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We investigate parents' preferences for school attributes in a unique data set of survey, administrative, census and spatial data. Using a conditional logit, incorporating characteristics of households, schools and home–school distance, we show that most families have strong preferences for schools' academic performance. Parents also value schools' socio-economic composition and distance, which may limit the potential of school choice to improve academic standards. Most of the variation in preferences for school quality across socio-economic groups arises from differences in the quality of accessible schools rather than differences in parents' preferences, although more advantaged parents have stronger preferences for academic performance.

House mice are among the most widely distributed mammals in the world, and adversely affect a wide range of indigenous biota. Suppressing mouse populations, however, is difficult and expensive. Cost-effective suppression requires knowing how low to reduce mouse numbers to achieve biodiversity outcomes, but these targets are usually unknown or not based on evidence. We derived density-impact functions (DIFs) for mice and small indigenous fauna in a tussock grass/shrubland ecosystem. We related two indices of mouse abundance to five indices of indigenous lizard and invertebrate abundance measured inside and outside mammal-resistant fences. Eight of 22 DIFs were significantly non-linear, with positive responses of skinks (Oligosoma maccanni, O. polychroma) and ground wētā (Hemiandrus spp.) only where mice were not detected or scarce (< 5% footprint tunnel tracking rate or printing rate based on footprint density). Kōrero geckos (Woodworthia spp.) were rarely detected where mice were present. A further 9 DIFs were not differentiated from null models, but patterns were consistent with impacts at 5% mouse abundance. This study suggests that unless mouse control programmes commit to very low abundances, they risk little return for effort. Impact studies of invasive house mice are largely restricted to island ecosystems. Studies need to be extended to other ecosystems and species to confirm the universality or otherwise of these highly non-linear DIFs.

Background While benefiting from strong cultural ties to family, land and culture Native Americans residing on reservations experience psychological distress at rates 2.5 times that of the general population. Treatment utilization for psychological health in reservation-based communities is low with access to culturally appropriate care lacking. Evidence suggests that for mental health treatment, Native Americans prefer culturally informed care that respects Native perspectives on health and well-being. Methods To decrease stress and promote well-being in tribal Head Start teachers we adapted and implemented a culturally focused intervention within a community-based participatory research framework using mixed methods. Feasibility and acceptability of the adapted 5-session curriculum was tested in a single arm intervention study with a sample of 18 teachers on the Fort Peck Reservation. Participants completed surveys at baseline and upon completion of the intervention. Within session observations and two post-intervention focus groups ( n  = 8, n  = 10) were conducted to elaborate and explain the quantitative results eliciting participant experience of intervention effectiveness and feasibility, acceptably and appropriateness. Implementation outcomes were assessed quantitatively using the Acceptability of Intervention, Intervention Appropriateness, and Feasibility of Intervention measures. Results Quantitively, attendance rate overall was 93% with no dropouts. Pretest/posttest surveys were analyzed using t-tests and Hedges g to measure effect size. Contrary to our hypothesis, self-perceived stress showed a small positive effect size, indicating that participants were more stressed post intervention. However, depression decreased, with tribal identity and resilience showing positive effect sizes. Content analysis for the qualitative data collected within session observations and post intervention focus groups revealed how lifetime traumas were affecting participants, providing some explanation for the increase in stress. Teachers reported that the sessions helped their psychological health and well-being, supporting feasibility of future interventions. Acceptability scored highest with a mean (SD) of 4.25 (.84) out of 5, appropriateness 4.18 (.86) and feasibility 4.06 (.96) supporting intervention to be acceptable, appropriate, and feasible. Conclusion Utilizing a culturally based intervention to buffer stress and support the well-being of reservation-based teachers showed promise in helping them recognize their cultural strengths, stress, and need for ongoing support. Implementation outcomes show that intervention scale-out is feasible.

The prompt and accurate identification of bacterial pathogens is fundamental to patient health and outcome. Recent advances in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) have revolutionized bacterial identification in the clinical laboratory, but uniform incorporation of this technology in the U.S. market has been delayed by a lack of FDA-cleared systems. In this study, we conducted a multicenter evaluation of the MALDI Biotyper CA (MBT-CA) System (Bruker Daltonics Inc, Billerica, MA) for the identification of aerobic gram-negative bacteria as part of a 510(k) submission to the FDA. A total of 2,263 aerobic gram negative bacterial isolates were tested representing 23 genera and 61 species. Isolates were collected from various clinical sources and results obtained from the MBT-CA System were compared to DNA sequencing and/or biochemical testing. Isolates that failed to report as a \"high confidence species ID\" [log(score) ≥2.00] were re-tested using an extraction method. The MBT-CA System identified 96.8% and 3.1% of isolates with either a \"high confidence\" or a \"low confidence\" [log(score) value between 1.70 and <2.00] species ID, respectively. Two isolates did not produce acceptable confidence scores after extraction. The MBT-CA System correctly identified 99.8% (2,258/2,263) to genus and 98.2% (2,222/2,263) to species level. These data demonstrate that the MBT-CA System provides accurate results for the identification of aerobic gram-negative bacteria.

Objectives Meniscal damage is a recognised feature of knee osteoarthritis (OA), although its clinical relevance remains uncertain. This study describes vascular penetration and nerve growth in human menisci, providing a potential mechanism for the genesis of pain in knee OA. Methods Menisci obtained post mortem were screened on the basis of high or low macroscopic tibiofemoral chondropathy as a measure of the presence and degree of OA. Forty cases (20 per group) were selected for the study of meniscal vascularity, and 16 (eight per group) for the study of meniscal innervation. Antibodies directed against α-actin and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were used to localise blood vessels and nerves by histochemistry. Image analysis was used to compare vascular and nerve densities between groups. Data are presented as median (IQR). Results Menisci from knees with high chondropathy displayed degeneration of collagen bundles in their outer regions, which were more vascular than the inner regions, with an abrupt decrease in vascularity at the fibrocartilage junction. Vascular densities were increased in menisci from the high compared with low chondropathy group both in the synovium (3.8% (IQR 2.6–5.2), 2.0% (IQR 1.4–2.9), p=0.002) and at the fibrocartilage junction (2.3% (IQR 1.7–3.1), 1.1% (IQR 0.8–1.9), p=0.003), with a greater density of perivascular sensory nerve profiles in the outer region (high chondropathy group, 144 nerve profiles/mm2 (IQR 134–189); low chondropathy group, 119 nerve profiles/mm2 (IQR 104–144), p=0.049). Conclusion Tibiofemoral chondropathy is associated with altered matrix structure, increased vascular penetration, and increased sensory nerve densities in the medial meniscus. The authors suggest therefore that angiogenesis and associated sensory nerve growth in menisci may contribute to pain in knee OA.

The advent of mammal-resistant fences has allowed multi-species eradications of mammals from ecosanctuaries on the New Zealand mainland. However, maintaining eradication of house mice (Mus musculus) has proven difficult, and at some fenced reserves they are the only exotic mammal present and reach a high population density. Over 5 years we examined the impacts of mice alone on biodiversity at Sanctuary Mountain Maungatautari by comparing forest blocks with relatively high and low numbers of mice. We managed two independently fenced sites within the sanctuary to achieve high mouse numbers (up to 46 per hectare) at one site and undetectable mouse numbers at the second site. We then reversed these treatments by eradicating mice from the first site and allowing their numbers to increase at the second. We found strong evidence that mice reduced the abundance of ground-dwelling invertebrates, in particular caterpillars, spiders, weta, and beetles, and reduced the mean body size of some taxa. In addition, earthworm abundance, biomass and species richness increased with a decreasing mouse population in one study block. No significant impact of mice on land snails, seedlings or fungi was detected at Maungatautari. Overall, there is substantial biodiversity gain from eradicating the full suite of pest mammals other than mice. However, mice may be catastrophic in ecosanctuaries that focus on the recovery of invertebrates or lizards. We expect that mouse control tools will steadily improve so that in the future mice can be eradicated and excluded from forest reserves such as Maungatautari.

The alpine zone of New Zealand covers c. 30% of public conservation land and is home to a high diversity of endemic species. Predation by introduced stoats (Mustela erminea) is identified as a major threat to alpine fauna. However, a lack of biological information, such as what stoats eat in different settings, hinders efforts to focus control measures in time and space in order to achieve the greatest conservation gains. We used a biochemical tool, stable isotope analysis, to estimate stoat diet across three time-periods in the alpine zone of three national parks. We then assessed possible drivers of dietary variation that could lead to greater per capita consumption of native species by stoats. Our models indicate that mammal prey items formed the largest contribution to the metabolic requirements of stoats in long-term estimates (47–90%), but the mid-term (spring and summer) estimates show a greater reliance on insects. The estimated proportions of prey consumed did not differ with elevation, sex, or age, but were significantly different between sites and seasons. Both stoat and ship rat (Rattus rattus) abundance were significant in explaining the proportion of mammals consumed. Higher stoat trap-catch and an absence of ship rats at one site (Nelson Lakes National Park) coincided with a greater range of prey being regularly consumed by stoats; this was the only site to record substantial proportions of birds (26%) and skinks (33%) in stoat diet. Conservation managers should be aware of the potential for marked differences in per capita rates of consumption of threatened alpine species by stoats, possibly linked to differences in abundance of mammalian prey. While this study confirms that stable isotope analysis can be useful to assess the diet of stoats, further research is needed to determine specific isotope enrichment values and to confirm the accuracy of these results.

Background Pain, the primary complaint in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), is multifaceted, and may be driven by inflammatory disease activity and central sensitisation. We aimed to ascertain what proportion of RA pain severity is explained by markers of inflammation and quantitative sensory testing (QST) indices of central sensitisation. Methods This was a cross-sectional analysis of data from individuals with clinically active RA. Pain severity was assessed using numerical rating scales and inflammation via 28-joint Disease Activity Score (DAS28) and Ultrasound (Greyscale, Power Doppler). Pain sensitivity was assessed by ‘static’ (tibialis anterior or brachioradialis pressure pain detection threshold-PPT-TA/PPT-BR) and ‘dynamic’ (temporal summation-TS, conditioned pain modulation-CPM) QST. Bivariate associations used Spearman’s correlation coefficients, and multivariable linear regression models determined relative contributions to pain severity. Results In bivariate analyses of N  = 96 (age 65 ± 10y, 77% females) people with RA, pain severity was significantly associated with inflammation indices ( r  = 0.20 to 0.55), and CPM ( r =-0.26). In multivariable models that included TS, CPM, age, sex, and body mass index, inflammation indices remained significantly associated with pain severity. Multivariable models explained 22 to 27% of pain variance. Heterogeneity was apparent for associations with pain between subscores for pain now, strongest or average over the past 4-weeks. Conclusions In individuals with clinically active RA, markers of inflammatory disease activity best explain RA pain with only marginal contributions from QST indices of central sensitisation. Although inflammation plays a key role in the experience of RA pain, the greater proportion of pain severity remains unexplained by DAS28 and ultrasound indices of inflammation.