bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Family participation in ICU rounds—Working toward improvement
Authors: Roze des Ordons Amanda L. , Au Selena , Blades Kenneth , Stelfox Henry T.
Published: January 2020

Rationale, aims, and objectives

Family participation in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) bedside rounds has been advocated as a way to improve communication between families and health care providers; however, the associated impact and modulators have not been fully described. The purpose of this study was to explore benefits, drawbacks, barriers, and facilitators to family participation in ICU rounds in order to inform ways to improve how families are integrated into rounds.

Methods

This was a qualitative exploratory study of ICU patients' family members (n = 29) and health care providers (n = 35) who work in ICU settings. Interviews and focus groups were conducted, and thematic analysis was used for data analysis.

Results

Benefits and drawbacks for families were related to knowledge and emotional impact and for health care providers were related to knowledge and transparency, with rapport as an additional benefit and logistical impact as a drawback. Barriers and facilitators during rounds and outside of rounds were identified, and suggestions for improvement included preparing and orienting families, summarizing, teaching modifications, follow‐up, and organizational culture.

Conclusions

Our study provides insight into the multiple processes involved in family participation in ICU rounds, along with suggestions for improvement. Our findings may help guide development of a structured approach to family participation in ICU rounds that can be adapted to local contexts.
Effect of osmotic agents and ultasonication on osmo‐convective drying of sweet lime (Citrus limetta) peel
Authors: Kumari Vinkal , Yadav Baljeet S. , B. Yadav Ritika , Nema Parbhat K.
Published: January 2020

The study was aimed to evaluate the effect of different osmotic agents (sucrose, maltodextrins, and stevia, 50° brix conc.), immersion time (2–8 hr), and ultrasonication treatment (33 KHz, for 2, 5 and 10 min) on water loss, solid gain, weight reduction and subsequent air drying (45°C) behaviour of sweet lime peel. Irrespective of immersion time, the average water loss, solid gain, and weight reduction were observed to be maximum with sucrose as osmotic agent followed by maltodextrins and stevia, respectively. There was only a slight increase in the values of water loss, solid gain, and weight reduction during the ultrasonic‐assisted osmotic dehydration. Sucrose was observed to be the best osmotic agent for osmo‐convective drying of the sweet lime peel. The ultrasound pretreated (10 min, 33 kHz) and sucrose‐osmosed sweet lime peel when subjected to air‐drying, the moisture content was decreased from 28.70 to 1.91%. The values of R2, adjusted R2, and RMSE and residuals analysis indicated that Page model satisfactorily described the drying behavior of sweet lime peel.

Practical applications

Peels are the main by‐products of sweet lime processing for juice manufacturing. The fruit waste is very rich in pectin and potentially valuable bioactive compounds including antioxidants. The findings of this study may prove instrumental in designing the osmo‐convective drying technology for the sweet lime peel. Since OD can contribute to the retention of useful bioactive compounds and the dried sweet lime peel in its powder form has high concentration of pectin, it can find useful applications in the health industry and food industry especially in processed products such as jams, jellies, or bakery products like biscuit and bread with added functionality and nutraceutical properties. The utilization of osmotically dried sweet lime peel will not only add to the income of sweet lime fruit processors but also provide an avenue for its waste disposal also.
From flooding to finance: NHS ambulance‐assisted evacuations of care home residents in Norfolk and Suffolk, UK
Authors: Johnson Sarah , Yu Dapeng
Published: January 2020

Focusing on the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk (UK), this investigation examines the effect of coastal and fluvial flooding on the use of ambulance service vehicles in the assisted evacuation of care home residents and quantifies the cost of this service to the NHS under flood conditions. This was completed using GIS Network Analyst functions to identify the impacts of flood probability (high: 1 in 30, medium: 1 in 30 to 1 in 100, and low: 1 in 100 to 1 in 1000) and target ambulance response‐times (7, 18, 120, and 180 min) on ambulance service area, road network accessibility, the number of vulnerable care homes and their accessibility, the appropriateness of pre‐identified evacuation routes, and the drive‐time based evacuation cost to the National Health Service (NHS). The results indicate that approximately 68 care homes and 2,320 residents in Norfolk and Suffolk are at risk of inundation, and care home accessibility, in addition to ambulance service area, decreases with shorter ambulance response‐times and lower flood probabilities. Additionally, the use of pre‐identified evacuation routes, by the ambulance service, promotes efficient navigation between ambulance stations, care homes, and rest centres, but can unfavourably cause network clustering if unmanaged. In association with these routes, an estimated cost of evacuation based on ambulance drive‐time was calculated at £34,000–£42,000 depending on flood probability. The importance of this research is highlighted by the current lack of identified flood evacuation and accessibility maps for emergency responder use, and the associated lack of evacuation cost estimations to be used by the government and NHS to budget for aid assistance during these natural disasters. Therefore, the application of this approach at a national level in the flood emergency planning process would be beneficial to promote strategic efficiency and financial preparedness of ambulance services for the purpose of ambulance‐assisted flood evacuations.
An evaluation of the physicochemical parameters and the content of the active ingredients in original formulas containing retinol
Authors: Zasada Malwina , Budzisz Elzbieta , Kolodziejska Justyna , Kalinowska‐Lis Urszula
Published: January 2020

Introduction

Three original cosmetic formulations containing retinol as an active component with liquid crystal, lamellar, and lipid bases were prepared. The formulas contain different concentrations of retinol, that is, 0.5%, 0.3%, and 0.15%.

Objectives

The aim of the study was to evaluate a spectrophotometric method for assessing the quantity of retinol in the nine cosmetic products and to determine the viscosity of each formula.

Materials and Methods

The formulations were tested for stability; final product testing was preceded by sample weighing and pH measurement as well as exposure to the light source from xenon lamp that maps solar radiation in the range of 310‐800 nm. Microbiological purity test was performed according to the PN‐EN ISO 29621:2011 method and viscosity carried out using a cone‐plate digital rheometer (DV‐III Brookfield, version 3.0) on 0.5 cm3 emulsion samples at 32°C. The retinol content in preparations was assayed by UV spectrophotometry.

Results

Each of prepared cosmetic products with retinol storing in a room temperature occurred to be stable. The liquid crystal emulsion has the higher viscosity than lamellar and lipid emulsions. Although the retinol concentration in lipid serum was determined with high accuracy, the method has some limitations associated with differences between the lipid cosmetic base and the lamellar and liquid crystal sera. Nevertheless, the UV spectrophotometric method described herein is a simple and highly accurate approach for determining the retinol content in lipid cosmetics: Its coefficient of correlation was R2 = 0.9982 with a relative standard deviation (n = 3) in the range of 0.5%‐1.5%.

Conclusion

The presented UV spectrophotometric method represents an effective tool for fast and accurate determination of retinol content in lipid formulations. Probably, the method could be used in studies of other retinol‐based preparations, for example, medications, and for determining the effective life of retinol‐containing products in storage.
A 22‐Year Follow Up of Immediate Implant Placement without Bone Augmentation: A Case Series Study
Authors: Assery Mansour
Published: January 2020

Purpose

To retrospectively evaluate the treatment outcome of immediate implants placed in fresh extraction sockets without bone augmentation after 22 years of function.

Materials and Methods

The study group received implant therapy in 1997, including surgical placement and prosthodontic rehabilitation. The mean age of the subjects at the time of implant placement was 40 ± 5.54 years. A total of 35 subjects received 36 implants in fresh extraction sockets without bone augmentation. Definitive prostheses were placed 4 to 6 months after implant placement. Implant treatment outcomes were evaluated using clinical and radiographic parameters obtained during follow‐up visits at 1, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 22 years after prosthetic loading.

Results

Among the 35 treated subjects, five patients moved out of the country and could not be evaluated at the follow‐up times. A total of 29 subjects were included in the study with a drop‐out rate of 14.1%. Of these, one patient lost the implant during the osseointegration period before prosthodontic treatment. No other implant failure or complication during the rest of the follow‐up period was reported, thus giving a cumulative survival rate of 97.2% during the 22‐year follow‐up. The change in marginal bone level was less than 2 mm in most subjects at the 22‐year examination. The mean bone loss from baseline to 22‐year follow‐up was 1.61 mm, and the mean bone level at the 22‐year follow‐up examination was situated at 2.13 ± 0.023 mm from the implant platform, which was used as the reference point.

Conclusions

Immediate implant placement in extraction sockets exhibits excellent prognosis even when bone augmentation is not performed.
Useful impacts of royal jelly on reproductive sides, fertility rate and sperm traits of animals
Authors: Abdelnour Sameh A. , Abd El‐Hack Mohamed E. , Alagawany Mahmoud , Taha Ayman E. , Elnesr Shaaban S. , Abd Elmonem Osama M. , Swelum Ayman A.
Published: January 2020

Royal jelly (RJ) is one of the furthermost valuable curative products mentioned by natural medicine scientists due to its promising medical and nutritional purposes. It possesses many impacts, including antioxidants, antimicrobial, antitumor, anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions in human and animal that benefit their health and welfare, resulting in its widespread use in medical and commercial products and healthy food. Recently, favourable functions of RJ on male fertility have been reported in different animals. According to earlier literatures, the level of RJ supplementation in animal diet ranged from 100 to 200 mg/kg. Oral exposure to RJ has been reported to have oestrogenic influences in the adult female rats. Also, RJ may be influential in improvement of pregnancy and lambing rates of ewes. Oral administration of RJ at 100 mg/kg diet before sexual maturity enhanced sexual behaviour and semen quality of male rabbits. Moreover, RJ administration (up to 400 mg/kg diet once weekly) for male rabbits exposed to heat stress can counteract “summer infertility” and improve physiological responses. Furthermore, supplementation of freezing extender media with 0.1 or 3% RJ had a protective influence on cryopreserved and chilled spermatozoa of buffalo and ram respectively. However, the high dose of RJ oral administration (800 mg/kg) by pubescent male rats for 1 month had an undesirable effect on the reproductive system; however, the somewhat unfavourable influences were mitigated by the discontinuation of the administration. This review shows the chemical composition, favourable applications and health benefits of RJ and its effects on reproductive aspects, semen quality and in vitro fertilization outcomes which are advantageous for scientists, researchers, nutritionists, physiologists, embryologists, pharmacists, veterinarians, pharmaceutical industries and animal's breeders.
Extensive chromosomal rearrangements and rapid evolution of novel effector superfamilies contribute to host adaptation and speciation in the basal ascomycetous fungi
Authors: Wang Qinhu , Sun Manli , Zhang Yimei , Song Zhenzhen , Zhang Shijie , Zhang Qiang , Xu Jin‐Rong , Liu Huiquan
Published: January 2020

The basal ascomycetes in genus Taphrina have strict host specificity and coevolution with their host plants, making them appealing models for studying the genomic basis of ecological divergence and host adaption. We therefore performed genome sequencing and comparative genomics of different Taphrina species with distinct host ranges to reveal their evolution. We identified frequent chromosomal rearrangements and highly dynamic lineage‐specific (LS) genomic regions in Taphrina genomes. The LS regions occur at the flanking regions of chromosomal breakpoints, and are greatly enriched for DNA repeats, non‐core genes, and in planta up‐regulated genes. Furthermore, we identified hundreds of candidate secreted effector proteins (CSEPs) that are commonly organized in gene clusters that form distinct AT‐rich isochore‐like regions. Nearly half of the CSEPs constitute two novel superfamilies with modular structures unique to Taphrina. These CSEPs are commonly up‐regulated during infection, enriched in the LS regions, evolved faster, and underwent extensive gene gain and loss in different species. In addition to displaying signatures of positive selection, functional characterization of selected CSEP genes confirmed their roles in suppression of plant defence responses. Overall, our results showed that extensive chromosomal rearrangements and rapidly evolving CSEP superfamilies play important roles in speciation and host adaptation in the early‐branching ascomycetous fungi.
Sporadic Japanese case of adult‐onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia caused by a de novo p.Phe849del mutation in CSF1R
Authors: Senzaki Kensuke , Miura Shiroh , Ochi Masayuki , Katoh Takeaki , Okada Yoko , Matsumoto Sayaka , Shiraoka Akira , Ochi Hirofumi , Igase Michiya , Kitazawa Riko , Zhu Bin , Ikeuchi Takeshi , Ohyagi Yasumasa
Published: January 2020

Adult‐onset leukoencephalopathy with axonal spheroids and pigmented glia (ALSP) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in the colony‐stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) gene. We, herein, report the first Japanese case of ALSP caused by a de novo p.Phe849del mutation in CSF1R: a 44‐year‐old man who presented callosal disconnection symptoms. Brain MRI revealed dilation of the lateral ventricles, periventricular white matter hyperintensities, and thinning of the corpus callosum with hyperintensities on T2‐weighted and FLAIR images. Brain single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) showed hypoperfusion in the anterior corpus callosum. White matter lesions in MRI and hypoperfusion in SPECT increased with age. A brain biopsy at 44 years revealed axonal spheroids. Callosal disconnection symptoms and hypoperfusion in the anterior corpus callosum may be important indicators of ALSP, especially when caused by a p.Phe849del CSF1R mutation.
Stomatal optimization based on xylem hydraulics (SOX) improves land surface model simulation of vegetation responses to climate
Authors: Eller Cleiton B. , Rowland Lucy , Mencuccini Maurizio , Rosas Teresa , Williams Karina , Harper Anna , Medlyn Belinda E. , Wagner Yael , Klein Tamir , Teodoro Grazielle S. , Oliveira Rafael S. , Matos Ilaine S. , Rosado Bruno H. P. , Fuchs Kathrin , Wohlfahrt Georg , Montagnani Leonardo , Meir Patrick , Sitch Stephen , Cox Peter M.
Published: January 2020

Land surface models (LSMs) typically use empirical functions to represent vegetation responses to soil drought. These functions largely neglect recent advances in plant ecophysiology that link xylem hydraulic functioning with stomatal responses to climate.

We developed an analytical stomatal optimization model based on xylem hydraulics (SOX) to predict plant responses to drought. Coupling SOX to the Joint UK Land Environment Simulator (JULES) LSM, we conducted a global evaluation of SOX against leaf‐ and ecosystem‐level observations.

SOX simulates leaf stomatal conductance responses to climate for woody plants more accurately and parsimoniously than the existing JULES stomatal conductance model. An ecosystem‐level evaluation at 70 eddy flux sites shows that SOX decreases the sensitivity of gross primary productivity (GPP) to soil moisture, which improves the model agreement with observations and increases the predicted annual GPP by 30% in relation to JULES. SOX decreases JULES root‐mean‐square error in GPP by up to 45% in evergreen tropical forests, and can simulate realistic patterns of canopy water potential and soil water dynamics at the studied sites.

SOX provides a parsimonious way to incorporate recent advances in plant hydraulics and optimality theory into LSMs, and an alternative to empirical stress factors.
A Brazilian multicentre study of 2,497 isolated cases of odontogenic keratocysts
Authors: Schuch Lauren Frenzel , de Arruda José Alcides Almeida , Mosconi Carla , Kirschnick Laura Borges , Pinho Rodrigo Finger de Carvalho , Viveiros Stephanie Kenig , Abreu Lucas Guimarães , do Amaral‐Silva Gleyson Kleber , da Silva Leorik Pereira , Martins‐Chaves Roberta Rayra , Vasconcelos Ana Carolina Uchoa , Gomes Ana Paula Neutzling , Rivero Elena Riet Correa , Martins Manoela Domingues , Rados Pantelis Varvaki , de Almeida Oslei Paes , de Andrade Bruno Augusto Benevenuto , Romañach Mário José , Agostini Michelle , de Mendonça Elismauro Francisco , Pontes Hélder Antonio Rebelo , de Souza Lélia Batista , Fonseca Felipe Paiva , de Aguiar Maria Cássia Ferreira , de Sousa Suzana Cantanhede Orsini Machado , Mesquita Ricardo Alves
Published: January 2020

We present the frequency of cases of isolated odontogenic keratocysts submitted to microscopic examination at 10 Brazilian referral centres in Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology. In a retrospective (1953–2017) analysis, data on clinicoradiographic features and treatment of these lesions were collected and analysed descriptively. Among the 258,867 cases retrieved, 2,497 (0.96%) were isolated odontogenic keratocysts. In summary, an overview of individuals affected with isolated odontogenic keratocysts is reported herein. This lesion showed predilection for the posterior mandible of young adult men.
Short‐Segment Fixation of Thoracolumbar Fractures with Incorporated Screws at the Level of Fracture
Authors: El Behairy Hassan Fathy , M Abdelaziz Ashraf , Saleh Ayman K , Elsherief Faisal Ahmed Hashem , Abuomira Ibrahim Elsayed Abdellatif , Elkawary Ahmed Ibrahim , Aldahshan Wael , Mahmoud Wael Sh
Published: January 2020

Objective

To evaluate the effect of including the fractured vertebra in the short‐segment fixation of thoracolumbar (TL) fractures.

Methods

A total of 32 patients with thoraco‐lumbar fractures, selected between August 2013 and February 2016, were managed by short‐segment fixation with screws at the level of the fracture, and decompression was performed only for patients with neurological deficits. The patients' functional outcome was assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS) score for pain and the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score for neurological condition. All patients were followed up with radiographs.

Results

Patients with complete neurologic deficits (n = 3) did not show any neurologic recovery. All ASIA B patients improved to ASIA C. Five ASIA C patients improved to ASIA E. The remaining five ASIA C patients improved to ASIA D. All ASIA D patients improved to ASIA B. At the final follow‐up examination, the mean anterior vertebral height was 21 ± 5 mm, indicating no significant height loss during the follow‐up period.

Conclusion

Short‐segment fixation of TL fractures with inclusion of the fracture level into the construct offers good correction of segmental kyphosis, vertebral wedging, and vertebral height loss.
Unacknowledged Permissivism
Authors: Smith Julia Jael
Published: January 2020

Epistemic permissivismis the view that it is possible for two people to rationally hold incompatible attitudes towards some proposition on the basis of one body of evidence. In this paper, I defend a particular version of permissivism –unacknowledged permissivism(UP) – which says that permissivism is true but that no one can ever rationally believe that she is in a permissive case. I show that counter to what virtually all authors who have discussed UP claim, UP is an attractive view: It is compatible with the intuitive motivations for permissivism and avoids a significant challenge to permissivism: the arbitrariness objection.
miR156a‐targeted SBP‐Box transcription factor SlSPL13 regulates inflorescence morphogenesis by directly activating SFT in tomato
Authors: Cui Long , Zheng Fangyan , Wang Jiafa , Zhang Chunli , Xiao Fangming , Ye Jie , Li Changxing , Ye Zhibiao , Zhang Junhong
Published: January 2020

The inflorescences and lateral branches of higher plants are generated by lateral meristems. The structure of the inflorescence has a direct effect on fruit yield in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). We previously demonstrated that miR156a plays important roles in determining the structures of the inflorescences and lateral branches in tomato by suppressing the expression of the SQUAMOSA PROMOTER BINDING PROTEIN LIKE (SPL) transcription factor gene family. However, information on regulatory pathways associated with inflorescence morphogenesis is still lacking. In this study, we demonstrate that SPL13 is the major SPL involved in miR156a‐regulated tomato inflorescence structure determination and lateral branch production. Suppressing the expression of SPL13 in tomato increases the number of inflorescences on vegetative branches and lateral branches, decreases the number of flowers and fruit, and reduces fruit size and yield. Genetic and biochemical evidence indicate that SPL13 controls inflorescence development by positively regulating the expression of the tomato inflorescence‐associated gene SINGLE FLOWER TRUSS (SFT) by directly binding to its promoter region. Thus, our findings provide a major advance to our understanding of the miR156a‐SlSPL‐based mechanism that regulates plant architecture and yield in tomato.
Efficacy and safety of bright light therapy for manic and depressive symptoms in patients with bipolar disorder: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Takeshima Masahiro , Utsumi Tomohiro , Aoki Yumi , Wang Zhe , Suzuki Masahiro , Okajima Isa , Watanabe Norio , Watanabe Koichiro , Takaesu Yoshikazu
Published: January 2020

Aim

This systematic review and meta‐analysis evaluated whether bright light therapy (BLT) is an effective and safe treatment for manic/depressive symptoms and a preventive measure for recurrent mood episodes in patients with bipolar disorder.

Methods

A literature search of major electronic databases was conducted in June 2019, including all published articles up to that date. Two researchers independently selected relevant publications, extracted data, and evaluated methodological quality according to the Cochrane criteria.

Results

Six randomized controlled trials (RCT) evaluated the efficacy of BLT for bipolar depression. A meta‐analysis found no significant differences between BLT and placebo for the following outcomes: (i) rates of remission from depressive episodes (risk ratio [RR]: 1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.43 to 7.64, P = 0.42); (ii) depressive symptom scores (standardized mean difference: −0.25, 95%CI: −0.74 to 0.23, P = 0.30); and (iii) rates of manic switching (RR: 1.00, 95%CI: 0.28 to 3.59, P = 0.26). The sensitivity analysis for studies with low overall indirectness did show a significant antidepressant effect for BLT (RR: 3.09, 95%CI: 1.62 to 5.90, P = 0.006). No RCT investigated the effect of BLT in preventing the recurrence of mood episodes in the euthymic state or in improving manic symptoms in the manic state. No severe adverse events were reported.

Conclusion

While a meta‐analysis was unable to demonstrate the efficacy of BLT for bipolar depression, a sensitivity analysis did show a significant effect. Further well‐designed studies are needed to clarify the effectiveness of BLT, not only for the depressive state but also for other states, in the treatment of bipolar disorder.
Tractable Compensation Plan under Asymmetric Information
Authors: Yang Ruina , Mai Yinhua , Lee Chung‐Yee , Teo Chung‐Piaw
Published: January 2020

In an elegant study on salesforce incentive design, Steenburgh and Ahearne (2012) have argued that a multi‐faceted portfolio approach, based on the classification of workers into laggards, core, and star performers, can induce better result from the salesforce, compared to traditional approaches used in companies. In this paper, we construct a portfolio of incentive contracts with a three‐piece “linear–quadratic–linear” structure and study their incentive effects. It is well known that such contracts can extract 100% of the incremental benefits (i.e., optimal) when the performance levels of the agents are exponentially or uniformly distributed, but its effect is still unknown in the more natural case when performance levels are normally distributed. We show that the proposed three‐piece contract can capture more than 95.32% of the incremental benefits, obtained from the optimal incentive contract over fixed salary contract, when the cost functions of efforts are quadratic, and the performance levels are normally distributed. In this case, the more traditional three‐piece linear contract has a corresponding tight lower bound of 82.64%. Interestingly this is the same as the tight lower bound from a two‐piece linear contract, and thus adding more linear pieces to the contract does not help to improve the lower bound when the performance levels follow the normal distributions. This provides a partial theoretical explanation for the superiority of the portfolio approach advocated by Steenburgh and Ahearne (2012).
Inventory Auditing and Replenishment Using Point‐of‐Sales Data
Authors: Bassamboo Achal , Moreno Antonio , Stamatopoulos Ioannis
Published: January 2020

Spoilage, expiration, damage due to employee/customer handling, employee theft, and customer shoplifting usually are not reflected in inventory records. As a result, records often report phantom inventory, that is, units of good not available for sale. We derive an optimal polynomial‐time algorithm for the auditing and replenishment problem with phantom inventory, under the assumption that inventory is known immediately after replenishment. Moreover, we numerically show that a service‐level threshold policy performs comparably to the optimal.
Behavioral Drivers of Routing Decisions: Evidence from Restaurant Table Assignment
Authors: Tan Tom F. , Staats Bradley R.
Published: January 2020

We first theoretically identify the factors that may impact individuals’ routing decisions before empirically examining a large operational dataset in a casual restaurant setting. Analytical models have identified various routing algorithms for service operations management. Although each model may offer advantages over others, they all make a key assumption ‐ decision makers will actually follow the algorithms, if implemented. However, in many settings routing is not done by a computer that is programmed, but instead by a human. People make routing decisions at their own discretion which may hurt or help system performance. We analyze granular transaction data to examine how hosts revise a given routing rule when seating customers. Thereafter, we empirically analyze the effect of the dispersion of table assignments on restaurant performance, and estimate the counterfactual sales impact of adopting an alternative routing priority. Our setting instructs its hosts to follow a round‐robin rule to assign tasks because it ensures fairness and smooths work flow. We find that hosts assign more incoming parties than the round‐robin rule suggests to those waiters who have low contemporaneous workload or high speed skills. The prioritization of high speed skill waiters increases with higher levels of demand. In addition, we show an inverted‐U‐shaped relationship between the inequality of table assignments (measured in terms of the Gini Coefficient of the numbers of tables assigned to each waiter during the same hour) and total sales. Our results suggest that properly adjusting the round‐robin rule is productive; however, too much deviation lowers performance. Our paper empirically highlights the value of routing decisions and front‐line personnel, such as the hosts in our context.
Competition through Exclusivity in Digital Content Distribution
Authors: Chiang I. Robert , Jhang‐Li Jhih‐Hua
Published: January 2020

Following decades‐long subscriber growth, cable TV is experiencing a perceptible decline in viewership as a result of escalating fees, outdated content search, and rigid program scheduling. With cord‐cutting consumers seeking alternative viewing experiences, online streaming providers are gaining “eyeball shares,” strengthening their bargaining positions in subsequent licensing negotiations. We capture the market dynamics between content owners, cable networks, and streaming providers by analyzing a prevalent practice—windowing—that aims to create temporal exclusivities across distribution channels. We derive conditions under which windowing would affect the split of subscription and advertising revenues between competing distribution channels; we also show how content values would change the choice of redistributor and the length of windowing delay between cable and streaming runs. Results here suggest how content owners can best benefit from the streaming provider's on‐demand content access and the cable network's more diversified revenue streams.
Learning Demand Curves in B2B Pricing: A New Framework and Case Study
Authors: Qu Huashuai , Ryzhov Ilya O. , Fu Michael C. , Bergerson Eric , Kurka Megan , Kopacek Ludek
Published: January 2020

In business‐to‐business (B2B) pricing, a seller seeks to maximize revenue obtained from high‐volume transactions involving a wide variety of buyers, products, and other characteristics. Buyer response is highly uncertain, and the seller only observes whether buyers accept or reject the offered prices. These deals are also subject to high opportunity cost, since revenue is zero if the price is rejected. The seller must adapt to this uncertain environment and learn quickly from new deals as they take place. We propose a new framework for statistical and optimal learning in this problem, based on approximate Bayesian inference, which has the ability to measure and update the seller’s uncertainty about the demand curve based on new deals. In a case study, based on historical data, we show that our approach offers significant practical benefits.
Clinical safety of intratesticular transplantation of allogeneic bone marrow multipotent stromal cells in stallions
Authors: Papa Patrícia de Mello , Guasti Priscilla Nascimento , De Vita Bruna , Nakazato Nathalia Genú , Maia Leandro , Freitas Dell’Aqua Camila de Paula , Scheeren Verônica Flores da Cunha , Segabinazzi Lorenzo Garrido Teixeira Martini , de Andrade Junior Luiz Roberto Pena , Silva Luis Fernando Mercês Chaves , Araújo Endrigo Adonis Braga , Oliveira Sidnei Nunes , Papa Frederico Ozanam , Landim‐Alvarenga Fernanda da Cruz , Alvarenga Marco Antonio
Published: January 2020

Although stem cell therapy is a promising alternative for treatment of degenerative diseases, there are just few reports on the use of stem cells therapy in horse's reproductive system. This study aims to evaluate the effect of intratesticular injection of bone marrow mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs) in healthy stallions, and its outcome on seminal parameters and fertility. In Experiment 1, 24 stallions were divided into treatment group (TG) and control group (CG). In the TG, an intratesticular application of MSC was performed, and in the CG, only PBS was used. Measurements of testicular volume, surface temperature and Doppler ultrasonography were performed 24 and 48 hr after treatments. Fifteen days after application, the testicles were removed and submitted to histological analysis. In Experiment 2, 3 fertile stallions received similarly treatment with MSCs. Physical examination and sperm analysis were performed weekly during 60 days after treatment, and at the end, semen from one of them was used for artificial inseminations of 6 healthy mares. In Experiment 1, clinical examinations showed no signals of acute inflammation on both groups according to the analysed variables (p > .05). Also, no signal of chronic inflammation was observed on histological evaluation. In Experiment 2, stallions presented no physical alterations or changes in sperm parameters, and a satisfactory fertility rate (83%; 5/6) was observed after AI. The results support the hypothesis that intratesticular application of bone marrow MSCs is a safe procedure, and this could be a promising alternative to treat testicular degenerative conditions.
Studies of gel with immobilized semen by intrauterine endoscopy post‐artificial insemination
Authors: Berg Halldor Felde , Spång Heidi Cecilie Larsen , Heringstad Bjørg , Ropstad Erik , Alm‐Kristiansen Anne Hege , Kommisrud Elisabeth
Published: January 2020

An extended lifespan of spermatozoa following artificial insemination (AI) can make the timing of insemination less critical, as previously demonstrated with immobilized spermatozoa that are gradually released from an alginate gel. The purpose was to examine the in vivo dissolution of SpermVital (SV) alginate gel over time by endoscopy and secondly to assess spermatozoa quality after incubation of the gel. In vivo endoscopy showed SV gel in the uterus 3, 6, 20 and 24 hr after AI, demonstrating the potential release of spermatozoa to the uterus during this period. In utero ex vivo incubation of the semen demonstrated that high motility and viability of sperm cells was sustained following overnight incubation.
Symbolic Compliance and Student Concerns: Legal Endogeneity and Title IX at American Colleges and Universities
Authors: Gualtieri Gillian
Published: January 2020

This article considers how American colleges and universities responded to rapid legal change around Title IX immediately following the 2011 release of the Office for Civil Rights’ Dear Colleague Letter. By analyzing the content of 250 campus sexual harassment policies, this article finds that contrary to the predictions of the employment discrimination literature, which suggests that the largest, most visible institutions in a field are the most likely to embed markers of symbolic compliance in their formal policies, small baccalaureate colleges are more likely to include references to the law in their formal documents than their research university peers do. To understand this intriguing finding, the article then analyzes 15 interviews with campus administrators at research universities and baccalaureate colleges to uncover the distinct logics of symbolic compliance and student concerns that differentially inform how actors at different kinds of institutions inhabit their roles and endogenously interpret new Title IX regulations in their formal policies and campus practices. In doing so, this article illuminates the ways in which processes of legal endogeneity differ across institution types within the broader field of higher education.
Networks, case managers, and the job‐search experiences of unemployed people
Authors: Ramia Gaby , Peterie Michelle , Patulny Roger , Marston Greg
Published: January 2020

Employment services are commonly provided in network settings, but it is rare to find social policy analyses of how unemployed people search for jobs through networks. In a germinal analysis of social networks and employment, Mark Granovetter argued that “weak ties” (less familiar contacts) are more important to finding employment than are “strong ties” (family and friends). This is because weak ties provide more novel job‐relevant information. Scholarship since Granovetter has predominantly supported the opposite argument, namely, that strong ties are more important for the unemployed, because they are more plentiful and thus provide more information in aggregate. Findings are also generally coloured by the focus being on “informal” networks or personal contacts. “Formal” networks, as represented most cogently by employment service providers, are absent or underestimated in most social network studies. On the basis of a qualitative study of 80 long‐term unemployed people in Australia, incorporating analysis of both informal and formal networks, we argue that although “strong informal” ties are vital to job search, it is also important to consider “weak formal” ties, which can be complementary if and where service organizations are able to supply positive case management experiences.
Detection of HLA‐DRB1*16:35 in a Taiwanese unrelated bone marrow stem cell donor
Authors: Yang Kuo‐Liang , Lin Py‐Yu
Published: January 2020

One nucleotide substitution in codon 93 of HLA‐DRB1*16:02:01:01 results in a novel allele, HLA‐DRB1*16:35.
A rapid and quantitative safranin‐based fluorescent microscopy method to evaluate cell wall lignification
Authors: Baldacci‐Cresp Fabien , Spriet Corentin , Twyffels Laure , Blervacq Anne‐Sophie , Neutelings Godfrey , Baucher Marie , Hawkins Simon
Published: January 2020

One of the main characteristics of plant cells is the presence of the cell wall located outside the plasma membrane. In particular cells, this wall can be reinforced by lignin, a polyphenolic polymer that plays a central role for vascular plants, conferring hydrophobicity to conducting tissues and mechanical support for upright growth. Lignin has been studied extensively by a range of different techniques, including anatomical and morphological analyses using dyes to characterize the polymer localization in situ. With the constant improvement of imaging techniques, it is now possible to revisit old qualitative techniques and adapt them to obtain efficient, highly resolutive, quantitative, fast and safe methodologies. In this study, we revisit and exploit the potential of fluorescent microscopy coupled to safranin‐O staining to develop a quantitative approach for lignin content determination. The developed approach is based on ratiometric emission measurements and the development of an imagej macro. To demonstrate the potential of our methodology compared with other commonly used lignin reagents, we demonstrated the use of safranin‐O staining to evaluate and compare lignin contents in previously characterized Arabidopsis thaliana lignin biosynthesis mutants. In addition, the analysis of lignin content and spatial distribution in the Arabidopsis laccase mutant also provided new biological insights into the effects of laccase gene downregulation in different cell types. Our safranin‐O‐based methodology, also validated for Linum usitatissimum (flax), Zea mays (maize) and Populus tremula x alba (poplar), significantly improves and speeds up anatomical and developmental investigations of lignin, which we hope will contribute to new discoveries in many areas of cell wall plant research.
Fluorine‐18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography imaging exhibits increased SUVmax at the level of the spinal intumescence in normal dogs
Authors: French John M. , Brody Ariel , von Stade Devin , Frank Chad B. , Griffin Lynn R.
Published: January 2020

Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging utilizing fluorine‐18 labeled fluorodeoxyglucose is a relatively new imaging modality in veterinary medicine that is becoming more common for oncological staging and for musculoskeletal imaging. Thus, it is important to identify the normal variations on PET imaging that may be mistaken for pathology. Variation in standardized uptake values (SUVmax) have been anecdotally identified in the spinal cord of dogs undergoing fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET–CT examinations for oncological staging, with notable increase in SUVmax values identified in the region of the cervical and lumbar spinal intumescences. The aim of this retrospective, analytical study was to compare the SUVmax values at four different locations throughout the spinal cord (C3, C5‐T1, T13, and L3‐S1) of a group of dogs with no evidence of neurologic disease and compare those findings to histologic specimens from dogs euthanized for unrelated disease. SUVmax values were significantly higher at the cervical and lumbar intumescences in comparison to the control regions (P < .0001 and P < .0001, respectively). Neuronal count and spinal cord gray matter area were also significantly greater at the cervical and lumbar intumescences (neuronal count P = .0025 and P = .0001; area P = .0004 and P = .0009, respectively) while overall neuronal density was lower (P = .003 and P = .028, respectively). We presume the increased SUVmax values at the spinal cord intumescences are the result of overall increased neuron count, increased proportion of gray matter, and increased spinal cord gray matter area. These findings will aid in the interpretation of future PET–CT studies and hopefully prevent the misdiagnosis of spinal cord disease in normal canines.
Long‐term outcome and effect of diagnostic analgesia in horses undergoing interspinous ligament desmotomy for overriding dorsal spinous processes
Authors: Brown Kara A. , Davidson Elizabeth J. , Ortved Kyla , Ross Michael W. , Stefanovski Darko , Wulster Kathryn B. , Levine David G.
Published: January 2020

Objective

To report the long‐term outcome of horses treated with interspinous ligament desmotomy (ISLD) for pain associated with overriding dorsal spinous processes (ORDSP) and determine the influence of preoperative diagnostic analgesia on long‐term outcome.

Study design

Retrospective study.

Animals

Eighteen horses.

Methods

Data were collected from horses presenting for ISLD to the University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center between January 2013 and May 2018. Follow‐up of ≥3 months postsurgically was obtained from the owner, trainer, or referring veterinarian. Long‐term improvement was compared between horses that improved with diagnostic analgesia presurgically and horses that did not undergo diagnostic analgesia presurgically by using a χ2 test. Univariate logistic regression was used to test associations between long‐term improvement and independent variables.

Results

Clinical signs had improved in 13 of 18 horses at long‐term follow‐up (median, 14.5 months; range, 3‐57). Clinical signs improved in nine of 10 horses responding to diagnostic analgesia but only in four of eight horses that did not undergo diagnostic analgesia (χ2[1], N = 18) = 3.55; P = .06). Although the likelihood of long‐term improvement increased with prior diagnostic analgesia (odds ratio = 6.3; 95% confidence interval = 0.73, 55.0; P = .09), it did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusion

A higher proportion of horses experienced long‐term improvement in clinical signs after ISLD when horses responding to preoperative diagnostic analgesia were compared with horses that were not tested.

Clinical significance

This study provides some evidence to support the use of diagnostic analgesia in conjunction with clinical examination for identification of clinically relevant ORDSP.
The epidemiology, characteristics and outbreaks of human leptospirosis and the association with animals in Taiwan, 2007–2014: A nationwide database study
Authors: Tsai Chia‐Ta , Lin Jiun‐Nong , Lee Chen‐Hsiang , Sun Wu , Chang Yi‐Chin , Chen Yen‐Hsu , Lai Chung‐Hsu
Published: January 2020

Background

Leptospirosis (LS) is a neglected tropical zoonosis of global importance. A nationwide investigation of characteristics, epidemiology, risk factors and outbreak is crucial for awareness of this disease.

Methods

A nationwide database of reported LS cases from October 2007 to December 2014 obtained from the Centers for Disease Control, Taiwan, was analysed. Geographic information system software was used to map the distribution of confirmed LS cases and pigs. Cross‐matching with the databases of Q fever, scrub typhus and murine typhus was conducted to identify possible coinfections.

Results

A total of 10,917 reported cases of LS were recorded in the database, which included 665 (6.1%) confirmed LS and 10,252 (93.9%) non‐confirmed LS cases. The major residences of confirmed LS were the Kaohsiung‐Pingtung (248, 37.3%) and Taipei (174, 26.2%) regions. The average annual incidence was 0.4/100,000 people. Compared with non‐confirmed LS cases, confirmed LS cases had significantly higher percentages of male gender (83.6% vs. 67.9%, p < .001), high‐risk occupations (farmer, animal husbandry or veterinarian) (24.8% vs. 13.7%, p < .001), residence in the Kaohsiung‐Pingtung region (37.3% vs. 19.6%, p < .001) and exposure to rats (8.6% vs. 4.9%, p = .001) or pigs (9.4% vs. 1.9%, p < .001) but a lower mean age (47.8 ± 15.1 vs. 51.±18.5 years old). Rat and pig exposure trends were found in the northern and southern regions, respectively. Distribution of LS was consistent with pigs, and one outbreak associated with flooding and pigs occurred in the Pingtung region in 2009. Twenty‐three and four patients with LS were coinfected with scrub typhus and Q fever, respectively.

Conclusions

LS is an endemic disease in Taiwan, particularly in the Kaohsiung‐Pingtung and Taipei regions. High‐risk occupations and animal exposure history are important for the clinical presumptive diagnosis of LS, particularly for rats in northern Taiwan and pigs in southern Taiwan. Although uncommon, clinicians should be aware of coinfection of LS with endemic rickettsial diseases.
Validation of a Multielectrode Bioelectrical Impedance Analyzer With a Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometer for the Assessment of Body Composition in Older Adults
Authors: Meier Nathan F. , Bai Yang , Wang Chong , Lee Duck-chul
Published: January 2020

Changes in body composition are related to mobility, fall risk, and mortality, especially in older adults. Various devices and methods exist to measure body composition, but bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) has several advantages. The purpose of this study was to validate a common BIA device with a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer (DXA) in older adults and develop prediction equations to improve the accuracy of the BIA measurements. The participants were 277 older adults (162 women and 115 men; age 73.9 ± 5.8 years) without a history of cancer and without a history of severe medical or mental conditions. Individuals fasted 12 hr before BIA and DXA measurement. The correlations between the two methods for appendicular lean mass (ALM), fat-free mass (FFM), and percentage body fat (%BF) were .86, .93, and .92, respectively, adjusting for age and sex. The mean percentage error (DXA—InBody) and mean absolute percentage error were −12% and 13% for ALM, −13% and 13% for FFM, and 16% and 17% for %BF. The prediction equations estimated ALM, FFM, and %BF; sex was coded as 1 for male and 0 for female: Although highly correlated, BIA overestimated FFM, and ALM and underestimated %BF compared with DXA. An application of prediction equations eliminated the mean error and reduced the range of individual error across the sample. Prediction equations may improve BIA accuracy sufficiently to substitute for DXA in some cases.
Early sociability fosters later exploratory tendency in wild immature orangutans
Authors: Schuppli Caroline , van Noordwijk Maria , Atmoko Suci Utami , van Schaik Carel
Published: January 2020

Growing up with more role models to learn from makes immature orangutans grow up to be more explorative.
Neuron-based high-content assay and screen for CNS active mitotherapeutics
Authors: Varkuti Boglarka H. , Kepiro Miklos , Liu Ze , Vick Kyle , Avchalumov Yosef , Pacifico Rodrigo , MacMullen Courtney M. , Kamenecka Theodore M. , Puthanveettil Sathyanarayanan V. , Davis Ronald L.
Published: January 2020

We have identified small molecules that potentiate aspects of mitochondrial dynamics and function in primary neurons.