bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical and economic impact of school‐based nonavalent human papillomavirus vaccine on women in Singapore: a transmission dynamic mathematical model analysis
Authors: Tay SK , Hsu T‐Y , Pavelyev A , Walia A , Kulkarni AS
Published: December 2017

Objective

To examine the epidemiological and economic impact of a nine‐valent (nonavalent) human papillomavirus (HPV) 6/11/16/18/31/33/45/52/58 vaccine programme for young teenagers in Singapore.

Design

Mathematical modelling.

Setting

Pharmaco‐economic simulation projection.

Population

Singapore demography.

Methods

Clinical, epidemiological and financial data from Singapore were used in a validated HPV transmission dynamic mathematical model to analyse the impact of nonavalent HPV vaccination over quadrivalent and bivalent vaccines in a school‐based 2‐dose vaccination for 11‐ to 12‐year‐old girls in the country. The model assumed routine cytology screening in the current rate (50%) and vaccine coverage rate of 80%.

Main outcome measures

Changes over a 100‐year time period in the incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer, case load of genital warts, and incremental cost–effectiveness ratio (ICER).

Results

Compared with bivalent and quadrivalent HPV vaccination programmes, nonavalent HPV universal vaccination resulted in an additional reduction of HPV31/33/45/52/58 related CIN1 of 40.5%, CIN 2/3 of 35.4%, cervical cancer of 23.5%, and cervical cancer mortality of 20.2%. Compared with bivalent HPV vaccination, there was an additional reduction in HPV‐6/11 related CIN1 of 75.7%, and genital warts of 78.9% in women and 73.4% in men. Over the 100 years, after applying a discount of 3%, disease management cost will be reduced by 32.5% (versus bivalent) and 7.5% (versus quadrivalent). The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) per quality‐adjusted life‐year gained was SGD 929 compared with bivalent vaccination and SGD 9864 compared with quadrivalent vaccination.

Conclusion

Universal two‐dose nonavalent HPV vaccination for 11‐ to 12‐year‐old adolescent women is very cost‐effective in Singapore.

Tweetable abstract

Nonavalent HPV vaccination of 11‐ to 12‐year‐old girls is cost‐effective in Singapore.
Protocolized Laboratory Screening for the Medical Clearance of Psychiatric Patients in the Emergency Department: A Systematic Review
Authors: Conigliaro Alyssa , Benabbas Roshanak , Schnitzer Eric , Janairo Maria‐Pamela , Sinert Richard
Published: December 2017

Objective

Emergency department (ED) patients with psychiatric chief complaints undergo medical screening to rule out underlying or comorbid medical illnesses prior to transfer to a psychiatric facility. This systematic review attempts to determine the clinical utility of protocolized laboratory screening for the streamlined medical clearance of ED psychiatric patients by determining the clinical significance of individual laboratory results.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase, and Scopus using the search terms “emergency department, psychiatry, diagnostic tests, laboratories, studies, testing, screening, and clearance” up to June 2017 for studies on adult psychiatric patients. This systematic review follows the recommendations of Meta‐analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) statement. The quality of each study was rated according to the Newcastle‐Ottawa quality assessment scale.

Results

Four independent reviewers identified 2,847 publications. We extracted data from three studies (n = 629 patients). Included studies defined an abnormal test result as any laboratory result that falls out of the normal range. A laboratory test result was deemed as “clinically significant” only when patient disposition or treatment plan was changed because of that test result. Across the three studies the prevalence of clinically significant results were low (0.0%–0.4%).

Conclusions

The prevalence of clinically significant laboratory test results were low, suggesting that according to the available literature, routine laboratory testing does not significantly change patient disposition. Due to the paucity of available research on this subject, we could not determine the clinical utility of protocolized laboratory screening tests for medical clearance of psychiatric patients in the ED. Future research on the utility of routine laboratory testing is important in a move toward shared decision making and patient‐centered health care.
Opening of Psychiatric Observation Unit Eases Boarding Crisis
Authors: Parwani Vivek , Tinloy Bradford , Ulrich Andrew , D'Onofrio Gail , Goldenberg Matthew , Rothenberg Craig , Patel Amitkumar , Venkatesh Arjun K.
Published: December 2017

Objectives

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a psychiatric observation unit in reducing emergency department (ED) boarding and length of stay (LOS) for patients presenting with primary psychiatric chief complaints. A secondary outcome was to determine the effect of a psychiatric observation unit on inpatient psychiatric bed utilization.

Methods

This study was a before‐and‐after analysis conducted in a 1,541‐bed tertiary care academic medical center including an adult ED with annual census over 90,000 between February 2013 and July 2014. All adult patients (age > 17 years) requiring evaluation by the acute psychiatry service in the crisis intervention unit (CIU) within the ED were included. Patients who left without being seen, left against medical advice, or were dispositioned to the pediatric hospital, hospice, or court/law enforcement were excluded. In December 2013, a 12‐bed locked psychiatric observation unit was opened that included dedicated behavioral health staff and was intended for psychiatric patients requiring up to 48 hours of care. The primary outcomes were ED LOS, CIU LOS, and total LOS. Secondary outcomes included the hold rate defined as the proportion of acute psychiatry patients requiring subsequent observation or inpatient admission and the inpatient psychiatric admission rate. For the primary analysis we constructed ARIMA regression models that account for secular changes in the primary outcomes. We conducted two sensitivity analyses, first replicating the primary analysis after excluding patients with concurrent acute intoxication and second by comparing the 3‐month period postintervention to the identical 3‐month period of the prior year to account for seasonality.

Results

A total of 3,501 patients were included before intervention and 3,798 after intervention. The median ED LOS for the preintervention period was 155 minutes (interquartile range [IQR] = 19–346 minutes), lower than the median ED LOS for the postintervention period of 35 minutes (IQR = 9–209 minutes, p < 0.0001). Similar reductions were observed in CIU LOS (865 minutes vs. 379 minutes, p < 0.0001) and total LOS (1,112 minutes vs. 920 minutes, p = 0.003). The psychiatric hold rate was statistically higher after intervention (before = 42%, after = 50%, p < 0.0001), however, coupled with a statistically lower psychiatric admission rate (before = 42%, after = 25%, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Creation of an acute psychiatric observation improves ED and acute psychiatric service throughput while supporting the efficient allocation of scare inpatient psychiatric beds. This novel approach demonstrates the promise of extending successful observation care models from medical to psychiatric illness with the potential to improve the value of acute psychiatric care while minimizing the harms of ED crowding.
Cost‐effectiveness of curettage vs. expectant management in women with an incomplete evacuation after misoprostol treatment for first‐trimester miscarriage: a randomized controlled trial and cohort study
Authors: Lemmers Marike , Verschoor Marianne A.C. , Bossuyt Patrick M. , Huirne Judith A.F. , Spinder Teake , Nieboer Theodoor E. , Bongers Marlies Y. , Janssen Ineke A.H. , Van Hooff Marcel H.A. , Mol Ben W.J. , Ankum Willem M. , Bosmans Judith E. ,   on behalf of the MisoREST study group
Published: December 2017

Introduction

Curettage is more effective than expectant management in women with suspected incomplete evacuation after misoprostol treatment for first‐trimester miscarriage. The cost‐effectiveness of curettage vs. expectant management in this group is unknown.

Material and methods

From June 2012 until July 2014 we conducted a randomized controlled trial and parallel cohort study in the Netherlands, comparing curettage with expectant management in women with an incomplete evacuation of the uterus after misoprostol treatment for first‐trimester miscarriage. Successful treatment was defined as a sonographic finding of an empty uterus 6 weeks after study entry, or an uneventful course. Cost‐effectiveness and cost–utility analyses were performed. We included costs of healthcare utilization, informal care and lost productivity. Cost‐effectiveness planes and cost‐effectiveness acceptability curves were estimated using bootstrapping.

Results

We included 256 women from 27 hospitals; 95 curettage and 161 expectant management. Treatment was successful in 96% of the women treated with curettage vs. 83% of the women after expectant management (mean difference 13%, 95% confidence interval 5–20). Mean costs were significantly higher in the curettage group (mean difference €1157; 95% C confidence interval €955–1388). The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio for curettage vs. expectant management was €8586 per successfully treated woman. The cost‐effectiveness acceptability curve showed that at a willingness‐to‐pay of €18 200/extra successfully treated women, the probability that curettage is cost‐effective is 95%.

Conclusions

Curettage is not cost‐effective compared with expectant management in women with an incomplete evacuation of the uterus after misoprostol treatment. This indicates that curettage in this group should be restrained.
Multicountry cross‐sectional study found that functional gastrointestinal disorders such as colic and functional dyschezia were common in South American infants
Authors: Chogle Ashish , Velasco‐Benitez Carlos A. , Chanis Ricardo , Mejia Milton , Saps Miguel
Published: December 2017

Aim

Our aim was to perform a population‐based study using Rome III criteria to describe the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) in infants in three countries in South America.

Methods

We conducted a multicountry, cross‐sectional study to investigate the epidemiology of functional gastrointestinal disorders in children aged 0–12 months of age, using the Rome III criteria, in Colombia, Panama and Nicaragua. These patients presented for well‐child visits in primary care clinics in the three countries between May 2015 and October 2016. A Spanish version of the Questionnaire on Paediatric Gastrointestinal Symptoms for Infants and Toddlers was used for the data collection.

Results

We included questionnaires completed by 351 parents, and they reported at least one FGID in 141 (40%) infants. The majority were male (56%), with a median age of seven months. Colic and functional dyschezia were the most commonly diagnosed disorders in the whole cohort, at 23% and 15%, respectively. The risk of developing FGIDs was not affected by the marital status of the mother, number of siblings, birth order and history of diarrhoea.

Conclusion

Functional gastrointestinal disorders were common in infants from the South American countries of Colombia, Panama and Nicaragua, particularly colic and functional dyschezia.
Stress affects expression of the clock gene Bmal1 in the suprachiasmatic nucleus of neonatal rats via glucocorticoid‐dependent mechanism
Authors: Olejníková L. , Polidarová L. , Sumová A.
Published: December 2017

Aim

The reactivity of the circadian clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) to stressful stimuli has been controversial but most studies have confirmed the resilience of the SCN to stress. We tested the hypothesis that during a critical period shortly after birth, the developing SCN clock is affected by glucocorticoids.

Methods

Mothers of 2 rat strains with different sensitivities to stress, that is Wistar rats and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), and their pups were exposed to stressful stimuli every day from delivery, and clock gene expression profiles were detected in the 4‐day‐old pups’ SCN. Levels of glucocorticoids in plasma were measured by LC‐MS/MS. The glucocorticoid receptors antagonist mifepristone was administered to pups to block the effect of the glucocorticoids.

Results

The glucocorticoid receptors were detected at the mRNA and protein levels in the SCN of 4‐day‐old pups. The exposure of mothers to stressful stimuli elevated their plasma glucocorticoid levels. In Wistar rat pups, combination of daily maternal stress with their manipulation increased the plasma glucocorticoid levels and shifted the Bmal1 rhythm in the SCN which was completely blocked by mifepristone. In contrast, in SHR pups, maternal stress on its own caused phase shift of the Bmal1 expression rhythm in the SCN but the effect was mediated via glucocorticoid‐independent mechanism. The Per1 and Per2 expression profiles remained phase‐locked to the light/dark cycle.

Conclusion

The results demonstrate that the SCN is sensitive to stressful stimuli early after birth in pups maintained under light/dark conditions and the effect is mediated via glucocorticoid‐dependent pathways.
Randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of usual gas release, active aspiration, and passive‐valve release on abdominal distension in patients who have undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Authors: Tuvayanon Warisara , Silchai Potchanee , Sirivatanauksorn Yongyut , Visavajarn Porntita , Pungdok Jaruwan , Tonklai Sununtha , Akaraviputh Thawatchai
Published: December 2017

Introduction

Residual, intra‐abdominal CO2 contributes to abdominal distension and pain after laparoscopic surgery. The study was designed to assess recovery after gas release in patients who have undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC).

Methods

A total of 142 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomly divided into three groups: (i) group 1 (control group), gas release from the surgical wound without port release (n = 47); (ii) group 2, active gas aspiration via a subdiaphragmatic port (n = 48); and (iii) group 3, passive‐valve release via a subdiaphragmatic port valve opening (n = 47). Abdominal distension and shoulder pain levels were assessed postoperatively.

Results

The active aspiration group had significantly reduced postoperative abdominal distensions at 30 min, 4, and 24 h compared with the control group (50.0% vs 80.9%, 43.8% vs 76.6%, 33.3% vs 57.4%, respectively; P < 0.05). Similarly, the passive‐valve release group had significantly reduced postoperative abdominal distensions at 4 and 24 h compared with the control group (51.1% vs 76.6%, 57.4% vs 36.2%; P < 0.05). Both intervention groups had significantly reduced postoperative shoulder pain at 4 and 24 h compared with the control group (P < 0.001). In addition, the postoperative ambulation times for the active aspiration group were significantly shorter than those for the control and passive‐valve release groups (P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Releasing residual CO2 from the intra‐abdominal cavity at the end of laparoscopic cholecystectomy by either the active aspiration or passive‐valve release technique is an effective way to reduce postoperative abdominal distension and shoulder pain.
Using the response–effect trait framework to quantify the value of fallow patches in agricultural landscapes to pollinators
Authors: Robleño Irene , Storkey Jonathan , Solé‐Senan Xavier O. , Recasens Jordi
Published: December 2017

Questions

What is the role of managed fallow habitats in providing resources for pollination services in agricultural landscapes? How is resource provision affected by fallow management and landscape structure? Can the resulting variation in the value of fallows to pollinators be explained using the response‐and‐effect trait framework?

Location

Four semi‐arid Mediterranean agricultural regions (NE Iberian Peninsula).

Methods

Landscape complexity, fallow field age and management practices were identified as the explanatory factors that interact which each other and affect the provision of resource for pollination communities. A trait‐based approach was taken to model the system. Plant traits were selected on the basis of their response to abiotic factors (response traits) and those that influence the interaction with pollinators (effect traits). Plant community characterization was calculated based on both taxonomic and functional indices. The linkages between the selected plant traits on contrasting fallows were analysed using community‐weighted mean redundancy analysis (CWM‐RDA).

Results

The presence of semi‐natural areas in the landscape was shown to enhance the value of fallows for pollinators, providing a source of diverse flower forms. In contrast, we found that field edges act as a relatively poor reservoir for flowering plant species in these areas. Land‐use practices promoting mid‐successional plant communities that support the coexistence of diverse life forms with overlapping flowering periods and a range of flower morphologies had the greatest potential to support a diverse pollinator community.

Conclusions

Early herbicide application (Feb) combined with shredding were identified as the best fallow practices for enhancing resources for pollinators. The construction of our framework will help policy makers to identify management recommendations that will result in the most beneficial plant communities for pollinators in fallows.
Applications of corneal topography and tomography: a review
Authors: Fan Rachel , Chan Tommy CY , Prakash Gaurav , Jhanji Vishal
Published: December 2017

Corneal imaging is essential for diagnosing and management of a wide variety of ocular diseases. Corneal topography is used to characterize the shape of the cornea, specifically, the anterior surface of the cornea. Most corneal topographical systems are based on Placido disc that analyse rings that are reflected off the corneal surface. The posterior corneal surface cannot be characterized using Placido disc technology. Imaging of the posterior corneal surface is useful for diagnosis of corneal ectasia. Unlike corneal topographers, tomographers generate a three‐dimensional recreation of the anterior segment and provide information about the corneal thickness. Scheimpflug imaging is one of the most commonly used techniques for corneal tomography. The cross‐sectional images generated by a rotating Scheimpflug camera are used to locate the anterior and posterior corneal surfaces. The clinical uses of corneal topography include, diagnosis of corneal ectasia, assessment of corneal astigmatism, and refractive surgery planning. This review will discuss the applications of corneal topography and tomography in clinical practice.
The neurobiological mechanisms of physical exercise in methamphetamine addiction
Authors: Morais António Pedro Delgado , Pita Inês Roque , Fontes‐Ribeiro Carlos Alberto , Pereira Frederico Costa
Published: December 2017

Methamphetamine (METH) is the primary drug within amphetamine‐type stimulants which are the second most abused group of drugs worldwide. There is no pharmacological treatment addressed specifically to METH addiction, and behavioral therapy is shadowed by poor long‐term recovery and relapse. Therefore, novel approaches to manage METH addiction are an urgent need. This review aims to describe the current state of physical exercise use on methamphetamine addiction management. The following searching terms in PubMed were used: (“physical exercise” OR “exercise”) AND “methamphetamine.” Relevant references from key publications and gray literature were also reviewed to identify additional citations for inclusion. Original investigation regarding physical exercise and methamphetamine addiction (clinical data) or neurobiological mechanisms of physical exercise in animal models of methamphetamine administration (preclinical data) was included. Overall, METH users demonstrated improvements, including better fitness and emotional measures, lower relapse rates, and sustained abstinence when compared to nonexercised individuals. The neurobiological mechanisms of physical exercise in METH users seem to reflect an interplay of several agents, including neurochemicals, oxidative stress, neurogenesis, gliogenesis, and blood‐brain barrier as disclosed by preclinical data. Exercise‐based interventions alone or as a conjoint therapy may be a useful tool for managing METH addiction.
Everyday discrimination in a racially diverse sample of patients with obesity
Authors: Pearl R. L. , Wadden T. A. , Tronieri J. Shaw , Chao A. M. , Alamuddin N. , Berkowitz R. I.
Published: December 2017

Weight discrimination affects a significant proportion of individuals with obesity and contributes to poor mental and physical health. Prior research on weight discrimination has been limited by a lack of racial diversity in samples and has not considered other potential forms of discrimination that individuals with obesity may experience. The current study assessed different reasons for discrimination in a racially diverse sample of treatment‐seeking individuals with obesity (N = 122, 66.4% black, mean body mass index = 38.5 ± 6.2 kg/m2). Results showed that over half of participants reported experiencing at least one form of repeated discrimination, and 30% reported two or more reasons for discrimination. Race and weight were the most commonly reported reasons for repeated, everyday instances of discrimination. Among participants who reported experiencing weight discrimination (28.7%), over 80% reported experiencing at least one other form of discrimination, with 60% reporting discrimination due to race. These findings indicate that individuals with obesity may face multiple forms of discrimination in their daily lives. Further research is needed to understand how all forms of discrimination contribute to obesity‐related health problems.
FLAME GOES OUT: DETERMINANTS OF INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT AT THE 2024 HAMBURG GAMES REFERENDUM
Authors: Wicker Pamela , Coates Dennis
Published: December 2017

This study used the opportunity to conduct a survey with a contingent valuation method scenario in the weeks prior to an actual referendum on bidding for the 2024 Olympic Summer Games in Hamburg. Only 41.2% of respondents planned to vote favorably and 30.1% reported a positive willingness‐to‐pay. We allowed respondents to state the institution they would give the money to ensure it is wisely spent. The preferred institutions were a foundation and an account in trust. The findings indicate that individual voters have their own complex utility function of costs and benefits which should be considered by public officials. (JEL H41, L83, Z23, Z28)
Physiological and methodological aspects of rate of force development assessment in human skeletal muscle
Authors: Rodríguez‐Rosell David , Pareja‐Blanco Fernando , Aagaard Per , González‐Badillo Juan José
Published: December 2017

Rate of force development (RFD) refers to the ability of the neuromuscular system to increase contractile force from a low or resting level when muscle activation is performed as quickly as possible, and it is considered an important muscle strength parameter, especially for athletes in sports requiring high‐speed actions. The assessment of RFD has been used for strength diagnosis, to monitor the effects of training interventions in both healthy populations and patients, discriminate high‐level athletes from those of lower levels, evaluate the impairment in mechanical muscle function after acute bouts of eccentric muscle actions and estimate the degree of fatigue and recovery after acute exhausting exercise. Notably, the evaluation of RFD in human skeletal muscle is a complex task as influenced by numerous distinct methodological factors including mode of contraction, type of instruction, method used to quantify RFD, devices used for force/torque recording and ambient temperature. Another important aspect is our limited understanding of the mechanisms underpinning rapid muscle force production. Therefore, this review is primarily focused on (i) describing the main mechanical characteristics of RFD; (ii) analysing various physiological factors that influence RFD; and (iii) presenting and discussing central biomechanical and methodological factors affecting the measurement of RFD. The intention of this review is to provide more methodological and analytical coherency on the RFD concept, which may aid to clarify the thinking of coaches and sports scientists in this area.
First report of Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Pseudofusicoccum stromaticum causing dieback in Syzygium malaccense tree in Brazil
Authors: Silveira G. F. , Melo M. P. , Teixeira J. W. M. , Viana D. C. , Silva J. D. C. , Beserra J. E. A.
Published: December 2017

Syzygium malaccense is a woody species, known as Malay apple, which is grown as an ornamental or for fruit production in Brazil, mainly in the northern and north‐eastern regions. A high incidence of dieback has been observed in Malay apple in ornamental situations, including streets and gardens. Morphological identification, sequencing analysis of TEF+ITS gene regions and a pathogenicity test confirmed that fungi in the Botryosphaeriaceae cause the disease. This is the first report of Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Pseudofusicoccum stromaticum causing dieback on S. malaccense trees in Brazil.
Faculty calibration and students’ self‐assessments using an instructional rubric in preparation for a practical examination
Authors: Oh S.‐L. , Liberman L. , Mishler O.
Published: December 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of faculty calibration and students’ self‐assessments on students’ performances in a periodontal practical examination.

Methods

Before a new instructional rubric was implemented in the second‐year periodontics course, faculty calibration was conducted with a pilot group of 32 third‐year dental students. Afterwards, the new rubric was implemented in the second‐year periodontics course. Second‐year students used the rubric for their self‐assessments before the practical examination. An intraclass correlation coefficient was used to test the reliability of the faculty members. A paired t test was used to compare scores between self‐assessments of the pilot group (third‐year students) and faculty evaluation. A two‐way analysis of variance was performed to compare scores between self‐assessments of second‐year students and faculty evaluations. Chi‐square tests were used to compare overall failure rates amongst four different classes.

Results

The reliability amongst the faculty members was strong (the ICC = 0.75 at the first and 0.97 at the second calibration). The mean self‐assessment score from the pilot group was significantly higher than the faculty evaluation. However, the mean self‐assessment score of second‐year students was significantly lower than the faculty evaluation. The class that practiced self‐assessments with the validated instructional rubric exhibited the lowest overall failure rate compared to three past classes.

Conclusions

Using an instructional rubric and conducting faculty calibration improved the process of the periodontal practical examination. Improving the examination process and practicing self‐assessments with feedback from faculty may have a positive impact on students’ performances in the examination.
Contact networks structured by sex underpin sex‐specific epidemiology of infection
Authors: Silk Matthew J. , Weber Nicola L. , Steward Lucy C. , Hodgson David J. , Boots Mike , Croft Darren P. , Delahay Richard J. , McDonald Robbie A.
Published: December 2017

Contact networks are fundamental to the transmission of infection and host sex often affects the acquisition and progression of infection. However, the epidemiological impacts of sex‐related variation in animal contact networks have rarely been investigated. We test the hypothesis that sex‐biases in infection are related to variation in multilayer contact networks structured by sex in a population of European badgersMeles melesnaturally infected withMycobacterium bovis. Our key results are that male‐male and between‐sex networks are structured at broader spatial scales than female‐female networks and that in male‐male and between‐sex contact networks, but not female‐female networks, there is a significant relationship between infection and contacts with individuals in other groups. These sex differences in social behaviour may underpin male‐biased acquisition of infection and may result in males being responsible for more between‐group transmission. This highlights the importance of sex‐related variation in host behaviour when managing animal diseases.
Recovery potential of microwetlands from agricultural land uses
Authors: Nolan Rachael H. , Vesk Peter A. , Robinson Doug
Published: December 2017

Many ecosystems located within agricultural landscapes are in decline, particularly woodlands, grasslands and wetlands. Surviving remnants are generally fragmented and unrepresentative of pre‐disturbance states. Here, we investigate the potential for recovery of ecosystem function in a grassy woodland–wetland mosaic in south‐eastern Australia. We focus on the Plains Woodland/Herb‐rich Gilgai Wetland Mosaics which have declined in extent by 85%. The gilgai soils form a distinctive microrelief of mounds and depressions which become seasonally waterlogged, providing important habitat for a large range of aquatic and dryland species. We surveyed 10 remnants subject to agricultural intensification and seven remnants subject to passive restoration (four with cessation of cultivation and three with livestock removal). Gilgai microrelief was homogenized by cultivation, showed some recovery after release from cultivation, and was insensitive to grazing pressure. Floristic diversity, assessed through indicator species, was vulnerable to grazing. Indicator species were more prevalent in previously grazed sites, but further study is required to determine whether this reflects recovery or differing overall management history. We conclude that passive restoration is possible for recovery of wetland function and some biodiversity values. These conservation actions should be encouraged given the important role these microwetlands play in landscape connectivity and as drought refugia.
High‐temperature testing in a Charpy impact pendulum using in‐situ Joule heating of the specimen
Authors: Ferreirós P.A. , Alonso P.R. , Gargano P.H. , Rubiolo G.H.
Published: December 2017

In this paper, an innovative approach to high‐temperature testing of subsize Charpy V notched specimens is introduced. The design concept is to heat the specimen on the specimen piece supports up to the moment of impact by flowing AC electric current through it. This approach allows a very accurate centring of the specimen with respect to the anvils and the control of their temperature up to the moment of impact. The temperature profile measured by using the in‐situ heating device on ferritic steel specimen over the notch temperature range of 400°C < T < 750°C is presented. The impact energy was measured at different temperatures going through the eutectoid phase transformation of the ferritic steel specimens, with different carbon composition, to investigate the validity of the instrumented in‐situ heating method. The method is particularly appropriate to estimate the ductile brittle transition that occurs at high temperature in some metallic alloy systems. Also, its wide range of specimen heating rate provides new research tools for studying, for example, the intermediate temperature embrittlement of metals and alloys.
Human dissemination of genes and microorganisms in Earth's Critical Zone
Authors: Zhu Yong‐Guan , Gillings Michael , Simonet Pascal , Stekel Dov , Banwart Steven , Penuelas Josep
Published: December 2017

Earth's Critical Zone sustains terrestrial life and consists of the thin planetary surface layer between unaltered rock and the atmospheric boundary. Within this zone, flows of energy and materials are mediated by physical processes and by the actions of diverse organisms. Human activities significantly influence these physical and biological processes, affecting the atmosphere, shallow lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. The role of organisms includes an additional class of biogeochemical cycling, this being the flow and transformation of genetic information. This is particularly the case for the microorganisms that govern carbon and nitrogen cycling. These biological processes are mediated by the expression of functional genes and their translation into enzymes that catalyze geochemical reactions. Understanding human effects on microbial activity, fitness and distribution is an important component of Critical Zone science, but is highly challenging to investigate across the enormous physical scales of impact ranging from individual organisms to the planet. One arena where this might be tractable is by studying the dynamics and dissemination of genes for antibiotic resistance and the organisms that carry such genes. Here we explore the transport and transformation of microbial genes and cells through Earth's Critical Zone. We do so by examining the origins and rise of antibiotic resistance genes, their subsequent dissemination, and the ongoing colonization of diverse ecosystems by resistant organisms.
Health literacy skills for informed decision making in colorectal cancer screening: Perceptions of screening invitees and experts
Authors: Woudstra Anke J. , Timmermans Daniëlle R. M. , Uiters Ellen , Dekker Evelien , Smets Ellen M. A. , Fransen Mirjam P.
Published: December 2017

Background

The process of informed decision making (IDM) requires an adequate level of health literacy. To ensure that all individuals have equal opportunity to make an informed decision in colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, it is essential to gain more insight into which health literacy skills are needed for IDM. Our aims were (i) to explore how individuals make a decision about CRC screening and (ii) to explore which skills are needed for IDM in CRC screening and (iii) to integrate these findings within a conceptual framework.

Methods

We conducted 3 focus groups with individuals eligible for CRC screening (n = 22) and 2 focus groups with experts in the field of health literacy, oncology and decision making, including scientific researchers and health‐care professionals (n = 17). We used framework analysis to analyse our data.

Results

We identified and specified ten health literacy skills, which varied from the ability to read and understand CRC screening information to the ability to weigh up pros and cons of screening for personal relevance. The skills were linked to 8 decision‐making stages in CRC screening within a conceptual framework. We found differences in perceptions between screening invitees and experts, especially in the perceived importance of CRC screening information for IDM.

Conclusions

This study provides insight into the decision‐making stages and health literacy skills that are essential for IDM in CRC screening. The proposed conceptual framework can be used to inform the development of context‐based measurement of health literacy and interventions to support IDM in cancer screening.
Using immunocompromised mice to identify mechanisms of Zika virus transmission and pathogenesis
Authors: Winkler Clayton W. , Peterson Karin E.
Published: December 2017

Zika virus (ZIKV) is responsible for a recent global epidemic that has been associated with congenital brain malformations in fetuses and with Guillain–Barré syndrome in adults. Within the last 2 years, a major effort has been made to develop murine models to study the mechanism of viral transmission, pathogenesis and the host immune response. Here, we discuss the findings from these models regarding the role that the innate and adaptive immune responses have in controlling ZIKV infection and pathogenesis. Additionally, we examine how innate and adaptive immune responses influence sexual and vertical transmission of ZIKV infection as well as how these responses can influence the ability of ZIKV to cross the placenta and to induce damage in the developing brain.
Bayesian Model Averaging: A Systematic Review and Conceptual Classification
Authors: Fragoso Tiago M. , Bertoli Wesley , Louzada Francisco
Published: December 2017

Bayesian model averaging (BMA) provides a coherent and systematic mechanism for accounting for model uncertainty. It can be regarded as an direct application of Bayesian inference to the problem of model selection, combined estimation and prediction. BMA produces a straightforward model choice criterion and less risky predictions. However, the application of BMA is not always straightforward, leading to diverse assumptions and situational choices on its different aspects. Despite the widespread application of BMA in the literature, there were not many accounts of these differences and trends besides a few landmark revisions in the late 1990s and early 2000s, therefore not accounting for advancements made in the last decades. In this work, we present an account of these developments through a careful content analysis of 820 articles in BMA published between 1996 and 2016. We also develop a conceptual classification scheme to better describe this vast literature, understand its trends and future directions and provide guidance for the researcher interested in both the application and development of the methodology. The results of the classification scheme and content review are then used to discuss the present and future of the BMA literature.
The effects of a mixed approach toward management earnings forecasts: Evidence from China
Authors: Huang Xiaobei , Li Xi , Tse Senyo , Tucker Jennifer Wu
Published: December 2017

Chinese regulators mandate management earnings forecasts when managers’ earnings expectations meet bright‐line thresholds and allow voluntary forecasts in other circumstances. We examine the effects of this mixed approach. We find that Chinese mandatory forecasts have significant information content. Moreover, we observe a learning effect: mandatory forecasts appear to stimulate voluntary forecasts in subsequent periods as managers become familiar with the forecasting and disclosing procedures through forced experience. We find one negative consequence of the mixed approach, however: managers appear to manipulate earnings to avoid the forecast threshold of large earnings decreases. Overall, we document the pros and cons of a mixed approach toward management earnings forecasts in a major emerging market.
Relative influence of spatial over environmental and historical processes on the taxonomic and phylogenetic beta diversity of Neotropical phyllostomid bat assemblages
Authors: Varzinczak Luiz H. , Lima Camila S. , Moura Maurício O. , Passos Fernando C.
Published: December 2017

Aim

Environmental, spatial and historical dynamics are widely recognized as fundamental factors underlying community assembly along geographical gradients. We addressed the relative roles of these three processes on the taxonomic (TBD) and phylogenetic beta diversity (PBD) among 108 phyllostomid bat assemblages. Considering the bats’ dispersal abilities, niche requirements and tropical origin, we hypothesized that the current environmental parameters would explain most of the taxonomic and phylogenetic variation among these communities.

Location

Neotropics.

Methods

We assessed taxonomic and phylogenetic similarities among these 108 communities using species compositional data. To disentangle the effects of different processes structuring these assemblages, we conducted variance partitioning using distance‐based redundancy analyses. We also examined the spatial structure of these communities and used null models to test whether the assemblages are phylogenetically more or less dissimilar than would be expected by chance.

Results

Most of the variation in TBD and PBD was accounted for by spatial processes. Spatial influences were consistent for beta diversity components and for groups of species with distinct geographical range sizes. We observed a strong and non‐random spatial structure underlying the taxonomic and phylogenetic community composition. A pairwise comparison revealed that most communities had random variation with respect to phylogeny.

Main conclusions

Spatial processes were more effective than environmental and historical processes in explaining species and lineages composition of 108 Neotropical phyllostomid assemblages, a result that could be due to topographic complexities limiting species dispersal in this region, regardless of the bats’ dispersal capabilities. In contrast to previous studies of patterns of bat diversity at local and regional scales, our results suggest that the structure of bat assemblages is related to complementary ecological and evolutionary processes at different levels of diversity and geographical scales throughout the Neotropics.
The impact on high‐grade serous ovarian cancer of obesity and lipid metabolism‐related gene expression patterns: the underestimated driving force affecting prognosis
Authors: Cuello Mauricio A. , Kato Sumie , Liberona Francisca
Published: December 2017

To investigate whether specific obesity/metabolism‐related gene expression patterns affect the survival of patients with ovarian cancer. Clinical and genomic data of 590 samples from the high‐grade ovarian serous carcinoma (HGOSC) study of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and 91 samples from the Australian Ovarian Cancer Study were downloaded from the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) portal. Clustering of mRNA microarray and reverse‐phase protein array (RPPA) data was performed with 83 consensus driver genes and 144 obesity and lipid metabolism‐related genes. Association between different clusters and survival was analyzed with the Kaplan–Meier method and a Cox regression. Mutually exclusive, co‐occurrence and network analyses were also carried out. Using RNA and RPPA data, it was possible to identify two subsets of HGOSCs with similar clinical characteristics and cancer driver mutation profiles (e.g. TP53), but with different outcome. These differences depend more on up‐regulation of specific obesity and lipid metabolism‐related genes than on the number of gene mutations or copy number alterations. It was also found that CD36 and TGF‐ß are highly up‐regulated at the protein levels in the cluster with the poorer outcome. In contrast, BSCL2 is highly up‐regulated in the cluster with better progression‐free and overall survival. Different obesity/metabolism‐related gene expression patterns constitute a risk factor for prognosis independent of the therapy results in the Cox regression. Prognoses were conditioned by the differential expression of obesity and lipid metabolism‐related genes in HGOSCs with similar cancer driver mutation profiles, independent of the initial therapeutic response.
Experimental manipulation of population‐level MHC diversity controls pathogen virulence evolution in Mus musculus
Authors: Cornwall D. H. , Kubinak J. L. , Zachary E. , Stark D. L. , Seipel D. , Potts W. K.
Published: December 2017

The virulence levels attained by serial passage of pathogens through similar host genotypes are much higher than observed in natural systems; however, it is unknown what keeps natural virulence levels below these empirically demonstrated maximum levels. One hypothesis suggests that host diversity impedes pathogen virulence, because adaptation to one host genotype carries trade‐offs in the ability to replicate and cause disease in other host genotypes. To test this hypothesis, with the simplest level of population diversity within the loci of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), we serially passaged Friend virus complex (FVC) through two rounds, in hosts with either the same MHC genotypes (pure passage) or hosts with different MHC genotypes (alternated passage). Alternated passages showed a significant overall reduction in viral titre (31%) and virulence (54%) when compared to pure passages. Furthermore, a resistant host genotype initially dominated any effects due to MHC diversity; however, when FVC was allowed to adapt to the resistant host genotype, predicted MHC effects emerged; that is, alternated lines show reduced virulence. These data indicate serial exposure to diverse MHC genotypes is an impediment to pathogen adaptation, suggesting genetic variation at MHC loci is important for limiting virulence in a rapidly evolving pathogen and supports negative frequency‐dependent selection as a force maintaining MHC diversity in host populations.
Reproduction and recruitment of sympatric fish species on an intertidal rocky shore
Authors: Compaire J. C. , Casademont P. , Gómez‐Cama C. , Soriguer M. C.
Published: December 2017

The reproductive cycle of seven common species (Gobius paganellus, Gobius bucchichi, Gobius cobitis, Parablennius sanguinolentus, Salaria pavo, Tripterygion tartessicum and Symphodus roissali) on rocky shores in the Gulf of Cadiz and their relationship with the sea surface temperature (SST) is analysed. Partial data on Scorpaena porcus are also given. Fecundity of these short lifespan species shows a positive linear correlation between the number of oocytes and an increase in female size. Spawnings are concentrated in the first 7 months of the year. An analysis of reproductive growth with respect to SST shows that water temperature in the winter months affects the timing of the onset of reproduction in most species. Recruitment is takes place throughout the year, but a temporal segregation within different families occurs in their spawning as well as recruitment.
Will Maintenance of Oral Hygiene in Nursing Home Residents Prevent Pneumonia?
Authors: Mylotte Joseph M.
Published: December 2017

This article is an evaluation of the literature on oral hygiene as a risk factor for nursing home–associated pneumonia (NHAP) and with interventions to improve oral hygiene and reduce the incidence of NHAP. The background for this article is that studies that have evaluated interventions to improve oral hygiene and prevent NHAP have conflicting results. To try to understand the reason for these results, the objective was to examine risk factor and intervention studies and determine their methodological validity. Review of studies evaluating oral hygiene status as a risk factor for NHAP found multiple methodological problems, resulting in limited evidence to support this association. Studies of intervention methods, whether finding benefit or not in preventing NHAP, all had methodological limitations. Therefore, it is unclear whether oral hygiene is a risk factor for NHAP and whether improving oral hygiene decreases the incidence of this infection. A recommendation is made that future studies should carefully define the etiology of suspected NHAP using molecular techniques when evaluating methods to prevent this infection because viral pneumonia and aspiration pneumonitis may mimic bacterial pneumonia even though, at times, there may be coinfection with bacteria. In this latter situation, improving oral hygiene may not prevent pneumonia. Therefore, viral infection and pneumonitis with or without bacterial coinfection need to be excluded so that the focus is on prevention of bacterial pneumonia.
Oral Health in Healthy Aging
Authors: Bassim Carol W.
Published: December 2017

This editorial comments on the articles by Ramsay et al, Kossioni et al, and Joseph M. Mylotte.