bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CONTEMPORARY COLLECTIVE EFFECTIVE DOSE TO THE POPULATION FROM X-RAY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE EXAMINATIONS—CHANGES OVER LAST 10 YEARS IN FINLAND
Authors: Bly Ritva , Järvinen Hannu , Kaijaluoto Sampsa , Ruonala Verneri
Published: March 2020

Contemporary collective effective doses to the population from x-ray and nuclear medicine examinations in Finland in 2018 was estimated. The estimated effective dose per caput from x-ray examinations increased from year 2008 to 2018 respectively from 0.45 mSv to 0.72 mSv and from nuclear medicine examinations from 0.03 mSv to 0.04 mSv. The proportional dose due to CT examinations of the total collective effective dose from all x-ray examinations increased from 58% in 2008 to 70% in 2018 and the dose did not change substantially in total when new conversion factors were applied. The collective effective dose from conventional plain radiography did not change substantially during the last ten years while the new (ICRP 103) tissue weighting factors were taken into use in 2018, however frequencies of examinations in total decreased. The collective effective dose from CT in nuclear medicine tripled between 2009 and 2018.
Evaluation of the potency of antibiotic formulations in the Egyptian market
Authors: Eladl Afaf
Published: March 2020

Interest in searching and developing new antimicrobial agents to combat microbial resistance has been growing recently. Therefore, a greater attention has been paid to both screening and evaluation methods of antibiotics activity. The present study aimed to evaluate the potency of some antibiotics containing pharmaceutical products of some Egyptian market companies using microbiological assay based on agar diffusion method and using standard strains in order to determine their therapeutic efficacy.

These antibiotics such as gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, amoxicillin and ceftriaxone were purchased from local pharmacies and evaluated in the current study.

The results of this study showed the relative potency of gentamicin was 41.4%-120% and 28%-41% for ciprofloxacin. While for doxycycline relative potency was 26%-72.6% and 16%-88% for Amoxicillin. As well as ceftriaxone potency was ranged between 48%-97.4%. One product of ceftriaxone, two products from gentamicin and two from amoxicillin were estimated to be within the acceptable range of bioequivalence (80%-120%), while the other products showed unacceptable relative potency. A complaint reporting system about quality and effectiveness problems needs to be considered as a priority source of such information to inform decision-makers.

Key words: antimicrobial resistance, antibiotices, evaluation, microbiological assay, agar diffusion method, potency
Lack of evidence of association between antimicrobial resistance in E coli and deprivation in Scottish Borders
Authors: James Edward , Duguid Anne , Murray Erin
Published: March 2020

Background

Many health issues are associated with deprivation and some evidence exists that antimicrobial prescribing is higher in deprived groups. This study examined the relationship between antimicrobial resistance in E coli isolates from the population of the Scottish Borders and deprivation as assessed by the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation.

Methods

Data regarding urine samples submitted for diagnostic purposes which had been reported as growing E coli was extracted. Antimicrobials for which susceptibility testing had been performed were mapped to standardised antimicrobial categories definitions to produce an index of overall antimicrobial resistance. UK postcode data linked to the specimen data was mapped to data zones. The proportion of E. coli isolates within each datazone with different categories of overall resistance was calculated and plotted against its associated Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation decile.

Results

No association was found between overall antimicrobial resistance in E. coli urinary isolates and SIMD.

Conclusion

During this time period in the Scottish Borders, antimicrobial resistance in E. coli does not show an association with deprivation.
Evaluation of the impact of Scottish Reduction in Antimicrobial Prescribing (ScRAP) Programme on GP Practice management of patients with suspected urinary tract infection (UTI)
Authors: Sneddon Jacqueline , Thomson Anne , Cooper Lesley , Robertson Ruth
Published: March 2020

Introduction

The ScRAP programme was developed as a national initiative to improve management of UTI by optimising use of diagnostic tests and prescribing of antibiotics. It comprised educational content plus improvement ideas, audit tools, good practice guides, patient information and decision aids.

Method

A facilitated learning session was delivered, usually by a Prescribing Support pharmacist. All GP Practice staff, both clinical and non-clinical, were invited to attend to promote a team approach to change. Local practice was considered using process mapping and each GP practice completed an action plan with changes they intended to implement. Facilitators and participants were encouraged to complete an on-line feedback survey about the learning session. Action plans from 200 GP Practices in one health board region (21% of Scottish population) were analysed using NVivo 12 software to identify key themes.

Results

Completed surveys from facilitators and participants showed both groups were positive about the content, approach and length of the session. Action planning was welcomed as a way to embed learning in practice. Some minor changes to content were suggested. Changes in practice included patient education to promote self-management and a reduction in the number of urine specimens sent to microbiology laboratories. A whole team approach to management of patients with suspected UTI increased the success and impact of the changes made.

Conclusion

Evaluation of action plans will be helpful for other GP Practice teams seeking to make improvements. Feedback from facilitators and participants will be used to inform update of the programme content.
Susceptibility of microorganisms isolated from otitis media pus to cigarette capsule and Nicotiana tabacum
Authors: Ojo Abidemi , Oladotun Abiola , Adebajo Seun , Ojo Olugbenga , Ejilude Seun
Published: March 2020

Otitis media is a perforation of the middle ear caused by pathogenic microorganisms which leads to hearing impairment. There is a need for alternative methods to the use of antibiotics in combatting the impairment owing to the challenge of antibiotics resistance. This study is aimed at identifying and determining susceptibility pattern of bacterial isolates from otitis media patients to cigarette capsule and Nicotiana tabacum extract. Forty eight samples were collected from a tertiary hospital in Abeokuta Ogun state- 28 (58.33%) from males and 20 (41.67%) from females with highest occurrence in children below the age of 5 (60%).Klebsiella pneumonia, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniaeandProteus mirabiliswere isolated. The two different products of cigarette capsules used showed significant (P < 0.05) zones of inhibition onPseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus pneumonia respectively. Results also revealed that Nicotiana tabacum extract had significant effect (P < 0.05) onKlebsiella pneumonia, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureusandStreptococcus pneumonia at 0.5 mg, 1.0mg and 2.0mg. This study shows the antibacterial activity of Nicotiana tabacum methanolic leaf extract making it a promising raw material in the production of new classes of antibiotics against otitis media infection.
Genome-wide, integrative analysis of circular RNA dysregulation and the corresponding circular RNA-microRNA-mRNA regulatory axes in autism
Authors: Chen Yen-Ju , Chen Chia-Ying , Mai Te-Lun , Chuang Chih-Fan , Chen Yu-Chen , Gupta Sachin Kumar , Yen Laising , Wang Yi-Da , Chuang Trees-Juen
Published: March 2020

Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a class of long noncoding RNAs, are known to be enriched in mammalian neural tissues. Although a wide range of dysregulation of gene expression in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been reported, the role of circRNAs in ASD remains largely unknown. Here, we performed genome-wide circRNA expression profiling in postmortem brains from individuals with ASD and controls and identified 60 circRNAs and three coregulated modules that were perturbed in ASD. By integrating circRNA, microRNA, and mRNA dysregulation data derived from the same cortex samples, we identified 8170 ASD-associated circRNA-microRNA-mRNA interactions. Putative targets of the axes were enriched for ASD risk genes and genes encoding inhibitory postsynaptic density (PSD) proteins, but not for genes implicated in monogenetic forms of other brain disorders or genes encoding excitatory PSD proteins. This reflects the previous observation that ASD-derived organoids show overproduction of inhibitory neurons. We further confirmed that some ASD risk genes (NLGN1, STAG1, HSD11B1, VIP, and UBA6) were regulated by an up-regulated circRNA (circARID1A) via sponging a down-regulated microRNA (miR-204-3p) in human neuronal cells. Particularly, alteration of NLGN1 expression is known to affect the dynamic processes of memory consolidation and strengthening. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systems-level view of circRNA regulatory networks in ASD cortex samples. We provided a rich set of ASD-associated circRNA candidates and the corresponding circRNA-microRNA-mRNA axes, particularly those involving ASD risk genes. Our findings thus support a role for circRNA dysregulation and the corresponding circRNA-microRNA-mRNA axes in ASD pathophysiology.
Crystal structure of Arabidopsis thaliana neutral invertase 2
Authors: Tarkowski Łukasz P. , Tsirkone Vicky G. , Osipov Evgenii M. , Beelen Steven , Lammens Willem , Vergauwen Rudy , Van den Ende Wim , Strelkov Sergei V.
Published: March 2020

The metabolism of sucrose is of crucial importance for life on Earth. In plants, enzymes called invertases split sucrose into glucose and fructose, contributing to the regulation of metabolic fluxes. Invertases differ in their localization and pH optimum. Acidic invertases present in plant cell walls and vacuoles belong to glycoside hydrolase family 32 (GH32) and have an all-β structure. In contrast, neutral invertases are located in the cytosol and organelles such as chloroplasts and mitochondria. These poorly understood enzymes are classified into a separate GH100 family. Recent crystal structures of the closely related neutral invertases InvA and InvB from the cyanobacterium Anabaena revealed a predominantly α-helical fold with unique features compared with other sucrose-metabolizing enzymes. Here, a neutral invertase (AtNIN2) from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana was heterologously expressed, purified and crystallized. As a result, the first neutral invertase structure from a higher plant has been obtained at 3.4 Å resolution. The hexameric AtNIN2 structure is highly similar to that of InvA, pointing to high evolutionary conservation of neutral invertases.
Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis and interaction energy and DFT studies of (S)-10-propargylpyrrolo[2,1-c][1,4]benzodiazepine-5,11-dione
Authors: Jeroundi Dounia , Mazzah Ahmed , Hökelek Tuncer , El Hadrami El Mestafa , Renard Catherine , Haoudi Amal , Essassi El Mokhtar
Published: March 2020

The title compound, C15H14N2O2, consists of pyrrole and benzodiazepine units linked to a propargyl moiety, where the pyrrole and diazepine rings adopt half-chair and boat conformations, respectively. The absolute configuration was assigned on the the basis of L-proline, which was used in the synthesis of benzodiazepine. In the crystal, weak C—HBnz...ODiazp and C—HProprg...ODiazp (Bnz = benzene, Diazp = diazepine and Proprg = propargyl) hydrogen bonds link the molecules into two-dimensional networks parallel to the bc plane, enclosing R
4
4(28) ring motifs, with the networks forming oblique stacks along the a-axis direction. The Hirshfeld surface analysis of the crystal structure indicates that the most important contributions for the crystal packing are from H...H (49.8%), H...C/C...H (25.7%) and H...O/O...H (20.1%) interactions. Hydrogen bonding and van der Waals interactions are the dominant interactions in the crystal packing. Computational chemistry indicates that in the crystal, C—H...O hydrogen-bond energies are 38.8 (for C—HBnz...ODiazp) and 27.1 (for C—HProprg...ODiazp) kJ mol−1. Density functional theory (DFT) optimized structures at the B3LYP/6–311 G(d,p) level are compared with the experimentally determined molecular structure in the solid state. The HOMO–LUMO behaviour was elucidated to determine the energy gap.
Negative emotions toward a financial brand: the opposite impact on brand love
Authors: Rodrigues Paula , Pinto Borges Ana
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the effect of the scandals and distrust over the past years in brand love regarding a classic and well-known financial brand. The authors consider the antecedents of brand love contemplating the role of negative emotions, engagement and authenticity. The authors study the brand of a Portuguese bank, Caixa Geral de Depósitos, which was associated with harmful management and had to be intervened with monetary aid from the government.

Design/methodology/approach

An online questionnaire was used to collect data. The authors applied a confirmatory factor analysis and the hypotheses were tested by the structural equation modelling.

Findings

The results show that negative emotions toward the brand have a direct and indirect impact on brand engagement and the consumer-based brand authenticity, brand engagement and consumer-based brand authenticity positively impact brand love and negative emotions toward the brand positively and indirectly impact brand love.

Research limitations/implications

The results should be analyzed with appropriate caution, given the limitations of the sample. The authors used a sample of Portuguese consumers connected with a commercial bank brand. These limitations could be overcome in future research.

Practical implications

The findings are important for the definition of branding strategies in a competitive and vulnerable context.

Originality/value

The model presented in this paper aims at filing a gap in the literature. The negative emotions toward brands have been little studied as an antecedent. It is also the first time that the constructs of engagement and authenticity and their relational outcome in brand love are applied to a financial brand.
Expat or citizen? Raising the question of a potential impact of status on leader behavior
Authors: Goby Valerie Priscilla , Alhadhrami Abdelrahman
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to explore the concept that expatriate status, as opposed to national citizen status, may impact leader behavior. The intention is not to pursue a research question carved out from the expatriation and leadership research streams but rather to raise the issue of non-citizenship status as potentially moderating leader behavior.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used grounded theory methodology, including interviews to gather data on the behavior of non-citizen leaders in the UAE. The resulting 28 interview transcripts were analyzed using inductive coding to arrive at aggregate theoretical dimensions.

Findings

Their findings reveal a keen tendency among expatriate leaders to display organizational legitimacy by remaining sedulously within established organizational schemata and monitoring employees closely.

Research limitations/implications

The study asks, rather than answers, a question and does not use an established theoretical framework, as its area of concern is not one that fits solely within the literatures on expatriation, international business, leadership, cross-cultural management or national citizenship. Furthermore, the context in which they conduct our investigation is the UAE whose workforce has a disproportionately high number of expatriates. Although this serves as a convenient context in which to study the rising occurrence of non-citizen leaders due to increased professional migration, the issue may be more meaningfully tested in geopolitical contexts with typical expatriate–citizen workforce ratios.

Originality/value

The central theoretical contribution of this preliminary study is to provide initial empirical evidence suggesting that the hitherto-ignored variable of national citizenship may be a significant one to address given increasing professional global migration.
Understanding personal contacts: an analysis for metropolitan BrazilḌ
Authors: Oliveira Victor Rodrigues de , Souza Wallace Patrick Santos de Farias , Balbinotto Neto Giácomo , Jacinto Paulo de Andrade
Published: March 2020

Purpose

This paper investigates the relationship between (1) business cycle and use of personal contacts to obtain job and (2) use of personal contacts to obtain job and wages.

Design/methodology/approach

For this, we use data from the Monthly Employment Survey (2002–2015) from Brazil which has detailed information on individual and job characteristics. In addition, we investigate the impact of referrals on wage using quantile regressions.

Findings

Time-varying parameter estimates indicate that the relationship between business cycle and use of personal contacts became less countercyclical over time. In general, they show that there is more evidence of a slow changing relationship between personal contacts and the business cycle over time rather than a sudden and discrete one. Using quantile regressions, we observed that, controlling for similar observable characteristics, and including unobserved heterogeneity, wage differences between workers using personal contacts versus workers using others channels disappear. The evidences indicate that workers resort to personal contacts because of valuation of non-pecuniary job characteristics.

Practical implications

The results suggest that, in designing subsidy or affirmative action programs, attention to network effects is important. Social networks can help labor markets run more smoothly by alleviating information frictions.

Originality/value

This study extends the existing literature by providing empirical evidence of the use of personal contacts for the Brazil. Although there are many studies and methods for measuring use of personal contacts, to our knowledge, there are no studies using a time-varying parameters model.
The sibling crowd-in effect of time and cash assistance to elderly parents
Authors: Gonzalez Luis J. , Lopes Carlos
Published: March 2020

Purpose

The purpose of the current study is to analyze how the assistance that one's siblings provide to their parents impacts one's own contributions. Siblings' assistance is measured as the total combined number of hours and the total combined cash that one's siblings provide, excluding one's own level of contributions.

Design/methodology/approach

We use first differences and instrumental variables approaches to address unobserved heterogeneity and endogeneity of assistance provided to one's parents.

Findings

A 10 percent increase in siblings' time and cash assistance is associated with an increase in the individual levels of adult children's time contributions by about 6.72 percent and cash contributions by 7.43 percent.

Practical implications

Crowd-in is meaningful from a policy perspective as it suggests that upstream transfers are unlikely to crowd-out similar transfers from siblings. Private transfers are unlikely to decrease in response to public transfers.

Social implications

Policy that incentivizes private transfers from one individual may lead to increased levels of transfers from their siblings. Policies such as tax incentives that encourage contributions from adult children are likely to have a magnified effect.

Originality/value

Our approach is novel in that we utilize data on full sibling sets using the children of the Health and Retirement Study respondents. This allows the consideration of crowding effects that transfers from siblings have. Other authors perform tests to determine whether or not altruistic transfer motives are present. With altruistic motives, public transfers are expected to crowd-out private transfers. Our approach focuses on crowding behavior regardless of the underlying motives.
Business model innovation, legitimacy and performance: social enterprises in China
Authors: Wang Zhong , Zhou Yating
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Social enterprises pursue growth through business model innovation, and acquiring legitimacy is critical to ensuring such innovation. The purpose of this paper is to examine how business model innovation and legitimacy affect the performance of new social enterprises during different development stages.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the hierarchical regression analysis and fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) to examine social enterprise performance and constructs and verifies a moderated mediation effect of business model innovation, based on a survey of 183 new social enterprises in China.

Findings

This paper finds that business model innovation has a positive effect on social enterprise performance and an organization's legitimacy, acting as the partial mediator between them. The mediating effect of legitimacy is more positive when social enterprises are in the early growth stage. A more detailed analysis of fsQCA explores the necessary and sufficient conditions for the growth of social enterprise performance across different stages and reveals five configurations that improve the performance of social enterprises.

Practical implications

This study explores the role of business model innovation and legitimacy in social enterprise growth and provides empirical evidence about the causal configuration of high-performing social enterprises.

Originality/value

This research clarifies two antecedents of social enterprise performance and proposes a more inclusive framework that addresses the factor of dynamic development stages. This paper deepens the understanding of social enterprise performance in China.
Depressive symptoms associations with online and in person networks in an online gaming community: a pilot study
Authors: Prochnow Tyler , Patterson Megan S. , Hartnell Logan , Umstattd Meyer M. Renée
Published: March 2020

Purpose

Increases in video game use have led to mental health concerns, citing greater risk for depressive symptoms (DS) and reduced “in-real-life” (IRL) social involvement. However, recent studies have uncovered potential social benefits for online gaming. Many games provide avenues to extend real life relationships and make new online friendships. The purpose of this pilot study is to use social network analysis to determine associations between connections and DS in a gaming community.

Design/methodology/approach

As a pilot study, members of an online gaming site were asked to report demographic characteristics, DS, IRL social support, online social support and IRL people and members of the online community with whom they spoke to about important life matters. Multi-level modeling was used to parse variance described by demographic characteristics, IRL measures and online measures. Linear network autocorrelation modeling (LNAM) was used to determine relationships between network connections and DS.

Findings

Members (n = 37; µ = 24.76 years old, SD = 6.55; 100% male; 89.2% white) on average felt DS’ “not at all” to “several days” over the past two weeks. Multi-level modeling including online network measures explained 50% of variance (R2 = 0.50, F (9,27) = 2.98, p = 0.01); online connections were associated with DS (ß = 0.46). LNAM indicated DS were associated with IRL support (ß = −2.66), IRL connections (ß = 1.81), online support (ß = 2.40) and network effects (ß = 0.06), which indicates that a gamer’s DS were similar to those of their online connections.

Originality/value

Members with more DS may be seeking help via online channels. This may be important for future research to consider alternative forms of help-seeking behavior.
Disturbances as opportunities: Learning from disturbance‐response parallels in social and ecological systems to better adapt to climate change
Authors: Buma Brian , Schultz Courtney
Published: March 2020

Disturbances (e.g. fires, floods, windstorms, landslides and tsunamis) are ubiquitous throughout the world. Many social and ecological systems have resilience mechanisms to accommodate and recover from such events. Yet, in an era of directional climate change, adaptation (rather than recovery to the same state) may be the most logical path. In such cases, disturbances, while often unwelcome, may function as opportunities for change.

We synthesize the literature on disturbances and adaptation to climate change for both ecological and social systems, attempting to find commonalities and situations where disturbances present adaptation opportunities. We also identify three major characteristics of systems that may drive differential potential for success going forward: their overall richness of actors, their functional overlap in diversity, and their temporal rate of change.

Social systems are better positioned to successfully take advantage of disturbance‐generated opportunities to adapt when they support collaboration of diverse interests and engage in pre‐disturbance response planning to seize opportunities when they arise. Ecological systems are well‐positioned for adaptation when they are diverse, populated with species that are tolerant of post‐disturbance environments, and when life‐history traits are well‐matched with the temporal and spatial distribution of those disturbances.

Social systems with a lack of planning and inclusive participation and where powerful actors are resistant to change are less able to take advantage of disturbances as adaptational opportunities; ecological systems that are less diverse (spatially and in regards to species composition), especially those dominated by late successional species, are similarly constrained. Overall, we find that disturbances can create opportunities for adaptation when the ecology and social systems are aligned but there are also many situations where this is not true, depending on initial conditions, temporal pace of disturbance and system characteristics.

Policy implications. Disturbances, while damaging and often catastrophic in the short term, present climate adaptation opportunities because they can spur reorganization towards climatically suitable systems. Policy makers and advocates should carefully consider current social and ecological conditions, specifically how they will reorganize post‐disturbance, and explore the options available to prepare and take advantage of (inevitable) future disturbances.
Is the EU held accountable for economic performances? Assessing vote and popularity functions before and after membership
Authors: MAGNI‐BERTON RAUL , FRANÇOIS ABEL , LE GALL CAL
Published: March 2020

The EU has become increasingly responsible for the state of national economies over the last decades. Meanwhile, many observers have claimed that this increased responsibility has not translated into more accountability. In this article, we revisit this literature and analyse vote‐popularity functions before and after accession because it provides a situation when the EU is an incumbent and when it is not. Using Eurobarometer surveys from 2001 to 2011, which were carried out in the countries that joined the EU in 2004 and 2007, we first show that individuals do not hold the EU accountable for macroeconomic performances before accession, but that they do after accession. Using European Election Studies surveys, we also indicate that the incumbent European Peoples’ Party is held accountable for the state of the economy in countries that are ruled by the EU, but not in countries that have just become EU members.
Long‐term liver cancer incidence and mortality trends in the Changning District of Shanghai, China
Authors: Ji Xiao Wei , Jiang Yu , Wu Hua , Zhou Peng , Tan Yu Ting , Li Hong Lan , Zhang Lei , Zhao Wen Sui , Xia Qing Hua , Bray Freddie , Xiang Yong Bing
Published: March 2020

Objective

To evaluate the trends and estimate the long‐term effects of age, period and birth cohort on the incidence and mortality rates of liver cancer (LC) in an urban district of Shanghai, China.

Methods

Crude and age‐standardized rates of the incidence and mortality of LC were calculated from 1973 to 2013 annually by sex, and the direction and magnitude of the trends were estimated by the average annual percentage change (AAPC) using the Joinpoint Regression Model. An age–period–cohort (APC) model was also used to evaluate the non‐linear effects of calendar time and birth cohort on LC incidence and mortality.

Results

In 1973‐1977 and 2008‐2013 the age‐standardized rates of LC incidence and mortality (per 100 000) were 24.27 and 22.60 in men, and 7.50 and 7.26 in women, respectively. Declining trends of LC incidence and mortality rates were observed for both sexes (AAPC; P < 0.05 for both). The APC models indicated that the rates of LC incidence and mortality were significantly influenced both by calendar time and birth cohort effects.

Conclusions

The incidence and mortality rates of LC have decreased in both sexes in the Changning District of Shanghai over the past four decades. Although obvious descending trends of LC incidence and mortality were detected, attention should also be paid to the LC burden for a long time in the future because of huge population size in China and the continuity of population aging.
Integrating science to find cures in child neurology
Authors: Sasaki Masayuki
Published: March 2020

A Japanese translation of this editorial is available in the online issue.
Extinction–immigration dynamics lag behind environmental filtering in shaping the composition of tropical dry forests within a changing landscape
Authors: Blanchard Grégoire , Birnbaum Philippe , Munoz François
Published: March 2020

The impact of rapid habitat loss and fragmentation on biodiversity is a major issue. However, we still lack an integrative understanding of how these changes influence biodiversity dynamics over time. In this study, we investigate the effects of these changes in terms of both niche‐based and neutral dynamics. We hypothesize that habitat loss has delayed effects on neutral immigration–extinction dynamics, while edge effects and environmental heterogeneity in habitat patches have rapid effects on niche‐based dynamics.

We analyzed taxonomic and functional composition of 100 tree communities in a tropical dry forest landscape of New‐Caledonia subject to habitat loss and fragmentation. We designed an original, process‐based simulation framework, and performed Approximate Bayesian Computation to infer the influence of niche‐based and neutral processes. Then, we performed partial regressions to evaluate the relationships between inferred parameter values of communities and landscape metrics (distance to edge, patch area, and habitat amount around communities), derived from either recent or past (65 yr ago) aerial photographs, while controlling for the effect of soil and topography.

We found that landscape structure influences both environmental filtering and immigration. Immigration rate was positively related to past habitat amount surrounding communities. In contrast, environmental filtering was mostly affected by present landscape structure and mainly influenced by edge vicinity and topography.

Our results highlight that landscape changes have contrasting spatio‐temporal influences on niche‐based and neutral assembly dynamics. First, landscape‐level habitat loss and community isolation reduce immigration and increase demographic stochasticity, resulting in slow decline of local species diversity and extinction debt. Second, recent edge creation affects environmental filtering, incurring rapid changes in community composition by favoring species with edge‐adapted strategies. Our study brings new insights about temporal impacts of landscape changes on biodiversity dynamics. We stress that landscape history critically influences these dynamics and should be taken into account in conservation policies.
Effects of predation pressure and prey density on short‐term indirect interactions between two prey species that share a common predator
Authors: Emery Sara E. , Mills Nicholas J.
Published: March 2020

1. Generalist predators are important contributors to reliable conservation biological control. Indirect interactions between prey species that share a common generalist predator can influence both community dynamics and the efficacy of biological control.

2. Laboratory cage experiments investigated the impact of the combined consumptive and non‐consumptive effects of predation by adult Hippodamia convergens as a shared predator on the population growth and relative abundance of Acyrthosiphon pisum and Aphis gossypii as prey species. Predation pressure and prey density were varied.

3. At low predation pressure the indirect interaction between aphid species was asymmetrical with a proportionally greater negative impact of predation on A. gossypii than on A. pisum. At intermediate predation pressure, the indirect interaction became symmetrical. At high predation pressure and higher levels of prey density, it was asymmetrical with greater negative impact on A. pisum, often driven to local extinction while A. gossypii populations persisted.

4. A linear mixed‐effects model including early population growth of both aphid species and predation pressure explained 96% and 92% of the variation in the population growth of A. pisum and A. gossypii, respectively, over an 8‐day period. The overall effect of shared predation on the indirect interaction between the two aphid species is best described as apparent commensalism, where A. pisum benefited from early population growth of A. gossypii, while A. gossypii was unaffected by early population growth of A. pisum. Considering these indirect interactions is important for conservation biological control efforts to be successful.
Evolutionary principles guiding amphibian conservation
Authors: Pabijan Maciej , Palomar Gemma , Antunes Bernardo , Antoł Weronika , Zieliński Piotr , Babik Wiesław
Published: March 2020

The Anthropocene has witnessed catastrophic amphibian declines across the globe. A multitude of new, primarily human‐induced drivers of decline may lead to extinction, but can also push species onto novel evolutionary trajectories. If these are recognized by amphibian biologists, they can be engaged in conservation actions. Here, we summarize how principles stemming from evolutionary concepts have been applied for conservation purposes, and address emerging ideas at the vanguard of amphibian conservation science. In particular, we examine the consequences of increased drift and inbreeding in small populations and their implications for practical conservation. We then review studies of connectivity between populations at the landscape level, which have emphasized the limiting influence of anthropogenic structures and degraded habitat on genetic cohesion. The rapid pace of environmental changes leads to the central question of whether amphibian populations can cope either by adapting to new conditions or by shifting their ranges. We gloomily conclude that extinction seems far more likely than adaptation or range shifts for most species. That said, conservation strategies employing evolutionary principles, such as selective breeding, introduction of adaptive variants through translocations, ecosystem interventions aimed at decreasing phenotype–environment mismatch, or genetic engineering, may effectively counter amphibian decline in some areas or for some species. The spread of invasive species and infectious diseases has often had disastrous consequences, but has also provided some premier examples of rapid evolution with conservation implications. Much can be done in terms of setting aside valuable amphibian habitat that should encompass both natural and agricultural areas, as well as designing protected areas to maximize the phylogenetic and functional diversity of the amphibian community. We conclude that an explicit consideration and application of evolutionary principles, although certainly not a silver bullet, should increase effectiveness of amphibian conservation in both the short and long term.
Political geographical perspectives on settler colonialism
Authors: Velednitsky Stepha , Hughes Sara N.S. , Machold Rhys
Published: March 2020

Given the centrality of land, territory, and sovereignty to settler colonial formations, it is unsurprising that geographers and other scholars working on such topics are increasingly finding settler colonial studies fruitful in their research agendas. However, work on settler polities in political geography has historically been marked by the present absence of this framework, which has been consequential in terms of circumscribing the kinds of political analysis that geographers can offer. It also limits the nature, depth, and scope of radical critique of violent domination by skirting certain questions about the core drivers of dispossession and responsibility for them. This article examines political geographical engagement (or lack thereof) across each of four themes: population management/governance, territory/sovereignty, consciousness, and narrative, paying particular attention to works which challenge the present absence of settler colonial theory in political geography. We argue that analyzing settler colonial formations as such is essential to conceptualizing their workings and linkages or disjunctures with other forms of empire. Yet this focus also has broader political stakes related to geography's complicity with racialized state power, violence, and empire, as well as and efforts to decolonize the discipline.
Information seeking patterns of psychiatrists during clinical practice
Authors: Ruiz López Gerardo
Published: March 2020

This study is based on Gerardo Ruiz’s doctoral thesis on the information seeking patterns of psychiatrists in Mexico City, which he completed in January 2018 from the Autonomous National University of Mexico. The paper presents the key findings from a survey and interview involving 92 psychiatrists to identify the differing roles and information behaviours of three types of mental health practitioners. Similarities and divergences were found in their behavioural patterns in obtaining information to make clinical decisions, depending on purpose for the sought information which aligned to the role of the psychiatrist and on the information contexts of institutions in which they work. The implications for practice highlighted in this study focus on the influencing factors of time and availability of sources in enabling the mental health specialist to search, disseminate and evaluate information to be used in clinical practice, as well as to have in place broader communication with colleagues in order to enrich clinical care for better diagnosis and treatment.F.J.
Characterization of human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) isolated from HIV‐exposed‐uninfected and HIV‐unexposed infants in South Africa during 2015‐2017
Authors: Liu Hui , Lu Bin , Tabor David E. , Tovchigrechko Andrey , Wilkins Deidre , Jin Hong , Madhi Shabir A. , Soofie Nasiha , Esser Mark T. , Nunes Marta C.
Published: March 2020

Background

RSV is a leading cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants. Monitoring RSV glycoprotein sequences is critical for understanding RSV epidemiology and viral antigenicity in the effort to develop anti‐RSV prophylactics and therapeutics.

Objectives

The objective is to characterize the circulating RSV strains collected from infants in South Africa during 2015‐2017.

Methods

A subset of 150 RSV‐positive samples obtained in South Africa from HIV‐unexposed and HIV‐exposed‐uninfected infants from 2015 to 2017, were selected for high‐throughput next‐generation sequencing of the RSV F and G glycoprotein genes. The RSV G and F sequences were analyzed by a bioinformatic pipeline and compared to the USA samples from the same three‐year period.

Results

Both RSV A and RSV B co‐circulated in South Africa during 2015‐2017, with a shift from RSV A (58%‐61% in 2015‐2016) to RSV B (69%) in 2017. RSV A ON1 and RSV B BA9 genotypes emerged as the most prevalent genotypes in 2017. Variations at the F protein antigenic sites were observed for both RSV A and B strains, with dominant changes (L172Q/S173L) at antigenic site V observed in RSV B strains. RSV A and B F protein sequences from South Africa were very similar to the USA isolates except for a higher rate of RSV A NA1 and RSV B BA10 genotypes in South Africa.

Conclusion

RSV G and F genes continue to evolve and exhibit both local and global circulation patterns in South Africa, supporting the need for continued national surveillance.
Autonomous vessels: state of the art and potential opportunities in logistics
Authors: Gu Yewen , Goez Julio Cesar , Guajardo Mario , Wallace Stein W.
Published: March 2020

The growth in technology on autonomous transportation systems is currently motivating a number of research initiatives. This paper first presents a survey of the literature on autonomous marine vessels in general. By identifying the main research interests in this field, we define 10 thematic categories. The collected articles are then classified according to these categories. We show that research on autonomous vessels has increased dramatically in the past decade. However, most of the published articles have focused on navigation control and safety issues. Studies regarding other topics, such as transport and logistics, are very limited. Although our main interest is the literature on autonomous vessels, we contrast its development with respect to the literature on autonomous cars so as to have a better understanding about the future potentials in the research on autonomous vessels. The comparison shows that there are great opportunities for research about transportation and logistics with autonomous vessels. Finally, several potential research areas regarding logistics with autonomous vessels are proposed. As the technology behind remote‐controlled or autonomous ships is maturing rapidly, we believe that it is already time for researchers in the field to start looking into future water‐borne transport and logistics using autonomous vessels.
Nerve Block Use after Hip Fracture Versus Elective Hip or Knee Arthroplasty: Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Neuman Mark D. , Elkassabany Nabil M. , Ochroch Jason , Newcomb Craig , Brensinger Colleen , Mehta Samir , Gaskins Lakisha J. , Lane‐Fall Meghan B.
Published: March 2020

OBJECTIVES

Although peripheral nerve blocks are associated with improved pain control and end outcomes among older adults with hip fracture, their current utilization among US hip fracture patients is not well understood. We characterized contemporary use of peripheral nerve blocks after hip fracture over time and identified predictors of nerve block receipt.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of claims data from one large national private US insurer.

SETTING

US acute care hospitals.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 94 985 adults aged 50 years and older hospitalized for a femoral neck, intertrochanteric, or subtrochanteric fracture; 409 263 adults aged 50 years and older hospitalized for elective hip or knee arthroplasty between 2004 and 2016.

MEASUREMENTS

Receipt of a peripheral nerve block for pain control, based on Current Procedural Terminology codes in physician service claims.

RESULTS

Overall, 2874 hip fracture patients (3.0%; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.9‐3.1) received a nerve block for pain control, and the percentage receiving a block increased from .4% in 2004‐2006 (95% CI = .3%‐.6%) to 4.6% in 2013‐2016 (95% CI = 4.4%‐4.8%; P < .001). The adjusted odds of receiving a nerve block was lower for patients with vs without dementia (odds ratio [OR] = .88; 95% CI = .80‐.98; P = .02) and among patients aged 75 to 84 vs 64 years or younger (OR = .86; 95% CI = .74‐1.00; P = .02). The odds of nerve block receipt did not vary according to race, ethnicity, fracture location, or most other common comorbidities. Compared with patients with hip fracture, the adjusted odds of nerve block receipt were 2 times higher among patients undergoing elective hip replacement and more than 30 times higher among patients undergoing elective knee replacement.

CONCLUSION

Although use of peripheral nerve blocks for pain control after hip fracture has increased over time, fewer than 5 of every 100 patients hospitalized with hip fracture currently receive a peripheral nerve block, suggesting possible underuse. J Am Geriatr Soc 68:835–840, 2020
Maneuvering Through a Birth Complicated by Shoulder Dystocia
Authors: Sahrphillips J. Frances , Van Hoover Cheri
Published: March 2020

Shoulder dystocia is an unpredictable intrapartum emergency with potentially devastating consequences. In this article, the etiology, pathophysiology, and clinical management of shoulder dystocia are reviewed; institutional readiness and potential legal implications are discussed. Also considered are posttraumatic stress disorder and secondary traumatic stress, adverse psychological consequences that may be experienced by women, midwives, and other intrapartum care providers, including staff.
Extract of Plumbago zeylanica enhances the growth of hair follicle dermal papilla cells with down‐regulation of 5α‐reductase type II
Authors: Yamada Natsuki , Miki Kensuke , Yamaguchi Yoko , Takauji Yuki , Yamakami Yoshimi , Hossain Mohammad Nazir , Ayusawa Dai , Fujii Michihiko
Published: March 2020

Background

Cellular senescence, a phenomenon of irreversible growth arrest of mammalian cells, is involved in various age‐related phenomena in organisms. Hair follicle dermal papilla (DP) cells play important roles in the regulation of hair growth and loss.

Aims

We examined the implication of cellular senescence of DP cells in androgenetic alopecia (AGA), the most common form of male hair loss, and searched for the compounds that have a beneficial effect on the prevention of AGA.

Patients/Methods

Expression of the 5α‐reductase type II (SRD5A2) gene, which plays a key role in the development of AGA, was examined by quantitative RT‐PCR and Western blotting analysis in DP cells. Besides, DP cells were cultured with the extracts of herbs used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine to search for the compounds that have a beneficial effect on the growth of DP cells.

Results

We found that expression of the SRD5A2 was up‐regulated in senescent DP cells. We also found that the herbal extract of Plumbago zeylanica (root) enhanced the growth of DP cells and down‐regulated the expression of SRD5A2 in DP cells. Further, plumbagin, an ingredient of P zeylanica, would be responsible for the above effects of P zeylanica.

Conclusion

These results suggested the possibility that senescent DP cells may have a role in the development of AGA through up‐regulating SRD5A2 expression, and the P zeylanica extract and plumbagin may suppress its development through enhancing the growth of DP cells and down‐regulating SRD5A2 expression in DP cells.
Mothering through Language: Gender, Class, and Education in Language Revitalization among Kaqchikel Maya Women in Guatemala
Authors: Bennett Joyce
Published: March 2020

This article questions how gender and class operate in bilingual education programs for revitalization while accounting for the political economic context. Located among Kaqchikel Maya‐dominant speaking women in Guatemala, the research draws on interviews and ethnographic data to understand Kaqchikel‐dominant women's language ideologies and practices. The political economic context and bilingual education programs create contradictions in Maya womanhood, which women navigate through linguistic choices they make with their children and grandchildren. Women perpetuate sociolinguistic disjuncture by devaluing colloquial Kaqchikel, contributing to the symbolic domination of the language. Women's language choices open new ways of understanding Kaqchikel‐dominant women in language revitalization.
Do gamma‐glutamyltransferase levels identify HCV patients who require lifelong post‐SVR follow‐up?
Authors: Colapietro Francesca , Aghemo Alessio
Published: March 2020

See Article on Page 539