bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A Prenatal Coparenting Intervention With Unmarried Father–Mother Dyads: Fidelity of Intervention Delivery by Male–Female Community Mentor Teams
Authors: Salman-Engin Selin , Little Tara , Gaskin-Butler Vikki , McHale James P. 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACT

Background:
Most prenatal preventive interventions for unmarried mothers do not integrate fathers or help the parents plan for the development of a functional coparenting alliance after the baby’s arrival. Furthermore, properly trained professionals have only rarely examined the fidelity of these interventions.

Purpose:
This report examines whether experienced community interventionists (home visitors, health educators, fatherhood service personnel) with no formal couples’ therapy training are capable of pairing together to deliver with adequate fidelity a manualized dyadic intervention designed for expectant unmarried mothers and fathers.

Methods:
Three male and four female mentors (home visitors, health educators, fatherhood personnel) working in paired male–female co-mentor teams delivered a seven-session “Figuring It Out for the Child” curriculum (six prenatal sessions, one booster) to 14 multirisk, unmarried African American families (parent age ranging from 14 to 40). Parental well-being and views of fatherhood were assessed before the intervention and again 3 months after the baby’s birth. Quality assurance analysts evaluated mentor fidelity (adherence to the curriculum, competence in engaging couples with specified curricular content) through a review of the transcripts and audiotapes from the sessions. Mentors also rated their own adherence.

Results:
Although the mentors overestimated adherence, quality assurance analyst ratings found acceptable levels of adherence and competence, with no significant male–female differences in fidelity. Adherence and competence were marginally higher in sessions that required fewer direct couples’ interventions. Parents reported satisfaction with the interventions and showed statistically significant improvement in the family dimensions of interest at 3–4 months posttreatment.

Conclusions/Implications for Practice:
Findings support the wisdom of engaging men both as interventionists and as recipients of prenatal coparenting interventions—even in families where the parents are uncoupled and non-co-residential.
Repeatability and Reproducibility of Virtual Subjective Refraction
Authors: Perches Sara , Collados M. Victoria , Ares Jorge 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACT

Purpose
To establish the repeatability and reproducibility of a virtual refraction process using simulated retinal images.

Methods
With simulation software, aberrated images corresponding with each step of the refraction process were calculated following the typical protocol of conventional subjective refraction. Fifty external examiners judged simulated retinal images until the best sphero-cylindrical refraction and the best visual acuity were achieved starting from the aberrometry data of three patients. Data analyses were performed to assess repeatability and reproducibility of the virtual refraction as a function of pupil size and aberrometric profile of different patients.

Results
SD values achieved in three components of refraction (M, J0, and J45) are lower than 0.25D in repeatability analysis. Regarding reproducibility, we found SD values lower than 0.25D in the most cases. When the results of virtual refraction with different pupil diameters (4 and 6 mm) were compared, the mean of differences (MoD) obtained were not clinically significant (less than 0.25D). Only one of the aberrometry profiles with high uncorrected astigmatism shows poor results for the M component in reproducibility and pupil size dependence analysis. In all cases, vision achieved was better than 0 logMAR. A comparison between the compensation obtained with virtual and conventional subjective refraction was made as an example of this application, showing good quality retinal images in both processes.

Conclusions
The present study shows that virtual refraction has similar levels of precision as conventional subjective refraction. Moreover, virtual refraction has also shown that when high low order astigmatism is present, the refraction result is less precise and highly dependent on pupil size.
Breathlessness and inflammation: potential relationships and implications
Authors: Ryan Richella , Spathis Anna , Clow Angela , Booth Sara 
Published: July 2016

Purpose of review
Breathlessness and chronic inflammation both span a wide range of disease contexts and hold prognostic significance. The possibility of a causal relationship between the two has been hypothesized. The aims of this article are to review the intersections between breathlessness and inflammation in the literature, describe potential mechanisms connecting the two phenomena, and discuss the potential clinical implications of a causal relationship.

Recent findings
There is a very limited literature exploring the relationship between systemic inflammation and breathlessness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure, and cancer. One large study in cancer patients is suggestive of a weak association between self-reported breathlessness and inflammation. Studies exploring the relationship between inflammation and Medical Research Council Dyspnoea grade in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients have produced inconsistent findings. Although a causal relationship has not yet been proven, there is evidence to support the existence of potential mechanisms mediating a relationship. This evidence points to a role for the skeletal muscle and stress hormone systems.

Summary
There is much progress to be made in this area. Interventional studies, evaluating the impact of anti-inflammatory interventions on breathlessness, are needed to help determine whether a causal relationship exists. If proven, this relationship might have important implications for both the treatment and impact of breathlessness.
DISTRIBUTION OF THE ENDANGERED GIANT KANGAROO RAT,DIPODOMYS INGENS, ON THE NAVAL PETROLEUM RESERVES, CALIFORNIA
Authors: O’Farrell Thomas P. , Mathews Nancy E. , McCue Patrick M. , Kelly Mary S. 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACTBurrows of the endangered giant kangaroorat,Dipodomys ingens, were found on the U.S. Department of Energy’s Naval Petroleum Reserves in Kern County, California. The majority of burrows (63%) were found in areas of low relief (4.3 ± 0.5°, n=32) on valley floors but 28% were unexpectedly found on low relief areas (6.4 ± 0.8°, n=39) in the uplands. Burrows were not distributed in proportion to the arealextend of the soil series, but were concentrated in deep alluvial sandy loams. Well pads were the most frequently observed (73% of 211) humandisturbance in the vicinity of burrows, but they were the most distant (150± 61m, n=150). Dirt roads were observed closer to burrows (50 ± 10 m, n=28) but less frequently (4%). Only 8 burrows were found in the vicinity of proposed petroleum developments but no projects had to me modified to avoid negatively affecting the species.RESUMEN.—Madrigueras de las ratas canguro,Dipodomys ingens,a riesgo de extinsioń, fueron localizadas en el Departmento de Energía, Reservas Navales de Petroleo en el Condado de Kern, California. La mayoria de las madrigueras (63%) se encuentran en arias de bajo relieve (4.3 ± 0.5°, n=32) en valles, pero el 28% fueron inesperadamente localizadas en arias de bajo relieve (6.4 ± 0.8°, n=39) en terrenos elevados. Las madriguera no se distribuyen en proporcion de acuerdo a la variedad de terrenos, sino concentradas en las lomas aluviales arenosas. Los disturbios humanos observados con mas frecuencia (73% of 211) en la vecindad de las madrigueras son los almohadillas de pozos petroleros pero se encontran amayor distancia (150 ± 61m, n=150). Caminos de tierra fueron encontrados cerca de las madrigueras (50 ± 10m, n=28) pero con menos frecuenciz (4%). Unicamente ocho madrigueras fueron localizadas en la vecindad de los propuestos desarroyos petroleros pero ningun proyecto se debe modificar para evitar efectos negativos que pueden afectar a la especie.
Should tissue structure suppress or amplify selection to minimize cancer risk?
Authors: Hindersin Laura , Werner Benjamin , Dingli David , Traulsen Arne 
Published: July 2016

BackgroundIt has been frequently argued that tissues evolved to suppress the accumulation of growth enhancing cancer inducing mutations. A prominent example is the hierarchical structure of tissues with high cell turnover, where a small number of tissue specific stem cells produces a large number of specialised progeny during multiple differentiation steps. Another well known mechanism is the spatial organisation of stem cell populations and it is thought that this organisation suppresses fitness enhancing mutations. However, in small populations the suppression of advantageous mutations typically also implies an increased accumulation of deleterious mutations. Thus, it becomes an important question whether the suppression of potentially few advantageous mutations outweighs the combined effects of many deleterious mutations.ResultsWe argue that the distribution of mutant fitness effects, e.g. the probability to hit a strong driver compared to many deleterious mutations, is crucial for the optimal organisation of a cancer suppressing tissue architecture and should be taken into account in arguments for the evolution of such tissues.ConclusionWe show that for systems that are composed of few cells reflecting the typical organisation of a stem cell niche, amplification or suppression of selection can arise from subtle changes in the architecture. Moreover, we discuss special tissue structures that can suppress most types of non-neutral mutations simultaneously.
The evolution of no-cost resistance at sub-MIC concentrations of streptomycin inStreptomyces coelicolor
Authors: Westhoff Sanne , van Leeuwe Tim M. , Qachach Omar I. , Zhang Zheren , van Wezel Gilles P. , Rozen Daniel E. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractAt the high concentrations used in medicine, antibiotics exert strong selection on bacterial populations for the evolution of resistance. However, these lethal concentrations may not be representative of the concentrations bacteria face in soil, a recognition that has lead to questions of the role of antibiotics in soil environments as well as the dynamics of resistance evolution during sub-lethal challenge. Here we examine the evolution of resistance to sub-MIC concentrations of streptomycin in the filamentous soil bacteriumStreptomyces coelicolor. First, we show that spontaneous resistance to streptomycin causes an average fitness deficit of ~21% in the absence of drugs; however, these costs are eliminated at concentrations as low as 1/10 the MIC of susceptible strains. Using experimental evolution, we next show that resistance readily evolves at these non-lethal doses. More important,S. coelicolorresistance that evolves at sub-MIC streptomycin is cost-free. Whole-genome analyses reveal that sub-MIC evolved clones fix a distinct set of mutations to those isolated at high drug concentrations. Our results broaden the conditions under which resistance can evolve in nature and suggest that the long-term persistence of these strains is facilitated by the absence of pleiotropic fitness costs. Finally, our data cast doubt on arguments that low-concentration antibiotics in nature are signals, instead supporting models that resistance evolves in response to antibiotics used as weapons.
Single Cell Pluripotency Regulatory Networks
Authors: Stumpf Patrick S. , Ewing Rob , MacArthur Ben D. 
Published: July 2016

AbstractEmbryonic stem (ES) cells represent a popular model system for investigating development, tissue regeneration and repair. Although much is known about the molecular mechanisms that regulate the balance between self-renewal and lineage commitment in ES cells, the spatiotemporal integration of responsive signalling pathways with core transcriptional regulatory networks are complex and only partially understood. Moreover, measurements made on populations of cells reveal only average properties of the underlying regulatory networks, obscuring their fine detail. Here, we discuss the reconstruction of regulatory networks in individual cells using novel single cell transcriptomics and proteomics, in order to expand our understanding of the molecular basis of pluripotency, including the role of cell-cell variability within ES cell populations, and ways in which networks may be controlled in order to reliably manipulate cell behaviour.
The evolution of DNA methylation and its relationship to sociality in insects
Authors: Bewick Adam J. , Vogel Kevin J. , Moore Allen J. , Schmitz Robert J. 
Published: July 2016

ABSTRACTDNA methylation contributes to gene and transcriptional regulation in eukaryotes, and therefore has been hypothesized to facilitate the evolution of flexible traits such as sociality in insects. However, DNA methylation is sparsely studied in insects. Therefore, we documented patterns of DNA methylation across a wide diversity of insects. Furthermore, we tested the hypothesis that the DNA methylation system will be associated with presence/absence of sociality among insects. We also predicted that underlying enzymatic machinery is concordant with patterns of DNA methylation. We found DNA methylation to be widespread, detected in all orders examined except Diptera (flies). Whole genome bisulfite sequencing showed that orders differed in levels of DNA methylation. Hymenopteran (ants, bees, wasps and sawflies) had some of the lowest levels, including several potential losses. Blattodea (cockroaches) show all possible patterns, including a potential loss of DNA methylation in a eusocial species whereas solitary species had the highest levels. Phylogenetically corrected comparisons revealed no evidence that supports evolutionary dependency between sociality and DNA methylation. Species with DNA methylation do not always possess the typical enzymatic machinery. We identified a gene duplication event in the maintenance DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) that is shared by some hymenopteran, and paralogs have experienced divergent, non-neutral evolution. This diversity and non-neutral evolution of underlying machinery suggests alternative DNA methylation pathways may exist. Altogether, DNA methylation is highly variable in insects and is not a universal driver of social behavior. Future, functional studies are required to advance our understanding of DNA methylation in insects.
New Zealand ShakeOut exercise: lessons learned by schools
Authors: Tipler Karlene S. , Tarrant Ruth A. , Johnston David M. , Tuffin Keith F. 
Published: July 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to identify lessons learned by schools from their involvement in the 2012 New Zealand ShakeOut nationwide earthquake drill.Design/methodology/approach– The results from a survey conducted with 514 schools were collated to identify the emergency preparedness lessons learned by schools through their participation in the ShakeOut exercise.Findings– Key findings indicated that: schools were likely to do more than the minimum when presented with a range of specific emergency preparedness activities; drills for emergency events require specific achievement objectives to be identified in order to be most effective in preparing schools; and large-scale initiatives, such as the ShakeOut exercise, encourage schools and students to engage in emergency preparedness activities.Practical implications– Based on the findings, six recommendations are made to assist schools to develop effective emergency response procedures.Originality/value– The present study contributes to the ongoing efforts of emergency management practitioners and academics to enhance the efficacy of school-based preparedness activities and to, ultimately, increase overall community resilience.
Considering socio-cultural factors of disaster risk management
Authors: Kasdan David Oliver 
Published: July 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to explore the relationship between factors of socio-cultural contexts and disaster risk. Recent efforts by international organizations and research scholarship have emphasized that applying contextual understandings of human behavior can improve the effectiveness of disaster risk management (DRM).Design/methodology/approach– The research employs multiple correlation analysis to find significant relationships between two sources of socio-cultural data and the World Risk Index scores.Findings– There are interesting relationships between various measures of socio-cultural context and disaster risk, such as correlations with levels of individualism, self-expression, and secular-rational values.Research limitations/implications– While using the broadest sample available with the data sources, generalizations about the relationships must be tempered as inherently anecdotal and needing greater depth of study. The national level of analysis is controversial.Practical implications– Emergency managers can extend the knowledge about socio-cultural influences on disaster risk to tailor policy for effective practices.Social implications– Societies may recognize their behaviors as being conducive or obstructive to DRM based on their socio-cultural characteristics; governments may operationalize the findings into policy responses for more nuanced mitigation efforts.Originality/value– This research adds to the momentum for considering non-technical approaches to DRM and expands the potential for social science derived variables in DRM.
Learning from the past
Authors: Cheema Abdur Rehman , Mehmood Abid , Imran Muhammad 
Published: July 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to provide a historical analysis of the disaster management structure, policies and institutions in Pakistan between 1947 and 2005, and highlights the contemporary challenges in view of the learning from the past.Design/methodology/approach– The paper uses a historic-integrative case study approach to disaster management and risk reduction policy, planning and practice. Qualitative data were collected through purposive sampling and a case study design was adopted. A broad range of actors was recruited as research participants. In total, 22 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted in relation to this study in six different districts of Pakistan to achieve insight into the role of different institutions and stakeholders.Findings– Overall, the post-colonial flood-centric policy framework and fragmented responsibilities of different disaster management institutions show the lack of an effective institutional structure for disaster management and mitigation in Pakistan, particularly at the local level. Until the event of the 2005 earthquake, policies heavily relied on attaining immediate and short-term goals of response and relief while ignoring the long-term objectives of strategic planning for prevention and preparedness as well as capacity building and empowerment of local institutions and communities.Practical implications– The analysis explains, in part, why disaster planning and management needs to be given due attention in the developing countries at different policy scales (from local to national) especially in the face of limited resources, and what measures should be taken to improve effectiveness at different phases of the disaster management cycle.Originality/value– The paper advances the importance of a historical case study approach to disaster management and mitigation. The empirical work provides original research evidence about the approaches to dealing with disasters in Pakistan and thus enriches existing knowledge of disaster management policy and planning about the country.
Online consumers’ reactions to price decreases: Amazon’s Kindle 2 case
Authors: Lee Kyung Young , Jin Ying , Rhee Cheul , Yang Sung-Byung 
Published: July 2016

Purpose
– The purpose of this paper is to investigate how consumers respond to price changes by analyzing online product reviews (OPRs) posted on a product (Amazon’s Kindle 2), and to suggest several future research topics on online consumers’ reactions embedded in OPRs.

Design/methodology/approach
– An exploratory case study is conducted using OPRs added to the Kindle 2. By analyzing 6,714 OPRs, the authors examine how online consumers respond to two continual price decreases embedded in the observable (star rating and review depth) and implicit (positive and negative emotions) features of OPRs as well as how the number of OPRs per day has changed after two price drops.

Findings
– The authors found that all four features of OPRs (star rating, review depth, positive emotion, and negative emotion) and the number of OPRs per day had significantly changed after two price decreases for both long-term and short-term periods. In addition, online consumers’ reactions to price decreases in terms of these four features and the change in the number of OPRs per day were different between the first and the second price drops.

Research limitations/implications
– This study investigates online consumers’ reactions to price decreases only. Future research should investigate other cases where price changes under the dynamic pricing strategy in order to find the relationship between price increases/decreases and consumers’ reactions.

Practical implications
– This study implies that online merchants should consider consumer groups’ innovation adoption stages and make strategic decisions for price decreases to improve the sales of their products.

Originality/value
– While prior research involving the effects of price changes on consumers’ reactions has focussed on offline consumers, this is among the first attempts to address the long- and short-term reactions to price changes in terms of both the observable and implicit features of OPRs, and suggests that consumers’ reactions to price changes in OPRs are more complex.
Cultural and religiosity drivers and satisfaction outcomes of consumer perceived deception in online shopping
Authors: Agag Gomaa M. , El-Masry Ahmed A. 
Published: July 2016

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a model that focuses on the cultural and religiosity drivers and satisfaction outcomes of consumer perceptions about online retailers’ deceptive practices. It specifically investigates: the role of cultural orientation and religiosity in forming consumer ethical ideology; the link between the consumer’s ethical ideology and his/her perceptions regarding the deceptive practices of online retailers; and the effect of perceived deception on consumer satisfaction.Design/methodology/approach– The paper is based on a quantitative survey conducted among 468 Egyptian consumers aged 18 and above. These were measured on a five-point Likert scale. To test the hypothesized relationships among the constructs of the model, structural equation modelling was employed.Findings– The study confirmed that power distance, uncertainty avoidance, and religiosity are important in forming idealistic attitudes, while both individualism and masculinity lead to an egoistic attitude. Idealism was observed to have a positive association with consumer perceived deception, while egoism was found to negatively affect consumer perceived deception. Finally, it was revealed that the perceptions of consumer about the deceptive practices of online retailing decrease consumer satisfaction.Originality/value– This research puts together in a single model both antecedents and outcomes of the perceptions of consumer about the deceptive practices of online retailing; concurrently examines the role of cultural orientation, religiosity, and ethical ideology of the consumer in forming ethical attitudes and responses; focuses on the instrumental role of cultural characteristics on consumer ethical perceptions from the perspective of the individual, rather than the society as a whole; and provides useful examination of the effects of perceived deception on consumer satisfaction.