bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The effects of cupping therapy as a new approach in the physiotherapeutic management of carpal tunnel syndrome
Authors: Mohammadi Shirin , Roostayi Mohammad Mohsen , Naimi Sedigheh Sadat , Baghban Alireza Akbarzadeh
Published: January 2019

Background and Purpose

Cupping therapy has been used widely as a safe and common method to tackle soft tissue lesions in most Asian countries, Central Europe, and parts of the United States. In this study, cupping therapy has been used for the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), which is the most common entrapment neuropathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of cupping therapy on the clinical findings of patients with CTS.

Methods

This is a randomized clinical trial. For this research, a total of 56 hands with CTS were studied, aged 18–60 years, and of both genders. The participants were divided into two groups: test and control, regardless of the severity of their CTS. In the control group, 28 were treated with routine physiotherapy (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and ultrasound), and in the test group, the other 28 were treated with routine physiotherapy with cupping therapy. The variables used to determine the effect of cupping were symptom severity scale, functional status scale, distal sensory latency, and distal motor latency. The severity of symptoms and functional status of patients was evaluated with the help of the Boston questionnaire, and the distal latency was evaluated through electromyography.

Results

The results of study demonstrated a significant improvement in symptom severity (p = 0.006) and also a significant decrease in distal sensory latency (p = 0.007) of the test group (routine physiotherapy with cupping) as compared with the control group (routine physiotherapy).

Conclusions

The results showed that incorporation of cupping therapy in a routine physical therapy programme can reduce the severity of symptoms and improve the distal sensory disturbance of the median nerve. Therefore, it is suggested that cupping, as a convenient and low‐cost method, can be used as a complementary therapy in the treatment of CTS.
A New Fe(III)/MOF‐5(Ni) Catalyst for Highly Selective Synthesis of Catechol from Phenol and Hydrogen Peroxide
Authors: Xiang Bai‐lin , Fu Lin , Li Yongfei , Liu Yuejin
Published: January 2019

A new Fe(III)/MOF‐5(Ni) catalyst with high hydrostability was prepared using an equal load method under room temperature, and nearly 100% selectivity for catechol and 63.2% yield of dihydroxybenzene were obtained in hydroxylation of phenol with H2O2 over Fe(III)/MOF‐5(Ni) catalyst.
Controlled Fabrication of Micropatterned Supramolecular Gels by Directed Self‐Assembly of Small Molecular Gelators
Authors: Wang Yiming , Oldenhof Sander , Versluis Frank , Shah Maulik , Zhang Kai , van Steijn Volkert , Guo Xuhong , Eelkema Rienk , van Esch Jan H.
Published: January 2019

Herein, the micropatterning of supramolecular gels with oriented growth direction and controllable spatial dimensions by directing the self‐assembly of small molecular gelators is reported. This process is associated with an acid‐catalyzed formation of gelators from two soluble precursor molecules. To control the localized formation and self‐assembly of gelators, micropatterned poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) brushes are employed to create a local and controllable acidic environment. The results show that the gel formation can be well confined in the catalytic surface plane with dimensions ranging from micro‐ to centimeter. Furthermore, the gels show a preferential growth along the normal direction of the catalytic surface, and the thickness of the resultant gel patterns can be easily controlled by tuning the grafting density of PAA brushes. This work shows an effective “bottom‐up” strategy toward control over the spatial organization of materials and is expected to find promising applications in, e.g., microelectronics, tissue engineering, and biomedicine.
Antifragility as a design criterion for modelling dynamic systems
Authors: de Bruijn Harald , Größler Andreas , Videira Nuno
Published: January 2019

Highly improbable events can have a substantial impact on complex socio‐economic systems and are frequently difficult to predict beforehand but easy to explain afterwards. Antifragile systems can withstand and benefit from this kind of outlier events, whereas merely robust systems cannot in any case. Yet the aim to design robust systems is almost as old as the system dynamics field itself. This research therefore aims to investigate the extent to which an antifragile system design criterion is more valuable than a robust one. By means of an extensive literature review, a simulation model was constructed, which is demonstrated to be antifragile. Comparing the antifragile and robust versions of the model shows that the former—as theorized—yields more favourable results in an environment with impactful outlier events. Implementing antifragility in systems involves the difficult task of changing policies (and, eventually, the mental models) of decision‐makers. Consequently, this research concludes that antifragility should not and cannot always be attained; its feasibility is to be assessed at the start of a system dynamics modelling project.
Beyond OLED: Efficient Quantum Dot Light‐Emitting Diodes for Display and Lighting Application
Authors: Sun Yizhe , Jiang Yibin , Sun Xiao Wei , Zhang Shengdong , Chen Shuming
Published: January 2019

The unique features of solution‐processed quantum dots (QDs) including emission tunability in the visible range, high‐quality saturated color and outstanding intrinsic stability in environment are highly desired in various application fields. Especially, for the preparation of wide color gamut displays, QDs with high photoluminescence quantum yield are deemed as the optimal fluorescent emitter that has been utilized in the backlight for liquid crystal display. Nevertheless, the commercialization of electrically driven self‐emissive quantum dot light‐emitting diode (QLED) display is the ultimate target due to its merits of high contrast, slim configuration and compatibility with flexible substrate. Through the great efforts devoted to material engineering and device configuration, astonishing progresses have been made in device performance, giving the QLED technology a great chance to compete with other counterparts for next‐generation displays. In this review, we retrospect the development roadmap of QLED technology and introduce the essential principles in the QLED devices. Moreover, we discuss the key factors that affect the QLED efficiency and lifetime. Finally, the advances in device architectures and pixel patterning are also summarized.
Paraquat affects the differentiation of neural stem cells and impairs the function of vascular endothelial cells: a study of molecular mechanism
Authors: Huang Min , Cai Qian , Xu Yanlong , Guo Muzheng , Zhu Chendi , Li Yinyin , Wu Kexin , Zhou Zhijun , Yang Huifang
Published: January 2019

Objective

To investigate the effect of paraquat (PQ) exposure on gene expression in neural stem cells as well as structures and functions of vascular endothelial cells.

Methods

RNA‐Seq was used to explore the differentially expressed genes in human umbilical cord blood‐neural stem cells (HUCB‐NSCs) at different stages (eg, proliferation, early and late differentiation) in the presence of PQ. The effects of PQ on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), including cell proliferation, apoptosis, cytokines secretion, and expression of tight junction proteins, were assessed with CCK‐8, flow cytometry, ELISA, and western blot analysis, individually.

Results

A total of 53 genes were up‐regulated and 61 genes were down‐regulated in PQ treated HUCB‐NSCs, including seven genes associated with the differentiation of neural stem cells, for example, Gfap, S100B, Oct4, Gdf3, Sox1, Pax6, and Ngn1. PQ treatment significantly reduced the proliferation of HUVECs, inhibited cytokines secretion (VEGF, BFGF) and expressions of tight junction‐associated protein (Claudin 1, Occludin, ZO‐1), as well as induced significant apoptosis.

Conclusion

Our study suggests that PQ impairs the development of nervous system by regulating the expression of genes associated with neural stem cell differentiation, as well as the structure and function of vascular endothelial cells, which together lead to abnormality in the nervous system.
A European men's health strategy: here at last
Authors: Baker Peter
Published: January 2019

The lack of a policy focus on men's health has held back work in the field. The adoption of the first‐ever men's health strategy by WHO Europe, and its recognition that many men's health outcomes are unacceptably poor, is therefore very significant. Here the author outlines the strategy and how it could make a difference to men's health.
Mechanical and Thermal Properties Modeling, Sorption Characteristics of Multiscale (Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Glass Fiber) Filler Reinforced Polypropylene Composites
Authors: Rasana Nanoth , Jayanarayanan Karingamanna , Pavithra Ramakrishnan , Nandhini Ganesan R. , Ramya Pannerselvam , Veeraraagavan Annusamy V.
Published: January 2019

The present work was aimed to investigate the individual and hybrid reinforcement effect of multiscale fillers [glass fibers (GF)/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)] in polypropylene (PP) matrix. The MWCNT content in the hybrid composites was varied from 0.5 to 5 wt%, and glass fiber fraction was fixed as 20 wt%. The morphology of nano and hybrid composite revealed reasonable dispersion of MWCNTs and glass fibers in the matrix. At a MWCNT content of 3 wt%, the optimum tensile properties for the hybrid composites were achieved and beyond which it declined due to agglomeration effects as revealed by transmission electron microscopy. A comparative study of the experimental and predicted values of moduli of nano, micro, and hybrid composites using various micromechanical models was conducted. The simultaneous incorporation of MWCNTs and glass fibers in PP restricted the mobility of polymer chains as indicated by the increase in storage modulus and rise in glass transition temperature obtained by dynamic mechanical analysis. The differential scanning calorimetry studies indicated that the inclusion of 2 wt% of MWCNTs increased the crystallinity of PP from 58.2 to 69.1% in hybrid composites. The Avrami and Mo models were used to explore nonisothermal crystallization kinetics, and Mo model was in close agreement with the experimental results. The sorption behavior of the composites revealed that the formation of immobilized regions developed by the simultaneous inclusion of micro and nano fillers delayed the transport of the solvent. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 25:E94–E107, 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers
Impact of carbon source and COD/N on the concurrent operation of partial denitrification and anammox
Authors: Le Tri , Peng Bo , Su Chunyang , Massoudieh Arash , Torrents Alba , Al‐Omari Ahmed , Murthy Sudhir , Wett Bernhard , Chandran Kartik , DeBarbadillo Christine , Bott Charles , De Clippeleir Haydée
Published: January 2019

In this study, concurrent operation of anammox and partial denitrification within a nonacclimated mixed culture system was proposed. The impact of carbon sources (acetate, glycerol, methanol, and ethanol) and COD/NO3−‐N ratio on partial denitrification selection under both short‐ and long‐term operations was investigated. Results from short‐term testing showed that all carbon sources supported partial denitrification. However, acetate and glycerol were preferred due to their display of efficient partial denitrification selection, which may be related to their different electron transport pathways in comparison with methanol. Long‐term operation confirmed results of batch tests by showing the contribution of partial denitrification to nitrate removal above 90% after acclimation in both acetate and glycerol reactors. In contrast, methanol showed challenges of maintaining efficient partial denitrification. COD/NO3−‐N ratio mainly controlled the rate of nitrate reduction and not directly partial denitrification selection; thus, it should be used to balance between denitrification rate and anammox rate.

Practitioner points

The authors aimed to investigate the impact of carbon sources and COD/NO3‐N ratio on partial denitrification selection.

All the carbon sources supported partial denitrification as long as the nitrite sink was available.

90% partial denitrification could be achieved with both acetate and glycerol in long‐term operations.

COD/NO3‐N ratio did not directly control partial denitrification but can be used to balance between denitrification rate and anammox rate.
Full simulation of disinfection stage in a water recycling plant using low‐cost, hybrid 3‐dimensional computational fluid dynamics
Authors: Issakhanian Emin , Saez Jose A. , Helmns Andrea , Nickles Cassandra
Published: January 2019

Water purification is a crucial process in the operation of a municipality. Ensuring that water treatment plants are meeting regulatory requirements is a vital, but complicated and costly process. Because water treatment plant influent and effluent rates are demand driven, and vary both diurnally and seasonally, controlling flow rates for the disinfection stage can be challenging both operationally and economically. Thus, performing large‐scale field experiments to verify water quality regulatory criteria such as modal transport time of conservative tracers in a chlorine disinfection contact tank under extreme operating conditions can range from difficult and costly to impossible. In this paper, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) approach is used to verify the compliance of a water reclamation plant disinfection stage with respect to modal time. CFD allows a large parameter space to be tested without the need to build large physical models or taking functioning systems in a treatment plant offline. This can save facilities large amounts of time and money when designing, optimizing, and developing plants or checking compliance. This paper introduces a hybrid approach of computational analysis of a water reclamation plant's chlorine contact tank in Southern California. The method uses a hybrid approach which combines three‐dimensional CFD with hydraulic grade line analysis of the open water surface. Verification cases were compared to experimental measurements at a functioning, full‐scale plant with modal contact time differences below 15%. The method was then used to predict residence time distributions (RTDs) for cases which could not be artificially induced at the plant, but represented peak flow conditions that could be expected.

Practitioner points

The hybrid 3‐dimensional CFD method allows low cost simulation of the disinfection stage.

By using head loss calculations to properly define the water level at each section, a steady‐state single phase flow simulation can be run in 3D without the need to scale down geometries.

This allows for more accurate transport results and parameter studies.
Effect of pH and temperature on vinasse decolorization by lactic acid bacteria in batch processes
Authors: Wilk Marta , Krzywonos Małgorzata , Seruga Przemysław , Walaszczyk Ewa
Published: January 2019

The waste‐free policy is part of the process of sugar production from beets in which the resulting molasses are used for ethanol production. However, during this process another byproduct, namely vinasse, is created. Therefore, there is a problem with the utilization of wastewater, which cannot be disposed to the environment without being treated. Melanoidins, caramels, and hexoses alkaline degradation products contained in the vinasse give it a dark brown color. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of the pH and the temperature on the decolorization of vinasse by lactic acid bacteria (Lactobacillus plantarum, L. casei, and Pediococcus parvulus). Experiments were performed in batch mode in a BioStatB bioreactor for 72 hrs. The medium consisted of 25% v/v sugar beet molasses vinasse, 77.34 gdm−3 of glucose, and 2.24 gdm−3 of yeast extract. The maximum decolorization was 25.14% and was achieved at noncontrolled pH 6.5 and at 30°C.

Practitioner points

Lactobacillus plantarum, L. casei and Pediococcus parvulus showed potential for decolorization of sugar beet molasses vinasse.

Controlled pH has a negative effect on sugar beet molasses vinasse decolorization.

Toxic substances, i.e. acrylamide, 4‐methylimidazole , 5‐hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural after decolorization was not detected.

Bacteria showed high degradation potential of 2‐acetyl‐4‐(1,2,3,4)‐tetrahydroxy‐butylimidazole.
Bioprospecting for brewers: Exploiting natural diversity for naturally diverse beers
Authors: Cubillos Francisco A. , Gibson Brian , Grijalva‐Vallejos Nubia , Krogerus Kristoffer , Nikulin Jarkko
Published: January 2019

The burgeoning interest in archaic, traditional, and novel beer styles has coincided with a growing appreciation of the role of yeasts in determining beer character as well as a better understanding of the ecology and biogeography of yeasts. Multiple studies in recent years have highlighted the potential of wild Saccharomyces and non‐Saccharomyces yeasts for production of beers with novel flavour profiles and other desirable properties. Yeasts isolated from spontaneously fermented beers as well as from other food systems (wine, bread, and kombucha) have shown promise for brewing application, and there is evidence that such cross‐system transfers have occurred naturally in the past. We review here the available literature pertaining to the use of nonconventional yeasts in brewing, with a focus on the origins of these yeasts, including methods of isolation. Practical aspects of utilizing nondomesticated yeasts are discussed, and modern methods to facilitate discovery of yeasts with brewing potential are highlighted.
Progress and Challenges for Live-Cell Imaging of Genomic Loci using CRISPR-Based Platforms
Authors: Wu Xiaotian , Mao Shiqi , Ying Yachen , Krueger Christopher J. , Chen Antony K.
Published: January 2019

Chromatin conformation, localization, and dynamics are crucial regulators of cellular behaviors. Although fluorescence in situ hybridization-based techniques have been widely utilized for investigating chromatin architectures in healthy and diseased states, the requirement for cell fixation precludes the comprehensive dynamic analysis necessary to fully understand chromatin activities. This has spurred the development and application of a variety of imaging methodologies for visualizing single chromosomal loci in the native cellular context. In this review, we describe currently-available approaches for imaging single genomic loci in cells, with special focus on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based imaging approaches. In addition, we discuss some of the challenges that limit the application of CRISPR-based genomic imaging approaches, and potential solutions to address these challenges. We anticipate that, with continued refinement of CRISPR-based imaging techniques, significant understanding can be gained to help decipher chromatin activities and their relevance to cellular physiology and pathogenesis.
Involvement of AMP‐activated protein kinase in neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in the adult and developing brain
Authors: Saito Mariko , Saito Mitsuo , Das Bhaskar C.
Published: January 2019

Microglial activation followed by neuroinflammation is a defense mechanism of the brain to eliminate harmful endogenous and exogenous materials including pathogens and damaged tissues, while excessive or chronic neuroinflammation may cause or exacerbate neurodegeneration observed in brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases. Depending on conditions/environments during activation, microglia acquire distinct phenotypes, such as pro‐inflammatory, anti‐inflammatory, and disease‐associated phenotypes, and show their ability to phagocytose various objects and produce pro‐and anti‐inflammatory mediators. Prevention of excessive inflammation by regulating the microglia's pro/anti‐inflammatory balance is important for alleviating progression of brain injuries and diseases. Among many factors involved in the regulation of microglial phenotypes, cellular energy status plays an important role. Adenosine monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK), which serves as a master sensor and regulator of energy balance, is considered a candidate molecule. Accumulating evidence from adult rodent studies indicates that AMPK activation promotes anti‐inflammatory responses in microglia exposed to danger signals or various stressors mainly through inhibition of the nuclear factor κB (NF‐κB) signaling and activation of the nuclear factor erythroid‐2‐related factor‐2 (Nrf2) pathway. However, AMPK activation in neurons exposed to stressors/insults may exacerbate neuronal damage if AMPK activation is excessive or prolonged. While AMPK affects microglial activation states and neuronal cell survival rates in both the adult and the developing brain, studies in the developing brain are still scarce, even though activated AMPK is highly expressed especially in the neonatal brain. More in depth studies in the developing brain are important, because neuroinflammation/neurodegeneration occurred during development can result in long‐lasting brain damage.
The diagnostic accuracy of a point-of-care ultrasound protocol for shock etiology: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Stickles Sean P. , Carpenter Christopher R. , Gekle Robert , Kraus Chadd K. , Scoville Caryn , Theodoro Daniel , Tran Vu Huy , Ubiñas George , Raio Christopher
Published: January 2019

Objective

The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the diagnostic accuracy of a point-of-care ultrasound exam for undifferentiated shock in patients presenting to the emergency department.

Methods

Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and research meeting abstracts were searched from 1966 to June 2018 for relevant studies. QUADAS-2 was used to assess study quality, and meta-analysis was conducted to pool performance data of individual categories of shock.

Results

A total of 5,097 non-duplicated studies were identified, of which 58 underwent full-text review; 4 were included for analysis. Study quality by QUADAS-2 was considered overall a low risk of bias. Pooled positive likelihood ratio values ranged from 8.25 (95% CI 3.29 to 20.69) for hypovolemic shock to 40.54 (95% CI 12.06 to 136.28) for obstructive shock. Pooled negative likelihood ratio values ranged from 0.13 (95% CI 0.04 to 0.48) for obstructive shock to 0.32 (95% CI 0.16 to 0.62) for mixed-etiology shock.

Conclusion

The rapid ultrasound for shock and hypotension (RUSH) exam performs better when used to rule in causes of shock, rather than to definitively exclude specific etiologies. The negative likelihood ratios of the exam by subtype suggest that it most accurately rules out obstructive shock.
Accidental transdermal methanol poisoning presenting to a regional emergency department
Authors: Beaton Chelsea R. , Meyer Clinton
Published: January 2019

Learning Points:

•

Know and identify clinical presentations of toxic alcohols.

•

Understand the differential diagnosis of high anion gap metabolic acidosis.

•

Appreciate the importance of history and clinical findings in establishing methanol toxicity diagnoses, especially in centres where laboratory testing is unavailable.

•

Recognize the value of provincial poison centres in supporting emergency physicians in the diagnosis and management of poisonings and overdoses.
A Comparative analysis of rhythmic patterns in settler-heritage English and Blackfoot English in Southern Alberta
Authors: Rosen Nicole , Genee Inge , Ankutowicz Jillian , Petker Taylor , Shapka Jennifer
Published: January 2019

In this paper we explore differences in prosodic rhythm between two English speech communities in rural Southern Alberta, Canada: speakers of Blackfoot First Nation descent and those of settler descent. Using the Variability Index (VI), we show that there are statistically significant differences between English speakers of settler descent and those of Blackfoot descent, where those of Blackfoot descent have a higher VI, that is, they are further along the stress-timing continuum than those of settler descent. We hypothesize that these differences are due to language transfer effects stemming from the community's original Blackfoot phonology which were present in their L2 English when the community norm shifted primarily to English, and that the historical, social, and geographical isolation of Blackfoot people in Southern Alberta has contributed to the development of a new local Blackfoot English norm.
Off the Books: Oral History and Transnational Advertising Agencies in Southeast Asia
Authors: CRAWFORD ROBERT
Published: January 2019

This article reflects on the contribution that oral history can make to business historians by examining the Australian advertising professionals’ experiences of working in Southeast Asia from the 1960s to the 1980s. Interviews with these advertising professionals examined the processes by which they entered the region as well as their experiences of working there. In addition to documenting information and insights that are altogether absent from official records, the interviews offer an opportunity to reflect on broader social, cultural, and economic contexts and the degree to which they impacted on interviewees’ actions. By illustrating the transmission of business cultures through advertising agency networks as well as their impact on global business, this article also demonstrates oral history’s capacity to connect personal experience with business history.
Building a Constituency for Racial Integration: Chicago's Magnet Schools and the Prehistory of School Choice
Authors: Kryczka Nicholas
Published: January 2019

Chicago's magnet schools were one of the nation's earliest experiments in choice-driven school desegregation, originating among civil rights advocates and academic education experts in the 1960s and appearing at specific sites in Chicago's urban landscape during the 1970s. The specific concerns that motivated the creation of magnet schools during the civil rights era—desegregating schools and arresting white flight—were decisively wedded to notions of parental choice, academic selectivity, and urban revitalization. While magnet schools enacted innovative curricula in self-consciously multicultural spaces, their scarcity, combined with their function as a spur to middle-class urbanism, ratified new regimes of inequality in urban education. This article frames magnet schools’ engineered success as a necessary prehistory for the rise of educational choice-and-accountability reforms later in the twentieth century.
Infections after pediatric ambulatory surgery: Incidence and risk factors
Authors: Gerber Jeffrey S. , Ross Rachael K. , Szymczak Julia E. , Xiao Rui , Localio A. Russell , Grundmeier Robert W. , Rettig Susan L , Teszner Eva , Canning Doug A. , Coffin Susan E.
Published: January 2019

Objective

To describe the epidemiology of surgical site infections (SSIs) after pediatric ambulatory surgery.

Design

Observational cohort study with 60 days follow-up after surgery.

Setting

The study took place in 3 ambulatory surgical facilities (ASFs) and 1 hospital-based facility in a single pediatric healthcare network.

Participants

Children <18 years undergoing ambulatory surgery were included in the study. Of 19,777 eligible surgical encounters, 8,502 patients were enrolled.

Methods

Data were collected through parental interviews and from chart reviews. We assessed 2 outcomes: (1) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)–defined SSI and (2) evidence of possible infection using a definition developed for this study.

Results

We identified 21 NSHN SSIs for a rate of 2.5 SSIs per 1,000 surgical encounters: 2.9 per 1,000 at the hospital-based facility and 1.6 per 1,000 at the ASFs. After restricting the search to procedures completed at both facilities and adjustment for patient demographics, there was no difference in the risk of NHSN SSI between the 2 types of facilities (odds ratio, 0.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.2–2.3). Within 60 days after surgery, 404 surgical patients had some or strong evidence of possible infection obtained from parental interview and/or chart review (rate, 48 SSIs per 1,000 surgical encounters). Of 306 cases identified through parental interviews, 176 cases (57%) did not have chart documentation. In our multivariable analysis, older age and black race were associated with a reduced risk of possible infection.

Conclusions

The rate of NHSN-defined SSI after pediatric ambulatory surgery was low, although a substantial additional burden of infectious morbidity related to surgery might not have been captured by standard surveillance strategies and definitions.
A multimodal regional intervention strategy framed as friendly competition to improve hand hygiene compliance
Authors: van Dijk Manon D. , Mulder Sanne A. , Erasmus Vicki , van Beeck A. H. Elise , Vermeeren Joke M. J. J. , Liu Xiaona , Beeck Ed F. van , Vos Margreet C.
Published: January 2019

Objective

To investigate the effects of friendly competition on hand hygiene compliance as part of a multimodal intervention program.

Design

Prospective observational study in which the primary outcome was hand hygiene compliance. Differences were analyzed using the Pearson χ2 test. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence interval were calculated using multilevel logistic regression.

Setting

Observations were performed in 9 public hospitals and 1 rehabilitation center in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Participants

From 2014 to 2016, at 5 time points (at 6-month intervals) in 120 hospital wards, 20,286 hand hygiene opportunities were observed among physicians, nurses, and other healthcare workers (HCWs).

Intervention

The multimodal, friendly competition intervention consisted of mandatory interventions: monitoring and feedback of hand hygiene compliance and optional interventions (ie, e-learning, kick-off workshop, observer training, and team training). Hand hygiene opportunities, as formulated by the World Health Organization (WHO), were unobtrusively observed at 5 time points by trained observers. Compliance data were presented to the healthcare organizations as a ranking.

Results

The overall mean hand hygiene compliance at time point 1 was 42.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 41.4–44.4), which increased to 51.4% (95% CI, 49.8–53.0) at time point 5 (P<.001). Nurses showed a significant improvement between time points 1 and 5 (P<.001), whereas the compliance of physicians and other HCWs remained unchanged. In the multilevel logistic regressions, time points, type of ward, and type of HCW showed a significant association with compliance.

Conclusion

Between the start and the end of the multimodal intervention program in a friendly competition setting, overall hand hygiene compliance increased significantly.
Early Cretaceous gymnolaemate bryozoans from the early to middle Albian of the Glen Rose and Walnut formations of Texas, USA
Authors: Martha Silviu O. , Taylor Paul D. , Rader William L.
Published: January 2019

Gymnolaemate bryozoans are common encrusters on bivalve shells from the early to middle Albian parts of the Glen Rose and Walnut formations of southcentral and northcentral Texas. Here, we report for the first time the presence of seven gymnolaemate bryozoans, all of which represent new species. They include the bioimmured ctenostomeSimplicidium jontoddin. sp., and the cheilostomesRhammatopora glenrosan. sp.,Iyarispora ikaanakiteehn. gen. n. sp.,Iyarispora chiassn. gen. n. sp.,Charixa bispinatan. sp.,Charixa sexspinatan. sp., andCharixa emanuelaen. sp. The Glen Rose bryozoans slightly antedate the commencement of an explosive bryozoan radiation and the first appearance of neocheilostomes in the late Albian. Although the diversity of cheilostomes in the Glen Rose and Walnut formations is similar to that of cyclostomes, cheilostomes are more abundant and produced larger colonies. These formations therefore yield the oldest known bryozoan assemblage dominated in terms of biomass by cheilostomes. The genus concept ofCharixais discussed and amended.

UUID:http://zoobank.org/d9e8f1a4-ae6a-4455-abb3-3b0a75a7d294
Churches without bells in Fascist Italy
Authors: Garofalo Piero , Farabegoli Giorgio
Published: January 2019

This article examines how Fascism’s economic autarky impacted on church construction in the late 1930s. The shortage of copper in Italy due to sanctions imposed by the League of Nations and the ensuing Italian policy of self-sufficiency led to the installation of loudspeakers instead of bells in newly erected churches. The amplified sound of recordings and of tubular bells could be heard from far greater distances than that of traditional bells. Although these technologies disregarded the Catholic Church’s directives on utilising modern technical equipment in liturgy, their use was tolerated because of the economic circumstances. Indeed, some clergy endorsed these sound systems as a means of modernising the Church and as an act of patriotism. The practice, however, risked conflating ecclesiastical and Fascist broadcasts since the use of loudspeakers for political propaganda was widespread. In one case, the Fascist anthemGiovinezzawas played regularly from a church belfry: after the war, furious citizens destroyed this audio system. The decision by dioceses as to whether to adopt technological alternatives to bells exposed the conflicting positions within the Church towards both modernity and the Regime.
Dual ground state solutions for the critical nonlinear Helmholtz equation
Authors: Evéquoz Gilles , Yeşil Tolga
Published: January 2019

Using a dual variational approach, we obtain nontrivial real-valued solutions of the critical nonlinear Helmholtz equation
$$-\Delta u-k^2u = Q(x) \vert u \vert ^{2^*-2}u,\quad u\in W^{2,2^*}({\open R}^{N})$$for N ⩾ 4, where 2* : = 2N/(N − 2). The coefficient $Q \in L^{\infty }({\open R}^{N}){\setminus }\{0\}$ is assumed to be nonnegative, asymptotically periodic and to satisfy a flatness condition at one of its maximum points. The solutions obtained are so-called dual ground states, that is, solutions arising from critical points of the dual functional with the property of having minimal energy among all nontrivial critical points. Moreover, we show that no dual ground state exists for N = 3.
CONTRACTIBLE PERIODIC ORBITS OF LAGRANGIAN SYSTEMS
Authors: PATERNAIN MIGUEL
Published: January 2019

We consider a convex Lagrangian
$L:\mathit{TM}\rightarrow \mathbb{R}$
quadratic at infinity with
$L(x,0)=0$
for every
$x\in M$
and such that the 1-form
$\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}$
defined by
$\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}_{x}(v)=L_{v}(x,0)v$
is not closed. We show that for every number
$a<0$
, there is a contractible (nonconstant) periodic orbit with action
$a$
. We also obtain estimates of the period and energy of such periodic orbits.
A single day of mixed-macronutrient overfeeding does not elicit compensatory appetite or energy intake responses but exaggerates postprandial lipaemia during the next day in healthy young men
Authors: Deighton Kevin , King Andy J. , Matu Jamie , Shannon Oliver M. , Whiteman Oliver , Long Alice , Huby Matthew D. , Sekula Miroslav , Holliday Adrian
Published: January 2019

Discrete episodes of overconsumption may induce a positive energy balance and impair metabolic control. However, the effects of an ecologically relevant, single day of balanced macronutrient overfeeding are unknown. Twelve healthy men (of age 22 (sd 2) years, BMI 26·1 (sd 4·2) kg/m2) completed two 28 h, single-blind experimental trials. In a counterbalanced repeated measures design, participants either consumed their calculated daily energy requirements (energy balance trial (EB): 10 755 (sd 593) kJ) or were overfed by 50 % (overfeed trial (OF): 16 132 (sd 889) kJ) under laboratory supervision. Participants returned to the laboratory the next day, after an overnight fast, to complete a mixed-meal tolerance test (MTT). Appetite was not different between trials during day 1 (P>0·211) or during the MTT in the fasted or postprandial state (P>0·507). Accordingly, plasma acylated ghrelin, total glucagon-like peptide-1 and total peptide YY concentrations did not differ between trials during the MTT (all P>0·335). Ad libitum energy intake, assessed upon completion of the MTT, did not differ between trials (EB 6081 (sd 2260) kJ; OF 6182 (sd 1960) kJ; P=0·781). Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were not different between trials (P>0·715). Fasted NEFA concentrations were lower in OF compared with EB (P=0·005), and TAG concentrations increased to a greater extent on OF than on EB during the MTT (P=0·009). The absence of compensatory changes in appetite-related variables after 1 d of mixed macronutrient overfeeding highlights the limited physiological response to defend against excess energy intake. This supports the concept that repeated discrete episodes of overconsumption may promote weight gain, while elevations in postprandial lipaemia may increase CVD risk.
Existence, Uniqueness and Qualitative Properties of Global Solutions of Abstract Differential Equations with State-Dependent Delay
Authors: Hernández Eduardo , Wu Jianhong
Published: January 2019

We study the existence, uniqueness and qualitative properties of global solutions of abstract differential equations with state-dependent delay. Results on the existence of almost periodic-type solutions (including, periodic, almost periodic, asymptotically almost periodic and almost automorphic solutions) are proved. Some examples of partial differential equations with state-dependent delay arising in population dynamics are presented.
Generating Adjoint Groups
Authors: Greenfeld Be'eri
Published: January 2019

We prove two approximations of the open problem of whether the adjoint group of a non-nilpotent nil ring can be finitely generated. We show that the adjoint group of a non-nilpotent Jacobson radical cannot be boundedly generated and, on the other hand, construct a finitely generated, infinite-dimensional nil algebra whose adjoint group is generated by elements of bounded torsion.
ON-FARM TRIALS AS ‘INFECTION POINTS’? A RESPONSE TO WALL ET AL.
Authors: ANDERSSON J. A. , KRUPNIK T. J. , DE ROO N.
Published: January 2019

In their response to our paper on the problems of using on-farm trials in efforts to scale-out new crop production technologies and practices among smallholder farmers, Wall et al. (2019) focus on our descriptions of on-farm trials in just one of the three case studies of Agricultural Research for Development (AR4D) projects that were presented. They argue we did not understand the projects’ philosophy and that the biases in farmer and site selection we discussed, do not exist in the southern Africa case study.
Good Volatility, Bad Volatility, and the Cross Section of Stock Returns
Authors: Bollerslev Tim , Li Sophia Zhengzi , Zhao Bingzhi
Published: January 2019

Based on intraday data for a large cross section of individual stocks and newly developed econometric procedures, we decompose the realized variation for each of the stocks into separate so-called realized up and down semi-variance measures, or “good” and “bad” volatilities, associated with positive and negative high-frequency price increments, respectively. Sorting the individual stocks into portfolios based on their normalized good minus bad volatilities results in economically large and highly statistically significant differences in the subsequent portfolio returns. These differences remain significant after controlling for other firm characteristics and explanatory variables previously associated with the cross section of expected stock returns.
Nutritional challenges for older adults in Europe: current status and future directions
Authors: Kehoe Laura , Walton Janette , Flynn Albert
Published: January 2019

Population ageing is rapidly progressing and it is estimated that by 2050 one in every five people globally will be aged 60 years or over. Research has shown that adequate nutritional status can positively impact the ageing process, resulting in improved quality of life and the prevention of chronic disease and mortality. However, due to physiological and social changes associated with ageing, older adults may be at increased risk of nutrient deficiencies. This review aims to investigate the nutrient intake and status of older adults in Europe and to explore the potential role of fortified foods and nutritional supplements in addressing some of the nutritional challenges identified in this population group. The available literature has highlighted unfavourable intakes of total and saturated fat, sugar, salt and dietary fibre together with low intakes and suboptimal status of key micronutrients such as vitamins D, B2, B12, folate and calcium. Evidence has shown that the consumption of fortified foods and use of nutritional supplements make significant contributions to intakes and status of these micronutrients in older adults. Continued monitoring of nutrient intake and status is important in light of changing fortification practices and food consumption patterns. Future strategies to address the nutritional issues identified in older adults could include the promotion of healthy food choices together with improvements of the food supply including reformulation (fat, sugar and salt), food fortification or supplementation to support successful ageing of our populations.
Older Aboriginal men creating a therapeutic Men's Shed: an exploratory study
Authors: Cox Terrance , Hoang Ha , Barnett Tony , Cross Merylin
Published: January 2019

Men's Sheds are entrenched throughout Australian and international communities due to their popularity in attracting mainly older men to come together and undertake various social and workshop activities. A growing body of research has emerged where men associate regular Shed participation with improved social, emotional and physical wellbeing. However, few studies have examined Aboriginal men's engagement in Men's Sheds. This article reports on a study that investigated how a cohort of older Aboriginal men from one rural Tasmanian community consider the benefits of engaging in their local Shed. A community-based participatory research approach was developed in consultation with Aboriginal community leaders to ensure the study supported the community's expectations. Interview data from ten Aboriginal men combine to represent the Shed environment as an enabling therapeutic landscape, with key themes represented as domains of belonging, hope, mentoring and shared illness experiences. Shed activities were premised on these men co-creating an informal, culturally safe and male-friendly community environment to enjoy the company of other men. The created Shed environment was mutually beneficial as the participants reported improved wellbeing despite living with the effects of declining health and ageing. The findings inform Aboriginal communities and health-care stakeholders to consider the unique role of Men's Sheds for enhancing the health of an ageing male population.
Xiism as a hegemonic project in the making: Sino-communist ideology and the political economy of China’s rise
Authors: Mulvad Andreas Møller
Published: January 2019

How is Xi Jinping changing the course of China’s rise? Based on a Gramscian analytical framework inspired by Bob Jessop, this article provides an anatomy of Xiism (2012–) as an emergent hegemonic project, that is, a (fallible and contested) attempt by China’s party-based power bloc of altering global power balances in China’s favour while retaining domestic stability. Through juxtaposition with Maoism (1957–76) and Dengism (1978–2012), it is proposed that Xiism reformulates the power bloc’s strategy in three respects. First, the ideological vision of the ‘Chinese Dream’ negates Mao’s utopian-egalitarian universalism while readjusting Deng’s pro-market approach by emphasising ‘common prosperity’. Second, the economic accumulation strategy – built around the hyped Belt and Road Initiative – aims to reshape global trade and production patterns in a way that particularly benefits the state-owned sector, the Party leadership’s economic base. Third, Xi’s state project seeks to amalgamate Mao-style charismatic leadership and intra-party ‘self-rectification’ campaigns with both a Dengist commitment to political stability and traditional Chinese statecraft. The crucial issue for the coming decade is whether the Xi leadership will prove able to paper over the contradictions of this emergent ‘China Model’ and win support for it both at home and abroad.
THE GENERALIZED ENTROPY ERGODIC THEOREM FOR NONHOMOGENEOUS MARKOV CHAINS INDEXED BY A HOMOGENEOUS TREE
Authors: Huang Huilin
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we extend the strong laws of large numbers and entropy ergodic theorem for partial sums for tree-indexed nonhomogeneous Markov chains fields to delayed versions of nonhomogeneous Markov chains fields indexed by a homogeneous tree. At first we study a generalized strong limit theorem for nonhomogeneous Markov chains indexed by a homogeneous tree. Then we prove the generalized strong laws of large numbers and the generalized asymptotic equipartition property for delayed sums of finite nonhomogeneous Markov chains indexed by a homogeneous tree. As corollaries, we can get the similar results of some current literatures. In this paper, the problem settings may not allow to use Doob's martingale convergence theorem, and we overcome this difficulty by using Borel–Cantelli Lemma so that our proof technique also has some new elements compared with the reference Yang and Ye (2007).
DIFFUSION LIMITS FOR A MARKOV MODULATED BINOMIAL COUNTING PROCESS
Authors: Spreij Peter , Storm Jaap
Published: January 2019

In this paper, we study limit behavior for a Markov-modulated binomial counting process, also called a binomial counting process under regime switching. Such a process naturally appears in the context of credit risk when multiple obligors are present. Markov-modulation takes place when the failure/default rate of each individual obligor depends on an underlying Markov chain. The limit behavior under consideration occurs when the number of obligors increases unboundedly, and/or by accelerating the modulating Markov process, called rapid switching. We establish diffusion approximations, obtained by application of (semi)martingale central limit theorems. Depending on the specific circumstances, different approximations are found.
ABSOLUTE FREQUENCY EFFECTS IN SECOND LANGUAGE LEXICAL ACQUISITION
Authors: Crossley Scott A. , Skalicky Stephen , Kyle Kristopher , Monteiro Katia
Published: January 2019

A number of longitudinal studies of L2 production have reported frequency effects wherein learners' produce more frequent words as a function of time. The current study investigated the spoken output of English L2 learners over a four-month period of time using both native and non-native English speaker frequency norms for both word types and word tokens. The study also controlled for individual differences such as first language distance, English proficiency, gender, and age. Results demonstrated that lower level L2 learners produced more infrequent tokens at the beginning of the study and that high intermediate learners, when compared to advanced learners, produced more infrequent tokens at the beginning of the study and more frequent tokens toward the end of the study. Main effects were also reported for proficiency level, age, and language distance. These results provide further evidence that L2 production may not follow expected frequency trends (i.e., that more infrequent tokens are produced as a function of time).