bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of the DCF and German income approach
Authors: Reinert Jan
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The majority of institutional investors in Germany use the German income approach (GIA) while investors abroad prefer the discounted cash flow (DCF). The debate around the two methods has been largely theoretical, lacking large-scale empirical evidence. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The analysis consisted of a performance comparison and hedonic regressions based on ordinary least squares. Fitted GIA and DCF values were obtained for all observations in the data set in order to eliminate distortions caused by different property characteristics in the two valuation sub-samples.

Findings

The research hypothesis, stating that the two methods result in statistically identical estimations of value, was rejected. The performance analysis showed that GIA valuations displayed smoother total return performance due to less volatile capital growth in comparison to DCF valuations. Comparing the fitted values obtained from the regressions showed that GIA valuations were on average lower than their DCF counterparts. The difference was small and both methods resulted in very similar fitted values. The difference between fitted values was not constant over time and decreased toward the end of the analysis period.

Practical implications

The research adds empirical arguments to the ongoing debate between GIA and DCF valuations. So far empirical proof has been scarce or one-sided.

Originality/value

This analysis is the first large-scale empirical comparison of the DCF and the GIA within the same market.
Pay Dispersion and Executive Behaviour: Evidence from Innovation
Authors: Amore Mario Daniele , Failla Virgilio
Published: December 2018

Compensation packages are widely used to motivate top executives. Pay dispersion among a firm's executives, however, can be associated with the antithetic effects of social comparison and individual motivation, with unclear implications for the company. We focus on innovation activities, which represent an important channel through which pay dispersion can affect firm performance, and test our predictions by exploring innovative output as a function of executives’ pay dispersion in a panel of US firms. We find that executive pay dispersion acts as a double‐edged sword. On the one hand, the higher the dispersion in variable pay, the higher the innovation. On the other hand, the larger the dispersion in fixed pay, the lower the innovation. Results are robust to a number of tests, such as restricting the analysis to executives with direct responsibility for innovation projects and considering individual incentives in the form of cash pay.
Past, present and future approaches using computer vision for animal re‐identification from camera trap data
Authors: Schneider Stefan , Taylor Graham W. , Linquist Stefan , Kremer Stefan C.
Published: December 2018

The ability of a researcher to re‐identify (re‐ID) an individual animal upon re‐encounter is fundamental for addressing a broad range of questions in the study of ecosystem function, community and population dynamics and behavioural ecology. Tagging animals during mark and recapture studies is the most common method for reliable animal re‐ID; however, camera traps are a desirable alternative, requiring less labour, much less intrusion and prolonged and continuous monitoring into an environment. Despite these advantages, the analyses of camera traps and video for re‐ID by humans are criticized for their biases related to human judgement and inconsistencies between analyses.

In this review, we describe a brief history of camera traps for re‐ID, present a collection of computer vision feature engineering methodologies previously used for animal re‐ID, provide an introduction to the underlying mechanisms of deep learning relevant to animal re‐ID, highlight the success of deep learning methods for human re‐ID, describe the few ecological studies currently utilizing deep learning for camera trap analyses and our predictions for near future methodologies based on the rapid development of deep learning methods.

For decades, ecologists with expertise in computer vision have successfully utilized feature engineering to extract meaningful features from camera trap images to improve the statistical rigor of individual comparisons and remove human bias from their camera trap analyses. Recent years have witnessed the emergence of deep learning systems which have demonstrated the accurate re‐ID of humans based on image and video data with near perfect accuracy. Despite this success, ecologists have yet to utilize these approaches for animal re‐ID.

By utilizing novel deep learning methods for object detection and similarity comparisons, ecologists can extract animals from an image/video data and train deep learning classifiers to re‐ID animal individuals beyond the capabilities of a human observer. This methodology will allow ecologists with camera/video trap data to reidentify individuals that exit and re‐enter the camera frame. Our expectation is that this is just the beginning of a major trend that could stand to revolutionize the analysis of camera trap data and, ultimately, our approach to animal ecology.
Detecting Neurodevelopmental Effects of Early‐Gestation Ethanol Exposure: A Nonhuman Primate Model of Ethanol Drinking During Pregnancy
Authors: Jimenez Vanessa A. , Wang Xiaojie , Newman Natali , Walter Nicole A. R. , Gonzales Steven , Lo Jamie O. , Ford Mathew M. , Cuzon Carlson Verginia C. , Grant Kathleen A. , Kroenke Christopher D.
Published: December 2018

Background

Gestational ethanol (EtOH) exposure is associated with multiple developmental abnormalities, collectively termed fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). While the majority of women abstain from EtOH following knowledge of pregnancy, one contributing factor to the high FASD prevalence is that pregnancy is not detected until 4 to 6 weeks. Thus, EtOH consumption continues during the initial stages of fetal development.

Methods

An experimental protocol is described in which rhesus macaques self‐administer 1.5 g/kg/d EtOH (or isocaloric maltose dextrin) prior to pregnancy and through the first 60 days of a 168‐day gestation term. Menstrual cycles were monitored, including measurements of circulating estradiol and progesterone levels. The latency to consume 1.5 g/kg EtOH and blood EtOH concentration (BEC) was measured.

Results

Twenty‐eight fetuses (14 EtOH and 14 controls) were generated in this study. EtOH did not affect menstrual cycles or the probability of successful breeding. No EtOH‐induced gross adverse effects on pregnancy were observed. Individual variability in latency to complete drinking translated into variability in BEC, measured 90 minutes following session start. Drinking latencies in controls and EtOH drinkers were longer in the second gestational month than in the first. All pregnancies reached the planned experimental time point of G85, G110, or G135, when in utero MRIs were performed, fetuses were delivered by caesarean section, and brains were evaluated with ex vivo procedures, including slice electrophysiology. Fetal tissues have been deposited to the Monkey Alcohol Tissue Research Resource.

Conclusions

This FASD model takes advantage of the similarities between humans and rhesus macaques in gestational length relative to brain development, as well as similarities in EtOH self‐administration and metabolism. The daily 1.5 g/kg dose of EtOH through the first trimester does not influence pregnancy success rates. However, pregnancy influences drinking behavior during the second month of pregnancy. Future publications using this model will describe the effect of early‐gestation EtOH exposure on anatomical and functional brain development at subsequent gestational ages.
Review of rodent hypertensive glaucoma models
Authors: Biswas Sayantan , Wan Kelvin H.
Published: December 2018

Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). Elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is a primary risk factor for the development and progression of glaucoma. Rodent models of glaucoma have greatly improved our understanding of the pathophysiology of glaucoma and served as a useful tool to investigate neuroprotective agents. An ideal glaucoma animal model should be easy to induce, reproducible, biologically plausible and predictable. Of the available animal models of glaucoma, rodents are commonly studied because they have a relatively short life span and can be genetically altered. A successful hypertensive glaucoma model should induce structural glaucomatous changes: including loss of retinal nerve fibres, retinal ganglion cells and optic‐disc cupping along with IOP elevation. The level and duration of IOP elevation should be titratable depending on the targeted glaucomatous damage. This review summarizes the outcomes of induced rodent hypertensive glaucoma models including intracameral injection of microbeads, laser photocoagulation, episcleral vein cauterization, injection of hypertonic saline and hyaluronic acid. We aim to provide a detailed overview of each of the models with a focus on parameters that defines a successful glaucoma model. The induced IOP elevation and duration of elevation varied among the different models and strain of rodent; nonetheless, they all achieved a sustainable raised IOP with corresponding RGC loss. The limitations of each model are discussed.
Repeatability and reliability of quantitative fundus autofluorescence imaging in patients with early and intermediate age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: Reiter Gregor Sebastian , Told Reinhard , Baratsits Magdalena , Hecht Alexander , Schlanitz Ferdinand Georg , Sacu Stefan , Schmidt‐Erfurth Ursula
Published: December 2018

Purpose

Quantification of fundus autofluorescence has only recently become available. We report our findings on the evaluation of the repeatability and reliability of quantitative fundus autofluorescence (qAF) measurements in patients with early and intermediate age‐related macular degeneration (AMD), using the first approved and commercially available instrument.

Methods

A total of 43 eyes of 22 patients (aged between 52 and 84 years) diagnosed with early and intermediate AMD were included. All eyes were imaged at day 1, 3 months and 6 months using a modified scanning laser ophthalmoscope, equipped with an internal fluorescent reference. Mean qAF values were calculated for the fovea and for each concentric ring of the Delori pattern. Repeatability and reliability were calculated using Bland–Altman analysis and intraclass correlation (ICC).

Results

The mean patient age was 73.5 ± 7.9 years. Sixteen patients (73%) were female. qAF repeatability of the eight segments in the middle ring of the Delori pattern (qAFM8) for between sessions was ±8.2%. Agreement at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up in eyes without retinal changes was ±8.3% and ±9.8%, respectively. Reliability of qAFM8 was high for all images acquired [ICC = 0.98 (CI: 0.96–0.99), 0.97 (0.93–0.99) and 0.98 (0.92–0.99)]. Agreement at 3‐ and 6‐month follow‐up in eyes with retinal changes was ±18.1% and ±20.2%, respectively. Intraclass correlation (ICC) was slightly lower in eyes with retinal changes at 0.93 (0.84–0.97) and 0.96 (0.91–0.98), respectively.

Conclusions

Quantitative autofluorescence shows excellent repeatability and reliability as well as follow‐up agreement in patients with early and intermediate AMD without retinal changes. This is relevant when conducting longitudinal studies using qAF.
Retinal metabolic and structural alterations in response to aflibercept treatment in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration
Authors: Jakobsen Ditte B. , Torp Thomas L. , Stefansson Einar , Peto Tunde , Grauslund Jakob
Published: December 2018

Purpose

Non‐invasive retinal markers of disease activity could pave the way for individualized treatment in neovascular age‐related macular degeneration (nAMD). We aimed to evaluate if retinal vascular oxygen saturation and calibres could predict the initial treatment response after a loading phase of intravitreal aflibercept in nAMD.

Method

A total of 149 eyes were included (nAMD, n = 76; dry AMD, n = 30; normal eyes n = 43). Of these, 57 treatment‐naïve eyes with nAMD received three monthly injections with 2.0 mg aflibercept and were subsequently stratified according to functional and structural response according to development in best‐corrected visual acuity and macular retinal thickness. The retinal vascular oxygen saturation and calibres were measured prior to treatment and 1 month after the third injection.

Results

Patients with nAMD and dry AMD had higher retinal arteriolar oxygen saturation as compared to normal eyes (94.3% versus 95.2% versus 92.6%, p = 0.04). Thirty‐nine (68.4%) and 12 (21.1%) eyes with nAMD were functional and structural responders. After the loading phase, structural nonresponders developed a higher retinal arteriolar (95.3% versus 93.3%, p = 0.03) and venular (64.7% versus 59.4%, p = 0.02) oxygen saturation, and responders developed a lower retinal arteriolar calibre (118.0 versus 114.3 μm, p < 0.01). In a multiple logistic regression model, increasing retinal venular oxygen saturation associated with a negative structural treatment outcome (odds ratio 1.17 for each 1% increment after the loading phase, 95% confidence interval 1.01–1.36, p = 0.03).

Conclusion

Changes in the retinal venular oxygen saturation associate independently with initial treatment response in nAMD, but functional and structural retinal measurements prior to treatment could not predict the treatment response.
Dependence Modeling for Recurrent Event Times Subject to Right-Censoring With D-Vine Copulas
Authors: Barthel Nicole , Geerdens Candida , Czado Claudia , Janssen Paul
Published: December 2018

In many time-to-event studies, the event of interest is recurrent. Here, the data for each sample unit correspond to a series of gap times between the subsequent events. Given a limited follow-up period, the last gap time might be right-censored. In contrast to classical analysis, gap times and censoring times cannot be assumed independent, i.e., the sequential nature of the data induces dependent censoring. Also, the number of recurrences typically varies among sample units leading to unbalanced data. To model the association pattern between gap times, so far only parametric margins combined with the restrictive class of Archimedean copulas have been considered. Here, taking the specific data features into account, we extend existing work in several directions: we allow for nonparametric margins and consider the flexible class of D-vine copulas. A global and sequential (one- and two-stage) likelihood approach are suggested. We discuss the computational efficiency of each estimation strategy. Extensive simulations show good finite sample performance of the proposed methodology. It is used to analyze the association of recurrent asthma attacks in children. The analysis reveals that a D-vine copula detects relevant insights, on how dependence changes in strength and type over time.
Distribution-Free Estimation of Local Growth Rates Around Interval Censored Anchoring Events
Authors: Chu Chenghao , Zhang Ying , Tu Wanzhu
Published: December 2018

Biological processes are usually defined on timelines that are anchored by specific events. For example, cancer growth is typically measured by the change in tumor size from the time of oncogenesis. In the absence of such anchoring events, longitudinal assessments of the outcome lose their temporal reference. In this paper, we considered the estimation of local change rates in the outcomes when the anchoring events are interval-censored. Viewing the subject-specific anchoring event times as random variables from an unspecified distribution, we proposed a distribution-free estimation method for the local growth rates around the unobserved anchoring events. We expressed the rate parameters as stochastic functionals of the anchoring time distribution and showed that under mild regularity conditions, consistent and asymptotically normal estimates of the rate parameters could be achieved, with a convergence rate. We conducted a carefully designed simulation study to evaluate the finite sample performance of the method. To motivate and illustrate the use of the proposed method, we estimated the skeletal growth rates of male and female adolescents, before and after the unobserved pubertal growth spurt (PGS) times.
Pressure pain sensitivity is associated with dental fear in adults in middle age: Findings from the Northern Finland 1966 birth cohort study
Authors: Kankaanpää Rami , Auvinen Juha , Rantavuori Kari , Jokelainen Jari , Karppinen Jaro , Lahti Satu
Published: December 2018

Introduction

Dental fear is a prevalent problem leading to severe deterioration of oral health and health‐related quality of life. Despite the knowledge that dental fear is closely linked to painful experience, the association between pain sensitivity and dental fear remains unclear. This study was designed to evaluate this association with validated measures of dental fear and pressure pain sensitivity in a cohort population.

Methods

The study population consisted of a subpopulation of the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966. At the age of 46 years, 1736 participants completed the valid and reliable Modified Dental Anxiety Scale (MDAS) and participated in a clinical examination, where their nonorofacial pressure pain sensitivity was evaluated by validated pressure pain threshold (PPT) and tolerance (PPTo) measurements. Gender‐specific Tobit regressions were performed to analyse this association adjusted for smoking and depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Results

Women with moderate dental fear had 5% (31.3 kPa; P < 0.05), and women with high dental fear had 7% (42.9 kPa; n.s.) lower pressure pain threshold than women with low dental fear. Women with moderate dental fear had 4% (35.4 kPa; P < 0.05) and women with high dental fear had 9% (82.7 kPa; P < 0.01) lower pressure pain tolerance than women with low dental fear. Men with moderate and high dental fear had 3% lower pressure pain tolerance (35.4 kPa; P < 0.05 and 29.6 kPa; n.s., respectively) than men with low dental fear, whereas the associations with pain threshold were not statistically significant. Among women, both anticipatory and treatment‐related dental fears were associated with pain threshold and pain tolerance. Among men, pain threshold was associated with treatment‐related dental fear only and the associations with pain tolerance were not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Nonorofacial pressure pain threshold and tolerance appeared to be lower in participants with dental fear, which emphasizes the role of pain sensitivity in dental fear.
Changes in Australian practice patterns for glaucoma management
Authors: Newman Alexander R. , Andrew Nicholas H.
Published: December 2018

Importance

The demand for glaucoma care is projected to increase significantly with the ageing population.

Background

To characterize trends in Australian practice patterns for glaucoma management over the 15‐y period between 2003 and 2017.

Design

Retrospective audit.

Samples

The Medicare eligible population.

Methods

Audit of Medicare Benefits Schedule item number reimbursements in the private healthcare sector, and dispensed Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescriptions.

Main Outcome Measures

Number, unadjusted cost and services per capita in the enrolled population.

Results

The number of medication prescriptions peaked in 2015, but then declined by 14.9%. PBS expenditure on glaucoma medications has been falling since 2012. There was a 9.2‐fold increase in fixed‐combination prescriptions and 281‐fold increase in unpreserved medication prescriptions. In 2017, optometrists generated 1.86% of glaucoma prescriptions. Reimbursements for computerized perimetry increased dramatically for optometrists, and in 2017 optometrist‐initiated perimetry exceeded ophthalmologist‐initiated perimetry by 35.3%. There were significant increases in laser procedure rates, including laser trabeculoplasty (4.61‐fold), laser iridotomy (2.55‐fold) and cyclodestructive procedures (2.33‐fold). There was a 3.83‐fold increase in glaucoma drainage device insertions. Ab interno trabecular microbypass procedures increased 715% from 2014 to 2017. Adjusted for Medicare population, trabecular microbypass is performed at more than twice the rate of primary filtering operations.

Conclusions and Relevance

This is the first time that glaucoma medication use and expenditure have declined since auditing began in 1992. Glaucoma laser procedures, drainage device implantation and trabecular microbypass increased substantially over the study period. In contrast, the rate of primary filtering operations increased in proportion to population growth. The increase in overall cost of glaucoma care has primarily been driven by computerized perimetry; however, this has been partially offset by a decline in medication expenditure.
Survey on the status of teledermatology in Austria
Authors: Eber Elena Lucia , Janda Monika , Arzberger Edith , Hofmann‐Wellenhof Rainer
Published: December 2018

Background

The use of digital communication media is becoming increasingly important, with the primary aim of improving both treatment quality and patients' quality of life. In an effort to optimize telemedicine in the field of dermatology, we conducted a survey among dermatologists in Austria.

Methods

Statistical analysis of a questionnaire that was developed by a working group and sent to 769 Austrian dermatologists.

Results

Overall, 243 dermatologists (132 women/111 men) participated in the survey. Forty‐seven percent of male respondents and 55 % of female respondents had already received requests for teledermatology consultations. Seventy‐three percent felt that telemedicine was able to contribute to relieving the economic burden on the health care system. Telecommunication between dermatologists and experts (in a given field of dermatology) was deemed to be particularly useful. While telemedicine was also considered to be appropriate for patient follow‐up, it was viewed to be less useful for initial consultations. Roughly 50 % of respondents used telemedicine to get a second opinion; one‐third used it for initial consultations.

Conclusions

Our survey shows that the majority of participants consider teledermatology to be a useful supplement to the current practice of dermatology. Given its particular usefulness for triage purposes, teledermatology can help reduce the number of trips to the hospital and subsequent waiting times. This in turn leads to cost reduction and saves time for both patients and doctors. Legal regulations that include provisions for appropriate reimbursement of physicians would make using teledermatology more attractive.
Biotic resistance or introduction bias? Immigrant plant performance decreases with residence times over millennia
Authors: Sheppard Christine S. , Schurr Frank M.
Published: December 2018

Aim

Invasions are dynamic processes. Invasive spread causes the geographical range size of alien species to increase with residence time. However, with time native competitors and antagonists can adapt to invaders. This build‐up of biotic resistance may eventually limit the invader’s performance and reduce its range size. Using a species‐for‐time approach, we test (a) whether native communities more strongly reduce the fitness of immigrants with longer residence times, and (b) whether the range size of immigrant species shows a unimodal response to residence time.

Location

Germany.

Time period

18,000 years BP to present.

Major taxa studied

352 plant species in the Asteraceae family.

Methods

For plant species with a wide range of minimum residence times in Germany (6–18,000 years), we combined a common garden experiment with historical and macroecological analyses. In a multi‐species experiment, we quantified the effect of native communities on fitness components of 30 annual Asteraceae. For these and other species, we then analysed how current range size depends on minimum residence time and other covariates.

Results

Native communities reduced survival, reproductive output and fitness of Asteraceae. This fitness reduction was stronger for immigrant species with long residence times. We found a unimodal relationship between range size and residence time of Asteraceae in Germany, when including natives that immigrated after the last glaciation.

Main conclusions

Biotic resistance may limit the performance and geographical ranges of immigrant species over long time‐scales. The initial advantages invaders have over natives thus may not persist over millennia, supporting the concept of an alien–native species continuum defined by gradual changes in eco‐evolutionary processes. While our analysis controlled for major ecological, evolutionary and biogeographical factors, it is conceivable that the detected patterns are influenced by additional differences between natives and aliens. Experimental macroecology has great potential to disentangle these processes and predict long‐term invasion dynamics.
Developmental regulation of lifelong dental experiences and beliefs in Guangzhou and Hong Kong
Authors: MacEntee Michael I. , Wong Sabrina T. , Chi Iris , Lo Edward C. M. , Minichiello Victor , Soheilipour Shimae , Mariño Rodrigo
Published: December 2018

Aims

The aim of this study was to explain through the life‐course and life‐span perspectives of developmental regulation theory the controls on dental experiences and beliefs throughout the lives of older people in Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

Background

Dental diseases and disabilities among older people are serious public health concerns in China.

Methods

A facilitator conducted eight focus groups, three in Hong Kong and five in Guangzhou, involving a total of 51 participants. She encouraged discussions about lifetime events to explain dental experiences and beliefs. Transcripts were coded and analysed using a constant comparative approach to identify themes that explained the regulators of dental experiences throughout the participants’ lives.

Results

Participants explained the influence of culture and history through critical events, and how external and internal factors regulated their current oral health status and beliefs. They emphasised the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine and family, and the stress of social upheaval compounded by a scarcity of dental services. They revealed also how current choice of dental services and health promotional programs, helped by personal food choice, self‐reliance, and scepticism, helped them to adjust and cope with dental diseases and disabilities and the commercialisation of dental services.

Conclusions

Dental experiences and beliefs of older people living in Guangzhou and Hong Kong were regulated strongly during personal development by culture and history during critical events, and by various controlling factors, such as health promotion and choice of services supplemented by food choice, nutritional balance, self‐reliance, scepticism and social adjustments.
Clinical characteristics and short‐term outcomes in patients with acute cholecystitis over aged >80 years
Authors: Akasu Takafumi , Kinoshita Akiyoshi , Imai Nami , Hirose Yuki , Yamaguchi Ruri , Yokota Takeharu , Iwaku Akira , Koike Kazuhiko , Saruta Masayuki
Published: December 2018

Aim

We investigated the clinical characteristics and short‐term outcomes in acute cholecystitis (AC) patients aged ≥80 years. We therefore sought to determine the ideal treatment for elderly patients with AC.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated 253 patients with AC. The patients were divided into two groups according to their age: elderly group (n = 77, aged ≥80 years) and non‐elderly group (n = 176, aged <80 years). We compared the clinical characteristics, in‐hospital mortality and recurrence of cholecystitis within 6 months between the two groups. The predictive factors for in‐hospital mortality were also assessed.

Results

The elderly group had more severe comorbidities (P = 0.0055), higher severity grade of AC (P = 0.00071) and higher in‐hospital mortality (P = 0.029) than the non‐elderly group. The multivariate analysis showed that the serum creatinine level (hazard ratio 12.43; P = 0.002) was independently associated with the in‐hospital mortality. The elderly group (20.8%) underwent subsequent cholecystectomy less frequently than the non‐elderly group (63.2%; P < 0.0001). The recurrence rate of AC was comparable between the two groups (P = 0.89). The proportion of patients in the elderly group who received percutaneous drainage in the latter period (64.3%) was significantly higher than in the former period (33.3%; P = 0.015).

Conclusions

More attention should be paid to AC patients with chronic renal disease after treatment. Percutaneous drainage might serve as a definitive treatment without subsequent cholecystectomy in elderly AC patients with various comorbidities. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2019; 19: 208–212.
Economic liberalization and external shocks. The hypothesis of convergence revisited for the Mexican states, 1994–2015
Authors: Fonseca Felipe J. , Llamosas‐Rosas Irving , Rangel‐González Erick
Published: December 2018

We study the convergence hypothesis for Mexican states during the period 1994–2015 considering the impact not only of NAFTA but also of other external shocks, such as China’s entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001 and the global financial crisis of 2008. Using econometric panel data models with no fixed effects to avoid small sample bias, the main results indicate: (a) presence of absolute divergence, consistent with a sigma process divergence, particularly in the period after the outbreak of the global crisis of 2008; and (b) a process of weakening conditional convergence across the sub‐periods analyzed.
Different forms of intergroup contact with former adversary are linked to distinct reconciliatory acts through symbolic and realistic threat
Authors: Rupar Mirjana , Graf Sylvie
Published: December 2018

In a society burdened with the most severe type of intergroup conflict, we examined the association between willingness to reconcile with former adversary, intergroup contact with, and perceived threat from former adversary. We focused on three reconciliatory acts—forgiveness to the outgroup, support for ingroup apology and support for financial compensation to the outgroup. We included different forms of positive and negative intergroup contact—direct and indirect (extended and mass‐mediated). In the link between contact and reconciliation, we tested the mediating role of two types of intergroup threat—realistic and symbolic. The sample comprised Bosniaks (N = 267) and Croats (N = 278) from Bosnia and Herzegovina. In both samples, reconciliation associated with indirect forms of intergroup contact even when controlling for its link with direct contact. This indicates the potential of indirect contact to promote reconciliation in the lack of direct contact, characteristic for segregated post‐conflict societies. Symbolic threat mediated the relationship between intergroup contact and symbolic forms of reconciliation—forgiveness and support for ingroup apology. Realistic threat mediated the link between intergroup contact and a more tangible form of reconciliation—support for financial compensation. This highlights the importance of considering different types intergroup threat when targeting distinct reconciliatory acts. Our results suggest that practitioners promoting reconciliation in post‐conflict societies need to implement different means when tailoring interventions that should enhance different sides of peace‐making process.
Inhibition of bacterial human pathogens on tomato skin surfaces using eugenol‐loaded surfactant micelles during refrigerated and abuse storage
Authors: Ruengvisesh Songsirin , Oh Jun Kyun , Kerth Chris R. , Akbulut Mustafa , Matthew Taylor T.
Published: December 2018

The plant‐derived essential oil component eugenol (1.0% wt/vol), free or loaded into surfactant micelles constructed of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS; 1.0% wt/vol), 200 ppm free chlorine (hypochlorous acid [HOCl]; pH 7.0), and sterile distilled water were evaluated for their ability to reduce Salmonella Saintpaul and Escherichia coli O157:H7 on skin surface samples of Roma tomatoes. Samples were treated and then stored aerobically for up to 10 days. All samples were initially stored at 5 °C; one set of samples was shifted to 15 °C after 5 days of storage to simulate temperature abuse during postharvest handling. Encapsulated and free eugenol, HOCl, and empty SDS micelles reduced pathogens to nondetectable counts (detection limit: 0.5 log10 cfu/cm2) during refrigerated storage (p ≥ .05). Conversely, during temperature abuse storage (15 °C), only free and micelle‐loaded eugenol consistently reduced pathogens to nondetection. Eugenol‐loaded micelles can be used to decontaminate harvested tomatoes from enteric bacterial pathogens.

Practical applications

Tomatoes may be consumed raw and have been repeatedly implicated in the occurrence of human foodborne disease. Washing of tomatoes with novel antimicrobial interventions that increase the dispersion of antimicrobials over the surface of the tomato should result in greater reduction of microbial foodborne pathogens through enhanced contact of antimicrobial with pathogen. Application of surfactant micelle‐entrapped eugenol onto tomato surfaces reduced Salmonella Saintpaul and Escherichia coli O157:H7 to nondetection during refrigerated (5 °C) and temperature abuse (15 °C) storage. Micelle‐loaded eugenol reduced numbers of aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and fungi to nondetection during temperature abuse storage.
Reaction of Q to thermal metamorphism in parent bodies: Experimental simulation
Authors: Verchovsky A. B. , Hunt S. A. , Montgomery W. , Sephton M. A.
Published: December 2018

Planetary noble gases in chondrites are concentrated in an unidentified carrier phase, called “Q.” Phase Q oxidized at relatively low temperature in pure oxygen is a very minor part of insoluble organic matter (IOM), but has not been separated in a pure form. High‐pressure (HP) experiments have been used to test the effects of thermal metamorphism on IOM from the Orgueil (CI1) meteorite, at conditions up to 10 GPa and 700 °C. The effect of the treatment on carbon structural order was characterized by Raman spectroscopy of the carbon D and G bands. The Raman results show that the IOM becomes progressively more graphite‐like with increasing intensity and duration of the HP treatment. The carbon structural transformations are accompanied by an increase in the release temperatures for IOM carbon and 36Ar during stepped combustion (the former to a greater extent than the latter for the most HP treated sample) when compared with the original untreated Orgueil (CI1) sample. The 36Ar/C ratio also appears to vary in response to HP treatment. Since 36Ar is a part of Q, its release temperature corresponds to that for Q oxidation. Thus, the structural transformations of Q and IOM upon HP treatment are not equal. These results correspond to observations of thermal metamorphism in the meteorite parent bodies, in particular those of type 4 enstatite chondrites, e.g., Indarch (EH4), where graphitized IOM oxidized at significantly higher temperatures than Q (Verchovsky et al. ). Our findings imply that Q is less graphitized than most of the macromolecular carbonaceous material present during parent body metamorphism and is thus a carbonaceous phase distinct from other meteoritic IOM.
Delivering in‐school interventions to improve dietary behaviours amongst 11‐ to 16‐year‐olds: A systematic review
Authors: Calvert Sian , Dempsey Robert C. , Povey Rachel
Published: December 2018

Childhood obesity is a global health concern, which has both short‐ and long‐term health consequences for the individual, and is a potential burden on health care services and the wider economy. The school environment is a setting where changes can be applied to dietary behaviours, as schools have direct and intensive contact with children. This systematic review evaluated school‐based interventions designed to improve dietary behaviours among adolescents (11‐ to 16‐year‐olds). The aims were to review types of interventions delivered, dietary behaviours targeted, and interventions' effectiveness in improving dietary behaviour and associated intervention components. Twenty‐nine school‐based interventional studies with this population were identified for review. The data were synthesized by identifying and comparing individual studies' results, intervention components, and characteristics. Interventions appeared more effective when they involved peers, used educational media to deliver health messages, increased availability of healthy foods in school, and incorporated computer‐based individualized feedback with normative information on eating behaviours. A limitation of the review was the lack of description in certain reviewed studies and the nonfeasibility of conducting a meta‐analysis owing to study heterogeneity. Future interventions with this population could consider including the aforementioned components, gender‐specific feedback, and both short‐ and long‐term follow‐ups as change may not be apparent immediately and to determine if changes are sustained.
Structural responses to the obesity and non‐communicable diseases epidemic: Update on the Chilean law of food labelling and advertising
Authors: Corvalán Camila , Reyes Marcela , Garmendia María Luisa , Uauy Ricardo
Published: December 2018

Chile approved the law of food labelling and advertising in 2012; this law aims to address the obesity epidemic, particularly in children. The implementation details were published in 2015, and the law was implemented finally in 2016, as described in the current article. Regulated foods were defined based on a specially developed nutrient profiling, which considered natural foods as gold standard. For liquid foods, amounts of energy, sugars, saturated fats, and sodium in 100 mL of cow's milk were used as cut‐offs. For solid foods, values within the 90th ‐ 99th percentile range for energy and critical nutrients were selected as cut‐off within a list of natural foods. A stop sign stating “High in ” was chosen as warning label for packaged regulated foods. Regulated foods were also forbidden to be sold or offered for free at kiosks, cafeterias, and feeding programme at schools and nurseries. Besides, regulated foods cannot be promoted to children under 14 years. A staggered implementation of the regulation was decided, with nutrients cut‐offs becoming increasingly stricter over a 3‐year period. These regulatory efforts are in the right direction but will have to be sustained and complemented with other actions to achieve their ultimate impact of halting the obesity epidemic.
Elucidating the genetic basis of biomass accumulation and radiation use efficiency in spring wheat and its role in yield potential
Authors: Molero Gemma , Joynson Ryan , Pinera‐Chavez Francisco J. , Gardiner Laura‐Jayne , Rivera‐Amado Carolina , Hall Anthony , Reynolds Matthew P.
Published: December 2018

One of the major challenges for plant scientists is increasing wheat (Triticum aestivum) yield potential (YP). A significant bottleneck for increasing YP is achieving increased biomass through optimization of radiation use efficiency (RUE) along the crop cycle. Exotic material such as landraces and synthetic wheat has been incorporated into breeding programmes in an attempt to alleviate this; however, their contribution to YP is still unclear. To understand the genetic basis of biomass accumulation and RUE, we applied genome‐wide association study (GWAS) to a panel of 150 elite spring wheat genotypes including many landrace and synthetically derived lines. The panel was evaluated for 31 traits over 2 years under optimal growing conditions and genotyped using the 35K wheat breeders array. Marker‐trait association identified 94 SNPs significantly associated with yield, agronomic and phenology‐related traits along with RUE and final biomass (BM_PM) at various growth stages that explained 7%–17% of phenotypic variation. Common SNP markers were identified for grain yield, BM_PM and RUE on chromosomes 5A and 7A. Additionally, landrace and synthetic derivative lines showed higher thousand grain weight (TGW), BM_PM and RUE but lower grain number (GM2) and harvest index (HI). Our work demonstrates the use of exotic material as a valuable resource to increase YP. It also provides markers for use in marker‐assisted breeding to systematically increase BM_PM, RUE and TGW and avoid the TGW/GM2 and BM_PM/HI trade‐off. Thus, achieving greater genetic gains in elite germplasm while also highlighting genomic regions and candidate genes for further study.
Detection of an HLA‐C*03 variant, HLA‐C*03:258, in a Taiwanese individual
Authors: Yang K. L. , Lin P. Y.
Published: December 2018

One nucleotide substitution at residue 506 of HLA‐C*03:02:01 results in a novel allele, HLA‐C*03:258.
Characterization of the torsional structural properties of feline femurs and surrogate bone models for mechanical testing of orthopedic implants
Authors: Marturello Danielle M. , Wei Feng , Déjardin Loïc M.
Published: December 2018

Objective

To characterize the torsional structural properties of the feline femur and design a bone model surrogate for mechanical testing of feline orthopedic implants.

Study design

Experimental.

Sample population

Paired feline femurs (n = 30) and bone models (8 materials, n = 4/group).

Methods

Femurs were cyclically tested nondestructively in torsion and then loaded to failure. A generic femoral model was then designed from native femur dimensions and tested similarly by using 1 of 8 materials that were 3‐dimensionally printed or machined. Outcome measures consisting of torsional compliance, angular deformation (AD), and torque to failure were compared by using Student's t test (P < .05). Failure modes are reported as descriptive statistics.

Results

Torsional compliance (1.6 ± 0.3°/Nm, 2.0 ± 0.1°/Nm), AD (3.1 ± 0.6°, 3.8 ± 0.2°) and torque to failure (7.8 ±1.2 Nm, 8.1 ± 1.3 Nm) did not differ between feline femurs and short‐fiber epoxy (SFE) models. Conversely, most printed materials displayed excessive TC and failed by plastic deformation (AD > 15‐fold that of native femurs) rather than by fracture. Feline bone and SFE both failed by spiral fractures.

Conclusion

None of the outcome measures differed between the 4th generation SFE model and cadaveric femurs, but differences were identified between feline bone and printed materials.

Clinical impact

Machined SFE can be used to create a surrogate bone model with torsional structural properties similar to those of feline femurs. In contrast, common printable materials appear unsuitable to produce a realistic feline bone surrogate.
Numerical Study on the Heading Misalignment and Current Velocity Reduction of a Vessel-Shaped Offshore Fish Farm
Authors: Li Lin , Jiang Zhiyu , Wang Jungao , Ong Muk Chen
Published: December 2018

Recently, the concept of a vessel-shaped fish farm was proposed for open sea applications. The fish farm comprises a vessel-shaped floater, five fish cages, and a single-point mooring system. Such a system weathervanes, and this feature increases the spread area of fish waste. Still, the downstream cages may experience decreased exchange of water flow when the vessel heading is aligned with the current direction, and fish welfare may be jeopardized. To ameliorate the flow conditions, a dynamic positioning (DP) system may be required, and its power consumption should relate to the heading misalignment. This paper proposes an integrated method for predicting the heading misalignment between the vessel-shaped fish farm and the currents under combined waves and currents. A numerical model is first established for the fish farm system with flexible nets. Current reduction factors are included to address the reduction in flow velocity between net panels. The vessel heading is obtained by finding the equilibrium condition of the whole system under each combined wave and current condition. Then, the Kriging metamodel is applied to capture the relation between the misalignment angle and environmental variables, and the probability distribution of this misalignment angle is estimated for a reference site. Finally, the requirement for the DP system to improve the flow condition in the fish cages is discussed.
Why modern humans have round heads
Authors: Gibbons Ann
Published: December 2018

Neanderthal DNA points to genes that influence brain.
Can witchweed be wiped out?
Authors: Bouwmeester Harro
Published: December 2018

A potent stimulant induces parasitic plant germination that causes it to die
The
DGCR5
long noncoding RNA may regulate expression of several schizophrenia-related genes
Authors: Meng Qingtuan , Wang Kangli , Brunetti Tonya , Xia Yan , Jiao Chuan , Dai Rujia , Fitzgerald Dominic , Thomas Amber , Jay Lindsey , Eckart Heather , Grennan Kay , Imamura-Kawasawa Yuka , Li Mingfeng , Sestan Nenad , White Kevin P. , Chen Chao , Liu Chunyu
Published: December 2018

The long noncoding RNA
DGCR5
in the 22q11.2 deletion may regulate expression of certain protein-coding genes that are associated with schizophrenia.
Activity and Thermostability of GH5 Endoglucanase Chimeras from Mesophilic and Thermophilic Parents
Authors: Zheng Fei , Vermaas Josh V. , Zheng Jie , Wang Yuan , Tu Tao , Wang Xiaoyu , Xie Xiangming , Yao Bin , Beckham Gregg T. , Luo Huiying
Published: December 2018

Thermal stability is an essential property of enzymes in many industrial biotechnological applications, as high temperatures improve bioreactor throughput. Many protein engineering approaches, such as rational design and directed evolution, have been employed to improve the thermal properties of mesophilic enzymes. Structure-based recombination has also been used to fuse TIM barrel fragments, and even fragments from unrelated folds, to generate new structures. However, little research has been done on GH5 endoglucanases. In this study, two GH5 endoglucanases exhibiting TIM barrel structure,
So
Cel5 and
Te
Egl5A, with different thermal properties, were hybridized to study the roles of different (βα) motifs. This work illustrates the role that structure-guided recombination can play in helping to identify sequence function relationships within GH5 enzymes by supplementing natural diversity with synthetic diversity.