bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Healthy eating in the early years
Authors: Goldsborough Nicola , Homer Catherine , Atchinson Rebecca , Barker Margo E.
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– A nutritious diet is critical to the health and development of pre-school children. Children in the UK consume much food outside the home yet day-care food provision is unregulated, and informed by disparate and conflicting dietary guidelines. Factors affecting nursery food provision have been much studied, but less is known about food provision in the child-minder setting. The purpose of this paper is to examine factors influencing child-minders’ food provision.

Design/methodology/approach

– Qualitative methods were employed, combining participant observation with semi-structured interviews. Participants were selected via purposive and convenience sampling. Eight child-minders from an English borough were interviewed.

Findings

– The food provided by child-minders was not consistent with dietary guidelines for young children, following menu plans was reported to be difficult, and knowledge about healthy eating guidelines for young children was various. Child-minders reported limited time for food preparation, and problems catering for fussy children. Some child-minders obtained support through an informal peer network group. Only one child-minder reported availing of professional nutritional advice on healthy food provision. Communication with parents about food was considered important, although there was some evidence of discord between providers and parents in dietary objectives.

Research limitations/implications

– The study was small in size and regionally based. Due to the local nature of the study, it is not possible to make generalisations to the wider national context. Corroboration of the findings is necessary in a larger study.

Practical implications

– Child-minders have a pivotal role to play in the nutritional health and development of young children, and whilst their interest in provision of nutritious food was great, outside support was lacking. Support should include provision of one clear set of authoritative guidelines, practical guidance that accommodates the realities of providing food in the child-minder setting, investment to strengthen support structures at local level and the development of network groups.

Originality/value

– Whilst the factors underpinning food provision in nurseries have been examined in various regions of the UK, little attention has been given to child-minder settings. The current study addresses this gap.
Wine and health: faraway concepts?
Authors: Samoggia Antonella
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to explore consumers’ perceptions and beliefs in the health benefits of wine and the relationship with wine consumption patterns.

Design/methodology/approach

– In store face-to-face survey results from 402 wine consumers were elaborated with two-step cluster analysis. ANOVA confirmed differences among groups. Groups were profiled by a χ2 significance analysis when adequate. A multivariate binary logistic regression estimated wine consumption influence on healthiness perceptions.

Findings

– Consumers converge into four groups: two health-oriented – optimistic and medical; two non-health-oriented – unintentional drinker and unconvinced. Groups are not significantly differentiated in socio-economic terms. Wine consumption behaviour influences health orientation, specifically for monthly and wine drinkers, vs weekly and other alcohol drinkers. Health-oriented consumers favourably welcome and are willing to pay more for health-enhancing wine. Consumers believe that wine consumption mainly benefits atherosclerosis and hypertension.

Research limitations/implications

– Since health-oriented wine is not common in the market, consumers provided answers based on their experience with other health-oriented food and beverages and on the common appreciation of the “terroir” perspective. Future research could extend the analysis on health claims and nutrition claims through blind wine tasting, price range acceptability and market potential dimensions.

Practical implications

– The high number of wine SKUs and consumer interest in wine healthiness suggest wine manufacturers should invest in health-oriented differentiation strategies, focused on atherosclerosis and hypertension claims and higher prices.

Social implications

– Given worldwide wine consumption, the research findings contribute to public health policy by addressing alcoholism and promoting healthy consumption behaviour.

Originality/value

– The findings provide insights for private and public sectors to support innovative approaches for the development of health-promoting food system.
Dietary fiber role in type 2 diabetes prevention
Authors: Ismaiel Manal , Yang Hong , Min Cui
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a comprehensive overview that demonstrates the prevention role of dietary fiber in type2 diabetes. Due to the frequent incidences of type2 diabetes and its related complications, a small percentage of reduction in the cases could save thousands of lives and economic loss spending on healthcare and medication.

Design/methodology/approach

– A literature review has been performed over the electronic databases Medline PubMed and SciELO (The Scientific Electronic Library Online). The reference list of identified articles has also been reviewed. For this search, the following descriptors were considered: diabetes mellitus, hyperglycemia, diet therapy, dietary fiber and insulin sensitivity.

Findings

– The updated publications indicated that valuable efforts have been done to clarify the beneficial effect of dietary fiber consumption on type2 diabetes. Dietary fiber plays a role as a promising alternative therapeutic means toward type2 diabetes mellitus prevention.

Originality/value

– This review is unique in its comprehensive nature. This paper will reflect the role and mechanism of dietary fiber in the prevention of type2 diabetes.
Evaluation of different food safety education interventions
Authors: Feng Yaohua , Bruhn Christine , Marx David
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The positive deviance (PD) focus group is a novel educational intervention that allows participants to discuss their food handling behaviors and decide to try recommended practices modeled by people like themselves. Currently, most food safety education is delivered through reading materials. The purpose of this paper is to explore the effectiveness of food safety education utilizing three interventions: PD, personal story reading and reading standard material.

Design/methodology/approach

– A total of 89 pregnant women and 93 people with diabetes received food safety information through one of three intervention methods: PD, reading standard educational material (Standard) and reading material presented in a story format (Story). A survey assessed self-reported risk and food safety knowledge and personal hygiene before and after the interventions. Take-home assignments allowed participants to practice recommendations. Post class interviews and survey assessed knowledge gained and reported behavior change.

Findings

– Compared to those who merely read educational information, participants in a PD Intervention had higher knowledge scores and adopted more safe handling recommendations. Involvement of the participants and the length of information exposure likely contributed to the significant difference between the interventions. This suggests that food safety education is most effective when delivered in a supportive discussion format. Health education programs for these vulnerable groups should endeavor to deliver safe food handling guidelines through a PD approach.

Originality/value

– Previous research demonstrated the effectiveness of PD when delivering nutrition education. This is the first paper that explored the effectiveness of a PD intervention in delivering safe handling recommendations.
Learning lessons in strategic novelty from outliers
Authors: Välikangas Liisa , Gibbert Michael
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– Conventional strategy is being challenged by industry shifts and by potentially disruptive strategic innovations that organizations that do not fit established ways of doing things- “outlier organizations”have discovered.

Design/methodology/approach

– A study of outliers, and their perspectives at the frontiers of not-yet-formed or to-be-challenged industries, can provide valuable lessons for strategists.

Findings

– In seeking out lessons from outliers, strategy needs to be reframed from a science of studying the average and increasing the efficiency of the already known, to an art of finding the potential in serendipity and the discovery of knowledge that lies beyond previous experience.

Practical implications

– It is easy, but risky, to overlook or dismiss the innovations of a company that is still experimenting with its business model, and is far from being able to prove its sustainability along conventional metrics.

Originality/value

– Successful innovators are intuitively interested in developments that are incongruous to expectations. However, translating this sensibility into equally powerful strategic insights is often challenging. This article provides examples and tools for learning from outliers.
Commentary on “Training in positive behavioural support: increasing staff self-efficacy and positive outcome expectations”
Authors: Padden Ciara
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to provide a commentary on Stocks and Slater’s paper, “Training in positive behavioural support: increasing staff self-efficacy and positive outcome expectations”.

Design/methodology/approach

– This is a narrative review of staff training in positive behaviour support (PBS) and challenging behaviour, drawing on Stocks and Slater’s paper and the core staff competencies outlined in the PBS Competence Framework (PBS Coalition, 2015).

Findings

– Taking into consideration multiple outcome measures, including staff outcomes such as self-efficacy, changes in staff behaviour, and the impact on quality of life for service users, may provide a broader insight into the effects of staff training. Supports and systems such as hands-on training, supervision, and practice leadership are also important factors that are likely to lead to positive service user and staff outcomes.

Originality/value

– This commentary reflects on Stocks and Slater’s paper in the broader context of staff training outcomes and factors that contribute to high-quality services for people with learning disabilities and challenging behaviour.
Training in positive behavioural support: increasing staff self-efficacy and positive outcome expectations
Authors: Stocks Greg , Slater Sean
Published: March 2016

Purpose

– The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of a six-and-a-half day, Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) informed training course on staff’s self-efficacy and outcome expectations of managing challenging behaviour (CB). Training programmes for other non-psychology staff were deemed necessary due to the high demand for services and the specialist knowledge held by other professionals or carers.

Design/methodology/approach

– A repeated measures design was used to capture changes in specific self-efficacy and outcome expectations before and after the training programme. A questionnaire methodology was employed.

Findings

– Staff self-efficacy and positive outcome expectations increased on all four measured variables following training: understanding of CB, working out the functions of CB, developing and implementing a PBS plan, and managing CB for the benefit of the service user.

Research limitations/implications

– These findings are considered in light of previous research suggesting an impact on staff practice and burnout.

Practical implications

– The findings suggest that the training model delivers changes in staff cognition and may be useful in other locations where demand for services is likely to increase in the future.

Originality/value

– This research considers the impact of a medium length PBS training on staff cognition, evidencing the model’s utility in the current service context.
Virtual Tissue Cutting With Haptic Feedback Using a Hybrid Actuator With DC Servomotor and Magnetorheological Brake
Authors: Gonenc Berk , Gurocak Hakan
Published: March 2016

Surgical training is an important and recent application where haptic interfaces are used to enhance the realism of virtual training simulators. Tissue cutting with surgical scissors is a common interaction mode in the simulations. The haptic interface needs to render a wide range of tissue properties and resistance forces accurately. In this research, we developed a hybrid haptic device made of a DC servomotor and a magnetorheological (MR) brake. The motor can provide fast dynamic response and compensate for inertia and friction effects of the device. But alone, it cannot supply high force levels and the sensation of stiff interaction with hard tissues such as tendons. On the other hand, the MR-brake can provide very stiff interaction forces yet cannot reflect fast dynamics that are encountered as the virtual scissors go through the tissue. The hybrid actuator developed in this work combines the two based on a control scheme that decomposes the actuator command signal into two branches considering each actuator's capabilities. It is implemented on a compact single degree-of-freedom (DOF) interface to simulate virtual tissue cutting with three different scissor types (Mayo, Metzenbaum, Iris) and four types of rat tissue (liver, muscle, skin, tendon). Results have shown close tracking of the desired force profile in all cases. Compared to just using a DC motor, the hybrid actuator provided a wider range of forces (up to 18 N) with fast response to render quick force variations without any instability for all simulated tissue and scissor types.
Algorithms for Multilayer Conformal Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Davis Joshua D. , Kutzer Michael D. , Chirikjian Gregory S.
Published: March 2016

Despite the rapid advance of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies in recent years, methods to fully encase objects with multilayer, thick features are still undeveloped. This issue can be overcome by printing layers conformally about an object's natural boundary, as opposed to current methods that utilize planar layering. With this mindset, two methods are derived to generate layers between the boundaries of initial and desired geometric objects in both two and three dimensions. The first method is based on variable offset curves (VOCs) and is applicable to pairs of initial and desired geometric objects that satisfy mild compatibility conditions. In this method, layers are generated by uniformly partitioning each of the normal line segments emanating from the initial object boundary and intersecting the desired object. The second method is based on manipulated solutions to Laplace's equation and is applicable to all geometric objects. Using each method, we present examples of layer generation for several objects of varying convexities. Results are compared, and the respective advantages and limitations of each method are discussed.
Finite Element Modeling of Transient Thermomechanical Rolling Contact Featuring Mixed Control of the Rigid Body Motion
Authors: Draganis Andreas
Published: March 2016

A theoretical and computational framework for the analysis of fully transient, thermomechanically coupled, frictional rolling contact based on an arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) kinematical description is presented. In particular, a computationally efficient methodology for mixed control between the ALE referential velocities and their corresponding driving forces is developed and discussed in depth. Numerical examples involving two-dimensional (2D) cylinder–plate rolling contact are presented, covering a range of transient, thermomechanically coupled rolling contact phenomena, taking place on a broad range of time scales. Here, particular points of emphasis include dynamical effects in the vicinity of the contact region and the time scales on which mechanical and thermal mechanisms operate.
Understanding In-Cylinder Flow Variability Using Large-Eddy Simulations
Authors: Van Dam Noah , Rutland Chris
Published: March 2016

Multicycle large-eddy simulations (LES) of motored flow in an optical engine housed at the University of Michigan have been performed. The simulated flow field is compared against particle image velocimetry (PIV) data in several cutting planes. Circular statistical methods have been used to isolate the contributions to overall turbulent fluctuations from changes in flow direction or magnitude. High levels of turbulence, as indicated by high velocity root mean square (RMS) values, exist in relatively large regions of the combustion chamber. But the circular standard deviation (CSD), a measure of the variability in flow direction independent of velocity magnitude, is much more limited to specific regions or points, indicating that much of the turbulence is from variable flow magnitude rather than variable flow direction. Using the CSD is also a promising method to identify critical points, such as vortex centers or stagnation points, within the flow, which may prove useful for future engine designers.
Numerical Analysis of Bladed Disk–Casing Contact With Friction and Wear
Authors: Almeida P. , Gibert C. , Thouverez F. , Leblanc X. , Ousty J.-P.
Published: March 2016

In order to increase the aerodynamic performances of their engines, aircraft engine manufacturers try to minimize the clearance between rotating and stationary parts in axial and centrifugal compressors. Consequently, the probability of contact increases, leading to undesirable phenomena caused by forced excitation of the natural modes or by modal interaction. Due to the complexity of these phenomena, many numerical studies have been conducted to gain a better understanding of the physics associated with them, looking primarily at their respective influence on potential unstable behaviors. However, the influence of other physical phenomena, such as friction and wear, remains poorly understood. The aim of this work is to show some effects associated with friction and wear on the dynamic behavior resulting from blade-to-casing interaction. The numerical study reported here is based on a simplified finite element model of a rotating bladed disk and a flexible casing. The contact algorithm uses an explicit time marching scheme with the Lagrange multipliers method. Friction and wear are formulated using, respectively, Coulomb's and Archard's laws. The rotational speed is set to critical speed giving rise to modal interaction between a backward mode of the casing and a counter-rotating mode of the bladed disk with one nodal diameter (ND). Contact is initiated by a dynamic excitation of the stator. In the presence of friction, the system becomes unstable when a sideband of the excitation frequency coincides with 1ND mode of the bladed disk. The introduction of wear leads to a vibration reduction, while the abradable material is removed by the wear process. The number of wear lobes produced on the casing is related to the ratio between the vibration frequency of the blades and the rotating speed. The ratio obtained by means of the FE model corroborates experimental observations.
Single-Phase Flow Analysis: An Attempt to Mitigate Particle Deposition on the Glass Window of a Fluidized Bed Solar Receiver
Authors: Shahabuddin M.
Published: March 2016

The problem of particle deposition on the glass window of a solar receiver has restricted its continuous operation by reducing solar radiation transmission. A rigorous attempt has been made in this analysis by exploring the understanding of particle deposition mechanisms and their mitigating strategies. A simplified form of a fluidized bed solar receiver (FBSR) having the same flow phenomena of FBSR is chosen for the numerical analysis. In the numerical analysis, the turbulent flow in the receiver is investigated by renormalized group (RNG) theory based k–ε models. The validation of the numerical model is carried out by measuring the turbulent flow properties using a turbulent flow instrumentation (TFI) Cobra probe. The results of this analysis revealed that mass flow into the secondary concentrator of the receiver was reduced significantly when the ratio between the outlets and inlet areas was 0.5, and the ratio between the aperture and receiver diameter was 0.41. When using window shielding jets, only 5% of the inlet mass as a window jet was sufficient to prevent any particle deposition on the glass window, however, the number of jets was found to be an important factor. At a constant mass flow rate, increasing the number of window shielding jets reduced the suction pressure from the core to the aperture, which helped to restrict the inlet flow in the secondary concentrator.
Backward waves with double zero-group-velocity points in a liquid-filled pipe
Authors: Cui Hanyin , Lin Weijun , Zhang Hailan , Wang Xiuming , Trevelyan Jon
Published: March 2016

Hollow cylinders often exhibit backward propagation modes whose group and phase velocities have opposite directions, and these exhibit a minimum possible frequency at which the group velocity vanishes at a nonzero wavenumber. These zero-group-velocity (ZGV) points are associated with resonant conditions in the medium. On the basis of ZGV resonances, a non-contact and laser ultrasound technique has been developed to measure elastic constants of hollow pipes. This paper provides a theoretical and numerical investigation of the influence of the contained liquid on backward waves and associated ZGV modes, in order to explore whether this ZGV technique is suitable for in-service non-destructive evaluations of liquid-filled pipes. Dispersion spectra and excitation properties have been analyzed. It is found that the presence of the liquid causes an increased number of backward modes and ZGVs which are highly excitable by a point source. In addition, several guided modes twice undergo a change of sign in the slopes of their dispersion curves, leading to two ZGV points. This phenomenon of double ZGVs in one backward wave, which is caused by strong mode repulsions, has not been found in isotropic hollow cylinders, but it can be observed in a fluid-filled thin-walled pipe.
Rapid Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, and Burkholderia pseudomallei by Use of Laser Light Scattering Technology
Authors: Bugrysheva Julia V. , Lascols Christine , Sue David , Weigel Linda M.
Published: March 2016

Rapid methods to determine antimicrobial susceptibility would assist in the timely distribution of effective treatment or postexposure prophylaxis in the aftermath of the release of bacterial biothreat agents such as
Bacillus anthracis
,
Yersinia pestis
, or
Burkholderia pseudomallei
. Conventional susceptibility tests require 16 to 48 h of incubation, depending on the bacterial species. We evaluated a method that is based on laser light scattering technology that measures cell density in real time. We determined that it has the ability to rapidly differentiate between growth (resistant) and no growth (susceptible) of several bacterial threat agents in the presence of clinically relevant antimicrobials. Results were available in <4 h for
B. anthracis
and <6 h for
Y. pestis
and
B. pseudomallei
. One exception was
B. pseudomallei
in the presence of ceftazidime, which required >10 h of incubation. Use of laser scattering technology decreased the time required to determine antimicrobial susceptibility by 50% to 75% for
B. anthracis
,
Y. pestis
, and
B. pseudomallei
compared to conventional methods.
Using Scavenger Hunts to Familiarize Students with Scientific Journal Articles
Authors: Lijek Rebeccah S. , Fankhauser Sarah C.
Published: March 2016

Primary scientific literature can be difficult to navigate for anyone unfamiliar with its foreign, formal structure. We sought to create a fun, easy learning tool to help familiarize students of all ages with the structure of a scientific article. Our main learning objective was for the student to realize that science writing is formulaic—that specific information is found in predictable locations within an article—and that, with an understanding of the formula, anyone can comfortably navigate any journal article and accurately predict what to expect to find in each section. To this end, we designed a Journal Article Scavenger Hunt that requires the user to find and identify a series of commonplace features of a primary research article. The scavenger hunt activity is quick and easy to implement, and is adaptable to various ages and settings, including the classroom, lab, and at outreach events. The questions in the scavenger hunt can be scaled in difficulty and specificity to suit the instructor’s needs. Over many years of using this activity, we have received positive feedback from students of all ages, from elementary school students to lay adult-learners as well as science teachers themselves. By making the unknown seem predictable and approachable, the scavenger hunt helps a variety of audiences feel more comfortable with science and more confident in their ability to engage directly with the scientific literature. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
Community Partnership Designed to Promote Lyme Disease Prevention and Engagement in Citizen Science
Authors: Seifert Veronica A. , Wilson Shane , Toivonen Samantha , Clarke Benjamin , Prunuske Amy
Published: March 2016

The goal of this project is to promote Lyme disease prevention and to cultivate an interest in science through a citizen-science project coordinated by researchers at a public university and teachers at rural high schools. The lesson plan is designed to increase student interest in pursuing a science career through participation in an authentic research experience, utilizing a topic that has implications on the health of the surrounding community. Students are introduced in the classroom to zoonotic diseases transmitted by the
Ixodes
tick, the health risks of Lyme disease, and disease prevention strategies. Students then participate in a research experience collecting field data and ticks from their community, which are used in university research. To measure changes in student knowledge and attitudes toward Lyme disease and science careers, students completed surveys related to the learning objectives associated with the experience. We found participation in the activity increased student confidence and ability to correctly differentiate a deer tick from a wood tick and to recognize the symptoms of Lyme disease. In addition, students reported increased interest in pursuing a science degree in college or graduate school. Authentic research experience related to a disease relevant to the local community is effective at enhancing high school student engagement in science.
Tools for Citizen-Science Recruitment and Student Engagement in Your Research and in Your Classroom
Authors: Council Sarah E. , Horvath Julie E.
Published: March 2016

The field of citizen science is exploding and offers not only a great way to engage the general public in science literacy through primary research, but also an avenue for teaching professionals to engage their students in meaningful community research experiences. Though this field is expanding, there are many hurdles for researchers and participants, as well as challenges for teaching professionals who want to engage their students. Here we highlight one of our projects that engaged many citizens in Raleigh, NC, and across the world, and we use this as a case study to highlight ways to engage citizens in all kinds of research. Through the use of numerous tools to engage the public, we gathered citizen scientists to study skin microbes and their associated odors, and we offer valuable ideas for teachers to tap into resources for their own students and potential citizen-science projects.
Citizen Science Initiatives: Engaging the Public and Demystifying Science
Authors: Van Vliet Kim , Moore Claybourne
Published: March 2016

The Internet and smart phone technologies have opened up new avenues for collaboration among scientists around the world. These technologies have also expanded citizen science opportunities and public participation in scientific research (PPSR). Here we discuss citizen science, what it is, who does it, and the variety of projects and methods used to increase scientific knowledge and scientific literacy. We describe a number of different types of citizen-science projects. These greatly increase the number of people involved, helping to speed the pace of data analysis and allowing science to advance more rapidly. As a result of the numerous advantages of citizen-science projects, these opportunities are likely to expand in the future and increase the rate of novel discoveries.
Using a Concept Inventory to Assess the Reasoning Component of Citizen-Level Science Literacy: Results from a 17,000-Student Study
Authors: Nuhfer Edward B. , Cogan Christopher B. , Kloock Carl , Wood Gregory G. , Goodman Anya , Delgado Natalie Zayas , Wheeler Christopher W.
Published: March 2016

After articulating 12 concepts for the reasoning component of citizen-level science literacy and restating these as assessable student learning outcomes (SLOs), we developed a valid and reliable assessment instrument for addressing the outcomes with a brief 25-item science literacy concept inventory (SLCI). In this paper, we report the results that we obtained from assessing the citizen-level science literacy of 17,382 undergraduate students, 149 graduate students, and 181 professors. We address only findings at or above the 99.9% confidence level. We found that general education (GE) science courses do not significantly advance understanding of science as a way of knowing. However, the understanding of science’s way of knowing does increase through academic ranks, indicating that the extended overall academic experience better accounts for increasing such thinking capacity than do science courses alone. Higher mean institutional SLCI scores correlate closely with increased institutional selectivity, as measured by the institutions’ higher mean SAT and ACT scores. Socioeconomic factors of a) first-generation student, b) English as a native language, and c) interest in commitment to a science major are unequally distributed across ethnic groups. These factors proved powerful in accounting for the variations in SLCI scores across ethnicities and genders.
The Engaged Microbiologist: Bringing the Microbiological Sciences to the K–12 Community
Authors: Westenberg David J.
Published: March 2016

Exposing K–12 students to cutting edge science that impacts their daily lives can bring classroom lessons to life. Citizen-science projects are an excellent way to bring high-level science to the classroom and help satisfy one of the cornerstone concepts of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), “engaging in practices that scientists and engineers actually use.” This can be a daunting task for teachers who may lack the background or resources to integrate these projects into the classroom. This is where scientific societies such as the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) can play a critical role. ASM encourages its members to engage with the K–12 community by providing networking opportunities and resources for ASM members and K–12 teachers to work together to bring microbiology into the classroom. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
Crowdfunding Campaigns Help Researchers Launch Projects and Generate Outreach
Authors: Dahlhausen Katherine , Krebs Bethany L. , Watters Jason V. , Ganz Holly H.
Published: March 2016

Organizers of participatory research (citizen science) projects can generate funds and outreach through crowdfunding. Here we provide insights from three successful science crowdfunding campaigns recently completed on Indiegogo, Experiment, and Kickstarter. Choosing a crowdfunding platform that fits the project is just the beginning; a successful campaign reflects its content, management, and marketing, and some researchers may need to acquire new skills. In addition, the growing trend of crowdfunding for science reinforces the importance of academic engagement with social media.
The Power of Engaging Citizen Scientists for Scientific Progress
Authors: Garbarino Jeanne , Mason Christopher E.
Published: March 2016

Citizen science has become a powerful force for scientific inquiry, providing researchers with access to a vast array of data points while connecting nonscientists to the authentic process of science. This citizen-researcher relationship creates an incredible synergy, allowing for the creation, execution, and analysis of research projects that would otherwise prove impossible in traditional research settings, namely due to the scope of needed human or financial resources (or both). However, citizen-science projects are not without their challenges. For instance, as projects are scaled up, there is concern regarding the rigor and usability of data collected by citizens who are not formally trained in research science. While these concerns are legitimate, we have seen examples of highly successful citizen-science projects from multiple scientific disciplines that have enhanced our collective understanding of science, such as how RNA molecules fold or determining the microbial metagenomic snapshot of an entire public transportation system. These and other emerging citizen-science projects show how improved protocols for reliable, large-scale science can realize both an improvement of scientific understanding for the general public and novel views of the world around us.
Learning through Teaching: A Microbiology Service-Learning Experience
Authors: Webb Ginny
Published: March 2016

Service learning is defined as a strategy in which students apply what they have learned in the classroom to a community service project. Many educators would agree that students often learn best through teaching others. This premise was the motivation for a new service-learning project in which undergraduate microbiology students developed and taught hands-on microbiology lessons to local elementary school children. The lessons included teaching basic information about microbes, disease transmission, antibiotics, vaccines, and methods of disease prevention. This service-learning project benefitted the college students by enforcing their knowledge of microbiology and provided them an opportunity to reach out to children within their community. This project also benefitted the local schools by teaching the younger students about microbes, infections, and handwashing. In this paper, I discuss the development and implementation of this new microbiology service-learning project, as well as the observed impact it had on everyone involved.
Type I Interferons Regulate the Magnitude and Functionality of Mouse Polyomavirus-Specific CD8 T Cells in a Virus Strain-Dependent Manner
Authors: Qin Qingsong , Shwetank   , Frost Elizabeth L. , Maru Saumya , Lukacher Aron E.
Published: March 2016

Mouse polyomavirus (MPyV) is a ubiquitous persistent natural mouse pathogen. A glutamic acid (E)-to-glycine (G) difference at position 91 of the VP1 capsid protein shifts the profile of tumors induced by MPyV from an epithelial to a mesenchymal cell origin. Here we asked if this tropism difference affects the MPyV-specific CD8 T cell response, which controls MPyV infection and tumorigenesis. Infection by the laboratory MPyV strain RA (VP1-91G) or a strain A2 mutant with an E-to-G substitution at VP1 residue 91 [A2(91G)] generated a markedly smaller virus-specific CD8 T cell response than that induced by A2(VP1-91E) infection. Mutant A2(91G)-infected mice showed a higher frequency of memory precursor (CD127hiKLRG1lo) CD8 T cells and a higher recall response than those of A2-infected mice. Using T cell receptor (TCR)-transgenic CD8 T cells and immunization with peptide-pulsed dendritic cells, we found that early bystander inflammation associated with A2 infection contributed to recruitment of the larger MPyV-specific CD8 T cell response. Beta interferon (IFN-β) transcripts were induced early during A2 or A2(91G) infections. IFN-β inhibited replication of A2 and A2(91G)in vitro. Using mice lacking IFN-αβ receptors (IFNAR−/−), we showed that type I IFNs played a role in controlling MPyV replicationin vivobut differentially affected the magnitude and functionality of virus-specific CD8 T cells recruited by A2 and A2(91G) viral infections. These data indicate that type I IFNs are involved in protection against MPyV infection and that their effect on the antiviral CD8 T cell response depends on capsid-mediated tropism properties of the MPyV strain.

IMPORTANCEIsolates of the human polyomavirus JC virus from patients with the frequently fatal demyelinating brain disease progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) carry single amino acid substitutions in the domain of the VP1 capsid protein that binds the sialic acid moiety of glycoprotein/glycolipid receptors on host cells. These VP1 mutations may alter neural cell tropism or enable escape from neutralizing antibodies. Changes in host cell tropism can affect recruitment of virus-specific CD8 T cells. Using mouse polyomavirus, we demonstrate that a single amino acid difference in VP1 known to shift viral tropism profoundly affects the quantity and quality of the anti-polyomavirus CD8 T cell response and its differentiation into memory cells. These findings raise the possibility that CD8 T cell responses to infections by human polyomaviruses may be influenced by VP1 mutations involving domains that engage host cell receptors.
Electrocardiographic clue for a mid-LAD lesion
Authors: Ak Rohat , Doganay Fatih , Onur Ozge Ozberk , Akoglu Ebru Unal
Published: March 2016

ECG is still the first diagnostic tool for coronary artery disease. It is possible to predict the localisation of affected vessel(s) through ST and T changes on ECG. Sometimes, reciprocal changes may be the only marker of acute myocardial ischaemia, as single T-wave inversion in lead aVL may represent a coronary artery lesion in the left anterior descending (LAD). A 49-year-old woman presented to the emergency department, with left-sided chest pain. Her initial ECG showed no ischaemic changes. On the third hour ECG there was T-wave inversion in leads aVL and V2, and troponin turned positive. Coronary angiography showed 90% mid-LAD occlusion. The importance of this case is that patients with ischaemic chest pain should be followed with serial ECG. Also, emergency physicians should be alert to identify new changes on ECG, as isolated T-wave inversion in lead aVL can be the only finding to take the patient into the catheterisation laboratory.
Performance of a non-contact infrared thermometer in healthy newborns
Authors: Sollai Sara , Dani Carlo , Berti Elettra , Fancelli Claudia , Galli Luisa , de Martino Maurizio , Chiappini Elena
Published: March 2016

Objective

To evaluate the performance of a non-contact infrared thermometer (NCIT) in comparison with digital axillary thermometer (DAT) and infrared tympanic thermometers (ITT) in a population of healthy at term and preterm newborns nursed in incubators.

Setting

1 level III maternity hospital, and its intensive neonatal care unit.

Participants

119 healthy at term newborns and 70 preterm newborns nursed in incubators were consecutively enrolled. Exclusion criteria were unstable/critical conditions, polymalformative congenital syndromes and severe congenital syndromes.

Interventions

Body temperature readings were prospectively collected. Each participant underwent bilateral axillary temperature measurement with DAT, bilateral tympanic measurement with ITT and mid-forehead temperature measurements using NCIT.

Primary outcome measures

Degree of agreement between methods was evaluated by the Bland and Altman method.

Results

714 measurements in 119 healthy at term newborns and 420 measurements in 70 preterm newborns nursed in incubators were performed. Clinical reproducibility of NCIT was 0.0455°C for infants in incubators and 0.0861°C for infants outside an incubator. Bias was 0.029°C for infants in incubators and <0.0001°C for infants outside an incubator. Zero outliers were recorded. The mean difference between methods was good both for newborns at term (0.12°C for NCIT vs DAT and 0.02°C for NCIT vs ITT) and preterm newborns in incubators (0.10°C for NCIT vs DAT and 0.14°C for NCIT vs ITT). Limits of agreement were 0.99 to −0.75 and 0.78 to −0.75 in at term newborns and were particularly satisfactory in preterm newborns in incubators (95% CI: 0.48 to −0.27 and 0.68 to −0.40).

Conclusions

Our results with Bland and Altman analysis demonstrate that NCIT is a very promising tool, especially in preterm newborns nursed in incubators. Trial registration: The study was approved by the Careggi University Hospital Ethics Committee (07/2011).
Deaths following prehospital safety incidents: an analysis of a national database
Authors: Yardley Iain E , Donaldson Liam J
Published: March 2016

Introduction

Ensuring patient safety in the prehospital environment is difficult due to the unpredictable nature of the workload and the uncontrolled situations that care is provided in. Studying previous safety incidents can help understand risks and take action to mitigate them. We present an analysis of safety incidents related to patient deaths in ambulance services in England.

Methods

All incidents related to a patient death reported to the National Reporting and Learning System from an ambulance service between 1 June 2010 and 31 October 2012 were subjected to thematic analysis to identify the failings that led to the incident.

Results

Sixty-nine incidents were analysed, equating to one safety incident-related death per 168 000 calls received. Just three event categories were identified: delayed response (59%, 41/69), shortfalls in clinical care (35%, 24/69) and injury during transit (6%, 4/69). Primary failures differed for the categories: problems with dispatch caused the majority of delays in response, with equipment problems and bad weather accounting for the remainder. Failure to provide necessary care was predominantly caused by clinical misjudgements by ambulance staff and equipment issues underlay incidents that led to a patient injury.

Conclusions

Improvements intended to address safety related mortality in the ambulance service should include ensuring adequate equipping and resourcing of ambulance services, improving coordination and decision-making during dispatch and supporting individual staff members in the difficult decisions they are faced with.
Telestroke—the promise and the challenge. Part one: growth and current practice
Authors: Akbik F , Hirsch J A , Chandra R V , Frei D , Patel A B , Rabinov J D , Rost N , Schwamm L H , Leslie-Mazwi T M
Published: March 2016

Acute ischemic stroke remains a major public health concern, with low national treatment rates for the condition, demonstrating a disconnection between the evidence of treatment benefit and delivery of this treatment. Intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular thrombectomy are both strongly evidence supported and exquisitely time sensitive therapies. The mismatch between the distribution and incidence of stroke presentations and the availability of specialist care significantly affects access to care. Telestroke, the use of telemedicine for stroke, aims to surmount this hurdle by distributing stroke expertise more effectively, through video consultation with and examination of patients in locations removed from specialist care. This is the first of a detailed two part review, and explores the growth and current practice of telestroke, including the specific role it plays in the assessment and management of patients after emergent large vessel occlusion.
Thromboaspiration technique as first approach for endovascular treatment of acute ischemic stroke: initial experience at nine Italian stroke centers
Authors: Romano D G , Cioni S , Vinci S L , Pero G , Comelli C , Comai A , Peschillo S , Mardighian D , Castellan L , Resta F , Piano M G , Comelli S , Barletta L , Puliti A , Leonini S , Bracco S
Published: March 2016

Background and purpose

Aspiration thrombectomy of large vessel occlusions has made a comeback among recanalization techniques thanks to recent advances in catheter technology resulting in faster recanalization and promising clinical results when used either alone or as an adjunct to stent retriever. This multicenter retrospective study reports angiographic data, complications, and clinical outcome in patients treated with aspiration thrombectomy as the first-line option.

Materials and methods

We analysed the clinical and procedural data of patients treated from January 2014 to March 2015. Recanalization was assessed according to the Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score. Clinical outcome was evaluated at discharge and after 3 months.

Results

Overall, 152 patients (mean age 68 years) were treated. Sites of occlusion were 90.8% anterior circulation (including 16.4% tandem extracranial/intracranial occlusions) and 9.2% basilar artery. In 79 patients administration of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator was attempted. Recanalization of the target vessel was obtained in 115/152 cases (75.6%) whereas direct aspiration alone was successful in 83/152 cases (54.6%) with an average puncture to revascularization time of 44.67 min. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 7.8% and embolization to new territories in 1.9%. 77 patients (50.6%) had a good outcome at 90-day follow-up: 55/96 in the direct aspiration alone group and 22/56 in the aspiration-stent retriever group.

Conclusions

Direct aspiration thrombectomy appears a feasible technique with good revascularization results achieved in more than half the patients. In light of the self-reported data, inhomogeneous patient selection, absence of a core imaging laboratory, and a non-standardized approach, the results should be validated in a larger trial.
Effects of essential oil compounds addition on ryegrass silage protein degradation
Authors: Foskolos A. , Cavini S. , Ferret A. , Calsamiglia S.
Published: March 2016

Five essential oil compounds in four doses (0, 50, 500, and 2000 mg kg−1of fresh forage) were sprayed on ryegrass forage before ensiling. Thymol, eugenol, and cinnamaldehyde at 2000 mg and carvacrol at 500 and 2000 mg inhibited deamination. Cinnamaldehyde at 2000 mg resulted in silages with 9.8% higher true protein.
A typological characterization of Canadian beef cattle farms based on a producer survey
Authors: Alemu Aklilu W. , Amiro Brian D. , Bittman Shabtai , MacDonald Douglas , Ominski Kim H.
Published: March 2016

The diverse nature of beef production was captured by establishing a farm typology based on an extensive survey of 1005 Canadian farms in 2011. The survey provided information on the type of operation, cattle numbers, feed storage and management, manure management, land use, producer demographics and attitudes to risk, and technology adoption. Principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used to understand the relationships among variables and to statistically identify farm types. A total of 41 diagnostic variables from 133 survey questions were used to define 16 principal components explaining 68% of the variation. Cluster analysis yielded eight major clusters as distinct farm types. The largest number of farms (37%) was grouped as small-scale, part-time cow–calf operations. Mixed operations (crop–beef) were next most frequent (22%), followed by large cow–calf backgrounding (18%) and diversified cow–calf operations that included crop–beef mixed operations as well as off-farm activities (11%). Cow–calf operations that finished calves comprised 8% of the total farms surveyed. Extensive cow–calf backgrounding operations, large backgrounding/finishing operations, and large finishing operations represented the remaining 3% of the farms. The typology not only provides a strategy by which the Canadian beef cattle industry can be characterized, but also improves understanding of the diversity of farm management practices to help develop policies and beneficial management practices.