bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Housing demolition attention, social responsibility pressure of manager and corporate value
Authors: Zeng Jianguang , Lu Yuanyuan , Xu Qian , Yang Xun
Published: September 2017

Purpose

This study aims to examine whether corporate stconcerns on social responsibility issues pressurize corporate managers to act in a socially responsible way and how this affects corporate value.

Design/methodology/approach

This study follows previous studies such as Wu et al. (2008) and Jiang and Huang (2011) in using the research model.

Findings

The analysis shows that in regions where large attention paid to demolitions, corporate managers are under great pressure from corporate stakeholders and they thus act in more socially responsible ways; this, in turn, results in higher corporate values. Furthermore, in regions in which demolition events attract more attention, the increase in corporate value is relatively small for state-owned enterprises and unprofitable listed enterprises.

Originality/value

The findings demonstrate that internet governance heightens corporate stakeholders’ awareness of social responsibility, and this leads to pressure on corporate relative behaviors to satisfy the requests of corporate stakeholders, leading to an increase in corporate value and improvement in social welfare.
Drivers, explorers, crusaders and captains: identifying and nurturing four types of entrepreneurial business builders
Authors: Leavy Brian
Published: September 2017

Purpose

Brian Leavy interviews Chris Kuenne and John Danner about research into entrepreneurial personality published in their new book Built for Growth: How Builder Personality Shapes Your Business, Your Team, and Your Ability to Win Corporate.

Design/methodology/approach

By studying personality types, executives can learn how different types of successful entrepreneurs function, how they’re wired, motivated, lead and manage.

Findings

Using Kuenne’s and Danner’s“Builder Personality Discovery” instrument, corporations can begin to recognize which types of potential entrepreneurs they have, and then how best to support and reward their efforts in creating new business value.

Practical implications

Each typically interacts differently to five major dynamic challenges that every business builder faces, the “solution dynamic,” the “team dynamic,” the “customer dynamic,” the “sponsor dynamic” and the ‘scale dynamic.’

Originality/value

Essential insights for corporate leaders championing entrepreneurial business builders in their firms and for assessing leaders of potential acquisitions.
An integrative methodology for creatively exploring decision choices
Authors: Riel Jennifer , Martin Roger
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The authors translate their the concept of integrative thinking into a repeatable methodology, supported by a set of tools for thinking through difficult or “wicked“ problems, a process that offers a better chance of rejecting false choices and of finding a way through to an innovative alternative.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors divide their process into four phases. A case example illustrates each phase.

Findings

The four phases that make up the integrative thinking 10;process: articulating opposing ways to solve a vexing problem; analyzing those opposing models to truly understand them; attempting to resolve the antithetical approaches of the opposing models by creating new models that contain elements of the original alternatives but are superior to either one and testing the potential new solutions.

Research limitations/implications

Additional examples and detailed guidance is provided in the authors new book “Creating Great Choices: A Leader’s Guide to Integrative Thinking,” (Harvard Business School Press, 2017).

Practical implications

Several corporate examples of “wicked” problems to which integrative thinking might be applied are: After a merger, the combined sales organization is riven by dissension between proponents of two opposite approaches – one using direct sales and the other channel partners. The CEO of a retail bank struggling to manage the conflicting goals of increasing efficiency and improving customer service.

Originality/value

Applied thoughtfully, this new and tested methodology gives leaders at all levels a fighting chance at solving challenging problems and creating breakthrough choices.
Three views of China’s economic future
Authors: Brookfield Jonathan
Published: September 2017

Purpose

The author presents practitioners with an overview of experts’ outlook for China econmic future. While some observers see the likelihood of a decade of continued rapid growth ahead, others see major economic challenges on the horizon.

Design/methodology/approach

To better understand the forces at play, consider the rationale underpinning three experts’ different perspectives on the future of China’s economy.

Findings

The author looks at the thinking underlying three vies: Confidence in steady growth: optimism based on China’s continuing “latecomer advantage” and its plentiful investment resources. Cautionary warning: pessimism based largely on his perception of China’s debt load and structural economic limits to consumer spending. Why you shouldn’t bet on pessimism: a rebuttal to much of the reasoning underpinning gloomy growth forecasts.

Practical implications

Taken together, a weak renminbi, low interest rates, and restrained wage growth would signal efforts to maintain the viability of China’s “latecomer” economic model.

Originality/value

The article helps practitioners understand the logic behind optimistic and pessimistic view of China’s economy so that as events develop observers can better understand which future is unfolding and what risks increasing or decreasing.
Joint PP‐ and PSV‐wave amplitudes versus offset and azimuth inversion for fracture compliances in horizontal transversely isotropic media
Authors: Chen Huaizhen , Zhang Guangzhi , Chen Tiansheng , Yin Xingyao
Published: September 2017

We propose a robust approach for the joint inversion of PP‐ and PSV‐wave angle gathers along different azimuths for the elastic properties of the homogeneous isotropic host rock and excess compliances due to the presence of fractures. Motivated by the expression of fluid content indicator in fractured reservoirs and the sensitivity of Lamé impedances to fluid type, we derive PP‐ and PSV‐wave reflection coefficients in terms of Lamé impedances, density, and fracture compliances for an interface separating two horizontal transversely isotropic media. Following a Bayesian framework, we construct an objective function that includes initial models. We employ the iteratively reweighted least‐squares algorithm to solve the inversion problem to estimate unknown parameters (i.e., Lamé impedances, density, and fracture compliances) from PP‐ and PSV‐wave angle gathers along different azimuths. Synthetic tests reveal that the unknown parameters estimated using the joint inversion approach match true values better than those estimated using a PP‐wave amplitude inversion only. A real data test indicates that reasonable results for subsurface fracture detection are obtained from the joint inversion approach.
Reluctant entrepreneurs: musicians and entrepreneurship in the ‘new’ music industry
Authors: Haynes Jo , Marshall Lee
Published: September 2017

Changing labour conditions in the creative industries – with celebrations of autonomy and entrepreneurialism intertwined with increasing job insecurity, portfolio careers and short‐term, project‐based contracts – are often interpreted as heralding changes to employment relations more broadly. The position of musicians’ labour in relation to these changes is unclear, however, given that these kinds of conditions have defined musicians’ working practices over much longer periods of time (though they may have intensified due to well‐documented changes to the music industry brought about by digitization and disintermediation). Musicians may thus be something of a barometer of current trends, as implied in the way that the musically derived label ‘gig economy’ is being used to describe the spread of precarious working conditions to broader sections of the population. This article, drawing on original qualitative research that investigated the working practices of musicians, explores one specific aspect of these conditions: whether musicians are self‐consciously entrepreneurial towards their work and audience. We found that, while the musicians in our study are routinely involved in activities that could be construed as entrepreneurial, generally they were reluctant to label themselves as entrepreneurs. In part this reflected understandings of entrepreneurialism as driven by profit‐seeking but it also reflected awareness that being a popular musician has always involved business and commercial dimensions. Drawing on theoretical conceptions of entrepreneurship developed by Joseph Schumpeter we highlight how the figure of the entrepreneur and the artist/musician share much in common and reflect various aspects of romantic individualism. Despite this, there are also some notable differences and we conclude that framing musicians’ labour as entrepreneurial misrepresents their activities through an overemphasis on the economic dimensions of their work at the expense of the cultural.
What is the safest mode of birth for extremely preterm breech singleton infants who are actively resuscitated? A systematic review and meta‐analyses
Authors: Grabovac M , Karim JN , Isayama T , Liyanage S Korale , McDonald SD
Published: September 2017

Background

The safest delivery mode of extremely preterm breech singletons is unknown.

Objectives

To determine safest delivery mode of actively resuscitated extremely preterm breech singletons.

Search strategy

We searched Cochrane CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and ClinicalTrials.gov from January 1994 to May 2017.

Selection criteria

We included studies comparing outcomes by delivery mode in actively resuscitated breech infants between 23+0 and 27+6 weeks.

Data collection and analysis

We synthesised data using random effects, generated odds ratios, 95% confidence intervals and number‐needed‐to‐treat (NNT). Our primary outcomes were death (neonatal, before discharge, or by 6 months) and severe intraventricular haemorrhage (grades III/IV), stratified by gestational age (23+0–24+6, 25+0–26+6, 27+0–27+6 weeks).

Main results

We included 15 studies with 12 335 infants. We found that caesarean section was associated with a 41% decrease in odds of death between 23+0 and 27+6 weeks [odds ratio (OR) 0.59, 95% CI 0.36–0.95, NNT 8], with the greatest decrease at 23+0–24+6 weeks (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.44–0.75, NNT 7). The OR at 25+0–26+6 and 27+0–27+6 weeks were 0.72 (95% CI 0.34–1.52) and 2.04 (95% CI 0.20–20.62), respectively. We found that caesarean section was associated with 49% decrease in odds of severe intraventricular haemorrhage between 23+0 and 27+6 weeks (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.29–0.91, NNT 12), whereas the OR at 25+0–26+6 and 27+0–27+6 was 0.29 (95% CI 0.07–1.12) and 0.91 (95% CI 0.27–3.05), respectively.

Conclusions

Caesarean section was associated with reductions in the odds of death by 41% and of severe intraventricular haemorrhage by 49% in actively resuscitated breech singletons < 28 weeks of gestation. The data are mostly observational, which may be inherently biased, and scarce on other morbidities, necessitating thorough discussion between parents and clinicians.

Tweetable abstract

Caesarean section associated with lower odds of death and severe intraventricular haemorrhage in actively resuscitated breech singletons <28 weeks.
Flight to Quality in International Markets: Investors’ Demand for Financial Reporting Quality during Political Uncertainty Events
Authors: Chen Feng , Hope Ole‐Kristian , Li Qingyuan , Wang Xin
Published: September 2017

We examine whether international equity mutual fund managers shift their portfolios toward stocks with higher financial reporting quality (FRQ) during periods of high political uncertainty. Our study is motivated by two primary factors. First, prior research shows evidence of fund managers’ “flight to quality” (e.g., to less risky securities) during periods of uncertainty. Second, recent theoretical research concludes that stocks with higher FRQ are assessed as less sensitive to systematic risk (such as political uncertainty). We employ national elections as exogenous increases in systematic risk in the local markets and accordingly use an international sample of mutual funds that focus on local markets. We find that mutual fund managers shift their equity holdings to stocks with higher FRQ during election periods when political uncertainty is higher. Such a flight‐to‐quality effect is less pronounced for elections with larger expected electoral margins in the pre‐election period (i.e., when the incumbent is more likely to win the election) and for countries with higher transactions costs. In contrast, the effect is more pronounced when governments have greater involvement in the local economy. Our inferences are robust to alternative proxies for political uncertainty and FRQ and to numerous other sensitivity analyses.
assignPOP: An r package for population assignment using genetic, non‐genetic, or integrated data in a machine‐learning framework
Authors: Chen Kuan‐Yu , Marschall Elizabeth A. , Sovic Michael G. , Fries Anthony C. , Gibbs H. Lisle , Ludsin Stuart A.
Published: September 2017

The use of biomarkers (e.g., genetic, microchemical and morphometric characteristics) to discriminate among and assign individuals to a population can benefit species conservation and management by facilitating our ability to understand population structure and demography.

Tools that can evaluate the reliability of large genomic datasets for population discrimination and assignment, as well as allow their integration with non‐genetic markers for the same purpose, are lacking. Our r package, assignPOP, provides both functions in a supervised machine‐learning framework.

assignPOP uses Monte‐Carlo and K‐fold cross‐validation procedures, as well as principal component analysis, to estimate assignment accuracy and membership probabilities, using training (i.e., baseline source population) and test (i.e., validation) datasets that are independent. A user then can build a specified predictive model based on the relative sizes of these datasets and classification functions, including linear discriminant analysis, support vector machine, naïve Bayes, decision tree and random forest.

assignPOP can benefit any researcher who seeks to use genetic or non‐genetic data to infer population structure and membership of individuals. assignPOP is a freely available r package under the GPL license, and can be downloaded from CRAN or at https://github.com/alexkychen/assignPOP. A comprehensive tutorial can also be found at https://alexkychen.github.io/assignPOP/.
Hot off the Press: Embedded Clinical Decision Support in Electronic Health Record Decreases Use of High‐cost Imaging in the Emergency Department: EmbED Study
Authors: Heitz Corey , Morgenstern Justin , Milne William K.
Published: September 2017

This longitudinal before/after study of embedded clinical decision rules assessed the effects of clinical decision support on use of common imaging studies. Among high users, rates of computed tomograhy (CT) scan of the brain and CT of the cervical spine were reduced after implementation of embedded clinical decision instruments, while in low users, rates increased. This article summarizes the manuscript and the Skeptics Guide to Emergency Medicine podcast, as well as the ensuing social media/online discussion.
A clinical, randomized study on the influence of dental whitening on Streptococcus mutans population
Authors: Briso ALF , Silva ÚAE , Souza MBA , Rahal V , Jardim Júnior EG , Cintra LTA
Published: September 2017

Background

Dental whitening with peroxides has been popularized through the at‐home technique, which employs low concentrations of peroxide applied in individual trays. However, there are few clinical trials reporting the effects of its continuous use on oral microbiota. Thus, the purpose of the present clinical, randomized study was to evaluate the influence of at‐home whitening treatment on Streptococcus mutans in saliva, buccal mucosa, and subgingival and supragingival plaque.

Methods

Thirty volunteers were randomly divided into two study groups (N = 15) according to the whitening therapy: G CP, whitening using 10% carbamide peroxide 4 h daily for 21 days; and G HP, whitening using 6% hydrogen peroxide 1.5 h daily for 21 days. Samples from the predetermined locations were collected at three evaluation periods: T1, before; T2, immediately after; and T3, 30 days after the beginning of the treatment. The microbiological evaluation was made using conventional and molecular methods.

Results

Student's t‐test demonstrated a statistically significant decrease in S. mutans population in the subgingival and supragingival plaque for HP samples between T1 and T2 no difference was found between T1 and T3 regardless of the location and the whitening product used (α = 0.05).

Conclusions

Although HP reduced S. mutans during treatment, the levels returned to baseline when assessed 30 days after the treatment.
The Volatility Spillover Effect between Index Options and their Underlying Markets: Evidence from the US, the UK, and Taiwan
Authors: Chan Chia‐Ying , de Peretti Christian , Wang Ming‐Chun , Chen Hong‐Min
Published: September 2017

This study examines the volatility spillover effect among five index options and their underlying markets. Results show that the bidirectional volatility spillover effect and the cross‐market leverage effect exist between index options and their underlying markets. Our findings confirm that the volatility spillover effect is generally outweighed by shocks in the underlying market, and that the options implied price volatility is provoked by the information shock occurring in both the cash and options markets to a higher degree. Through the volatility impulse response function, this study shows that the options implied prices are more sensitive to innovations in both markets.
The extracellular signal‐regulated kinase 1/2 triggers angiogenesis in human ectopic endometrial implants by inducing angioblast differentiation and proliferation
Authors: Arlier Sefa , Murk William , Guzeloglu‐Kayisli Ozlem , Semerci Nihan , Larsen Kellie , Tabak Mehmet S. , Arici Aydin , Schatz Frederick , Lockwood Charles J. , Kayisli Umit A.
Published: September 2017

Problem

The role of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK)1/2‐mediated angiogenesis during endometriotic nidation is unknown. We posit that ERK1/2‐induced angioblast differentiation and proliferation promotes ectopic endometrial angiogenesis.

Methods of study

Human eutopic and ectopic endometria were immunostained for total‐ (T‐) or phosphorylated‐ (P‐) ERK1/2 or double‐immunostained for P‐ERK1/2‐CD34 and PCNA‐CD34. Estradiol (E2), cytokines, normal peritoneal fluid (NPF) or endometriotic peritoneal fluid (EPF) ±PD98059, an ERK1/2 inhibitor, treaded primary human endometrial endothelial cells (HEECs) were evaluated by T‐/P‐ERK1/2 immunoblotting, MTT viability and tube formation assays.

Results

HEECs exhibited higher endothelial P‐ERK1/2 immunoreactivity in ectopic vs eutopic endometria. Double‐immunostained ectopic endometria displayed abundant CD34‐positive angioblasts exhibiting strong P‐ERK1/2 and PCNA immunoreactivity. EPF and vascular growth factor (VEGF)‐A significantly increased HEEC proliferation and P‐ERK1/2 levels. PD98059 reduced basal, EPF, and VEGF‐induced HEEC proliferation and promoted vascular stabilization following tube formation.

Conclusion

Enhanced ERK1/2 activity in angioblasts by such peritoneal factors as VEGF, E2 induces proliferation to trigger ectopic endometrial angiogenesis.
Chlamydia trachomatis regulates innate immune barrier integrity and mediates cytokine and antimicrobial responses in human uterine ECC‐1 epithelial cells
Authors: Mukura Lucy Rudo , Hickey Danica K. , Rodriguez‐Garcia Marta , Fahey John V. , Wira Charles R.
Published: September 2017

Problem

Chlamydia trachomatis infection is the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection worldwide and known to increase the risk for HIV acquisition. Few studies have investigated how infection of epithelial cells compromises barrier integrity and antimicrobial response.

Method of study

ECC‐1 cells, a human uterine epithelial cell line, were treated with live and heat‐killed C. trachomatis. Epithelial barrier integrity measured as transepithelial resistance (TER), chemokines antimicrobial levels, and antimicrobial mRNA expression was measured by ELISA and Real‐time RT‐PCR.

Results

Epithelial barrier integrity was compromised when cells were infected with live, but not with heat‐killed, C. trachomatis. IL‐8 secretion by ECC‐1 cells increased in response to live and heat‐killed C. trachomatis, while MCP‐1, HBD2 and trappin2/elafin secretion decreased with live C. trachomatis.

Conclusion

Live C. trachomatis suppresses ECC‐1 innate immune responses by compromising the barrier integrity, inhibiting secretion of MCP‐1, HBD2, and trappin‐2/elafin. Differential responses between live and heat‐killed Chlamydia indicate which immune responses are dependent on ECC‐1 infection rather than the extracellular presence of Chlamydia.
Successful treatment with intrauterine delivery of dexamethasone for repeated implantation failure
Authors: Zhang Tao , Huang Chunyu , Du Yan , Lian Ruochun , Mo Meilan , Zeng Yong , Mor Gil
Published: September 2017

Problem

Effective therapy for endometrial receptivity of patients with repeated embryo implantation failure (RIF) is far undeveloped. Whether intrauterine perfusion of dexamethasone (DXM), local administration of drugs with less systematic side‐effects, benefit for embryo implantation by suppressing uterine NK (uNK) cells to improve endometrial receptivity remains unknown.

Method of study

Women with RIF were analyzed for the correlation between the percentage of uNK cells during implantation window and following clinical pregnancy rate to determine the appropriate range of uNK for embryo implantation. Women with RIF and extremely increased uNK cells were treated with transvaginal intrauterine perfusion of DXM. Quantification of uNK cells before and after this treatment was analyzed by immunohistochemistry staining for understanding potential underlying mechanism. Pregnancy outcome was evaluated for the efficiency and safety of this novel therapy.

Results

The clinical pregnancy rate was decreased if the percentage of uNK cells was higher than the 75th percentile (18.06%), which was considered as the cutoff value for increased uNK cells. All eight patients with increased uNK cells responded to DXM‐induced decrease on uNK cells number, and seven got clinical pregnancy. Three delivered with a healthy baby at term without any pregnancy complication and three achieved an ongoing pregnancy, but one suffered from early miscarriage.

Conclusion

We report for the first time the beneficial effect of intrauterine perfusion of DXM for patients with RIF characterized by high number of uNK cells. The potential mechanism is downregulation of the proportion of uNK cells, which may improve endometrial receptivity and enhance embryo implantation.
Nasotracheal intubation over a bougie vs. non‐bougie intubation: a prospective randomised, controlled trial in older children and adults using videolaryngoscopy
Authors: Abrons R. O. , Zimmerman M. B. , El‐Hattab Y. M. S.
Published: September 2017

Conventionally, nasotracheal intubation has consisted of blind nasal passage and external manipulation of the tube through the glottis (‘conventional technique’), a technique associated with a high incidence of nasal trauma. We evaluated a novel technique for routine asleep (i.e. post‐induction) nasotracheal intubation using a bougie (‘bougie technique’), which uses a nasopharyngeal airway to guide a paediatric bougie nasotracheally for use as a Seldinger tracheal intubation guide. Two hundred and fifty‐seven older children (> 8 years) and adults were randomly assigned to videolaryngoscopy‐assisted nasotracheal intubation using either the conventional or the bougie technique. The hypothesis was that the bougie technique would result in less nasopharyngeal trauma. The bougie technique was associated with significantly less nasopharyngeal bleeding than the conventional technique at both 60–90 s (55% vs. 68%; p = 0.033) and 5 min (51% vs. 70%; p = 0.002). The severity of bleeding was also significantly less with the bougie technique, with an OR for active bleeding of 0.42 (95%CI 0.20–0.87; p = 0.020) at 60–90 s and 0.15 (95%CI 0.06–0.37; p < 0.0001) at 5 min. Magill forceps were needed significantly less often with the bougie technique (9% vs. 28%, p = 0.0001) and there was no difference in first attempt and overall success rates between the two techniques (p = 0.133 and p = 0.750, respectively). Not only is nasal intubation over a bougie as successful as the conventional technique, it also significantly decreases both the incidence and severity of nasopharyngeal trauma, as well as the need for the use of Magill forceps.
Preterm infants with necrotising enterocolitis demonstrate an unbalanced gut microbiota
Authors: Itani Tarek , Ayoub Moubareck Carole , Melki Imad , Rousseau Clotilde , Mangin Irène , Butel Marie‐José , Karam‐Sarkis Dolla
Published: September 2017

Aim

This Lebanese study tested the hypothesis that differences would exist in the gut microbiota of preterm infants with and without necrotising enterocolitis (NEC), as reported in Western countries.

Methods

This study compared 11 infants with NEC and 11 controls, all born at 27‐35 weeks, in three neonatal intensive care units between January 2013 and March 2015. Faecal samples were collected at key time points, and microbiota was analysed by culture, quantitative PCR (qPCR) and temperature temporal gel electrophoresis (TTGE).

Results

The cultures revealed that all preterm infants were poorly colonised and harboured no more than seven species. Prior to NEC diagnosis, significant differences were observed by qPCR with a higher colonisation by staphylococci (p = 0.034) and lower colonisations by enterococci (p = 0.039) and lactobacilli (p = 0.048) in the NEC group compared to the healthy controls. Throughout the study, virtually all of the infants were colonised by Enterobacteriaceae at high levels. TTGE analysis revealed no particular clusterisation, showing high interindividual variability.

Conclusion

The NEC infants were poorly colonised with no more than seven species, and the controls had a more diversified and balanced gut microbiota. Understanding NEC aetiology better could lead to more effective prophylactic interventions and a reduced incidence.
Stress‐testing the affect misattribution procedure: Heterogeneous control of affect misattribution procedure effects under incentives
Authors: Hazlett Chad J. , Berinsky Adam J.
Published: September 2017

The affect misattribution procedure (AMP) is widely used to measure sensitive attitudes towards classes of stimuli, by estimating the effect that affectively charged prime images have on subsequent judgements of neutral target images. We test its resistance to efforts to conceal one's attitudes, by replicating the standard AMP design while offering small incentives to conceal attitudes towards the prime images. We find that although the average AMP effect remains positive, it decreases significantly in magnitude. Moreover, this reduction in the mean AMP effect under incentives masks large heterogeneity: one subset of individuals continues to experience the ‘full’ AMP effect, while another reduces their effect to approximately zero. The AMP thus appears to be resistant to efforts to conceal one's attitudes for some individuals but is highly controllable for others. We further find that those individuals with high self‐reported effort to avoid the influence of the prime are more often able to eliminate their AMP effect. We conclude by discussing possible mechanisms.
Development of Appetite Self‐Regulation: Integrating Perspectives From Attachment and Family Systems Theory
Authors: Saltzman Jaclyn A. , Fiese Barbara H. , Bost Kelly K. , McBride Brent A.
Published: September 2017

Appetite self‐regulation develops rapidly during the first 2 years of life, with implications for weight‐related health and well‐being over the life span. Attachment theory suggests that interpersonal interactions between caregivers and children are part of the biobehavioral system designed to promote the development of self‐regulation. However, parent–child dyads are embedded within the family system, which also influences individual differences in appetite self‐regulation. In this review, we synthesize research on appetite self‐regulation from the perspectives of attachment and family systems theories to identify strengths and limits in how we understand the development of appetite self‐regulation. We propose an integrative theoretical framework in which familial and dyadic factors influence appetite self‐regulation directly and indirectly via modifications to the quality of parent–child interactions during infancy and early childhood. Finally, we identify avenues for research to test pathways of risk, resilience, and well‐being toward optimal appetite self‐regulation and weight outcomes.
Astroglial phagocytosis in central nervous system health and disease
Authors: Yamasaki Ryo
Published: September 2017

Phagocytosis by astrocytes is important in the developing brain and in central nervous system lesions. Astroglial phagocytosis usually contributes to the repair of damaged lesions, but, depending on the local milieu, astrocytes can become activated “A1” type astroglia, which release neurotoxic substances and accelerate regional damage.
Risk factors for postoperative ileus after colorectal cancer surgery
Authors: Rybakov E. G. , Shelygin Y. A. , Khomyakov E. A. , Zarodniuk I. V.
Published: September 2017

Aim

The aim was to assess the rate and independent risk factors of postoperative ileus after colorectal cancer surgery.

Methods

Three hundred consecutive patients underwent colorectal surgery for cancer at the State Scientific Centre of Coloproctology, Moscow, Russia, between November 2015 and August 2016. Postoperative ileus was diagnosed as an absence of intestinal function for 72 h or more after operation and was confirmed by plain radiography. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression of the tumour‐, patient‐ and treatment‐related factors was performed. All patients had epidural catheters with multimodal analgesia.

Results

Thirty‐nine patients (13%) had postoperative ileus. The variables associated with this condition in univariate analysis were age < 64 years (P = 0.02), male gender (P = 0.02), body mass index ≥ 25 kg/m2 (P = 0.02), moderate drinking (P = 0.02), heavier drinking (P < 0.0001), opioids (P = 0.02), history of abdominal operation (P = 0.003), firm extensive adhesions as a result of previous surgery (P = 0.005), multivisceral resection (P = 0.009), blood loss ≥ 150 ml (P = 0.006), haemotransfusion (P = 0.01) and open approach (P = 0.006). In the multivariate logistic regression, body mass index ≥ 26 kg/m2 (P = 0.008), opioids (P = 0.04), history of abdominal operation (P = 0.04) and adhesions (P = 0.03) were identified as independent risk factors.

Conclusion

Postoperative ileus is a common complication in colorectal surgery. The results of our study suggest at least two surgeon‐dependent risk factors, i.e. open approach and opioids in the postoperative period.
Trophic interaction modifications: an empirical and theoretical framework
Authors: Terry J. Christopher D. , Morris Rebecca J. , Bonsall Michael B.
Published: September 2017

Consumer–resource interactions are often influenced by other species in the community. At present these ‘trophic interaction modifications’ are rarely included in ecological models despite demonstrations that they can drive system dynamics. Here, we advocate and extend an approach that has the potential to unite and represent this key group of non‐trophic interactions by emphasising the change to trophic interactions induced by modifying species. We highlight the opportunities this approach brings in comparison to frameworks that coerce trophic interaction modifications into pairwise relationships. To establish common frames of reference and explore the value of the approach, we set out a range of metrics for the ‘strength’ of an interaction modification which incorporate increasing levels of contextual information about the system. Through demonstrations in three‐species model systems, we establish that these metrics capture complimentary aspects of interaction modifications. We show how the approach can be used in a range of empirical contexts; we identify as specific gaps in current understanding experiments with multiple levels of modifier species and the distributions of modifications in networks. The trophic interaction modification approach we propose can motivate and unite empirical and theoretical studies of system dynamics, providing a route to confront ecological complexity.
Shifts of community composition and population density substantially affect ecosystem function despite invariant richness
Authors: Spaak Jurg W. , Baert Jan M. , Baird Donald J. , Eisenhauer Nico , Maltby Lorraine , Pomati Francesco , Radchuk Viktoriia , Rohr Jason R. , Van den Brink Paul J. , De Laender Frederik
Published: September 2017

There has been considerable focus on the impacts of environmental change on ecosystem function arising from changes in species richness. However, environmental change may affect ecosystem function without affecting richness, most notably by affecting population densities and community composition. Using a theoretical model, we find that, despite invariant richness, (1) small environmental effects may already lead to a collapse of function; (2) competitive strength may be a less important determinant of ecosystem function change than the selectivity of the environmental change driver and (3) effects on ecosystem function increase when effects on composition are larger. We also present a complementary statistical analysis of 13 data sets of phytoplankton and periphyton communities exposed to chemical stressors and show that effects on primary production under invariant richness ranged from −75% to +10%. We conclude that environmental protection goals relying on measures of richness could underestimate ecological impacts of environmental change.
Inferring dispersal across a fragmented landscape using reconstructed families in the Glanville fritillary butterfly
Authors: Fountain Toby , Husby Arild , Nonaka Etsuko , DiLeo Michelle F. , Korhonen Janne H. , Rastas Pasi , Schulz Torsti , Saastamoinen Marjo , Hanski Ilkka
Published: September 2017

Dispersal is important for determining both species ecological processes, such as population viability, and its evolutionary processes, like gene flow and local adaptation. Yet obtaining accurate estimates in the wild through direct observation can be challenging or even impossible, particularly over large spatial and temporal scales. Genotyping many individuals from wild populations can provide detailed inferences about dispersal. We therefore utilized genomewide marker data to estimate dispersal in the classic metapopulation of the Glanville fritillary butterfly (Melitaea cinxiaL.), in the Åland Islands inSWFinland. This is an ideal system to test the effectiveness of this approach due to the wealth of information already available covering dispersal across small spatial and temporal scales, but lack of information at larger spatial and temporal scales. We sampled three larvae per larval family group from 3732 groups over a six‐year period and genotyped for 272SNPs across the genome. We used this empirical data set to reconstruct cases where full‐sibs were detected in different local populations to infer female effective dispersal distance, that is, dispersal events directly contributing to gene flow. On average this was one kilometre, closely matching previous dispersal estimates made using direct observation. To evaluate our power to detect full‐sib families, we performed forward simulations using an individual‐based model constructed and parameterized for the Glanville fritillary metapopulation. Using these simulations, 100% of predicted full‐sibs were correct and over 98% of all true full‐sib pairs were detected. We therefore demonstrate that even in a highly dynamic system with a relatively small number of markers, we can accurately reconstruct full‐sib families and for the first time make inferences on female effective dispersal. This highlights the utility of this approach in systems where it has previously been impossible to obtain accurate estimates of dispersal over both ecological and evolutionary scales.
Weathering the storm: Accountability implications for flood relief and recovery from a local government perspective
Authors: Sciulli Nick
Published: September 2017

This paper investigates the role of accounting and the nature of accountability from the perspective of local government managers in the context of multiple flood events. The flood events occurred in the State of Victoria, Australia during 2010‐11, and rural regions were the most severely affected by this natural disaster. The findings demonstrate that convoluted governance and extensive State and Federal Government funding arrangements resulted in some confusion among local councils and communities as to their eligibility for, and the timing of, financial support. Within this context, the study findings revealed how, as the first point of contact for local residents, small rural shires with limited financial and human capacity used accounting to address the impact of a natural disaster on a personal level.
From medico‐administrative databases analysis to care trajectories analytics: an example with the French SNDS
Authors: Drezen Erwan , Guyet Thomas , Happe André
Published: September 2017

Medico‐administrative data like SNDS (Système National de Données de Santé) are not collected initially for epidemiological purposes. Moreover, the data model and the tools proposed to SNDS users make their in‐depth exploitation difficult. We propose a data model, called the ePEPS model, based on healthcare trajectories to provide a medical view of raw data. A data abstraction process enables the clinician to have an intuitive medical view of raw data and to design a study‐specific view. This view is based on a generic model of care trajectory, that is a sequence of time stamped medical events for a given patient. This model is combined with tools to manipulate care trajectories efficiently.
Autophagy and cancer – insights from mouse models
Authors: Mainz Laura , Rosenfeldt Mathias T.
Published: September 2017

(Macro‐)autophagy is an evolutionary conserved ‘self‐digestion program’ that serves to maintain cellular metabolism and is implicated in many pathological processes such as cancer. In recent years, an increasing number of studies in murine cancer models have provided a plethora of sometimes conflicting results about the role of autophagy in cancer biology. This review summarizes these studies and raises awareness that there are situations in which autophagy blockage might indeed reduce tumor growth, but that sometimes the exact opposite is the case. It is therefore vital to mimic patient conditions in preclinical mouse experiments as thoroughly as possible before commencing clinical trials.
Simplified and age‐appropriate recommendations for added sugars in children
Authors: Goran M. I. , Riemer S. L. , Alderete T. L.
Published: September 2017

Excess sugar intake increases risk for obesity and related comorbidities among children. The World Health Organization (WHO), American Heart Association (AHA) and the 2015 USDA dietary recommendations have proposed guidelines for added sugar intake to reduce risk for disease. WHO and USDA recommendations are presented as a percentage of daily calories from added sugar. This approach is not easily understood or translated to children, where energy needs increase with age. The AHA recommendation is based on a fixed value of 25 g of added sugar for all children 2–19 years of age. This approach does not take into account the different levels of intake across this wide age range. Due to these limitations, we adapted current recommendations for added sugars based on daily energy needs of children 2–19 years. We used those values to derive simple regression equations to predict grams or teaspoons of added sugars per day based on age that would be equivalent to 10% of daily energy needs. This proposed approach aligns with the changing nutritional needs of children and adolescents during growth.
OBSERVATIONS ON THYROID STUDIES IN NEW ZEALAND
Authors: HERCUS CHARLES E.
Published: September 2017

Thirty‐five years ago we commenced a study on the causation and prevention of thyroid disease in this country.

The first reports of endemic goitre were made in 1888, and in 1920 the relationship to low iodine environment was reported. After some preliminary failures prophylaxis with iodized salt was successful in 1940. The goitrogenic factor in certain foodstuffs was studied in 1928 and subsequently, and this work was the forerunner of the therapeutic use of thiouracil.

Currently we are studying thyroid function by means of radioactive iodine, and experience in its use in diagnosis and treatment is presented.

While progress has been made, more questions have been raised than answered. It is indeed true that “Knowledge is proud that he knows so much, while Wisdom is humble that he knows no more”.
URIC ACID AND THE URICASE‐RESISTANT RESIDUE IN RENAL INSUFFICIENCY
Authors: GROSS R. , BOLLIGER A.
Published: September 2017

After the destruction of uric acid in blood serum with the enzyme uricase, there remains a uricase‐resistant chromogen, which reacts with the phosphotungstate reagent used for uric acid determinations.

Expressed as uric acid, the amount of this chromogen was almost negligible in 45 normal subjects, but was greatly increased (that is, up to eight milligrammes per 100 millilitres of serum) in renal insufficiency. Still higher values were encountered in a case of lethal eclampsia.

In two cases of renal failure serial determinations of this chromogen were made, and it appeared to vary with the severity of the disease. The nature of this substance, which may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of renal failure, is unknown.
DIABETIC COMA : A REVIEW OF 69 CASES
Authors: GREENAWAY J. M. , READ JOHN
Published: September 2017

Sixty‐nine episodes of diabetic coma occurring in the past five and a half years at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital have been reviewed. The overall mortality rate was 16% (eleven deaths). Three deaths occurred after recovery from ketosis as a result of concomitant disease. One patient died from a combination of diabetic ketosis and cardiac failure. Two patients were moribund on admission and died soon after arrival with progressive diabetic ketosis. One patient died as a result of bilateral adrenal hæmorrhage. The remaining four patients developed circulatory failure some time after treatment commenced and died as a result of this complication. At autopsy in two of these latter patients no cause for the collapse could be found.

Factors found to be associated with a high mortality rate were age over 50 years, a blood sugar level on admission greater than 600 milligrammes per 100 millilitres, loss of consciousness and symptoms of ketosis for more than two days.

Factors which seemed to have no bearing on the outcome were the level of plasma bicarbonate, the pulse rate and blood pressure on admission, insulin resistance and the preceding insulin requirements.

No serious ill effects due to either hypoglycemia or hypokalæmia were encountered.

Attention is drawn to the development in seven patients of sudden hypotension, tachycardia and sometimes anuria some hours after treatment had commenced. These patients were, in general, not shocked on admission and, apart from being among the more severe examples of ketosis, showed no other features distinguishing them from the rest of the series. Initial clinical and biochemical improvement proceeded normally until the collapse occurred. The mortality rate was high (four out of seven). No specific ætiological factor could be demonstrated.
MICRODISSECTION STUDY OF NEPHRONS AND CYSTS FROM AN INFANT WITH PYELONEPHRITIS
Authors: BIALESTOCK DORA
Published: September 2017

A unilateral non‐functioning kidney removed from a premature neonate because of pyelonephritis was examined by microdissection. This showed a degree of change which was not apparent on simple histological examination.

Microdissection of the kidney showed it to be composed predominantly of nephrons which had short poorly‐convoluted proximal tubules with only rudimentary loops of Henle. Along the length of the normal structures localized dilatations were not infrequently found. Gross cystic changes were demonstrated in glomeruli, tubules and collecting ducts, and measurements of some of the normal and grossly abnormal structures are recorded.
A multistage heuristic for storage and retrieval problems in a warehouse with random storage
Authors: Ballestín Francisco , Pérez Ángeles , Quintanilla Sacramento
Published: September 2017

The warehouse is one of the essential components of logistics and supply chains. The efficiency of the whole chain is affected by the performance of warehouse operations and, more particularly, the storage and retrieval of goods. This paper considers a storage and retrieval problem in a real warehouse with random storage and different types of forklifts, depending on the locations they can access. The problem deals with selecting locations to store/retrieve a predefined set of pallets, assigning an adequately skilled forklift to each operation and determining the order in which each forklift will perform its operations so that the total employed time is minimized. The problem is solved heuristically by decomposing it into three subproblems, each one handling one of the three key decisions of the problem, and taking into account congestion considerations. The paper also studies two modifications of the problem, adding secondary objective functions. Computational results compare the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms for the different problems in a stochastic environment via simulation.
Manipulating Bi NIR emission by adjusting optical basicity, boron and aluminum coordination in borate laser glasses
Authors: Xue Yafei , Cao Jiangkun , Zhang Ziyang , Wang Liping , Xu Shanhui , Peng Mingying
Published: September 2017

Bismuth‐doped (Bi) glasses and fibers have raised considerable attention for broadband emission and tunable fiber lasers in the near infrared (NIR) region. However, they suffer from low efficiency and it remains challenging to enhance Bi NIR emission. Here, we propose a facile way to enhance and tune the Bi NIR emission by adjusting optical basicity and modulating the boron and aluminum coordination in borate glasses. We find that BO4 and AlO5 species favor Bi NIR emission, right followed by the analyses of static emission spectra, the Fourier transform infrared (FT‐IR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Furthermore, abnormal Bi NIR luminescence phenomenon and boron anomaly were observed, which are attributed to the synthetic effect of B and Al coordination transformation. Besides, we find that BO4 tetrahedron plays a major role in enhancing Bi NIR emission at low Al content, while AlO5 hexahedron group will dominate at high Al concentration. Our investigation may give an insight into the luminescent behaviors of Bi in borate glasses and contribute to improving the performance of Bi‐doped fiber and fiber lasers in future.