bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of an Integrated Nutrition Program on Child Morbidity due to Respiratory Infection and Diarrhea in Northern Viet Nam
Authors: Sripaipan Teerada , Schroeder Dirk G. , Marsh David R. , Pachón Helena , Dearden Kirk A. , Ha Tran Thu , Lang Tran Thi
Published: November 2018

Infectious disease and poor diet are the two proximal causes of malnutrition in children. During the 1990s, integrated nutrition programs implemented by Save the Children (SC) in Vietnam reduced severe child malnutrition, but it has not been clear if this impact was due primarily to improved diet or reduced disease. The aim of this study was to determine whether a community-based, integrated nutrition program in Vietnam reduced child morbidity due to diarrhea or acute respiratory infections. Children 5 to 25 months old were randomly selected from randomly assigned intervention and comparison communes. Caregivers of children from the intervention and comparison groups (n = 119 per group) were interviewed about their child's morbidity at program baseline and at study months 2, 4, 6, and 12. Multiple logistic regression and general estimating equations (GEE) were used to evaluate the effect of the intervention on the occurrence of any diarrhea and respiratory illness in the preceding two weeks. Respiratory illness, mainly upper respiratory illness, was more common than diarrheal disease at baseline (54% vs. 6%, respectively). During follow-up, children in the intervention communes had approximately half the respiratory illness experienced by those in comparison communes (AOR = 0.5; p = . 001). Diarrheal disease was also lower in the intervention group, although differences were not statistically significant. We conclude that SC's integrated nutrition program was associated with reduced upper respiratory illness, perhaps due to improved hygiene practices and/or improved micronutrient intakes.
Iodine Deficiency: Consequences and Progress toward Elimination
Authors: Maberly Glen F. , Haxton David P. , van der Haar Frits
Published: November 2018

While traditionally associated with cretinism and goiter, iodine deficiency has broad effects on central nervous system development that can occur in the absence of either condition. Any maternal iodine deficiency results in a range of intellectual, motor, and hearing deficits in offspring. This loss in intellectual capacity limits educational achievement of populations and the economic prowess of nations. Progress made since the historic World Summit for Children in 1990 has been outstanding. Approximately 70% of households in the world used iodized salt by 2000, compared with less than 20% in 1990. It is estimated that at least 85 million newborns out of 130 million annual births are protected from a loss in learning ability that would otherwise have occurred. The elimination of iodine deficiency, by expedient production, marketing, and universal consumption of iodized salt, represents a significant development effort in public nutrition. Although globally iodine nutrition has greatly improved, 20% to 30% of pregnancies and thus newborns still do not fully benefit from the use of iodized salt. Countries where success is in evidence could rapidly revert back to deficiency if vigilance is not maintained. Just as success came through concerted public-private-civic actions, making sure that this is expanded and will steadily go on requires continuous collaboration.
Implementation of the who Multicentre Growth Reference Study in the United States
Authors: Dewey Kathryn G. , Cohen Roberta J. , Nommsen-Rivers Laurie A. , Heinig M. Jane
Published: November 2018

The World Health Organization (WHO) Multicentre Growth Reference Study (MRGS) North American site was Davis, California. For the longitudinal cohort (0–24 months), 208 infants were enrolled between January and December 1999 from five area hospitals at which nearly all Davis women give birth. The target sample size was lower in the United States than in the other sites, because recruitment in the United States was restricted to mothers who were willing to exclusively breastfeed for at least 4 months and continue breastfeeding for at least 12 months. For the cross-sectional component, a mixed-longitudinal design was used, which required approximately 500 subjects. The subjects were recruited by going door-to-door, with the sampling scheme based on the distribution of the subjects of the longitudinal study within the city. The cross-sectional sample was recruited between January and July 2001. Major challenges during implementation were maintaining daily communication with hospital personnel and scheduling home visits.
Nutrition Status and the Risk of Mortality in Children 6–36 Months Old in Tanzania
Authors: Yambi Olivia , Latham Michael C. , Habicht Jean-Pierre , Haas Jere D.
Published: November 2018

Anthropometric measurements were taken on 2,452 children between 6 and 36 months of age at baseline and at two-month intervals thereafter in rural Tanzania. The children were followed for one year. All deaths occurring in this group were recorded using a village registration system introduced as part of a village nutrition status monitoring system. The relationship between the anthropometric indicators (weight for age, height for age, and weight for height, as well as weight increment) and subsequent mortality was assessed. The results indicate that over the one-year period, nutrition status was a significant predictor of mortality, with the probability of survival lower in children of low nutrition status. Low weight for age (<60% of the standard) was associated with a nine-fold increase in risk compared to weight for age above 80%; low weight for height (<80%) earned an almost fourfold increase in risk compared to weight for height>90%; and low height for age had a twofold increase in risk compared to the normal categories. An overall linear relationship was found between nutrition status and mortality, suggesting a gradual increase in mortality as nutrition status deteriorates. Incremental weight appears to be a good short-term predicator of mortality.
Determinants of Community Health Workers’ Performance in India
Authors: Gujral Sunder , Abbi Rita , Mujoo Rajni , Gopaldas Tara
Published: November 2018

Forty-three anganwadi workers (community health workers) in Gujarat state, India, were interviewed to record their education level, evaluate their nutrition knowledge, and collect information on the number of visits made by the auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) in the preceding three months and the activities she performed for the anganwadi. The coverage of five services delivered or assisted by the anganwadi worker- supplementary feeding growth monitoring, vitamin A prophylaxis, health checkups, and immunization- was estimated by interviewing the mothers of 3,987 children 0–6 years old. The anganwadi worker's having at least a high school education, a nutrition knowledge score of more than 4 out of 7, more than one visit by the ANM in three months, and an ANM activity score of more than 2 out of 9 were significant determinants, individually or in combination, for the anganwadi worker's performance. Multiple regression analysis indicated that nutrition knowledge was the most powerful determinant of performance, followed by guidance from the ANM and education level. It is therefore concluded that anganwadi workers should receive nutrition health education and regular guidance from the ANMs, and their education level should be high school or above.
Nutrition and Health Issues in Cuba: Strategies for a Developing Country
Authors: Amador Manuel , Peña Manuel
Published: November 2018

Positive changes in the nutrition and health of the Cuban population have taken place in the last three decades. The strategies developed for their attainment have been mainly in the public health sector. Changes in health indicators closely linked to the nutrition status of the community in the last 20 years indicate that the population's standard of living has risen. However, there has been a tendency to both an absolute and a relative increase in the prevalence of and mortality from chronic non-communicable diseases and in their associated risk factors. On the other hand, moderate or severe protein-energy deficiency is not common, but iron deficiency is still a problem, especially in small children and pregnant women. Several strategies and actions currently are in progress for promoting a positive change in food habits and lifestyle.
Transferring a Simple Technology for Reducing the Dietary Bulk of Weaning Gruels by an Amylase-Rich Food from Laboratory to Urban Slum
Authors: Gopaldas Tara , Deshpande Suneeta , Vaishnav Urvi , Shah Neha , Mehta Pallavi , Tuteja Sashi , Kanani Shubada , Lalani Kashmira
Published: November 2018

This paper describes the transfer of a simple technology for the reduction of the dietary bulk of weaning gruels toy an amylase-rich food (ARF). Since the germination of pulses and the preparation of wheat gruel were culturally familiar, 188 slum mothers mastered these skills easily from graduate trainers. More than 90% of the mothers and their infants or toddlers liked the low-bulk consistency of the gruel with ARF and continued to use a gift packet of ARF powder as long it lasted. However, in a follow-up survey three months later, only 28% of them were making ARF regularly, although 83% continued to make the gruel regularly. Most of the mothers (89%) indicated they would buy ready-to-use ARF powder at prices of Rs 0.5 to Rs 2; so there appears to be good potential for the commercial manufacture of ARF.
Contaminant Iron in Water and Soil Samples and in Vitro Availability Studies
Authors: Latunde-Dada G. Oluyemisi
Published: November 2018

The iron content from 24 well water samples in tropical southern Nigeria ranged from 0.05 to 3.1 μg per millitre. Iron extracted from soil samples in deionized water, 0.1 M NaOH, 0.1 N HCI, and 0.1 N HCl-ascorbic acid averaged 79. 7, 146.3, 809.8, and 1,268.1 μg of iron per 100 g of soil sample respecfively. Extraction of iron from the soil samples was significantly affected (p < .05) by the addition of ascorbic acid. The dialysable iron in some meals containing contaminant iron from the samples compared favourably with a standard meal with ferric chloride. Dialysable iron was influenced significantly (p<.05) by the components in the meals. Meat and ascorbic acid enhanced the dialysability of contaminant iron sources in both the semi-synthetic meals and some tropical food items. The contribution of these contaminant iron sources to the diet of Nigerians in relation to the high frequency of iron-deficiency anaemia is discussed.
The Impact of Siblings’ Death on the Nutrition Status of Children in Peru
Authors: De Meer Kees , Bergman Roland , Kusner John S. , Den Brinker Willem H. P.
Published: November 2018

The impact of child deaths on the nutrition status of surviving children in the Lake Titicaca basin in the Andes of southern Peru (altitude>3,800 m) is explored. Survey data on obstetric history and social variables were collected in a random sample of 86 households in two Aymara and three Quechua Amerindian peasant communities. Independently of social factors, deaths among older siblings under five years old were associated with improved nutrition stature in children under four. Improved head circumference for age in boys was associated with the death of an older sister. The findings point to a new hypothesis concerning nutrition status in this population: mortality in children under five can be related to improved nutrition status (as evidenced by head circumference and height) in surviving siblings under four.
Household Dietary Adequacy and Individual Nutrition Status: Relationships and Seasonal Effects in a Sahelian Community in Chad
Authors: Begin France , Alladoumgué Mariam , Nandjingar Korite , Delisle Helene
Published: November 2018

A survey was conducted in a local area in the Sahelian zone of Chad to assess the relationship between household food consumption and individual nutrition status in two different seasons. Eighty households were surveyed during the non-harvest and harvest seasons. Household consumption was measured by weighing food items over two consecutive days.

The intake of energy, protein, and iron was adequate. The median intake of vitamin A was low, particularly in the non-harvest season, 48% of FAO/WHO/UNU recommendations. Seasonal differences were detected only for vitamin A and iron. The mean child weight-for-height Z score and mean adult body mass index were lower at the harvest season (p< .05). Household vitamin A adequacy was a significant predictor of child weight for height and adult body mass index at the harvest season, even when energy adequacy was controlled for.

This study shows that the weak relationship between household dietary intake and individual nutrition status changed with the seasons, and that both provided complementary information on household nutrition. It is suggested that where household energy supply is not limiting, monitoring the consumption of major sources of vitamin A may help to identify malnourished households.
The Utility of Clinic-Based Anthropometric Data for Early/Timely Warning Systems: A Case Study from Niger
Authors: Mock Nancy , Khan Mahmud , Mercer David , Magnani Robert , Baker Shawn , Bertrand William
Published: November 2018

The purpose of this study was to investigate the utility of clinic-based anthropometric data for early/timely warning purposes as a part of nutritional surveillance systems. The study combines the unique circumstances of the 1984–1985 Sahelian famine with retrospective time series of cereal prices, morbidity, and anthropometric data. Thus, the behaviour of clinicbased anthropometric data is compared to that of the other series and to the known evolution of the Sahelian famine. A conceptual framework for the use of clinicbased anthropometric data is developed, and time-series and regression techniques are used to explore the hypothesis that routinely collected anthropometric data can provide early indications of impending food emergencies. The clinic-based data performed well in identifying the famine several months in advance of official recognition of a problem and donor mobilization of resources. This suggests that properly analysed clinic data can be useful for the early detection of impending food crises, though further research will be needed to determine the general applicability of this finding. Several methodological issues related to the use of this type of data are explored.
Country Report: Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Status in Mongolia
Authors: Kachondam Yongyout , Dhanamitta Sakorn
Published: November 2018

Information on the health and nutrition status of mothers and children in Mongolia was gathered during a recent consultancy supported by UNICEF in collaboration with WHO and the Mongolian Ministry of Health. Data were collected from published and unpublished documents, interviews with Mongolian nutrition and health specialists and UNICEF country representatives, and observations using rapid assessment procedures. The four main nutrition problems found were protein-energy malnutrition, vitamin D deficiency, iodine-deficiency disorders, and irondeficiency anaemia. Also of great concern is an extremely high level of acute respiratory infection among young children, which may be attributable in part to the Mongolian lifestyle.
Determinants of Nutrition Status of Rural Preschool Children in Andhra Pradesh, India
Authors: Devi P. Yasoda , Geervani P.
Published: November 2018

A longitudinal study was conducted in four villages in the Medak district of Andhra Pradesh. One-hundred and ninety-seven children up to four years old were selected from low-income households in the study area. Pre-tested, structured interviews were conducted to collect information on child-related, maternal, paternal, and socio-economic factors from the households. Two child-related factors, number of diarrhoeal episodes and calorie adequacy of diet, showed a highly significant effect on a child's current as well as past nutrition status. The results of this study indicate a strong influence of socio-economic status and parental care on the control of infectious diseases and food intake, which are the two major causes for malnutrition among children in developing countries
Fortification of Foods: Historical Development and Current Practices
Authors: Mejia Luis A.
Published: November 2018

Differences exist between food enrichment and food fortification. A wide array of fortifying agents and food carriers have been developed to date. Numerous objectives and factors must be taken into consideration to guarantee a successful food-fortification intervention— for example, legal issues and how they affect programme outcomes. Technological constraints are also faced by food-fortification technology; however, research is being conducted to overcome these problems.
The Impact of Non-Traditional Export Agriculture on Income and Food Availability in Guatemala: An Intra-Household Perspective
Authors: Katz Elizabeth
Published: November 2018

This paper assesses the impact of non-traditional agriculture exports (NTAE) in highland Guatemala on the level and distribution of household income, and the financing and purchase of food items. Heckman's two-step procedure was used to control for self-selection of NTAE producers and potential correlation of preferences. Farmers with greater extension of land, as well as younger Catholic farmers with higher-quality land, are most likely to adopt the new crops (broccoli, snow peas (mange-tout!), and NTAE crops are highly profitable for those who adopt them. Despite the widespread use of female labour in the production of NTAE crops, the extent of adoption is not negatively associated with women's ability to generate independent income. Land devoted to the new crops also exhibits a strong positive relationship with subsistence production of corn and beans. Weak evidence supports the hypothesis that distinct intra-household income transfer patterns obtained in NTAE crop-adopting households compared with non-adopting households: in the former, the level of the weekly food allowance provided to women by their husbands is less responsive to changes in both household and female income, making women's earnings a more important overall determinant of food expenditure. A simulation exercise showed that households that have not adopted new crops would use increases in income to augment food expenditures to a much greater extent than adopting households. Within adopting households, the impact of increases in women's income on food expenditures is nearly double that of increases in men's income. Women's flexibility with regard to the allocation of their labour time and income plays an important role in the relative success of non-traditional agriculture as a means of improving household food availability.

Improving the food consumption of poor households is often an important implicit or explicit goal of income-generating strategies such as the promotion of non-traditional agricultural export (NTAE) crops. However, a fair amount of controversy surrounds the strength of the relationship between increases in household income and greater access to and intake of nutritious foods. This is particularly the case when those increases in income are based on the displacement of subsistence crops and/or are biased in flavour of men, who may have less propensity than women to spend marginal income gains on food for the family.

The nutritional impact of NTAE in highland Guatemala was assessed in a conceptual framework that accounts for the mediating influences of changes in household income, subsistence food production, and alterations in intra-household resource transfers. The data were drawn from a survey of over 300 rural households in five central highland communities between October 1990 and August 1991.
Analysis of the Appropriateness and Feasibility of the Reconnaissance Project Interview Questions and Measurements
Authors: Khor Geok Lin , Migasena Panata , Ge Keyou , Gross Rainer , Lacle Adriane , Kvalbein Annhild
Published: November 2018

After the experiences at the individual sites during the Reconnaissance project had been presented in a plenary format, five groups were formed. Four of these groups examined the individual questions on the original questionnaire with specific attention to (1) nutritional status and biological variables, (2) food intake and food security variables, (3) health status assessment variables, and (4) lifestyle, socio-demographic, and social behaviour and practices variables. In this process, the groups identified items on the questionnaire that had been found, at one or another site, to be of doubtful appropriateness or feasibility. The area of concern of the fifth group was the sampling frame and selection procedures for sites and individuals within sites.
The Process of Revision of the Protocol
Authors: Gross Rainer , Hsu-Hage Bridget H.-H.
Published: November 2018

The process of revising the protocol, based on experience in the pilot phase and logical considerations, was conducted by working groups composed of persons directly involved with the field collection of data and professionals who were experts in specific disciplines although not part of the actual pilot research. Four of the working groups addressed the revision of the specific batteries of questions and measures in the protocol, while the fifth group addressed the sample size and sampling frame. The process led to consolidating and condensing many of the questions into single-line items, to recommendations for some additional questions based on common experience, to requirements for standardization of procedures and measuring instruments, and to explicit sequences for enrolling the population. This effort resulted in the revised protocol
Overview of Ageing, Urbanization, and Nutrition in Developing Countries and the Development of the Reconnaissance Project
Authors: Barba Corazon V. C. , Rabuco Lucila B.
Published: November 2018

Two of the major demographic trends in the developing and transitional countries are urbanization (the growth of cities and metropolitan populations) and ageing (the increase in the number of persons over 70 years of age, due to extended life expectancy). These two trends are felt to present unresolved challenges regarding health, well-being, and quality of life. These uncertainties gave rise to the multicentre Reconnaissance project carried out in five Asian countries (China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Thailand) and three Latin American countries (Brazil, Guatemala, and Mexico), in collaboration with institutions in the Netherlands, Germany, and Italy, with financial support from the European Community. The findings, experience, and lessons from the preliminary qualitative (community), and quantitative (individual) surveys were shared among the investigators at a conference held at Wageningen, Netherlands.
Analysis of the Reconnaissance Project. Phase 1: The Community
Authors: Thamrin Husni , Rasad Asri , Solomons Noel W. , Wahlqvist Mark L. , Gross Rainer
Published: November 2018

The Reconnaissance project, Nutritional and Food Security Situation of Rural and Urban Elderly from Selected East Asian and Latin American Developing Countries, was carried out in eight developing countries. The purpose of the project was to validate the protocol and identify potential problems before the full project was begun. In March 1993 a workshop was held in Wageningen, Netherlands, for participants from the countries and other interested professionals to analyse the results of the Reconnaissance in preparation for the initiation of the full study. The Reconnaissance consisted of two phases: the first studied the community and the second the individual. This paper summarizes the study of the communities through group discussions and semi-structured interviews of community representatives. The information obtained was used to revise and improve the protocol to be used when the full study, Cross-Cultural Research on the Nutrition of Older Subjects (CRONOS), is undertaken.
Treatment of direct carotid-cavernous fistulas with flow diversion – does it work?
Authors: Hüseyinoglu Zeynep , Oppong Marvin D , Griffin Andrew S , Hauck Erik
Published: November 2018

Direct carotid-cavernous fistulas (CCFs) are high flow lesions that can be challenging to treat. A number of recent reports suggest that flow diversion may be a viable treatment option. We present a case of a post-traumatic CCF successfully treated with flow diversion and provide a review of the literature. Our results suggest that flow diversion is a potentially effective treatment option for CCFs and is most successful when used as an adjunctive therapy.
Effects of cooling temperatures and low pH on membrane properties and voltage-dependent currents of rat nociceptive-like trigeminal ganglion neurons
Authors: Viatchenko-Karpinski Viacheslav , Gu Jianguo G
Published: November 2018

Cooling temperatures and low pH have profound effects on somatosensory functions including nociception. The effects not only can be mediated by cooling temperature transducers and proton transducers expressed in subpopulations of somatosensory neurons but may also be mediated by ion channels involving membrane excitability such as voltage-dependent K+ channels in somatosensory neurons. In the present study, we performed the in situ patch-clamp recordings from nociceptive-like trigeminal ganglion neurons in ex vivo trigeminal ganglion preparations of adult rats. We determined effects of cooling temperatures and low pH on membrane properties and voltage-dependent currents in nociceptive-like trigeminal ganglion neurons. Action potential rheobase levels were decreased when nociceptive trigeminal ganglion neurons were cooled from 24°C down to 12°C or when extracellular pH levels were reduced from 7.3 to 6. This indicates that the excitability of nociceptive-like trigeminal ganglion neurons was increased at the cooling temperatures and low pH. The decreases of action potential rheobase levels were accompanied by increases of trigeminal ganglion neuron input resistances at cooling temperatures and low pH, suggesting a possible involvement of background K+ channels. Cooling temperatures and low pH suppressed voltage-activated inward Na+ currents and also voltage-dependent outward K+ currents in nociceptive-like trigeminal ganglion neurons. Voltage-dependent outward K+ currents in nociceptive-like trigeminal ganglion neurons consist of inactivating A-type K+ currents and non-inactivating type K+ currents, and the former were more sensitive to cooling temperatures and low pH. Collectively, suppressing multiple types of K+ channels may be associated with the enhanced excitability of nociceptive trigeminal ganglion neurons by cooling temperatures and low pH.
Persuading consumers: The use of conditional constructions in British hotel websites
Authors: Fuster-Márquez Miguel , Gregori-Signes Carmen
Published: November 2018

Hotel websites display textual and non-textual strategies with the aim of turning online visitors into customers. This article focuses on two related textual aspects: how consumers are discursively construed and how conditional constructions are used in order to persuade and convince consumers of the adequacy of the hotel. The framework adopted for the analysis combines Stern’s notion of ‘implied consumer’ with a corpus-driven approach. The corpus data comprises 114 British hotel websites and totals half a million words. This is a subcorpus of COMETVAL, a database compiled at the University of València. The results reveal the importance of a number of words that address consumers directly or indirectly. These words intertwine with others to form patterns that help establish a bond between hoteliers and their clients. Further exploration of the corpus confirmed that some conditional sequences such as if you and should you are used by advertisers to speculate about the needs and wishes of consumers that the hotel can fulfil for them. The analysis suggests that conditional structures are a distinctive discursive characteristic strongly associated with the dialogic nature of the discourse hotel websites.
Vascular anomalies of the upper limb
Authors: Mende Konrad , Vargesson Neil , Sivakumar Branavan
Published: November 2018

Vascular anomalies are common in the upper extremities, but there continues to be a relative paucity of information about them in publications dealing with surgery in the hands and upper limbs. The wide spectrum of pathology and an inconsistent use of terminology make vascular anomalies susceptible to incorrect diagnosis and as a result, to misdirected management. This article aims to provide an update on vascular anomalies relevant to the upper limbs, focusing on significant advances in pathogenesis and genetics, classification systems, diagnosis and treatment.
Destituent power in the European Union: On the limits of a negativistic logic of constitutional politics
Authors: Patberg Markus
Published: November 2018

Since the euro crisis, protest movements present the European Union as a neoliberal hegemony that undermines democracy and prevents progressive reforms. They call for acts of resistance and partial disintegration to force a renegotiation of the treaties. In this article, I ask whether these ‘disruptive’ political strategies can be defended as a democratic practice of constitutional politics. To that end, I turn to the notion of destituent power, according to which opposition to or withdrawal from public authority can function as a legitimate trigger for constitutional change. I systematise the emerging debate on destituent power and discuss the plausibility of competing approaches. I argue that destituent power is best understood as grounded in popular sovereignty. It denotes the right to dismantle constitutional orders without the intention to construct new ones. While this idea supports some of the acts of contestation proposed by European protest movements, it faces a lure towards the jurisgenerative dimension of constituent power. Ultimately, the potential of a purely negativistic logic of constitutional politics is limited.
Status of Large Terrestrial Vertebrates in the Monteverde-Arenal Bioregion, Northwestern Costa Rica
Authors: Zamzow Benjamin K. , Nieman Sarah J. , Davis Charli N. , Garro Cruz Martha , Monroe Allison , Stallcup Lindsay , Moran Matthew D.
Published: November 2018

Protected areas have been important in reducing tropical forest biodiversity loss. Costa Rica has been a model country in protecting forests and promoting conservation. However, many Costa Rican protected areas are surrounded by highly modified habitat and may be losing species, either because they are too small to support viable populations or are too isolated to allow for population connectivity. We used camera traps to study terrestrial mammal and terrestrial bird populations in the Monteverde-Arenal Bioregion of northwestern Costa Rica. We sampled core protected areas and nearby unprotected, fragmented habitats. Of 33 species historically found in the region, we detected 25. However, most species were rarely detected, and only five were found more than once per 30 days of camera time. The most commonly detected species represented major feeding groups, including obligate herbivores, omnivores, and obligate carnivores. Most ungulates were rare and may not have viable population sizes. However, a top predator, the puma ( Puma concolor), was commonly detected. Fragmented areas had lower abundance and fewer species detected; a few species were not detected at all, even though some of them were abundant in the core protected areas. We suggest that conservation efforts are protecting some terrestrial mammals and birds, and there is a functioning food web. However, many species are either rare or extirpated, indicating the Monteverde-Arenal Bioregion is a partially defaunated landscape.
Safety, Feasibility, and Radiographic Outcomes of the Anterior Meniscal Takedown Technique to Approach Chondral Defects on the Tibia and Posterior Femoral Condyle: A Matched Control Study
Authors: Merkely Gergo , Minas Tom , Ogura Takahiro , Ackermann Jakob , Barbieri Mestriner Alexandre , Gomoll Andreas H.
Published: November 2018

Objective

Takedown of the anterior meniscus to facilitate exposure of the cartilage defects located on the tibial plateau and/or posterior femoral condyle with subsequent reattachment is being performed clinically; however, clinical evidence is lacking to support the safety of this technique. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate whether meniscal extrusion develops after patients undergo meniscus takedown and transosseous refixation during autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI).

Design

We analyzed data from 124 patients with a mean follow-up of 6.8 ± 2.5 years. Sixty-two patients who underwent (ACI) with anterior meniscus takedown and refixation by the senior surgeon (TM), were compared with a matched control group of patients who underwent ACI without meniscus takedown. Meniscal extrusion was investigated by measuring the absolute value and the relative percentage of extrusion (RPE) on 1.5-T magnetic resonance images (MRI) at final follow-up. The number of menisci with radial displacement greater or lesser than 3 mm was determined. In cases where a preoperative MRI was available, both pre- and postoperative meniscal extrusion was evaluated ( n = 30) in those patients undergoing meniscal takedown.

Results

There was no significant difference in either absolute meniscus extrusion, RPE, or extrusion rate in patients with and without meniscus takedown. Among patients with meniscal takedown and both pre- and postoperative MRI scans, absolute meniscus extrusion, RPE, and extrusion rate showed no significant differences.

Conclusion

Meniscal takedown and subsequent transosseous refixation is a safe and effective technique for exposure of the tibial plateau and posterior femoral condyle.
Scaling Social Movements Through Social Media: The Case of Black Lives Matter
Authors: Mundt Marcia , Ross Karen , Burnett Charla M
Published: November 2018

In this article, we explore the potential role of social media in helping movements expand and/or strengthen themselves internally, processes we refer to as scaling up. Drawing on a case study of Black Lives Matter (BLM) that includes both analysis of public social media accounts and interviews with BLM groups, we highlight possibilities created by social media for building connections, mobilizing participants and tangible resources, coalition building, and amplifying alternative narratives. We also discuss challenges and risks associated with using social media as a platform for scaling up. Our analysis suggests that while benefits of social media use outweigh its risks, careful management of online media platforms is necessary to mitigate concrete, physical risks that social media can create for activists.
Employee Participation and Employee Retention in View of Compensation
Authors: Khalid Komal , Nawab Samina
Published: November 2018

This study determines the relationship between types of employee participation (delegative, consultative, worker director, and worker union) on employee retention and the moderation of employee compensation in this relationship. The authors analyzed four types of employee participation, employee retention, and compensation in two major sectors of Pakistan ( n = 1,054): service ( n = 535) and manufacturing ( n = 519). Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to first-line and middle-level employees. After establishing the reliability and validity of the scale, descriptive statistics, correlation, univariate analysis, multiple regression analysis, and independent-sample t test were conducted. All types of employee participation influence employee retention positively in both sectors. Employee compensation moderated the relationship between types of employee participation and employee retention. Delegative participation had a stronger influence on retention as compared with other types in both sectors. This is the first quantitative study to examine the influence of compensation on the relationship between direct and indirect types of employee participation on employee retention in six industries (Cement, Pharmaceutical, Food and Beverages, Health Care, Banking, and Higher Education) of Pakistan. The authors extend previous research studies by using comparative analysis tools to generalize the results in South Asian organizations.
The Rise of Patanjali
Authors: Prasad Neena
Published: November 2018

This case is designed to highlight the marketing strategies adopted by a new entrant in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. The importance of brand architecture in building brand relevance in this competitive environment and enhancing customer loyalty has been put forth as illustrated by the experts. The synchronization of branding strategies and marketing communications in terms of establishing a customer connect purely on the basis of nationalism, price, and natural preparations have been highlighted from the perspective of Patanjali’s growth strategy. The brand has been envied by all the big players of the sector for proving itself as the major disruptor being portrayed in terms of its voluminous sales and ever-rising revenues.

This case on Patanjali offers an insight into the strategies followed by a new company to position the brand at the right time and acquire a substantial market share. It also highlights the facts that exceptional competitiveness in distribution strategies may not be the only determinant for effective management of distribution strategies, and the road ahead needs to be rightly sorted out.

This case also tries to unlock the path that determines the success the brand Patanjali has achieved which otherwise took decades for Nestle, Proctor & Gamble, ITC, or Unilever to achieve.
Response to Weddington: More Lessons from Afro-pessimism
Authors: Randolph Antonia , Ray Victor Erik , Underhill Megan , Luke David
Published: November 2018

In this response to George Weddington’s critique of their recent article, the authors argue that Weddington rightfully critiques them for not paying enough attention to the role of psychoanalysis (exemplified by Frantz Fanon) in Afro-pessimist theory and for not giving primacy to the political ontology of blackness in Afro-pessimist thought. However, his critique is hindered by his mischaracterizing the authors’ argument as saying that black political ontology is merely different, not singular, and his lack of engagement with the authors’ analysis of critical race theory. The authors address these issues and suggest that Weddington’s reading of Afro-pessimist claims as empirically unverifiable is inconsistent with his proposal for incorporating the theory into ethnographic projects and would lead to the abandonment of the sociological project.
Blastoid and pleomorphic mantle cell lymphoma: still a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge!
Authors: Dreyling Martin , Klapper Wolfram , Rule Simon
Published: November 2018

Blastoid mantle cell lymphoma is characterized by highly aggressive features and a dismal clinical course. These blastoid and pleomorphic variants are defined by cytomorphological features, but the criteria are somewhat subjective. The diagnosis may be supported by a high cell proliferation based on the Ki-67 labeling index. Recent analyses have shown that the Ki-67 index overrules the prognostic information derived from the cytology subtypes. Nevertheless, genetic analysis suggests that blastoid and pleomorphic variants are distinct from classical mantle cell lymphoma. In clinical cohorts, the frequency of these subsets varies widely but probably represents ∼10% of all cases. Chemotherapy regimens commonly used in mantle cell lymphoma, such as bendamustine, rarely achieve prolonged remissions when given at the dosage developed for classical variants of the disease. Thus, high-dose cytarabine–containing regimens with high-dose consolidation may be generally recommended based on the more aggressive clinical course in these patients. However, even with these intensified regimens, the long-term outcome seems to be impaired. Thus, especially in this patient subset, allogeneic transplantation may be discussed at an early time point in disease management. Accordingly, targeted approaches are warranted in these patients, but clinical data are scarce. Ibrutinib treatment results in high rates of responses, but the median duration of remission is <6 months. Similarly, lenalidomide and temsirolimus result in only short-term remissions. Novel approaches, such as chimeric antigenic receptor T cells, may have the potential to finally improve the dismal long-term outcome of these patients.
Immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders: time for reappraisal?
Authors: Natkunam Yasodha , Gratzinger Dita , Chadburn Amy , Goodlad John R. , Chan John K. C. , Said Jonathan , Jaffe Elaine S. , de Jong Daphne
Published: November 2018

Immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (IA-LPDs) are pathologically and clinically heterogeneous. In many instances, similar features are shared by a spectrum of IA-LPDs in clinically diverse settings. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) classifies IA-LPDs by their immunodeficiency setting largely according to the paradigm of posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorders but with inconsistent terminology and disease definitions. The field currently lacks standardization and would greatly benefit from thinking across immunodeficiency categories by adopting a common working vocabulary to better understand these disorders and guide clinical management. We propose a 3-part unifying nomenclature that includes the name of the lesion, associated virus, and the specific immunodeficiency setting for all IA-LPDs. B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders (LPDs) are usually Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)+ and show a spectrum of lesions, including hyperplasias, polymorphic LPDs, aggressive lymphomas, and, rarely, indolent lymphomas. Human herpes virus 8–associated LPDs also include polyclonal and monoclonal proliferations. EBV− B-cell LPDs and T- and NK-cell LPDs are rare and less well characterized. Recognition of any immunodeficiency is important because it impacts the choice of treatment options. There is an urgent need for reappraisal of IA-LPDs because a common framework will facilitate meaningful biological insights and pave the way for future work in the field.
Joint least-squares reverse time migration of primary and prismatic waves
Authors: Yang Jizhong , Liu Yuzhu , Li Yunyue Elita , Cheng Arthur , Dong Liangguo , Du Yue
Published: November 2018

Direct imaging of the steeply dipping structures is challenging for conventional reverse time migration (RTM), especially when there are no strong reflectors in the migration velocity model. To address this issue, we have enhanced the imaging of the steeply dipping structures by incorporating the prismatic waves. We formulate the imaging problem in a nonlinear least-squares optimization framework because the prismatic waves cannot be linearly mapped from the model perturbation. Primary and prismatic waves are jointly imaged to provide a single consistent image that includes structures illuminated by both types of waves, avoiding the complexities in scaling and/or interpreting primary and prismatic images separately. A conjugate gradient algorithm is used to iteratively solve the least-squares normal equation. This inversion procedure can become unstable if directly using the recorded data for migration because it is hindered by the crosstalk caused by imaging primary waves with the prismatic imaging operator. Therefore, we isolate the prismatic waves from the recorded data and image them with the prismatic imaging operator. Our scheme only requires a kinematically accurate and smooth migration velocity model, without the need to explicitly embed the strong reflectors in the migration velocity model. Realistic 2D numerical examples demonstrate that our method can resolve the steeply dipping structures much better than conventional least-squares RTM of primary waves.
Spectral-element method with arbitrary hexahedron meshes for time-domain 3D airborne electromagnetic forward modeling
Authors: Huang Xin , Yin Changchun , Farquharson Colin G. , Cao Xiaoyue , Zhang Bo , Huang Wei , Cai Jing
Published: November 2018

Mainstream numerical methods for 3D time-domain airborne electromagnetic (AEM) modeling, such as the finite-difference (FDTD) or finite-element (FETD) methods, are quite mature. However, these methods have limitations in terms of their ability to handle complex geologic structures and their dependence on quality meshing of the earth model. We have developed a time-domain spectral-element (SETD) method based on the mixed-order spectral-element (SE) approach for space discretization and the backward Euler (BE) approach for time discretization. The mixed-order SE approach can contribute an accurate result by increasing the order of polynomials and suppress spurious solutions. The BE method is an unconditionally stable technique without limitations on time steps. To deal with the rapid variation of the fields close to the AEM transmitting loop, we separate a secondary field from the primary field and simulate the secondary field only, for which the primary field is calculated in advance. To obtain a block diagonal mass matrix and hence minimize the number of nonzero elements in the system of equations to be solved, we apply Gauss-Lobatto-Legendre integral techniques of reduced order. A direct solver is then adopted for the system of equations, which allows for efficient treatment of the multiple AEM sources. To check the accuracy of our SETD algorithm, we compare our results with the semianalytical solution for a layered earth model. Then, we analyze the modeling accuracy and efficiency for different 3D models using deformed physical meshes and compare them against results from 3D FETD codes, to further show the flexibility of SETD for AEM forward modeling.
MEMS Accelerometer Mini-Array (MAMA): A Low-Cost Implementation for Earthquake Early Warning Enhancement
Authors: Nof Ran N. , Chung Angela I. , Rademacher Horst , Dengler Lori , Allen Richard M.
Published: November 2018

Earthquake Early Warning Systems (EEWS) are often challenged when the earthquakes occur outside the seismic network or where the station density is sparse. In these situations, poor locations and large alert delays are more common because of the limited azimuthal coverage and the time required for the wavefield to reach the minimum number of seismic stations to issue an alert. Seismic arrays can be used to derive the directivity of the wavefield and obtain better location. However, they are uncommon because of the prohibitive cost of the sensors. Here, we propose the development of an array-based approach using mini-arrays of low-cost Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) accelerometers and show how they can be used to improve EEWS. In this paper, we demonstrate this approach using data from two MEMS Accelerometer Mini-Arrays (MAMA) deployed at University of California Berkeley and Humboldt State University. We use a new low-cost ( <U.S. $150) Data Acquisition Unit and solve for the back azimuth of seven events with magnitudes ranging from Mw 2.7 to 5.1 at distances of 5 km to 106 km.