bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electron donor‐driven bacterial and archaeal community patterns along forest ring edges in Ontario, Canada
Authors: von Gunten Konstantin , Hamilton Stewart M. , Zhong Cheng , Nesbø Camilla , Li Jiaying , Muehlenbachs Karlis , Konhauser Kurt O. , Alessi Daniel S.
Published: July 2018

Forest rings are 50–1600 m diameter circular structures found in boreal forests around the globe. They are believed to be chemically reducing chimney features, having an accumulation of reduced species in the middle of the ring and oxidation processes occurring at the ring's edges. It has been suggested that microorganisms could be responsible for charge transfer from the inside to the outside of the ring. To explore this, we focused on the changes in bacterial and archaeal communities in the ring edges of two forest rings, the ‘Bean’ and the ‘Thorn North’ ring, in proximity to each other in Ontario, Canada. The drier samples from the methane‐sourced Bean ring were characterized by the abundance of bacteria from the classes Deltaproteobacteria and Gemmatimonadetes. Geobacter spp. and methanotrophs, such as Candidatus Methylomirabilis and Methylobacter, were highly abundant in these samples. The Thorn North ring, centred on an H2S accumulation in groundwater, had wetter samples and its communities were dominated by the classes Alphaproteobacteria and Anaerolineae. This ring's microbial communities showed an overall higher microbial diversity supported by higher available free energy. For both rings, the species diversity was highest near the borders of the 20–30 m broad ring edges.
Information Asymmetries about Measurement Quality
Authors: Glover Jonathan , Levine Carolyn B.
Published: July 2018

This article studies contracts between a principal and an agent that are robust to information asymmetries about measurement quality. Our main result is that an information asymmetry about measurement quality not only reduces the usefulness of a given performance measure for stewardship purposes, it also qualitatively changes the way the performance measure is used if the information asymmetry is sufficiently large. We also study the manipulability of performance measures, assuming that poor measurement quality creates room for manipulation via selective (cherry‐picked) corrections by the agent. With known imperfect measurement quality, manipulability lowers the cost of providing incentives. Manipulability introduces overstatements only, while imperfect measurement introduces both overstatements and understatements. However, with an information asymmetry about measurement quality, manipulability can increase the cost of providing incentives, since there is now an induced information asymmetry about manipulability.
How Do Audit Offices Respond to Audit Fee Pressure? Evidence of Increased Focus on Nonaudit Services and their Impact on Audit Quality
Authors: Beardsley Erik L. , Lassila Dennis R. , Omer Thomas C.
Published: July 2018

We investigate whether audit offices respond to audit fee pressure by increasing their focus on nonaudit services (NAS), as well as the combined effect of audit fee pressure and an increased focus on NAS on audit quality. We find a positive association between audit fee pressure and changes in NAS at the audit office level. We also find increased rates of client misstatement among audit offices that increase focus on NAS in the presence of audit fee pressure compared to audit offices that do not, suggesting a joint effect on audit quality. We find that the reduction in audit quality occurs in large audit offices. Overall, we provide evidence that audit offices’ provision of additional NAS in the presence of fee pressure is an important dimension to consider when examining the effects of declining audit fees on audit quality.
Auditor Sensitivity to Real Earnings Management: The Importance of Ambiguity and Earnings Context
Authors: Commerford Benjamin P. , Hermanson Dana R. , Houston Richard W. , Peters Michael F.
Published: July 2018

Differentiating real earnings management (REM) from normal business decisions poses a unique challenge for auditors, researchers, and investors. The ambiguity associated with REM, and the fact that REM does not violate GAAP, may explain why its use is on the rise. While some assert that auditors are not, and should not be, concerned with REM, recent research suggests that REM may influence some auditor judgments. Using Correspondent Inference Theory (CIT) as our theoretical framework, we extend REM research by investigating the ways in which auditors respond to REM and how auditors deal with the intrinsic ambiguity associated with REM. We administer a 3×2 between‐subjects experiment to 113 highly‐experienced auditors, manipulating the level of ambiguity surrounding the observed REM (Explicit REM, Potential REM, or No REM) and the earnings context in which the client engages in REM (the client beat or missed the consensus earnings forecast). We find that auditors respond to REM by lowering assessments of management tone (i.e., management's commitment to a culture of high ethical standards), being more likely to discuss the issue with the audit committee, and being less likely to retain the client. Auditors respond to Explicit REM regardless of the earnings context, but respond to Potential (i.e., ambiguous) REM only when the client beats the forecast. Finally, we find that management tone mediates the relation between REM and auditor responses, even after controlling for various audit‐related risks. Thus, for auditors, REM appears to be primarily a “people” issue, as REM provides a negative signal about management.
Predicting complications in hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastasis: the lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio
Authors: McCluney Simon J. , Giakoustidis Alexandros A. , Segler Angela , Bissel Juliane , Miller Robert L. , Valente Roberto , Hutchins Robert R. , Abraham Ajit , Bhattacharya Satyajit , Kocher Hemant M.
Published: July 2018

Background

Colorectal cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide; whilst approximately 20% of patients have hepatic disease at presentation. Hepatic resection remains the gold standard of care; however, it is associated with significant morbidity. We sought to establish whether the lymphocyte‐to‐monocyte ratio (LMR) could help predict post‐operative complications, thus improving patient outcomes.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients undergoing hepatic resection at a single centre. Baseline demographics and complications within 30 days following surgery were recorded. White blood cell counts and C‐reactive protein (CRP) were recorded pre‐operatively, and until post‐operative day 7.

Results

A total of 188 operations were included. About 47.3% of resections had a complicated recovery, of which 31.46% were major. The median LMR was 1.29 across the cohort, 1.60 for uncomplicated procedures, 1.14 for those with complications and 0.85 in major complications. For detecting major complications versus an uncomplicated recovery, median LMR was the best parameter (area under the curve 0.78), whilst it was the only parameter to accurately predict such complications within 48 hours of surgery (area under the curve 0.72 on day 1). It was consistently the most accurate parameter at detecting uncomplicated versus complicated recovery, minor versus major complications, and major complications versus an uncomplicated recovery, at numerous timepoints over the post‐operative period.

Conclusion

The LMR appears better at predicting complications following hepatic resection for colorectal liver metastases, as opposed to conventionally measured parameters.
Rules of thumb for predicting tropical forest recovery
Authors: Holl Karen D. , Reid John Leighton , Oviedo‐Brenes Federico , Kulikowski Andy J. , Zahawi Rakan A.
Published: July 2018

Questions

Natural regeneration is increasingly recognized as a potentially cost‐effective strategy to reach ambitious forest landscape restoration targets, but rates of recovery are notoriously variable. We asked how well initial habitat conditions after cessation of agriculture predict forest recovery after nearly a decade. We aimed to provide land managers with general rules of thumb to assess when it is necessary to invest resources in active restoration, such as tree planting, to accelerate forest recovery.

Location

Coto Brus County, Puntarenas, Costa Rica.

Methods

We compiled data on initial vegetation structure, soil nutrients, prior land‐use history and surrounding forest cover at 13 sites. After 8.5 years, we measured vegetation indicators commonly used to assess forest recovery, namely amount of canopy closure and number and diversity of woody recruits.

Results

Two variables, grass cover and canopy closure, measured 1.5 years after site abandonment, explained 47–87% of five of the six response variables after 8.5 years; recovery was faster in sites with lower grass cover and higher canopy closure initially. Waiting an additional year to measure initial vegetation variables did not improve model fit. Time since the original forest was cleared explained 62% of change in canopy cover, whereas percentage of surrounding forest cover, length of pasture use and soil variables explained minimal additional variation.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that two easily measurable vegetation variables can provide guidance to land managers and policy makers about where to invest scarce restoration resources to facilitate forest recovery.
Micro‐computed tomography of spicule networks in three genera of dorid sea‐slugs (Gastropoda: Nudipleura: Doridina) shows patterns of phylogenetic significance
Authors: Penney Brian K. , Ehresmann Kathleen R. , Jordan Katherine J. , Rufo Gianpaolo
Published: July 2018

Dorid nudibranchs (Gastropoda: Nudipleura) are a key taxon for studying the evolution and interaction of chemical defence, colour patterns and feeding specialization, but we lack a robust phylogeny for hypothesis testing. To provide new morphological characters, we investigated the extensive interior spicule networks of several dorid taxa. We compared traditional staining methods versus micro‐computed tomography (μCT) of 31 specimens representing 10 species ofAldisa,CadlinaandOnchidoris. We found that μCToffered a nondestructive view of sufficient resolution to study the gross morphology of networks, although images of fine structures were too grainy to allow robust comparisons. Network form did not vary within species and was consistent within genera. The three genera varied in several obvious characters, such as the presence of a pleural sinus channel, large dorsal spicules and multispicular tracts, as well as in relative size, shape and orientation of spicules. These characters, combined with those from the literature, supported recent molecular phylogenies that groupCadlinawithAldisa, and that question the monophyly of the Cryptobranchia. This suggests that these network forms will prove a fruitful source of phylogenetic characters with at least genus‐level resolution.
Our flawed approach to undue inducement in medical research
Authors: Lee Eric
Published: July 2018

Some worry that offering too much money to participate in medical research can seduce people into participating against their better judgment. These overly attractive offers that impair judgment are often referred to as ‘undue inducements’. The current approach to prevent undue inducement is to limit the size of such offers. The hope is that smaller offers will not be attractive enough to impair judgment. Even if this is true, I argue that we should reject this solution. In Section 1, I go over the problem of undue inducement, and our current approach to preventing it, in more detail. In Section 2, I argue that, like money, therapeutic benefits of medical research may also unduly induce. In Section 3, I argue that the current approach to preventing undue inducement is absurd in the case of therapeutic inducements. In Section 4, I argue that our current approach is analogously problematic in the case of monetary inducements.
UP IN STEM, DOWN IN BUSINESS: CHANGING COLLEGE MAJOR DECISIONS WITH THE GREAT RECESSION
Authors: Liu Shimeng , Sun Weizeng , Winters John V.
Published: July 2018

We use the American Community Survey (ACS) to investigate the extent to which college major decisions were affected during and after the Great Recession with special attention to business and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, as well as the heterogeneity across demographic groups. Several conclusions are reached. First, the Great Recession increased the frequency of STEM majors but decreased the frequency of business majors. Second, the increase for STEM fields spreads across several detailed STEM majors, while the decrease in business majors is especially concentrated among finance and management. Third, we find strong heterogeneous effects of the Great Recession by gender and race/ethnicity. (JEL I20, J24)
HLA‐DRB1 allele frequency and immunological response in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in Turkish population
Authors: Tepebaşı Muhammet Yusuf , Şahin Calapoğlu Nilüfer , Öztürk Önder , Sancer Okan , Gonca Taner
Published: July 2018

Introduction

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a complex, polygenic and multifactorial disease. The relationship between Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) polymorphisms and sleep disturbances has been established, but the relationship with HLA alleles has not been fully clarified. In addition, sleep deprivation in OSAS patients can cause changes that affect the components and responses of the immune system.

Objective

The aim of this study has assessed the effect of HLA‐DRB1 alleles on OSAS disease and the changes occurring in immune response cells in Turkish population.

Method

OSAS was diagnosed by polysomnography and severity was determined. PCR SSP and flow cytometry methods were used.

Results

We found that DRB1*07 and DRB1*11 were significantly increased in the control group and DRB1*03 and DRB1*08 alleles in the patient group in our study (P = 0.048, P = 0.005, P = 0.012 and P = 0.030, respectively). DRB1*08 was significantly increased in patients with severe OSAS (P = 0.002). When the immunological response was examined in OSAS patients, there was a decrease in CD4, an increase in HLA DR, CD8 and NK cells (P = 0.002, P = 0.00, P = 0.020, P = 0.040, respectively). We also found that CD19 was reduced in severe OSAS (P = 0.048).

Conclusion

These results suggest that the DRB1*03 allele may play a predisposing role in OSAS disease and that the DRB1*08 allele may be related to the severity of the disease. In addition, the decrease in CD4, CD8, NK and HLA DR increase in this disease suggests that the disease causes impairment of the immunological system and may be associated with autoimmunity.
The serum KL‐6 levels in untreated idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis can naturally decline in association with disease progression
Authors: Ishii Hiroshi , Kushima Hisako , Kinoshita Yoshiaki , Fujita Masaki , Watanabe Kentaro
Published: July 2018

Background

Serum KL‐6 is known to be a useful biomarker for the diagnosis and assessment of the disease activity in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, some patients with untreated IPF present with a serial decline in their serum KL‐6 levels, despite showing clinical progression.

Objectives

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the time course of the serum KL‐6 levels and the clinical course of patients with untreated IPF.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study of 59 patients who met the diagnostic criteria for IPF, who regularly underwent laboratory tests, including the measurement of KL‐6 and pulmonary function tests, and who were untreated during the follow‐up period.

Results

The rates of decline in comparison to the baseline FVC values were comparable between survivors (n = 30) and non‐survivors (n = 29); however, the rates of change in comparison to the baseline KL‐6 levels were heterogeneous in all subjects, and the KL‐6 levels of the non‐survivors were observed to decline significantly more frequently in comparison to the survivors (P = .001). Patients with a higher breathlessness scale, lower pulmonary functions and higher levels of baseline KL‐6 were predisposed to demonstrate a decline in the serum KL‐6 levels during the untreated period.

Conclusions

A reduction in the serum KL‐6 levels of patients with untreated IPF may not mean that the disease activity has subsided. Serum KL‐6 levels can naturally decline in association with disease progression.
China's Free Trade Ports: Effective Action Against the Threat of De‐globalization
Authors: Tian Wei , Xu Zhuxi , Yu Miaojie , Zhu Huihuang
Published: July 2018

With sluggish external demand and increasing trade protectionism by the USA and the European Union, China is facing severe challenges in implementing its deeper, ongoing reforms. To respond actively to such challenges, the Communist Party of China's 19th National Congress proposed to “promote a new pattern of all‐round opening up.” In particular, the establishment of free trade ports is considered an important means to realize deeper integration with the world economy. This paper discusses the background, the motivation, the possible challenges as well as a feasible path for the successful implementation of free trade ports in China. Based on the international experience, the construction of free trade ports in China requires freer trade in goods, high mobility of talent and free capital flow.
Local Government Debt, Factor Misallocation and Regional Economic Performance in China
Authors: Wu Jianxin , Wu Yanrui , Wang Bing
Published: July 2018

This paper examines total factor efficiency and productivity performance by taking into account local government debt (LGD) in 31 Chinese provincial regions for the period 2000–2013. The results show that neglecting LGD may overstate economic performance in Chinese provinces. The eastern region shows better performance in single factor efficiency and total factor efficiency than the non‐eastern regions. The western region shows the worst total factor performance. The north‐eastern region is the only region that has experienced a decline in total factor performance. The state‐dominated, investment‐driven development model may help technological progress across Chinese regions but could lead to significant factor misallocation. We argue that biases towards more state‐dominated investment and land supply in less productive western, central and north‐eastern regions, at the expense of investment and land supply in more productive eastern regions, have contributed to the recent slowdown in economic growth in China. Therefore, further market‐oriented reforms in factor markets should be considered in the future.
The profile of abstract rule learning in infancy: Meta‐analytic and experimental evidence
Authors: Rabagliati Hugh , Ferguson Brock , Lew‐Williams Casey
Published: July 2018

Everyone agrees that infants possess general mechanisms for learning about the world, but the existence and operation of more specialized mechanisms is controversial. One mechanism—rule learning—has been proposed as potentially specific to speech, based on findings that 7‐month‐olds can learn abstract repetition rules from spoken syllables (e.g. ABB patterns: wo‐fe‐fe, ga‐tu‐tu…) but not from closely matched stimuli, such as tones. Subsequent work has shown that learning of abstract patterns is not simply specific to speech. However, we still lack a parsimonious explanation to tie together the diverse, messy, and occasionally contradictory findings in that literature. We took two routes to creating a new profile of rule learning: meta‐analysis of 20 prior reports on infants’ learning of abstract repetition rules (including 1,318 infants in 63 experiments total), and an experiment on learning of such rules from a natural, non‐speech communicative signal. These complementary approaches revealed that infants were most likely to learn abstract patterns from meaningful stimuli. We argue that the ability to detect and generalize simple patterns supports learning across domains in infancy but chiefly when the signal is meaningfully relevant to infants’ experience with sounds, objects, language, and people.
Professional feminists: Challenging local government inside out
Authors: Johnson Ross Freya
Published: July 2018

Gender equality work in local government carried out during the 1980s presents a valuable site to explore the interaction between professional and feminist working. In the history of the Women's Liberation Movement (WLM) and feminist organizing more broadly in the UK, professional working has often been positioned as antithetical to feminist working, and relatively little scholarship has examined the interface between the two. This article argues that the individuals involved should be considered ‘professional feminists’ as opposed to ‘femocrats’, drawing from across feminist, social movement and organizational theory, and interviews carried out in 2011 and archival texts from three UK councils. It also suggests their work (undertaken between the beginning of the 1980s and the beginning of the 1990s) serves to blur the boundaries usually marked between social movement and state. This contributes to the existing literature by exploring the specific understandings and practices put to work by those working on gender equality professionally, but not in an elected capacity, within local government, and how their work can be positioned in relation to feminist organizing more broadly.
Modeling matrix multicracking development of fiber‐reinforced ceramic‐matrix composites considering fiber debonding
Authors: Li Longbiao
Published: July 2018

In this paper, the effect of fiber debonding on matrix multicracking development of different fiber‐reinforced CMCs is investigated using the micromechanical approach. The Budiansky–Hutchinson–Evans shear‐lag model is adopted to analyze the fiber and matrix stress distributions of the damaged composite. The fracture mechanics approach is used to determine the fiber/matrix interface debonding length. Combining the critical matrix strain energy criterion and fracture mechanics fiber/matrix interface debonding criterion, the stress‐dependent matrix multicracking development is analyzed for different fiber volume fraction, fiber/matrix interface properties and matrix cracking characteristic stress. The experimental matrix multicracking development of unidirectional C/Si3N4, SiC/Si3N4, SiC/CAS, SiC/CAS‐II, SiC/SiC, SiC/Borosilicate and mini‐SiC/SiC composites are predicted.
T‐cell subset differentiation and antibody responses following antiretroviral therapy during simian immunodeficiency virus infection
Authors: Bhattacharyya Mitra , Whitney James B. , Seaman Michael , Barouch Dan H. , Penaloza‐MacMaster Pablo
Published: July 2018

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection represents a major breakthrough in the treatment of HIV/acquired immune‐deficiency syndrome. However, it remains unclear how ART influences virus‐specific immune responses and understanding this is important for developing novel cure and eradication interventions for HIV‐1. In the present study, we evaluate how ART impacts T‐cell and antibody responses in simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) ‐infected rhesus macaques. We evaluated CD4 and CD8 T‐cell responses by multiparameter flow cytometry, viral loads by quantitative RT‐PCR by a two‐step process using SIV‐specific primers and antibody neutralization function by luciferase‐based TZM‐bl assays. We demonstrate that macaques treated with ART exhibit phenotypic and qualitative effects on T‐cell and antibody responses. Macaques on ART exhibited low numbers of virus‐specific T‐cell responses, and these responses appeared to be partially biased towards central memory subsets. More importantly, there were significantly reduced neutralizing antibody responses in macaques treated with ART. Collectively, these data improve the understanding of how virus‐specific immune responses are generated during ART, and suggest the potential importance of therapeutic vaccines to maintain adaptive immunity during treated infection.
Heritability and genetic correlations between rumination time and production traits in Holstein dairy cows during different lactation phases
Authors: Moretti Riccardo , de Rezende Marcos Paulo Gonçalves , Biffani Stefano , Bozzi Riccardo
Published: July 2018

So far, rumination has been used as a proxy for monitoring dairy cow health at farm level. However, investigating its genetic aspects as well as its correlation with other important productive traits may turn this management tool into a new informative selection criterion. However, scientific evidences on genetic correlation among rumination time (RT) and milk production and milk composition are still scarce. Therefore, the objective of this study was to estimate the heritability of RT across three lactation phases and its genetic correlation with milk production, milk composition and somatic cell count (SCC). Results of our study showed that heritability for RT was 0.34 and was constant across lactation. The mean genetic correlations between RT and milk production and composition traits were 0.07 (milk production), −0.07 (protein yield), −0.31 (fat yield), and −0.32 (fat/protein ratio). The mean genetic correlation between RT and the SCC was 0.05.
Surface ECG and intracardiac spectral measures predict atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation
Authors: Szilágyi Judit , Walters Tomos E. , Marcus Gregory M. , Vedantham Vasanth , Moss Joshua D. , Badhwar Nitish , Lee Byron , Lee Randall , Tseng Zian H. , Gerstenfeld Edward P.
Published: July 2018

Introduction

Outcome of patients undergoing catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (AF) varies widely. We sought to investigate whether parameters derived from the spectral analysis of surface ECG and intracardiac AF electrograms can predict outcome in patients referred for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI).

Methods

We performed spectral analysis on the surface ECG and intracardiac electrograms from patients referred for AF ablation. After filtering and QRST subtraction, we measured the dominant frequency (DF), regularity index (RI) and the organizational index (OI) of fibrillatory electrograms and determined their value for predicting AF recurrence after ablation. A subjective, blinded prediction based on the surface ECG was also performed.

Results

We analyzed data from 153 PVI procedures in 140 patients (67.1% with persistent or longstanding AF). In a multivariable model, DF in the right atrium (RA) and distal coronary sinus (CSd)‐to‐RA DF gradient predicted AF recurrence (OR, 3.52, P = 0.023 and OR, 0.2,
P = 0.034, respectively). DF in RA and CSd to RA DF gradient had a good predictive value for PVI outcome (area under the curve [AUC] of 0.73,
P = 0.007 and 0.74,
P = 0.007, respectively). These performed better than the subjective predictions of experienced electrophysiologists (
P = 0.2).

Conclusions

Higher RA DF, lower CSd to RA DF gradient predicted recurrence after AF ablation. These spectral measures suggest a more remodeled atrial substrate and may provide simple tools for risk stratification or predict the need for additional substrate modification in patients referred for AF ablation.
The judgements that evidence‐based medicine adopts
Authors: Rocca Elena
Published: July 2018

In “The evidence that evidence‐based medicine omits”, Brendan Clarke and colleagues argue that when establishing causal facts in medicine, evidence of mechanisms ought to be included alongside evidence of correlations. One of the reasons they provide is that correlations can be spurious and generated by unknown confounding variables. A causal mechanism can provide a plausible explanation for the correlation, and the absence of such an explanation is an indication that the correlation is not causal. Evidence‐based medicine (EBM) proponents remain sceptical about this argument, one problem being that the formulation of a mechanism requires judgements that are external to the evaluation of data and experimental designs—for instance judgements of plausibility against, or derivability from, background knowledge. Because background knowledge is always incomplete and therefore unreliable, EBM proponents maintain that the plausibility of a hypothesis should be evaluated mainly by the quality of population data that yielded it. Here, I use the example of oestrogen replacement therapy's effect on coronary heart disease, an example that is often quoted in defence of the epistemic advantage of randomized controlled trials, to show that the evaluation of the most reliable study design necessarily implies the adoption of judgements that are external to the specific evidence of correlation. The exclusion of evidence of mechanism, therefore, is not effective in bypassing paradigm‐dependent judgements, which are external to specific evidence. Because such judgements cannot be excluded by evidence evaluation, they can only be kept under scrutiny, or adopted uncritically. I propose that the latter option can hinder the maintenance of an active critical inquiry, as well as the analysis of experts' disagreement.
The ambulance nurse experiences of non‐conveying patients
Authors: Höglund Erik , Schröder Agneta , Möller Margareta , Andersson‐Hagiwara Magnus , Ohlsson‐Nevo Emma
Published: July 2018

Aims and objectives

To explore ambulance nurses' (ANs) experiences of non‐conveying patients to alternate levels of care.

Background

Increases in ambulance utilisation and in the number of patients seeking ambulance care who do not require medical supervision or treatment during transport have led to increased nonconveyance (NC) and referral to other levels of care.

Design

A qualitative interview study was conducted using an inductive research approach.

Methods

The study was conducted in a region in the middle of Sweden during 2016–2017. Twenty nurses were recruited from the ambulance departments in the region. A conventional content analysis was used to analyse the interviews. The study followed the COREQ checklist.

Results

The ANs experienced NC as a complex and difficult task that carried a large amount of responsibility. They wanted to be professional, spend time with the patient and find the best solution for him or her. These needs conflicted with the ANs' desire to be available for assignments with a higher priority. The ANs could feel frustrated when they perceived that ambulance resources were being misused and when it was difficult to follow the NC guidelines.

Conclusion

If ANs are expected to nonconvey patients seeking ambulance care, they need a formal mandate, knowledge and access to primary health care.

Relevance to clinical practice

This study provides new knowledge regarding the work situation of ANs in relation to NC. These findings can guide future research and can be used by policymakers and ambulance organisations to highlight areas that need to evolve to improve patient care.
Conceptions of professional work in contemporary health care—Perspectives from registered nurses in somatic care: A phenomenographic study
Authors: Persson Ulrika , Carlson Elisabeth
Published: July 2018

Aims and objectives

To explore the variation of registered nurses’ conceptions of the professional work in contemporary somatic health care.

Background

The turnover of registered nurses has consistently been high in recent years. This implies that competence is at risk of disappearing from patient care, which might lead to an increase in organisational costs and a decreased quality of care. Therefore, management at all levels within healthcare organisations is trying to find ways to make use of available nursing resources more efficiently. This could imply new views on nurses’ professional work in future.

Design

Qualitative design with a phenomenographic approach.

Methods

Semistructured interviews with registered nurses in somatic care.

Result

Four descriptive categories emerged: registered nurse as an expert in nursing, registered nurse as a close collaborator to the patients, registered nurse as a coordinator and leader and registered nurse as an administrator.

Conclusions

The registered nurses’ conception of their work is being experts in nursing and having a key role in leading the care forward. They perceive that they are important in coordinating the care to guarantee that the patient receives the right competence. Registered nurses perceive their work to be most important when working in close interaction with the patients, whereas the organisation is perceived as an obstacle to achieve this.

Relevance to clinical practice

This result may be a contribution to understand what registered nurses conceive is their work. The result can also help identifying factors influencing registered nurses intent to stay. Thus, it is of importance for managers to involve the professionals in the development of clinical care, as well as allowing professionals to influence higher‐level organisational changes to ensure quality in care and patient safety.
Significance of gestational weight gain in spontaneous onset of labor at term
Authors: Tanaka Kei , Muraoka Yuma , Honda Riku , Izawa Tomoko , Tanigaki Shinji , Kobayashi Yoichi , Iwashita Mitsutoshi
Published: July 2018

Aim

To investigate the significance of gestational weight gain (GWG) in association with the spontaneous onset of labor at term.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study on 985 pregnant women (629 nullipara and 356 pluripara) who delivered singleton babies at term was conducted. We reviewed the maternal demographics (age, parity, prepregnancy body mass index [BMI]) and the perinatal outcomes (gestational age [GA] and the type [spontaneous or induced] of labor onset, and GWG). The subjects were categorized by prepregnancy BMI and GWG. The rates of spontaneous onset of labor were compared between the nullipara and pluripara groups. Kaplan–Meier survival analysis was applied to evaluate the time to spontaneous labor according to prepregnancy BMI and GWG. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine the independent predictive factor for spontaneous onset of labor.

Results

In both the nullipara and pluripara group, women with prepregnancy obesity were less likely to enter spontaneous labor. In nullipara, women with excessive weight gain were less likely to enter spontaneous labor. In pluripara, women with poor gain were more likely to enter spontaneous labor. In the multivariate model, GWG was independently associated with the spontaneous onset of labor in both nullipara (hazard ratio [HR] 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.75–0.98, P = 0.03) and pluripara (HR 0.82, 95% CI 0.64–0.93, P = 0.005).

Conclusion

Greater maternal weight gain was significantly associated with longer gestation and a decreased likelihood of spontaneous onset of labor at term.
Magnetic resonance imaging of masticatory muscles in basset hounds
Authors: Lorek A. , Spencer S. E. , Dennis R.
Published: July 2018

Objectives

To describe low‐ and high‐field MRI characteristics of occult masticatory muscle lesions in basset hounds.

Materials and Methods

Retrospective review of the MR images of the heads of 44 basset hounds that had been imaged for reasons unrelated to suspected muscle disease.

Results

In most basset hounds, there was reduced bulk of the superficial part of the temporalis and masseter muscles together with bilaterally symmetrical T2W and T1W hyperintense signal with reduced contrast enhancement compared to normal muscle. Interpretation of various pulse sequences suggested that the affected muscle areas contained adipose tissue with no evidence of inflammation, and this was confirmed on biopsy in one dog. This pattern of changes is different from MRI changes in inflammatory myopathies.

Clinical Significance

Poor muscle bulk and MRI signal changes in the superficial parts of the temporalis and masseter muscles in basset hounds appear to be normal findings in this breed and should not be misinterpreted as evidence of an inflammatory myopathy.
“Doubtful accepting”: A grounded theory study of living with cardiac resynchronization therapy
Authors: Dehghanzadeh Shadi , Dehghan Nayeri Nahid , Varaei Shokoh
Published: July 2018

Heart failure is associated with low quality of life and a high mortality rate. There is limited information about patients' experiences of living with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). In the present study, we sought to explore the process of living with CRT defibrillator. This qualitative study was completed from December 2014 to April 2016 using a grounded theory approach. Twenty semistructured interviews were held with 17 patients with heart failure. Data analysis was done via a previously‐published approach. The core category of the process of living with the device is “doubtful accepting”. This process includes three sequential phases: losing integrity, attempting to cope with the device, and coexisting. The process takes place in a context of barriers and facilitators, and results in a wide spectrum of outcomes, from frustration to empowerment. Nurses' awareness of this process can help them provide higher quality care, strengthen facilitators and reduce barriers to the process, and enable patients to effectively use coping strategies.
Topical rapamycin (sirolimus) for the treatment of uncomplicated tufted angiomas in two children and review of the literature
Authors: Burleigh Angela , Kanigsberg Nordau , Lam Joseph M.
Published: July 2018

The mTOR inhibitor rapamycin is used systemically for the treatment of vascular lesions. We report the first use of topical rapamycin for the successful treatment of two cases of tufted angioma. The evidence for the use of topical rapamycin in other dermatologic conditions is summarized to aid in clinical decision making on preparations and anticipated side effects.
Effects of adiponectin during in vitro maturation of goat oocytes: MEK 1/2 pathway and gene expression pattern
Authors: Gomes Elizabete T. , Costa Joana Amélia S. , Silva Diogo Manoel F. , Al Shebli Wasim , Azevedo Marina L. , Monteiro Jr Pedro L. J. , Araújo Silva Robespierre A. J. , Santos Filho Antônio S. , Guerra Maria Madalena P. , Bartolomeu Claudio Coutinho , Wischral Aurea , Batista André M.
Published: July 2018

Contents

Recent studies have shown that adiponectin, an adipokine predominantly produced by adipose tissue, regulates several reproductive processes. However, the mechanisms of action of adiponectin on the maturation of goat oocytes remain to be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate whether (a) adiponectin influences the meiotic maturation of goat oocytes; (b) MAPK MEK 1/2 mediates the effects of adiponectin; and 3) adiponectin differentially affects mRNA relative abundance of genes relevant for adiponectin signal transduction in goat oocytes. The addition of adiponectin (5 μg/ml) during the maturation of goat oocytes resulted in a higher percentage of successful nuclear maturation compared to those of the group without adiponectin (p < 0.05). Adiponectin‐stimulated nuclear oocyte maturation was significantly impaired by a mitogen‐activated protein kinase MEK 1/2 inhibitor, U0126 (p < 0.05). There was no evidence of any adiponectin‐induced difference in the relative transcript abundances of AdipoR1, AdipoR2, AMPKα1, AMPKα2, PPARα and PPARγ genes. In conclusion, these results indicate that adiponectin has a positive effect on the meiotic maturation of goat oocytes through the MAPK MEK 1/2 pathway. Furthermore, the adiponectin does not affect the relative abundance of genes relevant for adiponectin signal transduction in goat oocytes.
Identifying a newly discovered HLA‐C allele, HLA‐C*02:138
Authors: Knauer R. , Dukek B. A. , Kubat D. , Kreuter J. D. , Gandhi M. J.
Published: July 2018

A new allele, now named HLA‐C*02:138, was discovered during testing of a registry donor for possible stem cell transplantation.
Objective measurements of the atlantoaxial joint on radiographs performed without flexion can increase the confidence of diagnosis of atlantoaxial instability in toy breed dogs
Authors: Cummings Kelly R. , Vilaplana Grosso Federico , Moore George E. , Rochat Mark , Thomovsky Stephanie A. , Bentley R. Timothy
Published: July 2018

Toy breed dogs are overrepresented for atlantoaxial instability. Radiography is a standard diagnostic test, however published toy breed‐specific radiographic measurements are lacking and diagnosis remains largely subjective. Aims of this retrospective, diagnostic accuracy study were to describe normal values and determine whether some quantitative radiographic criteria strongly support a diagnosis of atlantoaxial instability specific to toy breed dogs. Neutral lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs of 102 toy breed dogs (92 control, 10 affected) were reviewed. The median C1‐C2 overlap (the distance of overlap between the C2 spinous process and the dorsal arch of C1) was +4.65 mm in control dogs and –5.00 mm in atlantoaxial instability cases. A C1‐C2 overlap ≤ +1.55 mm was the most sensitive (100%) and specific (94.5%) radiographic measurement in the diagnosis of atlantoaxial instability. Three relative measurements were performed: the ventral atlantodental interval to dorsal atlantodental interval ratio, the dens/C2 ratio, and the C1‐C2 angle. These three relative measurements had good specificity (94.5, 86.9, and 98.9%, respectively), lower sensitivity (80.0, 66.7, and 60.0%, respectively), and were not influenced by body weight (P > 0.05). Absolute measurements (including absolute dens length and atlantoaxial distance) were significantly correlated with body weight (P < 0.05) diminishing their utility in the diagnosis of atlantoaxial instability. Decreased C1‐C2 overlap strongly supports atlantoaxial instability. The ventral atlantodental interval/dorsal atlantodental interval ratio, dens/C2 ratio, and C1‐C2 angle may provide further support but may be normal in individual cases.
Prevalence of Group I Salmonella Kentucky in domestic food animals from Pennsylvania and overlap with human clinical CRISPR sequence types
Authors: Rauch Hallie E. , Vosik Dorothy , Kariyawasam Subhashinie , M’ikanatha Nkuchia , Shariat Nikki W.
Published: July 2018

Although infrequently associated with illness in humans, Salmonella enterica, subsp. enterica serovar Kentucky is the most common non‐clinical, non‐human serovar reported in the United States, being largely found in poultry and poultry products, as well as being associated with cattle. This serovar is polyphyletic and can be separated into two groups, Group I and II, based on CRISPR‐typing analysis. In Salmonella Kentucky isolates from human clinical samples in Pennsylvania, both lineages are equally represented. The goal of this study was to determine whether both groups were also represented in domestic food animals in Pennsylvania. We analysed the CRISPR arrays from 67 Salmonella Kentucky isolates used PCR and sequencing of CRISPR arrays or analysis of whole genome sequences to analyse the CRISPR arrays and Across a collection of 67 Salmonella Kentucky isolates that includes those collected from farms, veterinary clinical samples as well as isolates from retail meats, we show that Group I Salmonella Kentucky are the exclusive lineage present. We reveal that the specific subtype of over a quarter of these animal isolates are also found to be responsible for causing human salmonellosis in the same region over the same time period.
Implications for Promoting Physical Literacy
Authors: Durden-Myers Elizabeth J. , Green Nigel R. , Whitehead Margaret E.
Published: July 2018

This study considers the implications for teachers of physical education of adopting physical literacy as the focus of their work. These implications arise from the philosophical underpinning of the concept, from the definition of physical literacy and are in line with the mission of the International Physical Literacy Association. In the first section of this study, recommendations stemming from the philosophical roots of the concept will be outlined in brief. The other three sections will demonstrate how this philosophical basis and the definition of physical literacy should inform, first, lesson and unit content; second, teaching approaches; and, finally, curriculum planning. Unpacking the implications and what physical literacy looks like in practice is essential if teachers are to begin to incorporate physical literacy within their practice.
The Roles of Declarative Knowledge and Working Memory in Explicit Motor Learning and Practice Among Children With Low Motor Abilities
Authors: van Abswoude Femke , van der Kamp John , Steenbergen Bert
Published: July 2018

Effective learning methods are essential for motor skill development and participation in children with low motor abilities. Current learning methods predominantly aim to increase declarative knowledge through explicit instructions that necessitate sufficient working memory capacity. This study investigated the roles of declarative knowledge and working memory capacity in explicit motor learning of children with low motor abilities. We studied both acquisition performance (i.e., performance during practice) and learning (i.e., the improvement in performance from pretest to posttest). After practice with explicit instructions, children with low motor abilities showed significant learning, albeit that improvement was relatively small. However, working memory capacity and declarative knowledge did not predict learning. By contrast, working memory capacity and declarative knowledge did predict performance during practice. These findings suggest that explicit instructions enhance motor performance during practice, but that motor learning per se is largely implicit in children with low motor abilities.
Multisite phosphorylation is required for sustained interaction with GRKs and arrestins during rapid μ-opioid receptor desensitization
Authors: Miess Elke , Gondin Arisbel B. , Yousuf Arsalan , Steinborn Ralph , Mösslein Nadja , Yang Yunshi , Göldner Martin , Ruland Julia G. , Bünemann Moritz , Krasel Cornelius , Christie MacDonald J. , Halls Michelle L. , Schulz Stefan , Canals Meritxell
Published: July 2018

High-efficacy opioids enhance receptor desensitization due to rapid and sustained GRK2/β-arrestin interactions.
Effective Treatment of Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis and Mycobacterium abscessus Species Infections in Macrophages, Biofilm, and Mice by Using Liposomal Ciprofloxacin
Authors: Blanchard James D. , Elias Valerie , Cipolla David , Gonda Igor , Bermudez Luiz E.
Published: July 2018

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) affect an increasing number of individuals worldwide. Infection with these organisms is more common in patients with chronic lung conditions, and treatment is challenging.
Extended-Duration MK-8591-Eluting Implant as a Candidate for HIV Treatment and Prevention
Authors: Barrett Stephanie E. , Teller Ryan S. , Forster Seth P. , Li Li , Mackey Megan A. , Skomski Daniel , Yang Zhen , Fillgrove Kerry L. , Doto Gregory J. , Wood Sandra L. , Lebron Jose , Grobler Jay A. , Sanchez Rosa I. , Liu Zhen , Lu Bing , Niu Tao , Sun Li , Gindy Marian E.
Published: July 2018

Regimen adherence remains a major hurdle to the success of daily oral drug regimens for the treatment and prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Long-acting drug formulations requiring less-frequent dosing offer an opportunity to improve adherence and allow for more forgiving options with regard to missed doses.
Vibrio fischeri Biofilm Formation Prevented by a Trio of Regulators
Authors: Thompson Cecilia M. , Marsden Anne E. , Tischler Alice H. , Koo Jovanka , Visick Karen L.
Published: July 2018

Bacterial biofilms promote attachment to a variety of surfaces and protect the constituent bacteria from environmental stresses, including antimicrobials. Understanding the mechanisms by which biofilms form will promote our ability to resolve them when they occur in the context of an infection. In this study, we found that
Vibrio fischeri
tightly controls biofilm formation using three negative regulators; the presence of a single one of these regulators was sufficient to prevent full biofilm development, while disruption of all three permitted robust biofilm formation. This work increases our understanding of the functions of specific regulators and demonstrates the substantial negative control that one benign microbe exerts over biofilm formation, potentially to ensure that it occurs only under the appropriate conditions.