bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Externalities and planning failure in the housing market of an African city
Authors: Akinbogun Solomon , Jones Colin
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Planning is logically applied to address negative externalities, but an alternative is financial compensation to the victim of negative spillover effects. This paper aims to examine the rent discount required to compensate tenants in an African city for a negative externality of the location of a grave within the bounds of their home. It also assesses the suitability of this as a remedy.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopts a discrete choice experiment to analyse tenants’ acceptability of the level of rent discounts when a grave is imposed on their home.

Findings

The study estimates that tenants in the Nigerian city of Akure require between 15 per cent and 20 per cent reduction in the rental value of a residential property to compensate for the imposition of a grave. However, many households would prefer to move elsewhere rather than negotiate a discount. Others, especially those on low incomes, were likely to suffer the loss of welfare without a rent discount. The study concludes that a compensatory approach is not an acceptable solution for welfare issues caused by the planning failure.

Research limitations/implications

The investigation is based on a hypothetical choice experiment. However, the results obtained are subject to a series of validation processes.

Practical implications

As reductions in the rent to compensate for the effect of a grave in a private home are unlikely in a market with excess demand, it is a clear argument for effective planning and environmental law.

Originality/value

This study is the first to assess the impact of negative externalities on the housing market of an African city.
Parental perspectives on video game genre preferences and motivations of children with Down syndrome
Authors: Prena Kelsey , Sherry John L.
Published: March 2018

Purpose

Video games have the potential to improve brain plasticity in people with Down syndrome. However, little has been done to understand video game preferences in this population. The purpose of this paper is to describe a brief exploration of video game preferences in children with Down syndrome.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey was used to collect information from parents of children with Down syndrome about their child’s favorite video games and why they like video games.

Findings

Children with Down syndrome, as reported by their parents, most frequently play action/adventure games, and have several motivating factors for game play including overcoming challenges to gain reward and having fun engaging in the game world.

Research limitations/implications

The current study only recruited from a small sample of the Down syndrome population and therefore may lack generalizability.

Practical implications

Gaining a better understanding of which aspects of video games appeal to children with Down syndrome. Knowing what they prefer will enable us to design games that are engaging and cognitively beneficial.

Originality/value

This paper proposes the importance of video game play to promote development in children with Down syndrome.
Service Logic Business Model Canvas
Authors: Ojasalo Jukka , Ojasalo Katri
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a service logic oriented framework for business model development. “Service logic” covers the basic principles of the three contemporary customer value focused business logics: service-dominant logic, service logic and customer-dominant logic.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on an empirical qualitative research and deployed the focus group method. The data are generated in a series of interactive co-creative focus group workshops involving both practitioners and academics.

Findings

As the outcome, a new tool was developed, called Service Logic Business Model Canvas. The new canvas is a modified version of the original Business Model Canvas (Osterwalder and Pigneur, 2010).

Research limitations/implications

This study adopts service logic in business model thinking and increases knowledge on how to keep the customer needs in the centre of business model development.

Practical implications

The developed canvas makes the theory of service-dominant logic tangible and easily applicable in practice. It enables service innovation truly based on customer value by ensuring that the customer is in the centre of all the elements of a business model. It can function both as a rapid prototype of a new business model and as a communication tool that quickly illustrates the company’s current business model. It can also help in creating a customer-centred business culture. It is designed to be applied to each customer profile separately, thus enabling a deeper understanding of the customer logic of each relevant profile.

Originality/value

Earlier business model frameworks tend to be provider-centric and goods-dominant, and require further development and adaptation to service logic. This study adopts service logic in business model thinking. It embeds the true and deep customer understanding and customer value in each element of the business model, and contributes to both business model and service-dominant logic literature.
Company social networks: customer communities or supplementary services?
Authors: Martins Carla , Patrício Lia
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to contribute to a better understanding of the antecedents and consequences of loyalty to consumer networks hosted by companies in the scope of social networking sites (SNS). These company social networks (CSNs) have traditionally been studied as online brand communities but more research is needed to understand their role for host companies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study identifies CSN performance dimensions (host reputation, informativeness, communication self-expressiveness, rewarding activity and consumption support) and analyzes how they influence attitudes and behavioral intentions toward CSNs (identification with the community, satisfaction and loyalty) and toward the host company (satisfaction and loyalty). A conceptual model is tested through a survey administered to members of a large grocery retailer CSN on Facebook.

Findings

Results show that all six identified performance dimensions significantly impact CSN loyalty. However, while self-expressiveness, communication and rewarding activity (which are closely related to social and hedonic value) are predictors of loyalty to the CSN, through the mediation of identification with the community, they neither indirectly (through the mediation of identification) nor directly impact satisfaction with the host. Conversely, informativeness, communication and host reputation are good predictors of loyalty to the CSN, through mediation of satisfaction with the CSN, and also exert an indirect positive influence on satisfaction with the host. Finally, consumption support positively influences loyalty to the CSN through the mediation of identification with the community and directly positively influences satisfaction with the host company.

Originality/value

These results reveal the dichotomous nature of CSNs, as communities of people with shared interests and supplementary services created by companies to add value to their core offering. While perceptions regarding the community facet are independent from attitude toward the host, perceptions regarding supplementary service are significant predictors of satisfaction with the host. These results offer implications for future research and management of companies’ social media presence.
The impact of corporate environmental reporting on customer-related performance and market value
Authors: Radhouane Ikram , Nekhili Mehdi , Nagati Haithem , Paché Gilles
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to illustrate the potential benefits for firms that report more on environmental activities, with regard to two important categories of stakeholders: shareholders and customers.

Design/methodology/approach

To avoid the endogeneity problem, the authors apply the system generalized method of moments approach by estimating the relationship between environmental reporting and firm performance with regard both to levels and first differences simultaneously.

Findings

Based on the 120 largest publicly traded companies in France from 2007 to 2011, results suggest that shareholders interpret and perceive firms’ environmental information disclosure differently than consumers. However, reporting on environmental duties is perceived favorably by both customers and shareholders for firms with better environmental performance. In the same way, an increase in the level of environmental reporting is valuable in terms of customer-related performance (i.e. sales growth and profit margin) and in terms of market value (i.e. Tobin’sq) for firms operating in customer proximity industries. In a supplementary analysis, the authors found that, for reporting on climate change (a component of the combined environmental reporting index), positive customer and shareholder perceptions are acquired in particular through superior environmental performance and proximity to the final customer.

Research limitations/implications

When reporting on their environmental duties, environmental performance and proximity to the final customers play a critical role for firms in obtaining the necessary support of key stakeholders.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to explore the difference between shareholders’ and customers’ perception of environmental reporting according to firms’ environmental performance and to their proximity to the final customer.
Higher expression of human telomerase reverse transcriptase in productively‐infected CD4 cells possibly indicates a mechanism for persistence of the virus in HIV infection
Authors: Suryawanshi Poonam , Godbole Sheela , Pawar Jyoti , Thakar Madhuri , Shete Ashwini
Published: March 2018

Mechanisms involved in survival of productively‐infected memory CD4+cells after initial antigenic stimulation and their subsequent reversion to the resting state are critical for the development of a predominant replication‐competent HIV reservoir. These mechanisms may also counter their elimination after HIV reactivation through latency‐reversing agents (LRA). Thus, their evaluation is critical when using an appropriate HIV latency model that recapitulates the predominant replication‐competent HIV reservoir to develop strategies for HIV eradication. The model for evaluating the possible survival mechanisms after T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation was developed by infecting memory CD4+cells with an HIV‐1C primary isolate and cytokine secretion and gene expression patterns determined. Infected cells showed compromised functionality as evident from 6.8‐fold lower secretion of IL‐2 than from uninfected control cells. After TCR stimulation, the infected cells showed significantly higher fold increases in CD27 and CCR5 and smaller increases in CD5 mRNA over baseline values. Because CD27 expression may influence telomerase activity through AKT phosphorylation, CD27, human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and pAKT expression in productively‐infected cells from HIV‐infected patients was evaluated by flow cytometry. HIV harbored in memory CD4+ cells was reactivated by HIV‐1 envelope peptides, which have been shown to act as effective LRA. P24+CD4+cell showed significantly higher expression of CD27, hTERT and pAKT than P24−CD4+cells. These findings indicate compromised functionality of HIV‐infected cells after TCR stimulation, which may interfere with their elimination by the immune system. They also indicate that pAKT and hTERT induction are possible survival mechanisms of productively‐infected CD4+cells.
Role of T‐bet, the master regulator of Th1 cells, in the cytotoxicity of murine CD4+ T cells
Authors: Eshima Koji , Misawa Kana , Ohashi Chihiro , Iwabuchi Kazuya
Published: March 2018

Although CD4+ T cells are generally regarded as helper T cells, some activated CD4+ T cells have cytotoxic properties. Given that CD4+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) often secrete IFN‐γ, CTL activity among CD4+ T cells may be attributable to Th1 cells, where a T‐box family molecule, T‐bet serves as the “master regulator”. However, although the essential contribution of T‐bet to expression of IFN‐γ has been well‐documented, it remains unclear whether T‐bet is involved in CD4+ T cell‐mediated cytotoxicity. In this study, to investigate the ability of T‐bet to confer cytolytic activity on CD4+ T cells, the T‐bet gene (Tbx21) was introduced into non‐cytocidal CD4+ T cell lines and their cytolytic function analyzed. Up‐regulation of FasL (CD178), which provided the transfectant with cytotoxicity, was observed in Tbx21transfected CD4+ T cells but not in untransfected parental cells. In one cell line, T‐bet transduction also induced perforin gene (Prf1) expression and Tbx21 transfectants efficiently killed Fas− target cells. Although T‐bet was found to repress up‐regulation of CD40L (CD154), which controls FasL‐mediated cytolysis, the extent of CD40L up‐regulation on in vitro‐differentiated Th1 cells was similar to that on Th2 cells, suggesting the existence of a compensatory mechanism. These results collectively indicate that T‐bet may be involved in the expression of genes, such as FasL and Prf1, which confer cytotoxicity on Th1 cells.
Evaluation of Enzymatically Modified Soy Protein Isolate Film Forming Solution and Film at Different Manufacturing Conditions
Authors: Mohammad Zadeh Elham , O'Keefe Sean F. , Kim Young‐Teck , Cho Jin‐Hun
Published: March 2018

The effects of transglutaminase on soy protein isolate (SPI) film forming solution and films were investigated by rheological behavior and physicochemical properties based on different manufacturing conditions (enzyme treatments, enzyme incubation times, and protein denaturation temperatures). Enzymatic crosslinking reaction and changes in molecular weight distribution were confirmed by viscosity measurement and SDS‐PAGE, respectively, compared to 2 controls: the nonenzyme treated and the deactivated enzyme treated. Films treated with both the enzyme and the deactivated enzyme showed significant increase in tensile strength (TS), percent elongation (%E), and initial contact angle of films compared to the nonenzyme control film due to the bulk stabilizers in the commercial enzyme. Water absorption property, protein solubility, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD) spectroscopy revealed that enzyme treated SPI film matrix in the molecular structure level, resulted in the changes in physicochemical properties. Based on our observation, the enzymatic treatment at appropriate conditions is a practical and feasible way to control the physical properties of protein based biopolymeric film for many different scientific and industrial areas.

Practical Application

Enzymes can make bridges selectively among different amino acids in the structure of protein matrix. Therefore, protein network is changed after enzyme treatment. The behavior of biopolymeric materials is dependent on the network structure to be suitable in different applications such as bioplastics applied in food and pharmaceutical products. In the current research, transglutaminase, as an enzyme, applied in soy protein matrix in different types of forms, activated and deactivated, and different preparation conditions to investigate its effects on different properties of the new bioplastic film.
Proanthocyanidin‐Rich Grape Seed Extract Modulates Intestinal Microbiota in Ovariectomized Mice
Authors: Jin Guangwen , Asou Yoshinori , Ishiyama Kirika , Okawa Atsushi , Kanno Taro , Niwano Yoshimi
Published: March 2018

Grape‐seed extract (GSE) is rich in proanthocyanidins (polymers of flavan‐3‐ols). GSE is well known to have various beneficial effects to health. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of dietary GSE on the intestinal microbiota in ovariectomized (OVX) mice as a model of menopause. Phylum‐level analyses using 16S rRNA‐targeted group‐specific polymerase‐chain reaction primers in fecal samples collected 8 weeks postoperatively from OVX mice revealed that the proportion of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes populations became imbalanced as compared with that in sham‐operated control mice. That is, the ratio of Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes populations in the OVX group were increased significantly. When OVX animals were given dietary GSE, the imbalanced proportion of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes populations was normalized to that seen in control mice. In addition, the body weight of OVX animals measured at 6 weeks postoperatively was significantly higher than that in sham‐operated control animals. Dietary GSE also prevented OVX animals from increasing body weight. Thus, we postulated that GSE can improve imbalanced populations of intestinal microbiota, leading to prevention of obesity under conditions of not only menopause but morbidity.

Practical Application

The GSE has a great potential to be a functional food to improve dysbiosis in post‐menopausal women.
Evaluation of Enterococcus faecium NRRL B‐2354 as a Surrogate for Salmonella During Extrusion of Low‐Moisture Food
Authors: Verma Tushar , Wei Xinyao , Lau Soon Kiat , Bianchini Andreia , Eskridge Kent M. , Subbiah Jeyamkondan
Published: March 2018

Salmonella in low‐moisture foods is an emerging challenge due to numerous food product recalls and foodborne illness outbreaks. Identification of suitable surrogate is critical for process validation at industry level due to implementation of new Food Safety Modernization Act of 2011. The objective of this study was to evaluate Enterococcus faecium NRRL B‐2354 as a surrogate for Salmonella during the extrusion of low‐moisture food. Oat flour, a low‐moisture food, was adjusted to different moisture (14% to 26% wet basis) and fat (5% to 15% w/w) contents and was inoculated with E. faecium NRRL B‐2354. Inoculated material was then extruded in a lab‐scale single‐screw extruder running at different screw speeds (75 to 225 rpm) and different temperatures (75, 85, and 95 °C). A split‐plot central composite 2nd order response surface design was used, with the central point replicated six times. The data from the selective media (m‐Enterococcus agar) was used to build the response surface model for inactivation of E. faecium NRRL B‐2354. Results indicated that E. faecium NRRL B‐2354 always had higher heat resistance compared to Salmonella at all conditions evaluated in this study. However, the patterns of contour plots showing the effect of various product and process parameters on inactivation of E. faecium NRRL B‐2354 was different from that of Salmonella. Although E. faecium NRRL B‐2354 may be an acceptable surrogate for extrusion of low‐moisture products due to higher resistance than Salmonella, another surrogate with similar inactivation behavior may be preferred and needs to be identified.

Practical Application

Food Safety Modernization Act requires the food industry to validate processing interventions. This study validated extrusion processing and demonstrated that E. faecium NRRL B‐2354 is an acceptable surrogate for extrusion of low‐moisture products. The developed response surface model allows the industry to identify process conditions to achieve a desired lethality for their products based on composition.
A global envelope test to detect non‐random bursts of trait evolution
Authors: Murrell David J.
Published: March 2018

The joint analysis of species’ evolutionary relatedness and their morphological evolution has offered much promise in understanding the processes that underpin the generation of biological diversity.

Disparity through time (DTT) is a popular method that estimates the relative trait disparity within and between subclades, and compares this to the null hypothesis that trait values follow Brownian evolution along the time‐calibrated phylogenetic tree. To visualise the differences a confidence envelope is normally created by calculating, at every time point, the 97.5% minimum and 97.5% maximum disparity values from multiple simulations of the null model. The null hypothesis is rejected whenever the empirical DTT curve falls outside of this envelope, and these time periods may then be linked to events that may have sparked non‐random trait evolution.

Here, simulated data are used to show this pointwise (ranking at each time point) method of envelope construction suffers from multiple testing and a poor, uncontrolled, false‐positive rate. As a consequence it cannot be recommended. Instead, each DTT curve can be given a single rank based upon their most extreme disparity value, relative to all other curves, and across all time points. Ordering curves this way leads to a test that avoids multiple testing, but still allows construction of a confidence envelope. The null hypothesis is rejected if the empirical DTT curve is ranked within the most extreme 5% ranked curves from the null model. Comparison of the rank envelope curve to the Morphological Disparity Index and Node Height tests shows it to have generally higher power to detect non‐Brownian trait evolution. An extension to allow simultaneous testing over multiple traits is also detailed.

Overall the results suggest the new rank envelope test should be used in null model testing for DTT analyses. The rank envelope method can easily be adapted into recently developed posterior predictive simulation methods used in model selection analyses. More generally, the rank envelope test should be adopted whenever a null model produces a vector of correlated values and the user wants to determine where the empirical data are different to the null model.
Accounting for differences in species frequency distributions when calculating beta diversity in the fossil record
Authors: Brocklehurst Neil , Day Michael O. , Fröbisch Jörg
Published: March 2018

Beta diversity is a measure of the taxonomic differentiation between habitats/localities within an assemblage, and is normally calculated as a set of pairwise taxonomic “distances” between the localities.

Due to incomplete sampling, beta diversity estimates for fossil assemblages will always be higher than the true value. However, the difference between the observed and true distances will vary greatly depending on differences in the shape of the relative abundance distribution.

Using simulations, it is shown that incomplete sampling of a homogenous fauna with more even relative abundances of taxa produces higher beta diversity than one with very few extremely common taxa.

A new procedure is proposed for calculating beta diversity in the fossil record, whereby the observed distances are compared to the distance obtained by randomly resampling a homogenous fauna with the same abundance distribution. This procedure is named Relative Abundance Corrected beta diversity. Simulations indicate that this method outperforms raw beta diversity estimates, providing beta diversity estimates closer to the true values even when the assumptions of the method are violated.

This method is applied to an empirical dataset: Permian–Triassic tetrapods from the Karoo Supergroup of South Africa. Increased provincialism is found across the Permian–Triassic boundary in contrast to uncorrected beta diversity patterns.
Stress ulcer prophylaxis in adult intensive care unit patients – a protocol for a systematic review
Authors: Barbateskovic M. , Marker S. , Jakobsen J. C. , Krag M. , Granholm A. , Anthon C. T. , Perner A. , Wetterslev J. , Møller M. H.
Published: March 2018

Background

In the intensive care unit (ICU), stress ulcer prophylaxis with proton pump inhibitors or histamine‐2‐receptor antagonists is standard of care although gastrointestinal bleeding remains uncommon. It remains unknown whether its use is associated with benefits or harms and the quality of evidence supporting the use of stress ulcer prophylaxis has been questioned. Accordingly, the objective of this systematic review was to critically assess the evidence from randomized clinical trials on the benefits and harms of stress ulcer prophylaxis vs. placebo or no prophylaxis in adult ICU patients.

Methods

We will systematically search for randomized clinical trials in major international databases. Two authors will independently screen and select trials for inclusion, extract data and assess the methodological quality using the Cochrane risk of bias tool. Any disagreement will be resolved by consensus. We will perform conventional meta‐analyses using Review Manager, and STATA 15, and we will assess the risk of random errors using Trial Sequential Analysis. Also, we will assess and report the overall quality of evidence for all outcomes according to GRADE.

Discussion

The evidence on the benefits and harms of stress ulcer prophylaxis in adult ICU patients is unclear and an updated systematic review is warranted as new trials have been published. To control risks of systematic and random errors, we will use Cochrane and GRADE methodology and Trial Sequential Analysis. Our ambition with this systematic review is to provide updated, reliable and precise data to better inform decision makers on the use of stress ulcer prophylaxis in adult ICU patients.
Preoperative vitamin D deficiency increases the risk of postoperative cognitive dysfunction: a predefined exploratory sub‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Y. , Shan G.‐J. , Zhang Y.‐X. , Cao S.‐J. , Zhu S.‐N. , Li H.‐J. , Ma D. , Wang D.‐X. ,   the First Study of Perioperative Organ Protection (SPOP1) Investigators
Published: March 2018

Background

Vitamin D is important for maintaining physiological functions including cognition and its deficiency is associated with the occurrence of cognitive impairment. This study was to explore the association between preoperative vitamin D status and the occurrence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) in elderly patients undergoing major surgery.

Methods

This was a predefined exploratory sub‐analysis of one‐centre data from a randomized controlled trial. In all, 123 elderly (≥ 65 years) patients who were scheduled to undergo major cancer surgery were recruited. Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentration was measured before surgery. In total, 59 nonsurgical control subjects with comparable age and education level were also enrolled. A battery of neuropsychological tests was administered the day before and the 7th day after surgery in patients or at the same time interval in control subjects. POCD was diagnosed according to the ISPOCD1 definition.

Results

71.5% (88/123) of elderly patients had vitamin D deficiency (serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D concentration < 12 ng/ml) before surgery; 24.4% (30/123) of them developed cognitive dysfunction at 1 week after surgery. After adjusting for confounding factors, high preoperative serum 25‐hydroxyvitamine D concentration was related to a decreased risk of POCD (odds ratio [OR]: 0.829, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.708–0.971; P = 0.020), whereas preoperative vitamin D deficiency was associated with an increased risk of POCD (OR: 8.427, 95% CI: 1.595–44.511; P = 0.012).

Conclusions

Vitamin D deficiency is prevalent in elderly patients undergoing major cancer surgery and increases the risk of early POCD development. Whether prophylactic vitamin D supplementation can reduce POCD in the elderly deserves further study.
Incidence and related factors for intraoperative failed spinal anaesthesia for lower limb arthroplasty
Authors: Aasvang E. K. , Laursen M. B. , Madsen J. , Krøigaard M. , Solgaard S. , Kjærsgaard‐Andersen P. , Mandøe H. , Hansen T. B. , Nielsen J. U. , Krarup N. , Skøtt A. E. , Kehlet H.
Published: March 2018

Background

Spinal anaesthesia is the preferred choice for total hip‐ and knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA), due to the claimed superior outcome profile, relative simple technique and without the need for advanced airway support. However, choosing and informing about spinal anaesthesia should also include the risk for intraoperative failed spinal anaesthesia with associated pain, discomfort and suboptimal settings for airway management. Small‐scale studies suggest incidences from 1 to 17%; however, no multi‐institutional large data exists on failed spinal incidence and related factors during THA/TKA, hindering evidence‐based information and potential anaesthesia stratification.

Methods

In a sub‐analysis, data from a prospective study on spinal anaesthesia for THA/TKA were examined for incidence of intraoperative conversion to general anaesthesia. Potential perioperative factors (age, gender, American Society of Anaesthesiologist (ASA) score, height, weight, BMI, procedure, bupivacaine dosage and duration of time from spinal administration until end of surgery) were analysed with logistic regression for relation to failed spinal anaesthesia.

Results

In all, 1451 patients were included for analysis, whereof 57 (3.9%) had failed spinal anaesthesia. Spinal failure patients were significantly younger (61 vs. 67 years, P = 0.003), and operation time longer in the failed spinal group vs no‐failure, respectively (133 vs. 89 min, P < 0.001). No significant differences were found with regard to bupivacaine volume, gender, ASA‐score, height, weight, BMI or THA vs. TKA.

Conclusion

Failed spinal anaesthesia for THA and TKA is a relatively frequent occurrence and identification of risk patients is not feasible. These results should be considered when choosing anaesthesia and included in the information to patients.
nNOS–CAPON interaction mediates amyloid‐β‐induced neurotoxicity, especially in the early stages
Authors: Zhang Yu , Zhu Zhu , Liang Hai‐Ying , Zhang Lei , Zhou Qi‐Gang , Ni Huan‐Yu , Luo Chun‐Xia , Zhu Dong‐Ya
Published: March 2018

In neurons, increased protein–protein interactions between neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) and its carboxy‐terminal PDZ ligand (CAPON) contribute to excitotoxicity and abnormal dendritic spine development, both of which are involved in the development of Alzheimer's disease. In models of Alzheimer's disease, increased nNOS–CAPON interaction was detected after treatment with amyloid‐β in vitro, and a similar change was found in the hippocampus of APP/PS1 mice (a transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease), compared with age‐matched background mice in vivo. After blocking the nNOS–CAPON interaction, memory was rescued in 4‐month‐old APP/PS1 mice, and dendritic impairments were ameliorated both in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, we demonstrated that S‐nitrosylation of Dexras1 and inhibition of the ERK–CREB–BDNF pathway might be downstream of the nNOS–CAPON interaction.
Sugarcane and Eucalyptus plantation equally limit the movement of two forest‐dependent understory bird species
Authors: Giubbina Marina Furlan , Martensen Alexandre Camargo , Ribeiro Milton Cezar
Published: March 2018

Habitat fragmentation results in landscape configuration, which affects the species that inhabit it. As a consequence, natural habitat is replaced by different anthropogenic plantation types (e.g. pasture, agriculture, forestry plantations and urban areas). Anthropogenic plantations are important for biodiversity maintenance because some species or functional groups can use it as a complementary habitat. However, depending on plantation permeability, it can act as a barrier to the movement of organisms between habitat patches, such as forest fragments, reducing functional connectivity for many species. Anthropogenic plantations are becoming the most common land use and cover type in the Anthropocene and biodiversity conservation in fragmented landscapes requires information on how different plantation types affect the capacity of the species to move through the landscape. In this study, we evaluated the influence of the type and structure of plantations on the movement of two forest‐dependent understory bird species – plain antvireo (Dysithamnus mentalis) and flavescent warbler (Myiothlyps flaveola) – within a highly fragmented landscape of Atlantic Forest hotspot. Knowing that forestry plantation is assumed to be more permeable to dependent forest bird species than open ones, we selected six study areas containing a forest fragment and surrounding plantation: three with sugarcane plantation and three with Eucalyptus sp. plantation. We used playback calls to stimulate the birds to leave forest fragments and traverse the plantations. Control trials were also carried out inside the forest fragments to compare the distances crossed. We observed that individuals moved longer distances inside forest than between plantation types, which demonstrate that plantations do constrict the movements of both species. The two plantation types equally impeded the movements of the species, suggesting the opposite of the general assumption that forestry plantations are more permeable. Our results indicate that, for generalist species, plantation type does not matter, but its presence negatively impacts movement of these bird species. We highlight that plantations have negative influences on the movements of common bird species, and discuss why this is important when setting conservation priorities.
The tripartite relationship between a bioturbator, mycorrhizal fungi, and a key Mediterranean forest tree
Authors: Tay Natasha E. , Hopkins Anna J. M. , Ruthrof Katinka X. , Burgess Treena , Hardy Giles E. StJ. , Fleming Patricia A.
Published: March 2018

Mycorrhizal fungi serve important functions in Australian ecosystems by forming mutualistic symbioses with plants that facilitate water and nutrient uptake. Scat analyses have shown that southern brown bandicoots (Isoodon obesulus fusciventer; ‘Quenda’) regularly feed on fungi, including ectomycorrhizal (ECM) species. Many of these ECM species are hypogeous and rely on mycophagous animals such as quenda to disperse their spores. We explored the tripartite relationship between a keystone Mediterranean tree, its associated mycorrhizal fungi, and a mammalian disperser. Wild‐collected quenda scats were used as a mycorrhizal inoculum to grow Eucalyptus gomphocephala from seeds under glasshouse conditions. Autoclaved scats were used as a negative‐control and sporocarp tissue from Pisolithus and Scleroderma ectomycorrhizal species were mixed together as a positive‐control inoculum. Seedlings were harvested at 10 weeks to assess seedling growth and early mycorrhizal colonization of roots by high‐throughput DNA sequencing. Quenda scat successfully introduced fungi to seedlings, shown by a 56% overlap of fungal operational taxonomic units (OTUs) detected in the scats and roots grown in fresh scat inoculum. Scat‐inoculated seedlings had richer root mycorrhiza fungal assemblages and a higher proportion of mycorrhizal taxa compared to negative‐ and positive‐controls. However, no difference in shoot or root mass in these young seedlings could be attributed to root fungi assemblages at this early growth stage, possibly reflecting that the role of mycorrhizae in these early seedlings was parasitic, rather than facilitatory. Our study has shown that spores of mycorrhizal fungi from the quenda scat inoculum can successfully germinate and colonize seedling roots after passage through the quenda gut.
An atypical clinical presentation of lichen planus pigmentosus with typical dermoscopic pattern
Authors: Gajjar Prachi C , Mehta Hita H , Nimbark Vivek , Jethwa Manisha
Published: March 2018

We report a rare and interesting case of a combined linear, Blaschkoid and zosteriform pattern of lichen planus pigmentosus. Dermoscopy showed discrete bluish‐grey dots, globules, blotches and rods against a brownish background. A skin biopsy confirmed the diagnosis from the presence of civatte bodies, melanin incontinence and band‐like inflammation.
Treatment of scalp dysesthesia utilising simple exercises and stretches: A pilot study
Authors: Laidler Nicholas K , Chan Jonathan
Published: March 2018

Background/Objectives

Scalp dysesthesia is characterised by abnormal cutaneous sensations such as burning, stinging or itching of the scalp in the absence of objective dermatological findings. We hypothesised that the unpleasant sensations are the result of a sensory neuropathy secondary to cervical spine dysfunction and chronic tension of the pericranial muscles. The aim of this pilot study was to evaluate the use of an exercise protocol consisting of cervical spine range of movement exercises, gentle mobilisation and muscle stretches over 4 weeks. The exercise protocol was designed to relieve cervical nerve compression through the restoration of cervical homeostasis.

Methods

In total, 16 participants, aged 18–71 (average 45 years), diagnosed with scalp dysesthesia were recruited from an outpatient dermatology clinic and given instructions on how to perform a specifically designed exercise protocol twice daily for 4 weeks. Baseline characteristics and a visual analogue scale (VAS) for pruritus were recorded prior to commencement and a VAS for pruritus recorded weekly thereafter.

Results

At week 4, 10 participants experienced a satisfactory reduction in their symptoms, four experienced complete resolution and two experienced no benefit, with no adverse effects reported. We conclude that a programme of simple exercises and stretches is an effective treatment for scalp dysesthesia.

Conclusions

This low‐risk treatment is easily implemented, non‐invasive and non‐pharmacological. Within the limits of this small pilot study, benefits are shown, and we believe further research is warranted.
Nitric oxide synthase and oxidative‐nitrosative stress play a key role in placental infection by Trypanosoma cruzi
Authors: Triquell María Fernanda , Díaz‐Luján Cintia , Romanini María Cristina , Ramirez Juan Carlos , Paglini‐Oliva Patricia , Schijman Alejandro Gabriel , Fretes Ricardo Emilio
Published: March 2018

Problem

The innate immune response of the placenta may participate in the congenital transmission of Chagas disease through releasing reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates.

Method of study

Placental explants were cultured with 1 × 106 and 1 × 105 trypomastigotes of Tulahuen and Lucky strains and controls without parasites, and with the addition of nitric oxide synthase inhibitor Nω‐Nitro‐l‐arginine methyl ester (l‐NAME) and N‐acetyl cysteine (NAC) as the reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger. Detachment of the syncytiotrophoblast (STB) was examined by histological analysis, and the nitric oxide synthase, endothelial (eNOS), and nitrotyrosine expressions were analyzed by immunohistochemistry, as well as the human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG) levels in the culture supernatant through ELISA assays. Parasite load with qPCR using Taqman primers was quantified.

Results

The higher number of T. cruzi (106) increased placental infection, eNOS expression, nitrosative stress, and STB detachment, with the placental barrier being injured by oxidative stress.

Conclusion

The higher number of parasites caused deleterious consequences to the placental barrier, and the inhibitors (l‐NAME and NAC) prevented the damage caused by trypomastigotes in placental villi but not that of the infection. Moreover, trophoblast eNOS played a key role in placental infection with the highest inoculum of Lucky, demonstrating the importance of the enzyme and nitrosative‐oxidative stress in Chagas congenital transmission.
An assessment of the tolerability of the Cook staged extubation wire in patients with known or suspected difficult airways extubated in intensive care
Authors: McManus S. , Jones L. , Anstey C. , Senthuran S.
Published: March 2018

The Cook staged extubation set (Cook Medical) has been developed to facilitate management of the difficult airway. A guidewire inserted before tracheal extubation provides access to the subglottic airway should re‐intubation be required. This prospective cohort study examines patients’ tolerance of the guidewire and its impact on clinical status around tracheal extubation in the intensive care unit. Vital signs, incidence of symptoms and patient tolerance of the wire were recorded. Twenty‐three patients were enrolled and 17 (73%) tolerated the wire for 4 h. Nasendoscopy was performed in 11 of these patients and revealed one wire was in the oesophagus. The most common symptom was a mild intermittent cough in 13 patients. There was no impact of the guidewire on nursing care in 16 patients, tolerable impact in five and severe impact necessitating removal of the wire in one patient.
Ethnic group returns to education during the early post‐colonial period in Malaysia
Authors: Shahiri Hazrul , Park Kihong
Published: March 2018

The paper examines the returns to education for ethnic groups in the Malaysian labour market during the early 1960s' post‐colonial period. The analysis is based on data from the West Malaysia Family Survey of 1966–67. It is found that individual returns to education were positive during the period examined. However, the returns to education of particular ethnic groups differed. The findings suggest that ‘equal education for all’ does not guarantee that each ethnic group will receive equal wages unless there are other interventions in the labour market.
Oleuropein, a component of extra virgin olive oil, lowers postprandial glycaemia in healthy subjects
Authors: Carnevale Roberto , Silvestri Romano , Loffredo Lorenzo , Novo Marta , Cammisotto Vittoria , Castellani Valentina , Bartimoccia Simona , Nocella Cristina , Violi Francesco
Published: March 2018

Aims

Extra virgin olive oil lowers postprandial glycaemia. We investigated if oleuropein, a component of extra virgin olive oil, exerts a similar effect on postprandial glycaemia and the underlying mechanism.

Methods

Twenty healthy subjects were randomly allocated in a cross‐over design to 20 mg oleuropein or placebo immediately before lunch. Postprandial glycaemia along with blood insulin, dipeptidyl‐peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4) and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 and oxidative stress, which included soluble NADPH oxidase‐derived peptide activity (sNox2‐dp), 8‐iso‐prostaglandin‐2α and platelet p47phox phosphorylation, were analysed before and 2 h after meal.

Results

After 2 h, subjects who assumed oleuropein had significantly lower blood glucose, DPP‐4 activity and higher insulin and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 compared to placebo. Furthermore, sNox2‐dp, 8‐iso‐PGF2α and platelet p47phox phosphorylation were significantly lower in oleuropein‐ compared to placebo‐treated subjects. DPP‐4 significantly correlated with sNox2‐dp [Spearman's rho (Rs) = 0.615; P < 0.001], p47phox phosphorylation (Rs = 0.435; P < 0.05) and 8‐iso‐ prostaglandin‐2α (Rs = 0.33; P < 0.05). In vitro study demonstrated that hydroxytyrosol, a metabolite of oleuropein, significantly reduced p47phox phosphorylation and isoprostane formation.

Conclusions

These findings indicate that oleuropein improves postprandial glycaemic profile via hampering Nox2‐derived oxidative stress.
Genes involved in stress response influence lithium efficacy in bipolar patients
Authors: Szczepankiewicz Aleksandra , Narozna Beata , Rybakowski Janusz K , Kliwicki Sebastian , Czerski Piotr , Dmitrzak‐Węglarz Monika , Skibińska Maria , Twarowska‐Hauser Joanna , Pawlak Joanna
Published: March 2018

Objectives

In mood disorders, chronic stimulation with stress results in aberrant regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. Lithium was shown to influence HPA axis function. The underlying genetic background as well as environmental context may influence the stress response, and therefore lithium efficacy. The aim of the present study was to analyze if genetic variants located in genes involved in HPA axis regulation affect the response to long‐term lithium treatment in bipolar patients.

Methods

We included 93 patients with bipolar disorder (32 males and 61 females), aged 31–80 years. The patients had been treated with lithium carbonate for at least 5 years. The magnitude of the lithium response was assessed using the Alda scale. Genotyping was performed for 28 polymorphisms in the genes encoding the following proteins involved in HPA axis regulation: corticotropin‐releasing hormone receptor 1 (CRHR1), arginine vasopressin receptor 1B (AVPR1b), FK506 binding protein (FKBP) 5, FKBP4, BCL2‐associated athanogene 1 (BAG1), stress induced phosphoprotein 1 (STIP1), glucocorticoid‐induced transcript 1 (GLCC1), dual specificity phosphatase 1 (DUSP1) serine and arginine rich splicing factor (SRSF) 3, SRSF9, SRSF5, and acid phosphatase 1 (ACP1). Linkage disequilibrium and haplotype analysis were then performed, followed by statistical analysis (Statistica v.12; Stasoft, Krakow, Poland).

Results

We found a correlation between stressful life events at first episode and worse response to lithium (P=.019). In single marker analysis, we observed a significant association between three FKBP5 polymorphisms (rs1360780, rs7748266 and rs9296158), one ACP1 variant (rs300774) and one glucocorticoid‐induced transcript 1 gene (GLCC1) variant (rs37972) and the degree of lithium response. Five out of seven FKBP5 polymorphisms showed strong linkage with one haplotype demonstrating an association with lithium efficacy (P=.008). No relationship was found between the other analyzed polymorphisms and lithium response.

Conclusion

The response to lithium may depend on the variants of genes regulating the HPA axis and stressful life events in bipolar patients.
Psychoeducation for psychiatric inpatients following remission of a manic episode in bipolar I disorder: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chen Runsen , Zhu Xuequan , Capitão Liliana P , Zhang Huijun , Luo Jiong , Wang Xue , Xi Yingjun , Song Xiuping , Feng Yancun , Cao Liuzhong , Malhi Gin S
Published: March 2018

Objective

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of psychoeducation for bipolar I inpatients following remission of a manic episode in a Chinese population.

Method

The study recruited currently medicated bipolar I patients, aged 18–60 years, who were in remission from a manic episode, as determined using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Fifth Edition (DSM‐5). Patients were randomized (1:1) to either eight sessions of group‐based psychoeducation (active treatment group) or regular free discussions (control group). The primary outcomes were the rates of any type of recurrence and rehospitalization following treatment. The secondary outcomes were changes in mood symptoms, medication adherence, global functioning, as well as treatment response (as measured using the Clinical Global Impression scale). Subjects were assessed at baseline and then at 2 weeks, and 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 12 months following treatment.

Results

At 1 year, patients receiving the psychoeducation treatment demonstrated significantly less recurrence. Those in the treatment group also showed a significant reduction in mania recurrence but not depressive recurrence, and psychoeducation increased time to remission. Notably, lower rates of rehospitalization were found in the active treatment group. Those receiving the psychoeducation treatment also revealed higher change from baseline on measures of depression (17‐item Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression), mania (Young Mania Rating Scale), global functioning (Clinical Global Impression–severity scale and World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule) (P<.05). However, there were no significant group differences for the medication adherence scores.

Conclusion

This preliminary evidence suggests that short, group‐based psychoeducation benefits currently medicated inpatients following the remission of mania in bipolar I disorder. This intervention warrants further investigation, especially in other Chinese populations. If future studies confirm its benefits, group‐based psychoeducation could be incorporated into routine psychiatric inpatient care for bipolar patients in China.