bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Male disguised females: costs and benefits of female‐limited dimorphism in a butterfly
Authors: TURLURE CAMILLE , LEGRAND DELPHINE , SCHTICKZELLE NICOLAS , BAGUETTE MICHEL
Published: June 2016

1. In polymorphic species, two or more discrete phenotypes co‐occur simultaneously. Sex‐limited polymorphism is a particular case of polymorphism, in which several discrete morphs coexist within one of the two sexes only. Several hypotheses were proposed to explain the existence and the maintenance of sex‐limited polymorphism in insects: (i) the morphs have similar fitness, such as similar survival and expected fecundity, and their frequencies vary randomly (i.e. the null hypothesis); (ii) harassment by males is reduced towards the less common female morph, in this case andromorph females (i.e. the male mimicry and learned mate recognition hypotheses); (iii) morphs differ in predation risk (i.e. the predation hypothesis); or (iv) morphs differ in thermoregulation ability (i.e. the thermoregulation hypothesis).

2. Field observations and experiments were employed to compare the relative support of these hypotheses using dimorphic females of the bog fritillary butterfly. Differences were detected between morphs in survival, fecundity, harassment by males, predation pressure and thermal properties, thereby rejecting the null hypothesis.

3. The lifestyle of both morphs is associated with different costs and benefits, with advantages in daily survival and precocious emergence for the gynomorph females, and advantages in fecundity, predation and male harassment for the andromorph females. Besides, as the bog fritillary butterfly is protandrous (i.e. males emerge before females), the longer development of andromorph females puts them at risk of emerging when all the males are dead. The results raise the question as to which mechanisms control the ontogenetic pathways driving the production of the two morphs (i.e. genetic polymorphism or phenotypic plasticity).
Key‐factor/key‐stage analysis of long‐term life table data for a fruit gall midge, Asphondylia sphaera (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae)
Authors: YUKAWA JUNICHI , MIYAMOTO KAZUHISA , YAMAGUCHI TAKUHIRO , TAKESAKI KEN , UECHI NAMI , MATSUO KAZUNORI
Published: June 2016

1. Population dynamics of Asphondylia sphaera Monzen (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a species that induces fruit galls on Ligustrum japonicum (Oleaceae), was studied from 1970 to 1996 in broad‐leaved evergreen forests in Kagoshima, southern Japan. The numbers of fruit galls and emerging adults fluctuated greatly from year to year along with alternate year flowering of the host plant.

2. To detect density‐dependent and independent forces operating on the A. sphaera population and to assess the relative strength of top‐down and bottom‐up effects, we used the method of Key‐factor/key‐stage analysis, which allowed us to avoid various problems of the conventional key‐factor analysis.

3. Five factors and seven stages were distinguished in the life tables. Key‐factor/key‐stage analysis indicated that the number of flower buds made the largest contribution to the annual changes in total survival rate by operating through the proportion of eggs and first instars that survived abortion of host flower buds and flowers, which contributed most to density‐dependency.

4. The population dynamics of A. sphaera has been strongly influenced by the bottom‐up effects of both the abundance of flower buds and the abortion of flowers of L. japonicum.

5. A top‐down effect of Bracon asphondyliae Maeto (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) was weakly density‐dependent and contributed less to the total survival rate. Abiotic factors, such as summer and winter temperatures and the effect of typhoons were negligible.
Parallel selective pressures drive convergent diversification of phenotypes in pythons and boas
Authors: Esquerré Damien , Scott Keogh J.
Published: June 2016

Pythons and boas are globally distributed and distantly related radiations with remarkable phenotypic and ecological diversity. We tested whether pythons, boas and their relatives have evolved convergent phenotypes when they display similar ecology. We collected geometric morphometric data on head shape for 1073 specimens representing over 80% of species. We show that these two groups display strong and widespread convergence when they occupy equivalent ecological niches and that the history of phenotypic evolution strongly matches the history of ecological diversification, suggesting that both processes are strongly coupled. These results are consistent with replicated adaptive radiation in both groups. We argue that strong selective pressures related to habitat‐use have driven this convergence. Pythons and boas provide a new model system for the study of macro‐evolutionary patterns of morphological and ecological evolution and they do so at a deeper level of divergence and global scale than any well‐established adaptive radiation model systems.
Antiepileptic drug combinations not involving valproate and the risk of fetal malformations
Authors: Vajda Frank J. E. , O'Brien Terrence J. , Lander Cecilie M. , Graham Janet , Eadie Mervyn J.
Published: June 2016

Objective

To investigate the relationship between antiepileptic drug (AED) polytherapy in pregnant women and the risk of fetal malformations as prescribing practice changed, with valproate being used less often and at lower doses. Specifically, the risks associated with two of the most common AEDs included in polytherapy over recent years, levetiracetam and topiramate, were examined.

Methods

An observational cohort study in which malformation rates were analyzed in 1,461 pregnancies exposed to AED monotherapy, and in 484 exposed to antiepileptic drug combinations, from the Australian Register of Antiepileptic Drugs in Pregnancy over a 15‐year period (1999–2014).

Results

Fetal malformation rates had fallen over time in monotherapy pregnancies, but increased in polytherapy pregnancies, despite decreasing use and lower dosages of valproate. The rise in polytherapy malformation rates began around 2005 when levetiracetam and topiramate use began to increase. Excluding pregnancies involving valproate exposure, malformation rates were higher in the remaining polytherapy pregnancies as compared with the monotherapy ones (6.90% vs. 3.64%; odds ratio [OR] 1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–3.39). Malformation rates were similar in polytherapy pregnancies whether or not levetiracetam was included (7.14% vs. 8.38%), but were higher in polytherapy pregnancies involving topiramate (14.94% vs. 6.55%: OR 2.507, 95% CI 1.23–5.10). Logistic regression showed that topiramate in polytherapy had a positive dose relationship with teratogenicity risk (p = 0.025).

Significance

The malformation risk associated with AED polytherapy depends on the specific drugs involved. Topiramate, when used as part of AED polytherapy that did not include valproate, was associated with a dose‐related increased risk of fetal malformations.
Risk factors for subsequent febrile seizures in the FEBSTAT study
Authors: Hesdorffer Dale C. , Shinnar Shlomo , Lax Daniel N. , Pellock John M. , Nordli Douglas R. , Seinfeld Syndi , Gallentine William , Frank L. Matthew , Lewis Darrell V. , Shinnar Ruth C. , Bello Jacqueline A. , Chan Stephen , Epstein Leon G. , Moshé Solomon L. , Liu Binyi , Sun Shumei ,   the FEBSTAT study team
Published: June 2016

Objectives

To identify risk and risk factors for developing a subsequent febrile seizure (FS) in children with a first febrile status epilepticus (FSE) compared to a first simple febrile seizure (SFS). To identify home use of rescue medications for subsequent FS.

Methods

Cases included a first FS that was FSE drawn from FEBSTAT and Columbia cohorts. Controls were a first SFS. Cases and controls were classified according to established FEBSTAT protocols. Cumulative risk for subsequent FS over a 5‐year period was compared in FSE versus SFS, and Cox proportional hazards regression was conducted. Separate analysis examined subsequent FS within FSE. The use of rescue medications at home was assessed for subsequent FS.

Results

Risk for a subsequent FSE was significantly increased in FSE versus SFS. Any magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) abnormality increased the risk 3.4‐fold (p < 0.05), adjusting for age at first FS and FSE and in analyses restricted to children whose first FS was FSE (any MRI abnormality hazard ratio [HR] 2.9, p < 0.05). The risk for a second FS of any type or of subsequent FS lasting >10 min over the 5‐year follow‐up did not differ in FSE versus SFS. Rectal diazepam was administered at home to 5 (23.8%) of 21 children with subsequent FS lasting ≥10 min.

Significance

Compared to controls, FSE was associated with an increased risk for subsequent FSE, suggesting the propensity of children with an initial prolonged seizure to experience a prolonged recurrence. Any baseline MRI abnormality increased the recurrence risk when FSE was compared to SFS and when FSE was studied alone. A minority of children with a subsequent FS lasting 10 min or longer were treated with rectal diazepam at home, despite receiving prescriptions after the first FSE. This indicates the need to further improve the education of clinicians and parents in order to prevent subsequent FSE.
Influence of high speed on crack propagation path in thin rim gears
Authors: Curà F. , Mura A. , Rosso C.
Published: June 2016

Thin rim gears need accurate design as cracks nucleated at the tooth root fillet may propagate in a safe way (through the tooth) or in catastrophic way (through the rim). Crack propagation direction is mainly influenced by both wheel geometry parameters and crack initiation point. For specific geometry configurations, crack propagation path may be influenced also by other parameters such as the centrifugal load. For this reason, in this work the effect of the centrifugal load (proportional to wheel speed), related to the bending one, has been investigated. The stress field at the tooth root fillet and near the crack has been considered to evaluate the crack initiation point and to explain the propagation direction. This research activity has been carried out by means of numerical models (traditional 2D and 3D finite elements and extended finite elements (XFEM)). Results show that both crack initiation point and crack propagation path are strongly influenced by the centrifugal load entity; this effect is mainly evident in the uncertainty zone of the backup ratio.
Separating the effects of forage source and field microbiota on silage fermentation quality and aerobic stability
Authors: Mogodiniyai Kasmaei K. , Dicksved J. , Spörndly R. , Udén P.
Published: June 2016

This study attempted to separate the effects of forage source and field microbiota on silage fermentation quality and aerobic stability. Single samples of grass, red clover and maize were used. Field microbiota was obtained by centrifugation of microbial suspensions of the three samples. The intact forages were dried and sterilized by heating at 60°C for 3 h + 103°C for 15 h, inoculated in a 3 (forage) × 3 (inoculum) design and reconstituted to a dry‐matter level of 400 g kg−1 before ensiling. After ensiling for 71 d, subsamples were subjected to an 8‐d aerobic stability test, which included temperature and pH measurements. Bacterial community analysis was performed on samples before and after ensiling by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. Forage source had a marked effect on the levels of lactic acid, acetic acid, ammonia‐N and 2,3‐butanediol, but microbiota source only affected the acetic acid concentration. The forage and microbiota as well as their interactions affected silage stability variables. The maize microbiota improved silage stability, whereas silages made from the maize forage had the poorest stability. Bacterial community analysis revealed higher abundance of lactic acid bacteria on the maize forage, with Lactococcus and Leuconostoc being the dominant genera. These preliminary results suggested that fermentation quality is mainly affected by forage source, whereas the aerobic stability is affected by both forage and field microbiota.
Peptic Ulcer Disease and Helicobacter pylori Infection in Different Siberian Ethnicities
Authors: Tsukanov Vladislav V. , Kasparov Edward V. , Tonkikh Julia L. , Shtygasheva Olga V. , Butorin Nikolay N. , Amelchugova Olga S. , Vasyutin Alexander V. , Bronnikova Elena P. , Fassan Matteo , Rugge Massimo
Published: June 2016

Background

The high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in eastern Siberia is consistently established. In the same geographic area, however, fragmentary information is available on the epidemiology of the peptic ulcer disease (PUD).

Aim

To assess the prevalence of H. pylori infection (including CagA status) and PUD in different eastern Siberian ethnicities.

Patients and Methods

An endoscopy population of 3149 eastern Siberian dyspeptic patients was considered [1727 Europoids and 1422 Mongoloids (Evenks = 792; Khakases = 630)]. H. pylori status was assessed by urease test and/or serum anti‐H. pylori IgG and/or histology. CagA status was serologically assessed (anti‐CagA antibodies).

Results

All the Siberian ethnicities featured high rates of H. pylori infection (Europoids = 87.1%, Evenks = 88.6%, Khakases = 85.4%). Among the 1504 H. pylori‐positive Europoids, the prevalence of CagA‐positive status (68.7%) was significantly higher than that featured by the 1240 H. pylori‐positive Mongoloid ethnicities (46.9%; p < .001 for both comparisons). Peptic ulcer disease significantly prevailed among Europoids (prevalence among Europoid Evenks and Khakases: 8.9% and 8.3%, respectively; prevalence among Mongoloid Evenks and Khakases = 1.0% and 4.4%, respectively).

Conclusions

eastern Siberian populations feature consistent high rates of H. pylori infection, but different prevalence of peptic ulcer disease. In particular, Europoids featured a prevalence of both CagA‐positive status and peptic ulcer disease significantly higher than that of the Mongoloid ethnicities. These results suggest that both environmental factors (coexisting with the H. pylori infection) and host‐related variables modulate the clinicopathological expression of the H. pylori ‐associated gastric diseases.
Application of ultrasound‐guided percutaneous intrahepatic portal vein catheterization with antibiotic injection for treating unliquefied bacterial liver abscess
Authors: Xu Shihao , Wang Yiluan , Chen Jingfeng , Hu Yuanping , Zhang Qiyu , Chen Gang , Yu Fuxiang
Published: June 2016

Aim

To investigate whether ultrasound‐guided percutaneous portal vein catheterization can be successfully carried out in the intrahepatic region of patients with unliquefied bacterial liver abscess (UBLA), who are subsequently treated with an injection of antibiotics.

Methods

Thirty‐two UBLA patients were enrolled in this study. Among them, 13 patients were included in the experimental group; an ultrasound‐guided percutaneous portal vein catheterization was undertaken in the intrahepatic region of these patients, and they also received an injection of antibiotics. The remaining 19 patients were retrospectively included in the control group; these patients only received systemic antibiotic therapy. The efficacy of intervention was compared with that of systemic treatment.

Results

The catheterization procedures were successful in all the patients of the experimental group. However, two cases (15.4%) developed complications postoperatively. Compared to the control group, the following parameters of the experimental group were significantly shorter/lower: (i) duration for regaining normal body temperature; (ii) time period for achieving normal white blood cell count; (iii) length of hospitalization; (iv) cases of liquefied liver abscess during follow‐up; and (v) cost of hospitalization (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Ultrasound‐guided percutaneous portal vein catheterization is a simple, minimally invasive, and effective treatment for UBLA. It must be carried out in the intrahepatic region and a subsequent injection of antibiotics must be given.
Papillary carcinoma of the breast: diagnostic agreement and management implications
Authors: Rakha Emad A , Ahmed Mohamed A , Ellis Ian O
Published: June 2016

Aims

Papillary carcinoma (PC), which is a rare type of breast cancer, comprises a heterogeneous group of tumours. The diagnostic categorization of PC as in‐situ and invasive disease remains a matter of debate with respect to interpretation of its overlapping histological features, and with respect to the uncertainty in clinical behaviour that this dilemma raises. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic agreement regarding PC among reporting breast pathologists.

Methods and results

Six cases of PC included in the UK National Health Service Breast Screening Programme breast pathology interpretive external quality assurance scheme in the last 10 years were reviewed. In this scheme, one representative haematoxylin and eosin‐stained slide from each case is circulated to an average of 600 participants. Data on diagnostic categories were collected and slides were reviewed according to the World Health Organization (WHO) diagnostic criteria. The number of final diagnoses of malignancy (in situ or invasive) was highest for invasive PC (99% of the participants diagnosed it as malignant), followed by solid PC (94% and 95%, respectively), encapsulated PC (92% and 92%, respectively), and papillary ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) (88%). Most cases of papillary DCIS were correctly classified as in‐situ disease (77%), but 28% of the participants classified invasive PC cases as in‐situ disease. Of the participants, 24% reported encapsulated PC as invasive disease. Of the two solid PC cases, one showed some features consistent with the WHO description of invasive solid PC, whereas the other showed features of classic (non‐invasive) solid PC. Both cases were reported as invasive by 75% and 77% of participants, respectively. Breast specialists more frequently classified PC as an in‐situ carcinoma than did non‐specialist participants, and the difference was significant (P = 0.013).

Conclusions

Recognition of PC as a malignant entity (in situ or invasive) is high, but concordance of its classification into in‐situ and invasive disease is low. Histological features that can define invasion in PC should be better defined. These rare lesions require additional diagnostic work‐up, and difficult cases should trigger consensus opinion or expert referral.
Gel Composition and Strength Properties of Alkali‐Activated Oyster Shell‐Volcanic Ash: Effect of Synthesis Conditions
Authors: Djobo Jean Noël Yankwa , Tchakouté Hervé Kouamo , Ranjbar Navid , Elimbi Antoine , Tchadjié Leonel Noumbissié , Njopwouo Daniel
Published: June 2016

The gel composition and mechanical properties of alkali‐activated oyster shell‐volcanic ash were investigated at different NaOH concentrations (8, 12, and 15M) and curing temperatures (60°C and 80°C) in wet and dry conditions.XRD,FTIR,SEM‐EDS, andTGA‐DSCwere used for microstructural characterization of the binder. The gel composition of the system was found to be influenced by NaOH concentration and was not affected when curing temperature was varied from 60°C to 80°C. The main phase was N,C–A–S–H for all alkali‐activated oyster shell‐volcanic ash, with C–S–H as secondary phase for some samples and contains high percentage of iron. The splitting at υ3= 1400–1494 cm−1onFTIRspectra corresponded to the elimination of the degeneracy due to the distortion ofCO32−group. The high degree of splitting indicated that this carbonate group is linked to Ca2+. The compressive strength was influenced by curing temperature and the formation of a secondary phase. The compressive strength in dry condition increased roughly between 28 and 180 d for some samples, while in wet condition, the partial dissolution of Si–O–Si bonds of some silicate phases resulted in a reduction of strength.
An analysis of nursing students’ decision‐making in teams during simulations of acute patient deterioration
Authors: Bucknall Tracey K. , Forbes Helen , Phillips Nicole M. , Hewitt Nicky A. , Cooper Simon , Bogossian Fiona ,   FIRST2ACT Investigators
Published: June 2016

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the decision‐making of nursing students during team based simulations on patient deterioration to determine the sources of information, the types of decisions made and the influences underpinning their decisions.

Background

Missed, misinterpreted or mismanaged physiological signs of deterioration in hospitalized patients lead to costly serious adverse events. Not surprisingly, an increased focus on clinical education and graduate nurse work readiness has resulted.

Design

A descriptive exploratory design.

Methods

Clinical simulation laboratories in three Australian universities were used to run team based simulations with a patient actor. A convenience sample of 97 final‐year nursing students completed simulations, with three students forming a team. Four teams from each university were randomly selected for detailed analysis. Cued recall during video review of team based simulation exercises to elicit descriptions of individual and team based decision‐making and reflections on performance were audio‐recorded post simulation (2012) and transcribed.

Results

Students recalled 11 types of decisions, including: information seeking; patient assessment; diagnostic; intervention/treatment; evaluation; escalation; prediction; planning; collaboration; communication and reflective. Patient distress, uncertainty and a lack of knowledge were frequently recalled influences on decisions.

Conclusions

Incomplete information, premature diagnosis and a failure to consider alternatives when caring for patients is likely to lead to poor quality decisions. All health professionals have a responsibility in recognizing and responding to clinical deterioration within their scope of practice. A typology of nursing students’ decision‐making in teams, in this context, highlights the importance of individual knowledge, leadership and communication.
Nurse safety outcomes: old problem, new solution – the differentiating roles of nurses’ psychological capital and managerial support
Authors: Brunetto Yvonne , Xerri Matthew , Farr‐Wharton Ben , Shacklock Kate , Farr‐Wharton Rod , Trinchero Elisabetta
Published: June 2016

Aim

The aim of this study was to examine the impacts of nurses’ psychological capital and managerial support, plus specific safety interventions (managerial safety priorities, safety training satisfaction), on nurses’ in‐role safety performance.

Background

Most hospitals in industrialized countries have adopted selective (often the least costly) aspects of safety, usually related to safety policies. However, patient safety remains a challenge in many countries. Research shows that training can be used to upskill employees in psychological capital, with statistically significant organizational and employee benefits, but this area is under‐researched in nursing.

Design

Data were collected using a survey‐based, self‐report strategy. The emerging patterns of data were then compared with the findings of previous research.

Methods

Quantitative survey data were collected during 2014 from 242 nurses working in six Australian hospitals. Two models were tested and analysed using covariance‐based Structural Equation Modelling.

Results

Psychological capital and safety training satisfaction were important predictors of nurses’ in‐role safety performance and as predictors of nurses’ perceptions of whether management implements what it espouses about safety (‘managerial safety priorities’). Managerial support accounted for just under a third of psychological capital and together, psychological capital and managerial support, plus satisfaction with safety training, were important to nurses’ perceptions of in‐role safety performance.

Conclusion

Organizations are likely to benefit from upskilling nurses and their managers to increase nurses’ psychological capital and managerial support, which then will enhance nurses’ satisfaction with training and in‐role safety performance perceptions.
Early severe institutional deprivation is associated with a persistent variant of adult attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder: clinical presentation, developmental continuities and life circumstances in the English and Romanian Adoptees study
Authors: Kennedy Mark , Kreppner Jana , Knights Nicky , Kumsta Robert , Maughan Barbara , Golm Dennis , Rutter Michael , Schlotz Wolff , Sonuga‐Barke Edmund J.S.
Published: June 2016

Background

Early‐life institutional deprivation is associated with attention‐deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) later in childhood and adolescence. In this article, we examine, for the first time, the persistence of deprivation‐related ADHD into young adulthood in a sample of individuals adopted as young children by UK families after periods in extremely depriving Romanian orphanages.

Methods

We estimated rates of ADHD at age 15 years and in young adulthood (ages 22–25 years) in individuals at low (LoDep; nondeprived UK adoptees and Romanian adoptees with less than 6‐month institutional exposure) and high deprivation‐related risk (HiDep; Romanian adoptees with more than 6‐month exposure). Estimates were based on parent report using DSM‐5 childhood symptom and impairment criteria. At age 15, data were available for 108 LoDep and 86 HiDep cases, while in young adulthood, the numbers were 83 and 60, respectively. Data on education and employment status, IQ, co‐occurring symptoms of young adult disinhibited social engagement (DSE), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), cognitive impairment, conduct disorder (CD), callous‐unemotional (CU) traits, anxiety, depression and quality of life (QoL) were also collected.

Results

ADHD rates in the LoDep group were similar to the general population in adolescence (5.6%) and adulthood (3.8%). HiDep individuals were, respectively, nearly four (19%) and over seven (29.3%) times more likely to meet criteria, than LoDep. Nine ‘onset’ young adult cases emerged, but these had a prior childhood history of elevated ADHD behaviours at ages 6, 11 and 15 years. Young adult ADHD was equally common in males and females, was predominantly inattentive in presentation and co‐occurred with high levels of ASD, DSE and CU features. ADHD was associated with high unemployment and low educational attainment.

Conclusion

We provide the first evidence of a strong persistence into adulthood of a distinctively complex and impairing deprivation‐related variant of ADHD. Our results confirm the powerful association of early experience with later development in a way that suggests a role for deep‐seated alterations to brain structure and function.
In vitro effects of increased temperature and decreased pH on blood oxygen affinity of 10 fish species of the Amazon
Authors: Val A. L. , Paula‐Silva M. de N. , Almeida‐Val V. M. F. , Wood C. M.
Published: June 2016

Blood‐O2 affinities (P50) were measured over a physiologically relevant pH range at 31 (highest temperature average of Rio Negro over the last 8 years), 33 and 35° C for 10 species of the Rio Negro, aiming to test the acute effects of temperature foreseen by the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) for coming years. The animals were collected during an expedition to the Anavilhanas Islands of the Rio Negro, 110 km upstream from Manaus (2° 23′ 41″ S; 60° 55′ 14″ W). Hoplias malabaricus showed higher blood‐O2 sensitivity to pH changes (Bohr effect, Φ = Δlog10 P50 ΔpH−1) at both 31° C (Φ = −0·44) and 35° C (Φ = −0·26) compared to Osteoglossum bicirrhosum (Φ = −0·54 at 31° C and Φ = −0·58 at 35° C), but lower P50 under most conditions, and a greater sensitivity of P50 to temperature. Two out of the 10 analysed species had significant increases of P50 (lower blood‐O2 affinity) at the highest temperature throughout the pH range tested. For all other species, a minor increase of P50 over the assay‐tested temperatures was observed, although all presented a normal Bohr effect. Overall, a diversity of intensities of pH and temperature effects on blood‐O2 affinities was observed, which seems to be connected to the biological characteristics of the analysed species. Thermal disturbances in their habitats, likely to occur due to the global warming, would impair blood‐O2 binding and unloading in some of the analysed fish species. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Single‐room usage patterns and allocation decision‐making in an Australian public hospital: a sequential exploratory study
Authors: Bloomer Melissa J. , Lee Susan F. , Lewis David P. , Biro Mary Anne , Moss Cheryle
Published: June 2016

Aims and objectives

The aims are to (1) measure occupancy rates of single and shared rooms; (2) compare single room usage patterns and (3) explore the practice, rationale and decision‐making processes associated with single rooms; across one Australian public health service.

Background

There is a tendency in Australia and internationally to increase the proportion of single patient rooms in hospitals. To date there have been no Australian studies that investigate the use of single rooms in clinical practice.

Design

This study used a sequential exploratory design with data collected in 2014.

Methods

A descriptive survey was used to measure the use of single rooms across a two‐week time frame. Semi‐structured interviews were undertaken with occupancy decision‐makers to explore the practices, rationale decision‐making process associated with single‐room allocation.

Results

Total bed occupancy did not fall below 99·4% during the period of data collection. Infection control was the primary reason for patients to be allocated to a single room, however, the patterns varied according to ward type and single‐room availability. For occupancy decision‐makers, decisions about patient allocation was a complex and challenging process, influenced and complicated by numerous factors including occupancy rates, the infection status of the patient/s, funding and patient/family preference. Bed moves were common resulting from frequent re‐evaluation of need.

Conclusion

Apart from infection control mandates, there was little tangible evidence to guide decision‐making about single‐room allocation. Further work is necessary to assist nurses in their decision‐making.

Relevance to clinical practice

There is a trend towards increasing the proportion of single rooms in new hospital builds. Coupled with the competing clinical demands for single room care, this study highlights the complexity of nursing decision‐making about patient allocation to single rooms, an issue urgently requiring further attention.
Quality of life improves in patients with chronic heart failure and Cheyne‐Stokes respiration treated with adaptive servo‐ventilation in a nurse‐led heart failure clinic
Authors: Olseng Margareth W , Olsen Brita F , Hetland Arild , Fagermoen May S , Jacobsen Morten
Published: June 2016

Aims and objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate if quality of life improved in chronic heart failure patients with Cheyne‐Stokes respiration treated with adaptive servo‐ventilation in nurse‐led heart failure clinic.

Background

Cheyne‐Stokes respiration is associated with decreased quality of life in patients with chronic heart failure. Adaptive servo‐ventilation is introduced to treat this sleep‐disordered breathing.

Design

Randomised, controlled design.

Methods

Fifty‐one patients (ranging from 53–84 years), New York Heart Association III‐IV and/or left ventricular ejection fraction ≤40% and Cheyne‐Stokes respiration were randomised to an intervention group who received adaptive servo‐ventilation or a control group. Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire was used to assess quality of life at randomisation and after three months. Both groups were followed in the nurse‐led heart failure clinic.

Result

Adaptive servo ventilation improved quality of life‐scores both in a per protocol analysis and in an intention to treat analysis. Twenty‐one patients dropped out of the study, nine in the control and 12 in the intervention group.

Conclusion

Use of adaptive servo‐ventilation improved quality of life in chronic heart failure patients with Cheyne‐Stokes respiration. However, the drop‐out rate was high.

Relevance to clinical practice

Chronic heart failure patients come regularly to the nurse‐led heart failure clinic. The heart failure nurses’ competency has to include knowledge of equipment to provide support and continuity of care to the patients.
Perceived learning needs according to patients who have undergone major coronary interventions and their nurses
Authors: Mosleh Sultan M , Eshah Nidal F , Almalik Mona MA
Published: June 2016

Aims and Objectives

The aim of this study was to identify the differences in perceived learning needs between cardiac patients who have undergone major coronary interventions and their nurses.

Background

The decrease in length of stay after cardiac interventions has signalled an urgent need to provide effective in‐hospital health education. Therefore, the content of health education should bridge the gap between nurses' and patients' views of what information is important for ensuring patients' optimum recovery.

Design

A descriptive comparative design was employed.

Methods

Patients were invited to participate if they had undergone angioplasty or bypass surgery and were ready for discharge within 24–48 hours. A convenience sample of 365 cardiac patients and 166 cardiac nurses participated in this study. Baseline data on patients' and nurses' sociodemographics, clinical history and experience were collected through personal interviews. Then, participants completed the Patient Learning Needs Scale to identify their perceptions of the learning needs after cardiac interventions.

Results

The top‐priority learning needs according to both patients and cardiac nurses was information on wound care and medication. In contrast, the lowest‐priority learning need was physical activity. Nurses perceived information about physical activity as most needed to patients, whereas patients perceived information about medications, postintervention complications and postintervention concerns as mostly needed.

Conclusion

The disparity between perceptions of patient and nurses on the essential content to be learned highlights the importance of considering both of these parties when establishing health education programmes. In addition, nurses should focus more on information related to the recovery period and immediate needs after discharge.

Relevance to clinical practice

Information about wound care, medication and potential complications should be the core of predischarge education programmes. In addition, nurses should focus on improve patients' awareness of secondary prevention and lifestyle modification, as patients pay less attention to these vital topics.
Intimate partner violence and pregnant and parenting adolescents in out‐of‐home care: reflections on a data set and implications for intervention
Authors: Herrman Judith W , Finigan‐Carr Nadine , Haigh Katherine M
Published: June 2016

Aims and Objectives

To present the findings from a data set reflecting intimate partner violence among adolescents who are pregnant and parenting and living in out‐of‐home care and to analyse these findings in order to generate potential interventions to address this significant issue.

Background

Because of their developmental stage, coupled with the stress of pregnancy and new parenthood, adolescent women who are pregnant or postpartum are often at a high risk of abuse. Violence may include physical, emotional/psychological, verbal and sexual abuse, along with birth control sabotage and pregnancy coercion. Adolescent mothers in out‐of‐home care such as foster care, juvenile detention facilities, kinship care or living in complex family circumstances may be at an even higher risk of intimate partner violence related to the increase in stress, conflict and tenuous situations.

Design

This descriptive study was designed, using baseline self‐report and demographic data, to examine the relationship of pregnancy or parenting among adolescents with a fear of or reported involvement in intimate partner violence.

Methods

A total of 151 sexually active, urban, system‐involved youths in out‐of‐home care were assessed between 2012–2015 with a survey questionnaire assessment of sexual reproductive health behaviours, areas of risk and protective factors.

Results

The findings indicated a significant association between ever having been pregnant and fear of intimate partner violence.

Conclusions

In this population, fear of intimate partner violence was prevalent among adolescent mothers, adding to the complexity of an already difficult family situation. Due to the small sample size and the potential correlation between intimate partner violence and adolescent motherhood, future longitudinal studies with larger samples of adolescents residing in out‐of‐home care are needed to better understand how this relationship impacts adolescent mothers, their children and families.
The nurse response to abnormal vital sign recording in the emergency department
Authors: Johnson Kimberly D , Mueller Lindsey , Winkelman Chris
Published: June 2016

Aims and objectives

To examine what occurs after a recorded observation of at least one abnormal vital sign in the emergency department. The aims were to determine how often abnormal vital signs were recorded, what interventions were documented, and what factors were associated with documented follow‐up for abnormal vital signs.

Background

Monitoring quality of care, and preventing or intervening before harm occurs to patients are central to nurses’ roles. Abnormal vital signs have been associated with poor patient outcomes and require follow‐up after the observation of abnormal readings to prevent patient harm related to a deteriorating status. This documentation is important to quality and safety of care.

Design

Observational, retrospective chart review.

Methods

Modified Early Warning Score was calculated for all recorded vital signs for 195 charts. Comparisons were made between groups: (1) no abnormal vital signs, (2) abnormal vital sign present, but normal Modified Early Warning Score and (3) critically abnormal Modified Early Warning Score.

Results

About 62·1% of charts had an abnormal vital sign documented. Critically abnormal values were present in 14·9%. No documentation was present in 44·6% of abnormal cases. When interventions were documented, it was usually to notify the physician. The timing within the emergency department visit when the abnormalities were observed and the degree of abnormality had significant relationships to the presence of documentation.

Conclusions

It is doubtful that nurses do not recognise abnormalities because more severely abnormal vital signs were more likely to have documented follow‐up. Perhaps the interruptive nature of the emergency department or the prioritised actions of the nurse impacted documentation within this study. Further research is required to determine why follow‐up is not being documented.

Relevance to clinical practice

To ensure safety and quality of patient care, accurate documentation of responses to abnormal vital signs is required.
Box‐Office Demand: The Importance of Being #1
Authors: Cabral Luís , Natividad Gabriel
Published: June 2016

We propose a theoretical framework to understand the effect on a movie's eventual theatrical success of leading the box office during the opening weekend. We consider two possible channels: a positive shock to the utility from watching the movie and a greater awareness of the movie's existence. We derive a series of testable predictions, which we test on U.S. box office data. The results suggest that being #1 in sales during the opening weekend has an economically and statistically significant effect on the movie's total demand; and that the primary channel for this effect is through the greater awareness induced by being #1.
Spillovers in Space: Does Geography Matter?
Authors: Lychagin Sergey , Pinkse Joris , Slade Margaret E. , Reenen John Van
Published: June 2016

Using U.S. firm level panel data we simultaneously assess the contributions to productivity of three potential sources of research and development spillovers: geographic, technological, and product market (“horizontal”). To do so, we construct new measures of geographic proximity based on the distribution of a firm's inventor locations as well as its headquarters. We find that geographic location is important for productivity, as are technology (but not product) spillovers, and that both intra and inter–regional (counties) spillovers matter. The geographic location of a firm's researchers is more important than its headquarters. These benefits may be the reason why local policy makers compete so hard for the location of local R&D labs and high tech workers.
Radiographic Blind Test of Curvature of the Posterior Border of the Mandibular Ramus as a Morphological Indicator of Gender
Authors: Peregrina Alejandro , Azer Shereen S. , Tao Erin E. , Johnston William M.
Published: June 2016

Purpose

Curvature of the posterior border of the mandibular ramus at the occlusal plane has been described as a morphological trait for males. Controversy over the accuracy of this method remains among researchers; studies employing similar methods report accuracy rates for successful gender identification ranging from 59% to 99%. This blind study assessed evaluators’ ability to determine gender based on the presence or absence of curvature of the posterior margin of the mandibular ramus through panoramic radiographs.

Materials and Methods

Randomly selected panoramic radiographs were obtained from The Ohio State University College of Dentistry for 413 adult male (M) and female (F) subjects. Two evaluators separately assigned ratings using a similar method to the Loth and Henenberg methodology to each subject on the right and left sides of mandibular rami. The ratings were based upon three criteria: (1) presence of curvature at the occlusal plane (M), (2) presence of curvature but not at the occlusal plane (F), and (3) lack of curvature (F). Pearson exact chi‐squared test was used to evaluate the statistical strength of the ratings.

Results

The evaluators were only in agreement for both the right and left rami in roughly two‐thirds (66.8%) of cases when there was no excessive tooth loss (ETL); however, the inter‐observer agreement improved to 82.1% for those rami associated with ETL. Inter‐observer agreement occurred in 72.9% of female rami and in only 64.4% of male rami.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicated that assessment of posterior border curvature of  mandibular rami through panoramic radiographs was not a reliable indicator of gender and was further plagued by unacceptably high levels of inter‐observer disagreement.
ACCOUNTING FOR LOCAL SPATIAL HETEROGENEITIES IN HOUSING MARKET STUDIES
Authors: Osland Liv , Thorsen Ingrid Sandvig , Thorsen Inge
Published: June 2016

We adopt a novel method to deal with omitted spatial heterogeneities in hedonic house price analysis. A Gaussian variant of the conditional autoregressive (CAR) model is used to study the impact of spatial effects. In a general linear modeling framework, we include zone‐specific random effects that are allowed to interact spatially with neighboring zones. The results demonstrate that this estimator accounts for missing spatial information, producing more reliable results on estimated spatially related coefficients. The CAR model is benchmarked against a fixed effects model. Socioeconomic neighborhood characteristics are found to have only modest impact on spatial variation in housing prices.
Trophic niche partitioning between two Rock Nuthatches (Sitta tephronota&Sitta neumayer) in a contact zone in Iran
Authors: Mohammadi A. , Kaboli M. , Ashrafi S. , Mofidi‐Neyestanak M. , Yousefi M. , Rezaei A. , Stuart Y.
Published: June 2016

Two sympatric nuthatch species,Sitta tephronotaandS. neumayer, provided the exemplar case of character displacement when the term was coined. The two species are quite similar morphologically but have diverged from one another in sympatry, presumably because of competition‐driven selection favoring the partitioning of food resources. However, actual diet partitioning has never been shown. Here, we report the dietary composition of the two species by analyzing items recovered from the gastrointestinal tract. We found thatS. tephronatafed predominantly on Coleopterans, Hemipterans and Orthopterans with the most important seed plants taken beingAmygdalus lycioides, Ficus caricaand Fabaceae, whereas,S. neumayerfed mainly on Coleopterans, Hemipterans and Lepidopteran, withA. lycioides, Fabaceae andTritium aestivumas the most important plants taken. To determine whether the two species partition prey into different sizes, we examined two mostly abundant insect preys (Hemipterans and Coleopterans) and measured head length for Hemipterans and mandible size for Coleopterans as proxies for prey body size. We found a significant relationship between bird body size and prey size, asS. tephronata, which is larger, captured larger bugs and beetles. We also measured the ability of each species to crack seeds of different hardness, finding thatS. tephronatatakes larger and harder seeds thanS. neumayer. Analyses of trophic niche breadth and overlap showed (1) that trophic niche breadth forS. neumayerwas wider than that forS. tephronata;(2) overall trophic niche overlap was considerably high but (3) overlap in the size of the most frequently consumed insects was low, suggesting that the species may be partitioning resources by prey size. We conclude that the relative body size of consumed prey is an important axis of niche partitioning and may have driven character displacement in associated trophic traits, allowing the stable coexistence of the two species.
Non‐random accumulation of LINE1‐like sequences on differentiated snake W chromosomes
Authors: Mezzasalma M. , Visone V. , Petraccioli A. , Odierna G. , Capriglione T. , Guarino F. M.
Published: June 2016

Due to their particular phylogenetic position and biological characteristics, squamate reptiles and, in particular, snakes are becoming an increasingly important model for fields such as evolutionary biology, molecular ecology and adaptation. Recently, during a study to analyze the evolutionary history of European whip snakes, we found a LINE1 (L1)‐like sequence (GenBank accession no. LM644476), herein called TRL1L, and while there are data on the abundance of L1 in snakes, their genomic and chromosome localization is still largely unexplored. We therefore performed a study to obtain information on TRL1L abundance, distribution and conservation in snake species, belonging to the Colubridae, Lamprophiidae and Viperidae families, using quantitative dot‐blot and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). TRL1L showed a high identity with homologous segments of L1s of lizards the Anolis carolinensis and Lacerta agilis and the zebrafish Danio rerio. The discovered sequences are truncated L1 elements which occur with a low copy number, about 0.1% of the genome of the species studied. This evidence suggests that L1 retroposons have a similar landscape in lizard and snake genomes, probably because similar processes limited L1 distribution in their genomes. TRL1L showed a non‐random chromosome distribution pattern. It was scarcely located on autosomes and on the euchromatic W chromosome of Cerastes vipera, while mostly found on the heterochromatic W chromosome of Hierophis carbonarius and Elaphe quatuorlineata. Our data support the hypothesis that a ‘purifying selection’ against the accumulation of L1 elements takes place in recombining regions and highlight the possible role of these elements in the differentiation processes of the snake heterochromatic W chromosome. Interestingly, the preferential distribution of TRL1L on the heterochromatic W chromosomes of the studied snakes appears to be similar to that observed in mammals for L1 accumulation on differentiated Y chromosomes. This finding suggests that a convergent process may have taken place in the differentiation of vertebrate heterochromatic sex chromosomes.