bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Service-dominant logic and the festival experience
Authors: Van Winkle Christine M. , Bueddefeld Jill N.H.
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to understand the process of value co-creation by examining festival attendees’ perspectives of their festival experiences. Service-dominant logic (SDL) is used as a framework to understand the how value is co-created in the festival setting.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a SDL approach and personal meaning mapping methods, this research offers insight into how value is co-created by the attendee, festival, and influential others.

Findings

This research found that personal, social, cultural, physical, place, and arts presentation domains come together to add value to the festival experience.

Research limitations/implications

This research adds insight into the value co-creation process if festival settings. SDL is examined in relation to findings and re-conceptualized based on findings. This research was not intended to generalize all performing arts festivals but instead provided a detailed descriptive account of the experiences offered by performing arts festivals examined.

Practical implications

These findings contribute to the understanding of how co-created experiences can be developed, marketed and managed and provide insight into areas of future research to better understand the co-creation process in event contexts.

Originality/value

By providing a framework for understanding the festival experience, employing SDL, and using of experiential assessment methods across festivals, this research fulfils an identified need for an in-depth understanding of the co-created meanings of festival experiences.
Productivity enhancement in North American automotive industry
Authors: Abolhassani Amir , Jaridi Majid
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify effective factors, their impact, and find estimation models of the most well-known productivity measurement, hours-per-vehicle (HPV), in the automotive industry in North American manufacturing plants.

Design/methodology/approach

Data used in this study were from North American plants that participated in the Harbour’s survey from 2002 to 2006. Data are synthesized using a uniform methodology from information supplied by the plants and supplemented with plant visits by Harbour Consulting auditors. Overall, there are 355 manufacturing plants in the statistical sample from ten different automakers’ brands including DCX, Ford, GM, Honda, Cami, Nummi, Auto Alliance, Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Toyota. The multiple linear regression was used to analyze the data and derive the HPV regression equations.

Findings

HPV is a widely recognized production performance indicator that is used by a significant percentage of worldwide automakers. During the study period, the HPV was reduced 54.75 minutes on average in each year. Annual production volume, platform sharing (PS), and flexible manufacturing (FM) factors improve HPV. However, vehicle variety, salaried employees’ percentage of the workforce, available annual working days, and launching a new model penalize HPV. Launching a new model and adding a new variety in body styles or chassis configurations raise the HPV about 2.189 and 0.642 hours, respectively, depending on the car class; however, manufacturing plants compensate for this issue by using PS and FM strategies.

Research limitations/implications

The plants which stopped production of a specific product also are included in this study and were treated similar to the regular plants. The medium duty segment was excluded from the data set due to the fact that the number of observations available was too low. The study can be repeated with additional new factors such as the level of plants’ automation and lean manufacturing either for North American or European companies.

Originality/value

The research investigates current strategies that help automakers to enhance their production performance and reduce their productivity gap. HPV regression equations that are provided in this research may be used effectively to help car makers to set guidelines to improve their productivity with respect to internal and external constraints, strength, weakness, opportunities, and threats.
Learning effect on labour productivity of repetitive concrete masonry blockwork
Authors: Jarkas Abdulaziz M.
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The applicability of learning curve theory to the construction industry has been investigated by several studies; however, the outcomes are characterised by inconsistent, rather sporadic patterns. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the effect of learning on concrete masonry blockwork labour productivity in recurring building floor cycles.

Design/methodology/approach

Repetitive blockwork labour inputs from 52 multi-storey residential buildings were collected and analysed using the straight-line learning curve model. The cumulative average labour input for each recurring floor and its corresponding cycle number were modelled using the least squares method.

Findings

According to the learning curve theory principles, labour inputs are expected to decrease by a certain percentage as the floor cycle number within each building observed increases. Nonetheless, the patterns emerged from this study provide little evidence for that.

Practical implications

Contrary to several previous findings which have asserted the significance of the learning concept to construction productivity, the results obtained for the activity investigated suggest that there is no potential context for the theory to be used as a useful tool to quantify productivity improvement, or to provide for a practical project management observation and control system.

Originality/value

Notwithstanding the numerous research into the effect of learning on construction activities, this study is unprecedented in examining the applicability of the theory to concrete masonry blockwork labour productivity in building construction. It can thus assist in achieving reliable planning, determining the plausibility of correlating past performances or predicting future expenditures, and appraising the potentiality of the learning phenomenon as a useful tool to quantify productivity improvement over the repetitive cycle process of such a distinct construction activity.
Antecedents and consequences of bank reputation: a comparison of the United Kingdom and Spain
Authors: Ruiz Belén , García Juan A. , Revilla Antonio J.
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to identify the key antecedents and consequences of bank reputation and whether their relative importance varies across countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consists of 900 bank customers, representative of the national populations in the UK (500) and Spain (400), two of the countries in which the weight of the financial system on the gross domestic product is much bigger than that of other European countries. The research hypotheses were tested by conducting a multi-group analysis with covariance-based structural equation modelling.

Findings

In contrast with previous studies, it was discovered that the most important cognitive antecedent of banks’ reputation is reliability/financial strength. This study reinforces the prominence of satisfaction as a key emotional aspect of reputation. Differences between the UK and Spain were found in the impact of employer branding and corporate social responsibility. The positive effect of bank reputation on consumer behaviour (loyalty and word of mouth) and the existence of cross-country differences as regards loyalty were also confirmed.

Originality/value

This is a systematic cross-country analysis of corporate reputation which includes not only cognitive antecedents but also emotional determinants that have been repeatedly ignored. This paper sheds light on whether the antecedents and consequences of corporate reputation vary across countries. The choice of the banking sector provides a unique opportunity to observe the determinants and outcomes of corporate reputation following an unstable time in the banking sector.
Corruption and brand value
Authors: Lin Chih-Pin , Chuang Cheng-Min
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Although multinational enterprises (MNEs) based in emerging economies arose quickly during the past decade, most of these firms lack marketing capabilities and strong brands. Emerging-economy MNEs that have tried to build their own brands have been largely unsuccessful. The purpose of this paper is to argue that corruption in the MNEs’ home countries has been detrimental to their brand values. Corruption makes it more difficult for consumers to govern their transactions with local firms, thus decreasing firms’ trustworthiness and brand values.

Design/methodology/approach

Data of the global top 500 most valuable brands of 2008 and 2014 and the Poisson regression model are used.

Findings

This study finds that firms based in countries with lower levels of corruption establish more valuable brands than those based in countries with higher corruption, even when GDP and GDP per capita are controlled.

Practical implications

Policymakers who want to help local firms increase their marketing capabilities and establish strong brands should strive to increase the trustworthiness of local firms by undertaking anti-corruption reforms aimed at protecting consumers.

Originality/value

Few studies have address the research question that why emerging-market MNEs lack marketing capabilities and strong brands. This study finds that institutional factors such as corruption at country level prevent them from establishing strong brands.
Experience, resources and export market performance
Authors: Ogasavara Mário Henrique , Boehe Dirk Michael , Barin Cruz Luciano
Published: December 2016

Purpose

Based on integrating learning, resource-based and social network theories, the purpose of this paper is to shed fresh light on the association between export experience and export performance by seeking to better understand the links between them, and assessing the boundary conditions, moderators, mediators, and non-linear relationships in greater depth.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper mobilizes a quantitative research design using a survey of Brazil-based exporters. The authors test the hypotheses proposed in this study by employing moderated mediation regression models.

Findings

The authors find support for a J-shape relationship between export experience and export market performance. In particular, the authors find that innovation and international marketing resources mediate the effect of export experience on export market performance, and the authors unveil that this mediation effect is contingent on the strength of international business network ties.

Originality/value

This study advances the export marketing literature by explaining how export experience drives export success in two ways: first, by clarifying the ambiguity in extant theoretical explanations and previous empirical findings regarding the shape of the relationship between export experience and export performance. Second, this study reconciles the disagreement as to whether superior export performance results from exporters’ existing resources or from their learning by exporting. Thus, the paper is valuable for scholars and export managers or policymakers alike by providing recommendations on how less experienced firms can overcome the initial period of weak export performance.
The dynamic equilibrium and simulation of mobile internet platform innovation ecosystem
Authors: Yao Yanhong , Zhou Huiping
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to build a symbiotic evolution model to analyze the symbiotic modes and dynamic equilibrium of mobile internet platform innovation ecosystem (MIPIE) in order to explore its evolutionary path.

Design/methodology/approach

From a symbiosis theory perspective, the authors studied the dynamic evolution stages and symbiotic mode of MIPIE. By adopting logistic model, the symbiotic evolution model of MIPIE is established. After calculating the steady conditions and equilibrium point of this model, numerical simulation was done with MATLAB software to illustrate the impact of symbiotic parameters on evolution path in this ecosystem.

Findings

The symbiotic evolution mode of MIPIE experienced parasitism, commensalism to asymmetric mutualism, and symmetry mutualism or independence. In given conditions, the dynamic evolution of MIPIE eventually tends to a steady equilibrium point. The evolutionary consequence of innovative subjects is not only determined by the natural growth rate, but symbiotic modes can also affect the evolutionary path. Different symbiotic modes result in different evolutionary paths.

Practical implications

Improved understanding of symbiosis in MIPIE could help policy makers to promote value co-creation and dynamic interests balance while facilitating the cooperation of others for successful platform ecosystem management.

Originality/value

The logistic model introduced here bridge theory and practice while establishing a stronger link between symbiosis theory and platform ecosystem management.
Effects of thermal radiation and electromagnetohydrodynamics on viscous nanofluid through a Riga plate
Authors: Bhatti Muhammad Mubashir , Abbas Tehseen , Rashidi M.M.
Published: December 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze theoretically the effects of thermal radiation with electrohydrodynamics through a Riga plate. An incompressible and irrotational fluid with constant density is taken into account. The governing flow problem is modeled with the help of linear momentum, thermal energy equation and nanoparticle concentration equation.

Design/methodology/approach

Numerical integration is used with the help of the shooting technique to examine the novel features of the velocity profile, temperature profile and nanoparticle concentration profile. The impact of all the emerging parameters is sketched with the help of graphs. The numerical values of local Nusselt number and Sherwood number are also presented.

Findings

The no-slip condition is considered for the present study. The effects of electromagnetohydrodynamics enhance the velocity profile while thermal radiation effects tend to raise the temperature profile. The present study depicts many interesting behaviors that warrant further study on Riga plates with different non-Newtonian fluid models. A comparison is also presented with the existing published results which confirms the validity of the presented methodology.

Originality/value

The results of this paper are new and original.
Use of Gallic Acid to Enhance the Antioxidant and Mechanical Properties of Active Fish Gelatin Film
Authors: Limpisophon Kanokrat , Schleining Gerhard
Published: December 2016

This study explores the potential roles of gallic acid in fish gelatin film for improving mechanical properties, UV barrier, and providing antioxidant activities. Glycerol, a common used plasticizer, also impacts on mechanical properties of the film. A factorial design was used to investigate the effects of gallic acid and glycerol concentrations on antioxidant activities and mechanical properties of fish gelatin film. Increasing the amount of gallic acid increased the antioxidant capacities of the film measured by radical scavenging assay and the ferric reducing ability of plasma assay. The released antioxidant power of gallic acid from the film was not reduced by glycerol. The presence of gallic acid not only increased the antioxidant capacity of the film, but also increased the tensile strength, elongation at break, and reduced UV absorption due to interaction between gallic acid and protein by hydrogen bonding. Glycerol did not affect the antioxidant capacities of the film, but increased the elasticity of the films. Overall, this study revealed that gallic acid entrapped in the fish gelatin film provided antioxidant activities and improved film characteristics, namely UV barrier, strength, and elasticity of the film.
Investigation into knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding medical nutrition therapy among patients with diabetes in China: Results from a national multicenter cross‐sectional study
Authors: Jing Lu Lu , Chen Wei , Sun Zi Lin , Zhu Sai Nan , Shen Li , Li Wen Xia , Huang Jin , Lou Qing Qing , Bian Rong Wen , Guo Xiao Hui ,   on behalf of the China NEEDs Study Group
Published: December 2016

Background

The aim of the present study was to investigate knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) associated with medical nutrition therapy (MNT) among Chinese adult patients with diabetes and prediabetes.

Methods

From May to August 2014, a cross‐sectional study was conducted in 40 hospitals across China. The KAP of respondents was investigated through a pretested structured questionnaire in face‐to‐face interviews. Anthropometric and biochemical data were collected, and KAP scores were recorded according to patient responses.

Results

In all, responses from 7017 of 7508 patients were analyzed. The mean (±SD) overall KAP score was 9.63 ± 3.46, with individual scores for the K, A, and P components being 2.69 ± 1.90, 1.77 ± 1.99, and 5.17 ± 1.99, respectively (out of possible total scores of 19, 6, 3, and 10, respectively). All scores were higher in respondents who received ≥15 min MNT education than in those with shorter sessions. Patients with higher KAP scores exhibited significantly better glycemic control, with a higher proportion achieving target HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose, and 2‐h postprandial blood glucose levels (P < 0.05). “Health publicity in hospitals” and “expert outpatient services” were the most favorable means of acquiring MNT information. The two predominant concerns associated with MNT were “the feasibility” and “the authenticity and professionalism of the information”.

Conclusions

Patients with diabetes and prediabetes achieved moderate scores for KAP towards MNT. Glycemic control was positively correlated with the KAP score. Thus, MNT education should be improved, with a particular focus on feasibility and authenticity and professionalism, in China.
Higher vs. lower haemoglobin threshold for transfusion in septic shock: subgroup analyses of the TRISS trial
Authors: Rygård S. L. , Holst L. B. , Wetterslev J. , Johansson P. I. , Perner A. ,   the TRISS trial group,   the Scandinavian Critical Care Trials Group
Published: December 2016

Background

Using a restrictive transfusion strategy appears to be safe in sepsis, but there may be subgroups of patients who benefit from transfusion at a higher haemoglobin level. We explored if subgroups of patients with septic shock and anaemia had better outcome when transfused at a higher vs. a lower haemoglobin threshold.

Methods

In post‐hoc analyses of the full trial population of 998 patients from the Transfusion Requirements in Septic Shock (TRISS) trial, we investigated the intervention effect on 90‐day mortality in patients with severe comorbidity (chronic lung disease, haematological malignancy or metastatic cancer), in patients who had undergone surgery (elective or acute) and in patients with septic shock as defined by the new consensus definition: lactate above 2 mmol/l and the need for vasopressors to maintain a mean arterial pressure above 65 mmHg.

Results

The baseline characteristics were mostly similar between the two intervention groups in the different subgroups. There were no differences in the intervention effect on 90‐day mortality in patients with chronic lung disease (test of interaction P = 0.31), haematological malignancy (P = 0.47), metastatic cancer (P = 0.51), in those who had undergone surgery (P = 0.99) or in patients with septic shock by the new definition (P = 0.20).

Conclusion

In exploratory analyses of a randomized trial in patients with septic shock and anaemia, we observed no survival benefit in any subgroups of transfusion at a haemoglobin threshold of 90 g/l vs. 70 g/l.
Comparing rewarding and reinforcing properties between ‘bath salt’ 3,4‐methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) and cocaine using ultrasonic vocalizations in rats
Authors: Simmons Steven J. , Gregg Ryan A. , Tran Fionya H. , Mo Lili , von Weltin Eva , Barker David J. , Gentile Taylor A. , Watterson Lucas R. , Rawls Scott M. , Muschamp John W.
Published: December 2016

Abuse of synthetic psychostimulants like synthetic cathinones has risen in recent years. 3,4‐Methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) is one such synthetic cathinone that demonstrates a mechanism of action similar to cocaine. Compared to cocaine, MDPV is more potent at blocking dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake and is readily self‐administered by rodents. The present study compared the rewarding and reinforcing properties of MDPV and cocaine using systemic injection dose‐response and self‐administration models. Fifty kilohertz ultrasonic vocalizations (USVs) were recorded as an index of positive affect throughout experiments. In Experiment 1, MDPV and cocaine dose‐dependently elicited 50‐kHz USVs upon systemic injection, but MDPV increased USVs at greater rates and with greater persistence relative to cocaine. In Experiment 2, latency to begin MDPV self‐administration was shorter than latency to begin cocaine self‐administration, and self‐administered MDPV elicited greater and more persistent rates of 50‐kHz USVs versus cocaine. MDPV‐elicited 50‐kHz USVs were sustained over the course of drug load‐up whereas cocaine‐elicited USVs waned following initial infusions. Notably, we observed a robust presence of context‐elicited 50‐kHz USVs from both MDPV and cocaine self‐administering rats. Collectively, these data suggest that MDPV has powerfully rewarding and reinforcing effects relative to cocaine at one‐tenth doses. Consistent with prior work, we additionally interpret these data in supporting that MDPV has significant abuse risk based on its potency and subjectively positive effects. Future studies will be needed to better refine therapeutic strategies targeted at reducing the rewarding effects of cathinone analogs in efforts to ultimately reduce abuse liability.
Counting the costs of alcohol: how useful an aid to policymaking?
Authors: Sassi Franco
Published: December 2016

Commentary to: Which cost of alcohol? What should we compare it against?
Runs of homozygosity: current knowledge and applications in livestock
Authors: Peripolli E. , Munari D. P. , Silva M. V. G. B. , Lima A. L. F. , Irgang R. , Baldi F.
Published: December 2016

This review presents a broader approach to the implementation and study of runs of homozygosity (ROH) in animal populations, focusing on identifying and characterizing ROH and their practical implications. ROH are continuous homozygous segments that are common in individuals and populations. The ability of these homozygous segments to give insight into a population's genetic events makes them a useful tool that can provide information about the demographic evolution of a population over time. Furthermore, ROH provide useful information about the genetic relatedness among individuals, helping to minimize the inbreeding rate and also helping to expose deleterious variants in the genome. The frequency, size and distribution of ROH in the genome are influenced by factors such as natural and artificial selection, recombination, linkage disequilibrium, population structure, mutation rate and inbreeding level. Calculating the inbreeding coefficient from molecular information from ROH (FROH) is more accurate for estimating autozygosity and for detecting both past and more recent inbreeding effects than are estimates from pedigree data (FPED). The better results of FROH suggest that FROH can be used to infer information about the history and inbreeding levels of a population in the absence of genealogical information. The selection of superior animals has produced large phenotypic changes and has reshaped the ROH patterns in various regions of the genome. Additionally, selection increases homozygosity around the target locus, and deleterious variants are seen to occur more frequently in ROH regions. Studies involving ROH are increasingly common and provide valuable information about how the genome's architecture can disclose a population's genetic background. By revealing the molecular changes in populations over time, genome‐wide information is crucial to understanding antecedent genome architecture and, therefore, to maintaining diversity and fitness in endangered livestock breeds.
Diagnostic accuracy of faecal biomarkers in detecting colorectal cancer and adenoma in symptomatic patients
Authors: Widlak M. M. , Thomas C. L. , Thomas M. G. , Tomkins C. , Smith S. , O'Connell N. , Wurie S. , Burns L. , Harmston C. , Evans C. , Nwokolo C. U. , Singh B. , Arasaradnam R. P.
Published: December 2016

Background

The diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) can be difficult as symptoms are variable with poor specificity. Thus, there is a quest for simple, non‐invasive testing that can help streamline those with significant colonic pathology.

Aim

To assess using faecal immunochemical test for haemoglobin (FIT) or faecal calprotectin (FCP) to detect CRC and adenoma in symptomatic patients referred from primary care.

Methods

A total of 799 referred for urgent lower gastrointestinal investigations were prospectively recruited. Of these, 430 completed colonic investigations and returned stool samples, and were included in the final statistical analysis. Faecal immunochemical test for haemoglobin was performed on HM‐JACKarc analyser (Kyowa Medex, Tokyo, Japan), and FCP by the EliA Calprotectin immunoassay (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, United States).

Results

The negative predictive value (NPV) using FIT alone or both markers (FIT and FCP) in combination was similar at 99% for CRC, with a sensitivity and specificity of 84% and 93%, respectively. FIT measurements were significantly higher in left‐sided colonic lesions compared with the right side; 713 vs. 94; P = 0.0203). For adenoma, the NPV using FIT alone, or both markers (FIT and FCP) in combination, was similar at 94% with a sensitivity and specificity of 69% and 56%, respectively.

Conclusions

Undetectable faecal immunochemical test for haemoglobin is sufficiently sensitive to exclude colorectal cancer, with higher values in left‐sided lesions. FCP in combination does not appear to provide additional diagnostic information. Further studies to determine the health economic benefits of implementing faecal immunochemical test for haemoglobin in primary care are required.
Systematic approach to understanding the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis
Authors: Zuo Xiaoxia , Zhang Lihua , Luo Hui , Li Yisha , Zhu Honglin
Published: December 2016

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex heterogeneous autoimmune disease. Progressive organ fibrosis is a major contributor to SSc mortality. Despite extensive efforts, the underlying mechanism of SSc remains unclear. Efforts to understand the pathogenesis of SSc have included genomics, epigenetics, transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomic studies in the last decade.

This review focuses on recent studies in SSc research based on multi‐omics. The combination of these technologies can help us understand the pathogenesis of SSc. This review aims to provide important information for disease identification, therapeutic targets and potential biomarkers.
Associations between benign cutaneous nevi and risk of Type 2 diabetes mellitus in men and women: results from two prospective cohort studies
Authors: Dai H. , Sun Q. , Zhang C. , Zhang X. , Li W.‐Q. , Manson J. E. , Hu F. B. , Song Y.
Published: December 2016

Aim

To examine the association of cutaneous nevi with Type 2 diabetes risk.

Methods

We prospectivly examined the associations between nevus count and risk of Type 2 diabetes among 26 240 men (1988–2010) from the Health Professionals Follow‐up Study and 67 050 women (1986–2010) from the Nurses' Health Study. Information on the numbers of cutaneous nevi on arms at baseline and incident cases of Type 2 diabetes was collected using validated questionnaires.

Results

During 1 879 287 person‐years of follow‐up, we documented 9040 incident cases of Type 2 diabetes. After adjustment for age, BMI and other diabetes risk factors, greater number of nevi was associated with higher risk of Type 2 diabetes. Multivariable‐adjusted hazard ratios for <1, 1–5, 6–14 and ≥15 nevi were 1.00 (reference), 1.02 (95% CI 0.93, 1.13), 1.08 (95% CI 0.88, 1.34) and 1.57 (95% CI 1.15, 2.15), respectively, for men (P for linear trend = 0.01), and 1.00 (reference), 1.07 (95% CI 1.02, 1.13), 0.98 (95% CI 0.87, 1.10), and 1.25 (1.01, 1.54), respectively, for women (P for linear trend = 0.05). This positive association remained consistent across subgroups stratified by age, BMI, multivitamin use, smoking status, alcohol, physical activity, history of hypercholesterolaemia, family history of diabetes, history of hypertension and menopausal status (in women).

Conclusions

Cutaneous nevus count may represent a novel marker for development of Type 2 diabetes, suggesting a possible unique melanocytic nevus‐related mechanism in the pathogenesis of Type 2 diabetes. Further studies are warranted to confirm the findings and to investigate the underlying mechanisms.
The PDE4 inhibitor roflumilast reduces weight gain by increasing energy expenditure and leads to improved glucose metabolism
Authors: Möllmann Julia , Kahles Florian , Lebherz Corinna , Kappel Ben , Baeck Christer , Tacke Frank , Werner Christian , Federici Massimo , Marx Nikolaus , Lehrke Michael
Published: December 2016

Aims

To investigate the metabolic effects of the phosphodiesterase‐4 (PDE4) inhibitor roflumilast, a clinically approved anti‐inflammatory drug used for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Materials and methods

The metabolic effects of roflumilast were investigated in C57BL/6J mice, fed a high‐fat Western‐type diet and treated with or without roflumilast for a period of 12 weeks.

Results

Roflumilast led to a marked reduction in body weight gain, which became apparent in the second week after treatment initiation and was attributable to a pronounced increase in energy expenditure. Furthermore, roflumilast improved glucose tolerance, reduced insulin resistance and diminished steatohepatitis in mice. Mechanistically, this was associated with hepatic protein kinase A (PKA) and cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) activation, leading to peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor gamma coactivator‐1α (PCG‐1α)‐dependent induction of mitochondrial biogenesis. Consistently, roflumilast increased the cellular respiratory capacity of hepatocytes in a PKA‐dependent manner.

Conclusion

Roflumilast‐dependent PDE4 inhibition is a new target for weight loss strategies, especially in conditions of associated comorbidities such as insulin resistance and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis.
Generation of β‐lactoglobulin‐modified transgenic goats by homologous recombination
Authors: Zhu Hongmei , Hu Linyong , Liu Jun , Chen Huatao , Cui Chenchen , Song Yujie , Jin Yaping , Zhang Yong
Published: December 2016

β‐Lactoglobulin (BLG) is a dominant allergen present in the milk of goats and other ungulates, although it is not found in human breast milk. Thus, the presence of BLG restricts the consumption of goat's milk by humans. In the present study, we examined whether the disruption of the BLG gene in goats by homologous recombination (HR) reduced BLG content in goat's milk and decreased the allergic response to milk. In one approach, exon 2 of the BLG gene was efficiently targeted using HR with a BLG knockout vector. In a second approach to disrupt BLG gene expression and drive exogenous human α‐lactalbumin (hLA) gene expression, two hLA knock‐in constructs were used to target exons 1–4 of the BLG gene via HR, and expression of hLA was then confirmed in goat mammary epithelial cells in vitro. The recombinant clones from both approaches were then used for somatic cell nuclear transfer, generating two transgenic goats possessing a BLG knockout allele or site‐specific hLA integration allele. Milk assays demonstrated a reduction in BLG levels in both the BLG knockout and hLA knock‐in goats; furthermore, hLA was present in the hLA knock‐in goat's milk. Allergenic analysis in mice indicated that the transgenic goat's milk was less allergenic than wild‐type goat's milk. These results support the development of gene‐targeted animals as an effective tool for reducing allergic reactions to milk and improving nutrition.
Monocentricity and Directional Heterogeneity: A Conditional Parametric Approach
Authors: Oller Ramon , Martori Joan Carles , Madariaga Rafa
Published: December 2016

The basic monocentric city model implies a decreasing relationship between distance to the Central Business District and outcome variables such as population density, housing prices, land rent, and income. Implicitly, the monocentric model implies directional homogeneity, that is, the distance effect does not depend on the direction in which it is being measured. Only a few works have analyzed the problem of directional heterogeneity. A new conditional parametric approach is introduced to deal with the issue. We study how this approach performs under different spatial patterns comparing with several other methods. An application to the spatial distribution of wage income in the municipality of Madrid is carried out to illustrate the main characteristics of the method and to show the comparative advantages.
Fear of falling and physical function in older adults with cataract: Exploring the role of vision as a moderator
Authors: Palagyi Anna , Ng Jonathon Q , Rogers Kris , Meuleners Lynn , McCluskey Peter , White Andrew , Morlet Nigel , Keay Lisa
Published: December 2016

Aim

To examine fear of falling and associated factors in a cohort of older adults with cataract, and investigate the interplay of vision and physical function with respect to fear of falling.

Methods

We analyzed baseline data from a longitudinal study of adults aged ≥65 years referred for cataract surgery. Fear of falling was assessed by the Short Falls Efficacy Scale‐International. Physical function was determined by the Short Physical Performance Battery. Participants underwent assessment of visual acuity, contrast sensitivity, visual disability, quality of life, depressive symptoms, exercise frequency, comorbidity and falls history. Factors associated with fear of falling were assessed using linear regression. Planned stepwise regression investigated vision as a potential moderator of the relationship between physical function and fear of falling.

Results

Among 322 participants, 32.9 % (n = 106) showed high fear of falling. Poorer physical function, more comorbidities and greater visual disability were independently associated with a higher fear of falling (all P < 0.001). Visual disability moderated the relationship between physical function and fear of falling (β = −0.10, P = 0.04). The impact of physical function on fear of falling was strongest in participants with higher (+1 standard deviation above the mean) visual disability (b = −0.21, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Fear of falling in older adults with cataract is greatest in those with poorer physical function and higher levels of visual disability. Perceived visual ability has a moderating role in the relationship between physical function and fear of falling; physical function alone might not adequately predict falls concern. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 1551–1558.
Chronic Migraine: An Update on Physiology, Imaging, and the Mechanism of Action of Two Available Pharmacologic Therapies
Authors: Aurora Sheena K. , Brin Mitchell F.
Published: December 2016

Several lines of research support the hypothesis that migraine is a spectrum of illness, with clinical symptoms that vary along a continuum from episodic migraine to chronic migraine. Physiologic changes may result in episodic migraine evolving into chronic migraine over months to years in susceptible individuals. With chronification, headache frequency increases, becoming more disabling and less responsive to therapy. Neurophysiologic and functional imaging research has reported that chronic migraine may be associated with severity‐specific metabolic, functional, and structural abnormalities in the brainstem. Without longitudinal studies, it is unclear whether these changes may represent a continuum of individual progression and/or are reversible. Furthermore, chronic migraine is associated with larger impairments in cortical processing of sensory stimuli when compared with episodic migraine, possibly caused by more pronounced cortical hyperexcitability.

Progressive changes in nociceptive thresholds and subsequent central sensitization due to recurrent migraine attacks in vulnerable individuals contribute to the chronic migraine state. This may result in changes to baseline neurologic function between headache attacks, evident in both electrophysiological and functional imaging research. Patients experiencing migraine chronification may report increased non‐headache pain, fatigue, psychiatric disorders (eg, depression, anxiety), gastrointestinal complaints, and other somatic conditions associated with their long‐term experience with migraine pain.

Recent research provides a foundation for differentiating episodic and chronic migraine based on neurophysiologic and neuroimaging tools. In this literature review, we consider these findings in the context of models designed to explain the physiology and progression of episodic migraine into chronic migraine, and consider treatment of chronic migraine in susceptible individuals. Advances in pharmacotherapy provide treatment options for chronic migraine. Of the currently available treatment options, only onabotulinumtoxinA and topiramate have received regulatory approval and have demonstrated efficacy in patients with chronic migraine, although the exact mechanisms of action are not fully elucidated.
Imatinib accelerates progenitor cell‐mediated liver regeneration in choline‐deficient ethionine‐supplemented diet‐fed mice
Authors: Rókusz András , Bugyik Edina , Szabó Vanessza , Szücs Armanda , Paku Sándor , Nagy Péter , Dezső Katalin
Published: December 2016

Severe chronic hepatic injury can induce complex reparative processes. Ductular reaction and the appearance of small hepatocytes are standard components of this response, which is thought to have both adverse (e.g. fibrosis, carcinogenesis) and beneficial (regeneration) consequences. This complex tissue reaction is regulated by orchestrated cytokine action. We have investigated the influence of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor imatinib on a regenerative process. Ductular reaction was induced in mice by the widely used choline‐deficient ethionine‐supplemented diet (CDE). Test animals were treated daily with imatinib. After 6 weeks of treatment, imatinib successfully reduced the extent of ductular reaction and fibrosis in the CDE model. Furthermore, the number of small hepatocytes increased, and these cells had high proliferative activity, were positive for hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 and expressed high levels of albumin and peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor alpha. The overall functional zonality of the hepatic parenchyma (cytochrome P450 2E1 and glucose 6 phosphatase activity; endogenous biotin content) was maintained. The expression of platelet‐derived growth factor receptor beta, which is the major target of imatinib, was downregulated. The anti‐fibrotic activity of imatinib has already been reported in several experimental models. Additionally, in the CDE model imatinib was able to enhance regeneration and preserve the functional arrangement of hepatic lobules. These results suggest that imatinib might promote the recovery of the liver following parenchymal injury through the inhibition of platelet‐derived growth factor receptor beta.
Dry skin conditions are related to the recovery rate of skin temperature after cold stress rather than to blood flow
Authors: Yoshida‐Amano Yasuko , Nomura Tomoko , Sugiyama Yoshinori , Iwata Kayoko , Higaki Yuko , Tanahashi Masanori
Published: December 2016

Background

Cutaneous blood flow plays an important role in the thermoregulation, oxygen supply, and nutritional support necessary to maintain the skin. However, there is little evidence for a link between blood flow and skin physiology. Therefore, we conducted surveys of healthy volunteers to determine the relationship(s) between dry skin properties and cutaneous vascular function.

Methods

Water content of the stratum corneum, transepidermal water loss, and visual dryness score were investigated as dry skin parameters. Cutaneous blood flow in the resting state, the recovery rate (RR) of skin temperature on the hand after a cold‐stress test, and the responsiveness of facial skin blood flow to local cooling were examined as indices of cutaneous vascular functions. The relationships between dry skin parameters and cutaneous vascular functions were assessed.

Results

The RR correlated negatively with the visual dryness score of skin on the leg but correlated positively with water content of the stratum corneum on the arm. No significant correlation between the resting state of blood flow and dry skin parameters was observed. In both the face and the body, deterioration in skin dryness from summer to winter was significant in subjects with low RR. The RR correlated well with the responsiveness of facial skin blood flow to local cooling, indicating that the RR affects systemic dry skin conditions.

Conclusions

These results suggest that the RR but not blood flow at the resting state is associated with dry skin conditions and is involved in skin homeostasis during seasonal environmental changes.
Genomic evaluation of regional dairy cattle breeds in single‐breed and multibreed contexts
Authors: Jónás D. , Ducrocq V. , Fritz S. , Baur A. , Sanchez M.‐P. , Croiseau P.
Published: December 2016

An important prerequisite for high prediction accuracy in genomic prediction is the availability of a large training population, which allows accurate marker effect estimation. This requirement is not fulfilled in case of regional breeds with a limited number of breeding animals. We assessed the efficiency of the current French routine genomic evaluation procedure in four regional breeds (Abondance, Tarentaise, French Simmental and Vosgienne) as well as the potential benefits when the training populations consisting of males and females of these breeds are merged to form a multibreed training population. Genomic evaluation was 5–11% more accurate than a pedigree‐based BLUP in three of the four breeds, while the numerically smallest breed showed a < 1% increase in accuracy. Multibreed genomic evaluation was beneficial for two breeds (Abondance and French Simmental) with maximum gains of 5 and 8% in correlation coefficients between yield deviations and genomic estimated breeding values, when compared to the single‐breed genomic evaluation results. Inflation of genomic evaluation of young candidates was also reduced. Our results indicate that genomic selection can be effective in regional breeds as well. Here, we provide empirical evidence proving that genetic distance between breeds is only one of the factors affecting the efficiency of multibreed genomic evaluation.
Flower visitation by European birds offers the first evidence of interaction release in continents
Authors: da Silva Luís P. , Ramos Jaime A. , Coutinho António Pereira , Tenreiro Paulo Q. , Heleno Ruben H.
Published: December 2016

Aim

All species are imbedded in a network of interactions with other species, which define an important component of their ecological niche. These interactions are dynamic and can change the emergence of vacant niches in the environment. Niche adjustments have been predicted to be particularly common on insular communities as a response to the poor and disharmonic biota of oceanic island – the interaction release hypothesis, however, the phenomena has not yet been reported on continents. Taxonomic groups of specialized nectarivorous birds are present on all continents except in Europe where they became extinct in the Oligocene, likely leaving behind underexplored flower resources. We performed the first community‐level assessment of flower visitation by European birds to evaluate if insectivorous and granivorous birds show an interaction release towards consuming flower resources in Europe.

Location

Larçã – Coimbra, Portugal, Europe.

Methods

During one year, we collected pollen loads from the forehead of 634 birds. Pollen loads were prepared by acetolysis and all pollen grains were identified under a microscope. All interactions were compiled into a quantitative interaction matrix describing the first pollen‐transport network by European birds.

Results

One‐fifth of the bird individuals, corresponding to two thirds of the bird species sampled carried pollen from 45 different types. The vast majority of the plant species found were native but the alien Eucalyptus globulus was by far the species most commonly found in the birds’ pollen loads. Overall, the structure of the pollen‐transport network from Europe shared many attributes of other networks that include taxonomic groups of specialized nectarivorous birds.

Main conclusions

We show that the interaction release hypothesis is not exclusive to insular communities but can also be observed in continents, greatly increasing the potential geographical distribution of this phenomenon. However, it seems considerably less pronounced in Europe than in the Galápagos, where it was first described, probably due to the much stronger selective pressures on the simplified ecosystems of oceanic islands.
Fire is a major driver of patterns of genetic diversity in two co‐occurring Tasmanian palaeoendemic conifers
Authors: Worth James R. P. , Jordan Gregory J. , Marthick James R. , Sakaguchi Shota , Colhoun Eric A. , Williamson Grant J. , Ito Motomi , Bowman David M. J. S.
Published: December 2016

Aim

The impacts of Holocene fires on the genetic architecture of fire‐intolerant species have largely been overlooked. Here, we investigate the relative impacts of the last glacial climate versus Holocene fires on the genetic diversity of two co‐occurring, fire‐intolerant conifers using a comparative population genetic study.

Location

The palaeoendemic plant‐rich montane rain forests and alpine coniferous heath of Tasmania, Australia.

Methods

The Tasmanian endemic conifersAthrotaxis cupressoidesD. Don (461 samples from 20 populations) andDiselma archeriHook.f. (576 samples from 23 populations, 16 of which were for sites sampled forA. cupressoides), were genotyped using eight and nineESTnuclear microsatellites respectively. Genetic diversity and structure was compared between the two species and the factors underlying genetic patterns in both species were investigated by examining isolation by distance, correlations with Last Glacial Maximum modelled distributions and the fossil record, and a fire history index of the sampled stands.

Results

The range‐wide genetic structure of the two species was similar (Fst = 0.09 andF’st = 0.21 forA. cupressoidesversusD. archeri;Fst = 0.06 andF’st = 0.24), and there were significant correlations between species for population‐based expected heterozygosity, allelic richness, private allelic richness and pairwise genetic divergences. Furthermore, genetic diversity metrics decreased significantly with an index of fire history. Given fossil evidence and modelling evidence that both species occurred near their current ranges during the last glaciation and a lack of evidence for isolation by distance in either species, the plausible explanation for the patterns of diversity is genetic decline resulting from repeated Holocene fires.

Main conclusions

Our study suggests that fire can have substantial impacts on genetic structure and diversity of plant species, particularly those without fire‐tolerant traits, and that any increases in fire resulting from climate change may impose substantial threats to such species. In Tasmania, the observed increase in dry lightning in recent years, combined with periods of abnormally dry conditions, may therefore further degrade the range and genetic diversity of fire‐intolerant palaeoendemic species.