bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Judicial Independence as the Outcome of a Political System
Authors: Staton Jeffrey K.
Published: May 2016

This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. Please check back later for the full article.

A broad international consensus supports the view that ensuring judicial independence is a normatively appealing goal, either because independence is itself a virtue or because it is believed to set the conditions for many other normatively appealing goals. Academic research on the subject raises questions about what independence is and whether it is a useful concept at all. Scholars question whether independence can be designed, and if so, under what conditions. Assuming that judicial independence can be generated, scholars also question whether it will produce the ends we desire. This diversity of opinion is driven by the fact that judicial independence is a product of potentially complicated political processes. Scholars disagree about how these processes work. Particular theoretical models of the political systems in which judges are embedded have clear implications for all aspects of the research process, from conceptual development to causal inference. Absent theoretical consensus on the way that politics works in particular places, we cannot expect consensus over the nature, construction, and effects of judicial independence. The implication of this view is that reform efforts must be guided as much by the theoretical and normative orientations of designers. What scholars can do is help designers make their theoretical and normative commitments transparent.
The Social Brain Hypothesis and Human Evolution
Authors: Dunbar Robin I. M.
Published: May 2016

Primate societies are unusually complex compared to those of other animals, and the need to manage such complexity is the main explanation for the fact that primates have unusually large brains. Primate sociality is based on bonded relationships that underpin coalitions, which in turn are designed to buffer individuals against the social stresses of living in large, stable groups. This is reflected in a correlation between social group size and neocortex size in primates (but not other species of animals), commonly known as the social brain hypothesis, although this relationship itself is the outcome of an underlying relationship between brain size and behavioral complexity. The relationship between brain size and group size is mediated, in humans at least, by mentalizing skills. Neuropsychologically, these are all associated with the size of units within the theory of mind network (linking prefrontal cortex and temporal lobe units). In addition, primate sociality involves a dual-process mechanism whereby the endorphin system provides a psychopharmacological platform off which the cognitive component is then built. This article considers the implications of these findings for the evolution of human cognition over the course of hominin evolution.
The Alevis
Authors: Procházka-Eisl Gisela
Published: May 2016

The Alevis are a religious community on the periphery of Shia Islam. The name “Alevi” means “Adherents of ʿAli,” alluding to Muhammad’s son-in-law and cousin ʿAli ibn Abi Talib, who enjoys extraordinary veneration among Alevis. Alevism was developed in Central Anatolia during the 13th century by itinerant Muslim mystics. It includes elements of pre-Islamic Turkish shamanism and aspects of mainstream Shia Islam, which influenced it through cultural contacts with Safavid Iran. Alevism never was a unified and homogeneous community but has always had a variety of sub-groups. For centuries Alevis practiced their rites in secret, which created suspicion and rumor among Sunnite Muslims. Today’s Alevis still have to struggle with this distrust, and are often regarded as heretics by the Sunnites. The designation “Alevi” came into use in the early 20th century as a collective term for a number of religious groups such as Bektaşi, Tahtacı, and Abdal, and today is used instead of the former, pejorative term Kızılbaş (“Red-Heads”). The Alevis are the largest religious minority group in the Republic of Turkey, where their estimated number is around 15 million. Large Alevi groups also reside in the Balkan states as well as in Central and Western Europe, particularly Germany and Austria. Roughly two-thirds of the Alevis are Turkish speakers. The other third speak Kurdish and Zazaki.

In the 1980s, the community underwent the so-called “Alevi revival,” a process of exposure and openness that can be partly explained as a reaction against the re-Islamization of Turkish society. Today Alevis perform their rites and express their beliefs openly.

Although they share certain features with them, the Alevis should not be confused with the Alawis (Nusayris), who live in southern Turkey and Syria and who are all Arabic speakers.
The Saamaka Maroons of Suriname
Authors: Price Richard , Price Sally
Published: May 2016

This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Latin American History. Please check back later for the full article.

Fifty years ago, we began wide-ranging anthropological and historical work with Saamaka Maroons, the descendants of slaves who had escaped from the plantations of coastal Suriname in the late 17th and early 18th centuries and established an independent society and culture deep in the Amazonian rainforest. Then a colony of the Netherlands, Suriname became an independent republic in 1975. Events of the 1980s and 1990s—most notably a civil war between the State and the Maroons and the subsequent decision by the State to exploit the timber and mineral riches of the Saamakas’ traditional territory—have led to wrenching changes for people who were once the masters of their forest realm. As the most visible and activist academic supporters of the Saamakas, the authors were barred from Suriname by the national government and, since 1986, have been condemned to continuing work in neighboring French Guiana (Guyane), where tens of thousands of Saamakas in exile have become part of a complex multi-ethnic society driven by strong assimilationist policies authored in Paris. During this same period, the authors have become increasingly involved in activism, assisting the Saamaka people in Suriname in their struggle to protect their territory, which has unfolded before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.

What are the moral dilemmas posed by this activist work? What has it been like writing Saamaka ethnography and history from the excentric location of Guyane? How do we imagine the book that we will never get to write, about changes and continuities in Saamaka life over the past fifty years?
Yellow Fever in the Caribbean
Authors: Espinosa Mariola
Published: May 2016

This is an advance summary of a forthcoming article in the Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Latin American History. Please check back later for the full article.

Yellow fever was one of the most dreaded diseases in the Caribbean region from its first appearance in the 1650s until the confirmation of its spread via the bites of infected mosquitos in 1900. Fear of the disease resulted from not just its high mortality rate, but also the horrifying manner in which it killed its victims: after several days of fever, chills, and body aches, the skin and eyes of those who were most seriously infected would turn yellow as their livers failed, they would bleed from the eyes and nose, and they would succumb to the vomiting of coagulated blood. Because the virus caused only mild symptoms in children and a single episode confers lifetime immunity, the disease did not heavily impact natives of the region. Instead, it was newcomers in the Caribbean who suffered the worst ravages.
Snow Avalanches
Authors: Ancey Christophe
Published: May 2016

Avalanches have long been a natural threat to humans in mountainous areas. At the end of the Middle Ages, the population in Europe experienced significant growth, leading to an intensive exploitation of upper valleys. At almost the same time, Europe’s climate cooled down considerably and severe winters became more common. In the Alps, several villages were partly destroyed by avalanches, forcing inhabitants to develop the first mitigation strategies against the threat. By the late 19th century, the development of central administrations led to the creation of national forestry departments in each alpine country, principally to tackle the dangers posed by avalanches. As a result, forest engineers conceived not only the science of avalanches but also the first large-scale techniques to alleviate avalanche risks (such as reforestation). However, with the steady growth of transport, industry, tourism, and urbanization in high-altitude areas, these earlier measures soon reached their limits. A new impetus was then given to better forecasting avalanche activity and predicting the destructive potential of extreme avalanches. Avalanche zoning, snowfall forecasts, avalanche-dynamics models, and new protection systems for the protection of structures and inhabitants have become increasingly more common since World War II.

With the advent of personal computers and the increasing sophistication of computational resources, it has become easier to predict the behavior of avalanches and protect threatened areas accordingly. The success of this research and the protection policies implemented since World War II are reflected in the drastic reduction in the number of disasters affecting dwellings in the Alps (most deaths by avalanche now occur during recreational activities). Significant progress has been made since the 1980s, leading to a better understanding of avalanche behavior and the mediation of associated risks. Yet we should not assume that this progress is steady or that our capacity to control such hazards is more advanced than it was two decades ago. Efforts to predict avalanches contrast with work in other sciences such as meteorology, for which forecasts have become increasingly more reliable with advancements in computational power. Explaining the difference is simple: in meteorology, the material is air, a substance whose behavior is well known. The main difficulty lies in the computation of enormous volumes of air encountering various flow and temperature conditions. For avalanches, the material is snow, a subtle mixture of water (in different forms) and air, whose behavior is remarkably complex. Modern models of avalanche dynamics are able to predict this behavior with varying degrees of success.
Biodiversity in Heterogeneous and Dynamic Landscapes
Authors: Sirami Clélia
Published: May 2016

Although the concept of biodiversity emerged 30 years ago, patterns and processes influencing ecological diversity have been studied for more than a century. Historically, ecological processes tended to be considered as occurring in local habitats that were spatially homogeneous and temporally at equilibrium. Initially considered as a constraint to be avoided in ecological studies, spatial heterogeneity was progressively recognized as critical for biodiversity. This resulted, in the 1970s, in the emergence of a new discipline, landscape ecology, whose major goal is to understand how spatial and temporal heterogeneity influence biodiversity. To achieve this goal, researchers came to realize that a fundamental issue revolves around how they choose to conceptualize and measure heterogeneity. Indeed, observed landscape patterns and their apparent relationship with biodiversity often depend on the scale of observation and the model used to describe the landscape. Due to the strong influence of island biogeography, landscape ecology has focused primarily on spatial heterogeneity. Several landscape models were conceptualized, allowing for the prediction and testing of distinct but complementary effects of landscape heterogeneity on species diversity. We now have ample empirical evidence that patch structure, patch context, and mosaic heterogeneity all influence biodiversity. More recently, the increasing recognition of the role of temporal scale has led to the development of new conceptual frameworks acknowledging that landscapes are not only heterogeneous but also dynamic. The current challenge remains to truly integrate both spatial and temporal heterogeneity in studies on biodiversity. This integration is even more challenging when considering that biodiversity often responds to environmental changes with considerable time lags, and multiple drivers of global changes are interacting, resulting in non-additive and sometimes antagonistic effects. Recent technological advances in remote sensing, the availability of massive amounts of data, and long-term studies represent, however, very promising avenues to improve our understanding of how spatial and temporal heterogeneity influence biodiversity.
Undocumented Migrants and Detention Facilities
Authors: Zorn Jelka
Published: May 2016

Being undocumented does not mean being without ties to one’s host society: undocumented immigrants might work and have family and friends; they might be active in community life, etc. However, due to a lack of formal status, they are vulnerable to detention and deportation. Instead of vilifying migrants for their irregular situation, the article sees immigration controls as a source of unjust policies and practices. Immigrant detention means administrative imprisonment without the normal due process safeguards commonly demanded in liberal democracies. Its consequences are separated families and broken individuals. Social work is seen as a profession developing ethical considerations and arguments to advocate for the right to belong to an organized political community, the right to social security, and the right to personal liberties being applicable to all people, regardless of their immigration status.
Liberation-Based Practice
Authors: Almeida Rhea , Melendez Diana , Paez José Miguel
Published: May 2016

The process of decolonizing is a precursor to liberatory transformation and the foundation for the creation of liberation-based practices. Decolonizing strategies call for changing the lens and the language and debunking the myth of healing through diagnostic codes; and the rigid compartmentalization of mind-body of individuals, and of individuals with regard to their families, their context, and their healing spaces Decolonizing strategies encompass the multiplicity of personal and public institutional locations that frame identities within historic, colonial, economic, and political life. People in various global localities are unwittingly situated within a range of broad and nuanced descriptors, such as indigenous hosts, nationality, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or religious preference or a combination of these. These personal economic, social, and political intersections are largely unacknowledged by early-21st-century Western models of psychological practice in social work and allied disciplines. Postmodernism and poststructuralism as epistemological frameworks still reproduce a particular form of coloniality. Alternatively, liberation-based practice locates the complexities of these frameworks within a societal matrix that shapes relationships in the context of power, privilege, and oppression. Accompanied by tools for identifying and decolonizing lived experiences within culture circles, liberation-based practice builds on the foundations of critical consciousness, empowerment, and accountability.
Saleebey, M. Dennis
Authors: Lieberman Alice
Published: May 2016

Dennis Saleebey was Professor, School of Social Welfare, University of Kansas (1987–2006), and one of the most important scholars in the development and extension of the strengths perspective to diverse populations and milieus in social work practice.
African American Social Welfare History
Authors: Carlton-LaNey Iris
Published: May 2016

This article discusses the African American social welfare system that began to develop during the early 20th century. This social welfare system, designed by African Americans to serve African Americans, addressed needs that were not being met by any other formal social services while the nascent social work profession was emerging. The myriad programs included settlement houses, boys and girls programs, training schools, and day nurseries. The women’s club movement played a critical role in the development of this social welfare system and provided much of the impetus for change and inclusion. Through formal organizations, including the National Urban League (NUL) and the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA), and an array of clubs and social groups, social services were extended to urban and rural communities throughout the United States.
Global Gender Inequality
Authors: Littlefield Melissa B. , McLane-Davison Denise , Vakalahi Halaevalu F. O.
Published: May 2016

Mechanisms of oppression that serve to subordinate the strengths, knowledge, experiences, and needs of women in families, communities, and societies to those of men are at the root of gender inequality. Grounded in the strengths perspective of social work, the basic premise of the present discussion emphasizes gender equality as opposed to inequality. At the core of gender equality is the value of womanhood and the need to ensure the health and well-being of women and girls. Women’s participation in different societal domains including economic opportunities, political empowerment, educational attainment, health, and well-being are all impacted by their roles. Thus, structural weaknesses are major barriers for reforming efforts on global gender equality. Challenging traditional notions of gender, which is defined as behavioral, cultural, and social characteristics that are linked to womanhood or manhood, is the basis for achieving gender equality by attending to how these characteristics govern the relationship between women and men and the power differences that impact choices and agency to choose. Further, both equality of opportunity and equality of outcome are imperative for achieving gender equality among women and girls. Although progress has been made toward gender equality for many women, lower income women—as well as women who face social exclusion stemming from their caste, disability, location, ethnicity, and sexual orientation––have not experienced improvements in gender equality to the same extent as other women. Broad outcomes of gender equality around the globe include decreased poverty, increased social and economic justice, and better well-being and empowerment among men and women. Gender equality is a smart tool for economic development because it can remove barriers to access and enhance productivity gains in a competitive world.
Complementary learning systems within the hippocampus: A neural network modeling approach to reconciling episodic memory with statistical learning
Authors: Schapiro Anna C. , Turk-Browne Nicholas B. , Botvinick Matthew M. , Norman Kenneth A.
Published: May 2016

A growing literature suggests that the hippocampus is critical for the rapid extraction of regularities from the environment. Although this fits with the known role of the hippocampus in rapid learning, it seems at odds with the idea that the hippocampus specializes in memorizing individual episodes. In particular, the Complementary Learning Systems theory argues that there is a computational trade-off between learning the specifics of individual experiences and regularities that hold across those experiences. We asked whether it is possible for the hippocampus to handle both statistical learning and memorization of individual episodes. We exposed a neural network model that instantiates known properties of hippocampal projections and subfields to sequences of items with temporal regularities. We found that the monosynaptic pathway — the pathway connecting entorhinal cortex directly to region CA1 — was able to support statistical learning, while the trisynaptic pathway — connecting entorhinal cortex to CA1 through dentate gyrus and CA3 — learned only individual episodes, with apparent representations of regularities resulting from associative reactivation through recurrence. Thus, in paradigms involving rapid learning, the computational trade-off between learning episodes and regularities may be handled by separate anatomical pathways within the hippocampus itself.
A widespread sequence-specific mRNA decay pathway mediated by hnRNPs A1 and A2/B1
Authors: Geissler Rene , Simkin Alfred , Floss Doreen , Patel Ravi , Fogarty Elizabeth A. , Scheller Jürgen , Grimson Andrew
Published: May 2016

3′-untranslated regions (UTRs) specify post-transcriptional fates of mammalian messenger RNAs (mRNAs), yet knowledge of the underlying sequences and mechanisms is largely incomplete. Here, we identify two related novel 3′ UTR motifs in mammals that specify transcript degradation. These motifs are interchangeable and active only within 3′ UTRs, where they are often preferentially conserved; furthermore, they are found in hundreds of transcripts, many encoding regulatory proteins. We found that degradation occurs via mRNA deadenylation, mediated by the CCR4–NOT complex. We purified trans factors that recognize the motifs and identified heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) A1 and A2/B1, which are required for transcript degradation, acting in a previously unknown manner. We used RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to confirm hnRNP A1 and A2/B1 motif-dependent roles genome-wide, profiling cells depleted of these factors singly and in combination. Interestingly, the motifs are most active within the distal portion of 3′ UTRs, suggesting that their role in gene regulation can be modulated by alternative processing, resulting in shorter 3′ UTRs.
Diverging roles for Lrp4 and Wnt signaling in neuromuscular synapse development during evolution
Authors: Remédio Leonor , Gribble Katherine D. , Lee Jennifer K. , Kim Natalie , Hallock Peter T. , Delestrée Nicolas , Mentis George Z. , Froemke Robert C. , Granato Michael , Burden Steven J.
Published: May 2016

Motor axons approach muscles that are prepatterned in the prospective synaptic region. In mice, prepatterning of acetylcholine receptors requires Lrp4, a LDLR family member, and MuSK, a receptor tyrosine kinase. Lrp4 can bind and stimulate MuSK, strongly suggesting that association between Lrp4 and MuSK, independent of additional ligands, initiates prepatterning in mice. In zebrafish, Wnts, which bind the Frizzled (Fz)-like domain in MuSK, are required for prepatterning, suggesting that Wnts may contribute to prepatterning and neuromuscular development in mammals. We show that prepatterning in mice requires Lrp4 but not the MuSK Fz-like domain. In contrast, prepatterning in zebrafish requires the MuSK Fz-like domain but not Lrp4. Despite these differences, neuromuscular synapse formation in zebrafish and mice share similar mechanisms, requiring Lrp4, MuSK, and neuronal Agrin but not the MuSK Fz-like domain or Wnt production from muscle. Our findings demonstrate that evolutionary divergent mechanisms establish muscle prepatterning in zebrafish and mice.
Third-sector job quality: evidence from Finland
Authors: Ruuskanen Petri , Selander Kirsikka , Anttila Timo
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to study the perceived job quality and job satisfaction among third-sector employees and compare job quality in the third, public and private sector.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study is based on the quality of work life (QWL) survey data gathered by Statistics Finland. The QWL data are complemented with data set collected among third-sector employees. In the sector comparisons percentage shares were used to compare different dimensions of job quality between the sectors. Regression analysis was used to control the structural labour market differences between the sectors.

Findings

– The results show that job quality in the third sector differs substantially from that in both the public and private sectors. Employees in the third sector are less satisfied with their jobs than others. They perceive their work more autonomous than others. Compared to private-sector employees, third-sector employees perceive their jobs as less insecure. They also report more intensity and qualitative insecurity than employees in other sectors.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample consist only trade union members. The generalisability of results to non-unionized employees may be limited.

Originality/value

– Previously it has been stated that third-sector employees enjoy greater job satisfaction due to intrinsic work benefits related to non-profit work. There is, however, small number of empirical studies trying to compare systematically job quality between the sectors. The present analysis contradicts the previous findings of higher job satisfaction in the third sector.
The link between high performance work practices and organizational performance
Authors: Obeidat Shatha M. , Mitchell Rebecca , Bray Mark
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to better understand the relationship between high-performance work practices (HPWP) and organizational performance through a multi-dimensional model of the relationship between HPWP and performance, which conceptualizes HPWP according to the ability, motivation and opportunity (AMO) framework. HPWP are conceptualized as HR practices capable of enhancing the AMO of employees to contribute to organizational performance.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected from 118 Jordanian firms operating in the financial and manufacturing sectors. A questionnaire completed by the HR director in each firm assessed HPWP adoption and their influence on organizational performance.

Findings

– The findings generate support for the link between HPWP and organizational performance and confirm the utility of the AMO model for conceptualizing HPWP and their impact on organizational performance.

Research limitations/implications

– While this study relies on cross-sectional data, it confirms the utility of the AMO framework as an appropriate conceptual basis for HPWP and provides substantial support for the relevance of HPWP in increasing organizational performance.

Originality/value

– The findings provide a basis for more consistent empirical investigation and better theory building for HPWP, and also provide a more robust basis for practical prescription. The empirical contribution is also significant as one of the few studies to investigate the link between HPWP and organizational performance in the Middle East.
Psychopathic features in young incarcerated females
Authors: Strand Susanne , Luebbers Stefan , Shepherd Stephane M.
Published: May 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between psychopathic features as measured with the Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version (PCL:YV) and behavioural and emotional functioning in young female offenders in custody.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a quantitative interview study investigating the relationship with psychopathic traits, measured with the PCL:YV (Forth et al., 2003), and different psychological characteristics as well as AD/HD, self-harm, and childhood trauma in adolescent offenders across genders. Data were collected from a sample of 40 female and 40 male adolescents who were incarcerated in Victoria, Australia.

Findings

– Results indicated that the behavioural subscales of the PCL:YV were associated with externalising behaviours possibly underpinned by histories of abuse and substantiated child protection incidences. The presence of AD/HD was strongly associated with affective deficits suggesting that the PCL:YV may be identifying young females with AD/HD rather than core psychopathic traits. Findings also indicate that female-specific manifestations of manipulation are likely being misidentified as behavioural phenomena precluding clinical recognition as a core interpersonal trait. Significant dissimilarities with a young male comparison group were identified and are discussed within.

Research limitations/implications

– The sample size is very small and the results should be seen as an indication rather than generalising.

Originality/value

– Studies on female juvenile offenders is rare and this study adds to the literature on the construct of psychopathy and its relationship to psychosocial factors as well as associations with AD/HD, self-harm, and childhood trauma, among incarcerated adolescents.
The epidemiology of pain in children treated by paramedics
Authors: Lord Bill , Jennings Paul A , Smith Karen
Published: May 2016

Objectives

The present study aimed to describe paramedic assessment and management of pain in children in a large state‐wide ambulance service.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study included paediatric patients (aged less than 15 years) treated and transported by paramedics in the Australian state of Victoria between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2011. Primary outcome measures were the frequency of analgesic administration and odds of receiving any analgesic (morphine, fentanyl or methoxyflurane). Data were analysed by descriptive statistics, χ2‐test and logistic regression to test the association between analgesic administration and the explanatory variables.

Results

There were 38 167 cases that included a description of pain and where any pain scores were >0. Median age was 10 years (IQR 5–12), 59.2% were male and 15 090 (39.5%) received any analgesic. Of patients reported to have severe pain (verbal numeric rating scale 8–10), only 45% (n = 6084) received any analgesia. In unadjusted analysis, patients aged >9 years were more likely to receive analgesia than those aged <3 years (unadjusted odds ratio 4.39, 95% confidence interval 4.01–4.80). Multiple regression analysis found that significant predictors of analgesic administration were patient's sex, patient age, type of pain, initial pain score and case year.

Conclusion

Disparities in analgesic administration based on age and the low rate of pain scores documented in very young children identified in the present study should inform strategies that aim to improve the assessment and management of pain in children.
FMRP Mediates Chronic Ethanol‐Induced Changes in NMDA, Kv4.2, and KChIP3 Expression in the Hippocampus
Authors: Spencer Kathryn B. , Mulholland Patrick J. , Chandler L. Judson
Published: May 2016

Background

Exposure to chronic ethanol (EtOH) results in changes in the expression of proteins that regulate neuronal excitability. This study examined whether chronic EtOH alters the hippocampal expression and function of fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) and the role of FMRP in the modulation of chronic EtOH‐induced changes in the expression of NMDA receptors and Kv4.2 channels.

Methods

For in vivo studies, C57BL/6J mice underwent a chronic intermittent EtOH (CIE) vapor exposure procedure. After CIE, hippocampal tissue was collected and subjected to immunoblot blot analysis of NMDA receptor subunits (GluN1, GluN2B), Kv4.2, and its accessory protein KChIP3. For in vitro studies, hippocampal slice cultures were exposed to 75 mM EtOH for 8 days. Following EtOH exposure, mRNAs bound to FMRP was measured. In a separate set of studies, cultures were exposed to an inhibitor of S6K1 (PF‐4708671 [PF], 6 μM) in order to assess whether EtOH‐induced homeostatic changes in protein expression depend upon changes in FMRP activity.

Results

Immunoblot blot analysis revealed increases in GluN1 and GluN2B but reductions in Kv4.2 and KChIP3. Analysis of mRNAs bound to FMRP revealed a similar bidirectional change observed as reduction of GluN2B and increase in Kv4.2 and KChIP3 mRNA transcripts. Analysis of FMRP further revealed that while chronic EtOH did not alter the expression of FMRP, it significantly increased phosphorylation of FMRP at the S499 residue that is known to critically regulate its activity. Inhibition of S6K1 prevented the chronic EtOH‐induced increase in phospho‐FMRP and changes in NMDA subunits, Kv4.2, and KChIP3. In contrast, PF had no effect in the absence of alcohol, indicating it was specific for the chronic EtOH‐induced changes.

Conclusions

These findings demonstrate that chronic EtOH exposure enhances translational control of plasticity‐related proteins by FMRP, and that S6K1 and FMRP activities are required for expression of chronic EtOH‐induced homeostatic plasticity at glutamatergic synapses in the hippocampus.
Safety, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of avoralstat, an oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor: phase 1 study
Authors: Cornpropst M. , Collis P. , Collier J. , Babu Y. S. , Wilson R. , Zhang J. , Fang L. , Zong J. , Sheridan W. P.
Published: May 2016

Background

Avoralstat is a potent small‐molecule oral plasma kallikrein inhibitor under development for treatment of hereditary angioedema (HAE). This first‐in‐human study evaluated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of avoralstat.

Methods

This double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, ascending‐dose cohort trial evaluated avoralstat single doses of 50, 125, 250, 500, and 1000 mg and multiple doses up to 2400 mg daily (100, 200, 400, and 800 mg every 8 h [q8 h] up to 7 days).

Results

Avoralstat (n = 71) was generally well tolerated with no signals for a safety concern; there were no serious adverse events (AEs) or discontinuations due to AEs, and compared to placebo (n = 18), no notable difference in AEs. Four moderate severity AEs were reported in two subjects; syncope after a single 250 mg dose (one subject) and abdominal pain, back pain, and eczema after multiple doses of 800 mg avoralstat (one subject). For multiple‐dose cohorts, the incidence of gastrointestinal AEs was highest at the 2400 mg/day dose. Elimination of avoralstat was bi‐exponential with a terminal half‐life of 12–31 h. Inhibition of plasma kallikrein was observed at all doses, and the degree of inhibition was highly correlated with avoralstat concentrations (R = 0.93). Mean avoralstat concentrations at doses ≥400 mg q8 h met or exceeded plasma kallikrein EC50 values throughout the dosing interval.

Conclusion

Avoralstat was well tolerated, and drug exposure was sufficient to meet target levels for inhibition of plasma kallikrein. Based on these results, the 400 mg q8 h dose was selected for further evaluation in patients with HAE.
Feed‐derived volatile basic nitrogen increases reactive oxygen species production of blood leukocytes in lactating dairy cows
Authors: Tsunoda Ei , Gross Josef J. , Kawashima Chiho , Bruckmaier Rupert M. , Kida Katsuya , Miyamoto Akio
Published: May 2016

The present study investigated over 9 months the changes of fermentative quality of total mixed rations (TMR) containing grass silage (GS) as a major component, associated with changes in the volatile basic nitrogen (VBN) levels in an experimental dairy farm. Effects of VBN levels in TMR on metabolic parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) and conception rates for dairy cows were analyzed. According to VBN levels in TMR during survey periods, three distinct phases were identified; phase A with low VBN; phase B with high VBN; and phase C with mid‐VBN. Metabolic parameters in blood were all within normal range. However, during phases B and C, nitrogen metabolic indices such as blood urea nitrogen and milk urea nitrogen showed higher levels compared to those in phase A, and a simultaneous increase in ROS production by blood PMNs and the load on hepatic function in metabolic parameters was observed in the cows with a lower conception rate. This suggests that feeding TMR with elevated VBN levels due to poor fermented GS results in stimulation of ROS production by PMNs by ammonia, and negatively affects metabolism and reproductive performance in lactating dairy cow.
Vitamin D treatment in Somali women living in Sweden – Two randomized, placebo‐controlled studies
Authors: Osmancevic Amra , Demeke Taye , Gillstedt Martin , Angesjö Eva , Sinclair Håkan , Abd El‐Gawad Gamal , Landin‐Wilhelmsen Kerstin
Published: May 2016

Objective

There is limited information about the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and the effects of treatment on immigrants. The effects of oral vitamin D intake and UVB treatment on vitamin D status in healthy Somali women living in Sweden were analysed.

Design

Two studies were carried out; a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled study, with oral drops of 800 IU and 1600 IU cholecalciferol and similar amounts of placebo given daily during 12 weeks and a single‐blind, placebo‐controlled study, using UVB (4·3–8·7 J/cm2) or Woods lamp (placebo) on the upper body, or the face and hands.

Patients

One‐hundred fourteen Somali women, mean age 34 years, latitude 0–10°N, living in Sweden >2 years, latitude 57°N, participated.

Measurements

Serum 25‐hydroxyvitamin D (S‐25(OH)D) was monitored before, every 6 weeks and at 3 months after treatment.

Results

The majority of the women (n = 83, 73%) were vitamin D‐deficient, S‐25(OH)D < 25 nmol/l at start. There was a dose‐dependent increase in S‐25(OH)D levels (P = 0·001, stratified Jonckheere–Terpstra test) with a mean increase after twelve weeks in women treated with 800 IU/day and women treated with 1600 IU/day of 18 nmol/l (95% CI: 6–29, median = 17) and 29 nmol/l (95% CI: 17–42, median = 34), respectively. S‐25(OH)D decreased during follow‐up but remained above baseline levels. The placebo group remained unchanged throughout the study. UVB treatment increased S‐25(OH)D dose‐dependently after 6 weeks (P = 0·03, Jonckheere–Terpstra test).

Conclusions

Vitamin D deficiency was common in immigrants living at higher latitudes. Vitamin D treatment increased S‐25(OH)D levels dose‐dependently during 3 months. The effect was maintained for another 3 months. At least 1600 IU/day is recommended. The dropout rate was high.
A novel approach to using neural networks to predict the colour of fibre blends
Authors: Hemingray Caroline , Westland Stephen
Published: May 2016

This work is concerned with the colour prediction of viscose fibre blends, comparing two conventional prediction models (the Stearns–Noechel model and the Friele model) and two neural network models. A total of 333 blended samples were prepared from eight primary colours, including two‐, three‐, and four‐colour mixtures. The performance of the prediction models was evaluated using 60 of the 333 blended samples. The other 273 samples were used to train the neural networks. It was found that the performance of both neural networks exceeded the performance of both conventional prediction models. When the neural networks were trained using the 273 training samples, the average CIELAB colour differences (between measured and predicted colour of blends) for the 60 samples in the test set were close to 1.0 for the neural network models. When the number of training samples was reduced to only 100, the performance of the neural networks degraded, but they still gave lower colour differences between measured and predicted colour than the conventional models. The first neural network was a conventional network similar to that which has been used by several other researchers; the second neural network was a novel application of a standard neural network where, rather than using a single network, a set of small neural networks was used, each of which predicted reflectance at a single wavelength. The single‐wavelength neural network was shown to be more robust than the conventional neural network when the number of training examples was small.
Representations of numerical and non‐numerical magnitude both contribute to mathematical competence in children
Authors: Lourenco Stella F. , Bonny Justin W.
Published: May 2016

A growing body of evidence suggests that non‐symbolic representations of number, which humans share with nonhuman animals, are functionally related to uniquely human mathematical thought. Other research suggesting that numerical and non‐numerical magnitudes not only share analog format but also form part of a general magnitude system raises questions about whether the non‐symbolic basis of mathematical thinking is unique to numerical magnitude. Here we examined this issue in 5‐ and 6‐year‐old children using comparison tasks of non‐symbolic number arrays and cumulative area as well as standardized tests of math competence. One set of findings revealed that scores on both magnitude comparison tasks were modulated by ratio, consistent with shared analog format. Moreover, scores on these tasks were moderately correlated, suggesting overlap in the precision of numerical and non‐numerical magnitudes, as expected under a general magnitude system. Another set of findings revealed that the precision of both types of magnitude contributed shared and unique variance to the same math measures (e.g. calculation and geometry), after accounting for age and verbal competence. These findings argue against an exclusive role for non‐symbolic number in supporting early mathematical understanding. Moreover, they suggest that mathematical understanding may be rooted in a general system of magnitude representation that is not specific to numerical magnitude but that also encompasses non‐numerical magnitude.
Financial Structure and Corporate Growth: Evidence from Italian Panel Data
Authors: Molinari Massimo , Giannangeli Silvia , Fagiolo Giorgio
Published: May 2016

We study the relationships between firm financial structure and growth for a large sample of Italian firms (1998–2003). We expand upon existing analyses testing whether liquidity constraints affect firm expansion by considering amongst growth determinants also firm debt structure within a unified framework. Panel regression analyses show that more liquid firms tend to grow more. However, firms do not use their capital to expand, but rather to increase debt. We also find that firm growth is highly fragile as it is positively correlated with non‐financial liabilities and it is not sustained by a long‐term debt maturity. Finally, quantile regressions suggest that fast‐growing firms are characterized by higher growth/cash‐flow sensitivities and heavily rely on external debt, but seem to be less bank‐backed than the rest of the sample. Overall, our findings suggest that the link between firms’ financial structure and expansion decisions is far more complicated than postulated by standard tests of investment/cash‐flow sensitivities.
Evolution determines how global warming and pesticide exposure will shape predator–prey interactions with vector mosquitoes
Authors: Tran Tam T. , Janssens Lizanne , Dinh Khuong V. , Op de Beeck Lin , Stoks Robby
Published: May 2016

How evolution may mitigate the effects of global warming and pesticide exposure on predator–prey interactions is directly relevant for vector control. Using a space‐for‐time substitution approach, we addressed how 4°C warming and exposure to the pesticide endosulfan shape the predation on Culex pipiens mosquitoes by damselfly predators from replicated low‐ and high‐latitude populations. Although warming was only lethal for the mosquitoes, it reduced predation rates on these prey. Possibly, under warming escape speeds of the mosquitoes increased more than the attack efficiency of the predators. Endosulfan imposed mortality and induced behavioral changes (including increased filtering and thrashing and a positional shift away from the bottom) in mosquito larvae. Although the pesticide was only lethal for the mosquitoes, it reduced predation rates by the low‐latitude predators. This can be explained by the combination of the evolution of a faster life history and associated higher vulnerabilities to the pesticide (in terms of growth rate and lowered foraging activity) in the low‐latitude predators and pesticide‐induced survival selection in the mosquitoes. Our results suggest that predation rates on mosquitoes at the high latitude will be reduced under warming unless predators evolve toward the current low‐latitude phenotype or low‐latitude predators move poleward.
Integration strategies of emerging multinational corporations: Theoretical approach
Authors: Klimek Artur
Published: May 2016

The traditional approach to multinational corporations typically assumes that advanced economies are sources of foreign direct investment, while emerging economies are merely passive recipients of the foreign capital. This paper presents a new model of multinational corporations originating in emerging countries. The new approach assumes that headquarters are located in a less developed country and production can be internationally dispersed. The paper attempts to define an optimal strategy of foreign production with respect to different levels of input prices, productivity of firms and market sizes.
Surgery for pressure ulcers in spinal cord‐injured patients following a structured treatment programme: a 10‐year follow‐up
Authors: Ljung Anders C , Stenius Madeleine C , Bjelak Sabahudin , Lagergren Jakob F
Published: May 2016

With the aim to improve the outcomes for spinal cord‐injured patients undergoing surgery for pressure ulcers, a structured treatment programme regulating pre‐ and postoperative care and rehabilitation was introduced in 2002 in Stockholm. Fifty‐one consecutive patients operated on between 2002 and 2007 were included in a 10‐year follow‐up to evaluate the programme regarding initial healing results and long‐term ulcer and health status. At one month postoperatively, 49 out of 51 (96%) patients were completely healed. Five patients (5/44, 11%) developed recurrent or new ulcers within 3 years of surgery. Two patients were re‐operated on (2/44, 5%). Between 3 and 10 years after surgery, 9 patients (9/33, 27%) had a history of recurrent ulcers, and 6 (6/33, 18%) had a history of new ulcers, a total of 15 patients (15/33, 45%). Of these, three needed re‐operation (3/33, 9 %). The health status values using a visual analogue rating scale were 70 (median) at 3 and 10 years compared with 30 (median) preoperatively. The good initial healing, the low ulcer recurrence rate and the raise in health status indicate the value of a structured treatment programme, especially for the first few postoperative years.
First report of a cystic malformation on the upper jaw of hatchery‐reared allis shad Alosa alosa
Authors: Wünnemann H , Bergmann S M , Eskens U , Scharbert A , Hundt M , Lierz M
Published: May 2016

The anadromous allis shad Alosa alosa has suffered dramatic population declines throughout Europe and is currently considered as endangered throughout its entire distribution range. In order to reestablish allis shad in the River Rhine, which formerly housed one of the largest and most important populations, an EU‐LIFE Project ‘The re‐introduction of allis shad in the Rhine system’ was started in 2007. In course of the LIFE+ Projects, allis shad larvae bred from genitor fish of the Gironde–Garonne–Dordogne population in France were reared in a pilot ex situ stock plant pilot facility in Aßlar, Germany. At an age of 1–2 months, about 100% of these fish developed approximately 0.5‐ to 0.8‐cm large, fluid‐filled, transparent cysts in conjunction with the upper jaw. The performed microbiological, virological, parasitological and histological examinations did not detect any infectious agents. Possible causative agents are discussed with regard to environmental factors and the nutrition of larvae. In conclusion, the observed malformations are considered a sign for a severe health problem and therefore a risk for the successful breeding of allis shad in aquaculture.