bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Farm wages and public works
Authors: Mahajan Kanika
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) on farm sector wage rate. This identification strategy rests on the assumption that all districts across India would have had similar wage trends in the absence of the program. The author argues that this assumption may not be true due to non-random allocation of districts to the program’s three phases across states and different economic growth paths of the states post the implementation of NREGS.

Design/methodology/approach

– To control for overall macroeconomic trends, the author allows for state-level time fixed effects to capture the differences in growth trajectories across districts due to changing economic landscape in the parent-state over time. The author also estimates the expected farm sector wage growth due to the increased public work employment provision using a theoretical model.

Findings

– The results, contrary to the existing studies, do not find support for a significantly positive impact of NREGS treatment on private cultivation wage rate. The theoretical model also shows that an increase in public employment work days explains very little of the total growth in cultivation wage post 2004.

Originality/value

– This paper looks specifically at farm sector wage growth and the possible impact of NREGS on it, accounting for state specific factors in shaping farm wages. Theoretical estimates are presented to overcome econometric limitations.
Structural change and the changing relationship between the industrial and the service sector
Authors: Roy Amrita
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– This paper aims to examine the relationship between the industrial and the service sector outputs at the aggregate level and for different sub-services in India and also tries to find out whether the relationship is changing over time.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper studies a panel of 16 major Indian states in India over the period 1980-2011. Using an econometric analysis, it proceeds to estimate the increase in inter-linkage between the output of the service sector and the output of the industrial sector. This study considers a variable coefficient model where the output elasticity of the service sector with respect to the output of the industrial sector changes with time. The changing element here is considered to be the result of the changing structure of production within these industries.

Findings

– It has been observed that the output of the services sector at the aggregate level and the output of the industrial sector are highly correlated, and demand generated for services output from the industrial sector over the period 1993-2011 is mostly due to the changing structure of production within these sectors.

Originality/value

– This paper takes the initiative to estimate the increase in inter-linkage between the output of the service sector and the output of the industrial sector resulting from the changing structure of production within the industrial and the service sectors.
Sustainable supply chain management
Authors: Tseng MingLang , Lim Ming , Wong Wai Peng
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– Assessing a measure of sustainable supply chain management (SSCM) performance is currently a key challenge. The literature on SSCM is very limited and performance measures need to have a systematic framework. The recently developed balanced scorecard (BSC) is a measurement system that requires a balanced set of financial and non-financial measures. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the SSCM performance based on four aspects i.e. sustainability, internal operations, learning and growth, and stakeholder.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper developed a BSC hierarchical network for SSCM in a close-loop hierarchical structure. A generalized quantitative evaluation model based on the Fuzzy Delphi Method (FDM) and Analytical Network Process (ANP) were then used to consider both the interdependence among measures and the fuzziness of subjective measures in SSCM.

Findings

– The results of this study indicate that the top-ranking aspect to consider is that of stakeholders, and the top five criteria are green design, corporate sustainability, strategic planning for environmental management, supplier cost-saving initiatives and market share.

Originality/value

– The main contributions of this study are twofold. First, this paper provides valuable support for supply chain stakeholders regarding the nature of network hierarchical relations with qualitative and quantitative scales. Second, this paper improves practical performance and enhances management effectiveness for SSCM.
An intellectual capital maturity model (ICMM) to improve strategic management in European universities
Authors: Secundo Giustina , Elena- Perez Susana , Martinaitis Žilvinas , Leitner Karl-Heinz
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The public sector is one of the least addressed areas of intellectual capital (IC) research. Universities are an interesting area of investigation because they are considered critical players in the knowledge-based society. The purpose of this paper is to develop a more general, flexible and comprehensive “IC Maturity Model” for Universities (ICMM), a framework for defining and implementing IC measurement and management approaches, as part of the whole strategic management of universities. Thus, the ICMM proposes a staged framework to initiate a step-by-step change within a university based upon its current level of IC management maturity. The different steps of maturity might be an answer to cope with the huge diversity of European universities, some of which have strong managerial orientation, while others follow collegial forms of governance.

Design/methodology/approach

– The research approach is based on what has been called the “third stage” of IC research (Dumay and Garanina, 2013), focused on the practices of IC approaches rather than on its theoretical conceptualisation. The ICMM has been developed under the “Quality Assurance in Higher Education through Habilitation and Auditing” project framework, initiated by the Executive Agency for Higher Education and Research Funding of Romania (EUFISCDI). Three Mutual Learning Workshops (MLWs) were organised as a mean to bring together 15 international experts and practitioners to share their views and experience on IC reporting and setting up task forces.

Findings

– An ICMM, which is a flexible model of implementing IC approaches within public universities, is developed. The ICMM provides a theoretical continuum along which the process of maturity can be developed incrementally from one level to the next, moving from IC data collection, awareness of IC, adjustment of IC specific indicators, measurement of IC, reporting of IC, interpretation and decision making, strategy and planning.

Research limitations/implications

– Future research needs to conduct empirical studies in universities to generalise the effectiveness of the ICMM model and guidelines for implementation.

Practical implications

– The ICMM provides a staged framework to initiate a step-by-step change within a university based upon its current level of IC management maturity and its IC value creation dynamics. It allows universities to follow different paths, not necessarily a linear sequence.

Originality/value

– Although several methods for IC measurement and management exist, most of these cannot accommodate the trade-off between the comparability aims and the efforts to capture the institution’s uniqueness when designing an IC model.
Graduate identity development in South Africa
Authors: Dunne Ilka , Bosch Anita
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to focus on the misunderstandings that hamper the graduate identity development process of black South African graduates in the first year of work. The authors introduce the role of an independent mediator in supporting identity development in a graduate development programme (GDP). The independent mediator mediates between graduate and manager when misunderstandings occur that inhibit the warranting process during professional identity development.

Design/methodology/approach

– In seeking to understand the graduate transition from student to professional, the authors used identity studies as the foundation from which to track a group of 21 graduates on a year-long GDP, in a financial institution in Johannesburg, South Africa. A model of emergent graduate identity was utilised to gain insight into the warranting process and associated behaviours that graduates employ in their interactions with others in the workplace.

Findings

– As warranting is based on people’s own assumptions and beliefs about a particular situation or role, misunderstandings can occur during the warranting process when graduates are determining their professional identity, and managers are either affirming of disaffirming this identity. These misunderstandings were exacerbated by the fact that the graduates were often South African multi-cultural, first-generation professionals who lacked insight into and experience of corporate dynamics, this impacted on how they found their place in the organisation. Both graduates and managers were often not equipped to deal with cultural, racial, and other differences. When the graduate programme manager stepped in to play the additional role of independent mediator, helping to mediate misinterpretations during the identity formation process, the negative impact of misunderstandings was lessened, and graduates transitioned to a professional identity with greater ease. Managers also learned about managing multi-cultural individuals and their own, often limiting, experiences and worldviews.

Practical implications

– This highlights the value of a third-party intervention in graduate identity transitions, particularly in contexts where the graduate has little or no experience of what it means to be professional, and where managers are not equipped to deal with people who come from backgrounds that differ vastly from their own.

Originality/value

– The role of a third-party in shaping the identities of graduates during the identity warranting process, referred to as the independent mediator in this paper, has not been presented in research before. Studies of this nature would give us insight into how best to support graduate identity development and improve the design of GDPs.
Can managers coach their teams too much?
Authors: Buljac-Samardzic Martina , van Woerkom Marianne
Published: April 2015

Purpose

– The relationship between managerial coaching and team performance may be mediated by team reflection because coaching is often thought to lead to reflection, which has been found to lead to improved performance. In contrast, this relationship might be moderated by team reflection, because poorly reflective teams are more likely to depend on coaching than highly reflective teams. The purpose of this paper is to test these rival hypotheses.

Design/methodology/approach

– The authors employed a longitudinal survey method at two points in time in two long-term care organizations. Team members were asked to rate the level of managerial coaching and team reflection. Team managers were asked to evaluate team performance.

Findings

– Team reflection turned out to be a moderator and not a mediator in the relationship between managerial coaching and team performance. Only the performance of poorly reflective teams benefits from managerial coaching.

Practical implications

– Excessive coaching of highly reflective teams may be a waste of the energy and time of both managers and teams and may even harm team efficiency. Therefore, team managers would be wise to estimate the team’s level of reflection in order to adjust their coaching interventions accordingly. Future research should explore how managers can be supported in making a valid assessment of the team’s reflective capabilities and in adjusting their coaching interventions accordingly.

Originality/value

– This paper sheds light on the relationship between managerial coaching and team performance by testing contradicting explanations regarding the role of team reflection.
Migration timing and its determinants for nocturnal migratory birds during autumn migration
Authors: La Sorte Frank A. , Hochachka Wesley M. , Farnsworth Andrew , Sheldon Daniel , Fink Daniel , Geevarghese Jeffrey , Winner Kevin , Van Doren Benjamin M. , Kelling Steve
Published: April 2015

Migration is a common strategy used by birds that breed in seasonal environments, and multiple environmental and biological factors determine the timing of migration. How these factors operate in combination during autumn migration, which is considered to be under weaker time constraints relative to spring migration, is not clear.

Here, we examine the patterns and determinants of migration timing for nocturnal migrants during autumn migration in the north‐eastern USA using nocturnal reflectivity data from 12 weather surveillance radar stations and modelled diurnal probability of occurrence for 142 species of nocturnal migrants. We first model the capacity of seasonal atmospheric conditions (wind and precipitation) and ecological productivity (vegetation greenness) to predict autumn migration intensity. We then test predictions, formulated under optimal migration theory, on how migration timing should be related to assemblage‐level estimates of body size and total migration distance within the context of dietary guild (insectivore and omnivore) and level of dietary plasticity during autumn migration.

Our results indicate seasonal declines in ecological productivity delineate the beginning and end of peak migration, whose intensity is best predicted by the velocity of winds at migration altitudes. Insectivorous migrants departed earlier in the season and, consistent with our predictions, large‐bodied and long‐distance insectivorous migrants departed the earliest. Contrary to our predictions, large‐bodied and some long‐distance omnivorous migrants departed later in the season, patterns that were replicated in part by insectivorous migrants that displayed dietary plasticity during autumn migration.

Our findings indicate migration timing in the region is dictated by optimality strategies, modified based on the breadth and flexibility of migrant's foraging diets, with declining ecological productivity defining possible resource thresholds during which migration occurs when winds at migration altitudes are mild. These observations provide the basis to assess how avian migration strategies may be affected by adjustments in seasonal patterns of atmospheric circulation and ecological productivity that may occur under global climate change.
Antagonistic effect of helpers on breeding male and female survival in a cooperatively breeding bird
Authors: Paquet Matthieu , Doutrelant Claire , Hatchwell Ben J. , Spottiswoode Claire N. , Covas Rita
Published: April 2015

Cooperatively breeding species are typically long lived and hence, according to theory, are expected to maximize their lifetime reproductive success through maximizing survival. Under these circumstances, the presence of helpers could be used to lighten the effort of current reproduction for parents to achieve higher survival.

In addition, individuals of different sexes and ages may follow different strategies, but whether male and female breeders and individuals of different ages benefit differently from the presence of helpers has often been overlooked. Moreover, only one study that investigated the relationship between parental survival and the presence of helpers used capture–mark–recapture analyses (CMR). These methods are important since they allow us to account for the non‐detection of individuals that are alive in the population but not detected, and thus, the effects on survival and recapture probability to be disentangled.

Here, we used multi‐event CMR methods to investigate whether the number of helpers was associated with an increase in survival probability for male and female breeders of different ages in the sociable weaver Philetairus socius. In this species, both sexes reduce their feeding rate in the presence of helpers. We therefore predicted that the presence of helpers should increase the breeders' survival in both sexes, especially early in life when individuals potentially have more future breeding opportunities. In addition, sociable weaver females reduce their investment in eggs in the presence of helpers, so we predicted a stronger effect of helpers on female than male survival.

As expected we found that females had a higher survival probability when breeding with more helpers. Unexpectedly, however, male survival probability decreased with increasing number of helpers. This antagonistic effect diminished as the breeders grew older.

These results illustrate the complexity of fitness costs and benefits underlying cooperative behaviours and how these may vary with the individuals' sex and age. They also highlight the need for further studies on the sex‐specific effects of helpers on survival.
Seed size and the evolution of leaf defences
Authors: Kraft Thomas S. , Wright S. Joseph , Turner Ian , Lucas Peter W. , Oufiero Christopher E. , Supardi Noor Md. Nur , Sun I‐Fang , Dominy Nathaniel J.
Published: April 2015

Leaf defences vary widely among tree species, affecting rates of herbivory, survival and reproduction.

Two contrasting hypotheses account for variation in leaf defences among species. The first predicts that a slow life history, which is characteristic of larger seeded species adapted to resource‐limited environments, is associated with well‐defended leaves. The second, apparency theory, predicts that elevated leaf defences are necessitated for species that are more detectable to herbivores.

Here we use comparative methods and a global data set to test (i) the relationship between seed size and leaf defences and (ii) the relationship between clumping (spatial apparency) and leaf defences.

We found that seed size was positively related to leaf fracture toughness, but not phenolics or tannin concentration and that spatial aggregation was unrelated to leaf defences.

Synthesis. Our results suggest that larger seed size and increased leaf toughness are correlated as part of a trait syndrome associated with a slow, resource‐limited life history, not clumped dispersion and increased spatial apparency.
Board of directors characteristics and credit union financial performance: a pitch
Authors: Unda Luisa Ana
Published: April 2015

This short paper applies the ‘pitching research’ template developed by Faff (2015) to an academic research topic in corporate governance of Australian credit unions, from an accounting discipline perspective. The pitch template identifies the core elements that form the framework of any research project.
The impact of decoupled payments on U.S. cropland values
Authors: Ifft Jennifer , Kuethe Todd , Morehart Mitch
Published: April 2015

An extensive literature has shown that various farm programs may influence the value of farmland, but other studies have not examined the cropland price effects of direct, or decoupled, payments separate from countercyclical payments. This study uses nationally representative confidential field‐level panel data with farmer‐reported per‐acre land values. We analyze the impact of decoupled and other farm program payments on farmland values. Using a fixed effects model and controlling for various factors that influence farmland values, we find that an additional dollar of decoupled payments has a large and statistically significant impact on farmland values of about $18 per acre. These results are comparable with similar studies undertaken in Europe.
Early‐life house dust mite allergens, childhood mite sensitization, and respiratory outcomes
Authors: Casas L. , Sunyer J. , Tischer C. , Gehring U. , Wickman M. , Garcia‐Esteban R. , Lehmann I. , Kull I. , Reich A. , Lau S. , Wijga A. , Antó J. M. , Nawrot T. S. , Heinrich J. , Keil T. , Torrent M.
Published: April 2015

Background

Exposure to indoor allergens during early life may play a role in the development of the immune system and inception of asthma.

Objective

To describe the house dust mite (HDM) allergen concentrations in bedroom dust during early life and to evaluate its associations with HDM sensitization, wheezing, and asthma, from birth to school age, in 5 geographically spread European birth cohorts.

Methods

We included 4334 children from INMA‐Menorca (Spain), BAMSE (Sweden), LISAplus and MAS (Germany), and PIAMA‐NHS (the Netherlands). Dust samples were collected from bedrooms during early life and analyzed for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (Der p1) and Dermatophagoides farinae (Der f1). HDM concentrations were divided into four categories. Sensitization was determined by specific IgE. Wheezing and asthma information up to 8/10 years was collected through questionnaires. We performed mixed‐effects logistic regression models and expressed associations as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals.

Results

House dust mite concentrations varied across cohorts. Mean allergen concentrations were highest in INMA‐Menorca (geometric mean (GM) Der p1 = 3.3 μg/g) and LISAplus (GM Der f1 = 2.1 μg/g) and lowest in BAMSE (GM Der p1 = 0.1 μg/g, Der f1 = 0.3 μg/g). Moderate and high HDM concentrations were significantly (P‐values < 0.05) associated with 50–90% higher prevalence of HDM sensitization. No significant associations were observed with respiratory outcomes.

Conclusion

Our study based on geographically spread regions, a large sample size, and a wide range of allergen concentration shows that HDM allergen concentrations vary across regions and that exposure during early life plays a role in the development of allergic sensitization but not in the development of respiratory outcomes.
Politics of appearances: Some reasons why the UN‐REDD project in Central Sulawesi failed to unite the various stakeholders
Authors: Howell Signe
Published: April 2015

REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) started as a global project aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by protecting tropical forests. At the same time, several so‐called co‐benefits were listed in the original documents, such as biodiversity and other environmental services, poverty reduction and sustainable livelihoods, and good governance. I argue that REDD+ quickly became a project in which these co‐benefits have emerged to be of central concern and that the rights of affected forest populations today dominate much of the REDD+ discourse. One reason for the redirected focus of REDD+ can be attributed to the activities of international and national environmental and human rights organisations. While this has arguably contributed to a process of democratisation in Indonesia, it has also slowed down the implementation of readiness projects. Taking my example from the UN‐REDD initiative in Central Sulawesi, I examine some reasons why it has been difficult to establish the proposed five REDD sites in the province.
Making REDD+ pay: Shifting rationales and tactics of private finance and the governance of avoided deforestation in Indonesia
Authors: Dixon Rowan , Challies Edward
Published: April 2015

This paper presents an analysis of changing rationales and tactics among actors engaged in mobilising private finance for Indonesia's emergent Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) programme. Despite limited flows of private finance so far, private sector actors have been responsible for a great deal of development and innovation in the forest carbon sector in Indonesia, and have thus played – and continue to play – an important part in shaping the country's REDD+ programme. Drawing on extended field research and interviews with key actors engaged with REDD+ in Indonesia, we identify a variety of private investor motivations, strategies and tactics, many of which depart considerably from the common understanding of REDD+ as avoided deforestation funded through carbon offsets. As non‐state actors increasingly shape emerging REDD+ projects, they assume important roles as agents of environmental governance – working through a variety of private market and hybrid modes of forest/climate governance. We describe four general modes of engagement, centred around: investment in REDD+ verified emissions reductions; corporate social responsibility; sustainable commodities; and impact investment. The research thus contributes to an improved understanding of the nature of private REDD+ finance in Indonesia, and the implications, potential and limits of private, market‐based climate governance.
Climate change disputes and justice inCentralKalimantan,Indonesia
Authors: Lounela Anu
Published: April 2015

In 2010, the province ofCentralKalimantan inIndonesia was established as aClimateChange pilot province to reduce emissions from deforestation and through peat land forest rehabilitation. Today, international agencies, carbon traders, local and national governments, non‐governmental organisations, and local populations have participated in debates and disputes over the establishment of carbon forests and forest protection areas inCentralKalimantan. One such scheme, promoted by the government ofAustralia (KalimantanForest andClimatePartnership), intended to establish aREDD+ pilot project within an area that covers about 120 000 hectares inKualaKapuas inCentralKalimantan, the field location of this research. This specific dispute offers a case study based on ethnographic research that helps to illustrate how widespread climate change debates and disputes become embedded at local and national levels inIndonesia. The dispute overREDD+ will be discussed within a framework of dispute theories which focus on moments of crisis, wherein participants must present arguments and justify their actions and theories of justice. The article shows that competing and conflicting conceptions of justice that emerge in the dispute may bring to a halt a climate change pilot project in the locality.
Disease characteristics, treatment patterns, prognosis, outcomes and lymphoma‐related mortality in elderly follicular lymphoma in the United States
Authors: Nabhan Chadi , Byrtek Michelle , Rai Ashish , Dawson Keith , Zhou Xiaolei , Link Brian K. , Friedberg Jonathan W. , Zelenetz Andrew D. , Maurer Matthew J. , Cerhan James R. , Flowers Christopher R.
Published: April 2015

Data from the National LymphoCare Study (a prospective, multicentre registry that enrolled follicular lymphoma (FL) patients from 2004 to 2007) were used to determine disease characteristics, treatment patterns, outcomes and prognosis for elderly FL (eFL) patients. Of 2650 FL patients, 209 (8%) were aged >80 years; these eFL patients more commonly had grade 3 disease, less frequently received chemoimmunotherapy and anthracyclines, and had lower response rates when compared to younger patients. With a median follow‐up of 6.9 years, 5‐year overall survival (OS) for eFL patients was 59%; 38% of deaths were lymphoma‐related. No treatment produced superior OS among eFL patients. In multivariate Cox models, anaemia, B‐symptoms and male sex predicted worse OS (P < 0·01); a prognostic index of these factors (0, 1 or ≥2 present) predicted OS [hazard ratio (95% CI): ≥2 vs. 0, 4·72 (2·38–9·33); 1 vs. 0, 2·63 (1·39–4·98)], with a higher concordance index (0·63) versus the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (0·55). The index was validated in an independent cohort. In the largest prospective US‐based eFL cohort, no optimal therapy was identified and nearly 40% of deaths were lymphoma‐related, representing baseline outcomes in the modern era.
The ‘warm’ side of coldness: Cold promotes interpersonal warmth in negative contexts
Authors: Wei Wenqi , Ma Jingjing , Wang Lei
Published: April 2015

The concrete experience of physical warmth has been demonstrated to promote interpersonal warmth. This well‐documented link, however, tells only half of the story. In the current study, we thus examined whether physical coldness can also increase interpersonal warmth under certain circumstances. We conducted three experiments to demonstrate that the relationship between the experience of physical temperature and interpersonal outcomes is context dependent. Experiment 1 showed that participants touching cold (vs. warm) objects were more willing to forgive a peer's dishonest behaviour. Experiment 2 demonstrated the fully interactive effect of temperature and context on interpersonal warmth: Participants touching cold (vs. warm) objects were less likely to assist an individual who had provided them with good service (positive social context), but more likely to assist an individual who had provided them with poor service (negative social context). Experiment 3 replicated the results of Experiment 2 using the likelihood to complain, a hostility‐related indicator, as the dependent variable: In a pleasant queue (positive social context), participants touching cold objects were more likely to complain and those touching warm objects were less likely to complain compared with the control group. This pattern was reversed in an annoying queue (negative social context).
Dynasore enhances the formation of mitochondrial antiviral signalling aggregates and endocytosis‐independent NF‐κB activation
Authors: Ailenberg M , Di Ciano‐Oliveira C , Szaszi K , Dan Q , Rozycki M , Kapus A , Rotstein O D
Published: April 2015

Background and Purpose

Dynasore has been used extensively as an inhibitor of clathrin‐mediated endocytosis. While studying the role of endocytosis in LPS‐induced signalling events, we discovered that dynasore itself induced activation of NF‐κB, independently of its effects on endocytosis and without involving the Toll‐like receptor 4 signalling pathways. The purpose of this study was to characterize this novel effect and to explore the underlying mechanism of action.

Experimental Approach

We utilized gel electrophoresis, microscopy, gene knockdown and luciferase‐based promoter activity to evaluate the effect of dynasore on cell signalling pathways and to delineate the mechanisms involved in its effects,

Key Results

Dynasore activated the NF‐κB and IFN‐β pathways by activating mitochondrial antiviral signalling protein (MAVS). We showed that MAVS is activated by NOX/Rac and forms high molecular weight aggregates, similar to that observed in response to viral infection. We also demonstrated that dynasore‐induced activation of JNK occurs downstream of MAVS and is required for activation of NF‐κB and IFN‐β.

Conclusion and Implications

These findings demonstrate a novel effect of dynasore on cell signalling. We describe a novel Rac1‐, ROS‐ and MAVS‐mediated signalling cascade through which dynasore dramatically activates NF‐κB, mimicking the viral induction of this key inflammatory signalling pathway. Our results call attention to the need for a broader interpretation of results when dynasore is used in its traditional fashion as an inhibitor of clathrin‐mediated endocytosis. These results suggest the intriguing possibility that dynasore or one of its analogues might be of value as an antiviral therapeutic strategy or vaccine adjuvant.
Aldosterone down‐regulates the slowly activated delayed rectifier potassium current in adult guinea pig cardiomyocytes
Authors: Lv Yankun , Bai Song , Zhang Hua , Zhang Hongxue , Meng Jing , Li Li , Xu Yanfang
Published: April 2015

Background and Purpose

There is emerging evidence that the mineralocorticoid hormone aldosterone is associated with arrhythmias in cardiovascular disease. However, the effect of aldosterone on the slowly activated delayed rectifier potassium current (IKs) remains poorly understood. The present study was designed to investigate the modulation of IKs by aldosterone.

Experimental Approach

Adult guinea pigs were treated with aldosterone for 28 days via osmotic pumps. Standard glass microelectrode recordings and whole‐cell patch‐clamp techniques were used to record action potentials in papillary muscles and IKs in ventricular cardiomyocytes.

Key Results

The aldosterone‐treated animals exhibited a prolongation of the QT interval and action potential duration with a higher incidence of early afterdepolarizations. Patch‐clamp recordings showed a significant down‐regulation of IKs density in the ventricular myocytes of these treated animals. These aldosterone‐induced electrophysiological changes were fully prevented by a combined treatment with spironolactone, a mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonist. In addition, in in vitro cultured ventricular cardiomyocytes, treatment with aldosterone (sustained exposure for 24 h) decreased the IKs density in a concentration‐dependent manner. Furthermore, a significant corresponding reduction in the mRNA/protein expression of IKs channel pore and auxiliary subunits, KCNQ1 and KCNE1 was detected in ventricular tissue from the aldosterone‐treated animals.

Conclusions and Implications

Aldosterone down‐regulates IKs by inhibiting the expression of KCNQ1 and KCNE1, thus delaying the ventricular repolarization. These results provide new insights into the mechanism underlying K+ channel remodelling in heart disease and may explain the highly beneficial effects of MR antagonists in HF.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Chinese Innovation in Cardiovascular Drug Discovery. To view the other articles in this section visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.2015.172.issue-23
The effect of LKB1 on the PI3K/Akt pathway activation in association with PTEN and PIK3CA in HNC
Authors: Ekizoglu S. , Dogan S. , Ulker D. , Seven D. , Gozen E.D. , Karaman E. , Buyru N.
Published: April 2015

Objective

PI3K/Akt signalling pathway is frequently activated in several types of cancer. However, activator molecules have not been analysed systematically in HNSCC. The aim of this study was to investigate upstream activators and inhibitors of this pathway.

Design

Prospective study.

Setting

University hospital.

Participants

108 patients with HNC who were operated at the Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty, Department of Otorhinolaryngology.

Methods

Mutations in the coding exons and the flanking intronic sequences of the PIK3CA, PIK3R1 and AKT1 genes were analysed by direct sequencing. Expression levels in the tumours and non‐cancerous tissue samples were analysed by quantitative RT‐PCR, and Western blotting was performed to determine the phosphorylation levels of the Akt1 protein.

Results

Two synonymous alterations in exon 20 of the PIK3CA gene, a 6‐bp duplication in the coding region of the PIK3R1 and two different alterations in the non‐coding regions of the AKT1 and PIK3R1 genes were observed. Significant downregulation of LKB1 and PTEN mRNA expression levels were detected in tumour tissues compared to non‐cancerous tissues. However, we did not observe any difference between the PIK3CA and AKT1 mRNA expression levels in the tumours and non‐cancerous tissue samples. Akt1 phosphorylation was increased in 53.57% of the patients.

Conclusions

Our results indicate that the PI3K pathway has an important function in HNSCC progression with the contribution of more than one gene of this pathway. Our data suggest that in a high number of HNSCC tumours, PI3K/Akt signalling is activated by different molecules or by the combination of these molecules.
Tracking camera control in endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy surgery
Authors: Wawrzynski J.R. , Smith P. , Tang L. , Hoare T. , Caputo S. , Siddiqui A.A. , Tsatsos M. , Saleh G.M.
Published: April 2015

Objectives

Poor camera control during endoscopic dacryocystorhinostomy (EnDCR) surgery can cause inadequate visualisation of the anatomy and suboptimal surgical outcomes. This study investigates the feasibility of using computer vision tracking in EnDCR surgery as a potential formative feedback tool for the quality of endoscope control.

Design

A prospective cohort analysis was undertaken comparing junior versus senior surgeons performing routine EnDCR surgery. Computer vision tracking was applied to endoscopic video footage of the surgery: Total number of movements, camera path length in pixels and surgical time were determined for each procedure. A Mann–Whitney U‐test was used to test for a significant difference between juniors and seniors (P < 0.05).

Setting

Operating theatre.

Participants

Ten junior surgeons (<20 completed procedures) and 10 senior surgeons (>100 completed procedures).

Main outcome measures

Total number of movements of the endoscope per procedure. Path length of the endoscope per procedure.

Results

Twenty videos, 10 from junior surgeons and 10 from senior surgeons were analysed. Feasibility of our tracking system was demonstrated. Mean camera path lengths were significantly different at 119 329px (juniors) versus 43 697px (seniors), P ≪ 0.05. The mean number of movements was significantly different at 9134 (juniors) versus 3690 (seniors), P ≪ 0.05. These quantifiable differences demonstrate construct validity for computer vision endoscope tracking as a measure of surgical experience.

Conclusions

Computer vision tracking is a potentially useful structured and objective feedback tool to assist trainees in improving endoscope control. It enables juniors to examine how their pattern of endoscope control differs from that of seniors, focusing in particular on sections where they are most divergent.
Richness is not all: how changes in avian functional diversity reflect major landscape modification caused by pine plantations
Authors: Lindenmayer David , Blanchard Wade , Tennant Philip , Barton Philip , Ikin Karen , Mortelliti Alessio , Okada Sachiko , Crane Mason , Michael Damian
Published: April 2015

Aim

To quantify changes over a 15‐year period in bird functional diversity within woodland patches where woodland patches remained unchanged, but the surrounding landscape context has been altered by exotic plantation establishment.

Location

South‐eastern Australia.

Methods

Using statistical modelling and principal coordinate analysis, we explored how a suite of functional diversity measures, bird species richness and the composition of the bird assemblage changed over time and in response to key covariates, including time since plantation establishment, woodland patch size, number of woodland patch boundaries surrounded by plantation and woodland vegetation type.

Results

There was no significant change in species richness over time (with woodland patch size being the only significant effect on this measure). In contrast, we identified marked changes in the composition of bird assemblages, as well as significant temporal changes in functional diversity. The most substantial declines in functional diversity occurred in woodland patches completely surrounded by long‐established stands of radiata pine. Plantation age also affected the functional diversity of bird assemblages through attracting new (typically closed forest‐associated) species to the region. We also found reduced overlap in the amount of functional trait space defined by sets of species surveyed in successive years. This was linked to a shift away from solitary or pair‐forming species found in open‐woodland environments and which consume seeds and various other food resources, towards insectivorous, nectarivorous and closed forest‐associated taxa that occur in flocks or groups.

Main Conclusions

Examination of temporal changes in functional diversity added new insights into the biotic changes associated with landscape transformation and the functional role of species being replaced.
Use of paracetamol during pregnancy and child neurological development
Authors: de Fays Laurence , Van Malderen Karen , De Smet Karen , Sawchik Javier , Verlinden Veerle , Hamdani Jamila , Dogné Jean‐Michel , Dan Bernard
Published: April 2015

Paracetamol (acetaminophen) remains the first line for the treatment of pain and fever in pregnancy. Recently published epidemiological studies suggested a possible association between paracetamol exposure in utero and attention‐deficit–hyperactivity disorder/hyperkinetic disorder (ADHD/HKD) or adverse development issues in children. However, the effects observed are in the weak to moderate range, and limitations in the studies' design prevent inference on a causal association with ADHD/HKD or child neurological development. In parallel, recent animal data showed that cognition and behaviour may be altered following exposure to therapeutic doses of paracetamol during early development. These effects may be mediated by interference of paracetamol with brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, neurotransmitter systems (including serotonergic, dopaminergic, adrenergic, as well as the endogenous endocannabinoid systems), or cyclooxygenase‐2. However, no firm conclusion can be made on the relevance of these observations to humans. We conclude that additional well‐designed cohort studies are necessary to confirm or disprove the association. In the context of current knowledge, paracetamol is still to be considered safe in pregnancy and should remain the first‐line treatment for pain and fever.
Temporal dynamics of neural activity in motor execution and inhibition processing
Authors: Nakata Hiroki , Sakamoto Kiwako , Honda Yukiko , Kakigi Ryusuke
Published: April 2015

Although many neuroimaging studies using functional magnetic resonance imaging have shown the neuronal networks for motor execution and inhibition processing, the precise activation timing of each brain region is not yet well understood. In the present study, we investigated the temporal dynamics of neural activities in multiple brain regions using magnetoencephalography (MEG) and electroencephalography (EEG) simultaneously during somatosensory Go/No‐go paradigms. The results of MEG showed that neural activities in the bilateral premotor area at approximately 150 ms and in the primary motor cortex at approximately 250 ms were only detected in Go trials, while brain responses in the bilateral prefrontal cortex at approximately 170 ms were only observed in No‐go trials. In addition, the amplitudes of the N140 and P300 components in EEG was significantly larger in No‐go trials than in Go trials, and the latencies of N140 and P300 were significantly later in No‐go trials than in Go trials. Our results indicated the time courses of neural processing in response execution and inhibition processing, and revealed differences in their underlying neural mechanisms.
Selecting danger signals: dissociable roles of nucleus accumbens shell and core glutamate in predictive fear learning
Authors: Li Susan S. Y. , McNally Gavan P.
Published: April 2015

Conditioned stimuli (CSs) vary in their reliability as predictors of danger. Animals must therefore select among CSs those that are appropriate to enter into an association with the aversive unconditioned stimulus (US). The actions of prediction error instruct this stimulus selection so that when prediction error is large, attention to the CS is maintained and learning occurs but when prediction is small attention to the CS is withdrawn and learning is prevented. Here we studied the role of glutamate acting at rat nucleus accumbens shell (AcbSh) and core (AcbC) α‐amino‐3‐hydroxy‐5‐methyl‐4‐isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors in this selection of danger signals. Using associative blocking and unblocking designs in rats, we show that antagonizing AcbSh AMPA receptors via infusions of 2,3‐dihydroxy‐6‐nitro‐7‐sulphamoyl‐benzo[f]quinoxaline‐2,3‐dione (NBQX; 0.5 μg) prevents the unblocking of fear learning, whereas antagonizing AcbC AMPA receptors via infusions of NBQX (0.5 μg) prevents both the blocking and unblocking of fear learning. These results identify dissociable but complementary roles for AcbSh and AcbC glutamate acting at AMPA receptors in selecting danger signals: AcbSh AMPA receptors upregulate attention and learning to CSs that signal surprising USs, whereas AcbC AMPA receptors encode the predicted outcome of each trial.
Nitrogen addition and mowing affect microbial nitrogen transformations in a C4 grassland in northern China
Authors: Wang C. , Butterbach‐Bahl K. , He N. , Wang Q. , Xing X. , Han X.
Published: April 2015

Microbial nitrogen (N) transformations play a key role in regulating N cycling in grassland ecosystems. However, there is still little information on how management of semi‐arid grassland such as mowing and/or N fertilizer application affects microbial activity and N transformations. In a field experiment in northern China, N was added at a rate of 10 g N m−2 year−1 as NH4NO3 to mown and unmown plots (4 × 4 m2) and in situ rates of net ammonification (Ramm), nitrification (Rnit) and mineralization (Rmin) were followed at monthly intervals for the vegetation growth periods in the years 2006–2009. In addition, we also measured soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and nitrogen (MBN), microbial respiration (MR) and peak above‐ground biomass in August of each measurement year. Driven by the pronounced inter‐annual variability of rainfall, all the properties investigated varied markedly across years. Nevertheless, we were able to demonstrate that over the 4 years N addition significantly stimulated Rnit, Rmin and MBN, on average, by 288, 149 and 11.6%, respectively. However, N addition decreased MBC significantly as well as the ratio of MBC:MBN by, on average, 10 and 23%, respectively, whereas an effect of N addition on MR could not be demonstrated. Mowing decreased MBN, MR and qCO2 significantly by 9, 28 and 24%, respectively, but no effects were found on microbial net N transformation rates and MBC. N addition and mowing interactively affected Ramm and Rmin, and MBN, MBC:MBN. In summary, our results indicate a positive effect of N addition but a negative effect of mowing on microbial N transformation in this C4 grassland in northern China.
Intracerebral hemorrhage at young age: long‐term prognosis
Authors: Koivunen R.‐J. , Tatlisumak T. , Satopää J. , Niemelä M. , Putaala J.
Published: April 2015

Background and purpose

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a devastating disorder associated with dismal outcomes. The long‐term mortality and functional outcome of ICH in young patients was studied – areas so far poorly investigated.

Methods

A follow‐up study was performed on a cohort of patients. Clinical and imaging data on ICH patients aged 16–49 were retrospectively obtained and linked with a nationwide cause‐of‐death register. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was evaluated for 30‐day survivors at a visit 9.7 (7.0–12.0) years after ICH onset. Independent factors associated with mortality and unfavorable functional outcome (mRS 2–5) were sought by multivariate analysis.

Results

Amongst the 268 1‐month survivors, 1‐year survival was 98.1% [95% confidence interval (CI) 96.2%–100%], 5‐year survival 93.2% (89.3%–97.1%) and 10‐year survival 88.8% (84.9%–92.7%). After adjustment for age and intraventricular hematoma extension, male sex [odds ratio (OR) 3.36, 95% CI 1.28–8.80] and diabetes (OR 2.64, 1.01–6.89) were associated with increased mortality. Unfavorable functional outcome emerged in 49%. After adjustment for confounders, age (OR 1.09 per 1 year, 95% CI 1.03–1.15), initial stroke severity (1.17 per one National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score point, 1.08–1.27) and intraventricular hemorrhage (3.26, 1.11–9.55) were associated with unfavorable functional outcome.

Conclusions

Of every 10 survivors of acute phase ICH at a young age, one died within 10 years after onset, male sex and diabetes being associated with increased mortality. Half the survivors did not achieve a favorable functional outcome, which was predicted by increasing age, initial stroke severity and intraventricular hemorrhage.