bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dimensions and triggers of memorable tourism experiences: evidence from Italian social enterprises
Authors: Castellani Paola , Bonfanti Angelo , Canestrino Rossella , Magliocca Pierpaolo
Published: May 2020

Purpose

This paper explores the dimensions and triggers of memorable tourism experiences (MTEs) from the service provider perspective. Specifically, it focuses on MTEs offered by tourism social enterprises (TSEs) in Italian tourist destinations that are growing in popularity.

Design/methodology/approach

This study adopted a qualitative approach using Gioia methodology. After a preliminary email survey, data were collected from Italian TSEs using semi-structured interviews.

Findings

MTE dimensions include hedonism, novelty, refreshment, local culture, meaningfulness, knowledge, involvement, surprise and servicescape, while its triggers relate to TSE characteristics – value proposition (authenticity and unconventionality), value constellation (relationships with local communities and public and private institutions) and social and economic profit (generation of revenue, strengthening of business and new employment opportunities). Using these results, this study proposes a model for TSEs to create MTEs.

Research limitations/implications

This study advances the MTE research in relation to TSEs, a specific category of tourism company that plays an essential role in contemporary tourism.

Practical implications

This study makes recommendations to TSE managers on how to create and effectively manage MTEs to ensure survival and competition in the global market.

Social implications

This analysis highlights that TSEs contribute to improving the social conditions of little-known areas through the development of inclusive social projects and the creation of new job opportunities.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first study to examine MTEs from the TSE service provider perspective.
Alignment of tourism investment to the SDGs in Jamaica: an exploratory study
Authors: Spencer Andrew J. , McBean Larisa M.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to ascertain the level of alignment of tourism investment in Jamaica with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and their economic, social, cultural and environmental impacts on the country.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is interpretive, combining both quantitative and qualitative research methods. This comprises primary data; collected from interviews of tourism policy makers and experts; and analysis of secondary research data on tourism investments made by government agencies and other organizations that generate and/or provide official statistical data. Interviews are conducted in a semi-structured, open-ended format that enable respondents to provide insights and expound on ideas shared.

Findings

The findings reveal that some SDGs have greater alignment with some of the targets of the SDGs than others. The results proffer a possible reason for this; this could be owing to the priorities of the Ministry of Tourism as it relates to investment in tourism development – investment in improved infrastructure is high on the priority of the Ministry, and therefore reflects better alignment to SDG 9, which relates to infrastructure.

Research limitations/implications

This study provides a backdrop from which to assess Jamaica’s investment activities in furtherance of inclusive and sustainable tourism. The findings also inform decision makers – whether they continue on the current trajectory, or in facilitating adjustments to enable tourism investments to better align with the SDGs. The main limitation lies in the fact that the research findings may only be transferable and generalized to the extent that other jurisdictions bear similar macroeconomic characteristics to Jamaica.

Practical implications

This study lends itself to opportunities for future research in other similar small island developing states. It also contributes to the body of knowledge on investments that work to further the aims of the SDGs and provides a base from which to conduct further research.

Social implications

The social implications of tourism investment closely align with SDGs including tourism that is more inclusive and sustainable; that reduces income inequalities; that is beneficial to all Jamaicans, whether directly or indirectly; and that contributes to the development of human capital.

Originality/value

This study evaluates investment alignment with the SDGs in relation to Destination Jamaica. No previous work has been done to explore this relationship; hence, this research is pivotal in informing decision makers and continuing research in this area.
Data‐driven retrieval of primary plane‐wave responses
Authors: Meles Giovanni Angelo , Zhang Lele , Thorbecke Jan , Wapenaar Kees , Slob Evert
Published: May 2020

Seismic images provided by reverse time migration can be contaminated by artefacts associated with the migration of multiples. Multiples can corrupt seismic images, producing both false positives, that is by focusing energy at unphysical interfaces, and false negatives, that is by destructively interfering with primaries. Multiple prediction/primary synthesis methods are usually designed to operate on point source gathers and can therefore be computationally demanding when large problems are considered. A computationally attractive scheme that operates on plane‐wave datasets is derived by adapting a data‐driven point source gathers method, based on convolutions and cross‐correlations of the reflection response with itself, to include plane‐wave concepts. As a result, the presented algorithm allows fully data‐driven synthesis of primary reflections associated with plane‐wave source responses. Once primary plane‐wave responses are estimated, they are used for multiple‐free imaging via plane‐wave reverse time migration. Numerical tests of increasing complexity demonstrate the potential of the proposed algorithm to produce multiple‐free images from only a small number of plane‐wave datasets.
Teaching, Freedom and the Human Individual
Authors: Rödl Sebastian
Published: May 2020

The essay represents teaching as the coming to be of the human individual. In order to do so, it reflects on the character of human life by which it is knowledge of itself. Being knowledge of itself, human life is self-determining or free. Therefore generality and particularity come together in the human being in a distinctive way: a human being is not an exemplar, instance or specimen of a species, nature or life-form. Rather, she is her own principle. This is captured in the idea of the human being as an individual. The essay reveals teaching to be the form of coming to be which is proper to what is an individual in this sense. In this way, the essay shows teaching to be internal to human freedom.
Executive functioning and word reading in Hong Kong Chinese children: A 1‐year longitudinal perspective
Authors: Fung Wing Kai , Chung Kevin Kien Hoa , Lam Chun Bun
Published: May 2020

This study examined the bidirectionality between kindergarten children's executive functioning (EF) and word reading across two time points. Participants were 523 Hong Kong Chinese‐speaking children (mean age at Time 2 = 64.59 months; 52.9% male) and their parents. At Time 1, children were administered the measures of EF skills: inhibitory control, attention shifting, working memory and Chinese word reading. They were reassessed with these measures at Time 2 one year later. Results from the cross‐lagged panel model revealed that, controlling for child age, gender and parental education levels, children's word reading at Time 1 was significantly predictive of their working memory at Time 2, but that the three EF skills at Time 1 were not predictive of word reading at Time 2. These findings underscored the role of early word reading in promoting children's working memory.
All morphemes are not the same: accuracy and response times in a lexical decision task differentiate types of morphemes
Authors: Coch Donna , Hua Jianjun , Landers‐Nelson Allison
Published: May 2020

Background

Evidence indicates that fluent readers automatically decompose morphologically complex words. However, few studies have directly compared processing of stimuli comprising different types of morphemes, particularly bound and free morphemes.

Methods

Eighty fluently reading young adults participated in a lexical decision task with word and nonword stimuli composed purely of bound stem (e.g. discern, predict; disject, percern) or free (e.g. cobweb, earring; cobline, bobweb) morphemes, along with comparison control stimuli (e.g. garlic, minnow; gartus, buzlic). We used both traditional analyses of variance and modern mixed‐effect modelling to investigate morphological effects on accuracy and response times for words and nonwords.

Results

In both ANOVAs and mixed‐effect analyses, bound stem words were responded to more quickly and accurately than free morpheme words, indicating that behavioural responses in a lexical decision task can differentiate between types of morphemes. Moreover, in mixed‐effect analyses, accuracy and response times were similar for bound stem words and control words. In contrast, in the mixed‐effect analyses, accuracy was worse, and response times were longer for both bound stem and free morpheme nonwords as compared with control nonwords, but accuracy and response times were similar for bound stem and free morpheme nonwords.

Conclusions

That it was easier to process words composed of bound stem morphemes, as compared with free morphemes, indicates that all morphemes are not processed similarly. That this pattern of results for word stimuli was not seen with nonword stimuli suggests that the processing advantages for bound stem words are related to the semantic familiarity of real words. Overall, these findings have implications for learning and teaching morphology.
Nursing Diagnosis Risk for Unstable Blood Glucose Level in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Nemer Amanda Peixoto Lima , Cavalcante Tahissa Frota , Moreira Rafaella Pessoa , de Araújo Thelma Leite , Ferreira José Erivelton de Sousa Maciel , de Oliveira Lídia Rocha
Published: May 2020

AIM

To validate the nursing diagnosis risk for unstable blood glucose level in adult/elderly patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

METHOD

Study Methodological was used in this article. The validation process was carried out using the model proposed by Hoskins (1989).

RESULTS

The risk factors ineffective medication management and high carbohydrate and lipid food intake achieved a concordance index greater than 85%.

CONCLUSION

This study contributed to the identification of new risk factors, at risk populations, and important associated conditions.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

It is believed that the findings reported in this paper can be used to improve clinical protocols for the prevention of unstable blood glucose, in addition to contributions to the advancement of nursing science.
The plant pathogen Rhodococcus fascians. History, disease symptomatology, host range, pathogenesis and plant–pathogen interaction
Authors: Dhaouadi Sabrine , A. H Mougou , Rhouma Ali
Published: May 2020

Since 1927, outbreaks of the leafy gall disease caused by Rhodococcus fascians on annual and perennial herbaceous plants have put the ornamental plant industry at risk. More recently, Pistachio Bushy top syndrome (PBTS), a serious disease emerging in the Western United States, has been declared as a natural disaster by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Recent developments indicate that the taxonomic position of R. fascians should be re‐evaluated and circumscribed from other members of the genus. Due to the broad host range of this bacterium, economically important crops are in a vulnerable position especially with new members within the genus becoming able to interact synergistically with R. fascians to cause symptom development. The virulence strategies employed by R. fascians and the involvement of cytokinins (CKs) in its pathogenicity have been the subject of much controversy in the last years. Additionally, the detection of virulent strains of R. fascians from symptomatic tissues has been problematic for many researchers. This review focuses on plant–pathogen interaction in context with more recent findings on the association of CKs in virulence of R. fascians. Current knowledge on the worldwide distribution of the pathogen, a historical recap of its discovery and the economic impact of the disease caused by R. fascians are also described here.
SARS‐CoV‐2, testosterone and frailty in males (PROTEGGIMI): A multidimensional research project
Authors: Salonia Andrea , Corona Giovanni , Giwercman Aleksander , Maggi Mario , Minhas Suks , Nappi Rossella E. , Sofikitis Nikolaos , Vignozzi Linda
Published: May 2020

Preliminary published data depict a much greater prevalence of males with laboratory‐confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) referred for intensive care unit admission and severe sequelae in several countries. In this context, males seem to not only be more susceptible to the infection compared to female subjects, at least in Western countries, but their case fatality rate attributable to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection is also highest. Therefore, we may speculate that the different hormonal milieu could have a more profound pathophysiological role in association with SARS‐CoV‐2, with endogenous testosterone leaving men more prone to develop more serious complications related to the SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. Another option is that SARS‐CoV‐2 infection per se causes an acute stage of male hypogonadism, the depletion of androgenic action triggering serious or an even fatal course of the disease. Therefore, we strongly advocate the development of a prospective multidimensional andrological translational research project in men, which we called the PROTEGGIMI study. In this Opinion Article, we will not only highlight novel research activity in this area but also invite other researchers and learned scientific societies to join us in our efforts to understand an important and very newly discovered gap in knowledge, which may have serious implications for the lives of millions of men.
Social support facilitates physical activity by reducing pain
Authors: Stevens Mark , Cruwys Tegan , Murray Kristen
Published: May 2020

Objectives

The link between social support and physical activity has primarily been examined cross‐sectionally, with a focus on the direct association between the two variables. In a distinct body of work, there has been growing interest in the role of social support in reducing pain (emotional and physical). We examined the relationship between social support and physical activity over time. We further examined whether reduced pain mediates the relationship between social support and physical activity.

Design

Data were drawn from Waves 15, 16, and 17 of the Household Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey.

Methods

Mediation models were used to test our hypotheses in (a) a representative sample of 12,517 people residing in Australia, and (b) a subsample of 927 people with a condition that causes chronic or recurring pain.

Results

Social support was a weak predictor of subsequent physical activity in both the full sample and the subsample of people with a condition that causes chronic or recurring pain. However, in both samples, mediation analyses demonstrated a significant indirect effect of social support on physical activity through reduced pain.

Conclusions

One pathway through which social support impacts physical activity is by reducing peoples’ pain. Increasing and strengthening peoples’ social support networks may confer benefits for their physical activity levels, including among those whose physical activity is limited by pain.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Social support can have a positive effect on health behaviours, including physical activity.

There is somewhat inconsistent evidence for a positive direct relationship between social support and physical activity.

Pain can be a barrier to physical activity, but may be attenuated by social support.

What does this study add?

Social support affected physical activity indirectly by reducing peoples’ pain.

This was true for both the general population and a subsample with a chronic pain condition.

Improving peoples’ social support networks may confer benefits for their physical activity.
Sediment dispersal and redistributive processes in axial and transverse deep‐time source‐to‐sink systems of marine rift basins: Dampier Sub‐basin, Northwest Shelf, Australia
Authors: Chen Hehe , Wood Lesli J. , Gawthorpe Robert L.
Published: May 2020

Morphological scaling relationships between source‐to‐sink segments have been widely explored in modern settings, however, deep‐time systems remain difficult to assess due to limited preservation of drainage basins and difficulty in quantifying complex processes that impact sediment dispersals. Integration of core, well‐logs and 3‐D seismic data across the Dampier Sub‐basin, Northwest Shelf of Australia, enables a complete deep‐time source‐to‐sink study from the footwall (Rankin Platform) catchment to the hanging wall (Kendrew Trough) depositional systems in a Jurassic late syn‐rift succession. Hydrological analysis identifies 24 drainage basins on the J50.0 (Tithonian) erosional surface, which are delimited into six drainage domains confined by NNE‐SSW trending grabens and their horsts, with drainage domain areas ranging between 29 and 156 km2. Drainage outlets of these drainage domains are well preserved along the Rankin Fault System scarp, with cross‐sectional areas ranging from 0.08 to 0.31 km2. Corresponding to the six drainage domains, sedimentological and geomorphological analysis identifies six transverse submarine fan complexes developing in the Kendrew Trough, ranging in areas from 43 to 193 km2. Seismic geomorphological analysis reveals over 90‐km‐long, slightly sinuous axial turbidity channels, developing in the lower topography of the Kendrew Trough which erodes toe parts of transverse submarine fan complexes. Positive scaling relationships exist between drainage outlet spacing and drainage basin length, and drainage outlet cross‐sectional area and drainage basin area, which indicates the geometry of drainage outlets can provide important constraints on source area dimensions in deep‐time source‐to‐sink studies. The broadly negative bias of fan area to drainage basin area ratios indicates net sediment losses in submarine fan complexes caused by axial turbidity current erosion. Source‐to‐sink sediment balance studies must be done with full evaluating of adjacent source‐to‐sink systems to delineate fans and their associated up‐dip drainages, to achieve an accurate tectonic and sedimentologic picture of deep‐time basins.
Housing Outcomes in Turkey: How Do Middle–Income Households Fare?
Authors: Friedman Samantha , Kurtulus Aysenur , Koc Ismet
Published: May 2020

Despite the doubling in size of the middle class and the significant housing increase in Turkey, little research has examined housing outcomes of middle–income households, particularly relative to affluent households. The housing increase and 2007 Mortgage Law could have reduced housing differences between middle–income and affluent households, but the rise in gated communities could have increased these differences. Using data from Turkey's 2012 Household and Budget Survey, we find that middle–income households are significantly less likely than affluent households to own their homes and live in larger homes, and among owner–occupiers, in homes of higher value. Less pronounced differences are found in their residence in newer homes. Fewer differences in housing outcomes exist between middle– and lower–income households, particularly among owner–occupiers. These results suggest that the most affluent households, rather than the poorest households, are likely isolating themselves from other households, thereby affecting the future well–being of middle–income households.
Sequential Presentation Protects Working Memory From Catastrophic Interference
Authors: Endress Ansgar D. , Szabó Szilárd
Published: May 2020

Neural network models of memory are notorious for catastrophic interference: Old items are forgotten as new items are memorized (French, 1999; McCloskey & Cohen, 1989). While working memory (WM) in human adults shows severe capacity limitations, these capacity limitations do not reflect neural network style catastrophic interference. However, our ability to quickly apprehend the numerosity of small sets of objects (i.e., subitizing) does show catastrophic capacity limitations, and this subitizing capacity and WM might reflect a common capacity. Accordingly, computational investigations (Knops, Piazza, Sengupta, Eger & Melcher, 2014; Sengupta, Surampudi & Melcher, 2014) suggest that mutual inhibition among neurons can explain both kinds of capacity limitations as well as why our ability to estimate the numerosity of larger sets is limited according to a Weber ratio signature. Based on simulations with a saliency map‐like network and mathematical proofs, we provide three results. First, mutual inhibition among neurons leads to catastrophic interference when items are presented simultaneously. The network can remember a limited number of items, but when more items are presented, the network forgets all of them. Second, if memory items are presented sequentially rather than simultaneously, the network remembers the most recent items rather than forgetting all of them. Hence, the tendency in WM tasks to sequentially attend even to simultaneously presented items might not only reflect attentional limitations, but also an adaptive strategy to avoid catastrophic interference. Third, the mean activation level in the network can be used to estimate the number of items in small sets, but it does not accurately reflect the number of items in larger sets. Rather, we suggest that the Weber ratio signature of large number discrimination emerges naturally from the interaction between the limited precision of a numeric estimation system and a multiplicative gain control mechanism.
Automatic traditional Chinese painting classification: A benchmarking analysis
Authors: Liong Sze‐Teng , Huang Yen‐Chang , Li Shumeng , Huang Zhongkai , Ma Jingyang , Gan Yee Siang
Published: May 2020

In the recent years, there is a growing trend toward digitization of cultural heritage for better accessibility and preservation. For instance, the development of image processing techniques in traditional Chinese painting (TCP) has begun to attract researchers' attention in the computer vision field. TCP is one of the representative of Chinese traditional arts. Evidenced by the successes of development in image processing techniques in various applications, this article aim to apply the deep learning approach on TCP for several purposes, which include automatic establishment of unified image library, facilitating update‐to‐date data in the database, reduction of cost required for image classification and retrieval. First, a unified database is established, that consists of more than a thousand of images from six major TCP themes. Then, several deep learning algorithms that are based on mathematical models are applied to examine the classification performance. In addition, the salient regions that denote significant features are identified, by adopting the instance segmentation technique. As a result, the modified pretrained neural network is capable to achieve 99.66% recognition accuracy. Qualitative results are also presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. We also note that this is the first work that performs multiclass classification on six categories in this domain. Furthermore, a 10‐class classification result of 96% is obtained when performing on one of the painting types, namely, ghost‐and‐god.
Novel delayed‐cure, durable press, shrink‐resist treatment of wool fabrics and garments
Authors: Kistamah Naraindra , Carr Chris M.
Published: May 2020

The relatively high heat stability of commercial easy‐care chemicals for cotton allows for greater flexibility in garment manufacturing, in particular the delayed curing of durable press, wrinkle‐resistant, shrink‐resist (SR) finishes on garments. Typically, the technology involves application of the wet chemical finish to the open width fabric, drying, storage, garment manufacture, heat pressing of the creases/pleats, and lastly garment baking to fully cure the durable press/crease‐resistant/SR finish. By contrast, for the wool industry, there is no comparable technology, and this presents an obvious commercial weakness. The reason for this technical deficiency is that the prepolymers used for imparting machine washability and potentially durable press to wool apparel polymerise on the fabric at room temperature in storage, thereby losing their reactivity. Subsequent manufacturing into the final garment still allows the fabric to offer stability to laundering, but the loss of prepolymer reactivity precludes any potential for introducing durable creases/pleats into the garment as an integrated late‐stage garment process. In this study, we present a simple solution to this technical deficiency through the use of cyclodextrin‐based technology and deliver a delayed‐cure, durable press, machine‐washable wool technology ready for market. In any commercial textile process, the effect of chemical finishing on the final fabric colour is important. It is demonstrated in this study that the addition of HP‐β‐cyclodextrin into the Synthappret BAP and EC 1354 formulations has an instrumentally detectable effect on the colour of the dyed wool fabric, but that this difference is less than one colour difference (ΔECMC) unit.
Experiences of over‐the‐counter codeine misusers and accounts of recovery: A qualitative study in Tasmania, Australia
Authors: Kirschbaum Melissa , Barnett Tony , Cross Merylin
Published: May 2020

Introduction and Aims

There is international concern about misuse of over‐the‐counter (OTC) codeine, yet few studies have reported the perspectives of misusers themselves. This study explored the experience of OTC codeine misuse and recovery in Tasmania, Australia.

Design and Methods

Semi‐structured telephone interviews were conducted with 15 self‐identified long‐term users of OTC codeine. The interview guide prompted responses about reasons for codeine use, positive and negative impacts, recovery, identity and codeine accessibility. Transcripts were analysed abductively using qualitative content analysis. Categories that emerged from misuser accounts were aligned to three broad temporal phases: (i) transition to misuse; (ii) growing awareness; and (iii) towards recovery.

Results

Salient features of the misuse experience included: initial use for the self‐treatment of physical pain; ongoing use to self‐medicate physical pain, stress or mental health conditions; a perception of safety of OTC codeine; an insidious transition from use to misuse; growing awareness of a problem over time; support provided by family, friends and the internet; recovery through self‐change; and recognition that recovery is an ongoing process.

Discussion and Conclusions

Knowledge and understanding of the experience of OTC codeine misuse and recovery is critical to inform and tailor approaches to prevention and intervention. The findings suggest that strategies to improve the management of pain, stress and mental health, raise self‐awareness of problematic use and potential for self‐change, and increase social and web‐based supports, should be considered when designing health policy initiatives that aim to reduce misuse.
Normalisation of non‐drinking? 15–16‐year‐olds' accounts of refraining from alcohol
Authors: Scheffels Janne , Buvik Kristin , Tokle Rikke , Rossow Ingeborg
Published: May 2020

Introduction and Aims

In many countries, adolescents' drinking has decreased substantially over recent years. This study aims to explore Norwegian adolescents' accounts of refraining from drinking alcohol and how their explanations are contextualised.

Design and Methods

Semi‐structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 95 adolescents aged 15–16 years (50 females), recruited from six schools in Norway. Interviews examined perceptions and experience of alcohol use, and how non‐drinking was reasoned for.

Results

The adolescents' accounts of refraining from alcohol were sorted into three categories: (i) influence from non‐drinking peers and negative social norms towards alcohol use: non‐drinking was described as the norm in their age group; (ii) legal age and relationship to parents: age limits and parents' disapproval of drinking was perceived as justifiable; and (iii) non‐drinking to sustain control: alcohol use was perceived as implying loss of control of self‐presentation in specific situations, and risk of negative exposure on social media. It was also seen as implying risk of loss of control of future achievement in school or sports.

Discussion and Conclusions

The adolescents' explanations for non‐drinking indicated a devaluation in the social position of alcohol among younger adolescents. Non‐drinking was described as majority behaviour and fitting in with a life orientation towards both present‐day and future achievement. Their accounts pointed towards a normative effect of age limits on buying alcohol and highlighted the significance of emotional closeness and open communication about alcohol with parents. The results indicate a differentiated normalisation of non‐drinking in this age group.
Thermal tolerances and species interactions determine the elevational distributions of insects
Authors: Amundrud Sarah L. , Srivastava Diane S.
Published: May 2020

Aim

Physiological limits to thermal extremes are often thought to determine the abundance and geographical distribution of species, but more recent evidence suggests that species interactions might be equally important. Moreover, the relative importance of these constraints might shift with changing abiotic conditions, such as climate change. Here, we explore the relative importance of physiological tolerances to heat and species interactions in determining the distribution of insects along two elevational gradients. The gradients contrast in precipitation but not temperature, allowing us to separate these two climatic factors.

Location

Montane rainforest in Costa Rica.

Time period

2015–2016.

Major taxa studied

Bromeliad‐dwelling aquatic insect larvae.

Methods

We estimated the elevational preferences of five insect taxa by surveying 170 bromeliads along the moist Atlantic and the dry Pacific slopes of Monteverde and determined their critical thermal maxima (CTmax) experimentally. We determined whether taxon‐specific heat tolerances predicted their elevational preferences, using Deming regressions, and tested whether potential predators mediated effects on the elevation of insect distributions, using structural equation models.

Results

On the moist Atlantic slope, heat tolerances of insects explained their elevational distributions: taxa with high heat tolerances preferred low elevations where conditions were warmest, whereas taxa with low heat tolerances preferred high elevations where conditions were coldest. In contrast, on the drier Pacific slope, the elevational abundance pattern of many insects reflected negative interactions from crane fly larvae. These larvae are known to become predatory in drought conditions and were disproportionally abundant at low elevations on the Pacific slope.

Main conclusions

We show that under drought, indirect effects mediated by species interactions can override any direct physiological effects of environmental conditions on insect distributions. The relative importance of limits to physiological tolerance and species interactions thus depends on the environmental context, an important insight given that environmental conditions are expected to shift with climate change.
Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy outcome according to clarithromycin susceptibility testing in Japan
Authors: Horie Ryusuke , Handa Osamu , Ando Takashi , Ose Takuya , Murakami Takaaki , Suzuki Norihisa , Sendo Rei , Imamoto Eiko , Itoh Yoshito
Published: May 2020

Background

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection increases the risk of gastric cancer. Therefore, eradication is a global goal, which requires continuous monitoring of therapeutic regimens and effectiveness. Clarithromycin resistance is an important contributor to eradication failure, and metronidazole is recommended as second‐line treatment in such cases. Here, we retrospectively evaluated the clarithromycin and metronidazole resistance rates and treatment effectiveness in patients with Hp using tailored therapies according to clarithromycin susceptibility testing.

Methods

Data on drug susceptibility were obtained for 5249 Japanese Hp patients between July 2005 and August 2018. Clarithromycin/metronidazole resistance rates were analyzed according to year, gender, and age with Fisher's exact test. The relationship between clarithromycin resistance and Hp therapy outcomes was assessed for 1300 patients. Treatment regimens included a clarithromycin‐ or metronidazole‐containing 7‐day triple therapy with one of several proton pump inhibitors and vonoprazan.

Results

Clarithromycin resistance increased annually and was higher in women and younger patients (<30 years). Rates of metronidazole resistance were stable but decreased with age. Hp treatment regimens using PPIs had eradication rates of 88% and 45% among clarithromycin‐sensitive and clarithromycin‐resistant cases, respectively, while regimens including vonoprazan had eradication rates of around 90% regardless of clarithromycin susceptibility. In particular, triple therapy with vonoprazan, amoxicillin, and metronidazole achieved 98% eradication.

Conclusion

Clarithromycin‐containing triple therapy even using vonoprazan did not achieve satisfactory eradication rates even in the clarithromycin‐sensitive group. To avoid antibiotic misuse in population with low metronidazole resistance, 7‐day vonoprazan, amoxicillin, and metronidazole triple therapy might be a strong candidate as a first‐line eradication therapy.
Increased atherogenic lipoprotein profile in children with non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Castillo‐Leon Eduardo , Connelly Margery A. , Konomi Juna V. , Caltharp Shelley , Cleeton Rebecca , Vos Miriam B.
Published: May 2020

Background

Non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been shown to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. In adults, histologic severity of non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is associated with a more atherogenic profile.

Objective

To assess cardiovascular disease risk by lipoprotein profile in children with NAFLD and compare to histologic assessment of severity.

Methods

Nuclear magnetic resonance lipoprotein profile including lipoprotein particle sizes, apolipoproteins and the lipoprotein insulin resistance (LP‐IR) index was measured in serum samples collected from 76 children at the time of a clinically indicated liver biopsy for NAFLD. Liver histology was scored using the NASH Clinical Research Network criteria and grouped into NASH or non‐NASH.

Results

Children with NASH had higher apolipoprotein B to apolipoprotein AI, ApoB/ApoAI (0.56 [IQR, 0.45‐0.70] vs 0.66 [IQR, 0.56‐0.79], P = .02) and higher LP‐IR index (61 ± 21.9 vs 68 ± 17.3, P = .05) compared to children with non‐NASH. Severity of hepatocyte ballooning was associated with higher ApoB/ApoAI ratios (P = .01), while high‐density lipoprotein size was inversely associated with hepatic fat accumulation (P = .04).

Conclusion

While dyslipidaemia is common among children with NAFLD, this data suggests severity of the histologic features is closely associated with severity of cardiometabolic risk. Further studies are needed to understand the role of treatment of NASH in children to prevent future cardiometabolic disease.
Psychometric properties of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory for adults with intellectual disability
Authors: Lundqvist Lars‐Olov , Hultqvist Jenny , Granvik Eva , Minton Lennart , Ahlström Gerd
Published: May 2020

Background

Problem behaviours are common among people with intellectual disabilities (ID), but psychometrically evaluated instruments for assessing such behaviours are scarce. The present study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory—Intellectual Disability (NPI‐ID).

Method

We assessed 108 residents with intellectual disabilities living in group‐homes using the NPI‐ID, which included the 12 symptoms of the original NPI‐Nursing Home and two supplementary symptoms: self‐injurious behaviour and impulsive risk‐taking behaviour.

Results

The NPI‐ID showed adequate internal consistency (α = 0.76) and test–retest reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.88). Exploratory factor analysis revealed five factors accounting for 64.1% of the variance. Cluster analysis revealed that residents were clustered in three groups with distinctly different symptom profiles.

Conclusions

The psychometric properties were satisfactory, supporting the use of the NPI‐ID as a screening tool for people with intellectual disabilities. Additional research is needed to further evaluate the utility of the NPI‐ID among people with intellectual disabilities.
Heavy and persistent rainfall leads to brood reduction and nest failure in a passerine bird
Authors: Schöll Eva Maria , Hille Sabine Marlene
Published: May 2020

The process of reproduction is a sensitive period for bird offspring, since they are exposed to environmental conditions for several weeks. Within the long reproductive period, adult birds do not only have to maintain their own body condition, they also have to ensure nutritional needs of their nestlings. In the worst case, if weather conditions are very harsh, breeding is not successful and fails. This suggests that weather conditions might be an important driver of breeding success. Here, we studied the effect of weather conditions (temperature and precipitation) on the survival of 350 nests of great tits Parus major during nestling period in six years (2010–2015). We used traditional generalized linear mixed model (binomial response variable) and a dedicated survival‐analysis program (MARK) to analyze the data. The two approaches allowed us to highlight and compare the effect of weather conditions on a fine (nestling survival) and coarse (nest fate) scale. Both methods showed that precipitation explained most of the variation in individual nestling and overall nest survival during the 15‐day nestling period. Heavy and persistent rainfall did not only lead to brood reduction, it ultimately also led to losses of the entire brood. Likely causes were the negative effects of precipitation on thermoregulation, food availability and predation risk. However, while reduced food availability most likely might have led to brood reduction through selective individual nestling death, predation might have resulted in total nest failures.
Melatonin attenuates vascular calcification by inhibiting mitochondria fission via an AMPK/Drp1 signalling pathway
Authors: Chen Wei Ren , Zhou Yu Jie , Sha Yuan , Wu Xue Ping , Yang Jia Qi , Liu Fang
Published: May 2020

Mitochondrial fission plays a role in cardiovascular calcification. Melatonin has previously been shown to protect against cardiovascular disease, so this study sought to explore whether it attenuates vascular calcification by regulating mitochondrial fission via the AMP‐activated protein kinase/dynamin‐related protein 1 (AMPK/Drp1) signalling pathway. The effects of melatonin on vascular calcification were investigated in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Calcium deposits were visualized by Alizarin red staining, while calcium content and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were used to evaluate osteogenic differentiation. Western blots were used to measure the expression of runt‐related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), Drp1 and cleaved caspase 3. Melatonin markedly reduced calcium deposition and ALP activity. Runx2 and cleaved caspase 3 were down‐regulated, Drp1 was reduced in response to melatonin, and this was accompanied by decreased apoptosis. Melatonin also reduced levels of mitochondrial superoxide, reversed β‐glycerophosphate (β‐GP)‐induced ΔΨm dissipation and decreased mitochondrial fragmentation. The effects of melatonin in β‐GP‐treated VSMCs were similar to those of mitochondrial division inhibitor 1. Melatonin significantly activated the expression of AMPK and decreased Drp1 expression. Treatment with compound C ablated the observed benefits of melatonin treatment. These findings indicate that melatonin protects VSMCs against calcification by inhibiting mitochondrial fission via the AMPK/Drp1 pathway.
Hypermethylation‐mediated down‐regulation of lncRNA TBX5‐AS1:2 in Tetralogy of Fallot inhibits cell proliferation by reducing TBX5 expression
Authors: Ma Jing , Chen Shiyu , Hao Lili , Sheng Wei , Chen WeiCheng , Ma Xiaojing , Zhang Bowen , Ma Duan , Huang Guoying
Published: May 2020

Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is the most common complex congenital heart disease (CHD) with uncertain cause. Although long non‐coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been implicated in heart development and several CHDs, their role in TOF is not well understood. This study aimed to investigate how dysregulated lncRNAs contribute to TOF. Using Gene Expression Omnibus data mining, bioinformatics analysis and clinical heart tissue sample detecting, we identified a novel antisense lncRNA TBX5‐AS1:2 with unknown function that was significantly down‐regulated in injured cardiac tissues from TOF patients. LncRNA TBX5‐AS1:2 was mainly located in the nucleus of the human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293T) cells and formed an RNA‐RNA double‐stranded structure in the overlapping region with its sense mRNA T‐box transcription factor 5 (TBX5), which is an important regulator in heart development. Knock‐down of lncRNA TBX5‐AS1:2 via promoter hypermethylation reduced TBX5 expression at both the mRNA and protein levels by affecting its mRNA stability through RNA‐RNA interaction. Moreover, lncRNA TBX5‐AS1:2 knock‐down inhibited the proliferation of HEK293T cells. In conclusion, these results indicated that lncRNA TBX5‐AS1:2 may be involved in TOF by affecting cell proliferation by targeting TBX5.
The proteasome activator PA200 regulates expression of genes involved in cell survival upon selective mitochondrial inhibition in neuroblastoma cells
Authors: Douida Abdennour , Batista Frank , Robaszkiewicz Agnieszka , Boto Pal , Aladdin Azzam , Szenykiv Mónika , Czinege Rita , Virág László , Tar Krisztina
Published: May 2020

The conserved Blm10/PA200 activators bind to the proteasome core and facilitate peptide and protein turnover. Blm10/PA200 proteins enhance proteasome peptidase activity and accelerate the degradation of unstructured proteasome substrates. Our knowledge about the exact role of PA200 in diseased cells, however, is still limited. Here, we show that stable knockdown of PA200 leads to a significantly elevated number of cells in S phase after treatment with the ATP synthase inhibitor, oligomycin. However, following exposure to the complex I inhibitor rotenone, more PA200‐depleted cells were in sub‐G1 and G2/M phases indicative of apoptosis. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and ChIP‐seq data analysis of collected reads indicate PA200‐enriched regions in the genome of SH‐SY5Y. We found that PA200 protein peaks were in the vicinity of transcription start sites. Gene ontology annotation revealed that genes whose promoters were enriched upon anti‐PA200 ChIP contribute to the regulation of crucial intracellular processes, including proliferation, protein modifications and metabolism. Selective mitochondrial inhibitors induced PA200 redistribution in the genome, leading to protein withdrawal from some gene promoters and binding to others. Collectively, the results support a model in which PA200 potentially regulates cellular homeostasis at the transcriptional level, in addition to its described role as an alternative activator of the proteasome.
Dermatology consultation service at a large metropolitan hospital system serving minority populations
Authors: Fayne R. , Castillo D.E. , Sanchez N. , Burroway B. , Nanda S. , De Bedout V. , Stratman S. , Rosen J. , Darwin E. , Nagrani N. , Gonzalez A. , Paul S. , Maderal A. , Elgart G. , Kirsner R. , Nichols A.
Published: May 2020

Background

Dermatology consultations in the inpatient hospital setting can improve diagnostic accuracy and management.

Objective

Characterize dermatologic diagnostic and treatment trends in the hospital setting and identify variables that may affect patient care.

Methods

Retrospective chart review from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2017 at Jackson Memorial Hospital (JMH) (Miami, Florida, USA), an academic non‐profit tertiary care centre affiliated with University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, was performed. Patients who received dermatology consultations in the emergency department (ED) or inpatient settings were included. Patient demographics, admission information, provisional diagnosis and management plans by primary teams, final diagnosis, management plans and testing recommendations by the dermatology consults team, and follow‐up information were collected. Analysis using Microsoft Excel of how time to consultation, admission length, inpatient versus ED setting and primary team affected diagnostic accuracy was also performed.

Results

The 1004 consultations for 812 patients (n = 812) were reviewed (359 women, 453 men). Most patients were Hispanic (n = 359; 44.2%) or African American (n = 273; 33.6%). Mean admission length was 20.6 days (range 0–439; median 6). The most common consulting service was internal medicine (n = 452). In 387 cases (47.6%), primary teams did not give a provisional diagnosis. The most common provisional diagnoses were bacterial infection (n = 93), viral infection (n = 49) and drug reaction (n = 44). The most common diagnoses by dermatology were viral infection (n = 93), bacterial infection (n = 90) and drug reaction (n = 80). Dermatology consultation changed the provisional diagnosis in 55.7% of cases, more often in cases where consultation took place ≥2 days after admission (P < 0.05). Primary teams followed dermatology treatment recommendations in 85.2% of cases.

Conclusion

Dermatology consultation improves diagnostic accuracy in skin disorders in the hospital setting and serves as a valuable resource for inpatient care. A notable aspect of data from this study is the unique patient population, predominantly comprised of underrepresented racial and ethnic minorities including Hispanics and African Americans.