bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Buffet-Style Expression Factor-Adjusted Discovery Increases the Yield of Robust Expression Quantitative Trait Loci
Authors: Castaldi Peter , Obeidat Ma’en , Halper-Stromberg Eitan , Lamb Andrew , Parker Margaret , Chase Robert , Carey Vincent , Tal-Singer Ruth , Silverman Edwin , Sin Don , Paré Peter D , Hersh Craig
Published: October 2015

Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis relates genetic variation to gene expression, and it has been shown that power to detect eQTLs is substantially increased by adjustment for measures of expression variability derived from singular value decomposition-based procedures (referred to as expression factors, or EFs). A potential downside to this approach is that power will be reduced for eQTL that are correlated with one or more EFs, but these approaches are commonly used in human eQTL studies on the assumption that this risk is low forcis(i.e. local) eQTL associations. Using two independent blood eQTL datasets, we show that this assumption is incorrect and that, in fact, 10-25% of eQTL that are significant without adjustment for EFs are no longer detected after EF adjustment. In addition, the majority of these “lost” eQTLs replicate in independent data, indicating that they are not spurious associations. Thus, in the ideal case, EFs would be re-estimated for each eQTL association test, as has been suggested by others; however, this is computationally infeasible for large datasets with densely imputed genotype data. We propose an alternative, “buffet-style” approach in which a series of EF and non-EF eQTL analyses are performed and significant eQTL discoveries are collected across these analyses. We demonstrate that standard methods to control the false discovery rate perform similarly between the single EF and buffet-style approaches, and we provide biological support for eQTL discovered by this approach in terms of immune cell-type specific enhancer enrichment in Roadmap Epigenomics and ENCODE cell lines.

Significance Statement: Genetic differences between individuals cause disease through their effects on the function of cells and tissues. One of the important biological changes affected by genetic differences is the expression of genes, which can be identified with expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis. Here we explore the basic methods for performing eQTL analysis, and we identify some underappreciated negative impacts of commonly applied methods, and propose a practical solution to improve the ability to identify genetic differences that affect gene expression levels, thereby improving the ability to understand the biological causes of many common diseases.
Reviving the brassware industry in Moradabad, India
Authors: Singh Hari Narain , Singh D.K.
Published: October 2015

Subject area

This paper aims to understand the subject of entrepreneurship and project management through techno-economic intervention.

Study level/applicability

Postgraduate students of management and graduate students of engineering and management.

Case overview

Multiple challenges existed at the ground level in the Moradabad Brass Cluster in terms of gaps in technology, skill, infrastructure and market that all needed to be improved upon.

Expected learning outcomes

The objectives and learning outcomes were proposed to understand the cluster economic crisis, entrepreneurship, project management, technical improvements and better understanding of certain theories.

Supplementary materials

Teaching notes are available for educators only. Please contact your library to gain login details or email support@emeraldinsight.com to request teaching notes.
Engaging stakeholders during late stage security design with assumption personas
Authors: Faily Shamal
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to present an approach where assumption personas are used to engage stakeholders in the elicitation and specification of security requirements at a late stage of a system’s design.

Design/methodology/approach

– The author has devised an approach for developing assumption personas for use in participatory design sessions during the later stages of a system’s design. The author validates this approach using a case study in the e-Science domain.

Findings

– Engagement follows by focusing on the indirect, rather than direct, implications of security. More design approaches are needed for treating security at a comparatively late stage. Security design techniques should scale to working with sub-optimal input data.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes an approach where assumption personas engage project team members when eliciting and specifying security requirements at the late stages of a project.
A framework to assist email users in the identification of phishing attacks
Authors: Lötter André , Futcher Lynn
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to propose a framework to address the problem that email users are not well-informed or assisted by their email clients in identifying possible phishing attacks, thereby putting their personal information at risk. This paper therefore addresses the human weakness (i.e. the user’s lack of knowledge of phishing attacks which causes them to fall victim to such attacks) as well as the software related issue of email clients not visually assisting and guiding the users through the user interface.

Design/methodology/approach

– A literature study was conducted in the main field of information security with a specific focus on understanding phishing attacks and a modelling technique was used to represent the proposed framework. This paper argues that the framework can be suitably implemented for email clients to raise awareness about phishing attacks. To validate the framework as a plausible mechanism, it was reviewed by a focus group within the School of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) at the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU). The focus group consisted of academics and research students in the field of information security.

Findings

– This paper argues that email clients should make use of feedback mechanisms to present security related aspects to their users, so as to make them aware of the characteristics pertaining to phishing attacks. To support this argument, it presents a framework to assist email users in the identification of phishing attacks.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research would yield interesting results if the proposed framework were implemented into an existing email client to determine the effect of the framework on the user’s level of awareness of phishing attacks. Furthermore, the list of characteristics could be expanded to include all phishing types (such as clone phishing, smishing, vishing and pharming). This would make the framework more dynamic in that it could then address all forms of phishing attacks.

Practical implications

– The proposed framework could enable email clients to provide assistance through the user interface. Visibly relaying the security level to the users of the email client, and providing short descriptions as to why a certain email is considered suspicious, could result in raising the awareness of the average email user with regard to phishing attacks.

Originality/value

– This research presents a framework that email clients can use to identify common forms of normal and spear phishing attacks. The proposed framework addresses the problem that the average Internet user lacks a baseline level of online security awareness. It argues that the email client is the ideal place to raise the awareness of users regarding phishing attacks.
Reengineering the user: privacy concerns about personal data on smartphones
Authors: Tsavli Matina , Efraimidis Pavlos S. , Katos Vasilios , Mitrou Lilian
Published: October 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to discuss the privacy and security concerns that have risen from the permissions model in the Android operating system, along with two shortcomings that have not been adequately addressed.

Design/methodology/approach

– The impact of the applications’ evolutionary increment of permission requests from both the user’s and the developer’s point of view is studied, and finally, a series of remedies against the erosion of users’ privacy is proposed.

Findings

– The results of this work indicate that, even though providing access to personal data of smartphone users is by definition neither problematic nor unlawful, today’s smartphone operating systems do not provide an adequate level of protection for the user’s personal data. However, there are several ideas that can significantly improve the situation and mitigate privacy concerns of users of smart devices.

Research limitations/implications

– The proposed approach was evaluated through an examination of the Android’s permission model, although issues arise in other operating systems. The authors’ future intention is to conduct a user study to measure the user’s awareness and concepts surrounding privacy concerns to empirically investigate the above-mentioned suggestions.

Practical implications

– The proposed suggestions in this paper, if adopted in practice, could significantly improve the situation and mitigate privacy concerns of users of smart devices.

Social implications

– The recommendations proposed in this paper would strongly enhance the control of users over their personal data and improve their ability to distinguish legitimate apps from malware or grayware.

Originality/value

– This paper emphasises two shortcomings of the permissions models of mobile operating systems which, in authors’ view, have not been adequately addressed to date and propose an inherent way for apps and other entities of the mobile computing ecosystem to commit to responsible and transparent practices on mobile users’ privacy.
Understanding Russia's Soft Power Strategy
Authors: Sergunin Alexander , Karabeshkin Leonid
Published: October 2015

This article examines the specifics of Moscow's soft power strategy. The sources of the Kremlin's interest in the soft power concept are explained. The article discusses how the soft power concept fits in the current Russian foreign policy philosophy. Russia's soft power resources, institutions and instruments are described. Special attention is given to the limitations and constraints of Moscow's soft power strategies. The reasons why these strategies are often being inefficient are explained. The Kremlin's inclination to the combination of the soft and hard power strategies is identified.
The influence of lung metastases on the clinical course of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia: a historical cohort study
Authors: Vree M , van Trommel N , Kenter G , Sweep F , ten Kate‐Booij M , Massuger L , Lok C
Published: October 2015

Objective

To evaluate whether gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) patients with lung metastases have more adverse outcomes such as resistance to chemotherapy, recurrence or death of disease compared with patients without lung metastases.

Design

Historical observational cohort study.

Setting

The Netherlands.

Population

We identified 434 GTN patients (72 patients with lung metastases, 362 patients without metastases) between 1990 and 2012 registered in the Dutch national databases.

Methods

Baseline characteristics, recurrence rates, Methotrexate (MTX) remission rates and deaths from disease were compared between patients with lung metastases (group I) and without lung metastases (group II) using the Fisher exact test or Mann–Whitney U‐test where applicable.

Main outcome measures

Methotrexate resistance, recurrences and survival.

Results

Methotrexate resistance did not differ between group I and group II (62.9 versus 72.7% P = 0.19). However, the observed recurrence rate was significantly increased in patients with lung metastases compared with patients without metastases (16.7 versus 2.2% P < 0.0001), also after correction for antecedent pregnancy and interval (from the end of the antecedent pregnancy until the start of treatment). Disease‐specific survival was 91.7% in the group with lung metastases and 100% in the patients without metastases (P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Although lung metastases are considered to be associated with a low risk of adverse outcomes, their presence appears to increase the risk for recurrence and death of disease. Further research is needed to evaluate whether the presence of lung metastases is an independent risk factor that needs adjustment in the FIGO scoring system and clinical classification system.

Tweetable abstract

In gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) recurrence is more often observed in the case of lung metastases.
Medals and Chamber Pots for Faustina Bordoni: Celebrity and Material Culture in Early Eighteenth‐Century Italy
Authors: van der Linden Huub
Published: October 2015

In 1723, following an opera production in Florence, two sets of medals were made there in honour of the singer Faustina Bordoni. Among the reactions to these medals in Bologna were satirical poetry and a set of ceramic chamber pots that carried depictions of the medals and a scathing Latin text. The article analyses these artefacts, the various descriptions and drawings of them and reports about them for what they can tell us about the intertwined issues of celebrity, the status of (female) singers, the circulation of information and the interaction between objects and words in early eighteenth‐century Italy.
Repertoire‐based individual acoustic monitoring of a migratory passerine bird with complex song as an efficient tool for tracking territorial dynamics and annual return rates
Authors: Petrusková Tereza , Pišvejcová Iveta , Kinštová Anna , Brinke Tomáš , Petrusek Adam
Published: October 2015

In field ecological and behavioural studies, it is often necessary to identify specific individuals. In birds, colour rings are frequently used to mark individuals; however, rings are often difficult to observe, especially in small species and dense habitats. Acoustic‐based monitoring detecting individuals by their characteristic vocalization is a potentially suitable alternative, but this approach is challenging in species with complex songs.

On the example of the Tree Pipit (Anthus trivialis), a small migratory passerine often singing in flight or from perches obscured by foliage, we demonstrate that acoustic monitoring based on the syllable repertoire can be very efficient tool for individual recognition. During a 3‐year study, we obtained over 500 recordings from males from one study population (a number of them returning after winter). Males banded with colour rings were repeatedly recorded throughout the seasons, and syllable repertoires were determined from spectrograms for each recording.

The repertoire of each unambiguously identified male was distinct and stable within as well as between seasons; and males with similar syllable repertoires differed in syntax. Based on the congruence between identification based solely on spectrogram assessment, and that based on observation of colour rings, we inferred that reliable identification of singing males (including non‐ringed ones) was possible in the studied population from assessing a repertoire and song syntax of <5‐min recording (containing 20–30 songs). The acoustic‐based data: (i) increased the overall estimated number of territorial males at the study locality (from 49 ringed to 61), and improved the estimates of the period of their presence; (ii) revealed dynamic within‐season changes in territory occupancy that would otherwise be missed; and (iii) allowed identification of returning birds (including non‐ringed ones and those actively avoiding approaching humans).

Our results suggest that some commonly used methods may substantially underestimate return rates of migratory bird species. Individual acoustic monitoring should be applicable on various bird species with complex song and stable repertoires, and may be particularly useful for those living in dense habitat or sensitive to handling.
De novo transcriptome assembly and identification of genes associated with feed conversion ratio and breast muscle yield in domestic ducks
Authors: Zhu Feng , Yuan Jian‐Ming , Zhang Zhen‐He , Hao Jin‐Ping , Yang Yu‐ze , Hu Shen‐Qiang , Yang Fang‐Xi , Qu Lu‐Jiang , Hou Zhuo‐Cheng
Published: October 2015

Breast muscle yield and feed conversion efficiency are the major breeding aims in duck breeding. Understanding the role of specific transcripts in the muscle and small intestine might lead to the elucidation of interrelated biological processes. In this study, we obtained jejunum and breast muscle samples from two strains of Peking ducks that were sorted by feed conversion ratio (FCR) and breast muscle percentage into two‐tailed populations. Ten RNA‐Seq libraries were developed from the pooled samples and sequenced using the Hiseq2000 platform. We created a reference duck transcript database using de novo assembly methods, which included 16 663 irredundant contigs with an N50 length of 1530 bp. This new duck reference cDNA dataset significantly improved the mapping rate for RNA‐Seq data, from 50% to 70%. Mapping and annotation were followed by Gene Ontology analysis, which showed that numerous genes were differentially expressed between the low and high FCR groups. The differentially expressed genes in the jejunum were enriched in biological processes related to immune response and immune response activation, whereas those in the breast muscle were significantly enriched in biological processes related to muscle cell differentiation and organ development. We identified new candidate genes, that is, PCK1, for improving the FCR and breast muscle yield of ducks and obtained much better reference duck transcripts. This study suggested that de novo assembly is essential when applying transcriptome analysis to a species with an incomplete genome.
FROM STATE TO MARKET REVISITED: A REASSESSMENT OF THE EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE ON THE EFFICIENCY OF PUBLIC (AND PRIVATELY‐OWNED) ENTERPRISES
Authors: MÜHLENKAMP Holger
Published: October 2015

For several decades public enterprises have been criticized for their poor economic performance. Many economists take it as ‘conventional wisdom’ that publicly owned enterprises are inefficient by their very nature. This seemed to be proved by what is probably the most cited survey worldwide, that written by Megginson and Netter (2001). They claim: ‘Research now supports the proposition that privately owned firms are more efficient and more profitable than otherwise‐comparable state‐owned firms’ (p. 380). We argue that profits are not a reasonable performance measure for public enterprises. However, our main focus is to present a much more comprehensive review of the empirical evidence, including more recent research than was provided by Megginson and Netter. The evidence indicates that these authors were biased in their selection of empirical studies and their conclusion as well. Firstly, the true picture is much more differentiated than Megginson and Netter suggest. Secondly, with regard to productivity and production cost, there is no support for the claim that private enterprises have better performance ceteris paribus than public enterprises.
PUBLIC ENTERPRISES IN THE MARKET FOR CORPORATE CONTROL: RECENT WORLDWIDE EVIDENCE
Authors: CLÒ Stefano , DEL BO Chiara F. , FERRARIS Matteo , FLORIO Massimo , VANDONE Daniela , FIORIO Carlo
Published: October 2015

This paper analyzes deals involving private and public enterprises, i.e. State‐Owned Enterprises (SOEs) worldwide since 2004. We consider four types of deals: privatizations of SOEs, public enterprises acquiring private ones (public‐private deals), private reorganizations (i.e private firms acquiring a private target) and public reorganizations. (i.e. both acquirer and target are SOEs). We study whether the pre‐deal performance and corporate characteristics of the acquirer and target companies vary across the four types of deals depending on ownership: public or private. Data are taken from Zephyr (Bureau Van Dijk), which provides information on completed deals worldwide and Orbis, a firm‐level dataset (also implemented by BvD). Some results of previous literature on M&As performed by private firms (‘the inefficiency management hypothesis’) are both confirmed and expanded. Acquirers involved in deals are both larger and better performing than their targets but some qualifications are in order with respect to ownership. The difference in size and performance between acquirers and targets is in fact more pronounced for public with respect to private acquirers. The evidence thus points to an active role of SOEs as acquirers, as they significantly out‐perform relative to their targets, including private ones, in terms of return on sales. Given these novel findings, further research is needed to examine the motivations behind the different types of deals considered and to verify the role of government ownership in the contemporary global economy.
CONDITIONS FOR THE EMERGENCE AND INSTITUTIONALIZATION OF ‘EUROPEAN PUBLIC ENTERPRISES’
Authors: BAUBY Pierre , SIMILIE Mihaela M.
Published: October 2015

During a first step of the process of European integration, from the Treaty of Rome of 1957 to the Single Act of 1986, the Economic European Community equipped itself with legal tools to build a ‘common market’ and common rules for the setting up of the free movement of goods. The extension of the Community competences – most often shared competences between the European Union and Member States – led to the implementation of direct intervention tools which, without having been defined as ‘public enterprises’ until now, seem to have, or could have, part or essential characteristics of such enterprises. Our focus is, in particular, on European joint undertakings, such as Galileo, created since the adoption of the Single Act on the basis of Article 187 TFEU (ex‐Article 171 TEC); the development of ‘European agencies’, particularly of ‘executive agencies’; European funding for infrastructure; the statute of the European company.
PUBLIC ENTERPRISES AND PRODUCTION OF GLOBAL PUBLIC GOODS: THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INTERNALIZING PUBLIC MISSIONS IN RELATION TO CLIMATE ISSUES
Authors: BANCE Philippe
Published: October 2015

Starting from an analysis of radical uncertainty about the magnitude of global warming and the deployment of technological innovations, the paper explores the potential of a direct intervention by public enterprises as a complement to market systems applied to combating the greenhouse effect. It specifies in which sectors and under what conditions public enterprises could be the instruments for developing new technologies to prevent global warming by internalizeng missions in the public interest.
Genetic markers in CYP2C19 and CYP2B6 for prediction of cyclophosphamide's 4‐hydroxylation, efficacy and side effects in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Shu Wenying , Guan Su , Yang Xiuyan , Liang Liuqin , Li Jiali , Chen Zhuojia , Zhang Yu , Chen Lingyan , Wang Xueding , Huang Min
Published: October 2015

Aims

The aim of the study was to investigate the combined impact of genetic polymorphisms in key pharmacokinetic genes on plasma concentrations and clinical outcomes of cyclophosphamide (CPA) in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

One hundred and eighty nine Chinese SLE patients treated with CPA induction therapy (200 mg, every other day) were recruited and adverse reactions were recorded. After 4 weeks induction therapy, 128 lupus nephritis (LN) patients continued to CPA maintenance therapy (200–600 mg week–1) for 6 months, and their clinical outcomes were recorded. Blood samples were collected for CYP2C19, CYP2B6, GST and PXR polymorphism analysis, as well as CPA and its active metabolite (4‐hydroxycyclophosphamide (4‐OH‐CPA)) plasma concentration determination.

Results

Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that CYP2B6 ‐750 T > C (P < 0.001), −2320 T > C (P < 0.001), 15582C > T (P = 0.017), CYP2C19*2 (P < 0.001) and PXR 66034 T > C (P = 0.028) accounted for 47% of the variation in 4‐OH‐CPA plasma concentration. Among these variants, CYP2B6 ‐750 T > C and CYP2C19*2 were selected as the combination genetic marker because these two SNPs contributed the most to the inter‐individual variability in 4‐OH‐CPA concentration, accounting for 23.6% and 21.5% of the variation, respectively. Extensive metabolizers (EMs) (CYP2B6 ‐750TT, CYP2C19*1*1) had significantly higher median 4‐OH‐CPA plasma concentrations (34.8, 11.0 and 6.6 ng ml‐1 for EMs, intermediate metabolizers (IMs) and poor metabolizers (PMs), P < 0.0001), higher risks of leukocytopenia (OR = 7.538, 95% CI 2.951, 19.256, P < 0.0001) and gastrointestinal toxicity (OR = 7.579, 95% CI 2.934, 19.578, P < 0.0001), as well as shorter median time to achieve complete remission (13.2, 18.3 and 23.3 weeks for EMs, IMs and PMs, respectively, P = 0.026) in LN patients than PMs (CYP2B6 ‐750CC, CYP2C19*2*2) and IMs.

Conclusions

Our findings have indicated that genetic markers of drug metabolizing enzymes could predict the 4‐hydroxylation, adverse reactions and clinical efficacy of CPA. This is a necessary first step towards building clinical tools that will help assess clinical benefit and risk before undergoing CPA treatment in Chinese SLE patients.
The Ties that Undermine
Authors: Beverley John
Published: October 2015

Do biological relations ground responsibilities between biological fathers and their offspring? Few think biological relations ground either necessary or sufficient conditions for responsibility. Nevertheless, many think biological relations ground responsibility at least partially. Various scenarios, such as cases concerning the responsibilities of sperm donors, have been used to argue in favor of biological relations as partially grounding responsibilities. In this article, I seek to undermine the temptation to explain sperm donor scenarios via biological relations by appealing to an overlooked feature of such scenarios. More specifically, I argue that sperm donor scenarios may be better explained by considering the unique abilities of agents involved. Appealing to unique ability does not eliminate the possibility of biological relations providing some explanation for perceived responsibilities on the part of biological fathers. However, since it is unclear exactly why biological relations are supposed to ground responsibility in the first place, and rather clear why unique ability grounds responsibility in those scenarios where it is exhibited, the burden of proof seems shifted to those advocating biological relations as grounds of responsibility to provide an explanation. Since this seems unlikely, I conclude it is best to avoid appealing to biological relations as providing grounds for responsibility.
Azeitero, Ulisses Mirandaet al ed (2014) E‐learning and education for sustainability. Peter Lang (New York & Bern) isbn 978‐3‐631‐62963‐1 290 pp £41 http://www.peterlang.com/index.cfm?event=cmp.ccc.seitenstruktur.detailseiten&seitentyp=produkt&pk=73204
Authors: Brescia William
Published: October 2015

E‐learning and education for sustainability is a book that delivers on what it promises to present: principles, information technology tools, examples of good practice, and coverage of formal as well as of informal education for sustainability. The book is divided into chapters covering each of these areas quite well. If the content of this book is likely to be relevant to you, I recommend that you arrange to borrow a copy for a while.

William Brescia
Bergmann, Jonathan & Sams, Aaron (2014) Flipped learning. ISTE (Washington & Eurospan, London) isbn 978‐1‐56484‐344‐9 227 pp £18.50 https://www.iste.org/resources/product?ID=3014
Authors: Martin Marie
Published: October 2015

This deceptively simple book aims to show how flipped learning optimises class time, by delivering direct instruction by video for students to use outside of class, freeing up teachers to individualise their learning in the classroom. It is essentially a “book of stories” for teachers shared by practising teachers who have enthusiastically embraced this model. I strongly recommend that you buy Flipped learning if it is in your area of interest.

Marie Martin
Ehlers, Ulf‐Daniel (2013) Open learning cultures. Springer (Berlin) isbn 978‐3‐642‐38173‐7 257 pp £62.99 http://www.springer.com/us/book/9783642381737
Authors: Dettori Giuliana
Published: October 2015

This monograph, addressed to higher education teachers, concerns learning in a Web 2.0 world, together with new, open forms of assessment and quality development. I find interesting the rich chapters on quality and assessment but less convincing the initial analysis and classification of Web 2.0 learning environments and landscapes. If you are likely to find this book relevant to you, I advise that you will probably find only parts of interest or use.

Giuliana Dettori
Farber, Matthew (2015) Gamify your classroom. Peter Lang (New York & Bern) isbn 978‐1‐4331‐2670‐3 263 pp £25 http://www.peterlang.com/index.cfm?event=cmp.ccc.seitenstruktur.detailseiten&seitentyp=produkt&pk=80594
Authors: Janes Diane P
Published: October 2015

Teachers, researchers and instructional designers will find this book interesting as it explores game‐based learning in the classroom. Interviews with well‐known game designers, business experts and academics as well as the author's own relevant experience, let the reader into this world, with tips on how to add gaming to their classroom learning opportunities. If this book could be relevant in your work, you should arrange to borrow a copy for a while.

Diane P Janes
Strom, Paris S & Strom, Robert D (2014) Adolescents in the internet age. IAP (Charlotte, NC & Eurospan, London) isbn 978‐1‐623‐96762‐8 444 pp $45.99 (boards $85.99, ebook $50) http://www.infoagepub.com/products/Adolescents‐In‐The‐Internet‐Age‐2nd‐Edition
Authors: Betts Lucy R.
Published: October 2015

This text discusses contemporary research that relates to adolescents' technology use, and evaluates a range of recent literature. However, while the topic is likely to appeal to a wide audience, you should be mindful that the book is primarily targeted at the USA, and even in that context is best borrowed rather than bought.

Lucy R Betts
Conjoint Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) and Urogynaecological Society of Australasia (UGSA) Guidelines on the management of adult non‐neurogenic overactive bladder
Authors: Tse Vincent , King Jennifer , Dowling Caroline , English Sharon , Gray Katherine , Millard Richard , O'Connell Helen , Pillay Samantha , Thavaseelan Jeffrey
Published: October 2015

Due to the myriad of treatment options available and the potential increase in the number of patients afflicted with overactive bladder (OAB) who will require treatment, the Female Urology Special Advisory Group (FUSAG) of the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ), in conjunction with the Urogynaecological Society of Australasia (UGSA), see the need to move forward and set up management guidelines for physicians who may encounter or have a special interest in the treatment of this condition. These guidelines, by utilising and recommending evidence‐based data, will hopefully assist in the diagnosis, clinical assessment, and optimisation of treatment efficacy. They are divided into three sections: Diagnosis and Clinical Assessment, Conservative Management, and Surgical Management. These guidelines will also bring Australia and New Zealand in line with other regions of the world where guidelines have been established, such as the American Urological Association, European Association of Urology, International Consultation on Incontinence, and the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidelines of the UK.
Microglial activation and progressive brain changes in schizophrenia
Authors: Laskaris L E , Di Biase M A , Everall I , Chana G , Christopoulos A , Skafidas E , Cropley V L , Pantelis C
Published: October 2015

Schizophrenia is a debilitating disorder that typically begins in adolescence and is characterized by perceptual abnormalities, delusions, cognitive and behavioural disturbances and functional impairments. While current treatments can be effective, they are often insufficient to alleviate the full range of symptoms. Schizophrenia is associated with structural brain abnormalities including grey and white matter volume loss and impaired connectivity. Recent findings suggest these abnormalities follow a neuroprogressive course in the earliest stages of the illness, which may be associated with episodes of acute relapse. Neuroinflammation has been proposed as a potential mechanism underlying these brain changes, with evidence of increased density and activation of microglia, immune cells resident in the brain, at various stages of the illness. We review evidence for microglial dysfunction in schizophrenia from both neuroimaging and neuropathological data, with a specific focus on studies examining microglial activation in relation to the pathology of grey and white matter. The studies available indicate that the link between microglial dysfunction and brain change in schizophrenia remains an intriguing hypothesis worthy of further examination. Future studies in schizophrenia should: (i) use multimodal imaging to clarify this association by mapping brain changes longitudinally across illness stages in relation to microglial activation; (ii) clarify the nature of microglial dysfunction with markers specific to activation states and phenotypes; (iii) examine the role of microglia and neurons with reference to their overlapping roles in neuroinflammatory pathways; and (iv) examine the impact of novel immunomodulatory treatments on brain structure in schizophrenia.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Inflammation: maladies, models, mechanisms and molecules. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2016.173.issue-4
Growth of business services: A supply‐side hypothesis
Authors: Das Satya P. , Saha Anuradha
Published: October 2015

This paper aims to explain why and how the service sector may grow faster than manufacturing. It develops a two‐sector, closed‐economy model, having a manufacturing sector and a service sector. Accumulation of human capital serves as the basis of growth. The analysis focuses on business services, while household services are also considered. It is argued that differences in returns to scale between the two sectors and employment frictions in manufacturing explain why the growth rate of the service sector may be higher. The model also features that within the service sector the business services sub‐sector may grow faster than household services.
Differences in the degree of unionization as a source of comparative advantage in open economies
Authors: Egger Hartmut , Meland Frode , Schmerer Hans‐Jörg
Published: October 2015

This paper considers two integrated countries that differ only in their labour markets: one country hosts unions, whereas the other one pays competitive wages. These institutional differences are a source of comparative advantage, which crucially impact inter‐industry trade and welfare in the open economy. In this setting, deunionization exerts opposing welfare effects in the two economies. Increasing product market competition is beneficial for the unionized country and detrimental for its trading partner. Finally, we conduct an empirical analysis that provides strong support for the main hypotheses of our theoretical model.
Genomic copy number alterations in non‐syndromic hearing loss
Authors: Rosenberg C. , Freitas É. L. , Uehara D. T. , Auricchio M. T. B. M. , Costa S. S. , Oiticica J. , Silva A. G. , Krepischi A. C. , Mingroni‐Netto R. C.
Published: October 2015

Genetic heterogeneity has made the identification of genes related to hearing impairment a challenge. In the absence of a clear phenotypic aetiology, recurrence risk estimates are often based on family segregation and may be imprecise. We profiled by oligonucleotide array‐CGH patients presenting non‐syndromic hearing loss with presumptive autosomal recessive (n = 50) or autosomal dominant (n = 50) patterns of inheritance. Rare copy number variants (CNVs) were detected in 12 probands; four of the detected CNVs comprised genes previously associated with hearing loss (POU4F3, EYA4, USH2A, and BCAP31) and were considered causative, stressing the contribution of genomic imbalance to non‐syndromic deafness. In six cases, segregation of the CNVs in pedigrees excluded them as causative. In one case, segregation could not be investigated, while in another case, a point mutation likely explains the phenotype. These findings show that the presumptive patterns of inheritance were incorrect in at least two cases, thereby impacting genetic counselling. In addition, we report the first duplication reciprocal to the rare ABCD1, BCAP31, and SLC6A8 contiguous deletion syndrome; as with most microduplication syndromes, the associated phenotype is much milder than the respective microdeletion and, in this case, was restricted to hearing impairment.
Salivary IL‐1β and red complex bacteria as predictors of the inflammatory status in sub‐peri‐implant niches of subjects with peri‐implant mucositis
Authors: Acharya Aneesha , Koh Mei Leng , Kheur Supriya , Watt Rory. M. , Jin Lijian , Mattheos Nikos
Published: October 2015

Background and Objectives

Salivary biomarkers may enhance diagnostic sensitivity for peri‐implant disease assessment. This study aimed to investigate the association of salivary periodontopathogen count and salivary interleukin‐1beta (IL‐1β) level with the peri‐implant crevicular fluid IL‐1β response at peri‐implant mucositis (PM) sites among subjects with differing periodontal disease susceptibility.

Materials and methods

Eighty‐seven partially edentulous subjects having at least one implant with peri‐implant mucositis were included: 40 with history of chronic periodontitis (P) and 47 with no history of periodontitis (NP). Salivary IL‐1β, peri‐implant crevicular fluid (PICF) IL‐1β, and salivary red complex pathogen counts were recorded. Subjects were scored according to a threshold salivary pathogen level of more than 5log (10) counts and assigned a “red complex score.” Quartiles of salivary and PICF IL‐1β levels were also scored. Area under receiver operating curve (AUC) was computed to predict the highest PICF IL‐1β score using salivary biomarker as predictors and age‐adjusted logistic regression performed for the significant predictors.

Results

In the NP group, red complex score (AUC = 0.758 P = 0.010) (odds ratio = 1.377) and salivary IL‐1β (AUC = 0.708 P = 0.038) (odds ratio = 2.506) were significant predictors of highest PICF IL‐1β quartile score. In the P group, no significant associations were noted.

Conclusions

Salivary biomarkers could distinguish the “high” pro‐inflammatory responders at PM sites only in subjects without inherent periodontal disease susceptibility. Periodontal susceptibility may impact the immuno‐inflammatory response in sub‐peri‐implant niches of those with peri‐implant mucositis.
Muscle and brain: a dyad with important diagnostic and therapeutic implications
Authors: Hendriksen Jos G M , Vles Johan S H
Published: October 2015

This commentary is on the original article by Ricotti et al. on pages 77–84 of this issue.
Interlopers and disorderly brethren at the Stade Mart: commercial regulations and practices amongst the Merchant Adventurers of England in the late Elizabethan period
Authors: Leng Thomas
Published: October 2015

This article examines the role of merchant companies in structuring overseas trade in early modern Europe by considering the commerce of the Merchant Adventurers of England, the ‘regulated’ Company which monopolized the cloth export trade to Germany and the Netherlands in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It examines the Company's trade to its German ‘mart’ town of Stade at the close of the sixteenth century through a detailed case study of the trade of one particular merchant, John Quarles. Using correspondence between Quarles and his factors overseas, it considers how membership of this regulated trading company impacted on the practice of its members, both through its formal regulatory regime and the informal pressures that came with corporate affiliation. However, corporate privileges also created ‘shadow economies’ inhabited by the excluded, those castigated by companies as ‘interlopers’. The article considers the connections between interlopers and those ‘disorderly brethren’ of the company who were prepared to violate corporate regulations in pursuit of opportunities. It shows how the regulatory regimes of merchant companies were shaped by the changing practices of members and non‐members as they responded to the structural changes facing European trade in the early modern period.
Anxiety in youth at clinical high risk for psychosis
Authors: McAusland Laina , Buchy Lisa , Cadenhead Kristin S. , Cannon Tyrone D. , Cornblatt Barbara A. , Heinssen Robert , McGlashan Thomas H. , Perkins Diana O. , Seidman Larry J. , Tsuang Ming T. , Walker Elaine F. , Woods Scott W. , Bearden Carrie E. , Mathalon Daniel H. , Addington Jean
Published: October 2015

Aim

High rates of anxiety have been observed in youth at clinical high risk (CHR) of developing psychosis. In CHR, anxiety often co‐occurs with depression, and there is inconsistent evidence on anxiety in relation to transition to psychosis. The aim of this study was to examine: (i) the prevalence of anxiety disorders in individuals at CHR; (ii) clinical differences between those with and without anxiety; and (iii) the association of baseline anxiety with later transition to psychosis.

Methods

The sample consisted of 765 CHR individuals and 280 healthy controls. CHR status was determined with the Structured Interview of Prodromal Syndromes, mood and anxiety diagnoses with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM‐IV Disorders, and severity of anxiety with the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale and Self‐Rating Anxiety Scale.

Results

In the CHR sample, 51% met criteria for an anxiety disorder. CHR participants had significantly more anxiety diagnoses and severity than healthy controls. Anxiety was correlated to attenuated psychotic and negative symptoms in CHR and those with an anxiety disorder demonstrated more suspiciousness. CHR participants with obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) exhibited more severe symptomatology than those without OCD. An initial presentation of anxiety did not differ between those who did or did not transition to psychosis.

Conclusions

In this large sample of individuals at CHR, anxiety is common and associated with more severe attenuated psychotic symptoms. Treatment not only to prevent or delay transition to psychosis but also to address presenting concerns, such as anxiety, is warranted.
Fish spawning aggregations: where well‐placed management actions can yield big benefits for fisheries and conservation
Authors: Erisman Brad , Heyman William , Kobara Shinichi , Ezer Tal , Pittman Simon , Aburto‐Oropeza Octavio , Nemeth Richard S
Published: October 2015

Marine ecosystem management has traditionally been divided between fisheries management and biodiversity conservation approaches, and the merging of these disparate agendas has proven difficult. Here, we offer a pathway that can unite fishers, scientists, resource managers and conservationists towards a single vision for some areas of the ocean where small investments in management can offer disproportionately large benefits to fisheries and biodiversity conservation. Specifically, we provide a series of evidenced‐based arguments that support an urgent need to recognize fish spawning aggregations (FSAs) as a focal point for fisheries management and conservation on a global scale, with a particular emphasis placed on the protection of multispecies FSA sites. We illustrate that these sites serve as productivity hotspots – small areas of the ocean that are dictated by the interactions between physical forces and geomorphology, attract multiple species to reproduce in large numbers and support food web dynamics, ecosystem health and robust fisheries. FSAs are comparable in vulnerability, importance and magnificence to breeding aggregations of seabirds, sea turtles and whales yet they receive insufficient attention and are declining worldwide. Numerous case‐studies confirm that protected aggregations do recover to benefit fisheries through increases in fish biomass, catch rates and larval recruitment at fished sites. The small size and spatio‐temporal predictability of FSAs allow monitoring, assessment and enforcement to be scaled down while benefits of protection scale up to entire populations. Fishers intuitively understand the linkages between protecting FSAs and healthy fisheries and thus tend to support their protection.
Trading and Investing in Volatility Products
Authors: Alexander Carol , Kapraun Julia , Korovilas Dimitris
Published: October 2015

Since the banking crisis the market for volatility exchange‐traded products has developed rapidly as it opens to clients beyond the large institutional investor pool. Speculation is driven by increasingly complex leveraged and inverse exposures including those that attempt to trade on significant roll costs in volatility futures curves. Longer‐term investors use these products for the purposes of equity diversification, driven by fears of an ongoing Eurozone crisis. We survey the burgeoning academic literature in this area and present a comprehensive and up‐to‐date comparison of the market and statistical characteristics of European and US exchange‐traded volatility products.
Herbage and nitrogen yields, fixation and transfer by white clover to companion grasses in grazed swards under different rates of nitrogen fertilization
Authors: Enriquez‐Hidalgo D. , Gilliland T. J. , Hennessy D.
Published: October 2015

In grass–legume swards, biologically fixed nitrogen (N) from the legume can support theNrequirements of the grass, but legumeNfixation is suppressed by additional fertilizerNapplication. This study sought to identify a fertilizerNapplication rate that maximizes herbage andNyields,Nfixation and apparentNtransfer from white clover to companion grasses under intensive grazing at a site with high soil‐N status. During a 3‐year period (2011–2013), swards of perennial ryegrass and of perennial ryegrass–white clover, receiving up to 240 kgNha−1 year−1, were compared using isotope dilution andN‐difference methods. The presence of white clover increased herbage andNyields by 12–44% and 26–72%, respectively. Applications ofNfertilizer reduced sward white clover content, but the effect was less at below 120 kgNha−1. The proportion of N derived from the atmosphericNfixation was 25–70%. Nitrogen fixation ranged from 25 to 142 kgNha−1measured using the isotope dilution method in 2012 and from 52 to 291 kgNha−1using theN‐difference method across all years. FertilizerNapplication reduced the percentage and yield of fixed N. Transfer of N from white clover to grass was not confirmed, but there was an increasedNcontent in grass and soil‐Nlevels. Under intensive grazing, the maximum applied N rate that optimized herbage andNyields with minimal effect on white clover content and fixation rates was 60–120 kgNha−1.