consumers with avoidance motivations can also respond positively, something not previously shown in the literature.

Design/methodology/approach

This research paper uses three experimental between-subject designs to test hypotheses.

Findings

The current research identifies appropriate sales influence tactics (e.g. a customer-autonomy-oriented or a loss-avoidance-oriented influence tactic) where consumers with avoidance motivations can also respond to sales agents positively by the evidence of higher purchase intentions. In addition, this research shows that consumers with approach motivations may not always respond positively to salespeople. Further, goal facilitation appraisals of the salespeople serve as a mechanism between consumers’ shopping motivations and their behavioral responses (e.g. purchase intentions).

Originality/value

First, while the previous literature demonstrates that approach motivations generally lead to more positive effects (Elliot and Trash, 2002), this research indicates that avoidance motivations can also have positive effects, which is a finding that has not been demonstrated in the literature thus far. Second, this research identifies goal facilitation appraisals as one underlying process that explains the interactive effect between matching influence tactics and consumers’ approach/avoidance motivations when shopping. Third, the authors integrate regulatory focus theory by using gain- or loss-avoidance-oriented sales influence tactics to match approach and avoidance motivations.
The transparency construct in corporate marketing
Authors: Leitch Shirley R.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The centrality of ethics and corporate social responsibility (CSR) to the corporate marketing perspective serves as a point of differentiation for the field within the broader marketing discipline. Currently, there is a lack of clarity around the ‘transparency’ construct, which is an integral if ill-defined dimension of ethics and CSR in marketing. A shared understanding of the transparency construct is thus a significant gap within corporate marketing theory. Addressing that gap is the purpose of this paper.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach in this paper is conceptual. In developing a detailed definition of transparency, the paper draws on core papers in corporate marketing theory as well as organisational transparency.

Findings

Rawlins’ (2009) multi-layered definition of the transparency construct is identified as appropriate for adoption in the corporate marketing context. Each of the six layers of his definition is analysed to understand what is implied and what the application of the construct means for corporate marketing practice. The implications are that the application of transparency in corporate marketing requires that a positive and proactive approach to information-sharing is adopted; the default position is to share information with stakeholders; both good and bad news are shared; the criteria – accuracy, timeliness, balance and unequivocality – are applied to all information prior to releases; an organisation commits to empowering stakeholders; and there is recognition of an obligation to account to stakeholders.

Research limitations/implication

The paper is conceptual in nature and does not apply the definition of the transparency construct to empirical data. It is likely that empirical research will lead to further refinements and amendments. The paper should therefore be considered as a starting point for this empirical work.

Practical implication

The paper provides a detailed definition of the transparency construct, which includes a discussion of what the application of the transparency construct implies and what it means for the practice of corporate marketing. The definition and its practical application are summarised in table form as a guide for both researchers and practitioners of corporate marketing. The table may serve as a guide for evaluating current organisational performance and for embedding transparency in corporate marketing practice.

Originality/value

This study appears to be the first paper to address the gap in the corporate marketing literature in relation to the transparency construct. This conceptual paper therefore provides a foundation for further empirical research into the application of the transparency construct in corporate marketing.
“Usage by stakeholders” as the objective of “transparency-by-design” in open government data
Authors: Saxena Stuti
Published: August 2017

Purpose

While “transparency-by-design” serves as the antecedent of any Open Government Data (OGD) initiative (Janssen et al., 2017), its logical objective would be the extent to which data “usage” is facilitated. This paper aims to underscore the significance, drivers and barriers to ensure “usage” of data sets conceding that re-use of data sets is one of the key objectives of any OGD initiative.

Design/methodology/approach

With a documentary analysis approach, the OGD initiative of Sri Lanka is investigated for the present purpose. Furthermore, the theoretical model of citizen engagement in OGD suggested by Sieber and Johnson (2015) is being referred to appreciate the extent to which the usage of data sets is facilitated via the OGD platform.

Findings

There are drivers as well as barriers as far as facilitating the usage of the data sets in the Sri Lankan OGD initiative is concerned. For instance, some of the drivers are the provision of suggesting data sets or the possibility of referring to data sets which are historical in nature. However, there are countless barriers to usage than the drivers. For instance, there is absence of metadata in the data sets; the data sets are not updated regularly; there are historical data; the formats of the data sets are limited in nature and are not user-friendly; there is no facility of conducting data visualization or analytics, and there is no collaborative approach towards building further the OGD initiative.

Research limitations/implications

As only one case study is probed in the paper, further research is warranted to undertake a comparative approach by taking two or more case studies into consideration.

Practical implications

This study holds relevance for Sri Lankan Government and other stakeholders (policy makers, citizens, developers and the like) so far as furthering of user engagement in OGD initiative is concerned.

Social implications

Facilitating more usage by citizens would increase their engagement, and they might derive value out of the data sets. At the same time, the government’s objective of ensuring increased usage of the data sets would be better realized.

Originality/value

“Transparency-by-design” approach had its focus on the publishing phase of OGD, and this paper seeks to provide its logical conclusion by emphasizing upon “usage by stakeholders” because by opening data sets, the government has the target to ensure that these open data sets are being used and re-used. Therefore, it is the outcome which is being discussed with the support of a case study set in the background of Sri Lanka’s Open Data initiative. Besides, this is the first study which probes the OGD initiatives of Sri Lanka – therein lies the major contribution of the study.
Achieving consumer trust on Twitter via CSR communication
Authors: Kollat Jana , Farache Francisca
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Corporations are under increasing pressure to communicate their position and policies with regards to corporate social responsibility (CSR), informing consumers about the corporations’ good intentions and actions to appear trustworthy. Corporations have been asked to engage in dialogue with their consumers. However, academic literature still lacks empirical research that examines how consumers react to asymmetric versus symmetric communication strategies.

Design/methodology/approach

The present paper closes this gap and evaluates how consumers react to different CSR communication approaches on social media, specifically on Twitter. The study is based on a sample of 507 respondents in the UK, representing a well-educated population of social media users. The sample was divided into two sub-samples, one receiving a set of tweets with an asymmetric CSR communication approach (N= 242) and the other one with a symmetric CSR communication approach (N= 265).

Findings

The main finding of this study is that an asymmetric communication approach performs generally better than a symmetric communication approach. However, consumers’ involvement and their own personal information processing mechanisms also play a significant role when evaluating the trustworthiness of corporations.

Originality/value

The paper provides insights into how corporations should communicate with consumers on Twitter and what characteristics they should take into consideration to achieve consumer trust.
The effects of packaging localisation of Western brands in non-Western emerging markets
Authors: Khan Huda , Lee Richard , Lockshin Larry
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The common market practice by foreign marketers is to sell their brands in standard or localised packaging or sometimes both in the context of Pakistan. By examining the differential influence of standard (Western) and local (Urdu) packaging on Pakistani consumers’ perceptions and choice under conspicuous and inconspicuous situations, this study aims to examine whether the localisation strategy is effective or even necessary.

Design/methodology/approach

A pre-test first identified suitable products and brands. The main survey was conducted using convenience sampling in popular shopping precincts of the Lahore district in 2015. Participants first rated the packaging of hedonic and utilitarian products. After rating the packaging likeability, the respondents were asked to assume the two consumption situations. Their choice of standard versus local packaging under conspicuous and inconspicuous consumption situations for the same brand was recorded.

Findings

Overall, findings suggest that for hedonic products, localisation is not an effective strategy particularly for well-known Western brands such as M&M’s. For utilitarian products, packaging localisation does not render a Western brand more competitive as consumers did not like one packaging type over the other. Mode of consumption did not change the preference for standard packaging in case of hedonic products, whereas in case of utilitarian products, the mode of consumption did moderate the results for the choice of packaging; standard packaging is chosen more often under conspicuous a situation but not under an inconspicuous situation.

Research limitations/implications

The findings of this research show that indiscriminately localising the packaging of any products as they enter foreign markets may not be the most effective strategy for international marketers.

Originality/value

This is first study to question the common market practice of packaging localisation and investigate the differential effects of standard versus local packaging of foreign products on consumers’ perceptions and choice under varying consumption modes.
Red flags for IPO downfalls in New Zealand
Authors: Dang Huong Dieu , Jolly Michael
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The strong performance of New Zealand’s equity market and the Government’s efforts to encourage small investors to invest in initial public offering (IPO) firms raises two questions: should retail investors invest in IPO offers and what types of IPOs are worth buying in the long term? The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors construct buy and hold equally weighted portfolios of IPOs and peers based on sales forecast, market capitalisation, and price-to-book ratio. The authors employ four benchmark-adjusted performance measures: cumulative average abnormal return (CAR), holding period return difference, wealth relative, and excess return (α).

Findings

IPOs underperform their peers over the medium and long term, with a five-year CAR ranging between −6.4 and −19.7 per cent. IPOs listed post-GFC show inferior benchmark-adjusted performance with a statistically significant average monthly CAPM α of −1.07 per cent (vs −0.13 per cent for pre-2009 IPOs). Over a five-year horizon, mature IPOs, IPOs with high market cap, high sales forecast, high leverage, low price-to-book ratio, and positive earnings forecast outperform other IPOs. Small IPOs or those with a small degree of leverage exhibit the worst five-year CAR ranging between −30.2 and −49.1 per cent. Of all IPOs examined, large firms, well-established firms, and value firms achieved positive five-year CARs of between 6.6 and 17.5 per cent.

Practical implications

The results are useful for retail investors and financial advisors in making sensible investment decisions.

Originality/value

This study is the first to utilise book-to-market and sales forecast to construct peer samples and to identify the red flags for IPO downfalls in New Zealand. It covers the longest sample period (1991-2015) in New Zealand’s context.
Investing in Real Estate Debt: Is it Real Estate or Fixed Income?
Authors: van der Spek Maarten
Published: August 2017

This paper will analyze the risk return profile of real estate debt. Using a Monte Carlo simulation model, different debt layers (mezzanine and senior) are analyzed and compared to real estate investments. The results clearly show that senior debt is not heavily correlated to real estate and therefore behaves more like fixed income and should be valued accordingly. Mezzanine, however, is correlated to real estate, especially the downside, and should clearly be underwritten as such. Furthermore, due to a scarcity of finance, debt can show superior risk return characteristics over direct real estate and private funds. This scarcity is likely during periods of thin liquidity and uncertain valuations on the balance sheet, as recently demonstrated by the global financial crisis.
Gankyrin induces STAT3 activation in tumor microenvironment and sorafenib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Sakurai Toshiharu , Yada Norihisa , Hagiwara Satoru , Arizumi Tadaaki , Minaga Kosuke , Kamata Ken , Takenaka Mamoru , Minami Yasunori , Watanabe Tomohiro , Nishida Naoshi , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: August 2017

Most hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) develop as a result of chronic liver inflammation. We have shown that the oncoprotein gankyrin is critical for inflammation‐induced tumorigenesis in the colon. Although the in vitro function of gankyrin is well known, its role in vivo remains to be elucidated. We investigated the effect of gankyrin in the tumor microenvironment of mice with liver parenchymal cell‐specific gankyrin ablation (Alb‐Cre;gankyrinf/f) and gankyrin deletion both in liver parenchymal and non‐parenchymal cells (Mx1‐Cre;gankyrinf/f). Gankyrin upregulates vascular endothelial growth factor expression in tumor cells. Gankyrin binds to Src homology 2 domain‐containing protein tyrosine phosphatase‐1 (SHP‐1), mainly expressed in liver non‐parenchymal cells, resulting in phosphorylation and activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Gankyrin deficiency in non‐parenchymal cells, but not in parenchymal cells, reduced STAT3 activity, interleukin (IL)‐6 production, and cancer stem cell marker (Bmi1 and epithelial cell adhesion molecule [EpCAM]) expression, leading to attenuated tumorigenic potential. Chronic inflammation enhances gankyrin expression in the human liver. Gankyrin expression in the tumor microenvironment is negatively correlated with progression‐free survival in patients undergoing sorafenib treatment for HCC. Thus, gankyrin appears to play a critical oncogenic function in tumor microenvironment and may be a potential target for developing therapeutic and preventive strategies against HCC.
Making and Keeping Friends: The Importance of Being Similar
Authors: Laursen Brett
Published: August 2017

Similarity is central to friendship. The origins of homophily (love of the same) between friends are varied, but they all serve the same purpose: fostering compatibility and maintaining the rewards of affiliation. Interpersonal attraction is grounded on similarity. Similar individuals have much in common and find it easy to get along. Friends are selected on the basis of resemblances and friends influence one another to become more similar over time. Friends also resist changes that promote dissimilarity because differences increase the risk that the friendship will dissolve. Similarity is an essential feature of friendship at all stages of life, but it assumes special significance during adolescence when changes in autonomy coincide with changes in the social world to raise the profile of friends.
Effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients receiving long‐term oxygen therapy
Authors: Sahin Hulya , Varol Yelda , Naz Ilknur , Tuksavul Fevziye
Published: August 2017

Aim

It has been demonstrated that long‐term oxygen therapy increased exercise capacity, improved the quality of life, reduced hospitalization and increased life expectancy in chronic hypoxemic COPD patients. The present study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in COPD patients receiving long‐term oxygen therapy (LTOT) compared to COPD patients not receiving LTOT.

Materials and Methods

Chronic hypoxemic COPD patients using LTOT (LTOT group) and COPD patients not receiving LTOT (non‐LTOT group) who participated in this study underwent a comprehensive 8‐week outpatient PR program.

Results

Twenty‐seven out of 61 severe/very severe cases with COPD received LTOT at home, and 34 did not. After PR, 6‐minute walking distance (6mWD) increased significantly and perceived dyspnea decreased significantly in both groups (P < .001, both). This change was significantly higher in the LTOT‐receiving group compared to the non‐LTOT Group (P = .046, P = .012). In both groups, all items in the disease‐related quality of life questionnaire (QoL) were improved, and the scores in the health‐related QoL questionnaire exhibited an improvement (P < .05, for all). Anxiety and depression scores were significantly lowered in both groups (P < .05, both).

Conclusions

Those COPD patients receiving the LTOT benefited from the PR as much as those COPD patients not receiving LTOT. The former group had a higher increase in 6mWD and a higher reduction in dyspnea symptoms. Further studies are required to understand to what extent the severe chronic hypoxemic COPD patients could benefit from the PR.
Emergencies and outcome in invasive out‐of‐hospital ventilation: An observational study over a 1‐year period
Authors: Stieglitz Sven , Matthes Sandhya , Kietzmann Ilona , Priegnitz Christina , Hagmeyer Lars , Randerath Winfried
Published: August 2017

Objectives

The number of ventilated patients is further increasing which leads to an increasing number of patients with weaning failure. In Germany, the treatment of patients with invasive out‐of‐hospital becomes more and more common. The aim of the study was to observe the outcome, the frequency and character of emergencies of patients with invasive out‐of‐hospital ventilation.

Methods

We conducted a prospective study over 1 year. Fifty‐nine invasively ventilated patients living either at home or at nursing homes specialized in ventilator medicine were included.

Results

Forty‐one (71%) of the patients were living in a nursing home. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) was the most common underlying disease (52.5%). Duration of daily ventilation did not change over the 1‐year period. 52.8% of the months went without a documented emergency. The most common emergencies were oxygen desaturation (29.6%), increase of secretion (12.2%) and dyspnea (8.7%). We found no difference in the frequency of emergencies between patients cared for in their own home compared with residential care. Ten patients died during the observation period. Fewer emergencies (P = .02, CI 0.03‐0.85) was the only parameter associated with a reduced mortality. Frequency of emergencies as well as survival showed no difference regarding the way patients were cared for.

Conclusions

In patients with invasive home mechanical ventilation survival for more than 1 year seems to be common. Only the rate of emergencies affected survival.
Early intervention for youth at high risk for bipolar disorder: A multisite randomized trial of family‐focused treatment
Authors: Miklowitz David J. , Schneck Christopher D. , Walshaw Patricia D. , Garrett Amy S. , Singh Manpreet K. , Sugar Catherine A. , Chang Kiki D.
Published: August 2017

Aims

Despite the considerable public health impact of bipolar disorder (BD), no psychosocial interventions have been systematically evaluated in its early prodromal stages. We describe the rationale, design and analytic methods for a 3‐site randomized trial of family‐focused treatment for youth at high risk (FFT‐HR) for BD.

Methods

Participants (ages 9‐17 years) have a diagnosis of unspecified BD or major depressive disorder, current mood symptoms and at least one first‐ or second‐degree relative with a lifetime history of BD I or II. Participants are randomly assigned to FFT‐HR (12 sessions in 4 months of family psychoeducation and skills training) or enhanced care (EC; 6 individual and family sessions over 4 months), with pharmacotherapy provided as needed. A subset of participants undergo pre‐ and post‐treatment functional MRI (fMRI) scans while performing face‐rating and family problem‐solving tasks designed to activate corticolimbic circuitry. Independent evaluators assess participants’ status every 4 to 6 months for up to 4 years.

Results

We hypothesize that FFT‐HR will be more effective than EC in reducing the severity of mood symptoms (primary outcome) and the hazard of a first manic episode (secondary) over 4 years. Secondarily, we will explore whether FFT‐HR is associated with greater decreases in amygdala activation and increases in dorsolateral, ventrolateral or anterior medial prefrontal cortex activation from pre‐ to post‐treatment. Clinical characteristics of 133 subjects enrolled at baseline are described.

Conclusions

This study will test a novel intervention to reduce the early symptoms of BD, and identify neural and behavioural mechanisms that may help refine future treatments.
Postoperative seizure freedom does not normalize altered connectivity in temporal lobe epilepsy
Authors: Maccotta Luigi , Lopez Mayra A. , Adeyemo Babatunde , Ances Beau M. , Day Brian K. , Eisenman Lawrence N. , Dowling Joshua L. , Leuthardt Eric C. , Schlaggar Bradley L. , Hogan Robert Edward
Published: August 2017

Objectives

Specific changes in the functional connectivity of brain networks occur in patients with epilepsy. Yet whether such changes reflect a stable disease effect or one that is a function of active seizure burden remains unclear. Here, we longitudinally assessed the connectivity of canonical cognitive functional networks in patients with intractable temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), both before and after patients underwent epilepsy surgery and achieved seizure freedom.

Methods

Seventeen patients with intractable TLE who underwent epilepsy surgery with Engel class I outcome and 17 matched healthy controls took part in the study. The functional connectivity of a set of cognitive functional networks derived from typical cognitive tasks was assessed in patients, preoperatively and postoperatively, as well as in controls, using stringent methods of artifact reduction.

Results

Preoperatively, functional networks in TLE patients differed significantly from healthy controls, with differences that largely, but not exclusively, involved the default mode and temporal/auditory subnetworks. However, undergoing epilepsy surgery and achieving seizure freedom did not lead to significant changes in network connectivity, with postoperative functional network abnormalities closely mirroring the preoperative state.

Significance

This result argues for a stable chronic effect of the disease on brain connectivity, with changes that are largely “burned in” by the time a patient with intractable TLE undergoes epilepsy surgery, which typically occurs years after the initial diagnosis. The result has potential implications for the treatment of intractable epilepsy, suggesting that delaying surgical intervention that may achieve seizure freedom may lead to functional network changes that are no longer reversible by the time of epilepsy surgery.
Cancer incidence increasing globally: The role of relaxed natural selection
Authors: You Wenpeng , Henneberg Maciej
Published: August 2017

Cancer incidence increase has multiple aetiologies. Mutant alleles accumulation in populations may be one of them due to strong heritability of many cancers. The opportunity for the operation of natural selection has decreased in the past ~150 years because of reduction in mortality and fertility. Mutation‐selection balance may have been disturbed in this process and genes providing background for some cancers may have been accumulating in human gene pools. Worldwide, based on theWHOstatistics for 173 countries the index of the opportunity for selection is strongly inversely correlated with cancer incidence in peoples aged 0–49 years and in people of all ages. This relationship remains significant when gross domestic product per capita (GDP), life expectancy of older people (e50), obesity, physical inactivity, smoking and urbanization are kept statistically constant for fifteen (15) of twenty‐seven (27) individual cancers incidence rates. Twelve (12) cancers which are not correlated with relaxed natural selection after considering the six potential confounders are largely attributable to external causes like viruses and toxins. Ratios of the average cancer incidence rates of the 10 countries with lowest opportunities for selection to the average cancer incidence rates of the 10 countries with highest opportunities for selection are 2.3 (all cancers at all ages), 2.4 (all cancers in 0–49 years age group), 5.7 (average ratios of strongly genetically based cancers) and 2.1 (average ratios of cancers with less genetic background).
Effect of feed deprivation on selected parameters of lipid mobilisation and hepatic function in healthy Akhal Teke horses
Authors: Tóth B. , Auth A. , Rompos L. , Bakos Z.
Published: August 2017

Background

Gastrointestinal and other systemic diseases of Equidae are often characterised by partial or complete inappetence. The catabolic processes may lead to lipid mobilisation and other metabolic disturbances. Evidence from earlier studies has revealed that during feed deprivation/inappetence, the conjugation of bilirubin is reduced causing a substantial rise of the total bilirubin and its unconjugated fraction.

Objectives

We hypothesised that during feed deprivation, the serum concentration of free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerides (TG), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), total bilirubin (tBIL), total bile acids (tBA) and activity of GGT and GLDH increases, while the concentration of insulin and direct bilirubin (dBIL) decreases.

Study design

Observational experiment.

Methods

Eleven horses were feed deprived for 96 h. Animals were closely monitored while blood samples were taken at the beginning, and then at 72, 84 and 96 h later. Variables of interest included serum FFA, TG, insulin, GGT, GLDH, total and direct BIL (t&dBIL), tBA and BUN. The data were analysed by descriptive statistics, paired t‐test and one‐way repeated measures ANOVA with post‐hoc HSD test, and P≤0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Horses tolerated feed restriction without complications. During this time, the concentration of TG, FFA, BUN, dBIL and insulin significantly increased (P≤0.05), as well as the activity of serum GGT, while the concentration of tBIL, tBA and the activity of GLDH did not change significantly (P>0.05).

Main limitations

Sample size, lack of serum volatile fatty acid, cortisol and blood glucose measurements may have limited the value of the study.

Conclusions

Healthy Akhal Teke horses did not develop a catabolic crisis following 4 days of feed restriction and hyperlipaemia did not occur. Total BIL and tBA did not increase, thus were not useful indicators of inappetence in this group of horses.
A survey on multiaxial fatigue damage parameters under non‐proportional loadings
Authors: Luo Peng , Yao Weixing , Susmel Luca , Wang Yingyu , Ma Xiaoxiao
Published: August 2017

In this paper, several multiaxial fatigue damage parameters taking into account nonproportional additional hardening are reviewed. According to the way nonproportional additional hardening is considered in the model, the damage parameters are classified into 2 categories: (1) equivalent damage parameters and (2) direct damage parameters. The equivalent damage parameters usually define a nonproportional coefficient to consider nonproportional additional cyclic hardening, and make a combination of this nonproportional coefficient with stress and/or strain quantities to calculate the equivalent damage parameters. In contrast, the direct damage parameters are directly estimated from the stress and strain quantities of interest. The accuracy of 4 multiaxial fatigue damage parameters in predicting fatigue lifetime is checked against about 150 groups of experimental data for 10 different metallic materials under multiaxial fatigue loading. The results revealed that both Itoh's model, one of equivalent damage parameters, and Susmel's model, which belong to direct damage parameters, could provide a better correlation with the experimental results than others assessed in this paper. So direct damage parameters are not better than the equivalent damage parameters in predicting fatigue lifetime.