bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the concept specialization distance from an end-user perspective
Authors: Martín-Moncunill David , Sicilia-Urban Miguel Angel , García-Barriocanal Elena , Stracke Christian M.
Published: August 2017

Purpose

The common understanding of generalization/specialization relations assumes the relation to be equally strong between a classifier and any of its related classifiers and also at every level of the hierarchy. Assigning a grade of relative distance to represent the level of similarity between the related pairs of classifiers could correct this situation, which has been considered as an oversimplification of the psychological account of the real-world relations. The paper aims to discuss these issues.

Design/methodology/approach

The evaluation followed an end-user perspective. In order to obtain a consistent data set of specialization distances, a group of 21 persons was asked to assign values to a set of relations from a selection of terms from the AGROVOC thesaurus. Then two sets of representations of the relations between the terms were built, one according to the calculated concept of specialization weights and the other one following the original order of the thesaurus. In total, 40 persons were asked to choose between the two sets following an A/B test-like experiment. Finally, short interviews were carried out after the test to inquiry about their decisions.

Findings

The results show that the use of this information could be a valuable tool for search and information retrieval purposes and for the visual representation of knowledge organization systems (KOS). Furthermore, the methodology followed in the study turned out to be useful for detecting inconsistencies in the thesaurus and could thus be used for quality control and optimization of the hierarchical relations.

Originality/value

The use of this relative distance information, namely, “concept specialization distance,” has been proposed mainly at a theoretical level. In the current experiment, the authors evaluate the potential use of this information from an end-user perspective, not only for text-based interfaces but also its application for the visual representation of KOS. Finally, the methodology followed for the elaboration of the concept specialization distance data set showed potential for detecting possible inconsistencies in KOS.
The lost academic home: institutional affiliation links in Google Scholar Citations
Authors: Orduña-Malea Enrique , Ayllón Juan M. , Martín-Martín Alberto , Delgado López-Cózar Emilio
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Google Scholar Citations (GSC) provides an institutional affiliation link which groups together authors who belong to the same institution. The purpose of this paper is to ascertain whether this feature is able to identify and normalize all the institutions entered by the authors, and whether it is able to assign all researchers to their own institution correctly.

Design/methodology/approach

Systematic queries to GSC’s internal search box were performed under two different forms (institution name and institutional e-mail web domain) in September 2015. The whole Spanish academic system (82 institutions) was used as a test. Additionally, specific searches to companies (Google) and world-class universities were performed to identify and classify potential errors in the functioning of the feature.

Findings

Although the affiliation tool works well for most institutions, it is unable to detect all existing institutions in the database, and it is not always able to create a unique standardized entry for each institution. Additionally, it also fails to group all the authors who belong to the same institution. A wide variety of errors have been identified and classified.

Research limitations/implications

Even though the analyzed sample is good enough to empirically answer the research questions initially proposed, a more comprehensive study should be performed to calibrate the real volume of the errors.

Practical implications

The discovered affiliation link errors prevent institutions from being able to access the profiles of all their respective authors using the institutions lists offered by GSC. Additionally, it introduces a shortcoming in the navigation features of Google Scholar which may impair web user experience.

Social implications

Some institutions (mainly universities) are under-represented in the affiliation feature provided by GSC. This fact might jeopardize the visibility of institutions as well as the use of this feature in bibliometric or webometric analyses.

Originality/value

This work proves inconsistencies in the affiliation feature provided by GSC. A whole national university system is systematically analyzed and several queries have been used to reveal errors in its functioning. The completeness of the errors identified and the empirical data examined are the most exhaustive to date regarding this topic. Finally, some recommendations about how to correctly fill in the affiliation data (both for authors and institutions) and how to improve this feature are provided as well.
Britannica on the eve of its 250th birthday: an Encyclopedia’s metamorphosis
Authors: Danowitz Erica Swenson
Published: August 2017

Purpose

This paper aims to explore the recent history of the Encyclopedia Britannica: how its contents evolved over the course of the twentieth and early twenty-first century, how technological changes almost led to its demise and its transformation from a print to an online source.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper traces Britannica’s history during most of the twentieth century to today using relevant literature. It also examines how Britannica’s editors used continuous revision to edit numerous print editions throughout most of the twentieth century. The author used both print and online versions of the Britannica to track how particular entries changed or remained the same over a 106-year span.

Findings

Although many Britannica entries did not change for decades, it still managed to update numerous encyclopedic articles in an age before computers and instant editing. Britannica persisted despite challenges to its existence that resulted from technological changes and imprudent business decisions. On the eve of its 250th birthday, Britannica has managed to survive as an online product that continues to educate new generations of researchers.

Originality/value

This paper examines a subject that has been explored in the past but not in recent years. Despite previous missteps and competition from Wikipedia and other online reference tools, this paper argues that Britannica still has relevance today.
Want successful employee communications? Think like a marketer
Authors: Goncalves Pam
Published: August 2017

Purpose

Today’s employees expect a consumer-like communications experience: worthy of their time, meaningful, easy to consume, delightful and consistent. An IDG survey saw that frequent, easy-to-share, modern communications correlated positively to employees’ job satisfaction; increasing the likelihood to recommend their employer as well as to remain at their current company. Do those positive outcomes of employee satisfaction, employer brand and retention sound like they might fit into your strategic HR plans this year and every year?

Design/methodology/approach

The authors have been studying this problem for almost a decade, working with over 1,000 companies representing more than 10 million employees. It seems as if employee communications suffers from the “last mile” syndrome, a term originally coined by the telecommunications industry. You can have the most robust equipment and services but if the last mile, the final piece that connects all of that modern technology to the end user, does not get delivered, it’s all for nothing. Similarly, we can have the best HR programs, total rewards packages and a killer employer value proposition, but if they do not reach and activate our employees, HR can never realize the true ROI of that effort.

Findings

How would you rate your company’s internal communications? That was the question IDG Research asked of 270 HR professionals in its March 2017 Workforce Communication Survey. In total, 71 per cent answered yes to the prompt: “Our workplace communications are engaging”. That’s great news if you’re sitting in HR. Only 27 per cent of the corresponding 1,050 employees replied yes to that same prompt.

Originality/value

Today’s employee is on information overload – @home, @work, @anywhere. With the explosion of digital content being pushed through multiple devices, employees as digital consumers have learned to ignore some types of information and readily consume others. The authors have seen first-hand how this marketing approach to employee communications can give new life to legacy programs and most importantly, improve participation and adoption.
The ‘Flock’ Phenomenon of the Sydney Lockout Laws: Dual Effects on Rental Prices
Authors: Perks Georgia , Maruyama Shiko
Published: August 2017

Geographically targeted crime control is a controversial attempt to alleviate crime, which risks the displacement of crime into neighbouring areas. The 2014 Sydney lockout laws have decreased the nightlife economy and violence in the entertainment districts, having displaced them into neighbouring areas. We investigate the effect of the Sydney lockout laws on rental prices in the displacement areas, and find a relatively weak and short‐lived negative effect on small dwellings and a persistent positive effect on large dwellings. Our results indicate the long‐term positive effect of the lockout laws on the land value of surrounding areas, despite reported crime displacement.
Beneficial microbial signals from alternative feed ingredients: a way to improve sustainability of broiler production?
Authors: Van Immerseel Filip , Eeckhaut Venessa , Moore Robert J. , Choct Mingan , Ducatelle Richard
Published: August 2017

More sustainable broiler meat production can be facilitated by the increased use of cheap by‐products and local crops as feed ingredients, while not affecting animal performance and intestinal health, or even improving intestinal health, so that antibiotic usage is further reduced. To achieve this, knowledge of the relationship between the taxonomic and functional microbiota composition and intestinal health is required. In addition, the relationship between the novel feed sources, the substrates present in these feed sources, and the breakdown by enzymes and microbial networks can be crucial, because this can form the basis for development of tailored feed‐type specific solutions for optimal digestion and animal performance.
Chronic ethanol consumption: role of TLR3/TRIF‐dependent signaling
Authors: McCarthy Gizelle M. , Warden Anna S. , Bridges Courtney R. , Blednov Yuri A. , Harris R. Adron
Published: August 2017

Chronic ethanol consumption stimulates neuroimmune signaling in the brain, and Toll‐like receptor (TLR) activation plays a key role in ethanol‐induced inflammation. However, it is unknown which of the TLR signaling pathways, the myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) dependent or the TIR‐domain‐containing adapter‐inducing interferon‐β (TRIF) dependent, is activated in response to chronic ethanol. We used voluntary (every‐other‐day) chronic ethanol consumption in adult C57BL/6J mice and measured expression of TLRs and their signaling molecules immediately following consumption and 24 hours after removing alcohol. We focused on the prefrontal cortex where neuroimmune changes are the most robust and also investigated the nucleus accumbens and amygdala. Tlr mRNA and components of the TRIF‐dependent pathway (mRNA and protein) were increased in the prefrontal cortex 24 hours after ethanol and Cxcl10 expression increased 0 hour after ethanol. Expression of Tlr3 and TRIF‐related components increased in the nucleus accumbens, but slightly decreased in the amygdala. In addition, we demonstrate that the IKKε/TBK1 inhibitor Amlexanox decreases immune activation of TRIF‐dependent pathway in the brain and reduces ethanol consumption, suggesting the TRIF‐dependent pathway regulates drinking. Our results support the importance of TLR3 and the TRIF‐dependent pathway in ethanol‐induced neuroimmune signaling and suggest that this pathway could be a target in the treatment of alcohol use disorders.
Young alcohol binge drinkers have elevated blood endotoxin, peripheral inflammation and low cortisol levels: neuropsychological correlations in women
Authors: Orio Laura , Antón María , Rodríguez‐Rojo Inmaculada Concepción , Correas Ángeles , García‐Bueno Borja , Corral Monserrat , de Fonseca Fernando Rodríguez , García‐Moreno Luis Miguel , Maestú Fernando , Cadaveira Fernando
Published: August 2017

Alcohol binge drinking is a pattern of heavy alcohol consumption that is increasingly practiced by adolescents and young adults. Evidence indicates that alcohol binges induce peripheral inflammation and an exacerbated neuroimmune response that may participate in alcohol‐induced cognitive/behavioral dysfunctions. Here, we recruited 20‐year‐old male and female university students who were identified as binge drinkers for at least 2 years. Compared with controls, young alcohol binge drinkers had elevated levels of blood endotoxin and upregulated markers of the toll‐like receptor 4/NF‐κB inflammatory pathway in peripheral blood mononuclear cells, together with pro‐inflammatory cytokine/chemokine release, oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. These changes positively correlate with the estimated blood alcohol levels achieved during alcohol binge intoxication and negatively correlate with the time elapsed from the last alcohol consumption. The immune/inflammatory changes were more prominent in female drinkers, who showed elevated levels of alcohol danger‐associated molecules, such as high mobility group box 1, indicating that there are sex‐related differences in the peripheral inflammatory response to alcohol. In contrast, cortisol levels were decreased in alcohol binge drinkers. Finally, higher levels of inflammatory markers, mainly monocyte chemoattractant protein‐1, as well as LPS, high mobility group box 1, toll‐like receptor 4, IL‐6 and ciclooxygenase‐2, correlated with worse scores on episodic memory and executive functioning tasks in female binge drinkers but not in male binge drinkers. These results emphasize possible risky consequences of alcohol use in binge episodes during young adulthood and call attention to sex‐related differences in the alcohol‐induced immune/inflammatory and neurocognitive responses.
“Our Tarkine, Our Future”: The Australian Workers Union Use of Narratives Around Place and Community in West and North West Tasmania, Australia
Authors: Barton Ruth
Published: August 2017

The Australian Workers Union (AWU) represents the miners on the West Coast of Tasmania. When the future of mining on much of the West Coast was threatened by the environmentalists' proposed National Heritage listing of the Tarkine region, the union campaigned to prevent the listing. Through its embeddedness in place, the AWU was able to use a sense of place, memory and identity to construct a community campaign that moved beyond the West Coast into the North West Coast where many of the miners lived. The union was able to renew its narrative resources by moving work out of the workplace and into the Tarkine. In this way the AWU was able to mobilise community support and shift political power to the local where workers could regain control over their lives and the place where they lived and worked.
Effects of moist‐ and dry‐heat cooking on the meat quality, microstructure and sensory characteristics of native chicken meat
Authors: Chumngoen Wanwisa , Chen Chih‐Feng , Tan Fa‐Jui
Published: August 2017

This study investigates the effects of moist‐ (water‐cooking; WC) and dry‐heat (oven‐cooking; OC) on the quality, microstructure and sensory characteristics of native chicken breast meat. The results revealed that OC meat had a significantly higher cooking time, cooking loss, and shear force values and lower L* values. Protein solubility decreased after cooking in both cooking methods; however, no statistical difference was observed between WC and OC meats, whereas collagen solubility and myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI) increased after cooking and WC meat exhibited higher collagen solubility and MFI (P < 0.05). The fiber diameter and sarcomere length decreased substantially after cooking, and fibril shrinkage was noticeable in OC meat (P < 0.05). Descriptive sensory analysis revealed that WC meat exhibited a significantly higher moisture release and lower initial hardness, chewdown hardness and residual loose particles. A darker color and enhanced chickeny flavor were observed for OC meat. Based on the unique sensory and physicochemical characteristics in demand, producers should employ appropriate cooking methods to optimize native chicken meat quality.
Noncholestatic acute hepatocellular injury following candesartan administration
Authors: Lammel‐Lindemann Jan Antonio , Flores‐Villalba Eduardo , Martagón Alexandro Jose , DeObeso‐Gonzalez Eduardo , Puente‐Gallegos Francisco
Published: August 2017

Arterial hypertension is a highly manageable disorder due to a variety of drugs available for its treatment. Since the late 1990s, angiotensin II receptor blockers have been widely prescribed, achieving appropriate control in patients’ blood pressure. Few cases of serious adverse effects have been reported to date. Here, we present a case of acute hepatocellular injury secondary to candesartan administration. Further studies should be performed in patients who present with this adverse effect, in order to prevent more serious outcomes.
Hidden in the heart: A peculiar type of left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Cicenia Marianna , Fedele Francesco , Petronilli Valentina , De Carlo Carlotta , Moscucci Federica , Schina Mauro , Sciomer Susanna
Published: August 2017

We reported an unusual case of left ventricular pouch, in a 72‐year‐old man who had an acute coronary syndrome treated with percutaneous revascularization. The echocardiogram showed a sort of pouch, delimited by epicardium and endocardium, confirmed by 3D echo. This finding appeared as an echo free area, with a really slight color flow inside. We consequently supposed it would be a dissecting hematoma, a rare complication of the ischemic disease, due to the rupture of the intramyocardial vessels among the spiral myocardial fibers. This would produce a hemorrhagic pouch contained by epicardial and endocardial layers, which could evolve into mural thrombi.
Sensory characteristics of youth at clinical high risk for psychosis
Authors: Parham L. Diane , Roush Sean , Downing Donna T. , Michael Paul G. , McFarlane William R.
Published: August 2017

Aim

To identify and compare the sensory characteristics of young people at clinical high risk (CHR) for psychosis to those of peers at clinical low risk (CLR), and to national normative data. CHR and CLR participants were recruited from 6 US regions.

Method

A descriptive cohort design was used to analyse baseline data collected as part of the Early Detection and Intervention for the Prevention of Psychosis Program (EDIPPP). Raw scores on the Adolescent/Adult Sensory Profile (AASP) were analysed for 205 young people with CHR and 87 with CLR in 2 age groups: 12 to 17 years (N = 203) and 18 to 25 years (N = 89). ANOVA procedures were used to determine whether differences in AASP scores existed across CLR, CHR, and normative groups by age group.

Results

CHR participants differed significantly from the normative group for all 4 AASP quadrant scores (Low Registration, Sensory Seeking, Sensory Sensitivity and Sensory Avoiding) in both age groups. CLR participants were similar to norms, except for Sensory Seeking scores that were significantly lower than norms in both age ranges.

Conclusion

Young people with CHR demonstrate active avoidance, heightened sensitivity, reduced seeking, and reduced registration of sensations in everyday life compared to typical peers. This pattern of differences may be a valuable marker for identifying individuals who are at high risk for developing a psychotic illness, and may also inform interventions designed to prevent or minimize the illness process and accompanying dysfunction.
Higher education in the sustainable development goals framework
Authors: Owens Taya Louise
Published: August 2017

Agenda 2030 for sustainable development focuses attention on lifelong learning opportunities for all. The new targets expand on their predecessors, the Millennial Development Goals, by both widening and deepening the scope of system‐wide quality education systems. Whilst the Millennial Development Goals focused attention on universal primary attainment, the Sustainable Development Goals introduce tertiary education into the global development agenda. Higher education was an important consideration in the 2000 Dakar framework, but it was not included as a target. Instead, it appeared indirectly as a supportive pathway to other goals such as youth skills or quality teacher. Now, higher education plays a key role as a means to achieving Goal 4 on education: inclusive, equitable and quality education for all. This article evaluates the introduction of higher education into the development agenda and the introduction of the SDGs into the parallel but fragmented multilateral and university agendas. It concludes by specifying two factors that are essential if higher education is to play a revitalised role in the sustainable development framework: publicly‐funded research and regional higher education partnerships.
Pedotransfer functions for converting laser diffraction particle‐size data to conventional values
Authors: Makó A. , Tóth G. , Weynants M. , Rajkai K. , Hermann T. , Tóth B.
Published: August 2017

The objective of this study was to develop pedotransfer functions (PTFs) for converting soil particle‐size distribution (PSD) data from the laser diffraction method (LDM) to the classical sieve–pipette method (SPM) for use on a wide range of temperate soil types. Four hundred soil samples, representative of European soil types and climate zones, were selected from the LUCAS (Land Use/Land Cover Area Frame Survey) topsoil database and their PSDs were determined with LDM and SPM. The LDM measurements were made on samples with (i) their organic matter (OM) removed and (ii) their OM content present. The ranges of PSD obtained with the two pretreatment methods enabled clay–silt and silt–sand boundaries from LDM (6.6 and 60.3 µm for soil with OM, respectively, and 5.8 and 69.2 µm for soil without OM, respectively) to be optimized. Optimization of the boundaries of the fractions considerably improved the prediction performance of SPM PSD from LDM PSD. Specific PTFs with different input requirements were developed for continental scale applications in Europe to convert data from LDM to SPM. The predictions of SPM clay, silt and sand contents were the most accurate with PTFs that used PSD from LDM and soil chemical properties (R2 0.83, 0.81, 0.94; RMSE 6.14, 7.91 and 6.58%, respectively). For the most accurate results no pretreatment for OM removal was required, but data on chemical properties were necessary. If no soil chemical data are available, the most accurate PTFs need input data of LDM PSD that originate from samples on which the OM content was removed prior to the PSD analysis.

Highlights

PTFs are developed to harmonize PSD data between laser diffraction (LDM) and sieve–pipette (SPM) methods.

PTFs are derived from a representative dataset from Europe for application at the continental scale.

Clay–silt and silt–sand boundaries for LDM without removing OM are at 6.6 and 60.3 µm, respectively.

Clay–silt and silt–sand boundaries for LDM with OM removed are at 5.8 and 69.2 µm, respectively.
Assessing physician knowledge regarding indications for a primary prevention implantable defibrillator and potential barriers for referral
Authors: Bernier Rochelle , Raj Satish R. , Tran Dat , Reyes Lucy , Sauve Michel , Sumner Glen L. , Exner Derek V. , Sandhu Roopinder K.
Published: August 2017

Background

Although there is clear evidence to demonstrate that primary prevention implantable defibrillators (ICDs) reduce mortality in high‐risk patients, ICDs are underutilized. Limited data exist assessing referring physicians’ knowledge about guideline indications and attitudes towards ICDs, which may influence decision for referral.

Methods and results

The Arrhythmia Working Group from the Alberta Cardiovascular and Stroke Strategic Clinical Network developed a web‐based survey consisting of case scenarios regarding primary prevention ICD indications and a list of barriers for referral to aid in the design of a complex device care pathway. We invited referring physicians to participate in the survey including internists and cardiologists and cardiology residents. The survey was completed by 109 of 799 (response rate = 14%) of physicians. Of those, 55% were internists, 32% cardiologists, and 13% cardiology residents. The majority of physicians were male (62%), practicing in a university hospital (66%). Overall, complete guideline‐concordant answers were provided by 34% of physicians. In multivariable analysis, predictors of complete guideline concordance were being a cardiologist (odd ratio [OR] 5.9, confidence interval [CI] 2.1–16.4, P = 0.001) and cardiology resident (OR 6.7, CI 1.7–27.3, P = 0.007). The most common barrier for referral for internists was lack of confidence in knowledge of guideline recommendations; while cardiologists reported concerns about cost‐effectiveness and cardiology residents were most concerned with inappropriate shocks.

Conclusion

Knowledge regarding indications for primary prevention ICD is limited and varies significantly among referring physicians. The barriers for referral differ among physician groups and addressing these identified barriers may help to improve appropriate ICD utilization.
Differences in National Identity, Violence and Conflict in International Sport Tournaments: Hic Sunt Leones!
Authors: Caruso Raul , Di Domizio Marco , Savage David A.
Published: August 2017

This work examines the relationship between national identity and conflict during international sporting tournaments and the impact of referees as an institutional countermeasure. The empirical analysis covers the FIFA World, Confederations and Under 20's World Cups and Olympic tournaments from 1994 to 2014, resulting in 1152 individual matches. We use the issuing of cards (red and yellow) and the number of sanctions (fouls) as a conflict proxy, plus macro‐level national identity markers to determine between team variations. Our results indicate that national identity is robustly significant in the prediction of conflict, whereas the match‐specific variables seem to be of less importance. Additionally, we observe that referees are a highly successful control of on‐field aggression.
Role of poor urethral sphincter relaxation in men with voiding dysfunction refractory to α‐blocker therapy: Clinical characteristics and predictive factors
Authors: Shao I‐Hung , Kuo Hann‐Chorng
Published: August 2017

Objectives

This study evaluates the diagnostic value of poorly relaxed external sphincter (PRES) in men with voiding dysfunction. We analyzed clinical and video‐urodynamic characteristics to identify predictive factors of PRES in patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) refractory to α‐1 adrenoceptor blocker (α‐blocker) therapy.

Methods

This retrospective study included 3379 men with LUTS in whom the initial 1‐month α‐blocker therapy failed. Clinical parameters and video‐urodynamic results were analyzed. Patients with bladder outlet disorders including bladder neck obstruction (BNO), benign prostatic obstruction (BPO), urethral stricture (US), or PRES were categorized according to video‐urodynamic findings. Predictive factors for PRES were analyzed.

Results

A total of 3379 men were included in this study. Among the patients with voiding dysfunction, 905 (43.6%) had BPO, 624 (30.0%) had BNO, 487 (23.4%) had PRES, and 62 (3.0%) had US. Patients with PRES were younger and had a higher maximum flow rate, larger bladder capacity, smaller total prostate volume (TPV) and transition zone index, and a lower rate of LUTS of urgency or urge urinary incontinence (UUI) than other groups. On multivariate analysis, only small TPV and lower urgency/UUI rate were predictive factors of PRES. A scale composed of voided volume, TPV, and urgency/UUI predicted PRES with high specificity.

Conclusions

PRES was the etiology of voiding dysfunction in 23.4% of the men with LUTS refractory to α‐blocker therapy. A simple scale composed of voiding volume, TPV, and urgency/UUI was useful in predicting the presence of PRES before video‐urodynamic studies.
Low‐birthweight infants born to short‐stature mothers are at additional risk of stunting and poor growth velocity: Evidence from secondary data analyses
Authors: Sinha Bireshwar , Taneja Sunita , Chowdhury Ranadip , Mazumder Sarmila , Rongsen‐Chandola Temsunaro , Upadhyay Ravi Prakash , Martines Jose , Bhandari Nita , Bhan Maharaj Kishan
Published: August 2017

Low‐birthweight (LBW) infants are at an increased risk of stunting and poor linear growth. The risk might be additionally higher in these infants when born to short mothers. However, this hypothesis has been less explored. The objective of this secondary data analysis was to determine the risk of linear growth faltering and difference in linear growth velocity in LBW infants born to short mothers (<150 cm) compared to those born to mothers with height ≥150 cm during the first year of life. This analysis uses data from a community‐based randomized controlled trial of 2,052 hospital‐born term infants with birthweight ≤2,500g from urban low–middle socioeconomic neighbourhoods in Delhi, India. Data on maternal height and infant birth length were available from 1,858 (90.5%) of the infants. Infant anthropometry outcomes were measured at birth, 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of age. We found that infants born to short mothers had around twofold higher odds of stunting and lower attained length‐for‐age Z scores compared to infants of mothers with height ≥150 cm, at all ages of assessment. Linear growth velocity was significantly lower in infants of short mothers particularly in the first 6 months of life. We conclude that LBW infants born to short mothers are at a higher risk of stunting and have slower postnatal growth velocity resulting in lower attained length‐for‐age Z scores in infancy. Evidence‐based strategies need to be tested to optimize growth velocity in LBW infants especially those born to short mothers.
Gastroschisis in Europe – A Case‐malformed‐Control Study of Medication and Maternal Illness during Pregnancy as Risk Factors
Authors: Given Joanne E. , Loane Maria , Garne Ester , Nelen Vera , Barisic Ingeborg , Randrianaivo Hanitra , Khoshnood Babak , Wiesel Awi , Rissmann Anke , Lynch Catherine , Neville Amanda J. , Pierini Anna , Bakker Marian , Klungsoyr Kari , Latos Bielenska Anna , Cavero‐Carbonell Clara , Addor Marie‐Claude , Zymak‐Zakutnya Natalya , Tucker David , Dolk Helen
Published: August 2017

Background

Gastroschisis, a congenital anomaly of the abdomen, is associated with young maternal age and has increased in prevalence in many countries. Maternal illness and medication exposure are among environmental risk factors implicated in its aetiology.

Methods

A population‐based case‐malformed control study was conducted using data from 18 European congenital anomaly registries, with information on first trimester medication use, covering 8 million births 1995–2012. 1577 gastroschisis cases (of which 4% stillbirths, 11% terminations of pregnancy) were compared to 153 357 non‐chromosomal/monogenic controls. Literature review identified previous associations concerning maternal illness and medication exposure to be tested as signals. Logistic regression adjusted for maternal age group, registry, and time period was used to evaluate associations.

Results

Comparing gastroschisis to other congenital anomalies, the data supported signals concerning maternal depression (aOR 2.52, 95% CI 1.45, 4.39), antidepressant use (aOR 2.03, 95% CI 1.22, 3.38), postnatal depression/psychosis following a previous pregnancy (aOR 8.32, 95% CI 2.56, 27.01), sexually transmitted infections (aOR 2.85, 95% CI 1.13, 7.24), topical antivirals (aOR 5.31, 95% CI 1.63, 17.33), and continuation of oral contraceptives in early pregnancy (aOR 2.17, 95% CI 1.13, 4.18). Exploratory analyses suggested associations with a wider range of maternal infections and medications, including tonsillitis and the expectorant bromhexine.

Conclusions

While it is difficult to disentangle the effects of the medication and underlying indication, our results add to the evidence base on preventable risk factors for gastroschisis. These risk factors may contribute to the higher risk among young mothers, and geographical and temporal variation in prevalence.
Framed for Compromise? The Role of Bill Framing in State Legislative Behavior on Natural Gas Policy
Authors: Kalaf‐Hughes Nicole , Kear Andrew R.
Published: August 2017

State legislative decision making on natural gas policy has become a balancing act, as legislators are forced to grapple with tensions between economically beneficial policies and environmental impacts. Despite increased public attention to the benefits and costs related to hydraulic fracturing, there has been little scholarly attention paid to how policy framing affects legislator behavior on this issue. We analyze recorded votes on bills relating to natural gas policy in Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico between 1999 and 2008; a time period spanning the recent boom. Using a novel database of bill frames, we create a ratio measure that accounts for the proportion of environmental to economic arguments within each piece of legislation. We find status quo–challenging, anti‐development policies can receive bipartisan support, as long as economic frames balance or are greater than environmental frames. Framing natural gas as a win‐win scenario where economic benefit and environmental protection can be achieved simultaneously is an effective legislative strategy. Using the case of natural gas policy, this study demonstrates bill framing substantively affects state legislator vote choice and implies bipartisan compromise is possible given the right balance of frames.
The Challenge of Amoralism
Authors: Milevski Voin
Published: August 2017

According to unconditional motivational internalism, there is an a priori constraint on an agent's forming a sincere moral judgement, namely that she is, at least to some minimal extent, motivated to act as it dictates. In order to undermine this internalist position, proponents of motivational externalism typically appeal to the possibility of the amoralist—i.e. an individual who makes sincere moral judgements, but who is completely unmoved to act accordingly. This strategy is known as the challenge of amoralism. Against this strategy, I will argue that in order to represent a genuine case of amoralism, and a credible counterexample to unconditional motivational internalism, an agent would have to simultaneously satisfy an epistemically inconsistent set of conditions. Thus, the conclusion I will attempt to defend in this paper is that the challenge of amoralism does not succeed in posing a legitimate threat to unconditional motivational internalism.
Effects of cutbacks on motivating factors among nurses in primary health care
Authors: Halldorsdottir Sigridur , Einarsdottir Emilia J. , Edvardsson Ingi Runar
Published: August 2017

Background

When financial cuts are made, staff redundancies and reorganisation in the healthcare system often follow. Little is known how such cutbacks affect work motivation of nurses in primary health care.

Aim

Examine the effects of cutbacks on motivating factors among nurses in primary health care.

Methods

A phenomenological approach involving a purposeful sample of ten nurses in primary health care. Average age 44.

Results

The participants identified the job itself, autonomy, independence, good communication with co‐workers, and the potential for professional training, learning and development as the main internal motivational factors related to their work. However, increased stress and uncertainty, growing fatigue and understaffing were starting to have a negative impact on these internal motivational factors. Moreover, reduced opportunities for professional training and development had negative effects on the participants. Many saw these opportunities as a vital part of recognition for their job performance. Regarding external motivation, the factors identified were job security, salaries and rewards, and interaction with management. The participants expressed their interest in more consultation with managers and most preferred an increased flow of information from managers to staff members during cutbacks. Salaries, professional training opportunities and appreciation were rewards named by participants for a job well done. All agreed that salaries are stronger motivational factors than before cutbacks.

Conclusions

In the case of cutbacks, nursing managers should increase consultations with staff and make sure that nurses maintain their independence, autonomy, opportunities for professional training as well as appreciation for job well done.
Hemolysis related to intravenous immunoglobulins is dependent on the presence of anti‐blood group A and B antibodies and individual susceptibility
Authors: Mielke Orell , Fontana Stefano , Goranova‐Marinova Vesselina , Shebl Amgad , Spycher Martin O. , Wymann Sandra , Durn Billie L. , Lawo John P. , Hubsch Alphonse , Salama Abdulgabar
Published: August 2017

BACKGROUND

Patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) rarely experience symptomatic hemolysis. Although anti‐A and anti‐B isoagglutinins from the product are involved in most cases, the actual mechanisms triggering hemolysis are unclear.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

A prospective, open‐label, multicenter, single‐arm clinical trial in 57 patients with immune thrombocytopenia treated with IVIG (Privigen, CSL Behring) was conducted.

RESULTS

Twenty‐one patients received one infusion (1 g/kg) and 36 received two infusions (2 × 1 g/kg) of IVIG. After a study duration of more than 2 years, no cases of clinically significant hemolysis as defined in the protocol were identified. Data of patients with mild hematologic and biochemical changes were analyzed in more detail. Twelve cases (10/23 patients with blood group A1 and 2/11 patients with blood group B, all having received 2 g/kg IVIG) were adjudicated as mild hemolysis (median hemoglobin [Hb] decrease, −3.0 g/dL); Hb decreases were transient, with partial or full recovery achieved by last visit. Eighteen patients (31.6%), all with non‐O blood group, of whom 16 (88.9%) received 2 g/kg IVIG, fulfilled post hoc criteria for hemolytic laboratory reactions. Red blood cell (RBC) eluates of all direct antiglobulin test–positive samples were negative for non‐ABO blood group antibodies. Blood groups A and B antigen density on RBCs appeared to be a risk factor for hemolytic laboratory reactions. Platelet response to treatment was observed in 42 patients (74%); eight of 12 patients with complete response had blood group A1.

CONCLUSION

Isoagglutinins are involved in clinically nonsignificant hemolysis after treatment with IVIG, but individual susceptibility varies greatly.
Computational Fluid Dynamic Simulations of Heat Transfer From a 2 × 2 Wire-Wrapped Fuel Rod Bundle to Supercritical Pressure Water
Authors: Podila Krishna , Rao Yanfei
Published: August 2017

Within the Generation-IV International Forum, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL) led the conceptual fuel bundle design effort for the Canadian supercritical water cooled reactor (SCWR). The proposed fuel rod assembly for the Canadian SCWR design comprised of 64-elements with spacing between elements maintained using the wire-wrap spacers. Experimental data and correlations are not available for the fuel-assembly concept of the Canadian SCWR. To analyze the thermalhydraulic performance of the new bundle design, CNL is using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) as well as the subchannel approach. Simulations of wire-wrapped bundles can benefit from the increased fidelity and resolution of a CFD approach due to its ability to resolve the boundary layer phenomena. Prior to the application, the CFD tool has been assessed against experimental heat transfer data obtained with bundle subassemblies to identify the appropriate turbulence model to use in the analyses. In the present paper, assessment of CFD predictions was made with the wire-wrapped bundle experiments performed at Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) in China. A three-dimensional CFD study of the fluid flow and heat transfer at supercritical pressures for the rod-bundle geometries was performed with the key parameter being the fuel rod wall temperature. This investigation used Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes turbulence models with wall functions to investigate the behavior of flow through the wire-wrapped fuel rod bundles with water subjected to a supercritical pressure of 25 MPa. Along with the selection of turbulence models, CFD results were found to be dependent on the value of turbulent Prandtl number used in simulating the experimental test conditions for the wire-wrapped fuel rod configuration. It was found that the CFD simulation tends to overpredict the fuel wall temperature, and the predicted location of peak temperature differs from the measurement by up to 65 deg.
A Numerical Study of Ethanol–Water Droplet Evaporation
Authors: Lupo Giandomenico , Duwig Christophe
Published: August 2017

The present effort focuses on detailed numerical modeling of the evaporation of an ethanol–water droplet. The model intends to capture all relevant details of the process: it includes species and heat transport in the liquid and gas phases, and detailed thermophysical and transport properties, varying with both temperature and composition. Special attention is reserved to the composition range near and below the ethanol/water azeotrope point at ambient pressure. For this case, a significant fraction of the droplet lifetime exhibits evaporation dynamics similar to those of a pure droplet. The results are analyzed, and model simplifications are examined. In particular, the assumptions of constant liquid properties, homogeneous liquid phase composition and no differential volatility may not be valid depending on the initial droplet temperature.
Experimental Dynamic Analysis on a T100 Microturbine Connected With Different Volume Sizes
Authors: Ferrari M. L. , Silvestri P. , Pascenti M. , Reggio F. , Massardo A. F.
Published: August 2017

This paper shows experimental results obtained from a T100 microturbine connected with different volume sizes. The activity was carried out with the test rig developed at the University of Genoa for hybrid system emulation. However, these results apply to all the advanced cycles where a microturbine is connected with an additional external component responsible for volume size increase. Even if the tests were performed with a microturbine, similar analyses can be extended to large size turbines. A modular vessel was used to perform and to compare the tests with different volume sizes. To highlight the volume size effect, preliminary experimental results were carried out considering the transient response due to an on/off bleed valve operation. So, the main differences between system parameters obtained for a bleed line closing operation are compared considering three different volume sizes. The main results reported in this paper are related to surge operations. To produce surge conditions in this test rig, a valve operating in the main air path was closed to generate unstable behavior for the three different volume sizes. Particular focus was devoted to the operational curve plotted on the compressor map. The vibration frequency analysis showed significant amplitude increase not only during surge events but also close to the unstable condition. In details, possible surge precursor indicators were obtained to be used for the detection of risky machine operations. The experimental data collected during these tests are analyzed with the objective of designing control systems to prevent surge conditions.
Time Fractional Third-Order Evolution Equation: Symmetry Analysis, Explicit Solutions, and Conservation Laws
Authors: Baleanu Dumitru , Inc Mustafa , Yusuf Abdullahi , Aliyu Aliyu Isa
Published: August 2017

In this work, Lie symmetry analysis for the time fractional third-order evolution (TOE) equation with Riemann–Liouville (RL) derivative is analyzed. We transform the time fractional TOE equation to nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) of fractional order using its Lie point symmetries with a new dependent variable. In the reduced equation, the derivative is in Erdelyi–Kober (EK) sense. We obtain a kind of an explicit power series solution for the governing equation based on the power series theory. Using Ibragimov's nonlocal conservation method to time fractional partial differential equations (FPDEs), we compute conservation laws (CLs) for the TOE equation. Two dimensional (2D), three-dimensional (3D), and contour plots for the explicit power series solution are presented.
On the Control of Three-Degree-of-Freedom Wave Energy Converters
Authors: Zou Shangyan , Abdelkhalik Ossama
Published: August 2017

The control of a three-degree-of-freedom (3-DOF) wave energy converter (WEC) is considered in this paper. Recently, several methods have been developed in the literature for this problem. This paper is a comparison between three methods: the non-linear model predictive control, the pseudo-spectral method, and the time-variant linear quadratic optimal control. Comparison between the three methods is presented in terms of the harvested energy.
Flexible Natural Gas/Intermittent Renewable Hybrid Power Plants
Authors: Welch Michael , Pym Andrew
Published: August 2017

Increasing grid penetration of intermittent renewable power from wind and solar is creating challenges for the power industry. There are times when generation from these intermittent sources needs to be constrained due to power transmission capacity limits, and times when fossil fuel power plant are required to rapidly compensate for large power fluctuations, for example clouds pass over a solar field or the wind stops blowing.

There have been many proposals, and some actual projects, to store surplus power from intermittent renewable power in some form or other for later use: Batteries, Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES), Liquid Air Energy Storage (LAES), heat storage and Hydrogen being the main alternatives considered. These technologies will allow power generation during low periods of wind and solar power, using separate discrete power generation plant with specifically designed generator sets. But these systems are time-limited so at some point, if intermittent renewable power generation does not return to its previous high levels, fossil fuel power generation, usually from a large centralized power plant, will be required to ensure security of supplies. The overall complexity of such a solution to ensure secure power supplies leads to high capital costs, power transmission issues and potentially increased carbon emissions to atmosphere from the need to keep fossil fuel plant operating at low loads to ensure rapid response.

One possible solution is to combine intermittent renewables and energy storage technologies with fast responding, flexible natural gas-fired gas turbines to create a reliable, secure, low carbon, decentralized power plant. This paper considers some hybrid power plant designs that could combine storage technologies and gas turbines in a single location to maximize clean energy production and reduce CO2 emissions while still providing secure supplies, but with the flexibility that today’s grid operators require.