bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new stepped tetranuclear copper(II) complex: synthesis, crystal structure and photoluminescence properties
Authors: Gungor Elif
Published: April 2017

Binuclear and tetranuclear copper(II) complexes are of interest because of their structural, magnetic and photoluminescence properties. Of the several important configurations of tetranuclear copper(II) complexes, there are limited reports on the crystal structures and solid-state photoluminescence properties of `stepped' tetranuclear copper(II) complexes. A new CuII complex, namely bis{μ3-3-[(4-methoxy-2-oxidobenzylidene)amino]propanolato}bis{μ2-3-[(4-methoxy-2-oxidobenzylidene)amino]propanolato}tetracopper(II), [Cu4(C11H13NO3)4], has been synthesized and characterized using elemental analysis, FT–IR, solid-state UV–Vis spectroscopy and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The crystal structure determination shows that the complex is a stepped tetranuclear structure consisting of two dinuclear [Cu2(L)2] units {L is 3-[(4-methoxy-2-oxidobenzylidene)amino]propanolate}. The two terminal CuII atoms are four-coordinated in square-planar environments, while the two central CuII atoms are five-coordinated in square-pyramidal environments. The solid-state photoluminescence properties of both the complex and 3-[(2-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzylidene)amino]propanol (H2
L) have been investigated at room temperature in the visible region. When the complex and H2
L are excited under UV light at 349 nm, the complex displays a strong blue emission at 469 nm and H2
L displays a green emission at 515 nm.
Disclosure of public-private partnership (PPP) voluntary information
Authors: Musawa Mubarak Shehu , Ismail Suhaiza , Ahmad Hawa
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, it seeks the perception of public-private partnership (PPP) experts on the importance of desirable PPP information that can be voluntarily reported by the private sector; and second, it determines the extent and quality of voluntary disclosure of PPP information by private entities.

Design/methodology/approach

In achieving the first objective, the study uses a questionnaire survey. The questionnaire was distributed to PPP experts and 25 usable responses were received. In addressing the second objective, a content analysis procedure was utilized to analyse the 2015 annual reports of 11 construction companies. Descriptive statistics including the mean score, frequency and percentage were employed to analyse the responses of the questionnaire instrument and the annual reports disclosure.

Findings

The results of the questionnaire survey reveal that the majority of the items were rated as very important to be disclosed by the private sector in Malaysia. However, from the content analysis, it was also revealed that the extent and quality of voluntary information disclosed by the private construction companies were low.

Originality/value

This study is important as it contributes to the scant literature on PPP disclosure in Malaysia. The study is unique as it not only investigated the extent and quality of voluntary disclosure by private entities, but also solicited the perception of PPP experts on what voluntary items should be disclosed.
Do hurricanes matter?
Authors: Saginor Jesse , Ge Yue
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this research is to analyze a county’s housing market over 23 years to determine what impact, if any, multiple hurricanes have had on the residential real estate market.

Design/methodology/approach

This research uses a hedonic price model to determine the impacts that multiple hurricanes had on housing values.

Findings

There was a significant and negative countywide impact on housing sales values in the 1996, which can directly be attributed to three hurricanes impacting Brunswick County. Economic factors, rather than hurricanes and related storms, are more likely to impact sales values in all other years.

Research limitations/implications

This research is limited only to single-family home sales in Brunswick County, North Carolina, from 1984 to 2007. The model does not include multi-family residential uses.

Practical implications

Unlike many other areas that have been studied regarding natural disasters, Brunswick County has been hit multiple times by hurricanes and related storms, providing some insight into the long-term implications of the impact of storms on housing values over an extended period of time. The practical implication is that despite the likelihood of hurricanes and proximity to the ocean, people are willing to pay to live in coastal areas, even an area with a history of repeated direct and indirect strikes by hurricanes.

Originality/value

Unlike much of the peer-reviewed research that looks at a single occurrence of a natural disaster, this research looks at the impacts of multiple hurricanes on a single county over 23 years to determine what impact, if any, these storms have on the overall housing market.
To claim or to retire
Authors: Fawaz Yarine
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use the Health and Retirement Study to examine the social security (SS) claiming decision of older Americans, with a focus on the behavior of the unemployed.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a duration model first, and a bivariate probit framework then, the author investigates whether older unemployed individuals lacking liquidity use SS benefits as a safety net in order to finance consumption during an unemployment episode, even if they do not retire at the same time. In this way, SS might be thought as a form of unemployment insurance (UI) which would allow them to maintain their standard of living during their job search.

Findings

The author finds evidence of a claiming pattern specific to the unemployed: they claim sooner than full-time workers, even when they do not retire at the same time. They also seem to discontinue this behavior when their access to UI is extended, which gives support to the author’s hypothesis that the unemployed workers, who lack liquidity, claim their SS benefits even if they do not wish to retire, as a source of alternative unemployment benefits.

Originality/value

By focusing on the SS claiming behavior of the unemployed rather than on their retirement patterns, this paper sheds light on the social insurance role of SS retirement benefits for unemployed workers who are not willing to retire, but need a new source of income while they continue looking for a job.
Net trade credit: what are the determinants?
Authors: Afrifa Godfred Adjapong , Gyapong Ernest
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to extend the literature on trade receivables and trade payables by examining the determinants of net trade credit.

Design/methodology/approach

To do that, a sample of 67,047 firms in the UK with 443,190 firm year observations is used.

Findings

The results are robust to unobserved heterogeneity and industry effects. The evidence suggests that firms with more inventories, market share and are financially distressed invest less in trade credit. Moreover, higher operating cash flow, annual sales growth, export propensity, access to bank credit and larger firms lead to higher investment in trade credit.

Originality/value

Additionally, the paper broadens the scope of the literature by analysing the determinants of net trade credit around the financial crisis and industry competitiveness.
Changing control and accounting in an African gold mine
Authors: Tsamenyi Mathew , Hopper Trevor , Uddin Shahzad
Published: April 2017

Purpose

The paper aims to examine accounting changes in the Ashanti Gold Corporation (AGC) in Ghana over 120 years from pre-colonialism to recent times and whether the framework of management accounting transformations in Hopper et al. (2009) is applicable.

Design/methodology/approach

Mixed data sources are used, namely, interviews, some observations of practices, historical documentation, company reports and research papers and theses. The results are categorised according to the periods and contextual factors in the Hopper et al. framework to test whether it matches the data collected.

Findings

Despotic controls with minimal management accounting but stewardship accounting to the head office in London prevailed under colonialism. Upon independence state, capitalist policies descended into politicised state capitalism. Under nationalisation, the performance of mines deteriorated, and accounting became decoupled from operations. In the early 1980s, fiscal crises forced Ghana’s government to turn to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund for loans. This period marked a gradual transformation of AGC into a foreign multinational, organised along divisional lines and currently exercises despotic control through supply chain management that renders labour precarious and is neglectful of corporate social accounting issues.

Research limitations/implications

The work challenges neo-classical economic prescriptions and analyses of accounting in developed countries by indicating its neglect of the interests of other stakeholders, especially labour and civil society. Accounting is important for development but the article infers other forms may better serve the public interest.

Originality/value

The paper tests the Hopper et al. framework with respect to a large private multinational in the commodity sector over an extended period, which differs from the case studies drawn on originally.
Community transcriptomics, genomics and the problem of species co‐occurrence
Authors: Swenson Nathan G. , Jones F. Andrew
Published: April 2017

Genomic and transcriptomic information has been largely leveraged in ecological investigations of primarily model species and their relatives. The amount of infrastructure and financing necessary for such investigations has meant that analyses of assemblages full of non‐model species were impossible. These barriers have rapidly eroded over the past few years to the point where community ecology will soon see a large influx of genomic and transcriptomic investigations. The hope is that such studies will greatly refine or even transform our inferences regarding the distribution and co‐occurrence of plant species.

This special feature presents five studies that use cutting‐edge ‘omic concepts and approaches in assemblages of non‐model species. All studies focus on the drivers of species co‐occurrence. The work blends functional phylogenomic, differential gene expression and metagenomic approaches in observational and experimental frameworks.

Two studies demonstrate of functional phylogenomic approaches that can be used in conjunction with neighbourhood demographic models to understand the role of neighbouring heterospecific species on focal tree demography. Two additional papers demonstrate how genes are differentially expressed in different competitive contexts and how this is related to species coexistence. The final study uses a metabarcoding approach to document whether the incredible levels of soil fungal and tree biodiversity in the tropics are linked.

Synthesis. The articles presented in this special feature clearly demonstrate that ‘omic toolkits can now be readily integrated into community ecology. While there are still many obstacles facing this integration, it seems clear that the amounts and types of data provided by such approaches will lead to a rapid transformation in how we study plant communities.
Genome and epigenome of a novel marine Thaumarchaeota strain suggest viral infection, phosphorothioation DNA modification and multiple restriction systems
Authors: Ahlgren Nathan A. , Chen Yangyang , Needham David M. , Parada Alma E. , Sachdeva Rohan , Trinh Vickie , Chen Ting , Fuhrman Jed A.
Published: April 2017

Marine Thaumarchaeota are abundant ammonia‐oxidizers but have few representative laboratory‐cultured strains. We report the cultivation of Candidatus Nitrosomarinus catalina SPOT01, a novel strain that is less warm‐temperature tolerant than other cultivated Thaumarchaeota. Using metagenomic recruitment, strain SPOT01 comprises a major portion of Thaumarchaeota (4–54%) in temperate Pacific waters. Its complete 1.36 Mbp genome possesses several distinguishing features: putative phosphorothioation (PT) DNA modification genes; a region containing probable viral genes; and putative urea utilization genes. The PT modification genes and an adjacent putative restriction enzyme (RE) operon likely form a restriction modification (RM) system for defence from foreign DNA. PacBio sequencing showed >98% methylation at two motifs, and inferred PT guanine modification of 19% of possible TGCA sites. Metagenomic recruitment also reveals the putative virus region and PT modification and RE genes are present in 18–26%, 9–14% and <1.5% of natural populations at 150 m with ≥85% identity to strain SPOT01. The presence of multiple probable RM systems in a highly streamlined genome suggests a surprising importance for defence from foreign DNA for dilute populations that infrequently encounter viruses or other cells. This new strain provides new insights into the ecology, including viral interactions, of this important group of marine microbes.
Leisure riding horses: research topics versus the needs of stakeholders
Authors: Janczarek Iwona , Wilk Izabela
Published: April 2017

Horses intended for leisure riding do not undergo any selection and most often retired sports horses or defective horses are chosen, as a low selling price determines their purchase by a leisure riding center. Unfortunately, horses bought at low prices usually have low utility value, are difficult to handle, require a special or individual approach and do not provide satisfaction in riding. However, neither modern horse breeding nor scientific research address the need to breed horses for leisure activities. There is no clear definition of a model leisure horse and criteria or information for its selection are not readily available in scientific publications. A wide spectrum of research methods may be used to evaluate various performance traits in horses intended for leisure activities. The fact that the population of recreational horses and their riders outnumber sporting horses should attract the special attention of scientific research. Their utility traits need to be determined with modern technology and methods in the same way they are for sporting horses. Such a system of evaluation would be very helpful for riders.
Combined effects of livestock grazing and abiotic environment on vegetation and soils of grasslands across Tibet
Authors: Wang Yun , Heberling Gwendolyn , Görzen Eugen , Miehe Georg , Seeber Elke , Wesche Karsten
Published: April 2017

Questions

Livestock grazing and abiotic environmental factors both shape grassland systems; however, the relative importance of their impacts on plant species composition and soil fertility has rarely been investigated. Focusing on Tibetan grasslands, which are of global ecological importance and exhibit broad climatic and elevational gradients, we asked whether grazing effects are pronounced in humid regions, while climate controls are overriding grazing effects in semi‐arid regions.

Location

Twenty‐eight sites across Tibetan pastures, China; 2820–5150 m a.s.l.

Methods

We used multivariate analyses and generalized linear mixed models to examine the effects of livestock activity (hotspots with excessive trampling and nutrient input, heavy, moderate and light grazing), habitat (meadow, steppe, steppe‐meadow) and their interactions. We focused on plant species composition, richness and concentrations of soil organic carbon (SOC), total N and other plant‐available nutrients in soils. Major environmental factors were precipitation, temperature and elevation. Plant indicator species sensitive to trampling and/or grazing were identified.

Results

Livestock grazing changed plant species composition and overall soil fertility across habitats. However, effects were only pronounced in hotspots directly adjacent to herder camps, while differences between grazing intensity levels were weak. Heavy grazing favoured annual species, reduced concentrations of SOC and total N in meadows. The environmental factors that control plant communities and soil condition varied among habitats. Plants and soils were more tightly linked in steppes and steppe‐meadows than in meadows.

Conclusions

Several plant species were identified as frequently and reliably present in hotspots of livestock activity, thus are indicative of intensive trampling and excess plant available nutrient inputs. Overall, plant species composition and soil condition across Tibetan pastures were weakly affected by intensified grazing alone compared to that shaped by environmental factors. This clearly refutes the broadly held perception that increased grazing intensity leads to grassland degradation. Such differing and strong abiotic impacts should be considered in future grassland management and conservation.
UK NEQAS survey of allergen component testing across the United Kingdom and other European countries
Authors: Saleem R , Keymer C , Patel D , Egner W , Rowbottom A W
Published: April 2017

The clinical utility of molecular diagnostic approaches in allergy investigation is being recognized increasingly to play a significant role in the management of allergic patients. Determining the sensitization pattern, which is best achieved through the use of component resolved diagnostics (CRD), allows effective risk stratification, appropriate treatment and patient selection for immunotherapy. In order to assess the diagnostic service provisions for in-vitro allergy testing across Europe, a survey was carried out via the total immunoglobulin (Ig)E and specific IgE external quality assurance schemes run by UK National External Quality Assessment Service (NEQAS) Immunology, Immunochemistry and Allergy. This survey assessed allergy testing, and in particular allergen components offered by the laboratories, and found a wide variability in service provision, particularly between the United Kingdom and other European Union (EU) countries. Furthermore, there was lack of standardization for acquisition of clinical information to aid allergen (and component) selection, gating strategy, testing algorithms and clinical interpretation. Interestingly, a significant proportion of laboratories (the majority from EU) stated that they ‘used’ the results for peanut components for risk stratification. However, the vast majority of participants were unaware of guidelines relating to the use of allergen component testing, and agreed that further education would assist in reaching a common platform. Hence, this survey has highlighted that although CRD has been adopted into routine diagnostics across Europe, it is potentially compromised by lack of standardized protocols and guidance sources. Consequently, there is a need for local or national standards and education through External Quality Assurance services on the performance and application of CRD into allergy investigation.
Modified loop myopexy technique for severe high myopic strabismus fixus
Authors: Zou Leilei , Liu Shuai , Liu Rui , Yao Jing , Liu Yan , Lin Jing , Liu Hong
Published: April 2017

Importance

This study introduces a modified loop myopexy technique for severe high myopic strabismus fixus.

Background

This study aims to evaluate the surgical results of loop myopexy with or without medial rectus recession for the treatment of patients with myopic strabismus fixus.

Design

This is a retrospective study in a Chinese teaching hospital.

Participants

Data was collected from 25 myopic strabismus fixus patients (33 eyes) with restriction in both abduction and sursumduction.

Methods

First, the loop myopexy technique was performed. Following the loop myopexy technique, a medial rectus recession was performed if esotropia remained. If esotropia and/or hypotropia still persisted, second‐stage surgery of the contralateral eye was performed.

Main Outcome Measures

The main outcome measures were ocular deviations, eye movements and the angles of dislocation of the globe.

Results

At the last follow‐up, mean deviation of esotropia was significantly improved (10 vs. 92 PD; p = 0.000), while mean deviation of hypotropia was improved (6 vs. 32 PD; p = 0.008). Mean abduction limitation was improved (−2.7 vs. −5.0; p = 0.000); mean elevation limitation improved (−3.2 vs. −5.0; p = 0.000). The angle of dislocation of the globe was significantly decreased (103.0 vs. 235.3 D; p = 0.002).

Conclusions and Relevance

Modified Yokoyama's surgery effectively corrected the restrictive esotropia and hypotropia, restored the dislocated globe back into the muscle cone and improved the eye movement in severe myopic strabismus fixus.
Enhancement of the Mie scattering effect using floatstone‐like TiO2 spherical micropigment
Authors: Shirosaki Tomohiro , Tsuda Erika , Horikawa Maki , Nagaoka Shoji , Ihara Hirotaka
Published: April 2017

Floatstone‐like TiO2 microparticles with an efficiently enhanced Mie scattering effect were developed by thermofusing of rutile‐type TiO2 submicron particles on the template core of poly(acrylate) microspheres. The light reflectance of the floatstone‐like TiO2 microparticles was approximately 10% higher than that of the usual rutile‐type TiO2 submicron particles in a wavelength range from 400 to 850 nm. The diffuse reflectance of the microparticles is enhanced by the formation of a floatstone‐like structure, whereas there is no difference in the specular reflectance of the particles. As an application of the floatstone‐like TiO2 microparticles, the contribution of the particles to the light‐trapping effect of a solar cell was examined. The power conversion efficiency of the solar cell was enhanced by 22% with the introduction of a light‐scattering layer composed of the floatstone‐like TiO2 microparticles.
Differential expression of four vision‐related genes in the bird cherry‐oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi
Authors: Peng Xiong , Qiao Xianfeng , Song Chunman , Chen Maohua
Published: April 2017

Aphids use their visual systems to detect information about the external environment, and visual genes are likely to have a role in host plant searching and environmental adaptation. Yet, there is little understanding of the presence and expression of visual opsin genes in aphids. In this study, we cloned and identified four vision‐related genes (LW‐OPN, UV‐OPN1, UV‐OPN2, and rhodopsin) from a cosmopolitan serious cereal pest, Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), and evaluated their expression patterns. Transcription of the four genes was detected at all developmental stages. The inducing conditions (short photoperiod and low temperature) significantly affected the expression of the UV‐OPN1 and rhodopsin genes. The highest levels of transcription of all genes were observed in males, and the lowest in oviparae. The expression levels in wingless virginoparae were markedly lower than those in gynoparae and winged virginoparae. The starvation treatments resulted in a decline in the survivorship of adults. The mortality rates increased with increasing duration of starvation. The four genes tended to be upregulated following starvation for 24 h, and their expression levels were considerably decreased after subsequent feeding. These results are of importance for further understanding the evolution and function of visual opsins in aphids.
Proximate factors and potential benefits influencing selection of Psychotria suterella for shelter by the harvestman Jussara spec.
Authors: Pagoti Guilherme Ferreira , Peñaflor Maria Fernanda Gomes Villalba , Marabesi Mauro Alexandre , Bento José Maurício Simões , Willemart Rodrigo Hirata
Published: April 2017

Harvestmen (Arachnida, Opiliones) are arachnids that rely on chemicals for communication and are particularly dependent on high humidity. The harvestman Jussara spec. (Sclerosomatidae) clearly prefers to rest on the stem and leaves of Psychotria suterella Muell. Arg. (Rubiaceae), a plant having a complex architecture of overlapping branches. So far, few studies have focused on understanding how harvestmen find their host plant and the benefits associated with the selected plant. Here, we investigated cues harvestmen may exploit to find P. suterella and the potential benefits for harvestmen of this interaction. To address how harvestmen find the plant, we tested two non‐exclusive hypotheses: harvestmen use chemicals from conspecifics, and/or harvestmen use chemicals from plants. For the first hypothesis, we assessed the number of harvestmen choosing P. suterella with or without chemicals of Jussara spec. on the main stem. We did not find evidence that Jussara spec. uses chemicals from conspecifics to select P. suterella, at least in isolation, without any mechanical stimuli such as stem texture or size. For the second hypothesis, we tested harvestman behavior exposed to volatiles from P. suterella, a non‐preferred host plant – Impatiens walleriana Hook.f. (Balsaminaceae) – and a blank treatment, both in a triangular arena and in a Y‐tube olfactometer. We also found no evidence that the harvestmen use plant volatiles to find it. We also tested two non‐exclusive hypotheses regarding the benefits of selecting P. suterella for harvestmen. The first hypothesis is that P. suterella offers a higher humidity than other plants in the micro‐environment surrounding the leaves because of a high leaf transpiration rate. Harvestmen could benefit from this because they rest with the body in contact with the leaf or at less than 5 mm from it. We did not find evidence that leaf transpiration rate is important for Jussara spec., as P. suterella did not present high rates compared to other local species. The second hypothesis is that the leaves of P. suterella provide a better shadow than other plants, acting as a sun shade due to its complex architecture with overlapping leaves. We measured light passage through the leaves of P. suterella and three other local species and found that less light passes through the leaves of P. suterella, which therefore provides darker shadow. This potentially provides a favorable micro‐climate for harvestmen, which might help to explain the micro‐habitat preference of Jussara spec.
Measuring host plant selection and retention of Halyomorpha halys by a trap crop
Authors: Blaauw Brett R. , Morrison William R. , Mathews Clarissa , Leskey Tracy C. , Nielsen Anne L.
Published: April 2017

Trap cropping may exploit a pest's dispersal and host selection behavior in order to protect a desired crop. Here, we used a combination of visual sampling, immunomarking, and harmonic radar to assess host plant selection and retention time of the highly mobile and invasive Halyomorpha halys (Stål) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), as it moves within and between a polyculture trap crop of sorghum and sunflower, and a bell pepper cash crop. Visual sampling demonstrated no significant differences in H. halys densities across crops, whereas dislodging stink bugs to collect for protein analysis revealed ca. 4× more bugs in the trap crop plants than in the peppers. In total 145 H. halys were collected and of these 6% were doubly marked with proteins, demonstrating that minimal movement occurred between the two planting systems. Tracking tagged H. halys with harmonic radar revealed that the trap crop retained adult H. halys within the plots 1.5× longer and reduced their movement by nearly half compared with bugs released in the pepper cash crop. The data suggest the trap crop of sunflower plus sorghum has the potential to attract and arrest the invasive H. halys, demonstrating that trap cropping may operate as an effective management tool.
The Epistemological Problem of Other Minds and the Knowledge Asymmetry
Authors: Sollberger Michael
Published: April 2017

The traditional epistemological problem of other minds seeks to answer the following question: how can we know someone else's mental states? The problem is often taken to be generated by a fundamental asymmetry in the means of knowledge. In my own case, I can know directly what I think and feel. This sort of self‐knowledge is epistemically direct in the sense of being non‐inferential and non‐observational. My knowledge of other minds, however, is thought to lack these epistemic features. So what is the basic source of my knowledge of other minds if I know my mind in such a way that I cannot know the minds of others? The aim of this paper is to clarify and assess the pivotal role that the asymmetry in respect of knowledge plays within a broadly inferentialist approach to the epistemological problem of other minds. The received dogma has always been to endorse the asymmetry for conceptual reasons and to insist that the idea of knowing someone else's mental life in the same way as one knows one's own mind is a complete non‐starter. Against this, I aim to show that it is at best a contingent matter that creatures such as us cannot know other minds just as we know a good deal of our own minds and also that the idea of having someone else's mind in one's own introspective reach is not obviously self‐contradictory. So the dogma needs to be revisited. As a result, the dialectical position of those inferentialists who believe that we know about someone else's mentality in virtue of an analogical inference will be reinforced.
Epileptic manifestations in stroke patients treated with intravenous alteplase
Authors: Bentes C. , Martins H. , Peralta A. R. , Morgado C. , Casimiro C. , Franco A. C. , Fonseca A. C. , Geraldes R. , Canhão P. , Pinho e Melo T. , Paiva T. , Ferro J. M.
Published: April 2017

Background and purpose

Intravenous alteplase (rtPA) may be associated with seizures and epileptic activity in the electroencephalogram (EEG). The aim of this work was to compare the frequency of seizures and EEG abnormalities between stroke patients treated and not treated with rtPA.

Methods

This was a prospective study of consecutive acute anterior circulation ischaemic stroke patients, with 1‐year follow‐up. Patients were previously independent, had an admission National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score ≥4, an acute ischaemic lesion and no previous seizures. They received standardized diagnostic and medical care. A video‐EEG was performed in 72 h (first EEG); during admission (daily until day 7 and after that if neurological worsening); at discharge and 1 year after stroke.

Results

In all, 151 patients (101 treated with rtPA) were included. The frequency of acute and remote symptomatic seizures was not significantly different between rtPA treated and non‐treated patients (P = 0.726 and P = 0.748, respectively). Clinical paroxysmal phenomena during rtPA perfusion were observed in five (5%) patients. In the first EEG, rtPA treated patients more often had background diffuse slowing (43.6% vs. 26.0%, P = 0.036). This difference was no longer observed at discharge (24.0% vs. 19.1%, P = 0.517) nor 1 year after (11.8% vs. 10.0%, P = 0.765). No differences were found in the frequency of epileptiform (P = 0.867) or periodic discharges (P = 0.381).

Conclusions

Intravenous alteplase is not associated with an increased risk of clinical or electroencephalographic epileptic phenomena.
Two arginine residues in the COOH‐terminal of human β‐defensin‐3 constitute an essential motif for antimicrobial activity and IL‐6 production
Authors: Sakagami‐Yasui Yoko , Shirafuji Yoshinori , Yamasaki Osamu , Morizane Shin , Hamada Toshihisa , Umemura Hiroshi , Iwatsuki Keiji
Published: April 2017

Human β‐defensin‐3 (HBD‐3) possesses antimicrobial activities and the potential to induce proinflammatory cytokines. HBD‐3 contains a unique motif of two arginine residues (Arg or R) in the COOH‐terminal region. To understand the bioactive properties of the Arg residues of HBD‐3, we examined antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using synthetic HBD‐2, HBD‐3 and two variant peptides of HBD‐3: the Arg‐truncated variant designated desR HBD‐3 and NRR HBD‐3, in which both Arg residues were shifted to the N‐terminal region. IL‐6 production from keratinocytes was studied using the peptides. HBD‐3 possessed approximately five‐fold more potent antimicrobial activities, evaluated as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), against S. aureus compared with desR and NRR HBD‐3, while no significant activity was observed in HBD‐2. The antimicrobial activity of HBD‐3 against S. aureus was well preserved even at high sodium chloride concentrations, but was attenuated in desR and NRR HBD‐3. All the peptides exhibited similar antimicrobial activities against P. aeruginosa, but HBD‐2 and desR HBD‐3 showed diminished antimicrobial activities against P. aeruginosa at high salt concentrations. IL‐6 production was significantly induced in keratinocytes with HBD‐3, but not remarkably with stimulation by other peptide. These Arg residues are essential for the antimicrobial and biological properties of HBD‐3.
Intracellular ROS levels determine the apoptotic potential of keratinocyte by Quantum Dot via blockade of AKT Phosphorylation
Authors: Lee Eun Young , Bae Hyun Cheol , Lee Hana , Jang Yeonsue , Park Yoon‐Hee , Kim Jin Hee , Ryu Woo‐In , Choi Byeong Hyeok , Kim Ji Hyun , Jeong Sang Hoon , Son Sang Wook
Published: April 2017

Quantum dots (QDs) have shown great potential for biomedical use in a broad range including diagnostic agents. However, the regulatory mechanism of dermal toxicity is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated how QDs‐induced apoptosis is regulated in human keratinocytes. We also examined the effect of carboxylic acid‐coated QDs (QD 565 and QD 655) on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and apoptosis‐related cellular signalling. The viability of keratinocyte was inhibited by two types of QDs in a concentration‐dependent manner. QDs induce ROS production and blockade of AKT phosphorylation. Moreover, the cleavage of AKT‐dependent pro‐apoptotic proteins such as poly (ADP‐ribose) polymerase, caspases‐3 and caspases‐9 was significantly increased. We also found that a decrease in cellular ROS level by ROS scavenger, N‐acetylcysteine (NAC), resulting in the abolishment of QDs‐induced AKT de‐phosphorylation and cellular apoptosis. Interestingly, QD 655 had a more cytotoxic effect including oxidative stress and AKT‐dependent apoptosis than QD 565. In addition, QD 655 had the cytotoxic potential in the human skin equivalent model (HSEM). These data show that QD‐induced intracellular ROS levels may be an important parameter in QD‐induced apoptosis. These findings from this study indicate that intracellular ROS levels might determine the apoptotic potential of keratinocyte by QD via blockade of AKT phosphorylation.
“Cough Hemicrania” – An Overlapping Form of Headache: Case Reports
Authors: Pavão Martins Isabel , Viana Pedro
Published: April 2017

Objective

To describe two patients with recurring unilateral brief headaches that fulfilled criteria for both primary cough headache (CH) and chronic paroxysmal hemicrania (CPH).

Background

CH is typically a bilateral headache, specifically triggered by cough, straining, or other Valsalva maneuvers. The report of cases sharing features with other primary headache disorders, such as CPH, suggest common pathogenic mechanisms.

Methods

Case reports.

Results

Two patients (one man), aged 55 and 64, had a two‐year history of daily, unilateral, side‐locked headache attacks, lasting about 15 minutes, and associated with ipsilateral tearing. Headaches were triggered by cough, sneezing, laughing, or bending forward. Both patients experienced a marked and sustained improvement with indomethacin, and both relapsed when it was interrupted.

Conclusions

These cases suggest the existence of transitional phenotypes, or shared pathogenic mechanisms, between CH and CPH, two indomethacin‐responsive headaches. A more comprehensive analysis of different CH subtypes is necessary to understand their relation with other primary headaches.
Decreased expression of EphA5 is associated with Fuhrman nuclear grade and pathological tumour stage in ccRCC
Authors: Wang Xiaolin , Xu Haifei , Wu Zhijun , Chen Xiao , Wang Jiandong
Published: April 2017

The incidence of renal cell carcinoma is increasing all over the world. The molecular mechanisms for tumorigenesis, progression and prognosis are still unknown. The erythropoietin‐producing hepatoma amplified sequence (Eph) receptors have been reported to be expressed aberrantly in many types of human cancers and in particular EphA5 may play a role in certain human cancers. In this study, a set of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) tissues were subjected to immunohistochemistry. The relationship between EphA5 protein expression and clinicopathological parameters was statistically analysed. Our data show that EphA5 protein was negatively (0) or weakly (1+) expressed in 48 of 78 (61.5%), moderately (2+) expressed in 15 of 78 (19.2%) and strongly (3+) expressed in 15 of 78 (19.2%) tumour samples of ccRCC. Decreased expression of EphA5 was detected more often in females than in males (P = 0.017, rs = −0.267). Expression of EphA5 was related negatively to Fuhrman grade (P = 0.013, rs = −0.279) and pathological tumour stage pT (P = 0.003, rs = −0.334). No relation between the expression of EphA5 and age of patients was found (P = 0.107, rs = 0.184). Fuhrman grade and pT stage are the most important factors used in prognosis of ccRCC. Hence this study may provide a new and useful prognostic marker in the clinical practice of ccRCC.
An assessment of organic apparel, environmental beliefs and consumer preferences via fashion innovativeness
Authors: Matthews Delisia , Rothenberg Lori
Published: April 2017

The topic of organic apparel has been widely discussed among academics and practitioners in recent years. While numerous studies have been done on the topic, few studies to date have assessed the topic of fashion innovativeness and its influence on attitudes towards organic apparel. In addition, an evaluation of consumer preferences for organic apparel from a conjoint analysis perspective has not been implemented. Thus, the purpose of the present study was to identify which organic apparel attributes are most important to high fashion innovativeness and low fashion innovativeness groups. Furthermore, the variables of environmental beliefs and attitudes towards purchasing organic apparel were assessed. An online survey was developed to measure the variables, including a full profile discrete choice design used to measure attribute preferences for t‐shirts. The data were analyzed using a multinomial logit model and desirability indices. The results indicated that the low fashion innovativeness group preferred organic and eco‐friendly apparel more than the high fashion innovativeness group. In addition, when examining high fashion innovativeness and low fashion innovativeness groups overall, the preferred t‐shirt was Dri‐Fit, Cotton Jersey Knit, Made In America, Eco‐Friendly and $25.00. However, when examining high fashion innovativeness and low fashion innovativeness groups separately for the preferred t‐shirt, differences appeared in Sustainable. The results suggest that high fashion innovativeness and low fashion innovativeness groups may desire different organic apparel attributes when considering organic apparel.
Estimating the effects of nutrition label use on Canadian consumer diet‐health concerns using propensity score matching
Authors: Anders Sven , Schroeter Christiane
Published: April 2017

The overarching goal of nutrition labelling is to transform intrinsic credence attributes into searchable cues, which would enable consumers to make informed food choices at lower search costs. This study estimates the impact of nutrition label usage on Canadian consumers’ (n = 8,114) perceived diet‐health concerns using alternative propensity score matching (PSM) techniques. We apply a series of tests and sensitivity analyses to overcome issues of endogeneity and selection bias frequently found in studies of diet‐health behaviour and to validate the impact of exposure to nutrition facts labels for users vs. non‐users. Our results support the notion that consumer uncertainty and related food‐health concerns are linked to their information behaviour, but not in straightforward manner. Dominant subjective food attributes, such as taste, convenience and affordability, may in fact outweigh the benefits of information about healthier, alternative food choices. In order to change dietary health behaviour, food manufacturer and policy makers alike need to adopt communication instruments that better account for differences in preferences, shopping habits and overall usage patterns of nutrition labelling information.
Promoting green buildings: Do Chinese consumers care about green building enhancements?
Authors: Luo Wen , Kanzaki Mamoru , Matsushita Koji
Published: April 2017

This paper explores sustainability‐related choices about buildings by analysing how consumers rated the relative importance of various attributes of conventional and green buildings. It also analyses how consumers judge environmental and health‐oriented improvements in green buildings. Unlike previous studies, this research applied conjoint analysis to explore the green building market at the consumer's level by regarding green buildings as nondurable green products and services. We used a survey to gather consumer preferences about several green building hotel models which partly applied green energy, modern wood structures and improved indoor environmental quality (IEQ). In total, 341 consumers participated the survey in two of China's largest cities: Beijing and Shanghai. The results revealed that green energy was the most preferred attribute of green buildings, exerting an even stronger overall effect on consumer choice than price. Afterwards, we identified distinct consumer segments and determined the background characteristics of each segment based on the similarities in the preferences for each attribute. The largest consumer segment, consisting of younger consumers, ranked green energy as the most important criterion. However, an improved indoor environmental quality was generally not highly ranked, and individuals in the consumer segment, which included more older and female consumers, were more likely to reject modern wood structures. The results also revealed that higher‐income individuals were most concerned with price, and consumers with higher levels of education were willing to pay more to support green buildings.
Loss of natural killer T cells promotes pancreatic cancer in LSL‐KrasG12D/+ mice
Authors: Janakiram Naveena B. , Mohammed Altaf , Bryant Taylor , Ritchie Rebekah , Stratton Nicole , Jackson Lydgia , Lightfoot Stan , Benbrook Doris M. , Asch Adam S. , Lang Mark L. , Rao Chinthalapally V.
Published: April 2017

The role of the unique T‐cell population, natural killer T (NKT) cells, which have similar functions to NK cells in pancreatic cancer (PC), is not yet evaluated. To address the regulatory roles of NKT cells on tumour progression through tumour‐associated macrophages (TAM) and their production of microsomal prostaglandin E synthase‐1 (mPGES‐1) and 5‐lipoxygenase (5‐LOX) in (Kras)‐driven pancreatic tumour (KPT) progression, we crossed CD1d−/− mice deficient in both invariant and variant NKT cells with the KrasG12D mice. Loss of NKT cells significantly increased pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) lesions and also increased 5‐LOX and mPGES‐1 expression in M2‐type macrophages and cancer stem‐like cells in pancreatic tumours. Pharmacological inhibition of mPGES‐1 and 5‐LOX in M2 macrophages with specific inhibitor YS‐121 in KPT‐CD1d−/− mice decreased PanIN lesions and suppressed tumour growth in association with elevated levels of active CD8a cells. Hence, NKT cells regulate PC by modulating TAMs (M2) through mPGES‐1 and 5‐LOX; and the absence of NKT cells leads to aggressive development of PC.
Self‐determination theory: the role of the health care professional in promoting mindfulness and perceived competence
Authors: Martin Jeffrey J. , Byrd Brigid , Wooster Scott , Kulik Noel
Published: April 2017

The purpose of the current study was to predict mindfulness and perceived competence using self‐determination theory (SDT). Within SDT, we specifically examined basic needs theory via global basic needs (i.e., competence, autonomy, and relatedness) and two domain specific basic needs (i.e., exercise & health care) settings. One hundred and thirty‐one college students from a Midwest urban university participated in this study. Using multiple regression analyses, we predicted 22% and 36% of the variance in mindfulness and perceived competence, respectively. Meeting basic needs in exercise settings and perceiving that autonomous exercise behaviors were supported by health care practitioners predicted variance in participants’ mindfulness and perceived competence beyond the variance accounted for from global basic needs satisfaction. More specifically, findings supported the importance of competence satisfaction in general settings and exercise settings. In addition, students who perceived that their health care practitioners supported their autonomy in pursuing exercise also exhibited more mindfulness and had stronger perceived competence for exercise compared to students who viewed their health care practitioners as less autonomy supportive. Health care professionals should be cognizant that their interactions with patients about exercise have the potential to influence patient's mindfulness and perceived competence.
Nondestructively measuring the remanent polarization of PZT 95/5 ceramics at room temperature
Authors: Xu Chenhong , Cao Fei , Chen Xuefeng , Yan Shiguang , Nie Hengchang , Dong Xianlin , Wang Genshui
Published: April 2017

PZT95/5 ferroelectric ceramics are widely utilized in pulsed power devices and the remanent polarization Pr of poled PZT95/5 can characterize the shock‐driven energy density. However, this remanent polarization is difficult to be measured nondestructively. In this article, a series of pyroelectric tests of poled PZT95/5 ceramics were conducted near room temperature, from 25°C to 20°C. A linear relation between Pr and pyroelectric coefficient p was found, that is, Pr=1190.5(K)×p, which provides an effective way to nondestructively estimate the value of Pr of the poled PZT95/5 ceramics by measuring the pyroelectric coefficient p at room temperature. According to Devonshire's phenomenological theory, this result could be explained by a modified equation: , where ɛr represents the relative dielectric constant, C represents the Curie constant, and α (equals to 0.52 for PZT95/5 ceramics) represents a modification factor for ceramics, respectively.