bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating 17 years of latent tuberculosis infection screening in north-west England: a retrospective cohort study of reactivation
Authors: Zenner Dominik , Loutet Miranda G. , Harris Ross , Wilson Stephen , Ormerod L. Peter
Published: July 2017

Approximately 72% of tuberculosis (TB) cases in England occur among non-UK born individuals, mostly as a result of reactivation of latent TB infection (LTBI). Programmatic LTBI screening is a key intervention of the TB strategy for England. This article reviews the results of a long-standing LTBI screening initiative in England.

A retrospective cohort was created through probabilistic linkage between LTBI screening data and national TB case notifications. Screened persons were followed until they died, became a case, emigrated or until cohort-end. TB incidence rates and rate ratios (IRR) were calculated.

97 out of 1820 individuals screened for LTBI were reported to have active TB. Crude incidence rates among LTBI-positive, treatment-naïve individuals were 4.1 and 2.3 per 100 person-years in the QuantiFERON and tuberculin skin test cohorts, respectively. Among the QuantiFERON cohort, Poisson regression showed that LTBI positivity (IRR 22.6, 95% CI 6.8–74.6) and no chemoprophylaxis increased the probability of becoming a TB case (IRR 0.17, 95% CI 0.05–0.6).

We found high TB rates in LTBI-positive, treatment-naïve individuals and a strong association between no treatment and becoming a TB case, demonstrating feasibility and effectiveness of LTBI screening and providing important policy lessons for LTBI screening in England and beyond.
High-quality genome sequence of the radioresistant bacterium Deinococcus ficus KS 0460
Authors: Matrosova Vera Y. , Gaidamakova Elena K. , Makarova Kira S. , Grichenko Olga , Klimenkova Polina , Volpe Robert P. , Tkavc Rok , Ertem Gözen , Conze Isabel H. , Brambilla Evelyne , Huntemann Marcel , Clum Alicia , Pillay Manoj , Palaniappan Krishnaveni , Varghese Neha , Mikhailova Natalia , Stamatis Dimitrios , Reddy TBK , Daum Chris , Shapiro Nicole , Ivanova Natalia , Kyrpides Nikos , Woyke Tanja , Daligault Hajnalka , Davenport Karen , Erkkila Tracy , Goodwin Lynne A. , Gu Wei , Munk Christine , Teshima Hazuki , Xu Yan , Chain Patrick , Woolbert Michael , Gunde-Cimerman Nina , Wolf Yuri I. , Grebenc Tine , Gostinčar Cene , Daly Michael J.
Published: July 2017

The genetic platforms of Deinococcus species remain the only systems in which massive ionizing radiation (IR)-induced genome damage can be investigated in vivo at exposures commensurate with cellular survival. We report the whole genome sequence of the extremely IR-resistant rod-shaped bacterium Deinococcus ficus KS 0460 and its phenotypic characterization. Deinococcus ficus KS 0460 has been studied since 1987, first under the name Deinobacter grandis, then Deinococcus grandis. The D. ficus KS 0460 genome consists of a 4.019 Mbp sequence (69.7% GC content and 3894 predicted genes) divided into six genome partitions, five of which are confirmed to be circular. Circularity was determined manually by mate pair linkage. Approximately 76% of the predicted proteins contained identifiable Pfam domains and 72% were assigned to COGs. Of all D. ficus KS 0460 proteins, 79% and 70% had homologues in Deinococcus radiodurans ATCC BAA-816 and Deinococcus geothermalis DSM 11300, respectively. The most striking differences between D. ficus KS 0460 and D. radiodurans BAA-816 identified by the comparison of the KEGG pathways were as follows: (i) D. ficus lacks nine enzymes of purine degradation present in D. radiodurans, and (ii) D. ficus contains eight enzymes involved in nitrogen metabolism, including nitrate and nitrite reductases, that D. radiodurans lacks. Moreover, genes previously considered to be important to IR resistance are missing in D. ficus KS 0460, namely, for the Mn-transporter nramp, and proteins DdrF, DdrJ and DdrK, all of which are also missing in Deinococcus deserti. Otherwise, D. ficus KS 0460 exemplifies the Deinococcus lineage.
Foundation News
Authors: Forrest Michael C.
Published: July 2017

Giving to charity is a very rewarding experience. But how many of us practice regular charitable giving? Probably not enough. I have been personally donating to SEG (through the SEG Foundation) since the mid-1990s, and I can honestly say that the experience has been very satisfying. Since becoming a donor and getting more involved with the Society, most recently as chair of the SEG Foundation Board of Directors, I continue to be engaged. Students and early geophysicists, and even old-timers like me, benefit from SEG educational programs, workshops, and forums. I am especially proud to support SEG's humanitarian program Geoscientists Without Borders® that uses near-surface geophysical technology on water projects and mitigation of hazards such as landsides and tsunamis to positively impact the lives of people around the world. Please join the thousands of SEG members who support the SEG Foundation every year and help make these programs possible.
Operational deployment of compressive sensing systems for seismic data acquisition
Authors: Mosher Charles C. , Li Chengbo , Janiszewski Frank D. , Williams Laurence S. , Carey Tiffany C. , Ji Yongchang
Published: July 2017

Compressive sensing (CS) provides a new basis for sampling that can increase sampling efficiency for seismic data acquisition by an order of magnitude. A major challenge for this new technology is to show that theoretical increases in sampling efficiency can be translated to real efficiency gains in the field. Along with efficiency gains, data quality must be preserved in order to gain acceptance of a new acquisition technology. CS designs require solution of large optimization problems that are consistent with compressive sampling theory. We refer to our optimization framework for CS-based acquisition design and processing as compressive seismic imaging (CSI). We illustrate our CSI framework on example projects for ocean-bottom node, narrow-azimuth marine streamer, and land vibroseis acquisition. The ocean-bottom-node project was conducted in the UK North Sea during the difficult winter season. A CSI dual-source design was used to significantly reduce shooting time for this project. The project was completed on time, under budget, and with data quality that exceeded the quality of an overlapping uniformly sampled survey. The narrow-azimuth marine CSI survey project was acquired in offshore Australia for field development purposes. Nonuniform CSI sampling was used to increase sampling efficiency for both sources and cables, resulting in significant improvements in data quality and lateral resolution. The land vibroseis project was conducted on the North Slope of Alaska. In this case, the goal was to acquire a development survey of sufficient size within a short time window. Nonuniform CSI sampling was used to support the use of 10 or more vibrators shooting simultaneously, along with improving sampling efficiency for both sources and receivers. Compared to conventional designs, the CSI survey achieved an order of magnitude improvement in field acquisition efficiency and step-function improvements in data quality. These examples show that theoretical improvements in sampling efficiency from CS can make real and significant impacts on seismic data acquisition and processing.
Highly repeatable time-lapse seismic with distributed compressive sensing — Mitigating effects of calibration errors
Authors: Oghenekohwo Felix , Herrmann Felix J.
Published: July 2017

Recently, we demonstrated that combining joint recovery with low-cost nonreplicated randomized sampling tailored to time-lapse seismic can give us access to high-fidelity, highly repeatable, dense prestack vintages, and high-grade time lapse. To arrive at this result, we assumed well-calibrated surveys — i.e., we presumed accurate postplot source/receiver positions. Unfortunately, in practice, seismic surveys are prone to calibration errors, which are unknown deviations between actual and postplot acquisition geometry. By means of synthetic experiments, we analyze the possible impact of these errors on vintages and on time-lapse data obtained with our joint-recovery model from compressively sampled surveys. Supported by these experiments, we demonstrate that highly repeatable time-lapse vintages are attainable despite the presence of unknown calibration errors in the positions of the shots. We assess the repeatability quantitatively for two scenarios by studying the impact of calibration errors on conventional dense but irregularly sampled surveys and on low-cost compressed surveys. To separate time-lapse effects from calibration issues, we consider the idealized case in which the subsurface remains unchanged and the practical situation in which time-lapse changes are restricted to a subset of the data. In both cases, the quality of the recovered vintages and time lapse decreases gracefully for low-cost compressed surveys with increasing calibration errors. Conversely, the quality of vintages from expensive densely periodically sampled surveys decreases more rapidly as unknown and difficult-to-control calibration errors increase.
The WFSA Global Anesthesia Workforce Survey
Authors: Kempthorne Peter , Morriss Wayne W. , Mellin-Olsen Jannicke , Gore-Booth Julian
Published: July 2017

BACKGROUND:

Safe anesthesia and surgical care are not available when needed for 5 billion of the world’s 7 billion people. There are major deficiencies in the specialist surgical workforce in many parts of the world, and specific data on the anesthesia workforce are lacking.

METHODS:

The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists conducted a workforce survey during 2015 and 2016. The aim of the survey was to collect detailed information on physician anesthesia provider (PAP) and non-physician anesthesia provider (NPAP) numbers, distribution, and training. Data were categorized according to World Health Organization regional groups and World Bank income groups.

RESULTS:

We obtained information for 153 of 197 countries, representing 97.5% of the world’s population. There were marked differences in the density of PAPs between World Health Organization regions and between World Bank income groups, ranging from 0 to over 20 PAP per 100,000 population. Seventy-seven countries reported a PAP density of <5, with particularly low densities in the African and South-East Asia regions. NPAPs make up a large part of the global anesthesia workforce, especially in countries with limited resources. Even when NPAPs are included, 70 countries had a total anesthesia provider density of <5 per 100,000. Using current population data, over 136,000 additional PAPs would be needed immediately to achieve a minimum density of 5 per 100,000 population in all countries.

CONCLUSIONS:

The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists Global Anesthesia Workforce Survey is the most comprehensive study of the global anesthesia workforce to date. It is the first step in a process of ongoing data collection and longitudinal follow-up. The authors recommend an interim goal of at least 5 specialist physician anesthesia providers (anesthesiologists) per 100,000 population. A marked increase in training of PAPs and NPAPs will need to occur if we are to have any hope of achieving safe anesthesia for all by 2030.
Comparison Between the Cobra Perilaryngeal Airway and Laryngeal Mask Airways Under General Anesthesia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Xu Rui , Zhu Yun , Fan Qing , Shen Xia , Li Wen Xian
Published: July 2017

The complication rate and efficacy of the Cobra Perilaryngeal Airway (CobraPLA) and laryngeal mask airways (LMAs®) have been evaluated in the published literature, but the conclusions have been inconsistent. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was thus to assess the performance of the CobraPLA and LMAs under general anesthesia. We searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for randomized controlled trials comparing the CobraPLA with LMAs under general anesthesia. The LMAs used for comparison were the classic LMA (CLMA) and the unique LMA (ULMA). The random effect model was used if heterogeneity was observed, otherwise the fixed effect model was used. Seventeen randomized controlled trials were included; number of studies analyzed for each result are different and were up to 10. The current result suggests that no significant difference between the devices in the insertion success rate at the first attempt. The success rate of first insertion of the CobraPLA was not different from the rates for the CLMA and the ULMA (relative risk: 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.91–1.00). CobraPLA insertion was not different from CLMA and ULMA insertion. The CobraPLA provided an oropharyngeal leak pressure higher than that provided by the CLMA (weight mean difference: 3.90, 95% CI, [1.59–6.21] cmH2O) and ULMA (weight mean difference: 6.57, 95% CI, [4.30–8.84] cmH2O). We also found a higher likelihood of blood staining in the airway with the CobraPLA than with the CLMA. In our research, the principal finding of our meta-analysis is that the success rate of first insertion of the CobraPLA was not different from the rate for each of the CLMA and the ULMA, which featured a short learning curve implying its ease of insertion. There was also no significant difference in the incidence of the best view (with a score of 4) obtained with the CobraPLA compared with the other 2 devices. The CobraPLA does seem to be superior to the CLMA and ULMA in providing a higher oropharyngeal leak pressure. The data were insufficient to establish differences in airway adverse events between the groups except for blood staining in the devices, although mucosal trauma occurred more frequently with the Cobra PLA device than with the CLMA and the ULMA.
Adaptive camouflage: What can be learned from the wetting behaviour of the tropical flatbugsDysodius lunatusandD. magnus
Authors: Hischen Florian , Reiswich Vladislav , Kupsch Desirée , De Mecquenem Ninon , Riedel Michael , Himmelsbach Markus , Weth Agnes , Heiss Ernst , Armbruster Oskar , Heitz Johannes , Baumgartner Werner
Published: July 2017

The neotropical flatbug species Dysodius lunatus and Dysodius magnus show a fascinating camouflage principle. Its appearance renders the animal hardly visible on the bark of trees. However, when getting wet due to rain, bark changes its colour and gets darker. In order to keep the camouflage effect, it seems as if some Dysodius species benefit from their ability to hold a water film on their cuticle and therefore change their optical properties when wetted by water too. This camouflage behaviour requires the insect to have a hydrophilic surface and passive surface structures, which facilitate the liquid spreading. Here we show morphological and chemical characterisations of the surface, especially the cuticular waxes of Dysodius magnus. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the animal is covered with pillar-like microstructures which in combination with a surprising chemical hydrophilicity of the cuticle waxes, render the bug almost superhydrophilic: Water spreads immediately across the surface. We could theoretically model this behaviour assuming the effect of hemi-wicking (a state in which a droplet sits on a rough surface, partwise imbibing the structure around). Additionally the principle was abstracted and a laser patterned polymer surface, mimicking the structure and contact angle of Dysodius-wax, shows exactly the behaviour of the natural role model – immediate spreading of water and the formation of a thin continuous water film changing optical properties of the surface.
The probability of the wing damage in the dragonflySympetrum vulgatum(Anisoptera: Libellulidae): a field study
Authors: Rajabi Hamed , Schroeter Veronica , Eshghi Shahab , Gorb Stanislav N.
Published: July 2017

Dragonfly wings resist millions of cycles of dynamic loading in their lifespan. During their operation, the wings are subjected to relatively high mechanical stresses. They further experience accidental collisions which result from the insects’ daily activities, such as foraging, mating and fighting with other individuals. All these factors may lead to irreversible wing damage. Here, for the first time, we collected qualitative and quantitative data to systematically investigate the occurrence of damage in dragonfly wings in nature. The results obtained from the analysis of 119 wings of more than 30 individuals of Sympetrum vulgatum (Anisoptera, Libellulidae), collected at the second half of their flight period, indicate a high risk of damage in both fore- and hindwings. Statistical analyses show no significant difference between the extents of damage neither in fore- and hindwings nor in male and female dragonflies. However, we observe a considerable difference in the probability of damage in different wing regions. The wing damage is found to be mainly due to two failure modes: wear and fracture.
The initiator caspase Dronc plays a non-apoptotic role in promoting DNA damage signalling in D. melanogaster
Authors: Khan Chaitali , Muliyil Sonia , Ayyub Champakali , Rao Basuthkar J.
Published: July 2017

The phosphorylation of the variant histone H2Ax (denoted γH2Ax; γH2Av in flies) constitutes an important signalling event in DNA damage sensing, ensuring effective repair by recruiting DNA repair machinery. In contrast, the γH2Av response has also been reported in dying cells, where it requires activation of caspase-activated DNases (CADs). Moreover, caspases are known to be required downstream of DNA damage for cell death execution. We show here, for the first time, that the Drosophila initiator caspase Dronc acts as an upstream regulator of the DNA damage response (DDR) independently of executioner caspases by facilitating γH2Av signalling, possibly through a function that is not related to apoptosis. Such a γH2Av response is mediated by ATM rather than ATR, suggesting that Dronc function is required upstream of ATM. In contrast, the role of γH2Av in cell death requires effector caspases and is associated with fragmented nuclei. Our study uncovers a novel function of Dronc in response to DNA damage aimed at promoting DDR via γH2Av signalling in intact nuclei. We propose that Dronc plays a dual role that can either initiate DDR or apoptosis depending upon its level and the required threshold of its activation in damaged cells.

This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
Cdk5-Mcl-1 axis promotes mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease model
Authors: Nikhil Kumar , Shah Kavita
Published: July 2017

Cdk5 deregulation is highly neurotoxic in AD. We identified Mcl-1 as a direct Cdk5 substrate using an innovative chemical screen in mouse brain lysates. Our data demonstrate that Mcl-1 levels determine the threshold for cellular damage in response to neurotoxic insults. Mcl-1 is a disease-specific target of Cdk5, which associates with Cdk5 under basal conditions, however, is not regulated by it. Neurotoxic insults hyperactivate Cdk5 causing Mcl-1 phosphorylation at T92. This phosphorylation event triggers Mcl-1 ubiquitylation, which directly correlates with mitochondrial dysfunction. Consequently, ectopic expression of phosphorylation-dead T92A-Mcl-1 fully prevents mitochondrial damage and subsequent cell death triggered by neurotoxic treatments in neuronal cells and primary cortical neurons. Notably, enhancing Mcl-1 levels offer comparable neuroprotection as observed upon Cdk5 depletion, suggesting that Mcl-1 degradation by direct phosphorylation is a key mechanism by which Cdk5 promotes neurotoxicity in AD. The clinical significance of Mcl-1-Cdk5 axis was investigated in AD clinical specimens, which revealed an inverse correlation between Mcl-1 levels and disease severity. These results emphasize the potential of Mcl-1 upregulation as an attractive therapeutic strategy for delaying or preventing neurodegeneration in AD.
The nervous system does not compensate for an acute change in the balance of passive force between synergist muscles
Authors: Lacourpaille Lilian , Nordez Antoine , Hug François
Published: July 2017

It is unclear how muscle activation strategies adapt to differential acute changes in the biomechanical characteristics between synergist muscles. This issue is fundamental to understanding the control of almost every joint in the body. The aim of this human experiment was to determine whether the relative activation of the heads of the triceps surae (Gastrocnemius medialis [GM], Gastrocnemius lateralis [GL] and Soleus [SOL]) compensates for differential changes in passive force between these muscles. Twenty-four participants performed isometric ankle plantarflexion at 20N.m and 20% of the active torque measured during a maximal contraction, at three ankle angles (30° of plantarflexion, 0° and 25° of dorsiflexion; knee fully extended). Myoelectric activity (electromyography) provided an index of neural drive. Muscle shear modulus (elastography) provided an index of muscle force. Passive dorsiflexion induced a much larger increase in passive shear modulus for GM (+657.6±257.7%) than GL (+488.7±257.9%) and SOL (+106.6±93.0%). However, the neural drive during submaximal tasks did not compensate for this change in the balance of the passive force. Instead, when considering the contraction at 20% MVC, GL RMS EMG was reduced at both 0° (-39.4±34.5%) and DF 25° (-20.6±58.6%) compared to PF 30°, while GM and SOL RMS EMG did not change. As a result, the GM/GL ratio of shear modulus was higher at 0° and DF 25° than PF 30°, indicating that the greater the dorsiflexion angle, the stronger the bias of force to GM compared to GL. The magnitude of this change in force balance varied greatly between participants.
Honeybees in a virtual reality environment learn unique combinations of colour and shape
Authors: Rusch Claire , Roth Eatai , Vinauger Clément , Riffell Jeffrey A.
Published: July 2017

Honeybees are well-known models for the study of visual learning and memory. Whereas most of our knowledge of learned responses comes from experiments using free-flying bees, a tethered preparation would allow fine-scale control of the visual stimuli as well as accurate characterization of the learned responses. Unfortunately, conditioning procedures using visual stimuli in tethered bees have been limited in their efficacy. Here in this study, using a novel virtual reality environment and a differential training protocol in tethered walking bees, we show that the majority of honeybees learn visual stimuli, and need only six paired training trials to learn the stimulus. We found that bees readily learn visual stimuli that differ in both shape and colour. However, bees learn certain components over others (colour versus shape), and visual stimuli are learned in a non-additive manner with the interaction of specific colour and shape combinations being critical for learned responses. To better understand which components of the visual stimuli the bees learned, the shape-colour association of the stimuli were reversed either during or after training. Results showed that maintaining the visual stimuli in training and testing phases was necessary to elicit visual learning, suggesting that bees learn multiple components of the visual stimuli. Together, our results demonstrate a protocol for visual learning in restrained bees that provides a powerful tool for understanding how components of a visual stimulus elicits learned responses as well as elucidating how visual information is processed in the honeybee brain.
Clearing Up the Fiscal Multiplier Morass
Authors: Leeper Eric M. , Traum Nora , Walker Todd B.
Published: July 2017

We quantify government spending multipliers in US data using Bayesian prior and posterior analysis of a monetary model with fiscal details and two distinct monetary-fiscal policy regimes. The combination of model specification, observable data, and relatively diffuse priors for some parameters lands posterior estimates in regions of the parameter space that yield fresh perspectives on the transmission mechanisms that underlie government spending multipliers. Short-run output multipliers are comparable across regimes—posterior means around 1.3 on impact—but much larger after 10 years under passive money/active fiscal than under active money/passive fiscal—90 percent credible sets of [1.5, 1.9] versus [0.1, 0.4] in present value, when estimated from 1955 to 2016. (JEL E52, E62, E63, H50)
Hayek, Local Information, and Commanding Heights: Decentralizing State-Owned Enterprises in China
Authors: Huang Zhangkai , Li Lixing , Ma Guangrong , Xu Lixin Colin
Published: July 2017

Hayek (1945) argues that local information is key to understanding the efficiency of alternative economic systems and whether production should be centralized or decentralized. The Chinese experience of decentralizing SOEs confirms this insight: when the distance to the government is farther, the SOE is more likely to be decentralized, and this distance-decentralization link is more pronounced with higher communication costs and greater firm-performance heterogeneity. However, when the Chinese central government oversees SOEs in strategic industries, the distance-decentralization link is muted. We also consider alternative agency-cost-based explanations, and do not find much support. (JEL D22, D83, L25, L32, L33, O14, P31)
Identifying and Spurring High-Growth Entrepreneurship: Experimental Evidence from a Business Plan Competition
Authors: McKenzie David
Published: July 2017

Almost all firms in developing countries have fewer than ten workers, with a modal size of one. Are there potential high-growth entrepreneurs, and can public policy help identify them and facilitate their growth? A large-scale national business plan competition in Nigeria provides evidence on these questions. Random assignment of US$34 million in grants provided each winner with approximately US$50,000. Surveys tracking applicants over five years show that winning leads to greater firm entry, more survival, higher profits and sales, and higher employment, including increases of over 20 percentage points in the likelihood of a firm having ten or more workers. (JEL D22, L11, L26, L53, M13, O14)
Gender Quotas and the Crisis of the Mediocre Man: Theory and Evidence from Sweden
Authors: Besley Timothy , Folke Olle , Persson Torsten , Rickne Johanna
Published: July 2017

We develop a model where party leaders choose the competence of politicians on the ballot to trade off electoral success against their own survival. The predicted correlation between the competence of party leaders and followers is strongly supported in Swedish data. We use a novel approach, based on register data for the earnings of the whole population, to measure the competence of all politicians in 7 parties, 290 municipalities, and 10 elections (for the period 1982–2014). We ask how competence was affected by a zipper quota, requiring local parties to alternate men and women on the ballot, implemented by the Social Democratic Party in 1993. Far from being at odds with meritocracy, this quota raised the competence of male politicians where it raised female representation the most. We argue that resignation of mediocre male leaders was a key driver of this effect. (JEL D72, J16)
Team Incentives and Performance: Evidence from a Retail Chain
Authors: Friebel Guido , Heinz Matthias , Krueger Miriam , Zubanov Nikolay
Published: July 2017

In a field experiment with a retail chain (1,300 employees, 193 shops), randomly selected sales teams received a bonus. The bonus increases both sales and number of customers dealt with by 3 percent. Each dollar spent on the bonus generates $3.80 in sales, and $2.10 in profit. Wages increase by 2.2 percent while inequality rises only moderately. The analysis suggests effort complementarities to be important, and the effectiveness of peer pressure in overcoming free-riding to be limited. After rolling out the bonus scheme, the performance of the treatment and control shops converges, suggesting long-term stability of the treatment effect. (JEL D22, J31, J33, L25, L81, M53, M54)
ASSESMENT OF THE QUALITY OF METAMORPHIC AND IGNEOUS ROCKS FROM TERPNI (SERRES, NORTH GREECE) FOR THEIR USE AS RAW MATERIALS IN THE PRODUCTION OF STONEWOOL
Authors: Lampropoulou P. , Papoulis D. , Metaxa E. , Tsikouras B. , Hatzipanagioutou K. , Tzevelekou Th. , Karageorgis A.
Published: July 2017

Metamorphic and igneous rocks of Terpnis' Serres in N. Greece have been studied. Nowadays these metamorphic rocks are used as raw materials in stone wool production, by Fibran industry, whilst the studied plutonic samples with lower content of iron oxide are proposed as alternative raw material for the production of new lightly colored stone wool, according to the market demands. Selected epidote amphibolites and quartz diorite samples were analyzed by ICP ΟES, AAS, XRD, Petrographic microscopy, and SEM. The epidote-amphibolites show some evidence of weathering leading to sericiticsaussuritizated plagioclase crystals and secondary smectite and chlorite nanocrystals. Phyllosilicates affect positively the grinding procedure and melting of the raw materials under industrial conditions of stone wool production, due to its lower hardness and melting point compared to that of the primary hornblende. The chemical and major mineralogical composition, the heterogeneous characteristics of textures as well as the frequent presence of phyllosilicates, due to the weathering of the plutonic studied samples, are expected to contribute to the easier grinding and melting of rocks under industrial conditions as well as to the production of a new light colored and competitive stone wool product
COMPOSITIONAL AND MORPHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF EDIBLE SALTS: PRELIMINARY RESULTS
Authors: Stergiou C. , Karageorgiou S. , Theodoridou S. , Giouri K. , Papadopoulou L. , Melfos V.
Published: July 2017

Nutritional habits have as a result the uptake of the elemental content of various foods in the human body. Salt (NaCl) constitutes an integral part of human diet needs. As a consequence, knowledge concerning the composition of edible salt is critical. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the components of 8 edible salt samples that are available in the Greek retail market. Samples were classified according to their color as follows: white (WS1, WS2), black (BS1, BS2), pink (PS1), red (RS1), blue (BLS1) and pale brown (BRS1). The research revealed that all samples mainly consist of Cl and Na. Himalayan Black Salt (BS2) also contains S, whereas the Hawaiian Red Salt (RS1) contains Fe. Additionally, most of the samples contain low levels of Al, Ca, K, Mg, P, S, Si and O as impurities. Concerning the morphological characteristics, salt particles appear irregular, rounded and in two cases as cubic crystals referring to the crystal structure of NaCl. Backscattered images confirm the presence of other mineral phases besides NaCl.
IRON-OXIDE MINERALIZATION OF SESI, KOROPI (S. HYMITTOS, GREECE): MINERALIZATION WITHIN A DETACHMENT ZONE
Authors: Stouraiti C. , Lekkas S. , Lozios S. , Kanellopoulos C.
Published: July 2017

Small occurrences of iron-oxide deposits at Sesi-Koropi in S. Hymittos, are hosted by an extensional brittle detachment zone between carbonate rocks of "Vari-Kirou Pira" and "Hymittos" units. Another low-angle fault separates a heterogeneous formation of schists, containing meta-ophiolitic blocks ("Lavrion" Unit), which is cut by high-angle normal faults that root in the detachment zone, reducing the total structural thickness of "Hymittos" marbles and bringing in contact the meta-ophiolitc lithologies with the "Vari-Kirou Pira" dolomites. Three mine caves were found along the detachment zone indicating that these iron deposits were possibly mined on a very small scale in the past. The mineralization is developed in a cataclastic zone a few meters thick (3-5m), forming thin rusty black encrustations and larger zones of alteration with a reddish to yellow brown hue. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) mineralogical study of the iron-ore deposit indicated that hematite is the primary iron-oxide mineral extensively replaced by goethite. Goethite appears with the typical colloidal form within voids showing typical open-space filling type microstructures. According to field evidence and the tectonic macro-structure of the area, the mineralization is associated with hydrothermal fluid circulation along the brittle detachment zone between meta-ophiolitic lithologies and carbonate rocks. Similar type iron-oxides mineralization in cataclastic zones were observed along other detachment zones in northern and southeastern Hymittos Mt. and further south towards Lavrion. This suggests that this type of mineralization is not local but has a broader development and regional implications for the tectonic evolution of the central and SE Attica
GEOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE ERENLERDAGI VOLCANICS, KONYA, CENTRAL TURKEY
Authors: Uyanık C. , Koçak K.
Published: July 2017

Late Miocene to Pliocene volcanism produced lava domes with mafic microgranular enclaves (MMEs), nuée ardentes and pyroclastic fall and flow (ignimbrites) deposits in the WSW and NW of Konya city. All samples are predominantly high K-calc alkaline in composition but calc-alkaline and shoshonitic composition also exist. The felsic volcanics are mainly dacite, andesite, basaltic trachyandesite and rare trachyandesite in compositon. But, the MMEs have basaltic andesite and andesite compositon. SiO2 increases with decreasing TiO2, FeOt, MgO and CaO, suggesting fractional crystallization of mafic minerals. All samples have fractionated chondritenormalised REE pattern (La/YbN: 6.7-18.1), and negative Eu anomaly (Eu/Eu*: 0.67- 0.89), indicating plagioclase fractionation. In primitive mantle-normalized spider diagram, the samples show an enrichment in large ion litophile elements (LILE) such as Cs and Ba, and depletion in high field strength elements (HFSE), e.g. Dy and Y. They show negative Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies, indicating a subduction signature for their genesis. Based on geochemical data, the volcanics are suggested to have been formed by Assimilation-Fractional Crystallization (AFC) and/or magma mixing process. Various geotectonic diagrams imply volcanic arc to post collisional setting for the samples.
MN-ANDALUSITE, SPESSARTINE, MN-GROSSULAR, PIEMONTITE AND MN-ZOISITE/CLINOZOISITE FROM TRIKORFO, THASSOS ISLAND, GREECE
Authors: Voudouris P. , Graham I. , Mavrogonatos K. , Su S. , Papavasiliou K. , Farmaki M.-V. , Panagiotidis P.
Published: July 2017

Mylonitized manganiferous schists and calc-silicate layers intercalated within amphibolite- to greenschist facies mica schists from the Trikorfo area (Thassos Island, Greece), host an unusual Mn-rich paragenesis of metamorphic silicate minerals, most of them in large, gemmy crystals. The silicates occur both in layers subparallel to the foliation and within discordant veins cross-cutting the metamorphic fabric. Piemontite (up to 12.7 wt. % Mn2O3), Mn-rich epidote (up to 7.8 wt. % Mn2O3), Mn-rich andalusite (up to 15.6 wt. % Mn2O3), Mn-poor pink clinozoisite-epidote (up to 0.87 wt. % Mn2O3), Mn-poor pink zoisite (up to 0.21 wt. % Mn2O3), spessartine (up to 47.7 wt. % MnO) and Mn-rich grossular (up to 3.6 wt. % MnO) are associated with diopside, hornblende, phlogopite, muscovite, tourmaline, hematite and iron-bearing kyanite. The studied assemblages are indicative of high fO2 conditions due to the presence of highly oxidized pre-metamorphic Mn-rich mineral associations. They developed during prograde metamorphism of a Mn-rich sedimentary protolith(s), followed by re equilibration to post-peak metamorphic conditions, vein formation and metasomatism during retrograde metamorphism accompanying the exhumation of the Thassos Island during the Oligocene-Miocene. Alternatively, the skarn similar mineralogy of the calc-silicate layers could have been formed by fluids released by granitoids during contact metamorphism. The studied area represents a unique mineralogical geotope. Its geological-mineralogical heritage should be protected through establishment of a mineralogical-petrological geopark that will also promote sustainable development of the area.
HEAVY METALS IN CULTIVATED SOIL AND PLANTS OF DAMOUR URBAN AREA - LEBANON
Authors: Fadel D. , Argyraki A. , Papageorgiou S. , Kelepertzis E.
Published: July 2017

Preliminary data on heavy metals concentrations in soil and edible plants of DamourLebanon are presented for the first time. Concentration ranges of Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Co, Mn, Fe, Ba, Pb and Cd in soils and vegetables collected from urban allotments in Damour were determined and assessed taking into account the pseudototal (extracted by aqua regia) and mobilizable (0.43 M acetic acid extractable) concentrations of the elements in the rhizosphere soil of the plants as well as the total concentrations in edible plant tissue. Average elemental concentrations in urban allotments are low in general. No detectable concentrations of the non-essential heavy metals Pb and As were measured in the studied plants while concentrations of micronutrient elements in plants were within normal ranges. The collected data indicate that previous land use is an important factor controlling heavy metal content in soil and that there is a complex mechanism controlling micronutrient uptake by plants.
PRELIMINARY SPECTROSCOPIC STUDY OF FE-BEARING CLAY MINERALS IN ALTERED PILLOW LAVAS FROM LAMIA AREA, GREECE1
Authors: Katranidou B. , Godelitsas A. , Sanakis I.
Published: July 2017

Geological material, of greenish color, filling interspaces in altered Triassic pillow lavas of Lamia area (central Greece) was studied, for the first time in the literature. According to XRD and SEM-EDS data it predominantly consists of calcite, zeolites and clay minerals. The zeolites concern thomsonite and analcime. The clay minerals, on the basis of XRD, FTIR and Mössbauer spectroscopic measurements, constitute a Fe-bearing phase of the illlite-glauconite-celadonite group (most likely Fe-illite).
INTERACTION OF CLAY MATERIALS WITH LEAD IN AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
Authors: Kypritidou Z. , Argyraki A. , Chryssikos G. , Stamatakis M.
Published: July 2017

Five bulk clay samples were characterized by XRD, XRF, FTIR and SEM and tested for their effectiveness in removing lead ions from aqueous solutions. These were pal ygorskite, smectite and mixed palygorskite/smectite clays from Macedonia, Greece, as well as a montmorillonite-rich sample from Kimolos, Greece, and a palygorskiterich sample from Western Australia]. Lead removal was investigated as a function of the pH and ionic strength of the suspensions, the amount of sorbent and time, at con stant Pb2+ concentration (50mg/L) and temperature (22oC). The greatest potential fo r Pb2+ removal was found for the natural palygorskite/smectite clay
Community-level antibiotic access and use (ABACUS) in low- and middle-income countries: Finding targets for social interventions to improve appropriate antimicrobial use – an observational multi-centre study
Authors: Wertheim Heiman F.L. , Chuc Nguyen Thi Kim , Punpuing Sureeporn , Khan Wasif Ali , Gyapong Margaret , Asante Kwaku Poku , Munguambe Khatia , Gómez-Olivé F. Xavier , Ariana Proochista , John-Langba Johannes , Sigauque Betuel , Toan Tran Khanh , Tollman Stephen , Cremers Amelieke J.H. , Do Nga T.T. , Nadjm Behzad , van Doorn H. Rogier , Kinsman John , Sankoh Osman
Published: July 2017

In many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a poor link between antibiotic policies and practices exists. Numerous contextual factors may influence the degree of antibiotic access, appropriateness of antibiotic provision, and actual use in communities. Therefore, improving appropriateness of antibiotic use in different communities in LMICs probably requires interventions tailored to the setting of interest, accounting for cultural context. Here we present the ABACUS study (AntiBiotic ACcess and USe), which employs a unique approach and infrastructure, enabling quantitative validation, contextualization of determinants, and cross-continent comparisons of antibiotic access and use. The community infrastructure for this study is the INDEPTH-Network (International Network for the Demographic Evaluation of Populations and Their Health in Developing Countries), which facilitates health and population research through an established health and demographic surveillance system. After an initial round of formative qualitative research with community members and antibiotic suppliers in three African and three Asian countries, household surveys will assess the appropriateness of antibiotic access, provision and use. Results from this sample will be validated against a systematically conducted inventory of suppliers. All potential antibiotic suppliers will be mapped and characterized. Subsequently, their supply of antibiotics to the community will be measured through customer exit interviews, which tend to be more reliable than bulk purchase or sales data. Discrepancies identified between reported and observed antibiotic practices will be investigated in further qualitative interviews. Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach will be employed to identify the conversion factors that determine whether or not, and the extent to which appropriate provision of antibiotics may lead to appropriate access and use of antibiotics. Currently, the study is ongoing and expected to conclude by 2019. ABACUS will provide important new insights into antibiotic practices in LMICs to inform social interventions aimed at promoting optimal antibiotic use, thereby preserving antibiotic effectiveness.
Community engagement for the rapid elimination of malaria: The case of Kayin State, Myanmar
Authors: Kajeechiwa Ladda , Thwin May Myo , Nosten Suphak , Tun Saw Win , Parker Daniel , von Seidlein Lorenz , Tangseefa Decha , Nosten François , Cheah Phaik Yeong
Published: July 2017

Background: Currently, malaria elimination efforts are ongoing in several locations across Southeast Asia, including in Kayin State (also known as Karen State), Myanmar. This paper describes the community engagement efforts for a pilot malaria elimination project, the challenges encountered and lessons learnt.

Methods: Between May 2013 and June 2015, a study on targeted malaria elimination (TME) that included mass drug administration was conducted in four villages (TPN, TOT, KNH, and HKT) of Kayin State. Community engagement efforts included workshops, meetings and house-to-house visits with community members.  Exhibitions related to malaria and fun activities were organized for children. In addition, we provided primary care, small individual incentives and village-level incentives. This paper is based on our analysis of data extracted from meeting minutes, field notes, feedback sessions among staff and with community members as well as our own reflections.

Results: Average participation across three rounds of MDA were 84.4%, 57.4%, 88.6% and 59.3% for TPN, TOT, KNH and HKT, respectively. Community engagement was fraught with practical challenges such as seasonal tasks of the villagers. There were challenges in explaining difficult concepts like drug resistance and submicroscopic infection. Another was understanding and navigating the politics of these villages, which are located in politically contested areas.  Managing expectations of villagers was difficult as they assumed that the community team must know everything related to health.

Conclusions: In the TME project, many different community engagement strategies were employed. We encountered many challenges which included logistical, scientific and political difficulties.  An approach that is tailored to the local population is key.
Are All Spillovers Created Equal? A Network Perspective on Information Technology Labor Movements
Authors: Wu Lynn , Jin Fujie , Hitt Lorin M.
Published: July 2017

This study examines how characteristics of an interfirm labor-flow network affect firm productivity. Using employee job histories to trace labor movement between organizations, we construct labor-flow networks for both information technology (IT) and non-IT labor and analyze how a firm’s network structure for the two types of labor affects its performance. We find that hiring IT workers from a structurally diverse network of firms can substantially improve firm productivity, but that the same is not true for non-IT labor, where we find little benefit of network diversity. We hypothesize that these results reflect differences in the types of knowledge diffusion facilitated by different types of labor flows, with IT labor enabling the transfer of new and innovative firm practices, which benefits from diversity, while non-IT labor flows are more closely associated with implementation of complementary organizational practices, which may benefit from a critical mass of workers with a common knowledge base. Together, these results demonstrate the importance of incorporating a network perspective in understanding the full impact of spillover effects from organizational hiring activities.

This paper was accepted by Chris Forman, information systems.
Dynamic Quality Ladder Model Predictions in Nonrandom Holdout Samples
Authors: Xu Linli , Silva-Risso Jorge M. , Wilbur Kenneth C.
Published: July 2017

In light of recent calls for further validation of structural models, this paper evaluates the popular dynamic quality ladder (DQL) model using a nonrandom holdout approach. The model is used to predict data following a regime shift—that is, a change in the environment that produced the estimation data. The prediction performance is evaluated relative to a benchmark vector autoregression (VAR) model across three automotive categories and multiple prediction horizons. Whereas the VAR model performs better in all scenarios in the compact car category, the DQL model tends to perform better on multiple-year horizons in both the midsize car and full-size pickup categories. A supplementary data analysis suggests that DQL model performance in the nonrandom holdout prediction task is better in categories that are more affected by the regime shift, helping to validate the usefulness of the dynamic structural model for making predictions after policy changes.

This paper was accepted by Matthew Shum, marketing.
Understanding Team Knowledge Production: The Interrelated Roles of Technology and Expertise
Authors: Teodoridis Florenta
Published: July 2017

Teamwork is an increasingly important aspect of knowledge production. In particular, factors influencing team formation relative to the composition of expertise are crucial for both organizational performance and for informing policy. In this paper, I draw attention to technology access as a highly influential factor impacting expertise in team formation. I examine the hack of Microsoft Kinect as an exogenous event that suddenly reduced motion-sensing technology costs. I show that great reductions in technology costs substitute for ex ante optimal involvement of area specialists and facilitate involvement of outside-area specialists through collaboration with researchers with broader knowledge—generalists. In other words, technology costs influence the composition of expertise in teamwork, with sufficiently large reductions leading to knowledge creation that combines more broadly across knowledge areas. These findings have important implications for organizations and policy makers in crafting incentives for more diverse knowledge creation through strategic investments that lower technology costs and influence team formation.

Data are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2017.2789 .

This paper was accepted by Lee Fleming, entrepreneurship and innovation.