bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ciliate species from tank-less bromeliads in a dry tropical forest and their geographical distribution in the Neotropics
Authors: DURÁN-RAMÍREZ CARLOS ALBERTO , MAYÉN-ESTRADA ROSAURA
Published: October 2018

The study of ciliate diversity in tropical environments remains scarce. In Neotropical forests, bromeliads are a common component of the vascular flora; bromeliads with tank morphology intercept rain water and detritus, resulting in the formation of a phytotelm, where heterotrophic protist communities like ciliates can establish. However, it is not known if ciliates inhabit tank-less bromeliads. For this reason, the goal of the present study was to investigate if ciliates can establish between the leaf axils of five terrestrial and epiphytic tank-less bromeliad species in a dry tropical forest in west Mexico. We collected samples of rain water and detritus from the leaf axils during the humid season of years 2015 and 2016. For ciliate taxonomical identification, we used optical microscopy, in vivo observation, and silver impregnation techniques. To summarize information about geographical distribution of ciliates identified at species level in the Neotropics, we provided their records from previous works, at country level with locality and georeferenciation. We recorded 27 taxa of ciliates, where the class Oligohymenophorea contained the largest richness of taxa. Drepanomonas revoluta, Leptopharynx bromeliophilus, and Tetrahymena sp. were recorded from all the species of bromeliads. Bromelia karatas was the species that hosted the largest number of ciliate taxa (22). Our results indicated that Glaucomides bromelicola, Gonostomum bromelicola, Leptopharynx bromelicola and L. bromeliophilus, species which are considered endemic to tank bromeliads, can also inhabit tank-less bromeliads. We provided previous records of 19 ciliate species from eleven countries within the Neotropical region, and Bromeliothrix metopoides was the species most frequently recorded in Neotropical countries (9). Therefore, tank-less bromeliads can constitute a temporal habitat for ciliates, and function as cysts reservoirs in environments with a pronounced seasonality like dry tropical forests.
Are the monophlebid genera Drosichoides Morrison and Buchnericoccus Reyne synonyms? (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Monophlebidae)
Authors: WU BO-WEN , WU SAN-AN
Published: October 2018

The morphology of the adult male of Drosichoides ?haematoptera (Cockerell) is redescribed and illustrated and the adult female of Buchnericoccus sp. (Hemiptera: Monophlebidae) is also described and illustrated. These male and female specimens perhaps are conspecific. Genus Buchericoccus Reyne may be a junior synonym of genus Drosichoides Morrison.
Observations of Breaking Waves and Energy Dissipation in Modulated Wave Groups
Authors: Wang David W. , Wijesekera Hemantha W.
Published: October 2018

It has been recognized that modulated wave groups trigger wave breaking and generate energy dissipation events on the ocean surface. Quantitative examination of wave-breaking events and associated turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) dissipation rates within a modulated wave group in the open ocean is not a trivial task. To address this challenging topic, a set of laboratory experiments was carried out in an outdoor facility, the Oil and Hazardous Material Simulated Environment Test Tank (203 m long, 20 m wide, 3.5 m deep). TKE dissipation rates at multiple depths were estimated directly while moving the sensor platform at a speed of about 0.53 m s−1 toward incoming wave groups generated by the wave maker. The largest TKE dissipation rates and significant whitecaps were found at or near the center of wave groups where steepening waves approached the geometric limit of waves. The TKE dissipation rate was O(10−2) W kg−1 during wave breaking, which is two to three orders of magnitude larger than before and after wave breaking. The enhanced TKE dissipation rate was limited to a layer of half the wave height in depth. Observations indicate that the impact of wave breaking was not significant at depths deeper than one wave height from the surface. The TKE dissipation rate of breaking waves within wave groups can be parameterized by local wave phase speed with a proportionality breaking strength coefficient dependent on local steepness. The characterization of energy dissipation in wave groups from local wave properties will enable a better determination of near-surface TKE dissipation of breaking waves.
Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Persist in Tissue-Engineered Vocal Fold Replacement in Rabbits
Authors: Goel Alexander N. , Gowda Bhavani S. , Veena Mysore S. , Shiba Travis L. , Long Jennifer L.
Published: October 2018

Objectives:

Cell therapies using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been proposed as a promising new tool for the treatment of vocal fold scarring. However, the mechanisms by which MSCs promote healing as well as their duration of survival within the host vocal fold have yet to be defined. The aim of this work was to assess the persistence of embedded MSCs within a tissue-engineered vocal fold mucosal replacement in a rabbit model of vocal fold injury.

Methods:

Male rabbit adipose-derived MSCs were embedded within a 3-dimensional fibrin gel, forming the cell-based outer vocal fold replacement. Four female rabbits underwent unilateral resection of vocal fold epithelium and lamina propria and reconstruction with cell-based outer vocal fold replacement implantation. Polymerase chain reaction and fluorescent in situ hybridization for the sex-determining region of the Y chromosome (SRY-II) in the sex-mismatched donor-recipient pairs sought persistent cells after 4 weeks.

Results:

A subset of implanted male cells was detected in the implant site at 4 weeks. Many SRY-II-negative cells were also detected at the implant site, presumably representing native female cells that migrated to the area. No SRY-II signal was detected in contralateral control vocal folds.

Conclusions:

The emergent tissue after implantation of a tissue-engineered outer vocal fold replacement is derived both from initially embedded adipose-derived stromal cells and infiltrating native cells. Our results suggest this tissue-engineering approach can provide a well-integrated tissue graft with prolonged cell activity for repair of severe vocal fold scars.
One step up and two steps back? The Italian debate on secularization, heteronormativity and LGBTQ citizenship
Authors: Bellè Elisa , Peroni Caterina , Rapetti Elisa
Published: October 2018

The aim of this article is to furnish insights of the Italian public debate on the recognition of LGBTQ rights, which can be understood as an interesting case study of the complex relationship between (multi)secularisation processes and re/definition of citizenship models. More specifically, the article analyses two political events related to this debate that took place in Rome in June 2015. The first is the Family Day demonstration, promoted by conservative Catholic groups; the second is the LGBTQ Pride parade, promoted by various gay, lesbian and transsexual/gender associations. We analyse the official statements issued by the two organising committees of the demonstrations, adopting the framework and methods of the Critical Discourse Analysis. Above and beyond an evident political conflict between the two discourses, we try to shed light on their mutual construction on the basis of what we call ‘naturalization’ and ‘universalization’ processes.
Le Département de Statistique de Ia Conférence des Religieux du Brésil
Authors: Menezes M. M.
Published: October 2018

Quand Pie XII, soucieux de promouvoir l'organisation des forces de l'Eglise, lança le plan des Conferences nationales, le Bresil y adhera avec empressement. Ainsi, en fevrier 1954, on organisa le premier Congrès national des Religieux. En vue de marquer l'intérêt qu'elle portait a ce Congrès, Rome s'y fit repré-senter par le Secretaire de la Sacrée Congregation des Religieux, le R.P. Arcadio Larraona. Le Congrès réunit pres de deux mille religieux, grace au fichier de sa Section de statistique qui permit a la Commission executive de se mettre en rapport avec toutes les maisons religieuses du pays. La Section de statistique presenta aussi, sous forme de graphiques et de cartogrammes, quelques donnees statistiques se référant à l'organisation et à l'activité des religieux. Le public eut ainsi la surprise de decouvrir l'existence de quarante-huit congrégations religieuses feminines, fondées au Bresil, dont quelques-unes très florissantes. En outre, des cartes où figuraient les divisions ecclésiastiques du Bresil, donnerent la possibilité de connaître exactement les limites des dioceses qui, jusque la, n'etaient guere connues que de façon empirique.
Residential relocation and the remaking of socialist workers through state-facilitated urban redevelopment in Chengdu, China
Authors: Yang Qinran , Ley David
Published: October 2018

This article discusses the unevenness in the social effects of state-facilitated urban redevelopment in China by examining the social transformation experienced by the housing class of socialist workers in two inner-city redevelopment projects in Chengdu. After government compensation schemes, former public tenants and subsidised owners associated with socialist work-units are far more privileged through cash compensation or relocation in new self-owned apartments than two other housing classes – migrant tenants and homeowners of commodity or rural housing – impacted by the same urban redevelopment. The objective and subjective transformation of socialist workers during the process of resettlement are examined from field interviews, with their status changing from welfare recipients in danwei compounds to proprietors in new gated communities. We conclude that state-facilitated urban redevelopment in the Chinese city is interdependent with, and mutually reinforced by, state-led working-class transformation in market society, so as to balance the two critical national objectives of economic growth and social stability. State dominance in conferring variable opportunities via launching unequal housing trajectories among social groups determines the significant disparity of impacts from urban redevelopment in China.
Medical Marijuana Laws and Marijuana Use Among U.S. Adolescents: Evidence From Michigan Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Data
Authors: Chen Xinguang , Yu Bin , Stanton Bonita , Cook Robert L. , Chen Ding-Geng(Din) , Okafor Chukwuemeka
Published: October 2018

Research findings are inconsistent regarding a positive association between the passage of state medical marijuana laws (MML) and the adolescent access and the use of marijuana. We utilized a novel analytical approach to examine this issue with multiyear data from the 1997–2013 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System of the State of Michigan. After controlling for the historically declining trend in marijuana use prior to the passages of MML in Michigan, we found that marijuana use among adolescents had increased subsequent to the passage of state MML. The study findings suggest the need for considering the increased risk of marijuana use in adolescents, as more states have implemented laws permitting marijuana use.
Comparing Greece and Portugal: Common employment trajectories but divergent outcomes?
Authors: Kougias Konstantinos G
Published: October 2018

The author investigates the implementation of labour policy reforms as part of the rescue programmes adopted in Greece and Portugal during the Great Recession. Both countries were strongly pressurized to reform their labour markets. However, while the content of policies was the same the changes then followed different pathways. Rather than considering path dependency and convergence as mutually exclusive, in this article the author contends that the concepts interact with each other and forge particular policy outcomes. Looking through the lens of a ‘contingent divergence’, it is argued that while the rescue programmes suggest a common policy trajectory of neoliberalism determining the content of policies, variation in the political ownership of the reform programmes and the subsequent disparity in reform implementation, government approaches to social dialogue, public policy choices and programme design faults have played their part in the diverse policy outcomes. Considering this, path dependence pressures account for divergence, while the common direction of the reforms defines the field within which the former takes place.
Perceived employability among foreign-born employees, before and during crisis
Authors: Wallinder Ylva
Published: October 2018

This article investigates the subjective prospects of job mobility via the perceived employability for different groups of employees. Based on comparative data from 2004 and 2010 for 16 European countries, the study explores whether perceived employability varies depending on country of birth. Furthermore, this study examines the influence of country-level factors on perceived employability. The analyses show that compared to native-born employees, foreign-born employees generally demonstrate a more positive view of their possibilities to find a new position that is similar to or better than the current one. Given that previous research indicates a rather negative de facto labour market outcome for foreign-borns compared to native-borns, the results of this study show that the foreign-borns’ self-estimation most likely differs from their expected labour market outcomes. Furthermore, these overall results are influenced by the strictness of employment protection legislation, the level of competition for qualified positions, and the general economic conditions.
Quality‐of‐Life Outcomes following Surgical Treatment of Ménière's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta‐analysis
Authors: Ballard Daniel P. , Sukato Daniel C. , Timashpolsky Alisa , Babu Seilesh C. , Rosenfeld Richard M. , Hanson Matthew
Published: October 2018

Objective

Several surgical interventions are offered to patients with Ménière's disease (MD) who fail medical management. Although outcomes have historically been reported according to American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery guidelines, patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) are increasingly used to evaluate treatments. This study reviews PROMs used to assess surgical treatments for MD and compares the effect of each intervention based on PROM scores.

Data Sources

PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science.

Review Methods

This is a systematic review and meta‐analysis of English‐language studies that reported PROMs for surgical treatments of MD. Two independent investigators assessed study eligibility, rated the quality using Methodological Index for Non‐Randomized Studies (MINORS), and abstracted data for comparative analysis. A random‐effects model was used for meta‐analysis of pooled data.

Results

Of 148 unique studies identified, 11 satisfied inclusion criteria. The Ménière's Disease Outcome Questionnaire (MDOQ) was the most commonly used survey. Interventions included intratympanic gentamicin, vestibular nerve section, endolymphatic sac surgery, and labyrinthectomy. Pooled analysis of 8 studies that used the MDOQ instrument demonstrated statistically significant improvements in quality of life but did not identify a difference between destructive and nondestructive procedures.

Conclusion

Although our review shows significant improvements in PROM scores for both destructive and nondestructive interventions, there was no significant difference noted between treatment types. We cannot draw conclusions regarding the comparative effectiveness of specific interventions, and the results do not account for placebo effects or the natural history of the disease. Further investigation with randomized controlled trials should be considered in future studies.
Geographies of waste: Conceptual vectors from the Global South
Authors: Millington Nate , Lawhon Mary
Published: October 2018

Geographies of waste, which include examination of its flows and politics, have demonstrated empirical differences and contrasting approaches to researching waste in the Global North and South. Southern waste geographies have largely focused on case studies of informality and (neoliberal) governance. We draw on Southern theory to argue that this focus can be productively extended through greater consideration of the production of value and the role of materiality and technology in the wastescape. We argue that a relational understanding of multiscalar wastescapes contributes insights into the distribution of costs and benefits as well as what enables and constrains the extraction of value for different actors.
Tolerance and Indifference Bands in Regret–Rejoice Choice Models: Extension to Market Segmentation in the Context of Mode Choice Behavior
Authors: Jang Sunghoon , Rasouli Soora , Timmermans Harry
Published: October 2018

Random regret minimization models (RRMs), based on seminal work in regret theory, have been introduced into transportation research as an alternative to expected/random utility models. With ample applications in diverse choice contexts, the RRMs have been extended to include the effect of “rejoice,” the counterpart of the emotion of regret. The fundamental assumption of regret–rejoice models is that when the chosen alternative is inferior to non-chosen alternatives with respect to an attribute, individuals feel regret; otherwise, if the chosen alternative is superior to non-chosen alternatives, individuals rejoice. The regret and rejoice functions are assumed to be continuous in attribute differences. However, individuals may tolerate small attribute differences when judging regret and be indifferent to small differences when assessing rejoice. This paper therefore introduces tolerance and indifference bands in random regret–rejoice choice models, and compares the performance of these models against the performance of the original models. Furthermore, it is assumed that tolerance and indifference bands differ by trip purpose. Empirical results testify to the better performance of the models with the tolerance and indifference bands, and show that trip purpose is an important factor affecting tolerance and indifference bands.
Role of Route Optimization in Benefiting Winter Maintenance Operations
Authors: Miller Tyler , Gleichert Ben , Crabtree Hiram , Hendershot Jamie , Nuveman Rod , Schneider William
Published: October 2018

For winter maintenance purposes, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) deploys a fleet of approximately 1,600 snowplow trucks that maintain 43,000 lane miles of roadway. These trucks are based out of 200 garages, yards, and outposts that also house a combined total of 650,000 tons of salt. The deployment of such a large number of trucks over a vast maintenance area creates an operational problem in determining the optimal maintenance routes and fleet size. Traditionally, ODOT has used county borders as maintenance boundaries for ODOT garages. However, by removing these borders and optimizing the snowplow routes, ODOT may benefit from significant time and cost savings. The results of this project provide ODOT a tool to determine the minimum number of trucks needed to maintain the necessary roadways within Districts 1, 2, and 10. In addition, the project recommends to ODOT a tool to assign assets to specific facilities and the most optimal routes for each truck in a district. This research indicates the possibility of reducing the fleet size within Districts 1, 2, and 10 by a total of 29 trucks while maintaining the same level of service. Apart from fleet size reduction, the route optimization can decrease the amount of time in which to treat each road in the three districts by 17 hours for one iteration.
Modeling Airport Business Risks, Enplanement Volatility, and Valuation of Flexibility Options in Airport Expansion Projects
Authors: Karaca Ilker
Published: October 2018

Airport capital improvement programs involve considerable flexibility in investment timing and engineering design. Even though the valuation of flexibility options may depend on several factors, the volatility of future airport activity levels, which largely defines the business risk for airport operators, makes up the focus of the present paper. As such, the paper proposes a model that can be used to value two types of flexibility options common in airport expansion projects. The first type of option—flexibility in investment timing decisions—creates value by conditioning capacity expansion decisions on trends in airport activity levels. The second, flexibility in engineering design, permits operators to influence their demand composition and to reconfigure airport facilities if their business environment changes unfavorably. A Monte Carlo simulation example also demonstrates the application of the proposed valuation model. The results show that flexibility options add economic value by reducing downside exposures and by providing the ability to increase capacity if enplanements stay on a rising trajectory. Moreover, the paper provides a comparison of enplanement growth rates by airport size for the largest 140 U.S. airports from 1990 to 2016. The analysis shows that medium airports may be uniquely positioned to benefit the most from flexible design approaches. For these airports, results imply higher exposures to excess capacity risks because of the increased persistence of losses, despite the higher year-on-year volatility of small airports.
Effects of manufacturing parameters on performance of fluidic oscillators for aerodynamic flow control
Authors: Jhaveri V , DeSalvo M , Glezer A , Colton J
Published: October 2018

An investigation is conducted into the effects of dimensional variation, material selection, and manufacturing process on the performance characteristics of a self-oscillating fluidic oscillator. Measurements of oscillation frequency, inlet pressure, and jet profile are performed for actuators having varying nozzle and cavity dimensions. Actuators made of aluminum and carbon fiber reinforced polyetherketoneketone are tested, and the effects of varying manufacturing processes between machining, selective laser sintering, stereolithography, and injection molding are assessed. Models based on dimensionless variables are used to characterize the variation in frequency and inlet pressure for a given mass flow rate. Variation of the nozzle geometry and cavity shoulder width influence the oscillation frequency, and variation of nozzle geometry affects the required driving pressure. Dimensional variations due to manufacturing process tolerances are found to affect actuator performance characteristics, while material selection alone does not affect, provided manufacturing to the required tolerances is possible.
Design and dynamic analysis of landing gear system in vertical takeoff and vertical landing reusable launch vehicle
Authors: Zhang Ming , Xu Dafu , Yue Shuai , Tao Haifeng
Published: October 2018

Landing gear system is a key part of the implementation of reusable vertical takeoff and vertical landing launch vehicle, where its buffing performance is directly related to the vehicle whether it can land safely or stably. According to the reusable launch vehicle general scheme, outrigger landing legs are designed, and the hydraulic absorber is used for the landing gear system. Meanwhile, a scaling principle prototype of landing gear system is developed, and the landing impact test is carried out. A dynamic simulation model of the landing vehicle has been set up, researching the influence of parameters, such as the horizontal velocity, initial inclination, surface friction coefficient, and pitch angular velocity on the landing performance. Four kinds of extreme conditions are identified, and dynamic response characteristics of landing system under each extreme condition are conducted. The simulation results are in good agreement with the experimental data. The buffing performance of the vehicle meets the design requirements, which provides a reference for the design of landing gear system of the vehicle.
Enhanced Effect of Tendon Stem/Progenitor Cells Combined With Tendon-Derived Decellularized Extracellular Matrix on Tendon Regeneration
Authors: Song Haixin , Yin Zi , Wu Tao , Li Yangzheng , Luo Xun , Xu Mingzhu , Duan Lihong , Li Jianhua
Published: October 2018

Decellularized extracellular matrices have been clinically used for tendon regeneration. However, only a few systematic studies have compared tendon stem/progenitor cells to mesenchymal stromal cells on the tendon-derived decellularized matrix. In the present study, we prepared extracellular matrix derived from porcine tendons and seeded with tendon stem/progenitor cells, embryonic stem cell-derived mesenchymal stromal cells or without stem cells. Then we implanted the mixture (composed of stem cells and scaffold) into the defect of a rat Achilles tendon. Next, 4 weeks post-surgery the regenerated tendon tissue was collected. Histological staining, immunohistochemistry, determination of collagen content, transmission electron microscopy, and biomechanical testing were performed to evaluate the tendon structure and biomechanical properties. Our study collectively demonstrated that decellularized extracellular matrix derived from porcine tendons significantly promoted the regeneration of injured tendons when combined with tendon stem/progenitor cells or embryonic stem cell-mesenchymal stromal cells. Compared to embryonic stem cell-mesenchymal stromal cells, tendon stem/progenitor cells combined with decellularized matrix showed more improvement in the structural and biomechanical properties of regenerated tendons in vivo. These findings suggest a promising strategy for functional tendon tissue regeneration and further studies are warranted to develop a functional tendon tissue regeneration utilizing tendon stem/progenitor cells integrated with a tendon-derived decellularized matrix.
Nothing and Everything: Fibromyalgia as a Diagnosis of Exclusion and Inclusion
Authors: Boulton Tiffany
Published: October 2018

The diagnostic process promises a label that validates patients’ embodied experiences and a road map for living with and treating illness. Drawing on 31 qualitative interviews with women and men in Canada and the United Kingdom who have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia (FM), in this article, I examine the participants’ experiences of the diagnostic process and how they feel about receiving this label. The interviews reflect that the FM label is plagued by uncertainty because the diagnosis is based on the absence of verifiable pathology. The respondents’ narratives also reveal that FM is a vague diagnosis that includes a multitude of symptoms, overlaps with several other diagnoses, and results in feelings of doubt regarding whether it is the correct label. Thus, the participants’ narratives reflect that the FM diagnosis is largely an empty promise because it fails to provide definitive answers or confer meaning and legitimacy to their illness experiences.
Educational Attainment and Perceived Need for Urgent Care
Authors: Finch Brian K. , Haas Ann , Haviland Amelia M. , Dembosky Jacob W. , Gaillot Sarah , Elliott Marc N.
Published: October 2018

While lower educational attainment is associated with worse health status, education may also affect one’s ability to identify need for urgent care. Using data from the 2010 Medicare CAHPS survey, we estimated multivariate logistic models to test the relationship between self-reported educational attainment and the perceived need for urgent care, controlling for health status and other factors. As expected, lower educational attainment was associated with greater reported need for urgent care in bivariate analyses because of poorer health. However, lower educational attainment was associated with less perceived need for urgent care after controlling for health status, particularly for those in poor health. These findings suggest the need for interventions to improve the likelihood that people with less education recognize the need for urgent care, particularly those in poor health and in most need of urgent care.
A Primer on Electroencephalography and Event-Related Potentials for Organizational Neuroscience
Authors: Tivadar Ruxandra I. , Murray Micah M.
Published: October 2018

Electroencephalography (EEG) was the first of the noninvasive brain measures in neuroscience. Technical advances over the last 100 years or so have rendered EEG a true brain imaging technique. Here, we provide an accessible primer on the biophysics of EEG, on measurement aspects, and on the analysis of EEG data. We use the example of event-related potentials (ERPs), although the issues apply equally to other varieties of EEG signals, and provide an overview of analytic methods at the base of the so-called electrical neuroimaging framework. We detail the interpretational strengths of electrical neuroimaging for organizational researchers and describe some domains of ongoing technical developments. We likewise emphasize practical considerations with the use of EEG in more real-world settings. This primer is intended to provide organizational researchers specifically, and novices more generally, an access point to understanding how EEG may be applied in their research.
Nicotinamide’s Ups and Downs: Consequences for Fertility, Development, Longevity and Diseases of Poverty and Affluence
Authors: Williams Adrian C , Hill Lisa J
Published: October 2018

Aims and Scope:

To further explore the role of dietary nicotinamide in both brain development and diseases, particularly those of ageing. Articles cover neurodegenerative disease and cancer. Also discussed are the effects of nicotinamide, contained in meat and supplements and derived from symbionts, on the major transitions of disease and fertility from ancient times up to the present day. A key role for the tryptophan – NAD ‘de novo’ and immune tolerance pathway are discussed at length in the context of fertility and longevity and the transitions from immune paresis to Treg-mediated immune tolerance and then finally to intolerance and their associated diseases. Abstract: Nicotinamide in human evolution increased cognitive power in a positive feedback loop originally involving hunting. As the precursor to metabolic master molecule NAD it is, as vitamin B3, vital for health. Paradoxically, a lower dose on a diverse plant then cereal-based diet fuelled population booms from the Mesolithic onwards, by upping immune tolerance of the foetus. Increased tolerance of risky symbionts, whether in the gut or TB, that excrete nicotinamide co-evolved as buffers for when diet was inadequate. High biological fertility, despite disease trade-offs, avoided the extinction of Homo sapiens and heralded the dawn of a conscious, creative, and pro-fertility culture. Nicotinamide equity now would stabilise populations and prevent NAD-based diseases of poverty and affluence.
Fundamental investigation of solid waste generation and disposal behaviour in higher education institute in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Authors: Saleem Muhammad , Blaisi Nawaf I. , Alshamrani Othman Subhi D. , Al-Barjis Abdulaziz
Published: October 2018

Waste characterization is a fundamental step for the development of solid waste management plan. In this regard, understanding the waste generation and disposal patterns plays a crucial role in developing realistic waste reduction strategies. Presently, there exists no solid waste management plan for higher education institutes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Hence, this article details the fundamental study related to the waste generation and disposal behaviour. The study also dwells into the existing practices of solid waste management and sheds light on the new polices that can be adopted for waste reduction, along with highlighting barriers to optimization of solid waste management. Through investigation, it was found that by adopting E-learning system for examination and replacing paper towels with air dryers in washroom and by revising policy related to printing, considerable reduction in paper waste could be achieved. Furthermore, the adoption of the proposed sustainable drinking water solution led to 90% reduction in plastic pet bottle waste. The recommendations made by the presented investigation can be employed by other similar sized institutes in developing countries for the development of sustainable green campuses.
Penal power and border control: Which thesis? Sovereignty, governmentality, or the pre-emptive state?
Authors: Weber Leanne , McCulloch Jude
Published: October 2018

This article provides a critical review of key theoretical positions relevant to border control and sets out an agenda for developing these ideas. In 2005 Mythen and Walklate published a theoretical milestone for the study of terrorism in their article ‘Criminology and terrorism: Which thesis? Risk society or governmentality?’. Those authors reviewed two theories of risk, considering how each might contribute to understanding ‘new terrorism’. Inspired by ‘Which thesis?’ we review, contrast and compare three key theoretical contributions relevant to penology, criminology and border control: Stump’s ‘crimmigration’ thesis, Bosworth and Guild’s adaptation of the ‘new penology’ perspective, and Krasmann’s critique of Jakobs’ ‘enemy penology’ thesis. The article consolidates these important theoretical strands into one critical discussion, highlighting the growing relevance of the pre-crime literature to the study of borders, and signposting potential theoretical developments within border criminology that build on these foundations.
When does product brand matter to children?
Authors: Wang Fei , Li Shu
Published: October 2018

How children assess a product’s brand and other perceptual attributes is one of the primary issues of consumer socialization. To date, we know little about the age at which children begin to perceive product brand as a dominant feature compared with other perceptually salient product attributes. This critical point in the maturation of a child was examined in two studies of 7-, 9-, and 11-year-old children. In these studies, the children performed categorization tasks that were based on Chiu’s paradigm in the first study and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test in the second study. The results indicate that product brand did not matter to children until the age of 9 years. For the 9- and 11-year-old children, the product’s brand became the dominant feature in their product categorization compared with other perceptual attributes. We discuss the practical and theoretical implications of these results for child-oriented education and marketing.
Rethinking the market research curriculum
Authors: Nunan Daniel , Di Domenico MariaLaura
Published: October 2018

Addressing the challenge of aligning how market research is practiced and how it is taught has been a recurrent theme in the marketing education literature. Recently, the growth of digital marketing and new forms of customer data have disrupted many traditional aspects of marketing practice. Companies are increasingly able to collect data directly from their customers, via large technology firms or from specialist data providers. This has reduced the demand for the traditional fieldwork-based data collection that remains a core focus within the market research curricula. This article considers the past, present, and future role of market research education in the light of the changing practitioner environment. An audit of market research courses is carried out, weaknesses identified, and suggestions made to better align market research courses with evolving skills requirements. More broadly, the article challenges educators to evaluate the extent to which the marketing curriculum can respond to the disruptions brought by the emerging digital economy.
Do the Low WHRs and BMIs Judged Most Attractive Indicate Better Health?
Authors: Lassek William D. , Gaulin Steven J. C.
Published: October 2018

It is widely claimed that in well-nourished populations, very low female waist–hip ratios (WHRs) together with low body mass indices (BMIs) are judged attractive by men because these features reliably indicate superior health and fertility. However, studies show that mortality rates are higher in women with low BMIs than in women with average BMIs and are inversely related to BMI in subsistence populations. Measures of current health in women of reproductive age have not been similarly studied. We analyze large U.S. samples of reproductive-age women and show that controlling for other factors known to affect health, those with low BMIs (<20), WHRs, or waist/stature ratios did not have better health than those with values in the middle range, and there was no relationship between subsequent health outcomes and BMI in early adulthood. Lower self-reported BMIs were linked to poorer health and an increased risk of infection. However, based on recent U.S. natality data, primiparas with lower BMIs had a lower risk of an operative delivery and of gestational hypertension. Beyond these two parity-restricted effects, relevant studies and new tests fail to support the view that women with the very low BMIs and WHRs consistently judged attractive are generally healthier than women with average values; significant correlations were consistently in the opposite direction.
Effect of yarn type on moisture transfer characteristics of double-face knitted fabrics for active sportswear
Authors: Sathish Babu B , Senthil Kumar P , Senthil Kumar M
Published: October 2018

The properties of any clothing is decided by the constituent of its fibres, yarn and fabric structure. As clothing it should satisfy the wearer both in functional and aesthetic aspects. Thermal comfort is related to the temperature of the body and micro-environment between the fabric layer and the skin. The heat generated by the human body during strenuous activity must be dissipated to the external environment through the clothing. So the clothing worn next to skin should have the property of transferring the perspiration from the skin and to transfer the moisture to the atmosphere thus making the wearer to feel comfortable. Moisture transfer refers to the transfer of both moisture vapour and perspiration away from the body. The effect of yarn type on moisture transfer properties of double-face knitted fabrics has been studied with cotton, polypropylene, polyester, acrylic and nylon yarns. Four different double-face fabrics were produced using high-speed double circular knitting machine with inner layers as polypropylene, polyester, acrylic and nylon yarn and outer layer as cotton yarn. With respect to yarn type, 120 denier cotton and 120 denier polypropylene double-face knitted fabrics show better results for the moisture transfer characteristics as polypropylene has the ability to wick and transfer the moisture to the next layer of cotton in a faster way than the other three fabrics.
Information and Issue Constraints on Party Cues
Authors: Chong Dennis , Mullinix Kevin J.
Published: October 2018

Past research has found that citizens will support either side of a policy debate if their party endorses it, regardless of the policy details. Such results cast doubt on the electorate’s ability to direct and constrain public officials. Yet other studies find that people give priority to policy information in their decision-making. We hypothesize that the relative effects of party cues and policy details depend on the degree to which people can identify the ideological direction of a policy. Using a survey experiment, we show that for policies readily classified as liberal or conservative, preferences are less influenced by party cues than by policy details. Public policy information has the greatest impact on preferences relative to party cues when the information establishes the ideological direction of the policy by indicating the values at stake and the groups that will be helped or hurt by the policy. Information therefore is most impactful on policies that are ideologically ambiguous in the absence of policy details.
Contemporary Insights from Biblical Combat Veterans through the Lenses of Moral Injury and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Authors: Grimell Jan
Published: October 2018

This psychological exegesis reconsiders biblical characters through recent theories on moral injury and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The purposes of this article are to shed new light on these characters and to engage in conversations of what the findings may mean for pastoral care and their connections to theology. The findings include the proposal of four categorical types of combat veterans that illustrate the development of PTSD, resilience, moral injury, and unfaltering abidance to the warrior ethics.
Impact of a Clinical Trial in Two District Hospitals in Ghana: Perspectives of Ghanaian Researchers
Authors: Wilson Patrick T. , Giessler Katie , Morris Marilyn C.
Published: October 2018

Conducting clinical trials in resource-poor settings may contribute to local capacity building. We describe the perspectives of local research personnel regarding the impact of collaborating in a clinical trial in rural Ghana. Forty-six Ghanaian research personnel were eligible to complete an anonymous survey, and 35 (76%) participated. Of the 35 respondents, 32 (91%) agreed that future patients will benefit because the hospital was part of the study. All 35 respondents reported a personal benefit derived from study involvement, most commonly citing skills or knowledge gained. Of the 35 individuals, 21 reported one or more burdens, most commonly citing nonspecific research responsibilities. Our data support the hypothesis that participation in clinical trials can contribute to capacity building in district hospitals in a lower middle-income country.
Perceptions of Needs, Assets, and Priorities Among Black Men Who Have Sex With Men With HIV: Community-Driven Actions and Impacts of a Participatory Photovoice Process
Authors: Sun Christina J. , Nall Jennifer L. , Rhodes Scott D.
Published: October 2018

Black men who have sex with men (MSM) with HIV experience significant health inequities and poorer health outcomes compared with other persons with HIV. The primary aims of this study were to describe the needs, assets, and priorities of Black MSM with HIV who live in the Southern United States and identify actions to improve their health using photovoice. Photovoice, a participatory, collaborative research methodology that combines documentary photography with group discussion, was conducted with six Black MSM with HIV. From the photographs and discussions, primary themes of discrimination and rejection, lack of mental health services, coping strategies to reduce stress, sources of acceptance and support, and future aspirations emerged. After the photographs were taken and discussed, the participants hosted a photo exhibition and community forum for the public. Here, 37 community attendees and influential advocates collaborated with the participants to identify 12 actions to address the men’s identified needs, assets, and priorities. These included making structural changes in the legal and medical systems, encouraging dialogue to eliminate multiple forms of stigma and racism, and advocating for comprehensive care for persons with HIV. As a secondary aim, the impacts of photovoice were assessed. Participants reported enjoying photovoice and found it meaningful. Results suggest that in addition to cultivating rich community-based knowledge, photovoice may result in positive changes for Black MSM with HIV.
The way others move can influence what we choose
Authors: Forbes Paul AG , Suddell Steph F , Farmer Harry , Logeswaran Yanakan , Hamilton Antonia F de C
Published: October 2018

Whether pointing at a menu item or rifling through a clothes rack, when we choose we often move. We investigated whether people’s tendency to copy the movements of others could influence their choices. Participants saw pairs of pictures in private and indicated which one they preferred. They then entered a virtual art gallery and saw the same picture pairs in the presence of a virtual character. Having observed the virtual character point to indicate her preference with either a high or low movement trajectory, participants indicated their preference. There was either an anatomical (same movement, same choice) or spatial correspondence (same movement, different choice) between the participant’s pictures and those of the virtual character. We found that participants copied the movement made by the virtual character rather than her action goal (i.e., her choice of picture). This resulted in a shift towards the virtual character’s preferences in the anatomical condition but away from her preferences in the spatial condition. This effect was driven by the observation of the virtual character’s high pointing movements. In a further experiment, we did not find any significant differences in imitation behaviour in autism, although autistic participants were less consistent in their choices. Our findings demonstrate that we are not only influenced by other’s choices but also the types of movements others make to indicate those choices.
Effect of the combination of motor imagery and electrical stimulation on upper extremity motor function in patients with chronic stroke: preliminary results
Authors: Okuyama Kohei , Ogura Miho , Kawakami Michiyuki , Tsujimoto Kengo , Okada Kohsuke , Miwa Kazuma , Takahashi Yoko , Abe Kaoru , Tanabe Shigeo , Yamaguchi Tomofumi , Liu Meigen
Published: October 2018

Background:

The combination of motor imagery (MI) and afferent input with electrical stimulation (ES) enhances the excitability of the corticospinal tract compared with motor imagery alone or electrical stimulation alone. However, its therapeutic effect is unknown in patients with hemiparetic stroke. We performed a preliminary examination of the therapeutic effects of MI + ES on upper extremity (UE) motor function in patients with chronic stroke.

Methods:

A total of 10 patients with chronic stroke demonstrating severe hemiparesis participated. The imagined task was extension of the affected finger. Peripheral nerve electrical stimulation was applied to the radial nerve at the spiral groove. MI + ES intervention was conducted for 10 days. UE motor function as assessed with the Fugl–Meyer assessment UE motor score (FMA-UE), the amount of the affected UE use in daily life as assessed with a Motor Activity Log (MAL-AOU), and the degree of hypertonia in flexor muscles as assessed with the Modified Ashworth Scale (MAS) were evaluated before and after intervention. To assess the change in spinal neural circuits, reciprocal inhibition between forearm extensor and flexor muscles with the H reflex conditioning-test paradigm at interstimulus intervals (ISIs) of 0, 20, and 100 ms were measured before and after intervention.

Results:

UE motor function, the amount of the affected UE use, and muscle hypertonia in flexor muscles were significantly improved after MI + ES intervention (FMA-UE: p < 0.01, MAL-AOU: p < 0.01, MAS: p = 0.02). Neurophysiologically, the intervention induced restoration of reciprocal inhibition from the forearm extensor to the flexor muscles (ISI at 0 ms: p = 0.03, ISI at 20 ms: p = 0.03, ISI at 100 ms: p = 0.01).

Conclusion:

MI + ES intervention was effective for improving UE motor function in patients with severe paralysis.