bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Direct Synthesis of 1-Alkyl-6-hydroxyalkyl-3a,6a-diphenylglycolurils from 1-Alkylimidazolinones and Their Cyclic Analogues
Authors: Baranov Vladimir , Antonova Maria , Kolotyrkina Natalya , Zanin Igor , Kravchenko Angelina
Published: December 2018

Two methods for the direct synthesis of previously inaccessible 1-alkyl-6-(hydroxyalkyl)-3a,6a-diphenylglycolurils have been developed as a result of a study of novel cyclocondensations of 1-alkylureas with tetrahydroimidazooxazolones, tetrahydroimidazooxazinones and 1-(hydroxyalkyl)ureas with 1-substituted imidazolinones. A mechanism to rationalize the highly regioselective formation of the target glycolurils is proposed.
Evaluation of the Histomorphological and Toxicological Changes in Rodents after treatment with Hydroethanolic Extract of the Secamone Afzelii Aerial Parts
Authors: Mbaka G. , Akala T.
Published: December 2018

Objective To evaluate the histomorphological and toxicological changes in rodents after treatment with hydroethanolic extract of the Secamone afzelii aerial parts.

Materials and Methods An acute toxicity study on Swiss albino mice of both sexes was performed. Administration of a single dose of 2,000 mg/kg −1 of body weight (bwt) of S. afzelii extract by gavages to 5 mice showed no mortality; hence, a 1/10th dose was used as the highest therapeutic dose. The intra-peritoneal administration produced dose-dependent mortality, with median lethal dose (LD50) being ∼ 281.8 mg/kg −1. In a subacute toxicity study, Wistar rats received daily administration of the extract in the dose range of 50 to 200 mg/kg bwt for 35 days. Its effects on histological, biochemical and hematological parameters were evaluated.

Results There was an initial body weight decrease in all the treated animals in the first 7 days. Thereafter, increase in body weight was observed. The treated animals also exhibited organ weight increase when compared with the control. Statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) occurred in the extract treated animals, whereas alanine aminotransferase (ALT) showed a statistically insignificant (p ≥ 0.05) increase when compared with the control. Total plasma protein (TPP) and albumin (ALB) also exhibited insignificant (p ≥ 0.05) increases, while total bilirubin (T. BIL) decreased compared with the control. Insignificant (p ≥ 0.05) changes also occurred in the plasma creatinine and urea levels in the extract treated animals when compared with the control group. The liver tissue histology showed no hepatocellular damage. However, inflammatory changes occurred in the testicular tissue, in which a quantitative decrease in spermatogenic cells was observed due to extensive cellular necrosis, leaving only the basement layer of the seminiferous tubules.

Conclusion S. afzelii exhibited a high safety margin, an indication that it is safe for consumption. However, after chronic administration, it caused undesirable effect in the testes that could compromise its fertility function.
Is Early Compression Therapy after Perforator Flap Safe and Reliable?
Authors: Suh Hyunsuk , Jeong Hyung Hwa , Hong Joon Pio
Published: December 2018

Background Due to the concern of circulation compromise, many surgeons hesitate to dangle or challenge the flap in the early postoperative phase. In our experience, early compression may have advantages such as collapse of dead space, evacuation of hematoma, reduction of edema, and stabilization of flap when ambulating. In this study, the effect of early compression of flaps with regard to flap physiology and outcome is evaluated.

Methods From postoperative day 3 to 5, a custom-made compression garment was fitted aiming to compress with a pressure of 30 to 35 mmHg. A total of 52 patients (52 flaps) were enrolled for the study and 48 flaps underwent early compression. The compression was applied not only over the flap but also over the extremity or trunk. The flap outcome as well as flow velocity and flow volume of the pedicle before and after compression was measured and evaluated.

Results There was no flap complication during the early compression and early ambulation. And, there was no statistical difference either in the flow velocity or in the volume before and after the compression therapy (29.21 vs. 29.42 cm/s and 7.13 vs. 6.56 cm3/s, respectively).

Conclusion Early compression with a 30-mmHg pressure customized pressure garment after the flap surgery does not affect the hemodynamics of the perforator and can be safely used after extremity reconstruction before ambulation.
New approach for maximizing generation and optimal utilization of available space for solar PV system
Authors: Dube Anirudh , Rizwan M. , Jamil Majid
Published: December 2018

To accomplish an enormous demand of power with solar energy, a cost effective and optimum system has to be developed which works in synchronisation with the existing grid. The Government in developing countries like India is providing momentous opportunities and marvellous schemes to promote renewable energy sources like solar for generating power. This paper aims to analyse the generation of power from solar photovoltaic (PV) systems economically and efficiently as it is always a challenge for the design engineer to develop an economical and efficient solar PV system. Apart from technical issues, structural aspects also affect the power generation from PV modules. This paper proposes an innovative design of non-movable tracking system that enhances the power generation of PV modules by just providing two grooves in the mounting structure in place of the tracking system. A formula for the optimum space calculation for PV installation is also proposed in this paper. A comparative analysis of total annual energy generated by the hardware setup and the results obtained using software of the rooftop solar PV system has also been analysed for practical consideration. To verify the results, first, the system has been simulated using the PVSYST software considering all practical and existing realistic losses like PV loss due to irradiance and temperature, array soil loss, module quality loss, array mismatch loss, ohmic wiring loss, and inverter loss which formulate a bonafide case of consideration and then hardware implementation of the proposed system. The hardware and software results have been compared to analyse the proposed topologies adopted to address the aforesaid problems.
Perspective: Searching for simplicity rather than universality in
glass-forming liquids
Authors: Niss Kristine , Hecksher Tina
Published: December 2018

This article gives an overview of experimental results on dynamics in bulk glass-forming molecular liquids. Rather than looking for phenomenology that is universal, in the sense that it is seen in all liquids, the focus is on identifying the basic characteristics, or “stylized facts,” of the glass transition problem, i.e., the central observations that a theory of the physics of glass formation should aim to explain in a unified manner.
Modeling core-level excitations with variationally optimized reduced-density matrices and the extended random phase approximation
Authors: Maradzike Elvis , DePrince A. Eugene
Published: December 2018

The information contained within ground-state one- and two-electron reduced-density matrices (RDMs) can be used to compute wave functions and energies for electronically excited states through the extended random phase approximation (ERPA). The ERPA is an appealing framework for describing excitations out of states obtained via the variational optimization of the two-electron RDM (2-RDM), as the variational 2-RDM (v2RDM) approach itself can only be used to describe the lowest-energy state of a given spin symmetry. The utility of the ERPA for predicting near-edge features relevant to x-ray absorption spectroscopy is assessed for the case that the 2-RDM is obtained from a ground-state v2RDM-driven complete active space self-consistent field (CASSCF) computation. A class of killer conditions for the CASSCF-specific ERPA excitation operator is derived, and it is demonstrated that a reliable description of core-level excitations requires an excitation operator that fulfills these conditions; the core-valence separation (CVS) scheme yields such an operator. Absolute excitation energies evaluated within the CASSCF/CVS-ERPA framework are slightly more accurate than those obtained from the usual random phase approximation (RPA), but the CVS-ERPA is not more accurate than RPA for predicting the relative positions of near-edge features. Nonetheless, CVS-ERPA is established as a reasonable starting point for the treatment of core-level excitations using variationally optimized 2-RDMs.
Propagation of leaky surface waves on contact magnetohydrodynamic discontinuities in incompressible plasmas
Authors: Ruderman M. S. , Vickers E. , Ballai I. , Erdelyi R.
Published: December 2018

We study the wave propagation on a magnetohydrodynamic contact discontinuity. Using the Laplace transform, we obtain the solution to the initial value problem describing the evolution of a perturbation of the discontinuity. We use this solution to study the leaky modes that determine the asymptotic behaviour of the solution for large time. We find the approximate expressions describing the leaky modes for a small inclination angle of the magnetic field. We also discuss the transition to the tangential discontinuity as the inclination angle tends to zero. We show that there is no continuous transition from the leaky modes on a contact discontinuity to the surface modes on a tangential discontinuity. However, such a transition exists if we take the average quantities describing the leaky modes.
The influence of reflex discharge electric field on propagation of injected lead plasma jet
Authors: Antonov N. , Liziakin G. , Usmanov R. , Gavrikov A. , Vorona N. , Smirnov V.
Published: December 2018

Spatial distribution of electrical potential formation in background plasma involving the magnetic field is one of the important challenges for the plasma separation method of spent nuclear fuel that is currently being developed. This is required for spatial separation and compensation of space charge of the ionized flows of substances with different masses; such flows are injected into the background plasma along the magnetic field lines. This paper studies the mutual influence of the argon reflex discharge and the lead plasma jet injected into this discharge. The lead plasma jet is formed by the plasma source based on arc discharge with the hot cathode and the induction evaporation of the plasma forming substance. This study demonstrates the possibility of the lead plasma jet ion deflection by the radial electric field formed in the reflex discharge plasma. The experimental data show that the lead plasma jet has a significant effect on the spatial distribution of reflex discharge electric potential. Whereby, the volume occupied by reflex discharge plasma is much greater than the volume occupied by the lead plasma jet.
Stickiness in double-curl Beltrami magnetic fields
Authors: Samanta Subha , Janaki M. S.
Published: December 2018

The double-curl Beltrami magnetic field in the presence of a uniform mean field is considered for investigating the nonlinear dynamical behavior of magnetic field lines. The solutions of the double-curl Beltrami equation being non-force-free in nature belong to a large class of physically interesting magnetic fields. A particular choice of solution for the double-curl equation in three dimensions leads to a wholly chaotic phase space. In the presence of a strong mean field, the phase space is a combination of closed magnetic surfaces and weakly chaotic regions that slowly tends to global randomness with a decreasing mean field. Stickiness is an important feature of the mixed phase space that describes the dynamical trapping of a chaotic trajectory at the border of regular regions. The global behavior of such trajectories is understood by computing the recurrence length statistics showing a long-tail distribution in contrast to a wholly chaotic phase space that supports a distribution which decays rapidly. Also, the transport characteristics of the field lines are analyzed in connection with their nonlinear dynamical properties.
Non-oscillatory quasineutral fluid model of cross-field discharge plasmas
Authors: Hara Kentaro
Published: December 2018

This paper presents a non-oscillatory quasineutral plasma model, in which the electric field in the ion momentum equation employs the electron drift-diffusion formulation. Due to the quasineutral assumption, the electron pressure is directly coupled with the ion pressure in the inviscid flux of the ion momentum equation, which is solved using a finite-volume method with nonlinear limiting. The electron-pressure coupled method eliminates the grid-scale numerical oscillations that occur particularly near the stagnation point (the ion bulk velocity is close to zero) of a cross-field discharge plasma when using an uncoupled method. Additionally, such numerical oscillations are also observed when using a quasineutral hybrid model where a grid- or particle-based kinetic approach is employed for ions. The importance of coupling the electron pressure and ion momentum in a quasineutral plasma model is discussed.
Studies of ion leakage from a Penning trap induced by potential barrier closure
Authors: Akaike K. , Himura H.
Published: December 2018

This paper presents the details of intermittent ion leakage from a Penning trap during potential barrier closure [H. Himura et al., Phys. Plasmas 24, 102129 (2017)]. A high-energy tail arises in the distribution functions of parallel kinetic energies of the ions after they pass through the upstream potential barrier ϕiu. Correlation between ion leakage and the slew rate of ϕiu is clearly verified. The total number of ions leaking out during the initial leakage is approximately predictable by considering the axial profile of the potential well of the Penning trap. The axial oscillation of leftover ions in the potential well agrees with the (1,0) mode of spheroidal plasmas in Dubin's notation, herein referred to as “Dubin's (1,0) mode,” which strongly correlates with the intermittent ion leakage following the initial leakage.
A contemporary review of optical properties of carbon nanotubes and graphene
Authors: Johnson-Groh Mara
Published: December 2018

Carbon nanotubes and graphene remain the best options for short-pulse fiber lasers.
Crystal Polymorphism of 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium Hexafluorophosphate: Phase Diagram, Structure, and Dynamics
Authors: Endo Takatsugu , Fujii Kozo , Nishikawa Keiko
Published: December 2018

The ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate ([C4mim]PF6), is one of the most representative ILs. Despite its relatively simple ion structure and popularity, [C4mim]PF6 shows complex and confusing thermal phase behaviours, which stem from crystal polymorphism associated with cation conformational change and large thermal hysteresis. To the best of our knowledge, [C4mim]PF6 is the most investigated IL in terms of phase diagram, whereas full understanding has not yet been achieved due to its complexity. Here we review the current status of understanding of the phase diagram and structure/dynamics of each crystalline phase. Presently, depending on temperature and pressure, five structurally different polymorphic crystals have been reported as α, β, γ, δ, and δ’ in addition to some unspecified phases implied by calorimetric studies. Particularly for the α, β and γ phases, the structure and dynamics are well investigated by Raman, NMR, and X-ray scattering techniques.
Compactifying moduli spaces
Authors: Caporaso Lucia
Published: December 2018

The boundary of some well known algebro-geometric moduli spaces is described by highlighting the recursive combinatorial properties in connection with tropical and non-Archimedean geometry.
On thin carpets for doubling measures
Authors: Chen Changhao , Wen Shengyou
Published: December 2018

We study thin sets for doubling or isotropic doubling measures in

R

d

\mathbb {R}^{d}

. In our results we prove that the self-affine sets satisfying the open set condition with holes are thin for isotropic doubling measures and among them Barański carpets are thin for doubling measures.
Nonimmersive Brain Gaming for Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment: A Scoping Review
Authors: Sood Pallavi , Kletzel Sandra L , Krishnan Shilpa , Devos Hannes , Negm Ahmed , Hoffecker Lilian , Machtinger Joseph , Hu Xiaolei , Heyn Patricia C
Published: December 2018

Background

Technological advances have allowed a variety of computerized cognitive training tools to be engineered in ways that are fun and entertaining yet challenging at a level that can maintain motivation and engagement. This revolution has created an opportunity for gerontological scientists to evaluate brain gaming approaches to improve cognitive and everyday function. The purpose of this scoping review is to provide a critical overview of the existing literature on nonimmersive, electronic brain gaming interventions in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or dementia.

Research Design and Methods

Systematic search was conducted using 7 electronic databases from inception through July 2017. A comprehensive 2-level eligibility process was used to identify studies for inclusion based on PRISMA guidelines.

Results

Seventeen studies met eligibility criteria. Majority of the studies were randomized controlled trials (n = 13) and incorporated an active control (n = 9). Intervention doses ranged from 4 to 24 weeks in duration with an average of 8.4 (±5.1 standard deviation [SD]) weeks. Session durations ranged from 30 to 100 min with an average of 54 (±25 SD) minutes. Nearly half of studies included a follow-up, ranging from 3 months to 5 years (n = 8). For most studies, brain gaming improved at least one cognitive outcome (n = 12); only one study reported improvement in activities of daily living.

Discussion and Implications

This scoping review conveys the breadth of an emerging research field, which will help guide future research to develop standards and recommendations for brain gaming interventions which are currently lacking.
Using a holistic health approach to achieve weight-loss maintenance: results from the Spirited Life intervention
Authors: Proeschold-Bell Rae Jean , Steinberg Dori M , Yao Jia , Eagle David E , Smith Timothy W , Cai Grace Y , Turner Elizabeth L
Published: December 2018

Weight-loss maintenance is essential to sustain the health benefits of weight loss. Studies with lower intensity intervention supports under real-world conditions are lacking. This study examined changes in weight and cardiometabolic biomarkers among Spirited Life participants following initial 12-month weight loss at 12–24 months and 24–42 months. A total of 719 clergy received a wellness intervention, including a 10-week online weight-loss program in the first 12 months and monthly health coaching throughout 24 months. Mean changes in weight, blood pressure, high-density lipoproteins, and triglycerides were estimated using random effects linear models, accounting for repeated measures. Weight was additionally analyzed in subsamples stratified by body mass index (BMI). At baseline, 17.1% of participants had BMI < 25 kg/m2 and 11.8% had BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2. Mean 12-month weight loss was −2.4 kg (95% CI: −2.8 kg, −2.1 kg). On average, at 42 months, participants regained weight but did not exceed baseline (−0.5 kg, 95% CI: −1.2 kg, 0.2 kg), improvements in triglycerides were completely sustained (−13.9 mg/dL, 95% CI: −18.6 mg/dL, −9.2 mg/dL), and systolic blood pressure improvements remained significant (−1.9 mmHg, 95% CI: −3.0 mmHg, −0.9 mmHg). Participants with a BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2 lost significantly more weight that was sustained at 42 months (−5.8 kg, 95% CI: −8.9 kg, −2.7 kg). The Spirited Life wellness intervention produced weight loss and, for participants with higher levels of obesity, sustained weight-loss maintenance. The intervention was effective for long-term prevention of weight gain among participants with BMI of 25 to ≤40 kg/m2, through 42 months. Wellness interventions such as Spirited Life should be considered for adoption.
Export pathways and mechanisms in secretion of proteins among bacterial pathogens
Authors: Ciamak Ghazaei
Published: December 2018

A large population of bacteria represents one of the common and widely distributed pathogens affecting cultivated animals and humans, in general. Protein secretion is a crucial aspect of bacterial life processes, which is important not only for pathogenesis but also for their virulence. The current review attempts to provide a concise overview of the secretory systems operating in bacteria (T1SS–T9SS), basic organizations of the systems, the molecules secreted by them and the functions achieved thereafter. In addition, the scope extends to understanding the role of secretory proteins in pathogenesis.
Effects of Instruction on Parent Competency During Infant Handling in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Byrne Eilish M. , Sweeney Jane K. , Schwartz Nancy , Umphred Darcy , Constantinou Janet
Published: December 2018

Purpose:

The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of 3 different methods for delivering instruction on infant handling to parents in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Methods:

Ninety-six parents in the NICU received instruction. Parents were taught the same 3 infant-handling techniques after random assignment to the (1) direct, (2) video, or (3) written-pictorial instructional groups. After baseline competency assessment, parents received instruction according to their group. A masked evaluator assessed parent performance, and parents rated instructional effectiveness.

Results:

All groups significantly improved handling performance. The direct and video groups performed 2 handling activities significantly better than the written-pictorial group. No significant differences were found between the direct and video groups. All groups perceived the instruction as effective.

Conclusions:

Direct and video instructions are equally effective in teaching parents to perform simple whole motor tasks in the NICU, and parents welcome the instruction.
Adapted Dance Improves Motor Abilities and Participation in Children With Down Syndrome: A Pilot Study
Authors: McGuire Michelle , Long Jason , Esbensen Anna J. , Bailes Amy F.
Published: December 2018

Purpose:

This pilot study measured effects of an adapted dance program on motor abilities and participation in children with Down syndrome (DS) and explored caregivers' qualitative feedback regarding its benefits.

Methods:

Children with DS participated in 20 weekly 1-hour adapted dance sessions. The Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) and Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM) Dimensions D and E were administered before and after the program. Caregivers completed a survey at the last session.

Results:

Six children completed pre- and postassessments. Significant improvements were noted in GMFM-88 measures. Caregivers of 5 participants reported improved scores on the COPM that were not significant. Caregivers reported physical, cognitive, and emotional improvements.

Conclusions:

This study supports use of an adapted dance program to improve motor abilities and participation in children with DS.

Video Abstract:

For more insights from the authors, access Supplemental Digital Content 1, available at: http://links.lww.com/PPT/A231.
Hippotherapy in Rehabilitation Care for Children With Neurological Impairments and Developmental Delays: A Case Series
Authors: Kraft Kathryn A. , Weisberg Janet , Finch Michael D. , Nickel Amanda , Griffin Kristen H. , Barnes Timothy L.
Published: December 2018

Purpose:

This report assesses functional mobility in children with neurological impairments and documented gross motor delays, before and after receiving either hippotherapy or standard outpatient physical therapy (PT).

Summary of Key Points:

This is a case-series report using data previously collected for a discontinued randomized controlled trial, in which participants received hippotherapy or standard outpatient clinic PT for a 12-week treatment period. Results demonstrated both subjective and objective functional mobility improvements after treatment in participants receiving hippotherapy and standard outpatient PT, as determined by the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales-2, the Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory, and the Goal Attainment Scaling.

Statement of Conclusion and Recommendations for Clinical Practice:

When compared with standard outpatient PT, hippotherapy appears to be a viable treatment strategy for children aged 2 to 5 years with neurological impairments and gross motor delays, but additional research in this area is needed to validate findings.
Association of physiological variables with football subconcussive head impacts: Why measure?
Authors: Huibregtse Megan E. , Zonner Steven W. , Ejima Keisuke , Bevilacqua Zachary W. , Newman Sharlene , Macy Jonathan T. , Kawata Keisuke
Published: December 2018

Subconcussive head impacts, defined as impacts to the cranium that do not result in clinical symptoms of concussion, are gaining traction as a major public health concern. Researchers begin to suggest subconcussive impact-dependent changes in various neurological measures. However, a contribution of physiological factors such as physical exertion and muscle damage has never been accounted. We conducted a prospective longitudinal study during a high school American football season to examine the association between physiological factors and subconcussive head impact kinematics. Fifteen high-school American football players volunteered in the study. A sensor-installed mouthguard recorded the number of head impacts, peak linear (PLA:g) and peak rotational (PRA: rad/s2) head accelerations from every practice and game. Serum samples were collected at 12 time points (pre-season baseline, five in-season pre-post games, and post-season) and assessed for the creatine kinase skeletal muscle-specific isoenzyme (CK-MM), as a surrogate for skeletal muscle damage. Physical exertion was estimated in the form of excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) from heart rate data captured during five games via a wireless heart rate monitor. A total of 9,700 hits, 214,492g, and 19,885,037 rad/s2were recorded from 15 players across the study period. Mixed-effect regression models indicated that head impact kinematics (frequency, PLA, and PRA) were significantly and positively associated with CK-MM increase, but not with EPOC. There was a significant and positive association between CK-MM and EPOC. These data suggest that skeletal muscle damage effects should be considered when using outcome measures that may have an interaction with muscle damage, including inflammatory biomarkers and vestibular/balance tests.
Queen and king recognition in the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes: Evidence for royal recognition pheromones
Authors: Funaro Colin Francis , Schal Coby , Vargo Edward L
Published: December 2018

Royal recognition is a central feature of insect societies, allowing them to maintain the reproductive division of labor and regulate colony demography. Queen recognition has been broadly demonstrated and queen recognition pheromones have been identified in social hymenopterans, but not in termites. Here we describe behaviors that are elicited in workers and soldiers by neotenic queens and kings of the subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, and demonstrate the chemical basis for the behavior. Workers and soldiers readily perform a lateral or longitudinal shaking behavior upon antennal contact with queens and kings. When royal cuticular chemicals are transferred to live workers or inert glass dummies, they elicit antennation and shaking in a dose-dependent manner. The striking response to reproductives and their cuticular extracts suggests that royal-specific cuticular compounds act as recognition pheromones and that shaking behavior is a clear and measurable queen and king recognition response in this termite species.
Native CRISPR-Cas mediated in situ genome editing reveals the exquisite interplay of resistance mutations in clinical multidrug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Xu Zeling , Li Ming , Li Yanran , Cao Huiluo , Woo Patrick CY , Xiang Hua , Yan Aixin
Published: December 2018

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is imposing a global public health threat. Despite its importance, resistance characterization in the native background of clinically isolated resistant pathogens is frequently hindered by the lack of genome editing tools in these "non-model" strains. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is both a prototypical multidrug resistant (MDR) pathogen and a model species for understanding CRISPR-Cas functions. In this study, we report the successful development of the first native type I-F CRISPR-Cas mediated, one-step genome editing technique in a paradigmatic MDR strain PA154197. The technique is readily applicable in additional type I-F CRISPR-containing, clinical/environmental P. aeruginosa isolates. A two-step In-Del strategy is further developed to edit genomic locus lacking an effective PAM (protospacer adjacent motif) or within an essential gene, which together principally allows any type of non-lethal genomic manipulations in these strains. Exploiting these powerful techniques, a series of reverse mutations are constructed and the key resistant determinants of the MDR PA154197 are elucidated which include over-production of two multidrug efflux pumps MexAB-OprM and MexEF-OprN, and a typical fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistance mutation T83I in the drug target gene gyrA. Characterizing antimicrobial susceptibilities in isogenic strains containing various combinations of single, double, or all three key resistance determinants reveal that i) extensive synergy exists between the target mutation and over-production of efflux pumps, and between the two over-produced tripartite efflux pumps to confer clinically significant FQ resistance; ii) while basal level MexAB-OprM confers resistance only to penicillins, its over-production leads to substantial resistance to all antipseudonmonal β-lactams and additional resistance to FQs; iii) despite the acquisition and over-production of multiple resistant mutations, no obvious evolutionary trade-off of collateral sensitivity is developed in PA154197. Together, these results provide new insights into resistance development in clinical MDR P. aeruginosa strains and demonstrate the great potentials of native CRISPR systems in AMR research.
Complexities of genetic diagnosis illustrated by an atypical case of congenital hypoplastic anemia
Authors: Claassen David , Boals Michelle , Bowling Kevin M. , Cooper Gregory M. , Cox Jennifer , Hershfield Michael , Lewis Sara , Wlodarski Marcin , Weiss Mitchell J. , Estepp Jeremie H.
Published: December 2018

Diamond–Blackfan Anemia (DBA) is a rare polygenic disorder defined by congenital hypoplastic anemia with marked decrease or absence of bone marrow erythroid precursors. Identifying the specific genetic etiology is important for counseling and clinical management. A 6-yr-old boy with a clinical diagnosis of DBA has been followed by our pediatric hematology team since birth. His clinical course includes transfusion-dependent hypoplastic anemia and progressive autoimmune cytopenias. Genetic testing failed to identify a causative mutation in any of the classical DBA-associated genes. He and his parents underwent trio whole-exome sequencing (WES) with no genetic etiology identified initially. Clinical persistence and suspicion led to testing for adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) activity and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) that identified compound heterozygous pathogenic mutations in the ADA2-encoding CECR1 gene, a recently appreciated etiology for congenital hypoplastic anemia. This case illustrates current challenges in genetic testing and how they can be overcome by multidisciplinary expertise in clinical medicine and genomics.
Crystal structure of poly[[hexaaquatris(μ-3,6-dioxocyclohexa-1,4-diene-1,4-diolato)dierbium(III)] octadecahydrate]
Authors: Ponjan Nutcha , Kodchasanthong Kenika , Jiajaroen Suwadee , Chainok Kittipong
Published: December 2018

The title lanthanide complex, [Er2(C6H2O4)3(H2O)6]·18H2O, is isostructural with its La, Gd, Yb and Lu analogues. The Er3+ ion, located on a threefold rotation axis, is nine-coordinated in a distorted tricapped trigonal–prismatic geometry, which is completed by six oxygen atoms from three dhbq2− ligands and three oxygen atoms from coordinated water molecules. Each dhbq2− ligand acts in a μ2-bis(bidentate) bridging mode to connect two Er3+ ions to form honeycomb (6,3) two-dimensional sheets extending in the ab plane, having an Er...Er separation of 8.7261 (2) Å. In the crystal, extensive O—H...O hydrogen-bonding interactions involving the coordinated water molecules and the water molecules of crystallization, as well as the oxygen atoms of the dhbq2− ligands, generate an overall three-dimensional supramolecular network.
Assessing the literature of knowledge management (KM) in the field of library and information science
Authors: Ahmad Khurshid , JianMing Zheng , Rafi Muhammad
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to provide a bibliometric analysis of knowledge management (KM) literature published in the field of library and information science. KM is a systematic process of acquisition, extraction, organization and dissemination of knowledge in any organization. This study will help identify trends, emerging concepts and innovations in this particular field.

Design/methodology/approach

The data set of the study consists of 6,088 published documents the authors obtained from the ISI Web of Science database during 1900 and 2017. The analysis of literature about the library and information science consisted of five categories including productive institutions, prolific authors, annual publications, citations and highly cited articles. The documents included in this study include research papers, conference papers, reviews, book reviews and editorials.

Findings

The study found that the USA leads the world regarding the number of research publications in the area of KM in the field of library and information science. Considering the publication period, 2007, 2012 and 2016-2017 are the most productive years regarding publications in this particular field; the number of citations has been increasing over the years. The study also found that Nanyang Polytechnic University is the most productive research institution and Blanca Martins from the Polytechnic University of Catalonia is the most prolific researcher in this specific field.

Originality/value

This study provides a detailed bibliometric analysis of KM literature published in the field of library and information science. This study is an excellent example for researchers who are interested in conducting bibliometric studies.
Democracy, economic growth and government spending in public health in Southeast Asia
Authors: Laiprakobsup Thanapan
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to examine how political regimes and political transition affect government decisions to allocate budgets to the public health sector in Southeast Asia.

Design/methodology/approach

Ordinary least squares with fixed-effects model is adopted to examine the effect of political regime on public health spending.

Findings

Examining the allocation of public health budgets in Southeast Asian countries, the paper finds that a democratic government positively leads to an increase in public health budget allocation, while autocratic government negatively affects the allocation of public health budgets. Further, political liberalization contributes to an increase in budget allocation to the public health sector.

Originality/value

Democratic politics and economic development aim to distribute public resources to social policy, such as policy on public health.
Explaining the role of technology in the dynamics of the players business models in the global oil playground
Authors: Ebneyamini Shiva , Bandarian Reza
Published: December 2018

Purpose

Technology is named as the most important element of creating the competitive edge in today’s turbulent environment and a key factor of survival in technology-intensive industries. Oil and gas industry is one of the most important, complex, and technology-driven amongst the global industries. “The purpose of this study is to highlight the role of the technology in the the global oil game and argue that in order to survive and maintain the competitive advantage, players need to follow technological advancements closely and consider technology as the critical factor in their business models.” Thus, the aim is to answer the question: does technology have an impact on the business model innovation in the oil and gas industry?

Design/methodology/approach

In this paper, the authors conduct an in-depth review of previous studies of oil and gas industry, main players, the role and evolution of technology in each player’s business model and present future challenges and trends of the industry.

Findings

Theoretically, the results of shows that the relation between the technology and business model in oil and gas industry is defined as a two way interaction which is in line with the theory presented by Baden–Fuller and Haefliger (2013); thus it helps the robustness of the theory as well. We argue that technology gained a “game changer” status in the oil and gas industry, beside all the fundamental premises on which business model is built on, having technology seems to be the key element of survival and the ability to develop in-house or have access to the latest ones in the right time can help the market share, revenue and leadership status. this key element can reinforce other pillars of powers in the oil and gas industry.

Originality/value

Most of the research in the oil and gas industry are practical, focusing on a specific technology, clean energy issues, regulations, and policies, etc. There exist few studies that present the theoretical issues in the industry or test the theories to see if this important industry falls within them or not. As follows, this study is about to address this gap and observe the dynamics in the oil and gas industry with an academic lens.
Evaluating university leadership performance using Lean Six Sigma framework
Authors: Tetteh Godson A.
Published: December 2018

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to critically evaluate university leadership performance using the Lean Six Sigma (LSS) framework. University leadership performance management (PM) framework incorporates strategy formulation, lecturers, administrative services and the learning outcomes to achieve service quality excellence.

Design/methodology/approach

A theoretical investigation in literature was accomplished comparing PM and LSS frameworks. Through extant literature review, the authors identiﬁed five constructs (lecturers, administration staff, projects, programs and facilities) being offered by a university to evaluate the service quality excellence. Using these constructs, a student exit survey was conducted yielding a response rate of 56%. Five hypotheses were tested. The survey results evaluated reliability, convergent validity and discriminant validity of the constructs and were found to be satisfactory. To test the model ﬁt and hypotheses between the constructs, the authors used structural equation modelling (SEM).

Findings

The LSS framework was found to be effective when compared with the PM framework, and for aligning university processes to achieve service quality excellence. The SEM result shows that there is a strong evidence to support the hypothesized model where facilities, projects and program had significant relationship with service quality excellence. The empirical evidence strongly supports that there is a relationship between the PM and the LSS frameworks.

Research limitations/implications

This research is based on a cross-sectional exit survey; future research could explore a longitudinal survey with treatment conditions to consider different genre of university leadership.

Practical implications

To achieve service quality excellence, university leadership will need to embrace LSS framework to satisfy their stakeholders. This could bring multifold organizational and social benefits.

Originality/value

Not too many studies have used the PM and the LSS framework to evaluate university leadership performance in terms of service quality excellence. This study identified constructs associated with LSS and empirically validated the scales to build on theory.
The joy of pain
Authors: Hornik Jacob , Shaanan Satchi Rinat , Rachamim Matti
Published: December 2018

Purpose

Recent research on word-of-mouth (WOM) has presented consistent evidence on the importance of secondary WOM (sWOM) on online user-generated content (UGC) and on diffusion of positive and negative commercial information. The purpose of this paper is to investigate what motivates consumers to spread, via electronic WOM communication, negative information about commercial entities adversity using malicious verbal narratives. Based on concepts related to the joy of pain (schadenfreude) and gloating behavior the authors propose a set of hypotheses designed to test two key moderators (perceived deservingness and entity’s status) as well as the process of spiteful dissemination like content assimilation, dissemination time and duration.

Design/methodology/approach

The research consists on a series of four studies using different research methods (surveys and experiments) and a mix of quantitative and qualitative analyses.

Findings

Results show that actively communicating about others’ adversity (i.e. gloating behavior) provides an outlet to the passive observation of others’ adversity (i.e. schadenfreude feelings). Results indicate that schadenfreude and gloating are linked to the perceived deservingness of a commercial entity and entity status (the tall poppy syndrome). Results also show that malicious feelings and gloating behavior cause consumers to disseminate information more widely, more rapidly, for a longer period and frequently distort its content.

Research limitations/implications

The findings contribute to literature on WOM by introducing an approach that highlights the potential negative effects of WOM on the dissemination of commercial information that might harm the relevant commercial entity’s reputation and goodwill.

Originality/value

This study illuminates the prevalence of negative rhetoric in WOM and supports the theory schadenfreude motives as a trigger for gloating behavior in the form of disseminating negative, malicious and intense WOM regarding commercial setbacks. This research is the first to examine and demonstrates that when it comes to WOM communication, schadenfreude feelings and gloating behavior might play a central role in the dissemination of negative information and the two constructs’ role in understanding infostorms, the sudden flow of large quantities of negative WOM using strong gleeful exultation. This study is the first to examine these phenomena in the business setting.
The relationship between risk, capital and efficiency in Indian banking: Does ownership matter?
Authors: Sarkar Sanjukta , Sensarma Rudra , Sharma Dipasha
Published: December 2018

Purpose

This paper aims to examine the interplay between risk, capital and efficiency of Indian banks and study how their relationship differs across different ownership types.

Design/methodology/approach

Panel regression techniques are used to analyze a large data set of all Indian scheduled commercial banks operating during the period 2008-2016.

Findings

The results show that lower efficiency is associated with higher credit risk in the case of public sector and old private sector banks (”bad management hypothesis”). However, higher efficiency leads to higher credit risk in the case of foreign banks (“cost skimping hypothesis”). The authors further find that the more efficient institutions among public sector hold more capital. Finally, they find that the better-capitalized banks among those in the public sector have lower risks on their balance sheets (“moral hazard hypothesis”).

Originality/value

There is a paucity of papers on the interplay between risk, capital and efficiency of banks in emerging economies. This paper is the first to study the inter-relationship between risk, capital and efficiency of Indian banks across ownership groups using a number of different measures of risk.
Nutritional and sensory properties of instant maize porridge fortified with Moringa oleifera leaves and termite (Macrotermes falciger) powders
Authors: Netshiheni Khavhatondwi Rinah , Mashau Mpho Edward , Jideani Afam Israel Obiefuna
Published: December 2018

Purpose

White maize-based porridge is a staple food for about 80 per cent consumers in South Africa and in other sub-Saharan African countries contributing significantly to the diet of rural population in developing countries. White maize is deficient in some amino acids and over-dependency on its porridge may lead to high prevalence of malnutrition-related health conditions. Moringa oleifera (MO) and termite (Macrotermes falciger) are known to contain substantial amount of protein. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of powders from MO leaves and termite on the nutritional and sensory properties of instant maize porridge.

Design/methodology/approach

Inclusion of MO and termite powder in instant maize porridge, using different treatments were considered using a completely randomised design. Factor levels were control (maize flour) cooked, blanched and uncooked MO samples. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23.

Findings

Protein content of fortified instant maize porridge (FMP) significantly increased from 10.0 to 21.2 per cent compared to unfortified porridge, and this could be attributed to the substitution effect, as fresh uncooked MO leaves are reported to be high in protein. Mineral content of FMP was higher in zinc, iron, calcium and magnesium. Calcium values of FMP were higher (276.8 mg/100 g) compared to unfortified porridge (7.1 mg/100 g). Upon the addition of MO leaves and termite powder, the zinc content increased from 3.4 mg/100to 7.6 mg/100 g. Higher iron values (27.9-36.9 mg/100 g) were observed among fortified samples. The sensory result showed that control sample had higher acceptance than the fortified samples (p = 0.02). Sensory analysis showed that among fortified porridges, blanched sample was rated high for colour and texture, cooked sample was higher in taste and uncooked sample was higher for aroma. Control sample had higher acceptance than fortified porridges for taste. The results of this study showed that the addition of MO leaves and termite powder to instant maize porridge has led to a substantial increase in the nutritional value of FMP.

Originality/value

This study was carried out to develop instant maize porridge fortified with MO leaves and termite powder suitable for infants, pregnant mothers and other maize consumers. The author aimed at improving the nutritional content of instant maize porridge by combining it with MO leaves and termite powders. The results showed that the addition of MO leaves and termite powders to instant maize porridge has led to a substantial increase in the nutritional value of FMP. Therefore, powder from MO leaves and termites could be used in complementary foods to increase protein and mineral contents.