The layer structure of kaolinite from Twiggs, Georgia and fire-clay type kaolinite (Frantex B, from France), particle size separates 2–0·2 μm was studied by high resolution electron microscopy after embedment in Spurr low-viscosity Epoxy media and thin sectioning normal to the (001) planes by an ultramicrotome. Images of the (001) planes (viewed edge-on) of both kaolinites were spaced at 7 Å and generally aligned in parallel, with occasional bending into more widely spaced images of about 10 Å interval. Some of the 10 Å images converged to 7 Å at one or both ends, forming ellipse-shaped islands 80 to 130 Å thick and 300 to 500 Å long. The island areas and interleaved 10 Å layers between 7 Å layers may represent a residue of incomplete weathering of mica to kaolinite.

The proportions of micaccous occlusions were too small and the layer sequences too irregular to be detected by X-ray diffraction. The lateral continuity of the layers through the 7-10-7 Å sequence in a kaolinite particle would partially interrupt or prevent expansion in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and other kaolinite intercalating media. Discrete mica particles were also observed with parallel images at 10 Å, as impurities in both kaolinites. The small K content of the chemical analyses of the kaolinite samples is accounted for as interlayer K, not only in discrete mica particles but also in the micaceous occlusions.

The aim of this review is to present the current options for cardiac output (CO) monitoring in children undergoing cardiac surgery. Current technologies for monitoring identified were a range of invasive, minimally invasive, and non-invasive technologies. These include pulmonary artery catheter, transoesophageal echocardiography, pulse contour analysis, electrical cardiography, and thoracic bioreactance. A literature search was conducted using evidence databases which identified two current guidelines; the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde guideline and Royal College of Anaesthetics Guideline. These were appraised using the AGREE II tool and the evidence identified was used to create an overview summary of each technological option for CO monitoring. There is limited evidence regarding the accuracy of modalities available for CO monitoring in paediatric patients during cardiac surgery. Each technology has advantages and disadvantages; however, none could be championed as the most beneficial. Furthermore, a gold standard for CO monitoring has not yet been identified for paediatric populations, nor is it apparent whether one modality is preferable based on the available evidence. Additional evidence using a standardised method for comparing CO measurements should be conducted in order to determine the best option for CO monitoring in paediatrics. Furthermore, cost-effectiveness assessment of each modality should be conducted. Only then will it be possible for clear, evidence-based guidance to be written.

This replication study was invited by the Editor in Chief of Management and Organization Review, Arie Y. Lewin. The original study by Judge, Fainshmidt, and Brown (2014) spanned the global financial crisis (2005–2010), and as such, this anomalous time period may not have been representative of most economies, or even the overall global economy. In this replication study we refine and extend Judge et al. (2014) which explored the provocative question – which form of capitalism works best in terms of ‘equitable wealth creation’? Similar to the earlier study, we find that there are multiple paths to macro-economic success. Notably, effective institutional configurations tend to combine high-quality regulatory institutions, effective skill development systems, and social cultures largely unaffected by corruption so there is some commonality amongst effective configurations. In contrast, ineffective institutional configurations tend to be relatively weak in one or several of these three critical sets of institutions. Importantly, we find some novel patterns emerging from the most recent data, including potentially new forms of capitalism associated with equitable wealth creation. In addition, we find that effective credit market institutions are more important, and collective bargaining institutions are less important than the original study suggested. We discuss implications for the comparative capitalism literature, policy makers, and the future of capitalism in the global economy.

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections remain highly prevalent. CT reinfection occurs frequently within months after treatment, likely contributing to sustaining the high CT infection prevalence. Sparse studies have suggested CT reinfection is associated with a lower organism load, but it is unclear whether CT load at the time of treatment influences CT reinfection risk. In this study, women presenting for treatment of a positive CT screening test were enrolled, treated and returned for 3- and 6-month follow-up visits. CT organism loads were quantified at each visit. We evaluated for an association of CT bacterial load at initial infection with reinfection risk and investigated factors influencing the CT load at baseline and follow-up in those with CT reinfection. We found no association of initial CT load with reinfection risk. We found a significant decrease in the median log10 CT load from baseline to follow-up in those with reinfection (5.6 CT/ml vs. 4.5 CT/ml; P = 0.015). Upon stratification of reinfected subjects based upon presence or absence of a history of CT infections prior to their infection at the baseline visit, we found a significant decline in the CT load from baseline to follow-up (5.7 CT/ml vs. 4.3 CT/ml; P = 0.021) exclusively in patients with a history of CT infections prior to our study. Our findings suggest repeated CT infections may lead to possible development of partial immunity against CT.

The mechanisms by which coatings develop on weathered grain surfaces, and their potential impact on rates of fluid-mineral interaction, have been investigated by examining feldspars from a 1.1 ky old soil in the Glen Feshie chronosequence, Scottish highlands. Using the focused ion beam technique, electron-transparent foils for characterization by transmission electron microscopy were cut from selected parts of grain surfaces. Some parts were bare whereas others had accumulations, a few micrometres thick, of weathering products, often mixed with mineral and microbial debris. Feldspar exposed at bare grain surfaces is crystalline throughout and so there is no evidence for the presence of the amorphous ‘leached layers’ that typically form in acid-dissolution experiments and have been described from some natural weathering contexts. The weathering products comprise sub-urn thick crystallites of an Fe-K aluminosilicate, probably smectite, that have grown within an amorphous and probably organic-rich matrix. There is also evidence for crystallization of clays having been mediated by fungal hyphae. Coatings formed within Glen Feshie soils after ∼1.1 ky are insufficiently continuous or impermeable to slow rates of fluid-feldspar reactions, but provide valuable insights into the complex weathering microenvironments on debris and microbe-covered mineral surfaces.

Childhood obesity rates are higher among Indigenous compared with non-Indigenous Australian children. It has been hypothesized that early-life influences beginning with the intrauterine environment predict the development of obesity in the offspring. The aim of this paper was to assess, in 227 mother–child dyads from the Gomeroi gaaynggal cohort, associations between prematurity, Gestation Related-Optimal Weight (GROW) centiles, maternal adiposity (percentage body fat, visceral fat area), maternal non-fasting plasma glucose levels (measured at mean gestational age of 23.1 weeks) and offspring BMI and adiposity (abdominal circumference, subscapular skinfold thickness) in early childhood (mean age 23.4 months). Maternal non-fasting plasma glucose concentrations were positively associated with infant birth weight (P=0.005) and GROW customized birth weight centiles (P=0.008). There was a significant association between maternal percentage body fat (P=0.02) and visceral fat area (P=0.00) with infant body weight in early childhood. Body mass index (BMI) in early childhood was significantly higher in offspring born preterm compared with those born at term (P=0.03). GROW customized birth weight centiles was significantly associated with body weight (P=0.01), BMI (P=0.007) and abdominal circumference (P=0.039) at early childhood. Our findings suggest that being born preterm, large for gestational age or exposed to an obesogenic intrauterine environment and higher maternal non-fasting plasma glucose concentrations are associated with increased obesity risk in early childhood. Future strategies should aim to reduce the prevalence of overweight/obesity in women of child-bearing age and emphasize the importance of optimal glycemia during pregnancy, particularly in Indigenous women.

In 2013, New York State mandated that, during influenza season, unvaccinated healthcare personnel (HCP) wear a surgical mask in areas where patients are typically present. We found that this mandate was associated with increased HCP vaccination and decreased HCP visits to the hospital Workforce Health and Safety Department with respiratory illnesses and laboratory-confirmed influenza.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:1361–1363

Introduction: Nova Scotia has a province wide reperfusion strategy for the treatment of patients presenting with acute ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Patients are referred for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) if a first medical contact to device time can be achieved within 90 to 120 minutes; otherwise, fibrinolytic therapy is administered, as per guideline recommendations. Since 2011, Nova Scotian paramedics have been providing prehospital fibrinolysis (PHF) and prehospital catheterization (cath) lab activation for STEMI patients outside and within the PPCI catchment area, respectively. Patients who received fibrinolysis are transferred to a PCI facility if rescue PCI is required or if there are other indications for urgent intervention. This province wide approach is unique and the objective of this retrospective cohort study is to compare the impact of this approach on the primary outcome of 30-day mortality. Methods: For the study period, July 2011 to July 2013, STEMI patients who were diagnosed prehospital or in the ED who subsequently underwent reperfusion therapy were identified in the Emergency Health Services (EHS), Cardiovascular Information Systems (CVIS) and Cardiovascular Health Nova Scotia (CVHNS) databases. Baseline demographics and outcomes were then compared according to the treatment received: 1) PHF; 2) ED Fibrinolysis (EDF); 3) prehospital activated PPCI (EHS PPCI); and 4) ED activated PPCI (ED PPCI). Results: There were a total of 1107 STEMI patients identified during the study period, of whom 742 received lytic therapy (146 PHF; 596 EDF) and 332 underwent PPCI (202 EHS PPCI; 130 ED PPCI). Demographic variables were similar across the groups. The primary outcome of 30-day mortality was not significantly different across groups: 5 (3%) in PHF, 26 (4%) in EDF, 8 (4%) in EHS to PPCI and 2 (2%) in ED to PPCI. The number of rescue PCIs was 28 (19%) in PHF and 102 (17%) in EDF. Other outcomes (key timestamps) are pending. Conclusion: Our results show that the 30-day mortality was lowest for patients undergoing PPCI and slightly less for patients receiving pre-hospital fibrinolytic compared to those receiving ED fibrinolytic with no difference in the proportion requiring subsequent rescue PCI. The majority of patients in rural areas received EDF as opposed to PHF; pending results will show if this represents a delay in patient presentation after symptom onset.