bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Parental experience of counselling about food and feeding practices at the child health centre: A qualitative study
Authors: Holmberg Fagerlund Bettina , Helseth Sølvi , Glavin Kari
Published: January 2019

Aims and objectives

To investigate how parents experience counselling about food and feeding practices and the use of a communication tool about diet at the child health centre.

Background

Food‐related counselling is a key element in parents’ consultations with public health nurses at child health centres. Public health nurses possess limited strategies and tools for addressing nutritional issues, especially in the context of client diversity.

Design

An interpretive description approach, fulfilling the COREQ checklist criteria.

Methods

Individual interviews performed between January 2017–May 2017 among parents (n = 12) of children (mean age 28 months) who had been exposed to a communication tool about diet, in regular child health centre consultations with their child. These consultations were included in clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov.: Identifier: NCT02266953).

Results

Counselling using the communication tool about diet was primarily based on the public health nurse presenting images of healthy food choices. After infancy, consultations sometimes became more time‐pressured, inhibiting parents from asking questions related to the child's diet. The parents who had questions related to food allergy or breastfeeding of their child sometimes experienced limited support. Some parents felt overwhelmed with information about healthy food choices if their child's diet differed from the recommendations presented.

Conclusions

The parents’ existing expectations and needs had an impact on their satisfaction in relation to their perceptions of nutritional counselling. The use of the communication tool about diet to promote a two‐way dialogue instead of providing one‐way dietary information might be particularly useful in consultations for parents who do not follow customary recommendations.

Relevance to clinical practice

If the diet of the family differs from what is recommended, parents often experience limited support at the child health centre. Promoting a two‐way dialogue in consultations using a communication tool about diet could help parents in their concerns related to feeding their child.
Mid‐trimester glycosylated hemoglobin levels (HbA1c) and its correlation with oral glucose tolerance test (World Health Organization 1999)
Authors: Dubey Devanshi , Kunwar Shipra , Gupta Uma
Published: January 2019

Aim

The aim of the present study was to assess the role of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in screening of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and to compare its efficacy with 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) (World Health Organization [WHO]) screening criteria.

Methods

A prospective observational study was performed on a total of 260 women attending antenatal outpatient department of our hospital at 24–28 weeks of gestation. All women underwent 75‐g OGTT testing, and WHO 1999 criteria was used for diagnosis of GDM. Also, a HbA1c test was performed for the same women.

Results

Prevalence of GDM was found to be 19.6% by OGTT. Mean HbA1c values in GDM was significantly higher than non‐GDM. HbA1c correlated well with both fasting and 2 h postprandial levels but there was better correlation with 2‐h postprandial level.

Conclusion

The incidence of gestational diabetes is rising in South‐East Asian countries, especially in India. HBA1c could be a potential screening test for GDM.
A conceptual time window‐based model for the early stratification of trauma patients
Authors: Lamparello A. J. , Namas R. A. , Constantine G. , McKinley T. O. , Elster E. , Vodovotz Y. , Billiar T. R.
Published: January 2019

Progress in the testing of therapies targeting the immune response following trauma, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, has been slow. We propose that the design of interventional trials in trauma would benefit from a scheme or platform that could support the identification and implementation of prognostic strategies for patient stratification. Here, we propose a stratification scheme based on defined time periods or windows following the traumatic event. This ‘time‐window’ model allows for the incorporation of prognostic variables ranging from circulating biomarkers and clinical data to patient‐specific information such as gene variants to predict adverse short‐ or long‐term outcomes. A number of circulating biomarkers, including cell injury markers and damage‐associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), and inflammatory mediators have been shown to correlate with adverse outcomes after trauma. Likewise, several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associate with complications or death in trauma patients. This review summarizes the status of our understanding of the prognostic value of these classes of variables in predicting outcomes in trauma patients. Strategies for the incorporation of these prognostic variables into schemes designed to stratify trauma patients, such as our time‐window model, are also discussed.
Examining why employee proactive personality influences empowering leadership: The roles of cognition‐ and affect‐based trust
Authors: Han Soojung , Harold Crystal M. , Cheong Minyoung
Published: January 2019

We integrate followership theory and trust theory to understand the role of employees' proactivity on their leaders' attitudes, cognitions, and behaviours. We propose that (1) employees' proactive personality engenders their leaders' cognition‐ and affect‐based trust, which in turn positively influences empowering leadership; (2) the indirect effects of proactive personality on empowering leadership via cognition‐ and affect‐based trust are contingent on the level of employee task performance and organizational citizenship behaviour, respectively; and (3) the indirect effect of proactive personality on empowering leadership via affect‐ (cognition‐) based trust is stronger when the level of cognition‐ (affect‐) based trust is high rather than low. We conducted two‐wave study, with a sample of 116 supervisor–employee dyads from a large petrochemical firm in South Korea to test proposed effects. Results suggest that leaders' affect‐based trust, but not cognition‐based trust, served to mediate the effect of proactive personality on empowering leadership. Moreover, the results further support that the positive mediation of leaders' affect‐based trust on empowering leadership was present when leaders' cognition‐based trust was high, but not when it was low. Implications for future research are discussed.

Practitioner points

Leaders report a greater level of trust in employees with a more proactive personality.

Leaders are more likely to empower employees in whom they have higher levels of both affect‐based and cognition‐based trust; in other words, employees who they like more and believe to be more competent.

To help promote empowering, organizations might consider selecting on the basis of proactive personality and fostering a culture that promotes employee proactivity.
Biological and molecular effects of bromodomain and extra‐terminal (BET) inhibitors JQ1, IBET‐151, and IBET‐762 in OSCC cells
Authors: Baldan Federica , Allegri Lorenzo , Lazarevic Milos , Mio Catia , Milosevic Maja , Damante Giuseppe , Milasin Jelena
Published: January 2019

Background

Despite improvements in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) management, survival rates remain relatively low and novel anti‐neoplastic agents are needed. Bromodomain and extra‐terminal (BET) inhibitors proved to be promising agents for cancer treatment. We investigated the effects of three BET inhibitors (JQ1, IBET‐151, IBET‐762) on SCC‐25 cell line and primary oral cancer cell culture.

Methods

Cell viability was evaluated by MTT. Protein levels of MCM5 and cleaved‐PARP were estimated by Western blot. Clonogenic and migratory abilities were determined by colony forming and scratch assays. BET inhibitors effects on mRNA levels of E‐Cadherin, Vimentin, SNAI1, SNAI2, CLU, SERPINI1, MCM5, c‐Myc, E2F, IL7R, and PPARg were analyzed by qPCR.

Results

BET inhibitors significantly reduced oral cancer cell viability. JQ1 showed the greatest effect reducing cell viability to 10%, both in SCC‐25 and primary OSCC cultures (P < 0.001), compared to control cells. Cells treated with BET inhibitors displayed a reduction to 50% in colony forming capacity compared to control cells (P < 0.0001) and the colonies were smaller; they also had a 50%‐60% reduction in migratory capacity (P < 0.05) compared to untreated cells. BET inhibitors had a significant impact on genes related to epithelial to mesenchymal transition and other cancer cell markers, notably on MCM5, a gene related to cell cycle control.

Conclusions

BET inhibitors induce both OSCC cell death and reduction of tumor aggressiveness. Molecular mechanisms of BET inhibition involve among others, MCM5 downregulation. Importantly, this study demonstrates for the first time the anti‐tumoral effect of IBET‐151 and IBET‐762 in oral cancer.
Owners' perception of their dogs' quality of life during and after radiotherapy for cancer
Authors: Serras A. R. , Berlato D. , Murphy S.
Published: January 2019

Objectives

To determine the owners’ perception of dogs' quality of life before, immediately after and 6 weeks after radiotherapy treatments for a variety of neoplasms and assess owner satisfaction over their decision to treat.

Materials and Methods

Questionnaires were given to owners whose dogs completed a radiotherapy treatment at a referral radiation oncology centre. Questionnaires were given at three time points: before treatment, on the last day of treatment and more than 6 weeks after the treatment was finished. Owners were asked questions regarding their perception of radiotherapy and the quality of life of their pets before, during and after treatment with radiation therapy. Quality of life was scored from 1 (could not be worse) to 10 (could not be better).

Results

Seventy‐one owners met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Results showed that 6 weeks or more after treatment, most owners were happy that they had chosen to treat their dogs (92%) and would treat another pet again, if indicated (88%). Across the three time points, median quality of life perception score was 9.

Clinical Significance

Radiotherapy was well tolerated by owners and dogs in this study. The great majority of clients were happy to have pursued radiotherapy, would choose to do it again (if indicated) and would recommend it to a friend.
Early steep decline of liver stiffness predicts histological reversal of fibrosis in chronic hepatitis B patients treated with entecavir
Authors: Kong Yuanyuan , Sun Yameng , Zhou Jialing , Wu Xiaoning , Chen Yongpeng , Piao Hongxin , Lu Lungen , Ding Huiguo , Nan Yuemin , Jiang Wei , Xu Youqing , Xie Wen , Li Hanwei , Feng Bo , Shi Guangfeng , Chen Guofeng , Li Hai , Zheng Huanwei , Cheng Jilin , Wang Tailing , Liu Hui , Lv Fudong , Shao Chen , Mao Yimin , Sun Jihong , Chen Tao , Han Tao , Han Ying , Wang Lin , Ou Xiaojuan , Zhang Hui , Jia Jidong , You Hong
Published: January 2019

It is unknown whether dynamic changes of liver stiffness measurement (LSM) can predict the reversibility of fibrosis. Therefore, we evaluated the utility of LSM changes in predicting histological changes of fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) on antiviral therapy. In a prospective cohort of CHB patients treated with entecavir, virological measurement and biochemical measurement along with LSM were measured at baseline and every 6 months. Liver biopsies were conducted at baseline and month 18 of treatment. Fibrosis regression was defined by the following two criteria: (a) Ishak score decrease ≥1 stage, (b) Ishak score decrease ≥1 stage or predominantly regressive by post‐treatment PIR classification. The dynamic changes of LSM and its predictive value for histological reversibility were evaluated with piecewise linear mixed‐effects model and ROC analysis. We found that at month 18 of antiviral therapy, liver fibrosis was reserved in 86 of 212 (40.6%) CHB patients by Ishak reversal criterion. Overall, a decline in LSM was associated with attenuation of Ishak score. The rate of LSM decline in the first 6 months was significantly faster in patients with fibrosis reversal (ΔLSM%Ishak = −2.19%/month, P = 0.0025; ΔLSM%Ishak/PIR = −2.56%/month, P = 0.0004). The predictive model based on baseline FIB‐4 and Ishak score as well as baseline LSM, PLT, albumin and their changes during the first 6 months could predict histological reversal (AUROCIshak = 0.74, 95% CI: 0.67‐0.80; AUROCIshak/PIR = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.74‐0.87). We conclude that in CHB patients, changes in LSM during the first 6 months of entecavir therapy can predict histological reversibility of liver fibrosis at month 18 of antiviral therapy.
Heritability estimates for nutritional quality‐related traits of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas
Authors: Liu Sheng , Li Li , Zhang Shoudu , Wang Weijun , Yang Jianmin , Zhang Guofan
Published: January 2019

Pacific oysters, Crassostrea gigas, are the most abundantly harvested shellfish in the world and are ecologically significant. The content of nutrients, including protein, glycogen, lipid, zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se), is important for oyster meat quality, but heritability estimates of such traits have rarely been reported. In this study, 64 full‐sib families were generated using a nested mating design. Finally, 18 full‐sib families, of which there were nine half‐sib families, with each containing 2 full‐sib families, were sampled for heritability estimates. The narrow‐sense heritabilities of glycogen, protein, lipid, Zn, and Se contents were 0.29 ± 0.02, 0.38 ± 0.02, 0.58 ± 0.08, 0.02 ± 0.02, and 0, respectively. Negative genetic correlations existed between both glycogen and protein content (−0.95 ± 0.004) and between lipid and protein content (−0.59 ± 0.05), whereas a positive correlation was observed between lipid and glycogen content (0.16 ± 0.06). Weak genetic and phenotypical correlations (r = 0–0.2) were observed between shell height and nutritional quality traits. These data demonstrated that glycogen, protein, and lipid content can be chosen in a selective breeding program, but glycogen and lipids cannot be selected together with protein. Furthermore, performing indirect selective breeding for quality traits by selecting traits related to growth is impossible. This study provides information for the development of breeding strategies for oyster quality traits.
Differential modes of crosslinking establish spatially distinct regions of peptidoglycan in Caulobacter crescentus
Authors: Stankeviciute Gabriele , Miguel Amanda V. , Radkov Atanas , Chou Seemay , Huang Kerwyn Casey , Klein Eric A.
Published: January 2019

The diversity of cell shapes across the bacterial kingdom reflects evolutionary pressures that have produced physiologically important morphologies. While efforts have been made to understand the regulation of some prototypical cell morphologies such as that of rod‐shaped Escherichia coli, little is known about most cell shapes. For Caulobacter crescentus, polar stalk synthesis is tied to its dimorphic life cycle, and stalk elongation is regulated by phosphate availability. Based on the previous observation that C. crescentus stalks are lysozyme‐resistant, we compared the composition of the peptidoglycan cell wall of stalks and cell bodies and identified key differences in peptidoglycan crosslinking. Cell body peptidoglycan contained primarily DD‐crosslinks between meso‐diaminopimelic acid and D‐alanine residues, whereas stalk peptidoglycan had more LD‐transpeptidation (meso‐diaminopimelic acid‐meso‐diaminopimelic acid), mediated by LdtD. We determined that ldtD is dispensable for stalk elongation; rather, stalk LD‐transpeptidation reflects an aging process associated with low peptidoglycan turnover in the stalk. We also found that lysozyme resistance is a structural consequence of LD‐crosslinking. Despite no obvious selection pressure for LD‐crosslinking or lysozyme resistance in C. crescentus, the correlation between these two properties was maintained in other organisms, suggesting that DAP‐DAP crosslinking may be a general mechanism for regulating bacterial sensitivity to lysozyme.
Online boundary work tactics: an affordance perspective
Authors: Siegert Steffi , Löwstedt Jan
Published: January 2019

Studies of work/life balance have focussed on offline settings, and even though technology is considered as a boundary‐influencing feature, social media have not been the focus. Social technologies challenge the relationship between work and private life in new ways, due to their identified affordances: visibility, persistence, association and editability (Treem and Leonardi, 2012). In this paper, we present the results of a study of social media use (Facebook and Twitter) by employees of non‐governmental organisations (NGOs), and show how, through their affordances, these technologies influence the relationship and boundaries between work and non‐work, increasing visibility and reducing individual privacy. Consequently, we observe boundary work tactics that aim to protect private life from both public and professional scrutiny, in prohibitive, reactive or active ways. Our results call for organisations to develop explicit policies or guidelines for social media use, in both their own interests and those of their employees.
The INFORMAS healthy food environment policy index (Food‐EPI) in Mexico: An assessment of implementation gaps and priority recommendations
Authors: Nieto Claudia , Rodríguez Estefania , Sánchez‐Bazán Karina , Tolentino‐Mayo Lizbeth , Carriedo‐Lutzenkirchen Angela , Vandevijvere Stefanie , Barquera Simón
Published: January 2019

Mexico is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of obesity and recently declared a national epidemic of diabetes. Healthy food environments have the potential to improve the diet of the population and decrease the burden of disease. The aim of the study was to assess the efforts of the Mexican Government towards creating healthier food environments using the Healthy Food Environment Policy Index (Food‐EPI). The tool was developed by the International Network for Food and Obesity/Non‐communicable Diseases Research, Monitoring and Action Support (INFORMAS). Then, it was adapted to the Latin‐American context and assessed the components of policy and infrastructure support. Actors from academia, civil society, government, and food industry assessed the level of implementation of food policies compared with international best practices. Actors were classified as (1) independents from academia and civil society (n = 36), (2) government (n = 28), and (3) industry (n = 6). The indicators with the highest percentage of implementation were those related to monitoring and intelligence. Those related to food retail were rated lowest. When stratified by type of actor, the government officials rated several indicators at a higher percentage of implementation compared with independent actors. None of the indicators were rated at high implementation. Government officials and independent actors agreed upon nine priority actions to improve the food environment in Mexico. These actions have the potential to improve government commitment and advocacy efforts to create healthier food environments.
Comparison of low‐fresh gas flow technique to standard technique of sevoflurane induction in children—A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Singh Ajay , Sinha Renu , Aravindan Ajisha , Kumar Kanil Ranjith , Datta Priyankar Kumar
Published: January 2019

Background

Although sevoflurane is preferred for inhalational induction in children, financial and environmental costs remain major limitations. The aim of this study was to determine if the use of low‐fresh gas flow during inhalational induction with sevoflurane could significantly reduce agent consumption, without adversely affecting induction conditions.

Methods

After institutional ethical committee approval, 50 children, aged 1‐5 years, undergoing ophthalmic procedures under general anesthesia, were randomized into two groups—standard induction (Group S) and low‐flow induction (Group L). A pediatric circle system with 1 L reservoir bag was primed with 8% sevoflurane in oxygen at 6 L min−1 for 30 seconds before beginning induction. In Group S, fresh gas flow was maintained at 6 L min−1 until the end of induction. In Group L, fresh gas flow was reduced to 1 L min−1 after applying facemask (time = T0). In both groups, sevoflurane was reduced to 5% after loss of eyelash reflex (T1). Once adequate depth of anesthesia was achieved (regular respiration, loss of muscle tone, and absence of movement to trapezius squeeze), intravenous access was secured (T2), followed by insertion of an appropriately sized LMA‐Classic™ (T3). Heart rate and endtidal sevoflurane concentration were measured at each of the above time points, and at 15 seconds following laryngeal mask airway insertion (T4). The total amount of sevoflurane consumed during induction was recorded.

Results

Sevoflurane consumption was significantly lower in Group L (4.17 ± 0.70 mL) compared to Group S (8.96 ± 1.11 mL) (mean difference 4.79 [95% CI = 4.25‐5.33] mL; P < 0.001). Time to successful laryngeal mask airway insertion was similar in both groups. There were no significant differences in heart rate, incidence of reflex tachycardia, or need for rescue propofol.

Conclusion

Induction of anesthesia with sevoflurane using low‐fresh gas flow is effective in reducing sevoflurane consumption, without compromising induction time and conditions.
Deferring to Others about One's Own Mind
Authors: Doyle Casey
Published: January 2019

Pessimists about moral testimony hold that there is something suboptimal about forming moral beliefs by deferring to another. This paper motivates an analogous claim about self‐knowledge of the reason‐responsive attitudes. When it comes to your own mind, it seems important to know things “from the inside”, in the first‐personal way, rather than putting your trust in another. After motivating pessimism, the paper offers an explanation of its truth. First‐person knowledge is distinctive because it involves knowing a state of mind and finding it intelligible from one's point of view. It concludes by considering the value of this form of self‐understanding.
A strong early acting wound‐inducible promoter, RbPCD1pro, activates cryIAc expression within minutes of wounding to impart efficient protection against insects
Authors: Pandey Saurabh Prakash , Singh Amar Pal , Srivastava Shruti , Chandrashekar Krishnappa , Sane Aniruddha P.
Published: January 2019

The expression of insecticidal proteins under constitutive promoters in transgenic plants is fraught with problems like developmental abnormalities, yield drag, expression in unwanted tissues, and seasonal changes in expression. RbPCD1pro, a rapid, early acting wound‐inducible promoter from rose that is activated within 5 min of wounding, was isolated and characterized. Wounding increased transcript levels up to 150 and 500 folds within 5 and 20 min coupled with high translation as seen by histochemical GUS enzyme activity within 5–20 min. RbPCD1pro was activated by both sucking and chewing insects and showed wound‐inducible expression in various aerial tissues of plants representing commercially important dicot and monocot families. The promoter showed no expression in any vegetative tissue except upon wounding. Functionality of RbPCD1pro was tested by its ability to drive expression of the insecticidal protein gene cryIAc in transgenic Arabidopsis and tomato. Strong wound‐inducible CryIAc expression was observed in both plants that increased 100–350 fold (Arabidopsis) and 280–600 fold (tomato) over the unwounded background within 5 min and over 1000–1600 fold within 20 min. The unwounded background level was just 3–6% of the CaMV35S promoter while wound‐induced expression was 5–27 folds higher than the best CaMV35S line in just 5 min and 80‐fold higher in 20 min. Transgenic plants showed strong resistance even to larger fourth instar larvae of H. armigera and no abnormalities in development and general plant growth. This is one of the earliest acting promoters with wide biotechnological application across monocot and dicot plants.
Marker‐assisted introgression of rare allele of β‐carotene hydroxylase (crtRB1) gene into elite quality protein maize inbred for combining high lysine, tryptophan and provitamin A in maize
Authors: Goswami Rajat , Zunjare Rajkumar Uttamrao , Khan Suphiya , Baveja Aanchal , Muthusamy Vignesh , Hossain Firoz
Published: January 2019

Vitamin A deficiency in humans is a widespread health problem. Quality protein maize (QPM) is a popular food rich in lysine and tryptophan, but poor in provitamin A (proA). Here, we report the improvement of an elite QPM inbred, HKI1128Q for proA using marker‐assisted introgression of crtRB1‐favourable allele. HKI1128 was one of the parental lines of three popular hybrids in India and was converted to QPM in our earlier programme. Severe segregation distortion for crtRB1 was observed in BC1F1, BC2F1 and BC2F2. Background selection by 100 SSRs revealed mean recovery of 91.07% recurrent parent genome varying from 88.78% to 93.88%. Across years, introgressed progenies possessed higher mean β‐carotene (BC: 9.22 µg/g), β‐cryptoxanthin (BCX: 3.05 µg/g) and provitamin A (proA: 10.75 µg/g) compared to HKI1128Q (BC: 2.26 µg/g, BCX: 2.26 µg/g and proA: 3.38 µg/g). High concentration of essential amino acids, viz. lysine (mean: 0.303%) and tryptophan (0.080%) in endosperm, was also retained. Multi‐year evaluation showed that introgressed progenies possessed similar grain yield (1,759–1,879 kg/ha) with HKI1128Q (1,778 kg/ha). Introgressed progenies with higher lysine, tryptophan and proA hold immense potential as donors and parents in developing biofortified hybrids.
DWARF4 accumulation in root tips is enhanced via blue light perception by cryptochromes
Authors: Sakaguchi Jun , Matsushita Tomonao , Watanabe Yuichiro
Published: January 2019

Brassinosteroid (BR) signalling is known to be coordinated with light signalling in above ground tissue. Many studies focusing on the shade avoidance response in above ground tissue or hypocotyl elongation in darkness have revealed the contribution of the BR signalling pathway to these processes. We previously analysed the expression of DWARF 4 (DWF4), a key BR biosynthesis enzyme, and revealed that light perception in above ground tissues triggered DWF4 accumulation in root tips. To determine the required wavelength of light and photoreceptors responsible for this regulation, we studied DWF4‐GUS marker plants grown in several monochromatic light conditions. We revealed that monochromatic blue LED light could induce DWF4 accumulation in primary root tips and root growth as much as white light, whereas monochromatic red LED could not. Consistent with this, a cryptochrome1/2 double mutant showed retarded root growth under white light whereas a phytochromeA/B double mutant did not. Taken together, our data strongly indicated that blue light signalling was important for DWF4 accumulation in root tips and root growth. Furthermore, DWF4 accumulation patterns in primary root tips were not altered by auxin or sugar treatment. Therefore, we hypothesize that blue light signalling from the shoot tissue is different from auxin and sugar signalling.
Pollination efficiency of cockroaches and other floral visitors of Clusia blattophila
Authors: Vlasáková B. , Pinc J. , Jůna F. , Kotyková Varadínová Z.
Published: January 2019

Cockroaches have rarely been documented as pollinators. In this paper we examine whether this is because they might be inefficient at pollination compared to other pollinators. Clusia blattophila, a dioecious shrub growing on isolated rocky outcrops in French Guiana, is pollinated by Amazonina platystylata cockroaches and provides a valuable system for the study of cockroach pollination efficiency.

We examined the species composition of the visitor guild and visitation rates by means of camcorder recordings and visitor sampling. Then, we investigated the capacity for pollen transfer of principal visitors and found correlations between visitation rates and pollen loads on stigmas. In an exclusion experiment we determined the contributions of individual species to pollination success.

Amazonina platystylata, crickets and two species of Diptera transferred pollen, but the number of transferred pollen grains was only related to visitation rates in the case of cockroaches. Crickets visited and rarely carried pollen. Dipterans were as frequent as cockroaches, carried similar pollen loads, but transferred much less pollen. An estimated 41% and 17% of ovules were pollinated by cockroaches and dipterans, respectively. The remaining ovules were not pollinated. There was no spatial variation in pollinator guild composition, but cockroaches visited flowers less frequently at the smaller study site.

We demonstrate that cockroaches pollinate a large proportion of ovules. Their pollination service is not confined to one study site and, unlike that provided by dipterans, is not limited to certain years. We suggest that cockroach pollination has been overlooked and that cockroach‐pollinated plants, which share certain floral features, possess adaptations to pollination by cockroaches.
“Rejecting the Universal to Protect the Local:” Oaxacan Teachers Battle against Global Education Reforms
Authors: Bracho Christian A.
Published: January 2019

Drawing on ethnographic data and interviews with 45 teachers, teacher trainers, and union officials in Oaxaca, Mexico, this article asserts that teachers’ beliefs in “Oaxacan exceptionalism”—the idea that the state is fundamentally different from the rest of Mexico—underpinned teachers’ resistance against professionalization policies embedded in the Alliance for the Quality of Education, a sweeping reform inspired by the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development. Teachers within Oaxaca’s union chapter, Section 22, described the reforms as an imposition of policies ill‐suited to the state’s linguistic and cultural diversity, its economic disparities, and rural‐urban divides. Resistance also symbolized local efforts to preserve Oaxacans’ dissident teaching traditions and Section 22’s professional authority, in the face of modernization efforts by the Mexican government, the national union, and international agencies. The study reveals how teachers can resist global educational policies by defending local traditions and asserting regional autonomy.
Decision Biases of Strategic Customers with Private Product‐Value Information: An Experimental Study
Authors: Song Yanan , Zhao Xiaobo , Zhu Wanshan , Chen Yefen
Published: January 2019

We consider a random number of strategic customers who compete for a limited stock of products, and decide whether to buy a product at full price now or at a discount price by waiting until the end of the selling season. This decision is not trivial, as waiting leads to not only a lower cost, but also less value due to a possible stockout caused by the limited product quantity. The equilibrium analysis of the competition game based on a theoretical model predicts that strategic customers wait for the discount price when their private product valuations at the end of the selling season are above a threshold. We conduct a laboratory experiment to study strategic customers’ decisions and find that significantly fewer customers wait than predicted when the stock quantity is high, but not when the stock quantity is low. Our behavioral models with their structural estimates reveal that the strategic customers’ behavior is caused by decision biases of bounded rationality and risk aversion. These findings imply that a retailer should take account of decision biases when deciding on the optimal stock quantity because the decision biases of strategic customers benefit the retailer when stock quantity is high, but may not benefit them when stock quantity is low.
Active information sampling varies across the cardiac cycle
Authors: Kunzendorf Stella , Klotzsche Felix , Akbal Mert , Villringer Arno , Ohl Sven , Gaebler Michael
Published: January 2019

Perception and cognition oscillate with fluctuating bodily states. For example, visual processing has been shown to change with alternating cardiac phases. Here, we study the heartbeat’s role for active information sampling—testing whether humans implicitly act upon their environment so that relevant signals appear during preferred cardiac phases. During the encoding period of a visual memory experiment, participants clicked through a set of emotional pictures to memorize them for a later recognition test. By self‐paced key press, they actively prompted the onset of short (100 ms) presented pictures. Simultaneously recorded electrocardiograms allowed us to analyze the self‐initiated picture onsets relative to the heartbeat. We find that self‐initiated picture onsets vary across the cardiac cycle, showing an increase during cardiac systole, while memory performance was not affected by the heartbeat. We conclude that active information sampling integrates heart‐related signals, thereby extending previous findings on the association between body‐brain interactions and behavior.
Using principal components analysis to examine resting state EEG in relation to task performance
Authors: Karamacoska Diana , Barry Robert J. , Steiner Genevieve Z.
Published: January 2019

Brain dynamics research has highlighted the significance of the ongoing EEG in ERP genesis and cognitive functioning. Few studies, however, have assessed the contributions of the intrinsic resting state EEG to these stimulus‐response processes and behavioral outcomes. Principal components analysis (PCA) has increasingly been used to obtain more objective, data‐driven estimates of the EEG and ERPs. PCA was used here to reassess resting state EEG and go/no‐go task ERP data from a previous study (Karamacoska et al., 2017) and the relationships between these measures. Twenty adults had EEG recorded with eyes closed (EC) and eyes open (EO), and as they completed an auditory go/no‐go task. Separate EEG and ERP PCAs were conducted on each resting condition and stimulus type. For each state, seven EEG components were identified within the delta‐beta frequency range, and six ERP components were obtained for go and no‐go stimuli. Within the task, mean reaction time (RT) correlated positively with go P2 amplitude and negatively with P3b positivity. Regressions revealed that greater EC delta‐1 amplitude predicted shorter mean RT, and larger alpha‐3 amplitude predicted go P3b enhancement. These findings demonstrate the immediate P2 and P3b involvement in decision making and response control and the intrinsic EC delta‐1 and alpha‐3 amplitudes that underpin these processes.
Remittances and bond yield spreads in emerging market economies
Authors: Balima Hippolyte Wenéyam , Combes Jean‐Louis
Published: January 2019

This paper tests whether remittances reduce bond yield spreads in emerging market economies. Drawing upon instrumental variable techniques, our paper reveals that remittance inflows significantly reduce bond yield spreads. This result is robust to different specifications, alternative instrumentation techniques, additional control variables, and the use of credit default swap spreads in place of bond spreads. In addition, we find that the effect of remittances on spreads (i) is larger in (more) poorly developed financial systems, (ii) increases with the degree of trade openness, (iii) is larger in low fiscal space regimes, and (iv) is larger in nonremittance‐dependent countries. The paper concludes that policies that improve the measurement of remittance inflows and reduce their transfer costs or that enable countries to develop securitization of remittances and diaspora bonds could help emerging market economies to leverage remittances for international capital market access.
Scapegoating culture: Misunderstanding organizational culture as the problem in carceral institutions and beyond
Authors: Rudes Danielle S. , Magnuson Shannon
Published: January 2019

Organizational culture is an obscure and poorly understood part of organizational life. In scholarly work, researchers use organizational culture as both a catch‐all term and a black box of intrigue. The former suggests its omnipresence and ability to take the blame for all that ills organizations. The latter denotes a mythical and misunderstood invisible cloak that covers organizations and organizational life, yet is misconstrued, complex, and confusing. This paper presents a brief summary of the multidisciplinary history of organizational culture as a concept and operationalized term while simultaneously suggesting our knowledge of organizational culture remains at its infancy. Using prisons as a case study example, the authors consider how better to unpack organizational culture using sound and rigorous qualitative methods with careful attention to sampling and researcher–subject collaboration. Concluding thoughts note the importance of using culture as a dependent, rather than independent variable, so scholars will stop scapegoating culture as the answer to why organizational processes and outcomes fail and will instead recognize the study of culture as the problem itself.
Translation of national guidelines into local practice
Authors: Warnakulasuriya Samantha R , Harvey Rachel , McNarry Alistair F
Published: January 2019

Background

Addressing themes raised by the Royal College of Anaesthetists National Audit Project 4, we introduced new training programmes to improve the knowledge and skills necessary for the management of airway crises. A further large‐scale multimodal training programme was introduced to implement guidelines published in 2015 by the Difficult Airway Society (DAS).

Methods

In 2014, questionnaires were used to assess the knowledge necessary to manage the unanticipated difficult airway before and after high‐fidelity simulation sessions. In 2016, surveys assessed knowledge of new DAS guidelines before and 5 months after the implementation of a large‐scale targeted teaching programme to educate staff.

Results

In 2014, 20 anaesthetic teams (75 delegates) attended high‐fidelity simulations and demonstrated a significant immediate improvement in knowledge. In 2016, 185 participants attended a targeted teaching programme. Although after the teaching programme an increased number of anaesthetists reported having accessed training, there was a persistent knowledge gap, with some details retained by as few as 15% of participants.

Discussion

Whereas the knowledge of these important guidelines was improved in the immediate aftermath of high‐fidelity simulation training, the knowledge retention was disappointing, raising questions as to why knowledge of highly important techniques used in crises was so poor. We ask whether training should be compulsory and how knowledge retention might be improved across all health care disciplines that rely on guidelines for the effective management of rarely occurring but safety‐critical events.
Palmar arthroscopic approach and intra‐articular anatomy of the bovine carpal joints
Authors: Hagag Usama , Tawfiek Mohamed G. , Brehm Walter
Published: January 2019

Objective

To describe the palmar arthroscopic approaches to the bovine carpus and document the visible intra‐articular structures in each approach.

Study design

Ex vivo study.

Sample population

Thirty fresh cadaveric bovine forelimbs.

Methods

Computed tomography (CT) and gross dissection were performed on 4 carpi. Latex models were produced from 6 carpi to define the gross anatomy and arthroscopic portals to the palmar carpal pouches. Ultrasonography and arthroscopy were performed on 20 carpi to document visualization of the local anatomy.

Results

A single palmar pouch was present on both sides of each joint on gross dissection and evaluation of latex models. The relationship between pouches and palmar structures was observed by CT. Small anechoic areas identified on ultrasonography increased after joint distension. Palmar arthroscopy of the antebrachiocarpal joint enabled visualization of the palmar surfaces of radial, intermediate, and ulnar carpal bones; distal radius; ulnar styloid process; palmar radiocarpal ligament; and articulation of accessory and ulnar carpal bones. Palmar arthroscopy of the middle carpal joint enabled inspection of the palmar aspects of ulnar, intermediate, radial, fused second and third and fourth carpal bones, palmar carpometacarpal ligament, and the short lateral collateral ligament. Palmar aspects of the fourth and fifth metacarpal bones were explored through the palmarolateral approach to the middle carpal joint. Instrument portals for each pouch were created under arthroscopic guidance.

Conclusion

Palmar arthroscopy of the adult bovine carpus enabled visualization of the clinically relevant palmar intra‐articular structures.

Clinical significance

Palmar carpal arthroscopy should be considered as an adjunct to dorsal approach for the diagnosis and treatment of bovine carpal diseases.
Heat in a Bottle
Authors: Forsberg Charles W.
Published: January 2019

Concentrated solar plants have been designed to store thermal energy so as to produce power after sundown, but heat storage should also be of interest to operators of nuclear power plants. Adding heat storage to light-water reactors is the enabling technology for a carbon-free electricity industry based on solar, wind, and nuclear power. And it can accomplish this with little disruption to the operations of existing nuclear plants. This article delves into the current heat storage technologies that are at various states of readiness to be deployed.
Precision Computation of Wind Turbine Power Upgrades: An Aerodynamic and Control Optimization Test Case
Authors: Astolfi Davide , Castellani Francesco , Fravolini Mario Luca , Cascianelli Silvia , Terzi Ludovico
Published: January 2019

Wind turbine upgrades have recently been spreading in the wind energy industry for optimizing the efficiency of the wind kinetic energy conversion. These interventions have material and labor costs; therefore, it is fundamental to estimate the production improvement realistically. Furthermore, the retrofitting of the wind turbines sited in complex environments might exacerbate the stress conditions to which those are subjected and consequently might affect the residual life. In this work, a two-step upgrade on a multimegawatt wind turbine is considered from a wind farm sited in complex terrain. First, vortex generators and passive flow control devices have been installed. Second, the management of the revolutions per minute has been optimized. In this work, a general method is formulated for assessing the wind turbine power upgrades using operational data. The method is based on the study of the residuals between the measured power output and a judicious model of the power output itself, before and after the upgrade. Therefore, properly selecting the model is fundamental. For this reason, an automatic feature selection algorithm is adopted, based on the stepwise multivariate regression. This allows identifying the most meaningful input variables for a multivariate linear model whose target is the power of the upgraded wind turbine. For the test case of interest, the adopted upgrade is estimated to increase the annual energy production to 2.6 ± 0.1%. The aerodynamic and control upgrades are estimated to be 1.8% and 0.8%, respectively, of the production improvement.
Energy and Exergy Analysis of Marquise Shaped Channel Flat Plate Solar Collector Using Al2O3–Water Nanofluid and Water
Authors: Arora Sahil , Fekadu Geleta , Subudhi Sudhakar
Published: January 2019

The present study deals with the experimental performance of a Marquise shaped channel solar flat-plate collector using Al2O3/water nanofluid and base fluid (pure water). The experimental setup comprises a special type of solar flat plate collector, closed working fluid systems, and the measurement devices. The absorber plate is made of two aluminum plates sandwiched together with Marquise-shaped flow channels. The volume fraction of 0.1% of Al2O3/water nanofluid is used for this study. The various parameters used to investigate performance of the collector energy and exergy efficiency are collector inlet and outlet fluid temperatures, mass flow rate of the fluid, solar radiation, and ambient temperature. The flow rate of nanofluid and water varies from 1 to 5 lpm. The maximum energy efficiencies attained are 83.17% and 59.72%, whereas the maximum exergy efficiencies obtained are 18.73% and 12.29% for the 20 nm—Al2O3/water nanofluids and pure water, respectively, at the flow rate of 3 lpm. These higher efficiencies may be due to the use of nanofluids and the sophisticated design of the absorber plate with the Marquise shaped channel.
Analytical Structures of Takagi-Sugeno Fuzzy Two-Input Two-Output Proportional-Integral/Proportional-Derivative Controllers With Multiple Fuzzy Sets
Authors: Raj Ritu , Mohan B. M.
Published: January 2019

In this paper, an attempt is made to generalize the analytical structures of Takagi-Sugeno (TS) fuzzy two-input two-output (TITO) proportional-integral (PI)/proportional-derivative (PD) controllers using multiple input fuzzy sets. Two models of fuzzy TITO PI/PD controllers are proposed based on two distinct control strategies. The inputs are fuzzified by multiple fuzzy sets with trapezoidal/triangular membership functions. The generalized rule base consists of nine control rules imbibing the complete control strategy and is closer in spirit to the original TS rule base. Algebraic product (AP) triangular norm, bounded sum (BS) triangular conorm, and center of gravity (CoG) defuzzifier are applied to derive the models. The models of the fuzzy TITO PI/PD controllers with multiple input fuzzy sets are (nonlinear) variable gain/structure controllers. Also, each output of the fuzzy controller is the sum of two nonlinear PI/PD controllers with variable gains. The gain variation and properties of the proposed controllers are studied. Two examples of nonlinear dynamic processes are considered to demonstrate the applicability of the proposed controllers.
Pole Placement for Time-Delayed Systems Using Galerkin Approximations
Authors: Kandala Shanti S. , Uchida Thomas K. , Vyasarayani C. P.
Published: January 2019

Many dynamic systems of practical interest have inherent time delays and thus are governed by delay differential equations (DDEs). Because DDEs are infinite dimensional, time-delayed systems may be difficult to stabilize using traditional controller design strategies. We apply the Galerkin approximation method using a new pseudo-inverse-based technique for embedding the boundary conditions, which results in a simpler mathematical derivation than has been presented previously. We then use the pole placement technique to design closed-loop feedback gains that stabilize time-delayed systems and verify our results through comparison to those reported in the literature. Finally, we perform experimental validation by applying our method to stabilize a rotary inverted pendulum system with inherent sensing delays as well as additional time delays that are introduced deliberately. The proposed approach is easily implemented and performs at least as well as existing methods.
Thermal Prestress in Composite Compliant Shell Mechanisms
Authors: Stacey Jonathan P. , O'Donnell Matthew P. , Schenk Mark
Published: January 2019

This paper explores the ability to tailor the mechanical properties of composite compliant shell mechanisms, by exploiting the thermal prestress introduced during the composite laminate cure. An extension of an analytical tape spring model with composite thermal analysis is presented, and the effect of the thermal prestress is studied by means of energy landscapes for the cylindrical composite shells. Tape springs that would otherwise be monostable structures become bistable and exhibit greater ranges of low-energy twisting with thermally induced prestress. Predicted shell geometries are compared with finite element (FE) results and manufactured samples, showing good agreement between all approaches. Wider challenges around the manufacture of prestressed composite compliant mechanisms are discussed.