bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Home Economics Teachers’ Perceptions of Facilitating and Inhibiting Factors When Teaching Sustainable Food Consumption
Authors: Gisslevik Emmalee , Wernersson Inga , Larsson Christel
Published: May 2018

The aim of the present study is to explore experienced home economics (HE) teachers’ perceptions of the influencing factors that condition their teaching opportunities regarding the revised mission to implement sustainable development (SD) in food-related education. Five purposefully selected HE teachers participated in individual, semi-structured, in-depth interviews. The recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative thematic analysis. The results show a shared view of in the importance of educating the next generation of sustainable food consumers. Teachers returned to specific influencing factors that conditioned their opportunities to implement a perspective of SD in HE food education. This generated four themes: (1) Unscheduled foodwork in preparing sustainable food education, (2) opportunities to link everyday food choices with larger food system issues, (3) access to sustainable supportive food products and materials, and (4) a school environment in support of food-related teaching. The teachers outlined a number of local and national factors perceived to inhibit access to facilitators and expressed a concern for pupils’ opportunities for quality assurance and goal achievement. The suggested influencing factors could serve as propositions for further investigations in the continued work of both resource reinforcements as well as of developing a SD perspective in food-related HE education.
The Impact of Ecological Restoration Projects in Dry Lands: Data-based Assessment and Human Perceptions in the Lower Reaches of Heihe River Basin, China
Authors: Zhou Tianyi , Akiyama Tomohiro , Horita Masahide , Kharrazi Ali , Kraines Steven , Li Jia , Yoshikawa Ken
Published: May 2018

Desertification is a critical environmental problem in China’s northwestern region. In this context, since the early 2000s, projects targeting ecological restoration have been implemented in the lower reaches of the Heihe River basin. Using multi-scale remote sensing data and field observations, this paper examines the outcomes of the ecological restoration projects. Specifically, this paper examines the vegetation change through remote sensing and local perceptions of the projects through semi-structured questionnaires. The results from remote sensing reveal that during the restoration projects, vegetation coverage in riparian areas of the lower reaches of the Heihe River basin increased. However, this increase cannot be simply equated with ecological recovery. Expansion of farmland and afforested areas have also contributed to the increase in vegetation coverage. Questionnaire results reveal that although locals perceived improvements in the ecological conditions of the lower reaches, most of them were more about future environmental changes. Additionally, results indicate that ecological restoration projects redistributed water resources in the local river reaches and, as a result, local residents living in riparian areas perceive greater benefit. Therefore, the implementation of the project may have actually negatively impacted the water accessibility of those living in the drier Gobi Desert areas.
Effects of Alternative Uses of Distillery By-Products on the Greenhouse Gas Emissions of Scottish Malt Whisky Production: A System Expansion Approach
Authors: Leinonen Ilkka , MacLeod Michael , Bell Julian
Published: May 2018

Agricultural by-products are an important component of livestock feed. In Scotland, distillery by-products are protein rich and traditionally cost competitive feed ingredients in cattle production. However, during recent years, distilleries in the UK (including Scotch whisky producers) have started to use the by-products also as a source of renewable energy, in order to reduce the carbon footprint of alcohol production. In this study, a systems-based material and energy flow analysis was performed to calculate the life-cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of whisky production for two scenarios where distillery by-products were used either (1) as beef cattle feed to replace other protein sources (namely soya bean meal and rapeseed meal); or (2) as anaerobic digester (AD) feedstock in order to generate renewable energy (heat and electricity). System expansion was used to quantitatively handle the by-products in the analysis. The results show that considerable reductions in GHG emissions could be achieved by either replacing feed crops with by-products or by using the by-products in AD plants to generate bio-energy. The biggest reductions in the GHG emissions were achieved when by-products were used to replace soya meal in animal feed. However, the results are highly sensitive to methodological choices, including the accounting method of the land use change emissions arising from soya production.
Electricity Market Creation in China: Policy Options from Political Economics Perspective
Authors: Lei Ni , Chen Lanyun , Sun Chuanwang , Tao Yuan
Published: May 2018

In 2015, a new round reform of the marketization for the electricity sales in China is launched. This paper investigates the policy selection for this reform in China, from the perspective of political economics. We analyze the policy selection of the 2015 reform from two aspects of market structure and pricing mechanism. According to the policy of the 2015 reform, China’s power industry is of great potential to develop the market structures of “integration of generation and retail services while integrating transmission and distribution” versus “integration of generation, distribution and retail services while independent of transmission”. Those two market structures have advantages on competition efficiency and political practicability. For the pricing mechanisms, the power exchange market of China can take bilateral contracts for the long-term trading and double-sided auctions for the short-term trading, as well as for the spot market. In addition, electricity financial market can be set up as a supplement for the power exchange market, which is of potential contribution to manage the risk and discover the effective price. The 2015, reform assigns two state-owned grid companies the responsibility of the demand side management. The intelligent system to improve the information management of energy consumption can be established. Utilization of renewable energy is also emphasized in the 2015 reform for energy sustainability in China. Effective policy instruments, such as the efficient subsidy policy, an independent exchange market, and a quota system, for the promotion of renewable energy utilization, can be implemented.
Using Systems Thinking to Understand and Enlarge Mental Models: Helping the Transition to a Sustainable World
Authors: Garrity Edward J.
Published: May 2018

Sustainability and climate change are massive global problems that stem from the industrial world’s relentless pursuit of growth. Transitioning to a sustainable world requires understanding citizen mental models and our addiction to short-term rewards. This paper uses causal loop diagramming (CLD) to describe the general, prevailing citizen viewpoint and to propose a wider mental model that takes the natural world and sustainability into account. The corporate profit model that depicts the wider view acknowledges and describes the important impacts and influences of political pressure on our social, economic, and ecological systems. Adopting the wider mental model can help the industrialized world design better policy to achieve both national and United Nations (UN) sustainable development goals.
Metabolites Identified during Varied Doses of Aspergillus Species in Zea mays Grains, and Their Correlation with Aflatoxin Levels
Authors: Falade Titilayo D. O. , Chrysanthopoulos Panagiotis K. , Hodson Mark P. , Sultanbawa Yasmina , Fletcher Mary , Darnell Ross , Korie Sam , Fox Glen
Published: May 2018

Aflatoxin contamination is associated with the development of aflatoxigenic fungi such as Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus on food grains. This study was aimed at investigating metabolites produced during fungal development on maize and their correlation with aflatoxin levels. Maize cobs were harvested at R3 (milk), R4 (dough), and R5 (dent) stages of maturity. Individual kernels were inoculated in petri dishes with four doses of fungal spores. Fungal colonisation, metabolite profile, and aflatoxin levels were examined. Grain colonisation decreased with kernel maturity: milk-, dough-, and dent-stage kernels by approximately 100%, 60%, and 30% respectively. Aflatoxin levels increased with dose at dough and dent stages. Polar metabolites including alanine, proline, serine, valine, inositol, iso-leucine, sucrose, fructose, trehalose, turanose, mannitol, glycerol, arabitol, inositol, myo-inositol, and some intermediates of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA—also known as citric acid or Krebs cycle) were important for dose classification. Important non-polar metabolites included arachidic, palmitic, stearic, 3,4-xylylic, and margaric acids. Aflatoxin levels correlated with levels of several polar metabolites. The strongest positive and negative correlations were with arabitol (R = 0.48) and turanose and (R = −0.53), respectively. Several metabolites were interconnected with the TCA; interconnections of the metabolites with the TCA cycle varied depending upon the grain maturity.
Prevalence of PNPLA1 Gene Mutation in 48 Breeding Golden Retriever Dogs
Authors: Graziano Lisa , Vasconi Mauro , Cornegliani Luisa
Published: May 2018

A non-epidermolytic ichthyosis has been identified in Golden Retrievers due to a variant in the PNPLA1 gene, and a genetic test is available to detect wild-type, heterozygous and homozygous dogs. The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence of the PNPLA1 gene variant in Golden Retrievers used for breeding and to provide more information to breeders in order to restrict the spread of this disease. Clinical examination and assessment of the PNPLA1 genotype using PCR testing of oral swabs were performed in 48 breeding Golden Retrievers. Wild-type, heterozygous or homozygous variants of the PNPLA1 gene were demonstrated in 10 (21%), 23 (48%), and 15 (31%) of the 48 dogs, respectively. In only 3 of the 48 dogs were clinical signs suggestive of ichthyosis identified. Data collected agreed with data reported in the literature. The high prevalence of homozygous and heterozygous variants makes the exclusion of mutated dogs from breeding impractical. Furthermore, the reliability of the PNPLA1 mutation in prediction of clinical signs of ichthyosis is unclear. Additional studies are needed to investigate if PNPLA1 is the only gene involved or if other genes and environmental factors have a role in the development of ichthyosis in Golden Retrievers.
Natural Perspective: Mapping Visual Space with Art and Science
Authors: Burleigh Alistair , Pepperell Robert , Ruta Nicole
Published: May 2018

Following its discovery in fifteenth-century Italy, linear perspective has often been hailed as the most accurate method of projecting three-dimensional visual space onto a two-dimensional picture plane. However, when we survey the history of European art it is evident that few artists fully complied with its mathematical rules, despite many of them being rigorously trained in its procedures. In this paper, we will consider how artists have actually depicted visual space, and present evidence that images created according to a “natural” perspective (NP) used by artists are judged as better representations of visual space than those created using standard linear (LP) and curvilinear fisheye (FP) projective geometries. In this study, we built a real three-dimensional scene and produced photographs of the scene in three different perspectives (NP, LP and FP). An online experiment in which we asked people to rank the perspectives in order of preference showed a clear preference for NP compared to the FP and LP. In a second experiment, participants were asked to view the real scene and rate each perspective on a range of psychological variables. Results showed that NP was the most preferred and the most effective in depicting the physical space naturally. We discuss the implications of these results and the advantages and limitations of our approach for studying the global metric and geometrical structure of visual space.
A Review on Applications of Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Water Resources and Flood Risk Management
Authors: Wang Xianwei , Xie Hongjie
Published: May 2018

Water is one of the most critical natural resources that maintain the ecosystem and support people’s daily life. Pressures on water resources and disaster management are rising primarily due to the unequal spatial and temporal distribution of water resources and pollution, and also partially due to our poor knowledge about the distribution of water resources and poor management of their usage. Remote sensing provides critical data for mapping water resources, measuring hydrological fluxes, monitoring drought and flooding inundation, while geographic information systems (GIS) provide the best tools for water resources, drought and flood risk management. This special issue presents the best practices, cutting-edge technologies and applications of remote sensing, GIS and hydrological models for water resource mapping, satellite rainfall measurements, runoff simulation, water body and flood inundation mapping, and risk management. The latest technologies applied include 3D surface model analysis and visualization of glaciers, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) video image classification for turfgrass mapping and irrigation planning, ground penetration radar for soil moisture estimation, the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) and the Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) satellite rainfall measurements, storm hyetography analysis, rainfall runoff and urban flooding simulation, and satellite radar and optical image classification for urban water bodies and flooding inundation. The application of those technologies is expected to greatly relieve the pressures on water resources and allow better mitigation of and adaptation to the disastrous impact of droughts and flooding.
Use of a Non-Ionic Water Surfactant in Lettuce Fertigation for Optimizing Water Use, Improving Nutrient Use Efficiency, and Increasing Crop Quality
Authors: Trinchera Alessandra , Baratella Valentina
Published: May 2018

The use of water surfactants in fertigation constitutes a viable approach to increase soil wetting, potentially improving crop nutrient uptake and quality. An in-field demonstration test was carried out by applying an innovative, eco-friendly, non-ionic surfactant to fertigation water in Lactuca sativa (var. Iceberg) production to increase nutrient use efficiency and improve the crop’s access to water. A non-ionic methyl-oxirane surfactant (methyl-oxirane + 2-methyl-oxirane) was added at an increasing rate to the fertigation solution (Hoagland). Upon harvesting, the main growth and nutritional parameters were determined on the aboveground and belowground portions of the lettuce. Leaf nitrate content, water, and nitrogen use efficiency were recorded; the relationship of lettuce aboveground dry biomass with nutrient uptake was evaluated using vectorial analysis; and ultrastructural analysis of lettuce roots was performed by scanning electron microscopy. The surfactant, applied by fertigation at the rate of 1.0 mL × LHoagland−1, improved crop P, K, Mn, and Fe use efficiency. When applied by fertigation, although the surfactant did not increase the water use efficiency index, it induced a significant decrease of the specific leaf water content (−8.8%) and an increase of the leaf area (+13.3%). By comparison with the recent literature, we inferred a positive physiological response by more expanded and less thick leaves in lettuce, likely by the optimization of the crop water and nutrient root uptakes mediated by the abundant but shortest lateral roots. This finding corresponded to the lowest leaf nitrate content, indicating an improvement of the lettuce quality without losing the crop yield.
Predicting declines in perceived relationship continuity using practice deprivation scores: a longitudinal study in primary care
Authors: Levene Louis S , Baker Richard , Walker Nicola , Williams Christopher , Wilson Andrew , Bankart John
Published: May 2018

Background

Increased relationship continuity in primary care is associated with better health outcomes, greater patient satisfaction, and fewer hospital admissions. Greater socioeconomic deprivation is associated with lower levels of continuity, as well as poorer health outcomes.

Aim

To investigate whether deprivation scores predicted variations in the decline over time of patient-perceived relationship continuity of care, after adjustment for practice organisational and population factors.

Design and setting

An observational study in 6243 primary care practices with more than one GP, in England, using a longitudinal multilevel linear model, 2012–2017 inclusive.

Method

Patient-perceived relationship continuity was calculated using two questions from the GP Patient Survey. The effect of deprivation on the linear slope of continuity over time was modelled, adjusting for nine confounding variables (practice population and organisational factors). Clustering of measurements within general practices was adjusted for by using a random intercepts and random slopes model. Descriptive statistics and univariable analyses were also undertaken.

Results

Relationship continuity declined by 27.5% between 2012 and 2017, and at all deprivation levels. Deprivation scores from 2012 did not predict variations in the decline of relationship continuity at practice level, after accounting for the effects of organisational and population confounding variables, which themselves did not predict, or weakly predicted with very small effect sizes, the decline of continuity. Cross-sectionally, continuity and deprivation were negatively correlated within each year.

Conclusion

The decline in relationship continuity of care has been marked and widespread. Measures to maximise continuity will need to be feasible for individual practices with diverse population and organisational characteristics.
Remarkable discovery of the Atlanto-Mediterranean moth Scythris ventosella Chrétien, 1907 at high altitude in the Alps of Valais, Switzerland – a possible relict of the late-glacial steppe-belt fauna? (Lepidoptera, Scythrididae)
Authors: Schmid Jürg
Published: May 2018

The unexpected discovery ofScythrisventosellaChrétien, 1907 in the Alps of Valais, Switzerland is reported. Early stages, life cycle and habitat characteristics are described. The unusual present-day distribution of this species is discussed and it is suggested that the population in the Valais Alps may represent a relict from the late-glacial steppe-belt fauna.
Comparative aspects of cricket farming in Thailand, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Kenya
Authors: Halloran A. , Megido R. Caparros , Oloo J. , Weigel T. , Nsevolo P. , Francis F.
Published: May 2018

Cricket farming can have a positive impact on rural development and rural economy in low- and middle-income countries. Moreover, crickets have the potential to address food and nutrition insecurity and promote food sovereignty through the promotion of local production and consumption. This paper presents and discusses five complementary studies conducted in Thailand, Cambodia, Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Kenya. Cricket farming is being promoted in these countries under research projects, public-private partnerships, NGOs and international organisations. In the majority of the countries, cricket farming is still in its infancy and research into how to improve cricket farming systems is still on-going. Cricket farming in Cambodia, Lao PDR, DRC and Kenya remains relatively limited, and many farmers are still a part of pilot projects. In each of the five regions, different cricket species have been a part of traditional diets. As discussed in this paper, many of the potential benefits of the production and consumption of crickets have not yet been realised in many cases due to: (1) lack of adequate support and awareness from stakeholders (especially government agencies); (2) unknown trade volumes; (3) high costs of inputs; and (4) cultural taboos. The information presented in this paper will be especially useful to stakeholders from governmental institutions, non-governmental organisations, civil society organisations and research institutions.
Epidemiology, Workload, and Performance of Major League Baseball Pitchers Placed on the Disabled List
Authors: Marshall Nathan E. , Jildeh Toufic R. , Okoroha Kelechi R. , Patel Ankur , Moutzouros Vasilios , Makhni Eric C.
Published: May 2018

There is limited information on the effect of pitcher workload, pitch type, and performance of Major League Baseball pitchers placed on the disabled list (DL). This study evaluated demographic, performance, workload, and injury data of 330 Major League Baseball pitchers with 454 injuries who were placed on the DL during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. Upper extremity, lower extremity, core, hip/groin, and other injuries were analyzed, and injury year data were compared with career data as well as against other injury groups. Upper extremity injuries represented 60% of injuries and a mean of 61.4 (SE, 2.6) days on the DL, while lower extremity and core injuries each represented 14% of all injuries. Players with upper extremity injuries returned to play the same season at the lowest rate (67.3%). Starters pitched more mean innings per game (5.31 vs 5.14 innings,
P
=.012) and threw more mean pitches per game (85.9 vs 82.4 pitches,
P
=.003) the year of injury compared with their career. There was a decrease in mean fastball velocity (92.2 vs 91.6 mph,
P
<.001) and percentage of fastballs thrown (60.3% vs 58.5%,
P
<.001) the year of injury for all injuries. The authors found that upper extremity injuries are the most common, require the most time on the DL, and have the lowest same season return to play rate. Starters pitched significantly more innings and threw more pitches during the year of injury. Pitchers were found to have a decrease in fastball velocity and percentage of fastballs thrown during the year of injury. [
Orthopedics
. 2018; 41(3):178–183.]
Unanticipated Admission Following Outpatient Rotator Cuff Repair: An Analysis of 18,061 Cases
Authors: Gil Joseph A. , Durand Wesley M. , Johnson Joey P. , Goodman Avi D. , Owens Brett D. , Daniels Alan H.
Published: May 2018

The objective of this investigation was to examine the characteristics that place patients at risk for unanticipated inpatient admission after outpatient arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. This retrospective cohort study used the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program data sets from years 2012 to 2015. Patients were included in the study based on the presence of a primary
Current Procedural Terminology
code for rotator cuff repair (23410, 23412, 23420, and 29827). Only outpatient, nonemergent, and elective procedures performed on patients with American Society of Anesthesiologists classification of 4 or less were considered. The primary outcome variable was admission after outpatient surgery (defined as length of initial hospital stay >0). This study examined risk factors for unanticipated admission following rotator cuff repair, finding that age of 65 years or older, female sex, hypertension, body mass index of 35 kg/m
2
or greater, American Society of Anesthesiologists classification of 2 or greater, and open surgical technique were significant predictors of admission, whereas monitored anesthesia care and regional anesthesia were associated with decreased odds of admission. Identifying patients with these characteristics will be critical in risk adjusting the anticipated cost of the episode of care in outpatient rotator cuff repair. [
Orthopedics
. 2018; 41(3):164–168.]
Fall Risk Assessment Metrics for Elderly Patients With Hip Fractures
Authors: Vottis Christos Th. , Mitsiokapa Evanthia , Igoumenou Vasilios G. , Megaloikonomos Panayiotis D. , Galanopoulos Ioannis P. , Georgoudis George , Koulouvaris Panayiotis , Papagelopoulos Panayiotis J. , Mavrogenis Andreas F.
Published: May 2018

The most common surgery performed by orthopedic surgeons likely involves that for hip fractures. The incidence of hip fractures is anticipated to rise in the coming decades. Hip fractures most commonly occur in elderly women with osteoporosis after a fall from standing position. In an effort to reduce the incidence, improve the postoperative care, and accelerate the rehabilitation of hip fractures, it is important to evaluate the fall risk of these patients, as it is an objective indication of their level of physical activity. Metrics currently available for the evaluation of fall risk in the elderly vary widely, with each having been designed to assess a specific patient population. However, their applicability has often proved to be much broader than expected. This review summarizes the metrics available for fall risk assessment of elderly patients with hip fractures, describes their individual features and efficacy, and highlights those that seem to be more reliable for the assessment of rehabilitation of these patients after hip fracture surgery. [
Orthopedics
. 2018; 41(3):142–156.]
Measurement of Posterior Corneal Astigmatism by the IOLMaster 700
Authors: LaHood Benjamin R. , Goggin Michael
Published: May 2018

PURPOSE:

To provide the first description of posterior corneal astigmatism as measured by the IOLMaster 700 (Carl Zeiss Meditec, Jena, Germany) and assess how its characteristics compare to previous measurements from other devices.

METHODS:

A total of 1,098 routine IOLMaster 700 biometric measurements were analyzed to provide magnitudes and orientation of steep and flat axes of anterior and posterior corneal astigmatism. Subgroup analysis was conducted to assess correlation of posterior corneal astigmatism characteristics to anterior corneal astigmatism and describe the distribution of posterior corneal astigmatism with age.

RESULTS:

Mean posterior corneal astigmatism was 0.24 ± 0.15 diopters (D). The steep axis of posterior corneal astigmatism was vertically oriented in 73.32% of measurements. Correlation between the magnitude of anterior and posterior corneal astigmatism was greatest when the steep axis of the anterior corneal astigmatism was oriented vertically (
r
= 0.68,
P
< .0001). Vertical orientation of the steep axis of anterior corneal astigmatism became less common as age increased, whereas for posterior corneal astigmatism it remained by far the most common orientation.

CONCLUSIONS:

This first description of posterior corneal astigmatism measurement by the IOLMaster 700 found the average magnitude of posterior corneal astigmatism and proportion of vertical orientation of steep axis was lower than previous estimates. The IOLMaster 700 appears capable of providing enhanced biometric measurement for individualized surgical planning.

[
J Refract Surg.
2018;34(5):331–336.]
Quo nomine vocaris ? Identifier les noms et les personnes dans les sources en Angleterre aux xe-xie siècles
Authors: Lestremau Arnaud
Published: May 2018

Dans le contexte de l’Angleterre médiévale, l’étude des noms de personnes constitue un passage obligé pour étudier les dynamiques sociales et culturelles. Néanmoins, pour des raisons inhérentes à la période, au rôle de la culture écrite dans le royaume anglo-saxon et aux aléas de la conservation pendant les siècles ultérieurs, nous disposons d’une documentation rare et lacunaire, qui se prête peu aux exigences d’un discours scientifique sur les règles sous-jacentes du système anthroponymique insulaire. Dans notre communication, nous souhaiterions établir une typologie des sources disponibles et utilisables, montrer les problèmes que ces sources soulèvent et proposer plusieurs solutions méthodologiques pour les exploiter.
Effect of Aligned Magnetic Field on MHD Squeezing Flow of Casson Fluid between Parallel Plates
Authors: Kumar M. Satish , Sandeep Naramgari , Kumar B. Rushi , Saleem Salman
Published: May 2018

The two-dimensional unsteady magnetohydrodynamic squeezing flow and heat transfer of Casson fluid between two parallel plates with aligned magnetic field and nonlinear thermal radiation is investigated theoretically. The resulting governing equations are transformed as set of ODEs and solved numerically by using bvp4c Matlab package. The influence of various pertinent parameters on the flow and temperature fields are discussed with the assistance of graphical illustrations. The reduced Nusselt number are presented through graphs. It is seen that increasing values of squeeze number depreciate the flow and temperature fields.
Mixed Convection Heat Transfer of Shear-Thinning Fluids around Confined Square Cylinder at Low Reynolds Number
Authors: Laidoudi Houssem
Published: May 2018

This work deals with the effect of thermal buoyancy on momentum and heat transfer characteristics of confined square cylinder submerged in Non Newtonian shear-thinning fluids. In two-dimension, the governing equations are solved by using the commercial code ANSYS-CFX. The effects of thermal buoyancy and power-law index, n, on the non-dimensional Drag coefficient and Nusselt number are studied for the conditions: Ri = 0 to 1, n = 0.3 to 0.9, Re = 40, Pr = 1 and blockage ratio β = 1/4. The detailed flow and temperature field are presented in terms of streamlines and isotherm contours. It is found that for all values of Richardson number increase in the power-law index increases the total drag coefficient and decreases the non-dimensional Nusselt number.
Numerical Method of Weakly Compressible Poiseuille Flow Using Lattice Boltzmann Method
Authors: Ouajdi Sanae , Moufekkir Fayçal , Mezrhab Ahmed , Fontaine Jean Pierre
Published: May 2018

The present work focuses on the numerical simulation of isothermal and weakly compressible Poiseuille flow in a planar channel using the Lattice Boltzmann method with multiple times of relaxation (MRT-LBE) coupled to the Finite Difference method (FDM). The active fluid considered is the air under low Mach number assumption. The flow is two-dimensional, laminar and all the physical properties are constants except the density which varies in the sense of the Boussinesq approximation. The effects of the compressibility, the inclination angle and the Reynolds number on the dynamical and thermal fields are studied numerically. The results are presented in terms of streamlines, isotherms and transverse velocity.
An Exploratory Examination of Interactions between Leadership Behavior and Person-Organization Value Fit on Employee Performance
Authors: Wijesinghe A.G.K.
Published: May 2018

Many studies have shown that person-organization value fit effect on employee commitment, job satisfaction, involvement, communication, cooperation, and profit gains in organizations. Leader behavior is another important factor effects on employee performance in organizations. However research investigated on interaction effect of leader behavior and person-organization value fit on employee performance is mostly absent in literature. This study examined the effect of leader behavior, person-organization value fit and their interactions on employee commitment, participation for group decision making and trust in their leaders in Sri Lankan organizations. A questionnaire survey was undertaken to evaluate employees’ ratings on these variables. Hypotheses testing were done by using Analysis of Covariates. Results revealed that both leader behavior and person-organization value fit are powerful predictors for employee performance. Theoretical and practical implications of these results and directions for future research are discussed.
First confirmed record of Nymphoides peltata (S.G.Gmel.) Kuntze (Menyanthaceae) naturalised in southern Africa
Authors: Cheek Michael D.
Published: May 2018

Background: Nymphoides peltata is a hydrophyte with a nymphaeid growth form and is known to be an invader of aquatic ecosystems.Objectives: To document the presence of N. peltata outside of cultivation in southern Africa.Method: Herbarium vouchers of newly collected material were compared against the vouchers of indigenous members of the genus and with the relevant botanical literature to confirm the identity of the species.Results: Nymphoides peltata is confirmed as occurring outside of cultivation for the first time in South Africa. The species was recorded from two dams adjacent to the Umgeni River in the KwaZulu-Natal midlands.Conclusion: This is the first record of a non-indigenous species of the Menyanthaceae family for South Africa outside of cultivation and adds to our knowledge of the alien aquatic flora of the region. Nymphoides peltata is listed as a Category 1a species, which means that it should be eradicated.
Advances & challenges in leptospiral vaccine development
Authors: Bashiru Garba , Bahaman Abdul Rani
Published: May 2018

Considerable progress has been made in the field of leptospiral vaccines development since its first use as a killed vaccine in guinea pigs. Despite the fact that the immunity conferred is restricted to serovars with closely related lipopolysaccharide antigen, certain vaccines have remained useful, especially in endemic regions, for the protection of high-risk individuals. Other conventional vaccines such as the live-attenuated vaccine and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) vaccine have not gained popularity due to the reactive response that follows their administration and the lack of understanding of the pathogenesis of leptospirosis. With the recent breakthrough and availability of complete genome sequences of Leptospira, development of novel vaccine including recombinant protein vaccine using reverse vaccinology approaches has yielded encouraging results. However, factors hindering the development of effective leptospiral vaccines include variation in serovar distribution from region to region, establishment of renal carrier status following vaccination and determination of the dose and endpoint titres acceptable as definitive indicators of protective immunity. In this review, advancements and progress made in LPS-based vaccines, killed- and live-attenuated vaccines, recombinant peptide vaccines and DNA vaccines against leptospirosis are highlighted.
Experimental Zika virus infection in Aedes aegypti
Authors: Mourya Devendra T. , Gokhale Mangesh D. , Majumdar Triparna D. , Yadav Pragya D. , Kumar Vimal , Mavale Mangala S.
Published: May 2018

Background & objectives:

There are reports about the susceptibility of Aedes mosquitoes to ZIKV from various countries, however, no such information is available from Indian sub-continent, although, high level of group cross-reactivity of ZIKV with other flaviviruses has been reported. During outbreak situations, many cases of Dengue (DEN) and Chikungunya (CHIK) are reported. In such scenario, vector mosquitoes are likely to get co-infection/secondary-infection with one or other virus. The present study was carried out to determine the susceptibility of Indian strain of Aedes aegypti to Zika virus (ZIKV) strain (MR-766) and the effect of co-infection/super-infection with either dengue virus (serotype-2) (DENV) or chikungunya virus (CHIKV) on ZIKV replication.

Methods:

Ae. aegypti mosquitoes used in this study were reared for many generations since 1980 at laboratory colony maintained at the ICMR-National Institute of Virology, Pune, India. Transmissibility of ZIKV from infected mosquitoes to suckling mice was also studied. Mosquitoes were experimentally infected with ZIKV and super-infected with either DENV or CHIKV via membrane-feeding route and incubated for 14 days at 28±2°C and humidity of 85±5 per cent. Replication of these viruses in mosquitoes was confirmed using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunofluorescence assay. Twenty infected mosquitoes were allowed to feed upon four suckling CD1 mice for about 30 min. Transmission of the ZIKV by infected mosquitoes to suckling mice was confirmed by the appearance of clinical signs and the presence of viral RNA in different organs.

Results:

Concomitant infection of mosquitoes with all the three viruses showed simultaneous propagation of all three viruses, confirmed by real time RT-PCR and IFA. Infection of mosquitoes with CHIKV followed by ZIKV showed positivity in individual head squashes (7%) for both viruses using IFA; only 8.3 per cent showed dual positivity with primary infection of ZIKV followed by DENV; 8.3 per cent dual infection positivity was observed when infected with DENV followed by ZIKV; 5 per cent showed dual infection was observed when infected with ZIKV followed by CHIKV. Ae. aegypti was found to be susceptible to ZIKV strain as ZIKV could be detected from the second post-infection day (PID) in infected mosquitoes. Transmission of ZIKV to mice by the bite of infected Ae. aegypti establishes this species as a potential vector.

Interpretation & conclusions:

From super-infection experiments, it was concluded that ZIKV might have a relative advantage in replication dynamics over DENV. Vertical transmission was not observed for ZIKV in experimentally infected mosquitoes (n=920 larvae). Further studies are required to understand the possibility of silently circulating ZIKV in India, which remain non-detected because of lack of surveillance.
Utility of cystatin C as a potential bladder tumour biomarker confirmed by surface plasmon resonance technique
Authors: Tokarzewicz Anna , Guszcz Tomasz , Onopiuk Anna , Kozlowski Robert , Gorodkiewicz Ewa
Published: May 2018

Background & objectives:

The determination of cystatin C (cysC) may be helpful in diagnosis and monitoring of cancer because the pathogenesis of cancer is linked with an increased activity of cysteine peptidases (cathepsins) and a decrease of cysC concentration. This study was aimed to examine the utility of cysC as a marker of bladder cancer (BCa) to be used in the diagnosis.

Methods:

This study was conducted with 90 patients with BCa and 27 healthy people. Patients with other cancers, inflammation process and impaired renal function were excluded from the study. The concentrations of cysC in the plasma and urine were measured by surface plasmon resonance imaging technique.

Results:

The concentration of cysC in the serum taken from the patients with BCa [0.35±0.02 μg/ml (range: 0.20-0.78 μg/ml)] was significantly (P <0.001) lower than the serum cysC concentration of the healthy people [0.68±0.05 μg/ml (range: 0.52-0.89 μg/ml)]. The urinary cysC concentration of the BCa patients [0.19±0.01 μg/ml (range: 0.09-0.34 μg/ml)] was not significantly different from the urinary cysC concentration of the healthy people [0.24±0.02 μg/ml (range: 0.16-0.33 μg/ml)]. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that BCa patients with cysC concentration <0.54 μg/ml [sensitivity: 87%; specificity: 92%; area under the curve (AUC) of ROC: 0.927; P =0.02] could be optimally separated from healthy people. The ROC curve further showed that superficial low-grade patients with cysC concentration lower than 0.36 μg/ml (sensitivity: 0.63%; specificity: 0.58%; AUC of ROC: 0.635; P =0.08) could not be optimally separated from high-risk tumour patients.

Interpretation & conclusions:

BCa patients have lower serum cysC concentration than the control group. Serum cysC may be considered as a potential marker of BCa but not its aggressiveness.
Use of succinic & oxalic acid in reducing the dosage of colistin against New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-1 bacteria
Authors: Kumar Ravichandiran , Chandar Brinda , Parani Madasamy
Published: May 2018

Background & objectives:

New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase 1 (NDM-1) cleaves the beta-lactam ring, and confers bacterial resistance against most of the beta-lactam antibiotics, except tigecycline and colistin. Among these two antibiotics, colistin is considered toxic, and therefore, its clinical use and dosage need cautious approach. In the present study, six organic acids were screened individually and in combination of two acids for their effectiveness against NDM-1 Escherichia coli and a combination of colistin and oxalic or succinic acid was tested to find out the potential of combination therapy for reducing the dose of toxic colistin.

Methods:

Antibacterial activity of the organic acid and their combinations was tested by disc diffusion method against NDM-1 E. coli, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by broth dilution method. Synergistic effect between organic acids and colistin was tested by checkerboard method.

Results:

Oxalic acid showed the highest zone of inhibition (15±1 mm) followed by succinic acid, tartaric acid, fumaric acid, citric acid and malic acid. The combination of two acids did not increase the zone of inhibition significantly. MIC was found to be the lowest with oxalic acid and succinic acid (320 μg/ml). In the presence of 160 μg/ml oxalic acid or succinic acid, MIC of colistin was reduced from 8 to 4 μg/ml, indicating synergistic effect.

Interpretation & conclusions:

Our findings showed that combination therapy using colistin and oxalic acid or succinic acid might find safe clinical application of this antibiotic in controlling infections due to NDM-1 bacteria.
Immunohistochemistry on pattern of ocular & adnexal tumours in a tertiary eye care centre of Northeast India
Authors: Das Dipankar , Bhattacharjee Harsha , Deka Apurba , Deka Panna , Serasiya Samir , Bhattacharjee Kasturi , Das Jayanta Kumar , Kuri Ganesh Chandra , Pawar Eknath , Saxena Rushil Kumar
Published: May 2018

Background & objectives:

Ocular and adnexal tumours are important causes of morbidity in India and globally. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) is a vital molecular pathology tool, which helps to diagnose a tumour with more accuracy. The present study was undertaken to document the profile of ocular and adnexal tumour with IHC at a tertiary eye care center in Northeast India.

Methods:

This was a prospective and laboratory-based study. Histopathological and IHC study of the ocular and adnexal tumour was carried out from 2012 to 2014. Selection of pathological cases was made on the result of the histological diagnosis. All samples were subjected to IHC using kits for different antibodies as per indications.

Results:

In total, 645 tumours were included in our study, with 449 benign conditions and 196 were malignant tumours. Total IHCs were done in 87 tumours and 238 of antibodies were used. Non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (B-cell, low-to-intermediate type and mucosal-associated lymphoid tumours) were the most common tumor.

Interpretation & conclusions:

Clinical utility of the IHCs in different ophthalmic tumours can enable pathologists to make an accurate diagnosis and thus help in the overall management of the patient care. IHC may be carried out using various methods and some of the methods practiced are time consuming and tedious. In this study, kit methods were used which were found to be simpler and less time-consuming.
Characterization of aerosol growth events over Ellesmere Island during the summers of 2015 and 2016
Authors: Tremblay Samantha , Picard Jean-Christophe , Bachelder Jill O. , Lutsch Erik , Strong Kimberly , Fogal Pierre , Leaitch W. Richard , Sharma Sangeeta , Kolonjari Felicia , Cox Christopher J. , Chang Rachel Y.-W. , Hayes Patrick L.
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The occurrence of frequent aerosol nucleation and growth events in the Arctic during summertime may impact the region’s climate through increasing the number of cloud condensation nuclei in the Arctic atmosphere. Measurements of aerosol size distributions and aerosol composition were taken during the summers of 2015 and 2016 at Eureka and Alert on Ellesmere Island in Nunavut, Canada. The corresponding results provide a better understanding of the frequency and spatial extent of these nucleation and growth events as well as of the composition and sources of aerosol mass during particle growth. These events are observed beginning in June with the melting of the sea ice rather than with polar sunrise, which strongly suggests emissions from marine sources are the primary cause of the events. Frequent particle nucleation followed by growth occurs throughout the summer. Correlated particle growths events at the two sites, separated by 480 km, indicate conditions existing over such large scales play a key role in determining the timing and the characteristics of the events. In addition, aerosol mass spectrometry measurements are used to analyze the size-resolved chemical composition of aerosols during two selected growth events. It is found that particles with diameters smaller than 100 nm are predominately organic with only a small sulphate contribution. The oxidation of the organic fraction also changes with particle size with larger particles containing a greater fraction of organic acids relative to other non-acid oxygenates (e.g. alcohols or aldehydes). It is also observed that the relative amount of m / z 44 in the measured mass spectra increases during the growth events suggesting increases in organic acid concentrations in the particle phase. The nucleation and growth events at Eureka are observed most often when the temperature inversion between the sea and the measurement site (at 610 m a.s.l.) is non-existent or weak allowing presumably fresh marine emissions to be mixed upward to the observatory altitude. While the nature of the gaseous precursors responsible for the growth events are poorly understood, oxidation of dimethyl sulphide alone to produce particle phase sulphate or methanesulphonic acid is not consistent with the measured aerosol composition, suggesting the importance of condensation of other gas phase organic compounds for particle growth.
A portable sensor system for bacterial concentration monitoring in metalworking fluids
Authors: Grossi Marco , Parolin Carola , Vitali Beatrice , Riccò Bruno
Published: May 2018

Abstract. The detection of bacterial concentrations in metalworking fluids (MWFs), oil-in-water emulsions used in the cutting industries for cooling and lubrication, is important in order to extend the product life-cycle and plan its disposal according to regulations and legislations. The standard method of measuring culturable bacterial concentration is the plate count technique (PCT) that, however, has long response times and is not suitable for automatic implementation outside a laboratory. In this paper a portable sensor system that measures the bacterial concentration in liquid and semi-liquid media exploiting impedance microbiology is presented and tested for the application of MWF microbial monitoring. A set of MWF samples, taken from metalworking plants, have been tested and good agreement has been found between the system response and that of the PCT. The proposed system allows automated bacterial concentration measurements with shorter response times than the PCT (4 to 24 h vs. 24 to 72 h) and is suitable for in-the-field MWF monitoring.