bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Conservation genomics of an Australian orchid complex with implications for the taxonomic and conservation status ofCorybas dowlingii
Authors: Wagner Natascha D. , Clements Mark A. , Simpson Lalita , Nargar Katharina
Published: January 2020

This study assessed genomic diversity in an Australian species complex in the helmet orchids to clarify taxonomic delimitation and conservation status of the threatened speciesCorybas dowlingii,a narrow endemic from southeast Australia. Taxonomic delimitation between the three closely related speciesC. aconitiflorus,C. barbarae,andC. dowlingiihas been mainly based on floral traits which exhibit varying degrees of overlap, rendering species delimitation in the complex difficult. Genomic data for the species complex was generated using double-digest restriction-site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing. Maximum likelihood, NeighborNet, and Bayesian structure analyses showed genetic differentiation within the species complex and retrieved genomic signatures consistent with hybridisation and introgression betweenC. aconitiflorusandC. barbarae,and an intermediate genetic position ofC. dowlingiiindicating a hybrid origin of the species. The genetic structure analysis showed varying levels of genetic admixture for severalC. aconitiflorus,C. barbarae,andC. dowlingiisamples, thus further corroborating the presence of hybridisation and introgression within the species complex. The taxonomic status ofC. dowlingiiD.L.Jones was revised toC. × dowlingiiD.L.Jonesstat. nov.to reflect its hybrid origin. The conservation status ofC. × dowlingiiwas assessed based on key ecological and ethical aspects, and recommendations made regarding its conservation status in Australian conservation legislation.
Continuous detection of glucose and insulin in live animals
Authors: Poudineh Mahla , Maikawa Caitlin L. , Ma Eric Yue , Pan Jing , Mamerow Dan , Hang Yan , Baker Sam W. , Beirami Ahmad , Eisenstein Michael , Kim Seung , Vučković Jelena , Appel Eric A. , Soh H. Tom
Published: January 2020

Real-time biosensors that can continuously measure circulating biomoleculesin vivowould provide valuable insights into a patients’ health status and their response to therapeutics even when there is considerable variability in pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics across patient populations. Unfortunately, current real-time biosensors are limited to a handful of analytes (e.g.glucose and blood oxygen) and are limited in sensitivity (high nanomolar). In this work, we describe a general approach for continuously and simultaneously measuring multiple analytes with picomolar sensitivity and sub-second temporal resolution. As exemplars, we report the simultaneous detection of glucose and insulin at picomolar concentrations in live diabetic rats. Using our system, we demonstrate the capacity to resolve inter-individual differences in the pharmacokinetic responses to insulin and discriminate profiles from different insulin formulations at a high temporal resolution. Critically, our approach is general and could be readily modified to continuously and simultaneously measure other circulating analytesin vivoby swapping the affinity reagents, thus making it a versatile tool for biomedical research.
The ubiquitin ligase Ariadne-1 regulates NSF for neurotransmitter release
Authors: Ramírez Juanma , Morales Miguel , Osinalde Nerea , Martínez-Padrón Imanol , Mayor Ugo , Ferrús Alberto
Published: January 2020

Ariadne-1 (Ari-1) is an essential E3 ubiquitin-ligase whose neuronal substrates are yet to be identified. We have used anin vivoubiquitin biotinylation strategy coupled to quantitative proteomics to identify putative Ari-1 substrates inDrosophilaheads. Sixteen candidates met the established criteria. Amongst those, we identified Comatose (Comt), the homologue of the N-ethylmaleimide sensitive factor (NSF). Using anin vivoGFP pulldown approach, we validate Comt/NSF to be an ubiquitination substrate of Ari-1 in fly neurons. The interaction results in the monoubiquitination of Comt/NSF. We also report that Ari-1 loss of function mutants display a lower rate of spontaneous neurotransmitter release due to failures at the pre-synaptic side. By contrast, evoked release in Ari-1 mutants is enhanced in a Ca2+dependent manner without modifications in the number of active zones, indicating that the probability of release per synapse is increased in these mutants. The distinct Ari-1 mutant phenotypes in spontaneous versus evoked release indicate that NSF activity discriminates the two corresponding protein ensembles that mediate each mode of release. Our results, thus, provide a mechanism to regulate NSF activity in the synapse through Ari-1-dependent ubiquitination.
CCSN: Single Cell RNA Sequencing Data Analysis by Conditional Cell-specific Network
Authors: Li Lin , Dai Hao , Fang Zhaoyuan , Chen Luonan
Published: January 2020

The rapid advancement of single cell technologies has shed new light on the complex mechanisms of cellular heterogeneity. However, compared with bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) suffers from higher noise and lower coverage, which brings new computational difficulties. Based on statistical independence, cell-specific network (CSN) is able to quantify the overall associations between genes for each cell, yet suffering from a problem of overestimation related to indirect effects. To overcome this problem, we propose the “conditional cell-specific network” (CCSN) method, which can measure the direct associations between genes by eliminating the indirect associations. CCSN can be used for cell clustering and dimension reduction on a network basis of single cells. Intuitively, each CCSN can be viewed as the transformation from less “reliable” gene expression to more “reliable” gene-gene associations in a cell. Based on CCSN, we further design network flow entropy (NFE) to estimate the differentiation potency of a single cell. A number of scRNA-seq datasets were used to demonstrate the advantages of our approach: (1) one direct association network for one cell; (2) most existing scRNA-seq methods designed for gene expression matrices are also applicable to CCSN-transformed degree matrices; (3) CCSN-based NFE helps resolving the direction of differentiation trajectories by quantifying the potency of each cell. CCSN is publicly available athttp://sysbio.sibcb.ac.cn/cb/chenlab/soft/CCSN.zip.
An Autoencoder and Artificial Neural Network-based Method to Estimate Parity Status of Wild Mosquitoes from Near-infrared Spectra
Authors: Milali Masabho P. , Kiware Samson S. , Govella Nicodem J. , Okumu Fredros , Bansal Naveen , Bozdag Serdar , Charlwood Jacques D. , Maia Marta , Ogoma Sheila B. , Dowell Floyd E. , Corliss George F. , Sikulu-Lord Maggy T. , Povinelli Richard J.
Published: January 2020

Background

After mating, female mosquitoes need animal blood to develop their eggs. In the process of acquiring blood, they may acquire pathogens, which may cause different diseases to humans such as malaria, zika, dengue, and chikungunya. Therefore, knowing the parity status of mosquitoes is useful in control and evaluation of infectious diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, where parous mosquitoes are assumed to be potentially infectious. Ovary dissections, which currently are used to determine the parity status of mosquitoes, are very tedious and limited to very few experts. An alternative to ovary dissections is near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS), which can estimate the age in days and the infectious state of laboratory and semi-field reared mosquitoes with accuracies between 80 and 99%. No study has tested the accuracy of NIRS for estimating the parity status of wild mosquitoes.

Methods and results

In this study, we train artificial neural network (ANN) models on NIR spectra to estimate the parity status of wild mosquitoes. We use four different datasets:An. arabiensiscollected from Minepa, Tanzania (Minepa-ARA);An. gambiaecollected from Muleba, Tanzania (Muleba-GA);An. gambiaecollected from Burkina Faso (Burkina-GA); andAn.gambiaefrom Muleba and Burkina Faso combined (Muleba-Burkina-GA). We train ANN models on datasets with spectra preprocessed according to previous protocols. We then use autoencoders to reduce the spectra feature dimensions from 1851 to 10 and re-train ANN models. Before the autoencoder was applied, ANN models estimated parity status of mosquitoes in Minepa-ARA, Muleba-GA, Burkina-GA and Muleba-Burkina-GA with out-of-sample accuracies of 81.9 ± 2.8% (N=927), 68.7 ± 4.8% (N=140), 80.3 ± 2.0% (N=158), and 75.7 ± 2.5% (N=298), respectively. With the autoencoder, ANN models tested on out-of-sample data achieved 97.1 ± 2.2%, (N=927), 89.8 ± 1.7% (N=140), 93.3 ± 1.2% (N=158), and 92.7 ± 1.8% (N=298) accuracies for Minepa-ARA, Muleba-GA, Burkina-GA, and Muleba-Burkina-GA, respectively.

Conclusion

These results show that a combination of an autoencoder and an ANN trained on NIR spectra to estimate parity status of wild mosquitoes yields models that can be used as an alternative tool to estimate parity status of wild mosquitoes, especially since NIRS is a high-throughput, reagent-free, and simple-to-use technique compared to ovary dissections.
C. elegans“reads” bacterial non-coding RNAs to learn pathogenic avoidance
Authors: Kaletsky Rachel , Moore Rebecca S. , Vrla Geoffrey D. , Parsons Lance L. , Gitai Zemer , Murphy Coleen T.
Published: January 2020

C. elegans is exposed to many different bacteria in its environment, and must distinguish pathogenic from nutritious bacterial food sources. Here, we show that a single exposure to purified small RNAs isolated from pathogenicPseudomonas aeruginosa(PA14) is sufficient to induce pathogen avoidance, both in the treated animals and in four subsequent generations of progeny. The RNA interference and piRNA pathways, the germline, and the ASI neuron are required for bacterial small RNA-induced avoidance behavior and transgenerational inheritance. A single non-coding RNA, P11, is both necessary and sufficient to convey learned avoidance of PA14, and itsC. eleganstarget,maco-1, is required for avoidance. A natural microbiomePseudomonasisolate, GRb0427, can induce avoidance via its small RNAs, and the wildC. elegansstrain JU1580 responds similarly to bacterial sRNA. Our results suggest that this ncRNA-dependent mechanism evolved to survey the worm’s microbial environment, use this information to make appropriate behavioral decisions, and pass this information on to its progeny.
PARP1 and MGMT interaction-based sensitivity to DNA damage in Ewing sarcoma
Authors: Alimbetov Dauren , Cropper Jodie , Likhotvorik Rostislav , Carlson Ruth , Kwon Youngho , Kurmasheva Raushan
Published: January 2020

The Ewing family of sarcomas comprises the fourth most common highly aggressive bone tumor. Four of five Ewing sarcoma chemotherapeutics induce DNA damage, as does radiation therapy. At relapse, two additional DNA-damaging agents are routinely used to re-induce remission, indicating that Ewing sarcoma is intrinsically sensitive to DNA damage. However, current treatment regimens are relatively ineffective, specifically for relapsed or metastatic disease. Several preclinical studies, including our study in the Pediatric Preclinical Testing Program (PPTP), provide evidence for the synthetic lethal combination of PARP1 inhibitor talazoparib with a DNA-methylating agent, temozolomide, for Ewing sarcoma. Nevertheless, in both preclinical studies and clinical trials, doses of temozolomide were significantly reduced because of toxicity of the drug combination. Temozolomide-induced DNA lesions are repairedviapoly(ADP) ribose polymerase I (PARP1)-dependent base excision repair and by O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) in a single-step adduct removal. Here, we provide evidence that the two DNA repair pathways act in an epistatic manner in lesion removal. Further, we demonstrate that PARP1 and MGMT physically interact, and that this association is stimulated upon DNA damage. Protein co-immunoprecipitation and microscale thermophoresis analyses revealed that PARP1/MGMT complex formation is DNA and PARylation-independent. Collectively, our results show that: 1) DNA damage response pathways mediated by PARP1 and MGMT work epistatically to eliminate temozolomide-induced DNA adducts; 2) PARP1 and MGMT physically interact; and 3) PARP1/MGMT interaction is increased in response to DNA damage. We discuss how our findings may affect therapeutic advancement for Ewing sarcoma and potentially other cancer types.
Visual response characteristics in lateral and medial subdivisions of the rat pulvinar
Authors: Foik Andrzej T. , Scholl Leo R. , Lean Georgina A. , Lyon David C.
Published: January 2020

The pulvinar is a higher-order thalamic relay and a central component of the extrageniculate visual pathway, with input from the superior colliculus and visual cortex and output to all of visual cortex. Rodent pulvinar, more commonly called the lateral posterior nucleus (LP), consists of three highly-conserved subdivisions, and offers the advantage of simplicity in its study compared to more subdivided primate pulvinar. Little is known about receptive field properties of LP, let alone whether functional differences exist between different LP subdivisions, making it difficult to understand what visual information is relayed and what kinds of computations the pulvinar might support. Here, we characterized single-cell response properties in two V1 recipient subdivisions of rat pulvinar, the rostromedial (LPrm) and lateral (LPl), and found that a fourth of the cells were selective for orientation, compared to half in V1, and that LP tuning widths were significantly broader. Response latencies were also significantly longer and preferred size more than three times larger on average than in V1; the latter suggesting pulvinar as a source of spatial context to V1. Between subdivisons, LPl cells preferred higher temporal frequencies, whereas LPrm showed a greater degree of direction selectivity and pattern motion detection. Taken together with known differences in connectivity patterns, these results suggest two separate visual feature processing channels in the pulvinar, one in LPl related to higher speed processing which likely derives from superior colliculus input, and the other in LPrm for motion processing derived through input from visual cortex.

Significance Statement

The pulvinar has a perplexing role in visual cognition as no clear link has been found between the functional properties of its neurons and behavioral deficits that arise when it is damaged. The pulvinar, called the lateral posterior nucleus (LP) in rats, is a higher order thalamic relay with input from the superior colliculus and visual cortex and output to all of visual cortex. By characterizing single-cell response properties in anatomically distinct subdivisions we found two separate visual feature processing channels in the pulvinar, one in lateral LP related to higher speed processing which likely derives from superior colliculus input, and the other in rostromedial LP for motion processing derived through input from visual cortex.
Development of shock-dynamics study with synchrotron-based time-resolved X-ray diffraction using an Nd:glass laser system
Authors: Takagi Sota , Ichiyanagi Kouhei , Kyono Atsushi , Nozawa Shunsuke , Kawai Nobuaki , Fukaya Ryo , Funamori Nobumasa , Adachi Shin-ichi
Published: January 2020

The combination of high-power laser and synchrotron X-ray pulses allows us to observe material responses under shock compression and release states at the crystal structure on a nanosecond time scale. A higher-power Nd:glass laser system for laser shock experiments was installed as a shock driving source at the NW14A beamline of PF-AR, KEK, Japan. It had a maximum pulse energy of 16 J, a pulse duration of 12 ns and a flat-top intensity profile on the target position. The shock-induced deformation dynamics of polycrystalline aluminium was investigated using synchrotron-based time-resolved X-ray diffraction (XRD) under laser-induced shock. The shock pressure reached up to about 17 GPa with a strain rate of at least 4.6 × 107 s–1 and remained there for nanoseconds. The plastic deformation caused by the shock-wave loading led to crystallite fragmentation. The preferred orientation of the polycrystalline aluminium remained essentially unchanged during the shock compression and release processes in this strain rate. The newly established time-resolved XRD experimental system can provide useful information for understanding the complex dynamic compression and release behaviors.
Computer simulations of X-ray phase-contrast images and microtomographic observation of tubules in dentin
Authors: Argunova T. S. , Kohn V. G. , Lim J.-H. , Gudkina Z. V. , Nazarova E. D.
Published: January 2020

An investigation of the problems of X-ray imaging of dentinal tubules is presented. Two main points are addressed. In the first part of this paper, the problem of computer simulating tubule images recorded in a coherent synchrotron radiation (SR) beam has been discussed. A phantom material which involved a two-dimensional lattice of the tubules with parameters similar to those of dentin was considered. By a comparative examination of two approximations, it was found that the method of phase-contrast imaging is valid if the number of tubules along the beam is less than 100. Calculated images from a lattice of 50 × 50 tubules are periodic in free space but depend strongly on the distance between the specimen and the detector. In the second part, SR microtomographic experiments with millimetre-sized dentin samples in a partially coherent beam have been described. Tomograms were reconstructed from experimental projections using a technique for incoherent radiation. The main result of this part is the three-dimensional rendering of the directions of the tubules in a volume of the samples. Generation of the directions is possible because a tomogram shows the positions of the tubules. However, a detailed tubule cross-section structure cannot be restored.
Financial inclusion, land title and credit: evidence from China
Authors: Jiang Meishan , Paudel Krishna P. , Peng Donghui , Mi Yunsheng
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study land title’s credit effect from a financial inclusion perspective in China. The focus is both small land holding and poor farmers. Formal and informal finances are considered to test their differences in land title’s credit effect.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use augmented inverse-probability weights of the doubly robust method to test the effect of land titling on the rural credit market by addressing self-selection, endogeneity and heterogeneity concerns.

Findings

Results show that the poor, non-poor and small land holders with land titles are willing to borrow more from formal financial institutions. Land titling increases loan accessibility for non-poor and small land holding farmers. As for informal financing, large land holding and non-poor farmers show a decrease in informal lending. Land titling has a financial inclusion effect for some farmers, but poor farmers’ credit restrictions are not entirely solved by land titling.

Originality/value

This is the first study that focuses on the financial inclusion effect of farm land titling in China.
Dilemas de propietario fundador en un mercado emergente: Desde industrial Andina S.A. hasta estaciones de servicios NSG
Authors: Salcedo Nestor U. , Garcia-Cestona Miguel , Kuschel Katherina
Published: January 2020

Learning outcomes

Un estudiante podrá evaluar las variables relacionadas con la decisión de gobierno corporativo para el futuro de las empresas mientras, simultáneamente se enfrenta a otros factores internos, como comprender el estilo de dirección del propietario. Además, el estudiante podrá equilibrar y ponderar los recursos actuales, entendiendo que los marcos conceptuales de teoría de agencia, teoría de dependencia de recursos, costos de agencia y transacción, así como los tipos de liderazgo y poder son útiles para comprender este tipo de compañías comunes en mercados emergentes.

Case overview/synopsis

El caso describe las acciones de Nestor Salcedo Guevara, socio fundador de Industrial Andina S.A. y propietario de Estaciones de Servicios NSG, empresas enfocadas en la fabricación industrial y la comercialización minorista de combustibles, respectivamente. El caso cubre un período de 40 años, desde la fundación de la corporación Industrial Andina S.A. en 1978, su reestructuración de propiedad a empresa familiar en 1982, las decisiones estratégicas ante situaciones políticas y económicas desde la década de los ochenta hasta el nuevo milenio, la creación de Estaciones de Servicios NSG en el año 2000, hasta agosto de 2018, cuando Nestor enfrenta la decisión de expandir Estaciones de Servicios NSG y reactivar Industrial Andina S.A. con nuevos proyectos y buscando su continuidad. Por lo tanto, Nestor debe decidir los siguientes pasos del futuro de ambas compañías. Este caso práctico destaca varios desafíos de economía de empresa y estrategia administrativa que enfrentan emprendedores o empresarios experimentados, y permite discutir en clase los conceptos de gobierno corporativo como estructura de propiedad, contratos incompletos, estilos de dirección y estrategias defensivas asociadas al poder del CEO - Propietario.

Complexity academic level

Estudiantes de últimos años de pregrado y postgrado en administración, economía o MBA. Cursos de Economía de Empresa, Emprendimiento, Dirección Estratégica, Gobierno Corporativo.

Supplementary materials

Teaching Notes are available for educators only.

Subject code

CSS 11: Strategy.
A thermal EHL investigation for size effect of finite line contact on bush-pin hinge pairs in industrial chains
Authors: Zhang Mingyu , Wang Jing , Yang Peiran , Shang Zhaohua , Liu Yi , Dai Longjie
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to study the influence of the dimension change of bush-pin on the pressure, oil film thickness, temperature rise and traction coefficient in contact zone by using a thermal elastohydrodynamic lubrication (EHL) model for finite line contact. Concretely, the effects of the equivalent curvature radius of the bush and the pin, and the length of the bush are investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the contact between the bush and pin is simplified as finite line contact. The lubrication state is studied by numerical simulation using steady-state line contact thermal EHL. A constitutive equation Ree–Eyring fluid is used in the calculations.

Findings

It is found that by selecting an optimal equivalent radius of curvature and prolonging the bush length can improve the lubrication state effectively.

Originality/value

Under specific working conditions, there exists an optimal equivalent radius to maximize the minimum oil film thickness in the contact zone. The increase of generatrix length will weaken the stress concentration effect in the rounded corner area at both ends of the bush, which can improve the wear resistance of chain.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-10-2019-0448.
Fluid wetting infiltration mechanism at the micro-contact zone boundary of rubber–glass interfaces
Authors: Pang Minghua , Ma Lijie , Meng Fanjing , Wang Zhankui , Su Jianxiu
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to clarify the fluid infiltration mechanism at the micro-contact zone boundary of rubber-glass interfaces.

Design/methodology/approach

An in situ observation instrument was putted up; then the fluid infiltration process was recorded. Experimental results indicated that the fluid infiltration was more likely to occur in a high-contact-area-ratio zone, and the path order of fluid infiltration was first inner normal to the boundary of micro-contact area, and then along the boundary, at last external normal to the direction of boundary.

Findings

By analysis, capillary pressure is the driven force of fluid at interfaces. The micro-channel size at higher-contact-area-ratio zone is smaller, and the capillary pressure is bigger. Moreover, along different section directions of wedge-shaped region, the horizontal driving force of fluid is different due to difference of conical angle.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this study is proposing a new wedge-shaped model for better understanding the phenomena of fluid infiltration at rubber contact interfaces.

Peer review

The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/ILT-10-2019-0453
Investigating the effect of perceived quality of self-service banking on customer satisfaction
Authors: Pooya Alireza , Abed Khorasani Mehran , Gholamian Ghouzhdi Simin
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This study aims to measure the effect of customers’ technology readiness and the quality of electronic services on customer satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

The statistical sample included 410 respondents from 24 branches of a private bank. The sampling method was questionnaire. Because of the structural and organizational similarity of private banks and the elimination of nuisance variables, a bank with the most branches and customers has been selected. To test the model, equation modeling was performed to test the hypotheses. Data were collected through a self-developed structured questionnaire, which served as the measurement tool as well.

Findings

The results of the study showed that technology readiness has a significant and positive effect on customer satisfaction through the quality of self-service. Moreover, the intermediate role of perceived value in this regard was confirmed; however, the role of trust was not confirmed.

Originality/value

Previous studies have considered technology readiness as an effective factor in the quality of self-service and customer satisfaction. In this study, apart from quality of service in self-service banking and customer satisfaction, two variables of trust and perceived value have been investigated. An attempt has also been made to address some questions, including “what the effect of customer technology readiness on perceived value of self-services as well as customer satisfaction is?” and “how it is possible to improve self-service quality in modern banking based on customer expectations?” or “what effects variables such as trust and perceived value have on customer satisfaction?” Having a glance at the studies done before, it can be understood that so far, there has been no study done using a mixture of these variables, yet societies’ demands for self-service operations grow day by day. It is, therefore, mandatory to study the prerequisites associated with any actions before one is taken. The paper contributes in the following way: trust and perceived value are added to the the study because of their role in customer satisfaction. In addition, for the first time, variables have been studied, which had never been under focus in any studies in developing countries before.
Suicide prevention in community mental health: changing systems
Authors: Ponce Allison N. , Miller Rebecca , Al-Jammaly Milania D. , Renaud Edwin F. , Bailey Margaret A. , Devine Susan , Oberleitner Lindsay
Published: January 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to describe a performance improvement process related to suicide assessment in a community mental health center. As suicide rates rise in the USA, it is crucial that community mental health providers are capable and comfortable to assess for suicide risk among individuals with mental illness. Support for healthcare providers is emphasized in the quadruple aim model of enhancing healthcare delivery and patient experience. The quadruple aim model is applied in the present performance improvement project in a community mental health center.

Design/methodology/approach

An interprofessional team used provider survey responses, critical incident data and other stakeholder input to implement a new assessment mechanism and education plan to support direct care staff to address suicide risk.

Findings

Although the rate of patient death by suicide at the community mental health center is low, managing risk is a frequent provider concern. Providers’ comfort assessing and managing suicide risk varied widely based on survey responses. A structured suicide assessment process was implemented to offer clarity and direction for providers. Education to address assessment and management was designed and implemented.

Research limitations/implications

Suicide data were retrospective and limited to known deaths, thus there may have been higher numbers of deaths by suicide historically. Providers’ comfort with suicide risk management was based on self-report and future work should also integrate skills-based assessment.

Originality/value

Improving the provider experience in mental health care must be explored. Focusing on provider input and voice in suicide-related efforts in community settings is a step toward integrating the quadruple aim ideals into mental health care.
Food label reading habits of health sciences students
Authors: Odaman Tayyibe Ayşe , Bahar Rabia , Şam Sedanur , Ilyasoğlu Huri
Published: January 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine the food label reading habits of health sciences students.

Design/methodology/approach

The data were collected through a face-to-face survey with voluntary students (n: 520). The survey questionnaire consisted of three parts to gather information about their demographic and anthropometric characteristics and food label reading habits. Chi-squared test and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze the data.

Findings

The health sciences students mostly read the food name, expiration date and ingredients on the food labels. However, they paid less attention to the nutrient contents, such as the fat type and carbohydrate, cholesterol, sugar, fiber and salt amounts. The female students paid more attention to the nutrient contents than the male students. Moreover, the Nutrition and Dietetics students paid more attention to the nutrient contents than the other students. Significant negative correlations were found between the carbohydrate, protein and fat amount reading habits and both the body mass index (p = 0.005, p = 0.001 and p < 0.001) and waist to height ratio (p = 0.040, p = 0.005 and p = 0.022).

Research limitations/implications

This study does not allow one to draw conclusions for all university students.

Originality/value

This study is first such study performed among health sciences students in Turkey.
Application of ANN and ANFIS in prediction of color strength of plasma-treated wool yarns dyed with a natural colorant
Authors: Haji Aminoddin , Payvandy Pedram
Published: January 2020

Purpose

Despite the increasing popularity of natural dyeing of textiles, the low substantivity between the fibers and the natural dyes is a problem. Several methods have been used to overcome this problem. In this study, wool fibers were pretreated with oxygen plasma under different conditions and dyed with the extract of grape leaves. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of plasma treatment parameters on the color strength of the dyed samples using artificial neural network (ANN) and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) and evaluate the ability of these methods for predicting the color strength.

Design/methodology/approach

Woolen yarns were modified under different conditions of oxygen plasma treatment. Oxygen flow rate, power and time were considered as the treatment variable factors. Plasma-treated samples were dyed under constant conditions with the extract of grape leaves as a natural dye. ANN and ANFIS were applied to model and analyze the effect of plasma treatment parameters on the color strength of the dyed samples.

Findings

The results showed that increasing all the plasma treatment process variables, including oxygen flow rate, power and time increased the color strength of the dyed samples. The results showed that the developed ANN and ANFIS could accurately predict the experimental data with correlation coefficients of 0.986 and 0.997, respectively. According to the obtained correlation coefficients, ANFIS had a higher accuracy in prediction of the results of this study compared with the ANN and RSM models (correlation coefficient = 0.902, from our previous study).

Originality/value

This study uses ANN and ANFIS for predicting color strength of naturally dyed textiles for the first time. The use of computational intelligence for the optimization and prediction of the effects plasma treatment for the improvement of natural dyeing of wool is another novelty of this study.
Immune‐related adverse events correlate with improved survival in patients with advanced mucosal melanoma treated with nivolumab: A single‐center retrospective study in Japan
Authors: Otsuka Masaki , Sugihara Satoru , Mori Shoichiro , Hamada Kengo , Sasaki Yosuke , Yoshikawa Shusuke , Kiyohara Yoshio
Published: January 2020

Immune‐related adverse events (irAE) were reported to be associated with better outcomes in various cancers treated with the immune checkpoint inhibitor nivolumab. Considering that their development depends on host immune activation, irAE may reflect antitumor response in mucosal melanoma (MM). This single‐center retrospective study including patients with advanced MM receiving nivolumab monotherapy between August 2014 and September 2018 investigated whether the development of irAE was associated with clinical efficacy. The study patients were divided into those with and without irAE, and treatment efficacy and safety were evaluated. The study cohort of 27 patients included 20 (74%), six (22%) and one (4%) patient with primary MM in the head and neck, genitourinary and anorectal regions, respectively. The irAE onset was not significantly associated with the objective response rate in patients while it was significantly associated with the disease control rate. The median progression‐free survival in patients with and without irAE was 301 and 63 days, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) in patients with and without irAE was 723 and 199 days, respectively. According to the timing of irAE onset, the OS was better in seven patients who developed irAE after 180 days than in nine patients who developed irAE within 180 days. Although 16 patients (59%) experienced any grade irAE, including three (11%) with grade 3 or more irAE, there were no treatment‐related deaths. These results indicated that the development of irAE may correlate with improved survival in patients with MM treated with nivolumab monotherapy. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.
Management of urban wetlands for conservation can reduce aquatic biodiversity and increase mosquito risk
Authors: Hanford Jayne K. , Webb Cameron E. , Hochuli Dieter F.
Published: January 2020

Global wetland loss means constructed urban wetlands are an increasingly valuable resource for conservation. However, priorities for managing urban wetlands for conservation are often seen to conflict with management to reduce potential mosquito risks, such as nuisance biting and pathogen transmission. Understanding the ecological consequences of wetland management practices is vital to maximize the conservation value of urban wetlands without negatively impacting public health; however, management practices are often untested.

We conducted a landscape‐scale experiment to test the ecological impacts of an existing urban wetland management regime, in which a group of urban wetlands are drained annually to reduce the abundance of an invasive fish, the plague minnow Gambusia holbrooki, and then refilled to provide breeding habitat for a threatened frog, the green and golden bell frog Litoria aurea. We collected and compared aquatic macroinvertebrates and mosquito larvae from these refilled wetlands, and adjacent undrained wetlands, as well as sampling adult mosquito populations on four occasions across summer and autumn.

Wetland draining had a significant effect on aquatic macroinvertebrates and larval mosquitoes. Twice as many macroinvertebrates were collected from drained wetlands compared to undrained wetlands, and almost all mosquito larvae were collected from drained wetlands. Differences in macroinvertebrate assemblages and larval mosquitoes at drained and undrained wetlands decreased over time, but total macroinvertebrate abundance and taxa richness did not.

Synthesis and applications. While conserving threatened habitats and species is vitally important, our results highlight how wetland management practices can unintentionally impact non‐target species, and potentially public health. As constructed urban wetlands become more common, so too does the need for routine maintenance and management of threatened and invasive species. It is essential that future design and management of urban wetlands considers the impact mosquitoes might have on humans. Pre‐emptive action to control geographically relevant vectors of mosquito‐borne pathogens and nuisance biting species would reduce human exposure to mosquitoes and associated negative impacts, and increase positive conservation outcomes associated with urban wetlands.
The effect of positive‐end‐expiratory pressure on stroke volume variation: An experimental study in dogs
Authors: Nakashima Tsuyoshi , Kawazoe Yu , Iseri Toshie , Miyamoto Kyohei , Fujimoto Yuka , Kato Seiya
Published: January 2020

Stroke volume variation (SVV) may be affected by ventilation settings. However, it is unclear whether positive‐end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) affects SVV independently of the effect of driving pressure. We aimed to investigate the effect of driving pressure and PEEP on SVV under various preload conditions using beagle dogs as the animal model. We prepared three preload model, baseline, mild and moderate haemorrhage model. Mild and moderate haemorrhage models were created in nine anaesthetized, mechanically ventilated dogs by sequentially removing 10 mL/kg, and then an additional 10 mL/kg of blood, respectively. We measured cardiac output, stroke volume (SV), SVV, heart rate, central venous pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure and the mean arterial pressure under varying ventilation settings. Peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) was incrementally increased by 4 cmH2O, from 9 cmH2O to 21 cmH2O, under PEEP values of 4, 8, and 12 cmH2O. The driving pressure did not significantly decrease SV under each preload condition and PEEP; however, significantly increased SVV. In contrast, the increased PEEP decreased SV and increased SVV under each preload condition and driving pressure, but these associations were not statistically significant. According to multiple regression analysis, an increase in PEEP and decrease in preload significantly decreased SV (P < .05). In addition, an increase in the driving pressure and decrease in preload significantly increased SVV (P < .05). Driving pressure had more influence than PEEP on SVV.
Abundant and diverse arsenic‐metabolizing microorganisms in peatlands treating arsenic‐contaminated mining wastewaters
Authors: Kujala Katharina , Besold Johannes , Mikkonen Anu , Tiirola Marja , Planer‐Friedrich Britta
Published: January 2020

Mining operations produce large quantities of wastewater. At a mine site in Northern Finland, two natural peatlands are used for the treatment of mining‐influenced waters with high concentrations of sulphate and potentially toxic arsenic (As). In the present study, As removal and the involved microbial processes in those treatment peatlands (TPs) were assessed. Arsenic‐metabolizing microorganisms were abundant in peat soil from both TPs (up to 108 cells gdw−1), with arsenate respirers being about 100 times more abundant than arsenite oxidizers. In uninhibited microcosm incubations, supplemented arsenite was oxidized under oxic conditions and supplemented arsenate was reduced under anoxic conditions, while little to no oxidation/reduction was observed in NaN3‐inhibited microcosms, indicating high As‐turnover potential of peat microbes. Formation of thioarsenates was observed in anoxic microcosms. Sequencing of the functional genemarkers aioA (arsenite oxidizers), arrA (arsenate respirers) and arsC (detoxifying arsenate reducers) demonstrated high diversity of the As‐metabolizing microbial community. The microbial community composition differed between the two TPs, which may have affected As removal efficiencies. In the present situation, arsenate reduction is likely the dominant net process and contributes substantially to As removal. Changes in TP usage (e.g. mine closure) with lowered water tables and heightened oxygen availability in peat might lead to re‐oxidation and re‐mobilization of bound arsenite.
7‐hydroxytropolone is the main metabolite responsible for the fungal antagonism of Pseudomonas donghuensis strain SVBP6
Authors: Muzio Federico M. , Agaras Betina C. , Masi Marco , Tuzi Angela , Evidente Antonio , Valverde Claudio
Published: January 2020

Pseudomonas donghuensis strain SVBP6, an isolate from an agricultural plot in Argentina, displays a broad‐spectrum and diffusible antifungal activity, which requires a functional gacS gene but could not be ascribed yet to known secondary metabolites typical of Pseudomonas biocontrol species. Here, we report that Tn5 mutagenesis allowed the identification of a gene cluster involved in both the fungal antagonism and the production of a soluble tropolonoid compound. The ethyl acetate extract from culture supernatant showed a dose‐dependent inhibitory effect against the phytopathogenic fungus Macrophomina phaseolina. The main compound present in the organic extract was identified by spectroscopic and X‐ray analyses as 7‐hydroxytropolone (7HT). Its structure and tautomerism was confirmed by preparing the two key derivatives 2,3‐dimethoxy‐ and 2,7‐dimethoxy‐tropone. 7HT, but not 2,3‐ or 2,7‐dimethoxy‐tropone, mimicked the fungal inhibitory activity of the ethyl acetate extract from culture supernatant. The activity of 7HT, as well as its production, was barely affected by the presence of up to 50 μM added iron (Fe+2). To summarize, P. donghuensis SVBP6 produces 7HT under the positive control of the Gac‐Rsm cascade and is the main active metabolite responsible for the broad‐spectrum inhibition of different phytopathogenic fungi.
On the relationship between the sense of self and the structure of dreams examined through questionnaire research for Japanese university students
Authors: Tanaka Yasuhiro
Published: January 2020

In this paper, the author attempts to show some structural changes in the adolescent mind in modern Japan through examination of our quantitative research of the dreams of university students. Two questionnaires, Scale of Anthropophobia Mentality and Scale of Sense of Self, were administered while asking students about the contents of their ‘impressive dreams’ in childhood as well as their recent dreams. By paying attention to the relationship between the sense of self of dream‐ego and the structure of dreams, the author demonstrates the subjects’ difficulty, or inability, to ‘have’ anxiety and thereby become active enough both on the surface of their consciousness and in the depth of their unconscious to effect change in their situation. The author concludes with a suggestion regarding the necessity of a cross‐cultural study in this field and adds some points of comparison between German and Japanese dreams reported in psychotherapies.
Apocalyptic themes in times of trouble: when young men are deeply alienated
Authors: Tyminski Robert
Published: January 2020

Boys and young men more frequently live out aspects of their psychic and social alienation online. This paper explores some of the risks and dangers that can arise from retreats into the two‐dimensional world of cyberspace. It focuses more specifically on videogaming called MOBA, multi‐player online battle arena games, in which players point and shoot at others. A case example emphasizes the clinical problems emerging from violent fantasies that seek a false form of containment in cyberspace. Themes of destructive fantasizing are further amplified through images of apocalypse, which are often prevalent in combat arena videogames. Textual sources from the Book of Revelation offer possible understanding for various elements of destructiveness as it appears in vulnerable male psyches. Therapeutic contact that combines a relational, containing approach and a broadly spiritual and soulful perspective can provide a path to healing such violent splits within the psyches of boys and young men.
Quotas, women's leadership and grassroots women activists: Bringing women into the party?
Authors: PONCE ALDO F. , SCARROW SUSAN E. , ACHURY SUSAN
Published: January 2020

Research has consistently shown that women are less likely than men to participate in political parties as members and activists; this participation gender gap has persisted despite narrowing gender gaps in education, employment and in other types of political participation.  Yet while the gaps are widespread, their size varies greatly by country as well as by party.  To what extent do party organizational factors help explain these disparities? More pointedly, are there any lessons to be learned from past experiences about party mechanisms which might help to reduce these gaps? To answer these questions, this study investigates grassroots partisan participation in 68 parties in 12 parliamentary democracies, considering whether factors that have been shown to boost the number of women candidates and legislators are also associated with changing the traditionally male dominance of grassroots party politics.  We find evidence of links between some party mechanisms and higher women's intra‐party participation; however, because the same relationship holds for men's participation, they do not alter the participation gender gap. Only greater participation of women in parties’ parliamentary delegations is associated with smaller grassroots gender gaps. We conclude that parties which wish to close grassroots gender gaps should not rely solely on efforts aimed at remedying gender gaps at the elite level.
Evaluation of Suspected Counterfeit Pharmaceutical Tablets Declared to Contain Controlled Substances Using Handheld Raman Spectrometers
Authors: Lanzarotta Adam , Kimani Martin M. , Thatcher Michael D. , Lynch John , Fulcher Moseley , Witkowski Mark R. , Batson JaCinta S.
Published: January 2020

This study describes the performance of handheld Raman devices for determining whether suspect pharmaceutical tablets declared to contain controlled substances were consistent with authentic (CWA) or not consistent with authentic (NCWA) tablets using a simple, rapid, field‐friendly method capable of being used by nonexperts. Twenty‐five authentic products and 84 known NCWA tablets were examined using three “parent” devices for a total of 327 analyses. On average, the parent devices yielded a true pass rate of 100%, a true fail rate of 98.4%, a false pass rate of 1.6%, and a false fail rate of 0%. The methods/libraries were then transferred to 13 identical “daughter” devices, which were used to examine 10 suspect finished dosage forms in duplicate (six known NCWA tablets and four authentic tablets) for a total of 260 measurements. On average, the daughter devices had a true pass rate of 100%, a true fail rate of 95.5%, a false pass rate of 4.5%, and a false fail rate of 0.0%. These data demonstrate that the parent–daughter electronic transfer method was successful, which permits the ability to develop methods in the laboratory that can be seamlessly pushed out to field devices. The methods can then be used to (i) prioritize samples for additional testing using other more time‐consuming laboratory‐based techniques needed to detect and quantify active ingredients and (ii) help support the interdiction of dangerous tablets at ports of entry, thereby preventing them from reaching the supply chain.