bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The value of urgent care dermatology
Authors: Sempler Jessica , Thomas Frank , Pettit Jacob , Klein Stephanie Z.
Published: August 2018

Objective

To determine whether urgent care dermatology adds value (service + quality/cost) to healthcare.

Methods

A retrospective cross‐sectional chart review of dermatologic patients in three service settings was compared: an urgent care dermatology clinic (same day dermatology [SDD]), the emergency department (ED), and a general dermatology clinic. Study period was July 1–September 30, 2014, for ED and SDD patients and August 2014 for general dermatology patients. ED patients had diagnoses of dermatitis (629.9) or rash (782). Final diagnoses, visit length, and no‐show rates were determined. Cost and charge data for patients seen in SDD versus the ED were provided by the university, without raw data available for publication.

Results

For matched diagnoses, ED visits were 105 (95% CI: 68.7–152.4, P < 0.001) minutes longer than SDD visits. Compared to SDD, no‐shows in the general dermatology clinic were 2.24 times more likely (95% CI: 1.0003–5.02, P = 0.045). The odds for an SDD patient to be diagnosed with a code that was also seen in the ED was 13.0 (95% CI: 8.0–21.2, P < 0.01) times higher than the odds for the same diagnosis to be given to patients seen in the general dermatology clinic. ED visits cost 25% more than SDD visits. Patient charges for an ED visit are 207% more than for an SDD visit.

Conclusions

Urgent care dermatology clinic adds value to the healthcare system by providing quality care and excellent service at low cost. Dermatologists better utilize their skills by seeing acute, often‐serious patients who would have otherwise been seen in the ED.
Pilot study on circulating miRNA signature in children with obesity born small for gestational age and appropriate for gestational age
Authors: Marzano F. , Faienza M. F. , Caratozzolo M. F. , Brunetti G. , Chiara M. , Horner D. S. , Annese A. , D'Erchia A. M. , Consiglio A. , Pesole G. , Sbisà E. , Inzaghi E. , Cianfarani S. , Tullo A.
Published: August 2018

Background

Children born small for gestational age (SGA) are at increased risk of metabolic dysfunction. Dysregulation of specific microRNAs (miRNAs) contributes to aberrant gene expression patterns underlying metabolic dysfunction.

Objective

We aimed to determine and compare circulating miRNA (c‐miRNA) profile of SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children with obesity and with normal weight, in order to identify biomarkers for early detection of increased risk of developing metabolic dysfunction in SGA and AGA children with obesity.

Methods

Small non‐coding RNAs from serum of 15 SGA children with obesity (OB‐SGA), 10 SGA children with normal weight (NW‐SGA), 17 AGA children with obesity (OB‐AGA) and 12 AGA children with normal weight (NW‐AGA) (mean age 11.2 ± 2.6) have been extracted and sequenced in order to detect and quantify miRNA expression profiles.

Results

RNA‐seq analyses showed 28 miRNAs dysregulated in OB‐SGA vs. NW‐SGA and 19 miRNAs dysregulated in OB‐AGA vs. NW‐AGA. Among these, miR‐92a‐3p, miR‐122‐5p, miR‐423‐5p, miR‐484, miR‐486‐3p and miR‐532‐5p were up regulated, and miR‐181b‐5p was down regulated in both OB‐SGA and OB‐AGA compared with normal weight counterparts. Pathway analysis and miRNA target prediction suggested that these miRNAs were particularly involved in insulin signalling, glucose transport, insulin resistance, cholesterol and lipid metabolism.

Conclusion

We identified a specific profile of c‐miRNAs in SGA and AGA children with obesity compared with SGA and AGA children with normal weight. These c‐miRNAs could represent specific biomarkers for early detection of increased risk of developing metabolic dysfunction in SGA and AGA children with obesity.
Outcomes of an early childhood obesity prevention program in a low‐income community: a pilot, randomized trial
Authors: Cloutier M. M. , Wiley J. F. , Kuo C. ‐L. , Cornelius T. , Wang Z. , Gorin A. A.
Published: August 2018

Background

Obesity is a major and worldwide health problem in children.

Objectives

The Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Program is a multi‐component, randomized, controlled trial of a pilot community‐focused obesity prevention program for mother/newborn dyads.

Methods

Underserved, mother/newborn dyads were recruited to receive a standard home visitation program (Nurturing Families Network, NFN) or an enhanced program (NFN+) that incorporated behavioural change strategies (e.g., goal‐setting, problem‐solving) and focused on six obesity‐associated behaviours (breastfeeding, juice/sugar‐sweetened beverages, solids, infant sleep, TV/screen time and soothability) with linkages to community resources. Weight‐for‐length (WFL) z‐score and maternal diet were secondary outcomes.

Results

Fifty‐seven dyads were recruited and 47 fully eligible dyads were enrolled (NFN = 21, NFN+ = 26). Forty‐one (87.2%) were assessed at 6 months and 34 (72.3%) at 12 months. Retention at 12 months was higher for NFN+ dyads (84.6% vs. 56.1%, p = 0.04). NFN+ mothers were more likely to continue breastfeeding at 6 and 12 months vs. NFN mothers (p = 0.03 and 0.003, respectively), and at 12 months, NFN+ infants had fewer nocturnal awakenings (p = 0.04). There were no differences in other primary outcome measures or in WFL z‐score at 6 or 12 months.

Conclusions

A multi‐component behavioural intervention increased breastfeeding duration and decreased nocturnal awakenings in infants of low‐income families.
Prevalence of underweight and overweight among young adolescents aged 12–15 years in 58 low‐income and middle‐income countries
Authors: Yang L. , Bovet P. , Ma C. , Zhao M. , Liang Y. , Xi B.
Published: August 2018

Background

The co‐existence of underweight and overweight is a great challenge for public health in low‐income and middle‐income countries (LMICs).

Objectives

The objective of the study is to report the prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity among young adolescents in 58 LMICs.

Methods

Data were from the Global School‐based Student Health Survey (2007–2013) in 57 LMICs and from the Chinese National Surveys on Students' Constitution and Health (2010). A total of 177 325 young adolescents aged 12–15 years from 58 LMICs were included. Weight status was defined based on both the updated International Obesity Task Force (IOTF) and World Health Organization (WHO) criteria.

Results

Based on the IOTF/WHO criteria, the overall prevalence of weight categories among young adolescents in LMICs was 13.4%/4.7% for underweight, 15.4%/17.3% for overweight and 5.6%/8.6% for obesity. However, the prevalence varied largely across countries and regions. Based on the IOTF criteria, the prevalence of underweight ranged from 0.0% in Niue to 48.8% in Sri Lanka and obesity ranged from 0.1% in Vanuatu to 35.0% in Niue; a prevalence exceeding 10.0% for both underweight and excess weight (overweight and obesity combined) was found in 29.3% of these countries. Underweight was more prevalent in Southeast Asia and Africa, while obesity was more frequent in Central and South Americas. There were no age and sex differences in the prevalence of weight categories for most countries.

Conclusions

Our data confirm the continued dual burden of underweight and overweight in young adolescents in many LMICs and the need for policy and programmes to address both conditions.
Analysis of the Drosophila melanogaster anti‐ovarian response to honey bee queen mandibular pheromone
Authors: Galang K. C. , Croft J. R. , Thompson G. J. , Percival‐Smith A.
Published: August 2018

Queen mandibular pheromone (QMP) is a potent reproductive signal to which honey bee workers respond by suppressing their ovaries and adopting alloparental roles within the colony. This anti‐ovarian effect of QMP on workers can, surprisingly, be induced in other insects, including fruit flies, in which females exposed to synthetic QMP develop smaller ovaries with fewer eggs. In this study, we use the Drosophila melanogaster model to identify the components of synthetic QMP required for the anti‐ovarian effect. We found that virgin females respond strongly to 9‐oxo‐2‐decenoic acid and 10‐hydroxy‐2‐decenoic acid (10HDA), suggesting that the decenoic acid components of QMP are essential for the anti‐ovarian response. Further, a nuclear factor of activated T‐cells reporter system revealed neurones expressing the olfactory receptors Or‐56a, Or‐49b and Or‐98a are activated by QMP in the antenna. In addition, we used olfactory receptor GAL4 drivers and a neuronal activator (a neuronal activating bacterial sodium channel) to test whether the candidate neurones are potential labelled lines for a decenoic acid response. We identified Or‐49b as a potential candidate receiver of the 10HDA signal. Finally, the anti‐ovarian response to synthetic QMP is not mediated by decreasing the titre of the reproductive hormones ecdysone and juvenile hormone.
On TARP and agency securitization
Authors: Cao‐Alvira José J. , Núñez‐Torres Alexander
Published: August 2018

This paper focuses on the contract terms and performance of agency‐securitized loans purchased by Fannie Mae from US banks under TARP protection. Our results suggest that TARP funds effectively increased the market power and cost competitiveness of the intervened banks, allowing them to offer more aggressive terms at the origination of mortgages that were later securitized. The mortgage loans acquired by the agency from TARP‐protected banks exhibit lower interest rates and lower default rates when compared with those acquired from unprotected banks. Furthermore, TARP banks were able to offer increasingly better loan terms to the safest borrowers—in terms of their FICO scores and debt‐to‐income—which translated into significantly better loan performances. These last results contrast with the literature regarding TARP's effects on more traditional credit markets.
Burnout symptoms in forensic mental health nurses: Results from a longitudinal study
Authors: de Looff Peter , Didden Robert , Embregts Petri , Nijman Henk
Published: August 2018

Burnout in nursing staff is a major cause for turnover and absenteeism. Identifying risk and protective factors may be helpful in decreasing burnout symptoms. Moreover, research indicates that ambulatory assessments of the autonomic nervous system might be helpful in detecting long‐term stress and burnout symptoms. One hundred and ten forensic nursing staff members completed questionnaires measuring experiences with aggressive behaviour, emotional intelligence, personality, and job stress during four waves of data collection across a 2‐year period. Multilevel analyses were used to test the predicted associations and moderation effects with (the development of) burnout symptoms. Burnout was predicted by a combination of emotional intelligence, job stress, aggression, personality factors, and skin conductance, but no moderation effects over time were found. Over a period of 2 years, the model approximately predicts a change in one burnout category on the Maslach Burnout Inventory. The amount of burnout symptoms in nurses might be used as an indicator to predict turnover and absenteeism considering the increase in symptoms over time. Nursing staff who experience severe aggression and who have relatively low levels of emotional intelligence and altruism and high levels of neuroticism and job stress should be monitored and supported to decrease the risk of burnout. Staff members can be trained to increase their emotional intelligence and relieve stress to decrease their burnout symptoms and turnover and absenteeism on the long term. Ambulatory assessment might be helpful as a nonintrusive way to detect increasing levels of burnout.
Gradient refractive index structure of phosphor‐in‐glass coating for packaging of white LEDs
Authors: Xu Xujia , Li Hong , Zhuo Yong , Xiong Dehua , Chen Mingxiang
Published: August 2018

A gradient refractive index (GRIN) structure, with a gradual increase in the refractive index from the glass substrate, was successfully obtained by multilayer screen printing for white light‐emitting diodes (w‐LEDs) packaging. Each phosphor‐in‐glass (PiG) coating consisted of B2O3–SiO2–ZnO glass matrix and yellow phosphor. The gradually increased refractive index (1.62, 1.72, and 1.82) of glass matrices were obtained from higher molecular weight of La2O3 and WO3. After sintering at 600°C, no obvious interface was observed and the phosphor particles were mixed thoroughly in the glass matrix. When the phosphor content was 50 wt%, the white‐light emission was obtained. Compared with those based on the nongradient and low‐refractive PiG coating, the luminous efficacy of w‐LEDs constructed by the PiG coating with GRIN was enhanced. It shows that the GRIN structure is beneficial to improve the luminous efficacy of w‐LEDs.
Leveraging Big Data to Develop Supply Chain Management Theory: The Case of Panel Data
Authors: Miller Jason W. , Ganster Daniel C. , Griffis Stanley E.
Published: August 2018

Increased data availability is poised to shape both business practice and supply chain management (SCM) research. This article addresses an issue that can arise when trying to use big data to answer academic research questions. This issue is that distilled data often have a panel structure whereby repeated measurements are available on one or more variables for a substantial number of subjects. Thus, to fully leverage the richness of big data for academic research, SCM scholars need an understanding regarding the different types of research questions answerable with panel data. In this article, we devise a framework detailing different types of research questions SCM scholars can answer with panel data. This framework provides a basis to categorize how SCM scholars have examined the services supply chain setting of health care with public data regarding hospital‐level patient satisfaction. We extend prior research by testing a series of three questions not yet examined in this area by fitting a series of structured latent curve models to seven years of hospital‐level patient satisfaction for nearly 4,000 hospitals. The discussion highlights theoretical and methodological challenges SCM scholars are likely to encounter as they use the panel data in their research.
Early childhood behavioral features that discriminate autism from other developmental problems in Japan
Authors: Okuno Midori , Uehara Toru
Published: August 2018

Problem

The criteria for early detection of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and its discrimination from other developmental problems (ODP) are not clear. The Social Attention and Communication Study, which identified methods for early identification of ASD in community settings, was modified to the Japanese situation, and we examined its discriminant validity.

Methods

This study followed a cohort of newborns in one town for 4 years. Structured behavioral assessments were added to the standardized health examination and performed five times during toddlerhood. Of the 264 children included in the statistical analysis, four were diagnosed with ASD, and four were diagnosed with ODP.

Findings

A canonical discrimination analysis indicated two significant functions. Canonical 1, which involved disturbances of “eye contact” at 27 months and “concept comprehension” at 38 months, characterized both ASD and ODP. Canonical 2, which involved disturbances of “response name call” at 15 months, “showing” at 27 months, and negative loading of vocabulary development at 20 months, discriminated between ASD and ODP. The canonical plot showed good separation, but a few cases were misclassified.

Conclusions

Evaluations of early behavioral signs by public health nurses during general toddler examinations could be useful and convenient.
Polarized retinal pigment epithelium generates electrical signals that diminish with age and regulate retinal pathology
Authors: Cao Lin , Liu Jie , Pu Jin , Milne Gillian , Chen Mei , Xu Heping , Shipley Alan , Forrester John V , McCaig Colin D , Lois Noemi
Published: August 2018

The transepithelial potential difference (TEP) across the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) is dependent on ionic pumps and tight junction “seals” between epithelial cells. RPE cells release neurotrophic growth factors such as pigment epithelial derived factor (PEDF), which is reduced in age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). The mechanisms that control the secretion of PEDF from RPE cells are not well understood. Using the CCL2/CX3CR1 double knockout mouse model (DKO), which demonstrates RPE damage and retinal degeneration, we uncovered an interaction between PEDF and the TEP which is likely to play an important role in retinal ageing and in the pathogenesis of AMD. We found that: (a) the expression of ATP1B1 (the Na+/K+‐ATPase β1 subunit) was reduced significantly in RPE from aged mice, in patients with CNV (Choroidal Neovascularization) and in DKO mice; (b) the expression of PEDF also was decreased in aged persons and in DKO mice; (c) the TEP across RPE was reduced markedly in RPE cells from DKO mice and (d) an applied electric field (EF) of 50‐100 mV/mm, used to mimic the natural TEP, increased the expression and secretion of PEDF in primary RPE cells. In conclusion, the TEP across the RPE depends on the expression of ATP1B1 and this regulates the secretion of PEDF by RPE cells and so may regulate the onset of retinal disease. Increasing the expression of PEDF using an applied EF to replenish a disease or age‐reduced TEP may offer a new way of preventing or reversing retinal dysfunction.
Risk factors for episiotomy during vaginal childbirth: A retrospective cohort study in Western China
Authors: Zhang Mengqin , Wang Min , Zhao Xiufang , Ren Jianhua , Xiang Jie , Luo Biru , Yao Jianrong
Published: August 2018

Objective

To assess the incidence rates and risk factors for episiotomy during vaginal childbirth in a Western China context.

Methods

A retrospective hospital‐based cohort study was conducted using computerized data of 3721 singleton vaginal deliveries after 28 weeks of gestation. Women who underwent episiotomy were compared with those who did not.

Results

The overall prevalence of episiotomy was 44.0% (1636/3721); 52.9% (1458/2756) among primiparas and 18.4% (178/965) among multiparas (P < 0.001). Adjusted risk factors significantly associated with episiotomy included primiparity, prolonged second stage of labor, and labor‐management personnel. Risk factors specific to primiparas were increasing maternal age (per year) (OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.07, P = 0.035), increasing biparietal diameter (per centimeter) (OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.84, P = 0.017), first stage of labor beyond 10‐hour (OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.68, P = 0.005), and birth weight (per 100 g) (OR = 1.06, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.09, P < 0.001). Birth weight resulted in an adjusted risk increase of 6.1% among primiparas for every 100 additional grams of birth weight. For the analysis stratified by labor‐management personnel, moderately experienced midwifery was a risk factor of episiotomy (OR = 1.76, 95% CI 1.21 to 2.56, P = 0.003); midwives with bachelor's degree (OR = 1.47, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.88, P = 0.002), and obstetricians with doctor's degree (OR = 2.00, 95% CI 1.18 to 3.39, P = 0.010) were most likely to perform episiotomy.

Conclusion

Episiotomy is still commonly performed in Western China. A survey of maternity care professionals’ knowledge of and attitudes towards episiotomy is urgently required to explore the complex reasons for conducting episiotomy.
Using an E‐nose machine for detection the adulteration of margarine in cow ghee
Authors: Ayari Fardin , Mirzaee‐ Ghaleh Esmaeil , Rabbani Hekmat , Heidarbeigi Kobra
Published: August 2018

Diagnosis of adulteration in cow ghee is one of the key concerns of recent years. In this study, the aroma fingerprints of cow ghee were detected. For this purpose, an electronic nose system was developed and its ability for detection of different amounts of margarine mixed with pure cow ghee (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% levels) was investigated. The system was equipped with eight sensors (MOS type), that each of them reacts to specific volatile compounds in the samples. The features of the signals were considered for data analysis. In this research, principal components analysis (PCA) and artificial neural networks (ANN) methods were used for data analyzing. According to the results, the PCA analysis explained 98% of the variance in the data set. Also, ANN analysis identified 85.6 and 97.2% of pure cow ghee from the adulteration ones when samples were classified in 7 and 2 classes, respectively.

Practical applications

Diagnosis and estimation of adulteration in cow ghee is one of the key concerns for consumers. Electronic nose is a new method that can be used for detection of products quality. We show that electronic nose system is a valuable tool for detection of margarine as a one of common adulteration in cow ghee.
Microbial destruction kinetics of high‐pressure‐processed sugarcane juice (Saccharum officinarum)
Authors: Sreedevi P. , Rao P. Srinivasa
Published: August 2018

The efficacy of high‐pressure processing (HPP) on inactivation of indigenous vegetative microorganisms in sugarcane juice was studied under the pressure range of 300–600 MPa for a treatment time of 1 s through 25 min at ambient temperature (30 ± 2 °C). No significant change in pH, total soluble solids (TSS) and titratable acidity were observed in the juice, whereas color variation was significant (p < .05) after HPP treatment. Application of HPP has significantly (p < .05) reduced the vegetative microbial count with the increase in pressure and treatment time. Isobaric destruction of microorganisms followed first‐order kinetics. Among the group of natural microflora studied, coliforms were observed to be more sensitive whereas aerobic mesophiles were least sensitive with the zp value of 846 MPa and the ΔV value of −6.85 × 10−6 m3/mol. High‐pressure treatment of sugarcane juice at 600 MPa/20 min was sufficient to inactivate vegetative microorganisms effectively with minimal changes in physico‐chemical properties of the juice.

Practical applications

Sugarcane juice is one of the nutritious natural drinks available in South‐Asian countries. The shelf‐life of sugarcane juice is limited due to high incidences of microbial contamination, which begin immediately after extraction. Thermal processing of sugarcane juice at high temperatures and processing times has a detrimental effect on sensory and nutritional qualities of the juice. The application of high‐pressure processing (HPP) has proved to be a promising technology to produce microbial safe sugarcane juice with minimal changes in physico‐chemical properties. HPP technology can provide a breakthrough in the beverage industries, in developing a “ready‐to‐serve” sugarcane juice for the commercialization and marketability of good quality sugarcane juice.
White Matter Degeneration after Ischemic Stroke: A Longitudinal Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study
Authors: Visser Milanka M. , Yassi Nawaf , Campbell Bruce C.V. , Desmond Patricia M. , Davis Stephen M. , Spratt Neil , Parsons Mark , Bivard Andrew
Published: August 2018

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Degeneration of gray matter and subcortical structures after ischemic stroke has been well described. However, little is known about white matter degeneration after stroke. It is unclear whether white matter degeneration occurs throughout the whole brain, or whether patterns of degeneration occur more in specific brain areas.

METHODS

We prospectively collected National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) in patients with acute ischemic stroke within the first week after onset (baseline), and at 1 and 3 months. DTI was processed to produce maps of fractional anisotropy, apparent diffusion coefficients, and axial and radial diffusivity. DTI parameters in specified regions‐of‐interest corresponding to items on the NIHSS were calculated and changes over time were assessed using linear mixed‐effect modeling.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients were included in the study. Mean age (SD) was 71 (11.7) years, and median (IQR) baseline NIHSS 9 (5‐13.3). Changes over time were observed in both visual cortices, contralesional primary motor cortex, premotor cortex, and superior temporal gyrus (P < .05). Changes in the ipsilesional motor cortex and inferior parietal lobule were only seen in patients with scores on the respective NIHSS‐items (P < .05). No significant changes in global white matter diffusivity parameters were identified (P > .05).

CONCLUSION

White matter changes after stroke may be localized rather than a global phenomenon.
The Development of Multiple Self‐Concept Dimensions During Adolescence
Authors: Esnaola Igor , Sesé Albert , Antonio‐Agirre Iratxe , Azpiazu Lorea
Published: August 2018

The purpose of this research was to analyze the development of self‐concept during adolescence. Participants included 484 teenagers (226 boys and 258 girls) from middle‐class families in the Basque Country region of Spain (Mage = 14.99, SD = 1.81 in Time 1 and Mage = 15.64, SD = 1.80 in Time 2). Longitudinal analysis found differences in the general school dimension. Six dimensions (math, verbal, general school, physical abilities, parent relationships and same‐sex relationships) reported a linear trend with a decreasing monotonic pattern; self‐esteem fit a cubic trend and physical appearance a quadratic trend line. Males showed higher means in self‐esteem, math, physical abilities, physical appearance, emotional stability and parent relationships; and females had higher values in verbal and general school.
Correlating physiochemical quality characteristics to consumer hedonic perception of traditional Doenjang (fermented soybean paste) in Korea
Authors: Kim Mina K. , Chung Hyun‐Jung , Bang Woo‐Suk
Published: August 2018

The objective of this study was in twofold: (a) to determine the physiochemical quality characteristics of Doenjang samples manufactured by different methods and (b) to determine the relationship between these characteristics and consumer acceptability. Furthermore, consumer acceptability of the Doenjang samples according to the participant's region of residency (northern vs. southeastern) was investigated. A total of six Doenjang samples were included in this study: Two commercially produced Doenjang products (C1 and C2), three traditionally produced Doenjang products (T1, T2, and T3), and one Japanese‐style Doenjang product (M1). Physiochemical properties including moisture content, pH, salinity, acid value, titratable acidity, amino type nitrogen (NH3‐N) content, reducing sugar and total sugar content, alcohol content, and color measurements (L*, a*, b*), were conducted. In addition, enzymatic activities and microbial activities were analyzed. Consumer acceptance testing on these Doenjang samples was conducted in different locations of South Korea (north and southeast). No differences in consumer preference were found based on the testing location (p > .05). However, differences in physiochemical quality parameters that are important for different region were observed. Consumer preference in the northern region was driven by color‐related attributes while consumer preference in the southeastern region was driven by the sweetness of the Doenjang samples.

Practical applications

Physiochemical quality characteristics are practically easy‐to‐collect data in the food manufacturing plant for routine quality control process. This study provided the potential to use of objective physiochemical quality control‐related data to predict the consumer preferences of Doenjang, and also reported the different quality attributes that drive consumer preferences of Doenjang according to the location of residency. Outcome of this study: (a) allows Doenjang industry to predict the consumer preferences according to the quality‐related attributes of traditional Doenjang and (b) provides information to strategically design the Doenjang products according to the consumers' preferences in different regions of Korea.
Trends in the prevalence and distribution of teacher‐identified special health‐care needs across three successive population cohorts
Authors: O'Connor Meredith , O'Connor Elodie , Quach Jon , Vashishtha Rakhi , Goldfeld Sharon
Published: August 2018

Aim

Some children's special health‐care needs (SHCN) are formalised at the start of schooling (established SHCN), but a larger proportion start with difficulties that are milder or not yet diagnosed (emerging SHCN). This study explores whether: (i) the prevalence of teacher‐identified SHCN (both overall and according to type of needs) and (ii) distribution across disadvantaged communities have changed over three successive population cohorts of Australian children.

Methods

We draw on repeated cross‐sectional data from the Australian Early Development Census, a teacher‐reported checklist completed on full populations of Australian school entrants in 2009, 2012 and 2015. It includes a measure of SHCN, as well as demographic information.

Results

The proportion of children with emerging and established needs was mostly stable from 2009 to 2015 (emerging needs: 17.1–18.9%; established needs: 4.4–4.9%). Change over time was observed in the prevalence of some specific types of impairment. Speech impairment rose by 14.7% for children with emerging needs, and emotional problems rose by 13.7% for children with established needs. Children living in the most disadvantaged neighbourhoods had higher odds of SHCN in all years (e.g. emerging needs relative risk ratio 1.65 (99% confidence interval 1.55–1.75) in 2015; established needs relative risk ratio 1.88 (99% confidence interval 1.71–2.06) in 2015).

Conclusions

A large proportion of children starting school each year have SHCN. The types of SHCN that children present with increasingly reflect complex difficulties that require input from both the health and education sectors. Effective responses also need to consider the added impact of disadvantage.
Value Creation and Value Capture in Open Innovation
Authors: Chesbrough Henry , Lettl Christopher , Ritter Thomas
Published: August 2018

Open innovation has attracted a significant amount of attention from scholars and practitioners. Prior research on open innovation has mainly focused on collaborative inventing. However, understanding the processes and outcomes of joint inventing is not sufficient for understanding sustained open‐innovation activities and the competitive advantages of the actors involved in open innovation. Instead, an understanding of value creation and value capture is paramount for advancing our understanding of sustained open‐innovation activities. Open innovation requires collaboration among distributed but interdependent actors who rely on each other’s capabilities for value creation and capture. Value in open innovation is driven not only by actors’ value creation but also by their ability to capture value. While value creation and value capture are discussed in the open‐innovation literature, the advancement of this stream of research is hindered by conceptual ambiguity, especially in relation to the concept of value capture. This article adopts a value perspective on open innovation, offers consistent conceptualizations of value creation and value capture, and outlines potential avenues for further research at the interface of open innovation, value creation, and value capture.
Religious Fundamentalism in Eight Muslim‐Majority Countries: Reconceptualization and Assessment
Authors: Moaddel Mansoor , Karabenick Stuart A.
Published: August 2018

To capture the common features of diverse fundamentalist movements, overcome etymological variability, and assess predictors, religious fundamentalism is conceptualized as a set of beliefs about and attitudes toward religion, expressed in a disciplinarian deity, literalism, exclusivity, and intolerance. Evidence from representative samples of over 23,000 adults in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and Turkey supports the conclusion that fundamentalism is stronger in countries where religious liberty is lower, religion less fractionalized, state structure less fragmented, regulation of religion greater, and the national context less globalized. Among individuals within countries, fundamentalism is linked to religiosity, confidence in religious institutions, belief in religious modernity, belief in conspiracies, xenophobia, fatalism, weaker liberal values, trust in family and friends, reliance on less diverse information sources, lower socioeconomic status, and membership in an ethnic majority or dominant religion/sect. We discuss implications of these findings for understanding fundamentalism and the need for further research.
Physiochemical properties and tastes of gels from Japanese Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius) surimi by different washing processes
Authors: Pan Jinfeng , Jia Hui , Shang Meijun , Xu Chang , Lian Hongliang , Li Haowei , Dong Xiuping
Published: August 2018

The study investigated the properties of gels from Japanese Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus niphonius) (JSM) surimi received conventional washing (CW) or alkaline‐saline washing (AW) and un‐washing (UW). AW gel exhibited the highest breaking force and deformation as well as water‐holding capacity, but CW gel only had higher breaking force than UW gel. Low‐field NMR analysis showed that peak P22 in AW gel was shifted to higher relaxation time and the areas of peak P21 and P22 in AW gel were higher than those in UW and CW gels. Compared with UW gel, network structure of AW gel was more continuous with many tiny voids, but CW gel microstructure showed partially uneven area with large voids. SDS‐PAGE showed that band intensity of myosin heavy chain attenuated more in AW gel than in UW and CW gels in nonreducing electrophoresis and it recovered more pronounced in reducing electrophoresis. Solubility attributed to hydrophobic interaction, hydrogen and disulfide bonds increased in CW and AW gels. AW gel gave stronger bitterness and aftertaste A while CW gel showed heavier sourness, astringency, and aftertaste B than UW gel. Results suggest that AW improved physiochemical properties of gel and preserved a closer taste pattern to UW gel. It is recommended for JSM surimi producing.

Practical applications

Surimi food has great potential due to its convenience, elasticity, and nutritional value. Japanese Spanish mackerel (JSM), a popular fish species in China, is widely used for producing surimi food, such as fish ball, dumpling, and sausage. Washing is a practical way to improve its gel properties. This study investigated the gel strength, water status, protein pattern, molecular interactions, microstructure, color, and taste of gels from JSM surimi received conventional washing or alkaline‐saline washing and un‐washing. Some practical information of effects of washing on gel properties was obtained. These results provide supports to the gel properties improvement by appropriate washing for JSM.
China’s Fiscal Multiplier and Its State Dependence
Authors: Zhang Wen , Zhang Yangyang , Zheng Xinye , Zhang Li
Published: August 2018

This paper studies the effects of government spending on China’s output with a threshold structural vector autoregressive model. The empirical findings suggest that increasing government expenditure significantly raises China’s aggregate output. Contrary to the evidence of countercyclical fiscal multipliers in the advanced economies, China’s fiscal multiplier tends to be procyclical, suggesting a novel fiscal policy transmission mechanism in China.
Moving Closer or Drifting Apart: Distributional Effects of Monetary Policy
Authors: Hafemann Lucas , Rudel Paul , Schmidt Jörg
Published: August 2018

The heating debate about increasing income inequality forces monetary policy makers and academia to (re‐)assess the nexus between (unconventional) monetary policy and inequality. We use a VAR framework to unveil the distributional effects of monetary policy and the role of redistribution in six advanced economies. While all of them experience an increase in Gini coefficients of gross income due to an expansionary monetary policy shock, only countries with relatively little redistribution display a significant response of net income inequality as well. To examine the underlying transmission channels we take a closer look at the sources of income, i.e. labor and capital income. Our findings suggest that the disproportional surge in capital income is the driving force behind the increase in net income inequality.
Quantitative Easing and the ‘New Normal’ in Monetary Policy
Authors: Kiley Michael T.
Published: August 2018

Interest rates may remain low and fall to their effective lower bound (ELB) often. As a result, quantitative easing (QE), in which central banks expand their balance sheet to lower long‐term interest rates, may complement policy approaches focused on adjustments in short‐term interest rates. Simulation results using a large‐scale model (FRB/US) suggest that QE does not improve economic performance if the steady‐state interest rate is high, confirming that such policies were not advantageous from 1960 to 2007. However, QE can offset a significant portion of the adverse effects of the ELB when the equilibrium real interest rate is low. These improvements in economic performance exceed those associated with moderate increases in the inflation target. Active QE is primarily required when nominal interest rates are near the ELB, pointing to benefits within the model from QE as a secondary tool while relying on short‐term interest rates as the primary tool.
Fiscal Trade‐Offs: The Relationship Between Output and Debt in Policy Interventions
Authors: McManus Richard
Published: August 2018

Implicit in fiscal policy debates is that there is a trade‐off between output and debt outcomes; stimulus is at the expense of debt, and austerity at the expense of output. This paper theoretically and empirically investigates this trade‐off through analysing the relationship between traditional output multipliers and ‘debt multipliers’ (the impact of policy on government debt). Theoretically the elasticity between the two is the marginal tax rate from movements of output in response to policy. This leads to two further hypotheses: first, if the marginal tax rate in the private sector is higher than that in the public sector, changes in government spending will result in a larger impact on debt than changes in taxes; and second, ‘fiscal free lunches’ are possible with recent estimates of the output multiplier. Indeed, empirically we find that tax revenues increase from exogenous tax cuts when the response of output is high.
Of Gold and Paper Money
Authors: Chadha Jagjit S.
Published: August 2018

We consider the role of money as a means of payment, store of value and medium of exchange. I outline a number of quantitative and qualitative experiences of monetary management. Successful regimes have sprung up in a variety of surprising places, and been sustained with state (centralised) interventions. Although the link between state and money, and its standard of identity and account may be clear, particularly in earlier stages of economic development, the extent to which the state is widely felt to hold responsibility for ‘sound money’ is less clear in modern democracies, where there are many other public responsibilities implying ongoing trade‐offs.
Automatic Pixel‐Level Crack Detection and Measurement Using Fully Convolutional Network
Authors: Yang Xincong , Li Heng , Yu Yantao , Luo Xiaochun , Huang Ting , Yang Xu
Published: August 2018

The spatial characteristics of cracks are significant indicators to assess and evaluate the health of existing buildings and infrastructures. However, the current manual crack description method is time consuming and labor consuming. To improve the efficiency of crack inspection, advanced computer vision‐based techniques have been utilized to detect cracks automatically at image level and grid‐cell level. But existing crack detections are of (high specificity) low generality and inefficient, in terms that conventional approaches are unable to identify and measure diverse cracks concurrently at pixel level. Therefore, this research implements a novel deep learning technique named fully convolutional network (FCN) to address this problem. First, FCN is trained by feeding multiple types of cracks to semantically identify and segment pixel‐wise cracks at different scales. Then, the predicted crack segmentations are represented by single‐pixel width skeletons to quantitatively measure the morphological features of cracks, providing valuable crack indicators for assessment in practice, such as crack topology, crack length, max width, and mean width. To validate the prediction, the predicted segmentations are compared with recent advanced method for crack recognition and ground truth. For crack segmentation, the accuracy, precision, recall, and F1 score are 97.96%, 81.73%, 78.97%, and 79.95%, respectively. For crack length, the relative measurement error varies from −48.03% to 177.79%, meanwhile that ranges from −13.27% to 24.01% for crack width. The results show that FCN is feasible and sufficient for crack identification and measurement. Although the accuracy is not as high as CrackNet because of three types of errors, the prediction has been increased to pixel level and the training time has been dramatically decreased to several per cents of previous methods due to the novel end‐to‐end structure of FCN, which combines typical convolutional neural networks and deconvolutional layers.
The southwestern Atlantic southern right whale, Eubalaena australis, population is growing but at a decelerated rate
Authors: Crespo Enrique A. , Pedraza Susana N. , Dans Silvana L. , Svendsen Guillermo M. , Degrati Mariana , Coscarella Mariano A.
Published: August 2018

This paper reports on aerial surveys conducted to estimate the relative abundance and trend in growth of the southern right whale (Eubalaena australis) population from Península Valdés. The number of whales counted tripled from 1999 to 2016. We modeled the number of whales, the number of calves, the number of solitary individuals and the number of individuals in breeding groups using as predictive variables the year, Julian day, and Julian day2 by means of generalized linear models. The rate of increase decreased from near 7% in 2007 to 0.06% and 2.30% for total number of whales and number of calves, respectively for 2016. Trends in the rates of increase for total number of whales and number of calves were negative (−0.732% and −0.376%, respectively). The habitat use of the whales changed along the years, with mothers and calves using more heavily the near‐shore strip, resulting in a decreasing trend for solitary individuals and breeding groups in near‐shore waters. We conclude that whales are still increasing their abundance, while the rate of increase is decreasing. Differences in the rates of increase of the group types and changes in habitat use are thought to be the consequence of a density‐dependence process.
Circulation dynamics of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Gallinarum biovar Gallinarum in a poultry farm infested by Dermanyssus gallinae
Authors: Pugliese N. , Circella E. , Marino M. , De Virgilio C. , Cocciolo G. , Lozito P. , Cafiero M. A. , Camarda A.
Published: August 2018

Dermanyssus gallinae (Mesostigmata: Dermanyssidae, De Geer, 1778) is an ectoparasite of poultry, suspected to play a role as a vector of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica ser. Gallinarum. Despite an association between them being reported, the actual dynamics in field remain unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to confirm the interactions among mites, pathogen and chickens. The study was carried out in an industrial poultry farm infested by D. gallinae, during an outbreak of fowl typhoid. The presence of S. Gallinarum in mites was assessed and quantified by a semi‐nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and real‐time PCR, respectively, in mites collected during two subsequent productive cycles and the sanitary break. The anti‐group D Salmonella antibodies were quantified by an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. During the outbreak and the sanitary break, S. Gallinarum was constantly present in mites. In the second cycle, scattered positivity was observed, although hens did not exhibit signs of fowl typhoid, as a result of the vaccination with BIO‐VAC SGP695 (Fatro, Ozzano Emilia Bo, Italy). The data strongly suggest that D. gallinae acts as reservoir of S. Gallinarum, thus allowing the pathogen to persist in farms. Furthermore, the present study has highlighted the interactions among D. gallinae, S. Gallinarum and hens with respect to enhancing the mite‐mediated circulation of S. Gallinarum in an infested poultry farm.
Altered occipital pole connectivity in chronic versus episodic migraine: Whole brain region‐of‐interest analysis of resting‐state functional connectivity
Authors: Imai Noboru
Published: August 2018

Background

Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging has demonstrated altered resting‐state functional connectivity of several regions that participate in pain processing in individuals suffering from episodic migraines.

Aim

To explore migraine chronification, we investigated differences in whole brain resting‐state functional connectivity between patients with chronic and episodic migraine.

Methods

Thirty‐one women with chronic migraine and 31 age‐matched women with episodic migraine underwent resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging scanning during the interictal phase. Resting‐state functional connectivity was assessed using region‐of‐interest to region‐of‐interest analysis with 91 cortical, 15 subcortical, and 26 cerebellar areas.

Results

Analyses revealed that patients with chronic migraine showed a higher connectivity between the anterior cingulate cortex and bilateral occipital pole and between the right occipital and right supramarginal gyrus, anterior division, bilateral planum polare, right planum temporale, and right supplementary motor cortex than patients with episodic migraine.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the occipital pole plays a key role in migraine chronification.
Half of the patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis after ventilation have apparent frontotemporal lobar atrophy: A quantitative survey of 92 patients by CT imaging
Authors: Sugano Kazuhiko , Yoshino Hideo , Nakazato Taizo , Imai Hisamasa
Published: August 2018

Background

A significant clinicopathological and genetic overlap has been suggested between amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD).

Aim

To determine the overlap, we assessed the cerebral atrophy as a surrogate indicator of FTLD in ALS inpatients with post‐tracheostomy positive pressure ventilation by CT imaging analysis.

Methods

The extent of cerebral atrophy was quantitatively evaluated in 92 ALS patients (age: 68.3 ± 11.0 years and disease duration: 7.6 ± 4.8 years) and 42 age‐matched healthy controls (age: 60.4 ± 13.6 years) by computer‐mediated assessments of sizes of the following four areas [anterior temporal (TL), frontal lobes (FL), and inferior horn (IH) and anterior horn (AH) of the lateral ventricle] and of the corresponding intracranial fossae, to minimize individual head‐size differences.

Results

More than half of the ALS patients clearly exhibited the parenchymal atrophy in TL and FL regions and the ventricular dilatation in IH and AH areas, both of which exceed the age‐associated physiological changes. By clustering analysis using degrees of TL and FL atrophy and of IH and AH dilatation the ALS patients examined were grouped into five clusters resulting in the following characteristics: (i) normal to mild frontotemporal cortical atrophy (51%); (ii) mild frontotemporal lobar atrophy (FTLA) (26%); (iii) moderate FTLA (15%); (iv) severe FTLA (4%); and (v) severe temporal lobar atrophy (3%).

Conclusion

Half of the ALS patients after ventilation had apparent frontotemporal lobar atrophy by CT imaging, and such patients would develop FTLD.