bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The role of linguistic and cognitive factors in emotion recognition difficulties in children with ASD, ADHD or DLD
Authors: Löytömäki Joanna , Ohtonen Pasi , Laakso Marja‐Leena , Huttunen Kerttu
Published: December 2019

Background

Many children with neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or developmental language disorder (DLD) have difficulty recognizing and understanding emotions. However, the reasons for these difficulties are currently not well understood.

Aims

To compare the emotion recognition skills of children with neurodevelopmental disorders as well as those children's skills with the skills of their typically developing (TD) age peers. Also, to identify the role of underlying factors in predicting emotion recognition skills.

Methods & Procedures

The 6–10‐year‐old children (n = 50) who participated in the study had either ASD, ADHD or DLD and difficulties recognizing emotions from face and/or in voice. TD age peers (n = 106) served as controls. Children's skills were tested using six forced‐choice tasks with emotional nonsense words, meaningful emotional sentences, the FEFA 2 test, photographs, video clips and a task in which facial expressions and tones of voice had to be matched. Expressive vocabulary, rapid serial naming, auditory and visual working memory and Theory of Mind skills were explored as possible explanatory factors of the emotion recognition difficulties of the diagnosed children.

Outcomes & Results

Children with ASD, ADHD or DLD did not significantly differ from each other in their linguistic or cognitive skills. Moreover, there were only minor differences between children with these diagnoses in recognizing facial expressions and emotional tone of voice and matching the two. The only significant difference was that children with ADHD recognized facial expressions in photographs better than children with DLD. The participants with diagnoses scored significantly lower than the controls in all but one emotion recognition tasks presented. According to the linear regression analysis, first‐order Theory of Mind skills predicted the delay relative to typical development in the recognition of facial expressions in the FEFA 2 test, and expressive vocabulary and working memory skills together predicted the delay in the recognition of emotions in the matching task.

Conclusions & Implications

Children with ASD, ADHD or DLD showed very similar emotion recognition skills and were also found to be significantly delayed in their development of these skills. Some predictive factors related to linguistic and cognitive skills were found for these difficulties. Information about impaired emotion recognition and underlying linguistic and cognitive skills helps to select intervention procedures. Without this information, therapy might unnecessarily focus on only symptoms.
Giant right coronary artery aneurysm – A rare presentation
Authors: Kurnauth Varuna , Morey Matthew , Jarvis Robert
Published: December 2019

Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is focal dilatation of a coronary artery 1.5 times or more its normal size (Res Cardiovasc Med, 2016; 5: e32086). Coronary artery aneurysm is found in 1.2–4.9% of diagnostic coronary angiography and 1.4% at post‐mortem (Heart Views, 2014; 15: 13; Clin Cardiol, 2015; 29: 439). The proximal and middle segments of the right coronary artery (RCA) are most commonly involved, followed by the proximal left anterior descending (LAD) and the left circumflex arteries. The left main stem rarely develops aneurysms (Clin Cardiol, 2015; 29: 439). A giant aneurysm is a CAA> 2 cm. Giant coronary artery aneurysms (GCAA) are rare (incidence 0.02%) although cause serious complications. [4] Given the rarity of this disease, there is limited information in the literature on its presentation and there is no consensus on its optimal management option. We report a case of a GCAA with an atypical presentation and describe its management. This will add to the current small database on CAA to provide clinicians a better insight on the disease.
Developing Emergency Medicine Leaders: The AACEM/SAEM Chair Development Program at 5 Years
Authors: Zink Brian J. , Stern Susan A. , Lewiss Resa E.
Published: December 2019

The Association of Academic Chairs of Emergency Medicine Chair Development Program (CDP) was started in 2014 to provide emergency medicine (EM) chairs and leaders who aspired to become academic chairs with EM‐specific leadership training. Each class participated in a 1‐year program, with five sessions taught primarily by EM leaders. Data from the first 5 years of the CDP are provided. A total of 81 participants completed the program (16% women). Twenty participants who were not chairs at entry have become EM chairs. Ratings of the CDP based on a survey of participants with a 94% response rate were very favorable. The CDP has been a popular and successful vehicle to increase leadership skills and prepare EM leaders for academic chair positions.
Who attempts suicide among medical students?
Authors: Marcon G. , Massaro Carneiro Monteiro G. , Ballester P. , Cassidy R. M. , Zimerman A. , Brunoni A. R. , von Diemen L. , Hauck S. , Passos I. C.
Published: December 2019

Objective

To identify factors associated with a history of suicide attempt in medical students.

Methods

A Web‐based survey was sent out to a sample of medical students. A multi‐predictor Poisson regression was performed to identify factors associated with a history of suicide attempt. In addition, an elastic net regularization was used to build a risk calculator to identify students at risk for attempted suicide.

Results

A total of 4,840 participants were included in the study. Prevalence of suicide attempts in the sample was 8.94%. Risk factors associated with past suicide attempt in the multi‐predictor Poisson regression were as follows: female gender (P < 0.001); homosexuality (P < 0.001); low income (P = 0.026); bullying by university peers (P = 0.006); childhood (P = 0.001) or adult (P = 0.001) trauma; family history of suicide (P = 0.005); suicidal ideation within the last month (P < 0.001); daily tobacco use (P = 0.037); and being at severe risk for alcohol abuse (P = 0.023). Our elastic net model performed well with an AUC of 0.83.

Conclusions

This study identifies a number of key factors associated with a history of suicide attempts among medical students. Future longitudinal studies should assess the causal relationship between these factors and suicide attempts. Additionally, these results demonstrate that current available data on suicide attempts among medical students can be used to develop an accurate risk algorithm.
The potent psychomotor, rewarding and reinforcing properties of 3‐fluoromethamphetamine in rodents
Authors: Ryu In Soo , Yoon Seong Shoon , Choi Mee Jung , Lee Young Eun , Kim Ji Sun , Kim Woo Hyun , Cheong Jae Hoon , Kim Hee Jin , Jang Choon‐Gon , Lee Yong Sup , Steffensen Scott C. , Ka Minhan , Woo Dong Ho , Jang Eun Young , Seo Joung‐Wook
Published: December 2019

3‐fluoromethamphetamine (3‐FMA), a derivative of methamphetamine (METH), produces behavioral impairment and deficits in dopaminergic transmission in the striatum of mice. The abuse potential of 3‐FMA has not been fully characterized. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 3‐FMA on locomotor activity as well as its rewarding and reinforcing properties in the conditioned place preference (CPP) and self‐administration procedures. Intravenous (i.v.) administration of 3‐FMA (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg) significantly increased locomotor activity in a dose‐dependent manner in rats. In the CPP procedure, intraperitoneal administration of 3‐FMA (10 and 30 mg/kg) produced a significant alteration in place preference in mice. In the self‐administration paradigms, 3‐FMA showed drug‐taking behavior at the dose of 0.1 mg/kg/infusion (i.v.) during 2 hr sessions under fixed ratio schedules and high breakpoints at the dose of 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg/infusion (i.v.) during 6 hr sessions under progressive ratio schedule of reinforcement in rats. A priming injection of 3‐FMA (0.4 mg/kg, i.v.), METH (0.2 mg/kg, i.v.), or cocaine (2.0 mg/kg, i.v.) reinstated 3‐FMA‐seeking behavior after an extinction period in 3‐FMA‐trained rats during 2 hr session. Taken together, these findings demonstrate robust psychomotor, rewarding and reinforcing properties of 3‐FMA, which may underlie its potential for compulsive use in humans.
Chaperone co‐inducer BGP‐15 mitigates early contractile dysfunction of the soleus muscle in a rat ICU model
Authors: Cacciani Nicola , Salah Heba , Li Meishan , Akkad Hazem , Backeus Anders , Hedstrom Yvette , Jena Bhanu P. , Bergquist Jonas , Larsson Lars
Published: December 2019

Aim

Critical illness myopathy (CIM) represents a common consequence of modern intensive care, negatively impacting patient health and significantly increasing health care costs; however, there is no treatment available apart from symptomatic and supportive interventions. The chaperone co‐inducer BGP‐15 has previously been shown to have a positive effect on the diaphragm in rats exposed to the intensive care unit (ICU) condition. In this study, we aim to explore the effects of BGP‐15 on a limb muscle (soleus muscle) in response to the ICU condition.

Methods

Sprague‐Dawley rats were subjected to the ICU condition for 5, 8 and 10 days and compared with untreated sham‐operated controls.

Results

BGP‐15 significantly improved soleus muscle fibre force after 5 days exposure to the ICU condition. This improvement was associated with the protection of myosin from post‐translational myosin modifications, improved mitochondrial structure/biogenesis and reduced the expression of MuRF1 and Fbxo31 E3 ligases. At longer durations (8 and 10 days), BGP‐15 had no protective effect when the hallmark of CIM had become manifest, that is, preferential loss of myosin. Unrelated to the effects on skeletal muscle, BGP‐15 had a strong positive effect on survival compared with untreated animals.

Conclusions

BGP‐15 treatment improved soleus muscle fibre and motor protein function after 5 days exposure to the ICU condition, but not at longer durations (8 and 10 days) when the preferential loss of myosin was manifest. Thus, long‐term CIM interventions targeting limb muscle fibre/myosin force generation capacity need to consider both the post‐translational modifications and the loss of myosin.
Unconscious Bias Interventions for Business: An Initial Test of WAGES‐Business (Workshop Activity for Gender Equity Simulation) and Google's “re:Work” Trainings
Authors: McCormick‐Huhn Kaitlin , Kim Lizbeth M. , Shields Stephanie A.
Published: December 2019

Training employees about unconscious bias is gaining importance for employers, yet most trainings have not been evaluated and, to our knowledge, no theory‐grounded interventions for business exist. We developed such an intervention for business, WAGES‐Business. In Studies 1 and 2a, undergraduates (N = 216; N = 246) were randomly assigned to WAGES‐Business, Google's “re:Work” training, or a control. Study 2a participants, contacted 7–14 days later for Study 2b (N = 126), responded to bias relevant and irrelevant vignettes. Across studies, participants in Google's training and WAGES‐Business demonstrated greater acknowledgment and concern about unconscious bias relative to a control. Participants in WAGES‐Business reported greater concern than participants in Google's training. WAGES‐Business participants also had relatively greater knowledge of workplace gender equity issues postintervention, and demonstrated selectively greater recognition of bias and willingness to confront bias, relative to control, after 7–14 days. Both interventions yielded greater willingness to discuss and confront bias relative to control when interventions involved actively practicing these behaviors. Results suggest the importance of active practice and concern about bias, but not bias acknowledgment, for confronting intentions. Overall, findings underscore the need for intervention evaluation, suggest a distinction between bias acknowledgment and concern, and suggest WAGES‐Business may be more promising for intervention than Google's training.
Crystalline amino acids supplementation improves the performance and carcass traits in late‐finishing gilts fed low‐protein diets
Authors: Ma Wenfeng , Mao Pei , Guo Liang , Qiao Shiyan
Published: December 2019

This study investigated the effects of amino acids (AA) supplementation in low‐crude protein (CP) diets on the growth performance and carcass characteristics in late‐finishing gilts. Ninety gilts (93.8 ± 5.5 kg) were randomly allotted to one of the five diets which consisted of a normal‐CP (137 g/kg) or four low‐CP (105 g/kg) diets for 28 days. The low‐CP diets were supplemented with lysine + threonine + methionine (LCM), LCM + tryptophan (LCT), LCT + valine (LCV) or LCV + isoleucine (LCI), respectively. Non‐significant difference in average daily gain (ADG) was obtained in gilts receiving the control and LCV diet, which was higher than that of gilts fed the LCM diet (p < .05). The additions of crystalline AA in the low‐CP diet resulted in the improvements in ADG (linear and quadratic effect, p < .05) and fat‐free lean gain (quadratic effect, p < .05) and influenced the valine concentration (linear and quadratic effect, p < .05) and proportion of saturated fatty acid (linear effect, p < .05) in longissimus muscle. The results indicated that the valine supplementation could further improve the performance in 94 to 118 kg gilts fed the 105 g/kg CP diet.
Physical activity among children and young people with intellectual disabilities in special schools: Teacher and learning support assistant perceptions
Authors: Pierce Samuel , Maher Anthony J.
Published: December 2019

Accessible summary

We talked to teachers and learning support assistants about physical activity opportunities in school for children and young people with intellectual disabilities.

Schools require a lot of space to support physical activity.

Schools need specialist equipment to help children and young people to be physically active.

It is better for children and young people to do physical activities that are suited to them.

Background

Despite well‐established benefits of engaging in regular physical activity, children and young people with intellectual disabilities are significantly less active than their age peers.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with two teachers of PE and two learning support assistants working in special schools in order to provide an insight into the physical activity tendencies of children and young people (CYP) with intellectual disabilities.

Results

Access to and use of outdoor spaces was claimed to have a positive impact on the physical activity tendencies of CYP with intellectual disabilities. However, the schools we visited had limited indoor space, which impacted negatively on the duration and frequency of physical activity that CYP were able to engage in, particularly when space had to be shared because of timetabling issues and unfavourable weather. When it came to the “type” of physical activities, individual, self‐initiated and self‐regulated were favoured.

Conclusions

We end by suggesting that the onus is on teachers and learning support assistants to think of creative ways of using limited indoor space. The use of dining and assembly halls may be one solution. So, too, may be more individualised physical activities because they are often better suited to the needs and capabilities of CYP, and can often be performed in limited space.
Caregivers' experiences with the new family‐centred paediatric physiotherapy programme COPCA: A qualitative study
Authors: Akhbari Ziegler Schirin , Mitteregger Elena , Hadders‐Algra Mijna
Published: December 2019

Background

Caregivers' experiences during early intervention of their infant with special needs have consequences for their participation in the intervention. Hence, it is vital to understand caregivers' view. This study explored caregivers' experiences with the family‐centred early intervention programme “COPing with and CAring for infants with special needs” (COPCA).

Methods

The data of this qualitative study were collected after 6 months of COPCA intervention in 15 families with an infant with special needs. COPCA was delivered by paediatric physiotherapists in training to become COPCA coaches. Caregivers filled out a study‐specific questionnaire with three open‐ended questions addressing (a) their overall experience with COPCA, (b) what aspects of COPCA they had experienced as important, and (c) what they had learned during the intervention process. The answers were analysed using a content analyses approach.

Results

Respondents were mothers. Interrater reliability of the content analyses of the three questions was twice excellent (κ = .95 and κ = .92) and once good (κ = .77). The content analysis of the first question resulted in four categories and three subcategories, for example, evaluation of COPCA as a form of intervention and benefit from COPCA. The content analyses of the second question resulted in eight categories, for example, home‐based intervention, support from the therapist, and the attainment of competences. The content analyses of the third question generated seven categories and four subcategories, for example, to support the infant autonomously at home and to recognize the competences of the infant, caregiver confidence, and relationship with the infant.

Conclusions

The participating mothers appreciated the COPCA early intervention programme. They especially valued its home‐based setting, the support from the coach, and the experience being able to participate as active partners in the intervention make their own decisions. This means that the mothers valued the family‐centred, ecological, and relationship‐based elements of early intervention that currently are recommended.
Farming the Great Sage Plain: Experimental Agroarchaeology and the Basketmaker III Soil Record
Authors: Fadem Cynthia M. , Diederichs Shanna R.
Published: December 2019

This article draws together data from two of Crow Canyon Archaeological Center's recent research projects and combines these data in new ways to elucidate the relationship between Mesa Verde region soil development and non‐irrigation farming practices. The Pueblo Farming Project (PFP) seeks to preserve traditional farming knowledge and educate the public concerning traditional farming and the place of corn in Pueblo cultures. The Basketmaker Communities Project (BCP) focuses on understanding the Basketmaker III Period and the development of Early Pueblo communities. Pedologic data from each of Crow Canyon's experimental gardens, a mature piñon–juniper forest, and four Basketmaker sites reveal patterns of soil development. The Mesa Verde Loess‐based soils become indurated with use and must be remediated, fallowed, or abandoned, with implications for site choice and residence time. Induration and productivity appear to vary inversely over time, with impacts due to management, vegetation, exposure, and use‐life. Understanding the interplay of climate, cultural practice, and pedogenesis is, therefore, key to deciphering this geocultural record and pursuing agricultural sustainability in this region. We present a framework for unifying these lines of investigation and to facilitate moving future studies forward together.
Cover Image, Volume 22, Issue 1
Authors: Pak Kyoungjune , Seo Seongho , Kim Keunyoung , Lee Myung Jun , Shin Myung Jun , Suh Sunghwan , Im Hyung‐Jun , Park Jung‐Jun , Kim Seong‐Jang , Kim In Joo
Published: December 2019

The cover image is based on the Original Article Striatal Dopamine Transporter Changes after Glucose Loading in Humans by Kyoungjune Pak, Sunghwan Suh, Jung‐Jun Park et al., https://doi.org/10.1111/dom.13872.

image
Efficacy and safety of ertugliflozin in East/Southeast Asian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Liu Jie , Patel Shrita , Cater Nilo B. , Wu Larry , Huyck Susan , Terra Steven G. , Hickman Anne , Darekar Amanda , Pong Annpey , Gantz Ira
Published: December 2019

Aim

Post‐hoc analysis of the efficacy and safety of ertugliflozin in East/Southeast (E/SE) Asian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Materials and Methods

Efficacy evaluations used data from randomized, double‐blind, phase 3 studies: a pool of two 26‐week placebo‐controlled studies and one 52‐week active‐comparator (glimepiride) study. Least squares mean change from baseline was calculated for HbA1c, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), body weight (BW) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). Safety evaluation included overall and prespecified adverse events based on pooled data (broad pool) from seven phase 3 studies (including studies in the efficacy analysis).

Results

Among 161 E/SE Asian patients in the placebo pool (ertugliflozin, n = 106), ertugliflozin reduced HbA1c, FPG, BW and SBP from baseline at week 26. The placebo‐adjusted changes from baseline for ertugliflozin 5 and 15 mg were: HbA1c, −0.9% and −1.0%; BW, −2.1 and −1.9 kg; and SBP, –3.3 and −3.5 mmHg, respectively. Among 174 E/SE Asian patients in the active‐comparator study (ertugliflozin, n = 118), HbA1c changes from baseline at week 52 were −0.6%, −0.6% and −0.7% for ertugliflozin 5 mg, 15 mg and glimepiride, respectively. Ertugliflozin 5 and 15 mg reduced BW from baseline by −4.3 and −4.1 kg, respectively, and SBP by −7.4 and −9.3 mmHg, respectively, compared with glimepiride. Safety findings were generally consistent with overall ertugliflozin safety data published to date.

Conclusions

Treatment with ertugliflozin was associated with reductions in HbA1c, FPG, BW and SBP, and was generally well tolerated in E/SE Asian patients with T2DM. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01986855, NCT01999218, NCT01958671, NCT02099110, NCT02036515, NCT02033889, NCT02226003.
Mismatched outcomes for biodiversity and ecosystem services: testing the responses of crop pollinators and wild bee biodiversity to habitat enhancement
Authors: Nicholson Charlie C. , Ward Kimiora L. , Williams Neal M. , Isaacs Rufus , Mason Keith S. , Wilson Julianna K. , Brokaw Julia , Gut Larry J. , Rothwell Nikki L. , Wood Thomas J. , Rao Sujaya , Hoffman George D. , Gibbs Jason , Thorp Robbin W. , Ricketts Taylor H.
Published: December 2019

Supporting ecosystem services and conserving biodiversity may be compatible goals, but there is concern that service‐focused interventions mostly benefit a few common species. We use a spatially replicated, multiyear experiment in four agricultural settings to test if enhancing habitat adjacent to crops increases wild bee diversity and abundance on and off crops. We found that enhanced field edges harbored more taxonomically and functionally abundant, diverse, and compositionally different bee communities compared to control edges. Enhancements did not increase the abundance or diversity of bees visiting crops, indicating that the supply of pollination services was unchanged following enhancement. We find that actions to promote crop pollination improve multiple dimensions of biodiversity, underscoring their conservation value, but these benefits may not be spilling over to crops. More work is needed to identify the conditions that promote effective co‐management of biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Interventions to Empower Adults with Eating Disorders and Their Partners around the Transition to Parenthood
Authors: Sadeh‐Sharvit Shiri , Sacks Madeline R. , Runfola Cristin D. , Bulik Cynthia M. , Lock James D.
Published: December 2019

The transition to parenthood is perceived as a stressful life event, when parents experience an immense change of their psychological focus and a reorientation of roles and responsibilities in the family system. This process may be even more challenging in the presence of a parental eating disorder history. This paper reviews the impact of parental eating disorders on the parents, the couple relationship, and their child during the perinatal period. A parental eating disorder is associated with more negative expectations of parental efficacy as well as specific difficulties in couple communication over the child’s feeding, shape, and weight. Providers who better understand the effects of an eating disorder on parental functioning can more effectively intervene early on. We also present couple‐ or parent‐based, empirically supported interventions for adults with eating disorders and their partners in the prenatal and postnatal periods: Uniting Couples in the treatment of Anorexia Nervosa (UCAN) and Uniting couples In the Treatment of Eating disorders (UNITE) both enhance recovery from the eating disorder through a couple‐based intervention; the Maudsley Model of Treatment for Adults with Anorexia Nervosa (MANTRA) incorporates the support of partners, when appropriate; Parent‐Based Prevention (PBP) focuses on improving parental functioning and reducing risk of negative parental and child outcomes. Finally, we discuss the clinical implications of addressing parental eating disorders and encourage more research on these families.
Positive emotions despite substantial burden: The alchemy of haemophilia caregiving
Authors: Schwartz Carolyn E. , Stark Roland B. , Stucky Brian D. , Michael Wesley , Rapkin Bruce D.
Published: December 2019

Introduction

Qualitative interviews when developing the haemophilia caregiver impact measure© (HCI) documented the importance of capturing the positive aspects of caregiving, not just the negative.

Aim

The present study thus investigates the construct underlying the positive emotions HCI subscale and tests models proposing a more comprehensive way of thinking about this construct.

Methods

Secondary analysis was implemented on longitudinal web‐based survey data (n = 323) from haemophilia A or haemophilia B caregivers. Person‐reported outcomes (PROs) included the HCI, the PROMIS‐10 and Ryff psychological well‐being subscales. Predictors included caregiver demographics; patient haemophilia characteristics; exercise; adherence; and quality‐of‐life (QOL) appraisal processes as measured by the brief appraisal inventory (BAI) which yields composite scores assessing awareness of challenges, fulfillment and growth, stay positive, social comparison and interpersonal problem‐solving. Second‐order factor analysis, structural equation modelling and residual modelling were implemented.

Results

A structural equation model fit the data well that contained bifactor representation of well‐being with a general factor comprised of environmental mastery, positive relations with others, physical functioning and emotional functioning. Positive emotions was modelled as a component of well‐being, with a unique component (‘Alchemy’) characterized by its associations with stay positive, and awareness of challenges appraisals, and difficulty paying bills. Alchemy had positive linear relationships with the first two, and a positive quadratic relationship with difficulty paying bills.

Conclusions

Adopting positive‐focused ways of thinking about one's life limitations may transform the negatives of haemophilia caregiving into something positive. Such cognitive habits reflect an awareness and acceptance of the limitations imposed by haemophilia caregiving.
Immigrants’ Wage Performance in a Routine Biased Technological Change Era: France 1994–2012
Authors: Moreno‐Galbis Eva , Tanguy Jeremy , Tritah Ahmed , Laffineur Catherine
Published: December 2019

Over the period 1994–2012, immigrants’ wage growth in France outperformed that of natives. We investigate to what extent changes in task‐specific returns to skills contributed to this wage dynamics differential through two channels: changes in the valuation of skills (price effect) and occupational sorting (quantity effect). We find that the wage growth premium of immigrants is mainly explained by the progressive reallocation of immigrants toward tasks whose returns increase over time. Immigrants seem to have taken advantage of labor demand restructuring driven by globalization and technological changes.
Collective bargaining in Portugal in the aftermath of the crisis: trends and prospects
Authors: Távora Isabel
Published: December 2019

This article examines the decline of collective bargaining in Portugal during the recent economic crisis and why, following significant improvements in the economic and political contexts, the number of collective agreements published each year remains lower than before. Drawing on theoretical work on institutional change by Streeck and Thelen (2005) and Baccaro and Howell (2017), it argues that industrial relations institutions in Portugal have been subject to an incremental but transformative process of liberalisation. The analysis of national data and in‐depth interviews with key informants reveals that serial legal amendments since the 1990's weakened unions, converted bargaining into a mechanism to introduce flexibility and wage austerity and reduced incentives for the parties to conclude agreements. While these changes were gradual, their consequences became clear during the crisis. By improving understanding of recent developments in Portuguese collective bargaining, the article enriches knowledge of processes of liberalisation of industrial relations in Europe.
Multifunctional optical thermometry based on the stark sublevels of Er3+ in CaO‐Y2O3: Yb3+/Er3+
Authors: Xiang Guotao , Liu Xiaotong , Liu Wen , Wang Bin , Liu Zhen , Jiang Sha , Zhou Xianju , Li Li , Jin Ye , Zhang Jiahua
Published: December 2019

A conventional high temperature solid state method was utilized to prepare CaO‐Y2O3, which is a potential candidate for manufacturing crucible material to melt titanium and titanium alloys with low cost. Meanwhile, Yb3+ ions and Er3+ ions were selected as the sensitizers and activators respectively to dope into CaO‐Y2O3, aimed at providing real‐time optical thermometry during the preparation process of titanium alloys realized using fluorescence intensity ratio (FIR) technology. The results reveal that a high measurement precision can be acquired by using the Stark sublevels of Er3+ 4F9/2 to measure the temperature with a maximum absolute error of only about 3 K. In addition, by analyzing the dependence of 4I13/2 → 4I15/2 transition on pump power of 980 nm excitation wavelength, it was found that the laser‐induced thermal effect has almost no influence on the temperature measurement conducted by using the FIR of the Stark sublevels of Er3+ 4I13/2, which means that a high excitation pump power can be used to obtain strong NIR emission and good signal‐to‐noise ratio for optical thermometry without the influence of the laser‐induced thermal effect. All the results reveal that CaO‐Y2O3: Yb3+/Er3+ is an excellent temperature sensing material with high measurement precision.
Li2O‐doped MgAl2O4 nanopowders: Energetics of interface segregation
Authors: Bernardes Andre A. , Caliman Lorena B. , da Silva Andre L. , Bettini Jefferson , Guimarães Kleber L. , Gouvea Douglas
Published: December 2019

Manufacturing nanoceramics is challenging owing to the instability of the grain size resulting from the high driving force toward growth associated with the interfaces. Nanometric ceramics of some oxides have exceptional mechanical and optical properties, eg, magnesium aluminate spinel (MgAl2O4). The production of these fully conformed ceramics requires a precursor powder, which generally contains sintering‐promoting additives. Li salts are typically used as sintering promoters for MgAl2O4, but the interface stability associated with the segregation of the additive is poorly understood. In this study, MgAl2O4 samples containing 0‐2.86 mol% Li ions were synthesized via a simultaneous‐precipitation method in an ethylic medium and subsequently calcined at 800°C in air. The nanopowders exhibited only the MgAl2O4 phase, and the crystallite size was determined by the Li2O concentration. The crystallite size was changed via the chemical modification of the interfaces by the segregation of Li ions. The solubility in the bulk material was very low at the fabrication temperature, and small amounts of Li ions saturated the bulk material and segregated to the grain boundaries (GBs), significantly stabilizing the grain–grain interface compared with the surface. The resulting powder was then aggregated further owing to the initial stage of sintering. The surface excess obtained via the selective lixiviation method confirmed that the segregation to the GBs was greater than that to the surface. Energetics calculations confirmed these results, indicating a high enthalpy of segregation at the GBs () compared with that at the surfaces (). The enthalpy of segregation together with the interface excess allowed us to estimate the reduction in the interface energy with Li+ segregation of 0.8% to the surface and 11.2% to the GBs. The Li+ segregation to the surfaces started by Al3+ substitution, and for powders with ≥1.8 mol% Li ions, Mg+2 was preferentially substituted at the surfaces.
Effects of a scalable home‐visiting intervention on child development in slums of urban India: evidence from a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Andrew Alison , Attanasio Orazio , Augsburg Britta , Day Monimalika , Grantham‐McGregor Sally , Meghir Costas , Mehrin Fardina , Pahwa Smriti , Rubio‐Codina Marta
Published: December 2019

Background

An estimated 63.4 million Indian children under 5 years are at risk of poor development. Home visits that use a structured curriculum to help caregivers enhance the quality of the home stimulation environment improve developmental outcomes. However, achieving effectiveness in poor urban contexts through scalable models remains challenging.

Methods

Using a cluster randomised controlled trial, we evaluated a psychosocial stimulation intervention, comprising weekly home visits for 18 months, in urban slums of Cuttack, Odisha, India. The intervention is complementary to existing early childhood services in India and was run and managed through a local branch of a national NGO. The study ran from August 2013 to July 2015. We enrolled 421 children aged 10–20 months from 54 slums. Slums were randomised to intervention or control. Primary outcomes were children's cognitive, receptive language, expressive language and fine motor development assessed using the Bayley‐III. Prespecified intent‐to‐treat analysis investigated impacts and heterogeneity by gender. Trial registrations: ISRCTN89476603, AEARCTR‐0000169.

Results

Endline data for 378 (89.8%) children were analysed. Attrition was balanced between groups. We found improvements of 0.349 of a standard deviation (SD; p = .005, stepdown p = .017) to cognition while impacts on receptive language, expressive language and fine motor development were, respectively, 0.224 SD (p = .099, stepdown p = .184), 0.192 SD (p = .085, stepdown p = .184) and 0.111 (p = .385, stepdown p = .385). A child development factor improved by 0.301 SD (p = .032). Benefits were larger for boys. The quality of the home stimulation environment also improved.

Conclusions

This study shows that a potentially scalable home‐visiting intervention is effective in poor urban areas.
Biotechnological production of natural sweeteners and preservatives on tomato paste
Authors: Gallo Marianna , Passannanti Francesca , D'Apolito Elena , Nigro Federica , Salameh Dana , Nigro Roberto
Published: December 2019

There is a growing interest in healthier foods and cleaner labels. In particular, foods containing a lower sugar concentration but with the same organoleptic properties and the same shelf life are becoming a new challenge. To this end, we performed a first set of experimentations on two simple broths (LFM1 and LFM2), which differed in their glucose concentration (250 g/L and 200 g/L, respectively), and a second set of fermentations on two diluted tomato pastes (TP1 and TP2), with the same glucose concentration but different in the presence (TP2) or absence (TP1) of yeast extract. These substrates were fermented by Yarrowia lipolytica ATCC 8661 at 30°C for 192 hr, to understand its ability in simultaneous production of erythritol and citric acid. Although the process should be optimized, in all the cases tested we obtained the erythritol and the citric acid production.

Practical application

The aim of the present study was the simultaneous production of erythritol and citric acid on a food matrix. This is a preliminary study to obtain, directly by fermentation, a natural sweetener able to give the food product, in particular tomato paste, a sweet taste without adding artificial sweeteners. At the same time, we tried to produce citric acid as a natural preservative to improve shelf life. In this way, we wish to obtain, through several experimentations, semifinished products for the production of vegetal soups and sauces.
Enhancing the properties of gelatin–chitosan bionanocomposite films by incorporation of silica nanoparticles
Authors: Batra Mohit , Malik Gulshan K. , Mitra Jayeeta
Published: December 2019

Functional enhancement of biopolymer was attempted in this work for food packaging application. Incorporation of chitosan (0–9%) and silica (0–10%) nanoparticles (NP's) into gelatin film (Gel) has been tried and their effects on moisture content, tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (%E), wettability, water vapor permeability (WVP), and antimicrobial activities were studied. Morphology of nanoparticles was studied using scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Chitosan NP's showed agglomeration at higher concentration which leads to lower the mechanical as well as barrier properties of the film. However, silica NP's enhanced the properties of bionanocomposite film. TS was increased from 6.05 MPa of pure gelatin film to a maximum value of 38.91 MPa at CS NP's of 5.8% and Si NP's of 7%; however, %E decreased with addition of nanoparticles resulting in brittleness of film. WVP for pure gelatin film was 25.21 g mm/kPa m2 day, which reduced to 3.30 g mm/kPa m2 day after incorporation of 10% Si NP's. Antimicrobial activity was observed against E. coli and S. aureus. Incorporation of CS NP's improved the antimicrobial activity of gelatin film. Si NP's showed improvement in mechanical and barrier properties of Gel–CS films, however, had no effect on antimicrobial activities.

Practical Application

Researchers community are more concerned of natural biopolymers to reduce the use of synthetic polymers, especially in food packaging. Gelatin is one of the natural biopolymer and have potential to be used as food packaging material. Problem with gelatin and many other biopolymer based film is their poor mechanical and barrier properties. Present study was framed to overcome these problems by incorporating silica and chitosan nanoparticles in gelatin film. The results observed would be useful to develop a biopolymer based nanocomposite film with improved mechanical, barrier and antimicrobial properties, which can be used for active food packaging.
Inducing remission in paediatric Crohn’s disease using nutritional therapies – A systematic review
Authors: McVeigh L. , Payne A.
Published: December 2019

Background

Exclusive enteral nutrition (EEN) is known to be a safe and effective treatment option for managing active Crohn’s disease (CD) in children, although no uniform protocol exists. The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate and compare the clinical effectiveness of aspects of EEN protocols to ascertain whether an optimum regimen can be identified.

Methods

A systematic search of the Cochrane Library, PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and AMED was conducted for studies published between 1998 and 2018 that examined paediatric patients being treated with an enteral nutrition protocol to induce remission. Studies that included patients receiving concurrent medication for active disease were excluded. Quality assessment was performed using separate tools for randomised controlled trials, cohort studies and for studies without a control group.

Results

Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Of these, six found insufficient evidence to support use of a specific formula. One study examined the route of EEN, finding no difference between oral or nasogastric tube administration with respect to inducing remission. Three examined the use of partial enteral nutrition to induce remission, although conflicting results were seen. No studies explored the effect of length of treatment or energy prescription on remission rates

Conclusions

An optimum enteral nutrition protocol for inducing remission cannot be identified. Further focused research is required by well designed, adequately powered prospective clinical trials to examine aspects of enteral feeding protocols that remain uncertain, including the use of partial enteral nutrition as a potential alternative to EEN.
Development of the Daily Time Management Scale for Use by Working People with Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Nakao Tomomi , Takeishi Chizuko , Nunoi Kiyohide , Matsuishi Toyojiro , Okamura Hisayoshi , Sato Yuichi , Uchizono Yuji , Mizuno Mika , Yokobori Yumi , Shimizu Yasuko
Published: December 2019

Aim

The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to assess daily time management capabilities among working patients with diabetes and to test this scale's reliability and validity.

Methods

A self‐administered questionnaire survey was conducted among 277 diabetes outpatients, and data from 220 participants (mean age = 54.3 ± 10.2 years, 76.8% male) were analyzed. Questionnaire items were selected through exploratory factor analysis. During the process of developing the questionnaire, opinions were solicited from experts on education for patients with diabetes, and Cronbach's α was calculated as a coefficient of reliability. Correlations with the Instrument of Diabetes Self‐Care Agency (IDSCA) were examined and confirmatory factor analysis was performed to check for validity.

Results

Adequacy of a 4‐factor, 16‐item scale was confirmed. Cronbach's α coefficient was ≥.7 for the entire scale and for the subscale items. There was a significant correlation between total IDSCA scores and various factors (r = .280–.469). However, there was no correlation between the “adjustment of life rhythms” and parts of the IDSCA subscale.

Conclusion

Although some aspects warrant further investigation, the developed scale provides a reliable and valid means of assessing daily time management capabilities among working patients with diabetes, and can thus be applied to help diabetes patients to manage their daily lives.
Ovarian hormones induce de novo DNA methyltransferase expression in the Siberian hamster suprachiasmatic nucleus
Authors: Coyle Chris S. , Caso Federico , Tolla Elisabetta , Barrett Perry , Onishi Kenneth G. , Tello Javier A. , Stevenson Tyler John
Published: December 2019

The present study investigated neuroanatomically localised changes in de novo DNA methyltransferase expression in the female Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus). The objectives were to identify the neuroendocrine substrates that exhibit rhythmic Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b expression across the oestrous cycle and also examine the role of ovarian steroids. Hypothalamic Dnmt3a expression was observed to significantly increase during the transition from pro‐oestrous to oestrous. A single bolus injection of diethylstilbestrol and progesterone was sufficient to increase Dnmt3a cell numbers and Dnmt3b immunoreactive intensity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. In vitro analyses using an embryonic rodent cell line revealed that diethylstilbestrol was sufficient to induce Dnmt3b expression. Up‐regulating DNA methylation in vitro reduced the expression of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, Vip, and the circadian clock gene, Bmal1. Together, these data indicate that ovarian steroids drive de novo DNA methyltransferase expression in the mammalian suprachiasmatic nucleus and increased methylation may regulate genes involved in the circadian timing of oestrous: Vip and Bmal1. Overall, epigenetically mediated neuroendocrine reproductive events may reflect an evolutionarily ancient process involved in the timing of female fertility.
Effects of resveratrol on bone‐healing capacity in the mouse tooth extraction socket
Authors: Min Kyung-Kon , Neupane Sanjiv , Adhikari Nirpesh , Sohn Wern‐Joo , An Seo‐Young , Kim Ji‐Youn , An Chang‐Hyeon , Lee Youngkyun , Kim Yong‐Gun , Park Jin‐Woo , Lee Jae‐Mok , Kim Jae‐Young , Suh Jo‐Young
Published: December 2019

Background and Objective

After tooth extraction, the extraction socket undergoes several steps of soft and hard tissue healing. The healing process of the extraction socket is modulated by a range of signaling factors and biochemical agents. It has been reported that resveratrol, a polyphenolic compound, exhibits various biological effects, including anti‐inflammatory, anti‐carcinogenic, antioxidant, and anti‐aging effects, and protects cardiovascular and bone tissues. In this study, we examined the cellular effects of resveratrol on human periodontal ligament (hPDL) cells and osteoblast‐like (MC3T3‐E1) cells and evaluated the bone‐healing capacity of tooth extraction sockets in mice.

Material and Methods

Resveratrol was applied to hPDL and MC3T3‐E1 cells to detect cell proliferation and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, and qPCR was employed to understand the gene expression level in vitro. For in vivo experiment, six‐week‐old C57BL/6 male mice were randomly divided into control (n = 15) and experimental (n = 15) groups and maxillary first molars were extracted by surgery. Experimental groups received 50‐µM resveratrol on extraction sockets and analyzed the degree of new bone formation.

Results

Treatment of hPDL and MC3T3‐E1 cells with resveratrol increased the cell proliferation and ALP activity and enhanced the expression of ALP, BMP‐2, BMP‐4, and OC genes. Resveratrol enhanced new bone formation in the lingual extraction socket in mice.

Conclusion

These results suggest that resveratrol increases the cellular physiology of PDL and osteoblast including their proliferation and differentiation and may play an important role in bone‐healing capacity after tooth extraction.
Diversification of floral orientation in Lonicera is associated with pollinator shift and flowering phenology
Authors: Xiang Gan‐Ju , Guo You‐Hao , Yang Chun‐Feng
Published: December 2019

Floral orientation has been suggested to be a functional floral trait that can enhance reproductive fitness through adaptation to both biotic factors (e.g., pollination) and abiotic factors (e.g., temperature). However, whether those factors drive the diversification of floral orientation needs to be explored through multiple related species. Phylogenetic relationships in Lonicera were identified by incorporating the species’ floral orientation (upward vs. downward) and pollinator types. Furthermore, transitions in floral orientation were evaluated together with pollinator shift, and seven Lonicera species were used to detect the influence of floral orientation on pollination and reproductive success. The relationship between temperature and the angle of floral orientation was investigated. Floral orientation in Lonicera showed that most of the closely related species within the same node displayed a similar pattern of floral orientation, and pollinator shift can lead to transitions between upward and downward orientation. Additionally, the angle of floral orientation increased with flowering phenology from spring to summer, and changing floral orientation significantly decreased pollination and seed production. Moreover, the average daily temperature during flowering phenology was significantly correlated with the angle of floral orientation. Our results indicate that pollinator shift could be an important event, leading to the diversification of floral orientation. Results of field investigations inferred that floral orientation should be a functional floral trait adapted to flowering phenology. Downward‐facing flowers might help decrease heat loss to adapt to cold conditions. This study disentangled the influences of historical events and local adaptation on the evolution of floral orientation.