bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of State Lotteries and Casinos on State Bankruptcy Filings
Authors: Grote Kent R. , Matheson Victor A.
Published: December 2013

Over the past half century, there has been an increasing prevalence of legalized gambling in the U.S. At the same time, there is a general recognition, empirically supported in the economics literature, that spending on lottery and gaming products tends to be regressive in nature. In addition, gambling addiction is a widely acknowledged social problem. This raises the question of whether the increased presence of casinos and state lotteries results in relatively more bankruptcy filings in the states that offer them. This paper adds to the existing literature by comparing the relative impact of the presence of lotteries to that of casinos on both personal and business bankruptcies. States that adopted lotteries and casinos prior to 1995 experienced significantly higher personal bankruptcy rates while the effect of lottery and casino adoption on personal bankruptcies has disappeared since that time.
The Inside and Outside Revenue Impact of Regional Gambling Taxes in Spain
Authors: Leal Andrés , López‐Laborda Julio , Rodrigo Fernando
Published: December 2013

Using panel data methods, for all the Spanish Autonomous Communities and for the period 1999–2009, the present study estimates the revenue of the casinos in each Autonomous Community on the basis of four variables of interest related to the taxation of gambling in each Community, the taxation in the neighboring Autonomous Communities and the expansion of online gambling, and certain economic and sociodemographic control variables. The estimation performed permits the verification of the hypotheses that the taxation of gaming in a region and the expansion of online gambling negatively affect the revenue accrued by the casinos located in that region, but does not offer evidence that the effect produced by the differences in taxation among neighboring regions is significant. The results obtained also confirm the expected impact on the casinos' revenue of the existence of “type” gamblers (young males, and tourists) and of the economic situation (income and unemployment).
Access to Legal Gambling and the Incidence of Crime: Evidence from Alberta
Authors: Humphreys Brad R. , Soebbing Brian P.
Published: December 2013

Much research examines the positive and negative impacts of gambling in specific areas, including the relationship between gambling, such as casinos and electronic gaming, on crime. Since Grinols and Mustard, the academic literature finds a mixed relationship. The present research examines the relationship between video lottery terminals (VLTs) and casino gambling and crime in the province of Alberta from 1977 to 2008 using data from the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey. Estimates from a two‐way fixed effect regression indicate little association between gambling and crime. However, some positive and negative crime‐specific effects are found for both casinos and VLTs.
Population of ATP synthase molecules in mitochondria is limited by available 6.8‐kDa proteolipid protein (MLQ)
Authors: Fujikawa Makoto , Ohsakaya Shigenori , Sugawara Kanako , Yoshida Masasuke
Published: December 2013

A 6.8‐kDa proteolipid (called MLQ) is a hydrophobic mitochondrial protein with unknown function that is loosely associated with ATP synthase. Here, we show that MLQ‐knockdown HeLa cells lose population of ATP synthase in mitochondria. This is not due to low transcription of subunit genes of ATP synthase because levels of mRNA for α‐ and β‐subunits are unaffected by the knockdown. As a consequence, the knockdown cells show low mitochondrial ATP synthesis activity, grow slowly in the normal medium, and are vulnerable to glucose deprivation. Given that the expression of MLQ varies responding to cellular conditions, MLQ is a potential regulator of the mitochondrial ATP synthesis.
Work–Life ‘Balance’, Recession and the Gendered Limits to Learning and Innovation (Or, Why It Pays Employers To Care)
Authors: James Al
Published: December 2013

The everyday challenges faced by workers ‘struggling to juggle’ competing commitments of paid work, home and family remain stubbornly persistent and highly gendered. Reinforcing these problems, many employers regard work–life balance (WLB) provision as too costly. In response, this paper explores the learning and innovation advantages that can result from WLB provision in knowledge‐intensive firms, as part of a WLB ‘mutual gains’ research agenda. These synergies are explored through a case study of IT workers and firms in two high‐tech regional economies — Dublin, Ireland and Cambridge, UK — prior to (2006–8) and subsequent to (2010) the economic downturn. The results suggest that by making available the kinds of WLB arrangements identified by workers as offering meaningful reductions in gendered work–life conflicts, employers can also enhance the learning and innovation processes within and between firms, which are widely recognized as fundamental for firms' long‐term sustainable competitive advantage.
CAR T cells: driving the road from the laboratory to the clinic
Authors: Cheadle Eleanor J. , Gornall Hannah , Baldan Vania , Hanson Vivien , Hawkins Robert E. , Gilham David E.
Published: December 2013

Blockbuster antibody therapies have catapulted immune‐based approaches to treat cancer into the consciousness of mainstay clinical research. On the back of this, other emerging immune‐based therapies are providing great promise. T‐cell therapy is one such area where recent trials using T cells genetically modified to express an antibody‐based chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) targeted against the CD19 antigen have demonstrated impressive responses when adoptively transferred to patients with advanced chronic lymphocytic leukemia. The general concept of the CAR T cell was devised some 20 years ago. In this relatively short period of time, the technology to redirect T‐cell function has moved at pace facilitating clinical translation; however, many questions remain with respect to developing the approach to improve CAR T‐cell therapeutic activity and also to broaden the range of tumors that can be effectively targeted by this approach. This review highlights some of the underlying principles and compromises of CAR T‐cell technology using the CD19‐targeted CAR as a paradigm and discusses some of the issues that relate to targeting solid tumors with CAR T cells.
Hematopoietic stem cells for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Gschweng Eric , De Oliveira Satiro , Kohn Donald B.
Published: December 2013

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) provide an attractive target for immunotherapy of cancer and leukemia by the introduction of genes encoding T‐cell receptors (TCRs) or chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) directed against tumor‐associated antigens. HSCs engraft for long‐term blood cell production and could provide a continuous source of targeted anti‐cancer effector cells to sustain remissions. T cells produced de novo from HSCs may continuously replenish anti‐tumor T cells that have become anergic or exhausted from ex vivo expansion or exposure to the intratumoral microenvironment. In addition, transgenic T cells produced in vivo undergo allelic exclusion, preventing co‐expression of an endogenous TCR that could mis‐pair with the introduced TCR chains and blunt activity or even cause off‐target reactivity. CAR‐engineered HSCs may produce myeloid and natural killer cells in addition to T cells expressing the CAR, providing broader anti‐tumor activity that arises quickly after transplant and does not solely require de novo thymopoiesis. Use of TCR‐ or CAR‐engineered HSCs would likely require cytoreductive conditioning to achieve long‐term engraftment, and this approach may be used in clinical settings where autologous HSC transplant is being performed to add a graft‐versus‐tumor effect. Results of experimental and preclinical studies performed to date are reviewed.
Design and implementation of adoptive therapy with chimeric antigen receptor‐modified T cells
Authors: Jensen Michael C. , Riddell Stanley R.
Published: December 2013

A major advance in adoptive T‐cell therapy (ACT) is the ability to efficiently endow patient's T cells with reactivity for tumor antigens through the stable or regulated introduction of genes that encode high affinity tumor‐targeting T‐cell receptors (TCRs) or synthetic chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). Case reports and small series of patients treated with TCR‐ or CAR‐modified T cells have shown durable responses in a subset of patients, particularly with B‐cell malignancies treated with T cells modified to express a CAR that targets the CD19 molecule. However, many patients do not respond to therapy and serious on and off‐target toxicities have been observed with TCR‐ and CAR‐modified T cells. Thus, challenges remain to make ACT with gene‐modified T cells a reproducibly effective and safe therapy and to expand the breadth of patients that can be treated to include those with common epithelial malignancies. This review discusses research topics in our laboratories that focus on the design and implementation of ACT with CAR‐modified T cells. These include cell intrinsic properties of distinct T‐cell subsets that may facilitate preparing therapeutic T‐cell products of defined composition for reproducible efficacy and safety, the design of tumor targeting receptors that optimize signaling of T‐cell effector functions and facilitate tracking of migration of CAR‐modified T cells in vivo, and novel CAR designs that have alternative ligand binding domains or confer regulated function and/or survival of transduced T cells.
Einleitung: Die Rolle eines staatlichen sozialen Basisschutzes bei der Ausweitung der sozialen Sicherheit auf alle
Authors: Hagemejer Krzysztof , McKinnon Roddy
Published: December 2013

Auszug 

Im Juni 2011 verabschiedete die Internationale Arbeitskonferenz (IAK) eine Resolution sowie Schlussfolgerungen, um die neue Strategie der Organisation zur sozialen Sicherheit auf den Weg zu bringen. Es geht darum, die Mitglieder beim Aufbau und der Erhaltung umfassender Systeme der sozialen Sicherheit auf der Basis eines zweidimensionalen Ansatzes zu unterstützen: (1) („horizontale“ Dimension) Schnellstmögliche Einführung – und diesem Punkt wird Priorität zugewiesen – eines national definierten Pakets von Garantien der sozialen Sicherheit, die eine Grundsicherung für alle bereitstellen, welche einen solchen Schutz benötigen; (2) („vertikale“ Dimension) möglichst rasche Ausweitung der Reichweite und des Niveaus der Systeme der sozialen Sicherheit gemä
ß der Konvention Nr. 102 (1952) und anderer bestehender Normen für soziale Sicherheit auf so viele Menschen wie möglich. Im Juni 2012 ergänzte die IAK diese Strategie durch eine neue internationale Arbeitsnorm, die Empfehlung Nr. 202 betreffend den staatlichen sozialen Basisschutz. Die Empfehlung gilt als Durchbruch in der globalen Sozialpolitik. Die Einführung eines staatlichen sozialen Basisschutzes könnte bestehende Deckungslücken schließen und den Ländern helfen, effektiv gegen Armut und soziale Gefährdung vorzugehen. Diese Sonder‐Doppelausgabe analysiert den Prozess, der in der Verabschiedung der Empfehlung seinen Höhepunkt erreichte, und befasst sich mit praktischen haushaltspolitischen, rechtlichen, politischen und institutionellen Herausforderungen, die angegangen werden müssen, damit die Ziele der Empfehlung erfolgreich umgesetzt werden können.
Sozialer Basisschutz und globale Sozial‐Governance: Hin zu politischer Synergie und Zusammenarbeit unter internationalen Organisationen
Authors: Deacon Bob
Published: December 2013

Auszug

Dieser Artikel befasst sich mit dem Einfluss der Internationalen Arbeitsorganisation (IAO) auf andere internationale Organisationen und Agenturen, der zu deren Unterstützung für das Konzept des sozialen Basisschutzes (Social Protection Floor – SPF) geführt hat. 2012 wurde das Konzept von den Vereinten Nationen in Form der SPF‐Initiative des Koordinierungsrats (UN Chief Executives Board – CEB) gutgeheißen, von der Weltbank in ihrer neuen Sozialschutz‐ und Arbeitsstrategie und vom G20‐Gipfel in Cannes. Außerdem hatte sich der IWF bereit erklärt, mit der IAO zusammenzuarbeiten, um die Optionen für die Schaffung von Haushaltsraum in Ländern zur Finanzierung von SPF auszuloten. Die Sonderberichterstatter des Menschenrechtsrats (UN Human Rights Council) hatten 2012 ebenfalls die Errichtung eines globalen Fonds für Sozialschutz gefordert, um ärmeren Ländern die Entwicklung eines Mindestniveaus zu ermöglichen. 2012 wurde eine neue Koordinierungsstelle, der Rat für interinstitutionelle Zusammenarbeit im Bereich des sozialen Schutzes (Social Protection Inter‐Agency Cooperation Board – SPIAC‐B), ins Leben gerufen, um die Zusammenarbeit unter den Organisationen zu erleichtern. Der vorliegende Artikel beschreibt und erklärt, wie diese Entwicklungen zustande kamen. Er fragt, ob die Realität vermehrter globaler sozialer Governance‐Zusammenarbeit im Bereich des Sozialschutzes so wirksam ist, wie sie scheint, oder ob es neue Widersprüche, Überschneidungen und rivalisierende Aufträge und politische Uneinigkeit auf globaler Ebene gibt.
Empfehlung zum sozialen Basisschutz, 2012 (Nr. 202): Ausweitung der Standards, um die Deckungslücke zu schließen
Authors: Kulke Ursula , Guilbault Emmanuelle Saint‐Pierre
Published: December 2013

Auszug

Im Juni 2012 verabschiedete die Internationale Arbeitskonferenz (IAK) bei ihrer 101. Tagung die Empfehlung für einen sozialen Basisschutz, 2012 (Nr. 202). Dieser Artikel untersucht die Zusammenhänge zwischen der Empfehlung Nr. 202 und den zuvor existierenden Standards für die soziale Sicherheit der Internationalen Arbeitsorganisation (IAO). Die Frage, ob die zuvor existierenden Standards der sozialen Sicherheit der IAO in Zukunft nicht mehr relevant sind und ob die neue Empfehlung die bisherigen Standards ersetzen soll, beantwortet dieser Artikel damit, dass die neue Empfehlung die existierenden Richtlinien für die soziale Sicherheit nicht nur ergänzt, sondern erweitert und bekräftigt. Gemeinsam werden die Empfehlung Nr. 202 und die bisherigen Übereinkommen der IAO zur sozialen Sicherheit als vollständiger und adäquater normativer Rahmen angesehen, um umfassende Systeme für die soziale Sicherheit zu errichten und langfristig zu erhalten.
Positive about Equality: The Public Sector Duty under Threat
Authors: O'BRIEN NICK
Published: December 2013

This article seeks to demonstrate what is at stake in the Coalition Government's review of the public sector equality duty introduced by s. 149 Equality Act 2010. It does so by setting the duty in the context of other legal developments at home and abroad, especially the evolution of the role of ombudsmen in the UK in promoting equality and human rights, and the reform of court processes in India to decide social rights claims. It suggests that any attempt to dismantle the duty on ‘red tape’ grounds would be unfounded and retrograde step for the larger task of creating a more equal society.
‘Spending Wisely: Principles for a Good Spending Review': The First Report of the Fabian Commission on Future Spending Choices
Authors: DIAMOND PATRICK
Published: December 2013

This article examines the work of the Fabian Society Commission on Future Spending Choices published in June 2013. The Commission is undoubtedly the most detailed and ambitious attempt by a centre‐left think‐tank to analyse the structure of UK public spending since Labour's 2010 defeat. The Commission makes an eloquent case for a strategic approach to UK public spending, filling the substantial void in thinking on the centre‐left since Labour's 2010 defeat. Inevitably, the proposals raise fundamental questions about the capacity of the British state and the constitutional framework of the UK political system to accommodate a long‐term, future‐orientated approach to public expenditure, which deserve to be properly aired and debated.
Great flexibility in autumn movement patterns of European gadwalls Anas strepera
Authors: Gehrold Andrea , Bauer Hans‐Günther , Fiedler Wolfgang , Wikelski Martin
Published: December 2013

The annual migration cycle of waterbirds often involves several distinct movement stages, for example within‐winter movements or the moult migration during summer, which require a high degree of individual flexibility in migration direction. Here, we investigate whether such flexibility is a common characteristic of waterbird migration by analysing movement behaviour of a dabbling duck, the gadwall Anas strepera, during the little studied, intermediate autumn period. The tracking of individuals via satellite transmitters (n = 7) as well as the ring re‐encounter analysis of three European gadwall populations (Germany, England, Russia) revealed that autumn movements were multidirectional. Furthermore, the comparison with winter re‐encounters suggested that autumn movements were partly independent of the movements towards subsequently used south to southwestern wintering areas. Some individuals even travelled long distances north‐ or eastwards. Accordingly, some autumn locations were characterized by a harsh climate, thus serving as temporary staging sites but necessitating further movements when wetlands freeze during winter. The occurrence of such detours or reversals of migration was confirmed by the transmitter data. Inter‐individual variability in distance and direction of autumn movements was found for both sexes and age‐classes indicating that gadwalls, in general, followed flexible movement strategies. Based on the extent of multidirectional autumn movements, we hypothesize important benefits of such flights and suggest that the analysis of year‐round movement patterns of individual animals during their distinct life‐history stages is essential to understand how they can successfully reproduce and survive.
Effects of environmental warming and drought on size‐structured soil food webs
Authors: Lang Birgit , Rall Björn C. , Scheu Stefan , Brose Ulrich
Published: December 2013

Soil systems maintain important ecosystem processes crucial for plant life and food production. Especially agricultural systems are strongly affected by climate change due to low vegetation cover associated with high temperatures and drought. Nevertheless, the response of soil systems to climate change is little explored. We used microcosms with a simplified soil community to address effects of climate change using independent temperature and dryness gradients and addressed their effects on top–down control and litter decomposition. The community consisted of maize litter as a basal resource, fungi, springtails and as top predators mites and centipedes. As the body‐size structure is of high importance for communities, we included differently‐sized springtails and predator species. After seven weeks, the experiment was terminated, and the impact of climate change on direct feeding interactions and indirect effects across trophic levels was analysed. With increasing temperature and dryness, consumption rates increased, thereby amplifying the negative influence of consumer populations on their resources. Hence, these climate‐change variables increased the top–down control of 1) predators (mainly mites) on springtails and 2) fungi on litter decomposition. In addition, we found that the climate‐change variables strengthened trophic cascades from predators on fungi whose density was thus increasingly decoupled from top–down control by their springtail consumers. Their increased decomposition rates are of high importance for carbon cycling and may result in accelerated nutrient turnover. In conclusion, our results suggest that climate change may strongly influence the structure and functioning of soil systems by strengthening consumption rates and trophic cascades, which will have far reaching consequences for the nutrient turnover and productivity of agricultural ecosystems.
Trait‐mediated apparent competition in an intraguild predator–prey system
Authors: Banerji Aabir , Morin Peter J.
Published: December 2013

Apparent competition is of broad interest due to its effects on community structure and potential applications in agriculture, restoration, and medicine. It is well‐established that apparent competition can result from changes in predator abundance or behavior caused by interactions with alternate prey, but no previous empirical study has demonstrated that apparent competition can also result from prey‐induced changes in predator morphology. This trait‐mediated alternative mechanism of apparent competition would expand the range of conditions under which apparent competition might occur in nature and identify new ways to generate or modify apparent competition in applied contexts. Here, as a proof of concept, we show that trait‐mediated apparent competition can arise from inducible offenses and show how it operates using experiments involving three ciliates. When it feeds on Colpidium kleini, the intraguild predator Tetrahymena vorax increases in size to the extent that it can then consume Paramecium aurelia, an even larger prey. When feeding only on bacteria, however, Tetrahymena remains smaller and is unable to consume Paramecium. This trait‐mediated indirect effect leads to the predatory exclusion of Paramecium, while Tetrahymena and Colpidium coexist. Developmental expansions such as those underlying the interactions observed in our study are not limited to ciliates, such as Tetrahymena, but occur among many diverse taxa and may have a surprising degree of influence over the structure and dynamics of food webs.
The Effect of Electric Field on Sintering and Electrical Conductivity of Titania
Authors: Jha Shikhar K. , Raj Rishi
Published: December 2013

The effect of DC electric field on sintering, and on the electrical conductivity of undoped rutile, TiO2 (99.99%), has been investigated at fields ranging from 0 V to 1000 V/cm. The experiments were carried out at a constant heating rate of 10°C/min with the furnace temperatures reaching up to 1150°C. The sintering behavior falls into two regimes: at lower fields, up to 150 V/cm, sintering is enhanced, but densification occurs gradually with time (Type A or FAST sintering). At higher fields sintering occurs abruptly, and is accompanied by a highly nonlinear increase in conductivity, which has been called flash sintering (Type B or FLASH sintering). Arrhenius plots of conductivity yield an activation energy of 1.6 eV in Type A and 0.6 eV in Type B behavior; the first is explained as ionic and the second as electronic conductivity. The evolution of grain size under both types of sintering behavior are reported. These results highlight that the dominant mechanism of field‐assisted sintering can change with the field strength and temperature. We are in the very early stages of identifying these mechanisms and mapping them in the field, frequency, and temperature space.
AC Impedance Spectroscopy of CaF2‐doped AlN Ceramics
Authors: Lee Hyeon‐Keun , Lee Hyun Min , Kim Do Kyung
Published: December 2013

The electrical conductivity of CaF2‐doped aluminum nitride (AlN) ceramics was characterized at high temperatures, up to 500°C, by AC impedance spectroscopy. High thermal conductive CaF2‐doped AlN ceramics were sintered with a second additive, Al2O3, added to control the electrical conductivity. The effects of calcium fluoride (CaF2) on microstructure and related electrical conductivity of AlN ceramics were examined. Investigation into the microstructure of specimens by TEM analysis showed that AlN ceramics sintered with only CaF2 additive have no secondary phases at grain boundaries. Addition of Al2O3 caused the formation of amorphous phases at grain boundaries. Addition of Al2O3 to CaF2‐doped AlN ceramics at temperatures 200°C–500°C revealed a variation in electrical resistivity that was four orders of magnitude larger than for the specimen without Al2O3. The amorphous phase at the grain boundary greatly increases the electrical resistivity of AlN ceramics without causing a significant deterioration of thermal conductivity.
Effects of RE3+ Ionic Radius on Monoclinic Phase Content of 8 mol% REO1.5 Partially Stabilized ZrO2 (RE = Yb, Y, Gd, and Nd) Powder Compacts after Annealing at High Temperature
Authors: Jiang Kuo , Liu Songbai , Li Yuan , Li Yaofei
Published: December 2013

Powders of zirconia doped with 8 mol% REO1.5 (RE = Yb, Y, Gd, and Nd) were synthesized by using the sol–spray pyrolysis method. The effects of RE3+ ionic radius on monoclinic (m) phase content of powders were investigated. The XRD results showed that the metastable tetragonal (t′) phase underwent a complete phase change to form m and cubic (c) phases after a heat treatment of 50–100 h at 1450°C. A cation size‐dependent reduction in the m phase content of the REO1.5 partially stabilized ZrO2 powders was observed. The SEM–EDS analysis of the powders revealed that the RE3+ concentrations in the c phases decreased with decreasing the RE3+ ionic radius. These results indicate that the stabilizer concentration of the c phase can be attributed to RE3+ ionic radii, resulting in different m phase contents. Compared to the REO1.5 single doped ZrO2, the m phase contents of 8 mol% (RE0.5Yb0.5)–ZrO2 (RE = Y, Gd, and Nd) powders were significantly reduced. The results prove that the stabilizer with a lower RE3+ size is effective in reducing the m phase content of partially stabilized ZrO2 after annealing at high temperatures.
Structural and Luminescence Studies on Barium Sodium Borosilicate Glasses Containing Uranium Oxides
Authors: Mishra Raman K. , Sudarsan Vasanthakumaran , Jain Savita , Kaushik Chetan P. , Vatsa Rajesh K. , Tyagi Avesh K.
Published: December 2013

Barium sodium borosilicate glasses containing different amounts of uranium oxides were prepared by conventional melt quench method and investigated for their structural aspects by 29Si and 11B MAS NMR technique combined with steady‐state luminescence and lifetime measurements. Based on MAS NMR studies, it is confirmed that uranium ions act as network modifier up to 15 wt% and beyond which a separate uranium containing phase is formed. From the luminescence studies, it is inferred that uranyl species is in a highly distorted environment. For more than 15 wt% uranium oxide incorporation, weaker U–O–U linkages are formed at the expense stronger U–O–Si/B linkages, as suggested by the excited state lifetime value of the uranyl species as well as red shift in emission peak maximum. For glass samples containing more than 25 wt% uranium oxides, crystalline barium uranium silicate gets phase separated from glass matrix as confirmed by XRD studies.
Clinical practice guidelines for nurse‐administered procedural sedation and analgesia in the cardiac catheterization laboratory: a modified Delphi study
Authors: Conway Aaron , Rolley John , Page Karen , Fulbrook Paul
Published: December 2013

Aim

To develop clinical practice guidelines for nurse‐administered procedural sedation and analgesia in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Background

Numerous studies have reported that nurse‐administered procedural sedation and analgesia is safe. However, the broad scope of existing guidelines for the administration and monitoring of patients who receive sedation during medical procedures without an anaesthetist present means there is a lack of specific guidance regarding optimal nursing practices for the unique circumstances where nurse‐administered procedural sedation and analgesia is used in the cardiac catheterization laboratory.

Methods

A sequential mixed methods design was used. Initial recommendations were produced from three studies conducted by the authors: an integrative review; a qualitative study; and a cross‐sectional survey. The recommendations were revised according to responses from a modified Delphi study. The first Delphi round was completed by nine senior cardiac catheterization laboratory nurses. All but one of the draft recommendations met the predetermined cut‐off point for inclusion with 59 responses to the second round. Consensus was reached on all recommendations.

Implications for nursing

The guidelines that were derived from the Delphi study offer 24 recommendations within six domains of nursing practice: Pre‐procedural assessment; Pre‐procedural patient and family education; Pre‐procedural patient comfort; Intra‐procedural patient comfort; Intra‐procedural patient assessment and monitoring; and Postprocedural patient assessment and monitoring.

Conclusion

These guidelines provide an important foundation towards the delivery of safe, consistent and evidence‐based nursing care for the many patients who receive sedation in the cardiac catheterization laboratory setting.
Earnings Volatility and Earnings Prediction: Analysis and UK Evidence
Authors: Clubb Colin , Wu Guoli
Published: December 2013

This paper confirms that US evidence of a negative relationship between earnings persistence and earnings volatility applies to UK firms over the period 1991–2010. Our analytical framework highlights the possibility that this result may reflect downward estimation bias in earnings persistence (and persistence of cash flow and accruals components of earnings) related to transitory earnings elements. Out‐of‐sample forecasts, based on models estimated for earnings volatility quartiles, suggest significant improvement in earnings forecasts for lower volatility firms. The results also suggest that the negative association between earnings persistence and volatility may be due to both estimation bias and variation in core earnings persistence.
Inefficacy of a Highly Selective T‐Type Calcium Channel Blocker in Preventing Atrial Fibrillation Related Remodeling
Authors: KATO TAKESHI , IWASAKI YU‐KI , DUKER GORAN , FJELLSTROM OLA , GIORDANETTO FABRIZIO , SUNDQVIST MONIKA , WALLIN ANITA , WANG QING‐DONG , NATTEL STANLEY
Published: December 2013

Effects of T‐Type Calcium Channel Blockade on AF

Background

The T‐type Ca2+ channel (ICaT) blocker mibefradil prevents AF‐promoting remodeling occurring with atrial tachycardia, an action that has been attributed to ICaT inhibition. However, mibefradil has other effects, including ability to inhibit L‐type Ca2+ channels, Na+ channels and cytochromes. Thus, the relationship between ICaT inhibition and remodeling protection in AF is still unknown.

Objective

To assess the effects of a novel highly selective Cav3 (ICaT) blocker, AZ9112, on atrial remodeling induced by 1‐week atrial tachypacing (AT‐P) in dogs.

Methods

Mongrel dogs were subjected to AT‐P at 400 bpm for 7 days, with atrioventricular‐node ablation and right‐ventricular demand pacing (80 bpm) to control ventricular rate. Four groups of dogs were studied in investigator‐blinded fashion: (1) a sham group, instrumented but without tachypacing or drug therapy (n = 5); (2) a placebo group, tachypaced but receiving placebo (n = 6); (3) a positive control tachypacing group receiving mibefradil (n = 6); and (4) a test drug group, subjected to tachypacing during oral treatment with AZ9112 (n = 8).

Results

One‐week AT‐P decreased atrial effective refractory period (ERP) at 6 of 8 sites and diminished rate‐dependent atrial ERP abbreviation. Mibefradil eliminated AT‐P‐induced ERP‐abbreviation at 4 of these 6 sites, while AZ9112 failed to affect ERP at any. Neither drug significantly affected AF vulnerability or AF duration.

Conclusions

ICaT blockade with the highly selective compound AZ9112 failed to prevent rate‐related atrial remodeling. Thus, prevention of atrial electrophysiological remodeling by mibefradil cannot be attributed exclusively to ICaT blockade. These results indicate that ICaT inhibition is not likely to be a useful approach for AF therapy.
Does enamel matrix derivative application provide additional clinical benefits in residual periodontal pockets associated with suprabony defects? A systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomized clinical trials
Authors: Graziani Filippo , Gennai Stefano , Cei Silvia , Ducci Francesco , Discepoli Nicola , Carmignani Alessandro , Tonetti Maurizio
Published: December 2013

Objective

To review the effectiveness of enamel matrix derivative (EMD) in the treatment of periodontal pockets of suprabony defects.

Methods

Randomized Clinical Trials comparing open flap debridement (OFD) versus EMD in periodontal suprabony defects were identified through electronic and manual search. Screening, data extraction and quality assessment were conducted. The primary outcome measures were tooth survival (TS) and clinical attachment level (CAL) gain. Pocket probing depth (PPD) reduction and recession (REC) increase were secondary outcome measures. Information concerning clinical and radiological bone gain was also collected.

Results

The search identified 1170 studies, three articles reporting on (99 subjects/358 teeth) met the inclusion criteria and were included. No tooth was lost during follow‐up (8–12 months). The adjunctive mean benefit of EMD was: 1.2 mm for CAL gain [confidence interval (CI): (0.9, 1.4), p < 0.00001, I2 = 66%], 1.2 mm for the PPD reduction (CI: [0.8, 1.5], p < 0.0001, I2 = 0%), −0.5 mm for the REC increase (CI: [−0.8, −0.2], p = 0.003, I2 = 0%). Potential risk of bias was identified.

Conclusions

No differences were noted in TS but EMD application resulted in clinical and radiographic additional benefits compared to OFD alone. Nevertheless, the paucity of data, the risk of methodological and potential publication bias suggests caution in interpreting these results while supporting multicenter studies for this specific application.
Agrarian Change and the Initial Development of an Aboriginal Bourgeoisie in Australia
Authors: Smith A.J. , MacWilliam Scott
Published: December 2013

While the commercial ambitions of indigenous capitalists are continuously displayed in Australia, little is known about the origins and initial development of the class. In this essay one area of the country, the north‐west of Western Australia (WA), is chosen to show how changes in the principal agricultural industry opened space for Aboriginal commerce. Despite the opposition of State governments and existing firms that dominated cattle and sheep production, this space was enlarged as pastoralism underwent major changes. The rise of the indigenous bourgeoisie was also facilitated by the growing power of the class's political representatives in electoral and in executive politics. Parallel with changes in Australian federalism, which gave the national government increased financial and other powers, Aboriginal representatives captured this shift for commercial advantage.
When do Non‐FamilyCEOs Outperform in Family Firms? Agency and Behavioural Agency Perspectives
Authors: Miller Danny , Le Breton‐Miller Isabelle , Minichilli Alessandro , Corbetta Guido , Pittino Daniel
Published: December 2013

Family firms represent a globally dominant form of organization, yet they confront a steep challenge of finding and managing competent leaders. Sometimes, these leaders cannot be found within the owning family. To date we know little about the governance contexts under which non‐family leaders thrive or founder. Guided by concepts from agency theory and behavioural agency theory, we examine the conditions of ownership and leadership that promote superior performance among non‐familyCEOs of family firms. Our analysis of 893 Italian family firms demonstrates that these leaders outperform when they are monitored by multiple major family owners as opposed to a single owner; they also outperform when they are not required to share power with co‐CEOs who are family members, and who may be motivated by parochial family socioemotional priorities.
Purring in cats during auscultation: how common is it, and can we stop it?
Authors: Little C. J. L. , Ferasin L. , Ferasin H. , Holmes M. A.
Published: December 2013

OBJECTIVES

When cats purr during examination it is difficult to perform auscultation. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of purring in cats during examination, and identify interventions that could be used to stop purring.

METHODS

Cats seen at a first opinion clinic were enrolled in the study and their purring status recorded. Thirty of the purring cats were exposed to up to three different interventions in an attempt to stop purring in a randomised controlled trial including blowing at the ear, use of an ethanol‐based aerosol near the cat and proximity to a running tap.

RESULTS

The 30 cats in the trial were subjected to a total of 54 attempts to stop purring, proximity to a running tap caused 17 of 21 (81%) cats to stop purring, blowing at the cat's ears worked in 2 of 15 (13%) cats, spraying an aerosol close to the cat was effective in 9 of 18 (50%) cases. In 2 cats (7%), none of the interventions interrupted purring.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

This study provides evidence that placing a purring cat near a running tap and in proximity to the discharge of an ethanol‐based aerosol are effective measures to stop purring in order to allow auscultation.
Regional environmental pressure influences population differentiation in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus)
Authors: Vandamme S. G. , Maes G. E. , Raeymaekers J. A. M. , Cottenie K. , Imsland A. K. , Hellemans B. , Lacroix G. , Mac Aoidh E. , Martinsohn J. T. , Martínez P. , Robbens J. , Vilas R. , Volckaert F. A. M.
Published: December 2013

Unravelling the factors shaping the genetic structure of mobile marine species is challenging due to the high potential for gene flow. However, genetic inference can be greatly enhanced by increasing the genomic, geographical or environmental resolution of population genetic studies. Here, we investigated the population structure of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) by screening 17 random and gene‐linked markers in 999 individuals at 290 geographical locations throughout the northeast Atlantic Ocean. A seascape genetics approach with the inclusion of high‐resolution oceanographical data was used to quantify the association of genetic variation with spatial, temporal and environmental parameters. Neutral loci identified three subgroups: an Atlantic group, a Baltic Sea group and one on the Irish Shelf. The inclusion of loci putatively under selection suggested an additional break in the North Sea, subdividing southern from northern Atlantic individuals. Environmental and spatial seascape variables correlated marginally with neutral genetic variation, but explained significant proportions (respectively, 8.7% and 10.3%) of adaptive genetic variation. Environmental variables associated with outlier allele frequencies included salinity, temperature, bottom shear stress, dissolved oxygen concentration and depth of the pycnocline. Furthermore, levels of explained adaptive genetic variation differed markedly between basins (3% vs. 12% in the North and Baltic Sea, respectively). We suggest that stable environmental selection pressure contributes to relatively strong local adaptation in the Baltic Sea. Our seascape genetic approach using a large number of sampling locations and associated oceanographical data proved useful for the identification of population units as the basis of management decisions.
Enzymatic activity profile of a Brazilian culture collection of Candida albicans isolated from diabetics and non‐diabetics with oral candidiasis
Authors: Sanitá Paula Volpato , Zago Chaiene Evelin , Pavarina Ana Cláudia , Jorge Janaina Habib , Machado Ana Lúcia , Vergani Carlos Eduardo
Published: December 2013

The secretion of hydrolytic enzymes is a fundamental virulence factor of Candida albicans to develop disease. The objective of this study was to characterise the virulence of 148 clinical isolates of C. albicans from oral candidiasis by assessing the expression of phospholipase (PL) and secreted aspartyl proteinase (SAP). Isolates were obtained from healthy subjects (HS) and diabetics (DOC) and non‐diabetics with oral candidiasis (NDOC). An aliquot (5 μl) of each cell suspension was inoculated on PL and SAP agar plates and incubated. Enzymes secretion was detected by the formation of an opaque halo around the colonies and enzymatic activity (PZ) was determined by the ratio between colony diameter and colony diameter plus the halo zone. Statistical comparisons were made by a one‐way anova followed by Tukey's post hoc test (α = 0.05). The clinical sources of C. albicans had significant effect (P < 0.001) on the PZ values of both enzymes. For PL, clinical isolates from NDOC and DOC had highest enzymatic activity than those from HS (P < 0.05), with no significant differences between them (P = 0.506). For SAP, C. albicans from NDOC showed the lower enzymatic activity (P < 0.001). There were no significant differences between isolates from HS and DOC (P = 0.7051). C. albicans isolates from NDOC and DOC patients showed an increased production of PL.
Evaluation of trace elements, oxidant/antioxidant status, vitamin C and β‐carotene in dogs with dermatophytosis
Authors: Beigh S. A. , Soodan J. S. , Singh R. , Khan A. M. , Dar M. A.
Published: December 2013

The aim of the study was to determine zinc, copper and iron levels, erythrocyte oxidant/antioxidant status, vitamin C and β‐carotene in dogs with dermatophytosis. A total of 23 dogs with clinically established diagnosis of dermatophytosis by trichogram and positive fungal culture and six dogs as control were included in this study. On cultural examination 52.17% fungal isolates were found to be Microsporum canis, 30.43% were Trichophyton mentagrophytes and 17.39% were M. gypseum. In comparison to healthy control, the dogs with dermatophytosis had significantly lower levels of zinc (P < 0.01), copper (P < 0.05), β‐carotene and vitamin C levels (P < 0.05) and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (P < 0.05) and catalase (P < 0.01), whereas the iron (P < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.01) levels were significantly increased. On correlation analysis, SOD activity was observed to be positively correlated (P < 0.05) with zinc and copper in both healthy and dermatophytosis affected dogs. In dermatophytosis affected dogs the MDA levels were negatively correlated (P < 0.05) with iron, β‐carotene levels and the activities of antioxidant enzymes; SOD and catalase. Our results demonstrated that dermatophytosis in dogs is associated with significant alteration in oxidant/antioxidant balance and trace elements. It might be secondary consequence of dermatophytosis infection or contributing factor in its pathogenesis.
Do nurses feel stressed? A perspective from primary health care
Authors: Galdikienė Nijolė , Asikainen Paula , Balčiūnas Sigitas , Suominen Tarja
Published: December 2013

This study describes nurses' experiences of stress in primary healthcare settings, and examines correlations between stress and personal factors. There were 187 nurses from 18 public primary care centers participating, drawn from one county of Lithuania. The Expanded Nursing Stress Scale was used to evaluate the study data. The study indicates that in primary healthcare centers, nurses working with adult patients experienced less stress than those working with younger patients. The most frequently reported stressors were those related to death and dying, and conflicts with physicians and patients and their families. In particular, older nurses more frequently experienced stress related to death and dying. The intensity of nurses' stress in conflict situations with physicians was related to age, however, the depth of work experience in the healthcare setting was more influential. Findings indicate that more detailed research is needed regarding stress experiences in primary health care, and especially the related impact of the social contexts involved in the setting.
Intestinal microbiota influence the early postnatal development of the enteric nervous system
Authors: Collins J. , Borojevic R. , Verdu E. F. , Huizinga J. D. , Ratcliffe E. M.
Published: December 2013

Background

Normal gastrointestinal function depends on an intact and coordinated enteric nervous system (ENS). While the ENS is formed during fetal life, plasticity persists in the postnatal period during which the gastrointestinal tract is colonized by bacteria. We tested the hypothesis that colonization of the bowel by intestinal microbiota influences the postnatal development of the ENS.

Methods

The development of the ENS was studied in whole mount preparations of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum of specific pathogen‐free (SPF), germ‐free (GF), and altered Schaedler flora (ASF) NIH Swiss mice at postnatal day 3 (P3). The frequency and amplitude of circular muscle contractions were measured in intestinal segments using spatiotemporal mapping of video recorded spontaneous contractile activity with and without exposure to lidocaine and N‐nitro‐L‐arginine (NOLA).

Key Results

Immunolabeling with antibodies to PGP9.5 revealed significant abnormalities in the myenteric plexi of GF jejunum and ileum, but not duodenum, characterized by a decrease in nerve density, a decrease in the number of neurons per ganglion, and an increase in the proportion of myenteric nitrergic neurons. Frequency of amplitude of muscle contractions were significantly decreased in the jejunum and ileum of GF mice and were unaffected by exposure to lidocaine, while NOLA enhanced contractile frequency in the GF jejunum and ileum.

Conclusions & Inferences

These findings suggest that early exposure to intestinal bacteria is essential for the postnatal development of the ENS in the mid to distal small intestine. Future studies are needed to investigate the mechanisms by which enteric microbiota interact with the developing ENS.
Calcium responses in subserosal interstitial cells of the guinea‐pig proximal colon
Authors: Tamada H. , Hashitani H.
Published: December 2013

Background

In the subserosal layer between the longitudinal muscle layer and mesothelium, heterogeneous populations of interstitial cells are distributed. As the distribution of nerve elements in this layer is sparse as compared with the nerve plexus layer or tunica muscularis, there may be unique communication among subserosal interstitial cells (SSICs). This study aimed to explore functional properties of SSICs.

Methods

In subserosal preparations of the guinea‐pig proximal colon, changes in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) were visualized using Fluo‐4 Ca2+ imaging. Immunohistochemistry was also performed to identify the SSICs exhibiting Ca2+ transients.

Key Results

A majority of SSICs responded to adenosine triphosphate (ATP, 10 μM) by increasing [Ca2+]i, but remained quiescent during the application of acetylcholine (10 μM). ATP‐induced Ca2+ responses were mimicked by adenosine 5′‐diphosphate (10 μM), MRS2365 (10 nM) but not α, β‐methylene ATP (10 μM) or uridine triphosphate (10 μM), and could be reproduced in Ca2+‐free solution, suggesting that ATP acts via P2Y receptors, most likely P2Y1 subtype, but not P2X receptors. Live staining of the same preparations after Ca2+ imaging indicated the ATP‐sensitive SSICs were not positive for c‐Kit antibody, a specific marker for gastrointestinal interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC). Immunohistochemistry identified vimentin (mesenchymal cell marker)+/Kit‐ and SK3 (fibroblast‐like cell (FLC) marker)+/Kit‐ cells that had a similar morphology to the ATP‐sensitive SSICs in Ca2+ imaging.

Conclusions & Inferences

A majority of the SSICs in the guinea‐pig proximal colon, presumably FLC, are capable of responding to ATP and thus may contribute to smooth muscle relaxation upon stimulation with ATP released from non‐neuronal cells.