bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Measurement and predictors of resilience among Latin American public relations professionals
Authors: Moreno Angeles , Navarro Cristina , Molleda Juan-Carlos , Fuentes-Lara M. Cristina
Published: September 2019

Purpose

It is well established that greater resilience buffers the negative effects of adverse events and conditions, allowing the affected individual to recover adequately. Resilience is a core trait for public relations practitioners, due to the challenging and pressure-laden nature of their work. However, as an individual-level trait, this phenomenon remains underexplored in the communication field. The purpose of this paper is to examine the dimensionality and measurement invariance of the 25-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (Connor and Davidson, 2003), evaluate the level of resilience and identify predictors of resilience among Latin American public relations practitioners.

Design/methodology/approach

A population of 898 public relations professionals from 18 Latin American countries working on different hierarchical levels, both in communication departments and agencies across the region were surveyed.

Findings

CD-RISC global scorings show direct correlations with age, years of experience, type of organization, hierarchy and social media skills. However, education, salary, gender or working in an excellent, successful and influential communication department were not predictors of resilience. Additionally, results provide supporting evidence that the CD-RISC has good psychometric properties and can be used as a reliable and valid tool to assess resilience among Latin American public relations practitioners.

Research limitations/implications

As in any study using self-report measures, the results may have been influenced by participants’ acquiescence and need for social desirability. Greater participation is needed from some countries to allow for a more comprehensive comparative analysis.

Practical implications

Identifying factors that protect against negative outcomes is important for the development of strengths-based approaches that emphasize resilience. Moreover, in predicting the ability to tolerate stress and its negative effects, this study may help in the selection of personnel who will manage tougher job demands.

Originality/value

Research on the concept of resilience has gained substantial momentum over the past decades and has become a multidisciplinary field of research spanning a variety of theoretical and conceptual positions. However, practitioner resilience has not formally addressed in the public relations research, with the sole exception of the qualitative research conducted by Guo and Anderson in 2018 using a critical incident technique approach. This field provides an intriguing context to study resilience because practitioners are regularly engaged in work that may require the ability to “bounce back” from challenging work.
Response to “uncertainty in emotion recognition”
Authors: Gabriels Katleen
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This study responds to Agnieszka Landowska’s paper about the lack of accuracy in emotion recognition.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach is purely theoretical. The paper also refers to empirical studies.

Findings

The author first elaborates on Landowska’s “postulates” (normative guidelines) and then shortly expands on how virtual chatbots such as “AI therapists” pose considerable challenges to emotion recognition algorithms as well.

Originality/value

This viewpoint’s value is to elaborate and expand on an ongoing discussion on emotion recognition technologies.
International students’ academic satisfaction and turnover intentions
Authors: Gopalan Neena , Beutell Nicholas J. , Middlemiss Wendy
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This study aims to investigate international students’ cultural adjustment, academic satisfaction and turnover intentions using ecological systems perspective and explores factors that affect academic success and turnover by exploring three stages: arrival, adjustment and adaptation.

Design/methodology/approach

The sample consists of 208 international students enrolled at a mid-Western university in the USA. Confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling and mediational analyses were used to test hypotheses.

Findings

Findings indicate that self-efficacy, as a pre-sojourn characteristic, affects adjustment variables inclusive of cultural adjustment, affecting academic satisfaction and turnover intentions. Adjustment variables (coping, cultural adjustment and organizational support) mediated relationships between self-efficacy and turnover intentions.

Research limitations/implications

The proposed model moves the research forward by examining an ecological systems framework describing how individual, social, academic, cultural and institutional factors function in supporting international students’ transitions. Results may be generalizable to other large US universities with varying dynamics and resources available (or not) for international students.

Originality/value

Given the challenges international students face in the USA in adapting to both new culture and academic setting, it is imperative to identify what elements of their transition and academic environment predict academic success. This is one of the first studies testing the propositions derived from Schartner and Young’s (2016) model.
Direct polymer additive tooling – effect of additive manufactured polymer tools on part material properties for injection moulding
Authors: Kampker Achim , Triebs Johannes , Kawollek Sebastian , Ayvaz Peter , Beyer Tom
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the influence of additive manufactured polymer injection moulds on the mechanical properties of moulded parts. Therefore, polymer moulds are used to inject standard specimens to compare material properties to specimens produced using a conventional aluminium tool.

Design/methodology/approach

PolyJet technology is used to three-dimensional (3D)-print a mould insert in Digital ABS and selective laser sintering (SLS) technology is used to 3D-print a mould insert in polyamide (PA) 3200 GF. A conventionally aluminium milled tool serves as reference. Standard specimens are produced to compare resulting mechanical properties, shrinkage behaviour and morphology.

Findings

The determined material characteristics of the manufactured prototypes from the additive manufactured tools show differences in terms of mechanical behaviour to those from the aluminium reference tool. The most significant differences are an up to 25 per cent lower tensile elongation and an up to 63 per cent lower elongation at break resulting in an embrittlement of the specimens produced. These differences seem to be mainly due to the different morphological structure caused by the lower thermal conductivity and greater surface roughness of the polymer tools.

Research limitations/implications

The determined differences in mechanical behaviour can partly be assigned to differences in surface roughness and morphological structure of the resulting parts. The exact extend of either cause, however, cannot be clearly determined.

Originality/value

This study provides a comparison between the part material properties from conventionally milled aluminium tools and polymer inserts manufactured via additive tooling.
Excess liquidity premia of single-name CDS vs iTraxx/CDX spreads: 2007-2017
Authors: Gubareva Mariya
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The aim of this research is twofold. First, we study average levels of liquidity for long-run through-the-cycle periods, which potentially allow eliminating procyclicality from risk parameters used for expected credit-loss calculations. Second, we investigate to what extent the relative illiquidity of individual credit default swap (CDS) contracts affects their spreads in comparison with the respective CDS indices.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the iTraxx Europe CDS index covering European firms and the CDX North America CDS index covering US firms, as well as on individual CDS transactions involving the reference entities constituting these two benchmark indices, we investigate the excess liquidity premia in spreads of the single-name CDS contracts over the spreads of the iTraxx and CDX indices over 2007-2017.

Findings

First, single-name CDS excess liquidity premia depend on CDS contract maturity. Second, the long-run average spread of a benchmark index may stay as low as three-fourths of the respective long-run average of the mean of the single-name CDS spreads, meaning that the excess liquidity premium may be as high as one-fourth of the firm-specific CDS spread. Third, the term structure of the excess liquidity differs between the Europe and North America geographies. Fourth, on average, the excess liquidity premia in the single-name CDS spreads over the respective CDS indices diminish with increasing maturities of CDS contracts.

Originality/value

No previous research addresses differences between the liquidity component in a benchmark CDS index spreads and the mean spread averaged across the constituents of the index. Our work fills this gap.
The interbank payment network and financial system stability
Authors: Sahabat Imaduddin , Silalahi Tumpak , Indrastuti Ratih , Herlina Marizsa
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The financial turbulence resulting from the global financial crisis sparked the interest in improving understanding of financial risks. The transmission of financial institution failures can be determined from the prevailing network structures between banks. The purpose of this study is to identify relationship between payment system network characteristics and financial system condition.

Design/methodology/approach

The characteristics of the interbank network structure in the payment system are identified using a graph theory and the relationship between the network characteristics of interbank transactions in the payment system and financial system stability is examined using a vector auto regression model.

Findings

This study shows that the connectedness of large-value payment transaction is more segmented compared to that of retail value payments. A significant relationship is observed between the characteristics of the network and the large-value payment transactions.

Research limitations/implications

This study found the connectedness of large-value transactions is more segmented when compared to retail-value transactions. It also shows a causal effect of the network characteristic on the financial system stability.

Originality/value

Unlike existing studies, this study considers both the connectedness in large-value transactions and retail-value transactions.
How do different generations contribute to the development of a learning organization in companies undergoing a lean production implementation?
Authors: Tortorella Guilherme , Nascimento Daniel , Caiado Rodrigo , Arrieta Posada Juan Gregorio , Sawhney Rapinder
Published: September 2019

Purpose

This study aims to examine the impact of practitioners’ generational differences on the development of a learning organization (LO) in companies undergoing a lean production (LP) implementation.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors gathered information from 135 leaders from different manufacturers that have been implementing LP and analyzed the data set through multivariate data techniques.

Findings

The results indicate the practitioners from Generations X, Y and Z contribute differently to LO capabilities even if their companies present similar maturities in terms of LP implementation.

Originality/value

Understanding how generational differences interact with LP implementation to allow an extensive development of an LO is fundamental for companies, as values, beliefs and working characteristics of the upcoming generations may significantly influence the effectiveness of current management approaches and firms’ competitiveness.
What makes a good handover in a care home for older people?
Authors: Moriarty Jo , Norrie Caroline , Manthorpe Jill , Lipman Valerie , Elaswarapu Rekha
Published: September 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the content, purpose and effectiveness of the handover of information between care home staff beginning and completing a shift.

Design/methodology/approach

This was an exploratory study drawing on ethnographic methods. A total of 27 interviews with a range of care home staff, including managers, registered nurses, senior care workers and care workers were undertaken in five care homes selected to give a good contrast in terms of size, ownership, shift patterns and type of handover.

Findings

Most handovers were short – lasting 15 min or so – and were held in the office or secluded area in which staff could talk privately. They lasted longer in one home in which the incoming and outgoing shifts physically visited each resident’s room and the communal spaces. Staff felt that handovers were important for the efficient running of the home as well as to alert everyone to changes in a resident’s health or important events, such as a hospital appointment. In one home, handheld devices enabled staff to follow a resident’s care plan and update what was happening in real time.

Research limitations/implications

This was a small scale study based on data from a limited number of care homes.

Practical implications

The increasing popularity of 12 h shifts means that many homes only hold two short handovers early in the morning and in the evening when the night staff arrive. There appears to be a trend to reduce the number of staff paid to attend handover. Despite this, handovers remain an important component of the routine of a care home. The information contained in handover relates to the running of the care home, as well as residents’ wellbeing, suggesting that, while their content overlaps with written records in the home, they are not superfluous.

Originality/value

Although the literature on handovers in hospitals is extensive, this appears to be the first published study of handover practices in care homes.
Mechanisms underlying the effect of an oral antihyperglycaemic agent glyburide on calcium ion (Ca2+) movement and its related cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cells
Authors: Sun Gwo‐Ching , Liang Wei‐Zhe , Jan Chung‐Ren
Published: September 2019

Glyburide is an agent commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes and also affects various physiological responses in different models. However, the effect of glyburide on Ca2+ movement and its related cytotoxicity in prostate cancer cells is unclear. This study examined whether glyburide altered Ca2+ signalling and viability in PC3 human prostate cancer cells and investigated those underlying mechanisms. Intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) in suspended cells were measured by using the fluorescent Ca2+‐sensitive dye fura‐2. Cell viability was examined by WST‐1 assay. Glyburide at concentrations of 100–1000 μM induced [Ca2+]i rises. Ca2+ removal reduced the signal by approximately 60%. In Ca2+‐containing medium, glyburide‐induced Ca2+ entry was inhibited by 60% by protein kinase C (PKC) activator (phorbol 12‐myristate 13 acetate, PMA) and inhibitor (GF109203X), and modulators of store‐operated Ca2+ channels (nifedipine, econazole and SKF96365). Furthermore, glyburide induced Mn2+ influx suggesting of Ca2+ entry. In Ca2+‐free medium, inhibition of phospholipase C (PLC) with U73122 significantly inhibited glyburide‐induced [Ca2+]i rises. Treatment with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ pump inhibitor 2,5‐di‐tert‐butylhydroquinone (BHQ) abolished glyburide‐evoked [Ca2+]i rises. Conversely, treatment with glyburide abolished BHQ‐evoked [Ca2+]i rises. Glyburide at 100–500 μM decreased cell viability, which was not reversed by pretreatment with the Ca2+ chelator 1,2‐bis(2‐aminophenoxy)ethane‐N,N,N’,N’‐tetraacetic acid‐acetoxymethyl ester (BAPTA/AM). Together, in PC3 cells, glyburide induced [Ca2+]i rises by Ca2+ entry via PKC‐sensitive store‐operated Ca2+ channels and Ca2+ release from the ER in a PLC‐dependent manner. Glyburide also caused Ca2+‐independent cell death. This study suggests that glyburide could serve as a potential agent for treatment of prostate cancer.
Association of the eukaryotic vaginal virome with prophylactic antibiotic exposure and reproductive outcomes in a subfertile population undergoing in vitro fertilisation: a prospective exploratory study
Authors: Eskew AM , Stout MJ , Bedrick BS , Riley JK , Omurtag KR , Jimenez PT , Odem RR , Ratts VS , Keller SL , Jungheim ES , Wylie KM
Published: September 2019

Objective

The objective of this study was to use high‐throughput sequencing to describe the vaginal eukaryotic DNA virome in patients undergoing in vitro fertilisation (IVF) to examine associations between the vaginal virome, antibiotic exposure and IVF outcomes.

Design

Prospective exploratory study.

Setting

Single academic fertility centre.

Population

Subfertile women age 18–43 years undergoing their first IVF cycle with a fresh embryo transfer.

Methods

The primary exposure was prophylactic azithromycin or no azithromycin before IVF. A mid‐vaginal swab was obtained at the time of embryo transfer for virome analysis.

Main outcome measures

The primary outcomes compared between exposure groups were characteristics of vaginal virome and clinical pregnancy rates. Secondary outcomes were virome associations with number of oocytes retrieved, number of blastocysts and implantation rate.

Results

Twenty‐six women contributed a vaginal swab before embryo transfer. There were no significant differences in IVF outcomes between azithromycin groups. There was no association between viral diversity and clinical pregnancy overall. A higher diversity of herpesviruses and α‐papillomaviruses was observed in samples from the azithromycin‐treated group compared with the no azithromycin group (P = 0.04). In women that received azithromycin, viral diversity was higher in the group that did not achieve clinical pregnancy compared with those who did (P = 0.06).

Conclusions

We demonstrate that the vaginal eukaryotic virome in women undergoing IVF is associated with antibiotic exposure. Additionally, we demonstrate an inverse trend between viral diversity and pregnancy, with a higher number of viruses detected associated with failure to achieve clinical pregnancy in the azithromycin group.

Tweetable abstract

Higher viral diversity is associated with prophylactic antibiotic exposure in subfertile women undergoing IVF.
The general odorant receptor GmolOR9 from Grapholita molesta (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is mainly tuned to eight host‐plant volatiles
Authors: Chen Li‐Hui , Tian Ke , Wang Gui‐Rong , Xu Xiang‐Li , He Ke‐Hang , Liu Wei , Wu Jun‐Xiang
Published: September 2019

Grapholita molesta is one of the most destructive fruit pests distributed worldwide. Odorant receptors (ORs) located on the dendritic membrane of chemosensory neurons are deemed to be key molecules for sensing exogenous chemical signals. In this study, GmolOR9, a general OR from G. molesta, was functionally characterized. Quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction revealed that GmolOR9 was more highly expressed in adults than in other stages, including eggs, larvae, and pupae. GmolOR9 expression was highly significantly more in the antennae of females than in those of males, and the highest level occurred in the antennae of 3‐day‐old female adults. GmolOR9 was broadly tuned to eight of 47 odorant components tested, including (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate, butyl propionate, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl heptanoate, 1‐hexanol, (Z)‐3‐hexenol, 2‐ethyl‐1‐hexanol, and linalool, by in vitro heterologous expression. Furthermore, electroantennogram responses indicated that the effects of dsOR9‐injected females to (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate dramatically decreased. These results suggested that GmolOR9 might be involved in detecting host‐plant volatiles. Moreover, (Z)‐3‐hexenyl acetate might serve as a potential attractant for the biological control of G. molesta.
Termites and Chinese agricultural system: applications and advances in integrated termite management and chemical control
Authors: Ahmad Farhan , Fouad Hatem , Liang Shi‐You , Hu Yin , Mo Jian‐Chu
Published: September 2019

Termites are eusocial arthropod decomposers, and improve soil fertility, crop yield, and also are used by humans for their benefits across the world. However, some species of termites are becoming a threat to the farming community as they are directly and indirectly causing major losses to the agricultural system. It is estimated that termites cost the global economy more than 40 billion USD annually, and considerable research has been done on their management. In this review, we present the available information related to sustainable and integrated termite management practices (ITM). Furthermore, we insist that the better management of this menace can be possible through: (i) improving traditional methods to keep termites away from crops; (ii) improving agricultural practices to maintain plants with more vigor and less susceptible to termite attack; and (iii) integration of available techniques to reduce termite infestation in crops and surroundings. The application of an effective combination of traditional practices with recently developed approaches is the best option for agricultural growers. Moreover, keeping in mind the beneficial nature of this pest, more innovative efforts for its management, particularly using rapidly emerging technology (e.g., RNA interference), are needed.
Protective Effect of Selenium‐Enriched Red Radish Sprouts on Carbon Tetrachloride‐Induced Liver Injury in Mice
Authors: Jia Li , Wang Tao , Sun Yuanyuan , Zhang Miaoran , Tian Jiyuan , Chen Hui , Shen Zhenguo , Khan Abro Hashmat , Su Nana , Cui Jin
Published: September 2019

This study aimed to investigate the effect of Se (Selenium) treatment on nutritional quality in radish sprouts. The results showed that 15 µM sodium selenite significantly increased phenolics compounds, flavonoids compounds, anthocyanins, and some essential amino acid content, while improving the total antioxidant capacity of radish sprouts. Besides, the Se‐enriched radish sprouts significantly alleviated the liver damage caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in mice and improved the antioxidant capacity of the liver in mice, whereas the Se‐enriched radish sprouts alleviated the inflammatory reaction and apoptosis caused by CCl4. These results imply that Se‐enriched radish sprouts have a positive impact on mice with CCl4‐induced liver injury, and that in future Se‐enriched radish sprouts could be developed into an effective food and health care product for the liver injury prevention.

Practical Application

Because selenium is an essential trace element in the human body, selenium‐enriched sprouts can help eliminate free radicals in the body, relieve aging, and selenium‐deficient diseases. They are easy to grow and have low costs. Hence, selenium‐enriched sprouts have a great potential of being widely consumed.
Combining multiple data sources in species distribution models while accounting for spatial dependence and overfitting with combined penalized likelihood maximization
Authors: Renner Ian W. , Louvrier Julie , Gimenez Olivier
Published: September 2019

The increase in availability of species datasets means that approaches to species distribution modelling that incorporate multiple datasets are in greater demand. Recent methodological developments in this area have led to combined likelihood approaches, in which a log‐likelihood comprised of the sum of the log‐likelihood components of each data source is maximized. Often, these approaches make use of at least one presence‐only dataset and use the log‐likelihood of an inhomogeneous Poisson point process model in the combined likelihood construction. While these advancements have been shown to improve predictive performance, they do not currently address challenges in presence‐only modelling such as checking and correcting for violations of the independence assumption of a Poisson point process model or more general challenges in species distribution modelling such as overfitting.

In this paper, we present an extension of the combined likelihood framework which accommodates alternative presence‐only likelihoods in the presence of spatial dependence as well as lasso‐type penalties to account for potential overfitting. We compare the proposed combined penalized likelihood approach to the standard combined likelihood approach via simulation and apply the method to modelling the distribution of the Eurasian lynx in the Jura Mountains in eastern France.

The simulations show that the proposed combined penalized likelihood approach has better predictive performance than the standard approach when spatial dependence is present in the data. The lynx analysis shows that the predicted maps vary significantly between the model fitted with the proposed combined penalized approach accounting for spatial dependence and the model fitted with the standard combined likelihood.

This work highlights the benefits of careful consideration of the presence‐only components of the combined likelihood formulation, and allows greater flexibility and ability to accommodate real datasets.
Dispersal behaviour of African wild dogs in Kenya
Authors: Woodroffe Rosie , Rabaiotti Daniella , Ngatia Dedan K. , Smallwood Thomas R. C. , Strebel Stefanie , O'Neill Helen M. K.
Published: September 2019

Dispersal behaviour plays a key role in social organisation, demography and population genetics. We describe dispersal behaviour in a population of African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus) in Kenya. Almost all individuals, of both sexes, left their natal packs, with 45 of 46 reproductively active “alpha” individuals acquiring their status through dispersal. Dispersal age, group size and distance did not differ between males and females. However, only females embarked on secondary dispersal, probably reflecting stronger reproductive competition among females than males. When dispersing, GPS‐collared wild dogs travelled further than when resident, both in daylight and by night, following routes an order of magnitude longer than the straight‐line distance covered. Dispersers experienced a daily mortality risk three times that experienced by adults in resident packs. The detailed movement data provided by GPS‐collars helped to reconcile differences between dispersal patterns reported previously from other wild dog populations. However, the dispersal patterns observed at this and other sites contrast with those assumed in published demographic models for this endangered species. Given the central role of dispersal in demography, models of wild dog population dynamics need to be updated to account for improved understanding of dispersal processes.
Pro‐inflammatory immune cell gene expression during the third trimester of pregnancy is associated with shorter gestational length and lower birthweight
Authors: Ross Kharah M. , Carroll Judith E. , Dunkel Schetter Christine , Hobel Calvin , Cole Steve W.
Published: September 2019

Problem

Altered maternal immune function predicts risk for shorter gestation and low birthweight. Few studies examine associations between prenatal immune cell gene expression and gestational length or birthweight. No studies examine which cell types drive associations. The purpose of this study is to explore associations between peripheral blood immune cell gene expression and gestational length and birthweight, using transcript origin analysis.

Method of study

Eighty‐nine women were drawn from the Community Child Health Network cohort. Third trimester maternal dried blood spots were used for genome‐wide transcriptional (mRNA) profiling. Gestational length and birthweight were obtained from medical charts. Covariates were age, race/ethnicity, pre‐pregnancy body mass index, smoking, gestational age at blood sampling, and pregnancy infections. Associations between gene expression profiles and gestational length and birthweight were tested using general linear models. The Transcription Element Listening System (TELiS) bioinformatics analysis quantified upstream transcription factor activity. Transcript origin analysis identified leukocyte subsets mediating observed effects.

Results

Shorter gestation was predicted by increased NF‐kB (TFBM ratio = −0.582 ± 0.172, P < .001) and monocyte activity (diagnosticity score = 0.172 ± 0.054, P < .001). Longer gestation was associated with increased dendritic cell activity (diagnosticity score = 0.194 ± 0.039, P < .001). Increased AP‐1 activity predicted lower birthweight (TFBM ratio = −0.240 ± 0.111, P = .031). Dendritic cells and CD4+ and CD8+ T cells predicted birthweight‐related gene expression differences (diagnosticity score P's < 0.021).

Conclusion

Higher third trimester pro‐inflammatory gene expression predicted shorter gestation and lower birthweight. Variations in monocyte and dendritic cell biology contributed to both effects, and T‐cell biology contributed to higher birthweight. These analyses clarify the role of myeloid/lymphoid lineage immune regulation in pregnancy outcomes.
Testing the efficacy of kitasamycin for use in the control and treatment of swine dysentery in experimentally infected pigs
Authors: La T , Phillips ND , Dunlop H , Lugsomya K , Coiacetto F , Hampson DJ
Published: September 2019

Background

Swine dysentery (SD) caused by Brachyspira hyodysenteriae is an important disease in Australia.

Aim

The aim of this study is to evaluate the macrolide antibiotic kitasamycin for use in SD control.

Methods

The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of kitasamycin, tylosin and lincomycin for 32 Australian isolates of B. hyodysenteriae were evaluated. Mutations in the 23S rRNA gene were examined. Isolate ‘13’ with a low kitasamycin MIC was used to challenge weaner pigs. Sixty pigs were housed in 20 pens each containing three pigs: pigs in four pens received 2 kg/tonne of a product containing kitasamycin (3.1% active) prophylactically in their food starting 4 days before B. hyodysenteriae challenge (group 1); pigs in four pens were challenged and received the same dose therapeutically once one pig in a pen showed diarrhoea (group 2); four pens were challenged and received 4 kg/tonne of the product therapeutically (group 3); four pens were challenged but not medicated (group 4); two pens were unmedicated and unchallenged (group 5) and two pens received 2 kg/tonne and were unchallenged (group 6). Pigs were monitored for B. hyodysenteriae excretion and disease.

Results

Macrolide resistance was widespread, and mutations in the 23S rRNA gene were identified in 23 isolates. Four isolates with kitasamycin MICs < 5 μg/mL were considered susceptible. Following experimental challenge, 10 of 12 unmedicated pigs developed SD. No pigs receiving kitasamycin prophylactical or therapeutically developed SD. Medicated pigs shed low numbers of B. hyodysenteriae in their faeces.

Conclusions

Kitasamycin can help control SD in pigs infected with susceptible isolates of B. hyodysenteriae.
Tissue changes at implant sites in the anterior maxilla with and without connective tissue grafting: A five‐year prospective study
Authors: Hosseini Mandana , Worsaae Nils , Gotfredsen Klaus
Published: September 2019

Objectives

To evaluate the biological and aesthetic outcome of connective tissue grafting around single‐tooth implant replacements in the anterior maxilla after five years.

Materials and methods

Nineteen patients (mean age: 22) received 33 implants in combination with bone grafts. After healing, 10 implant sites received facial connective tissue grafts harvested from the palate (test group). The remaining 23 implant sites without soft tissue grafts were used as a control group. The biological outcomes included survival rate, complications, marginal bone level, keratinized mucosa height and soft tissue level. The aesthetic outcomes included soft tissue thickness, spectrophotometric colour of mucosa, 3D facial dimensional changes and professional reported aesthetic outcomes. All data were recorded preoperatively and postoperatively after six months and one, three and five years.

Results

After five years, the survival and success rate of implants was 100% and 93.9% (one aesthetic and one biological complication). The soft tissue level changed significantly more towards the incisal direction in the test than in the control group from one to five years of observation (p = .024). The facial dimension increased significantly more in the test group than in the control group (3 mm marginally: p = .010). The subjective evaluation of mucosa colour was significantly better in the test versus control group (p = .035). Other biological and aesthetic parameters were not significantly different between the test and control group.

Conclusion

Augmentation using a connective tissue graft may result in better mucosal colour match and more facial dimensional gain compared to implant sites without soft tissue grafting.
Conservation risk of Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans to endemic lungless salamanders
Authors: Carter Edward Davis , Miller Debra L. , Peterson Anna C. , Sutton William B. , Cusaac Joseph Patrick W. , Spatz Jennifer A. , Rollins‐Smith Louise , Reinert Laura , Bohanon Markese , Williams Lori A. , Upchurch Andrea , Gray Matthew J.
Published: September 2019

The emerging fungal pathogen, Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans (Bsal), is a significant conservation threat to salamander biodiversity in Europe, although its potential to affect North American species is poorly understood. We tested the susceptibility of two genera (Eurycea and Pseudotriton) and three populations of lungless salamanders (Plethodontidae) to Bsal. All species became infected with Bsal and two (Pseudotriton ruber and Eurycea wilderae) developed chytridiomycosis. We also documented that susceptibility of E. wilderae differed among populations. Regardless of susceptibility, all species reduced feeding when exposed to Bsal at the highest zoospore dose, and P. ruber and one population of E. wilderae used cover objects less. Our results indicate that Bsal invasion in eastern North America could have significant negative impacts on endemic lungless salamander populations. Future conservation efforts should include surveillance for Bsal in the wild and in captivity, and championing legislation that requires and subsidizes pathogen‐free trade of amphibians.
Preschoolers find ways to resist temptation after learning that willpower can be energizing
Authors: Haimovitz Kyla , Dweck Carol S. , Walton Gregory M.
Published: September 2019

Children's tendency to delay gratification predicts important life outcomes, yet little is known about how to enhance delay of gratification other than by teaching task‐specific strategies. The present research investigated the effect of exposing children to a model who experiences the exertion of willpower as energizing. In two experiments, 86 4‐ to 5‐year olds were read a story that represented the exertion of willpower as energizing or a control story before taking part in a delay of gratification task. Children exposed to a storybook character who struggled with waiting, but eventually found it energizing, spontaneously generated more delay strategies, which enhanced delay. By promoting the search for effective strategies, this approach provides a promising direction for efforts to foster self‐regulation early in development.
Paediatric motor phenotypes in early‐onset ataxia, developmental coordination disorder, and central hypotonia
Authors: Lawerman Tjitske F , Brandsma Rick , Maurits Natalia M , Martinez‐Manzanera Octavio , Verschuuren‐Bemelmans Corien C , Lunsing Roelineke J , Brouwer Oebo F , Kremer Hubertus PH , Sival Deborah A
Published: September 2019

Aims

To investigate the accuracy of phenotypic early‐onset ataxia (EOA) recognition among developmental conditions, including developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and hypotonia of central nervous system origin, and the effect of scientifically validated EOA features on changing phenotypic consensus.

Method

We included 32 children (4–17y) diagnosed with EOA (n=11), DCD (n=10), and central hypotonia (n=11). Three paediatric neurologists independently assessed videotaped motor behaviour phenotypically and quantitatively (using the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia [SARA]). We determined: (1) phenotypic interobserver agreement and phenotypic homogeneity (percentage of phenotypes with full consensus by all three observers according to the underlying diagnosis); (2) SARA (sub)score profiles; and (3) the effect of three scientifically validated EOA features on phenotypic consensus.

Results

Phenotypic homogeneity occurred in 8 out of 11, 2 out of 10, and 1 out of 11 patients with EOA, DCD, and central hypotonia respectively. Homogeneous phenotypic discrimination of EOA from DCD and central hypotonia occurred in 16 out of 21 and 22 out of 22 patients respectively. Inhomogeneously discriminated EOA and DCD phenotypes (5 out of 21) revealed overlapping SARA scores with different SARA subscore profiles. After phenotypic reassessment with scientifically validated EOA features, phenotypic homogeneity changed from 16 to 18 patients.

Interpretation

In contrast to complete distinction between EOA and central hypotonia, the paediatric motor phenotype did not reliably distinguish between EOA and DCD. Reassessment with scientifically validated EOA features could contribute to a higher phenotypic consensus.

Early‐onset ataxia (EOA) and central hypotonia motor phenotypes were reliably distinguished.

EOA and developmental coordination disorder (DCD) motor phenotypes were not reliably distinguished.

The EOA and DCD phenotypes have different profiles of the Scale for Assessment and Rating of Ataxia.
Severe neonatal hypoglycaemia and intrapartum glycaemic control in pregnancies complicated by type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes
Authors: Yamamoto J. M. , Donovan L. E. , Mohammad K. , Wood S. L.
Published: September 2019

Aims

To determine if in‐target intrapartum glucose control is associated with neonatal hypoglycaemia in women with type 1, type 2 or gestational diabetes.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of pregnant women with diabetes and their neonates. The primary exposure was in‐target glucose control, defined as all capillary glucose values within the range 3.5–6.5 mmol/l during the intrapartum period. The primary outcome, neonatal hypoglycaemia, was defined as treatment with intravenous dextrose therapy. Multiple logistic regression was used to examine the association between maternal intrapartum glycaemic control and neonatal hypoglycaemia, adjusting for covariates.

Results

Intrapartum glucose testing was available for 157 (86.3%), 267 (76.3%) and 3256 (52.4%) women with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes, respectively. In the univariate analysis, in‐target glycaemic control was significantly associated with neonatal hypoglycaemia in women with gestational diabetes, but not in women with type 1 or 2 diabetes. However, after adjustment for important neonatal factors (large for gestational age, preterm delivery and infant sex), intrapartum in‐target glycaemic control was not significantly associated with neonatal hypoglycaemia in women regardless of diabetes type [adjusted odds ratios 0.4 (95% CI 0.1, 1.4), 0.7 (95% CI 0.3, 1.3) and 0.7 (95% CI 0.5, 1.0) for women with type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes, respectively].

Conclusions

There was no significant association between in‐target glycaemic control and neonatal hypoglycaemia after adjustment for neonatal factors. Given the high risk of maternal hypoglycaemia and the resources required, future trials should consider whether more relaxed intrapartum glycaemic targets may be safer and yield similar neonatal outcomes.
Alpha and beta diversity of connected benthic–subsurface invertebrate communities respond to drying in dynamic river ecosystems
Authors: Stubbington Rachel , Sarremejane Romain , Datry Thibault
Published: September 2019

Drying disturbances are the primary determinant of aquatic community biodiversity in dynamic river ecosystems. Research exploring how communities respond to disturbance has focused on benthic invertebrates in surface sediments, inadequately representing a connected community that extends into the subsurface. We compared subsurface and benthic invertebrate responses to drying, to identify common and context‐dependent spatial patterns. We characterized community composition, alpha diversity and beta diversity across a gradient of drying duration. Subsurface communities responded to drying, but these responses were typically less pronounced than those of benthic communities. Despite compositional changes and in contrast to reductions in benthic alpha diversity, the alpha diversity of subsurface communities remained stable except at long drying durations. Some primarily benthic taxa were among those whose subsurface frequency and abundance responded positively to drying. Collectively, changing composition, stable richness and taxon‐specific increases in occurrence provide evidence that subsurface sediments can support persistence of invertebrate communities during drying disturbances. Beta‐diversity patterns varied and no consistent patterns distinguished the total diversity, turnover or nestedness of subsurface compared to benthic communities. In response to increasing drying duration, beta diversity increased or remained stable for benthic communities, but remained stable or decreased for subsurface communities, likely reflecting contrasts in the influence of mass effects, priority effects and environmental filtering. Dissimilarity between subsurface and benthic communities remained stable or increased with drying duration, suggesting that subsurface communities maintain distinct biodiversity value while also supporting temporary influxes of benthic taxa during drying events. As temporary rivers increase in extent due to global change, we highlight that recognizing the connected communities that extend into the subsurface sediments can enable holistic understanding of ecological responses to drying, the key determinant of biodiversity in these dynamic ecosystems.
Association between anti‐thyroid antibodies and negative symptoms in early psychosis
Authors: Barbero Juan D. , Palacín Aida , Serra Pilar , Solé Montse , Ortega Laura , Cabezas Ángel , Montalvo Itziar , Algora Maria José , Martorell Lourdes , Vilella Elisabet , Sánchez‐Gistau Vanessa , Labad Javier
Published: September 2019

Aim

In the current cross‐sectional study, we aimed to explore whether thyroid function or thyroid autoimmunity are associated with psychopathological symptoms and social functioning in patients with early psychosis. We hypothesized that psychopathological severity is greater in those patients with positive thyroid autoimmunity.

Methods

We studied 70 outpatients with early psychosis (<3 years of illness) and 37 healthy subjects. Psychopathological symptoms (positive, negative, disorganized, excited and depressive) and social functioning were assessed. Thyroid autoimmunity (antibodies against thyroid peroxidase [TPO‐Abs] and thyroglobulin [TG‐Abs]) and thyroid function (thyroid‐stimulating hormone [TSH] and free thyroxin [FT4]) were determined. Associations of thyroid variables and psychometric measures were assessed with Spearman's correlations. Logistic regression was performed to explore the association between psychopathological symptoms and positive anti‐thyroidal antibodies while adjusting for covariates.

Results

When compared to patients without thyroid antibodies, those with positive thyroid antibodies had more negative symptoms and poorer function (P < .05). Titres of TPO‐Abs were significantly correlated with negative and depressive PANSS domains and poorer functioning. TG‐Abs were also associated with poorer functioning but not with psychopathological symptoms. TSH and FT4 concentrations were not associated with clinical symptoms. In the logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, gender, antipsychotic treatment, lithium, TSH and FT4 concentrations, negative symptoms were associated with thyroid autoimmunity (OR = 1.2, P = .019).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that anti‐thyroid antibodies are associated with a more severe phenotype with increased negative symptoms and poorer functioning in early psychotic patients. Since causality cannot be inferred with cross‐sectional data, future longitudinal studies are needed to overcome this limitation.
Rethinking Depth Metaphors with a Cosmocentric Self: The “Steep” and the “Level” in Akha Emotional Practices
Authors: Tooker Deborah E.
Published: September 2019

This study critically engages two analytic constructs: western psychological individualism (with its assumed emotional interiority) and the notion of a generic sociocentric self. By looking at the emotional practices of the Akha of Northern Thailand in a nonmodern context, I aim to show the distinctiveness of a particular type of socio‐ and cosmo‐centric self, that of the “microcosmic,” “level” self, which is not a depth self. This analysis examines the semiotic ideology in which Akha emotions and self concepts are co‐constituted as part of a process of inner/outer alignment with both communal and cosmic templates that affect the flow of a life force energy. In addition, Akha social dynamics resist and deflect from the emergence of a potentially dangerous individualized depth self with emotional interiority and an inner/outer boundary, suggesting an ideological component, and, thus, the relevance of historical and political‐economic contexts in the study of emotional practices.
The type of bottleneck matters: Insights into the deleterious variation landscape of small managed populations
Authors: Bortoluzzi Chiara , Bosse Mirte , Derks Martijn F. L. , Crooijmans Richard P. M. A. , Groenen Martien A. M. , Megens Hendrik‐Jan
Published: September 2019

Predictions about the consequences of a small population size on genetic and deleterious variation are fundamental to population genetics. As small populations are more affected by genetic drift, purifying selection acting against deleterious alleles is predicted to be less efficient, therefore increasing the risk of inbreeding depression. However, the extent to which small populations are subjected to genetic drift depends on the nature and time frame in which the bottleneck occurs. Domesticated species are an excellent model to investigate the consequences of population bottlenecks on genetic and deleterious variation in small populations. This is because their history is dominated by known bottlenecks associated with domestication, breed formation and intense selective breeding. Here, we use whole‐genome sequencing data from 97 chickens representing 39 traditional fancy breeds to directly examine the consequences of two types of bottlenecks for deleterious variation: the severe domestication bottleneck and the recent population decline accompanying breed formation. We find that recently bottlenecked populations have a higher proportion of deleterious variants relative to populations that have been kept at small population sizes since domestication. We also observe that long tracts of homozygous genotypes (runs of homozygosity) are proportionally more enriched in deleterious variants than the rest of the genome. This enrichment is particularly evident in recently bottlenecked populations, suggesting that homozygosity of these variants is likely to occur due to genetic drift and recent inbreeding. Our results indicate that the timing and nature of population bottlenecks can substantially shape the deleterious variation landscape in small populations.