bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Boycotting and Buycotting in Consumer Cultures
Authors: Katz Meredith A.
Published: September 2018

This chapter presents a historical overview of political consumerism in the United States and Canada, highlighting how societal and cultural shifts have influenced participation over time. The chapter begins by discussing the debatable origins of political consumerism in the Boston Tea Party to present-day examples, including fair trade and ecoconsumption. Throughout the chapter, there is an emphasis on the heterogeneity of political consumers, with particular attention to how marginalized groups, particularly women and African Americans, have used political consumerism to bring about social change. The chapter also argues that producer-consumer solidarity campaigns, including the antisweatshop movement and the Coalition of Immokalee Workers’ Campaign for Fair Food, are preferable to consumer-led campaigns. Finally, this chapter concludes with methodological considerations for studying political consumerism in North America and suggestions for future research.
Tracing Political Consumerism in Africa and the Middle East
Authors: Oosterveer Peter , Glin Laurent , Micheletti Michele
Published: September 2018

This chapter provides an overview of political consumerism in Africa and the Middle East. Regarding the African continent, consumption is discussed in terms of lifestyle issues related to corruption and Western consumer cultures. In the Middle East and North Africa, political consumerism is closely related to religious controversies. Africa is also central in various global supply chains, such as those for food and minerals, which engage political consumerism activists in other parts of the world. This chapter uses the cases of organic food and Fairtrade to examine the roles of local producers, citizens, and civil society organizations in these global networks. The conclusion discusses specific characteristics of political consumerism in the region and questions whether (future) economic development will have an impact on political consumerism in Africa.
The Theory of Gendered Prejudice
Authors: Sidanius Jim , Hudson Sa-kiera T. J. , Davis Gregory K. , Bergh Robin
Published: September 2018

Over the last twenty-five years or so, there has been a growing awareness among race and gender scholars that a fully adequate analysis of these two forms of societal oppression cannot be done in isolation from one another. That is, an understanding of racism and sexism is fundamentally incomplete without an appreciation of how race and gender intersect and interact with one another in the creation and maintenance of group-based hierarchy and oppression. This chapter argues that while intersectionalist and critical race theorists have qualitatively (and occasionally quantitatively) drawn attention to the fact that the racial and gender dimensions of oppression are both interactively implicated in the maintenance of group-based inequality, a fully satisfactory empirical analysis of the dynamics of racism and sexism has yet to be achieved. Using the theoretical frameworks of evolutionary psychology and social dominance theory (SDT), this chapter offers an alternative understanding of the intersectional entanglement of racism and sexism. This chapter introduces the theory of gendered prejudice, a derivative of SDT, and posits that a satisfactory account of racism, or what social dominance theorists generalize as “arbitrary-set” oppression, is a deeply gendered phenomenon.
Multimodal Music in Infancy and Early Childhood
Authors: Trehub Sandra E.
Published: September 2018

Music in the early years is best understood as creative play with sound and body. Infants are highly responsive observers of mothers’ multimodal singing, which consists of expressive vocalizations in conjunction with facial and bodily gestures. Infants derive pleasure and solace from music, and they exhibit sensitivity to its pitch and temporal patterning. As toddlers, they engage in rudimentary singing and dancing, which ultimately become tools for emotional self-regulation. Preschoolers exhibit increasing sensitivity to culture-specific aspects of music. They sing as they play, producing conventional as well as invented songs and aligning their vocal patterns with their movements. By the early school years, children exhibit considerable understanding of musical forms and functions. Their melodic and rhythmic skills are more readily evident on the playground than in the classroom. Although music and movement are linked for adults, they are inseparable for infants and young children.
Heterogeneity of germline variants in high risk breast and ovarian cancer susceptibility genes in India
Authors: Sharma-Oates Archana , Shaaban Abeer M , Tomlinson Ian , Wynne Luke , Cazier Jean-Baptiste , Sundar Sudha
Published: September 2018

Breast and ovarian cancers now account for one in three cancers in Indian women and their incidence is rising. Major differences in the clinical presentation of breast and ovarian cancers exist between India and the United Kingdom. For example, Indian patients with breast cancer typically present a decade earlier than in the UK. Reasons for this could be multifactorial, including differences in underlying biology, environmental risks, and other systematic factors including access to screening. One possible explanation lies in variable incidence or penetrance of germline mutations in genes such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. We performed a methodical database and literature review to investigate the prevalence and spectrum of high-risk cancer susceptibility genes in Indian patients with breast and ovarian cancers. We identified 148 articles, but most studies were small, with inconsistent inclusion criteria and based on heterogeneous technologies, so that mutation frequency could not be reliably ascertained. Data were also often lacking on penetrance, histopathology, and survival outcomes. After filtering out unsuitable studies, only 13 remained, comprising 1028 patients. Large-scale research studies are urgently needed to determine mutation prevalence, spectra, and clinico-pathological features, and hence derive guidelines for screening, treatment, and prevention specific to the Indian population.
ALPK1: a pattern recognition receptor for bacterial ADP-heptose
Authors: Cong Yingzi
Published: September 2018

Editor’s note

A commentary on “Alpha-kinase 1 is a cytosolic innate immune receptor for bacterial ADP-heptose”.
Perioperative Management of Buprenorphine: Solving the Conundrum
Authors: Quaye Aurora Naa-Afoley , Zhang Yi
Published: September 2018

Objective

There is no consensus on the optimal perioperative management of patients on buprenorphine (BUP) for opioid use disorder (OUD). This article will review the available literature on BUP and the analgesic efficacy of BUP combined with full mu-opioid agonists and discuss the conflicting management strategies in the context of acute pain and our institution’s protocol for the periprocedural management of BUP.

Methods

We searched published data on BUP periprocedural management from inception through March 2018 without language restrictions. Study selection included publications reporting outcomes on perioperative pain management in OUD patients maintained on BUP.

Results

Our search resulted in four case reports supporting periprocedural discontinuation of BUP and two case series, one secondary observational study, one prospective matched cohort study, and four retrospective cohort studies supporting periprocedural continuation of BUP. No clinical trials were identified.

Conclusions

Maintaining BUP perioperatively does not lead to worsened clinical outcomes. Patients can receive adequate pain control from mu-opioid agonists while maintained on BUP. Based upon available evidence, we recommend continuing BUP at a reduced dose when indicated to avoid withdrawal symptoms and to facilitate the analgesic efficacy of mu-opioid agonists administered in combination for acute postoperative pain.
Basic Knowledge of Contraception and Emergency Contraception is Low Among Recent Medical School Graduates
Authors: Miller Michael , Marengo Antoinette
Published: September 2018

PURPOSE:

To evaluate the knowledge of recent medical school graduates regarding contraception and emergency contraception

BACKGROUND:

The Association of Professors of Gynecology and Obstetrics (APGO) medical student educational objectives includes contraception and emergency contraception among expected competencies, but little information exists on whether these objectives are being met.

METHODS:

A 28-question survey of basic contraception knowledge was created, including questions about LARC methods (12 questions), Tier 2 methods (10 questions) and emergency contraception (4 questions). Two consecutive intern classes were evaluated during hospital orientation.

RESULTS:

157 interns completed the survey, representing 73 medical schools. The overall correct score was 51.8%. Subscores were 56.7% for LARC methods, 62% for tier 2 methods, and 22.2% for emergency contraception. Men scored lower than women overall, 50% vs. 60.4%, P<.001, and on all subscores. Men were also less comfortable with contraceptive knowledge than women, 5.8 vs. 6.7 on a 10-point Likert scale, P=.006. Osteopathic physicians scored lower than allopathic physicians on overall score, 49.6% vs. 54.6%, P=.04, and emergency contraception, 12.5% vs. 25%, P=.01, but not on LARC, tier 2 methods or self-reported comfort. Those with high self-reported comfort levels scored higher on overall score, LARC and tier 2 methods, but not on emergency contraception. There was no difference in overall score when evaluated by amount of training received during medical school.

DISCUSSION:

Despite ubiquitous prescribing, medical school graduates have only rudimentary knowledge of contraception, particularly emergency contraception. Individual medical schools should evaluate their programs to determine how to improve knowledge of these important topics.
Influences of COMT rs4680 and OPRM1 rs1799971 Polymorphisms on Chronic Postsurgical Pain, Acute Pain, and Analgesic Consumption After Elective Cesarean Delivery
Authors: Wang Lizhong , Wei Changna , Xiao Fe , Chang Xiangyang , Zhang Yinfa
Published: September 2018

Objectives:

The main objectives of this study were to assess the effects of cathechol-O-methyl-transferase (COMT) rs4680 and μ-opioid receptor rs1799971 polymorphisms alone or genotype combinations on chronic postsurgical pain (CPSP), acute pain, and analgesic consumption after elective cesarean delivery in a Chinese cohort.

Materials and Methods:

Two hundred sixty-six patients undergoing elective cesarean delivery with a Pfannenstiel incision under spinal anesthesia were enrolled in this prospective, observational study. All patients were screened for rs4680 and rs1799971 using a peripheral venous blood sample of DNA. Postoperative pain relief was provided by IV patient-controlled analgesia with sufentanyl and tramadol for 48 hours postoperatively. Postoperative pain scores and analgesic consumption were assessed, and CPSP was evaluated 3 months after surgery in all patients.

Results:

Twenty-nine patients (29/266; 10.9%) developed CPSP at 3 months after surgery. The risk factors for CPSP included previous cesarean delivery and higher analgesic consumptions at 24 hours and 48 hours postoperatively (P=0.032, 0.015, and 0.008, reapectively). No associations were found between CPSP and a single rs4680 and rs1799971 polymorphism, or their combinations (P>0.05). In contrast, patients with rs1799971 GG required higher patient-controlled analgesics at 24 hours and 48 hours postoperatively compared with those with other genotypes (GG>AG>AA). However, no significant effects of interactions between the 2 single nucleotide polymorphisms on analgesic consumption were observed.

Discussion:

Our results indicate that cathechol-O-methyl-transferase rs4860 and μ-opioid receptor rs1799971 may not contribute to CPSP development after cesarean delivery. The genotype of rs1799971 affects postcesarean analgesic requirement, while the rs4680 do not. Additional larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Impact of Synchronous Telemedicine Models on Clinical Outcomes in Pediatric Acute Care Settings: A Systematic Review*
Authors: Nadar Mahmoud , Jouvet Philippe , Tucci Marisa , Toledano Baruch , Sicotte Claude
Published: September 2018

Objectives:

To evaluate the impact of synchronous telemedicine models on the clinical outcomes in pediatric acute care settings.

Data Sources:

Citations from EBM Reviews, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Global Health, PubMed, and CINAHL.

Study Selection:

We identified studies that evaluated the impact of synchronous telemedicine on clinical outcomes between January 2000 and April 2018. All studies involving acutely ill children in PICUs, pediatric cardiac ICUs, neonatal ICUs, and pediatric emergency departments were included. Publication inclusion criteria were study design, participants characteristics, technology type, interventions, settings, outcome measures, and languages.

Data Extraction:

Two authors independently screened each article for inclusion and extracted information, including telecommunication method, intervention characteristics, sample characteristics and size, outcomes, and settings.

Data Synthesis:

Out of the 789 studies initially identified, 24 were included. The six main outcomes of interest published were quality of care, hospital and standardized mortality rate, transfer rate, complications and illness severity, change in medical management, and length of stay. The use of synchronous telemedicine results improved quality of care and resulted in a decrease in the transfer rate (31–87.5%) (four studies), a shorter length of stay (8.2 vs 15.1 d) (six studies), a change or reinforcement of the medical care plan, a reduction in complications and illness severity, and a low hospital and standardized mortality rate. Overall, the quality of the included studies was weak.

Conclusions:

Despite the broad recommendations found for using telemedicine in pediatric acute care settings, high-quality evidence of its impacts is still lacking. Further robust studies are needed to better determine the clinical effectiveness and the associated impacts of telemedicine in pediatric acute care settings.
Microvascular Hepatic Artery Anastomosis in Pediatric Living Donor Liver Transplantation: 73 Consecutive Cases Performed by a Single Surgeon
Authors: Zuo Kevin J. , Draginov Arman , Panossian Andre , Fecteau Annie , Borschel Gregory H. , Ho Emily S. , Zuker Ronald M.
Published: September 2018

Background:

Living donor liver transplantation is an important strategy of procuring segmental liver allografts for pediatric patients with liver failure, as suitably sized whole donor organs are scarce. The early pediatric living donor liver transplantation experience was associated with high rates of hepatic artery thrombosis, graft loss, and mortality. Collaboration with microsurgeons for hepatic artery anastomosis in pediatric living donor liver transplantation has decreased rates of arterial complications; however, reported outcomes are limited.

Methods:

A 14-year retrospective review was undertaken of children at the authors’ institution who underwent living donor liver transplantation with hepatic artery anastomosis performed by a single microsurgeon using an operating microscope. Data were collected on demographics, cause of liver failure, graft donor, vessel caliber, vessel anastomosis, arterial complications, and long-term follow-up.

Results:

Seventy-three children with end-stage liver failure underwent living donor liver transplantation with microvascular hepatic artery anastomosis. The commonest cause for liver failure was biliary atresia (63 percent). A total of 83 end-to-end hepatic artery anastomoses were completed using an operating microscope. Hepatic artery complications occurred in five patients, consisting of three cases of kinked anastomoses that were revised without complications and two cases of hepatic artery thrombosis (3 percent), of which one resulted in graft loss and patient death. Patient survival was 94 percent at 1 year and 90 percent at 5 years.

Conclusions:

Microvascular hepatic artery anastomosis in pediatric patients undergoing living donor liver transplantation is associated with a low hepatic artery complication rate and excellent long-term liver graft function. Collaboration between microsurgeons and transplant surgeons can significantly reduce technical complications and improve patient outcomes.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, IV.
Optimal soil carbon sampling designs to achieve cost-effectiveness: a case study in blue carbon ecosystems
Authors: Young Mary A. , Macreadie Peter I. , Duncan Clare , Carnell Paul E. , Nicholson Emily , Serrano Oscar , Duarte Carlos M. , Shiell Glenn , Baldock Jeff , Ierodiaconou Daniel
Published: September 2018

Researchers are increasingly studying carbon (C) storage by natural ecosystems for climate mitigation, including coastal ‘blue carbon’ ecosystems. Unfortunately, little guidance on how to achieve robust, cost-effective estimates of blue C stocks to inform inventories exists. We use existing data (492 cores) to develop recommendations on the sampling effort required to achieve robust estimates of blue C. Using a broad-scale, spatially explicit dataset from Victoria, Australia, we applied multiple spatial methods to provide guidelines for reducing variability in estimates of soil C stocks over large areas. With a separate dataset collected across Australia, we evaluated how many samples are needed to capture variability within soil cores and the best methods for extrapolating C to 1 m soil depth. We found that 40 core samples are optimal for capturing C variance across 1000's of kilometres but higher density sampling is required across finer scales (100–200 km). Accounting for environmental variation can further decrease required sampling. The within core analyses showed that nine samples within a core capture the majority of the variability and log-linear equations can accurately extrapolate C. These recommendations can help develop standardized methods for sampling programmes to quantify soil C stocks at national scales.
Accounting for residence-time in blood rheology models: do we really need non-Newtonian blood flow modelling in large arteries?
Authors: Arzani Amirhossein
Published: September 2018

Patient-specific computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a promising tool that provides highly resolved haemodynamics information. The choice of blood rheology is an assumption in CFD models that has been subject to extensive debate. Blood is known to exhibit shear-thinning behaviour, and non-Newtonian modelling has been recommended for aneurysmal flows. Current non-Newtonian models ignore rouleaux formation, which is the key player in blood's shear-thinning behaviour. Experimental data suggest that red blood cell aggregation and rouleaux formation require notable red blood cell residence-time (RT) in a low shear rate regime. This study proposes a novel hybrid Newtonian and non-Newtonian rheology model where the shear-thinning behaviour is activated in high RT regions based on experimental data. Image-based abdominal aortic and cerebral aneurysm models are considered and highly resolved CFD simulations are performed using a minimally dissipative solver. Lagrangian particle tracking is used to define a backward particle RT measure and detect stagnant regions with increased rouleaux formation likelihood. Our novel RT-based non-Newtonian model shows a significant reduction in shear-thinning effects and provides haemodynamic results qualitatively identical and quantitatively close to the Newtonian model. Our results have important implications in patient-specific CFD modelling and suggest that non-Newtonian models should be revisited in large artery flows.
Theory of cytoskeletal reorganization during crosslinker-mediated mitotic spindle assembly
Authors: Lamson A. R. , Edelmaier C. J. , Glaser M. A. , Betterton M. D.
Published: September 2018

Cells grow, move, and respond to outside stimuli by large-scale cytoskeletal reorganization. A prototypical example of cytoskeletal remodeling is mitotic spindle assembly, during which micro-tubules nucleate, undergo dynamic instability, bundle, and organize into a bipolar spindle. Key mechanisms of this process include regulated filament polymerization, crosslinking, and motor-protein activity. Remarkably, using passive crosslinkers, fission yeast can assemble a bipolar spindle in the absence of motor proteins. We develop a torque-balance model that describes this reorganization due to dynamic microtubule bundles, spindle-pole bodies, the nuclear envelope, and passive crosslinkers to predict spindle-assembly dynamics. We compare these results to those obtained with kinetic Monte Carlo-Brownian dynamics simulations, which include crosslinker-binding kinetics and other stochastic effects. Our results show that rapid crosslinker reorganization to microtubule overlaps facilitates crosslinker-driven spindle assembly, a testable prediction for future experiments. Combining these two modeling techniques, we illustrate a general method for studying cytoskeletal network reorganization.
Gpr63is a novel modifier of microcephaly inTtc21bmouse mutants
Authors: Snedeker J. , Gibbons WJ , Prows D.R. , Stottmann R.W.
Published: September 2018

The primary cilium is a critical signaling center for proper embryonic development. Previous studies have demonstrated that mice lackingTtc21bhave impaired retrograde trafficking within the cilium and multiple organogenesis phenotypes, including microcephaly. Interestingly, the severity of the microcephaly inTtc21baln/alnhomozygous null mutants is considerably affected by the genetic background.Ttc21baln/alnmutants on an FVB/NJ background develop a forebrain significantly smaller than mutants on a C57BL/6J background. We performed a Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) analysis to identify potential genetic modifiers and identified two regions linked to differential forebrain size:modifier of alien QTL1 (Moaq1)on chromosome 4 at 27.8 Mb andMoaq2on chromosome 6 at 93.6 Mb. These QTLs were validated by constructing congenic strains. Further analysis ofMoaq1identified a brain specific orphan G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR),Gpr63, as a candidate gene. We identified a SNP between the FVB and B6 strains inGpr63, which creates a missense mutation predicted to be deleterious in the FVB protein. We first demonstrated thatGpr63can localize to the cilium and then used CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing to create FVB congenic mice with the B6 sequence ofGpr63and a deletion allele leading to a truncation of the GPR63 C-terminal tail. These alleles genetically interact withTtc21baln/aln, validatingGpr63as a forebrain modifier ofTtc21band strongly supportingGpr63as the variant causal gene (i.e., the quantitative trait gene, QTG) forMoaq1.
Narrow equilibrium window for complex coacervation of tau and RNA under cellular conditions
Authors: Lin Yanxian , McCarty James , Rauch Jennifer N. , Delaney Kris T. , Kosik Kenneth S. , Fredrickson Glenn H. , Shea Joan-Emma , Han Songi
Published: September 2018

The conditions that lead to the liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of the tau protein, a microtubule associated protein whose pathological aggregation has been implicated in neurodegenerative disorders, are not well understood. Establishing a phase diagram that delineates the boundaries of phase co-existence is key to understanding its LLPS. Using a combination of EPR, turbidity measurements, and microscopy, we show that tau and RNA form complex coacervates with lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior. The coacervates are reversible, and the biopolymers can be driven to the supernatant phase or coacervate phase by varying the experimental conditions (temperature, salt concentration, tau:RNA charge ratio, total polymer concentration and osmotic stress). Furthermore, the coacervates can be driven to a fibrillar state through the addition of heparin. The equilibrium phase diagram of the tau/RNA complex coacervate system can be described by a Flory-Huggins model, augmented by an approximate Voorn Overbeek electrostatic term (FH-VO), after fitting the experimental data to an empirical Flory interaction parameter divided into an entropic and enthalpic term. However, a more advanced model in which tau and RNA are treated as discrete bead-spring chains with a temperature-dependent excluded volume interaction and electrostatic interactions between charged residues, investigated through field theoretic simulations (FTS), provided direct and unique insight into the thermodynamic driving forces of tau/RNA complexation. FTS corroborated the experimental finding that the complex coacervation of tau and RNA is has an entropy-driven contribution, with a transition temperature around the physiological temperature of 37 °C and salt concentrations around 100-150 mM. Together, experiment and simulation show that LLPS of tau can occur under physiological cellular conditions, but has a narrow equilibrium window over experimentally tunable parameters including temperature, salt and tau concentrations. Guided by our phase diagram, we show that tau can be driven towards LLPS underlivecell coculturing conditions with rationally chosen experimental parameters.
Non‐invasive three‐dimensional power Doppler imaging for the assessment of acute cerebral blood flow alteration in a mouse model of subarachnoid haemorrhage
Authors: Yamamoto Shuzo , Mutoh Tatsushi , Sasaki Kazumasu , Mutoh Tomoko , Tatewaki Yasuko , Taki Yasuyuki
Published: September 2018

We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a non‐invasive method of cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement using high‐frequency power Doppler ultrasound imaging in a mouse model of subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). The 3‐dimensionally (3D) reconstructed blood flow signals (%vascularity) within the brain volume of the middle cerebral artery territory correlated well with reference parameters, baseline carotid artery blood flow (r2 = 0.52, P < 0.0001) and normalized CBF changes (r2 = 0.74 P < 0.0001). These data suggest that the 3D power Doppler analysis may have the potential for reflecting real‐time CBF changes during the acute phase of experimental SAH, which may be applicable to preclinical studies on early brain injury.
An exploratory study on collaborative modes of professional development and learning for teachers of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
Authors: Ho Fuk Chuen , Lam Cici Sze‐Ching , Sam Sam Ka‐lam , Arthur‐Kelly Michael
Published: September 2018

This study aims to deliver a school‐based mode of training for in‐service teachers of students with ASD in Hong Kong. The training is delivered following the phases of implementation science, namely, exploration, installation, and implementation. The project team used the theory of mind approach, which enables teachers to engage with students with ASD and to focus on recognizing and reacting to emotions. Participants in this study included four educators from a teacher education institution, three expert teachers, and 19 in‐service teacher trainees. The most salient responses came from trainees who were provided with the opportunity to apply learned skills in their own classrooms immediately and to share the knowledge and skills in dealing with students with ASD in the post‐conference meetings.
Communicating Economic Concepts and Research in a Challenging Environment
Authors: Davis John
Published: September 2018

This address explores the communication challenges facing the economics profession and agri‐food and rural economists in particular against a background of reputational damage to the profession and an apparent loss of trust in experts. It argues that a common thread linking many of the challenges is the need for more effective models of communication so that our economic concepts, ideas and research findings can be more timely, better understood and, most importantly, have greater impact. Five important challenges are examined: loss of trust in experts; emotions and decision making; the role of the media; the roles of agri‐food and rural economists; and competition from other disciplines and interests. A good practice communications framework is then proposed embodying ten important communication principles: understanding the target audience; understanding the political context of decision makers; generating a robust evidence base; building reputation and credibility; need for cross disciplinary working; consulting with stakeholder groups; getting the timing right; producing high quality presentations; making use of social media; and being prepared for challenges. Four stereotypical categories of communication incorporating different standards of rigour and relevance are identified: Ivory tower; Gold Standard; Populist; and Quicksand. Responses by the Agricultural Economics Society and the European Association of Agricultural Economists to the need for more accessible communications via the development of the innovative outreach journal EuroChoices are outlined.
Development and Preliminary Validation of a Depression Assessment Tool for Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Wang Yun‐yan , Zhang Wei‐wei , Feng Lei , Gao Dong , Liu Chun , Zhong Ling , Ren Jiang‐wen , Wu Ya‐zhou , Huang Long , Fu Li‐li , He Ya‐ni
Published: September 2018

Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) are subject to a higher‐than‐usual prevalence of depressive disorders. However, the lack of consensus regarding the best assessment method remains an important problem. Thus, there is a clear need for more effective screening tools and an easily administered, disease‐specific self‐report measure of depression in MHD patients. After we developed and administered an initial depression inventory for MHD patients (I‐DI‐MHD), we created the DI‐MHD and administered the DI‐MHD and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) to 354 patients from four hospitals. Reliability, construct validity and receiver operator characteristic curves were assessed. The 17‐item DI‐MHD instrument displayed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha =0.893), provided excellent convergent validity, and correlated with the BDI scale (kappa =0.785, P <0.001). A factor analysis pattern matrix analysis showed that a four‐factor model provided the best account of the data. Finally, the DI‐MHD cutoff yielded a sensitivity of 0.97 and a specificity of 0.86, which were slightly better than the corresponding values for the BDI. The DI‐MHD scale shows reasonable validity and reliability for assessing depression in MHD patients.
Effect of multidisciplinary cardiac rehabilitation on the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy
Authors: Martens Pieter , Jacobs Guy , Dupont Matthias , Mullens Wilfried
Published: September 2018

Background

Both cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and Multidisciplinary Cardiac Rehabilitation (CR) beneficially influence symptomatic status, exercise capacity, quality of life, and heart failure readmission rates. However, the interaction between both therapies remain incompletely addressed.

Methods

Consecutive CRT patients implanted in a single tertiary care center were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were dived according to the participation in a structured CR‐program following CRT‐implant. The effect on functional status (New York Heart Association; NYHA‐class), reverse remodeling (change in left ventricular ejection fraction; LVEF), and the combined endpoint of heart failure readmission and all‐cause mortality was assessed after multivariate correction.

Results

A total of 655 patients were analyzed of whom 223(34%) did and 432(66%) did not participate in a structured multidisciplinary CR‐program following implant. No adverse events relating to exercise training occurred during the CR‐program. Patients who participated in the CR‐program had a more pronounced improvement in NYHA‐class at 6‐months (P = 0.006), even after multivariate correction (β = −0.144; 95% CI = [−0.270; −0.018]; P = 0.025). Maximal workload and VO2max on CPET at 6 months improved significantly even after adjustment (P < 0.001, respectively P = 0.017). At 6‐months, CR associated with more improvement in LVEF (+11.9 ± 13 vs +14.5 ± 11; P = 0.008), however, this relationship was lost after multivariate correction (P = 0.136). During 36 ± 22 months follow‐up, patients in the CR group had a higher event‐free survival for the combined endpoint (P = 0.001), even after multivariate correction (adjusted HR = 0.547; CI = 0.366‐0.818; P = 0.003).

Conclusions

Following CRT‐implant, the participation in a structured CR‐program is safe and beneficially influences symptomatic response and clinical outcome. The beneficial effects of exercise training are potentially independent and additive to the beneficial reverse remodeling effect induced by CRT itself.
A commensal network of epiphytic orchids and host trees in an Atlantic Forest remnant: A case study revealing the important role of large trees in the network structure
Authors: Zotarelli Henrique G. S. , Molina José M. P. , Ribeiro José E. L. S. , Sofia Silvia H.
Published: September 2018

Application of metrics derived from network theory could elucidate the structural organization of orchid assemblages, and help identify the host tree species on which they depend, as well as predicting the impacts of removing host tree species. In this study, we used nestedness, modularity, connectance and robustness, to identify the factors that predict the structure of a quantitative orchid–host tree network in a remnant of Atlantic Forest in Brazil. The network exhibited low nestedness (NODF = 14.07; P = 0.03; WNODF = 5.3; P = 0.02) and no modularity. It was highly robust to the random elimination of host tree species, but showed low robustness when host trees with more interactions started to be eliminated. The nested pattern found was attributed to a combination of two main host tree traits, height and diameter (given by DBH measure). Thus, our analyses reflect the importance of tall and large host tree species, which seem to play an important role in the network structure, providing a substrate for orchid species with different habitat associations and representing a decisive factor in both nested and robust patterns found.
An Equivalence Approach to Balance and Placebo Tests
Authors: Hartman Erin , Hidalgo F. Daniel
Published: September 2018

Recent emphasis on credible causal designs has led to the expectation that scholars justify their research designs by testing the plausibility of their causal identification assumptions, often through balance and placebo tests. Yet current practice is to use statistical tests with an inappropriate null hypothesis of no difference, which can result in equating nonsignificant differences with significant homogeneity. Instead, we argue that researchers should begin with the initial hypothesis that the data are inconsistent with a valid research design, and provide sufficient statistical evidence in favor of a valid design. When tests are correctly specified so that difference is the null and equivalence is the alternative, the problems afflicting traditional tests are alleviated. We argue that equivalence tests are better able to incorporate substantive considerations about what constitutes good balance on covariates and placebo outcomes than traditional tests. We demonstrate these advantages with applications to natural experiments.
After Post‐Development: On Capitalism, Difference, and Representation
Authors: Asher Kiran , Wainwright Joel
Published: September 2018

The post‐development school associated with the thought of Arturo Escobar treats development as a discursive invention of the West, best countered by ethnographic attention to local knowledge of people marginalised by colonial modernity. This approach promises paths to more equitable and sustainable alternatives to development. Post‐development has been criticised vigorously in the past. But despite its conceptual and political shortcomings, it remains the most popular critical approach to development and is reemerging in decolonial and pluriversal guises. This paper contends that the post‐development critique of mainstream development has run its course and deserves a fresh round of criticism. We argue that those committed to struggles for social justice must critically reassess the premises of post‐development and especially wrestle with the problem of representation. We contend that Gayatri Spivak's work is particularly important to this project. We review some of Spivak's key texts on capitalism, difference, and development to clarify the virtues of her approach.
International working group identifies need for newborn screening for mucopolysaccharidosis type I but states that existing hurdles must be overcome
Authors: Parini Rossella , Broomfield Alexander , Cleary Maureen A. , De Meirleir Linda , Di Rocco Maja , Fathalla Waseem M. , Guffon Nathalie , Lampe Christina , Lund Allan M. , Scarpa Maurizio , Tylki‐Szymańska Anna , Zeman Jiří
Published: September 2018

Aim

Mucopolysaccharidosis type I is a lysosomal storage disorder that can result in significant disease burden, disability and premature death, if left untreated. The aim of this review was to elaborate on the diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidosis type I and the pros and cons of newborn screening.

Methods

An international working group was established to discuss ways to improve the early diagnosis of mucopolysaccharidosis type I. It consisted of 13 experts in paediatrics, rare diseases and inherited metabolic diseases from Europe and the Middle East.

Results

It is becoming increasingly clearer that the delay between symptom onset and clinical diagnosis is considerable for mucopolysaccharidosis type I and other rare lysosomal storage disorders, despite numerous awareness campaigns since therapies became available. Diagnosis currently depends on recognising the signs and symptoms of the disease. The practice of newborn screening, which is being explored by pilot programmes around the world, enables early diagnosis and consequently early treatment. However, these studies have highlighted numerous new problems and pitfalls that must be faced before newborn screening becomes generally available.

Conclusion

Newborn screening for mucopolysaccharidosis type I offers the potential for early diagnosis and early pre‐symptomatic treatment, but existing hurdles need to be overcome.
The acute blood pressure‐lowering effect of amiloride is independent of endothelial ENaC and eNOS in humans and mice
Authors: Ydegaard Rikke , Andersen Henrik , Oxlund Christina S. , Jacobsen Ib A. , Hansen Pernille B. L. , Jürgensen Jonathan F. , Peluso Antonio Augusto , Vanhoutte Paul M. , Stæhr Mette , Svenningsen Per , Jensen Boye L.
Published: September 2018

Aims

The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is expressed in cultured endothelial cells and inhibitory coupling to eNOS activity has been proposed. The present study tested the hypothesis that ENaC blockers increase systemic NO‐products and lower blood pressure in patients and mice, depending on eNOS.

Methods

NO‐products and cGMP were measured in diabetes patient urine and plasma samples before and after amiloride treatment (20‐40 mg for two days, plasma n = 22, urine n = 12 and 5‐10 mg for eight weeks, plasma n = 52, urine n = 55). Indwelling catheters were implanted in the femoral artery and vein in mice for continuous arterial blood pressure and heart rate recordings and infusion.

Results

Treatment with amiloride for two days increased plasma and urine NO‐products, while plasma cGMP decreased and urinary cGMP was unchanged in patient samples. Eight weeks of treatment with amiloride did not alter NO‐products and cGMP. In mice, amiloride boli of 5, 50, and 500 µg/kg lowered heart rate and arterial blood pressure significantly and acutely. Benzamil had no effect on pressure and raised heart rate. In hypertensive eNOS−/− and L‐NAME‐treated mice, amiloride lowered blood pressure significantly. L‐NAME infusion significantly decreased NO‐products in plasma; amiloride and eNOS‐deletion had no effect. An acetylcholine bolus resulted in acute blood pressure drop that was attenuated in eNOS−/− and L‐NAME mice. ENaC subunit expressions were not detected consistently in human and mouse arteries and endothelial cells.

Conclusion

Amiloride has an acute hypotensive action not dependent on ENaC and eNOS and likely related to the heart.
Renal arteriovenous fistula induced by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy treated by retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy
Authors: Kodama Koichi , Takase Yasukazu , Tokai Ryutaro , Saito Katsuhiko
Published: September 2018

Renal arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is a rare but potentially severe and life‐threatening entity. It can occur after various invasive renal interventions, including resection of a localized renal tumor, renal biopsy, percutaneous renal surgery, and even blunt injury of the kidney. The time of clinical presentation of a renal AVF is variable and may occur decades after the injury originally occurred. Here, we report a case of renal AVF induced by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy 11 years earlier in an asymptomatic 72‐year‐old woman. Given the patient's pre‐existing hemodialysis dependence, retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy was performed. On the basis of patient's clinical history, the location of the renal AVF, and the pathological diagnosis, we suggested that renal AVF was a late consequence of the injury to the intrarenal vessels induced by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy.
Genotypic diversity of Pasteurella multocida isolates from pigs and poultry in Australia
Authors: Turni C , Singh R , Blackall PJ
Published: September 2018

Objective

To investigate the genotype and diversity of Pasteurella multocida present in pig herds and to determine the extent of overlap with isolates from poultry flocks in Australia.

Methods

A total of 43 isolates from pigs from different farms and regions of Australia were used in this study. A diverse collection of 41 poultry isolates, with 31 being previously characterised, was also used. The pig isolates and 10 poultry isolates were identified by species‐specific PCR assay, serotyped by the Heddleston scheme and genotyped by a multiplex PCR based on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) outer core biosynthesis locus, repetitive element PCR fingerprinting (rep‐PCR) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST), with the latter being used on a subset of the isolates based on the rep‐PCR results.

Results

Only 4 out of 8 recognised LPS genotypes were found in the pig isolates, with each isolate assigned to an LPS genotype. In contrast, 77% of the isolates were non‐typable or cross‐reacting in the Heddleston serotyping scheme. The rep‐PCR analysis recognised 20 patterns, yet only 16 sequence types (STs) were found and 4 were new STs. There were 5 STs (STs 7, 11, 20, 24 and 58) shared among the pig and poultry isolates.

Conclusions

Although only limited numbers of isolates have been examined, there is evidence of a sharing of genotypes between Australian pigs and chickens. These findings have major implication for biosecurity measures with regard to minimising both direct (e.g. animal to animal) and in‐direct (e.g. shared staff or cross‐visitors) contact between poultry and pigs.
A postgraduate Optimum Birth module to increase midwives’ readiness to work in midwifery‐led settings: A mixed‐methods evaluation
Authors: Coates Rose , Rocca‐Ihenacho Lucia , Olander Ellinor , Ayers Susan , Salmon Debra
Published: September 2018

Background

Midwifery‐led birth settings have been recommended as the most cost‐effective birthplaces for healthy women experiencing uncomplicated pregnancies. However, midwives complete most of their training in obstetric units where birth interventions are common. To prepare for working in a midwifery‐led setting training is a key priority. This study evaluated a postgraduate‐level midwifery module on Optimum Birth (defined as birth which supports physiology and empowerment, avoiding unnecessary intervention) designed to prepare midwives for supporting women in midwifery‐led settings.

Methods

A mixed‐methods design was employed. Pre‐module and post‐module questionnaires measured attitudes, knowledge, confidence, and learning outcomes. Qualitative data collection included a final‐day focus group and 8‐ to 10‐week follow‐up interviews. The target for recruitment was 15 postgraduate midwives. Fifteen midwives practicing in three London boroughs enrolled of whom 14 completed the module. Pre‐total and post‐total scores were analyzed with paired‐sample t tests. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Quantitative and qualitative data indicated that the module increased participants’ self‐reported skills, knowledge, and confidence in practicing Optimum Birth. Qualitative data indicated ways in which midwives were implementing changes to promote Optimum Birth in their place of work. Attitudes were highly positive pre‐module and post‐module.

Conclusions

The Optimum Birth module provided appropriate training for preparing midwives for the shift toward working in midwifery‐led settings. Midwifery leaders and managers should implement strategies to develop midwives’ philosophy, knowledge, and skills to increase their readiness to work in midwifery‐led birth settings.
A multiple‐group confirmatory factor analysis of teacher perceptions of social and emotional learning in rural Malawi
Authors: Lee Jeongmin , Yang Yanyun , Zuilkowski Stephanie Simmons
Published: September 2018

Background

Social and emotional learning (SEL) positively impacts children's school achievement and adult productivity. Successful implementation of SEL relies on teachers’ pedagogical beliefs and practices.

Aims

We examined whether the Teachers’ SEL Belief Scale designed in the United States is adoptable in low‐income countries such as Malawi in response to a growing interest in teacher practices in SEL but a lack of research instruments in these countries.

Samples

The data used in this study were from 432 teachers working in 34 randomly selected primary schools in Zomba, a rural district in Malawi.

Methods

We used multiple‐group confirmatory factory analysis to investigate the factor structure and the invariance of the adapted scale across teachers with different characteristics such as gender and training experience in SEL. When invariant, we compared group mean differences among teachers in our sample by gender and training experience.

Results

We found that the Teachers’ SEL Belief Scale measured a similar construct of pedagogical perceptions of SEL among the sampled teachers, and it functioned equivalently across teachers with different genders and training experiences. Female teachers had lower perceived institutional support for SEL instruction compared to male teachers. Untrained teachers had lower levels of pedagogical comfort as well as perceived support for SEL compared to trained teachers.

Conclusions

Our findings validate the adaptability of the Teachers’ SEL Belief Scale in low‐income contexts such as Malawi. We did not find evidence of systematic bias relative to group membership. In addition, significantly lower pedagogical comfort and institutional support among female and untrained teachers suggest areas for policy intervention to improve teacher performance in SEL in Malawi.