bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Overview of fire following earthquake: historical events and community responses
Authors: Elhami Khorasani Negar , Garlock Maria E.M.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to present a literature review on the problem of fire following earthquake (FFE) as a potential hazard to communities in seismically active regions. The paper is important to work toward resilient communities that are subject to extreme hazards.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper lists and reviews the historical FFE events (20 earthquakes from 7 countries), studies the available analytical tools to evaluate fire ignition and spread in communities after an earthquake, discusses the available studies on performance of individual buildings under post-earthquake fires and summarizes the current literature on mitigation techniques for post-earthquake fires.

Findings

FFE can be considered a potential hazard for urban communities that are especially not prepared for such conditions. The available analytical models are not yet fully up to the standards that can be used by city authorities for decision-making, and therefore, should be further validated. Limited structural analyses of individual buildings under FFE scenarios have been completed. Results show that the drift demand on the building frame increases during post-earthquake fires. Despite the mitigation actions, there are still urban cities that are not prepared for such an event, such as certain areas of California in the USA.

Originality/value

The paper is a complete and an exhaustive collection of literature on different aspects of FFE. Research in earthquake engineering is well advanced, while structural analyses under fire load and performance of communities under FFE can be further advanced.
Discrete choice model of residential location in Krakow
Authors: Gluszak Michal , Marona Bartlomiej
Published: March 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to discuss the link between socio-economic characteristics of house buyers and their housing location choices. The major objective of the study is an examination of the role of household socio-economic characteristics. The research addresses the importance of previous residence location and latent housing motives for intra-urban housing mobility.

Design/methodology/approach

The research examines housing preferences structure and analyzes housing location choices in the city of Krakow (Poland) using discrete choice model (conditional logit model). The research is based on stated preference data from Krakow.

Findings

The results of this study suggest that demand for housing alternatives is negatively linked to the distance from current residence. Other factors stay equal, the further the distance, the less likely a household is willing to choose a location within the metropolitan area. The study indicates that housing motives can help explain housing location decisions.

Practical implications

The paper provides an empirical assessment of housing decisions in Krakow, one of the major metropolitan areas in Poland.

Originality/value

The paper contributes to a better understanding of the nature of housing decision and housing preferences in emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe. As a result, presented research helps to fill the gap in housing market and urban economics literature.
Unpacking differences in psychological contracts of organizational and self-initiated expatriates
Authors: Zhang Kate Yue , Rienties Bart
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Global staffing has remained a main focus within the field of international human resource management (IHRM) since the 1970s. However, research in the psychological contract (PC) of expatriates is limited. The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences in PC breach and violation for organisational expatriates and self-initiated expatriates (SIEs).

Design/methodology/approach

A survey questionnaire was developed covering 52 organisational expatriates and 119 SIEs from 35 countries/regions working in China. Four follow-up focus group interviews including four organisational expatriates and 12 SIEs were conducted to further explain the findings of the survey.

Findings

The findings indicate that organisational expatriates experience significantly lower levels of PC breach and violation than SIEs. Three broad thematic areas arose from the triangulation of focus group interviews, including uncertainties in functioning of contracts, differences in job securities and career development opportunities, and cultural differences.

Practical implications

Employers should give a comprehensive orientation and cultural training to meet the needs of SIEs. Moreover, long-term career advancement paths should also be provided to SIEs to alleviate their vulnerability and insecurities working abroad.

Originality/value

The study contributes to the scholarship of self-initiated expatriation and PCs and give implications to IHRM strategies.
Spatial distribution of areas susceptible to sheet erosion in computing environment
Authors: Fiorentin Ailton Moisés Xavier , Miranda Renato Billia , Vitti Dalva Maria de Castro , Scarpinella Gustavo D’Almeida , Mauad Frederico Fabio
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Erosion is the main cause of soil and water degradation, which demands investments for the recovery of such natural resources. The purpose of this paper is to quantify and spatialize soil losses in a municipality with large areas of monoculture of sugarcane.

Design/methodology/approach

The Universal Soil Loss Equation was applied for the identification of areas susceptible to erosion in the municipality of Jahu, SP, Brazil. Soil maps, statistical census data from Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, radar images from SRTM, rainfall data from Fatec-Jahu hydrometeorological station and digital satellite images from Landsat 5 TM were used for the analyses. Four basic parameters were evaluated: topography of the terrain, rainfall erosivity, soil erodibility, and soil use and management factors. The analyses were conducted in the Geographic Information System (ArcView software).

Findings

The results show most of the municipality (91 percent) consists of areas of erosion potential. However, the remaining 9 percent can potentially produce 40 percent of the sediment load, which indicates the need for conservation practices and environmental recovery for a reduction in the erosion process acceleration.

Originality/value

In view of the expansion of sugarcane culture in the cities of São Paulo, the results show the importance of a master plan for new areas of sugarcane planting and the need for restoration of riparian vegetation in the surrounding streams and springs for the reduction of erosion.
Predicting procedural justice behavior: examining communication and personality
Authors: Lawrence Daniel S. , Christoff Thomas E. , Escamilla Justin H.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Law enforcement agencies have historically used psychological examinations, in addition to other methods, to screen candidates out of the applicant pool. However, agencies could be better served by ensuring recruits are predisposed to the expected behaviors and qualities that are required as part of community-oriented and respectful policing. The purpose of this paper is to provide an initial look into what officer-level characteristics might lead to improved treatment in police-community interactions (PCIs). Characteristics under review include communication styles and personality dimensions.

Design/methodology/approach

Data come from the National Police Research Platform’s longitudinal recruit study and its PCI survey. Community members were surveyed about their interactions with officers involved in the study. Hierarchical linear modeling was used to analyze these two-level data.

Findings

The findings suggest that certain officer-level characteristics were associated with higher perceptions of procedurally just behavior. Specifically, officers with higher levels of empathy and lower levels of neuroticism scored higher on both the officer’s quality of treatment (QT) and quality of decision making toward the community member. Additional to those dimensions, officers with increased emotional control received higher scores on their QT.

Originality/value

These findings have important implications for identifying and measuring new characteristics to be used in police hiring procedures. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first instance where personality dimensions and communications styles have been used to predict law enforcement officers’ procedural justice behaviors in the field.
Effects of police agency diversification on officer attitudes
Authors: Alderden Megan , Farrell Amy , McCarty William P.
Published: March 2017

Purpose

In light of recent calls to increase the diversity of America’s police, the purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of agency and leadership diversification on officer job satisfaction and reported perceptions of fairness within the organization, factors known to influence retention and performance.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey of 15,236 officers representing 88 agencies was used, as well as other agency- and community-level variables. Multi-level models were used to assess how these individual- and agency-level variables, including measures of diversification, affected job satisfaction and perceptions of fairness.

Findings

Diversification in agency leadership positions was found to improve perceptions of fairness among all officers, in addition to ameliorating some feelings of unfairness among African-American officers. Diversification of the sworn ranks, in comparison to the population of the community, however, was not found to significantly affect the outcome measures.

Research limitations/implications

The study only examined the effects of diversification on officer perceptions. Future studies that link measures of diversification to citizen perceptions are needed to understand how members of the public respond to the image and characteristics of sworn personnel in their communities.

Practical implications

The results indicate the importance of retention and promotion of more diverse leadership in police agencies.

Originality/value

This study is one of the first to assess the effects of diversification in such a large sample of agencies of all types and sizes throughout the USA.
Police CEOs and subordinates’ perceptions of workplace misconduct
Authors: Maskaly Jon , Donner Christopher M. , Fridell Lorie
Published: March 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine whether homophily – whereby people are influenced by those perceived as similar to themselves – affects attitudes toward police misconduct. Specifically, whether demographic dissimilarity between police chief executive law enforcement officers (CEOs) and subordinates is related to differences in perceptions of misconduct.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this research are drawn from the National Police Research Platform. Multilevel mixed-effects regression modeling is used to analyze data from 78 randomly selected US police agencies (78 law enforcement CEOs and 10,709 officers from those agencies).

Findings

The main finding is that demographic dissimilarity between the CEO and subordinates is associated with differences in attitudes about police deviance, net of other factors.

Practical implications

The results exemplify the need to diversify police agencies at all levels, not just the lower ranks. Because employees were found to be more similar to those one step (up or down) from one another on the organizational hierarchy, diversifying at all levels of the police organizations will help to reduce the social distance between those in closer ranks, which could ameliorate the dissimilarity effect. Likewise, police agencies may need to adopt new management strategies to compensate for a diversifying workforce.

Originality/value

This study builds on previous research and investigates an understudied topic in the policing literature by assessing the extent to which dissimilarity is related to attitudinal congruence about workplace deviance in police organizations.
Police culture: individual and organizational differences in police officer perspectives
Authors: Cordner Gary
Published: March 2017

Purpose

Much of the commentary about police culture treats it as a monolithic and problematic feature of the police occupation that inhibits change and progress. The purpose of this paper is to draw on surveys completed by over 13,000 sworn police to describe officers’ occupational outlooks and explore the extent to which they vary across individuals and police agencies.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper draws upon employee survey data from 89 US police and sheriff departments collected in 2014-2015 to examine police culture through officers’ views of the community, police work, and police administration and to explore the extent to which these beliefs and opinions are affected by personal characteristics and organizational affiliation.

Findings

Results indicate that officers’ perspectives are more positive than might be expected and do not vary greatly by officer personal characteristics. They differ more substantially across police agencies. This suggests that police culture is to a significant extent an organizational phenomenon, not simply an occupational one.

Originality/value

Examining the views and perspectives of over 13,000 sworn police employed in 89 different police organizations provides a more representative and generalizable picture of police culture than previous studies that typically analyzed officers in only one police department.
Divergence in strategies for coping with winter embolism among co‐occurring temperate tree species: the role of positive xylem pressure, wood type and tree stature
Authors: Niu Cun‐Yang , Meinzer Frederick C. , Hao Guang‐You
Published: March 2017

In temperate ecosystems, freeze‐thaw events are an important environmental stress that can induce severe xylem embolism (i.e. clogging of conduits by air bubbles) in overwintering organs of trees. However, no comparative studies of different adaptive strategies among sympatric tree species for coping with winter embolism have examined the potential role of the presence or absence of embolism refilling by positive xylem pressure.

We evaluated the degree of winter embolism and hydraulic architecture traits in 22 deciduous angiosperm tree species typical of temperate forest sites in NE China. Co‐occurring trees growing in a local botanical garden were used to minimize variation caused by differences in proximal environmental conditions and to ensure that interspecific variation reflected genetic differences between species.

Four functional groups with potentially different strategies for coping with winter embolism were compared: positive xylem pressure‐ generating species (PXP) that are all diffuse‐porous, except a semi‐ring‐porous species, large (LDP) and small (SDP) statured diffuse‐porous tree species that are unable to generate positive xylem pressure, and ring‐porous species (RP).

The PXP group exhibited nearly full recovery from winter embolism in contrast to the other three groups, which showed persistent and relatively high degrees of hydraulic dysfunction during the subsequent growing season. The absence of a functional trade‐off between hydraulic efficiency and safety against freeze‐thaw‐induced embolism in the PXP group and the presence of a trade‐off in the other three groups, suggests that the ability to generate root or stem pressure for embolism refilling may partially free some temperate tree species from adaptive constraints imposed by winter embolism formation.

Efficient winter embolism reversal by positive pressure in PXP species did not distinguish them from their non‐xylem pressure‐generating LDP counterparts in terms of various measures of xylem hydraulic efficiency during the growing season. Divergence in the ability to refill winter embolism through generation of positive xylem pressure implies a series of functional trade‐offs that may partially explain the co‐existence of these two types of temperate tree species.

A lay summary is available for this article.
From Politically Naïve to Politically Mature: Conceptualizing Leaders’ Political Maturation Journey
Authors: Doldor Elena
Published: March 2017

This paper contributes to the literature on organizational politics and leadership. Current studies of leaders’ engagement in politics neglect notions of learning and development. The current paper aims to overcome this shortcoming by providing a developmental perspective on leaders’ engagement in organizational politics. Using in‐depth qualitative interviews with leaders at different seniority levels, the study examines developmental patterns in leaders’ willingness and ability to engage in organizational politics. The inductive findings inform a three‐stage model of political maturation, providing insights into the developmental nature of political will and political skill. Drawing on leadership skill and adult development literature, the paper posits that political maturation entails not only changes in leaders’ observable skills and behaviours, but also deep‐structure changes in mindsets and cognitive scripts regarding engagement in organizational politics. Furthermore, findings demonstrate the roles of experience and significant others in facilitating learning about organizational politics. The paper discusses theoretical and practical implications of this dynamic, developmental perspective.
Epidemiology of uterine fibroids: a systematic review
Authors: Stewart EA , Cookson CL , Gandolfo RA , Schulze‐Rath R
Published: March 2017

Background

Uterine fibroids (UFs) are the most common neoplasm affecting women that can cause significant morbidity and may adversely impact fertility.

Objectives

To examine UF epidemiology and to evaluate the relative strengths of putative risk factors.

Search strategy

MEDLINE and Embase were searched for studies published in English between January 1995 and April 2015.

Selection criteria

Publications reporting relevant data from registries and other observational studies with over 1000 patients and single‐centre studies with over 100 patients were selected.

Data collection and analysis

Data on UF incidence, prevalence and associated risk factors were extracted from 60 publications.

Main results

Wide ranges were reported in both UF incidence (217–3745 cases per 100 000 women‐years) and prevalence (4.5–68.6%), depending on study populations and diagnostic methods. Black race was the only factor that was recurrently reported to increase UF risk, by two–threefold compared with white race. Eleven other factors affected UF risk to a magnitude similar to or greater than race. Age, premenopausal state, hypertension, family history, time since last birth, and food additive and soybean milk consumption increased UF risk; use of oral contraceptives or the injectable contraceptive depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, smoking in women with low body mass index and parity reduced UF risk.

Conclusions

We identified 12 risk factors that play an important role in UF epidemiology. The UF risk factor with the strongest evidence is black race. High‐quality prospective observational data are needed to improve our understanding of UF epidemiology, and thus its aetiology and optimal management.

Tweetable abstract

Uterine fibroids occur in about 70% of women. Black race and 11 other factors affect uterine fibroid risk.
Hospital Readmission and Social Risk Factors Identified from Physician Notes
Authors: Navathe Amol S. , Zhong Feiran , Lei Victor J. , Chang Frank Y. , Sordo Margarita , Topaz Maxim , Navathe Shamkant B. , Rocha Roberto A. , Zhou Li
Published: March 2017

Objective

To evaluate the prevalence of seven social factors using physician notes as compared to claims and structured electronic health records (EHRs) data and the resulting association with 30‐day readmissions.

Study Setting

A multihospital academic health system in southeastern Massachusetts.

Study Design

An observational study of 49,319 patients with cardiovascular disease admitted from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2013, using multivariable logistic regression to adjust for patient characteristics.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

All‐payer claims, EHR data, and physician notes extracted from a centralized clinical registry.

Principal Findings

All seven social characteristics were identified at the highest rates in physician notes. For example, we identified 14,872 patient admissions with poor social support in physician notes, increasing the prevalence from 0.4 percent using ICD‐9 codes and structured EHR data to 16.0 percent. Compared to an 18.6 percent baseline readmission rate, risk‐adjusted analysis showed higher readmission risk for patients with housing instability (readmission rate 24.5 percent; p < .001), depression (20.6 percent; p < .001), drug abuse (20.2 percent; p = .01), and poor social support (20.0 percent; p = .01).

Conclusions

The seven social risk factors studied are substantially more prevalent than represented in administrative data. Automated methods for analyzing physician notes may enable better identification of patients with social needs.
Changes in Serum Bicarbonate Levels Caused by Acetate‐Containing Bicarbonate‐Buffered Hemodialysis Solution: An Observational Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Panesar Mandip , Shah Neal , Vaqar Sarosh , Ivaturi Kaushik , Gudleski Gregory , Muscarella Mary , Lambert Judy , Su Winnie , Murray Brian
Published: March 2017

Fresenius Medical Care's NaturaLyte dialysate has been associated with increased risk of sudden cardiac death by causing metabolic alkalosis from its acetate content based on retrospective data using pre‐dialysis bicarbonate levels only. The study objective was to measure inter/intra‐dialytic changes in serum bicarbonate and degree of alkalosis conferred by varying concentrations of NaturaLyte bicarbonate dialysate. Thirty‐nine hemodialysis patients were divided into four groups based on prescribed bicarbonate dialysate concentrations; Group 1 (N = 9): 30–32 mEq/L, Group 2 (N = 5): 33–34 mEq/L, Group 3 (N = 10): 35–36 mEq/L, Group 4 (N = 15): 37–40 mEq/L. Serial (pre‐dialysis, immediate post‐dialysis, 2 h post‐dialysis, and 68 h post‐dialysis) bicarbonate levels were measured. Mean pre‐dialysis serum bicarbonate levels (representing 44 h post‐dialysis levels) in all four groups were not statistically different. Pre‐dialysis and 68 h post‐dialysis bicarbonate levels in each group were also not significantly different. However, immediate post‐dialysis and 2 h post‐dialysis bicarbonate levels were significantly increased in all four groups proportional to dialysate dose. There was statistically significant inter‐group bicarbonate level difference (P < 0.05) except between the first and second (P = 0.43) and second and third (P = 0.07) groups in the immediate post‐dialysis period. Similar results were obtained for the 2 h post‐dialysis period. High bicarbonate dialysate causes large and rapid fluctuations in serum bicarbonate levels during the intra/inter‐dialytic period, which returns to baseline within 44 to 68 h after dialysis. This refutes the necessity to correct pre‐dialysis acidosis with high bicarbonate dialysate since rapid equilibration is likely to occur and unnecessarily exposes patients to large shifts in their acid base balance.
CONSEQUENCES OF INCARCERATION FOR GANG MEMBERSHIP: A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF SERIOUS OFFENDERS IN PHILADELPHIA AND PHOENIX*
Authors: PYROOZ DAVID C. , GARTNER NANCY , SMITH MOLLY
Published: March 2017

Gang members are overrepresented among incarcerated populations in the United States. The link between incarceration and gang membership is beyond dispute, but serious questions remain about the causal mechanisms underlying this relationship. In this study, we develop and test theoretical models—origination, manifestation, and intensification—that focus on whether gang membership is exogenous or endogenous to incarceration. We used 7 years of monthly life calendar data nested within an 11‐wave longitudinal study of 1,336 serious offenders in Philadelphia and Phoenix to examine the effects of incarceration on gang membership. Multilevel models indicated that offenders were more likely to be in gangs while incarcerated in jail and prison settings than when not, although longer spells of incarceration corresponded with prolonged gang membership only in Phoenix. Incarceration in juvenile facilities maintained adverse between‐ and within‐individual effects on gang membership only in Phoenix. Additional descriptive findings revealed that gang status was durable to transitions into and out of incarcerated settings, and that more offenders exited than entered gangs while incarcerated. We situate these findings within our theoretical models and the body of knowledge on incarceration, concluding with a call for future research that is focused on the symbiosis between gangs in street and incarcerated settings.
Chinese SLE Treatment and Research Group (CSTAR) registry:VIII. Influence of socioeconomic and geographical variables on disease phenotype and activity in Chinese patients with SLE
Authors: Cheng Yongjing , Li Mengtao , Zhao Jiuliang , Ye Zhizhong , Li Caifeng , Li Xiaofeng , Zhu Ping , Wang Zhengang , Zheng Yi , Li Xiangpei , Zhang Miaojia , Huang Cibo , Zeng Xiaofeng ,   CSTAR co‐authors
Published: March 2017

Aim

The aim of this study was to estimate the influence of socioeconomic and geographical variables on disease phenotype and activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a Chinese population.

Methods

Data on 904 therapy‐naïve SLE patients from the Chinese SLE Treatment and Research Group (CSTAR), which is a nation‐wide database of SLE patients, were used to evaluate the influence of socioeconomic status (SES) and geographical regions on disease phenotypes. The influence of regional climate and economic variables (i.e., data from the database of the Chinese Statistical Yearly Annals) on disease activity and nephropathy was further analyzed in a multivariate analysis to identify some of the environmental factors contributing to SLE.

Results

Phenotype differences in SLE were found between patients with different SES. In the multivariate regression analysis that considered regional economic and climate factors, after adjusting for age, gender and disease duration, lower educational levels (β: −0.122, P = 0.001), lower availability of medical technical personnel (MTP) per 1000 people (β: −0.192, P < 0.001), higher annual duration of sunshine (β: 0.178, P = 0.010) and residence in southern China (β: 0.165, P = 0.001) were significantly associated with higher disease activity scores. Living in southern China (odds ratio [OR]: 1.907, P = 0.002) seemed to be a significant risk factor for nephropathy. A high number of MTP per 1000 people (OR: 0.951, P = 0.014) and relatively high temperatures were determined to be protective factors for nephropathy (OR: 0.946, P = 0.011).

Conclusions

The phenotype pattern and disease activity varied between SLE patients by SES and other regional variables, such as educational level, availability of medical technical personnel, annual sunshine duration and regional temperature.
Hierarchical mutational events compensate for glutamate auxotrophy of a Bacillus subtilis gltC mutant
Authors: Dormeyer Miriam , Lübke Anastasia L. , Müller Peter , Lentes Sabine , Reuß Daniel R. , Thürmer Andrea , Stülke Jörg , Daniel Rolf , Brantl Sabine , Commichau Fabian M.
Published: March 2017

Glutamate is the major donor of nitrogen for anabolic reactions. The Gram‐positive soil bacterium Bacillus subtilis either utilizes exogenously provided glutamate or synthesizes it using the gltAB‐encoded glutamate synthase (GOGAT). In the absence of glutamate, the transcription factor GltC activates expression of the GOGAT genes for glutamate production. Consequently, a gltC mutant strain is auxotrophic for glutamate. Using a genetic selection and screening system, we could isolate and differentiate between gltC suppressor mutants in one step. All mutants had acquired the ability to synthesize glutamate, independent of GltC. We identified (i) gain‐of‐function mutations in the gltR gene, encoding the transcription factor GltR, (ii) mutations in the promoter of the gltAB operon and (iii) massive amplification of the genomic locus containing the gltAB operon. The mutants belonging to the first two classes constitutively expressed the gltAB genes and produced sufficient glutamate for growth. By contrast, mutants that belong to the third class appeared most frequently and solved glutamate limitation by increasing the copy number of the poorly expressed gltAB genes. Thus, glutamate auxotrophy of a B. subtilis gltC mutant can be relieved in multiple ways. Moreover, recombination‐dependent amplification of the gltAB genes is the predominant mutational event indicating a hierarchy of mutations.
Detection of lethal yellowing phytoplasma in coconut plantlets obtained through in vitro germination of zygotic embryos from the seeds of infected palms
Authors: Oropeza C. , Cordova I. , Puch‐Hau C. , Castillo R. , Chan J.L. , Sáenz L.
Published: March 2017

Lethal yellowing (LY) is a disease caused by 16SrIV phytoplasmas that has devastated coconut plantations in the Americas. An alternative means of phytoplasma spread is through seeds. Therefore, we used a novel approach based on plumules from the embryos of LY‐diseased coconut palms. We cultured the plumules in vitro to determine the presence of phytoplasma DNA in the plantlets. In the first assay, 185 embryos were obtained. The results showed positive detection in 20 samples (11%) with the nested PCR and in 59 samples (32%) with the TaqMan real‐time PCR. A second assay was designed to trace plumules to their respective embryos and haustorial tissues to determine whether they had derived from an embryo with positive LY detection; a total of 124 embryos were obtained. The results showed no positive detection with the nested PCR and positive detection in 42 of the haustorial tissue samples (32%) with the TaqMan real‐time PCR. The 124 plumules isolated from the embryos were cultivated under in vitro conditions and divided into two groups. Group A was followed for shoot formation and Group B was followed to the plantlet stage. After 3 months of cultivation, 33 cultures (50%) within Group A became necrotic; the rest were analysed to evaluate LY phytoplasma DNA with the TaqMan real‐time PCR assay and 14 (42%) tested positive. After 18 months of cultivation, 20 cultures (34%) within Group B became necrotic. The rest were analysed for the detection of the LY phytoplasma DNA, and 15 and 11 (39% and 29%) of the samples tested positive with the TaqMan real‐time PCR and nested PCR assays, respectively. Blast analysis of the sequenced products revealed that the sequences showed 99% homology with LY‐phytoplasma subgroup 16SrIV‐A. The results presented here demonstrate, for the first time, the occurrence of the transmission of LY phytoplasmas from coconut embryos to plantlets.
Rabbits killing hares: an invasive mammal modifies native predator–prey dynamics
Authors: Cerri J. , Ferretti M. , Bertolino S.
Published: March 2017

Invasive species management requires practical evidence of the impacts of introduced species over ecosystem structure and functioning. Theoretical ecology and empirical data support the potential of introduced mammals to drive native species to extinction, indeed the majority of practical evidence comes from insular environments, where conditions may differ from the mainland. We analyzed the effects of an introduced lagomorph, the eastern cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus on two native mammals, the European hare Lepus europaeus and the red fox Vulpes vulpes. We used relative abundances collected over 8 years at 30 protected areas in Italy. A generalized linear mixed model was fit to test various hypotheses about the relationships between cottontails, foxes and climatic conditions over the abundance of native hares. In our model, hare and cottontail abundances did not show a negative relationship and we believe that no direct competition occurs between the two species. However, the relationship between fox and hare abundances, positive when cottontails were scarce, became more and more negative as cottontails increased: this supports the hypothesis that indirect dynamics like apparent competition exists between the two lagomorphs. Climatic conditions, expressed through the North Atlantic Oscillation, did not affect the relationship between cottontail and hare abundances. As the impact of parasites on mammal populations is generally climate dependent, we believe that cottontails do not play a direct role in the cycle of parasites affecting hares. Our results provide a clue that an invasive mammal, the eastern cottontail, is modifying the predator–prey relationship between two native species in a non‐insular environment. The existence of such dynamics should lead wildlife managers to account for the effect of introduced species in their decision making, directing control activities on cottontails and not on native foxes.
Adverse reactions to orthodontic materials
Authors: Sifakakis I , Eliades T
Published: March 2017

Adverse effects can arise from the clinical use of orthodontic materials, due to the release of constituent substances (ions from alloys and monomers, degradation by‐products, and additives from polymers). Moreover, intraoral aging affects the biologic properties of materials. The aim of this review is to present the currently identified major adverse effects of the metallic and polymeric components found in orthodontic appliances and materials. Corrosion in metallic orthodontic attachments releases metal ions, mainly iron, chromium, and nickel. The latter has received the greatest attention because of its reported potential for an allergic response. The formation of an oxide layer may inhibit the outward movement of ions, thereby acting as an obstacle for release. Titanium alloys have superior corrosion resistance than stainless steel. The efficiency of polymerisation is considered an essential property for all polymers. A poor polymer network is susceptible to the release of biologically reactive substances, such as bisphenol‐A (BPA), which is capable of inducing hormone‐related effects. The close proximity of a light‐curing tip to the adhesive, pumice prophylaxis after bonding, indirect irradiation and mouth rinsing during the first hour after bonding may decrease BPA release. The adverse effects of some orthodontic materials should be considered during material selection and throughout orthodontic treatment, in order to minimise possible undesirable implications.
Poorer detection rates of severe fetal growth restriction in women of likely refugee background: A case for re‐focusing pregnancy care
Authors: Biro Mary Anne , East Christine
Published: March 2017

Background

Severe fetal growth restriction (FGR) (< third centile) in a singleton pregnancy undelivered by 40 weeks is one of a number of Victorian Perinatal Services Performance Indicators, which aim to provide a measure of the quality and safety of maternity care. Women of refugee background have been found to have poorer perinatal outcomes compared to others and these outcomes can in part be explained by previous history. However, less access to and engagement with pregnancy care may also be contributing factors. This study examined the impact of likely refugee background on severe FGR in a singleton pregnancy undelivered by 40 weeks.

Methods

A retrospective study was undertaken utilising data on women who gave birth to a severely growth‐restricted infant at Monash Health during January 2013–July 2015. Unadjusted and adjusted analyses were undertaken to examine the association between the mother being of likely refugee background and severe FGR in singletons delivered after 40 weeks.

Results

There was an association between the mother being of likely refugee background and giving birth to a severely growth‐restricted baby after 40 weeks with these mothers at two and half times the odds compared to mothers of non‐refugee background (adjusted odds ratio 2.52; 95% confidence interval: 1.44–4.42).

Conclusions

While detecting FGR is clinically challenging, our findings suggest that maternity services need to be supported to offer care tailored to the specific needs of vulnerable and disadvantaged populations. Providing quality, culturally responsive and accessible care is fundamental to addressing refugee maternal and perinatal health inequalities.
Working hours of obstetrics and gynaecology trainees in Australia and New Zealand
Authors: Acton Jade , Tucker Paige E. , Bulsara Max K. , Cohen Paul A.
Published: March 2017

Background

The importance of doctors' working hours has gained significant attention with evidence suggesting long hours and fatigue may compromise the safety and wellbeing of both patients and doctors. This study aims to quantify the working hours of The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) specialist trainees in order to better inform discussions of working hours and safety within our region.

Methods

An anonymous, online survey of RANZCOG trainees was conducted. Demographic data were collected. The primary outcomes were: hours per week at work and hours per week on‐call. Secondary outcomes included the frequency of long days (>12 h) and 24‐h shifts, time spent studying, staff shortages and opinions regarding current rostering.

Results

Response rate was 49.5% (n = 259). Full‐time trainees worked an average of 53.1 ± 10.0 h/week, with 11.6% working on‐call. Long‐day shifts were reported by 85.8% of respondents, with an average length of 14.2 h. Fifteen percent reported working 24‐h shifts, with a median duration of uninterrupted sleep during this shift being 1–2 h. Trainees in New Zealand worked 7.0 h/week more than Australian trainees (P ≤0.001), but reported less on‐call (P = 0.021). Trainees in Western Australia were more likely to work on‐call (P ≤0.001) and 24‐h shifts (P ≤0.001).

Conclusion

While 53.1 h/week at work is similar to the average Australian hospital doctor, high rates of long days and 24‐h shifts with minimal sleep were reported by RANZCOG trainees in this survey.
A generalised NGINAR(1) process with inflated‐parameter geometric counting series
Authors: Borges Patrick , Bourguignon Marcelo , Molinares Fabio Fajardo
Published: March 2017

In this paper we propose a new stationary first‐order non‐negative integer valued autoregressive process with geometric marginals based on a generalised version of the negative binomial thinning operator. In this manner we obtain another process that we refer to as a generalised stationary integer‐valued autoregressive process of the first order with geometric marginals. This new process will enable one to tackle the problem of overdispersion inherent in the analysis of integer‐valued time series data, and contains the new geometric process as a particular case. In addition various properties of the new process, such as conditional distribution, autocorrelation structure and innovation structure, are derived. We discuss conditional maximum likelihood estimation of the model parameters. We evaluate the performance of the conditional maximum likelihood estimators by a Monte Carlo study. The proposed process is fitted to time series of number of weekly sales (economics) and weekly number of syphilis cases (medicine) illustrating its capabilities in challenging cases of highly overdispersed count data.
Monitoring daily intraocular pressure fluctuations with self‐tonometry in healthy subjects
Authors: Quérat Laurence , Chen Enping
Published: March 2017

Purpose

To evaluate the accuracy of the intraocular pressure (IOP) measured by healthy subjects with icare® Home and to observe the IOP fluctuation and pattern of IOP fluctuation in healthy subjects over three consecutive days.

Methods

Sixty healthy subjects were recruited to the study. IOP was measured by the subjects themselves and by study staff using icare® Home tonometers on visits 1 and 2, as well as by study staff using Goldmann applanation tonometry (GAT). Furthermore, the subjects measured their IOP at home for three consecutive days.

Results

Twenty‐three per cent of the study eyes were excluded in the statistical analysis due to dropout or non‐compliance to the schedule. Approximately 70% of the icare® Home measurements were within 3 mmHg of the GAT measurements. Ten to 16% of the study eyes had IOP peaks outside office hours. Sixty‐three per cent of the study eyes had different IOP patterns on consecutive days.

Conclusion

Rebound self‐tonometry appears to be accurate and could be used to monitor short‐ and long‐term IOP variations. The difference between IOP patterns on consecutive days raises questions as to the certainty of a single IOP measurement as a measure of treatment effect.
Unpacking socio‐economic risks for reading and academic self‐concept in primary school: Differential effects and the role of the preschool home learning environment
Authors: Crampton Alexandria , Hall James
Published: March 2017

Background

Uncertainty remains concerning how children's reading and academic self‐concept are related and how these are differentially affected by social disadvantage and home learning environments.

Aims

To contrast the impacts of early socio‐economic risks and preschool home learning environments upon British children's reading abilities and academic self‐concept between 7 and 10 years.

Sample

n = 3,172 British children aged 3–10 years and their families.

Methods

A secondary analysis of the nationally representative UK EPPE database. Multilevel structural equation modelling calculated the direct, indirect, and total impacts of early socio‐economic risks (0–3 years) and preschool home learning environments (3–5 years) upon children's reading ability and academic self‐concept between 7 and 10 years.

Results

Early socio‐economic risk had different effects upon children's reading ability and academic self‐concept. Early socio‐economic risks affected children's reading at ages 7 and 10 both directly and indirectly via effects upon preschool home learning environments. By contrast, early socio‐economic risks had only indirect effects upon children's academic self‐concept via less stimulating home learning environments in the preschool period and by limiting reading abilities early on in primary school.

Conclusions

Although the impacts of early socio‐economic risks are larger and more easily observed upon reading than upon academic self‐concept, they can impact both by making it less likely that children will experience enriching home learning environments during the preschool period. This has implications for social policymakers, early educators, and interventionists. Intervening early and improving preschool home learning environments can do more than raise children's reading abilities; secondary benefits may also be achievable upon children's self‐concept.
Platelets and infections in the resource‐limited countries with a focus on malaria and viral haemorrhagic fevers
Authors: Thachil Jecko
Published: March 2017

Infections continue to cause a high incidence of mortality and morbidity in resource‐poor nations. Although antimicrobial therapy has aided mostly in dealing with the pathogenic micro‐organisms themselves, the collateral damage caused by the infections continue to cause many deaths. Intensive care support and manipulation of the hosts’ abnormal response to the infection have helped to improve mortality in well‐resourced countries. But, in those areas with limited resources, this is not yet the case and simpler methods of diagnosis and interventions are required. Thrombocytopenia is one of the most common manifestations in all these infections and may be used as an easily available prognostic indicator and marker for the severity of the infections. In this review, the relevance of platelets in infections in general, and specifically to tropical infections, malaria, and viral haemorrhagic fevers in the emerging countries is discussed. Better understanding of the pathophysiology and the role of platelets in particular in such conditions is likely to translate into better patient care and thus reduce morbidity and mortality.
Modified retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for post‐chemotherapy residual tumour: a long‐term update
Authors: Cho Jane S. , Kaimakliotis Hristos Z. , Cary Clint , Masterson Timothy A. , Beck Stephen , Foster Richard
Published: March 2017

Objective

To update previously reported outcomes of modified‐template post‐chemotherapy retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (PC‐RPLND) in appropriately selected patients with metastatic non‐seminomatous germ cell tumour (NSGCT), as our previous report was criticised for short follow‐up and so we now provide a long‐term update on this cohort.

Patients and Methods

In all, 100 patients with normal serum markers after cisplatin‐based chemotherapy and residual retroperitoneal tumour underwent modified PC‐RPLND between 1991 and 2004. Using a prospectively managed institutional testicular cancer database, long‐term follow‐up was obtained.

Results

As previously reported, 43 patients underwent a right‐modified template, 18 patients underwent a full‐left‐modified template, and 39 patients underwent a left‐modified template. The updated long‐term median follow‐up for the entire cohort is 125 months. Seven patients developed recurrent disease with a median (range) time to recurrence of 11 (6–102) months, and one patient died from recurrent disease in the chest 4 years after surgery. All recurrences were outside the boundaries of a full‐bilateral template RPLND, with the most common location of recurrence being the chest. The 5‐ and 10‐year recurrence‐free survival rates were 93% and 92%, respectively. The overall survival at 10 years was 99%.

Conclusions

In appropriately selected patients with low‐volume disease before and after chemotherapy, a modified template has durable long‐term efficacy without risk of in‐field recurrences at a median follow‐up of 125 months.
Proteins and chemical chaperones involved in neuronal nicotinic receptor expression and function: an update
Authors: Crespi Arianna , Colombo Sara Francesca , Gotti Cecilia
Published: March 2017

Neuronal nicotinic ACh receptors (nAChRs) are a family of ACh‐gated cation channels, and their homeostasis or proteostasis is essential for the correct physiology of the central and peripheral nervous systems. The proteostasis network regulates the folding, assembly, degradation and trafficking of nAChRs in order to ensure their efficient and functional expression at the cell surface. However, as nAChRs are multi‐subunit, multi‐span, integral membrane proteins, the folding and assembly is a very inefficient process, and only a small proportion of subunits can form functional pentamers. Moreover, the efficiency of assembly and trafficking varies widely depending on the nAChR subtypes and the cell type in which they are expressed. A detailed understanding of the mechanisms that regulate the functional expression of nAChRs in neurons and non‐neuronal cells is therefore important. The purpose of this short review is to describe more recent findings concerning the chaperone proteins and target‐specific and target‐nonspecific pharmacological chaperones that modulate the expression of nAChR subtypes, and the possible mechanisms that underlie the dynamic changes of cell surface nAChRs.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v175.11/issuetoc