bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct determination and differentiation of carbapenemases of A. baumannii from uncultured tracheal samples
Authors: Swathi CH. , Sukanya S. , Lakshmi V. , Ratnakar K.S. , Sritharan V.
Published: June 2018

The emergence of multiple carbapenemases and the consequent multi drug resistance in bacteria constitute a grave concern in the management of critical care patients and also in community acquired infections. Detection of carbapenamase activity helps to understand the possible mechanism(s) of carbapenem resistance in the microorganism. Identification of carbapenemases is currently being done by various phenotypic methods and molecular methods. However, innovative biochemical and spectrophotometric methods are desirable as they will be easy to perform, affordable and rapid. Recently a novel chromogenic method called CarbaNP test was introduced to screen for carbapenemases in clinical isolates of gram negative pathogens. We adopted this assay: (i) to detect the total carbapenemase activity (ii) to measure the relative rates of hydrolysis of imipenem by class A, B and D carbapenemases with inhibitors (iii) to confirm the genotype by PCR and (iv)for direct differential detection of various carbapenemases in uncultured clinical sample like tracheal aspirate. The study included 75 culture isolates and 153 purulent tracheal aspirates. All isolates were screened by our optimized protocol and also genotyped by PCR. This adopted assay showed good sensitivity and correlation with conventional phenotyping and genotyping. Our protocol offers the fastest way to identify the pathogen by PCR but also its carbapenemase profile directly from uncultured clinical samples in less than 4h. Our protocol is currently being validated on other types of clinical specimens in our laboratory.
Metastable brain waves
Authors: Roberts James A. , Gollo Leonardo L. , Abeysuriya Romesh , Roberts Gloria , Mitchell Philip B. , Woolrich Mark W. , Breakspear Michael
Published: June 2018

Traveling patterns of neuronal activity – brain waves – have been observed across a breadth of neuronal recordings, states of awareness, and species, but their emergence in the human brain lacks a firm understanding. Here, we analyze the complex nonlinear dynamics that emerge from modeling large-scale spontaneous neural activity on a whole-brain network derived from human tractography. We find a rich array of three-dimensional wave patterns, including traveling waves, spiral waves, sources, and sinks. These patterns are metastable, such that multiple spatiotemporal wave patterns are visited in sequence. Transitions between states correspond to reconfigurations of underlying phase flows, characterized by nonlinear instabilities. These metastable dynamics accord with empirical data from multiple imaging modalities, including electrical waves in cortical tissue, sequential spatiotemporal patterns in resting-state MEG data, and large-scale waves in human electrocorticography. By moving the study of functional networks from a spatially static to an inherently dynamic (wave-like) frame, our work unifies apparently diverse phenomena across functional neuroimaging modalities and makes specific predictions for further experimentation.
Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 M and HA segments sequences from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Authors: Matias F. , Kretzmann N.A. , Bisognin C.Z. , Teixeira K.P. , Corrêa L.T. , Vieira P.I. , Ikuta N. , Gregianini T.S. , da Veiga A.B.G , d’Azevedo P.A.
Published: June 2018

The influenza virus is one of the most critical viruses in epidemiology. The 2009 pandemic was caused by a reassortment of the human–avian–swine virus with eight RNA segments responsible for all virus proteins. Segment 7 codifies for matrix proteins M1 and M2. These proteins exhibited low mutation rate because the matrix is fundamental for virion encapsidation and ion channel formation. However, hemagglutinin (HA) segment 4 is one of the most important segments for virulence and hence, is more studied. Brazil had many influenza virus infection cases just before 2009 and from 2011 to 2015, particularly in the Rio Grande do Sul (RS) State. Two hundred samples obtained during the pandemic were used for amplification and sequencing of the viral genome; a total of 19 M and 17 HA amplified segments were sequenced. Sequencing of the M fragment showed that RS has a virus origin different from that in Eastern Asia, Western Europe, USA, and Central America (Mexico and Nicaragua). All the sequences showed amantadine resistance (S31N) and one was out of the phylogenetic tree (Brazil/RS-3335/2009) due to high mutation rate. RS-3335 was the only sample obtained from a patient who died. Many migratory birds that flock to RS are from Europe, Asia, and USA, which could explain this rate of mutation. Insertions and deletions were found in the M1 protein in these samples. The HA sequences showed worldwide spread and less diversity than the M sequences in this study. The most divergent sample was Brazil/RS-3093/2009 that showed mutations in the sialic acid ligation site.
TheC. difficile clnRABoperon initiates adaptations to the host environment in response to LL-37
Authors: Woods Emily C. , Edwards Adrianne N. , McBride Shonna M.
Published: June 2018

To cause disease,Clostridioides(Clostridium)difficilemust resist killing by innate immune effectors in the intestine, including the host antimicrobial peptide, cathelicidin (LL-37). The mechanisms that enableC. difficileto adapt to the intestine in the presence of antimicrobial peptides are unknown. Expression analyses revealed an operon,CD630_16170-CD630_16190(clnRAB), which is highly induced by LL-37 and is not expressed in response to other cell-surface active antimicrobials. This operon encodes a predicted transcriptional regulator (clnR) and an ABC transporter system (clnAB), all of which are required for function. Analyses of aclnRmutant indicate that ClnR is a pleiotropic regulator that directly binds to LL-37 and controls expression of numerous genes, including many involved in metabolism, cellular transport, signaling, gene regulation, and pathogenesis. The data suggest that ClnRAB is a novel regulatory mechanism that senses LL-37 as a host signal and regulates gene expression to adapt to the host intestinal environment during infection.

Author Summary

C. difficileis a major nosocomial pathogen that causes severe diarrheal disease. ThoughC. difficileis known to inhabit the human gastrointestinal tract, the mechanisms that allow this pathogen to adapt to the intestine and survive host defenses are not known. In this work, we investigated the response ofC. difficileto the host defense peptide, LL-37, to determine the mechanisms underlying host adaptation and survival. Expression analyses revealed a previously unknown locus, which we namedclnRAB, that is highly induced by LL-37 and acts as a global regulator of gene expression inC. difficile. Mutant analyses indicate that ClnRAB is a novel regulatory system that senses LL-37 as a host signal to regulate adaptation to the intestinal environment.
Histone Acetyltransferase KAT2A Stabilises Pluripotency with Control of Transcriptional Heterogeneity
Authors: Moris Naomi , Edri Shlomit , Seyres Denis , Kulkarni Rashmi , Domingues Ana Filipa , Balayo Tina , Frontini Mattia , Pina Cristina
Published: June 2018

Cell fate transitions in mammalian stem cell systems have often been associated with transcriptional heterogeneity, however existing data have failed to establish a functional or mechanistic link between the two phenomena. Experiments in unicellular organisms support the notion that transcriptional heterogeneity can be used to facilitate adaptability to environmental changes and have identified conserved chromatin-associated factors that modulate levels of transcriptional noise. Herein, we show destabilisation of pluripotency-associated gene regulatory networks through increased transcriptional heterogeneity of mouse embryonic stem cells in which paradigmatic histone acetyl-transferase, and candidate noise modulator, Kat2a (yeast orthologue Gcn5) has been inhibited. Functionally, network destabilisation associates with reduced pluripotency and accelerated mesendodermal differentiation, with increased probability of transitions into lineage commitment. Thus, we functionally link transcriptional heterogeneity to cell fate transitions through manipulation of the histone acetylation landscape of mouse embryonic stem cells and establish a general paradigm that could be exploited in other normal and malignant stem cell fate transitions.
Distinct roles and requirements forRaspathway signaling in visceral versus somatic muscle founder specification
Authors: Zhou Yiyun , Popadowski Sarah E. , Deustchman Emily , Halfon Marc S.
Published: June 2018

Pleiotropic signaling pathways must somehow engender specific cellular responses. In theDrosophilamesoderm,Raspathway signaling specifies muscle founder cells from among the broader population of myoblasts. For somatic muscles, this is an inductive process mediated by the ETS-domain downstream Ras effectors Pointed and Aop (Yan). We demonstrate here that for the circular visceral muscles, despite superficial similarities, a significantly different specification mechanism is at work. Not only is visceral founder cell specification not dependent on Pointed or Aop, butRaspathway signaling in its entirety can be bypassed. Our results show that de-repression, not activation, is the predominant role ofRassignaling in the visceral mesoderm and that accordingly,Rassignaling is not required in the absence of repression. The key repressor acts downstream of the transcription factor Lameduck and is likely a member of the ETS transcription factor family. Our findings fit with a growing body of data that point to a complex interplay between theRaspathway, ETS transcription factors, and enhancer binding as a critical mechanism for determining unique responses toRassignaling.

A fundamentally different mechanism is shown for howRassignaling governs cell fate specification in theDrosophilasomatic versus visceral mesoderms, providing insight into how signaling specificity is achieved.
Mediating the role of work engagement between personal resources (self-efficacy, the big five model) and nurses’ job performance
Authors: Bhatti Muhammad Awais , Alshagawi Mohammed , Syah Juhari Ariff
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the mediating role of work engagement (vigor and dedication) between personal resources (self-efficacy and Big Five model) and job performance (task and contextual) rated by supervisor.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 364 nurses and their supervisors was used. Structural equation modeling with Amos-17 was used to obtain model fit with path significance of work engagement as mediator between personal resources and job performance.

Findings

The results found support for the proposed conceptual claim and confirm that work engagement with the two-factor model (vigor and dedication) mediates the relationship between personal resources (self-efficacy and Big five model) and with multidimensional construct of job performance (task and contextual performance) rated by the supervisor.

Originality/value

Past researches have never tested the two-factor model of work engagement (vigor and dedication) as mediating variable between personal resources (self-efficacy and big five model) and job performance rated by the supervisor.
Gender, academic abilities and postsecondary educational choices
Authors: Vaarmets Tarvo
Published: June 2018

Purpose

Gender inequalities in higher education have attracted interest in the academic literature. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

The author uses standardized high school final exam results and probit regression analysis to contribute to this highly important discussion.

Findings

Based on secondary, non-survey data, female students tend to outperform males in subjects requiring creativity. Consistent with this comparative advantage, female students also tend to be more affected by their abilities in choosing and preferring the related field of humanities as a higher education. In line with female students’ choices, the results presented in the paper confirm that men are more inclined toward exact and natural sciences, even though they do not prove to have stronger abilities in related subjects. In addition, men are also more influenced by their abilities in obtaining a professional higher education. The choice of social sciences is quite similarly affected by the academic abilities of men and women. The paper also provides evidence that, on average, individuals choose their field of study according to their academic abilities.

Originality/value

For evidence, a data set that makes it possible to relate quantitative measures of very different academic abilities to all major academic disciplines is used in the paper. This unique approach has so far been lacking in the literature due to data limitations. In other words, instead of concentrating on a specific area, such as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), the author takes a broader view.
Municipal solid waste management in Kitwe City
Authors: Mwanza Bupe Getrude , Mbohwa Charles , Telukdarie Arnesh
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to review the present municipal solid wastes (MSWs) management system, from an engineering management (EM) perspective, for the City of Kitwe while proposing a levers-driven sustainable municipal solid waste management (MSWM) model focussing on improving waste management (WM).

Design/methodology/approach

The research work involves four stages. First, a comprehensive review of literature is conducted on MSWM. Second, structured interviews are conducted with key experts in solid waste management in the City of Kitwe in order to enhance the knowledge inputs. Third, direct observations and an interview with a WM driver are conducted in order to understand; the collection, disposal and treatment options for MSWs. Lastly, a sustainable model for managing MSWs is proposed

Findings

The research findings indicate that the existing MSW system for the city is highly unsustainable and lacks EM methodologies. There are still a number of challenges in the management of MSWs which include: lack of proper collection and storage of MSWs; lack of an engineered landfill; lack of waste recovery and treatment systems; and lack of public education aimed at reducing and separating MSWs.

Practical implications

A correct and detailed database for waste generation, collection, treatment and disposal is needed for the City of Kitwe. The system is necessary for WM resources allocation as well as for planning sustainable WM projects. The proposed model has been developed based on the actual observations, data collection and analysis.

Originality/value

The research identifies a gap in the management of MSWs for the City of Kitwe. This work is original as no similar MSW model has been proposed globally and specific for a developing economy such as Africa.
Terminal values for firms with growth opportunities: explaining valuation and IPO price behavior
Authors: Miller Tom W.
Published: June 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to use fundamental models incorporating structural relationships within the firm in a terminal value model for the second stage of a two-stage valuation model utilized to estimate the value of a company.

Design/methodology/approach

The innovation is that growth options are identified within the structural relationships and a model capturing the value of the optionality is incorporated in the second stage of the two-stage valuation model.

Findings

Significant outcomes are that terminal value is shown to be a large portion of a company’s total value and the price behavior for initial public offerings produced by the model is consistent with the result of empirical studies.

Originality/value

This paper explicitly incorporates growth options in the second stage of a two-stage valuation model for the firm.
Structural insight into molecular mechanism of cytokinin activating protein from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1
Authors: Seo Hogyun , Kim Kyung‐Jin
Published: June 2018

Cytokinin (CK)‐activating enzyme, called LOG, is a phosphoribohydrolase that hydrolyzes nucleotides into nucleobases and phosphoriboses. This reaction is a fascinating target for regulation of cellular active CK. However, misannotation of LOG as a lysine decarboxylase and the lack of detailed catalytic and substrate‐binding mechanisms have prevented studies of LOG at a protein‐level. In this study, we determined the crystal structure of PA4923 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The overall structure of PA4923 resembles those of type‐I LOGs, and it exhibited phosphoribohydrolase activity against AMP. These observations indicated that PA4923 functions as an LOG. We also determined the PaLOG structure in complex with AMP and elucidated the detailed binding mode of LOG against the AMP substrate. Interestingly, PaLOG undergoes an open/closed conformational change upon binding AMP, during which the Glu74 residue located on the β3‐β4 connecting loop flips 180° and moves 13 Å towards the AMP molecule. Structural and amino acid sequence comparisons of LOGs suggest that this conformational change upon substrate binding might be a common phenomenon in LOGs. In addition, based on our structural studies and the reported catalytic mechanism of nucleoside hydrolases, we proposed a catalytic mechanism for LOG in which an oxocarbenium ion‐like transition state is formed.
Novel bacterial lineages associated with boreal moss species
Authors: Holland‐Moritz Hannah , Stuart Julia , Lewis Lily R. , Miller Samantha , Mack Michelle C. , McDaniel Stuart F. , Fierer Noah
Published: June 2018

Mosses are critical components of boreal ecosystems where they typically account for a large proportion of net primary productivity and harbour diverse bacterial communities that can be the major source of biologically‐fixed nitrogen in these ecosystems. Despite their ecological importance, we have limited understanding of how microbial communities vary across boreal moss species and the extent to which local site conditions may influence the composition of these bacterial communities. We used marker gene sequencing to analyze bacterial communities associated with seven boreal moss species collected near Fairbanks, AK, USA. We found that host identity was more important than site in determining bacterial community composition and that mosses harbour diverse lineages of potential N2‐fixers as well as an abundance of novel taxa assigned to understudied bacterial phyla (including candidate phylum WPS‐2). We performed shotgun metagenomic sequencing to assemble genomes from the WPS‐2 candidate phylum and found that these moss‐associated bacteria are likely anoxygenic phototrophs capable of carbon fixation via RuBisCo with an ability to utilize byproducts of photorespiration from hosts via a glyoxylate shunt. These results give new insights into the metabolic capabilities of understudied bacterial lineages that associate with mosses and the importance of plant hosts in shaping their microbiomes.
Notes on income heterogeneity and number of contributors: Public goods model
Authors: Miyakoshi Tatsuyoshi , Suzuki Kenichi
Published: June 2018

This paper proves that a large degree of income heterogeneity increases the number of free riders under the noncooperative Nash equilibrium of voluntary contributions to public goods with a Cobb–Douglas utility function. We prove this by investigating an algorithm structure that identifies free riders. We also support this proof by showing the numerical simulation results based on this algorithm.
Vertical, Horizontal and Residual Skills Mismatch in the Australian Graduate Labour Market
Authors: Li Ian W. , Harris Mark , Sloane Peter J.
Published: June 2018

Studies of the Australian graduate labour market have found a substantial incidence of, and significant earnings effects from, vertical mismatch. This study extends the literature by examining horizontal mismatch, an important dimension of mismatch in its own right and which has been less studied. Over a quarter of Australian graduates are found to be mismatched, although the incidence is reduced in the longer term. Graduates from fields of study which are more occupation‐specific were found to be less likely to be mismatched. Earnings penalties were found for all forms of mismatch, and affected both general and specific fields of study.
KaiC family proteins integratively control temperature‐dependent UV resistance in Methylobacterium extorquens AM1
Authors: Iguchi Hiroyuki , Yoshida Yusuke , Fujisawa Kento , Taga Hiroki , Yurimoto Hiroya , Oyama Tokitaka , Sakai Yasuyoshi
Published: June 2018

KaiC protein is the pivotal component of the circadian clock in cyanobacteria. While KaiC family proteins are well‐conserved throughout divergent phylogenetic lineages, studies of the physiological roles of KaiC proteins from other microorganisms have been limited. We examined the role of the KaiC proteins, KaiC1 and KaiC2, in the methanol‐utilizing bacterium Methylobacterium extorquens AM1. Wild‐type M. extorquens AM1 cells exhibited temperature‐dependent UV resistance (TDR) under permissive growth temperatures (24 °C –32 °C). Both the phosphorylation of KaiC2 and the intracellular levels of KaiC1 were temperature‐dependent, and the TDR phenotype was positively regulated by KaiC1 and negatively regulated by KaiC2. Taken together with biochemical and functional analogies to the KaiC protein of cyanobacteria, our present results suggest that KaiC family proteins function to integrate environmental cues, that is, temperature and UV light, and output appropriate cellular responses to allow cells to adapt to changing environmental conditions.© 2018 Society for Applied Microbiology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd
U.S. food aid and American exports to recipient countries during the Cold War
Authors: Fałkowski Jan
Published: June 2018

In this article, we test to what extent the food aid granted by the U.S. during the Cold War was strategically motivated and used to promote U.S. interests. Using the data for the period 1971–1990, we investigate whether U.S. wheat aid had an effect on recipient countries’ total import of American products. The evidence we provide suggests a positive and robust relationship and thus it is consistent with the argument that U.S. food aid helped to create larger markets for U.S. producers.
Experiences of older people following the introduction of consumer‐directed care to home care packages: A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Day Jenny , Thorington Taylor Ann C , Hunter Sharyn , Summons Peter , van der Riet Pamela , Harris Margaret , Maguire Jane , Dilworth Sophie , Jeong Sarah , Bellchambers Helen , Haydon Gunilla , Higgins Isabel
Published: June 2018

Objective

To explore the experiences of older people receiving home care package (HCP) support following the introduction of consumer‐directed care (CDC) by the Australian government on 1 July 2015.

Methods

Thirty‐one older people with existing HCP support from two service providers in regional New South Wales, Australia, participated in a face‐to‐face interview and/or a qualitative survey.

Results

Analysis revealed the theme of Choices: Preferences, constraints, balancing and choosing. Participants described choosing to live at home with HCP support; however, they were constrained by poor communication and information about service changes and options, personal budgets and access to future care. HCP services remained largely unchanged during transition to CDC.

Conclusion

Many aspects of the initial implementation of CDC were challenging for older people. Clear, relevant and timely communication and information about CDC and its consequences for consumers appear to be needed to enhance CDC.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: online psychological interventions for mental and physical health outcomes in gastrointestinal disorders including irritable bowel syndrome and inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Hanlon I. , Hewitt C. , Bell K. , Phillips A. , Mikocka‐Walus A.
Published: June 2018

Background

Online psychotherapy has been successfully used as supportive treatment in many chronic illnesses. However, there is a lack of evidence on its role in the management of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases.

Aims

To examine whether online psychological interventions improve mental and physical outcomes in gastrointestinal diseases.

Methods

We searched CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Health Management Information Consortium, PsycINFO, British Nursing Index, Cochrane Library, a specialised register of the IBD/FBD Cochrane Group, MEDLINE (PubMed) WHO International Clinical Trial Registry, ClinicalTrials.gov, and reference lists of all papers included in the review. The Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess internal validity. Where possible, data were pooled using random‐effects meta‐analysis.

Results

We identified 11 publications (encompassing nine studies) meeting inclusion criteria. One study had a high risk of selection bias (allocation concealment), all studies had a high risk of performance and detection bias. Eight studies were included in the meta‐analyses (6 on irritable bowel syndrome [IBS] and two on inflammatory bowel disease [IBD]). Online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) was shown to significantly improve gastrointestinal symptom‐specific anxiety (MD: −8.51, 95% CI −12.99 to −4.04, P = 0.0002) and lessen symptom‐induced disability (MD: −2.78, 95% CI −5.43 to −0.12, P = 0.04) in IBS post intervention. There was no significant effect of online CBT on any other outcomes in IBS. No significant effect of online psychotherapy was demonstrated in IBD.

Conclusion

There is insufficient evidence to demonstrate the effectiveness of online CBT to manage mental and physical outcomes in gastrointestinal diseases.
Paired box 7 inhibits differentiation in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes
Authors: Izumi Wakana , Takuma Yuko , Ebihara Ryo , Mizunoya Wataru , Tatsumi Ryuichi , Nakamura Mako
Published: June 2018

Myogenesis is precisely proceeded by myogenic regulatory factors. Myogenic stem cells are activated, proliferated and fused into a multinuclear myofiber. Pax7, paired box 7, one of the earliest markers during myogenesis. It has been reported that Pax7 regulates the muscle marker genes, Myf5 and MyoD toward differentiation. The possible roles of Pax7 in myogenic cells have been well researched. However, it has not yet been clarified if Pax7 itself is able to induce myogenic fate in nonmyogenic lineage cells. In this study, we performed experiments using stably expressed Pax7 in 3T3‐L1 preadipocytes to elucidate if Pax7 inhibits adipogenesis. We found that Pax7 represses adipogenic markers and prevents differentiation. These cells showed decreased expression of PDGFRα, PPARγ and Fabp4 and inhibited forming lipid droplets.
Submucosal tunneling endoscopic resection of a gigantic cardiac leiomyoma
Authors: Peng Lei , Zhou Pinghong , Zhang Guoxin
Published: June 2018

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A critical sites network for freshwater biodiversity in the Lake Victoria Basin
Authors: Sayer Catherine A. , Carr Jamie A. , Darwall William R. T.
Published: June 2018

The Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) is known for its high levels of species richness and endemism. Freshwater ecosystems within this region are highly threatened, putting both biodiversity and human livelihoods at risk. Protected areas (PAs) should provide the foundation for conservation actions to tackle threats but currently poorly represent freshwater species. To address this issue, systematic conservation planning (Marxan) was used to identify networks of sites within the LVB for the conservation of freshwater biodiversity, based on existing Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) and PAs, and with minimal cost in terms of area and human impact. Networks were identified separately for threatened species and/or those endemic to the LVB, and those susceptible to the impacts of climate change. Here, these were combined to present an overall sites network for the conservation of freshwater biodiversity. Site‐level recommendations are provided as a scientific basis for the development and expansion of the existing network.
Effects of infrared radiation drying and heat pump drying combined with tempering on the quality of long‐grain paddy rice
Authors: Zhou Xuxia , Liu Lin , Fu Pengcheng , Lyu Fei , Zhang Jianyou , Gu Saiqi , Ding Yuting
Published: June 2018

The objectives of this study were to study the effects of two drying methods, infrared radiation (IR) drying and heat pump (HP) drying, combined with tempering in the glassy state on the quality of long‐grain paddies (O. sativa L. subsp. indica) and the effects of intermittent ratios (δ = 0, 1, 2, 3, 4) on the milling properties and texture profiles of the paddies. The tempering temperature was set at 60 °C, according to the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the paddy rice, which was determined to be 58 ± 2 °C using low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF‐NMR) technology. The results showed that, compared with HP drying, IR drying resulted in a higher drying rate and was more effective, but the rate of moisture reduction was more uniform under HP drying. The tempering process had positive effects on the milling and texture profile analysis (TPA) properties of the paddy rice. Overall, intermittent ratios of δ = 3 and δ = 2 are recommended for HP drying and IR drying, respectively. However, no significant differences in the effects of different drying methods and intermittent ratios on water diffusion in the paddy rice were found through MRI analysis.
Associations between community programmes and policies and children's physical activity: the Healthy Communities Study
Authors: Pate R. R. , Frongillo E. A. , McIver K. L. , Colabianchi N. , Wilson D. K. , Collie‐Akers V. L. , Schultz J. A. , Reis J. , Madsen K. , Woodward‐Lopez G. , Berrigan D. , Landgraf A. , Nagaraja J. , Strauss W. J. ,   on behalf of the Healthy Communities Study Team
Published: June 2018

Background

Community initiatives to promote physical activity in children are common, but evidence supporting their effectiveness is limited.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to examine the relationships between community programmes and policies and children's physical activity in a large and diverse sample of US communities.

Methods

Programmes and policies to promote children's physical activity were assessed in 130 communities by key informant interviews, and physical activity behaviours were measured by self‐report and parental report in samples of children in each community (totaln = 5138). Associations between composite indices of community programmes and policies and indicators of total and moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity were examined without and with adjustment for demographic factors.

Results

An index reflecting the 6‐year history of the number of behaviour change strategies used in community programmes and policies was positively associated with children's moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity. This association was attenuated with adjustment for demographic factors. Effect modification analyses found that the association was positive among non‐Hispanic children but was negative for Hispanic children.

Conclusions

Community initiatives to promote physical activity in children were positively associated with children's physical activity in non‐Hispanic children. Such initiatives were negatively associated with physical activity in Hispanic children, suggesting that future research should consider unique cultural factors when designing community initiatives to promote activity in this population sub‐group.
Effect of additive structure and size on SiO2 formation in polymer‐derived SiOC ceramics
Authors: Erb Donald , Lu Kathy
Published: June 2018

Silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) ceramics with highly adjustable properties and microstructures have many promising applications in batteries, catalysis, gas separation, and supercapacitors. In this study, additive structures on the nucleation and growth of SiO2 within SiOC ceramics are investigated by adding cyclic tetramethyl‐tetravinylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMTVS) or caged octavinyl‐polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) to a base polysiloxane (PSO) precursor. The effects of the 2 additives on the polymer‐to‐ceramic transformation and the phase formation within the SiOC are discussed. POSS encourages SiO2 nucleation and leads to more SiO2 formation with significantly increased ceramic yield, which subsequently leads to higher specific surface of 1557 m2/g with a larger pore size of ∼1.8 nm for the porous SiOC. High TMTVS content decreases both the specific surface area and pore volume of the resulting porous SiOCs. This study demonstrates a new approach of using Si‐rich additive POSS to increase the SiOC yield while maintaining or even increasing the specific surface area.
A single‐phase full‐color emitting phosphor Na3Sc2(PO4)3:Eu2+/Tb3+/Mn2+ with near‐zero thermal quenching and high quantum yield for near‐UV converted warm w‐LEDs
Authors: Liu Dong , Jin Yahong , Lv Yang , Ju Guifang , Wang Chuanlong , Chen Li , Luo Weiwei , Hu Yihua
Published: June 2018

A single‐phase full‐color emitting phosphor Na3Sc2(PO4)3:Eu2+/Tb3+/Mn2+ has been synthesized by high‐temperature solid‐state method. The crystal structure is measured by X‐ray diffraction. The emission can be tuned from blue to green/red/white through reasonable adjustment of doping ratio among Eu2+/Tb3+/Mn2+ ions. The photoluminescence, energy‐transfer efficiency and concentration quenching mechanisms in Eu2+‐Tb3+/Eu2+‐Mn2+ co‐doped samples were studied in detail. All as‐obtained samples show high quantum yield and robust resistance to thermal quenching at evaluated temperature from 30 to 200°C. Notably, the wide‐gamut emission covering the full visible range of Na3Sc2(PO4)3:Eu2+/Tb3+/Mn2+ gives an outstanding thermal quenching behavior near‐zero thermal quenching at 150°C/less than 20% emission intensity loss at 200°C, and high quantum yield‐66.0% at 150°C/56.9% at 200°C. Moreover, the chromaticity coordinates of Na3Sc2(PO4)3:Eu2+/Tb3+/Mn2+ keep stable through the whole evaluated temperature range. Finally, near‐UV w‐LED devices were fabricated, the white LED device (CCT = 4740.4 K, Ra = 80.9) indicates that Na3Sc2(PO4)3:Eu2+/Tb3+/Mn2+ may be a promising candidate for phosphor‐converted near‐UV w‐LEDs.
Annual Research Review: Expanding mental health services through novel models of intervention delivery
Authors: Kazdin Alan E.
Published: June 2018

Currently, in the United States and worldwide, the vast majority of children and adolescents in need of mental health services receive no treatment. Although there are many barriers, a key barrier is the dominant model of delivering psychosocial interventions. That model includes one‐to‐one, in‐person treatment, with a trained mental health professional, provided in clinical setting (e.g., clinic, private practice office, health‐care facility). That model greatly limits the scale and reach of psychosocial interventions. The article discusses many novel models of delivering interventions that permit scaling treatment to encompass children and adolescents who are not likely to receive services. Special attention is accorded the use of social media, socially assistive robots, and social networks that not only convey the ability to scale interventions but also encompass interventions that depart from the usual forms of intervention that currently dominate psychosocial treatment research.
App Users Unwittingly in the Spotlight: A Model of Privacy Protection in Mobile Apps
Authors: Wottrich Verena M. , van Reijmersdal Eva A. , Smit Edith G.
Published: June 2018

Mobile apps are increasingly jeopardizing app users' online privacy by collecting, storing, and sharing personal data disclosed via apps. However, little is known about mobile app users' current privacy protection behavior and the factors that motivate it. Drawing on Roger's Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), this study develops and tests the App Privacy Protection Model among 1,593 Western European app users. The results demonstrate that, on the one hand, increased levels of perceived self‐efficacy, vulnerability, and privacy concern enhance mobile app users' motivation to engage in risk‐reducing behavior, while on the other hand, higher levels of knowledge of the data collection practices of mobile apps, app attitude, and perceived response costs diminish it. Being the first study that applies PMT in the mobile app context, this study offers several important implications regarding privacy protection in mobile apps.
Patterns of solid particle embolization during transcatheter aortic valve implantation and correlation with aortic valve calcification
Authors: Aggarwal Suneil K. , Delahunty RN Nicola , Menezes Leon J. , Perry Richard , Wong Bethany , Reinthaler Markus , Ozkor Muhiddin , Mullen Michael J.
Published: June 2018

Objectives

To evaluate solid embolization during transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) and correlate this with aortic valve calcification.

Background

There is a known stroke risk with TAVI, thought partly to be due to dislodgement of native aortic valve particles during implantation. However, to date there is little evidence that aortic valve calcification actually impacts embolic risk.

Methods

Transcranial Doppler (TCD) was performed on consecutive suitable patients undergoing TAVI, using hardware and software enabling differentiation between solid and gaseous emboli. Data was analyzed by time points during the TAVI procedure. These results were correlated with aortic valve calcification.

Results

TCD was successfully performed on 63 patients. The median number of solid emboli was 76.0. The most common time point for solid embolization was during valve positioning. Forty‐five of these patients had an appropriate CT scan which could be analyzed for an Agatston calcium score. The mean scores in the aortic valve and aortic root were 3382.4 and 754.9. There were significant correlations between the total number of solid emboli and valve calcium score (P = 0.033) and solid emboli during valve positioning and valve calcium score (P = 0.035). There was no relationship between gaseous emboli and valve calcium score.

Conclusions

TAVI is associated with significant solid particle embolization, with the most common time point being during valve positioning. Solid embolization correlates with aortic valve calcium score, suggesting that valve calcification is a factor in embolic risk. This should be taken into consideration along with other clinical factors when assessing embolic risk.
Assessing the Validity of Data Synthesis Methods to Estimate Religious Populations
Authors: Magidin de Kramer Raquel , Tighe Elizabeth , Saxe Leonard , Parmer Daniel
Published: June 2018

The present study tests the validity of a data synthesis approach to population estimates of religiously defined groups. This is particularly important in places like the United States, where there is no definitive source of official data on its population's religious composition, and researchers must rely on costly, large‐scale surveys, or congregational membership studies. Each approach has limitations, especially for estimation of small religious groups and for estimation within small geographic areas. Without official statistics, the degree of bias in estimates is unknown. Data synthesis, specifically Bayesian multilevel estimation with poststratification, offers a useful alternative that maximizes the utility of data across all sources to estimate multiple groups from the same sources of data. This method also facilitates comparison of groups. This study provides evidence of the validity of the approach by synthesizing data from Canada, a country that includes questions about religious identification in its national census.
Countries Mimicking Neighbors: The Spatial Diffusion of Governmental Restrictions on Religion
Authors: Mataic Dane R.
Published: June 2018

Conceptualized as efforts to deny religious freedoms, previous research explains the presence of governmental restrictions on religion by isolating national governments, asserting that the primary determinant is a country's internal structural characteristics. These approaches overlook why the levels of governmental restriction on religion are spatially clustered and increasing in distinct patterns. Utilizing spatial analysis and data from the Religion and State Project, this article demonstrates that governmental restrictions on religion are spatially clustered, not independent from neighboring countries, and that increases in a country's level of restrictions reflect similar changes in bordering countries. Spatial clustering emerges through the diffusion of policies, where national governments mimic their neighbor's policies and practices even when accounting for internal structural characteristics. The article concludes that while a country's internal structure is clearly a predictor of policies, national governments are not isolated from neighbors where the level of restrictions are susceptible to external influence.
Long Working Hours Make Us Less Productive but Also Less Costly
Authors: Delmez Francoise , Vandenberghe Vincent
Published: June 2018

This paper develops and assesses empirically a simple model of firms’ optimal decision regarding working hours, where productivity varies with hours and where the firm faces quasi‐fixed labour costs. Using Belgian firm‐level data on production, labour costs, workers, and hours, and focusing on the estimation of elasticities along the isoquant and the isocost, we find evidence of not only declining productivity of hours but also of quasi‐fixed labour costs in the range of 20 per cent of total labour costs. The tentative conclusion is that firms facing such costs are enticed to raise working hours, even if this results in lower productivity.
Does energy‐related aid affect emissions? Evidence from a global dataset
Authors: Bhattacharyya Sambit , Intartaglia Maurizio , McKay Andy
Published: June 2018

Donor countries have been using international aid in the field of energy for at least three decades. The stated objective of this policy is to reduce emissions and promote sustainable development in the global South. In spite of the widespread use of this policy tool, very little is known about its effect on emissions. In this paper we perform an empirical audit of the effectiveness of energy‐related aid in tackling CO2 and SO2 emissions. Using a global panel dataset covering 128 countries over the period 1971–2011 and estimating a parsimonious model using the Anderson and Hsiao estimator, we do not find any evidence of a systematic effect of energy‐related aid on emissions. We also find that the non‐effect is not conditional on institutional quality or level of income. Countries located in Europe and Central Asia do better than others in utilizing this aid to reduce CO2 emissions. Our results are robust after controlling for the environmental Kuznets curve, country fixed effects, country‐specific trends, and time‐varying common shocks.
Emotion Regulation Deficits and Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury Prospectively Predict Suicide Ideation in Adolescents
Authors: Brausch Amy M. , Woods Sherry E.
Published: June 2018

Background

The relationship between emotion regulation deficits and nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) is well established. Many studies have documented the strong relationship between NSSI and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. The relationship between emotion regulation deficits and suicide is less understood, but recent studies indicate a moderate association. This study aimed to examine the relationship between emotion regulation deficits, NSSI behavior, and suicide ideation in an unselected community sample of adolescents. It was expected that NSSI history would moderate the relationship between emotion regulation and future suicide ideation.

Methods

Data were collected from 367 unselected, community adolescents (mean age = 13). Self‐report questionnaires assessed NSSI behavior, emotion regulation deficits, and suicide ideation at two time points, 6 months apart.

Results

After controlling for suicide ideation at baseline, emotion regulation deficits (experiential avoidance and interoceptive deficits) significantly predicted suicide ideation severity at follow‐up, and interactions with NSSI engagement showed support for moderation.

Conclusions

Results of this study provide insight into the mechanisms of these relationships and have significant clinical implications for the identification of adolescents at risk for suicide behaviors.
Somatic Symptoms of Anxiety and Suicide Ideation Among Treatment‐Seeking Youth With Anxiety Disorders
Authors: Crawford Erika A. , Burke Taylor A. , Siegel David , Jager‐Hyman Shari , Alloy Lauren B. , Kendall Philip C.
Published: June 2018

Objective

The severity of anxiety, in general, has been associated with suicide ideation (SI) among youth, but research has yet to examine the specific anxiety symptoms that may contribute to SI among youth. This study examined the severity of specific anxiety symptom clusters (i.e., tense/restless, somatic/autonomic symptoms, humiliation/rejection, performing in public, separation anxiety, perfectionism, and anxious coping) and SI in youth who met diagnostic criteria for an anxiety disorder.

Method

Participants (N = 87) were treatment‐seeking children and adolescents ages 6–17 (M = 11.1 years, SD = 3.06; 52.9% male) diagnosed with a principal anxiety disorder. Youth and their parents completed measures of youth anxiety symptom severity, depression, and SI.

Results

Hierarchical linear regressions revealed that when anxiety symptom clusters were entered simultaneously, only youth self‐reported (and not parent‐reported) somatic/autonomic symptoms of anxiety significantly predicted SI, after controlling for depression and sex. Importantly, the relationship between somatic/autonomic symptoms of anxiety and SI was stronger than that between depression and SI.

Conclusions

These results suggest that assessing somatic symptoms of anxiety is especially important when quantifying suicide risk among anxiety‐disordered youth.
CBTC DCS Based on LTE Unlicensed Wireless Access: Assessment of Coexistence Performance With Wi-Fi
Authors: Aziminejad Arash , He Yan
Published: June 2018

As the existing communication technologies which for about a decade have supported railway operations and the huge transition from conventional to modern communication-based signaling approach the extent of their performance capabilities, the railway industry strives to migrate to a proven solution aiming to support the new and diverse broadband services and reduce cost. Long Term Evolution (LTE) radio access technology has been globally accepted because of the unparalleled performance, off-the-shelf convenience, and well-developed standardization. An LTE solution, however, brings both the opportunities and challenges to a Data Communication System (DCS) underlying a Communication-Based Train Control (CBTC) system. The presented research targets one of the main LTE deployment challenges; the spectrum availability. To cope with the increasing scarcity of spectrum resources, LTE/LTE-A has envisaged an extension to the unlicensed band which is already heavily populated with incompatible legacy systems such as the immensely popular Wi-Fi networks. In this paper, a design framework is established to dimension the LTE system according to the CBTC DCS sub-system level requirements. Furthermore, the LTE/Wi-Fi coexistence performance is evaluated and studied in a train control application’s context by using a Markov chain analysis approach.