bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The World Council of Churches and Pentecostals
Authors: Robra Martin
Published: April 2019

This article recalls the history of the relationships between the World Council of Churches (WCC) and Pentecostal churches from the early years of the WCC until today. One of the greatest challenges currently facing the WCC is the shift in focus of Christianity to the South and the East, a phenomenon to which emerging Pentecostal and charismatic churches and communities are contributing. Alongside global cultural trends in the context of globalization, Pentecostal and charismatic piety and spirituality are increasingly affecting the older churches as well. While some see this negatively, many see it as an expression of adaptation to new challenges necessary for the survival of these churches. The article shows how the changing ecclesial context led to the WCC to explore new avenues for building relationships such as a Joint Consultative Group and the Global Christian Forum.
Freedom, Love, and Justice
Authors: Tveit Olav Fykse
Published: April 2019

This article starts from love as being a fundamental value, guiding modes of behaviour that establish a reliable framework and basis for the recognition of the rights and dignity of everyone in the community. The affirmation of justice and freedom based on love leads to corrective and transformative action in cases where life is threatened and rights are being violated. Drawing on the experience and witness of Martin Luther King Jr, the article underlines that love empowers the oppressed to stand up and becomes a moral imperative for change, against the background of the many forces promoting conflict and violence, division, and polarization. The power of love is a message to the world, to the powerful, and to the powerless – to all who long for a different reality from what we see in today’s world. This needs to be expressed in the quest for the unity of the church and the unity of humankind, serving the sustainability and unity of God’s creation.
The role of transparency in auditing
Authors: de Fine Licht Jenny
Published: April 2019

The concepts of auditing and transparency frequently appear in discussions about contemporary public‐sector challenges, but the relationship between them rarely has been examined. This paper argues that transparency might be viewed as both an effect of auditing and a prerequisite for auditing. Broadly speaking, the former tends to be articulated more in the auditing literature—where transparency often justifies auditing—while the latter often appears in the transparency literature. By proposing a distinction between “raw transparency” and “refined transparency,” this paper strives to increase conceptual clarity and establish a theoretical basis for various auditing activities.
It’s about time: A synthesis of changing phenology in the Gulf of Maine ecosystem
Authors: Staudinger Michelle D. , Mills Katherine E. , Stamieszkin Karen , Record Nicholas R. , Hudak Christine A. , Allyn Andrew , Diamond Antony , Friedland Kevin D. , Golet Walt , Henderson Meghan Elisabeth , Hernandez Christina M. , Huntington Thomas G. , Ji Rubao , Johnson Catherine L. , Johnson David Samuel , Jordaan Adrian , Kocik John , Li Yun , Liebman Matthew , Nichols Owen C. , Pendleton Daniel , Richards R. Anne , Robben Thomas , Thomas Andrew C. , Walsh Harvey J. , Yakola Keenan
Published: April 2019

The timing of recurring biological and seasonal environmental events is changing on a global scale relative to temperature and other climate drivers. This study considers the Gulf of Maine ecosystem, a region of high social and ecological importance in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean and synthesizes current knowledge of (a) key seasonal processes, patterns, and events; (b) direct evidence for shifts in timing; (c) implications of phenological responses for linked ecological‐human systems; and (d) potential phenology‐focused adaptation strategies and actions. Twenty studies demonstrated shifts in timing of regional marine organisms and seasonal environmental events. The most common response was earlier timing, observed in spring onset, spring and winter hydrology, zooplankton abundance, occurrence of several larval fishes, and diadromous fish migrations. Later timing was documented for fall onset, reproduction and fledging in Atlantic puffins, spring and fall phytoplankton blooms, and occurrence of additional larval fishes. Changes in event duration generally increased and were detected in zooplankton peak abundance, early life history periods of macro‐invertebrates, and lobster fishery landings. Reduced duration was observed in winter–spring ice‐affected stream flows. Two studies projected phenological changes, both finding diapause duration would decrease in zooplankton under future climate scenarios. Phenological responses were species‐specific and varied depending on the environmental driver, spatial, and temporal scales evaluated. Overall, a wide range of baseline phenology and relevant modeling studies exist, yet surprisingly few document long‐term shifts. Results reveal a need for increased emphasis on phenological shifts in the Gulf of Maine and identify opportunities for future research and consideration of phenological changes in adaptation efforts.
Taxonomy, together with ontogeny and growing conditions, drives needleleaf species' sensitivity to climate in boreal North America
Authors: Marchand William , Girardin Martin P. , Hartmann Henrik , Gauthier Sylvie , Bergeron Yves
Published: April 2019

Currently, there is no consensus regarding the way that changes in climate will affect boreal forest growth, where warming is occurring faster than in other biomes. Some studies suggest negative effects due to drought‐induced stresses, while others provide evidence of increased growth rates due to a longer growing season. Studies focusing on the effects of environmental conditions on growth–climate relationships are usually limited to small sampling areas that do not encompass the full range of environmental conditions; therefore, they only provide a limited understanding of the processes at play. Here, we studied how environmental conditions and ontogeny modulated growth trends and growth–climate relationships of black spruce (Picea mariana) and jack pine (Pinus banksiana) using an extensive dataset from a forest inventory network. We quantified the long‐term growth trends at the stand scale, based on analysis of the absolutely dated ring‐width measurements of 2,266 trees. We assessed the relationship between annual growth rates and seasonal climate variables and evaluated the effects of various explanatory variables on long‐term growth trends and growth–climate relationships. Both growth trends and growth–climate relationships were species‐specific and spatially heterogeneous. While the growth of jack pine barely increased during the study period, we observed a growth decline for black spruce which was more pronounced for older stands. This decline was likely due to a negative balance between direct growth gains induced by improved photosynthesis during hotter‐than‐average growing conditions in early summers and the loss of growth occurring the following year due to the indirect effects of late‐summer heat waves on accumulation of carbon reserves. For stands at the high end of our elevational gradient, frost damage during milder‐than‐average springs could act as an additional growth stressor. Competition and soil conditions also modified climate sensitivity, which suggests that effects of climate change will be highly heterogeneous across the boreal biome.
Isolated counties, administrative monitoring, and the misuse of public funds in China
Authors: Li Li , Pang Baoqing , Wu Yiping
Published: April 2019

This article empirically investigates the effects of administrative monitoring on the misuse of funds by local governments and provides a representative model of fiscal decentralization with political centralization, where administrative monitoring relies on the top‐down hierarchy of the bureaucratic system in China based on a unique data set from audit programs. We show a double effect between distance and monitoring in local China. The incentive for misusing public funds can be strengthened if the county (a) is governed by a leader whose tenure is longer than 3 years, (b) is governed by a politician from outside the county, or (c) receives more transfer payments. These findings suggest that the administrative monitoring of local governments can be vital to remedying the misuse of public funds.
Failure to place evidence at the centre of quality improvement remains a major barrier for advances in quality improvement
Authors: Djulbegovic Benjamin , Bennett Charles L. , Guyatt Gordon
Published: April 2019

Mondoux and Shojania (M&S) issued a critique of our call to unify all disciplines of relevance for quality improvement (QI). They do not challenge the need for alignment of different fields that have played roles in the QI space. They selected to focus their critique on our views that ultimately the discipline of QI should be based on the principles of evidence‐based medicine (EBM) and decision sciences.

In our response, we reaffirm our calls to help achieve needed alignment and integration of all disciplines of importance to QI through “a unifying framework for improving health care” with EBM and decision sciences at helm. Challenging the importance of placing QI on solid empirical basis is misguided: As QI is all about measuring and consequently improving clinical care, acting on reliable evidence must remain its “cornerstone”. Apparent differences in our views appears to be due to our focus on what care should be delivered, while M&S concentrate on how that care should be delivered. The former is the domain of a narrowly defined EBM, while the latter is the realm of improvement/implementation science—which, we argue, should also be evidence‐based. QI initiatives are fundamentally local activities, and regulators would be most helpful if they require each institution to provide an annual plan of its top QI activities not included in the existing mandated list of performance measures. Finally, we addressed a number of specific QI initiatives highlighted by M&S—use of opioids, handwashing, venous‐thromboembolism prophylaxis, hip replacement, and perioperative beta‐blockers—to show that they would have been carried differently if they were based on the principles of EBM. Thus, the failure to place evidence at the centre remains a major barrier for advances in QI.
Sugammadex in Ontario hospitals: Access and institutional policies
Authors: Cohen Jared C. , Latchford Kevin J.
Published: April 2019

Rationale and aims

Sugammadex is a novel neuromuscular blockade reversal agent which rapidly reverses the effects of rocuronium and vecuronium. Compared with the first‐generation neuromuscular blockade reversal agent, neostigmine, sugammadex has a number of superior properties; however, sugammadex is significantly more expensive per dose compared with neostigmine (~CAD$95 vs $4). Given the high cost of sugammadex, many Ontario hospitals either do not stock the drug or have specific policies on when the drug can be administered. This study was designed to determine access to sugammadex in Ontario hospitals, as well as the prevalence and content of institutional policies on its use.

Methods

We designed a survey assessing the availability of sugammadex and institutional policies on its use. We identified 60 Ontario hospitals with surgical services and obtained contact information for 45 of the anaesthesia departments. Surveys were sent to each department chief, and results were collected from July to October 2018.

Results

Thirty‐four (75.6%) hospitals responded to the survey. Twenty‐seven (79.4%) of the 34 respondent hospitals had sugammadex. Of the seven hospitals that did not have sugammadex, six were group B hospitals, and one was a paediatric hospital. Of the 27 hospitals with sugammadex, 16 (59.3%) hospitals had specific policies on when sugammadex may be used. Based on policies, sugammadex was most frequently allowed to be used in emergency situations, especially failed intubations or “can't intubate, can't ventilate” situations where 100% of policies allowed its use. Policies on specific patient populations for sugammadex use were uncommon, with 43.8% of existing hospital policies not specifying any patient populations.

Conclusions

Though most hospitals have sugammadex available, there is a marked heterogeneity in hospital policies on its use. Given the high cost of sugammadex use, it is worthwhile to have evidence‐based policies on its use. Judicious use of sugammadex may also have secondary cost‐saving benefits, through improved operating room efficiency and decreased complication rates.
Evaluation of the efficacy of subcritical water to enhance the lipid fraction from activated sludge for biodiesel and oleochemicals production
Authors: Edeh Ifeanyichukwu , Overton Tim , Bowra Steve
Published: April 2019

Activated sludge is currently being investigated as a potential feedstock to produce biodiesel. Reports have shown that its lipid yield is usually low, compared to the commercially available feedstocks, such as soybean, sunflower, and rapeseed oils. The current work is geared toward investigating the potential of enhancing the total lipid yield (neutral and phospholipid) by the application of subcritical water. The results show that subcritical water treatment increased the total lipid yield by 145% at the optimum conditions 280°C, 40 min, 15 mL of water and biomass loading of 5%. The lipid classes identified were waxes, acylglycerol, sterol, free fatty acid, and phospholipids. The results of the fatty acid methyl esters analysis revealed palmitic acid as the predominant fatty acid.

Practical applications

The practical applications of the results are informed from the improved lipid yield obtained, suggesting that subcritical water treatment is essential if activated sludge were to be a viable feedstock for biodiesel, renewable diesel, and oleochemicals productions. This will serve as a sustainable activated sludge disposal strategy.
Systematic Advance Care Planning and Potentially Avoidable Hospitalizations of Nursing Facility Residents
Authors: Hickman Susan E. , Unroe Kathleen T. , Ersek Mary , Stump Timothy E. , Tu Wanzhu , Ott Monica , Sachs Greg A.
Published: April 2019

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The Optimizing Patient Transfers, Impacting Medical Quality, Improving Symptoms: Transforming Institutional Care (OPTIMISTIC) project is a successful, multicomponent demonstration project to reduce potentially avoidable hospitalizations of long‐stay nursing facility residents. Systematic advance care planning (ACP) is a core component of the intervention, based on research suggesting ACP is associated with decreased hospitalizations of nursing facility residents. The purpose of this study was to describe associations between ACP documentation resulting from the OPTIMISTIC intervention and hospitalizations.

DESIGN

Specially trained project nurses were embedded in 19 nursing facilities and systematically engaged in ACP as part of a larger demonstration project.

PARTICIPANTS

Residents (n = 1482) enrolled in the demonstration project for a minimum of 30 days between January 1, 2015, and June 30, 2016.

MEASUREMENTS

ACP status: (1) Physician Orders for Scope of Treatment (POST) comfort measures or do not hospitalize (DNH) orders; (2) ACP orders with no hospitalization limit (eg, code status only); and (3) no ACP (potentially avoidable and all‐cause hospitalizations per 1000 resident days).

RESULTS

Residents with POST comfort measures/DNH orders (33.2% or n = 493) were less likely than residents with no ACP (14.7% or n = 218) to experience a potentially avoidable hospitalization (P = .001) or all‐cause hospitalization (P = .001). These differences became statistically nonsignificant after adjusting for age, functional status, and cognitive functioning.

CONCLUSION

In this successful multicomponent demonstration project to reduce potentially avoidable hospitalizations, ACP outcomes were not associated with hospitalization rates of nursing facility residents after adjusting for resident characteristics. These findings highlight the challenge of measuring the contributions of individual components of complex, multicomponent interventions. Associations between lower hospitalization rates and ACP completion may be influenced by contextual factors, such as clinical expertise and resources to manage acute conditions leading to hospitalization, in addition to interventions to increase ACP. J Am Geriatr Soc 67:1649–1655, 2019
A simple empirical algorithm for optimising depletion power and resolution for dye and system specific STED imaging
Authors: COMBS CHRISTIAN A. , SACKETT DAN L. , KNUTSON JAY R.
Published: April 2019

Here we show an easy method for determining an effective dye saturation factor (‘PSTED’) for STED (Stimulated Emission Depletion) microscopy. We define PSTED to be a combined microscope system plus dye factor (analogous to the traditional ground truth Is measurement, which is microscope independent) that is functionally defined as the power in the depletion beam that provides a resolution enhancement of 41% compared to confocal, according to the modified Abbe's formula for STED resolution enhancement. We show that the determination of PSTED provides insight not only into the suitability of a particular dye and the best imaging parameters to be used for an experiment, but also sets the critical value for correctly determining the point spread function (PSF) used in deconvolution of STED images. PSTED can be a function of many experimental variables, both microscope and sample related. Here we show the utility of doing PSTED determinations by (1) exploiting the simple relationship between width and a threshold‐defined area provided by a Gaussian PSF, for either linear or spherical objects and (2) linearising the normally inverse hyperbolic function of resolution versus power that can determine PSTED. We show that this rearrangement allows us to determine PSTED using only a few measurements: either at a few relatively low depletion powers, on traditional bead size measurements or by finding the total area of a naturally occurring sub‐limit sized biological feature (in this case, microtubules). We show the derivation of these equations and methods and the utility of its use by characterising several dyes and a local imaging parameter relevant to STED microscopy. This information is used to predict the enhancement of resolution of the point spread function necessary for post‐processing deconvolution.

Lay Description

Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) microscopy is a fluorescence imaging superresolution technique that achieves tens of nanometres resolution. This is done by utilising a depletion laser to effectively quench (deplete) fluorescence in a donut shape overlapping the normally excited fluorescence spot. The size of the remaining (undepleted) central fluorescence spot is power dependent allowing ‘tunable’ resolution with the power of the STED depletion laser. This depletion power versus resolution relationship is dye and instrument dependent. We have developed a method for quickly measuring this relationship to optimise experiments based on individual dyes and microscope specific parameters. This allows for quickly optimising microscope settings and for correctly postprocessing images.
Spitzoid cutaneous melanoma is associated with favorable clinicopathological factors and outcome
Authors: Tas Faruk , Erturk Kayhan
Published: April 2019

Background

Spitzoid melanoma is one of the rare subtypes of melanoma, whose clinical and pathological characteristics have yet to be understood.

Objective

Understanding the histopathologic features and behavior characteristics of Spitzoid cutaneous melanoma.

Methods

A total number of 11 Turkish Caucasian patients with pathologically diagnosed Spitzoid melanoma were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

The median age of patients was 24 years (ranging from 16 to 54 years), and the females outnumbered the males (90%). The extremities, especially lower limbs (67%), were the most commonly affected primary areas (64% of patients). Median depth and mitotic rate were 2.2 mm and 3 /mm2, respectively. The presence of ulceration and regression were observed in a few lesions (14%). While tumor‐infiltrating lymphocytes were expressed in all of the lesions, none of the lesions was associated with lymphovascular invasion and/or neurotropism. The regional lymph nodes were involved only in minority of the patients (27%), and no patients had metastatic disease. Recurrences occurred in only two patients (18%) that affected merely distant areas, that is, lung and brain. The median disease‐free survival time and 5‐year disease‐free survival rate were 20.5 months and 80.6%, respectively. Only one (9%) death occurred; and the median overall survival time was 26.2 months, and 5‐year overall survival rate was 90.7%.

Conclusion

Spitzoid cutaneous melanoma is correlated with favorable histopathologic and clinical characteristics, and therefore, it is associated with better survival rates.
Nurses' perceptions of pain management adequacy in mechanically ventilated patients
Authors: Asman Oren , Slutsker Elena , Melnikov Semyon
Published: April 2019

Aims and objectives

To examine how nurses' knowledge of behaviours indicating pain in mechanically ventilated patients and self‐perceived collaboration between nurses and physicians affects the adequacy of departmental pain management.

Background

Pain management is a vital factor of medical treatment in a hospital setting. Inadequate pain management requires attention both from a patient‐focused perspective and from a departmental one. It would be particularly troubling in the case of inadequate pain management of mechanically ventilated patients.

Design

The study utilised a cross‐sectional design. The instruments developed were validated by a focus group of 25 pain management nurses, who reviewed the questionnaire for face validity, feasibility and comprehensibility, and who did not participate in the study. The questionnaire was revised, readjusted and formulated based on their responses and comments.

Methods

A self‐administered questionnaire administered in Israel with a convenience sample of 187 registered nurses (RN) from internal medicine and surgical departments and ICUs. Data were collected during February–May 2015. The “STROBE” EQUATOR checklist was used.

Results

Nurses working in the ICU scored significantly higher on knowledge of behaviours indicating pain in mechanically ventilated patients and on self‐perceived collaboration between nurses and physicians. Self‐perceived collaboration between physicians and nurses was positively correlated with perceived departmental pain treatment adequacy.

Self‐perceived collaboration between nurses and physicians, knowledge of behaviours indicating pain in mechanically ventilated patients and seniority (with a borderline significance) explained 27% of the variance of perceived departmental pain management.

Conclusion

Nurses' knowledge of behaviours indicating pain in mechanically ventilated patients, as well as self‐perceived collaboration between nurses and physicians, promotes reported adequate pain management.

Relevance to clinical practice

Pain management would benefit from being conducted as a well‐performed interprofessional self‐perceived collaborative practice. Knowledgeable nurses tend to critically assess the level of departmental pain management.
The effect of local aspiration and methotrexate injection on live interstitial pregnancy coexisting with live intrauterine pregnancy after assisted reproductive technology
Authors: Yang Xinyun , Zhu Linling , Le Fang , Wang Yanjing , Lou Hangying , Gao Huijuan , Zhu Yimin , Jin Fan
Published: April 2019

Aim

To share the experience of local aspiration and instillation of methotrexate (MTX) to selective reduction of live interstitial pregnancy and to evaluate its clinical effect and the outcome of intrauterine pregnancy.

Methods

Twelve patients with heterotopic interstitial pregnancy were enrolled at Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, from 2006 to 2017. All the pregnancies were derived from assisted reproductive technology (ART). The transvaginal aspiration to interstitial pregnancy sac and local instillation of MTX (range from 12.5 to 30 mg) were performed for the patients under ultrasound‐guide. The prognosis and pregnancy outcomes were followed up.

Results

No severe side effects of medical treatment were observed in all patients. Three cases underwent subsequent laparotomy cornual resection, and no perioperative complications were found in these three patients. Twelve patients gave birth to 13 healthy infants without congenital anomalies. The average birth weight and gestational age was 2837 g (SD ± 605 g) and 36.8 weeks (SD ± 2.4 weeks). No growth anomalies and mental retardation were observed in live birth offspring.

Conclusion

The transvaginal ultrasound‐guided aspiration and injection of MTX might be a feasible alternative treatment for heterotopic interstitial pregnancy when vital signs of patients are stable.
Which source and level of dietary sodium is appropriate for broiler chickens reared in a high‐altitude area?
Authors: Taheri Hamid Reza , Nasiri Hadi , Ahmadkhani Rasoul
Published: April 2019

This study investigated effect of increasing level of dietary sodium using sodium bicarbonate or sodium chloride on growth performance, mortality, characteristics of carcass, organs and tibia, calcium and phosphorus of serum in broilers reared in a high‐altitude area (1,700 m above sea level). A total of 588 Ross 308 male broiler chicks were used in seven treatments, six replicates per treatment of 14 birds per each from 1 to 38 d of age. Seven dietary treatments consisted of a basal diet (with 0.16% sodium and 0.23% chloride), top‐dressed for six diets to give three supplementary levels of sodium (0.07%, 0.14% and 0.21%) from sodium bicarbonate (respectively by 0.26%, 0.52% and 0.78%) or sodium chloride (respectively by 0.18%, 0.36% and 0.54%), resulting in seven diets with total sodium and chloride levels of 0.16% and 0.23%, 0.23% and 0.23%, 0.30% and 0.23%, 0.37% and 0.23%, 0.23% and 0.33%, 0.30% and 0.44%, 0.37% and 0.55% respectively. Increasing sodium level improved feed conversion ratio (FCR) linearly and quadratically. However, when FCR was calculated without adjusting for feed intake of mortalities, the enhanced sodium level did not improve this parameter. Increasing sodium level via sodium chloride enhanced ascites mortality, total mortality, relative weight of heart and right ventricle linearly. Increasing sodium level reduced serum calcium and enhanced serum phosphorus linearly; however, there was a linear tendency to increase tibia ash when sodium level was enhanced by sodium bicarbonate (p = 0.08) or sodium chloride (p = 0.07). Increasing sodium level via sodium bicarbonate tended (p = 0.08) to reduce tibia strength linearly. In conclusion, a diet with 0.16% sodium and 0.23% chloride is enough for broiler chicken reared in a high‐altitude area, and increasing dietary sodium level via sodium chloride has detrimental effect on survivability of broiler in such condition.
Seasonal and ontogenetic changes in the diet of blennyHypleurochilus fissicornis: An estuarine mariculture as a model of the reef environment
Authors: Possamai Bianca , Fávaro Luis Fernando
Published: April 2019

The Blenniidae family is characterised by small cryptic fish. Due to the small size of these specimens, the sampling is very difficult and information about the ecological role of these fishes is vague. However, mariculture adds reef encrusting organisms that attract blennies, which makes sampling easier. Furthermore, recognising species feeding is critical to understand biological communities. In this study, we evaluated the diet of blennyHypleurochilus fissicornisin a mariculture, to clarify its influence on the benthic fauna and its interactions with the reef environment. We evaluated the seasonal variation (four seasons chosen by the abiotic variables) and the ontogenic changes (three classes defined by L50of the species: juvenile, transition and adult) in the diet. Hydrozoans were the main prey, butH. fissicornisfed on a variety of other benthic organisms, exhibiting opportunistic habits. The diet ofH. fissicorniswas complemented by Amphipods in autumn, Ostracods in winter, and bivalves in summer. Juveniles fed more on Ostracods than the other classes, while the transition class fed mainly on Hydrozoans and a variety of rare items, and adults consumed almost exclusively Hydrozoans and some Cirripedia. Therefore, we conclude thatH. fissicornisis an opportunistic feeder and may influence benthic organisms. The establishment of fouling organisms on the mariculture structures allows the use of this area by the blenny, since they promote its feeding base.
The number of breeders explains genetic connectivity in an endangered bird
Authors: Robertson Ellen P. , Fletcher Robert J. , Austin James D.
Published: April 2019

Connectivity is central to ecology and evolution as it focuses on the movement of individuals or genes across landscapes. Genetic connectivity approaches aim to understand gene flow but often estimate it indirectly based on metrics of genetic differentiation, which can also be affected by other evolutionary forces such as genetic drift. Gene flow and genetic drift are driven by separate ecological mechanisms with potentially differing effects on genetic differentiation and interpretations of genetic connectivity. The ecological mechanisms contributing to gene flow and genetic drift are primarily effective dispersal, or movement followed by successful reproduction, and the number of breeders in a local population, Nb, respectively. Yet, rarely are these ecological mechanisms and genetic connectivity measured simultaneously across landscapes. We examine the roles of effective dispersal and Nb on genetic connectivity across the entire range of the endangered snail kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus), between 2006–2015. We find that both Nb and effective dispersal are important predictors of genetic connectivity across this landscape, but that Nb has a 3 × stronger effect on genetic connectivity. Furthermore, Nb is positively correlated with heterozygosity and allelic richness within patches, suggesting a potentially important role of genetic drift, in addition to gene flow, on genetic connectivity. These results emphasize that conservation efforts should focus on not only between‐patch processes of movement but also within‐patch processes regarding habitat quality and local population size for increasing genetic connectivity.
Building an Inclusive Climate for Intercultural Dialogue: A Participant‐Generated Framework
Authors: Broome Benjamin J. , Derk Ian , Razzante Robert J. , Steiner Elena , Taylor Jameien , Zamora Aaron
Published: April 2019

This study investigates the question of how to build an inclusive environment for intercultural dialogue. Using the university campus as a context for our research, we conducted a facilitated idea generation workshop in which participants identified a set of dialogic competencies, followed by individual interviews in which we explored participants’ perceptions of the relationships among these competencies. Interviews were conducted utilizing a software‐assisted, idea‐structuring methodology referred to as Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM). Based on our results, we constructed a framework that depicts the overall flow of influence among the set of dialogic competencies identified by the participants. While findings confirm the importance placed in current literature on factors such as listening and empathy, they provide a more sophisticated and nuanced perspective on how to accomplish one of the oft‐stated goals of intercultural dialogue, which is to help participants examine their unconscious biases, prejudices, and privileges.
Visceral sensitivity remains stable over time in patients with irritable bowel syndrome, but with individual fluctuations
Authors: Josefsson Axel , Rosendahl Amanda , Jerlstad Pernilla , Näslin Gunilla , Törnblom Hans , Simrén Magnus
Published: April 2019

Background

Visceral hypersensitivity in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), measured with rectal balloon distensions, using a barostat, has been suggested to be a phenomenon that is reduced due to habituation at repeated investigations. We investigated the stability of rectal sensitivity in patients with IBS who had undergone a previous rectal barostat study and assessed variations in symptom pattern and severity in relation to rectal sensory function.

Method

Irritable bowel syndrome patients, who had previously been undergone a rectal barostat study, were included. All patients underwent a second study 8‐12 years later. Symptoms were characterized by use of questionnaires.

Key Results

We included 26 subjects (17 females, median age at the index investigation 44.5 (21‐61) years). Pressure and volume sensory thresholds were unchanged at the follow‐up compared with the index investigation (P > 0.05 for all). At the index investigation, 8/26 patients had rectal hypersensitivity of which four were reclassified as normosensitive, and sixfrom normo‐ to hypersensitive, meaning that 10/26 patients were hypersensitive at the follow‐up investigation. IBS‐QOL had improved significantly in six of nine domains at follow‐up (P < 0.05 for all). There were no differences in anxiety, depression, IBS symptom severity, or somatization (P > 0.05) at follow‐up. None of these were associated with change in rectal sensitivity at follow‐up.

Conclusions and Inferences

Rectal hypersensitivity and IBS symptoms remained stable at the group level over 8‐12 years in IBS patients, even though individual fluctuations were noted. Our findings contradict previous findings indicating that visceral hypersensitivity is an unstable trait.
The circulation of public officials in a fragmented system: Urban governance networks in Paris
Authors: Barwick Christine , Gross Vlad
Published: April 2019

Fragmentation and specialization—two characteristics of governance—have increased the number and variety of actors involved in the governing process, which can influence policy outcomes and legitimacy. To date, studies on governance or policy networks usually focus on one policy field and one moment in time. In this article, we analyse the dynamic aspect, thus how governance networks change over time, and examine whether the fragmentation and specialization of the governance system is mirrored in the circulation of public officials. Our case is the urban governance system of the Paris region, which is characterized by high fragmentation along policy fields and territory. The data show that Paris is governed by three sub‐systems that largely correspond to the different territorial levels of governance, but also to different types of organizations. Generally, territorial fragmentation seems to be stronger than policy field fragmentation. This structure is quite stable across time.
Navigating the dichotomy: The top public servant's craft
Authors: van Dorp Erik‐Jan , ’t Hart Paul
Published: April 2019

How in their day‐to‐day practices do top public servants straddle the politics–administration dichotomy (PAD), which tells them to serve and yet influence their ministers at the same time? To examine this, we discuss how three informal ‘rules of the game’ govern day‐to‐day political–administrative interactions in the Dutch core executive: mutual respect, discretionary space, and reciprocal loyalty. Drawing from 31 hours of elite‐interviews with one particular (authoritative) top public servant, who served multiple prime ministers, and supplementary interviews with his (former) ministers and co‐workers, we illustrate the top public servants’ craft of responsively and yet astutely straddling the ambiguous boundaries between ‘politics’ and ‘administration’. We argue that if PAD‐driven scholarship on elite administrative work is to remain relevant, it has to come to terms with the boundary‐blurring impacts of temporal interactions, the emergence of ‘hybrid’ ministerial advisers, and the ‘thickening’ of accountability regimes that affects both politicians and public servants.
Parent and child perception of quality of life in a randomized controlled peanut oral immunotherapy trial
Authors: Reier‐Nilsen Tonje , Carlsen Karin C. Lødrup , Michelsen Merethe Melbye , Drottning Sebastian , Carlsen Kai‐Håkon , Zhang Chi , Borres Magnus P. , Håland Geir
Published: April 2019

Background

Improved quality of life (QoL) after oral immunotherapy (OIT) in peanut allergic children is often reported by their parents, while the child's perspective is less clear.

Objective

We aimed to explore whether 2 years of OIT improved QoL in children with peanut allergy and to identify factors influencing change in QoL.

Methods

In the open‐labeled TAKE‐AWAY peanut OIT trial including children with anaphylaxis to peanuts, 57 were randomized to OIT and 20 to observation. The Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Version 4.0 was completed by parents and children at enrollment (Y0), after 1 year (end of updosing; Y1) and after 2 years (Y2) of OIT. Minimally clinically important difference (MCID) is ≥5.3. Perceived treatment burden was recorded by visual analogue scales, including adverse events (AEs). An open food challenge (OFC) was performed at Y2.

Results

At Y2, 18 children had discontinued OIT and 2 of 39 OIT children refused OFC, while 35 of 37 were desensitized to 7500 mg peanut protein. From Y0 to Y2, the mean change (95% confidence intervals) in QoL was 4.4 (0.5, 8.3) among child self‐reports and twice as large among parental proxy reports (9.3 [4.3, 14.3]; both P < 0.0001), without significant improvement among the controls. The change in QoL was significantly different from the controls for the parental proxy reports only (P = 0.002). Neither treatment burden nor AEs significantly predicted changes in QoL.

Conclusion

Two years of OIT improved child‐QoL as reported by parents, but not by the children, suggesting that parents may overestimate improvement in child‐QoL by OIT.
Local Government Fiscal Health: Comparing Self‐Assessments to Conventional Measures
Authors: Leiser Stephanie , Mills Sarah
Published: April 2019

Municipal fiscal condition is typically assessed using objective financial indicators, but little is understood about how local officials subjectively evaluate their own fiscal health. Using both qualitative and quantitative approaches to analyze survey data from Michigan, we explore how local officials conceptualize fiscal health and compare self‐assessments with conventional financial indicators. The results reveal that local officials emphasize long‐run issues and external stressors, but the relative importance of different factors varies depending on whether they report high or low fiscal stress. We suggest that self‐assessments may be a useful supplement to conventional objective measures in capturing “true” fiscal health.
Identification of QTLs for niacin concentration in maize kernels
Authors: Wang Xu , Zhang Jing , Dong Erfei , Mei Xiupeng , Liu Chaoxian , Zhou Lian , Cai Yilin
Published: April 2019

A genetically induced increase in the niacin concentration of maize kernels is important for the improvement of kernels nutrition. In this paper, the correlation, heredity and variation of free niacin concentration and total niacin concentration in maize kernels were analysed. The results showed that a low or moderate correlation existed between free niacin concentration and total niacin concentration, and that the heritabilities of the two traits were approximately 70%. Quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis showed that qFNA4a‐HC and qTNA4a‐HC were detected to have a common marker, umc1294 (Bin4.02), in different populations. In population A, qFNA8b and qTNA8a were detected in two generations or two sites, qTNA8c‐F2 and qFNA8b‐HC have a common interval. These QTLs explained 9.7%–17.3% of phenotypic variation. In population B, qFNA4a, explaining 9.3%–11.2% of phenotypic variation, was detected in two environments. Two marker intervals, umc1294‐bnlg490 (Bin4.02‐4.03) and umc1959‐umc1562 (Bin8.05), harbored the QTL for free niacin concentration and total niacin concentration. Furthermore, among a total of 78 QTLs obtained from all datasets, 19, 9 and 9 QTLs were located in Bin8.05‐8.06, Bin4.02‐4.04 and Bin10.01‐10.03, respectively.
Antithrombotic management and thrombosis rates in children post–liver transplantation: A case series and literature review
Authors: Flynn Elise , Huang Joanna Y. , Hardikar Winita , Herd Lauren , Hodgson Alexandra , Monagle Paul
Published: April 2019

Thrombosis is a major postoperative complication in pediatric liver transplantation. There is marked heterogeneity in prophylactic antithrombotic therapies used, without established guidelines. This review summarizes current worldwide incidence of thrombotic events and compares antithrombotic therapies in children post–liver transplant, with comparison to our institution's experience. Of the twenty‐three articles with sufficient detail to compare antithrombotic regimens, the overall incidence of thrombosis ranged from 2.4% to 17.3%. Incidence of HAT ranged from 0% to 28.1%, of HVT from 0% to 4.7%, of PVT from 1.5% to 11.2%, and of IVC thrombosis from 0% to 2.8%. Re‐transplantation due to thrombosis ranged from 0% to 4.8%. Prophylactic antithrombotic therapies varied between studies, and bleeding complications were infrequently reported. Since 2010, 96 children underwent 100 liver transplants at our institution with thrombosis incidence comparable to international literature (HAT 6%, PVT 5%, IVC 1%, and HVT 0%). Re‐transplantation due to thrombosis occurred in 2% and major bleeding occurred in 10%. The prophylactic antithrombotic therapies used post–liver transplantation in children remain varied. Low rates of thrombosis have been reported with antiplatelet use both with and without anticoagulation. Standard definitions and consistent reporting of bleeding complications are required, in addition to thrombosis rates, so that true risk‐benefit assessment of reported regimes can be understood.
Genetic structure of a Pyrenophora teres f. teres population over time in an Australian barley field as revealed by Diversity Arrays Technology markers
Authors: Poudel B. , Vaghefi N. , McLean M. S. , Platz G. J. , Sutherland M. W. , Martin A.
Published: April 2019

Net form of net blotch caused by Pyrenophora teres f. teres (Ptt) is a major foliar disease of barley (Hordeum vulgare) worldwide. Knowledge of the evolution of Ptt pathogen populations is important for development of durable host‐plant resistance. This study was conducted to investigate changes in genetic structure of a Ptt population within a barley field during three cropping years. The susceptible barley cultivar Henley was inoculated with Ptt isolate NB050. Leaf samples were collected during the years 2013–15 and 174 single spore Ptt isolates stored. Genotyping using Diversity Arrays Technology markers identified that 25% of isolates were clones of the inoculated isolate and 75% of isolates were multilocus genotypes (MLGs) differing from the original inoculated genotype. The novel genotypes probably originated from a combination of windborne spores from neighbouring fields, infected seed and sexual recombination in the field. The rapid change in the genotypic composition of the Ptt population in this study suggests adaptive potential of novel genotypes and demonstrates the need for barley breeders to use multiple sources of host‐plant resistance to safeguard against resistance being overcome.
The many faces of strict liability in Indonesia's wildfire litigation
Authors: Wibisana Andri G.
Published: April 2019

Since 2013, the Indonesian Ministry for the Environment and Forestry has sued several timber and oil palm plantations for fires that have occurred within concession areas. These government lawsuits are important, not just for reducing the number of fires in Indonesia, but also for galvanizing a significant development of the nation's law of civil liability for environmental damage. In these cases, the government has attempted to ground its suits in two types of liability, namely the liability for an unlawful act and strict liability. The article observes some inaccurate interpretations of strict liability in wildfire litigation, where the liability rule is considered as part of the liability rule for an unlawful act, and as a liability rule resulting from the application of the precautionary principle in a fault‐based liability rule. The application of strict liability starts with the identification of whether a defendant's activity can be considered an abnormally dangerous activity. The article finds that activities related to the clearing and drainage of peatlands are abnormally dangerous because they significantly increase the risk of fires and constitute an unnatural use of land. It concludes that the application of strict liability to wildfires is defendable in so far it can be proven that the defendant has previously conducted the clearing and drainage of peatlands.
Conversation: Student self‐authorship and the goals of higher education
Authors: Fisher Kathleen , Newton Richard , McClymond Kathryn
Published: April 2019

This edited transcript of a roundtable “fishbowl” conversation at a session of the 2018 national conference of the American Academy of Religion brings three teaching scholars together around a shared reading of Jane Fried's book, Education, Fishbowls, and Rabbit Holes: Rethinking Teaching and Liberal Education for an Interconnected World (Stylus, 2016). Fried's concept of student “self‐authorship” quickly emerges as the dominant theme of the conversation, providing fresh perspectives on the purposes and goals of an academic classroom and the place of the study of religion within the liberal arts curriculum.
Forum: Quilting as metaphor for theological education
Authors: Park Sophia S. , Tran Mai‐Anh Le , Parker Angela , Ghali Adam A. , Helsel Carolyn B. , Cardoza‐Orlandi Carlos F.
Published: April 2019

How is quilt‐making both metaphor and pedagogy for early‐career faculty of theology and religion who seek to cultivate critical and creative imagination for teaching, and to probe the challenges and promises of complex identities and vocations within 21st‐century landscapes of theological education? This forum presents essays (with explanatory introduction) by five members of the 2016–2017 Workshop for Early Career Theological School Faculty, who were impelled to story their experience of being “handed over to themselves” by an “arts and craft” project which forced them to think with their hands, speak with found objects, and re‐present themselves in the form of 12 × 12‐inch quilt squares. In self‐reflexive prose, these scholar‐teachers offer through this medium a glimpse of their unexpected moments of revelatory learning, as each was pulled into deeper contemplation of their personhood, experience, know‐how, and practical wisdom, each uncovering valuable hidden sources for more expansive theological query, and each re‐thinking the possibilities for theological education and its pedagogies.