bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A ‘movement for improvement’? A qualitative study of the adoption of social movement strategies in the implementation of a quality improvement campaign
Authors: Waring Justin , Crompton Amanda 
Published: June 2017

AbstractGiven the difficulties of implementing ‘top‐down’ quality improvements, health service leaders have turned to methods that empower clinicians to co‐produce ‘bottom‐up’ improvements. This has involved the adoption of strategies and activities associated with social movements, with clinicians encouraged to participate in collective action towards the shared goal of improvement. This paper examines the adoption of social movement methods by hospital managers as a strategy for implementing a quality improvement ‘campaign’. Our case study suggests that, despite the claim of empowering clinicians to develop ‘bottom‐up’ improvements, the use of social movement methods can be more narrowly concerned with engaging clinicians in pre‐determined programmes of ‘top‐down’ change. It finds a prominent role for ‘hybrid’ clinical leaders and other staff representatives in the mobilisation of the campaign, especially for enrolling clinicians in change activities. The work of these ‘hybrids’ suggests some degree of creative mediation between clinical and managerial interests, but more often alignment with the aspirations of management. The study raises questions about the translation of social movement's theories as a strategy for managing change and re‐inventing professionalism.
The Psychology of Billing
Authors: Hansen Victoria J. , Jackson Scott B. , Schaefer Tammie J. , Stewart Bryan W. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractContracting between tax entities and tax professionals occurs millions of times every year, yet little is known about the nature of these economic interactions. This study examines the effect of commonly occurring contextual factors on tax professionals’ billing decisions for tax research. These contextual factors are unrelated to the tax research itself and the time it takes to conduct the tax research, but we find that billing decisions are strongly influenced by the three non‐time‐related contextual factors that we manipulate. Initial client volume impacts amounts billed for tax research, with lower initial client volume resulting in higher per client fees. Further, we find that initial billing decisions serve as value billing benchmarks for unanticipated subsequent clients who benefit from research conducted for initial clients. As a result, subsequent clients are billed higher fees when they follow a smaller number of initial clients. We also find that client referrals are billed higher fees than nonclient referrals because professionals attempt to avoid making initial clients feel as though they have been treated unfairly relative to subsequent clients who would otherwise be billed lower fees. The results of this study are relevant beyond the traditional confines of accounting research—they are relevant to the millions of tax entities that contract with tax professionals each year.
Effects of plant quality and ant defence on herbivory rates in a neotropical ant‐plant
Authors: MENDES GISELE M. , CORNELISSEN TATIANA G. 
Published: June 2017

1. Understanding the degree to which populations and communities are limited by both bottom‐up and top‐down effects is still a major challenge for ecologists, and manipulation of plant quality, for example, can alter herbivory rates in plants. In addition, biotic defence by ants can directly influence the populations of herbivores, as demonstrated by increased rates of herbivory or increased herbivore density after ant exclusion. The aim of this study was to evaluate bottom‐up and top‐down effects on herbivory rates in a mutualistic ant‐plant.2. In this study, the role ofAzteca alfariants as biotic defence in individuals ofCecropia pachystachyawas investigated experimentally with a simultaneous manipulation of both bottom‐up (fertilisation) and top‐down (ant exclusion) factors. Four treatments were used in a fully factorial design, with 15 replicates for each treatment: (i) control plants, without manipulation; (ii) fertilised plants, ants not manipulated; (iii) unfertilised plants and excluded ants and (iv) fertilised plants and ants excluded.3. Fertilisation increased the availability of foliar nitrogen inC. pachystachya, and herbivory rates by chewing insects were significantly higher in fertilised plants with ants excluded.4. Herbivory, however, was more influenced by bottom‐up effects – such as the quality of the host plant – than by top‐down effects caused by ants as biotic defences, reinforcing the crucial role of leaf nutritional quality for herbivory levels experienced by plants. Conditionality in ant defence under increased nutritional quality of leaves through fertilisation might explain increased levels of herbivory in plants with higher leaf nitrogen.
Competition, student sorting and performance gains in local education markets: The Dutch secondary sector
Authors: Cabus Sofie , Cornelisz Ilja 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis article empirically examines the implications of competition among Dutch secondary schools: (1) regarding the sorting of students by performance levels in schools at the begiining of secondary education; and (2) regarding performance gains in the secondary school career, controlling for the aforementioned sorting patterns. We used data from about 13,000 students enrolled at 102 school locations in The Netherlands. Using differences in the distribution of competition intensity across local education markets, we applied Kernel estimation techniques to match students from relatively high‐ to low‐competitive markets on the basis of student and household characteristics. Our results indicate that, with increasing competition, relatively more schools target the group of high‐achieving students. As a result, schools will arguably have to enrol more ‘students at the margin’ to ensure sufficient enrolment rates. To conclude, we observed that, accounting for sorting patterns, competition was related to small negligible improvements in academic achievement at the bottom of the distribution of student performance within the first three years of secondary education. Furthermore, a negative result for competition was found for categorical academic classrooms settings.
The distribution of skills among the European adult population and unemployment: A comparative approach
Authors: Calero Jorge , Choi Álvaro 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe most painful effect of the Great Recession in European countries has been the surge in unemployment rates during a period that has been characterised by an increase in income inequality and the heterogeneous pattern of this inequality by educational level. Thus, workers with low levels of educational attainment were among the first to lose their jobs. This article addresses two main research questions: first, it estimates the importance of the level of skills and education on the probability of being unemployed, disentangling the extent of the effects of human capital and signalling theories of education; and, second, it provides evidence of the impact of inequalities in the previous socioeconomic and cultural background of individuals on the probability of being unemployed. These two objectives are assessed using data for 24 jurisdictions that participated in the first round of the OECD's Programme for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies (PIAAC). Skill levels play a central role in explaining unemployment in Europe and act as an indirect channel via which a family's sociocultural background has an impact on its labour market status. Combining the results of alternative models, we identify those European labour markets that are most sensitive to human capital.
Aligning pedagogy with physical learning spaces
Authors: van Merriënboer Jeroen J. G. , McKenney Susan , Cullinan Dominic , Heuer Jos 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThe quality of education suffers when pedagogies are not aligned with physical learning spaces. For example, the architecture of the triple‐decker Victorian schools across England fits the information transmission model that was dominant in the industrial age, but makes it more difficult to implement student‐centred pedagogies that better fit a modern knowledge society. Yet, very little is known about how to reach powerful alignment of pedagogies and physical learning spaces. This article aims to fill this gap by describing a participatory design process to help to realise physical spaces and school buildings that optimally support specific visions of learning and pedagogy. Three phases are distinguished in this design process: (1) specifying the pedagogy, (2) aligning the pedagogy with seating arrangements and physical learning spaces, and (3) realising the school building. Particular attention is given to the core tasks relating to pedagogy (phases one and two), and especially the second phase, in which school management, teachers and students on the one hand, and architects and interior designers on the other must collaborate in a participatory design process. Illustrations are given from two schools, UCL Academy in London, UK, and De Werkplaats Kindergemeenschap in Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
Chemical, nutritional and phenolic composition of wheatgrass and pulse shoots
Authors: Ghumman Atinder , Singh Narpinder , Kaur Amritpal 
Published: June 2017

SummaryChemical, nutritional and antiradical properties of juice and shoot powder from wheatgrass and pulses were evaluated. Wheatgrass powder (WP) showed higher radical scavenging capacity, ash and chlorophyll content and lower protein content as compared to pulse powder (PP). Wheatgrass (WJP) juice powder had significantly higher K and Mg content as compared to pulse juice powder (PJP). Powders with relatively higher K and Mg content had higher radical scavenging capacity and chlorophyll content. Vanillic acid was present only in free form in both WP and PP. Luteolin was equally distributed in acid‐ and base‐bound form; sinapic acid was higher in base‐bound fraction; and protocatechuic acid was higher in acid‐bound form in both the sources. Positive correlations were found between radical scavenging capacity and ferulic acid and sinapic acid, whereas radical scavenging capacity was negatively correlated with gallic acid and p‐coumaric acid. WJP had higher glutamic acid, histidine, threonine, citrulline, arginine, gamma‐amino butyric acid (GABA) and leucine as compared to PJP. The present study highlights the nutritional benefits of wheatgrass juice.
Immunogenicity of protein aggregates of a monoclonal antibody generated by forced shaking stress with siliconized and nonsiliconized syringes in BALB/c mice
Authors: Uchino Tomonobu , Miyazaki Yasunori , Yamazaki Takuto , Kagawa Yoshiyuki 
Published: June 2017

Abstract

Objective
In this study, we aimed to investigate the immunogenicity of protein aggregates of monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), generated by forced shaking stress with siliconized and nonsiliconized syringes in a mouse model.

Methods
Samples were filled in siliconized and nonsiliconized syringes with shaking and headspace air. Characterization studies were performed using high-performance size-exclusion chromatography, nanoparticle tracking analysis, flow cytometry, micro-flow imaging and resonant mass measurement. The samples (10 or 100 μg) were subcutaneously injected into BALB/c mice for 21 days, and the anti-drug antibody (ADA) concentrations were monitored.

Key findings
In samples shaken with siliconized syringes [SO (+)], large amounts of submicron and subvisible protein aggregates were formed by interactions with silicone oil droplets. The characteristics of protein aggregates differed between the mAb solution and shaken samples, which strongly indicates that silicone oil accelerates protein aggregation. When administered at low doses, the ADA concentration in all samples increased with repeated injections, and SO (+) induced the highest immunogenicity. However, when administered at high doses, ADA concentration decreased following prolonged repeated administration for tolerance.

Conclusions
These results indicated that mAb protein aggregation induced immunogenicity in mice, and SO (+) induced higher immunogenicity than samples shaken with nonsiliconized syringe.
Hepatocellular carcinoma in South America: Evaluation of risk factors, demographics and therapy
Authors: Debes Jose D. , Chan Aaron J. , Balderramo Domingo , Kikuchi Luciana , Gonzalez Ballerga Esteban , Prieto Jhon E. , Tapias Monica , Idrovo Victor , Davalos Milagros B. , Cairo Fernando , Barreyro Fernando J. , Paredes Sebastian , Hernandez Nelia , Avendaño Karla , Diaz Ferrer Javier , Yang Ju Dong , Carrera Enrique , Garcia Jairo A. , Mattos Angelo Z. , Hirsch Bruno S. , Gonçalves Pablo T. , Carrilho Flair J. , Roberts Lewis R. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractBackground & AimsHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second leading cause of cancer‐related death worldwide. Most studies addressing the epidemiology of HCC originate from developed countries. This study reports the preliminary findings of a multinational approach to characterize HCC in South America.MethodsWe evaluated 1336 HCC patients seen at 14 centres in six South American countries using a retrospective study design with participating centres completing a template chart of patient characteristics. The diagnosis of HCC was made radiographically or histologically for all cases according to institutional standards. Methodology of surveillance for each centre was following AASLD or EASL recommendations.ResultsSixty‐eight percent of individuals were male with a median age of 64 years at time of diagnosis. The most common risk factor for HCC was hepatitis C infection (HCV, 48%), followed by alcoholic cirrhosis (22%), Hepatitis B infection (HBV, 14%) and NAFLD (9%). We found that among individuals with HBV‐related HCC, 38% were diagnosed before age 50. The most commonly provided therapy was transarterial chemoembolization (35% of HCCs) with few individuals being considered for liver transplant (<20%). Only 47% of HCCs were diagnosed during surveillance, and there was no difference in age of diagnosis between those diagnosed incidentally vs by surveillance. Nonetheless, being diagnosed during surveillance was associated with improved overall survival (P = .01).ConclusionsOur study represents the largest cohort to date reporting characteristics and outcomes of HCC across South America. We found an important number of HCCs diagnosed outside of surveillance programmes, with associated increased mortality in those patients.
Determination of metabolic resistance mechanisms in pyrethroid‐resistant and fipronil‐tolerant brown dog ticks
Authors: EIDEN A. L. , KAUFMAN P. E. , OI F. M. , DARK M. J. , BLOOMQUIST J. R. , MILLER R. J. 
Published: June 2017

AbstractRhipicephalus sanguineus (Latreille) (Ixodida: Ixodidae) is a three‐host dog tick found worldwide that is able to complete its' entire lifecycle indoors. Options for the management of R. sanguineus are limited and its' control relies largely on only a few acaricidal active ingredients. Previous studies have confirmed permethrin resistance and fipronil tolerance in R. sanguineus populations, commonly conferred by metabolic detoxification or target site mutations. Herein, five strains of permethrin‐resistant and three strains of fipronil‐tolerant ticks were evaluated for metabolic resistance using synergists to block metabolic enzymes. Synergist studies were completed with triphenyl phosphate (TPP) for esterase inhibition, piperonyl butoxide (PBO) for cytochrome P450 inhibition, and diethyl maleate (DEM) for glutathione‐S‐transferase inhibition. Additionally, increased esterase activity was confirmed using gel electrophoresis. The most important metabolic detoxification mechanism in permethrin‐resistant ticks was increased esterase activity, followed by increased cytochrome P450 activity. The inhibition of metabolic enzymes did not have a marked impact on fipronil‐tolerant tick strains.
Targeted mutagenesis in tetraploid switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) using CRISPR/Cas9
Authors: Liu Yang , Merrick Paul , Zhang Zhengzhi , Ji Chonghui , Yang Bing , Fei Shui‐zhang 
Published: June 2017

SummaryThe CRISPR/Cas9 system has become a powerful tool for targeted mutagenesis. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) is a high yielding perennial grass species that has been designated as a model biomass crop by the U.S. Department of Energy. The self‐infertility and high ploidy level make it difficult to study gene function or improve germplasm. To overcome these constraints, we explored the feasibility of using CRISPR/Cas9 for targeted mutagenesis in a tetraploid cultivar ‘Alamo’ switchgrass. We first developed a transient assay by which a non‐functional green‐fluorescent protein gene containing a 1‐bp frameshift insertion in its 5′ coding region was successfully mutated by a Cas9/sgRNA complex resulting in its restored function. Agrobacterium‐mediated stable transformation of embryogenic calli derived from mature caryopses averaged a 3.0% transformation efficiency targeting the genes of teosinte branched 1(tb1)a and b and phosphoglycerate mutase (PGM). With a single construct containing two sgRNAs targeting different regions of tb1a and tb1b genes, primary transformants (T0) containing CRISPR/Cas9‐induced mutations were obtained at frequencies of 95.5% (tb1a) and 11% (tb1b), respectively, with T0 mutants exhibiting increased tiller production. Meanwhile, a mutation frequency of 13.7% was obtained for the PGM gene with a CRISPR/Cas9 construct containing a single sgRNA. Among the PGM T0 mutants, six are heterozygous and one is homozygous for a 1‐bp deletion in the target region with no apparent phenotypical alterations. We show that CRISPR/Cas9 system can generate targeted mutagenesis effectively and obtain targeted homozygous mutants in T0 generation in switchgrass, circumventing the need of inbreeding.
Epstein‐Barr viral loads do not predict post‐transplant lymphoproliferative disorder in pediatric lung transplant recipients: A multicenter prospective cohort study
Authors: Parrish Andrew , Fenchel Matthew , Storch Gregory A. , Buller Richard , Mason Sheila , Williams Nikki , Ikle David , Conrad Carol , Faro Albert , Goldfarb Samuel , Hayes Don , Melicoff‐Portillo Ernestina , Schecter Marc , Visner Gary , Sweet Stuart , Danziger‐Isakov Lara ,   the Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation in Children (CTOTC‐03)
Published: June 2017

AbstractPrediction of PTLD after pediatric lung transplant remains difficult. Use of EBV VL in WB has been poorly predictive, while measurement of VL in BAL fluid has been suggested to have enhanced utility. The NIH‐sponsored Clinical Trials in Organ Transplantation in Children (CTOTC‐03) prospectively obtained serial quantitative measurements of EBV PCR in both WB and BAL fluid after pediatric lung transplantation. Descriptive statistics, contingency analyses, and Kaplan‐Meier analyses evaluated possible association between EBV and PTLD. Of 61 patients, 34 (56%) had an EBV+PCR (at least once in WB or BAL). EBV donor (D)+patients more often had a positive PCR (D+/recipient (R)−: 13/18; D+/R+: 14/23) compared to EBV D‐ patients (6/17). Several D−/R− (5/12) patients developed EBV, but none developed PTLD. All four PTLD patients were D+/R− with EBV+PCR. Neither the time to first EBV+PCR nor the CT for PCR positivity in BAL or WB was statistically different between those with and without PTLD. Having an EBV‐seropositive donor was associated with increased risk of EBV+PCR in WB. EBV load in BAL was not predictive of PTLD.
Impact of Macroeconomic Announcements on Foreign Exchange Volatility: Evidence from South Africa
Authors: Maserumule Tseke , Alagidede Paul 
Published: June 2017

AbstractThis study focuses on scheduled macroeconomic news announcements and evaluates their impact on the volatility of the South African rand (ZAR) and US dollar (USD) exchange rate using high frequency data. The following asymmetries are studied: news items by geographical location, no‐news vs. surprise news announcements and positive vs. negative news announcements. We make the following findings in our empirical study: (i) After the release of a news announcement, the level of foreign exchange volatility rises. This is independent of whether the news item surprised the market or not. (ii) Both South African and US news items significantly impact USD/ZAR volatility, suggesting that the news items are being used to formulate investor expectations regarding the future prospects of the currency pair. (iii) Negative news appears to have a greater impact on exchange rate volatility relative to positive news. This result is also state dependent, as investors tend to behave differently to news depending on the economic climate at that point in time. Investor cognitive biases give rise to the asymmetric news effects on exchange rate volatility. Finally, investors do not always act in rational manner, especially when faced with multiple news items that are contradictory to each other.
Changes in the inspiratory pattern contribute to modulate the sympathetic activity in sino‐aortic denervated rats
Authors: Amorim Mateus R. , Bonagamba Leni G. H. , Souza George M. P. R. , Moraes Davi J. A. , Machado Benedito H. 
Published: June 2017

New Findings
What is the central question of this study?
Sino‐aortic denervated (SAD) rats present normal levels of sympathetic activity and mean arterial pressure. However, neural mechanisms regulating the sympathetic activity in the absence of arterial baroreceptors remain unclear. Considering that respiration modulates the sympathetic activity, we hypothesize that changes in the respiratory network contribute to keep the sympathetic outflow in the normal range after removal of arterial baroreceptors.

What is the main finding and its importance?
Despite longer inspiration observed in SAD rats, the respiratory–sympathetic coupling is working within a normal range of variation. These findings suggest that in the absence of arterial baroreceptors the respiratory modulation of sympathetic activity is maintained within the normal range.

The activity of presympathetic neurons is under respiratory modulation, and changes in the central respiratory network may impact on the baseline sympathetic activity and mean arterial pressure. It is well known that after removal of baroreceptor afferents [sino‐aortic denervation (SAD)], rats present an unexpected normal level of mean arterial pressure. We hypothesized that changes in the respiratory pattern and in the respiratory modulation of the sympathetic activity contribute to keep the sympathetic outflow within a normal range of variation in the absence of arterial baroreceptors in rats. To study these mechanisms, we recorded perfusion pressure and the activities of phrenic and thoracic sympathetic nerves in male juvenile rats using the working heart–brainstem preparation. The time of inspiration significantly increased in SAD rats, and this change was not dependent on the carotid bodies or on the vagal afferents. However, no changes were observed in the perfusion pressure or in the baseline thoracic sympathetic nerves in all phases of the respiratory cycle in SAD rats. Our data show that despite longer inspiratory activity, the baseline sympathetic activity is maintained at a normal level in SAD rats. These findings indicate that the respiratory–sympathetic coupling is normal after SAD and suggest that the respiratory modulation of sympathetic activity is maintained within the normal range after the removal of arterial baroreceptors.