bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Customer experience challenges: bringing together digital, physical and social realms
Authors: Bolton Ruth N. , McColl-Kennedy Janet R. , Cheung Lilliemay , Gallan Andrew , Orsingher Chiara , Witell Lars , Zaki Mohamed
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore innovations in customer experience at the intersection of the digital, physical and social realms. It explicitly considers experiences involving new technology-enabled services, such as digital twins and automated social presence (i.e. virtual assistants and service robots).

Design/methodology/approach

Future customer experiences are conceptualized within a three-dimensional space – low to high digital density, low to high physical complexity and low to high social presence – yielding eight octants.

Findings

The conceptual framework identifies eight “dualities,” or specific challenges connected with integrating digital, physical and social realms that challenge organizations to create superior customer experiences in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer markets. The eight dualities are opposing strategic options that organizations must reconcile when co-creating customer experiences under different conditions.

Research limitations/implications

A review of theory demonstrates that little research has been conducted at the intersection of the digital, physical and social realms. Most studies focus on one realm, with occasional reference to another. This paper suggests an agenda for future research and gives examples of fruitful ways to study connections among the three realms rather than in a single realm.

Practical implications

This paper provides guidance for managers in designing and managing customer experiences that the authors believe will need to be addressed by the year 2050.

Social implications

This paper discusses important societal issues, such as individual and societal needs for privacy, security and transparency. It sets out potential avenues for service innovation in these areas.

Originality/value

The conceptual framework integrates knowledge about customer experiences in digital, physical and social realms in a new way, with insights for future service research, managers and public policy makers.
Design for service inclusion: creating inclusive service systems by 2050
Authors: Fisk Raymond P. , Dean Alison M. , Alkire (née Nasr) Linda , Joubert Alison , Previte Josephine , Robertson Nichola , Rosenbaum Mark Scott
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to challenge service researchers to design for service inclusion, with an overall goal of achieving inclusion by 2050. The authors present service inclusion as an egalitarian system that provides customers with fair access to a service, fair treatment during a service and fair opportunity to exit a service.

Design/methodology/approach

Building on transformative service research, a transformative, human-centered approach to service design is proposed to foster service inclusion and to provide a platform for managerial action. This conceptual study explores the history of service exclusion and examines contemporary demographic trends that suggest the possibility of worsening service exclusion for consumers worldwide.

Findings

Service inclusion represents a paradigm shift to higher levels of understanding of service systems and their fundamental role in human well-being. The authors argue that focused design for service inclusion is necessary to make service systems more egalitarian.

Research limitations/implications

The authors propose four pillars of service inclusion: enabling opportunity, offering choice, relieving suffering and fostering happiness.

Practical implications

Service organizations are encouraged to design their offerings in a manner that promotes inclusion and permits customers to realize value.

Originality/value

This comprehensive research agenda challenges service scholars to use design to create inclusive service systems worldwide by the year 2050. The authors establish the moral imperative of design for service inclusion.
Do consumers value employee ownership? Evidence from an experimental auction
Authors: Mellizo Philip Pablo
Published: September 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate how the public at large perceives employee ownership, and how public perceptions of employee ownership translate into consumer valuation of goods and/or services produced by employee-owned firms. To the extent that consumer interest regarding the governance and ownership structure of firms matters in their purchasing decision, an employee-owned certification label could be an instrument by firms to segment consumer demand, differentiate products and potentially realize a competitive advantage.

Design/methodology/approach

Three specific questions are evaluated using the fifth price, experimental Vickrey valuation auction. First, the author obtains estimates of willingness to pay (WTP) premia for a specific item (coffee) differentiated in a controlled setting by the certifications labels that signal various non-market attributes. Specifically, the author examines the WTP premium for coffee that is eligible for the Certified Employee-OwnedSMlabel, the Fair Trade CertifiedTMCertified label, as well coffee that qualifies for both labels. Second, the author introduces a treatment to evaluate how the provision of information produced by the third party certifiers affects WTP estimates. And third, the author exploits the use of a controlled setting to evaluate how passive sensory information (i.e. taste) may influence the WTP valuation of the labels.

Findings

WTP premia for coffee carrying only the EO label only increase by 67 cents relative to conventional coffee, which was not significantly different from zero. Bids for both FT and EO&FT labeled coffee were, however, positive ($1.22 and $2.17, respectively) and are also statistically significant. The circulation of information to subjects about the certification programs resulted in increased bids. These bid differences were statistically significant for FT and EOFT coffee, but again, not for EO labeled coffee. Finally, differences in tastes did not appear to drive significant differences in bidding behavior, suggesting that WTP consumer decisions are strongly influenced by non-market attributes.

Originality/value

Marketers, economists and others have an interest in determining the monetary value individuals place on non-market goods for a variety of reasons; from forecasting new product success to understanding consumer and individual behavior. Unfortunately, many currently available stated preference techniques suffer from hypothetical bias while revealed preference techniques rely on indirect measures. Experimental auctions mitigate some of these issues since they involve individuals exchanging real money for real goods in an active market. WTP valuation has been conducted on a wide variety or products, but none that capture consumer valuation of employee ownership.
Commitment theory: do behaviors enhance the perceived attractiveness of tourism destinations?
Authors: Chang Seohee , Stansbie Paul
Published: September 2018

Purpose

A general point of commitment theory is that the more individuals behave in a certain way toward an entity, the more attractive they feel toward that entity. The main purpose of this study is to investigate whether an individual’s perceived attractiveness toward a tourist destination is enhanced by the number of actual visits to each different attraction within the destination, being controlled by satisfaction.

Design/methodology/approach

In doing so, data were collected from 613 individuals at major tourist attractions and traffic centers in Daejeon Metropolitan City, South Korea. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to examine the findings, and the conclusions drawn indicate that there is a statistically significant relationship between the number of visits to different attractions and the perceived attractiveness of the destination, as well as the interaction effect between the number of visits to different attractions and satisfaction.

Findings

The results are supported by literature in the area of commitment theory, in which various authors state that attitudes are evoked by behaviors. Further examination of the findings and conclusions drawn are described in this paper.

Practical implications

This mechanism should strategically be applied to practical implications to provide more accessible routes to a destination and a networking system. When visitors engage in a community in various ways, they are more likely to continue to engage in a community because they do not prefer to have intangible or tangible costs associated with disengagement.

Originality/value

This paper is the first application of the concept of commitment traced from its original psychological theory to the field of tourism. The effort justification paradigm of commitment theory postulates that if individuals work or study hard toward a specific goal, they gradually perceive the goal as attractive. This study found that the aforementioned paradigm shift is expanded to various types of behaviors, including that involving travel. This paper contributes to an in-depth understanding of the original commitment theory and its application to tourism.
Use of acetazolamide in the treatment of patients with refractory congestive heart failure
Authors: Núñez Julio , Heredia Raquel , Payá Ana , Sanchis Ignacio , del Prado Susana , Miñana Gema , Santas Enrique , de la Espriella Rafael , Núñez Eduardo , Sanchis Juan , Bayés‐Genís Antoni
Published: September 2018

Aims

Optimal diuretic treatment of patients with refractory congestive heart failure (CHF) remains to be elucidated. In this work, we aimed to evaluate the serial changes of functional class and surrogates of fluid overload (weight and antigen carbohydrate 125) after addition of oral acetazolamide in patients with refractory CHF. Likewise, serial changes in renal function, serum electrolytes and pH were evaluated.

Method

This is an observational retrospective study in which 25 ambulatory patients with refractory CHF that received acetazolamide in addition to standard intensive diuretic strategy were evaluated. Longitudinal assessment of New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class and biomarkers was analyzed using joint modelling of longitudinal and survival data.

Results

All patients showed NYHA class III/IV at baseline. After prescription of acetazolamide, a total of 125 outpatient visits were recorded [median visits per patient: 6 (IQR = 3‐7)] during a median follow‐up of 152 days (IQR = 80‐353). A significant decrease in NYHA class, weight, and antigen carbohydrate 125 was observed. On the other hand, estimated glomerular filtration rate increased over time. No significant changes in systolic blood pressure, serum sodium, potassium, amino‐terminal pro‐brain natriuretic peptide, and pH occurred.

Conclusion

In a cohort of patients with refractory CHF treated with an intensive diuretic treatment, the addition of acetazolamide was associated with improvement in functional class and surrogates of fluid overload.
Railways and the Exploitation of Victoria's Forests, 1880s–1920s
Authors: Brett André
Published: September 2018

Railways made a large contribution to the expansion of Victoria's economy, and in the process enabled and drove environmental change. This article focuses on one industry, forestry. It first examines railway demand for timber in construction and maintenance, particularly for sleepers. This demand caused tensions – a bitter dispute in the 1890s between the Railways Department and the Conservator of Forests, George Perrin, over timber cut on state land led to uneasy co‐existence after the turn of the century. Railways not only required timber but also carried commercial quantities in bulk, providing forest industries with access to profitable markets – in particular firewood, the significance of which has been underappreciated previously. Forest products contributed substantially to railway revenue, representing a more stable source of income than other major categories of freight such as wheat, wool, and coal.
Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) (Diptera: Tephritidae) overwintering: an overview
Authors: Clarke Anthony R , Merkel Katharina , Hulthen Andrew D , Schwarzmueller Florian
Published: September 2018

The Dacini fruit flies are tropical and subtropical insects for which a winter diapause is largely unknown. However, some pest dacines have extended their geographic ranges into temperate areas where winter temperatures may be limiting. During the 1900s, Bactrocera tryoni (Froggatt) extended its Australian endemic tropical range to include temperate southern Australia. Starting nearly 100 years ago, several research teams have spent considerable effort understanding how ‘tropical’ B. tryoni survives temperate winters: this review summarises that research. Across three study areas (Sydney and surrounding districts, New South Wales; Melbourne and surrounding districts, Victoria; Stanthorpe, south‐eastern Queensland), there is highly consistent data showing that the fly overwinters almost exclusively in the adult form. Eggs, larvae and pupae generated in late autumn or early winter either fail to develop due to lack of sufficient day‐degree accumulation or if immature development is successful and adults emerge, then those adults do not become sexually mature until the spring. Females which are already sexually mature when entering winter resorb some or all of their eggs. During winter, adults rest in sheltered locations and will forage for food on warm days. In field cages, mortality of adults is approximately 8% per week during winter, and so significant adult mortality occurs during winter. Based on laboratory studies, adult survival at cool to cold (15°C to −4°C) temperatures is increased if the fly or earlier developmental stages (pre‐pupal maggots and fully developed pupae) undergo an acclimation process, rather than being subjected to a sudden drop in temperature. Early climate change modelling suggests that a decrease in the number of extreme cold events (i.e. hard frosts) is more likely to lead to improved fly survival in temperate areas than the overall mean temperature increase. Gaps in knowledge include quantification of what makes a preferred overwintering site; how climate change over the last 30 years (when the last detailed experiments were done) have modified overwintering phenologies; and where on the Australian east coast does temperature become limiting such that year‐round breeding ceases.
Dark Motives and Elective Use of Brainteaser Interview Questions
Authors: Highhouse Scott , Nye Christopher D. , Zhang Don C.
Published: September 2018

Brainteaser interview questions such as “Estimate how many windows are in New York” are just one example of aggressive interviewer behaviour that lacks evidence for validity and is unsettling to job applicants. This research attempts to shed light on the motives behind such behaviour by examining the relation between dark‐side traits and the perceived appropriateness of brainteaser interview questions. A representative sample of working adults (n = 736) was presented with a list of interview questions that were either traditional (e.g., “Are you a good listener?”), behavioural (e.g., “Tell me about a time when you failed”), or brainteaser in nature. Results of a multiple regression, controlling for interviewing experience and sex, showed that narcissism and sadism explained the likelihood of using brainteasers in an interview. A subsequent bifactor analysis showed that these dark traits shared a callousness general factor. A second longitudinal study of employed adults with hiring experience demonstrated that perspective‐taking partially mediated the relationship between this general factor and the perceived helpfulness and abusiveness of brainteaser interview questions. These results suggest that a callous indifference and a lack of perspective‐taking may underlie abusive behaviour in the employment interview.
A qualitative study of trainee experiences in Family Medicine‐Obstetrics fellowships
Authors: Hansen Elizabeth Rose , Eden Aimee R. , Peterson Lars E.
Published: September 2018

Background

Family Medicine‐Obstetrics fellowships provide family physicians with advanced obstetrics training. No accreditation system exists for these fellowships, which leads to variable training. Variation of fellows’ experiences is not well understood. Our objective is to understand the motivations, training, and overall experiences of fellows in Family Medicine‐Obstetrics fellowships, which may inform opportunities for improvement in fellowship design and suggest how Family Medicine‐Obstetrics fellowship‐trained physicians are prepared to practice among other obstetrics providers postgraduation.

Methods

We conducted semistructured interviews with current and past Family Medicine‐Obstetrics fellows between Spring 2014 and Winter 2015. We used a snowball sampling approach. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and coded following an inductive approach to content analysis.

Results

We contacted 47 and interviewed 21 current and past Family Medicine‐Obstetrics fellows from 15 programs from across the country. Fellowships varied in cohort size, length, co‐occurring presence of obstetrics and gynecology training programs, and structure and curriculum. Interviewees were motivated to complete a fellowship because of inadequate obstetrics training in residency, or because of an interest in rural or urban underserved practice. Fellowship experiences were shaped by fellowship leadership, program structure and curriculum, and relationships with obstetricians. Some felt prepared to forge collaborative professional relationships with obstetricians.

Conclusions

The diversity of fellows’ experiences suggests possible avenues of improvement for Family Medicine‐Obstetrics fellowships. These fellowships can prepare physicians to provide obstetric services in a variety of settings, including working in multispecialty integrated maternity care systems.
Deep cervical lymph node ligation aggravates AD‐like pathology of APP/PS1 mice
Authors: Wang Linmei , Zhang Yanli , Zhao Ying , Marshall Charles , Wu Ting , Xiao Ming
Published: September 2018

The imbalance between production and clearance of amyloid‐beta (Aβ) is a key step in the onset and development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Therefore, reducing Aβ accumulation in the brain is a promising therapeutic strategy for AD. The recently discovered glymphatic system and meningeal lymphatic vasculature have been shown to be critical for the elimination of interstitial waste products, especially Aβ, from the brain. In the present study, ligation of deep cervical lymph nodes was performed to block drainage of this system and explore the consequences on Aβ‐related pathophysiology. Five‐month‐old APP/PS1 mice and their wild‐type littermates received deep cervical lymphatic node ligation. One month later, behavioral testing and pathological analysis were conducted. Results demonstrated that ligation of dcLNs exacerbated AD‐like phenotypes of APP/PS1 mice, showing more severe brain Aβ accumulation, neuroinflammation, synaptic protein loss, impaired polarization of aquaporin‐4 and deficits in cognitive and exploratory behaviors. These results suggest that brain lymphatic clearance malfunction is one of the deteriorating factors in the progression of AD, and restoring its function is a potential therapeutic target against AD.
Inhibition of kinesin family member 20B sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma cell to microtubule‐targeting agents by blocking cytokinesis
Authors: Liu Xinran , Li Yangkai , Zhang Xia , Liu Xin‐Yuan , Peng Anlin , Chen Yuchen , Meng Lijing , Chen Hong , Zhang Yu , Miao Xiaoping , Zheng Ling , Huang Kun
Published: September 2018

Kinesin family member 20B (KIF20B, also known as MPHOSPH1) is a kinesin protein that plays a critical role in cytokinesis. Previously, we and others have demonstrated the oncogenic role of KIF20B in several cancers; however, the exact mechanisms underlying its tumorigenic effects remain unclear. Herein, we showed overexpression of KIF20B in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and reported a negative correlation between KIF20B level and prognosis of patients. Mechanistically, reducing KIF20B blockades mitotic exit of HCC cells at telophase in a spindle assembly checkpoint independent way. Importantly, reducing KIF20B acts synergistically with three microtubule‐associated agents (MTA) to p53‐ or p14ARF‐dependently suppress p53‐wt or p53‐null HCC cells. In addition to taxol, reducing KIF20B also enhanced the toxicity of two chemotherapeutic drugs, hydroxycamptothecin and mitomycin C. In conclusion, we found a novel mechanism in that blocking cytokinesis by KIF20B inhibition increases the efficacy of MTA; our results thus suggested a dual‐mitotic suppression approach against HCC by combining MTA with KIF20B inhibition, which simultaneously blocks mitosis at both metaphase and telophase.
Body mass index, peer victimization, and body dissatisfaction across 7 years of childhood and adolescence: Evidence of moderated and mediated pathways
Authors: Lee Kirsty S. , Vaillancourt Tracy
Published: September 2018

Numerous studies have reported that children and adolescents who are overweight are more likely to get bullied, yet the literature is replete with methodological limitations. We examined the transactional associations between peer victimization and body mass index (BMI), considering potential mediating (body dissatisfaction) and moderating (biological sex) factors. Participants (n = 631) came from the McMaster Teen Study, where students were assessed annually between Grades 5–11, approximately half were girls (53.9%), and the majority were white (76.4%). Peer victimization (from Grade 5) and body dissatisfaction (from Grade 6) were self‐reported by students, while parents reported their child's height and weight (from Grade 5). Cascade models were built up sequentially using path analysis across 2‐year increments (Grades 5, 7, 9, and 11). The final model had excellent fit to the data (χ2 = 73.961, df = 66, p = 0.234). Grade 5 peer victimization had a direct effect on BMI across a 2‐year period in girls (b = 0.59, SE = 0.21, p = 0.005) and boys (b = 0.82, SE = 0.30, p = 0.006), and an indirect effect on BMI via body dissatisfaction across a 4‐year period (b = 0.074, 95% CI = 0.012–0.152, p = 0.036). At no point did BMI directly increase risk for peer victimization, yet there were indirect effects via body dissatisfaction among girls but not boys. Peer victimization and body dissatisfaction were proximally and longitudinally related at every time point and there was a transactional association in late‐adolescence among girls but not boys. Targeting modifiable factors in the social (peer victimization) and psychological (body dissatisfaction) domains may limit accelerated weight gain and the health risks associated with excess adiposity.
Lanthanides in granulometric fractions of Mediterranean soils. Can they be used as fingerprints of provenance?
Authors: Martín‐García J. M. , Molinero‐García A. , Calero J. , Fernández‐González M. V. , Párraga J. , Delgado R.
Published: September 2018

There is geochemical interest in the lanthanides because they behave like a group that is closely related to the parent materials during surface processes, although they also undergo fractionation as a result of supergene dynamics. We analysed lanthanide concentrations (ICPms) in the granulometric fractions fine sand, clay and free forms of clay (FFclay‐CDB and FFclay‐Ox: extracted with citrate‐dithionite‐sodium bicarbonate and with ammonium oxalate, respectively) from a soil chronosequence of Mediterranean soils. There was a relative enrichment of heavy rare earth elements (HREE) in the clay fraction and its free forms with respect to fine sand. The clay free forms behaved as scavengers of lanthanides, and oxidative scavenging of cerium (Ce) in FFclay‐CDB was also detected. Lanthanide concentrations (lanthanum to gadolinium in fine sand; terbium to lutetium in clay) varied with soil age, and chronofunctions were established. There was a strong positive collinearity between most of the lanthanide concentrations. Furthermore, the value of the correlation index (Pearson's r) of the concentrations between couples of lanthanides (rCLC) decreased significantly with increasing separation between the elements in the periodic table; this has never been described in soils. Several geochemical properties and indices in the fine sand and clay soil fractions and in the geological materials of the Guadalquivir catchment showed, on the one hand, a genetic relation between them all, enabling the lanthanides to be used as fingerprints of provenance; on the other hand, fractionation between fine sand and clay showed these are actively involved in soil lanthanide dynamics.

Highlights

Are lanthanides from fine sand and clay genetically related to the geological materials?

Lanthanide concentrations of fine sand and clay fit chronofunctions

Pearson's r of lanthanide couples decreases when separation increases in the periodic table

Free forms of clay are scavengers of lanthanides and concentrate HREE and cerium
The association betweenST18 gene polymorphism and severe pemphigus disease among Iranian population
Authors: Etesami Ifa , Seirafi Hassan , Ghandi Narges , Salmani Hamzeh , Arabpour Maedeh , Nasrollahzadeh Ali , Teimourpour Amir , Daneshpazhooh Maryam , Keramatipour Mohammad
Published: September 2018

Recently,ST18 polymorphism has played a role in increasing the risk of pemphigus among some populations such as Egyptian and Jewish. In addition, a variant within theST18 promoter gene was shown to induceST18 upregulation and cytokine secretion leading to keratinocyte susceptibility to anti‐desmoglein antibodies. Thus, the present study aimed to assess theST18 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) relationship with pemphigus, disease severity and family history among Iranian population. A total of 111 pemphigus patients and 201 healthy controls were genotyped for threeST18SNPs rs2304365, rs10504140 and rs4074067 by usingTETRA‐ARMS PCRmethod. The results indicated that risk allele A in rs2304365 was significantly higher in pemphigus patients, compared with the amount in the control group (OR = 2.43CI = 1.49‐3.975,P < 0.001). Thus, A allele represents a risk factor for pemphigus. Further, the patients carrying the risk allele had a more severe disease and a higher age of disease onset while no relationship was observed between the number of relapses and positive family history of pemphigus with the risk allele. Finally, dominant model was regarded as the strongest inheritance model for the associated risk. The present study confirmed the relationship betweenST18 gene with pemphigus disease, a more severe disease, and a higher age of disease onset.
Population decline in the endemic Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) in Kapisillit River, Greenland
Authors: Hedeholm Rasmus Berg , Broberg Mala , Nygaard Rasmus , Grønkjær Peter
Published: September 2018

Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., is found throughout the North Atlantic, with thousands of rivers having spawning populations. In Greenland, spawning is limited to one river in West Greenland, the Kapisillit River (64˚N), and the salmon are limited to the lower few kilometres of the system. Using mark–recapture, it was estimated the parr population was 5,953 individuals, and that the population size has declined by 52% since 1959. In spite of this decline, parr density remains high, being between 0.26 and 0.62 parr/m2. Using a historical age‐length key, an estimated minimum of 635 smolt will have descended to the sea in 2017. These will be caught in a fishery currently subject to no regulatory measures and fishing remains the most likely driver of the population decline. The genetically distinct population is endemic to Greenland, and managers should implement measures to conserve this genetic integrity and local biodiversity.
Differential use of winter precipitation by upper and lower elevation Douglas fir in the Northern Rockies
Authors: Martin Justin , Looker Nathaniel , Hoylman Zachary , Jencso Kelsey , Hu Jia
Published: September 2018

In temperate regions such as the American west, forest trees often exhibit growth sensitivity to climatic conditions of a particular season. For example, annual tree ring growth increments may correlate well with winter precipitation, but not with summer rainfall, suggesting that trees rely more on winter snow than summer rain. Because both the timing and character of seasonal western climate patterns are expected to change considerably over coming decades, variation in the importance of different seasonal moisture sources for trees can be expected to influence how different forest trees respond to climate change as a whole, with shifts in seasonality potentially benefitting some trees while challenging others. In this study, we inferred patterns of tree water use in Douglas fir trees from the Northern Rockies for 2 years using stable water isotopes, while simultaneously quantifying and tracking precipitation inputs to soil moisture across a vertical soil profile. We then coupled water source use with daily measurements of radial growth to demonstrate that soil moisture from winter precipitation accounted for 87.5% and 84% of tree growth at low and high elevations, respectively. We found that prevailing soil moisture conditions drive variation in the depth at which trees access soil water, which in turn determines which seasonal precipitation inputs are available to support tree growth and function. In general, trees at lower elevations relied more on winter precipitation sourced from deep soils while trees at higher elevations made better use of summer rains sourced from near‐surface soil layers. As both the timing of seasons and phase of precipitation (rain vs. snow) are likely to change considerably across much of the west, such patterns in tree water use are likely to play a role in determining the evolution of forest composition and structure in a warming climate.
Lignin from bark as a resource for aromatics production by hydrothermal liquefaction
Authors: Schuler Julia , Hornung Ursel , Dahmen Nicolaus , Sauer Jörg
Published: September 2018

Biorefineries, which are using mostly unused side streams of other existing processes like bark or lignin, have a huge potential to open new resources, for example, chemicals. But with new resources new challenges will be met along the way. These challenges must be addressed and discussed to build a solid and far‐sighted process. This work focuses on the formation of monocyclic compounds like catechol as a valuable product during the hydrothermal liquefaction of beech wood bark as well as Kraft lignin from pine wood like Indulin AT. The focus is to get a better knowledge of the behavior of bark during hydrothermal liquefaction for depolymerization aiming at the production of aromatic building blocks for chemicals. Therefore, the influence, for example, of temperature and reaction time, the chemical reaction pathways, and the therefore necessary analytics need to be understood. Several limitations and challenges of common analytical methods are discussed and compared for bark and Kraft lignin, which is relatively well investigated and can act as a reference material to build a common ground and make it possible to build standards for all bioeconomic processes. Hydrothermal conditions increase the yield and selectivity toward bifunctional molecules like catechol. With rising temperatures and longer retention times, the catechol mass yields get lower. At temperatures above 350°C, nearly no catechol could be found any more. Different types of wood deliver different lignin compositions in terms of the monomeric units. However, it can be observed that different lignins show the same trends in regard to the catechol yield concerning temperatures and reaction time dependence, but overall a different product spectrum.
Pressurized extraction of unsaturated fatty acids and carotenoids from wet Chlorella vulgaris and Phaeodactylum tricornutum biomass using subcritical liquids
Authors: Derwenskus Felix , Metz Felix , Gille Andrea , Schmid‐Staiger Ulrike , Briviba Karlis , Schließmann Ursula , Hirth Thomas
Published: September 2018

The objective of this study was to investigate the extraction of lipids, for example, mono‐ and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) as well as carotenoids, from wet microalgae biomass using pressurized subcritical extraction solvents, which meet the requirements of food and feed applications. To demonstrate the effect of the solvent and temperature on the lipid yield, we chose two microalgae species, viz. Chlorella vulgaris and Phaeodactylum tricornutum, differing in their biochemical composition fundamentally. In case of P. tricornutum, ethanol showed the highest fatty acid yield of 85.9% w/w. In addition to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), the ethanolic extracts contained exceptional amounts of fucoxanthin (up to 26.1 mg/g d. w.), which can be beneficial to protect unsaturated fatty acids from oxidation processes and in terms of human nutrition. For C. vulgaris, a fatty acid yield of 76.5% w/w was achieved from wet biomass using ethyl acetate at 150°C. In general, an increase in the extraction temperature up to 150°C was found to be important in terms of fatty acid yield when extracting wet microalgae biomass. The results suggest that it is possible to efficiently extract both fatty acids and carotenoids from wet microalgae by selecting suitable solvents and thus circumvent energy‐intensive drying of the biomass.
Evaluating age‐related changes of some facial signs among men of four different ethnic groups
Authors: Flament F. , Amar D. , Feltin C. , Bazin R.
Published: September 2018

Background

The alterations of some facial characteristics, with age, in men of different ethnic groups are a scarcely studied topic.

Objective

To illustrate and grade, among men of four different ethnic descents (Asians, African‐Americans, Caucasians, Indians), aged 18–80 year, the changes in the severity of some facial signs occurring with age.

Methods

Digital Photographs (full face, profile, 45°) of 1058 subjects were taken under standard conditions of lightning. These allowed us to zoom in on 15–20 different facial signs on all subjects. Their observations by 15 trained experts, under calibrated screens, allowed these signs to be graded, with the help of four referential skin Atlases, specific to the gender and ethnic groups studied.

Results

Most facial signs show a rather regular increase with age, with different kinetics according to the ethnic group. The major changes, in all four ethnic groups, mostly concern skin structural alterations (wrinkles, neck sagging or texture). The changes in the severity of some wrinkles (forehead, inter‐ocular…) may be viewed as ethnic signatures. The modifications in pigmentation disorders seem more closely linked to the constitutive skin pigmentation (photo‐types), among which pigmentary spots are confirmed as a more specific Asian trait.

Conclusion

Men of four different ethnic origins present different and ethnic‐related facial alterations with increasing age, of different amplitudes.
Evaluation of the in vitro cholesterol‐lowering activity of the probiotic strain Bacillus coagulansMTCC 5856
Authors: Majeed Muhammed , Majeed Shaheen , Nagabhushanam Kalyanam , Arumugam Sivakumar , Beede Kirankumar , Ali Furqan
Published: September 2018

Emerging scientific evidence suggests that the supplementation of probiotics may help to reduce/manage blood cholesterol levels in humans. We evaluated the in vitro cholesterol‐lowering activity of the probiotic strain Bacillus coagulansMTCC 5856. This probiotic de‐conjugated bile salts and liberated deoxycholic acid, confirming its bile salt hydrolase activity. Furthermore, B. coagulansMTCC 5856 also significantly (P < 0.05) reduced cholesterol levels in culture media under growing (48.42%), resting (live but suspended in buffer, 36.47%) and even heat‐killed (dead, 8.5%) conditions. Bacillus coagulansMTCC 5856 significantly reduced the cholesterol levels in cholesterol‐rich foods, such as egg yolk (39.79%), chicken liver (45.44%) and butter (49.51%), when incubated for 24 h in conditions mimicking the in vivo environment. Bacillus coagulansMTCC 5856 also produced significant (P < 0.05) amounts of propionic acid and butyric acid while fermenting cholesterol‐rich foods. The multitudinous ways by which B. coagulansMTCC 5856 reduces cholesterol levels endorses its application in functional food formulations and as a dietary ingredient for the management of hypercholesterolemia, potentially reducing the incidence of coronary heart disease and other related disabilities.
Arrhythmia induction using isoproterenol or epinephrine during electrophysiology study for supraventricular tachycardia
Authors: Patel Parin J. , Segar Rachel , Patel Jyoti Kandlikar , Padanilam Benzy J. , Prystowsky Eric N.
Published: September 2018

Background

Electrophysiology study (EPS) is an important part of the diagnosis and workup for supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). Provocative medications are used to induce arrhythmias, when they are not inducible at baseline. The most common medication is the β1‐specific agonist, isoproterenol, but recent price increases have resulted in a shift toward the nonspecific agonist, epinephrine.

Objective

We hypothesize that isoproterenol is a better induction agent for SVT during EPS than epinephrine.

Methods

We created a retrospective cohort of 131 patients, who underwent EPS and required medication infusion with either isoproterenol or epinephrine for SVT induction. The primary outcome was arrhythmia induction.

Results

Successful induction was achieved in 71% of isoproterenol cases and 53% of epinephrine cases (P = 0.020). Isoproterenol was significantly better than epinephrine for SVT induction during EPS (odds ratio [OR], 2.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14‐4.85; P = 0.021). There was no difference in baseline variables or complications between the two groups. Other variables associated with successful arrhythmia induction included a longer procedure duration and atrioventricular nodal re‐entry tachycardia as the clinical arrhythmia. In a multivariable model, isoproterenol remained significantly associated with successful induction (OR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.002‐6.59; P = 0.05).

Conclusions

Isoproterenol was significantly better than epinephrine for SVT arrhythmia induction. However, epinephrine was safe and successfully induced arrhythmias in the majority of patients who received it. Furthermore, when atropine was added in epinephrine‐refractory cases, in a post hoc analysis there was no difference in arrhythmia induction between medications. Cost savings could thus be significant without compromising safety.
Molecular evidence for the paraphyly of Scolecophidia and its evolutionary implications
Authors: Miralles Aurélien , Marin Julie , Markus Damien , Herrel Anthony , Hedges S. Blair , Vidal Nicolas
Published: September 2018

The phylogenetic relationships between the three main clades of worm snakes remain controversial. This question is, however, crucial to elucidate the origin of the successful snake radiation, as these burrowing and miniaturized wormlike organisms represent the earliest branching clades within the snake tree. The present molecular phylogenetic study, intended to minimize the amount of missing data, provides fully resolved inter‐subfamilial relationships among Typhlopidae. It also brings robust evidence that worm snakes (Scolecophidia) are paraphyletic, with the scolecophidian family Anomalepididae recovered with strong support as sister clade to the ‘typical snakes’ (Alethinophidia). Ancestral state reconstructions applied to three different traits strongly associated to a burrowing life‐style (scolecoidy, absence of retinal cones and microstomy) provide results in favour of a burrowing origin of snakes, and suggest that worm snakes might be the only extant fossorial representatives of the primordial snake incursion towards an underground environment.
Three‐dimensional hydraulic characterisation of the Arno River in Florence
Authors: Peruzzi Cosimo , Castaldi Marco , Francalanci Simona , Solari Luca
Published: September 2018

Rivers in historical cities, such as the Arno River in Florence, are typically characterised by unique complex‐shaped hydraulic structures (such as bridges and weirs). The flow interaction with these structures can lead to a fully 3D flow field which cannot be properly investigated with commonly employed 1D, and even 2D, hydraulic models. Nowadays, 3D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools can be successfully used in river management context. Florence is characterised by a high risk of flooding and the disastrous consequences of such events being greatly increased due to its inestimable artistic heritage. The main cause of flooding is the limited hydraulic conveyance capacity of the Arno River in Florence due to several complex hydraulic structures along the reach. The present work represents the first 3D hydraulic model of the Arno River in the urban reach of Florence. The geometric model was created using the 3D bed topography of the river surveyed in 2015. The hydraulic model was calibrated and validated using discharge and water stage field data measured in 2016. The 3D model can be used as a more realistic tool for exploring mitigation solutions for the reduction of hydraulic risk.
Antibacterial effects of Schisandra chinensis extract on Staphylococcus aureus and its application in food
Authors: Song Liya , Cui Shumei , Li Ting , Yang Shuran , Wang Qian , He Keke , Zheng Yumei , He Congfen
Published: September 2018

Schisandra chinensis (Turcz.) Baill is a member of the Magnoliaceae and is used in traditional medicine. Its extracts have antibacterial activity against foodborne pathogens. In present study, the antibacterial properties of Sc. chinensis were tested on S.aureus. An in vitro antibacterial assay showed that Sc. chinensis extracts (SCE) inhibited the growth of test bacteria at a MBC of 18mg mL−1. SCE demonstrated strong antibacterial activity in barley soup system. Treated by SCE, the growth curves of S.aureus exhibited extended lag phases and abbreviated log phases, S. aureus presented with wrinkled and withered surfaces and surrounded by soluble substances probably consisting of leaked intracellular materials. Further, S. aureus released the periplasmic enzyme (AKPase) and increased activities of membrane‐bound Na+/K+/ Ca++‐ATPase. Therefore, SCE can damage S. aureus cell membranes and walls. Moreover, SCE decreased dehydrogenase and total ATPase activities, and intracellular protein contents, even interacted with DNA by groove binding.

Practical applications

In a barley soup model food system, SCE possessed a high level of antibacterial activity and significantly reduced total viable bacterial counts. This study laid the theoretical foundation for the application of Schisandra chinensis extract in preventing the growth of foodborne pathogens.
Production of safer food by understanding risk factors for L. monocytogenes occurrence and persistence in food processing environments
Authors: Alvarez‐Ordóñez Avelino , Leong Dara , Hunt Karen , Scollard Johann , Butler Francis , Jordan Kieran
Published: September 2018

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that causes listeriosis, a relatively rare gastrointestinal disease with a high mortality rate. As L. monocytogenes is ubiquitous in the environment, control of the organism in food processing environments is necessary to prevent cross‐contamination of the food from the environment. In this study, the outcomes of a survey of management practices at 32 food processing facilities were statistically correlated with the occurrence and persistence of L. monocytogenes using multiple regression analyses and logistic regression analysis. No management practices correlated with persistence, while training of staff by management or external trainers, and separation of hygiene control areas correlated with a reduction in L. monocytogenes occurrence. The importance of management practices in reduction of L. monocytogenes in food processing environments was identified. Wider implementation of these practices could contribute to reduction in the occurrence of L. monocytogenes in food processing environments, facilitating production of safer food.

Practical applications

This study highlights that management practices can decrease the occurrence of L. monocytogenes in food processing environments, helping with the production of safer food. In particular, segregation of areas close to food contact and relevant training of staff by management are important. If applied, these simple practices could help with reduction of L. monocytogenes in food.
Bridging the Gaps: Credits, Adoption, and Inequality
Authors: FARIAS MARIA ELISA , SCAVIA JAVIER , FUENTES RAÚL
Published: September 2018

We examine here the role of credits on technology adoption and inequality from the perspective of developing countries. Utilizing a model of exogenous growth, with heterogeneous labor and technical progress embodied in physical capital, we find that credits can contribute to a faster adoption and to reducing income inequality. Thus, a virtuous cycle of credits, a shorter technological gap, less inequality, and economic growth is feasible to be created when there is full liquidity in the market. When credits are constrained, the cycle loses virtuosity, where the economy can lose up to two points in growth due to credit constraints.
Teachers' attitudes toward and frequency of engagement in reading aloud in the primary classroom
Authors: Merga Margaret Kristin , Ledger Susan
Published: September 2018

Reading aloud to children is considered one of the most highly effective strategies for fostering a range of literacy skills, both at home and within contemporary classrooms. However, little is known about teachers' attitudes toward reading aloud, their self‐reported frequency of engagement in the practice and what may pose as contemporary barriers to the practice. The 2016 Western Australian Study in Reading Aloud (WASRA) collected data from over 100 teachers at 14 Australian schools. The WASRA reveals tensions in translating reading aloud practices into daily practice due to reported lack of time and high curriculum demands. The findings suggest that primary school teachers typically enjoy reading aloud to children, though fewer enjoyed reading themselves. Recommendations are provided to address time and curriculum demands purported as being inhibitors of daily reading practices. These recommendations go some way to help mitigate against literacy inequities within our primary classrooms and in so doing encourage provision of daily reading opportunities for teachers and reading aloud practices.
Embracing the tension between vulnerability and credibility: ‘intellectual candour’ in health professions education
Authors: Molloy Elizabeth , Bearman Margaret
Published: September 2018

The tension between expressing vulnerability and seeking credibility creates challenges for learning and teaching. This is particularly true in health care, in which practitioners are regarded as highly credible and making errors can often lead to dire consequences and blame. From a transformative learning perspective, expressing vulnerability may help individuals to access different ways of knowing. By contrast, from a sociological perspective, seeking to maintain credibility results in ritualised interactions and these ritualised encounters can reinforce credibility. One means of embracing this tension between expressing vulnerability and appearing credible is ‘intellectual candour’, an improvisational expression of doubts, thoughts and problems with the dual purpose of learning and promoting others’ learning. Educators’ revelations of inner struggles are proposed as a means of inviting reciprocal vulnerability. This builds trust and a platform for learning, particularly of the transformative nature. It also allows modelling of how to balance the vulnerability–credibility tension, which may provide a template for professional practice.