bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Designing a Virtual Simulation Case for Cultural Competence Using a Community-Based Participatory Research Approach
Authors: Mathew Lilly , Brewer Barbara B. , Crist Janice D. , Poedel Robin J.
Published: October 2016

In this study, a community-based participatory research approach was used for developing content for a virtual simulation case. The virtual simulation case was designed to develop the cultural competence of prelicensure nursing students in caring for a Puerto Rican patient with diabetes. This article presents the method used to establish a Puerto Rican community advisory board to develop content for a virtual simulation case for cultural competency.
Sexually Transmitted Disease Program Evolution in Response to Changes in the Public Health Environment: A Massachusetts Example
Authors: Carter Marion W. , Hsu Katherine K. , Loosier Penny S. , Maddox Brandy L. Peterson , Doshi Sonal R. , Kroeger Karen , Cranston Kevin
Published: October 2016

Background

In 2008, the line item supporting sexually transmitted disease (STD) services in the Massachusetts state budget was cut as a result of budget shortfalls. Shortly thereafter, direct provision of STD clinical services supported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH) was suspended. Massachusetts Department of Public Health requested an initial assessment of its internal response and impact in 2010. A follow-up assessment occurred in September 2013.

Methods

In 2010 and 2013, 39 and 46 staff, respectively, from MDPH and from clinical partner agencies, were interviewed about changes in the role of the MDPH, partnerships, STD services, challenges, and recommendations. Interview notes were summarized, analyzed, and synthesized by coauthors using qualitative analysis techniques and NVivo software.

Results

The withdrawal of state funding for STD services, and the subsequent reduction in clinical service hours, erected numerous barriers for Disease Intervention Specialists (DIS) seeking to ensure timely STD treatment for index cases and their partners. After initial instability, MDPH operations stabilized due partly to strong management, new staff, and intensified integration with human immunodeficiency virus services. Existing contracts with human immunodeficiency virus providers were leveraged to support alternative STD testing and care sites. Massachusetts Department of Public Health strengthened its clinical and epidemiologic expertise. The DIS expanded their scope of work and were outposted to select new sites. Challenges remained, however, such as a shortage of DIS staff to meet the needs.

Conclusions

Although unique in many ways, MA offers experiences and lessons for how a state STD program can adapt to a changing public health context.
The Impact of Prescriptions on Sex Partner Treatment Using Expedited Partner Therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis Infection, New York City, 2014–2015
Authors: Oliver Ashley , Rogers Meighan , Schillinger Julia A.
Published: October 2016

Background

Chlamydia trachomatis reinfections, often resulting from resuming sex with untreated partners, can increase the risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and ectopic pregnancy. Expedited partner therapy (EPT) has been shown to prevent reinfection when provided as medication (Medication-EPT) that patients give to sex partners; however, EPT is often provided as a prescription (Prescription-EPT). We compared partner treatment outcomes for Medication-EPT versus Prescription-EPT.

Methods

We conducted telephone interviews from October 2014 to October 2015 with a population-based random sample of women aged 15 to 25 years diagnosed with Chlamydia trachomatis. Interview questions included: demographics, patient-treatment, EPT type, and patient report of partner treatment. The main outcomes explored were: proportion of women receiving EPT, proportion of Prescription-EPT and Medication-EPT, and proportion of partners reported as treated. We used χ2 and Fisher exact tests for analysis.

Results

A total of 421 women completed the interview; 357 (84.8%) of 421 women reported having been treated, and 109/357 (30.5%) received EPT for any partner. Women given a prescription (vs medication) for their own treatment were more likely to receive EPT (odds ratio, 1.57; P = 0.05) and to receive Prescription-EPT specifically (odds ratio, 6.85; P < 0.0001). Forty-eight (52.2%) of 92 patients who received EPT for their most recent partner received Prescription-EPT. There was no difference by EPT type in proportion of index patients reporting partner treatment: 77.1% (37/48) for Prescription-EPT versus 79.5% (35/44) for Medication-EPT (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Prescription-EPT and Medication-EPT appear to result in comparable rates of partner treatment. Further research is needed to assess the effects of Prescription-EPT on partner treatment among adolescents and in other contexts.
Partner Notification Outcomes for Men Who Have Sex With Men Diagnosed With Syphilis Referred to Partner Notification Officers, Melbourne, Australia
Authors: Tan Wei Sheng , Chen Marcus , Ivan Mihaela , Stone Kristine , Rane Vinita , Fairley Christopher K. , Ong Jason J.
Published: October 2016

Background

We examined the extent of partner notification for men who have sex with men (MSM) who were diagnosed with syphilis, and offered referral to a partner notification officer (PNO), to assist them with informing recent sexual partners.

Methods

Between October 2013 and March 2015, MSM diagnosed with syphilis at the Melbourne Sexual Health Centre were routinely offered a referral to a PNO. The outcomes of this intervention were evaluated including the proportion of men who accepted PNO services and the number of sexual partners informed by the PNO.

Results

There were 380 MSM diagnosed with syphilis. Those with primary or secondary syphilis reported a total of 813 partners over 3 months and those with early latent syphilis reported a total of 1400 partners over 12 months. Sixty nine percent of index men (n = 262) had documented discussion of partner notification, 34% (n = 128) accepted PNO referral, and 28% (n = 105) were contacted by the PNO, 58 of whom reported they had already notified partners themselves. Only 14 index men (4%) provided the PNO with contact details for 28 partners, 25 of whom were notified by the PNO. Among those interviewed, the most common barrier to partner notification was the presence of anonymous partners and absence of contact details for partners.

Conclusions

Despite offering an effective PNO service in our centre, ultimately only 4% of MSM with syphilis had at least 1 partner notified by the PNO with patients declining the PNO service and anonymous partners posing the major barriers. Alternative patient initiated methods for improving partner notification for syphilis among MSM using newer communication technologies are required.
Pharmacists' Knowledge and Practices Surrounding Expedited Partner Therapy for Chlamydia trachomatis, New York City, 2012 and 2014
Authors: Reid Amanda , Rogers Meighan E. , Arya Vibhuti , Edelstein Zoe R. , Schillinger Julia A.
Published: October 2016

Background

Health care providers in New York City can prescribe treatment for Chlamydia trachomatis (Ct) for a patient's partner without the partner having a medical evaluation (“prescription-expedited partner therapy” [EPT]), and use of prescription-EPT is common. However, there is little known about pharmacists' knowledge and practices surrounding EPT.

Methods

Two cross-sectional surveys, in 2012 and 2014, were conducted with representative samples of supervising pharmacists in NYC neighborhoods with high rates of Ct infection.

Results

In both survey years, the majority of pharmacists who agreed to participate returned a survey (2012: 81% [83/103], 2014: 61% [106/173]), and pharmacist and pharmacy characteristics were similar across the 2 surveys. Pharmacists' EPT-related knowledge and practice was generally low, with little change between 2012 and 2014. In both years, fewer than half of pharmacists knew EPT was legal (2012, 46%; 2014, 42%). There were even decreases in specific content knowledge; in 2014, significantly fewer of the pharmacists who knew EPT was legal, knew that the initials “EPT” must be written in the body of the prescription (2012: 58%; 2014: 36%, P < 0.05). Most pharmacists in both survey years reported they had never received an EPT prescription, and those who had reported only infrequent receipt.

Conclusions

NYC pharmacists had low levels of knowledge and familiarity with EPT law and reported infrequent receipt of EPT prescriptions. Pharmacists and providers should be further educated about EPT laws and regulations so that prescription-EPT use can be accurately monitored, and to assure the success of this partner treatment strategy.
Wound Morbidity in Minimally Invasive Anterior Component Separation Compared to Transversus Abdominis Release
Authors: Parent Brodie , Horn Dara , Jacobson Lauren , Petersen Rebecca P. , Hinojosa Marcelo , Yates Robert , Wright Andrew S. , Louie Otway
Published: October 2016

Background:

Transversus abdominis release is a novel approach for myofascial advancement in ventral hernia repair and has been hypothesized to have lower rates of wound complication than anterior component separation.

Methods:

Patients who had a ventral hernia repair with either transversus abdominis release or minimally invasive anterior component separation from January of 2010 to January of 2016 were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Patient characteristics were collected through chart review. Primary outcomes were operative time and wound complications. Multiple linear/Poisson regression and Fisher’s exact test were used to determine statistical significance.

Results:

Of 142 patients analyzed, 75 subjects underwent Butler minimally invasive anterior component separation and 67 underwent transversus abdominis release. There were no differences in baseline characteristics between groups, except that the anterior component separation group had more immunosuppressed patients (35 percent versus 19 percent). Median operative time for anterior component separation was 6.3 hours versus 6.1 hours for transversus abdominis release (p = 0.6). Overall wound complications did not differ between the groups (p = 0.5). Compared with anterior component separation, transversus abdominis release had a similar incidence of seroma/hematoma (relative risk, 0.9; 95 percent CI, 0.5 to 1.7), wound infection (relative risk, 1.1; 95 percent CI, 0.5 to 2.2), and mesh infection (relative risk, 0.7; 95 percent CI, 0.2 to 3.4). Hernia recurrence was 12 percent for anterior component separation and 6 percent for transversus abdominis release (relative risk, 0.6; 95 percent CI, 0.2 to 1.7). Reoperation was required in 19 percent of anterior component separation and 12 percent of transversus abdominis release subjects (relative risk, 0.5; 95 percent CI, 0.2 to 1.2).

Conclusions:

Transversus abdominis release patients had similar operative times, wound complications, reoperations, and hernia recurrences compared with Butler minimally invasive anterior component separation patients. This contemporary comparison helps inform operative decisions for reconstructive surgeons.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

Therapeutic, III.
Superensemble forecasts of dengue outbreaks
Authors: Yamana Teresa K. , Kandula Sasikiran , Shaman Jeffrey
Published: October 2016

In recent years, a number of systems capable of predicting future infectious disease incidence have been developed. As more of these systems are operationalized, it is important that the forecasts generated by these different approaches be formally reconciled so that individual forecast error and bias are reduced. Here we present a first example of such multi-system, or superensemble, forecast. We develop three distinct systems for predicting dengue, which are applied retrospectively to forecast outbreak characteristics in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We then use Bayesian averaging methods to combine the predictions from these systems and create superensemble forecasts. We demonstrate that on average, the superensemble approach produces more accurate forecasts than those made from any of the individual forecasting systems.
The Athenæum Club, the Royal Society and the reform of dentistry in nineteenth-century Britain: A research report
Authors: Bishop Malcolm G. H.
Published: October 2016

In 1978 M. J. Peterson examined the role played by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) in nineteenth-century dental reform, noting the establishment of its Licence in Dental Surgery (LDS) in 1859. In a paper published in
Notes and Records
in 2010, the present author described the influential role played by Fellows of the Royal Society during the nineteenth-century campaign for dental reform led by Sir John Tomes. Key players in this campaign, including the dentists Samuel Cartwright, Thomas Bell and James Salter, were, as well as being Fellows of the Royal Society, members of the Athenæum Club. The present research report indicates the roles played by those members of the Athenæum Club who were also Fellows of the Royal Society in the scientific and professional reform of nineteenth-century dentistry. Although it does not attempt to document meetings at the Club, it suggests the potential for a symbiotic effect between the Royal Society and the Athenæum. Where the previous paper proposed an active scientific role for the Royal Society in reforming dentistry, this paper presents the Athenæum as a significant extension of the sphere of influence into the cultural realm for those who did enjoy membership of both organizations.
Rich do not rise early: spatio-temporal patterns in the mobility networks of different socio-economic classes
Authors: Lotero Laura , Hurtado Rafael G. , Floría Luis Mario , Gómez-Gardeñes Jesús
Published: October 2016

We analyse the urban mobility in the cities of Medellín and Manizales (Colombia). Each city is represented by six mobility networks, each one encoding the origin-destination trips performed by a subset of the population corresponding to a particular socio-economic status. The nodes of each network are the different urban locations whereas links account for the existence of a trip between two different areas of the city. We study the main structural properties of these mobility networks by focusing on their spatio-temporal patterns. Our goal is to relate these patterns with the partition into six socio-economic compartments of these two societies. Our results show that spatial and temporal patterns vary across these socio-economic groups. In particular, the two datasets show that as wealth increases the early-morning activity is delayed, the midday peak becomes smoother and the spatial distribution of trips becomes more localized.
Global field synchronization reveals rapid eye movement sleep as most synchronized brain state in the human EEG
Authors: Achermann Peter , Rusterholz Thomas , Dürr Roland , König Thomas , Tarokh Leila
Published: October 2016

Sleep is characterized by a loss of consciousness, which has been attributed to a breakdown of functional connectivity between brain regions. Global field synchronization (GFS) can estimate functional connectivity of brain processes. GFS is a frequency-dependent measure of global synchronicity of multi-channel EEG data. Our aim was to explore and extend the hypothesis of disconnection during sleep by comparing GFS spectra of different vigilance states. The analysis was performed on eight healthy adult male subjects. EEG was recorded during a baseline night, a recovery night after 40 h of sustained wakefulness and at 3 h intervals during the 40 h of wakefulness. Compared to non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, REM sleep showed larger GFS values in all frequencies except in the spindle and theta bands, where NREM sleep showed a peak in GFS. Sleep deprivation did not affect GFS spectra in REM and NREM sleep. Waking GFS values were lower compared with REM and NREM sleep except for the alpha band. Waking alpha GFS decreased following sleep deprivation in the eyes closed condition only. Our surprising finding of higher synchrony during REM sleep challenges the view of REM sleep as a desynchronized brain state and may provide insight into the function of REM sleep.
Strain differences in the collective behaviour of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in heterogeneous environment
Authors: Séguret Axel , Collignon Bertrand , Halloy José
Published: October 2016

Recent studies show differences in individual motion and shoaling tendency between strains of the same species. Here, we analyse collective motion and response to visual stimuli in two morphologically different strains (TL and AB) of zebrafish. For both strains, we observed 10 groups of 5 and 10 zebrafish swimming freely in a large experimental tank with two identical landmarks (cylinders or discs) for 1 h. We tracked the positions of the fish by an automated tracking method and compute several metrics at the group level. First, the probability of the presence shows that both strains avoid free space and are more likely to swim in the vicinity of the walls of the tank and the landmarks. Second, the analysis of landmarks occupancy shows that AB zebrafish are more present in their vicinity than TL ones and that both strains regularly transit from one to the other one with no preference on the long duration. Finally, TL zebrafish show a higher cohesion than AB zebrafish. Thus, environmental heterogeneity and duration of the trials allow to reveal individual and collective behavioural variabilities among different strains of zebrafish. These results provide a new insight into the need to take into account individual variability of zebrafish strains for studying collective behaviour.
Whence the beardogs? Reappraisal of the Middle to Late Eocene ‘Miacis’ from Texas, USA, and the origin of Amphicyonidae (Mammalia, Carnivora)
Authors: Tomiya Susumu , Tseng Zhijie Jack
Published: October 2016

The Middle to Late Eocene sediments of Texas have yielded a wealth of fossil material that offers a rare window on a diverse and highly endemic mammalian fauna from that time in the southern part of North America. These faunal data are particularly significant because the narrative of mammalian evolution in the Paleogene of North America has traditionally been dominated by taxa that are known from higher latitudes, primarily in the Rocky Mountain and northern Great Plains regions. Here we report on the affinities of two peculiar carnivoraforms from the Chambers Tuff of Trans-Pecos, Texas, that were first described 30 years ago asMiacis cognitusandM. australis. Re-examination of previously described specimens and their inclusion in a cladistic analysis revealed the two taxa to be diminutive basal amphicyonids; as such, they are assigned to new generaGustafsoniaandAngelarctocyon, respectively. These two taxa fill in some of the morphological gaps between the earliest-known amphicyonid genus,Daphoenus, and other Middle-Eocene carnivoraforms, and lend additional support for a basal caniform position of the beardogs outside the Canoidea. The amphicyonid lineage had evidently given rise to at least five rather distinct forms by the end of the Middle Eocene. Their precise geographical origin remains uncertain, but it is plausible that southern North America served as an important stage for a very early phase of amphicyonid radiation.
The impact of gape on the performance of the skull in chisel-tooth digging and scratch digging mole-rats (Rodentia: Bathyergidae)
Authors: McIntosh Andrew F. , Cox Philip G.
Published: October 2016

The African mole-rats (Bathyergidae) are a family of rodents highly adapted for life underground. Previous research has shown that chisel-tooth digging mole-rats (which use their incisors to dig burrows) are clearly distinguishable from scratch diggers (which only use the forelimbs to tunnel) on the basis of morphology of the skull, and that the differences are linked to the production of high bite forces and wide gapes. We hypothesized that the skull of a chisel-tooth digging mole-rat would perform better at wider gapes than that of a scratch digging mole-rat during incisor biting. To test this hypothesis, we created finite-element models of the cranium of the scratch digging
Bathyergus suillus
and the chisel-tooth digging
Fukomys mechowii
, and loaded them to simulate incisor bites at different gapes. Muscle loads were scaled such that the ratio of force to surface area was the same in both models. We measured three performance variables: overall stress across the cranium, mechanical efficiency of biting and degree of deformation across the skull. The
Fukomys
model had a more efficient incisor bite at all gapes, despite having greater average stress across the skull. In addition, the
Fukomys
model deformed less at wider gapes, whereas the
Bathyergus
model deformed less at narrower gapes. These properties of the cranial morphology of
Fukomys
and
Bathyergus
are congruent with their respective chisel-tooth and scratch digging behaviours and, all other factors being equal, would enable the more efficient production of bite force at wider gapes in
Fukomys
. However,
in vivo
measurements of muscle forces and activation patterns are needed to fully understand the complex biomechanics of tooth digging.
The vibration of nanosprings affected by van der Waals interactions
Authors: Zhao Junhua , Ben Sudong , Yu Peishi
Published: October 2016

The vibration of tightly helical nanosprings affected by van der Waals (vdW) interactions is investigated based on continuum modelling. Explicit solutions are derived to clarify the influence of initial pitch, stiffness and the number of nanosprings on the period, frequency and amplitude of the vibration. Unlike classic linear/nonlinear springs, the waveform of the vibration is always asymmetric for tightly helical nanosprings due to the asymmetry of vdW attraction and repulsion. The at most three equilibrium positions for the nanosprings strongly depend on the deformation due to competition between the vdW interactions and the elastic energy of the nanosprings. This study provides physical insights into the origin of the novel dynamic properties of such nanosprings.
Size distributions of sprays produced by violent wave impacts on vertical sea walls
Authors: Watanabe Y. , Ingram D. M.
Published: October 2016

When a steep, breaking wave hits a vertical sea wall in shallow water, a flip-through event may occur, leading to the formation of an up-rushing planar jet. During such an event, a jet of water is ejected at a speed many times larger than the approaching wave’s celerity. As the jet rises, the bounded fluid sheet ruptures to form vertical ligaments which subsequently break up to form droplets, creating a polydisperse spray. Experiments in the University of Hokkaido’s 24 m flume measured the resulting droplet sizes using image analysis of high-speed video. Consideration of the mechanisms forming spray droplets shows that the number density of droplet sizes is directly proportional to a powerpof the droplet radius: wherep=−5/2 during the early break-up stage andp=−2 for the fully fragmented state. This was confirmed by experimental observations. Here, we show that the recorded droplet number density follows the lognormal probability distribution with parameters related to the elapsed time since the initial wave impact. This statistical model of polydisperse spray may provide a basis for modelling droplet advection during wave overtopping events, allowing atmospheric processes leading to enhanced fluxes of mass, moisture, heat and momentum in the spray-mediated marine boundary layer over coasts to be described.
Coralline algae in a naturally acidified ecosystem persist by maintaining control of skeletal mineralogy and size
Authors: Kamenos N. A. , Perna G. , Gambi M. C. , Micheli F. , Kroeker K. J.
Published: October 2016

To understand the effects of ocean acidification (OA) on marine calcifiers, the trade-offs among different sublethal responses within individual species and the emergent effects of these trade-offs must be determined in an ecosystem setting. Crustose coralline algae (CCA) provide a model to test the ecological consequences of such sublethal effects as they are important in ecosystem functioning, service provision, carbon cycling and use dissolved inorganic carbon to calcify and photosynthesize. Settlement tiles were placed in ambient pH, low pH and extremely low pH conditions for 14 months at a natural CO
2
vent. The size, magnesium (Mg) content and molecular-scale skeletal disorder of CCA patches were assessed at 3.5, 6.5 and 14 months from tile deployment. Despite reductions in their abundance in low pH, the largest CCA from ambient and low pH zones were of similar sizes and had similar Mg content and skeletal disorder. This suggests that the most resilient CCA in low pH did not trade-off skeletal structure to maintain growth. CCA that settled in the extremely low pH, however, were significantly smaller and exhibited altered skeletal mineralogy (high Mg calcite to gypsum (hydrated calcium sulfate)), although at present it is unclear if these mineralogical changes offered any fitness benefits in extreme low pH. This field assessment of biological effects of OA provides endpoint information needed to generate an ecosystem relevant understanding of calcifying system persistence.
Marker-dependent associations among oxidative stress, growth and survival during early life in a wild mammal
Authors: Christensen Louise L. , Selman Colin , Blount Jonathan D. , Pilkington Jill G. , Watt Kathryn A. , Pemberton Josephine M. , Reid Jane M. , Nussey Daniel H.
Published: October 2016

Oxidative stress (OS) is hypothesized to be a key physiological mechanism mediating life-history trade-offs, but evidence from wild populations experiencing natural environmental variation is limited. We tested the hypotheses that increased early life growth rate increases OS, and that increased OS reduces first-winter survival, in wild Soay sheep (
Ovis aries
) lambs. We measured growth rate and first-winter survival for four consecutive cohorts, and measured two markers of oxidative damage (malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyls (PC)) and two markers of antioxidant (AOX) protection (total AOX capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD)) from blood samples. Faster lamb growth was weakly associated with increased MDA, but not associated with variation in the other three markers. Lambs with higher SOD activity were more likely to survive their first winter, as were male but not female lambs with lower PC concentrations. Survival did not vary with MDA or total TAC. Key predictions relating OS to growth and survival were therefore supported in some OS markers, but not others. This suggests that different markers capture different aspects of the complex relationships between individual oxidative state, physiology and fitness, and that overarching hypotheses relating OS to life-history variation cannot be supported or refuted by studying individual markers.
Accumulation of transposable elements inHoxgene clusters during adaptive radiation ofAnolislizards
Authors: Feiner Nathalie
Published: October 2016

Transposable elements (TEs) are DNA sequences that can insert elsewhere in the genome and modify genome structure and gene regulation. The role of TEs in evolution is contentious. One hypothesis posits that TE activity generates genomic incompatibilities that can cause reproductive isolation between incipient species. This predicts that TEs will accumulate during speciation events. Here, I tested the prediction that extant lineages with a relatively high rate of speciation have a high number of TEs in their genomes. I sequenced and analysed the TE content of a marker genomic region (Hoxclusters) inAnolislizards, a classic case of an adaptive radiation. Unlike other vertebrates, including closely related lizards,Anolislizards have high numbers of TEs in theirHoxclusters, genomic regions that regulate development of the morphological adaptations that characterize habitat specialists in these lizards. Following a burst of TE activity in the lineage leading to extantAnolis, TEs have continued to accumulate during or after speciation events, resulting in a positive relationship between TE density and lineage speciation rate. These results are consistent with the prediction that TE activity contributes to adaptive radiation by promoting speciation. Although there was no evidence that TE densityper seis associated with ecological morphology, the activity of TEs inHoxclusters could have been a rich source for phenotypic variation that may have facilitated the rapid parallel morphological adaptation to microhabitats seen in extantAnolislizards.
Community trait overdispersion due to trophic interactions: concerns for assembly process inference
Authors: Pontarp Mikael , Petchey Owen L.
Published: October 2016

The expected link between competitive exclusion and community trait overdispersion has been used to infer competition in local communities, and trait clustering has been interpreted as habitat filtering. Such community assembly process inference has received criticism for ignoring trophic interactions, as competition and trophic interactions might create similar trait patterns. While other theoretical studies have generally demonstrated the importance of predation for coexistence, ours provides the first quantitative demonstration of such effects on assembly process inference, using a trait-based ecological model to simulate the assembly of a competitive primary consumer community with and without the influence of trophic interactions. We quantified and contrasted trait dispersion/clustering of the competitive communities with the absence and presence of secondary consumers. Trophic interactions most often decreased trait clustering (i.e. increased dispersion) in the competitive communities due to evenly distributed invasions of secondary consumers and subsequent competitor extinctions over trait space. Furthermore, effects of trophic interactions were somewhat dependent on model parameters and clustering metric. These effects create considerable problems for process inference from trait distributions; one potential solution is to use more process-based and inclusive models in inference.
Current status of the TwinMic beamline at Elettra: a soft X-ray transmission and emission microscopy station
Authors: Gianoncelli Alessandra , Kourousias George , Merolle Lucia , Altissimo Matteo , Bianco Anna
Published: October 2016

The current status of the TwinMic beamline at Elettra synchrotron light source, that hosts the European twin X-ray microscopy station, is reported. The X-ray source, provided by a short hybrid undulator with source size and divergence intermediate between bending magnets and conventional undulators, is energy-tailored using a collimated plane-grating monochromator. The TwinMic spectromicroscopy experimental station combines scanning and full-field imaging in a single instrument, with contrast modes such as absorption, differential phase, interference and darkfield. The implementation of coherent diffractive imaging modalities and ptychography is ongoing. Typically, scanning transmission X-ray microscopy images are simultaneously collected in transmission and differential phase contrast and can be complemented by chemical and elemental analysis using across-absorption-edge imaging, X-ray absorption near-edge structure or low-energy X-ray fluorescence. The lateral resolutions depend on the particular imaging and contrast mode chosen. The TwinMic range of applications covers diverse research fields such as biology, biochemistry, medicine, pharmacology, environment, geochemistry, food, agriculture and materials science. They will be illustrated in the paper with representative results.
Open access repositories on open educational resources
Authors: Leng Chew Bee , Ali Kamsiah Mohd , Hoo Ch’ng Eng
Published: October 2016

Purpose

Triggered by the advancement of information and communications technology, open access repositories (a variant of digital libraries) is one of the important changes impacting library services. In the context of openness to a wider community to access free resources, Wawasan Open University Library initiated a research project to build open access repositories on open educational resources. Open educational resources (OER) is an area of a multifaceted open movement in education. The purpose of this paper is to show how two web portal repositories on OER materials were developed adopting a Japanese open source software, called WEKO.

Design/methodology/approach

The design approach is based on a pull to push strategy whereby metadata of scholarly open access materials kept within the institution and network communities’ digital databases were harvested using the Open Archives Initiatives Protocol for Metadata Harvesting method into another open knowledge platform for discovery by other users.

Findings

Positive results emanating from the university open access repositories development showed how it strengthen the role of the librarian as manager of institutional assets and successfully making the content freely available from this open knowledge platform for reuse in learning and teaching.

Research limitations/implications

Developing further programmes to encourage, influence faculty members and prospective stakeholders to use and contribute content to the valuable repositories is indeed a challenging task.

Originality/value

This paper provides insight for academic libraries on how open access repositories development and metadata analysis can enhance new professional challenges for information professionals in the field of data management, data quality and intricacies of supporting data repositories and build new open models of collaboration across institutions and libraries. This paper also describes future collaboration work with institutions in sharing their open access resources.
The growth of iRadio OUM as a quality audio learning material provider
Authors: Mohd Ibrahim Umi Hanim , Arshad Fathinirna Mohd , Zulkifly Mazlan , Kwan Janet Woo Tai
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the progress of iRadio OUM over the years, the evolution of technology used and its overall significance to OUM’s continual growth and development.

Design/methodology/approach

Reports the results from web analytic data from previous years in terms of listening and downloading habits and trends. Reviews of how other institutions and/or organisations use podcasting or audio learning material in the teaching and learning process are also included.

Findings

Outlines the progress of iRadio OUM through the years in terms of content development, listening and downloading trends as well as research and development carried out. This paper summarises the changes in how segments are structured, produced and delivered. It also outlines the evolution of the technology used, mainly in terms of how content is delivered to the audience.

Research limitations/implications

The scope of the paper is such that it only highlights the experiences of iRadio OUM alone.

Practical implications

Offers practical advice in terms of the planning, development and implementation of an educational internet radio for higher learning institutions.

Originality/value

This paper is written by key team members of iRadio OUM itself and highlights the experiences and ultimately the best practices discovered by actual web-broadcast practitioners and audio learning materials instructional designers.
Integrated laboratory experiment setup to empower the engineering education in distance mode
Authors: Nandana W.A. Rasika , de Mel W.R.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce an integrated laboratory experiment setup (ILES) to overcome problems encountered in open distance learning (ODL) especially when offering engineering degree programmes.

Design/methodology/approach

Engineering laboratory experiments can be classified as experiments which are performed with the intention to inculcate theory, and second, to provide hands-on experience. The ILES integrates both types of experiments with face-to-face laboratory (FFL), online remote laboratory (ORL), and multimedia demonstrations, and it helps to reduce traditional FFL duration by 50 per cent. The first phase of the ILES provides an opportunity to refer multimedia demonstrations of the experiments. Thereafter, students attend the first FFL session, which covers about 25 per cent of the experiments. In the next step, 50 per cent of the experiments are offered using the ORL, via the internet while interacting with real equipment and making actual observations. The final step is used to accomplish the rest of the experiments (25 per cent) in FFL which facilitates the clarification of any problem that may occur in the ORL.

Findings

This blended laboratory system will help to achieve ODL objectives while utilising resources productively and cost effectively. Having implemented the idea and based on the information received from the stakeholders, this has proved to be a workable solution to one of the difficulties faced by ODL students.

Research limitations/implications

The level of outcome of the students has to be observed and analysed in comparison with the traditional laboratory setup.

Practical implications

Some experiments (e.g. thermodynamics) which need more safety precautions are difficult to offer via ORL.

Originality/value

The ILES is a blended setup including FFL, ORL and multimedia demonstrations and it is a novel concept which is most applicable to engineering/science programmes offered in ODL mode.
Ontological structure representation in reusing ODL learning resources
Authors: Hashim Hazalina
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to reuse learning resources from course module and forum discussion in ODL settings and structure it with ontological representation.

Design/methodology/approach

Thus, an ontology is designed by extending simple knowledge organization system specification to structure the learning resources. Furthermore, a semantic forum system is proposed as a front end mechanism to represent the ontological structure designed for the learner to easily access, search and navigate the relevant knowledge of interest. In addition, this study evaluates the effectiveness of the proposed system along with three variables, namely, learners’ perceptions, system design perceptions and system content perceptions. Accordingly, a close-ended online survey was developed and administered to 74 online learners.

Findings

The findings demonstrate positive perceptions of the proposed system which is based on ontological representation as an effective learning system that is able to enhance the understanding of courses taught.

Originality/value

This paper presents an ontological structure approach to add meaning to the learning resources, indexed in such a way that it can be reused, searched, processed and shared.
Peer-facilitated discussions to enhance OER-based e-learning
Authors: Karunanayaka S.P. , Rajendra J.C.N. , Ratnayake H.U.W. , Naidu Som
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The Open University of Sri Lanka implemented a fully online professional development course on open educational resources-based e-learning (OEReL), which adopted a scenario-based learning (SBL) design within the constructivist pedagogy. It was designed to facilitate knowledge construction in a collaborative manner with the support of open educational resource (OER), mainly through peer-facilitated discussion forum activities. The purpose of this paper is to present a case study on how peer-facilitated discussions affected the OEReL process, what factors supported and hindered peer-facilitated discussions, and what challenges were faced during the process.

Design/methodology/approach

The OEReL course consisted of five modules with 14 discussion forum activities. Content analysis of the threaded forum discussions was the key data collection and analysis strategy based on the community of inquiry (CoI) framework (Garrison and Arbaugh, 2007). It was supplemented with participants’ reflections and focus group discussions.

Findings

The three elements of CoI – cognitive presence, social presence and teaching presence played a major role in knowledge construction in the OEReL process. A complementary relationship between cognitive presence, social presence and teaching presence was observed, where the three elements have interacted in supporting knowledge construction. Overall, the findings reaffirm the significant of role of instructors in cultivating the three presences within a peer-facilitated environment, by enabling learners to engage with the content in a meaningful manner through appropriate course design, structure and leadership.

Practical implications

Forum discussions created an opportunity for participants to engage in meaning making through social negotiation, where facilitation became a shared responsibility among instructors and learners. Peer-facilitation was the key strength that promoted critical, analytical and reflective thinking, as well as self-regulated learning. The SBL design, learning tasks with OER integration, and instructor guidance were the most supportive factors, while time constraints due to the participants’ workload was challenging.

Originality/value

Through carefully orchestrated, well-structured and pedagogically sound OEReL environments, peer-facilitated forum discussions can be designed creatively and implemented in a meaningful manner to enhance knowledge construction.
The value of older library workers
Authors: Crumpton Michael A.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to deal with recognizing and reacting to an aging workforce and understanding the value that older workers can still represent to an organization.

Design/methodology/approach

This article references field literature to support the points addressed.

Findings

Librarians and library workers have knowledge and experience that can provide value to both their organizations as they approach retirement and afterwards as retirees in a variety of ways.

Originality/value

This article represents the viewpoint of the author produced from his experiences and understandings.
Stackable micro-credentials – a framework for the future
Authors: Hall-Ellis Sylvia D.
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this column is to express a viewpoint about stackable micro-credentials in the library profession.

Design/methodology/approach

This is an opinion piece.

Findings

There are no formal research findings.

Originality/value

This is an original viewpoint.
Determining factors for the adoption of cloud computing in developing countries
Authors: Yuvaraj Mayank
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The paper aims to examine the constructs laid down by the information technology (IT) adoption theories to the cloud computing phenomena in conjunction with academic libraries of India to determine the factors responsible for the adoption of cloud computing.

Design/methodology/approach

Keeping the objectives into consideration, descriptive survey and constructive research method were used in the study. Library professionals engaged in the selected 28 central universities of India were chosen to participate in this study. To find the core drivers responsible for the adoption of cloud computing in academic libraries, constructs were taken from ten IT adoption theories.

Findings

The findings validate the fact that perceived ease of use, usefulness and ubiquitous availability of the enabling technology are strong drivers of the adoption of cloud computing technology in the libraries. Also, attitude is significantly correlated with the behavioral intention to adopt cloud computing services. High level of correlation was obtained between the cloud computing-perceived attributes and the librarian’s intention to use cloud computing technology. However, security risk is the biggest issue that has been affecting the behavioral intentions.

Originality/value

The study is a self-conscious attempt to fill the void and determine factors for the adoption of cloud computing in libraries. Further, it attempts to find out the preparedness of Indian academic libraries in adopting cloud computing.
Does CEO power moderate the relationship between board leadership and strategy involvement in private firms? Evidence from Kenya
Authors: Tuwey Joel Kiplagat , Tarus Daniel Kipkirong
Published: October 2016

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine how board leadership affects the board strategic involvement in private firms in Kenya and how CEO power moderates this relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors used a Kenyan data set to investigate what makes boards in private firms get involved in strategy. Survey data derived from a sample of 186 CEOs of private firms were used, and the hypotheses were tested using moderated regression analysis.

Findings

The results indicate that board members’ knowledge, board chairman’s leadership efficacy, board members’ personal motivation and board members’ background all have a positive and significant effect on board strategy involvement. The authors also found that CEO power moderates the relationship between board leadership and strategy involvement. The study concludes that when the CEO wields immense power, the board tends to become passive and to submit to the direction of the CEO.

Originality/value

The study adds value to the understanding of the effect of the board leadership on strategic involvement in private firms and how CEO power influences this relationship, particularly in a developing country like Kenya.
Corporate governance and cost of equity: empirical evidence from Latin American companies
Authors: Teti Emanuele , Dell’Acqua Alberto , Etro Leonardo , Resmini Francesca
Published: October 2016

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the extent to which corporate governance (CG) systems adopted by Latin American listed firms affect their cost of equity capital. Several studies on the link between the two aforementioned dimensions have been carried out, but none in the context of Latin American firms.

Design/methodology/approach

A CG index is created by taking into account the peculiarities of each country and the recommendations given by the corresponding CG institutes. In particular, to assess the level of CG quality, three sub-indexes have been identified: “Disclosure”, “Board of Directors” and “Shareholder Rights, Ownership and Control Structure”.

Findings

The results indicate a negative relationship between CG quality and the cost of equity. In particular, the “Disclosure” component is the one mostly affecting the cost of equity.

Research limitations/implications

This study contributes to the literature by adding knowledge on the relationship between CG and cost of capital considering, for the first time, the overall Latin American market.

Practical implications

The paper proves that institutional investors all over the world are disposed to pay a premium to invest in firms with effective CG standards; moreover, this premium is higher in emerging countries such as those analyzed in this paper, rather than in developed countries.

Originality/value

To the authors' knowledge, this is the first paper empirically investigating the relationship between CG and cost of capital in Latin America.