bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A usability study of taxonomy visualisation user interfaces in digital repositories
Authors: Alonso Gaona García Paulo , Martín-Moncunill David , Sánchez-Alonso Salvador , Fermoso García Ana
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to analyse user interfaces for search and collection visualisation and navigation from a usability perspective. The final aim is to offer repository owners a scientific basis to support their decisions when they have to choose an interface that can really help users to effectively locate and visualise resources over large digital collections.

Design/methodology/approach

– This HCI study is divided into two parts: perception and usability. The first one analysed three perceptual abilities required to use interfaces: attention, retention of information and understanding. The second one was run on an ad hoc generated collection including more than 40,000 European digital resources collected and classified according to a given branch of knowledge in theArt & Architecture Thesaurus.

Findings

– Although visual interfaces proved useful for certain tasks related to resource discovery and search, and despite the overall good general user opinion, the authors found it necessary to conduct another thorough study to know more about the target users and the amplitude of the collection, as well as to determine the ideal type of interface to implement. All these factors are important for increasing user acceptance and avoiding unnecessary implementation costs.

Research limitations/implications

– This research was run on a relatively small sample size of users from Spain and Latin America, which may not be representative of the general population. In similar studies previous knowledge about usability has been reported to introduce bias in the results, so the authors tried to avoid this when selecting the participants.

Originality/value

– There are no previous usability studies for the development and implementation of interfaces in digital learning or cultural repositories. The authors' experience highlights the importance of addressing usability aspects a priori, to prevent users from ceasing to use visual interfaces over time, because they do not perceive any benefit from using them.
Police-public interactions: a grid-group cultural theory perspective
Authors: Loyens Kim , Maesschalck Jeroen
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The police culture literature suggests that police officers’ attitude towards the public is characterised by suspicion and an “us-vs-them” mentality. It also refers to the moral mission of protecting the public by being tough on crime. The traditional police culture model seems to imply that these aspects are typical for the police. There is, however, a lack of empirical studies to test this proposition. The purpose of this paper is to propose a different conceptual framework, based on grid-group cultural theory (GGCT), which not only broadens the lens of the police culture model, but also allows for comparative research between different professional groups.

Design/methodology/approach

– The newly developed conceptual framework is tested in an ethnographic study in the Belgian police and labour inspection. The main data collection methods are observation, interview and informal conversation.

Findings

– The results of this study show that there are similarities in the way in which Belgian police officers and labour inspectors interact with the public, which raises interesting questions concerning the (often implicit) claim of the police culture literature concerning the specificity of police culture.

Research limitations/implications

– More research is needed to gain deeper insight into similarities and differences of the occupational culture in the police and comparable professional groups. GGCT offers a useful conceptual framework for such a research agenda.

Originality/value

– This paper addresses a number of criticisms against the classic police culture model and provides an innovative perspective to not only study aspects of police culture, but also compare the police with other professions.
Police chief leadership: styles and effectiveness
Authors: B. Sarver Mary , Miller Holly
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the leadership styles of police chiefs and how these styles related to demographic, personality, and effectiveness.

Design/methodology/approach

– Participants included 161 police chiefs in Texas who completed the Multifactor Leadership Questionnaire (MLQ 5X-Short) leader form, the NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI), and a background characteristics form.

Findings

– Results indicate that the police chiefs were fairly evenly classified across leadership styles with the Transformational leaders rated as most effective. Transformational leaders are characterized as confident, energetic, and open-minded. Although few of the demographic variables predicted leadership styles, several of the personality characteristics were significant predictors.

Originality/value

– Few previous studies have reported the relationship between police leadership style, personality, and effectiveness. This study adds to the body of knowledge regarding the relationship between these variables by specifically targeting police chiefs.
Microwave sensors for the non-invasive monitoring of industrial and medical applications
Authors: Korostynska O. , Mason A. , Al-Shamma'a A.
Published: March 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to discuss the general principles behind the microwave sensing and demonstrates the potential of cavity microwave resonator device in real-time monitoring for: environmental monitoring with the focus on wastewater pollution, a system for oil/gas/water content evaluation in a dynamic pipeline, a system for real-time determination of bacteria concentration and a method for non-invasive glucose determination.

Design/methodology/approach

– Microwave sensing is a rapidly developing technology which has been successfully used for various industrial applications including water level measurements, material moisture content, in construction industry for non-invasive evaluation of structures and even in the healthcare industry for non-invasive real-time monitoring of glucose in diabetic patients. Novel microwave cavities designed and tested for specific applications are presented.

Findings

– The paper provides experimental results of testing the novel microwave sensing systems in a range of industrial and healthcare applications and discusses the potential of these systems for real-time monitoring of processes and parameters.

Research limitations/implications

– The concept of real-time microwave sensing was successfully tested, but further experiments are required to account for possible interference mechanisms before it can be used commercially on a large-scale.

Practical implications

– It is suggested that a novel approach to wastewater monitoring, namely using specially designed microwave cavity sensors, could lead to a successful development of an advanced platform capable of providing for a real-time detection of water content with superior sensitivity. Also, a system for real-time multiphase fluid composition monitoring is reported, which is essential for sustainable oil industry operation.

Originality/value

– The paper illustrated the potential of microwave sensing as a real-time monitoring platform for a broad spectrum of commercial applications, with a focus on system developed by the authors, namely, for the monitoring of a multiphase fluid flow in a dynamic oil pipeline, for real-time monitoring of nutrients concentration in wastewater and for healthcare industry, in particular for real-time non-invasive determination of the glucose levels and bacteria concentration.
Low‐dose calcium supplementation for preventing pre‐eclampsia: a systematic review and commentary
Authors: Hofmeyr GJ , Belizán JM , von Dadelszen P ,   the Calcium and Pre‐eclampsia (CAP) Study Group
Published: March 2014

Background

Epidemiological data link low dietary calcium with pre‐eclampsia. Current recommendations are for 1.5–2 g/day calcium supplementation for low‐intake pregnant women, based on randomised controlled trials of ≥1 g/day calcium supplementation from 20 weeks of gestation. This is problematic logistically in low‐resource settings; excessive calcium may be harmful; and 20 weeks may be too late to alter outcomes.

Objectives

To review the impact of lower dose calcium supplementation on pre‐eclampsia risk.

Search strategy and selection criteria

We searched PubMed and the Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group trials register.

Data collection and analysis

Two authors extracted data from eligible randomised and quasi‐randomised trials of low‐dose calcium (LDC, <1 g/day), with or without other supplements.

Main results

Pre‐eclampsia was reduced consistently with LDC with or without co‐supplements (nine trials, 2234 women, relative risk [RR] 0.38; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 0.28–0.52), as well as for subgroups: LDC alone (four trials, 980 women, RR 0.36; 95% CI 0.23–0.57]); LDC plus linoleic acid (two trials, 134 women, RR 0.23; 95% CI 0.09–0.60); LDC plus vitamin D (two trials, 1060 women, RR 0.49; 0.31–0.78) and a trend for LDC plus antioxidants (one trial, 60 women, RR 0.24; 95% CI 0.06–1.01). Overall results were consistent with the single quality trial of LDC alone (171 women, RR 0.30; 95% CI 0.06–1.38). LDC plus antioxidants commencing at 8–12 weeks tended to reduce miscarriage (one trial, 60 women, RR 0.06; 95% CI 0.00–1.04).

Conclusions

These limited data are consistent with LDC reducing the risk of pre‐eclampsia; confirming this in sufficiently powered randomised controlled trials would have implications for current guidelines and their global implementation.
Disparities in Quality of Care among Publicly Insured Adults with Schizophrenia in Four Large U.S. States, 2002–2008
Authors: Horvitz‐Lennon Marcela , Volya Rita , Donohue Julie M. , Lave Judith R. , Stein Bradley D. , Normand Sharon‐Lise T.
Published: March 2014

Objective

To examine racial/ethnic disparities in quality of schizophrenia care and assess the size of observed disparities across states and over time.

Data Sources

Medicaid claims data from CA, FL, NY, and NC.

Study Design

Observational repeated cross‐sectional panel cohort study of white, black, and Latino fee‐for‐service adult beneficiaries with schizophrenia. Main outcome was the relationship of race/ethnicity and year with a composite measure of quality of schizophrenia care derived from 14 evidence‐based quality indicators.

Principal Findings

Quality was assessed for 325,373 twelve‐month person‐episodes between 2002 and 2008, corresponding to 123,496 Medicaid beneficiaries. In 2002, quality was lowest for blacks in all states. With the exception of FL, quality was lower for Latinos than whites. In CA, blacks had about 43 percent of the individual indicators met compared to 58 percent for whites. Quality improved annually for all groups in CA, NY, and NC. While in CA the improvement was slightly larger for Latinos, in FL quality improved for blacks but declined for Latinos and whites.

Conclusions

Quality of schizophrenia care is poor and racial/ethnic disparities exist among Medicaid beneficiaries from four states. The size of the disparities varied across the states, and most of the initial disparities were unchanged by 2008.
Characterization of Adverse Events Detected in a Large Health Care Delivery System Using an Enhanced Global Trigger Tool over a Five‐Year Interval
Authors: Kennerly Donald A. , Kudyakov Rustam , da Graca Briget , Saldaña Margaret , Compton Jan , Nicewander David , Gilder Richard
Published: March 2014

Objective

To report 5 years of adverse events (AEs) identified using an enhanced Global Trigger Tool (GTT) in a large health care system.

Study Setting

Records from monthly random samples of adults admitted to eight acute care hospitals from 2007 to 2011 with lengths of stay ≥3 days were reviewed.

Study Design

We examined AE incidence overall and by presence on admission, severity, stemming from care provided versus omitted, preventability, and category; and the overlap with commonly used AE‐detection systems.

Data Collection

Professional nurse reviewers abstracted 9,017 records using the enhanced GTT, recording triggers and AEs. Medical record/account numbers were matched to identify overlapping voluntary reports or AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs).

Principal Findings

Estimated AE rates were as follows: 61.4 AEs/1,000 patient‐days, 38.1 AEs/100 discharges, and 32.1 percent of patients with ≥1 AE. Of 1,300 present‐on‐admission AEs (37.9 percent of total), 78.5 percent showed NCC‐MERP level F harm and 87.6 percent were “preventable/possibly preventable.” Of 2,129 hospital‐acquired AEs, 63.3 percent had level E harm, 70.8 percent were “preventable/possibly preventable”; the most common category was “surgical/procedural” (40.5 percent). Voluntary reports and PSIs captured <5 percent of encounters with hospital‐acquired AEs.

Conclusions

AEs are common and potentially amenable to prevention. GTT‐identified AEs are seldom caught by commonly used AE‐detection systems.
Medicaid Primary Care Physician Fees and the Use of Preventive Services among Medicaid Enrollees
Authors: Atherly Adam , Mortensen Karoline
Published: March 2014

Objective

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) increases Medicaid physician fees for preventive care up to Medicare rates for 2013 and 2014. The purpose of this paper was to model the relationship between Medicaid preventive care payment rates and the use of U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF)–recommended preventive care use among Medicaid enrollees.

Data Sources/Study Session

We used data from the 2003 and 2008 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a national probability sample of the U.S. civilian, noninstitutionalized population, linked to Kaiser state Medicaid benefits data, including the state Medicaid‐to‐Medicare physician fee ratio in 2003 and 2008.

Study Design

Probit models were used to estimate the probability that eligible individuals received one of five USPSF‐recommended preventive services. A difference‐in‐difference model was used to separate out the effect of changes in the Medicaid payment rate and other factors.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Data were linked using state identifiers.

Principal Findings

Although Medicaid enrollees had a lower rate of use of the five preventive services in univariate analysis, neither Medicaid enrollment nor changes in Medicaid payment rates had statistically significant effects on meeting screening recommendations for the five screenings. The results were robust to a number of different sensitivity tests. Individual and state characteristics were significant.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that although temporary changes in primary care provider payments for preventive services for Medicaid enrollees may have other desirable effects, they are unlikely to substantially increase the use of these selected USPSTF‐recommended preventive care services among Medicaid enrollees.
Advantageous Comparison and Rationalization of Earnings Management
Authors: BROWN TIMOTHY J.
Published: March 2014

This paper proposes that psychological factors can change managers' beliefs about earnings management when they choose to engage in it. I show that, under certain circumstances, engaging in a small amount of earnings management alters a manager's beliefs about the appropriateness of the act, which may increase the likelihood of further earnings management. Specifically, I predict and find in two experiments that participants who initially choose to manage earnings are motivated to rationalize their behavior. Participants who are exposed to an egregious example of earnings management (commonly the focus of enforcement actions and press reports) have the opportunity to rationalize their behavior through a mechanism called “advantageous comparison,” where participants compare their behavior against the egregious example and conclude that what they did was relatively innocuous and appropriate. My analysis also indicates that presenting participants with an example of earnings management that is similar to the initial decision they made mitigates advantageous comparison. These results have implications for academics interested in how earnings management, and perhaps fraud, can accrete over time and for regulators and practitioners who are interested in preventing it.
Mapping artificial lightscapes for ecological studies
Authors: Bennie Jonathan , Davies Thomas W. , Inger Richard , Gaston Kevin J.
Published: March 2014

Artificial illumination of the night is increasing globally. There is growing evidence of a range of ecological impacts of artificial light and awareness of light pollution as a significant environmental issue. In urban and suburban areas, complex spatial patterns of light sources, structures and vegetation create a highly heterogeneous night‐time light environment for plants and animals.

We developed a method for modelling the night‐time light environment at a high spatial resolution in a small urban area for ecological studies. We used the position and height of street lights, and digital terrain and surface models, to predict the direct light intensity at different wavelengths at different heights above the ground surface.

Validation against field measurements of night‐time light showed that modelled light intensities in the visible and ultraviolet portions of the spectrum were accurate.

We show how this model can be used to map biologically relevant lightscapes across an urban landscape. We also illustrate the utility of the model using night‐time light maps as resistance surfaces in the software package circuitscape to predict potential movement of model nocturnal species between habitat patches and to identify key corridors and barriers to movement and dispersal.

Understanding the ecological effects of artificial light requires knowledge of the light environment experienced by organisms throughout the diurnal and annual cycles, during periods of activity and rest and during different life stages. Our approach to high‐resolution mapping of artificial lightscapes can be adapted to the sensitivity to light of different species and to other urban, suburban, rural and industrial landscapes.
Improving species distribution models: the value of data on abundance
Authors: Howard Christine , Stephens Philip A. , Pearce‐Higgins James W. , Gregory Richard D. , Willis Stephen G.
Published: March 2014

Species distribution models (SDMs) are important tools for forecasting the potential impacts of future environmental changes but debate remains over the most robust modelling approaches for making projections.

Suggested improvements in SDMs vary from algorithmic development through to more mechanistic modelling approaches. Here, we focus on the improvements that can be gained by conditioning SDMs on more detailed data. Specifically, we use breeding bird data from across Europe to compare the relative performances of SDMs trained on presence–absence data and those trained on abundance data.

Species distribution models trained on presence–absence data, with a poor to slight fit according to Cohen's kappa, show an average improvement in model performance of 0·32 (SE ± 0·12) when trained on abundance data. Even those species for which models trained on presence–absence data are classified as good to excellent show a mean improvement in Cohen's kappa score of 0·05 (SE ± 0·01) when corresponding SDMs are trained on abundance data. This improved explanatory power is most pronounced for species of high prevalence.

Our results illustrate that even using coarse scale abundance data, large improvements in our ability to predict species distributions can be achieved. Furthermore, predictions from abundance models provide a greater depth of information with regard to population dynamics than their presence–absence model counterparts. Currently, despite the existence of a wide variety of abundance data sets, species distribution modellers continue to rely almost exclusively on presence–absence data to train and test SDMs. Given our findings, we advocate that, where available, abundance data rather than presence–absence data can be used to more accurately predict the ecological consequences of environmental change. Additionally, our findings highlight the importance of informative baseline data sets. We therefore recommend the move towards increased collection of abundance data, even if only coarse numerical scales of recording are possible.
In vivo levels of mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide increase with age in mtDNA mutator mice
Authors: Logan Angela , Shabalina Irina G. , Prime Tracy A. , Rogatti Sebastian , Kalinovich Anastasia V. , Hartley Richard C. , Budd Ralph C. , Cannon Barbara , Murphy Michael P.
Published: March 2014

In mtDNA mutator mice, mtDNA mutations accumulate leading to a rapidly aging phenotype. However, there is little evidence of oxidative damage to tissues, and when analyzed ex vivo, no change in production of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) superoxide and hydrogen peroxide by mitochondria has been reported, undermining the mitochondrial oxidative damage theory of aging. Paradoxically, interventions that decrease mitochondrial ROS levels in vivo delay onset of aging. To reconcile these findings, we used the mitochondria‐targeted mass spectrometry probe MitoB to measure hydrogen peroxide within mitochondria of living mice. Mitochondrial hydrogen peroxide was the same in young mutator and control mice, but as the mutator mice aged, hydrogen peroxide increased. This suggests that the prolonged presence of mtDNA mutations in vivo increases hydrogen peroxide that contributes to an accelerated aging phenotype, perhaps through the activation of pro‐apoptotic and pro‐inflammatory redox signaling pathways.
Barriers and Facilitators to Intraosseous Access in Adult Resuscitations When Peripheral Intravenous Access Is Not Achievable
Authors: James Cheung Warren , Rosenberg Hans , Vaillancourt Christian
Published: March 2014

Objectives

Studies suggest that intraosseous (IO) access is underutilized in adult resuscitations, despite recommendations from advanced trauma and cardiac life support guidelines. The objective was to determine factors associated with IO access use by physicians during adult resuscitations when intravenous (IV) access is not immediately achievable.

Methods

This study was an online survey among physicians purposefully recruited from various clinical care areas at three teaching hospitals. Questions were generated from the qualitative results of 20 iterative interviews, verified for internal validity, and piloted. The interview guide was based on the constructs of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), which elicits salient attitudes, social influences, and control beliefs that potentially influence intention to use IO access. Recruitment took place in September 2012 until reaching more than 100% of the required sample size (n = 200). Internal consistency was measured using Cronbach's alpha, and the effect of TPB constructs and specific beliefs were assessed with regression analyses.

Results

For the 205 respondents, the mean age was 35 years (range = 20 to 66 years), and 53.3% were male. Participants’ departmental affiliations were 50.3% emergency medicine (EM), 16.9% internal medicine, 14.9% anesthesia, 10.8% general surgery, and 7.2% critical care. Residents comprised 60.7% of the sample, and 39.3% were attending physicians. Median intention to use IO access when IV is not immediately achievable was 4.67 (interquartile range [IQR] = 4 to 5) out of 5 (5 highest) and predicted by the following TPB constructs: attitudes (AdjCoefficients = 0.504; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.334 to 0.673), social influences (AdjCoefficients = 0.285; 95% CI = 0.172 to 0.398), and control beliefs (AdjCoefficients 0.217; 95% CI = 0.113 to 0.320). Physicians were more likely to use IO access if they believed that it provided rapid vascular access for delivering large volumes of fluids, could prevent delays in care, and was associated with a low complication rate. Conversely, the perception that nurses are not familiar or supportive of IO access and a lack of physician confidence regarding the appropriate indications for IO access were barriers to use.

Conclusions

These data are an important step in the knowledge‐to‐action process, as they identify specific factors associated with physician use of IO access. Interventions addressing these actionable facilitators and barriers are likely to have a positive effect on increasing the appropriate physician use of this potentially life‐saving technique in adult patients requiring emergent vascular access.
Accountability insights from the devolution of Indigenous child welfare in Manitoba
Authors: MacDonald Fiona , Levasseur Karine
Published: March 2014

This article examines how language and discourse have framed the issue of accountability in Indigenous child welfare devolution in Manitoba. Devolution has been officially presented by the province as a structure and process of collaborative governance – a form of governing that requires horizontal accountability among equal partners. Our examination of the accountability structures and processes reveals that, despite the rhetoric, there is continuing heavy insistence on vertical accountability to the provincial government. At best, the idea of collaborative governance is an illusion; at worst, it has serious negative impacts on Indigenous autonomy and on standards of accountability.

Sommaire

Cet article examine comment le langage et le discours ont formulé la question de la responsabilisation dans le transfert des responsabilités de la protection de l'enfance autochtone au Manitoba. Le transfert des responsabilités aux autorités locales a été officiellement présenté par la province comme une structure et un processus de gouvernance collaborative – une forme de gouvernance qui exige une responsabilisation horizontale entre partenaires égaux. Notre examen des structures et processus de responsabilisation révèle qu'en dépit de la rhétorique, on continue à insister lourdement sur la responsabilisation verticale envers le gouvernement provincial. Dans le meilleur des cas, l'idée de gouvernance collaborative est une illusion; au pire, elle a de sérieuses répercussions négatives sur l'autonomie des Autochtones et sur les normes de responsabilisation.
Public engagement in the Web 2.0 era: Social collaborative technologies in a public sector context
Authors: McNutt Kathleen
Published: March 2014

This article examines how social collaborative technologies have changed the nature and scope of e‐participation, showcasing several popular modes of engagement. It argues that the main implementation barriers to social media adoption are not technological, but rather organizational, cultural, and administrative. While there is enormous potential for Web 2.0 and associated social media tools to expand public engagement, the design of such initiatives must recognize that in digital environments influence is earned through social reputation, not bureaucratic authority.

Sommaire

Cet article examine comment les technologies de collaboration sociale ont changé la nature et l'envergure de la participation en ligne, en mettant en valeur plusieurs modes populaires de mobilisation. Il fait valoir que les principaux obstacles à l'adoption des médias sociaux ne sont pas technologiques, mais plutôt organisationnels, culturels et administratifs. Alors que le Web 2.0 et les outils de médias sociaux connexes présentent un énorme potentiel d'accroître la mobilisation du public, la conception de telles initiatives doit reconnaître que dans les environnements numériques, on acquiert de l'influence grâce à sa réputation sociale et non à son autorité bureaucratique.
Speaking what truth to whom? The uneasy relationship between practitioner and academic knowledge in public administration
Authors: Gow J. I. , Wilson V. Seymour
Published: March 2014

This article reflects on the observation that no one group – practitioners, academics, or clients – can claim to possess the full truth on any question in public administration (PA).PAis enriched and afflicted by its practical nature; its students try to persuade colleagues and political and administrative elites of the truth of their findings. MostPAliterature presents propositions as logical means to reach desired ends, but disagreement is possible and likely over means and ends. Beyond disagreements on values, many disciplines relevant toPAalso ensure differing perspectives. We argue for varied methodologies that recognize stakeholder interests and which minimize methods of persuasion promising too much and ignoring important problems.

Sommaire

Cet article se penche sur le constat qu'il n'y a pas un seul groupe – qu'il s'agisse des praticiens, des universitaires ou des clients – qui puisse prétendre posséder toute la vérité sur une question quelconque en administration publique. L'administration publique est enrichie et affaiblie par sa nature pratique; ses étudiants essaient de persuader non seulement leurs collègues, mais aussi les élites politiques et administratives de la vérité de leurs conclusions. La plus grande partie de la documentation sur l'administration publique présente des propositions comme moyens logiques d'atteindre les fins souhaitées, mais la divergence d'opinions est possible et très probable à la fois sur les fins et les moyens. Au‐delà des divergences d'opinions sur les valeurs, les nombreuses disciplines pertinentes à l'administration publique assurent également des perspectives divergentes. Nous défendons diverses méthodologies qui reconnaissent les intérêts des parties prenantes et qui minimisent les méthodes de persuasion en promettant trop et en ignorant des problèmes importants.
MINIMUM WAGE EFFECTS ON PERMANENT VERSUS TEMPORARY MINIMUM WAGE EMPLOYMENT
Authors: CAMPOLIETI MICHELE , GUNDERSON MORLEY , LEE BYRON
Published: March 2014

We estimate the effect of minimum wages on employment using the Master Files of the Canadian Labour Force Survey over the recent period 1997–2008. Particular attention is paid to the differences between permanent and temporary minimum wage workers—an important distinction not made in the existing literature. Our estimates for permanent and temporary minimum wage workers combined are at the lower end of estimates based on Canadian studies estimated over earlier time periods, suggesting that the adverse employment effects are declining over time for reasons discussed. Importantly, the adverse employment effects are substantially larger for permanent compared to temporary minimum wage workers; in fact they fall almost exclusively on permanent minimum wage workers. (JEL J30)
EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION MANDATES AND THE LABOR MARKET OUTCOMES OF LIKELY UNAUTHORIZED AND NATIVE WORKERS
Authors: AMUEDO‐DORANTES CATALINA , BANSAK CYNTHIA
Published: March 2014

As recent efforts to reform immigration policy at the federal level have failed, states have started to take immigration matters into their own hands and researchers have been paying closer attention to state dynamics surrounding immigration policy. Yet, to this date, there is not a clear understanding of the consequences of enforcing E‐Verify on likely unauthorized immigrants or on natives across the United States. This study aims to fill in that gap by analyzing the impact that the enactment of various types of E‐Verify mandates may have on the employment and wages of these groups. We find that the enactment of employment verification mandates reduces the employment likelihood of likely unauthorized workers. Additionally, it raises the hourly wages of likely unauthorized women. None of these impacts are observed among a similarly skilled sample of naturalized Hispanic immigrants. Finally, the enactment of E‐Verify mandates appears to raise the employment likelihood of alike non‐Hispanic natives, while raising the hourly wage of native‐born male employees, alluding to the potential substitutability of unauthorized immigrants and non‐Hispanic natives. (JEL J2, J3, J6)
THE IMPACT OF LOW‐INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM PARTICIPATION ON HOUSEHOLD ENERGY INSECURITY
Authors: MURRAY ANTHONY G. , MILLS BRADFORD F.
Published: March 2014

The impact of the low‐income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP), the single largest energy assistance program available to poor households in the United States has received little rigorous attention. If LIHEAP participation significantly improves low‐income household energy security, funding cuts or eliminating the program could negatively impact the poor. This article empirically estimates the impact of LIHEAP on household energy security. The results indicate participation in LIHEAP significantly increases energy security in low‐income households. Simulations suggest that elimination of the current household energy‐assistance safety net will decrease the number of low‐income energy secure households by over 17%. (JEL I38, Q48)
Safety and performance of liver biopsies in liver transplant recipients
Authors: Alten Tim A. , Negm Ahmed A. , Voigtländer Torsten , Jaeckel Elmar , Lehner Frank , Brauner Christin , Wedemeyer Heiner , Manns Michael P. , Lankisch Tim O.
Published: March 2014

Background

Liver biopsy in patients after liver transplantation (OLT) serves as a diagnostic tool to establish the cause of liver pathology. However, liver biopsy may cause life‐threatening complications. Very limited information is available about complications and success rates of liver biopsies in patients after OLT. Our aim was to investigate biopsy‐related complications and quality of specimen obtained by liver biopsy after OLT and to evaluate risks and benefits of this procedure.

Methods

Retrospective analysis of patients after OLT presenting for liver biopsy between January 2000 and October 2012. All patients were observed for 24 h after intervention. Twelve or more portal tracts were required for liver biopsy specimens to be considered as adequate.

Results

Of 703 liver biopsies were performed in 409 patients. Thirteen (1.9%) liver biopsies did not have an adequate number of portal tracts. Only 10 (1.4%) liver biopsies caused complications. Five patients suffered from pain, three patients developed post‐procedural fever, and three patients had subcapsular/intercostal bleeding. One patient suffered from a vasovagal reaction. Pain was treated by analgesics; none of the patients required blood transfusion or surgery.

Conclusions

Liver biopsy is a safe and adequate diagnostic tool in patients after OLT.
The role of mammalian target of rapamycin inhibitors in the management of post‐transplant malignancy
Authors: Klintmalm Goran B. , Saab Sammy , Hong Johnny C. , Nashan Björn
Published: March 2014

Post‐transplant malignancies, which occur either de novo or as cancer recurrences, are due to chronic exposure to immunosuppressive agents and are often more aggressive than those that develop in the non‐transplant setting. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors have antitumor and immunosuppressive effects. The dual effects of this class of agents may provide adequate immunosuppression to prevent organ rejection while simultaneously reducing the risk of post‐transplant malignancy. mTOR inhibitors have become established approved agents for treating renal cell carcinoma and other cancers and, as reviewed herein, accumulating experience among organ transplant recipients collectively points toward a potential to prevent the development of de novo malignancies of various types in the post‐transplant period. To date, most research efforts surrounding mTOR inhibitors and cancer control in the transplant population have been in the area of skin cancer prevention, but there have also been interesting observations regarding regression of post‐transplant Kaposi's sarcoma and post‐transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder that warrant further study.
A matter of time: rapid motor memory stabilization in childhood
Authors: Adi‐Japha Esther , Badir Rodayna , Dorfberger Shoshi , Karni Avi
Published: March 2014

Are children better than adults in acquiring new skills (‘how‐to’ knowledge) because of a difference in skill memory consolidation? Here we tested the proposal that, as opposed to adults, children's memories for newly acquired skills are immune to interference by subsequent experience. The establishment of long‐term memory for a trained movement sequence in adults requires a phase of memory consolidation. This results in substantial delayed, ‘offline’, performance gains, which nevertheless remain susceptible to interference by subsequent competing motor experience for several hours after training, unless sleep is afforded in the interval. Here we compared the gains attained overnight (delayed gains) by 9‐year‐olds and adults after training on a novel finger‐to‐thumb movement sequence, with and without subsequent interference by repeating a different movement sequence. Our results show that, in 9‐year‐olds, but not in adults, an interval of 15 min. between the training session and interfering experience sufficed to ensure the expression of delayed, consolidation phase, gains. Nevertheless, in the 9‐year‐olds, as well as in adults, the gains attained with no interference were significantly larger. Altogether, our results show that while the behavioral expressions of childhood and adult consolidation processes are similar, procedural memory stabilizes, in the waking state, at a much faster rate in children. We propose that, in children, rapid stabilization is a mechanism whereby the constraints on consolidating new experiences into long‐term procedural memory are relaxed at the cost of selectivity.
Two rooms, two representations? Episodic‐like memory in toddlers and preschoolers
Authors: Newcombe Nora S. , Balcomb Frances , Ferrara Katrina , Hansen Melissa , Koski Jessica
Published: March 2014

Episodic memory involves binding together what‐where‐when associations. In three experiments, we tested the development of memory for such contextual associations in a naturalistic setting. Children searched for toys in two rooms with two different experimenters; each room contained two identical sets of four containers, but arranged differently. A distinct toy was hidden in a distinct container in each room. In Experiment 1, which involved children between 15 and 26 months who were prompted with a very explicit cue (a part of the hidden toy), we found a marked shift in performance with age: while 15‐ to 20‐month‐olds concentrated their searches on the two containers that sometimes contained toys, they did not distinguish between them according to context, but 21–26‐month‐olds did. However, surprisingly, without toy cues, even the youngest children showed a fragile ability to disambiguate the two containers by room context. In Experiment 2, we tested 34‐ to 40‐month‐olds and 64‐ to 72‐month‐olds without toy cues. The 5‐year‐olds were nearly perfect, and the 3‐year‐olds showed a significant preference for the correct container given only the context. In Experiment 3, we filled in the age range, and also investigated the effects of the use of labels (i.e. names of experimenters and rooms) and of familiarization time, in groups of 34‐ to 40‐month‐olds, 42‐ to 48‐month‐olds, and 50‐ to 56‐month‐olds. Neither labels nor familiarization time had an effect. Across experiments, there was regular age‐related improvement in context‐based memory. Overall, the results suggest that children's episodic memory may undergo an early qualitative change, yet to be precisely characterized, and that continuing increments in the use of contextual cues occur throughout the preschool period. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkwEFw0UEz4&list=PLwxXcOKHPC0llAPVcJyW4EtzlA934A2Rz&index=1
Retracted: Effectiveness of cationic liposome‐mediated local delivery of myostatin‐targeting small interfering RNA in vivo
Authors: Mori Hiroyo , Kawai Nobuhiko , Kinouchi Nao , Hichijo Natsuko , Ishida Tatsuhiro , Kawakami Emi , Noji Sumihare , Tanaka Eiji
Published: March 2014

This study evaluated the effectiveness of local administration of cationic liposome‐delivered myostatin‐targeting siRNA. Myostatin (Mst)‐siRNA and scrambled (scr)‐siRNA‐lipoplexes were injected into the masseter muscles of wild type and dystrophin‐deficient mdx mice, which model Duchenne muscular dystrophy. One week after injection, the masseter muscles were dissected for histometric analyses. To evaluate changes in masseter muscle activity, masseter electromyographic (EMG) measurements were performed. One week after local administration of Mst‐siRNA‐lipoplexes, masseter muscles and myofibrils were significantly larger compared to control masseter muscles treated with scr‐siRNA‐lipoplexes. Real‐time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses revealed significant upregulation of the myogenic regulatory factors MyoD and myogenin and significant downregulation of the adipogenic transcription factors peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer binding protein‐α (CEBPα) in masseter muscles treated with Mst‐siRNA‐lipoplexes. The duty times of masseter muscle activity exceeding 5% showed a slight tendency to increase in both wild type and mdx mice. Therefore, cationic liposome‐mediated local administration of Mst‐siRNA could increase muscular size and improve muscle activity. Since cationic liposomes delivered siRNA to muscles effectively and are safe and cost‐effective, they may represent a therapeutic tool for use in treating muscular diseases.
Social cognition in congenital heart disease: is this part of adaptive behaviour?
Authors: O'Hare Anne
Published: March 2014

This commentary is on the original article by Calderon et al. on pages 564–571 of this issue.
Risk of cerebral palsy in relation to pregnancy disorders and preterm birth: a national cohort study
Authors: Trønnes Håvard , Wilcox Allen J , Lie Rolv T , Markestad Trond , Moster Dag
Published: March 2014

Aim

To assess the risk of developing cerebral palsy in relation to pregnancy disorders and preterm birth.

Method

By linking the Medical Birth Registry of Norway to other national registries, we identified all live births in Norway from 1967 through to 2001. Risks of cerebral palsy (CP) after preterm delivery and pregnancy disorders were estimated in different gestational age groups.

Result

In total, 1 764 509 children delivered at 23 to 43 weeks' gestation were included. The prevalence of CP was 1.8 per 1000 births. Absolute risk of CP was 8.5% among children born at 23 to 27 weeks' gestation, 5.6% at 28 to 30 weeks, 2.0% at 31 to 33 weeks, 0.4% at 34 to 36 weeks, and 0.1% thereafter. Placental abruption, chorioamnionitis, prolonged rupture of membranes, intrauterine growth restriction, pre‐eclampsia, multiple births, placenta previa, bleeding, cervical conization, and congenital malformation were all associated with CP. Before 32 weeks' gestation, absolute risk of CP was highest with chorioamnionitis (9.1%) and lowest with pre‐eclampsia (3.1%). Among those born after 31 weeks, the absolute risk of CP was more consistently (but also more slightly) increased with a recorded pregnancy disorder.

Interpretation

Early delivery and pregnancy disorders were both strong risk factors for CP. The added risks with recorded pregnancy disorders varied within categories of gestational age.
Initial versus longer‐term effects of tadpole declines on algae in a Neotropical stream
Authors: Connelly Scott , Pringle Catherine M. , Barnum Thomas , Hunte‐Brown Meshagae , Kilham Susan , Whiles Matt R. , Lips Karen R. , Colón‐Gaud Checo , Brenes Roberto
Published: March 2014

Information about temporal patterns of ecological responses to species losses is integral to our understanding of the ultimate effects of declining biodiversity. As part of the Tropical Amphibian Declines in Streams (TADS) project, we quantified changes in algal biomass and N cycling in algae in upland Panamanian streams following the widespread decline of larval anurans.

Reach‐scale monitoring during and after a catastrophic, disease‐driven amphibian decline showed significant 2.8‐fold increases (P < 0.05) in algal biomass in pools and 6.3‐fold increases in riffles in the 5 months following the decline. 3 years after the decline, the magnitude of this initial change dampened to increases (P < 0.05) of 2‐fold in pools and 3.5‐fold in riffles over pre‐decline levels. Similarly, total organic matter of benthic biofilms, measured as ash‐free dry mass (AFDM), increased significantly by 2.2‐fold in pools and 2.3‐fold in riffles in the initial 5‐month post‐decline period, with the magnitude of these changes dampening slightly to a 2‐fold increase in pools and 1.9‐fold increase in riffles over pre‐decline levels after 3 years (P < 0.05 for differences at 5 months and 3 years). There were initial increases (P < 0.05) in Chl a:AFDM ratios 5 months after the decline, but ratios had returned to pre‐decline levels after 3 years.

Algal food quality (as C/N) increased slightly, but not significantly, during the initial 5‐month post‐decline period and remained constant over 3 years. Mean δ15N in biofilms in pool habitat (measured over the reach scale) was significantly depleted initially following tadpole declines and remained significantly depleted 3 years after the decline (4.34 ‰ pre‐ versus 3.24‰ post‐; P < 0.05), suggesting that the loss of tadpoles reduced N recycling.

Increases in abundance and production of some grazing macroinvertebrate taxa after the decline may have contributed to the gradual reduction in the difference between initial and longer‐term post‐decline algal biomass. However, algal biomass was still 2‐fold greater than pre‐decline levels after 3 years, indicating that grazing macroinvertebrates did not fully compensate for the loss of tadpoles.
Anticoagulation, delivered dose and outcomes in CRRT: The program to improve care in acute renal disease (PICARD)
Authors: Claure‐Del Granado Rolando , Macedo Etienne , Soroko Sharon , Kim YeonWon , Chertow Glenn M. , Himmelfarb Jonathan , Ikizler T. Alp , Paganini Emil P. , Mehta Ravindra L.
Published: March 2014

Delivered dialysis dose by continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT) depends on circuit efficacy, which is influenced in part by the anticoagulation strategy. We evaluated the association of anticoagulation strategy used on solute clearance efficacy, circuit longevity, bleeding complications, and mortality. We analyzed data from 1740 sessions 24 h in length among 244 critically ill patients, with at least 48 h on CRRT. Regional citrate, heparin, or saline flushes was variably used to prevent or attenuate filter clotting. We calculated delivered dose using the standardized Kt/Vurea. We monitored filter efficacy by calculating effluent urea nitrogen/blood urea nitrogen ratios. Filter longevity was significantly higher with citrate (median 48, interquartile range [IQR] 20.3–75.0 hours) than with heparin (5.9, IQR 8.5–27.0 hours) or no anticoagulation (17.5, IQR 9.5–32 hours, P < 0.0001). Delivered dose was highest in treatments where citrate was employed. Bleeding complications were similar across the three groups (P = 0.25). Compared with no anticoagulation, odds of death was higher with the heparin use (odds ratio [OR] 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02–3.32; P = 0.033), but not with citrate (OR 1.02 95% CI 0.54–1.96; P = 0.53). Relative to heparin or no anticoagulation, the use of regional citrate for anticoagulation in CRRT was associated with significantly prolonged filter life and increased filter efficacy with respect to delivered dialysis dose. Rates of bleeding complications, transfusions, and mortality were similar across the three groups. While these and other data suggest that citrate anticoagulation may offer superior technical performance than heparin or no anticoagulation, adequately powered clinical trials comparing alternative anticoagulation strategies should be performed to evaluate overall safety and efficacy.