bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of calcium leaching on the physical and mechanical properties of aerial lime-cement mortars
Authors: Bellifa Soufyane , Boumechra Nadir
Published: March 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to assess the effects of chemically accelerated leaching on the physical and mechanical properties of aerial lime–cement mortars (LCMs).

Design/methodology/approach

Two aerial LCMs, differencing mainly in their calcium hydroxide content, were degraded by the use of an ammonium nitrate solution as a leaching agent. The leaching effects were studied by evaluating the rate of change in physical (sorptivity and mass loss) and mechanical (flexural and compressive strength) characteristics of aerial LCMs. To quantify the evolution and kinetics of degradation, the leached depth was then characterized at different levels of degradation by means of a phenolphthalein solution.

Findings

The experimental results showed that the dissolution of binder decreases the mass, alkalinity and strength of aerial LCMs but increases their sorptivity. A linear relationship was derived by plotting the values of leached depth against the square root of immersion time in an aggressive solution. It was found that the leached depth followed diffusion-controlled kinetics.

Originality/value

It was found that the global loss of compressive strength of aerial LCMs because of complete dissolution of calcium hydroxide can reach up to 80 per cent.
Application of social dance exercise and social support program to improve quality of life for Thai older adults
Authors: Sampoon Kwanrutai , Posri Nuengruethai , Kittichotpanich Boonsri
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the effectiveness of social dance exercise and social support program to improve quality of life (QOL) for older adults in Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test research design was used. The participants were 102 older adults selected by systematic sampling technique. Participants were assigned using the matched-pair technique by age, physical fitness test by the Time up and Go test into intervention and control groups of 51 subjects each. Intervention was conducted for 12 weeks, three times weekly, to improve physical, psychosocial and spiritual domains leading to enhanced QOL as measured by the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL–BREF–THAI) assessment parameter. Data on QOL were collected before and after a 12-week training period.

Findings

Most adults were between 70 and 79 years old (67 percent). After program completion, before and after mean QOL scores for the intervention group at 60.15 and 95.82, respectively, were statistically significant with p-value<0.05. Post-program QOL shown by the intervention group was significantly higher than the control group (p<0.05).

Originality/value

Application of social dance exercise and social support program is an alternative to traditional methods to improve QOL and maintain functional capacity for older adults.
Can shared leadership enhance clinical team management? A systematic review
Authors: Aufegger Lisa , Shariq Omair , Bicknell Colin , Ashrafian Hutan , Darzi Ara
Published: March 2019

Purpose

Research in psychology or management science has shown that shared leadership (SL) enhances information sharing, fosters participation and empowers team members within the decision-making processes, ultimately improving the quality of performance outcomes. Little has been done and, thus, less is known of the value and use of SL in acute healthcare teams. The purpose of this study is to (1) explore, identify and critically assess patterns and behaviour of SL in acute healthcare teams; and (2) evaluate to what extent SL may benefit and accomplish safer care in acute patient treatment and healthcare delivery.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted a review that followed the PRISMA-P reporting guidelines. A variety of sources were searched in April 2018 for studies containing primary research that focused on SL in acute healthcare teams. The outcome of interest was a well-specified assessment of SL, and an evaluation of the extent SL may enhance team performance, lead to safer patient care and healthcare delivery in acute healthcare teams.

Findings

After the study selection process, 11 out of 1,383 studies were included in the review. Studies used a qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods approach. Emerging themes based on behavioural observations that contributed to SL were: shared mental model; social support and situational awareness; and psychological safety. High-performing teams showed more SL behaviour, teams with less seniority displayed more traditional leadership styles and SL was associated with increased team satisfaction.

Research limitations/implications

Evidence to date suggests that SL may be of benefit to improve performance outcomes in acute healthcare team settings. However, the discrepancy of SL assessments within existing studies and their small sample sizes highlights the need for a large, good quality randomized controlled trial to validate this indication.

Originality/value

Although studies have acknowledged the relevance of SL in healthcare service and delivery, a systematic, evidence-based and robust evaluation of behavioural patterns and the benefits of SL in this field is still missing.
Strategy, capabilities, and business group performance
Authors: Wang Shan-Huei , Chen Chung-Jen , Guo Andy Ruey-Shan , Lin Ya-Hui
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships among choice of industry diversification, capabilities and business group performance, as well as to point out the potential concern about endogenous role of industry diversification.

Design/methodology/approach

Using data from the top 100 business groups in Taiwan from TEJ database. This study uses Heckman’s two-step estimation procedure and contingency model to achieve unbiased results and examine our hypotheses.

Findings

The results of this study find that if business groups’ marketing or operational capabilities are strong they should adopt a high level of diversification strategy and if business groups’ R&D capability is strong they should adopt a low level one. The results of this study also show that the endogenous problem of industry diversification exists, and needs to be considered. Moreover, our finding confirms the importance of capability–strategy fit, which, in turn, can achieve better performance.

Practical implications

On average, high industry diversification groups perform better than low industry diversification groups after controlling for endogeneity issues. Business groups can achieve better performance if their strategy choices match the capabilities they encounter. Managers should pay attention to strategy-capability fit issues. Specifically, they should review their organizational capabilities as well as check their strategies within firms.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first that attempts to explore the endogenous role of diversification strategy choices, and empirical examine strategy-capability fit on business group performance.
Instafamous and social media influencer marketing
Authors: Jin S. Venus , Muqaddam Aziz , Ryu Ehri
Published: March 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to test the effects of two types of celebrities (Instagram celebrity vs traditional celebrity) on source trustworthiness, brand attitude, envy and social presence. The proposed theoretical model consists of the celebrity type as the independent variable, social presence as the mediator and self-discrepancy as the moderator.

Design/methodology/approach

A randomized two-group comparison (Instagram celebrity vs traditional celebrity) between-subjects experiment (n=104) was conducted.

Findings

The results indicate that consumers exposed to Instagram celebrity’s brand posts perceive the source to be more trustworthy, show more positive attitude toward the endorsed brand, feel stronger social presence and feel more envious of the source than those consumers exposed to traditional celebrity’s brand posts. Structural equation modeling (Mplus 8.0) and bootstrap confidence intervals indicate that social presence mediates the causal effects of celebrity type on trustworthiness, brand attitude and envy. Multiple regression analyses reveal the moderating effects of appearance-related actual–ideal self-discrepancy.

Practical implications

Ultimately, managerial implications for social media marketing and Instagram influencer-based branding are provided. From the perspective of marketing planning, the findings speak to the power of influencer marketing as an effective branding strategy.

Originality/value

The paper discusses theoretical implications for the marketing literature on celebrity endorsements.
The influence of logging on vertebrate responses to mast fruiting
Authors: Granados Alys , Bernard Henry , Brodie Jedediah F.
Published: March 2019

Periods of extreme food abundance, such as irregular masting events, can dramatically affect animal populations and communities, but the extent to which anthropogenic disturbances alter animal responses to mast events is not clear. In South‐East Asia, dipterocarp trees reproduce in mast fruiting events every 2–10 years in some of the largest masting events on the planet. These trees, however, are targeted for selective logging, reducing the intensity of fruit production and potentially affecting multiple trophic levels.

Moreover, animal responses to resource pulse events have largely been studied in systems where the major mast consumers have been extirpated. We sought to evaluate the influence of human‐induced habitat disturbance on animal responses to masting in a system where key mast consumers remain extant.

We used motion‐triggered camera traps to quantify terrestrial mammal and bird occurrences in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, relative to variation in fruit biomass from 69 plant families during a major (2014) and minor (2015) masting event and a non‐mast year (2013), in both logged and unlogged forests.

Bearded pigs (Sus barbatus) showed the clearest responses to masting and occurrence rates were highest in unlogged forest in the year following the major mast, suggesting that the pulse in fruit availability increased immigration or reproduction. We also detected local‐scale spatial tracking of dipterocarp fruits in bearded pigs in unlogged forest, while this was equivocal in other species. In contrast, pigs and other vertebrate taxa in our study showed limited response to spatial or temporal variation in fruit availability in logged forest.

Our findings suggest that vertebrates, namely bearded pigs, may respond to masting via movement and increased reproduction, but that these responses may be attenuated by habitat disturbance.
Plant biomass, rather than species composition, determines ecosystem properties: Results from a long‐term graminoid removal experiment in a northern Canadian grassland
Authors: Melendez Gonzalez Mayra , Crofts Anna L. , McLaren Jennie R.
Published: March 2019

Human‐induced environmental change is occurring globally and alters ecosystem properties both directly, by changing abiotic conditions, and indirectly, by modifying community composition. The effects of changes in plant composition in determining ecosystem properties may be determined by the identity of the plants, their respective biomass in the community and also by the ability of remaining vegetation to compensate for their loss.

We used the graminoid removal treatment from a long‐term (12 year) removal experiment to examine the role of graminoids in determining ecosystem properties and also the potential for biomass compensation by remaining species in a grassland in northern Canada. We conducted removals in both fertilized and non‐fertilized environments to examine context‐dependency of graminoid effects.

There was full biomass compensation for graminoid removal by the remaining functional groups (i.e., total biomass was equal to no‐removal controls) after 5 years, and after 12 years fertilized plots showed overcompensation for removals.

After 12 years of graminoid removals, most ecosystem properties were not affected by removals in either fertilization environment. Similarly, there were few effects on microbial biomass or function with plant removal or fertilization treatments.

Comparison to earlier published responses in this experiment shows a strengthening of the responses of the plant community to graminoid removals over time while effects on ecosystem properties diminished. Full biomass compensation for removal of graminoids occurred after 5 years, and after 12 years of removals, fertilized plots had overcompensated for the loss of graminoids. In contrast, the shorter term (4 years) responses of soil available nutrients and soil moisture to removals have mainly disappeared after eight further years, likely because of the biomass compensation by the plant community.

Synthesis. Comparing the effects of graminoid removals on ecosystem structure and function after 4, 7, and now 10 and 12 years of removals, we now argue that, after over a decade of graminoid removal, recovery of plant biomass is required for the maintenance of most ecosystem properties and not functional group identity, as we concluded earlier. This highlights the importance of maintaining field experiments in the long term, particularly in northern ecosystems.
Children Diplomacy During the Late Cold War: Samantha Smith's Visit of the ‘Evil Empire’
Authors: NEUMANN MATTHIAS
Published: March 2019

Samantha Smith came to fame by writing a letter to the Soviet leader, Yuri Andropov, in December 1982, expressing her fears about a potential nuclear war between the two superpowers. Her letter was quoted in the main Soviet newspaper Pravda in April 1983 and the Smith family was subsequently invited to visit the Soviet Union during the summer. Samantha's trip captured the attention of the world media on both sides of the ideological divide. However, her trip has usually been dismissed as a quirky footnote in Cold War history. Scholarly interest has only just begun, sparked by the growing research into the significance of citizen diplomacy, which saw a real explosion in the late Cold War. This article will demonstrate that Samantha Smith's trip was a pivotal moment in this broader process because it provided a very public challenge to the strong political discourse of the early Reagan administration, which promoted conflict. Based on an analysis of Soviet and American media reporting, and using hitherto unused archival evidence, as well as oral history interviews, this article examines why and how Samantha Smith became an icon of citizen diplomacy in the early 1980s. Analysing the receptions, representations and legacies of her trip on both sides of the ideological divide, it will shed fresh light on the role of children as soft power during the Cold War and highlight Samantha Smith's role as a precursor of a rapidly expanding citizen diplomacy that played a largely ignored part in bringing the conflict to an end.
Non‐obstetric causes of severe maternal complications: a secondary analysis of the Nigeria Near‐miss and Maternal Death Survey
Authors: Adeniran AS , Ocheke AN , Nwachukwu D , Adewole N , Ageda B , Onile T , Umezulike AC , Aboyeji AP , Oladapo OT ,   the Nigeria Near‐miss and Maternal Death Surveillance Network
Published: March 2019

Objective

To evaluate the burden, causes and outcomes of severe non‐obstetric maternal complications in Nigerian public tertiary hospitals.

Design

Secondary analysis of a nationwide cross‐sectional study.

Setting

Forty‐two tertiary health facilities.

Population

Women admitted with complications during pregnancy, childbirth or puerperium.

Methods

All cases of severe maternal outcome (SMO: maternal near‐miss or maternal death) due to non‐obstetric causes were prospectively identified over a 1‐year period. Maternal near‐miss was defined using organ‐system dysfunction (WHO), clinical, or management‐based criteria.

Main outcome measures

Causes and contributions of non‐obstetric complications to SMO; fetal and neonatal outcomes; health service events associated with non‐obstetric complications; and mortality index (% of maternal death/SMO).

Results

Of 100 107 women admitted with complications, 9401 (9.4%) were for non‐obstetric causes; and 4.0% (375/9401) suffered severe non‐obstetric complications. Of the 375 cases of severe non‐obstetric complications, 48.8% (183/375) were near‐misses and 51.2% (192/375) were maternal deaths. Severe anaemia unrelated to haemorrhage contributed 61.2% of near‐misses and 32.8% of maternal deaths. The highest mortality indices were observed for cancer (91.7%), hepatic diseases (81.8%) and HIV/AIDS/HIV wasting syndrome (80.4%). Fatality was significantly high with extremes of age and no formal education. Regarding organ dysfunctions, neurological (77.1%) and cardiovascular (75.0%) dysfunctions had the highest mortality indices. Perinatal mortality was 65.9%. Time from diagnosis of severe non‐obstetric complications to review by senior medical personnel, and to definitive intervention was <30 minutes in 30.2% and 29.8% of women with SMO, respectively. However, over 240 minutes elapsed between diagnosis and definitive intervention in more than one‐third of women with SMO.

Conclusion

Non‐obstetric complications are associated with poorer pregnancy outcomes and deserve attention similar to that accorded obstetric complications.

Funding

The original research that generated the data for this secondary analysis and the publication of this secondary analysis were funded by the UNDP‐UNFPA‐UNICEF‐WHO‐World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), a co‐sponsored programme executed by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Tweetable abstract

Non‐obstetric causes are important contributors to maternal deaths and life‐threatening morbidities in Nigerian hospitals.
Measuring Farmer Risk Preferences in Europe: A Systematic Review
Authors: Iyer Poorvi , Bozzola Martina , Hirsch Stefan , Meraner Manuela , Finger Robert
Published: March 2019

We present a systematic review of the extensive body of research on farmer risk preference measurement across Europe. We capture the methodological developments over time and discuss remaining challenges and potential areas for further research. Given the constantly evolving policy environment in Europe, and increasing climate‐change related risks and uncertainties, there is large value to be gained from enhancing our understanding of this fundamental aspect of farmers’ decision‐making processes and consequent actions.
Addiction theory matters—Why there is no dependence on caffeine or antidepressant medication
Authors: Heinz Andreas , Daedelow Laura S. , Wackerhagen Carolin , Di Chiara Gaetano
Published: March 2019

With the development of the ICD‐11, the debate about classifying certain psychoactive substances such as antidepressant medication and caffeine as drugs of dependence is ignited again. We argue that any coherent theory of addiction needs to identify the neurobiological processes elicited by a potentially addictive substance and to clearly define the clinical symptoms associated with these processes, which can then be used to guide diagnosis. Tolerance development and withdrawal symptoms can occur with any pharmacologically active agent, and their presence is not a sufficient criterion for the clinical diagnosis of an addictive disorder. Drug craving, drug seeking, and drug consumption in spite of harmful consequences are further key criteria for the diagnosis of substance dependence. Even though these symptoms have been associated with dopamine release in the ventral striatum, ventral striatal dopamine release alone is not a sufficient criterion of the addictive property of a drug. For example, common reinforcers such as food and sex increase dopamine transmission in the nucleus accumbens, but unlike in addictive substances, their effect is regulated by reward predictability and habituation. We emphasize the importance to integrate neurobiological as well as behavioral and clinical effects of a substance to assess its addictive liability. We provide a number of widely discussed examples and a list of key criteria as a conceptual guideline for addiction research and clinical practice.
A Protestant Rethinking of Economics for a Healthier World
Authors: Johnston Carol Frances
Published: March 2019

Neoclassical economic theory delivered upon its promise. It showed how the liberation of markets from government constraints could bring about a rapid expansion in the production of consumer goods. That was a major accomplishment. However, it came with a price in terms of social fragmentation, economic inequality, and a planetary ecosystem that is now overwhelmed by human activity. Continuing to follow the course plotted by conventional economics is a path to disaster. The world needs alternatives. Marxism has been tried and found wanting in many respects, including its abysmal environmental record. This article offers help from an unlikely source: insights of Reformed Protestantism that can be traced back to John Calvin in the 16th century. Although Calvin and Calvinism are better known for a harsh view of human sinfulness, Calvin also contributed to the development of liberal democracies by advocating representative government, universal education, and greater participation by more people. Reformed theology emphasizes the importance of widespread participation in decisions, including economic decisions, at every level of society, and provides a positive role for institutions, including government, to protect the common good. It also points toward the need to situate economic policy in the larger domains of social and ecological health. Above all, it denies the validity of any economic system that deifies economics as such, and provides criteria for judging the effectiveness of economic systems as well as the evils of externalizing social and environmental costs in the name of a false efficiency.
The Reality and Diversity of Buddhist Economics
Authors: Drechsler Wolfgang
Published: March 2019

This essay develops three central points:

Buddhist economics (BE), like most religion‐based economics, is not only an extrapolation from the basic texts but is also how BE has recently been practiced. Examples of that practice include the application of the concept of “Gross National Happiness” in Bhutan, the implementation of a “sufficiency economy” in Thailand, and action based on the principle of the Unification of King and People in Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

BE as a concept comes originally from an outside understanding of Buddhism that entails perspectives that text‐based BE might not have.

Buddhism, as such, is at odds with standard textbook economics (STE). BE thus potentially forms its own economic paradigm, but BE as practiced often coexists with STE.

Discussing these points will hopefully result in seeing that there is considerable diversity within BE and that there is such a thing as real, existing BE that truly does matter.
New insights into germ cell tumor genomics
Authors: Lafin J.T. , Bagrodia A. , Woldu S. , Amatruda J. F.
Published: March 2019

Background

Testicular germ cell tumors (GCTs) represent the most common malignancy in young men. While GCTs represent a model for curable solid tumors due to exquisite chemosensitivity, mortality for patients with GCT comprises the most life years lost for non‐pediatric malignancies. Given limited options for patients with platinum‐resistant disease, improved insight into GCT biology could identify novel therapeutic options for patients with platinum‐resistant disease. Recent studies into molecular characteristics of both early stage and advanced germ cell tumors suggest a role for rationally targeted agents and potentially immunotherapy.

Recent developments

Recent GWAS meta‐analyses have uncovered additional susceptibility loci for GCT and provide further evidence that GCT risk is polygenic. Chromosome arm level amplifications and reciprocal loss of heterozygosity have been described as significantly enriched in GCT compared to other cancer types. Contemporary analyses confirm ubiquitous gain of isochromosome 12 and mutations in addition to previously described GCT‐associated genes such as KIT and KRAS. Alterations within the TP53‐MDM2 signal transduction pathway appear to be enriched among patients with platinum‐resistant disease. Potentially actionable targets, including alterations in TP53‐MDM2, Wnt/β‐catenin, PI3K, and MAPK signaling, are present in significant proportions of patients with platinum‐resistant disease and may be exploited as therapeutic options. Pre‐clinical and early clinical data also suggest a potential role for immunotherapy among patients with GCTs.

Conclusion

Molecular characterization of GCT patients may provide biologic rationale for novel treatment options in patients with platinum‐resistant disease.
Electrocardiographic criteria for left ventricular hypertrophy in aortic valve stenosis: Correlation with echocardiographic parameters
Authors: Bula Karolina , Ćmiel Anna , Sejud Monika , Sobczyk Karolina , Ryszkiewicz Sylwia , Szydło Krzysztof , Wita Marcin , Mizia‐Stec Katarzyna
Published: March 2019

Background

Aortic valve stenosis (AS) generates a chronic pressure overload that induces left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of the electrocardiographic criteria for LVH in patients with clinically significant AS and to evaluate the relationship between the ECG criteria for LVH and echocardiographic parameters.

Methods

The clinical data of 95 patients with moderate to severe AS were retrospectively analyzed. Eight ECG criteria for LVH were used and compared to the results of transthoracic echocardiography (TTE).

Results

In 59% of patients, at least one of the ECG criteria for LVH was found. These patients had a greater LVMI (142.1 ± 35.6 vs. 124.1 ± 22.5 g/m2, p = 0.01) and peak aortic jet velocity (4.2 ± 0.8 vs. 3.8 ± 0.9 m/s, p = 0.01) along with smaller aortic valve area (0.72 ± 0.28 vs. 0.86 ± 0.22 cm2, p = 0.02) compared to patients with a negative ECG for LVH. The ECG parameters had a low sensitivity (6%–36.9%) with a specificity of up to 100%. The Cornell Voltage criteria had the best sensitivity with a specificity of 63.6% and the highest correlation with the LVMI (r = 0.38, p < 0.001). All of the ECG parameters correlated positively with the peak aortic jet velocity as well as with the mean aortic gradient.

Conclusion

The electrocardiographic criteria for LVH in patients with moderate or severe AS have a poor sensitivity in identifying LVH confirmed by TTE. The values of the selected ECG criteria for LVH correlate weakly with both the TTE indices of LVH and the markers of AS severity.
Retrospective study showed that bacterial gastroenteritis was an important cause of bloody stools in newborn infants
Authors: Yelak Alexander , Marom Ronella , Mandel Dror , Mangel Laurence , Grisaru‐Soen Galia , Adler Amos
Published: March 2019

Aim

Acute bacterial gastroenteritis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially in the developing countries. We examined the incidence, clinical features and outcomes in the first week of life.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of culture‐proven bacterial gastroenteritis in newborn infants that were diagnosed between January 2011 and September 2018 in a tertiary centre in Israel.

Results

There were 10 cases of culture‐proven bacterial gastroenteritis, detected out of 91 stool cultures. All infants were born vaginally and nine were full‐term infants. The annual incidence was 0.096 per 1000 live births. The responsible pathogen was Campylobacter in six patients, Salmonella in two and Shigella sonnei in two. The mean age of disease onset was two days of life. Antibiotics were given to five patients, but were inappropriate in two cases. Only one patient with the Shigella sonnei infection required respiratory support. All patients fully recovered.

Conclusion

One in ten newborn infants with bloody stools had bacterial gastroenteritis, contradicting the low rates found in other studies and indicating the importance of considering this diagnosis. Antimicrobials active against Salmonella or Shigella should be given to newborn infants who have bloody stools and look ill.
Gastrointestinal sequelae and growth impairment at school age following necrotising enterocolitis in the newborn period
Authors: Hansen M L , Jensen I V , Gregersen R , Juhl S M , Greisen G
Published: March 2019

Aim

To evaluate gastrointestinal sequelae and growth impairment at school age in children who suffered from necrotising enterocolitis (NEC).

Methods

This historic cohort study compared all surviving children born in Denmark between 1 January 2002 and 31 December 2011 with NEC in the newborn period, to surviving children without NEC, but same gestational age, birthweight and year of birth. Outcomes were investigated through a parental questionnaire, including gastrointestinal and growth‐related outcomes. We performed exploratory ad hoc analysis, by adjusting for possible confounding and by dividing NEC children into surgical and medical.

Results

In total, 163 children with NEC (50%) and 237 (36%) without NEC completed the parental questionnaire. Episodes of diarrhoea were more often reported in the NEC group (p = 0.0002). The increased risk seemed to be limited to those who underwent surgery for NEC. The absence from school (1.67 versus 1.31 days), rate of low height for age (17.9 versus 12.1%) and weight (29.9 versus 31.6 kg) did not differ significantly between children with NEC and children without NEC.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that long‐term gastrointestinal complications following NEC appeared to be of little clinical importance at the population level and therefore do not encourage specific routine follow‐up.
Early‐life exposure to common virus infections did not differ between coeliac disease patients and controls
Authors: Simre Kärt , Uibo Oivi , Peet Aleksandr , Puustinen Leena , Oikarainen Sami , Tamminen Kirsi , Blazevic Vesna , Tillmann Vallo , Hämäläinen Anu‐Maaria , Härkönen Taina , Siljander Heli , Virtanen Suvi M. , Ilonen Jorma , Hyöty Heikki , Knip Mikael , Uibo Raivo ,   the DIABIMMUNE Study Group
Published: March 2019

Aim

Our aim was to compare the presence of various common viruses (rhinovirus, enterovirus, adenovirus, Epstein–Barr virus, cytomegalovirus, norovirus, parechovirus) in stool and nasal swab samples as well as virus‐specific antibodies in serum samples between children who developed coeliac disease and controls.

Methods

A case–control study was established based on the DIABIMMUNE Study cohorts. During the study, eight Estonian children and 21 Finnish children aged 1.5 years to five years developed coeliac disease and each was matched with a disease‐free control. Nasal swabs and stool samples were taken at the age of three to six months and the serum samples at the time of diagnosis.

Results

Rhinovirus ribonucleic acid was detected in the nasal swabs from five coeliac disease children, but none of the control children (p = 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the level of viral antibodies between cases and controls. Enterovirus immunoglobulin G class antibodies were found more frequently in the Estonian than in the Finnish children (63% versus 23%, p = 0.02).

Conclusion

This study did not find any marked overall differences in laboratory‐confirmed common viral infections between the children who developed coeliac disease and the controls. However, rhinovirus infections were detected slightly more often in those patients who developed coeliac disease.
The role of sex‐related voice variation in children's gender‐role stereotype attributions
Authors: Cartei Valentina , Banerjee Robin , Hardouin Loïc , Reby David
Published: March 2019

In the absence of clear sex differences in vocal anatomy, the expression of gender in pre‐pubertal children's voices has a strong behavioural dimension. However, whether children are sensitive to this gender‐related variation in the voice and use it to make inferences about their peers’ masculinity and femininity remains unexplored. Using a cross‐modal matching task, thirty‐one 7‐ to 8‐year‐olds and forty‐two adults were asked to associate prototypical voices of boys and girls, and their re‐synthesized masculinized and feminized versions, to fictional stereotypically masculine, gender‐neutral, and stereotypically feminine child characters. We found that listeners spontaneously associated stereotypically masculine and feminine descriptors of a child character with masculinized voices and feminized voices, respectively. Adults made overall more stereotypical associations and were less influenced by character sex than children. Our observations highlight for the first time the contribution of acoustic cues to gender stereotyping from childhood, and its potential implications for the gender schema literature.

Statement of contribution

What is already known on this subject?

Research on stereotyping shows children's schematic processing of the visible aspects of gender expression

Psychoacoustic research shows that variation in children's voices affects adults’ judgments of their masculinity

What does this study add?

Children and adults linked voice variation to gender‐stereotypical characterizations of child characters

Adults made overall more stereotypical associations than children and were less influenced by character's sex

Our results highlight the existence of a vocal component in children's and adults’ gender schemas
A multivariable analysis of childhood psychosocial behaviour and household functionality
Authors: Suku Sangeeta , Soni Jinal , Martin Molly A. , Mirza Mansha Parven , Glassgow Anne Elizabeth , Gerges Michael , Van Voorhees Benjamin W. , Caskey Rachel
Published: March 2019

Background

Social determinants of health play a vital role in population health. Awareness of household social factors and their impact on health can help health professionals to provide effective strategies in health promotion, especially for children and adolescents showing signs of psychosocial dysfunction. The objective of this study was to explore the association between parents' perceptions of the psychosocial behaviour of their children and the functionality of their household.

Methods

This cohort study analysed data from the Coordinated Health Care for Complex Kids programme. The sample included 293 parents of children aged 4–17 years with chronic conditions, and from urban, low‐income families. Psychosocial behaviour of the child was measured using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC‐17), which included subscales for internal, external, and attention symptoms. Household functionality was measured using the Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale. Responses to both assessments were scored in a standard manner.

Results

There was a significant association between parents' perceptions of the psychosocial behaviour of their children and the functionality of the home environment. The mean Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale scores in the home environment improved from baseline to the first reassessment (the period between the two assessments ranged from 4 to 8 months). Additionally, positive PSC‐17 screening results of the children decreased by 11% in the first reassessment. The odds of having a positive PSC‐17 screening result also decreased in the first reassessment after receiving interventions.

Conclusion

The association between psychosocial dysfunction and household functionality indicates the importance of family‐centred care and taking the home environment into consideration when administering health services to low‐income children with chronic conditions. This study brings attention to the more hidden factors that influence child mental health, which must be addressed to improve care delivery and child health outcomes.
Children's Pictures of a Good and Desirable Meal in Kindergarten — A Participatory Visual Approach
Authors: Nyberg Maria
Published: March 2019

In kindergarten, meals are framed and regulated by the adults and ideas within the institution. However, by inviting children to visualise their ideas, they can be included when trying to understand as well as develop the meals. The purpose was to explore children's pictures of good and desirable meals in kindergarten by using a visual, participatory approach together with children four to six years. The children related to various aspects of the meal, emphasising the importance of food, table artefacts and context, defined as platescape, tablescape and roomscape. The result further highlighted the complexity of listening to the plurality of children's voices.
Assessment of three dimensional bone augmentation of severely atrophied maxillary alveolar ridges using prebent titanium mesh vs customized poly‐ether‐ether‐ketone (PEEK) mesh: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: Mounir Mohamed , Shalash Mahmoud , Mounir Samy , Nassar Yasmine , El Khatib Omar
Published: March 2019

Background

Alveolar bone grafting techniques and dental rehabilitation of patients with maxillary alveolar defects is a very challenging and costly procedure. Various methods have been described to reconstruct these defects in order to facilitate the placement of dental implants. The aim of this study was to assess three dimensional (3D) maxillary ridge augmentation using two innovative, accurate, and time saving protocols.

Materials and Methods

Sixteen patients (32 implants) with vertically and horizontally deficient maxillary alveolar ridges, were equally allocated into 2 groups; a mix of particulate autogenous and xenogenic bone grafts loaded in a prebent titanium mesh (Control group) vs patient specific poly‐ether‐ether ketone meshes (Study group). Radiographic assessment was performed preoperatively, 1 week and 6 months postoperatively. Assessment included measurements of linear changes in the vertical and horizontal dimensions on cross sectional cuts of cone beam computed tomography using special software. Finally; the percentage of 3D bone gain in each group was compared to that of the other.

Results

Wound healing was uneventful for all cases except one patient in each group were the meshes were exposed 2 weeks' postsurgery. There was no statistical significance between both groups (P value = 0.2).

Conclusion

Within the limitations of the sample size of this study, both techniques could be used as a successful method of ridge augmentation with no statistical significance between them.
Reduced USP33 expression in gastric cancer decreases inhibitory effects of Slit2‐Robo1 signalling on cell migration and EMT
Authors: Xia Yiwen , Wang Linjun , Xu Zhipeng , Kong Ruirui , Wang Fei , Yin Kai , Xu Jianghao , Li Bowen , He Zhongyuan , Wang Lu , Xu Hao , Zhang Diancai , Yang Li , Wu Jane Y. , Xu Zekuan
Published: March 2019

Objectives

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers in the world, causing a large number of deaths every year. The Slit‐Robo signalling pathway, initially discovered for its critical role in neuronal guidance, has recently been shown to modulate tumour invasion and metastasis in several human cancers. However, the role of Slit‐Robo signalling and the molecular mechanisms underlying its role in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer remains to be elucidated.

Materials and methods

Slit2, Robo1 and USP33 expressions were analysed in datasets obtained from the Oncomine database and measured in human gastric cancer specimens. The function of Slit2‐Robo1‐USP33 signalling on gastric cancer cells migration and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) was studied both in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism of the interaction between Robo1 and USP33 was explored by co‐IP and ubiquitination protein analysis.

Results

The mRNA and protein levels of Slit2 and Robo1 are lower in GC tissues relative to those in adjacent healthy tissues. Importantly, Slit2 inhibits GC cell migration and suppresses EMT process in a Robo‐dependent manner. The inhibitory function of Slit2‐Robo1 is mediated by ubiquitin‐specific protease 33 (USP33) via deubiquitinating and stabilizing Robo1. USP33 expression is decreased in GC tissues, and reduced USP33 level is correlated with poor patient survival.

Conclusions

Our study reveals the inhibitory function of Slit‐Robo signalling in GC and uncovers a role of USP33 in suppressing cancer cell migration and EMT by enhancing Slit2‐Robo1 signalling. USP33 represents a feasible choice as a prognostic biomarker for GC.
Climate policy action needed to reduce vulnerability of conservation‐reliant grassland birds in North America
Authors: Wilsey Chad , Taylor Lotem , Bateman Brooke , Jensen Caitlin , Michel Nicole , Panjabi Arvind , Langham Gary
Published: March 2019

Grassland birds have suffered dramatic population declines and are under threat of further grassland conversion. Simultaneously, grassland regions are projected to have high rates of future climate change. We assessed the vulnerability of grassland birds in North America under scenarios of global climate change reflecting the objectives of the Paris Agreement. The assessment incorporated model‐based projections of range losses and gains as well as trait‐based information on adaptive capacity. Nearly half (42%) of grassland birds were highly vulnerable during the breeding season under a 3.0°C increase in global mean temperature scenario representing current commitments under the Paris Accord. This proportion declined to 13% with a 2.0°C increase and to 8% with a 1.5°C increase over preindustrial global mean temperature. Regardless of scenario, more than 70% of grassland birds had some vulnerability to climate change. Policy actions beyond the present‐day national commitments under the Paris Accord are needed to reduce vulnerability of grassland birds in a changing climate.
Laparoscopic Wedge Resection for Submucosal Tumor of the Stomach
Authors: KOBAYASHI Shigeru , ISAYAMA Fuyumi , ONO Ken , SAKAMOTO Kazuhiro , HAYASHIDA Yasuo , SAKAKIBARA Noburu , ARAMAKI Nagato
Published: March 2019

Laparoscopic surgery in the field of gastrointestinal diseases has rapidly spread worldwide. In the field of gastric surgery, however, most patients eligible for surgical treatment have malignancies. The lack of assurance of complete removal of regional lymphnodes accounts for the laparoscopic procedure being avoided in gastric surgery.

Recently, it has been documented that only non‐epithelial malignancies of the stomach metastasize to lymphnodes. Therefore, we applied the laparoscopic procedure to submucosal tumors of the stomach.

In this study, we introduce two different wedge resection procedures for submucosal tumors of the stomach using laparoscopy. The aim of this report is to describe both procedures. One method involves pulling the tumor out of the abdomen under laparoscopic observation and resecting the tumor externally under direct vision. The other method involves performing all procedures inside the abdomen, under laparoscopic control. We refer to these techniques as extracorporeal and intracorporeal procedures, respectively. (Dig Endosc 1996 ; 8 : 220–224)
Infants rapidly detect human faces in complex naturalistic visual scenes
Authors: Kelly David J. , Duarte Sofia , Meary David , Bindemann Markus , Pascalis Olivier
Published: March 2019

Infants respond preferentially to faces and face‐like stimuli from birth, but past research has typically presented faces in isolation or amongst an artificial array of competing objects. In the current study infants aged 3‐ to 12‐months viewed a series of complex visual scenes; half of the scenes contained a person, the other half did not. Infants rapidly detected and oriented to faces in scenes even when they were not visually salient. Although a clear developmental improvement was observed in face detection and interest, all infants displayed sensitivity to the presence of a person in a scene, by displaying eye movements that differed quantifiably across a range of measures when viewing scenes that either did or did not contain a person. We argue that infant's face detection capabilities are ostensibly “better” with naturalistic stimuli and artificial array presentations used in previous studies have underestimated performance.
Hoxa13 regulates expression of common Hox target genes involved in cartilage development to coordinate the expansion of the autopodal anlage
Authors: Yamamoto Shiori , Uchida Yuji , Ohtani Tomomi , Nozaki Erina , Yin Chunyang , Gotoh Yoshihiro , Yakushiji‐Kaminatsui Nayuta , Higashiyama Tetsuya , Suzuki Takamasa , Takemoto Tatsuya , Shiraishi Yo‐ichi , Kuroiwa Atsushi
Published: March 2019

To elucidate the role of Hox genes in limb cartilage development, we identified the target genes of HOXA11 and HOXA13 by ChIP‐Seq. The ChIP DNA fragment contained evolutionarily conserved sequences and multiple highly conserved HOX binding sites. A substantial portion of the HOXA11 ChIP fragment overlapped with the HOXA13 ChIP fragment indicating that both factors share common targets. Deletion of the target regions neighboring Bmp2 or Tshz2 reduced their expression in the autopod suggesting that they function as the limb bud‐specific enhancers. We identified the Hox downstream genes as exhibiting expression changes in the Hoxa13 knock out (KO) and Hoxd11‐13 deletion double mutant (Hox13 dKO) autopod by Genechip analysis. The Hox downstream genes neighboring the ChIP fragment were defined as the direct targets of Hox. We analyzed the spatial expression pattern of the Hox target genes that encode two different categories of transcription factors during autopod development and Hox13dKO limb bud. (a) Bcl11a, encoding a repressor of cartilage differentiation, was expressed in the E11.5 autopod and was substantially reduced in the Hox13dKO. (b) The transcription factors Aff3, Bnc2, Nfib and Runx1t1 were expressed in the zeugopodal cartilage but not in the autopod due to the repressive or relatively weak transcriptional activity of Hox13 at E11.5. Interestingly, the expression of these genes was later observed in the autopodal cartilage at E12.5. These results indicate that Hox13 transiently suspends the cartilage differentiation in the autopodal anlage via multiple pathways until establishing the paddle‐shaped structure required to generate five digits.
Mortality risk among adults with cerebral palsy: alarming findings and lingering questions
Authors: Landes Scott D
Published: March 2019

This commentary is on the original article by Ryan et al. on pages924–928of this issue.
SALIENCE AND THE GOVERNMENT PROVISION OF PUBLIC GOODS
Authors: Wibbenmeyer Matthew , Anderson Sarah E. , Plantinga Andrew J.
Published: March 2019

This paper examines how behavioral biases caused by salient events affect the government provision of public goods. We develop a theory in which competing communities lobby the government for allocations of a local public good. Salient events bias community demands for the good, which results in inefficient allocations. We empirically test this theory using salient wildfires and government projects to reduce wildfire risk. Wildfires reduce risk to nearby communities, but may increase demand for fuels management projects because of biases induced by salient wildfires. We find that communities experiencing recent nearby fires are more likely to receive fuels management projects. (JELD03, H41, Q24)