bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disability awareness arena in Sweden: voices of learning toward community facilities, universal design and disability perspective
Authors: Lundälv Jörgen , Ehrlington Henrik , Johansen Andreas
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to describe knowledge, awareness and experience of different employees in a Swedish municipality (City of Gothenburg) concerning the disability perspective, accessibility and universal design in practice.

Design/methodology/approach

This study is based on an online survey. A total of 119 different employees responded to the survey. The data was analyzed from a mixed-method approach, using descriptive statistics and textual analysis. The study also included personal interviews with 19 employees in the City of Gothenburg.

Findings

A total of 521 employees in the City of Gothenburg participated in disability awareness exercises (DAE) at the Disability Awareness Arena to gain greater knowledge and insight on disability perspectives in different environments and services. Of these, 119 people representing different professions in soft and hard services and companies participated in the survey; and 19 people participated in personal interviews. The study showed that a vast majority of them were very satisfied and they have developed and practiced their new knowledge and attitude toward disability and accessibility.

Research limitations/implications

One limitation in this study is that it has investigated the experiences and effects of the DAE 6–12 months after its implementation. Therefore, it is not possible to analyze long-term effects that the DAE can have in practice.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, no prior study of these issues has been conducted in Sweden. This study is deemed to have significant social benefit because of the steadily increasing demand for disability simulations, awareness of disability perspective and accessibility in municipality settings. No other study has addressed the importance of the DAE in these perspectives. DAE is defined in this article as a unique concept for promoting the usage of the disability perspective in the everyday workplace.
Activity-based pricing in small and medium-sized restaurants. Evidence from the Italian context
Authors: Raucci Domenico , Lepore Dominique , Sabatiello Rossella
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This paper aims to present an extension of price sensitive measurement (PSM) combined with activity-based costing (ABC) for supporting activity-based pricing approaches in the small and medium-sized restaurants.

Design/methodology/approach

The joint model of PSM and ABC is applied to the fixed menu pricing analysis of a typical medium-small Italian restaurant.

Findings

The outcomes confirm the potential of the activity-based pricing approach for supporting pricing decision-making in the small and medium-sized restaurants. However, the complexity of the model for these contexts suggests testing simplified versions of ABC, proposed for other sectors, to exploit integration with PSM. Further, the authors find evidence of the need to further investigate the role of informal conditions, characterizing small-medium enterprises, which may play for the successful implementation of the approach proposed.

Originality/value

There is no analysis using the suggested approach for supporting menu pricing in medium-small restaurants. This case study contributes to the literature on activity-based pricing for small and medium-sized restaurants, based on the ABC approaches.
SOSTAUGA project: reduction of water consumption and evaluation of potential uses for endogenous resources
Authors: Torrijos Verónica , Soto Manuel , Calvo Dopico Domingo
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The University of A Coruña (UDC) elaborated the SOSTAUGA project, aiming to reach a higher sustainable level of its water management. SOSTAUGA defined four priority points of action: the restoration of the natural courses on the campus; the adoption of an ecological sanitation model; the sustainable management of urban runoff; and the reduction of water consumption in university facilities and activities. This paper aims to present the methodology, the actions and the results related to the reduction of water consumption and the potential for the use of endogenous resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The agents involved were the senior management of the centres, the committees of the Green Campus, the scholarship students and the Office for the Environment. Several actions have been experienced: audit of water consumption in sanitary services; flow reduction in washbasin taps by means of valve adjustment (and repair of the valves when necessary); replacement of tap aerators with other more eco-efficient ones; replacement of faucets; introduction of dual-flush (DF) in cisterns; and information to users (eco-label).

Findings

Water audit reached 68% of the total number of washbasins and tanks in the UDC. Efficient aerator installation covered 16% of taps and valve adjustment covered the further 33.5% and provided flow reduction of 42%. Another 20% of valve units required repair. The current situation in toilets combines tankless flush valves and cisterns with single flush mechanisms. The introduction of DF mechanisms was assessed and proposed. The cost of these actions was very low, as evidenced by the investment return period while showing a high potential for user awareness.

Originality/value

Both from the environmental (water saving) and from the economic and social points of view, this study shows that similar projects aimed at the efficient and rational use of water are applicable to the universities and other public and private schools, with potentially positive results on sustainability and people awareness.
PLS–SEM in business promotion strategies. A multigroup analysis of mobile coupon users using MICOM
Authors: Carranza Rocío , Díaz Estrella , Martín-Consuegra David , Fernández-Ferrín Pilar
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The development of Information Systems (IS) and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is offering new opportunities for businesses to implement promotion strategies focused on customer attraction and retention. In this sense, mobile coupon usage has increased as a promotion tool, especially in the fast-food sector. However, the use by consumers of these coupons is not homogeneous and it is conditioned by prior experience. Thus, this study aimed to examine variations between Fast Food Restaurant (FFR) customers based on their prior experiences with the use of mobile coupon (expert vs novice users).

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 400 fast-food customers was collected using a structured questionnaire. In order to compare the proposed relationships between expert and novice users, a multigroup approach was applied through new, recently proposed evaluation procedures designed for PLS–SEM.

Findings

The results show that the two groups of consumers (expert vs novice users) have notable differences regarding the relationship between perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. This relationship was the strongest in both groups. However, there are no differences found in other aspects considered as antecedents to mobile coupons usage, for instance, usage intention and attitude.

Practical implications

This work emphasises the importance of considering differences based on experience between mobile coupon users. Ease of use, perceived consumer utility and increased mobile coupons in apps can be the key to driving effective business strategies based on promotional tactics by FFRs. Likewise, this study can help other researchers in their empirical applications of PLS–SEM analysis.

Originality/value

This study is the first to provide an in-depth analysis of differences based on users' experience with mobile coupons at FFRs. It is innovative in its introduction of the consumer's coupon proneness variable.
The inefficiency of Vietnamese prawn-rice rotational crops: a slacks-based data envelopment analysis
Authors: Pham Thi Anh Ngoc , Loc Ho Huu , Tran Dung Duc , Quan Nguyen Hong
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the input- and output-specific technical inefficiency of Vietnamese prawn-rice rotational crops (PRRC) and to identify the impacts of the socio-economic characteristics of farmers and farms on these technical inefficiencies.

Design/methodology/approach

This study first used a Russell-type (input-output) directional distance function to estimate the input- and output-specific technical inefficiency. Second, it applied a bootstrap truncated regression to analyze the factors influencing these technical inefficiencies. Data were gathered through a survey among 94 farmers, from Ben Tre and Kien Giang provinces, the two popular PRRC areas in the Mekong Delta.

Findings

Results show that Vietnamese PRRC farmers could reduce the water surface area by 3%, the use of seedlings by 15%, labor by 16%, fertilizers by 26%, and the use of others by 24%, while simultaneously increasing the revenue of farming system by 57% relative to the variable returns to scale (VRS) frontier. Farmers with more years of experience are generally better in managing the use of seedlings and in improvement of revenue. Farmers in Kien Giang province are more efficient in achieving revenue of the PRRC farming system than farmers in Ben Tre province.

Research limitations/implications

Outcomes of this study are useful to identify strategies in minimizing the use of inputs while simultaneously maximizing PRRC production.

Originality/value

This paper relates to the comparison of two mostly different ecological zones, being the dominant production areas of PRRC, in which, Kien Giang represents the western part, while Ben Tre is in the eastern part of the Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. The findings not only expand the current understanding but also suggest various meaningful research questions regarding the development of Vietnamese PRRC under the impacts of climate change. The study also contributes to the literature on examining the input- and output-specific technical inefficiencies and influencing factors.
Elder abuse in Ghana – a qualitative exploratory study
Authors: Malmedal Wenche , Anyan Christiana
Published: August 2020

Purpose

The aim of this study was to explore how Ghanaian staff in nursing homes and hospitals perceive abuse and neglect of older adults as well as to explore the nature and scope of abuse and neglect of older adults as it exists in Ghana.

Design/methodology/approach

This exploratory study used a qualitative research methodology that sets out to explore staff’s perception of elder abuse in nursing homes and hospitals in Ghana. Five nursing assistants and two caregivers were interviewed in two nursing homes and four nurses were interviewed in one hospital. A semi-structured interview guide was used for data collection.

Findings

The findings showed that elder abuse occurs in both hospitals and nursing homes, which might be attributed to different personal, situational and institutional characteristics as well as cultural and traditional value systems. Various factors at the level of interpersonal relationships contributed to elder abuse. Situational characteristics such as aggressive exchanges between residents and health workers and institutional characteristics such as limited facilities and resources to care for residents are all factors that were implicated in elder abuse. Finally, culture and traditional views, beliefs system and socioeconomic factors seem to be implicated in elder abuse and neglect.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that explores elder abuse and neglect in Ghanaian nursing homes and hospitals.
Inclusion values, practices and intellectual capital predicting organizational outcomes
Authors: Chung Beth G. , Dean Michelle A. , Ehrhart Karen Holcombe
Published: August 2020

Purpose

This study examines whether inclusion values predict organizational outcomes through mediating effects of inclusive HR practices and investigates whether intellectual (human and social) capital serves as a contingency variable in moderating the relationship between practices and outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

Organizational-level data were collected from 79 senior-level executives. Hypotheses were examined via regression analyses and the product-of-coefficients approach was used to test for indirect and conditional indirect effects.

Findings

This study found a positive relationship between inclusion values and inclusive HR practices and between inclusive HR practices and organization-level outcomes. Inclusive HR practices mediated the relationship between values and outcomes and intellectual capital moderated the relationship between practices and outcomes, such that inclusive HR practices played a greater role in augmenting outcomes for organizations with lower intellectual capital.

Practical implications

Alignment of inclusion values and inclusive HR practices is important for organizational effectiveness, and inclusive HR practices are likely to play a particularly important role when an organization is relatively weak in intellectual capital.

Originality/value

This paper broadens the inclusion literature by using a macro-level lens to understand how organizational inclusion values and practices may relate to organizational outcomes. It also shows the importance of intellectual capital as a contextual variable in the inclusion practice to outcome relationship.
Accelerating microbial iron cycling promotes re‐cementation of surface crusts in iron ore regions
Authors: Gagen Emma J. , Levett Alan , Paz Anat , Bostelmann Heike , Valadares Rafael Borges da Silva , Bitencourt José Augusto Pires , Gastauer Markus , Nunes Gisele Lopes , Oliveira Guilherme , Vasconcelos Paulo M. , Tyson Gene W. , Southam Gordon
Published: August 2020

Accelerating microbial iron cycling is an innovative environmentally responsible strategy for mine remediation. In the present study, we extend the application of microbial iron cycling in environmental remediation, to include biocementation for the aggregation and stabilization of mine wastes. Microbial iron reduction was promoted monthly for 10 months in crushed canga (a by‐product from iron ore mining, dominated by crystalline iron oxides) in 1 m3 containers. Ferrous iron concentrations reached 445 ppm in treatments and diverse lineages of the candidate phyla radiation dominated pore waters, implicating them in fermentation and/or metal cycling in this system. After a 6‐month evaporation period, iron‐rich cements had formed between grains and 20‐cm aggregates were recoverable from treatments throughout the 1‐m depth profile, while material from untreated and water‐only controls remained unconsolidated. Canga‐adapted plants seeded into one of the treatments germinated and grew well. Therefore, application of this geobiotechnology offers promise for stabilization of mine wastes, as well as re‐formation of surface crusts that underpin unique and threatened plant ecosystems in iron ore regions.
Potential prescribing omissions may have no influence on cause of death in care‐dependent older adults with percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube
Authors: Hattori Yukari , Abe Takayuki , Kojima Taro , Hamada Shota , Ogawa Sumito , Ura Nobuyuki , Akishita Masahiro
Published: August 2020

Aim

Studies of medication use in patients with a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube have not been conducted adequately. The aim of this study was to describe medication use of care‐dependent older adults with PEG and evaluate whether potential prescribing omissions (PPO) would affect the cause of death or acute illness.

Methods

In a geriatric long‐term care hospital, 116 inpatients aged ≥65 years with insertion of a PEG tube because of dysphagia were enrolled and followed for 2 years: 2016–2018. The patients were divided into two groups, i.e., group A (who died between 2016 and 2018) and group B (who continued to be hospitalized in 2018). Clinical data and prescribed medications were recorded. Logistic regression models were conducted to assess the associations between survival and variables: age, gender, serum albumin level, serum creatinine level, body mass index (BMI), number of drugs and PPO.

Results

The patients' mean age was 85.3 ± 10.2 years, 57.8% were women and the mean number of drugs was 6.8 ± 3.5. Medications for managing symptoms, such as constipation and gastrointestinal symptoms, were commonly prescribed. The most common PPO medications were antiplatelet agents and anticoagulants. On logistic regression analysis, PPO had no influence on the cause of death or acute illness. Lower age, higher serum albumin level and body mass index were associated with survival in both univariate and multivariate models.

Conclusions

Polypharmacy was prevalent in patients with PEG. Given the finding that PPO had no influence on health outcome, rational deprescribing could be warranted. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2020; 20: 961–966.
Measurement of laryngeal elevation time using a flexible surface stretch sensor
Authors: Hanaie Kaoru , Yamamoto Akio , Umehara Ken , Bessho Yusuke , Nakamoto Hiroyuki , Nakayama Kimiko , Sawada Kaku , Osawa Satoshi , Ogasawara Takeshi , Tsuneishi Syuichi , Wakasugi Yoko , Ishikawa Akira
Published: August 2020

Background

Dysphagia is a growing health problem in aging societies. An observational cohort study targeting community‐dwelling populations revealed that 16% of elderly subjects present with dysphagia. There is a need in elderly communities for systematic dysphagia assessment.

Objective

This study aimed to verify whether laryngeal elevation in the pharyngeal phase could be measured from the body surface using thin and flexible stretch sensors.

Methods

Thirty‐two elderly subjects (17 males, 15 females; mean age ± SD: 89.2 ± 6.2 years) with suspected dysphagia underwent a swallowing contrast examination in which seven stretch sensors were attached to the front of the neck. The elongation of the sensors was measured and compared to the laryngeal elevation time values obtained using videofluorography. The sensor signal detected the laryngeal elevation start time, conclusion of the descent of the larynx, and the laryngeal elevation time. The respective laryngeal elevation times obtained using videofluorography and using the sensor were compared using the Bland–Altman method.

Results

The laryngeal elevation time was 1.34 ± 0.46 s with the stretch sensor and 1.49 ± 0.56 s with videofluorography. There was a significant positive correlation between the duration obtained by both methods (r = .69,P < .0001). A negative additional significant bias of −0.15 s (95% confidence interval −0.30 to −0.03,P = .046) was noted in the laryngeal elevation time from the videofluorography measurement.

Conclusion

Laryngeal elevation time can be measured non‐invasively from the neck surface using stretch sensors.
Optical-Flow Algorithm for Near-Wake Analysis of Axisymmetric Blunt-Based Body at Low-Speed Conditions
Authors: Tran The Hung , Chen Lin
Published: August 2020

In this study, ability of an optical-flow algorithm in extracting wake structure of axisymmetric model was investigated. The initial data for optical-flow processing were obtained in low-speed conditions by particle image velocimetry method. The Reynolds number based on the model diameter was around ReD = 1.97 × 104 in this study. Both the time-averaged and transient flow characteristics of near-wake flow were illustrated and examined by the optical-flow analysis method proposed. The processing results of optical-flow method showed good agreement with conventional cross-correlation methods. The ability of optical-flow method to extract flow fields was, thereby, confirmed for blunt-based flow at low-speed conditions. This study showed that the antisymmetric flow behavior of the near wake is the dominant type at low-speed conditions. Differing to traditional methods and cross-correlation results, the optical-flow results showed a frequency at around StD = 0.015 of the near wake for the first time, which is connected to vortex shedding behavior of the wake flow.
Dynamic Estimation Method of Effective Active Site on Palladium Methane Oxidation Catalyst in Exhaust Gas of Marine Lean Burn Gas Engine
Authors: Nitta Yoshifuru , Yamasaki Yudai
Published: August 2020

Lean-burn gas engines have recently attracted attention in the maritime industry, because they can reduce NOx, SOx, and CO2 emissions. However, since methane (CH4) is the main component of natural gas, the slipped methane, which is the unburned methane, likely contributes to global warming. It is thus important to make progress on exhaust after-treatment technologies for lean-burn gas engines. A Palladium (Pd) catalyst for CH4 oxidation is expected to provide a countermeasure for the slipped methane, because it can activate at lower exhaust temperature comparing with platinum. However, a de-activation in higher water (H2O) concentration should be overcome because H2O inhibits CH4 oxidation. This study was performed to investigate the effects of exhaust temperature or gas composition on active Pd catalyst sites to clarify CH4 oxidation performance in the exhaust gas of lean-burn gas engines. The authors developed the method of estimating effective active sites for the Pd catalyst at various exhaust temperatures. The estimation method is based on the assumption that active sites used for CH4 oxidation process can be shared with the active sites used for carbon mono-oxide (CO) oxidation. The molecular of chemisorbed CO on the active sites of the Pd catalyst can provide effective active sites for CH4 oxidation process. This paper introduces experimental results and verifications of the new method, showing that chemisorbed CO volume on a Pd/Al2O3 catalyst is increased with increasing Pd loading in 250–450 °C, simulated as a typical exhaust temperature range of lean-burn gas engines.
The first complete mitochondrial genome of Cheyletus malaccensis (Acari: Cheyletidae): gene rearrangement

Authors: Lan Yang-ming , Feng Shi-qian , Xia Li-yuan , Li Zhi-hong , Cao Yang , Stejskal Vaclav , Aulicky Radek , Wu Yi
Published: August 2020

The predatory mite Cheyletus malaccensis (Acari: Cheyletidae), commonly occurring in stores of various food commodities, is an important natural enemy of stored product pests. Disentangling the mt genome sequence of C. malaccensis at molecular level can decrease uncertainties during morphological identification and is useful in reconstructing the phylogeny of Acariformes group. In this study, the complete mitogenome of C. malaccensis was sequenced by the next-generation sequencing. After assembly and annotation, we found the circular 14,732 bp mitogenome of C. malaccensis, containing 13 protein coding genes, 2 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes and 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. Compared with the ancestral mitogenome organization of arthropods, most of tRNA were truncated without D-arm or/and TψC-arm. Rearrangement was found in 12 mitogenome genes. Phylogenetic analyses based on the mitogenome data from other 29 mite species were inferred by Bayesian and maximum likelihood methods, which strongly supported the closer relationship between C. malaccensis and Tetranychidae than other mites. The obtained results represent the first complete mitochondrial genome record for Cheyletidae group. It may help improve molecular phylogenetic relationship and population genetics of the Cheyletidae.
Water mites of the genus Corticacarus Lundblad, 1936 with the description of two new species (Acari: Hydrachnidia, Hygrobatidae)

Authors: Pešić Vladimir , Smit Harry
Published: August 2020

Water mites of the genus Corticacarus Lundblad, 1936 (Acari: Hydrachnidia, Hygrobatidae) are among the most widespread and abundant riverine genera in the Neotropics. In this paper we reported 12 species of the genus Corticacarus from streams and rivers from Argentina, Chile and Costa Rica. Two species from Chile (Corticacarus cooki. sp. nov.) and Costa Rica (C. habeebi sp. nov.), respectively, are described as new for science. The number of species of this genus now tallies 71 species.
Laser diode coherence
Authors: Gfroerer Tim , Bergthold Morgan
Published: August 2020

We use a Michelson interferometer to explore the spectroscopic properties of laser diode emission over a wide range of operational conditions. By studying how the interferogram changes with drive current, we demonstrate the relationship between coherence length and spectral bandwidth. At low injection current, the laser source operates more like an ordinary light-emitting diode (LED), generating a relatively broad spectrum with short coherence length. In contrast, when the drive current exceeds the single-mode lasing threshold, we obtain a steady sinusoidal interferogram throughout the movable mirror scanning range, indicative of monochromatic light. At intermediate injection, we observe a beating pattern due to the presence of multiple longitudinal lasing modes. We verify that the beat distance, or optical travel between beats, is consistent with the spectrally validated mode spacing.
Interferon-γ signaling in human iPSC–derived neurons recapitulates neurodevelopmental disorder phenotypes
Authors: Warre-Cornish Katherine , Perfect Leo , Nagy Roland , Duarte Rodrigo R. R. , Reid Matthew J. , Raval Pooja , Mueller Annett , Evans Amanda L. , Couch Amalie , Ghevaert Cédric , McAlonan Grainne , Loth Eva , Murphy Declan , Powell Timothy R. , Vernon Anthony C. , Srivastava Deepak P. , Price Jack
Published: August 2020

Interferon-γ induces cellular and transcriptomic changes in human neural cells associated with neurodevelopmental disorders.
Interplay of m
6
A and H3K27 trimethylation restrains inflammation during bacterial infection
Authors: Wu Chenglei , Chen Weixin , He Jincan , Jin Shouheng , Liu Yukun , Yi Yang , Gao Zhuoxing , Yang Jiayan , Yang Jianhua , Cui Jun , Zhao Wei
Published: August 2020

m
6
A controls the inflammatory response through cross-talk with H3K27me3, indicating the importance of m
6
A in immune homeostasis.
Surface slip on rotating graphene membrane enables the temporal selectivity that breaks the permeability-selectivity trade-off
Authors: Zhang Zhongqiang , Li Shaofan , Mi Baoxia , Wang Jinbao , Ding Jianning
Published: August 2020

Hydrated ions can be separated from water by a fast-rotating graphene membrane with pore size larger than hydrated ion sizes.
Social reprogramming in ants induces longevity-associated glia remodeling
Authors: Sheng Lihong , Shields Emily J. , Gospocic Janko , Glastad Karl M. , Ratchasanmuang Puttachai , Berger Shelley L. , Raj Arjun , Little Shawn , Bonasio Roberto
Published: August 2020

Single-cell RNA-seq reveals increased numbers of ensheathing glia in
Harpegnathos
workers reprogrammed to a queen-like phenotype.
Translatable mitochondria-targeted protection against programmed cardiovascular dysfunction
Authors: Botting K. J. , Skeffington K. L. , Niu Y. , Allison B. J. , Brain K. L. , Itani N. , Beck C. , Logan A. , Murray A. J. , Murphy M. P. , Giussani D. A.
Published: August 2020

Mitochondrial therapy may cure hypertension in adult offspring of complicated pregnancies.
Multimodal soft tissue markers for bridging high-resolution diagnostic imaging with therapeutic intervention
Authors: Hansen Anders E. , Henriksen Jonas R. , Jølck Rasmus I. , Fliedner Frederikke P. , Bruun Linda M. , Scherman Jonas , Jensen Andreas I. , Munck af Rosenschöld Per. , Moorman Lilah , Kurbegovic Sorel , de Blanck Steen R. , Larsen Klaus R. , Clementsen Paul F. , Christensen Anders N. , Clausen Mads H. , Wang Wenbo , Kempen Paul , Christensen Merete , Viby Niels-Erik , Persson Gitte , Larsen Rasmus , Conradsen Knut , McEvoy Fintan J. , Kjaer Andreas , Eriksen Thomas , Andresen Thomas L.
Published: August 2020

The liquid-based Carbo-gel technology enables real-time multimodal image guidance for improved therapeutic precision.
Sarcopterygian fin ontogeny elucidates the origin of hands with digits
Authors: Woltering Joost M. , Irisarri Iker , Ericsson Rolf , Joss Jean M. P. , Sordino Paolo , Meyer Axel
Published: August 2020

Lungfish fin development reveals the evolutionary origins of tetrapod limb patterning.
Biomorphic structural batteries for robotics
Authors: Wang Mingqiang , Vecchio Drew , Wang Chunyan , Emre Ahmet , Xiao Xiongye , Jiang Zaixing , Bogdan Paul , Huang Yudong , Kotov Nicholas A.
Published: August 2020

Conformal, rechargeable zinc-air batteries from biomimetic materials serving as protective covers replace stand-alone batteries.
Integrating chemical fuels and artificial muscles for untethered microrobots
Authors: Truby Ryan L. , Li Shuguang
Published: August 2020

Continued development of untethered insect-scale robots will require codesigned power and actuation strategies.
A prosocial neuroligin
Authors: Ferrarelli Leslie K.
Published: August 2020

NLGN3 links oxytocin signaling, protein synthesis, and social behavior in a mouse model of autism.
Draft Genome Sequence of Enterobacter roggenkampii Strain OS53, Isolated from Corroded Pipework at an Offshore Oil Production Facility
Authors: Salgar-Chaparro Silvia J. , Castillo-Villamizar Genis , Poehlein Anja , Daniel Rolf , Machuca Laura L.
Published: August 2020

Here, we report the genome sequence of
Enterobacter roggenkampii
strain OS53, isolated from corroded pipework at an offshore oil production facility. The draft genome sequence comprises 6 contigs and contains 5,194,507 bp with an average GC content of 55.90%.
Draft Genome Sequences of Seven Strains of
Paenibacillus
spp. (Phylum
Firmicutes
) Inhabiting the Seeds of
Cucumis melo
L. (Cantaloupe) and Exhibiting Plant Probiotic Traits
Authors: Khalaf Eman M. , Raizada Manish N.
Published: August 2020

Here, we report the draft genome sequences of seven
Paenibacillus
sp. strains (EKM202P, EKM205P, EKM206P, EKM207P, EKM208P, EKM211P, and EKM212P) that were previously isolated from cultivated surface-sterilized seeds of
Cucumis melo
L. (cantaloupe). These candidate
Paenibacillus
plant probiotics displayed
in vitro
growth-promoting traits and suppressive activity against root-associated fungal/oomycete pathogens.
Draft Genome Sequences of
Bacillus
and
Paenibacillus
Species Isolated from Seeds of Citrullus lanata (Watermelon), Cucurbita moschata (Butternut Squash), and Cucurbita pepo L. var.
pepo
L. (Pumpkin)
Authors: Khalaf Eman M. , Raizada Manish N.
Published: August 2020

Here, we announce the draft genome sequences of four endophytic bacilli isolated from surface-sterilized seeds of three cucurbit species,
Bacillus
sp. strains EKM417B and EKM420B (from
Citrullus lanata
[watermelon]) and EKM501B (from
Cucurbita moschata
[butternut squash]) and
Paenibacillus
sp. strain EKM301P (from
Cucurbita pepo
L. var.
pepo
L. [pumpkin]). These strains previously demonstrated biostimulant and biocontrol activities.
Complete Genome Assembly of a Multidrug-Resistant New Delhi Metallo-β-Lactamase 1 (NDM-1)-Producing Escherichia coli Human Isolate from a New Zealand Hospital
Authors: Olivera Catrina , Rakonjac Jasna
Published: August 2020

We report the complete genome of a multidrug-resistant
Escherichia coli
strain isolated from a New Zealand patient with a history of hospitalization in India. The strain, carrying eight plasmids, harbors chromosome-encoded
nfsA
and
nfsB
mutations, which cause nitrofuran resistance, and class C β-lactamase (
bla
EC
) and plasmid-encoded
bla
NDM-1
,
bla
CTX-M-15
, and
bla
CMY-6
, as well as other antibiotic resistance genes.
Early−Middle Devonian brachiopod provincialism and bioregionalization at high latitudes: A case study from southwestern Gondwana
Authors: Penn-Clarke Cameron R. , Harper David A.T.
Published: August 2020

The paleobiogeography of Early−Middle Devonian (Pragian−Eifelian) brachiopods from West Gondwana was assessed to determine any potential controls (regional climatic differences or global eustasy) that may have driven bioregionalization. The Pragian−Eifelian interval of West Gondwana was examined because work by previous authors suggested that this was a period when regionally extensive areas of provincialism among marine invertebrates were present and most pronounced. Factors of particular interest in this study were the controls over brachiopod bioregionalization at high (60°−90°) southern latitudes, which the Malvinokaffric Realm is thought to have entirely occupied. A large presence-absence data matrix was compiled consisting of the occurrences of 206 genera from 17 localities across West Gondwana, and an array of multivariate methods (cluster analysis, nonmetric multidimensional scaling, and network analysis) was employed to assess regional bioregionalization trends. The results of our study suggest that regional climatic differences brought on by latitudinal effects were the determining driver for bioregionalism of brachiopods during the Pragian−Eifelian, and these trends were coincident with a global cooling period during the Early−Middle Devonian. Our study further suggests that of the three regional paleobiogeographic realms thought to be present in West Gondwana during the Early−Middle Devonian (Eastern Americas, Old World, and Malvinokaffric), only the Malvinokaffric Realm is valid as a single biogeographic area. Its area, however, is reduced; it is interpreted to have been a second-order biogeographic area and not a first-order area as suggested by previous authors. Given these factors, we suggest a new demonym for this area, the “Malvinoxhosan,” given the racially charged connotations of “Malvinokaffric.” We present a new biogeographic framework for West Gondwana that is free of preconceived biogeographic area and rank biases, with the understanding that a more globally expansive study should be undertaken to elucidate these areas and their rank within the correct hierarchy. Two first-order paleobiogeographic areas are recognized in West Gondwana and are named according to their latitudinal extent, namely, the high-latitude (60°S−90°S) and temperate-latitude (30°S−60°S) bioregions. The temperate-latitude bioregion consists of a single second-order paleobiogeographic area, the “Colombian−West African” bioregion. Two second-order bioregions are present in the high-latitude bioregion, namely, the Amazonian and Malvinoxhosan bioregions. Here, the Amazonian (∼50°S−70°S), compositionally, was an intermediate region between the Colombian−West African (∼30°S−50°S) and Malvinoxhosan (70°S−90°S) end members. Latitudinal effects may also have been responsible for dividing the Malvinoxhosan bioregion into two tentative third-order paleobiogeographic areas, namely, the Andeo−South African (∼70°S−80°S) and the Paraná (∼80°S−90°S) bioregions.
Fossilized reproductive modes reveal a protistan affinity of Chitinozoa
Authors: Liang Yan , Hints Olle , Tang Peng , Cai Chenyang , Goldman Daniel , Nõlvak Jaak , Tihelka Erik , Pang Ke , Bernardo Joseph , Wang Wenhui
Published: August 2020

Reproduction is a key aspect of evolution, but the process is rarely preserved in the fossil record. Organisms fortuitously preserved undergoing reproduction provide an exceptional window illuminating the biology of extinct taxa, especially those with unknown phylogenetic position. Here we report exceptional specimens of chitinozoans (enigmatic Paleozoic organic-walled microfossils) preserved as “test-in-test” morphology, which have previously been interpreted as teratological forms. Application of advanced imaging techniques on newly recovered and reexamined Ordovician materials enabled documentation of critical morphological details of the test’s inner ultrastructure for the first time. The results show that the newly observed spongy material and dendritic structure on or inside the chitinozoan test as well as the test wall itself are all made of clustered rounded spherical particles. Morphological details suggest that those specimens represent key stages of new asexual reproductive strategies, hitherto undescribed, which produce either one or several offspring at a time. This observation challenges the prevailing hypothesis that chitinozoans are eggs of cryptic extinct marine metazoans. Instead, it is more plausible that they represent a new isolated group of protists.
Accuracy of PECARN rule for predicting serious bacterial infection in infants with fever without a source
Authors: Velasco Roberto , Gomez Borja , Benito Javier , Mintegi Santiago
Published: August 2020

Objective

To validate the Febrile Infant Working Group of the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) clinical prediction rule on an independent cohort of infants with fever without a source (FWS).

Design

Secondary analysis of a prospective registry.

Setting

Paediatric emergency department of a tertiary teaching hospital.

Patients

Infants ≤60 days old with FWS between 2007 and 2018.

Main outcome measures

Prevalence of serious bacterial infection (SBI) and invasive bacterial infection (IBI) in low-risk infants according to the PECARN rule.

Results

Among the 1247 infants included, 256 were diagnosed with an SBI (20.5%), including 38 IBIs (3.1%). Overall, 576 infants (46.0%; 95% CI 43.4% to 49.0%) would have been classified as low risk of SBI by the PECARN rule. Of them, 26 had an SBI (4.5%), including 5 with an IBI (2 (0.8%) diagnosed with bacterial meningitis). Sensitivity and specificity of the PECARN rule were 89.8% (95% CI 85.5% to 93.0%) and 55.5% (95% CI 52.4% to 58.6%) for SBI, with an area under the curve of 0.726 (95% CI 0.702 to 0.750). Its sensitivity to identify SBIs was 88.6% (95% CI 82.0% to 92.9%) among infants with a <6-hour history of fever (54.9% of the infants included).

Conclusions

The PECARN clinical rule for identifying SBI performed less well in our population than in the original study. This clinical rule should be applied cautiously in young infants with a short history of fever.
P26 Pharmacy discharge service to facilitate early discharges and to improve the quality of electronic discharge letters (EDL’s)
Authors: Ladani Sonal , AbouDaya Mohammed , Thornhill William , Christiansen Nanna
Published: August 2020

Aim

The current discharge process on the paediatric wards involves transcribing medications from one electronic system to another, this has led to errors and compromises patient safety. Discharges are also sometimes delayed due to patients waiting for their medications. The newly implemented discharge service involves pharmacists working closely with the medical team to identify patients for discharge as early as possible and to accurately transcribe medications onto the electronic patient record (EPR).

Method

The pharmacist would attend the consultant-led morning handover or would liaise with the nurse in charge on the ward to establish discharges and transfers for that day or over the weekend if on a Friday. The most urgent discharges and any complex patients were prioritised. The EPR system would be used to generate the EDL’s, transcribe the medicines for discharge and add any other relevant written information. Any medication related issues would be clarified with the medical team. The prescription would be handed over to the medical team to be reviewed and signed. This would then be dispensed and checked by the pharmacy team. The patient/parent or carer would be counselled on their medications. Data was collected from November 2018 – March 2019, this included time informed about discharge, time EDL started, time EDL printed and time EDL completed. Other data collected included if any additional written information was provided to the GP and if any amendments were required after the doctor had reviewed the prescription. The data was inputted into an Excel spreadsheet and was compared against August – October 2018.

Results

152 discharge prescriptions were included in the service. The data was compared to the data from August – October 2018 which showed more than double of the prescriptions were completed in the morning between 9am-12noon (compared to 12noon-5.30pm) since the service started. Less prescription needed amendments at the point of screening and more prescriptions included additional medication related information. The quality of the prescriptions had improved and completing prescriptions earlier meant timely discharges, improved bed utilisation and improved patient quality. Positive feedback was given by patients, doctors and nurses as well as the rest of the ward teams.

Conclusion

Communication has improved between the hospital and community care, as well as patient satisfaction and bed availability. A future development would be to introduce prescribing pharmacists within medical teams to streamline the discharge prescription process further, freeing up medical time and increasing the focus on medicines optimisation for all patients.
P46 Dose-banding limits for commonly prescribed medications for children in the UK
Authors: Rashed Asia N , Tomlin Stephen
Published: August 2020

Aim

Currently, majority of prescribed medication doses are calculated according to a child’s body weight without considering the available drug products for administration or the therapeutic range of the drug. This can lead to lack of consistency in dosing and drug administration errors, which affects many children of all ages treated with medicines.1 There are no established standards for dose-banding in national or international healthcare systems. This project aimed to establish dose-banding limits for paediatric medicines, to be used for prescribing and administering accurate, safe, and effective drug doses.

Method

A list of the most common oral prescribed medications was established from the medication dispensing database of four hospitals in the UK. Then the evidence for safe and effective dose ranges for each drug on the list was identified from paediatric reference books, Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) and published literature. After using these data to develop dose bands based on body weight, we used a Delphi process to achieve healthcare professionals’ consensus about the suggested dose bands for each drug on the list.

Results

A total of 45 drugs for 45 specific indications were included. Four categories of dose-banding limits were established; drugs with 2-weight bands; 3-weight bands; 4-weight bands and 5-weight bands. Overall, for 53.3% (24/45) of the included drug, all their suggested dose-banding limits reached consensus after two rounds of Delphi. For 92% (22/24) of them, consensus was achieved on all their suggested bands in the first round. Only for 2 drugs the agreement was achieved after the second round. For the drugs included in 2-weight band and 5-weight band categories, all their suggested dose-banding limits received total consensus after round 1 of the Delphi process. For 9 drugs included in the 4-weight bands category, the agreement was achieved only on either one or two of their suggested dose bands. For 12 drugs, no agreement was reached on any of their suggested bands.

Conclusion

The study results provide healthcare professionals with a set of recommended dose-banding limits for commonly prescribed drugs in the UK. These recommended limits could establish the basis for change in clinical practice to improve health care provided for children.

Acknowledgement

This work is part of a larger project funded by the Neonatal and Paediatric Pharmacists Group.

Reference

Rashed AN, Tomlin S, Arenas-Lópes S, et al. Evaluation of the practice of dose-rounding in paediatrics. Int J Pharm Pract 2019 May 29. doi:10.1111/ijpp.12549. [Epub ahead of print]
P50 Time and motion study to assess workload versus staffing at in paediatric hospital chemotherapy manufacturing unit
Authors: Samrin-Balch Lamia , Laxaman Jessica
Published: August 2020

Objectives

In order to improve efficiency of the staff workload in the Paediatric Hospital Chemotherapy Manufacturing Unit, tasks conducted by the pharmacy staff were evaluated with their expected roles. The aims of this study were to establish an understanding of the workload at this unit and to develop a proposal for the unit to become technician-led.

Methods

The time taken to perform a pre-determined list of tasks by the senior pharmacy technician was recorded, collated, and compared to tasks performed by the pharmacist. This established the key activities that could be delegated from the pharmacist and the senior pharmacy technician to other members of staff. The findings were discussed with a focus group to establish the efficiency of the manufacturing unit and enable a proposal to be formed.

Key findings

A substantial part of the pharmacist’s and senior pharmacy technician’s time was spent on activities which could be delegated to other members of staff of a lower pay band. The financial implication of this estimated that there would be a reduction of around £8,696.70 with the correct utilisation of the staff members. The pharmacists leading this manufacturing unit were spending most of their time on computing and training, therefore reducing the time available for them to focus on patient-facing clinical activities.

Conclusions

The current skill mix was highlighted as being inefficient, due to a lack of delegation from the pharmacists and senior pharmacy technician. A technician-led manufacturing unit can improve the focus of pharmacists on clinical tasks while reducing the cost of activities.

References

Lord Carter of Coles. Operational productivity and performance in English NHS acute hospitals: unwarranted variations. An independent report for the Department of Health 2016; 10–11: 34–40.

Willett MS BK, Rich DS, Ereshefsky L. Prospectus on the economic value of clinical pharmacy services. A position statement of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. Pharmacotherapy 1989; 9:45–50.

Barnett MJ, et al. Analysis of pharmacist-provided medication therapy management (MTM) services in community pharmacies over 7 years. J Manag Care Pharm 2009;15:18–31.

Napier P, et al. Introducing a checking technician allows pharmacists to spend more time on patient-focused activities. Res Social AdmPharm 2018;14:382–386.