bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Selective Adsorption of Essential Oil Compounds by Waxy/Amylose Extender (wx/ae) Double‐Mutant Rice Starch Revealed by Gas Chromatography
Authors: Takagi Hiroki , Suzuki Shiho , Kitamura Shinichi
Published: June 2018

The present study describes how waxy/amylose extender (wx/ae) double mutant and waxy (wx) single mutant rice starches adsorb many kinds of chemical compounds in essential oils using dynamic adsorption and gas chromatography. Selectivity in the dynamic adsorption is determined by the functional groups of chemical compounds. Compounds with a hydroxyl group (OH) are easily adsorbed. Compounds with aldehyde (CHO) and ketone ((CO)) groups, or with ester bonds ((CO)O) are also adsorbed if they had a cyclic structure or carbon double bond. Compounds with an ether bond (COC) are adsorbed if they had a carbon double bond. The dynamic adsorption process may be driven mainly by forming hydrogen bonds between hydroxyl groups of starch and these proton acceptor groups of chemical compounds in essential oils. The authors also analyzed the adsorption capacity of the wx/ae and wx starches for several compounds which are adsorbed to these starches in a dynamic process, by static adsorption. The wx/ae starch has greater capacity than wx starch to adsorb chemical compounds, due to its larger surface area and surface pore volume. The adsorption capacity of starch for chemical compounds is also affected by the structural features of the chemical compounds.
Quality assessment of uterine artery Doppler measurement in first‐trimester combined screening for pre‐eclampsia
Authors: Rolnik D. L. , da Silva Costa F. , Sahota D. , Hyett J. , McLennan A.
Published: June 2018

Objective

To assess the quality of mean uterine artery (UtA) pulsatility index (PI) measurement in a first‐trimester pre‐eclampsia screening program.

Methods

Consecutive women with a singleton pregnancy attending first‐trimester screening for fetal chromosomal abnormalities also had combined screening for pre‐eclampsia based on the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) algorithm, at a large practice in Sydney, Australia, from May 2014 to February 2017. Distributions of mean UtA‐PI multiples of the median (MoM) on a logarithmic scale were plotted in relation to the normal median with 95% CI for each operator and for each month. Central tendency and dispersion and cumulative sum charts were produced. Mean UtA‐PI MoM values between 0.95 and 1.05 were considered ideal and those between 0.90 and 1.10 were considered acceptable. The screen‐positive rates for preterm pre‐eclampsia in different groups of sonographers according to their mean log10 UtA‐PI MoM were calculated and compared using the chi‐square test.

Results

A total of 21 010 women attended for first‐trimester ultrasound and had screening for pre‐eclampsia. The overall median UtA‐PI MoM was 1.042 (interquartile range (IQR), 0.85–1.26). Of 46 sonographers, 42 (91.3%) performed more than 50 examinations and, of those, 41 (97.6%) measured UtA‐PI within the acceptable range. Sonographers measuring UtA‐PI MoM on average below 0.95 and those measuring it above 1.05 had, respectively, lower and higher screen‐positive rates when compared with those with measurements within the 0.95–1.05 UtA‐PI MoM interval (7.2% and 13.2% vs 11.2%, respectively, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

UtA Doppler is measured well among trained operators when following an established protocol. While slight variations are expected, systematic error in this measurement impacts on the screen‐positive rate. Therefore, a quality control process should be in place and retraining of staff may be required. Copyright © 2018 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Should phenotype of previous preterm birth influence management of women with short cervix in subsequent pregnancy? Comparison of vaginal progesterone and Arabin pessary
Authors: Care A. , Muller‐Myhsok B. , Olearo E. , Todros T. , Caradeux J. , Goya M. , Palacio M. , Carreras E. , Alfirevic Z.
Published: June 2018

Objective

To investigate whether the classification of a previous spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB) as preterm labor (PTL) with intact membranes (IM) or as preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM) impacts the efficacy of cervical pessary or vaginal progesterone for prevention of sPTB in pregnant women with short cervix on transvaginal ultrasound.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort study of asymptomatic high‐risk singleton pregnancies with a short cervix and history of sPTB, treated using Arabin pessary or vaginal progesterone for primary PTB prevention, conducted at four European hospitals. A log‐rank test on Kaplan–Meier curves was used to assess the difference in performance of pessary and progesterone, according to history of PTL‐IM or PPROM. Linear regression analysis was used to evaluate significant predictors of gestational age at delivery.

Results

Between 2008 and 2015, 170 women were treated with a pessary and 88 with vaginal progesterone. In women treated with a pessary, rate of sPTB < 34 weeks was 16% in those with a history of PTL‐IM and 55% in those with a history of PPROM. In women treated with progesterone, rate of sPTB < 34 weeks was 13% in those with a history of PTL‐IM and 21% in those with a history of PPROM. Treatment with a pessary resulted in earlier delivery in women with previous PPROM than in any other subgroup (P < 0.0001). Linear regression analysis showed a clear effect of PPROM history (P < 0.0001), combination of PPROM history and treatment (P = 0.0003) and cervical length (P = 0.0004) on gestational age at birth.

Conclusions

Cervical pessary may be a less efficacious treatment option for women with previous PPROM; however, these results require prospective validation before change in practice is recommended. Phenotype of previous preterm birth may be an important risk predictor and treatment effect modifier; this information should be reported in future clinical trials. © 2018 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
The comprehensive investigation of the room temperature ionic liquid additives in PVC based polymer inclusion membrane for Cr(VI) transport
Authors: Ibrahim Turgut Halil , Eyupoglu Volkan , Ali Kumbasar Recep
Published: June 2018

This study is to perform the comprehensive investigation of PVC based ionic plasticized membrane (IPM) production by using room temperature ionic liquid (RTIL)‐based additives and the membrane application of selective Cr(VI) removal. Some significant parameters related to membrane structures that are membrane thickness, plasticizer rate, and type, RTILs rate, and type, the average molecular weight of PVC were studied to define the excellent polymeric membrane film composition. After that, the PVC based polymeric film used in the Cr(VI) transport and initial mass transfer coefficient (Jo) were about 3.57 × 10−7 mol s−1 m−2 by decyl substituted RTIL as an additive. Also, optimized membrane transport process has been considered as selective enough for Cr(VI) in the presence of the other heavy metal ions. Surface characterizations of the membranes have been performed to clarify the structural and the morphological assessment of IPMs at initial and end of Cr(VI) transport by SEM‐EDX, AFM, contact angle measurement and found a good relationship between the molecular structure of RTIL additive and membrane morphology. As we know that lots of researchers are still trying to find environmentally friendly, inexpensive and straightforward processes to remove toxic substances from industrial effluents or natural sources. At that point, our results can open a gate for cheap, novel and environmentally friendly Cr(VI) removal by PVC based membrane. J. VINYL ADDIT. TECHNOL., 25:E107–E119, 2019. © 2018 Society of Plastics Engineers
Effect of uncertainty sources on the reliability level of wind turbine rotor blades
Authors: Bacharoudis Konstantinos C.
Published: June 2018

Wind turbine rotor blades are large composite structures performing most of their design life under random cycle loading patterns. Concurrently, material properties of the constituent plies exhibit inherent variability. In order to ensure a safe and cost‐effective design, uncertainty related to the basic variables (material properties, loads etc.) should be quantified and taken into account in the design calculations. Recently, the blade design standard DNVGL‐ST‐0376 was released, showing the trend of using dedicated probabilistic analysis for wind turbine blade design. A critical evaluation of the new edition of the standard is performed herein, particularly in terms of the ability of the suggested safety factors to satisfy the target failure probability level of 1E‐04. To this end, probabilistic analysis methodology is employed, starting with the measurement uncertainty for the static and fatigue properties of the composite material and going all the way up to the blade failure probability on a layer by layer basis. The application is performed on the INNWIND.EU reference 10MW rotor blade of 90‐m length. Furthermore, the current reliability level of the specific blade design, following the new standard DNVGL‐ST‐0376, is estimated considering the various failure modes, ie, fibre failure (short term and fatigue strength), buckling, and inter fibre failure of the composite laminates, while taking into account sources of variability that contribute to the physical, statistical, measurement, and model uncertainty. Results indicate that while for the static (extreme) analysis deterministic results are conservative, the opposite is observed for fatigue analysis.
RNA methylation in nuclear pre‐mRNA processing
Authors: Covelo‐Molares Helena , Bartosovic Marek , Vanacova Stepanka
Published: June 2018

Eukaryotic RNA can carry more than 100 different types of chemical modifications. Early studies have been focused on modifications of highly abundant RNA, such as ribosomal RNA and transfer RNA, but recent technical advances have made it possible to also study messenger RNA (mRNA). Subsequently, mRNA modifications, namely methylation, have emerged as key players in eukaryotic gene expression regulation. The most abundant and widely studied internal mRNA modification is N6‐methyladenosine (m6A), but the list of mRNA chemical modifications continues to grow as fast as interest in this field. Over the past decade, transcriptome‐wide studies combined with advanced biochemistry and the discovery of methylation writers, readers, and erasers revealed roles for mRNA methylation in the regulation of nearly every aspect of the mRNA life cycle and in diverse cellular, developmental, and disease processes. Although large parts of mRNA function are linked to its cytoplasmic stability and regulation of its translation, a number of studies have begun to provide evidence for methylation‐regulated nuclear processes. In this review, we summarize the recent advances in RNA methylation research and highlight how these new findings have contributed to our understanding of methylation‐dependent RNA processing in the nucleus.

This article is categorized under:

RNA Processing > RNA Editing and Modification

RNA Processing > Splicing Regulation/Alternative Splicing

RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein–RNA Interactions: Functional Implications
Scrutinizing $$ \overline{B}\to {D}^{\ast}\left(D\pi \right){\ell}^{-}{\overline{\nu}}_{\ell } $$ and $$ \overline{B}\to {D}^{\ast}\left(D\upgamma \right){\ell}^{-}{\overline{\nu}}_{\ell } $$ in search of new physics footprints
Authors: Colangelo P. , De Fazio F.
Published: June 2018

Abstract

Besides being important to determine Standard Model parameters such as the CKM matrix elements |V

cb
| and |V

ub
|, semileptonic B decays seem also promising to reveal new physics (NP) phenomena, in particular in connection with the possibility of uncovering lepton flavour universality (LFU) violating effects. In this view, it could be natural to connect the tensions in the inclusive versus exclusive determinations of |V

cb
| to the anomalies in the ratios R(D
(*)) of decay rates into τ vs μ, e. However, the question has been raised about the role of the parametrization of the hadronic B → D
(*) form factors in exclusive B decay modes. We focus on the fully differential angular distributions of

$$ \overline{B}\to {D}^{\ast }{\ell}^{-}{\overline{\nu}}_{\ell } $$

B
¯

→

D
∗

ℓ
−

ν
¯

ℓ

with D
∗ → Dπ or D
∗ → Dγ, the latter mode being important in the case of B

s
 → D

s

*
decays. We show that the angular coefficients in the distributions can be used to scrutinize the role of the form factor parametrization and to pin down deviations from SM. As an example of a NP scenario, we include a tensor operator in the b → c semileptonic effective Hamiltonian, and discuss how the angular coefficients allow to construct observables sensitive to this structure, also defining ratios useful to test LFU.
Holographic meson decays via worldsheet instantons
Authors: Peeters Kasper , Matuszewski Maciej , Zamaklar Marija
Published: June 2018

Abstract

We study meson decays using instanton methods in two string models. The first model is the old string model in flat space which combines strings and massive particles and the second is the holographic, Sakai-Sugimoto model. Using the old string model, we reproduce the QCD formula for the probability of splitting of the QCD flux tube derived by Casher-Neuberger-Nussinov (CNN). In the holographic model we construct a string worldsheet instanton which interpolates between a single and double string configuration, which determines the decay from one to two dual mesonic particles. The resulting probability for meson decay incorporates both the effects of finite meson size as well as back-reaction of the produced quarks on the QCD flux tube. In the limit of very large strings the probability for a split reduces to the CNN formula. A byproduct of our analysis is the analysis of the moduli space of a generic double concentric Wilson loop with circles which are separated in the holographic direction of the confining background.
Consequences of minimal seesaw with complex μτ antisymmetry of neutrinos
Authors: Samanta Rome , Roy Probir , Ghosal Ambar
Published: June 2018

Abstract

We propose a complex extension ofμτpermutation antisymmetry in the neutrino Majorana matrixMν. The latter can be realized for the Lagrangian by appropriate CP transformations on the neutrino fields. The resultant form ofMνis shown to be simply related to that with a complex (CP) extension of μτ permutation symmetry, with identical phenomenological consequences, though their group theoretic origins are quite different. We investigate those consequences in detail for the minimal seesaw induced by two strongly hierarchical right-chiral neutrinosN1andN2with the result that the Dirac phase is maximal while the two Majorana phases are either 0 orπ. We further provide an uptodate discussion of theββ0νprocess vis-a-vis ongoing and forthcoming experiments. Finally, a thorough treatment is given of baryogenesis via leptogenesis in this scenario, primarily with the assumption that the lepton asymmetry produced by the decays ofN1only matters here with the asymmetry produced byN2being washed out. Tight upper and lower bounds on the mass ofN1are obtained from the constraint of obtaining the correct observed range of the baryon asymmetry parameter and the role played byN2is elucidated thereafter. The mildly hierarchical right-chiral neutrino case (including the quasidegenerate possibility) is discussed in an appendix.
Proposal for a Safe and Functional Pancreaticojejunostomy Technique from a Histopathological Perspective
Authors: Mitsuyoshi Akira , Hamada Shinshichi , Ohe Hidenori , Fujita Haruku , Okabe Hiroshi , Inoguchi Kenta
Published: June 2018

Background

To prevent leakage of pancreatic juice from the main pancreatic duct (MPD), complete external drainage appears to be the most effective technique. However, because this requires a pancreatic stent tube to be ligated with MPD, duct‐to‐mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy (PJ) is difficult. From our histopathological examination, a large amount of pancreatic juice is drained from the ducts other than MPD. This study aimed to evaluate our new conceptual technique of PJ after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods

We considered it important to drain pancreatic juice from the branch pancreatic ducts to the intestinal tract and to perform duct‐to‐mucosa PJ, while pancreatic juice from MPD is completely drained out of the body. We designed a technique that could simultaneously achieve these points. In our technique, which is based on conventional “two‐row” anastomosis, a stent tube is fixed with MPD and its surrounding tissue by purse‐string suture at the cut surface of the pancreas, and duct‐to‐mucosa PJ is concomitantly performed.

Results

Of 45 patients undergoing PD, 12 of soft pancreas underwent surgery with this technique. According to the classification of the International Study Group on Pancreatic Fistula, a Grade A PF was observed in four patients, whereas no patient had a Grade B or C PF.

Conclusions

We propose our anastomotic technique that could simultaneously prevent PF and keep the pancreatic duct patent.
Safety of orogastric tubes in foregut and bariatric surgery
Authors: Nandra Kulvir , Ing Richard
Published: June 2018

Background

Orogastric tubes have traditionally aided foregut procedures with sizing and organ protection. The rise of bariatric surgery has led to the creation of novel medical devices aimed at facilitating the laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. While approved by the FDA, the long-term safety profile of these devices in the general population is often unknown. This review looks at complications associated with novel Orogastric Tubes compared to the traditional bougie.

Methods

We performed a review of the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Manufacturer and User Facility Device Experience (MAUDE) database for complications associated with the traditional bougie, Boehringer Labs ViSiGi 3D® and the Medtronic GastriSail™ since 2011. In addition, we looked for reported cases in the literature of complications with these devices.

Results

Overall complication rates reported in the MAUDE database varied in number and severity. The bougie had seven reported complications, one of which was an organ perforation. The ViSiGi 3D® had zero reported complications. The GastriSail™ had 36 total reported complications with 17 perforations. A literature review shows that rates of bougie complications are extremely rare with no case reports or reviews of complications from the novel orogastric tubes.

Conclusions

The complication rates between the traditional bougie and novel devices vary in number and severity, with the GastriSail™ having the highest reported complication rate. Despite rigorous testing for FDA approval, ongoing research into performance of new medical devices in the general population remains important.
Finding a Balance: Reconciling the Needs of the Institution, Patient, and Genetic Counselor for Optimal Resource Utilization
Authors: Patel Devanshi , Blouch Erica L. , Rodgers‐Fouché Linda H. , Emmet Margaret M. , Shannon Kristen M.
Published: June 2018

The current practice of cancer genetic counseling is undergoing widespread change and scrutiny. While there are clinical resources for genetic counselors (GCs) regarding the delivery of cancer genetic services, there is limited literature regarding effective management of a genetic counseling clinical program. We have developed administrative tools to manage a large team of GCs at a single academic medical center over a period of increasing demand for genetics services, with the initial aim of decreasing wait time for urgent genetic counseling visits. Here, we describe the three main elements of the clinical operations: Balancing patient volume between GCs, scheduling tracks for both routine and urgent appointments, and a team of triaging GCs to ensure appropriate patient referrals. For each of these elements, we describe how they have been modified over time and present data to support the utility of these strategies. The preliminary evidence offered here suggests that these tools allow for an equitable distribution of patient volume between team members, as well as the timely and accurate scheduling of urgent patients. As a result of the experiences presented here, other genetic counseling programs grappling with similar issues should be aware that it is possible to shift clinical operations to serve certain patient populations in a more timely fashion while keeping both providers and GC staff satisfied.
Ecological drivers of plant diversity patterns in remnants coastal sand dune ecosystems along the northern Adriatic coastline
Authors: Tordoni Enrico , Napolitano Rossella , Maccherini Simona , Da Re Daniele , Bacaro Giovanni
Published: June 2018

Coastal sand dunes represent one of the most fragile ecosystems in the Mediterranean basin. These habitats naturally suffer the action of several limiting factors such as sand burial, marine aerosol and low soil fertility; on the other hand, they often host species of high conservation value. Over the last decades, they have also experienced a high level of biological invasion. In this study, we sampled psammophilous vegetation in two sites in the northern Adriatic coast belonging to the Natura 2000 network to describe diversity patterns and to identify the main ecological drivers of species diversity. Plant species richness and their abundance were assessed in each plot. Differences in species composition for native and alien species were compared via PERMANOVA analysis. Species complementarity was explored by partitioning beta diversity in its spatial components (richness and replacement). A Generalized Linear Model was also computed to assess the main environmental factors that may promote invasiveness in these ecosystems. For the investigated area, our results highlight the strong differentiation in community composition both in alien and native species: in particular alien species showed on average a lower complementarity among habitats compared to native species. Specifically, communities seem to be more diversified when larger spatial scales were considered. Beta diversity in both groups appears to be more dominated by the richness component with respect to the replacement component. Furthermore, in these habitats, the occurrence of alien species was shown to be related to geomorphological predictors more than climatic variables.
Functional and ecophysiological traits of Halimione portulacoides and Sarcocornia perennis ecotypes in Mediterranean salt marshes under different tidal exposures
Authors: Duarte Bernardo , Silva Helena , Dias João Miguel , Sleimi Noomene , Marques João Carlos , Caçador Isabel
Published: June 2018

The present paper aims to discuss the functional and ecophysiological traits of two abundant succulent halophytes in Mediterranean salt marsh systems, considering two ecotypes differing on their tidal exposure. In Halimione portulacoides the higher root/shoot (R/S) biomass ratio verified in low inundation frequency (LF) marshes, as compared with that in high inundation frequency (HF), indicates an optimal partitioning strategy, inducing differential allocation patterns along with varying environmental factors. Conversely, Sarcocornia perennis appear to have an isometric allocation strategy, based on intrinsic biomass allocation mechanisms independent from the surrounding environmental conditions. Similarly, the photosynthetic traits appear to reflect the intrinsic ecology of the species. Sarcocornia perennis habitat adaptation to HF conditions is clearly revealed by its high photosynthetic efficiency under HF conditions. On the other hand, the cosmopolitan H. portulacoides shows no differences between ecotypes, in which concerns this trait, mostly due to the high carotenoid content of the HF ecotype, which allows this specie to counteract the stress generated during submersion. Additionally, anti‐oxidant enzymatic activities revealed that S. perennis presents a high degree of stress tolerance under HF conditions, while H. portulacoides is highly adapted to LF conditions. These functional (biomass‐related) and physiological traits determine the optimal habitats for H. portulacoides and S. perennis. While H. portulacoides optimal biomass partitioning, along with its efficient anti‐oxidant defence system, makes this species fitter to LF conditions, S. perennis isometric allocation strategy, along with a higher photosynthetic efficiency under frequent flooding conditions, provides this species the mechanisms to efficiently colonize the intertidal habitat.
Assessing the exchange of knowledge between operations management and other fields: Some challenges and opportunities
Authors: Meredith Jack R. , Pilkington Alan
Published: June 2018

Addressing a suspicion that the field of Operations Management (OM) draws substantially more knowledge from non‐OM journals than those journals draw from OM journals in return, we studied the citations of the top 30 research journals of interest to our field. We conducted citation analyses of the three oldest OM journals over three decades in comparison to the 27 other journals representing the fields of Management, Operations Research/Management Science (OR/MS), Marketing, Practice, and Engineering. We examined both the entire 30‐year period and then each decade separately. Our suspicions were confirmed—although citations from these 27 journals to these three OM journals have increased by a factor of 7 over the three decades, we in OM still cite these journals about twenty‐five times more often than they cite our journals, giving an indication of the knowledge development and flows among these fields. We then describe some challenges for the field of OM in providing more research knowledge to other fields but also some opportunities that OM should be able to capitalize on, such as our historic ties to practice and our escalating research in strategic and organizational issues.
The Rehabilitation of Patients With Advanced Heart Failure After Left Ventricular Assist Device Placement: A Narrative Review
Authors: Eickmeyer Sarah M. , Barker Kim D. , Sayyad Anjum , Rydberg Leslie
Published: June 2018

Because more patients with advanced heart failure are receiving a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) as destination therapy or a bridge to transplantation, there is increasing attention on functional outcomes and quality of life after LVAD implantation. Rehabilitation providers in the acute inpatient rehabilitation setting increasingly will treat patients with an LVAD and should understand the exercise physiology, medical management, rehabilitation considerations, and outcomes after rehabilitation for patients with an LVAD. The purpose of this article is to provide the physiatrist with a comprehensive understanding of the rehabilitation of patients with advanced heart failure and LVAD implantation. Changes in relevant organ system physiology and exercise physiology after LVAD are summarized. Safety of rehabilitation and program considerations for acute inpatient rehabilitation are reviewed. Recommendations for medical management and prevention of secondary complications seen in patients with an LVAD are outlined. A discussion of outcomes after acute inpatient rehabilitation, the dual diagnosis of stroke and LVAD placement, and long‐term cognitive, functional, and quality‐of‐life outcomes after LVAD placement is presented.
Are businesses getting complacent when it comes to DDoS mitigation?
Authors: Townsley Chris
Published: June 2018

There is no doubt that the number of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks is growing, as is the likelihood of any given organisation being attacked. DDoS attacks continue to grab headlines as they become more prevalent and more crippling in their effect. There is now a growing realisation among businesses that no industry is safe: any type of business with an online presence is at risk.

The number of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks is growing, as is the likelihood of any given organisation being attacked.

There is now a growing realisation among businesses that no industry is safe: any type of business with an online presence is at risk. And yet still we hear the phrase ‘it will never happen to me’. Too few organisations are taking note of the multiple warnings in the media and from the security industry, warns Chris Townsley of CDNetworks.
Instilling a culture of data security throughout the organisation
Authors: Simmonds Mike
Published: June 2018

It has long been acknowledged that cyber-security is only as robust as its weakest link. While that could be an unpatched switch or a USB drive left in a company car park, one thing is generally consistent: the weakest part of a 21st Century business's cyber-defences is likely to be its staff.

While the threat of the bad guys infiltrating a modern organisation's network may be less than first thought, behaviour that can be just as damaging and expensive to businesses is happening all around us.

In fact, we may even be guilty of the contributing factors ourselves. There needs to be a shift in attitude. While implementing the right information security systems is important, organisations must also instil the right culture within the business so that employees understand and respect the importance of data security and don't put the organisation at risk, says Mike Simmonds of Axial Systems.
The need for continuous compliance
Authors: Khan Javid
Published: June 2018

Compliance isn't a new challenge to business. In fact, it is something that organisations have been grappling with for some time, particularly those in highly regulated industries such as insurance and financial services. However, with the new EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the need for businesses to remain compliant with increasingly stringent industry regulations has once again come into focus.
Being Competitive in the Talent Management Space
Authors: Schneider Benjamin
Published: June 2018

I have three issues I would like to add to Rotolo et al.’s (2018) arguments for research foci and with which academics must be concerned as we move forward. We must pay attention to all of what Rotolo et al. said plus at least my three additions if we are to compete with other fields playing in the talent management (TM) space. First, I will argue we have become overly concerned in our refereed outlets with theory to the detriment of validity against important organizational outcomes. Second, I will note that industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology has become fixated on individuals and their differences to the almost literal exclusion of research on the psychology of organizational phenomena. Third, I will present an argument for research on reciprocal relationships—on organizations as real systems—in an attempt to counter the left-to-right thinking in all of our research models.
Critical Reflection or Existential Trap: Are We Making Too Much of Scientific Rigor in a Dynamic Business World?
Authors: Jones Joseph A. , Miller Ashley A. , Sarette Michael J. , Johnson-Murray Rachael M. , Alonso Alex
Published: June 2018

Ralph Waldo Emerson is known to have said, “the greatest wonder is that we can see these trees and not wonder more.” As industrial and organizational (I-O) psychologists, we often encounter this very dilemma when we examine how numerous professions rise and fall in relevance. More recently, however, we have encountered this dilemma from an existential perspective as we strive to understand the evolution of our own profession and the situational characteristics making change inevitable. We have fallen into a trap—we, too, now look at all of our practices, aiming to reconfigure the makeup of our profession while losing sight of the macrotrends affecting more than just our evolved existence. Rather than focusing on the smaller issue first, we need to start by examining the broader issues affecting it.
A Cultural Perspective on Gender Inequity in STEM: The Japanese Context
Authors: Yoshikawa Katsuhiko , Kokubo Akiko , Wu Chia-Huei
Published: June 2018

To understand gender inequality in STEM, Miner et al. (2018) illustrate how an individual lens and a social-structural lens provide complementary perspectives. They indicate that gender inequality in STEM should not be simply understood from an individual lens concerning individual choices and responsibilities but also a social-structural lens concerning societal structures, processes, and meanings associated with gender. In this commentary, we would like to bring a cultural perspective to the consideration of the STEM field. Specifically, we focus on gender inequity in STEM in Japan and elaborate how Japanese culture, which emphasizes masculinity, collectivism, and a tight culture, imposes a stronger social-structural influence on gender inequality in STEM and at the same time strengthens the use of the individual lens to explain the phenomena, making the issue of gender inequality more prominent.
Putting an End to Bad Talent Management: A Call to Action for the Field of Industrial and Organizational Psychology
Authors: Rotolo Christopher T. , Church Allan H. , Adler Seymour , Smither James W. , Colquitt Alan L. , Shull Amanda C. , Paul Karen B. , Foster Garett
Published: June 2018

Organizations are undergoing unprecedented transformation in the area of talent management (TM). Companies are rapidly adopting new tools and approaches in a variety of what has traditionally been core areas of industrial and organizational (I-O) psychology such as performance management, employee attitudes, recruiting, testing and assessment, and career development. Increasingly, however, these new approaches have little to no research backing behind them, and they do not tend to be the focus of I-O psychology theory and research. We call this trendanti-industrial and organizational psychology(AIO), as we believe these forces to do not advance the field for long-term strategic impact. We present a framework that describes how AIO practices are adopted by organizations, and how I-O psychologists often gravitate away from these practices rather than actively help to separate the wheat from the chaff. We found support for our hypothesis through a brief analysis ofIndustrial and Organizational Psychology: Perspectives on Science and Practice, the peer-reviewed journal of the Society of Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP). In this analysis, we found that only 10% of the focal articles from 2008 to 2016 represented topics that we callfrontier—emerging areas in organizations but where there is no research support for them. We propose a set of recommendations for the field of I-O psychology and call for a more strategic approach to identifying and vetting new TM trends in order to increase the relevancy and impact of I-O psychology for our key stakeholders.
A combined mesowear analysis of MexicanBison antiquusshows a generalist diet with geographical variation
Authors: Díaz-Sibaja Roberto , Jiménez-Hidalgo Eduardo , Ponce-Saavedra Javier , García-Zepeda María Luisa
Published: June 2018

Bison antiquusLeidy, 1852 was one of the largest and most widely distributed megafaunal species during the Late Pleistocene in North America, giving rise to the modern plains bison in the middle Holocene. Despite the importance of the ancient bison, little is known about its feeding ecology. We employed a combination of extended mesowear, and mesowear III to infer the dietary preference and habitat use of three Mexican samples ofB. antiquus. These included two northern samples—La Piedad-Santa Ana and La Cinta-Portalitos—from the Transmexican Volcanic Belt morphotectonic Province, as well as one southern sample—Viko Vijin—from the Sierra Madre del Sur morphotectonic province. We found that the northern Mexican samples were primarily nonstrict grazers, whereas the southern sample displays a pattern consistent with mixed feeding habits. This suggests variability among the diets of the bison from these samples, caused by different paleoenvironments. This evidence complements the paleoenvironmental reconstructions in the studied localities; for the northern samples, open prairies composed of patches of woodland or shrubland and, for the southern locality, a fluvial floodplain with short-lived vegetation. In both scenarios, grasses (Poaceae) were nondominant. The dietary habits of our samples of ancient bison in Mexico are the southernmost dietary inference for the species in North America and expand our knowledge of the dietary habits ofB. antiquusduring the Late Pleistocene.
The Carceral Colony: Colonial Exploitation, Coercion, and Control in the Dutch East Indies, 1810s–1940s
Authors: van Rossum Matthias
Published: June 2018

This article studies the strategic disciplinary and productive function of the colonial penal system of the Dutch East Indies (1816–1942). Developing convict labour as the main punishment for minor public and labour offences, the Dutch colonial regime created an increasingly effective system of exploitation that weaved together colonial discipline, control, and coercion. This system was based on two majorcarceral connections: firstly, the interrelated development and employment of different coerced labour regimes, and, secondly, the disciplinary role of the legal-carceral regime within the wider colonial project, supporting not only the management of public order and labour control, but also colonial production systems. Punishment of colonial subjects through “administrative justice” (police law) accelerated in the second half of the nineteenth century, leading to an explosion in the number of convictions. The convict labour force produced by this carceral regime was vital for colonial production, supporting colonial goals such as expansion, infrastructure, extraction, and production. The Dutch colonial system was a very early, but quite advanced, case of a colonial carceral state.
Associations between P3a and P3b amplitudes and cognition in antipsychotic-naïve first-episode schizophrenia patients
Authors: Kruiper Caitlyn , Fagerlund Birgitte , Nielsen Mette Ø. , Düring Signe , Jensen Maria H. , Ebdrup Bjørn H. , Glenthøj Birte Y. , Oranje Bob
Published: June 2018

Background

Cognitive deficits are already present in early stages of schizophrenia. P3a and P3b event-related potentials (ERPs) are believed to underlie the processes of attention and working memory (WM), yet limited research has been performed on the associations between these parameters. Therefore, we explored possible associations between P3a/b amplitudes and cognition in a large cohort of antipsychotic-naïve, first-episode schizophrenia (AN-FES) patients and healthy controls (HC).

Methods

Seventy-three AN-FES patients and 93 age- and gender-matched HC were assessed for their P3a/b amplitude with an auditory oddball paradigm. In addition, subjects performed several subtests from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB).

Results

AN-FES patients had significantly reduced P3a/b amplitudes, as well as significantly lower scores on all cognitive tests compared with HC. Total group correlations revealed positive associations between P3b amplitude and WM and sustained attention and negative associations with all reaction time measures. These associations appeared mainly driven by AN-FES patients, where we found a similar pattern. No significant associations were found between P3b amplitude and cognitive measures in our HC. P3a amplitude did not correlate significantly with any cognitive measures in either group, nor when combined.

Conclusions

Our results provide further evidence for P3a/b amplitude deficits and cognitive deficits in AN-FES patients, which are neither due to antipsychotics nor to disease progress. Furthermore, our data showed significant, yet weak associations between P3b and cognition. Therefore, our data do not supply evidence for deficient P3a/b amplitudes as direct underlying factors for cognitive deficits in schizophrenia.
Being versus appearing socially uninterested: Challenging assumptions about social motivation in autism
Authors: Jaswal Vikram K. , Akhtar Nameera
Published: June 2018

Progress in psychological science can be limited by a number of factors, not least of which are the starting assumptions of scientists themselves. We believe that some influential accounts of autism rest on a questionable assumption that many of its behavioral characteristics indicate a lack of social interest – an assumption that is flatly contradicted by the testimony of many autistic people themselves. In this article, we challenge this assumption by describing alternative explanations for four such behaviors: (a) low levels of eye contact, (b) infrequent pointing, (c) motor stereotypies, and (d) echolalia. The assumption that autistic people's unusual behaviors indicate diminished social motivation has had profound and often negative effects on the ways they are studied and treated. We argue that understanding and supporting autistic individuals will require interrogating this assumption, taking autistic testimony seriously, considering alternative explanations for unusual behaviors, and investigating unconventional – even idiosyncratic – ways in which autistic individuals may express their social interest. These steps are crucial, we believe, for creating a more accurate, humane, and useful science of autism.
Towards a fire history of European cities (late Middle Ages to late nineteenth century)
Authors: GARRIOCH DAVID
Published: June 2018

Fires are often seen as a constant in early modern European towns, changing only in the modern era when inflammable building materials replaced wood. This article argues that the incidence, nature and risk of fire shifted repeatedly over time. Fire danger was determined not only by building materials but also by forms of construction, by the everyday uses people made of flame and by wider factors such as climatic variation and shifts in world trade and consumer demand. It was influenced by urban social and political change, including the way governments and populations responded to the risk. Responses to new fire dangers in turn helped change the way urban government functioned.
107 Using Brief Motivational Interviewing to Increase Healthy Lifestyle Habits in Overweight and Obese Adults in a Rural Family Practice Setting
Authors: McNulty Amanda
Published: June 2018

Obesity is a rapidly growing epidemic in the United States of America resulting in a multitude of comorbid conditions. Individuals living in rural areas have a higher prevalence of obesity than in urban settings. Effective treatment of obesity is needed to decrease the morbidity and mortality of this chronic disease. Using motivational interviewing (MI) techniques to address unhealthy lifestyle habits has previously proven to be effective in aiding individuals to achieve a healthier lifestyle.

Objectives

The main objective is to determine the effectiveness of brief MI used during regular office visits and with phone follow-ups on body mass index (BMI) at the initiation of the project, as well as at the 3-month follow-up. Secondary objectives are to determine the effect brief MI has on the amount of weekly physical activity, advancing the individual to the next stage on the Transtheoretical Model of Change (TTM) continuum and determining common barriers to leading a healthy lifestyle in a rural adult population.

Method

Participants (n=15) were recruited using a convenience sampling method from the primary care practice. Using a pretest/posttest design, individuals were asked to complete a survey regarding their amount of weekly exercise, their perceived stage of change and their barriers to healthy lifestyle choices. A pre- and post-intervention BMI was collected. One in-office brief MI session and two monthly phone sessions were conducted, each lasting not longer than ten minutes.

Results

A total of 14 participants, mostly female (67%), aged 36 to 45 years old (33%), Caucasian (73.3%), and had some college education (40%), completed the study. It was hypothesized that brief MI would result in decreased BMI, increased exercise and advancement along the TTM continuum. No significant difference in the pre-and post -intervention BMI ([M=37.88, SD=9.15] vs [M=37.01, SD=9.37]); t (27)=0.25, p=0.801 was found. Many participants (n=10), however, had a decrease in BMI. The difference in weekly activity (M=644.2 min vs M=268.57 min) was not found to be statistically significant; t (27)=1.40, p=0.17. An increase in readiness to change was noted, but, was not significant (p =0.52). Of 34 responses, chronic pain or health conditions (n=10) and scheduling conflicts (n=7) were the two top cited reasons for not practicing a healthylifestyle.

Conclusions

This QI project did not demonstrate statistically significant improvement in BMI, weekly exercise or readiness to change after three months of brief MI. It is important to note, however, that many individuals did experience an overall decrease in BMI. It is also promising to note that more individuals were participating in healthylifestyle activities more frequently post-intervention when analyzed on the TTM continuum. Further studies are needed to analyze the most effective strategies to assist individuals in rural settings to make healthier lifestyle choices.

Funding Acknowledgements

No funding.
111 A Novel Dual-Channel Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulator for Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Harel Eiran V , Shmuel Dikla , Antler Daniel , Katz Dana , Pushkarski Elina , Ais Ezekiel , Schvartz Anna , Tendler Aron , Roth Yiftach , Zangen Abraham , Levkovitz Yechiel
Published: June 2018

Background

Repetitive deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) is efficacious for treatment resistant major depressive disorder (TRD) with the H1 coil by stimulating the prefrontal cortex, left more than right, at high frequency. Theoretically, the efficacy of dTMS could be optimized by simultaneously stimulating the right and left lateral prefrontal cortices (PFC) with different frequencies. This study tested the efficacy of a novel dual-channel dTMS stimulator with dual dTMS coils, in patients with TRD.

Methods

This study recruited forty-seven outpatients diagnosed with TRD, age 18-65, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS-21) score ≥25. Each patient received 20 open label treatment sessions, five days a week for 4 consecutive weeks. Treatments were administered with the dual-channel stimulator (Brainsway Multiway dTMS device) using two channels: a. 10 Hz over the left PFC. b. 1 Hz over the right PFC. Primary and secondary efficacy outcome measures were the change in HDRS-21 score and response/remission rates at week 5, respectively.

Results

The HDRS-21 score decreased from an average of 25.94 to 14.69 (P<0.001). Thirty-six patients completed four weeks of treatment. Of them, seventeen (47%) responded (HDRS-21 score decrease of ≥ 50% from their initial score) and eight (22%) remitted (HDRS-21 score of < 10 at the end of the study).

Discussion

This open study shows promising results for multichannel simultaneous dTMS treatment of TRD using the Brainsway Multiway Device. Further randomized controlled studies are necessary to aid the high number of patients with TRD.

Funding Acknowledgements

Brainsway Ltd.