bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scratch that itch: revisiting links between self-directed behaviour and parasitological, social and environmental factors in a free-ranging primate
Authors: Duboscq Julie , Romano Valéria , Sueur Cédric , MacIntosh Andrew J. J.
Published: November 2016

Different hypotheses explain variation in the occurrence of self-directed behaviour such as scratching and self-grooming: a parasite hypothesis linked with ectoparasite load, an environmental hypothesis linked with seasonal conditions and a social hypothesis linked with social factors. These hypotheses are not mutually exclusive but are often considered separately. Here, we revisited these hypotheses together in female Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata fuscata) of Kōjima islet, Japan. We input occurrences of scratching and self-grooming during focal observations in models combining parasitological (lice load), social (dominance rank, social grooming, aggression received and proximity), and environmental (rainfall, temperature and season) variables. Using an information-theory approach, we simultaneously compared the explanatory value of models against each other using variation in Akaike's information criterion and Akaike's weights. We found that evidence for models with lice load, with or without environmental–social parameters, was stronger than that for other models. In these models, scratching was positively associated with lice load and social grooming whereas self-grooming was negatively associated with lice load and positively associated with social grooming, dominance rank and number of female neighbours. This study indicates that the study animals scratch primarily because of an immune/stimulus itch, possibly triggered by ectoparasite bites/movements. It also confirms that self-grooming could act as a displacement activity in the case of social uncertainty. We advocate that biological hypotheses be more broadly considered even when investigating social processes, as one does not exclude the other.
Stability in skipping gaits
Authors: Andrada Emanuel , Müller Roy , Blickhan Reinhard
Published: November 2016

As an alternative to walking and running, humans are able to skip. However, adult humans avoid it. This fact seems to be related to the higher energetic costs associated with skipping. Still, children, some birds, lemurs and lizards use skipping gaits during daily locomotion. We combined experimental data on humans with numerical simulations to test whether stability and robustness motivate this choice. Parameters for modelling were obtained from 10 male subjects. They locomoted using unilateral skipping along a 12 m runway. We used a bipedal spring loaded inverted pendulum to model and to describe the dynamics of skipping. The subjects displayed higher peak ground reaction forces and leg stiffness in the first landing leg (trailing leg) compared to the second landing leg (leading leg). In numerical simulations, we found that skipping is stable across an amazing speed range from skipping on the spot to fast running speeds. Higher leg stiffness in the trailing leg permits longer strides at same system energy. However, this strategy is at the same time less robust to sudden drop perturbations than skipping with a stiffer leading leg. A slightly higher stiffness in the leading leg is most robust, but might be costlier.
Proto-cooperation: group hunting sailfish improve hunting success by alternating attacks on grouping prey
Authors: Herbert-Read James E. , Romanczuk Pawel , Krause Stefan , Strömbom Daniel , Couillaud Pierre , Domenici Paolo , Kurvers Ralf H. J. M. , Marras Stefano , Steffensen John F. , Wilson Alexander D. M. , Krause Jens
Published: November 2016

We present evidence of a novel form of group hunting. Individual sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) alternate attacks with other group members on their schooling prey (Sardinella aurita). While only 24% of attacks result in prey capture, multiple prey are injured in 95% of attacks, resulting in an increase of injured fish in the school with the number of attacks. How quickly prey are captured is positively correlated with the level of injury of the school, suggesting that hunters can benefit from other conspecifics' attacks on the prey. To explore this, we built a mathematical model capturing the dynamics of the hunt. We show that group hunting provides major efficiency gains (prey caught per unit time) for individuals in groups of up to 70 members. We also demonstrate that a free riding strategy, where some individuals wait until the prey are sufficiently injured before attacking, is only beneficial if the cost of attacking is high, and only then when waiting times are short. Our findings provide evidence that cooperative benefits can be realized through the facilitative effects of individuals' hunting actions without spatial coordination of attacks. Such ‘proto-cooperation’ may be the pre-cursor to more complex group-hunting strategies.
Bacterial but not protist gut microbiota align with ecological specialization in a set of lower termite species
Authors: Waidele Lena , Korb Judith , Küenzel Sven , Dedeine Franck , Staubach Fabian
Published: November 2016

The role of microbes in adaptation of higher organisms to the environment is becoming increasingly evident, but remains poorly understood. Protist and bacterial microbes facilitate that lower termites thrive on wood and are directly involved in substrate break down. During the course of evolution lower termites adapted to different diets and lifestyles. In order to test whether there are changes of the termite gut microbiota that co-occur and hence could be related to diet and lifestyle adaptation, we assessed the bacterial and protist communities in a multispecies framework profiling three wood-dwelling and two foraging lower termite species using 16S and 18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Termites were kept under controlled conditions on the same diet to minimize environmental effects on their gut microbiota. We found that protist communities group according to host phylogeny while bacterial communities group according to lifestyle. The change from the ancestral wood-dwelling to a foraging lifestyle coincides with exposure to more diverse and higher concentrations of pathogens as well as a more diverse diet. Accordingly, we identified bacteria that are associated with foraging termites of the genusReticulitermesand could function as probiotics or be metabolically important on a more diverse diet. Furthermore, protist and bacterial diversity are correlated, suggesting not only that many termite gut bacteria are associated with protists, but also suggesting a role of protist diversity in the evolution of bacterial diversity in the termite gut or vice versa.
The Creation of A Negative Slope Conductance Region by the activation of The Persistent Sodium Current Prolongs Near-Threshold Synaptic Potentials
Authors: Ceballos Cesar C. , Roque Antonio C. , Leão Ricardo M.
Published: November 2016

A change of the input resistance (Rin) of the neuron involves a change in the membrane conductances by opening and closing of ion channels. In passive membranes, i.e., membranes with only linear leak conductances, the increase or decrease of these conductances leads to a decrease or increase of the Rinand the membrane time constant (τm). However, the presence of subthreshold voltage dependent currents can produce non-linear effects generating deviations from this relationship, especially the contradictory effect of negative conductances, as produced by the sodium-persistent current (INaP), on the Rin. In this work we aimed to analyze experimentally and theoretically the impact of the negative conductance produced by INaPon Rin. Experiments of whole-cell patch-clamp conducted in CA1 hippocampus pyramidal cells from brain slices showed a paradoxical voltage-dependent decrease of the Rinand the τmin subthreshold membrane potentials close to the firing threshold after the perfusion with TTX, which inhibits INaP. This effect is postulated to be a result of the negative slope conductance in the subthreshold region produced by this conductance. The analysis of the experimental data, together with simulations found that the slope conductance of INaPis negative for subthreshold membrane potentials and its magnitude is voltage dependent in the same range observed for the voltage-dependence of Rinand τm. The injection of an artificial INaPusing dynamic-clamp in the presence of TTX restored the Rinand τmto its original values. Additionally the injection of an artificial leak current with a negative conductance in the presence of TTX restored the Rinand τmas the artificial Inapdid. On the other hand, the injection of an artificial leak current with a positive conductance in the presence of TTX had no effect on the Rinand τm. We conclude that INaPincreases the Rinand τmby the negative slope conductance observed in its non-monotonic I-V relationship. These results demonstrate that the effect of Inapon Rinand τmis stronger in potentials near the firing threshold, which could potentiate the temporal summation of the EPSPs increasing their temporal integration and facilitating action potential firing. Because of its negative slope conductance, INaPis more effective in increasing excitability near threshold than a depolarizing leak current.
Causality, Transfer Entropy and Allosteric Communication Landscapes in Proteins with Harmonic Interactions
Authors: Hacisuleyman Aysima , Erman Burak
Published: November 2016

A fast and approximate method of generating allosteric communication landscapes is presented by using Schreiber's entropy transfer concept in combination with the Gaussian Network Model of proteins. Predictions of the model and the allosteric communication landscapes generated show that information transfer in proteins does not necessarily take place along a single path, but through an ensemble of pathways. The model emphasizes that knowledge of entropy only is not sufficient for determining allosteric communication and additional information based on time delayed correlations has to be introduced, which leads to the presence of causality in proteins. The model provides a simple tool for mapping entropy sink-source relations into pairs of residues. Residues that should be manipulated to control protein activity may be determined with this approach. This should be of great importance for allosteric drug design and for understanding the effects of mutations on protein function. The model is applied to determine allosteric communication in two proteins, Ubiquitin and Pyruvate Kinase. Predictions are in agreement with detailed molecular dynamics simulations and experimental evidence.

Significance

Proteins perform their function by an exchange of information within themselves and with their environments through correlated fluctuations of their atoms. Fluctuations of one atom may drive the fluctuations of another. Information transmitted in this way leads to allosteric communication which is described as the process in which action at one site of the protein is transmitted to another site at which the protein performs its activity. Disruption of allosteric communication by mutation for example leads to disease. The present paper incorporates information theoretic concepts into the well known Gaussian Network Model of proteins and allows for rapid characterization of allosteric communication landscapes for normal functioning as well as malfunctioning proteins.
The megabase-sized fungal genome ofRhizoctonia solaniassembled from nanopore reads only
Authors: Datema Erwin , Hulzink Raymond J.M. , Blommers Lisanne , Espejo Valle-Inclan Josè , van Orsouw Nathalie , Wittenberg Alexander H.J. , de Vos Martin
Published: November 2016

The ability to quickly obtain accurate genome sequences of eukaryotic pathogens at low costs provides a tremendous opportunity to identify novel targets for therapeutics, develop pesticides with increased target specificity and breed for resistance in food crops. Here, we present the first report of the ~54 MB eukaryotic genome sequence ofRhizoctonia solani,an important pathogenic fungal species of maize, using nanopore technology. Moreover, we show that optimizing the strategy for wet-lab procedures aimed to isolate high quality and ultra-pure high molecular weight (HMW) DNA results in increased read length distribution and thereby allowing generation of the most contiguous genome assembly forR. solanito date. We further determined sequencing accuracy and compared the assembly to short-read technologies. With the current sequencing technology and bioinformatics tool set, we are able to deliver an eukaryotic fungal genome at low cost within a week. With further improvements of the sequencing technology and increased throughput of the PromethION sequencer we aim to generate near-finished assemblies of large and repetitive plant genomes and cost-efficiently performde novosequencing of large collections of microbial pathogens and the microbial communities that surround our crops.
PREDetector 2.0: Online and Enhanced Version of the Prokaryotic Regulatory Elements Detector Tool
Authors: Tocquin Pierre , Naômé Aymeric , Jourdan Samuel , Anderssen Sinaeda , Hiard Samuel , van Wezel Gilles P. , Hanikenne Marc , Baurain Denis , Rigali Sébastien
Published: November 2016

In the era that huge numbers of microbial genomes are being released in the databases, it becomes increasingly important to rapidly mine genes as well as predict the regulatory networks that control their expression. To this end, we have developed an improved and online version of the PREDetector software aimed at identifying putative transcription factor-binding sites (TFBS) in bacterial genomes. The original philosophy of PREDetector 1.0 is maintained,i.e.to allow users to freely fix the DNA-motif screening parameters, and to provide a statistical means to estimate the reliability of the prediction output. This new version offers an interactive table as well as graphics to dynamically alter the main screening parameters with automatic update of the list of identified putative TFBS. PREDetector 2.0 also has the following additional options: (i) access to genome sequences from different databases, (ii) access to weight matrices from public repositories, (iii) visualization of the predicted hits in their genomic context, (iv) grouping of hits identified in the same upstream region, (v) possibility to store the performed jobs, and (vi) automated export of the results in various formats. PREDetector 2.0 is available athttp://predetector.fsc.ulg.ac.be/.
Lipopolysaccharide composition determines the preferred route and entry kinetics of bacterial outer membrane vesicles into host cells
Authors: O’Donoghue Eloise J , Browning Douglas F. , Bielska Ewa , Alderwick Luke , Jabbari Sara , Krachler Anne Marie
Published: November 2016

Outer membrane vesicles are microvesicles shed by Gram-negative bacteria and play important roles in immune priming and disease pathogenesis. However, our current mechanistic understanding of vesicle - host cell interactions is limited by a lack of methods to study the kinetics of vesicle entry and cargo delivery to host cells in real-time. Here, we describe a highly sensitive method to study the kinetics of vesicle entry into host cells in real-time using a genetically encoded probe targeted to vesicles. We found that route of vesicular uptake, and thus entry kinetics and efficiency of cargo release, are determined by the chemical composition of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide. The presence of O-antigen facilitates receptor-independent entry, which enhances both rate and efficiency of cargo uptake by host cells. Collectively, our findings highlight the chemical composition of the bacterial cell wall as a major determinant of secretion-independent delivery of virulence factors during Gram-negative infections.
Social media and consumer engagement: a review and research agenda
Authors: Barger Victor , Peltier James W. , Schultz Don E.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

In “Social media’s slippery slope: challenges, opportunities and future research directions”, Schultz and Peltier (2013) asked “whether or how social media can be used to leverage consumer engagement into highly profitable relationships for both parties”. The purpose of this article is to continue this discussion by reviewing recent literature on consumer engagement and proposing a framework for future research.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper reviews the marketing literature on social media, paying particular attention to consumer engagement, which was identified as a primary area of concern in Schultz and Peltier (2013).

Findings

A significant amount of research has been conducted on consumer engagement since 2010. Lack of consensus on the definition of the construct has led to fragmentation in the discipline, however. As a result, research related to consumer engagement is often not identified as such, making it difficult for academics and practitioners to stay abreast of developments in this area.

Originality/value

This critical review provides marketing academics and practitioners insights into the antecedents and consequences of consumer engagement and offers a conceptual framework for future research.
Institutional entrepreneurship and management control systems
Authors: Martin-Sardesai Ann
Published: November 2016

Purpose

This study aims to explore how management control systems (MCS) compliment institutional entrepreneurship. It provides a case illustration of how the Vice Chancellor (VC) as an institutional entrepreneur used MCS to bring about a change in an Australian public sector university in anticipation of an externally imposed research assessment exercise.

Design/methodology/approach

This case study gathered qualitative data through key informant interviews (including deputy VCs, research managers, executive deans and heads of departments) and a review of university and other electronic policy-related documents.

Findings

The study contributes to an understanding of the external environment that drives university leaders to become institutional entrepreneurs, and what they precisely do to facilitate the internal dynamic change in line with political demands.

Research limitations/implications

Being a single case study, care should be taken in generalizing the findings. However, it raises significant issues that deserve further attention, for example, the impact of change on the working life of academics.

Practical implications

The research study identifies the proposed imposition of a research assessment exercise as an enabling condition under which an institutional entrepreneur could promote and activate a new vision. It provides useful insights for other universities operating in the rapidly changing environment.

Originality/value

In identifying the way institutional entrepreneurs bring about change by promoting a vision and operationalizing it through MCS, the research study extends literature on institutional entrepreneurship MCS and organizational change.
A model for gauging the prominence of web-based CSR disclosure
Authors: Chong Sabrina , Ali Irshad , Lodhia Sumit K.
Published: November 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a model to assess web-based corporate social responsibility (CSR) disclosure prominence and use this model to explore the prominence of CSR disclosures of listed New Zealand (NZ) companies.

Design/methodology/approach

A CSR Disclosure Prominence Indicator Model was constructed using five key elements that include the dissemination medium, accessibility, location, content variety and extent of CSR disclosures. The websites of 65 of the largest listed NZ companies from 11 industry groupings were explored through this model.

Findings

A significant proportion (81.5 per cent) of listed NZ companies in the sample were utilising their websites for communicating CSR information to stakeholders. The CSR Disclosure Prominence Indicator Model revealed that companies that have CSR-related disclosures on their websites used multiple dissemination media and locations to enhance prominence of such disclosures. CSR commentary on the webpage was the most prominent dissemination medium due to its ease of accessibility, with a separate CSR webpage being the most prominent location. Environmental performance and society-related issues received the most prominent emphasis. Although companies from “sensitive” industry sectors appeared to disclose their CSR information more prominently, those from “less sensitive” industries also attempted to make their CSR disclosure more prominent and noticeable through strategic placement and through the extent of disclosure.

Research limitations/implications

The paper highlights the importance of managing web-based CSR disclosure prominence, thereby highlighting its significance in communication of CSR information.

Practical implications

Prominently placed CSR disclosures could be a significant platform for companies to strategically manage their image and identity. The CSR Disclosure Prominence Indicator Model could be utilised by companies to effectively assess and manage the prominence of CSR disclosures on their websites for more effective communication with stakeholders.

Originality/value

The paper complements earlier studies on CSR disclosures by constructing and applying a model to assess the prominence of web-based CSR disclosures.
Stochastic cost frontier analysis – a sensitivity analysis on cost measures
Authors: Ngo Thanh , Tripe David
Published: November 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine alternative methods for recording and treating costs in studies of bank efficiency.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) models with core costs and total costs to estimate the cost efficiency of banks in two different economies, Vietnam where the banking system is under-developed (and thus is dominated by traditional banking activities) and New Zealand where the banking system is well-developed (and thus non-traditional banking activities play an important role).

Findings

The authors found that models using total cost tend to underestimate the banks’ cost efficiency. This underestimation relates to the extent of modern activities in a banking system: it is larger in an advanced banking system (i.e. New Zealand) and smaller in a less-developed banking system (i.e. Vietnam).

Research limitations/implications

Research is limited to two countries, and it would be useful to apply the same technique to other data sets.

Practical implications

The paper suggests a new approach to cost SFA studies in banking.

Originality/value

The paper provides a much more searching analysis of costs in banking than has generally been seen in previous research.
Role of the overall treatment time of radiotherapy with 10 × 3 Gy for outcomes in patients with metastatic spinal cord compression
Authors: Rades Dirk , Janssen Stefan , Conde‐Moreno Antonio Jose , Cacicedo Jon , Metz Michaela , Veninga Theo , Segedin Barbara , Rudat Volker , Schild Steven E
Published: November 2016

Introduction

Radiotherapy alone still is the most commonly delivered treatment modality for metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). MSCC is an emergency situation, which requires treatment as soon as possible. When radiotherapy is performed with the most commonly used approach 10 × 3 Gy (30 Gy in 10 fractions) over 2 weeks, the question has been asked whether an overall treatment time (OTT) of 14–15 days including two weekends without irradiation leads to worse outcomes than OTT of 12 days (beginning of radiotherapy on a Monday resulting in only one weekend break)?

Methods

A total of 412 patients with MSCC were included in this retrospective study. Ninety‐two patients receiving 10 × 3 Gy over 12 days were compared to 320 patients with an OTT of 14–15 days. Ten additional factors were investigated.

Results

On multivariate analysis, functional outcome was associated with tumour type (P < 0.001), time developing motor deficits (P < 0.001), ambulatory status (P = 0.018) and performance score (P < 0.001); OTT had no significant impact (P = 0.40). On univariate analysis of local control of MSCC (freedom from recurrence in irradiated spinal parts), no factor was significant including OTT (P = 0.66). On multivariate analysis, visceral metastases (P < 0.001), tumour type (P < 0.001), time developing motor deficits (P < 0.001), ambulatory status (P < 0.001) and performance score (P < 0.001) were associated with survival, OTT not even on univariate analysis (P = 0.55).

Conclusions

Since an OTT of 14–15 days had no negative impact on outcomes compared to 12 days, compensation in form of an additional radiation fraction or continuation of radiotherapy during weekends is not required, if radiotherapy cannot be started on a Monday.
Tracheal extubation of the adult intensive care patient with a predicted difficult airway – a narrative review
Authors: Sturgess D. J. , Greenland K. B. , Senthuran S. , Ajvadi F. A. , van Zundert A. , Irwin M. G.
Published: November 2016

Management of the difficult airway is an important, but as yet poorly‐studied, component of intensive care management. Although there has been a strong emphasis on prediction and intubation of the difficult airway, safe extubation of the patient with a potentially difficult airway has not received the same attention. Extubation is a particularly vulnerable time for the critically ill patient and, because of the risks involved and the consequences of failure, it warrants specific consideration. The Royal College of Anaesthetists 4th National Audit Project highlighted differences in the incidence and consequences of major complications during airway management between the operating room and the critical care environment. The findings in the section on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine reinforce the importance of good airway management in the critical care environment and, in particular, the need for appropriate guidelines to improve patient safety. This narrative review focuses on strategies for safe extubation of the trachea for patients with potentially difficult upper airway problems in the intensive care unit.
HOW COOPERATIVE ARE SAVINGS AND CREDIT COOPERATIVES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES?: AN ANALYSIS OF DATASETS FROM UGANDA
Authors: SCHMIDT Oliver
Published: November 2016

Building successful savings and credit cooperatives (SACCOs) that actually embody the cooperative principles is a challenge to development agencies. Although SACCOs form the majority of microfinance providers in many developing countries, the most recent literature on microfinance governance and performance has given little reference to the longstanding body of relevant cooperative literature. SACCO representation in microfinance datasets is biased. Drawing on so‐far unexploited datasets of Ugandan SACCOs and savings groups, this paper empirically analyses policy debate regarding SACCO‐ and savings group regulation. The findings point to the relevance of practically implementing the principle of ‘cooperation between cooperatives’ to ensure effective governance at SACCO level. Moreover, the paper introduces two new measures, based on members' savings and shares, which could become useful tools to track the application of cooperative principles in developing countries, and hence improve evidence‐based policy‐making for SACCOs.
Cortisol and ACTH levels in drug‐naive adolescents with first‐episode early onset schizophrenia
Authors: Şimşek Şeref , Gençoğlan Salih , Yüksel Tuğba , Aktaş Hüseyin
Published: November 2016

The aim of this study was to investigate serum levels of cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone in adolescents with first‐episode early onset schizophrenia. A total of 23 adolescent patients, who did not receive prior therapy and who were diagnosed with psychosis according to DSM‐IV, were included. Kiddie‐Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia‐Present and Lifetime Version, Positive and Negative Symptom Scale, and Clinical Global Impression Scale were conducted with the participants. No significant differences were found between the patients and the control subjects in serum cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels (P > .05). Our study's findings do not support the hypothesis of increased hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis activity in first‐episode early onset schizophrenia.
From Ore to Pigment: A Description of the Minerals and an Experimental Study of Cobalt Ore Processing from the Kāshān Mine, Iran
Authors: Matin M. , Pollard A. M.
Published: November 2016

Ore samples collected from the cobalt mine of Qamsar, Kāshān, were studied using optical microscopy (OM), qualitative X‐ray diffraction analysis (XRD), semi‐quantitative X‐ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and quantitative electron micro‐probe with wavelength‐dispersive spectrometry (EMP–WDS). These analytical data provide the characteristics of the Kāshān cobalt ore, which can be compared with the composition of the blue pigments and colourants applied to glass and glazes, not least those of Islamic and Chinese blue‐and‐white wares. Preliminary replication studies of the pigment were also conducted according to the descriptions given in the Persian and European historical texts reviewed in a previous paper. The resulting phases were examined under an optical microscope and a semi‐quantitative energy‐dispersive spectrometer (EDS) attached to a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The ore was shown to contain high Fe and As concentrations and negligible Zn and Ni concentrations. Cobaltite (CoAsS) and erythrite (Co3(AsO4)2.8H2O) made up the two main cobalt‐bearing minerals in the ore. The washing processes that were conducted based on a historical text rendered the ore more enriched with erythrite. In light of the new data on the Kāshān cobalt ore, the origins of the blue pigments used in some of the Islamic and Chinese ceramics are reconsidered.
Carriage rate and antibiotic susceptibility of coagulase‐positive staphylococci isolated from healthy dogs in Victoria, Australia
Authors: Bean DC , Wigmore SM
Published: November 2016

Background

Studies in Australia and elsewhere have shown high levels of antibiotic resistance in coagulase‐positive staphylococci in dogs visiting veterinary clinics with pyoderma and related conditions. Although important, such studies tend to overestimate the burden of resistance. The aim of the current study was to investigate the prevalence of coagulase‐positive staphylococci in healthy dogs in Central Victoria to assess the level of antibiotic resistance among these isolates.

Methods

We recruited 117 healthy dogs into the study. Swabs were taken at four sites (ear, mouth, nose, perineum) and staphylococcal species identified and isolated using culture and biochemical techniques.

Results

Staphylococcus pseudintermediusandS. aureuswere recovered from 100 and 17 dogs, respectively; 15 dogs were simultaneously co‐colonised with both organisms. The mouth and perineum were the most sensitive sites for recovery of these organisms. The most commonly encountered resistances were penicillin (95.2% and 72.4% inS. aureusandS. pseudintermedius, respectively) and doxycycline/tetracycline (19.7% inS. pseudintermedius). No methicillin‐resistantS. aureuswere recovered, but two phenotypically methicillin‐resistantS. pseudintermedius(MRSP) isolates were recovered, although only one wasPCR‐positive for themecAgene. Notably theMRSPisolate was multidrug resistant, as it also exhibited resistance to mupirocin and erythromycin.

Conclusion

With the exception of penicillin, doxycycline and tetracycline, the level of resistance to the antimicrobial agents tested was minimal. Prudent antibiotic use in treating companion animals with skin infections will reduce the selection ofMRSPand other multidrug‐resistant bacteria.
Hässeldala – a key site for Last Termination climate events in northern Europe
Authors: Wohlfarth Barbara , Muschitiello Francesco , L. Greenwood Sarah , Andersson August , Kylander Malin , Smittenberg Rienk H. , Steinthorsdottir Margret , Watson Jenny , Whitehouse Nicola J.
Published: November 2016

The Last Termination (19 000–11 000 a BP) with its rapid and distinct climate shifts provides a perfect laboratory to study the nature and regional impact of climate variability. The sedimentary succession from the ancient lake at Hässeldala Port in southern Sweden with its distinct Lateglacial/early Holocene stratigraphy (>14.1–9.5 cal. ka BP) is one of the few chronologically well‐constrained, multi‐proxy sites in Europe that capture a variety of local and regional climatic and environmental signals. Here we present Hässeldala's multi‐proxy records (lithology, geochemistry, pollen, diatoms, chironomids, biomarkers, hydrogen isotopes) in a refined age model and place the observed changes in lake status, catchment vegetation, summer temperatures and hydroclimate in a wider regional context. Reconstructed mean July temperatures increased between c. 14.1 and c. 13.1 cal. ka BP and subsequently declined. This latter cooling coincided with drier hydroclimatic conditions that were probably associated with a freshening of the Nordic Seas and started a few hundred years before the onset of Greenland Stadial 1 (c. 12.9 cal. ka BP). Our proxies suggest a further shift towards colder and drier conditions as late as c. 12.7 cal. ka BP, which was followed by the establishment of a stadial climate regime (c. 12.5–11.8 cal. ka BP). The onset of warmer and wetter conditions preceded the Holocene warming over Greenland by c. 200 years. Hässeldala's proxies thus highlight the complexity of environmental and hydrological responses across abrupt climate transitions in northern Europe.
Birth interval and stunting in children under five years of age in Peru (1996–2014)
Authors: Sobrino M. , Gutiérrez C. , Alarcón J. , Dávila M. , Cunha A. J.
Published: November 2016

Background

Examine the evolution of stunting in <5 years of age in Peru and its relationship with birth interval (BI), and associated factors from 1996 to 2014.

Methods

Data were extracted from the National Demographic and Health Survey of Peru (DHS) for the years 1996, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2014 on children <5 years of age for stunting (height / age ≤ 2DS). The main independent variable of interest was BI dichotomized by interval between date of last and penultimate birth (≤24 months vs. >24 months) and others sociodemographic variables. Crude and adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals were estimated in logistic regression for the effect of BI and other variables on stunting by each survey year.

Results

Between 1996 and 2014, stunting declined in both BI groups: ≤24 months: 35.8% to 21.8%; >24 months: 29.5% to 14.3%. BI was associated with stunting after adjustment for other variables in each survey except 2005. Of the other factors, sex, birth order (fourth child or more), maternal education and poverty were independently associated with stunting in all survey years. Residence in rural areas and in Amazon forest and highland regions was associated with stunting 1996 and 2000. Maternal age was not independently associated with stunting.

Conclusions

While stunting showed a decreasing trend from 1996 to 2014, birth interval exceeding 24 months exerted a protective effect on stunting across the years surveyed. Poverty, low maternal education and high birth order were associated with stunting in all survey years.
Siblings of children with life‐limiting conditions: psychological adjustment and sibling relationships
Authors: Fullerton J. M. , Totsika V. , Hain R. , Hastings R. P.
Published: November 2016

Background

This study explored psychological adjustment and sibling relationships of siblings of children with life‐limiting conditions (LLCs), expanding on previous research by defining LLCs using a systematic classification of these conditions.

Methods

Thirty‐nine siblings participated, aged 3–16 years. Parents completed measures of siblings' emotional and behavioural difficulties, quality of life, sibling relationships and impact on families and siblings. Sibling and family adjustment and relationships were compared with population norms, where available, and to a matched comparison group of siblings of children with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), as a comparable ‘high risk’ group.

Results

LLC siblings presented significantly higher levels of emotional and behavioural difficulties, and lower quality of life than population norms. Their difficulties were at levels comparable to siblings of children with ASD. A wider impact on the family was confirmed. Family socio‐economic position, time since diagnosis, employment and accessing hospice care were factors associated with better psychological adjustment.

Conclusions

Using a systematic classification of LLCs, the study supported earlier findings of increased levels of psychological difficulties in siblings of children with a LLC. The evidence is (i) highlighting the need to provide support to these siblings and their families, and (ii) that intervention approaches could be drawn from the ASD field.
Children's and carers' perspectives of a therapeutic intervention for children affected by sexual abuse
Authors: Jessiman Patricia , Hackett Simon , Carpenter John
Published: November 2016

This paper presents the findings of a qualitative study with children affected by sexual abuse who had recently completed a therapeutic intervention (N = 12) and their carers (N = 17). Four themes emerged from the thematic analysis that influenced participants' satisfaction with the service: the attribution of the child's recovery to the therapeutic support received; the therapeutic relationship between the child and practitioner; children's recollection of important aspects of the intervention and the relationship between the carer and the child's practitioner. The findings indicate that the process elements of therapeutic support, including the development of strong relationships and allowing children choice and control, are as important as the content.
Point Cloud Denoising via Moving RPCA
Authors: Mattei E. , Castrodad A.
Published: November 2016

We present an algorithm for the restoration of noisy point cloud data, termed Moving Robust Principal Components Analysis (MRPCA). We model the point cloud as a collection of overlapping two‐dimensional subspaces, and propose a model that encourages collaboration between overlapping neighbourhoods. Similar to state‐of‐the‐art sparse modelling‐based image denoising, the estimated point positions are computed by local averaging. In addition, the proposed approach models grossly corrupted observations explicitly, does not require oriented normals, and takes into account both local and global structure. Sharp features are preserved via a weighted ℓ1 minimization, where the weights measure the similarity between normal vectors in a local neighbourhood. The proposed algorithm is compared against existing point cloud denoising methods, obtaining competitive results.
Homology and synapomorphy‐symplesiomorphy—neither synonymous nor equivalent but different perspectives on the same phenomenon
Authors: Richter Stefan
Published: November 2016

In a recent debate, either synapomorphy and symplesiomorphy or only synapomorphy have been claimed to be synonymous or equivalent to homology. In my view, exactly the same relationship exists between homology supported by a congruence test on the one hand and synapomorphy as well as symplesiomorphy on the other hand. Both conditions become established at the same time with the process of rooting of an unrooted topology. I, however, do not consider the concept of homology equal or synonymous to that of synapomorphy and symplesiomorphy. In my view, they represent different perspectives on the same phenomenon, i.e. correspondence by common origin. Homology has no implication on the direction of transformation, whereas symplesiomorphy as “primitive” condition and synapomorphy as “derived” condition refer directly to phylogenesis, the real historical evolutionary process of speciation and transformation. In addition, synapomorphy and symplesiomorphy might also refer to a character state that refers to the absence of a structure/organ, which creates problems with traditional homology concepts. Hennig's terms synapomorphy and symplesiomorphy are necessary and sufficient for the evolutionary interpretation of character states. For what is corroborated in an unrooted topology as the result of a congruence test, I suggest as a new term “synmorphy” because it can well be applied also to those characters where one state represents the absence of a structure/organ. The place for homology in morphological cladistics, however, is restricted to the characterization of the relationship between different character states of one transformation series (i.e. character).
The influence of initial alveolar ridge defect morphology on the outcome of implants in augmented atrophic posterior mandible: an exploratory retrospective study
Authors: Khojasteh Arash , Motamedian Saeed Reza , Sharifzadeh Navid , Zadeh Homayoun H.
Published: November 2016

Objectives

Clinicians commonly consider atrophic site topography as an important determinant in deciding the augmentation technique to utilize, as well as forecasting the likelihood of success. The purpose of this retrospective study was to examine the influence of initial atrophic posterior mandible morphology on the outcome of implants placed following augmentation.

Materials and methods

A total of 52 patients contributed 71 edentulous sites, and 185 implants were placed with mean follow‐up of 37.97 months. The initial defect morphology was classified according to ABC classification (Journal of Oral Implantology, 37, 2013a and 361). Ridge augmentation was performed by “cortical autogenous tenting” (CAT) followed by either simultaneous or delayed implant placement after 4–6 months of healing. The European Academy of Osseointegration success criteria were used to evaluate implant outcomes.

Results

The overall survival and success rates of dental implants were 98.91% and 80%, respectively. Cumulative success and survival rates in CAT group were 95% and 100% after 2 years of follow‐up. The highest marginal bone loss (MBL) was observed (1.26 mm ± 0.99) around implants placed in augmented edentulous sites with initially narrow and flat alveolar crest (defect class CII). Conversely, least MBL (0.48 mm ± 0.78) was detected around implants placed into edentulous sites with two sloped boney walls (defect class AII). Differences between MBL observed around implants placed into initial defect class C, initial defect type and class A (I, II), as well as class BII, were statistically significant (P < 0.05). Among all implants, 148 were considered as successful, 26 exhibited satisfactory survival, nine with compromised survival, and two implants failed.

Conclusion

The present data confirmed the effect of initial ridge morphology on the outcome of implants placed into augmented bone. Specifically, class A and class B atrophic ridge defects, with one and two vertical boney walls, respectively, may be considered as more favorable recipient sites than class C defects with flat morphology. This conclusion is based on least MBL around implants placed into initial defect class A and class B augmented sites, and higher MBL in implants placed into class C recipient sites. A randomized controlled trial is warranted to examine these exploratory observations.
Release of nickel and chromium in common foods during cooking in 18/10 (grade 316) stainless steel pots
Authors: Guarneri Fabrizio , Costa Chiara , Cannavò Serafinella P. , Catania Stefania , Bua Giuseppe D. , Fenga Concettina , Dugo Giacomo
Published: November 2016

Background

Literature data on the release of nickel and chromium from stainless steel cookware during food preparation are contrasting, have often been obtained with uncommon foods and/or procedures, and are thus not widely applicable.

Objectives

To assess the release of nickel and chromium from 18/10 (grade 316) stainless steel pots in cooking conditions that are common in an urban lifestyle.

Methods

Tomato sauce and lemon marmalade were cooked for 1 h, alone or with added EDTA, in used or unused stainless steel pots from different manufacturers. Additionally, aqueous solutions at pH 2.3, 7.7 and 9 were boiled for 1 h in the same pots. Metal release was assessed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Results

The release of nickel and chromium increased with cooking/boiling time, was higher with unused pots, at low pH or with EDTA, and was sometimes remarkably different between manufacturers. In all experiments, the amounts released were below known allergy‐triggering thresholds.

Conclusions

Under common conditions, the use of 18/10 stainless steel pots is considered to be safe for the majority of nickel‐allergic and/or chromium‐allergic subjects. However, the total amount of nickel contained in foods and released from pots may exceed the individual threshold for triggering allergy, potentially causing problems for highly sensitive patients, or, conversely, contribute to induction of immunotolerance by oral low‐dose exposure.
Defaults, Decision Costs and Welfare in Behavioural Policy Design
Authors: Chesterley Nicholas
Published: November 2016

This paper studies the welfare effects of behavioural policies that change a consumer's default option or their cost of optimizing. I find that such policies, though increasingly popular, lead not just to changes in the welfare of optimizers or default‐takers in the population—the payoff effect—but also to the membership of those groups—the composition effect. This can lead to costly and potentially counterintuitive effects: improving defaults may actually lower welfare, unlike decision simplification, which is unambiguously positive. Such approaches present a useful policy tool but are not always appropriate, and considerable knowledge of preferences is necessary for effective implementation.
The fifth takotsubo variant
Authors: Bridgman Paul G. , Chan Christina W.
Published: November 2016

We document the fifth pattern of takotsubo cardiomyopathy, in which the mid‐LV is hyperdynamic but the apex and base are akinetic or hypokinetic. This is a reverse mid‐ventricular takotsubo. The patient is a 79‐year‐old woman admitted with chest pain and initially a normal EKG. Her troponin I rose to 5.4 μg/L (0.02‐0.03 μg/L) and she developed QT prolongation and widespread T‐wave inversion. Coronary angiography showed only very mild atheroma. Follow‐up echocardiogram six weeks later showed normal left ventricular function.
Echocardiographic assessment of prosthetic mitral valves in children
Authors: Hayashi Taiyu , Inuzuka Ryo , Ono Hiroshi , Kato Hitoshi
Published: November 2016

Aims

We studied how Doppler‐derived hemodynamic parameters in children change as the relative prosthetic mitral valve (PMV) size decreases with somatic growth and evaluated the diagnostic utility of the parameters for detecting PMV obstruction in children.

Methods and Results

We reviewed 26 echocardiographic examination results of 15 mechanical bileaflet PMVs in 12 children. The median age at echocardiographic examination was 6.6 (0.6–18.1) years. The PMV functioned normally in 24 examinations but was obstructed due to thrombosis in two cases. PMV sizes ranged between 16 and 25 mm, which were standardized to body surface area (BSA) at the examination with z‐score calculations. We assessed the peak E velocity, mean pressure gradient (PG), and pressure half time (PHT) of the transprosthetic flow, the velocity–time integral (VTI) ratio of the PMV inflow to the left ventricular outflow, and the BSA‐indexed effective orifice area (iEOA) of the PMV calculated with the continuity equation. Linear regression analysis revealed statistically significant correlations between all parameters of normally functioning PMVs and the PMV size z‐scores (Pearson correlation coefficients: peak E velocity, −0.68; mean PG, −0.71; PHT, −0.82; VTI ratio, −0.76; iEOA, 0.79). Compared with the predictive values derived from the regression equations, the VTI ratio and iEOA exceeded ± 2 standard errors in both patients with obstructive PMVs.

Conclusion

To assess PMV function in children, Doppler‐derived hemodynamic parameters should be compared with their predictive values based on relative PMV sizes. The deviation of the VTI ratio and iEOA from their predictive values may indicate prosthetic obstruction.