bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Foster care in France: children's perception of their own well‐being
Authors: Euillet Séverine
Published: February 2020

Working to improve the welfare of children in care is a priority shared by all French child protection services. However, the means to measure and improve well‐being are limited (Fergeus et al., 2019). Although the trend today is towards a more comprehensive understanding of the point of view of adults involved in the socioeducational process, too little is done to include the children's own perception of their situation and conditions of care. The purposes of this study are to document and analyse the point of view of children in foster families on their subjective well‐being and also to identify contextual factors that influence it. Ninety‐one children living in foster care, aged 13.5 years on average, completed the French version of the Multidimensional Students' Life Satisfaction Scale developped by Huebner, Zullig Runa in 2012. The multidimensional evaluation of well‐being (family, school, self, friends, and living conditions) reveals a moderate life satisfaction within the foster family and a weak one at school. Total life satisfaction levels are directly linked to the number of care orders the child has experienced, their duration, and the type of education received. The implications of these results for professional practices related to children in care will be discussed.
Mesorectal fat area and mesorectal area affect the surgical difficulty of robotic‐assisted mesorectal excision and intersphincteric resection respectively in different ways
Authors: Huang S. , Chen M. , Deng Y. , Wang X. , Lu X. , Jiang W. , Huang Y. , Chi P.
Published: February 2020

Aim

Many studies have demonstrated predictors of the difficulty of laparoscopic anterior resection for rectal cancer. Few studies focus on the influence of pelvic dimensions on robotic‐assisted mesorectal excision (ME) and intersphincteric resection (ISR). This study aimed to evaluate the influences of the mesorectal fat area (MFA) and mesorectal area on the difficulty of robotic sphincter‐saving surgery.

Methods

We included 156 patients with middle and low rectal cancer who underwent robotic sphincter‐saving surgery. Clinical and anatomical factors, including the pelvic dimensions, were collected. Linear regression was performed for variables associated with surgical duration. We also performed subgroup analyses for robotic‐assisted ME and ISR. Logistic regression was used to find variables associated with transanal dissection.

Results

For patients with middle or low rectal cancer, the sacral length and tumour distance from the anal verge were independently associated with surgical duration. The pT stage, sacral length and the MFA were independent predictors for the surgical duration of robotic‐assisted ME. By contrast, a small mesorectal area was independently related to a longer duration of robotic‐assisted ISR. The pelvic outlet length was independently associated with the use of transanal dissection for ISR.

Conclusion

It is suggested that a large MFA could affect the difficulty of ME in robotic‐assisted ME, while a small mesorectal area could increase the surgical difficulty of robotic‐assisted ISR for low rectal cancer. Besides, the pelvic outlet length was associated with the use of transanal dissection. Further studies are needed to validate the results and draw more scientific conclusions.
“Early” and “Late” Hospital readmissions in the first year after kidney transplant at a single center
Authors: Nguyen Michelle C. , Avila Christina L. , Brock Guy N. , Benedict Jason A. , James Iyore , El‐Hinnawi Ashraf , Rajab Amer , Elkhammas Elmahdi , Pelletier Ronald P. , Henry Mitchell , Bumgardner Ginny L.
Published: February 2020

Background

Hospital readmission (HR) after surgery is considered a quality metric.

Methods

Data on 2371 first‐time adult kidney transplant (KT) recipients were collected to analyze the “early” (≤30 days) and “late” (31‐365 days) HR patterns after KT at a single center over a 12‐year time span (2002‐2013).

Results

30‐day, 90‐day, and 1‐year HR were 31%, 41%, and 53%, respectively. Risk factors for HR included age >50, female sex, black race, BMI >30, transplant LOS >5 days, and pre‐transplant time on dialysis >765 days. Indications for early (n = 749) and late (n = 508) HR were similar. Early HR (OR: 3.80, P = .007) and black race (OR: 2.38, P = .009) were associated with higher odds of 1‐year graft failure while frequency (1‐2, 3‐4, 5+) of HR (ORs: 4.68, 8.36, 9.44, P < .001) and age > 50 (OR: 2.11, P = .007) were associated with higher odds of 1‐year mortality. Transplant LOS > 5 days increased both odds of 1‐year graft failure (OR: 3.51, P = .001) and mortality (OR: 2.05, P = .006). One‐year graft and recipient survival were 96.7% and 94.8%, respectively.

Conclusions

Hospital readmission was associated with reduced graft and patient survival; however, despite a relatively high and consistent HR rate after KT, overall 1‐year graft and patient survival was high.
Civil service reform, self‐selection, and bureaucratic performance
Authors: Gibbs Daniel
Published: February 2020

I use a formal model to analyze the effect of civil service protections on bureaucratic performance. In a two‐period model, a public manager observes a bureaucrat's actions for a period and decides whether to retain or attempt to remove the bureaucrat. Bureaucrats vary in terms of their intrinsic motivation and choose between careers in government or the private sector. I show that bureaucratic performance is greater in any separating equilibrium in which motivated bureaucrats choose government than in all equilibria in which they do not. Stronger civil service protections reduce the amount of effort that motivated bureaucrats must exert to distinguish themselves from their unmotivated peers in order to ensure retention. This strengthens incentives for motivated bureaucrats to choose careers in government. Stronger civil service protections, however, also reduce the ability of public managers to remove unmotivated bureaucrats. These competing effects yield a non‐monotonic and discontinuous relationship between civil service protections and bureaucratic performance. I use the model to analyze recent reforms to U.S. state and federal personnel management that have significantly rolled back traditional job protections.
Dynamic decision support framework for production scheduling using a combined genetic algorithm and multiagent model
Authors: Du Juan , Dong Peng , Sugumaran Vijayan , Castro‐Lacouture Daniel
Published: February 2020

Due to the dynamic nature, complexity, and interactivity of production scheduling in an actual business environment, suitable combined and hybrid methods are necessary. This paper takes prefabricated concrete components as an example and develops the dynamic decision support framework based on a genetic algorithm and multiagent system (MAS) to optimize and simulate the production scheduling. First, a multiobjective genetic algorithm is integrated into the MAS for preliminary optimization and a series of near‐optimal solutions are obtained. Subsequently, considering the resource constraints and uncertainties, the MAS is used to simulate complex real‐world production environments. Considering the different types of uncertainty factors, the paper proposes the corresponding dynamic scheduling method and uses MAS to generate the optimal production schedule. Finally, a practical prefabricated construction case is used to validate the proposed model. The results show that the model can effectively address the occurrence of uncertain events and can provide dynamic decision support for production scheduling.
Catalases of the polyextremophylic Andean isolate Acinetobacter sp. Ver 3 confer adaptive response to H2O2 and UV radiation
Authors: Sartorio Mariana Gabriela , Repizo Guillermo Daniel , Cortez Néstor
Published: February 2020

The polyextremophilic strain Acinetobacter sp. Ver3 isolated from high‐altitude Andean lakes exhibits elevated tolerance to UV‐B radiation and to pro‐oxidants, a feature that has been correlated to its unusually high catalase activity. The Ver3 genome sequence analysis revealed the presence of two genes coding for monofunctional catalases: AV3KatE1 and AV3KatE2, the latter harboring an N‐terminal signal peptide. We show herein that AV3KatE1 displays one of the highest catalytic activities reported so far and is constitutively expressed at relatively high amounts in the cytosol, acting as the main protecting catalase against H2O2 and UV‐B radiation. The second catalase, AV3KatE2, is a periplasmic enzyme strongly induced by both peroxide and UV, conferring supplementary protection against pro‐oxidants. The N‐terminal signal present in AV3KatE2 was required not only for transport to the periplasm via the twin‐arginine translocation pathway, but also for proper folding and subsequent catalytic activity. The analysis of catalase distribution among 114 Acinetobacter complete genomes revealed a great variability in the catalase classes, with A. baumannii clinical isolates exhibiting higher numbers of isoenzymes and the most variable profiles.
Dysplastic urothelial changes accompany empagliflozin administration in urinary bladder of experimental diabetes
Authors: Abdel‐Hamid Ahmed A. M. , Firgany Alaa El‐Din L.
Published: February 2020

Empagliflozin (EMPA) is a promising novel antidiabetic drug; however, doubts have been raised regarding its use and the increased risk of urinary bladder carcinoma. In this study, we evaluated urothelium expression of cytokeratins (CKs) and Ki‐67 proliferative activity in the urinary bladder of diabetic (DM + EMPA) and non‐diabetic rats after EMPA administration. By routine histology, dysplastic changes were detected in the urothelium of diabetic as well as non‐diabetic animals after EMPA administration. Moreover, the expression of CK‐7 and CK‐8 was significantly decreased (P < .05) while that of CK‐20 as well as Ki‐67 was significantly increased (P < .05) in EMPA per se and DM + EMPA urothelium groups compared to that of control and diabetics. The dysplastic changes together with the increased proliferative activity in urothelium after EMPA administration provide a cellular evidence that supports the former clinical concerns.
Economical and technical comparison of valve ceramics available in Turkish market
Authors: Palaci Yuksel
Published: February 2020

In this study, ceramic valves, used in faucet cartridges, were studied, considering that the market size is nearly 12 million per year. Six different alumina ceramic valves from various companies in Turkey were analyzed through physical and mechanical tests such as measurement of density, and surface roughness and hardness. Their chemical compositions and microstructures were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results showed that the density values, surface roughness, and surface hardness were between 3.66 and 3.84 g/cm3, 0.13 and 0.22 µm (Ra), and 805 and 1217 HV, respectively. Among the six valves, while valve 4 had the highest, valve 6 had the lowest hardness and density. Moreover, a direct correlation between the estimated wholesale and retail prices was not observed. The valves designated as 5 and 6 had the lowest prices and the valve 2 had the highest price. They had the similar technical properties satisfying Turkish and European standards.
Effects of peptide–calcium complexes from sunflower seeds and peanuts on enhancing bone mineral density
Authors: Yuan Xingyu , Bao Xiaolan , Feng Guoxue , Zhang Meili , Ma Sarina
Published: February 2020

Hydrolysed proteins from sunflower seed and peanut were separated by ultrafiltration. Results showed that 1–3 kDa sunflower seed peptide (SSP4) and ≥10 kDa peanut peptide (PP1) fractions had the highest Ca‐binding capacity of 104.80 and 124.74 mg g−1, respectively. After Ca binding, scanning electron microscopy results showed that the loose sheet‐like structure of SSP4 and PP1 transformed into a granular structure. Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy results showed that carboxyl and amide groups were involved in Ca binding. Growing male mice were assigned to eight groups: control, CaCO3 and six experimental groups (low, medium and high doses for each SSP4‐Ca and PP1‐Ca). Apparent Ca absorption rate, bone mineral density (BMD), bone surface microstructure and biomechanical index and serum biochemical index were evaluated. Animal experiment results indicated that SSP4‐Ca and PP1‐Ca can improve Ca bioavailability; effectively enhance BMD and structure; and promote Ca absorption. The peptide–Ca complexes were absorbed better than CaCO3 and promoted Ca accumulation in the bone. PP1‐Ca was better than SSP4‐Ca in promoting calcium absorption and enhancing BMD.
Evaluation of the HemoCue WBC DIFF in leukopenic patient samples
Authors: Kur Dår K. , Agersnap Niels , Holländer Niels Henrik , Pedersen Ole B. Vesterager , Friis‐Hansen Lennart
Published: February 2020

Background

White blood cell (WBC) counts are used to monitor bone marrow function and to screen for infections. The HemoCue WBC DIFF Point‐Of‐Care (POC) instrument classifies WBCs through cell image recognition. To evaluate its suitability for monitoring cancer patients, we examined its performance in samples from patient with leukopenia and in samples containing nRBC.

Methods

Sysmex samples with WBCs 0.05‐3.40 × 109/L were examined on the HemoCue WBC DIFF, and the correlations between the instruments were assessed by Deming regression for total WBC, neutrophils, and lymphocytes. The theoretical CV% (CVt), calculated from number of cells counted by the HemoCue WBC DIFF, was used to determine the statistical error of the WBC counts. The interference of nRBC was also evaluated.

Results

The counting variation was primarily the source of statistical error in the lower counts with an imprecision between 3.8–9.2% for total WBC (0.56–2.29 ×109/L), 8.7–14.3% for neutrophils (0.36–1.33 ×109/L) and 9.8–15.1% for lymphocytes (0.35–0.89 ×109/L). The correlation coefficient was between 0.658 and 0.986—poorest for lymphocytes. The total WBC count on the HemoCue WBC DIFF was significantly increased in nRBC samples due to lymphocyte count overestimation, and not by other WBCs.

Conclusions

The HemoCue WBC DIFF provided reliable and accurate counts of total WBC, neutrophil, and lymphocyte in leukopenic samples. Until POC instruments that can perform an accurate complete blood count are available, the HemoCue WBC DIFF can be used to assist physicians in making decisions in situations of postchemotherapy leukopenia and neutropenia.
Desmopressin acetate to prevent bleeding in percutaneous kidney biopsy: a systematic review
Authors: Lim Cynthia C. , Tan Hui Zhuan , Tan Chieh Suai , Healy Helen , Choo Jason , Franca Gois Pedro Henrique
Published: February 2020

Background

Kidney biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing kidney disease but may result in bleeding, especially in uraemia. DDAVP (1‐deamino‐8‐d‐arginine vasopressin) may reduce uraemic bleeding but guidelines on its use are lacking.

Aim

To evaluate whether DDAVP reduced bleeding complications after percutaneous kidney biopsies.

Methods

We searched CENTRAL, PubMed, Embase, LILACS, WHO Trials Registry and ClinicalTrials.gov until May 2019 for randomised controlled trials (RCT), quasi‐RCT and prospective cohort studies that compared DDAVP with placebo or no intervention, prior to native or allograft kidney biopsy. The primary outcome was post‐biopsy bleeding. Secondary outcome was adverse events related to DDAVP.

Results

Abstracts of 270 identified papers were examined and 24 selected for evaluation. Two studies, one RCT and one prospective cohort that collectively evaluated 738 native kidney biopsies, met the inclusion criteria. One enrolled individuals with serum creatinine ≤1.5 mg/dL (132 μmol/L) and/or estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 while the other evaluated biopsies with serum creatinine >150 μmol/L. DDAVP was administered as a single subcutaneous dose of 0.3 μg/kg in both studies. Data were not pooled for meta‐analysis due to clinical heterogeneity. GRADE quality of evidence from these two studies was low for DDAVP preventing any bleeding complication after native kidney biopsy. Low quality evidence suggested that adverse effects were not increased in DDAVP therapy. No prospective studies evaluated DDAVP in transplant kidney biopsies.

Conclusion

Currently available prospective data are insufficient to support the routine use of DDAVP prior to percutaneous kidney biopsies hence high quality trials are required.
The changing nature of labour regulation: the distinctiveness of the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry
Authors: Clarke Linda , Fitzgerald Ian
Published: February 2020

The article addresses the changing nature of labour regulation through analysis of the National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry, originating in 1981. It shows how multiple spatial regulatory scales, the changing coalitions of actors involved, employer and client engagement and labour agency have been critical to National Agreement for the Engineering Construction Industry's survival.
Combining climate, land use change and dispersal to predict the distribution of endangered species with limited vagility
Authors: Della Rocca Francesca , Milanesi Pietro
Published: February 2020

Aim

Many rare species are dispersal‐limited; their colonization capacity can be impacted by land use and climate changes. Most ecological niche models predict the distribution of species under future climate and land use change scenarios without incorporating species‐specific dispersal abilities. Here we investigate the effect of climate and land use change on low vagile species accounting for their dispersal capacity and define accessible areas in the future.

Location

Europe.

Taxon

Saproxylic beetles.

Methods

We used the current (2007–2012) occurrences of six endangered saproxylics to develop ecological niche models using current climate and land use conditions. We projected species distributions under four future climate and land use change scenarios to estimate their potential occurrences. Finally, accounting for species‐specific dispersal, we limited their distributions to accessible areas in 2040–2050.

Results

Without accounting for dispersal abilities we found a strong and positive impact of climate change on the distribution of Cerambix cerdo, Cucujus cinnaberinus, Morimus funereus and Rosalia alpina and a positive effect of land use change on the distribution of Lucanus cervus and Osmoderma eremita. When species‐specific dispersal was included, we found a strong and positive impact of land use change on the distribution of all the species. In this case climate change had a lower but positive effect on the distribution of C. cerdo, C. cinnaberinus, L. cervus and R. alpina, and a negative effect on the distribution of O. eremita.

Main conclusion

We found that climate change would promote the expansion of saproxylic beetles only in the unrealistic case of unlimited dispersal. Accounting for dispersal abilities, the expansion of our species would be mainly conditioned by the effect of land use change. Thus, we encourage researchers to combine climate and land use change with dispersal when projecting species distribution under future scenarios to accurately identify areas with fundamental species‐specific resources.
Prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospitalized adult patients in Bursa, Turkey: A multicentre, point prevalence study
Authors: Sayan Halil Erkan , Girgin Nermin Kelebek , Asan Ali
Published: February 2020

Rationale, aims, and objectives

Pressure ulcers (PUs), which are preventable complications, increase the cost of health care and the risk of prolonged hospital stay, as well as morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to describe the prevalence, clinical features, and risk factors for PUs among hospitalized patients.

Method

This study was cross‐sectional and conducted over a single day in all the care units. Data were recorded on a patient observation form that included demographic data, diagnosis of admission to the hospital or intensive care unit (ICU), comorbidity and chronic diseases, location, stage of PU, and Braden Scale score. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score, Glasgow coma score (GCS), PaO2/FiO2 ratio, and albumin level were recorded for ICU patients.

Results

A total of 1548 adult patients participated in the study. Of these patients, 177 (11.43%) had PU. The patients with PU had more advanced age, lower body mass index (BMI), and longer duration of hospital and ICU stay (for all P = .001). Evaluation of PU in the first 24 hours after hospital admission and the last PU evaluation time also showed a significant effect (both P = .001). Braden Scale score less than or equal to 13 in the first evaluation after hospital admission increased the risk of PU. Albumin was 2.78 ± 0.57 gm/dL in ICU patients, and albumin level was significantly lower in patients with PU (P = .001). PUs were located mainly in the sacrum (47.59%) and were classified as stage II (42.76%) for all patients.

Conclusions

The prevalence of PU is related to the age and severity of patient clinical status, as predicted by the Braden Scale score and APACHE II score, and length of hospital and ICU stay. Low albumin level is also related to development of PUs in ICU patients.
Benefits and Harms of Statins in People with Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Davis Katrina A.S. , Bishara Delia , Perera Gayan , Molokhia Mariam , Rajendran Lawrence , Stewart Robert J.
Published: February 2020

OBJECTIVES

More people with dementia also fall into the category of high vascular risk, for which a statin is usually prescribed. However, these recommendations are based on studies in people without dementia. We aimed to evaluate the evidence for the long‐term effectiveness and harm of statin therapy in patients with dementia.

DESIGN

Systematic review of randomized controlled trials and observational research.

SETTING

Publications from developed countries indexed in the PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane trial database between 2007 and 2019.

PARTICIPANTS

Trials including people with all types of dementia with a mean age older than 65 years.

INTERVENTION

Treatment with a statin for 6 months or longer.

MEASUREMENTS

Major adverse cardiovascular events, dementia progression, and general health at 2 years, or medication adverse events (AEs) at any time. Each article was assessed for bias using the Newcastle‐Ottawa or Cochrane Collaboration tools. A narrative synthesis and pooled analyses are reported.

RESULTS

Five articles met the inclusion criteria. They reported only on dementia of the Alzheimer's type. There was no evidence regarding cardiovascular events or general health. We made a very low confidence finding that statins reduce dementia progression based on three cohort studies of heterogeneous design. We made a very low confidence finding of no significant difference in AEs based on two randomized controlled trials of 18 months: odds ratios of any AE = 1.21 (95% confidence interval [CI] = .83‐1.77), serious AE = 1.03 (95% CI = .76‐1.87), and death = 1.69 (95% CI = .79‐3.62).

CONCLUSION

Evidence was insufficient to fully evaluate the efficacy of statins in people with dementia. We found that statins may have a small benefit delaying progression in Alzheimer's dementia, although this conflicted with previous findings from shorter randomized trials. For safety, the trial data lacked power to show clinically important differences between the groups. We recommend that clinical data be leveraged for further observational studies to inform prescribing decisions. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:650–658, 2020
A novel variation of the suture suspension facelift
Authors: Ugradar Shoaib , Isse Nicanor , Goldberg Robert A. , Fodor Peter
Published: February 2020

Background

We propose a technical variation of the minimally invasive suture suspension facelift.

Methods

A novel variation of the minimally invasive facelift is proposed. The technique consists of two components. The anterior component addresses aging of the midface by anchoring the SMAS on to the sturdy retroauricular supra‐helical deep temporal fascia using approximately 6‐8 passes of a 4/0 Mersilene suture. The posterior component addresses cervical aging by securing the posterior edge of the platysma onto the sturdy mastoid fascia, using multiple loops of a 4/0 Mersilene suture. This technique was performed on 100 consecutive patients between 2005 and 2010.

Results

The technique was found to be safe due to the plane of dissection remaining superficial to the parotid gland in the anterior component. There were no instances of facial nerve injury or sensory disturbance. None of the patients required a secondary procedure within the first 18 months following the procedure.

Conclusions

This technique offers a safe and effective option for patients who seek a facelift, especially in combination with other procedures. It is envisaged that the use of multiple loops of suture to anchor mobile tissue onto fixed sturdy fascia will contribute to the longevity of the results. The limited skin undermining also makes this procedure a better choice for smokers.
Entrepreneurial by Design: How Organizational Design Affects Family and Non‐family Firms’ Opportunity Exploitation
Authors: De Massis Alfredo , Eddleston Kimberly A. , Rovelli Paola
Published: February 2020

Opportunity exploitation is a key aspect of the corporate entrepreneurship process and is particularly important to maintain a family firm through multiple generations. Drawing on an organizational design perspective, we investigate opportunity exploitation in family versus non‐family firms. The empirical analyses on survey data from a sample of 224 Italian firms reveal that family firms exploit significantly fewer opportunities than non‐family firms, and this result is fully mediated by the organization of their TMT. Our findings show that how family firms organize is crucial for opportunity exploitation, thus extending and enriching prior corporate entrepreneurship research, highlighting the importance of bringing an organizational design perspective to corporate entrepreneurship and family business studies.
Clinical Utility of Preoperative Bilingual Language fMRI Mapping in Patients with Brain Tumors
Authors: Leung Lok Wa Laura , Unadkat Prashin , Bertotti Melina More , Bi Wenya Linda , Essayed Walid Ibn , Bunevicius Adomas , Chavakula Vamsidhar , Rigolo Laura , Fumagalli Luca , Tie Ziyun , Golby Alexandra J. , Tie Yanmei
Published: February 2020

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Previous literature has demonstrated disparity in the postoperative recovery of first and second language function of bilingual neurosurgical patients. However, it is unclear to whether preoperative brain mapping of both languages is needed. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of language task functional MRI (fMRI) implemented in both languages in bilingual patients.

METHODS

We retrospectively examined fMRI data of 13 bilingual brain tumor patients (age: 23 to 59 years) who performed antonym generation task‐based fMRIs in English and non‐English language. The usefulness of bilingual language mapping was evaluated using a structured survey administered to 5 neurosurgeons. Additionally, quantitative comparison between the brain activation maps of both languages was performed.

RESULTS

Survey responses revealed differences in raters’ surgical approach, including asleep versus awake surgery and extent of resection, after viewing the language fMRI maps. Additional non‐English fMRI led to changes in surgical decision‐making and bettered localization of language areas. Quantitative analysis revealed an increase in laterality index (LI) in non‐English fMRI compared to English fMRI. The Dice coefficient demonstrated fair overlap (.458 ± .160) between the activation maps.

CONCLUSION

Bilingual fMRI mapping of bilingual patients allows to better appreciate functionally active language areas that may be neglected in single language mapping. Utility of bilingual mapping was supported by changes in both surgical approach and LI measurements, suggesting its benefit on preoperative language mapping.
Sociolinguistics and modes of social class signalling: African perspectives
Authors: Banda Felix
Published: February 2020

The paper evaluates spatial, behavioural, and material signalling of social class in African contexts, focusing on Kenya and Zambia. In particular, it draws on notions of mode of class signalling and intersectionality and a vignette of an interaction between urban‐based Western educated development agents and local participants in rural Kenya to illustrate how social class is implicated in interactions. The paper shows how significant features of class and dimensions of social inequality may be perceived intersectionally so that positionalities in class structures are negotiated in contexts of interaction, thus illustrating how structural conditions of class may be challenged and questioned. The paper concludes that sociolinguistics needs to identify the various ways in which the marginalized challenge social structures of inequality. Otherwise there is a risk that sociolinguistics will work to validate inequalities as permanent and fixed, and victims of unequal treatment as permanently condemned and never able to rise against oppressive social structures that tyrannize them.
Large‐scale mortality in cultured tilapia Oreochromis niloticus due to infection with Shewanella putrefaciens in India
Authors: Sood Neeraj , Pradhan Pravata K. , Ravindra  , Verma Dev K. , Yadav Manoj K. , Mishra Rupesh K. , Kumar Uday , Swaminathan Thanga R. , Sood Naresh K.
Published: February 2020

In recent years, infection with Shewanella putrefaciens has emerged as a serious problem in freshwater aquaculture. In the present study, we report large‐scale mortality in farmed tilapia Oreochromis niloticus from Hisar, North India. The diseased tilapia exhibited lethargy, swimming near the water surface, fin rot, hemorrhages on the operculum, and approximately 40% mortality. Gram‐negative, motile, catalase, and oxidase‐positive bacilli were isolated from the kidney of affected tilapia and confirmed as S. putrefaciens on the basis of biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The antimicrobial sensitivity test revealed that S. putrefaciens strains were sensitive to quinolone, nitrofuran, tetracycline, aminoglycoside, cephalosporin, aminocyclitol, sulphonamide, and macrolide antibiotics, but resistant to beta‐lactam and glycopeptide antibiotics. The histopathological examination revealed degenerative changes in the kidney, liver, spleen, and intestine suggesting systemic infection. In experimental infection studies, the disease was reproduced in naive tilapia, and the clinical signs resembled those observed in natural cases. Further more, S. putrefaciens was re‐isolated from the kidney of challenged tilapia, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Therefore, the mortality in tilapia was attributed to S. putrefaciens infection.
Phosphatase and tensin homolog deletion enhances neurite outgrowth during neural stem cell differentiation
Authors: Shen Huachao , Wang Jie , Shen Lihua , Wang Huamei , Li Wenlei , Ding Xinsheng
Published: February 2020

Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation has emerged as a promising approach for the treatment of neurological disorders such as cerebral ischemia. As the majority of newly generated cells from exogenous NSCs fail to integrate into the ischemic brain and establish functional synaptic networks, NSC transplantation for ischemic stroke experiences limited neurological function recovery. Augment of endogenous neurite growth in the process of NSC differentiation is an avenue to promote synaptic networks. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), a tumor suppressor, has been established to regulate axon growth in the adult central nervous system. The aim of this study was to explore the role of PTEN on neurite growth during NSC differentiation. Our results revealed that the protein expression of PTEN was significantly increased during NSC differentiation, whereas the expression of phosphorylated S6 ribosomal (p‐S6R) was markedly decreased. Small interfering RNA knockdown of PTEN in NSCs can accelerate neurite outgrowth during NSC differentiation. These results indicated a remarkable effect of PTEN inhibition on neuronal process after NSC differentiation, and identified a novel route to promote endogenous neurite growth in differentiated NSCs, which may facilitate the application of NSC transplantation in ischemic stroke.
Myopathy associated with homozygous PYROXD1 pathogenic variants detected by genome sequencing
Authors: Woods Jeremy D. , Khanlou Negar , Lee Hane , Signer Rebecca , Shieh Perry , Chen Johnathan , Herzog Matthew , Palmer Christina , Martinez‐Agosto Julian ,   Undiagnosed Diseases Network, Nelson Stanley F.
Published: February 2020

Biallelic pathogenic variants in the gene PYROXD1 have recently been described to cause early‐onset autosomal recessive myopathy. Myopathy associated with PYROXD1 pathogenic variants is rare and reported in only 17 individuals. Known pathogenic variants in PYROXD1 include missense, insertion and essential splice‐site variants. Here we describe a consanguineous family of individuals affected with late‐onset myopathy and homozygous PYROXD1 missense variants (NM_024854.5:c.464A>G [p.Asn155Ser]) expanding our understanding of the possible disease phenotypes of PYROXD1‐associated myopathy.
Tracking the phenology of photosynthesis using carotenoid‐sensitive and near‐infrared reflectance vegetation indices in a temperate evergreen and mixed deciduous forest
Authors: Wong Christopher Y.S. , D’Odorico Petra , Arain M. Altaf , Ensminger Ingo
Published: February 2020

Photosynthetic phenology is an important indicator of annual gross primary productivity (GPP). Assessing photosynthetic phenology remotely is difficult for evergreen conifers as they remain green year‐round. Carotenoid‐based vegetation indices such as the photochemical reflectance index (PRI) and chlorophyll/carotenoid index (CCI) are promising tools to remotely track the invisible phenology of photosynthesis by assessing carotenoid pigment dynamics. PRI, CCI and the near‐infrared reflectance of vegetation (NIRV) index may act as proxies of photosynthetic efficiency (ɛ), an important parameter in light‐use efficiency models, or direct proxies of photosynthesis.

To understand the physiological mechanisms reflected by PRI and CCI and the ability of vegetation indices to act as proxies of photosynthetic activity for estimating GPP, we measured leaf pigment composition, PRI, CCI, NIRV and photosynthetic activity at the leaf and canopy scales over 2 years in an evergreen and mixed deciduous forest.

PRI and CCI captured the large seasonal carotenoid/chlorophyll ratio changes and good relationships were observed between PRI–ɛ and CCI–photosynthesis and NIRV–photosynthesis.

PRI‐, CCI‐ and NIRV‐based models effectively tracked observed seasonal GPP. We propose that carotenoid‐based and near‐infrared reflectance vegetation indices may provide useful proxies of photosynthetic activity and can improve remote sensing‐based models of GPP in evergreen and deciduous forests.
The use of prothrombin complex concentrate as a warfarin reversal agent in pediatric patients undergoing orthotopic heart transplantation
Authors: Sisti Daniel J. , Williams Glyn D. , Ding Victoria , Long Jin , Maeda Katsuhide , Chen Sharon , Navaratnam Manchula
Published: February 2020

Background

Patients supported with a ventricular assist device are predisposed to severe bleeding at the time of orthotopic heart transplant due to several risk factors including anticoagulation with vitamin K antagonists. Kcentra, a four‐factor prothrombin complex concentrate, has been approved by the FDA for warfarin reversal in adults prior to urgent surgery. There is a lack of published data on the preoperative use of four‐factor prothrombin complex concentrates in pediatric patients undergoing cardiacsurgery.

Methods

This is a single‐center retrospective analysis of pediatric patients with a continuous‐flow ventricular assist device who underwent heart transplant, comparing patients who received Kcentra for anticoagulation reversal with a historical patient cohort who did not. Consecutive patients from January 2013 to December 2017 were analyzed. The primary outcome was volume of blood product transfusion prior to cardiopulmonary bypass initiation. Secondary outcomes include blood product transfusion after cardiopulmonary bypass intraoperatively and up to 24 hours postoperatively, chest tube output within 24 hours of surgery, time to extubation, incidence of thromboembolism, and post‐transplant length ofstay.

Results

From 2013 to 2017, 31 patients with continuous‐flow ventricular assist devices underwent heart transplant, with 27 patients included in the analysis. Fifteen patients received Kcentra compared with 12 patients who received fresh‐frozen plasma for anticoagulation reversal. Compared with the control group, patients who received Kcentra had less packed red blood cells, fresh‐frozen plasma, and platelets transfused prior to cardiopulmonary bypass initiation. The Kcentra group also received less packed red blood cells on bypass and less packed red blood cells after cardiopulmonary bypass termination. There were no differences in chest tube output, time to extubation, intensive care unit length of stay, or overall hospital length of stay. Neither group had thromboembolic complications detected during the first seven postoperative days.

Conclusion

This small retrospective study indicates that preoperative warfarin reversal with Kcentra reduces blood product exposure in pediatric patients with ventricular assist devices undergoing heart transplant.
Expertise and the Championing of Policy Innovations in State Legislatures
Authors: Makse Todd
Published: February 2020

Innovative ideas often need champions to advocate for them. The study of policy innovation, however, has often focused on enactments rather than earlier stages of the legislative process, in which the actions of a bill’s advocates may be especially crucial. In this paper, I ask who the champions of policy innovations are, focusing on two categories of legislators whose expertise makes them likely advocates: individuals with relevant professional backgrounds and individuals serving on relevant legislative committees. However, I also argue that the impact of expertise is conditional: as policies diffuse more widely, the role of expertise fades in importance, and champions can come from the broader legislative membership. To test these claims, I examine bill authorship and cosponsorship across 14 criminal justice policies between 1993 and 2004. I find that committee membership and professional background are indeed powerful predictors, but that their impact decreases as more states adopt the policy.
Contemporary Presidency: Presidents Meet Reporters: Is Donald Trump an Outlier among Recent Presidents?
Authors: Kumar Martha Joynt
Published: February 2020

Is President Donald Trump an outlier among presidents in the ways in which he meets with the press? Using comparative data for Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, and Trump, this article looks at how similar and different Trump is compared to his recent predecessors. While at one time presidents answered reporters' queries in presidential press conferences, today presidents have more opportunities to meet the press. All six presidents studied used three basic forums: press conferences, informal question‐and‐answer sessions, and interviews. They did so in ways consistent with their presidential goals and in settings in which they felt comfortable. In their first 32 months, all recent presidents employed strategies similar to ones that brought each to the presidency and then most found additional resources for communicating with the public. Except for President Trump, Presidents Reagan through Obama did so with relatively stable White House leadership teams and coordinated communications organizational structures. In this way as well as in significant others, the five previous presidents had more in common with one another than they did with President Trump.
Cortical and affective regulation of autonomic coordination
Authors: Gatzke‐Kopp Lisa M. , Benson Lizbeth , Ryan Patrick J. , Ram Nilam
Published: February 2020

Although anatomical research clearly demonstrates the ability of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system to independently influence cardiac function, little research has examined whether coordinated activation is typical or whether the extent of autonomic coordination is situationally dependent. This study examines the extent of coordination between sympathetic (cardiac pre‐ejection period: PEP) and parasympathetic (respiratory sinus arrhythmia: RSA) influences on the cardiac function to determine whether coordination is a trait‐like between‐person characteristic or a state‐varying within‐person phenomenon, and if so, whether variability in autonomic coordination is modulated by cognitive (P3b amplitude) or affective state. Kindergarten‐aged children (n = 257) completed a go/no‐go task administered in blocks designed to induce affective states through the delivery of reward (Blocks 1 and 3) and frustration (Block 2). Results from multilevel models that allowed for the simultaneous examination of between‐person and within‐person associations in the repeated measures data suggested that (a) children with higher overall RSA also tended to have higher overall PEP; (b) at within‐person level, RSA and PEP tended to be reciprocally coordinated; but that (c) when frustration invokes cognitive disengagement, coordination between parasympathetic and sympathetic systems demonstrate compensatory coordination. These findings highlight the extent to which the coordination of autonomic systems is a dynamic state‐like phenomenon rather than a trait‐like individual differences characteristic.
Domestic regulatory reform and transgovernmental networks: Brazil and China in the global competition regime
Authors: Wang Lei
Published: February 2020

Developing countries increasingly participate in transgovernmental networks of global regulatory governance, but they do so in different ways. This article aims to provide an explanation for this variation for two of the major emerging powers in the world economy, Brazil and China, in their transition toward more active players in the global competition regime. Distinguishing between bilateral and multilateral transgovernmental networks and examining the domestic factors conditioning the transition of their national competition agencies from rule‐takers to rule‐promoters or rule‐makers through these networks, the article makes theoretical contributions to the linkage between transgovernmentalism and the regulatory state. I argue that differing political needs and the incomplete process of regulatory state formation push domestic agencies to join transgovernmental networks, with a need for greater legitimacy steering the Brazilian regulators to multilateral networks and facilitating their transition from rule‐takers to rule‐promoters. The Chinese agencies' primary need for expertise rather than legitimacy, by contrast, led them to pursue technical assistance and cooperation via bilateral relationships. The Chinese approach has slowed its transition from rule‐taker to rule‐promoter where its norms and practices are aligned with the established powers. Such approach will further impede its transition into a global rule‐maker in areas of competition law and policy where China's preferences diverge.
Punitive benefit sanctions, welfare conditionality, and the social abuse of unemployed people in Britain: Transforming claimants into offenders?
Authors: Wright Sharon , Fletcher Del Roy , Stewart Alasdair B. R.
Published: February 2020

A defining feature of U.K. welfare reform since 2010 has been the concerted move towards greater compulsion and sanctioning, which has been interpreted by some social policy scholars as punitive and cruel. In this article, we borrow concepts from criminology and sociology to develop new interpretations of welfare conditionality. Based on data from a major Economic and Social Research Council‐funded qualitative longitudinal study (2014–2019), we document the suffering that unemployed claimants experienced because of harsh conditionality. We find that punitive welfare conditionality often caused symbolic and material suffering and sometimes had life‐threatening effects. We argue that a wide range of suffering induced by welfare conditionality can be understood as ‘social abuse’, including the demoralisation of the futile job‐search treadwheel and the self‐administered surveillance of the Universal Jobmatch panopticon. We identify a range of active claimant responses to state perpetrated harm, including acquiescence, adaptation, resistance, and disengagement. We conclude that punitive post‐2010 unemployment correction can be seen as a reinvention of failed historic forms of punishment for offenders.
Surveillance of common infections in the early period after renal transplantation in a national center: 2014‐2017
Authors: O’ Connell Karina , Kennedy Claire , Skally Mairead , Foley Margaret , Alex Somy , Magee Colm , Davis Niall F. , Humphreys Hilary , Burns Karen
Published: February 2020

Background

Infection prevention and timely and effective treatment are among the major aims of care in kidney transplant recipients. Pre‐transplant vaccination and pre‐transplant viral screening have been extensively studied and are now considered standard practice. Early post‐operative infection surveillance is mandatory in other vulnerable cohorts, but has not been extensively studied in this population. We hypothesized that surveillance of the most common bacterial infection types in the post‐transplant setting would be beneficial and identify key areas for improvement.

Methods

All adult kidney transplant recipients whose surgeries were performed in the Irish national kidney transplant unit over a 1‐year period had prospective early post‐transplant (first 30 days) infection surveillance in 2014 for surgical site infection, urinary tract infection, and secondary bloodstream infections (Group T0). Several key changes were implemented following scrutiny of infection patterns and clinical practice. Subsequently, infection surveillance was undertaken for 2016 and 2017 (Group T1) to assess the impact of these changes.

Results

Between 2014 and 2017, the number of kidney transplants increased by 32%. The following aspects of clinical practice were the focus of change following analysis of Group T0 data: timing of surgical antimicrobial prophylaxis (SAP) administration, choice of SAP antimicrobial agent, and routine microbiological testing in the peri‐operative period. Following implementation of these changes, the timing of SAP administration was greatly improved (45%‐100% of cases appropriately timed). The infection rate decreased from 8.9% to 7.4% in 2016, with a further decrease to 4% in 2017 (OR 0.42 (95% CI: 0.16‐1.10); P = .08). Compliance with pre‐operative microbiological screening improved in Group T1.

Conclusions

Simple clinical practice changes, implemented upon analysis of common bacterial infection surveillance data in the first 30 days after kidney transplantation resulted in more effective SAP administration and improved compliance with routine microbiological testing in the peri‐operative period. These interventions have potentially contributed to reduced early post‐operative infection rates, despite increased transplant activity in the unit. Infection surveillance is an important and under‐utilized way of reducing infections in this vulnerable patient cohort.