bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Octopi: Open configurable high-throughput imaging platform for infectious disease diagnosis in the field
Authors: Li Hongquan , Soto-Montoya Hazel , Voisin Maxime , Valenzuela Lucas Fuentes , Prakash Manu
Published: June 2019

Abstract

Access to quantitative, robust, yet affordable diagnostic tools is necessary to reduce global infectious disease burden. Manual microscopy has served as a bedrock for diagnostics with wide adaptability, although at a cost of tedious labor and human errors. Automated robotic microscopes are poised to enable a new era of smart field microscopy but current platforms remain cost prohibitive and largely inflexible, especially for resource poor and field settings. Here we present Octopi, a low-cost ($250-$500) and reconfigurable autonomous microscopy platform capable of automated slide scanning and correlated bright-field and fluorescence imaging. Being highly modular, it also provides a framework for new disease-specific modules to be developed. We demonstrate the power of the platform by applying it to automated detection of malaria parasites in blood smears. Specifically, we discovered a spectral shift on the order of 10 nm for DAPI-stained Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites. This shift allowed us to detect the parasites with a low magnification (equivalent to 10x) large field of view (2.56 mm2) module. Combined with automated slide scanning, real time computer vision and machine learning-based classification, Octopi is able to screen more than 1.5 million red blood cells per minute for parasitemia quantification, with estimated diagnostic sensitivity and specificity exceeding 90% at parasitemia of 50/ul and 100% for parasitemia higher than 150/l. With different modules, we further showed imaging of tissue slice and sputum sample on the platform. With roughly two orders of magnitude in cost reduction, Octopi opens up the possibility of a large robotic microscope network for improved disease diagnosis while providing an avenue for collective efforts for development of modular instruments.

One sentence summary

We developed a low-cost ($250-$500) automated imaging platform that can quantify malaria parasitemia by scanning 1.5 million red blood cells per minute.
Multiplexed code of navigation variables in anterior limbic areas
Authors: Laurens Jean , Abrego Amada , Cham Henry , Popeney Briana , Yu Yan , Rotem Naama , Aarse Janna , Asprodini Eftihia K. , Dickman J. David , Angelaki Dora E.
Published: June 2019

The brain’s navigation system integrates multimodal cues to create a sense of position and orientation. Here we used a multimodal model to systematically assess how neurons in the anterior thalamic nuclei, retrosplenial cortex and anterior hippocampus of mice, as well as in the cingulum fiber bundle and the white matter regions surrounding the hippocampus, encode an array of navigational variables when animals forage in a circular arena. In addition to coding head direction, we found that some thalamic cells encode the animal’s allocentric position, similar to place cells. We also found that a large fraction of retrosplenial neurons, as well as some hippocampal neurons, encode the egocentric position of the arena’s boundary. We compared the multimodal model to traditional methods of head direction tuning and place field analysis, and found that the latter were inapplicable to multimodal regions such as the anterior thalamus and retrosplenial cortex. Our results draw a new picture of the signals carried and outputted by the anterior thalamus and retrosplenial cortex, offer new insights on navigational variables represented in the hippocampus and its vicinity, and emphasize the importance of using multimodal models to investigate neural coding throughout the navigation system.
Adult third culture kids: adjustment and personal development
Authors: Lauring Jakob , Guttormsen David S. A. , McNulty Yvonne Maria
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore how interaction adjustment influences personal development for expatriates and to examine whether the effect differs between adults that have, and have not, lived abroad during their adolescence.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors use survey responses from 424 business expatriates in Asia distinguishing between adult third culture kids (ATCKs) that have lived abroad during their adolescence and adult mono-culture kids (AMCKs) who have not.

Findings

The results show that while interaction adjustment generally improves the experience of personal development, this effect is stronger for ATCKs. AMCKs will experience personal development almost independently of their interaction adjustment with host nationals solely due to the novelty of the international experience. For ATCKs, just being in the new country is not enough for them to feel they have developed personally; they need to engage more deeply with the local population to achieve this.

Originality/value

The authors still know very little about ATCKs and about how expatriation during their adulthood develops them personally, given they have already had international experiences at a young age.
Risk assessment of construction projects in China under traditional and industrial production modes
Authors: Gao Jingxin , Ren Hong , Cai Weiguang
Published: June 2019

Purpose

High risk is one of the most prominent characteristics of the Chinese construction industry, and it poses a significant threat to construction projects. Owing to initiatives aimed at achieving high efficiency, low carbon emissions, etc., industrialization of the construction industry has become an inevitable trend in China. However, it remains to be discussed whether industrialization of construction can reduce the risks entailed in construction projects compared with traditional construction. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

Based on the theory of risk life cycle, this paper proposes a practical risk assessment technique to assess the risk life cycle, including the risk occurrence time and potential financial losses. This technique is then applied to assess the differences between the risks involved in an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) project executed via traditional and industrial production modes.

Findings

The results show that the total duration of risks in the industrial construction project is half of that in the traditional project. In addition, the expected financial loss entailed in the industrial construction project is 29 percent lower than that in the traditional construction project. Therefore, industrial construction has the potential to optimize risk performance.

Originality/value

There is no significant difference between the traditional and industrial construction models in terms of probability of risk. The maximum total loss might occur in the procurement stage in the case of industrial production, and in the construction stage in the case of traditional production. Moreover, the total expected loss from risk in the EPC project in the industrial production mode is only half of that in the traditional production route. This study is expected to provide a new risk evaluation technique and promote an understanding of the life cycle of risk management in the construction industry.
Procurement strategy and outcomes of a new universities project in South Africa
Authors: Laryea Samuel
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Construction project management outcomes in the literature typically portray significant deviations from expected outcomes. Various theories from studies that focus superficially on causes of project cost and time overruns rather than root causes have not addressed this problem. The need is for a better understanding of how procurement strategy provides a fundamental means to address this problem. The purpose of this paper is to examine the procurement strategy used to deliver a new universities project in South Africa within budget and to ascertain its influence on the outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study was designed to provide a comprehensive and intensive methodology to identify and examine the construction procurement strategy and its influence on the project outcomes. Document analyses and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data on the construction procurement strategy and outcomes from the client team.

Findings

The evidence brought forward demonstrates that the successful outcome was largely a consequence of the client team, procurement strategy and systems of delivery. However, the collaborative procurement strategy formed the basis of the successful project delivery and outcomes. A general observation from the data is that an appropriate construction procurement strategy developed by an experienced client team and proactively implemented by an integrated delivery team working collaboratively is likely to achieve the intended project outcomes.

Practical implications

The findings show three critical keys to achieving intended outcomes – people, procurement strategy and systems of delivery at the governance, portfolio, programme and project management levels.

Originality/value

The value of this paper lies in using a comprehensive methodology to study the relationship between procurement strategy and outcomes. The findings can be applied by client teams to achieve better outcomes and value for money in infrastructure projects.
Predicting the project time and costs using EVM based on gray numbers
Authors: Nadafi Samira , Moosavirad Seyed Hamed , Ariafar Shahram
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the project completion time and cost under non-deterministic conditions using interval gray numbers (IGNs).

Design/methodology/approach

The earned value management (EVM) method based on the IGN has been developed.

Findings

The EVM method based on the IGN has been verified by a numerical example that can be applied to construction projects.

Practical implications

The EVM method, based on the gray numbers, reduces the budget and time shortage risk. Also, using this method, the managers would not be restricted to provide very exact values in their progress reports in the non-deterministic conditions.

Originality/value

One notable and significant point in all projects during the execution process is to estimate the project completion time and cost. However, non-deterministic conditions for both planned and actual physical completion percentage of projects have not been considered for predicting the project completion time and cost in the literature. Therefore, the novelty of this paper is the prediction of project completion time and cost under non-deterministic conditions using IGN.
Design effectiveness of academic library web sites
Authors: Abifarin Fasola P. , Imavah Shaka Apodoghe , Olobashola Ayodele S.
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Academic library websites need evaluation to determine whether users can derive useful experiences while visiting them to perform tasks. This is more so because visiting an academic library website is by voluntary action rather than compulsion as is the case with university, polytechnic and college sites where students must conduct academic transactions that cannot be reasonably avoided. The result of such an evaluation provides signposts for improvement so that academic library websites can continue to be useful to their users. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to assess the structural effectiveness of academic library websites in Nigeria.

Design/methodology/approach

The case study, research strategy and survey research approach were adopted for the study. Through a Web search, 14 universities, one polytechnic and one college of education were identified while three academic library websites were selected for the study. The evaluation of the websites was un-moderated and conducted remotely by user participants who were recruited across the three tertiary institutions under study. A five-point scale questionnaire served as the research instrument while data were presented in tables and analyzed using the median score. The Kruskall–Wallis test by ranks was used to test the null hypothesis at a five per cent level of significance.

Findings

Out of the 20 items presented for assessment, Group 1 and 2 disagreed to 11 (55 per cent) while agreeing on the remaining 9 (45 per cent) on Lib 1 and Lib 2 websites. Group 3 agreed to 11 (55 per cent) while disagreeing on 9 (45 per cent) on the Lib 3 website. The null hypothesis proposed for the study was rejected as the p-value of 0.04 was significant at p < 0.05. This indicated that most of the critical issues pertaining to design effectiveness were perceived to be ineffective.

Originality/value

The findings from this study call for a review of the design of academic library websites in Nigeria so that users can identify which websites are easier to use.
Accelerate proposal generation in R-CNN methods for fast pedestrian extraction
Authors: Wang Juncheng , Li Guiying
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to develop a novel region-based convolutional neural networks (R-CNN) approach that is more efficient while at least as accurate as existing R-CNN methods. In this way, the proposed method, namely R2-CNN, provides a more powerful tool for pedestrian extraction for person re-identification, which involve a huge number of images and pedestrian needs to be extracted efficiently to meet the real-time requirement.

Design/methodology/approach

The proposed R2-CNN is tested on two types of data sets. The first one the USC Pedestrian Detection data set, which consists of three sub-sets USC-A, UCS-B and USC-C, with respect to their characteristics. This data set is used to test the performance of R2-CNN in the pedestrian extraction task. The speed and performance of the investigated algorithms were collected. The second data set is the PASCAL VOC 2007 data set, which is a common benchmark data set for object detection. This data set was used to analyze characteristics of R2-CNN in the case of general object detection task.

Findings

This study proposes a novel R-CNN method that is both more efficient and more accurate than existing methods. The method, when used as an object detector, would facilitate the data preprocessing stage of person re-identification.

Originality/value

The study proposes a novel approach for object detection, which shows advantages in both efficiency and accuracy for pedestrian detection task. It contributes to both data preprocessing for person re-identification and the research on deep learning.
Flexible polypyrrole-coated conductive fabric sensor for large deformation measurement
Authors: Zhang Chi , Xue Pu , Luo Yubo
Published: June 2019

Purpose

Strain sensors have been widely used to measure the strain of the structure. However, the ordinary sensing elements are not suitable for measuring large deformation on an irregular surface, which limits their applications. Recently, flexible sensors have attracted extensive interest because they can overcome the shortage of the ordinary sensing elements. The paper aims to discuss this issue.

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the whole measurement process of strain sensing behavior and the dimension design of fle3xible strain sensing system use the macroscopic measurement method of material tensile test to accurately measure the resistance change with strain. Afterwards, combining electrical components, the flexible strain sensors are produced for two biomedical applications: the wearable data-collecting gloves and rehabilitation training system.

Findings

The results show that the developed conductive fabric can exhibit high sensitivity, large workable strain range (>50 percent) under simple and repeated tension and good stability. Both applications demonstrate that the polypyrrole-coated fabric sensor can successfully measure the large and repeat strain, capture the motion of body and display corresponding information almost in real time.

Originality/value

The limitation lies in the lack of a holistic strain sensing mechanism study, and the lack of a corresponding theoretical model to explain the experimental results.
Application of public blockchain to control the immutability of data in online scientific periodicals
Authors: Tarkhanov Ivan , Fomin-Nilov Denis , Fomin Michael
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to address the problem of content immutability and integrity of online scientific periodicals on the sites of small publishers that can be violated not only by the external hack of the publisher’s site but also by publisher’s and author’s misconduct or by submitting different versions of a periodical to different sites.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors defined a list of requirements that verify online scientific publications immutability and integrity. Then, the authors analyzed existing projects and recently emerged information on security technologies and identified challenges met during the development and testing. The use of the public blockchain network Ethereum as a secure storage location for data was explained.

Findings

The authors developed the method of checking online scientific periodicals for immutability and presented ecosystem architecture to control immutability and integrity of data. On the example of the online periodical “Istoriya”, it was demonstrated how the immutability of online scientific publication has been verified with the use of the public blockchain over a six-month period. First, operating results were evaluated; challenges hampering the implementation of the suggested ecosystem on Ethereum now were identified; and potential advantages of the suggested approach as compared to similar projects were discovered.

Research limitations/implications

The considered prototype is not a ready-to-use system, but in future providing higher transparency and the development of general distributed ecosystem small publishers will have new opportunities for development given that the issues of scalability, reliability and operating speed on a public blockchain will be addressed. Introduction of the described ecosystem may even provoke some changes on such conservative market as that of publishing of academic papers.

Originality/value

This research is one of the first attempts to expand digital object identifier technology with the use of additional verifications based on the data storage and search in the public blockchain. The suggested idea is the example of “blockchainified science” that was brought to implementation in a real online journal. This method has some advantages compared to Crossmark service.
Banks’ audit committees, audit firm alumni and fees paid to audit firm
Authors: Ittonen Kim , Myllymäki Emma-Riikka , Tronnes Per Christen
Published: June 2019

Purpose

This paper focuses on bank audit committees and examines whether audit committee members who are former auditors are associated with the acquisition of audit and non-audit services from their former employers.

Design/methodology/approach

The study empirically examines a sample of large banks that are included in the S&P Composite 1500.

Findings

The paper reports significantly lower audit fees and a higher proportion of non-audit fees to total fees when the audit committee chair is an alumnus of the incumbent audit firm. Moreover, additional analysis reveals that these findings are stronger for banks with more earnings management.

Research limitations/implications

Overall, the findings indicate that audit firms might consider banks using their alumni as audit committee chairs to be less risky or easier to audit, thus requiring relatively less effort from the auditors. The reduced effort required to audit clients with audit firm alumni on their audit committees then has the effect of reducing the audit fees charged. Alternatively, their auditing experience and cognitive proximity might influence the assessment of the need for auditing or the ability to negotiate lower audit fees on the part of audit firm alumni.

Originality/value

This paper provides empirical evidence of the association between audit firm alumni in influential positions on an audit committee and fees paid to those audit firms in the banking industry. The findings contribute to the literature by suggesting that banks with affiliated former auditors chairing their audit committees not only have significantly lower audit fees but also a higher proportion is spent on non-audit services.
Impact of ownership structure and dividend on firm performance and firm risk
Authors: Rajverma Abhinav Kumar , Misra Arun Kumar , Mohapatra Sabyasachi , Chandra Abhijeet
Published: June 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of ownership structure and dividend payouts over firm’s profitability, valuation and idiosyncratic risk. The authors further investigate if corporate performance is sector dependent.

Design/methodology/approach

The study employs signaling and bankruptcy theories to evaluate the influence of ownership structure and dividend payout over a firm’s corporate performance. The authors use a panel regression approach to measure the performance of family owned firms against that of widely held firms.

Findings

The study confines to firms operating out of emerging markets. The results show that family owned firms are dominant with concentrated ownership. The management pays lower dividend leading to lower valuation and higher idiosyncratic risk. The study further illustrates that family ownership concentration and family control both influence firm performance and level of risk. The findings indicate that information asymmetry and under diversification lead to increased idiosyncratic risk, resulting in the erosion of firm’s value. Results also confirm that firms paying regular dividends are less risky and, hence, command a valuation premium.

Originality/value

The evidence supports the proposition that information asymmetry plays a significant role in explaining dividend payouts pattern and related impacts on corporate performance. The originality of the paper lies in factoring idiosyncratic risk while explaining profitability and related valuation among emerging market firms.
Functional studies for a dominant mutation in the EDAR gene responsible for hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia
Authors: Okita Tomoko , Asano Nobuyuki , Yasuno Shuichiro , Shimomura Yutaka
Published: June 2019

Hypohidrotic ectodermal dysplasia (HED) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by hypotrichosis, hypohidrosis and hypodontia. The disease shows X‐linked recessive, autosomal dominant or autosomal recessive inheritance traits. The X‐linked form of HED is caused by mutations in the EDA gene, while autosomal forms result from mutations in either EDAR or EDARADD genes. Regarding recessive mutations in the EDAR gene, the pathomechanisms have been well characterized. However, it has remained largely unknown how dominant mutations in the EDAR cause HED. In this study, we performed in vitro analyses for a dominant EDAR gene mutation, p.F398*, as a representative. We showed that the p.F398* mutant EDAR completely lost its affinity to EDARADD, and suppressed the downstream nuclear factor‐κB activation induced by wild‐type EDAR in a dominant‐negative manner. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the mutant EDAR was capable of binding with the wild‐type EDAR, which led to reduced interaction between the wild‐type EDAR and EDARADD. Our findings not only underscore an essential role of the interaction between EDAR and EDARADD in ectodermal development, but also disclose, in part, the molecular basis of autosomal dominant HED.
Implications of a long‐term mast seeding cycle for climatic entrainment, seedling establishment and persistent monodominance in a Neotropical, ectomycorrhizal canopy tree
Authors: Henkel Terry W. , Mayor Jordan R.
Published: June 2019

In Guyana, we examined temporal variability and ecological consequences of seed‐based reproduction in the ectomycorrhizal, monodominant leguminous canopy tree Dicymbe corymbosa using an extensive 2003–2017 dataset encompassing two masting events. Annual seed output, predation and nutrient investment were recorded in primary D. corymbosa forests. Seedling establishment, survival and growth were monitored. Mast seeding occurred in 2003 and 2016 and low seeding events occurred every 3–4 years, separated by non‐reproductive years. In accordance with predicted climatic entrainment of regional masting, El Niño‐intensified dry seasons preceded each masting event but not low seeding events. The regularly variable seeding pattern by D. corymbosa suggests that innate supra‐annual periodicity may initiate D. corymbosa flowering. Internal resource thresholds may also contribute to periodicity, but El Niño‐associated intensified dry seasons appear necessary to entrain mass flowering and successful mast seeding across the region. In accordance with a predator satiation hypothesis, seed predation was proportionally higher during low seed years. Competitive gains from the 2016 masting event were evidenced by strong replenishment of declining seedling pools.
Examining a Hypothesis about the Past‐Oriented Aorist Infinitive in Post‐Classical Greek
Authors: Kavčič Jerneja
Published: June 2019

I examine a hypothesis concerning the decline of the past‐oriented aorist infinitive in Greek in a corpus of private letters dating to between the third century BC and the sixth century AD. According to the hypothesis examined, the decline of the past‐oriented aorist infinitive was related to the aspectual value of the aorist infinitive in Greek and to the spread of the perfect in the cross‐linguistic sense of the word (Haspelmath 1992). In addition to supporting the hypothesis examined, the corpus also sheds new light on the syntax of infinitive clauses in the period investigated. It is observed that, when found in the corpus, past‐oriented aorist infinitives tend to be used in specific, predictable contexts that support their past‐orientedness, and they have a parallel in the use of the aorist injunctive in Vedic Sanskrit. This phenomenon is consistent with the hypothesis examined in that it assumes that the aorist infinitive encoded the perfective aspect rather than tense.
SnowedOut Atlanta: Examining digital emergence on facebook during a crisis
Authors: Pyle Andrew S. , Morgoch Meredith L. , Boatwright Brandon C.
Published: June 2019

Individuals in emergencies form spontaneous, emergent groups to respond and recover. With the rise of social media use in crises, academics and professionals must be aware of how groups digitally coordinate emergent response efforts. This paper examines digital emergence through the case of SnowedOut Atlanta, a Facebook group formed during the 2014 ice storms in Atlanta. The posts and actions of the group members are in line with those of traditional emergent groups. For example, group members shared informational, material, and emotional support. The findings also provide implications for practitioners and insight into the communication of such groups. In particular, emergency managers have an opportunity to seek out and partner with these types of groups in future similar events.
Bilateral brachial synovial cysts in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Case report and literature review
Authors: Zheng Qi , Lu Meiping
Published: June 2019

Aim

To review the clinical features of brachial synovial cyst.

Method

A case of bilateral brachial synovial cysts is described in a child suffering from systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis during a relapse. Magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography were conducted to further evaluate the nature of the cysts. The case is compared with known cases in a literature review.

Results

Review of the literature showed that brachial synovial cysts occur most commonly in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. It is considered that uncontrolled systemic inflammation and recurrent disease activity might be the cause of synovial cysts.

Conclusion

Brachial synovial cyst is a rare manifestation of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Uncontrolled systemic inflammation inducing chronic damage to joint structure may be the primary cause of synovial cyst formation.
Cross‐cultural adaptation of the Hamilton axial spondyloarthritis questionnaire and development of a Chinese version in a multi‐ethnic Asian population
Authors: Xiang Ling , Teo Edmund Pek Siang , Low Andrea Hsiu Ling , Leung Ying Ying , Fong Warren , Xin Xiaohui , Gandhi Mihir , Kwan Yu Heng , Uy Elenore J. B. , Hamilton Louise , Thumboo Julian
Published: June 2019

Objective

To cross‐culturally adapt the Hamilton axial spondyloarthritis (axial SpA) screening questionnaire and develop a Chinese version for use in a multi‐ethnic Asian population in Singapore.

Methods

Consenting participants newly referred from primary care to a rheumatology specialist outpatient clinic for evaluation of possible axial SpA were studied. The original axial SpA questionnaire was revised based on inputs from cognitive debriefing interviews (CDIs) and discussions with an expert panel of rheumatologists and the developer. Forward and back translations of the adapted English version were also reviewed by the expert panel and the developer. The common translation produced was tested in CDIs with Chinese‐speaking participants. Adapted English and Chinese versions were pilot‐tested in a separate group of similar participants.

Results

Participants were recruited for English (n = 25) and Chinese CDIs (n = 15, relatively older and less frequently presented with axial SpA symptoms), respectively. Alternative terms and explanatory notes were added to difficult medical terms to improve the understandability of the adapted English version. English medical terms were retained in the Chinese version. Pilot‐testing of the adapted axial SpA questionnaire was performed on 116 participants, all of whom reported ease of comprehension with both adapted versions. Only one participant was diagnosed with axial SpA, who also scored positive on the adapted axial SpA questionnaire.

Conclusion

The adapted axial SpA questionnaire demonstrated good sensitivity in the pilot‐testing and appears to be a promising tool for facilitating early identification of axial SpA cases in the multi‐ethnic Asian population.
Prediction, Proxies, and Power
Authors: Carroll Robert J. , Kenkel Brenton
Published: June 2019

Many enduring questions in international relations theory focus on power relations, so it is important that scholars have a good measure of relative power. The standard measure of relative military power, the capability ratio, is barely better than random guessing at predicting militarized dispute outcomes. We use machine learning to build a superior proxy, the Dispute Outcome Expectations (DOE) score, from the same underlying data. Our measure is an order of magnitude better than the capability ratio at predicting dispute outcomes. We replicate Reed et al. (2008) and find, contrary to the original conclusions, that the probability of conflict is always highest when the state with the least benefits has a preponderance of power. In replications of 18 other dyadic analyses that use power as a control, we find that replacing the standard measure with DOE scores usually improves both in‐sample and out‐of‐sample goodness of fit.
Building research experience: Impact of a novice researcher development program for rural health workers
Authors: Schmidt David D. , Webster Emma , Duncanson Kerith
Published: June 2019

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the Rural Research Capacity Building Program on self‐reported research experience of rural health workers.

Design

A repeat cross‐sectional study design was used to assess self‐reported research experience at the commencement and completion of a novice researcher development program.

Setting

Candidates in the Rural Research Capacity Building Program are health workers employed in the rural NSW public health service who have not completed research higher degrees.

Participants

One hundred and thirty candidates of the Rural Research Capacity Building Program from the 2006 to 2013 cohorts were participated.

Interventions

The Rural Research Capacity Building Program is an experiential learning program in which candidates gain research experience by undertaking a new, self‐selected, local health service endorsed research project over a 2‐year period, supported by 10 days face‐to‐face teaching, weekly teleconferencing and mentoring.

Main outcome measures

Change in self‐assessed research experience using a validated 10‐item measurement tool known as the Research Spider which measures 10 domains of research experience.

Results

Reported research experience demonstrated statistically significant increases across all 10 domains of research experience. The largest change was ‘writing and presenting a research report’ and ‘writing a research protocol’.

Conclusions

Significant increases in Research Spider results across all 10 domains demonstrated that completing the Rural Research Capacity Building Program significantly improves self‐assessed research experience. Rural health workers who are experienced and confident to undertake research are more capable of studying health problems and finding solutions unique to the rural setting.
Influence of the disengagement of the forceps on levator ani muscle injuries in instrumental delivery: A multicenter study
Authors: Sainz José Antonio , Martín‐Martínez Alicia , González‐Diaz Enrique , Fernández‐Fernández Camino , Ortega Ismael , Medina Margarita , Fernández‐Corona Alfonso , Fernández‐Palacín Ana , García‐Mejido José Antonio
Published: June 2019

Introduction

Forceps use is the main risk factor for levator ani muscle (LAM) injuries. We believe that the disengagement of the forceps branches before delivery of the fetal head could influence LAM injuries, so we aimed to determine the influence of the disengagement of the forceps on the occurrence of LAM avulsion during forceps delivery.

Material and methods

A prospective, observational, multicenter study was conducted with 261 women who underwent forceps delivery. The women were classified according to whether the branches of the forceps had been disengaged before delivery of the fetal head. LAM avulsion was defined using a multislice mode (3 central slices).

Results

In all, 255 women completed the study (160 without disengagement and 95 with disengagement). LAM avulsions were observed in 37.9% of women in the group with disengagement and in 41.9% of women in the group without disengagement. The crude OR (without disengagement vs with disengagement) for avulsion was 0.90 (95% CI 0.49‐1.67, P = 0.757) and an adjusted OR of 0.82 (95% CI 0.40‐1.69, P = 0.603).

Conclusions

We did not observe a statistically significant reduction in the LAM avulsion rate with disengagement of the forceps branches before delivery of the fetal head.
Letter: impact of hepatitis B core‐related antigen on the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients treated with nucleos(t)ide analogues—further clarifications needed
Authors: Lim Miao‐Shan , Tan Chee‐Kiat
Published: June 2019

Linked Content

This article is linked to Hosaka et al and Hosaka papers. To view these articles, visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15108. https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15332 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.15361.
Effect of semaglutide on liver enzymes and markers of inflammation in subjects with type 2 diabetes and/or obesity
Authors: Newsome Philip , Francque Sven , Harrison Stephen , Ratziu Vlad , Van Gaal Luc , Calanna Salvatore , Hansen Morten , Linder Martin , Sanyal Arun
Published: June 2019

Background

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are drivers of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Glucagon‐like peptide‐1 analogues effectively treat obesity and type 2 diabetes and may offer potential for NAFLD treatment.

Aim

To evaluate the effect of the glucagon‐like peptide‐1 analogue, semaglutide, on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hsCRP) in subjects at risk of NAFLD.

Methods

Data from a 104‐week cardiovascular outcomes trial in type 2 diabetes (semaglutide 0.5 or 1.0 mg/week) and a 52‐week weight management trial (semaglutide 0.05‐0.4 mg/day) were analysed. Treatment ratios vs placebo were estimated for ALT (both trials) and hsCRP (weight management trial only) using a mixed model for repeated measurements, with or without adjustment for change in body weight.

Results

Elevated baseline ALT (men >30 IU/L; women >19 IU/L) was present in 52% (499/957) of weight management trial subjects. In this group with elevated ALT, end‐of‐treatment ALT reductions were 6%‐21% (P<0.05 for doses≥0.2 mg/day) and hsCRP reductions 25%‐43% vs placebo (P < 0.05 for 0.2 and 0.4 mg/day). Normalisation of elevated baseline ALT occurred in 25%‐46% of weight management trial subjects, vs 18% on placebo. Elevated baseline ALT was present in 41% (1325/3268) of cardiovascular outcomes trial subjects. In this group with elevated ALT, no significant ALT reduction was noted at end‐of‐treatment for 0.5 mg/week, while a 9% reduction vs placebo was seen for 1.0 mg/week (P = 0.0024). Treatment ratios for changes in ALT and hsCRP were not statistically significant after adjustment for weight change.

Conclusions

Semaglutide significantly reduced ALT and hsCRP in clinical trials in subjects with obesity and/or type 2 diabetes.
Incorporating perspective analysis into critical thinking performance assessments
Authors: Mejía Andrés , Mariño Julián Patricio , Molina Adriana
Published: June 2019

Background

The International Performance Assessments of Learning (iPAL) project developed a framework for the construction of performance assessments for testing critical thinking, which proposes structuring them around a problem situation that sets an authentic (i.e., real‐life‐like) problem‐solving task for the test‐taker. Its critical thinking construct – which reflects the dominant conception of critical thinking – focuses on assessment and use of information, of arguments, and of consequences, and on communication. However, it fails to acknowledge that perspectives on a problem situation are systemically articulated in networks and derive from worldviews, which should also be critically examined.

Aims

We aim to elaborate on the iPAL framework and enhance its critical thinking construct, incorporating a new facet of perspective analysis. We also intend to show what design considerations the construction of a performance assessment appropriate for this task entails.

Development

Based on Werner Ulrich’s Critical Systems Heuristics, which provides a systemic way of analysing perspectives about a problem situation, we argue the need to introduce perspective analysis in the critical thinking construct, and we discuss the considerations necessary for designing critical thinking performance assessments that test perspective analysis skills: about the kind of problem situation the test‐taker will face and about the expectations she may have about her task or role in that problem situation. We illustrate how performance assessments of this kind can be constructed by means of an example of an actual test.
Mediterranean diet and health status: Active ingredients and pharmacological mechanisms
Authors: Schwingshackl Lukas , Morze Jakub , Hoffmann Georg
Published: June 2019

The Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) is one of the most widely described and evaluated dietary patterns in scientific literature. It is characterized by high intakes of vegetables, legumes, fruits, nuts, grains, fish, seafood, extra virgin olive oil, and a moderate intake of red wine. A large body of observational and experimental evidence suggests that higher adherence to the MedDiet is associated with lower risk of mortality, cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, and cancer. Current mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of the MedDiet include reduction of blood lipids, inflammatory and oxidative stress markers, improvement of insulin sensitivity, enhancement of endothelial function, and antithrombotic function. Most likely, these effects are attributable to bioactive ingredients such as polyphenols, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, or fibre. This review will focus on both established and less established mechanisms of action of biochemical compounds contained in a MedDiet.

Linked Articles

This article is part of a themed section on The Pharmacology of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.6/issuetoc
Operative results, sexual function and quality of life after gracilis muscle transposition in complex rectovaginal fistulas
Authors: Kersting S. , Athanasiadis C.‐J. , Jung K.‐P. , Berg E.
Published: June 2019

Aim

Successful treatment of complex rectovaginal fistulas (RVFs) continues to be a surgical challenge. Interposition of well‐perfused tissue, such as gracilis muscle, is one treatment option. The aim of this study was to investigate the operative results, sexual function and quality of life after gracilis muscle transposition (GMT) in the authors’ own group of patients.

Method

The study included 19 women with RVF (mean age 48 years). The postoperative outcome was evaluated by a questionnaire and clinical examination.

Results

The postoperative follow‐up period was 7 months to 3.5 years (mean 23 months). GMT led to primary healing of RVF in 10 (53%) patients. Recurrences were observed in nine (47%) patients with RVF, in four (44%) of whom healing was achieved as a result of further interventions. Following GMT, two complications (abscess formation) requiring revision occurred. Although 42% of the patients reported certain limitations following muscle removal, GMT is a procedure that has a positive influence on the healing rate (74%), quality of life, continence and patient satisfaction.

Conclusion

GMT is a procedure that allows healing in the majority of patients with RVFs, and it should be considered especially in patients with recurrent fistulas, in whom a correlation between decreasing healing rates and the number of previous operations has been demonstrated.
Aortic valve perforation in the setting of Cogan's syndrome
Authors: Beltagy Asmaa , Eshak Nouran , Abdelnabi Mahmoud Hassan , Almaghraby Abdallah , Magdy Samar , Shehata Hoda
Published: June 2019

Cogan's syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by the coexistence of ocular and audio‐vestibular manifestations. Systemic manifestations are quite unusual with pan‐vasculitis and cardiac involvement reported in the form of aortitis with aortic aneurysm, dissection, or extremely rare aortic valve perforation. Hereby, we report a case of a 56‐year‐old woman presented with ocular, audio‐vestibular, and systemic manifestations with medium‐sized vasculitis in the form of multiple splenic artery aneurysms, superior mesenteric artery thrombosis, and cardiovascular involvement in the form of aortic regurgitation due to noncoronary cusp perforation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case to report aortic perforation in the setting of Cogan's syndrome.
Improving youth mental wellness services in an Indigenous context in Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories: ACCESS Open Minds Project
Authors: Etter Meghan , Goose Annie , Nossal Margot , Chishom‐Nelson Jessica , Heck Carly , Joober Ridha , Boksa Patricia , Lal Shalini , Shah Jai L. , Andersson Neil , Iyer Srividya N. , Malla Ashok
Published: June 2019

Aim

To describe a community‐specific and culturally coherent approach to youth mental health services in a small and remote northern Indigenous community in Canada's Northwest Territories, under the framework of ACCESS Open Minds (ACCESS OM), a pan‐Canadian youth mental health research and evaluation network.

Methods

As 1 of the 14 Canadian communities participating in a 5‐year, federally funded service transformation and evaluation project, the arctic Inuit community of Ulukhaktok has undertaken culturally relevant adjustments in their delivery of youth mental wellness services and related community wellness initiatives. These enhancement activities highlight connections to culture and traditional skills, honour youth‐ and community‐expressed desires to incorporate Inuvialuit‐specific approaches to wellness, and strengthen the support systems to improve access to mainstream mental healthcare, when needed. The adaptation of a Lay Health Worker model from Global Mental Health to the local circumstances resulting in creation of lay community health workers is central to this approach in meeting contextual needs.

Results

Community leaders identified key activities for sustainable change, including human capital development, authentic collaboration and diversified engagement strategies. Building around five ACCESS OM objectives, the local site team in Ulukhaktok has identified its youth programming and mental wellness service gaps through an ongoing process of community mapping.

Conclusions

Information from service providers, youth and other community members demonstrates attuning of the ACCESS OM framework to Inuit paradigms in Ulukhaktok. It could prove to be a sustainable prototype for delivering youth mental health services in other communities in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region and possibly across the entire Inuit Nunangat. It needs, however, to be further supported by easier access to specialized mental health services when needed.
The epileptic network and cognition: What functional connectivity is teaching us about the childhood epilepsies
Authors: Bear Joshua J. , Chapman Kevin E. , Tregellas Jason R.
Published: June 2019

Our objective was to summarize and evaluate the rapidly expanding body of literature studying functional connectivity in childhood epilepsy. In the self‐limited childhood epilepsies, awareness of cognitive comorbidities has been steadily increasing, and recent advances in our understanding of the network effects of these disorders promise insights into the underlying neurobiology. We reviewed publications addressing functional connectivity in children with epilepsy with an emphasis on studies of children with self‐limited childhood epilepsies. The majority of studies have been published in the past 10 years and predominantly examine childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes and childhood absence epilepsy. Cognitive network alterations are commonly observed across the childhood epilepsies. Some of these effects appear to be nonspecific to epilepsy syndrome or even to category of neurological disorder. Other patterns, such as changes in the connectivity of cortical language areas in childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes, provide clues to the underlying cognitive deficits seen in affected children. The literature to date is dominated by general observations of connectivity patterns without a priori hypotheses. These data‐driven studies build an important foundation for hypothesis generation and are already providing useful insights into the neuropathology of the childhood epilepsies. Future work should emphasize hypothesis‐driven approaches and rigorous clinical correlations to better understand how the knowledge of network alterations can be applied to guidance and treatment for the children in our clinics.
Cloud data analysis using a genetic algorithm‐based job scheduling process
Authors: Frank Vijay J.
Published: June 2019

Data analysis plays a major role in different research applications that require a large volume of data. Cloud computing can provide computer processing resources and device‐to‐device data sharing based on user requirements. The main goal of cloud computing is to allow users and enterprise of varying capabilities to store and process data in an efficient way and to access and distribute resources. However, a crucial problem in cloud computing is job scheduling for numerous users. Prior to the implementation of job scheduling, jobs must be categorized according to degree of criticalness, privacy and time required. Based on the experimental results, the combination of tasks was successfully determined by the processor. In heterogeneous multiprocessor systems, customized job scheduling is highly critical for obtaining optimal job performance. In this paper, an evolutionary genetic algorithm was used for obtaining better results in job scheduling, thereby improving performance in the cloud system in this regard. The genetic algorithm‐based job scheduling process introduced minimizes the investment in time through effective allocation of user requests in order to enhance the overall efficiency of the system.