bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Methods for tagging very small fish
Authors: Bradley Deijah D. , Schimke Elianna J. , Alvey Alyssa P. , Hofmann Hans A. , Solomon-Lane Tessa K.
Published: October 2018

Identifying individuals over time and across contexts is essential in many scientific fields. There are a variety of well-established methods for uniquely marking individuals (e.g., visible implant elastomer, barcodes, paint). However, for some species, life history stages, and/or experiments, existing methods are not sufficient. Here, we describe two methods – a tattoo method and a piercing method – for tagging juveniles of the African cichlid fish,Astatotilapia burtoni, which are too small for the methods used with adults, or other known methods. The tattoo method is appropriate for the youngest, smallestA. burtonijuveniles and injects tattoo ink into the dorsal muscle. Different colors and injection locations can be used to distinguish among individuals over a period of weeks (up to 4 weeks, average 2.5-3 weeks under our conditions). Because fish this young and small are sensitive to handling and injection, we also include physiological data showing fish recover well from anesthetization and tagging. The piercing method is appropriate for fish of all sizes, including the youngest, smallest juveniles. It uses very thin fishing line threaded through the dorsal muscle and tied into a barbell or loop. Unique colors and patterns can be used to distinguish among individuals over a period of months. We also include open field exploration behavior data because a physical tag might impede normal movement in very small fish. We expect these effective and inexpensive methods to be useful for a variety of small species and will facilitate early-life, developmental, and longitudinal research.
Psychological resilience correlates with EEG source-space brain network flexibility
Authors: Paban Veronique , Modolo Julien , Mheich Ahmad , Hassan Mahmoud
Published: October 2018

Objective

We aimed at identifying the potential relationship between the dynamical properties of the human functional network at rest and one of the most prominent traits of personality, namely resilience.

Approach

To tackle this issue, we used resting-state EEG data recorded from 45 healthy subjects. Resilience was quantified using the 10-items Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Using a sliding windows approach, brain networks in each EEG frequency band (delta, theta, alpha and beta) were constructed using the EEG source-space connectivity method. Brain networks dynamics were evaluated using the network flexibility, linked with the tendency of a given node to change its modular affiliation over time.

Main Results

The results revealed a negative correlation between the psychological resilience and the brain network flexibility for a limited number of brain regions within the delta, alpha and beta bands.

Significance

This study provides evidence that network flexibility, a metric of dynamic functional networks, is strongly correlated with psychological resilience as assessed from personality testing. Beyond this proof-of-principle that reliable EEG-based quantities representative of personality traits can be identified, this motivates further investigation regarding the full spectrum of personality aspects and their relationship with functional networks.
Functional determinants of a small protein controlling a broadly conserved bacterial sensor kinase
Authors: Yadavalli Srujana S , Goh Ted , Carey Jeffrey N , Malengo Gabriele , Vellappan Sangeevan , Nickels Bryce E , Sourjik Victor , Goulian Mark , Yuan Jing
Published: October 2018

The PhoQ/PhoP two-component system plays a vital role in the regulation of Mg2+homeostasis, resistance to acid and hyperosmotic stress, cationic antimicrobial peptides, and virulence inEscherichia coli, Salmonella and related bacteria. Previous studies have shown that MgrB, a 47 amino acid membrane protein that is part of the PhoQ/PhoP regulon, inhibits the histidine kinase PhoQ. MgrB is part of a negative feedback loop modulating this two-component system that prevents hyperactivation of PhoQ and may also provide an entry point for additional input signals for the PhoQ/PhoP pathway. To explore the mechanism of action of MgrB, we have analyzed the effects of point mutations, C-terminal truncations and transmembrane region swaps on MgrB activity. In contrast with two other known membrane protein regulators of histidine kinases inE. coli, we find that the MgrB TM region is necessary for PhoQ inhibition. Our results indicate that the TM region mediates interactions with PhoQ and that W20 is a key residue for PhoQ/MgrB complex formation. Additionally, mutations of the MgrB cytosolic region suggest that the two N-terminal lysines play an important role in regulating PhoQ activity. Alanine scanning mutagenesis of the periplasmic region of MgrB further indicates that, with the exception of a few highly conserved residues, most residues are not essential for MgrB’s function as a PhoQ inhibitor. Our results indicate that the regulatory function of the small protein MgrB depends on distinct contributions from multiple residues spread across the protein. Interestingly, the TM region also appears to interact with other non-cognate histidine kinases in a bacterial two-hybrid assay, suggesting a potential route for evolving new small protein modulators of histidine kinases.
Causal evidence for LTP-based interference in visual learning
Authors: Bang Ji Won , Milton Diana , Sasaki Yuka , Watanabe Takeo , Rahnev Dobromir
Published: October 2018

Training related skills in close succession results in interference but the reasons for this interference are not understood. Here we test the hypothesis that interference occurs due to competition of long-term potentiation (LTP): the LTP induced by one task impedes the LTP induced by the other. Human subjects performed two consecutive training sessions on different Gabor orientations. Immediately after the offset of the first training, we applied continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) to interfere with the LTP processes produced by the first training. We found that cTBS to a control site (vertex) resulted in substantial anterograde interference for the second training. Critically, cTBS to the visual cortex not only disrupted learning on the immediately preceding training, but also released the second training from the anterograde interference. These results provide strong support for the LTP-based theory of interference and suggest the possibility of directly manipulating the competition between different learning periods.
Crystal structures and Hirshfeld surfaces of four methoxybenzaldehyde oxime derivatives, 2-MeO-XC6H3C=NOH (X= H and 2-, 3- and 4-MeO): different conformations and hydrogen-bonding patterns
Authors: Gomes Ligia R. , Souza Marcus V. N. de , Da Costa Cristiane F. , Wardell James L. , Low John Nicolson
Published: October 2018

The crystal structures of four (E)-methoxybenzaldehyde oxime derivatives, namely (2-methoxybenzaldehyde oxime,1, 2,3-dimethoxybenzaldehyde oxime,2, 4-dimethoxybenzaldehyde oxime,3, and 2,5-dimethoxybenzaldehyde oxime,4, are discussed. The arrangements of the 2-methoxy group and the H atom of the oxime unit ares-cisin compounds1–3, but in both independent molecules of compound4, the arrangements ares-trans. There is also a difference in the conformation of the two molecules in4, involving the orientations of the 2- and 5-methoxy groups. The primary intermolecular O—H(oxime)...O(hydroxy) hydrogen bonds generateC(3) chains in1and2. In contrast, in compound3, the O—H(oxime)...O(hydroxy) hydrogen bonds generate symmetricR22(6) dimers. A more complex dimer is generated in4from the O—H(oxime)...O(hydroxy) and C—H(2-methoxy)...O(hydroxy) hydrogen bonds. In all cases, further interactions, C—H...O and C—H...π or π–π, generate three-dimensional arrays. Hirshfeld surface and fingerprint analyses are discussed.
5-Methyl-1-(4-methylphenyl)-N′-[1-(thiophen-2-yl)ethylidene]-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4-carbohydrazide
Authors: El-Hiti Gamal A. , Abdel-Wahab Bakr F. , Alotaibi Mohammad Hayal , Yousif Emad , Hegazy Amany S. , Kariuki Benson M.
Published: October 2018

The asymmetric unit comprises a single molecule of C17H17N5OS with twist angles between the planes through the thiophenyl, methyltriazolyl and tolyl groups of 12.3 (1) and 44.9 (1)°, respectively. A possible weak intramolecular hydrogen bond forms between the methyl substituent on the triazole ring and the adjacent carbonyl O atom. In the crystal structure, π–π interactions occur between phenyl rings of pairs of molecules related by inversion symmetry with a centroid–centroid separation of 3.7647 (18) Å. The shortest intermolecular hydrogen bonding contact is a C—H...O interaction that generates inversion dimers.
Restaurant dependence/autonomy in the supply chain and market responsiveness
Authors: Cho Meehee , Bonn Mark A. , Susskind Alex , Giunipero Larry
Published: October 2018

Purpose

This study aims to understand how restaurant dependence and autonomy within the supply chain influence market responsiveness. An examination of influences related to improving market responsiveness was also conducted by investigating the moderating roles of information technology adoption and trust.

Design/methodology/approach

Hierarchical regression models were developed to test the hypothesized relationships. In particular, data were obtained from only independent restaurant owners and managers because of their ability to select and determine their own suppliers.

Findings

Results revealed that restaurant autonomy from suppliers has a more positive effect on market responsiveness than supplier dependence. The moderating test results revealed that information technology adoption significantly improved the relationships between restaurant dependence and market responsiveness, while exhibiting no significant moderating effect. Restaurant trust in suppliers significantly improved the positive effect of autonomy upon market responsiveness; however, it had no significant moderating effect on this link.

Originality/value

This study was conducted to identify what types of supplier relationships should be pursued to improve the independent restaurant’s ability to effectively respond to market conditions. The findings regarding the moderating effects of information technology adoption and trust provided clear evidence that buyer–supply relationship strategies should be developed in consideration of those distinguishable characteristics unique to the operations and environment of independent restaurants.

Practical implications

Findings can be applied to developing desirable relationships with suppliers characterized by restaurant dependence or autonomy and contribute to improving managerial actions for independent restaurants involving adopting information technology and building trust.
Factors associated with participation and completion of a survey-based study
Authors: Yale Steven H. , Liang Hong , Schmelzer John R. , Poplau Sara , Bell Lauren Nicole , Toklu Hale Z. , Brown Roger L. , Williams Eric , Linzer Mark
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The Healthy Work Place (HWP) study investigated methods to improve clinicians’ dissatisfaction and burnout. The purpose of this paper is to identify factors that influenced study enrollment and completion and assess effects of initial clinic site enrollment rates on clinician outcomes, including satisfaction, burnout, stress and intent to leave practice.

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 144 primary care clinicians (general internists, family physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants) at 14 primary care clinics were analyzed.

Findings

In total, 72 clinicians enrolled in the study and completed the first survey (50 percent enrollment rate). Of these, 10 did not complete the second survey (86 percent completion rate). Gender, type, burnout, stress and intervention did not significantly affect survey completion. Hence, widespread agreement about most moral/ethical issues (72 percent vs 22 percent; p=0.0060) and general agreement on treatment methods (81 percent vs 50 percent; p=0.0490) were reported by providers that completed both surveys as opposed to just the initial survey. Providers with high initial clinic site enrollment rates (=50 percent providers) obtained better outcomes, including improvements in or no worsening of satisfaction (odds ratio (OR)=19.16; p=0.0217) and burnout (OR=6.24; p=0.0418).

Social implications

More providers experiencing workplace agreement completed the initial and final surveys, and providers at sites with higher initial enrollment rates obtained better outcomes including a higher rate of improvement or no worsening of job satisfaction and burnout.

Originality/value

There is limited research on clinicians’ workplace and other factors that influence their participation in survey-based studies. The findings help us to understand how these factors may affect quality of data collecting and outcome. Thus, the study provides us insight for improvement of quality in primary care.
Identification of factors influencing the rise of cesarean sections rates in Pakistan, using MCDM
Authors: Ali Yousaf , Khan Muhammad Waseem , Mumtaz UbaidUllah , Salman Aneel , Muhammad Noor , Sabir Muhammad
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The rate of cesarean sections has been rapidly increased in the last few decades in all the developing as well as developed countries. The rate of cesarean sections determined by the World Health Organization has been crossed by many countries, like Brazil, India, China, USA, Australia, etc. Similarly, this rate has also increased in Pakistan. The purpose of this paper is to explore and identify the factors that are responsible for the rising rate of cesarean sections in Pakistan.

Design/methodology/approach

These factors are categorized under medical and non-medical factors. The medical factors include the obesity of mother, age of mother, weight of the baby, umbilical cord prolapse, fetal distress, abnormal presentation, dystocia and failure to progress. The non-medical factors include financial incentives of doctors, time convenience for doctors, high tolerance to surgery, patient’s preference toward cesarean section, private hospitals, public hospitals, income status of patients, rural areas, urban areas and the education of patients. To identify the critical factors, data have been collected and a multi-criteria decision-making technique, called Decision Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory, is used.

Findings

The result shows that the medical factors that are responsible for the rise in the rate of cesarean sections are umbilical cord prolapse, age of mother and obesity of mother. On the other hand, the non-medical factors that are the reasons for the increase in cesarean sections are the large number of private hospitals and the unethical acts of the doctors in these hospitals, preference of patients, and either the unavailability of doctors or poor conditions of hospitals in rural areas.

Originality/value

Cesarean section is an important surgical intervention and is considered to be very essential in the cases of existing as well as potential medical problems to the mother or the baby. Cesarean section is also performed for non-medical reasons. In Pakistan, the number of private hospitals has increased and these hospitals provide good health care. However, these hospitals do not work under the rules and regulations set by the government. The doctors in private hospitals perform unnecessary cesarean sections in order to fulfill the demands of private hospital’s owners. In addition to this, it is also found that, nowadays, most women prefer to give birth through cesarean section in order to eliminate the pain of normal vaginal delivery.
Improving hospital food menu quality: an experimental approach
Authors: Lindholm Jorunn , Vadoudi Yasaman , Hansen Håvard
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether the negative impressions consumers hold toward institutional food can be remedied by subtle changes in menu descriptions. While an expectancy-disconfirmation explanation would suggest this, a negativity bias explanation would suggest otherwise.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors test the research question using an experimental 2 × 2 full factorial design, with data collected from 100 university students.

Findings

The results show that when hospital menus are made somewhat fancier in their description, consumers evaluate the food as more attractive and menu variation to be greater. This implies that the judgments are more likely to be based on an expectancy-disconfirmation process that on being subject to negativity bias.

Research limitations/implications

The authors study perceived attractiveness and menu variation, but future research should include taste perceptions and consumption volume.

Practical implications

Institution managers could improve consumer perceptions of how attractive the food being served is, and the perceived variation in their menus, by subtly changing the course descriptions to become fancier. However, as such, a strategy based on an expectancy-disconfirmation process, institution managers should beware not to sweeten the pill too much, i.e., making promises they cannot keep may backfire if one makes the menus too fancy compared to what is delivered.

Originality/value

The authors extend current knowledge on menu label effects by addressing them for food suppliers, which are inherently associated with low food quality. The authors also show that when managers apply such strategies, the effect is due to a disconfirmation process rather than a negativity bias.
Building common ground in a wildly webbed world: a pattern language approach
Authors: Thomas John Charles
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to help bridge the digital divide that arises from people having such different viewpoints that little communication is possible, even though all have access to the internet and speak the same language.

Design/methodology/approach

The method is to catalog the best practices in collaboration and cooperation in the form of a pattern language. After describing pattern languages, some examples are given.

Findings

People have been trying to cooperate in many cultures over many centuries, and there are many the best practices that can be useful to find a common ground.

Research limitations/implications

The patterns suggested do not easily allow empirical and objective A/B testing.

Practical implications

Any pattern or guideline will be applied by most people in most contexts. There will always be practical limitations in the appropriate scope of application.

Social implications

A more widespread use of the patterns should help heal the divisiveness in society.

Originality/value

While pattern languages have been used in many fields, this is the first attempt to do so in fostering civil engagement.
Trade credit, SMEs and short-run survivorship: what we know and what we would like to know
Authors: Del Gaudio Belinda Laura , Porzio Claudio , Verdoliva Vincenzo
Published: October 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw the state of the art on the trade credit, one of the most alternative form of firm financing, especially for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Design/methodology/approach

The present study first reviews the theoretical papers focusing on the raison d’être of trade credit financing. Then the study identifies the empirical research studies in SMEs’ context and summarizes them on the basis of the following drivers: the country and the period analysed, the methodology used, the main findings and the presence of a shock in time span.

Findings

Findings reveal a discrepancy of results, especially in testing Meltzer’s hypothesis of substitution effects among trade and bank credit. The heterogeneity of results should be driven by lending infrastructure of the country analysed and the presence or not of a shock in time span considered. Financial constraints can reconcile the discrepancy of results. Then, most of the studies analysed are based on the assumption that trade credit is more expensive than bank credit.

Originality/value

This paper provides valuable conclusion on past and present studies on trade credit. First is providing a rule of the thumb in the reading of empirical evidences. Also researchers and academicians should deal with consideration regarding the cost of trade credit that still appears as a black box. This is an important issue in corporate finance, as it influences the financial decision of firms and it will be useful for conducting a deeper comparison on the alternative cost of firm financing.
Kettle test efficacy in predicting cognitive and functional outcomes in geriatric rehabilitation
Authors: Harper Kristie J. , Llewellyn Karleen , Jacques Angela , Ingram Katharine , Pearson Sara , Barton Annette
Published: October 2018

Background/aim

Limited research has been available to support the use of the Kettle Test in a subacute rehabilitation setting with patients diagnosed with a variety of medical conditions. The Kettle Test is an occupation based performance measure designed to detect cognitive processes and function. The aim of this research was to measure the correlation between three cognitive tests, the Mini‐Mental State Examination (MMSE), Cognitive Functional Independence Measure (Cognitive FIM) and the Kettle Test. Secondly, to assess the efficacy of these tests in predicting functional outcomes via the motor subscale of the Functional Independence Measure (mFIM).

Methods

A prospective single‐centre cohort study in a subacute rehabilitation setting of 97 patients.

Results

Correlation coefficients between the tests were statistically significant and moderately strong, with values ranging from 0.593 to −0.589. Significant positive correlations were seen between admission MMSE, Cognitive FIM and the mFIM and significant negative correlations between Kettle Test scores and the mFIM. The Kettle Test score had a stronger relationship with mFIM (r = −0.40; P < 0.01) compared to the Cognitive FIM (r = 0.33; P < 0.01) and MMSE (r = 0.26; P < 0.05). The Kettle Test variance is significantly associated with the MMSE and Cognitive FIM at admission and discharge measures. Modelling identified that age and gender significantly contribute to this relationship. When adjusted for age and gender the MMSE and Cognitive FIM both explained the 47% of the variance at discharge.

Conclusion

There were statistically significant inter‐test correlations between the MMSE, Cognitive FIM and Kettle Test. The Kettle Test had the strongest relationship to patient functional outcomes.
The Impact of Medicaid Enrollment on Veterans Health Administration Enrollees' Behavioral Health Services Use
Authors: Vanneman Megan E. , Phibbs Ciaran S. , Dally Sharon K. , Trivedi Amal N. , Yoon Jean
Published: October 2018

Objective

To examine Veterans Health Administration (VA) enrollees' use of VA services for treatment of behavioral health conditions (BHCs) after gaining Medicaid, and if VA reliance varies by complexity of BHCs.

Data Sources/Study Setting

VA and Medicaid Analytic eXtract utilization data from 31 states, 2006‐2010.

Study Design

A retrospective, longitudinal study of Veterans enrolled in VA care in the year before and year after enrollment in Medicaid among 7,249 nonelderly Veterans with serious mental illness (SMI), substance use disorder (SUD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, or other BHCs.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Utilization and VA reliance (proportion of care received at VA) for BH outpatient and inpatient services in unadjusted and adjusted analyses.

Principal Findings

In adjusted analyses, we found that overall Veterans did not significantly change their use of VA outpatient BH services after Medicaid enrollment. In beta‐binomial models predicting VA BH outpatient reliance, veterans with SMI (IRR = 1.38, p < .05), PTSD (IRR = 1.62, p < .01), and depression (IRR = 1.36, p < .05) had higher reliance than veterans with other BHCs after Medicaid enrollment.

Conclusions

While veterans did not change the amount of VA outpatient BH services they used after enrolling in Medicaid, the proportion of care they received through VA or Medicaid varied by BHC.
The Impact of Healthcare‐Associated Methicillin‐Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections on Postdischarge Health Care Costs and Utilization across Multiple Health Care Systems
Authors: Nelson Richard E. , Jones Makoto , Liu Chuan‐Fen , Samore Matthew H. , Evans Martin E. , Stevens Vanessa W. , Reese Thomas , Rubin Michael A.
Published: October 2018

Objective

To measure how much of the postdischarge cost and utilization attributable to methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) health care‐associated infections (HAIs) occur within the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) system and how much occurs outside.

Data Sources/Study Setting

Health care encounters from 3 different settings and payment models: (1) within the VA; (2) outside the VA but paid for by the VA (purchased care); and (3) outside the VA and paid for by Medicare.

Study Design

Historical cohort study using data from admissions to VA hospitals between 2007 and 2012.

Methods

We assessed the impact of a positive MRSA test result on costs and utilization during the 365 days following discharge using inverse probability of treatment weights to balance covariates.

Principal Findings

Among a cohort of 152,687 hospitalized Veterans, a positive MRSA test result was associated with an overall increase of 6.6 (95 percent CI: 5.7–7.5) inpatient days and $9,237 (95 percent CI: $8,211–$10,262) during the postdischarge period. VA inpatient admissions, Medicare reimbursements, and purchased care payments accounted for 60.6 percent, 22.5 percent, and 16.9 percent of these inpatient costs.

Conclusions

While most of the excess postdischarge health care costs associated with MRSA HAIs occurred in the VA, non‐VA costs make up an important subset of the overall burden.
Immigration, Capital Flows and Housing Prices
Authors: Pavlov Andrey , Somerville Tsur
Published: October 2018

Research on immigration and real estate has found that immigrants lower house prices in immigrant destination neighborhoods. In this article, we find that this latter result is not globally true. Rather, we show that immigrants can raise neighborhood house prices, at least in the case of the wealthy immigrants that we study. We exploit a surprise suspension and subsequent closure of a popular investor immigration program in Canada to use a difference‐in‐differences methodology comparing wealthy immigrant destination census tracts to nondestination tracts. We find that the unexpected suspension of the program had a negative impact on house prices of 1.7–2.6% in the neighborhoods and market segments most favored by the investor immigrants. This leads to an approximate lower bound on the effect of capital inflows of 5%.
Imperial mimesis:
Authors: STONE NOMI
Published: October 2018

After 9/11, the US military made a “cultural turn”—a call to understand the culture of the adversary. Under this protocol, cadets in training camps around the United States have rehearsed embodied empathetic connections with Middle Eastern role‐players by miming their interlocutors. In this imperial mimesis, the trainee tries to make the distant proximate by enacting an image of the Other (through gesture, posture, etc.) in order to gain power over those whom they mime (“locals” and, ultimately, potential terrorists). This mimetic labor is charged with anxiety and risk as soldiers negotiate and police the boundaries of alterity to prevent moments of overflow. Amid the seductive tug of mimesis, the trainee is ultimately asked to empathetically “become Other” in order to contain that Other. [mimesis, empathy, empire, militarism, military training, war on terror, human terrain, United States]
Impact of antioxidant treatment on DNA fragmentation index: a double‐blind placebo‐controlled randomized trial
Authors: Stenqvist A. , Oleszczuk K. , Leijonhufvud I. , Giwercman A.
Published: October 2018

Background

Previous reports on effect of antioxidants on sperm DNA integrity were equivocal, and there is a lack of randomized, placebo‐controlled studies.

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy of combined antioxidant treatment in subfertile men with normal reproductive hormone levels and high sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI).

Materials and methods

This placebo‐controlled, double‐blind, randomized study evaluated the effects of combined antioxidant treatment in 77 men from infertile couples, with normal testosterone, LH and FSH levels and DFI ≥25%. All participants were randomly assigned to receive combined antioxidant treatment (vitamins, antioxidants and oligoelements) or placebo for six months. The primary outcome measured was DFI. Secondary outcomes were standard semen parameters. DFI and other semen parameters were, at each time point (pre‐treatment, and after three and six months of treatment), compared between the treatment and the placebo group using Mann–Whitney U‐test.

Results

Antioxidant group had higher sperm concentration after three months of treatment (median: 24.4 × 106/mL vs. 27.2 × 106/mL; P = 0.028) and borderline statistically significant higher concentration after six months of treatment (median: 24.4 × 106/mL vs. 33.3 × 106/mL; P = 0.053) compared to pre‐treatment values. The DFI did not change during the 6 months of antioxidant therapy. No statistically significant difference between the antioxidant and placebo group was seen for any of the semen parameters including sperm DFI at any of the three time points.

Discussion

The increase in sperm concentration was more pronounced in the antioxidant treated group but not statistically significantly higher than among controls, perhaps due to insufficient statistical power. Previous studies have shown positive effect of antioxidant treatment on DFI and other semen parameters. However, our findings indicate that men with normal reproductive hormone levels may not be the primary target group for such therapy.

Conclusion

Six months treatment with antioxidants had no effect on sperm DFI.
Dermatologische Aspekte aus der S2k‐Leitlinie zum Down‐Syndrom im Kindes‐ und Jugendalter
Authors: Fölster‐Holst Regina , Rohrer Tilman , Jung Anna‐Maria
Published: October 2018

Das Down‐Syndrom (DS) ist mit einer Inzidenz von 1 : 700 aller Geburten nicht selten und mit diversen Erkrankungen unterschiedlicher Organsysteme assoziiert. Zu den schwerwiegenden Erkrankungen zählen Herzfehler und Leukämie. Letztere zeigt sich im Neugeborenenalter und geht nicht immer in eine klassische myeloische Leukämie über (transiente myeloproliferative Erkrankung). Dermatologisch bilden die Neugeborenen Pusteln/Vesikulopusteln, die bei DS nicht nur an typische Neugeborenenexantheme und Infektionen, sondern auch an die transiente myeloproliferative Erkrankung denken lassen sollten.

Die meisten Dermatosen jedoch sind benigner Natur und umfassen im Wesentlichen Verhornungsstörungen, die sich als Xerosis, Keratosis pilaris, Lichenifikation und Ichthyosis vulgaris zeigen. Typisch, aber nicht spezifisch, ist auch die palmare Vierfingerfurche. Die Patienten neigen häufig zu Follikulitiden, die aufgrund einer Elastolyse in eine Anetodermie übergehen. Die bekannte Immundysbalance erklärt das Auftreten von Autoimmunerkrankungen, die sich an der Haut als Alopecia areata und Vitiligo manifestieren. Als typische Hautveränderungen bei DS zählen zudem Elastosis perforans serpiginosa, Syringome, Milien‐ähnliche Calcinosis cutis (Milia‐like calcinosis cutis) und Multiple eruptive Dermatofibrome.
Bienen‐ und Wespengiftallergie: Sensibilisierung und spezifische Immuntherapie
Authors: Adib‐Tezer Hanan , Bayerl Christiane
Published: October 2018

Die Hymenopterengiftallergie ist in der Erwachsenenpopulation der häufigste Auslöser anaphylaktischer Reaktionen und bei Kindern nach den Nahrungsmitteln der zweithäufigste. Dabei spielen als Auslöser Stiche der Honigbiene (Apis) und bestimmter Faltenwespen (insbesondere Vespula vulgaris, Vespula germanica) die Hauptrolle. Sie sind, insbesondere im Erwachsenenalter, häufig mit schweren Anaphylaxien vergesellschaftet. Etablierte diagnostische Methoden inklusive der molekularen Allergiediagnostik ermöglichen eine verbesserte Treffsicherheit in der Bestimmung des Anaphylaxie‐auslösenden Insektes. Eine Doppelsensibilisierung bzw. Diskrepanzen zwischen Anamnese und Befunden können den Weg zu einer Therapieentscheidung erschweren. Mit der Hymenopterengiftimmuntherapie (HIT) steht eine sichere und effektive kausale Therapie zur Verfügung.
Improved facial affect recognition in patients with first‐episode psychosis
Authors: Bozikas Vasilios P. , Dardagani Aikaterini , Parlapani Eleni , Ntouros Evangelos , Lagoudis Athanasios , Tsotsi Stella
Published: October 2018

Aim

The present study aimed at assessing whether impaired facial affect recognition (FAR) in patients with first‐episode psychosis (FEP) would improve after a brief intervention targeting FAR specifically.

Methods

Thirty‐five outpatients and 38 healthy controls were administered an intervention which involved training to recognize emotional information, conveyed by changes in facial features. Using a pre‐ and post‐intervention design, two measurements of FAR were conducted using an experimental procedure with alternative sets of stimuli.

Results

We found improved overall FAR performance in both participant groups with marked effects in recognizing anger, disgust and fear. Patients' post‐intervention performance was comparable to healthy participants' baseline performance.

Conclusions

The present improvement in facial affects recognition in FEP patients, despite only somewhat impaired, emphasizes the importance of early targeted interventions for FAR in psychosis. Further research is needed to assess whether this improvement will generalize to global social functioning.
Does intention involve belief?
Authors: Kietzmann Christian
Published: October 2018

Cognitivists think that intention necessarily involves belief; noncognitivists deny this claim. I argue that both sides of the debate have so far overlooked that the beliefs involved in intention are first‐personal beliefs and therefore relevantly different from ordinary beliefs that stand in need of justification through evidence. This move substantially changes the cognitivist thesis, and in such a way that the noncognitivist objections can be avoided. In Section 2, I lay out the intuitions behind cognitivism and the arguments against it that motivate noncognitivist positions. Section 3 discusses and dismisses Velleman's cognitivist response to these arguments. In Section 4, I introduce the distinction between “ordinary” and “first‐personal beliefs.” In Section 5, I argue that intention invariably involves a first‐personal belief that one will do what one intends to do. Finally, in Section 6, I return to the noncognitivist objections and show how my proposal answers them.
Digital evaluation of marginal and internal fit of single‐crown fixed dental prostheses
Authors: Dahl Bjørn E. , Dahl Jon E. , Rønold Hans J.
Published: October 2018

The present study used a new, digitized version of the impression replica technique, namely the dual‐scan technique, to evaluate the adaptation of single‐crown fixed dental prostheses (FDPs). Scans of the bare master model and of the master model with a silicone layer representing the cement layer were superimposed and analyzed using designated software. Single crowns produced using the lost‐wax metal casting technique were included. The cement space of the band width, 0.5–1.0 mm from the preparation margin (marginal fit), was smallest for crowns made from laser‐sintered cobalt‐chromium. The internal fit in both mesial‐distal and buccal‐palatal directions was statistically significantly better for crowns made using the conventional lost‐wax metal casting technique than for crowns produced using computer‐aided design/computer‐aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM). Fixed dental prostheses produced by milled cobalt‐chromium had the loosest internal fit. The results agree with those of our previous study of the same test specimens, in which the triple‐scan method was used, and imply that the dual‐scan method is well suited for adaptation studies.
Urbanization erodes niche segregation in Darwin's finches
Authors: De León Luis F. , Sharpe Diana M. T. , Gotanda Kiyoko M. , Raeymaekers Joost A. M. , Chaves Jaime A. , Hendry Andrew P. , Podos Jeffrey
Published: October 2018

Urbanization is influencing patterns of biological evolution in ways that are only beginning to be explored. One potential effect of urbanization is in modifying ecological resource distributions that underlie niche differences and that thus promote and maintain species diversification. Few studies have assessed such modifications, or their potential evolutionary consequences, in the context of ongoing adaptive radiation. We study this effect in Darwin's finches on the Galápagos Islands, by quantifying feeding preferences and diet niche partitioning across sites with different degrees of urbanization. We found higher finch density in urban sites and that feeding preferences and diets at urban sites skew heavily toward human food items. Furthermore, we show that finches at urban sites appear to be accustomed to the presence of people, compared with birds at sites with few people. In addition, we found that human behavior via the tendency to feed birds at non‐urban but tourist sites is likely an important driver of finch preferences for human foods. Site differences in diet and feeding behavior have resulted in larger niche breadth within finch species and wider niche overlap between species at the urban sites. Both factors effectively minimize niche differences that would otherwise facilitate interspecies coexistence. These findings suggest that both human behavior and ongoing urbanization in Galápagos are starting to erode ecological differences that promote and maintain adaptive radiation in Darwin's finches. Smoothing of adaptive landscapes underlying diversification represents a potentially important yet underappreciated consequence of urbanization. Overall, our findings accentuate the fragility of the initial stages of adaptive radiation in Darwin's finches and raise concerns about the fate of the Galápagos ecosystems in the face of increasing urbanization.
A comprehensive search for expert classification methods in disease diagnosis and prediction
Authors: Jha Sunil Kr. , Pan Zhaoqing , Elahi Ehsan , Patel Nilesh
Published: October 2018

Healthcare data analysis is currently a challenging and crucial research issue for the development of a robust disease diagnosis and prediction system. Many specific and a few common methods have been discussed in the literature for healthcare data classification. The present study implements 32 classification methods of six categories (Bayes, function‐based, lazy, meta, rule‐based, and tree‐based) with the objective of searching the best and common categories and methods in healthcare data mining. The performance of each classification method has been evaluated based on analysis time, classification accuracy, precision, recall, F‐measure, area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, root mean square error, kappa coefficient, Kulczynski's measure, and Fowlkes–Mallows index and compared with more than 90 classification methods used in past studies. Seventeen healthcare datasets related to thyroid, cancer, skin disease, heart disease, hepatitis, lymphography, audiology, diabetes, surgery, arrhythmia, postsurvival, liver, and tumour have been used in the performance assessment of the classification methods. The tree‐based classification methods have a better performance (with an average classification accuracy of 79.92% and maximum accuracy of 99.50%; an analysis time of 3.91 s for the logistic model tree classifier) than the other methods. Furthermore, the association of datasets and classification methods has been discussed.
Individual, Family, and Community Predictors of PTSD Symptoms Following Military Deployment
Authors: Olson Jonathan R. , Welsh Janet A. , Perkins Daniel F. , Ormsby LaJuana
Published: October 2018

Objective

Using an ecological resilience model, we sought to identify protective factors that buffer against the effects of stressful deployment‐related experiences on symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among active duty U.S. Air Force personnel who were married or in a committed relationship.

Background

Stressful deployment experiences are associated with PTSD symptoms among active duty military personnel. However, certain protective factors may buffer against negative effects of such experiences.

Method

Analyses for the present study were active duty military personnel who completed the 2011 Air Force Community Assessment Survey, were married or in a committed relationship, and had completed at least one deployment at the time of the survey (N = 12,166).

Results

Regression analyses indicated that stressful deployment experiences were statistically related to elevated PTSD symptoms but also that both personal and contextual factors moderated those symptoms. Furthermore, self‐efficacy, family coping, spouse/partner support, financial resources, and religious participation moderated the relation between stressful deployment experiences and PTSD symptoms.

Conclusion

PTSD symptoms were positively associated with stressful deployment experiences, and symptoms were less likely to occur when service members experienced support from individual, family, and community sources.

Implications

Interventions that promote self‐efficacy and social support from multiple ecological contexts may help reduce PTSD symptoms among combat‐exposed Air Force personnel.
Genotype imputation accuracy in multiple equine breeds from medium‐ to high‐density genotypes
Authors: Chassier Marjorie , Barrey Eric , Robert Céline , Duluard Arnaud , Danvy Sophie , Ricard Anne
Published: October 2018

Genotype imputation is now a key component of genomic analyses as it increases the density of available genotypes within a population. However, many factors can influence imputation accuracy. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the accuracy of imputation of high‐density genotypes (Affymetrix Axiom Equine genotyping array, 670,806 SNPs) from two moderate‐density genotypes (Illumina Equine SNP50 BeadChip, 54,602 SNPs and Illumina Equine SNP70 BeadChip, 65,157 SNPs), using single‐breed or multiple‐breed reference sets. Genotypes were available from five groups of horse breeds: Arab (AR, 1,207 horses), Trotteur Français (TF, 979 horses), Selle Français (SF, 1,979 horses), Anglo‐Arab (AA, 229 horses) and various foreign sport horses (FH, 209 horses). The proportions of horses genotyped with the high‐density (HD) chip in each breed group were 10% in AA, 15% in AR and FH, 30% in TF and 57% in SF. A validation set consisting of one‐third of the horses genotyped with the HD chip was formed and their genotypes deleted. Two imputation strategies were compared, one in which the reference population consisted only of horses from the same breed group as in the validation set, and another with horses from all breed groups. For the first strategy, concordance rates (CRs) ranged from 97.8% (AR) to 99.0% (TF) and correlations (r²) from 0.94 (AR) to 0.99 (TF). For the second strategy, CR ranged from 97.4% (AR) to 98.9% (TF) and r² from 0.93 (AR) to 0.99 (TF). Overall, the results show a small advantage of within‐breed imputation compared with multi‐breed imputation. Adding horses from different breed groups to the reference population does not improve the accuracy of imputation. Imputation provides an accurate means of combining data sets from different genotyping platforms, now necessary with the increasing use of the recently developed Affymetrix Axiom Equine genotyping array.
Stress and quality of life in parents of children with phenylketonuria
Authors: Irannejad Fatemeh , Dehghan Mahlagha , Mehdipour Rabori Roghayeh
Published: October 2018

Background

Phenylketonuria is a hereditary disease caused by the lack or deficiency of phenylalanine hydroxylase enzyme activity. Parents of children with phenylketonuria undergo significant stress during their childcare years. They are also responsible for controlling their children’s dietary treatment and this may affect their quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between stress and quality of life in parents of children with phenylketonuria.

Methods

The present cross‐sectional study is a correlation–analytical research performed on parents of children with phenylketonuria in Kerman province in Iran in 2017. In total, 124 parents were chosen by consensus method. Parents completed the perceived stress scale and quality of life (SF36). SPSS software version 18 (https://www.presidion.com/software/ibm-spss-trial-downloads/) was used to analyze the data.

Results

Total scores of stress and quality of life were 28.81 ± 8.74 and 45.97 ± 21.22. There was a significant negative correlation between quality of life and perceived stress (p < 0.001 and
ρ = −0.58).

Conclusion

Parents of children with phenylketonuria have moderate quality of life and relatively high stress. The medical community and authorities should take steps to improve the quality of life and reduce stress experienced by parents of children with phenylketonuria.
Investment and the Cross‐Section of Equity Returns
Authors: CLEMENTI GIAN LUCA , PALAZZO BERARDINO
Published: October 2018

The data show that, upon being hit by adverse profitability shocks, large public firms have ample latitude to divest their least productive assets, reducing the risk faced by shareholders and the returns that they are likely to demand. In the one‐factor production‐based asset pricing model, when the frictions to capital adjustment are shaped to respect the evidence on investment, the model‐generated cross‐sectional dispersion of returns is only a small fraction of that documented in the data. Our conclusions hold even when operating or labor leverage is modeled in ways shown to be promising in the extant literature.
Survey of procedural and resuscitation requirements for paediatricians working in a non‐tertiary centre: Implications for training
Authors: Hardy Andrew , Fuller David G , Forrester Mike , Anderson Kym P , Cooper Chris , Jenner Bernard , Marshall Isaac , Sanderson Christine , Standish Jane , Worth Janie , Vuillermin Peter , McCloskey Kathleen
Published: October 2018

Aim

There are minimal data to guide the continuing medical education (CME) of general paediatricians working in non‐tertiary hospitals. The aim of this study was to determine the procedural and resuscitation skills required by non‐tertiary paediatricians and the frequency with which these skills are utilised.

Methods

Over a 12‐month period (December 2012 to December 2013), each of the 11 paediatricians involved in acute inpatient care at University Hospital Geelong (UHG) completed a weekly online survey regarding their inpatient clinical experience. This included procedures performed or directly supervised as well as their resuscitation involvement.

Results

Each of the 11 paediatricians who managed inpatients on a regular or semi‐regular basis during the study period agreed to participate, and each completed all of the weekly surveys. There were seven UHG paediatricians with an inpatient appointment (each with a 0.27 full‐time equivalent (FTE) paediatrician workload) and four paediatricians providing inpatient cover on a locum basis. Over the course of 12 months, each 0.27 FTE paediatrician was, on average, involved in 11.3 neonatal, 1.7 infant and 2.4 child resuscitations and performed 0.9 intubations.

Conclusions

Paediatricians working at non‐tertiary hospitals are required to perform and supervise critical procedural and resuscitation skills but have limited opportunities to maintain proficiency in such skills. General paediatric training and consultant paediatrician CME programmes should ensure the acquisition and maintenance of the procedural and resuscitation skills required for the management of seriously ill children in non‐tertiary acute care settings.