bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Analgesia and Sedation Protocol for Mechanically Ventilated Postsurgical Children Reduces Benzodiazepines and Withdrawal Symptoms—But Not in All Patients
Authors: Seitz Guido , Schmidt Andreas , Renk Hanna , Kumpf Matthias , Fideler Frank , Esslinger Martin , Gerbig Ines , Fuchs Jörg , Hofbeck Michael , Neunhoeffer Felix
Published: July 2016

Background We demonstrated recently that the implementation of a nurse-driven analgesia and sedation protocol (pediatric analgesia and sedation protocol [pASP]) for mechanically ventilated nonpostsurgical patients reduces the total dose of benzodiazepines and the withdrawal symptoms significantly. It has not been investigated if these results can also be expected in the group of patients undergoing surgery.

Objectives To evaluate the effects of the pASP in mechanically ventilated postsurgical children regarding drug dosage, duration of mechanical ventilation, length of stay, and rate of withdrawal symptoms.

Methods This is a two-phase prospective observational control study. The preimplementation group was managed by the physician's order and the postimplementation group was managed with the pASP including COMFORT-B, nurse interpretation of sedation, and Sophia observation withdrawal symptoms scale scoring.

Measurements and Main Results One hundred and sixteen patients were included before and one hundred and ten patients after implementation. The pASP had no effect on length of pediatric intensive care unit stay or duration of mechanical ventilation. The protocol reduced total (5.0 mg/kg [0.5–58.0] vs 4.0 mg/kg [0.0–47.0]; p = 0.021) and daily doses (4.4 mg/kg/d [1.1–33.9] vs 2.9 mg/kg/d [0.0–9.9]; p < 0.001) of benzodiazepines significantly. No difference was observed in total and daily doses of opioids (5.0 mg/kg [0.1–67.0] vs 3.0 mg/kg [0.1–71.0]; p = 0.81) and (0.7 mg/kg/d [0.0–7.0] vs. 0.8 mg/kg/d [0.0–3.7]; p = 0.35), respectively. Rate of withdrawal symptoms was significantly lower after implementation (35.3 vs 20.0%; p = 0.01), but not in patients after solid organ transplantation or oncological patients.

Conclusion The nurse-driven analgesia and sedation protocol is an effective procedure to reduce the total doses of benzodiazepines and occurrence of withdrawal symptoms in postsurgical children, which are naïve to opioids or benzodiazepines.
Funktionelle und morphologische mikrostrukturelle Veränderungen in der SD-OCT bei der Langzeitbehandlung der neovaskulären AMD mit Ranibizumab-Monotherapie versus Kombinationstherapie mit PDT
Authors: Wand K. , Tetz K. , Fischinger I. , Lohmann C. , Maier M. , Feucht N.
Published: July 2016

Hintergrund: Zur Behandlung der neovaskulären altersabhängigen Makuladegeneration (nAMD) ist die intravitreale Anti-VEGF-Therapie Goldstandard. Inwiefern eine additive photodynamische Therapie (PDT) das funktionelle und strukturelle Ergebnis beeinflussen kann, wird in der Literatur kontrovers diskutiert. Ziel unserer Studie war es, den funktionellen und morphologischen Effekt der Kombinationstherapie mit PDT plus Ranibizumab im Vergleich zur Monotherapie mit Ranibizumab im Langzeitverlauf zu untersuchen.

Material und Methoden: In einer retrospektiven Studie wurden die Daten von Patienten mit nAMD ausgewertet, die für mindestens 42 Monate nachbeobachtet wurden. Patienten wurden der Gruppe A (Monotherapie mit Ranibizumab nach pro re nata [PRN]) oder der Gruppe B (Kombinationstherapie mit einmaliger PDT plus Ranibizumab nach PRN) zugeordnet. Ausgewertet wurden der beste korrigierte Visus (BCVA) zum Start- und Endzeitpunkt sowie die zentrale Retinadicke (CRT), die maximale Retinadicke (MRT) und der Durchmesser der Plaquebasis in der Spectral Domain optischen Kohärenztomografie (SD-OCT) zum 1. Mess- und zum Endzeitpunkt.

Ergebnisse: Eingeschlossen wurden in die Gruppe A 21 Augen (17 Patienten), in die Gruppe B 12 Augen (11 Patienten). Der mittlere Nachbeobachtungszeitraum von Start- bis Endpunkt betrug 64 Monate, von Erstmessung SD-OCT bis Endpunkt 47 Monate. Im Zeitraum zwischen Start- und Endpunkt erhielten die Patienten der Gruppe A 19 ± 14 intravitreale Injektionen, der Gruppe B 22 ± 10. Der BCVA zum Startpunkt betrug in der Gruppe A 0,31 ± 0,26 dezimal, in der Gruppe B 0,31 ± 0,17, zum Endpunkt in der Gruppe A 0,29 ± 0,25 (p = 0,405) und in der Gruppe B 0,25 ± 0,20 (p = 0,142). Die CRT zeigte in der Gruppe A eine Abnahme von 72 ± 178 µm (p = 0,024), in der Gruppe B eine Abnahme von 28 ± 98 (p = 0,1335). Die MRT zeigte analog in der Gruppe A eine Abnahme von 25 ± 135 µm (p = 0,166) und in der Gruppe B eine Abnahme von 2 ± 118 µm (p = 0,421). Die Plaquebasis zeigte eine Zunahme von 32 ± 1468 µm in der Gruppe A (p = 0,242) und 748 ± 1024 in der Gruppe B (p = 0,025).

Schlussfolgerung: Über einen Beobachtungszeitraum von im Mittel 5,3 Jahren zeigten Patienten mit nAMD in beiden Gruppen vergleichbare Ergebnisse mit guter Visusstabilisierung. Es kam in beiden Gruppen tendenziell zu einer Abnahme der Retinadicke sowie zu einer Zunahme der Plaquebasis. Bezüglich der SD-OCT-basierten morphologischen Kriterien zeigten Patienten der Monotherapiegruppe tendenziell ein besseres Therapieansprechen.
Epidemiologie und klinisches Erscheinungsbild der Sarkoidose
Authors: Costabel U. , Wessendorf T. , Bonella F.
Published: July 2016

Die Sarkoidose ist eine Systemerkrankung unbekannter Ätiologie, die histologisch durch epitheloidzellige Granulome charakterisiert ist und sich immunpathologisch durch eine gesteigerte zelluläre Immunantwort vom Th1-Typ in den betroffenen Organen auszeichnet. Die Krankheit kommt weltweit vor, in nördlichen Breiten häufiger als im Süden. In Deutschland liegt die Inzidenz bei 10 pro 100 000 und die Prävalenz bei 44–48 pro 100 000. Die Erkrankung tritt meistens vor dem 50. Lebensjahr auf, kann aber prinzipiell in jedem Lebensalter, auch bei Kindern und Jugendlichen sowie im höheren Lebensalter in Erscheinung treten. Der Erkrankungsgipfel liegt zwischen 20 und 39 Jahren, Frauen sind in den meisten ethnischen Gruppen häufiger betroffen als Männer. Eine familiäre Häufung ist bekannt. Das klinische Erscheinungsbild bei Sarkoidose ist sehr vielfältig und von den einzelnen Organmanifestationen abhängig. Allgemeinsymptome sind Müdigkeit, Nachtschweiß, Gewichtsverlust, seltener auch Fieber, sowie Arthralgien und Myalgien. Organspezifische Symptome sind z. B. Husten und Luftnot beim Lungenbefall, Kopfschmerzen sowie Nervenlähmungen bei Neurosarkoidose, Herzrhythmusstörungen und Herzinsuffizienz bei kardialer Sarkoidose, vielgestaltige Hauterscheinungen bei Hautmanifestation, eine einseitige oder beidseitige Parotisschwellung bei Beteiligung der Speicheldrüsen. Man unterscheidet 2 Manifestationsformen: Eine akute, selten rezidivierende Form und eine chronische, häufiger rezidivierende Erkrankung. Das Löfgren-Syndrom, als Sonderform der akuten Sarkoidose, ist durch die Trias aus bihilärer Lymphadenopathie, Sprunggelenksarthritis und Erythema nodosum gekennzeichnet. Die chronische Sarkoidose tritt bei der Mehrzahl der Betroffenen auf, sie kann zunächst symptomarm verlaufen, trotz z. T. ausgeprägter Röntgenbildveränderungen. Man spricht von chronischer Sarkoidose, wenn nach einer Krankheitsdauer von über 2 Jahren die Krankheit noch aktiv ist. Die Prognose ist mit einer hohen Rate an Spontanremissionen insgesamt gut und hängt von den Organkomplikationen ab.
Anatomy and development of the reproductive units of Mapania pycnostachya and Hypolytrum schraderianum (Mapanioideae, Cyperaceae)
Authors: Monteiro Mariana Maciel , Scatena Vera Lúcia , Oriani Aline
Published: July 2016

The typical mapaniid reproductive unit, which comprises several bracts, stamens and a gynoecium, may be interpreted as a single flower. Although developmental studies suggest that the mapaniid reproductive units are inflorescences, the units in species such as Hypolytrum schraderianum Nees are much reduced and strongly resemble a single flower. Therefore, an anatomical and developmental study of the reproductive units of Mapania pycnostachya (Benth.) T.Koyama and H. schraderianum was conducted to better understand their structure. In both species, two lateral bracts (prophyll-like units) are the first to emerge, followed by staminal and gynoecial primordia. The reproductive units of M. pycnostachya have two inner bracts (leaf-like structures) that initiate after the stamens. In H. schraderianum, they are absent. In both species, the reproductive units have spiral phyllotaxy and staminal traces that join the vascular system of the reproductive-unit axis at different levels. The vasculature pattern of these units differs from the cyperoid flowers. On the basis of these results, it is inferred that the reproductive units of both species are inflorescences, composed of unisexual flowers. It is also inferred that this structure is the general pattern for Mapanioideae and that loss of male flowers and inner bracts has occurred during evolution of the subfamily.
Estuarine characteristics, water quality and heavy metal contamination as determinants of fish species composition in intermittently open estuaries
Authors: O'Mara K. , Miskiewicz A. , Wong M. Y. L.
Published: July 2016

Estuaries are critical aquatic environments that are used by many fish during their life cycle. However, estuaries often suffer from poor water quality as a result of anthropogenic activities. Fish diversity studies in estuaries are common, although few have examined whether correlations exist between water quality, metal contamination and fish assemblages. In the present study we investigated the effect of abiotic conditions, heavy metals and estuary characteristics on the abundance, diversity and composition of fish in four intermittently open estuaries along the Illawarra coast of south-eastern Australia. The heterogeneity of environmental conditions was reflected in the fish assemblages in each estuary. Environmental variables predicted fish species composition, and estuaries in particularly poor condition contained few species (estuarine residents) in high abundance, indicating their ability to acclimatise and survive in conditions that are hostile to other species. Overall, these findings demonstrate that estuarine fish assemblages may be useful indicators of estuary condition and reveal the importance of managing anthropogenic activities in the surrounding catchment to improve water quality so that biodiversity of fish can be restored in these estuarine environments.
Improving follow-up care for women with a history of gestational diabetes: perspectives of GPs and patients
Authors: Pennington Andrew V. R. , O'Reilly Sharleen L. , Young Doris , Dunbar James A.
Published: July 2016

This paper investigates factors influencing women’s engagement with diabetes preventative care after a pregnancy with gestational diabetes (GDM) from the perspectives of GPs and women and explores the role of the GP in that care. Qualitative research using semi-structured interviews with women who had experienced GDM (n=16) and GPs (n=18) were conducted and a thematic content analysis conducted. Women’s interviews explored their experience of GDM, factors influencing, and engagement with, follow-up care for diabetes prevention and role of the GP in that care. GP interviews explored postnatal care provided to women with GDM, the role of the GP in that care and perceived factors influencing a mother’s engagement in her self-care. Three themes were identified: (1) advice and testing; (2) role of the GP; and (3) barriers and enablers to care. Significant consensus about the role of the GP and barriers and enablers to care existed. Both groups believed post GDM follow-up is best done by GPs and suggested recall and reminders would improve care. GPs gave consistent exercise advice, but lacked consensus on follow-up testing, dietary and weight-loss advice. Women’s health literacy influenced how they viewed their GPs role. Consensus guidelines on follow-up testing and diabetes prevention advice, tailored advice according to health literacy and addressing barriers to care would likely improve the capacity of GPs to prevent unnecessary conversion to type 2 diabetes in these at-risk women.
Quantifying the costs of soil constraints to Australian agriculture: a case study of wheat in north-eastern Australia
Authors: Dang Y. P. , Moody P. W.
Published: July 2016

Soil salinity, sodicity, acidity and alkalinity, elemental toxicities, such as boron, chloride and aluminium, and compaction are important soil constraints to agricultural sustainability in many soils of Australia. There is considerable variation in the existing information on the costs of each of the soil constraints to Australian agriculture. Determination of the cost of soil constraints requires measuring the magnitude and causes of yield gap (Yg) between yield potential and actual yield. We propose a ‘hybrid approach’ consisting of determining the magnitude of Yg and the cause(s) of Yg for spatiotemporal representation of Yg that can be apportioned between management and soil constraint effects, thereby allowing a better estimate of the cost of mitigation of the constraints. The principles of this approach are demonstrated using a 2820-ha wheat-growing farm over a 10-year period to quantify the costs of the proportion of forfeited Yg due to soil constraints. Estimated Yg over the whole farm varied annually from 0.6 to 2.4Mgha–1, with an average of 1.4Mgha–1. A multiyear spatiotemporal analysis of remote sensing data identified that 44% of the farm was consistently poor performing, suggesting the potential presence of at least one soil constraint. The percentage decrease in productivity due to soil constraints varied annually from 5% to 24%, with an average estimated annual loss of wheat grain production of 182 Mg per year on 1069ha. With the 2015 season’s average wheat grain price (A$0.29kg–1), the estimated annual value of lost agricultural production due to soil constraints was estimated at A$52780 per year. For successful upscaling of the hybrid approach to regional or national scale, Australia has reliable data on the magnitude of Yg. The multiyear spatiotemporal analysis of remote sensing data would identify stable, consistently poor performing areas at a similar scale to Yg. Soil maps could then be used to identify the most-limiting soil constraints in the consistently poor performing areas. The spatial distribution of soil constraint at similar scale could be used to obtain the cost of lost production using soil constraint–grain yield models.
Contribution of the cotton irrigation network to farm nitrous oxide emissions
Authors: Macdonald B. C. T. , Nadelko A. , Chang Y. , Glover M. , Warneke S.
Published: July 2016

Nitrous oxide (N2O) is a potent greenhouse gas, and agriculture is the dominant source of N2O-N emissions. The Australian cotton industry requires high inputs of N to maintain high lint quality and yields; however, over-fertilisation with N is symptomatic of the industry. Up to 3.5% of N fertiliser applied is lost directly from cotton fields as N2O gas. Excess N may also be lost via erosion, deep-drainage, leaching and runoff, and may subsequently form indirect N2O emissions. The estimate by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) suggests that 0.0025kg N2O-N is produced indirectly from groundwater and surface drainage for each kg N lost via runoff and leaching, although this estimate carries a large degree of uncertainty. This study is the first to address the lack of indirect N2O emission data from irrigated cotton-farming systems. Indirect emissions were determined from total N concentrations in irrigation runoff by using the IPCC emission factor and from measurements of dissolved N2O during the first four irrigations (October–December 2013). Total indirect N2O emissions from the surface of the irrigation network over 3 months when estimated by the dissolved-N2O method were 0.503±0.339kgha–1. By contrast, N2O emissions estimated by the IPCC methodology were 0.843±0.022kgha–1 irrigation surface area. Over the same period of measurement, direct land-surface emissions were 1.44kgN2O-Nha–1 field. Despite relatively high emissions per surface area, the irrigation network is only a minor component of the total farm area, and indirect emissions from the irrigation system contribute ~2.4–4% of the total N2O emissions and <0.02% of the applied N fertiliser.
Syntaxin-17 delivers PINK1/parkin-dependent mitochondrial vesicles to the endolysosomal system
Authors: McLelland Gian-Luca , Lee Sydney A. , McBride Heidi M. , Fon Edward A.
Published: July 2016

Mitochondria are considered autonomous organelles, physically separated from endocytic and biosynthetic pathways. However, recent work uncovered a PINK1/parkin-dependent vesicle transport pathway wherein oxidized or damaged mitochondrial content are selectively delivered to the late endosome/lysosome for degradation, providing evidence that mitochondria are indeed integrated within the endomembrane system. Given that mitochondria have not been shown to use canonical soluble NSF attachment protein receptor (SNARE) machinery for fusion, the mechanism by which mitochondrial-derived vesicles (MDVs) are targeted to the endosomal compartment has remained unclear. In this study, we identify syntaxin-17 as a core mitochondrial SNARE required for the delivery of stress-induced PINK1/parkin-dependent MDVs to the late endosome/lysosome. Syntaxin-17 remains associated with mature MDVs and forms a ternary SNARE complex with SNAP29 and VAMP7 to mediate MDV–endolysosome fusion in a manner dependent on the homotypic fusion and vacuole protein sorting (HOPS) tethering complex. Syntaxin-17 can be traced to the last eukaryotic common ancestor, hinting that the removal of damaged mitochondrial content may represent one of the earliest vesicle transport routes in the cell.
The importance of serine metabolism in cancer
Authors: Mattaini Katherine R. , Sullivan Mark R. , Vander Heiden Matthew G.
Published: July 2016

Serine metabolism is frequently dysregulated in cancers; however, the benefit that this confers to tumors remains controversial. In many cases, extracellular serine alone is sufficient to support cancer cell proliferation, whereas some cancer cells increase serine synthesis from glucose and require de novo serine synthesis even in the presence of abundant extracellular serine. Recent studies cast new light on the role of serine metabolism in cancer, suggesting that active serine synthesis might be required to facilitate amino acid transport, nucleotide synthesis, folate metabolism, and redox homeostasis in a manner that impacts cancer.
Spatial variation in giraffe demography: a test of 2 paradigms
Authors: Lee Derek E. , Bond Monica L. , Kissui Bernard M. , Kiwango Yustina A. , Bolger Douglas T.
Published: July 2016

Examination of spatial variation in demography among or within populations of the same species is a topic of growing interest in ecology. We examined whether spatial variation in demography of a tropical megaherbivore followed the “temporal paradigm” or the “adult survival paradigm” of ungulate population dynamics formulated from temperate-zone studies. We quantified spatial variation in demographic rates for giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis) at regional and continental scales. Regionally, we used photographic capture-mark-recapture data from 860 adult females and 449 calves to estimate adult female survival, calf survival, and reproduction at 5 sites in the Tarangire ecosystem of Tanzania. We examined potential mechanisms for spatial variation in regional demographic rates. At the continental scale, we synthesized demographic estimates from published studies across the range of the species. We created matrix population models for all sites at both scales and used prospective and retrospective analyses to determine which vital rate was most important to variation in population growth rate. Spatial variability of demographic parameters at the continental scale was in agreement with the temporal paradigm of low variability in adult survival and more highly variable reproduction and calf survival. In contrast, at the regional scale, adult female survival had higher spatial variation, in agreement with the adult survival paradigm. At both scales, variation in adult female survival made the greatest contribution to variation in local population growth rates. Our work documented contrasting patterns of spatial variation in demographic rates of giraffes at 2 spatial scales, but at both scales, we found the same vital rate was most important. We also found anthropogenic impacts on adult females are the most likely mechanism of regional population trajectories.
Genome-Wide Association Mapping of Rice Resistance Genes Against Magnaporthe oryzae Isolates from Four African Countries
Authors: Mgonja Emmanuel M. , Balimponya Elias G. , Kang Houxiang , Bellizzi Maria , Park Chan Ho , Li Ya , Mabagala Robert , Sneller Clay , Correll Jim , Opiyo Stephen , Talbot Nicholas J. , Mitchell Thomas , Wang Guo-Liang
Published: July 2016

Rice blast disease is emerging as a major constraint to rice production in Africa. Although a traditional gene-tagging strategy using biparental crosses can effectively identify resistance (R) genes or quantitative trait loci (QTL) against Magnaporthe oryzae, the mapping procedure required is time consuming and requires many populations to investigate the genetics of resistance. In this report, we conducted a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to rapidly map rice genes conferring resistance against eight M. oryzae isolates from four African countries. We inoculated 162 rice cultivars, which were part of the rice diversity panel 1 (RDP1) and were previously genotyped with the 44,000 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) chip, with the eight isolates. The GWAS identified 31 genomic regions associated with blast resistance (RABR) in the rice genome. In addition, we used polymerase chain reaction analysis to confirm the association between the Pish gene and a major RABR on chromosome 1 that was associated with resistance to four M. oryzae isolates. Our study has demonstrated the power of GWAS for the rapid identification of rice blast R or QTL genes that are effective against African populations of M. oryzae. The identified SNP markers associated with RABR can be used in breeding for resistance against rice blast in Africa.
Genome Analysis and Development of a Multiplex TaqMan Real-Time PCR for Specific Identification and Detection of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis
Authors: Tambong James T. , Xu Renlin , Daayf Fouad , Brière Stephan , Bilodeau Guillaume J. , Tropiano Raymond , Hartke Allison , Reid Lana M. , Cott Morgan , Cote Tammy , Agarkova Irina
Published: July 2016

The reemergence of the Goss’s bacterial wilt and blight disease in corn in the United States and Canada has prompted investigative research to better understand the genome organization. In this study, we generated a draft genome sequence of Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis strain DOAB 395 and performed genome and proteome analysis of C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis strains isolated in 2014 (DOAB 397 and DOAB 395) compared with the type strain, NCPPB 2581 (isolated over 40 years ago). The proteomes of strains DOAB 395 and DOAB 397 exhibited a 99.2% homology but had 92.1 and 91.8% homology, respectively, with strain NCPPB 2581. The majority (99.9%) of the protein sequences had a 99.6 to 100% homology between C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis strains DOAB 395 and DOAB 397, with only four protein sequences (0.1%) exhibiting a similarity <70%. In contrast, 3.0% of the protein sequences of strain DOAB 395 or DOAB 397 showed low homologies (<70%) with the type strain NCPPB 2581. The genome data were exploited for the development of a multiplex TaqMan real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tool for rapid detection of C. michiganensis subsp. nebraskensis. The specificity of the assay was validated using 122 strains of Clavibacter and non-Clavibacter spp. A blind test and naturally infected leaf samples were used to confirm specificity. The sensitivity (0.1 to 1.0 pg) compared favorably with previously reported real-time PCR assays. This tool should fill the current gap for a reliable diagnostic technique.
Chip Technologies for Screening Chemical and Biological Agents Against Plant-Parasitic Nematodes
Authors: Beeman Augustine Q. , Njus Zach L. , Pandey Santosh , Tylka Gregory L.
Published: July 2016

Plant-parasitic nematodes cause substantial damage to agricultural crops worldwide. Long-term management of these pests requires novel strategies to reduce infection of host plants. Disruption of nematode chemotaxis to root systems has been proposed as a potential management approach, and novel assays are needed to test the chemotactic behavior of nematodes against a wide range of synthetic chemicals and root exudates. Two microfluidic chips were developed that measure the attraction or repulsion of nematodes to chemicals (“chemical chip”) and young plant roots (“root chip”). The chip designs allowed for chemical concentration gradients to be maintained up to 24 h, the nematodes to remain physically separate from the chemical reservoirs, and for images of nematode populations to be captured using either a microscope or a flatbed scanner. In the experiments using the chemical chips, seven ionic solutions were tested on second-stage juveniles (J2s) of Meloidogyne incognita and Heterodera glycines. Results were consistent with previous reports of repellency of M. incognita to a majority of the ionic solutions, including NH4NO3, KNO3, KCl, MgCl2, and CaCl2. H. glycines was found to be attracted to both NH4NO3 and KNO3, which has not been reported previously. A software program was written to aid in monitoring the location of nematodes at regular time intervals using the root chip. In experiments with the root chip, H. glycines J2s were attracted to roots of 3-day-old, susceptible (cultivar Williams 82) soybean seedlings, and attraction of H. glycines to susceptible soybean was similar across the length of the root. Attraction to resistant (cultivar Jack) soybean seedlings relative to the water only control was inconsistent across runs, and H. glycines J2s were not preferentially attracted to the roots of resistant or susceptible cultivars when both were placed on opposite sides of the same root chip. The chips developed allow for direct tests of plant-parasitic nematode chemotaxis to chemicals and roots with minimal human intervention.
Defining the risk of Zika and chikungunya virus transmission in human population centers of the eastern United States
Authors: Manore Carrie A. , Ostfeld Richard S. , Agusto Folashade B. , Gaff Holly , LaDeau Shannon L.
Published: July 2016

The recent spread of mosquito-transmitted viruses and associated disease to the Americas motivates a new, data-driven evaluation of risk in temperate population centers. Temperate regions are generally expected to pose low risk for significant mosquito-borne disease, however, the spread of the Asian tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) across densely populated urban areas has established a new landscape of risk. We use a model informed by field data to assess the conditions likely to facilitate local transmission of chikungunya and Zika viruses from an infected traveler toAe. albopictusand then to other humans in USA cities with variable human densities and seasonality.

Mosquito-borne disease occurs when specific combinations of conditions maximize virus-to-mosquito and mosquito-to-human contact rates. We develop a mathematical model that captures the epidemiology and is informed by current data on vector ecology from urban sites. The model predicts that one of every two infectious travelers arriving at peak mosquito season could initiate local transmission and > 10% of the introductions could generate a disease outbreak of at least 100 people. DespiteAe. albopictuspropensity for biting non-human vertebrates, we also demonstrate that local virus transmission and human outbreaks may occur when vectors feed from humans even just 40% of the time. This work demonstrates how a conditional series of non-average events can result in local arbovirus transmission and outbreaks of disease in humans, even in temperate cities.

Author Summary

Zika and chikungunya viruses are transmitted byAedesmosquitoes, includingAe. albopictus, which is abundant in many temperate cities. While disease risk is lower in temperate regions where viral amplification cannot build across years, there is significant potential for localized disease outbreaks in urban populations. We use a model informed by field data to assess the conditions likely to facilitate local transmission of virus from an infected traveler toAe. albopictusand then to other humans in USA cities with variable human densities and seasonality. The model predicts that one of every two infectious travelers arriving at peak mosquito season could initiate local transmission and > 10% of the introductions could generate a disease outbreak of >100 people.

Classification: Ecology
Beyond the myosin mesa: a potential unifying hypothesis on the underlying molecular basis of hyper-contractility caused by a majority of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy mutations
Authors: Nag Suman , Trivedi Darshan V. , Sarkar Saswata S. , Sutton Shirley , Ruppel Kathleen M. , Spudich James A.
Published: July 2016

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most commonly occurring inherited cardiovascular disease, is primarily caused by mutations in human β-cardiac myosin and myosin binding protein-C. It has been thought that such mutations in myosin increase the intrinsic force of the motor, its velocity of contraction, or its ATPase activity, giving rise to hyper-contractility. We hypothesize that while these parameters are mildly affected by most myosin HCM-causing mutations, a major effect of a majority of myosin HCM mutations is likely to involve an increase in the number of myosin heads that are functionally accessible (Na) for interaction with actin in the sarcomere. We consider a model involving three types of interactions involving the myosin mesa and the converter domain of the myosin motor that hold myosin heads in a sequestered state, likely to be released in a graded manner as the demands on the heart increase: 1) the two myosin heads binding to one another, 2) one head binding to its own coiled-coil tail, and 3) the other head binding to myosin binding protein-C. In addition there is clear evidence of interaction between the coiled-coil tail of myosin and myosin binding protein-C. Experimentally, here we focus on myosin head binding to its own coiled-coil tail and to myosin binding protein-C. We show that phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain and myosin binding protein-C weaken these respective associations, consistent with known enhancements of sarcomere function by these phosphorylations. We show that these interactions are weakened as a result of myosin HCM mutations, in a manner consistent with our structural model. Our data suggests a potential unifying hypothesis for the molecular basis of hyper-contractility caused by human hypertrophic cardiomyopathy myosin mutations, whereby the mutations give rise to an increase in the number of myosin heads that are functionally accessible for interaction with actin in the sarcomere, causing the hyper-contractility observed clinically.
LARG index
Authors: Azevedo Susana Garrido , Carvalho Helena , Cruz-Machado V.
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to suggest a lean, agile, resilient, and green (LARG) index as a benchmarking tool to assess the leanness, agility, resilience and the greenness of the automotive companies and corresponding supply chain (SC).

Design/methodology/approach

– The proposed index incorporates LARG supply chain management paradigms and corresponding practices being both weighted according to their importance for the automotive SC sustainability. The Delphi technique is used to obtain the weights for each SC paradigm and a linear aggregated method is proposed. A case study approach related to the automotive SC is chosen to illustrate the LARG index application.

Findings

– The case study results confirmed the usefulness and ease of application of LARG index in a real world SC. The application of the suggested index to a set of companies, and consequently to their SC, makes possible to identify: the better and worst performer company in each paradigm, the LARG practices with higher levels of application among the companies, the LARG index for each company and also for the corresponding SC. This becomes an important benchmarking tool since comparative analysis regarding the LARG behaviours are possible to perform with the suggested index.

Research limitations/implications

– More LARG practices could be considered to improve the robustness of the index. Future studies should be conducted across more companies for improving the effectiveness of the approach, and more members should be included in the panel of Delphi technique for enhancing the validity of the suggested approach.

Practical implications

– SC companies will be able to assess their performance in terms of leanness, agility, resilience and greenness. A study like this could encourage all automotive companies to benchmark their organizations as regards their competitors, the best in class, and also the industry average.

Originality/value

– This paper contributes to the literature by introducing a new index for measuring the leanness, agility, resilience and greenness of companies and SCs. This index can be used by managers as a benchmarking tool to identify their LARG behaviour and compare it with their SC partners and seek for improvement.
Impression management and self-presentation dissimulation in Portuguese chairman’s statements
Authors: Oliveira Jonas , Azevedo Graça , Borges Fátima
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– Drawn on social psychology theory of impression management (IM), the purpose of this paper is to assess the way Portuguese managers build their narratives in chairman’s statement (CS) to manage stakeholders’ perceptions on corporate image, in a period of time of scarce resources.

Design/methodology/approach

– The paper’s theoretical framework draws on elements of social psychology theory of IM developed by Leary and Kowalski (1990). Through the use of the two-component model of IM (impression motivation and impression construction) the 45 CSs of Portuguese non-finance companies were content analysed to understand how managers build their voluntary communication strategies.

Findings

– Results indicate that organisational outcome does not influence the adoption of IM strategies. But public visibility and consumer proximity are crucial factors in explaining them. Larger companies with high consumer proximity present themselves in a favourable way, but consistent with an overall reading of the annual report. These companies show a higher level of verbosity, consistent to the argument of retrospective rationality.

Originality/value

– The present study goes beyond Merkl-Davieset al.(2011) work and obtains insightful knowledge on the influence of goal relevance of impression in three different perspectives: company’s public visibility, company’s dependency from debtholders, and consumer proximity. Moreover, the analysis uses a period of scarce resources and a European Latin country, with no tradition in publishing CSs, but that recently has changed its financial reporting practices from an institutional code-law logic to an institutional common-law logic. A research setting like this has not been studied hitherto.
Work-based learning
Authors: Garnett Jonathan
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to show how transdisciplinarity is woven into the key curriculum components of individually negotiated work-based learning (WBL) programmes and to focus upon the performative value of knowledge in the work context.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper draws upon WBL academic literature and the authors 22 years operational experience of WBL.

Findings

– The paper suggests that while university-level WBL can enhance the performance of organizations and individuals it is also inherently challenging and challenged by the hegemony of subject disciplines and disciplinary-based university structures. WBL is concerned with knowledge which is often unsystematic, socially constructed and is action focused in order to achieve outcomes of significance to work. This contests the supremacy of the role of the university in curriculum design, delivery and validation of knowledge and means that work-based knowledge is often seen as transdisciplinary rather than conforming to traditional subject disciplines (Boud and Solomon, 2001).

Research limitations/implications

– Central to the distinctive nature of university WBL programmes is the role of the external organization as a partner with the university and the individual learner in the planning of learning activities which are intended to have significance for the workplace. For individual knowledge to become organizational knowledge, and thus fully contribute to the intellectual capital of the organization, it must be shared and accepted by others. It follows that a key concern for organizations must be the facilitation of the recognition of knowledge and this goes beyond using a transdisciplinary lens when guiding and assessing the work of individual higher education students.

Practical implications

– The paper has practical implications for the design and facilitation of WBL programmes at higher education level.

Originality/value

– Provides an informed and sustained examination of the concept of WBL and knowledge.
Employability development opportunities (EDOs) as measures of students’ enhanced employability
Authors: Pitan Oluyomi Susan
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– Empirical studies in relation to employability development opportunities (EDOs) and university students’ enhanced employability are few, especially in Nigeria. The purpose of this paper is to assess the extent of university students’ engagement with EDOs and to empirically establish the extent of the relationship between these EDOs and students’ enhanced employability.

Design/methodology/approach

– Data were collected from 600 final-year university students in Nigeria with the use of an adapted questionnaire. The 29 items on the questionnaire were subjected to an exploratory factor analysis in which 28 loaded under six factors which were used for further analysis.

Findings

– Results indicate that at Nigerian universities students are engaging with all the EDOs to a moderately sufficient extent. Findings also show that there is a significant positive relationship between EDOs and students’ enhanced employability. Besides, considering the relative contribution of each of the EDOs to students’ enhanced employability, real-world activities make the highest contribution. Extracurricular activities were found to have no significant relationship with students’ enhanced employability.

Research limitations/implications

– Not all the EDOs are measured in the study.

Originality/value

– Apart from empirically confirming the significant positive relationship between EDOs and university students’ enhanced employability, the study has established the relative contribution of each of these EDOs, which is a major contribution to the limited existing body of knowledge on university students’ employability.
Work-based skills development: a context-engaged approach
Authors: Felce Alison , Perks Sandra , Roberts David
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to give a successful example of how universities can work with business to identify and address skills needs through a context-engaged approach to developing learning to meet the needs identified.

Design/methodology/approach

– Using a case study approach the business-university collaboration to introduce work-based learning programmes is explained. The paper sets out how learning interventions were researched, designed and introduced to meet identified skills needs throughout the organisation. It highlights the practicalities of the management approach adopted and the benefits achieved through partnership working.

Findings

– Key to the success of the collaboration was the recruitment of a “Training Centre Facilitator” (TCF) who was co-managed by the company and the university and who was located within the company. The TCF was able to fully understand the company’s and learners’ requirements and thus propose a context-engaged solution that met the needs of the individuals and the organisation. The work-based learning programmes introduced reflected the organisational requirements, individuals’ needs and took into account constraints and restraints on their design and implementation.

Originality/value

– The paper presents a case study that investigates an innovative approach to partnership working between HE, FE and a private business organisation. The appointment of a TCF, employed within the company to undertake research and implement identified training interventions is an unusual and original approach to bringing together the three organisations to achieve the planned business improvements. The process used and the key principles for achieving a successful partnership are presented and could be applied in other business-education collaborations to develop in-company work-based learning.
Work-based learning in a business school context
Authors: Brook Cheryl , Corbridge Marjorie
Published: July 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to highlight some of the issues involved in ensuring that final year undergraduate students have a meaningful WBL experience as part of their business degree. It originated in discussions between the authors concerning varying attitudes towards the idea and practice of WBL in business schools. The study examines examples of artefacts produced for assessment, as well as perceptions of the practice of WBL through an exploration of the perspectives and views of students and employers. Material was also gathered from the reflections of the authors in their capacity as WBL supervisors.

Design/methodology/approach

– This paper draws on a qualitative research study which used semi-structured interviews to obtain views on a range of issues associated with WBL, including the nature and scope of what is learnt and acted upon in the workplace and the value of the learning contract. The data comprise semi-structured interviews with 13 graduates of a post-1992 UK university and with five employers. The authors also reflect on their experience in delivering the WBL unit.

Findings

– This study examines some key issues associated with WBL. It supports the idea that unintended, informal and even “tacit” knowledge may be effectively reflected upon and assessed; that learning contracts play an important role in WBL arrangements and do not necessarily restrict or constrain what is learnt or how that learning is developed, and that artefacts provide the bridge between knowledge and work.

Research limitations/implications

– Employer feedback was limited, and despite attempting to contact all WBL graduates, only 13 responded and were able to be interviewed. The findings will be helpful to different stakeholders engaged in WBL who wish to develop effective strategies to maximise the benefits of WBL. The findings of this research relate to different elements in the process including the value of the employer-led project and the evidence of real improvements/contributions made in delivering their artefact, of the learning contract as a “live” document and the value of informal, experiential learning in the process.

Practical implications

– The findings will be helpful to different stakeholders engaged in WBL who wish to develop effective strategies to maximise the benefits of WBL.

Originality/value

– The paper offers a contribution to our knowledge and understanding of perceptions of the actual practice of business students’ WBL.
Libraries as Vehicle to Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDGs): Nigerian’s current status and outlook
Authors: Igbinovia Magnus
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the progress made by Nigerian libraries towards the actualization of sustainable developmental goals (SDGs) and to review possible opportunities for better actualisation. The resolution adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on September 25, 2015, resulted in a 2030 agenda for sustainable development with 17 goals and 169 targets, a transition from the millennium developmental goals, which should stimulate action over the next 15 years.

Design/methodology/approach

In view of this agenda, sessions at the International Federation of Library Associations (IFLA) Conference were held in 2015 in Cape Town to focus on the post-2015 development agenda available at http://www.ifla.org/node/9727. Session 103 of the 2015 IFLA Conference was on the contribution and mission of libraries and information services or sustainable development.

Findings

The Registrar of the Librarian’s Registration Council of Nigeria (LRCN) during the 6th Induction Ceremony for librarians held on September 13, 2015, stated that the profession will focus on making sustainable developmental goals (SDGs) a reality. In line with this, libraries and librarians in Nigeria have been doing a great deal, especially in the area of creating awareness about the goals by all stakeholders.

Originality/value

The aim of this paper is to examine the current status of Nigerian libraries toward meeting the SDGs as an example for developing countries and to propose recommendations for meeting these goals.
Open source software for library systems – 1
Authors: Oyelude Adetoun A.
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This literature review goes ten years back to see what has been and is going on in the open source world. Effort has been made to be as comprehensive as possible, but the review has been limited again to internet sources and what can be garnered from the internet cybersphere.

Design/methodology/approach

What is Open Source? This issue has been treated by scholars interested in the topic. Different types of open source have been discussed and comparisons between open source integrated library systems done.

Findings

Open source software is a software source code that is available free of cost on the internet. Once downloaded, the software can be enhanced and customized.

Originality/value

The software is managed through a licensing process that protects the rights of the creators and collaborators (Jaffe and Careaga, 2007, p. 2).
“Through the looking glass: envisioning new library technologies” how artificial intelligence will impact libraries
Authors: Fernandez Peter
Published: July 2016

Purpose

This is the second of a two-part series on artificial intelligence (AI). The first column summarized some of the basic concepts necessary to understand AI and why recent developments indicate that it is poised to radically transform an array of emerging technologies.

Design/methodology/approach

This column will assume some basic knowledge of AI, to more fully explore how this technology is likely to impact libraries in the future in the areas of search, educational technology and logistics.

Findings

At its core, AI is a group of technologies that attempts to enable computers to solve problems in more dynamic ways than they previously have been able to do. Often, these efforts are conceptualized as replicating human intelligence in their functionality, even if they often use radically different underlying methods.

Originality/value

One key difference is that computers have inherent advantages over humans in absorbing and processing certain types of data. As a result, what can be done once a computer is capable of making more complex inferences can be truly remarkable, particularly when AI is used to empower humans in accomplishing otherwise tedious or difficult tasks.