A principle shared by both economists and ecologists is that a diversified portfolio spreads risk, but this idea has little empirical support in the field of population biology. We found that ...population growth rates (recruits per spawner) and life-history diversity as measured by variation in freshwater and ocean residency were negatively correlated across short time periods (one to two generations), but positively correlated at longer time periods, in nine Bristol Bay sockeye salmon populations. Further, the relationship between variation in growth rate and life-history diversity was consistently negative. These findings strongly suggest that life-history diversity can both increase production and buffer population fluctuations, particularly over long time periods. Our findings provide new insights into the importance of biocomplexity beyond spatio-temporal aspects of populations, and suggest that maintaining diverse life-history portfolios of populations may be crucial for their resilience to unfavourable conditions like habitat loss and climate change.
Aims
To examine the effect of transformational leadership on early career nurses' intent to stay, job satisfaction and organizational commitment.
Background
Lack of leadership support is one of the ...top reasons staff nurses leave. Current studies reported mixed results about the impact of transformational leadership on key nurse outcomes. However, little is known whether leadership directly or indirectly affects satisfaction, organizational commitment and intent to stay.
Design
This study was a cross‐sectional study of nurses who had been licensed for 7·5‐8·5 years which was part of a 10‐year longitudinal panel design.
Methods
The analytic sample was 1037 nationally representative newly licensed Registered Nurses. Data were collected from January–March 2013. We used a probit model to model the relationship between transformational leadership and intent to stay, organizational commitment and job satisfaction.
Results
Transformational leadership did not have a significant impact on intent to stay and job satisfaction, but significantly associated with organizational commitment. Organizational commitment, job satisfaction, mentor support, promotional opportunities and age were positively associated with intent to stay, while ethnicity, non‐local job opportunities and work settings were negatively associated with intent to stay.
Conclusions
Transformational leadership had no direct relationship with intent to stay and job satisfaction and had a small direct positive effect on organizational commitment. Transformational leadership has potential to slow attrition and retain nurses by creating a positive work environment that supports nurses. Any improvement in job satisfaction and organizational commitment would positively increase the change in probability for intent to stay.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
We explore the transmission spectrum of the Neptune-class exoplanet GJ 436b, including the possibility that its atmospheric opacity is dominated by a variety of nonequilibrium chemical products. We ...also validate our transmission code by demonstrating close agreement with analytic models that use only Rayleigh scattering or water vapor opacity. We find broad disagreement with radius variations predicted by another published model. For GJ 436b, the relative coolness of the planet's atmosphere, along with its implied high metallicity, may make it dissimilar in character compared to 'hot Jupiters.' Some recent observational and modeling efforts suggest low relative abundances of H2O and CH4 present in GJ 436b's atmosphere, compared to calculations from equilibrium chemistry. We include these characteristics in our models and examine the effects of absorption from methane-derived higher-order hydrocarbons. To our knowledge, the effects of these nonequilibrium chemical products on the spectra of close-in giant planets have not previously been investigated. Significant absorption from HCN and C2H2 is found throughout the infrared, while C2H4 and C2H6 are less easily seen. We perform detailed simulations of James Webb Space Telescope observations, including all likely noise sources, and find that we will be able to constrain chemical abundance regimes from this planet's transmission spectrum. For instance, the width of the features at 1.5, 3.3, and 7 Delta *mm indicates the amount of HCN versus C2H2 present. The NIRSpec prism mode will be useful due to its large spectral range and the relatively large number of photo-electrons recorded per spectral resolution element. However, extremely bright host stars like GJ 436 may be better observed with a higher spectroscopic resolution mode in order to avoid detector saturation. We find that observations with the MIRI low-resolution spectrograph should also have high signal-to-noise in the 5-10 Delta *mm range due to the brightness of the star and the relatively low spectral resolution (R ~ 100) of this mode.
Splenic injuries are the most common cause of death in the setting of abdominal trauma among athletes. Splenic injuries are difficult to diagnose as patients often present with non-localizing ...symptoms. There are limited reports of splenic lacerations due to the blunt impact from a lacrosse ball. We present two teenagers who presented to the Emergency Department (ED) with left-sided abdominal pain after being struck by a lacrosse ball in the left flank. Abdominal computed tomography scans revealed grade III and grade IV splenic lacerations, respectively. Understanding risk factors, associated symptoms, and return to play precautions is essential for diagnosis, management and anticipatory guidance in these patients.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
A practical two-step quantitative clinical and electrophysiological assessment for the diagnosis and staging of diabetic neuropathy.
E L Feldman ,
M J Stevens ,
P K Thomas ,
M B Brown ,
N Canal and
D ...A Greene
Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 48109-0588.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE--Early diagnosis of distal symmetric sensorimotor polyneuropathy, a common complication of diabetes, may decrease
patient morbidity by allowing for potential therapeutic interventions. We have designed an outpatient program to facilitate
diagnosis of diabetic neuropathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS--Patients are initially administered a brief questionnaire and
screening examination, designated the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). Diabetic neuropathy is confirmed in
patients with a positive assessment by a quantitative neurological examination coupled with nerve conduction studies, designated
the Michigan Diabetic Neuropathy Score (MDNS). In this study, 56 outpatients with confirmed type I or II diabetes were administered
the standardized quantitative components required to diagnose and stage diabetic neuropathy according to the San Antonio Consensus
Statement (1) and the Mayo Clinic protocol (2). These same patients were then assessed with the MNSI and the MDNS. RESULTS--Of
29 patients with a clinical MNSI score > 2, 28 had neuropathy. Twenty-eight patients with an MDNS of > or = 7 had neuropathy,
while 21 non-neuropathic patients had a score < or = 6. Of 35 patients with diabetic neuropathy, 34 had > or = 2 abnormal
nerve conductions. Twenty-one normal patients and one patient with neuropathy had < or = 1 abnormal nerve conduction. CONCLUSIONS--The
results indicate that the MNSI is a good screening tool for diabetic neuropathy and that the MDNS coupled with nerve conductions
provides a simple means to confirm this diagnosis.
Background
E39, an HLA‐A2‐restricted, immunogenic peptide derived from the folate‐binding protein (FBP), is overexpressed in multiple malignancies. We conducted a phase I/IIa trial of the ...E39 + GM‐CSF vaccine with booster inoculations of either E39 or E39′ (an attenuated version of E39) to prevent recurrences in disease‐free endometrial and ovarian cancer patients(pts). Here, we present the final 24‐month landmark analysis.
Patients and methods
HLA‐A2 + patients receiving E39 + GM‐CSF were included in the vaccine group (VG), and HLA‐A2‐ pts (or HLA‐A2 + patients refusing vaccine) were followed as the control group (CG). VG group received 6 monthly inoculations as the primary vaccine series (PVS) and were randomized to receive either E39 or E39′ booster inoculations. Demographic, safety, immunologic, and disease‐free survival (DFS) data were collected and evaluated.
Results
Fifty‐one patients were enrolled; 29 in the VG and 22 in the CG. Fourteen patients received <1000 μg and 15 received 1000 μg of E39. There were no clinicopathologic differences between VG and CG or between dose groups. E39 was well tolerated. At the 24 months landmark, DFS was 55.5% (VG) vs 40.0% (CG), P = 0.339. Patients receiving 1000 μg and boosted patients also showed improved DFS (P < 0.03). DFS was improved in the 1000 μg group after treatment of primary disease (90.0% vs CG:42.9%, P = 0.007), but not in recurrent patients. In low‐FBP expressing patients, DFS was 100.0% (1000 μg), 50.0% (<1000 μg), and 25.0% (CG), P = 0.029.
Conclusions
This phase I/IIa trial reveals that E39 + GM‐CSF is safe and may be effective in preventing recurrence in high‐risk ovarian and endometrial cancer when optimally dosed (1000 μg) to FBP low patients being treated for primary disease.
The folate binding protein derived E39 peptide vaccine is safe, and may improve disease‐free survival in clinically disease‐free ovarian and endometrial cancer patients, especially in those with primary disease and low FBP expression. These results will help determine the population of further studies of E39, and subgroup analyses have broader implications for peptide vaccines.
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FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
In parallel with the multi-messenger revolution, major advances in time-domain astronomy across multiple science disciplines relevant to astrophysics are becoming more urgent to address. Aside from ...electromagnetic observations of gravitational wave events and explosive counterparts, there are a number of “classical” astrophysical areas that require new thinking for proper exploration in the time domain. How NASA, NSF, ESA, and ESO consider the 2020 USA Decadal Survey within the astronomy community, as well as the worldwide call to support and expand time domain and multi-messenger astrophysics, it is crucial that all areas of astrophysics, including stellar, galactic, Solar System, and exoplanetary science participate in the discussion, and that it not be made into an exclusive preserve of cosmological, high-energy, explosive and transient science. Time domain astronomy is used to explore many aspects of astrophysics–particularly concerning ground- and space-based mission science goals of exploring how the Universe works, understanding how did we get here, and are we alone. Time domain studies are already built into the core operations of many currently operating and future space telescopes (e.g., Roman, PLATO) as well as current and planned large areal ground-based surveys (e.g., Rubin). Time-domain observations designed for one scientific purpose, also lead to great discoveries in many other science areas. The recent advent of user-friendly hardware, software, observational approaches, and online data infrastructure has also helped make time domain observations especially suitable and appealing for citizen science projects. We provide a review of the current state of TDAMM alerts and observational protocols, revealing a wide array of software and applications, much of which is incompatible. Any conversation regarding TDAMM astrophysics should include all aspects of the field, including those aspects seen as classical applications.
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