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The paper investigates how the non-economic goals of the current CEOs affect innovation in family firms. A qualitative in-depth multiple case study of four family firms is carried out, in which the current CEOs' non-economic goals are identified by direct interviews with the current CEOs themselves and with the members who managed the company before them (i.e., the predecessors). As a main result, the paper proposes a theoretical framework which explains the relationships between goals and innovation by identifying a series of managerial levers activated because of the peculiarity of the current CEOs' non-economic goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electroencephalography (EEG) signals are utilized to examine various pathological as well as physiological brain activities. Alcoholism is an example of a significant behavior that may be investigated and comprehended utilizing electrical brain impulse models. In the area of biomedical research, categorizing alcoholic patients using EEG data is a complicated issue. To overcome this issue, in this research, alcoholic EEG signal classification was performed by various dimensionality reduction techniques like Hilbert Transform, Rigid Regression and Chi Square Probability Density Function. Finally, the Bayesian Linear Discriminant Classifier, Linear Regression, Logistic Regression, Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM), Adaboost, Detrend Fluctuation Analysis, Firefly Algorithm, Harmonic Search Algorithm, and Cuckoo Search Algorithm are employed to classify the dimensionally reduced alcoholic EEG dataset. In addition, we provide an approach for selecting the ideal combination of Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD)-based hyper parameters updation algorithm to improve the accuracy of alcoholic EEG classification in GMM, Firefly, Harmonic Search, and Cuckoo Search classifiers in this study. When dimensionally reduced alcoholic EEG signal features from the Hilbert Transform are used with the SGD with GMM classifier, the results display good accuracy of 96.31%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance is looming problem in broiler production globally and there has been an increasing interest to look for sustainable alternatives to antibiotics. Yeast and its derived products are recognized as potential feed additives because of their beneficial impacts on poultry. Particularly, yeast exhibited positive effects on the humoral immunity by increasing serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A levels. Moreover, yeast and its products showed immune adjuvant-like properties that helped the broilers chicken to develop faster and stronger innate immune response under pathogenic challenges. Use of yeast and its products as prebiotic/probiotic improves the gut architecture mainly by improving the gut development and gut microbiome, reduction in colonization of pathogens through competitive exclusion, binding of toxins and enhancing digestion and absorption of nutrients. These unique properties of yeast and yeast products enhance animal welfare and productivity; warrant them to be used as a promising feed additive. This article, therefore, provides insights into the functional role of yeast and its products in the broiler diets and highlights its importance as a commercially viable alternative of synthetic antibiotic growth promoters in the broiler feed industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annals of the American Association of Geographers is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Climacteric is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In breast cancer survivors (BCS), the contemporaneous increase of sedentary time and reduction of physical activity (PA) requires early attention because it has negative consequences for their health. Aims of the study were to investigate: a) the correlations between PA, sedentarism, and health-related measures; b) the association between different patterns of daily activity and health-related outcomes. Two hundred and nineteen BCS (50.98 ± 6.28) were selected for this study. Psychological, anthropometric, endocrine, sleeping, and both daily sedentary time and PA variables were considered. Sedentarism and PA have opposite correlations with anthropometric variables, anxiety, depression, morning salivary cortisol, and sleeping characteristics. The first favors pathological values and the latter favors normal values. Regression tree analysis showed the impact of different daily sedentary time and PA combinations on the investigated variables and allowed the individualization of their optimal combination for health. Our results could be useful to healthcare providers and BCS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) is a curriculum-based process that is inclusive to gender and sexual orientation. We used the attitude toward homosexuality scale and the single category implicit association test (SC-IAT) to measure differences between explicit and implicit attitudes toward homosexuality between migrant children with 6 years CSE learning experience (experimental group, N = 70) and those without (control group, N = 80). We found that the experimental group had more positive explicit and implicit attitudes toward homosexuality than the control group. In conclusion, CSE is a useful process for improving the explicit and implicit attitudes of migrant children toward homosexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The focus of this study is on the effect of military (un)professionalism on civil-military relations and citizens' security in Nigeria. To sketch the context, the article provides a brief background on the nature of armed conflict, which necessitated the deployment of the military in internal operations. Following this is a brief description of the extent and nature of military abuse, which strains civil-military relations. Using the principles of what constitutes military professionalism, the study shows that the conduct of the Nigerian military, together with the lack of civil control undermines internal security operations and has eroded trust in the armed forces. The influence on civil-military relations is analysed, with reference to a qualitative study conducted among civilians affected by military abuse in Plateau State. The findings show that the unprofessionalism of the Nigerian military undermines military effectiveness, civil-military relations, and exacerbates the insecurity of citizens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study reports quantification of metronidazole (MTZ) in clinical human urine employing our innovative stochastic dynamic equation D"SD =2.6388.10-17.(2>–2>). There are direct analysis without presence of internal standard, using ultra-high accuracy nano-electrospray ionization (ESI) mass spectrometry (MS), quantum chemistry and chemometrics, respectively. The linear calibration D"SD =f(conc.) equations are obtained for concentration range 2.5 to 25000 ng.(mL)-1 of spiked urine samples, examining analyte MS ions at m/z 171.0998, 172.0718, 172.04081, 213.1463, 181.0722 and 151.1114, respectively. There is achieved exact coefficient of linear correlation (|r|=1) between theory and experiment of ion at m/z 172.04081. The major challenge to quantify MTZ in urine sample is that it stabilizes cations [M+H]+ of two tautomers, which equilibrium varies drastically within the standard linear calibration dynamic range. The fragmentation patterns depend on analyte tautomers and it unambiguous assignment in multicomponent samples with complex sample matrix effect (SME) is unable to be made without mediation to an independent physico-chemical law. To solve the problem, herein, is used, again, above equation, which is designed a bridge between quantitative and multidimensional structural analytical chemistry, when is used complementary with Arrhenius's quantum chemical diffusion parameter (DQC.) There is achieved |r|=0.98 of D"SD=f(DQC') examining tautomeric molecular and fragment ions of MTZ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many studies have addressed the effects of dietary supplementation with soy protein on cancer risk and mortality, but there are only few randomized studies with soy in males. We used serum samples from a two-year trial of soy protein isolate supplementation in middle-aged to older males at risk of recurrence of prostate cancer after radical prostatectomy to determine soy effects on steroid hormones involved in prostate cancer (testosterone, SHBG, and estradiol) and explore the effects on biomarkers of the growth hormone/IGF-1 axis, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Compared with a casein-based placebo, 18 mo, of consumption of 19.2 g/day of whole soy protein isolate containing 24 mg genistein-reduced circulating testosterone and SHBG, but not free testosterone, and did not affect serum concentrations of estradiol, VEGF, IGF-1, IGFBP-3, IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio, soluble Fas, Fas-ligand, and sFas/Fas-ligand ratio. Thus, soy protein supplementation for 18 mo, affected the androgen axis, but the effects on other cancer biomarkers remain to be more definitively determined. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT00765479). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to compare the effects of weekly personal feedback, based on objectively measured physical activity, on daily sleep in breast cancer survivors (BCS) with those of an intervention that also included online supervised physical exercise sessions (OSPES). BCS benefiting from both personal feedback and OSPES (n = 24), from pre-lockdown (T0) to the first month (T1) of the national lockdown, experienced an increase in both total (p ≤ 0.001) and restorative (p ≤ 0.001) sleep time, inverting their trend from the first month of lockdown to its end (total sleeping time T1 vs. T2 0.01 ≤ p <.001, T1 vs. T3 p ≤ 0.001; restorative sleeping time T1 vs. T2 0.05 ≤ p <.01, T1 vs. T3 p ≤ 0.001). Supportive technology, together with the reception of weekly tailored advice and OSPES seems to improve both quality and quantity of sleep. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sleep disturbances (SD) represent one of the main symptoms of menopause and they are caused by several factors. Hormonal changes such as the reduction of oestrogen levels and the consequent vasomotor symptoms (VMS) along with psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety could contribute to the onset of SD. Furthermore, obesity per sè or through the obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) could blunt sleep. Moreover, in menopause is usual a reduction in melatonin, that could contribute to SD. Nutritional strategies are paramount because they could contribute to manage menopause-related SD, in particular tackling obesity and overweight. Furthermore, some foods, such as soy, fish, whole grains, vegetables and fruit could decrease symptoms like depression and VMS, correlated with SD in postmenopausal women. Therefore, the aim of this review is to provide an overview of the current evidence on SD in menopause and to provide nutritional strategies for managing SD in this context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article was to examine primary school teachers' perceptions about their sense of belonging in co-teaching. We were particularly interested in investigating the factors which enhance or hinder teachers' sense of belonging in their co-teaching relationships. The data were collected using the method of empathy-based stories (MEBS) consisting of frame stories with a variation in whether a co-teaching situation was experienced as positive or negative. Qualitative analysis of the stories revealed that teachers' sense of belonging was constructed through three dimensions: (1) teachers' work practices, (2) mutual relationship, and (3) individual characteristics. The findings contribute to the literature by demonstrating that a sense of belonging in co-teaching is a multidimensional phenomenon that is built in a close collegial relationship between teachers. The study adds a new micro-level perspective on how teachers' sense of belonging is constructed between two co-teachers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigates the association between weight gain perception and weight change over time among Japanese adults. Data were from specific health checkups held in 2013, 2014, and 2015 by National Health Insurance in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan. We included 3677 participants who gained more than 3.0kg between 2013 and 2014. Weight gain perception was asked in 2014 using a questionnaire. The participants who perceived their weight gain of more than 3kg were categorized in the accurate group and those who did not were in the inaccurate group. Multiple linear regression models were used to assess associations between weight gain perception in 2014 and weight change between 2014 and 2015. The models were adjusted for gender, age, weight in 2014, regular physical exercise, daily physical activity, and medication. Results showed that the accurate group (β=0.217; 95% confidence interval=0.037, 0.397; P=0.018) had significantly less weight loss than those in the inaccurate group. We concluded that accurate weight gain perception was associated with an increased risk of future weight gain among Japanese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Rubinstein-Taybi syndrome (RSTS) is a multiple congenital anomaly syndrome characterised by several typical somatic characteristics and by developmental disabilities with various degrees of severity. Focusing on children with RSTS, the aim of this study was to describe their psychomotor, cognitive, and socio-emotional developmental profiles. Method: Twenty-three children with RSTS (12 boys; 11 girls; mean chronological age: 4 years and 10 months) with severe intellectual disability (mean developmental quotient = 32.39) were recruited from an Expert Department of Medical Genetics. Developmental assessments were carried out with the Brunet-Lézine-Revised scale and the Social Cognitive Evaluation Battery. Results: The participants' developmental profiles were characterised by heterogeneous psychomotor development, homogeneous cognitive and socio-emotional development, by more severe delays in expressive language, vocal imitation, and symbolic play skills, and by better developmental levels in socio-emotional abilities. Conclusions: Based on these atypical developmental profiles, early interventions should target the three most delayed abilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelet decline is a feature of many acute viral infections, including cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in humans and mice. Platelet sequestration in association with other cells, including endothelium and circulating leukocytes, can contribute to this decline and influence the immune response to and pathogenesis of viral infection. We sought to determine if platelet-endothelial associations (PEAs) contribute to platelet decline during acute murine CMV (mCMV) infection, and if these associations affect viral load and production. Male BALB/c mice were infected with mCMV (Smith strain), euthanized at timepoints throughout acute infection and compared to uninfected controls. An increase in PEA formation was confirmed in the salivary gland at all post-inoculation timepoints using immunohistochemistry for CD41+ platelets co-localizing with CD34+ vessels. Platelet depletion did not change amount of viral DNA or timecourse of infection, as measured by qPCR. However, platelet depletion reduced viral titer of mCMV in the salivary glands while undepleted controls demonstrated robust replication in the tissue by plaque assay. Thus, platelet associations with endothelium may enhance the ability of mCMV to replicate within the salivary gland. Further work is needed to determine the mechanisms behind this effect and if pharmacologic inhibition of PEAs may reduce CMV production in acutely infected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is recommended for the management of frailty. Little is known about professionals' experiences of CGA; therefore we wanted to investigate the experiences of staff in primary care using a new CGA tool: the Primary care Assessment Tool for Elderly (PASTEL). Design: Focus group interviews. Manifest qualitative content analysis. Setting: Nine primary health care centres in Sweden that participated in a CGA intervention. These centres represent urban as well as rural areas. Subjects: Nine nurses, five GPs and one pharmacist were divided into three focus groups. Main outcome measures: Participants' experiences of conducting CGA with PASTEL. Results: The analysis resulted in four main categories. A valuable tool for selected patients: The participants considered the assessment tool to be feasible and valuable. They stated that having enough time for the assessment interview was essential but views about the ideal patient for assessment were divided. Creating conditions for dialogue: The process of adapting the assessment to the individual and create conditions for dialogue was recognised as important. Managing in-depth conversations: In-depth conversations turned out to be an important component of the assessment. Patients were eager to share their stories, but talking about the future or the end of life was demanding. The winding road of actions and teamwork: PASTEL was regarded as a good preparation tool for care planning and a means of support for identifying appropriate actions to manage frailty but there were challenges to implement these actions and to obtain good teamwork. Conclusion: The participants reported that PASTEL, a tool for CGA, gave a holistic picture of the older person and was helpful in care planning. To manage frailty using comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) in primary care, there is a need for tools that are efficient, user-friendly and which support patient involvement and teamwork •This study found that the Primary care Assessment tool for Elderly (PASTEL) is regarded as both valuable and feasible by primary care professionals •Use of carefully selected items in the tool and allowing enough time for dialogue may enhance patient-centeredness •The PASTEL tool supports the process of identifying actions to manage frailty in older adults. Teamwork related to the tool and CGA in primary care needs to be further investigated and developed [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Limiting the growth of adipose tissue in chickens is a major issue in the poultry industry. In chickens, de novo synthesis of lipids occurs primarily in the liver. Thus, it is necessary to understand how fatty acid accumulation in the liver is controlled. The miR-33 is an intronic microRNA (miRNA) of the chicken sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 2 (SREBF2), which is a master switch in activating many genes involved in the uptake and synthesis of cholesterol, triglycerides, fatty acids and phospholipids. 2. In the current study, the genes CROT and HADHB known to encode enzymes critical for fatty acid oxidation were predicted to be potential targets of miR-33 in chickens via the miRNA target prediction programs 'miRanda' and 'TargetScan'. Co-transfection and dual-luciferase reporter assays showed that the expression of luciferase reporter gene linked to the 3ʹ-untranslated region (3ʹUTR) of the chicken CROT and HADHB mRNA was down-regulated by overexpression of the chicken miR-33 (P < 0.05). This down-regulation was completely abolished when the predicted miR-33 target sites in the CROT and HADHB 3ʹUTR were mutated. 3. Transfecting miR-33 mimics into the LMH cells led to a decrease in the mRNA expression of CROT and HADHB (P < 0.01), and this transfection had a similar effect on the proteins (P < 0.05). In contrast, the expression of CROT in primary chicken hepatocytes was up-regulated after transfection with the miR-33 inhibitor LNA-anti-miR-33 (P < 0.05). 4. Using quantitative RT-PCR, it was shown that the expression of miR-33 was increased in the chicken liver from day 0 to day 49 of age, whereas the CROT and HADHB mRNA levels decreased during the same period. 5. These findings support the conclusion that miR-33 might play an important role in lipid metabolism in the chicken liver by negatively regulating the expression of the CROT and HADHB genes, which encode enzymes critical for lipid oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review is devoted to analytical methods published in the scientific literature in the last 10 years for the determination of emerging contaminants in aquatic media. The article is mainly focused on sample preparation and on instrumental techniques most used for the detection and quantification of the analytes of interest. The sample preparation techniques include classical liquid–liquid extraction and solid-phase extraction, but also recent microextraction techniques such as solid-phase microextraction, stir-bar sorptive extraction, dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction, ultrasound-assisted emulsification microextraction, or microextraction by packed sorbent. Most studies focus on minimizing the number of analysis steps and on the use of the lowest amount of solvents in the sample treatment step. Liquid chromatography and gas chromatography mainly coupled to tandem mass spectrometry are usually the employed analytical techniques. A large number of multiresidue methods are being developed for the determination of several families of these compounds with only one extraction step to minimize sample handling and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kotlar and Chrisman (2018) examine how family involvement influences organizational change resulting in change behaviour distinctive from that of non-family firms. Family firms, however, are heterogeneous in terms of their goals, governance, and resources; therefore, the behavioural distinctions proposed by Kotlar and Chrisman are not common to all family firms. In this article, we briefly discuss these sources of heterogeneity and their implications for organizational change and change management in family firms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to identify a set of psychosocial variables and design domains important for game designers to encourage active ageing, well-being and quality of life. Sixty adult learners at four universities of third age were randomly assigned to three groups: the experimental group (G1), who tested firstly a game-based learning platform (GBLP) and then a computer-assisted platform (CAP); the comparison group (G2), who tested firstly the CAP and then the GBLP and the control group (G3) that did not take part in the intervention. Participants were assessed on their health-related well-being and quality of life, using the SF36v2 and WHOQOL-BREF scales before and after each experiment. Findings suggest that there were differences between the group type and their perception on mental health (F(2,57) = 3.771, p = .029) and general healthrelated well-being (F(2,57) = 5.231, p = .008), in which the GBLP showed improvements relative to the CAP. The environment and mental health were some of the psychosocial domains that should be considered, whereas storytelling, context-aware challenges, game space, immediate feedback, role-playing and social engagement were relevant design domains for these games. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies suggest that there may be an association between sleep and growth; however, the relationship is not well understood. Changes in biology and external factors such as school schedule heavily impact the sleep of adolescents, during a critical phase for growth. This study assessed the changes in sleep across school days, weekends and school holidays, while also measuring height and weight changes, and self-reported alterations in food intake and physical activity. The impact of morningness-eveningness (M-E) on height change and weight gain was also investigated. In a sample of 63 adolescents (mean age = 13.13, SD = 0.33, 31 males) from two independent schools in South Australia, height and weight were measured weekly for 4 weeks prior to the school holidays and 4 weeks after the school holidays. Participants also completed a Morningness/Eveningness Scale and 7-day sleep, diet and physical activity diaries prior to, during and after the school holidays. Participants at one school had earlier wake times during the weekends than participants attending the other school, leading to a significantly shorter sleep duration on weekends for those participants. Regardless of school, sleep was significantly later and longer during the holidays (p < 0.001) and those with a stronger morning preference fell asleep (F18,36 = 3.4, p = 0.001) and woke (F18,44 = 2.0, p = 0.027) earlier than evening types. Growth rate was lower during the holiday weeks. For those attending the school with limited sleep in opportunities, growth after the holidays was lower for those with greater evening preference, whereas for those at the other school, growth was greater for those with greater evening preference. The increase in average weight from pre- to post-holidays was greater for those attending the school with limited opportunities to sleep longer. Participants reported greater food intake during the holidays compared to school days and greater physical activity levels on weekends compared to school days, and school days compared to holidays. Results suggest that time of day preference may impact growth, with evening types who cannot sleep in growing at a slower rate than evening types who can or morning types. This may be related to sleep restriction. Despite sleep being both later and longer during the school holidays, participants’ growth slowed during the holiday period. It is possible that this may be a reflection of other behavioural changes in the holidays (increased food intake and reduced physical activity), as sleep timing during the school period was related to growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of a multidisciplinary study that combines archaeological and palaeoenvironmental research to examine the relationship between environment and human activities in Western Poland during the Late Glacial and Early Holocene. The study area lying within the young moraine landscape produced several Late Palaeolithic and Early Mesolithic sites, varied in terms of size and function. Analyses of pollen, plant macro-remains and molluscs accompanied by geomorphological investigations and supported by series of radiocarbon dates have enabled a detailed reconstruction of environment. It has shown that despite climatic fluctuations during the Allerød and Younger Dryas, the studied area provided favourable conditions for hunter-gatherer occupation. The presence of micro- and macroscopic charcoal, charred particles of herbaceous plants and charred mosses in peat deposits of former water bodies evidence various activities carried out by Federmesser and Swiderian groups, for example setting up camp-fires and deliberate burning of the local marsh vegetation. Usewear analyses of flint implements have revealed further traces of diversified human activities undertaken at examined sites. Most importantly, this article focuses on plant-based craft activities undertaken by hunter-gatherers, about which little has hitherto been known. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainability practices are critical for family firms, as they relate directly to the continuity of the business and relationships with important stakeholders, such as members of the local community. Nevertheless, not all family firms wish to adopt sustainability practices. To examine this, we draw upon the socioemotional wealth perspective in order to develop a theoretical model of the direct negative effects of family ownership on the adoption of sustainability practices. We also suggest moderating effects of long-term orientation (LTO) on this link. Our model is tested on a sample of 195 family firms in the tourism and hospitality sector. The results support our hypothesis that family ownership negatively influences the adoption of sustainability practices. Additionally, LTO moderates the relationship between family ownership and the adoption of sustainability practices, such that family owners with a high LTO are more likely to adopt this particular practice compared to those with a low LTO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phyto-estrogens are plant-derived compounds that can exert various estrogenic and anti-estrogenic effects, and are usually used as a natural alternative to estrogen replacement due to their health benefits, including a lowered risk of osteoporosis, heart disease, breast cancer, and menopausal symptoms. Phyto-estrogens are also considered as endocrine disruptors due to their structure similar to human female hormone 17-β oestradiol. However, the issue of whether phyto-estrogens are beneficial or harmful to human health remains unknown, as this may depend on the dose, form, level and duration of administration of phyto-estrogens, and influence by genetics, metabolism, gut physiology, age, diet, and the health status of individuals. Clarification on this issue is necessary for the sake of their two-side effects on human health and rapidly increasing global consumption of phyto-estrogens. This review mainly includes the metabolism of phyto-estrogens and weighs the evidence for and against the purported health benefits and adverse effects of phyto-estrogens. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Understanding the relation between intellectual capital and innovation has become one of the most relevant topics for both academics and practicing managers in the field of innovation management. This paper attempts to advance this theme by empirically investigating the role played by both human and structural capital efficiency as determinants of achieving technological innovation outputs. This study also examines the moderating role of family management on these relationships. In this paper, we use a matched-pairs design and a conditional logistic regression approach to analyse a sample of 5,304 Spanish firms for the period 2000–2013. The results show that both the attracting and recruiting of competent human resources and the ability to develop mechanisms to capture and translate knowledge, expertise, and skills of organisational members and stakeholders are important to achieve technological innovation outputs. Our findings also suggest that family management increases the efficiency of human and structural capital to obtain technological innovation outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Compared to traditional medical services provided within hospitals, m-Health monitoring systems (MHMSs) face more challenges in personalised health data processing. To achieve personalised and high-quality health monitoring by means of new technologies, such as mobile network and cloud computing, in this paper, a framework of an m-Health monitoring system based on a cloud computing platform (Cloud-MHMS) is designed to implement pervasive health monitoring. Furthermore, the modules of the framework, which areCloud Storage and Multiple Tenants Access Control Layer, Healthcare Data Annotation Layer, andHealthcare Data Analysis Layer, are discussed. In the data storage layer, a multiple tenant access method is designed to protect patient privacy. In the data annotation layer, linked open data are adopted to augment health data interoperability semantically. In the data analysis layer, the process mining algorithm and similarity calculating method are implemented to support personalised treatment plan selection. These three modules cooperate to implement the core functions in the process of health monitoring, which are data storage, data processing, and data analysis. Finally, we study the application of our architecture in the monitoring of antimicrobial drug usage to demonstrate the usability of our method in personal healthcare analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An in vitro and in vivo study was conducted to evaluate the fermentability of isolated galactoglucomannan oligosaccharides (GGMs) and the influence of their feeding on shedding and colonisation of Salmonella typhimurium, growth performance and intestinal morphology in broiler chicks.The in vitro data demonstrated that three probiotic lactic acid bacteria namely Lactobacillus casei, L. plantarum and Enterococcus faecium were able to ferment the extracted oligosaccharides and other tested sugars on a basal de Man Rogosa Sharpe media free from carbohydrate.For the in vivo experiment, 144 one-d-old male Ross 308 broiler chicks were divided into 6 experimental treatments (with 4 replicates) including two positive and negative controls which received a basal maize-soybean diet without any additives, supplementation of three levels of isolated GGMs (0.1%, 0.2% and 0.3%) and a commercial mannanoligosaccharide (MOS) at 0.2% to the basal diet. All birds except those in the negative control group were challenged orally with 1 × 108 cfu of S. typhimurium at 3-d post-hatch.The results revealed that challenge with S. typhimurium resulted in a significant reduction in body weight gain, feed intake, villus height, villus height to crypt depth ratio and villus surface area in all of infected chicks. Birds that were given GGMs or MOS showed better growth performance, increased villus height and villus surface area and decreased S. typhimurium colonisation than the positive control birds. GGM at 0.2% level was more effective than the other treatments in improving growth rate as well as gut health of broiler chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study conducted by Vanessa Greco, Heather C. Lambert, and Melissa Park which examines the prevalence of mental health disorders of children in North America. Topics discussed include encouragement of clinicians to participate in adult occupational therapy (OT), the use of screening process for self-report measure, and identification of child's perspective.

Due to the association of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with breast cancer risk, estrogenically active soy isoflavones are considered as an HRT alternative to alleviate menopausal symptoms. However, several recent reports challenged the health benefits of soy isoflavones and associated them with breast cancer promotion. While glyconic isoflavones are the major constituents of soybean seeds, due to their low cell permeability, they are considered to be biologically inactive. The glyconic isoflavones may exert their effects on membrane-bound estrogen receptors or could be converted to aglycones by extracellular b-glucosidases. Therefore, we hypothesized that despite their low cell permeability, soybean cultivars with high glyconic isoflavones may promote breast cancer cell growth. To test this, composition and estrogenic activity of isoflavones from 54 commercial soybean cultivars were determined. Soybean seeds produced in identical climate and growth conditions were used to minimize the effects of extraneous factors on isoflavone profile and concentrations. The glyconic daidzin concentration negatively correlated with genistin and with other aglycones. Relative to control, isoflavone extracts from 51 cultivars were estrogenic and promoted the growth of estrogen receptor positive (ERC) breast cancer cell line MCF-7 from 1.14 to 4.59 folds and other three cultivars slightly reduced the growth. Among these, extracts from three cultivars were highly estrogenic and promoted MCF-7 cell growth by 2.59-4.64 folds (P<0.005). Among six isoflavones, daidzin was positively associated with MCF-7 cell growth (P<0.005, r D 0.13966), whereas the negative correlation between genistin and MCF-7 cell growth was nearly significant (P≤0.0562, r = -0.026141). Furthermore, in drug interaction studies daidzin-rich isoflavone extracts antagonized tamoxifen, an ER+ inhibitor. Taken together, our results suggest that the glyconic daidzin-rich soy isoflavone extracts may exert estrogenic effects and promote ER_ breast cancer growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gynecological Endocrinology is the property of Taylor & Francis Ltd and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mannans of different structure and composition are renewable bioresources that can be widely found as components of lignocellulosic biomass in softwood and agricultural wastes, as non-starch reserve polysaccharides in endosperms and vacuoles of a wide variety of plants, as well as a major component of yeast cell walls. Enzymatic hydrolysis of mannans using mannanases is essential in the pre-treatment step during the production of second-generation biofuels and for the production of potentially health-promoting manno-oligosaccharides (MOS). In addition, mannan-degrading enzymes can be employed in various biotechnological applications, such as cleansing and food industries. In this review, fundamental knowledge of mannan structures, sources and functions will be summarized. An update on various aspects of mannan-degrading enzymes as well as the current status of their production, and a critical analysis of the potential application of MOS in food and feed industries will be given. Finally, emerging areas of research on mannan biotechnology will be highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Lessons for designing fit-for-purpose land administration and land management activities, where the stated purposes are poverty alleviation, food security, and good governance, are provided. Contemporary developments from urban and rural Ethiopia provide the empirical basis: data is synthesised from fieldwork and other research activities undertaken between 2011 and 2013. With its large population and important geopolitical location, Ethiopia will continue to act as a yardstick for measuring the success of the global development agenda, particularly in Eastern Africa. Observations from training sessions conducted with cadastral and urban planning experts in Addis Ababa reveal challenges and opportunities regarding capacity development for urban land administration, urban land markets, and state land management. From the city of Bahir Dar, an alternative perspective of urban land administration is provided: the presented results shed light on the varying quality of cadastral development, but also the positive and negative impacts of cadastral implementation. Meanwhile, results from Dilla Town reveal the opportunity to link cadastral development to other infrastructure development activities (e.g. road construction and upgrade). The case also reveals the ongoing tension between ensuring adequate compensation payments relating to land acquisition, whilst also delivering a broader community benefit. Outputs from exploratory design work on the potential for land consolidation in the Amhara region are also articulated. The status of cadastral development in rural areas is revealed, along with future challenges for using cadastral data in land consolidation activities. Overall, the synthesised studies expose how fit-for-purpose ideologies are increasingly informing Ethiopian cadastral design, and under what conditions these designs can support poverty alleviation, food security, and good governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to compare the influence of two survey modes – telephone random digit dialling (RDD) and stratified sampling of an online panel – on Canadian Problem Gambling Index (CPGI) scores and co-morbidities. An identical gambling survey was administered to 4000 South Koreans selected via random dialling of cell phone numbers and to 4330 South Korean members of an online panel. The online panelists were found to have significantly higher levels of tobacco use, drug or alcohol problems and mental health problems, higher employment status and lower happiness levels. However, even when controlling for these variables, CPGI scores for the online panel were significantly higher than those for the telephone interview. This appears to be due to higher levels of pathology among online panelists combined with potentially more valid self-reports due to enhanced anonymity. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Solid-State Lighting (SSL) is a fast evolving, promising energy-efficient technology, offering a wide range of potential uses. The article presents the status of the existing light emitting diode (LED) pilot actions in Europe, analyzing 106 LED test cases from 17 European countries. Projects from the public and commercial sectors form the focus of this article, with special attention devoted to the economics of LED projects – particularly in terms of energy savings. The results of the test cases demonstrate wide variation. Installations offer energy savings of 59% on average (savings range from 10% to more than 90%). In many applications, LEDs are competitive (with payback time ranging from two to 10 years), yet a large number of projects are still in the trial phase. From the test cases reviewed, the most successful applications are, in terms of savings and economic considerations, replacement of both (1) incandescent light bulbs in traffic light systems, and (2) halogen spotlights in indoor applications. The LED projects bring many co-benefits, including lower maintenance costs, improved lighting characteristics, or improved ambience. Some challenges remain to be addressed, such as to improve the quality characteristics of LEDs and the quality of information and data provided by manufacturers/suppliers, and optimality of LED technology for existing street lighting systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The organization of industry–science collaboration in case of knowledge transfer for radical innovation is central to this study. Based on a contingency notion, the relation between research and development (R&D) projects’ properties and the way of collaboration is explored. By means of in-depth interviews with industrial managers 32 projects were studied. We found two configurations: consortium-deluxe and research services-plus. The invention’s time-to-market was identified as the discriminating factor. The first configuration represents a large-scale consortium in which a firm over time informally adjusts the activities of some academic partners towards the objectives of its own project. In the research services-plus configuration, firms are looking for specific knowledge to complete their own, highly confidential projects. Because of internal deadlines, delay is undesired and the level of control is high. On the contrary to ‘classic’ research services, mobility plays an important role in services-plus. These configurations will help to reach more effective knowledge transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

While several scholars have discussed the role of neighbourhood groups and local communities in neighbourhood planning processes, there is still a lack of understanding regarding the capacity of online neighbourhood forums in these processes. Focusing on three Facebook neighbourhood groups, this study employs survey and content analysis methods to explore the potential capacity of online neighbourhood forums in creating self-organizing communities and facilitating local planning processes. Although the members' interactions in online neighbourhood forums are highly focused on local issues, the nature of such interactions varies with different groups. Planners or liaisons should facilitate the members' interactions inside and outside of the group to ensure inclusive and sound planning outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Breast cancer occurs as a result between genes-diet interactions. Concerning diet, only alcohol is widely recognized for being most consistently associated with breast cancer risk. The purpose of this review is to report through a systematic way the current scientific evidence relating breast cancer and diet, through original-research studies published in English language during the last decade, assessing the consumption of specific foodstuffs/food-nutrients in relation to the disease. The available literature suggests that soy food intake seems to be inversely associated with the disease, while no association seems to be reported for dietary carbohydrates and dietary fiber intake. The consumption of dietary fat, is probably suggestive of an increase in breast cancer risk, while studies evaluating the role of fruit/vegetable, meat as well as dietary patterns and breast cancer risk, provide inconsistent results. Diet seems to be modestly associated with the disease, highlighting the need for more studies to be conducted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article we present the design and implementation of a mobile cardiac monitoring system oriented to patients in Phase II and III of cardiac rehabilitation. The complete monitoring system involves both hardware and software design perspectives. At the hardware level, we present a T-shirt with a 12-lead ECG system and an embedded inertial sensor for the monitoring of activity and energy expenditure. At the software level, a modular cloud platform performs data processing to detect relevant cardiac events and to provide advanced visualization capabilities. As a case study, we have implemented our system at the Cardiac Rehabilitation program at Donostia University Hospital (Spain). Finally, the validation of the 12-lead ECG recording system is also presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genistein, a major soy isoflavone having weak estrogenic activities, has been suggested to reduce the risk of breast cancer incidence. However, many studies have yielded inconsistent results. We investigated the effects of dietary genistein on the development of breast cancer using ethyl methanesulphonate (EMS) chemically induced rat model of hormone-dependent mammary carcinoma. Female Wistar King A rats were orally given EMS for 12 wk and fed isoflavone-free NIH-07PLD diets with or without genistein, beginning immediately after weaning period. All EMS-treated rats fed either diet developed estrogen and/or progesterone receptor-positive mammary carcinoma by 24 wk. The addition of either low or high genistein, which produced the plasma concentrations comparable with those observed in humans consuming high soy diets, did not show any preventive activity. Soy-containing pellet food, exhibiting substantial plasma concentrations of isoflavones such as genistein, daidzein, equol, and glycitein, significantly increased the latency periods, compared to either NIH-07PLD diet with low (P = 0.027) or high (P = 0.034) genistein. Body weights, total EMS uptakes, and urinary estradiol concentrations were not significantly different among groups. These data indicate that genistein does not exert clear preventive effects and that isoflavone components other than genistein might be preventive against hormone-dependent mammary carcinogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsule Capture–mark–recapture data can be used to predict departure dates of Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica from summer roosts. Aims To investigate how long Barn Swallows remain at their breeding grounds before migration by estimating departure dates. Methods A capture–mark–recapture approach was applied to an extensive data set (65 303 ringed and 710 recaptured birds) from two summer roosts. Multiple-day constancy models were used to estimate apparent survival, which was subsequently translated to residence time. Results The longest intervals between ringing and recapturing were between 66 and 67 days; estimated mean minimum durations were between 16.3 and 18.5 days. Apparent survival was high over most of the summer, indicating that there is little emigration during this period and was followed by a sharp departure-related decline in late August and September. Expected residence time, derived from apparent survival estimates, declined linearly from about 80 days in early July to less than 10 days in September. Estimated departure dates were highly consistent between years and occurred in late September. Conclusions Barn Swallows stay much longer at post-breeding roost sites than is necessary to build up their fat reserves for migration. We suggest that the birds are likely to derive a number of benefits from such a prolonged stay that are not directly related to preparation for migration; for example, minimizing predation risk by foraging in familiar areas, and gathering information on the quality of future breeding sites. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The influence of DNA repair gene polymorphisms (XRCC1: Arg194Trp, Arg280His, Arg399Gln; APE1: Asp148Glu; hOGG1: Ser326Cys) on oxidative DNA damage is controversial and was investigated in 214 German workers with occupational exposure to vapors and aerosols of bitumen,compared to 87 German construction workers without exposure, who were part of the Human Bitumen Study. Genotypes were determined by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and actual smoking habits by a questionnaire and cotinine analysis. Oxidative DNA damage in white blood cells (WBC) collected pre- and postshift was measured as 8-oxodGuo adducts/106 dGuo by a hjigh-performance liquid chromatography electron capture detection (HPLC-ECD) method, followed by calculation of the difference between post- and preshift values (Δ8-oxodGuo/106 dGuo). The 214 bitumen exposed workers showed higher median Δ8-oxodGuo values than the 87 references. In the whole study group (n = 301) there was a trend for increasing adduct values for XRCC1 Arg(GG)399Gln(AA) during a shift, especially in nonsmokers (n = 108. Referents (n = 87) displayed a similar trend for hOGG1 Ser(CC)326Cys(GG). In contrast, XRCC1 Arg(GG)280His(AA) showed a decrease of median Δ8-oxodGuo/106 dGuo values in workers with exposure to vapors and aerosols of bitumen (n = 214), especially in smokers (n = 145). XRCC1 Arg194Trp and APE1 Asp148Glu displayed no marked association with Δ8-oxodGuo levels. Data indicate that the combination of different variants in DNA damage repair enzymes may modulate the production of 8-oxoguanine adducts in WBC produced by xenobiotics during a shift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A high intake of fruits and vegetables is associated with a lower risk of cancer. In this context, considerable attention is paid to Asian populations who consume high amounts of soy and soy-derived isoflavones, and have a lower risk for several cancer types such as breast and prostate cancers than populations in Western countries. Hence, interest focuses on soyfoods, soy products, and soy ingredients such as isoflavones with regard to their possible beneficial effects that were observed in numerous experiments and studies. The outcomes of the studies are not always conclusive, are often contradictory depending on the experimental conditions, and are, therefore, difficult to interpret. Isoflavone research revealed not only beneficial but also adverse effects, for instance, on the reproductive system. This is also the case with tumor-promoting effects on, for example, breast tissue. Isoflavone extracts and supplements are often used for the treatment of menopausal symptoms and for the prevention of age-associated conditions such as cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. In relation to this, questions about the effectiveness and safety of isoflavones have to be clarified. Moreover, there are concerns about the maternal consumption of isoflavones due to the development of leukemia in infants. In contrast, men may benefit from the intake of isoflavones with regard to reducing the risk of prostate cancer. Therefore, this review examines the risks but also the benefits of isoflavones with regard to various kinds of cancer, which can be derived from animal and human studies as well as from in vitro experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structured decision-making methods are gaining ascendance in child welfare services, in which professionals combine standardized methods of data collection and analysis with clinical judgments. This study measures professionals' perception of a new approach to home study assessments, the Structured Analysis Family Evaluation (SAFE). Findings indicate that workers favor the use of SAFE overall. Less experienced workers are especially positive about SAFE, while more experienced workers and supervisors tend to be less positive. State-by-state differences also emerged. Open-ended responses offer areas for clarification, training, and potential improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Residual brain function has been documented in vegetative state patients, yet early prognosis remains difficult. The purpose of this study was to identify by artificial intelligence procedures (classification and regression trees, data-mining) the significant neurological signs correlated to and predictive of outcome. Methods: Three hundred and thirty-three patients in vegetative state of traumatic or non-traumatic aetiology referred to the S.Anna Institute were retrospectively studied. Twenty-two neurological signs were assessed according to criteria included in the UNI ENI ISO 9001 : 2000 quality standards at admission (Time0) and after 50, 100 or 180 days and entered into a CART (classification and regression tree) data-mining procedure with a decisional tree j48 (Weka software and 10-fold cross-validation). Outcome was conventionally rated by the Glasgow outcome scale. Results and conclusions: Re-appearance with proper timing of spontaneous motility, eye tracking and oculo-cephalic reflex and disappearance of oral automatisms proved highly correlated to outcome and allowed early and reliable prognosis. These findings are consistent with the brain functional organization thought to sustain consciousness and warrant systematic investigation. Classification and regression trees and data-mining procedures proved applicable in neurology to sort out significant clinical signs also in clinical conditions characterized by paucity of signs such as the vegetative state. Extended application in clinical medicine is conceivable based on the approach peculiarities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review focuses on the possible role in human health of the consumption of lignan-rich foods. Most of the plant lignans in human foods are converted by the intestinal microflora in the upper part of the large bowel to enterolactone and enterodiol, called mammalian or enterolignans. The protective role of these compounds, particularly in chronic Western diseases, is discussed. Evidence suggests that fiber- and lignan-rich whole-grain cereals, beans, berries, nuts, and various seeds are the main protective foods. Many factors, in addition to diet, such as intestinal microflora, smoking, antibiotics, and obesity affect circulating lignan levels in the body. Lignan-rich diets may be beneficial, particularly if consumed for life. Experimental evidence in animals has shown clear anticarcinogenic effects of flaxseed or pure lignans in many types of cancer. Many epidemiological results are controversial, partly because the determinants of plasma enterolactone are very different in different countries. The source of the lignans seems to play a role because other factors in the food obviously participate in the protective effects. The results are promising, but much work is still needed in this area of medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]