bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Despite egg-adaptive mutations, the 2012-13 H3N2 influenza vaccine induced comparable antibody titers to the intended strain
Authors: Cobey Sarah , Parkhouse Kaela , Chambers Benjamin S. , Ertl Hildegund C. , Schmader Kenneth E. , Halpin Rebecca A. , Lin Xudong , Stockwell Timothy B. , Das Suman R. , Landon Emily , Tesic Vera , Youngster Ilan , Pinsky Benjamin , Wentworth David E. , Hensley Scott E. , Grad Yonatan H.
Published: July 2017

Background

Influenza vaccination aims to prevent infection by influenza virus and reduce associated morbidity and mortality; however, vaccine effectiveness (VE) can be modest, especially for subtype A/H3N2. Failure to achieve consistently high VE has been attributed both to mismatches between the vaccine and circulating influenza strains and to the vaccine's elicitation of protective immunity in only a subset of the population. The low H3N2 VE in 2012-13 was attributed to egg-adaptive mutations that created antigenic mismatch between the intended (A/Victoria/361/2011) and actual vaccine strain (IVR-165).

Methods

We investigate the basis of the low VE in 2012-2013 by evaluating whether vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals were infected by different viral strains and assessing the serologic responses to A/Victoria/361/2011 and the IVR-165 vaccine strain in an adult cohort before and after vaccination.

Results

We found no significant genetic differences between the strains that infected vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals. Vaccination increased titers to A/Victoria/361/2011 as much as to IVR-165. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that vaccination served merely to boost preexisting cross-reactive immune responses, which provided limited protection against infection with the circulating influenza strains.

Conclusions

In contrast to suggestive analyses based on ferret antisera, low H3N2 VE in 2012-13 does not appear to be due to the failure of the egg-adapted strain to induce a response to the intended vaccine strain. Instead, low VE might have been caused by the emergence of anti-genically novel influenza strains and low vaccine immunogenicity in a subset of the population.
Data-driven subtyping of executive function related behavioural problems in children
Authors: Bathelt Joe , Holmes Joni ,   the CALM team, Astle Duncan E.
Published: July 2017

Introduction

Many developmental disorders are associated with deficits in controlling and regulating behaviour. These difficulties are frequently observed across multiple groups of children including children with diagnoses of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), specific learning difficulties, autistic spectrum disorder, or conduct disorder. The co-occurrence of these behavioural problems across disorders typically leads to comorbid diagnoses and can complicate intervention approaches. An alternative to classifying children on the basis of specific diagnostic criteria is to use a data-driven grouping that identifies dimensions of behaviour that meaningfully distinguish groups of children.

Methods

The sample consisted of 442 children identified by health and educational professionals as having difficulties in attention, learning and/or memory. The current study applied community clustering, a data-driven clustering algorithm, to group children by similarities across scales on a commonly used rating scale, the Conners-3 questionnaire. Further, the current study investigated if the groups identified by the data-driven algorithm could be identified by white matter connectivity using a structural connectomics approach combined with partial least squares analysis.

Results

The data-driven clustering yielded three distinct groups of children with symptoms of either: (1) elevated inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity, and poor executive function, (2) learning problems, and (3) aggressive behaviour and problems with peer relationships. These groups were associated with significant inter-individual variation in white matter connectivity of the prefrontal and anterior cingulate cortex.

Conclusion

In sum, data-driven classification of executive function difficulties identifies stable groups of children, provides a good account of inter-individual differences, and aligns closely with underlying neurobiological substrates.
Improving the accuracy of two-sample summary data Mendelian randomization: moving beyond the NOME assumption
Authors: Bowden Jack , Greco M Fabiola Del , Minelli Cosetta , Zhao Qingyuan , Lawlor Debbie A , Sheehan Nuala A , Thompson John , Smith George Davey
Published: July 2017

Background

Two-sample summary data Mendelian randomization (MR) incorporating multiple genetic variants within a meta-analysis framework is a popular technique for assessing causality in epidemiology. If all genetic variants satisfy the instrumental variable (IV) and necessary modelling assumptions, then their individual ratio estimates of causal effect should be homogeneous. Observed heterogeneity signals that one or more of these assumptions could have been violated.

Methods

Causal estimation and heterogeneity assessment in MR requires an approximation for the variance, or equivalently the inverse-variance weight, of each ratio estimate. We show that the most popular ‘1st order’ weights can lead to an inflation in the chances of detecting heterogeneity when in fact it is not present. Conversely, ostensibly more accurate ‘2nd order’ weights can dramatically increase the chances of failing to detect heterogeneity, when it is truly present. We derive modified weights to mitigate both of these adverse effects.

Results

Using Monte Carlo simulations, we show that the modified weights outperform 1st and 2nd order weights in terms of heterogeneity quantification. Modified weights are also shown to remove the phenomenon of regression dilution bias in MR estimates obtained from weak instruments, unlike those obtained using 1st and 2nd order weights. However, with small numbers of weak instruments, this comes at the cost of a reduction in estimate precision and power to detect a causal effect compared to 1st order weighting. Moreover, 1st order weights always furnish unbiased estimates and preserve the type I error rate under the causal null. We illustrate the utility of the new method using data from a recent two-sample summary data MR analysis to assess the causal role of systolic blood pressure on coronary heart disease risk.

Conclusions

We propose the use of modified weights within two-sample summary data MR studies for accurately quantifying heterogeneity and detecting outliers in the presence of weak instruments. Modified weights also have an important role to play in terms of causal estimation (in tandem with 1st order weights) but further research is required to understand their strengths and weaknesses in specific settings.
Mind-wandering in people with hippocampal damage
Authors: McCormick Cornelia , Rosenthal Clive R. , Miller Thomas D. , Maguire Eleanor A.
Published: July 2017

Subjective inner experiences, such as mind-wandering, represent the fundaments of human cognition. Although the precise function of mind-wandering is still debated, it is increasingly acknowledged to have influence across cognition on processes such as future planning, creative thinking and problem-solving, and even on depressive rumination and other mental health disorders. Recently, there has been important progress in characterizing mind-wandering and identifying the associated neural networks. Two prominent features of mind-wandering are mental time travel and visuo-spatial imagery, which are often linked with the hippocampus. People with selective bilateral hippocampal damage cannot vividly recall events from their past, envision their future or imagine fictitious scenes. This raises the question of whether the hippocampus plays a causal role in mind-wandering and if so, in what way. Leveraging a unique opportunity to shadow people (all males) with bilateral hippocampal damage for several days, we examined, for the first time, what they thought about spontaneously, without direct task demands. We found that they engaged in as much mind-wandering as control participants. However, whereas controls thought about the past, present and future, imagining vivid visual scenes, hippocampal damage resulted in thoughts primarily about the present comprising verbally-mediated semantic knowledge. These findings expose the hippocampus as a key pillar in the neural architecture of mind-wandering and also reveal its impact beyond memory, placing it at the heart of human mental life.

Significance statement

Humans tend to mind-wander about 30-50% of their waking time. Two prominent features of this pervasive form of thought are mental time travel and visuo-spatial imagery, which are often associated with the hippocampus. To examine whether the hippocampus plays a causal role in mind-wandering, we examined the frequency and phenomenology of mind-wandering in patients with selective bilateral hippocampal damage. We found that they engaged in as much mind-wandering as controls. However, hippocampal damage changed the form and content of mind-wandering from flexible, episodic, and scene-based to abstract, semanticized, and verbal. These findings expose the hippocampus as a key pillar in the neural architecture of mind-wandering and reveal its impact beyond memory, placing it at the heart of our mental life.
Dynamics of venom composition across a complex life cycle
Authors: Columbus-Shenkar Yaara Y. , Sachkova Maria Y. , Fridrich Arie , Modepalli Vengamanaidu , Sunagar Kartik , Moran Yehu
Published: July 2017

Little is known about venom in young developmental stages of animals. The appearance of stinging cells in very early life stages of the sea anemoneNematostella vectensissuggests that toxins and venom are synthesized already in eggs, embryos and larvae of this species. Here we harness transcriptomic and biochemical tools as well as transgenesis to study venom production dynamics inNematostella. We find that the venom composition and arsenal of toxin-producing cells change dramatically between developmental stages of this species. These findings might be explained by the vastly different ecology of the larva and adult polyp as sea anemones develop from a miniature non-feeding mobile planula to a much larger sessile polyp that predates on other animals. Further, the results suggest a much wider and dynamic venom landscape than initially appreciated in animals with a complex life cycle.
M3+(H2AsO4)(H2As2O7) (M3+= Al, Ga) and In2(H2AsO4)2(H2As2O7)2: a new layer structure type and a new framework structure type containing the rare H2As2O72−group
Authors: Schwendtner Karolina , Kolitsch Uwe
Published: July 2017

The crystal structures of hydrothermally synthesized aluminium dihydrogen arsenate(V) dihydrogen diarsenate(V), Al(H2AsO4)(H2As2O7), gallium dihydrogen arsenate(V) dihydrogen diarsenate(V), Ga(H2AsO4)(H2As2O7), and diindium bis[dihydrogen arsenate(V)] bis[dihydrogen diarsenate(V)], In2(H2AsO4)2(H2As2O7)2, were determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data collected at room temperature. The first two compounds are representatives of a novel sheet structure type, whereas the third compound crystallizes in a novel framework structure. In all three structures, the basic building units areM3+O6octahedra (M= Al, Ga, In) that are connectedviaone H2AsO4−and two H2As2O72−groups into chains, and furtherviaH2As2O72−groups into layers. In Al/Ga(H2AsO4)(H2As2O7), these layers are interconnected by weak-to-medium–strong hydrogen bonds. In In2(H2AsO4)2(H2As2O7)2, the H2As2O72−groups link the chains in three dimensions, thus creating a framework topology, which is reinforced by weak-to-medium–strong hydrogen bonds. The three title arsenates represent the first compounds containing both H2AsO4−and H2As2O72−groups.
A new algorithm based on modified trigonometric cubic B-splines functions for nonlinear Burgers’-type equations
Authors: Jiwari Ram , Alshomrani Ali Saleh
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The main aim of the paper is to develop a new B-splines collocation algorithm based on modified cubic trigonometric B-spline functions to find approximate solutions of nonlinear parabolic Burgers’-type equations with Dirichlet boundary conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

A modification is made in cubic trigonometric B-spline functions to handle the Dirichlet boundary conditions and an algorithm is developed with the help of modified cubic trigonometric B-spline functions. The proposed algorithm reduced the Burgers’ equations into a system of first-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations in time variable. Then, strong stability preserving Runge-Kutta 3rd order (SSP-RK3) scheme is used to solve the obtained system.

Findings

A different technique based on modified cubic trigonometric B-spline functions is proposed which is quite different from to the schemes developed in Abbas et al. (2014) and Nazir et al. (2016), and the developed algorithms are free from linearization process and finite difference operators.

Originality/value

To the best knowledge of the authors, this technique is novel for solving nonlinear partial differential equations, and the new proposed technique gives better results than the results discussed in Ozis et al. (2003), Kutluay et al. (1999), Khater et al. (2008), Korkmaz and Dag (2011), Kutluay et al. (2004), Rashidi et al. (2009), Mittal and Jain (2012), Mittal and Jiwari (2012), Mittal and Tripathi (2014), Xie et al. (2008) and Kadalbajoo et al. (2005).
Analysis of pore scale fluid migration in a porous medium- application to coal rock seam
Authors: Youjun Ji , Vafai K.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to digitize the porous structure and reconstruct the geometry of the rock by using the image processing software photoshop (PS) and ant colony algorithm coded with compiler Fortran PowerStation (fps) 4.0 based on the microscopic image of a typical rock mass.

Design/methodology/approach

The digital model of the microstructure of the porous coal rock was obtained, and imported into the numerical simulation software to build the finite element model of microstructure of the porous coal rock. Creeping flow equations were used to describe the fluid flow in the porous rock.

Findings

The simulation results indicate that the method utilized for reconstructing the microstructure of the porous coal rock proposed in this work is effective. The results demonstrate that the transport of fluid in a porous medium is significantly influenced by the geometric structure of the pore and that the heterogeneous porous structure would result in an irregular flow of the fluid.

Research limitations/implications

The authors did not experience a limitation.

Practical implications

The existence of the pores with dead ends would hinder the fluid to flow through the coal rock and reduce the efficiency of extracting fluid from the porous coal rock. It is also shown that the fluid first enters the large pores and subsequently into the small pore spaces.

Social implications

The paper provides important and useful results for several industries.

Originality value

Image processing technology has been utilized to incorporate the micro image of the porous coal rock mass, based on the characteristics of pixels of the micro image. The ant colony algorithm was used to map out the boundary of the rock matrix and the pore space. A FORTRAN code was prepared to read the micro image, to transform the bmp image into a binary format, which contains only two values. The digital image was obtained after analyzing the image features. The geometric structure of the coal rock pore was then constructed. The flow process for the micro fluid in the pore structure was illustrated and the physical process of the pore scale fluid migration in the porous coal seam was analyzed.
A numerical study on the steady flow in molten salt pump under various conditions for improved hydraulic performance
Authors: Cheng Wenjie , Gu Boqin , Shao Chunlei
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to figure out the steady flow status in the molten salt pump under various temperatures and blade number conditions, and give good insight on the structure and temperature-dependent efficiencies of all pump cases. Finally, the main objective of present work is to get best working condition and blade numbers for optimized hydraulic performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The steady flow in the molten salt pump was studied numerically based on the three-dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes equations and the standard k-ε turbulence model. Under different temperature conditions, the internal flow fields in the pumps with different blade number were systematically simulated. Besides, a quantitative backflow analysis method was proposed for further investigation.

Findings

With the molten salt fluid temperature, sharply increasing from 160°C to 480°C, the static pressure decreases gently in all pump cases, and seven-blades pump has the least backflow under low flow rate condition. The efficiencies of all pump cases increase slowly at low temperature (about 160 to 320°C), but there is almost no variation at high temperature, and obviously seven-blades pump has the best efficiency and head in all pump cases over the wide range of temperatures. The seven-blades pump has the best performance in all selected pump cases.

Originality/value

The steady flow in molten salt pumps was systematically studied under various temperature and blade number conditions for the first time. A quantitative backflow analysis method was proposed first for further investigation on the local flow status in the molten salt pump. A definition about the low velocity region in molten salt pumps was built up to account for whether the studied pump gains most energy. This method can help us to know how to improve the efficiencies of molten salt pumps.
Cultural intelligence and leadership style in the education sector
Authors: Aldhaheri Ali
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Schools in UAE are multicultural in nature. In this context, cultural intelligence (CQ) is a tool, which can increase an individual’s ability to interact with people outside his/her culture. The purpose of this paper is to explore the perceptions of the school leaders regarding the key influences of cultural intelligence on their ability to adapt their leadership style in the Abu Dhabi Education Sector.

Design/methodology/approach

An extensive review of the literature was carried out to acknowledge the cultural intelligence and leadership style adaptability concepts. This research has adopted a qualitative method of inquiry. Data for the study have been collected from three focus groups with 14 schools leaders in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

Findings

This pilot study reveals that cultural intelligence has some influence on the school leaders’ ability to adapt their leadership style within a diverse work environment. This influence is complex in nature and multiple factors have been identified.

Research limitations/implications

The main limitations of this study are associated with the small sample size. Regarding the implications, while this study was conducted in a UAE cultural context, it can be extended to other Gulf countries. Future research should prompt educational leaders, administrators, students, and research academics to further consider the impact of cultural intelligence on leadership style.

Practical implications

This study contributes towards cultural intelligence literature. Schools should provide cultural training to managers before appointing them to leadership positions, which helps in understanding the culture which they are going to operate in, and effectively manage their drives, workforce, students, and the community.

Originality/value

The paper highlights six core factors that influence the ability of school leaders to adapt their leadership style in culturally diverse environments. These preliminary factors need to be examined further to validate the dimensions of leadership adaptability in various contexts.
Graduate attributes and employability skills
Authors: Belwal Rakesh , Priyadarshi Pushpendra , Al Fazari Mariam Humaid
Published: July 2017

Purpose

Supply and demand characteristics, influenced by the pre- and post-oil economy of Oman, have caused unemployment challenges to Omani graduates. The purpose of this paper is to explore the most common graduate attributes as they apply to graduates’ employability in Oman.

Design/methodology/approach

The study uses the principles of “hypotheticodeductive logic” and inferential analysis using a combination of focus group and survey approach. Using an online mode of data collection targeting the past three cohorts of graduates from a prominent University in Oman, the study analyses and presents several insights into graduate attributes and employability issues.

Findings

The research finds that the domain of educational institutions in Oman is mainly restricted to the basic generic skills in developing the graduate attributes. Students’ perspectives on employers’ selection criteria reveal that computing skills, the ability to work in teams, English language proficiency, prior training, and the graduate’s personality are the five most significant employability skills in Oman. Currently, there is little interaction among higher educational institutions, alumni, and industry in Oman for boosting the employability of graduates.

Practical implications

The study is highly relevant from the policy perspective in Oman. All the stakeholders in Oman need to come together to define employability skills prudently by expanding the domain beyond generic skills.

Originality/value

The study is important in the context of Oman due to a shortage of studies that look at the graduate attributes from the lens of employability besides addressing concerns about unemployment.
Antecedent and outcomes of innovation-based growth strategies for exporting SMEs
Authors: Azari Mohammad Javadinia , Madsen Tage Koed , Moen Øystein
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the antecedent and outcomes of different types of innovation as complementary growth strategies, which may enable exporting small- to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to achieve success in export markets.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based upon a quantitative survey on Norwegian exporting SMEs. A total of 380 questionnaires were received representing 16.8 per cent response rate. A structural equation modelling analysis is carried out on the sample.

Findings

The study finds positive and significant associations between the firm’s growth ambition and the pursuance of product and business model innovations. Moreover, the firm’s export degree and scope has a significant and positive association with its product innovation strategy, but the association with its business model innovation is significantly negative.

Research limitations/implications

The study’s findings indicate that future studies should incorporate different types of innovation strategies since their associations with export performance differ substantially. Treating innovation as a general construct appears to be too simplistic.

Practical implications

The study’s results indicate that focus on product innovation enhances the export performance of SMEs, but that focus on business model innovation has a negative impact. The latter may be too costly and distract focus from the firm’s core competences, whereas product innovation can be assumed to provide further competitive strength.

Originality/value

By taking a holistic approach towards innovation, this study addresses a gap in the literature on innovation and exporting in SMEs in order to investigate the association between different types of innovation-based growth strategies and the firms’ export prosperity.
The modern Canadian restaurant: food for thought
Authors: Gregorash Bill J.
Published: July 2017

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the key food experience factors that affect a consumer’s restaurant meal enjoyment. It considers the effects on the dining experience that come from enhancements in today’s restaurants and the advent of the foodie customer. The paper reviews the modern restaurant scene in Canada and how best practices have created non-events despite differentiation attempts among producers of hospitality experiences.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the literature regarding current practices in modern restaurants is reviewed, along with a discussion of the foodie consumer. Analysis draws on the theory that many transactions in hospitality are mundane and few offer meta-hospitality memorable moments.

Findings

With the expanding range of restaurant choice across Canada – serving better-than-ever food options in green environments in unique servicescapes – it would appear that these are the golden years of the food service industry. Yet the reality could be that consumers are walking away feeling that all gastronomic experiences are equally mundane.

Practical implications

An examination of the way we approach food service as entertainment and escape is called for. Examining hospitality trends is part of what makes the industry a source of fascination for consumers and researchers.

Originality/value

The author’s culinary background as a professional chef and his recent academic experience, including his doctoral research in a related topic, enriches the originality of this article.
How should Canadian tourism embrace the disruption caused by the sharing economy?
Authors: Sovani Altaf , Jayawardena Chandana (Chandi)
Published: July 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to answer two questions: What is the sharing economy? and How is the sharing economy affecting tourism in Canada?

Design/methodology/approach

The foundation of this paper was laid during a major industry event held in Ottawa in 2016 – the Ontario Tourism Summit, an annual industry conference organized by the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario (TIAO), attended by 650 industry participants. This paper is based on presentations made at the summit. The article provides key information on Airbnb and the role of TIAO in the context of shared economy.

Findings

Companies such as Airbnb, Uber and Turo have made the concept of sharing economies an everyday concept. As sharing economy is considered as a phenomenon that is here to stay, Canadian tourism and hospitality industries should embrace the disruption caused by it and ensure that this is done for mutual benefit of all stakeholders. Five key suggestions are made by the authors in their conclusions.

Practical implications

As this paper is mainly based on the authors’ viewpoints, prior to implementing their recommendations, further dialogue with all relevant stakeholders is needed.

Originality/value

This paper draws upon the authors’ experience working with Canadian tourism companies and incorporates their thoughts for practical solutions.
Relationships between forest cover and fish diversity in the Amazon River floodplain
Authors: Arantes Caroline C. , Winemiller Kirk O. , Petrere Miguel , Castello Leandro , Hess Laura L. , Freitas Carlos E. C.
Published: July 2017

Habitat degradation leads to biodiversity loss and concomitant changes in ecosystem processes. Tropical river floodplains are highly threatened by land cover changes and support high biodiversity and important ecosystem services, but the extent to which changes in floodplain land cover affect fish biodiversity remains unknown.

We combined fish and environmental data collected in situ and satellite‐mapped landscape features to evaluate how fish species with different ecological strategies and assemblage structures respond to deforestation in floodplains of the Amazon River. We surveyed 462 floodplain habitats distributed along a gradient of land cover, from largely forested to severely deforested. Rather than analyse only taxonomic metrics, we employed an integrative approach that simultaneously considers different aspects of fish biodiversity (i.e. β diversity and taxonomic and functional assemblage structure) to facilitate mechanistic interpretations of the influence of land cover.

Spatial patterns of fish biodiversity in the Amazon River floodplain were strongly associated with forest cover as well as local environmental conditions linked to landscape gradients. Several species and functional groups defined by life‐history, feeding, swimming/microhabitat‐use strategies were positively associated with forest cover. Other species, including some that would usually be considered habitat generalists and species directly dependent on autochthonous resources (e.g. planktivores), were most common in areas dominated by herbaceous vegetation or open water habitats associated with the opposite extreme of the forest cover gradient. β diversity and the degree of uniqueness of species combinations within habitats were also positively associated with forest cover.

Synthesis and applications. Our results demonstrating that spatial patterns of fish biodiversity are associated with forest cover, indicate that deforestation of floodplains of the Amazon River results in spatial homogenization of fish assemblages and reduced functional diversity at both local and regional scales. Floodplains world‐wide have undergone major land cover changes, with forest loss projected to increase during the next decades. Conserving fish diversity in these ecosystems requires protecting mosaics of both aquatic habitats and floodplain vegetation, with sufficient forest cover being critically important.
Generalization of the QST framework in hierarchically structured populations: Impacts of inbreeding and dominance
Authors: Cubry Philippe , Scotti Ivan , Oddou‐Muratorio Sylvie , Lefèvre François
Published: July 2017

QST is a differentiation parameter based on the decomposition of the genetic variance of a trait. In the case of additive inheritance and absence of selection, it is analogous to the genic differentiation measured on individual loci, FST. Thus, QST−FST comparison is used to infer selection: selective divergence when QST > FST, or convergence when QST < FST. The definition of Q‐statistics was extended to two‐level hierarchical population structures with Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. Here, we generalize the Q‐statistics framework to any hierarchical population structure. First, we developed the analytical definition of hierarchical Q‐statistics for populations not at Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium. We show that the Q‐statistics values obtained with the Hardy–Weinberg definition are lower than their corresponding F‐statistics when FIS > 0 (higher when FIS < 0). Then, we used an island model simulation approach to investigate the impact of inbreeding and dominance on the QST−FST framework in a hierarchical population structure. We show that, while differentiation at the lower hierarchical level (QSR) is a monotonic function of migration, differentiation at the upper level (QRT) is not. In the case of additive inheritance, we show that inbreeding inflates the variance of QRT, which can increase the frequency of QRT > FRT cases. We also show that dominance drastically reduces Q‐statistics below F‐statistics for any level of the hierarchy. Therefore, high values of Q‐statistics are good indicators of selection, but low values are not in the case of dominance.
Relationships in consumer‐directed care: An integrative literature review
Authors: Cash Tracee , Moyle Wendy , O'Dwyer Siobhan
Published: July 2017

Objective

To undertake an integrative review of the literature on relationships between community aged care recipients, family carers and care providers under consumer‐directed care (CDC).

Methods

Seven databases were systematically searched. Peer‐reviewed and grey literature on CDC between 1998 and 2014 were assessed using an integrative literature review (ILR) framework. Search terms included CDC, self‐directed care, direct payments, community aged care, community dwelling and older adults. Full‐text copies were assessed against the inclusion criteria.

Results

Fifteen studies met the inclusion criteria. This ILR found no research with a specific focus on caregiving relationships for older adults. The literature did however identify relational issues such as support, planning and provider attitude as fundamental to the success of CDC.

Conclusion

Relationships within the caregiving triad have important implications for the way CDC is enacted, particularly when the care recipient has dementia, suggesting this population as a priority for future research.
Predictive factors for lymph node metastasis in early gastric cancer with signet ring cell histology: a meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhao Xudong , Cai Aizhen , Xi Hongqing , Song Yanjing , Wang Yi , Li Hua , Li Peiyu , Chen Lin
Published: July 2017

Background

Less invasive surgery is widely used in the treatment of early gastric cancer; however, no definite guidelines exist regarding indications for less invasive surgery to treat early gastric cancer with signet ring cell histology. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in early signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC). An extensive search of PubMed, Embase and the Cochrane library was performed for pertinent articles involving early SRC and LNM.

Methods

Eligible data (gender, depth of invasion, lymphovascular invasion, size, ulceration, macroscopic type and location) were extracted from the included studies and systematically reviewed via a meta‐analysis. Review Manager version 5.3 was used to perform the data processing. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was utilized to evaluate the quality of the included articles.

Results

Fourteen studies were included in the final analysis. After meta‐analysis, female gender, submucosal invasion, lymphovascular invasion and size >20 mm were associated with LNM in early SRC.

Conclusion

Four variables were identified as risk factors for LNM in early SRC. The significance of the results of the present study should be further confirmed in more early SRC patients for future clinical use.
Impact of an acute surgical unit on patient outcomes in South Australia
Authors: Kinnear Ned , Britten‐Jones Philip , Hennessey Derek , Lin Diwei , Lituri Darren , Prasannan Subhita , Otto Greg
Published: July 2017

Background

Compared with traditional (Trad) systems of managing emergency surgical presentations, the acute surgical unit (ASU) model provides an on‐site registrar, on‐call surgeon and dedicated emergency theatre, 24 h/day. To date, there have been no Australasian ASU studies of >3000 patients, nor from South Australia.

Methods

A retrospective historical control study compared the outcomes of adults admitted to the Lyell McEwin Hospital in the Trad (1 February 2010 to 31 July 2012) and ASU periods (1 August 2012 to 31 January 2015), who underwent an emergency general surgical procedure.

Results

A total of 4074 patients met inclusion criteria; 1688 and 2386 patients during the Trad and ASU periods, respectively. The cohorts were not significantly different in median age, gender or American Society of Anesthesiologists scores. Compared with the Trad period, improved median time from emergency department referral to theatre start (19.4 h versus 17.9 h, P < 0.0001) and median length of stay (2.32 days versus 2.06 days, P < 0.0001) were observed during the ASU period. The proportion of procedures performed in‐hours was similar (77.9% versus 79.6%, P = 0.18). Secondary outcomes of rates of intensive care unit admission, emergency department representation within 30 days, in‐hospital mortality and 1‐year all‐cause mortality were unchanged.

Conclusion

Institution of an ASU was associated with decreased time from referral to theatre and reduced length of stay. The proportion of cases performed in‐hours did not change. This may be related to the high Trad period rate and increased workload. These findings represent the largest Australasian study of an ASU and support the current model of care.
Laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer after Whitehead's hemorrhoidectomy: A case report
Authors: Takemoto Yoshihiro , Harada Eijiro , Takeuchi Yuriko , Kawamura Daichi , Suehiro Yuuki , Kugimiya Naruji , Hamano Kimikazu
Published: July 2017

A 65‐year‐old man presented with bloody stool. Colonoscopy revealed a raised tumor in the rectum, above the peritoneal reflection. He underwent endoscopic mucosal resection, but the pathological findings suggested the possibility of residual cancer. We performed laparoscopic low anterior resection using a circular stapling instrument for additional curative surgery. However, we could not insert the shaft of the endoscopic circular stapler from the anus because of anal stenosis due to Whitehead's hemorrhoidectomy the patient had undergone 20 years earlier. Therefore, we planned to use a linear stapler to insert an anvil into the rectum. The cartridge‐carrying instrument was inserted from the sigmoidal side, and we performed a side‐to‐end anastomosis. The patient was discharged without anastomotic leakage or defecation disorder. We present this case because laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer with anal stenosis has not been previously reported.
Aligning responsible business practices: A case study
Authors: Weller Angeli E.
Published: July 2017

This article offers an in‐depth case study of a global high tech manufacturer that aligned its ethics and compliance, corporate social responsibility, and sustainability practices. Few large companies organize their responsible business practices this way, despite conceptual relevance and calls to manage them comprehensively. A communities of practice theoretical lens suggests that intentional effort would be needed to bridge meaning between the relevant managers and practices in order to achieve alignment. The findings call attention to the important role played by employees who broker understanding between managers and practices, and the boundary objects used to create shared meaning and engagement. They also highlight that an organizing logic is necessary but not sufficient to align practices. This study describes the dynamics of alignment and provides a practical road map for scholars and managers interested in understanding how responsible business practices may be collectively organized.
Cox Regression with Dependent Error in Covariates
Authors: Huang Yijian , Wang Ching-Yun
Published: July 2017

Many survival studies have error-contaminated covariates due to the lack of a gold standard of measurement. Furthermore, the error distribution can depend on the true covariates but the structure may be difficult to characterize; heteroscedasticity is a common manifestation. We suggest a novel dependent measurement error model with minimal assumptions on the dependence structure, and propose a new functional modeling method for Cox regression when an instrumental variable is available. This proposal accommodates much more general error contamination than existing approaches including nonparametric correction methods of Huang and Wang (2000, Journal of the American Statistical Association95, 1209–1219; 2006, Statistica Sinica16, 861–881). The estimated regression coefficients are consistent and asymptotically normal, and a consistent variance estimate is provided for inference. Simulations demonstrate that the procedure performs well even under substantial error contamination. Illustration with a clinical study is provided.
University women's and men's mindsets surrounding postcesarean birth: Findings and implications for practice and policy
Authors: Soliday Elizabeth , Grant Gillian , James Jillian , Noell Bailey , Samaduroff Joel
Published: July 2017

Background

Nearly twice as many women report preferring vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) than actually undergo it. It is unknown whether the preference pattern would hold in childbearing‐aged individuals who had not yet been directly influenced by care experiences. We therefore examined postcesarean birth preferences in nulliparous university women and men to provide additional evidence to help advance related policy and practice.

Methods

An online study of 558 university women and 164 men who read a hypothetical postcesarean birth scenario was conducted. Students selected the option they would prefer for themselves or a partner in a similar situation; these data were analyzed descriptively and for gender differences. Students’ written rationales were analyzed qualitatively.

Results

Of women, 38.2% reported preference for VBAC compared with 47.6% of men (P < .05). Thematic analysis revealed that women and men based their preferences on safety, quality of experience, and other concerns similar to those reported among pregnant women making the decision. Assumptions and misinformation were also noted.

Conclusion

Given the current primary cesarean rate of ~20%, the current childbearing generation will be facing cesarean and postcesarean birth decisions in appreciable numbers. The relatively high VBAC preference rate reported by our participants, particularly men, is useful in advocating for expanded access and practice. From a constructivist perspective, evidence of young adults’ mindsets and misconceptions surrounding postcesarean birth is valuable for developing effective educational interventions.
Mechanics of blastocyst morphogenesis
Authors: Maître Jean‐Léon
Published: July 2017

During pre‐implantation development, the mammalian zygote transforms into the blastocyst, the structure that will implant the embryo in the maternal uterus. Consisting of a squamous epithelium enveloping a fluid‐filled cavity and the inner cell mass, the blastocyst is sculpted by a succession of morphogenetic events. These deformations result from the changes in the forces and mechanical properties of the tissue composing the embryo. Here, I review the recent studies, which, for the first time, informed us on the mechanics of blastocyst morphogenesis.
Correlation between human ether‐a‐go‐go‐related gene channel inhibition and action potential prolongation
Authors: Saxena P , Hortigon‐Vinagre M P , Beyl S , Baburin I , Andranovits S , Iqbal S M , Costa A , IJzerman A P , Kügler P , Timin E , Smith G L , Hering S
Published: July 2017

Background and Purpose

Human ether‐a‐go‐go‐related gene (hERG; Kv11.1) channel inhibition is a widely accepted predictor of cardiac arrhythmia. hERG channel inhibition alone is often insufficient to predict pro‐arrhythmic drug effects. This study used a library of dofetilide derivatives to investigate the relationship between standard measures of hERG current block in an expression system and changes in action potential duration (APD) in human‐induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC‐CMs). The interference from accompanying block of Cav1.2 and Nav1.5 channels was investigated along with an in silico AP model.

Experimental Approach

Drug‐induced changes in APD were assessed in hiPSC‐CMs using voltage‐sensitive dyes. The IC50 values for dofetilide and 13 derivatives on hERG current were estimated in an HEK293 expression system. The relative potency of each drug on APD was estimated by calculating the dose (D150) required to prolong the APD at 90% (APD90) repolarization by 50%.

Key Results

The D150 in hiPSC‐CMs was linearly correlated with IC50 of hERG current. In silico simulations supported this finding. Three derivatives inhibited hERG without prolonging APD, and these compounds also inhibited Cav1.2 and/or Nav1.5 in a channel state‐dependent manner. Adding Cav1.2 and Nav1.2 block to the in silico model recapitulated the direction but not the extent of the APD change.

Conclusions and Implications

Potency of hERG current inhibition correlates linearly with an index of APD in hiPSC‐CMs. The compounds that do not correlate have additional effects including concomitant block of Cav1.2 and/or Nav1.5 channels. In silico simulations of hiPSC‐CMs APs confirm the principle of the multiple ion channel effects.
Segmentation of consumer markets in the US: What do intercity price differences tell us?
Authors: Choi Chi‐Young , Murphy Anthony , Wu Jyh‐Lin
Published: July 2017

We quantify the magnitude of market segmentation in US consumer market and explore the underlying factors behind this segmentation, using a quarterly panel of retail prices for 45 products in 48 US cities from 1985 to 2009. The extent of market segmentation is estimated using city‐pair price differences within the framework of both linear autoregressive (AR) and nonlinear threshold autoregressive (TAR) models. We find that the magnitude of market segmentation varies from one product to another, but even more across city pairs in each product. Contrary to a widespread perception, market segmentation within the US is not necessarily larger for non‐tradable services compared to tradable goods. We identify potential drivers of market segmentation by relating the cross‐city and cross‐product variations of market segmentation to location‐specific and product‐specific characteristics—distance, relative city sizes, differences in wage and rent, type of product and proximity to marketplace. Distance, which captures more than transport costs, turns out to be the most salient factor even after controlling for a range of other potential factors. The effect of distance, however, varies substantially across products, with perishable products and locally produced products showing larger distance effect on market segmentation. We find that the magnitude of market segmentation has been somewhat stable during the sample period, but intercity price differences have become more sensitive to distance over time in many products under study.
Cost‐effectiveness of caries‐preventive fluoride varnish applications in clinic settings among patients of low, moderate and high risk
Authors: Schwendicke Falk , Splieth Christian H. , Thomson William Murray , Reda Seif , Stolpe Michael , Foster Page Lyndie
Published: July 2017

Objectives

The total body of evidence finds fluoride varnish effective to prevent caries. However, most trials were conducted in high‐risk populations, with more recent trials on low‐risk groups finding a lower efficacy. We aimed to assess the cost‐effectiveness of fluoride varnish application in clinic setting in populations with different caries risk.

Methods

A mixed public‐private‐payer perspective in the context of German health care was performed using a lifetime Markov model. Effectiveness data were derived from an update of the most recent systematic Cochrane review and synthesized in three different risk groups according to control group caries increment via random‐effects meta‐analysis. Varnish was assumed to be applied twice yearly between age 6 and 18 years. Teeth with carious defects would be treated restoratively and could experience further follow‐up treatments. Costs were deduced from German fee item catalogues. Monte Carlo microsimulations were used for to analyse lifetime treatment costs and caries increment (Euro/Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth (DMFT)).

Results

In low‐risk groups, fluoride varnish was nearly twice as costly and minimally more effective (293 Euro, 8.1 DMFT) than no varnish (163 Euro, 8.5 DMFT). The incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio (ICER) was 343 Euro spent per avoided DMFT. The ICER was lower in medium‐risk (ICER 93 Euro/DMFT) and high‐risk groups (8 Euro/DMFT).

Conclusions

Application of fluoride varnish in the clinic setting is unlikely to be cost‐effective in low‐risk populations. There is the need to either target high‐risk groups or to provide fluoride varnish at lower costs, possibly in nonclinic settings.