bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Biases in paired preference tests: Cross‐cultural comparison of Japanese and American consumers
Authors: Hasegawa Yuka , Ishii Rie , Kyutoku Yasushi , Dan Ippeita , Rousseau Benoît 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis research examined potential biases associated with paired preference tests and how these biases might differ between Japanese and American cultures. The three biases that were investigated were the potential differential use of the no preference option, a predisposition in choosing the first stimulus in a pair, and finally a potential tendency of picking the stimulus with the numerically higher code in the pair. In this investigation, 96 American and 192 Japanese subjects performed six paired preference tests involving three types of grapefruit juices, three of the pairs involving identical samples. Of the three biases, only the differential use of the “no preference” option was significantly observed, with American subjects exhibiting higher “no preference” frequencies than Japanese for identical pairs (24% and 9%, respectively). Interestingly, no clear position or code bias effects were uncovered, a result possibly driven by the experimental approach used in this research. Potential explanations are discussed.Practical applicationsBiases when executing paired preference tests have been documented. Addressing them, if not controlling them, is necessary to ensure reliable interpretation of test results. One important bias involves the use of the “no preference” option for identical samples. This use directly impacts how an identicality norm can be utilized to interpret test results. Assuming the wrong identicality norm will increase the likelihood of reaching an incorrect conclusion. This research establishes the identicality norm for Japanese subjects and confirms that such norm would be different from that of American subjects and more like that of Korean consumers. This will be of value for companies conducting research across cultures to ensure that more reliable conclusions are reached. No clear position or code biases were found in this research. Nevertheless, sample position balancing and the use of two sets of labeling codes in any paired preference test design are recommended since these effects have been previously reported elsewhere.
Networked uniqueness
Authors: Fjellestad Danuta 
Published: March 2019

AbstractThis essay focuses on one of the most intriguing literary puzzles today, an anonymously published volume Being or Nothingness. Multiplying puzzles and provoking speculative searches for answers, this spoof on Sartre's seminal philosophical text (if this is what it is), I argue, insists on its unique qualities as a bound physical object while simultaneously “unbounding” itself through resolute participation in a variety of networks. Ultimately, I propose, it can be seen as an exemplary specimen of what N. Katherine Hayles has dubbed the “postprint era.” Importantly, although in many ways a sui generis book, Being or Nothingness is like other, less baffling, fiction books that through elaborate design forge an oxymoronic “unique copy”; intensifying artifice, they tease with the promise of an auratic experience.
DMBT1 involvement in the human aortic endothelial cell response to Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Oho Takahiko , Nagata Emi 
Published: March 2019

Streptococcus mutans is a causative organism of dental caries and has been reported to be associated with the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Previous studies have demonstrated that S. mutans invades human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and HAECs invaded by S. mutans produce higher levels of CVD–related cytokines than non‐invaded HAECs. DMBT1 (deleted in malignant brain tumors 1), also known as salivary agglutinin or gp‐340, belongs to the scavenger receptor cysteine–rich superfamily. DMBT1 is expressed in epithelial and non‐epithelial tissues and has multiple functions. The interaction between S. mutans and DMBT1 has been demonstrated in cariogenesis, but DMBT1 involvement in CVD has not been examined. In this study, we investigated DMBT1 expression in HAECs stimulated with S. mutans and examined the role of DMBT1 in the interaction between S. mutans and HAECs. All of the tested S. mutans strains induced higher production levels of DMBT1 in HAECs than those in unstimulated HAECs. More S. mutans cells adhered to DMBT1 knock down HAECs than to DMBT1–producing HAECs. Invasion of DMBT1 knock down HAECs by S. mutans was stronger than that of DMBT1–producing HAECs, and externally added DMBT1 reduced bacterial invasion. Cytokine production by DMBT1 knock down HAECs by S. mutans stimulation was higher than that by DMBT1–producing HAECs. These phenomena seemed to be due to the effect of released DMBT1, namely, the inhibition of bacterial adherence to HAECs by DMBT1. These results suggest that DMBT1 plays a protective role against the S. mutans–induced CVD process in HAECs.
Paediatric Minor facial trauma resulting in invasive Group A streptococcal orofacial infections: two case reports
Authors: Maarouf M. , Hanji C. , Mohindra A. , Shetty S. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractInvasive Group A Streptococcus infections can be underestimated and develop rapidly into serious necrotising soft tissue infections associated with significant morbidity and mortality. We report two children who presented following minor trauma with Group A Streptococcus infections and tissue necrosis. We retrospectively reviewed two relevant cases illustrating their clinical features, treatment and outcomes. A 5‐year‐old and a 3‐year‐old both sustained innocuous injuries yet presented with significant facial cellulitis, pyrexia, elevated CRP, white cell and neutrophil count. Both had concurrent upper respiratory infective symptoms. Timely surgical debridement and aggressive antimicrobial therapy was provided. Both patients’ cultures grew Group A streptococcus pyogenes. Children presenting with significant systemic reactions following minor trauma must be monitored closely with a high index of suspicion for necrosis of tissues and treated accordingly.
Abscisic acid‐dependent histone demethylation during postgermination growth arrest in Arabidopsis
Authors: Wu Jinfeng , Ichihashi Yasunori , Suzuki Takamasa , Shibata Arisa , Shirasu Ken , Yamaguchi Nobutoshi , Ito Toshiro 
Published: March 2019

AbstractAfter germination, seedlings undergo growth arrest in response to unfavourable conditions, a critical adaptation enabling plants to survive harsh environments. The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) plays a key role in this arrest. To arrest growth, ABA‐dependent transcription factors change gene expression patterns in a flexible and reversible manner. Although the control of gene expression has important roles in growth arrest, the epigenetic mechanisms in the response to ABA are not fully understood. Here, we show that the histone demethylases JUMONJI‐C domain‐containing protein 30 (JMJ30) and JMJ32 control ABA‐mediated growth arrest in Arabidopsis thaliana. During the postgermination stage (2–3 days after germination), the ABA‐dependent transcription factor ABA‐insensitive3 (ABI3) activates the expression of JMJ30 in response to ABA. JMJ30 then removes a repressive histone mark, H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), from the SNF1‐related protein kinase 2.8 (SnRK2.8) promoter, and hence activates SnRK2.8 expression. SnRK2.8 encodes a kinase that activates ABI3 and is responsible for JMJ30‐ and JMJ32‐mediated growth arrest. A feed‐forward loop involving the ABI3 transcription factor, JMJ histone demethylases, and the SnRK2.8 kinase fine‐tunes ABA‐dependent growth arrest in the postgermination phase. Our findings highlight the importance of the histone demethylases in mediating adaptation of plants to the environment.
Infantile hemangioma: Efficacy of low‐dose propranolol and of intralesional bleomycin injection for propranolol non‐response
Authors: Düzenli Kar Yeter , Özdemir Zeynep Canan , Acu Berat , Bör Özcan 
Published: March 2019

AbstractBackgroundInfantile hemangioma (IH) is the most common form of benign childhood vascular tumor. Most resolve spontaneously, but treatment is recommended in patients who develop complication. Propranolol is recommended as the first‐line therapy, while the treatment in the case of non‐response to first‐line therapy depends on the clinical experiences of each center. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of low‐dose propranolol in the treatment of IH, and the outcomes of percutaneous intralesional bleomycin injection (IBI) in patients unresponsive to propranolol.MethodsMedical records of 104 children diagnosed with IH between June 2014 and June 2017 were reviewed retrospectively.ResultsMedian patient age was 6 months (range, 3–12 months). Forty‐five patients (43.3%) received therapy: 18 (40%) for cosmetic problems and 27 (60%) for lesion‐related complications. The most common complications were hemorrhage (15.6%) and impairment in visual function (15.6%). All of the patients received propranolol 1 mg/kg/day as the first‐line therapy. Response to treatment was excellent in 35 patients, good in four and poor in one, while five patients did not respond to therapy. The five unresponsive patients received percutaneous IBI at 0.3–0.5 mg/kg/dose as second‐line therapy. The response to treatment was excellent in four patients, good in one.ConclusionsThe majority of IH resolved spontaneously. In the patients who required treatment, low‐dose propranolol was successful in most, and IBI was effective and safe in the remaining five patients who did not respond to propranolol.
Focused information criteria for copulas
Authors: Ko Vinnie , Hjort Nils Lid , Hobæk Haff Ingrid 
Published: March 2019

AbstractIn this paper, we extend the focused information criterion (FIC) to copula models. Copulas are often used for applications where the joint tail behavior of the variables is of particular interest, and selecting a copula that captures this well is then essential. Traditional model selection methods such as the Akaike information criterion (AIC) and the Bayesian information criterion (BIC) aim at finding the overall best‐fitting model, which is not necessarily the one best suited for the application at hand. The FIC, on the other hand, evaluates and ranks candidate models based on the precision of their point estimates of a context‐given focus parameter. This could be any quantity of particular interest, for example, the mean, a correlation, conditional probabilities, or measures of tail dependence. We derive FIC formulae for the maximum likelihood estimator, the two‐stage maximum likelihood estimator, and the so‐called pseudo‐maximum‐likelihood (PML) estimator combined with parametric margins. Furthermore, we confirm the validity of the AIC formula for the PML estimator combined with parametric margins. To study the numerical behavior of FIC, we have carried out a simulation study, and we have also analyzed a multivariate data set pertaining to abalones. The results from the study show that the FIC successfully ranks candidate models in terms of their performance, defined as how well they estimate the focus parameter. In terms of estimation precision, FIC clearly outperforms AIC, especially when the focus parameter relates to only a specific part of the model, such as the conditional upper‐tail probability.
2018 European Conference on Donor Health and Management
Authors: Cho G. 
Published: March 2019

SummaryThe third European Conference on Donor Health and Management (ECDHM) was held in Copenhagen from 5th to 7th September 2018 and was co‐organised by the ECDHM committees and European Blood Alliance. This is an international conference with a focus on ‘donor health’, including donors of blood, organs and other substances of human origin, and remains the only conference focusing exclusively on donor medicine.This overview presents a selection of research topics in relation to iron, the keynote speeches and plenary talks. The keynote speeches cover the epidemiology of donors and recipients, whole‐blood donor recruitment and retention and the safety of donors and recipients of plasma and plasma products. Talks from the plenary speakers reviewed modern multi‐omic approaches to study red cell quality and the central, perennial question of what motivates a donor to give blood and how can this be encouraged.
Clinical experience utilizing a novel fluoroscopic technique for wire‐guided esophagojejunal tube placement in the dog and cat: Twenty cases (2010–2013)
Authors: Carabetta David J. , Koenigshof Amy M. , Beal Matthew W. 
Published: March 2019

AbstractObjectiveTo describe the clinical use of a novel, minimally invasive technique for fluoroscopic wire‐guided esophagojejunal tube (FEJT) placement in dogs and cats.DesignRetrospective study (February 2010–September 2013).SettingUniversity veterinary teaching hospital.AnimalsEighteen dogs and 2 cats with intolerance of, or contraindications to, gastric feeding that underwent attempted FEJT placement.InterventionsAll patients underwent attempted FEJT placement using a novel fluoroscopic wire‐guided technique.Measurements and Main ResultsPatient data were collected including information about the FEJT placement and utilization of the tube postplacement. The primary diagnosis in dogs undergoing FEJT placement was pancreatitis in 61% of cases. The ability to achieve postpyloric access with the technique was 95% (19/20). Mean duration of the procedure in dogs where FEJT placement was successful was 63.8 minutes (SD, 28.6; min‐max, 30–120 min). Mean fluoroscopy time was 19.4 minutes (SD, 11.5; min‐max, 5.2–42.1‐min). Esophagostomy site infection was a complication of FEJT placement in 2 dogs. The mean duration the FEJT remained in place in dogs was 3.8 days (SD, 2.2; min‐max, 1–7 days), and mean duration of feeding was 3.6 days (SD, 2.2; min‐max, 1–7 days). Vomiting was noted in 89% of patients prior to FEJT placement and was significantly reduced to only 24% of patients postplacement (P = 0.0001).ConclusionsFEJT placement is a viable technique for providing postpyloric nutrition in dogs and cats intolerant of, or with contraindications to, gastric feeding.
Effects of Different Vitamin C–Enriched Collagen Derivatives on Collagen Synthesis
Authors: Lis Dana M. , Baar Keith 
Published: March 2019

Nutritional strategies to improve connective tissue collagen synthesis have garnered significant interest, although the scientific validity of these interventions lags behind their hype. This study was designed to determine the effects of three forms of collagen on N-terminal peptide of procollagen and serum amino acid levels. A total of 10 recreationally active males completed a randomized double-blinded crossover design study consuming either placebo or 15 g of vitamin C–enriched gelatin or hydrolyzed collagen (HC), or gummy containing equal parts of gelatin and HC. Supplements were consumed 1 hr before 6 min of jump rope. Blood samples were collected immediately prior to supplement consumption and 4 hr after jump rope. A subset of blood samples (n = 4) was collected for amino acid analysis 1 hr after ingestion. Consumption of an equivalent dose of each supplement increased amino acids in the circulation similarly across all interventions. N-terminal peptide of procollagen levels tended to increase ∼20% from baseline in the gelatin and HC interventions but not the placebo or gummy. These results suggest that vitamin C–enriched gelatin and HC supplementation may improve collagen synthesis when taken 1 hr prior to exercise. However, large variability was observed, which precluded significance for any treatment.
An Analysis of Variability in Power Output During Indoor and Outdoor Cycling Time Trials
Authors: Jeffries Owen , Waldron Mark , Patterson Stephen D. , Galna Brook 
Published: March 2019

Purpose: Regulation of power output during cycling encompasses the integration of internal and external demands to maximize performance. However, relatively little is known about variation in power output in response to the external demands of outdoor cycling. The authors compared the mean power output and the magnitude of power-output variability and structure during a 20-min time trial performed indoors and outdoors. Methods: Twenty male competitive cyclists ( 60.4 [7.1] mL·kg−1·min−1) performed 2 randomized maximal 20-min time-trial tests: outdoors at a cycle-specific racing circuit and indoors on a laboratory-based electromagnetically braked training ergometer, 7 d apart. Power output was sampled at 1 Hz and collected on the same bike equipped with a portable power meter in both tests. Results: Twenty-minute time-trial performance indoor (280 [44] W) was not different from outdoor (284 [41] W) (P = .256), showing a strong correlation (r = .94; P < .001). Within-persons SD was greater outdoors (69 [21] W) than indoors (33 [10] W) (P < .001). Increased variability was observed across all frequencies in data from outdoor cycling compared with indoors (P < .001) except for the very slowest frequency bin (<0.0033 Hz, P = .930). Conclusions: The findings indicate a greater magnitude of variability in power output during cycling outdoors. This suggests that constraints imposed by the external environment lead to moderate- and high-frequency fluctuations in power output. Therefore, indoor testing protocols should be designed to reflect the external demands of cycling outdoors.
The Social Context of Sedentary Behaviors and Their Relationships With Health in Later Life
Authors: Russell David , Chase Jo-Ana D. 
Published: March 2019

This study examined sedentary behaviors among older adults and explored associations with social context and health measures using cross-sectional data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study (N = 1,687). Multivariate models were estimated to explore associations of time in six sedentary behaviors (i.e., television watching, sitting and talking, hobbies, computer use, driving, and resting) with sociodemographic characteristics and level of social engagement and with health status. Results indicated substantial variability in sedentary behaviors, with television watching being the most frequent and resting the least frequent activities. Sedentary behaviors varied by sociodemographic characteristics, including age, race/ethnicity, and education, as well as by level of social engagement. Television watching and resting, but not other behaviors, were associated with poorer health. These findings help to unpack the role of social context in sedentary behaviors and could inform public health interventions aimed at reducing time spent in behaviors that are adversely associated with health.
Fear Avoidance Following Musculoskeletal Injury in Male Adolescent Gaelic Footballers
Authors: O’Keeffe Sinéad , Ní Chéilleachair Niamh , O’Connor Siobhán 
Published: March 2019

Context: Participating in Gaelic football provides a wealth of benefits, but a risk of musculoskeletal injury also exists. Injury is associated with physical consequences, including pain, discomfort, loss of function, time absent from school/sport, and considerable medical expenses, along with placing undue pressure on emergency services and hospital staff. Concurrent psychological consequences, such as fear avoidance, can also occur, causing psychological distress. There is a current dearth of available research examining the psychology of injury in male adolescent Gaelic footballers. Objective: To examine fear avoidance postinjury in male adolescent Gaelic footballers, the effect of pain, time loss, injury severity, and previous injury on the extent of fear avoidance, and the usefulness of a modified Athlete Fear Avoidance Questionnaire (AFAQ) as a screening tool for predicting injury. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting: Recreational clubs. Participants: A total of 97 male adolescent club Gaelic footballers (13.4 [1.1] y). Interventions: Musculoskeletal injuries sustained during participation in Gaelic football, defined as any injury sustained during training or competition causing restricted performance or time lost from play, were assessed and recorded weekly by a certified athletic and rehabilitation therapist. Injuries requiring time loss from participation were classed as time-loss injuries. Injury characteristics that included type, nature, location, severity, and pain were recorded. Main Outcome Measures: Injured players completed the AFAQ, a measure of injury-related fear avoidance following injury assessment (AFAQ1). With time-loss injuries, the AFAQ was completed again (AFAQ2) prior to return to play. Modified AFAQ was completed at baseline. Results: Twenty-two injuries were recorded during the season with fear avoidance evident postinjury that significantly decreased before returning to play. Fear avoidance postinjury was higher in those with greater pain but time loss, injury severity, and previous injury did not significantly affect the extent of fear avoidance. Baseline fear avoidance did not predict injury. Conclusions: Psychological rehabilitation is recommended for managing postinjury psychological distress in male adolescent Gaelic footballers.
Collaboration: The Key to Natural High Programming
Authors: Treichel Mila L. , Myrick Susan 
Published: March 2019

In 1975, the U.S. Department of Health reported that more than half of the individuals in hospitals are there for self-induced reasons related to poor quality lifestyles: lack of exercise; excessive weight; tobacco, alcohol, and drug abuse; and poor stress management (Beeler, 1987). As many as one-third of the 500,000 deaths from cancer in the U.S. each year can be attributed to poor diet. Another third of cancer deaths - mostly lung, bladder, and pancreatic - are caused by cigarette smoking. Other cancers show links to excessive alcohol consumption (Weiss, 1992). The U.S. Surgeon General, who analyzed factors contributing to the ten leading causes of premature death and disability in the U.S., says nearly 50 percent are related to unhealthy behavior (Wolford, Wolford & Allensworth, 1986).
Strategies for Improving Customer Service in Leisure Organizations
Authors: McChesney Jon C. 
Published: March 2019

As competition in the leisure sector continues to increase, creating and maintaining customer loyalty becomes paramount for business success. Customer loyalty can be promoted and nurtured via customer service, resulting in added value to the business exchange, reduced costs of doing business, and customer acceptance of less than perfect program delivery. Additionally, customer service is consistent with total quality management initiatives. This article discusses five customer service strategies that can be applied to any leisure enterprise. These strategies include (1) hiring practices; (2) customer service training; (3) front-line responsiveness; (4) customer response network; and (5) management by walking around. Customer service does not have to be an allusive or costly business objective. However, management must be proactive in establishing and maintaining these mutually beneficial customer relationships. Lip service to this issue will no longer suffice.