bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tapentadol results in less deterioration of gastrointestinal function and symptoms than standard opioid therapy in healthy male volunteers
Authors: Mark Esben Bolvig , Nedergaard Rasmus Bach , Hansen Tine Maria , Nissen Thomas Dahl , Frøkjær Jens Brøndum , Scott S. Mark , Krogh Klaus , Drewes Asbjørn Mohr
Published: May 2021

Background

Tapentadol is a combined opioid agonist and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor with fewer gastrointestinal side effects at equianalgesic doses compared with classical strong opioids. Previous studies on tapentadol have included multi‐morbid patients in whom confounders exclude detailed assessment of the mechanistic effects and strict comparison with other opioids or placebo. This study aimed at investigating the effects of tapentadol and oxycodone on gastrointestinal motility and gastrointestinal side effects.

Methods

21 healthy males participated in a randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, crossover study. Tapentadol (50 mg twice daily), oxycodone (10 mg twice daily), or placebo tablets were administered for 14 days. Segmental gastrointestinal transit times and colonic motility parameters were measured with electromagnetic capsules. Gastrointestinal side effects were assessed using questionnaires.

Key Results

During dosing with tapentadol, gastrointestinal side effects and motility parameters were on placebo level. Compared with tapentadol, oxycodone increased whole gut transit time by 17.9 hours (p = .015) and rectosigmoid transit time by 6.5 hours (p = .005). Compared with tapentadol, oxycodone also reduced long, fast antegrade colonic movements (p = .001). In comparison with placebo, oxycodone prolonged whole gut transit time by 31.6 hours, (p < .001). Moreover, less long, fast antegrade colonic movements (p = .002) were observed during oxycodone. For oxycodone only, slow colonic movements were associated with gastrointestinal side effects.

Conclusions & Inferences

In this mechanistic study, tapentadol caused significantly less colonic dysmotility and gastrointestinal side effects as compared with oxycodone in equianalgesic doses.
Comparison of size‐structured and species‐level trophic networks reveals antagonistic effects of temperature on vertical trophic diversity at the population and species level
Authors: Bonnaffé Willem , Danet Alain , Legendre Stéphane , Edeline Eric
Published: May 2021

It is predicted that warmer conditions should lead to a loss of trophic levels, as larger bodied consumers, which occupy higher trophic levels, experience higher metabolic costs at high temperature. Yet, it is unclear whether this prediction is consistent with the effect of warming on the trophic structure of natural systems. Furthermore, effects of temperature at the species level, which arise through a change in species composition, may differ from those at the population level, which arise through a change in population structure. We investigate this by building species‐level trophic networks, and size‐structured trophic networks, as a proxy for population structure, for 18 648 stream fish communities, from 4 145 234 individual fish samples, across 7024 stream locations in France from 1980 to 2008. We estimated effects of temperature on total trophic diversity (total number of nodes), vertical trophic diversity (mean and maximum trophic level) and distribution of biomass across trophic level (correlation between trophic level and biomass) in these networks. We found a positive effect of temperature on total trophic diversity in both species‐ and size‐structured trophic networks. We found that maximum trophic level and biomass distribution decreased in species‐level and size‐structured trophic networks, but the mean trophic level decreased only in size‐structured trophic networks. These results show that warmer temperatures associate with a lower vertical trophic diversity in size‐structured networks, and a higher one in species‐level networks. This suggests that vertical trophic diversity is shaped by antagonistic effects of temperature on population structure and on species composition. Our results hence demonstrate that effects of temperature do not only differ across trophic levels, but also across levels of biological organisation, from population to species level, implying complex changes in network structure and functioning with warming.
Street‐level bureaucrats and policy entrepreneurship: When implementers challenge policy design
Authors: Cohen Nissim , Aviram Neomi F.
Published: May 2021

Linking street‐level bureaucracy with policy entrepreneurship is a new, ongoing trend in the literature. We claim that in various cases one must consider street‐level policy entrepreneurship in order to fully understand policy processes. Therefore, we call on public policy and administration scholars to devote more resources to this important link. The symposium will promote our understanding of this still underresearched area. We will explore both theoretically and empirically how bureaucrats who interact with the public on a daily basis not only implement policy but also influence how it is designed. We will also assess the contribution of the symposium papers in light of the existing scholarly debate. We will conclude by reflecting on the challenges of studying street‐level policy entrepreneurship and suggest future avenues for research in this field.
The plasma membrane–associated Ca2+‐binding protein,PCaP1,is required for oligogalacturonide and flagellin‐induced priming and immunity
Authors: Giovannoni Moira , Marti Lucia , Ferrari Simone , Tanaka‐Takada Natsuki , Maeshima Masayoshi , Ott Thomas , De Lorenzo Giulia , Mattei Benedetta
Published: May 2021

Early signalling events in response to elicitation include reversible protein phosphorylation and re‐localization of plasma membrane (PM) proteins. Oligogalacturonides (OGs) are a class of damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) that act as endogenous signals to activate the plant immune response. Previous data on early phosphoproteome changes inArabidopsis thalianaupon OG perception uncovered the immune‐related phospho‐regulation of several membrane proteins, among which PCaP1, a PM‐anchored protein with actin filament–severing activity, was chosen for its potential involvement in OG‐ and flagellin‐triggered responses. Here, we demonstrate that PCaP1 is required for late, but not early, responses induced by OGs and flagellin. Moreover,pcap1mutants, unlike the wild type, are impaired in the recovery of full responsiveness to a second treatment with OGs performed 24 h after the first one. Localization studies on PCaP1 upon OG treatment in plants expressing a functional PCaP1‐GFP fusion under the control ofPCaP1promoter revealed fluorescence on the PM, organized in densely packed punctate structures, previously reported as microdomains. Fluorescence was found to be associated also with endocytic vesicles, the number of which rapidly increased after OG treatment, suggesting both an endocytic turnover of PCaP1 for maintaining its homeostasis at the PM and an OG‐induced endocytosis.
How Nudges Lead to Improved Energy Efficiency in Manufacturing: Evidence from Archival Data and a Field Study
Authors: Dhanorkar Suvrat , Siemsen Enno
Published: May 2021

Important discretionary tasks such as quality improvement, process compliance, and energy efficiency (EE) require constantly focusing the attention of decision‐makers. Using a combination of archival data analysis and a field study, we show how nudges in the form of reminders can serve as a simple yet powerful managerial lever to focus attention on such tasks and increase the likelihood that these tasks will be completed. We study the effectiveness of reminders in the context of EE tasks in manufacturing facilities. Technical assistance programs make EE recommendations to participating manufacturing sites and remind them regularly to pay attention to implementation. Our analysis shows that these reminders lead to a more widespread implementation of EE improvement suggestions and are particularly useful when facilities undertake multiple EE tasks in parallel, or when other unrelated sustainability tasks are being pursued in parallel. Next, we conduct a field study by leveraging a policy intervention called “Touchbase Tuesdays” that was implemented by our partner organization based on the results from our analysis. This field study provides additional causal evidence of the effect of reminders on EE task implementation. Overall, we observe that simple reminders can deliver substantial increases in task implementation rates in this context.
Overage Disutility, User Trading, and Tariff Design
Authors: Huang Weixiang , Li Yanzhi , Chen Youhua
Published: May 2021

Popular tariffs in the telecommunications market, such as three‐part tariffs and flat‐rate plans, specify an allowance below which customers enjoy a free and high‐quality service. When they consume beyond the allowance, customers either need to pay for the overage (under three‐part tariffs) or receive a degraded service (under flat‐rate plans), thus experiencing an overage disutility. Some network service providers have recently begun to allow data trading among their subscribers, who can now sell their allowances or buy up to meet their needs. We study whether and how allowing user trading can enhance a service provider's profitability. Considering a monopolistic firm, we find that allowing trading among users improves system‐wide consumption efficiency and reduces overage disutility at the expense of losing overage revenue. Overall, trading can be beneficial to the firm. Particularly, the profitability of the firm is critically driven by addressing customers’ overage disutility. Moreover, allowing trading always improves social welfare and can also improve consumer surplus. Finally, on a self‐operated platform, the firm may find it not profitable to charge a transaction fee but will regulate up the trading price.
Crowdfunding Project Design: Optimal Product Menu and Funding Target
Authors: Liu Qiang , Liu Xiaofeng , Balachander Subramanian
Published: May 2021

We study, using a stylized analytical model, an entrepreneur's design of the optimal product menu for crowdfunding together with the optimal choice of the funding target. We find that in contrast to prior literature on crowdfunding, downward quality distortion of the low‐quality product in the entrepreneur's product menu under crowdfunding can be higher, lesser or even non‐existent than that under traditional selling. We also show that crowdfunding as an alternative to traditional selling is only attractive in the presence of a non‐zero fixed cost. Our findings provide important implications for entrepreneurs in optimizing their crowdfunding project design.
Development‐Aid Supply Chains for Economic Development and Post‐Disaster Recovery
Authors: Sodhi ManMohan S. , Knuckles James
Published: May 2021

This study seeks to conceptualize supply chains that use funding from large donors or governments for long‐term recovery following a disaster, or more generally, for economic development in a region. We call these development‐aid supply chains (DASC) distinct from commercial or humanitarian supply chains. With little available formally on DASCs in the literature, we carried out a field study across five solar lantern supply chains in Haiti set up for recovery following the massive 2010 earthquake. Stakeholder resource‐based view allowed us to use stakeholder theory, utility theory, and the resource‐based view in analyzing how these supply chains work. We observed how donor cash in these supply chains brings together global original equipment manufacturers; national‐level distributors; impact investors; microfinance institutions; retailers; and micro‐entrepreneurs. Many of these entities are social enterprises that bridge development‐minded donors with commercially oriented retailers and micro‐entrepreneurs. The result of these bridging efforts is the flow of goods, cash, and social impact data. Our conceptual model flags the problem that donor funding, while crucial for reducing deprivation in the short term, may increase the dependence on aid rather than reduce it.
Managing Overconfident Newsvendors: A Target‐Setting Approach
Authors: Bai Tian , Kirshner Samuel N. , Wu Meng
Published: May 2021

Experimental results support that overconfident newsvendors deviate from the optimal inventory levels to place orders closer to the mean of demand distributions, thereby lowering profits. To improve performance, we investigate whether nonstandard preferences based on prospect theory can manage overconfident newsvendors. We develop a framework where a manager determines a profit‐based target, which serves as a reference point in the newsvendor's utility function. We show that target‐setting can induce optimal orders for low‐margin products. We extend our model to a duopoly and show that the type of competition determines whether target‐setting improves performance beyond the monopolist setting. Decentralized competition, where competing newsvendors have different managers, reduces the effectiveness of target‐setting. However, centralized competition, where competing newsvendors share the same manager, increases the range of profit margins within which target‐setting can achieve the system‐optimal order quantities. We compare profit‐margin targets with gross‐profit targets throughout our analysis. Although the targets offer similar performance, we find that profit‐margin [gross‐profit] targets dominate for extremely [moderately] low‐margin products when the manager is uncertain about the newsvendor's overconfidence level. However, when managing a newsvendor with an uncertain degree of loss aversion, we find that profit‐margin targets offer greater benefits regardless of the product's profitability.
Addition of composted green waste and ericoid mycorrhizal fungi fails to facilitate establishment of Atlantic heathland species
Authors: Lane Mary , Hanley Mick E. , Lunt Paul , Knight Mairi E. , Braungardt Charlotte B. , Ellis Jon S.
Published: May 2021

Post‐mining restoration of heathland habitats has met with mixed success. Failures are often ascribed to the complexity of replicating soil conditions: a scarcity of organic matter and microbial symbionts in stored overburden used for restoration is frequently implicated. Nonetheless, systematic investigation of the role of both interventions is lacking. Using a greenhouse trial and a large‐scale field experiment within a commercial kaolinite mine site, we explored how the addition of ericoid mycorrhizal fungi (ErMF) and organic matter influenced the establishment of dwarf ericoid species that characterize NW European Atlantic lowland heaths. Neither intervention had any positive effect on ericoid establishment in field or greenhouse conditions. In the greenhouse experiment, organic matter (from commercial refuse) increased heather (Calluna vulgaris) cuttings mortality, although surviving plants showed enhanced shoot growth when ErMF were added. All field plots were dominated by combinations of grasses, gorse (Ulex europaeus), and bare ground. Establishment of ericaceous plants was remarkably low (<4%) after 3 years andErica tetralixandC. vulgarisabundance in organic matter (which increased pH) or ErMF treatments was reduced compared to untreated control. Although our experiments suggest that research on soil manipulation treatments is required to elucidate the conditions necessary for heathland establishment, corroboration of our greenhouse trial results in field conditions highlights the value of the former in informing the latter. We identify low pH, high lignin (e.g. pine) litter as one potentially worthwhile soil amelioration treatment and suggest how the use of naturally colonized/preinoculated “nursemaid” plants could facilitate heathland restoration.
Hierarchical distance and employees’ commitment as conditioning of team‐based work in the Spanish public sector
Authors: Triguero‐Sánchez Rafael , Peña‐Vinces Jesús , Guillen Jorge
Published: May 2021

Team‐based work (TBW) plays a crucial role in the success and quality of public services. In the context of the Spanish public sector, our study evaluates if a low level of hierarchical distance (HD) in public organizations condition the public employees’ commitment (EC) as well as TBW, assessed in terms of participation and consensus among team members. Simultaneously, we evaluated to what extent EC help to enhance TBW. Employing a sample of 213 government organizations from the south of Spain through a model of structural equations, we were able to answer the above questions. Our results revealed that team‐based work functions more successfully within public organizations where there exists little verticality in their structures, norms, values and rules – in simplest terms, where there is minimal organizational HD. Such results also suggest that although regulations exist in the Spanish public sector, should public organizations attempt to be less vertical and more horizontal, they would perhaps have public servants that were more committed to their organizations. As a result, servants view the organization as their own and remain loyal. Finally, from an academic perspective, this study could be one of few to research and evaluate the hierarchical role and employees’ commitment to the functioning of public employees based on participation and consensus in their work teams.
Forest soil penetration resistance following heavy traffic: A 10‐year field study
Authors: Pousse Noémie , Bonnaud Pascal , Legout Arnaud , Darboux Frédéric , Ranger Jacques
Published: May 2021

Natural recovery of acidic soils following heavy traffic is assumed to take several decades. The aim of this study was to monitor the recovery of soil penetration resistance (PR) after soil compaction by heavy traffic at two forest sites. The sites, located in northeast France, have soils that differ slightly in pH and silt content. The impact on soil PR following heavy traffic was dependent on the soil water content (WC) at the time of measurement, and, therefore, the entire WC range and corresponding PR values were measured. For the most acidic and silty soil, no difference in PR among treatments was observed when the soils were near saturation; however, the difference in PR values was high when soils were close to wilting point. For the least acidic and silty soil, the impact of heavy traffic on PR could be detected whatever the soil moisture, with the magnitude of the effect dependent on the soil water content and depth considered. Standardized PR values with regard to WC allowed an analysis of the evolution of the effect of heavy traffic with time. Ten years after being subjected to heavy traffic, the PR values in the 0‐ to 40‐cm layer recovered to undisturbed values at the least acidic and silty site, but not WC dynamic. The most acidic and silty soil site did not show any recovery of PR or WC dynamic ten years following traffic, although liming at this site was able to increase the regeneration of PR to undisturbed levels.
Polymorphisms in transporter associated with antigen presenting are associated with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical cancer in a Chinese Han population
Authors: Yang Jia , Liu Weipeng , Yan Zhiling , Li Chuanyin , Liu Shuyuan , Yang Xi , Li Yu , Shi Li , Yao Yufeng
Published: May 2021

The host immune system plays an important role in infectious diseases and cancers. The heterodimer formed by transporter associated with antigen presenting (TAP)1 and TAP2 is responsible for intracellular peptide loading onto MHC‐I molecules. Studies have shown that single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in TAP genes might affect the expression and function of TAP and be associated with cancer risk. We aimed to investigate the association of SNPs in the TAP1 and TAP2 genes with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer (CC) in a Chinese Han population. Six SNPs in the TAP1 gene and seven in the TAP2 gene were selected. The 13 SNPs were genotyped in 1255 healthy individuals, 575 patients with CIN and 1034 patients with CC using the SNaPshot assay. The association between these SNPs and CIN and CC risk was analysed. The allelic and genotypic distributions of rs41549617 and rs1135216 showed significant differences between the control and CC groups (P < 0.0038). The T allele of rs41549617 was associated with a decreased risk of CC (OR = 0.476, 95%CI: 0.286–0.791). Moreover, the G allele of rs1135216 appears to be associated with a decreased risk of CC (OR = 0.746; 95%CI: 0.632–0.881). The allele and genotype distribution of rs241441 showed a significant difference between the control and CC groups (P < 0.0038), and the rs241441 G allele was associated with an increased risk of CC (OR = 1.232, 95%CI: 1.092–1.398). In addition, the results of the association between TAP alleles and CC showed that TAP1*020101 and TAP1*0301 have an association with CC (P = 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively). Our results demonstrate that the TAP1 and TAP2 genes are associated with CC in the Chinese Han population.
Identification of the HLA‐DPA1*02:33 allele by next‐generation sequencing in a Chinese individual
Authors: Gao Su‐Qing , Chen Hao , Zhang Yan‐Yan , Quan Zhan‐Rou , Deng Zhi‐Hui
Published: May 2021

The HLA‐DPA1*02:33 allele differs from DPA1*02:02:02:04 by two nucleotide change in exon 4.
Is it Reasonable to Study Decision‐Making Quantitatively?
Authors: Shiffrin Richard M.
Published: May 2021

Scientists studying decision‐making often provide a set of choices, each specified with values or distributions of values, and probabilities or distributions of probabilities. For example, “Would you prefer $100 with probability 1.0 or $1 with probability .9 and $1,000 with probability 0.1?” Other decision research examines choices made in the absence of most quantitative information; for example, “Would you prefer a Ford now or a Porsche a year from now?,” “Which food would you prefer,” but models the findings with precise quantitative assumptions. Yet other research does neither; for example, modeling verbally stated choices with verbally stated heuristics. This article asks about the relevance of the first two research approaches for much of the decision‐making made in life. The use of quantitative research and modeling is unsurprising, given that this approach underlies most of science. In life, values and probabilities are almost always partly or wholly vague and qualitative rather than quantitative. For example, when deciding which house to buy, there are relevant features such as size, color, neighborhood schools, construction materials, attractiveness, and many more, but the decision‐maker finds it difficult and of little use to assign these precise values or weights. Nonetheless, humans have evolved to make decisions in such vaguely specified settings. I provide an example showing how a very high degree of uncertainty can defeat the application of quantitative decision‐making, but such a demonstration is not critical if quantitative research and modeling produce a good understanding of and a good approximation to decision‐making in the natural environment. This perspective addresses these issues.
Unlocking the nutrient value of sewage sludge
Authors: Singh Vipin , Phuleria Harish C. , Chandel Munish K.
Published: May 2021

This study characterises the sewage sludge from 26 sewage treatment plants in India, which demonstrates the nutrient potential and highlights the associated challenges in using the sludge. The dry sludge had 2.35%–4.2% N, 2.46–3.2% phosphorus (P2O5) and 0.83%–1.24% potassium oxide (K2O), whereas sludge ash contains ~13.6% and 2.7%, P2O5 and K2O, respectively. Total nutrient potential from the sludge of the existing sewage treatment facility was 97.5 × 103 tonne/year, which is equivalent to 0.92% urea or 0.19% NPK used presently as conventional fertilisers in India. However, pre‐treatment may be required for this sludge before using it in agricultural fields as heavy metals, such as Zn, Cu, Ni, Cd, and Cr, were found higher than the compost standards. This study would be useful for the researchers and policymakers globally and would motivate them to make policies and deploy suitable technologies towards the nutrient utilisation from sewage sludge.
Prevention of Lyme and other tickborne diseases using a rodent‐targeted approach: A randomized controlled trial in Connecticut
Authors: Hinckley Alison F. , Niesobecki Sara A. , Connally Neeta P. , Hook Sarah A. , Biggerstaff Brad J. , Horiuchi Kalanthe A. , Hojgaard Andrias , Mead Paul S. , Meek James I.
Published: May 2021

Tickborne diseases are an increasing public health problem in the northeastern USA. Bait boxes that apply acaricide to rodents have been shown in small field studies to significantly reduce abundance of Ixodes scapularis ticks as well as their pathogen infection rates in treated areas. The effectiveness of this intervention for preventing human tickborne diseases (TBDs) has not been demonstrated. During 2012–2016, TickNET collaborators conducted a randomized, blinded, placebo‐controlled trial among 622 Connecticut households. Each household received active (containing fipronil wick) or placebo (empty) bait boxes in their yards over two consecutive years. Information on tick encounters and TBDs among household members was collected through biannual surveys. Nymphal ticks were collected from a subset of 100 properties during spring at baseline, during treatment, and in the year post‐intervention. Demographic and property characteristics did not differ between treatment groups. There were no significant differences post‐intervention between treatment groups with respect to tick density or pathogen infection rates, nor for tick encounters or TBDs among household members. We found no evidence that rodent‐targeted bait boxes disrupt pathogen transmission cycles or significantly reduce household risk of tick exposure or TBDs. The effectiveness of this intervention may depend on scale of use or local enzootic cycles.
The Use of Recovery Strategies in Professional Soccer: A Worldwide Survey
Authors: Field Adam , Harper Liam D. , Chrismas Bryna C.R. , Fowler Peter M. , McCall Alan , Paul Darren J. , Chamari Karim , Taylor Lee
Published: May 2021

Purpose: To survey soccer practitioners’ recovery strategy: (1) use, (2) perceived effectiveness, and (3) factors influencing their implementation in professional soccer. Methods: A cross-sectional convenience sample of professional soccer club/confederation practitioners completed a web-based survey (April to July 2020). Pearson chi-square and Fisher exact tests with Cramer V (φ − c) assessed relationships and their strength, respectively, between the perceived effectiveness and frequency of strategy use. Results: A total of 80 soccer practitioners (13 countries) completed the survey. The 3 most important recovery objectives were “alleviating muscle damage/fatigue,” “minimizing injury risk,” and “performance optimization.” The most frequently used strategies were active recovery, structured recovery day, extra rest day, massage, cold-water therapy, and carbohydrate provision (predominantly on match day and match day + 1). Relationships were identified between perceived effectiveness and frequency of strategy use for sleep medication (P < .001, φ − c = 0.48), carbohydrate provision (P = .007, φ − c = 0.60), protein provision (P = .007, φ − c = 0.63), an extra rest day (P < .001, φ − c = 0.56), and a structured recovery day (P = .049, φ − c = 0.50). Conclusions: The study demonstrates that professional soccer practitioners have a range of objectives geared toward enhancing player recovery. A disconnect is apparent between the perceived effectiveness of many recovery strategies and their frequency of use in an applied setting. Novel data indicate that strategies are most frequently employed around match day. Challenges to strategy adoption are mainly competing disciplinary interests and resource limitations. Researchers and practitioners should liaise to ensure that the complexities involved with operating in an applied environment are elucidated and apposite study designs are adopted, in turn, facilitating the use of practically effective and compatible recovery modalities.
Overground Walking Biomechanics of Dissatisfied Persons With Total Knee Replacements
Authors: Valenzuela Kevin Alan , Zhang Songning , Schroeder Lauren Elizabeth , Weinhandl Joshua Trueblood , Reinbolt Jeffrey , Zakrajsek Rebecca , Cates Harold Earl
Published: May 2021

Patient dissatisfaction following total knee replacement (TKR) procedures is likely influenced by both subjective and objective aspects. Increased pain and reduced performance on clinical tests have been shown in persons who are dissatisfied with the outcome of their surgery. However, it is unknown how overground walking kinematics and kinetics might differ in the dissatisfied versus satisfied patients following TKR surgery. This study compared the lower-extremity walking kinematics and kinetics of patients dissatisfied with their TKR to that of satisfied patients and healthy controls. Thirty nine subjects completed walking trials, including nine dissatisfied and 15 satisfied TKR patients and 15 healthy controls. A 2 × 3 repeated -measures analysis of variance was used to assess differences between groups and limbs (P < .05). Dissatisfied persons showed significantly reduced loading-response and push-off peak vertical ground reaction forces, flexion range of motion, loading-response extension moments, and loading-response abduction moments compared to the controls. Peak loading-response and push-off vertical ground reaction forces and flexion range of motion were reduced in the replaced limb of dissatisfied patients compared with their nonreplaced limb. Push-off plantar flexion moments were reduced in the dissatisfied patients compared with the satisfied and healthy controls. Dissatisfied patients also reported increased knee joint pain and reduced preferred gait speed. Moreover, dissatisfied patients experienced mechanical limb asymmetries not present in those satisfied with their surgery result. Thus, patients dissatisfied with their total knee replacement outcome were found to be experiencing significant negative physiological changes.
Construct Validity and Reliability of the Revised Physical and Neurological Examination of Subtle Signs (PANESS) Gaits and Stations Measures
Authors: Saleem Ghazala T. , Langan Jeanne , McPherson Jacob I. , Slomine Beth S. , Mahone E. Mark , Denckla Martha Bridge , Suskauer Stacy J.
Published: May 2021

Purpose: To facilitate precise diagnosis and provide tailored treatment of postural anomalies in the pediatric population, appropriate assessments are essential. In light of the multicomponent structure of postural control, understanding underlying constructs of an assessment is valuable in selecting and interpreting assessments. This study investigates the construct validity of the Gaits and Stations variables in the Revised Physical and Neurological Examination of Subtle Signs, a measure used to evaluate standing postural control in youth with mild neurological deficits. Methods: Data were included from 350 healthy participants ages 10–19 years old. An exploratory factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed. Individual loadings of ≥0.4 were used for factor designation. Results: Three latent factors were identified and labeled, based on evidence, as dynamic stability, movement strategies/coordination, and underlying motor systems—musculoskeletal strength. Conclusions: These brief, easily administered Gaits and Stations measures of the Physical and Neurological Examination of Subtle Signs facilitate evaluation of three constructs of standing postural control relevant to youth with mild neuromotor impairments. This information will potentially assist in clinical practice to identify youth with postural control deficits and establish developmentally appropriate interventions and in research to refine understanding of pathology and the impact on components of postural control.
Attentional Focus and Individuals’ Perceptions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Yamada Masahiro , Higgins Lauren Q. , Raisbeck Louisa D.
Published: May 2021

Although multiple review studies have supported the superior effects of an external compared with internal focus, these reviews are based on performance outcomes. Currently, the literature lacks knowledge regarding the effects of external/internal foci on individuals’ perceptions, which may provide further explanations for how attentional focus affects performance. Therefore, the present study conducted a systematic review of survey/questionnaire data of participants’ thoughts and emotions from laboratory studies. The authors used ERIC, SPORTDiscus, PsycArticle, CINAHL Plus, Health Source Nursing Academic edition, and PubMed search engines. Literature specific to external/internal focus effects on motor learning or performance were reviewed (N = 37). The results showed that participants generally adhered to the assigned attentional focus instruction and there was a trend that preference may affect the attentional focus effects, but the results were inconsistent regarding if attentional focus cues affected the magnitude of adherence and mental demands. There were substantial differences in methodologies and theoretical issues of measuring these data. Future studies should adopt inferential statistics, choose theoretically relevant questions in a priori manner, or, at minimum, propose a hypothesis for the selected question.
Female Students’ Experiences of Sexual Harassment in the Sport Management Internship Setting
Authors: Hardin Robin , Taylor Elizabeth A. , Sleadd Emily
Published: May 2021

Internships provide professional preparation for aspiring sport management professionals, because they allow for professional and personal growth, as well as for being exposed to a professional work environment. Unfortunately, part of the exposure to a professional work environment also means being subjected to its negative aspects, which include sexual harassment. The purpose of this study was to examine the sexual harassment experiences of female students in a sport management internship setting. Nearly 66% of the respondents had experienced some type of sexual harassment while completing an internship. Internship satisfaction was lower for those who had experienced sexual harassment, but experiencing sexual harassment had no impact on their intent to enter the sport management profession. Sport management educators, as well as internship supervisors, must work together to create a safe and professional environment for female students.
Laboratory Detection of Malaria Antigens: a Strong Tool for Malaria Research, Diagnosis, and Epidemiology
Authors: Plucinski Mateusz , Aidoo Michael , Rogier Eric
Published: May 2021

The identification and characterization of proteins produced during human infection withPlasmodiumspp. have guided the malaria community in research, diagnosis, epidemiology, and other efforts. Recently developed methods for the detection of these proteins (antigens) in the laboratory have provided new types of data that can inform the evaluation of malaria diagnostics, epidemiological investigations, and overall malaria control strategies.
WdChs4p, a Homolog of Chitin Synthase 3 in
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
, Alone Cannot Support Growth of
Wangiella
(
Exophiala
)
dermatitidis
at the Temperature of Infection
Authors: Wang Zheng , Zheng Li , Hauser Melinda , Becker Jeffery M. , Szaniszlo Paul J.
Published: May 2021

By using improved transformation methods for
Wangiella dermatitidis
, and a cloned fragment of its chitin synthase 4 structural gene (
WdCHS4
) as a marking sequence, the full-length gene was rescued from the genome of this human pathogenic fungus. The encoded chitin synthase product (WdChs4p) showed high homology with Chs3p of
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
and other class IV chitin synthases, and Northern blotting showed that
WdCHS4
was expressed at constitutive levels under all conditions tested. Reduced chitin content, abnormal yeast clumpiness and budding kinetics, and increased melanin secretion resulted from the disruption of
WdCHS4
suggesting that WdChs4p influences cell wall structure, cellular reproduction, and melanin deposition, respectively. However, no significant loss of virulence was detected when the
wdchs4Δ
strain was tested in an acute mouse model. Using a
wdchs1Δ wdchs2Δ wdchs3Δ
triple mutant of
W. dermatitidis
, which grew poorly but adequately at 25°C, we assayed WdChs4p activity in the absence of activities contributed by its three other WdChs proteins. Maximal activity required trypsin activation, suggesting a zymogenic nature. The activity also had a pH optimum of 7.5, was most stimulated by Mg
2+
, and was more inhibited by polyoxin D than by nikkomycin Z. Although the WdChs4p activity had a broad temperature optimum between 30 to 45°C in vitro, this activity alone did not support the growth of the
wdchs1Δ wdchs2Δ wdchs3Δ
triple mutant at 37°C, a temperature commensurate with infection.
Preparation and properties of a national reference endotoxin
Authors: Rudbach J A , Akiya F I , Elin R J , Hochstein H D , Luoma M K , Milner E C , Milner K C , Thomas K R
Published: May 2021

A large pool of refined endotoxin was prepared from Escherichia coli O113 by extraction with hot acqueous phenol. It was characterized chemically and biologically and will be available for a reference standard designated as reference endotoxin EC.
Ethylenimine-inactivated rabies vaccine of tissue culture origin
Authors: Larghi O P , Savy V L , Nebel A E , Rodriguez A
Published: May 2021

The replication of seven rabies virus strains (CVS, HEP, PV, ERA, WIRAB, CPZ and BOLIVAR) in BHK cells and the inactivation dynamics of these strains by beta-propiolactone, acetylethylenimine, and ethylenimine were studied to find the most immunogenic strain and the most economic and stable inactivating agent for the production of an inactivated tissue culture rabies vaccine for animal use. The seven strains reached the peak of virus production 3 to 5 days after inoculation of the cell culture; PV yielded the highest virus titer (10(9) plaque-forming units/ml). The infectivity of virus suspensions containing 10(7) to 10(8) plaque-forming units/0.1 ml was inactivated by beta-propiolactone in 0.5 h, acetylethylenimine in 3.0 h, and ethylenimine in 1.0 h. Most of the vaccine lots prepared with the different strains and inactivating agents passed a modified National Institutes of Health potency test. The vaccines prepared with the PV strain had consistently higher antigenic values (equal or better than four) than the other six strains. This difference was highly significant (F6,12=59.8), whereas there were no statistically significant differences among the antigenic values of the vaccine lots prepared with the three inactivating agents. Batches of lyophilized and liquid vaccine stored at 4 C maintained potency for over 1 year. Ten dogs vaccinated with a vaccine prepared with the PV strain and inactivated with ethylenimine developed a good antibody response and resisted challenge 60 days after vaccination, while seven of eight nonvaccinated controls died of rabies. This information indicates that an inactivated, stable, economic, and easy-to-prepare rabies vaccine can be produced in BHK cells by using the PV strain and ethylenimine as an inactivating agent.
Evaluation of an adenosine 5'-triphosphate assay as a screening method to detect significant bacteriuria
Authors: Alexander D N , Ederer G M , Matsen J M
Published: May 2021

The bioluminescent reaction of adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) with luciferin and luciferase has been used in conjunction with a sensitive photometer (Lab-Line's ATP photometer) to detect significant bacteriuria in urine. This rapid method of screening urine specimens for bacteriuria was evaluated by using 348 urine specimens submitted to the clinical microbiology laboratory at the University of Minnesota Hospitals for routine culture using the calibrated loop-streak plate method. There was 89.4% agreement between the culture method and the ATP assay, with 7.0% false positive and 27.0% false negative results from the ATP assay using 10(5) organisms/ml of urine or greater as positive for significant bacteriuria and less than 10(5) organisms/ml as negative for significant bacteriuria.
Rapid, colorimetric test for the determination of hippurate hydrolysis by group B Streptococcus
Authors: Edberg S C , Samuels S
Published: May 2021

A colorimetric test for the determination of hippurate hydrolysis was developed. Brain heart infusion broth made with 1% sodium hippurate served as the test medium. Hydrolysis was determined by the addition of two chemical developers, M (rhodamine B) and A (uranium acetate). A dark pink color indicated hydrolysis; no color change indicated no hydrolysis. The method was efficacious in either rapid or overnight incubation. One hundred twenty-five strains of group B, 44 strains of group A, 15 strains of group C, and 10 strains of group G Streptococcus were tested. By using the Lancefield method as the standard, there was 100% agreement with both the colorimetric and ferric chloride tests for hippurate hydrolysis, and 96% agreement with the CAMP test.
Microimmunofluorescence test for the serological study of rocky mountain spotted fever and typhus
Authors: Philip R N , Casper E A , Ormsbee R A , Peacock M G , Burgdorfer W
Published: May 2021

A microimmunofluorescence test was used to study antibody responses to various spotted fever group and typhus group rickettsiae during Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) and epidemic typhus (ET). Patients with RMSF reacted most strongly to Rickettsia rickettsii; those with ET reacted predominantly to R. prowazekii. The degree of cross-reaction to other rickettsial strains varied from patient to patient, but a particular pattern of cross-reaction was consistently observed in serial sera from the same patient. Fresh isolates from three Montana RMSF cases were indistinguishable from each other and from strain R of R. rickettsii used as a standard antigen in all tests. Immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies were usually present in high titer in early-convalescent-phase sera from RMSF, as well as ET, patients. After RMSF, IgM antibodies persisted for a few months and, in one instance, for as long as 10 months. IgM responses to laboratory-acquired infections were infrequent in persons previously vaccinated with antigens related to the infecting strain. Previous antigenic conditioning from infection or vaccination may have accounted partly for the apparent lack of IgM response in a few study participants.
Pseudomonas cepacia strains isolated from water reservoirs of unheated nebulizers
Authors: Gelbart S M , Reinhardt G F , Greenlee H B
Published: May 2021

Pseudomonas cepacia strains were isolated from the water reservoirs of unheated nebulizers in a hospital setting. The isolates were characterized by morphology, biochemical tests, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns. An interesting feature of these organisms was their capacity for sustained multiplication in either doubly deionized or doubly distilled water as well as 5% dextrose or 0.9% saline. They could not multiply in doubly deionized and then doubly distilled water or in any of several parenteral nutrition solutions studied. Isolation of Pseudomonas cepacia from the water reservoirs of unheated nebulizers suggests that this equipment may serve as a source of respiratory tract exposure to the organism.
Unusual Chromobacterium violaceum: aerogenic strains
Authors: Sivendra R
Published: May 2021

This is the first report of Chromobacterium violaceum strains that are aerogenic. Two pigmented strains of C. violaceum and their nonpigmented variants produced gas in glucose broth. Kliger iron agar, and triple sugar iron agar. They were similar morphologically and biochemically to other anaerogenic strains studied previously.
Retention of motility of Treponema pallidum (Nichols virulent strain) in an anaerobic cell culture system and in a cell-free system
Authors: Sandok P L , Jenkin H M , Graves S R , Knight S T
Published: May 2021

Optimum parameters for retention of motility of Treponema pallidum (Nichols virulent strain) were found by anaerobic co-incubation of the treponeme with rat glial cells and anaerobic incubation in spent medium obtained from glial cells originally grown aerobically.
Adaptation of the Minitek system for the rapid identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae
Authors: Morse S A , Bartenstein L
Published: May 2021

A suspending medium was developed for use with the Minitek system for the confirmatory identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis, and N. lactamica based upon the production of acid from various carbohydrates. The addition of sodium bicarbonate to the medium made negative reactions easier to read. More isolates of N. gonorrhoeae were identified with the suspending medium in the Minitek system than with cystine-Trypticase agar media. With a suitable inoculum size, a positive identification could be made in less than 1 h; most isolates (90,8%) could be identified within 4 h of inoculation. The Minitek system is reliable and easy to use.
Meningitis due to Aeromonas hydrophila
Authors: Qadri S M , Gordon L P , Wende R D , Williams R P
Published: May 2021

A case of meningitis caused by Aeromonas hydrophila is reported. The infection complicated an otherwise successful frontotemporal craniotomy. Survey of the literature revealed that human infections due to this organism are relatively uncommon, and its causal relationship in meningitis has not been previously reported. A. hydrophila is known to cause bacteremia in patients under treatment with immunosuppresive agents. We report meningitis with bacteremia, caused by this organism, in an immunologically competent host.
Temperature-dependent cultural and biochemical characteristics of rhamnose-positive Yersinia enterocolitica
Authors: Chester B , Stotzky G
Published: May 2021

Clinical isolates of rhamnose-positive Yersinia enterocolitica (Y.e.rh+) were compared with typical rhamnose-negative Y. enterocolitica (Y.e.rh-) and with Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. The Y.e.rh+ differed from the Y.e.rh- and Y. pseudotuberculosis in their ability to ferment raffinose and lactose, utilize citrate and in their inability to grow on Hektoen enteric agar at 22 or 37 C, on Salmonella-Shigella agar at 37 C, and scant on xylose-lysine-deoxycholate agar at 37 C. An extensive temperature-dependent profile of characteristics was established for the Y.e.rh+: motility, acetoin production, citrate utilization, growth on Salmonella-Shigella agar, and ampicillin resistance occurred at 22 C but not 37 C; fermentation of melibiose, raffinose, and cellobiose occurred within 24 h at 22 C, but not before 5 days at 37 C; fermentation of rhamnose and production of beta-galactosidase occurred within 24 h at 22 C, but not before 48 h at 37 C; greater resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, kanamycin, carbenicillin, and gentamicin was observed at 22 than 37 C; and good growth on xylose-lysine-deoxycholate agar occurred at 22 but not 37 C. For optimal recovery of Y.e.rh+ from mixed culture, e.g., stools, two MacConkey plates should be inoculated and incubated, one at 37 C, and one at 22 C. Lactose-negative colonies appearing after 48 h on the 22 C MacConkey agar but not the 37 C MacConkey agar should be considered possible Y.e.rh+. Biochemicals should be tested in duplicate, one set incubated at 22 C, one set at 37 C. Antibiotic susceptibility tests of Y.e.rh+ isolates should be incubated at both 37 C and at a lower temperature to allow the greatest expression of resistance of these organisms to the various antibiotics.