bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy reliability analysis of the compressor house unit (CHU) system in a coal fired thermal power plant using TBGFLT technique
Authors: Komal
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the fuzzy reliability of the compressor house unit (CHU) system in a coal fired thermal power plant under vague environment by reducing the accumulating phenomenon of fuzziness and accelerating the computation process. This paper uses different fuzzy membership functions to quantify uncertainty and access the system reliability in terms of different fuzzy reliability indices having symmetric shapes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study analyses the fuzzy reliability of the CHU system in a coal fired thermal power plant using Tω-based generalized fuzzy Lambda-Tau (TBGFLT) technique. This approach applies fault tree, Lambda-Tau method, different fuzzy membership functions and α-cut coupled Tω-based approximate arithmetic operations to compute various reliability parameters (such as failure rate, repair time, mean time between failures, expected number of failures, availability and reliability) of the system. The effectiveness of TBGFLT technique has been demonstrated by comparing the results with results obtained from four different existing techniques. Moreover, this paper applies the extended Tanaka et al. (1983) approach to rank the critical components of the system when different membership functions are used.

Findings

The adopted TBGFLT technique in the present study improves the shortcomings of the existing approaches by reducing the accumulating phenomenon of fuzziness, accelerating the computation process and getting symmetric shapes for computed reliability parameters when different membership functions are used to quantify data uncertainty.

Originality/value

In existing fuzzy reliability techniques which are developed for repairable systems either triangular fuzzy numbers, triangle vague sets or triangle intuitionistic fuzzy sets have been used for quantifying uncertainty. These approaches do not examine the systems for components with different membership functions. The present study is an effort in this direction and evaluates the fuzzy reliability of the CHU system in a coal fired thermal power plant for components with different membership functions. This is the main contribution of the paper.
How does the duration of FTAs and BITs affect FDI attraction?
Authors: Song Backhoon , Oh Ahreum
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of the duration of free trade agreement (FTA) and bilateral investment treaty (BIT) on the foreign direct investment (FDI) flows between OECDs and different level of income countries such as upper- and lower-middle-income countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors applied the gravity model by adding more variables of interest such as trade openness, export volume, dummy and cumulative variables of FTA and BIT to find out the proper determinants of FDI attraction. Through Hasuman test, the authors find the fixed model is appropriate methodology. Hence, the authors basically use the fixed models to find the effect of the duration of FTA and BIT on FDI flows between different groups of countries.

Findings

The main results of the study are briefly summarized briefly as follows. First, the effects of FTA dummy variables and its cumulative variables are greater than those of BIT dummy variables and cumulative variables. If an FTA signifies attracting FDI as well as bilateral trade, and contains an investment agreement provision in it is included in the FTA, it can be seen that the FTA is more effective way of attracting FDI than BIT because FTA is more comprehensive agreement dealing with not only investment issues but also non-investment ones. Second, the BIT effect on FDI is only meaningful when developed countries invest in developing countries. In other words, when a country decides to invest in a developing country with a relatively poor investment environment, whether to enter into a BIT will provide investors with investment stability to gage the investment climate of the host country. Third, the BIT cumulative year effect showed a positive and significant results on FDI inflow and outflow of all cases, unlike the BIT effect. While the fact that BIT cumulative effect has a relatively less positive effect than the BIT dummy effect, implying that BIT effect was evident as time elapsed after fermentation.

Originality/value

The main contribution of this study is that we consider the duration of FTA and BIT explicitly in the model. Previous related studies tried to find out the effects of FTA and BIT on FDI by simply applying dummy variables of them. In this paper, by applying both dummy variables and cumulative variables of FTA and BIT that capture the duration effect, we can deeply understand the effects of national agreements dealing with investment clauses on FDI more dynamically.
The application of a hybrid simulation modelling framework as a decision-making tool for TPM improvement
Authors: Oleghe Omogbai , Salonitis Konstantinos
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to promote a system dynamics-discrete event simulation (SD-DES) hybrid modelling framework, one that is useful for investigating problems comprising multifaceted elements which interact and evolve over time, such as is found in TPM.

Design/methodology/approach

The hybrid modelling framework commences with system observation using field notes which culminate in model conceptualization to structure the problem. Thereafter, an SD-DEShybrid model is designed for the system, and simulated to proffer improvement programmes. The hybrid model emphasises the interactions between key constructs relating to the system, feedback structures and process flow concepts that are the hallmarks of many problems in production. The modelling framework is applied to the TPM operations of a bottling plant where sub-optimal TPM performance was affecting throughput performance.

Findings

Simulation results for the case study show that intangible human factors such as worker motivation do not significantly affect TPM performance. What is most critical is ensuring full compliance to routine and scheduled maintenance tasks and coordinating the latter to align with rate of machine defect creation.

Research limitations/implications

The framework was developed with completeness, generality and reuse in view. It remains to be applied to a wide variety of TPM and non-TPM-related problems.

Practical implications

The developed hybrid model is scalable and can fit into an existing discrete event simulation model of a production system. The case study findings indicate where TPM managers should focus their efforts.

Originality/value

The investigation of TPM using SD-DES hybrid modelling is a novelty.
Professional competencies in supply chain management in the mid-sized supermarket sector in Brazil
Authors: Campos Domingos Fernandes , Lima Jr José Tarcísio de Andrade , Silva Anielson Barbosa da , Fernandes António Jorge
Published: February 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse professionals’ competencies in supply chain management (SCM) in the mid-sized supermarket sector in Brazil as a way of broadening the understanding of the importance and the use of competencies in business development.

Design/methodology/approach

The survey was conducted with 60 managers from 34 companies in the mid-sized supermarket sector in the metropolitan region of Natal, Brazil. The managers evaluated the importance and use of a set of 24 general and specific competencies related to SCM. The gaps between importance and use were identified and analysed.

Findings

The results showed that the level of use was below the level of importance for all competencies, and the general competencies somehow received more attention than specific competencies in the development and execution of SCM activities. Moreover, the overall average of the gaps between levels of use and importance calculated for the general competencies was less than the general average of the gaps calculated for the specific skills.

Research limitations/implications

The research was carried out with a sample of mid-sized supermarkets in a particular region. Therefore, it is recommended that the research be extended to other contexts and supermarket companies of other sizes.

Practical implications

The calculated gaps between managers’ expectations or attributed importance and the perceived levels of competence use in supermarket organisations revealed important lines of action for correcting the course in human resources policy.

Originality/value

The present paper elaborated on an opportunities matrix, gaps × importance, showing how managers can set priorities to fill competence gaps and improve the companies’ human resources. Besides, it compares levels of importance and uses for two groups of competencies, general and specific related to SCM.
Purchasing and supply management practices in customer value creation
Authors: Jääskeläinen Aki , Heikkilä Jussi
Published: February 2019

Purpose

How do purchasing and supply management (PSM) practices create value for the business customers of a focal company? The purpose of this study is to approach the question by investigating the delivery of value over three tiers in the supply chain, that is, from suppliers to the focal company, and further to the focal company’s customers following value chain logic.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is carried out as a qualitative interview study in four focal companies operating in business-to-business markets. A total of 32 interviews are conducted targeted to managers and directors of sales and marketing, purchasing, product/service development and business units.

Findings

The study unveils the characteristics and interplay of supplier-oriented and cross-functional PSM practices in customer value creation. The findings indicate that cross-functional integration between purchasing and the other functions of a focal firm is most beneficial in improving supply flexibility to fulfill customer preferences, identifying new supplier offerings for the customer and facilitating time-to-market of new products.

Research limitations/implications

This study enhances managers’ understanding of the characteristics of the non-financial benefits of purchasing and the role of PSM practices in customer value creation and business success. The findings are indicative of potentially successful practices in the contexts studied.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the supply chain management literature on the benefits of the purchasing function by highlighting the value created for the customer of a focal company. It also extends the discussion in the supply chain management literature on customer value creating interaction processes in business relationships by focusing on PSM practices.
Supporting a child with dyslexia: how parents/carers engage with school‐based support for their children
Authors: Ross Helen
Published: February 2019

Parents’/carers’ experiences of their children’s dyslexia were explored in a mainstream secondary school in England. Interviews were undertaken with the parents/carers of young people at Hilltop View School, a secondary school in south‐west England. Bourdieusian concepts of field, habitus and practice were powerful in underpinning analysis using Jenkins’s (2008) ‘levels of interaction’ when exploring these experiences. It was found that parents/carers drew on bio‐social conceptualisations when making sense of dyslexia, and this helped them to reframe their children’s dyslexia positively. However, they encountered difficulties when engaging in the development of support for their children; the role inhabited by parents versus that of professionals impeded their ability to access the field of education effectively at Hilltop View School.
Welcoming Refugees and the Cultural Wealth of Cities: Intersections of Urban Development and Refugee Humanitarianism
Authors: Watson Jake
Published: February 2019

In a context of rising nativism, cities across liberal democracies are enacting agendas to ‘welcome’ migrants and refugees. Existing scholarship examines this contentious political geography as reflecting either accommodative or restrictive responses to local immigrant populations. Through this lens, pro‐immigrant policies and dynamics are seen to recognize and support a set of pre‐defined immigrant ‘interests’, with the pertinent question being which local actors initiate processes of incorporation and why. Drawing on urban scholarship, this article offers an alternative framework through an analysis of resettled refugees’ experiences within the ‘welcoming agenda’ of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I show that this agenda is tethered to postindustrial ideologies of urban development, which see building and promoting ‘diversity’ as an economic exigency. As such, locally resettled refugees are incentivized to participate in a ‘symbolic economy’ valuing images of diversity, cosmopolitanism and immigrant contribution. Refugees gain access to resources, recognition and decision makers through participation in this symbolic economy, a process constituting a previously unexamined form of incorporation. I advance the concept of the ‘welcomed refugee’ to organize thinking about this process and call for critical attention to the forms of incorporation fostered in pro‐immigrant, cosmopolitan, substate settings.
Critical infrastructures and the tragedy of the commons dilemma: Implications from institutional restructuring on reliability and safety
Authors: Cedergren Alexander , Lidell Kristina , Lidell Kristoffer
Published: February 2019

Through the influence of neoliberal ideas, many critical infrastructures that used to be under public ownership have been opened up for market competition. Using the Swedish railway system as a case, this paper empirically explores whether such reforms have given rise to common‐pool resource problems, and discusses possible implications. The results show that institutional restructuring has created challenges related to balancing the use of the infrastructure with a sufficient level of maintenance. The paper concludes that the main value of analysing critical infrastructures from the perspective of common‐pool resources is the possibility of juxtaposing the way organizational and institutional interactions across scales generate both short‐term gains and long‐term negative side effects influencing reliability and safety.
Chia Seed (Salvia hispanica L.) as a Source of Proteins and Bioactive Peptides with Health Benefits: A Review
Authors: Grancieri Mariana , Martino Hercia Stampini Duarte , Gonzalez de Mejia Elvira
Published: February 2019

The consumption of chia seed (Salvia hispanica L.) has increased in recent years due its high content of omega‐3 fatty acids and dietary fiber. This seed also has a high concentration of proteins and essential amino acids, becoming a promising source of bioactive peptides. The objective of this review was to identify the composition and the beneficial effects of chia seeds (S. hispanica L.), their proteins, peptides, and their potential impact on human health. The UniProt database was used to identify the chia proteins and their amino acid sequences. The BIOPEP database was used to analyze the peptides's bioactive potential. A total of 20 proteins were cataloged in chia seed, 12 of those were involved in the regular metabolic processes of the plant cells. However, eight proteins were specifically related to production and storage of plant lipids, thus explaining the high concentration of lipids in chia seeds (around 30%), especially omega‐3 fatty acids (around 20%). The analyses of amino acid sequences showed peptides with bioactive potential, including dipeptidyl peptidase‐IV inhibitors, angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors, and antioxidant capacity. These results correlated with the main health benefits of whole chia seed in humans such as antioxidant capacity, and hypotensive, hypoglycemic, and anticholesterolemic effects. Such relation can be associated with chia protein and peptide compositions and therefore needs further investigation in vitro and in vivo.
Conservation of physiological dysregulation signatures of aging across primates
Authors: Dansereau Gabriel , Wey Tina W. , Legault Véronique , Brunet Marie A. , Kemnitz Joseph W. , Ferrucci Luigi , Cohen Alan A.
Published: February 2019

Two major goals in the current biology of aging are to identify general mechanisms underlying the aging process and to explain species differences in aging. Recent research in humans suggests that one important driver of aging is dysregulation, the progressive loss of homeostasis in complex biological networks. Yet, there is a lack of comparative data for this hypothesis, and we do not know whether dysregulation is widely associated with aging or how well signals of homeostasis are conserved. To address this knowledge gap, we use unusually detailed longitudinal biomarker data from 10 species of nonhuman primates housed in research centers and data from two human populations to test the hypotheses that (a) greater dysregulation is associated with aging across primates and (b) physiological states characterizing homeostasis are conserved across primates to degrees associated with phylogenetic proximity. To evaluate dysregulation, we employed a multivariate distance measure, calculated from sets of biomarkers, that is associated with aging and mortality in human populations. Dysregulation scores positively correlated with age and risk of mortality in most nonhuman primates studied, and signals of homeostatic state were significantly conserved across species, declining with phylogenetic distance. Our study provides the first broad demonstration of physiological dysregulation associated with aging and mortality risk in multiple nonhuman primates. Our results also imply that emergent signals of homeostasis are evolutionarily conserved, although with notable variation among species, and suggest promising directions for future comparative studies on dysregulation and the aging process.
p53‐Mediated Activities in NS‐5 Neural Stem Cells: Effects of Ethanol
Authors: Miller Michael W.
Published: February 2019

Background

Transforming growth factor (TGF) β1 and ethanol (EtOH) powerfully inhibit the proliferation, DNA repair, and survival of neural stem cells (NSCs). The present study tests the hypothesis that the EtOH‐induced DNA damage response is mediated through p53 pathways and influenced by growth factor signals.

Methods

Cultures of nonimmortalized NSCs, NS‐5 cells, were transfected with p53 siRNA, exposed to either the mitogenic fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 2 or antimitogenic TGFβ1, and to EtOH. Stage‐specific cellular and genomic responses were examined.

Results

p53 status, EtOH exposure, and growth factor significantly affected the expression of transcripts related to the DNA damage response (including those coding for excision repair proteins), mitotic promoters, and regulators of cell death via the tumor necrosis factor pathway. There were significant compensatory increases in p53 family members, p63 and p73, notably in regard to the regulation of cell cycle restriction and apoptosis. Treatment with p53 siRNA potentiated EtOH‐ and TGFβ1‐induced changes in the numbers of proliferating NSCs and increased the proportion of NSCs expressing the apoptotic marker annexin V.

Conclusions

Thus, it appears that EtOH and TGFβ1 affect proliferation, DNA repair, and survival of NSCs via p53‐mediated activities.
Ultrahigh‐resolution MRI reveals structural brain differences in serotonin transporter knockout rats after sucrose and cocaine self‐administration
Authors: Karel Peter , Van der Toorn Annette , Vanderschuren Louk , Guo Chao , Sadighi Alvandi Mina , Reneman Liesbeth , Dijkhuizen Rick , Verheij Michel M. M. , Homberg Judith R.
Published: February 2019

Excessive use of cocaine is known to induce changes in brain white and gray matter. It is unknown whether the extent of these changes is related to individual differences in vulnerability to cocaine addiction. One factor increasing vulnerability involves reduced expression of the serotonin transporter (5‐HTT). Human studies have shown that inherited 5‐HTT downregulation is associated with structural changes in the brain. These genotype‐related structural changes may contribute to risk for cocaine addiction. Here, we tested this idea by using ultrahigh‐resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on postmortem tissue of 5‐HTT−/− and wild‐type (5‐HTT+/+) rats with a history of long access to cocaine or sucrose (control) self‐administration. We found that 5‐HTT−/− rats, compared with wild‐type control animals, self‐administered more cocaine, but not sucrose, under long‐access conditions. Ultrahigh‐resolution structural MRI subsequently revealed that, independent of sucrose or cocaine self‐administration, 5‐HTT−/− rats had a smaller amygdala. Moreover, we found an interaction between genotype and type of reward for dorsal raphe nucleus volume. The data point to an important but differential role of the amygdala and dorsal raphe nucleus in 5‐HTT genotype–dependent vulnerability to cocaine addiction.
What contributes to resilience in cancer patients? A principal component analysis of the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale
Authors: Tan Wei Son , Beatty Lisa , Kemp Emma , Koczwara Bogda
Published: February 2019

Purpose

Research suggests resilience is a complex multifactorial construct, which may improve health outcomes in cancer, but significant controversy exists regarding its definition and measurement. This study aimed to determine the components of resilience and their relative weight, as measured by the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale in cancer patients.

Methods

As part of a larger study, a questionnaire including the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale was distributed to 228 cancer patients. Principal component analysis was performed to identify the components of resilience measured by the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale.

Results

Principal component analysis yielded six factors: (1) personal strength and problem‐based coping, (2) spirituality/fate, (3) social support, (4) adaptability and flexibility, (5) giving best efforts and (6) self‐determination, explaining 64.27% of the variance.

Conclusion

The Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale accounts for approximately two‐thirds of variance in resilience in cancer patients, but 36% of the total variance remains unexplained, suggesting there are still unexplored determinants of resilience in cancer. Identification of these determinants may improve measurement of resilience in cancer through refinement of existing resilience measures or development of cancer‐specific measures. Given the associations found within this study, interventions targeted towards improving coping strategies in at‐risk individuals, and ensuring they have adequate social and spiritual support may improve resilience, although additional research is required to verify this.
Immunogenicity of HPV and HBV vaccines: adjuvanticity of synthetic analogs of monophosphoryl lipid A combined with aluminum hydroxide
Authors: Taleghani Nastaran , Bozorg Ali , Azimi Amin , Zamani Homa
Published: February 2019

Monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), a purified and detoxified product of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Salmonella minnesota R595, has been used as an adjuvant in different vaccines. In this study, the efficacy of human papillomaviruses (HPV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccines formulated with aluminum hydroxide combined with two different synthetic MPLs, 3D‐(6‐acyl)‐PHAD or 3D‐PHAD, or aluminum hydroxide combined with the mixtures of such MPLs, has been assessed. The immunogenicity in female BALB/c mice was verified by two intramuscular injections of differently formulated HPV and HBV vaccines and the total immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody response was considered to compare the employed adjuvants. As verified experimentally, a mixture of 3D‐(6‐acyl)‐PHAD and 3D‐PHAD was able to induce significantly higher antibody titer than that of either 3D‐(6‐acyl)‐PHAD or 3D‐PHAD, when used individually. Interestingly, based on the responses achieved in terms of the total antibody levels, such mixture of synthetic MPLs was found to be even more effective than the bacterially derived MPL. Accordingly, the obtained results indicated that, if designed appropriately, synthetic MPL molecules could provide improved adjuvanticity with high level of consistency.
Editorial: simplifying screening for primary liver cancer – do the LCR1 and LCR2 tests hold the key?
Authors: Drake Thomas M. , Bird Thomas G.
Published: February 2019

Linked Content

This article is linked to Poynard et al papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15082 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15135.
Editorial: identifying candidates for pegylated interferon add‐on to entecavir therapy in patients with HBeAg‐positive chronic hepatitis B
Authors: Peng Cheng‐Yuan
Published: February 2019

Linked Content

This article is linked to Liem et al and Liem and Janssen papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15098 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15155.
Introduction: The production and contestation of exemplary centres in Southeast Asia
Authors: Tilley Lisa , Elias Juanita , Rethel Lena
Published: February 2019

The production and contestation of exemplary centres in Southeast Asia
Cross-Sectional Human Immunodeficiency Virus Incidence Estimation Accounting for Heterogeneity Across Communities
Authors: Xu Yuejia , Laeyendecker Oliver , Wang Rui
Published: February 2019

Accurate estimation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence rates is crucial for the monitoring of HIV epidemics, the evaluation of prevention programs, and the design of prevention studies. Traditional cohort approaches to measure HIV incidence require repeatedly testing large cohorts of HIV-uninfected individuals with an HIV diagnostic test (eg, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) for long periods of time to identify new infections, which can be prohibitively costly, time-consuming, and subject to loss to follow-up. Cross-sectional approaches based on the usual HIV diagnostic test and biomarkers of recent infection offer important advantages over standard cohort approaches, in terms of time, cost, and attrition. Cross-sectional samples usually consist of individuals from different communities. However, small sample sizes limit the ability to estimate community-specific incidence and existing methods typically ignore heterogeneity in incidence across communities. We propose a permutation test for the null hypothesis of no heterogeneity in incidence rates across communities, develop a random-effects model to account for this heterogeneity and to estimate community-specific incidence, and provide one way to estimate the coefficient of variation. We evaluate the performance of the proposed methods through simulation studies and apply them to the data from the National Institute of Mental Health Project ACCEPT, a phase 3 randomized controlled HIV prevention trial in Sub-Saharan Africa, to estimate the overall and community-specific HIV incidence rates.
Measure reliability of the Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Children Scale via Rasch analysis
Authors: Heritage Brody , Mancini Vincent , Rigoli Daniela , Piek Jan
Published: February 2019

Background

The self‐concept of children has an impact on later behavioural development and psychopathology; therefore, evidence of the accurate measurement of self‐concept is important. Harter and Pike's (1984, Child Development, 55, 1969) commonly used measure of self‐concept, the Pictorial Scale of Perceived Competence and Social Acceptance for Children, has demonstrated varying evidence of its construct validity and reliability, particularly with preschool‐ or kindergarten‐aged participants.

Aim

To examine the measurement properties of the Acceptance and Competence measures, and to substantiate the measures’ adequacy within the latter participant age range.

Sample

One hundred and ninety‐seven preschool or kindergarten‐aged children (M = 5.40 years, SD = 0.30) provided data as part of the Animal Fun study over three measurement periods.

Methods

The study conducted a pair of Rasch analyses on the Acceptance and Competence measures described prior, with adherence to the assumptions of univariate measurement, item fit, item invariance, and response category adequacy examined as part of these analyses.

Results

While the Acceptance measure demonstrated adequate reliability outside of some potentially misfitting items, the study identified several limitations for the Competence measure, including potential gender‐based and verbal IQ‐based response biases.

Conclusions

Practitioners and research applications of these subscales may benefit from the response recoding recommendations provided in this study for the Acceptance measure, as they improved the measure's properties. The study provides potential solutions to item adequacy concerns, and avenues for future research, involving these measures.
Modelling bat distributions and diversity in a mountain landscape using focal predictors in ensemble of small models
Authors: Scherrer Daniel , Christe Philippe , Guisan Antoine
Published: February 2019

Aim

Bats are important components of mammalian biodiversity and strong bioindicators, but their fine‐scale distributions often remain less known than other taxa (e.g., plants, birds). Yet as highly mobile species with multiple needs in the landscape, bats impose serious modelling challenges, such as advanced use of neighbourhood analyses. The aims of this study were to test the use of a designed sampling of bats for biodiversity and conservation assessments, and to find appropriate modelling solutions for providing nature practitioners with reliable potential bat distribution maps in a mountain area of high conservation interest.

Location

The western Swiss Alps of Vaud.

Methods

We conducted a one‐year field survey combining passive acoustic recordings supplemented by mist net catching to collect data on bats. These data were then used to create univariate models with focal land use/cover variables using different focal window sizes to detect the optimal species‐specific scale of influence for each variable. The large number of selected variables was then used to create ensembles of small models at a 100 m × 100 m resolution, and the resulting habitat suitability maps were transformed into species distribution maps for practitioners.

Results

We were able to collect data to model 14 different bat species representing 66% of the Swiss bat diversity, including four red list species. In general, the most important variables were Euclidean distance to road or water, temperature and slope, but there was large variation among species both for the variable importance and for the optimal focal window size.

Main conclusion

Our study greatly increased the knowledge of bats in this region and showed that many of the red list species are nowadays disappearing from the intensively used lowland plains and restricted to the remaining forests along the slopes. Additionally, we highlighted the importance of selecting the variable scale on a species‐specific basis accounting for their mobility and range sizes.
Habitat overlap of juvenile and adult lake trout of Great Bear Lake: Evidence for lack of a predation gradient?
Authors: Chavarie Louise , Howland Kimberly L. , Harris Les N. , Hansen Mike J. , Gallagher Colin P. , Harford William J. , Tonn William M. , Muir Andrew M. , Krueger Charles C.
Published: February 2019

A range of organisms, from plankton to fish, commonly shift their habitat distributions horizontally or vertically due to predation risk. Juvenile lake trout,Salvelinus namaycush, are generally viewed as occupying deep areas of lakes to decrease predation pressure from adults. In contrast, we found that juvenile lake trout from Great Bear Lake, NT, Canada, occupied a variety of habitats and from shallow to deep depths (0–150 m), overlapping with adult lake trout. No evidence occurred for a length depth‐based segregation (e.g., ontogenetic shift). Genetic variation was also similar among juveniles in the different depth zones. However, isotopic niches and C:N ratios among juveniles showed some variability in niche widths and positions for individuals caught from the 51–150 m zone compared to juvenile individuals caught from 0–20 m and 21–50 m zones. The uniformly distributed adult lake trout in Great Bear Lake may evenly distribute predation pressure (including cannibalism) across shallow‐ and deep‐water habitats more than in other lakes. As a result, juveniles may respond to differences in foraging opportunities rather than predation risks. Juvenile lake trout did not appear to conform to the general pattern of juveniles seeking a deep‐water refuge to reduce predation risks. In contrast, juvenile lake trout of Great Bear Lake displayed broad resource use across all depths and habitats.
Curcumin reduces development of seizurelike events in the hippocampal‐entorhinal cortex slice culture model for epileptogenesis
Authors: Drion Cato M. , Kooijman Lieneke , Aronica Eleonora , van Vliet Erwin A. , Wadman Wytse J. , Chameau Pascal , Gorter Jan A.
Published: February 2019

Objective

Inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway could be antiepileptogenic in temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), possibly via anti‐inflammatory actions. We studied effects of the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and the anti‐inflammatory compound curcumin—also reported to inhibit the mTOR pathway—on epileptogenesis and inflammation in an in vitro organotypic hippocampal‐entorhinal cortex slice culture model.

Methods

Brain slices containing hippocampus and entorhinal cortex were obtained from 6‐day‐old rat pups and maintained in culture for up to 3 weeks. Rapamycin or curcumin was added to the culture medium from day 2 in vitro onward. Electrophysiological recordings revealed epileptiformlike activity that developed over 3 weeks.

Results

In week 3, spontaneous seizurelike events (SLEs) could be detected using whole cell recordings from CA1 principal neurons. The percentage of recorded CA1 neurons displaying SLEs was lower in curcumin‐treated slice cultures compared to vehicle‐treated slices (25.8% vs 72.5%), whereas rapamycin did not reduce SLE occurrence significantly (52%). Western blot for phosphorylated‐S6 (pS6) and phosphorylated S6K confirmed that rapamycin inhibited the mTOR pathway, whereas curcumin only lowered pS6 expression at one phosphorylation site. Real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction results indicated a trend toward lower expression of inflammatory markers IL‐1β and IL‐6 and transforming growth factor β after 3 weeks of treatment with rapamycin and curcumin compared to vehicle.

Significance

Our results show that curcumin suppresses SLEs in the combined hippocampal‐entorhinal cortex slice culture model and suggest that its antiepileptogenic effects should be further investigated in experimental models of TLE.
Transepidermal UV radiation of scalp skin ex vivo induces hair follicle damage that is alleviated by the topical treatment with caffeine
Authors: Gherardini Jennifer , Wegner Jeannine , Chéret Jérémy , Ghatak Sushmita , Lehmann Janin , Alam Majid , Jimenez Francisco , Funk Wolfgang , Böhm Markus , Botchkareva Natalia V. , Ward Chris , Paus Ralf , Bertolini Marta
Published: February 2019

Objectives

Although the effect of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) on human skin has been extensively studied, very little is known on how UVR impacts on hair follicle (HF) homeostasis. Here, we investigated how solar spectrum UVR that hits the human skin surface impacts on HF biology, and whether any detrimental effects can be mitigated by a widely used cosmetic and nutraceutical ingredient, caffeine.

Methods

Human scalp skin with terminal HFs was irradiated transepidermally ex vivo using either 10 J/cm2 UVA (340–440 nm) + 20 mJ/cm2 UVB (290–320 nm) (low dose) or 50 J/cm2 UVA + 50 mJ/cm2 UVB (high dose) and organ‐cultured under serum‐free conditions for 1 or 3 days. 0.1% caffeine (5.15 mmol/L) was topically applied for 3 days prior to UV exposure with 40 J/cm2 UVA + 40 mJ/cm2 UVB and for 3 days after UVR. The effects on various toxicity and vitality read‐out parameters were measured in defined skin and HF compartments.

Results

Consistent with previous results, transepidermal UVR exerted skin cytotoxicity and epidermal damage. Treatment with high and/or low UVA+UVB doses also induced oxidative DNA damage and cytotoxicity in human HFs. In addition, it decreased proliferation and promoted apoptosis of HF outer root sheath (ORS) and hair matrix (HM) keratinocytes, stimulated catagen development, differentially regulated the expression of HF growth factors, and induced perifollicular mast cell degranulation. UVR‐mediated HF damage was more severe after irradiation with high UVR dose and reached also proximal HF compartments. The topical application of 0.1% caffeine did not induce skin or HF cytotoxicity and stimulated the expression of IGF‐1 in the proximal HF ORS. However, it promoted keratinocyte apoptosis in selected HF compartments. Moreover, caffeine provided protection towards UVR‐mediated HF cytotoxicity and dystrophy, keratinocyte apoptosis, and tendential up‐regulation of the catagen‐promoting growth factor.

Conclusion

Our study highlights the clinical relevance of our scalp UV irradiation ex vivo assay and provides the first evidence that transepidermal UV radiation negatively affects important human HF functions. This suggests that it is a sensible prophylactic strategy to integrate agents such as caffeine that can act as HF photoprotectants into sun‐protective cosmeceutical and nutraceutical formulations.
Non‐nursing tasks as experienced by nurses: a descriptive qualitative study
Authors: Grosso S. , Tonet S. , Bernard I. , Corso J. , De Marchi D. , Dorigo L. , Funes G. , Lussu M. , Oppio N. , Pais dei Mori L. , Palese A.
Published: February 2019

Background

Different concepts have been used to date (e.g. non‐nursing tasks, organizational work) to define tasks performed by clinical nurses other than nursing care. However, the true essence of nursing work is still poorly understood mostly because nurses are lacking an appropriate lexicon to describe their practice.

Aims

To describe non‐nursing tasks as experienced by nurses, exploring antecedents and consequences as perceived in daily practice.

Methods

A descriptive qualitative study from 2015 to 2016. A purposeful sample of nurses was approached. Semi‐structured interviews were used, and content analysis was performed on audio‐recorded and verbatim‐transcribed interviews.

Findings

A total of 22 nurses participated, the majority of whom were female (16; 72.7%) and their average age was 42.6 years. The concept of ‘Non‐nursing tasks’ is limited in describing what nurses experience in daily practice; the concept of ‘Being out of the nursing role’ emerged as being fully descriptive of the nurses’ experience and this can occur in two dimensions: outside and inside the role of other healthcare professions. The first dimension includes administrative work separating nurses from patients. The second dimension was reported to happen in proximity to patients but in three different directions towards professions requiring: (a) less education (e.g. healthcare assistants), (b) the same amount of education at university level (e.g. physiotherapists), and (c) higher education at university level as compared to nurses, thus performing activities expected by physicians. Antecedents of ‘Being out of the nursing role’ have been identified at the organizational, individual and educational levels; their consequences have been reported at the patient, professional and organizational levels.

Conclusion

Nurses play various non‐nursing roles, below, above and in the horizontal levels, both inside and outside other healthcare professionals’ role, mainly as a result of their felt moral obligation to offer the best to their patients, the organization's demand to nurses and the imprinting of nursing education.

Implications for nursing/health policy

Strategies at the nursing professional and policy levels are needed aimed at (a) supporting nurses in optimizing their professional identity, (b) sharing their sense of moral obligation towards patients with other healthcare professionals, and (c) implementing models of care based on interprofessional cooperation.
Examining carry‐over effects of winter habitat on breeding phenology and reproductive success in prairie warblers Setophaga discolor
Authors: Akresh Michael E. , King David I. , Marra Peter P.
Published: February 2019

Winter habitat quality can influence breeding phenology and reproductive success of migratory birds. Using stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) from bird claws and red blood cells collected in Massachusetts, USA, we assessed if winter habitat occupancy carried over to affect prairie warbler Setophaga discolor breeding arrival dates, body condition upon arrival, pairing success, first‐egg dates and reproductive success. In two of three years (in 2011 and 2012, but not in 2013), after‐second‐year (ASY) males wintering in drier habitat, as indicated by enriched δ13C values, arrived later on the breeding grounds. Based on the North Atlantic Oscillation index, there was likely less rainfall in the Caribbean wintering grounds during the winters of 2011 and 2012 compared to the winter of 2013, suggesting increased winter rainfall in 2013 may have diminished the influence of winter habitat occupancy on arrival date. We did not find any effects of winter habitat on breeding season phenomena for second‐year (SY) males or females, but our sample sizes for these age/sex classes were relatively low. Although winter habitat quality influenced arrival dates of ASY males, there was no evidence that it affected reproductive performance, perhaps because of high rates of nest depredation in our system. Our study adds to a growing body of research that shows the influence of carry‐over effects can differ among species and within populations, and also can be modulated by other environmental conditions. This information enriches our understanding of the role of carry‐over effects in population limitation for migratory birds.
HnRNPL inhibits the osteogenic differentiation of PDLCs stimulated by SrCl2 through repressing Setd2
Authors: Jia Xiaoshi , Miron Richard J. , Yin Chengcheng , Xu Hudi , Luo Tao , Wang Jiwei , Jia Rong , Wu Min , Zhang Yufeng , Li Yuhong
Published: February 2019

Osteoporosis has been shown to intensify bone loss caused by periodontitis and both share common risk factors. One strategy utilized to manage the disease has been via the release of Sr ions by Strontium Ranelate having a direct effect on preventing osteoclast activation and promoting osteoblast differentiation. Previously we have developed and characterized porous Sr‐mesoporous bioactive glass (Sr‐MBG) scaffolds and demonstrated their ability to promote periodontal regeneration when compared to MBG alone. Our group further discovered a splicing factor, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein L (hnRNPL), was drastically down‐regulated in periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLCs) stimulated by Sr through the activation of AKT pathway. Furthermore, hnRNPL restrained the osteogenic differentiation of PDLCs through down‐regulating H3K36me3‐specific methyltransferase Setd2. The goal of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of periodontal regeneration stimulated by Sr It was first found that the epigenetic mechanism of splicing factor hnRNPL participated in the osteogenesis processing of PDLCs stimulated by SrCl2. Meanwhile, the different role of hnRNPL and SET domain containing 2 (Setd2) may provide some implication of the treatment of periodontitis patients simultaneously suffering from osteoporosis.
Long‐term efficacy of ixekizumab in erythrodermic and generalized pustular psoriasis patients
Authors: Egawa G. , Honda T. , Kabashima K.
Published: February 2019

Linked article: This is a commentary on Y. Okubo et al., pp. 325–332 in this issue. To view this article visit https://doi.org/10.1111/jdv.15287.
An environmental (pre)history of European fishing: past and future archaeological contributions to sustainable fisheries
Authors: Barrett James H.
Published: February 2019

This paper explores the past and potential contribution of archaeology to marine historical ecology. The primary focus is European fishing of marine and diadromous taxa, with global comparisons highlighting the wider applicability of archaeological approaches. The review illustrates how study of excavated fish bones, otoliths and shells can inform our understanding of: (a) changes in biogeography, including the previous distribution of lost species; (b) long‐term fluctuations in the aquatic environment, including climate change; (c) the intensity of exploitation and other anthropogenic effects; (d) trade, commodification and globalisation. These issues are also relevant to inform fisheries conservation and management targets. Equally important, the long (pre)history of European fishing raises awareness of our ecological heritage debt, owed for centuries of wealth, sustenance and well‐being, and for which we share collective responsibility. This debt represents both a loss and a reason for optimism, insofar as it is a reservoir of potential to be filled by careful stewardship of our rivers, lakes, seas and oceans.
The genetic population structure and temporal genetic stability of gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata populations in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, using microsatellite DNA markers
Authors: Gkagkavouzis Konstantinos , Karaiskou Nikoleta , Katopodi Theodora , Leonardos Ioannis , Abatzopoulos Theodore J. , Triantafyllidis Alexander
Published: February 2019

We examined 662 gilthead sea bream Sparus aurata from wild samples of the species in the Aegean and Ionian Seas, using 20 EST‐linked microsatellite markers, in three multiplex panels, as well as seven anonymous loci. Most of the markers were revealed to be highly polymorphic. We found low genetic differentiation between the sampling stations/areas with total FST 0.002 (P < 0.05). Based on comparison of five temporal samples, our results indicate genetic data consistency over time for all tested samples, pointing to stable populations, despite reported repeated escape events. Our results confirm the genetic population structure previously observed in these specific areas, using by far more markers than in previous studies in both coding and non‐coding DNA loci. The limited genetic structure and the temporal genetic stability indicate neither major genetic differentiation of local populations by geographic isolation nor influence from anthropogenic factors. These results provide a baseline for future reference in any management programme of both wild and farmed population of S. aurata as well as of other aquaculture species with a potential introgression among farmed and wild populations.