bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi-objective optimization of carbon/glass hybrid composites with newly developed resin (NDR) using gray relational analysis
Authors: Dnyandev Patil Sagar , Bhalerao Yogesh J.
Published: May 2020

Purpose

It is seen that little amount of work on optimization of mechanical properties taking into consideration the combined effect of design variables such as stacking angle, stacking sequence, different resins and thickness of composite laminates has been carried out. The focus of this research work is on the optimization of the design variables like stacking angle, stacking sequence, different resins and thickness of composite laminates which affect the mechanical properties of hybrid composites. For this purpose, the Taguchi technique and the method of gray relational analysis (GRA) are used to identify the optimum combination of design variables. In this case, the effect of the abovementioned design variables, particularly of the newly developed resin (NDR) on mechanical properties of hybrid composites has been investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

The Taguchi method is used for design of experiments and with gray relational grade (GRG) approach, the optimization is done.

Findings

From the experimental analysis and optimization study, it was seen that the NDR gives excellent bonding strength of fibers resulting in enhanced mechanical properties of hybrid composite laminates. With the GRA method, the initial setting (A3B2C4D2) was having GRG 0.866. It was increased by using a new optimum combination (A2B2C4D1) to 0.878. It means that there is an increment in the grade by 1.366%. Therefore, using the GRA approach of analysis, design variables have been successfully optimized to achieve enhanced mechanical properties of hybrid composite laminates.

Originality/value

This is an original research work.
Using polaroid zinc oxide nanocomposites in strengthening a historical printed paper: application to “Annales Agricoles” – 1829 AD
Authors: Ali Hassan Rushdya Rabee
Published: May 2020

Purpose

What is the behavior of nano-polaroid in strengthening weak paper? What is the effect of adding nano-zinc oxide to nano-polaroid? This paper aims to answer these questions.

Design/methodology/approach

A number of weak historical papers dating back to 1829ADwere treated with 2% of nano-polaroid and polaroid zinc oxide nanocomposites, respectively. After dryness, the samples were subjected to ultraviolet–ozone accelerated aging. Then, the effectiveness of the treatment was defined using the mechanical properties measurement, pH measurement, the chromatic change, scanning electron microscope investigation of the fibers surface and attenuated total reflectance analysis.

Findings

Results revealed that N-polaroid strengthened the fiber surface without reducing the gloss of ink. With the loading of nano-zinc particles onto N-polaroid, the strengthening effect increased, especially after the aging processes where the tensile and elongation values reached the highest value. Not only this but also the nano-polaroid coated with ZnO NPs reduced the color change and yellowness during aging, where the ΔE value reached to 3.3 (an acceptable degree of change, not monitored by the naked eye). The acidity of the treated paper also decreased significantly after the treatment and the aging. The microscopic images detected the improvement of the fibers’ structure where the fibers were swollen by the absorption of nanocomposites, which can be attributed to ZnO (NPs) that decreased the contact angle between the cellulose and the N-polaroid, which helped in filling the primary cells of fibers.

Originality/value

The study addressed the reinforcement of the printed paper samples using nano-polaroid and ZnO polaroid nanocomposites.
Nintendo’s next move
Authors: King Skyler , Karabas Ismail , Allred Anthony
Published: May 2020

Case overview/synopsis

In the 1980s and 1990s, Nintendo was dominating the video game industry with a market share of 90 per cent. Since that time, market share has dropped substantially with new competitors, new technology and changing consumer preferences. This case examines the history of Nintendo including its loss of market share in a rapidly changing industry.

Complexity academic level

This case is suitable for undergraduate courses in strategic management where an instructor’s focus is on strategic decision-making.
Factors influencing the quality of care learning disabled patients receive in hospital
Authors: Durrant Alice
Published: May 2020

Purpose

In total, 40% of the deaths of patients with learning disabilities have been classed as avoidable, and there is a known increased risk of harm while inpatients in hospital. This paper aims to look at the current experiences and treatment of people with learning disabilities within a general hospital setting to examine factors that affect their care.

Design/methodology/approach

A comprehensive literature search was conducted of primary research between 2013 and 2019 to evaluate what is known about the quality of care and treatment that learning disabled patients experience within a general hospital.

Findings

The research suggests that people with learning disabilities receive haphazard care in hospital settings, with inconsistent implementation of reasonable adjustments, insufficient arrangements to support family and other carer input, and poor knowledge of learning disability amongst hospital staff.

Originality/value

Previously, reviews focussing on hospital care have mainly focussed on access to health care rather than its delivery. This review has found evidence of significant failings in delivering care to this patient group, identifying a gap of knowledge in this field regardless of policies and laws already in place. There should be stricter monitoring of the Equality Act’s enforcement, along with improved and mandatory training for all general health-care staff. It is crucial that health-care professionals learn from mistakes to improve the care and experiences of learning disabled inpatients.
Host phenologies and the life history of horsehair worms (Nematomorpha, Gordiida) in a mountain stream in northern Japan
Authors: Meguro Nanoko , Kishida Osamu , Utsumi Shunsuke , Niwa Shigeru , Igarashi Susumu , Kozuka Chikara , Naniwa Aiko , Sato Takuya
Published: May 2020

The occurrence of many parasites and their hosts vary conspicuously by season due to their periodic life history events. Nematomorphs are common parasites in terrestrial‐aquatic ecotones, but it is still unknown how the nematomorphs complete their complex life cycles by using multiple hosts that are potentially seasonally variable. In this study, we examined the life history of a nematomorph (Gordionus sp.) inhabiting a mountain stream in northern Japan by the seasonal survey of their infection on aquatic and terrestrial hosts and laboratory experiments. Adults of Gordionus sp. entered into stream from early June to mid‐July. The laboratory experiment suggested that the newly hatched larvae become infective to intermediate host (aquatic insect larvae) from September to November, depending on the water temperature. The nematomorph larvae infected aquatic insect hosts with diverse emergence phenology, which result in prolonged temporal window for the trophic transmission between aquatic and terrestrial hosts. The common definitive host (Pterostichus thunbergi) seemed to survive multiple years, which would allow the nematomorph larvae to fully develop within the infected host. Trophically transmitted parasites sometimes track a specific pathway of prey–predator interactions within a food web and thus are sensitive to temporal match–mismatch between intermediate and definitive hosts. Contrary to this, the nematomorphs we studied may benefit from using temporally diverse pathways across aquatic and terrestrial food webs, which may result in maintaining the populations in their seasonal environment.
Predicting speech‐sound disorder outcomes in school‐age children with hearing loss: The VicCHILD experience
Authors: St John Miya , Columbus Georgie , Brignell Amanda , Carew Peter , Skeat Jemma , Reilly Sheena , Morgan Angela T
Published: May 2020

Background

Congenital hearing loss is the most common birth anomaly, typically influencing speech and language development, with potential for later academic, social and employment impacts. Yet, surprisingly, the nuances of how speech is affected have not been well examined with regards to the subtypes of speech‐sound disorder (SSD). Nor have the predictors of speech outcome been investigated within a sizeable population cohort.

Aims

(1) To describe the subtypes and prevalence of SSD in children with hearing loss. (2) To determine which characteristics of hearing loss predict the presence of SSD.

Methods & Procedures

A total of 90 children (5–12 years of age) with permanent hearing loss were recruited from an Australian population cohort. Children completed a standardized speech assessment to determine the presence and subtype of SSD. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictors of speech outcome. Demographic, developmental and hearing‐related predictors were examined.

Outcomes & Results

The prevalence of speech disorder overall was 58%, with the most common subtype being phonological delay in 49% of the sample. Factors most predictive of speech disorder were being male, younger and a bimodal user (i.e., using both a hearing aid and a cochlear implant).

Conclusions & Implications

This is the first study, in a sizeable cohort, to describe the prevalence and predictive factors for SSD associated with hearing loss. Clinically, it could be beneficial to implement earlier targeted phonological interventions for children with hearing loss.

What this paper adds

What is already known on this subject

Speech issues are common in children with hearing loss; however, the breakdown of subtypes of SSD (e.g., articulation versus phonological disorder) have not been previously described in a population cohort. This distinction is relevant, as each subtype calls for specific targeted intervention. Studies examining factors predictive of speech outcomes, across a range of hearing levels, are also lacking in a population cohort.

What this paper adds to existing knowledge

Data suggest the most common type of SSD in children with hearing loss is phonological delay. Males, younger children, and bimodal users were at greater risk of having a subtype of SSD.

What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?

The results are clinically pertinent as the speech diagnosis determines the targeted treatment. Phonological delay is responsive to treatment, and early targeted intervention may improve prognosis for speech outcomes for children with hearing loss.
Managing death: navigating divergent logics in end‐of‐life care
Authors: Bailey Simon , Hodgson Damian , Lennie Sarah‐Jane , Bresnen Mike , Hyde Paula
Published: May 2020

Delivery of end‐of‐life care has gained prominence in the UK, driven by a focus upon the importance of patient choice. In practice choice is influenced by several factors, including the guidance and conduct of healthcare professionals, their different understandings of what constitutes ‘a good death’, and contested ideas of who is best placed to deliver this. We argue that the attempt to elicit and respond to patient choice is shaped in practice by a struggle between distinct ‘institutional logics’. Drawing on qualitative data from a two‐part study, we examine the tensions between different professional and organisational logics in the delivery of end‐of‐life care. Three broad clusters of logics are identified: finance, patient choice and professional authority. We find that the logic of finance shapes the meaning and practice of ‘choice’, intersecting with the logic of professional authority in order to shape choices that are in the ‘best interest’ of the patient. Different groups might be able to draw upon alternative forms of professionalism, and through these enact different versions of choice. However, this can resemble a struggle for ownership of patients at the end of life, and therefore, reinforce a conventional script of professional authority.
The effect on consent rates for deceased organ donation in Wales after the introduction of an opt‐out system
Authors: Madden S. , Collett D. , Walton P. , Empson K. , Forsythe J. , Ingham A. , Morgan K. , Murphy P. , Neuberger J. , Gardiner D.
Published: May 2020

Organ transplantation saves and transforms lives. Failure to secure consent for organ retrieval is widely regarded as the single most important obstacle to transplantation. A soft opt‐out system of consent for deceased organ donation was introduced into Wales in December 2015, whilst England maintained the existing opt‐in system. Cumulative data on consent rates in Wales were compared with those in England, using a two‐sided sequential procedure that was powered to detect an absolute difference in consent rates between England and Wales of 10%. Supplementary risk‐adjusted logistic regression analysis examined whether any difference in consent rates between the two nations could be attributed to variations in factors known to influence UK consent rates. Between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2018, 8192 families of eligible donors in England and 474 in Wales were approached regarding organ donation, with overall consent rates of 65% and 68%, respectively. There was a steady upward trend in the proportion of families consenting to donation after brain death in Wales as compared with England and after 33 months, this reached statistical significance. No evidence of any change in the donation after circulatory death consent rate was observed. Risk‐adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed that by the end of the study period the probability of consent to organ donation in Wales was higher than in England (OR [95%CI] 2.1 [1.26–3.41]). The introduction of a soft opt‐out system of consent in Wales significantly increased organ donation consent though the impact was not immediate.
Pregabalin poisoning and rising recreational use: a retrospective observational series
Authors: Isoardi Katherine Z. , Polkinghorne Gregory , Harris Keith , Isbister Geoffrey K.
Published: May 2020

Aims

With rising use worldwide, pregabalin is increasingly implicated in poisoning deaths. We aimed to investigate the clinical effects and complications of pregabalin poisoning.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of patients presenting with pregabalin poisoning to two tertiary toxicology units from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2019. Patients were identified from prospective databases maintained by both units and data were extracted from these in addition to medical records.

Results

There were 488 presentations in 413 patients (237 [57%] male) over the five‐year period. The median age was 41 years (IQR 31–50 years). Deliberate self‐poisonings accounted for 342 (70%) presentations, with 121 (25%) recreational exposures. Recreational exposures increased over the period from 2 (4%) in the first year to 54 (39%) presentations in the final year. The median dose of pregabalin was 1200 mg (IQR 600‐3000 mg, range 75‐16 800 mg). Co‐ingestions occurred in 427 (88%) presentations, with sedating agents being co‐ingested in 387 (79%)—most commonly opioids and benzodiazepines in 201 (41%) and 174 (36%) presentations respectively. Coma (GCS < 9) occurred in 89 (18%) cases, with 52 (11%) patients being intubated. Only one (0.2%) of these patients had not co‐ingested a sedating agent. Hypotension occurred in 26 (5%) cases, all with co‐ingestants. Seizures occurred in 11 (2%) cases, 3/59 (5%) in pregabalin‐only overdoses. The median length of stay was 16.5 hours (IQR 10–25 hours).

Conclusions

Pregabalin overdose does not cause severe toxicity, but rather mild sedation and, uncommonly, seizures. Coma is common in the presence of sedating co‐ingestants. Recreational use is increasing.
Predicting ischaemic events using platelet reactivity in patients receiving clopidogrel: Indirect meta‐comparison among VerifyNow, light transmission aggregometry and thromboelastography
Authors: Xiang Qian , Wang Zhe , Zhang Han‐Xu , Liu Zhi‐Yan , Xie Qiu‐Fen , Hu Kun , Mu Guang‐Yan , Ma Ling‐Yue , Zhang Zhuo , Jiang Jie , Cui Yi‐Min
Published: May 2020

The present study compared performances of the three major methods used for assessing platelet reactivity (PR)—VerifyNow, light transmission aggregometry (LTA) and thromboelastography (TEG)—to predict ischaemic events in patients receiving clopidogrel. PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library were searched from their inception to April 2019 for prospective studies that examined PR using VerifyNow, LTA or TEG and the incidence of ischaemic events. The investigated diagnostic indices include sensitivity, specificity, positive (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR), diagnostic odds ratio and area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) of VerifyNow, LTA and TEG, respectively. A total of 26 prospective studies involving 22 185 patients were included in the analysis. The pooled AUC was 0.71 (95% CI: 0.67‐0.75) for VerifyNow, 0.60 (95% CI: 0.55‐0.64) for LTA and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.77‐0.84) for TEG. Results of indirect comparisons indicated the AUC of VerifyNow was higher than that of LTA (1.18, 95% CI: 1.08‐1.30) and lower than that of TEG (0.88, 95% CI: 0.82‐0.94). TEG outperformed the other two methods for assessing PR in all predictive measures, including sensitivity, specificity, PLR and NLR. Despite a lack of studies that directly compared the three methods, our findings suggest that TEG should be recommended.
Long‐term study of female multiple mating indicates direct benefits in Tribolium castaneum
Authors: Pai Aditi , Yan Guiyun
Published: May 2020

Polyandry or female mating with several different partners in a single fertile period is a widespread phenomenon possibly involving both costs and benefits. This study tested whether remating after weeks of initial copulation (periodic multiple mating) has fitness consequences for females of red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), a cosmopolitan storage pest. We hypothesize that females benefit from higher mating frequency and more mates through sperm replenishment and/or compatible sperm. Thus, offspring production and survivorship were examined of females that were mated to multiple males or the same male repeatedly at variable intervals (every 2 weeks, 1, 3, and 5 months). Our results suggest that remating, after months of initial copulation, confers direct benefits to females, likely by providing additional sperm or through an alternative mechanism such as better ability of fresh sperm to fertilize eggs, stimulation of oviposition from copulation itself, and/or hydration benefit of the ejaculate. We did not detect any additional benefit of female multiple mating.
Chemistry matters: biological activity of Eucalyptus essential oils on mosquito larval mortality
Authors: Gallon Carine , Martello Rafael Henrique , Cozzer Gilberto , Rezende Cássia Alves Lima , Calisto Jean Felipe Fossá , Floss Paulo Afonso , Oliveira J. Vladimir , Rezende Renan de Souza , Dal Magro Jacir , Albeny‐Simões Daniel
Published: May 2020

The mosquito Aedes aegypti L. (Diptera: Culicidae) is a vector of arboviral diseases such as dengue fever. Currently, the main approach to mosquito control is the application of synthetic insecticides, which can lead to negative environmental impacts and insecticide resistance in mosquito populations. As such, there has been increased interest in developing alternative methods for control of vector populations such as utilizing plant compounds that act as larvicides. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effectiveness of Eucalyptus sp. (Myrtaceae) essential oils for control of Ae. aegypti larvae. The essential oils of seven Eucalyptus species and hybrids were extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The essential oils were further diluted in water with acetone (0.40%) at the following concentrations: 100, 50, 25, and 10 μg ml−1. Mortality trials were conducted in plastic containers with a solution of ultrapure water and 200 μl of diluted oil for a total volume of 50 ml per treatment. The experiments for each Eucalyptus species/hybrid and concentration were performed in triplicate, using a control containing only water and acetone. Twenty larvae were added to each container and mortality was recorded at 1, 2, 4, and 24 h. The Eucalyptus essential oils showed larvicidal activity in most of the evaluated concentrations, mainly at 50 and 100 μg ml−1. Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden & Cambage and the hybrid Urograndis displayed the highest larvicidal potential (100% at 24 h) in the 100 μg ml−1 treatment. Larval mortality of Ae. aegypti showed a positive correlation with the compounds γ‐, o‐cymol, o‐cymene, terpineol, 3‐dodecylfuran‐2,5‐dione, α‐pinene, globulol, and ledol. The most abundant compounds identified in the essential oils were 1,8‐cineole and α‐pinene. These results highlight the potential of using Eucalyptus essential oils for the isolation of natural larvicidal products.
Developing consensus in identifying challenges of undergraduate orthodontic education in Malaysian public universities using e‐Delphi
Authors: Kaggal Lakshmana Rao Gururajaprasad , P Iskandar Yulita Hanum , Mokhtar Norehan
Published: May 2020

Aim

The aim of the study was to seek consensus, identify and explore the challenges facing undergraduate orthodontic education and propose equitable solutions for overcoming the challenges amongst Malaysian public university dental schools.

Methods

An iterative e‐Delphi technique was employed as the method for gathering consensus on a range of topics found pertinent to affect orthodontic teaching and learning established through literature review. A total of ten expert panellists were recruited through a targeted invitation to the orthodontists from Malaysian public universities offering undergraduate dental education. The e‐Delphi comprised of three rounds of anonymous e‐survey. The consensus was sought for two open‐ended and two closed‐ended questions.

Results

The response rates for all the three rounds were 100 per cent. The total number of questions responded by the participants in all the three rounds was forty‐four. Round one achieved consensus on two closed‐ended questions. Round two achieved a consensus on twenty‐eight out of thirty‐four (82.35%) questions with round three achieving a consensus on four out of six (66.66%) questions. A 70% consensus was considered as the minimum level of agreement for all the rounds. In total, consensus and agreement were achieved on two closed‐ended questions and twenty‐nine items from the open‐ended questions.

Conclusion

The study was able to identify a range of issues affecting undergraduate orthodontic education with a good level of consensus using the e‐Delphi technique highlighting the need for curriculum refinement. The study has, in addition, proposed tangible methods to enable such a change.
Using machine learning to predict stroke‐associated pneumonia in Chinese acute ischaemic stroke patients
Authors: Li X. , Wu M. , Sun C. , Zhao Z. , Wang F. , Zheng X. , Ge W. , Zhou J. , Zou J.
Published: May 2020

Background and purpose

Stroke‐associated pneumonia (SAP) is a common, severe but preventable complication after acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). Early identification of patients at high risk of SAP is especially necessary. However, previous prediction models have not been widely used in clinical practice. Thus, we aimed to develop a model to predict SAP in Chinese AIS patients using machine learning (ML) methods.

Methods

Acute ischaemic stroke patients were prospectively collected at the National Advanced Stroke Center of Nanjing First Hospital (China) between September 2016 and November 2019, and the data were randomly subdivided into a training set and a testing set. With the training set, five ML models (logistic regression with regulation, support vector machine, random forest classifier, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) and fully connected deep neural network) were developed. These models were assessed by the area under the curve of receiver operating characteristic on the testing set. Our models were also compared with pre‐stroke Independence (modified Rankin Scale), Sex, Age, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (ISAN) and Pneumonia Prediction (PNA) scores.

Results

A total of 3160 AIS patients were eventually included in this retrospective study. Among the five ML models, the XGBoost model performed best. The area under the curve of the XGBoost model on the testing set was 0.841 (sensitivity, 81.0%; specificity, 73.3%). It also achieved significantly better performance than ISAN and PNA scores.

Conclusions

Our study demonstrated that the XGBoost model with six common variables can predict SAP in Chinese AIS patients more optimally than ISAN and PNA scores.
Migratory hosts can maintain the high‐dose/refuge effect in a structured host‐parasite system: The case of sea lice and salmon
Authors: Bateman Andrew W. , Peacock Stephanie J. , Krkošek Martin , Lewis Mark A.
Published: May 2020

Migration can reduce parasite burdens in migratory hosts, but it connects populations and can drive disease dynamics in domestic species. Farmed salmon are infested by sea louse parasites, often carried by migratory wild salmonids, resulting in a costly problem for industry and risk to wild populations when farms amplify louse numbers. Chemical treatment can control lice, but resistance has evolved in many salmon‐farming regions. Resistance has, however, been slow to evolve in the north‐east Pacific Ocean, where large wild‐salmon populations harbour large sea louse populations. Using a mathematical model of host–macroparasite dynamics, we explored the roles of domestic, wild oceanic and connective migratory host populations in maintaining treatment susceptibility in associated sea lice. Our results show that a large wild salmon population, unexposed to direct infestation by lice from farms; high levels of on‐farm treatment; and a healthy migratory host population are all critical to slowing or stopping the evolution of treatment resistance. Our results reproduce the “high‐dose/refuge effect,” from the agricultural literature, with the added requirement of a migratory host population to maintain treatment susceptibility. This work highlights the role that migratory hosts may play in shared wildlife/livestock disease, where evolution can occur in ecological time.
Patient participation in gastrointestinal endoscopy — From patients' perspectives
Authors: Dubois Hanna , Creutzfeldt Johan , Törnqvist Monita , Bergenmar Mia
Published: May 2020

Background

Patient participation is associated with satisfaction and improved health‐related outcomes. In gastrointestinal endoscopy, patient participation is an underexplored area.

Objective

To gain understanding on patients' experiences, attitudes and preferences concerning patient participation in the endoscopy pathway.

Methods

Semi‐structured interviews with endoscopy patients (n = 17, female n = 8, male n = 9, ages 19‐80 years) were performed. Interview transcripts were analysed using qualitative content analysis. Participants were recruited by purposive sampling from an endoscopy unit in a Swedish university hospital. Inclusion:≥ 18 years, fluency in Swedish and recent experience of endoscopy at the unit.

Results

Five generic categories emerged, two within the area of the patient's role, which was described as active or passive/included or excluded. Another three generic categories related to factors, critical to active participation, including organizational aspects, impressions of staff and individual circumstances were identified. In this context, patient participation described in the interviews was on a low to basic level, although sometimes reaching a higher level when staff ‘invited’ patients in decision making.

Discussion

This study contributes to the understanding of patient participation in endoscopy. Patients are in an inferior position and need support from the staff for an active role in their care. Although there were variations on the perceived importance of different factors, a heavy responsibility lies on the endoscopy staff to acknowledge the patients' individual needs and to facilitate patient participation.

Conclusions

Endoscopy staff has a key role in supporting patient participation. In endoscopy settings, patient participation is vulnerable to multiple factors.
Bedtime, body mass index and obesity risk in preschool‐aged children
Authors: Roy Melyssa , Haszard Jillian J. , Savage Jennifer S. , Yolton Kimberly , Beebe Dean W. , Xu Yingying , Galland Barbara , Paul Ian M. , Mindell Jodi A. , Mihrshahi Seema , Wen Li Ming , Taylor Barry , Richards Rosalina , Te Morenga Lisa , Taylor Rachael W.
Published: May 2020

Background

Although sleep duration is a risk factor for obesity in young children, less is known about other aspects of sleep health, including bedtime, on obesity risk.

Objective

To determine whether bedtime is associated with body mass index (BMI) z‐score or obesity risk in children ages 2 to 5 years, and to determine if associations are independent of sleep duration.

Methods

Cohort analyses were undertaken using three early life obesity prevention trials (POI, INSIGHT, Healthy Beginnings) and a longitudinal cohort study (HOME). Bedtime was assessed by questionnaire and BMI through clinical measurement between 2 and 5 years in 1642 children. Adjusted regression models examined whether BMI z‐score and obesity (BMI z‐score ≥ 2) were associated with bedtime, nocturnal sleep time and 24‐hour sleep time. A discrete mixture model categorized children into bedtime trajectory groups across time points.

Results

Bedtime was inconsistently associated with BMI z‐score. Although each hour later of bedtime was associated with greater odds of obesity at ages 3 (OR; 95% CI: 1.05; 1.003, 1.10) and 5 (1.35; 1.08, 1.69) years, odds were attenuated after adjustment for nocturnal or 24‐hour sleep time. Longer nocturnal sleep duration at 2 years was associated with lower odds of obesity (OR 0.90; 0.86, 0.94), as was longer 24‐hour sleep duration at 3 years in girls (0.70; 0.62, 0.78). BMI z‐score and odds of obesity were not significantly different between ‘early to bed’ and ‘late to bed’ trajectory groups.

Conclusions

Timing of bedtime appears inconsistently related to obesity in young children, possibly via influencing overall sleep duration.
Understanding puffing in a domestic microwave oven
Authors: Pompe Robert , Briesen Heiko , Datta Ashim K.
Published: May 2020

This work is intended to develop an overall understanding of puffing of a starch‐based snack in a home microwave oven, using primarily the microwave energy. Combination of experimental measurements was used, including dynamic mechanical thermal analysis, CT‐Scan, SEM, image processing, and measurement of temperature, moisture content, and expansion ratio. Effects of various product and process parameters on puffing, including those of pretreatment to produce the half product, were studied. Experimental data showed that the physicochemical processes contributing to crust formation were gelatinization of starch, migration of soluble ingredients to the surface, and shrinkage at the surface. A thicker material was harder to puff due to its increased mechanical resistance. Higher microwave power, leading to higher rate of evaporation, increased expansion. Evolution of mechanical properties of the crust greatly affected the final shape of the puffed product. In overall understanding, critical determinants of a puffing process were attributed to three material factors (reduced surface permeability, optimal moisture content, and deformability) and two process factors (intense heat and higher internal pressure from evaporation).
Effect of microwave irradiation on the pasting, thermal, and rheological properties of cassava starch–sugar mixtures
Authors: Zhang Xiaoyu , Ma Qinqin , Liu Xiaokang , Zhang Dandan , Ma Liping , Luo Deng‐lin , Liu Xinfang
Published: May 2020

The effects of microwave irradiation (300 W for 1.5 min, two times) on the pasting, thermal, and rheological properties of powder cassava starch–sugar mixture (1:1 or 1:2, w:w) were studied. Different sample preparation ways were used: microwave (of starch) before mixing (Mw‐mix), or mixing before microwave (Mix‐mw). Rapid visco‐analyzer (RVA) experiments showed that the peak viscosity, breakdown, final viscosity, setback, as well as pasting temperature of “Mix‐mw” sample were obviously higher than “Mw‐mix” sample. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) experiments showed that the peak temperature (Tp) value of “Mix‐mw” sample was significantly higher than that of the “Mw‐mix” sample, while the gelatinization enthalpy (ΔH) value of the former was significantly lower than that of the latter. Steady‐state rheological experiments showed that “Mix‐mw” samples had larger consistency coefficient (K) and yield stress (σ0) compared with those of “Mw‐mix” sample. The result demonstrated that microwave irradiation could significantly influence the pasting, thermal, and rheological properties of cassava starch–sugar mixture.

Practical applications

Cassava starch is an excellent raw material for food industry, and low molecular sugars are often added into starchy food to produce starch‐based desserts. Meanwhile, microwave irradiation has been used as a “green” approach for starch modification and food processing. A comparative study of the pasting, thermal, and rheological properties of cassava starch–sugar mixtures has been studied. The results show that the “Mw‐mix” samples (microwave before mixing) have different physical property compared with the “Mix‐mw” samples (mixing before microwave). The results would be useful to simulate the process of starch modification during microwave irradiation, and they could be applied for the food quality control in food industry.
Oral inflammatory load: Neutrophils as oral health biomarkers
Authors: Khoury William , Glogauer Judah , Tenenbaum Howard C , Glogauer Michael
Published: May 2020

Periodontal diseases present a significant challenge to our healthcare system in terms of morbidity from the disease itself as well as their putative and deleterious effects on systemic health. The current method of diagnosing periodontal disease utilizes clinical criteria solely. These are imprecise and are somewhat invasive. There is thus significant benefit to creating a non‐invasive test as a method of screening for and monitoring of periodontal diseases, and, in particular, chronic periodontitis. Oral polymorphonuclear neutrophil (oPMN) counts have been found to correlate with extent of oral inflammation and the presence and severity of periodontal diseases. Potentially then, quantification of oPMNs might be used to identify and measure the severity of oral inflammation (oral inflammatory load; OIL) in subjects with healthy and inflamed periodontal tissues, demonstrating a positive correlation between higher oPMN counts and the extent/severity of OIL. These findings support the development and utilization of a non‐invasive chair‐side test enabling rapid, accurate, and objective screening of OIL based on measurement of oPMN numbers (similar to white blood cell levels in blood as used in medicine for assessment of infection). The use of such a test before, during, and after treatment of gingivitis and periodontitis could lead to improvements in timing of intervention (ie, when inflammation is active) thereby reducing long‐term morbidity.
Hippocampal and medial prefrontal cortical volume is associated with overnight declarative memory consolidation independent of specific sleep oscillations
Authors: Frase Lukas , Regen Wolfram , Kass Stéphanie , Rambach Albena , Baglioni Chiara , Feige Bernd , Hennig Jürgen , Riemann Dieter , Nissen Christoph , Spiegelhalder Kai
Published: May 2020

The current study was designed to further clarify the influence of brain morphology, sleep oscillatory activity and age on memory consolidation. Specifically, we hypothesized, that a smaller volume of hippocampus, parahippocampal and medial prefrontal cortex negatively impacts declarative, but not procedural, memory consolidation. Explorative analyses were conducted to demonstrate whether a decrease in slow‐wave activity negatively impacts declarative memory consolidation, and whether these factors mediate age effects on memory consolidation. Thirty‐eight healthy participants underwent an acquisition session in the evening and a retrieval session in the morning after night‐time sleep with polysomnographic monitoring. Declarative memory was assessed with the paired‐associate word list task, while procedural memory was tested using the mirror‐tracing task. All participants underwent high‐resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Participants with smaller hippocampal, parahippocampal and medial prefrontal cortex volumes displayed a reduced overnight declarative, but not procedural memory consolidation. Mediation analyses showed significant age effects on overnight declarative memory consolidation, but no significant mediation effects of brain morphology on this association. Further mediation analyses showed that the effects of age and brain morphology on overnight declarative memory consolidation were not mediated by polysomnographic variables or sleep electroencephalogram spectral power variables. Thus, the results suggest that the association between age, specific brain area volume and overnight memory consolidation is highly relevant, but does not necessarily depend on slow‐wave sleep as previously conceptualized.
Self‐similarity in long‐horizon returns
Authors: Madan Dilip B. , Schoutens Wim
Published: May 2020

Asset returns incorporate new information via the effects of independent and possibly identically distributed random shocks. They may also incorporate long memory effects related to the concept of self‐similarity. The two approaches are here combined. In addition, methods are proposed for estimating the contribution of each component and evidence supporting the presence of both components in both the physical and risk‐neutral distributions is presented. Furthermore, it is shown that long‐horizon returns may be nonnormal when there is a self‐similar component. The presence of a self‐similar component also questions positive equity biases over the longer term.
Phylogenomics unravels Quaternary vicariance and allopatric speciation patterns in temperate‐montane plant species: A case study on the Ranunculus auricomus species complex
Authors: Tomasello Salvatore , Karbstein Kevin , Hodač Ladislav , Paetzold Claudia , Hörandl Elvira
Published: May 2020

The time frame and geographical patterns of diversification processes in European temperate‐montane herbs are still not well understood. We used the sexual species of the Ranunculus auricomus complex as a model system to understand how vicariance versus dispersal processes in the context of Pleistocene climatic fluctuations have triggered speciation in temperate‐montane plant species. We used target enrichment sequence data from about 600 nuclear genes and coalescent‐based species tree inference methods to resolve phylogenetic relationships among the sexual taxa of the complex. We estimated absolute divergence times and, using ancestral range reconstruction, we tested if speciation was enhanced by vicariance or by dispersal processes. Phylogenetic relationships among taxa were fully resolved with some incongruence in the position of the tetraploid R. marsicus. Speciation events took place in a very short time at the end of the Mid‐Pleistocene Transition (830–580 thousand years ago [ka]). A second wave of intraspecific geographical differentiation occurred at the end of the Riss glaciation or during the Eemian interglacial between 200 and 100 ka. Ancestral range reconstruction suggests a widespread European ancestor of the R. auricomus complex. Vicariance has triggered allopatric speciation in temperate‐montane plant species during the climatic deterioration that occurred during the last phase of the Mid‐Pleistocene Transition. Vegetation restructuring from forest into tundra could have confined these forest species into isolated glacial macro‐ and microrefugia. During subsequent warming periods, range expansions of these species could have been hampered by apomictic derivatives and by other congeneric competitors in the same habitat.
Balancing selection in Pattern Recognition Receptor signalling pathways is associated with gene function and pleiotropy in a wild rodent
Authors: Lundberg Max , Zhong Xiuqin , Konrad Anna , Olsen Remi‐André , Råberg Lars
Published: May 2020

Pathogen‐mediated balancing selection is commonly considered to play an important role in the maintenance of genetic diversity, in particular in immune genes. However, the factors that may influence which immune genes are the targets of such selection are largely unknown. To address this, here we focus on Pattern Recognition Receptor (PRR) signalling pathways, which play a key role in innate immunity. We used whole‐genome resequencing data from a population of bank voles (Myodes glareolus) to test for associations between balancing selection, pleiotropy and gene function in a set of 123 PRR signalling pathway genes. To investigate the effect of gene function, we compared genes encoding (a) receptors for microbial ligands versus downstream signalling proteins, and (b) receptors recognizing components of microbial cell walls, flagella and capsids versus receptors recognizing features of microbial nucleic acids. Analyses based on the nucleotide diversity of full coding sequences showed that balancing selection primarily targeted receptor genes with a low degree of pleiotropy. Moreover, genes encoding receptors recognizing components of microbial cell walls etc. were more important targets of balancing selection than receptors recognizing nucleic acids. Tests for localized signatures of balancing selection in coding and noncoding sequences showed that such signatures were mostly located in introns, and more evenly distributed among different functional categories of PRR pathway genes. The finding that signatures of balancing selection in full coding sequences primarily occur in receptor genes, in particular those encoding receptors for components of microbial cell walls etc., is consistent with the idea that coevolution between hosts and pathogens is an important cause of balancing selection on immune genes.
Work and Its Discontents: On Contemporary Theology’s Response to the Question of Work
Authors: Settle Zachary T.
Published: May 2020

I begin this essay by articulating capitalism’s problematic work ethic, to which a host of contemporary theologians are rightfully responding. I then establish a pattern that structures a host of those contemporary theological responses. Theologians working out of the “God as Worker” model aim to address work‐related problems by calling for workers to imitate God’s work. Making use of Augustine’s doctrine of transcendence, I problematize that mode of response on two fronts: (1) those proposals are based on too quick an appeal to theories of divine action, which the authors problematically assume provides a model for ideal forms of human action; (2) those proposals lack clarity regarding the precise nature of “work” and thus fail to develop a proper analysis of the cursed mode of agency. Thinking with Augustine and a classical theological schema wherein God is the transcendent cause (and final end) of all creatures thus prohibits the attempt to address questions of work by identifying just modes of work in God’s productive agency. In contrast to this model, I argue that an Augustinian response must treat work as both a distinctly creaturely and a cursed activity.
NuBrain: UK consortium for optimal nutrition for healthy brain ageing
Authors: Stevenson E. J. , Shannon O. M. , Minihane A. M. , Adamson A. , Burns A. , Hill T. , Sniehotta F. , Muniz‐Terrera G. , Ritchie C. W.
Published: May 2020

With an ageing global population, there is an urgent need to identify effective strategies to maintain brain health across the life course and therein minimise the risk of age‐related neurodegenerative disorders reaching a severe stage which may manifest as dementia. An increasing body of evidence indicates that nutrition is a modifiable lifestyle factor that can promote healthy brain ageing and reduce dementia risk. However, at present, little is known about which dietary patterns, foods and food bioactives influence brain function during ageing, and more research is required to identify at‐risk individuals and population subgroups who are most likely to benefit from future nutritional intervention intended to promote healthier brain ageing. This article introduces the newly established Medical Research Council‐funded NuBrain consortium, the vision of which is to provide a step change in research in the area by developing novel approaches and techniques to further understand the complex interactions between diet and brain health and how we can support appropriate behaviour changes in the population. NuBrain will form a new, sustainable and internationally field‐leading research consortium with multidisciplinary and complementary areas of expertise to address the fundamental research challenges in this area.
Do clinical psychologists have a role in clients’ use of psychotropic medication? A mixed methods investigation exploring current forms of involvement
Authors: Aston Amy , Smith Sharron , De Boos Danielle , Tickle Anna
Published: May 2020

Objectives

This study aimed to explore whether clinical psychologists in the United Kingdom (UK) have a role with their clients’ psychotropic medication by exploring forms of involvement undertaken, and decision‐making behind involvement.

Design

A mixed methods design was employed; 147 clinical psychologists took part in an online survey, and 11 respondents were interviewed, selected using intensity sampling.

Methods

Descriptive statistics and thematic analysis were used to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data, respectively.

Results

All respondents reported having some role with their clients’ psychotropic medication. A thematic map diagram was created to capture the process of how clinical psychologists choose to become involved.

Conclusions

Consensus was reached in that clinical psychologists do have a role with their clients’ psychotropic medication, although this varies by clinician and takes on many forms. In the light of the changing role, professional guidance would help to promote clarity and consistency.

Practitioner points

Clinical psychologists are regularly engaging in roles in relation to their clients’ psychotropic medication use despite little guidance or training.

Findings identify a range of specific roles in relation to psychotropic medication that psychologists can take including formulating the impact of psychotropic medication, supplying information to support informed consent and withdrawal, and questioning and challenging use of psychotropic medication with colleagues and prescribers.

There is a need for further research and consideration around roles given movements towards prescribing rights for psychologists (by the British Psychological Society) and recent guidance published for psychological therapists on enabling conversations with clients withdrawing from or taking psychiatric drugs (Guy et al., 2019, Guidance for psychological therapists: Enabling conversations with clients taking or withdrawing from prescribed psychiatric drugs, APPG for Prescribed Drug Dependence, London, UK).