bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Second language articulatory training and computer-generated feedback in L2 pronunciation improvement
Authors: Rahimi Meisam
Published: February 2017

This paper investigates the efficacy of articulatory training and acoustic feedback on Persian L2 learners’ production of English segmental (/ɒ/). A sample of 30 Persian ESL learners was recruited- 10 learners were randomly assigned to the experimental group 1, 10 to the experimental group 2, and 10 to the control group. Over a five-week period, the experimental group 1 received training on the manner of articulation of the segment, the experimental group 2 received acoustic-articulatory training and was exposed to CALL software for receiving feedback, and the control group was only exposed to auditory input. The groups were given a pretest, an immediate posttest, and a generalization test. The results of the study showed a significant improvement in the performance of the participants in both the posttest and the generalization test in the experimental group 2. These findings suggest the inefficiency of the mere knowledge of the manner of articulation of the segment and lend support to the feasibility of using acoustic features of sounds and computer-based, learner-centred programs for second language segmental acquisition.
Code-switching attitudes and their effects on acceptability judgment tasks
Authors: Badiola Lucia , Delgado Rodrigo , Sande Ariane , Stefanich Sara
Published: February 2017

The present study examines the effects of code-switching (CS) attitudes in Acceptability Judgment Tasks (AJTs) among early Spanish/English bilinguals in the United States. In doing so, we explore whether negative attitudes towards CS result in lower/degraded ratings, and, likewise, whether positive attitudes result in higher acceptability ratings. Fifty Spanish/English bilinguals completed a survey that comprised a linguistic background questionnaire and a set of monolingual and code-switched sentences featuring two sets of stimuli, pro-drop (Sande, 2015) and pronouns (Koronkiewicz, 2014), that they rated on a 1–7 Likert scale; additionally, the survey included a final component that gathered information about the speakers’ attitudes towards CS. The pro-drop and pronouns code-switched stimuli gave rise to a total of four conditions. Results from a Linear Mixed Model revealed that all participants, regardless of attitude, distinguished between all Conditions. Furthermore, an effect for attitude was found for two of the conditions, such that the more positive the attitude, the higher the rating given on the AJT. In fact, these two conditions were composed of the CS structures that were rated higher by participants in Sande (2015) and Koronkiewicz (2014). No effect for attitude was found for CS structures that were rated low in the original studies. Thus, this investigation suggests that the attitudes that bilingual speakers have towards CS play a role in the ratings that they provide in AJTs, but in a manner that highlights, rather than obscures, the rule-governed nature of CS.
The role of ideology in evaluations of (in)appropriate behaviour in student-teacher relationships in China
Authors: Kádár Dániel Z.
Published: February 2017

In this paper I examine Chinese perceptions of (in)appropriateness and offence from a cross-cultural pragmatic point of view, by exploring (in)appropriate evaluations in the context of a major social offence, and the influence of Confucian ideology on people’s evaluative tendencies. By doing so, I aim to contribute to pragmatic understandings of Confucianism as an ideology that underpins evaluative attitudes in Chinese culture. On the theoretical level, I argue that one needs to carefully examine dimensions of ideologies that underlie evaluative tendencies, and also the ways in which ideologies are invoked, rather than making sweeping claims. I believe that is possible to adopt ‘ideology’ as an analytic notion in interpersonal pragmatics and (im)politeness research, but only if the influence of ideology on interpersonal interaction and evaluative tendencies is captured with the aid of qualitative and quantitative evidence, that is, only as far as one avoids using a certain ideology as an umbrella term to analyse culturally-situated data.
Implementation of a Pharmacy Consult to Reduce Co-Prescribing of Opioids and Benzodiazepines in a Veteran Population
Authors: Pardo Deborah , Miller Lacey , Chiulli Dana
Published: February 2017

Background: The dangers of co-administration of opioid pain relievers (OPRs) and benzodiazepines (BZDs) are well documented. The combination of OPRs and BZDs make up the majority of medications involved in prescription drug–related overdose and are often used concomitantly. This pattern is consistent among the veteran population where mental health illness and substance abuse are prominent. The Veterans Health Administration implemented the Opioid Safety Initiative (OSI) aimed at improving patient safety surrounding OPRs. In alignment with OSI, the study facility implemented a prior authorization pharmacy consult in an effort to reduce OPR and BZD co-prescribing and optimize patient safety. The purpose of this article is to report the frequency of co-prescribing before and after implementation of the consult. Secondary aims include reporting the emergency room visits and hospitalizations, prescribers’ actions in the setting of disapproved consults, patient characteristics associated with co-prescribing, and frequency of co-prescribing without a consult. Methods: This was a single-center, retrospective chart review study. Microsoft Structured Query Language server database and Veterans Health Information Systems and Technology Architecture were used to extract data and identify study patients. The Computerized Patient Record System was used to collect patient data. Microsoft Access and Excel were utilized to organize, query, and analyze the extracted data. Results: There was a 34.6% reduction in patients on chronic OPR therapy co-prescribed a BZD, and the total number of overdose-related events decreased after implementation of the consult. In the event of disapproved consults, pharmacists’ evidence-based recommendations were implemented 63% of the time. Patients for whom co-prescribing consults were placed were more likely to have mental health diagnoses. Conclusions: Following implementation of a pharmacy consult, there was a reduction in co-prescribing and overdose-related events at the study facility.
Isolation and Characterization of Large Marine Bacteriophage (Myoviridae), VhKM4 Infecting Vibrio harveyi
Authors: Lal Tamrin M. , Sano Motohiko , Ransangan Julian
Published: February 2017

The causative agent responsible for vibriosis in tropical fish aquaculture, Vibrio harveyi, has become a major bacterial pathogen. Studies suggest that this bacterium has developed resistance to antibiotics commonly used in aquaculture. In view of this situation and the requirement for the proposed postantibiotic era, bacteriophage therapy seems to be a promising control strategy for fish vibriosis. In this study, a lytic Vibrio phage VhKM4 belonging to a member of large, marine Myoviridae was successfully isolated. It exhibited bacteriolysis to both V. harveyi VHJR7 and V. parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802. The latent period of the VhKM4 phage was recorded at 60 min. It also recorded average burst size of approximately 52 plaque-forming units per infected cell. A strong bacteriolytic activity at low multiplicity of infection of 0.01 indicates the effectiveness of this large marine myovirid against fish pathogenic strain of V. harveyi VHJR7.

Received June 16, 2016; accepted October 7, 2016 Published online February 6, 2017
Saprolegniosis in Nile Tilapia: Identification, Molecular Characterization, and Phylogenetic Analysis of Two Novel Pathogenic Saprolegnia Strains
Authors: Zahran Eman , Hafez Elsayed E. , Mohd Altaf Hossain Ferdaus , Elhadidy Mohamed , Shaheen Adel A.
Published: February 2017

Saprolegniosis is a fungal infection that leads to huge economic losses in tilapia aquaculture. Saprolegnia spp. are usually implicated as the etiological agents, but their identification is sometimes troublesome and confusing. In this study, two Saprolegnia strains (ManS22 and ManS33) were isolated from Nile Tilapia Oreochromis niloticus suffering from saprolegniosis. Both isolates were characterized morphologically and from internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence data. Additionally, both strains were tested for pathogenicity, and they were highly pathogenic and caused cumulative mortalities of 88.9% and 95.6%, respectively. Initially, the two strains were identified, by morphology of sexual and asexual stages, as members of the genus Saprolegnia. For more definitive identification and characterization, the ITS region of the ribosomal RNA genes was amplified and sequenced, and sequences were compared with other known sequences in GenBank. A phylogenetic tree constructed using the neighbor-joining method revealed that the two strains fell into two clusters within the species Saprolegnia parasitica. Cluster 1 included the ManS33 strain and cluster 2 the ManS22 strain. Cluster 1 grouped the ManS33 strain with other S. parasitica stains and shared 97–99% sequence similarity. Cluster 2 contained only the ManS22 strain and shared 93–94% similarity to several reference sequences of S. parasitica strains. Therefore, our findings suggest that ManS22 represents a newly described strain of S. parasitica.

Received April 19, 2016; accepted October 27, 2016 Published online February 6, 2017
Transcriptomic characterization of gall tissue of Japanese elm tree (Ulmus davidiana var. japonica) induced by the aphid Tetraneura nigriabdominalis
Authors: Takei Mami , Ito Shinsaku , Tanaka Keisuke , Ishige Taichiro , Suzuki Yoshihito
Published: February 2017

Insect galls are abnormal plant tissues induced by parasitic insect(s) for use as their habitat. In previous work, we suggested that gall tissues induced by the aphid Tetraneura nigriabdominalis on Japanese elm trees are less responsive than leaf tissues to jasmonic acid (JA), which is involved in the production of volatile organic compounds as a typical defensive reaction of plants against attack by insect pests. A comprehensive analysis of gene expression by RNA sequencing indicated that the number of JA responsive genes was markedly lower in gall tissues than in leaf tissues. This suggests that gall tissues are mostly defective in JA signaling, although JA signaling is not entirely compromised in gall tissue. Gene ontology analysis sheds light on some stress-related unigenes with higher expression levels in gall tissues, suggesting that host plants sense aphids as a biotic stress but are defective in the JA-mediated defense response in gall tissues.
Trends and Potential Drivers of Distribution Overlap of River Herring and Commercially Exploited Pelagic Marine Fishes on the Northeast U.S. Continental Shelf
Authors: Turner Sara M. , Hare Jonathan A. , Richardson David E. , Manderson John P.
Published: February 2017

Concern has been increasing over the impacts of incidental catches of river herring (Alewife Alosa pseudoharengus and Blueback Herring A. aestivalis) in commercial fisheries for Atlantic Herring Clupea harengus and Atlantic Mackerel Scomber scombrus, but historical information on mixed-species catches and their driving factors is lacking. We examined data from spring and fall bottom trawl surveys (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Northeast Fisheries Science Center) for temporal trends in overlap and potential ecosystem drivers of overlap trends. Species overlap changed substantially over time, with changes varying by season and region of the northeastern U.S. continental shelf. In the fall, changes in overlap were positively related to abundance in Georges Bank and southern New England. In the spring, most changes in species overlap were positively related to increasing species abundances. Positive relationships between overlap and abundance suggested that as species distributions increased with abundance, distributional overlap with other species increased as well. During the fall, changes in species overlap were positively related to bottom temperature in the Gulf of Maine, whereas in the spring, the relationship with bottom temperature was less consistent. Temperature-related changes in overlap implied that species distributions changed at different rates in response to climatic changes, thus leading to changes in overlap. Our findings suggest that fisheries management should take an adaptive approach to managing incidental catches by using region- and season-specific policies and should incorporate the effects of species abundances and climate change on species interactions.
pETM: a penalized Exponential Tilt Model for analysis of correlated high-dimensional DNA methylation data
Authors: Sun Hokeun , Wang Ya , Chen Yong , Li Yun , Wang Shuang
Published: February 2017

Motivation

DNA methylation plays an important role in many biological processes and cancer progression. Recent studies have found that there are also differences in methylation variations in different groups other than differences in methylation means. Several methods have been developed that consider both mean and variance signals in order to improve statistical power of detecting differentially methylated loci. Moreover, as methylation levels of neighboring CpG sites are known to be strongly correlated, methods that incorporate correlations have also been developed. We previously developed a network-based penalized logistic regression for correlated methylation data, but only focusing on mean signals. We have also developed a generalized exponential tilt model that captures both mean and variance signals but only examining one CpG site at a time.

Results

In this article, we proposed a penalized Exponential Tilt Model (pETM) using network-based regularization that captures both mean and variance signals in DNA methylation data and takes into account the correlations among nearby CpG sites. By combining the strength of the two models we previously developed, we demonstrated the superior power and better performance of the pETM method through simulations and the applications to the 450K DNA methylation array data of the four breast invasive carcinoma cancer subtypes from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) project. The developed pETM method identifies many cancer-related methylation loci that were missed by our previously developed method that considers correlations among nearby methylation loci but not variance signals.

Availability and Implementation

The R package ‘pETM’ is publicly available through CRAN: http://cran.r-project.org.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Use of Obstetric Practice Web Sites to Distribute Zika Virus Information to Pregnant Women During a Zika Virus Outbreak
Authors: Lehnert Jonathan D. , Ellingson Mallory K. , Goryoka Grace W. , Kasturi Raghuraj , Maier Emily , Chamberlain Allison T.
Published: February 2017

Objective:

To describe the current use of obstetric practice Web sites to disseminate Zika virus information to patients.

Design:

Review of 913 randomly selected practice Web sites and associated social media accounts in January and August 2016.

Setting:

Obstetric practice Web sites and associated social media accounts, United States of America.

Participants:

N/A.

Main Outcome Measures:

Proportion of obstetric practice Web sites and linked social media accounts providing Zika virus information.

Results:

Twenty-five percent and 35% of obstetric practice Web sites had information posted about Zika virus in January 2016 and August 2016, respectively. Between the 2 time points, the proportion of practices posting Zika virus content on Facebook and Twitter declined (Facebook: 15% in January, 9% in August; Twitter: 12% in January, 8% in August). In August, the most frequently observed Zika virus–related content themes were the use of insect repellent (14%) and travel advisories (14%). At both time points, practices affiliated with large university hospitals were more likely to have posted information on Zika virus than independent OB/GYN-only practices: January: odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) = 5.68 (3.50-9.20); August: OR (95% CI) = 8.37 (5.31-13.17). Similarly, practices associated with nonuniversity hospitals were more likely to have posted information than independent OB/GYN-only practices: January: OR (95% CI) = 2.71 (1.88-3.92); August: OR (95% CI) = 6.75 (4.75-9.60).

Conclusion:

Obstetric care practices are not fully utilizing their practice Web sites to relay Zika virus information to their patients. Since practitioner-sponsored Web sites have the capacity to directly reach the populations at greatest risk for Zika virus complications, public health professionals should consider adapting their materials and provider outreach campaigns to more easily accommodate Web site–based information dissemination during this type of public health emergency. There must be greater recognition of the value information gains in the eyes of the patient when it is validated by their own provider, especially when that patient is part of the highest-risk population for a given emergency. Public health organizations should strive to minimize the burden it takes for providers to relay useful resources to patients in order to maximize the impact that those resources can have.
Multiple roles of PIWIL1 in mouse neocorticogenesis
Authors: Viljetic Barbara , Diao Liyang , Liu Jixia , Krsnik Zeljka , Wijeratne Sagara H.R. , Kristopovich Ryan , Dutre-Clarke Marina , Kraushar Matthew L. , Song Jimin , Xing Jinchuan , Chen Kevin C. , Rasin Mladen-Roko
Published: February 2017

PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and their associated PIWI proteins play an important role in repressing transposable elements in animal germlines. However, little is known about the function of PIWI proteins and piRNAs in the developing brain. Here, we investigated the role of an important PIWI family member, Piwi-like protein 1 (Piwil1; also known as Miwi in mouse) in the developing mouse neocortex. Using aPiwil1knock-out (Piwil1KO) mouse strain, we found that Piwil1 is essential for several steps of neocorticogenesis, including neocortical cell cycle, neuron migration and dendritogenesis. Piwil1 deletion resulted in increased cell cycle re-entry at embryonic day 17 (E17) when predominantly intracortically projecting neurons are being produced. Prenatal Piwil1 deletion increased the number of Pax6+ radial glia at postnatal day 0 (P0). Furthermore, Piwil1 deletion disrupted migration of Satb2+ neurons within deep layers at E17, P0 and P7. Satb2+ neurons showed increased co-localization with Bcl11b (also known as Ctip2), marker of subcortically projecting neurons. Piwil1 knockouts had disrupted neocortical circuitry represented by thinning of the corpus callosum and altered dendritogenesis. We further investigated if Piwil1 deletion disrupted expression levels of neocortical piRNAs by small RNA-sequencing in neocortex. We did not find differential expression of piRNAs in the neocortices ofPiwil1KO, while differences were observed in otherPiwil1KO tissues. This result suggests that Piwil1 may act independently of piRNAs and have novel roles in higher cognitive centers, such as neocortex. In addition, we report a screen of piRNAs derived from tRNA fragments in developing neocortices. Our result is the first report of selective subsets of piRNAs and tRNA fragments in developing prenatal neocortices and helps clarify some outstanding questions about the role of the piRNA pathway in the brain.
Environmentally-Friendly Workflow Based on Supercritical Fluid Chromatography and Tandem Mass Spectrometry Molecular Networking For the Discovery of Potent Anti-Viral Leads From Plants
Authors: Nothias Louis-Félix , Boutet-Mercey Stéphanie , Cachet Xavier , Torre Erick De La , Laboureur Laurent , Gallard Jean-François , Retailleau Pascal , Brunelle Alain , Dorrestein Pieter C. , Costa Jean , Bedoya Luis M. , Roussi Fanny , Leyssen Pieter , Alcami José , Paolini Julien , Litaudon Marc , Touboul David
Published: February 2017

A supercritical fluid chromatography-based targeted purification workflow using tandem mass spectrometry and molecular networking was developed to analyze, annotate and isolate secondary metabolites from complex mixture. This approach was applied for targeted isolation of new antiviral diterpene esters fromEuphorbia semiperfoliatawhole plant extract. The analysis of bioactive fractions revealed that unknown diterpene esters, including jatrophane esters and phorboids esters, were present in the samples. The purification procedure using semi-preparative-supercritical fluid chromatography led to the isolation and identification of two jatrophane esters (13and14) and four 4-deoxyphorbol esters (15-18). Compound16was found to display antiviral activity against chikungunya virus (EC50= 0.45µM), while compound15was found to be a potent and selective inhibitor of HIV-1 replication in a recombinant virus assay (EC50= 13 nM). This study showed that supercritical fluid chromatography-based workflow and molecular networking can facilitate and accelerate the discovery of bioactive small molecules by targeted molecules of interest, while minimizing the use of toxic solvents.
13C and19F solid-state NMR and X-ray crystallographic study of halogen-bonded frameworks featuring nitrogen-containing heterocycles
Authors: Szell Patrick M. J. , Gabriel Shaina A. , Gill Russell D. D. , Wan Shirley Y. H. , Gabidullin Bulat , Bryce David L.
Published: February 2017

Halogen bonding is a noncovalent interaction between the electrophilic region of a halogen (σ-hole) and an electron donor. We report a crystallographic and structural analysis of halogen-bonded compounds by applying a combined X-ray diffraction (XRD) and solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (SSNMR) approach. Single-crystal XRD was first used to characterize the halogen-bonded cocrystals formed between two fluorinated halogen-bond donors (1,4-diiodotetrafluorobenzene and 1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene) and several nitrogen-containing heterocycles (acridine, 1,10-phenanthroline, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine, and hexamethylenetetramine). New structures are reported for the following three cocrystals, all in theP21/cspace group: acridine–1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene (1/1), C6F3I3·C13H9N, 1,10-phenanthroline–1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene (1/1), C6F3I3·C12H8N2, and 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpyrazine–1,3,5-trifluoro-2,4,6-triiodobenzene (1/1), C6F3I3·C8H12N2.13C and19F solid-state magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR is shown to be a convenient method to characterize the structural features of the halogen-bond donor and acceptor, with chemical shifts attributable to cocrystal formation observed in the spectra of both nuclides. Cross polarization (CP) from19F to13C results in improved spectral sensitivity in characterizing the perfluorinated halogen-bond donor when compared to conventional1H CP. Gauge-including projector-augmented wave density functional theory (GIPAW DFT) calculations of magnetic shielding constants, along with optimization of the XRD structures, provide a final set of structures in best agreement with the experimental13C and19F chemical shifts. Data for carbons bonded to iodine remain outliers due to well-known relativistic effects.
Solid-state NMR and short-range order in crystalline oxides and silicates: a new tool in paramagnetic resonances
Authors: Stebbins Jonathan F. , McCarty Ryan J. , Palke Aaron C.
Published: February 2017

Most applications of high-resolution NMR to questions of short-range order/disorder in inorganic materials have been made in systems where ions with unpaired electron spins are of negligible concentration, with structural information extracted primarily from chemical shifts, quadrupolar coupling parameters, and nuclear dipolar couplings. In some cases, however, the often-large additional resonance shifts caused by interactions between unpaired electron and nuclear spins can provide unique new structural information in materials with contents of paramagnetic cations ranging from hundreds of ppm to several per cent and even higher. In this brief review we focus on recent work on silicate, phosphate, and oxide materials with relatively low concentrations of paramagnetic ions, where spectral resolution can remain high enough to distinguish interactions between NMR-observed nuclides and one or more magnetic neighbors in different bonding configurations in the first, second, and even farther cation shells. We illustrate the types of information available, some of the limitations of this approach, and the great prospects for future experimental and theoretical work in this field. We give examples for the effects of paramagnetic transition metal, lanthanide, and actinide cation substitutions in simple oxides, pyrochlore, zircon, monazite, olivine, garnet, pyrochlores, and olivine structures.
NMR crystallography to probe the breathing effect of the MIL-53(Al) metal–organic framework using solid-state NMR measurements of 13C–27Al distances
Authors: Giovine Raynald , Volkringer Christophe , Trébosc Julien , Amoureux Jean-Paul , Loiseau Thierry , Lafon Olivier , Pourpoint Frédérique
Published: February 2017

The metal–organic framework MIL-53(Al) (aluminium terephthalate) exhibits a structural transition between two porous structures with large pore (lp) or narrow pore (np) configurations. This transition, called the breathing effect, is observed upon changes in temperature or external pressure, as well as with the adsorption of guest molecules, such as H2O, within the pores. We show here how these different pore openings can be detected by observing the dephasing of 13C magnetization under 13C–27Al dipolar couplings using Rotational-Echo Saturation-Pulse Double-Resonance (RESPDOR) solid-state NMR experiments with Simultaneous Frequency and Amplitude Modulation (SFAM) recoupling. These double-resonance NMR experiments between 13C and 27Al nuclei, which have close Larmor frequencies, are feasible thanks to the use of a frequency splitter. The experimental SFAM–RESPDOR signal fractions agree well with those simulated from the MIL-53(Al)-lp and -np crystal structures obtained from powder X-ray diffraction analysis. Hence, these 13C–27Al solid-state NMR experiments validate these structures and confirm their rigidity. A similar agreement is reported for the framework ligands in the as-synthesized (as) MIL-53(Al), in which the pores contain free ligands. Furthermore, in this case, 13C–{27Al} SFAM–RESPDOR experiments allow an estimation of the average distance between the free ligands and the 27Al nuclei of the framework.
Insight into the local environment of magnesium and calcium in low-coordination-number organo-complexes using 25Mg and 43Ca solid-state NMR: a DFT study
Authors: Gervais Christel , Jones Cameron , Bonhomme Christian , Laurencin Danielle
Published: February 2017

With the increasing number of organocalcium and organomagnesium complexes under development, there is a real need to be able to characterize in detail their local environment in order to fully rationalize their reactivity. For crystalline structures, in cases when diffraction techniques are insufficient, additional local spectroscopies like 25Mg and 43Ca solid-state NMR may provide valuable information to help fully establish the local environment of the metal ions. In this current work, a prospective DFT investigation on crystalline magnesium and calcium complexes involving low-coordination numbers and N-bearing organic ligands was carried out, in which the 25Mg and 43Ca NMR parameters [isotropic chemical shift, chemical shift anisotropy (CSA) and quadrupolar parameters] were calculated for each structure. The analysis of the calculated parameters in relation to the local environment of the metal ions revealed that they are highly sensitive to very small changes in geometry/distances, and hence that they could be used to assist in the refinement of crystal structures. Moreover, such calculations provide a guideline as to how the NMR measurements will need to be performed, revealing that these will be very challenging.
Structure determination of a partially ordered layered silicate material with an NMR crystallography approach
Authors: Brouwer Darren Henry , Cadars Sylvian , Hotke Kathryn , Van Huizen Jared , Van Huizen Nicholas
Published: February 2017

Structure determination of layered materials can present challenges for conventional diffraction methods due to the fact that such materials often lack full three-dimensional periodicity since adjacent layers may not stack in an orderly and regular fashion. In such cases, NMR crystallography strategies involving a combination of solid-state NMR spectroscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and computational chemistry methods can often reveal structural details that cannot be acquired from diffraction alone. We present here the structure determination of a surfactant-templated layered silicate material that lacks full three-dimensional crystallinity using such an NMR crystallography approach. Through a combination of powder X-ray diffraction and advanced 29Si solid-state NMR spectroscopy, it is revealed that the structure of the silicate layer of this layered silicate material templated with cetyltrimethylammonium surfactant cations is isostructural with the silicate layer of a previously reported material referred to as ilerite, octosilicate, or RUB-18. High-field 1H NMR spectroscopy reveals differences between the materials in terms of the ordering of silanol groups on the surfaces of the layers, as well as the contents of the inter-layer space.
Understanding microblog continuance usage intention: an integrated model
Authors: Zhang Keliang , Min Qingfei , Liu Zhenhua , Liu Zilong
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the factors affecting users’ continuous microblog usage intention. In recent years, the number of microblog users has gradually declined. This research can reveal microblog users’ needs and provide the improvement direction of microblog services.

Design/methodology/approach

By integrating Wixom and Todd’s theoretical framework, the Uses and Gratifications Theory and the DeLone and McLean Information System Success Model, a conceptual model is proposed. In this model, gratification is defined as a kind of behavioral attitude, and satisfaction is viewed as an object-based attitude. The survey data were collected online and analyzed using the partial least squares method.

Findings

The results suggest that users’ continuance intention (behavioral intention) is jointly determined by users’ gratification (behavioral-based attitude) and their habitual microblog usage behavior. Likewise, gratification is positively affected by satisfaction (object-based attitude) which is a joint function of system quality and information quality (object-based beliefs).

Originality/value

In this research, Wixom and Todd’s principle is applied as the basic theoretical framework; gratification is viewed as a behavior attitude and user satisfaction is identified as an object-based attitude. This research model is a new lens for continuance usage research.
Born global firms’ growth and collaborative entry mode: the role of transnational entrepreneurs
Authors: Liu Yipeng
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the role of transnational entrepreneurs in growing born global firms, with a focus on the growth process facilitated by collaborative entry mode.

Design/methodology/approach

The author chose the solar photovoltaic industry as the empirical setting. This industry is a particularly good context for the study because many firms in this industry sell knowledge-intensive products internationally from their inception. The primary data consist of 32 in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs, industry association representatives, research institute scholars, and professional service firms.

Findings

The study highlights the importance of transnational entrepreneurs who develop born global firms to maturity by using their technological knowledge, international connections, and bicultural advantages to navigate and leverage institutional complexity. Collaborative entry mode with distributors enables born global firms’ high growth rapidly, whereas transnational entrepreneurs play a central role in building and expanding international network. Initial public offering in overseas stock exchange accelerates the high growth trajectory of born global firm by signalling its maturity.

Research limitations/implications

The author took a process perspective by examining the growth and maturity of born global firms by collaborative partnership; the author’s focus on the role of transnational entrepreneurs highlighted entrepreneurs’ sensitivity to institutional complexity along the growth trajectory.

Practical implications

The author recommends both incumbent and entrepreneurial firms in developed economies collaborate with transnational entrepreneurs in various business areas. Industry firms may be able to cooperate on product and marketing development, and professional service firms can offer services to expand born global firms further, because transnational entrepreneurs follow the global “rules of the game”.

Originality/value

The author shed important light on the role of transnational entrepreneurs throughout the growth of born global firms via collaborative entry mode. Furthermore, the author develops a multilevel framework for analysing the combined influence of transnational entrepreneur and institutional complexity on the growth of born global firm.
International diversification for portfolios of European fixed-income mutual funds
Authors: Zagaglia Paolo
Published: February 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the scope for country diversification in international portfolios of mutual funds for the “core” EMU countries. The author uses a sample of daily returns for country indices of French, German and Italian funds to investigate the quest for international diversification. The author focuses on fixed-income mutual funds during the period of the financial market turmoil since 2007.

Design/methodology/approach

The author compute optimal portfolio allocations from both unconstrained and constrained mean-variance frameworks that take as input the out-of-sample forecasts for the conditional mean, volatility and correlation of country-level indices for funds returns. The author also applies a portfolio allocation model based on utility maximization with learning about the time-varying conditional moments. The author compares the out-of-sample forecasting performance of 12 multivariate volatility models.

Findings

The author finds that there is a “core” EMU country also for the mutual fund industry: optimal portfolios allocate the largest portfolio weight to German funds, with Italian funds assigned a lower weight in comparison to French funds. This result is remarkably robust across competing forecasting models and optimal allocation strategies. It is also consistent with the findings from a utility-maximization model that incorporates learning about time-varying conditional moments.

Originality/value

This is the first study on optimal country-level diversification for a mutual fund investor focused on European countries in the fixed-income space for the turmoil period. The author uses a large array of econometric models that captures the salient features of a period characterized by large changes in volatility and correlation, and compare the performance of different optimal asset allocation models.
‘Doing good by proxy’: human‐animal kinship and the ‘donation’ of canine blood
Authors: Ashall Vanessa , Hobson‐West Pru
Published: February 2017

This article demonstrates the relevance of animals to medical sociology by arguing that pet owners’ accounts of veterinary decision‐making can highlight key sociological themes which are important to both human and animal health. Based on semi‐structured interviews, the article argues that interspecies ‘kinship’ allows for the extension of sociological claims regarding altruism, self‐interest and mutuality from human blood donation to companion animal blood ‘donation’. Furthermore, this study extends sociological understanding of the human‐animal bond by showing how the dog's status as kin meant they were expected to donate blood, and that the act of donation itself represents an important opportunity for family ‘display’. However, owners who do not or cannot donate blood themselves describe pet blood donation as an opportunity to lessen associated feelings of guilt or obligation through ‘doing good by proxy’. These findings raise critical sociological and ethical questions concerning the risks and benefits of donation, and for how we understand third‐party decision making. Finally, the article argues for the close entanglement of human and animal health, and concludes that sociologists of health and medicine should explore the radical possibility that decision‐making in healthcare more generally might be influenced by experiences at the veterinary clinic, and vice versa. (A Virtual Abstract of this paper can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_979cmCmR9rLrKuD7z0ycA)
Offspring birthweight by gestational age and parental cardiovascular mortality: a population‐based cohort study
Authors: Morken N‐H , Halland F , DeRoo LA , Wilcox AJ , Skjærven R
Published: February 2017

Objective

To estimate risk of parental cardiovascular disease mortality by offspring birthweight.

Design

Population‐based cohort study.

Setting and population

Norwegian mothers and fathers with singleton births during 1967–2002 were followed until 2009 by linkage to the Norwegian cause of death registry.

Methods

Hazard ratios by offspring absolute birthweight in grams and birthweight adjusted for gestational age (z‐score) were calculated using Cox regression and adjusted for parental age at delivery and year of first birth. Stratified analyses on preterm and term births were performed.

Main outcome measures

Maternal and paternal cardiovascular mortality.

Results

We followed 711 726 mothers and 700 212 fathers and found a strong link between maternal cardiovascular mortality and offspring birthweight but only slight evidence of associations in fathers. Adjusting birthweight for gestational age (by z‐score) uncovered an unexpected strong association of large birthweight (z‐score > 2.5) with mothers’ cardiovascular mortality (hazard ratio 3.0, 95% CI 2.0–4.6). This risk was apparently restricted to preterm births. In stratified analyses (preterm and term births) hazard ratios for maternal cardiovascular mortality were 1.5 (1.03–2.2) for large preterm babies and 0.9 (0.7–1.2) for large term babies (P‐value for interaction = 0.02), using normal weight preterm and term, respectively, as references.

Conclusion

Women having large preterm babies are at increased risk of both diabetes and cardiovascular mortality. The birth of a large preterm baby should increase clinical vigilance for onset of diabetes and other cardiovascular disease risk factors.

Tweetable abstract

Birth of a large preterm baby should increase vigilance for cardiovascular‐disease risk factors.
Polysaccharides L900/2 and L900/3 isolated from Lactobacillus rhamnosus LOCK 0900 modulate allergic sensitization to ovalbumin in a mouse model
Authors: Górska Sabina , Schwarzer Martin , Srutkova Dagmar , Hermanova Petra , Brzozowska Ewa , Kozakova Hana , Gamian Andrzej
Published: February 2017

Here, we compared the abilities of polysaccharides L900/2 and L900/3, which were previously isolated from Lactobacillus rhamnosus LOCK 0900, to modulate the immune response to bystander antigens in a mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization. In vivo, both polysaccharides reduced the levels of OVA‐specific IgE, IgE‐dependent basophil degranulation and IgG2a antibodies, but had no effect on the levels of OVA‐specific IgA or IgG1. Interestingly, both polysaccharides triggered recall cellular responses with distinct properties. L900/3 significantly suppressed the OVA‐induced upregulations of IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐10 and IL‐13 in re‐stimulated spleen cells and mesenteric lymph nodes. Our findings support and expand on our previous in vitro studies by demonstrating that polymer L900/3 might modulate the Th1/Th2 balance and could be a promising candidate molecule for preventing allergic sensitization.
Anaesthetic hypersensitivity reactions in France between 2011 and 2012: the 10th GERAP epidemiologic survey
Authors: Tacquard C. , Collange O. , Gomis P. , Malinovsky J.‐M. , Petitpain N. , Demoly P. , Nicoll S. , Mertes P. M.
Published: February 2017

Background

Immediate hypersensitivity reactions during anaesthesia are rare but potentially life‐threatening. The epidemiology changes with time and evolving professional practice, and hence needs to be monitored. Our objective was to follow this epidemiology.

Methods

This was a retrospective, observational study in French hospital clinics, conducted by GERAP members (Groupe d’Étude des Réactions Anaphylactoïdes Périopératoires). Consecutive patients seen in allergo‐anaesthesia outpatient clinics, who had experienced a hypersensitivity reaction during anaesthesia between 1 January 2011 and 31 December 2012, were included. Demographic data, allergy history, drugs received before the reaction, symptoms of the reaction, results of blood samples (histamine, tryptase, IgE‐specific assays), and results of the allergy assessment were recorded.

Results

The most common causes of allergic reactions were (Neuromuscular Blocking Agents) NMBAs (N = 302; 60.6%), antibiotics (N = 91, 18.2%, Cephalosporin N = 49, 10%) and dyes (N = 27; 5.4%). Latex as an allergic agent was involved in 26 cases (5.2%), hypnotics in 11 cases (2.2%) and opioids in seven cases (1.4%). Of the NMBAs, Rocuronium had the highest proportion of reactions (13.8 reactions/100,000 vials sold) followed by Suxamethonium (13.3/100,000 vials sold). Cisatracurium had the lowest proportion of reactions (0.4/100,000 vials sold). Patients were sensitized to two or more NMBAs in 48.9% of cases and without testing, cross‐sensitivity cannot be predicted.

Conclusions

When compared with the previous GERAP studies, NMBAs are still the most frequently triggering allergens, with marked differences between individual NMBAs, but they are now followed by antibiotics (of which greater than 50% were cephalosporins) and dyes. Anaesthetists must be aware of the differences between drugs and of the pattern of emerging allergens. For the future of safe anaesthesia, allergy assessment is essential.
Myeloid‐MyD88 Contributes to Ethanol‐Induced Liver Injury in Mice Linking Hepatocellular Death to Inflammation
Authors: Zhou Hao , Yu Minja , Roychowdhury Sanjoy , Sanz‐Garcia Carlos , Pollard Katherine A. , McMullen Megan R. , Liu Xiuli , Li Xiaoxia , Nagy Laura E.
Published: February 2017

Background

Toll‐like receptor 4 (TLR4) is critical for ethanol (EtOH)‐induced liver injury. TLR4 signaling is mediated by 2 proximal adaptor molecules: myeloid differentiation primary response protein (MyD88) and TLR‐domain‐containing adaptor‐inducing interferon‐β (TRIF). Studies utilizing global knockouts of MyD88 and TRIF identified a predominant role for TRIF signaling in the progression of EtOH‐induced liver injury. In contrast, IL‐1 receptor, which signals solely via the MyD88 pathway, is also known to mediate EtOH‐induced liver injury. We postulated that a cell‐specific role for MyD88 in myeloid cells might explain these apparently discrepant roles of MyD88. Here we made use of myeloid‐specific MyD88‐deficient (MyD88LysM‐KO) mice generated by crossing LysM‐CRE mice with MyD88fl/fl mice to test this hypothesis.

Methods

MyD88LysM‐KO and littermate controls were fed a Lieber–DeCarli EtOH‐containing diet or pair‐fed control diets for 25 days.

Results

Littermate control, but not MyD88LysM‐KO, mice developed early stages of EtOH‐induced liver injury including elevated plasma alanine aminotransferase and increased hepatic triglycerides. Lobular inflammation and expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines/chemokines was increased in control but not MyD88LysM‐KO. Further, EtOH‐induced inflammasome activation, indicated by the presence of cleaved caspase‐1 and mature IL‐1β protein, was also ameliorated in livers of MyD88LysM‐KO mice. In contrast, chronic EtOH‐induced apoptosis, assessed via TUNEL staining, was independent of myeloid‐MyD88 expression.

Conclusions

Collectively, these data demonstrate a cell‐specific role for MyD88 in the development of chronic EtOH‐induced liver injury. While MyD88LysM‐KO still exhibited hepatocellular apoptosis in response to chronic EtOH, the absence of MyD88 on myeloid cells prevented the development of hepatic steatosis and inflammation.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: placebo rates in induction and maintenance trials of Crohn's disease
Authors: Jairath V. , Zou G. , Parker C. E. , MacDonald J. K. , Mosli M. H. , AlAmeel T. , Al Beshir M. , AlMadi M. , Al‐Taweel T. , Atkinson N. S. S. , Biswas S. , Chapman T. P. , Dulai P. S. , Glaire M. A. , Hoekman D. , Kherad O. , Koutsoumpas A. , Minas E. , Restellini S. , Samaan M. A. , Khanna R. , Levesque B. G. , D'Haens G. , Sandborn W. J. , Feagan B. G.
Published: February 2017

Background

Minimising placebo response is essential for drug development.

Aim

To conduct a meta‐analysis to determine placebo response and remission rates in trials and identify the factors affecting these rates.

Methods

MEDLINE, EMBASE and CENTRAL were searched from inception to April 2014 for placebo‐controlled trials of pharmacological interventions for Crohn's disease. Placebo response and remission rates for induction and maintenance trials were pooled by random‐effects and mixed‐effects meta‐regression models to evaluate effects of study‐level characteristics on these rates.

Results

In 100 studies containing 67 induction and 40 maintenance phases and 7638 participants, pooled placebo remission and response rates for induction trials were 18% [95% confidence interval (CI) 16–21%] and 28% (95% CI 24–32%), respectively. Corresponding values for maintenance trials were 32% (95% CI 25–39%) and 26% (95% CI 19–35%), respectively. For remission, trials enrolling patients with more severe disease activity, longer disease duration and more study centres were associated with lower placebo rates, whereas more study visits and longer study duration was associated with higher placebo rates. For response, findings were opposite such that trials enrolling patients with less severe disease activity and longer study duration were associated with lower placebo rates. Placebo rates varied by drug class and route of administration, with the highest placebo response rates observed for biologics.

Conclusions

Placebo rates vary according to whether trials are designed for induction or maintenance and the factors influencing them differ for the endpoints of remission and response. These findings have important implications for clinical trial design in Crohn's disease.