bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seasonal dynamics of megafauna on the deep West Antarctic Peninsula shelf in response to variable phytodetrital influx
Authors: Sumida P. Y. G. , Smith C. R. , Bernardino A. F. , Polito P. S. , Vieira D. R.
Published: November 2014

The deep West Antarctic Peninsula (WAP) shelf is characterized by intense deposition of phytodetritus during spring/summer months, while very little food material reaches the seafloor during winter. The response of the shelf benthic megafauna to this highly variable food supply is still poorly understood. In order to characterize the deposition of phytodetritus and the megabenthic community response, we deployed a seafloor time-lapse camera at approximately 590 m depth on the mid WAP shelf west of Anvers Island for 15 months. Seafloor photographs were taken at intervals of 12 or 24 h nearly continuously from 9 December 1999 (austral winter) to 20 March 2001 (summer) and analysed for phytodetritus deposition and megafaunal dynamics. Seafloor images indicated a marked seasonal arrival of greenish phytodetritus, with large interannual and seasonal variability in the coverage of depositing phytodetrital particles. The surface-deposit-feeding elasipod holothurians
Protelpidia murrayi
and
Peniagone vignoni
dominated the epibenthic megafauna throughout the year, frequently constituting more than 80% of the megafaunal abundance, attaining total densities of up to 2.4 individuals m
−2
. Elasipod abundances were significantly higher in summer than winter. During summer periods of high phytodetrital flux,
Pr. murrayi
produced faecal casts at higher rates, indicating intensified population-level feeding activity. In March–June 2000, faecal casts lasted longest, suggesting lower horizontal bioturbation activity during autumn–winter. Our data indicate that the
Pr. murrayi
population increases its feeding rates in response to increasing amounts and/or lability of organic matter on the sediment surface. Assuming that this species feeds on the top millimetre of the sediment, we estimate that, during periods of high phytodetrital flux, the
Pr. murrayi
population reworks one square metre of sediment surface in approximately 287 days. We suggest that
Pr. murrayi
is an important species for organic-carbon recycling on the deep WAP shelf, controlling the availability of deposited labile phytodetritus to the broader shelf benthic community.
Tahibacter caeni sp. nov., isolated from activated sludge
Authors: Wu Ya-Dong , Deng Shi-Kai , Shi Chao , Zhu Jian-Chun , He Jian , Li Shun-Peng
Published: November 2014

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, non-motile bacterial strain, designated BUT-6T, was isolated from activated sludge of a wastewater-treatment facility. The strain grew at 15–35 °C (optimum 30 °C), pH 4.0–10.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and 0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1.0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences showed that strain BUT-6T was most closely related to

Tahibacter aquaticus

PYM5-11T (98.6 % similarity). However, the DNA–DNA relatedness between strain BUT-6T and

T. aquaticus

PYM5-11T was 47.1 %. The major fatty acids (>10 % of total fatty acids) of strain BUT-6T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 1ω9c and iso-C17 : 0. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-8. The profile of polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid, three unknown aminolipids and unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content of strain BUT-6T was 71.7 mol%. On the basis of the data from the polyphasic taxonomic study presented, strain BUT-6T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus

Tahibacter

, for which the name Tahibacter caeni sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BUT-6T ( = CCTCC AB 2013266T = KACC 17139T).
Designing appropriate contracts for achieving efficient winter road and railway maintenance with high performance quality
Authors: Abdi Adel , Lind Hans , Birgisson Björn
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– For a long time, the winter maintenance of the Swedish road and railway network had been performed in-house by Swedish Transport Administration, Swedish local authorities i.e. municipalities and Stockholm public transport. During the last 15 years the winter operation and maintenance of these state infrastructures have been performed by public procurement and contracting from independent contractors, where in practice the lowest price is the dominating selection criteria. The aim of this paper is to investigate and identify how these contracts are designed and how satisfied the parties are with the contract and the quality of the performed work during the winter and point our directions for improvement.

Design/methodology/approach

– The study was conducted by a literature review and followed by semi-structured interviews and electronic questionnaire.

Findings

– The results of the study which are based on the interviews and the online questionnaire show that there is widespread dissatisfaction with the contracts among both clients and contractors.

Practical implications

– The article prepares a basis showing how a contract affects the quality of the performed winter road and railway maintenance services.

Originality/value

– The findings lead to a number of suggestions about how to improve the contracts, e.g. having a separate winter maintenance contract to increase the quality of performed winter maintenance measures, a more partnering-like structure where consultations and adjustment can be made during the contract period. A partnering structure also makes it less important to get all the details right in the contract.
Leveraging everyday technology for people living with dementia: a case study
Authors: Astell A.J. , Malone B. , Williams G. , Hwang F. , Ellis M.P.
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to present the self-described “journey” of a person with dementia (Brian; author 3) in his re-learning of old technologies and learning of new ones and the impact this had on his life.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a single case study detailing the participant's experiences collaborating with a researcher to co-create methods of facilitating this learning process, which he documented in the form of an online blog and diary entries. These were analysed using NVivo to reveal the key themes.

Findings

– Brian was able to relearn previously used technologies and learn two new ones. This lead to an overarching theme of positive outlook on life supported by person-centredness, identity and technology, which challenged negative perceptions about dementia.

Research limitations/implications

– The paper provides an example of how learning and technology improved the life of one person with dementia. By sharing the approach the authors hope to encourage others to embrace the challenge of designing and developing innovative solutions for people with a dementia diagnosis by leveraging both current mainstream technology and creating novel bespoke interventions for dementia.

Originality/value

– The personal perspective of a person with dementia and his experiences of (re-) learning provide a unique insight into the impact of technology on his life.
Cognitive mobile games for memory impaired older adults
Authors: Merilampi Sari , Sirkka Andrew , Leino Mirka , Koivisto Antti , Finn Enda
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– Cognitive self-rehabilitation lacks updated means and tools. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of cognitively simulating mobile games on the cognitive skills and recreation of older people with memory impairment.

Design/methodology/approach

– Mobile games that require cognitive skills were developed. The games were tested by memory-impaired older adults, average age of 90. Gaming interventions took place for three months on a daily basis. Game outcomes were automatically recorded and user feedback was collected by interviews. The progress of the testees was also evaluated by means of Trial Making Test A.

Findings

– Improvement in game scores was found. Other significant effects of game play were enhanced recreation and self-managed activity level. Game play did not have any effect on the traditional Trail Making Test results but the results of the Trail Making game showed improvement. The Trail Making game also showed a large variance in daily scores, which implies that performing just a single Trail Making Test might lead to misreading a person's condition.

Research limitations/implications

– The results are an encouragement for conducting further testing (on a larger test group, over a longer time) and continuing with game development for cognitively impaired older adults. A similar game trial will also be arranged for a younger population with better overall health condition.

Practical implications

– New business opportunities are also possible in game development and gaming services.

Social implications

– Games have the potential for self-rehabilitation and to support extending independent living at home.

Originality/value

– The paper provides a synopsis of novel cognitive recreation tools, an analysis of their effect and user feedback from professional staff as well as potential new ideas for game developers.
Appropriate talking pattern of an information support robot for people living with dementia: a case study
Authors: Nishiura Yuko , Inoue Takenobu , Nihei Misato
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The authors are in the process of exploring an information support robot to support daily activities of people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia. The purpose of this paper is to reveal how the robot should talk to an older woman with dementia to make her perform daily activities.

Design/methodology/approach

– The robot asked to the participant to do some daily activities; Task A, taking medicine; Task B, measuring blood pressure; and Task C, cleaning up the room in three different ways for each task. In the talking pattern 1 (TP1), the robot simply informed what the tasks were. The talking patterns 2 and 3 (TP2 and TP3) were separated according to the process of activities in two and three steps, respectively. The participant was required to answer “Yes” if she understood what the robot talked to her, and perform the tasks.

Findings

– The participant was not able to prepare water in the Task A when the robot spoke the TP1 (performance rate (PR) was 71.4 per cent). However, she could perfectly take medicine in the case when the robot spoke the processes of the task by the TP3 (PR was 100.0 per cent). The similar tendencies were observed in the Tasks B and C.

Research limitations/implications

– Multicenter studies would be required to apply these findings to a larger population.

Originality/value

– The authors confirmed that it might be important to determine how the robot talked to people with dementia to properly facilitate their daily activities.
Implementation of an evidence-based parenting programme with a Latina population: feasibility and preliminary outcomes
Authors: Fawley-King Kya , Trask Emily , E. Calderón Nancy , A. Aarons Gregory , F. Garland Ann
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the implementation and adaptation of group Triple P, an evidence-based parenting intervention developed in Australia, for a Latina population living in the USA.

Design/methodology/approach

– Mothers with pre-school age children participated in the programme, which was offered by a community mental health agency. The final study sample consisted of 174 Latina mothers.

Findings

– Participation in group Triple P was associated with clinically significant improvements in maternal mental health, parenting styles, and child behaviour problems. Additionally, mothers reported high levels of satisfaction with the programme.

Practical implications

– Triple P is a promising intervention for Latina caregivers who are concerned about the behaviour of their young children. It can be implemented successfully into community-based mental health care systems.

Originality/value

– This is the first study to examine the applicability of Triple P to Latina caregivers.
Applying Ubuntu-Botho African ethics to stakeholder corporate social responsibility
Authors: Mofuoa Khali
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– This paper aims to explore, with the view to establish the prospects of applying Ubuntu-Botho African approach to stakeholder corporate social responsibility (CSR) for business organisations in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the experience of Basotho of Lesotho in using Ubuntu-Botho African principles and practices to pursue their socially responsible development fashioned in social responsibility (SR) terms.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using data mainly from desktop research, the theoretical or conceptual content of the paper was established to inform the discussions on the prospects of applying Ubuntu-Botho African principles and practices to stakeholder CSR for business organisations in SSA.

Findings

– Ubuntu-Botho African approach to stakeholder CSR could generate a very different notion of ideal SR of business organizations in the context of SSA as the experience of Basotho of Lesotho reveals. Whether or not one is persuaded by this Ubuntu-Botho approach to stakeholder CSR, the discussion serves to illuminate the need to broaden the terms of the debate over the appropriate role of business organizations, at least in the context of SSA, regarding their CSR and performance within which they operate.

Originality/value

– The paper mainly uses secondary data that is considered to be most relevant, valid and reliable to inform discussions on the prospects of the application of Ubuntu-Botho African ethics to stakeholder CSR for business organisations in the context of SSA. The author’s knowledge of Lesotho – where he lived, studied and worked – informed the writing of this paper, as well as discussions on the prospects of applying Ubuntu-Botho African approach to stakeholder CSR for business organisations in SSA using the experience of Basotho of Lesotho in engineering their socially responsible development to become the granary of Southern Africa in 1900s.
From cents to half-cents and its liquidity impact
Authors: Anderson Hamish D. , Peng Yuan
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact on stock liquidity following the reduction of minimum tick size from $0.01 to $0.005 for a selection of dual-listed and property stocks on the New Zealand Exchange (NZX) during 2011.

Design/methodology/approach

– Various liquidity measures were examined six months either side of the change in minimum tick size for the eligible stocks and these were compared to a sample of stocks matched on similar liquidity characteristics. Liquidity measures examined in the paper include quoted and effective spread, volume, depth and binding-constraint probability.

Findings

– After controlling for firms matched on similar pre-period liquidity characteristics both spread and depth decline significantly. Evidence that small firms experience significant declines in trading activity was also found, and while firms with higher binding-constraints probability have greater declines in spread, their decline in depth is greater still.

Research limitations/implications

– The small sample of 17 stocks eligible for the $0.005 minimum tick size potentially impacts on the strength of the statistical analysis. As such, it is harder to detect statistically significant changes in liquidity.

Practical implications

– These findings have important implications for policymakers as the hoped for benefits of smaller tick increments may only be fully realized by larger more active stocks.

Originality/value

– The paper examines the impact of a change in minimum tick size on eligible New Zealand Exchange (NZX) stocks to determine whether it meet the stated NZX goal of boosting liquidity.
Children as football fans: an exploratory study of team and player connections
Authors: Thomson Elizabeth , Williams Russell
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore children’s relationships with football teams and players and the influences on these.

Design/methodology/approach

– A child-centric (Banister and Booth, 2005) inductive qualitative approach was utilised to capture children’s voices. The children were asked to take photographs around the theme of “football in my life” and these served as interview prompts when talking to friendship pairs.

Findings

– Football played a central role in children’s lives in terms of interest, activity and consumption. The children articulated a portfolio of team (club) and player connections of varying strength. This contrasts with the existing adult fandom literature which focuses on individuals supporting a single team. Another strong theme emerging from the data was the children’s market-centred relationships with football clubs. Children’s connections were shaped by a complex web of influences including family and family history, friends, media and geography.

Research limitations/implications

– Existing fan literature has an adult focus which does not appear to fully explain the child fan. This research provides impetus for developing new theory that better captures child fandom. The findings reinforce the idea that football plays an important part in children’s lives and in doing so they establish their own meanings. The findings presented in this paper provide important insights into the lives of children that could be reflected on in the design of policy across a number of areas including education.

Originality/value

– This paper presents the first child-centred football fan study.
The influence of the Big 5 personality traits on young people’s political consumer behavior
Authors: Quintelier Ellen
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this article is to use the “Big Five” personality structure (openness to experience, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness and emotional stability) to explore the relationship with political consumer behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

– Political consumer behavior is (not) buying products for social, political or environmental reasons. Cited motivations for political consumption include preserving the environment, developing a sustainable economy or using boycotts as political pressure, alongside social reasons such as reducing child labor. We explored this relationship among two representative studies of young people using ordinary least squares regression.

Findings

– We concluded that in particular openness to experience leads to more political consumer behavior. Agreeableness or trust in people also often has a positive effect on political consumer behavior, while the effects of extraversion tend on the contrary to be negative.

Research limitations/implications

– Although in the literature the “Big Five” is generally accepted as the best measure for the main personality traits, there is no consensus on the measurement of personality. The research area has thus a clear need for a good, reliable measurement of the five personality traits, such as the TIPI or a short version of the bipolar personality scales.

Practical implications

– The research suggests that a more specific approach towards young political consumers might be valuable.

Social implications

– The research can influence how marketers deal with fair trade products or how boycotts can attract larger audiences. Through this knowledge, social responsibility and environmental conscientiousness will increase.

Originality/value

– This article focuses on the personality traits and motivations of the political consumers and how these personality traits interact with the attitudes that motivate political consumption using representative samples of young people. It also focuses on a specific and different outcome, political consumption, whereas most studies focused solely on single items of pro-environmental behavior .
How Chinese young consumers respond to gendered advertisements
Authors: Chan Kara , Leung Ng Yu , Liu Jianqiong
Published: November 2014

Purpose

– The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of advertisements with different female role portrayals in a second-tier city with “first-class opportunities.” Chinese girls and women represent a huge market for personal as well as household goods.

Design/methodology/approach

– An experimental study was conducted using a convenience sample of 216 male and female participants aged 17-21 years in Changchun, China. Participants were asked to respond to print advertisements using traditional and modern female images including housewife, cute female, female with classical beauty, sporty, career-minded and neutral (tomboy).

Findings

– Results revealed that female participants responded more favorably toward advertisements using female images than male participants. There was no difference in the responses to the six different female images among both male and female participants.

Research limitations/implications

– Young consumers in China are not sensitive to the different female images used in the print advertisements. Advertisers can, therefore, enjoy flexibility in the selection of female gender roles for advertisements.

Originality/value

– Little is known about how marketers and advertisements can best communicate with young consumers in China using advertisements with different female images. This study fills this literature gap.
Fatal Intoxication with Methoxetamine
Authors: Adamowicz Piotr , Zuba Dariusz
Published: November 2014

Methoxetamine (MXE) is a new synthetic drug of abuse structurally related to ketamine and phencyclidine. A case of a 29‐year‐old male with acute toxicity related to the analytically confirmed use of MXE is reported. The man was found dead at his residence. Biological material was analyzed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. The concentration of MXE in urine of the deceased was 85 μg/mL. Despite the vial containing the blood sample being destroyed during transportation and the blood leaking out into the cardboard packaging, the blood level of MXE was estimated. After determination of the cardboard grammage (approx. 400 g/m3) and the mean mass of the blood obtained after drying (0.1785 ± 0.0173 g per 1 mL), the estimated blood concentration of MXE was found to be 5.8 μg/mL. The high concentration of MXE in blood and urine and the circumstances of the case indicate an unintentional, fatal intoxication with this substance.
Economic Crisis, (Creative) Destruction, and the Current Urban Condition
Authors: Holgersen Ståle
Published: November 2014

This paper investigates the contemporary economic crisis, and explores crisis theories developed by Marx and Marxists alongside discourses surrounding human geography and the urban condition. Two positions currently dominate Marxist crisis theory: realization/overproduction and Law of the Tendential Fall in the Rate of Profit. Within human geography, however, scholars rarely discuss crisis theory in and of itself, and when they do, they tend to rely solely on the realization/overproduction approach popularized by David Harvey. This paper argues that both approaches aid a conceptualization of the current crisis while deepening our understanding of changing urban policies and landscapes. This paper also claims—in contrast to Keynesians' calls—that crises are “solved” by destruction and devaluation of capital, not an increase in effective demand. These debates, as of yet not thoroughly discussed in human geography, can provide us with new knowledge concerning the current crisis and contemporary urban policies.
Providing information about prenatal screening for Down syndrome: a systematic review
Authors: Skjøth Mette M. , Draborg Eva , Pedersen Claus D. , Hansen Helle P. , Lamont Ronald F. , Jørgensen Jan S.
Published: November 2014

Background

In recent decades there have been advances in the options for prenatal screening. Screening programmes for Down syndrome are well established in many countries. It is important that pregnant women are well informed about the benefits and risks of screening. A variety of interventions has been introduced to support pregnant women in their choice of prenatal screening.

Objective

To summarize the literature using randomized controlled trials to compare the effects of different interventions to provide pregnant women with the information necessary to make an informed choice about screening for Down syndrome.

Design

Systematic review

Methods

A systematic search was performed using the PUBMED and EMBASE databases. The search terms included MeSH terms and free text and were combined by Boolean terms (AND, OR) with no restriction on language or time.

Main outcome measures

Knowledge, informed choice, patient satisfaction, anxiety, depression, conflict and worries.

Results

Twelve studies were included in the review. All were characterised by having one or more interventions designed to improve the level of information about prenatal screening for Down syndrome. A positive effect on knowledge and satisfaction from the information received was found in the majority of the studies. The studies were heterogeneous with respect to interventions, methodology and outcome measurements.

Conclusions

Interventions aimed at providing pregnant women with specific information about prenatal screening for Down syndrome can improve their ability to make an informed choice.
Intracerebroventricular administration of chicken glucagon‐like peptide‐2 potently suppresses food intake in chicks
Authors: Honda Kazuhisa , Saneyasu Takaoki , Shimatani Tomohiko , Aoki Koji , Yamaguchi Takuya , Nakanishi Kiwako , Kamisoyama Hiroshi
Published: November 2014

Glucagon‐related peptides, such as glucagon‐like peptide (GLP)‐1, GLP‐2 and oxyntomodulin (OXM), are processed from an identical precursor proglucagon. In mammals, all of these peptides are suggested to be involved in the central regulation of food intake. We previously showed that intracerebroventricular administration of chicken OXM and GLP‐1 significantly suppressed food intake in chicks. Here, we show that central administration of chicken GLP‐2 potently suppresses food intake in chicks. Male 8‐day‐old chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) were used in all experiments. Intracerebroventricular administration of chicken GLP‐2 significantly suppressed food intake in chicks. Plasma glucose concentration was significantly decreased by chicken GLP‐2, whereas plasma nonesterified fatty acid concentration was significantly increased. Intracerebroventricular administration of chicken GLP‐2 did not affect plasma corticosterone concentration. In addition, the anorexigenic effect of GLP‐2 was not reversed by the corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF) receptor antagonist α‐helical CRF, suggesting that CRF is not a downstream mediator of the anorexigenic pathway of GLP‐2 in chicks. Intracerebroventricular administration of an equimolar amount of GLP‐1 and GLP‐2, but not OXM, significantly suppressed food intake in both broiler and layer chicks. All our findings suggest that GLP‐2 functions as a potent anorexigenic peptide in the brain, as well as GLP‐1, in chicks.
Genomic structural analysis of porcine fatty acid desaturase cluster on chromosome 2
Authors: Taniguchi Masaaki , Arakawa Aisaku , Motoyama Michiyo , Nakajima Ikuyo , Nii Masahiro , Mikawa Satoshi
Published: November 2014

Fatty acid composition is an economically important trait in meat‐producing livestock. To gain insight into the molecular genetics of fatty acid desaturase (FADS) genes in pigs, we investigated the genomic structure of the porcine FADS gene family on chromosome 2. We also examined the tissue distribution of FADS gene expression. The genomic structure of FADS family in mammals consists of three isoforms FADS1, FADS2 and FADS3. However, porcine FADS cluster in the latest pig genome assembly (Sscrofa 10.2) containing some gaps is distinct from that in other mammals. We therefore sought to determine the genomic structure, including the FADS cluster in a 200‐kbp range by sequencing gap regions. The structure we obtained was similar to that in other mammals. We then investigated the porcine FADS1 transcription start site and identified a novel isoform named FADS1b. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the three members of the FADS cluster were orthologous among mammals, whereas the various FADS1 isoforms identified in pigs, mice and cattle might be attributable to species‐specific transcriptional regulation with alternative promoters. Porcine FADS1b and FADS3 isoforms were predominantly expressed in the inner layer of the subcutaneous adipose tissue. Additional analyses will reveal the effects of these functionally unknown isoforms on fatty acid composition in pig fat tissues.
Sincere but Naive: Methodological Queries Concerning the British Columbia Polygamy Reference Trial
Authors: Ashley Sean Matthew
Published: November 2014

Academics frequently serve as expert witnesses in legal cases, yet their role as transmitters of social scientific knowledge remains under‐examined. The present study analyzes the deployment of social science within British Columbia's polygamy reference trial where research is used to support the assertion that polygamy is inherently harmful to society. Within the trial record and the written decision, the protection of monogamy as an institution is performed in part through the marginalization of qualitative methodology and the concurrent privileging of quantitative studies that purportedly demonstrate widespread social harms associated with the practice of polygyny.

Les universitaires servent souvent témoins experts dans les cas juridiques, mais leur rôle comme les transmetteurs de connaissance en sciences sociale restent sous‐examinés. La présente étude analyse le déploiement de sciences sociale dans l'essai de référence de polygamie de la Columbia britannique où la recherche est utilisée pour soutenir l'assertion que la polygamie est naturellement malfaisante pour la société. Dans le record de procès et la décision écrite la protection de monogamie comme une institution est exécutée partiellement par la marginalisation de méthodologie qualitative et le privilégier d'études quantitatives qui démontrent que la polygamie est intrinsèquement néfastes pour la société.
Novel compound heterozygous mutations in DYNC2H1 in a patient with severe short‐rib polydactyly syndrome type III phenotype
Authors: Okamoto Toshio , Nagaya Ken , Kawata Yumi , Asai Hiroko , Tsuchida Etsushi , Nohara Fumikatsu , Okajima Kazuki , Azuma Hiroshi
Published: November 2014

Short‐rib polydactyly syndrome type III is an autosomal recessive lethal skeletal ciliopathy, which is phenotypically similar to nonlethal asphyxiating thoracic dystrophy. Mutations in DYNC2H1 have been identified in both of these disorders, indicating that they are variants of a single disorder. However, short‐rib polydactyly syndrome type III is the more severe variant. Here, we report novel compound heterozygous mutations in DYNC2H1 (p.E1894fsX10 and p.R3004C) in a patient with typical short‐rib polydactyly syndrome type III phenotype. R3004 is located within the microtubule‐binding domain of DYNC2H1, and its substitution is predicted to disrupt the interaction with microtubules. Considering the severe phenotype of our patient, our findings suggest that R3004 may be a key residue for the microtubule‐binding affinity of dynein.
Prenatal Diagnosis of an Aneurysm of the Mitral‐Aortic Intervalvular Fibrosa
Authors: Zhao Sheng , Chen Xinlin , Yang Xiaohong
Published: November 2014

Aneurysm of the mitral–aortic intervalvular fibrosa (A‐MAIVF) is a rare but potentially fatal condition. The aneurysm is located between the mitral and aortic valves and communicates with the left ventricular outflow tract, and the differential diagnoses include dilated coronary sinuses and coronary arteriovenous fistula. We describe the first reported case of an A‐MAIVF diagnosed in the fetus.
Two‐ and Live/Real Time Three‐Dimensional Transthoracic Echocardiographic Assessment of Infective Endocarditis of a Valved Pulmonary Conduit
Authors: Gulotta John C. , Gaba Saurabh , Bulur Serkan , Joson Marisa , Sungur Aylin , Nanda Navin C.
Published: November 2014

We describe the use of a nonstandard left infraclavicular approach in making the diagnosis of an infected valved conduit with two‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography. The patient was an adult with tetralogy of Fallot and pulmonary atresia who had undergone multiple surgical repair procedures. The initial diagnosis of infective endocarditis was made by transesophageal echocardiography. Both techniques demonstrated a single, large vegetation in the conduit. Live/real time three‐dimensional transthoracic echocardiography, on the other hand, provided further information by demonstrating several additional vegetations in the conduit and more comprehensively assessed their size by enabling measurement of their azimuthal dimensions and volumes. The patient was treated with antibiotics with complete resolution of the vegetations.
Treatment Effectiveness of PMTO for Children's Behavior Problems in Iceland: Child Outcomes in a Nationwide Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Sigmarsdóttir Margrét , Thorlacius Örnólfur , Guðmundsdóttir Edda Vikar , DeGarmo David S.
Published: November 2014

Well‐documented treatment methods must be tested following their implementation in community service agencies and across different cultures to ensure continuing effectiveness. This study was a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of Parent Management Training—the Oregon model (PMTO), conducted within a nationwide implementation in Iceland. Families of 102 clinically referred children with behavior problems were recruited from five municipalities throughout Iceland. Child age ranged from 5 to 12; 73% were boys. Families were randomly assigned to either PMTO or services usually offered in the communities (SAU). Child adjustment was measured with a latent construct based on parent, child, and teacher reports of externalizing and internalizing problems and social skills. Prepost intent‐to‐treat analyses showed that PMTO treatment led to greater reductions in child adjustment problems relative to the comparison group, obtaining a modest to medium effect size based on the construct score. Only one indicator (parent‐rated Social Skills) showed significant change independently and information on amount and kind of treatment in the SAU was limited. Overall, findings indicate that PMTO is an effective method to treat children's behavior problems in a Northern European culture and supply evidence for the method's successful implementation in community settings in Iceland. This is one of few nationwide implementation studies of PMTO outside the United States and the first RCT in Iceland to test a treatment model for children's behavior problems.
The Upper Pliocene Bowden shell beds, southeast Jamaica
Authors: Donovan Stephen K. , Pickerill Ron K. , Keighley David G.
Published: November 2014

The Neogene fossil record of the Antilles is particularly rich and can satisfy the interests of most collectors, from foraminifers to vertebrates. The molluscs are among the commonest and most diverse groups, being found in both terrestrial and marine deposits. The Pliocene Bowden shell beds of southeast Jamaica, best known for its hundreds of species of molluscs, also yields diverse members of other groups, the total exceeding 800 species from a mere 5 m of stratigraphical section.
Definitive, Defective or Deft? Reassessing Barth's Doctrine of Baptism in Church Dogmatics IV/4
Authors: McMaken W. Travis
Published: November 2014

Karl Barth's doctrine of baptism articulated in Church Dogmatics IV/4 is due for reassessment. Interpretation of this part of Barth's intellectual legacy has been conceptually determined by unresolved tensions within the Reformed tradition's sacramentology and by a widespread notion that Barth shifted from one side of this tension to the other over the course of his career. This article contests that notion and argues that Barth's doctrine of baptism is more sophisticated than often thought. By developing the concept of ‘paradoxical identity’ as a way to describe how Barth thinks about the relation between divine and human action, this article sheds new light on the value of Barth's work in Church Dogmatics IV/4.
Building locally relevant ethics curricula for nursing education in Botswana
Authors: Barchi F. , Kasimatis Singleton M. , Magama M. , Shaibu S.
Published: November 2014

Aim

The goal of this multi‐institutional collaboration was to develop an innovative, locally relevant ethics curriculum for nurses in Botswana.

Background

Nurses in Botswana face ethical challenges that are compounded by lack of resources, pressures to handle tasks beyond training or professional levels, workplace stress and professional isolation. Capacity to teach nursing ethics in the classroom and in professional practice settings has been limited.

Methods

A pilot curriculum, including cases set in local contexts, was tested with nursing faculty in Botswana in 2012.

Results

Thirty‐three per cent of the faculty members indicated they would be more comfortable teaching ethics. A substantial number of faculty members were more likely to introduce the International Council of Nurses Code of Ethics in teaching, practice and mentoring as a result of the training. Based on evaluation data, curricular materials were developed using the Code and the regulatory requirements for nursing practice in Botswana. A web‐based repository of sample lectures, discussion cases and evaluation rubrics was created to support the use of the materials.

Discussion

A new master degree course, Nursing Ethics in Practice, has been proposed for fall 2015 at the University of Botswana. The modular nature of the materials and the availability of cases set within the context of clinical nurse practice in Botswana make them readily adaptable to various student academic levels and continuing professional development programmes.

Conclusion

The ICN Code of Ethics for Nursing is a valuable teaching tool in developing countries when taught using locally relevant case materials and problem‐based teaching methods.

Implications for Nursing

The approach used in the development of a locally relevant nursing ethics curriculum in Botswana can serve as a model for nursing education and continuing professional development programmes in other sub‐Saharan African countries to enhance use of the ICN Code of Ethics in nursing practice.
What is orthopaedic triage? A systematic review
Authors: Morris Joanne H. , James Rebecca E. , Davey Rachel , Waddington Gordon
Published: November 2014

Rationale, aims and objectives

Complex and chronic disease is placing significant pressure on hospital outpatient departments. Novel ways of delivering care have been developed recently and are often described as ‘triage’ services. This paper reviews the literature pertaining to definitions and descriptions of orthopaedic/musculoskeletal triage processes, in order to provide information on ‘best practice’ to assist health care facilities.

Method

A comprehensive open‐ended search was conducted using electronic databases to identify studies describing models of triage clinics for patients with a musculoskeletal/orthopaedic complaint, who have been referred to hospital outpatient clinics for a surgical consultation. Studies were critically appraised using the McMaster quality appraisal tool and ranked using the National Health and Medical Research Council hierarchy of evidence. A thematic analysis of the definitions, processes and procedures of triage described within the literature was undertaken.

Results

1930 studies were identified and 45 were included in the review (including diagnostic and evaluative research). The hierarchy of evidence ranged from I to IV; however, the majority were at low levels of evidence and scored poorly on the critical appraisal tool. Three broad themes of triage were identified: presence of a referral, configuration of the triage (who, how and where) and the aim of triage. However, there were significant inconsistencies across these themes.

Conclusions

This systematic review highlighted the need for standardization of the definition of triage, the procedures of assessment and management and measures of outcome used in orthopaedic/musculoskeletal triage to ensure best‐practice processes, procedures and outcomes for triage clinics.
Communicating Climate Change: Are Stories Better than “Just the Facts”?
Authors: Jones Michael D.
Published: November 2014

Postpositive policy scholarship has long asserted the importance of narratives—or stories—in shaping public policy through public opinion. In part, the Narrative Policy Framework (NPF) was developed to empirically test this assertion. To assess the relationship between policy narratives and public opinion, NPF posits several causal mechanisms including narrative transportation. Narrative transportation is a measure used to assess the extent to which individuals exposed to a story are “transported” into that story. NPF hypothesizes that as narrative transportation increases the reader of the story will (i) have more positive affect for characters within the story; and (ii) will find the story more persuasive. Using an online experiment involving a nationally representative sample of over 1,700 respondents, this research tests narrative transportation hypotheses by exposing subjects to one of three Cultural Theory narratives about climate change, as well as a control list of scientifically agreed upon facts. While findings do not support that narratives are any more transportive than fact lists in terms of directly persuading respondents to accept specific climate change policies, the data do show that narrative transportation positively influences affect for hero characters, which extant research demonstrates indirectly influences the persuasiveness of a story.
Intrinsically Disordered Linker and Plasma Membrane‐Binding Motif Sort Ist2 and Ssy1 to Junctions
Authors: Kralt Annemarie , Carretta Marco , Mari Muriel , Reggiori Fulvio , Steen Anton , Poolman Bert , Veenhoff Liesbeth M.
Published: November 2014

Membrane junctions or contact sites are close associations of lipid bilayers of heterologous organelles. Ist2 is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER)‐resident transmembrane protein that mediates associations between the plasma membrane (PM) and the cortical ER (cER) in baker's yeast. We asked the question what structure in Ist2 bridges the up to 30 nm distance between the PM and the cER and we noted that the region spacing the transmembrane domain from the cortical sorting signal interacting with the PM is predicted to be intrinsically disordered (ID). In Ssy1, a protein that was not previously described to reside at membrane junctions, we recognized a domain organization similar to that in Ist2. We found that the localization of both Ist2 and Ssy1 at the cell periphery depends on the presence of a PM‐binding domain, an ID linker region of sufficient length and a transmembrane domain that most probably resides in the ER. We show for the first time that an ID amino acid domain bridges adjacent heterologous membranes. The length and flexibility of ID domains make them uniquely eligible for spanning large distances, and we suggest that this domain structure occurs more frequently in proteins that mediate the formation of membrane contact sites.
Changes of Elastic Constants and Anisotropy Patterns in Trabecular Bone During Disuse-Induced Bone Loss Assessed by Poroelastic Ultrasound
Authors: Cardoso Luis , Schaffler Mitchell B.
Published: November 2014

Currently, the approach most widely used to examine bone loss is the measurement of bone mineral density (BMD) using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, bone loss due to immobilization creates changes in bone microarchitecture, which in turn are related to changes in bone mechanical function and competence to resist fracture. Unfortunately, the relationship between microarchitecture and mechanical function within the framework of immobilization and antiresorptive therapy has not being fully investigated. The goal of the present study was to investigate the structure–function relationship in trabecular bone in the real-world situations of a rapidly evolving osteoporosis (disuse), both with and without antiresorptive treatment. We evaluated the structure–function relationship in trabecular bone after bone loss (disuse-induced osteoporosis) and bisphosphonate treatment (antiresorptive therapy using risedronate) in canine trabecular bone using μCT and ultrasound wave propagation. Microstructure values determined from μCT images were used into the anisotropic poroelastic model of wave propagation in order to compute the apparent elastic constants (EC) and elastic anisotropy pattern of bone. Immobilization resulted in a significant reduction in trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) and bone volume fraction (BV/TV), while risedronate treatment combined with immobilization exhibited a lesser reduction in Tb.Th and BV/TV, suggesting that risedronate treatment decelerates bone loss, but it was unable to fully stop it. Risedronate treatment also increased the tissue mineral density (TMD), which when combined with the decrease in Tb.Th and BV/TV may explain the lack of significant differences in vBMD in both immobilization and risedronate treated groups. Interestingly, changes in apparent EC were much stronger in the superior–inferior (SI) direction than in the medial–lateral (ML) and anterior–posterior (AP) anatomical directions, producing changes in elastic anisotropy patterns. When data were pooled together, vBMD was able to explain 58% of ultrasound measurements variability, a poroelastic wave propagation analytical model (i.e., BMD modulated by fabric directionality) was able to predict 81% of experimental wave velocity variability, and also explained 91% of apparent EC and changes in elastic anisotropy patterns. Overall, measurements of vBMD were unable to distinguish changes in apparent EC due to immobilization or risedronate treatment. However, anisotropic poroelastic ultrasound (PEUS) wave propagation was able to distinguish functional changes in apparent EC and elastic anisotropy patterns due to immobilization and antiresorptive therapy, providing an enhanced discrimination of anisotropic bone loss and the structure–function relationship in immobilized and risedronate-treated bone, beyond vBMD.
Four-Pose Synthesis of Angle-Symmetric 6R Linkages
Authors: Hegedüs Gábor , Schicho Josef , Schröcker Hans-Peter
Published: November 2014

We use the recently introduced factorization theory of motion polynomials over the dual quaternions and cubic interpolation on quadrics for the synthesis of closed kinematic loops with six revolute joints that visit four prescribed poses. The resulting 6R linkages are special in the sense that the relative motions of all links are rational. They exhibit certain elegant properties such as symmetry in the rotation angles and, at least in theory, full-cycle mobility. Our synthesis approach admits either no solution or two one-parametric families of solutions. We suggest strategies for picking good solutions from these families. They ensure a fair coupler motion and optimize other linkage characteristics such as total rotation angle or linkage size. A comprehensive synthesis example is provided.
Evaluation of Force/Torque Transmission Quality for Parallel Manipulators
Authors: Chen Xiang , Chen Chao , Liu Xin-Jun
Published: November 2014

Performance evaluation is one of the most important issues in the analysis and design of parallel manipulators. The internal forces and torques in parallel manipulators contribute to manipulating the end-effectors and resisting the external loads. In this work, we propose a transmission index to evaluate the force and torque transmission quality of parallel manipulators. The index is normalized and used to analyze the exactly constrained parallel manipulators, based on the transmission matrix spanned by transmission wrench screws (TWSs). Furthermore, the index is applied to parallel manipulators with different degrees of freedom (DOF) in order to illustrate and validate the proposed approach and index. Finally, a typical parallel manipulator is selected to address the comparison analysis between different indices, which demonstrates that the proposed index, possessing respective merits, could be complementary to other existing indices.