bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Safety of heavy-duty dump trucks in operation
Authors: Gerike B L , Klishin V I , Drozdenko Yu V , Gerike P B
Published: November 2019

One of the health risks of drivers operating large dump trucks inside open pit mines is exposure to excess whole-body and local vibration, which results in high intensity of work (class 3.3). It is proposed to find sources of excess vibrations by vibro diagnostics in parking tests of dump trucks as influence of external factors (haul profiles, road gradients, etc.) are eliminated in this case. The spectrum of vibrations allows determination of a defect type at high reliability (probability p≥0.9).
Geophysical and geomechanical analysis of coal mass condition during directional hydraulic fracturing (DHF)
Authors: Klishin V I , Taylakov O V , Opruk G Yu , Sokolov S V , Galkin A V
Published: November 2019

The article reveals the information about the technology of roof rock directional hydraulic fracturing (DHF) performance when the longwall face was operating under tough roof conditions. The authors justify the application of the DHF method. They developed a scheme for roof softening under mining and geological conditions of mine Yubileynaya. The article presents the description of technological processes during DHF implementation and gives the list of general and special tools used during the process. Based on the results of the measures taken, the authors made a conclusion in relation to the efficiency of the performed work. The authors assessed the qualitative characteristics of the measures aimed at roof softening. They implemented the approach to active roof physical and mechanical characteristics determination based on seismic survey data analysis.
Melting gasifier for nonwaste processing technology of dust fractions of coal and mine refuse
Authors: Tsymbal V P , Rybenko I A , Kozhemyachenko V I , Sechenov P A , Rybushkin A A , Olennikov A A
Published: November 2019

The paper presents the technology of processing waste coal and the unit for its implementation, which is a melting gasifier developed on the basis of the jet emulsion unit SER. The results of mathematical and physical modeling are given, the technological modes and structural parameters of the unit are determined.
Tribo-mechanical properties of graphite/talc modified polymer composite bearing balls
Authors: Rathaur Anand Singh , Patel Vinay Kumar , Katiyar Jitendra Kumar
Published: November 2019

In this study, epoxy resin blended with graphite/talc micro fillers are used to fabricate the composite bearing balls of uniform diameter of 12.7 mm. These bearing balls were tested in four ball test rig for investigation of friction and wear. The fabricated composite bearing ball of composition graphite (10 wt%) /talc (10 wt%)/epoxy demonstrated a significant reduction by ∼63% in coefficient of friction and a moderate increment by ∼34% in wear resistance as compared to pure epoxy bearing ball under dry condition. Further, the compressive strength and hardness test were carried out on the composite bearing balls which revealed a reduction in compressive strength after adding the fillers but approximately similar compressive strength and a marginal improvement in hardness by ∼5% was exhibited by graphite (10 wt%)/talc (10 wt%) /epoxy composite bearing ball with respect to pure epoxy bearing ball. Hence, the fabricated polymer composite bearing balls can be implemented for low to moderate load bearing application with enough capability to eliminate the bulk lubrication requirements as in case of conventional metallic bearing balls.
Homogeneity of large rapidly grown ADP crystals
Authors: Hong Liu , ZongQi Wang , Chen Hu , Bing Teng , JinXin Huang , ShaoHua Ji
Published: November 2019

DKDP crystal is a type of well-known excellent nonlinear optical material that can be used as 2ω, 3ω, and even 4ω harmonic converters. Compared to DKDP crystal, ADP has a larger nonlinear optical coefficient and higher laser damage threshold, so a larger energy and higher conversion efficiency can be expected from ADP crystals. In this paper, a high-quality ADP crystal (118 × 137 × 160 mm) was grown through point-seed rapid growth method within one month. The corresponding optical properties and homogeneity for noncritical phase-matching fourth harmonic generation were investigated. For the ADP sample with cross-section of 110 × 110 mm, the obtained homogeneity noncritical phase-matching temperature is 0.13 °C, which is superior to a DKDP crystal with the same growth parameters. Moreover, UV transmittance property of various thicknesses for ADP crystals was also explored. The transmittance at 263 nm is 88% and decreased 0.36% per millimeter. This result is much lower than the 0.63% for the DKDP crystal in the same thickness range. These results indicate ADP crystals are very promising candidates for noncritical phase-matching fourth harmonic generation.
Distance measures for tumor evolutionary trees
Authors: DiNardo Zach , Tomlinson Kiran , Ritz Anna , Oesper Layla
Published: November 2019

Motivation

There has been recent increased interest in using algorithmic methods to infer the evolutionary tree underlying the developmental history of a tumor. Quantitative measures that compare such trees are vital to a number of different applications including benchmarking tree inference methods and evaluating common inheritance patterns across patients. However, few appropriate distance measures exist, and those that do have low resolution for differentiating trees or do not fully account for the complex relationship between tree topology and the inheritance of the mutations labeling that topology.

Results

Here, we present two novel distance measures, Common Ancestor Set distance (CASet) and Distinctly Inherited Set Comparison distance (DISC), that are specifically designed to account for the subclonal mutation inheritance patterns characteristic of tumor evolutionary trees. We apply CASet and DISC to multiple simulated datasets and two breast cancer datasets and show that our distance measures allow for more nuanced and accurate delineation between tumor evolutionary trees than existing distance measures.

Availability and implementation

Implementations of CASet and DISC are freely available at: https://bitbucket.org/oesperlab/stereodist.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Geographical Distribution, Biodiversity, and Species Richness of Medically Important Necrophagous Flies in Central Iran
Authors: Mozaffari Ehssan , Saghafipour Abedin , Arzamani Kourosh , Jesri Nahid , Kababian Majid , Hashemi Seyed Ahmad
Published: November 2019

There have been some investigations carried out about necrophagous flies and their biodiversity indices in Iran. In the present study, the species composition of flies, their richness, and biodiversity were investigated in central Iran. In a cross-sectional study, specimens were collected monthly in three different climate areas of Qom Province. Species diversity, species richness, and species evenness were calculated to estimate the species biodiversity of flies. In total, 7,291 flies were collected and identified using valid identification keys that classified flies into four families and 15 different species. The largest collection of flies was obtained in the mountainous areas comprising 36.2% of specimens. Moreover, five forensically important species of fly were collected in this region with the potential to cause human and animal myiasis: Calliphora vicina, Lucilia sericata, Musca domestica, Wohlfahrtia nuba, and Chrysomya albiceps. There were slight differences in species richness and diversity indices in the areas. In mountainous areas, the Shannon–Wiener index and richness were maximum (H’ = 1.87, S = 13). The evenness based on the Shannon evenness index in the mountainous areas was 0.728 and 0.719 in desert areas, whereas it was the highest (0.764) in the semidesert areas. Moreover, high values of the Jaccard similarity index were observed in captured necrophagous fly species in all the areas. The necrophagous fly fauna and species diversity indices were high because of an increase in the evenness. In general, some well-known forensically important species of flies were collected that proved the potential of myiasis occurrence in this area.
Lagrangian fluid approach for the modeling of peculiarities of the interstellar dust distribution in the astrospheres/heliosphere
Authors: Mishchenko A V , Godenko E A , Izmodenov V V
Published: November 2019

Interstellar dust penetrates into the heliosphere/astrosphere due to relative motion of the Sun and the local interstellar medium (LISM). Inside the heliosphere/astrosphere and at the heliospheric boundaries, where the solar/stellar wind interacts with LISM, distribution of the interstellar dust is modified due to an action of electromagnetic forces, the solar gravitation and radiation pressure. In this paper we show that the distribution of the interstellar dust particles in the heliosphere has peculiarities of high density layers. In order to understand the nature of the peculiarities Osiptsov’s Lagrangian method has been employed and developed for the case when the force acting on the particles has discontinuity as it is for the electromagnetic force at the helioshperic current sheet. In the result of the modeling we demonstrate existence of multiple layers of high density of the interstellar dust located at 0.03 - 10 AU north and south with respect to the heliospheric current sheet.
Impacts of admission serum albumin levels on short-term and long-term mortality in hospitalized patients
Authors: Thongprayoon C , Cheungpasitporn W , Chewcharat A , Mao M A , Thirunavukkarasu S , Kashani K B
Published: November 2019

Aim

The aim of this study is to assess the association between admission serum albumin and short- and long-term mortality in all hospitalized patients.

Design

A single-center cohort study.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of all adult hospitalized patients at a tertiary referral hospital between January 2009 and December 2013 were analysed. Admission serum albumin was stratified into six groups: ≤2.4, 2.5–2.9, 3.0–3.4, 3.5–3.9, 4.0–4.4 and ≥4.5 g/dl. The outcomes of interest were in-hospital mortality, length of hospital stay and 1-year mortality. Serum albumin of 4–4.4 g/dl was selected as a reference group for outcome comparison.

Results

A total of 14 075 patients were studied. Admission serum albumin of ≥4.5 g/dl had the lowest in-hospital and 1-year mortality with progressively increased in-hospital mortality observed with decreased admission serum albumin. In adjusted analysis, compared with serum albumin of 4.0–4.4 g/dl, serum albumin of ≤2.4, 2.5–2.9, 3.0–3.4 and 3.5–3.9 were significantly associated with increased in-hospital and 1-year mortality. In contrast, serum albumin of ≥4.5 g/dl was significantly associated with lower 1-year mortality but not in-hospital mortality. Admission serum albumin <4.0 g/dl was significantly associated with a prolonged hospital stay, while admission serum albumin of ≥4.5 g/dl was significantly associated with shorter hospital stay, compared with serum albumin of 4.0–4.4 g/dl.

Conclusion

Low albumin level at admission was progressively associated with increased short- and long-term mortality in all hospitalized patients even when albumin level was considered in normal range.
StartReact increases probability of muscle activity and distance in severe/moderate stroke survivors during two-dimensional reaching task
Authors: Rahimi Marziye , Honeycutt Claire F.
Published: November 2019

Objective

StartReact elicits faster, larger, and more appropriate muscle activation in stroke survivors but has been only cursorily studied to date during multi-jointed reaching. Our objective was to evaluate StartReact on unrestricted, two-dimensional point-to-point reaching tasks post-stroke.

Method

Data from 23 individuals with stroke was collected during point-to-point reaching. Voluntary and StartReact trials were compared between mild, severe/moderate, and the unimpaired arm.

Results

StartReact showed an increase in probability of muscle activity, larger muscle activity amplitude and faster muscle activity onset. Despite changes in muscle activity, metrics of movement (distance, final error, linear deviation) were largely the same between StartReact and Voluntary trials except in severe/moderate stroke who had larger reaching distances during StartReact.

Conclusion

While StartReact impacted many metrics of muscle activity, the most profound effect was on probability of muscle activity increasing 34% compared to Voluntary which allowed severe/moderate subjects to increase reaching distance but did not translate to decrease in final error suggesting that the additional movement was not always directed towards the appropriate target.

Significance

These results indicate that SR has the capacity to activate paralyzed muscle in severe/moderate patients, but future studies are needed to explore the possible use of SR in the rehabilitation.
A multivariable Mendelian randomization to appraise the pleiotropy between intelligence, education, and bipolar disorder in relation to schizophrenia
Authors: Adams Charleen D.
Published: November 2019

Education and intelligence are highly correlated and inversely associated with schizophrenia. Counterintuitively, education genetically associates with an increased risk for the disease. To investigate why, this study applies a multivariable Mendelian randomization of intelligence and education. For those without college degrees, older age of finishing school associates with a decreased likelihood of schizophrenia—independent of intelligence—and, hence, may be entangled with the health inequalities reflecting differences in education. A different picture is observed for schooling years inclusive of college: more years of schooling increases the likelihood of schizophrenia, whereas higher intelligence distinctly and independently decreases it. This implies the pleiotropy between years of schooling and schizophrenia is horizontal and likely confounded by a third trait influencing education. A multivariable Mendelian randomization of schooling years and bipolar disorder reveals that the increased risk of schizophrenia conferred by more schooling years is an artefact of bipolar disorder – not education.
Cell-type specificity of neuronal excitability and morphology in the central amygdala
Authors: Adke Anisha P. , Khan Aleisha , Ahn Hye-Sook , Becker Jordan J. , Wilson Torri D. , Valdivia Spring , Sugimura Yae K. , Gonzalez Santiago Martinez , Carrasquillo Yarimar
Published: November 2019

Central amygdala (CeA) neurons expressing protein kinase C delta (PKCδ+) or Somatostatin (Som+) differentially modulate diverse behaviors. The underlying features supporting cell-type-specific function in the CeA, however, remain unknown. Using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiology in acute mouse brain slices and biocytin-based neuronal reconstructions, we demonstrate that neuronal morphology and relative excitability are two distinguishing features between Som+and PKCδ+CeLC neurons. Som+neurons, for example, are more excitable, compact and with more complex dendritic arborizations than PKCδ+neurons. Cell size, intrinsic membrane properties, and anatomical localization were further shown to correlate with cell-type-specific differences in excitability. Lastly, in the context of neuropathic pain, we show a shift in the excitability equilibrium between PKCδ+and Som+neurons, suggesting that imbalances in the relative output of these cells underlie maladaptive changes in behaviors. Together, our results identify fundamentally important distinguishing features of PKCδ+and Som+cells that support cell-type-specific function in the CeA.
Nuclear encoded photosynthesis genes are specifically controlled by the NuA4 complex
Authors: Bieluszewski Tomasz , Sura Weronika , Bieluszewska Anna , Kabza Michał , Abram Mateusz , Włodzimierz Piotr , Dzięgielewski Wojciech , Szymańska-Lejman Maja , Lachance Catherine , De Winne Nancy , De Jaeger Geert , Côté Jacques , Sadowski Jan , Ziolkowski Piotr A.
Published: November 2019

NuA4, an essential histone acetyltransferase complex, is required for efficient transcription in eukaryotes. Using genome editing, genomic approaches and biochemical assays, we characterized plant homologues of two key components of this complex, EPL1 and EAF1 inArabidopsis thaliana. Surprisingly, we found that loss of AtEPL1, which is necessary for enzymatic activity of NuA4, is not lethal. Contrary to yeast, mutants lacking AtEAF1, responsible for complex targeting, display severe pleiotropic phenotype which copies that ofAtepl1.Atepl1andAteaf1mutants grow slowly, contain reduced chlorophyll levels and small chloroplasts. We provide evidence that these alterations are not caused by disturbance of GLK transcription factors, the major regulators of chloroplast development. Using ChIP-seq we show that H4 acetylation levels are dramatically reduced in the chromatin of theAtepl1mutant, while H3 acetylation remains mostly unchanged. We use our data to define NuA4-dependent genes and show that chloroplast-related genes are significantly overrepresented in this group, consistent with the pale-green phenotypes of the mutants. We propose that NuA4 was adopted in plants to control nuclear-encoded photosynthesis genes.

Significance

Photosynthesis depends on chloroplast proteins, most of which are nucleus-encoded and thus subject to control mechanisms common across eukaryotes. Here we show that NuA4, an evolutionary conserved transcriptional coactivator, is necessary for proper development of photosynthetic apparatus. Surprisingly, in contrast to yeast and metazoans, plants engineered to lack core NuA4 subunits are capable of vegetative development despite dramatic genome-wide loss of NuA4-dependent H4K5 acetylation. This chromatin perturbation seems to directly affect 350 genes which, in addition to reduced H4K5ac levels, display decreased transcript levels but no loss of transcription-related H3K9ac. A significant proportion of these genes are related to chloroplast function, particularly to translation, an intriguing parallel to the yeast NuA4’s role in transcription of ribosome biogenesis-related genes.
Assessing the effects of agricultural intensification on natural habitats and biodiversity in Southern Amazonia
Authors: Göpel Jan , Schüngel Jan , Schaldach Rüdiger , Stuch Benjamin , Löbelt Norman
Published: November 2019

The ongoing trend toward agricultural intensification in Latin America makes it essential to explore intensification measures in combination with assumptions regarding future socio-economic development and policies to protect biodiversity and natural habitats. Information on the future development of land-use and land-cover change (LULCC) under the combination of various driving factors operating at different spatial scale-levels, e.g., local land-use policy and global demands for agricultural commodities is required. The spatially explicit land-use change model LandSHIFT was applied to calculate a set of high-resolution land-use change scenarios for Southern Amazonia. The time frame of the analysis is 2010 - 2030. The resulting maps were analyzed in combination with spatially explicit maps depicting vertebrate species diversity in order to examine the effect of a loss of natural habitats on species ranges as well as the overall LULCC-induced effect on vertebrate diversity as expressed by the Biodiversity Intactness Index in this region. The results of this study indicate a general decrease in Biodiversity Intactness in all investigated scenarios. However, agricultural intensification combined with diversified environmental protection policies show least impact of LULCC on vertebrate species richness and conservation of natural habitats compared to scenarios with low agricultural intensification or scenarios with less effective conservation policies.
The varied structures of cobalt(II)–pyridine (py)–sulfate: [Co(SO4)(py)4]
n
, [Co2(SO4)2(py)6]
n
, and [Co3(SO4)3(py)11]
n
Authors: Park Ava M. , Pham Duyen N. K. , Golen James A. , Manke David R.
Published: November 2019

The solid-state structures of two cobalt–pyridine–sulfate compounds, namely catena-poly[[tetrakis(pyridine-κN)cobalt(II)]-μ-sulfato-κ2
O:O′], [Co(SO4)(C5H5N)4]
n
, (1), and catena-poly[[tetrakis(pyridine-κN)cobalt(II)]-μ-sulfato-κ3
O:O′,O′′-[bis(pyridine-κN)cobalt(II)]-μ-sulfato-κ3
O,O′:O′′]
n
, [Co2(SO4)2(C5H5N)6]
n
, (2), are reported. Compound (1) displays a polymeric structure, with infinite chains of CoII cations adopting octahedral N4O2 coordination environments that involve four pyridine ligands and two bridging sulfate ions. Compound (2) is also polymeric with infinite chains of CoII cations. The first Co center has an octahedral N4O2 coordination environment that involves four pyridine ligands and two bridging sulfate ligands. The second Co center has an octahedral N2O4 coordination environment that involves two pyridine ligands and two bridging sulfate ions that chelate the Co atom. The structure of (2) was refined as a two-component inversion twin.
Controlled dehydration, structural flexibility and gadolinium MRI contrast compound binding in the human plasma glycoprotein afamin
Authors: Naschberger Andreas , Juyoux Pauline , von Velsen Jill , Rupp Bernhard , Bowler Matthew W.
Published: November 2019

Afamin, which is a human blood plasma glycoprotein, a putative multifunctional transporter of hydrophobic molecules and a marker for metabolic syndrome, poses multiple challenges for crystallographic structure determination, both practically and in analysis of the models. Several hundred crystals were analysed, and an unusual variability in cell volume and difficulty in solving the structure despite an ∼34% sequence identity with nonglycosylated human serum albumin indicated that the molecule exhibits variable and context-sensitive packing, despite the simplified glycosylation in insect cell-expressed recombinant afamin. Controlled dehydration of the crystals was able to stabilize the orthorhombic crystal form, reducing the number of molecules in the asymmetric unit from the monoclinic form and changing the conformational state of the protein. An iterative strategy using fully automatic experiments available on MASSIF-1 was used to quickly determine the optimal protocol to achieve the phase transition, which should be readily applicable to many types of sample. The study also highlights the drawback of using a single crystallographic structure model for computational modelling purposes given that the conformational state of the binding sites and the electron density in the binding site, which is likely to result from PEGs, greatly varies between models. This also holds for the analysis of nonspecific low-affinity ligands, where often a variety of fragments with similar uncertainty can be modelled, inviting interpretative bias. As a promiscuous transporter, afamin also seems to bind gadoteridol, a magnetic resonance imaging contrast compound, in at least two sites. One pair of gadoteridol molecules is located near the human albumin Sudlow site, and a second gadoteridol molecule is located at an intermolecular site in proximity to domain IA. The data from the co-crystals support modern metrics of data quality in the context of the information that can be gleaned from data sets that would be abandoned on classical measures.
Redefining economics: why shared value is not enough
Authors: Glauner Friedrich
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to offer scholars and practitioners critical arguments on the strengths and weaknesses of the shared value concept and of the mental model of economics that lies at its heart. On the basis of these arguments, it proposes the paradigm of ethicological value-added creation as a new economic framework extending the shared value concept into a concept of lastingly viable business strategy.

Design/methodology/approach

Conceptual and philosophical analysis of the mental model of economics and of basic concepts and premises regarding scarcity, competition, growth and raising value. Application of this analysis to the re-design of the shared value approach and to the development of practical guidelines for sustainably viable business models.

Findings

This paper highlights how the shared value approach can be transformed into an even stronger strategic tool for the design of viable business models.

Practical implications

Scholars, entrepreneurs and managers receive a new conceptual framework to design lastingly viable business models on the basis of re-defined tools and concepts.

Originality/value

Leading texts on strategy and business development as well as CSR-driven texts on designing sustainable business models do not bridge the paradox of destructive wealth creation, i.e. the fact that individually rational and, in itself, highly successful economic behaviors lead, on the group level and the level of the whole system, to an outcome that by and large is highly destructive, as it places the social, ecological and economic sources of this wealth creation process in existential jeopardy. The paper proposes a new framework of economic reasoning for solving the paradoxes that shape current economic models and the shared value approach. It offers a first set of indicators, the parameters by which the shared value approach can be transformed into a living model for generating resource growth and added value creation cycles that stop the present downward spiral of acceleration, disruption, concentration and resource depletion. The paper thus presents forms of shared value creation that are more holistic and sustainable.
The effects of coopetition on the innovation activities and firm performance
Authors: Fernandes Cristina I. , Ferreira João J. , Veiga Pedro M. , Marques Carla
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper involves evaluating the impact of coopetition on the innovation activities and innovation performance of companies.

Design/methodology/approach

The study deployed data from the Community Innovation Survey – CIS 2012 and subject to the application of different multivariate statistical analysis processes.

Findings

The authors furthermore conclude that coopetition and the transfer of knowledge to and from competitors generates a statistically significant positive impact on company innovation-related activities and performance.

Originality/value

This work enriches the theory of innovation from the perspectives of game-theoretic strategic and resource theory approach. Moreover, the findings provide several recommendations for managers to effectively conduct firm’s coopetition strategy on innovation performance.
The “Too Hard Basket”: managing workplace bullying
Authors: Lockhart Pamela , Bhanugopan Ramudu
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the use of employee assistance programs (EAP) as a form of perceived organisational support (POS) to address workplace bullying (WB), from the perspective of employees who have been the victims of bullying.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an on-line survey, data were collected from 397 employees across a range of positions and industry sectors in Australia, who indicated they had been subjected to bullying.

Findings

The results of the study indicate that WB is rife, and although anti-bullying policies were in existence participants felt that these were mere tokenism. The level of POS and use of EAPs were considered to be inadequate and, interestingly, in some cases offered more support to the bully than the victim.

Research limitations/implications

With the increased rate of WB, organisations are seeking different ways to address this. This study highlights that the ability of EAPs to provide support to employees in these circumstances appears to be limited. The findings suggest that if management wish to use EAPs to support employees in cases of WB, they must invest more in them.

Originality/value

This study seeks to extend research into the management of WB through EAPs and POS and posits that there is a high level of dissatisfaction with management’s response and support with regard to bullying incidents.
Exploring forensic service users’ experience of participating in a community life skills and work-readiness programme
Authors: McKenzie Chloe , Tarpey Emma
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the experiences of individuals with a criminal history of participating in a community life skills and work-readiness programme.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven individuals that have a criminal history who were participating, or had previously participated, in a community life skills and work-readiness programme. This data was analysed by interpretative phenomenological analysis.

Findings

Four superordinate themes emerged, these were: “need to change”, “changing identity”, “giving back to the community” and “a sense of belonging”. These themes are discussed in relation to desistance literature and the Good Lives Model.

Practical implications

This research identifies through the participants’ narratives that engaging with the programme appeared to facilitate the desistance process. The importance of community programmes that provide participants skills and social integration must be acknowledged.

Originality/value

There is limited research on the experiences of forensic services users’ experiences of community programmes, especially those that are not aimed specifically at ex-offenders. The results of this research can be used to enhance services and identify further research areas.
Traditional agri-food products as a leverage to motivate tourists
Authors: Cafiero Carlo , Palladino Monica , Marcianò Claudio , Romeo Giuseppa
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to provide evidence on the extent to which traditional agri-food products (TFPs) constitute a leverage to promote tourism in the province of Reggio Calabria, Italy, and discuss ways in which community-led local development governance institutions might enhance it.

Design/methodology/approach

The study is based on a review of existing information on Calabrian TFPs to classify them by area of production and identify those that are specific or relatively small areas, in addition to a qualitative analysis of the content of the texts of a sample of websites promoting tourism in the region.

Findings

Though food is one of the leverages used to promote tourism in Calabria, TFPs are not yet sufficiently exploited to attract tourists to the province of Reggio Calabria, in spite of their potential as a vital expression of local culture and traditions.

Research limitations/implications

The selection of the websites used in the study may not be exhaustive of the full spectrum of Web-based promotion of tourism in Calabria.

Practical implications

The results provide useful insights to public and private institutions responsible for rural development and tourism promotion in Calabria. The database on the TFPs of the province of Reggio Calabria permits an easy reading of the geographical distribution of the different categories of products, useful as a resource for further studies and as a local development policy support tool.

Social implications

Promoting a form of culturally sensitive, food-based tourism in the interior areas of Calabria may constitute an important factor to revert the trend towards impoverishment, migration of young people and depopulation of the interior areas of Calabria. This is a particularly sensitive issue in Italy today, in view of the difficulties that other strategies pursued in the area are facing.

Originality/value

Existing literature on typical food products in Italy focuses on those labelled by denomination of origin and geographic protection. This is one of the first papers focusing on TFPs labelled asProdotti agroalimentari tradizionaliin the Italian legislation. By exploring the role of local food and traditions in promoting tourism, this paper expands the scope of existing studies of rural tourism and on rural development in Calabria, and beyond.
Impacts of social welfare system on the employment status of low-income groups in urban China
Authors: Wang Shen-cheng , Chan Kin-sun , Han Ke-qing
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Aiding employment is an important poverty reduction strategy in many countries’ social welfare systems, as this strategy can help empower the recipients with a better living standard, development and social inclusion. The purpose of this paper is to identify the most significant individual and systematic variables for the employment status of low-income groups in urban China.

Design/methodology/approach

The data of this study are drawn from “Social Policy Support System for Poverty-stricken Families in Urban and Rural China 2015” report. The Ministry of Civil Affairs of the People’s Republic of China appointed and funded the Institute of Social Science Survey (ISSS) at Peking University to deliver the related project and organize a research team to write the report. Multiple binary logistic regression analysis is adopted to identify both individual and systematic factors that affect the employment status among low-income groups in urban China.

Findings

According to the results of the binary logistic regression model, individual factors, including: gender; householder status; education; and self-rated health status, play a significant role in determining the employment status of low-income groups in urban China. Clearly, the impacts of individual factors are more influential to marginal families than to families entitled to receive Basic Living Allowance. In contrast, compared with marginal families, systematic factors are more influential to families entitled to receive Basic Living Allowance.

Originality/value

This study highlights the importance of precise poverty reduction strategy and the issue of “welfare dependence” among low-income groups in urban China. Policy recommendations derived from the findings are hence given, including: the promotion of family-friendly policies; the introduction of a smart healthcare system; the establishment of a Basic Living Allowance adjustment mechanism; and the provision of related social services.
Measuring internal service quality: the case of the Greek public higher education institutions
Authors: Skarpeta Kornilia , Koemtzi Maria , Aidonis Dimitrios
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the idea of internal service quality in public organizations. An attempt is made to determine the key elements that define the concept of internal service quality and to identify the factors that support the attainment of high levels of internal quality. Internal service quality refers to the quality of services offered between units and/or employees within an organization and achieving internal quality in public authorities can contribute to the sustainability of the public sector.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey was conducted among administrative staff of the publicly owned Greek Higher Education Institutions. The research instrument uses a three-level approach on internal service quality: individual, departmental and organizational. The model was tested using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis.

Findings

Findings reveal a five-factor structure of internal service quality by adding the factors of interdepartmental quality and the human aspect of internal service provision. Analysis of the data suggests that internal service quality is dependent on the level of responsibility of the respondent’s job.

Research limitations/implications

There is evidence that the individual internal service quality factor needs to be enhanced with more items. In addition, in order to gain generalizable results, further research should be conducted in various types of public organizations.

Originality/value

This study examines a questionnaire that evaluates internal service quality and proposes a basic five-factor model for estimating this type of service quality. It also triggers the use of internal service quality theory within public sector organizations.
The effects of integrating behavioral health into primary care for low‐income children
Authors: Cole Megan B. , Qin Qiuyuan , Sheldrick Radley C. , Morley Debra S. , Bair‐Merritt Megan H.
Published: November 2019

Objective

To evaluate the impact of TEAM UP—an initiative that fully integrates behavioral health services into pediatric primary care in three Boston‐area Community Health Centers (CHCs)—on health care utilization and costs.

Data Sources

2014‐2017 claims data on continuously enrolled children from a Massachusetts Medicaid managed care plan.

Study Design

We used a difference‐in‐difference approach with inverse probability of treatment weights to compare outcomes in children receiving primary care at TEAM UP CHCs versus comparison site CHCs, in the pre (2014‐2016q2)‐ versus post (2016q3‐2017)‐intervention periods. Utilization outcomes included emergency department visits, inpatient admissions, primary care visits, and outpatient/professional visits (all cause and those with mental health (MH) diagnoses). Cost outcomes included total cost of care (inpatient, outpatient, professional, pharmacy). We further assessed differential effects by baseline MH diagnosis.

Principal Findings

After 1.5 years, TEAM UP was associated with a relative increase in the rate of primary care visits (IRR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.04‐1.27, or 115 additional visits/1000 patients/quarter), driven by children with a MH diagnosis at baseline. There was no significant change in avoidable health care utilization or cost.

Conclusions

Expanding the TEAM UP behavioral health integration model to other sites has the potential to improve primary care engagement in low‐income children with MH needs.
Sensory and Physical Characteristics of Pan Bread Fortified with Thermally Treated Split Yellow Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Flour
Authors: Fahmi Ronak , Ryland Donna , Sopiwnyk Elaine , Aliani Michel
Published: November 2019

Pulses, including peas, are a good source of protein, dietary fiber, folic acid, and iron and are reported to reduce the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However, pulse ingredients present a known challenge as they exhibit a grassy/beany off‐flavor. Heat treatment in some cases can decrease this off‐flavor. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of substitution of 20% split yellow pea (SYP) flour treated by Revtech thermal processing at 140 °C with 10% steam (RT10%) and without steam (RT0%) for wheat flour in bread on the sensory attributes, acceptability, nutrient composition, firmness, color, and pH. RT10% was more acceptable overall than bread with untreated pea flour (USYP) or RT0% as assessed by 110 consumers. Sensory attributes were defined and measured on 15‐cm line scales by an 11 member trained panel. Attributes associated with RT10% included wheaty, sweet, and yeast aromas and wheaty flavor, whereas attributes associated with USYP and RT0% were pea and nutty aroma and flavor. Although firmness and dryness were higher in RT10%, the acceptability of the bread texture was not affected. This sample contained significantly higher protein and lower carbohydrate than the wheat sample.

Practical Application

Revtech (RT), a novel thermal process, when applied at 140 °C with steam to split yellow pea (SYP) flour successfully increased the acceptability of white pan bread fortified at 20% compared to bread fortified with RT 140 °C with no steam, and untreated SYP flours. This could be due to its association with wheaty aroma and flavor attributes rather than the pea aroma and flavor attributes of the other two breads.
Mediastinal venolymphatic malformations mimicking thymic carcinoma
Authors: Kang Min Kyun , Kang Do Kyun , Hwang Youn‐Ho , Kim Ji Yeon
Published: November 2019

This report was about a 60‐year‐old asymptomatic female patient who presented to our clinic with an anterior mediastinal mass found on routine chest computed tomography (CT). Chest CT revealed an irregular poorly enhanced anterior mediastinal mass which showed signs of infiltration to adjacent structures with sparse calcifications. The preliminary diagnosis was thymic carcinoma. The patient underwent extended thymectomy via median sternotomy and complete excision of the tumor. A small draining vein to the left brachiocephalic vein and phleboliths were identified in the tumor. A definitive diagnosis was made of mediastinal venolymphatic malformation (VLM). The patient had an uneventful clinical course and was discharged without further complication. This report highlights that it is possible to misdiagnose mediastinal VLM as thymic carcinoma and could serve as a useful reminder to physicians in the future.
Psychometric Evaluation of the Nursing Outcome “Pain: Adverse Psychological Response” in Patients With Chronic Pain
Authors: Bellido‐Vallejo José Carlos , Pancorbo‐Hidalgo Pedro Luis
Published: November 2019

PURPOSE

To culturally adapt into Spanish and validate the outcome “Pain: Adverse psychological response” (code 1306) in patients with chronic pain.

METHODS

A three‐stage study was conducted: (a) translation and cultural adaptation, (b) content validation, and (c) clinical validation.

FINDINGS

The Spanish version of the outcome “Pain: Adverse psychological response” has high content validity ( 0.91). Fourteen indicators were organized into two factors. This version offers good reliability in both inter‐observer agreement (kappa = 0.72) and internal consistency (alpha = 0.89).

CONCLUSIONS

The Spanish adaptation of “Pain: Adverse psychological response” is a reliable and valid instrument for the measurement of emotional aspects of chronic pain.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

The Spanish adaptation of this outcome offers nurses a set of structured indicators to measure the adverse emotional impact of chronic pain.
Relational Peer Victimization Interacts With Depression Severity to Predict the Timing of Alcohol Use Initiation in Adolescent Girls
Authors: Woerner Jacqueline , Ye Feifei , Hipwell Alison E. , Chung Tammy , Sartor Carolyn E.
Published: November 2019

Background

Peer victimization is consistently linked to adolescents’ alcohol use. However, the relative influence of relational and physical peer victimization on alcohol use, and timing of drinking initiation, is not well understood. In this study, we evaluate the impact of both relational and physical peer victimization on adolescent girls’ alcohol use initiation, and the extent to which depression severity moderates these associations.

Methods

Participants were 2,125 girls in the Pittsburgh Girls Study, a longitudinal community‐based study. Participants reported experiences of relational and physical peer victimization, depression severity, and alcohol use each year from ages 10 to 17. Cox proportional hazards (PH) regression analyses predicting the timing of first drink were conducted in 2 stages, testing for main effects of peer victimization in Model 1 and moderation by depression severity in Model 2.

Results

Analyses were split at age 14 to adjust for PH violations. Model 1 results supported a main effect for relational (Hazards ratio [HR] = 1.83, CI: 1.46 to 2.28 ≤ age 13; HR = 1.23, CI: 1.05 to 1.45 ≥ age 14) but not physical victimization on timing of alcohol use onset (HR = 1.10, CI: 0.88 to 1.39). Model 2 results show that depression severity moderates the association between relational victimization and alcohol use initiation: the association between relational victimization and early alcohol use onset was stronger for lower depression severity (−1 SD HR = 2.38, CI: 1.68 to 3.39 ≤ age 13; −1 SD HR = 1.48, CI: 1.10 to 1.52 ≥ age 14).

Conclusions

Results demonstrate that relational (and not physical) victimization predicts earlier drinking among adolescent girls. Relational peer victimization conferred greater risk for alcohol use initiation when depression severity was lower, whereas girls with high depression severity engaged in early alcohol use regardless of peer victimization. Results suggest that interventions focused on relational peer victimization may have spillover effects for delaying girls’ alcohol use initiation, particularly in early adolescence, when this association is most robust.
Prenatal Alcohol Exposure Alters Error Detection During Simple Arithmetic Processing: An Electroencephalography Study
Authors: Ben‐Shachar Mattan S. , Shmueli Michael , Jacobson Sandra W. , Meintjes Ernesta M. , Molteno Christopher D. , Jacobson Joseph L. , Berger Andrea
Published: November 2019

Background

Arithmetic is the domain of academic achievement most consistently related to prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). Error detection, an important aspect of arithmetic processing, can be examined in a mathematical verification task. Electroencephalographic (EEG) studies using such tasks have shown bursts of synchronized theta‐band activity in response to errors. We assessed this activity for error detection in adolescents with PAE and typically developing (TD) matched controls. We predicted that the PAE group would show smaller theta bursts during error detection and weaker responses depending on the size of the error discrepancy.

Methods

Participants’ mothers were recruited during pregnancy and interviewed about their alcohol consumption using a timeline follow‐back interview. Participants were followed from infancy and diagnosed for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) or partial FAS (PFAS) by expert dysmorphologists. EEGs were recorded for 48 adolescents during a verification task, which required differentiation between correct/incorrect solutions to simple equations; incorrect solutions had small or large deviations from correct solutions.

Results

Performance was good–excellent. The PAE group showed lower accuracy than the TD group: Accuracy was inversely related to diagnosis severity. The TD and heavily exposed (HE) nonsyndromal groups showed the expected differentiation in theta‐burst activity between correct/incorrect equations, but the FAS/PFAS groups did not. Degree of impairment in brain response to errors reflected severity of diagnosis: The HE group showed the same differentiation between correct/incorrect solutions as TD but failed to differentiate between levels of discrepancy; PFAS showed theta reactions only in response to large error discrepancies; and FAS did not respond to small or large discrepancies.

Conclusions

Arithmetical error–related theta activity is altered by PAE and can be used to distinguish between exposed and nonexposed individuals and within diagnostic groups, supporting the use of numerical and quantitative processing patterns to derive a neurocognitive profile that could facilitate diagnosis and treatment of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.