bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonal, interannual, and spatial patterns of community composition over the eastern Bering Sea shelf in cold years. Part II: ichthyoplankton and juvenile fish
Authors: Siddon Elizabeth C , Duffy-Anderson Janet T , Mier Kathryn L , Busby Morgan S , Eisner Lisa B
Published: June 2017

Climate-mediated oceanographic changes have led to protracted periods of above- or below-average water temperatures over the eastern Bering Sea shelf since the early 2000s. Ecosystem components, from phytoplankton to marine birds, have shown dichotomous responses to these temperature stanzas. Understanding within-stanza responses is fundamental to modelling efforts that project ecosystem responses under future climate scenarios. This study describes fish communities associated with Walleye Pollock during the age-0 period and also examines within-stanza homogeneity of assemblages. Spatial patterns of assemblage structure are compared with pre-defined ecoregions and environmental indices are assessed to determine potential mechanisms that delineate species assemblages. Walleye Pollock, rockfishes, Sand Lance, and Northern Rock Sole contributed to spring assemblages in every year. Assemblages were delineated by across-shelf gradients in 2008 and 2010 while 2009 assemblages showed less spatial structure. In summer, the diversity of fish assemblages increased across years but early-stage juvenile Walleye Pollock represented a small portion of the total abundance in 2009. Environmental gradients were related to fish assemblages, but patterns were along-shelf in 2008 and across-shelf in 2010. In fall, late-stage juvenile Walleye Pollock dominated the catch in 2008, but did not typify any assemblage in 2009. Overall, patterns of assemblage structure were not consistent with pre-defined ecoregions. Assemblage structure in 2009 was unique and indicates that within-stanza variability may complicate modelling projections based on ecosystem-level responses to climate changes.
An uncommon complication of laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy
Authors: Beer Karen A.
Published: June 2017

Chylous ascites is an uncommon complication of laparoscopic live donor nephrectomy, occurring when milky chyle from the lymphatic system leaks into the peritoneal cavity. This can occur after trauma or be caused by obstruction of the lymphatic system. Treatment may include a fat-free diet, total parenteral nutrition, subcutaneous somatostatin, lymphangiography, and/or surgical closure of the leaking lymph vessel.
Completion lymph node dissection in patients with melanoma and positive sentinel lymph node biopsy
Authors: Link Jacqueline
Published: June 2017

Melanoma is a highly aggressive cancer that represents a significant disease burden, making diagnosis and appropriate control of disease vital for improving morbidity and mortality. The most recent guidelines for melanoma treatment advise performing a sentinel lymph node biopsy for intermediate thickness melanomas, with subsequent completion lymph node dissection (CLND) if sentinel nodes are positive. This guideline is controversial due to the limited availability of data on this topic. CLND is an extensive surgery with known risks and complications and a small survival benefit. However, in patients without significant comorbidities and at low risk for surgery, the survival benefit outweighs the procedural risk. This article reviews CLND and the current recommendations.
Rethinking the Match: A Proposal for Modern Matchmaking
Authors: Ray Chris , Bishop Steven E. , Dow Alan W.
Published: June 2017

Since the 1950s, the National Resident Matching Program, or “the Match,” has governed the placement of medical students into residencies. The Match was created to protect students in an era when residency positions outnumbered applicants and hospitals pressured students early in their academic careers to commit to a residency position. Now, however, applicants outnumber positions, applicants are applying to increasing numbers of programs, and the costs of the Match for applicants and programs are high. Meanwhile, medical education is evolving toward a competency-based approach, a U.S. physician shortage is predicted, and some researchers describe a “July effect”—worse clinical outcomes correlated with the mass entry of new residents.

Against this background, the authors argue for adopting a more modern, free-market approach to residency matchmaking that might better suit the needs of applicants, programs, and the public. They propose allowing students who have been identified by their medical schools as having achieved graduation-level competency to apply to residency programs at any point during the year. Residency programs would set their own application timetables and extend offers in an ongoing fashion. Students, counseled by their schools, would accept or decline offers as desired. The authors argue this approach would better support competency-based education while allowing applicants and programs more choice regarding how they engage and adapt within the selection process. The approach’s staggered start times for new residents might attenuate the July effect and improve outcomes for patients. Medical students might also enter and thereby complete residency earlier, increasing the physician workforce.
Educational Technologies for Physician Continuous Professional Development: A National Survey
Authors: Cook David A. , Blachman Morris J. , Price David W. , West Colin P. , Baasch Thomas Barbara L. , Berger Richard A. , Wittich Christopher M.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

To determine the past experiences with, current use of, and anticipated use of online learning and simulation-based education among practicing U.S. physicians, and how findings vary by age.

Method

The authors surveyed 4,648 randomly sampled board-certified U.S. physicians, September 2015 to April 2016, using Internet-based and paper questionnaires. Survey items (some optional) addressed past and current technology usage, perceived technology effectiveness, and anticipated future use of specific technology innovations.

Results

Of 988 respondents, 444 completed optional items. Of these, 429/442 (97.1%) had used online learning and 372/442 (84.2%) had used simulation-based education in the past five years. Desire for more online learning was modest (mean [standard deviation], 4.6 [1.5]; 1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree), as was desire for more simulation-based education (4.2 [1.7]). Both online learning and simulation-based education were perceived as effective (5.2 [1.4]; 5.0 [1.4]). Physicians believed they possess adequate skills for online learning (5.8 [1.2]) and that point-of-care learning is vital to effective patient care (5.3 [1.3]). Only 39.0% used objective performance data to guide their learning choices, although 64.6% agreed that such information would be useful. The highest-rated innovations included a central repository for listing educational opportunities and tracking continuing education credits, an app to award credit for answering patient-focused questions, 5-minute and 20-minute clinical updates, and an e-mailed “question of the week.” Responses to most survey items were similar across age groups.

Conclusions

Practicing physicians generally seem receptive and prepared to use a variety of educational technologies, regardless of age.
Association Between Parenting Style and Social Outcomes in Children with and Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: An 18-Month Longitudinal Study
Authors: Bhide Sampada , Sciberras Emma , Anderson Vicki , Hazell Philip , Nicholson Jan M.
Published: June 2017

Objective:

In a community-based sample of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (n = 179) and non-ADHD controls (n = 212), this longitudinal study explored changes in parenting style over time; and whether parenting style prospectively predicts child functional outcomes.

Methods:

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis was assessed using the Conners ADHD index and Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children IV. Children (70.3% boys) were assessed at baseline (mean age: 7.3 yr) and after 18 months (mean age: 8.9 yr) using a range of parent- and teacher-reported measures of child socioemotional and academic functioning. Parenting style was assessed through parent-reported measures of warmth, consistency, and anger.

Results:

At 18-month follow-up, there was a small significant decline in parenting warmth and parenting anger, and an increase in parenting consistency across groups. In the ADHD group, parenting warmth at baseline was positively related to 18-month prosocial behavior and responsibility by parent report, whereas parenting consistency predicted these child outcomes by teacher report. Parenting anger was positively associated with peer problems and negatively associated with prosocial behavior, self-control, and responsibility by parent report. Associations were similar for non-ADHD controls and all associations held after adjusting for a range of family, child, and parent factors. After additional adjustment of baseline levels of child functioning, parenting warmth and consistency continued to be associated with 18-month child outcomes. Parenting style was unrelated to emotional problems and academic competence over time.

Conclusion:

Parenting style is independently related to aspects of future social outcomes of children with ADHD. Results hold implications for parenting interventions aimed at managing ADHD-related social impairments over time.
The Influence of Comorbidities, Risk Factors, and Medications on Sexual Activity in Individuals Aged 40 to 59 Years With and Without Cardiac Conditions
Authors: Steinke Elaine E. , Mosack Victoria , Hill Twyla J.
Published: June 2017

Background:

Sexual activity is increasingly recognized as an important aspect of quality of life for many individuals with cardiovascular disease, although less is known about the factors contributing to sexual functioning in younger adults.

Objective:

This study examined factors influencing sexual activity in individuals aged 40 to 59 years, comparing those reporting a cardiac condition with those without a cardiac condition, in a national population–based sample.

Methods:

The data were derived from the 2011 to 2012 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a publicly available data set with a noninstitutionalized nationally representative sample. The sample included individuals between the ages of 40 and 59 years (N = 1741) who completed relevant items related to cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular risk factors, comorbidities, cardiac symptoms, sexual activity, and medication use. Recommended weighting was applied, and the data were analyzed using χ
2 and logistic regression.

Results:

Overall, 94% of the sample reported sexual activity, although those with coronary artery disease, angina, and myocardial infarction engaged in significantly less sexual activity. Individuals who smoked; had a weight problem, depression, or lung problems; or experienced symptoms of shortness of breath or chest pain with exertion reported less sexual activity. Medications negatively affecting sexual function were central α agonists, potassium sparing diuretics, and antilipidemic agents. Predictors of less sexual activity were smoking, chest pain walking uphill, and weight problems. Unexpectedly more reported, sexual activity was predicted by one or more cardiac conditions.

Conclusion:

In men and women ages 40 to 59 years, certain cardiac conditions, risk factors, comorbidities, symptoms, and medications negatively affected sexual activity, illustrating the need for sexual assessment and counseling to support sexual quality of life.
Health Status and Anthropometric Changes in Resettled Refugee Children
Authors: Sandell Angela M.D. , Baker Robert D. , Maccarone Jennifer , Baker Susan S.
Published: June 2017

Background:

Recently the United States has experienced an increase in refugees. Pediatric refugees are at risk for health and nutrition problems. Literature on longitudinal change in nutritional status of resettled pediatric refugees is scant.

Objective:

The present study reports the health and nutritional status of pediatric refugees and tracks changes in nutritional status.

Methods:

Data were extracted retrospectively from the records of a community health center in Buffalo, NY. Two cohorts of refugees (0–18 years) were selected. Cohort A was followed during 5 years and consisted of 225 subjects whose initial visit occurred between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2009. The 199 subjects in cohort B had an initial visit between January 1, 2013 and December 31, 2013 and were followed for 1 year. Cohort B was chosen because vitamin levels were available only for this group. Descriptive and anthropometric data, infectious disease status, and initial vitamin and hemoglobin levels were recorded. Height‐for‐age (HFA) z scores and body mass index (BMI) z scores were computed. Longitudinal changes were analyzed.

Results:

The cohorts A and B differed in country of origin and infectious disease burden. On arrival, both cohorts exhibited HFA z scores reflecting short stature. BMI z scores were normal. HFA and BMI z scores increased during 5 years and 1 year for cohorts A and B, respectively. Anemia, vitamin D deficiency, and lead toxicity were identified.

Conclusions:

Resettled pediatric refugees were short. Some were stunted. Catch‐up growth, however, occurred. There were increases in HFA and BMI z scores. Vitamin D deficiency, anemia, and lead toxicity were documented.
Improving Compliance in Obtaining Daily Weights in a Large Academic Children's Hospital
Authors: Crawford Jacqueline E. , Garvin Coyne Colleen , Calder Katherine
Published: June 2017

Noncompliance in obtaining daily weights leads to delays in establishing treatment and discharge plans in pediatric populations. An inpatient gastrointestinal and endocrine nursing unit aimed to increase compliance of obtaining daily weights from baseline of 38% to 80%. The time daily weights were obtained was changed from 8 am to an interval of time 4 pm to 6 pm. The compliance rate increased to 96% and has been sustained at an average of 94% over 24 months. This report describes a low-risk intervention that took minimal effort to implement but yielded high results to exceed the goal.
Impact of The Daily Plan on Length of Stay and Readmission
Authors: King Beth , Young-Xu Yinong , Lee William J. , van Aalst Robertus , Shiner Brian , Mills Peter , Eickhoff Leah , Neily Julia
Published: June 2017

The Veterans Health Administration implemented The Daily Plan (TDP) to improve patient safety. We compared length of stay and readmission between intervention and control units. Length of stay decreased for both groups. Readmission rates increased for controls (21.3%-25.0%, P = .02) and barely changed for TDP units (21.7%-22.5%, P = .37). Although there were no efficiency improvements, TDP's ultimate goal was safety. Not all patient safety actions improve efficiency; nonetheless, their value continues.
Development and Testing of the End-of-Life Transfer Tool
Authors: Fohn Sara Lorene , Mulvenon Carol , McElroy Susan F.
Published: June 2017

This study evaluated a tool to identify patients who are imminently dying to prevent the transfer of these patients during the dying process. The End-of-Life Transfer Tool was developed by the investigators based on themes from the literature and experiences of palliative care experts. The final checklist contained 6 objective assessment elements. Thirty patients seen by the palliative care team during a 10-month period were included in the study conducted in a Midwestern teaching hospital. An inversely, statistically significant correlation was found on the total score as assessed by the palliative care nurses and the actual time of death, indicating a relationship between the score on the tool and the time to death. This pilot work serves as the beginning research toward the development of a brief tool to support the decision-making of the bedside nurse.
An Appraisal of the Cephalic Index in Sagittal Craniosynostosis, and the Unseen Third Dimension
Authors: Fearon Jeffrey A. , Ditthakasem Kanlaya , Herbert Morley , Kolar John
Published: June 2017

Background:

The cephalic index is often used to evaluate sagittal craniosynostosis corrections; however, validation of this measure remains untested.

Methods:

A three-part study was designed to (1) determine the normal distribution of cephalic indices in untreated sagittal craniosynostosis; (2) examine index values in treated children, subsequently determined to require secondary surgery; and (3) explore the correlation between a photography-based assessment of scaphocephaly severity and the cephalic index.

Results:

Of 392 preoperatively measured patients (mean cephalic index, 70.7; 95 percent CI, 57.4 to 89.5), 343 (87.5 percent) had Z scores falling within 2 SD of the mean; only 49 (12.5 percent) fell more than 2 SD below the mean, whereas 13 percent exceeded the mean. For 10 patients requiring secondary surgery (mean cephalic index, 74.8; 95 percent CI, 68.1 to 83.4), the mean Z score was −0.5 (range, −2.5 to 1.6). The polled results of 10 observers revealed no significant correlation between subjectively ranked severity scores and cephalic indices.

Conclusions:

Although the average preoperative cephalic index in children with sagittal craniosynostosis was below normal, the majority of measurements fell within a statistically normal distribution. Furthermore, many children requiring secondary corrections were found to have relatively normal indices, suggesting that normal values are not necessarily predictive of satisfactory outcomes. We also found no correlation between this index and a subjective assessment of severity. These findings suggest that the cephalic index is not a reliable outcome measure, perhaps because of the inability for this ratio to capture the amount of correction of the reduced posterior skull height associated with sagittal craniosynostosis.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Diagnostic, IV.
Population Health Implications of Medical Tourism
Authors: Adabi Kian , Stern Carrie S. , Weichman Katie E. , Garfein Evan S. , Pothula Aravind , Draper Lawrence , Tepper Oren M.
Published: June 2017

Background:

Fifteen million U.S. patients each year seek medical care abroad; however, there are no data on outcomes and follow-up of these procedures. This study aims to identify, evaluate, and survey patients presenting with complications from aesthetic procedures abroad and estimate their cost to the U.S. health care system.

Methods:

A single-center retrospective review was conducted. A cohort of patients presenting with complications from aesthetic procedures performed abroad was generated. Demographic, complication, and cost data were compiled. Patients were surveyed to assess their overall experience.

Results:

Over a 36-month period, 42 patients met inclusion criteria (one man and 41 women), with an average age of 35 ± 11.4 years (range, 20 to 60 years). Comorbidities included four active smokers, two patients with hypertension, and one patient with diabetes. Average body mass index was 29 ± 4.4 kg/m2 (range, 22 to 38 kg/m2). Procedures performed abroad included abdominoplasty (n = 28), liposuction (n = 20), buttock augmentation (n = 10), and breast augmentation (n = 7), with several patients undergoing combined procedures. Eleven patients presented with abscesses and eight presented with wound dehiscence. Eight of the 18 patients who were surveyed were not pleased with their results and 11 would not go abroad again for subsequent procedures. Average cost of treating the complications was $18,211, with an estimated cost to the U.S. health care system of $1.33 billion. The main payer group was Medicaid.

Conclusions:

Complications from patients seeking aesthetic procedures abroad will continues to increase. Patients should be encouraged to undergo cosmetic surgery in the United States to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction and because it is economically advantageous.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, IV.
Evidence-Based Medicine: Secondary Correction of Cleft Lip Nasal Deformity
Authors: Allori Alexander C. , Mulliken John B.
Published: June 2017

Learning Objectives:

After reading this article, the participant should be able to: 1. Understand the components of unilateral and bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity. 2. Assess the deformity. 3. Design a treatment plan for secondary correction of cleft lip nasal deformity. 4. Discuss methods for managing suboptimal outcomes.

Correction of cleft lip nasal deformity has been addressed in this Maintenance of Certification/Continuing Medical Education series a number of times—a testament to the complexity of the topic. In this addition to the series, the authors provide a principle-based approach toward management of unilateral and bilateral cleft lip nasal deformity with an emphasis on timing intervention, role for intermediate correction, and methods for cleft rhinoplasty after completion of nasal growth.
Long-term and late treatment consequences: endocrine and metabolic effects
Authors: Han Thang S. , Gleeson Helena K.
Published: June 2017

Purpose of review

Cancer therapies often result in the ‘late effect of cancer treatment’ whereby secondary health complications emerge years after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This review focuses on endocrine and metabolic consequences in adult cancer survivors as late treatment effects.

Recent findings

Endocrine and metabolic disorders are among the most common late effects. Endocrine disorders include hypopituitarism, which leads to growth hormone deficiency, hypogonadism, adrenal insufficiency and hypothyroidism and related clinical manifestations. Hypogonadism in particular is associated with a wide range of health complications requiring input from the like of endocrine and fertility specialists. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are novel anticancer agents, some of which are uniquely associated with hypophysitis which requires early recognition and management, including steroid replacement. Metabolic syndrome, a significant risk for cardiovascular disease, is highly prevalent. Although the effects of cranial irradiation on the hypothalamic–pituitary system are more apparent, the relationship between chemotherapy and endocrine/metabolic disorders remains to be elucidated. There exist published guidelines for monitoring endocrine and cardiometabolic risk in cancer survivors, but the extent of monitoring appears insufficient.

Regular monitoring and early management of endocrine/metabolic disorders is required to prevent the elevated rates of health complications after cancer treatment, and thereby improve cancer survivorship.
Turbulent boundary layer under the control of different schemes
Authors: Qiao Z. X. , Zhou Y. , Wu Z.
Published: June 2017

This work explores experimentally the control of a turbulent boundary layer over a flat plate based on wall perturbation generated by piezo-ceramic actuators. Different schemes are investigated, including the feed-forward, the feedback, and the combined feed-forward and feedback strategies, with a view to suppressing the near-wall high-speed events and hence reducing skin friction drag. While the strategies may achieve a local maximum drag reduction slightly less than their counterpart of the open-loop control, the corresponding duty cycles are substantially reduced when compared with that of the open-loop control. The results suggest a good potential to cut down the input energy under these control strategies. The fluctuating velocity, spectra, Taylor microscale and mean energy dissipation are measured across the boundary layer with and without control and, based on the measurements, the flow mechanism behind the control is proposed.
A comprehensive allometric analysis of 2nd digit length to 4th digit length in humans
Authors: Lolli Lorenzo , Batterham Alan M. , Kratochvíl Lukáš , Flegr Jaroslav , Weston Kathryn L. , Atkinson Greg
Published: June 2017

It has been widely reported that men have a lower ratio of the 2nd and 4th human finger lengths (2D : 4D). Size-scaling ratios, however, have the seldom-appreciated potential for providing biased estimates. Using an information-theoretic approach, we compared 12 candidate models, with different assumptions and error structures, for scaling untransformed 2D to 4D lengths from 154 men and 262 women. In each hand, the two-parameter power function and the straight line with intercept models, both with normal, homoscedastic error, were superior to the other models and essentially equivalent to each other for normalizing 2D to 4D lengths. The conventional 2D : 4D ratio biased relative 2D length low for the generally bigger hands of men, and vice versa for women, thereby leading to an artefactual indication that mean relative 2D length is lower in men than women. Conversely, use of the more appropriate allometric or linear regression models revealed that mean relative 2D length was, in fact,
greater
in men than women. We conclude that 2D does not vary in direct proportion to 4D for both men and women, rendering the use of the simple 2D : 4D ratio inappropriate for size-scaling purposes and intergroup comparisons.
Unravelling the relationship between the tsetse fly and its obligate symbiontWigglesworthia: transcriptomic and metabolomic landscapes reveal highly integrated physiological networks
Authors: Bing XiaoLi , Attardo Geoffrey M. , Vigneron Aurelien , Aksoy Emre , Scolari Francesca , Malacrida Anna , Weiss Brian L. , Aksoy Serap
Published: June 2017

Insects with restricted diets rely on obligate microbes to fulfil nutritional requirements essential for biological function. Tsetse flies, vectors of African trypanosome parasites, feed exclusively on vertebrate blood and harbour the obligate endosymbiontWigglesworthia glossinidia.WithoutWigglesworthia, tsetse are unable to reproduce. These symbionts are sheltered within specialized cells (bacteriocytes) that form the midgut-associated bacteriome organ. To decipher the core functions of this symbiosis essential for tsetse's survival, we performed dual-RNA-seq analysis of the bacteriome, coupled with metabolomic analysis of bacteriome and haemolymph collected from normal and symbiont-cured (sterile) females. Bacteriocytes produce immune regulatory peptidoglycan recognition protein (pgrp-lb) that protectsWigglesworthia, and a multivitamin transporter (smvt) that can aid in nutrient dissemination.Wigglesworthiaoverexpress a molecular chaperone (GroEL) to augment their translational/transport machinery and biosynthesize an abundance of B vitamins (specifically B1-, B2-, B3- and B6-associated metabolites) to supplement the host's nutritionally deficient diet. The absence ofWigglesworthia'scontributions disrupts multiple metabolic pathways impacting carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. These disruptions affect the dependent downstream processes of nucleotide biosynthesis and metabolism and biosynthesis ofS-adenosyl methionine (SAM), an essential cofactor. This holistic fundamental knowledge of the symbiotic dialogue highlights new biological targets for the development of innovative vector control methods.
Warming has a greater effect than elevated CO2on predator–prey interactions in coral reef fish
Authors: Allan Bridie J. M. , Domenici Paolo , Watson Sue Ann , Munday Philip L. , McCormick Mark I.
Published: June 2017

Ocean acidification and warming, driven by anthropogenic CO2emissions, are considered to be among the greatest threats facing marine organisms. While each stressor in isolation has been studied extensively, there has been less focus on their combined effects, which could impact key ecological processes. We tested the independent and combined effects of short-term exposure to elevated CO2and temperature on the predator–prey interactions of a common pair of coral reef fishes (Pomacentrus wardiand its predator,Pseudochromis fuscus). We found that predator success increased following independent exposure to high temperature and elevated CO2. Overall, high temperature had an overwhelming effect on the escape behaviour of the prey compared with the combined exposure to elevated CO2and high temperature or the independent effect of elevated CO2. Exposure to high temperatures led to an increase in attack and predation rates. By contrast, we observed little influence of elevated CO2on the behaviour of the predator, suggesting that the attack behaviour ofP. fuscuswas robust to this environmental change. This is the first study to address how the kinematics and swimming performance at the basis of predator–prey interactions may change in response to concurrent exposure to elevated CO2and high temperatures and represents an important step to forecasting the responses of interacting species to climate change.
Costs and benefits of maternally inherited algal symbionts in coral larvae
Authors: Chamberland Valérie F. , Latijnhouwers Kelly R. W. , Huisman Jef , Hartmann Aaron C. , Vermeij Mark J. A.
Published: June 2017

Many marine invertebrates provide their offspring with symbionts. Yet the consequences of maternally inherited symbionts on larval fitness remain largely unexplored. In the stony coral
Favia fragum
(Esper 1797), mothers produce larvae with highly variable amounts of endosymbiotic algae, and we examined the implications of this variation in symbiont density on the performance of
F. fragum
larvae under different environmental scenarios. High symbiont densities prolonged the period that larvae actively swam and searched for suitable settlement habitats. Thermal stress reduced survival and settlement success in
F. fragum
larvae, whereby larvae with high symbiont densities suffered more from non-lethal stress and were five times more likely to die compared with larvae with low symbiont densities. These results show that maternally inherited algal symbionts can be either beneficial or harmful to coral larvae depending on the environmental conditions at hand, and suggest that
F. fragum
mothers use a bet-hedging strategy to minimize risks associated with spatio-temporal variability in their offspring's environment.
Anion-conducting channelrhodopsins with tuned spectra and modified kinetics engineered for optogenetic manipulation of behavior
Authors: Wietek Jonas , Rodriguez-Rozada Silvia , Tutas Janine , Tenedini Federico , Grimm Christiane , Oertner Thomas G. , Soba Peter , Hegemann Peter , Wiegert J. Simon
Published: June 2017

Genetic engineering of natural light-gated ion channels has proven a powerful way to generate optogenetic tools for a wide variety of applications. In recent years, blue light-activated engineered anion conducting channelrhodopsins (eACRs) have been developed, improved, and were successfully appliedin vivo. We asked whether the approaches used to create eACRs can be transferred to other well-characterized cation-conducting channelrhodopsins (CCRs) to obtain eACRs with a broad spectrum of biophysical properties. We generated 22 variants using two conversion strategies applied to 11 CCRs and screened them for membrane expression, photocurrents and anion selectivity. We obtained two novel eACRs, Phobos and Aurora, with blue-and red-shifted action spectra and photocurrents similar to existing eACRs. Furthermore, step-function mutations greatly enhanced the cellular operational light sensitivity due to a slowed-down photocycle. These bistable eACRs can be reversibly toggled between open and closed states with brief light pulses of different wavelengths. All new eACRs reliably inhibited action potential firing in pyramidal CA1 neurons. InDrosophilalarvae, eACRs conveyed robust and specific light-dependent inhibition of locomotion and nociception.
Governance and quality disclosure: the palm oil issue
Authors: Riganelli Chiara , Marchini Andrea
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This research considers a current problem statement: mandatory indication of palm oil among the list of ingredients (Regulation No. 1169/2011). The purpose of this paper is to analyse the effects of company choices about palm oil on consumer demand and company performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The data collection covers two years, 2013 and 2014. Financial data from the AIDA database are matched with information on palm oil certification and replacement. A panel data analysis is conducted to evaluate the impacts of certification and replacement on consumer demand and company performance.

Findings

Considering consumer demand, positive significances have been found in terms of both palm oil certification and replacement. With regard to performance, there are positive significances only for palm oil replacement.

Research limitations/implications

The research is a first step in the study of palm oil phenomenon. Furthermore, the study takes into consideration only one specific industry that uses palm oil as an ingredient.

Practical implications

There is a consumer demand expression for these two kinds of disclosures, considered in terms of both environmental (certification) and health (replacement) issues. However, only palm oil replacement leads to improved performance.

Originality/value

This study considers the market effects of the labelling programme through a new empirical application related to the palm oil issue. Starting from palm oil concerns, a new way through which an increase in the provision of information to consumers is likely to impact the behaviour of companies is pointed out.
Welfare implications of intertemporal marketing margin manipulation
Authors: Kopp Thomas , Brümmer Bernhard , Alamsyah Zulkifli , Fatricia Raja Sharah
Published: June 2017

Purpose

In Indonesia, rubber is the most valuable export crop produced by small scale agriculture and plays a key role for inclusive economic development. This potential is likely to be not fully exploited. The observed concentration in the crumb rubber processing industry raises concerns about the distribution of export earnings along the value chain. Asymmetric price transmission (APT) is observed. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

This study investigates the price transmission between international prices and the factories’ purchasing prices on a daily basis. An auto-regressive asymmetric error correction model is estimated to find evidence for APT. In a subsequent step the rents that are redistributed from factories to farmers are calculated. The study then provides estimations of the size of this redistribution under different scenarios.

Findings

The results suggest that factories do indeed transmit prices asymmetrically, which has substantial welfare implications: around USD3 million are annually redistributed from farmers to factories. If the price transmission was only half as asymmetric as it is observed, the majority of this redistribution was re-diverted.

Originality/value

This study combines the approaches of non-parametric and parametric estimation techniques of estimating APT processes with a welfare perspective to quantify the distributional consequences of this intertemporal marketing margin manipulation. Especially the calculation of different scenarios of alternative price transmissions is a novelty. The data set of prices on such a disaggregated level and high frequency as required by this approach is also unique.
Willingness to pay for “taste of Europe”: geographical origin labeling controversy in China
Authors: Li Chenguang , Bai Junfei , Gao Zhifeng , Fu Jiangyuan
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Continuing economic growth in emerging markets offers large market opportunities to producers and marketers worldwide; however, market failures due to asymmetric information are often seen when high-quality products enter these “new markets” where recognition rates among consumers are low. The use of “geographical origin” labels as quality signals to overcome asymmetric information problem plays an important role. The purpose of this paper is to compare consumers’ perception and willingness to pay (WTP) for different levels of geographic origin labels to provide insights to the strategic use of origin labels in emerging markets.

Design/methodology/approach

A consumer survey on geographic labeling for imported dairy products was carried out in Beijing, China in May 2015. Under the “products of European Union (EU)” range, the authors used “product of Ireland” as a case study for the country-specific origin label. Information on consumer demographic, dairy consumption, safety perceptions, knowledge on Ireland and Irish products, as well as WTP for different geographic labeling and product attributes were collected from 307 face-to-face interviews. WTP was elicited using double-bounded contingent valuation method, and estimated with maximum log-likelihood function.

Findings

The authors found that consumers are willing to pay premium prices for both of these geographical origin indicators, but the EU label had slightly higher WTP results. However, the controversial situation is that although the EU label has a better chance than the country-specific label in signaling premium quality to Chinese consumers, EU labeling at its best signals an average quality across the EU counties. For premium products with above average quality, using generic EU labeling has a potential drawback to the establishment of product differentiation.

Originality/value

This study is the first to evaluate Chinese consumers’ WTP for EU generic origin label for dairy products in comparison to country-specific origin label. Findings of the study have immediate policy and marketing implications in emerging markets.
Evaluating the responsivity principle in prison-based programs for sexual offending behavior
Authors: D’Orazio Deirdre M.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the degree to which a US prison-based sexual offender treatment program adheres to the best practice responsivity principle and to shed light on why prison-based programs tend to have worse recidivism outcomes than community programs. Results will facilitate program development efforts as they transition from programming developed prior to the risk-needs-responsivity knowledge about what works in treatment.

Design/methodology/approach

A mix of qualitative and quantitative methods assessed treatment methods, therapeutic climate, group therapy environment, therapist style, and staff and participants’ perceptions.

Findings

Overall, the analyses revealed insufficient adherence to the responsivity principle. The program used methods known to be effective with sexual offenders, but with deficient implementation. In group therapy sessions, therapeutic style deficiencies were demonstrated for stimulating growth, nurturance, and direction and control. Treatment program advancement was associated with group environment declines in cohesion, leader support, expressiveness, independence, and task orientation.

Originality/value

Results suggest that improved treatment response can be achieved by modifying methods and style to foster participant internal control, eliminate unnecessary external control and fear-based compliance, maximize participant autonomy; implement strengths-based approaches and fewer deficit-based interventions; monitor and minimize participant shame, and create a transparent and consistent program milieu, with clear communication, individualization, and adequate resources. Study limitations include a lack of recidivism outcomes; that it is a single prison sample, excludes female and juvenile offenders, and lacks a community-based control group. Nonetheless, despite inherent responsivity vulnerabilities compared to community-based programs, this study indicates several ways that program developers can enhance adherence to the responsivity principle in institutional-based programs.
After Snowden – the evolving landscape of privacy and technology
Authors: Wilton Robin
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to provide a non-academic perspective on the research reports of the JICES “Post-Snowden” special edition, from the viewpoint of a privacy advocate with an IT background.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper was written after reviewing the country reports for Japan, New Zealand, PRC and Taiwan, Spain and Sweden, as well as the Introduction paper. The author has also drawn on online sources such as news articles to substantiate his analysis of attitudes to technical privacy protection post-Snowden.

Findings

Post-Snowden, the general perception of threats to online privacy has shifted from a predominant focus on commercial threats to a recognition that government activities, in the sphere of intelligence and national security, also give rise to significant privacy risk. Snowden’s disclosures have challenged many of our assumptions about effective oversight of interception capabilities. Citizens’ expectations in this regard depend partly on national experience of the relationship between citizen and government, and can evolve rapidly. The tension between legitimate law enforcement access and personal privacy remains challenging to resolve.

Originality/value

As a “viewpoint” paper, this submission draws heavily on the author’s experience as a privacy and technology subject-matter expert. Although it therefore contains a higher proportion of opinion than the academic papers in this issue, his hope is that it will stimulate debate and further research.
Sustainable waste management strategy for a campus: a case study of JUET, Guna
Authors: Shankar Y. Shiva , Khandelwal Rachit
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The concept of sustainability has been gaining importance globally due to the growing environmental concerns and rising support from the nations to conserve the planet. Particularly for a country like India, this approach is highly relevant for combating the increasing stress on different sectors of the society due to the growing population. Solid waste management is an important sector that requires an immediate attention in the current context. Implementation of integrated sustainable waste management approach minimizes the waste and provides economic benefits, through best suitable method for managing the waste. In the present scenario, it is difficult for local bodies to apply this approach throughout the country due to diverse conditions and financial constraints. However this approach can be implemented through decentralization of solid waste management by the local bodies at a small scale. Technical institutes have a greater role to play in the society by nurturing the young minds about the need and ways to develop a sustainable society. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The study area discussed in this paper is Jaypee University of Engineering and Technology situated on Agra-Mumbai national highway, Guna district, Madhya Pradesh, India. It covers an area of 125 acres and houses a population more than 3,000. The present work discusses about the development of strategic plan for sustainable waste management on the campus through the characterization and analysis of waste samples collected from academic buildings, hostels, mess, shopping complex and residential areas for beneficial utilization.

Findings

The study revealed that potential benefits such as biogas generation from organic waste, resource optimization through 3R concept (reduce, reuse and recycle) from paper, plastics, cardboard, glass, metals, etc. could be derived by adopting suitable waste management strategy.

Originality/value

The present work discusses the feasible options for the efficient utilization of the components of solid waste through integrated solid waste management system. The university with its diverse nature of wastes generated from academic buildings, hostels, mess, shopping complex and residential areas; provides a good opportunity to understand the options for sustainable waste management on the campus for wider applications.
Welfare gain of controlling emission from cement manufacturing factories in the South-western Bangladesh
Authors: Das Chhanda , Ahmed Shahnewaz Nazimuddin , Islam Md. Sariful
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Emission of the suspended particulate matter (SPM) from cement factories results in a wide range of negative health effects to its workers. It induces substantial cost incurred by them in the form of wage loss and mitigation cost. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to estimate emission-induced cost of illness (COI) and the share of this cost that could be saved through limiting the current emission level at national safety standard.

Design/methodology/approach

COI approach which accounts workers’ wage loss and mitigation cost due to emission-induced illness was used in this study. A sample of 120 workers from three factories followed by 40 from each was randomly surveyed for collecting information on their health status and mitigation cost. It covered almost 10 percent of cement factory workers in the south-west region of Bangladesh. In addition, factory-specific emission data were also collected from the Department of Environment for addressing the study objective.

Findings

It revealed that the average level of SPM emission by these factories which was almost three times higher than the national safety standard induced 34.39 million Bangladeshi Taka (BDT) (USD0.46 million) as COI paid by workers yearly. It accounted around 28 percent of their annual income of which 64 percent worth BDT22.16 (USD0.30) million could be saved by meeting the standard annually.

Originality/value

This study provides insights into the essence of regulating cement industrialists toward meeting the national safety standard of emission.
Comparative analyses of sustainable campuses as living laboratories for managing environmental quality
Authors: Kılkış Şiir
Published: June 2017

Purpose

Despite an emerging trend in the higher education sector toward sustainable campuses, comparative analyses that span multiple themes across multiple campuses are still limited. The purpose of this paper is to reduce such a gap by comparing universities that are members of the International Sustainable Campus Network across themes that are related to environmental quality.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 34 universities are included in the sample. Indicators are systematically reviewed and clustered into ten themes. Common indicators (CIs) are identified in seven themes for at least seven and at most 20 campuses. At the absence of CIs, the given theme is assessed based on the measures applied. The results indicate the average levels of performance in the sample and/or the scope of the measures that are undertaken.

Findings

According to related values, an average campus spent 233,402 MWh of energy in buildings, 838,317 m3 of water on campus, generated 4,442 tonnes of waste, and emitted 75,354 tonnes of CO2 emissions. The average recycling rate was 50 percent, the average single occupancy vehicle rate in campus commuting was 34 percent, and on average, there were 152 sustainability-oriented courses. Best practices from the measures included energy audits for data centers, retrofit of water intense laboratories, and on-site renewable energy projects.

Originality/value

In addition, a unified monitoring framework is proposed to improve subsequent comparative analyses of campuses. Universities must focus on the use of the campus as a living laboratory to guide society toward a more sustainable future.