bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
1/fNeural Noise and Electrophysiological Indices of Contextual Prediction in Normative Aging
Authors: Dave S. , Brothers T.A. , Swaab T.Y.
Published: June 2017

Prediction during language comprehension has increasingly been suggested to play a substantive role in efficient language processing. Emerging models have postulated that predictive mechanisms are enhanced when neural networks fire synchronously, but to date, this relationship has been investigated primarily through oscillatory activity in narrow frequency bands. A recently-developed measure proposed to reflect broadband neural activity – and thereby synchronous neuronal firing – is 1/fneural noise extracted from EEG spectral power. Previous research (Voytek et al., 2015) has indicated that this measure of 1/fneural noise changes across the lifespan, and these neural changes predict age-related behavioral impairments in visual working memory. Using a cross-sectional sample of young and older adults, we examined age-related changes in 1/fneural noise and whether this measure would predict ERP correlates of successful lexical prediction during discourse comprehension. 1/fneural noise across two different language tasks revealed high within-subject correlations, indicating that this measure can provide a reliable index of individualized patterns of neural activation. In addition to age, 1/fnoise was a significant predictor of N400 effects of successful lexical prediction, but noise did not mediate age-related declines in other ERP effects. We discuss broader implications of these findings for theories of predictive processing, as well as potential applications of 1/fnoise across research populations.
Genetic variation in human drug-related genes
Authors: Schärfe Charlotta P.I. , Tremmel Roman , Schwab Matthias , Kohlbacher Oliver , Marks Debora S.
Published: June 2017

Variability in drug efficacy and adverse effects are observed in clinical practice. While the extent of genetic variability in classical pharmacokinetic genes is rather well understood, the role of genetic variation in drug targets is typically less studied. Based on 60,706 human exomes from the ExAC dataset, we performed an in-depth computational analysis of the prevalence of functional-variants in in 806 drug-related genes, including 628 known drug targets. We find that most genetic variants in these genes are very rare (f < 0.1%) and thus likely not observed in clinical trials. Overall, however, four in five patients are likely to carry a functional-variant in a target for commonly prescribed drugs and many of these might alter drug efficacy. We further computed the likelihood of 1,236 FDA approved drugs to be affected by functional-variants in their targets and show that the patient-risk varies for many drugs with respect to geographic ancestry. A focused analysis of oncological drug targets indicates that the probability of a patient carrying germline variants in oncological drug targets is with 44% high enough to suggest that not only somatic alterations, but also germline variants carried over into the tumor genome should be included in therapeutic decision-making.
Superposition of survival curves as a tool for epistasis analysis of longevity interventions
Authors: Nowak Stefan , Neidhart Johannes , Rzezonka Jonas , Szendro Ivan G. , Marathe Rahul , Krug Joachim
Published: June 2017

A long-standing problem in ageing research is to understand how different factors contributing to longevity should be expected to act in combination under the assumption that they are independent. Standard epistasis analysis compares the extension of mean lifespan achieved by a combination of interventions to the prediction under an additive or multiplicative null model, but neither model is fundamentally justified. Moreover, the target of longevity interventions is not mean life span but the entire survival curve. Here we formulate superposition principles that predict the survival curve resulting from a combination of two interventions based on the survival curves of the individual treatments, and quantify epistasis as the deviation from this prediction. We test the method on a published data set comprising survival curves for all combinations of 4 different longevity interventions in Caenorhabditis elegans. We find that epistasis is generally weak even when the standard analysis indicates otherwise.
A Programmable Optical Stimulator for theDrosophilaEye
Authors: Chen Xinping , Leon-Salas Walter D. , Zigon Taylor , Ready Donald , Weake Vikki
Published: June 2017

A programmable optical stimulator forDrosophilaeyes is presented. The target application of the stimulator is to induce retinal degeneration in fly photoreceptor cells by exposing them to light in a controlled manner. The goal of this work is to obtain a reproducible system for studying age-related changes in susceptibility to environmental ocular stress. The stimulator uses light emitting diodes and an embedded computer to control illuminance, color (blue or red) and duration in two independent chambers. Further, the stimulator is equipped with per-chamber light and temperature sensors and a fan to monitor light intensity and to control temperature. An ON/OFF temperature control implemented on the embedded computer keeps the temperature from reaching levels that will induce the heat shock stress response in the flies. A custom enclosure was fabricated to house the electronic components of the stimulator. The enclosure provides a light-impermeable environment that allows air flow and lets users easily load and unload fly vials. Characterization results show that the fabricated stimulator can produce light at illuminances ranging from 0 to 16000 lux and power density levels from 0 to 7.2 mW/cm2for blue light. For red light the maximum illuminance is 8000 lux which corresponds to a power density of 3.54 mW/cm2. The fans and the ON/OFF temperature control are able to keep the temperature inside the chambers below 28.17°C. Experiments with white-eye male flies were performed to assess the ability of the fabricated simulator to induce blue light-dependent retinal degeneration. Retinal degeneration is observed in flies exposed to 8 hours of blue light at 7949 lux. Flies in a control experiment with no light exposure show no retinal degeneration. Flies exposed to red light for the similar duration and light intensity (8 hours and 7994 lux) do not show retinal degeneration either. Hence, the fabricated stimulator can be used to create environmental ocular stress using blue light.

Specifications table
Impact of parenthood on women’s careers in the IT sector – a study in the Indian context
Authors: Shanmugam Merlin Mythili
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyse the impact of certain factors (such as working mothers’ attitudes towards career role salience, notion of career success, work-life balance and the impact of organisational support systems available for childcare) on career persistence, despite parenthood, and career re-entry after parenthood. It is conducted in relation to new age, young working mothers of the booming IT sector in India.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was administered to 138 working mothers in the IT sector to analyse the impact of working mothers’ career role salience, notion of career success, work-life balance and the impact of organisational support systems available for childcare on career persistence, despite parenthood.

Findings

The findings state that re-entry is also a growing phenomenon, in as much as career breaks are an accepted reality. Career role salience and notions of career success are important predictors of career re-entry of young mothers. Most importantly, this study highlights the significant role of the trusted, extended family support system, that is characteristically unique to Indian social fabric, in enabling women’s career persistence and career re-entry after motherhood.

Research limitations/implications

Like most survey research, this study’s validity is also limited to the findings on the self-reported responses. Nevertheless, the study points to new areas to be researched, such as the possibility of the same findings with older mothers who have spent considerable years in their careers, or whether the same sample would answer differently after a few years.

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for society and organisations, concerning opting out, and for undertaking genuine initiatives to enable and support women to re-enter their careers after breaks, so that the decision to persist, exit or re-enter their careers remains the privileged choice of women employees.

Originality/value

The paper fulfils an identified need to study how parenthood affects women’s careers in the IT sector and need for organisations in India to understand the practicality of women employees’ needs to integrate work and life.
Non-profit organizations’ use of tools and technologies for knowledge management: a comparative study
Authors: Rathi Dinesh , Given Lisa M.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to present findings from a study conducted with non-profit organizations (NPOs) in Canada and Australia, focusing on the use of tools and technologies for knowledge management (KM). NPOs of different sizes and operating in different sectors were studied in two large-scale national surveys. The paper is useful to both practitioners in NPOs for understanding tool use for KM activities and to scholars to further develop the KM-NPO domain.

Design/methodology/approach

Two nation-wide surveys were conducted with Canadian and Australian NPOs of different sizes (i.e. very small to large-sized organizations) and operating in different sectors (e.g. animal welfare, education and research, culture and arts). An analysis of responses explores the use of tools and technologies by NPOs. Respondents identified the tools and technologies they used from nine pre-determined themes (quantitative data) plus an additional category of “other tools” (qualitative data), which allowed for free text responses. The quantitative data were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistical techniques and the qualitative data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.

Findings

Quantitative data analysis provides key findings including the popularity of physical, print documents across all NPO sizes and sectors. Statistical tests revealed, for example, there is no significant difference for the same-sized organizations in Canadian and Australian NPOs in the use of tools and technologies for KM activities. However, there were differences in the use of tools and technologies across different sizes of NPOs. The qualitative analysis revealed a number of additional tools and technologies and also provided contextual details about the nature of tool use. The paper provides specific examples of the types of tools and technologies NPOs use.

Originality/value

The paper has both practical and academic contributions, including areas for future research. The findings on the use of KM tools and technologies by NPOs contribute to the growing body of literature in the KM domain in general and also build the literature base for the understudied KM-NPO domain. NPOs will also find the paper useful in better understanding tools and technological implementation for KM activities. The study is unique not only in the content focus on KM for NPOs but also for the comparative study of activities in two countries.
Knowledge retention and aging workforce in the oil and gas industry: a multi perspective study
Authors: Sumbal Muhammad Saleem , Tsui Eric , See-to Eric , Barendrecht Andrew
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how companies are handling the issue of knowledge retention from old age retiring workers in the oil and gas sector. This is achieved by providing a detailed insight on the challenges and strategies related to knowledge retention through study of companies from different geographical locations across the globe.

Design/methodology/approach

The study adopts a qualitative research methodology and 20 semi-structured interviews, with open-ended and probing questions, were conducted to gain an in-depth insight into the knowledge retention phenomena.

Findings

Knowledge retention activities tend to be inconsistent in majority of the oil and gas companies, with not much work being done regarding knowledge loss from old employees, partly because of the fall in oil prices and layoffs. Oil prices turn out to be a decisive factor in oil and gas industry regarding workforce and knowledge retention activities. The political situation and geographical locations of the companies also affect the knowledge retention activities. Moreover, the aging workforce and retirement issue is more acute in the upstream sector.

Research limitations/implications

The focus of the study was on the oil and gas sector, and thus the research results may lack generalizability.

Originality/value

This paper fulfills an identified need for investigating the issues and challenges of knowledge retention regarding old age retiring employees by taking into account a global perspective and providing a comparison among different companies in different geographical locations.
Effects of knowledge management on unit performance: examining the moderating role of tacitness and learnability
Authors: McIver Derrick , Lepisto Douglas A.
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to examine and test the moderating influence of the type of knowledge underlying work – known as the knowledge in practice (KIP) perspective – on the relationship between knowledge management (KM) activities and unit performance. KIP proposes that the knowledge underlying work varies according to two dimensions: tacitness and learnability. This theory proposes that aligning KM activities with tacitness and learnability results in increased performance. However, to the authors’ knowledge, there exists no direct empirical tests of these propositions outlined in KIP theory. This study examines the empirical support for the theoretical predictions outlined by KIP.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses a multiple survey, multiple respondent survey design to measure KM activity sets, the tacitness and learnability involved in work contexts and unit performance. Regression analysis is used to test the hypotheses.

Findings

In line with previous research, the authors find support for a direct relationship between some KM activity sets and unit performance. Surprisingly, the authors did not find support for the predictions offered by KIP theory. Specifically, the degree of tacitness or learnability did not moderate the relationship between KM activity sets and unit performance.

Research limitations/implications

The lack of findings to support the moderating effects of tacitness and learnability on the relationship between KM activity sets and unit performance challenges the adequacy of existing formulations of KIP theory. The authors discuss several important future research directions to examine this puzzling finding.

Practical implications

This paper reinforces the suggestion that managers at all levels of organizations should engage in KM activities to increase performance. These findings also suggest that considering the type of knowledge underlying a unit’s work should not be a consideration in implementing KM activities.

Originality/value

This is the first study to empirically test a KIP perspective. That is, how the type of knowledge involved in work moderates the relationships between KM activity sets and unit performance.
The role of collaborative knowledge building in the co-creation of artifacts: influencing factors and propositions
Authors: Mariano Stefania , Awazu Yukika
Published: June 2017

Purpose

This paper assesses the role of collaborative knowledge building in the co-creation of artifacts in the knowledge management field.

Design/methodology/approach

Fifty-eight papers published in six knowledge management-related journals were analyzed. The framework for analysis included 13 codes. Studies were analyzed using qualitative and quantitative methods.

Findings

Findings showed that several factors influenced the co-creation of artifacts in collaborative knowledge building. At the micro level, individual motivation, capabilities and reflexivity seemed to play a central role in co-creation processes. At the meso level, teamwork and shared understanding were identified as two key major factors. At the macro level, structural, behavioral and cognitive factors were identified; they included organizational rules and workplace setting, organizational culture and learning and memory. Managerial agency, characteristics of artifacts and knowledge brokers and boundary spanners also seemed to have an influence at the inter-organizational levels of analysis.

Research limitations/implications

This study has limitations related to scope of contribution, covered time span (17 years) and restrictions in journal subscriptions.

Practical implications

The study will help managers understand the intricacies of collaborative knowledge building practices to increase organizational overall effectiveness and performance.

Originality/value

This study is a first attempt to systematically assess the role of collaborative knowledge building in the co-creation of artifacts, and therefore, it represents a primary reference in the knowledge management field. It proposes some initial propositions that can guide future empirical studies.
Multiple pathways linking leader-member exchange to work effort
Authors: Lu Xinxin , Sun Jian-Min (James)
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to validate, distinguish, and integrate the multiple mechanisms linking leader-member exchange (LMX) to employee work effort. Taking a multi-foci perspective, the authors propose that organization-based self-esteem (OBSE), supervisory support, and organizational identification each explain unique variance in the LMX-work effort relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected using a two-wave survey among 184 employees from a wide variety of professions, industries, and organizations. Multiple mediation tests and path analysis were conducted to examine the hypotheses.

Findings

The results suggested that when entered simultaneously, OBSE, supervisory support, and organizational identification each explained unique variance in the relationship between LMX at Time 1 and work effort at Time 2.

Research limitations/implications

The research shows that leaders stimulate employee work effort via multiple foci. The mediating mechanisms of these foci are distinct and unique. It implies that researchers need to take the multiple foci of leadership into account when studying LMX.

Originality/value

Previous studies generally treat LMX as a dyadic construct; the study is among the first to reveal the multiple foci in LMX. By simultaneously examining mechanisms of the individual-, dyad-, and collective-foci, the research substantiates the unique effect of the three mechanisms, and integrates theories in LMX research. Moreover, the research in the Chinese context further validates the effectiveness of LMX in non-western culture, and provides contextual implications.
The effect of emotional quotient on organizational citizenship behavior in some Iranian hospitals
Authors: Rafiei Mojtaba
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of emotional quotient (EQ) on the organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) of some Iranian hospital staff in 2015. For this purpose, all hospital staff in Zahedan city were studied as the statistical population.

Design/methodology/approach

A randomized sampling method was used, and according to the Morgan Table, the statistical population was calculated as 346. This was a descriptive survey with a correlational and causative nature. Two questionnaires, namely, Bradbury and Graves’ Emotional Quotient and Podsakoff’s Organizational Citizenship Behavior, were used to collect the required information; they were distributed among the respondents after testing their validity and reliability. The people in the studied population were classified into classes that were homogeneous in terms of their properties.

Findings

The results of testing the hypotheses indicate that all the dimensions of EQ have a direct and significant effect on the emergence of OCB among the hospital staff in Zahedan. Finally, the results indicate the effect of EQ on OCB of the hospital staff.

Practical implications

Hospitals should consider emotional capabilities of the staff at the beginning of the employment period, and increase their sociability by inducting an atmosphere of organizational culture based on cooperation and empathy. It is suggested that a guideline of emotional eligibility and OCB be codified, which can influence job promotion and the promotion system. On specific occasions, hospital managers can honor the staff who have made positive and effective relationships in their career, and have achieved the satisfaction of their patients and colleagues by demonstrating extra-role behaviors. Thus, employees will be encouraged to continue this behavior and also provide a model to the staff. Through pre-service or in-service training classes and job seminars on the control of negative emotions and stresses while acquiring the skills of EQ, hospitals and other organizations can create OCB in the staff. As a result, visitor satisfaction would be gained, leading to better performance of hospitals.

Originality/value

It is suggested that a guideline of emotional eligibility and organizational citizenship behavior has to be codified which can affect the job promotion and promotion system. In specific occasions, the hospital managers can honor and pay tribute to the people who have made positive and effective relationships in their career, and have achieved the satisfaction of their patients and colleagues by showing extra-role behaviors.
Turbulent forced convection flow of nanofluids over triple forward facing step
Authors: Hashim Nawar Mohammed Ridha , Yusoff Mohd. Zamri , Mohammed Hussein Ahmed
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to numerically study the phenomenon of separation and subsequent reattachment that happens due to a sudden contraction or expansion in flow geometry, in addition, to investigating the effect of nanoparticles suspended in water on heat transfer enhancement and fluid flow characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

Turbulent forced convection flow over triple forward facing step (FFS) in a duct is numerically studied by using different types of nanofluids. Finite volume method is employed to carry out the numerical investigations. with nanoparticles volume fraction in the range of 1-4 per cent and nanoparticles diameter in the range 30-75 nm, suspended in water. Several parameters were studied, such as the geometrical specification (different step heights), boundary conditions (different Reynolds [Re] numbers), types of fluids (base fluid with different types of nanoparticles), nanoparticle concentration (different volume fractions) and nanoparticle size.

Findings

The numerical results indicate that the Nusselt number increases as the volume fraction increases, but it decreases as the diameter of the nanoparticles of nanofluids increases. The turbulent kinetic energy and its dissipation rate increase as Re number increases. The velocity magnitude increases as the density of nanofluids decreases. No significant effect of increasing the three steps heights on Nusselt along the heated wall, except in front of first step where increasing the first step height leads to an increase in the recirculation zone size adjacent to it.

Research limitations/implications

The phenomenon of separation and subsequent reattachment happened due to a sudden contraction or expansion in flow geometry, such as forward facing and backward facing steps, respectively, can be recognized in many engineering applications where heat transfer enhancement is required. Some examples include cooling systems for electronic equipment, heat exchanger, diffusers and chemical process. Understanding the concept of these devices is very important from the engineering point of view.

Originality/value

Convective heat transfer can be enhanced passively by changing flow geometry, boundary conditions, the traditional fluids or by enhancing thermal conductivity of the fluid. Great attention has been paid to increase the thermal conductivity of base fluid by suspending nano-, micro- or larger-sized particles in fluid. The products from suspending these particles in the base fluid are called nanofluids. Many studies have been conducted to investigate the heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics over FFS. This study is the first where nanofluids are employed as working fluids for flow over triple FFS.
Defining and classifying migratory habitats as sources and sinks: The migratory pathway approach
Authors: Erickson Richard A. , Diffendorfer Jay E. , Norris D. Ryan , Bieri Joanna A. , Earl Julia E. , Federico Paula , Fryxell John M. , Long Kevin R. , Mattsson Brady J. , Sample Christine , Wiederholt Ruscena , Thogmartin Wayne E.
Published: June 2017

Understanding and conserving migratory species requires a method for characterizing the seasonal flow of animals among habitats. Source‐sink theory describes the metapopulation dynamics of species by classifying habitats as population sources (i.e. net contributors) or sinks (i.e. net substractors). Migratory species may have non‐breeding habitats important to the species (e.g. overwintering or stopover habitats) that traditional source‐sink theory would classify as sinks because these habitats produce no individuals. Conversely, existing migratory network models can evaluate the relative contribution of non‐breeding nodes, but these models make an equilibrium assumption that is difficult to meet when examining real migratory populations.

We extend a pathway‐based metric allowing breeding habitats, non‐breeding habitats and migratory pathways connecting these habitats to be classified as sources or sinks. Rather than being based on whether place‐ or season‐specific births exceed deaths, our approach quantifies the total demographic contribution from a node or migratory pathway over a flexibly defined yet limited time period across an organism's life cycle. As such, it provides a snapshot of a migratory system and therefore does not require assumptions associated with equilibrium dynamics.

We first develop a generalizable mathematical notation and then demonstrate how the metric may be used with two case studies: the common loon (Gavia immer) and Yellowstone cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii bouvieri). These examples highlight how stressors can impact stopover and wintering habitats (loons) and habitat management targeting migratory pathways can improve population status (trout).

Synthesis and applications. Each of the two case studies presented describes how effects at one location are felt by populations in another through the seasonal flow of individuals. The contribution metric we present should be helpful in allocating regulatory and management attention to times and locations most critical to migratory species persistence.
Contingent maternities? Maternal claims‐making in third party reproduction
Authors: Johnson Katherine M.
Published: June 2017

The new reproductive technologies have significantly impacted definitions of motherhood. Historically, mothers were defined through the act of giving birth, but egg donation, embryo donation, and surrogacy disrupt this. Now multiple women can potentially claim maternity through gestational, genetic, legal, and social ties. Although there is some legal precedent for designating parentage, there is no simple solution to identify the ‘true’ mother. I address maternal claims‐making in third party reproduction via a content analysis of US patient literature for infertile women. Major tensions arise over which link to privilege, especially regarding genetic versus gestational ties in egg donation versus surrogacy; however, adding embryo donation to the analysis illuminates another crucial dimension previously overlooked – that heterosexual women's maternal claims are supported by their partner's paternity claims. Ultimately, I argue that although reproductive organisational discourse carefully constructs credible options for maternal claims‐making, contemporary reproductive medicine does not define maternity through assisted reproduction as a truly autonomous connection. Rather, maternity is highly contingent and thus potentially discreditable.
Depuration and Relaying: A Review on Potential Removal of Norovirus from Oysters
Authors: McLeod Catherine , Polo David , Le Saux Jean‐Claude , Le Guyader Françoise S.
Published: June 2017

Pollution of coastal waters can result in contamination of bivalve shellfish with human enteric viruses, including norovirus (NoV), and oysters are commonly implicated in outbreaks. Depuration is a postharvest treatment involving placement of shellfish in tanks of clean seawater to reduce contaminant levels; this review focuses on the efficacy of depuration in reducing NoV in oysters. There have been many NoV outbreaks from depurated oysters containing around 103 genome copies/g oyster tissue, far exceeding the median infectious dose (ID50). Half of the published NoV reduction experiments showed no decrease in NoV during depuration, and in the remaining studies it took between 9 and 45.5 d for a 1‐log reduction—significantly longer than commercial depuration time frames. Surrogate viruses are more rapidly depurated than NoV; the mean number of days to reduce NoV by 1 log is 19, and 7.5 d for surrogates. Thus, surrogates do not appear to be suitable for assessing virological safety of depurated oysters; data on reduction of NoV infectivity during depuration would assist evaluations on surrogate viruses and the impact of methods used. The longer persistence of NoV highlights its special relationship with oysters, which involves the binding of NoV to histo‐blood group‐like ligands in various tissues. Given the persistence of NoV and on‐going outbreaks, depuration as currently performed appears ineffective in guaranteeing virologically safe oysters. Conversely, relaying oysters for 4 wk is more successful, with low NoV concentrations and no illnesses associated with products. The ineffectiveness of depuration emphasizes the need for coastal water quality to be improved to ensure oysters are safe to eat.
Measuring selection when parents and offspring interact
Authors: Thomson Caroline E. , Hadfield Jarrod D.
Published: June 2017

Non‐social and social selection gradients are key evolutionary parameters in systems where individuals interact. They are most easily obtained by regressing an individual's fitness on the trait values of the individual and its social partner.

In the context of parental care it is more common to regress the trait value of the parents (i.e. the social partner) on a ‘mixed’ fitness measure that is a function of the parent's and offspring's fitness (for example, the number of recruits, which equals parental fecundity multiplied by offspring survival).

For such an approach to yield correct estimates of net‐selection, the trait must be sex‐limited and not affect the parents’ own survival.

When a trait is not sex‐limited, the non‐social selection should be weighted by one (because all individuals express the trait) and social selection should be weighted by a half (because the relatedness between parents and the offspring they care for is a half, usually). The ‘mixed’ fitness approach does not give estimates of both components of selection and so they cannot be weighted appropriately.

We show that mixed fitness components are frequently used in place of direct fitness measures in the literature (37% of fecundity selection estimates use a mixed fitness approach), but that the frequency is much higher in some taxa, such as birds and mammals.

We suggest alternative methods that could be used to estimate both social and non‐social selection gradients, while at the same time assessing the importance of unmeasured traits.
Influence of dietary fat source on sow and litter performance, colostrum and milk fatty acid profile in late gestation and lactation
Authors: Jin Chao , Fang Zhengfeng , Lin Yan , Che Lianqiang , Wu Caimei , Xu Shengyu , Feng Bin , Li Jian , Wu De
Published: June 2017

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with various fat sources (3.8–3.9% of diet) during late pregnancy and lactation on the reproductive performance, fatty acids profile in colostrum, milk and serum of sow progeny. A total of 80 multiparous sows were randomly fed a control (adding no oil), palm oil (PO), fish oil (FO) or soybean oil (SO) supplemented diet from 90 days of pregnancy to weaning. Supplementation of FO increased litter size of weak piglets, compared with the control‐fed sows (P < 0.05). Dietary FO and SO supplementation, enhanced the weaning survival rate, litter weaning weight, litter weight gain and fat content in milk (P < 0.05). The highest immunoglobulin (Ig)G and IgM levels in colostrum and milk were observed in the FO group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the highest concentration of C22:5 (n‐3) and C22:6 (n‐3) in colostrum, milk and piglet serum was observed in the FO group (P < 0.05). Taken together, dietary inclusion of FO or SO improved growth performance of nursing piglets by increasing milk fat output, and FO consumption by sows might benefit the piglets via increasing n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acid availability and immunoglobulins (IgG and IgM) secretion.
Psychopharmacological treatment of psychotic mania and psychotic bipolar depression compared to non‐psychotic mania and non‐psychotic bipolar depression
Authors: Bjørklund Louise B. , Horsdal Henriette T. , Mors Ole , Gasse Christiane , Østergaard Søren D.
Published: June 2017

Objectives

An evidence base for the treatment of mania and bipolar depression with psychotic symptoms is lacking. Nevertheless, clinicians may have a preference for treating episodes of bipolar disorder with or without psychotic symptoms in different ways, which is likely to reflect notions of differential efficacy of treatments between these subtypes. This study aimed to investigate whether the psychopharmacological treatment of psychotic and non‐psychotic episodes of mania and bipolar depression, respectively, differs in clinical practice.

Methods

We conducted a register‐based study assessing the psychopharmacological treatment of all individuals receiving their first diagnosis of mania or bipolar depression between 2010 and 2012. The psychopharmacological treatment within 3 months following the time of diagnosis was considered. Potential differences in psychopharmacological treatment between the psychotic and non‐psychotic subtypes of mania and bipolar depression, respectively, were investigated by means of Pearson's χ2 test and logistic regression adjusted for sex and age at diagnosis of bipolar disorder.

Results

A total of 827 patients were included in the analyses. The adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for treatment with an antipsychotic was 1.71 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.18‐2.48, P<.01) for psychotic mania and 3.89 (95% CI: 1.95‐7.76, P<.001) for psychotic bipolar depression. The aOR for treatment with the combination of an antipsychotic and an anticonvulsant was 1.60 (95% CI: 1.06‐2.43, P<.05) for psychotic mania. The aOR for treatment with the combination of an antipsychotic and an antidepressant was 2.50 (95% CI: 1.43‐4.37, P<.01) for bipolar psychotic depression.

Conclusions

It would be of interest to conduct studies evaluating whether antipsychotics represent the superior pharmacological treatment for psychotic mania and psychotic bipolar depression.
Emotion and Achievement During Adolescence
Authors: Pekrun Reinhard
Published: June 2017

Adolescents frequently experience emotions such as enjoyment, hope, pride, anger, anxiety, shame, or boredom at school. These emotions are often intense and can profoundly affect learning, achievement, and psychological health. Traditionally, these emotions were neglected in research on adolescence, but in the past 15 years, they have gained more attention. In this article, I review studies on the links between emotions and adolescents’ academic achievement. The findings from this emerging field confirm that emotions influence adolescents’ learning, including their attention, motivation, use of learning strategies, self‐regulation of learning, and achievement outcomes. The development of achievement‐related emotions is shaped by adolescents’ appraisals of success and failure, as well as individual factors and social environments influencing these appraisals, including gender, achievement, instructional practices, and test‐taking procedures. In closing, I outline implications for practice and discuss the need for intervention studies targeting achievement emotions.
Empowering Marginalized Youth: A Self‐Transformative Intervention for Promoting Positive Youth Development
Authors: Eichas Kyle , Montgomery Marilyn J. , Meca Alan , Kurtines William M.
Published: June 2017

This article reports the results of a positive youth development (PYD) intervention for adolescents in alternative high schools (209 African American and Hispanic American adolescents, aged 14–18; 118 females and 91 males). The intervention was guided by a self‐transformative model of PYD (Eichas, Meca, Montgomery, & Kurtines, 2014). This model proposes that the actions youth take to define themselves function as active ingredients in positive development over the life course. Consistent with the self‐transformative model, results provided support for direct or mediated intervention effects on the self‐transformative processes of self‐construction and self‐discovery, life goal development, identity synthesis, and internalizing problems. The findings illustrate the utility of using a self‐transformative approach to PYD in work with marginalized youth populations.
Novel biallelic mutations in the PNPT1 gene encoding a mitochondrial‐RNA‐import protein PNPase cause delayed myelination
Authors: Sato R. , Arai‐Ichinoi N. , Kikuchi A. , Matsuhashi T. , Numata‐Uematsu Y. , Uematsu M. , Fujii Y. , Murayama K. , Ohtake A. , Abe T. , Kure S.
Published: June 2017

Recent studies suggest that impaired transcription or mitochondrial translation of small RNAs can cause abnormal myelination. A polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) encoded by PNPT1 facilitates the import of small RNAs into mitochondria. PNPT1 mutations have been reported in patients with neurodevelopmental diseases with mitochondrial dysfunction. We report here 2 siblings with PNPT1 mutations who presented delayed myelination as well as mitochondrial dysfunction. We identified compound heterozygous mutations (c.227G>A; p.Gly76Asp and c.574C>T; p.Arg192*) in PNPT1 by quartet whole‐exome sequencing. Analyses of skin fibroblasts from the patient showed that PNPase expression was markedly decreased and that import of the small RNA RNaseP into mitochondria was impaired. Exogenous expression of wild‐type PNPT1, but not mutants, rescued ATP production in patient skin fibroblasts, suggesting the pathogenicity of the identified mutations. Our cases expand the phenotypic spectrum of PNPT1 mutations that can cause delayed myelination.
Influence of a collagen membrane positioned subjacent the sinus mucosa following the elevation of the maxillary sinus. A histomorphometric study in rabbits
Authors: Iida Takahisa , Carneiro Martins Neto Evandro , Botticelli Daniele , Apaza Alccayhuaman Karol Alí , Lang Niklaus P. , Xavier Samuel P.
Published: June 2017

Objective

To evaluate the healing after elevation of the sinus mucosa when a collagen membrane was placed between the sinus mucosa and a xenograft used as filler.

Materials and Methods

Eighteen rabbits were used. Sinus mucosa elevation was performed bilaterally, and a collagen membrane was applied subjacent to the sinus mucosa only at a randomly selected test site. At both sites, a collagenated corticocancellous porcine bone was placed within the elevated space and the access window was covered with a collagen membrane. The animals were sacrificed after 2, 4, and 8 weeks of healing, six animals for group. Ground sections were prepared.

Results

At the histomorphometric evaluation, the elevated area after 2 and 8 weeks was 11.8 and 8.8 mm2 at the test, and 10.0 and 5.3 mm2 at the control sites, respectively. The available area was obtained subtracting the remaining area occupied by the membrane from the elevated area and, after 8 weeks, was 6.7 ± 0.9 mm2. After 8 weeks of healing, the mineralized new bone within the elevated space was 18.2 ± 5.5% at the test and 26.7 ± 7.7% at the control sites. Within the available space at the test site, the percentage was 27.3 ± 7.0% after 8 weeks of healing. At 2 and 8 weeks of healing, within the elevated space, the xenograft proportion was 30.9 ± 4.4% and 6.9 ± 2.8% at the test, and 35.2 ± 7.3% and 9.6 ± 4.9% at the control sites, respectively.

Conclusions

The placement of a collagen membrane subjacent the sinus mucosa did not reveal any major morphometric difference. The collagen membrane was not completely resorbed after 8 weeks.
Characteristics and response to treatment among Indigenous people receiving injectable diacetylmorphine or hydromorphone in a randomised controlled trial for the treatment of long‐term opioid dependence
Authors: Oviedo‐Joekes Eugenia , Palis Heather , Guh Daphne , Marchand Kirsten , Brissette Suzanne , Lock Kurt , MacDonald Scott , Harrison Scott , Anis Aslam H. , Krausz Michael , Marsh David C. , Schechter Martin T.
Published: June 2017

Introduction and Aims

To determine the effectiveness of injectable hydromorphone and dicaetylmorphine for Indigenous participants in the Study to Assess Longer‐term Opioid Medication Effectiveness (SALOME) clinical trial. The study additionally aims to explore the prevalence and frequency of crack cocaine use among subgroups of participants (by gender and ethnicity). This secondary analysis is particularly relevant given the current need for expanded medication assisted treatments for opioid dependence across North America.

Design and Methods

Participants self‐identifying as First Nations, Métis or Inuit were included in the analysis of Indigenous participants. Six‐month treatment outcomes are reported as the difference between diacetylmorphine and hydromorphone treatment arms among Indigenous participants and change from baseline to 6 months in each treatment arm. Differences in outcomes are tested between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous participants. Crack cocaine use was explored to determine differences between and within subgroups.

Results

Approximately one‐third of SALOME participants self‐identified as Indigenous. Indigenous participants presented to treatment with more structural vulnerabilities (e.g. lower education, higher rates of foster care and separation from biological parents) compared to non‐Indigenous participants. After 6 months, Indigenous participants in both treatment arms had a significant reduction in days of street heroin use, opioid use, crack cocaine use and illegal activity. Treatment retention did not differ by treatment arm.

Discussion and Conclusions

Indigenous people that are not engaged by first‐line treatments for opioid dependence are in need of effective alternative treatments. Given the political and logistical barriers facing diacetylmorphine, hydromorphone could serve as a more accessible medication to reach and treat this population. [Oviedo‐Joekes E, Palis H, Guh D, Marchand K, Brissette S, Lock K, MacDonald S, Harrison S, Anis AH, Krausz M, March DC, Schechter MT. Characteristics and response to treatment among Indigenous people receiving injectable diacetylmorphine or hydromorphone in a randomised controlled trial for the treatment of long‐termopioid dependence. Drug Alcohol Rev 2018;37:137–146]
Dissecting a biodiversity hotspot: The importance of environmentally marginal habitats in the Atlantic Forest Domain of South America
Authors: Neves Danilo M. , Dexter Kyle G. , Pennington R. Toby , Valente Arthur S. M. , Bueno Marcelo L. , Eisenlohr Pedro V. , Fontes Marco A.L. , Miranda Pedro L. S. , Moreira Suzana N. , Rezende Vanessa L. , Saiter Felipe Z. , Oliveira‐Filho Ary T.
Published: June 2017

Aim

We aimed to assess the contribution of marginal habitats to the tree species richness of the Mata Atlântica (Atlantic Forest) biodiversity hotspot. In addition, we aimed to determine which environmental factors drive the occurrence and distribution of these marginal habitats.

Location

The whole extension of the South American Atlantic Forest Domain plus forest intrusions into the neighbouring Cerrado and Pampa Domains, which comprises rain forests (“core” habitat) and five marginal habitats, namely high elevation forests, rock outcrop dwarf‐forests, riverine forests, semideciduous forests and restinga (coastal white‐sand woodlands).

Methods

We compiled a dataset containing 366,875 occurrence records of 4,431 tree species from 1,753 site‐checklists, which were a priori classified into 10 main vegetation types. We then performed ordination analyses of the species‐by‐site matrix to assess the floristic consistency of this classification. In order to assess the relative contribution of environmental predictors to the community turnover, we produced models using 26 climate and substrate‐related variables as environmental predictors.

Results

Ordination diagrams supported the floristic segregation of vegetation types, with those considered as marginal habitats placed at the extremes of ordination axes. These marginal habitats are associated with the harshest extremes of five limiting factors: temperature seasonality (high elevation and subtropical riverine forests), flammability (rock outcrop dwarf‐forests), high salinity (restinga), water deficit severity (semideciduous forests) and waterlogged soils (tropical riverine forests). Importantly, 45% of all species endemic to the Atlantic Domain only occur in marginal habitats.

Main conclusions

Our results showed the key role of the poorly protected marginal habitats in contributing to the high species richness of the Atlantic Domain. Various types of environmental harshness operate as environmental filters determining the distribution of the Atlantic Domain habitats. Our findings also stressed the importance of fire, a previously neglected environmental factor.