bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The predictive capacity of DSM-5 symptom severity and impulsivity on response to cognitive-behavioral therapy for gambling disorder: A 2-year longitudinal study
Authors: Mestre-Bach Gemma , Steward Trevor , Granero Roser , Fernández-Aranda Fernando , del Pino-Gutiérrez Amparo , Mallorquí-Bagué Núria , Mena-Moreno Teresa , Vintró-Alcaraz Cristina , Moragas Laura , Aymamí Neus , Gómez-Peña Mónica , Sánchez-González Jéssica , Agüera Zaida , Lozano-Madrid María , Menchón José M. , Jiménez-Murcia Susana
Published: October 2018

Background:

DSM-5 proposed a new operational system by using the number of fulfilled criteria as an indicator of gambling disorder severity. This method has proven to be controversial among researchers and clinicians alike, due to the lack of studies indicating whether severity, as measured by these criteria, is clinically relevant in terms of treatment outcome. Additionally, numerous studies have highlighted the associations between gambling disorder and impulsivity, though few have examined the impact of impulsivity on long-term treatment outcomes.

Methods:

In this study, we aimed to assess the predictive value of DSM-5 severity levels on response to cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in a sample of male adults seeking treatment for gambling disorder (n = 398). Furthermore, we explored longitudinal predictors of CBT treatment response at a follow-up, considering UPPS-P impulsivity traits.

Results:

Our study failed to identify differences in treatment outcomes between patients categorized by DSM-5 severity levels. Higher baseline scores in negative urgency predicted relapse during CBT treatment, and higher levels of sensation seeking were predictive of drop-out from short-term treatment, as well as of drop-out at 24-months.

Conclusions:

These noteworthy findings raise questions regarding the clinical utility of DSM-5 severity categories and lend support to the implementation of dimensional approaches for gambling disorder.
Gender identities in adolescent population: Methodological issues and prevalence across age groups
Authors: Kaltiala-Heino Riittakerttu , Lindberg Nina
Published: October 2018

Background:

Increasing numbers of adolescents are seeking treatment from gender identity services, particularly natal girls. It is known from survey studies some adolescents exaggerate their belonging to minorities, thereby distorting prevalence estimates and findings on related problems. The aim of the present study was to explore the susceptibility of gender identity to mischievous responding, and prevalences of cis-gender, opposite-sex and other/ non-binary gender identities as corrected for likely mischievous responding among Finnish adolescents.

Method:

The School Health Promotion Survey 2017 data was used, comprising data on 135,760 adolescents under 21 years (mean 15.73, ds 1.3 years), 50.6% females and 49.4% males. Sex and perceived gender were elicited and gender identities classified based thereon. Likely mischievous responding was analysed using inappropriate responses to biodata and handicaps.

Results:

Of the participants, 3.5% had most likely given facetious responses, boys more commonly than girls, and younger adolescents more commonly than older. This particularly concerned reporting of non-binary gender identity. Corrected prevalence of opposite-sex identification was 0.6% and that of non-binary identification was 3.3%. In boys, displaying non-binary gender identity increased from early to late adolescence, while among girls, opposite-sex and non-binary identifications decreased in prevalence from younger to older age groups.

Conclusion:

Prevalence of gender identities contrary to one’s natal sex was more common than expected.
Acquired cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator dysfunction
Authors: Banks Catherine , Freeman Laura , Cho Do Yeon , Woodworth Bradford A.
Published: October 2018

Sinonasal respiratory epithelium is a highly regulated barrier that employs mucociliary clearance (MCC) as the airways first line of defense. The biological properties of the airway surface liquid (ASL), combined with coordinated ciliary beating, are critical components of the mucociliary apparatus. The ASL volume and viscosity is modulated, in part, by the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). The CFTR is an anion transporter of chloride (Cl−) and bicarbonate (HCO3−) that is located on the apical surface of respiratory epithelium and exocrine glandular epithelium. Improved understanding of how dysfunction or deficiency of CFTR influences the disease process in both genetically defined cystic fibrosis (CF) and acquired conditions has provided further insight into potential avenues of treatment. This review discusses the latest data regarding acquired CFTR deficiency and use of CFTR specific treatment strategies for CRS and other chronic airway diseases.
Can Heritage Bots Thrive? Toward Future Engagement in Cultural Heritage
Authors: Tzouganatou Angeliki
Published: October 2018

In the digital age, cultural organizations strive to retain audience engagement especially via experimentation with novel technologies and social media. The latter are increasingly influencing the way cultural heritage is perceived, providing options for grappling with crucial issues in the sector, including sustainability, openness, and public participation. One tool that has been deployed to explore these issues is the chatbot, a computer program designed to simulate conversation with human users, especially over the internet. Chatbots run through different conversational interfaces, but they have a particularly heavy application in Facebook Messenger. Within the museums and cultural sector specifically, these robotic media are regularly proclaimed to offer novel engagement mechanisms that can empower participants to actively participate in the heritage process. However, most heritage Messenger bots are purely informative and object- or exhibit-centered, providing little opportunity for meaningful interactivity, creative expression, or critical engagement. This article explores and critically reviews three Messenger chatbots related to heritage organizations, concluding with suggestions for their future development.
Still ‘Minding the Gap’ Sixteen Years Later: (Re)Storying Pro-Environmental Behaviour
Authors: Siegel Lisa , Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles Amy , Bellert Anne
Published: October 2018

In their seminal 2002 paper, Kollmuss and Agyeman asked the important question ‘Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behaviour?’ The article has had a remarkably high rate of readership, with 64,900 electronic views to date, and 16 years later, this question remains significant. But are environmental educators and researchers any closer to understanding why people engage in pro-environmental behaviour? For this special issue of theAustralian Journal of Environmental Educationand its focus on ecologising education, it is timely not only to re-explore but to (re)story the concepts of environmental knowledge, environmental awareness and pro-environmental behaviour, in order to generate fertile ground for the creation of new understandings and practices in environmental education. After considering relevant literature published between 2000 and 2018, this article offers an original framework for considering the complex, varied, and interconnected influences on the development of pro-environmental behaviour by (re)storying the development of pro-environmental behaviour through articulating it as a living forest.
Coupled aeropropulsive design optimisation of a boundary-layer ingestion propulsor
Authors: Gray Justin S. , Martins Joaquim R. R. A.
Published: October 2018

Airframe–propulsion integration concepts that use boundary-layer ingestion (BLI) have the potential to reduce aircraft fuel burn. One concept that has been recently explored is NASA’s STARC-ABL aircraft configuration, which offers the potential for fuel burn reduction by using a turboelectric propulsion system with an aft-mounted electrically driven BLI propulsor. So far, attempts to quantify this potential fuel burn reduction have not considered the full coupling between the aerodynamic and propulsive performance. To address the need for a more careful quantification of the aeropropulsive benefit of the STARC-ABL concept, we run a series of design optimisations based on a fully coupled aeropropulsive model. A 1D thermodynamic cycle analysis is coupled to a Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulation to model the aft propulsor at a cruise condition and the effects variation in propulsor design on overall performance. A series of design optimisation studies are performed to minimise the required cruise power, assuming different relative sizes of the BLI propulsor. The design variables consist of the fan pressure ratio, static pressure at the fan face, and 311 variables that control the shape of both the nacelle and the fuselage. The power required by the BLI propulsor is compared with a podded configuration. The results show that the BLI configuration offers 6–9% reduction in required power at cruise, depending on assumptions made about the efficiency of power transmission system between the under-wing engines and the aft propulsor. Additionally, the results indicate that the power transmission efficiency directly affects the relative size of the under-wing engines and the aft propulsor. This design optimisation, based on computational fluid dynamics, is shown to be essential to evaluate current BLI concepts and provides a powerful tool for the design of future concepts.
Youth Justice: Our Kids are Worth a Second Chance
Authors: Edwards Julie
Published: October 2018

Youth justice is at a crossroads in Australia. In every state and territory across the nation, governments are grappling with youth justice issues as they seek to reduce crime, improve community safety and respond to public concern that is being fanned by sensationalised media coverage.
Clinical research coordinators’ instructional preferences for competency content delivery
Authors: Kolb H. Robert , Kuang Huan , Behar-Horenstein Linda S.
Published: October 2018

Introduction

A lack of standardized clinical research coordinator (CRC) training programs requires determining appropriate approaches for content delivery. The purpose of this study was to assess CRCs preferred training delivery methods related to the 8 designated Joint Task Force Clinical Trial Competency domains.

Methods

Repeated measures analysis of variance and split-plot analysis of variance were adopted to compare the group means among 5 training delivery methods by 8 competency content domains and to examine whether demographic variables caused different preference patterns on the training delivery methods.

Results

Participants reported a preference for online video; mentoring/coaching was the least preferred. Significant training delivery method preferences were reported for 3 content domains: participant safety considerations, medicines development and regulation, and clinical trials operations.

Discussion

Observed statistical differences in the training delivery methods by the content domains provides guidance for program development. Ensuring that standardized educational training is aligned with the needs of adult learners may help ensure that CRCs are appropriately prepared for the workforce.
Simulating climatic mass balance, seasonal snow development and associated freshwater runoff in the Kongsfjord basin, Svalbard (1980–2016)
Authors: PRAMANIK ANKIT , VAN PELT WARD , KOHLER JACK , SCHULER THOMAS V.
Published: October 2018

The Kongsfjord basin in northwest Svalbard is the site of a number of interdisciplinary studies concerned with the effect of fresh water from seasonal snow and glacier melt on the physical and biological environment. We use an energy-balance model coupled with a subsurface snow model to simulate the long-term climatic mass-balance evolution of the glaciers and the seasonal snow development of nonglacierized parts of the Kongsfjord basin. Runoff from both glacierized and nonglacierized parts of the basin is simulated to quantify the fresh water flux to the fjord. The model is calibrated with long-term mass-balance data measured at four glaciers, and with automatic weather station data. The simulated area-averaged climatic mass balance for the whole basin is positive (+0.23 m w.e. a−1) over the period 1980–2016; however, the trend for net mass balance is not statistically significant over the simulation period, despite the observed ongoing summer warming. Refreezing equals 0.24 m w.e. a−1, which is equivalent to 17% of the total mass gain from precipitation and moisture deposition. Total runoff comprises contributions from seasonal snow in the nonglacierized area (16%) and glacier discharge (84%). Model time series shows a significant increasing trend for annual glacier runoff (6.83 × 106 m3 a−1) over the simulation period.
Ice-rise stratigraphy reveals changes in surface mass balance over the last millennia in Dronning Maud Land
Authors: GOEL VIKRAM , MARTÍN CARLOS , MATSUOKA KENICHI
Published: October 2018

We use ice flow modelling to simulate the englacial stratigraphy of Blåskimen Island, an ice rise in Dronning Maud Land and elucidate the evolution of this data-sparse region. We apply a thermo-mechanically coupled Elmer/Ice model to a profile along flowlines and through the ice-rise summit, where surface mass balance (SMB), flow velocity and ice stratigraphy were recently measured. We conclude that: (i) the ice rise is presently thickening at a rate of 0.5~0.6 m ice equivalent per year (mieq a−1), which is twice an earlier estimate using the field data and the input–output method; (ii) present thickening started 20–40 years in the past, before which the ice rise was in a steady state; (iii) SMB contrast between the upwind and downwind slopes was stronger than the present value by ~23% (or 0.15 mieq a−1) prior to ~1100 years ago. Since then, this contrast has been decreasing overall. We surmise that these SMB changes are likely a result of synoptic-scale atmospheric changes, rather than local atmospheric changes controlled by local ice topography. Our technique effectively assimilates geophysical data, avoiding the complexity of ice flow beneath the ice divide. Thus, it could be applied to other ice rises to elucidate the recent glacial retreat.
Does Blind Tasting Work? Investigating the Impact of Training on Blind Tasting Accuracy and Wine Preference
Authors: Wang Qian Janice , Prešern Domen
Published: October 2018

We analyzed data from Oxford University Blind Tasting Society's 2018 training season to assess whether blind tasting training improves accuracy. Over time, guesses for grape variety increased in terms of accuracy as well as within-group agreement. Moreover, for grape variety, location, and vintage, the chances of the most common within-group guess being correct were significantly higher than the underlying frequency distribution. Finally, we observed a shift in preference towards older wines, with those with little initial experience gaining a preference for greater acidity and alcohol, and decreasing their preference for oak. Our results have important implications for growing wine markets with an increasingly educated consumer population. (JEL Classifications: C91, C92, D83, L15, L66).
Early deglaciation and paleolake history of Río Cisnes Glacier, Patagonian Ice Sheet (44°S)
Authors: García Juan-Luis , Maldonado Antonio , de Porras María Eugenia , Nuevo Delaunay Amalia , Reyes Omar , Ebensperger Claudia A. , Binnie Steven A. , Lüthgens Christopher , Méndez César
Published: October 2018

The timing, structure, and landscape change during the Patagonian Ice Sheet deglaciation remains unresolved. In this article, we provide a geomorphic, stratigraphic, and geochronological deglacial record of Río Cisnes Glacier at 44°S and also from the nearby Río Ñirehuao and Río El Toqui valleys (45°S) in Chilean Patagonia. Our 14C, 10Be, and optically stimulated luminescence data indicate that after the last glacial maximum, Río Cisnes Glacier experienced ~100 km deglaciation between >19.0 and 12.3 ka, accompanied by the formation of large glacial paleolakes. Deglaciation was interrupted by several ice readvances, and by 16.9±0.3 ka, Río Cisnes Glacier extended only ~40% of its full glacial extent. The deglaciation of Río Cisnes Glacier and other sensitive Patagonian glaciers occurred at least 1 ka earlier than the ca. 17.8 ka normally assumed for the local termination, coincident with West Antarctic isotope records. This early deglaciation can be linked to an orbital forcing–driven decline of Southern Ocean sea ice associated with a distinct atmospheric warming that is apparent for West Antarctica through Patagonia.
Inverse association between serum antioxidant levels and inflammatory markers is moderated by adiposity: a report based on a large representative population sample of American adults
Authors: Mazidi Mohsen , Kengne Andre Pascal , Katsiki Niki , Mikhailidis Dimitri P. , Banach Maciej
Published: October 2018

We examined the association between plasma antioxidant levels and markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein (CRP) and fibrinogen (FG) in US adults. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants examined between 2001 and 2002 were included, if data on CRP or FG levels. Serum vitamins A and E, two retinyl esters, and six carotenoids were measured using HPLC with photodiode array detection. Multivariable-adjusted linear regression analyses accounted for the survey design and sample weights. A total of 784 eligible participants were included; 47·5 % (n372) were men. In multivariable linear regression models, serumα-carotene,trans-β-carotene,cis-β-carotene,β-cryptoxanthin, combined lutein/zeaxanthin,trans-lycopene, retinyl palmitate,α-tocopherol, retinol and 25-hydroxy vitamin D were negatively associated with serum CRP (P<0·001 for all comparisons). Serumα-carotene,trans-β-carotene,cis-β-carotene, combined lutein/zeaxanthin,trans-lycopene,α-tocopherol, retinol and 25-hydroxy vitamin D were negatively associated with serum FG levels (P<0·001 for all comparisons). In the same model, the risk of CVD, defined as CRP levels >3 mg/l, decreased with increasing levels of antioxidants (α-carotene,trans-β-carotene,cis-β-carotene, vitamins A and E). Furthermore, we found a moderate impact of adiposity on the link between antioxidants and CRP. Our results suggest that the lower the antioxidants levels, the higher the inflammatory burden, based on CRP and FG levels. Adiposity moderately affects this association. Furthermore, an inverse relationship between CVD risk and antioxidant levels was observed. This finding suggests that reduced levels of vitamins with antioxidant properties may predispose to increased CVD risk.
Biparental mealybugs may be more promiscuous than we thought
Authors: Silva E.B. , Mourato C. , Branco M. , Mendel Z. , Franco J.C.
Published: October 2018

Knowledge on the reproductive biology of target insect pest is essential for the effective implementation of pheromone-based pest management tactics. In mealybugs, the second largest family of scale insects, the existence of female multiple mating was recently suggested. In this study, we aimed at testing how general is this behavior in mealybugs, by investigating polygyny and polyandry in two cosmopolitan pest mealybugs,Planococcus citriandPseudococcus calceolariae. Males of these species were able to mate an average of 11.9 and 13.3 females, respectively, during their lifespan. The number of fertilized females per male decreased with male age/mating history for both mealybugs. We found no differences in female fecundity and fertility, when fertilized by males with different mating history. When we used male age as a proxy of mating history, we observed a significant negative effect on female fecundity. The females of both species remained receptive after first copula and eventually mated multiple times. The percentage of remated females ofP. citridecreased linearly with time since first copula, with some maintaining receptivity up to 24 h. Males showed no preference between virgin and mated females, in static-air olfactometer tests. We found no benefit of female multiple mating in relation to fecundity. In biparental mealybugs, the mating system of males is possibly scramble competition polygyny; and that of females is possibly polyandry, with female receptivity restricted to a relatively short period. We discuss the practical implications of the results for pest management.
Re-conceptualising the relationship between de-familialisation and familialisation and the implications for gender equality – the case of long-term care policies for older people
Authors: Eggers Thurid , Grages Christopher , Pfau-Effinger Birgit , Och Ralf
Published: October 2018

This article explores how far the concepts of de-familialisation/familialisation are adequate to the classification of long-term care (LTC) policies for older people. In the theoretical debate over LTC policies, de-familialising and familialising policies are often treated as opposites. We propose re-conceptualising the relation between de-familialisation and familialisation, arguing that they represent substantially different types of policy that, in theory, can vary relatively autonomously. In order to evaluate this theoretical assumption, this article investigates the relation between the generosity level of LTC policies on extra-familial care, and the generosity level of LTC policies on paid family care, introducing a new multi-dimensional approach to measuring the generosity of LTC policy for older persons. It also explores the consequences of this for gender equality. The empirical study is based on a cross-national comparison of LTC policies in five European welfare states which show significant differences in their welfare state tradition. Data used are from document analysis of care policy law, the Mutual Information System on Social Protection, the European Quality of Life Survey and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The findings support the argument that de-familialising and familialising LTC policies can vary relatively independently of each other in theory. It turns out that we get a better understanding of the relationship between LTC policy and gender equality if we analyse the role of different combinations of extra-familial and familial LTC policies for gender equality. The paper brings new insights into the ways welfare states act in regard to their LTC policies. It helps to clarify how the concept of de-familialisation/familialisation can be understood, and what this means for the relationship between LTC policies and gender equality.
Observation of anomalous side-scattering in laser wakefield accelerators
Authors: Krushelnick K. , Dangor A. E. , Kaluza M. , Mangles S. P. D. , Murphy C. D. , Najmudin Z. , Thomas A. G. R.
Published: October 2018

High-intensity femtosecond laser–plasma interaction experiments were performed to investigate laser–plasma wakefield acceleration in the “bubble” regime. Using a 15 TW laser pulse, the emission of side-scattered radiation was spectrally and spatially resolved and was consequently used to diagnose the evolution of the laser pulse during the acceleration process. Side-scattered emission was observed immediately before wavebreaking at a frequency of ωL + 1.7ωp (where ωL is the laser frequency and ωp is the background plasma frequency). This emission may result from scattering of laser light by large amplitude plasma oscillations generated in the shell of the wakefield “bubble” and which occurs immediately prior to the wavebreaking/injection process. The observed variation of the frequency of scattered light with electron density agrees with theoretical estimates.
Smooth point-to-point trajectory planning for robot manipulators by using radial basis functions
Authors: Chettibi Taha
Published: October 2018

The paper introduces the use of radial basis functions (RBFs) to generate smooth point-to-point joint trajectories for robot manipulators. First, Gaussian RBF interpolation is introduced taking into account boundary conditions. Then, the proposed approach is compared with classical planning techniques based on polynomial and trigonometric models. Also, the trajectory planning problem involving via-points is solved using the proposed RBF interpolation technique. The obtained trajectories are then compared with those synthesized using algebraic and trigonometric splines. Finally, the proposed method is tested for the six-joint PUMA 560 robot in two cases (minimum time and minimum time-jerk) and results are compared with those of other planning techniques. Numerical results demonstrate the advantage of the proposed technique, offering an effective solution to generate trajectories with short execution time and smooth profile.
Nutrient enrichment of ecosystems by fungus-growing versus non-fungus-growing termites
Authors: Mills Anthony J. , Sirami Clélia
Published: October 2018

Fungus-growing termites (Macrotermitinae) collect water to air-condition their fungi and have been recorded tunnelling deeper than 80 m for groundwater. This collection of water ultimately results in solute accumulation and nutrient enrichment of their termitaria. We consequently hypothesized that nutrient enrichment of termitaria constructed by fungus-growing termites would be greater than by non-fungus-growing termites. To test this, we compared nutrient enrichment of termitaria of fungus-growingMacrotermesspp. in Namibia and termitaria of two non-fungus-growing termites –Trinervitermes trinervoidesin South Africa andNasutitermes triodiaein Australia. Compared with adjacent topsoils,Macrotermestermitaria were significantly enriched in 18 elements whereasT. trinervoidesandN. triodiaetermitaria were enriched in only one and five elements, respectively. Nutrients particularly enriched inMacrotermitestermitaria included Ca (an enrichment factor of 12), Mg (2.9), Co (2.8), Fe (2.4), Mn (2.3), Se (2.2) and Cu (2.0). We suggest that fungus-growing termites that collect water for air-conditioning their fungi have the potential to inadvertently boost – to a far greater degree than non-fungus-growing termites – the availability of nutrients to local plants and herbivores.
Exploring Rural Family Physicians’ Challenges in Providing Dementia Care: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Constantinescu Adina , Li Hui , Yu Jennifer , Hoggard Cassandra , Holroyd-Leduc Jayna
Published: October 2018

Cinq cent soixante-quatre mille Canadiens sont actuellement atteints de démence. Ce nombre continuera de s’accroître avec le vieillissement de la population. Les médecins de famille jouent un rôle important dans le diagnostic et la gestion des patients avec démence. Bien que des recherches aient montré les perspectives des médecins de famille dans les soins liés à la démence en milieu urbain, les connaissances associées aux défis dans les régions rurales sont encore très limitées. Cette étude visait à explorer les expériences des médecins de famille qui dispensent des soins à des patients avec démence dans des régions rurales en Alberta (Canada). Trois groupes de discussion semi-structurés comprenant 16 médecins de famille ont été organisés afin d’évaluer les barrières et les facilitateurs dans la prestation de soins à des personnes avec démence de trois communautés rurales. Les questions des groupes de discussion ont été élaborées selon le modèle duTheoretical Domains Framework(TDF) et ont été analysées selon cette approche-cadre. Les compétences des médecins, leurs opportunités et leur motivation semblent jouer des rôles majeurs dans les soins destinés à ces patients. Ces résultats de recherche pourraient être utilisés pour améliorer la qualité des soins en milieu rural pour les patients atteints de démence.
Inversions in Split Trees and Conditional Galton–Watson Trees
Authors: CAI XING SHI , HOLMGREN CECILIA , JANSON SVANTE , JOHANSSON TONY , SKERMAN FIONA
Published: October 2018

We studyI(T), the number of inversions in a treeTwith its vertices labelled uniformly at random, which is a generalization of inversions in permutations. We first show that the cumulants ofI(T) have explicit formulas involving thek-total common ancestors ofT(an extension of the total path length). Then we considerXn, the normalized version ofI(Tn), for a sequence of treesTn. For fixedTn's, we prove a sufficient condition forXnto converge in distribution. As an application, we identify the limit ofXnfor completeb-ary trees. ForTnbeing split trees [16], we show thatXnconverges to the unique solution of a distributional equation. Finally, whenTn's are conditional Galton–Watson trees, we show thatXnconverges to a random variable defined in terms of Brownian excursions. By exploiting the connection between inversions and the total path length, we are able to give results that significantly strengthen and broaden previous work by Panholzer and Seitz [46].
Dimethyl sulphoxide and electrolyte-free medium improve exogenous DNA uptake in mouse sperm and subsequently gene expression in the embryo
Authors: Kurd Soleiman , Hosseini Sara , Fathi Fardin , Jajarmi Vahid , Salehi Mohammad
Published: October 2018

One of the methods to generate transgenic animals is called sperm-mediated gene transfer (SMGT). Mature sperm cells can take up exogenous DNA molecules intrinsically and transfer them into the oocyte during fertilization. This study assessed the effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and electrolyte-free medium (EFM) on DNA uptake (EGFP–N1plasmid) in mouse sperm. Sperms cells cultured in human tubular fluid (HTF) without any treatment were considered as the control group. Sperms cells that were incubated in EFM and HTF with DNA/DMSO at 4°C were classified into EFM and HTF groups. Sperm motility and viability were assessed following treatment. In vitro fertilization (IVF) with sperm in all groups was performed. Fertilization, embryo development and GFP-positive blastocyst rates were analyzed and compared. The result showed that sperm motility and viability in EFM were better than those in the HTF group. The rate of development to reach the blastocyst stage and GFP-positive blastocysts was significantly higher in the EFM group compared with the HTF group (P<0.05). Our data demonstrate that sperm stored in the EFM group can improve the efficiency of SMGT for the generation of GFP-positive blastocysts.
Politics @Pontifex: International Crises and Political Patterns of Papal Tweets
Authors: Genovese Federica
Published: October 2018

Political research on social media argues that new channels of technological communication influence political leadership. However, we do not know the extent to which social media affect the power of other authorities—for example, religious leaders—in the secular world. This article focuses on the social media presence of the Pope. I argue that the pontiff uses social media communication to explicitly address certain political issues. Specifically, I claim that his messages on the web tend to be more political when critical world events threaten peaceful international relations and frighten salient religious minorities. I investigated this argument by studying Pope Francis’s statements on Twitter. The analysis indicates that the Pope is more likely to release political tweets during international crises, thus targeting issues that otherwise belong to other secular authorities. At the same time, it “normalizes” the Catholic Church’s power in that it allows the Pope to maintain the Vatican’s long tradition of safeguarding peace and protecting vulnerable populations. These findings have implications for the leadership of the Catholic Church in the modern world and extend to other papacies beyond Francis’s.
Effects of Media Sensationalization on Cognitive Performance and Post Concussive Symptoms
Authors: Bussell Cara A. , Gavett Brandon E.
Published: October 2018

Objectives:The current study aimed to examine if televised media about mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) framed in a sensationalized manner had a negative impact on cognitive functioning and persistent mTBI symptoms.Methods:One hundred two participants (MAge=37.16;SD=22.61) with a history of post-acute mTBI, recruited through a community research registry and an undergraduate recruitment system, were included in this study. Participants were assessed with a measure of health literacy, the Short Test of Functional Health Literacy in Adults (S-TOFHLA), and randomized to watch either a sensationalized or non-sensationalized news clip focused on mTBI. They were then assessed with the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT), Rivermead Post Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire (RPQ), Patient Reported Outcome Measures Information System (PROMIS) Depression scale, and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th edition (PCL-5).Results:Bayesian analyses indicated that sensationalized media—alone (βPASAT=−0.08;βRPQ=−0.08) or in the context of covariates (βPASAT=−0.11;βRPQ=−0.14)—was not a strong predictor of PASAT score or post-concussion syndrome symptom severity.Conclusions:Although media sensationalization of mTBI symptoms is not desirable, this study suggests that one brief exposure to sensationalized information may not have a meaningful immediate impact on the cognitive functioning or symptom reporting of individuals with a history of mTBI. Future research should examine long-term and downstream effects of sensationalized media reporting in samples with greater diversity of TBI history. (JINS, 2019, 25, 90–100)
The 1921 Anglo-Afghan Treaty: How Britain's ‘man on the spot’ shaped this agreement
Authors: WILKS ANN
Published: October 2018

This article explores the part played by Sir Henry Dobbs, the ‘man on the spot’, in shaping the 1921 Anglo-Afghan Treaty. The treaty provisions being negotiated were important to the security of the Indian frontier, internally and internationally, as they defined the formal relationship between India and Afghanistan right through until Indian independence. In contrast with existing accounts, the analysis presented here contends that Dobbs did have a significant influence both on the negotiating process and on the eventual result. It demonstrates how in his role as chief negotiator Dobbs drew on experience and techniques that he had earlier acquired as a political officer in frontier areas. His aim seems to have been to influence matters so that the treaty would deliver on what he regarded as important while giving away nothing that he thought damaging. The article thus sheds light on how—in a novel and volatile context—Dobbs handled differing views in London and Delhi, and negotiated with the Amir. Given the necessary authority by the British Government, he finally arrived at an agreement accepted by the various parties—Afghans, the Viceroy and the British Government in London. The source for this revised perspective on the negotiations and fuller understanding of his role are Dobbs’ recently-discovered letters and private papers, previously unavailable to historians, together with a re-examination of official sources prompted by this new material.
Modifying the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) to better capture feeding practices of family childcare home providers
Authors: Tovar Alison , Vaughn Amber E , Fisher Jennifer Orlet , Benjamin Neelon Sara E , Burney Regan , Webster Kathleen , Liu Tao , Ostbye Truls , Ward Dianne S
Published: October 2018

Objective

To describe the modification and validation of an existing instrument, the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO), to better capture provider feeding practices.

Design

Modifications to the EPAO were made, validity assessed through expert review, pilot tested and then used to collect follow-up data during a two-day home visit from an ongoing cluster-randomized trial. Exploratory factor analysis investigated the underlying factor structure of the feeding practices. To test predictive validity of the factors, multilevel mixed models examined associations between factors and child’s diet quality as captured by the Healthy Eating Index-2010 (HEI-2010) score (measured via the Dietary Observation in Childcare Protocol).

Setting

Family childcare homes (FCCH) in Rhode Island and North Carolina, USA.

Participants

The modified EPAO was pilot tested with fifty-three FCCH and then used to collect data in 133 FCCH.

Results

The final three-factor solution (‘coercive control and indulgent feeding practices’, ‘autonomy support practices’, ‘negative role modelling’) captured 43 % of total variance. In multilevel mixed models adjusted for covariates, ‘autonomy support practices’ was positively associated with children’s diet quality. A 1-unit increase in the use of ‘autonomy support practices’ was associated with a 9·4-unit increase in child HEI-2010 score (P=0·001).

Conclusions

Similar to the parenting literature, constructs which describe coercive controlling practices and those which describe autonomy-supportive practices emerged. Given that diets of pre-schoolers in the USA remain suboptimal, teaching childcare providers about supportive feeding practices may help improve children’s diet quality.
Household food insecurity is associated with low dietary diversity among pregnant and lactating women in rural Malawi
Authors: Kang Yunhee , Hurley Kristen M , Ruel-Bergeron Julie , Monclus Assumpta Bou , Oemcke Rachel , Wu Lee Shu Fune , Mitra Maithilee , Phuka John , Klemm Rolf , West Keith P , Christian Parul
Published: October 2018

Objective

To examine the association between household food insecurity and dietary diversity in the past 24h (dietary diversity score (DDS, range: 0–9); minimum dietary diversity (MDD, consumption of three or more food groups); consumption of nine separate food groups) among pregnant and lactating women in rural Malawi.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Two rural districts in Central Malawi.

Subjects

Pregnant (n 589) and lactating (n 641) women.

Results

Of surveyed pregnant and lactating women, 66·7 and 68·6 %, respectively, experienced moderate or severe food insecurity and only 32·4 and 28·1 %, respectively, met MDD. Compared with food-secure pregnant women, those who reported severe food insecurity had a 0·36 lower DDS (P<0·05) and more than threefold higher risk (OR; 95 % CI) of not consuming meat/fish (3·19; CI 1·68, 6·03). The risk of not consuming eggs (3·77; 1·04, 13·7) was higher among moderately food-insecure pregnant women. Compared with food-secure lactating women, those who reported mild, moderate and severe food insecurity showed a 0·36, 0·44 and 0·62 lower DDS, respectively (all P<0·05). The risk of not achieving MDD was higher among moderately (1·95; 1·06, 3·59) and severely (2·82; 1·53, 5·22) food-insecure lactating women. The risk of not consuming meat/fish and eggs increased in a dose–response manner among lactating women experiencing mild (1·75; 1·01, 3·03 and 2·81; 1·09, 7·25), moderate (2·66; 1·47, 4·82 and 3·75; 1·40, 10·0) and severe (5·33; 2·63, 10·8 and 3·47; 1·19, 10·1) food insecurity.

Conclusions

Addressing food insecurity during and after pregnancy needs to be considered when designing nutrition programmes aiming to increase dietary diversity in rural Malawi.
How to classify BMI among pregnant adolescents? A prospective cohort
Authors: Pinho-Pompeu Maira , Paulino Daiane Sofia Moraes , Morais Sirlei Siani , Crubelatti Marina Yumi , Pinto e Silva João Luiz , Surita Fernanda Garanhani
Published: October 2018

Objective

Pregnancy in adolescence is a global health issue, especially in developing countries. Additionally, the recommended gestational weight gain (GWG) is usually based on pre-pregnancy BMI and that might be complex for pregnant teens. The study objective was to compare three different methods of BMI classification and suggest the best way of determining pre-pregnancy BMI and monitoring GWG among pregnant adolescents.

Design

Pre-pregnancy weight, weight at first prenatal visit, height, sociodemographic, reproductive and perinatal data were collected. Weighted kappa and McNemar statistics were used to assess agreement between the classification methods.

Setting

Prof. Dr Jose Aristodemo Pinotti Women’s Hospital, University of Campinas, Brazil.

Participants

Primiparas younger than 19 years of age and with less than 20 weeks of gestational age (n 150).

Results

BMI of the primiparas was determined according to the WHO recommendation for adult women, the Child Growth Standards (CGS) and their gynaecological age (GA). The WHO and GA measurements presented a strong agreement with each other (κw=0·99; 95 % CI 0·97, 1·00), but did not agree with the CGS classification (κw=0·62; 95 % CI 0·50, 0·74 by WHO; κw=0·62; 95 % CI 0·51, 0·74 by GA). Also, inadequate GWG was observed in 72·2 % of cases and was correlated with a higher rate of caesarean birth.

Conclusions

BMI classification according to the CGS differed from WHO and GA. However, CGS and WHO agreed on perinatal outcomes. We recommend using BMI classification by WHO to assess pregnant adolescents, since it is easily applied and better known among health professionals.
Trade and overcoming land constraints in British industrialization: an empirical assessment
Authors: Theodoridis Dimitrios , Warde Paul , Kander Astrid
Published: October 2018

Land was an unambiguous constraint for growth in the pre-industrial period. In Britain it was overcome partly through the transition from traditional land-based goods to coal (vertical expansion) and partly through accessing overseas land, primarily from colonies (horizontal expansion). Kenneth Pomeranz suggested that horizontal expansion may have outweighed vertical expansion in the first decades of the nineteenth century. Taking a more complete approach to trade, we find that Britain was a net exporter of land embodied in traded commodities, apart from in the early nineteenth century, when potash (rather than cotton or timber) constituted the major land-demanding import from North America. The vertical expansion was generally larger than the horizontal expansion. In other words, Britain was not simply appropriating flows of land and resources from abroad but simultaneously providing its trading partners with even more land-expanding resources.
The transformation of the global palm oil cluster: dynamics of cluster competition between Africa and Southeast Asia (c.1900–1970)
Authors: Giacomin Valeria
Published: October 2018

This article explains the rise of palm oil as a global commodity during the twentieth century as the result of cooperation and competition between two different clusters in former colonial territories. The connection between these two locations was mediated by Western companies, colonial officials, scientists, and businessmen. Eventually, the Southeast Asian cluster, organized on estate lines inherited from rubber, outcompeted the old one in Africa, mostly based on the farming of semi-wild trees. The article investigates the activities of scientists and businessmen exchanging information, knowledge, and practice between Africa and Asia for almost a century. It shows that cooperation among communities of practice helped to advance palm oil knowledge, but also created increased rivalry between the two locations. Thanks to the mobility of experts, and to knowledge exchange in colonial and early postcolonial times, multinationals were able to replicate clusters across locations with similar climate, taking advantage of a business environment more conducive to foreign investment.
Writing Spanish history in the global age: connections and entanglements in the nineteenth century
Authors: Luengo Jorge , Dalmau Pol
Published: October 2018

Modern Spain has remained largely absent from the debates and narratives of global history. In sharp contrast to the early modern period, the case of Spain in the nineteenth century has been overwhelmingly studied from regional and national perspectives. Fortunately, valuable efforts to integrate this country into wider frames of analysis have emerged in the last decade. Building on these writings, this article will argue that connections and entanglements represent two valuable perspectives, which allow the insertion of the Spanish experience into contemporary narratives of global history. The article has two aims. First, it seeks to ‘decentre’ modern Spain, by moving beyond its territorial borders within the Iberian Peninsula, and by examining its global dimensions, through connections with territories, colonies, and nations on several continents. Second, it aims to reveal valuable insights for current debates on global history, which arise from a focus on a country that is usually considered to have been both marginal and peripheral.
Maternal psychological distress during pregnancy and childhood health outcomes: a narrative review
Authors: Vehmeijer F. O. L. , Guxens M. , Duijts L. , El Marroun H.
Published: October 2018

Maternal psychological distress is common in pregnancy and may influence the risk of adverse outcomes in children. Psychological distress may cause a suboptimal intrauterine environment leading to growth and developmental adaptations of the fetus and child. In this narrative review, we examined the influence of maternal psychological distress during pregnancy on fetal outcomes and child cardiometabolic, respiratory, atopic and neurodevelopment-related health outcomes. We discussed these findings from an epidemiological and life course perspective and provided recommendations for future studies. The literature in the field of maternal psychological distress and child health outcomes is extensive and shows that exposure to stress during pregnancy is associated with multiple adverse child health outcomes. Because maternal psychological distress is an important and potential modifiable factor during pregnancy, it should be a target for prevention strategies in order to optimize fetal and child health. Future studies should use innovative designs and strategies in order to address the issue of causality.
Genetic and Environmental Overlaps Among Sasang Constitution Types: A Multivariate Twin Study
Authors: Hur Yoon-Mi , Lee Siwoo , Jin Hee-Jeong
Published: October 2018

According to the Sasang theory, humans can be categorized into one of the four Sasang constitution (SC) types. The four SC types are Tae-Yang (TY), Tae-Eum (TE), So-Yang (SY), and So-Eum (SE), which are determined mainly on the basis of anthropometric characteristics, personality, and the balance of the physiological functions of the major organ systems. There is a growing recognition in the complementary and alternative medicine area that SC types have the potential to be a useful scientific tool for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases (Cooper, Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, Vol. 6 (Suppl. 1), 2009, pp. 1–3). The main purposes of the present study are to estimate genetic and environmental influences on SC types, and to explore genetic and environmental correlations that affect phenotypic associations among the SC types. In total, 1,742 (365 monozygotic male, 173 dizygotic male, 675 monozygotic female, 271 dizygotic female, and 258 opposite-sex dizygotic) twins (mean age = 19.1 ± 3.1 year) completed a Sasang questionnaire. Univariate and multivariate model-fitting analyses were performed. Total (additive and non-additive) genetic influences were 71% for males and 81% for females in TE, 70% for males and 71% for females in SE, and 47% for both sexes in SY. Non-additive genetic effects were substantial, and shared environmental influences were negligible in most SC types. Multivariate model-fitting analysis revealed that non-additive genetic and individual-specific environmental correlations between TE and SE were -0.92 (95% CI [-0.89, -0.93]) and -0.62 (95% CI [-0.57, -0.68]), respectively. The corresponding estimates were -0.55 (95% CI [-0.48, -0.61]) and -0.44 (95% CI [-0.37, -0.51]) between TE and SY and 0.19 (95% CI [0.09, 0.29]) and -0.40 (95% CI [-0.32, -0.47]) between SE and SY. These results suggest that the phenotypic associations among SC types may be mediated by pleiotropic mechanism of genes.