bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Maritime Labour Convention on design of new ships
Authors: Chia Yong Hwa , Tam Ivan CK , Dev Arun Kr
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) embodies standards of existing international maritime labour conventions and recommendations, as well as the fundamental principles to be found in other international labour conventions. The aim of the convention is to address the employment standards of seafarers in the areas of fair wages, contractual terms, working and living conditions, as well as their health and safety on board ships. The purpose of this paper is to provide an in-depth study of MLC Regulation 3.1, specifically on the layout design of the accommodation spaces and possible solutions to meet the new demands as those will certainly affect the crew comfort, health and well-being on board ships.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach used includes a review of pre- and post-MLC conventions and regulations. This is then followed by looking at the impact of MLC Regulation 3.1 on new ship design. Possible solutions for new ship design are then proposed.

Findings

The findings from the paper were as follows: More flexibility in the form of non-mandatory guidelines and substantial equivalence under MLC. Under MLC, only Special Purpose Ship (SPS) is allowed to accommodate four persons in one room. The requirement for increased height and floor spaces would result in increased gross register tons (GT) for post-MLC built vessels. Impact due to post-MLC requirements would be more unfavourable for the design of smaller vessels below 500 GT than of bigger vessels of up to less than 3,000 GT. Possible solutions include applying for exemptions and substantial equivalents with flag states or registering with a non-ratifying flag state.

Originality/value

This paper has been based on a dissertation carried out for the partial fulfilment of a post-graduate degree. It has not been published in any journal.
Innovation in times of uncertainty
Authors: Squire Kurt
Published: March 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to describe innovations at the Games + Learning + Society Center to explore the future of education.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is an overview of several published studies and design interventions.

Findings

Commercial partnerships, particularly generating copyrightable materials can maximize impact and diversify research funding, but they also run counter to the culture and purpose of many research universities.

Research limitations/implications

Researchers interested in forging new partnerships to maximize impact might explore relationships with commercial entities but be aware that they are running counter to the grain of most institutions and goals. Other universities of different sizes, ages and orientations may have different results.

Practical implications

Building private partnerships requires different staffing and skill sets than traditional research. Guidance for staffing key roles and projects are provided.

Originality/value

This paper is a reflection on unique research initiative that generated revenue and helped shape a subfield of education.
The changing world has implications on the higher education and the teaching profession
Authors: Konst (e. Penttilä) Taru , Scheinin Minna
Published: March 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to discuss the reform in teaching profession in higher education – new teacher roles are needed to implement competence-based curriculum and to answer the competence requirements of working life.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on innovation pedagogy emphasizing the socio-cultural theory and the constructivist view of learning developed to encompass the social and cultural customs of a particular community and its ways of operating.

Findings

The study extends the concept of innovation pedagogy to include new teacher roles to support the goal of how to ensure the development of students’ innovation competences.

Originality/value

The results are useful for those who want to outreach and engage in pedagogical and didactical development in higher education and increase the external impact of the higher education institution.
The 1918 Reform Act, Redistribution and Scottish Politics
Authors: Cameron Ewen A.
Published: March 2018

This essay examines the effect of the 1918 Representation of the People Act on Scottish politics. It notes the extensive addition to the electorate with the enfranchisement of adult males and most women over the age of 30 years. The main focus of the essay is on the effect of the provisions of the act in terms of the redistribution of seats in Scotland. Although the overall level of Scottish representation increased from 70 to 71 seats, there was a profound shift from the rural areas of the north and south to the industrial areas of west central Scotland and the city of Glasgow, which was awarded a further eight seats. In addition, the majority of the ‘Districts of Burghs’, a legacy of the Union of 1707, were abolished. It is argued that these changes created new political conditions in Scotland which favoured the Labour Party in the interwar period, and especially in the 1920s. The arguments – economic, historical, and political – deployed in defence of seats scheduled for abolition by the Boundary Commission are analysed.
The Impact of the 1918 Reform Act on the House of Commons
Authors: Farr Martin
Published: March 2018

The victorious conclusion of the war, coupled with a great democratising reform for the peace, created a sense of expectation that the parliament elected in December 1918 could not more starkly have disappointed. There was widespread shock at the overnight transformation of party politics, and general disorientation and speculation. To the central criticism that the 1918 Reform Act had produced a deeply unrepresentative, and therefore undemocratic, house of commons, came complaints that the legislature had become merely an appendage of the executive, and parliamentary government had been supplanted by party government. Many opined that the authority of the house of commons had been undermined. This essay considers how the implications of the act were envisaged, and how they were experienced and reported. It will look at the legislature that resulted, its members, and how they adapted to, and changed, its procedures and conventions. Finally, it will reflect on the politics of the impact of the Reform Act, on the parties, on their policies, and on a new political environment that had been created. Through their writings at the time and their reflections subsequently, those who were members, and those who were observers, of parliament testified as to how they felt the house of commons had changed as a result of the impact of the 1918 Reform Act.
An L1 analysis of a kernel‐based hazard rate estimator
Authors: Hua Hairui , Bagkavos Dimitrios , Patil Prakash N.
Published: March 2018

This article provides an analysis of the standard nonparametric kernel‐based hazard rate estimator under the random right censorship model. The analysis starts with the asymptotic formula for the integrated mean absolute error (IMAE) and then addresses the issue of bandwidth selection. In particular, we show that as a function of bandwidth, the asymptotic minimum of IMAE occurs at the minimising argument of the dominant term of the IMAE's asymptotic expression. Further, it is noted that finding the minimising argument of the dominant term of the asymptotic IMAE is very close to the similar problem in density estimation except that, as one would expect, the minimising argument now depends on the functionals of the unknown hazard rate. We then use estimates of these unknown functionals in an algorithm to calculate an adaptive version of the optimal bandwidth. We also show that, asymptotically, both theoretical and adaptive forms of the bandwidths do minimise the distance between the true hazard rate function and its kernel estimator. We also provide a simulation study to illustrate the methodology and compare errors of hazard rate estimates which use and optimal bandwidths.
Preface
Authors: Martin Michael A.
Published: March 2018

This special issue honours the life and work of Peter Hall, whose contributions to Statistics, in Australia and worldwide, have been immense
Immediate and flapless implant insertion and provisionalization using autogenous bone grafts in the esthetic zone: 5‐year results
Authors: Noelken Robert , Moergel Maximilian , Kunkel Martin , Wagner Wilfried
Published: March 2018

Objectives

As the 2‐year results for immediately inserted and provisionalized implants have been reported, it remained an open issue, whether the initially high success rates and the esthetic outcome remain stable for longer observation periods. Therefore, this prospective study examines the 5‐year hard and soft tissue changes at implants placed in the anterior maxilla.

Material and methods

Meanwhile, 37 microthreaded implants were placed in 21 patients into extraction sockets with and without facial bone deficiencies by a flapless approach. Facial gaps and bony defects were grafted with autogenous bone chips. The implants were immediately provisionalized. The primary outcome parameters were the interproximal marginal bone level and the thickness of the facial bony wall. Implant success and Pink Esthetic Score (PES) were considered as secondary outcome parameters.

Results

Two patients with four implants withdrew from the study (dropouts), and the remaining 33 implants were still in function at a follow‐up period of 68 months. Marginal bone height averaged 0.04 mm coronal to the implant shoulder. The thickness of the facial bony lamellae increased significantly between pre‐op examination and 1‐year follow‐up (p = .002) and thereafter remained stable. Within 5 years of follow‐up, 24 of 33 implants were clinically stable, free of signs and symptoms, and showed bone loss less than 1 mm. The mean PES ratings improved slightly from 10.7 pre‐operatively to 11.7 at the last follow‐up (p = .02).

Conclusions

Interproximal marginal bone levels, survival rates, and esthetic results remain stable at the 5‐year follow‐up in implants used in an immediate insertion, reconstruction, and provisionalization concept. Facial marginal bone levels decreased slightly; however, this reduction did not affect the PES so far.
From Equality of Deprivation to Disparity of Prosperity: The Poverty–Growth–Inequality Triangle in Post‐reform China
Authors: Wan Guanghua , Wang Chen , Yin Hua , Zhang Yan
Published: March 2018

In the post‐reform era, China achieved poverty reduction that was unprecedented in human history This poverty reduction was accompanied by fast growth and worsening income distribution. The present paper examines the poverty–growth–inequality triangle in China by: (i) providing growth, inequality and poverty profiles at the national and provincial levels; (ii) uncovering the contributions of growth and inequality changes to poverty reduction; and, finally, (iii) drawing lessons for other developing countries. Based on the World Bank's definition of the poverty line, China has already eliminated abject poverty, even though the poverty rate was as high as 88.3 percent in 1981. The remarkable record in poverty reduction is predominantly attributable to growth. The effect of inequality varied in different periods. In addition, the impact of growth on poverty reduction is found to be diminishing over time, a phenomenon worth further research and policy attention.
China's 40 Years of Fiscal and Tax Reform: A Basic Trajectory
Authors: Gao Peiyong
Published: March 2018

The present paper describes the trajectory of China's fiscal and tax reform in the past 40 years, which can be summarized in five phases. The reform commenced with “decentralizing power and transferring benefits.” Then, under great fiscal pressure, institutional reform was instigated, which aimed to establish a new fiscal and tax system. To regulate the government revenue and expenditure beyond the fiscal and tax system, reforms were put in place to build an institutional framework for public finance. As the fiscal and tax reform had gradually entered the more sophisticated phases, China took a series of measures to further improve the public finance system. Since 2012, based on the overall plan of comprehensively deepening reform, China has embarked on establishing a modern public finance system. The present paper characterizes China's fiscal and tax reform as gradually moving toward a system that aligns with the overall reform and complements the goal of marketization and modernization of state governance.
Analgetische Wirkungen lokalanästhetischer Salbe bei der Kryotherapie von Warzen: eine Meta‐analyse randomisierter Studien
Authors: Lee Chin‐Yu , Tung Tao‐Hsin , Liu Chia‐Yu , Wang Shu‐Hui , Chi Ching‐Chi
Published: March 2018

Hintergrund und Ziel

Lokalanästhetische Creme (LAC) wird zur Analgesie bei verschiedenen Verfahren angewendet. Ihre analgetische Wirkung bei der Kryotherapie von Warzen ist jedoch unklar. Wir untersuchten die Wirkung von LAC bei der Kryotherapie von Warzen.

Material und Methoden

Wir erstellten eine systematische Übersicht und Meta‐analyse randomisierter kontrollierter Studien (RCTs) zu Wirkungen von LAC bei der Kryotherapie von Warzen. Dazu haben wir MEDLINE, CENTRAL und EMBASE am 31. März 2017 nach relevanten RCTs durchsucht. Zwei Autoren wählten unabhängig voneinander die Studien aus, schätzten das Verzerrungsrisiko ab und extrahierten Daten. Meinungsdifferenzen wurden durch Diskussion mit einem dritten Autor gelöst.

Ergebnisse

Wir schlossen drei RCTs mit 228 Teilnehmern ein. Zwei dieser RCTs bergen ein hohes Risiko einer selektiven Berichterstattung (reporting bias), wobei bei einer der beiden Studien auch das Risiko anderer Bias hoch ist. Lokalanästhetische Creme senkte bei Kindern den Schmerz bei der Kryotherapie von Warzen auf verhornter Haut (visuelle Analogskala, mittlere Differenz –20,80; 95 % ‐ Konfidenzintervall –40,71 bis –0,89), jedoch nicht bei Erwachsenen oder auf nicht verhornter Haut von Erwachsenen oder Kindern.

Schussfolgerungen

Die routinemäßige Verwendung von LAC ≤ 60 min bei der Kryotherapie von Warzen wird nicht durch Literaturbelege gestützt.
Management of antithrombotic agents in dermatologic surgery before and after publication of the corresponding German evidence‐based guideline
Authors: Gaskins Matthew , Dittmann Martin , Eisert Lisa , Werner Ricardo Niklas , Dressler Corinna , Löser Christoph , Nast Alexander
Published: March 2018

Background

A survey in 2012 revealed marked heterogeneity in the management of antithrombotic agents in dermatologic surgery in Germany. An evidence‐based guideline on this topic was published for the first time in 2014.

Methods

Using the same study sample, we conducted an anonymous survey on the management of antithrombotic agents and familiarity with the guideline. We reported the results as relative frequencies and compared them with those from 2012.

Results

We analyzed a total of 208 questionnaires (response rate: 36.6 %). A large majority of dermatologists reported performing minor procedures without discontinuing low‐dose aspirin (≤ 100 mg), clopidogrel, or direct oral anticoagulants. In contrast, antithrombotic management was still heterogeneous in the context of major procedures, especially among office‐based dermatologists. Overall, there was an increase in the proportion of dermatologists who managed phenprocoumon, aspirin, and clopidogrel in compliance with the guideline. For example, while 53.8 % of hospital‐based dermatologists and 36.3 % of office‐based dermatologists had performed large excisions on continued low‐dose aspirin treatment in 2012, these figures showed an increase to 90.2 % and 57.8 %, respectively, by 2017 (phenprocoumon: from 33.8 % and 11.9 % to 63.9 % and 29.9 %, respectively; clopidogrel: from 36.9 % and 23.2 % to 63.9 % and 30.6 %, respectively). Among hospital dermatologists a large proportion was familiar with the guideline and considered it to be useful.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that compliance with the German guideline on the perioperative management of antithrombotics in dermatologic surgery has increased for all procedures. Despite this positive development, greater efforts are needed to improve implementation of the guideline and address barriers to its use in everyday practice.
Analysis of pharmaceutical care in patients with psoriatic arthritis using statutory health insurance data
Authors: Sondermann Wiebke , Ventzke Julia , Matusiewicz David , Körber Andreas
Published: March 2018

Background

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an inflammatory joint disease. Despite numerous health care research studies, there is hardly any data regarding the current state of pharmaceutical care of PsA patients in Germany.

Study population and methods

Based on a systematic literature search and routine administrative data from the Rhineland/Hamburg (statutory) health insurance fund (“Allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse“, AOK), the present study provides an up‐to‐date overview of pharmaceutical care of German PsA patients. Selected were those in‐ and outpatients who – in the first or second quarter of 2014 – had been coded as having the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis (L40.5+) according to the International Classification of Diseases (ICD‐10‐GM version 2015). On the basis of this “predefined cohort”, drug prescription data was subsequently analyzed for a five‐year period (January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2014).

Results

Overall, 3,205 AOK‐insured individuals (45 % male, 55 % female) were diagnosed with PsA. Mean age was 58.9 years; 53.7 % of PsA patients received systemic treatment. Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) were the most frequently prescribed agents, followed by corticosteroids. Among patients on systemic treatment, 72.1 % were treated with disease‐modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs); 20.9 % with a combination of DMARDs and biologics.

Conclusion

Not only does pharmacological treatment of PsA have to ensure adequate patient care aimed at preventing disease progression, it also has to be approached with economic responsibility.
Walking Together, Serving Justice and Peace
Authors: Tveit Olav Fykse
Published: March 2018

As the World Council of Churches (WCC) marks its 70th anniversary, this article focuses on the challenges it faces in its commitment to work for the unity of the church and for common service and witness for justice and peace in the world. Looking back on the experiences in the Reformation year 2017, it argues that it is time for the fellowship of churches to be accountable for what it has achieved and received from ecumenical dialogue, and to grow together in mutual accountability. At the same time, the statement by the WCC's 10th Assembly at Busan that “We intend to move together” emphasizes that ecumenism is not a static reality, but dynamic, involving the cooperation of the various churches and in interaction with people of good will of other communities.
The Way of Ecumenism: Gratitude and Commitment
Authors: Raiser Konrad
Published: March 2018

This address to the Ecumenical Kirchentag in Germany in 2003 takes as its starting point the symbol of the church as the people of God on the way together to describe the ecumenical movement. This is a path that leads out of the security of structures, relying on the promise of God as a response to the call of the gospel to faith and the path of discipleship – the way of pilgrimage as it was described by the World Conference on Faith and Order in 1993 in Santiago de Compostela. After looking back at the milestones on the ecumenical journey toward communion in life, faith, and witness, the address highlights the significance of a mutual recognition of baptism by churches as representing a “Copernican revolution” in ecumenical dialogue, in which churches would commit themselves to mutual accountability in matters of faith and church order.
Ecumenism and Evangelicalism: Where Are We?
Authors: Castro Emilio
Published: March 2018

While the ecumenical movement, and particularly the World Council of Churches, must always be an inclusive forum where the richness of the total life of the Christian church is manifest, this article argues that evangelicals cannot give up the quest for church unity because that would mean ignoring a central aspect of the prayer of Jesus Christ. Looking at areas of convergence between the evangelical and the ecumenical movement, four areas are identified for further cooperation and dialogue: the authority of the Bible; mobilizing all churches for the evangelization of the whole world; the perspective of the poor; and the challenge of justice and peace.
Is It Still a Movement?
Authors: Blake Eugene Carson
Published: March 2018

In this address from 1971, the second general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), Eugene Carson Blake, sets out the challenges facing the WCC at the beginning of the 1970s, identifying three key changes within the ecumenical movement: a shift in power and decision making away from the Protestant churches of North America and Western Europe; an organization more representative of churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, and of Orthodox churches; and the ecumenical involvement of the Roman Catholic Church. It goes on to set out how the WCC, particularly since its conference on Church and Society held in Geneva in 1966, has been attempting to make Christian faith and morals relevant to a world experiencing rapid social, economic, and political change.
Rethinking Diakonia and Transforming Our World
Authors: Leer‐Helgesen Arnhild
Published: March 2018

This article analyzes how ecumenical diakonia contributes to a critical view of the power dimension of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At the same time, it presents both the opportunities and the challenges the SDGs provide in rethinking diakonia and diaconal praxis. The commitment of the global community to the SDGs signifies a new context for diaconal praxis at local and international levels. In this article, power relations and the priority of the marginalized are presented as key concerns for rethinking diakonia in the current context. A model for diaconal reflection, based on perspectives from development studies and theology, is suggested as a tool for an interdisciplinary rethinking of diakonia aiming at renewed praxis in the context of the SDGs.
Samuel Kobia: Ecumenical, Passionate, Peacemaker
Authors: Stückelberger Christoph
Published: March 2018

This article discusses the role played by Samuel Kobia in the ecumenical movement and the World Council of Churches, of which he was general secretary from 2004 to 2009, and his involvement in peacemaking and mediation in Africa, especially in his home country of Kenya, in Sudan, and in South Sudan.
Fishes in a changing world: learning from the past to promote sustainability of fish populations
Authors: Gordon T. A. C. , Harding H. R. , Clever F. K. , Davidson I. K. , Davison W. , Montgomery D. W. , Weatherhead R. C. , Windsor F. M. , Armstrong J. D. , Bardonnet A. , Bergman E. , Britton J. R. , Côté I. M. , D'agostino D. , Greenberg L. A. , Harborne A. R. , Kahilainen K. K. , Metcalfe N. B. , Mills S. C. , Milner N. J. , Mittermayer F. H. , Montorio L. , Nedelec S. L. , Prokkola J. M. , Rutterford L. A. , Salvanes A. G. V. , Simpson S. D. , Vainikka A. , Pinnegar J. K. , Santos E. M.
Published: March 2018

Populations of fishes provide valuable services for billions of people, but face diverse and interacting threats that jeopardize their sustainability. Human population growth and intensifying resource use for food, water, energy and goods are compromising fish populations through a variety of mechanisms, including overfishing, habitat degradation and declines in water quality. The important challenges raised by these issues have been recognized and have led to considerable advances over past decades in managing and mitigating threats to fishes worldwide. In this review, we identify the major threats faced by fish populations alongside recent advances that are helping to address these issues. There are very significant efforts worldwide directed towards ensuring a sustainable future for the world's fishes and fisheries and those who rely on them. Although considerable challenges remain, by drawing attention to successful mitigation of threats to fish and fisheries we hope to provide the encouragement and direction that will allow these challenges to be overcome in the future.
Is bigger really better? Towards improved models for testing how Atlantic salmon Salmo salar smolt size affects marine survival
Authors: Gregory S. D. , Armstrong J. D. , Britton J. R.
Published: March 2018

A general framework is presented that should enhance our understanding of how intrinsic factors, such as body size, and extrinsic factors, such as climate, affect the dynamics and demographics of fish populations. Effects of intrinsic factors, notably studies relating juvenile Atlantic salmon Salmo salar body size to their probability to return as an adult, are often context‐dependent and anecdotal, due to data constraints. By merit of its flexible specification, this framework should admit datasets with a range of situation‐specific nuances, collected using different approaches, and thereby deliver more general and robust findings for more effective population management.
Natural endocrine profiles of the group‐living skunk anemonefish Amphiprion akallopisos in relation to their size‐based dominance hierarchy
Authors: Mills S. C. , O'Donnell J. L. , Bernardi G. , Beldade R.
Published: March 2018

Group‐living animals commonly display differences in behaviour, physiology and endocrine profiles between conspecifics within the group, which are tightly linked to reproduction. Teleosts exhibit a variety of social systems, where social status, as well as sex, has been linked to different androgen and oestrogen profiles. Levels of gonadal androgen and oestrogen were investigated as a function of sex and position in a social hierarchy in free‐living individuals of the skunk anemonefish Amphiprion akallopisos, a protandrous pomacentrid fish with a size‐based dominance hierarchical social system. Plasma levels of 11‐ketotestosterone (11‐KT), testosterone (T) and 17β‐oestradiol (E2), as well as conversion ratios from T, were measured by ELISA from 111 individuals along a linear hierarchy from 38 social groups in the wild. Blood plasma levels of 11‐KT and E2 showed sex differences, being higher in males and females respectively as expected based on their role as the major androgen and oestrogen in fish reproduction. However, no sex differences were found for T, which may represent its role in territorial defence or simply as a precursor for the synthesis of 11‐KT and E2. In terms of the hierarchical social system within males, 11‐KT levels decline as the hierarchy is descended, which may represent their decreasing reproductive opportunity, as well as the decreasing levels of aggression towards males lower in the hierarchy. In summary, the size‐based dominance hierarchy is associated with distinct steroid levels of 11‐KT and E2 between individual free‐living A. akallopisos that closely resemble those of species in which breeding individuals suppress reproduction of conspecifics lower in the hierarchy.
Mixed stimulation rates to improve sensitivity of interaural timing differences in bilateral cochlear implant listeners
Authors: Thakkar Tanvi , Kan Alan , Jones Heath G. , Litovsky Ruth Y.
Published: March 2018

Normal hearing listeners extract small interaural time differences (ITDs) and interaural level differences (ILDs) to locate sounds and segregate targets from noise. Bilateral cochlear implant listeners show poor sensitivity to ITDs when using clinical processors. This is because common clinical stimulation approaches use high rates [∼1000 pulses per-second (pps)] for each electrode in order to provide good speech representation, but sensitivity to ITDs is best at low rates of stimulation (∼100–300 pps). Mixing rates of stimulation across the array is a potential solution. Here, ITD sensitivity for a number of mixed-rate configurations that were designed to preserve speech envelope cues using high-rate stimulation and spatial hearing using low rate stimulation was examined. Results showed that ITD sensitivity in mixed-rate configurations when only one low rate electrode was included generally yielded ITD thresholds comparable to a configuration with low rates only. Low rate stimulation at basal or middle regions on the electrode array yielded the best sensitivity to ITDs. This work provides critical evidence that supports the use of mixed-rate strategies for improving ITD sensitivity in bilateral cochlear implant users.
Near-field head-related transfer-function measurement and database of human subjects
Authors: Yu Guangzheng , Wu Ruixing , Liu Yu , Xie Bosun
Published: March 2018

Near-field head-related transfer functions (HRTFs) of human subjects are essential to those researching spatial hearing. By using a carefully designed measurement system, near-field HRTFs of human subjects were measured and a database was constructed. The database includes 56 Chinese human subjects, seven source distances from 0.2 to 1.0 m, and 685 directions at each distance for each subject. In the present work, the technique of near-field HRTF measurement is outlined, the performance of the measurement system is assessed and validated, and the resultant database is reported. The database can provide fundamental data for future research.
Youth Sport Coaches’ Well-Being Across the Season: The Psychological Costs and Benefits of Giving Empowering and Disempowering Sports Coaching to Athletes
Authors: Solstad Bård Erlend , Ivarsson Andreas , Haug Ellen Merethe , Ommundsen Yngvar
Published: March 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between giving empowering and disempowering sports coaching to young athletes and coaches’ well-being across the season. The sample comprised 169 Norwegian youth football (i.e., European soccer) coaches with a mean age of 41.99 (SD = 6.32). Moreover, we were interested in examining heterogeneous groups of coaches showing variability in their self-reporting of empowering and disempowering behaviors towards their athletes. Thus, a person-centered approach was used. The latent profile analysis revealed three distinct profiles and the association between these profiles and coaches’ well-being was in line with the outlined hypotheses. Specifically, coaches who gave higher levels of empowering and lower levels of disempowering sports coaching to their athletes at the beginning of the season also reported higher levels of well-being at the end of the season. The results indicate that there exists an intrinsic value as to why coaches should give empowering sports coaching, as opposed to disempowering sports coaching, to their athletes; namely, these actions may be advantageous in terms of improving their own well-being. In practical terms, future coach education may take advantage of these findings by providing coaches another reason for coaching in an empowering manner.
Variations in the amount of water ice on Ceres’ surface suggest a seasonal water cycle
Authors: Raponi Andrea , De Sanctis Maria Cristina , Frigeri Alessandro , Ammannito Eleonora , Ciarniello Mauro , Formisano Michelangelo , Combe Jean-Philippe , Magni Gianfranco , Tosi Federico , Carrozzo Filippo Giacomo , Fonte Sergio , Giardino Marco , Joy Steven P. , Polanskey Carol A. , Rayman Marc D. , Capaccioni Fabrizio , Capria Maria Teresa , Longobardo Andrea , Palomba Ernesto , Zambon Francesca , Raymond Carol A. , Russell Christopher T.
Published: March 2018

Local detection of increasing amount of water ice on Ceres’ surface indicates an active body and a possible seasonal cycle.
New science in plain sight: Citizen scientists lead to the discovery of optical structure in the upper atmosphere
Authors: MacDonald Elizabeth A. , Donovan Eric , Nishimura Yukitoshi , Case Nathan A. , Gillies D. Megan , Gallardo-Lacourt Bea , Archer William E. , Spanswick Emma L. , Bourassa Notanee , Connors Martin , Heavner Matthew , Jackel Brian , Kosar Burcu , Knudsen David J. , Ratzlaff Chris , Schofield Ian
Published: March 2018

Citizen scientists, along with satellite and ground-based sensors, have revealed a new arc boundary at subauroral latitudes.
Integrated molecular imaging reveals tissue heterogeneity driving host-pathogen interactions
Authors: Cassat James E. , Moore Jessica L. , Wilson Kevin J. , Stark Zach , Prentice Boone M. , Van de Plas Raf , Perry William J. , Zhang Yaofang , Virostko John , Colvin Daniel C. , Rose Kristie L. , Judd Audra M. , Reyzer Michelle L. , Spraggins Jeffrey M. , Grunenwald Caroline M. , Gore John C. , Caprioli Richard M. , Skaar Eric P.
Published: March 2018

Multimodal mass spectrometric imaging identifies bacterial and host analytes in intact tissues during invasive infection in mice.
Genome Sequence of a Tomato-Infecting Tomato Mosaic Virus Isolate from Zimbabwe
Authors: Karavina Charles , Ibaba Jacques D. , Gubba Augustine
Published: March 2018

A tomato-infecting tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) isolate was detected in Zimbabwe using lateral flow kits and double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Next-generation sequencing and
de novo
assembly were subsequently performed to determine its genome sequence. The ToMV genome of the Zimbabwe isolate is the second to be reported in Africa.
Draft Genome Sequence of Methylovulum psychrotolerans Sph1
T
, an Obligate Methanotroph from Low-Temperature Environments
Authors: Oshkin Igor Y. , Miroshnikov Kirill K. , Belova Svetlana E. , Korzhenkov Aleksei A. , Toshchakov Stepan V. , Dedysh Svetlana N.
Published: March 2018

Methylovulum psychrotolerans
Sph1
T
is an aerobic, obligate methanotroph, which was isolated from cold methane seeps in West Siberia. This bacterium possesses only a particulate methane monooxygenase and is widely distributed in low-temperature environments. Strain Sph1
T
has the genomic potential for biosynthesis of hopanoids required for the maintenance of intracytoplasmic membranes.
Full Genome Sequence of the Western Reserve Strain of Vaccinia Virus Determined by Third-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Prazsák István , Tombácz Dóra , Szűcs Attila , Dénes Béla , Snyder Michael , Boldogkői Zsolt
Published: March 2018

The vaccinia virus is a large, complex virus belonging to thePoxviridaefamily. Here, we report the complete, annotated genome sequence of the neurovirulent Western Reserve laboratory strain of this virus, which was sequenced on the Pacific Biosciences RS II and Oxford Nanopore MinION platforms.
Evaluation of the congenital hypothyroidism screening programme in Iran: a 3-year retrospective cohort study
Authors: Mehran Ladan , Khalili Davood , Yarahmadi Shahin , Delshad Hossein , Mehrabi Yadollah , Amouzegar Atieh , Ajang Nasrin , Azizi Fereidoun
Published: March 2018

Objective

To evaluate the newborn screening programme for congenital hypothyroidism (CH) in Iran from diagnosis to management and follow-up for 3 years from 2011 to 2014.

Design

Retrospective cohort.

Setting and patients

Seventeen university districts were randomly selected from 30 provinces. Central data in each district were gathered and collectively analysed. Congenital hypothyroid subjects were followed for 3 years.

Main outcome measures

Programme coverage, screening and treatment age, recall rate, compliance to follow-ups.

Results

The total number of births in 2011 was 501 726, of which 452 918 neonates (90.3%) were screened and 15 671 (3.46%) were recalled; 1085 (1:462, 0.22%) were confirmed as having CH (57.1%: permanent, 42.9%: transient) and followed for 3 years. Positive predictive value (PPV) for the first screening test was 6.9%. After the second screening, recall rate was reduced to 0.69% and PPV increased to 31.3%. Median age at screening was 6 (3–9) days and for 90.6% of patients treatment was initiated before 40 days of age with a median levothyroxine dosage of 25 µg/day; 131 (13.4%) were lost to follow-up. Mean number of follow-up visits over 3 years was 5.7 (95% CI 5.5 to 5.9) and 23% (n=225) had total compliance to all follow-ups. Median time for thyroid stimulating hormone normalisation was 45 days, 95% CI (41.1 to 48.8).

Conclusion

In Iran, despite well-established protocols of screening and detecting CH subjects, stricter implementation of a structured system for monitoring and surveillance is needed to promote the management of patients and to reduce rates of loss to follow-up. Determining and addressing the causes of high false positive rates must be prioritised.
Pseudomonas aeruginosaisolation in patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis: a retrospective study
Authors: Wang Hong , Ji Xiao-Bin , Mao Bei , Li Cheng-Wei , Lu Hai-Wen , Xu Jin-Fu
Published: March 2018

Objectives

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa)occupies an important niche in the pathogenic microbiome of bronchiectasis. The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognostic value ofP. aeruginosain Chinese adult patients with bronchiectasis.

Methods

This retrospective and follow-up study enrolled 1188 patients diagnosed with bronchiectasis at Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital between January 2011 and December 2012. The patients’ clinical data including anthropometry, clinical symptoms, serum biomarkers, radiographic manifestations and lung function indices were reviewed. The median follow-up duration (IQR) was 44 (40-54) months, during which 289 patients were lost to follow-up. Data from 899 patients were collected and analysed for the outcomes of mortality, annual exacerbation frequency and health-related quality of life.

Results

P. aeruginosawas isolated from 232 patients, alongside other pathogens such asAspergillus(n=75) andCandida albicans(n=72). There were 74 deaths (12% of patients withP. aeruginosa, 7.3% of those without) over the course of the follow-up. The isolation ofP. aeruginosawas a risk factor for all-cause mortality (HR, 3.07; 95% CI 1.32 to 7.15) and was associated with high rates of exacerbations (ie, ≥3 exacerbations per year of follow-up) (HR, 2.40; 95% CI 1.20 to 4.79). Patients withP. aeruginosaalso had worse scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (anxiety, p=0.005; depression, p<0.001), the Leicester Cough Questionnaire (p=0.033) and the modified Medical Research Council scale (p=0.001) compared with those withoutP. aeruginosa.

Conclusions

Isolation ofP. aeruginosain patients with bronchiectasis is a significant prognostic indicator and should be a major factor in the clinical management of the disease.
Impact of mammography screening programmes on breast cancer mortality in Switzerland, a country with different regional screening policies
Authors: Herrmann Christian , Vounatsou Penelope , Thürlimann Beat , Probst-Hensch Nicole , Rothermundt Christian , Ess Silvia
Published: March 2018

Introduction

In the past decades, mortality due to breast cancer has declined considerably in Switzerland and other developed countries. The reasons for this decline remain controversial as several factors occurred almost simultaneously, including important advances in treatment approaches, breast cancer awareness and the introduction of mammography screening programmes in many European countries. In Switzerland, mammography screening programmes (MSPs) have existed in some regions for over 20 years but do not yet exist in others. This offers the possibility to analyse its effects with modern spatiotemporal methodology. We aimed to assess the spatiotemporal patterns and the effect of MSPs on breast cancer mortality.

Setting

Switzerland.

Participants

The study covers breast cancer deaths of the female population of Switzerland during the period 1969–2012. We retrieved data from the Swiss Federal Statistical Office aggregated on a small-area level.

Design

We fitted Bayesian hierarchical spatiotemporal models on death rates indirectly standardised by national references. We used linguistic region, degree of urbanisation, duration of population-based screening programmes and socioeconomic index as covariates.

Results

In Switzerland, breast cancer mortality in women slightly increased until 1989–1992 and declined strongly thereafter. Until 2009–2012, the standardised mortality ratio declined to 57% (95% CI 54% to 60%) of the 1969–1972 value. None of the other coefficients of the spatial regressions had a significant effect on breast cancer mortality. In 2009–2012, no region had significantly elevated or reduced breast cancer mortality at 95% credible interval level compared with the national mean.

Conclusion

There has been a strong reduction of breast cancer mortality from the 1990s onwards. No important spatial disparities were observed. The factors studied (urbanisation, language, duration of population-based MSP and socioeconomic characteristics) did not seem to have an influence on them. Low participation rates and opportunistic screening use may have contributed to the low impact of MSPs.
Born before arrival in NSW, Australia (2000–2011): a linked population data study of incidence, location, associated factors and maternal and neonatal outcomes
Authors: Thornton Charlene Eliza , Dahlen Hannah Grace
Published: March 2018

Objectives

To determine incidence, associated factors, outcomes and geographical occurrence of born before arrival (BBA) in New South Wales, Australia.

Design

A linked population data study involving population-based surveillance systems was undertaken for the years 2000–2011.

Setting

New South Wales, Australia.

Participants

All women who underwent BBA compared with women who birthed in hospital/birth centre settings.

Results

During the time period, there were 1 097 653 births and a BBA rate of 4.6 per 1000 births. The BBA rate changed from 4.2 to 4.8 per 1000 births over time (p=0.06). Neonates BBA were more likely to be premature (12.5% compared with 7.3%), of lower birth weight (209.8 g mean difference) and/or be admitted to a special care nursery or neonatal intensive care unit (20.6% compared with 15.6%). The perinatal mortality rate was significantly higher in the BBA cohort (34.6 compared with 9.3 per 1000 births). Women in the BBA cohort were more likely to be in the lowest socioeconomic decile, multiparous, have higher rates of smoking (30.5% compared with 13.8%) and more likely to suffer a postpartum haemorrhage requiring transfusion than the non-BBA cohort (1.5% compared with 0.7%). The most commonly occurring complications for neonates were suspected infection (6.9%), hypothermia (6.9%), respiratory distress (5.4%), congenital abnormality (4.0%) and neonatal withdrawal symptoms (2.4%). BBA more commonly occurred in geographical areas where the distance to a maternity unit is >2 hours drive and in coastal regions where there is also a high rate of homebirth.

Conclusion

BBA occurs more frequently in multiparous women of lower socioeconomic status. There potentially is an effect of geography on the occurrence of BBA, as geographical area of high homebirth and BBA coexists, indicating that freebirth followed by an unplanned transfer to hospital may be occurring.
Protocol for the economic evaluation of a complex intervention to improve the mental health of maltreated infants and children in foster care in the UK (The BeST? services trial)
Authors: Deidda Manuela , Boyd Kathleen Anne , Minnis Helen , Donaldson Julia , Brown Kevin , Boyer Nicole R S , McIntosh Emma
Published: March 2018

Introduction

Children who have experienced abuse and neglect are at increased risk of mental and physical health problems throughout life. This places an enormous burden on individuals, families and society in terms of health services, education, social care and judiciary sectors. Evidence suggests that early intervention can mitigate the negative consequences of child maltreatment, exerting long-term positive effects on the health of maltreated children entering foster care. However, evidence on cost-effectiveness of such complex interventions is limited. This protocol describes the first economic evaluation of its kind in the UK.

Methods and analysis

An economic evaluation alongside the Best Services Trial (BeST?) has been prospectively designed to identify, measure and value key resource and outcome impacts arising from the New Orleans intervention model (NIM) (an infant mental health service) compared with case management (CM) (enhanced social work services as usual). A within-trial economic evaluation and long-term model from a National Health Service/Personal Social Service and a broader societal perspective will be undertaken alongside the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)–Public Health Research Unit (PHRU)-funded randomised multicentre BeST?. BeST? aims to evaluate NIM compared with CM for maltreated children entering foster care in a UK context. Collection of Paediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL) and the recent mapping of PedsQL to EuroQol-5-Dimensions (EQ-5D) will facilitate the estimation of quality-adjusted life years specific to the infant population for a cost–utility analysis. Other effectiveness outcomes will be incorporated into a cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) and cost-consequences analysis (CCA). A long-term economic model and multiple economic evaluation frameworks will provide decision-makers with a comprehensive, multiperspective guide regarding cost-effectiveness of NIM. The long-term population health economic model will be developed to synthesise trial data with routine linked data and key government sector parameters informed by literature. Methods guidance for population health economic evaluation will be adopted (lifetime horizon, 1.5% discount rate for costs and benefits, CCA framework, multisector perspective).

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was obtained by the West of Scotland Ethics Committee. Results of the main trial and economic evaluation will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal as well as published in the peer-reviewed NIHR journals library (Public Health Research Programme).

Trial registration number

NCT02653716; Pre-results.