bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Enhanced representation of natural sound sequences in the ventral auditory midbrain
Authors: González-Palomares Eugenia , López-Jury Luciana , García-Rosales Francisco , Hechavarria Julio C.
Published: November 2019

The auditory midbrain (inferior colliculus, IC) plays an important role in sound processing, acting as hub for acoustic information extraction and for the implementation of fast audio-motor behaviors. IC neurons are topographically organized according to their sound frequency preference: dorsal IC regions encode low frequencies while ventral areas respond best to high frequencies, a type of sensory map defined as tonotopy. Tonotopic maps have been studied extensively using artificial stimuli (pure tones) but our knowledge of how these maps represent information about sequences of natural, spectro-temporally rich sounds is sparse. We studied this question by conducting simultaneous extracellular recordings across IC depths in awake bats (Carollia perspicillata) that listened to sequences of natural communication and echolocation sounds. The hypothesis was that information about these two types of sound streams is represented at different IC depths since they exhibit large differences in spectral composition, i.e. echolocation covers the high frequency portion of the bat soundscape (> 45 kHz), while communication sounds are broadband and carry most power at low frequencies (20-25 kHz). Our results showed that mutual information between neuronal responses and acoustic stimuli, as well as response redundancy in pairs of neurons recorded simultaneously, increase exponentially with IC depth. The latter occurs regardless of the sound type presented to the bats (echolocation or communication). Taken together, our results indicate the existence of mutual information and redundancy maps at the midbrain level whose response cannot be predicted based on the frequency composition of natural sounds and classic neuronal tuning curves.
A high-efficiency and high-spectral-resolution EUV/soft X-ray monochromator based on off-plane diffraction
Authors: Jark Werner
Published: November 2019

The most efficient diffraction at a periodic grating structure is expected to take place when the incident radiation can be considered to have been specularly reflected off the inclined part of grooves that are positioned parallel to the trajectory of the incident beam. Very encouraging results for this configuration, in which the diffraction takes place off-plane, have been reported recently for a grating to be used in a spectrometer for space science investigations. This grating provided high efficiency for a relatively large groove density and a large blaze angle. High efficiency was observed even in higher diffraction orders up to the fourth order. Here the performance parameters, especially for the combination of diffraction efficiency and achievable spectral resolution, will be discussed for a grating used in a grazing-incidence plane-grating monochromator for monochromatization of synchrotron radiation in the extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and soft X-ray range with photon energies between 30 eV and 2000 eV. It is found that the instrument can provide competitive spectral resolution in comparison with the use of in-plane diffraction. In the case of comparable spectral resolution, the off-plane diffraction is found to provide superior efficiency.
Organisational embeddedness as a moderator on the organisational support, trust and workplace deviance relationships
Authors: Singh Riann
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Emerging research calls for the exploration of the potential negative side of organisational embeddedness. It is important to assess such negative aspects to fully understand the power of embeddedness, and how to address the potential undesirable effects on employees and organisations. The purpose of this paper is to answer this call by assessing the extent to which organisational embeddedness can negatively influence the perceived organisational support-workplace deviance and the organisational trust–deviance relationships.

Design/methodology/approach

A sample of 969 employees across the financial services sector in the Caribbean nation of Trinidad is used, with a two-wave research design. Multiple hierarchical regression analysis is used to test the research relationships.

Findings

The findings support the propositions that organisational support and trust each negatively predicts workplace deviance and organisational embeddedness moderates each of these relationships in an undesirable way, such that, higher embeddedness weakens the desirable relationships between support, trust and deviance.

Originality/value

This study addresses a clear gap since limited studies explore the potential negative impact of organisational embeddedness on various work perceptions and behaviours. Embeddedness is largely considered a predictor of various desirable employee and organisational outcomes.
Time–cost–quality trade-off analysis for planning construction projects
Authors: Wang Tianqi , Abdallah Moatassem , Clevenger Caroline , Monghasemi Shahryar
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Achieving project objectives in constructionprojects such as time, cost and quality is a challenging task. Minimizing project cost often results in additional project duration and might jeopardize quality, and minimizing project duration often results in additional cost and might jeopardize quality. Also, increasing construction quality often results in additional cost and time. The purpose of this paper is to identify and analyze trade-offs among the project objectives of time, cost and quality.

Design/methodology/approach

The optimization model adopted a quantitative research method and is developed in two main steps formulation step that focuses on identifying model decision variables and formulating objective functions, and implementation step that executes the model computations using multi-objective optimization of Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithms to identify the aforementioned trade-offs, and codes the model using python. The model performance is verified and tested using a case study of construction project consisting of 20 activities.

Findings

The model was able to show practical and needed value for construction managers by identifying various trade-off solutions between the project objectives of time, cost and quality. For example, the model was able to identify the shortest project duration at 84 days while keeping cost under $440,000 and quality higher than 85 percent. However, with an additional budget of $20,000 (4.5 percent increase), the quality can be increased to 0.935 (8.5 percent improvement).

Research limitations/implications

The present research work is limited to project objectives of time, cost and quality. Future expansion of the model will focus on additional project objectives such as safety and sustainability. Furthermore, new optimization models can be developed for construction projects with repetitive nature such as roads, tunnels and high rise buildings.

Practical implications

The present model advances existing research in planning construction projects efficiently and achieving important project objectives. On the practical side, the optimization model will support the construction industry by allowing construction managers to identify the highest quality to deliver a construction project within specified budget and duration, lowest cost for specified duration and quality or shortest duration for specified budget and quality.

Originality/value

The present model introduces new and innovative method of increasing working hours per day and number of working days per shift while analyzing labor working efficiency and overtime rate to identify optimal trade-offs among important project objectives of time, cost and quality.
Friction factor calculation for turbulent flow in annulus with temperature effects
Authors: Sorgun Mehmet , Ulker Erman
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a new friction factor equation for practical use, including fluid temperature, pipe diameter ratio and inner pipe rotation effects.

Design/methodology/approach

A friction factor relationship is developed by applying Buckingham’s Theorem of dimensional analysis. Then, the formula is calibrated using experimental data conducted at Izmir Katip Celebi University flow loop. Moreover, the effects of fluid temperature, inner pipe rotation and pipe diameter ratio on friction factor are investigated experimentally.

Findings

Satisfactory agreements are obtained between proposed formula and experiments. The experimental results indicate that major variable parameters affecting friction factor is Reynolds number. Pipe rotation has negligible effect on friction factor at high Reynolds number. Prandtl number is one of the important parameters affecting the friction factor. Moreover, as the pipe diameter ratio is decreased, friction factor increases.

Originality/value

Determining fluid behavior of fluids under high temperature is especially important for deep wells during drilling. Temperature drastically changes fluid properties and flow characteristics in wells. These changes have a remarkable effect on pressure losses. However, since the temperature is considered constant in the calculation of the pressure loss, problems can be encountered in most systems. Friction factor is one of the important parameters for determining pressure loss in closed conduits. The originality of this work is to propose a new friction factor equation for practical use, including fluid temperature, pipe diameter ratio and inner pipe rotation effects.
Strategic alignment matrix
Authors: Bertolotti Fabiola , Macrì Diego Maria , Vignoli Matteo
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This paper aims to proposes a framework, labeled strategic alignment matrix, to attain organizational alignment by integrating the horizontal dimension of performance (results driven by activities carried out by multiple organizational units) and the vertical one (results of single units) through the use of a sophisticated information structure composed by quantitative measures and management processes.

Design/methodology/approach

A science-based design approach was adopted. A review of the literature on strategic performance measurement systems (SPMS) and coordination allowed the identification of a set of design principles (guidelines reflecting the accumulated knowledge in the literature). The design principles guided the design of the proposed framework. The framework was tested in a tiles company on the new product development process.

Findings

Five design principles are presented for the design of a working SPMS as follows: to integrate the horizontal and vertical dimensions of performance; to have all the relevant information in one place (package); to understand how actors contribute to the overall performance; to favor the emergence of integrating conditions for coordination; and to enrich the role of quantitative non-financial information to attain inter-functional integration. During the test of the framework, managers highlighted the increased ability to coordinate actions and the existence of double-loop learning.

Research limitations/implications

The model was tested in one organization. The study should be replicated in other contexts connecting the strategic alignment matrix to the budgeting and incentive systems.

Originality/value

Working at the interface between science and design helps to address the theory-practice gap that has been a priority in management studies for long.
Economic convergence in the EU and Eurozone
Authors: Marelli Enrico Piero , Parisi Maria Laura , Signorelli Marcello
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyse whether several groups of European countries are on track for real “conditional” economic convergence in per capita income and the likely speed of convergence. The paper focusses also on the changes of the convergence processes over time.

Design/methodology/approach

Unlike the simple “absolute convergence”, it explores the concept of “conditional” or “club” convergence. Moreover, it adopts the approach of extending the univariate model to take into account the panel dimension over an extended time interval and endogeneity.

Findings

A process of real economic convergence has characterised the period under investigation (1995–2016), but, in general, the size and significance of the parameter is greater for the wide European Union (EU) area (EU25 and above) rather than the Eurozone (EZ). However, the crises occurred after 2008 caused most of such lower convergence in the Euro area.

Research limitations/implications

This paper gives an estimate of the speed/time needed to several groups of European countries (EZ, in particular) to achieve real economic convergence. Future research could further develop the “stochastic” convergence concept.

Originality/value

This is an analysis of convergence in enlarging EU and EZ for an extended period (including the big crisis period and the subsequent recovery). It shows that EZ experienced a drop in the speed of real convergence after 2008 and converge at lower speed than the EU. As a consequence, a specific budget for EZ would be important to provide adjustment mechanisms after potentially large shocks.
Does persistence in internationalization and innovation influence firms’ performance?
Authors: Iandolo Stefano , Ferragina Anna Maria
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the joint effect of persistency in innovation and export on firms’ total factor productivity. In particular, the aim is to determine if exporting in international markets along subsequent periods, and being also continuously innovating over the same periods, can be associated with increases in firms’ productivity. The underlying idea is that time recurrence of these strategies is related to the firms’ ability to optimize external knowledge flows enhancing their productivity.

Design/methodology/approach

By using data on Italian manufacturing firms over the period 1998–2006, the authors distinguish between repeated and temporary exporting firms, as well as repeated and temporary innovators, to test (through two-step system generalized methods of moments) the existence of any combined learning-by-exporting and learning-by-doing effects.

Findings

This paper provides empirical findings about persistent innovation efforts being better associated with a permanent presence in foreign markets. More in detail, persistently innovative and exporting firms have better productivity results than persistently exporting (innovating) firms with non-persistent innovation (export). Combining both strategies could be an opportunity to internalize knowledge flows coming from long-lasting exposure to foreign markets. These results hold especially for small firms.

Originality/value

The novelty of this paper is twofold. First, the authors argue that the temporal dimension of firms’ exporting and innovating activities may influence firms’ productivity. Second, while previous studies explored the role of export and innovation on productivity in isolation, the authors consider the joint effect of this relationship and also explore it across the temporal dimension finding evidence that they have a positive, reinforced effects if firms implement these activities continuously and jointly. In this case, the effect of innovation and export on productivity is significantly higher than if firms with intermittent strategies do not have the time to internalize knowledge flows coming from participating in export market.
Tourism and social media in the world: an empirical investigation
Authors: Asongu Simplice , Odhiambo Nicholas M.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between tourism and social media from a cross section of 138 countries with data for the year 2012.

Design/methodology/approach

The empirical evidence is based on Ordinary Least Squares, Negative Binomial and Quantile Regressions.

Findings

Two main findings are established. First, there is a positive relationship between Facebook penetration and the number of tourist arrivals. Second, Facebook penetration is more relevant in promoting tourist arrivals in countries where initial levels in tourist arrivals are the highest and low. The established positive relationship can be elucidated from four principal angles: the transformation of travel research, the rise in social sharing, improvements in customer service and the reshaping of travel agencies.

Originality/value

This study explores a new data set on social media. There are very few empirical studies on the relevance of social media in development outcomes.
Effective training methods for fostering exceptional service employees
Authors: Luo Ching-Ching , Wang Yi-Chieh , Tai Yang-Fei
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine the essential abilities service employees need to deliver an exceptional service that delights customers and to identify effective methods to train exceptional service employees.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors conducted in-depth interviews with seven senior butlers and three human resource managers from four of the most renowned five-star hotels in Taiwan. Interviews with the two groups of participants provided good triangulation and allowed us to gain different perspectives and to obtain a more holistic understanding of the research topic.

Findings

This study systematically organized the essential abilities required to deliver delightful service into three hierarchical levels: professionalism, the ability to respond to customers’ emotions and hidden needs and build bonds with them, and the ability to deliver one-stop service. The authors propose that the most effective training method is to develop a customer-oriented service climate. Such an environment will enable service employees to be naturally molded into exceptional service personnel. Several training methods are identified to build a customer-oriented service environment within a company.

Research limitations/implications

This study focused on the staff of five-star hotels. The proposed service standards and abilities may only be applicable to high-end service providers. Furthermore, this study used only a qualitative research method (in-depth interviews) to develop a preliminary training model to foster outstanding service employees. This model can be further verified using a quantitative method and a larger number of participants in a future study.

Originality/value

This research provides contributions to the literature on delightful service and human resources management.
The productivity of GCC Islamic and conventional banks after Basel III announcement
Authors: Alsharif Mohammad , Nassir Annuar Md. , Kamarudin Fakarudin , Zariyawati M.A.
Published: November 2019

Purpose

This study aims to analyse Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Islamic and conventional banks’ productivity and to investigate the impact of Basel III on their productivity change. This study is conducted on 73 GCC banks (45 conventional and 28 Islamic) over the period of 2005-2015.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses the data envelopment analysis-type Malmquist productivity change index and its component indexes to obtain a deep insight into the source of productivity change.

Findings

The results show that Islamic banks are less productive than their conventional counterparts. Also, the results indicate that Basel III accord has impeded the GCC banks’ productivity and this negative effect is larger on Islamic banks. However, there is scale efficiency progress in the past years that offsets the production frontier deterioration, which leads to stagnation in total productivity change for both banks.

Originality/value

This study differs from the previous GCC banks’ productivity studies in several ways. Firstly, it covers a recent period that includes major events such as the global crisis and focuses on the influence of Basel III accord on GCC banks’ productivity. Secondly, as opposed to the previous studies, this study will estimate the GCC banks’ productivity index and its components based on separate frontiers for Islamic and conventional banks that will ensure the homogeneity in the sample and the robustness of the results. Thirdly, this study uses a combination of parametric and non-parametric tests to confirm and check the robustness of the findings. Lastly, to the best of the knowledge of the authors, this is the first study that tries to analyse the GCC banking sector productivity around the new Basel III announcement.
A multilevel analysis of factors related to business robbery clearance rates in a large city in Texas
Authors: Cooke Eric M. , Zhang Yan
Published: November 2019

Purpose

Business victimization is a serious and pervasive issue within the USA. According to recent estimates, roughly 2,058,194 businesses are victimized each year. Of those, approximately 33 percent of business victimization cases are solved. Taken together, it is important for research to examine factors that influence business victimization clearance. The purpose of this paper is to examine how broken windows enforcement, social disorganization, community and police organizational factors influence business robbery clearance using data from Houston, Texas over a two-year period from 2010 to 2012.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a hierarchical linear modeling strategy, the current study found no effect of broken windows tactics, social disorganization elements and various organizational, and community characteristics on business robbery clearance.

Findings

Significant effects were found for a number of incident and offense characteristics including gang involvement, business type, type of weapon used in the crime, the number of business entities in an area, and racial populous.

Originality/value

To date, few studies have examined factors that influence clearance rates for business robberies. Thus, the current study adds to and extends upon the literature in theoretically relevant ways by exploring how broken windows policing, social disorganization and various community/police organizational variables influence business robbery clearances in a large city.
Protecting children from internet pornography? A critical assessment of statutory age verification and its enforcement in the UK
Authors: Yar Majid
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically assess the newly created regulatory and policing regime for age-restricting access to pornography in the UK.

Design/methodology/approach

It examines the pivotal legislation, policy and strategy documents, consultation submissions and interventions from a range of stakeholders such as children’s charities, content providers and privacy advocates.

Findings

Even before its implementation, the regulatory regime betrays serious flaws and shortcomings in its framing and configuration. These difficulties include its inability to significantly curtail minors’ access to online pornography and risks of privacy violations and associated harms to legitimate users’ interests.

Research limitations/implications

Remedial measures are available so as to address some of the problems identified. However, it is argued that ultimately the attempt to prohibit minors from accessing such content is set to fail, and that alternative approaches – such as better equipping children through education to cope with explicit materials online – need to be given greater prominence.

Originality/value

This paper provides the first criminological policy analysis of this latest attempt to regulate and police online behaviour, and offers an important critical response to such efforts.
Reflections on the reporting of fraud in Australia
Authors: Cross Cassandra
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reflect on the reporting of cybercrime in Australia, specifically the reporting of fraud.

Design/methodology/approach

Using an evaluation of the (former) Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN), this paper provides a commentary on the report findings, including both positive and negative aspects of the reporting mechanism.

Findings

The paper focuses on three key challenges that were identified in the evaluation: victim satisfaction; quality of data; and unintended consequences. Each of these topics is outlined and located within a broader context to better understand the evaluation findings.

Research limitations/implications

This viewpoint paper is a commentary based upon an evaluation of ACORN which itself has several limitations of its methodology. Despite this, the evaluation provides important insights into the challenges that currently exist with the online reporting of fraud offences both in Australia, and worldwide.

Practical implications

This paper emphasises the structural and systemic issues that exist for the reporting of fraud in Australia. It therefore warns against placing blame exclusively on police agencies as responsible for these results. Instead, it advocates the need for society to take a more coordinated and collaborative approach to the policing of fraud, which includes law enforcement, government and industry partners.

Social implications

The paper documents some of the underlying reasons for additional trauma and harm experienced by victims of fraud in their efforts to report their incident and receive what they perceive to be an appropriate criminal justice response. These must be acknowledged in order to make the required change.

Originality/value

This paper is a commentary and reflection on the current way in which fraud is reported in Australia. It points to a need to rethink this approach in some key areas. It highlights the critical need for an education campaign to dispel some of the myths that exist in relation to realistic police responses to fraud, and also calls for the need to consider alternatives to the exclusively online system currently in operation, as well as larger questions about notions of justice and appropriate responses to fraud victims.
Will MiFID II tame the investment services industry of the Baltic Tigers?
Authors: Huettinger Maik , Krašauskaitė Agnė
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of the markets in financial instruments directive II (MiFID II) on investment services in the Baltic states.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors take an exploratory, qualitative approach, based on data conducted from interviews with nine investment industry professionals using the laddering technique. The pool of experts was selected using the purposeful sampling method, and experts must have had a minimum of five years investment experience in the Baltics, working familiarity with MiFID II, and a university education in the fields of finance or economics.

Findings

The strict requirements of MiFID II reduce the range of available investment products and services for customers in the Baltics. Also, the profitability of Baltic investment companies decreased due to high compliance costs and bans on inducements. The results indicate that this may lead to increased barriers to entry and mergers and acquisitions for small investment companies.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first attempt to research the implications of MiFID II implementation in the Baltic states. The qualitative approach chosen offers a unique opportunity to highlight the critical effects of MiFID II on financial intermediates in smaller geographical markets.
Corrosion and wear analysis of HVOLF sprayed WC-10CO-4Cr coating on geothermal turbine blade
Authors: Kumar Manoj , Upadhyaya Rohit
Published: November 2019

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop the high pressure high-velocity oxy-liquid fuel sprayed WC-10Co-4Cr coatings on geothermal turbine 9Cr-1Mo steel for protection against wear and corrosion.

Design/methodology/approach

The microstructural characterization of as-deposited and corroded coating was done and presented using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscope/energy dispersive spectroscopy analysis.

Findings

The developed coating offered 50 per cent enhanced microhardness (1,200 HV) and 100 per cent enhanced wear resistance, in comparison to bare geothermal turbine steel, respectively. The coating has shown enhanced life in the simulated working conditions (fog test and dip test). This may be because of the high microhardness of the developed coating as per the proven tribological theories.

Originality/value

Coating offered excellent corrosion resistance in the harsher simulated environments to geothermal turbines.
Microbial communities of the Laurentian Great Lakes reflect connectivity and local biogeochemistry
Authors: Paver Sara F. , Newton Ryan J. , Coleman Maureen L.
Published: November 2019

The Laurentian Great Lakes are a vast, interconnected freshwater system spanning strong physicochemical gradients, thus constituting a powerful natural laboratory for addressing fundamental questions about microbial ecology and evolution. We present a comparative analysis of pelagic microbial communities across all five Laurentian Great Lakes, focusing on Bacterial and Archaeal picoplankton characterized via 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. We collected samples throughout the water column from the major basins of each lake in spring and summer over 2 years. Two oligotypes, classified as LD12 (Alphaproteobacteria) and acI‐B1 (Actinobacteria), were among the most abundant in every sample. At the same time, microbial communities showed distinct patterns with depth during summer stratification. Deep hypolimnion samples were frequently dominated by a Chloroflexi oligotype that reached up to 19% relative abundance. Stratified surface communities differed between the colder, less productive upper lakes (Superior, Michigan, Huron) and warmer, more productive lower lakes (Erie, Ontario), in part due to an Actinobacteria oligotype (acI‐C2) that averaged 7.7% of sequences in the lower lakes but <0.2% in the upper lakes. Together, our findings suggest that both hydrologic connectivity and local selective pressures shape microbial communities in the Great Lakes and establish a framework for future investigations.
Dataset of Digitized RACs and Their Rarity Score Analysis for Strengthening Shoeprint Evidence
Authors: Wiesner Sarena , Shor Yaron , Tsach Tsadok , Kaplan-Damary Naomi , Yekutieli Yoram
Published: November 2019

In recent years, there is a growing demand to fortify the scientific basis of forensic methodology. During 2016, the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) published a report that states there are no appropriate empirical studies that support the foundational validity of footwear analysis to associate shoeprints with particular shoes based on specific identifying marks, which is a basic scientific demand from the field. Furthermore, meaningful databases that can support such studies do not exist. Without such databases, statistical presentation of the comparison results cannot be fulfilled either. In this study, a database of over 13,000 randomly acquired characteristics (RACs) such as scratches, nicks, tears, and holes, as they appear on shoe sole test impressions, from nearly 400 shoe soles was collected semi‐automatically. The location, orientation, and the contour of each RAC were determined for all the RACs on each test impression. The statistical algorithm Statistic Evaluation of Shoeprint Accidentals (SESA) was developed to calculate a score for finding another feature similar to a particular scanned and digitized RAC in the same shape, location, and orientation as the examined one. A correlation was found between the results of SESA and the results of real casework, strengthening our belief in the ability of SESA to assist the expert in reaching a conclusion while performing casework. The score received at the end of the process serves the expert as a guiding number, allowing more objective and accurate results and conclusions.
How do managerial, task, and individual factors inflruence flexible work arrangement participation and abandonment?
Authors: Kwon Myungjung , Cho Yoon Jik , Song Hyun Jin
Published: November 2019

Since the enactment of the Smartwork policy permitting flexible work arrangements (FWA), increasing numbers of Korean government agencies have allowed their staff to participate in FWA that help them achieve a good work/life balance. Yet, Korean public employees in general are reluctant to participate in FWA and many that initially participate wind up abandoning FWA. With a comprehensive theoretical framework, this article examines how managerial factors, task factors, and individual characteristics influence Korean public employee participation in and abandonment of FWA. With the 2016 Survey of Public Employee Perception on Smartwork, this article finds that all of these factors and characteristics affect Korean government employee participation in and/or abandonment of FWA. In particular, the findings present that supervisory support for balancing work/life issues increases FWA participation and decreases FWA abandonment. On the other hand, the findings illustrate that a hierarchical organizational culture is an obstacle to FWA participation and increases FWA abandonment.
Phytochemical‐Rich Antioxidant Extracts of Vaccinium Vitis‐idaea L. Leaves Inhibit the Formation of Toxic Maillard Reaction Products in Food Models
Authors: Račkauskienė Ieva , Pukalskas Audrius , Fiore Alberto , Troise Antonio Dario , Venskutonis Petras Rimantas
Published: November 2019

Thermal treatment of proteinaceous foods generates heat‐induced Maillard reaction substances including toxic advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and heterocyclic amines (HAs). It is known that plant phenolic compounds may influence Maillard reaction. This study investigated the impact of lingonberry leaf extracts on the formation of Nε‐(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) and Nε‐(2‐furoylmethyl)‐L‐lysine (furosine) in milk model system and HAs in meat‐protein and meat model systems. In addition, lingonberry leaf extracts obtained by different solvents were characterized by radical scavenging, Folin–Ciocalteu assays and ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography quadruple‐time‐of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC‐qTOF‐MS). Water extract (WE) stronger suppressed CML than furosine formation in milk model system: CML levels were reduced by nearly 40%. Moreover, quinic acid and catechin, which were abundant in WE, were effective in inhibiting CML and furosine formation. WE and acetone extract (AE) at 10 mg/mL significantly inhibited HAs formation in both model systems. However, higher suppressing effect on HAs formation showed AE, which had lower antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content values than WE. WE contained higher amounts of hydroxycinnamic acids, proanthocyanidins and flavonols, while AE was richer in flavan‐3‐ols and arbutin derivatives. It indicates that the composition of phenolics might be a major factor for explaining different effect of extracts from the same plant on HAs formation. In general, the results suggest that lingonberry leaves is a promising source of phytochemicals for inhibiting toxic Maillard reaction products and enriching foods with plant bioactive compounds.

Practical Application

The increased consumption in processed foods has been linked with the increased risks of various diseases, while thermal food processing is required to develop flavor, insure safety, and extend shelf life. Therefore, developing effective technological means for inhibiting the formation of heat‐induced toxic substances is an important task. This study showed a potential of lingonberry leaf extracts containing health beneficial phytochemicals to suppress the formation of toxic Maillard reaction products during heating of milk and meat.
Estimation of multiple male mating frequency using paternity skew: An example from a grey‐sided vole (Myodes rufocanus) population
Authors: Wakabayashi Hiroko , Saitoh Takashi
Published: November 2019

Multiple male mating (MMM) causes sperm competition, which may play an important role in the evolution of reproductive traits. The frequency of multiple paternity (MP), where multiple males sire offspring within a single litter, has been used as an index of MMM frequency. However, MP frequency is necessarily lower than MMM frequency. The magnitude of the difference between MMM and MP frequency depends on litter size (LS) and fertilization probability skew (FPS), and this difference may be meaningfully large in animals with small LSs. In this study, we propose a method to estimate MMM frequency using an individual‐based model with three variables (MP frequency, LS and FPS). We incorporated observed paternity skew data to infer a possible range of FPS that cannot be measured in free‐living populations and tested the validity of our method using a data set from a grey‐sided vole (Myodes rufocanus) population and from hypothetical populations. MP was found in 50 out of 215 litters (23.3%) in the grey‐sided vole population, while MMM frequency was estimated in 67 of 215 litters (31.2%), with a certainty range of 59–88 (27.4%–40.9%). The point estimation of MMM frequency was realized, and the certainty range was limited within the practical range. The use of observed paternity skew was very effective at narrowing the certainty range of the estimate. Our method could contribute to a deeper understanding of the ecology of MMM in free‐living populations.
Incidence and risk factors of bradycardia in pediatric patients undergoing intranasal dexmedetomidine sedation
Authors: Lei Huang , Chao Li , Miao Tan , Ya Jun Li , Shen Ling Liu , Yan Ying Pu , Xiao Han Peng , Yun Bo Xu , Xin Tan
Published: November 2019

Background

Dexmedetomidine is widely used for non‐invasive pediatric procedural sedation. However, the hemodynamic effects of intravenous dexmedetomidine are a concern. There has been a growing interest in the application of intranasal dexmedetomidine as a sedative in children.

Objective

To investigate the incidence of bradycardia in children undergoing intranasal dexmedetomidine sedation and to identify the associated risk factors.

Methods

Data pertaining to pediatric patients who underwent intranasal dexmedetomidine sedation for non‐invasive investigations at the Kunming Children's Hospital between October 2017 and August 2018 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Out of 9984 children who qualified for inclusion, 228 children (2.3%) developed bradycardia. The incidence of bradycardia in the group that received additional dose of dexmedetomidine was higher than that in the group that did not receive additional dose (9.2% vs 16.7%; P = .003). The incidence of bradycardia in males was higher than that in females (2.6% vs 1.8%; P = .007). On multivariate logistic regression, only male gender showed an independent association with the occurrence of bradycardia (odds ratio 1.48; 95% confidence interval 1.11‐1.97; P = .008).

Conclusions

The overall incidence of bradycardia in children after sole use of intranasal dexmedetomidine sedation was 2.3%. Male children showed a 1.48‐fold higher risk of bradycardia. However, the blood pressure of the children who developed bradycardia was within the normal range. Simple wake‐up can effectively manage bradycardia induced by intranasal dexmedetomidine sedation.
Hypervolemia does not cause degradation of the endothelial glycocalyx layer during open hysterectomy performed under sevoflurane or propofol anesthesia
Authors: Nemme Janis , Krizhanovskii Camilla , Ntika Stelia , Sabelnikovs Olegs , Vanags Indulis , Hahn Robert G.
Published: November 2019

Background

Fluid‐induced hypervolemia may stimulate the release of natriuretic peptides and cause degradation (shedding) of the endothelial glycocalyx layer. Sevoflurane is believed to protect the glycocalyx, but the importance of using sevoflurane to prevent shedding during routine surgery is unclear.

Methods

The plasma concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide and two biomarkers of glycocalyx shedding, syndecan‐1, and heparan sulfate, were measured in 26 patients randomized to receive general anesthesia with sevoflurane or propofol during open abdominal hysterectomy. The fluid therapy consisted of 25 mL/kg (approximately 2 L) of Ringer´s lactate over 30 minutes. Blood hemoglobin and plasma albumin were used to indicate plasma volume expansion and capillary leakage.

Results

The plasma concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide and shedding products showed low levels throughout the surgery (median brain natriuretic peptide, 21 ng/L; syndecan‐1, 12.9 ng/mL; and heparan sulfate, 6.5 µg/mL), but the heparan sulfate concentration increased 2 hours post‐operatively (to 17.3 µg/mL, P < .005). No differences were noted between the propofol and sevoflurane groups in any of the measured parameters. Albumin was apparently recruited to the bloodstream during the first 20 minutes, when the intravascular retention of infused fluid was almost 100%. The urine flow was <1 mL/min, despite the vigorous volume loading.

Conclusions

No relevant elevations of brain natriuretic peptide or degradation products of the glycocalyx layer were observed when hypervolemia was induced during open abdominal hysterectomy performed with sevoflurane or propofol anesthesia. Plasma volume expansion from Ringer´s lactate was pronounced.
Intra‐ and inter‐Individual variability in nerve block duration: A randomized cross‐over trial in the common peroneal nerve of healthy volunteers
Authors: Madsen Mikkel H. , Christiansen Claus B. , Mølleskov Elise , Rothe Christian , Jensen Andreas E. K. , Lundstrøm Lars H. , Lange Kai H. W.
Published: November 2019

Background

The reported variation in nerve block duration is considerable. To individualize nerve block therapy, knowledge of the intra‐ vs inter‐individual variability is essential. We investigated the relative contribution of these 2 parameters to the overall nerve block duration variability.

Methods

With ethics committee approval, we conducted a randomized cross‐over trial where 20 healthy volunteers received 8 common peroneal nerve blockades with lidocaine 0.5% on 4 consecutive days. Allocations were 5 mL to either the right or left side and 10 mL to the opposite side on day 1 and 2 and vice versa on day 3 and 4. With fixed needle entry and nerve target, we repeated local anaesthetic deposition for each blockade. The primary outcome was variation in duration of sensory nerve block defined as insensitivity to a cold stimulus. Data were analysed using linear mixed model regression.

Results

The mean sensory block duration of 380 (95% CI = [342; 418]) minutes on day one was 55 [33; 77] minutes longer than on day two (P < .001), but there were no differences in mean duration between days 2, 3 and 4. The ratios with 2.5; 97.5 percentiles between inter‐ and intra‐individual variation were 2.4 [0.8; 5.2] for the 5 mL blockades and 3.0 [0.9; 6.7] for the 10 mL blockades. The probabilities of inter‐ to intra‐individual variation‐ratios >1 were 96% and 97%. Conclusion: The intra‐individual variability is a substantially minor contributor to the overall variability in sensory nerve block duration compared with the inter‐individual variability.
“That’s the World Standard”: A Critical Ethnography of “Universal” Knowledge
Authors: Geerlings Lennie , Lundberg Anita
Published: November 2019

This paper analyzes how knowledge is reproduced as “universal” in contemporary higher education and how this production of universality influences the application of knowledge. Using a case study of clinical psychology, it describes the results of over two years of ethnographic fieldwork in a university and professional settings in Singapore with short comparative field studies in Australia and the Netherlands. The results provide critical insights into the cultural effects and knowledge contestations within transnational higher education.
Understanding rural household behavior: Beyond Boserup and Becker
Authors: Doss Cheryl R. , Quisumbing Agnes R.
Published: November 2019

New data and new methods have provided many new insights into rural households in the past 50 years. We analyze what we have learned from household models since Boserup and Becker, using this to frame more recent findings about household behavior from three types of studies: observational studies, experimental games, and impact evaluations. More sex‐disaggregated data, as well as data that are collected at smaller units, such as agricultural plots, have allowed us to better understand agricultural productivity, risk sharing, and spousal cooperation. However, the focus on bargaining within households has often led us to ignore the cooperation that occurs within households. Many resources are owned and managed jointly by household members and many decisions are made jointly, although not all parties necessarily have equal voice in these decisions. Research demonstrating that households often do not reach efficient outcomes suggests that we still have much to learn about rural household behavior. Understanding both individual roles within households and the levels of cooperation, including joint decision making and ownership of resources, is essential to analysis of households, especially in rural areas where households engage in both production and consumption.
Patterns of mandibular asymmetries in two types of companion rabbits
Authors: Parés‐Casanova Pere M. , Cabello Maria
Published: November 2019

Developmental instability hypothesis suggests that asymmetric variation can partially reflect the body's inability to buffer environmental and/or genetic perturbations. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), that is random differences between the left and right sides of body features that are symmetric at the population level, can assess this approach. Another kind of asymmetry is directional asymmetry (DA) which appears when the left and right sides differ consistently from each other. Extreme selection for morphological traits, as appear in some companion rabbits selected for a paedomorphic (dwarf rabbits) or gerontomorphic (belier rabbits) appearance, may cause abnormal functional conditions, which in turn could be expressed as significative degrees of asymmetries. To study these phenomena, we analysed 62 mandibles of companion rabbits (20 beliers and 42 dwarfs) by means of geometric morphometric methods and quantified their size and shape asymmetric variation (both FA and DA) using 18 landmarks on the lateral side. FA was present in both types but in different degrees, being higher among dwarfs. It is considered that this type is subject to deeper changes than among beliers, and therefore, there is higher pressure on the phenotype. This observation could be assumed to be an adaptive response, coming out as FA. The presence of DA was significative and similar for two types. This likely indicates common masticatory lateralization, a pattern that has been detected in other domestic mammals. The methodological framework presented in this study can be valuable for future works focused on genetically and/or environmentally related form study in pets.