bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Tide that lifts all boats? Acquisitions and CEO-TMT pay disparity in the Netherlands
Authors: Sahib Padma Rao , Van der Laan Gerwin , Van Ees Hans 
Published: May 2018

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine how firm growth, and its decomposition into acquisitive and organic growth, can serve as an antecedent to the disparity in pay between the CEO and other top management team (TMT) members.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on tournament theory, the authors argue that acquisitive and organic growth strategies have different effects on CEO-TMT pay disparity.FindingsThe authors find that acquisitive growth, measured through the number and size of acquisitions, increases CEO-TMT pay disparity while organic growth has no effect on CEO-TMT pay disparity.Practical implicationsThe findings, based in the context of the Netherlands, imply that boards in their monitoring activity may need to take into account the potential incentive effects of acquisitive activity as CEOs may have a greater motivation to engage in acquisitions than their fellow TMT members.Originality/valueThis paper contributes to the literature on relative compensation and incentives and the literature on managerial compensation and firm strategy. To investigate the role of firm growth in increasing CEO-TMT pay disparity, the authors adopt a fine-grained approach along two dimensions. First, the authors disaggregate firm growth into organic and acquisition driven firm growth. Second, the authors disaggregate pay disparity in these components.
Effect of sublethal heat treatment on the later stage of germination‐to‐outgrowth of Clostridium perfringens spores
Authors: Sakanoue Hideyo , Yasugi Mayo , Miyake Masami 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTSublethal heating of spores has long been known to stimulate or activate germination; however, the underlying mechanisms are not yet fully understood. In this study, the entire germination‐to‐outgrowth process of spores from Clostridium perfringens, an anaerobic sporeformer, was visualized at single‐cell resolution. Quantitative analysis revealed that sublethal heating significantly reduces the time from completion of germination to the beginning of the first cell division, indicating that sublethal heating of C. perfringens spores not only sensitizes the responsiveness of germinant receptors but also directly or indirectly facilitates multiple steps during the bacterial regrowth process.
Interspecific variation in ploidy as a key plant trait outlining local extinction risks and community patterns in fragmented landscapes
Authors: Plue Jan , Kimberley Adam , Slotte Tanja 
Published: May 2018

Abstract

Polyploidy is associated with a plethora of phenotypic and genetic changes yielding transformative effects on species' life‐history and ecology. These biological attributes can contribute to the success of species on ecological timescales, as observed in the invasion success or rapid environmental and climatic adaptation of polyploids. However, to date there has been a distinct lack of empirical evidence linking species' local extinction risk, species distributions and community structure in fragmented landscapes with interspecific variation in ploidy.

We aimed to investigate the relationship between levels of habitat fragmentation and patterns in both diversity and the frequency of species with different ploidy levels. We included additional persistence‐ and dispersal related life‐history traits, to establish the relative importance of ploidy in determining species richness and frequencies following habitat fragmentation. We therefore collected plant community presence‐absence data and landscape data from grassland fragments from south‐central Sweden.

Community‐level analysis uncovered that interspecific variation in ploidy proved the strongest predictor of plant community species richness and turn‐over across grassland fragments. Local extinction risk decreased as ploidy increased, with diploids most prone to local extinction.

In the species‐level analysis, ploidy outweighed the combined explanatory power of commonly used life‐history traits such as clonality, dispersal mechanism and mating system; key predictors of plant species distributions across fragmented landscapes.

Ploidy appears to capture parallel variation in a series of advantageous genetic and life‐history mechanisms which operate on ecological timescales, emerging as the strongest predictor of local extinction risk even after accounting for variation in other crucial life‐history traits. Our results therefore highlight the importance of genomic traits such as ploidy and total chromosome number as valuable factors explaining and predicting local extinction risk in fragmented landscapes.

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The construction of a simple portable electromagnetic vibrator from commercially available components
Authors: Dean Timothy , Nguyen Hoang , Kepic Anton , Halliday David 
Published: May 2018

ABSTRACTSince its introduction in the late 1950s, hydraulic vibrators have become the dominant source for land seismic surveys. The hydraulic vibrators typically used for commercial land seismic acquisition, however, are large, costly to operate and expensive to purchase. This inhibits their use for small‐scale and short‐duration surveys as well as Vibroseis research. In this paper we describe, in detail, the construction of a portable vibrator from commercially available components for a cost of less than $US2,000. Data shows that the vibrator is able to successfully transmit sweeps from 15 to 180 Hz with different spectral contents. The vibrator produces a stronger signal than a sledgehammer and we estimate its output to be around 1 kN. The frequency content of the data was concentrated at lower frequencies (<100 Hz) and the ground‐roll was far more energetic than that produced using a sledgehammer.
MoMip11, a MoRgs7‐interacting protein, functions as a scaffolding protein to regulate cAMP signaling and pathogenicity in the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae
Authors: Yin Ziyi , Zhang Xiaofang , Wang Jingzhen , Yang Lina , Feng Wanzhen , Chen Chen , Gao Chuyun , Zhang Haifeng , Zheng Xiaobo , Wang Ping , Zhang Zhengguang 
Published: May 2018

SummaryThe rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae has eight regulators of G‐protein signaling (RGS) and RGS‐like proteins (MoRgs1 to MoRgs8) that exhibit both distinct and shared regulatory functions in the growth, differentiation and pathogenicity of the fungus. We found MoRgs7 with a unique RGS‐seven transmembrane (7‐TM) domain motif is localized to the highly dynamic tubule‐vesicular compartments during early appressorium differentiation followed by gradually degradation. To explore whether this involves an active signal perception of MoRgs7, we identified a Gbeta‐like/RACK1 protein homolog in M. oryzae MoMip11 that interacts with MoRgs7. Interestingly, MoMip11 selectively interacted with several components of the cAMP regulatory pathway, including Gα MoMagA and the high‐affinity phosphodiesterase MoPdeH. We further showed that MoMip11 promotes MoMagA activation and suppresses MoPdeH activity thereby upregulating intracellular cAMP levels. Moreover, MoMip11 is required for the response to multiple stresses, a role also shared by Gbeta‐like/RACK1 adaptor proteins. In summary, we revealed a unique mechanism by which MoMip11 links MoRgs7 and G‐proteins to reugulate cAMP signaling, stress responses and pathogenicity of M. oryzae. Our studies revealed the multitude of regulatory networks that govern growth, development and pathogenicity in this important causal agent of rice blast.
Evaluating the long‐term persistence of Bacillus spores on common surfaces
Authors: Enger Kyle S. , Mitchell Jade , Murali Bharathi , Birdsell Dawn N. , Keim Paul , Gurian Patrick L. , Wagner David M. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryBacillus spores resist inactivation, but the extent of their persistence on common surfaces is unclear. This work addresses knowledge gaps regarding biothreat agents in the environment to reduce uncertainty in risk assessment models. Studies were conducted to investigate the long‐term inactivation of Bacillus anthracis and three commonly used surrogate organisms – B. cereus, B. atrophaeus and B. thuringiensis on three materials: laminate countertop, stainless steel and polystyrene Petri dishes. Viable spores were measured at 1, 30, 90, 196, 304 and 1038 days. Twelve different persistence models were fit to the data using maximum likelihood estimation and compared. The study found that (1) spore inactivation was not log‐linear, as commonly modelled; (2) B. thuringiensis counts increased at 24 h on all materials, followed by a subsequent decline; (3) several experiments showed evidence of a ‘U’ shape, with spore counts apparently decreasing and then increasing between 1 and 304 days; (4) spores on polystyrene showed little inactivation; and (5) the maximum inactivation of 56% was observed for B. atrophaeus spores on steel at 196 days. Over the range of surfaces, time durations and conditions (humidity controlled vs. uncontrolled) examined, B. thuringiensis most closely matched the behaviour of B. anthracis.
Influence of nitrogen levels on bio‐agronomic and quality traits of tetraploid wheats under organic farming
Authors: Iannucci A. , Fares C. , Codianni P. 
Published: May 2018

AbstractThe efficient use of nitrogen by crops can minimise environmental risks and maximise returns to farmers. Under organic farming systems, this can be achieved by adjusting the fertilisation management and/or using genetic variability. Seven durum wheat (Triticum durum) cultivars and three emmer (Triticum dicoccum) cultivars were assessed under an organic farming system over a non‐consecutive 4‐year period (2005–11) in Foggia (southern Italy). The objectives were to investigate the agronomic and qualitative characteristics, and to evaluate the agronomic efficiency and adaptability according to three N fertilisation levels (0, 40, 80 kg N ha−1). A split‐plot design was used, with three replications in each year. Nine traits were investigated: heading time, plant height, seed yield, number of spikes m−2, harvest index, specific weight, 1000‐seed weight, and protein and gluten contents. Increasing N to 80 kg ha−1 increased plant height (+7.3%), seed yield (+22.1%), spike density (+16.6%), and protein (+9.8%) and gluten (+2.1%) contents. The emmer genotypes and the oldest durum wheat ‘Cappelli’ showed the highest protein and gluten contents (mean, 13.9%, 11.2%, respectively). The maximum N agronomic efficiency [AE(N)] and N recovery efficiency [RE(N)] were seen for the modern durum wheat cultivars under 40 kg ha−1 N treatment: ‘Duilio’, ‘Iride’ and ‘Varano’. The significant correlation between AE(N) and RE(N) and the year of release of the durum wheat cultivars (r = 0.53, P < 0.05, F = 4.7 for AE(N) and r = 0.57, P < 0.01, F = 5.7 for RE(N), respectively; n = 14) showed that the genetic breeding of this species for high grain yield is associated with an increase in the efficiency of N fertiliser use under organic farming. The highly significant effect for the Genotype × Environment interaction (F = 18.1, P < 0.001) of seed yield indicate the possibility to select for stable genotypes across environments. Based on the additive main effects and multiplicative interaction analysis, and the yield stability index, the varieties ‘Iride’ and ‘Varano’ show high‐stability responses and good seed yields under all N fertiliser treatments. Therefore, these varieties can be recommended for organic farming systems in Mediterranean areas.
Postoperative laryngeal morbidity and intubating conditions using the McGRATH™ MAC videolaryngoscope with or without neuromuscular blockade: a randomised, double‐blind, non‐inferiority trial
Authors: Nakanishi T. , Yoshimura M. , Sakamoto S. , Toriumi T. 
Published: May 2018

SummaryTracheal intubation without neuromuscular blockade may be associated with worse intubating conditions and increased laryngeal morbidity. We hypothesised that tracheal intubation using the McGRATH™ MAC videolaryngoscope would not increase postoperative hoarseness, even without neuromuscular blockade. In this prospective, randomised, parallel‐group, double‐blind, non‐inferiority trial, 248 patients were randomly assigned to tracheal intubation with or without neuromuscular blockade using rocuronium. Hoarseness and sore throat were evaluated at 24 h and 48 h postoperatively. The primary outcome was the incidence of hoarseness at 48 h postoperatively with a pre‐defined non‐inferiority margin of 10%. Hoarseness at 48 h did not differ between the non‐paralysed group and the paralysed group (8.1% vs. 13.6%; absolute difference: −5.4%; 95%CI: −13.3 to 2.4). Also, no significant differences were found between the two groups for hoarseness at 24 h (22.8% vs. 27.1%) or for sore throat at 24 h (12.2% vs. 9.3%) and 48 h postoperatively (1.6% vs. 0.8%). Although more patients in the non‐paralysed group showed an adducted position of the vocal cords (29.3% vs. 0%), there were no significant group differences in the ease of laryngoscopy (96.7% vs. 98.3%), Cormack grade laryngeal view 1 (97.6% vs. 96.6%) or first‐pass success rate (100% vs. 100%). We conclude that when using the McGRATH MAC videolaryngoscope for tracheal intubation, the incidence of postoperative hoarseness was not inferior if neuromuscular blockade was avoided.
Limitations of Current Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy Configuration in Detecting Focal Cerebral Ischemia During Cardiac Surgery: An Observational Case‐Series Study
Authors: Erdoes Gabor , Rummel Christian , Basciani Reto M. , Verma Rajeev , Carrel Thierry , Banz Yara , Eberle Balthasar , Schroth Gerhard 
Published: May 2018

AbstractCerebral oximetry using near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) allows for continuous monitoring of cerebral perfusion and immediate treatment of hemodynamic perturbations. In configurations used in current clinical practice, NIRS optodes are placed on the patient`s forehead and cerebral oxygen saturation (ScO2) is determined in bilateral frontal cortical samples. However, focal cerebral ischemic lesions outside of the NIRS field of view may remain undetected. The objective of this observational case‐series study was to investigate ScO2 measurements in patients with acute iatrogenic stroke not located in the frontal cortical region. Adult patients undergoing cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass or interventional cardiology procedures and suffering stroke in the early postoperative period were identified from the Bernese Stroke Registry and analyzed for their intraoperative ScO2 values and brain imaging data. Main outcome measures were the ScO2 values, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging findings. In six patients, the infarct areas were localized in the vascular territories of the posterior and/or dorsal middle cerebral arteries. One patient had watershed stroke and another one excellent collaterals resulting in normal cerebral blood volume and only subtle decrease of cerebral blood flow in initially critically perfused watershed brain areas. Intraoperative ScO2 values were entirely unremarkable or nonindicative for brain damage. Our results indicate that uneventful intraoperative NIRS monitoring does not exclude severe cerebral ischemia due to the limited field of view of commercially available NIRS devices. False negative NIRS may occur as a consequence of stroke localized outside the frontal cortex.
Explanations for Not Having an Audit Committee in a ‘Comply or Explain’ Regime
Authors: Bradbury Michael E. , Ma Diandian , Scott Tom 
Published: May 2018

AbstractWe utilise the Australian ‘comply or explain’ corporate governance regime to examine the explanations given for not having an audit committee and whether these explanations are consistent with underlying firm characteristics. We hand‐collect explanations provided by firms, and find the most common explanations are that the firm or board size is too small or that the firm is insufficiently complex to justify an audit committee. Thus, the reasons that firms provide for not having an audit committee are focused on internal factors limiting their ability to supply an audit committee. As we find that these explanations are associated with lower total assets, smaller board size and lower leverage, they are consistent with underlying firm characteristics. Thus firms are not providing inconsistent or unrelated explanations as pretexts to avoid forming an audit committee. Documenting that the explanations given for non‐compliance are associated with related firm characteristics should be of interest to regulators and policy makers.
Potential patient harms from misinterpretation of publically reported surgical outcomes
Authors: Sathianathen Niranjan J. , Albersheim‐Carter Jacob , Labine Lucas , Watson Brett , Konety Badrinath R. , Weight Christopher J. 
Published: May 2018

ObjectiveTo determine how the general public interprets surgical complication rates presented from a publicly available online surgical‐rating website.Subjects and MethodsAn in‐person electronic survey was administered at the local State Fair to a convenience sample. Participants were presented with a representative output from an online surgeon‐rating website and were asked to choose from three statistically equivalent surgeons for a hypothetical medical decision. We then suggested that their insurance company would only cover one surgeon and probed their willingness to pay to switch surgeons for a small chance of lowering the risk of a complication (0.7%, 95% confidence interval [CI] −8.1% to 9.5%, P = 0.9). We quantified the characteristics of those willing to switch, the degree of misinterpretation, and the subsequent potential patient harms.ResultsThere were 343 completed responses. When presented with a hypothetical healthcare decision, most participants (n = 209, 61%) said they were willing to pay out‐of‐pocket expenses to switch to a statistically equivalent surgeon. Those who were willing to pay to switch surgeons were more likely to be older (odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.03), poorer (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.07–3.11), previously had cancer (OR 5.9, 95% CI 1.9–25), and misinterpreted the data (OR 3.03, 95% CI 1.87–4.96). Those who were willing to pay out‐of‐pocket expenses were more inaccurate in their estimation of surgeon complication rates (mean estimate 34.0% vs 8.9%, P < 0.001, correct rate = 3.6%), and on average were willing to pay $6 494 (95% CI 4 108–8 880).ConclusionUnderstanding of a publicly reported surgical‐complication website is often prone to misinterpretation by the general population and may lead to patient harm from a financial aspect.
Stability of the Gross Motor Function Classification System, Manual Ability Classification System, and Communication Function Classification System
Authors: Palisano Robert J , Avery Lisa , Gorter Jan Willem , Galuppi Barbara , McCoy Sarah Westcott 
Published: May 2018

AimTo determine the stability of the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), Manual Ability Classification System (MACS), and Communication Function Classification System (CFCS) over 1‐year and 2‐year intervals using a process for consensus classification between parents and therapists.MethodParticipants were 664 children with cerebral palsy (CP), 18 months to 12 years of age, one of their parents, and 90 therapists. Consensus between parents and therapists on level of function was ≥92% for the GMFCS, MACS, and CFCS. A linearly weighted kappa coefficient of ≥0.75 was the criterion for stability.ResultsKappa coefficients varied from 0.76 to 0.88 for the GMFCS, 0.59 to 0.73 for the MACS, and 0.57 to 0.77 for the CFCS. For children younger than 4 years of age, level of function did not change for 58.2% on the GMFCS, 30.3% on the MACS, and 39.3% on the CFCS. For children 4 years of age or older, level of function did not change for 72.3% on the GMFCS, 49.1% on the MACS, and 55% on the CFCS.InterpretationThe findings support repeated classification of children over time. The kappa coefficients for the GMFCS are attributed to descriptions of levels for each age band. Consensus classification facilitates discussion between parents and professionals that has implications for shared decision‐making.What this paper adds

The findings support repeated classification of children over time.

Stability was higher for the Gross Motor Function Classification System than the Manual Ability Classification System and Communication Function Classification System.

The function of younger children was more likely to be reclassified.

Percentage agreement between parents and therapists using consensus classification varied from 92% to 97%.

The intraclass correlation coefficient overestimated stability compared with the weighted kappa coefficient.
Clinical effectiveness of liraglutide vs basal insulin in a real‐world setting: Evidence of improved glycaemic and weight control in obese people with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Overbeek Jetty A. , Heintjes Edith M. , Huisman Eline L. , Tikkanen Christian K. , van Diermen Arnout W. , Penning‐van Beest Fernie J.A. , Herings Ron M.C. 
Published: May 2018

AimsTo compare real‐world antidiabetic treatment outcomes over 12 months in obese people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who previously received oral antidiabetic therapy and then initiated a first injectable therapy with liraglutide or basal insulin.Patients and methodsThis was a retrospective, propensity score‐matched, longitudinal cohort study using real‐world data (January 2010 to December 2015) from the Dutch PHARMO Database Network. Adult obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥35 kg/m2) patients with T2DM with ≥2 dispensing dates for liraglutide or basal insulin supported oral therapy (BOT) were selected. The primary endpoint was the change in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline during 12 months of follow‐up. The secondary endpoints were the changes in weight, BMI and cardiovascular risk factors from baseline. Clinical data were analysed using descriptive statistics and compared using mixed models for repeated measures.ResultsObese patients with T2DM (N = 1157) in each treatment group were matched (liraglutide cohort, n = 544; BOT cohort, n = 613). From 3 months onwards, glycaemic control improved in both cohorts but improved significantly more with liraglutide than with BOT (12 months: −12.2 mmol/mol vs −8.8 mmol/mol; P = .0053). In addition, weight and BMI were significantly lower for treatments with liraglutide vs BOT (12 months: −6.0 kg vs −1.6 kg and − 2.1 kg/m2 vs −0.5 kg/m2, respectively; P < .0001 for both). No significant differences were seen in changes in cardiovascular risk factors.ConclusionsThe results of this real‐world study in matched obese patients with T2DM showed that liraglutide was more effective than BOT for HbA1c control and weight/BMI reductions. Patients were more likely to maintain glycaemic control over time after initiating liraglutide than after initiating BOT.