bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Slack and performance in the hospital industry: a configurational approach
Authors: Geiger Scott W. , Marlin Dan , Segrest Sharon L.
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to contribute to the healthcare management literature and improve the understanding of the slack and performance link by examining the hospital slack and performance relationship using a sample of 148 US hospitals.

Design/methodology/approach

Using cluster analysis, ANCOVA and means comparisons, this study identifies different hospital slack configurations and their associated performance implications.

Findings

The results demonstrate that different configurations of slack resources result in different levels of hospital performance. The findings also demonstrate equifinality in this relationship suggesting that some configurations of slack can result in similar levels of performance.

Practical implications

The results indicate that managerial attention should be paid to not only identifying appropriate levels and types of slack for hospitals but also to appropriate ways to bundle these resources. The findings also suggest there may be multiple ways for hospitals’ administrators to effectively manage and bundle slack resources.

Originality/value

Organizational slack and its impact on organizational performance is an important area of research within the management literature. Unfortunately, no known studies have examined how different types of slack resources are configured or bundled together in healthcare organizations and how this impacts firm performance. This study provides a significant contribution to the literature by providing a first step in understanding the slack and performance relationship in the hospital industry.
Impact of supply chain on the competitiveness of the automotive industry
Authors: Sakuramoto Carlos , Di Serio Luiz Carlos , Bittar Alexandre de Vicente
Published: February 2019

Purpose

There is a great reliance on fiscal incentives to sustain the automotive industry competitiveness due to several structural problems, among them the inefficiency of the supply chain. This paper aims to compare the supply chain structure of traditional automotive industry with the supply chains from South Korea and China. Based on strategic decision and transaction cost theory, this comparison seeks to exploit the factors that led to the inefficiency of automotive supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a qualitative approach and applied a multi-method research. They conducted semi-structured interviews with six executives from automakers representing the selected countries, carried individual meetings during one workshop and used secondary data from several sources.

Findings

Concepts identified in the research such as reliability, supply chain governance and automaker competencies led the authors to propose that the traditional automakers have higher transaction costs when compared to the new automakers due to the horizontal structure of their supply chain. While new competitors have vertical upstream supply chains, which indicates better profitability, traditional automotive industry is horizontal, depends on fewer Tier 1 suppliers and is disconnected from Tier 2, impacting negatively in the transaction costs and supply chain management.

Practical implications

This study suggests that automotive executives rethink the current upstream supply chain model by identifying the competencies required for their current and future competitiveness and implementing a vertical integration of these competencies.

Originality/value

This research exploited the inefficiency of supply chain as one of the explanations for the low competitiveness of the national automotive industry.
Propagule risk in a marine foundation species: Seascape effects on Zostera marina seed predation
Authors: Carroll John M. , Furman Bradley T. , Jackson Lisa J. , Hunter Elizabeth A. , Peterson Bradley J.
Published: February 2019

Both biotic and abiotic factors can affect whether seagrass meadows establish as large, continuous features or as a mosaic of smaller patches, and these processes act across multiple spatial scales. Of these processes, sexual recruitment is considered vital for the recovery and resilience of seagrass meadows. Because numerous estuarine fauna can impact sexual recruitment by consuming seeds, it is important to understand variation in seed consumption throughout the seascape.

We sought to determine how cross‐scale processes affected seed consumption of Zostera marina, a widely distributed seagrass species. We deployed seed predation units (SPU) within patches ranging in size from 0.28 to 28.48 m2, and on unvegetated, sandy bottom. Seed consumption was analysed across patch sizes, at patch centres and edges and within the context of total seagrass cover within buffer zones surrounding SPU locations.

Using structural equation modelling, we found that measured seascape parameters explained 34% of the observed variation in seed consumption. Specifically, we found that seagrass presence had the strongest effect on seed predation followed by a negative effect of patch size on seed consumption. Although there was no direct effect of percent seagrass cover (within a 4‐m buffer of the SPU) on seed predation, percent seagrass cover had a negative indirect effect through its positive correlation with patch size. However, we found that once variation due to patch size and areal cover were accounted for, seeds placed at patch interiors actually experienced greater consumption rates. We did not find similar relationships with our potential seed consumers, although our snapshot sampling likely obscured transient effects.

We argue that seagrass recruitment could be affected by seed predation, which is influenced by multiple processes, including predator dispersal, behaviour and aggregation. Since seed‐based restoration is becoming more common, and the role of sexual recruitment in meadow maintenance appears to be increasingly important for seagrass resilience, our results demonstrate that for current management strategies to be successful, there is a need to better understand seed predation in seagrass‐dominated seascapes.

Synthesis. Factors that influence propagule supply and recruitment success of seagrass operate and interact across multiple spatial scales, which can have implications for management.
Domesticated tomatoes are more vulnerable to negative plant–soil feedbacks than their wild relatives
Authors: Carrillo Juli , Ingwell Laura L. , Li Xiaohong , Kaplan Ian
Published: February 2019

Domesticated plants can differ from their wild counterparts in the strength and outcome of species interactions, both above‐ and belowground. Plant–soil feedbacks influence plant success, and plant‐associated soil microbial communities can influence plant interactions with herbivores and their natural enemies, yet, it remains unclear if domestication has changed these relationships.

To determine the effects of domestication on plant–soil interactions, we characterized soil microbial communities associated with various cultivars of domesticated tomato and some of its wild relatives. We measured the strength and direction of plant–soil feedbacks for domesticated and wild tomatoes, and the effects of soil on plant resistance to specialist herbivory by Manduca sexta, and the attraction of a parasitoid wasp, Cotesia congregata.

Domesticated tomatoes and their wild relatives had negative plant–soil feedbacks, as conspecifics cultivated soil that negatively impacted performance of subsequent plants (longer germination time, lower biomass) than if they grew in non‐tomato soils. Significant variation existed among domesticated and wild tomato varieties in the strength of these feedbacks, ranging from neutral to strongly negative. For above‐ground plant biomass, tomato wild relatives were unaffected by growing in tomato‐conditioned soil, whereas domesticated tomatoes grew smaller in tomato soil, indicating effects of plant domestication. Overall, increased microbial biomass within the rhizosphere resulted in progressively less‐negative plant–soil feedbacks.

Plant cultivars had different levels of resistance to herbivory by M. sexta, but this did not depend on plant domestication or soil type. The parasitoid C. congregata was primarily attracted to herbivore damaged plants, independent of plant domestication status, and for these damaged plants, wasps preferred some cultivars over others, and wild plants grown in tomato soil over wild plants grown in non‐tomato soil.

Synthesis. These results indicate that crop tomatoes are more likely to show negative plant–soil feedbacks than wild progenitors, which could partially explain their sensitivity to monocultures in agricultural soils. Furthermore, cultivar‐specific variation in the ability to generate soil microbial biomass, independent of domestication status, appears to buffer the negative consequences of sharing the same soil. Last, soil legacies were relatively absent for herbivores, but not for parasitoid wasps, suggesting trophic level specificity in soil feedbacks on plant–insect interactions.
Understanding quality of life within occupational therapy intervention research: A scoping review
Authors: Baron Haley , Hawrylyshyn Natalie , Hunt Samantha S. , McDougall Janette
Published: February 2019

Introduction

There is little consensus regarding the meaning of quality of life (QOL) within occupational therapy literature. Measurement of QOL has varied in both research and practice. This scoping review explored the definitions and measures used within occupational therapy quantitative intervention research to evaluate QOL as an outcome.

Methods

The review was completed by searching six databases using occupational therapy‐related and QOL‐related terms. Data were extracted from each article and authors performed descriptive statistics to establish trends for both definitions and measures.

Results

Eighteen publications met the inclusion criteria. Seven articles included a definition of QOL. Most authors defined QOL as a multidimensional construct, comprised of varying domains. Fourteen different standardised measures and two non‐standardised measures were utilised.

Conclusions

A clear conceptualisation of QOL that incorporates occupational therapy values such as client‐centredness and holism is needed to advocate for the profession's role in health care and to encourage the development of suitable outcome measures.
Party survival in parliament: Explaining party durability in lower‐house parliaments
Authors: ZUR ROI
Published: February 2019

Approximately 70 per cent of the parties emerging in the post‐Second World War era failed to keep their seats in parliament. Party survival is an important issue, especially in parliamentary democracies, where parties are the means through which voters’ preferences are linked to government policy outputs. Using an event history modeling framework, and data from 37 democracies, covering 830 parties, this article analyses two questions regarding party durability. First, when do parties fail? Second, which parties survive longer? The article shows that most parties fail at the beginning of their lifespan, and disappear before the end of their fourth term in parliament. Moreover, it is found that moderate policy position, distinct ideology and participation in governing coalitions increase the duration of party survival, even when controlling for party size. This article contributes to the extensive literature about the electoral benefits of ideological moderation and distinct policy positions by showing the long‐term benefits of these factors. Moreover, the long‐term benefit of party participation in government in terms of survival overcomes the short‐term cost of ruling.
Estrogen reverses nicotine‐induced inflammation in chondrocytes via reducing the degradation of ECM
Authors: Peng Xiaoyun , Qiao Zhiguang , Wang You , Li Huiqin , Xie Yilin , Xin Mei , Qiao Zhongdong , Wang Zhaoxia
Published: February 2019

Problem

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disease with a very high incidence and the pathology of which is quite complex. Epidemiological investigation showed that OA may be related to smoking and estrogen levels, but there are few studies focused on the cross‐effect of these two factors. This research aims to investigate the molecular mechanism of nicotine and estrogen effects on chondrocytes to study the effect of smoking on the incidence of osteoarthritis in women.

Method of the study

Nicotine was added to obtain inflammatory supernatants of macrophages, which were used to induce chondrocyte inflammation. Toluidine staining and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the extracellular matrix (ECM) of chondrocytes, while the important proteins in the metabolism of chondrocytes were detected by Western blot.

Results

Nicotine‐induced inflammatory supernatant promoted the degradation of ECM, such as type II collagen, aggrecan and proteoglycan 4. While in the presence of physiological concentrations of estrogen, this destructive effect is reversed. On the molecular level, estrogen (17β‐estradiol, 1 nmol/L) can inhibit the matrix degrading enzymes and promote the transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β1 pathway which is involved in matrix synthesis. However, in the presence of inflammatory induction, although estrogen could still inhibit the expression of matrix degrading enzymes, it inhibited the TGF‐β1 pathway. Moreover, the different inflammatory factors in the inflammatory supernatant, mainly tumor necrosis factor‐α, interleukin‐1β, had different effects on the metabolic processes of chondrocytes.

Conclusion

Estrogen reverses nicotine‐induced inflammation mainly via reducing the degradation of ECM. The cross‐effect of estrogen and inflammatory factor inhibitors can be a potential clinical reference for OA patients.
Partner Conflict and Support as Moderators of Alcohol Use on Alcohol Problems and Marital Satisfaction in Young Adult Marital Dyads
Authors: Windle Michael , Windle Rebecca C.
Published: February 2019

Background

This cross‐sectional study used data from 483 young adult marital dyads to evaluate conflict‐with‐partner and support‐from‐partner as moderators of alcohol use on 2 outcomes: alcohol problems and marital satisfaction. A path analytic modeling approach was used to test stress‐exacerbating and stress‐buffering hypotheses, and to accommodate the interdependent nature of the dyadic data.

Methods

This cross‐sectional sample was selected from an adolescent‐to‐young adult longitudinal study in which spouses were recruited into the study during a later young adult assessment when the sample was, on average, 32.5 years old. Individual interviews using computerized technology were conducted with participants.

Results

Findings for the outcome of alcohol problems indicated stress exacerbation in that higher conflict by each partner in interaction with higher alcohol use was associated with more alcohol problems for wives. Husbands' and wives' alcohol problems were lower when higher partner support buffered the association between alcohol use and alcohol problems. For the outcome of marital satisfaction, higher support‐from‐partner buffered the association between alcohol use and marital satisfaction. Finally, the combination of alcohol use and conflict‐with‐partner had more adverse implications for women's alcohol problems relative to men's alcohol problems.

Conclusions

These findings highlight that interactions between interpersonal dimensions of romantic relationships and alcohol use by both partners contribute to our understanding of their associations with alcohol problems and marital satisfaction within the marital relationship. Furthermore, there was some sex specificity in that some interactions were more prominently associated with alcohol problems for wives than husbands.
The New Orleans Alcohol Use in HIV Study: Launching a Translational Investigation of the Interaction of Alcohol Use with Biological and Socioenvironmental Risk Factors for Multimorbidity in People Living with HIV
Authors: Welsh David A. , Ferguson Tekeda , Theall Katherine P. , Simon Liz , Amedee Angela , Siggins Robert W. , Nelson Steve , Brashear Meghan , Mercante Donald , Molina Patricia E.
Published: February 2019

Background

Alcohol use disorders (AUDs) are highly prevalent in people living with HIV (PLWH) and are associated with increased HIV risk behaviors, suboptimal treatment adherence, potential interaction with medication pharmacodynamics, and greater risk for disease progression. Preclinical studies show that chronic binge alcohol administration accelerates disease progression and aggravates pathogenesis in the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)‐infected rhesus macaque model despite viral suppression by antiretroviral therapy.

Methods

To translate preclinical findings in the rhesus macaque model of chronic binge alcohol administration and SIV infection and to address areas of uncertainty surrounding the biological mechanisms and socioenvironmental modifiers that contribute to the relationship between alcohol use and HIV‐associated comorbidities, precocious aging, and disease progression, we designed a translational multiproject, longitudinal, cohort study, and the New Orleans Alcohol Use in HIV (NOAH) Study. The NOAH Study is led by a multidisciplinary team of scientists, with a research focus on the interaction of AUD and HIV. The overarching hypothesis is that alcohol use will lead to adverse health outcomes in PLWH. In this report, we describe the study design and baseline descriptive characteristics of our cohort.

Results

Three‐hundred and sixty‐five participants completed the baseline testing. The cohort is predominantly male (69%) and African American (83.5%). The majority of participants report incomes below 200% of the federal poverty level. CD4 counts <200 cells/μl were found in 12.8% and viral loads <50 copies/ml were found in 73.6%. These HIV status variables did not differ based upon alcohol use.

Conclusions

The NOAH Study facilitates bidirectional translational investigation of alcohol's impact on PLWH. Translation of preclinical findings to PLWH permits confirmation of basic biological mechanisms in humans and also allows incorporation of sociobehavioral factors that may affect biology but are challenging to replicate in preclinical models.
The Chemical Chaperone 4‐Phenylbutyric Acid Prevents Alcohol‐Induced Liver Injury in Obese KK‐Ay Mice
Authors: Suzuki Maiko , Kon Kazuyoshi , Ikejima Kenichi , Arai Kumiko , Uchiyama Akira , Aoyama Tomonori , Yamashina Shunhei , Ueno Takashi , Watanabe Sumio
Published: February 2019

Background

Co‐occurrence of metabolic syndrome and chronic alcohol consumption is increasing worldwide. The present study investigated the effect of the chemical chaperone 4‐phenylbutyric acid (PBA)—which has been shown to alleviate dietary steatohepatitis caused by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress—on chronic‐plus‐binge ethanol (EtOH)–induced liver injury in a mouse model of obesity.

Methods

Male KK‐Ay mice (8 weeks old) were fed a Lieber–DeCarli diet (5% EtOH) for 10 days. Some mice were given PBA intraperitoneally (120 mg/kg body weight, daily) during the experimental period. On day 11, mice were gavaged with a single dose of EtOH (4 g/kg body weight). Control mice were given a dextrin gavage after being pair‐fed a control diet. All mice were then serially euthanized before or at 9 hours after gavage.

Results

Chronic‐plus‐binge EtOH intake induced massive hepatic steatosis along with hepatocyte apoptosis and inflammation, which was reversed by PBA treatment. Administration of PBA also suppressed chronic‐plus‐binge EtOH–induced up‐regulation of ER stress‐related genes including binding immunoglobulin protein (Bip), unspliced and spliced forms of X‐box‐binding protein‐1 (uXBP1 and sXBP1, respectively), inositol trisphosphate receptor (IP3R), and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). Further, it blocked chronic‐plus‐binge EtOH–induced expression of the oxidative stress marker heme oxygenase‐1 (HO‐1) and 4‐hydroxynonenal. Chronic EtOH alone (without binge) increased Bip and uXBP1, but it did not affect those of sXBP1, IP3R, CHOP, or HO‐1. PBA reversed the prebinge expression of these genes to control levels, but it did not affect chronic EtOH‐induced hepatic activity of cytochrome P450 2E1.

Conclusions

Binge EtOH intake after chronic consumption induces massive ER stress‐related oxidative stress and liver injury in a mouse model of obesity through dysregulation of the unfolded protein response. PBA ameliorated chronic‐plus‐binge EtOH–induced liver injury by reducing ER and oxidative stress after an EtOH binge.
Myeloid‐derived suppressor cells depletion may cause pregnancy loss via upregulating the cytotoxicity of decidual natural killer cells
Authors: Ren Jiabin , Zeng Weihong , Tian Fuju , Zhang Siming , Wu Fan , Qin Xiaoli , Zhang Yan , Lin Yi
Published: February 2019

Problem

Maternal immune system tolerance to the semiallogeneic fetus is critical for a successful pregnancy. Studies have shown that myeloid‐derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play an important role in maintaining feto‐maternal tolerance. However, the mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Methods

Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the percentage of MDSCs in an allogeneic‐normal‐pregnant mouse model during different periods of gestation. We further assessed the percentage of MDSCs and their subtypes (granulocytic MDSCs [GR‐MDSCs] and monocytic MDSCs [MO‐MDSCs]) in a spontaneous abortion mouse model. The levels of the immunosuppressive molecules ARG‐1, iNOS, IL‐10, and TGF‐β in MDSCs were also evaluated. MDSCs were depleted by anti‐Gr‐1 injection, and the resorption rate was calculated. The cytotoxicity of decidual natural killer (NK) cells was evaluated, and the percentage of regulatory NK (NKreg) cells and regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) were evaluated.

Results

Myeloid‐derived suppressor cells was accumulated in a time‐dependent manner during pregnancy. However, the percentage of MDSCs was decreased in the spontaneous abortion mice compared with that in the control mice. In addition, the levels of ARG‐1, iNOS, IL‐10, and TGF‐β in MDSCs decreased differentially. Finally, depletion of MDSCs was associated with increased rates of resorption and the proportion of NKreg and Treg cells in uterine tissues; meanwhile, the cytotoxicity of decidual NK cells was upregulated by increasing the level of perforin, granzyme B, and natural killer group protein 2 D‐activating NK receptor (NKG2D).

Conclusion

Depletion of MDSCs may cause pregnancy loss, while upregulating the cytotoxicity of decidual NK cells and increasing NKreg and Treg cell numbers.
Financialisation, Climate Finance, and the Calculative Challenges of Managing Environmental Change
Authors: Bracking Sarah
Published: February 2019

This article describes the emergent and unstable dispositif of climate finance that is being built from iterative experiments in climate finance provision. The article provides a periodisation of different phases of climate finance from the 1990s onward using examples from REDD+, ecosystem services, the Green Climate Fund, green bonds, and insurance‐based derivatives, and connects this periodisation to broader processes of financialisation. It analyses how climate finance projects incorporate competing systems of accounting denominated in carbon, natural capital, “green‐ness”, insurance risk and internationally transferred mitigation outcomes. The article argues that many accounting units are evident in current climate finance products, each loosely derived from a different phase in this periodisation. However, experiments in calculating time and value in climate finance continue, and although risk is being increasingly used to correlate different denominators of value, an overall solution for how climate change is to be accounted for in financial interventions remains elusive.
Accumulating Minerals and Dispossessing Indigenous Australians: Native Title Recognition as Settler‐Colonialism
Authors: Howlett Catherine , Lawrence Rebecca
Published: February 2019

The changes in regulation of mineral development on Indigenous people's lands, wrought by the advent of native title in Australia, created an impression that the political economy of mining on Indigenous people's lands would be fundamentally transformed. In this paper we argue, in reality, a deeply seated settler‐colonial mentality endures in Australia within the institutions presiding over mineral governance, particularly in those States that are heavily dependent upon resource extraction. Focusing on the governance of mineral development in Queensland, Australia, we offer an analysis of the rationalities that inform the endurance of an inequitable architecture of extractive governance in that State. Our conceptual framework draws on a synthesis of the concepts of “accumulation by dispossession”, “settler colonialism”, and Indigenous critiques of the politics of recognition, to argue that liberal states remain deeply committed to the facilitation of mineral development on Indigenous people's lands in direct contravention to international norms.
Autoantibodies to a specific peptide epitope of human Hsp60 (ATVLA) with homology to Helicobacter pylori HspB in H. pylori‐infected patients
Authors: Gonciarz Weronika , Matusiak Agnieszka , Rudnicka Karolina , Rechciński Tomasz , Chałubiński Maciej , Czkwianianc Elżbieta , Broncel Marlena , Gajewski Adrian , Chmiela Magdalena
Published: February 2019

Helicobacter pylori (Hp) may initiate autoimmunity as a result of molecular mimicry. The aim of this study was to compare the level of IgG antibodies to a specific epitope (P1 peptide) of human heat shock protein (Hsp)60 homologous to Hp Hsp60 (HspB) in the sera of healthy donors (HD), patients with Hp‐related gastritis or coronary heart disease (CHD), uninfected or with Hp infection confirmed by rapid urease test, histological examination (dyspeptic patients) the 13C urea breath test (13C UBT), and anti‐Hp antibodies (healthy donors, CHD patients). The Anti‐P1 IgG induction by Hp was verified by adsorption of sera with these bacteria and by experimental immunization of Caviae porcellus with Hp. Cytokine secretion by THP‐1Blue™ monocytes in response to P1 was also assessed. Anti‐P1 antibodies were detected in patients with gastritis or CHD infected with Hp and they were not found in uninfected individuals or asymptomatic carriers. No antibodies were raised against P2 in any group. Reduced cross‐reactivity to P1 was exhibited by sera adsorbed with Hp. Caviae porcellus infected with Hp produced anti‐P1 autoantibodies. THP‐1XBlue™ monocytes responded to P1 by production of proinflammatory cytokines. Autoantibodies against P1 in Hp‐positive patients with gastritis or CHD and upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines by P1 may contribute to the pathogenesis of Hp infection.
Review article: dietary fibre in the era of microbiome science
Authors: O’Grady John , O’Connor Eibhlís M. , Shanahan Fergus
Published: February 2019

Background

Explanations for the health benefits of dietary fibre have, in the past, been inconsistent and studies of the physiological effects of dietary fibre were, perhaps, directed at the wrong read‐outs. Confounding factors included a failure to appreciate the molecular diversity and varied properties of fibre‐types and the role of fibre as a substrate for microbial metabolism in the gut.

Aim

To present a modern perspective on fibre science and to encourage clinicians to re‐consider the health impact of dietary fibre and how best to approach adjustments in dietary consumption.

Methods

This perspective is drawn selectively from recent microbiome science; no attempt was made to perform an exhaustive review of all articles related to every aspect of dietary fibre.

Results

Advances in microbiome science have revealed not only the functional impact of dietary fibre on the composition and function of the microbiota but have also demonstrated the physiologic responses to microbial‐derived metabolites from fibre digestion. Moreover, studies have shown the personalised nature of host responses to dietary fibre intervention, with outcomes being dependent on individual pre‐treatment gut ecology.

Conclusions

The physical properties of dietary fibres are important for homeostasis within the gut, but the predominant health benefits extend beyond the gut to enhanced metabolic welfare, including protection against obesity and related metabolic diseases. Fibre is a form of functional food joining a growing list of examples of diet‐microbe‐host interactions which link microbe‐host metabolic and immune cascades.
Effects of prednisone on docetaxel pharmacokinetics in men with metastatic prostate cancer: A randomized drug–drug interaction study
Authors: Belderbos Bodine P.S. , Hussaarts Koen G.A.M. , van Harten Leonie J. , Oomen‐de Hoop Esther , de Bruijn Peter , Hamberg Paul , van Alphen Robbert J. , Haberkorn Brigitte C.M. , Lolkema Martijn P. , de Wit Ronald , van Soest Robert J. , Mathijssen Ron H.J.
Published: February 2019

Aims

Docetaxel has been approved for the treatment of metastatic prostate cancer in combination with prednisone. Since prednisone is known to induce the cytochrome P450 iso‐enzyme CYP3A4, which is the main metabolizing enzyme of docetaxel in the liver, a potential drug–drug interaction may occur. In this prospective randomized pharmacokinetic cross‐over study we investigated docetaxel exposure with concomitant prednisone, compared to docetaxel monotherapy in men with metastatic prostate cancer.

Methods

Patients scheduled to receive at least 6 cycles of docetaxel (75 mg/m2) and who gave written informed consent were randomized to receive either the 1st 3 cycles, or the last 3 consecutive cycles with prednisone (twice daily 5 mg). Pharmacokinetic blood sampling was performed during cycle 3 and cycle 6. Primary endpoint was difference in docetaxel exposure, calculated as area under the curve (AUC0‐inf) and analysed by means of a linear mixed model. Given the cross‐over design the study was powered on 18 patients to answer the primary, pharmacokinetic, endpoint.

Results

Eighteen evaluable patients were included in the trial. Docetaxel concentration with concomitant prednisone (AUC0‐inf 2784 ng*h/mL, 95% confidence interval 2436–3183 ng*h/mL) was similar to the concentration of docetaxel monotherapy (AUC0‐inf 2647 ng*h/mL, 95% confidence interval 2377–2949 ng*h/mL). Exploratory analysis showed no toxicity differences between docetaxel monotherapy and docetaxel cycles with prednisone.

Conclusion

No significant difference in docetaxel concentrations was observed. In addition, we found similar toxicity profiles in absence and presence of prednisone. Therefore, from a pharmacokinetic point of view, docetaxel may be administrated with or without prednisone.
Exact Inference for Integrated Population Modelling
Authors: Besbeas P. , Morgan B.J.T.
Published: February 2019

Integrated population modelling is widely used in statistical ecology. It allows data from population time series and independent surveys to be analysed simultaneously. In classical analysis the time-series likelihood component can be conveniently approximated using Kalman filter methodology. However, the natural way to model systems which have a discrete state space is to use hidden Markov models (HMMs). The proposed method avoids the Kalman filter approximations and Monte Carlo simulations. Subject to possible numerical sensitivity analysis, it is exact, flexible, and allows the use of standard techniques of classical inference. We apply the approach to data on Little owls, where the model is shown to require a one-dimensional state space, and Northern lapwings, with a two-dimensional state space. In the former example the method identifies a parameter redundancy which changes the perception of the data needed to estimate immigration in integrated population modelling. The latter example may be analysed using either first- or second-order HMMs, describing numbers of one-year olds and adults or adults only, respectively. The use of first-order chains is found to be more efficient, mainly due to the smaller number of one-year olds than adults in this application. For the lapwing modelling it is necessary to group the states in order to reduce the large dimension of the state space. Results check with Bayesian and Kalman filter analyses, and avenues for future research are identified.
The landscape of urological retractions: the prevalence of reported research misconduct
Authors: Mena Jorge D. , Ndoye Medina , Cohen Andrew J. , Kamal Puneet , Breyer Benjamin N.
Published: February 2019

Objectives

To evaluate the landscape of retractions of literature and to determine the prevalence of research misconduct in the field of urology.

Methods

Three databases (PUBMED, Embase, Retraction Watch) were queried for all retracted studies on urological topics in both urological and non‐urological journals from April 1999 to March 2018. Two reviewers screened the records and determined the final list of articles to be included in the analysis.

Results

A total of 138 articles met the inclusion criteria. Over 80% of retractions occurred after 2009. Retractions originated from 76 different journals (13 urological journals) and 28 countries. The most common reasons for retraction were plagiarism (28%), fake peer review (20%), error (20%), and falsification of data (13%). Misconduct accounted for two‐thirds of the retractions (n = 93). A large watermark, indicating retraction of the article, was present in 75% of the manuscripts. Articles were cited a total of 4454 times, 38% of citations happened after retraction. The majority of retracted articles related to urological oncology (70%). The highest number of retractions for an individual author was five. Rates of retraction among popular urological journals since 2010 have increased but remain a small proportion of all publications: BJUI, 0.189%; World Journal of Urology, 0.132%; European Urology, 0.058%; Urology, 0.047%; and Journal of Urology, 0.024%.

Conclusion

Retractions of urological literature, similarly to retractions of other biomedical literature, have been rising over the last decade. The majority of these retractions stem from research misconduct. Despite retractions, flawed articles continued to be cited.
Medium‐term oncological outcomes in a large cohort of men treated with either focal or hemi‐ablation using high‐intensity focused ultrasonography for primary localized prostate cancer
Authors: Stabile Armando , Orczyk Clement , Hosking‐Jervis Feargus , Giganti Francesco , Arya Manit , Hindley Richard G. , Dickinson Louise , Allen Clare , Punwani Shonit , Jameson Charles , Freeman Alex , McCartan Neil , Montorsi Francesco , Briganti Alberto , Ahmed Hashim U. , Emberton Mark , Moore Caroline M.
Published: February 2019

Objective

To report medium‐term oncological outcomes in men receiving primary focal treatment with high‐intensity focused ultrasonography ( HIFU) for prostate cancer (PCa).

Patients and Methods

Consecutive patients with PCa treated with primary focal HIFU at two centres by six treating clinicians were assessed. Patients were submitted to either focal ablation or hemi‐ablation using HIFU (Sonablate 500). The primary objective of the study was to assess medium‐term oncological outcomes, defined as overall survival, freedom from biopsy failure, freedom from any further treatment and freedom from radical treatment after focal HIFU. The secondary objective was to evaluate the changes in pathological features among patients treated with focal HIFU over time. We also assessed the relationship between year of surgery and 5‐year retreatment probability.

Results

A total of 1032 men treated between November 2005 and October 2017 were assessed. The median age was 65 years and median prostate‐specific antigen level was 7 ng/mL. The majority of patients had a Gleason score of 3 + 4 or above (80.3%). The median (interquartile range) follow‐up was 36 (14–64) months. The overall survival rates at 24, 60 and 96 months were 99%, 97% and 97%, respectively. Freedom from biopsy failure, defined as absence of Gleason 3 + 4 disease, was 84%, 64% and 54% at 24, 60 and 96 months. Freedom from any further treatment was 85%, 59% and 46% at 24, 60 and 96 months, respectively. Approximately 70% of patients who were retreated received a second focal treatment. Freedom from radical treatment was 98%, 91% and 81% at 24, 60 and 96 months. During the study period, we observed an increase in the proportion of patients undergoing focal HIFU with Gleason 3 + 4 disease and with T2 stage disease as defined by multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging. Finally, there was a reduction over time in the proportion of patients undergoing re‐treatment within 5 years of first treatment.

Conclusions

Focal HIFU for PCa is a feasible therapeutic strategy, with acceptable survival and oncological results and a reduction in the 5‐year retreatment rates over the last decade. Re‐do focal treatment is a feasible technique whose functional and oncological outcomes have still to be evaluated.
Confirmatory analysis and normative tables for the Brazilian Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social–Emotional
Authors: Anunciação Luis , Squires Jane , Clifford Jantina , Landeira‐Fernandez J.
Published: February 2019

Background

In Brazil, large‐scale governmental programmes have been implemented to evaluate the development of all children who are enrolled in public daycare centres and preschools using the Brazilian Ages and Stages Questionnaires: Social–Emotional (ASQ:SE) as a screening tool. However, in the Brazilian context, there is a lack of studies that have investigated the clinical utility of the ASQ:SE, and only a few studies have partially investigated the psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of this scale.

Objectives

The present study had two aims: (a) to develop reference norms for the ASQ:SE to help professionals screen child development and because the psychometric properties of the ASQ:SE have only been partially examined, (b) to confirm its factorial structure within a multidimensional item response theory framework.

Methods

The sample size was 54,570 children (53% males, 1–5 years old) who were enrolled in Brazilian public daycare centres and preschools and assessed in 2011. The results allowed the development of reference norms for all age intervals by considering raw scores at the 95th percentile as “monitoring zone” and scores at the 99th percentile as “refer child for further evaluation.” Samejima's graded response model was employed, and its fit was checked by the root mean squared error of approximation.

Results

The results were ≤0.08, indicating sufficient fit for the two‐factor structure. The raw results were 70 and 99.75 (12 months), 75 and 100 (18 months), 70 and 100 (24 months), 85 and 120 (30 months), 90 and 130 (36 months), 95 and 135 (48 months), and 110 and 150 (60 months) for monitoring zone and to refer the child for further evaluation.

Discussion

Early identification is the initial stage in this early identification process, thus allowing for referral or intervention. This study may help identify children with developmental delays.
Filtered Quadrics for High‐Speed Geometry Smoothing and Clustering
Authors: Legrand Hélène , Thiery Jean‐Marc , Boubekeur Tamy
Published: February 2019

Modern 3D capture pipelines produce dense surface meshes at high speed, which challenge geometric operators to process such massive data on‐the‐fly. In particular, aiming at instantaneous feature‐preserving smoothing and clustering disqualifies global variational optimizers and one usually relies on high‐performance parallel kernels based on simple measures performed on the positions and normal vectors associated with the surface vertices. Although these operators are effective on small supports, they fail at properly capturing larger scale surface structures. To cope with this problem, we propose to enrich the surface representation with filtered quadrics, a compact and discriminating range space to guide processing. Compared to normal‐based approaches, this additional vertex attribute significantly improves feature preservation for fast bilateral filtering and mode‐seeking clustering, while exhibiting a linear memory cost in the number of vertices and retaining the simplicity of convolutional filters. In particular, the overall performance of our approach stems from its natural compatibility with modern fine‐grained parallel computing architectures such as graphics processor units (GPU). As a result, filtered quadrics offer a superior ability to handle a broad spectrum of frequencies and preserve large salient structures, delivering meshes on‐the‐fly for interactive and streaming applications, as well as quickly processing large data collections, instrumental in learning‐based geometry analysis.
Sustained behaviour change in healthy eating to improve obesity outcomes: It is time to abandon willpower to appreciate wanting
Authors: Vallis Michael
Published: February 2019

The purpose of this study was to report on a nationally representative survey of the experience of Canadian adults regarding food cravings and the impact of these cravings on behaviour and quality of life. A total of 1532 respondents (16% of members of an online panel emailed an invitation and link) completed a nationally distributed survey. Almost two‐thirds of the sample reported experiencing cravings, with women being more likely to report cravings than men. Of those with cravings, 83.1% reported moderate or strong cravings. Cravings impacted eating behaviours and quality of life, especially for those with strong cravings. Cravings were associated with being bored, emotional or watching TV. Those who identified themselves as overweight or as trying to lose weight were more likely to have cravings. Of those reporting to be overweight and trying to lose weight few experienced distress because of lack of access to help and rates of interest in being guided by healthcare professionals were low, except in those with strong cravings. These results reinforce the notion that eating behaviour may differ from other behaviours in that there is a strong drive to eat that is difficult to control for many individuals. Behavioural interventions targeting healthy eating should be developed to address this construct of drive to eat, that is, food cravings.
Herbivore‐induced plants do not affect oviposition but do affect fitness of subsequent herbivores on canola
Authors: Weeraddana Chaminda De Silva , Evenden Maya L.
Published: February 2019

The diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is oligophagous on plants in the Brassicaceae, and is considered one of the most significant insect pests of canola (Brassica napus L.), a major oilseed crop grown in the Prairie Provinces of Canada. The bertha armyworm (BAW), Mamestra configurata Walker (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a generalist herbivore that preferentially feeds on canola plants. In the canola growing season in the Prairie Provinces of Canada, DBM feeding occurs prior to BAW herbivory. In this study, we test the effect of DBM herbivory on subsequent host use by BAW. Oviposition by female BAW was not influenced by previous DBM‐herbivory or mechanical damage of canola plants. Bertha armyworm larvae were deterred from feeding on canola previously damaged by DBM and larvae developed into lighter pupae when reared on DBM‐damaged plants. Bertha armyworm pupae that developed from larvae fed on mechanically damaged plants had similar pupal weights to those fed undamaged plants. Adult BAW reared on canola with previous DBM feeding damage had marginally smaller wings than moths reared on canola treated differently. The combination of these results suggests that herbivory by the brassicaceous specialist, DBM, negatively influences host use and larval performance by the generalist, BAW, on canola.
Temporal and spatial dynamics of fish community structure during watershed alteration in two Ouachita River systems
Authors: Burgad Aaron A. , Adams Ginny L. , Adams Reid
Published: February 2019

Fish community composition is highly dynamic, but generally exhibits loose equilibrium within bounds of community structure in upland stream systems with minimal anthropogenic disturbance. Chronic anthropogenic disturbance can exceed ecological thresholds and shift fish community composition to an alternative state. Therefore, long‐term datasets are critical to understand spatiotemporal dynamics of fish community structure. We quantified temporal changes in fish communities in two Ouachita River systems during watershed alteration (i.e., development and reservoir construction) using a suite of multivariate and univariate analyses to assess changes in fish community structure and taxonomic and functional β‐diversity. We found fish community composition shifted in the Saline River basin possibly in response to human disturbance (e.g., development) and hydrologic variability. Furthermore, functional homogenisation occurred through time. In the Ouachita Headwaters basin, taxonomic homogenisation was evident and two fluvial specialists were not detected during the current period. Taxonomic and functional β‐diversity patterns were not consistent across basins demonstrating the complexity of biotic homogenisation. Our retrospective analyses showed human activities played a role in restructuring fish communities despite minimal invasion of exotic species. Ultimately, our study characterised fish community structure across snapshots of time and demonstrates the importance of increasing the frequency of sampling intervals and continuing long‐term collections with similar methods to enhance the understanding of community dynamics.
Spatial and temporal variation in otolith chemistry and its relationship with water chemistry: Stock discrimination of Sperata aor
Authors: Nazir Aafaq , Khan Mohammad Afzal
Published: February 2019

Long‐whiskered catfish, Sperata aor (Hamilton 1822), is commercially important in food, ornamental and sport fisheries. The fish is mainly caught from the wild populations because its aquaculture practices are not commercialised. Inland fishery in the Ganga basin is mostly unorganised; hence, no published report is available on the trend of S. aor production from the selected habitat. In India, S. aor has been categorised vulnerable mainly due to natural and anthropogenic threats. Otolith chemistry shows variation with changing physico‐chemical conditions of the fish habitat. Therefore, the present study was conducted with the objective to analyse spatio‐temporal variations in water chemistry in relation to environmental factors; relationship between water and otolith chemistry; and spatio‐temporal variations in otolith chemistry to discriminate the stocks of S. aor inhabiting the River Ganga. Most of the element: Ca ratios in water samples did not show significant correlations with environmental factors, viz. temperature and conductivity. Only few element: Ca concentrations in otoliths were positively correlated to their corresponding ratios in the ambient water. In the selected study area, the S. aor populations were discriminated into four stocks possibly because of heterogeneous water chemistry at the sampling sites, and physical barriers. In the present study, otolith chemistry showed relatively low temporal variability as compared to spatial variability; thus, the classification accuracy of individuals to their original populations remained consistent over the selected time period. The findings could be useful in devising scientifically sound management strategies and/or any conservation plans for the vulnerable S. aor populations inhabiting the River Ganga.