bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of rickets on growth and morbidity during recovery among children with complicated severe acute malnutrition in Kenya: A cohort study
Authors: Ngari Moses M. , Thitiri Johnstone , Mwalekwa Laura , Timbwa Molline , Iversen Per Ole , Fegan Greg W. , Berkley James A. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe effects of rickets on children recovery from severe acute malnutrition (SAM) are unknown. Rickets may affect both growth and susceptibility to infectious diseases. We investigated the associations of clinically diagnosed rickets with life‐threatening events and anthropometric recovery during 1 year following inpatient treatment for complicated SAM. This was a secondary analysis of clinical trial data among non‐human immunodeficiency virus‐infected Kenyan children with complicated SAM (2–59 months) followed for 1 year posthospital discharge (ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT00934492). The outcomes were mortality, hospital readmissions, and growth during 12 months. The main exposure was clinically diagnosed rickets at baseline. Of 1,778 children recruited, 230 (12.9%, 95% CI [11.4, 14 .6]) had clinical signs of rickets at baseline. Enrolment at an urban site, height‐for‐age and head circumference‐for‐age z scores were associated with rickets. Rickets at study enrolment was associated with increased mortality (adjusted Hazard Ratio [aHR] 1.61, 95% CI [1.14, 2.27]), any readmission (aHR 1.37, 95% CI [1.09, 1.72]), readmission for severe pneumonia (aHR 1.37, 95% CI [1.05, 1.79]), but not readmission with diarrhoea (aHR 1.05, 95% CI [0.73, 1.51]). Rickets was associated with increased height gain (centimetres), adjusted regression coefficient 0.19 (95% CI [0.10, 0.28]), but not changes in head circumference, mid‐upper arm circumference, or weight. Rickets was common among children with SAM at urban sites and associated with increased risks of severe pneumonia and death. Increased height gain may have resulted from vitamin D and calcium treatment. Future work should explore possibility of other concurrent micronutrient deficiencies and optimal treatment of rickets in this high‐risk population.
Workplace bullying and burnout among healthcare employees: The moderating effect of control‐related resources
Authors: Livne Yael , Goussinsky Ruhama 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWorkplace bullying is a widespread and challenging problem in healthcare organizations, bearing negative consequences for individuals and organizations. Drawing on the job demands–resources theory, in this study, we examined the relationship between workplace bullying and burnout among healthcare employees, as well as the moderating role of job autonomy and occupational self‐efficacy in this relationship. Using a cross‐sectional design with anonymous questionnaires, data were collected from two samples of 309 healthcare employees in a mental health facility, and 105 nurses studying for their bachelor degree in health systems administration. The findings indicated that workplace bullying was positively related to burnout dimensions, and that this relationship was moderated by job autonomy and occupational self‐efficacy resources. Job autonomy interacted with workplace bullying in predicting emotional exhaustion and depersonalization; the interaction of bullying with occupational self‐efficacy significantly predicted depersonalization. These results underscore the importance of control‐related resources in mitigating the harmful effects of workplace bullying on employees. Implications for research and managerial practices are discussed.
Optimization analysis of the factors affecting the soil arching effect between landslide stabilizing piles
Authors: He Guo‐Feng , Li Zhi‐Guang , Yuan Ying , Li Xue‐Hua , Hu Long‐Hu , Zhang Yun 
Published: November 2017

AbstractTo enhance the effective control of landslides, it is important for practitioners to consider the effectiveness of soil arching. The aim of this paper is to analyze the order of importance of the factors that affect the soil arching effect and determine their optimal combination for the design of landslide stabilizing piles. First a plane‐strain finite element model was established to investigate the soil arching effect. Then, the orthogonal test method was used to perform a multilevel analysis. The results show that for one row of piles, the top three factors are uniform load, pile spacing, and interfacial strength parameters, while for two rows of piles, the top three are pile spacing, Poisson's ratio, and row spacing. At last, the optimal combination is determined. The proposed method represents a new and effective approach to determine the major and minor factors and their optimal combination, which can reduce costs and contribute to the control of landslides.Summary for Managers
It is efficiency to use orthogonal method. The orthogonal test is used to reduce the number of trials in the case of a variety of factors and a variety of levels of tests. This method requires fewer experiments to achieve the same results as comprehensive experiments.
The PLAXIS finite element software is used to simulate the arching effect in soil mass. PLAXIS is a finite element calculation program for the analysis of deformation and stability of geotechnical engineering.
The importance order is determined by computing the range value, and the optimal combination is determined by comparing the sum of all combinations’ index value.
New trace fossil evidence for eurypterid swimming behaviour
Authors: Vrazo Matthew B. , Ciurca Samuel J. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractWe describe a recently discovered trace fossil from a eurypterid Konservat‐Lagerstätte in the upper Silurian Tonoloway Formation of Pennsylvania, and formally describe contemporaneous traces from the Williamsville Formation Lagerstätte of Ontario. The traces from both localities are assigned here to Arcuites bertiensis igen. et isp. nov. Based on comparisons with previously described eurypterid trackways, neoichnological experiments, and the co‐occurrence with eurypterid remains, Arcuites is interpreted as having been made by the swimming leg (sixth prosomal appendage) of swimming juvenile to adult eurypteroid eurypterids, and represents the first unambiguous trace fossil evidence for eurypterid swimming behaviour. The morphology of Arcuites indicates that eurypteroid eurypterids swam using drag‐based rowing, whereby the animal propelled itself forward by moving its oar blade‐like swimming paddles in an in‐phase backstroke. Arcuites morphology also indicates that the eurypteroid swimming appendage had a greater degree of movement than was previously suggested, and a revised rowing model is proposed. Differences in the abundance of A. bertiensis in the Tonoloway and Williamsville formations suggest a bathymetric control on eurypterid swimming behaviour and trace production. The association of Arcuites with eurypterid body fossils in both units indicates that these Lagerstätten were autochthonous assemblages and provides additional evidence for eurypterid inhabitation of shallow subtidal marine environments in the late Silurian.
Plant organ senescence – regulation by manifold pathways
Authors: Wojciechowska N. , Sobieszczuk‐Nowicka E. , Bagniewska‐Zadworna A. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractSenescence is the final stage of plant ontogeny before death. Senescence may occur naturally because of age or may be induced by various endogenous and exogenous factors. Despite its destructive character, senescence is a precisely controlled process that follows a well‐defined order. It is often inseparable from programmed cell death (PCD), and a correlation between these processes has been confirmed during the senescence of leaves and petals. Despite suggestions that senescence and PCD are two separate processes, with PCD occurring after senescence, cell death responsible for senescence is accompanied by numerous changes at the cytological, physiological and molecular levels, similar to other types of PCD. Independent of the plant organ analysed, these changes are focused on initiating the processes of cellular structural degradation via fluctuations in phytohormone levels and the activation of specific genes. Cellular structural degradation is genetically programmed and dependent on autophagy. Phytohormones/plant regulators are heavily involved in regulating the senescence of plant organs and can either promote [ethylene, abscisic acid (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), and polyamines (PAs)] or inhibit [cytokinins (CKs)] this process. Auxins and carbohydrates have been assigned a dual role in the regulation of senescence, and can both inhibit and stimulate the senescence process. In this review, we introduce the basic pathways that regulate senescence in plants and identify mechanisms involved in controlling senescence in ephemeral plant organs. Moreover, we demonstrate a universal nature of this process in different plant organs; despite this process occurring in organs that have completely different functions, it is very similar. Progress in this area is providing opportunities to revisit how, when and which way senescence is coordinated or decoupled by plant regulators in different organs and will provide a powerful tool for plant physiology research.
When Does Government Listen to the Public? Voluntary Associations and Dynamic Agenda Representation in the United States
Authors: Bevan Shaun , Rasmussen Anne 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThe aim of the article is to examine how the population size of voluntary associations affects the process through which the public's issue priorities are translated into policy priorities. We conduct a time series analysis of political attention in executive and legislative agendas at the U.S. federal level in the period 1971–2001, covering all issues addressed by the U.S. government. We show that the number of voluntary associations in a policy area has a positive conditioning effect on the link between public priorities and attention for the president's State of the Union Address. However, our results do not find a positive effect for voluntary associations at later stages of the policy cycle, which experience a higher degree of institutional friction. The findings underline the importance of distinguishing between different stages of policymaking when considering the impact of voluntary associations on dynamic agenda responsiveness.
Unions, Parties, and the Politics of State Government Legacy Cost
Authors: DiSalvo Daniel , Kucik Jeffrey 
Published: November 2017

AbstractMany American state governments have made extensive promises to pay for employees’ health care and other benefits in retirement. Currently estimated at over $1 trillion in unfunded liabilities, these other postemployment benefits (OPEB) are creating a major fiscal problem for state governments. In this article, we examine the politics of OPEB. We seek to explain the variation in the generosity of OPEB across U.S. states. We argue that party competition theories do not adequately explain the outcomes we observe. Instead, we draw on the emerging Schattschneiderian approach to the politics of public policy to show that public union strength conditions a party's incentives to represent unions’ interests. In states where public sector unions are strong, unions can find their way into either party's coalition. We find that Republicans are more responsive to public union interests than either their ideological brand or prior research would suggest. It is only in states where public employees are weak that Republicans can act unilaterally and enact their preference for less government spending. To test our theories, we carry out an empirical analysis using a newly assembled data set of per capita OPEB liabilities across 49 states.
State Agencies’ Use of Administrative Data for Improved Practice: Needs, Challenges, and Opportunities
Authors: Allard Scott W. , Wiegand Emily R. , Schlecht Colleen , Datta A. Rupa , Goerge Robert M. , Weigensberg Elizabeth 
Published: November 2017

AbstractGrowing interest in the use of administrative data to answer questions around program implementation and effectiveness has led to greater discussion of how government agencies can develop the necessary internal data infrastructure, analytic capacity, and office culture. However, there is a need for more systematic research into how states find different pathways and strategies to build administrative data capacity. Drawing on interviews with almost 100 human service agency staff and their data partners, the authors examine the realities of administrative data use. They summarize the experiences of data users in order to address two main challenges: limited analytic capacity and challenges to linking or sharing data resources. The article concludes by examining a range of approaches that government agencies take to improve data quality and capacity to analyze that data.
Bridging the gap for future clinician‐educators
Authors: Dilly Christen K , Carlos W Graham , Hoffmann‐Longtin Krista , Buckley John , Burgner Anna 
Published: November 2017

SummaryBackgroundIn contrast to the training required in the UK, opportunities for medical education training in the USA are limited. Resident‐as‐teacher programmes are typically insufficient to prepare trainees to be successful clinician‐educators, but few pursue formal education degrees. We sought to assess the need for, and feasibility of, a training pathway for subspecialty fellows in a large Department of Medicine that would prepare our trainees to become effective educators.
MethodsQuantitative and qualitative methods were used. Previous fellowship applicants and current programme directors were surveyed to determine the potential benefits of the programme. A pilot programme was conducted with fellows interested in education to determine the feasibility of the programme. Pilot participants were interviewed regarding the benefits that they gained from the pilot and the logistical challenges that they experienced.In contrast to the training required in the UK, opportunities for medical education training in the USA are limitedResultsFive highly ranked fellows would have scored our programmes higher if we offered this training pathway. Pilot participants and fellowship programme directors agreed that there is a compelling need for such a training pathway. A number of themes arose from the interviews that enabled us to build the framework for a strong programme.DiscussionOur findings suggest that a clinician‐educator training pathway that draws from multiple subspecialties has the potential to improve recruitment, provide needed career counselling and skills development to trainees, and to build a community of educators that will benefit the institution. Important insights from pilot participant interviews will inform the programme design, in order to keep trainees engaged and overcome logistical challenges.
Deceased organ donor screening for human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus: Discordant serology and nucleic acid testing results
Authors: Theodoropoulos Nicole , Nowicki Marek J. , Chinchilla‐Reyes Claudia , Dionne Sara , Jaramillo Andrés , Mone Tom , Hasz Richard , Jendrisak Martin D. , Ladner Daniela P. , Ison Michael G. 
Published: November 2017

AbstractBackgroundBefore the 2014 policy change pertaining to infectious disease screening, many organ procurement organizations (OPOs) were supplementing serologic screening of deceased organ donors with nucleic acid testing (NAT) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV‐1), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus (HCV). The number of seronegative, NAT‐positive donors has not been directly measured.MethodsHIV, HBV, and HCV screening results of 11 229 donor referrals evaluated from 2010 to 2013 were obtained from 3 OPO‐affiliated laboratories, capturing 35% of all donors in the United States. Laboratories used either polymerase chain reaction assay or transcription‐mediated amplification assay to test 9643 deceased donors by NAT.ResultsThe NAT results were positive in 21 (0.2%), 1 (0.02%), and 11 (0.1%) donors who were seronegative for HIV, HBV, and HCV, respectively. All discordant HIV‐1 results were from one laboratory using a polymrease chain reaction assay. Thirteen of the reactive HIV NAT results in seronegative referrals were repeated and were non‐reproducibly positive (NRP). Ten (0.1%), 452 (7.8%), and 197 (2.2%) of HIV‐, HBV‐, and HCV‐seropositive donors, respectively, were negative by NAT.ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of robust quality assurance to minimize NRP NAT results. NAT may allow for increased utilization of organs from HBV‐ and HCV‐seropositive, NAT‐negative donors.
Structural breaks, dynamic correlations, and hedge and safe havens for stock and foreign exchange markets in Greater China
Authors: Dong Xiyong , Yoon Seong‐Min 
Published: November 2017

AbstractThis study investigates the dynamic relationship and hedging strategy between stock and foreign exchange markets in Greater China for the period 22 July 2005 to 30 November 2015. Using the DCC‐GARCH model with and without structural breaks, the results provide strong evidence of negative time‐varying correlations between these two markets in Greater China, consistent with the “stock‐oriented” models of exchange rates. Moreover, adding structural breaks reduces the degree of volatility persistence for all considered markets and can provide more accurate hedge and safe haven properties of the US dollar against Greater China stock markets. The findings have several important implications for portfolio risk managers, international investors and policymakers.
Hypoxia‐induced intestinal barrier changes in balloon‐assisted enteroscopy
Authors: Lee Tsung‐Chun , Huang Yi‐Chen , Lu Yen‐Zhen , Yeh Yu‐Chang , Yu Linda Chia‐Hui 
Published: November 2017

Key points
Balloon‐assisted enteroscopy (BAE) is an emerging standard procedure by utilizing distensible balloons to facilitate deep endoscopy in the small and large intestine. Sporadic cases of bacteraemia were found after BAE.
Balloon distension by BAE caused gut tissue hypoxia. The impact of balloon distension‐induced hypoxia on intestinal barriers remains unclear.
Murine models of BAE by colonic balloon distension showed that short‐ and long‐term hypoxia evoked opposite effects on epithelial tight junctions (TJs). Short‐term hypoxia fortified TJ integrity, whereas long‐term hypoxia caused damage to barrier function.
Our data showed for the first time the molecular mechanisms and signalling pathways of epithelial barrier fortification and TJ reorganization by short‐term hypoxia for the maintenance of gut homeostasis.
The findings suggest avoiding prolonged balloon distension during BAE to reduce the risk of hypoxia‐induced gut barrier dysfunction.
AbstractBalloon‐assisted enteroscopy (BAE) is an emerging standard procedure that uses distensible balloons to facilitate deep endoscopy. Intestines are known to harbour an abundant microflora. Whether balloon distension causes perturbation of blood flow and gut barrier dysfunction, and elicits risk of bacterial translocation remains unknown. Our aims were to (1) conduct a prospective study to gather microbiological and molecular evidence of bacterial translocation by BAE in patients, (2) establish a murine model of colonic balloon distension to investigate tissue hypoxia and intestinal barrier, and (3) assess the effect of short‐ and long‐term hypoxia on epithelial permeability using cell lines. Thirteen patients were enrolled for BAE procedures, and blood samples were obtained before and after BAE for paired comparison. Four of the 13 patients (30.8%) had positive bacterial DNA in blood after BAE. Post‐BAE endotoxaemia was higher than the pre‐BAE level. Nevertheless, no clinical symptom of sepsis or fever was reported. To mimic clinical BAE, mice were subjected to colonic balloon distension. Local tissue hypoxia was observed during balloon inflation, and reoxygenation after deflation. A trend of increased gut permeability was seen after long‐term distension, whereas a significant reduction of permeability was observed by short‐term distension in the proximal colon. Human colonic epithelial Caco‐2 cells exposed to hypoxia for 5–20 min exhibited increased tight junctional assembly, while those exposed to longer hypoxia displayed barrier disruption. In conclusion, sporadic cases of bacteraemia were found after BAE, without septic symptoms. Short‐term hypoxia by balloon distension yielded a protective effect whereas long‐term hypoxia caused damage to the gut barrier.
Azithromycin Pharmacodynamics against Persistent Haemophilus influenzae in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Authors: Tsuji Brian T. , Fisher James , Boadi-Yeboah Raheal , Holden Patricia N. , Sethi Sanjay , Pettigrew Melinda M. , Murphy Timothy F. 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACT

The pharmacodynamic profile of azithromycin against persistent strains of nontypeable
Haemophilus influenzae
(NTHi) from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients was characterized. Azithromycin displayed differential concentration-dependent activities (
R
2
≥ 0.988); the pharmacodynamic response was attenuated when we compared the “first” and “last” strains of NTHi that persisted in the airways of the same patient for 819 days (the 50% effective concentration [EC
50
] increased more than 50 times [0.0821 mg/liter versus 4.23 mg/liter]). In the hollow-fiber infection model, NTHi viability was maintained throughout simulated azithromycin (Zithromax) Z-Pak regimens over 10 days.
Increasing Antimicrobial Resistance in Nontyphoidal Salmonella Isolates in Australia from 1979 to 2015
Authors: Williamson Deborah A. , Lane Courtney R. , Easton Marion , Valcanis Mary , Strachan Janet , Veitch Mark G. , Kirk Martyn D. , Howden Benjamin P. 
Published: November 2017

ABSTRACT

Australia has high and increasing rates of salmonellosis. To date, the serovar distribution and associated antimicrobial resistance (AMR) patterns of nontyphoidal
Salmonella enterica
(NTS) in Australia have not been assessed. Such information provides critical knowledge about AMR in the food chain and informs decisions about public health. We reviewed longitudinal data on NTS in two Australian states over a 37-year period, between 1979 and 2015, and antimicrobial resistance since 1984. Overall, 17% of isolates were nonsusceptible to at least one antimicrobial, 4.9% were nonsusceptible to ciprofloxacin, and 0.6% were nonsusceptible to cefotaxime. In total, 2.5% of isolates were from invasive infections, with no significant difference in AMR profiles between invasive and noninvasive isolates. Most isolates with clinically relevant AMR profiles were associated with travel, particularly to Southeast Asia, with multiple “incursions” of virulent and resistant clones into Australia. Our findings represent the largest longitudinal surveillance system for NTS in Australia and provide valuable public health knowledge on the trends and distribution of AMR in NTS. Ongoing surveillance is critical to identify local emergence of resistant isolates.