bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Revision of an academic library user experience survey
Authors: Aksu Dunya Beyza , De Groote Sandra
Published: May 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explain how an academic library’s Student Experience Survey was revised and improved based on available research on survey design methodology and piloting efforts. Thus, it aims to contribute existing literature on library assessment and survey methodology by addressing issues of planning and coordinating assessment. The paper also provides a guideline on the survey revision process for existing instruments.

Design/methodology/approach

The library assessment coordinator collaborated with Assessment Coordinator Advisory Committee (AC2) to revise and improve the survey. The revision process started with adding suggested items and constructing new items based on library assessment planning survey administered to library faculty previously. Regular monthly meetings were held with the committee to facilitate the revision process. Multiple facets of the survey implementation were revised including wording, content, order and format of the items, response scales and survey distribution. Each facet was addressed based on available research on survey methodology and cross-checked with the committee members.

Findings

The revised 2018 University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Libraries Student Experience Survey consists of a total of nine items with response matrices, single choice response format and open-ended response format to measure students’ satisfaction, need and their use of the various library resources and services. The changes made to the survey are grouped into three categories: wording and content, response categories and scaling and design, font and layout. The revision process of the UIC Libraries Student Experience Survey can serve as an example for academic or other types of libraries that wish to track and report their impact regularly.

Originality/value

The UIC Libraries Student Experience Survey provides evidence that careful revision and piloting as well as obtaining relevant stakeholder buy-in to the process lead to build effective survey tools.
Specialist foragers in forest bee communities are small, social or emerge early
Authors: Smith Colleen , Weinman Lucia , Gibbs Jason , Winfree Rachael
Published: May 2019

Individual pollinators that specialize on one plant species within a foraging bout transfer more conspecific and less heterospecific pollen, positively affecting plant reproduction. However, we know much less about pollinator specialization at the scale of a foraging bout compared to specialization by pollinator species.

In this study, we measured the diversity of pollen carried by individual bees foraging in forest plant communities in the mid‐Atlantic United States.

We found that individuals frequently carried low‐diversity pollen loads, suggesting that specialization at the scale of the foraging bout is common. Individuals of solitary bee species carried higher diversity pollen loads than did individuals of social bee species; the latter have been better studied with respect to foraging bout specialization, but account for a small minority of the world’s bee species. Bee body size was positively correlated with pollen load diversity, and individuals of polylectic (but not oligolectic) species carried increasingly diverse pollen loads as the season progressed, likely reflecting an increase in the diversity of flowers in bloom. Furthermore, the seasonal increase in pollen load diversity was stronger for bees visiting trees and shrubs than for bees visiting herbaceous plants.

Overall, our results showed that both plant and pollinator species’ traits as well as community‐level patterns of flowering phenology are likely to be important determinants of individual‐level interactions in plant–pollinator communities.
Characteristics of Tight Sandstone Reservoirs and Controls of Reservoir Quality: A Case Study of He 8 Sandstones in the Linxing Area, Eastern Ordos Basin, China
Authors: GAO Xiangdong , WANG Yanbin , LI Yong , GUO Hui , NI Xiaoming , WU Xiang , ZHAO Shihu
Published: May 2019

Determining the process of densification and tectonic evolution of tight sandstone can help to understand the distribution of reservoirs and find relatively high‐permeability areas. Based on integrated approaches of thin section, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), cathode luminescence (CL), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), N2 porosity and permeability, micro‐resistivity imaging log (MIL) and three‐dimensional seismic data analysis, this work discussed the reservoir characteristics of the member 8 of the Permian Xiashihezi Formation (He 8 sandstones) in the Linxing area of eastern Ordos Basin, determined the factors affecting reservoir quality, and revealed the formation mechanism of relatively high‐permeability areas. The results show that the He 8 sandstones in the Linxing area are mainly composed of feldspathic litharenites, and are typical tight sandstones (with porosity <10% and permeability <1 mD accounting for 80.3% of the total samples). Rapid burial is the main reason for reservoir densification, which resulted in 61% loss of the primary porosity. In this process, quartz protected the original porosity by resisting compaction. The cementation (including carbonate, clay mineral and siliceous cementation) further densified the sandstone reservoirs, reducing the primary porosity with an average value of 28%. The calcite formed in the eodiagenesis occupied intergranular pores and affected the formation of the secondary pores by preventing the later fluid intrusion, and the Fe‐calcite formed in the mesodiagenetic stage densified the sandstones further by filling the residual intergranular pores. The clay minerals show negative effects on reservoir quality, however, the chlorite coatings protected the original porosity by preventing the overgrowth of quartz. The dissolution of feldspars provides extensive intergranular pores which constitute the main pore type, and improves the reservoir quality. The tectonic movements play an important role in improving the reservoir quality. The current tectonic traces of the study area are mainly controlled by the Himalayan movement, and the high‐permeability reservoirs are mainly distributed in the anticline areas. Additionally, the improvement degree (by tectonic movements) of reservoir quality is partly controlled by the original composition of the sandstones. Thus, the selection of potential tight gas well locations in the study area should be focused on the anticline areas with relatively good original reservoir quality. And the phenomena can be referenced for other fluvial tight sandstone basins worldwide.
Petrogenesis and Mineralization of Two‐Stage A‐Type Granites in Jiuyishan, South China: Constraints from Whole‐rock Geochemistry, Mineral Composition and Zircon U‐Pb‐Hf Isotopes
Authors: LIU Ye , LAI Jianqing , XIAO Wenzhou , JEFFREY Dick , DU Rijun , LI Shuanglian , LIU Chaoyun , WEN Chunhua , YU Xiaohang
Published: May 2019

The Jiuyishan complex massif, located in the northern section of the Nanling region, is a combination of five plutons, namely, the Xuehuading, Jinjiling, Pangxiemu, Shaziling and Xishan plutons. Whole‐rock geochemistry, mineral electron microprobe analysis, zircon U‐Pb dating and Hf isotope analysis were carried out for the Jinjiling and Pangxiemu plutons. The zircon U‐Pb dating yields weighted mean ages of 152.9±0.9 Ma for the Jinjiling pluton and 151.7±1.5 Ma for the Pangxiemu pluton, with a narrow gap between them. The Jinjiling and Pangxiemu plutons both have geochemical characteristics of high SiO2, Al2O3, Na2O, K2O and low TiO2, MgO, CaO, P2O5 contents, with intense depletionS in Sr, Ba, Ti, Eu and enrichments in Ga, FeOT and HFSE, and these characteristics reflect an A‐type affinity. From the Jinjiling to the Pangxiemu plutons, the mineral composition of mica changes from lepidomelane to zinnwaldite, with increases in F, Li2O and Rb2O contents. The mineral composition of zircon changes from low Zr/Hf to high Zr/Hf, with increasing HfO2, P2O5 and UO2+ThO2+Y2O3 contents. The mineral compositions of feldspar indicate that the Pangxiemu pluton contains more alkali feldspar than the Jinjiling pluton. The whole‐rock geochemistry and mineral compositions reveal a higher degree of differentiation for the Pangxiemu pluton. The nearly uniform εHf(t) indicates the same source region for the two plutons: both were derived from partial melting of the lower crust, with small contributions of mantle materials. In addition, higher F, lower Nb/Ta and Zr/Hf ratios in the Pangxiemu Pluton suggest a closer relationship with the rare metal mineralization than for the Jinjiling pluton.
Provenance of the Late Permian Xuanwei Formation in the Upper Yangtze Block: Constraints from the Sedimentary Record and Tectonic Implications
Authors: ZHANG Yingli , JIA Xiaotong , WANG Zongqi
Published: May 2019

Xuanwei Formation is composed of mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone, with local conglomerate. However, its provenance and tectonic setting have been scarcely studied. In this paper, we use sedimentology, electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), and detrital zircon dating to investigate its source area and depositional tectonic setting. The facies assemblages indicate that it formed in alluvial fan and fluvial river sedimentary environments. The strata thicknesses and facies distribution indicate that the sediment supply was from the west. The results of EPMA show that chromian spinels within the sediments are characterized by high Cr# and varying Mg#. Discrimination plots suggest that these spinels were sourced from large igneous province (LIP) magmatic rocks. The laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) U–Pb chronology of detrital zircons suggests that the sediments were derived from intermediate–acid igneous rocks dating back to 251–260 Ma. We could, therefore, conclude that the provenance of the Xuanwei Formation is from Emeishan basalt and synchronous felsic igneous rocks, which is consistent with the composition of the detrital framework. The detrital zircon dates also suggest that felsic magmatism occurred during the Late Permian, not after the eruption of the Emeishan basalt. Based on the sedimentary successions and provenance analysis, the tectonic setting for Xuanwei Formation deposition was a volcanic rifted margin.
Microbial Geochemical Characteristics of the Coalbed Methane in the Shizhuangnan Block of Qinshui Basin, North China and their Geological Implications
Authors: LI Yang , SHI Wei , TANG Shuheng
Published: May 2019

Methanogens and sulfate reducing bacteria were detected by the 16SrRNA sequencing of coalbed methane (CBM) co‐produced water in the south of the Qinshui Basin, which is indicative of the presence of secondary biological gas in the south of this basin, in contradiction to the previous understanding of thermogenic gas. This work systematically collected water samples from the CBM wells in the Shizhuangnan Block and analyzed the microbial geochemical characteristics from the aspects of water ions, hydrogen and oxygen isotopes, dissolved inorganic carbon and microbial diversity. It is shown that the Shizhuangnan Block has a nearly SN‐trending monoclinic structure, and the elevation of coal seam decreases gradually from the east to west. Because of the water blocking effect of Sitou fault in the west, the precipitation flowed from the east to west, and gradually transited to stagnant flow area. The concentration variation of some ions such as Na+, K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl–, HCO3–and total dissolved solids (TDS) suggest the variation of redox condition in the coal reservoir water. The 16SrDNA sequencing analysis of the collected water samples detected the presence of methanogens and sulfate reduction bacteria. The presence of methane production zone and sulfate methane transition zone (SMTZ) was identified. The effect of methanogens in the methane production zone leads to an increase in the methane concentration, resulting in a high gas content in the study area. In the SMTZ, most methane is consumed by anaerobic oxidation due to high sulfate concentrations.
An Experimental Study on the Conductivity Changes in Coal during Methane Adsorption‐Desorption and their Influencing Factors
Authors: CHEN Yue , MA Dongmin , GUO Chen , YANG Fu , MU Tian , GAO Zheng
Published: May 2019

During the processes of methane adsorption and desorption, the internal structure of coal changes, accordingly leading to changes in electrical conductivity. In this paper, using low rank coal seams of the Yan'an Formation in the Dafosi field as the research subject, the relationship between coal resistivity, methane adsorption quantity, and equilibrium pressure is analyzed through proximate analysis, mercury injection tests, low temperature liquid nitrogen adsorption tests, and coal resistivity measurements during methane adsorption and desorption. The results show that during the process of pressure rise and methane adsorption, the conductivity of coal increases, resulting from heat release from methane adsorption, coal matrix swelling and adsorbed water molecules replaced by methane, but the resistivity reduction gradually decreases. The relationship between coal resistivity and methane adsorption quantity and equilibrium pressure can be described by a quadratic function. During the processes of depressurization and desorption, the resistivity of coal rebounds slightly, due to decalescence of methane desorption, coal matrix shrinkage and water‐gas displacement, and the relationship coincides with a linear function. Methane adsorption leads to irreversible changes in coal internal structure and enhances the coal conductivity, and resistivity cannot be restored to the initial level even after methane desorption. The resistivity and reduction rate of durain are higher than those of vitrain, with relatively greater homogeneous pore throat structure and fewer charged particles in the double electric layer. In addition, moisture can enhance the conductivity of coal and makes it change more complexly during methane adsorption and desorption.
Geochemical Assessment and Lateral Reservoir Continuity of Asmari Reservoir Oils in the Cheshmeh‐Khush Oilfield, SW Iran
Authors: TEZHEH Farid , BEIRANVAND Bijan , GHALAVAND Hormuz , KAMALI Mohammad Reza , BAGHERI TIRTASHI Rahim
Published: May 2019

A total of 6 oil samples were systematically selected from six Asmari Reservoir wells in the Cheshmeh‐Khush Oilfield for geochemical evaluation of the hydrocarbon system, based on reservoir geochemistry and oil fingerprints. An investigation of the distribution patterns of normal alkanes and tricyclic and tetracyclic terpanes along with characteristic biomarkers of the depositional environment and sedimentary facies, indicated that the source rock of the studied hydrocarbons was deposited in a reducing aquatic environment with a low input of terrigenous material and predominantly carbonate lithology derived from organic algal matter. The studied oil samples exhibited moderate maturity, as was further confirmed by the parameters extracted from the light hydrocarbons. Statistical clustering based on different biomarker parameters indicated the presence of two oil families. Additionally, the application of branched and cyclic compounds in the light hydrocarbons (C5–C11) to evaluate lateral continuity of the Asmari reservoir further supported the presence of the two oil families. Other evidence proved the presence of a NE–SW trending fault separating wells X5 and X6 from the other wells in the field. In other wells across the field, good lateral reservoir continuity was observed, despite the presence of faults on the northern and southern plunges of the structure.
Geochemical Aspects of Hypogene Hydrothermal Alteration Zones in the Chol‐qeshlaghi Area, NW Iran: Constrains on REEs
Authors: SIAHCHESHM Kamal , SHAHSAVANI BAMI Mohammad
Published: May 2019

Chol‐qeshlaghi altered area lies in the northwestern part of the post‐collisional Urumieh‐Dokhtar magmatic arc, NW Iran. Pervasive silicic, argillic, phyllic and propylitic altered zones appears to be intimately affiliated to the fluids derivative of upper Oligocene Khankandi granodiorite. This paper is dedicated to the identification of geochemical characteristics of hydrothermal alterations, focusing on the determination of the mass gains and losses of REEs, to gain significant insights regarding the chemical exchanges prevailed between the host rocks and hydrothermal fluids. The low pH and high activity of SO4‐2 ligands in silicic alteration fluids, resulting in depletion of entire REEs. Decreasing of LREEs appeared in argillic zone may attributed to reduce in adsorption ability of clay minerals in low pH; whereas HREEs enrichment in phyllic zone was inclined to put it down to the abundance of sericite (± Fe oxides). A significant reduction of Eu/Eu* ratio in silicic zone can be attributed to negligible sulfides and clay minerals as some effective agents in adsorption of released Eu+2. Factors such as changes in pH, the abundance of absorptive neomorph mineral phases, activity of ligands play an important role in controlling the distribution and concentration of REEs in Chol‐qeshlaghi alteration system.
Anisotropic Rock Poroelasticity Evolution in Ultra‐low Permeability Sandstones under Pore Pressure, Confining Pressure, and Temperature: Experiments with Biot's Coefficient
Authors: DU Shuheng
Published: May 2019

This study aimed to show anisotropic poroelasticity evolution in ultra‐low permeability reservoirs under pore pressure, confining pressure, and temperature. Several groups of experiments examining Biot's coefficient under different conditions were carried out. Results showed that Biot's coefficient decreased with increased pore pressure, and the variation trend is linear, but the decreasing rate is variable between materials. Biot's coefficient increased with increased confining pressure; the variation trend is linear, but the increasing rate varies by material as well. Generally, Biot's coefficient remains stable with increased temperature. Lithology, clay mineral content, particle arrangement, and pore arrangement showed impacts on Biot's coefficient. For strong hydrophilic clay minerals, expansion in water could result in a strong surface adsorption reaction, which could result in an increased fluid bulk modulus and higher Biot's coefficient. For skeleton minerals with strong lipophilicity, such as quartz and feldspar, increased oil saturation will also result in an adsorption reaction, leading to increased fluid bulk modulus and a higher Biot's coefficient. The study's conclusions provide evidence of poroelasticity evolution of ultra‐low permeability and help the enhancing oil recovery (EOR) process.
Validity and reliability of the Gout Impact Scale in a multi‐ethnic Asian population
Authors: Lee Weixian , Teng Gim Gee , Kok Joon Chong , Santosa Amelia , Lim Anita Y. N. , Wee Hwee‐Lin
Published: May 2019

Objectives

The emphasis on capturing patient‐reported outcomes (PRO) is increasing, but gout‐specific PRO are lacking. We evaluated the reliability and validity of the 24‐item Gout Impact Scale (GIS) of the Gout Assessment Questionnaire 2.0 (GAQ2.0) in a multi‐ethnic Asian population.

Methods

Participants with gout in an academic medical center in Singapore completed the GIS which comprises five scales. Confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed. Known‐groups validity, divergent validity and internal consistency were evaluated.

Results

We analyzed data of 267 participants (mean [SD] age 52.2 [16.08] years, 92.1% men and 76.0% Chinese). CFA based on the original GIS factor structure had good model fit based on Tucker‐Lewis Index (TLI) of 0.946 but not when based on Root Mean Square Error Of Approximation (RMSEA), which was 0.123 (90% CI: 0.116‐0.130). Internal consistency of GIS exceeded 0.7 in all except one scale, consistent with previous studies. Hypotheses related to known‐groups validity were largely supported. Scores were significantly higher (ie greater impact) for participants reporting at least some problem on the EQ‐5D‐3L anxiety/ depression item across all GIS scales. Correlations between RAND‐36 Physical Functioning (PF) scale and all five scales in the GIS were poor (Spearman rank correlation coefficients: −0.2355 to 0.0426), implying that GIS does not measure impact of gout on physical health.

Conclusion

The GIS is valid and reliable for assessing gout‐specific psychosocial functioning in a multi‐ethnic Asian population.
Differences in norms towards the use of nicotine vaping products among adult smokers, former smokers and nicotine vaping product users: cross‐sectional findings from the 2016 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey
Authors: Aleyan Sarah , East Katherine , McNeill Ann , Cummings K. Michael , Fong Geoffrey T. , Yong Hua‐Hie , Thrasher James F. , Borland Ron , Hitchman Sara C.
Published: May 2019

Aims

To examine whether norms towards nicotine vaping product (NVP) use varied between Australia, Canada, England and the United States and by socio‐demographics, smoking and NVP status.

Design

Cross‐sectional data from the 2016 ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey.

Setting

Four countries with distinct regulatory policies relating to the sale and advertising of NVPs: Australia (most restrictive), Canada (restrictive), England and the United States (least restrictive).

Participants

A total of 10900 adult (age 18+) current smokers, former smokers, or at least weekly NVP users. Respondents were from Australia (n = 1366), Canada (n = 3309), England (n = 3835) and the United States (n = 2390).

Measurements

Questions permitted the categorization of respondents as current smokers, former smokers, NVP users and socio‐demographic categories (sex, age, country, ethnicity, income and education). Further questions were asked regarding the frequency of exposure to NVPs in public, whether they had a partner or close friends who vaped and whether they believed society or those considered important to them approved of NVPs.

Findings

Adjusting for relevant covariates, compared with Australian respondents, those in England, Canada and the United States were more likely to report frequent exposure to NVPs in public (83.1%, 57.3% and 48.3%, respectively, compared to 19.8% in Australia; P < 0.0001), having a partner who vaped (13.8%, 7.1% and 7.7%, respectively, compared to 2.1% in Australia; P < 0.0001) and having close friend(s) who vaped (31.7%, 25.3%, 20.9%, respectively, compared to 10.0% in Australia; P < 0.0001). Compared with Australian respondents, respondents from England were more likely to report that society (27.6% compared to 12.3% in Australia; P < 0.0001) and people important to them approved of NVP use (28.9% compared to 14.3% in Australia; P < 0.0001).

Conclusions

Norms towards nicotine vaping product (NVP) use appear to vary among countries with different regulatory contexts regarding sales and advertising.
More than just numbers! Perceptions of remote area nurse staffing in Northern Territory Government health clinics
Authors: Dunbar Terry , Bourke Lisa , Murakami‐Gold Lorna
Published: May 2019

Objective

The need for more Remote Area Nurses in the Northern Territory is clear. This paper investigates the perspectives of Remote Area Nurse workforce issues among multiple stakeholders. The aim is to identify how Remote Area Nurse staffing issues are perceived by clinic managers, Remote Area Nurses themselves, Aboriginal colleagues and community members in seven remote communities in the Northern Territory.

Design

This is a qualitative study that uses interviews and focus groups to identify key messages of local stakeholders about Remote Area Nurse workforce issues. A content analysis was used for data analysis.

Setting

Seven diverse remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory with government‐run health clinics were visited.

Participants

Non‐random sampling techniques were used to target staff at the clinics at the time of field work. Staff and community members, who agreed to participate, were interviewed either individually or in groups. Interviews were conducted with 5 Managers, 29 Remote Area Nurses, 12 Aboriginal staff (some clinics did not have Aboriginal staff) and 56 community residents. Twelve focus groups were conducted with community members.

Results

Content analysis revealed that participants thought having the “right” nurse was more important than having more nurses. Participants highlighted the need for Remote Area Nurses to have advanced clinical and cultural skills. While managers and, to a lesser extent, Remote Area Nurses prioritised clinical skills, Aboriginal staff and community residents prioritised cultural skills.

Conclusions

Participants identified the importance of clinical and cultural skills and reiterated that getting the “right” Remote Area Nurse was more important than simply recruiting more nurses. Thus, retention strategies need to be more targeted and cultural skills prioritised in recruitment.
UK Unions, Collective Action and the Cost Disease
Authors: Willman Paul , Bryson Alex , Forth John
Published: May 2019

This article looks at the financial resources of trade unions in the UK. The core argument is that trade unions are subject to ‘cost disease’ pressures such that costs rise over the long term above the general level of inflation. They have this property because of the difficulty in solving first‐ and second‐order collective action problems. First‐order problems refer to the problems of initiating collective action and second‐order problems refer to the management of collective action organizations. Both UK aggregate and case‐study data — from one of the largest UK unions, Unite — are presented to illustrate the cost disease problem and to suggest options for its management. In conclusion, the wider implications of ‘cost disease’ pressures for unions are assessed.
Using prognosis to guide inclusion criteria, define standardised endpoints and stratify follow‐up in active surveillance for prostate cancer
Authors: Gnanapragasam Vincent J. , Barrett Tristan , Thankapannair Vineetha , Thurtle David , Rubio‐Briones Jose , Domínguez‐Escrig Jose , Bratt Ola , Statin Par , Muir Kenneth , Lophatananon Artitaya
Published: May 2019

Objectives

To test whether using disease prognosis can inform a rational approach to active surveillance (AS) for early prostate cancer.

Patients and methods

We previously developed the Cambridge Prognostics Groups (CPG) classification, a five‐tiered model that uses prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), Grade Group and Stage to predict cancer survival outcomes. We applied the CPG model to a UK and a Swedish prostate cancer cohort to test differences in prostate cancer mortality (PCM) in men managed conservatively or by upfront treatment in CPG2 and 3 (which subdivides the intermediate‐risk classification) vs CPG1 (low‐risk). We then applied the CPG model to a contemporary UK AS cohort, which was optimally characterised at baseline for disease burden, to identify predictors of true prognostic progression. Results were re‐tested in an external AS cohort from Spain.

Results

In a UK cohort (n = 3659) the 10‐year PCM was 2.3% in CPG1, 1.5%/3.5% in treated/untreated CPG2, and 1.9%/8.6% in treated/untreated CPG3. In the Swedish cohort (n = 27 942) the10‐year PCM was 1.0% in CPG1, 2.2%/2.7% in treated/untreated CPG2, and 6.1%/12.5% in treated/untreated CPG3. We then tested using progression to CPG3 as a hard endpoint in a modern AS cohort (n = 133). During follow‐up (median 3.5 years) only 6% (eight of 133) progressed to CPG3. Predictors of progression were a PSA density ≥0.15 ng/mL/mL and CPG2 at diagnosis. Progression occurred in 1%, 8% and 21% of men with neither factor, only one, or both, respectively. In an independent Spanish AS cohort (n = 143) the corresponding rates were 3%, 10% and 14%, respectively.

Conclusion

Using disease prognosis allows a rational approach to inclusion criteria, discontinuation triggers and risk‐stratified management in AS.
Does peer group size influence social preferences and risk taking?
Authors: Roush Justin , Santore Rudy , Cotten Stephen J.
Published: May 2019

This paper examines whether the ex post relative payoffs of peers as well as the size of the peer group impact an agent's willingness to take risks. For example, persons in a flood plain may be less likely to purchase flood insurance if their neighbors also refrain from purchasing. We generalize the Fehr‐Schmidt (1999) model to allow the intensity of the social preferences to vary with the size of the peer group. Our experiment tests whether subjects are more or less likely to choose a lottery over a fixed payment when others have been assigned either the same lottery or the fixed payment. Using both between and within subject designs, we find risk‐taking behaviour is not responsive to the risks faced by others regardless of the size of peer group.
The Effects of Perceived Islamophobia on Group Identification and Acculturation Attitudes
Authors: Bastug Mehmet F. , Akca Davut
Published: May 2019

This study examines the effects of perceived Islamophobia on group identification and acculturation attitudes in a sample of Turkish Canadians. We tested the rejection‐identification model (RIM) and the rejection‐disidentification model (RDIM) to examine how perceived Islamophobia affects religious and national identification. The study also explores whether perceived Islamophobia, national identification, and religious identification have any impact on the acculturation attitudes of Turkish immigrants. All relationships were investigated using path analysis. The results suggest that perceived Islamophobia does not affect religious or national identification. Results also show that perceived Islamophobia positively predicts endorsement of marginalization as an acculturation strategy. National identification predicts higher levels of integration and assimilation and lower levels of separation. Those who report higher religious identification are more inclined to prefer separation.
Structure‐based drug design and in vitro testing reveal new inhibitors of enoyl‐acyl carrier protein reductases
Authors: Ghattas Mohammad A. , Eissa Nermin A. , Tessaro Francesca , Perozzo Remo , Scapozza Leonardo , Obaid Dana , Atatreh Noor
Published: May 2019

The need for new antibacterial agents is increasingly becoming of great importance as bacterial resistance to current drugs is quickly spreading. Enoyl‐acyl carrier protein reductases (FabI) are important enzymes for fatty acid biosynthesis in bacteria and other micro‐organisms. In this project, we conducted structure‐based virtual screening against the FabI enzyme, and accordingly, 37 compounds were selected for experimental testing. Interestingly, five compounds were able to demonstrate antimicrobial effect with variable inhibition activity against various strains of bacteria and fungi. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of the active compounds were determined and showed to be in low to medium micromolar range. Subsequently, enzyme inhibition assay was carried out for our five antimicrobial hits to confirm their biological target and determine their IC50 values. Three of these tested compounds exhibited inhibition activity for the FabI enzyme where our best hit MN02 had an IC50 value of 7.8 μM. Furthermore, MN02 is a small bisphenolic compound that is predicted to have all required features to firmly bind with the target enzyme. To sum up, hits discovered in this work can act as a good starting point for the future development of new and potent antimicrobial agents.
“It's not an illness, it's just bad luck”: The impact of anaphylaxis on quality of life in adults
Authors: Knibb Rebecca C. , Huissoon Aarnoud P. , Baretto Richard , Ekbote Anjali , Onyango‐Odera Shamim , Screti Cassandra , Newman Kristina L. , Krishna Mamidipudi T.
Published: May 2019

Background

An increasing number of adults are being diagnosed with anaphylaxis, but its impact on health‐related quality of life (HRQol) is not known.

Objective

The aim of this study was to explore the impact of anaphylaxis on HRQoL of newly diagnosed adults.

Methods

Interviews were conducted with 13 adults (aged 40‐71; five males) with anaphylaxis (meeting WAO diagnostic criteria) to drugs, food, venom or spontaneous anaphylaxis, recruited using purposive sampling from allergy clinics in Birmingham, UK. Data were transcribed verbatim and analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Four themes were generated from the analysis: the journey from fear to frustration; the need to maintain a healthy identity; control over uncertainty; and the supportive role of others. Participants described their first experiences of anaphylaxis as frightening. Managing the condition was associated with frustration and anxiety, in part due to uncertainty regarding when anaphylaxis might occur. Participants did not consider their allergy as an illness and wanted to retain an identity as a healthy person. They felt a strong need to have control over their anaphylaxis so that it did not take over their lives. The support from others was extremely important, but a lack of understanding of anaphylaxis sometimes hindered that support.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Anaphylaxis has an adverse impact on the HRQoL of adults irrespective of the cause. More information about anaphylaxis and its management from healthcare professionals may help patients gain a sense of control over their condition and reduce the worry and anxiety associated with it.
A nationwide study on the incidence of mesenteric ischaemia after surgery for rectal cancer demonstrates an association with high arterial ligation
Authors: Sörelius K. , Svensson J. , Matthiessen P. , Rutegård J. , Rutegård M.
Published: May 2019

Aim

The incidence of mesenteric ischaemia after resection for rectal cancer has not been investigated in a population‐based setting. The use of high ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery might cause such ischaemia, as the bowel left in situ depends on collateral blood supply after a high tie.

Method

The Swedish Colorectal Cancer Registry was used to identify all patients subjected to an abdominal resection for rectal cancer during the years 2007–2017 inclusive. Mesenteric ischaemia within the first 30 postoperative days was recorded, classified as either stoma necrosis or colonic necrosis. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mesenteric ischaemia in relation to high tie, with adjustment for confounding.

Results

Some 14 657 patients were included, of whom 59 (0.40%) had a reoperation for any type of mesenteric ischaemia, divided into 34 and 25 cases of stoma necrosis and colonic necrosis, respectively. Compared with patients who did not require reoperation for mesenteric ischaemia following rectal cancer surgery, the proportion having high tie was greater (54.2% vs 38.5%; P = 0.032). The adjusted OR for reoperation due to any mesenteric ischaemia with high tie was 2.26 (95% CI 1.34–3.79), while the corresponding estimates for stoma and colonic necrosis, respectively, were 1.60 (95% CI 0.81–3.17) and 3.69 (95% CI 1.57–8.66).

Conclusion

The incidence of reoperation for mesenteric ischaemia after abdominal resection for rectal cancer is low, but the use of a high tie might increase the risk of colonic necrosis demanding surgery.
T‐cell pseudolymphoma in recurrent herpes simplex virus infection
Authors: Mitteldorf Christina , Geissinger Eva , Pleimes Marc , Schön Michael P. , Kempf Werner
Published: May 2019

Background

In cases of herpes virus infection without typical histologic (and clinical) signs it is difficult to achieve the correct diagnosis by histology alone. Some of those cases are prone to be misdiagnosed as cutaneous lymphoma.

Methods

This retrospective study included five patients with herpes simplex virus (HSV)‐associated pseudolymphoma. We investigated clinical, histomorphologic and immunophenotypic features of all patients.

Results

All biopsy specimens presented a superficial and deep perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltrate with epidermotropism, atypia and admixed plasma cells to varying degrees. Four of five samples showed lining‐up of lymphocytes in the junctional zone with predominance of CD8+ lymphocytes, in contrast to the dermal part (inverse CD8:CD4 ratio). Papillary edema was found in four of five cases. Clinically, patchy erythema located on the buttocks and adjacent areas was typical, sometimes with erosions and crusts. Medical history of recurrent blisters, pain or itching was additionally helpful.

Conclusion

We point out subtle but consistent histomorphologic criteria, which were helpful to diagnose HSV‐associated pseudolymphoma in context with the clinical presentation.
Clustering and ensembling approaches to support surrogate‐based species management
Authors: Sofaer Helen R. , Flather Curtis H. , Skagen Susan K. , Steen Valerie A. , Noon Barry R.
Published: May 2019

Aim

Surrogate species can provide an efficient mechanism for biodiversity conservation if they encompass the needs or indicate the status of a broader set of species. When species that are the focus of ongoing management efforts act as effective surrogates for other species, these incidental surrogacy benefits lead to additional efficiency. Assessing surrogate relationships often relies on grouping species by distributional patterns or by species traits, but there are few approaches for integrating outputs from multiple methods into summaries of surrogate relationships that can inform decision‐making.

Location

Prairie Pothole Region of the United States.

Methods

We evaluated how well five upland‐nesting waterfowl species that are a focus of management may act as surrogates for other wetland‐dependent birds. We grouped species by their patterns of relative abundance at multiple scales and by different sets of traits, and evaluated whether empirical validation could effectively select among the resulting species groupings. We used an ensemble approach to integrate the different estimated relationships among species and visualized the ensemble as a network diagram.

Results

Estimated relationships among species were sensitive to methodological decisions, with qualitatively different relationships arising from different approaches. An ensemble provided an effective tool for integrating across different estimates and highlighted the Sora (Porzana carolina), American Avocet (Recurvirostra Americana) and Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) as the non‐waterfowl species expected to show the strongest incidental surrogacy relationships with the waterfowl that are the focus of ongoing management.

Main conclusions

An ensemble approach integrated multiple estimates of surrogate relationship strength among species and allowed for intuitive visualizations within a network. By accounting for methodological uncertainty while providing a simple continuous metric of surrogacy, our approach is amenable to both further validation and integration into decision‐making.
Mediation analysis of the relationship between type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular events and all‐cause mortality: Findings from the SMART cohort
Authors: Sharif Shahnam , Groenwold Rolf H. H. , van der Graaf Yolanda , Berkelmans Gijs F. N. , Cramer Maarten J. , Visseren Frank L. J. , Westerink Jan ,   On behalf of the SMART study group
Published: May 2019

Aim

To quantify the magnitude and specific contributions of known cardiovascular risk factors leading to higher cardiovascular risk and all‐cause mortality caused by type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Methods

Mediation analysis was performed to assess the relative contributions of known classical risk factors for vascular disease in T2D (insulin resistance, systolic blood pressure, renal function, LDL‐cholesterol, triglycerides and micro‐albuminuria), and what proportion of the effect of T2D on cardiovascular events and all‐cause mortality these factors mediate in the Second Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART) cohort consisting of 1910 T2D patients.

Results

Only 35% (95% CI 15‐71%) of the excess cardiovascular risk caused by T2D is mediated by the classical cardiovascular risk factors. The largest mediated effect was through insulin resistance [proportion of mediated effect (PME) 18%, 95% CI 3‐37%], followed by elevated triglycerides (PME 8%, 95% CI 4‐14%) and micro‐albuminuria (PME 7%, 95% CI 3‐17%). Only 42% (95% CI 18‐73%) of the excess mortality risk was mediated by the classical risk factors considered. The largest mediated effect was by micro‐albuminuria (PME 18%, 95% CI 10‐29%) followed by insulin resistance (PME 15%, 95% CI 1‐33%).

Conclusion

A substantial amount of the increased cardiovascular risk and all‐cause mortality caused by T2D cannot be explained by traditional vascular risk factors. Future research should focus on identifying non‐classical pathways that might further explain the increased cardiovascular and mortality risk caused by T2D.
PUBLIC INSURANCE EXPANSIONS AND SMOKING CESSATION MEDICATIONS
Authors: Maclean Johanna Catherine , Pesko Michael F. , Hill Steven C.
Published: May 2019

We study the effect of public insurance on smoking cessation medication prescriptions and financing. We leverage variation in insurance coverage generated by recent Affordable Care Act expansions to Medicaid. We estimate differences‐in‐differences models using administrative data on the universe of Medicaid‐financed prescriptions sold in retail and online pharmacies 2011–2017. Our findings suggest that these expansions increased Medicaid‐financed smoking cessation prescriptions by 34%. This increase reflects new medication use and a shift in payment from private insurers and self‐paying patients to Medicaid. Adjusting our estimate for changes in financing implies that Medicaid expansion led to a 24% increase in new medication use. (JEL I1, I13, I18)
On nonlinear dependencies in African stock markets
Authors: Okorie Idika E. , Nadarajah Saralees
Published: May 2019

Ferreira, Dionisio, and Correia (2018. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and Its Applications. 505, 680–687) showed that African stock markets at different time frames (before the Lehman Brothers financial crisis, during the crisis, and after the crisis) do not satisfy the efficient market hypothesis. Here, we provide evidence by means of six different nonparametric tests, and the fit of GARCH(1, 1), TGARCH(1, 1) and EGARCH(1, 1) models accounting for day of the week and month of the year effects that the majority of African stock markets do comply with the efficient market hypothesis.
Integrated modeling predicts shifts in waterbird population dynamics under climate change
Authors: Zhao Qing , Boomer G. Scott , Royle J. Andrew
Published: May 2019

Climate change has been identified as one of the most important drivers of wildlife population dynamics. The in‐depth knowledge of the complex relationships between climate and population sizes through density dependent demographic processes is important for understanding and predicting population shifts under climate change, which requires integrated population models (IPMs) that unify the analyses of demography and abundance data. In this study we developed an IPM based on Gaussian approximation to dynamic N‐mixture models for large scale population data. We then analyzed four decades (1972–2013) of mallardAnas platyrhynchosbreeding population survey, band‐recovery and climate data covering a large spatial extent from North American prairies through boreal habitat to Alaska. We aimed to test the hypothesis that climate change will cause shifts in population dynamics if climatic effects on demographic parameters that have substantial contribution to population growth vary spatially. More specifically, we examined the spatial variation of climatic effects on density dependent population demography, identified the key demographic parameters that are influential to population growth, and forecasted population responses to climate change. Our results revealed that recruitment, which explained more variance of population growth than survival, was sensitive to the temporal variation of precipitation in the southern portion of the study area but not in the north. Survival, by contrast, was insensitive to climatic variation. We then forecasted a decrease in mallard breeding population density in the south and an increase in the northwestern portion of the study area, indicating potential shifts in population dynamics under future climate change. Our results implied that different strategies need to be considered across regions to conserve waterfowl populations in the face of climate change. Our modelling approach can be adapted for other species and thus has wide application to understanding and predicting population dynamics in the presence of global change.
Identifying mortality risk factors amongst acute coronary syndrome patients admitted to Arabian Gulf hospitals using machine‐learning methods
Authors: Raza Syed Asif , Thalib Lukman , Al Suwaidi Jassim , Sulaiman Kadhim , Almahmeed Wael , Amin Haitham , AlHabib Khalid F.
Published: May 2019

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the Arabian Gulf. In this study, the in‐hospital mortality amongst patients admitted with ACS to Arabian Gulf hospitals is predicted using a comprehensive modelling framework that combines powerful machine‐learning methods such as support‐vector machine (SVM), Naïve Bayes (NB), artificial neural networks (NN), and decision trees (DT). The performance of the machine‐learning methods is compared with that of the performance of a commonly used statistical method, namely, logistic regression (LR). The study follows the current practise of computing mortality risk using risk scores such as the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) score, which has not been validated for Arabian Gulf patients. Cardiac registry data of 7,000 patients from 65 hospitals located in Arabian Gulf countries are used for the study. This study is unique as it uses a contemporary data analytics framework. A k‐fold (k = 10) cross‐validation is utilized to generate training and validation samples from the GRACE dataset. The machine‐learning‐based predictive models often incur prejudgments for imbalanced training data patterns. To mitigate the data imbalance due to scarce observations for in‐hospital mortalities, we have utilized specialized methods such as random undersampling (RUS) and synthetic minority over sampling technique (SMOTE). A detailed simulation experimentation is carried out to build models with each of the five predictive methods (LR, NN, NB, SVM, and DT) for the each of the three datasets k‐fold subsamples generated. The predictive models are developed under three schemes of the k‐fold samples that include no data imbalance, RUS, and SMOTE. We have implemented an information fusion method rooted in computing weighted impact scores obtain for an individual medical history attributes from each of the predictive models simulated for a collective recommendation based on an impact score specific to a predictor. Finally, we grouped the predictors using fuzzy c‐mean clustering method into three categories, high‐, medium‐, and low‐risk factors for in‐hospital mortality due to ACS. Our study revealed that patients with medical history related to the presences of peripheral artery disease, congestive heart failure, cardiovascular transient ischemic attack valvular disease, and coronary artery bypass grafting amongst others have the most risk for in‐hospital mortality.