bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A test of the teaching-learning style mesh hypothesis in a Chinese MBA
Authors: Andres Hayward P. , Akan Obasi H. 
Published: October 2015

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to determine if “fit” and “non-fit” between authoritarian versus demonstrator teaching and visual versus verbal learning preferences differ in impact on Chinese MBA student academic performance in a large local urban Chinese university setting. In addition, the role of Chinese cultural behavioral tendencies in dictating specific teaching and learning style preferences among Chinese MBA students is also examined.

Design/methodology/approach
– Subjects were 135 Chinese MBA students that indicated their learning style preference (verbal or visual) and predominant teaching style encountered (authoritarian or demonstrator). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) main effects were used to identify the best teaching style and best learning style. ANOVA interaction effects were used to test the meshing hypothesis (i.e. teaching-learning style “fit” versus “non-fit” conditions).

Findings
– The results provided support for the mesh hypothesis – teaching style – learning style fit does matter. In general, authoritarian teaching was superior to demonstrator, and verbal learning was superior to visual. Findings also suggest that the demonstrator teaching style may better handle different learning styles (e.g. both verbal and visual) simultaneously as compared to the classic authoritarian teaching style.

Research limitations/implications
– The findings support and contribute to the body of knowledge about the mesh hypothesis and provide the foundations for further longitudinal studies evaluating teaching and learning styles learning styles in a multicultural and cross-cultural context. A limitation of the study is that self-report responses were used and the data were collected at one Chinese university.

Practical implications
– The results suggest that instructors are likely to reach only a selected few students if it is assumed that all students learn in the same way or based on cultural orientation alone. University administrators should be aware of the role of cultural tendencies related to teaching and learning and how cross-cultural communication and multicultural awareness can provide insights into strategies for social and academic integration of foreign students.

Originality/value
– To date, the meshing hypothesis has received far less theoretical or empirical attention than the general learning style and teaching style hypotheses. This study addresses that gap.
Plant–soil interactions regulate the identity of soil carbon in invaded ecosystems: implication for legacy effects
Authors: Suseela Vidya , Alpert Peter , Nakatsu Cindy H. , Armstrong Arthur , Tharayil Nishanth 
Published: October 2015

Summary

Introduced, invasive plants can alter local soil chemistry and microbial communities, but the underlying mechanisms and extent of these changes are largely unknown. Based on characteristics associated with invasiveness in plants, it was hypothesized that introduced species that produce large amounts of litter with distinctive secondary compounds can a) alter the chemistry of both extractable and bulk carbon in the soil, b) shift microbial communities towards microbes better able to metabolize the compounds in the litter and c) cause soil carbon chemistry and microbial communities to shift to relatively uniform, novel states at multiple sites.

Composition of phenolics in senescent tissues (leaves and roots) of Polygonum cuspidatum was compared to the composition of extractable phenolics and non‐extractable bulk organic carbon in soils under and adjacent to large, long‐established stands of P. cuspidatum at four sites in the eastern U.S. Rates of degradation of phenolics, activities of enzymes associated with the breakdown of phenolics and shifts in microbial community composition were also measured at the sites.

Soils under P. cuspidatum stands contained twice as much phenolics as adjacent soils, but the composition of phenolics differed greatly between soils under stands and senescent tissues of P. cuspidatum. Flavonoids and proanthocyanidins constituted >90% of the identified phenolics in P. cuspidatum tissues, whereas monophenolic compounds accounted for >90% of the phenolics in soils under stands. Soils under and adjacent to stands also exhibited distinctive compositions of relatively persistent bulk organic carbon; composition differed less between soils under stands at different sites than between soils under and adjacent to stands at the same site.

Soils under P. cuspidatum had 2·8 times greater abundance of fungi than soils adjacent to stands, and fungal markers showed clear separation of soils under and adjacent to P. cuspidatum. However, the potential activity of enzymes that degrade polyphenols was lower in soils under stands. Exogenously applied, chemically complex polyphenols persisted in both P. cuspidatum‐invaded and adjacent non‐invaded soils, whereas less complex compounds rapidly disappeared from both soils.

Synthesis. Results suggest that interactions between plant inputs, abiotic reactions and biotic transformations may create and maintain new states in invaded soils that are chemically and biologically less diverse. In the case of polyphenol‐rich, fast‐growing invasive species, these interactions may alter the composition of bulk soil organic matter that has relatively slower turnover rates, resulting in legacy effects. Restoration could thus require, not just removal of the species, but also post‐removal interventions such as soil amendments.
Onset of autumn shapes the timing of birth in Pyrenean chamois more than onset of spring
Authors: Kourkgy Charlotte , Garel Mathieu , Appolinaire Joël , Loison Anne , Toïgo Carole 
Published: October 2015

Summary

In seasonal environments, birth dates are a central component for a species’ life history, with potential long‐term fitness consequences. Yet our understanding of selective pressures of environmental changes on birth dates is limited in wild mammals due to the difficulty of data collection. In a context of rapid climate change, the question of a possible mismatch between plant phenology and birth phenology also remains unanswered for most species.

We assessed whether and how the timing of birth in a mountain mammal (isard, also named Pyrenean chamois, Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) tracked changes in plant growing season, accounting for maternal traits, individual heterogeneity and population density. We not only focused on spring conditions but also assessed to what extent onset of autumn can be a driver of phenological biological events and compared the magnitude of the response to the magnitude of the environmental changes. We relied on a 22‐year study based on intensively monitored marked individuals of known age.

Births were highly synchronized (80% of kids born within 25 days) and highly repeatable (84%; between‐female variation of 9·6 days, within‐female variation of 4·2 days). Individual phenotypic plasticity allows females to respond rapidly to interannual changes in plant phenology but did not prevent the existence of a mismatch: a 10‐day advance in the autumn or spring plant phenology led to 3·9 and 1·3 days advance in birth dates, respectively.

Our findings suggest that plant phenology may act as a cue to induce important stages of the reproductive cycle (e.g. conception and gestation length), subsequently affecting parturition dates, and stressed the importance of focusing on long‐term changes during spring for which females may show much lower adaptive potential than during autumn. These results also question the extent to which individual plasticity along with high heterogeneity among individuals will allow species to cope with demographic consequences of climate changes.
(Re‐)join the party! The effects of direct democracy on party membership in Europe
Authors: PETERS YVETTE 
Published: October 2015

AbstractIt has been argued that political parties are in decline. While they used to be responsible for connecting citizens to the state by translating their preferences into policies, they have increasingly become part of the state, acting as governors instead. While this perspective emphasises parties’ representative function, it is less clear what their role is in a more direct democratic context. Parties may gain support due to such context, but they may also be seen increasingly redundant in a situation where citizens can co‐decide directly. Focusing on party membership, this study tests these rival expectations on a panel of 16 West European democracies over the period 1980–2008 and finds that parties tend to have higher levels of party membership in a direct democratic context. The usage of referendums, however, does not contribute to this effect.
The electoral consequences of the financial and economic crisis in Europe
Authors: HERNÁNDEZ ENRIQUE , KRIESI HANSPETER 
Published: October 2015

AbstractThe electoral consequences of the Great Recession are analysed in this article by combining insights from economic voting theories and the literature on party system change. Taking cues from these two theoretical perspectives, the impact of the Great Recession on the stability and change of Western, Central and Eastern European party systems is assessed. The article starts from the premise that, in order to fully assess the impact of the contemporary crisis, classic economic voting hypotheses focused on incumbent parties need to be combined with accounts of long‐term party system change provided by realignment and dealignment theories. The empirical analysis draws on an original dataset of election results and economic and political indicators in 30 European democracies. The results indicate that during the Great Recession economic strain was associated with sizable losses for incumbent parties and an increasing destabilisation of Western European party systems, while its impact was significantly weaker in Central and Eastern European countries, where political rather than economic failures appeared to be more relevant. In line with the realignment perspective, the results also reveal that in Western Europe populist radical right, radical left and non‐mainstream parties benefited the most from the economic hardship, while support for mainstream parties decreased further.
Does selective logging change ground‐dwelling beetle assemblages in a subtropical broad‐leafed forest of China?
Authors: Yu Xiao‐Dong , Liu Chong‐Ling , Lü Liang , Bearer Scott L. , Luo Tian‐Hong , Zhou Hong‐Zhang 
Published: October 2015

AbstractSelective logging with natural regeneration is advocated as a near‐to‐nature strategy and has been implemented in many forested systems during the last decades. However, the efficiency of such practices for the maintenance of forest species are poorly understood. We compared the species richness, abundance and composition of ground‐dwelling beetles between selectively logged and unlogged forests to evaluate the possible effects of selective logging in a subtropical broad‐leafed forest in southeastern China. Using pitfall traps, beetles were sampled in two naturally regenerating stands after clearcuts (ca. 50 years old, stem‐exclusion stage: selectively logged 20 years ago) and two mature stands (> 80 years old, understory re‐initiation stage: selectively logged 50 years ago) during 2009 and 2010. Overall, selective logging had no significant effects on total beetle richness and abundance, but saproxylic species group and some abundant forest species significantly decreased in abundance in selectively logged plots compared with unlogged plots in mature stands. Beetle assemblages showed significant differences between selectively logged and unlogged plots in mature stands. Some environmental characteristics associated with selective logging (e.g., logging strategy, stand age, and cover of shrub and moss layers) were the most important variables explaining beetle assemblage structure. Our results conclude that selective logging has no significant impacts on overall richness and abundance of ground‐dwelling beetles. However, the negative effects of selective logging on saproxylic species group and some unlogged forest specialists highlight the need for large intact forested areas for sustaining the existence of forest specialist beetles.
Feasibility study for assessing liver fibrosis in paediatric and adolescent patients using real‐time shear wave elastography
Authors: Dhyani Manish , Gee Michael S , Misdraji Joseph , Israel Esther Jacobowitz , Shah Uzma , Samir Anthony E 
Published: October 2015

AbstractIntroductionThe objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of shear wave elastography (SWE), as a non‐invasive means of assessing liver fibrosis stage in paediatric and adolescent patients.Materials and MethodsConsecutive paediatric and adolescent subjects scheduled for liver biopsy (LB) evaluation of known or suspected diffuse liver disease were included after informed guardian consent and subject assent in this IRB‐approved single institution study. Elastograms were acquired prior to liver biopsy, from the liver under a breath‐hold after normal inspiration when possible. Biopsy specimens underwent blinded pathologist review using the METAVIR scoring system.ResultsTwenty‐four patients (M : F = 13:11) with a mean age of 17 years (range: 1–21 years) underwent liver biopsy. The distribution of fibrosis on pathological examination was: F0 = 10, F1 = 9, F2 = 1, F3 = 3, and F4 = 1. Subjects with stages F0 and F1 fibrosis had a mean SWE value of 6.93 kPa (95% CI: 6.33–7.44 kPa) and 8.33 kPa (95% CI: 6.83–10.80 kPa) respectively. The SWE value for the one subject with stage F2 fibrosis was 6.36 kPa, whereas for F3 and F4 were 8.86 (95% CI: 5.70–11.40) and 17.85 kPa respectively. The correlation between SWE values and fibrosis grade was strong (r = 0.58, P = 0.003), and the area under the ROC curve differentiatiang ≥F2 fibrosis was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.26–0.98).ConclusionEstimation of liver stiffness using real‐time SWE is feasible using the SC6‐1 ultrasound probe in paediatric and adolescent patients and strongly correlates with the stage of fibrosis.
Atorvastatin Reduces Circulating Osteoprogenitor Cells and T‐Cell RANKL Expression in Osteoporotic Women: Implications for the Bone–Vascular Axis
Authors: Rattazzi Marcello , Faggin Elisabetta , Buso Roberta , Di Virgilio Roberto , Puato Massimo , Plebani Mario , Zaninotto Martina , Palmosi Tiziana , Bertacco Elisa , Fadini Gian Paolo , Pauletto Paolo 
Published: October 2015

SummaryAimCirculating osteoprogenitors and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa‐B ligand (RANKL) expression in immune cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis and vascular calcification. The role played by statin therapy in the bone–vascular axis is unknown.MethodsTwenty naïve postmenopausal osteoporotic hypercholesterolemic women were treated with Atorvastatin 40 mg/day for 3 months. Gene expression analysis was performed to assess modification in osteoprotegerin (OPG)/RANK/RANKL expression in isolated T cells and monocytes. A flow cytometry analysis was used to study changes in the levels of circulating osteoprogenitor cells.ResultsAfter 3 months of treatment, Atorvastatin significantly reduced total cholesterol and LDL‐C, without affecting HDL‐C and triglycerides. Among circulating bone and phosphocalcium homeostasis markers, we found a significant increase in OPG levels (P < 0.01) and a modest reduction in osteocalcin (OCN) (P < 0.05). We also observed a significant reduction in RANKL expression in T cells (P < 0.05). No differences were found in the expression of RANK in T cells and RANKL and RANK in monocytes. OPG expression was low in both immune cell types and was not affected by the treatment. As for circulating osteoprogenitors, we found a significant reduction of CD34+BAP+ (P < 0.05) and CD34+OCN+BAP+ (P < 0.05) cells. In vitro studies showed that Atorvastatin reduced RANKL expression in activated human T‐lymphoblastoid cells (Jurkat cell line).ConclusionsThree‐month Atorvastatin treatment leads to a reduction in circulating osteoprogenitor cells and RANKL expression in T cells, as well as increase in OPG serum levels. These data suggest that statins could have protective effects in the bone–vascular axis.
Aspirin Attenuates Angiotensin II‐induced Cardiomyocyte Hypertrophy by Inhibiting the Ca2+/Calcineurin‐NFAT Signaling Pathway
Authors: Yin Zheyu , Wang Xiaoyun , Zhang Lan , Zhou Hongfeng , Wei Li , Dong Xiaoqiu 
Published: October 2015

SummaryIntroductionIn this study, we examined whether aspirin could inhibit cardiac hypertrophy.MethodsWe utilized cultured neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes and mice for the study and subjected to cardiomyocyte immunochemistry, qRT‐PCR, and immunoblotting analysis. The cardiac function was measured using M‐mode echocardiography.ResultsTen μM aspirin significantly inhibited Ang II‐induced increase in cardiomyocyte size, the mRNA, and protein levels of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), and β‐myosin heavy chain (β‐MHC) (P < 0.05). Meantime, consistent with the result in vitro, the increase in HW/BW ratio, the mRNA, and protein levels of ANP, BNP, and β‐MHC could be reduced by aspirin in vivo (P < 0.05). Analysis of cardiac function revealed that mouse hearts treated with Ang II displayed thickening of the ventricular walls, left ventricular end‐diastolic dimensions, and left ventricular end‐systolic dimensions were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), whereas interventricular septal thickness at end‐diastole, interventricular septal thickness at end‐systole, posterior wall thickness in diastole, and posterior wall thickness in systole were markedly increased (P < 0.05), which could be reversed by aspirin (P < 0.05). Moreover, aspirin blunted the increase inCa2+ and inhibited the calcineurin activity and NFAT dephosphorylation caused by Ang II (P < 0.05).ConclusionsAspirin inhibited cardiac hypertrophy in vitro and in vivo through inhibition of the Ca2+/calcineurin–NFAT signaling pathway. Therefore, these findings suggested that aspirin might become a therapeutic option to reduce cardiac hypertrophy.
Level of Response to Alcohol as a Factor for Targeted Prevention in College Students
Authors: Savage Jeanne E. , Neale Zoe , Cho Seung Bin , Hancock Linda , Kalmijn Jelger A. , Smith Tom L. , Schuckit Marc A. , Donovan Kristen Kidd , Dick Danielle M. 
Published: October 2015

BackgroundHeavy alcohol consumption and alcohol problems among college students are widespread and associated with negative outcomes for individuals and communities. Although current methods for prevention and intervention programming have some demonstrated efficacy, heavy drinking remains a problem. A previous pilot study and a recent large‐scale evaluation (Schuckit et al., , ) found that a tailored prevention program based on a risk factor for heavy drinking, low level of response (low LR) to alcohol, was more effective at reducing heavy drinking than a state‐of‐the‐art (SOTA) standard prevention program for individuals with the low LR risk factor.MethodsThis study enrolled 231 first‐semester college freshmen with either high or low LR into the same level of response‐based (LRB) or SOTA online prevention programs as in the previous reports (consisting of 4 weeks of video modules), as well as a group of matched controls not receiving alcohol prevention, and compared changes in alcohol use between these groups across a 6‐month period.ResultsIndividuals in alcohol prevention programs had a greater reduction in maximum drinks per occasion and alcohol use disorder symptoms than controls. There was limited evidence for interactions between LR and prevention group in predicting change in alcohol use behaviors; only among participants with strict adherence to the program was there an interaction between LR and program in predicting maximum drinks per occasion. However, overall, low LR individuals showed greater decreases in drinking behaviors, especially risky behaviors (e.g., maximum drinks, frequency of heavy drinking) than high LR individuals.ConclusionsThese results indicate that prevention programs, including brief and relatively inexpensive web‐based programs, may be effective for persons at highest risk for heavier drinking, such as those with a low LR. Tailored programs may provide incremental benefits under some conditions. Long‐term follow‐ups and further investigations of tailored prevention programs based on other risk factors are needed.
Validation of a Brief Screening Tool for Alcohol‐Related Neuropsychological Impairments
Authors: Ritz Ludivine , Lannuzel Coralie , Boudehent Céline , Vabret François , Bordas Nadège , Segobin Shailendra , Eustache Francis , Pitel Anne‐Lise , Beaunieux Hélène 
Published: October 2015

BackgroundAlcohol‐related neuropsychological impairments mainly affect episodic memory, working memory, and visuospatial abilities, as well as executive and motor functioning. These impairments can prevent alcoholic patients (ALs) early in abstinence from benefiting fully from treatment and reduce their ability to remain abstinent. A neuropsychological assessment seems essential for making the relevant clinical decisions. However, very few alcohol treatment departments have the financial and human resources needed to conduct an extensive neuropsychological examination of each AL. The goal of this study was therefore to assess the validity and the psychometric properties of the Brief Evaluation of Alcohol‐Related Neuropsychological Impairments (BEARNI), a new screening tool especially designed to assess alcohol‐related neuropsychological impairments.MethodsA total of 254 healthy controls (HCs) completed the BEARNI, and 58 of them also performed an extensive neuropsychological battery. Seventy‐three ALs underwent both the BEARNI and the neuropsychological battery. This extensive neuropsychological battery of proven classification accuracy served as the reference (i.e., gold standard) for determining the ALs’ cognitive status.ResultsAn exploratory factor analysis validated the BEARNI's underlying structure, highlighting 5 factors that reflected visuospatial abilities, executive functions, ataxia, verbal episodic memory, and verbal working memory. The standardization of each BEARNI subtest and the 2 total scores revealed that this test has sufficient diagnostic accuracy for the detection of ALs with cognitive and motor impairments.ConclusionsThis study indicates that the BEARNI is a useful screening tool in clinical settings for detecting ALs’ motor and cognitive impairments.
Which medications are suitable for agonist drug maintenance?
Authors: Darke Shane , Farrell Michael 
Published: October 2015

AbstractBackground and aimsWe examine the feasibility of agonist maintenance treatment for the major psychoactive drug classes: opioids, nicotine, benzodiazepines, cannabis, psychostimulants and alcohol.MethodsEight clinical criteria for an agonist maintenance drug were assessed for each major drug class. These related to pharmacological aspects of the drug (agonist, pharmacological stability, dose–response, non‐toxic) and neurocognitive sequelae (psychiatric, cognitive, craving, salience).ResultsOpioids and nicotine met all eight criteria for a maintenance drug. While nicotine has not been promoted widely or used for maintenance, it has the potential to fulfil that role. Cannabis met five criteria and has potential, but long‐term data on cognitive impairment are required. Benzodiazepine maintenance would appear an option for the high‐dose chaotic abuser, also meeting five criteria, although clinic dosing appears the safest option. Psychostimulants (three of eight criteria) and alcohol (one of eight) appear poor propositions for maintenance, in terms of both their pharmacological and their neurocognitive characteristics.ConclusionsDrug classes have properties that distinguish them in their suitability for maintenance treatment. Some classes not yet used for maintenance (notably nicotine and cannabis) have potential to fulfil such a role. Others, however, by their inherent nature, appear unsuitable for such a treatment regimen.